051723 - Southern California Midweek Edition

California launches

crime hotline

SACRAMENTO – California officially launched CA vs. Hate, a new multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. making it the first state to formally declare its strong and active opposition against hate.

In time for Asian and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, CA vs Hate is a direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California, which reached their highest levels since 2001 – jumping almost 33% from 2020 to 2021. Asian communities are among the most victimized by hate incidents and crimes.

CA resolution introduced to establish sister state relationship with PH province of Bulacan

A CALIFORNIA state senator has introduced a resolution to establish a sister state relationship with the Philippine province of Bulacan.

Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 57 (SCR 57), which outlines the sister state relationship and introduced it on the state Senate floor on Monday, May 15.

‘Marcos right on drug war abuses’

But ex-president Duterte says these were ‘never intended’

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte agreed with the recent remarks of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that abuses were committed during his administration's war on illegal drugs but insisted that

"those were never intended."

During his program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" aired on SMNI News, Duterte was asked to comment on Marcos' reply to a question on the alleged abuses during a forum in Washington last week.

"Yes, that was allegedly attributed to the president.

I am not sure if he was quoted in the complete

context of the statement. I am sure that it was not intended to criticize me because he knows how hard it is to be president, especially with the serious problem right now," Duterte said.

"You know what I am supposed to do. I cannot be libertarian; I can only be a stoic human being dedicated to enforce the law because you are the  PAGE 2

DOT nixes tightening travel rules despite higher COVID-19 cases

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has no plan to impose stricter travel restrictions despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Tuesday , May 16 said the government would continue to “open up” the Philippines to travel and tourism as it moves forward from the pandemic, assuring the public that minimum health and safety standards are in place.

“Tapos na po ang pandemiya, sabi po ‘yan ng WHO (World Health Organization). While we continue to support the Department of Health’s measures as well as ensuring the health and safety of our fellow Filipinos, the direction of the Philippines is forward and that is to ensure that we continue to open up the country to travel and tourism,” she said in a Palace briefing.

(The pandemic is over. That’s what the WHO said.)

“Of course, all the minimum health and safety standards are in place and this is also made sure of as far

Marcos: PH closer to bringing Teves back

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — “It’s more fun in the Philippines” no more?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to launch an “enhanced tourism slogan” in the next few weeks, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said on Tuesday, May 16.

“The DOT has not yet come out with an enhanced tourism slogan

as a country brand, but I assure you you’ll love it,” she said in a Palace briefing.

“There will be [a preview] in the next few weeks. But we will make sure to engage in consultation with our tourism stakeholders first as their opinions matter very much to us,” Frasco added.

Asked if the Philippines’ marketing strategy will also change, Frasco said the “main

 PAGE 2

by FAITH ARGOSINO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday that the court’s decision on the drug case of his nemesis Leila de Lima “should be accepted.”

In a statement released through Atty. Salvador Panelo, the ex-chief executive maintained he has “nothing to do with the case” and “never

interfered with the judicial process.”

“The judgment of the court should be accepted. Frankly, I’m not interested in the outcome of the case as I have nothing to do with it. I have never interfered with the judicial process. I always say let the law take its course,” Duterte said.

Panelo, who was Duterte’s chief legal counsel and

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is getting closer to bringing embattled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. back to the Philippines after East Timor's "quick" rejection of his application for political asylum.

Marcos mentioned East Timor's decision to turn down

the asylum request of Teves during a bilateral meeting with East Timor's Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on Thursday, May 11.

During the meeting, Marcos thanked Ruak for the prompt action, saying it would now be easier for authorities to bring

‘Marcos right on drug war...

implementers, you are the enforcers," he said.

The former chief executive said that Marcos was correct when he made the statement.

"Tama siya na (He is correct that) along the way, in the enforcement of the law, [there is] a rigid attitude toward the enforcement of the law, abuses will be committed. Now, I'll go further; not only abuses, sometimes killing, unnecessarily, or even an innocent person," Duterte said.

"Along the way, [there is] collateral damage, marami 'yan

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All proposals must be received on or before 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the email address listed above, sent to the attention of Victor Zepeda. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened.

For a copy of the Proposal specification visit our Solicitation Pageon our Vendor Portal at https://business. metro.net.

5/17/23

CNS-3701068#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

(there are many). But those were never intended, I am sure, by the law enforcement agency," he added.

At a forum organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Marcos last week said there had been abuses committed during the "previous administration" in the war on illegal drugs, which focused too much on law enforcement.

"In my view what had happened in the previous administration is that we focused very much on enforcement. And because of that, it could be said that there are abuses by certain elements in the government and that has caused some concern with many, in many quarters about the human rights situation in the Philippines," Marcos said.

"Well, I cannot speak to what my predecessor had in mind and what his idea was. But what I can speak to is the policy that we have undertaken and that I said the drug war continues to be at the source of many — much criminality in the Philippines," he added.

The President also said that even after the anti-drug campaign waged during Duterte's time, "the syndicates have grown stronger, wealthier and more influential, worryingly so."

"But instead of going after everyone," Marcos said, his administration tried "to identify the key areas that we have to tackle ... so that we can see a diminution of the activity of the drug syndicates."

Since Duterte took office in 2016, more than 6,000 were killed in sting operations, based on government figures. But rights groups estimated that the number of drug-war killings could be as high as 30,000.

During the SMNI interview, Duterte again justified the use of lethal force in police operations, saying the officers had to "overcome the resistance" of the suspects being arrested.

"So what's the point in empowering somebody if you do not give him enough leeway?" the former president said.

"[There is] collateral damage in a shootout inside the house of a suspect; sometimes the innocent members of the family get it. But abuses, there are many, because of the high-handed manner of enforcement," he added.

The bloody drug war of Duterte caught the attention not just of the foreign media and criticism from different organizations, but also the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In January, the ICC authorized the resumption of its investigation into the drug war and the Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines.

Duterte, who initiated the drug war, pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2019, a year after The Hague-based tribunal began a preliminary investigation into the crackdown.

Marcos has, so far, ruled out reversing Duterte's decision to pull the Philippines out of the ICC. g

Ex-President Duterte on De Lima’s...

spokesperson at one point, also shared his take on the court’s decision, saying “the acquittal is flawed” and that “the evidence extant supports a judgment of conviction.”

“As a lawyer, it is my position that final judgment of a competent court must be accepted no matter how one disagrees with it,” he noted.

“In this particular De Lima case, the acquittal is flawed. The evidence extant supports a judgement of conviction,” he also said.

According to Panelo, the court was mistaken when it took former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge (OIC) Rafael Ragos’ recantation of his testimony as justification to doubt the guilt of de Lima.

Ragos recanted his testimony against de Lima in November 2022, telling the court that he was coerced into signing prepared affidavits on three occasions in 2016 and 2017 to say that de Lima has been receiving bribe money from drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). g

DOT nixes tightening travel rules...

as compliance with our DOT-accredited establishments,” Frasco added.

From May 8-14, the DOH reported 12,414 new COVID-19 cases, a 31% increase from the previous week, marking the highest weekly count in 29 weeks and the first time in 28 weeks that it surpassed 10,000. For the second consecutive week, daily new cases averaged over 1,000. The DOH earlier said that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) lifting the global state of public health emergency. g

DOT launching ‘enhanced tourism...

change” would be the shift in focus of the DOT to “highlight the heart and soul of the Filipino.” She said the transformation is evident in the country’s culture, festivals, food and products.

