050218 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

May 2-4 , 2018 Volume 28 - No. 36 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

PH loses bid to void Chinese names for Benham Rise features

by CAMILLE

DIOLA Philstar.com

Lorena Bradford (left), head of accessible programs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., leads a March 5 session of the Just Us program. The program gives adults with memory loss and their caregivers a chance to explore and discuss works of art in a small-group setting.

Photo by Lynne Shallcross

Family caregivers finally get a break – and extra coaching

MANILA — The government’s recent protest over China’s naming of five features in Philippinescontrolled underwater region Benham Rise came too late after years of inaction.

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sail this week in hopes of making a statement that the Philippines “owns” the underwater ridge, now called Philippine Rise.

The gesture, however, comes after an international body confirmed

Chinese names for features in the Philippines’ maritime backyard.

In a letter to an overseas office of the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 6, 2018 seen

by Philstar.com, the International Hydrographic Organization refused to reverse the approval of Chinese proposals to name undersea features Haidongqing Seamount, Jinghao Seamount, Tianbao Seamount, Jujiu Seamounts and Cuiqiao Hill.

The letter was in response to the Philippine delegation to UNESCO’s request dated February 28,

2018 to nullify the names. The Philippines argued that it had jurisdiction over the features under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS. The country also argued that China conducted an underwater survey in Benham Rise in 2004 that led to the naming of the features without the Philippines’ consent.

Hans Werner Schenke, chair of the IHO’s Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names or SCUFN, was quick to point out that UN-

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The new maritime marker will be composed of buoys to complement an earlier Philippine flag that combined government forces installed underwater at one of the highest submarine mountains in the area last year.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

WASHINGTON — For today, there are no doctor’s visits. No long afternoons with nothing to do. No struggles over bathing — or not.

At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., a group of older adults — some in wheelchairs, some with Alzheimer’s — and their caregivers sit in a semicircle around a haunting portrait of a woman in white.

“Take a deep breath,” said Lorena Bradford, head of accessible programs at the National Gallery, standing before “The Repen-

u PAGE A2 PH Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Inquirer.net photo

American Boracay resort owner arrested PHILIPPINE Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested an American tourist for illegally operating a beach resort on Boracay island.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente on Monday identified the foreigner as 52-year old Randall Lee Parker, who was apprehended on April 25, barely a day before Boracay was closed by the government.

Parker was arrested by BI intelligence operatives inside The Artienda, the resort he was illegally operating at Boracay’s Station Two, Morente said.

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Kuwaiti assurance of protection to PH workers may end diplomatic row

LABOR DAY. President Rodrigo Duterte shows a gesture of respect as he takes center stage during the 116th Labor Day Celebration at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City on Tuesday, May 1. The president graced the job fair organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which reportedly has 17,000 jobs on offer in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

THE assurance of Kuwait to the Philippines that it would address the Filipino workers’ concerns could end the diplomatic row between the two countries, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday.

“This gesture on the part of Kuwait, a country with which we have a shared history and strong people-to-people ties, will allow us to move forward and hurdle the

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DOT: Talks still ongoing for Miss Universe hosting

out a few details,” she added.

De Castro said the DOT would announce the outcome of the neMANILA — A Department of gotiations in due time.

Tourism official on Monday said In mid-April, Tourism Secrethe office is still working out the tary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo Miss Universe hosting with or- also confirmed the department ganizers. is working to have the Miss Uni“We have a good chance of verse pageant held in the counhosting it,” Tourism Undersecre- try in 2019. tary Kat De Castro said in a press She also said that President briefing.

Rodrigo Duterte had talked “It’s just me and the Miss Uni- about staging the Miss Universe Organization trying to iron verse pageant in Boracay once

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

Candidates for California governor — state Assemblymember Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach), California Treasurer John Chiang, businessman John H. Cox, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin — participated in a debate on Friday, April 27 at Pasadena City College. The debate, hosted by CAUSE, was the first of its kind to focus on issues specific to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, considered a frontrunner in the race, was absent on Friday.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

A month before the June primary, CA gubernatorial candidates participate in first ever APA-focused debate Five of the top six candidates discuss immigration, public education, affordable housing and climate change policy

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

rial candidates are gearing up for what will likely be a heated race With a little more than a to replace longtime CA Governor month before California’s June Jerry Brown.

By mid-April, candidates have 5 primary for the 2018 midterm elections, the state’s gubernato- already begun airing television

ads, putting up patriotic campaign signs in neighborhoods, sending out glossy mailers to voters and participating in debates and town halls across

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it reopens to drive more tourists to the Philippines.

The world-famous tourism destination is temporarily closed to tourists. The closure which took effect last April 26 would last for six months to pave way for its rehabilitation.

Philippines last hosted the Miss Universe pageant in January 2017. The Tourism department has yet to release data on how the hosting affected tourist arrivals to the Philippines. ■

PET finds ballots soaked in chemicals, jumbled voters’ receipts going recount, according to an insider.

The source, who requested anTHE manual recount of the Su- onymity for lack of authority to preme Court sitting as the Presi- speak for the tribunal and due to dential Electoral Tribunal (PET) the gag order issue on the case, on results of the vice presidential revealed that more wet ballots election in 2016 has raised more were found in towns in Camaquestions. rines Sur. Revisers last week found balBut this time around, revisers lots that appeared to have been took note of several damaged soaked in liquid chemical as well ballots that had a chemical smell as jumbled election documents – particularly from Canaman and during the fourth week of the on- Garchitorena towns.

by EDU

PUNAY Philstar.com

“Those ballots were powdery and no longer readable as the prints were erased. That would have not been the case if they were soaked only in water,” the source explained.

It was also found that the PET only managed to retrieve 16 of the 36 ballot boxes from Canaman for still unknown reasons.

Of those 16 ballot boxes, 11 had wet contents. There were also ballots that were placed inside a

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From the Front Page

PH loses bid to void Chinese...

PAGE A1 CLOS has “legally no explicit effect with regard to the naming of undersea features in EEZs.” China’s proposals followed all guidelines and rules of his office, Schenke explained. To grant the Philippines’ request after the names have been adopted would give precedence to other possible revisions based on different interpretations.

Even if one country’s naming of features in other countries’ EEZs does not signify its rights over them, the Philippines lost the chance to make more relevant parts of its own maritime domain.

A fruitless attempt and an off chance Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal was the first to reveal China’s plan to name five features in Benham earlier this year. He was technical advisor when the Philippines petitioned a UN-backed body in 2009 to grant an extension of its continental shelf in the Benham Rise region. The country was

granted the award in 2012.

Batongbacal already warned that a complaint against Beijing’s move would possibly be futile since the naming process had already concluded.

“It may be a bit embarrassing that we are too late the hero and we are objecting all of a sudden... it’s going to be awkward and in a way, already out of order,” Batongbacal told radio dzMM in February.

He was right. In the response to the DFA office in March, IHO subcommittee chair Schenke noted the peculiarity of the Philippines’ request.

While there were past submissions which affected features within other countries’ EEZs, “this is the first time ever that the SCUFN received this sort of objection of a country which claims authority about the affected EEZ,” Schenke wrote.

Another reason the DFA gave cited the subcommittee’s past rejections of naming proposals. It

argued that the Chinese naming of the seamounts was “politically sensitive... given the complex geo-political situation,” referring to the longstanding dispute between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea. This reasoning was also rebuffed.

For Schenke and other members of the naming authority, terms used by China had “no political sensitivity at all.” Based on past documents, Haidongqing Seamount was named after a falcon symbolic to the Chinese.

Jinghao Seamount and Tianbao Seamount, meanwhile, express Chinese aspirations for an ideal life and stability, respectively.

This leaves the Philippines with one remaining move to reverse the names given to features under its care.

“The only option for nullification... would be a submission of China to withdraw from their proposed naming,” the subcom-

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BORACAY PROTECTED AREA. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary David Erro stresses that under Presidential Proclamation No. 1064, Boracay Island in the municipality of Malay, Aklan had been declared as forestland and is a protected area during a press briefing at DAR main office in Quezon City on Monday, April 30. It is also classified as Agricultural land (alienable and disposable) pursuant to Presidential Decree. No. 705 (revised forestry reform code of the Philippines) signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 22, 2006.

PNA photos by Ben Briones

Kuwaiti assurance of protection...

PAGE A1 challenges we face,” Cayetano said in a statement.

Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said that his government was ready to work with Manila in addressing the concerns of Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

Cayetano said the Philippines acknowledged Kuwait’s assurance to Manila of protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of 262,000 Filipinos working in the Gulf state where about 150,000 were household service workers.

“This is a shared goal that

should be pursued with willingness to understand and respect where each side is coming from,” said Cayetano.

“We affirm our friendship with the government of Kuwait and its people. The strength of that friendship will withstand this misunderstanding.”

“Kuwait rejects any breach against its sovereignty or laws and would act decisively against any relevant attempt,” Al-Jarallah said.

Cayetano, however, was silent on the strong position of Kuwait against the breach of sovereignty, which may have been com-

mitted by the Philippines when it carried out several rescue missions on distressed OFWs which was revealed after a video of the operations were posted over social media.

The viral video angered the Kuwaiti government, which ordered the expulsion Philippine Ambassador Rene Villa, detention of four Filipinos hired by the Philippine Embassy; and the issuance of arrest warrants against three diplomatic personnel.

The DFA, until now, has not made any statement regarding the status of the detained Filipinos as well as the warrants of the arrest. (Jefferson Antiporda/ManilaTimes.net)

PET finds ballots soaked in chemicals...

of poll results, explaining that their task is just to conduct manplastic bag in the town. ual recount and such conclusion Also last week, revisers found should be left for the tribunal to voter’s receipts that were mixed decide upon. up with other clustered preEarlier, the PET’s manual revicincts. sion of votes of Vice President The insider bared that when Leni Robredo and former senarevisers opened ballot boxes tor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised from the town of Gainza in Ca- several questions. marines Sur, the voter’s receipts Revisers have found wet ballot found inside the boxes did not boxes, unused or excess ballots correspond to their respective with shaded votes for Robredo, clustered precincts but to other missing audit logs and missing precincts. voters’ receipts in towns of Bato, The insider, however, would Baao, Balatan, Bula and Sagñay not say if these latest findings in Camarines Sur. could be evidence of tampering In the first two weeks, 53 out PAGE A1

of the 55 clustered precincts in Bula or 97 percent had no voter’s receipts while 20 out of the 30 clustered precincts in Balatan or 68 percent also had missing receipts.

On the third week, a ballot box from Ocampo town yielded ballots with what appeared to be cigarette burns on their edges and holes in the middle portion.

All of them had votes shaded for Robredo.

The same ballot box did not have accompanying election records like election returns, voter’s receipts and minutes of voting. n

Family caregivers finally get a break...

PAGE A1 tant Magdalen” by Georges de La Tour.

“Now, let your eyes wander all over the painting. Take it all in.

What do you think is going on?”

“I think she looks sad,” said Marie Fanning, 75, of Alexandria, Va., an Alzheimer’s patient.

“Yes. Yes, she looks sad,” said Bradford.

“This is such a gift,” Bill Fanning, 77, Marie’s husband and caregiver, said of the outing.

Across the country, community groups, hospitals, government agencies and nonprofits are doing more to support at least some of the estimated 42 million people who are the primary caregivers of adults and children who have disabilities, are recovering from surgeries and illnesses or are coping with Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases.

In California, for instance, Dignity Health Systems, the state’s largest nonprofit hospital company, is partnering with the nonprofit Santa Barbara Foundation to provide caregiver coaches to help caregivers transition their patients to home care. At any given time, 1,000 caregivers are being coached, said Kathleen Sullivan, vice president of acute care services for Dignity.

“Now caregivers are identified as a partner in the health team” of the patient, she said. “They’re given a badge, they have a tote bag with information, and the hospital knows who to contact.”

The group works with nonprofit aging agencies to provide inhome coaches, she said. “When people get home from the hospital, they’re just exhausted. They don’t remember what they were told in the hospital.”

The National Gallery’s program in Washington, D.C., focuses on the health, well-being and education of caregivers, as well as those they are caring for.

“We know that involvement with art improves well-being. In our own research for persons with dementia, we see a reduction in apathy. For caregivers, we see less isolation and a reduction in stress,” said Carolyn HalpinHealy, executive director of the Arts & Minds program for caregivers and patients at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

She co-founded the program with Columbia University neurologist James Noble in 2010 at the Harlem Studio Museum in New York. The Just Us program in Washington is a spinoff of that

Research on other museum-based programs like the National Gallery’s Just Us has found that analyzing and discussing art in small groups reduces apathy among people with Alzheimer’s, and reduces stress and isolation among their caregivers.

Photo byLynne Shallcross

program. Other museums in New York and Dubuque, Iowa, have similar programs.

A new bipartisan law signed by President Donald Trump in January calls for a national strategy to address the needs of caregivers, who are primarily women and provide 37 billion hours in unpaid care to relatives or close friends valued at $470 billion, according to an AARP study. The law will require the Department of Health and Human Services to set up an advisory council and develop a blueprint for government action on financial, workplace, respite care and other caregiver issues.

At the same time, 42 states — including California — have passed laws requiring hospitals and other facilities to provide training for caregivers who perform medical tasks, and to record them as the “caregiver” when patients are admitted or released from hospitals or nursing facilities. In states without that law Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin (Kansas’ law takes effect in July) — patients can be dismissed from the hospital without family members being told or briefed fully on what care the patient needs.

The CARE Act is “more than just a law,” said Elaine Ryan, AARP vice president of state advocacy and strategy. “It’s a change in the practice of health care.”

