062119 - Northern California Edition

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 18 - No. 23 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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JUNE 21-27, 2019

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

California Assembly approves Newsom’s first budget package $214.8 billion budget inches state towards universal health care plan, includes expanding health care for undocumented immigrants OVER the weekend, the California State Assembly met the deadline for a new spending package and approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first budget plan that allocates $214.8 billion for some of the boldest, progressive bills ever proposed in the Golden State.

The governor’s plan reflects the state’s elevating progressivism and includes, among other intrepid plans, expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all low-income adults between the ages 19 to 26, regardless of immigration status.

This makes California the first state to pass legislation that ensures health care coverage to a significant sect of undocumented immigrants,

Duterte is pro-Filipino, not pro-China – Lorenzana

by MICHAEL

PUNONGBAYAN Philstar.com

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, June 19, insisted that President Duterte is proFilipino and denied the claim of critics that the Chief Executive is defending China over the recent sinking of a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea. “No, that is not correct. The president is pro-Filipino. That is a very wrong impression,� Lorenzana said Wednesday, June 19, amid criticism of Duterte’s supposedly lame response to the incident where a

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How did we get here?

New report dives into the immigration patterns of the API community

With the first Democratic debates a week away, health care is the top issue the party’s voters say they want candidates to address, according to a poll released on Tuesday, June 18.

But what they mean by that varies widely.

Nearly 9 out of 10 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents said it is very important for candidates to discuss health issues.

But 28% said they want candidates to focus

WHEN we talk about immigration, it’s often generalized as a large, national issue that affects wide swaths of people with similar goals and plans.

Media coverage on immigration over the last several years has primarily zeroed in on immigrants from the Latinx community, be it conversations about the border wall, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the president’s suggestive comments regarding the violent gang MS-13 and nonviolent Central Americans with honest aims at making it

Democratic voters want to hear candidates’ views on health, but priorities vary

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Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Chinese vessel hit a Filipino fishing boat and abandoned its crew last June 9 near Recto Bank, one of the areas in the disputed sea. “What outrage are they talking about?� he told reporters during the weekly news forum Kapihan sa Manila Bay when pressed on how the current administration is being viewed as too friendly with China. “Anong gusto nila, sabi nga ni presidente (what do they want, as the president said), go to war na immediately, declare war because of this? This is just dalawang (two) fishing boats na nagbanggaan

eh (that collided),� Lorenzana said.

He stressed that Duterte was initially silent on the boat collision until he issued a statement during the Philippine Navy’s anniversary event last Tuesday evening, June 18 in Sangley Point, Cavite, because he did not have enough information yet about the incident.

The fishing boat incident, based on information so far gathered, appears to be an accident, Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said comparing the fishing boat issue

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Report also showcases the massive diversity within the API immigrant community and how policies affect AAPI immigrants

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LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol (center) listens to the account of Richard Plaza (in red shirt), the lone crew member of the F/B Gem-Ver 1, who was awake at the time before they were hit by a Chinese vessel off Recto Bank, during the ofďŹ cial’s visit to the wreckage of the boat in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday, June 19. The DA chief earlier led the distribution of livelihood assistance from the government to the ďŹ shermen affected by the incident.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Duterte touts ‘another Marcos’ as cure for corruption PhilHealth withdraws WellMed accreditation over ghost dialysis scam ippines is like that, I can’t run after them,� the president said during the 121st anniversary of the PhilCAN’T handle corruption? ippine Navy in Cavite. “Kaya ko. Pero sa batas na ito, Look for another Marcos.

President Rodrigo Duterte ad- constitution (I could have done it mitted Monday, June 17, that he but with this constitution), even cannot end corruption under the if you give me 20 years, I cannot present constitution as he claimed do it. Maghanap uli kayo ng Marthat it would take someone like cos (Look for another Marcos). Or Ferdinand Marcos, from whose someday, somehow, somewhere family and cronies the government is still trying to recover ill-gotten wealth, to address the problem.

Duterte admitted losing his drive to perform his task because of the corruption in the bureauThe National Bureau of Investigation says it will continue holding WellMed Dialysis Center owner cracy, which he said is dragging Bryan Christopher Sy, seen here wearing a striped shirt, until the Department of Justice orders the Philippines down. his release..

Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon “I have regrets because I last November. continued paying for a patient’s thought within the constitutional The Philippine Daily Inquirer dialysis treatments despite the powers given to me, I can do it. cited a former WellMed employ- patient passing away in 2016 But truth to tell, if this happens evee and revealed that PhilHealth u PAGE A3 eryday and every table in the Phil!.$2%7 " 3().

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Tuesday, June 18, said it has withdrawn WellMed Dialysis Center’s accreditation after reports of bogus benefit claims made by the facility for non-existent kidney treatments.

In a Twitter post, the state-run health insurer said: “WellMed patients are advised to transfer to other accredited dialysis facilities to ensure continuous availment of PhilHealth benefits.�

Last week, PhilHealth officials said that administrative cases were filed against WellMed in Novaliches, Quezon City for misrepresentation and falsification

Arroyo firm in quitting politics; vows to help develop home province

Arroyo said in an ambush interview on Tuesday, June 18, that as consultant, she will focus FORMER President and outgo- on the development of the Paming House Speaker Gloria Ma- panga Megalopolis Plan. “They asked me to help them capagal-Arroyo has insisted that she will quit politics after her from time to time, to be a conterm, although her consultant sultant. So, I’d be happy to do stint with the Pampanga provin- that. Tapos sinabi ko (Then I told cial government will continue. u PAGE A2

by GABRIEL

PABICO Inquirer.net

LALU

that fellow will be elected in the generations to come,� he added.

Marcos, whose presidency was tainted with allegations of corruption and human rights violations, was ousted during the 1986 People Power Revolution.

His successor, Corazon Aquino, created the Presidential Commission on Good Government to

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From the Front Page

Duterte touts ‘another Marcos’...

AIMED. The Philippine Marine Corps Marine Silent Drill Platoon performs at the 121st founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy on Monday, June 17, at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerald Seguia

Duterte is pro-Filipino, not pro-China...

PAGE A1 to the garbage shipped from Canada is unfair because other people, including himself, were outraged since the garbage was brought to the country in 2013 and had not been returned to Canada for six years already.

“Ano tingin nila sa atin basurahan? So kung hindi nagngangawa si (Do they look at us as a garbage dump and if there was no protest from the) president ng ganoon kukunin ba nila yung basura nila (like that will they take back their garbage)? No. But this one, wala pa siyang (he has no) complete information. That’s why he was very silent muna, until he spoke during the anniversary ng Navy,” he said.

When asked about how the government was also accused of being pro-United States, he said, “I am not pro-U.S. or pro-China, I am pro Filipino.”

But even if the fishing boat incident was an accident, Lorenzana agrees that there should still be an apology from the Chinese fishermen and damages should be paid.

“I think that would be appropriate demand to the ship captain, to apologize and make restitution for the damage,” he said, adding that more so if the investigation later proves that the ramming was intentional.

Lorenzana stressed that although there was only one in a million chance to hit a ship, it was

also dark at the time.

“I don’t know why, what happened kung bakit siya nabangga (why there was a collision),” he said, after pointing out earlier that the Filipino fishing boat’s cook, who was the only one awake when the Chinese vessel was approaching, said, “Parang aksidente lang naman sir (seems like an accident).”

On claims that he himself has softened his statements, he said his condemnation of the Chinese vessel’s captain stands as the government now awaits the official version of the Chinese that are also conducting a probe.

“I did not condemn China, I condemned the captain for abandoning the crew who could have died because of exposure,” he said.

Lorenzana shared that based on information gathered so far, Filipinos fishing in the area where the incident took place are familiar with and could distinguish Chinese, Vietnamese and other boats.

And based on the look of the foreign vessel that had a boom where a net is placed, the fishing vessel comes from Hong Kong and “they are presumed fishermen talaga (really), fishermen talaga sila (they are really)” and not militia men as some insinuate.

Lorenzana appealed to the public not to inflame emotions and wait for the results of the probe

//",

as the Philippines, China and even Vietnam can “work together so that we can get to the bottom of this.”

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo assured the 22 fishermen who figured in the incident that they would get justice. “We will not allow absence of responsibility on the part of the wrongdoers. And in fact, even the Chinese government said so itself that they won’t allow that. In fact, they said, abandonment is an irresponsible behavior,” he added.

Panelo also disputed notions that President Duterte, who previously called the sinking of the Filipino boat a “little maritime accident,” is changing the version of the story because he does not want to offend China. “Not offending actually. He was very clear when he said, ‘I will not issue a policy statement on this because the facts are not yet in.’ They (China) have the right to be heard also,” the spokesman said. “Apart from being a lawyer, he (Duterte) is a very responsible leader; he does not want to... make this incident an international crisis,” he added.

Panelo also denied that Duterte has prejudged the incident.

“That is an initial look at the circumstance given the version of the cook. At the same time, they (China) also have an initial reaction.

(With Alexis Romero, Michelle Zoleta) n

9Ê /Ê 7

PAGE A1 recover the ill-gotten wealth of his family and his cronies.

As of 2017, the PCGG recovered more than P171 billion of the supposed Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

In 2003, the Supreme Court awarded to the Philippine government at least $658 million Swiss bank deposits that Marcos and his wife Imelda supposedly stashed and hid “under layers and layers of foundations and corporate entities.”

The high court ruled that the Swiss deposits “should be considered ill-gotten wealth and forfeited in favor of the state.”

Duterte hits party-list system Duterte stressed that the Philippines would not rise if it does not improve economically and politically. He went on to criticize the 1987 Constitution, which was ratified during the administration of Corazon Aquino.

“I’m not trying to criticize. It is as good as any, mas mabuti pa kung wala talaga ‘yung kay Cory (It is good as any, it would have been better without Cory),” Duterte said.

The Duterte administration has been working on changing the constitution to one for a federal form of government but low public awareness and support for the move has slowed the campaign

down.

Duterte cited the party-list system, which he said is benefitting millionaires.

“And for all of the brightest who crafted that constitution, son of... they did not see the simplest fact that money buys everything including political party,” the president said. “And who benefits?

The rich...It’s really a disaster,” he added.

Rep. Mikee Romero (1-Pacman party-list) is the wealthiest member of the House of Representatives with a declared net worth of P7.858 billion. Also among the richest lawmakers is Rep. Virgilio Lacson (Manila Teachers partylist), who has a declared net worth of P794 million.

But Rep. Sarah Elago (Kabataan party-list), the least wealthy with a declared net worth of P85,000, is also from a party-list.

NOLCOM chief to be named MWSS administrator At the same event, Duterte offered the post of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator to Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, chief of the Northern Luzon Command.

In the middle of his extemporaneous remarks, Duterte looked for Salamat, who was in the audience.

The president then asked the

Marine general when he would retire. Salamat told Duterte he would hang up his uniform next month.

“If (MWSS Administrator) Dick Morales agrees, I would move Dick out of MWSS. I will place you there...Then I would look for the next general,” Duterte said.

Duterte reiterated that the civilian bureaucracy “is not crafted to solve problems immediately.”

“If you give them the project, they will debate with you. Then it would take them eternity to do the project until the money is gone,” he said.

Rody wants aviation issues addressed Duterte reiterated the need to ease the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by transferring flights to the Sangley Airport in Cavite.

He said come passengers complained that they stayed for five hours inside the plane.

“The riding public are pitiful... the very essence of a common carrier, whether it is a jeep, a bus, an airplane, a ship — what’s common there is for public interest and public governance, and convenience,” the president said.

“If you cannot provide convenience and comfort, do we ought not to be there at all?” he added. n

PAGE A1 on “lowering the amount people pay for health care,” and about 18% said Democrats should talk about “increasing access to health care,” the Kaiser Family Foundation poll reported. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

That divide extends to specific health care proposals, mirroring the split on the issue among Democratic politicians. About 16% of the voters leaning Democratic said the party should discuss “protecting the [Affordable Care Act] and protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” while about 15% said they want candidates to talk about “implementing a single-payer or Medicare-for-all system.”