“Everything that makes us diverse and unique and a proud Filipino people that gives us pride of place. We are putting forth the best of the best of the Philippines to the world because it cannot be denied that we do give the world our best,” she said. g

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene

Diving with a green sea turtle is one of the main attractions on Apo Island off Dauin, Negros Oriental. These turtles breed along the beaches of the island and feed in its waters. DOT photo

ARAÑA’T BALUARTE FESTIVAL. People gather seasonal fruits and vegetables and hang them at the bamboo arches in celebration of the Araña’t Baluarte Festival in Gumaca, Quezon on Monday, May 15. The festival honors San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. PNA photo by

California launches anti-hate crime...

Governor Gavin Newsom, along with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), is spearheading the campaign, sending an unequivocal message that hate will not be tolerated in the Golden State. Newsom and the legislature earlier allocated $110 million to anti-hate programs.

“We stand firm for a California for All and it is important that we hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and provide resources for those individuals victimized by hate crimes,” stressed Newsom.

"Now, Californians have another tool to ensure that not only justice is served, but that individuals have access to additional resources to help deal with the lingering wounds that remain after such a horrendous crime occurs,” Newsom added.

First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom underscored that “all should create a California where all our dreams are possible, where we all belong and Californians will feel safe and heard. There

is no room here for bigotry and hate-fueled violence.”

For his part, State Attorney General Rob Bonta in an email sent a stated that he is proud of this effort to help California’s diverse communities report hate incidents and connect them to resources."

"Hate is not welcome in California, and now more than ever we must stand united against hate and extremism,”

Bonta stated in an email. “By utilizing every resource possible, we will raise awareness around the staggering rise in hate crimes and proactively prevent future extremism from occurring.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) started the push for a state hate crime reporting hotline in 2021.“The pandemic of hate was not only targeting Asians so many other communities here in California. Thus, the launch of this state initiative versus hate to track data on hate incidents, provide support for victims, and make all of our communities safer,” Muratsuchi

said. Hotline services are confidential and provided for free, regardless of immigration status. These services are offered in a culturally competent manner and will help people identify options and next steps after a hate incident or hate crime has occurred. Hate acts can be reported in 15 different languages through the online portal and in over 200 languages when calling the hotline. CA vs Hate Resource Line and Network is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NOHATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time.

For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, should call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, visit CAvsHate.org.

Nucum/Inquirer.net)

(Jun

CA resolution introduced to establish sister...

Bulacan is located north of Metro Manila and is considered the most populous province in Central Luzon and the third most populous in the Philippines after Cebu and Cavite.

The measure "will promote mutually beneficial educational, economic, and cultural exchanges between the State of California and the Province of Bulacan,” according to a release from Portantino’s office.

The measure passed with an unanimous vote and standing ovation from senators present.

“I am proud to introduce this resolution that launches the start of a special friendship between our state and the Province of Bulacan,” Portantino said in a statement. “The sister state relationship will encourage our regions to develop partnerships and provide opportunities for mutual prosperity.”

SCR 57 extends an invitation to the people of the Philippine Province of Bulacan to join with California in a sister state relationship.

The resolution aims to promote the prosperity of both regions and to improve international understanding and goodwill between both regions.

“The Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale

(FABAG-GLAC) and the Fil-Am community of Glendale and Los Angeles County are very humbled and honored to receive Senate Resolution SCR 57, authored by Senator Portantino,” commented Edith M. Fuentes, Past President and Executive Board Member of FABAG-GLAC. “We are thankful to him for choosing the historical and rich in heritage, arts and culture Province of Bulacan as the Sister Province of California. This is a perfect recognition especially during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This recognition affirms the many contributions of Filipino-Americans to the history, culture and achievements of California and the United States. We

appreciate the chance to further our friendship and relationship with the State of California. I look forward to many years of a great sister-province relationship.”

Comprised of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is California’s 27th largest export partner.

According to the most recent United States Census, there are approximately 4,000,000 Filipino Americans living in the United States, with nearly half living in California, many of whom are American citizens or dual citizens. Preparations and research for the Resolution was collaborated by Senator Portantino’s staff and spearheaded by Fuentes from FABAG-GLAC. (AJPress)

Marcos: PH closer to bringing Teves...

Teves back to the country to answer the allegations against him.

"In denying his request for political asylum, then we are going closer in the case to bringing him back home to face the allegations that have been made [against him]. But again, we thank you for your very quick response in that regard," Marcos told Ruak.

Teves, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, has been ordered to leave East Timor within five days after his application for political asylum was rejected by the government. He is currently in the capital city of Dili.

On Thursday, Marcos renewed his call on Teves to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him.

In an interview with the Philippine media onboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR001, the President said the Philippine government would wait for the entire process to conclude.

"It turns out that Congressman Arnie Teves applied for political asylum but was denied. So, I think they will continue to go through the process — there is an appeals process for those who are applying. But this was denied. We'll just wait for the process to be completed," he said.

When asked for his advice to the embattled lawmaker, Marcos said, "Come home. That's the best advice I can give him. Come home."

Teves, a former deputy speaker, left the country on February 28, with his travel authority from the House of Representatives having long expired.

Last March 15, the 300-strong House unanimously voted to hand down a 60-day suspension on Teves for "disorderly behavior."

PH 'partner'

Meanwhile, Marcos assured Ruak that the Philippines will be East Timor's "partner" as it moves toward becoming a fullfledged member of the Asean.

"In the Philippines, you have a partner. We have always been supportive," Marcos told Ruak, saying he expects a continuing intra-Asean discussion and coordination, as well as stronger bilateral connections between the two countries.

"It has always been our view that the membership of [East Timor] in Asean could only strengthen Asean. I'm very happy that the process has continued and you are now here to join us as an observer, with the ultimate end of becoming a full-fledged member of Asean," he added.

The President also expressed elation over East Timor's journey toward becoming a

democratic state and eventually becoming an Asean memberstate.

"I'm very happy that to see the fruition of what we have been discussing in Asean, including the membership of [East Timor]," Marcos said.

"I came then happy to see that there has been progress, and they will now have observer status and are beginning to participate in the discussions with what we have. As you can see, the strength of Asia really is the commonality," he added.

Ruak, for his part, expressed gratitude to Marcos for the Philippines' continued support of East Timor's Asean membership bid, noting that Dili has been working hard to comply with all the criteria and conditions set by the regional bloc.

"The Philippines is a great friend of [East Timor]. We have a big community of Filipinos in our country, but we have also a big community of Timorese in the Philippines. We have the missionaries; we have the teachers. So it's not just diplomatic relations, it's also an emotional link," Ruak said through a translator.

"Additionally, we have had the support of the Philippines since the very first moments of our independence," he added, mentioning the presence of Filipino peacekeepers under the banner of the United Nations. g

ONION SUPPLY. Porters push a cart loaded with onions in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday, May 16. The Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring traders for possible hoarding of onions after the recent spike of prices in retail markets, now at PHP150 to PHP 200 per kg.

California state Senator Anthony Portantino introducing a resolution on the Senate floor establishing a sister state relationship with the Philippine province of Bulacan.

California state Senator Portantino with Edith M. Fuentes of Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale.