Helping the helpers Caregivers are almost two times more likely to have emotional and physical problems, and three times more likely to have productivity problems at work, according to a 2015 study

by Johns Hopkins. The more intense the care, the greater the effects, the study said.

Dr. Eric Coleman, a gerontologist who received a MacArthur “genius award” grant in 2012, created the Care Transitions Intervention model (CTI). The national program based at the University of Colorado in Denver trains coaches. The coaches are usually social workers, nurses or others hired by hospitals and other facilities to work directly with caregivers.

Coaches talk to the caregiver before patients are discharged from a hospital. Then they have a one-hour coaching session at the patient’s home, and three follow-up phone calls. Studies have shown that having transition coaches can drop readmission to hospitals by 20 to 50 percent, said Coleman.

Even if a caregiver is with the patient when doctors give instructions, the medical talk can go right over their heads, he said. “We tell people that for the next 24 to 48 hours, here are key things you need to do. Then we follow up at home,” he said.

Caregivers do more than make meals; they perform medical tasks like giving medicine, taking blood pressure, changing bandages and more. Yet they receive virtually no training, Coleman said.

“I’m a physician, and when I take care of my mom, I have an endless loop in my head,” of the to-do list, he said.

A study by AARP found that 46 percent of family caregivers perform medical/nursing tasks, 78 percent of family caregivers manage medications, and 53 percent of family caregivers serve as care coordinators. The majority said they received no training.

Caregivers are “the backbone of our health system,” said Dr. PAGE A4

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Dateline USa

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Mayor Garcetti signs executive directive to improve reporting and investigation of harassment and discrimination Mayor also launches web portal to make reporting easier and more streamlined

California State Treasurer John Chiang, a Democrat, is running for governor.

A month before the June primary...

PAGE A1

the remarkably diverse state that nearly 40 million people call home.

The Sexson Auditorium at Pasadena City College was packed with undecided voters and candidate supporters on Friday, April 27 for the Asian and Pacific American (APA) Gubernatorial Debate, the first-ever debate focussing on APA issues.

Standing on the stage were five of leading candidates in the 2018 race for California governor: CA Assemblymember Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) and businessman John H. Cox representing the Republican Party, and California Treasurer John Chiang, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin representing the Democratic Party.

Front-runner CA Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom (running on a Democratic ticket), who announced earlier in April he would not participate in any debates until May, was invited to Friday’s debate but did not attend, a move that upset many debate attendees.

A spokesperson for Newsom indicated that the former San Francisco mayor has attended eight debates so far and plans to attend a televised debate on May 8.

While it’s common for election front-runners to sit out of debates early in the race (there is a long history of poll leaders skipping debates before the primaries to campaign directly), other candidates have reframed the move as an indicator of negligence and cowardice.

“We’ve been on the campaign trail for a very long time. We’ve had our debates and our differences. But the fact that you show up says something, it says that you care,” Villaraigosa, Newsom’s

closest Democratic rival, said on Friday as a slight to the absent Newsom.

The APA debate, in comparison to past debates, was relatively low energy with very little sparring save for the occasional quarrel over conservative integrity by Cox and Allen.

Moreover, many of the candidates shared their thoughts on immigration, affirmative action and language accessibility, and nothing about their statements was particularly surprising, especially since many of the candidates largely repeated lines they’ve used in previous debates.

While the candidates expressed their views on several issues, there was very little detail shared on how they plan to turn their views into action.

Both Republican candidates promised to enforce the Trump administration’s immigration laws, both vowing to dismantle SB 54, the sanctuary state bill that prohibits state officials from assisting federal agents with the detention of undocumented immigrants but does not protect criminals.

On his denouncement of the bill, Cox claimed, “No one wants to live next to an MS-13 gang member,” which sparked boos from many of the attendees.

All the Democratic nominees, predictably, denounced the Trump administration’s handling of immigration while simultaneously acknowledging the “resiliency” of the immigrant community as well as emphasizing the need for immigration reform.

“Immigrants are among the most ambitious, risk-taking and entrepreneurial individuals, and we are darn lucky to have them,” Eastin said. Villaraigosa mirrored her sentiments, adding that, if elected, he would work on fixing the “broken immigration system”

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa AJPress photos by Noel Ty

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti is creating a safer and more respectful work environment for City employees by establishing new, best-in-class tools and processes to report and address harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

On Monday, April 30, Mayor Garcetti signed his 23rd Executive Directive — which builds on the City’s existing harassment and discrimination policies and procedures, by ensuring that any employee who encounters or experiences harassment or discrimination is able to easily report a complaint, and feel confident that it will be properly investigated.

“Everyone in Los Angeles has the right to feel safe in their workplace,” said Mayor Garcetti.

“City Hall must set an example for L.A.’s entire workforce, by making a systemic shift in how we handle sexual harassment and discrimination reporting.”

The Mayor also launched MyVoiceLA, a new portal that will enable current and former City employees, elected officials, commissioners, and individuals who do business with the City to report harassment and discrimination online, 24/7.

The portal will serve as a new tool in the City’s “no wrong door” approach to reporting — meaning that all forms of harassment and discrimination can be reported to an employee’s supervisor, their Department’s Sexual Harassment Counselor, the Personnel Department’s Sexual Harassment Counselor, the City’s Office of Discrimination Complaint Resolution, and/or any external non-discrimination enforcement agency.

“With the #MeToo movement giving voice to victims across America, it’s imperative Los Angeles lead the way as an example of a City where there is no place for sexual harassment,” said City Attorney Mike Feuer. “I want to thank Mayor Garcetti, as well as Council members Martinez and

and making sure that undocumented youth receive quality education and opportunity.

The Republicans also advocated teaching all Californians to be proficient in English (Cox said, “We do people no favors by encouraging people to not learn English.”) while Democrats favored embracing all languages and promoting the expansion of translation services and bilingualism.

“We want to encourage Californians and Americans to speak multiple languages,” Chiang said.

“We need to get to know each other better to connect.”

Chiang, who is the son of Taiwanese immigrants, appeared to be among the strongest, if not the strongest advocate for the Asian American community.

“We have a profound opportunity to those in Sacramento that the Asian Americans count,” said Chiang, who was greeted by the loudest applause upon introduction, acknowledging the fact that the Asian American electorate is growing exponentially.

Housed by the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE), this debate was the first-ever in California to focus on the APA electorate. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, the APA electorate is the fastest-growing demographic in the country, according to U.S. Census data.

In California, APAs constitute 15 percent of the entire state’s voters, according to CAUSE. This means that the APA community has the power to potentially shift the outcome of the 2018 midterms, highlighting the importance of political leaders to address APA concerns.

Although Newsom’s notable absence in recent debates has given fodder to other candidates to attack his character, the lieutenant governor remains the frontrunner.

PAGE A1 PAGE A7 The BI chief disclosed that he ordered Parker’s arrest after a complaint was filed against him for running the resort “without the appropriate work permit or visa.”

“He will undergo deportation proceedings for illegally working in the country,” Morente said in a statement.

He stressed that both the Labor Code and the Immigration Act “strictly forbid aliens from engaging in gainful activity unless they obtain a work permit from the la-

Krekorian, for their continuing roles in this vital effort.”

“When I asked for the Personnel Department to conduct the employee survey in November, I wanted our employees to know that we cared about their safety and their thoughts,” said Councilmember Nury Martinez. “With that feedback we are taking the steps necessary to put the City at the forefront of workplace protection. There is more to do and I am going to keep working with the Mayor to make sure we finish what we started.”

“I applaud Mayor Garcetti for prioritizing this issue and supporting the City Council’s recommendations to improve the city’s sexual assault and harassment reporting process,” said Councilmember Paul Krekorian, author of the 2017 motion urging sexual harassment policy reform. “Our recent survey of city employees shows that Los Angeles needs to move toward a more simplified and centralized sexual harassment complaint reporting process, and also increase training across the board. The online portal, along with the soon-to-be-launched sexual harassment complaint hotline, will allow us to do a better job addressing this issue.”

Mayor Garcetti has tasked a working group with developing a centralized process that will allow the City to hold itself more accountable for how complaints are handled, and better measure the progress toward a goal that everyone in City Hall should be serious about: eliminating all forms of harassment and discrimination from our workplace.

The Executive Directive calls for the working group to submit recommendations on the: • Establishment of an intake unit in the Personnel Department that will receive harassment and discrimination complaints, conduct initial reviews, and ensure that incidents are appropriately assessed and resolved; • Creation of an independent re-

American Boracay resort owner... bor department and employment visa from the BI.” Morente said that Parker, who arrived in the country as a tourist, “blatantly violated the conditions of his stay as a temporary visitor” by engaging in such business activities.

Parker has been in the Philippines as a tourist for almost two years after arriving on April 16, 2016, BI spokeswoman Atty. Antonette Mangrobang said.

The spokeswoman bared that Parker’s stay as a tourist was sup-

view board that will be comprised of impartial and experienced employment law experts who may be called upon to review certain complex and/or sensitive cases of harassment and discrimination, and provide recommendations to General Managers and Heads of Departments on how these cases should be resolved; • Development of policies and procedures that require supervisors to report and take appropriate action to correct and eliminate harassment and discrimination from the workplace; • Formalization of the Personnel Department’s policies that allow for anonymous reporting of incidents of harassment and discrimination, and that allow for the reporting of all incidents of harassment and discrimination, regardless of the length of time that has elapsed since the incident occurred; and • Update and expansion of all new and existing, in-person and online harassment, discrimination and retaliation trainings.

The Executive Directive also includes: • A requirement that the Personnel Department report annually on the number of harassment and discrimination incidents citywide, the average processing time for resolving investigations by department, and department compliance with the City’s policies and procedures; and, • Empowerment of other governments, businesses, and organizations to improve their own tools and procedures by making MyVoiceLA and online trainings available in an “open source” format.

In advance of the Executive Directive and the release of MyVoiceLA, Mayor Garcetti issued a directive to all heads of City Departments to report any incident of sexual harassment to the Personnel Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity Division (EEO) within 48 hours of becoming aware of the incident. n posed to be extended up to June 14 before his illegal operation was discovered. Previously, the American had gone in and out of the country since 2005, she added.

“Existing laws that regulate the employment of aliens in the country are intended to ensure that their activities in the country are consistent with their immigration documentation,” Mangrobang said.

“The rule is that aliens holding tourist visas are not allowed to engage in any form of gainful employment or business activity,” she stressed. (Julius N. Leonen/Inquirer)

PH loses bid to void Chinese...

PAGE A2 mittee said. This entails diplomatic measures for Manila to ask Beijing to withdraw the names.

It sounds easier than in practice since the Asian giant is unlikely to pull away at the bidding of its smaller maritime rival. Earlier this year Beijing insisted that it followed the procedure in giving names to the underwater mountains.

The government sat on it Even before the granting of the Philippines’ extended continental shelf within Benham Rise in 2012, government instruments already conducted a complete bathymetric survey of Benham Rise. This measured and documented the depth and shape of the seabed.

The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority was the lead agency for such efforts, contributing significantly to an existing public databank from past surveys of the undersea region.

“Majority of the area in the Philippine Rise was covered by [our teams],” said Commodore Jacinto

Cablayan, director of hydrography at NAMRIA, in a televised interview with ANC’s “Future Perfect” in February.

Cablayan said that since his office had already covered the extent of Benham’s bathymetry, the only surveys left to do in the area are those with scientific and economic aims.

The government then already had the data it needed about the sea plateau but from 2012 to 2017—spanning the Aquino and Duterte administrations—the Philippines failed to propose a single name before the IHO’s SCUFN. “There is no submission,” Cablayan said in Filipino, admitting that his office could have made the move. “Maybe we were just a bit occupied.”

“Because we do all the works, we do the maintenance of the ship, we do navigation, we do survey. Maybe we were focused on that,” he told ANC. Batongbacal, in a separate interview with the Star in February,

said state leadership “sat on the recommendations.” NAMRIA, for one, already had proposals drafted to name the features after Philippines trees and birds.

“The technical people knew about the naming proposals and made recommendations for action. Leadership sat on them as well, Batongbacal said.

Silver lining China may have beaten the Philippines in christening five Benham Rise features but the complaint sent to the IHO yielded at least one seemingly inadvertent benefit.

Schenke, the chair of the IHO naming subcommittee SCUFN, offered to require consultations with the Philippines should any country wish to name features located within its EEZ and extended continental shelf in the future.

The SCUFN also vowed to report the issue at its next meeting in October to explore possible improvements to naming guidelines and procedures. n

Family caregivers finally get a break...

PAGE A2 Alan Stevens, a gerontologist who trains caregivers in partnership with Baylor Scott White, the largest nonprofit hospital company in Texas, and a group of aging agencies across the state.

“If caregivers go away, we have a problem. It’s important to better understand their needs — and to help them.”

Linking hospitals with caregivers In Virginia, the Bay Area Council on Aging and a consortium of four other groups and five hospitals are training caregiver coaches using the CTI program.

The key to successful coaching of caregivers is to take training to the homes of caregivers and patients, said Kathy Vesley, of the Bay Area Council on Aging in Fredericksburg, Va. “Some of these folks are very

ill and they’re managing 12-plus medications,” said Vesley. “You get into the home and they say, ‘Here’s my shopping bag of medicines.’ And it’s literally a shopping bag.”

The consortium has seen 26,000 patients and caregivers over the past 2½ years and readmission to the hospitals fell from 23.4 to 9 percent, she said.

Coaches help with food, medicine and video training for how to do medical procedures and help solve issues like how to get patients to doctor’s appointments.

