062919 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

JUNE 29-JULY 2, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 50 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

Duterte: Seeking US help in sea dispute Supreme Court rejects will bring Philippines closer to war citizenship question DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

on 2020 Census

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Supreme Court on Thursday, June 27 rejected the Trump administration’s citizenship question from being included in the 2020 Census questionnaire.

In his majority opinion released after the 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. wrote that the administration’s justification and intentions for the citizenship questions “seem to have been contrived.”

The decennial count of all persons living in the United States (slated for April, 1, 2020) determines the appropriation of representatives each state gets in the House as well as the allocation of federal funds to each state — the larger the population, the more representatives and funding each state gets. (These funds are typically diverted to public uses such as Medicaid, housing assistance and public education among other programs.)

It also determines how electoral districts are drawn.

The last time the census asked about residents’ citizenship was in the 1950 census survey which asked, “If foreign born — Is he naturalized?” (In 1960, there was a question about birthplace, but didn’t ask about naturalization.) u PAGE A4

Lawsuit alleges Utah hotel exploited Filipino interns A LAWSUIT was filed on Tuesday, June 25, accusing the luxury Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah of using interns from the Philippines to do menial jobs for long hours with minimal pay.

Represented by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and other organizations, the four plaintiffs — namely, Jann Descanzo, Veronica Bondoc, Glen Segundino and Marianne Ponio — filed the lawsuit that says the Grand America Hotel misused a type of visa similar to an internship program intended for training and cultural immersion and instead treated them like normal workers to avoid travel costs and other fees.

The four interns were brought in on a J-1 Visa, a program intended to provide opportunities for foreign visitors to experience U.S. society and culture.

The lawsuit also said that each participant at the Grand America paid more than $3,000 each to become interns as well as their own travel costs.

“Defendants did not provide [the participant] the internship experience he was promised.

Rather, Defendants employed [them] at the u PAGE A5

INVOLVING the United States in the Philippines’ maritime row with China will only bring the country closer to war, President Rodrigo Duterte said in response to officials pushing to seek

American help.

Duterte on Thursday night, June 27 made the remark at Malacañang after Senator Panfilo Lacson insisted on invoking the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), an agreement that was signed in 1951 and recognizes the country as “a treaty ally,” in

the latest dispute in the West Philippine Sea. According to Lacson, the MDT is the Philippines’ “only ‘weapon’ in our arsenal.”

However, Duterte disagreed with the senator’s suggestion as it would push toward more hostility.

“I have to protect the interest of my country, the very life of the Filipino.

One hundred ten million. America, bakit ka ba magsabi ng…bakit tawagin mo America? (Why would you call America?) That will all the more bring us to the verge of war,” he said. u PAGE A2

Critics calling for Duterte impeachment threatened with jail time

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, June 27 threatened to jail his critics after challenging them to file an impeachment complaint against him for allowing China to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. “Impeachable? I will jail them all. Go ahead and try, I mean to do it, and I will do it. I will tell our soldiers that I will send them there and what about their families. And then all of them will die?’ he said.

Duterte’s statement was in response to critics saying he committed an impeachable offense for breaching the Constitution that mandates him to defend the country’s territory.

“The Constitution states that the president and the military must secure the national territory, and the national territory includes the exclusive economic zone,” former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a television interview. “To violate that is really a basis u PAGE A3

ELITE FORCE. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, June 26, joined the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in its 122nd anniversary celebration expressing his gratitude to the elite unit for securing him and his family as well as for serving the nation. “Together, let us safeguard our nation, defend our people and march towards a brighter future for all,” he added.

Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo

Pacquiao: Thurman reminds me of Cotto fight Think tank: Philippines to

lose the most in possible US outsourcing ban

by MARK

GIONGCO Inquirer.net

MANNY Pacquiao is boxing’s only eight-division champion for a reason.

The Filipino legend has fought the finest that boxing has to offer no matter what division he’s in and, more often than not, he’s gotten the best of them.

Pacquiao is slated to meet WBA (Super) welterweight champion Keith Thurman in a title unification bout next month in Las Vegas.

Thurman, who is undefeated in 29 fights with 22 knockouts, presents a new challenge for Pacquiao u PAGE A3

by AJPRESS

Senator Manny Pacquiao plays the guitar and sings some tunes with family and friends at his Los Angeles residence. Pacquiao skipped training on Wednesday, June 26 for some relaxation time.

Photo by Wendell Alinea/Manny Pacquiao Promotions

‘DEFENDING IN NUMBERS’ REPORT

PH rights, green activists most targeted by violence in Asia

by JHESSET

ENANO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Land rights defenders, environmental activists and prodemocracy advocates in the Philippines are among those who suffer most from human rights violations in Asia, facing harassment, violent attacks and death, according to a recent report.

In its biennial report “Defending in Numbers” released late in May, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Fo“Lumad” community members hold a protest rally on April 16 outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon rum-Asia) said the Philippines City, holding the Duterte administration liable for the killing of Datu Kaylo Bontolan, a tribal had the most number of cases of chieftain in Talaingod, Davao del Norte province.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande violations against environmental

THE Philippines would be the ‘biggest loser’ in Asia if United States President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to punish American firms that outsource jobs, an independent economic research company has claimed.

In Capital Economics’ recent research brief entitled “Winner and losers from the trade war,” it was revealed that the trade war between the U.S. and China poses a major threat to economies in emerging Asia, which would

tip several countries’ economies into a recession.

“The trade war between the U.S. and China so far appears to have had a small negative impact on most of the region, although some countries, most notably Vietnam, look to be benefiting as U.S. demand has shifted away from China towards alternative suppliers,” the brief said.

It added that in the event of a global trade war, “a number of the region’s economies would be tipped into recession, while no part of Emerging Asia would u PAGE A2

activists, documenting 39 out of 135 cases against land rights defenders in the entire region.

Forum-Asia said the land rights defenders included indigenous peoples, farming and peasant groups and local communities “whose land, life and livelihoods are threatened by the exploitation of the environment and the establishment of development projects.”

135 cases Of the 135 cases it cited, 94 were reportedly perpetrated by state agents such as the military and police. But the report also noted the increasing role of File photo shows Filipino call center personnel attending to a U.S. client at a new business Inquirer.net photo u PAGE A2 process outsourcing office in Manila.

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From the Front Page

PH rights, green activists most targeted...

PAGE A1 t civilians, including those representing business and corporate interests.

In one case in December 2017, eight members of the T’boliManobo S’daf Claimants Organization, a group resisting the occupation of their lands by a business group, were killed at Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu by

soldiers.

The military claimed that the men were members of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Gun attack In another case, Ricky Olado, a member of “lumad” group Tinanaon Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa in Arakan town,

Cotabato province, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in January 2018.

Olado’s group was opposed to mining and logging companies that were encroaching on lands of the local indigenous community in Arakan valley.

Between 2017 and 2018, Forum-Asia said it documented 688 cases of violations that affected over 4,800 people across 18 countries, including members of human rights organizations, local communities and media.

Aside from environmental activists, the others at risk were women defending human rights and those fighting to protect democracy and democratic institutions, which accounted for the most number of cases in the region at 210.

Asia has long been considered an unsafe region for environmental defenders. In 2017, a report

by Michel Forst, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said it was the second most dangerous region after Latin America.

A separate report by international watchdog Global Witness, tagged the Philippines as Asia’s most dangerous for environmental defenders, noting that 48 campaigners were killed in 2017, a 71-percent increase from 28 in the previous year.

In the recent Forum-Asia report, the Philippines was followed by Vietnam and India in the number of cases, with 23 and 17 documented violations, respectively.

Conservative figures It noted, however, that these figures were still conservative since many of the activists were socially and geographically isolated, and do not consider themselves to be human rights defenders.

Most of the recorded violations were judicial harassment in the form of administrative charges or delays or denial of fair trial, and arbitrary arrest and detention.

“Across Asia, human rights defenders are threatened, harassed, persecuted, and at times killed for promoting and protecting human rights,” Forst said. “Many of their rights inscribed in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders are continuously violated, even as 2018 marked the 20th year anniversary of its adoption.” n

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

Duterte: Seeking US help in sea...

PAGE A1 t

Duterte also stressed that the U.S. can only act in case of an armed aggression against the country.

Earlier this month, a Chinese fishing vessel rammed a Filipino fishing boat carrying 22 fishermen near the Recto Bank, which the president previously called a “little maritime incident.”

Conflicting stories from both the Philippine and Chinese governments about incident have been released. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Chinese vessel hit and eventually sunk the boat carrying 22 Filipino

fishermen in the open sea.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy claimed that around seven or eight Filipino fishing boats “besieged” the Chinese vessel, which presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo raised doubts about.

Duterte on Wednesday challenged the U.S., as well as Great Britain and France, to support the Philippines in standing up against China, but still maintained he will not put Filipinos’ lives at stake over the Recto Bank incident.

“This is my challenge, America, Britain, France: let us as-

semble in Palawan and proceed directly to Spratlys. Let us seize whatever we can seize,” he said during the 122nd anniversary of the Presidential Security Group at Malacañang.

“If we all perish, they will say ‘Duterte is not protecting the interest of the Filipino people.’ 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,” he added.

The president has reiterated in his past speeches that the Philippines is not ready to go to war against the Asian powerhouse. n

Think tank: Philippines to lose the most...

PAGE A1 t escape unscathed.”

Capital Economics noted that the Philippines is not as dependent on the goods trade to power its economy as its neighbors are, but it does have a robust services sector in which American firms are major players.

“The Philippines would be the biggest loser if Trump followed through on his threat to punish American companies that outsource jobs abroad,”

Capital Economics said, adding, “The Philippines has a thriving business process and IT outsourcing sector, which last year brought in revenues equivalent to around 10 percent of GDP.” The firm said that while the effect of a prolonged trade war between the world’s two largest economies would be more damaging to economies that primarily engage in goods trade, the consequences for economies

with strong service sector like the Philippines may result into greater stagnation due to maintaining barriers.

“The long-run consequences would be even bigger if the world also maintained barriers to trade in services and information, to foreign direct investment, and to migration. In this case, there may be a much bigger global downturn, or indeed a long period of stagnation,” it said. n

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Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29-JULy 2, 2019

A

‘Medicare for All’ emerges as early divide in first Democratic debate

by KaiseR

CHARITY RACE. Top jockey John A. Guce (left) skillfully maneuvers Hidden Eagle (#1) at the turn to edge Jeff Zarate (right) on Speak Easy (#2) by a head length in a thrilling finish during the PHILRACOM Charity Race 5th PPP Cup at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite on Sunday, June 23. Also in photo are Mark B. Pilapil, riding Oasis (#7), and Mark Alvarez (in pink) on top of Lollipop (#4), who landed in third and fourth place, respectively. The owner of Hidden Eagle also got the P20,000 prize in the 1,300-meter race sponsored by the Philippine Racing Club Inc. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Trump’s decision to end DACA to be reviewed by Supreme Court

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

THE U.S. Supreme Court announced on Friday, June 28 that it would be reviewing an appeal in the next term on whether the Trump administration’s ongoing plan to end protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is lawful.

With legal arguments set to take place near the end of 2019, the highest court’s decision may likely be made by mid-2020 — peak campaigning time for presidential candidates including President Donald Trump who is eyeing reelection.

Since Trump’s election in 2016, DACA has found itself at the center of political negotiations revolving around immigration and funding for a wall along the southern U.S.Mexico border.

Trump announced in 2017 that his administration would be winding down DACA, claiming its adoption to have been unlawful and that courts did not have the power to review its decision.

Then acting Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited to a 2015 federal appeals court ruling in New Orleans that blocked a related Obama-era program called DAPA, or Deferred Action for Parents of Americans.

The Trump administration also said it acted to end DACA as a result of lawsuit threats coming from states including Texas.

Protests and lawsuits from immigrant advocates and civil rights groups quickly ensued, with several lower courts arguing that the Trump administration had no clear

reason for ending the program, or any clear argument that DACA was illegal.

In California, a federal judge issued the first of three nationwide injunctions in 2018 that required the Trump administration to continue accepting renewal applications from DACA recipients whose statuses were about to expire.

According to federal data, renewals were made for more than 373,000 DACA recipients.

Federal courts in New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C., similarly made moves to block the administration from immediately ending the program.

The 2012 Obama-era program has protected nearly 700,000 people brought into this country as young children — commonly referred to as “DREAMers” — through providing them with work permits and protection from deportation.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, nearly 5,000 applications approved since 2012 were from undocumented Filipinos.

One of the cases up for Supreme Court review was brought forth by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, together with attorneys general from Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota.

“So far, both lower courts in our legal fight to protect DACA have agreed with us that the Trump Administration’s attempt to end it was unlawful,” Becerra said in a statement on Friday.

He added, “In California and across our nation, [DREAMers] enrich our communities as scholars, entrepreneurs, first respond-

Pacquiao: Thurman reminds me...

PAGE A1 t but the hard-hitting American also reminds him of a familiar foe he faced earlier in his career.

“Keith Thurman reminds me of the Cotto fight,” Pacquiao, who holds the WBA (regular) title, told boxingscene.com, referring to Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao brutally stopped Cotto in the 12th round 10 years ago.

The 40-year-old Pacquiao really has nothing left to prove but the trash-talking Thurman, who vowed to sent Pacquiao into retirement, has lit the fire under his belly.

“I feel motivated because of what he said. We’ll see how the fight ends. I think it’s going to be exciting but we’ll see what happens in the ring,” Pacquiao said. n

Critics calling for Duterte...

PAGE A1 t for impeachment, he can be impeached.”

According to Article XII Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, the government “shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.”

However, Duterte said the provision is “for the thoughtless and the senseless.”

“The protection of our economic rights about the economic zone resolves this? I am protecting the country and 110 million Filipinos.

You know, it’s like this. China is like the Filipino, you can’t shame it. China will lose it and will give it to us, really give it to us. That’s the way it goes,” he explained.

The president also said that banning China from fishing in the disputed waters would only result in war.

“When you go there, how do you drive them away? These fools want to shame me. When I go there, I will tell the commander to leave. He will tell me who am I to order him? You want to fight? Remember that the missiles there, those on the islands could reach Manila in seven minutes,” he said.

The president called out Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a staunch advocate of Manila’s rights in the West Philippine Sea, to give him a solution to the issue.

“Now I’m telling you, tell me what I will tell Xi Jinping who already told me that there would be trouble. That’s why answer me Justice, give me the formula and I will do it,” he said.

“We both have sparklers. Both China and the Philippines. But at the tip of those sparklers is an atomic bomb. Our warhead is the sparkler. Our is just for feasting not for war,” Duterte added.

He also explained why he agreed with Xi to allow China to fish in the Philippine EEZ after Filipino fishermen were granted access to

Scarborough Shoal by Beijing.

“We do not need to give or disallow China because in the mind of China and everybody else down to the last soldier and citizen, China is theirs, that’s why they took it,” he said.

“The answer of Xi Jinping, in whisper, ‘You know, Mayor Duterte, we just restored our friendship. It was not good for the number of years. Let us not talk about it.’ He said, ‘Let’s talk about helping each other, create commerce. I want my oil because that is ours there,’” Duterte added.

Malacañang, likewise, dared Duterte’s critics to file an impeachment complaint despite Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo maintaining that Duterte’s statement that China could fish in Philippine waters was not a ground for impeachment.

“You know, under the Constitution, there are provisions on impeachment. If they believe that what the President did was impeachable, then they should file an impeachment complaint,” said Panelo during a press briefing on Thursday.

“But you cannot stop the President from doing steps that, to his mind, is the correct way to obey the constitutional command to protect and to serve the Filipino people,” he added.

