060119 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

JUNE 1-4, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 42 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

USA

DATELINE ‘Burnout an occupational phenomenon, not disease’ FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, May 28, clarified that while “burnout” remains an “occupational phenomenon” that could lead someone to seek care, it is not a medical condition. This was after the WHO mistakenly said it had listed burnout in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for the first time.

The latest catalogue of diseases and injuries, collectively known as the ICD-11, were approved during the weekend after the World Health Assembly — WHO’s main annual meeting which wrapped up on Tuesday.

Burnout was listed in the ICD-10, but its definition has now been changed in the latest edition of the text.

In an email sent by a WHO spokesperson, the organization explained that the definition has been modified based on existing research.

It is now defined as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

Burnout is classified by “1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) u PAGE A3

Gov. Newsom discusses healthcare, homelessness with API media AMONG the state’s many concerns, California Governor Gavin Newsom this week detailed the state’s plans for two of the most pressing issues plaguing the state: the cost of health care and the growing homeless community.

In a teleconference with Asian American media, Newsom doubled down on his plan to move the state towards a universal health care system that would include an expansion of Medi-Cal decrying the GOP’s efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Specifically, Newsom — who has so far clocked in five months as governor — wants to re-establish the individual mandate from the ACA into the state’s health care legislation.

The individual mandate, introduced in a pair of Senate bills this year, would require every Californian to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty.

Opposers of the mandate — including President Donald Trump — argue that it’s unfair to penalize individuals for not having insurance, u PAGE A4

Duterte to US: No word of honor

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

the 25th International Conference on the future of Asia and a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

He reminded the Filipinos in Japan of the time when the U.S. State Department stopped the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2016 for the fear that the weapons would be used to rid the country of illegal drug users and peddlers.

“Kaya hindi ako nakikinig sa kanila. I do not listen to you. Wala kayong word of honor. Ang pinaka may

AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, May 30, once again slammed the United States for its “lack of word of honor” when it recalled its rifle sales due to the alleged human rights violations in the country.

The strong-mouthed leader slammed the U.S. government during his speech among the Filipino community in Tokyo, Japan. Duterte is set to attend

word of honor Japan. Totoo (That’s why I don’t listen to them. They do not have word of honor. Japan has word of honor. Really),” the president explained.

He compared the two countries in terms of how he interacted with them in the past. He also emphasized how Japan, China and Russia came to the country’s aid and extended assistance to the Philippines during the Marawi siege.

“Iba talaga sa America. Tsaka bossy masyado.

Yung kanilang sarhento, tinyente kung magsalita u PAGE A2

26 deals signed during Duterte’s 2019 Japan trip

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Japan is proving to be productive as 26 agreements that could bring in P289-billion worth of investments were signed this week.

The deals were read out by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during a business forum on Wednesday, May 29, at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo where Duterte was the event’s guest of honor. It was attended by Filipino and Japanese businessmen, as well.

Seven of the 26 agreements are deals with businesses or business-related entities while the remaining 19 are letters of intent in which Filipino and Japanese companies express their interest in investing in each other.

They are expected to generate 82,737 jobs if followed through with actual investments, according to Lopez.

Among the agreements signed was a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry and Japan External Trade Organization, intended to expand cooperation on investment promotion activities between the two u PAGE A2

DIALOGUE WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the meeting with the Filipino community at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, May 30. Duterte said he believes forging stronger economic relations with Asia’s major economic powers would make the Philippines economically stable in the midst of economic uncertainties. The president added that there is waning U.S. global influence.

Malacañang photos by Robinson Niñal

Sale of P700-million Marcos jewelry approved

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

Former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos Inquirer.net photo

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte approved the sale of P700-million worth of jewelry from the alleged ill-gotten wealth of late President Ferdinand Marcos, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Thursday, May 30.

“He wants the people to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of the jewelry. So I asked him, ‘Are you going to give your go signal to sell?’ ‘Yes. The sale, the proceeds must reach the people,’” Panelo said, quotu PAGE A3

Canada granted Filipina national Vanessa Rodel and her seven-year-old daughter, Keana, asylum after her unexpected role in providing refuge to American whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Inquirer.net photo

Columbia Journalism School awards Rappler chief Maria Ressa Filipina seeks asylum

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

THE Columbia Journalism School in New York City awarded Rappler Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Editor Maria Ressa with the 2019 Columbia Journalism Award on Thursday, May 23 for her “singular journalistic performance in the public interest.”

Ressa along with Rappler and its reporters received a total of 11 cases filed by the administration in a span of 14 months. Ressa has since posted bail 8 times and has been arrested twice.

A known critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the Rappler CEO spoke before the 2019 graduates of the Ivy-league Maria Ressa delivers commencement speech at 2019 Columbia Journalism School graduation. educational institution. AccordPhoto screengrabbed from Columbia Journalism School ing to her, they must keep in

mind that “the battle for truth” is one fight they must take in order to ensure democracy.

“The battle for truth – this is at the heart of protecting our democracies. Please don’t accept the world as you see it today. Our information ecosystem is broken,” the Rappler executive editor explained.

“A virus has been unleashed in this global body politik and it is slowly killing us. I wish you the courage to lead the way in finding a global solution,” she added.

Ressa encouraged the graduates to become idealistic and “dream of a better future” as she urged them to make those dreams a reality. She emphasized that they must maintain their purpose so as not to be sidetracked once tested. u PAGE A2

for sheltering Snowden

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Despite her gratitude, however, Rodel expressed her worry TWO months after being over the five other members of granted asylum in Canada, Fili- the group dubbed Snowden’s pina Vanessa Rodel and her 7- “Guardian Angels” who remain year-old daughter Keana, who in Hong Kong.

Together with her lawyer who helped shelter whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong sponsored their asylum claims Kong, are settling into life in in March — Guillaume ClicheRivard of the nongovernmental Montreal.

“For the first time I got a group For the Refugees — Rocredit card and permanent resi- del made a new plea to the Cadence, so I’m so happy,” 42- nadian government to take the year-old Rodel said Wednesday, remaining “Angels” in as refuMay 29, at a news conference in gees, saying they were being persecuted in Hong Kong for Montreal.

“Now I’m going to French their role in helping Snowden.

The remaining “Angels” have class, it’s amazing, because I already got my student ID,” she been identified as a couple origadded. u PAGE A2

A June 1-4, 2019 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAL

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From the Front Page

26 deals signed during Duterte’s 2019...

PAGE A1 t countries.

Meanwhile, one of the Letters of Intent was an LOI from Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd talking about building a facility in the Philippines for wiring harness and related products to be exported to Japan and North America.

Another was an LOI from

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation talking about expanding investment to support production of completed vehicles in the Philippines.

‘Kill that problem’ Duterte vowed to “kill” any problems that the Japanese businessmen may encounter with their ventures in the Philippines.

“I will talk to you and just let me know what your problem is and we will kill that problem,” he said Wednesday at the Imperial Hotel.

He also garnered applause when he promised to fight government corruption and red tape.

“May I just assure you, during my time, I said, there will be no corruption and every Japanese investor in my country, however small or however big, I can assure you that if there’s any complaint regarding hindrances, obstruction, or outright corruption, let me know,” Duterte said.

The president also called for an enhanced version of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA). It is the Philippines’ only bilateral free trade agreement, last reviewed in May 2016 and will be up for another review in 2021.

“We are currently reviewing this agreement and we hope to upgrade it to a higher level of preferential arrangement that is mutually beneficial to our countries,” he said. n

Filipina seeks asylum for...

PAGE A1 t inally from Sri Lanka named Supun Kellapatha and Nadeeka Dilrukshi, and their two young children. The last one is a Sri Lankan soldier who deserted the military.

Supun Kellapatha is Keana’s father, according to Rodel.

“My daughter should not be growing up in Canada without her father, and her half-sister and her half-brother,” she said.

The group hid Snowden, a former CIA employee and U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, after he stole a trove of highly classified NSA documents revealing the existence of global surveillance programs run by the NSA in cooperation with partners Australia, Britain and Canada.

Snowden, who was charged in June 2013 in the United States with espionage and stealing state secrets, is currently living in Moscow. n

MEETING WITH JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN. President Rodrigo Duterte holds a meeting with various Japanese companies at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, May 29. At least P288.8 billion worth of business agreements and letters of intent were signed between the Philippines and Japan on the sidelines of Duterte’s working visit to Japan.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.v

Duterte to US: No word...

PAGE A1 t

akala mo heneral (The U.S. is something else, too bossy. Their lieutenants talk like generals),” Duterte said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“If I were you, you help Japan.

Truly, in good faith. Sweat it out.

First and foremost, they’re kind to us and they provide us with so many things, free of charge,” he added as reported by ABS-CBN

News.

Duterte likewise lauded Japan for its humane treatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan. He also noted that the working conditions in other areas, specifically in Middle East is deemed far more unfavorable.

“Japan is a good country, at tsaka ang mga workers natin dito hindi binabastos. You are

really treated here as human beings. Punta ka doon sa Middle East, doon ka maawa (Our workers there are treated with respect. Go to the Middle East and you would pity them there),” he said.

There are about 285,000 Filipinos in Japan, which is the Philippines’ second major trading partner and top provider of official development assistance. n

Columbia Journalism School awards Rappler...

PAGE A1 t

“You’re coming of age at a time that matters. What you do matters. What you report and how you fight for truth matters.

Our future now depends on you.

Dream of a better future then go and make it happen,” Ressa said.

“The only way you will stick to the ideals you have now is if you define this now. Before you’re tested, know your whys to figure out the what,” she added.

In a report from Rappler, Ressa said that it is essential for them to “hold the line” since they are deemed as the “guardians of truth.” She also noted that they must uphold their ethics and moral standards with high regard at a time like this.

“You are graduating at this crucial moment in history when journalists all around the world

are under attack because we hold the line. Because we live our mission. Because as TIME magazine wrote, we are the guardians of truth,” Ressa said.

“All I do is put one foot in front of the other. Hold up the sky so my team can continue to work. It’s just my bad luck that the baton was passed to me at this time. This is the time when standards and ethics matter. This is the time that determines who you really are,” Ressa added.

She urged the graduating class to “live according to the values” of journalism as she dedicated the award to her team of reporters who bravely faced all the criticisms from the public and do the job just fine.

“I find hope from Rapplers.

This award belongs to them.

The way our sales and research teams defined a new business

model. The way they used data to fight back. The way our young reporters stand up to power and continue reporting. They are creating the future today, and they inspire me,” Ressa stated.

“I find hope from the grandfather who came up to me at the airport with his grandson, and with tears in his eyes, asked me what will happen to our country.

Or the family that asked to take a photo and then hugged me as if I was a long-lost daughter, sending their support to Rappler,” she added.

The Columbia Journalism Award has been given annually since 1958. It’s past recipients include journalists David Halberstam, Ben Bradlee, Pete Hamill, Joan Didion, Walter Cronkite, Alan Rusbridger, Nina Totenbeg, Lyse Doucet, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Ira Glass. n

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Murder victim’s family relieved at suspect’s deportation, arrest

by Jun

nucum Inquirer.net

POLL ISSUES. Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez answers questions from the media regarding President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the poll body to sever ties with Smartmatic, the service provider of the vote counting machines used in the last four elections, during the media forum at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila on Friday, May 31. The President made the call amid issues that marred the recently-concluded mid-term polls.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

DFA: 2019 overseas voter turnout was highest for a midterm OVERSEAS voting in the 2019 elections reached a new milestone in overseas voter turnout, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) announced May 24.

The DFA noted that the 2019 elections can be seen as the culminating activity in a three-year cycle, beginning with the voter registration in 2016, six months after the presidential elections.

Riding on the previous recordbreaking number of overseas voter registrants for the 20142016 cycle, which saw a total of 1.3 million overseas voters, the 2016-2019 cycle saw a further increase of interest among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of registered overseas voters to 1.8 million by the end of the registration period.

In terms of voter turnout per Embassy (PE)/ Consulate General (PCG), the top ten are as follows: Hong Kong PCG (36,009); Dubai PCG (28,487); Singapore PE (25,110); Abu Dhabi PE (15,806); Kuwait PE (15,558); Riyadh PE (14,616); Jeddah PCG (11,484); Tokyo PE (10,744); San Francisco PCG (9,630); and New York PCG (9,045).

For the regional breakdown, Middle East and Africa took the lead at 121,240 followed by Asia Pacific at 113,139, the Americas at 54,834, and Europe at 45,715.

The 2019 National and Local Elections had its share of challenges, most notably with the vote counting machines and SD cards.

Overseas, there had also been additional issues with regards to the mailing of ballots to registered

California lawmakers push to stop surprise ER billing

by AnA

B. IBArrA Kaiser Health News

CALIFORNIA has some of the nation’s strongest protections against surprise medical bills.

But many Californians still get slammed with huge out-of-network charges.

State lawmakers are now trying to close gaps in the law with a bill that would limit how much hospitals outside of a patient’s insurance network can charge for emergency care.

“We thought the practice of balance billing had been addressed,” said state Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), author of the bill. “Turns out there are major holes in the law potentially impacting millions of Californians with different types of insurance.”

“Balance billing,” better known as surprise billing, occurs when a patient receives care from a doctor or hospital — or another provider — outside of her insurance plan’s network, and then the doctor or hospital bills the patient for the amount insurance didn’t cover.

These bills can soar into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Chiu’s proposal would prohibit out-of-network hospitals from sending surprise bills to privately insured emergency patients. Instead, hospitals would have to work directly with health plans on billing, leaving the patients responsible only for their in-network

copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Hospitals are fighting the proposal, calling it a form of rate-setting.

“If we are able to move this forward in California, it could be a model and standard for what happens around the country,” Chiu said of his measure, which the state Assembly is expected to consider this week.

Surprise billing is a scourge for patients around the country.

Last year, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that two-thirds of Americans are “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about being able to afford a surprise bill for themselves or a family member.

(Kaiser Health News, which produces California Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

Health policy experts say the problem demands federal action rather than an inconsistent patchwork of state laws. And President Donald Trump has called on Congress to pass legislation this year to put a stop to surprise medical bills.

“In one swipe, the federal government can offer a universal approach in protecting consumers,” said Kevin Lucia, a research professor with Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute.

Lawmakers in both the U.S. Senate and House have introduced bills to end surprise billing. But PAGE A4

PAGE A1 t reduced professional efficacy.”

The updated ICD list was drafted last year after receiving recommendations from various health experts across the globe.

The ICD-11 will take effect in January 2022. It contains several other additions such as the classification of “com-

pulsive sexual behavior” as a mental disorder, and recognition of video gaming as an addiction, listing it along with gambling and drugs. It also removes transgenderism as a mental disorder, including it under the chapter on “conditions related to sexual health” instead. (AJPress)

‘Burnout an occupational...

Sale of P700-million Marcos...

PAGE A1 t

ing the president.

Panelo disclosed with the media a request brought by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to sell one of the three Marcos jewelry collections.

The spokesperson said that the president granted the request provided that Filipino citizens would benefit from the proceeds.

Panelo said that there is no definite date yet on when Duterte would issue the order noting that the decision “depends on him.”

The spokesperson and presidential legal counsel maintained that the president “agrees with it.”

The PCGG sent a letter dated Sept 7, 2018 requesting the sale of the “Hawaii Collection,” one of the three jewelry troves of Marcos’ widow, Imelda. The collection is currently kept at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and is estimated to be worth P704.8 million.

“We are respectfully requesting for approval from your offices to proceed with all activities preparatory to disposition, including allowing the above-mentioned auctioneers access to the Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) vaults to perform appraisal,” the letter read.

The two other troves were the “Malacañang Collection” abandoned at the presidential palace and the “Roumeliotes Collection,” smuggled by Marcos crony Demetriou Roumeliotes during the ouster of the former dictator.

It is also planning to auction off the Marcoses’ real estate properties worth P336 million and stocks worth P40.35 million. The total value of the alleged ill-gotten wealth included in the planned auctions is P1.081 billion.

Liberal Party President Senator Francis Pangilinan said that the sale of the Hawaii collection would prove that the Marcoses indeed accumulated billions while their patriarch was in the country’s top post.

“The sale of the P700-million Marcos jewels is proof of plunder during the Marcos dictatorship.

The jewels form a teeny-weeny portion of the estimated $10 billion (about P520 billion) Marcos illegal wealth paid for by the blood, sweat, and tears of all Filipinos,” Pangilinan said. n

voters.

But despite the numerous difficulties on the conduct and management of elections overseas, the Philippine Foreign Service have successfully ushered a voter turnout of 334,928.

This makes it the highest voter turnout for a midterm election and is second only to the 2016 Presidential elections (which had a total overseas voter turnout of 432,706) since the Overseas Voting Act was signed into law in 2003.

Similarly, this high turnout sustains the momentum coming from the 2016 Presidential election cycle and will hopefully continue to set new milestones for the 2022 elections. (Inquirer.net)

OAKLAND, California — The family of a murder victim hailed United States authorities and local Philippine police for the recent deportation and detention of the alleged perpetrator– a Filipino fugitive who hid in California after committing the crime in 2003.

Ganthel Vergara, husband of murder victim, Rebeny Grageda Vergara, and their daughter, Alexandra or Lexy, heaved a big sigh of relief that murder suspect Ezra Dave Maling was deported on May 15, 2019 and is now behind bars in Cainta City, where he allegedly strangled Rebeny with a leather belt.

The victim’s then five-yearold Lexy found her mom lifeless when she tried to wake her up on that fateful morning of March 17, 2003.

Lexy had to see a psychiatrist to recover from the trauma she suffered after the gruesome discovery and leave for the United States to avoid being in the home where the crime was committed.

It took 16 years before the Vergaras saw a glimmer of hope that justice would be finally served even as Maling proved determined to avoid prosecution.

Now a chef at a Filipino restaurant in Virginia, Ganthel wants Maling to be found guilty and given capital punishment of life imprisonment, or death if death penalty is restored in the Philippines.

Father and daughter Ganthel and Lexy Vergara hope that justice will finally be served 16 years after the Rebeny Grageda’s murder.

Contributed photo

Ezra Dave Maling in Cainta Police custody after his arrest on May 15, 2019 upon landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Photo courtesy of Cainta Police

Ganthel continued monitoring Maling’s movement right after Maling allegedly stole money from a local Hayward, California church and disappeared.

The same church had worked for Maling’s permanent resident status after hiring him as musical director after he escaped from the Philippines.

Maling, who turned out to a have wife and three children in Fremont, was not heard of then, until he was reportedly arrested

by Yuba City California Sheriff’s operatives on February 7, 2015 for immigration fraud and was also being considered for deportation.

As this developed, Lexy, now a

working student based in Washington, DC, received private messages and pictures on Facebook messenger supposedly from a Philippine policewoman trying to reach her.

But frustration got the better of Lexy when she was not able to hear from the policewoman again. She thought that it would be another case of having her hopes high but ending up with nothing again.

That was until Ganthel himself texted her to say that Maling would finally be deported through Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents and would be turned over to local police once PAGE A4

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California lawmakers push to stop surprise ER...

Filipino janitor who won $7-M in Canada lottery wants to keep his job

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

A FILIPINO janitor in Canada has won the jackpot prize of seven million Canadian dollars (P272 million) at the Lotto 6/49 draw last April 27.

Surrey resident Vito Halasan got all the six numbers right during the draw days after he celebrated his 58th birthday.

“I remember scanning my ticket and seeing all these numbers. I have really blurry vision, so I had to hold the ticket right up to my face. I couldn’t believe it,” the Filipino said in a statement released by British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

Vito’s daughter shared that she did not believe her father when she first heard the news.

“He sat me down at the table.

And then he whispered really quietly to me that he won $7 million dollars. I didn’t believe him.

We had to check online several times,” his daughter said.

The lucky Filipino said he will use the pot money to improve

Filipino janitor Vito Halasan

their lives. They migrated to Canada from the Philippines last 2009 to seek greener pastures.

“I buy lottery tickets so I can dream. I dream of being able to take care of my kids and make their future better. Now we’ll be able to buy a nice house for my children and grandchildren,” he said.

Contributed photo

Though he won the lotto, Vito said he has no plan to quit his work, but instead limit his working time.

Lotto 6/49 is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays after 7:30 p.m. in Canada. Each draw includes a Guaranteed Prize Draw of one million Canadian dollars. n

PAGE A3 t passing federal legislation promises to be an uphill battle because two influential lobbying groups — health insurers and health providers — have been unable to agree on a solution.

Frustrated by waiting for federal lawmakers to act, states have been trying to solve this issue. As of December 2018, 25 states offered some protection against surprise billing, and the protections in nine of those states were considered “comprehensive,” according to the Commonwealth Fund. California, New York, Florida, Illinois and Connecticut are among the nine.