Out in rural southeastern Virginia, “transportation takes a whole new meaning,” she said, “when your driveway is half a mile long.”

Having fun helps, too Caregivers need a little fun and relaxation, said Jason Resendez, executive director of the Lati-

nos Against Alzheimer’s Coalition. About 8 million Latinos are caregivers for their family members, and nearly 2 million are caring for family members with Alzheimer’s, he said.

For instance, in Los Angeles, Latino groups partnered on a play performed in Spanish about a son who is his mother’s caregiver. It was a comedy. And in Chicago, the Latino Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Alliance (LAMDA) holds caregiver training — and free salsa dancing classes.

“It’s not just about translation; it’s not just about handing out pamphlets,” he said.

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

(Mindy Fetterman/Kaiser Health News)

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 2-4, 2018

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

A5

‘I’ll come back’: Sister Patricia Fox defiant over expulsion

by CECIL

MORELLA Philstar.com

LARGEST HUMAN SENTENCE. Thousand members of Iglesia ni Cristo converge at the Quirino grandstand at Rizal Park in Manila to make a Guinness World Record for Largest Human Sentence on Tuesday, May 1.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

CHR ALARMED OVER RELEASE OF ‘NARCO-LIST’

207 village execs linked to drugs A TOTAL of 207 barangay (village) officials, mostly from Bicol and Caraga regions, were linked to the illegal drug trade by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which made good on its promise to release its so-called “narco-list” ahead of this month’s village elections.

The eight-page list contained the names of 90 village chairmen and 117 kagawad or council members.

The Bicol Region had the most village officials on the list with 70, followed by the Caraga Region with 34, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 13.

(For the complete list, go to http://www.manilatimes.net/village-officials-in-bicol-two-otherregions-top-anti-drug-agencyslist/395918/) Three village chairmen in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu City, were also on the list. Western Visayas and the Davao Region had one each, while Northern Mindanao, particularly Ozamiz City, and Central Luzon had three each.

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino earlier said 293 officials were on the list, but the number was later reduced to 216, 211 and then to 207.

The list was reduced because 46 officials have been arrested, 20 were killed by assassins or unknown gunmen, five were shot dead during police operations, and five died of natural causes.

Aquino told reporters on Monday the list was validated by PDEA with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency

The list Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino shows the list of barangay officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy L. Martinez

(NICA) and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The “narco-officials” ranged from drug users to drug traders.

Most were “protectors” of drug suspects, he said.

Aquino said the government had the duty to inform the public about the identities of narco-officials, as they should be accountable to the public.

“The Supreme Court provided the ruling for the public’s right to information. The right to privacy is not absolute when there is a compelling reason to prioritize the state,” he said.

Just the first batch Aquino said the list was only the first batch as the involvement of 274 other village officials were still being validated by various intelligence groups.

Acting Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the list should not

serve as a “vigilante” hit list.

It should instead serve as a guide for voters to make “smart” decisions in the upcoming May 14 village elections, he said.

Aquino echoed Año’s statement, saying: “[There will be] no EJKs (extrajudicial killings). This will not serve as a hit list.”

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said public official were always “targets.”

“Being a public official has already the risk of being the target anytime,” he said.

CHR alarmed The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday expressed alarm over the release of the “narco-list,” noting that the more than 200 officials outed by the government were not yet charged in court.

PAGE A7

MANILA — She spent decades helping the Philippines’ poorest people, but Australian nun Patricia Fox is fighting deportation after drawing President Rodrigo Duterte’s ire -- and says she will try to return even if expelled.

The 71-year-old Melbourne native is due to be kicked out of the country by May 25 after Duterte personally accused her of political activism that violates the rules of her visa.

Fox was singled out as Manila cracks down on foreign critics on its soil, where the president’s deadly anti-drug war has provoked a storm of international condemnation.

The government deportation order against her sparked outrage from rights advocates and the religious community, but authorities are pressing ahead.

“I’m still hoping that somehow something will happen (to stop the expulsion),” she said.

Even if her appeal fails, Fox said she would still like to return and resume her work in the nation that has been home since 1990.

“If I can come back as a tourist I’ll try and come back,” she said.

“This is my life.”

She landed in the Philippines as a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation of nuns founded in France in 1847 and famed for harbouring Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution in World War II. A former practising lawyer who worked with indigent clients in Australia, Fox said she has been educating landless Filipino farm hands and factory workers about their rights.

Then on April 16 immigration service agents arrived at the congregation’s modest Manila office.

‘No right to criticise’ Fox, the country head of an eight-member missionary group, was hauled off to the government agency’s headquarters, where she was informed of the allegations.

She said she spent the night on the floor of the immigration service building, lying on a borrowed blanket and getting little sleep.

The nun said she apparently angered the president by joining

Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox is welcomed by human rights activists as she is escorted by immigration officers following her release from the Bureau of Immigration compound in Manila.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

a fact-finding mission in April to investigate alleged abuses against farmers, including killings and evictions by soldiers fighting guerrillas in the southern Philippines.

In Duterte’s hometown of Davao, Fox went to see farmers detained on charges of possessing explosives, and attended a press conference by workers who were fired after demanding better wages and conditions.

“I gave a solidarity statement saying the social teachings of the Catholic Church say you have the

right to unionise, you have the right to just wages, you have the right to security of tenure,” she said.

Fox said she thought she was safe in espousing a pet advocacy of the president.

Duterte vowed during the 2016 election campaign to end the common corporate practice of hiring workers on five-month contracts to avoid paying benefits enjoyed by permanent employees.

Yet hours after Fox’s release, PAGE A7

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OPINION

Deployment ban

FEATURES

IS the ban permanent or temporary? As of Tuesday, May 1, the word from the Department of Labor and Employment was that the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Kuwait would be lifted once the two countries sign a memorandum of understanding to protect OFWs in the Arab state.

It’s unclear if the Department of Foreign Affairs, whose personnel in Kuwait appear to need more training in diplomacy, is aware of the stand of the DOLE. It’s also unclear if President Rodrigo Duterte, who announced over the weekend that the ban would become permanent, agrees with his labor secretary, and whether he would still proceed with his trip to Kuwait for the signing of the MOU. Equally unclear is what might be in store for OFWs who heed calls for them to leave Kuwait and return to the Philippines. There are approximately 252,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, with more than half of them domestic helpers. So far there has been no rush to leave their jobs in Kuwait amid the diplomatic row between the two countries.

Those OFWs left the Philippines for better employment opportunities, and the country for

the most part still has not come up with anything that can match what Kuwait has to offer. In the Visayas, thousands of people have just been added to the ranks of the unemployed following the unprecedented shutdown of Boracay for six months. A number of them will no longer get their jobs back.

The diplomatic crisis in Kuwait should lead to improved coordination among government agencies as the government works out an agreement for protecting OFWs. The crisis must also strengthen the resolve of the national leadership to create more jobs with decent pay in the Philippines. Urging Filipinos to come home amid reports of abuses – and seeing the call ignored – says a lot about the state of a nation that cannot provide enough meaningful employment opportunities to its people. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Workers’ health, safety, and pay are among the casualties of Trump’s war on regulations — Economic Policy Institute

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MAY DAY. May 1 is International Workers’ Day, a day when many countries around the world commemorate the working class of their nation. The “obrero” or workers and their supporters took to the streets to fight for workers’ rights, better working conditions and equitable pay.

In the United States, this year’s commemoration is especially significant given how the Trump administration has been leading the way toward retrogression in the nation’s goal and aspiration to help the working class.

In fact, on December 14, 2017, President Donald Trump held a press conference to take credit for the “most far-reaching regulatory reform in history,” and took pride in announcing that his administration has been responsible for more than 1,500 cancelled or delayed regulatory action, many of which were Obama-era regulations. Trump and the Republicans in Congress declared war on regulations over the last year by rolling back rules that were intended to protect workers, consumers, and public health.

According to Economic Policy Institute’s Perkins Project

on Worker Rights and Wages — workers’ health, safety, and pay are among the casualties of Trump’s war on regulations.

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) “is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. EPI believes every working person deserves a good job with fair pay, affordable health care, and retirement security. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America. EPI proposes public policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.”

The EPI lists the following “casualties” of Trump’s year of deregulation: Deregulation casualty #1: Workers’ health and safety • Rolling back a rule that required employers to keep accurate records of workplace injuries and illnesses • Delaying a rule requiring employers submit injury and illness records electronically to OSHA. This Obama-era rule aims to identify patterns so that workplace hazards can be ad-

dressed and worker injuries and illnesses prevented. And because this information will be easily accessible to a broad audience on OSHA’s website, employers are more likely to comply with workplace safety rules to protect their workers—knowing that they’ll have to answer to the public if they don’t.

• Delaying a rule protecting workers from exposure to harmful silica dust This Obama administration rule lowered workers’ permissible exposure limit to deadly crystalline silica dust. cancer-causing respirable crystalline silica. Studies have linked exposure to silica to lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease. About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone • Rolling back protections for workers exposed to beryllium, exposure to which causes significant risks of chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer for workers • Proposing to weaken the inspection rule for metal and nonmetal mines. Under the Obamaera rule, mine safety inspectors

were allowed to conduct a safety examination at any time, including during the mineworkers’ shifts, which allows inspectors to spot unsafe practices and stop them before someone gets hurt.

• Considering a proposal to increase poultry line speeds, endangering workers by placing poultry slaughter and processing workers at increased risk of injury, illness, or death • Proposing to weaken protections for farmworkers, The Trump Environmental Protection Agency proposed weakening regulations protecting farmworkers from harmful effects of pesticide exposure. Roughly 2,000–3,000 cases of acute pesticide exposure occur amon.

Deregulation casualty #2: Workers’ wage • Proposing to make it legal for employers to take workers’ hard-earned tips • Taking money out of workers’ pockets by weakening the overtime rule Deregulation casualty #3: Workers’ savings • Rolling back rules that made it easier for workers to save for retirement • Delaying a rule providing protections for retirement savers. The rule simply requires financial advisers to provide what

most clients probably already think they are receiving: advice about their retirement plans untainted by conflicts of interest.

Conflicted advice leads to lower investment returns, causing real losses for the clients who are victimized.

Deregulation casualty #4: Workers’ safety nets • Putting the EEO-1 pay data rulePutting the EEO-1 pay data rule on hold. “Collecting pay data is a significant step forward in addressing discriminatory pay practices. This information will assist employers in evaluating their pay practices to prevent pay discrimination and strengthen enforcement of our federal anti-discrimination laws.” ª Proposing to roll back an SEC rule that requires disclosure of CEO-to-employee pay ratios. Rolling back the rule will simply deny workers and shareholders information necessary for them to evaluate CEO compensation and performance and determine the fairness of their own compensation structure.

This allows corporate interests to operate behind closed doors with less accountability to the public and to workers. In 2016 CEOs in America’s largest firms made an average of $15.6 million in compensation, or 271

times the annual average pay of the typical worker.

Deregulation casualty #6: Workers’ rights to organize and join a union • Rolling back a transparency rule that would allow workers to know when their employer has hired outside anti-union consultants during a union election • Rolling back rules to modify and streamline union elections Deregulation casualty #7: Consequences for employers who violate workers’ rights • Rolling back the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule. This rule would have helped ensure that federal contracts (and taxpayer dollars) are not awarded to companies with track records of labor and employment law violations. Workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding contractors would have benefited from this rule.

Having known these, are the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress really looking after your rights and protection as workers? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Millennials take on DU30 and EDCA

Commentary

LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA THE Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI) has been accepting third-year college students as OJT interns (on the job training) for the past decade. We have been fortunate in having young people (aged 18 to 22 years), coming from different schools in the provinces, work with us for six to eight weeks during their summer break.

This year’s batch is the smallest.

Craig Vincent Tibon, 19, Dennis Jay Paras, 20, and Nizle Caraballe, 19. They all come from Liceo de Cagayan de Oro and will graduate with degrees in international studies or political science. Last year’s batch of four females and two males was outstanding: three finished magna cum laude with one a sobresaliente, and two cum laude.

Craig, a sobresaliente himself, is on track for a summa cum laude this incoming schoolyear.

Both the CDPI and the interns benefit from these arrangements.

The students get to learn to work in a real office environment and do field work on “political technocracy,” with schedules, assignments and deadlines, preparing them for an early professional life postcollege. CDPI profits from this

arrangement as the OJTs inject fresh insights and perspectives into our political institute; which brings me to this week’s article.

I wanted to mine the brains of my young colleagues, gauge the depth of their socio-political awareness, and for them to put to paper their take as millennials on the issues of the day. They were given less than a week to write a 400 to 800-word essay on their favorite issues with one or two suggested by CDPI. Two out of three topics were about President Duterte while the lone female preferred the encroachment of the U.S. bases in the Philippines.

What was evident is their predilection for sourcing news and issues almost wholly from social media. This could eventually spell the demise of the broadsheets as young readers migrate towards the exclusive use of internet platforms. The choice of topics reflects how abreast they are with current issues. Craig’s take on the Deegong is straight, linear and bold: “…the most powerful person in the country, the President, is not exempted from being the center of the discourse…apparently, this set of millennials believe that Digong is an imperial president.

They argue that the president destroys the democratic processes and institutions of the country.

But there is an apparent cleavage of opinions between the pros and anti (Duterte). However, there are ‘passersby’ not (paying) attention on issues (not found) on their (FB) timelines. They are apathetic.”