Panelo also clarified Duterte’s statement, saying he was misinterpreted by ‘everyone.’

“It appears that what the president meant was China would not allow their nationals from fishing in our EEZ since they treat us as their friends, knowing that permitting their fishermen to fish in our EEZ would only result in an unwanted hostility leading to an armed confrontation,” Panelo said.

“He (Duterte) further elaborated on that issue. He explained that his first visit to China resulted in a modus vivendi where China, which claims ownership of Reed (Recto) Bank by virtue of historical right, would allow our fishermen to catch fish there, a place declared to be within our EEZ,” he added. n

ers, and much more.”

The Supreme Court’s announcement comes after it just earlier this month, refused to expedite hearings of the cases coming from four federal appeals courts.

The Justice Department on Friday praised the decision.

“We are pleased the Supreme Court agreed that this issue needs resolution. We look forward to presenting our case before the Court,” said Alexei Woltornist, spokesperson for the Justice Department.

In the meantime, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five civil rights organizations, encourages DACA beneficiaries to continue renewing their applications.

The federal government is currently under court order to accept and process renewal applications, but it is not accepting new applications. n

HealtH news

DURING Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential primary debate — the first in a two-night event viewed as the de facto launch of the primary season — health policies, ranging from “Medicare for All” to efforts to curb skyrocketing drug prices, were among the key issues the 10 hopeful candidates onstage used to help differentiate themselves from the pack.

Health care dominated early, with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) using questions about the economy to take aim at pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) emphasized the difficulties many Americans face in paying premiums.

But the candidates broke ranks on the details and not all of their claims stayed strictly within the lines.

Only two candidates — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Warren — raised their hands in favor of banishing private insurance to install a government-sponsored Medicare for All approach.

Klobuchar, a single-payer skeptic, expressed concern about “kicking half of America off their health insurance in four years.”

(That’s correct: In 2017, a majority of Americans had private coverage, with 49% getting that insurance through work, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.)

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who also supports maintaining a private insurance system, outlined his own universal health

care plan, based on a “Medicare for America” bill in Congress.

The single-payer talk set off other discussions about the role of health insurance and the cost of care. We fact-checked some of the biggest claims.

Warren: “The insurance companies last year alone sucked $23 billion in profits out of the health care system. $23 billion. And that doesn’t count the money that was paid to executives, the money that was spent lobbying Washington.”

We contacted Warren’s campaign, who directed us to a report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a nonpartisan group of industry regulators. It supports her assessment.

The report says that in 2018, health insurers posted $23.4 billion in net earnings, or profits, compared with $16.1 billion a year prior.

This came up in the context of Warren’s support for eliminating private insurance under a Medicare for All system. However, the financing and price tag of such a system is unclear.

Booker: “The overhead for insurers that they charge is 15%, while Medicare’s overhead is only at 2%.”

This is a flawed comparison.

Booker said administrative overhead eats up much more for private carriers than it does for Medicare, the government insurance program for seniors and the disabled. But Medicare piggybacks off the Social Security Administration, which covers costs of en-

rollment, payments and keeping track of patients.

Also, Medicare relies on private providers for some of its programs, and overhead charges there are higher. Medicare’s overhead is less than that of private carriers, but exact figures are elusive.

The insurance companies’ trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), reported in 2018 that 18.1% of private health care premiums went to non-health care services. That includes taxes of 4.7% and profits of 2.3%. The Medicare trustees reported that in 2018, total expenses were $740.6 billion, with administrative expenses of $9.9 billion. That comes to 1.3%, less than Booker said.

Warren: “I spent a big chunk of my life studying why families go broke, and one of the No. 1 reasons is the cost of health care, medical bills. And that’s not just for people who don’t have insurance. It’s for people who have insurance.”

Is the No. 1 reason people go broke the cost of health care?

We’ve rated similar statements Half True — partially accurate but lacking important context.

A 2005 study Warren co-authored and a 2009 paper both found that health care expenses were a leading cause of personal bankruptcy. But these claims have come under dispute, in particular from academics who suggest that people may overstate the role medical bills play in their financial problems. Other research suggests a far narrower impact, PAGE A5

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Mangroves, reefs reduce losses from disasters – World Bank by anna Leah

GonzaLes ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines was able to save more than $1 billion in losses because of its natural systems, according to a World Bank report.

In its Lifelines: The Resilient Infrastructure Opportunity report released last week, the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) noted that “combining infrastructure with nature-based solutions” reduces countries investment needs.

“In the Philippines, mangroves, reefs and other natural

system prevent more than $1 billion in annual disaster losses,” the report said.

The report also noted that nature-based solutions were also used for flood protection, thus, reducing the need for hard infrastructure like dikes.

“The fact that mangroves and coral reefs protect coastlines against floods and storm stages is well-known,” the report said.

It added that countries that benefited the most from reefs were the Philippines, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico.

The report said the annual expected flood savings of these

countries was estimated at more than $400 million each.

World Bank and GFDRR’s report said the net benefit on average of investing in more resilient infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries would be $4.2 trillion.

“Resilient infrastructure is not about roads or bridges or power plants alone. It is about the people, the households and the communities for whom this quality infrastructure is a lifeline to better education and better livelihoods,” World Bank Group President David Malpass said in a statement. n

LGBTQ acceptance in decline among US millennials — GLAAD

by Cody

Cepeda Inquirer.net

A NEW survey released by GLAAD, a media monitoring organization dedicated to LGTBQ (Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Bisexual, Queer) advocacy, showed that young adults in the United States are less accepting of members of the community.

The Accelerating Acceptance Index, a national survey among U.S. adults, was conducted by The Harris Poll on GLAAD’s behalf and involved 1,970 U.S. adults aged 18 or older, 1,754 of whom classified as non-LGBTQ. The latest index showed there has been a shift in millennial acceptance toward the LGTBQ community, from allies to detached supporters.

The index defined allies as non-LGBTQ supporters who were either “very” or “somewhat” comfortable in all LGBTQ-related interaction scenarios given.

Meanwhile, detached supporters were defined as non-LGBTQ respondents whose comfort level varied across situations. The scenarios ranged from having LGBTQ members at one’s place of worship and seeing a same-sex couple holding hands to learning a family member is LGBTQ, among others.

Allies among non-LGBTQ 18 to 34 year olds were down to 45% in 2018, compared to 53% in 2017 and 63% in 2016. This was seen in both female and male respondents: female allies dropped to 52% from 64% in 2017, whereas male allies went down to 35% from 40% in 2017.

There is also a decline in overall

DONATION. The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. donates P1.2 million on Friday, June 28, for the rehabilitation of the damaged fishing boat in the Recto Bank incident, as well as P250,000 as livelihood assistance for the 22 Filipino fishermen.

The group also committed to allocate five public school buildings for the municipality of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, where the fishing boat is based.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

‘Bongga,’‘kilig’ among Filipino words added to Oxford dictionary

by RitCheL

MendioLa AJPress

comfort when it comes to personal situations, which were divided into 4: learning a family member is LGBTQ, when one’s child is placed in a class with an LGBTQ teacher, when one learns that their doctor is LGBTQ and when one learns their child had a lesson on LGBTQ history in school.

Thirty-six percent of non-LGBTQ young Americans were uncomfortable when it came to learning a family member is LGBTQ. About 33% said they were uncomfortable when their child is placed in a class with an LGBTQ teacher, whereas 34% said they were uncomfortable when they learned their doctor is LGBTQ. Lastly, 39% of the respondents said they were uncomfortable when it came to learning their child had a lesson on LGBTQ history. The percentages for discomfort across the four aspects increased when compared to the results in 2017 and 2016, respec-

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 (extravaInquirer.net photo gant, flamboyant; impressive, stylish), halo-halo (a dessert tively. made of mixed fruits, sweet Despite the decline in accep- beans, milk and shaved ice) tance, the report showed that and kilig (exhilaration or elation support for equal rights is stable, caused by an exciting or romanwith majority of non-LGBTQ tic experience).

Americans (80%) strongly/someThere are also new senses of what agreeing to the statement, existing English words like gim“I support equal rights for the mick (a night out with friends), LGBT community.” viand (meat, seafood or vegetaGLAAD CEO and president ble dish that accompanies rice in Sarah Ellis said in the report that a typical Filipino meal), and high full acceptance of the LGBTQ blood (angry, agitated). community does not come from Pancit (noodles), adopted from judicial decisions alone, but in- Chinese, and Spanish loanwords, volves a culture that respects LG- pandesal (bread roll) and despeBTQ people. dida (going-away party), were “Closing the gap to full accep- also included. tance of LGBTQ people will not Additionally, there are some come from legislation on judicial words that are classified as decisions alone, but from creat- English but are only used in the ing a culture where LGBTQ peo- Philippines: kikay kit (cosmetple are embraced and respected,” Ellis said. “This year’s results demonstrate an urgent need for GLAAD to reach younger Americans with stories and campaigns PAGE A1 t Then in March 2018, Commerce that build acceptance.” n Secretary Wilbur Ross sent out a memo with plans to reinstate the citizenship question on the 2020 count.

According to Ross, the request came from the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) which “sought out improved data” about the voting-age population who were citizens with the purpose of better enforcing the voting Rights Act (vRA).

In short, Ross reasoned that the DOJ required more accurate citizenship data and that existing resources — the regularly distributed American Community Survey (ACS) and the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — were inadequate.

But Roberts wrote in his majority opinion that the documented presented in the case showed that the Commerce Department — despite claiming it was acting on a “routine data request” from the DOJ — went out of its way to “elicit” a request from the DOJ “or any other willing agency.”

“We are presented, in other words, with an explanation for agency action that is incongruent with what the record reveals about the agency’s priorities and decision-making process,” Roberts wrote. “Several points, considered together, reveal a significant mismatch between the decision [Ross] made and the rationale he provided.”

ics 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 constantly 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 language 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 this opportunity to collaborate with Sentro Rizal and to present its work on Philippine English to a Filipino audience in London,” Salazar said.

She added, “The dictionary is committed to making space for words from the Philippines, as by doing so, we recognize how its Filipino speakers contribute to the richness and diversity of English.” n

Supreme Court rejects citizenship question...

Per the majority ruling, Census Bureau officials have “resisted occasional proposals” to continue asking about citizenship on the questionnaire in fear that including a citizenship question will alter the true count of states with high concentrations of undocumented residents who may fear that divulging their citizenship status could open up the door for deportation.

Since Ross’ memo in 2018, lawmakers and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) advocacy organizations have decried the proposed reinstatement of the citizenship question on grounds that it serves to alter the true count of regions that have higher concentrations of undocumented immigrants like Los Angeles.

Asian American Action Fund Board Member Caroline Fan said in a statement, “The inclusion of the census citizenship question is a deliberate effort to erase AAPI communities and communities of color, and to disenfranchise us.

The highest and only goal of the Census is a complete and accurate count. This question instills fear and decreases participation by our families, particularly considering that many families are of mixed immigration status, and that 1 in 7 AAPIs is undocumented.”

LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas praised the court’s decision in ensuring that the 2020 census moves toward a more accurate count.

“In Los Angeles County, we face a special challenge. We’re home to one of the most diverse populations in the world. The world is Los Angeles County and Los Angeles County is the world,” Ridley-Thomas wrote in a statement. “This means we have our work cut out for us to reach historically hard-to-count population groups, such as people of color, low-income residents, immigrants, and people without higher education. Young children and young families are particularly at risk.”

But the Supreme Court’s decision doesn’t kill the citizenship question altogether.

Following the ruling, President Donald Trump announced that he is seeking legal advice to delay the census count to give the administration more time to better organize its reasoning for why it thinks the citizenship question is necessary.

“Seems totally ridiculous that our government, and indeed Country, cannot ask a basic question of Citizenship in a very expensive, detailed and important Census, in this case for 2020,” Trump tweeted on Thursday. “I have asked the lawyers if they can delay the Census, no matter how long, until the United States Supreme Court is given additional information from which it can make a final and decisive decision on this very critical matter.”(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

‘Medicare for All’ emerges as early divide...

PAGE A3 t

though that, in turn, has been criticized for focusing only on adult hospitalizations.

That said, research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that medical bills are a leading cause of personal debt — in 2014, the CFPB found that nearly 20% of credit reports included a medical debt tradeline.

But Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) drew on examples of universal health coverage in other countries to explain why she still supported some private insurance options.

Gabbard: “If you look at other countries in the world who have universal health care, every one of them has some form of a role of private insurance.”

This is correct. virtually every country with universal health care includes a role for private insurance. Some allow it to cover services not addressed by the national plan. Others allow it as a means to get care faster. Others heavily regulate it as a principal source of coverage.

For instance, Canada, the model for the principal Medicare for All

bill, allows private insurance to address prescription drug coverage, private rooms in hospitals and vision and dental care. (It is not allowed to compete with the government plan.) In England, about 10% of people — mostly wealthier people — elect for private coverage, which can yield faster access to care. Countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland heavily regulate private coverage.

Beyond Medicare for All, candidates touched on strategies to bring down drug prices as well as other issues.

Klobuchar: “2,500 drug prices have gone up in double digits since [Donald Trump] took office.”

This is accurate, according to a report from Pharmacy Benefits Consultants, an industry group, which listed a number of pharmaceutical products experiencing price increases as high as 1,468%.

And the numbers are even less flattering than Klobuchar suggested.

An analysis by the Associated

Press found that, between January and July 2018, more than 4,400 branded prescription drugs experienced price increases.

Meanwhile, data compiled by Rx Savings Solutions found that the list price of more than 3,000 drugs went up this year.

O’Rourke: “In Texas, the single largest provider of mental health care is the county jail system.”

This is correct.

Texas jails are the largest mental health care systems in the state, according to a report from the University of Texas at Austin.

The Harris County jail, which includes a 108-bed unit, identifies itself as the largest mental health care facility in Texas.

This is not a Texas-specific issue. According to a 2011 NPR report, it is more common to see Americans getting mental health care in jails and prisons than hospitals or other dedicated treatment facilities.

Election Day is 495 days away.

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

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A

Filipina is named one of ‘RBC Top PH among countries with most confidence 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2019’ in charities, NGOs — Gallup report

TORONTO, Ontario — Gelaine Santiago, Filipina founder of Cambio & Co., was named one of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2019. Santiago received the prestigious award at a ceremony at One King West Hotel on June 25.

The RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards is a people’s choice awards program that recognizes inspirational immigrants who have made a positive impact on their communities since arriving in Canada.

As the first Canadian national award program, the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards recognizes the achievements of all immigrants including community advocates, volunteers, successful entrepreneurs, and cultural icons.

“These awards not only showcase the richness and diversity that newcomers add to the fabric of our communities but also the important role they play in making Canada the success it is today and will continue to do so in the future,” said Ivy Chiu, Senior Di-

Gelaine Santiago sharing her knowledge of Filipino heritage and craftsmanship with the younger generation of Filipino Canadians during Toronto’s Filipinoesque pop-up.

Inquirer.net photos by Kevin Ramos

rector, Newcomer Strategy, RBC. Santiago was born in Bulacan, Philippines and moved to Toronto, Canada when she was three years old. In 2015, Gelaine and her partner Jérôme GagnonVoyer founded Cambio & Co., an ethical retailer that specializes in “conscious fashion” designed and handcrafted in the Philippines by talented Filipino artisans.

Their aim is threefold: to connect Filipino entrepreneurs and

Gelaine and her partner Jérôme Gagnon-Voyer with Filipino artisans whose crafts they retail.

artisans to the global market; to give consumers the opportunity to make an impact through their purchases; to create a space for Filipinos in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots by learning about Filipino traditions and history through contemporary, ethical fashion.

