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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump delays ICE raids two weeks unless Congress finds solution OVER the weekend, President Donald Trump cancelled the massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids of undocumented immigrants that were scheduled for Sunday, June 23.

Trump’s reversal came hours before the planned raids, which were scheduled in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City and San Francisco.

The raids were meant to target roughly 2,000 undocumented immigrants who have already been ordered to be deported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“At the request of Democrats, I have delayed the illegal immigration removal process (Deportation) for two weeks to see if Democrats and Republicans can get together and work out a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border. If not,

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Filipino arrested in the US for recruiting OFWs illegally

J U N E 2 8 - J U LY 4 , 2 0 1 9 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

US dared: Help Philippines stop China Rody: PH fishing boat sideswiped, not rammed

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

REITERATING the country’s helplessness in stopping Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea, President Duterte Wednesday, June 26, dared the United States and its allies Britain and France to help the Philippines tackle Beijing.

Duterte reiterated that the Philippines could not stop China from its activities in disputed waters and could not enforce a fishing ban within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“They tell me you have to ban China, prohibit them.

If I prohibit them, how do I enforce?” Duterte said in a speech at the 122nd anniversary of the Presidential Security Group at Malacañang.

“This is my challenge, America, Britain, France: let us assemble in Palawan and proceed directly to Spratlys. Let us seize whatever we can seize,” Duterte said. “Kung maubos tayo lahat, sabi nila (If we all

perish, they will say) Duterte is not protecting the interest of the Filipino people. G*****n s***. You want me to put the lives of 110 million Filipinos (at risk) by going into trouble? … It’s not the time to go to war… reality – that’s geopolitics.”

Duterte claimed that even the U.S. is scared of stopping China and he is being put on the spot: “Takot nga ang Amerika, ayaw nga mag-control, tapos ako pa ipusta nila? Gusto talaga nila mapasubo ako (America is scared, they can’t control [China], and they want me to do it? They really want to put me on the spot).”

He said the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank was not intentional and it had been sideswiped by a Chinese ship. If it had been deliberately rammed, he said the fishing boat should have been hit from below: “Hindi talaga binunggo. Kung binunggo, nasa ilalim yun (It was not rammed. If they really intended to ram into it, the boat would be at the bottom of the ocean).”

He said the Chinese have firecrackers with atomic warheads while the Philippines has firecrackers only for fiestas: “We will lose by sheer might.”

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo urged the public to trust Duterte’s moves in the West Philippine Sea, claiming that all actions of the president are in line with the Constitution and are intended to protect the interest of Filipinos.

“All I can say is they should trust the President because all his actions are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, which state that the Filipino people should be protected and served,” Panelo told radio station dzMM. “(Duterte) is balancing the interest of the state (with the) potential dangerous consequence that may happen if we commit a mistake.”

Panelo reiterated that the president – criticized for allegedly being too soft on the South China Sea row – would not allow anyone to violate the coun-

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Manila rises 29 places in ‘Cost of Living’ survey

by IAN

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

FILIPINO Maria Luisa Estrella Jaidi is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison after she arrested in the United States for visa fraud and illegally recruiting workers.

Jaidi, who was married to a Moroccan ambassador, is originally from the Philippines but with residence in New York. She was arrested upon the filing of charges over fixing illegal work visas for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and later subjecting these workers to illegal labor.

Ramon Singson Estrella, her brother, is charged with the same offenses, as well, however, he remains at large.

The District Attorney of New York, in a statement released last March, said: “Jaidi, 60, of

MANILA is now the 109th costliest city in the world, making one of the highest ascents worldwide amid the Philippine economy’s robust growth, Mercer’s 2019 “Cost of Living” survey released Wednesday, June 26 found.

The Philippine capital jumped 29 places in Mercer’s annual report, the fourth sharpest climb worldwide.

“Manila’s rise in ranking was largely due to a marked increase in foreign investment and a buoyant expatriate market, as well as the movement of other cities,” Mercer said.

With its sky-high rents, Hong Kong remains the world’s costliest city, Mercer reported, adding that eight of the world’s top 10 most expensive cities are in Asia.

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DUTERTE’S CHALLENGE. President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath to the newly-elected senators from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, June 25. With the president is Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Duterte on Tuesday asked newly-elected national and local officials for a unified effort to serve the interest of the Filipino people and improve their living condition following the May 13 midterm elections.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

‘Bongga,’‘kilig’ among Filipino words added to Oxford dictionary Robredo on 2022 presidential bid: Anything is possible

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

SEVERAL Filipino words have been added to the third and current edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) this month.

The latest additions include loanwords like bongga (extravagant, flamboyant; impressive, stylish), halo-halo (a dessert made of mixed fruits, sweet beans, milk and shaved ice) and kilig (exhilaration or elation caused by an exciting or romantic experience).

There are also new senses of existing English words like gimmick (a night out with friends), viand (meat, seafood or vegetable dish that accompanies rice in

a typical Filipino meal), and high blood (angry, agitated).

Pancit (noodles), adopted from Chinese, and Spanish loanwords, pandesal (bread roll) and despedida (going-away party), were also included.

Additionally, there are some words that are classified as English but are only used in the Philippines: kikay kit (cosmetics case), comfort room (toilet), overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for Filipinos who work abroad, and trapo (traditional politician perceived as belonging to a corrupt ruling class).

The OED, aside from being a dictionary, is a long-running language research project constant-

ly evolving through its mission to expand the English language.

It recognizes that the language has different varieties from all over the world — which is why it has been continuously adopting words from localized versions of English, one of which is Philippine English.

An event was recently held at the Philippine embassy in the United Kingdom, hosted by the recently inaugurated Sentro Rizal London, to celebrate the uniqueness and creativity of Philippine English, as seen through the lens of the OED. “Filipinos have enriched the English vocabulary since the lan-

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UN rights chief closely monitoring Philippine human rights situation missioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, in her opening statement at the 41st session of THE number of deaths as- the Human Rights Council, exsociated with the Philippine pressed concern over the “exgovernment’s anti-drug cam- traordinarily high number of paign continue to be a concern deaths” and “persistent reports for the United Nations’ human of extrajudicial killings” since rights body, its chief revealed Philippine President Rodrigo at the Human Rights Council Duterte took office on June 30, 2016. on Monday, June 24.

United Nations High Comu PAGE A2

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Photo from UN.org

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

VICE President Leni Robredo hinted at the possibility of seeking the presidency in the 2022 national elections, saying that anything is possible.

The vice president, however, clarified that she is not yet preparing for the next presidential race.

“Lahat naman posible. Lahat posible dahil iyon nga, iyong history pinakita na — ako, hindi ko naman plinano kahit ano, eh.

Tingin ko kasi iyong presidency, ano iyon, destiny (Anything is possible. Anything is possible because history had shown that Asked if she would run as president in 2022, Vice President Leni Robredo said anything is possible.

Office of the Vice President photo — I, myself, did not plan anything. I think the presidency is a dent said. paghahanda sa lahat na dumamatter of destiny),” Robredo told “Iyong sa akin, dapat hindi dating ngayon kasi iyong laban reporters in Naga City. u PAGE A2 ito paghahanda for 2022. Pero Robredo recalled that her first candidacy for Congress was last minute. She was representative of third district of Camarines Sur from 2013 to 2016.

In October 2012, Robredo said she only had two hours to make a decision on running for the congressional seat after the Liberal Party’s chosen bet then Naga Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado backed out of the race.

Her vice presidential bid in the 2016 elections also had similar circumstances, the vice presi-

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JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

US dared: Help Philippines stop China...

PAGE A1 try’s sovereignty.

“What is foremost in the mind of the president is that, hindi tayo papayag na ang ating kasarinlan o sovereignty ay yapakan (we won’t allow our freedom or sovereignty to be trampled upon),” Panelo said.

Earlier, Duterte said nobody can stop China from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ because of its friendship with the Philippines.

Under international law, a coastal state has sovereign rights to explore, use, conserve and manage the natural resources in its 200-nautical mile EEZ. Earlier this month, a Filipinoowned boat carrying 22 fishermen was rammed by a Chinese ship near Recto Bank, an area located within the Philippines’ EEZ. Critics have questioned the presence of the Chinese vessel

within the EEZ and have asked the government to look into the incident.

“We have a lot of negotiations with the government of China.

Kumbaga, meron tayong pakinabang sa kanila, baka sa punto ni presidente eh magbigay din tayo ng konti sa kanila (Since we are benefiting from them, we might as well share something with them),” Panelo said.

Panelo said issues related to the South China Sea row can be discussed through the bilateral consultation mechanism between the Philippines and China.

Friendship The basis of the Philippines’ external relations with other countries is friendship but the country remains firm on various issues including the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Wednesday.

“The basis of our external rela-

tions with other countries is, foremost, friendship; and not whatever material benefit we hope to get from them. We scorn talk of mutual benefit first rather than sincere friendship,” Locsin said in his speech at the celebration of the 121st anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Locsin also said the Philippines, under Duterte, has not backed down in its pursuit of independent foreign policy.

“We have stood our principled ground on various issues such as the return of the Balangiga bells, the (South China Sea), the protection and repatriation of displaced persons – ours and that MANO PO. President Rodrigo Duterte extends his hand to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, who showed a gesture of respect during of other countries, the promotion the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Thanksgiving Night at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Monday, June 24. In the May polls, Duterte’s and protection of the welfare of allies win big in the senatorial elections, with Sen. Cynthia Villar of HNP topping the race. HNP was formed by the younger Duterte.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo our overseas workers, the decent treatment of migrant workers, most famously the open-arm reception of refugees — and that garbage thing,” he added. (With PAGE A1 shortage of currency and import- erations are still an issue, and we Other cities that took the top ed goods driving up prices.”

Pia Lee-Brago) n are seeing an increased focus on spots are Tokyo (2), Singapore “Despite the relatively high having a clear business case for (3), Seoul (4), Zurich (5), Shang- cost of living, many organiza- the assignment, as well as meahai (6), Ashgabat (7), Beijing (8), tions still see a strong business suring the return on investment,” this opportunity to collaborate New York City (9) and Shenzhen rationale for moving talent into Ferraro added. with Sentro Rizal and to present (10). and within the region,” said Mercer said its data for cost Ashgabat in Turkmenistan Mario Ferraro, Mercer’s global of living and rental accommoits work on Philippine English to a Filipino audience in London,” saw the biggest rise in rankings, mobility practice leader for Asia, dation cost comparisons are dejumping 36 places from 43rd in Middle East and Africa.

Salazar said. rived from a survey conducted in She added, “The dictionary is 2018 “as a result of the country’s “At the same time, cost consid- March 2019. n committed to making space for words from the Philippines, as by doing so, we recognize how its Filipino speakers contribute “Marahil iyong mga frontrun“So dapat iyong iniisip iyong A1 to the richness and diversity of PAGE ngayon depende kung papaano ners ngayon, later on hindi naman ngayon, papaano makakatulong, English.”n mo hinarap iyong mga issues, sila iyong mga kandidato (Maybe papaano pagbubutihin. Kung iyon iyong magshe-shape ng the frontrunners now, later on after three years na bumuti iyong sitwasyon, bakit hindi?

2022 (For me, this should not they will not run),” she said.

The vice president stressed that Pero ngayon, useless talaga na be a preparation for 2022. But a are so-called “sanctuary cities” preparation for all coming issues it is not proper for her to prepare paghandaan iyon (So what we like Los Angeles have denounced as the fight today depends on how for the 2022 presidential race as should be focusing on now is the raids and offered support to you face the issues that will shape she has much work to do in her how to help, how to improve. If at-risk families. office, particularly the anti-pov- after three years the situation 2022),” Robredo said.

“No Angeleno should ever gets better, why not? But for Robredo added that many pos- erty program. have to fear being snatched from sible contenders for the presidenThinking of the presidential now, it is useless to prepare for their home or separated from cy would still emerge in the next race would only be a distraction that),” Robredo said, referring to their loved ones — we are do- three years. on her anti-poverty program. the presidential race. n ing everything we can to provide immigrant families with info and support,” LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said. fixed U.S. visas and claimed that among others, sick leave, dental In a separate statement, the LA PAGE A1 Police Department said it would Bronxville, New York, and Es- the Filipinos they recruited would insurance, and medical insurnot participate or help enforce trella, 55, of Manila, Philippines, work as clerks or technicians at ance,” the District Attorney of ICE’s deportation efforts or inqui- are each charged with one count the Moroccan consulate in New New York noted.

The OFWs were denied workof conspiracy to commit visa fraud York. ries.

The OFWs, however, ended up ers benefits and were subjected to Those who have deportation and make materially false stateorders or are at-risk of being de- ments, which carries a maximum as drivers, helpers, farmhands and certain abuses like working seven tained by federal immigration offi- sentence of five years, and one assistants in their house and prop- days a week by Jaidi and her former husband – who was not named in cials are encouraged to seek legal count of conspiracy to induce erty in New York.