That figure reflected an increase in the number of Americans who name “Medicare for All” as a priority, noted Ashley Kirzinger, a KFF polling expert. Six months before the 2018 midterm elections, only 4% of Democrats or Democraticleaning independents said they wanted candidates to talk about single-payer.

“We’re expecting to hear candidates talk about it because in-

dividuals are talking about it,” she said.

The poll also revealed that voters are unclear how extensively Medicare for All would revamp the American health care system.

For instance, while most voters — Democrats, Republicans and independents — said they figured a tax increase would be needed to finance Medicare for All, more than 50% of all respondents said people who get private health insurance through work could keep it, that people who buy their own coverage would retain it, and that both individuals and employers would keep paying health insurance premiums. There were sharp differences in these categories, with Republicans much more likely to expect major changes in the health system under a Medicare for All system.

The flagship single-payer legislation — spearheaded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is one of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates — would eliminate insurance premiums, as well as most employer-sponsored or privately purchased health plans. (It’s unclear how much Medicare for All would

cost, though the Congressional Budget Office has noted that “government spending on health care would increase substantially.”)

The disconnect may be the result of voters not understanding or knowing the details of the health care proposals being put forth, Kirzinger said. But it also could be that voters are skeptical of how much lawmakers would actually change the American system.

“It’s telling that a majority think large portions of the current system would stay,” she said.

The poll was conducted May 30-June 4 among about 1,200 people, of whom about 1,000 are registered voters, and 524 are either Democrats or Democraticleaning independents. It has a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points for issues pertinent to every respondent, and of +/-4 percentage points for those regarding only registered voters.

For Democrats and Democraticleaning independents only, the margin of error is +/-5 percentage points. (Kaiser Health News) This story was produced

by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

PAGE A1 them) where I think I can help is to follow through on the implementation of Pampanga Megalopolis Plan,” she said.

According to Arroyo, a native of Lubao town in the province, the Megalopolis plan is the vision of the Pampanga government to attract more establishments, investments, and tourists by creating infrastructure projects such as roads and train systems giving people direct and fast access to airports.

This in turn will also help decongest Metro Manila, she said.

“So iyon, meron kaming airport, ginagawa iyong tren papunta duon (So there, we have an airport, they are building the train going there). Actually those are part of the Megalopolis Plan. So, yung Megalopolis sabi ni (Architect Felino) Palafox, iyong probinsya namin meron siyang aeropolis

(So, the Megalopolis according to Palafox, our province will have an aeroplolis), that would be economy built around the airport,” Arroyo explained.

“Malaking bagay kase ang infrastructure ng airport. Meron din kaming aquapolis. Duon sa aming lugar like my town we are very, very big aquaculture aeropolis that will be the economy built around the airport,” (The infrastructure of the airport is a big deal. We also have aquapolis. Like in our area) she added.

Arroyo, in her third term as Lubao representative, made a comeback to national politics after she was elected House Speaker by majority of lawmakers just before President Rodrigo Duterte was set to deliver his third State of the Nation Address on July 23, 2018.

She replaced former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who was en-

gaged in a spat with Duterte’s daughter, Hungpong ng Pagbabago chair and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Before being Speaker and Lubao lawmaker, Arroyo succeeded former President Joseph Estrada who was forced to step down after the People Power 2 revolution brought about by the plunder allegations. Arroyo was president from 2001 to 2004. She ran in the 2004 elections, where she secured a full six-year term as president.

Arroyo’s administration is being credited for the country’s robust economic standing amid recessions in other parts of the world.

However, her administration was also plagued with corruption issues like the NBN-ZTE deal and the fertilizer fund scam. Her administration also weather several coup attempts launched by dissatisfied military officers. n

Democratic voters want to hear candidates’...

Arroyo firm in quitting politics...

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How did we get here? New report dives...

PAGE A1 in America.

But what mainstream media often neglects to consider is the expansive Asian and Pacific islander (APi) immigrant community that has grappled with the growing laundry list of problems with the U.S. immigration system.

A new report from the national legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) called “inside the Numbers: How immigration Shapes Asian American and Pacific islander Communities” takes a deep dive into the growing APi immigrant community and how the U.S. immigration system serves this specific sect of immigrants.

There are an estimated 1.7 million APi immigrants without papers living in the U.S. currently, yet they’re often overlooked in conversations surrounding domestic and immigration policies, Advancing Justice researchers found.

“We have been advocating for

policies that help our community, not hurt them,” John C. Yang, president and executive director of Advancing Justice said.

“This report shows that long visa backlogs, constant attacks on the immigrant community and enforcement efforts are having a negative effect in our community, but, still, our community is a resilient one.”

The overall consensus of the report is that the current immigration system is inefficient and lacks the wherewithal to effectively serve the ethnically and linguistically diverse APi immigrant community. The U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services (USCiS) is still processing family sponsorship visa applications that were submitted as long as 23 years ago — nearly 1.5 million individuals from Asia are still in the backlogs awaiting their visas.

But the report didn’t just point out the struggles faced by the cast APi immigrant community. it also showcased the economic powerhouse it is — there are more than 1.1 million Asian American im-

migrant-owned businesses in the U.S., meaning that Asian-owned businesses comprise of one-third of all immigrant-owned businesses in the country.

Advancing Justice offered solutions to the problems faced by APi immigrants, including passing legislation that would alleviate the backlogs in family sponsorships and to urge Congress to repeal the travel ban.

However, President Trump has remained adamant about gutting immigration programs like family reunification and asylum claims in favor of a more “meritbased” immigration system that he claims would amp up national security and “contribute more to our social safety net.”

“My plan expedites relief for legitimate asylum seekers by screening out the merit-less claims,” Trump said in a speech at the White House last month. “if you have a proper claim, you will quickly be admitted. if you don’t, you will promptly be returned home.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

PhilHealth withdraws WellMed...

PAGE A1 after WellMed continued filing claims for the “ghost” sessions.

President Rodrigo Duterte, for his part, said he wanted the owners of WellMed arrested and investigated for making “fraudulent claims.”

He also hinted at reshuffling PhilHealth officials during the interview with Sonshine Media Network. “i am ordering you the [National Bureau of investigation]...

the NBi should take over by tomorrow and start to summon everybody and the owner of that Wellness thing there where these fraudulent claims were discovered. Arrest them. That is my order. Arrest them. Place there sa blotter ninyo (Place there on your blotter),” Duterte said.

“Arrest them and investigate them right away. No ifs, no buts... if a lawyer attempts to interfere, tell him it’s my order,” he added.

Roy Ferrer, PhilHealth acting

Filipino brands harvest awards at ‘choco Oscars’

Among the Philippine chocolate brands that impressed judges at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards were Malagos, MS3 Choco and Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates.

Philstar.com photo

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

Five Philippine chocolate brands received international recognition after bagging a total of 24 awards across various categories in the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in the United Kingdom.

The chocolates of Auro Chocolate, Dalareich Food Products, Malagos Agri-ventures Corp., MS3 Agri-ventures and Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates impressed more than 100 judges who made up the panel, according to the Philippine embassy in London.

This year’s board of judges included leading chocolatiers and some of the UK’s most prominent food writers and bloggers.

“The recognition given to Philippine chocolates over the years shows that Philippine chocolates are indeed world class,” Ambas-

sador Antonio Lagdameo said.

More than a thousand entries from close to 50 countries were marked for appearance, depth of aroma and flavor, length and complexity in a rigorous 25-session judging process over 12 weeks.

“Purity and sustainability of ingredients remain paramount considerations for the Academy,” Marie-Pierre Moine, board member and awards ambassador, said.

Last year, Malagos chocolates of Davao City won five awards in the same competition.

Under the awards’ drinking category, Malagos’ 85-percent dark chocolate won silver while its 100-percent and 72-percent variants got bronze. in the tree to bar category, its 72-percent and 85-percent variants won silver. n The Academy of Chocolate awards was launched in 2005. n

Philippines calls on UN members to assist persons distressed at sea

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. delivers his remarks at the 29th Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the UN headquarters in New York.

DFA released photo

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

FOLLOWiNG the sinking of a Filipino boat by a Chinese vessel, the Philippines’ top diplomat called on the international community to render assistance to persons in distress at sea.

Speaking before the meeting of state parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. stressed that every UN member state should observe conventions, particularly in life-anddeath situations.

“The rescue of persons in distress is a universally recognized

obligation of people and governments; and in civil law and, maybe in common law, it is a felony to abandon people in distress, especially when we cause that distress; and more so when it is no bother at all to save them at no risk to oneself,” Locsin said in his speech.

Article 98 of the UNCLOS states that the master of a ship flying a flag has the duty to: • render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost • proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance, in so far as such acPAGE A4

president and chief executive officer, as well as several board members of the government corporation have already tendered their courtesy resignation last week.

However, Duterte might still keep them until replacements are found, according to Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles.

PhilHealth, for its part, said payments for all claims filed by WellMed had been suspended as early as February. n

ENOUGH! Susan Ople (third from right) leads officials and representatives of employment agencies in calling a halt to the collection of Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG contributions from seafarers and Overseas Filipino Workers. Various groups said mandatory SSS membership should not be made a requirement in the deployment of workers abroad.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

California Assembly approves Newsom’s first...

PAGE A1 moving the state closer towards a universal health care plan.

California is also the first state to expand Covered California subsidies to middle-class families that earn a maximum of 600% below the federal poverty level, meaning that a family of four that makes up to $154,500 may still qualify for a discount.

“Quality, affordable healthcare doesn’t have to be some far-fetched, crazy idea,” Newsom tweeted on Saturday, June 15.

“Our budget will make insurance more accessible [and] afford-

able to hundreds of thousands of people and provide subsidies for middle class families to help pay for healthcare costs.”

The bill also reinstates a version of the individual mandate first included in the Affordable Care Act (and axed by the GOP-controlled Congress in 2017), which would place a $695 state penalty on anyone who doesn’t have health insurance.

The governor’s approved budget plan also represents the state’s most vigorous effort in combating the state’s housing and homeless problems. The lion’s share of the

$2 billion plan will be allocated to housing and care for the state’s homeless population in the form of grants for cities and counties to build emergency shelters, health care for the homeless and affordable permanent housing. even though the Assembly signed off on the budget last week, it approved another 12 “trailer” bills on Monday, June 17 that would bring about more grand policy changes, including a bill that would increase paid family leave benefits from six weeks to eight weeks. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

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“Keep America Great”: Trump unveils 2020 presidential campaign in Florida President Trump unveils 2020 campaign on 4th year anniversary of his 2016 announcement

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

MANILA’S MAYORS. Outgoing Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada (left) welcomes incoming Manila mayor-elect Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, who paid a courtesy call at the Manila City Hall on Monday, June 17. The two ran in tandem in the 2013 polls as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, but ran against each other in the recent mid-term elections.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

ALMOST exactly four years after his infamous speech announcing his bid for the White House, President Donald Trump on Tuesday, June 18 officially launched his 2020 presidential reelection campaign in a rally with his supporters in Orlando, Florida.

When he walked on stage and officially kicked off his campaign, Trump — who unofficially sloganed his 2020 campaign “Keep America Great” — promised his supporters a continuance of his administration’s effort to make America great again.

“With every ounce of heart and might and sweat and soul, we’re going to keep making America great again and then we will indeed keep America great,” Trump told his supporters. “And that is why tonight, I stand before you to officially launch my campaign for a second term as President of the United States.”

The overall message of the campaign kickoff offered nothing new and, minus the official announcement, moved along like his usual rallies.

Trump reminded supporters of his stringent plans for immigration in the name of national security, saying, “We believe our country should be a sanctuary for lawabiding citizens, not for criminal aliens.”

And in true Trump fashion, he peppered in his favorite digs at “fake news,” Hillary Clinton (he promised supporters to find her emails “somewhere deep in the State Department”) and the Democrats, claiming that the party is “driven by hatred, prejudice and rage” and “want to destroy our country as we know it,” positioning himself as a salve for that perceived threat.

With the assistance of a lineup of speakers, the showy campaign rally featured speeches from the president’s family and Vice President Mike Pence who keyed into the sentiment with classic conservative rejoinders of “taking America back.”