Cambio & Co. has grown to include 2,000 customers in the U.S., Canada, and internationally with 10,000 social advocates across the world. It amplifies the work of 12 partners in the Philippines, across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“I’m thankful to receive this award, not only on behalf of my parents who made the courageous decision to pursue a life in Canada, but also on behalf of the larger Filipino community,” says Santiago. “With Canada’s first ever Filipino Heritage Month, I’m proud to be one of the many Filipinos who are sharing our heritage and culture loudly, fiercely, and unapologetically.” (Inquirer. net)

Lawsuit alleges Utah hotel exploited...

PAGE A1 t Grand America Hotel as nothing more than a low-wage worker Defendants needed to operate the hotel,” the lawsuit stated.

The J-1 Visa has a set guideline that says state participants “must not be used as substitutes for ordinary employment or work purposes; nor may they be used under any circumstances to displace American workers.”

The lawsuit, however, claimed that the Filipino interns were forced to work up to 60 hours a week and do less desirable jobs than other employees.

It also alleged that the super-

visors called them “slow” and “lazy,” as well as threatened with deportation when they complained about the hotel not following the internship plan.

“The hotel threatened plaintiffs with deportation if they did not do the work they were ordered to perform,” the lawsuit stated.

The Filipino interns were reportedly promised the opportunity to visit go to a Dickens Christmas festival, a winter solstice festival, the zoo, and a dance festival as cultural experiences, but none of those things happened.

Attorneys are seeking to make

it a class-action lawsuit, believing that around 100 workers endured the same treatment.

They also referred to a 2011 Homeland Security investigation into the Grand America Hotel that found the hotel employing 133 workers without proper documentation to work in the United States.

“Stymied in their attempts to use undocumented labor, defendants turned to non-immigrant visa programs, including the J-1 visa internship program, to import cheap foreign labor to operate the hotel,” the lawsuit said. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

FILIPINOS have high confidence in charities and non-governmental organizations, according to a Gallup survey that found a slim majority of the world’s adults expressing trust in these institutions.

The findings of Gallup and Wellcome showed that 52% of adults worldwide expressed confidence in charitable organizations and NGOs operating within their country’s borders, while 32% said they do not have confidence in such organizations.

The Philippines placed fourth on the list of countries with the highest confidence in charities and NGOs, sharing the spot with Uzbekistan.

Seventy-four percent of Filipino respondents said they have confidence in charitable organizations and NGOs, while 25% answered they do not have confidence in such institutions.

Donations to foreign NGOs should be cleared with DFA Earlier this month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said donations to foreign NGOs in the Philippines would now have to be cleared with the agency. Failure to do so could cost the organizations their registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he said.

Locsin’s announcement came amid the Duterte administration’s claims that assistance from some NGOs is being diverted to communist rebels.

Last March, the European Union said it would investigate the claims that the regional bloc’s aid funds were being funneled to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, through their alleged front groups.

The Philippine government formally requested the probe in March but had also raised the issue in January.

Viva Salud and Solidagro—the Belgian NGOs accused by the Philippine government of “indirectly and unwittingly” partnering with the supposed communist front groups—stressed they have mechanisms to monitor fund use.

Maltese have highest confidence in charities, NGOs Malta topped the list with 79% reporting they express trust in these organizations. Rwanda ranked second (76%), while Iceland (75%) and Mauritius (75%) tied at third place.

The Philippines and Uzbekistan

were followed by New Zealand (70%), United Arab Emirates (70%), Kosovo (70%) and Sierra Leone (69%).

Bulgaria (24%), meanwhile, topped the list of countries with the least people reporting confidence. It was followed by Greece (25%), Colombia (28%), Peru (29%), Russia (29%) and Laos (29%).

The other countries included on the list of least confident coun-

tries were South Korea (31%), Germany (31%), Ecuador (32%) and Dominican Republic (32%).

“People living in low-income countries express slightly more confidence (57%) in such organizations than both the global average and those living in high-income countries,” the study noted.

More than 144,000 people across 140 countries were surveyed for the study. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

A June 29-July 2, 2019 • lA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAl

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Agriculture Sec. Piñol wants out of DA A night of remembrance: Estrada whichever agency you believe I will be effective, including the Mindanao Development Authority or MinDA,” Piñol said in the letter.

“He thinks the President does not trust him anymore. He is willing to give up the position,” Go said.

“Maybe he heard a lot. And maybe [it is] part of continuing assessment and evaluation of different departments,” he added.

He said Piñol suggested three agriculture executives as his replacement — Undersecretaries Waldo Carpio, Ariel Cayanan and Francisco Villano.

The DA chief asked a transition period of one month for an orderly turnover of projects and programs.

Go said Duterte has yet to act on Piñol’s letter.

“If Piñol will be placed in MinDA, that means he still trusts him,” he added.

Piñol was appointed as secretary of the Department of AgriManilaTimes.net photo culture in 2016. n

Go told reporters at the sidelines of his oath-taking ceremony in Malacañang that Piñol emailed AGRICULTURE Secretary Em- a letter to President Rodrigo manuel Piñol has asked President Duterte on Thursday evening.

Rodrigo Duterte to get him out of “With the best interest of the the Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture and (DA) and transfer him to another its stakeholders, may I request agency, senator-elect Christo- that I be relieved from my prespher Lawrence “Bong” Go said ent position as Secretary of on Thursday, June 27.

Agriculture and reassigned to by ralPh

VillanueVa ManilaTimes.net

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol

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closes chapter as Manila mayor

by Faye and

Orellana neil arwin MercadO Inquirer.net

MANILA – Outgoing Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada hosted a “night of remembrance” on Wednesday, June 26, a few days before turning over his top post at city hall.

Estrada was elected Manila mayor in 2013 and got reelected in 2016 but was defeated in his second reelection bid in the 2019 midterm elections by former Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

Bowing out, but still devoted As he steps down as city mayor in a few days, Estrada said his “devotion to the city of Manila will remain.”

“The elections are over. Hindi man tayo pinalad, my devotion to the city of Manila will remain. Ang aking pagmamahal, hindi lang nakasukat sa salita kundi maging sa gawa. Pagmamahal na maraamdaman ninyo sa mga iiwan kong proyekto at programa. Alay sa higit na makabubuti para sa higit na nakakarami (The elections are over. We may have not won, but my devotion to the city of Manila will remain. My love, will not only be measured through words, but also through my actions. Love that you will feel through the projects and programs I leave behind.

I dedicate this to the majority of the people),” Estrada said during thanksgiving dinner Wednesday night with relatives friends and allies in attendance.

Estrada described his six years of service as Manila mayor as “colorful.”

“As an outgoing mayor of Manila, you have been the source of my strength and dedication. Kayo ang nagbigay sa akin ng lahat. I now bid you farewell for now and I take a step back in public service. The people have spoken and I respect them,” Estrada said.

Estrada is set to step down from his position on June 30.

Estrada recalled that during

Outgoing Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada

the campaign period for this year’s midterm polls, Manila folk accorded him a very warm welcome.

“Hindi ko po inaakalang hanggang second term lang ako dahil in all the motorcades we had during the campaign, napakainit ng pagsalubong ng Manilenyo sa akin. Daming yumayakap, ang dami-daming humahalik (I didn’t expect that I will only serve two terms, because in all of the motorcades I’ve had during the campaign season, I’ve felt warm welcome from the citizens of Manila.

There were many who hugged and kissed me),” he said.

Estrada said his showbiz career exposed him to the problems of the poor.

“I saw them personally noong ako kasama nila, kaya nung ako’y naging mayor, I know the problem of the poor. I know, lahat. Kaya siguro ako nabigyan ng Panginoon, nag-artista ako, doon ako napunta at nalaman ko lahat ang mga problema ng mga mahihirap (I witnessed them personally, this is why when I became mayor, I knew everything. Maybe this is why God gave allowed me to know what problems poor people are facing),” Estrada said.

On top of these issues, Estrada said he also “inherited a bankrupt city” and had to raise money to start their projects.

Philstar.com photo

But once they were able to start raising funds for the city, Estrada said they paid off the city’s debts in less than two years which helped them start projects for the poor.

Estrada thanked his supporters who have been there since he started his political career five decades ago.

Estrada entered the political arena in 1967 when he was elected mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila.

He was later elected senator and vice president before winning the presidency in 1998.

“For almost 50 years, kayo ang naging lakas ko sa buong kabanata ng aking buhay,” Estrada said.

He also acknowledged the presence of his wife, Dr. Luisa Ejercito, who he described as his “one and only.”

“I am the king of ex-es. Exmovie actor, ex — mayor, ex — senator, ex-vice president, ex -president, and ex-convict. But darling, I’ll never be your ex- husband,” he told his wife.

Among those who graced the thanksgiving bash were his son, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, Janella Estrada, senator-elect Bong Revilla, Manila’s fourth district councilor Edward Maceda, Faith Cuneta, Sarah Geronimo and Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales. n

Southeast Asia is fastest-growing shabu market -world report

by Pia lee-BragO Philstar.com

MANILA, — Southeast Asia has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing market for methamphetamine or shabu, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported.

It also said that 35 million people globally suffer from drug use disorders.

In its 2019 World Drugs Report released on Wednesday, the UNODC said methamphetamine use is causing a rising concern across several regions as it noted that the quantities of methamphetamine seized in East and Southeast Asia rose more than eightfold between 2007 and 2017.

These seizures, about 82 tons, already comprise 45 percent of those seized worldwide, although this may yet increase as the preliminary data for 2018 indicate a further steep increase to roughly 116 tons.

The 2018 figures suggest that Thailand may have overtaken China in terms of the amount of methamphetamine seized, particularly of methamphetamine tablets. About 745 million methamphetamine tablets were reported seized in East and Southeast Asia last year, of which 515 million were from Thailand.

A geographical shift in the manufacture and trafficking of methamphetamine has taken place recently, from China to other countries in the sub-region.

“Information on methamphetamine use in Southeast Asia is sparse. Most countries in Southeast Asia report methamphetamine as the main drug of con-

cern in treatment. People using methamphetamine tend to be more frequent and more intense users than those who misuse pharmaceutical stimulants, and they face potentially more damaging consequences,” the report said.

People receiving treatment for the use of methamphetamine account for more than three quarters of those in treatment in the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Singapore.

According to the report, global methamphetamine manufacture is dominated by North America and by East and Southeast Asia.

While 50 countries were identified by member-states as possible countries of origin for methamphetamine manufacture, about 35,000 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories were reported dismantled in 31 countries in 2013 to 2017. The majority of those laboratories (90 percent) were dismantled in North America, mostly in the US, followed by Mexico and Canada.

Most of the laboratories reported in the US were “kitchen labs” or those producing methamphetamine for the local market with a small output compared to those detected in other countries, such as the several large-scale, industrial-size laboratories found in Mexico and in East and Southeast Asia that were producing methamphetamine for export.

The annual report also said that a large number of methamphetamine laboratories were dismantled in Asia (six percent of the global total), most notably in China and the Islamic Republic of Iran which, together, ac-

counted for 95 percent.

There were also some clandestine laboratories dismantled (by descending order of importance) in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, India and Myanmar.

“Methamphetamine trafficking continues to increase but remains mainly concentrated in North America and East and Southeast Asia,” the report said.

Marijuana The most widely used drug globally continues to be cannabis, with an estimated 188 million people having used it in 2017.

The UNODC said improved research and more precise data have revealed that the adverse health consequences of drug use are more severe and widespread than previously thought.

“Globally, some 35 million people are estimated to suffer from drug use disorders and who require treatment services, according to the latest World Drug Report,” UNODC said.

The higher estimates for 2017 are the result of improved knowledge of the extent of drug use from new surveys conducted in India and Nigeria, both among the 10 most populous countries in the world.

The report also estimates the number of opioid users at 53 million, up 56 percent from previous estimates.

It said that opioids are responsible for two-thirds of the 585,000 people who died as a result of drug use in 2017. Globally, 11 million people injected drugs in 2017, of whom 1.4 million live with HIV and 5.6 million with hepatitis C. n

IN APPRECIATION. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Court of Arbitration president Alexis Mourre (center) receives a token of appreciation from Philexport President and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) honorary Chairman and Treasurer Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. (2nd from left) during the forum, “ Global Best Practice of ICC Arbitration: The 2nd International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Day” held at the University of the Philippines BGC Campus in Taguig City on Friday, June 28. The event discussed the best practices of arbitration and featured unique methods of dispute resolution services of the ICC in companies and business organizations.

Also in photo are International Chamber of Commerce Philippines Commission on Arbitration chairman, lawyer Victor Lazatin (left), PCCI president Ma. Alegria Sibal-Limjoco (2nd from right) and International Chamber of Commerce Philippines director general Jesus Varela (right).

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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Palace on Sara Duterte in 2022: ‘People will make her run’

SUSTAINABLE CLEANER ENERGY. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (3rd from left), vows to tackle in the upcoming 18th Congress the measures for a sustainable cleaner energy for the next generation, during a press briefing held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Tuesday, June 25. Also in photo (from left) are Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Herminigildo Serrafica, Energy Assistant Secretary Robert Uy, Global Bio-energy Partnership (GBEP) Executive Secretary Michaela Morese, Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines (EPAP) President Jose Villanueva, and Rafael Diaz from the Philippine Biodiesel Association.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Gordon awaits PhilHealth report for possible probe

by LeiLa

SaLaverria Inquirer.net

SENATOR Richard Gordon has asked officers of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for a report on the condition of the state-run company and the controversies they are facing ahead of a possible probe of irregularities when the 18th Congress opens next month.

Gordon is expected to retain his position as chair of the blue ribbon committee, which investigates wrongdoing by the government, state employees and government corporations.

“If there is an investigation that needs to be done, I will investigate,” he said.

Gordon said he recently met with PhilHealth officers, who explained to him the scheme involving WellMed Dialysis Center’s alleged payment of claims for bogus dialysis sessions for patients who had already died.

The scam could have been prevented if there was coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority in the release of records of deceased patients, he said.

The data should be computerized, he added.

If the scheme had been repeated multiple times, that could mean that PhilHealth insiders were involved and that they should be held accountable, Gordon said.

Mafia He also noted allegations of a “mafia” inside PhilHealth, which he said he was inclined to believe.

“We had replaced PhilHealth

Sen. Richard Gordon

[officers] several times. We do this almost every year. How can we learn?” he said. “If we would investigate this once and for all, we should dig into everything and find out if there really is a mafia.”

He said he told the PhilHealth officials to write down what they knew and submit their reports to him.

Aside from the alleged WellMed scheme, insiders said PhilHealth was also losing funds due to overpayment of benefit claims and the practice of “upcasing”—reporting more severe illnesses or more delicate treatments that would require higher payouts.

Inquirer reports The WellMed scam unraveled other irregularities at PhilHealth, which were first reported by the Inquirer four weeks ago.

The three-part investigative report led to a shake-up in the state health insurer and forced the resignation of its president and CEO, Roy Ferrer, and other members of its board.

Inquirer.net photo

The two whistleblowers in WellMed’s “ghost dialysis” scam have been provisionally admitted into the government’s witness protection program.

Estafa cases Despite giving away the scam and another scheme—continuing to collect PhilHealth payments for patients who had discontinued dialysis treatments—the former WellMed employees, Edwin Roberto and Liezel Aileen de Leon, were included in the estafa cases filed against WellMed owner Bryan Sy. Sy, who is out on bail, has denied the charges.