“The fraudulent employment the press statement. The workers advice on how to move forward. aliens to illegally come to, enter, and reside in the United States, contracts also overstated the were also required to surrender (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n which carries a maximum sen- Domestic Workers’ salaries, un- their passports, according to the derstated their hours, and falsely District Attorney of New York. tence of 10 years.”

The brother and sister tandem guaranteed benefits, including, (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n

Manila rises 29 places in ‘Cost of Living’...

Filipino words ‘bongga,’‘kilig,’ added to Oxford...

PAGE A1 guage was first introduced to the country on a wide scale at the turn of the 19th century. Since then, Filipinos have not only contributed new words but have also expanded the meanings of existing ones,” said Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio Lagdameo, who opened the signing and turnover ceremony of the latest edition of

the dictionary.

Representing the OED in the event were John Simpson, its former chief editor, who spoke about how Philippine vocabulary has been covered by earlier editions of the dictionary, and Danica Salazar, the dictionary’s World English Editor, who promised they would persist in diversifying the English language.

“The OED is pleased to have

Robredo on 2022 presidential bid...

Trump delays ICE raids two weeks...

PAGE A1 Deportations start!” the president tweeted on Saturday, June 22.

Democrats have been urging the White House to cancel or delay the raids since the Trump administration began considering deporting migrant families last month. Mayors, governors and other public officials have been calling on the Trump Administration to halt the raids, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (DCA) who made a last-ditch effort on Saturday to get the president to reverse the order.

“Tomorrow is Sunday, and as many people of faith attend religious services, the President has ordered heartless raids,” Pelosi wrote on Saturday. “It is my hope that before Sunday, leaders of the faith-based community and other

organizations that respect the dignity and worth of people will call upon the President to stop this brutal action that will tear families apart and inject terror into our communities.”

Pelosi also denounced the president’s original order for mass deportations for lacking “distinction between a status violation and committing a serious crime.”

Trump said that he’ll delay the raids for two weeks or until Congress compromises on a solution for the U.S. asylum claims program at the border.

On the chances that Congress could arrive at a consensus, Trump said, “It probably won’t happen but worth a try. Two weeks and big Deportation begins!”

Many of the cities listed that

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PAGE A1 The Philippine National Police (PNP) recently revealed that 6,600 “drug personalities” have been killed in law enforcement operations since Duterte assumed his post until May 31, 2019. However, human rights watchdogs estimate more than 27,000 deaths have occurred since June 2016.

It also announced that 240,565 drug personalities were arrested in 153,276 police operations nationwide with 1,283,409 surrendering in the same period.

“Even the officially confirmed number of 5,425 eaths would be a matter of most serious concern for any country,” Bachelet said.

The Philippine government, for its part, reiterated that extrajudicial killings are not state policy and that law enforcement operations are done according to due process. It also said it recognizes and upholds human rights; allegations of abuse are merely attempts at smearing the reputation of the Duterte administration.

Taking action UN special rapporteurs have called for the UN Human Rights Council to launch an independent

probe into the deterioration of human rights in the Philippines as well as take action on the alleged attacks on human rights defenders and independent watchdog institutions.

Bachelet, who welcomed the special rapporteurs’ call for a probe, said: “There should also be comprehensive and transparent information from the authorities on the circumstances around the deaths and investigations related to allegations of violations. These could dispel any false allegations and help regain trust for the authorities.”

However, the Philippines said the call was made “in bad faith by parties who want to undermine domestic processes and spread disinformation, on the basis of one-sided reports coming from questionable sources.”

According to the Palace, the special rapporteurs were “foreign propagandists masquerading as human rights protectors.”

In response, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo this week said that one or two of them have “tried this [tack] using some gullible if not biased local and foreign

media sowing the seeds of negative force and perpetuating them.”

“They used the art of continuing miscommunication to clothe them with believability,” he added.

‘Not too late’ Bachelet noted how human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, priests and others who have spoken out against the administration’s policies have been threatened by government officials.

“This creates a very real risk of violence against them, and undermines rule of law, as well as the right to freedom of expression,” she said.

But according to the Human Rights Watch, it is not yet too late for the UN member states to prevent killings in the Philippines.

“UN member states stood by while thousands were killed, but it’s not too late for them to act to prevent the killing of thousands more,” said Laila Matar, HRW deputy director for the UN, in a statement on Monday, June 24.

“When the council convenes in Geneva today, they have an opportunity to do just that—by urgently establishing an international investigation,” she added. n

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Philippine Sen. Hontiveros speaks about maritime incident, political activism during visit with LA Fil-Am community by rae

ann Varona AJPress

CARSON, Calif. — Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros met with local Filipino Americans at the city’s Civic Center on Sunday, June 23 to share updates on the recent midterm elections and answer questions.

Her visit came after she voiced concerns last week over the possibility of a joint Philippine-China investigation of the recent maritime mishap in which a Chinese vessel collided with 22 Filipino fishermen aboard their wooden fishing boats in the disputed South China Sea. The incident sparked outrage after the Chinese fishermen left the Filipino crew sinking in open waters. The 22 Filipino crewmen were later rescued by a passing Vietnam vessel.

Many have criticized Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte — a proponent of a joint investigation — for not taking the collision more seriously.

On Sunday, Hontiveros opened up her talk by describing the “hitand-run” maritime incident as a “perfect metaphor for the state of affairs in the Philippines.”

“Those 22 Filipino fishers are the Filipino people first victimized by the brute aggression of stronger forces and then made to suffer further from the callousness of those who should have come to their aid the hit-andrun,” said Hontiveros.

“How can you do a joint investigation with a country that made up this fantastic fib that seven or eight of our low-lying bamboo and wooden vessels swarmed and were harassing high steel reinforced Chinese vessel and that it accidentally bumped one of them causing it to sink, but then they were afraid to rescue our fishermen because we would harass them again?” asked Hontiveros, adding that the video footage “put the lies to rest.”

“How can you expect another government, which lied about the incident at the outset, to be an honest broker at the table and to really search for the truth and seek to make reparation for the incident?” she continued. “Let them do their own investiga-

FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS. Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation members demonstrate their skills during LAKAD PARA ATLETA 2019 Olympic Day with the theme:” Unity and Transformation Through Sports” at the University of the Philippines College of Science Oval at UP Diliman Quezon City. The event also launched the walk to support the country’s Paralympic movement.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr. Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros held a town hall meeting with the Filipino American community in Carson, California on Sunday, June 23.

AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona

tion.”

Hontiveros’ visit also came a month after the 2019 midterm election, which she described as a “critical turning point” in the Philippine political landscape.

Hontiveros — who was elected to the Senate in 2016 — also voiced concern on the outlook of the Philippines under the current administration.

“The systematic deliberate targeted assault on Democracy by the administration was set in motion far long before that,” said Hontiveros.

Since Duterte’s election in 2016, critics have accused his administration of actively silencing his political opponents.

In 2017, Senator Leila De Lima — an outspoken critic of Duterte — was jailed on charges of being linked to drug trade while serving as justice secretary. Critics of the administration argue that charges were based solely on the testimonies of convicted drug lords.

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed from the country’s highest court last year on grounds that she allegedly failed to fully disclose her wealth from years preceding her appointment in 2012. Proceedings to oust such public officials can only be ousted by impeachment, according to the Philippine constitution.

Former Senator Antonio

California Assembly clears controversial vaccine bill Bill limits the medical exemptions to avoid immunizing children before school enrollment

by Klarize

Medanilla AJPress

DESPITE hundreds of parents’ emotional opposition to proposed changes to California’s immunization requirements in a five-hour hearing, a public health committee in the California Assembly passed a bill that would tighten those requirements on Thursday, June 20.

The Assembly Health Committee passed the bill 9-2, moving the bill forward to another committee.

SB 276 was designed to close the many loopholes in a 2015 vaccination law that allowed parents to take “personal belief” exemptions in order to opt out of immunizing their children. Parents who believed in the popular conceptions that vaccines harmed their children — also known as anti-vaxxers — would have been able to bypass these requirements.

Under the new amendments, the California Department of Public Health would review each family’s medical exemption if they attend a school or daycare with immunization rates of less than 95%, which includes about 20% of schools and daycares, according state records.

The 2015 bill states that in order to be exempt from immunizing their child, parents would need certification from their doctors that the child has been examined. Doctors would also need to provide their name, medical license number and a reason for the exemption.

California is one of the strictest states when it comes to childhood immunizations, requiring certain immunizations to attend public or private schools or early child care, but doctors may excuse a child if there is a legitimate medical reason. This new bill sets new guidelines on which medical reasons qualify for a waiver, which was proposed after reports came out of doctors who were excusing children for dubious claims such as asthma or diabetes.

Large crowds of mostly parents have been flocking to hearings on the proposed amendments to the 2015 bill in Sacramento over the last several months. One of the most vocal anti-vaxx groups, Educate.Advocate, wrote that SB 276’s amendments were “verbose, contradictory and complex” and will result in “mass confusion and varied implemen-

tation.”

In a statement, the group wrote, “Doubling down on mandates and sweeping generalizations and no consideration for individualized medicine and health care will not yield compliance, but continue to foster distrust of public health officials and legislators at great cost to public education revenues in California.”

But despite the number of outspoken anti-vaxxers who showed up to the state capital to plead to lawmakers to vote no on the bill, the support for the bill overwhelmingly shadows the opposition. A recent poll showed that 3 out of 4 Californians support stricter requirements on vaccine exemptions.

According to CA Sen. Richard Pan, who authored the 2015 bill and is a practicing pediatrician, also noted that the new restrictions were a reaction to the recent measles outbreaks reported throughout the country. As previously reported by the Asian Journal, this year saw more than 940 reported measles cases across 26 states, making 2019 the worst measles outbreak in the U.S. since 1994.

“We want to keep kids safe in school,” Pan said. “We want to give as much latitude as possible while recognizing that every exemption we give, we are also weakening the community immunity in the school.”

SB 276 is currently on its way to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom worked with the bill’s authors to ease the proposed restrictions. Earlier this month, Newsom raised concerns that the bill could overstep into the doctor-patient relationship.

But after working with the authors of the bill to ease some of the bill’s requirements, Newsom formally announced his support on Tuesday, June 18.

“The Governor would like to thank Dr. Pan for his leadership and for partnering with the Administration on these amendments,” Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly said in a statement, who added that the current incarnation of the bill “protects the doctor-patient relationship, strengthens the state’s ability to target doctors who abuse the medical exemption process and gives state public health officials the tools to identify and protect schools and communities where herd immunity is in danger.”

Trillanes currently faces a number of cases including for rebellion, inciting to sedition, and has a libel charge against him.

And it hasn’t only been politicians. Rappler CEO and co-founder Maria Ressa, caught international headlines when she was first arrested and charged for a “cyber libel” lawsuit. Human rights groups saw it as a move against free press in the country.

Hontiveros herself currently has a pending criminal case against her for allegedly kidnapping obstruction of justice, and wiretapping.

“The weaponization of the law isn’t just to suppress the enemies of the state, a spineless judiciary is also used to rubber-stamp execu-

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US lauds Philippines for anti-trafficking campaign

by WilliaM

depasupil ManilaTimes.net

THE United States’ Department of State has acknowledged the contribution of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the campaign against human trafficking that enabled the Philippines to retain for the fourth consecutive year its Tier 1 rating in the U.S. government’s human trafficking index for 2019.

“The Government of the Philippines fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting pe-

riod; therefore the Philippines remained on Tier 1,” the report said.

A Tier 1 rating means the Philippine government continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts to combat human trafficking.

The Philippines joins 32 others nations in the Tier 1 ranking, which include the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, South Korea and France, among others.

In its recently released 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), the U.S. State Department cited the BI Travel Control and Enforcement Unit for its efforts to combat human

trafficking, which deferred the departure of 24,753 passengers due to incomplete or missing travel documents or misrepresentation.

It added that the BI also referred 286 potential cases of suspected trafficking to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Task Force for further investigation, identified 286 potential victims of trafficking and arrested nine suspected traffickers.

The BI also stopped 199 foreign registered sex offenders from entering the country last year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente urged BI per-

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Philippine Sen. Hontiveros speaks about maritime...

PAGE A3 t tive decisions,” said Hontiveros.

Central to Duterte’s presidency has been his administration’s ongoing war on drugs which Hontiveros said has been “creating a mythical enemy” and “false divisions.”

An official count by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency records over 5,000 deaths resulting from the drug war, but human rights groups claim the toll to be nearly 20,000 extrajudicial killings. They argue that killings are targeted at the urban poor instead of focusing on finding kingpin drug dealers.

“How did he manage to get us FIlinios to acquiesce? By demonizing drug users by lumping drug users and drug traffickers together,” said Hontiveros.

On the broader relationship between the Philippines and the U.S., Hontiveros highlighted how the Beijing government has for years been in violation of the Philippines’ environmental laws and the South China Sea ruling of the Hague Tribunal which ruled in favor of the Philippines.