“Jobs are back, confidence is

back and thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump, America is back, and we’re just getting started,” Pence said to a raucous sea of red “Make America Great Again” hats and signs.

Though Trump’s re-election campaign is not surprising in any way (only four incumbent presidents in U.S. history have opted not to run for a second term), he officially enters the race with a booming economy under his wing but low approval ratings. (A recent Fox News poll put him 10 and 9 percentage points behind Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, respectively.)

But history shows that economic standing and the job market have massive influence on reelection chances.

Last month, the national unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% which is the lowest unemployment rate since 1969, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though national issues such as immigration, health care and identity politics like race and gender are often used as arsenal against the president, the RNC highlighted the president’s first term as “a series of promises made and promises kept.”

“From delivering a once-in-ageneration tax cut to cutting regulations, reducing the price of prescription drugs and nominating two Supreme Court Justices, our economy is roaring and President Trump is delivering for all Americans,” a spokesperson for the RNC said.

The Democratic counter After Trump’s rally, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hosted counter rally in Florida this week that focused on the “outlandish promises” Trump made while running in 2016 regarding health care and immigration that left a lot more to be desired, according to John Santos, AAPI media director for the DNC. When asked how the Democratic Party should move forward as the debate stage of the election approaches, Santos said that focusing on issues and providing solutions to the “pitfalls” of Trump’s first term should be top of mind for

the 20-plus Democratic candidates currently in the running.

“Our entire campaign should not just be about how are we going to oppose Trump, and it should be about issues at hand, like how are we going to ensure there’s greater access to health care and how are we going to get rid of the inhumane immigration procedures at the border and establish a more effective immigration system in general, and I think that’s what the party needs to focus on,” Santos said.

But Santos added that it’s also important that the public be reminded of the “failed promises” and the proposals he made during his first term that “actually damaged many Americans” like his proposed termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the effort to kill the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the latter of which as lowered the uninsured rate.

Before the ACA, 48.6 million Americans were uninsured and after the ACA, that number lowered to about 28 million, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After the 2016 election, the Democratic Party fell into a period of reflection and examining how best to move forward and agree on a cohesive focus, and Santos acknowledged the diversity of views within the Democratic Party, such as the disparate views on the Medicare For All campaign and reinstating the ACA. Despite the perceived partywide disarray characterized by cable news pundits, Santos believes that the collective goal of unity, inclusion and racial and gender equity of the party at large aligns with the direction of the country and the culture.

“It’s fine to have those disagreements, but as long as everyone in the party believes in making sure that everyone has access to affordable health care and as long as we understand that that’s the common goal, I think we are starting from a really strong standpoint,” Santos said, noting that the Democratic Party represents “the future of America.” n

Duterte has wicked sense of humor – US envoy

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

EVEN with President Duterte’s recurring outburst against the United States since he assumed office in 2016, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim said he enjoys meeting with the Chief Executive, describing him as someone with a “wicked sense of humor.”

“He says a lot of controversial things publicly. I think people have now come to understand that many of the things he says are not really, he doesn’t mean (it in a literal sense),” Kim said in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Friday night, June 14.

“I actually enjoy meeting with him… He has a pretty wicked sense of humor,” he added.

The ambassador categorically denied claims that the U.S. government, particularly its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is engaged in a plot to undermine the Duterte administration.

“In fact, we’re doing everything possible, including the intelligence services such as the CIA, we’re doing everything possible to find a way to have a productive and constructive relationship with President Duterte and his government,” he said.

“The Philippines has a vibrant democracy. Filipino people chose President Duterte to be their leader and he remains a very popular leader. It’s quite impressive that he has maintained his high approval ratings three years into his tenure. And it means a lot. That means we have to find a way to work with him,” he added.

Military equipment Citing the strong alliance of the Philippines and the U.S., Kim reiterated his government’s support for the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We take that responsibility very seriously because we want

President Rodrigo Duterte

our partners to have a very capable military. We have tremendous respect to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our military needs tremendous equipment to function effectively,” he said.

“We will continue to make our equipment available to the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the ambassador added.

Amid Duterte’s repeated pronouncements that he would purchase military equipment from other countries such as Russia, the U.S. ambassador maintained that they offer the best possible equipment for the Philippine military.

“Inter-operability is a huge factor and the military’s ability to function effectively,” he said.

“Given that we have such a tight partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I think it makes a lot of sense for the (AFP) to continue to use U.S. equipment. Frankly, they only know US equipment,” Kim said.

U.S. respects Duterte’s push for an independent foreign poli-

Philstar.com file photo

cy, according to the ambassador, saying every nation should look at their interests and decide how best to advance their country’s interests.

Human rights On the recent call of some independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights violations in the Philippines, Kim said it is up to the Philippine government to respond to the matter.

But he said the U.S. concerns on the human rights situation in the country are well-documented in its annual human rights reports.

Citing media reports, Kim noted an improving situation, particularly with the decline in the incidents ofextrajudicial killings.

“Our two countries have a long tradition of shared values and principles, including human rights. So, I’m hoping that the situation will continue to improve on the human rights front,” he said. n

Philippines calls on UN members to assist...

PAGE A3 t tion may reasonably be expected of him • after a collision, to render assistance to the other ship, its crew and its passengers, and where possible, to inform the other ship of the name of his own ship, its port of registry and the nearest port at which it will call Locsin noted that these are also indicated in the International Maritime Organization Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Convention on Maritime Search

and Rescue.

The DFA chief added that there is no sanction under international law for those not enforcing their duty to render assistance, this should be a cause of concern.

In his speech, Locsin highlighted the June 9 incident, where an anchored Filipino fishing vessel sank after being hit by a Chinese trawler in the West Philippine Sea. He also stressed that the collision occurred within Philippine exclusive economic zone.

“The incident, to put it diplomatically, highlights the moral and possibly legal —though one wouldn’t wager on it — imperative of coming to the rescue of persons in distress at sea,” Locsin said.

The Philippines was one of the original signatories of the UNCLOS in 1982, the basis of its arbitration at the Hague-based tribunal.

In July 2016, the UNCLOSbacked tribunal ruled in favor of Manila, invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. n

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A

Dateline PhiliPPines Speakership race heats up Trillanes ‘ready for anything’ after June 30

by Delon

Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — The unofficial race for the speakership has begun.

The camp of returning Taguig congressman-elect Alan Peter Cayetano recently hosted a seminar at a hotel in Clark, Pampanga for the newest House members who won in the recent midterm elections.

Cayetano, one of the contenders for speaker, also brought with him several members of President Duterte’s Cabinet, who gave lectures on lawmaking and the budget process.

Among these Cabinet members are Secretaries Mark Villar of public works, Arthur Tugade of transportation and Carlos Dominguez III of finance.

The three are directly in charge of Duterte’s Build, Build, Build program until 2022.

An unnamed official of the Department of Budget and Management, who will either be an “undersecretary or assistant secretary,” delivered a seminar on the “fundamentals of the budget process” for rookie congressmen.

The event started with lunch at the Quest Hotel. Dinner, cocktails

and socials with members of Congress followed at 7 p.m. with Cayetano as host.

The former senator and foreign affairs chief said he was instructed

by Duterte to help him push his legislative agenda for the second half of his six-year term.

Subjects on parliamentary procedure and traditions of Congress were explained by professor and political analyst Edmund Tayao and reelected Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II. Others hosts included Cayetano’s colleagues in the Nacionalista Party – House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu and Reps. LRay Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Ronnie Zamora of San Juan, Abraham Tolentino of Cavite, Dan Fernandez of Laguna, Elpidio Barzaga of Cavite, Robbie Puno of Antipolo and Bong Bravo of party-list Coop-Natcco.

Rep. Jericho Nograles of partylist Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta hinted earlier that there would most likely be only two serious contenders for the speakership – Reps. Martin Romualdez of Leyte and Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque.

Nograles, a presidential nephew as his mother Rhodora Bendigo is a cousin of Duterte, made

this forecast in the run-up to the speakership race to be decided on July 22.

“Our choice is down to two – Velasco or Romualdez. This will be a tough decision to make because both of them are close to our hearts but we will definitely choose the speaker who can treat us justly and fairly,” Nograles said, referring to the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI).

“Some of the wannabes who have tried to reach out to us obviously have a different view about party-list groups. Mababa ang tingin sa amin,” he said, echoing the same concern raised by their leader, PCFI and 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, about being “second-class citizens.”

Romero said their group, composed of 54 members, will be voting as a bloc. He expressed belief they would also be the “swing vote” in the speakership race, being the second largest political bloc in the House next to the 95-member PDP-Laban party of Duterte.

“With the free for all, the party-list bloc with about 54 voting members might be the swing vote in choosing the speaker,” he said. n

Aegis fratman found guilty

ONE of the suspects in the 2017 hazing death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III has been found guilty of obstruction of justice.

Judge Carolina Esguerra of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 found Aegis Juris fratman John Paul Solano guilty of interfering with the legal process, but also acquitted him of perjury.

He was sentenced to serve up to four years, two months and one day.

Castillo was a first year law student when he died on Sep. 20, 2017 following initiation rites.

Solano had claimed to have found Castillo’s body in Tondo, Manila and that he had brought him to the Chinese General Hospital.

He backtracked after investigations proved otherwise and Solano argued that he had been ordered by Aegis Juris superiors to lie and was also afraid of being implicated in Castillo’s death.

lable fear, it is clear that he gave false and fabricated information to mislead the police or prevent them from apprehending those responsible for the death of Castillo.”

Still, the court cleared Solano of perjury, noting that the “first element of the offense that the accused made a statement under oath was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.”

Advocates of the Anti-Hazing Law welcomed the decision, but also said that the court erred with regard to the perjury ruling.

Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy said Aegis Juris fratman John Paul Solano Manilatimes.net file photo the “partial justice” was welcome and called on schools to uphold In its ruling, the court said that Republic Act 11053. “as the investigation progressed “When Congress worked on to show that the body of Castillo this law, we were aware that hazwas nowhere in the area point- ing emanates from violence and ed to by the accused under the lack of empathy kept in the heart circumstances in which he sup- and fostered in the mind. For posedly found him, and he later this reason, we included proviadmitting that he gave the incor- sions on registration of fraternirect lead to the police though he ties, school authorities oversight, claims he did so under uncontrolPAGE A7

by Paolo

romero Philstar.com

MANILA — Outgoing Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of President Duterte, is ready for anything the administration may throw at him, including being thrown in jail, once his term expires on June 30.

Trillanes described his 12 years as a senator as a “wild ride with so many twists and turns” where he learned so much, made many friends and learned to love some of his colleagues who have been very critical of him.

“I believe I’ve done my best.

I’ve tried to make a difference given the time and energy resources I had. I believe I’ve done my job,” the opposition senator told the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Trillanes said he plans to teach but will remain a vocal member of the opposition even if he is more at risk for harassment or being prosecuted on what he expects to be dubious charges in order to have him put behind bars.

“Even when I was a senator, that didn’t stop (the administration) from harassing me, but it’s

Outgoing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV

they who should be afraid,” he said, referring to the attempt to arrest him in 2018 on coup charges when Duterte issued a proclamation revoking the amnesty granted to him in 2011.

Trillanes, along with several military officers, were jailed for over seven years after staging the so-called Oakwood mutiny.

Asked if he was ready to be jailed again, he said: “I’m ready.

The question is, are they ready?”

Under the present administra-

Philstar.com file photo

tion, a member of the opposition “should be prepared for everything,” according to Trillanes.

“All my experience led me to be who I am today. If I can’t survive what may come my way, there’s God who will bridge the gap,” he said.

Trillanes added that he is also proud of his legislative record, including successfully pushing for salary increases of public school teachers and uniformed personnel. n

PNP lauded for reducing crime volume by neil Jayson

servallos ManilTimes.net

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for bringing down the total crime volume in May by 10 percent.

Citing records from the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the total crime volume in May 2019 is 38,284 compared to 42,527 for the same period last year.

Data from the PNP showed a 22.6 percent drop in index crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of motor vehicles, carnapping of motorcyles, and cattle rustling — from 7,421 in May 2018 to 5,744 in May 2019.