New state laws also have been adopted since, including in Nevada, which will limit how much out-of-network providers, including hospitals, can charge patients for emergency care, starting next year.

In California, a 2009 state Supreme Court ruling protects some patients against surprise billing for emergency care, and a state law that took effect in 2017 protects some who receive non-emergency care.

But millions remain vulnerable, largely because California’s protections don’t cover all insurance plans. The California Supreme Court ruling applies to people with plans regulated by the state Department of Managed Health Care. That leaves out the roughly 1 million Californians with plans regulated by the state Department of Insurance and the nearly 6 million people with federally regu-

lated plans, most of whom have employer-sponsored insurance.

The state law governing nonemergency care also doesn’t apply to the millions of residents with health plans regulated by the federal government.

Chiu’s bill attempts to close those loopholes by targeting hospitals and their billing practices.

With this strategy, a patient’s health plan — and the agency that regulates it — would not matter, explained Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, a Sacramento-based advocacy group that is sponsoring the legislation.

The proposal “extends protections to a broader set of Californians,” Wright said.

The California Hospital Association opposes the measure, which would limit the amount hospitals could charge insurance plans to a certain rate for each service, varying by region.

The association believes that would equate to the state setting prices, which could discourage health plans from entering contracts with hospitals, said Jan Emerson-Shea, a spokeswoman for the association.

“We fully support the provision of the bill that protects patients. It is the rate-setting piece that is our concern,” she said.

Chiu said his bill was prompted by the peculiar billing practices at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital spotlighted by Vox in January.

Unlike most large hospitals,

San Francisco General does not contract with private insurers. Vox found that the hospital considered patients with private insurance out-of-network, and was slapping many of them with whopping bills.

Stefania Kappes-Rocha was one of them.

On April 30, 2018, Kappes-Rocha, 23, landed in San Francisco General’s emergency room with a fever and intense pain in her lower right back caused by a kidney infection. A student at Hult International Business School at the time, she had a private plan through the college.

“I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the problem — that I did have insurance,” Kappes-Rocha said.

She was sent home a day later with ibuprofen. About two months later, she was billed $27,767.70.

“I couldn’t move because of the pain,” she said. The last thing on her mind was that she’d be on the hook for the entire cost of her hospital visit.

Her insurance eventually agreed to pay about $24,000 of her bill.

“I fought back, I pressured them every week,” she said. “But some people don’t know they should do that.”

Skewered by media reports, the hospital announced in April that it would no longer balance-bill privately insured patients. n This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.

Gov. Newsom discusses healthcare, homelessness...

PAGE A1 t but supporters like Newsom say that without the mandate, insurance premiums will continue to increase. (According to Newsom, the removal of the mandate bumped premiums up 9%.)

Another part of Newsom’s health care plan includes expanding Medi-Cal coverage to 2.5 million undocumented youth, noting the 463,000 undocumented Asian Pacific Islander youth that would be eligible.

“If you believe in universal health care, then you believe in covering everybody, regardless of immigration status,” Newsom said.

Newsom also noted that the budget will also focus on cutting the cost of pharmaceuticals as he moves the state toward a singlepurchaser system. With this year’s budget plan, the state would save $400 million annually from the

$13.5 billion spent on pharmaceutical drugs.

The governor detailed his massive $1 billion plan to curb the growing trend of homelessness and combat the state’s continued housing crisis in what he called the state’s “most robust homeless investment the state has ever made.”

The plan would allocate $275 million to 13 counties and another $275 million to 13 cities that are experiencing the highest concentrations of homelessness.

Funds would be appropriated to “housing buckets” which would kickstart construction new lowerincome housing units through tax credits, loan subsidies and grants.

Additionally, the plan funds a new government task force that would work with local jurisdictions on how best to combat

their unique homelessness circumstances as well as fund rapid rehousing programs, hotel and motel conversions and resource centers as well as workforce training and mental health programs for homeless individuals.

“I don’t want to over-promise that we can turn this around overnight, but this issue of housing is deeply complex [and] it’s taken us decades to get to this point. We have to get serious here,” Newsom said.

Last year, the state built 77,000 new housing units as a result of state and local efforts, but Newsom said that isn’t “even close to where we need to go.”

California ranks 49 out of 50 in the whole country when it comes to providing new housing units, according to a 2016 report from the McKinsey Global Institute.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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ICC analyzing Del Rosario, Morales’complaint vs Xi Jinping

UNITED HEALTH CARE LAW. Department of Health - Calabarzon Director Eduardo Janairo talks about the country’s health care system under the Universal Health Care law before barangay health workers and coordinators at the Madison 101 Hotel in Quezon City. All Filipinos are now automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program and have access to the health services they need.

Photo courtesy of Glen Ramos/DOH Calabarzon

Murder victim’s family relieved at suspect’s...

PAGE A3 t he landed in Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

Lexy did not respond to his dad’s text messages as she was in shock and did not really know how to react.

It turned out that Ganthel was also contacted by Cavite Intelligence Group policemen, also through Facebook messenger, to inform him that Maling was facing deportation and would be turned over to them once he landed.

Their initial contact bore fruit as Ganthel was constantly informed of developments and sent pictures — from the arrival of the handcuffed Maling to his final turnover by the Cavite Intelligence Group to the Cainta City Police, which has jurisdiction on the case.

“As Maling was being turned over to the police officers, he had the temerity to ask for the arrest warrant against him. He then dismissed what was shown him for being an old warrant. It turned out that Maling never knew he was going to be turned over to police authorities after deportation to face the murder charges he tried to escape from,” Ganthel narrated.

Rebeny’s twin sister, Rebedy, and other relatives were also there to give a detailed account of the proceedings and even sent pictures to both Ganthel and Lexy through their smart phones.

“It was only when I saw the pictures that he was in the custody of the police that it hit me and I just cried. I am mad, frustrated but I definitely felt much better. I feel happy that at least right now my

Mom is resting in peace although justice is on the way yet but at least we are getting there,” a sobbing Lexy recalled.

“I feel like I can talk about it more comfortably just because there is justice now somehow that he is in custody. He is gone now and can no longer do this with somebody else. He is going to pay for his crime now.”

Lexy admitted that she initially considered forgiving Maling if ever they met, but everything changed after learning from her cousins that Maling dared ask them where Lexy was and then smirked.

“Suddenly, I was very angry because I felt like he did not regret any of it. Why would he smirk at us? It is like rubbing salt on the wounds of the past,” Lexy said.

“For the last sixteen years, I didn’t like Mother’s day. Nakakainggit (I feel envy). It makes me feel bad that I could have taken my mom to places. But I was thankful for the time that my Dad was there. He was there all the time. There were times that we didn’t understand each other.

With me being a girl he cannot understand what I go through like a mom would. He tried. He did his best and I am very grateful for that.”

When asked how challenging it was growing up without a mom, Lexy confessed not feeling comfortable particularly when being asked where her mom is.

“My close friends knew what happened to us but not a lot of people do. (To other friends) I always say that she got into an accident and is gone. I never talked

about it to them because it would be too much for me to do that,” confided Lexy.

In the coming days, both Ganthel and Lexy hope that Maling remains in jail and not be granted bail.

“I just want him to be away for sure by remaining locked up in jail. I also hope that he admits it. It is so crazy how he denies it and keeps saying he is innocent. I hope he admits it and that something in him would make him admit it. Oh, my God… crazy man, crazy man,” insists Lexy.

Ganthel is wary that Maling’s lawyer-brother may be able to help him get out on bail and may even get him acquitted. But he is confident that the case against Maling is strong as Maling supposedly emailed Rebeney’s twin sister, Redeny, right after the crime was committed, apologizing for Rebeny’s death.

Unlike Lexy who does not feel for Maling’s family, Ganthel feels bad that they would not have a father physically with them, but he reiterates that this is the price Maling has to pay.

Ganthel also want those who hid Maling from authorities to be charged in court for harboring a criminal.

“I don’t feel for his family either, for they hid him from us. I am not going to have my mom for the rest of my life, so it is like a fair thing if they are not going to have that man with them in the family. I hope that everybody who loses somebody in their lives gets the justice they deserve and not have to wait for it for 16 years like we had to.” n

THE Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is still “analyzing” whether it has jurisdiction over the communication filed by former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario against Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding China’s environmentally destructive activities in the South China Sea, particularly its building of artificial islands.

In an interview yesterday with CNN Philippines’ “The Source,” lawyer Anne Marie Corominas said the ICC Office of the Prosecutor sent an email dated May 20 — the eve of Morales’ detention in Hong Kong — informing them of the development in the complaint.

“The office is analyzing the allegations identified in your communication with the assistance of other related communications and other information available,” Corominas said, reading from the email of the ICC. “The purpose of the analysis is to see if the alleged crimes are within the jurisdiction of the court, and that if they do, then that would open a preliminary examination,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor said a “meaningful analysis” could take some time to complete, even if it would be “carried out as expeditiously as possible.”

In March, Del Rosario, Morales and a group of Filipino fishermen filed a complaint against Xi before the ICC for “atrocious” actions in the South China Sea and in Philippine waters. They said in the complaint China’s actions constitute a crime against humanity.

“One of the reasons we had filed our case in the ICC is to be able to push back against the bullying and harassment that we have been encountering from our Goliath of a neighbor,” Del Rosario said.

The complaint outlines how Xi and other officials of China, in implementing China’s systematic plan to control the South China Sea, have committed crimes the prosecution of which is within the jurisdiction of the ICC. According to Del Rosario, Xi was “directly” responsible for the plight of Filipino fishermen, with China’s wreaking havoc on marine resources with its building of artificial islands.

Also named in the complaint were Chinese state councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua.

Morales and Del Rosario, in

their complaint, said grave consequences of Chinese actions justify the ICC’s involvement in accordance with the principles of the Rome Statute that “the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and their effective prosecution must be ensured.”

They urged the ICC to immediately initiate a preliminary examination of their complaint “if only so the Court can apprise itself of Chinese crimes committed not only against the Filipino people,

but also against people of other nations, which crimes are already known to the international community.”

They called their initiative another “David and Goliath” case aimed at disciplining the Chinese leader and making him and other officials accountable for destroying precious marine resources.

Morales said they filed the communication before the Duterte administration moved to dissociate the Philippines from the Rome Statute that created the ICC. (Pia Lee-Brago/Philstar.com)

A June 1-4, 2019 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAL

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Dateline PTohiliPPines graduate in the Philippines,

DILG vows to go after politicians behind killings by eMManuel

tupas

Philstar.com

MANilA — interior Secretary Eduardo Año has given warning to politicians who might be behind the spate of post-election related violence in the country that have left eight persons dead so far. “i am calling on the elected officials, be responsible. if you are behind these killings, we will go after you,” Año said.

He said he is frustrated that poll-related killings still persist even if the midterm elections are already over.

“We will not stop until we find the culprits,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 51 electionrelated violent incidents after the May 13 polls.

Eight persons were killed, 14 were wounded and 29 were unharmed in the incidents from May 14 to 29.

PNP spokesman Col. bernard

students have to plant 10 trees

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año

banac said most of the victims were barangay officials. The others are Sangguniang Kabataan officials.

“PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde strongly condemns these violent attacks,” banac said at a press briefing.

The PNP vowed to hold ac-

Philstar.com photo

countable the people responsible for the attacks. banac said 21 of the 51 cases were declared solved while 22 are being investigated.

Eight other cases were declared cleared after suspects were identified, but no arrests have been made. n

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN

A bill requiring students to plant trees as a prerequisite for graduation has been approved by the Philippine House of Representatives on its third and final reading.

“Graduation legacy for the Environment Act” (House bill 8728) would require all elementary, high school, and college students to plant 10 trees each before they can graduate.

“To this end, the educational system shall be a locus for propagating ethical and sustainable use of natural resources among the young to ensure the cultivation of a socially-responsible and conscious citizenry,” the House bill, which was authored

by Representative Gary Alejano, stated.

Alejano estimated that the bill will be responsible for 525 billion trees planted over the course of one generation.

The number comes from the 12 million students graduating from elementary school each year, 5 million from high school and 500,000 from college, equaling 175 million new trees planted annually.

The bill provides that trees should be planted in: forests, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas under the greening plan of the local government units, inactive and abandoned mine sites, and other suitable lands.

The trees planted should also match the specific area’s climate and topography. A number of internal agencies within the Philippines government will give assistance in establishing nurseries, seedling production, site identification, monitoring and evaluating and technical help.

The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are mandated by the

bill to implement the Act, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of budget and Management, Department of interior and local Government, Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of National Defense, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Justice, National Commission on indigenous Peoples, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Aside from Alejano, the bill was authored by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, along with Deputy Minority leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, Reps. Strike Revilla (2nd District, Cavite), Noel Villanueva (3rd District, Tarlac), Mark Go (lone District, baguio City), and Pablo Ortega (1st District, la Union). n

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Greenpeace activists sail their boat near the container shipMVBavaria to make a statement as the vessel that will carry Canadian trash back to Canada is towed into Subic Bay port on Thursday. The activists’ banner reads, “The Philippines is not a dump.”

Photo courtesy of Greenpeace

‘WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS PROLONGED ORDEAL’

Never again: Trash returned to Canada after 6 years in the Philippines

by Joanna

Rose aglibot Inquirer.net

SUbiC bAY FREEPORT—Following a threat from Malacañang that Manila would cut diplomatic ties with Ottawa, Canada made good on its promise to repatriate tons of Canadian waste illegally exported to the Philippines about six years ago when a ship that would haul them back arrived on Thursday, May 30, at Subic bay Freeport to load the cargo.

Earlier in the day, dozens of environmentalists, some of them accompanied by children, held a rally at a beach resort inside the free port demanding that both the Canadian and Philippine governments prevent a repeat of the waste shipment, which they said violated an international treaty.

Greenpeace Philippines, EcoWaste Coalition, bAN Toxics, Global Alliance for incinerator Alternatives and break Free from Plastic Movement sent off the garbage with a message in a banner that said, “We are not the world’s dump.” Another banner said “Never again, ban waste imports to stop pollution.”

“We need to learn from this prolonged ordeal and make sure it is never repeated. Never again shall we allow other countries to trash our dignity, our people’s health and the environment,” said Aileen lucero, EcoWaste national coordinator.

The MV bavaria docked at the port around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, two days after it arrived in Manila.

69 containers Officials of the Subic bay Metropolitan Authority (SbMA) said the 69 containers packed with the garbage were to be loaded

onto the ship on Thursday evening. The bavaria was expected to leave early on Friday.

There were originally 103 containers shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014 by Ontario-based Chronic inc., which declared the trash as plastic.

They were consigned to Chronic Plastic based in Valenzuela City and to live Green Enterprise.

Officials said the shipment had been misdeclared as recyclables and actually contained mixed waste, including nonrecyclable plastic, waste paper, household and electronic waste, and used adult diapers.

The bureau of Customs (bOC) earlier said the contents of 34 containers had been disposed of but the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC) said only 26 were emptied at its landfill in barangay Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac province, in July 2015.

Eight more containers were driven to Kalangitan, but the MCWMC rejected these. Officials could not recall who took them back.

Hazardous waste Greenpeace said these were hazardous waste, according to Republic Act No. 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste and Control Act of 1990.

The shipment violated the basel Convention, it said.

Acting on instructions from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), SbMA Administrator Wilma Eisma barred media coverage of “any point” of the shipping process.

She said the SbMA and DFA media production teams would document the whole process,

and only the DFA teams would be allowed to issue media updates, pictures and videos.

Missed deadline On Twitter, Foreign Secretary Teodoro locsin Jr. said Canada “picked up the tab from fumigation to ship side loading to departure, including helping get foreign permits for transshipment so ship’s captain will depart (with stops) all the way to Canada.”

After Ottawa failed to meet the May 15 deadline that Manila imposed to take back the garbage, President Duterte ordered the Philippine ambassador and senior diplomats recalled from Canada.

“That recall shows that we are very serious in asking them to get back their garbage. Otherwise, we’re going to sever relations with them,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on May 16.

Joe DiGangi of Sweden-based public interest group iPEN said Canada should have complied with the basel Convention and repatriated the garbage years ago.

The environmental groups urged both countries to ratify the basel ban Amendment, which would prohibit the export of hazardous waste and other trash from developed to developing countries for any reason, including recycling.

At a congressional hearing on Thursday, Assistant Foreign Secretary Maria lumen isleta said the DFA had recommended that Canada take action against the exporter, Chronic inc., and that Ottawa had committed to do so. (With reports from Jhesset Enano, Jerome Aning and Krixia Subingsubing/Inquirer.net)

Imee Marcos on Archimedes Trajano’s death: Linking me is unfair

by KatRina

hallaRe

Inquirer.net

MANilA — Senator imee Marcos on Thursday, May 30, said it was unfair for her to be linked to the 1977 death of Mapua institute of Technology student Archimedes Trajano.

“Sabi nila, may kinalaman kami sa nangyari, i’m very, very mystified. Ang liliit pa namin and we had no direct… di naman kami naka-employ dyan, wala naman kaming command responsibility or operational command sa mga sundalo or sa mga pulis, so it’s really unfair,” Marcos said in an interview over ANC’s “Head-

start.”

Trajano, then a 21-year-old engineering student, supposedly stood at an open forum on Aug. 31, 1977 at the Pamantasan ng lungsod ng Maynila and questioned Marcos’ appointment as Kabataang barangay head.

Days later, his body was found in the streets of Manila bearing torture marks.

“You know, these are really mysterious accusations, i’m so puzzled by these charges dahil mga bata kami eh, we were what, 15-16 years old, i wasn’t even in the Philippines, i was going to school overseas,” she said.

Marcos was referring to the

time when she and her siblings, Ferdinand “bongbong” Jr. and irene, were abroad to study during the time of their father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ rule. “because my father took the position na ‘Okay, i’m going to do this quite fearsome and untried thing, and it’s better if the kids leave,” the incoming senator recalled.

She added that putting the blame on her for Trajano’s death was “illogical.”

“We weren’t even around, we were minors, we were kids, so mahirap namang akusahan kami,” Marcos asserted. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

PNP starts planning for safer elections in 2022

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Wednesday, May 29, that it would ensure safer elections in 2022 through new equipment and selection of police officials.

In a statement, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, noted that the police would get an additional 10 helicopters and 50 high-speed boats within three years.

He said this would boost the police force and its visibility to secure the 2022 elections.

Albayalde added that PNP preparation for the 2022 elec-

tions would include the selection of officials who will be part of the PNP Task Force.

He said most of the current police generals and other senior officials would retire in 2022.

Meanwhile, the PNP deputy chief for operations, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, said the three-year preparation for the 2022 national and local elections would aim at the following: • ensuring that there would be no failure of elections • reducing and preventing of election-related incidents

• reducing the threats posed by private-armed groups, gangs, and terrorist groups Gamboa said the PNP would implement “Oplan Baklas,” a campaign to remove illegal campaign items.

He also mentioned that part of the preparation is the selection of a new roster of police officials who would take the helm of the PNP Task Force as most of the current police generals and other senior officers would retire by 2022. (Consuelo Marquez/Inquirer)

COA calls out OCD over unused Yolanda, Marawi donations

by ElizabEth

MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) over its failure to utilize funds amounting to P77.887 million received from local and foreign donors for the victims of Super-typhoon Yolanda and the Marawi siege.

Based on the COA’s annual audit report on the OCD, the agency received a total of P135,391,701.96 in donations from “local and foreign sources” for the victims of Yolanda, considered the strongest typhoon that hit the country in recent history.

Of this amount, only 69.77 percent or P94.465 million was utilized as of Dec. 31, leaving a balance of P40.976 million, the COA said in its report.

The fund, according to the audit body, had even incurred a gain on foreign exchange revaluation amounting to P5.648 million.

Thus, the total balance of OCD’s Yolanda fund now amounts to P46.674 million.

Yolanda made its first landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar in the early morning of Nov. 8, 2013, wreaking havoc in the entire Visayas region, until it exited the country the following day.

Based on the updated data provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in April 2014, Yolanda displaced a total of four million people, while the death toll reached 6,300.

The number of injured individuals stood at 28,869 with 1,061 still missing.

Marawi fund Worse, the COA said that of the P36,920,725 in donations that the OCD received from various local and foreign sources for Marawi siege victims, only P10,000 was

utilized, leaving a balance of P36.91 million.

“Out of the total donated funds of P36,920,725, only P10,000 was utilized as financial assistance to only one beneficiary of a dead victim of the Marawi siege. Clearly, the donations were not utilized to provide for the much-needed support of the Marawi siege victims,” the COA report read.