Dennis on the other hand employs the Socratic method: Is Deegong a prudent and rational man or is he just another bad decisionmaker? Machiavelli once said, ‘A prudent man never honors his words’…one could say that Deegong is indeed a prudent man due to his mood swings and his unique style of decision-making, which can be compared to modern artworks (complex, weird and unorthodox yet still has an appeal to the viewing public).”

Such declarations may provoke debate among the more articulate millennials, particularly those now working in various professions. Most, however, seem to be ambivalent and oblivious of the passion of the moment – the erratic behavior of DU30 – particularly those who are still ensconced within the comfortable and safe confines of their classrooms.

This is understandable as the millennials and the X Gen (40 +) barely have the firsthand memories of a dictatorship but only the lessons to be learned from books, essays and documents, mostly written by the baby boomers. The imposition of martial law and life

within a dictatorial regime are alien to their experience. But the greater danger lies where lessons are not learned and the creeping conditions similar to those of the Marcos dictatorship will again descend upon us. We need to be mindful of George Santayana’s dictum.

Which brings me also to the short article of the lone female OJT on the Philippine-U.S. relationship. Nizle’s take is that recent news signaled the sneaking intrusion of American forces into the country with the bilateral military exercise “known as Balikatan – happening next month (May 7-18, 2018). This caters to the U.S.-Philippine arrangement in response to a recent crisis; but the cooperation and interoperability of the U.S. and Philippine armed forces is the core of this exercise; (depicting) too the embodiment of diplomatic affairs on both sides.”

It will be recalled that past American administrations (Bush Sr./Reagan) were the champions of the Marcos dictatorship. In 1998, the U.S. military bases in the country, were taken out, eroding U.S. prestige in Southeast Asia.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed between the two countries as a watered-down version covering the U.S. military presence in the region, establishing the annual bilateral military

exercises called Balikatan.

When the deadly Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines in November 2013, the U.S. Marines were the first to arrive and give aid to the victims through the “disaster relief crisis response.” From this sprung the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the two countries.

Effective for an initial period of 10 years, and enforced yearly thereafter unless terminated by either party, EDCA allows U.S. forces to operate out of agreed locations – facilities and areas that are provided by our government through our Armed Forces (AFP).

Operational control of these facilities is with the US forces although the Philippines retains ownership of the “agreed locations.” The U.S. government asked for access to eight locations in the Philippines. We agreed to five.

On April 18, 2018, the first “EDCA project broke ground at the Pampanga Basa Air Base for a ‘multi-purpose Humanitarian Response Warehouse.’ Defense Secretary Lorenzana said it will respond to the evolving security challenges and promote peace in the Asian region” Except for the remnants of the leftist groups in the country, these developments did not seem to disturb the equanimity of the mil-

lennials. With all media platform inundated by news about China’s illegal infringement on our territories in the West Philippine Sea, its bullying tactics, and Malacañang’s lame and inutile response, the millennials may be tolerant and even welcome the “return of the U.S. forces.”

The perspectives of the millennials may be different from those of the past generations; and rightly so as they have one thing going for them today absent in our time – immediate and unfettered access to information. But with this rapid growth of technology, they are inundated with facts and “pseudo facts,” and a plethora of data, opinion and viewpoints. Do they have the sophisticated mind to separate the chaff from the grain allowing them to formulate their own views? The contribution of the interns manifested in their essays puts the answer in the positive. And labeling the President as ‘imperial’ and an unorthodox decision-maker; plus, their healthy skepticism about the continued presence of America in the country, they also have the courage to say it.

This specific characteristic of the Filipino millennial is crucial in the maintenance and furtherance of the country’s democracy. We are in good hands! (ManilaTimes. net)

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 2-4, 2018

A

SWS: Hunger incidence 2nd lowest in 14 years

by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

THE number of Filipino families who have experienced involuntary hunger went down to 2.3 million in the first quarter of 2018, the second lowest since 2004, according to the latest poll conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey released on Monday showed that 9.9 percent or some 2.3 million families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2018—down by six percentage points from the 15.9 percent or 3.6 million families in December 2017.

“This is only the second time hunger has been in the singledigit range since March 2004,” SWS said in a media release.

The lowest reading since March 2004 was recorded in June 2017 at 9.5 percent or an estimated

2.2 million Filipino families.

The polling firm said the 9.9 percent was arrived at by adding the proportions of those who experienced “moderate hunger,” 8.6 percent, and those who said they experienced “severe hunger.”

“Moderate hunger” refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while “severe hunger” refers to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months, SWS added.

The hunger level decreased in all areas in the country since the December 2017 survey.

Hunger declined from 14.7 percent in December to 6 percent in March in Metro Manila; 17.7 percent to 11 percent in Balance Luzon (Luzon except Metro Manila); 13.3 percent to 13 percent in Visayas; and 15.3 percent to 7.33 percent in Min-

A month before the June primary...

PAGE A4 According to a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released Thursday, April 26, Newsom leads with 30 percent support from likely voters, a four percent jump from previous polls.

Villaraigosa finds himself faltering in the polls, garnering only 9 percent of support from likely voters; both Cox and Allen have increased support, each leaping ahead of Villaraigosa with 18 percent and 16 percent support, respectively.

After the debate, the Asian Journal caught up with some Filipino American voters to gather their thoughts on the gubernatorial race.

“I think John Chiang raised some good points, and out of the candidates I saw tonight, I think I trust him the most to really address our issues as Asians and Asian Americans,” Filipina-American Georgina Ray, 22, shared with the Asian Journal following the debate. “I mean, I don’t know about the candidates that weren’t here, but [Chiang’s] stances on diversity, inclusivity and making the immigrant community, especially the Asian immigrant community, feel more welcome and giving them more opportunities to succeed is something I’d like to see in our next governor.”

Ray, who identifies as a Democrat, said that she felt that the other candidates didn’t do “a good enough job” at fulfilling the point

of the debate, which was to speak to the Asian American communities directly, preferring to “keep it safe” and conflate the APA community with other minority communities.

“It was a lot of, like, ‘Well, the Asian American community wants the same things as other communities,” and while that’s true, the way, for example, a Filipino or Chinese immigrant has to deal with public education or immigration is different from, say, the way a British immigrant has to deal with [those issues]. Those are broad issues and the immigrant community isn’t a monolith by the slightest. I feel like Chiang was the only one to really see and address that,” Ray, a student at Pasadena Community College, added.

When asked who she would vote for if the election was that night, she shrugged and said, “I wish Newsom would’ve been there tonight,” adding she’s the “kind of person” who wants to know about all the candidates before making an electoral decision.

Jester Yam, a Filipino and Chinese American, immigrated to Los Angeles from Baguio, Philippines in the 1980s and became a citizen in 1997. Yam, an accountant living in Arcadia, noted that he was a registered Republican and had voted for the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, John McCain and Mitt Romney, but he arrived at a partisan impasse

danao.

SWS said the six-point drop in hunger nationwide was due to a “decrease in the incidence of hunger among both the selfrated poor and self-rated nonpoor.”

Among the self-rated poor, hunger declined from 24.9 percent in December to 16.7 percent in March; among the nonpoor, 8.9 percent to 4.9 percent; among the self-rated food poor, 28.8 percent to 20.8 percent; and among the non-food-poor or food borderline, 9.9 percent to 5.4 percent.

The survey was conducted Construction of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) goes full speed along Regalado Avenue in Fairview, Quezon City, where one-way traffic from March 23 to 27, 2018 using will be implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority starting today. On Tuesday, the contractors of the MRT-7 will start face-to-face interviews of 1,200 construction of the station at the intersection of Tandang Sora and Commonwealth in Quezon City, which will worsen traffic in the area. adults nationwide, with samManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez pling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and PAGE A5 Palace spokesman Harry Roque The five villages in Manila were Mindanao. n “The CHR acknowledges Jr. told reporters the narco-list was Barangay 471, 477, 482, 659-A, once President Donald Trump PDEA’s desire to alleviate the drug intended to guide voters ahead of and 690. problem in the country. But the the village and Sangguniang Ka“Public office is a public trust. was elected.

“I don’t know if this changed release of the ‘narco-list’ of ba- bataan or youth council elections. They are not private citizens. They Aquino said: “I don’t care about are accountable for their duties my opinions on any of the can- rangay officials allegedly involved didates, you know, nothing was in illegal drugs is alarming,” CHR legal actions. I expect that and my and the public has the right to know if these tasks were delivered really that surprising in that each spokeswoman Jackielyn de Guia legal team will deal with it.”

Año said the officials on the list by them,” he said. party stayed true to the party said in Filipino.

“As a law enforcement agency, would still have the chance to deUnder a memorandum circular agendas,” Yam said. “If I had to from the Interior department, all make a choice tonight, I think I’d it is PDEA’s duty to double-check fend themselves in court.

Cases will be filed against them villages should form a Badac to either support Mrs. Eastin or Mr. information on the list, look for sufficient evidence, and file proper “in due time,” Aquino said. counter illegal drug activities in Chiang.”

Admin cases their areas.

Yam said he did support Allen’s charges in court,” de Guia added.

The rights body reiterated that a Año later headed out to the The council should be comcall to expand language instruction to encourage all non-English “long-term and sustainable solu- Office of the Ombudsman to file posed of the village chairman. The speakers to learn English as well tion” should be done to hold err- charges against 16 villages nation- vice chairman is the village counas Cox’s plan to lower taxes. But ing officials accountable, instead wide for failing to activate their cil member who heads the comYam found himself recoiling at the of publicly accusing them without respective Barangay Anti-Drug mittee on peace and order.

Abuse Councils (Badac).

Members of the council include way both conservatives discussed due process.

The release of the list for public He was accompanied by Inte- the kagawad who heads the baimmigration, especially Allen’s support for Trump’s border wall, consumption could cause undue rior Undersecretary Martin Diño rangay committee on women and which Yam called “very stupid” shame, violate their right to fair and Assistant Secretary Ricojudge family, the youth council chief, the trial, erode their dignity, and result Janvier Echiverri. public school principal or his or and “a waste of money.”

Año said there was no excuse her representative, the head of the Regarding the ongoing debate in the suffering of their families, over immigration policy, Yam as the consequences could be “ir- for these villages not to activate village watchmen or tanod or their thinks that “the language being reversible” should the officials be their councils after repeated di- executive officer, a representative used about immigrants by some proven innocent later on, the CHR rectives from the Interior depart- of a nongovernment organization, ment and the Dangerous Drugs and a representative of a faithpoliticians which is very hate- said.

Palace backs PDEA Board (DDB). based organization such as from ful and anti-immigrant, and you Malacañang on Monday rejectOut of the 16 villages, 11 were the Ugnayan ng Barangay at mga know, that really does hurt because it’s not true for most immi- ed the CHR’s statements and said from Bicol Region and five were Simbahan (cooperation between the PDEA did not violate any law in from National Capital Region, the village and the church) or grants.” particularly in the city of Manila. UBAS. (ManilaTimes.net) “I’m not impressed with the releasing the narco-list. way that they [the Republican candidates] talked about immigration tonight and for a while now, I don’t think I want a leader or leaders, Democrat or Republican, who PAGE A5 tive point that usually draws a result me.” [says] these nasty things about Duterte announced he had perEarlier in April Manila also de- sponse from Duterte. immigrants or make assumptions sonally ordered her investigated ported Italian Giacomo Filibeck, “Presidents can say what they about immigrants,” Yam said. as a warning to foreigners who deputy secretary general of the like, but you know I’ve never met The primary election will take criticise his government.

Party of European Socialists, who the president. I don’t remember place on Tuesday, June 5. The “Don’t let that nun in because had condemned Duterte’s anti- saying anything in public about top two vote earners, regardless her mouth is one that knows no drug war. him,” the nun said. of party, will face each other in a shame. You do not have that right Fox said she has been quiet on “I don’t know where his inforrunoff election on November 6. n to criticise us,” he added. “You in- the narcotics crackdown, a sensi- mation is coming from.” n

207 village execs linked...

‘I’ll come back’: Sister Patricia Fox...

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 2-4, 2018

seafood city fpfc

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

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BSP: Financial system sustains growth in 2017

by MayveLin

u. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

BANKS and non-bank institutions continued to support the growth of the Philippine financial system last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday, April 27.

In a statement, the central bank said the system “sustained its growth in 2017 with a positive performance amid volatilities in market conditions and the increasing sophistication of global financial services.”

Lenders’ strong balance sheets, with positive doubledigit growth in assets, loans, investments, deposits and capital, supported the banking system, it added.

“Banks sustained their profitability, which came from strong interest income from lending activities,” BSP said.

The system’s annual asset increased by 11.6 percent to

P15.2 trillion last year. This was driven by loans that grew 16.4 to P8.9 trillion and funded by a stable base of deposits that rose 11.6 percent to P11.7 trillion.

The industry’s net profit jumped by 9 percent to P167.6 billion, while non-performing loan ratio improved to 1.7 percent with a capital adequacy ratio of 15 percent.

Banks also kept liquidity sufficient with enough stock of highquality liquid assets as the liquidity coverage ratio registered at 185.3 percent on solo basis.

“The banking system’s foreign currency deposit unit system In contrast, the Anti-Camcording Act of the Philippines allows authorized persons, even without warrant and payment of admission fee or any charge, to enter and search any exhibition

Philippines still out of US IP watch list

u PAGE B2

Philippine economy not at risk from overheating –HSBC

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

BRITISH banking giant HSBC has played down fears the Philippines is the most at risk from overheating among countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In its latest ASEAN Perspectives titled “Mind the output gap,” HSBC said the Philippine economic growth remains grounded on solid fundamentals.