Seven other WellMed executives, who have yet to be arrested, will also undergo preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice. They are Claro Sy, Therese Francesca Tan-Sy, John Ray Gonzales, Alvin Sy, Dick Ong, Porsha Natividad and Joemie Soriano.

Once fully admitted into the program, Roberto and De Leon will no longer be prosecuted and will serve as state witnesses. n

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio cannot turn her back on the people if the clamor for her presidency builds up in 2022, a Palace official said.

Speaking to reporters, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said while her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, has repeatedly warned her against running for president in the 2022 elections, the Davao City mayor “might rise to the challenge” if there’s a clamor for her to run.

Like her father, Panelo said the Davao City mayor was very much qualified as the country’s president in 2022 because of her “intellect” and “political will.”

“The father doesn’t want, pero (but) if people want her to run, she might rise to the challenge,” Panelo said during a media interview in Malacañang on Thursday night, June 27.

“She doesn’t need convincing.

People will make her run just like the father… She has the intellectual wherewithal and the political will,” he said.

Panelo made the statement after Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo hinted at seeking the presidency in 2022.

Robredo on Wednesday, June 26, said “anything is possible” when asked about a 2022 presidential bid but emphasized it was useless, for now, to prepare for an election.

But the Palace official said Robredo would have “no chance” of winning unlike Duterte-Carpio who would win “overwhelmingly” if the presidential elections were held today.

“If the elections were today, walang chance [manalo si Robredo]. Eh ‘di ba mababa naman ang rating niya (If the elections were

today, Robredo would have no chance of winning the presidency because her rating is low),” Panelo said.

“If she (Duterte-Carpio) runs now, [she will win] overwhelmingly,” the Palace official added, noting that “almost everybody wants her to run.”

“Walang mananalo sa kanya kasi siya yung pinaka-popular na mayor na may potential (nobody will win against her because she’s the most popular mayor with potential [to be president]},” he said.

Panelo then cited the uncanny similarity of the circumstances that pushed Duterte to run in the 2016 presidential elections, and which may push the presidential daughter to run in 2022.

“Baka pareho rin ni Presidente na ayaw niyang tumakbo pero wala rin siyang choice kasi people clamor for him to run (She may be like the President who did not want to run but had no choice because . . .),” he said.

Before the 2016 elections, then mayor Duterte had repeatedly said he would not run for president, saying he has “no ambition” to seek the presidency.

But Panelo said that if former presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Corazon Aquino had children who became presidents, why can’t Duterte have one too.

“If there was an Arroyo-Macapagal with a president father at mayroon ding Noynoy na merong Cory, meron din sigurong Sara ang Duterte ( . . .there is also Noynoy whose mother was Cory, then perhaps, Duterte has a Sara),” he said, adding that Sara was the best suitable individual to continue her father’s policies and programs.

Arroyo-Macapagal is former

president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Noynoy is Benigno Aquino III, son of the late president Corazon C. Aquino.

“Sara [is fit to continue the Pres-

u PAGE A9

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY IF NO. C3144-20 CENTRAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY (CMF) DRAINAGE REDIRECTION The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking Bids for the CMF Drainage Redirection. The estimated value of this project is $1,125,200. Bid documents may be obtained via download by visiting SCRRA’s website at http://www.metrolinktrains. com/agency/page/title/doing_ business. (Vendors must register on the website in order to download the document).

A Pre-Bid Conference/job walk will be held at 1555 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065 on July 9, 2019 at 10:00 am. Electronic Bid Submittals due at 2:00 p.m. (PST) on July 25, 2019 at http://www. metrolinktrains.com/agency/ page/title/doing_business.

The contract to be awarded will be funded in part by grants under the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and is subject to an DBE Participation Goal of 7%. Bidders must possess a valid California Contractor’s License. Payment of prevailing wages and compliance with all required employment and training programs established by the State of California Department of Industrial Relations is required. If federally funded, compliance with Davis-Bacon regulations will be required. For further information contact: Wai Shong Chan, Contract Administrator at 213.452.0476 or email MANO PO. President Rodrigo Duterte extends his hand to his daughter, Davao City Mayor chanw@scrra.net.

6/29, 7/3/19 Sara Z. Duterte, who showed a gesture of respect during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Thanksgiving Night at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Monday, June 24. In the May polls, CNS-3268574# Duterte’s allies win big in the senatorial elections, with Sen. Cynthia Villar of HNP topping the ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.) race. HNP was formed by the younger Duterte.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

A8 JUNE 29-JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Credible probe

FEATURES

AFTER agreeing to a joint probe, President Duterte is reportedly now willing to have a third party conduct an investigation into the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat after it was hit by a Chinese vessel, which abandoned the fishermen at sea off Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea on June 9.

Responding to media questions, Duterte said an independent marine board of inquiry could conduct the third party probe even as the two countries carry out separate investigations and try to reconcile conflicting details.

The Philippine government has finished a preliminary probe of the incident, in which a Chinese maritime militia vessel was believed involved. Beijing has denied the 22 Filipino fishermen’s story that their boat, the Gem-Vir or GemVer, was deliberately rammed by the Chinese. Beijing is still investigating the Filipinos’ complaint that they were abandoned in the water and rescued only four hours later by a Vietnamese fishing boat.

Filipinos cannot thank Vietnam enough for being truly a friend in need. If Philippine ties with China are to recover from this latest strain, the investigation of what President Duterte described as

a “little maritime incident” should have unassailable credibility. This is regardless of whether the probe is conducted jointly or separately by the two countries, or with a third party participating.

Lawyers’ groups may want to step in to ensure that the fishermen will not be influenced in any way in their narration of their ordeal, especially by any government official. Probers should also invite the Vietnamese to narrate what happened, because their story regarding the rescue jibes with the initial one given by the Filipino fishermen.

Beijing has promised to impose punishment if there were offenses committed by the crew of the Chinese ship. As a friend of the Philippines, China will be held to its promise. The friendship must be strengthened by the truth, which hinges on an impartial, credible investigation. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

The fox investigates raid on the chicken coop

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA WE’VE probably all heard the tale of the fox who raided the chicken coop and had to be hunted down by the farmer.

But have you heard about the farmer agreeing to let the fox investigate the incident in order to determine whose fault it was that the chicken coop was raided and why neither the fox nor the chicks might be at fault after all?

Well, apparently that is what President Rodrigo Duterte (the president of the sovereign nation of the Philippines, in case you have forgotten) would like to happen. A fishing boat, being sailed by 22 Filipino fishermen and fishing in Philippine waters, was reportedly rammed and sunk by a Chinese boat.

Worse yet, as the Pinoy boat sank and the 22 Filipino fishermen were in danger of drowning, the Chinese boat abandoned them. Fortunately, the crew of a Vietnamese boat that also happened to be fishing in the area came to their rescue.

This has been the testimony of the Filipino fishermen.

The Chinese embassy in Manila has a different version of the incident. According to an

AS A MATTER OF FACT SARA SOLIVEN DE GUZMAN LAST Friday, June 21, the United States President Donald Trump was about to push the red button to start a war with Iran but hours later he stopped and cancelled the airstrike.

While U.S. military officials reported that the U.S. aircraft was shot down in international space over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran claimed otherwise. As we all know, the U.S. and Iran are hostile with one another due to the failed nuclear deal. So, any wrong move made by either camp can easily trigger unwanted actions such as this.

If Trump didn’t play his cards right, we would have seen the beginning of a “war.” But did he play a bluff on us? At this time and age, I think leaders ought to really think twice. A war is not a joke. It can be very damaging and costly. Someone’s got to swallow ‘pride’. In this case, we know who did. But it ain’t over yet. Let’s see what happens next. We don’t really get to hear

official Chinese statement, the Chinese vessel was “besieged” (that is, threatened or intimidated) by seven or eight Filipino fishing boats and the Chinese crew was thus afraid to rescue the Filipino fishermen. According to one news report, the captain of the Chinese boat tried to save the Filipinos but was “afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats.”

As more and more observers (that is, kibitzers) have weighed in on the incident, the narrative has become more and more muddled. One online news item stated: “Palace casts doubt on Filipino fishermen’s tale of Reed Bank allision (sic).”

“MANILA - Some details in the testimonies of the Filipino fishermen on the allision (sic) of their fishing boat and a Chinese ship don’t add up, a Palace official said Tuesday.

“Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the incident must be investigated thoroughly as recent developments show conflicting details between the narratives of FB GEM-VER boat captain Junel Insigne, and its cook Richard Blaza.”

Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol was reportedly “unsure what the Chinese ship intended to do (that is, willfully and maliciously ram and sink the Fili-

the detailed talks in the “war room.” In a matter of seconds, the U.S. President may suddenly shift gears and continue the airstrikes.

Don’t forget, what Trump said, “Iran made a very big mistake” in shooting down the U.S. military surveillance drone.”

Abangan! *** I know that the former Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Albert Del Rosario’s recent experience in Hong Kong is a very touchy topic especially since he is a well-loved diplomat. I’m glad to know that the DFA is cancelling all diplomatic passports issued to ex-top diplomats. It just makes such situations more complicated because having a diplomatic passport should mean that the holder is still an official representative of the country. In the case of Del Rosario, he wasn’t. He went to Hong Kong on private business.

Even Article 40 of the Vienna Convention doesn’t seem to protect Del Rosario because he is not a working diplomat anymore (since 2016). Article 40 states that “a diplomatic agent is entitled to inviolability and

pino boat). Thus, Pinol believes that the incident still “needs to be investigated and validated by a proper maritime investigating body.”

For his part, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (yes, the one in charge of harnessing Philippine military forces to defend the Philippines) is said to have begun entertaining doubts that the Chinese ship intended to bump the Filipino boat.”

(That is, willfully, malevolently, cruelly and viciously intended).

Not surprisingly, those who have been following this story no longer know whom to believe. To quote the lyrics of Harry Belafonte’s song: “It was clear as much and it covered the ground, and the confusion made my head go ‘round…”

And so Duterte (the president of the Philippines, remember?) has reportedly agreed to have this incident “investigated” by both the Chinese and the Philippine governments.

Needless to say, Duterte may be foraying in murky waters.

One of the first premises that he needs to establish is that the incident happened in Philippine territory.

If Duterte succeeds in establishing that and in making the Chinese acknowledge that (as well as Vietnam, because the

Vietnamese boat that rescued the Filipino fishermen was also fishing in the area), then the “joint investigation” will be well worth it.

Note that the honorable members of the Philippine Senate are objecting to having the Chinese participate in the inquiry because, according to Senator Franklin Drilon, allowing China to do so would “derogate our jurisdiction and prejudice our claim” in the West Philippine Sea, waters within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the heavily disputed South China Sea.” Drilon reportedly added that “the collision happened right within the country’s territorial waters, a fact that China had already acknowledged.”

Really? Have the Chinese already acknowledged that the area where the ramming occurred is Philippine territory?

According to one news account by journalist Steven Stashwick, “Reed Bank, which the Philippines calls Recto Bank, lies about a hundred nautical miles northwest of the Philippine island of Palawan and is at the northwest tip of the contested Spratley Islands.

A 2016 arbitration ruling held that the bank is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but it is also claimed by

China, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.”

The report added that the area is said to have significant reserves of natural gas: “The Philippines has conducted surveys of the bank but China has interfered with efforts to explore for gas and has insisted on taking the lead in any joint exploration or exploitation venture.”

Understandably, Senator Panfilo Lacson has expressed apprehension that “ allowing a joint investigation with China and a third party may be interpreted as a waiver of our right of ownership of Recto Bank.”

To go back to the tale of the fox who raided the chicken coop, allowing a joint investigation would be like giving the fox proprietary rights over the chicks.

At any rate, assuming Panelo, Lorenzana and Pinol have a basis for doubting certain parts of the account of the incident, as told by the Filipino fishermen, there appears to be agreement on the following: a) A Filipino fishing boat was sunk by a Chinese boat (the Chinese embassy has acknowledged that the Chinese boat’s crew intended to save the Pinoys, thus in effect admitting their involvement in the sinking); b) There have been damag-

Is America on the brink of war? such other immunities as may be required to ensure his transit or return through a territory of a third state.”

By now we should know the Chinese better. Del Rosario should have learned from Morales’ experience. Isn’t it quite obvious that his non-entry was linked to the ICC (International Criminal Court) communiqué?

Didn’t both Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Caprio Morales file a communication against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity?

Whether you like it or not, the Chinese will do what they want to do and no one can dictate on them even if you talk of what is right or wrong. It’s pretty clear that Del Rosario and Morales are not welcome in their land.

I remember my late father who wrote against the Vietnamese government. He was enlisted as “persona non grata.” C’est la vie! Such is life! *** The real problem we have is the stand our country has against what China seems to be doing to us. Here we have two

people standing up for what is right and trying their best to fight for our rights and then we have a President who seems to be playing games on us. Is Duterte representing the Filipinos in his stand on China?

Our country is suffering from a disintegration of morality. President Duterte should be clear about his position on China. What is his “paninindigan”? Can he stand up for the Filipinos? Mr. President your SONA is fast approaching. We don’t need another drama.

Keep it simple and straight to the point. But most important, keep it real! *** Last week, my Uncle “Eki” Cardenas passed away. I really feel saddened by his death although it was a peaceful one.

I know that he has joined the ones who have gone ahead including my late father Maximo V. Soliven who was like a cousin to him.

If there was anything “Eki” Cardenas everybody credits for, it was his unflinching and tender loyalty. His friendship was abiding and forever. And he was paid back in kind more than he

must have fully realized.

In Erap Estrada’s time, he was Deputy Executive Secretary. He and his boss Ronnie Zamora backstopped and served behind the scene with loyalty. They were efficient and quiet administrators, never involved in the incompetence and backstabbing that was slowly eating up the regime then.

When Erap fell from power, they kept their peace. They did not rush to the other side. Yet, “Eki” became the target of ugly intrigues in 2003. He was implicated in the Oakwood Mutiny.

His house was raided by a military group. It was unfair.

My dad, the late Max Soliven stood up for him and went to President Gloria Arroyo to plead his case. A good man was being ruined and badly needed help.

“Eki” was not a man to beg for it. It was my dad who helped the president prevent Oakwood from being blown up by the rebels, ruining Makati and the country itself.

He knew “Eki” would not be part of such an outrage to the nation and history. “Eki” weathered the storm. He and my dad became closer than ever up to

es to property that need to be compensated. c) The Philippine government’s firm position should be that the ramming (whether malicious or accidental, intended or unintentional) happened in Philippine territory.

Lorenzana, Pinol and Panelo – and most of all Duterte – should stop trying to softpedal their version of the incident and leave the Chinese to do that. Whatever the intentions of the Chinese, let them be the ones to rationalize it – not Lorenzana, Pinol or Panelo and, in heaven’s name, not Duterte. And Foreign Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin should stop trying clumsy diplomatic language that simply makes the situation “clear as mud,” to quote Belafonte.

One more thing: Is this incident so serious as to break amicable relations with China?

Apparently not, but it certainly is one more example of the Chinese acting like a fox raiding the chicken coop.

Duterte, Locsin, Lorenzana, Pinol, Panelo, Drilon, Lacson and, oh yes, Vice-President Robredo should agree on that and express their grave concerns to the Chinese.

The fox and the Chinese should be reminded that Filipinos are not chicken. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

the time the latter departed forever in 2006. They were both good men of what Max Soliven always proudly called Ilocoslovakia. Their roots go back to Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur. But it was ideals and friendship that bonded them most. Politics was never everything.

They were Ateneans to the hilt. After college they went to graduate school in New York, dad to Fordham and “Eki” up in Cornell. They both loved books and history. They saw the world and knew how to have fun.