She characterized the relationship between the Philippine and China government as not being one between equals. “[Duterte’s] relationship with the Chinese government or with Xi Jinping is that of Xi Jinping being the padrone [master] with similar attitudes of obedience and acquiescence even when the padrone has wronged you. There’s this irrational belief that the padrone

will make it up to you somehow, sometime in the whatever future.

So it’s not a relationship,” said Hontiveros, emphasizing that issues are not with the Chinese people, but the Chinese government.

“Our government must stand as equals with all others in the region,” added Hontiveros.

In relation to the illegal drug trade, Hontiveros pointed to China as being the biggest source of drugs.

“How come they keep on getting smuggled in and while suspected small users and pushers keep getting killed? There’s some hypocrisy going on there,” said Hontiveros.

Making reference again to the maritime incident, Hontiveros said, “This ship will not sink.”

Political polarization, social media, and youth involvement With nine major political parties in the Philippines, political polarization is nothing new to the country where political alliances and party-switching are common.

In the most recent midterm elections that took place in May, the Philippines Commission on Elections proclaimed 12 new senators — nine of who have openly allied with the Duterte administration including former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, and Duterte’s former mayoral personal aide Bong Go. With three independent senators including re-elected Senator Grace Poe, no opposition senators were among the legislative winners in the 2019 midterm elec-

tions — a loss that last happened 80 years ago.

“The polarization has to be recognized for what it is — it’s part of where we are right now.

We recognize it as a problematic characteristic of where we are right now,” Hontiveros responded to the Asian Journal.

Hontiveros highlighted the role of social media in today’s political landscape, which despite being a place for sharing voices and opinions has also been used for propaganda.

“It’s an original Democratic space for us. No matter the difficulties, we must never surrender it to censorship,” said Hontiveros.

She continued, “There are of course those on all sides who truly believe in whatever they believe in, but there are also those who are employed and there are also those who are not even human beings but bots and their own algorithms.”

Hontiveros also encouraged people to refrain from insulting and labeling others.

“Maybe it’s time to review if these are really the terms of engagement that will bring us forward,” said Hontiveros.

Being a former journalist, she also discussed the problem of fake news and the need for fact-based debates.

“We cannot concede the social media space. We have to win it back for facts and for debate based on facts,” said Hontiveros.

But she also encouraged people to talk more with each other and to ask questions that matter offline.

Touching on youth involvement, Hontiveros said that young people too have increasingly felt the effects of polarization.

“Young people haven’t been spared the polarization of this ‘us versus them’ [mentality], especially with their access to social media,” continued Hontiveros. “Not only have citizens been warned against but have been set upon each other.”

“I think young people either have gotten caught up in or have gotten so turned off. Some of them just unplug from political discourses because maybe if they haven’t articulated it, we can sense it,” she added.

As a message to young people, she expressed hope for Filipino and Fil-Am youth to “fall in love again with citizenship” and being engaged with the government.

“Hang in there. Let us hear your voice come out and show us the shape of your involvement in dayto-day affairs,” said Hontiveros. n

STREET DANCE. Kids in their colorful costume enthusiastically perform a lively dance number during the annual “Wattah Wattah Festival” held at Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan City on Monday, June 24. The annual water festival is in honor of the city’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

US lauds Philippines for anti-trafficking...

PAGE A3 t sonnel in different ports to “remain vigilant as there is no sign that these human trafficking syndicates who prey on the poor, including minors, will stop their nefarious activities.”

BI Port Operations Division (POD) chief Grifton Medina said the TIP report would “inspire and motivate POD personnel manning the ports to sustain their efforts in fighting human trafficking.”

Medina added that more than 10,000 travelers were stopped from leaving the country from January to April this year, mostly for having incomplete travel papers and questionable purpose in going abroad.

The U.S. report also lauded the efforts of the National Bu-

reau of Investigation and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), which, it said, investigated 278 cases of alleged illegal recruitment and recommended 123 cases for filing in the courts.

The Philippine government reported 11 convictions, compared to eight convictions in 2017 out of 309 investigations.

The POEA filed 1,432 administrative charges against licensed recruitment agencies for fraudulent deployment or exorbitant fees, resulting in the cancellation of licenses of 40 agencies.

The POEA also reviewed 30 bilateral and multilateral labor agreements with other countries, and signed two multilateral and nine bilateral agree-

ments aimed at preventing trafficking and reducing the vulnerability of overseas Filipino workers.

But the same report pointed out that while the Philippine government meets the minimum standards, “it did not vigorously investigate and prosecute officials allegedly involved in trafficking crimes, consistently criminally prosecute labor traffickers, or increase the availability of specialized protection and assistance services for child victims of sex trafficking or services for male victims.”

It added that access to mental health services, employment training and job placement for survivors also remained inadequate. n

Gunman kills Filipino in San Francisco Bay Area freeway

MATTHEW Rios, a 30-year-old Filipino American, was driving on his way home Monday night, June 17, while speaking on the phone with his girlfriend. He told her he was afraid that he was being followed. He was dead a few minutes later.

Someone shot Rios in his car on Interstate 680 in Milpitas, in one of six highway shootings in the San Francisco Bay Area within a week and a half. At this time police are considering these as unrelated shootings.

The California Highway Patrol found Rio unresponsive in his gray Toyota Camry in the center median. His mother, Madonna Simmons, is calling for justice for her only son.

Freeway shooting victim Matthew Rios with his mother, Madonna Simmons.

On Wednesday night, June 19, Mayor Rich Tran offered a $10,000 reward (“non-taxpayer money, not associated

GoFundMe photo

with City of Milpitas”) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Rios’ killer.

(Inquirer.net)

PH loses P68.5-B annually to illegal fishing - USAid

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

THE Philippines loses nearly P68.5 billion annually to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, according to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Environment Office chief John Edgar.

The United Nations also said that the Philippines’ fish production is on the decline due to competition from China and Vietnam.

Approximately 60 percent of Filipinos live in coastal zones and depend on coastal resources for their livelihood.

These resources are threatened by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) loses nearly P68.5 billion a year to these harmful fishing practices.

Two million people who depend on fisheries for food and income stand to benefit from the United States and the Philippines’ P1.3-billion Fish Right project.

The U.S. government, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s BFAR, launched last year the Fish Right project.

The five-year USAID project

The United Nations also said that the Philippines’ fish production is on the decline due to competition from China and Vietnam.

Philstar.com ifle photo

focuses on addressing biodiversity threats, improving marine ecosystem governance and increasing the number and weight of fish in the Calamianes Island group, Visayan seas and South Negros.

The partnership is expected to benefit two million people who depend on these resources for food and income.

Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR director Eduardo Gongona reiterated the Philippine government’s commitment to marine protection and sustain-

able fisheries.

Since the 1990s, USAID has supported the Philippine government’s marine and biodiversity conservation efforts. This partnership has resulted in a 24 percent increase in fish biomass – or the number and size of fish – in target regions.

To build on this success and face the continued challenges of overfishing, the USAID Fish Right project aims to increase fish biomass and strengthen management of more than 2.5 million hectares of marine area. n

large militia fishing vessels with reinforced hulls and ammunition storage, which the militia received by the end of 2016, along with extensive subsidies to encourage frequent operations in the Spratly Islands, according to the 2019 Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.

“This particular PAFMM unit is also China’s most professional. Its forces are paid salaries independent of any clear commercial fishing responsibilities and recruited from recently separated veterans,” the report said.

The militia has played significant roles in a number of military campaigns and coercive incidents over the years, including the 2009 harassment of the USNS Impeccable conducting normal operations, the 2012 Scarborough Reef standoff, the 2014 Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig standoff and a large incursion in waters near the Senkakus in 2016.

A large number of PAFMM vessels train with and assist the People’s Liberation Army Navy and the China Coast Guard in tasks

such as safeguarding maritime claims, surveillance and reconnaissance, fisheries protection, logistic support, and search and rescue.

“The government subsidizes various local and provincial commercial organizations to operate militia vessels to perform ‘official’ missions on an ad hoc basis outside of their regular civilian commercial activities,” the report said.

Gregory Poling, director of Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and a fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Chinese fishing vessel that sank a Philippine boat and left the 22 crew to the elements is the “inevitable result of Beijing deputizing hundreds of fishing boats as a militia force.”

The incident, according to Poling, will happen again because there are hundreds of Chinese state-directed militia vessels in the Spratlys, but Beijing should not be allowed to hide that fact. n

US: Hainan’s maritime militia China’s most professional

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

HAINAN’S maritime militia is China’s most professional and receives extensive subsidies to encourage frequent operations in the Spratly Islands, according to the latest United States Department of Defense Annual Report to Congress.

The People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) is a subset of China’s national militia, an armed reserve force of civilians available for mobilization. Militia units organize around towns, villages, urban sub-districts and enterprises and vary widely in composition and mission.

In the South China Sea, the PAFMM plays a major role in coercive activities to achieve China’s political goals without fighting, part of a broader Chinese military theory that sees confrontational operations short of war as an effective means of accomplishing political objectives, according to the report.

The Hainan provincial government, adjacent to the South China Sea, ordered the building of 84

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

SC clears graft raps vs Enrile, other Marcos cronies Palace justifies Locsin’s ‘colorful’ language

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has affirmed the junking of graft raps against cronies of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos over a P108-million alleged behest loan granted by the Philippine National Bank to a sugar milling company.

The SC’s Second Division dismissed the Presidential Commission on Good Government’s petition for certiorari assailing the Office of the Ombudsman’s Dec. 29, 2006 ruling, which the ombudsman also upheld on April 21, 2009, due to lack of merit.

The PCGG is the agency created to recover Marcos ill-gotten wealth. ‘Behest loan’ Central to the petition is the account of Tolong Sugar Milling Company with the Philippine National Bank. PCGG said its Technical Working Group found that the PNB granted the company “a stand-by irrevocable unconfirmed letter of credit in the amount of USD 27,793,123.45 to cover importation of sugar machinery and equipment.�

The TWG, said PCGG, reported that at the time of TSMCI’s incorporation: • it only subscribed capital stock amounting to P2 million but only P500,000 was paid up; • it only had P10 million as capitalization; • that the lands appraised by the PNB Dumaguete Branch was appraised at P22,350 only;

• and that the two parcels of land were not titled or registered to the sugar milling company. “The PCGG claimed that the TWG’s findings show that TSMCI’s account was a behest loan,â€? the ruling read.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, cleared the respondents in the case due to lack of probable cause.

The following former PNB directors were named as respondents in the PCGG complaint: • Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile • Roberto Benedicto • Antonio Diaz • Ismael Reinoso • Simeon Miranda • Renato Tayag • Juan Trivinio • Cesar Virata • Jose Macario Laurel IV • Jose Leido The Ombudsman also cleared the following from criminal liabilities: • Rafael Perez, former PNB Dumaguete branch manager • Felicisimo Gonzalo, former PNB Dumaguete branch manager • Ramon Escafio, executive of Tolong Sugar Milling Company Inc. • Herminio Teves, executive of TSMCI • Evelina Teves, executive of TSMCI • Lorenzo Teves, executive of TSMCI • Catalino Noel, executive of TSMCI • Lamberto Macias, executive

of TSMCI The SC ruling The PCGG argued that “there was no dispute� that the former PNB directors took part in the approval of the questioned loan.

The agency stressed that the PNB Board should not have approved the loan as “the two tracts of land offered as security were not registered in the name of the borrower, thus, TSMCI could not have validly constituted the mortgage thereon.�

But the SC said the ombudsman did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it rejected the PCGG complaint.

The SC stressed that the public prosecutor has the power to determine the existence of probable cause in the complaint. “A careful review of the subject complaint-affidavit would reveal that the PCGG failed to sufficiently allege the elements of... RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act),� the ruling read.

The high court also stressed: “The PCGG merely highlighted the alleged scandalous disproportion of the assets and collateral offered by TMSCI with the amount of the loan without even stating the alleged acts committed by the respondents which constituted or exhibited manifest partiality, evident bad faith or inexcusable negligence.�

Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. wrote the ruling. Concurring were Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Amy Lazaro-Javier. n

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — Malacaùang defended Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. following his remarks against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The Philippines’ top diplomat called Robredo “boba� or stupid after the latter slammed the Department of Foreign Affairs for revoking all courtesy diplomatic passports issued to former officials and diplomats.

Locsin, however, had immediately apologized to the vice president.

Asked if Locsin’s behavior has been unbecoming as the country’s top diplomat, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it has not affected the secretary’s work. “He (Locsin) is known for his colorful language just like the late Sen. Miriam (Defensor-Santiago) was in the same way that the president is also known for that but it doesn’t diminish his competence to act as secretary

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Manilatimes.net file photo

of foreign affairs,� Panelo said in a press briefing.

Panelo also pointed out that Locsin already apologized to Robredo, which means that he admitted committing a mistake in throwing slurs at the vice presi-

dent.

The Malacaùang mouthpiece added that the DFA chief might just have been exasperated by Robredo’s remarks on the issue of diplomatic passports.

Panelo added that Duterte himself uses “colorful� language in his speeches. “Ang  presidente  naman  natin  ‘di ba ganoon din ang style pero  kita mo naman ang epekto,� Panelo said, citing Duterte’s previous remarks against former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan condemned Locsin for insulting the vice president.