Most market watchers fear the Philippines is most at risk from overheating due to robust growth in recent years, while inflation is now breaching the two to four percent tar-

get range set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

HSBC said the country’s economy has been running below potential since 2016 after growing above potential from 2012 to 2015.

It pointed out growth before 2010 was primarily driven by a combination of consumption and exports, “which led to ac-

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facility, seize any audiovisual recording device, and detain any person should they have reasonable ground to believe that a violation has been or is being committed.

301 Report released by the Office by richMond Mercurio of the US Trade Representative Philstar.com (USTR) showed that the PhilipTHE Philippines has remained pines continues to maintain a roout of the U.S. government’s bust environment for intellectual watch list of countries with poor property protection, being out of intellectual property rights pro- the list since 2014.

The USTR’s Special 301 Retection and enforcement for the fifth consecutive year, while Chi- port 2018 cited the Philippines na sustained its stay on the prior- once more as among the counity watch list for the 14th straight tries with effective legislation against anti-camcording, along year.

The latest edition of the Special with Canada and Japan.

Philstar file photo

warrant and payment of admission fee or any charge, to enter and search any exhibition facility, seize any audiovisual recording device, and detain any person should they have reasonable ground to believe that a violation has been or is being committed.

However, the Philippines was mentioned in the Special 301 Report for having slow opposition proceedings in trademark

u PAGE B2

Facebook data breach likely hit fewer Filipinos

by Ma. Lisbet

K. esMaeL

ManilaTimes.net

THE number of Filipinos affected by a massive Facebook data breach could be lower than the initially estimated 1.175 million, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) said on Friday, April 27.

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

The report said laws of other economies lack the teeth to criminalize camcording activity due to requirements that entail law enforcement to observe the camcording activity, then prove the person circulating the unlawfully recorded movie before intervention, as deterring effective enforcement.

In contrast, the Anti-Camcording Act of the Philippines allows authorized persons, even without

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!!!

NPC chief Raymund Enriquez Liboro told reporters that the social media giant had responded to requests for additional information given initial reports that the Philippines was the second most affected in terms of the number of people whose data was “improperly shared”, “The deadline that we gave

them was tomorrow (April 28), and we received their response today (April 27), two weeks after we sent them the letter,” Liboro said.

Facebook, he added, found out that “the number could be lower than the 1.1[75] [million affected NPC chief Raymund Enriquez Liboro.

Photo by Roger Ranada/ManilaTimes.net Filipinos].” u PAGE B2 He declined to provide more

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

B MAY 2-4 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

Government rolls out over P1-trillion infra projects

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

THE government is set to roll out over P1 trillion worth of projects as part of the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure thrust under the Build Build Build program.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said 20 projects

were confirmed during the 6th Board Meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on April 25.

Heading the list is the planned P735.63 billion international airport project of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. in Bulacan.

The project confirmation of the proposed international gateway

is still subject to final review of the concession agreement.

The second biggest project to be undertaken by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is the proposed P50.3 billion SubicClark railway project.

Likewise, Dominguez said four infrastructure projects worth P84.11 billion lined up by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also got the green light from the NEDA Board.

These include the AmbalSimuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River flood control projects worth P39.22 billion, the Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan floodway bridges construction project worth P27.37 billion, the Bridge Construction Acceleration Project for SocioEconomic Development worth P11.37 billion, and the proposed change in scope, cost and loan validity extension of the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change adaptation measures in low-lying areas of Pampanga Bay worth P6.15 billion.

Other projects approved include the P12.55 billion Clark International Airport expansion project- operations and maintenance public private partnership (PPP concession) under the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), the Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and growth (RAPID Growth) project worth P4.78 billion as well as the Davao Food Complex (DFC) project worth P1.02 billion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Dominguez said the NEDA Board also confirmed the proposed increase in the cost of the New Centennial Water SourceKaliwa Dam project worth P14.32 billion of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Other projects include proposed restructuring for the Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management Project (INREMP) worth P7.24 billion or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the proposed change in scope and cost for P1.68 billion Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Phase 2 project of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Angels among us

noring his sly request to tell him of the child’s location.

It is believed 14,000 innocent Monette male babies from the age of two AdevA MAglAyA and below were killed in Herod’s most cruel, preemptive strike DO you believe in angels? I do. against this perceived threat to Most people do. his kingdom. The holy family The strong presence of angels stayed safely away for years until in the various books of the Bible, the king died and the danger had especially during the birth of Je- passed. sus Christ attests to the role of Did these holy innocents beangels in human history.

The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bring forth a son. Zechariah received a message from an angel. It was an angel that told Joseph to take Mary for his wife. It was a multitude of angels that told the shepherds where to find the newborn child while angels hovered above the stable during that wondrous night.

It was also an angel that warned Joseph of a clear and present danger to the child Jesus. Herod, the unhinged, mur- come cherubs, angels without derous king descended from a wings? Do the millions of the unlong line of power-mad mon- born of our time the world over archs, wanted to make sure no cut down by murderous aborone stood between him and his tionists become cherubs? throne.

Does God repurpose innocent In haste, Joseph left with Mary souls upon their deaths to beand the child during the night af- come angels themselves? There ter the Magi had left for a long is a belief that souls are indeand arduous trek to a town in structible. If so, do souls get reEgypt some scholars estimate to cycled back to be born at another be 200 miles away where Herod time and place? Only God knows had no authority to commit mass for certain. murder.

Angels were strong proactive You can bet a host of angels characters when the story of huguided them in seeking refuge. manity unfolded during biblical Herod’s murderous rampage times. And while today, cynics, began when he realized that the atheists and those on the dark Magi had tricked him and had side might argue that angels are taken a different route home ig- figments of the human imagina-

tion, there are countless people who will brave the scorn of scoffers, fight back vehemently and attest to the very real presence of angels in their lives.

The belief in the presence and power of angels to intervene is strong in popular conservative culture. In a remarkable 1999 Hallmark film, “A Season for Miracles,” an angel plays a pivotal role in helping a loving aunt to two children whose incarcerated, drug addicted mother places them in a situation forcing them to run and escape from the foster care system that threatens to split them apart during Christmas.

The film is based on a novel by Marilyn Pappano and scripted

by Maria Nation. Michael Pressman directed the film.

It is a heartwarming story set in a small town called Bethlehem during Christmas with engaging characters like Agatha and Corrina. For those with a penchant for romance, the story has spades of it as well. So check this film out on youtube whether it is Christmas or not.

In my opinion, this is a timeless piece of good work worth watching a hundred times. It will be an hour and some minutes to lighten your load and feel the presence of angels in your life as well.

Suspend disbelief. That is the only way to enjoy stories about angels.

(To be continued …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

“ I think that someone is watching out for me, God, my guardian angel, I’m not sure who that is but they really work hard.”

– Mattie Stepanek Author, “Heartsongs”

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA SEC 25C refers to the $500 home or residential energy efficient credit expired after 2016.

Sec 25D refers to the solar electric and solar water heating systems residential energy efficient property credit (REEP credit).There is no dollar limit on the credit and credit percentages are: through 2019 the credit amount is equal to 30 % of the cost of eligible property placed in service in 2017, 2018, or 2019; through 2020 the credit is 26 % of the cost of property placed in service in 2020; through 2021, the credit is 22 % of the cost of property placed in service in 2021.

Qualified solar electric property costs: These costs must be for use of solar energy to generate electricity for use in your main or second residence located in the U.S. You may rely on the manufacturer’s certification in writing that a product is a qualifying property for the credit.

Keep the certificate for your records.

Qualified solar water heating property costs: These costs

Solar energy credit for residential 2 must be to heat water for use in your main or second residence located in the U.S. At least half of the energy used by the solar water heating property for such purpose is derived from the sun.

The property must be certified for performance by the nonprofit Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed. For a summary of water heater systems ratings with names and addresses of participating suppliers visit SRCC’s website: www.solar-rating.org.

Basis adjustment: It is important to know that the costs related to qualified electric residential property increases the cost of your property but is reduced by the amount of the credit claimed in your Form 1040 using Form 5695.

Mixed-use: If only 20% or less of the property is used for business use, 100% of the cost maybe eligible for the credit. On the other hand, if less than 80% of the cost is used for non-business use only that portion of the cost is eligible for the credit under Code Sec 25C(e)(1) and Code Sec 25D(d)(7). You may qualify

even if you have a home office.

Before January 1, 2017: If property is placed in service before 2017 , the credit amount is generally 30% of the cost of qualified solar electric property, solar water heating property, small wind energy property, geothermal heat pump property, and fuel cell property.

After December 31, 2016 but before January 1, 2022: If the property placed in service after December 31, 2016 and before January 1, 2022, the credit is available only for eligible solar electric property and solar water heating property. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, indepth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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BSP: Financial system sustains...

PAGE B1 t

exhibited strong liquidity and positive net profit. Meanwhile, growth in the trust industry’s total assets was lifted by the expansion in the stock of financial assets,” Bangko Sentral said.

The 26 foreign banks it authorized to operate in the country as of end-December 2017 sustained their growth trajectory, it added.

“Banks are making progress in expanding their geographic footprint, as well as taking advantage of opportunities from utilizing digital technology in financial transactions,” BSP said.

As of end-2017, the country has 587 banks and 11,206 bank branches and other offices, including 919 micro banking offices.

It also has 20,279 automated teller machines and 71 banks with electronic banking facilities.

Meanwhile, non-bank financial institutions, including those with quasi-banking functions and non-stock savings and loan associations, also sustained their overall financial condition and earning performance.

BSP defines such institutions

as those without a full banking license, but can facilitate bankrelated financial services. They include pawnshops, remittance companies, investment houses, and brokerage firms.

“Overall, the Philippine financial system’s positive performance in 2017 has been grounded on the BSP’s sustained implementation of proactive reforms that will raise the bar on risk management systems, promote sound liquidity and capital positions, and enable greater access to financial services,” it said.n

Philippines still out of USIP...

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protection.

Trademark opposition proceedings are administrative proceedings that can be filed by any person who believes that he will be damaged by the registration of a mark.

“The enduring campaign drive of the Philippines in fighting counterfeiting and piracy is an effort that the United States, one of the Philippines’ largest trading partners, continues to recognize. This bodes well for the country especially that at this time we have embarked on, and will continuously explore innovative ways in introducing to the public the importance of intellectual property, in strengthening our engagement with stakeholders, and in the need to fight

the proliferation and patronizing of fake products,” Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) director general Josephine Santiago said.

Santiago said the report affirms the country is going in the right direction as far as protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights are concerned.

In this year’s edition, the USTR identified 12 countries on the Priority Watch List, which represents the most significant concerns regarding inadequate or ineffective intellectual property protection or enforcement.

These are Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Russia, Ukraine, and Venezuela.

China, is on the Priority Watch List for the 14th consecutive

year, according to the USTR, due to longstanding and new IP concerns that merit increased attention, such as its coercive technology transfer practices, range of impediments to effective intellectual property enforcement, and widespread infringing activity that includes trade secret theft, rampant online piracy, and counterfeit manufacturing.

Meanwhile, 24 countries were included on the Watch List.

These are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. n

Facebook data breach likely hit...

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details and said Facebook would continue to investigate the matter.

“There would be constant exchanges of information to pre-

vent harm and to also help us in dealing with this and strategically coming up with [means]to protect users,” Liboro said.

Facebook earlier this month admitted to lapses in securing

the data of its users, with British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica said to have “improperly shared” the data of 87 million Facebook users worldwide. n

BUSINESS NEWS

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

Will a business bankruptcy affect its owners?

THE client and her husband are the only stockholders of an S corporation that has been doing well for the last 15 years. In fact, it’s still doing well and had a great year last year.

What is the difference between an S corporation and a C corporation? In an S corporation, the business income is declared in the 1040 of the owners, while the C corporation files its own tax returns. But both corporations are legally separate entities from their owners. The corporation is a ‘person’ created by legal fiction. It can do whatever a real person does, legally. For instance, a corporation can buy and sell land, transact business in its own name, file a lawsuit and be sued in its own name, without affecting the owners of the corporation.

In the client’s case, the problem is that her husband is ill and can no longer run the business. So the wife now will run the business. Her concern is that the corporation owes $1.5M to banks and suppliers, and that she has equity in her residence of $1.0M? So what is the connection between the two? The client is worried that if something happens to the business and it cannot pay the $1.5M, can the bank sue her and get her house?

Let’s analyze the problem. The first thing that has to be determined is whether or not the husband, and/or client signed any personal guarantees that made them personally liable for the debts of the corporation. If neither one of them gave any written personal guaranty to any creditor for the debt of the business, then the answer is that the creditors of the business will not be able to get her house to satisfy the debts of the business. But certainly, the creditors will attempt to penetrate the veil of corporate fiction to get to client’s house. The creditors will sue the corporation and the client and allege that the corporate fiction should be invalidated or ‘pierced.’ Of course, the creditors will attempt to do this, but can they be successful in proving the allegation, and end up with a court order setting

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES ONE of the most emotional aspect of a marital dissolution case is dealing with Child custody issues. Sadly enough, this is an area where most parents play games with each other trying their best to deprive the other parents of their right to maintain relationship with their child.

Child custody comes in two parts, 1) physical custody and 2) legal custody. Physical custody may be awarded solely to one parent or jointly. Sole physical custody means that the child will reside primarily and under the supervision of one parent subject to visitation from the other parent upon order of the court. Family Code §3007. Joint physical custody on the other hand means that the child gets to spend frequent and continuing contact with both parents. Family Code §3004.

The court would state specifically the periods of time the child will be under the supervision of each parent.