“Eki” has not been well. He was alone in his last years.

When his dear mother passed away, the pain was obvious. I feel so sad that he left for good when my mom and I were away and we could not bid goodbye.

“Eki” was “Eki.” I am told that he went to a number of wakes of close friends and relatives just before he himself was gone. He seemed well and few suspected he would be next.

That is how I remember “Eki”.

He was always there when you needed him. It feels just right to think of him as always loyal and true to the end. (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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Construction is ongoing at the New Clark City in Pampanga.

Dateline PhiliPPines

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

Dominguez pushes New Clark City as gov’t hub

by Jerry

Hernandez ManilaTimes.net

NEW CLARK CITY, Capas, Tarlac — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said relocating national government offices here would make a “lot of sense,” as he lauded the speedy construction of the development’s first phase.

Patterned after Putrajaya in Malaysia, the National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City (NCC) is part of the Duterte administration’s plan to decongest Metro Manila.

“The government offices in Manila are scattered all over the city and, for the public, it’s very difficult for them if they have to deal with several ministries to go from one place to another. [The relocation] makes a lot of sense,” Dominguez said.

“We own the land, it’s avail-

able, it will be accessible through rail, train, highways, so it makes sense to really consider moving here,” he added.

The NCC will be connected to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Clark International Airport via access roads.

A railway network stretching from Calamba in Laguna will also be operational by 2025.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its private partner — infrastructure developer MTD Philippines — have committed to finish Phase 1A of the project in two months.

“We laid the groundwork in January last year and in eighteen months, this is what you have. This is the result of good planning and excellent management,” Dominguez said of his recent visit to the area.

Phase 1A of the NCC also in-

volves the construction of worldclass sports facilities to be used in this year’s hosting by the Philippines of the Southeast Asian Games.

The facilities include the 20,000-seater Athletic Stadium, 2,000-seater Aquatic Center and an Athletes’ Village.

The NCC is envisioned to be the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis in the country.

“The vision of President [Rodrigo] Duterte for New Clark City is really to afford Filipinos with a better quality of life,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vince Dizon said during a media tour of the facility.

“The President wants to spread growth outside of the cities and Clark, in the very near future, will be the clear embodiment of this inclusive growth,” he added. n

Palace on Sara Duterte in 2022: ‘People will...

PAGE A7 t

ident’s policies and programs].

Pareho ‘yung ugali ng dalawa eh.

Pareho silang competent (They have the same character. They are both competent),” the Palace official said.

Bur Panelo also said it would be “too early” to assume anything as he noted that there were “limitless possibilities” three years from now.

“If you talk about possibilities, gaya nang sinasabi ko (like what I keep on saying), we have limitless possibilities. For all we know, hindi natin alam ang mangyayari

(we don’t know what will happen) three years from now,” he said.

Sought for her comment on Panelo’s remarks, the younger Duterte briefly replied in a text message, “no comment.”

Duterte-Carpio has not yet made clear her intent to be her father’s successor. But being at the forefront of the midterm polls that saw nine of her party’s candidates win the Senate race, she is believed to be flirting with a possible presidential bid in 2022.

The president has repeatedly warned his daughter from follow-

ing in his footsteps because of the “sacrifices” and “insults” she may have to bear.

Duterte-Carpio said she still had to make up her mind.

“Running for president is not an overnight decision. It needs money, machinery, but the most important thing is wisdom and guidance from the Lord because it will be difficult if it’s not intended for you,” she said in February.

“It depends on the circumstances. Maybe, let’s just set a deadline, in January of 2021,” the Davao City mayor said. (Catherine Valente/ManilaTimes.net)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29-JULy 2, 2019

A

A10 June 29-July 2, 2019 • lA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAl

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Ombudsman withdraws graft, usurpation cases vs Aquino over Mamasapano

MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman moved for the withdrawal of graft and usurpation of authority cases filed against former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at the Sandiganbayan for his role in the bloody Mamasapano incident four years ago.

In the motion to withdraw information filed Monday, June 24, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said he found no sufficient ground and evidence to charge Aquino for graft and usurpation NO COAL. Protesters hold a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City on Tuesday, June 25. The protest, calling for an end to of official functions “being then Japan’s coal financing, was led by 350.org Pilipinas, the local network of volunteers supporting the country’s grassroots climate movement.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina the president of the Republic of the Philippines during the time material to these cases.”

Martires asked the Sandiganbayan to allow the withdrawal of cases against Aquino “without

by Glee Jalea prejudice to the filing of approManilaTimes.net priate charges against the acLEYTE congressman-elect Marcused after the conduct of pretin Romualdez has no plans to surliminary investigation.” render in the speakership race as In November 2017, the Ofhe goes head-to-head with Marinfice of the Ombudsman—then duque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, led by former graft buster Conthe administration party’s bet. chita Carpio-Morales—filed On Wednesday night, June 26, graft and usurpation of authorRomualdez was seen posing for ity charges against the former photos with President Rodrigo Duterte during the 122nd celebration of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Malacañang, hours after the ruling Partido Deby Mayen JayMalin ManilaTimes.net photo mokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bay- Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez Philstar.com an (PDP-Laban) picked Velasco as he was “a strong contender” who party-list coalition have reversed MANILA — Preparations for its official bet. would not stop working even after their decision to pick between Romualdez of the Lakas-Chris- the opening of the 18th Congress Velasco and Romualdez, despite the implementation of the Unitian Muslim Democrats (Lakas- on July 22.

Wednesday’s disarray among versal Health Care (UHC) law CMD) has been establishing “The congressional leaders lawmakers brought by an unin- have gone full blast as Health closer ties with the Duterte family are unanimous in saying that the formed move by their bloc chief Secretary Francisco Duque III as the speakership race tightens, 18th Congress will be a real work- to support one candidate ahead met with key stakeholders for the fulfillment of the landmark health weeks before the opening of the ing partner of President Duterte of deliberations.

18th Congress.

The sudden meeting led by 1- reform. and the Executive Department.

“As we are drafting the impleAfter the PSG ceremony, the All vowed to work double-time Pacman party-list Rep. Michael Leyte lawmaker was invited to a to shepherd the approval of the Romero, head of the Party-list menting rules and regulations private dinner with the president president’s legislative agenda,” Coalition Foundation Inc., was of UHC, we are here at the Naand senator-elect Christopher he said. held hours after a multiparty tional Health Sector Meeting to Lawrence “Bong” Go at Bahay Last week, the speaker hope- manifesto of support reached convene key stakeholders and Pagbabago in Malacañang. ful was also seen holding private the media, showing the names of recalibrate our efforts in prepaRomualdez shared with Duterte meetings with Duterte’s children, House coalition leaders vouching ration for the various changes we must make to implement UHC,” what transpired during the cau- Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte for Velasco. cus on Wednesday with other and Davao City Mayor Sara Romero was one of the sig- Duque said.

“We are zooming in on key lawmakers from major political Duterte-Carpio, and even gracing natories, even as the 54-strong parties to strategize the swift pas- their oath-taking ceremony the party-list bloc is yet to name its health financing aspects of the UHC Act — comprehensive memsage of the president’s legislative following day. own bet. agenda in the 18th Congress.

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cay- bership, rational investments and Velasco, a strong ally of the Forty lawmakers attended the Dutertes, had reportedly secured etano of the Nacionalista Party, quality primary care services,” he caucus, including Majority Lead- 200 votes from various House another speaker hopeful, on added.

Among those who attended the er Fredenil Castro, Anakalusugan blocs, while Romualdez garnered Thursday said he was “deeply party-list Rep. Michael Defensor, 178 so far. disappointed” with Velasco for three-day National Health Sector Quezon City Rep. Jose ChristoBut with only about 304 House “making a turnaround” on his Meeting held in Legazpi City was the newly appointed Philippine pher Belmonte and Caloocan Rep. members sitting in the next Con- term-sharing proposal.

Edgar Erice.

Duterte is the chairman of the Health Corp. (PhilHealth) presigress, some may have vouched Romualdez remained unfazed for both candidates.

PDP-Laban, which has 84 mem- dent, Ricardo Morales.

Duque expressed optimism

by Velasco’s edge, claiming that Members of the 54-strong bers in the House. n that Morales would be able to revitalize PhilHealth’s anti-fraud campaign, boost its image and

Romualdez not backing down in speakership race

Former President Benigno Aquino III

chief executive.

In February last year, the Supreme Court ordered the Sandiganbayan to halt proceedings against Aquino, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. The high court’s First Division issued a TRO on the court proceedings “until further notice from this court.”

The case stemmed from the

Philstar.com photo

January 25, 2015 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 members of the elite police force.

Graft carries a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment while penalty for usurpation of authority is up to six months of imprisonment which is convertible to just a fine. (Gaea Katreena Cabico with reports from Elizabeth Marcelo/Philstar.com)

DOH prepares for Universal Health Care implementation effectively communicate the agency’s benefits to the Filipino people.

“PhilHealth is in high gear towards achieving universal health care. We are one with our health sector partners in this unified effort to attain our UHC goals,” Morales said.

Meanwhile, doctors are now providing traditional medicine like ventosa and acupuncture in government health facilities in the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces).

Eduardo Janairo, Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon regional director, said they have trained doctors and nurses in response to the growing demand for traditional medicine.

“The demand continues to rise and it is important to be selective of what traditional method or approach to use — safety must be the primary consideration,” he noted.

The five-day training for a number of selected doctors and nurses, he added, will be the first step toward the integration of traditional and complementary health care into the primary health care delivery system.

“Although they are getting popular in the medical and wellness sector, we still have to make sure that these procedures are properly applied and practiced by health professionals with the utmost safety to avoid any incident,” Janairo explained.

In 1997, the DOH pushed for the passage of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) which paved the way for the manufacture of alternative medicines from certain herbs that are proven safe and effective.

Janairo said DOH-Calabarzon created the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) program to provide and incorporate the benefits of traditional medicine and the advances in alternative technology.

“Anyone, whether sick or not, can benefit from complementary and alternative medicine… We will also introduce other complementary and alternative system of medicine such as the Ayurveda, naturopathy and homeopathy,” he added.

As example, he cited acupuncture, which can help in relieving chronic pain, headache and arthritis. n

PhilHealth wants other hospitals, clinics probed over claims scam

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Philstar.com

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will expand its investigation into other hospitals and clinics involving ghost claims defrauding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

NBI Deputy Director for investigative service Vicente de Guzman III confirmed that the bureau has received a letter from PhilHealth requesting an inves-

tigation into fraudulent claims perpetrated by other clinics besides WellMed Dialysis Center in Novaliches, Quezon City.

De Guzman said his office has forwarded the letter to the NBI regional office in Mindanao, where the alleged anomalies were monitored by PhilHealth.

He refused to divulge the hospitals and clinics being investigated, but the NBI official confirmed the scam involved medical services aside from dialysis.

The NBI had concluded its

probe into the ghost dialysis claims perpetrated by WellMed co-owner Bryan Sy and whistleblowers Edwin Roberto and Leizel Aileen de Leon, who all face estafa through falsification of documents charges before the Quezon City regional trial court.

Roberto and De Leon, who blew the lid on the scam but were still included by the NBI in its complaint, have been provisionally admitted in the witness protection program. n

‘Not me’: Mon Tulfo says brother Ben stole P60-M MANILA — Radio broadcaster Ramon Tulfo, who is also special envoy to China, stressed that it was his brother Ben who “stole” P60 million from the government.

On Monday, June 24, the elder Tulfo tweeted about the donation of former Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario to the 22 Filipino fishermen whose boat was rammed by a suspected Chinese militia vessel in the West Philippine Sea. Ramon said the act of Del Rosario in donating P500,000 to the fishermen “cheapens his act.”

Twitter user replied to Ramon, pointing out that it was better to

donate P500,000 to Filipino fishermen in the Recto Bank incident rather than stealing P60 million from the Philippine government.

Ramon, however, pointed out that it was his brother Ben who was involved in the controversy over an advertisement deal between state-run People’s Television Network and the Department of Tourism.

“Di ako ang nagnakaw ng 60m. Kapatid kong si Ben yung tinutukoy mo (I did not steal P60 million. You are referring to my brother Ben),” Ramon said on Twitter.

Earlier this month, Ramon claimed that his sister former

Tourism Secretary Wanda TulfoTeo was just a “casualty” in the advertisement controversy.

The DOT, under the helm of Teo, placed P60-million worth of advertisements in a television program produced by her brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo.

The deal was awarded to a program produced by Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc., which is owned

by Ben. According to Ramon, he had already asked his brother Ben to return the P60-million payment for the ads but the younger Tulfo refuses to return the money.

(Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar. com)

DILG still upbeat on federalism DESPITE the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he is no longer inclined to push for federalism, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, June 26, said it was still upbeat about the idea.

According to Jonathan Malaya, DILG undersecretary and spokesman, the remark of the president was “merely acknowledging the dearth of knowledge and understanding” of Filipinos on the proposed shift to a federal government.

“The president was just being realistic. He understands that federalism is a profound change,” Malaya said in a statement.

“He merely underscored the need for more information dissemination so it will gain greater

public support. But it does not mean that he’s abandoning the advocacy,” he added.

Malaya pointed out that Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has committed to assist Duterte “realize his dream of a federal Philippines and will work double time to inform the people of the merits of federalism once the new Congress opens its session next month.”

In a speech on Tuesday, June 25, the president, who promised during the 2016 national elections that he would push for federalism, publicly declared for the first time that he was no longer keen to have federalism but still expressed that he was still interested in amending the 1987 Constitution.

Malaya said their studies have

shown that more people understand the idea of federalism, adding that the DILG will relaunch its information campaign next month.

With Duterte maintaining his interest in Charter change, Malaya said, the pronouncement of the President can be considered as an “affirmation” that he wants a change in the government system from the “over-centralized system of present.”

The Inter-Agency Task Force formed for the dissemination of information about federalism is completing a review of the 1987 Constitution, as well as the preparation for an “intensified information campaign” for the proposed type of government throughout the country. (ManilaTimes.net)

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A12 June 29-July 2, 2019 • lA WeeKenD ASIAn JOuRnAl

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

Isko’s son Joaquin is stepping into showbiz by lhAr

sAntiAgo ManilaTimes.net

AT 17, Joaquin Domogoso — Manila Mayor-elect Isko Moreno’s son — has finally decided to join show business. By pure coincidence, his dad was also the same age when the actorturned-politician first ventured into the biz.

But of course, there’s no denying that Joaquin is eager to follow his father’s footsteps and is grateful Isko has practically paved the way for him to get into TV and the movies, just like the offspring of other stars.

Joaquin or JD as his friends call him is very familiar with his dad’s success story in showbiz.

Both Isko and his manager, “Daddie Wowie,” who is also handling JD’s new career, have told him about it repeatedly.

Then 17-year-old Isko forced himself to audition for “That’s Entertainment.”

“I didn’t know how to sing. I didn’t know to dance,” Isko told Joaquin. “Dinaan ko sa kapal ng mukha. Ganu’n yata talaga pag laki ka sa hirap, pag laman ka ng kalye, you get to be street smart.

“When I auditioned, hindi ako natanggap nu’ng una. Those who passed were told to occupy a portion of the studio bleachers and akala ko naman kasama ako so I sat down with them.

“So si Kuya Germs [the late German Moreno] lumakad then tinuturo kung sino yung mga pasok. He passed in front of me, nilagpasan ako, but I did something to catch his attention so napalingon siya. Pagtingin niya sa akin, he said, ‘O sumama ka na.’ That started it all.”