Photos courtesy of Edith Fuentes

‘Immigration law needs to be modernized’

by WilliaM B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

AFTER four failed tries to have the Immigration Act of 1940 amended, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) continues to operate under a law that is no longer responsive and attuned to present conditions, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tangsingco said on Monday.

He remains hopeful the new law modernizing the agency which is now pending in Congress, would be enacted into law under the Marcos

administration.

Tansingco said the immigration modernization law is among the priority measures that the leadership of the House of Representatives committed to passing.

"The Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) identified the proposed immigration modernization law as a priority measure," he added. "I'm hopeful that the bill will be approved on third and final reading prior to the President's State of the Nation Address in July."

Apart from updates on

visa types and penalties, the new law also ensures income augmentation for the salaries of BI employees.

Tansingco said the move would greatly benefit employees who are stuck with low salaries, and allow the agency to recruit fresh graduates from reputable schools.

The first attempt to amend the law was during the time of former immigration commissioner and now Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. It was overtaken by the EDSA 2 event that toppled the administration of President Joseph Estrada. g

Marcos approves importation of more sugar

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has green-lighted the importation of more sugar ahead of the expected shortage of its local production in the coming months.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos, gave the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to procure a maximum of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of the sweetener to add to the country's stockpile and further lower its market price.

This volume could be lower and the "exact volume will be determined" once the exact amount of sugar supply is determined "which will come at the end of this month."

"We agreed to additional importation of sugar to stabilize the prices. The maximum amount will be 150,000 MT but probably less," the President was quoted as saying following his meeting with SRA officials, headed by Acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona and Board Member Ma. Mitzi Mangwang, representing the millers.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and SRA Board Secretary Rodney Rubrica were also in attendance.

The President further stated that the government is opening the importation of sugar "to all traders."

According to SRA forecast inventory, the country will have a negative ending stock of 552,835

MT by the end of August 2023, the end of the milling season, and importation of another 100,000 MT to 150,000 MT of sugar is necessary to avert a shortfall.

As of May 7, 2023, the country has sufficient supply of raw sugar with a beginning stock of 160,000 MT. However, an additional 100,000 to 150,000 MT of sugar would still be needed to be imported within the year as the expected local production of 2.4MMT, as well as the 440,000 MT allowed to be imported under Sugar Order 6 and the 64,050 MT under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) mechanism will not be able to cover the 3.1MMT demand.

Apart from the approved importation of sugar, Marcos also approved the moving of the start of the milling season from August to September this year as this is deemed "important for the corresponding increase in

production by approximately 10 percent." Opening the milling season in September will improve raw sugar recovery because it will minimize the milling of young canes.

The president likewise directed the SRA to expedite block farming initiatives -- a system by which small farm lots are consolidated into at least a 30 hectare-block farm -- for more production yield.

Currently, there are 21 block farms in the country averaging at least 40 hectares each. Once organized into block farms, farmers are entitled to financial and mechanization support for increased production.

"Consolidation is an important part of agro-industrial production. We're looking at increasing the budget for block farming to accelerate the process of organizing the block farms," Marcos said. g

PH, Japan, US security partnership still in the works - DFA

MANILA – The Philippine government said on Tuesday, May 16 that talks on the possible trilateral security partnership with Japan and the United States are in the works but still in “very early stages.”

On the sidelines of a policy talk in Tokyo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Manila has already conducted “some trilateral activities” with Japan and the US in the Sulu Sea but the detailed scope of the partnership itself is still yet to be established.

“[T]here was an understanding that we should explore the possibility of trilateral arrangements, but at this stage, we still have to discuss the Terms of Reference, what kind of activities, so it's really very much in the early stages,” he said.

“The important thing is there is an understanding of the principle that it would be useful to have such types of trilateral cooperation activities,” he added.

In a bilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, the two officials agreed to steadily implement all PhilippineJapan cooperation projects, be it bilaterally, multilaterally or trilaterally with the United States.

The two ministers also affirmed to work closely on regional issues, including the South China Sea, economic coercion, the situation in Ukraine, and dealing with North Korea, including nuclear and missile, and abduction issues.

Aside from security, the

Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both diplomats discussed economic cooperation, with Hayashi reiterating Japan’s intention to actively support the Philippines to reach the upper middle-income status.

“In response, Secretary Manalo expressed deep appreciation for the assistance from Japan for the Philippine economic development, and the two ministers concurred on continued cooperation,” the MOFA said.

The meeting followed the official visit of President

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Tokyo last February where he and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to strengthen the overall security cooperation between the two states through strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, and continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment, among others. According to Manalo, there has been “steady progress” on the two states’ defense equipment transfer project. (PNA)

50 GENERALS. The Commission on Appointments confirms the ad interim appointments of 50 generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Senate on Tuesday, May 16. Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian also got the CA’s nod. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Vendors at the Paco Market in Manila repack sugar. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the importation of sugar amid a reported shortage in the basic commodity.

ManilaTimes.net file photo

Back to masking

SOME quarters worried about the impact on tourism and certain businesses may not like it, but the city governments of Manila and Baguio have gone ahead and restored limited mask mandates.

In densely populated Manila, masking is again mandatory at city hall, which also houses the prosecutors’ offices and several judicial courtrooms. Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, a physician, may yet push through with her plan to include crowded public areas such as Divisoria among the places where masking will again be mandatory.

In Baguio City, masking is again required in commercial establishments and crowded outdoor areas. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this is a precautionary measure amid the expected surge in visitors this month. While he did not mention it, the upcoming graduation ceremonies and related activities at the Philippine Military Academy traditionally make the month of May a peak period for tourism in Baguio.

Certain quarters have expressed concern that restoring mask mandates could scare away travelers, harming the tourism industry, which is just starting to recover from the COVID restrictions. Amid the continuing increase in COVID infections and the positivity rate for testing, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said recently that it saw no need to reimpose mandatory masking.

Weeks before this meeting, the government had restored mask mandates in the light railway services in Metro Manila, the region where the highest cases and positivity rates have been recorded.

Opponents of mandatory masking have said it is better for people to decide if they want to keep themselves safe from infection through masking and other basic COVID health safety protocols such as hand hygiene. Those protocols, however, are not just for self-protection, but also to prevent the infected from spreading their virus to others.

Health experts have warned that both vaccine and natural immunity to COVID are waning, allowing Omicron, its subvariant Arcturus and other highly transmissible strains of the original Wuhan virus to penetrate the defenses.

The health experts are warning that vulnerable sectors such as the weak elderly and persons with comorbidities can still suffer repeat bouts with COVID and land in the hospital intensive care unit. Apart from the fact that COVID can still kill, the experts warn of the possibility of developing long COVID, whose complications are unpredictable and whose treatment is uncertain.

With these warnings, the city governments of Manila and Baguio have decided to act to protect

public health. Those worried about the impact of mandatory masking on tourism should instead press the government to obtain ASAP the bivalent

vaccines for Omicron and its mutations. Those shots will allow people to feel confident enough to ditch their masks. (Philstar.com)

Renewed US-PH economic ties: Our real work begins

WE received a large number of emails and messages expressing their overwhelming satisfaction at the outcome of the official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, DC – described as “remarkable” and “a standout” by Center for Strategic and International Studies president John Hamre, pointing out the President brought a “new dynamism” to the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

Aside from engagements with key U.S. Cabinet officials on the various aspects of our bilateral relations, we also had several discussions centering on economic trade and investment.