A breakdown provided in the report showed that the bulk of the donations came from the embassy of India, amounting to P25.57 million. Other big donors were the embassy of Thailand (P5.092 million), provincial government of Bulacan (P4 million), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (P500,000) and several private individuals.

The COA pointed out that under the NDCC (now NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 13 dated June 23, 1998, the NDRRMC, a sub-agency of the OCD, can receive donations in cash or in kind from various government agencies and other sources, provided that the donations shall be “utilized for payment of financial assistance to victims of calamities.”

Under the memorandum order, the amount of financial assistance to be granted to the families of disaster victims shall be P10,000 for the dead and P5,000 for the injured, according to the COA. “The poor utilization of the donated funds defeated the purpose of donation and the good intention of the donors for human consideration was not fully served,” the agency said.

It was in May 2017 when armed conflict erupted in Marawi, Lanao del Sur after the Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group Maute led by brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute laid siege to the city with the help of the Abu Sayyaf

faction under Isnilon Hapilon, prompting President Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law.

The battle between government troops and militant forces lasted until October of that year, leaving the city in ruins with about a thousand of people dead and more than 3,000 displaced.

The COA attributed the low utilization of the donations to the “very burdensome” documentary requirements, which discourage the disaster victims from availing themselves of financial assistance.

The COA noted that while the memorandum order states that claims are valid only within one year from the time of the occurrence of the disaster or calamity, multiple documents must be submitted by the claimants.

For injured persons, among the documents required are medical certificate from the hospital or clinic where the victim was confined for at least three days, local police report on the incident and endorsement for the payment of claims from the Local Disaster Coordinating Council (LDCC) chairman.

Meanwhile, for the kin of a dead person, the documents required are LDCC or police report on the incident, death certificate, certification from the barangay captain, proof of filial relationship with the victim and endorsement for the payment of claims from the LDCC chairman.

“The production of the documents alone could be very burdensome for some victims, which could be one of the causes of the low utilization of the donated funds,” the COA said.

The agency did not provide any recommendation in its report.

There was also no reply from the OCD included in the report. n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

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OPINION

FEATURES

Action for women’s health

THE Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. The Food and Drug Administration has vetted Implanon and Implanon NXT, so the government can give women access to the implants along with nearly 50 other contraceptives certified by the FDA to be non-abortifacient.

There is no more legal impediment to the full implementation of the RH law. The only problem now, as in most laws in this country, is in the efficient implementation. As the country joined the global observance on Tuesday of the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, the Commission on Population reported that 18 percent of Filipino women want to use contraceptives but lack access to them.

Dr. Junice Melgar, whose group Likhaan Center for Women’s Health operates clinics in depressed communities of Manila and other areas, said implementation of the RH law remains slow despite the lifting of legal impediments.

Melgar said much depends on the political will of the heads of local government units. LGUs, she said, are mandated by law to implement the family planning program of the national government regardless of the religious beliefs or other personal considerations of the local officials.

President Duterte, who included the full implementation of the RH law in his 10-point socioeconomic planning agenda, had issued an executive order amid the long wait for the Supreme Court to lift its temporary restraining order on the law. With the President’s high popularity, women’s groups believe there can be a greater push from the executive to implement the RH law fully.

Women’s health, however, covers other aspects, including ailments that tend to be aggravated by poverty and inadequate health care such as tuberculosis. Domestic violence and other forms of abuse also affect women’s physical, psychological and emotional health, and are seen as factors in HIV infection.

Several laws have been enacted in the past decades, promoting the welfare of Filipino women.

Studies show that women in this country are among the most empowered in the world. Yet there remains a wide room for further reforms. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Reflecting on my journey as a news anchor as ABS-CBN celebrates its 65th year “In the Service of the Filipino” The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE Filipino Channel (TFC)’s mother company ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation was founded on October 23, 1953, and is now celebrating 65 years “in the service of the Filipino.”

I first set foot in ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City in the early 70s, when I was just in grade school, tagging along with neighbors who wanted to watch a live broadcast of the popular noontime show “Stop, Look and Listen.” I was a fan girl, happy to see in-person the celebrities I would only see on television. I had no idea I would one day work in this very same company.

I was already married then, raising our first born son, and already teaching Broadcasting at the UP College of Mass Communication when I felt the need to go outside of the academe and really practice my craft.

I intimidated this with my professor, mentor and inspiration Cheche Lazaro, who encouraged me to audition at ABS-CBN as a news anchor. Cheche was then also working at ABS-CBN Channel 2 when the Lopezes just got back the station from the Marcos administration after the People Power Revolution in 1986.

And so in March 1987, and with the approval of my husband who was then a medical student at the UP College of Medicine, I mustered enough courage to go outside my comfort zone and stretched my wings to reach higher dreams.

I auditioned, was interviewed by big news organization executives Larry Ng and Jimmy Navarro, and got the job. I co-anchored the early morning newscast “Balita Ngayon” with Robert Arevalo and Mario Garcia, and with Jay Sonza as executive producer. It launched at the time of national elections which kept us all very busy, working at the old bodegas and studios of ABS-CBN that desperately needed repairs and upgrades after years of neglect.

After the May 1987 election, “Balita Ngayon” was canceled

but I was offered to do the weather report for the evening newscasts. I had to decline because I found out then that I was pregnant with our second child.

Hence, I decided to just focus on teaching as I raised two babies.

After a year, I had a short stint in newscasting for Channel 13 in Broadcast City when I was taken in after I auditioned for the job when an opportunity for the late evening news was announced in 1988.

BUT, once a Kapamilya, always a Kapamilya. Through Jay Sonza and another mentor and inspiration, Ms. Mel Tiangco, I was recommended to join as radio news anchor and commentator for DZMM in November 1989. This was my way back to ABS-CBN, and the start of my long fulfilling career in radio broadcasting.

I had the privilege of working with Mel and Jay, Kabayan Noli de Castro, Mario Garcia, Ka Kiko Evangelista, Kuya Cesar, Ernie Baron, and many more, under then Station Manager Lito Balquiedra.

From the morning slot, I was assigned to anchor the drive time primetime at night, which

opened even more opportunities for me, including producing my own programs “Compañero y Compañera”, “Relos Reports,” and “Dear Ate Gel.” I also got to work with the late Atty. and Senator Rene Cayetano, and his children who are now public servants themselves — Pia Cayetano, Allan Peter Cayetano, Ren Cayetano and Lino Cayetano.

I was also privileged to work with Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Atty.

Danny Concepcion (now UP President), Daniel Razon (now the big boss of UNTV), and the lawyers and psychologists of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Psychological Association of the Philippines, respectively.

My radio career also re-opened the doors for me to be back in front of the cameras, starting off as pinch hitter for Mel Tiangco for TV Patrol, co-host of Jim Paredes in “Tatak Pilipino”, coanchor of Korina Sanchez and Ted Failon in “Hoy! Gising!”, cohost of Atty. Rene Cayetano in the TV version of “Comañero y Compañera” before he got elected Senator, news anchor for the late night newscasts “Pulso, Action, Balita” and “Headlines.”

GREG B. MACABENTA

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “I’ve been working in this field (communities in schools) for 50 years and I’ve never seen a program turn around a life. Only relationships turn around lives. We adults in the group provide them an audience in front of which they can realize their talents.

Their gift to us is a complete intolerance of social distance.

Emotional combustion happens in the most mysterious ways. No one can really trace the chemical processes by which love bursts into flame in one community and not another. But it is here in this community and all of us have been transformed in surprising ways.” – David Brooks, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, 2019.

“MON David is, as I’ve always said, Royalty. This human being is so huge and generous; he’s overwhelmingly deep and dear to me. And it comes through his music, and that is why people are so moved by him. He’s a consummate musician, dedicated and committed to art, quality and communication. His family and friends are the obvious result of him. He touches my heart, and I will always consider him one of my truest friends.” – Cathy Se-

Mon David in action

gal-Garcia, a jazz artist, teacher, composer, 2019.

Social isolation is deemed a core problem by David Brooks, an award winning best-selling author and an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, which underlies other social problems in America.

Fortunately, the opposite is true for Mon and Ann David’s family, where social weaving of their networks is commonplace.

Their family table is a collection of family members, choosing to come together for meals, bonding or to just play board games.

Baby showers, a recent one for Hanika Oyco, wife of Carlo David (Mon’s son) was a mini-concert, headlined by Mon singing with his guitar, and the stage shared with Nicole (daughter) and Carlo singing, with his guitar. At Christmas, hundred-plus family members come together,

Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz

exchange gifts, play games and sing to one another.

‘Maximum Marriage’ “I cried when you [this writer] said a prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit, before this interview. My tears are gratitude to God, a privilege He gave me to walk with my grandchildren, and to trace the beginnings of childhood that I missed from my own children.

I was abroad [Japan, Australia, USA, London] and throughout the Philippines, and I am grateful for this privilege now.

“It is even more gratifying to see my children, now grown and mature. I highly respect them and I enjoy their warm presence. Just the other day, I was surprised to see Paolo sitting in the backyard.

He wanted oranges. After picking them from the trees, we sat down for coffee, shared stories and played with the twins. Our

u PAGE A9

States, and new doors had been opened for me to re-join the network again.

I started co-hosting “Citizen Pinoy” with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel, upon the invitation of John-D Lazatin and Maritess Militar, in 2005 up to 2008.

From pinch-hitting for “Balitang America” when it was just a weekly newscast, I was offered the privilege to be the main news anchor again by Ging Reyes, who was then News Bureau Chief for North America. On May 7, 2007, I started anchoring the “Balitang America” daily newscast, a privilege I cherish up to now.

Once a Kapamilya, always a Kapamilya. Thank you, ABS-CBN for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your 65 years anniversary story, and for making me realize my own life mission and purpose, in the service of the Filipino, wherever we may be. *** 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

Just one proof of reform, please

The depth of Mon David’s love of family Street Talk as reflected in his superior jazz musicality Rhizomes

These programs for radio and television has rewarded me with colleagues who have been my friends for life.

Moreover, my career in broadcasting also paved the way for me to earn numerous awards and recognitions that had later been helpful in my obtaining my “Alien with Extra-Ordinary Ability” visa so I could permanently live and work in the United States as my husband was training in Surgery.

I had to give up my career in 2001 so that my family (with four children) could join my husband in the United States where he took post-graduate training in surgery, and eventually got the rare opportunity to practice surgery in the United States. My family eventually naturalized to be U.S. citizens.

I thought my broadcasting career was over, but God arranged all things so I could be in the right place and the right time.

In 2005, after my husband was done with his surgical training, we moved to California. During this time, ABS-CBN’s the Filipino Channel (TFC) started producing shows in the United

NOW that the Philippine midterm elections are over and new senators and local government officials are going to assume office, can we, the citizenry, expect the “promising” men and women who courted us for our votes and promised a Utopian government to please make good on some of those promises?

No, we don’t expect you to fulfill all or even most of your promises. We know that many – most – of those promises were b.s., but that’s the way politics works. What we would like to appeal to you is to provide one or two proofs of reform.

Well, okay, even just one.

Yes sir, yes ma’am, just ONE PROOF that you folks are serious about being of service to the people (while you go about “recovering” your campaign expenses plus the usual ROI or return on investment).

We would like you to do something about the dozens of signatures, initials, notations, endorsements, confirmations and counter-approvals required just to get some service from the government.

Expectedly, the usual “Crusaders for Good Government” will focus on high-profile issues like gambling, drug dealing, smuggling and big-time influence peddling because these are the kind that land in the papers and generate TV interviews.

They pay little attention to the

“autographs” because the matter is not considered “serious enough” to give priority to.

The fact is that those “autographs” are among the main vehicles for graft and corruption in the civil service. I’ve been writing about these blasted signatures for years and the only time a plan was ever announced that something would be done about them, it turned out to be inadequate, it was actually funny.

Newly installed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who had displaced President Joseph “Erap” Estrada (for corruption, remember?), was apparently aware of the profit-generating magic of signatures and initials on government application forms. She also appeared to be aware of the potential for red tape and the undue burden that too many “approvals” and “endorsements” were being inflicted on the citizenry.

She obviously knew that ordinary folks had to pay for each blasted signature. And not just one signature but many. And if they didn’t pay, forms and papers had a way of getting lost or ending up at the bottom of a pile.

It’s a bribery-extortion racket, that’s what it is.

Arroyo, having been involved in politics since she was kneehigh, must also have been aware that there was no use complaining about the red tape and the bribery-extortion rackets because, likely as not, the upperlevel person with whom the complaint would be filed was in on the action. And the one above him, too.

In her first State of the Nation Address, the newly-minted “redeemer” of an unspeakably graft-ridden Estrada administration vowed that she would cut red tape in government, making a specific reference to the issuance of housing permits. According to her, the processing of housing permits required 188 signatories. She then vowed to reduce that to “only 45.”

45 SIGNATURES? Bakit? But then 45 is a dramatic reduction from 188, hindi iba?

At any rate, how did Arroyo fare on this promise, among many promises she made in her SONA? Months later, they were “still working on it.”

According to reports from the palace, Arroyo had issued Executive Order No. 45 concerning “the issuance of housingrelated certifications, clearances and permits and imposing sanctions for failure to observe the same.” The reports added that getting this Executive Order off the ground required consultations among government agencies. Naturally, that would take a while.

With the Executive Order released, an IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) had been drafted. That was reportedly still being studied by the legal eagles in Malacañang. Naturally, that would also take a while. It would then be submitted to Congress for action. Of course, that, too, would take a while.

We lost track of the progress of that “major anti-corruption initiative” because the Arroyo government got embroiled in too

u PAGE A11

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OpiniOn & Features

The depth of Mon David’s love of family...

PAGE A8 t

house is a family center, Ann and I are happy about that,” Mon continued.

“My parents gave me my dad’s (and grandfather’s) first name, Ramon. I rarely used it, instead going with Paolo my second first name. I felt a weird sense of pressure being named after him. My dad is the best at his craft/field and a man of the highest principles and noblest beliefs. At an early age, I knew it would be near impossible to even come close to how good of a man he is.

“As a father, I honestly thought he was just…okay.

Nothing insane. Until a few years ago. I went through a crisis of not knowing what it is that I wanted in life..what would wake me happy. Nothing anyone said made sense to me..except for my dad.

He just listened and didn’t judge me for any of my choices nor did he offer any advice that I wasn’t ready to hear at that point. He understood where I was at that point in my life and what a challenge it is to be torn on what you should be doing with your life. He was exactly the person and type of father I needed at that time,” Paolo, an HR director, a man of few words usually, expressively shared his feelings about Mon, his dad.

“When our four kids were toddlers, Mon was busy earning a living, doing shows with the Apo Hiking Society, as their vocal coach, drummer and music arranger. They did shows around the Philippines and travelled around the world for a decade.

He wasn’t able to devote as much time to the kids like he does now to our grandchildren. Mon is such a loving, caring and a very patient Grandpa. ‘Every child should feel the love and warmth of a grandparent,’ Ann wrote to me.

Ann, a pretty demure Filipina, fashionably dressed at concerts, is married to Mon for 36 years.

Their marriage fits the definition

of David Brooks’ maximum marriage: “Both go through the most thorough surveillance program known to humankind…yet, you see people enjoying the deepest steady joy you can find on this earth.”

Mon and Ann are unconditionally supportive of one another.

Ann regularly attends Mon’s concerts, videotaping his performances, for Mon’s critique after, while Mon pulled weeds and removed bushes so Ann’s dream of a backyard garden can be realized.

During the interview, Mon excused himself to receive a call. It was Ann. He told her that we are in the midst of the interview, after eating the bulalo she cooked for us. Mon gently and sweetly reminds Ann to eat first and promised to call her later.

Building Empowered Family Connections “It is a gift,” Mon said of his five grandchildren, with Ann: Noah, age 4; Leo and Nico – 2 year old twins; Bella, 7 months old; and Tala, 7 days old. In the month Tala was born, Carlo (Tala’s dad) became an ASOP (A Song of Praise) Festival 8’s final-

Photos courtesy of Mon David and Nicole David

ist, winning the best song for the month of May. How fortuitous is that?

ASOP described it as “Penned

by OPM artist Carlo David and sung by Tawag ng Tanghalan’s Sweet Songstress Gidget Dela Llana, “Libo-libong Tala” (Thousands of Stars) is a worship anthem hailing the Almighty for being the one and only among the myriad of stars as it declares God’s incomparable heavenly majesty.” ASOP is “the most prestigious Praise Songwriting Competition Festival in the Philippines,” Nicole shared.

In 2017, Carlo bagged the first prize in front of a 16,000 strong Araneta Coliseum audience, and we pray that win is duplicated in 2019.

“Dad’s impact on us is immeasurable, his influence has always been subtle and indirect which I really appreciate about him because it gives us room to grow and to learn at our own pace. His discipline in whatever he does whether in fatherhood, music or just life in general is an inspiration. I remember he would always remind us to surround ourselves with people with good hearts.

As I mature, I realize how valuable that reminder is. Dad has a beautiful heart and I thank God for his life,” Carlo David wrote in an email to me.

Can you feel father Mon’s love for God, now embodied in his son, Carlo and grandchild, Tala?

A rich legacy of love for God and Mon’s leadership in the family When Mon’s children were much much younger, he sang Fiddler on the Roof, to them.

PAGE A10

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

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A10 June 1-4, 2019 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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PDEA to file raps vs Chinese ‘drug smuggler’ The depth of Mon David’s love of family...

by Bernadette

tamayo

ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is set to file charges against a Chinese businessman allegedly behind the smuggling of P1.8 billion worth of shabu in March, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson The senator, in a privilege speech on Wednesday, said Zhijian Xu, alias “Jacky Co,” was responsible for the smuggling of 276 kilos of shabu at the Manila International Container Port.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said Co slipped out of the country days after the illegal drug shipment was seized.

He said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero was set to conduct an investigation on the ongoing “tara” system at the agency, which leads to continued smuggling of drugs and other prohibited goods.

“And kahapon may nag-text,

taga PNP (Philippine National Police), inform niya [ako], ang (Yesterday someone from the PNP texted that) PDEA will file a case against Co within the week,” Lacson said in a radio interview.

“At least kung masampahan ng kaso at ma-issue ng arrest warrant, pagdating niya rito pwede siya arestuhin on the basis of the warrant na i-issue sa kanya (At least if he is charged and an arrest warrant is issued, he can be arrested once he arrives),” he added.

The illegal drugs seized on March 22 were found inside a 40foot container declared as plastic resin.

“We have it on good information that the main person responsible for this shipment is a Chinese national named Zhijian Xu, alias Jacky Co, who was born in Fujian, China,” Lacson said on Wednesday.

He said Co was said to be on the International Police watchlist and among the wanted personali-

PAGE A9 t

“Dear God, you made many, many poor people.

I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor But it’s no great honor, either.

So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle daidle Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb All day long I’d biddy-biddybum” Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey While visiting the twins in 2018 Leonardo Guerrero. with Enrique (my husband), Mon ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma hummed the song. The twins, ties in China.

Leo and Nico, just over a year Co is also allegedly involved in and half old, danced, swayed a big kidnapping syndicate in the their bodies, and moved.

Philippines. Lacson said Co colMon must have been an old lects the ransom payment through soul, learning intuitively that wire transfer and offshore bank- “music is…sort of grooming at ing. He owns the Feidatong In- a distance. Newborns are alternational Logistics Company in ready sensitive to the rhythms Bulacan. of language – they prefer inLacson said Co is facing kidnap- fant-directed speech – otherwise ping and drug trafficking charges known as baby talk which emin Fuijian City. n phasizes what is called prosody, the music of speech,“ wrote Iain McGILCHRIST in his book, The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World.

Today, Leo goes to the microphone and sings on his initiative patrols. and Nico does a shoulder dance Panganiban Reef is located at 2 years old. They spell words within the Philippines’ exclu- using puzzles as parents read 10 sive economic zone but China books to them, daily while Mom has turned it into a massive arti- Nicole conscientiously takes ficial island in recent years. them to the library and trails.

Ayungin Shoal is occupied by While Nicole prepares breakthe Philippines through BRP Si- fast for the twins, Mon serenades erra Madre, a naval floating out- them. Instead of whining cries, post. China’s coast guard and they mimic the footsteps of militia vessels come close to it grandpa Mon, and mind you, in PAGE A11

PH Coast Guard ship’s signal jammed while on West Philippine Sea patrol

by Frances

mangosing Inquirer.net

MANILA — A Philippine Coast Guard vessel’s signal appeared to have been interfered with while conducting patrol in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) last week.