According to Joaquin, recalling his dad’s story makes him feel so blessed since he doesn’t have to go through the struggles of a showbiz upstart.

Joaquin Domagoso

ManilaTimes.net photo

“My dad told me he was with the Monday group of That’s Entertainment and every week, he and Daddie Wowie would mixmatch Daddie’s clothes. Everything he wore was borrowed. The belt was from Daddie’s friend, the shoes from another friend, the clothes and so on,” Joaquin shared.

“When it was his turn for a production number, he wore clothes that Daddie used when he was a dancer on TV.” Now on GMA Network himself, wardrobe requirements in his show “Studio 7” is not a problem for Joaquin. He can either buy what he needs or the production provides for him.

“But don’t get the impression that I can have any clothes that I want at the snap of a finger. We were not brought up that way.

Our parents, specially my dad, taught us to value money at a very young age. Whenever we buy something, especially if they’re expensive, we have to ask their permission, lalo na kay Papa.”

There are times when Isko can be very strict when it comes to spending money, according to Joaquin.

“It’s part of the discipline and I understand him. His experience early in life taught him to really value money. I know how he had to sort out garbage just to earn a few pesos. He also told us how he would cycle the streets of Tondo in his pedicab; pati yung pagpag where he slept; yung pagkuha ng mga tirang pagkain from fast food stores and re-cooking them for their meal.

“Papa made sure that we know his struggles in the past so that we‘ll understand where he’s coming from sa pag-discipline sa amin.”

Now that he is officially in showbiz, Joaquin is excited to earn his own money. But he clarified that it doesn’t mean that he would splurge on luxurious stuff.

“Kuripot ako,” he said in jest.

“I don’t just spend my money. I think I’m a wise spender. I don’t just buy things; I make it sure that what I buy is worth the price and kung kailangan ko ba talaga.

I think I really got it from Papa so I will see to it that I‘m saving most of what I earn. This is what our parents taught my siblings and me.”

But more than the money, Joaquin is more excited over the projects lined up for him.

“It’s a career, a profession, my dad told me when I said I wanted to enter showbiz. That’s why I’m so serious about making it and happy I get to show my talent.

I’m very open and eager to learn more.”

In Studio 7, Joaquin gets to show his talent in dancing, and had an awesome partner in Kyline Alcantara on the show’s latest episode.

Soon, Joaquin will be able PAGE B2

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto

ABS-CBN photo

Julia, Joshua now ‘best of friends’

The actress, however, assured fans that their love team called “JoshLia” is still “very much JULIA Barretto and Joshua alive.”

Garcia are now back to where “We managed to be the bestthey started — as “best of est of friends, and if the fans are friends.” worried, we can assure them that “Babalik muna kami sa pinag- there is nothing to worry about. simulan namin. We’re now best JoshLia is very much alive,” she of friends,” Barretto said Friday said. as quoted by ABS-CBN News, Meanwhile, Garcia admitted ending weeks of speculation on they went through a rough patch the state of their relationship. like “normal couples.” by

Krissy AguilAr Inquirer.net

“May pinagdaanan lang kami.

Normal couple na pinagdadaanan, pero okay kami ngayon.

Masaya kami ngayon (We have gone through some rough times.

I think it’s normal for couples, but we are OK now. We are happy),” Garcia said.

Rumors about their breakup surfaced after Barretto hinted in a video blog with friend Erich Gonzales that she was “in love with peace she recently gained.”

Ready for JamesKiss? ricKy lo Philstar.com

by

DONKISS is gone for good and no amount of tears or pressure from the tandem’s fans can revive it…unless the United Nations intervenes and brings it back. (Oops! That’s a joke!!!)

Kisses Delavin and Donny Pangilinan have aired their sides, generating mixed reactions (some of them fuming) from their fans but most of them in defense of Kisses.

Kisses Delavin and Jameson Blake during her 2017 debut in which Jameson was one of the 18 PAGE B2 guys who offered her roses.

Contributed photo

B JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

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Archbishop Socrates Villegas shares his mission for monasteries

by Ivy

Baron Geisler

Philstar.com photo

Baron recalls painful battle with depression, drug use, alcoholism by

Cody Cepeda Inquirer.net

BARON Geisler did not hold back when it came to answering questions about his battle with depression, drug use and alcoholism in the past.

Geisler was the first actor in the cast of ABS-CBN drama series “Tabing Ilog� to be given a television series of his own — an opportunity that many people would not throw away.

At the time, however, Geisler treated work as just a hobby and would bring his drinking habits to the set as if it were a party. “Ano lang po, parang party, kasi syempre nanggaling naman kami sa okay na pamilya, well-to-do naman, so nung nagtatrabaho ako, pakiramdam ko na hindi siya trabaho, para siyang hobby lang (I guess it was just a party to me because, of course, I came from an okay, well-to-do family, so when I was working, it did not feel like work to me, like it was just a hobby),�

Geisler shared on “Magandang Buhay� on Tuesday, June 25. “So hindi ko siya sineryoso at eventually hindi rin ako sineryoso hanggang sa nawala lahat and yun yung pinakamalungkot dun (I did not take it seriously, eventually they did not take me seriously until I lost everything and that’s the saddest part about that),� he added.

Host Karla Estrada noted that Geisler became depressed in 2002 when he was 20 years old. “Ano ‘tong mga nagpadepress sa’yo?� asked Estrada.

As per Geisler, his father,

Donald, passed away that year and he could not handle the situation because he had no God. “Ang panginoon ko noong mga time na yun yung magulang ko, para sa akin yun yung mind-set ko, so wala akong ibang tinitingnan,� he said. “And then noong nawala si Dad, gusto ko siyang samahan sa libingan noong mga time na yun. I almost took my life (My god during that time was my parents, for me that was my mind-set, so I was not looking at anything else. And then when my dad died, I wanted to go with him to the grave, I almost took my life).�

Geisler never lost his love for acting during those turbulent times, adding he was still finding his identity. “I had no one to turn to,� he said. “I wasn’t praying, I wasn’t meditating and I was just a lost boy.�

He also revealed he had been in and out of many rehabilitation institutions, a fact not many people know. This was during the time he used drugs heavily and deceived many people. “Hindi alam ng tao ‘to, ilang beses na’ko napasok sa kung saan-saang institusyon. Nag drugs ako nang todo, hindi alam ng karamihan to, at nagsinungaling ako‌,â€? he said. “Andami kong dineceive kasi in-denial nga ako sa problema ko, sa disease ko. I was really struggling and I wasn’t asking for help because I thought it was manageable, I thought I could handle it‌ (People do not know this, but I’ve entered all sorts of

institutions many times in the past. I used drugs heavily, most people do not know this, and I lied. I deceived so many people because I was in denial of my problem, of my disease).�

The turning point, it seems, was during his last meeting with his mother, Gracia, before she died in 2017. At the time, Geisler was about to go to a five-day rehabilitation program in Tagaytay and was saying goodbye to his mother. “Sabi ko, ‘ma, alis ako (ma, I’m leaving), I’m a good boy, ma. I’ll see you in five days, I love you,’� he recalled telling his mother.

What happened next, he said, was a moment one would think they would only see in the movies. “Totoo pala yung sa pelikula, yung may gusto siyang sabihin sa akin, and then sabi ko, ‘Yes ma, yes ma?’ Hindi ko alam hanggang ngayon kung anong gusto niyang sabihin,â€? he said. “So binigyan ko na lang ng meaning (It was just like in the movies. She wanted to say something to me and I said, “Yes ma, yes ma?â€? Until now I still do not know what she wanted to say. So I just gave it my own meaning).â€? “Before I die, siguro‌,â€? said Geisler. “I don’t want to put words sa mouth niya, pero siguro parang, ‘Please take care of yourself, because I’m not here anymore (Before I die, I guess‌ I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but I guess [she meant to say], “Please take care of yourself, because I’m not here anymore).’â€?

Pasture Prime: g U Äž Z Y U U Z b

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Manalang

DURING Archbishop Socrates Villegas’ short visit to Southern California where he stayed with Brad and Teena Boeckman — the latter whom he knew since she was 15 years old and served as a spiritual advisor to her and her mother, Marilou Valdes — I had the privilege of learning more about the community he serves back in the Philippines, and about his mission and vision for it.

Villegas, referred to by those who know him as Father Soc, was ordained a priest at the age of 25.

He was appointed Bishop in 2001, and in 2019, was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. The Archdiocese of Dagupan was created by Pope Pius XII in 1928.

Today, Villegas serves 17 towns in Central Pangasinan with three provinces including Pangasinan, La Union, and Nueva Ecija — a population of roughly 1.4 million Catholics. He serves along with 107 Catholic priests ministering to the people, the 57 parishes, and the 17 Catholic schools and seminaries.

But anyone dedicated to furthering the work of the Lord has a unique story as to how they first felt their calling. For Villegas, his entrance to the seminary involved losing one of his childhood idols.

As a young boy, Villegas secretly dreamt of becoming a priest. But as it is with many young boys, Villegas found himself looking up to public figures as role models. For Villegas, that role model was the famous martial artist, Bruce Lee. Villegas recalled watching all of Lee’s movies, and keeping up the articles and news clippings about him. “I idolized Bruce Lee when I was in high school,� said Villegas, looking back to his days at Letran. “I got interested in all of his movies, and all these article clippings about him.�

When Lee passed away in 1973, Villegas was among those who were greatly affected and the effects trickled into his daily life. “I got zeros in class, and I was distracted in class,� shared Villegas, who never got zeros in his assignments.

Villegas remembers coming across a quote by Lee that he said before passing, which further triggered his sadness.

The quote read: “The cup realizes itself only from being empty.� “That was it,� said Villegas. “I was struck and I wanted to die like him.�

Villegas’ sadness from Lee’s passing was apparent to those around him, but it was a turning point in his life and in his path to finding Jesus and eventually dedicating his life to God’s service.

It so happened that Villegas’ concerned school principal noticed changes in his behavior, called him into his office, and tried to find out what was happening to Villegas, who was an honor student candidate. “What’s going on? Why are you distracted and seemingly disorganized?� Villegas recalled his principal asking him. “He was really pushing for it,� added Villegas. “I said, ‘Sir, Bruce Lee died.’� “I wanted to die for something.

I didn’t know it was — I was confused,� said Villegas.

When Villegas shared his feelings of sadness and also wanting to die following Lee’s death, Villegas’ principal felt as if the Holy Spirit was encouraging Villegas to join the seminary.

There at the seminary, Villegas found his true calling of focusing on getting to know Jesus Christ.

Burning his Bruce Lee memorabilia, it was also at the seminary where Villegas discovered another quote to live by— one of God’s.

It reads, “If the seed dies, it bears fruit.� “Jesus said, ‘If the seed dies, it bears fruit.’ So I burned my albums, studied Jesus, and fell in love with Jesus.�

Archbishop Socrates Villegas

Mission for monasteries Having been a priest for 33 years and a bishop for 18 years, Villegas has come along way from his Bruce Lee fan days. His spiritual journey has made him more aware of God’s goodness. “I am more conscious of the blessings of God and the goodness of God. The more I realized that this is a great blessing and I do not deserve this,� said Villegas humbly. “There’s no other way to explain it, but it has been a gift.�

Among Villegas’ current projects has been building monasteries in the areas that need them. “The monastery is the place where contemplative sisters live for the rest of their life. They don’t the mission. All they do is pray the night and they have a Cloister which prevents them from going out which also prevents people from coming in that’s their sacrifice. They stay there for the rest of their lives. It’s called vow of stability I enter here and I will die here,� explained Villegas of he importance of monasteries.

When Villegas came to Dagupan in 2009, he realized right away that they lacked a monastery and made it his mission to build one for the Poor Clare Sisters who are followers of St. Francis of Assisi.

Now, he’s focused on finishing the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph in Pangasinan. “This one is for the Carmelite sisters who pray for the priests and the active apostolate,� said Villegas. “Right now there are five sisters staying in a temporary room, and they’re all crammed together.�

A target date for its inauguration is July 16, but he adds that funds are still short. “This is God’s project, so I’m sure God will provide for it,� said Villegas, adding that they’ve been blessed with friends coming from Europe and the U.S. to help with its completion.

Villegas’ hope for the new Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph is that it will be an open place for all people. “The poor are supposed to be given a voice in the church,� said Villegas.

He highlighted the many obstacles being faced in the Philippines now including the lack of health and education facilities, and the prevalence of corruption, “There is so much money that is lost in graft and corruption.

Stolen instead of being given to the poor,� said Villegas.

Other problems include kabastusan, or the degradation of morals, even in public. Lies, fake news, and lack of freedom are also among the issues being faced by Filipinos today, he added. “We need leadership. But not only leadership, but citizenry — willingness to put resources together to improve the lot of the Philippines,� said Villegas. “The Philippines is not just 7,000 islands in the Asia region.

The Philippines is in the heart and we can bring the Philippines wherever we go so that people in the village of nations can look at Filipinos and see how great they are,� he added.

Villegas continued, “I hope our Filipinos in other parts of the world will bring out not only the greatest of the Filipino heritage, but the greatest of our Catholic

Archbishop Socrates Villegas with Marilou Valdes

Archbishop Socrates Villegas with Teena Boeckmann

Heritage. You can be missionaries. Wherever you go, let the rest of the world understand that Filipinos are God loving.�

I learned about Villegas through my best friend Teena Boeckmann who inspired me to help in my small way. I’ve made it my mission to send Balikbayan boxes directly to Villegas. He mentioned to me that they accept any items to be distributed out to the poorest of the poor in Pangasinan.

I personally have been using International Package Shipping — a new player in the Balikbayan box industry — but has 60 years in the shipping business and a strong international reputation in delivering packages efficiently at an affordable cost.

If you’d like to send your Balikbayan boxes to: Fr. Socrates B. Villegas, D.D. Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop’s House, Jovellanos St. 2400 Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines (075) 523-5357 Please call (413) 310-6829 and ask for Joey Mendoza for a personalized pick up of your Balikbayan boxes. Visit www. internationalpackageshipping. com for more details.

To help with the on-going construction of our House of Prayer. You can send your donations through the following bank accounts: Metrobank-Tapuac, Dagupan Dollar Account Account No. 569-2-569001158 Account Name: Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family Tel No. (075) 653-4966 Metrobank-Tapuac, Dagupan Peso Account Account No. 569-7-569004043 Account Name: Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family Swift Code: mbtcphmm Tel No. (075) 653-4966 BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) Acct. No. 0653-1305-03 Acct. Name: Mother Prioress of the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family Inc. Swift Code: BOPIPHMM Guiguinto, Bulacan Branch For your love offerings, please notify and contact: 0943-275-8110 (Sun) / 0945309-6801(Globe) Email: carmelitemonasterysanfabian@gmail.com

Isko’s son Joaquin is...

PAGE B1 to prove he can also act as he is slated to start his first movie next week. He is also scheduled to be paired with Kyline in a GMA weekly series. “I‘m not going to acting un-

prepared,� assured Joaquin. “I’ve done acting workshops under very good acting coaches and I hope I will be able to deliver well.�

Asked what acting tips Isko has given him, the proud son re-

plied, “I’ve seen a lot of his work and he’s a great actor. He told me I have to be truthful in what I do.

Pag hindi, the viewers will see through it. He said there should be honesty and sincerity in the emotions I deliver.�

Ready for JamesKiss...

PAGE B1 That’s the sad/bad news.

The happy/good news is that, while Donny has yet to find a new screen partner, Kisses has already found one. Actually, Regal Films did it for her. A Funfare source said that the company conducted a poll on who is the perfect partner for Kisses in the movie D’Ninang

and the winner is‌Jameson Blake. If and when, would the tandem be known as JamesKiss?