Together with our economic team, all of us at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC and our friends from the American Chamber of Commerce as well as the U.S.ASEAN Business Council are all gearing up for the “follow through,” as instructed by President Marcos, on the many areas of cooperation that have been identified which, in the

words of the President, “will help advance our key priorities with respect to agriculture and food security, promoting energy security as we transition to clean energy and boost trade and build resilience of our supply chains, enhancing connectivity and digitalization, also climate change mitigation and adaptation.” His meetings with key business organizations as well as top American companies have been very promising and productive, judging from commitments that have been made such as the $1.3 billion worth of investments that potentially will create approximately 6,700 new jobs for Filipinos. The positive reception from American business executives is undoubtedly an offshoot of his meetings with U.S. business groups during his trip to New York in September last year for the 77th United Nations General Assembly, with his schedule arranged in such a way that dinners became business meetings with American executives from various industries and sectors. In fact, his meeting with officials of the New York Stock Exchange and the forum

where he was joined by the country’s economic managers became an opportunity to highlight the Philippines as ready for business and a smart investment choice. There is no doubt the Philippines is poised for an impressive economic growth, with the administration focused on seeing the country achieve upper middle-income status in the next two years. Financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank have projected the country’s economic growth at 6 percent this year.

While there may be “various risks and challenges, the economic outlook for the Philippines in the near and medium term remains solid,” assured NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. Another positive news is the increase in the country’s employment rate to 95.3 percent in March, up from the 94.2 percent recorded in the same period in 2022, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority. With the United States still one of our top trading partners, we are certainly looking forward to more foreign direct

investments coming from U.S. investors. We are currently preparing for the first-ofits-kind, largest business delegation that President Joe Biden promised to send to the Philippines to be led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. We are already working on this with our friends at the White House, targeting the third quarter of this year, with a possible follow-up on developments after the delegation’s visit to Manila following the APEC meetings in San Francisco this November.

One of the top priorities we are working on is the renewal of our participation in the United States GSP – the Generalized System of Preferences –the oldest and largest U.S. trade program that provides nonreciprocal duty-free privileges for more than 3,500 products entering the U.S. market from 119 beneficiary countries that include the Philippines.

The country’s eligibility for the GSP expired in December 2020 but the renewal has been delayed for several reasons, among them the pandemic and the previous speakership issue in the U.S. Congress,

whose approval for the renewal is required. We have already started meeting with several members of the U.S. Congress for the renewal, and are greatly encouraged by the support of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo regarding our bid for reauthorization of the GSP. Both have expressed such support with other partners in the U.S. Congress. As President Marcos noted, both countries have benefited from the GSP, which could be expanded to cover other products.

We will also be continuing our initiatives for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, although I have to admit that this will be quite challenging since the U.S. is pushing for the IndoPacific Economic Framework to have a wider reach on trade agreements, specifically with ASEAN countries. Nonetheless, we are working on sectoral FTAs which could be more plausible.

During the U.S. official visit, PBBM was very specific on key economic challenges that must be addressed, in particular “food, energy, health security, digital connectivity and the cross-cutting issues of climate change and pandemic

preparedness.”

Noting that “economic security is national security” with the latter no longer simply about territorial defense, the President encouraged companies to look to the Philippines as they diversify and reconfigure supply chains. He also urged the U.S. government and the private sector to consider investing in the areas of clean energy, decarbonization agriculture, critical green minerals, telecommunications and health care that offer high potential for growth.

As the President profoundly stated, the real victory was not when he won the elections in May 9 last year by an overwhelming number of votes – the real victory will be towards the end of his term in June 2028 when he would have achieved the ultimate goal of economic wellbeing for every Filipino and uplifted their quality of life. (Philsar.com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

The continuing saga of Leila de Lima

TO do justice is what the legal system believes to be its function. But that is a selfserving description. From an outsider’s perspective, the law’s function appears to be, strictly speaking, no more than to follow due process, no matter how long this may take. Courts of law rule on the validity of facts and the applicability of laws as these are presented to them. Very rarely, if at all, do they permit themselves to comment beyond what is submitted for resolution, especially if doing so risks incurring the enmity of politically influential individuals.

Nowhere do we see this more starkly than in the continuing legal saga of former justice secretary and former senator Leila de Lima. She has spent the last six years in detention on criminal charges filed by a regime she had been investigating for human rights violations. Critics of the regime have variously described

the evidence on which these cases rested as “fabricated,” “contrived,” or “invented.” But nowhere are such words to be found in the court rulings that have pronounced De Lima innocent. She is acquitted, period. Nothing is said about the criminal culpability of those who wickedly masterminded and knowingly participated in the preparation of fake testimonies and the filing of bogus charges that landed her in jail. Since no charges have been filed against these persons, they are of no interest to the courts.

The objective consequences of the mandate of due process may sometimes be, in themselves, a form of injustice. A mother, a daughter, an elected public servant was targeted by no less than the country’s president. She was subjected to malicious scorn by some of her own colleagues in the legislature, falsely accused of a crime, and deprived of her liberty. It took four years before the cases against her moved. Two judges have ruled that the evidence against her is insufficient to warrant a conviction. How are

we supposed to take all this?

Last Friday, May 12, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara acquitted De Lima of the crime of conspiring in illegal drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Yet he could not order her release; instead, the just acquitted De Lima was escorted back to her detention cell inside Camp Crame.

Why? Because there is another pending case against her for more or less the same charge of abetting and profiting from drug trading inside the NBP. That case, Criminal Case No. 17-167, is the last of the three cases that were filed on Feb. 17, 2017. It is lodged in another branch (Branch 256) of the Muntinlupa RTC. The hearings are set to begin in June.

De Lima’s lawyers in this remaining case have filed a petition for her temporary release on the ground that the evidence against her is weak, a claim that has now been validated by the May 12 decision. But, taking their cue from Department of

Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, government prosecutors have responded to the De Lima petition for bail by offering to present evidence in support of her continued detention. (Remulla has said he would not oppose a petition for bail if applied for on humanitarian grounds but would oppose it if sought on the merits of the case.) The judge has yet to rule on the petition for bail. Earlier, in February 2021, a Muntinlupa RTC judge dismissed the charges against the embattled former senator in the first of the three cases filed by the DOJ, then headed by Vitaliano Aguirre II. Four years had passed since the then newly elected senator was arrested and ordered detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center. The cases against her were virtually frozen in 2018, 2019, and 2020—while her chief nemesis, Rodrigo Duterte was president. Six judges either recused themselves or retired—a sign that the courts were not too keen to hear cases that were clearly entwined with

political interests.

Things began to move again only toward the end of Duterte’s presidency. It was as though a dark heavy cloud that had dulled consciences suddenly lifted. One after the other, key witnesses, who said they had been coerced into giving false testimonies against De Lima in exchange for the withdrawal of charges against them, recanted. The first to do so was self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, followed by former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos, and then by former De Lima aide Ronnie Dayan.