“We could not communicate with our vessel by satellite phone at some point during their patrol

in the Spratly Islands. The signal was jammed,” said one coast guard official knowledgeable of the operation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

BRP Sindangan (MRRV4407), a Parola-class vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard, sailed near Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) and Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) last week as part of its routine

Photo courtesy of Mon David and Nicole David

rhythm. He is teaching the twins intonation, inflection and pausing, including how to tap, as if rhythmically hitting a drum.

In the park, Mon pushes a swing for Leo, while Nicole walks with Nico. At home, Mon helps them draw with crayons on Manila paper and at times, in their backyard, whose fence is symbolic of the family’s teamwork and work ethic.

Mon relates the success of their do-it-yourself project: “Jake [Yalong] is our engineer and he got the materials for the fence. I asked him how do we start. He told me to start digging. So I dug three holes out of four. Carlo came, Paolo and then, Mika.

All three helped. Mika is the youngest, yet the strongest. We worked for 7 hours and we completed the fence. I uprooted two bushes of bougainvillea. While it was described as a daunting task by a relative, because our teamwork is strong, we steered away from tension by giving each other a high level of respect and we got done.“ After, Mon shared his compliments to Jake as to how he, as the team’s engineer, smoothly planned and directed the job, and the overall team’s satisfaction.

“Dad [Mon] is definitely the one that I look up to when it comes to being a father but what I like the most about dad is how he sees life in general. Knowing what really matters when all else fails, and that is family and relationships,” Jake emailed.

Mika is the twins’ aunt and godmother. She is an artist and a flight stewardess. In long flights, after serving passengers, she finds time to draw and paint and shared her inspiration, her dad: “Sometimes, I feel a little embarrassed when my dad shares my works of art to his friends with a high level of enthusiasm. Our dad is so vocal and enthusiastically expressive of his appreciation for other people’s talents, the beauty of art and the gift of music. He sets the standard for us always to strive to be better, while staying humble, and he never fails to encourage his children and grandchildren to keep imagining, creating and improving.”

Nicole is Jake’s wife and mother to the twins, Leo and Nico. She is a gifted artist, baker, singer, who looks up to Mon: “Dad is an exceptional human being. I used to say he’s my mentor, but he has become so much more than that. He is a master, who has so much empathy and compassion for the people around him. He is such a fun and loving Grandpa, all his apos (grandchildren) adore him. I am grateful for Dad: he has become my constant.”

Notice how Nicole calls her dad “a master.” To merit this distinction, one might also be a jazz master, with constant, stable, steadfast, resolute sustained mastery of their craft?

Or Cathy referring to Mon as “Royalty,” that it made me think of what Iain McGILCHRIST wrote: “Music comes before language, buttressed by Salomon Henschen – “The musical faculty is phylogenetically older than language; some animals have a musical faculty – birds in a high degree.” … Music is the communication of emotion, the most fundamental form of communication, which is phylogeny, as well as ontogeny, came and comes first. Neurological research strongly supports the assumption that ‘our love of music reflects the ancestral ability of our mammalian brain to transmit and receive basic emotional sounds,’ the prosody and rhythmic motion that emerge intuitively from entrainment of the body in emotional expression.”

Mon David: 2017 Jazz Living Legend “Music is a connector of hearts,” says Mon, “each encounter is about affirming the strengths of family members and co-artists.” He is inspired by Bill Evans, one of the greatest jazz pianists in the world, and Mark Murphy, a creative, fearless and dedicated jazz vocal artist.

Mon produced a tribute to

Mark Murphy on Nov. 9, 2017, whom he described: “Mark Murphy was all about beauty, truth and honesty throughout his career, he never wavered in his vision – always taking music to its highest creative level, whether through the quality of the pieces he chooses to interpret or through their lyrics and arrangements. Any song that reflects his life experiences and consciousness he renders in his own unique, creative fearless ways. He was a beautiful risktaker in his approach, always finding new and fresh ways to express his emotions and I can relate to that very much.”

I believe that when you recognize someone as a fearless and courageous singer, you might be describing yourself unconsciously, as those traits are embodied within you, projected outward.

On June 9, 2017, in commemoration of African American Music Appreciation Month, LA City Council Herb Wesson, along with Jazz Living Legend Foundation, acknowledged Mon David, for his music accomplishments, Reggie Andrews (founder of Karma, a jazz-fusion group) and Benny Maupin (jazz saxophonist, flutist and bass clarinet who participated in Herbie Hancock and for performing on Miles Davis’ seminal fusion record, Bitches Brew and Bill Withers, an American songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 to 1985. He recorded “Lean on me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Just as I Am.” All four received the 2017 Jazz Living Legend Designations at LA City Hall.

Mon comes from a musical family, both his parents sang to each other. At 17 yo, he travelled to Japan to earn a living by joining a band, and became a drummer for Cobras, a band.

Cobras performed in the US Bases and became the first band to pay Mon Php 40 a night, half went for commuting fare. But, the experience was vital.

He became part of a vocal quartet, FourPlay, where he learned to harmonize and to arrange music and ZIFRA, transcribing or covering a piece with no individual interpretation. He became part of the Apo Hiking Society where he learned to be drummer, music arranger, vocal coach: “I learned from them how to be in front and sing. At times I would get distracted drumming as I would listen to them sing.” In their 40thanniversary, Mon flew back to the Philippines and sang Lumang Tugtugin with Apo Hiking Society.

Fourgettables was also a group he collaborated with for 7 years, with Pinky Marquez, Jorge Javier and Nanette Inventor, to which: “They inspired me to do my own repertoire.” DOT (Dept. of Tourism) sponsored them in U.S. bases, but also U.S., Europe, Middle East, Japan, and Australia.

In the year 2000, he had a hunger for deeper quality of music and delved into jazz.

In 2006, near the verge of a burnout from a 3-decade musical career, Ann encouraged him to join a competition. She submitted Mon’s repertoire which consisted of One and Only Boy, Nature Boy recorded by Nat King Cole as There Was A Boy and Lullaby of Birdland. Mon emerged as the winner in this much-acclaimed International Singing Competition, held in London. He then joined Southeast Asian music festivals, jazz fiestas, solo artists and instrumentalists to perform all over.

In Gardenia Supper Club in West Hollywood, recently, he was introduced by Mark Winkler (jazz artist and song composer): “Mon is one of my favorite jazz singers in Los Angeles. He is astounding (surprisingly impressive), mesmerizing, and he is as nice as he is talented.” Mon responded in kind to plug the upcoming CD of Mark Winkler.

The producer of that night’s gig, Doris Sozzesi, had this to say: “Mon’s [spoken] word at PAGE A11

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

A11

Just one proof of reform, please PAGE A8 t

many cases of bigtime corruption such that the “small matter� of signatures got snowed under.

If it’s any consolation to corruption-weary citizens, “play for pay�, which is what these approvals are called in other countries, is common and apparently continues to fester in spite of the fact that a lot of officials are aware of it.

In a story in the Washington Post, a high government official talked about the problem of corruption in public office: “Corrupt and overlapping bureaucracy is choking the growth of small business.�

Sound familiar? The story continued: “He laid the blame squarely on the government - especially on permit-givers, inspectors and regulators ‘who feed off small business at every stage of its development’ and who limit the growth of businesses by ‘constant extortions.’�

This story, written by Sharon LaFraniere was about present-day Russia under President Vladimir Putin. According to

the piece, Putin’s “biggest challenge� will be “to alter the culture of corruption.�

Apparently, in Russia, “most small and medium-sized businesses pay bribes in one form or another.�

Big business has the “political muscle to cut through smothering state bureaucracy� but small business owners are at the mercy of the bribe-takers and extortionists.

And here’s something that could well have been part of the first State of the Nation Address of Arroyo: “Putin’s economic adviser, Andrei Illarionov, recently held up a chart on national television depicting the more than 500 steps that are legally required to start a business.

Hundreds more agencies then regulate almost every aspect of business life, he said. Each step in the bureaucratic chain presents an opportunity to extract a fee, a gift or a gratuity from a business owner whose existence depends on government approval.�

The Washington Post story added:

“’The president has sent a signal that the attitude of the government is changing,� (Alexander) Ioffe (of the Russian Entrepreneurial Organizations Union) said. ‘But what lies ahead will be very difficult, very painstaking work because it will mean depriving officials who are financially doing pretty well.’�

This is where the problem lies.

As in Russia, cutting the red tape and reducing the number of autographs in this and future Philippine administrations will mean “depriving officials who are financially doing pretty well.�

Yes, indeed. It will mean depriving politicians, bureaucrats and even-lowly government clerks of a major source of income - a prospect that no one relishes, particularly those who have to survive on measly civil service wages.

If the newly-elected senators and local officials would like to provide proof of reform, this is where they should start. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)

PH Coast Guard ship’s signal jammed while...

PAGE A10 t

from time to time.

Because of the limited range of their radios, the Philippine Coast Guard usually uses satellite phones to communicate with the mainland whenever they are far out at sea.

But the recently reported signal jamming was not the first

time, according to the official. “Whenever our ships are close to China-controlled areas or vessels, they can no longer use their satellite phones likely because of the signal jammers,� he said, without directly accusing China as responsible for the jamming.

It is also not confined to the

Spratly Islands. The official said there had been similar situations that their satellite phones were jammed when Philippine Coast Guard ships were near Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a traditional fishing ground controlled by China Coast Guard since the standoff with the Philippines in 2012. n

REINFORCEMENT. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday, May 30, presented its newly acquired vessels, jet skis and vehicles that will be used to boost maritime security and beef up its capacity to respond to disasters.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Duterte junks bidding rule for oil exploration contracts PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a measure that is expected to allow a state-owned firm to partner with a Chinese company for an oil exploration venture.

Executive Order (EO) 80, inked on May 28, repealed a 2006 Arroyo administration order that barred the award of “farm-in� and “farm-out� contracts by government agencies, including Philippine National Oil Co. (Pnoc) and instead called for a bidding process.

The Arroyo-era EO 556 was said to have prevented Duterte from approving a service contract between Pnoc Exploration Corp. (Pnoc EC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (Cnooc) covering an area off Palawan. “The Pnoc EC is hereby per-

mitted to enter into farm-in/farmout agreements through which third parties can participate in the service contracts awarded by the government to Pnoc EC and Pnoc EC can participate in the service contracts awarded by the government to third parties,� EO 80 states. “In all cases, Pnoc EC shall enter into farm-in/farm-out agreements only with reputable, technically competent and financially capable companies.� “Farm-in/farm-out� agreements were described as a “practice, recognized in the oil and gas industry, of allowing third party participation to spread the risks inherent in oil and gas exploration.� “The entity acquiring the participating interest considers the

transaction as a ‘farm-in,’ while the entity transferring such interest considers the transaction as ‘farm-out’.

Service Contract 57 between Pnoc EC and Cnooc gives the latter a 51-percent stake in the venture.

Duterte’s order calls on the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations, to issue the relevant rules and regulations covering the process to be followed by Pnoc EC. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who previously tagged EO 556 as hampering the approval of oil exploration deals with Chinese firms, was not immediately available for comment. (ManilaTimes.net)

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Photo courtesy of Mon David and Nicole David

The depth of Mon Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s...

PAGE A10 t

that gig [Poetry and Jazz] I attended touched me so deeply.

Whenever heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involved in a creative endeavor, for me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at a much higher level. But even more deeply as a human being. I feel a love for his family, yet I barely know them. But just the fact that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the guiding force (and his darling life partner, Ann) says so much about him. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connected to the Divine as far as I am concerned as a musical priest would be, in the way that he speaks very spiritually about the musical journey. We as singers are merely channelers of a Higher Power. Music comes through us.

If we connect with that spirit, if someone says â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re great,â&#x20AC;? I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not me. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gift from God that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m allowing to come through me.â&#x20AC;?

Beauty or the Beast?

In Poetry and Jazz, Mon performed spoken word and sang to the music by Wayne Shorter and lyrics by Mark Murphy. I share the poem in full as the lyrics describe our present realities, a battle for Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soul.

We see the world through faulty eyes For some we fall, for some we rise Does beauty mask the beastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disguise?

It sighs, it lives on lies This war goes on between the two The beauty folk the beastial crew Each age is clear until the clouds of hate slam shut the gate!

The gate shuts out the power of love light A new night brings fear Dreams, as the dreaming disappears then becomes a nightmare Then dawn brings peace and love returns We build again the children learn The beast should sleep forever now Somehow to none we bow The land is sweet the harvest comes People sweat and count their sums But something seems to soil the fun The sun shines on a gun!

The beast lies low but always waiting, all hating hard and deep Beauty and peace may fall Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d all be shoved right up against the wall!

We see the world, through faulty eyes... â&#x20AC;?In more traditionally structured societies, performance of music plays both an integral, and

integrative, role not only in celebration, religious festivals, and other rituals, but also in daily work and recreation, and it is above all a shared performance, not just something we listen to passively. It has a vital way of binding people together, helping them to be aware of shared humanity, shared feelings and experiences, and actively drawing them together,â&#x20AC;? Iain McGILCHRIST wrote in his book, The Master and His Emissary.

Mon leads with moral convictions, with a sustained passion for his craft, with a signature of superior musicality: one that is marked by pitch perfect sounds, ability to harmonize with a group, controls his voice properly, stable at intonation and pitches, yet humble to say that jazz is a dynamic, long-term process: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jazz takes a long time. You have to live it for so long that it becomes you.â&#x20AC;?

To me, it is akin to parenting your children and attending to your grandchildren, our strategic investments for the future.

With heartfelt certitude we now know why Cathy Segal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Garcia described Mon David as Royalty.

This Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, may you enjoy your families, as Mon David does immensely of his, as his family and community of him!

Footnote: For this piece, my special thanks to Nicole David and Mika David for their assistance, my husband Enrique as my sounding board, and the inimitable Ted Benito who encouraged me to write about musicians and my appreciation towards them and their music, back when I did not know that I could. This writer will take a summer hiatus to focus writing her next book. Please keep me in your prayers. Thank you for your support, Asian Journal, and please email me at delacruz. prosy@gmail.com and continue to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I will be back writing for Rhizomes in Fall 2019. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rhizomes.â&#x20AC;?

She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years.

She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine.

Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal

Fil-Am screenwriter Michael Golamco on new Netflix film ‘Always Be My Maybe,’ and on seeing ourselves on screen by

Rae ann VaRona AJPress

Fil-Am screenwriter Michael Golamco

THERE’s no denying that Asian Americans are having a moment in mainstream entertainment after years of being marginalized or stereotyped into narrow roles.

Last year, Asian Americans rejoiced at the August release of the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians,” which was the first major Hollywood studio release since “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993. Featuring an all-Asian cast, the film proved to be a major breakthrough when it came to representation, receiving a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes soon after it hit theaters.

Also last August, Netflix released on its platform the movie adaptation of Jenny Han’s young adult novel “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” which featured Vietnamese-American actress Lana Condor. Coming out of Sony PicPAGE B3

Megan denies she and Mikael are secretly married

by LhaR

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

RUMORS circulated fast a couple of weeks ago that 2013 Miss World Megan Young and her boyfriend Mikael Daez have married secretly. The news could not be confirmed because the couple were out of the country traveling.

The more that people started believing the rumors thinking the two were in their honeymoon.

Showbuzz was fortunate to catch Megan in her usual bubbly self when she attended the story conference for her new series in GMA. “Long time, no see,” she exclaimed as she greeted Showbuzz with a kiss on the cheek. “It has PAGE B3 Megan Young and Mikael Daez

Photo from Instagram/@mikaeldaez

B

B JUNE 1-4, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

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Fil-Am screenwriter Michael Golamco... Philippine Ballet Theatre: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Filipino

PAGE B1 tures was the thriller â&#x20AC;&#x153;Searching,â&#x20AC;? featuring Korean-American actors John Cho and Michelle La. From each film, Asian Americans found a little bit of something to relate to â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether it was dealing with potential in-laws, nervously navigating young adult relationships, or simply dealing with cultural identity and conflict.

But in light of the burgeoning screen time both on the big screen and on television, Asian American storytellers see now as high time they make sure their presence in mainstream media goes beyond their ethnic demographic.

Netflixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new original film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always Be My Maybeâ&#x20AC;? does well in proving that viewers can enjoy funny films featuring authentic Asian American experiences without relying on cheesy stereotypes to do so.

The film further proves that Asian Americans can simply be great romantic-comedy leads and not just great Asian American romcom leads.

Starring the hilarious Ali Wong and Randall Park â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both writers and producers of the film â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always Be My Maybeâ&#x20AC;? is a fun romantic comedy set in San Francisco to the throwback tunes of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The film follows the lives of two childhood best friends Sasha (Wong) and Marcus (Park) from their years spent frolicking around the city and eating homemade comfort food, to their unexpected reunion 15 years later.

In true rom-com fashion, the two end up living out completely different lives during their time apart. Sasha becomes a successful celebrity chef walking red carpets and living her best life in Los Angeles. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engaged to a wealthy man played

by Daniel Dae Kim, and is ambitious and fearless when it comes to making her mark in the world and moving to new places.

As for Marcus, not much has changed. He raps in the same band, lives with his dad, and choose to stay in the community where life has always been more comfortable and familiar. Playing his quirky girlfriend is the very funny Vivian Bang.

In further rom-com fashion, life has its way of bringing things together and it does so by placing the characters in often awkward but also often hysterical scenarios.

For the people behind the making of the film, making â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always Be My Maybeâ&#x20AC;? was really just about

Masterpiecesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Serye at Sayawâ&#x20AC;?

telling an authentic and familiar love story.

Making her directorial debut was Iranian-American writer and producer Nahnatchka Khan, also the producer of ABCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sitcom â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fresh Off the Boat.â&#x20AC;? Writing the story alongside Wong and Park was Filipino-Chinese writer Michael Golamco. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that a lot of us these days, as we become adults, think about that one person way back in our past and if there is a possibility there,â&#x20AC;? Golamco told the Asian Journal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think for a lot of us, you want to make sure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really given those things a chance and when opportunities pop up again, you have to ask yourself if maybe this was it.â&#x20AC;?

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like, people kind of getting over themselves and their own egos and being vulnerable â&#x20AC;&#x201D; opening themselves up and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hard thing to do. But you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let that hold you back, because when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a chance at real happiness, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to take it.â&#x20AC;?

Golamco â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Manila-born, but moved to Canada and then to the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is not new to telling Asian American stories.

A playwright, Golamco has writ-

ten a number of stage plays featuring Asian leads and Asian-centric story plots. In fact, Golamco and Park met each other while studying at the University of California, Los Angeles when Park started an Asian American Theater Company and Golamco was a charter member.

Wong and Park called Golamco up when they decided to go ahead and write the film.

Golamco said that during the writing process, there really wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any conscious intention or strategy in their minds for making sure that the film would be perceived in any certain way in terms of property representing Asian Americans.

To them, they were just writing from what they knew from their own personal experiences. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It came about organically because these are our lives,â&#x20AC;? said Golamco.

In one scene, for example, visitors to a birthday party are seen taking off their shoes before coming into the house, carrying them through the house, then putting them back once they get to the backyard.

Golamco mirrored that with a recent visit he made to Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house PAGE B3

ONE Global Management Company, Inc., in cooperation with Asian Journal, Balikbayan Magazine, Pageantry Global, and Asian Commodities Company proudly present: Philippine Ballet Theatre: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Filipino Masterpiecesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Serye at Sayawâ&#x20AC;? at the Church of Scientology of the Valley in North Hollywood.

Philippine Ballet Theatre, the resident ballet company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will be touring California in June to proudly present a glimpse of Filipino artistry and world-class ballet talent. Everyone watching will be in for a treat as the dancers perform critically acclaimed pieces from their original Filipino repertoire. â&#x20AC;&#x153;FILIPINO MASTERPIECESâ&#x20AC;? features two of three acts of the ballet â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mantones de Manilaâ&#x20AC;?: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa Salaâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa Entablado.â&#x20AC;?

In performances which have been choreographed to occur at a genteel, upper-class receiving room for guests (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa salaâ&#x20AC;?) and onstage (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sa entabladoâ&#x20AC;?), both acts use the medium of dance to portray a nostalgic visualization of different customs and traditions during the turn of the 20th century.

Choreographed by the late, esteemed Filipino choreographer, Tony Fabella, this ballet pays homage to different aspects of Tony Fabellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dance influences, which run the gamut from classical to Philippine folk dance.

The costumes have been originally designed and made

by Fabella himself, and now updated to accommodate the passing of the years. Lavish gowns and tutus recall an opulent Spanish-Philippine era, each one accented by the â&#x20AC;&#x153;manton,â&#x20AC;? a beautifully embroidered shawl worn by the cultured ladies of an era long gone, but still wielding its influence in modern Filipiniana dress and demeanor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SERYE AT SAYAWâ&#x20AC;? provides interesting vignettes behind the scenes into the world of dance and the life of Marguerite, a dancer. It chronicles the intimate and triumphant story of a girl who dreamt of becoming a ballerina and discovered the price she has to heed the call of her passion, the loves of her life, and her art.