When Kisses celebrated her debut en grande in May 2017, her manager surprised her by choosing 18 handsome guys to present the 18 Roses, James among them. “That’s how I met him,� said

Kisses, “but I don’t know him personally.�

Oh well, they will have enough time to know each other better when their first movie together starts shooting.

Kisses was asking, “What do you think about the team-up?�

Honestly, yes, Jameson and Kisses will make a handsome pair.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

B

Matteo graduates at top of military leadership class, Sarah serenades boyfriend

by JAn

Milo seveRo Philstar.com

ACTOR Matteo Guidicelli has completed his month-long Philippine Military Academy Leadership Development Course as he graduated at Camp Tecson, Bulacan on Thursday, June 27.

According to a report by ABS-CBN’s MJ Felipe, Matteo obtained the highest grade of 95.20 percent from the course, making him the most outstanding student among 76 students in the class.

“Matteo receives a special recognition, letter of commendation and scout ranger replica for being an outstanding student among 97 students in the class and obtaining the highest grade of 95.20%,” MJ wrote on his Twitter account.

Apart from being the most outstanding student, 2nd Lieutenant Guidicelli also received a medal for his initiative in clean up drives in some schools in San Miguel, Bulacan.

“Matteo Guidicelli receives a medal, honored for his volunteerism initiative in clean up drives in some of the schools in San Miguel Bulacan, distribution of school supplies and being an inspiration to the youth,” MJ

THE THIRD BATCH OF KAPAMILYA WHO CAME TO THE “CITIZEN PINOY” TAPING IN ILLINOIS GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED THIS SUNDAY! Can a mother still 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 a 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 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 (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement) Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo

captioned the video of Matteo receiving a medal.

In another tweet by MJ, Matteo was seen giving his parents and girlfriend Sarah Geronimo a hug after receiving all of his awards. Sarah, said TV5 showbiz reporter MJ Marfori, became a VIP guest at Matteo’s graduation.

Sarah even sang one of her first hits, “Forever’s Not Enough,” to serenade Matteo and his fellow graduates.

Sarah and Matteo’s family threw their all-out support for

Photos from Instagram/@madam_sarahg

him in his training. Recently, photos of them visiting Matteo inside the camp circulated online.

Last April, the 29-year-old actor has officially joined the Philippine Army as a reservist.

He cited his love for the country as the reason for joining the army.

“I officially joined the Philippine ARMY today because I love my country. I would like to thank the people that have been very supportive. Exciting times ahead,” Matteo said.

How Ruffa handles kids amid abuse from ex-husband

by Deni Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com

IT has been years since actress and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez has been separated from former husband, Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas, but she admits that she is still scared of him.

“Would you believe until now I’m still afraid of my ex-husband? Even if he’s invited me so many times to go back, I don’t want to go back because I have this notion in my head that he will kill me,” she disclosed in a recent ABS-CBN interview.

In a phone interview with Philstar.com during her birthday last Monday, Ruffa shared that Yilmaz has been inviting her and her daughters to return to Istanbul. She recalled that there were a lot of times that he invited her to return to Turkey with him because he said he loved her, so she would give her another chance.

But every time she would go with him, the abuses she got from him would get worse. So, as soon as she had the chance to return to the Philippines, she The ‘PRIDEstrian’ lane at the Araneta Center serves as a runway for (from left) second runner-up Samantha Bernardo, first runner-up Aya stayed in the country for good.

Abesamis, Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, Bb. Pilipinas International Bea Patricia Magtanong, Bb. Supranational Resham Saeed, Bb. “My mom, my father and my Pilipinas Globe Leren Mae Bautista, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Mary Tiglao, and Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Samantha Ashley whole family was there to supLo. Photo by Armin P. Adina port me, but I remember it was

Bb. Pilipinas queens reunite for ‘Pride Month’ by

ARMin P. ADinA Inquirer.net

THEY have not been seen together since their coronation as Binibining Pilipinas queens weeks ago, but the 2019 set of winners reunited, all six queens and two runners-up, for the pageant’s celebration of LGBTQ+ pride.

The last time the 2019 Bb. Pilipinas winners and runnersup were seen complete as a group was at the pageant’s stage during the contest’s conclusion.

But the eight queens all showed up at an intimate media gathering at the Black Scoop Café at the Gateway Mall at the Araneta Center in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 26.

In their previous public appearances, one or two queens were missing because of prior engagements. Wednesday’s event also saw the first official public appearance of second runner-up Samantha Mae Bernardo after the coronation night.

The pageant called a press conference for the ladies to discuss with members of the media their thoughts on lesbian,

gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights and welfare, in line with the celebration of “Pride Month” this June.

Joining Bernardo were Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, Bb. Pilipinas International Bea Patricia Magtanong, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Resham Saeed, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Samantha Ashley Lo, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Mary Tiglao, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Leren Mae Bautista, and first runner-up Aya Abesamis.

Magtanong, a lawyer, voiced out her support for the refiling of the SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression) Bill when the 18th Congress starts its session next month.

“Taga-UP (University of the Philippines) ako, willing akong mag-rally (I’m from UP, I’m willing to join a rally),” she declared.

The legislative measure, which seeks equal rights for members of the LGBT community, have failed to secure the lawmakers’ approval in both congressional chambers for over two decades now.

“Sometimes you have to take

risky steps. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. Am I doing enough? Am I speaking about it enough?” asked Saeed, who advocates for gender equality, and even showcased the “pride colors” in her national costume during the competition.

“It’s so important for me, as a Muslim woman. Even in the Muslim community, there are those who don’t feel like they can talk about it,” she added.

This is also the first time for the Bb. Pilipinas queens to officially participate as a batch in the annual “Pride March” at the Marikina Sports Complex on June 29, at 2 p.m.

“When we attend the pride march, we will be raising awareness to LGBTQ+ rights,” Bautista said.

The Bb. Pilipinas pageant aligns its Pride Month celebration with the Araneta Center’s various initiatives in fostering greater inclusivity in the commercial district, such as the rainbow-colored pedestrian lanes dubbed “PRIDEstrian,” and the “Rainbow Skywalk” connecting the Gateway Mall and the new Frontier Theater.

Maine, Carlo to star in new movie

by JAn

Milo seveRo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Maine Mendoza is the latest GMA-7 artist to crossover to rival ABS-CBN to do a movie with Kamilya actor Carlo Aquino.

In its Twitter account, Black Sheep, a film subsidiary of the Kapamilya network, announced that Maine will be paired with Carlo in the upcoming movie “Isa Pa With Feelings.”

“Welcome to the Black Sheep fam, @mainedcm! #IsaPaWithFeelings, comin’ at ya soon # CarloMaineBlackSheep,” Black Sheep wrote on Twitter.

The story conference was held on Thursday, June 27, as the movie will be directed by Prime Cruz.

According to the director, “Isa Pa With Feelings” is about two broken people who will meet each other.

For the movie, Black Sheep will collaborate with APT Enter-

Maine Mendoza and Carlo Aquino

tainment, producer of GMA-7’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga!,” where Maine is a host.

Other GMA artists who also did a movie with ABS-CBN included Dingdong Dantes with “She’s The One,” “One More Try,” “Unmarried Wife,” and “Seven Sundays”; Jennylyn Mercado with “Just The 3 Of Us” and Maine’s AlDub partner Alden

Photo from Instagram/@black_sheepph

Richards with “Hello, Love, Goodbye.”

Alden recently made headlines for visiting ABS-CBN to meet the rival network’s executives.

“Medyo surreal na nandito ako ngayon. Nandito kami ni Kath to shoot mga video plugs and ‘yung mga digital shoot,” Alden was quoted as saying in an ABS-CBN report.

Ruffa Gutierrez Photo from Instagram/@iloveruffag

my mom who really stopped me from going back,” she recounted.

“When my job was weak and my ex-husband was inviting me back to Istanbul and to bring the kids, I was ready to go back.

Five, six, seven tickets purchased tickets every month all the time so anytime we can use (them), and my mom said, ‘If you plan to go back to Istanbul, I would run on the runway so the airplane couldn’t leave. They’ll have to run over me’.”

Despite being physically and emotionally abused by her ex-husband, Ruffa teaches her daughters not to be bitter toward their father.

“The example that I want to set to my children is to become strong and independent women and not let anyone put you down, especially, men that they will love one day, and will learn from my lessons and experiences as well,” she said.

“I never criticized their father because he is still their father and without him, they won’t be here right now. I know that my children value peace and know that I’ve been through a lot, and it’s gonna help their future one day as well.”

Although short, she still considers her marriage to Bektas “very productive” as it produced her daughters Lorin and Venice, who are now 15 and 14, respectively.

She said that despite the distance, her daughters have “a pretty open relationship” with their father.

“Forgive and forget. Especially now that my children are teenagers and I don’t want them hating their father. I don’t want them feeling like they’re not enough because they are. I want PAGE B4

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How Ruffa handles kids...

PAGE B3 them to have a good relationship with their father because it’s also going to be good for them mentally,” Ruffa said.

Nonetheless, she always remind them on what to watch out for should they marry someday.

“I believe I raised my children in a way that they are Godfearing and strong individuals even at their tender young age. I know that they would be

wise enough to make the right decision, not yet now because they’re still teenagers, but one day, when they do find a spouse, I already gave them a list (on) what to look for in a man.”

Gender-based violence Ruffa marked her 45th birthday as a panelist in “Voices Against Violence,” an international training program that seeks to help raise awareness on gender-based violence in the country.

Gender-based violence remains one of the most prevalent epidemics to impact women and girls in Philippines and around the world. According to the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 17 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence since age 15.

Almost one in four women of the same age group experienced other forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence by their current or most recent husband or partner. Of these statistics, about 41 percent have never sought help or told anyone about their ordeal.

To help end violence against women and girls, Avon Philippines recently launched its new Free as a Butterfly watch, which aims to help raise funds for female victims of abuse under the care of Avon’s partner nongovernment organizations.

“I’m very happy that I celebrated my birthday with Avon Foundation for Women. My birthday wish is not only to be happy, healthy and successful, not only for me, but also for my advocacy, (to fight against) violence against women and children. I want all women out there to know that they’re not alone. If they reach out and share their story, someone’s going to be there to help them,” assured Ruffa.

The actress, who has a new ABS-CBN soap opera that will start taping in July, wants to continue doing philanthropy and retire from showbiz at 50.

“I’ve recovered already. I survived. It’s just that there are instances like these when I talk to other women and remember the past, then it opens a lot of wounds in my heart but I believe that I’ve recovered already and I’ve been blessed with so much work to the point that I can forget about the past.”

Likewise, she encouraged other abused women to share their story and call help hotlines.

“It’s not difficult anymore to seek help. I want to let them know that they’re not alone. If I am able to overcome it and I am a celebrity, I have a new life now, I am free, and if I can overcome those troubles in my past, I’m sure that they can as well.”

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

Coming out of the end zone MOONLIGHTING

by MYLAH DE

LEON

SHE can remember no raging against the night, no anger about what Yeats described, “a decrepit age that has tied to me… like a dogs tail.”

She just grew old, remembered her grief and happiness, as she watered her garden. She accused herself, forgave herself; learned new fragments of wisdom, then forget old fragments and abandoning certain angers; and unsummoned joys and sadness.

She gave away gold and precious stones, and continued to laugh on some days and to weep on others — unfolding the design of her identity, while practicing the songs she knew, deliciously off key. She grew very old as she watched generations increase, as well the passing of seasons and years.

But she did not die.

She called it the sickness pompous. The spell that hushed the household with desert-like stillness and felt through its innermost chambers one in a world unto herself, her own theater.

It is a severe fit of indisposition amounting to a deposition that made her a prisoner in pain and grief, for some time.

But the state of sickness is but a magnificent dream — to lie in bed, with the daylight curtains drawn to shut out the sun, in a total oblivion of all the works going under it, and become insensible of all the operations of life under it, except the beating of one’s feeble pulse and the agonizing wait for a phone or doorbell to ring (but it never did!).

No one ever lays down, without a feeling of disappointment.

Sickness enlarges dimensions of one, to herself, to become her own exclusive object. In the regal solitude of the sick bed, where caprices are without control over the catalogue of moans and strong armor of sickness wrapped in the callous hide of suffering, sympa-

The author leaves LAC-USC medical center.

thy and correct compassion seem to be your only rise.

Then, as she backtracked, she recalled that morning sickness, knowing, it will be months again before she can see her toes.

Strapped down and delivered into in a place where pain winces off the walls, the doctor looks down like a foreman to a sweating laborer, forcing one life from another, something she signed for at that moment when she would have signed anything. “Give it up!,” says a bad wit. “Push!,” orders the nurse.

She’s crowning the doctor says, but there’s no one royal but this barefoot peasant, greeting a barefoot infant. In that puzzle of sickness how can anything so beautiful come from so much pain? Never again (till the next time around) and did FOUR! But the heart will lead, and the head will explain, for the common pathway is the heart, whatever kingdom may come. And what matters finally is how the human spirit is spent — every morning is the day of joy — the morning to rejoice, for it is the beginning.

Yet to be sick is to enjoy monarchal prerogatives. From the bed of sickness, to the elbow chair of healing, to the scene of one’s regalities. Hushed are those mysterious sighs — those groans that are so much more

awful, not knowing from what caverns of vast hidden suffering they preceded.

And as this flat swamp of healing notes reach her, requests, summons, deadlines, something hard, and/or the quibble relieves her. For it seemed to link her again to the petty business of life which she had lost sight of. A gentle call to activity, however trivial, awake once more from the preposterous dream of selfabsorption and puffy stuff of sickness, in which she had stayed long and had spread over.

The conundrum of sickness that swells contemplation of one’s single suffering, is wasted to a span of giant self-importance of which she was so periled lately but had overcome.

Now, she is once again in her natural pretensions. The same old woman, a lean and meager figure of your insignificant columnist, writing occasional sentences that shimmer on its own, with freedom in expressing whatever narcissistic nonsense that would come within one’s kin: taking pleasure in the show or rapid movements of her pen. As she writes with her hand (because unlike Pavlova, she has no immediate use for a swan costume), she is ready to begin the end. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.com

Losing hair? Don’t lose hope — this hair restoration treatment could be your saving grace Image Spa IMEE ONG-MAGHANOY MANY people refer to the hair as one’s crowning glory.

I could say the same for very good reasons. The hair, being one of the fi rst things people see when trying to recognize someone, can tell a lot about a person and may affect how he or she is perceived.

With all things considered, our hair is after all, the crown we never take off. That said, I understand the stress it causes when our “crown” is in the process of “fading away.”

Good thing, modern technology has brought us this hair restoration treatment. This treatment Improves circulation to the dermal plexus, inhibits the activity of 5-alpha Reductase and promotes follicular keratinization.

This fusion ensures optimal function at a cellular level, optimizing cellular metabolism with a powerful boost of vitamins and micro-nutrients That may sound a tad bit technical so in order for us to fully understand this treatment, let us talk about the process of hair growth (or the loss of it).

Contrary to what most people think, female hair is not too different from male hair in terms of growth cycle and structure.

Both contain the three parts responsible for these processes which are the scalp, the visible part of the hair, and the shaft which is made of three layers: the first is the external layer known as the Cuticle, which is formed with protective overlapping scales; the middle layer, known as the cortex, is made up of keratin fibers grouped together in spindle-like shapes.

This layer contains the pigments responsible for the hair’s natural color and the inner layer or the Medulla.