According to Pangilinan, Locsin violated Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. “This kind of mockery and disrespect has no space in a civilized society, especially coming from the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the office that leads national diplomacy,� Pangilinan said in Filipino. n

Raps filed vs Duque

by Jomar

canLas ManilaTimes.net

PLUNDER, graft and administrative complaints have been filed by the parents of alleged dengvaxia victims against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III over a supposedly anomalous building lease deal.

In a 90-page joint complaintaffidavit, Ariel Hedia, Ruby Hedia, Darwin Bataan, Merlyn Bataan, Sonia Guerra, Liberty Garcia Ganzore, Raul Espallardo Galoso, Elloly Hisugan Galoso, Raymond Ancheta, Ma. Cecilia Torres, Danilo Bautista, Sheryl Bautista, Nelson Santos and Edna Santos, charged Duque with violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,� RA 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Officials and Employees,� and RA 7080 or the “Plunder Law.�

The complainants — the parents of pupils who were inoculated with the dengvaxia vaccine at the time when Duque was already the Health chief — accused him of conflict of interest in allowing a family firm, Educational and Medical Development Corp. (EMDC) in Dagupan City, to lease a building to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

As Health secretary, Duque is also chairman of the Board of PhilHealth.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson exposed the anomaly last week and the

Health secretary Francisco Duque III

dengvaxia victims’ families, along with Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta, asked for Duque’s resignation.

While the Health chief had claimed that he was no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the family firm, “he did not divest ownership of his substantial stock interests in the said corporation, thus, benefit of the corporation and to the other stockholders arising from the said contract of lease will also inure to his benefit being a substantial stockholder of the said corporation,â€? the complaint states. “It bears to stress that the monthly rental rate‌ is exorbitant and would case undue injury to the government which is opposed to his faithful performance of his official duty as a public of-

Manilatimes.net file photo

ficer to protect the interest of the government and the public.�

PhilHealth reportedly paid EMDC more than P529,000 per month last year.

The complainants also claimed that Duque failed to provide medical assistance to their children, who allegedly died because of the vaccine. “While PhilHealth funds are being dissipated and misappropriated to benefit respondent DoH (Department of Health) Secretary and PhilHealth ex-officio chairman, as well as his immediate relatives, dengvaxia victims and the poor Filipino people who cannot afford medical, diagnostic and hospital expenses are being deprived of full coverage of Philhealth funds in case of indigency,� they claimed. n

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Peter Advincula out of police custody

INJURED? ACCIDENT?

FREE CONSULTATION

No Attorney Fee Unless You Recover Peter Joemel Advincula who claimed that he is “Bikoy,� the hooded man in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist� videos, left the Philippine National Police headquarters on May 25, after he posted bail for estafa charges against him. But he returned two days later for protective custody.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

MANILA — Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be “Bikoy,� has been released from government’s protective custody, the Philippine National Police said on Tuesday, June 25.

Police colonel Bernard Banac, PNP’s spokesperson, said Advincula is “out and not in the custody of the PNP,� around two weeks ago.

He added that the police calls Advincula “every now and then� when they have clarificatory questions on his earlier filed affidavit.

The PNP placed Advincula under protective custody when he went back to the police headquarters and submitted his affidavit.

Advincula, who identified himself as the hooded figure in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist� videos, first surfaced at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines office on May 3. He said he stands by the

contents of the video series that accused Duterte and his family of involvement in drug trafficking.

He said he was seeking legal aid from the IBP to sue the persons he named in the video as members of a supposed drug syndicate, but the IBP rejected his application.

Three weeks later, Advincula, whose credibility has been questioned, surfaced again. This time at the PNP where he said he is seeking custody. He also walked back on his earlier statement and said the Liberal Party and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV are involved in the creation of the videos. Both the LP and Trillanes denied his allegations. Banac said the police is still looking into Advincula’s allegations.

The police spokesperson also said Advincula did not formalize his request for security detail so the PNP has not acted on it. “There was no follow up on his

request for personal security so our assumption on this is that he is on his own, he’s doing good.

There is no complaint that there is a threat to his life,� Banac added in a mix of English and Filipino.

Advincula is also named as a respondent in an estafa complaint filed before the National Prosecution Service at the Department of Justice, but he nor his counsel did not appear in the preliminary investigation proceedings. The complaint was filed by businessman Arven Valmores over an August 2018 beauty pageant in Albay which the respondent allegedly sponsored using the corporate name and logo of Valmores’ business—without his consent—for promotion.

DOJ wrapped up its preliminary investigation into the complaint, without Advincula’s counter-affidavit. (Kristine Joy  Patag/Philstar.com) n

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JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

FEATURES

OPINION

No progress

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been calling for restraint and peaceful resolution of maritime regional conflicts for ages. ASEAN should do more to actually see restraint in aggressive activities to stake maritime claims in disputed waters.

ASEAN has had a regional agreement in place with China since 2002 on maintaining the status quo in the South China Sea. Probably because that deal is legally non-binding, however, it did not stop Beijing from constructing and fortifying artificial islands on seven reefs in disputed waters.

The areas, now with missile defense systems, include Panganiban or Mischief Reef off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea, over which the Philippines has been awarded sovereign rights by the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

In the latest ASEAN leaders’ summit in the Thai capital Bangkok, the regional bloc has again called for self-restraint and peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. The statement was issued amid the latest incident in regional waters: the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat after it was hit by a Chinese vessel on June 9 near Recto or Reed Bank, one of three areas over which the Philippines was awarded sovereign

rights by the arbitral court. Beijing had refused to participate in the arbitration.

At the same time, ASEAN again renewed its commitment to work with Beijing on a non-aggression Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to prevent serious armed encounters in disputed waters. These talks have been going for an eternity, with no agreement so far even on its area of coverage.

For the past decades, thanks in large part to ASEAN, Southeast Asia has been one of the most peaceful regions in the world, despite the diverse political systems and cultures of the grouping’s member states. Progress has been slow in certain areas such as economic integration, but the initiative is moving along.

Where the grouping has made no progress is in supporting its members in maritime disputes.

In this issue, which is critical for sustaining the peaceful environment needed for regional prosperity, ASEAN needs to speak with a clearer, louder voice. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. THERE are two most difficult, complex, but not impossible opportunities for peace-making in the Korean Peninsula and in the Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict on both sides of the Persian Gulf — or Arab Gulf to the Arabs — in the Middle East.

In the case of the inter-Korean and US-North Korean conflicts, the South Koreans led by President Moon Jae-in and North Koreans led by Kim Jong-un, grandson of North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung, left to themselves, could move more expeditiously to a difficult but not impossible geopolitical settlement, which could perhaps include the following: • North Korean and South Korean troops withdrawal from the areas of tension in the 38thParallel and leave the Panmunjom area as a genuine neutral zone bereft of armed troops from both sides and could even be a credible, mutually designated site to host peace and unification parleys, with permanent conference and support facilities.

• The American troops below the 38th Parallel and around Seoul could consider eventually disengaging from the South upon the establishment of a confirmed durable peace with the North, the foreseeable establishment of two divided but peaceful trading Kore-

Demand and Supply BOO CHANCO THE initial reactions of Foreign Secretary Teddyboy Locsin and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were correct. The facts were not all in yet, but both Cabinet members were ready to give our fishermen the benefit of the doubt.

Unfortunately, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi joined the fray and started casting doubts on the story of our fishermen. It seems Piñol and Cusi were trying very hard to appease China.

President Duterte himself was quiet for a while, but eventually tipped the discussions to give the Chinese the benefit of the doubt.

He talked about not having the means to go to war against China, but no one is talking about going to war anyway. Just come out in defense of our defenseless fisher-

Philstar.com photo

Possibilities for peace-making in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula an states, until at some point both Koreas agree to unite like the two Vietnams or the two Germanys.

• Both sides could in the meantime exchange inter-Korean visits, especially among South Koreans with relatives in the North and North Koreans with relatives in the South, initiate the beginnings of limited North-South talks, and eventually even allow third-country tourists to visit Pyongyang in the North, which could lead to much larger numbers among Southerners and Northerners; • Pending a North-South political settlement, both sides could agree not only on visits by tourists of various nations but by businessmen and traders of both sides and their joint-venture partners from third countries that would lead to an immediate mushrooming of commercial trade in the region.

Then both sides could eventually agree on a common railways system from Pusan in the south across the 38th Parallel, all the way to Pyongyang and the North Korean-Chinese border and agree on large-scale exchanges of interKorean trade. The railway could later cross to Russia and on to Europe.

• Most important, with the increasing volume of inter-Korean trade and rapid exchange of visits, the US and North Korean governments could work on modalities for finally ending the Korean War, and conversion of their troops to police duties.

• Eventual phasing out of the North Korean nuclear weapons

and withdrawal of US troops, weaponry, and facilities. This will be the subject of intricate, difficult negotiations and will most likely be long drawn-out and could take several years, but if there is mutual goodwill, this could lead to a final settlement and conclusion.

Obviously, these issues and arguments are easier said than done but if there is sincere, mutual goodwill and give-and-take, a final settlement is definitely possible. *** In the Middle East, US President Donald Trump is correct in not allowing his militant and pro-war advisers to dictate policy. Instead, he could encourage opportunities for difficult but not impossible geo-political discussions leading to settlement in the area.

We would perhaps humbly suggest that the worrying fearsome conflict in the Persian Gulf (to the Persians) or Arab Gulf (to the Arabs) could lead to destruction of industrial facilities in cities and towns and modern infrastructure on both sides of the Gulf built patiently over the years, and indeed at incredible cost from their petroleum riches.

To simplify the basics of the conflict, let us simply state that the Muslim world had been divided since the earliest days of Islam between the Sunnis, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Shiites, led by Iran, in a sense like the Catholics and Protestants of old Europe who had bitter, violent, and bloody wars for centuries.

Perhaps the time has now ome

Sad reactions

men.

I do not understand why the administration is always so worried about displeasing China.

I have covered the diplomatic beat and in the course of my career, participated in preparations for diplomatic meetings.

There are always things like public postures and backroom agreements.

Mr. Duterte and his minions could have come out strongly in support of our fishermen. At the same time, our ambassador in Beijing should have been in touch with the Foreign Ministry to explain why the President must make a strong stand, but assuring the Chinese government that official ties are not involved.

The Chinese government would have understood. The last thing they want is for the incident to escalate in a way that puts their loyal ally, Rodrigo Duterte, in a very difficult situation with his own people.

Sure… just words… but in diplomacy those words count…pre-

vent situations from deteriorating into a crisis.

But our own government went on an overdrive to force our fishermen to change their story, despite the corroboration made by the captain of the Vietnamese fishing vessel.

The editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer recounts what happened next: “The most basic response the Philippines could have offered the Vietnamese for their compassionate gesture was a simple ‘Thank you.’ How hard is it for the Duterte administration to do that—to reach out to the Vietnamese government and, through it, to formally thank the Vietnamese seafarers who saved our fishermen from their ordeal?

“Instead, in a bizarre, contemptible turn of events, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol made a big to-do about the Vietnamese being in the area illegally, poaching inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and so whatever thanks they deserved

for well-meaning leaders from the UN and respected leaders from other nations and religious groups to encourage and initiate the beginnings of a peaceful inter-religious dialogue among the deeply divided Muslim Shiites and Sunnis, which would lead Iran and Saudi political and military leaders to take note and realize that these suicidal conflicts could devastate their countries with casualties in large numbers and could even involve weapons of mass destruction.

We might suggest that the UN secretary general could perhaps make a quiet visit to the capitals of Tehran and Riyadh, visit the Sunni mosques in Riyadh and the Shiite mosques in Tehran, and strongly propose the advisability and scenario of a Sunni-Shiite conference in Geneva or Paris or New York, initially attended by most capable Sunni-Shiite religious leaders and eventually by their highest political-religious leaders.

This will quickly bring a new dimension and perhaps a sobering effect on the tension-filled crisis in the Persian-Arab Gulf which in the last few days involved dangerous attacks on ships or oil tankers in the Gulf, assaults on oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia, and violent clashes in Yemen, long a site of large-scale clashes, and recently tensions and sporadic flare-ups in Syria and Israel.

We do not see immediate solutions but could appreciate the beginnings of perhaps of a serious, sensible, and peaceful dialogue

among the Sunnis and Shiites. *** We wish to thank Deputy Chairman Petr Tolstoy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for their invitation for us to speak at the international forum on “Development of Parliamentarism” to be held in Moscow on July 1-2, 2019.

We are reminded of Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest writers of all time not only in Russia but in the world.

The State Duma is Russia’s Lower House or House of Representatives, while its Upper House or Senate is called the Federation Council.

The Moscow parliamentary conference seeks to provide legislative response to global issues, particularly in the areas of peace, security, human development, and climate change and environmental protection. It will be participated in by lawmakers, scholars, experts, and leaders of civil society around the world.