Legal custody on the other hand deals with the right and responsibility of a parent to make decisions regarding the health, education, and welfare of the child. Family Code §3006. Examples would be decisions such as where the child shall attend school, whether the child can travel to another jurisdiction or state, legal decisions involving the child. In cases where joint legal custody is ordered by the court, either parent alone can make decisions concerning the

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG

aside the corporate that shields the personal assets of the owners of the corporation?

To pierce the corporate veil to get to the house of the client, the creditors will have to prove that the corporation was simply the ‘alter ego’ of the owners, that it was not operated by owners like a real corporation. The easiest way to prove the ‘alter ego’ attack on the corporation is proven by a preponderance of the evidence that personal funds of the owners were being intermingled with the funds of the corporation.

In other words, the owners were using the corporation as a ‘piggy bank.’ So, in the client’s case, if there was no intermingling of personal and corporate funds, the client’s house is secure because the creditors will not be able to pierce the corporate veil to get her house to pay for the debts of the corporation. Salary payments to the owners — because they are officers of the corporation — is not intermingling of funds. Money lent by owners to the corporation is considered to be a debt owed by the corporation to the owner-lender, just like any other debt. This is not intermingling of funds.

However, if the owners use the corporate account to pay personal bills, this is an intermingling of funds. Another reason to pierce the corporate veil is that corporate formalities were not followed such as recording board resolutions for decisions made by the company. Yet another reason is that the owners perpetrated a financial fraud on the creditors.

What is financial fraud? If the owners acted recklessly in their business transactions resulting in major debt that they knew the business had no chance in paying back, this could be viewed as financial fraud and could be used to pierce the corporate veil. Let’s

say owners borrowed $5.0M from creditors based on projected sales of $50M per year but in reality, sales came in at $1.0M a year, a case can be argued by the creditors saying that the owners were reckless in their decision to borrow $5.0M. But certainly, the owners may still prevail in proving that they were justified in their $50M sales projections but something happened that was totally unexpected. It’s really a matter of proof at trial.

So what is the lesson here? If you own a business, do not ever personally guarantee the debts of the business. If the creditor requires your personal guaranty, go to another bank or supplier who will extend credit to your business without tying you in.

If the business fails, at least you don’t lose any of your personal assets. You will still have a house to live in. There is no reason to ‘go for broke’ and put your family’s security at risk, is there? The other lesson is that do not intermingle personal funds with business funds, and make sure the corporation follows legal formalities and procedures. If you do this, then your corporation will do business by assuming its own debts and shield your personal assets from business debts.

Now if the client wishes to not continue doing business, the S corporation itself can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to handle the $1.5M of corporate debt. The corporate bankruptcy will not affect the personal assets of the client because as I said earlier, a corporation is a separate “person” created by legal fiction; therefore, it can file for bankruptcy without affecting the personal assets of the owners of the corporation. *** 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.

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How courts determine child custody in california health, education, and welfare of the child unless otherwise specified in the order.

In making its determination on child custody issues, the court considers various factors depending on the specific facts of the case. The court usually follows the public policy of ensuring and encouraging the child’s frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the divorce unless it would not be in the best interest of the child. Fam. Code §3011. If the court is inclined to order sole custody to one parent, the consideration boils down to which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the noncustodial parent. Family Code §3040(a)(1).

A major factor that would tilt the courts decision are incidents or history of child abuse and domestic violence. This can be from the part of a parent, a parent’s co-habitant, or other person to whom a parent has a relationship with.

The childs amount and nature of contact with the parents is also another factor considered. Fam. Code §3011(c). Other factors that can be considered are the parent’s use of controlled substance, prior criminal convictions and registration as a sex offender, and existence of restraining order against a parent.

The family code requires that the parties go to mediation and attempt to agree on the custody issue prior to the court hearing the contested case. Family Code §3170(a). If the case is not settled in mediation, it gets decided in court through a contested hearing. At times, the court will

order a child custody evaluation if it determines that it would be in the best interest of the child. The court may also appoint a minor’s counsel if it feels it would be in the best interest of the child.

Family Code §3150(a). The court retains continuous jurisdiction over issues of child custody and support until the child reaches 18. This means the order may be modified all throughout this period if there has been a change in circumstances. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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Philippine economy not at risk...

PAGE B1 t

actual growth oscillating above and below our estimate for potential growth but not necessarily raising potential output.

However, HSBC said this changed drastically since 2010 when fixed investment became a more significant contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) growth as a result of fiscal, economic, and social reforms.

“Higher investment helped increase industrial capacity, which also led to higher potential growth. In fact, potential growth has climbed steadily since 2010 to a point where it now exceeds actual growth, based on our estimates,” it said.

The bank added growth in the Philippines has been largely driven by greater capital mobilization, and the government’s commitment to invest further in both human capital and infrastructure should help sustain potential growth at above seven percent in the medium term,” HSBC said.

The Philippines has booked 76 quarters of uninterrupted gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

The GDP expansion settled at 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter from the seven percent in the third bringing the full year 2017 growth at 6.7 percent.

According to HSBC, this does not necessarily mean that growth will actually reach its potential every year, but this at least shows that the government’s seven to eight percent target is grounded on some theoretical basis.

On the other hand, inflation gradually moved down since 2010 after the BSP committed to a fixed inflation target over a two-year horizon.

Inflation kicked up to 4.3 percent in March from the revised 3.8 percent in February as a result of the transitory impact of the implementation of Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

“We believe higher inflation was originally triggered by the

recent tax reform, but it is now becoming more broad-based.

Recent readings show that even areas that are not directly affected by the tax reform have risen above their normal trends, while those that are directly affected are rising above our initial expectations,” HSBC said.

The broad-based inflation could be showing signs that there are indeed second-round impacts from the recent tax reform and could lead to even higher inflation expectations.

“These two are the very factors that the BSP has pointed to as reasons for possible rate hikes,” it said.

HSBC sees the BSP’s Monetary Board raising benchmark rates by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent in the second quarter to manage inflationary risks.

“But we don’t necessarily see an aggressive tightening path for the BSP given our view that the economy is not at risk of overheating,” HSBC said. ■

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 2-4, 2018

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS 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 2

Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown hosts “Rotary Pride” in LA Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown cordially invites you to its “Rotary Pride” event on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. With a FUN evening of Dinner, live band entertainment, dancing & door prizes with a surprise presentation. It will be held at Filipino Cultural Center (FCC) — 1740 Temple St., Los Angeles, CA. It is $50 per person ($65 per person after May 3). Proceeds to benefit a rotary project in the community and internationally.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles hosts Santacruzan-May Crowning Everyone is invited to the 14th Annual Santacruzan-May Crowning sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012).

Msgr. Alex D. Aclan, Vicar for Clergy of Archdiocese of LA, will be the principal celebrant.

Highlights include presentation of “Sagalas” who are young girls and women comprising the Court of Honor for the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Celebration, Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Flower Offering, and a “Banda Musiko”accompanied Procession. It will be participated by different civic, religious, devotional, and ethnic organizations including the Philippine Consulate General in LA. The theme of the celebration: “Immaculate Mary, Caring Mother of Missionary Disciples.” The celebration is capped by a Dinner-Dance at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 6:30 p.m.) For more information, please contact: Chairperson Arnel Bailon at (818) 310-3663 / nyarface2@yahoo.com or Co-chair Fe Amit at (323) 376-8448 / fe.amit@gmail.com. include presentation of “Sagalas” who are young girls and women comprising the Court of Honor for the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Celebration, Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Flower Offering, and a “Banda Musiko”- accompanied Procession. It will be participated by different civic, religious, devotional, and ethnic organizations including the Philippine Consulate General in LA. The theme of the celebration: “Immaculate Mary, Caring Mother of Missionary Disciples.” The celebration is capped by a Dinner-Dance at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 6:30 p.m.) For more information, please contact: Chairperson Arnel Bailon at (818) 310-3663 / nyarface2@yahoo. com or Co-chair Fe Amit at (323) 376-8448 / fe.amit@gmail.com.

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 22

SIPA hosts Spotlight on EntrePINAY Success in LA SIPA hosts Spotlight on EntrePINAY Success in LA Take a break and join Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) for a coffee + custard mixer on Tuesday, May 22. Learn from Kristine de la Cruz’s business journey from Créme Caramel LA and FrankieLucy Bakeshop, which is a collaboration with Annie Choi of Found Coffee.

It will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at FrankieLucy Bakeshop (3116 Sunset Blvd Unit 1/2, Los Angeles, CA 90026). Limited tickets available. Please RSVP on Eventbrite: https://spotlighton-entrepinay-success.eventbrite.com. For more information or any questions, contact: Fidji

M AY 26

FACCGLA’s bowling tournament Kalayaan Incorporated, Southern California’s foremost celebrant of Philippine Independence will host the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 9, at the Universal Hilton Hotel, Universal City, California. For more information, contact Erlinda Granada-Sabah at (562) 682-9576; or Malou Perez at mperez0813@ aol.com.

JUNE 2

Holy Trinity Church hosts 2018 Fiesta in Los Angeles Come and celebrate Holy Trinity Church’s 2018 Fiesta on Saturday, June 2 from 1 to 9 p.m.

There will be lots of fun games, music and food for the entire family. The program will feature Anatalia Villaranda, Buhay Cali, HTC Choir and more. The coronation of the prince and princess of Holy Trinity Church will also take place. Holy Trinity Church is located at 3722 Boyce Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039.

JUNE 9

Kalayaan Incorporated presents Philippine Independence gala in Los Angeles Kalayaan Incorporated, Southern California’s foremost celebrant of Philippine Independence will host the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 9, at the Universal Hilton Hotel, Universal City, California. For more information, contact Erlinda Granada-Sabah at (562) 682-9576; or Malou Perez at mperez0813@ aol.com.

PH Time Is Now event in New York Come to New York City on Saturday, June 9 from 1 to 7 p.m. for a day of inspiring sessions to connect with fellow innovators and forward-thinkers, ignite new ideas and learn from today’s Global Filipino leaders! Set in the prestigious Harvard Club of New York, every minute and every session will teach and challenge you to create meaningful paths for personal and professional success. Speakers include restauranteur Nicole Ponseca of Maharlika/Jeepney and actor Vincent Rodriguez III of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.phtimeisnow.com/.

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

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B4 MAY 2-4 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

People and Events

On April 21, Hon. Mayor & Mrs. Noel Anthony M. Geslani of Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Philippines were welcomed at a meet & greet party hosted by Joseph & Minda Papilla Sol at their residence in Torrance, California with the cooperation of the Malasiquinians of America (MOA) Association. The association is headed by the president, Raul P. Evangelista, Officers of 2018-2020, Vice President- Divina J. Cansino, Steve R. Macaraeg, Bong R. Joves, Abraham Q. De vera, Secretary- Sayne Adriano Cruize, Asst Secretary-Virgie Lao Cabana, Treasurer-Vita E. Quinto, Asst. Treasuer-Adele D. Joves, Auditor-Arthur D. Boquiren, Samuel N. Lamban, Business-Loreta J. Afable, Dante G. Ancheta, Public Relation Officers-Mario G. Poquiz, Precy B. Bulatao, Peace Officers-Mario V. Milan, Pol C. Hernandez, Romy S. Quinto and Board of Directors-Pepe M. Macaranas Virgil T. Junio, Carrie B. Ramos, Chris D. Macaraeg, Hill P. Papilla, Susana M. de Guzman, Ernie B. Bulatao, Minda Pappilla Sol, Riza M. Macaranas, Oscar S. Mamaril, and Teofilo L. Bugayong. (By: Joe Cobilla-FPPP)

15th Annual Culver City car show on May 12 THE 15th Annual Culver City Car Show, hosted by the Culver City Exchange Club, will be on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Veterans Memorial Park (4117 Overland Avenue). The event occurs between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will feature live music, a beer & wine garden, gourmet food truck court and exciting vendors. Parking for the event will

EMPLOYMENT

be located at Sony Pictures Entertainment parking structure (enter off Overland Avenue). Please avoid parking in residential neighborhoods and remember that dogs are not permitted in the park.

For more information call (310) 499-4840 or visit the Culver City Car Show website at http://www. culvercitycarshow.com. ■

EMPLOYMENT

Diamond Bar community photo contest FROM its people to its places, Diamond Bar is brimming with photo-taking opportunities. If you live in town, we invite you to find some of these opportunities, photograph them and enter them into this year’s Through My Lens photo contest.

Co-sponsored by the City and the Diamond Bar Community Foundation, Through My Lens is now in its eight year and aims to raise community spirit while highlighting the best of Diamond Bar as captured through the camera lenses of residents.

The contest runs through Monday, October 15, with entries accepted in two age divisions (adult and youth) and five categories (people, pets, places, nature and digitally-altered).

Photo entries will be judged based on consistency with the “Diamond Bar living” theme, aesthetic appeal, originality, and creativity.

One entry will be selected as the winner in each of the divisions and categories, and those

that come in a close second will receive an honorable mention.

The overall top vote-getter will earn the grand prize title.

All winners will receive recognition by the Diamond Bar City Council and the Diamond Bar Community Foundation, and cash prizes of $50 for honorable mentions, $100 for winners, and $150 for the grand prize.

Official contest rules and the entry form is available at Diamond Bar City Hall, located at 21810 Copley Drive, or may also be downloaded from the City website at www.diamondbarca. gov/photocontest. To speak to someone about the contest, contact the City’s Public Information Division at (909) 839.7057 or photocontest@diamondbarca. gov. ■

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SCHOOL

Performance Strong. Results Delivered.