Portraying the sacrifices, in-

ternal conflicts and contrasting traits of a dancer, this ballet is a story of courage and tenacity, loss and regret, of the highs and lows of following oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion, and unbelievable devotion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to her art and to those whom she loved.

As an added treat, an exhibit of Filipiniana fashion by noted fashion designer Cora Manimbo and exquisite, filigree pieces by

jewelry designer Oscar Atendido will grace the intermission.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this singularly exciting event as Philippine Ballet Theatre brings Filipino heritage front and center in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 15, 5:00pm at the Church of Scientology of the Valley, 11455 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. Tickets are available for $75 / $50 / $25.

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

B

99 Ranch holds annual Children’s Mother’s Day drawing

99 RANCH Market held its annual awards ceremony in celebration of children and their mothers at the San Gabriel location (140 W. Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776) on Sunday, May 19. The event kicked off with an awards ceremony for children who participated in the annual drawing contest with the theme to design a 35th anniversary gift card for the market, then giveaways like carnations for mothers and onsite raffle prizes followed.

Performances and games from local community entertainers also kept the crowd amused.

Guests also enjoyed special snacks and beverages from 99 Ranch Market.

(Advertising Supplement)

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

Fil-Am screenwriter Michael Golamco...

PAGE B2 when he naturally chose to wear shoes easy to take off, knowing that they’d be coming off once at Park’s home.

“It’s natural to us because that’s how we live, and so when you tell a story about these people, it just comes out organically,” said Golamco.

For Golamco, the key to good storytelling — regardless of primary intention — is about making sure to convey an emotional journey.

“The audience needs to be able to access the story, and not just the plot of the story, but the actual emotion so that they’re there with the protagonist. You put them in the protagonist’s point of view and they live that life for a bit,” said Golamco.

He said the ability to convey a protagonist’s perspective is especially important for Asian Americans because there isn’t enough representation.

“These days [representation] is growing which is great, but that representation is important because it puts non-Asians into the point of view of an Asian American protagonist. It allows access to that protagonist’s emotions and everything that they’re going through,” said Golamco, adding that he hopes that people will ultimately be able to share in each other’s heartaches and triumphs and grow together.

“It helps non-Asians understand Asian Americans better and it’s

great to be able to understand your friends and your neighbors better because it helps you understand yourself. Like understanding Black people and Latinx people like white folks and understanding these people better helps me understand myself,” added Golamco.

Michelle Buteau, who played Sasha’s best friend and assistant Veronica, said that for a long time, films got away with having one ethnic person, which often resulted in stereotypical jokes.

“I think there’s no time better than now to be like, ‘Hey, guess what? We’re people, we’re out here, and we’re just having conversations and going through [things] like everybody else,’” said Buteau.

Being a child of Caribbean parents, Buteau shares in the hopes that movies will just be known as good movies and not be hyper-focused on an ethnic demographic.

“It’ll be so great to finally have one day where it’s not a Black movie, but just a movie. It’s not an Asian cast, it’s a joke cast,” said Buteau, who is also soon to be seen in the remake of the “First Wives Club.”

One of Golamco’s current projects also coming soon to Netflix is a live-action adaptation of Filipina-American author Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Award-winning novel, “Hello Universe.”

The book follows the character growth of a young Fil-Am boy named Virgil Salinas who is shy

and gets bullied at school, and eventually finds himself stuck in a well where he learns how to speak out for himself and dealing with people in the process.

“That’s what I love about this book, that these begin in the story isolated, but the universe brings them together,” said Golamco.

“Going back to what I said earlier, it’s that thing — putting the audience into the point of a view of a kid that normally is not the hero,” he added, referring to the character of Salinas.

As for “Always Be My Maybe,” Golamco said that it’s a must watch because it presents an incredibly familiar community — one we all live in.

“It’s kind of great to see yourself reflected on the screen because it lets you know that your life has merit — that somebody saw that and decided that these characters belong on the movie screen deserve the full Hollywood treatment to tell their story. You need to see yourself reflected in the culture. All of us do. Every single person in this country. Their stories are waiting to be told and this is one of them,” said Golamco.

“And it’s really funny,” he added, encouraging people to watch it with their family, make a party out of it, or use it as a “subtle hint to your crush.”

“Always Be My Maybe” was made available on Netflix on Friday, May 31, with limited released in select theaters.

TRUE LOVE FOUND OVER A CUP OF COFFEE RESULTED IN MARRIAGE, A GREEN CARD, AND A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER’S REUNION. Magoy (center) had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years, and was lonely and guilty for having left her children behind in the Philippines, when she arrived in the U.S. She found love at a random stop in a coffee shop, where she met U.S. citizen Daniel.

Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband, which allowed her to marry Daniel (without having to obtain an annulment in the Philippines), which, in turn, enabled Daniel to petition Magoy in the U.S. and Magoy’s daughter, Kara, from the Philippines, without having to adopt Kara. Watch this heartwarming story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Megan denies she and...

PAGE B1 been eight months since my last soap. I did not notice that I’ve been away from acting that long. I got busy with so many things.”

A big chunk of that eight months was actually devoted by Megan and boyfriend Mikael Daez to traveling, both domestic and international.

“As you know, Mik and I love traveling. In those travels, we were able to shoot for our vlog and finally launch our podcast among other things. I’m so glad that we were able to do that before we go back to taping,” shared Megan.

When the offer for her to do a new soap came, Megan was somewhat hoping that she would be with Mikael in the show. She really enjoyed working with her boyfriend.

“The vibe was good. I learned a lot from him. And even if we have been together for long as boyfriend-girlfriend, I still learned a lot of things about him like yung working habits niya, how he is in the set. But at the same time, I’m also happy na iba naman ang makakasama ko. I feel that I will be challenged more because panibagong co-worker. I’m gonna have to learn how to work with different people and I always consider it a challenge.”

The new series that Megan will

do is far from her last soap, “The Stepdaughters.” This new project will once again challenge her acting ability. What excites her is the concept, something new for the time slot the series will air.

“The concept is medyo thriller, horror. Actually, it’s scary, not only because of its genre but because it’s something new and I feel like OK lang na matakot kami because it’s a good sign. We should always be nervous so that you will give your best to make the project work.”

Doing a horror project is something new for Megan. When she was told that she was doing a series with supernatural elements, she immediately said yes.

“In reality, sobrang takot ako sa multo,” she admitted. “I don’t watch horror films also, horror TV shows. Matatakutin talaga ako because of Chucky. I watched that movie nung bata pa ko at sobrang takot na takot ako.”

This is the first time that Megan is working with her co-stars in the new series. There is Kris Bernal, Kim Domingo and Rayver Cruz.

“I’m so excited to work with Rayver, Kris and Kim. It’s always nice to have new co-workers. We have already done our workshop for our soap. I feel that the chemistry is there already. We just have to work on it at mangyayari lang

yun when we start taping.”

The character that Megan portrays is named Yvie, a strongwilled woman. Megan said she can identify with Yvie’s empowered personality.

“Solid siya, strong siya, so katulad ni Mayumi, my character in ‘The Stepdaughters.’ Si Yvie, malakas ang dating niya, malakas ang self-awareness niya at malakas ang loob niya. She’s the type na kapag may nakakatakot, pupuntahan niya. Tapos yung audience sasabihin, ‘huwag, huwag kang pupunta dun.’”

After she talked lengthily about work, Showbuzz asked Megan directly if she is affected by the rumor that she is secretly married already to Mikael.

“Hindi, kasi hindi siya totoo,” she replied quickly. “Natatawa nga ako kasi even my mom asked me, ‘Anak, kasal na ba kayo?’ Huh?!

How can it happen? Bakit parang alam ng ibang tao bago mangyari?

I just laugh about it but I know that there will always be fake news.

We cannot also avoid people from believing the rumors because they see me and Mik together in different places. Yung mga post namin, minsan, sweet, so people will think na, ‘ah, ganun na nga.’

But no, we are not married and people don’t have to believe the fake news.”

B4 JUNE 1-4, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

FEATURES

Jimmy Bondoc: How not to be you

BY MONET

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS

LU

A WISE man once said, “Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual.”

But it does come with some pretty basic rules on how NOT to be viral and hated in a span of 24 hours. This involves not wishing unemployment to anyone—or everyone, so to speak (direct or implied); not publicly accusing a major company of alleged sexual harassment and discrimination, or maybe not engage in a twitter/FB dialogue war with “Darna.”

However, it seems that Duterte-appointee Jimmy Bondoc didn’t get the memo on this ‘coz he blatantly violated all of the above and has now gotten himself into a position that nobody wants or would ever want to be in.

And so, we ask: how not to be a Jimmy Bondoc?

It started with a post that is, in my opinion, just asking – rather begging – for an expected reaction.

In Bondoc’s own words in a Facebook post: “I AM EAGERLY AWAITING YOUR DEMISE. I know how this sounds. And I know the nasty comments which are bound to come. I don’t care. If you think COMELEC is bad, wait until you see the real machinery that is known as “the biggest network…

This is not schadenfreude. This is hope! This is for real change. You have COUNTLESS VICTIMS, from sexual harassment to plain and simple bullying.”

“I am so happy that your time has come.”

It is impossible to ignore that kind of post. And as I have predicted, people would definitely react – and they did! Moments later, ABS-CBN contract artist Angel Locsin posted a comment calling out the singer (who was appointed vice president for entertainment of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) saying, “Let me be the one to break this news to you so you don’t have to make excuses,” she began, playing on the lyrics of Bondoc’s hit song.

“The network might not be perfect but for you to be happy about thousands of people losing their jobs is pure evil. Maybe you’re just having a bad day. I will

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Jimmy Bondoc and Angel Locsin

pray for you,” she said.

She continued: “Nung sumikat ka ba may na experience ka na sexual harassment? (When you became famous, did you experience sexual harassment?) If yes, I encourage you and all the victims to report this to the police. But generalizing that sexual favor is a prerequisite to success is just wrong.”

On Thursday, May 23, Bondoc took to Facebook to clarify his statement. Calling her “Mam,” Bondoc said: “Why would I be happy for loss of jobs? That is a false assumption. Kayo po ang nag-generalize, hindi ako (You were the one who generalized it not me). When a network (any network) closes, it can mean a change of management or ownership.

“Ibig po sabihin (It means), deserving employees would probably be retained. Therefore, there is nothing in my post that connotes happiness over the termination of employees, but rather, the termination of the network’s system; Thank you for your prayers, although I am not having a bad day. But prayers are always needed especially if sincere.”

To which Locsin replied: “Let me ask: if you acknowledge the imperfection of the network, do you have any comments on the acquisition of ownership by its current owners in light of the allegations that it was transferred to them to the disadvantage of the government?”

In her recent tweet, Locsin said to Bondoc: “As you said ‘when a network closes it can mean a change of management or ownership’ keyword is can. I’m speaking for the thousands of employees that will have no job security if this happens.”

“The assumption I gave I coming from your statement that you are excited for the network to CLOSE. I am not a lawyer nor am I a politician. I have no knowledge

Inquirer.net photos

of how it was acquired.”

On allegations of sexual harassment and rigged contests, Locsin encouraged Bondoc to report it to proper authorities.

“Don’t just rant on Facebook.

Your rant discredits the artists the truly worked hard to get to where they are,” she said.

“Magtulungan tayo at huwag magsiraan (Let’s help one another and not destroy each other). Let’s not wish ill of others rather let’s look for the proper solution. And yes, I was sincere when I said I will pray for you. Have a good day.”

While that was Locsin’s last statement, messages of encouragement and affirmation started pouring in from artists from other TV network and employees of ABS-CBN. I say, if there’s one good thing that’s been brought out by this man’s tirade, that is witnessing the overflowing support of the people who care to defend the station’s goodwill.

But what can you do to never be in Bondoc’s place? How do you not get yourself in situations that you could have easily avoided in the first place? My simple answer is: don’t use social media as an outlet of your personal vendetta and frustrations especially if it’s unwarranted.

Secondly, know your enemy.

Bondoc obviously has some unsettled grudge against the TV network but it would be wise for him to settle that matter privately because apparently, not everybody shares his beliefs. Lastly, whatever you do, do not – I repeat – DO NOT ever pick a fight with Darna. Just kidding. On a serious note, a blanket statement such as “I eagerly wait for your demise” would inevitably be taken as “a message for everyone” and not to “someone in particular.”

In my experience, the saying “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all” PAGE B5

IN the United States, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and the rectum) is the second leading causes of cancer deaths.

This year, 2019, the projected number of new cases: colon cancer —-101,420, and rectal cancer — 44,180. Colorectal cancer is the third leading malignancies in the Philippines, 8000 cases projected to afflict Filipinos. About one third of Americans are not up-to-date in their screening tests for these cancers, and I suspect the number is greater in the Philippines. The more recently introduced Cologuard test would surely increase the compliance for screening.

What causes colorectal cancer?

The exact cause is not known, but the risk factors contributing to the development of colorectal cancers are well publicized. Age is a factor: the chances of getting colorectal cancers (and some other malignancies) increases as individuals get older. Most of those who developed colorectal cancers (91 percent) were older than 50.

The average ages at the time colon cancer is detected are 68 for men and 72 for women.

What are the risk factors?

Besides age, the other risk factors include: Race (AfricanAmericans appears to have higher predisposition to develop this cancer); a family history of colorectal cancer; a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps; Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel conditions; a diet high in red meat, processed meat, low in fiber, high in fat; lack of daily physical exercise; smoking, alcohol use, obesity, diabetes, and past history of radiation treatment for cancer, where the radiation was aimed at the abdomen. All these are factors.

Do young people get this cancer?

Yes. Although the incidence of colon cancer appears to be going down among 50 and older, colorectal cancers are increasing among people under 50. Those in their 30s are about 30 percent more prone than any other age groups to be found to have later stages (III and IV) of these cancers. The American Cancer Society projects that “by 2030, colorectal cancer incidence rates will be up 90 percent in people between ages 20 and 34, and 28 percent for people between ages 35 and 49.”

How does cancer develop?

Following repeated exposures

MOONLIGHTING

Cologuard: A lifesaver

to the risk factors and carcinogens in our food and environment, the healthy cells in our colon undergoes transformation (mutation) in their DNA, which is the brain and “GPS” of the cell. The DNA has within itself instructions (directions) that command the cell what to do. Normally, the cell divides according to the need of the body, and in an orderly and timely fashion. When the DNA is adversely affected and damaged by all those insults (our abuses and bad behavior and habits, plus environmental pollution), the DNA goes haywire and keeps instructing the cells to divide and multiply rapidly without control, leading to the formation of a tumor that grows non-stop. The cancer cells travel (metastasize) to he liver, brain, bones, etc., which spread ultimately kills the victim.

What are the signs and symptoms?

In many cases, there were no signs or symptoms, the very reason why colorectal screening tests are vital for early detection and treatment, to assure a cure.

The common signs, when present, are: persistent change in bowel habits, constipation or diarrhea, shape and consistency of stools; rectal bleed or blood in the stools or black stools; frequent abdominal discomfort, cramps, gas; a sense of incomplete bowel emptying; tiredness, loss of strength; and surprising weight loss.

How is colorectal cancer detected early?

Early detection, second to prevention, provides the best strategy to deal with all cancers. The method is called screening and the simplest screening test for colorectal cancer used to be Fecal Occult Blood (FOBT) annually after age 50, and even at age lower thjan 30 for those with familial history of colon cancer. The new test is called Cologuard, a more accurate test, that detects at least 92 percent of colorectal cancers and 42 percent of advanced (precancerous) adenomas (polyps). This test is a life saver.

How is colorectal cancer prevented?

The old cliché that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is indeed true, more especially for cancers. Having a healthy environment helps greatly, but our world today is so polluted all around (air, water, land), that we, the people, and governments around the globe, must address this issue soon before we lose Mother Earth. Besides making our homes safe and healthy, we must also live a healthy lifestyle (view philipSchua.com), for our overall health to prevent illness, like hypertension, diabetes, heart

attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s and all cancers. Lifestyle changes could dramatically reduce the risk for colorectal cancers and all other diseases.

Does aspirin reduce the risk for this cancer?

The regular use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has been associated with reducing the risk for precancerous polyps or colon cancer in some studies. The dose and details of this observation have not been fully determined.

The option to use these pills for prevention is only for those with a high risk for colorectal cancer and not for those with average risk. The use of mini-dose (81 mg) aspirin for cardiovascular health under medical supervision is very popular. These over-the-counter drugs have the potential side-effects of gastrointestinal/ulcer bleeding. It is prudent to consult a physician before starting it.

What are those lifestyle changes?

Diet: Reduce meat intake to once or twice a week; stay away from processed meats (hot dogs, bacon, salami, pepperoni, ham, etc.) and other processed foods; eat fish at least 3 times a week (Salmon, small — not king — mackerel, sardines, trout, small (light canned tuna is safer than albacore tuna which is a large fish and contains a lot of mercury, like all large fishes), not farmed but wild-caught fish; eating a lot of varieties of vegetables, and some fruits, nuts, and whole grains; staying on low-carb diet, minimizing (or abstaining from) rice, pasta, bread, sweets, and any soft drinks which are all toxic, especially to children.

Behavior/habits: Have a positive attitude; abstinence or moderation from alcohol; no smoking or vaping; daily physical exercise for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week; disciplined and safe use of cell phone, computer and television; stress management/frequent minivacation or staycation. Maintain a normal weight by diet and exercise, not by pills or potion, which are toxic to the body. Adjust daily caloric intake to maintain desired weight.

Our health and longevity are, to a significant extent, within our control. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

An evening at the opera

by MYLAH DE

LEON

I CAN never quell a stir of fascination, dread and longing when the house lights dim and the curtain parts. But the enjoyment of an opera can begin, not with the rise of the curtains, but with the first bars of the overture.

To understand and enjoy the opera is the recognition of certain irreconcilable difference between it and the spoken drama.

Some think that opera is a stepchild of the arts, a sort of mongrel offspring to ballet, music, and drama; and is not pure art form.

A person who probably has less passion for it will ask, “Why the opera? What causes one to fall in love with that sad strumpet in the first place when he might have chosen a good woman, painting, sculpture, poetry, or instrumental music? And if he wanted to suffer what about films, which offer plenty of opportunities of exasperation for anyone with different ideas of art?”

Some say the opera is not a pure art form, since it rarely approaches the detached realism of drama. A play can be intellectual in the manner of Shaw (GBS) Ibsen or T.S. Elliot.

The opera remains emotional — jubilant chorus, lugubrious pleadings, wild wailings, dolorous themes, melodic preludes, symbolism of repudiation and despair, balms and caresses, torments and delights. No one in real life, for instance, would pause to express his feelings in the lengthily soliloquies which are sometimes to high point operatic performances since they are profound and to the point.

Operatic acting is different and only the most accomplished can make it convincing but over and above all these is the singing.

Our very own Sol Malaki of the LA Opera has a glorious verse that improvises certain limitation in movement and gestures. As declared by opera critics, the opera survives because the librettists are known to create characters and the composer have to match it with his musical genius.

Recall the dashing Don Giovan-

In an opera coat at the theater.

ni, the resourceful Figaro. The marriage of Figaro makes us laugh and clap because, among others, it is so funny, too Noah’s Ark to believe, proving that, reality was, above all, sad, even in its humor and extravaganza.

Verdi’s “La Traviata,” the woman gone astray is a classic product of her century and of a single country, France. We’re told you wouldn’t find her in London or Madrid. But she’s also universal, the misunderstood woman of easy virtue.

The Magdalen, Moll Flanders, Dostoevsky’s Sonia, Tolstoy’s Malova, Satre’s Respectful Prostitute. In the temple of love that Violetta Valery, our high successful coquette of one special fallen woman, who has consumption within her frail chest, burning her up — allied to the passion that will inevitably devour her, a wasting disease beside which mere dissipation (wine and late hours)…is harmless childs play, her theme “flitting from joy to joy let me live for pleasure only.”

Verdi wrote this in 1853, the first performance was a complete failure, performed in modern costume, which aroused the distaste of the audience. The leading tenor

was hoarse, the soprano cast as Violetta was a fat prima donna, and when it was announced in the last act that the heroine was dying of consumption, the audience howled with laughter.

It was next presented about a year later, putting back the period for 1850 and 1700, and costumed accordingly. It was an outstanding success and since then, “La Traviata” has been a favorite of opera lovers, myself included.