In the face of these recantations, the cases against De Lima stood entirely on the supposed declarations of high-profile drug inmates who were totally under the control of the DOJ. In his ruling last Friday, Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara stated that Ragos’ testimony was particularly crucial. His retraction substantially weakened the government’s case against the former senator. As a general rule, the judge noted, recantations are

not given much weight. “The rare exception is when there is no evidence sustaining the judgment of conviction other than the testimony of a witness or witnesses who are shown to have made contradictory statements … ” It is terrifying to think that someone as prominent as De Lima, a former head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights and an elected senator, could find herself caught in a tangled mess such as this, the hapless victim of an elaborate scheme to game an imperfect legal system. One can only wonder how many ordinary people have been sent to prison in this manner and have been forgotten. I’m sure there’s a law against this, but what are the chances of anyone being convicted for malicious prosecution? (Inquirer.net)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * public.lives@gmail.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

Cha-cha not Pinoys’ priority – OCTA poll

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipinos do not consider Charter change as urgent and instead want the government to prioritize their most urgent national concerns –access to affordable food, higher wages and controlling inflation, according to the latest OCTA Research survey.

Based on the survey, “controlling the increase in prices of goods and services” (57 percent), “improving/ increasing wages or salaries of workers” (45 percent) and “access to affordable food like rice, vegetables and meat” (44 percent) were the three most urgent programs the government should focus on.

“Inflation, access to affordable food and increasing workers’ wages remain the most urgent national concerns of adult Filipinos. The government should prioritize resolving

these,” OCTA said.

Most adult Filipinos do not consider changing the Constitution or Charter change as an urgent national concern, with only one percent of Filipinos noting this was an urgent national concern.

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading in March the bill that operationalizes the constitutional convention that will introduce amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

OCTA said results of the Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey are non-commissioned and focus on adult Filipino’s urgent national and personal concerns.

Conducted from March 24 to 28, 2023, the survey had 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 years and above.

The National Capital Region (NCR), balance Luzon and Mindanao, with nearly six out of 10 Filipinos, said that controlling the increase of prices of goods

and services should be the government’s top priority.

OCTA said the survey showed that Filipinos who reside in the Visayas region were less concerned about controlling the increase in the prices of goods and services, with only 46 percent of them saying that this is an urgent personal concern.

Visayas residents, however, said they are concerned over access to affordable food like rice, vegetables and meat (56 percent) as compared to those in NCR, Mindanao (both at 38 percent) and balance Luzon (44 percent).

Class E is the most affected by the issue of access to affordable food at 52 percent, followed by those in Class ABC (45 percent) and D (41 percent).

Class D and E also want the government to prioritize controlling price increases, with 57 percent and 60 percent saying that the government should prioritize this. In comparison,

only 48 percent of Class ABC indicated the same concern.

NCR and Mindanao respondents also said the government should be more concerned about improving/ increasing wages or salaries of workers, with 50 and 48 percent of them communicating such, as compared to those in balance Luzon (44 percent) and the Visayas (40 percent).

OCTA noted that among the Filipinos’ top personal concerns were “To stay healthy and avoid illness” at 66 percent, “To finish schooling or to be able to provide schooling for our children” at 51 percent and “To have a secure and well-paying job or source of income” at 50 percent.

The survey also showed that “more Filipinos now believe in the power of saving.”

Those concerned about “being able to have savings” increased by six percentage points from 37 percent in October last year to 43 percent this year. g

Remittances grew 3% in March, hit $2.97B

MANILA — Personal remittances sent to the Philippines by Filipinos abroad increased by 3 percent to $2.97 billion in March from $2.89 billion in the same month last year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Preliminary data at the BSP show that March inflows exceeded the previous month’s volume after decreasing for two straight months or since the $3.49 billion recorded in December 2022, which was also the last year’s highest.

The growth rate also picked up again in March after sliding down for three

consecutive months from 5.8 percent last November to 2.4 percent in February. Of the amount received in March, 90 percent represented cash that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sent through banks.

This was pegged at $2.67 billion, an increase of 3 percent from $2.59 billion in the same month last year.

Also, the latest cash readout was better than the 2.3-percent growth recorded in March 2022.

The BSP said that transfers from both land-based and sea-based OFWs increased in March.

Results for March brought the firstquarter inflows to $8.9 billion, which was likewise higher by 3 percent than the $8.65 billion in the same three months last year.

Cash remittances alone also grew by 3 percent to $8 billion in January-March from $7.77 billion in the similar period of 2022.

The BSP said the growth in cash transfers from the United States, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates contributed mainly to the increase in headline numbers in the first quarter of 2023. (ManilaTimes.net)

UN: Philippines maternal deaths on the rise

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) called on Sunday, May 14 for accessible and adequate health care as maternal deaths in the Philippines have increased in recent years.

UNFPA Philippines said 14 percent of pregnant women in the country do not get regular checkups and the other necessary medical care needed during pregnancy.

In a statement on Mother’s Day, Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane, country representative of UNFPA Philippines, said the UN agency saw an increase of maternal deaths during the past two years.

In 2019, 1,458 women died of maternal causes. The number of maternal deaths increased to 2,478 in 2021.

“That is around six to seven Filipino women dying daily due to childbirth. During emergencies, when access to maternal health services is disrupted, more women die during pregnancy and childbirth,” Joudane said.

One in 10 women do not give birth in health facilities or receive assistance from skilled health care personnel during childbirth.

The top five causes of maternal deaths include complications in pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, eclampsia, preeclampsia and hemorrhage.

“Many of these deaths are

preventable if only there were accessible proper medical interventions and adequate health care systems that are also resilient to emergencies,” Joudane said.

The UN agency also noted that the high cost of health care makes it more inaccessible to poor Filipinos.

A UNFPA study conducted with Burnet Institute showed that globally, every dollar invested on family planning services gains $8.

“But for the Philippines, the gains are even higher at $18. This is on top of the hundreds of thousands of mothers’ and children’s lives saved,” Joudane said.

Joudane stressed that

preventable maternal mortality, the denial of rights or demographic change can all be addressed by making the world a more gender-equal place.

The UNFPA supports the Philippines’ commitment to achieving universal health coverage and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reducing to zero preventable maternal death.

“This Mother’s Day, let us uphold the right of all people –especially mothers – to reach the highest possible standard of health. Timely health care for pregnant women can make the difference between life and death. No woman should die giving life,” Joudane said. g

ABISO SA PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG

IBINIBIGAY ANG ABISONG ITO na magsasagawa ang Lupon ng Mga Superbisor ng County ng San Diego ng pampublikong pagdinig sa Pag-amyenda sa Resolusyon 19-158 ng Programa sa Imprastraktura ng Komunidad sa Buong Estado noong 2019 gaya ng sumusunod: IMPORMASYON NG PAGDINIG:

Petsa: Mayo 24, 2023

Oras: 9:00 a.m.

Lokasyon: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, California 92101

Paglahok ng Publiko - Dapat bumisita ang mga gustong lumahok sa pagpupulong at/o magkomento sa website ng Klerk ng Lupon sa https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html. Kung mayroon kang anumang tanong, mangyaring makipagugnayan sa Unit ng Pagpapatakbo ng Lupon sa (619) 531-5434 o sa pamamagitan ng pag-email sa publiccomment@sdcounty.ca.gov.