Meanwhile, non-index crimes dropped by 7.31 percent from 35,106 in May 2018 to 32,540 in May 2019.

Non-index crimes are cases of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, reckless imprudence

resulting to physical injury, special laws, among others. reckless imprudence resulting to Año also commended the PNP damage to property, violation of PAGE A7

A6

JUNE 21-27, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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FEATURES

OPINION

Cubao to Makati in 5 minutes BY the end of the year, President Duterte has vowed, the drive along EDSA between Makati and Cubao, Quezon City would be cut to just five minutes.

If the President delivers on this promise, he deserves a monument along EDSA. People who grapple daily with the crippling traffic jams along the busy thoroughfare have tried numerous schemes to improve vehicular flow. After a brief improvement, however, backsliding occurs. Designated stops and dedicated lanes are ignored. Passengers still board and jump out of vehicles even in the middle of the road.

The President is counting on the opening of new overhead roads to make good on his promise. Recent such thoroughfares, however, have failed to ease traffic, possibly because these are toll roads. Ordinary folks are burdened enough with inflation to add to the cost of their daily drive or commute.

Unless people are in a rush – to catch a flight, for example – they would rather make allowances for getting stuck in traffic rather than add to the cost of their daily drive. Fuel costs are high enough and there are already too many toll roads

all over Metro Manila and neighboring areas, making people wonder where taxes go.

The President made the promise apparently in anticipation of the opening of new overhead, bypass or connector roads and expressways to ease traffic jams in Metro Manila. He may have to revise his projection that the improvement may be felt by December, considering that the Christmas season is the worst time for traffic jams. Still, he is expected to prod his officials to make his objective attainable.

Edison Nebrija, EDSA traffic zone head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, has a more realistic target of cutting down the drive between Cubao, Quezon City to Chino Roces Avenue in Makati initially to 30 minutes. This is half of the regular travel time between the two points in moderate traffic. Of course if this could be cut down further to five minutes, EDSA can be renamed after whoever is responsible. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS AN EPIPHANY is that moment in the story where a character achieves realization, awareness, or a feeling of knowledge, after which events are seen through the prism of this new light in the story.

Are we there yet, Filipinos in America? Or are we still blinded by the glaring prism of fanaticism?

I would like to look at the glass half full and will not stop believing that the truth will eventually free us and help us make better-informed decisions. This is if we remain relentless in putting the spotlight on the facts rather than a fabricated alternate universe maliciously created by conmen for their own political expediency, power, fame and self-aggrandizement.

As the truth comes out, such conmen try even harder to suppress the facts from coming out.

This cannot be denied in how the 45th president of the United States manipulated his cohorts in

Fox News poll: Trump trails Democratic candidates in the 2020 presidential elections

government and his adoring fan base. On January 23, 2016, as a presidential candidate, Donald Trump boldly, proudly and brazenly stated the following during a campaign rally in Iowa: “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” Has he proven himself right through you?

Former First Lady Michelle Obama said in a speech, “Being president doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are.”

Indeed, we get to know a person‘s true character not only when he has nothing, but perhaps more so when he has all the power at his disposal.

From the illusion that Trump the business “mogul” and reality star will be “presidential” and will live up to the oath of upholding and defending the Constitution and the democracy of the nation, more and more Americans are now seeing who the real Donald Trump is during his chaotic first two years in office.

North Carolina, Ohio and Georgia — while holding a narrow edge in strongly Republican Texas.”

Trump, as expected, called this “fake news” because it just did not support his own narrative in his alternate universe, even if the survey was commissioned by his own campaign.

“Those polls don’t exist. But I just had a meeting with someone who’s a pollster, and I’m winning everywhere, “ Trump claimed.

In fact, this is so very Trump: he refuses to listen to reports and studies that are not favorable to him and his own agenda, that his staff has been so daunted to bring them up to him from fear of falling out of grace and favor.

Trump and his ardent supporters contend this is all politics to bring down the president, but wait. This news about Trump trailing behind Biden has been corroborated by the poll commissioned by Trump’s favorite Cable news channel - Fox News!

According to the results of the Fox News polling, “the president

Delusional President Trump could not live with the facts that are not favorable to him, even if they come from his own internal polling, so much so that according to a report by the Washington Post, his “campaign is cutting ties with three members of his polling team after grim numbers showing him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in several battleground states were leaked to the media last week, according to several officials with knowledge of the matter.”

The report further stated: “The news follows reports — first by Politico and later by the New York Times — on a 17-state internal poll conducted by Fabrizio.

The data, later reported by ABC and NBC, show Trump trailing Biden by double digits in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan, where Trump narrowly edged out Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. The poll also found Trump behind Biden in several other states that were key to the president’s win — Iowa,

is currently lagging behind as many as five of the Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election. The latest poll, conducted between June 9 and June 12, found Democratic frontrunners — former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — each garnering 49 percent of the vote in a hypothetical head-to-head against the president.”

Newsweek reported that “Biden fared slightly better against Trump, beating the incumbent by ten percentage points, while Sanders had a slightly smaller gap of nine points over the president.”

“The remaining three Democrats who could possibly unseat Trump were Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Warren, who was the first of the Democratic hopefuls to publicly call for Trump to be impeached holds the slight edge in this trio, beating the president by 43 percent to 41 per-

cent. Harris — who has also since called for Trump’s ouster — and Buttigieg each came out on top against the president, but only by a single percentage point.”

Trump’s reaction on Twitter? More lies. “Polls are always bad for me. They were against Crooked Hillary also. Something weird going on at Fox. Our polls show us leading in all 17 Swing States.”

This is the real Donald Trump.

The presidency cannot change the man. You cannot change the man. But we can change ourselves by being better informed, having more critical thinking and a discerning heart and the quest for the truth so we can make better decisions for our families and our nation come 2020. *** 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.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Journey to Phnom Penh, gains under Premier Hun Sen and excellent ties with royal family

WE journeyed to Phnom Penh last week, June 4-8, where we conferred with Prime Minister Hun Sen on a major conference in the Cambodian capital scheduled for November and where we noted significant economic gains for the country.

We were accompanied in our visit by senior officers of the Seoul- and New York-based Universal Peace Federation (UPF), a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing the cause of peace through cooperation and dialogue. We serve as chairman emeritus of the UPF. Among those in our group were Dr. Chung Sikyong of South Korea, chairman for Asia of the UPF; Hon. EkNathDhakal of Nepal, former minister for peace and reconstruction and chairman for Asia of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), who is married to a Filipina, BlessieGadon from Zamboanga City; Dr. Robert Kittel of the USA, Director for youth education of the UPF; Ursula McLackland of Germany, secretary-general of UPF Asia; and Dr. Julius Malicdem of the Philippines, who hails from my province of Pangasinan, newly designated chairman for Southeast Asia of the UPF. Dr.HakJa Han Moon, active widow of UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, and UPF International President Dr. Thomas Walsh were attending another conference in South Africa.

Our group was received by Premier Hun Sen at the sprawling Peace Palace, where he receives foreign dignitaries and where important international events, like the East Asia Summit 2012 attended by then US President Barrack Obama, are held.

It is worth mentioning that the 6th General Assembly of ICAPP, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, in December, 2010, was held in this magnificent edifice.

Our UPF group and Prime Minister Hun Senhave decided to hold the UPF Asia Pacific Summit 2019 in Phnom Penh, November 18-20, to be cohosted by Cambodia. The prime minister even graciously offered the Peace Palace to be the venue of the conference.

The scheduled summit in Phnom Penh aims to foster close partnership between government and civil society in addressing the critical challenges

besetting the Asian region and the global community, such as Peacepeace and security, development, good governance, climate Maker change, and poverty.

We also took the opportunity to invite him to the UPF World FORMER SPEAKER Summit to be held in Seoul in JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. February, 2020, and to the 20th founding anniversary and 11th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Manila in November 2020.

ICAPP, which we founded and launched in Manila in September, 2000, now represents some 350 ruling, opposition, and independent political parties in 52 countries in Asia.

After our meeting with the UPF group, Premier Hun Sen, an old friend, ushered us into his private office where we exchanged views with him, oneon-one, on the various issues and developments in Asia and the global community.

We found him with profound understanding of global affairs, in the light of his wealth of experience as head of government for almost 34 years and, earlier, as foreign minister for ten years, and having fought and helped defeat the barbarous Khmer Rouge with then much-adored King Norodom Sihanouk and his son Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was then concurrently a general in the Royal Army.

Both Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh later became unique co-premiers of Cambodia after the defeat of the Khmer Rouge, and later, following his visit to Manila, Prince Ranariddh became speaker of the House of Representatives which led to the passage of critical economic reconstruction laws and advance of agriculture, following the ravages of war.

Prime Minister Hun Sen is credited for bringing about peace, reconciliation, unity, and development in Cambodia, which suffered from decades of armed conflict and from the atrocious Khmer Rouge “killing fields” regime which murdered more than two million Cambodians.

He helped liberate Cambodia from the genocidal Khmer Rouge rule led by Pol Pot and played a piv-

otal role in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, which brokered peace in Cambodia. Hun Sen enjoys close working and personal relations with the royal family.

We believe the royal families of Cambodia, Japan, and Thailand are and have been exemplars in the global community as with the royal family in the United Kingdom and the others less publicized in Europe. *** In the course of our Phnom Penh visit, we also met with our young and dynamic friend Suos Yara, a member of the National Assembly (Parliament) and special adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen. He is a lieutenant general in the Cambodian Armed Forces.

Suos Yara also serves as spokesman and vice chairman for international Relations of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). He is knowledgeable in world politics and speaks fluent French.

He and former South Korean Ambassador to Russia Park Ro-byug, the respected and hardworking secretary general of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), of which we are founding chairman and chairman of Standing Committee, worked very hard in establishing and launching in Siem Reap in January this year the Asian Cultural Council (ACC), a subsidiary group under ICAPP. Suos Yara and Ambassador Park journeyed to Paris and successfully secured a working partnership between the ACC and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Suos Yara serves as director general of the ACC Secretariat based in Phnom Penh. *** We also met with the bright and charming woman leader Khuon Sudary, deputy speaker of the National Assembly and vice chairperson of the ICAPP Standing Committee. She concurrently holds other positions in the subsidiary groups of ICAPP — chairperson of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC)and vice chairperson of the Asia Europe Political Forum (AEPF).

We visited as well our old friends Tan Sri Datuk Chen Lipkeong, a Malaysian-Chinese who is based in Phnom Penh and who is one of the leading business tycoons in Asia, whose businesses include hotels, gaming, and entertainment in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Far Eastern Russia, and oil exploration and development in Canada; and Mrs. Annie Sok, wife of our late dear friend Sok An, deputy prime minister and minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, who also served as vice chairman of the ICAPP Standing Committee and chairman of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. Annie keeps the memory and legacy of her beloved Sok An alive by maintaining his memorabilia in their lovely home in Phnom Penh and contributes to charity and women movements.

We wanted to meet with our old friend Prince Norodom Ranariddh but we were informed that, on his doctors’ advice, he could not accept visitors yet as he is still recuperating from a major vehicular accident a few months ago which killed his wife.

When he is fully recovered, we will invite him again to Pangasinan, where as crown prince with Princess Marie, he had impressed the people with his oratory and simple humility.

As we said, Prince Ranariddh was prime minister from 1993 to 1997, with Hun Sen as co-prime minister, and subsequently as president of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2006. He is the second son of the late great and legendary King Norodom Sihanouk and brother of the current young King, Norodom Sihamoni.

A day before we flew back to Manila, we and our able Assistant AldwinRequejo from Albay were invited by Senator Mong Reththy to his 16,500-hectare palm oil and 10,000-hectare mango plantations in Sihanoukville province, a three-hour drive from Phnom Penh and one-hour drive to Sihanoukville, a coastal city and capital of Sihanoukville province.

He gifted us with six hybrid mango trees with each tree bearing unique three varieties of mango.

We will proudly and gladly plant the trees in our frontyard and backyard in our home in Dagupan City on Lingayen Gulf by the South China Sea. If they flourish, we would like to share these hybrids with other mango growers. ■

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

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De Lima slams killing of human rights workers

by Bernadette

e. tamayo

April 21.