When opera is viewed within the scope of its own possibilities and lamentations, it becomes endlessly fascinating. It offers comedy, tragedy pageantry and romance in a repertoire that is almost inexhaustible.

While no one likes all the novels you read, all the paintings you see, or the lecture one hears, traditional opinions about opera vary. Described as barrel organ music or it is for twittering coloratura, which was in self deprecating humor, how my late mother, who was a coloratura soprano, saw herself.

With its power and splendor, operas never grow old and never wear out with time. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.com

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Features

Sue credits ‘smooth-sailing’ shoot of Fil-Korean film to mutual respect by

Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

SUE Ramirez had a taste of the famous Korean style of filmmaking while doing the film “Sunshine Family,” a co-production of the country’s Spring Films and the Korean film studio Film Line Productions.

The movie, which is based on the award-winning 1992 Japanese film, “The Hit-AndRun Family,” was shot entirely in South Korea last year. Sue said that the various locations they filmed at for almost a month were not the usual, touristy areas. “We got to places you don’t see in postcards, you don’t see in pictures quite often, but equally beautiful as the ones people come to Korea to see.”

The 22-year-old actress talked about her experience working with a Korean crew, leading man Shinwoo of the K-pop idol group Blanc 7 and director Kim Tai Sik, who is behind the 2007 international filmfest favorite Driving with My Wife’s Lover.

“They’re super quiet (workers). If it’s work, it’s really work.

They’re on time always,” she said. “They’re very considerate in the sense that they’re very strict with the rest periods that they give us.”

On Shinwoo: “Shinwoo was very nice and he’s so cute, he asked us to teach him Tagalog words, tapos kung ano-anong kalokohan ang tinuturo namin sa kanya. It was a very fun experience and we got to sing together.

We have recorded an English song that will become a part of the film. It was really fun. It was a great experience.”

On director Kim: “He’s very calm. One of the most gentle people I know. Never did I see him angry or run out of patience.

If you notice K-dramas, there’s minimal acting, kumbaga di katulad sa atin na ang laki ng reaction natin. Like me, I have big, expressive eyes, so, naloloka sila na ang laki-laki (ng reaction) so the director tells me to tone down a little bit. That’s the adjustment I have to make.”

Sue admitted that she was expecting to undergo difficulties because of the language barrier. “It’s a big factor, the workplace, and how you communicate with each other. Of course, the culture is different, the humor is different, the way of living is really different, if you compare the Philippines to Korea, but (surprisingly) it was very smooth-sailing.”

She further credited the smooth-sailing shoot to mutual respect. “I feel that it all started with respect — respect for each other, for the culture of the countries involved in the negotiation (for this film). The storytelling fell into place and ran smoothly because of that respect. In the middle of everything and while everyone was working, the culture of Koreans was respected at the same time, the culture of the

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

B

Winwyn: ‘Always a dream of mine to become a teacher’ by deNi Rose m. afiNidad-BeRNaRdo Philstar.com

ACTRESS and beauty queen Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez has just finished her Teacher Certificate Program, a step toward her dream of becoming a teacher.

“Southville really touched my life and now it is my turn to touch the lives of other people through teaching,” the Reina Sue with her “Sunshine Family” costars Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino, and Marco Masa. Hispanoamericana 2017 and Contributed photos Miss World Philippines - Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas Filipinos was respected.”

2017 titleholder said in a Face“We met in between. There book post by Southville Interwas a middle ground so it was national School and Colleges, easier to communicate with each where she got her Teacher other,” she added.

Certificate and also finished her Asked what the Koreans say Basic Education Program. about Filipinos, Sue shared, “It has always been a dream “The Filipinos, in terms of work of mine to become a Preschool ha, maingay tayo para sa kanila Teacher,” said the star, who because sobrang direct to the has been advocating for better point sila, like ito lang gagawin education for all since her pagnila. They’re very, very profeseantry days. sional, work is fast because She also actively participates there’s no tsismis on the side. in a Community Engagement It’s all work. That’s the biggest Program that goes to differdifference, but I think na medyo ent mission areas and public bilib din sila sa atin because we are able to make the workplace Sue with Korean leading man Shinwoo of Blanc7 in a scene from the film. happy, kumbaga, work is not just work, we make it our way of liv- ily members’ differences, they ing and our source of happiness become united when they go through tough times. The film and inspiration.”

PAGE B4 Doing “Sunshine Family” shows that when one family has saved me many times than I marked Sue’s first time to shoot goes through something, it just can count. Maybe people in a poa film abroad, but it was her makes them stronger — and sition like Jimmy Bondoc should second time in Korea that time happier together when they do the same for his own sake. because Sue happens to be a survive it.” *** tourism ambassador for the Asian country since 2016.

“I’m very lucky to have been chosen as Korean tourism ambassador. A part of my duties is everytime they have events, I have to be present and I have to perform,” said Sue. “The biggest responsibility, I think, and the easiest to do, for me, because Filipinos love everything Korean — K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, Kskincare, everything, so the work for Korea tourism is so easy for me. All I have to do is promote the tourism of Korea, which is already loved by the Filipinos.”

As tourism ambassador, she doesn’t receive a talent fee, but all her travels to South Korea are free. Her contract stipulates that she goes to the country at least once a year. “But they always come with a show. Recently, I went to Korea with Pia Wurtzbach for her travel show on Metro Channel. I was the one who toured her.”

Nevertheless, shooting abroad isn’t only about showcasing another country. “We’re shooting in another country not just to showcase its beauty, but also to show our culture to them,” she said, stressing that the film is very Filipino.

For her, Sunshine Family mirrors the Filipino family. “It’s close to the heart — when you talk about families, especially parents. In terms of social issues, we children have secrets here. The good thing about the film is that despite the fam-

“Always be curious. There’s a lot to learn about the world.”

The 27-year-old daughter of actor-politicians Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez also graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing Management from San Beda College Alabang in 2012.

Marquez is the half-sister of actors Vandolph Quizon and Mark Anthony Fernández, and the niece of actress and Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez.

Wyn was among the top 15 finalists of the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas pageant and in 2017, was hailed as Miss World-Philippines’ Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas. She later became Asia’s first winner and representative to the annual international Reina Hispanoamericana Winwyn Marquez competition, which celebrates Photo from Instagram/@teresitassen Hispanic culture, language and heritage. schools.

Last Valentine’s, it was re“It has always been a dream of mine to become a Teacher & ported that Wyn broke up with now i’m a step closer,” she add- actor Mark Herras, her boyfriend of two years. ed in her Instagram account.

Jimmy Bondoc: How not to...

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as

unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

B JUNE 1-4, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;¢ JUNE 1-4, 2019

COMMUNITY Journal

C

Travel, Trade and Consumer Roadshow Expo in Carson on August 3 and 4 features Fil-Am business and talent THE City of Carson will be a bustling hub of activity when the Travel, Trade and Consumer (TTC) show comes to town on August 3 and 4. This exciting weekend brings a variety of attractions of Filipino interest, from products and services to talents and fashion.

The Southbay Pavilion will once again be the center of Filipino-American when Filipino products and businesses will be highlighted in this Trade Expo.

On its second year, TTC has new attractions, along with the requisite business connection opportunities.

During TTCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first year, the public got to see and feel new products from Pangasinan, innovative and eco-friendly car products, handicrafts, new food products and booming Filipinoowned service companies. Industries represented are real estate, banking, health and beauty, government recruitment agencies and others involved in helping small businesses.

Being presented in a mall, the expo is open to the public. Summer foot traffic of 16,500 on Saturdays and 14,000 on Sundays gives the exhibitors a chance to connect with consumers. Also present will be representatives that complete the process of importing goods from buyers, customs brokers, fulfillment and distribution.

Filipino-American Chambers of Commerce of South Bay and Greater Los Angeles, and others who are members of the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce shall be present to represent their own business, as well as orient those interested in joining a chamber and learning how involvement can help boost their bottom lines.

A dedicated Business-to-Business area (B2B) will run special presentations and informational talks for entrepreneurs. Admission is free. Topics ranging from customs compliance, marketing, and branding are on the roster.

Come and ask your burning business questions from esteemed and experienced individuals such as EC Ferrer Customs Broker, among others.

Filipino American Community VIPs and City Officials are expected to cut the ribbon at the opening festivities, graced by the energetic and colorful Masskara Dancers from Bacolod City, who will herald in good fortune throughout the malls aisles with their lively music. These dancers

started as contestants who won the local dance competition in Bacolod, to doing the Philippines proud by winning the World Dance Championship in Daegu, Korea.

The Atrium will be the site of One Global Talent, a highly anticipated Youth Singing Competition. Onstage auditions will be in preparation for the finals in October. Divisions by age, scheduling and mechanics will be announced soon. Prizes include an

international plane ticket, among others.

The Atrium will also be converted into a runway to showcase fashion with Filipino-American designers and models.

TTC was conceptualized to foster economic growth by showcasing Filipino products and businesses, while generating interest and support from the general public. Interested exhibitors and sponsors can visit www. traveltradeconsumer.com. n

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C JUNE 1-4, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do?

Individuals who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether bankruptcy is their only realistic way to get out of debt. However, they hesitate to do so because of all the negative things they’ve heard about bankruptcy.

Sometimes, these people feel that somehow, they’ve lost, failed, or that they will never have a chance to rebuild their credit again. Most of the time, they’re also too embarrassed to ask for help because they fear being judged by people who don’t even know anything about their situation.

Because we are living in a society where having a lot of credit cards has become the norm, they also can’t imagine themselves without credit cards. They often tell me: If I lose all my credit cards, what will I use in case of an emergency? But this is the wrong question to ask.

The truth is that credit cards only give us a sense of false security. Why? Because these plastic cards create the illusion of having money that you actu-

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRsuA Reyes COUPLES get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families.

However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena.

Four situations in which filing for divorce can be beneficial to your immigration case are as follows: Married Sons and Daughters of US Citizens If you were petitioned for legal permanent residence by your US Citizen parent as a married son or daughter 21 years old or over,

Community Journal

Are you in debt but too embarrassed to ask for help? ally don’t have in your bank account, that’s why. That is exactly how most people end up spending their money before they even earn it. And they wonder why they are broke every pay day no matter how hard they work.

If you find yourself over-extended and have tried living on a budget, doing financial counseling, etc. and still have not made great progress in repaying your debts, I applaud you at least for your efforts. However, your plan must be a realistic one or you will simply end up getting frustrated.

When you have incurred more debt that you can possibly repay, perhaps filing bankruptcy may be the only way to get debt relief. Otherwise, you may just remain stuck in your situation forever with no hope of getting out. And in most cases, it’s not as complicated and as bad as what your creditors would like you to believe.

As a matter of fact, most people who file for bankruptcy do just fine. They rebuild their credit after a few years and a lot of them are able buy homes just like everyone else. Filing bankruptcy doesn’t have to be the end of the world. It is only a new beginning for those who really need it.

Suppose you have attempted

to negotiate with your creditors to work out an affordable repayment plan but they simply would not work with you? Although you’ve told them repeatedly that you cannot afford to pay the entire amount, they refuse to cooperate and continue to threaten you with filing a lawsuit, obtaining a judgment and perhaps even garnishing your wages (which you know you cannot afford).

What else can you do? This may leave you no other option but to seek debt relief through our federal bankruptcy laws.

If you are drowning in debt, don’t wait until things get worse or you may regret not having acted sooner. Waiting until the last minute also doesn’t give you enough time that you need to find a good attorney who can protect your interests.

For a free office consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-4777772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

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

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The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAs FOURTEEN new priests graduated from St. John’s Seminary this past school year: six for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; three for the Diocese of Monterey; three for the Diocese of Orange; and two for the Diocese of San Bernardino. They are ready and excited to serve the People of God after at least seven years of studies and formation.

I had the privilege and the honor of preparing these men for ministry. I feel proud and happy that I became part of their journey to the priesthood.

One of them is Emmanuel Delfin, a Filipino American who was an architect before answering God’s call. Recently, Pablo Kay of Angelus News wrote a story of his life before entering the seminary.

Here’s how he reported it: “Church for me was just going to a Mass and seeing my peers from high school there,” said Delfin. “Nothing else, really. This was the basis of my religion and it seemed really empty—especially seeing that my peers weren’t por-

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPA, mBA

THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) makes major changes Married Sons and Daughters to the taxation of partnerships, S corporations, and pass-through of Legal Permanent Residents If your parents are legal per- income. Most of these changes manent residents, getting di- are effective starting in 2018 (for vorced will convert you back sin- this 2019 tax filing season).

1. Partnership loss limitation gle status making you eligible to be petitioned by your legal per- rule: Old law mandated that a partmanent resident parents under the family based second prefer- ner can only deduct his (includes ence (F2b) category if you are 21 her) share of partnership loss to years old or older or under the the extent of his basis in his partfamily based second preference nership interest as of the end of A (F2a) if you are under 21 years the partnership tax year in which the loss occurred. IRS has ruled, of age.

For those who married after however, that this loss limitation they were petitioned by their rule should not apply to limit a LPR parents (F2A and F2B), the partner’s deduction for his share petition is automatically revoked of partnership charitable conunder operation of law the mo- tributions. Additionally, while ment you get married and can- the regulations under the loss not be reclaimed by a divorce. limitation rules do not address In theory, it can be argued that the foreign tax credit, taxpayu PAGE C4 ers may elect the credit instead of deducting foreign taxes, thus avoiding a basis adjustment.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) addresses these issues by providing that the rule limiting a Partner’s Losses To His Basis In His Partnership Interest Is Applied By Reducing His Basis By

Entering priesthood traying the Gospel.”

He eventually pursued architecture school, an adventure that took him from Switzerland to Los Angeles to New Mexico, and finally back to LA. He remembers during college going as far as trying to prove to others that God didn’t exist.

Tragedy struck during his time in New Mexico. He woke up one morning to find out that a friend had been murdered in her car on the side of the freeway. Anguished, he began to walk in circles around his block, passing a small chapel each time. Finally, a nun came out during one of his rounds and smiling, invited him inside for Benediction. ”So I thought, ‘I’ll give it a try’,” Delfin remembered.

Kneeling in front of the statue of the Blessed Mother, Delfin tried to remember how to pray the rosary as he had seen his grandmother do. Looking at her face “got me more angry because she was at peace,” Delfin recalled.

But praying for the first time in years, something changed inside Delfin: He described finding peace that day, even in the death of his friend.

Emmanuel’s vocation story just one of the dozens that I’ve heard in the five years that I worked in

the seminary. It tells me again how God never stops calling people to serve him in spite of the present crises in the Catholic Church.

Let’s pray for our newly ordained priests. May they be faithful to their vocation. May they adhere to Bishop Robert Barron’s vision of a priest: “A priest must be devoted to Christ, conformed to him at all levels of his being. His mind, his will, his passions, his body, his private life, his public life, and his friendships must all belong to the Lord. A priest whose central preoccupation is money or pleasure or power or career advancement or fame will, sooner or later, fall apart and wreak havoc around him.” *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

Five changes affecting partnerships, S corporations and pass-through income (Part 1 of 2) His Share Of partnership charitable contributions and foreign taxes paid. However, in the case of partnership charitable contributions of property with a fair market value that exceeds its adjusted basis, the partner’s basis reduction is limited to his share of the basis of the contributed property.

2. Partnership “Technical termination” rule repealed: Under old law, partnerships experienced a “technical termination” if, within any 12-month period, there was a sale or exchange of at least 50% of the total interest in partnership capital and profits. This resulted in a deemed contribution of all partnership assets and liabilities to a new partnership in exchange for an interest in it, followed by a deemed distribution of interests in the new partnership to the purchasing partners and continuing partners from the terminated partnership. Some of the tax attributes of the old partnership terminated, its tax year closed, partnership-level elections ceased to apply, and depreciation recovery periods restarted. This often imposed

unintended burdens and costs on the parties.

The new Act repeals this rule.

A partnership termination is no longer triggered if within a 12month period, there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of total partnership capital and profits interests. A partnership termination will still occur only if no part of any business, financial operation, or venture of the partnership continues to be carried on by any of its partners in a partnership. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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VAWA and good moral character NOONG isang linggo ay aking tinalakay ang pagkuha ng green card sa pamamagitan ng VAWA self-petition. Kahit ang batas ay tinatawag na Violence Against Women Act, ang VAWA ay naaangkop din sa lalaking asawa na biktima ng domestikong karahasan sa kamay ng kanyang asawang US citizen (USC) o lawful permanent resident (LPR).

Ang dayuhan ay maaaring magVAWA self-petition kung kanyang maipapakita na siya ay may good faith marriage sa asawang USC/LPR, at noong kasal, siya ay napailalim sa mga pang-aabuso o kalupitan sa kamay ng USC/ LPR. Kinakailangan ding ipakita ng dayuhan na sila ng USC/LPR ay nagsama bilang mag-asawa.

Bukod dito, kinakailangan ipakita ng dayuhang asawa ng USC/ LPR na siya ay may good moral character.

Kung ang dayuhang self-petitioner ay nakagawa ng mga kilos na labag sa batas, ito ay masamang sumasalamin sa kanyang moral character. Hindi kinakailangan na ang self-petitioner ay nahatulan na nagkasala sa mga paglabag sa batas – kapag may matibay na ebidensya laban sa kanya, maaaring sabihin na may pagkukulang sa kanyang good moral character. Ang good moral character ay sinusuri sa bawat isang kaso at isinasaalang-alang ang Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at pamantayan ng karaniwang mamamayan ng komunidad. Ang mga katibayan ng good moral character ay ang sinumpaang salaysay ng self-petitioner na may kasamang local police clearance at mga background check mula sa mga tinirahan ng petitioner ng tatlong taon bago i-file ang VAWA Petition. Susuriin ng USCIS ang lahat ng katibayan na may kaugnayan sa VAWA petition, ngunit ang burden of proof ay nasa selfpetitioner na ipakita na siya ay eligible para sa immigration benefit sa ilalim ng VAWA. Sa isang kasong napagdesisyonan ng Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), ang VAWA self-petitioner ay nahatulan na sa pagkakasalang hindi pagbabayad ng child support sa kanyang panganay na anak sa dating

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. RheA sAmson karelasyon. Ayon sa mga talaan ng kaso, ang self-petitioner ay hindi nagbayad ng court-ordered child support ng mahigit na walong taon para sa kanyang anak. Ayon sa petitioner, siya ay tumigil sa pagbabayad ng child support dahil nawalan siya ng trabaho. Ngunit sa talaan ng kaso, makikita na siya ay mag mga sulat galing sa mga kasama sa trabaho at siya rin ay nag-file ng tax returns. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay tumigil ang VAWA self-petitioner sa pagbabayad ng child support noong siya ay nawalan ng trabaho. Ngunit noong siya ay magkatrabaho ulit, hindi niya ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabayad ng child support.

Sa katunayan, nagbayad lamang ulit siya ng child support noong malaman niya na mayroon na siyang warrant of arrest. Walang binigay na dahilan ang petitioner kung bakit hindi niya ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabayad ng court-ordered child support noong siya ay nagkatrabaho na. Wala rin siyang binigay na dahilan kung bakit hindi na lang siya bumalik sa korte upang baguhin ang kanyang child support obligations noong wala siyang pera at trabaho at wala silang kasunduan ng ina ng kanyang panganay na anak. Ayon sa AAO, ang paghatol sa kanya sa pagkakasala na di pagbabayad ng court-ordered child support, and ang talaan ng hindi niya pagbabayad ng child support ay nagpapakita ng kilos na mas mababa sa karaniwang mamamayan ng komunidad, at ang mga ito ay masamang sumasalamin sa kanyang moral character. Samakatuwid, ang selfpetitioner ay ineligible sa mga immigration benefit ng VAWA, dahil hindi niya napatunayan na siya ay may good moral character.

The immigrant provisions of VAWA (Violence Against Women

Act) provide legal remedies that permit victims of domestic violence to legalize their status independent of their US citizen (USC) or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse-abuser. Despite the name “Women” in Violence Against Women Act, VAWA applies to all victims of domestic violence, irrespective of gender.

The spouse of the USC or LPR may self-petition for immigrant classification if he or she demonstrates that he or she entered into the marriage with the USC/LPR in good faith and that during the marriage, he or she was battered or subjected to extreme cruelty perpetrated by his or her spouse.

Among other requirements, the self-petitioner must show that he or she is a person of good moral character.

A self-petitioner who has committed unlawful acts that adversely reflect upon his or moral character, regardless of whether the petitioner was convicted of those acts, will be found to lack good moral character unless the self-petitioner establishes extenuating circumstances. The petitioner’s claim of good moral character will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the standards of the average citizen in the community. Primary evidence of the selfpetitioner’s good moral character is his or her affidavit, which should be accompanied by local police clearances or state-issued criminal background checks from each of the petitioner’s residences during the three years before the petition was filed. USCIS shall consider any evidence relevant to the VAWA petition; the burden of proof is on the petitioner to show eligibility by preponderance of evidence.