Regretfully, we told our friend, the able Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev that we would have wanted to participate in such an important and distinguished gathering, having been privileged to spend 23 years of our life as a parliamentarian and for 14 years as speaker five times of the House of Representatives, but could not do so as we had earlier accepted an invitation from Asian and Filipino communities in the US during the same period.

We were also privileged to have

led several parliamentary organizations in Asia and the global community.

We co-founded the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), now composed of more than 40 parliaments in Asia, with Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed of Pakistan, to create what we envisioned to be the beginnings of a still distant Asian Parliament. We had transferred the APA headquarters from Manila to Tehran to bring APA into an Asia-wide organization, instead of limited to East Asia, and to help bring Iran into the mainstream.

We also served as president of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP), forerunner of APA, and twice president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO). We also helped transform AIPO into the now AIPA or ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and established an AIPA Secretariat based in Jakarta.

Currently, we serve as co-chairman, with former 30-year US Congressman Dan Burton, of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), representing parliamentarians from the various continents around the world.

We are honored to mention these because we believe with persistent and constructive exchanges, parliamentarians play a crucial role in building stable, secure, peaceful, and progressive fraternities in the global community. ■

had to be given begrudgingly: ‘Salamat sa mga Vietnamese sa pagtulong pero you are not supposed to be there, but thank God you were there. That was an illegal act that was actually providential.’

“What appalling ungraciousness, and a most shameful stain on a country that, until lately, prided itself on its friendliness and sense of goodwill toward other nations.”

I might add, it makes every rightthinking Filipino feel embarrassed such ingratitude came from a high official.

So the incident elicited reactions that divided the Filipinos along political partisan lines: pro Duterte and anti Duterte. We needed a reaction that was pro Filipino.

It also revealed the sentiments of some people. It was disappointing to find out that the president of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Henry Lim Bon Liong considered himself as having two fathers, Philippines and China.

The Chinoy entrepreneur was quoted by journalist Tina Arceo Dumlao as saying he hopes the “unfortunate mishap” will not ad-

versely affect diplomatic relations between China, and the Philippines, which he refers to as his “two fathers”, being Filipino-Chinese.

Mr. Lim is probably Philippineborn and should no longer have divided loyalty between the country of his forefathers and presumably, his own. I have many Chinoy friends and they are militantly pro Filipino on issues involving China.

Perhaps Mr. Lim and the federation he heads can clarify how they stand because when push comes to shove, we expect them to be pushing and shoving for the Philippines.

No one wants a war with China.

But that doesn’t mean we should not forcefully express our feelings in defense of our national interests. Let us take inspiration from the millions of Hong Kong marchers in fighting for their seemingly impossible objective.

The Reed Bank incident revealed we are not a nation, we have no national feelings, no national pride. This can explain why nations like Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea easily overtook

us in the economic front.

There is truth in the observations of James Fallows back in 1987 when the EDSA euphoria was still fresh and much could have been done, but we failed.

“Filipinos pride themselves on their lifelong loyalty to family, schoolmates, compadres, members of the same tribe, residents of the same barangay…

“Because the boundaries of decent treatment are limited to the family or tribe, they exclude at least 90 percent of the people in the country. And because of this fragmentation—this lack of nationalism—people treat each other worse in the Philippines than in any other Asian country I have seen.”

No wonder our officials had no hesitation in throwing our fishermen overboard because their story doesn’t jive with what the administration wants to believe.

Neither Cusi nor Piñol felt any obligation towards folks not in their social and political circles.

Duterte, on the other hand, probably just feels obligated to China. (Philstar.com)

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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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019

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Imee Marcos gets Trillanes’ Senate office, wants the room ‘blessed’

MANILA — Senator-elect Imee Marcos would soon occupy the office of outgoing Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a member of the opposition.

But before she moves into her new office, the Senate neophyte said she would first perform a ritual on the workplace that Trillanes would soon vacate.

“Siguro magpapatawag ako ng mga Igorot namin kasi kailangang basbasan ‘yung office ko. Kay Sen. Trillanes ata ‘yung nabunot eh (Maybe I can call some Igorots because we need to bless the office because it was occupied by Sen. Trillanes),” Marcos said.

She said Trillanes’ office went to her through a raffle.

“Kung papayag si Sen. WATER FESTIVAL. Despite the scarcity of water being experienced in Metro Manila, thousands of San Juan City residents participate in the Trillanes, sasabihin ko kay Sonny “Basaan Watercade” along Pinaglabanan St. on Monday, June 24. The dousing of water from fire trucks and water guns remains the most makikisayaw kami sa mga Igorot popular activity in the “Wattah Wattah San Juan Festival 2019” held in honor of the city’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. para mabendisyunan (If Sen. File photo shows senator-elect Imee Marcos during the proclamation of Senate race winners.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon Philstar.com photo Trillanes agrees, I will tell him we Sr.—placed 8th in the 2019 midtion-backed Hugpong ng Pagwill dance with the Igorots so we can bless the office),” the former term elections despite her ques- babago, whose campaign mantionable educational attainment ager is presidential daughter and governor of Ilocos Norte said. his administration as a whole is dent,” Panelo said.

The term of 17th Congress’ claims and honesty issue that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

by Catherine S. Valente hounded her during the camMarcos aims to focus on povHe added that the Palace would senators ends on June 30.

ManilaTimes.net well accepted by the people. He erty-alleviating measures. (Gaea wants to sustain that),” the source leave it to Duque to comment on Marcos—the daughter of paign.

She ran under the administra- Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com) n the charges filed against him.

A “MINOR” revamp is expected said. late dictator Ferdinand Marcos “I think, we’ll have to wait for to take place in the official family The president is expected to of President Rodrigo Duterte, as announce the possible Cabinet Secretary Duque’s explanation. the Chief Executive’s term nears revamp before his 4th State of the Kasi kung sinasabi mong (Because the halfway mark, a highly placed Nation Address next month, the when you said it’s) family-owned, it doesn’t mean na sa kanya yun. source said on Monday, June 24. source added.

The source, who requested In a press briefing, Palace Kung nagdivest na siya ng kananonymity for lack of authority to spokesman Salvador Panelo said yang share dun so di na magOne-bedroom homes priced from $327,745 – $332,218 without parking. speak to media, said Duterte was Duterte has made no mention in aaply yung sinasabing conflict of ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĮƌƐƚͲƟŵĞ ŚŽŵĞďƵLJĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĞdžĐĞĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ůĞǀĞůƐ͗ still completing the evaluation of Cabinet meetings of plans to re- interest (that he owns it. So if he divested his shares in the comall departments’ performances, place Piñol. which may include the Depart“Honestly I’ve not heard of a pany, so we cannot apply here the 100% of Area Median Income 2019 ment of Agriculture (DA), headed Cabinet revamp. I only hear about allegation of conflict of interest),” One person - $86,200; 2 persons - $98,500; 3 persons - $110,850;

by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. that yung mga tsismis, yung mga Panelo said.

4 persons - $123,150 etc.

Duque, who is also ex-officio Piñol, who recently made head- rumors (from hearsay and ruchairman of the Philippine Health lines over his response on the mors),” Panelo told reporters.

Reed Bank incident where a PhilAsked if Piñol still en- Insurance Corporation (Phil ƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ďLJ ϱWD ŽŶ DŽŶĚĂLJ͕ ƵŐƵƐƚ ϭϮ͕ ϮϬϭϵ͘ ƉƉůLJ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ippine fishing boat was rammed joyed Duterte’s trust and confi- Health), is facing graft and plunƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ,>/ ͕ ƚŚĞ ^& ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ WŽƌƚĂů Ăƚ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬ​ͬŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ͘ƐĨŐŽǀ͘ŽƌŐ Žƌ ŵĂŝů ŝŶ Ă ƉĂƉĞƌ by a Chinese maritime militia dence, Panelo said, “I think so. der charges over a lease agreevessel, may be transferred to the Wala naman siyang sinasabi sa ment entered into by his family’s ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐĞůĨͲĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ƐƚĂŵƉĞĚ ĞŶǀĞůŽƉĞ ƚŽ DZ ϳϭϵ >ĂƌŬŝŶ͕ W͘K͘ Ždž Mindanao Development Author- amin na hindi siya happy (The corporation with the state health ϰϮϬϴϰϳ͕ ^ĂŶ &ƌĂŶĐŝƐĐŽ͕ ϵϰϭϰϮ͘ WŽƐƚŵĂƌŬƐ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ͘ WĂƉĞƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ity, according to the source. president has not mentioned to us insurer. ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĚŽǁŶůŽĂĚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬ​ͬŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ͘ƐĨŐŽǀ͘ŽƌŐ Žƌ ƉŝĐŬĞĚ ƵƉ ĨƌŽŵ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱ Parents of dengvaxia victims, The source said Finance Secre- that he was not happy).” tary Carlos Dominguez III made “Kasi si presidente sinasabi niya through the Public Attorney’s OfĂƉƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ ĐŽƵŶƐĞůŝŶŐ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ůŝƐƚĞĚ Ăƚ ŚƩƉƐ͗ͬ​ͬƐĨŵŽŚĐĚ͘ŽƌŐͬŚŽŵĞďƵLJĞƌͲ the recommendation to Duterte to ng harap-harapan eh (Because fice (PAO), filed their complaints counseling-agencies. transfer Piñol, who also drew flak the president will always say it di- before the Office of the Ombudswhen the country grappled with rectly to your face that), ‘I’m not man on Monday. &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ Žƌ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ LJŽƵƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ The charges stemmed from Sen. rice shortage last year. happy with you,’” he said.

“Yung tinitingnan ni boss ‘yung Meanwhile, Panelo said Health Panfilo Lacson’s expose involving HomeownershipSF at (415) 202-5464 or info@homeownershipsf.org. next three years eh. Ang pinaka- Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd a lease agreement between Philimportante sa kanya ‘yung ma- continued to enjoy the President’s Health and Duque’s family, who hŶŝƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ^ĂŶ &ƌĂŶĐŝƐĐŽ DĂLJŽƌ͛Ɛ KĸĐĞ ŽĨ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ maintain ‘yung performance niya trust and confidence despite fac- owns a building in Dagupan City kasi ngayon ang ganda ng accept- ing graft complaints before the Of- where the state-run firm’s office ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ͘ sŝƐŝƚ ǁǁǁ͘ƐĨŵŽŚĐĚ͘ had been housed. ability ng tao sa administration fice of the Ombudsman. ŽƌŐ ĨŽƌ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͘ Duque had denied any “conniya as a whole. Gusto niya i-sus“The presumption is you’re intain ‘yun (What the boss is looking nocent unless proven guilty be- flict of interest” but PhilHealth, at is the next three years. It’s very yond reasonable doubt. I think the which admitted to the agreeimportant for him to maintain his Secretary of Health still enjoys the ment, said that its contract would performance, especially now that trust and confidence of the Presi- end in 2019. n

‘Minor’ Cabinet revamp looms – source

6 New “Below Market Rate” Ownership Homes at 719 Larkin

A

JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

Friday, June 28, 2019

SF

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

Fil-Am model Geena Rocero rewrites Playboy’s history as its first transgender API Playmate by

MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

FIVE years ago, Filipina American model Geena Rocero made a very public confession and came out of her closet in a TED Talk in Vancouver.

“The world makes you something that you’re not — but you know inside what you are,” she proclaimed.

She pointed at a picture of a boy dressed in a traditional Filipino folk dance garb and said that the boy was actually her. In less than 10 minutes, Rocero shared her journey from a pageant contestant in Manila during her teens, moving to the United States in 2005 and getting surgery in Thailand at the age of 19.

This week, Rocero officially became the first transgender Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Playboy Playmate, appearing as the centerfold of the magazine’s Gender & Sexuality issue.

“I am incredibly honored and excited, it is history making. I remember growing up in the Philippines seeing Caroline (Tula) Cossey on Playboy in the 1990s and thinking that I wanted to be like her when I grew up,” she said during the ‘Behind the Lens’ press brunch at the Playboy Playhouse on Thursday, June 20 in New York.

“Here I am now, I am a part of the Playboy family. I’m on cloud

nine right now.”

Cossey posed for Playboy in 1991 for a solo pictorial and became the magazine’s first transgender women model.

“It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. To be a part of the family, to be associated with such an iconic and progressive brand is such a big honor for me,” Rocero said.

She added, “As the first trans Asian Pacific Islander Playmate, I feel that I’m making

she knew she’d be working with highly qualified photographers and an incredible group of people from Playboy.

The shoot happened in Costa Rica last April where the Playboy team and Rocero spent four days “playing around on the beach barely wearing anything.”

Last week, the magazine’s official Instagram account (@ Playboy), with 7.4 million followers, introduced Geena as an August 2019 Playmate and the post has generated almost

trans women and she is just thankful that the offer to do this fell on her lap like manna from heaven.

“If feminism doesn’t include the journey and spectrum of trans womanhood, I don’t want to be part of it. I’m an advocate for transfeminism!” she wrote.