De Lima said their deaths “added up to the snowballing record of rights defenders killed DETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima under the Duterte administraon Sunday, June 16, denounced tion.� the recent killings of two human With human rights defenders rights workers in Sorsogon, who (HRDs) still under serious attack, were both reportedly subjected de Lima reiterated the need for to periodic surveillance by the Congress to push for the passage military and police operatives into law of a bill protecting HRDs before their deaths. from any forms of abuses.

De Lima raised the need to “Don’t we find it alarming that “seriously investigate� the incithe bad guys keep on unleashing dent to ensure justice for the vicbloodbath victimizing the very tims and their families, and find defenders of human rights without whether state agents were out fear for accountability anyindeed involved in the crime. more?� she asked. “The deplorable murder of two De Lima recently vowed to Karapatan members is nothing refile in the upcoming 18th Conbut an attack against all fearless gress the Human Rights Defendwarriors who fight for human ers’ Protection Bill, the House rights, justice and freedom,� de Detained Senator Leila de Lima Manilatimes.net file photo counterpart measure in the SenLima said in a statement. “Aside from investigating this subdivision just a kilometer away ate, which was not acted upon by alarming trend of killings target- from the City Police Office in Ba- the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights under Sen. ing human rights defenders in the rangay Cabid-an, Bicol. country, there is an urgent need They were killed by unidenti- Richard Gordon during the preto thoroughly investigate why the fied assailants onboard a motor- vious Congress.

She noted that the House of two victims were subjected to pe- cycle after they escorted lawyer riodic surveillance conducted by Bart Rayco, who visited his cli- Representatives on June 3 apuniformed personnel, and if this ents, all of whom were identified proved on third and final reading surveillance has something to do as political prisoners, at PNP Ca- House Bill 9199, also referred to as the “Human Rights Defendwith their deaths,� she added. bid-an.

Two members of rights group Prior to the killing, Karapatan ers Protection Act,� but its SenKarapatan from Sorsogon, Bi- revealed that Hubilla and Bagas- ate counterpart filed by de Lima, col — Ryan Hubilla and Nelly ala, were tailed by a gray pick-up Senate Bill 1699, had languished Bagasala — were gunned down vehicle and a black motorcycle at the committee level since Febat about 8:20 a.m. on June 15 in a that had no license plates last ruary 2018. n ManilaTimes.net

PNP lauded for reducing crime volume

PAGE A5 for its efforts to rid its ranks of erring and corrupt police personnel. “I would like to commend the PNP for its internal cleansing program aimed to rid its ranks from misfits and scalawags.

Napakalaki na ng naitutulong ng PNP sa hangarin nating maibalik muli ang tiwala at pagmamahal ng mga tao sa pamahalaan (The PNP has helped bring back public trust on government),� he said.

According to Aùo, electionManilatimes.net file photo related violent incidents (ERVI) Senate President Vicente Sotto III Data from the PNP showed this year compared to the 106 inplunged by 60 percent during that only 43 ERVI were recorded cidents recorded in 2016. n this year’s midterm polls.

Aegis fratman found guilty

PAGE A5 roles of faculty advisers and administration officials, and developmental activities,� she added. “The violence that killed Atio should not happen again to anyone now and in the future.�

Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin, for his part, said the

Manila court “seems to have misappreciated the facts� presented during the trial. “Not only does the acquittal of John Paul Solano on the charge of perjury is denial of full justice to the Atio Castillo family, it sends a clear message that these misguided people who commit

hazing will eventually get away with their crime,� he said.

He noted that the court’s decision could affect the final resolution of the case.

Another 10 Aegis Juris fratmen remain on trial over Castillo’s death. (William Depasupil and Glee Jalea/ManilaTimes.net) n

RIGID TRAINING. Senator Manny Pacquiao and members of his team run the foggy hills of Griffith Park in Los Angeles on Monday, June 17. The fighting senator officially opened the LA leg of his training camp in preparation for his upcoming fight against WBA welterweight super champion Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 20.

Photo courtesy of Manny Pacquiao Promotions

Ballot box found floating in Maguindanao swamp

by John

Unson Philstar.com

MAGUINDANAO — A ballot box, which contained election returns in the May 13 polls, was recovered in a swamp in Datu Salibo town.

Farmer Mohadz Mindao found the ballot box, which was turned over to the office of Maguindanao election director Ernie Palanan.

Palanan said the box should have been kept by the municipal treasurer after the winning candidates were proclaimed.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) strongly denied allegations of fraud in the May 13 elections by losing Datu Salibo mayoral bet Sam Sailon Esmael, with the recovery of the ballot box.

Esmael posted photos of the ballot box on Facebook.

The poll body said Ali Mamoribid, the municipal treasurer of Datu Salibo, claimed the ballot box was “stolen� from the municipal office. “Contrary to allegations made

by Esmael and in the absence of any proof of fraud, Datu Salibo election officer Mary Ann Marohombsar maintains the conduct of the May 13 polls in her jurisdiction was fraud-free,� the Comelec said.

A ballot box is shown floating in a swamp in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao in this handout photo from the Maguindanao police.

Contributed photo

Concerned election personnel are coordinating with Marohombsar to assist the Philippine National Police in its investigation.

Datu Salibo has 9,504 registered voters.

Data shows Esmael garnered

only 273 votes of the more than 5,000 votes cast. “Actions are now being taken to set the facts straight and hold to account those who are responsible,� the Comelec said. (Sheila Crisostomo/Philstar.com) n

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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

Friday, June 21, 2019

SF

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

Not just happy stories: Grace Talusan’s ‘The Body Papers’ explores trauma, undocumented immigration and not staying silent could depict families in literature that looked like my family.

AJ: One aspect of your GRACE Talusan recalls being interview.

Talusan’s memoir-in-esstory is coming to Boston at an drawn to books at an early age. says was the 2017 winner of early age.

Some photos from childhood the Restless Books Prize for GT: It was a big culture shock show her reading or writing, New Immigrant Writing, which to go from the city to the subwhich foreshadow a chapter in her life some three decades later. recognizes debut literary work by urbs — we lived in Boston then a first-generation immigrant and moved to a suburb — because it “I’ve always identified as a was pretty homogenous. In the writer or wanted to be a writer,” awards $10,000 and publication

by Restless Books. city, there were more immigrants she told the Asian Journal in a Of “The Body Papers,” prize and people of color but the recent interview. judges Anjali Singh and Ilan suburbs were largely families With “The Body Papers,” Stavans wrote that “it is the con- who had been in that town for released this past April — along sidered, artful work of one who multiple generations. with her background as an Enghas been processing these exAJ: How did where you lish professor at Tufts Univerperiences with the diligence and grew up shape your identity? sity and incoming Fannie Hurst courage of a true writer. In its GT: It made for great trainwriter-in-residence at Brandeis message of resilience—and the ing for a writer because I had to University this fall — Talusan salvation to be found in books— be observant and vigilant and embodies that life’s calling as a Talusan’s memoir will serve as an constantly paying attention to writer.

Structured in 21 essays based inspiration to thousands of young what was going on around me immigrants who feel the weight by reading people on multiple on her memories supplemented of secrecy and silence pressed levels. I’m constantly reading into by sifting through diary entries, upon them.” context and tone of voice, so I family photos, government Currently on a tour with an would always wonder like ‘what and medical records, the book upcoming stop at Philippine is this context I am finding myself begins with Talusan living in the in and how do I fit into it?’

Philippines as a Fulbright scholar, Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, California on June 29, AJ: Were there any instancmarking one of the first times Talusan doesn’t uphold “The es that you still remember? as an adult she returns to her GT: I remember a teacher country of birth after moving to a Body Papers” as the ultimate representation of what it means asking a question in an attempt Boston suburb in the 1970s. to make a point about how With her experience as a Fili- to be a Fil-Am, but rather a conwe’re all the same, which I think pino American in the Philippines, duit to show how every body is multilayered with stories to tell. was not a good point to make revisiting her family’s ancestral Asian Journal (AJ): How because we’re not. But he was home guides the storytelling of have reading and writing been asking people to raise their hand how she and her family came to a part of your life? like, ‘How many of you eat bread the United States and the strugGrace Talusan (GT): No every day at dinner?’ Everyone gles, whether it was trying to matter what happened to me in raised their hand but I lied and ‘fit in’ by forgoing Tagalog and my life, I would be interested in raised my hand. Then he asked, adopting a Bostonian accent or ‘How many people eat rice every living in immigration status limbo. reading and writing. But I think that with the things that hapday?’ I half raised my hand and On the physical ‘body’ side, pened to me, writing was a form put it back down again. MoTalusan dives into trauma that for me to process those experiments like this made me realize many families may sweep under ences, whether it’s being differthat I was different in big ways the rug, from years of sexual from people even though I was abuse by her grandfather to anxi- ent with immigration or how I trying to mask it all the time. We ety and depression to voluntarily dealt with my niece having cancer or me having to go through did eat rice every day but that undergoing a double mastectothe decision to have surgery. was considered a really weird my and oophorectomy because All of that I definitely processed thing to do in the place I grew of the genetic predisposition to through reading and writing. up in. breast cancer.

AJ: Who were some of the I could act like everyone “My parents were so busy writers you enjoyed growing else around me like take on back then as new immigrants up? the Boston accent, play sports putting the pieces of their GT: I didn’t discover any writ- and music, and go to birthday American Dream together: the ers of color until probably high parties of classmates. But there small business, the house in the school or even college. Most of were ways that I just couldn’t get suburbs, the two cars. There the writers who had an impact around my identity because of were five of us children and no the way I looked. I’m not white servants or supportive family like on me were those I found in my local library. I loved books by so there’s so way to get around back home in the Philippines.

Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, that. There were ways I was treatI didn’t want to be a bother,” and I would go through books ed because of that with some Talusan writes of keeping the and biographies about girls and bullies at school making racial abuse a secret. However, she women. It wasn’t until I found taunts, but people wanted our later describes coming forward Amy Tan and Maxine Hong town to be a friendly, welcoming to her parents and years later, Kingston that I finally had writers place so, for the most part, they recognizes the duty to not only who really opened up an oppor- were friendly to us and did stand tell “happy stories” when she tunity…I had thought literature up for me when things like that becomes an aunt. was about white people and I happened. There were just some “With my book, I wanted would have to write about them. people around who weren’t as to make a space so people can It was a revelation when I came open-minded. start having conversations that into contact with other Asian AJ: What role did your are very important for them American writers and realized I diaries from growing up play in to have,” Talusan said in our the writing process?

GT: I had diaries and looked at them after I did most of the major writing of the book. There was a period when I was going back and forth with my editor with big revisions so I had this time in between when I did things like look at my box of diaries…starting around maybe younger than 10 years old. I had intermittent writings in my diary and then through high school and college it was much more regular writing. I looked at those to gain confidence that I was correct in dates and names of friends and things that had happened. I also cross-referenced things like report cards, photographs that are dated, letters Grace Talusan and father (named Totoy in “The Body Papers”) in Miami in 2018. Photo by Alonso Nichols and notes that people sent me.

But that mostly happened after writing as a way to check that I was right on stuff.

In terms of writing and making the memoir come to life, I really relied on my memory and what stood out to me and what has stayed with me for decades since they had happened.

AJ: Did you have any conversations with family about you sharing these stories?

GT: I didn’t think of my writing as a book. I was writing essays and pieces for myself for a period of about 10 years. I had tried to publish them here and there. I was targeting print-only journals, but then there was a by

Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

Mary and Grace during a snow storm growing up in a suburb outside of Boston.

time when I had what was a book and I then got a book contract so that was when I started to talk to family members more intentionally and tell them what I wrote about and that it was going to be a book. I didn’t give them pages for approval or anything like that…but everyone said, ‘We trust you.’ That level of trust also made me feel like I needed to be trustworthy and made me try really hard to get things right.

Of course, it’s my perspective.

Talk to people about something you’ve all experienced and everyone will have a different perspective on their experience. I did try to interview people to follow up on things and see if that would add anything but not a lot since it’s my story and I wanted that integrity.

AJ: What kinds of conversations do you want readers, especially those in the Filipino American community, to have?