PROYEKTO: Magpatibay ng Mga Resolusyong nag-aamyenda sa Resolusyon ng Programa sa Imprastraktura ng Komunidad sa Buong Estado noong 2019 ng County ng San Diego at pagpapatibay ng resolusyon ng Lupon ng Mga Direktor sa Distrito ng Pagkontrol sa Baha na nagpapahintulot sa Distrito ng Pagkontrol sa Baha ng County ng San Diego na lumahok sa pinalawak na SCIP. PAGLALARAWAN NG PROYEKTO: Inaamyendahan ng proyekto ang Resolusyon 19-158 ng County, ang Resolusyon ng Programa sa Imprastraktura ng Komunidad sa Buong Estado noong 2019 (Statewide Community Infrastructure Program, SCIP) at magpatibay ng isang resolusyon ng Lupon ng Mga Direktor sa Distrito ng Pagkontrol sa Baha na nagpapahintulot sa Distrito ng Pagkontrol sa Baha ng County ng San Diego na lumahok sa pinalawak na SCIP. Magbibigay ang proyekto sa County ng kakayahang mag-alok ng karagdagang opsyon sa pagpopondo para sa mga developer na interesado sa pagtatatag ng mga distrito ng pasilidad ng komunidad (CFDs) sa loob ng County. Ang karagdagang opsyon sa pagpopondo ay sa pamamagitan ng programa na inaalok ng Awtoridad ng Pinagsamang Lakas (miyembro ang County) na tinatawag na Awtoridad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Mga Komunidad sa Buong Estado ng California (California Statewide Communities Development Authority, CSCDA). Walang pagpapaunlad ang kasalukuyang iminumungkahi sa proyekto.

LOKASYON: Matatagpuan ang proyekto sa unincorporated na bahagi ng County ng San Diego, na binubuo ng 3,570 square mile sa timog-kanlurang sulok ng Estado ng California.

KALAGAYAN NG KAPALIGIRAN: Hindi kasama sa Batas sa Kalidad ng Kapaligiran ng California (California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA) ang aksyon ngayon na magpatibay ng isang resolusyon na nag-aamyenda sa Programa sa Imprastraktura ng Komunidad sa Buong Estado noong 2019 na pinasimulan ng Awtoridad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Mga Komunidad sa Buong Estado ng California. Ang proyekto ay ang pag-apruba ng isang mekanismo ng pagpopondo nang walang pangako sa anumang partikular na proyekto. Alinsunod sa Seksyon 15061 (b)(3) ng Mga Alituntunin ng CEQA, makikita nang may katiyakan na walang posibilidad na maaaring magkaroon ng malaking epekto sa kapaligiran ang aktibidad na pinag-uusapan.

TANDAAN: Kapag hahamunin mo ang pagkilos na maaaring gawin sa panukalang ito sa hukuman, maaari limitado ka sa pagbanggit lang sa mga isyung binanggit mo o ng ibang tao sa pampublikong pagdinig sa itaas, o sa nakasulat na liham na inihatid sa Kumakatawan ng Pagdinig sa o bago ang pagdinig. Maaaring limitahan o ipataw ng Kumakatawan sa Pagdinig ang mga kinakailangan matapos ang pagsusumite ng nasabing nakasulat na liham.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, mangyaring makipagugnayan kay Margaret Diss, Tagapagsaayos ng Programa, sa (619) 881-7585 o sa pamamagitan ng pag-email sa margaret. diss@sdcounty.ca.gov.

5/17/23

The Asian Journal MDWK

Wednesday MAY 17, 2023

Meet TJ, ‘Sesame Street’s first Filipino muppet

SESAME Street now has its first Filipino muppet, TJ, created by Filipino American animator Bobby Pontillas in collaboration with puppeteer Louis Mitchell.

TJ, which was inspired by Max and Mateo, the children of Pontillas’ lifelong friends. TJ is played by voice actor and puppeteer Yinan Shentu.

In a recent segment, TJ discusses the word of the day, “confidence,” with fellow muppets Ji-Young and Grover, and actor Kal Penn, who explains, “Confidence is when you believe in yourself and your abilities, or in the abilities of others.”

TJ talks about his growing confidence while learning Tagalog, the basis for the Philippines’ national language: “I’m confident because I can always ask my lola [grandmother] for help when I don’t know a word.”

Rosemary Espina Palacios, Sesame Workshop’s director of talent outreach, inclusion and content development, also posted on Instagram that TJ’s arrival came “just in time for API Heritage Month to show the range in our diaspora.”

She added that she personally felt the topic of confidence could help “unravel the model minority stereotype,” a persistent myth that Asian Americans are monolithically successful, which ignores disparities among Asian ethnic groups and minimizes the role racism plays in the struggles of other minority groups.

Fil-Am professor and attorney discuss importance of subpoenas

ON Wednesday, May 10th, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Filipino Alumnus and Associate Professor Bobby Rimas of the American Legal Systems course at California State University, Los Angeles’ Downtown L.A. campus had a lecture regarding the importance of subpoenas and what should be done to ensure subpoena compliance.

Additionally, Mr. Rimas indicated that subpoenas allow for parties to learn about information or evidence that may be used for their cases. Mr. Rimas then introduced guest speaker Andrew Beshai, an Associate Attorney at Larson LLP. Mr. Beshai spoke about the difference between civil and criminal subpoenas, how subpoenas can request

Continued on Page 9

Loida Lewis explains love, marriage, motherhood, and running a billion dollar empire

By AbigAil Zelenski

AS I walked into the church auditorium, I was immediately welcomed by a half-dozen Titas. After I made my rounds saying hello and giving hugs, I sat next to my friend Jennifer, who had saved me a seat. The event was a book-signing and talk by the legendary Loida Lewis. Mrs. Lewis (as she prefers to be called) had recently published “Why Should Guys Have All The Fun? An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running a Billion Dollar Empire.” Though planned only ten days earlier, the turnout was larger than expected with over one-hundred attendees completely filling the auditorium.

With everyone finally seated, Fr. Rodel Balagtas took the microphone, and the crowd hushed. I haven’t been a practicing Catholic for years, but I bowed my head down and listened intently to his prayer. The crowd was then regaled by the singing of jazz artist Mon David. The night was turning into a quintessentially Filipino event, and I was enjoying every minute of it.

Finally, anchored between Cora Oriel and Prosy De La Cruz on stage, the main event began. Tita Cora and Tita Prosy facilitated the discussion by asking Mrs. Lewis about excerpts from her book, her life, and her viewpoints. I was captivated by Mrs. Lewis—a wonderful storyteller—speaking with so much casualness that you would think she were speaking directly across from you over coffee.

During the discussion, Mrs. Lewis wasn’t afraid to get personal or sound vulnerable. She talked about her meetcute and quarter-century love story with her late husband, Reginald Lewis. In the 1980s, Mr. Lewis ran the largest Blackowned U.S. company, TLC Beatrice, which generated sales of more than a billion dollars a year. No easy feat during 1980s corporate America. She talked about her career as an attorney and her lawsuit against the INS for nationalorigin discrimination—which

she won, recovering an award of three years’ backpay and two months’ vacation pay. It was a payout that allowed her to successfully start investing in commercial real estate. She talked about the racism she and her husband faced, including among Filipinos. She talked about her husband’s untimely passing and how she had come to take over TLC Beatrice, which had, at the time, over $1.8 billion in annual revenues. But she also explained that the transition was not easy. After Mr. Lewis had died, the European Recession of 1993 hit, causing TLC Beatrice to experience

a 50% drop in revenue. Mrs. Lewis did not immediately take over TLC Beatrice after her husband’s death, but a year later, when she saw that the business was starting to fail, she had no choice but to take over as Chair. Within a relatively short time, she used her legal education, entrepreneurial spirit, and commonsense to bring the company back to profitability. She was successful by cutting the fat and incentivizing employees.