She plans to use this new platform to be more visible and continue fighting for trans rights. Since her viral TED talk in 2014, she co-founded Gender Proud, a media production company that tells stories about the global transgender community.

“Trans people are human beings who deserve respect, they need to be affirmed and celebrated. It is so important to talk about these issues, especially since we are celebrating 50 years of Stonewall Pride,” she told the audience at the talk on Thursday. “It is a great 59,000 likes and about 250 com- reminder about where we have been and the absolute certainty ments. why we still have so much to do, “It was just about feeling especially for my trans sisters, myself, feeling confident, senparticularly the African Amerisual and loved and I could not have asked for a better place to can, my black trans sisters who shoot,” she said. “The beautiful are being killed in epic proporbeach reminded me of the Phil- tions.”

This month alone, five trans ippines, this one is by the forest women of color have been which spills onto the beach, reported killed, bringing the which was very lush.” number to 10 this year.

The Playboy team wel“Let’s look at those figures comed, confirmed and celebratand remind ourselves why we ed her, something that Rocero need to be more vocal about said she will cherish for the rest this and there should be more of her life. media reports about it and it In the Gender & Sexuality affects everybody, their families issue, Rocero wrote about her “strict Catholic upbringing in the and their communities,” she added.

Philippines” and being inspired Looking at the print copy of by seeing transgender beauty pageants on national television. Playboy with her photos for the first time was quite a surreal ex“We spoke English in the perience for Rocero. Even with Philippines, but when I moved the magazine in her hand, there to the United States at 17 and was a moment where she could started hanging out with other teenagers, it was a totally differ- not believe her eyes.

“I have to speak about ent culture,” she explained.

Caroline Tula Cossey because She also shared her hidden talent of making “swimsuits out that was so critical for me. of natural materials, whether it’s What a full circle moment, I was this young trans girl living leaves or fruits” and her love in Manila and dreaming of one of cooking Filipino and Italian day becoming a model like food. “Of course, I can make a Caroline and to now, be the one mean chicken adobo with my hopefully giving that inspiration eyes closed,” she said. to young trans girls, not just in Rocero is shining a light on

Fil-Am model and transgender advocate Geena Rocero poses at the “Behind the Lens” event at the Playboy Playhouse on Thursday, June 20 in New York City.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

“The world makes you something that you’re not — but you know inside what you are.” it possible for someone to reach for their biggest dreams just like the people who came before me. I also hope that for anyone who’s been deemed ‘other’ to know that what makes you different, is your power, especially the unapologetic expression of your sexuality, gender and the value of your unique perspective.”

Incredibly confident with her own skin, Rocero upped her Pilates training and practice and worked out whenever her schedule permitted because

Geena Rocero moderates a panel of Playboy photographers and their experiences working with the magazine.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Photo from Instagram/@geenarocero

the Philippines but all over the world,” she said, wearing a big smile on her face. “Their identities matter, they should pursue who they are. There’s nothing wrong with them, just keep being themselves.”

Playboy Magazine featured its first transgender Playmate, French model Ines Rau, back in 2017.

“I never thought this day would come,” Rocero said.

“When I did TEDTalks, it was a significant moment in my life to free myself and express myself truly in the most authentic way and so many opportunities have been given to me after that.”

More than just baring her body, Rocero also bared her soul.

“There’s nothing more powerful than being comfortable in your own skin. There are criticisms saying that it is sexualizing the body. No, it is about ownership of your sexuality. What is more powerful than us human beings in our most natural state of being. We were all born naked,” she said.

For her critics and bashers, Rocero shrugged and said she’d rather focus on her advocacies than think about what others think of her.

“They will always have their opinion. For me, this is a moment of celebration and I know I am surrounded by people who love and celebrate me. When one wins in our community, everybody wins,” she said.

Enchong, over 1,800 kids Cherie emotional on first Urian win break Guinness world record for largest swimming lesson by ricky calderon ManilaTimes.net

VIVA contract star Nadine Lustre failed to savor her winning moment as Gawad Urian Best Actress for “Never Not by ryan arcadio Love You” as she was absent Inquirer.net at the awards night at the UP ENCHONG Dee took part Film Institute. in a successful attempt to break She was taping for a realthe Guinness world record for ity show in Bulacan and she the largest swimming lesson in a was not granted permission single venue. to attend the 42nd Gawad The 30-year-old actor and Urian rites. The award was swimmer joined around 1,800 her first from the Manunuri, children in the attempt, in a the esteemed critics’ group. waterpark in Clark, Pampanga, She earlier triumphed at the as per his Instagram post last Young Critics Circle (which Thursday, June 20. named her Best Performer) “Today, we broke the Guinand at the Famas where she ness world record for the most was voted Best Actress. number of Children being taught With her win in Urian, basic swimming skills and water Nadine is hailed as the Best safety in one day,” Dee said.

Actress of her generation. She Enchong Dee with some kids who attended his swimming lesson.

In a separate post by Aqua Photo from Instagram/@mr_enchongdee is also the second youngest Planet — the venue for the winner at the Urian as Best Dee was part of the Philiprecord-breaking event — they been officially held by a waterActress at 23. Nora Aunor pine national swimming team revealed the specific number of park in Florida, United States, won her first Urian Award in and has participated in the people that participated in the with 1,308 participants on June 1976, also at 23.

Southeast Asian Games and attempt.

20, 2014.

Meanwhile, Best Support2006 Asian Games. His latest A total of 1,819 people had The waterpark still awaits ing Actress winner Cherie showbiz projects include starring joined the swimming lesson at the confirmation of the World Gil became emotional in her in different episodes of “Maalala the waterpark, beating the curWaterpark Association (WWA) speech after she was named rent Guinness World Record for and Guinness World Records for Mo Kaya” and in the 2018 TV Best Supporting Actress for the largest swimming lesson in the attempt to beat the existing drama series “The Blood SisMike de Leon’s comeback film ters”. a single venue. The record has world record.

“Citizen Jake.”

Ian: ‘Music colors my world’

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

JUST over a year since he found the courage to reveal his musical side with a major concert, Ian Veneracion — one of the day’s most noted dramatic actors — is at it again and raring to go.

Since bursting into showbiz as a child star in the ‘80s [via Joey de Leon’s iconic sitcom “Joey and Son”], Veneracion had hidden his talent for playing classical piano and guitar, composing and singing but nurtured and savored music every day of his life.

“Music has always been

part of my life but career-wise, acting came first and I concentrated on being an actor. I didn’t want to do the all-around talent type of thing. It was that simple,” he told The Times in a previous interview.

Having proven himself a worthy actor both on television and the movies, Veneracion,

now 44, decided last year his fans and the industry would be kinder to him, and forgiving even, if his attempt at singing publicly went south.

Happily, April 2018’s “Ian in Three Acts” became such a success that the rest of the year saw the actor in show after show, not just on the home front but even in Canada and all over North America.

“I can’t even put to words

Cherie Gil

GMA photo

Cherie, who co-hosted the awards night with Manunuri member Butch Francisco, is a first time winner at the Urian although she had already received several nominations.

Butch even said some of the Cherie’s relatives won the Gawad Urian ahead of her like her brothers Michael de Mesa and Mark Gil, her nephew Sid Lucero and niece Max Eigenmann, just to name a few.

What made her triumph even more memorable was the fact she was also celebrating her birthday.

In her speech, she said it is the dream of every actor to win an Urian award. In her excitement, Cherie forgot to dedicate her award to her parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. Winning the Best Supporting Actor was Joel Lamangan for “School Service.” Direk Joel crossed over to acting and this was his first acting award from the Manunuri. He was Urian Best Director winner for the “The Flor Contemplacion Story” starring Nora Aunor.

the feeling I had at the end of that first concert — hindi mo na mauulit yun eh,” the handsome mestizo recalled for the The Times.

“Natatakot ka na baka hindi mo matawid and when I did, ang sarap ng feeling at hindi naman ako inatake sa puso,” he added laughing.

Based on audience reaction, Veneracion didn’t just survive the big reveal that he is a singer

and musician too, but he actually aced it, proven now more than ever that his major concert for 2019 has no less than OPM royalty, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid as producer.

“This one’s called ‘Ian: In Color,’ and to have Ogie and [his wife] Regine [Velasquez] behind it… It’s a validation that I should continue to share my music. Imagine, sila yung Continued on Page SF2

community

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

Mother’s eight-month delay in filing petition causes extra 12-year wait for daughter

card. As the petitioner, she would later have to submit an affidavit of support, which usually includes demonstrating financial ability to support the beneficiary.

However, if a petitioner is not Atty. MichAel earning enough, they could Gurfinkel, eSQ THE THIRD BATCH OF KAPAMILYA WHO CAME TO THE “CITIZEN PINOY” TAPING IN ILLINOIS GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED THIS SUNDAY! Can a mother still always get a co-sponsor on use the same petition she filed for her son back in 1992, even if the son did not pursue the case back then because he got married? What is the fastest way for the affidavit of support.

I RECENTLY had a cona mother to bring her two aged-out children to the U.S.? What happens if an applicant diligently completed his Employment-Based Visa Application (EB3), only Here, the mother had a sultation where a mother’s to find out that his lawyer never filed the case? Get answers to these and more on a brand-new episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST U.S. citizen daughter who confusion and lack of un(9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement) could have acted as a coderstanding of immigration sponsor. They could have law resulted in her delaying filing a petition for her minor filed the petition right away child for approximately eight instead of waiting several months. The child “aged out” months.

From Page SF2 and could not tinitingala sa OPM and they’re qualify for benproducing my show and both efits under the guesting in it? I feel really good Child Status about it,” he said gratefully.

Protection Act Music moods (CSPA). The Now a legitimate concert child was then performer, Veneracion is all reclassified as the more eager to whip out his an adult, and diverse musicality in “Ian: In now it is estiColor.” mated that her “The concert’s title is ‘In priority date Color’ because it will show how will become I try to play songs in a different current in light evoking different kinds 2028. Had the of moods; different kinds of mother acted shades. I guess you can liken it promptly, the to flavors of ice cream — you child would pick a particular flavor dependAnother option would have been in the U.S. as of ing on your mood right?” he be an employer-sponsored 2016.

Ian Veneracion Photo from Instagram/@ianveneracion1 chuckled again. green card through PERM In her case, the mother chords to “Baby, I Love Your Frampton and Fra Lippo Lippi And unlike his first concert, or labor certification, which got her green card in July Way” singing both unaffectedly 2014 through her U.S. citizen would take about 2-3 years. to name a few, but of course, which was staged in a huge I’ll be singing the songs with my and effectively. venue, this two-night performdaughter’s petition. Howev- The employer does not need His voice is honest — reance will have a totally different own interpretation and makto be a major corporation. er, she waited an additional laxed, purely his own, and soul- eight months, until March approach at the Music Museum. ing them my own. Otherwise, It can even be a sole propriful and passionate. what’s the point? If I try to “Naturally it will be more 2015, to petition her younger etorship if the employer has “I sing because I really enjoy daughter, who would be sound like them, the audience intimate, hence more interacthe ability to pay. In addilive performances. At the risk might as well listen to the origitive. Plus the arrangements of tion, jobs such as caregivers turning 21 in mid-2016. The of sounding mayabang, it’s not the songs are something I would nals, di’ba?” are still available and the reason was she thought she about the money. Whether To give the cozy huddle at describe as musically more playwaiting time for a caregiver’s had to have a job and be it’s in front of a big crowd or the New Order Urban Lounge ful.” financially established before green card is about the same just jamming with friends, I’ve Bar in Ortigas [where this interUnaffected and effective she could file a petition. This as for a college graduate or come to terms with the fact that confusion and misunderHis musical influences, while view took place] taste of what skilled worker.

I can’t psychologically survive he means, Veneracion casually diverse, are what Veneracion The moral of the story is standing caused the probwithout music. Just like in other lem. She could have filed the rather than “guessing” about would describe as “old school.” picked up an acoustic guitar, art forms, music is its own reand sans a microphone or any “There’s Sting, U2, Eric petition for her younger child what the best course of acother equipment, strummed the ward,” he ended.

Clapton, The Eagles, Peter as soon as she got her green tion is, or listening to friends

Immigration Corner

Ian: ‘Music colors my world’...

or relatives as what they think may be best, people should consult with an attorney about their immigration issues. As can be seen from the above example, a mother misunderstood legal requirements and delayed filing a petition. Because of that misunderstanding, her younger daughter has to wait at least 12 more years for a visa. *** 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

The moral of the story is rather than “guessing” about what the best course of action is, or listening to friends or relatives as what they think may be best, people should consult with an attorney about their immigration issues.