The immigrant experience is relatable for many, but you also write about deeply personal experiences, whether it’s abuse or cancer in the family, that people tend to not want to talk about.

GT: What is the point of silence? I can understand if there’s a reason about safety, but if it’s just you trying to instill false pride in the family, then there’s no use at all for that silence. I feel strongly that we should be having conversations that we need to have in order to keep our families safe, healthy, honest and vibrant. Why would we want to maintain a lie? In the author’s note, I say that very explicitly. I was told incomplete or happy stories and that was a very damaging thing. We should feel safe enough and strong enough that we can tell complete stories and still be able to be proud of who we are and recognize the full complexities of our families.

AJ: How does ‘The Body Papers’ fit into the greater FilAm narrative?

GT: There are not many representations of Filipino Americans in literature and in our culture and I was very aware of that. It took me a long time to come to peace with what I was going through because I knew it would be read as representative in some ways for Filipino Americans, which it should not be because this is just one unique, specific story. It is not representative, but I knew that it could be taken that way. Sometimes there’s pressure because there’s so few of us in publishing that we should tell only certain kinds of stories or those that are happy and make us proud of who we are. I would argue that this story does make me proud of who I am because we all go through difficult things and hardships.

AJ: Another layer of your personal journey is going back to the Philippines as an adult through the Fulbright Program.

What did you learn during that experience?

GT: Because I was the only Filipina in classrooms oftentimes, people would look to me as if I was some sort of expert on all things Filipino. That gave me a false sense that I was and that I knew a lot about the Philippines when I really didn’t. When I was in graduate school, I took a course N.V.M Gonzalez on Filipino literature and another on Philippine history. Those were the first times I had formal education on anything Filipino. It wasn’t until I got to the Philippines and spent any time there that I realized I knew very little and I’m not an expert at all.

I’m learning just as much as any person who’s been schooled in the U.S. I had to learn to know what I didn’t know and learn what I didn’t know. I always thought of myself as Filipino because that’s how people saw me in the United States, but then when I went to the Philippines, I realized that I am not just

Author Grace Talusan reads at Brookline Booksmith Transnational Series in May 2019.

Talusan reads from her debut memoir, “The Body Papers,” at Lit Crawl Boston on June 6, 2019.

Photo by Alonso Nichols

Photo shows Grace and family apple picking in the ‘70s.

Filipino, I am…a hyphenated American.

AJ: You’ve been doing a book tour across the East Coast this past spring, which has been attended by diverse audiences. What has the reception been like?

GT: From everybody, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, the response has been, ‘Thank you.’

Whether I’m talking about my body, disease, sexual abuse or immigration, those are things people are responding to with their gratitude in that they’re feeling seen in some way or they’re seeing some aspect of their own experiences even if they’re not Filipino. That’s really gratifying for me because I didn’t know who was going to read this book and thought people wouldn’t care. I thought maybe only immigrants would care or other Filipinos and Filipino Americans, but no, the book is actually reaching people who are not any of those identities. When I bring this up to my non-Filipino or immigrant friends, they laugh and say, ‘Why wouldn’t we be interested in this?’ That’s something from my imagination, thinking that people not of our background could find a universal story in it or something they’re connecting to that’s powerful. It isn’t anything against them personally — it’s because I don’t see movies and literature about our lives so why would I assume that they’d be interested about my life?

AJ: You’ll be doing a book talk and signing at Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro in late June. What can we expect from that event?

GT: That’s going to be an incredible event and special because I’ll be in conversation with sociologist Anthony Ocampo, who wrote “The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race.” That’s something special to have both of us at this event, him as a sociologist and storyteller, asking me questions and analyzing my book. I want to encourage our community to tell their own stories in whatever way they want to and what feels comfortable, whether it’s through writing or videos.

We need more of our work out in the world for sure.

AJ: What’s next for you?

GT: I’m doing research, which I could say, about World War II in the Philippines and looking at it as a Filipino American. I will continue to work on essays. Even with just going on this tour and publishing this book, I have already started working on essays about that experience. For now, it’s all about marketing “The Body Papers.”

I’ve worked so hard at this with my publishing company and team so I want people to at least know it exists. It’s been such a pleasure and surprise to see how it’s been received. Those two New York Times reviews have been unbelievable — I didn’t even think I’d get one, but the fact that they did it twice was amazing.

AJ: Any advice for aspiring writers and storytellers? “The Body Papers” comes at a time when we’ve seen quite a few releases from other Fil-Am authors.

GT: I’d say start with something true that you haven’t seen before. You may dismiss it and think it’s not important. I’ve been reading Malaka Gharib’s “I Was Their American Dream,” which is funny and moving, but also a revelation I’d never seen these details of my life in comic form. I posted an Instagram of a page where the daughter is pulling the white hair out of her mother’s head and people were replying that they would do that too and get paid a few cents.

That’s a true moment I’ve never seen before anywhere. That’s so important to represent and write about our lives in those little details because they’re ways to get across the specificity and beauty of our lives, otherwise we’re invisible and erased and have to fit ourselves into what we see on TV and movies, which is recognizable on some level but they’re not specific to us. I’ve also been reading “America is Not the Heart” by Elaine Castillo, whom I haven’t met yet but I hope to go to a reading because I love her work so much.

There are two forthcoming memoirs, Jia Tolentino’s “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion,” which is coming out in August. She’s incredible. Also, my cousin — she’s technically my niece or second cousin I think — Meredith Talusan has a book called “Fairest” in spring 2020.

I did an event with Meredith so I’ve heard her read from that book. Gina Apostol, whose latest book is “Insurrecto,” was also in that conversation at Columbia University.

I have a big stack of books

by Fil-Ams to get to like Cinelle Barnes’ “Monsoon Mansion.” It used to be that I would do this for Asian American writers, especially in the ‘80s when I would buy any new book by an Asian American writer and I’d have a stack of about 10 a year. But the fact that I can have a stack of 10 just for Fil-Ams at this point is really exciting.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Immigration Corner

July 2019 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Visa Issuance Date

May 01, 2008

August 22, 2007

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holder

March 08, 2019

Current

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

August 01, 2008

January 01, 2008

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

February 01, 1998

August 01, 1997

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

July 01, 1998

January 01, 1998

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

Current

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

Current

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: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES

Timog Avenue in Quezon City where he has at least held one ManilaTimes.net or two thanksgiving events for the entertainment press.

STILL thinking of a fitting The past two months saw course, Alden Richards wishes to enroll at Harvard University. Alden in separate outlets: in his franchise branch of a popuAmidst bashers who seem lar food chain in Biñan City, to look down on the Kapuso Laguna and at the reopening actor, Vignettes believes that of his co-owned Concha’s Gara business-related course will sure prove to be an advantage. den Café & Resto in Silang, It’s a known fact that Alden Cavite (so far, the biggest one which is the main supplier owns Concha’s, a resto on

CAN WE REINSTATE OUR SON’S PETITION FROM 1999 SINCE HE IS NOW SINGLE AGAIN AFTER HIS MARRIAGE WAS ANNULLED IN 2018? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” More Kapamilya who came to the Citizen PInoy taping in Illinois will get the chance to have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out what is the fastest way to petition children from a previous marriage. What can one do if her visa renewal was denied because she overstayed on her first trip? A woman was petitioned by her first husband, but she has since remarried. She discovers that her first husband passed away in 2010. What are her chances of being a U.S. citizen now that the petitioner has died? Can her second husband petition her? Get answers to these questions and more on a brand-new episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Can anything be done if a visa renewal was refused due to overstaying on a previous visit?

Get the answer this Sunday on “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot”

THIS Sunday, more anzen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My swers to questions of KaSagot” — on Sunday at 6:15 pamilya who went to the live p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST taping of “Citizen Pinoy” in Skokie, Illinois.

Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel responds directly and provides relevant information to questions like “What can be done if a visa renewal was (Advertising Supplement) denied due to overstaying on a previous visit, but it was not true?,” “What happens to the petition if the petitioner died?,” “What is the fastof raw materials to the other est way to petition children branches). The latter, too, is from a previous marriage?,” open for franchising.

“Should the mother file for This June, still another citizenship so she can petition Concha’s branch will rise in the children?,” “Or can her Tagaytay Highlands. And U.S. citizen husband petipretty soon, Alden might just tion for the children from the realize his dream of putting up wife’s previous marriage?” a boutique hotel come true.

These and more quesNow we know where tions will be answered on an Alden’s hard-earned money is all-new edition of the informagoing. But what does he need tion-packed, public service Continued on Page SF4 program on television — “Citi-

Alden mulls Harvard studies

by Ronnie CaRRasCo iii

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

Application Filing Date

FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

community

thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

SF

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

celebrity world

Nadine Lustre, Eddie Garcia heads list of winners at Gawad Urian 2019

By Ferdie Villar IT was an emotional night for Gawad Urian 2019 last Tuesday, June 18, as the organization awarded Best Actor to veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who is still in a coma after an accident during a location shoot. He won the award for his Martial Law-themed independent film, “ML.” Accepting the award on behalf of the actor was “ML” director Benedict Mique.

“Karangalan ng pamilya na tanggapin ang inyong muling pagkilala kay Eddie. Pangatlo na itong award na kanyang natatanggap mula sa natatanging Gawad Urian,” Mique said, as he read the letter from Garcia’s family.

“Mula sa ‘Death Row’ noong taong 2000, pangalawa ay Lifetime Achievement Award noong

2006. At ngayon para sa ‘ML’.”

According to Garcia’s family, the actor has remained in a comatose state since June 8.

They also reminded everyone that his heart is full of love for the Filipino movie industry, where he served for over 70 years.

Receiving her second Best Actress award (following her recent FAMAS Awards nod) was Nadine Lustre for her film “Never Not Love You.” Here is the full list of awardees: Best Picture: “BuyBust” Best Director: Denise O’Hara, “Mamang” Best Actress: Nadine Lustre, “Never Not Love You” Best Actor: Eddie Garcia, “ML” Best Supporting Actress:

Cherie Gil, “Citizen Jake” (this is her first Urian) Best Supporting Actor: Joel Lamangan, “School Service” (this is his first Urian) Best Screenplay: Rody Vera, “Signal Rock” Best Cinematography: Neil Bion, “BuyBust” Best Documentary: Jewel Maranan, “Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang” Best Short Film: Shaira Advincula, “Tembong” Best Production Design: Michael Espanol & Roma Regala, “BuyBust” Best Editing: May-i Guia Padilla, “Tanabata’s Wife” Best Music: Malek Lopez & Erwin Romulo, “BuyBust” Best Sound: Malek Lopez & Erwin Romulo, “Never Tear Us Apart”

Veteran actor Eddie Garcia, although still in a coma, was awarded Best Actor by Gawad Urian for his film, “ML.”

Nadine Lustre received the Best Actress award at this year’s Gawad Urian for her film “Never Not Love You.”

Cherie Gil bagged the Best Supporting Actress award at this year’s Gawad Urian for her role in “Citizen Jake.”

Maria Perez, Pamela Majano, and Anthony & Vangie Perez held a Graduation Party last June 7 at their residence in Antioch. In photo above are (clockwise, from top left) Kacie Perez of Deer Valley High School (Antioch), Lorraine Fonseca of Los Medanos College (Pittsburg), Abigail Larcy Perez of Lonetree Elementary (Antioch), Roxie Perez of Sutter Elementary (Antioch) and Analea Majano, a kindergarten student in Japan.

Alden mulls Harvard...

From Page SF3 all this for? A gorgeous, familyoriented entrepreneurial bachelor, what more can Alden’s would-be-wife ask for?

“But isn’t it strange that he’s not even linked to any girl, a fellow celebrity or a private individual? May mga tsismis but none of those are true. Kahit naman yung sa kanila ni Maine Mendoza noon was a dud,” someone told Vignettes.

It’s not about being picky.

Alden, for all we know, is simply taking one step at a time.

Getting rich is first.

Alden is wrapping up his movie “Hello, Love, Goodbye” with Kathryn Bernardo under Star Cinema showing on July 31.