With the talk almost over, there was one final question: “You’ve explained to us

Continued on Page 10

Miss Filipina International 2023

Welcomes iSkin as a Sponsor

“WE are honored to sponsor the Miss Filipina International since its ideals of nurturing women who are beautiful inside and out perfectly align with iSkin’s commitment to build confidence with services that refresh and re-energize,” said Richard Maghanoy and Imee Ong-Maghanoy, owners of iSkin Beverly Hills, in a recent joint statement.

Miss Filipina International (MFI), now owned by Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman of the board of directors of Worldwide Media Entertainment Corporation, lauded the sponsorship of iSkin, which has a penthouse spa in Beverly Hills.

In addition to the previously announced top prize of either a BMW 3 Series car or a $10,000 cash prize, the winner will also receive a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin Beverly Hills in the prestigious pageant that will be held on August 5 in The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, the venue of the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy nominees luncheon, Clive Davis’ preGrammy party and other events.

Other prizes include $5,000 cash and a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin for the first runner-up, who will be crowned Miss Tourism; and a $2,500 cash prize and

The Miss Filipina International 2023 winner and her court will receive gift certificates from iSkin, including a $10,000 gift certificate to the winner. MFI owner Geoffrey Jimenez, iSkin owners Imee Ong-Maghanoy and Richard Maghanoy with (from left) MFI queens Alicia Buendia, Alyanna Joel, Sarah Nunnink and Arianna Padrid at iSkin’s penthouse spa in Beverly Hills. a $5,000 gift certificate from iSkin for each of the second, third and fourth runners-up.

“Having iSkin on board is another big step in our commitment to give the best incentives to Filipinas all over the world to join,” said Jimenez, a Filipino American community leader, arts and culture patron. MFI also offers the exciting incentive that the top three winners will be eligible to compete in Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) next year.

MFI is accepting applications from women who are of at least one-fourth Filipino descent from around the world. Candidates range

from ages 17 to 28. For more details on how to apply, call (818) 928-5449. To apply online: www.MissFilipinaIntl. com.

The Philippines is considered a beauty pageant powerhouse, having produced many winners and top finalists in Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, among others. The winner of MFI this August will be a welcome addition to the Philippines’ beauty queens.

MFI gala coronation night will be on Saturday, August 5, 2023. For sponsorship inquiries, email: missfilipinainternational@ gmail.com

Sesame Street’s TJ. TJ, was created by Filipino American animator Bobby Pontillas. Photo screengrabbed from Youtube

From Left: Attorney Andrew Beshai and Associate Professor Bobby Rimas, M.L.S. at California State University, Los Angeles.

Prefiling asset transfer affects bankruptcy options

Debt

Atty. LAwrence yAng

MANY clients do certain things they think are the right moves for them just before they file for bankruptcy. But this is not always so.

Most of the time, it’s the wrong move. Let’s discuss an actual case in point.

The client is a senior at 69. Her husband died at the beginning of this year from a stroke. First he got the stroke, which rendered him half paralyzed for two months. Then he just died. All of us will die, but the only question is when and how.

If you want a peaceful death and total forgiveness of your sins obviating judgment day before God the Father, just pray the chaplet of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I digress. Let’s go back to client. After her husband died, she still owed $100,000 on her house. The mortgage payment was $1,700. The fair market value of her house is $500,000. So her equity is at least $400,000. In other words, if she had decided to sell her house, she would have had cash of $400,000

that would give her different options. She also has two adult children who both work and have income. She could have asked both children to share in paying the mortgage, maybe both of them together, paying half of the $1,700 or all of it.

She owed $60,000 of credit cards together with her husband who had just died. Her husband was making $50,000 a year, so that’s gone. She now has social security of $1,300 monthly. So she decided to gift her house to her brother for $100,000 in exchange for the promise by her brother of letting her live in the house until she died. In short, she just gave her brother $400,000. Whatever her reasons are for deciding to do that is beyond me, but it’s her choice.

So now she comes and tells me she wants to file a Chapter 7 to get rid of the $60,000 of credit cards.

Well, it’s not that simple. In Chapter 7, the $400,000 equity transfer to her brother is seen as a preferential and fraudulent transfer to defraud creditors. The Chapter 7 trustee has the power and will file an adversary case to annul the sale of the house to her brother to get the property back into her bankruptcy estate, sell it and use the net proceeds to pay the $60,000

of credit cards and the cost of administering her bankruptcy estate. Therefore, in a Chapter 7 she will lose the house and she will become homeless!

The viable option to handle the $60,000 of credit cards is Chapter 13 where she pays only a portion of the $60,000. The Chapter 13 trustee has to power to sell her house so has no motivation to do an adversary to annul the transfer to her brother. So in Chapter 13, she will still be able to stay in the house until she dies while just paying a minimal amount on her 13 plan.

If you have too much debt and need relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

* * * Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice for anyone. There is absolutely no attorney client relationship established by reading this article.

* * * Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)

Fil-Am professor and attorney discuss...

From Page 8

for court appearance, document productions or both. Furthermore, civil subpoenas can be issued by any lawyer but not a prosecutor. Mr. Beshai also discussed the United States 5th Amendment Constitutional right not to self-incriminate and more.

Prior to his role as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Beshai was a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division where he investigated and litigated discrimination cases against state and local entities in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Colorado. As a trial lawyer with the DOJ Civil Rights Division, Mr. Beshai also worked on complex matters, including taking depositions, developing discovery strategy, and arguing motions. He graduated valedictorian from Loyola Law School, where he served for two years as an adjunct professor teaching legal drafting.

Professor Rimas indicated that Mr. Beshai’s presentation was “…very informative and gave students a clear picture as to the significance of subpoenas and what they should consider doing when assisting their legal teams with such matters.”

In addition to being an Associate Professor, Bobby Rimas is a Paralegal at the Larson LLP law firm and an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of La Verne. He is also the Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization and a Board Member for the UCLA Lambda Alumni Association.  Mr. Rimas graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA and a Master of Legal Studies degree, cum laude, from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.  He is the Past Chair/President of the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association and Past President of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association.

Filipino production set to stage a modern-day version of ‘Noli Me Tangere’ in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Hollywood Fringe Festival (HFF), an annual open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community, is coming back this summer for its 13th season. Each June, the arts infiltrate the Hollywood neighborhood: fully equipped theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers.

One of the shows that is set to premiere this year at the Fringe is “#DON’T,” a Filipino American stage play production based on the classic Jose Rizal novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Noli Me Tangere is an 1887 novel by Rizal published during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. After its release, the novel became instrumental in initiating Filipino nationalism that ultimately led to the Philippine Revolution in 1896. Not only did it awaken sleeping Filipino awareness, but it also established the grounds for aspiring to independence.

In today’s world, Show Creator Mike Talplacido develops this new and modern take on a classic story with the intention of reigniting political and social awareness among both Filipinos in the Philippines and in the US. “There’s just so much interest from the FilAm community to learn more about our history and connect with our culture but not a lot of interesting and exciting new ways to do so,” remarks Talplacido.

“Modernizing the story so that it is more relatable to the audience is one way to reignite such interests,” adds Miralee Menzies, a Los Angeles-based Filipino American co-producer

of the show.

When asked about what the audience can expect from “#DON’T,” Mike shares some of the themes and twists in the new story including reversing the male gender of Crisostomo Ibarra and turning him into a female character named Cris Ibarra, who, after seven years pursuing higher education in the US, returns home to the Philippines to avenge the death of her father.