B MAY 2-4 2018 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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B6

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 2, 2018

Honoring tHe inspiration of

fil-am nurses tHis national nurses Week by rae ann varona / AJPress

EVErY year, the United States celebrates National Nurses Week from May 6 to May 12 (the birthday of modern nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale), to honor the over four million nurses providing care across the nation.

This year, the American Nurses Association chose the theme of “Inspire, Innovate, and Influence” to recognize the impact and innovation of nurses both in and outside of the hospital — whether it be providing individual care to patients and their families, or helping solve many of the nation’s public health issues.

For the nearly four million Filipinos living in the U.S., Nurses Week has also been about recognizing part of the Fil-Am culture and experience. roughly 200,000 nurses in the U.S. are Filipino — all familiar with ironed scrubs, matching clogs or nursing shoes, baon (packed lunch) preparations, and long 12-hour shifts.

How Filipinos came to be so represented in the U.S. nursing industry dates back to the early 1900s as the first batch of government-sponsored scholars arrived in the states through the Pensionado Act of 1903.

Upon graduating, many nursing students went back to the Philippines to work and help establish nursing schools. Many others also stayed in the U.S. where they eventually became the first generation of Fil-Am nurses.

“Nursing is so important in our Filipino community because that is who we are,” said Alyssa Cosejo, a Fil-Am student in her first quarter of nursing school at the Loma Linda University School of Nursing.

Much like many young FilAms in line to become the next generation of Fil-Am nurses, Cosejo, 19, found inspiration to become a nurse from watching her mom.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I was always fascinated when she left the house in scrubs and came back with a smile on her face,” said Cosejo.

“I would listen to her stories about what happened at work and it just made me want to be like her,” she added. “She is so caring and loving, and every time she comes back from work, she feels fulfilled.”

Alec Kirk, a 23-year old Fil-Am in his second year as a nursing

Four selF-care tips For nurses

by Klarize Medenilla/AJPress

For the nearly four million Filipinos living in the U.S., Nurses Week has also been about recognizing part of the Fil-Am culture and experience. Roughly 200,000 nurses in the U.S. are Filipino — all familiar with ironed scrubs, matching clogs or nursing shoes, baon (packed lunch) preparations, and long 12-hour shifts.

student at the university, similarly found inspiration from his sisters and cousin in Ireland, who despite everyday responsibilities like raising children, continued to work hard as nurses. He said he plans to follow in their footsteps and continue into graduate nursing education as well.

But at the core of what influenced and pushed him to pursue nursing was the simple urge to help people. He suggested the same was for his fellow nursing colleagues.

“Ask any other nurse and you’ll always get an interesting answer and perhaps very different from mine, but it seems, the answer always returns to some version of ‘I like to help people,’” he said.

Why so many Filipinos become nurses is a question asked by many in the U.S. — Filipino and non-Filipino alike. one reason may come from its rich history, as the profession continues to bring opportunities like it did in the past.

“I think nursing is incredibly popular in the Filipino community because this career has numerous specializations, and job opportunities can be found anywhere in the world,” said Piercy Wayne Adlaon, a 21-year-old junior year student at the university.

Filipino nurses working outside of the Philippines send about $1 billion in total to the Philippines every year, equating to roughly PHP50 billion annually. ron Carpio — a Fil-Am nursing instructor at Cal State University Channel Islands and Western Governors University — said that the attractiveness of a nursing career was apparent to his family back in the 1980’s when he was

The Filipino culture of caring, dedication, and togetherness has also been cited by Fil-Ams in their choice to become nurses.

Inquirer.net photos

Sarah Geronimo

Working in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself and ensuring you have enough physical, emotional and mental energy to take on the day, especially as a nurse working long hours.

Philstar.com photos

still in high school.

Initially thinking of becoming a doctor, Carpio said his father encouraged him to look into nursing.

“I went to pursue that, and I haven’t turned back since then,” said Carpio.

The Filipino culture of caring, dedication, and togetherness has also been cited by Fil-Ams in their choice to become nurses.

“I suspect that our culture of caring for each other — something akin to kapwa — is highly compatible with the image of nursing as a caring job,” said Kirk.

In 2012, Filipina nurse Menchu Sanchez made the Filipino nursing community proud when she was lauded by former U.S. President Barack obama for her heroism in saving 20 newborn babies during Hurricane Sandy.

At the Filipino Nurses Global Summit & 11th International Nursing Conference in the Philippines early this year, rev. Arnedo S. Valera — Esquire Executive Director and Migrant Heritage Commission’s chairperson — said Sanchez was a representation of all Filipino nurses around the world.

“They are hard working. Indeed, they have a reputation for going out of their way to take good care of their patients,” said Valera. “This is because Filipino nurses come from a caring culture, where families take care of their own sick and aging relatives.”

Nursing homes, for example, are rare in the Philippines. It isn’t uncommon to find generations of family members living together in one household.

But culture and history aside, Carpio encouraged those thinking of pursuing nursing do it because they have the passion and will to endure the challenges it comes with.

“That’s what I tell my students,” he said. “You’re going to learn a lot as a nurse, but at the same time, it’s tough. You have to enjoy doing it.”

Inspire, Innovate, Influence In light of the Nurses Week theme, Kirk sees technology and its role in advancing the practice of nursing as being one of the focuses this year, and referred to one professor he thought embodied the spirit of innovation.

“She taught us about using technology and research in healthcare as nurses, and how those are evolving the profession of nursing,” said Kirk. “Her point and emphasis to us was to always question our practice and participate in the inquiry to better it.”

Touching on the theme’s emphasis on inspiration, Adlaon — who was inspired to become

a nurse after shadowing one as a hospital volunteer — said he continues to find inspiration as a student. on who has been influential to him, Adlaon described his previous clinical instructor who he said influenced students by “encouraging them to enhance their skills now so that in the future there won’t be any mishaps or confusion.”

Cosejo added that the fact that her professors have chosen to teach her and her classmates despite the option of higher pay working full time at a hospital, has been inspiring.

“They show the students what it means to truly love our clients,” she said.

So how do the young future nurses think nurses should be honored?

Kirk suggests giving a short remark or a small gift of gratitude to a nurse, such as one in the family.

Lunch bags, tumblers, apparel, lapel pins, and pens have been popular gifts.

He also suggests nurses send some acknowledgement to other fellow nurses.

“It’s nice to say in a way, ‘Hey, I see you. I see that you are trying your best as a nurse despite everything else. Let’s keep going.’,” said Kirk.

Adlaon gave another sweet and simple suggestion of donuts and a thank you card.

For Cosejo, simply acknowledging the work they do is a good way to start.

“I think Nurses should be celebrated by acknowledging all the hard work that they do,” said Cosejo. “People look past nurses and just praise the doctors when there is a lot of hard work done by the nurses themselves.”

Having been around both seasoned and new nurses, Carpio also said that just recognizing and showing acknowledgment of what nurses really do — both in and out of the traditional medical facilities — is a great way to honor them.

But regardless of recognition, Carpio added that the nurses who enjoy their job will continue doing what they love.

“I love my job,”’ he said. “It’s what I do and I don’t need to be recognized for something I know I’m supposed to do.”

BEING a nurse can be among the most rewarding career choices. As a nurse, you’re responsible for the dayto-day comfort and well-being of a wide range of ill patients.

But being a nurse also means coping with stress, either from caring for patients or managing long shifts; more often you’re dealing with both. All of this can take a massive toll on your physical, emotional and mental health, and although it can be challenging finding respite within one of the most demanding of careers, it is essential to tend to your needs as much as your patients’ needs. Self-care routines largely depend on nurse to nurse, but these basic self-care tips can get you on the right track to establishing your own, unique routine.

1. Take care of your physical health: No one can work effectively if they’re indisposed in some way. And you’re definitely not in a position to take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself. That means incorporating healthy, nutritious food (fresh produce, high protein and quality grains and fats) into your diet.

Although it’s tempting to want to pop open an energy drink, sugary drinks do nothing but provide a short-term jolt. A good way to eat the right foods with little work during the week is to plan meals.

Meal prepping, in general, is a great idea for anyone looking to reform their diet.

Preparing three meals for the week means one less thing to worry about during your hectic schedule. Taking care of your physical health also means getting enough exercise. Some nurses, instead of sitting at the nurses’ station for long periods of time, walk the hallways and check on patients. Use a lunch break to go for a walk outside.

It can be easy to fall out of these self-care necessities if you’re so focused on a job that requires so much of you, but diet and exercise ensure you have the right amount of energy to complete the tasks at hand.

2. Establish boundaries: It can be easy to obsess over your work, especially if you’re passionate about that work.

In general, this is a good tip for anyone, but especially for nurses, many of whom become nurses for their inherent desire to take care of the

sick. You’re a nurse between the time you clock in and the time you clock out, and that should be it. It’s important to keep a healthy work/life balance. That also means sticking to only to the roles and tasks that fit within the parameters of your job requirements. As Filipinos, we’re predisposed to be hospitable and we want to make sure the people we’re taking care of are happy and comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing more work than what’s expected of you. You can always say no if a coworker or supervisor asks you to do more work.

3. Maintain a healthy personal life: Being a nurse can be exhausting and the thought of having a personal life seems like a luxury. But it’s an essential self-care element that can immediately de-stress you and take your mind away from your job. If you prefer to spend your time alone, schedule time each week to spend some relaxing time for yourself to focus on a non-nursing hobby. This can also mean engaging with your spiritual self and remain present even when your mind seems to be elsewhere. It can also mean keeping a journal for your thoughts or seeing a professional to work your emotions out. If you’re more extroverted, schedule time to see family and friends. Whatever it is, the key is scheduling time and having a routine-like approach to ensuring you make time for your personal life because that can often fall by the wayside when you’re so wrapped up in your job. Find the best balance for yourself.

4. Get enough sleep!

Nursing is often associated with long shifts. Whether it’s the night shift or day shift or the dreaded double shift, it’s exhausting even thinking about how many hours of sleep one may lose as a nurse. Working in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself and ensuring you have enough physical, emotional and mental energy to take on the day, especially as a nurse working long hours.

If you’re working a double shift, plan your sleep schedule beforehand so you’re not beat by the end of it. Sleep is the currency for hard-working nurses. Make sure you have enough of it.

As Filipinos, we’re predisposed to be hospitable and we want to make sure the people we’re taking care of are happy and comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing more work than what’s expected of you.

sarah geronimo tells Vegas audience: ‘i feel empty’

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

PoP star Sarah Geronimo turned emotional in her Las Vegas concert for her 15th anniversary “This 15 Me” tour as she can be seen crying in the videos uploaded by fans.

According to news reports, the “exhausted” star even walked out of the stage and was unable to finish some songs. She kept apologizing to her audience as she felt like her voice was not that good in the concert.

“I’m sorry, pagod po ako (I’m tired). I’m so sorry. I hope na kayanin ko ma-survive itong gabing ito because you paid at gumastos po kayo na mabigyan namin kayo ng entertainment. (I hope I can survive this night because you spent money for us to provide you with entertainment) I’m so Photo from Instagram/@sarahgeronimoshots sorry,” Sarah said.

She admitted there was a time that after watching videos of Michael Jackson being surrounded by crying and screaming fans, she realized that she is not prepared for that kind of life.

“Ginusto ko pong maibahagi ang talento ko pero, hindi pala ako handa sa mga kasama doon sa hiningi ko, lalong-lalo na ‘yung pressure to always do good, maging role model ka, maging perpekto ka. Mahirap po. (I wanted to share my talent with you, but I was not ready for what comes with it especially the pressure to always do good, to be a role model, to be perfect. It is difficult.)”

Sarah rose to fame after winning talent search “Star for a Night” in 2003. Since then, she has released multi-platinum albums and starred in blockbuster movies.

“Kayo po na patuloy na

naniniwala, 15 years. Maraming, maraming salamat po. Forever po akong magiging thankful sa inyo. Pasensya na po. (You, who have been believing in me the past 15 years, thank you very much. I will be forever grateful to you. I apologize),” she told her Vegas audience before continuing to perform her first hit “Forever’s Not Enough.”

“I have been asking myself bakit I feel empty. Hindi ‘yung successful na shows or mga hits ang makakapagpakumpleto sa iyo, ang makakapagpasaya sa iyo bilang tao, kundi ‘yung tunay na pagmamahal na hindi nagbabago, perpekto ka man o hindi. At unti-unti kong hinahanap kung ano ang gagawin ko para I will feel fulfilled. (I have been asking myself why I feel empty. It’s not the successful shows or hit songs that will maake you feel complete, what will make you happy

as a person, but the the genuine love that ever changes, regardless if you’re perfect or not. I am slowly finding out what I will do to feel fulfilled),” she confessed.

According to news reports, Sarah has been admitting that she has been having a “quarterlife crisis” in as early as 2013.

“Unti-unti po, hinahanap ko kung ano ba talaga ‘yung gagawin ko para I will feel fulfilled.

Until now, pumapasok pa rin siya sa isip ko,” she told her Vegas crowd.

“But then, may nagsabi sa akin na, ‘Sarah, huwag ka na maghanap, kasi iyan ‘yung binigay na talento ng Diyos para sa ‘yo (Someone told me that ‘Sarah, stop searching, because that’s the talent God gave you), so use that as a platform to honor His name, to glorify His name, and to become an inspiration to other people.’”

Edielyn L. Quijano, Fnp-c selected for inclusion in the Trademark Women of Distinction 2018 Honors Edition Baldwin Park, California — Edielyn l.