EMPLOYMENT

Alden Richards

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

EMPLOYMENT

Primetime King of the Philippine entertainment world Dingdong Dantes hosts the GMA Pinoy TV “Starstruck” nationwide talent singing competition which started its seventh season last June 15, 2019.

Beauteous actress Sanya Lopez, the lead actress of the GMA Pinoy TV teleserye “Dahil Sa Pag-ibig” shows her excellent acting ability in the series that started airing in May of 2019.

EMPLOYMENT

Husky and talented actor Pancho Magno of GMA Pinoy TV plays the contravida role in the top-rated GMA teleserye “Dahil Sa Pag-ibig.”

community

The Bucket List

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Face the Fear of Public Speaking 13th of a Series

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA WHAT is your greatest fear?

Some say that for most men, the greatest of fears are the fear of death, fear of failure and fear of public speaking.

I know of someone who is deathly afraid of dogs, completely convinced that dogs are out to bite her. Telling her that her fear is baseless only drives her into raging fits. There is another I know who cannot abide the polka dot print design on anything she sees. There are a number of people who are afraid of riding boats and planes and just the thought of being in either one makes them nauseous. Weird huh? But who is to say that their fear is not valid as yours.

There are perhaps as many kinds of fears as there are people on earth but the one that many people admit to is the fear of speaking before crowds.

Psychology can dig up all the reasons for such fears deeply entrenched in the human psyche. But whatever the reason is, there is a time during one’s life that confronting that fear that paralyzes you from fully functioning and realizing your full potential on earth needs to be addressed. It is time for a face-off.

If you are so inclined to add this to your bucket list, try mustering enough courage to face this one fear that you think

“… Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear.”

— Mark Twain is worth conquering.

People admit that having them speak in front of a crowd is like facing a firing squad.

They would rather melt away than speak up. Experts say that there are baby steps that can be taken to conquer this.

The one thing that characterizes people who speak in public at a drop of a hat is confidence— lots of it— that it practically oozes out of their pores. It is doubtful they started out with that level of confidence right off the bat. Most professional public speakers probably had to start being afraid themselves until they had a winning judo match with that gnawing fear in their gut.

Mastery comes with taking baby steps, learning consistently from those that went before and were great, engaging speakers. Choose a role model and emulate what works. First off, one must dive deep into the sea of available information and cull out nuggets of wisdom on wide ranging areas to know what to speak of. In short, read up and never stop learning.

Otherwise, one would simply be winging it with

Jake on the path less traveled

by CHRISTINA ALPAD ManilaTimes.net

IN an industry where actors follow certain typecasts to maintain an image, Jake Cuenca has always gone the opposite direction.

He may have started out as a child actor and teen idol like

many leading men-type today, he deliberately shifted toward character acting and succeeded in doing so.

“I’ve always considered myself as a character actor and you can see it from my choices of roles,” Cuenca told The Manila Times at the sidelines of his new movie “KontrAdiksyon’s” media

Calendar of Events across

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

Shining onstage: Fil-Am Kylie Abucay sings her heart out as Sandy in ‘Grease’

ONE of the iconic musicals of our time — both onstage and film — is the “Grease,” a story of Rydell High’s senior class of 1959. Many of us have been entertained by the Pink Ladies, “greasers” and the love story of good girl Sandy and bad boy Danny Zuko. Much more, the songs “Summer Nights” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You” still are popular today.

Broadway By the Bay has brought the look and sound of this 1950s musical, and will have its last run this weekend at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City.

Playing the female lead role of Sandy is Filipino American Kylie Abucay, who is also a Bay Area native, having been born in Burlingame. Sharing that her love for performing started when she was young, Kylie said that she was initially drawn to ballet dancing rather than acting.

“I feel like performing has always been an important part of my life. I think my family knew I had to be on stage when I would nonstop watch ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Sound of Music’ and reenact the scenes and songs with costumes and props, all at two years old,” she said.

“Since then, I took lots of different performing arts classes and focused on dance for 11 years.

I was convinced I wanted to be a prima ballerina for the longest conference. time, but I think the switch for Indeed, his filmography will me happened when I watched show a diverse range of T roles ‘The Addams Family’ on having played a psychopath in the Erich Gonzales series “Blood Broadway when I went to New Sisters,” an antagonist in the Kim York for a dance competition. I looked at Wednesday Addams Chiu-Gerald Anderson-starrer “Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin,” and just and thought, “I could totally do that!” I quit ballet lessons before that an aggressive lead at 14 years old and did a lot of Continued on Page SF6 theatre in high school, which is when I realized how much I loved being an actress.”

When she auditioned for the disjointed thoughts and flawed delivery. It sounds cheesy but there may be some truth to the advice — fake it until you make it.

In the beginning, that is probably how it works until repetitive practice over time builds that precious confidence and the chutzpah to speak unrehearsed and extemporaneously in public. Sometimes, the words come out so smoothly that you know without a doubt there is a higher spirit that flows in a particular speaker.

Perhaps, the same is true of any other fear that you decide to have a face--off with. The greatest battle is with yourself when you finally decide you have had it living with the fear that threatens to eat you up and finally doing something about it.

One day, you might even surprise yourself on how far you have gone with that ounce of courage you mustered early on in order to gain mastery of a particular kind of fear. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW.CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U N E 2 1 - J U N E 29

“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.

J U N E 22

Fiesta ng Calamba in Carson, CA The Association of Calambeños of Southern California invites everyone to the Fiesta ng Calamba, St John the Baptist Feast Day on Saturday, June 22. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Veterans Sports Complex (22400 Moneta Ave., Carson, CA 90745). For more information, please contact Ed Lim at (949) 285-1403 or connect on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/groups/Calambenos/ or the website: www.acasca.org.

Celebration of Cultures Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles All are invited to the 15th annual Celebration of Cultures Mass hosted by the Ethnic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Mass will be presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 3:30 p.m., preceded by a procession of cultural communities at 3 p.m. With the theme, “I am the servant of the Lord,” the celebration recognizes the different cultural communities that enrich the Church and the local community through prayer, songs and cultural expression. The Archdiocese is the largest and most diverse Archdiocese in the United States. Every Sunday, Mass is celebrated in more than 40 different languages throughout the three counties it comprises: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. For more information, please call the Office of Ethnic Ministry, at (213) 637-7356, or visit archla.org/cultures.

J U N E 24 -28

SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program in LA Happening from June 24-28, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans’ (SIPA) Filipino Summer Program is a fun, week-long experience that enriches, educates, and engages youth about the Filipino Culture! Youth will get to learn more about Filipino food, language, dance, arts, and music! Children ages 6-13 are able to participate, while older youth can volunteer. The program will be held at SIPA (3200 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Drop-offs and pick-ups are at the SIPA parking lot at Dillion St. and Temple St. Each day is $30 for the first child. Every additional child will be $3 less a day (e.g., the second child will be $27/day, the third child would cost $24/day, and so on). If your family cannot fully afford the cost of SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program, the FEE CAN BE LOWERED depending on the financial situation. Families can pay by cash, credit/debit card (2.75% fee), Venmo (1% fee), or check!If interested, contact Maria Carmel Valendez by phone at 213-382-1819 ext.

107 or email at mvalendez@esipa.org.

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

SF5

Kylie Abucay (center) as Sandy in Broadway By the Bayʼs production of “Grease.”

Kylie Abucay

role of “Sandy,” Kylie didn’t have enough confidence and thought she wouldn’t get the part. “Preparing for this role, I had to push myself a lot vocally and I have so many people to thank for that (thanking Alicia Jeffrey, Alissa Deeter, Daniel Lloyd Pias, and Katie KerwinGielniak). Another thing I had to work on for this role was my confidence,” she explained.

Now with that confidence all up — as shown in her performances — Kylie gives this advice to other aspiring young artists and people of color who may find that they may not fit the typical role: Put your best

Photos by M. Kitaoka

foot forward.

“I think that young artists looking to break into stage/acting should go for it and go 110 percent! Take classes, get experience, get inspiration, auditionbut do it all full force! I think if I could go back in time, I would dedicate more time to my craft and get more experience on stage,” Kylie said.

“Grease” will have its last weekend with shows on Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 23, at 2:30 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City.

For tickets, visit broadwaybythebay.org.

Playing the waiting game: people & events Processing delays at USCIS Pops still giving her dreams a shot The CTV

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

projects have been successful. I think our producer-artist Inquirer.net combination works. So, when POPS Fernandez hasn’t I thought about producing a been in a romantic relationship comedy film, Ai-Ai was the first in a while. But being single, she person who came to mind,” stressed, shouldn’t be equated Pops said. “As for Bayani, I just to being lonely. laugh whenever I’m with him.”

“When you have been single The message of the movie for quite some time and you is something she personally emfeel happy and accomplished bodies. “Age is just a number. regardless of it, you don’t really It’s how you see yourself that feel the urge to find a partner,” matters. We should go for what the singer told reporters at a we want for ourselves,” she recent press conference for the said. upcoming comedy film, “FeeHer decision to produce a lennial,” which is produced by movie comes at a curious time, her company, DSL Productions, show biz observers pointed out: Pops Fernandez and Cignal Entertainment.

Box-office earnings of local films Photo from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial Besides, she said, happiness are in a slump and streaming is can be found in many different becoming more popular than have problems and go through things. “I’m very happy with my hardships. But it’s all about ever. family, the group of friends I “I don’t have much of a how you carry them. You have have, and the simple life I lead,” to constantly claim that you’re choice now, do I? The movie she related. “I feel satisfied.” is already finished!” she said, happy,” she said.

That’s not to say, however, laughing. “I’m going by with Directed by Rechie del that she’s shutting her doors to lots of prayers and confidence Carmen, “Feelennial,” which romance. “It would be nice [to that we have a good project.” opened on June 19, follows be with someone], but I’m not Of course, it would be great the misadventures of Madame waiting for anyone,” Pops said, Bato-Bato (Ai-Ai delas Alas) and if she ended up recouping her adding that all the struggles she Chito (Bayani Agbayani)—two investment. But Pops, who has faced in life, both profesdescribed herself as someone middle-aged people who try sional and personal, have made their hardest to adapt to the who’s “positive, hopeful and her stronger. “I’m a much better younger generation’s lifestyle, never gives up,” is always willperson now because of them.” so they, too, could feel like mil- ing to give her dreams a shot.

And for the 52-year-old “You will never know unless lennials. artist, happiness is also someyou try it—that’s my motto in “I have worked with Ai-Ai thing you can work on. “We all life,” she said. so many times and a lot of our

by AllAn PolicArPio

Files

Atty. LiLLi BerBAno BAcuLi, eSQ

CASE example: I-751 applications. In her article entitled “Agency Delays Enact the Administration’s Immigration Agenda” Sandra Feist examines the processing delays currently plaguing one particular application: the Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residence. She begins with a brief history of how the “conditional permanent resident status” came about: “In 1986, as part of President Reagan’s comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform bill, Congress enacted the current framework for marriage-based permanent residence to require a two-year interim green card.

At the two-year mark, these green card holders are required to file Petitions for Removal of Conditions on Permanent Residence with USCIS. Applicants must wait until the 90-day window before the two-year anniversary of their green card approval to file their I-751 petition before the expiration date on that card. Other than immigrant investors, this is the only in-

stance in immigration law where a timeline for filing a petition with USCIS is specifically limited to a 90-day filing window.”

Current processing times: Currently, according to the article, I-751 Petitions proceed as follows: (i) 89 days before expiration of the applicant’s conditional permanent residency card – Applicant files Form I-751 with USCIS; (ii) 2 months later, filing fee checks are cashed and receipt notice is issued by USCIS; (iii) 2 years later, based on client experiences, Approval notice or interview notice arrives in the mail.

Processing times for other related applications. Similar delays are happening across the board. For example, a family-based Adjustment of Status application which used to take approximately 4 – 6 months is now estimated to be around 17 – 35.5 months in district offices like San Francisco, California. As well, Naturalization applications are currently estimated at 10 – 19.5 months. Further, Employment Authorization documents are now estimated at about 4 – 6 months, when it used to be 90 days.