In a case decided by the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), the VAWA self-petitioner was convicted and sentenced for not paying his child support obligations for his eldest child from a previous relationship.

The record indicated that petitioner failed to pay court-ordered child support for over 8 years for his

u PAGE C3

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Community Journal

In the gig economy, being classified an employee is still more advantageous THE creation of technologydriven industries has given rise to new business models that may not follow the traditional employer-employee relationship. Companies, for example, may practice “outsourcing” or “crowdsourcing” where they obtain the services from the general public, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. This has led to the rise of the “on-demand economy” or “gig economy” where “free lancers”, on-call workers, and temporary help agency workers, attempt to make a living.

One perfect example of a company that would not exist without the current technology is Uber. Uber claims it is simply a provider of a ride-hailing application. However, in multiple lawsuits filed by its drivers, it is alleged that Uber is in the business of providing car service to customers, and that these drivers’ services are fully integrated into Uber’s business, and without the drivers, Uber’s business would not exist.

Drivers claim that Uber has misclassified its drivers as independent contractors. As a result, the drivers had to bear expenses that should be borne by the employer, such as gas, insurance, phone data charges, vehicle maintenance, and insurance. However, drivers are rarely “independent” in the way they performed their work for Uber. The company’s control over the workers is evident in the following: Uber required drivers to comply with detailed requirements regarding conduct and communications with customers, the cleanliness of their vehicles, their timeliness in customer pickups and drop offs.

Uber graded drivers based on their failure to adhere to these requirements.

Uber can fire drivers for vio-

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. lating these requirements.

Uber has also advertised to customers that gratuity is included in the cost of its car service.

However, Uber drivers do not receive the total proceeds of any such gratuity. Because Uber tells its customers that gratuity is included in the price of its service and so they do not need to tip, few customers leave tips for the drivers. Uber has also prohibited its drivers from accepting tips.

In their lawsuit, Uber drivers in Massachusetts and California claim that they were misclassified as Independent Contractors when they were in fact employees. Drivers thus claim reimbursement for business expenses, payment of minimum wage, and payment of overtime. Uber countered that its drivers were not employees because Uber exercised minimal control over drivers’ work hours and work schedule, and drivers set their own hours.

Workers in the gig economy are often not called “employees” in the traditional sense. Many of them are labelled “independent contractors” and do not have the same rights and protections that employees enjoy. Independent contractors are not entitled to minimum wage, to overtime pay for working more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, protection from unlawful deductions, protection from unlawful discrimination and harassment, reimbursement for business expenses, workers’ compensation protection, additional benefits such as sick pay, health

insurance, retirement and profit-sharing plans, and the right to the employer’s share of the social security, unemployment and disability taxes.

There are several factors that determine whether a worker has been correctly classified as an independent contractor. The most important factor is the employer’s right to control the worker’s manner and means of performing the job. If the employer determines how the worker should do the work, what tasks to accomplish and how to accomplish them, then the worker is an employee and not an independent contractor.

Misclassified employees may be owed back wages such as overtime pay, wages for missed breaks, and reimbursements for business expenses. If the misclassification occurred for several years, the back wages and reimbursements owed may be significant.

Rather than proceed to trial Uber agreed to pay $20 million into a settlement fund for the drivers. Uber also agreed to modify its business practices by maintaining a written policy posted online governing the deactivation of drivers’ accounts. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

You can contact the office at (818) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com” www.joesayaslaw.com. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers.

He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas in 2018.]

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Clients with failed businesses need relief from credit card debt and loans

THE first client is 34. She is recently married and now has a one-year-old son. She used to be employed making a gross of $50,000 yearly. At the same time, she was doing a home-based business using credit cards to finance the purchase of goods for people who had no credit.

She would use her cards to purchase a gift card and give that to the end buyer. The end buyer would use the gift card to purchase say a TV set or furniture set. Then the end buyer would pay her back in installments, plus a certain extra margin as her profit for providing the service of acting as a financing intermediary to enable the end buyer to obtain the desired merchandise.

Theoretically, this business model could work but is very risky. The risk that the client assumed, of course, is that the end buyers may not pay her back on time, or may not pay her back at all. They can just say, well, we bought this TV set with a gift card, so the client just gave them the gift card for free, to get away from their agreement to pay her back so she can pay back her credit cards.

Let’s just say that the client is young and has no business experience at all and is too trusting of people. She actually did not get the end buyers herself. She had an in-between person, an “up-line” who did the recruiting of end buyers, and I believe, this “up line” also collected the payments from the end buyers and turn over the collections to her.

To make a long story short, the end buyers defaulted on payments and consequently, the client is left holding the bag of credit card debts. She now owes, would you believe, $300,000 in credit cards! That’s a lot of credit card debt.

For any person, let alone a young one in her 30s to owe a ton of credit cards is like being put in a prison cell with the key thrown away. Just imagine the minimum payment required on $300,000 of credit cards. That’s at least $10,000 a month of minimum payments every month just to keep the $300,000 current every month! Without question, the client needs a fresh start in life without these credit cards hounding her every day for payment.

We would expect questions from the Chapter 7 trustee as well as maybe the U.S. trustee on how she racked up so much credit card debt. But as long as she is telling the truth about what happened, that she used those credit cards, the law favors giving her a discharge to free her from those debts so she can get a fresh start in life without accumulated debt. That’s why Chapter 7 is called the “fresh start” law. Everyone wants to be

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrenCe yAng productive again. How can she be productive again if she has to give $10,000 a month to her credit card masters just because her business failed? That’s cruel and unjust punishment.It’s like torture every day for the rest of her life.

The second client is a 69-yearold widow. Would you believe she bought six expensive cars costing at least $100,000 each? She owes a total of $800,000 in car loans! These are expensive cars, large Mercedes-Benzes and Lexus, SUVs and large sedans. They are all purchased with car loans, not leased. Her business model was to rent these high-end cars to people who want to use them temporarily maybe to show off to some people that they have an expensive car. These people would pay her rent to use the cars; then she would use the rent to pay back the car loans plus make her profit. This plan is also flawed because the renter may just decide not to pay the rent, or just run away with the car. The renter is authorized to use the car but has no liability for the car payment. It’s a sweet deal for the renter, but a terrible deal for the client who should know better at her age.

In addition to these car loans, she obtained a business credit line of $50,000 to finance her car rental business. Of course, when the rents don’t come in a timely manner, she will need some money to pay the car loans on time so that’s why she needs a business credit line.

However, the client says that she was actually defrauded by two people who set up the whole business operations, including setting up a company to do the car rental business, purchase the cars, obtain the business credit line, and to get the renters.

Again, this senior needs a fresh start in life without the car loans of $800,000, and the business credit line of $50,000. She needs the “fresh start” provided by bankruptcy law. Even seniors need this fresh start without accumulated debt. How can she retire in peace with $800,000 in car loans, and a $50,000 credit line when she’s not a billionaire? She gets social security plus she has a decent retirement portfolio in six figures that give her enough income to enjoy her life, but certainly not to carry the financial burden of paying for $800,000 of car loans and a $50,000 business credit line.

As long as she is telling the truth about how she got into this

mess, bankruptcy law will give her a chance to start fresh again without the $800,000 car loans and the business credit line. She can keep her retirement portfolio and social security.

All these renters are now driving all over the country and getting all kinds of toll tickets from different states, and guess who gets the bill for all the traffic violations for six expensive cars?

Not Donald Trump for sure.

The third client is 55. She bought a restaurant for $80,000 about five years ago. Unfortunately, the restaurant has been losing money every year. Surprise!

The minute she forked out her purchase payment for the restaurant, it started to lose money.

And now, some employee wants to sue her a job-related injury. If she gives up the restaurant, the landlord will sue her to collect three more years of unpaid rent at $50,000 per year, or a total of $150,000. Fortunately, she signed the lease as an officer of the company which owns the restaurant, and did not sign as an individual lessee, and did not sign as an individual guarantor of the lease, otherwise, she would also be personally liable for the $150,000 unpaid lease.

So, the company that owns the restaurant needs to file Chapter 7 to get out of the lease and the workmen’s comp claim.

Of course, with Trump’s trade wars, a lot of importers here are going to need bankruptcy relief soon. Either that or the Yuan is devalued by 25% to offset tariffs. A long and protracted trade war could happen and plunge the entire world into chaos and recession. Nobody wins. Nowadays, this is really a sad fact.

Bankruptcy is the only realistic and effective solution for accumulated debt. Chapter 7 is used to wipe out unsecured debt completely. Chapter 13 and 11 are used to reorganize and/or consolidate financial affairs, or to save a house from foreclosure, or to resuscitate a business. Walt Disney did Chapter 7 twice before his Disney-empire became successful. Yes, that’s true. Without Chapter 7, there would be no Disneyland today on earth, and what will we all be without the happiest place on earth to go to?

In my lifetime, I have brought my family to Disneyland 23 times!

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** 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.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 1-4, 2019

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Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a deceased relative DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed the I130 petition after I came to the US in 1999 as a tourist from the Philippines. Since my arrival, I have lived in the US and have been out of status.

Since I was petitioned as an unmarried adult daughter, I was advised that I had to wait several years to get a green card. Recently, my mother passed away. Can I still get a green card through my mother’s petition? -H.P. Dear H.P., When your mother passed away, the I-130 that was approved on your behalf was revoked by operation of law pursuant to 8 CFR Section 205.1.

However, depending on the facts of a particular case, all is not lost. You may be eligible to get a green card pursuant to INA Section 204(L).

Under INA Section 204(L), relief from an automatic revocation of an I-130 petition is available to certain surviving relatives. Surviving relatives who are eligible to seek 204(L) relief include a 1) principal or derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a deceased permanent resident or U.S. Citizen, and 2) derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a permanent resident or U.S. Citizen where the principal beneficiary has died.

Section 204(L) relief is also available to derivative beneficia-

indicates the priority date for the I-130 petition filed by your mother on your behalf is current, so you can file an I-485 adjustment of status application, requesting reinstatement of the I-130 petition filed by your mother pursuant to SecAtty. DArriCk tAn tion 204(L).

As a sidenote, Section 204(L) ries in I-140 employment-based relief is also available if one’s petitions where the principal ben- relative died while the I-130 was eficiary has died. pending, not only after the I-130 Another requirement for Sec- petition was approved. Section tion 204(L) relief is that the per- 204(L) relief therefore is broadson seeking relief must have er than Humanitarian Reinstate“residence” in the US. What is ment of a petition under 8 CFR meant by “residence?” It is your Section 205.1, which can only primary home or principal actual be requested by the principal dwelling place. At least one ben- beneficiary when the petitioner eficiary must have resided in the him/herself has died, and after U.S. when the petitioning rela- approval of an I-130. tive died, and must continue to Relief under Section 204(L) is reside in the U.S. when seeking discretionary, and can be deSection 204(L) relief. It is worth nied if factors in support of renoting that all beneficiaries of a lief are not presented properly. petition can benefit from Section It is accordingly recommended 204(L) relief as long as at least that you seek the assistance of one of the beneficiaries meets the an experienced attorney. residence requirement. Further, *** although “residence” is required, Section 204(L) does not require Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to pracactual physical presence in the tice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and SouthU.S. when the relative died.

In your case, it appears that western University School of Law. He you are eligible to obtain a green is a member of the Consumers Attorcard. You are a principal benefi- ney Association of Los Angeles and is ciary of an I-130 petition filed by a former member of the Board of Govyour US Citizen mother. Further, ernors of the Philipp ine American Bar you appear to meet the residence Association. *** requirement in that you have been in the US since your arrival LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 in 1999—you resided in the US Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los when your mother passed away, Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. and currently reside in the US. A Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

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Legal Advice

VAWA and good moral character PAGE C2 t

child. Although he explains that he stopped paying because of loss of income, the records of the case include letters from his employers and business associates, as well as tax returns filed during this 8-year period. He only resumed paying child support when he learned that a warrant had been issued for him. The petitioner provided no explanation for why he did not resume making payments once he obtained employment, or why he did not return to court to modify his child support obligations when he had no means to pay and could not come up with an agreement with

his child’s mother. The AAO held that petitioner’s conviction for child support and his history of not paying court-ordered child support demonstrate conduct that falls below the average citizen in the community, and constitute acts which adversely reflect upon his moral character. Thus, he is ineligible for VAWA classification because he has not demonstrated his good moral character as required by the INA. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty.

Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and

in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams.

As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others.

Please visit our office: LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010 Call or text us: (213) 381.5710 Email us: attorneys@lindainsamsonlaw. com.

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People & Events 4 ways filing for divorce can benefit...

Filipino Ministry holds 15th annual Santacruzan celebration PAGE C3 t

filing a subsequent petition after your divorce under the same category inherits the previous petition’s priority date under 9 FAM 42.43 N10 and 8 CFR 204.2(h), Part 205. However, success of such argument is not clear since the old petition was automatically revoked the moment you married.

The best thing that can be done in this situation is to have your LPR parent repetition you as an F2A or F2b even if you are unable to reclaim the previous petition’s priority date.

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

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

AJPress photos by Andy Tecson

THE Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles held its 15th annual Santacruzan-May Crowning on Saturday, May 11 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The main celebrant of the mass was Rev. Fr. Albert H. Avenido, chaplain and moderator of the Filipino Ministry for the Archdiocese. The program included a presentation of the various Filipino American community organizations and images of the Blessed

Virgin Mary. “Sagalas,” young women who comprise the Court of Honor for the procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, were also presented during the pre-liturgy program. The crowning on May 11 showcased Maria Giselle Victorio of Holy Family Parish in Artesia as Reyna Elena; Erica Marie Guico of St. Philomena Parish as Reyna Emperatriz; and Erica Rose Madlangsakay of St. Genevieve Parish as Reyna De

Las Flores. The Santacruzan is a ritual pageant held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo, which is a festival held in the Philippines devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The festival was introduced by the Spanish conquistadores in the Philippines in the 1800s and has since become part of Filipino traditions focused on the youth and their devotion to imitate the values of the Blessed Virgin Mary.■

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

Married Aliens in Non-Immigrant Visas and those without Status For those who enter the US as a non-immigrant and are separated from their spouse but still married, filing a divorce would open up opportunities in case they meet a new significant other who is a US Citizen and who can petition them as an immediate relative. This is usually the fastest of process in obtaining legal permanent residence. In countries such as the Philippines where there is no divorce, many people come to the US to start a new life after they have been separated from their old spouse (often still married to them). Even if the alien over stays their status as a visitor, the alien can still adjust to that of a legal permanent residence if petitioned by a US Citizen spouse.

If the alien was never inspected, the alien can still adjust to legal permanent residence if they are grandfathered under INA 245(i) and there are no special restrictions on their status. To be grandfathered under INA 245(i), the alien must have been a beneficiary of a legal permanent residence petition filed no later than April 30, 2001.

Finally, a common concern of divorcing immigrants is “What happens if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?” The truth is you do not need your spouse’s signature to obtain a

Calendar of Events across

divorce in California. You only need to provide your spouse notice that you filed a divorce by personally serving your spouse the divorce petition and summons.

In countries that are members of the Hague Convention, special procedures need to be followed to effect service. So yes it is possible to divorce your spouse even if your spouse is in a country that does not recognize divorce among its citizens such as the Philippines. For some immigrants, filing for divorce opens up opportunities in this land of milk and honey. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

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“Tagolilong: Hidden in Plain Sight” exhibit in San Pedro, CA An interactive homage to Indigenous California Habitat will be on exhibit from May 18 to June 29, 2019. Created by LA-based artists-collaborators, champoy and Sarita Doe, it will open on Saturday, May 18th, 2019 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at Pinta*Dos Philippine Art Gallery which is located at 479 W Sixth Street, Suite 108, Historic Arts District, San Pedro, CA 90731.

Tagolilong: Hidden in Plain Sight will be the sixth exhibit at Pinta*Dos Gallery since it was inaugurated in June 2017. The Gallery is open from Wednesday to Friday, 3:00pm to 6:00pm except on First Thursdays when it is open until 8pm. It is also open by appointment. For further information, email Linda Nietes-Little, Founder of the gallery at info@pintadosgallery.com Also visit their website: http://www.pintadosgallery.com , facebook and instagram pages.

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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Trump cracking down on immigrants PH on track to meet sustainable dev’t goals who receive public assistance

by RONNEL

W. DOMINGO

Inquirer.net

ON May 23, 2019, Pres. Trump issued a memorandum to strictly enforce obligations under affidavits of support (Form I-864), including: • Seeking reimbursement from sponsors when the sponsored alien receives certain forms of “means – tested public benefits,” such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and • When the sponsored alien applies for certain means – tested public benefits, “the financial resources of the alien’s sponsor must be counted as part of the alien’s financial resources in determining both eligibility for the benefits and the amount of benefits that may be awarded.” In other words, if an alien’s sponsor on an affidavit of support is a rich uncle, and the alien’s entitlement to certain benefits is based on the alien’s income, governmental agencies must now also include the sponsor’s income in determining eligibility.

Trumps goal is to crack down on immigrants who apply for public benefits, “to ensure that ineligible non-citizens do not receive means – tested public benefits.” If an alien receives such public assistance, governmental agencies should request the sponsor to reimburse them “in an amount equal to the unreimbursed cost of such benefit.”

Trump believes that agencies are not fully or adequately enforcing these requirements.

In 1997, Bill Clinton signed a law concerning affidavits of support. Trump is now seeking to strictly enforce Bill Clinton’s law. That law basically required an affidavit of support for familybased petitions, where the sponsor agrees to support the alien and ensure that the alien does not become a “public charge,” by seeking certain public assist-

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ ance and/or living off of taxpayers. The affidavit of support is basically a contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government, where the sponsor agrees that if the alien applies for and receives such public assistance, the sponsor will reimburse the government.

or demands for repayment. Regulations define “means – tested public benefit,” but Trump’s memorandum requires agencies to provide more guidance, procedure, and details.

Many people have the attitude or belief that the various governmental programs constitute “free money,” where they can receive public assistance without consequence. But these public benefits are not “free.”

The money comes from taxpayers, and it seems Trump does not want aliens living off taxpayers, especially when they have a sponsor promising to support that alien.

If you are a non-citizen and considering applying for public assistance, or a benefit that you are not entitled to under the affidavit of support law signed by Clinton, you and your sponsor may later on be required to reimburse the government. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-4873465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINE (Advertising Supplement)

“ Over the years, this law was not strictly enforced.”

Over the years, this law was not strictly enforced. There were many aliens who, as soon as they received their green cards, immediately applied for as many public benefits as were available, and were basically being supported by taxpayers. Governmental agencies were supposed to request the sponsor to reimburse them, and possibly take steps to recover those amounts from the sponsor. Now, Trump wants this implemented.

There were other public benefits based on the alien’s income.

If the alien was poor, they could be entitled to those benefits.

However, Trump states that the law requires the sponsor’s income should also be counted in determining the alien’s income level and therefore entitlement to these benefits.

I know there are some aliens (including green card holders) who have applied for government assistance. It can also be very complicated as to which benefits these aliens are eligible for, and which benefits could trigger enforcement action and/

THE Philippines is making headway toward meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in terms of increasing labor productivity as well as reducing income inequality, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Jose Ramon Albert, a senior fellow at PIDS, said the Philippines’ labor productivity grew by 8.4 percent in 2017 based on results of the 2019 Voluntary National Review Report on the SDGs. Governments around the world are striving to meet by 2030 a set of 17 SDGs, foremost being the goal of eradicating poverty in the next 12 years. SDG No. 8 relates to decent work and economic growth and SDG No. 10 is about reduced inequality.

Albert said unemployment in the country has significantly improved at 5.7 percent last year— one of the lowest since 2005, but the jobs agenda continue to be a pressing issue given the nation’s 16-percent underemployment rate.

“This suggests that a considerable proportion of those employed are looking for extra work or other jobs, which implies that the quality of jobs in the Philippines needs improvement,” he said.

While the Philippines has also

improved in reducing income inequality, these reductions varied drastically across regions in the country.

“Regional income disparities are stark. For instance, the average per capita income of the National Capital Region is thrice that of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Albert said.

He said that the government should continue to provide programs—including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program—to sustain the country’s momentum in achieving the SDGs. Meanwhile, economists agreed that Congress needed to pass measures that would improve the inflow of foreign investments as well as raise the government’s revenue intake.

“We need to level the playing field and improve human capital,” UnionBank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion said in a forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and the Aboitiz group.