Quijano, FnP-C has been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Trademark women of distinction Honors Edition for demonstrating dedication, leadership and professional excellence.

Her compassion and expertise set the standard in the industry. She has truly dedicated herself to her profession. Representing the state as one of the best in the country requires talent, experience and integrity. There is humility and personal touch she adds to her relationship with everyone she does business with.

More than the value of her service, it’s her way of treating everyone like an extended member of her own family that people remember the most. as a talented disciplined professional, Quijano has maintained a proven track record of quality service, driven by her desire to succeed. during the vetting process, it was noted along with her exceptional reputation that she has also maintained a positive peer rating.

Her years of service along with her level of expertise and several other factors also contributed to her inclusion.

Quijano prides herself on honesty and integrity. She is the kind of professional

entertainment 3 Maricel: I’d rather love myself more than fall in love again The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 2, 2018

by dolly

anne Carvajal Inquirer.net

Edielyn L. Quijano, FNP-C

admired by colleagues and peers alike. Her kindness and willingness to always help others and find solutions to most questions is both exemplary and honorable. She has made her mark in her profession as an expert and will become part of history as one of the top professionals in her field.

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MaRiCEl Soriano and i go a long way. in the ’80s, when she was the love team partner of william Martinez, i happened to be the off-cam girlfriend of william. How’s that for a throwback trivia?

Fast forward to the present: Maria (Maricel’s nickname) is one of my son iC’s godmothers. what better way to welcome “Mother’s month” than by featuring Maria, an ulirang ina (model mom) in her own unique way? She raised her sons, Marron (who’s now in his 30s) and

Sebastien single-handedly.

The diamond Star topbills Regal’s Mother’s day offering, “My 2 Mommies” (opens on May 9), along with Solenn Heussaff and Paolo Ballesteros. The heartwarming flick celebrates

motherhood in all its forms. it’s easy to become a mother, but it’s tough to be one.

These days, maternity is no longer reserved just for those who have ovaries. as long as Continued on Page 4

Jc de Vera: Maintains 10 percent body fat & solid abs

by Mylene

Mendoza-dayrit Philstar.com

“SinCE i Found You” is a new romantic comedy television series shown nightly by aBS-CBn. a strong pilot week did not disappoint viewers who enjoyed the cinematic shots of director antoinette Jadaone, the relatable storyline, the primetime return of Piolo Pascual after a four-year hiatus from nightly soaps, the refreshing comic role of arci Munoz, and the intriguing character of JC de Vera in the story.

JC’s role as Ginno, the loyal assistant of the big boss nathan (Piolo), was presented at first as a possible third wheel to the budding romance between the boss and the practicumer dani (arci). Recently the plot took an unexpected twist. Ginno is apparently the son of Gary (Michael de Mesa) who actually gave nathan a break in the taxi business. nathan bought Gary out eventually when the latter’s gambling worsened which led

JC de Vera

ABS-CBN photo

to more misfortunes. So Ginno is all set to seek revenge for his father. we caught JC de Vera in the gym which he still gets to fit in between shooting for the TV series, as well as his weekly “Banana Sundae” shown Sundays also at aBS-CBn. He obliged us with a sneak peek of his fitness journey. Unlike his primetime character, there are no mysteries and no secrets to this actor’s athletic build.

Philippine Star: You were a basketball athlete in CSA, does that mean that you were always fit? While you never pursued the sport and concentrated on being an actor instead, is basketball still your regular weekly sport?

JC de Vera: i played high school basketball in CSa and yes, proud to say, i’m still fit and active until now. i make sure that i work out twice to Continued on Page 4 Maricel Soriano

Star Cinema photo

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features The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 2, 2018

VicTOrY aUTO BrOKer. What do you get when you put Joey “Black ice” Davis Jr. (undefeated Bellator MMa fighter), The love of country ambassadors, friends, amazing cars and good food together?

Three words: Victory auto Broker. last Sunday, april 15, 2018, we opened our newest office at 24674 redlands Blvd., loma linda ca 92354. Designed to give you personalized attention and put your best interests in mind, we want it to be more than just an auto broker’s office — but a home where dreams are shared and are turned into reality.

We treat our customers as friends and our inner desire simply is to help people ride their dreams. Whenever we see people stepping to our office and driving home in their new car, it is not only their dreams that come into reality, but also ours. and we have come to the point when we are given the opportunity to extend this experience fuller scale.

One of the things that we’ve learned in this transition is the importance of staying in touch with friends and associates. life is always full of surprises! Twists, turns, new opportunities. We don’t just aspire to make a living but we aspire to make a difference.

Maricel: I’d rather love myself...

From Page 3

you have a heart that’s capable of loving unconditionally, you’re more than qualified to be called a mom.

Here’s my chat with Maria: What’s more important to you, awards or box-office success? Box-office success matters more to me because if my movie makes money, it will lead to another movie. awards are great, but if i don’t win one, it doesn’t bother me. it motivates me to strive harder in my next movie.

What was your toughest

motherhood moment? We, mothers, are always blamed for what happens to our kids.

We’re held responsible for how our kids turn out. coping with that sort of pressure was tough for me, especially when i lost my mom.

What’s the biggest love lesson you learned? love everything that has been said and done. i’m done with love. it’s not that i’m being negative. i’d rather love myself more than fall in love again.

What were your off-cam moments with Solenn and

Paolo like? Solenn and i talked about her tattoos. She told me the story behind each of them. pao would pop out of nowhere and sit beside me, which was a sweet surprise. Their coolness kept things light on the set.

If your life story were to be made into a movie, what will its title be? Sharing my life story does not interest me.

You used to be called “Taray Queen.” How have you mellowed? i am still straightforward, but in a subdued way. i am more tolerant and no longer high-strung.

JC de Vera: Maintains 10 percent body...

From Page 3 The Love of Country Ambassadors (L-R): Jia Bernadine Alvaran, Ammilyn Daeta, Lynette Siahaan, Angel Faith Soliven, seating: L-R: Camille Knowlton and Ralph Lauren Asuncion.

(L-R) Lynette Siahaan, Jia Bernadine Albaran, Ralph Lauren Asuncion, Ammilyn Daeta, (seated, L-R) Camille Knowlton and Angel Faith Soliven.

Photo by Priscilla Marte

thrice a week and definitely a basketball game at least once a week.

Are you engaged in any other sports? If yes, what and how often do you play? i try to do a little bit of everything, so i play basketball once a week, i do boxing also twice a month, i run twice a month (5-10k), i do circuit training/strength and conditioning/ weights at least every other day if my schedule permits.

What is your exercise routine like? i limit myself to a one-hour workout. i do HiiT (high-intensity interval training) workouts.

That includes fat-burning exercises, core/abs workout, functional workouts for boxing and basketball. That means 10 to

15 minutes of isolated weights workout, 20 to 30 minutes of circuit training and then five to 10 minutes of ab exercises to finish my routine.

What is your current fitness goal?

My current fitness goal is just to maintain my body fat percentage at 10 percent and keep my abs rock solid.

Though it’s so hard, i still motivate myself every day that i can do it.

You are a known MMA enthusiast. What discipline are you into in particular? How much are you into the sport?

Yes, i love MMa! i’m into striking. i used to do muay Thai before, but now i shifted to boxing. i even joined a boxing competition once to test my skill as a striker.

What bad habit have you successfully changed for the better recently in order for you to be more fit and healthy today? i do have a healthy lifestyle. everything in my life is balanced. i manage to sleep for seven to eight hours now. i had this habit before where i don’t sleep and eat properly after an intense workout.

Do you use your social media to inspire people to take their fitness seriously? If yes, how? What are your top three tips in maintaining or improving one’s health and fitness?

Yes, i do share some of my workouts through my iG. Here are my top three tips: always challenge yourself. Drink lots of water. no pain, no gain.

Glendale Community College’s nursing program seeks to fill demand for nurses

by AJPress

Filipina-aMerican nursing student Maria riel nullas lives in cerritos, california, but has commuted to Glendale for the past two years to attend classes.

She was accepted to several nursing programs in Southern california, but chose Glendale community college (Gcc) because the initial impression she had with the college struck her.

“The reason why i commute is because one thing that sets Gcc apart is how organized it is,” nullas, who is set to graduate from the program in June, told the Asian Journal. “it’s already nerve-racking to apply to a school but just knowing they are organized and they’ll get back to you as soon as possible, that’s a plus. it makes you want to go to that school because you know they’ll never mess up on your paperwork or they’re very diligent. if i’m driving this far, might as well go and experience the best even before you go into the program.”

The tight-knit community at Gcc is one characteristic nursing students can attest to.

Michelle ramirez, assistant nursing program director and associate professor of nursing at Gcc, makes it an effort to know all of the students — about 40 per semester — who go through the program. “i want them to know that although i am an educator, i am always wearing my ‘nurse glasses’ and paying attention to them because i care about their overall success and well-being,” ramirez, who was previously a full-time rn, said.

Fil-Am nursing student Maria Riel Nullas volunteers with Verdugo Hills Hospital at a health fair.

at Gcc, it is a two-year associate’s degree in nurse (aDn) program where students attend lectures, have lab training that could comprise of simulations, and complete rotations at nearby hospitals. it is a ratio of about one instructor to eight students.

The nursing program, which is housed under the college’s Health Sciences Division, has received funding for stateof-the-art equipment, such as mannequins that can be programmed to replicate any condition or scenario.

Of the simulation exercises, nullas said, “it’s different from just learning from a lecture and applying it. it’s nice to feel the pressure of how to identify certain ailments and what to do. it’s also a good way to interact with other classmates because

you work on collaboratively and know when to respect when another person is talking.”

The students are trained on campus before they can enter a hospital, where they are exposed to different aspects of the nursing field — from taking care of adults with chronic illnesses to working alongside an rn in an intensive care unit (icU) — depending on what semester they are in.

During the fourth and final semester, students are encouraged to take on a preceptorship wherein they complete 120 hours at a hospital working alongside an rn and receive course credit.

“That’s an optional thing we choose to do because that makes our students stronger and sets them apart from the rest. They come out prepared,” ramirez said.

Joshua Menendez, a second-year student who will also graduate in June, boasted that Gcc students are held at a high regard when they work at local hospitals, such as adventist Health Glendale, Kaiser permanente, Huntington Memorial in pasadena, and children’s Hospital los angeles, among others.

“There is a distinction between our program and our students in the facilities that we go to,” Menendez said. “it’s Professor Kohar Kesian teaching a maternity lesson nice to go into a unit and talk to a nurse manager who says, ‘You are really good, you must be from Gcc.’ That is something that happens a lot.”

Frezoli Gille, the nursing program specialist, added that another feature that makes Gcc’s nursing program unique in the la area is the weekend/ evening option. classes are held in the afternoon/evenings and the clinic rotations on the weekends.

Though the program is full-time — making it quite difficult for students to have a full-time job One of the lab classrooms nursing students practice in includes state-of-the-art hospital equipment, simultaneously — this schedule such as mannequins that can be programmed to simulate any scenario.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel allows for students who need

to take care of relatives during the day or work part-time.

Those who are enrolled at Gcc can also dual enroll in a Bachelors of Science in nursing (BSn) program through a “collaborative partnership” the college has with universities in Southern california and online. partners include california State University (cal State), la, cal State northridge, and azusa pacific University.

For the Winter/Spring 2019 semester, Gcc will accept applications from July 15 to august 15 of this year. Students must have taken the six prerequisites courses before they can apply.

“The college was willing to invest in having a full-time, dedicated nursing program counselor who works with our specialist to vet these students and make sure they have a student educational plan,” ramirez said, explaining that Gcc also hosts frequent workshops for students who are interested in applying to the nursing program.

The program is competitive and admits twice a year with only 40 students each time. according to the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics, the registered nurse (rn) workforce is supposed to grow from 2.9 million in 2016 to 3.4 million in 2026 — a 15 percent increase.

“Overall, job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be good because of employment growth and the need to replace workers who retire over the coming decade,” the Bureau of labor Statistics wrote.

The program at Gcc hopes to do its part in filling the demand for nurses. in the past five years alone, 90 percent of its students who took the national council licensure examination (ncleX) passed in their first attempt. in addition to the rn cur-

Students (Joy Greene, Dalia Alvarez, Sashin Jamo and Aline Pogharian) practicing in the GCC Nurse Resource Lab with various manikins.

Fourth semester nursing student Dayan Silva practices IV insertion.

Photos courtesy of Glendale Community College’s nursing program

riculum, the college also offers programs for foreign nurse graduates and a licensed Vocational nurse (lVn) to rn bridge. For foreign nurse graduates, Gcc works with the california Board of registered nursing to identify deficiencies and see what courses the nurses need to take before signing up for the ncleX. The latter is a one-year program in the spring where 10 students who are lVns can become rns. “a lot of the students in the foreign nurse graduate program, around 80 percent, have been trained in the philippines,” ramirez said. “They’re registered nurses and have their baccalaureate degrees in the philippines but it’s not recognized here by the Board of registered nurses (Brn) for one reason: they don’t have concurrent training. So in the philip-

pines, you sit through didactic for maybe a year and you work for six months to a year working in the hospital. Here in the state of california, you are in lecture, you are in lab and you are in clinical — all simultaneously, that’s called concurrent.”

The Brn will accept a percentage of the training and identify what courses the foreign nurse graduate needs (usually one to three) before he or she can take the state test to become a practicing rn in the U.S. The school takes about 10 foreign nurse graduates each year.

“We also require students to have community service because we feel that is part of nursing, where you’re integrating the art and the science and the knowledge. it’s part of being a good human being,” ramirez said.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 2, 2018