Tips on how to best ride out the delays. Plan and create a timeline. Work with your attorney to plan out the 90-day filing window. Moreover, communicate with your attorney any planned travels to and from

Jake Cuenca with girlfriend Kylie Verzosa

the United States or changes in employment where the status of your lawful permanent residence may arise. Your attorney will be able to guide you so that you have the proper documentation when traveling, as well as proper documentation to show a prospective employer.

Consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before filing. Individuals must proceed with caution when filing for any application with USCIS. Just because it is easier now to file for an application does not mean that you should, without sound counsel of an experienced immigration attorney.

We urge individuals to pause and take the time to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before submitting any application with USCIS. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega. com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Photo from Instagram/@juancarloscuenca

Jake on the path...

From Page SF5 role in“Pasion de Amor,”just as the one he now portrays in “Los Bastardos.”

“For me, the secret to a successful acting career is to be versatile, to be what they need you to be in that moment, whatever character that you need to be.

So for me, I’ve always considered myself as a character actor,” the 31-year-old added.

This versatility is not limited to television characters as Cuenca has also shown his acting mettle in the movies, including independent films.

Arguably most notable of which was “Mulat (Awaken)” which won him two international Best Actor awards — the 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan (New York, USA) and the 2016 World Cinema Festival (Copacabana, Brazil).

But that’s not all, Cuenca has also conquered live theater with his debut at 2018’s “Lungs.”

Like his other endeavors, the play also earned him Best Actor (Play) and Best Crossover Artist (Mainstream to Theater) at the 2018 BroadwayWorld Philippines Awards.

“Para hindi ka rin mapagsawaan ng tao, you have to constantly reinvent yourself. For me, I don’t reinvent Jake Cuenca as a personality, as a ‘celebrity,’ but what I reinvent are my characters. I try to not do the same thing over and over again,” he added on the subject of reinventing himself.

New challenge Never the one to back out on challenging roles, it was no surprise that Cuenca took a movie that has the potential to be controversial.

Opening on June 26 is Njel de Mesa’s “KontrAdiksyon,” a complex and dramatic sociopolitical action thriller on the Philippines’ controversial war on illegal drugs.

In the movie, Cuenca is Alexis Borlaza, a staunch human rights activist who ends up becoming an undercover drug enforcement agent but is actually a vigilante killer by night.

Trying to figure out a murder while eradicating the drug problem on his own, he then enlists the help of Jessica Puyat (Kris Bernal), a call center agent and a single mom moonlighting as a drug pusher. Together they form a bond that is both poignant and

shocking — pushing the theme of “contradictions” further.

“It’s a challenging role pero sobrang saya gawin,” Cuenca shared adding that it was a joy to work with his talented writerdirector as well as his equally passionate co-stars.

Aware of the nature of the movie’s theme, Cuenca directly answered he agreed to do the movie because of the role.

“I read the script, I accepted this script as an actor because as an actor, I wanted to breathe life into this character, I felt like I needed to do it.”

He also said thinking about the repercussion or what other people would say was far from his mind.

“I didn’t think so much of the repercussions, kasi di ba sa U.S., did they think about that when they did ‘John Wick,’ or ‘J. Edgar’? Iniiisip ba nila yung controversy na kasama? No, they just want to be honest with their films,” Cuenca defended.

New lady love With the same intensity he had answering questions on the controversy of the film, Cuenca neither did shy away when confessing the real score between him and rumored girlfriend 2016 Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa.

“If you ask me, and I am very open about what I feel, I do love her,” a lovestruck Cuenca admitted.

“From the bottom of my heart, mahal na mahal ko siya.

This is the happiest [relationship] that I’ve been,” he added.

He also reasoned that he is happy he met the beauty queen at a time when he is more mature when it comes to relationships.

“I know I can take care of her. That’s what I work for every day, I want to deserve her everyday.”

Asked what she loved most about Verzosa, also her leading lady in the afternoon soap “Los Bastardos,” Cuenca answered, “She’s an amazing person inside and out, yung pagiging beauty queen niya hindi lang sa itsura kundi sa personality rin.”

Cuenca then went on admitting they have been seeing each other for seven months now.

Finally, does the actor think the new actress is finally the one?

“Kung ako papipiliin, yes,” he said smiling from ear to ear.

UPAAA’s 20th Grand Reunion & Convention in San Francisco

and guests are excited and exby Joe L. Garbanzos pected to make the memorable MPH/EMBA trip. UP System President Danilo Concepcion will lead the delegaTHE University of the Philiption from UP Diliman. He will pines Alumni Association in deliver the keynote address at the America, Inc. (UPAAA) and coconvention. host University of the Philippines UPAAA President Nelsie ParAlumni Association San Francisco rado is confident of big turnout chapter is set and ready to weland a successful reunion. Sonia come its fellow alumni, members Delen, president of UPAA SF and attendees at the 20th Grand is likewise gung-ho in insuring Reunion and Convention on August 30 – September 1, 2019. The the event will be a resounding success. The Planning Team led grand reunion will be held at the

by Kellie Sabas was successful Crown Plaza Hotel San Francisco in finding a hotel-property that Airport, Burlingame, CA. The year-round preparation has been offered value-rate and great location. The program content completed. The theme “Lead, Elevate, Advance and Participate” and activities are all planned to delight attendees and leave is a reminder that the spirit of them with pleasurable memories. the alma mater is alive and well.

There will be a combination of To register, visit www.upaaafun, celebration, bonding, getting grandreunion.com and www. reacquainted, some learning and upaainamerica.org. For more planning for the future. information, visit the UPAAA FB Business sponsors invited page. Register right away to get For business and services, special rate ending June 30. the UPAAA Grand Reunion is an Organizers are looking foropportunity to reach a demoward to welcoming UP alumni all over the world. San Francisco was graphic of customers who mostly chosen from other world-class cit- are in the 75th percentile of the ies after a deliberate vetting proc- income bracket. UP Alums in the U.S., and other parts of the world, ess. It was reported, many who participated in choosing the City, come from diverse and highmade their choice for sentimental achieving professions – lawyers, doctors, nurses, senior executives, and romantic reasons… they left academicians, engineers, financial their heart in San Francisco.

The 2019 reunion was organ- advisers and entrepreneurs to name some. Savvy businesses ized in a collaborative effort by UPAAA and UPAA San Francisco looking for growth cannot afford Chapter. UP Alumni from the U.S. to miss the opportunity to be in front of this customer group. and other parts have been lookIn a competitive world of acing forward to gathering in the quiring new customers, UP Alums City by the Bay. Alumni, families

Fil-Am elected to head California State Board

SACRAMENTO – A Filipino American community leader was recently elected as the new president of the State California Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists at its commissioners meeting in Southern California last June 13.

Dr. Fel Amistad was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015 and re-appointed in 2018.

His mentors include Alice Bulos and Appointments Secretary Mona Pasquil. Dr Amistad is a Silicon Valley MBA college professor as well as a top real estate broker in California.

He was past president of the Lions Club West of Twin Peaks, FilAm Chamber of Commerce, JayCees, San Mateo County Democratic Club, and co-chairman of the State California Democratic Filipino American

Caucus. As a state commissioner, Dr. Amistad adjudicates licensed engineers who have pending revocation and suspension status, among other legal matters.

The Board oversees 166,000 plus licensed engineers, land surveyors and geologists in California.

His term expires in 2022.

Picture shows Allison Cummings, Senior Registrar Civic Arts Collection and Public Arts of the San Francisco Arts Commission marking the agreed upon location to install the contextual Bronze Plaque.

Bronze plaque for Dewey Monument approved by SF Arts Commission

SAN FRANCISCO - The campaign to install a contextual plaque on the base of the Dewey Monument that would set the battle of Manila Bay in a more accurate historical context is coming to a happy ending.

With the location where to install the Bronze Plaque agreed upon, the final approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission came on June 12, 2019 as Filipino Americans are set to celebrate the 121st Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day. The campaign to install a supplementary Plaque started

in May 2005 at the conclusion of the month long PhilippineAmerican War Exhibit at the War Memorial Building in San Francisco.

The plaque came into existence in 2006 during the Bud Dajo Centennial.

It was introduced to the public at the 2010 celebration of Philippine Independence Day in Union Square.

The plan is to manufacture and install the Plaque in late August or early September and the unveiling in October 2019 on the occasion of FilipinoAmerican History Month.

are prized customers. The market profile of this customer group is a dream for marketers. UP alums, friends and families, love brands, loyal to services and products that appeal to their perception of excellence. They have the buying power to support their fine taste. For ventures hunting for investors, this group is a highvalue investor class. To become an event sponsor, vendors and interested parties may reach out to Nelsie Parrado at nparrado@ ft.newyorklife.com Alumni and families - why attend?

The 20th Grand Reunion is well timed. It is Labor Day weekend in the U.S. San Francisco is expected to have mild weather at this time of the year. The city offers a lot for visitors. There will be quality time to reconnect with long-time-no-see classmates and fellow alums. Many may have gone separate paths and places but remained connected all these years only by social media. San Francisco will be a perfect place to get reconnected.

UP Alums reflect a demographic trend. Many of UP Alums who left the Philippines and pursued opportunities elsewhere are on top of their chosen field and greying. This is the generation of alums who may have seen the University’s humble beginning, blooming into its golden years

people & events

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019

and have lively stories to share.

The 2019 grand reunion will be a celebration of lives welllived and a fun walk-back on memory lane. For the younger alumni generation, this is a good opportunity to network and discovers mentors, perhaps. For millennials, the reunion may open opportunities pitch an idea, help career development or just connect with like-minded souls.

UPAAA history The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, Inc. (UPAAA) was organized and founded in New Jersey by the late Dr. Arsenio Talingdan, as its first president, in May 1981. His vision for the alumni association was to unite as one organization the UP alumni chapters in America, with a commonality of goals, foremost of which is to help preserve the University as the national center of academic freedom and excellence. UPAAA also aims to maintain open lines of communication between the University and the alumni in America, to include advancing the intellectual, cultural and economic pursuits of UP alumni.

Over the 38 years of its founding, UPAAA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the U.S., has a long list of accomplishments, including a Scholarship Fund, Professorial Chairs, recognition and granting of

awards to alumni in the U.S. who excel in their profession and field of expertise. Past UPAAA presidents and their administrations have laid the seed and foundation for what UPAAA, Inc. is today.

A long-held tradition since 1981 is the holding of a reunion.

In the early nineties, the reunion became a biennial event, during which distinguished alumni are honored and alumni celebrating their jubilee years are recognized. The 19the Grand Reunion and Convention was held in Iselin, New Jersey in October 2017, with the 21st UP President, Danilo Concepcion, as the keynote speaker. His speech, “The State of the University of the Philippines”, was an eye–opener to the U.S.-based alumni, describing the myriad problems confronting the university.

Leadership & achievements The current UPAAA Board of Directors has launched projects beginning in 2017, to fulfill its mission and goals as an alumni association, supporting the University of the Philippines maintain its tradition of excellence. In 2018, UPAAA established its Stipend Scholarship Program open to seven (7) constituent universities.

Working with the College of Human Kinetics, UPAAA has started a program to alleviate Food Insecurity among athletes

in UP Diliman. A monetary donation was given to Ilang-ilang Residence Hall to improve the inner courtyard of the dorm, under the Adopt-a-Dorm project.

In 2018, Ms. Rosalia V. Ordonez, a UP Nursing alumna, donated $5,000 to UPAAA for the College of Sciences and Mathematics in UP Mindanao for a much-needed renovation of its Food Processing Laboratory.

UPAAA has also given monetary support to student-led community outreach projects in UP Mindanao and UP Visayas, to foster student-alumni relations and make students appreciate the importance of giving back to the University.

Honor and excellence The future is not easy to predict. UPAAA has evolved all these years. With steady leadership, Nelsie Parrado has steered the organization, making it collaborative, goal-oriented and a relevant organization to its members and stakeholders. The reunion theme “Lead, Elevate, Advance and Participate” reminds alumni and those who have passed through the pillars of the University of Philippines of tradition and responsibility…

Honor and Excellence. For these special people, whatever you do, wherever you are, you can’t help but admit that the UP experience has helped shaped you. See you all in San Francisco.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 21, 2019