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SF

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

celebrity world

Legendary movie queen Susan Roces heads list of glorious July birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar THE original and legendary Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this month of July. Inday Susan (as she is fondly called by family and close friends), will celebrate her 78th birthday on Sunday, July 28. She is the widow of the late undisputed King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe Jr. Other July birthday celebrants are: July 1 - Former Miss RPUSA Rea Oblea, former beauty queen Violet Recinto, and Filipina singer Vivian Arcega; July 2 - Former First Lady and Ilocos Norte representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos, veteran actress Vilma Valera, sexy actress Sunshine Cruz, and former Mutya ng Mindanao Vicky Diego Rufino; July 3 - Duggan’s Serra Mortuary special assistant to the president Teresa Proano; July 4 - ABS-CBN Auditing Head Millet Santos Mortiz, and Filipina singer Pam Serrano; July 6 - Former Philippine Vice President and broadcaster Noli de Castro, Asian Journal office manager Greg Michael Nitro, and movie actress Liberty Ilagan; July 8 - San Jose religious leader Maria Cruz Back; July 11 - San Jose fashionable lady Susan Pacifico, fomer Miss Universe 3rd runner up Venus Raj, and Dr. Jun Sison; July 12 - Former banker Gualbert Picache who is now residing in Danville; July 13 - Ma Mon Luk Noodle House owner Tonette Wong; July 14 - Regal Films president Roselle Monteverde Teo, and ABS-CBN TV host Julius

EMPLOYMENT

Babao; July 15 - Former Miss RPUSA Theresa Burch; July 16 - Well-loved Filipina nurse Rachael Forneas Satorre and former Miss International and fashion model Melanie Marquez; July 18 - Asian Journal Publications publisher and chairman Roger Lagmay Oriel; July 19 - Oracle development manager Walter Back, and Star Cinema actor Diether Ocampo; July 20 - French-Filipina actress Solenn Heusaff, actor Raymart Santiago and his former wife, actress Claudine Barretto; July 22 - Actor Zanjoe Marudo, and Filipina ballerina Nickie Munoz Roco; July 23 - California State Commissioner Rey Benitez Satorre, actress and TV host

Eugene Domingo, and actor/ dancer Rayver Cruz; July 25 - Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo; July 27 - Singer-actor Mark Bautista; July 28 - Senator Cynthia Aguilar Villar, Dr. Celso Espirity, and Miss Philippines Earth beauty pageant executive director Lorraine Schuck; July 29 - Asian Journal Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo will celebrate her birthday on Thursday, July 25.

Northern California Bureau Chief Jojo Peralta; July 30 - Actor Troy Montero, Philippine Airlines former sales manager Herminia R. Lavarias, and rapper Andrew E; July 31 - ABS-CBN entertainment report Mario Dumawal, and entertainment columnist and talent manager Ethel Ramos.

To all July celebrants, a very happy birthday!

Susan Roces, the original Queen of Philippine Movies, heads the list of personalities celebrating their birthdays this July. Inday Susan will turn 78 on Sunday, July 28.

EMPLOYMENT

Handsome actor Troy Montero will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, July 30.

Star Cinema actor and “ASAP” dancer Rayver Cruz will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, July 23.

San Jose fashionable lady Susan Pacifico will celebrate her birthday on Thursday, July 11.

California State Commissioner and owner of California Health Professionals Inc. in Daly City, Ray Benitez Satorre, will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, July 23.

Well-loved retired nurse Rachel Forneas Satorre will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, July 16.

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

community

The Bucket List

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

Ask for help 15th of a Series

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA WE live in the Age of Information. You could say it is both a blessing and a curse to live during what could very well be “the best of times, the worst of times” as Dickens would probably describe it, to have so much information available at our fingertips.

We have terabytes of available information on our smartphones and computers. It is amazing wizardry indeed! All we need is the correct phrase and spelling to look up something and VOILA, there it is.

What is the downside? We think we know everything there is to know about practically everything. Secondly, we feel lost without our mental crutch, our smart phones. Third, we are susceptible to groupthink — to think like the herd does, as trends and memes proliferate in the internet.

There is a serious need to dig for the truth.

Raw knowledge is not the same as wisdom as it applies to how we live our lives. We still need our thinking caps to process and filter information and cull out only those golden nuggets of wisdom we could use to live our lives the best way we can. We junk the rest.

Our minds and the collection of life experiences in our memory banks function as the kidneys to filter out the lies and all useless information.

The Pareto 80/20 rule applies: 20% of stuff matters and the remaining 80% is chaff and should be trashed if we want our mental faculties to remain healthy and functioning for a long time yet.

With all these ever evolving gadgets and gizmos, most people these days think that they have the smarts to handle practically every life situation.

This may be true — but only up to a point. Life, as we know it, is not so cut and dried.

Self-confidence is good but

“Don’t be shy about asking for help.

It doesn’t mean you’re weak, it only means you’re wise.”

— Anonymous not when it makes you arrogant and cocky believing that you are better than anyone else. Life has a way of knocking you down off your high horse.

A bruised and battered ego is a good starting point to learn humility and gratitude. This is when the soul begins to grow.

The downside of the Age of Information? Because we have become self –reliant, we feel we don’t need anyone else. We don’t want to ask for help when we are stumped with a problem or a situation that is beyond our abilities to deal with. Society expects us to find our way with the wherewithal and smart tools we have.

Before the advent of GPS (Global Positioning System), most men (yes, men) wandered aimlessly about trying to find an address, refusing to admit to themselves that they are lost. Ask for directions? Bah, humbug!

Why was this so? The short answer: EGO. Most do not want to be perceived as weak or inept or lacking in common sense. Most women seem to be just fine asking strangers or people at gas stations for directions and the men who give the directions seem just happy to oblige.

GPS technology is a blessing. However, there is a caveat about complete reliance on it.

No technology, at this time, no matter how sophisticated can replace good old common sense. You still need to process the information provided to find the best route for yourself.

GPS is a great tool when the freeways are clogged and you need alternate routes to your destination. That said, never

Calendar of Events across

relinquish your chief navigator position.

Navigating our own life’s journey is not that simple however. There are twists and turns in life that throw us out of our smug self-sufficiency. We find ourselves needing help, either from our fellow men or more than likely, from God, when everything we have tried, has failed spectacularly.

Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Sometimes, we go through seasons of darkness when it seems the universe is conspiring against us and everything that is happening weighs us down. We feel helpless as though a Category 5 hurricane is tossing us about like a rag doll and there is no end in sight.

These are the seasons when going down on our knees and doubling down on prayers begging for help from above are the best of any one’s lifetime.

This is a time of building a deeper, more personal relationship with the loving God of our beings, who the psalmist described as the one “who knit us in our mother’s womb,” so that we are each “fearfully and wonderfully made.” All we need to do when lost and helpless, is to ASK for HELP. After all, PRAYERS, heartfelt and unceasing, are the most powerful force in the universe.

To borrow from the slogan that a sportswear company who seems to have lost its way at the moment: JUST DO IT. *** 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 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.

J U N E 28 -29

“Raised Pinay” Benefit Production Raises Funds & Awareness for Filipina Health in New York City The third generation cast of Raised Pinay will grace the stage in solidarity of reproductive health justice in the Philippines on Friday, June 28th and Saturday, June 29th, 2019. There will be three showings of this unique benefit production at University Settlement 184 Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Directed by Co-Founder Jana Lynne Umipig, who created The Journey of a Brown Girl, this community-centered production will raise money for Palawan-based non-profit organization Roots of Health also known as Ugat Ng Kalusugan.

J U N E 29

UST Medical Alumni Association of SoCal anniversary ball in Garden Grove, CA The UST Medical Alumni Association of SoCal will have its 25th year anniversary ball on Wednesday, June 29 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840). Mass begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner reception at 7:30 p.m. Part of the proceeds will benefit the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and Hospital on Wheels. Tickets are $110 for premier and $90 for regular. Please RSVP by June 1 to Marilou Dichoso, MD at (310) 387-1632.

J U LY 4 - 6

International reunion of the Society of Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines Ex-Employees & Representatives in Las Vegas Join the first annual international reunion of the Society of Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines Ex-Employees & Representatives (SOBER) to be held on July 4-6, 2019 at Stratosphere Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada. There will be a dinner-dance, induction of officers and a fun weekend of activities! For more information, contact Ben (818) 447-1411, Osang (213) 446-7209 or Rollie Agonoy (818) 806-5446.

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

SAN FRANCISCO

BY MONET

Goodnight, Tito Eddie: Farewell to the legend

LU

PHILIPPINE Cinema has lost one of its greatest treasures.

The man who has not only been an icon Philippine show business but was – more than anything – a great friend to many.

The multi-awarded actordirector Eddie Garcia passed away on Thursday, June 20 at 4:55 p.m. after suffering from a neck fracture while working on a TV series, Makati Medical Center confirmed. He was 90.

Garcia is survived by his partner of 33 years, Lilibeth Romero, his stepsons Michael and Nikki Romero, and daughter Lisa Ortega.

He left behind an impressive and unforgettable legacy in a showbiz career that spanned nearly seven decades, with over 600 films to his name as an actor and film director.

Garcia’s death came just days after he was awarded the Gawad Urian for best actor for his role as a delusional military officer who tortures students in the 2018 Cinemalaya movie “ML.” Mr. Garcia portrayed the role of a retired colonel who — in a state of dementia — tortures young people in his household basement, thinking the country is still under Martial Law. Mr. Mique enjoined the audience to work towards making Mr. Garcia “a National Artist” for film.

Eduardo Verchez Garcia was born on May 2, 1929, in Juban, Sorsogon. His parents were Antonio Garcia and Vicenta Verchez. He spent his early years in Juban. After World War II, he was stationed as a military policeman in Okinawa, Japan.

He was part of the occupation troops of the Philippine Scouts with the U.S. Army for 3 years.

In 1949, President Elpidio Quirino disbanded the troops.

Garcia would have wanted to re-enlist for the U.S. Army, but he got sidetracked and joined the movies instead.

He was convinced to try out as one of the talents for director Manuel Conde, who was developing a swashbuckling film, “Siete Infantes de Lara.”

After being shortlisted and eventually cast for the role, he never looked back.

Since then, his craft and gift for acting made it very clear that while he really wanted to become a soldier, he was destined to face the camera.

Garcia’s International Movie Database (IMDb) page lists 653 acting credits to his name from films to TV series.

Due to his Hispanic features and bearing, Garcia was typecast into playing villain roles.

One of his films was named just that — “Contravida” (1955) by Olive La Torre.

He was so effective as a villain that he won the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) award for Best Supporting Actor for three straight years from 1957 to 1959. The same award-giving body would eventually give Garcia six best supporting actor trophies, five best actor trophies, and five best director trophies.

“He is the only one in the

history of the FAMAS to win the Best Supporting Actor trophy for three consecutive years (1957, 1958 and 1959); was the first to be inducted into the Best Supporting Actor Hall of Fame; and is the only one to have also been inducted into the Best Actor and Best Director Halls of Fame, in addition to a Lifetime Achievement Award,” Greg Macabenta’s wrote in his June 11 column in BusinessWorld.

The consummate artist that he was, he eventually ventured outside the villain role and accepted more controversial roles — he played a closeted gay family man in National Artist for Film Catalino “Lino” Brocka’s “Tubog sa Ginto”.

Garcia won the best actor trophy from the FAMAS for his work in “Tubog sa Ginto”.

During the period of what is commonly called the “Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema” (the 1970s to the early 1980s) when seminal works of Nationals Artists Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal among others abound, Garcia was an intergral part of the movement.

He was in Brocka’s “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang” (1974), Eddie Romero’s “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon” (1976) and Continued on Page SF6

SF

people & events The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

The CTV Files

Atty. LiLLi BerBAno BAcuLi, eSQ

Eddie Garcia

“MY brother’s neighbor’s girlfriend’s uncle had the same exact case and it got approved and they did not use an attorney.”

I’ve heard this many times to have developed a well-curated response: Nothing. A person who has set out to hear only what s/he wants to hear can hear nothing else but what s/he wants to hear. Reason and logic be damned.

For the most part, technolManilaTimes.net photo ogy has allowed us to gather as much information as we are able to handle at the tip of our fingertips. Yet, neither Google nor Siri nor Wikipedia can stand in front of a Judge as your advocate. Most attorneys History Of A Few Bad Things;” cannot speak about cases they have not handled. Each case is Carlo Aquino in “Meet Me At unique – one tiny fact, one tiny St. Gallen;” Dante Rivero in detail could change the course “Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon;” Ketchup Eusebio of a case. And, in immigration cases where the threat of dein “Mamang;” and Miyuki Kaportation is very real why would mimura in “Tanabata’s Wife.” you gamble with your life? Or He was nominated for the your family’s life? the same category for his role New policy for rejecting inin “Hintayan Ng Langit.”

In 2000, Garcia won his first complete or inaccurate filings.

Did you know that a single Gawad Urian also as Best Actor for the movie “Deathrow” then error could mean a rejected application? And, more imporhonored by the critics circle tantly, that a rejected applicawith a Lifetime Achievement tion could lead to the issuance Award in 2006.

Eddie named Urian Best Actor two days before death

by Arlo Custodio ManilaTimes.net

FOR his role in the movie “ML” as a retired Metrocom colonel suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, veteran actor Eddie Garcia was named Best Actor by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino in the 2019 Gawad Urian two days before his passing.

The awards were held on June 18 at the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute.