“To improve foreign direct investment, it’s very crucial to pass TRAIN 2 or the TRABAHO (Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities) bill, but careful not to undo the winds of economic growth sectors like business process outsourcing,”

Asuncion said.

In the same forum, Moody’s Investor Service vice president and senior credit officer, Christian de Guzman, agreed, saying that the government needed to ensure that some of the gains achieved by previous administrations were “not unwound.”

“About the TRABAHO bill, there are concerns from certain segments of foreign investors that if this is not calibrated correctly, then there could be disinvestment,” De Guzman said.

“What [may be] missing here in the Philippines is the development of a manufacturing sector that you have seen help Vietnam along with its development, for example,” he said. “I think a lot of that had to do with the environment for FDI. In any future [law], we don’t want that to erode even further.”

Rosemarie Edillon, undersecretary at the National Economic and Development Authority, said the government needed to expand economic opportunities that facilitate access to these economic opportunities.

“I agree that we need to do something about certain policies that restrict access of foreign investments into our country,” Edillon said.

She said there was also a need to improve existing laws on public service, foreign investment and retail trade liberalization. ■

Business Quote of the Week “People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

— Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo

D JUNE 1-4, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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US brewery still on San Miguelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radar

by IrIs

Gonzales

Philstar.com

SAN Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) continues to expand its operations both in the Philippines and abroad.

SMB chairman Ramon Ang said the company plans to put up a brewery in the U.S., which it considers as a huge export market.

The company first announced plans to put up a brewery in the U.S. in 2017.

Ang said the proposed U.S. brewery would result in cost savings for the company.

Locally, SMB will increase the capacities of its existing breweries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, with a strong Philippine economy, our next-phase growth strategy becomes even more critical. To address higher demand, we are working to increase and maximize capacities in our existing breweries. By the end of this year, we will inaugurate our sixth brewery, located in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

By next year, the conversion of our Santa Rosa Bottling Plant in Laguna into a full-fledged brewery, will also be complete,â&#x20AC;? Ang said during the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an-

U. Caraballo Manilatimes.net

MOODYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Investors Service cut its Philippine growth forecast for 2019 to 6 percent from the previous 6.2 percent, citing the delayed approval of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget, the lower-than-expected first-quarter expansion and the still-tight monetary policy as reasons behind the downward adjustment.

On the sidelines of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Economy in Focusâ&#x20AC;? briefing held by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and the Aboitiz Group of Companies in Makati City on Wednesday, May 29, Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vice President and Senior Credit Officer Christian de Guzman told reporters the debt watcher did so after taking â&#x20AC;&#x153;into account the budget impasse [and] the first-quarter growth, as well as some of the other things, like the external headwinds.â&#x20AC;?

The revised projection was lower than last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actual growth of 6.2 percent and falls at the lower end of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downwardly revised 6.07.0 percent target.

DTI sees further gains in competitiveness ranking by loUella

DesIDerIo Philstar.com

SMB chairman Ramon Ang

nual shareholders meeting.

Moving forward, he said the company anticipates challenges ahead such as the implementation of higher excise taxes, stricter government policies on the environment and possible regulations on alcohol consumption. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We likewise recognize that we are confronted by a market environment that is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, made more complicated by the uneven pace of economic development,â&#x20AC;? Ang said.

Philstar.com file photo

Despite the challenges, Ang said SMB would continue to sustain the growth momentum it has built over the past years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For starters, we are bringing to market our newest offerings in 2019, San Miguel Flavored Beer Lychee and Anker Lychee which we anticipate will be favorably received by our customers,â&#x20AC;? Ang said.

SMB posted consolidated revenue of P129.2 billion last year, up 14 percent while operating income rose 13 percent to P35.3 billion. n

Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trims 2019 growth forecast to 6%

by MayvelIn

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

A dispute between the Senate and the House of Representatives over alleged insertions resulted in the four-and-a-half-month delay of the passage of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget. This forced the government to run on last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget, limiting it to spend for items detailed in the 2018 outlay and not on programs and projects supposed to be implemented this year.

This put total national government spending in January to March â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which include expenditures for infrastructure and capital outlay, maintenance, personnel services and subsidies â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at P778 billion, up 0.8 percent or P6 billion from the amount in the same period last year.

This resulted in a lower-thanexpected 5.6 percent Philippine economic growth in the first three months of the year, well below the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target.

De Guzman also noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (BSP) monetary policy stance remained tight, despite the 25-basis-points cut in interest rates it implemented last month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget that the policy

tightening was 175 basis points (last year). So, the easing so far is 25 bps. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite precise to say that they are in an easing mode yet, because the conditions themselves continue to be tighter than they were than this time last year,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest economic view on the country came a day after another international credit ratings agency, S&P Global Ratings, said the worsening trade war between the United States and China and an expected resurgence in inflation would pose major risks to economic expansion.

This prompted S&P to maintain its downwardly revised 6.3 percent growth outlook for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product (GDP) this year.

Last week, a unit of the Fitch Group, Fitch Solutions, slashed its own growth projection for the country to 5.9 percent from 6.1 percent, also citing the lowerthan-expected economic expansion in the first quarter and U.S.China trade tensions, as well as soft external demand, as reasons behind the reduction. n

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THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is optimistic of improvements in the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ranking in other competitiveness surveys after the country advanced by four notches to reach the 46th spot out of 63 countries in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook of the International Institute Management for Development (IMD).

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday, May 30, he is upbeat the latest achievements in the 2019 World Competitiveness Yearbook of the IMD is a precursor to more positive results from other competitiveness surveys, particularly that of the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ease of Doing Business Report. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the past year, the entire government â&#x20AC;&#x201C; executive, legislative, judiciary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has been working as one to promote national and regional competitiveness. With the latest results of the IMD competitiveness rankings, we underscore the initial outcomes from this whole of government approach and increased private-public sector collaboration,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Wednesday, May 29, he is upbeat the latest achievements in the 2019 World Competitiveness Yearbook of the IMD is a precursor to more positive results from other competitiveness surveys, particularly that of the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ease of Doing Business Report.

Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales

Released yearly, the IMDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitiveness report ranks countries based on official statistics and an executive opinion survey.

In the latest 2019 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, the Philippines saw its ranking rise from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th place given

significant improvements on all four indicators measured in the report such as economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.

While the Philippines had gains on all four indicators, the PAGE D3

PH competitiveness ranking remains low Improves to 46th out of 63 worldwide, but still 2nd to last in Asia-Pacific

by DorIs

DUMlao-abaDIlla Inquirer.net

THE Philippines boosted its ranking by four notches in the 2019 global competitiveness research by Swiss business school IMD, with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skilled workforce, economic dynamism, cost-competitiveness, open and positive attitudes and high educational level of people cited among the most compelling reasons for business locators.

The IMD World Competitiveness Center ranked the Philippines 46th among 63 economies evaluated, improving its position from 50th in the previous year, the think tank of business school IMD said in a press statement on Tuesday, May 28.

Compared to 13 Asia-Pacific countries included in the survey, however, the Philippines ranked second to the last, beating only Mongolia.

The five topnotchers in the Asia-Pacific region were Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Australia. New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and India also ranked higher than the Philippines.

Based on the study, the Philippines still needed to speed up and sustain investments in physical infrastructure, reverse â&#x20AC;&#x153;inadequateâ&#x20AC;? investment in human capital, address â&#x20AC;&#x153;poorâ&#x20AC;? digital competitiveness and future-readiness and sustain investor and consumer confidence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Persistentâ&#x20AC;? political risks were also cited as another stumbling block.

The improvement in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ranking to 46th position, however, was attributed to a solid economic performance supported by sustained real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.2 percent in 2018 alongside an increase in labor force and employment levels.

IMD has published the rankings every year since 1989, evaluating the extent to which a country fosters an environment where enterprises can achieve sustainable growth, generate jobs and, ultimately, increase welfare for its citizens. It scored the 63 economies on more than 230 indicators.

The evaluation was grouped in four factors: economic performance (including international trade and international investment); government efficiency (including governmental discipline with internal financing, the rule of law and the improvement of inclusive institutions); business efficiency, (including productivity and efficiency of the private sector and ease of access to finance), and infrastructure (including scientific infrastructure, health and environmental sustainability as well as education).

PAGE D3

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‘Inflation likely to dip below 3% in May’ Tax perks for electric vehicles readied by roy

by AnnA LeAh

e. GonzALes Manilatimes.net

DECLINING rice prices could cause the country’s inflation to decelerate further and settle at 2.8 percent in May, an ING Bank economist said on Tuesday, May 28.

In a statement, economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa said the rate of the increase in the prices of goods and services “is seen to decelerate further in the Philippines with rice prices falling.”

This came after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported recently that inflation fell to 3.0 percent in April from 3.3 percent in March because of the lower prices of food and other commodities.

Latest PSA data showed that the average wholesale price of well-milled rice slid to P39.51 per kilo month-on-month as of the second week of this month.

Year-on-year, it also plunged by 3.9 percent from P41.12 per kilo.

AGcAoiLi Philstar.com

An inter-agency council has prepared a roadmap that would allow the Philippines to survive external shocks brought about by the possible global growth slowdown.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) is deliberately forward-looking in its desire to guard the financial system against brewing systemic risks that can have negative consequences on the real economy and on the public.

FSCC is composed of the BSP, Department of Finance (DOF), Insurance Commission, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is the venue

for financial market authorities to identify, monitor, manage, and mitigate the build up of systemic risk in the Philippine financial system.

In its second quarter meeting, the council assessed the impact on the Philippines of a possible global growth slowdown.

“The FSCC’s mandate is to introduce timely and appropriate macroprudential policies which are meant to look after the safety and soundness of the financial system and its payments mechanism. Keeping the financial system healthy allows consumers to maximize the benefits of finance while avoiding any costs from possible disruptions,” Diokno said.

Diokno, who is also chairman of the FSCC, said the FSCC specifically focused on credit, liquidity and investment risks as well as the availability of long-term funds in

Inquirer.net

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects to finish within the year an incentive package for electric vehicle manufacturers, a top official said.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba told reporters on Wednesday, May 29, that the package could include a temporary zero tariff for vehicle importers who plan to eventually manufacture in the country.

“If you have a manufacturing ambition, [then] you’ll get a better incentive. Well, maybe zero [tariff] for those who will commit to manufacture and then reduced rates for those who will only import,” she said.

Aldaba, a technocrat who has recently been promoted undersecretary for the DTI’s competitiveness and innovation group, said the zero tariff could last two to three years. The package is Manilatimes.net file photo still in the works.

It also showed that the average The short period of time for retail price of well-milled rice hit the incentive, she said, would be P43.16 per kilo, down 0.3 percent given for the market to form a from a week ago and 1.7 percent base, after which the government a year earlier. could grant incentives to the asThe average wholesale price sembly of electric vehicles. of regular-milled rice dropped by 0.5 percent to P35.82 per kilo week-on-week. Year-on-year, it was down 5.22 percent from PAGE D2 t P37.77 per kilo. On the retail IMD report showed there are still side, it was P38.74 per kilo, down 0.6 percent a week ago and 3.6 challenges which have to be addressed. percent a year earlier.

In particular, the country needs PAGE D5 to accelerate and sustain investments in physical infrastructure, as well as resolve inadequate investment in human capital.

There is likewise a need for the support of the government’s Build country to address digital comBuild Build program.

“We worked against the back- petitiveness and future-readiness, drop of an anticipated global work on sustaining investor and growth moderation. We agreed consumer confidence, and adon a number of possible interven- dress persistent political risks.

Lopez said the government tions, from shorter term initiatives to our longer term goals. This would continue efforts to improve leaves us with a roadmap geared competitiveness and ease of dotowards sustaining market resiliency,” he said.

While the financial market remains on solid footing, the BSP chief said policy direction clearly PAGE D2 t Compared to the previous set by the massive infrastructure build up and a healthy financial year, the IMD research cited system are all the more important improvements in the Philippine to be able to provide diversified government’s budget position, sources of funding as well as to collection of effective personal be resilient relative to possible income tax rate, capital formation, tourism receipts, easing of shocks.

The objective, Diokno said, is to protectionism and creation of align the needs of a growing econ- firms.

Likewise cited were new pieces omy with a sound and responsive of scientific legislation alongside financial system. n

Gov’t maps out financial strategy vs global shocks

by LAwrence

stephen c. cAniveL

like electronic parts.

“It should be finished this year,” she said, referring to the incentive package, while stressing that they still needed a lot of data to do a costbenefit analysis.

Aldaba said this on the sidelines of the Toyota Hybrid Electric Technology Conference Wednesday wherein Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. stressed the need to popularize hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) first before going full electric.

Also known as electrified vehicles, this segment is composed of a range of cars that use electricity to run, according to a presentation at the conference.

These include HEVs, which use both a battery and electric motor in addition to an engine that runs on gasoline. Toyota, for one, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba Photo courtsey by dti.gov.ph only sells HEVs in the Philippines.

Eventually, the goal is to manuCutting the tariff to zero for two facture in the country. However, to three years will be a great help she clarified that companies were to the company, although a temnot expected to do the entire porary relief. Currently, the imvehicle here, but to at least use port duty is at 30 percent, which some locally available products gives the Toyota Prius a retail

DTI sees further gains in competitiveness... ing business in the country.

This, as he said competitiveness and ease of doing business is among the priorities under the socioeconomic agenda of President Duterte.

“We are changing the way government is providing public services – such as streamlining and automating licensing procedures.

Our Build Build Build program is currently on track. We are gearing up our industries, enterprises and government to maximize the opportunities of the digital economy combined with a huge domestic market of the Philippines.

We are pursuing a national com-

petitiveness agenda anchored on regional competitiveness with its four pillars namely: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure and resilience,” he said.

He also said the government would do more by continuing financial and investment reforms, and pursuing the aggressive infrastructure development program, as well as further streamlining all government procedures for ease of doing business.

With the steps being taken, he added the government expects to see an even better competitiveness position in the next review. n

PH competitiveness ranking remains... improvements in communication, technology, entry of foreign investors, total expenditure on research and development, easing of start-up procedures, implementation of public sector contracts, knowledge transfer, total public expenditure on education and development and application of technology.

On the other hand, the same study noted a decline in the

Philippines’ current-account balance, inflation, total tax revenue collection, compensation levels, exchange rate stability, per capita income of researchers, remuneration in service professions, stock market capitalization, incidences of bribery and corruption, electricity costs for industrial clients, gasoline prices, homicide counts, days for a start-up to operate and access to water. n

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‘Govt catch-up plan to boost growth’ Economists see stronger peso this year

by LAwrence

AGcAoiLi Philstar.com

by AnnA LeAh

e. GonzALes Manilatimes.net

EASING monetary policy and a catch-up spending plan would help the government achieve its economic growth target of 6 to 7 percent this year, a Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) economist said on Tuesday, May 28.

The catch-up in government spending, especially on infrastructure, would likely be effective in achieving that target, RCBC head for economics and industry research division Michael Ricafort said.

The country’s gross domestic product hit a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first quarter of the year due to the delayed approval of this year’s budget.

Economic managers earlier said they would implement an expenditure catch-up plan to offset the impact of that delayed budget

on growth. They added that economic growth should expand by at least 6.1 percent over the next three quarters to hit the full-year target.

“Any further increase in government spending, also on social services that have the greatest impact on alleviating poverty, especially on education and healthcare, may also lead to faster economic growth and development that is more inclusive over the long run,” Ricafort said.

“Further improvements in the country’s fiscal management in terms of further increasing the recurring sources of government revenues and plugging leakages in government expenditures may increase the available government funds that may be used to further increase government spending on major infrastructure projects and on social services that further spur greater economic growth and development,” he added.

PAGE D3 t As a commodity in the CPI (consumer price index) basket, rice commands 9.8 of the total and was one of the main reasons for the 2018 inflation pop that saw price gains top 6.7 percent,” Mapa explained.

“Bad weather and delayed importation both contributed to the price spike, which saw the BSP rattle off a series of aggressive rate hikes that have since begun to sap the growth momentum of

one of the region’s fastest growing economies,” he added.

But “with government proactively importing food stuffs [and] the El Niño dry spell in effect, we can expect food prices to remain stable for the next few months,” the economist said.

According to him, ING expects inflation to “be tame” for the rest of the year.

“The May figure could fall below the BSP’s inflation target of 3 percent, as fuel prices saw only

BANK economists expect a stronger peso amid the dovish sentiment by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as well as external factors led by the U.S.China trade war.

According to Robert Dan Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., the peso may settle at an average of 53 to $1 in the second quarter and at 53.50 by the third and fourth quarters.

Roces now expects a stronger peso versus his earlier forecasts of 53.50 to $1 by the end of the second quarter, 54 to $1 by the end of the third quarter, and 54.50 to $1 in the fourth.

Roces cited the pro-growth stance of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno as well as easing inflation and the slower-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth Manilatimes.net file photo in the first quarter.

Besides the catch-up plan, Inflation eased for the six Ricafort said the easing of mon- straight month to hit a 16-month etary policy would also help boost low of three percent in April after growth. peaking at 6.7 percent in Sep“The latest easing of monetary tember and October. It accelerpolicy especially by way of a 0.25- ated to 5.2 percent last year from cut in local policy rates on May 9, 2.9 percent in 2017, exceeding 2019 and possible further cuts for the BSP’s two to four percent tarthe coming months of 2019 amid get that resulted in a tightening easing trend in inflation would reduce borrowing/financing costs and encourage greater demand for loans by consumers and businesses, thereby increasing economic activities and overall GDP growth,” he explained. by richmond mercurio Ricafort said cuts in the reserve Philstar.com requirement ration (RRR) of banks would also spur growth.

MOBILE internet speeds in the “The cuts in RRR of banks over Philippines continue to lag behind the next 3 months are estimated most countries in the world, rankto release about P210 billion in ing 11th slowest in upload speed additional peso funds into the fi- and 16th slowest in download nancial system that banks may speed among 87 countries, accordlend to various businesses and to ing to the latest report of mobile consumers/households as well,” analytics company OpenSignal. he said. n OpenSignal’s “The State of Mobile Network Experience” report showed that the Philippines was among the 20 countries whose marginal gains year-on-year, al- download speed experience were though utility costs are projected under 10 Mbps.

The country’s download speed to be slightly higher for the said of seven Mbps was just slightly month,” Mapa said.

“And although global crude oil better than that of Indonesia and prices remain elevated (up 29.5 India’s 6.9 Mbps and 6.8 Mbps, percent year-to-date), we’ve respectively.

South Korea was the world leadseen only a marginal effect on headline inflation given trans- er, being the only country where portation’s 3.03 percent weight smartphone users enjoyed average mobile download speeds of in the CPI basket,” he added.

The PSA will release official over 50 Mbps, followed by Norway inflation data for May on June with 48.2 Mbps.

Meanwhile, the report showed 5. n

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system.

Roces said the BSP may further slash interest rates as well as the level of deposits banks are required to keep with the central bank in the second half.

“With policy moves out of the way, the narrative will shift toward the U.S.-China trade war,” Roces said. n

Philippines among slowest in mobile internet speed worldwide

‘Inflation likely to dip below 3% in May’

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episode that saw interest rates rise by 175 basis points in 2018.

Likewise, the central bank has also slashed the reserve requirement ratio for big and mid-sized banks by 200 basis points and that of small banks by 100 basis points that is expected to release about P210 billion worth of additional funds into the financial

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mobile upload speeds in the country is at 2.2 Mbps, slightly faster than India and Ivory Coast’s 2.1 Mbps.

In upload speed experience, top countries were Denmark and South Korea which both scored over 15 Mbps, while Iraq has the slowest with an average speed under one Mbps.

OpenSignal said upload speeds are typically slower than download, as current mobile broadband technologies tend to be focused on providing the best possible download speeds.

“But upload speed is becoming increasingly important as consumer mobile habits shift away from downloading and consuming to uploading and creating and sharing content like smartphone-created photos and videos,” it said.

In terms of 4G availability, the Philippines was ranked 21st from last among the 87 countries that were part of the report.

4G availability in the Philippines was at 72.4 percent, better than

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those of Albania, Brazil, and Tunisia, among others.

Video experience score of the country was at 35.1 out of 100, making it one of the 10 markets that fell into the “poor” category with scores ranging from zero to 40.

“We’ve seen 4G technology transform the way we use mobile devices beyond the basic voice and messaging services of the early 2000s. Faster and more ubiquitous data connectivity has spread to almost every corner of the globe, and everyday mobile experience has now grown into entirely new sectors such as online gaming, streamed video and instant financial services,” OpenSignal said.

“And with a plethora of new services and use cases being made real by the hyper-fast speeds and low latency promised by 5G, the mobile network experience is set to metamorphize once again in the next decade,” it said. n

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