“There’s a lot of focus on female empowerment and overall diversity and inclusion in this new adaptation and I cannot wait for the audience members to see our play,” adds Mike.

“We have an amazing cast,” adds Miralee. “Aside from the character of Cris

Ibarra who will be played by newcomer Casey Estorque, our cast also includes Arianna Basco (The Fabulous Filipino Brothers) who will be playing the iconic role of Sisa and Mark Labella (The Cleaning Lady) who will be playing Governor Damaso, and yes, Damaso is a Governor and not a Spanish Friar,” concludes Miralee. #DON’T is set to premiere on June 4th at the McCadden Theater in Hollywood with additional performances on June 10, 11, 18, and 25. Tickets will be available through the Hollywood Fringe Festival website (www.hollywoodfringe. org) starting on May 1st. For more information on the show, visit the Fringe website or follow ‘@hashtag_ dont’ on Instagram.

Michelle Dee candidate wins Miss Universe Philippines 2023

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

MAKATI City’s very own Michelle Marquez Dee was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023 during the pageant’s coronation night held Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Besting 38 other contestants, the 28-year-old stunner takes home a brandnew crown dubbed La Mer en Majesté.

Christine Opiaza of Zambales is the first runner-up while Pampanga’s Angelique Manto landed as second runner-up. For the first question during the Q&A segment, Marquez was asked, “Income inequality is still high in the Philippines. The gap between the rich and the poor remains. How do we close that gap?”

To which she confidently answered, “I think first we have to recognize what we have and the privileges that we have, such as food, education, and homes. I think the best way to address this is really through education because education holds no status quo, and every Filipino child has the right to an education – but not just any education, but quality education. Because I believe if the government can provide this to every Filipino child, then we can not only elevate their quality of life, but we can empower them as well.”

Meanwhile, for the final Q&A portion, the Top 5 contestants were asked the same question, “The Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign, ‘We Give the World our Best.’ For you, what is the best that we could offer to the rest of the world? Why do you consider it so?”

Marquez shared her winning answer saying, “The Philippines is home to very

beautiful natural resources from the beaches, the mountains but I firmly believe that the best natural resource that the Philippines has is us Filipinos. We are the true heart and soul of the Philippines with the way we are hospitable, with the warm smiles and we are the reason why the world keeps coming back for more.”

“No matter where the universe takes me. I will always be proud to call the Philippines my home. And no matter what happens I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy. Thank you,” she added.

Also an actress herself, Marquez is born to celebrity parents, former actor Frederick “Derek” Dee and to actress, author, former supermodel, and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez.

Dee is a pageant veteran who was crowned Miss World Philippines 2019. During the finals night of the Miss World 2019 competition at the ExCel Stadium in London, England, Dee entered the Top 12 semifinals.

She also joined Miss Universe 2022 where she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022, second to the eventual winner, Celeste Cortesi.

Marquez will represent the country in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant which will be held in El Salvador. Half Filipina and reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States will crown her successor at the end of the event.

From Page 8

Division of a business in a California divorce

Barrister’s Corner

WHEN a married couple decides to divorce in California, one of the most significant issues they will face is dividing their assets and debts. If the couple owns a business together, this can be particularly complicated whether it is operated by only one spouse or both spouses jointly. In this article, we will discuss how property division works in a California divorce when a business is involved.

California is a community property state, which means that property acquired during the marriage is generally considered community property and must be divided equally between the spouses upon divorce. This includes businesses and business assets. However, the division of a business in a divorce can be complex, especially if the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation.

One option for dividing a business in a divorce is for one spouse to buy out the other’s share of the business. This can be done through negotiation or mediation, or it may require a court order through trial. If the spouses cannot agree on a buyout price, the court may order a valuation of the business to determine its worth. Typically, this is done by having a forensic CPA perform a business valuation. If the parties are in agreement on who they want to use as an expert, the parties can stipulate that a certain forensic CPA be appointed as the court’s expert to value the business pursuant to evidence code section 730. If the parties are not in agreement in the appointment of a 730 expert or if one of the parties are not in agreement with the valuation of the 730 expert, each party can retain their own forensic CPA to value the business. Typically, the court will order that each party’s forensic CPA meet and confer and do a side by side evaluation of their calculation to isolate where they differ. This is typically done in preparation for trial.

Another option is for the spouses to continue to co-own the business after the divorce. This is rare, but it can work if the spouses are willing to continue working together and can establish a clear plan for managing the business.

However, this option is usually not recommended, as it can lead to ongoing conflict and legal disputes. If the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation, the court may consider these factors when determining how to divide the business. For example, if one spouse started the business before the marriage and the other spouse made no significant contributions to the business, the court may consider the business to be the separate property of the spouse who started it. However, if the other spouse contributed significantly to the business during the marriage or if the business has grown significantly during the marriage due to the hard work of the owner spouse during the marriage, the court may still award them a portion of the business or its profits. In order to determine what percentage of a business is community property versus separate property, there are two methods used based on two cases, Van Camp v. Van Camp, (1921) 53 Cal.App. 17 and Pereira v. Pereira, (1909) 156 Cal. 1, 103. These formulas are used to determine the value attributed to the community and separate property interests.  The Pereira case involves a married couple who ran a profitable business. Although the husband claimed that he had started the business before the marriage with separate capital, the Court found that a share of the earnings was community property. The Court, however, emphasized that the success of the business was largely due to the husband, who ran the company. The Pereira method of analysis is typically applied when business profits are mainly attributed to the efforts of the “community.” The concept of a Pereira analysis is to allocate a fair return to the separate property investment in the business and principally apportion the remainder of the value to the community property. As a result, the Pereira analysis is usually applied to small businesses where the efforts of the owner are significant in the success of the business, and it is assumed that the business would not have had such success without the business owner’s efforts.

The Van Camp case resulted from a successful family business. The son of the business owners ran a successful packaging company in California. When the son married, the son’s wife ultimately relied on the holding of the Pereira case and argued

that the community interest in the business was due to its successful management. The Court, however, found that the success of the business was also due to the investment of capital into the corporation.

As a result, the business increased in value due to the initial investment and various assets rather than the son’s efforts during the marriage.

The Van Camp method is used when the increase in the value of a business is primarily the result of the unique nature of the particular asset, and not necessarily the efforts of the community. The goal of a Van Camp analysis is to obtain the reasonable value of the community’s services and then to allocate that amount to the community property and the remainder to the separate property. In some cases, the court may order the sale of the business and the division of the proceeds between the spouses. This is usually only done if the spouses cannot agree on any other division method or if the business is not profitable.

In conclusion, dividing a business in a California divorce can be complex and requires careful consideration of all factors involved. It is essential to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can help you navigate the legal process and protect your interests. By working together with your spouse and your attorney, you can find a fair and equitable solution for dividing your business and other assets in your divorce. .

* * *

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, APC.  This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com.

Loida Lewis explains love, marriage...

Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running a Billion Dollar Empire, but why does the book title refer to this as ‘an Asian American Story’?” Her answer: pride. She explained that, at a time when our country was experiencing anti-Asian hate, her book is a story about Asian American love, success, and perseverance. These are things we could all use more of.

* * * Abigail Zelenski is an employment lawyer and the principal of Zelenski Law, PC. She volunteers her time as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles

Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

Miss Universe 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee Photo from Instagram/@themissuniverseph