“ML” was an entry to the 14th

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in August 2018 and won the actor the same honors. It had a commercial run in November of the same year.

Garcia, 90, who was comatose since June 8 when the Urian was held, following an accident on the set of a TV series won over Tony Labrusca, who played the role of the student he tortured in the movie; Christian Bables in “Signal Rock;” Dingdong Dantes in “Sid And Aya: Not A Love Story;” Victor Neri in “A Short

Just say no: Legal advice from the internet of a Notice to Appear (NTA)?

In September 2018, changes in policy were put in place allowing immigration officers to reject visa applications immediately due to missing or inaccurate information. Previously, USCIS will issue “Requests for Evidence” (RFE) if there are missing information, allowing applicants to address gaps in their paperwork. “Notices of Intent to Deny” were also issued, as per prior guidance, which gave applicants a 30-day warning that their application would likely be rejected.

Applications affected by these policies and its recent changes in policy apply to: (i) applications and renewals of temporary (non-immigrant) visas, and (ii) permanent resident status (immigrant) visas.

Securing such visas are required in order for non-U.S. citizen foreign nationals to legally live and work in the United States.

Can USCIS refer a file to deportation for the issuance of a Notice to Appear after it the case has been denied?

Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may also issue an NTA when it finds a noncitizen has not complied with regulations governing admission or maintaining lawful status after admission.

Consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before filing anything.

First things first, do not file anything with USCIS or any other government entity without first seeking advice. Filing for applications “frivolously” can and will come back and haunt you. While certain applications are available online making it easy to access, individuals must nevertheless 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. 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.

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Rotary Club of SF Sunset to celebrate Charter Inauguration and Officers Induction on June 28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The newly formed Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset of Rotary International District 5150 will celebrate its Charter Inauguration and Officers Induction on Friday, June 28, 2019.

Dinner ceremonies at the historic Cliff House in San Francisco will begin at 7:00 pm with the presentation of the Rotary International (RI) Charter by Jayne Hulbert, the outgoing Rotary International District 5150 Governor. Induction of Officers for the year 2019-2020 will be performed

by Attorney Sue Rokaw, the incoming RI D5150 Governor.

The newly formed Rotary Club is composed of Filipino American businessmen and community leaders from San Francisco and the Bay Area.

The club is headquartered in the Sunset District of San Francisco.

To be inducted into office are Marilyn De Castro, Charter President, Rudy Asercion,

President Elect, Juliet Quiambao, Club Secretary, Lucy Chadwick, Club Treasurer, Melissa Migallos, Director, Joseph Sparks, Director, John Ngau, Director, Melanie Holthause, Director and Manny Tuazon, Sergeant-atArms.

Marjan Philhour, the Senior Advisor to San Francisco Mayor London Breed will present a special proclamation honoring Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset from The City of San Francisco.

Rotary International is a 114-year-old international organization based at Evanston, Chicago, Illinois which primary purpose is to serve humanity through fellowship and camaraderie, youth mentorship, professional, and vocational development and community service.

For information about the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset, please send emails to RCSFSunset@gmail.com or call (415) 564-6262.

Goodnight, Tito Eddie...

From Page SF5 “Miguelito: Ang Batang Rebelde” (1985), to name a few.

He also starred in more social dramas like “Gumapang Ka sa Lusak” (1990), Joel Lamangan’s “Bakit May Kahapon Pa” (1996) and “Deathrow” (2000).

In “Deathrow”, he played an aged convict who shielded a young prisoner from harsh prison life. He won a Gawad Urian for Best Actor for his work in the film.

He was fondly called “Manoy” and has dabbled in comedy films as well as action flicks for much of the 1980s and 1990s where he acted opposite Fernando Poe, Jr. in “Kapag Puno na ang Salop” (1987) and its sequel, “Ako ang Huhusga” (1989) which the latter also directed.

Garcia’s love affair with the screen didn’t stop at acting as he was also a multi-awarded director — among his directorial credits were “Karugton ng Kahapon” (1961) and “Historia un Amor” (1963). His most recent directorial credit was “Abakada… Ina” in 2001.

In 1969, Garcia directed “Pinagbuklod ng Langit,” a biopic about former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, which won him his first Best Director award from FAMAS. In 1978, he directed “Atsay,” which won Best Picture at the Metro Manila Film Festival. “Atsay” starred Nora Aunor.

When the new millen-

nium came, Garcia once again reinvented himself, this time as a supporter of independent cinema. He starred in Raymond Red’s “Anino,” which won the grand prize in the short film category at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999 and in Rica Arevalo’s “ICU Bed #7” where he won best actor in the first Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2005.

Some of his last works were “ML” (2018) by Benedict Mique Jr., “Hintayan ng Langit” (2018)

by Dan Villegas and “Rainbow’s Sunset” (2018) by Joel Lamangan.

“Tito Eddie” has contributed so much to the Philippine cinema. His passing is a great loss to the industry. Nevertheless, his legacy remains and no matter what happens there can only be one Eddie “Manoy” Garcia. He will be missed but never forgotten. My condolences to the family and friends of Tito Eddie.

Goodnight Tito Eddie, you are a TRUE legend. ***

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Mayor Breed announces update on people & events SF City’s air quality and extreme weather emergency preparedness and response PG&E encourages customers to update their contact information, so they can be prepared for public safety power shutoffs The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Mayor London N. Breed on Friday, June 21, announced an update to the City’s strategy for responding to poor air quality and other weatherrelated emergencies. San Francisco has updated its Emergency Plan, identified locations for public respite facilities, developed a mutual aid roster, and has developed an air quality emergency public information toolkit.

“As we head into wildfire season, we must be prepared for poor air quality and higher temperatures,” said Mayor London Breed. “We need to look out for one another – especially our most vulnerable residents – and make sure that our communities know where they can go to access cleaner air and cooler facilities.

We’ve made good progress, but the work can’t stop here.

We will continue to strengthen our preparedness and will find ways to partner with community-based organizations to make sure we are as resilient as possible.”

In response to the poor air quality that San Francisco experienced in November 2018 as a result of the Camp Fire, Mayor Breed issued Executive Directive 18-04.

The Executive Directive requested that the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), the Department of Public Health (DPH), and the City Administrator’s Office take action to strengthen the City’s preparedness and response to air quality and other weather-related emergencies.

Yesterday, DEM, DPH, and the City Administrator’s Office submitted a Memo detailing their plans to the Mayor, which they presented at today’s DEM Disaster Council meeting.

“Thanks to the hard work of City staff, we have reviewed our portfolio of City-owned buildings and identified those best suited to provide respite from extreme heat and smoke,” said City Administrator Naomi M. Kelly. “We know that further investment will be needed, and it is important that we work strategically and equitably to best keep our visitors, workers, and residents safe.”

“The entire City is impacted by climate emergencies, but some people are affected more so than others. That is why we must work together to take care of those most at-risk to climate threats,” said Executive Director Mary Ellen Carroll, Department of Emergency Management. “Our experiences with poor air quality last fall and most recently the unseasonably high temperatures this month have made it clear we need the entire community to work together while responding to extreme weather emergencies. I am grateful for the whole community approach that has been put into action in the form of wellness checks, identifying public cleaner air and cooling facilities and engaging community organizations to share public safety and health messages with the clients they serve.”

“The health and safety of the entire San Francisco community is our paramount concern during an extreme weather event, including the recent heat and last fall’s poor air quality episodes,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “Extreme weather events will continue, and through ongoing collaboration with other city agencies and community partners, we will help people to be prepared in advance. During a heat wave or bad air quality episode, or both, our focus will be on ensuring that all communities, and particularly the most vulnerable populations, receive information, outreach and options on how to stay healthy.”

Emergency Plan DPH and DEM revised the City’s Emergency Plan so that it provides recommendations and guidelines on how to protect public health during poor air quality events. The Plan identifies strategies to reach populations in San Francisco that are most vulnerable to poor air quality, including coordinating with City Depart-

ments, clinics, care facilities, and community-based organizations that serve vulnerable populations to relay air quality alert information. City Departments that serve vulnerable populations include DPH, the Human Services Agency (HSA), the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), and the Mayor’s Office on Disability. Vulnerable populations include people with heart or lung disease, individuals who are pregnant, seniors, children, those with situational exposures and those with no opportunity to mitigate their exposure, such as individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Plan states that the best strategy for responding to poor air quality conditions is to avoid exposure to outdoor air by staying indoors as much as possible with the windows and doors closed. For persons who must be outdoors, N95 respirators will provide some level of personal protection against the harmful particles of wildfire smoke, but must fit well and provide a tight seal around the wearer’s mouth and nose. In some cases, masks can make certain health conditions worse because it takes more effort to breathe through a mask.

DPH will be providing N95 respirators for the unsheltered population in coordination with HSA and HSH. The Plan recommends that City Departments maintain a stock of N95 respirators for employees who must perform critical outdoor functions.

The Emergency Plan includes guidance on proper use of N95 respirators, and that guidance is also reflected in the public messaging toolkit.

N95 respirators can only help when fitted properly.

Public respite centers The City Administrator’s Office has identified public facilities that are well suited to serve as cleaner air and/or cooling respite centers, and facilities that could serve as respite centers with investments in ventilation, air conditioning systems, and window upgrades. Going forward, the City Administrator’s Office will work with partner agencies to recommend an equitable level of service for cleaner air and cooling centers in San Francisco and strategic investments in public facilities.

Mutual aid DEM is compiling a roster of City personnel across all Departments who meet new baseline training and experience requirements for potential future mutual aid deployments. This roster is separate from existing public safety mutual aid plans and includes staff from sixteen City Departments. DEM is also compiling a roster of deployable City personnel who have additional credentials or subject matter expertise often requested during or immediately following a disaster.

Regional coordination – Public Outreach DEM and DPH collaborated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Association of Bay Area Health Officers, Regional Joint Information System, and the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative to determine coordinated and standardized health messaging across Bay Area counties.

The communications toolkit, to be finalized and approved by regional partners, includes guidelines for communicating with hard-to-reach populations, such as people with access and functional needs, including people with disabilities, older adults, immigrant populations and people with limited English proficiency.

Once finalized, the toolkit will be translated into all threshold languages in the Bay Area.

Next steps The Memo from the City Administrator’s Office, DEM, and DPH also identifies immediate, short- and long-term steps to further plan for and mitigate poor air quality and extreme weather events.

Resources have been identified to conduct additional technical analysis on existing facilities to determine the appropriate level of investment in those facilities. In addition, the City has

identified funding to facilitate the deployment of portable air filtration and cooling units.

The City will address any potential service gaps caused by poor air quality and extreme weather events by collaborating with communitybased and non-profit organizations that serve and are trusted by vulnerable populations.

Mother Brown’s Dining Room is one example of how community centers can provide heat relief to vulnerable populations in San Francisco. Mother Brown’s is a homeless shelter in the Bayview that participated in the City’s Resilient Bayview Heat and Poor Air Quality Resilience Program.

With the City’s assistance, they secured grant funding from The San Francisco Foundation for an air conditioning unit and solar-powered generator, and during the most recent heat wave were able to provide heat relief for 60 homeless individuals.

A more complete list of next steps is included in the memo submitted to Mayor Breed. DEM, DPH, the City Administrator’s Office, and City agencies are working to implement the identified actions.

As Wildfire season progresses, updates needed from more than 240,000 customers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is sending postcards to more than 240,000 customers encouraging them to update their mobile number, email and other key information so the company can contact them in advance should it become necessary to temporarily turn off power for safety this fire season.

These customers, who live throughout PG&E’s service area, have incomplete or no contact information on file.

It is important that all customer information is up to date so PG&E can share important wildfire safety alerts. In addition to notifying customers directly, PG&E also will provide outage updates and information through channels such as social media, local news, radio and the pge.com website.

“With the 2019 wildfire season now upon us, we all need to be better prepared to stay emergency-ready and to

keep our families and friends safe,” said Laurie Giammona, PG&E’s senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We are asking our customers to be sure we have their latest contact information so we can do our best to reach them in advance of a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff event.”

The Public Safety Power Shutoff program is one of many additional precautionary safety measures in response to the 2017 and 2018 wildfires that the company is putting in place as part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program intended to reduce wildfire threats and strengthen communities for the future.

Extreme weather threats can change quickly. PG&E’s goal, dependent on weather and other factors, is to send customer alerts through automated calls, texts and emails at 48 hours, again at 24 hours, and again just prior to shutting off

power.

Besides updating their contact information to prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs, PG&E encourages customers to do the following: • Have an emergency plan for wildfires and discuss it with your friends, family and neighbors; • Update or create a go bag or 72-hour kit that can be used if you need to evacuate; and • Clear defensible space around your home or business.

PG&E thanks the over 390,000 customers who have taken action to ensure they will receive its wildfire safety alerts since June 1, 2018. For customers who have not yet confirmed or updated their contact information, PG&E strongly encourages everyone to do so by visiting www.pge. com/mywildfirealerts or by calling the PG&E contact center at 1-866-743-6589.

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 28, 2019