Our hair is constantly renewing itself. A single hair emerges, grows, then falls out, as part of a hair cycle that repeats itself about 25 times during our lifetime and occurs in three stages: The Anagen phase, or growth phase which lasts about two to three years in men and six to

Before and after four months of treatment

eight years in women. Under normal conditions, about 85% of our hairs are in the Anagen phase. During this phase, the vascular network that supplies the hair root is particularly welldeveloped around the follicle.

Second is the Catagen phase, or regression phase, which is fairly brief (2 to 3 weeks), during which the hair follicle becomes inactive. The matrix dies and although the hair does not grow anymore, it remains rooted in the follicle. Lastly, there is the Telogen phase, when the hair is in its rest phase. The hair sheds and is replaced by another hair, whereby a new Anagen phase begins. This period of renewal lasts approximately three months and explains why we normally lose around 100 hairs every day.

Now there are two types of hair loss. There is gradual hair loss and sudden hair loss. The gradual hair loss, also called Andro-genetic Alopecia, is a gradual and localized decrease in the capillary mass. In humans, it extends most often at the level of the frontal lobes, the top of the head and the tonsure.

In women, it is frequently located on the temporal zones and the ray. This is usually caused by a reduced Anagen (growth) phase linked to progressive degeneration of the hair follicles.

Each cycle becomes shorter than the one before. Finally, the follicle wears out completely, is reabsorbed, then disappears.

The succession of 20 to 25 hair growth cycles, which should

last a lifetime, ends sooner than expected.

Gradual hair loss or alopecia is dependent on certain male hormones, androgens, which are also present in women.

This also explains why this phenomenon only begins after puberty.

Gradual hair loss is an abnormal reaction of the hair and scalp to these hormones.

Sudden hair loss, on the other hand, is usually caused by poor circulation and nutritional deficiency. Growth factors are responsible for increasing the blood flow to the hair follicle.

This function is essential to regulating hair growth. Poor circulation to the scalp means the hair bulb does not receive the nutrients it needs and results in hair loss.

Now that we know the hair structure and its growth process (or loss thereof), we can now see how this hair restructuring treatment works. First, it’s triple action at the heart of the dermal papilla extends the life of the hair, making it a highly effective active ingredient against gradual hair loss.

Second, it induces the Anagen phase, which makes it possible to rapidly restart hair growth and marks it out as a highly effective key ingredient against sudden hair loss. The treatment starts with a soft or deep cleansing of the scalp by a cleaner. Followed by applying 3-5ml of the hair loss control solution. After this, the PAGE B5

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

B

Romnick not in a rush but admits he’s now ‘getting to know someone’ by

MariNel r. Cruz Inquirer.net

“I’M old-fashioned. I don’t want to keep hopping from one relationship to another,” said actor Romnick Sarmenta, who admitted that after breaking up with Harlene Bautista, his wife of 19 years, he just wanted “to take things slow.”

Romnick confessed to the Inquirer that he would go out on dates from time to time. He even went as far as admitting that “there’s one girl I’m trying to get to know better.” But the actor also pointed out that at age 47, he was “all for finding the right person.”

“I’m in no rush,” he stressed.

“If things work out (with the girl), then great. In the end, I still want to be able to say ’OK lang ako. Ayos lang itong pinasok ko.’ I think I’ve given people who care about me more than enough reason to worry, so that’s enough.”

Romnick said that while he was open to dating, he would rather not go out with women who were 10 years younger.

“Modesty aside, there are girls who would tell me, ‘Labas tayo!’ Ako ang naiilang. I’m so old-school,” the actor admitted.

“I try to say as nicely as I can, ‘Sorry I don’t go out.’ That’s actually true. I don’t like going to bars. My routine has been work, fetch the kids at school, then go home—but that was before.”

The actor said he also found it funny that people now wanted to romantically link him to his former love-team partner Sheryl Cruz, who is reportedly single at the moment. The actress’ marriage to husband Norman Bustos was dissolved in 2008.

“I’ve received 32 messages (on Facebook) from people asking, ‘Pwede ba kayo na lang ulit?’ It’s nice that our fans have remained supportive,” said Romnick, adding that he never answered any of the messages “because people will only play it up.”

“Sheryl now has a private life. If we do talk, people will say something and merely twist things. We don’t want these things to affect our respective kids,” he explained.

Romnick and Sheryl’s tan-

Luis and Jessy have been going strong for three years.

Photo from Instagram/@senorita_jessy

Jessy recalls ‘why not?’ moment with Luis as they mark 3rd anniversary Romnick Sarmienta

dem was one of the most-loved onscreen partnerships in the ’80s. However, the actor said they had not seen each other in a long while. GMA 7 offered them a reunion project, but the actor turned it down because he had already agreed to do “Halik” for its rival network ABS-CBN. Romnick is also a cast member of Derick Cabrido’s horror movie “Clarita,” as well as Dwein Baltazar’s comedy series “Past, Present, Perfect?” now airing on the streaming app iWant.

The actor admitted that adjusting to being single had been difficult. “I think it’s because (Harlene and I) were married for almost 20 years. I’m not trying to play this up in any way, but I was so used to sleeping every night beside my kids. When we separated and I moved to a different house, that’s what hurt the most. I’d ask myself, ‘What am I doing here? Why am I not sleeping beside my kids?’ It really gets to you,” he confessed.

Meanwhile, Harlene, in an earlier Inquirer interview, said that she broke up with Romnick because she was no longer

ABS-CBN photo

happy with their marriage.

To this, Romnick responded: “I, on the other hand, was not unhappy. I concentrated on being a family man. I chose to stay away from the limelight and shunned show biz work because I wanted to spend time with my kids. I have no regrets. I enjoyed every moment with them.”

He added: “I was happy being a dad. When someone told me, ‘’Tol, daddy mode ka ha?’

I proudly said, ‘Oo naman!’ If you only knew my kids the way I know them, you’d also say it’s all worth it.”

Romnick said he could “borrow” his five children whenever he could. “She would say ‘no’ only if they already have something planned,” he said of Harlene.

Is there really no chance for a reconciliation with Harlene? “I really can’t say. What you feel or think today might not be the same a couple of years down the road. It’s not fair to force us to give a definite answer today.

You don’t want people to start coming up with wrong notions.

Let’s first see what Madame Auring (a popular fortune teller) has to say about this,” Romnick quipped.

by

Niña V. GuNo Inquirer.net

LUIS Manzano and Jessy Mendiola reminisced on the first time they bonded as they marked their third year as a couple.

The “Minute to Win It” host posted on Tuesday, June 25, pictures of them in their travels to South Korea last January.

“Thank you for coming to my birthday more than 3 years ago love, kahit napilitan ka lang pumunta after taping mo (even if you were forced to go after your taping)…. but look where we are now!!!” Manzano’s birthday is on April 21.

“Thank you for being who

you are and always being there, I love you, 3 down… forever to go,” the 38-year-old host and actor said.

Mendiola, 26, recalled on Instagram what happened on the night of his birthday, when sparks flew and led them to a lasting relationship. She shared a picture of them kissing on the beach during a visit to the Tubbataha Reef.

“It seems like only yesterday when we were talking at your birthday party till 3 a.m. I wasn’t listening to whatever you were saying. I was just staring at your face thinking ‘why not? he seems like a nice man.’ Fast forward to today and we are celebrating our 3rd year together,”

she said.

“I thank God [every day] for giving me a good man. A man who will fight for me, take care of me and see me through the tough times,” she wrote.

“I know in my heart you are the one for me. Who would’ve thought? Happy anniversary my love. I love you with all that I am.”

Manzano told the Inquirer that he wants to marry Mendiola, but that he is still saving up for their future. He explained, “I am sure about her. I’m not having doubts at all. It’s just that I want to provide for her and give her the life that I think she and my would-be family deserve.”

Losing hair? Don’t lose...

PAGE B4 “Microneedling” in sections begins. This is mixed with vitamin complex and hair lotion. This process is concluded by exposing the area to LED or red light for 20 minutes.

Our “crowning glory” plays a huge factor in our overall appearance that people would go through lengths to take care of it, let alone save it. And this

treatment may actually be the one that you’ve been waiting for.

Visit iSkin or Image Body Spa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8709 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. Image Spa MD is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 Rancho Cucamonga, CA and 499 N El Camino Real, suite c-200, Encinitas, CA.

*** Imee is an established aesthetician, a business owner and a managing partner for Image Spa MD and CEO of Image Body SPA. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. Image Spa is now one of the most reputable medical spa facilities in LA and has branches in Rancho Cucamonga and Encinitas for Image SPA MD and iSkin in West Hollywood. Imee has been in the aesthetics industry for over 20 years.

(Advertising Supplement)

B JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY Journal

20th UPAAA Grand Reunion & Convention in San Francisco set on Aug. 30 - Sept. 1

by Joe

L. Garbanzos MPH/EMBA

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, Inc (UPAAA) and cohost University of the Philippines Alumni Association San Francisco chapter is set and ready to welcome its fellow alumni, members and attendees at the 20th Grand Reunion and Convention on August 30 – September 1, 2019. The grand reunion will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA. The year-round preparation has been completed. The theme “Lead, Elevate, Advance and Participate” is a reminder that the spirit of the alma mater is alive and well. To register, visit www.upaaagrandreunion.com and www.upaainamerica.org.

For more information, visit the UPAAA FB page. Register right away to get special rate ending June 30.

Organizers are looking forward to welcoming UP alumni all over the world in San Francisco.

San Francisco was chosen from other world-class cities after a deliberate vetting process. It was reported, many who participated in choosing the City, made their choice for sentimental and romantic reasons… they left their heart in San Francisco. They are not alone.

The 2019 reunion was organized in a collaborative effort by UPAAA and UPAA San Francisco Chapter. UP Alumni from the US and other parts have been looking forward to gathering in the City by the Bay. Alumni, families and guests are excited and expected to make the memorable trip to San Francisco. UP System President Danilo Concepcion will lead the delegation from UP Diliman. He will deliver the keynote address at the convention.

UPAAA President Nelsie Parrado is confident of big turn-out and a successful reunion. Sonia Delen, president of UPAA SF is likewise gung-ho in insuring the event will be a resounding success. The Planning Team led by

Kellie Sabas was successful in finding a hotel-property that offered value-rate and great location. The program content and activities are all planned to delight attendees and leave them with pleasurable memories.

There will be a combination of fun, celebration, bonding, getting reacquainted, some learning and planning for the future.

In short, it will be a stereotype UP event – animated and cerebral at the same time.

Business sponsors invited For business and services, the UPAAA Grand Reunion in San Francisco is an opportunity to reach a demographic of customers who mostly are in the 75th percentile of the income bracket.

UP Alums in the US, and other parts of the world, come from diverse and high-achieving professions – lawyers, doctors, nurses, senior executives, academicians, engineers, financial advisers and entrepreneurs to name some.

Savvy businesses looking for growth cannot afford to miss the opportunity to be in front of this customer group.

In a competitive world of acquiring new customers, UP Alums are prized customers. The market profile of this customer group is a dream for marketers.

UP alums, friends and families, love brands, loyal to services and products that appeal to their perception of excellence. They have the buying power to support their fine taste. For ventures hunting for investors, this group is a high-value investor class. It is not a surprise to see big firms and familiar brands lining up to join as event sponsors. To become an event sponsor, vendors and interested parties may reach out to Nelsie Parrado; nparrado@ft.newyorklife.com.

Alumni and families: Why attend?

The 20th Grand Reunion is well timed. It is Labor Day weekend in the US. San Francisco is expected to have mild weather at this time of the year. The city offers a lot for visitors. Alumni celebrating their anniversary will be honored and celebrated.

There will be quality time to reconnect with long-time-no-see classmates and fellow alums.

Many may have gone separate paths and places but remained connected all these years only by social media. San Francisco will be a perfect place to get reconnected.

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

The 2019 grand reunion in San Francisco will be a celebration of lives well-lived and a fun walkback on memory lane. For the younger alumni generation, this is a good opportunity to network and discover mentors, perhaps.

Success is sometimes enhanced by the people you meet along the way. For millennials, the San Francisco reunion may open opportunities to pitch an idea, help career development or just connect with like-minded souls.

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

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

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

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C JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon NO matter how the economy does, there are always reasons for people to file bankruptcy.

During the period of 2008-2012, more than 1.5 million people filed bankruptcy year after year.

This was during the height of the foreclosure crisis. Millions of homeowners were struggling with unaffordable mortgage payments, unemployment and failing businesses. As much as they did not want to file bankruptcy, they had to in order to protect their incomes, families and their homes.

Fast forward to 2019. The unemployment rate is currently low according to experts. There have been a lot of talks recently about a coming recession in the next 2 years. Consumer debt is at all-time high again and has surpassed pre-2008 levels. Clients are asking me: I am concerned about the national economy. If things take a turn for the worse, how will that affect me? My answer: Forget about the national economy. How’s your PERSONAL economy? If you are manag-

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. RheA sAmson ANG naturalization ang proseso ng pagbigay ng US citizenship sa isang dayuhan pagkatapos niyang ipakita na kanyang nasunod lahat ng kailangan sa ilalim ng Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Ang mga sumusunod ang kailangan para sa application for naturalization: (1) ang aplikante ay may 18 taon gulang na; (2) siya ay 5 taon nang green card holder o 3 taong green card holder para sa asawa ng US citizen (USC); (3) maipapakita ng aplikante na siya ay may “continuous residence” na hindi kukulang na 5 taon bago i-file ang naturalization application o 3 taon sa asawa ng USC; (4) ang aplikante ay physically present sa US nang hindi kukulang ng 30 buwan sa 5 taon bago i-file ang naturalization application o 18 buwan sa 3 taon para sa asawa ng USC. Ang pagtira

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

What causes people to file bankruptcy? ing your finances well and not spending more than you earn, your chances of surviving any changes in the national economy will be better than most people.

In other words, the basic rules of money management remain the same no matter how the national economy does.

What usually causes bankruptcy filings? Here are a few that I’ve seen in my work as a bankruptcy attorney for the last 22 years: High interest loans: Recently, I have seen a lot of people going crazy with payday loans. These loans have exorbitant interest rates, which are then extended by way of additional borrowing. It’s a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of once you are in it. But it is no different from having credit cards that you keep charging on when you clearly don’t have the means to pay it all back. Some people think that as long as they can make the minimum payments, they will be fine. They don’t stop and think how excessive credit card indebtedness can keep them trapped for yeas, sometimes a lifetime.

Auto repossessions: Fast-talking car salesmen seem to have a way of getting you finance regard-

less of your credit or having insufficient income. This comes with a huge price tag, of course, because the lower your credit score is, the higher interest rate the lender gets to charge you. Sometimes, people will also co-sign for a family member or friend just to help them out. And then when the person ends up not paying for the car, it gets repossessed and the poor co-signor (who only wanted to do a good deed) ends up with the bill.

If they can’t pay the huge deficiency after the car is sold, sometimes they end up filing bankruptcy.

Think twice before buying any car, whether for yourself or for someone else. Remember that you will be paying for 36-60 months and the bank doesn’t care whether or not you lose your job. If you sign on the dotted line, you are legally responsible.

Foreclosure: Although the number of foreclosures has gone down in the last few years, there will always be people who will end up facing foreclosure for one reason or another, unfortunately.

Common reasons are a job loss, disability or again, excessive debt.

When your income is stretched

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Naturalization process sa labas ng US ng mahigit ng 6 buwan ay maaaring maging disruption ng “continuous residence requirement”; (5) siya ay nakatira ng 3 buwan sa State o USCIS district kung saan siya nag-file ng naturalization application; (6) ang aplikante ay may good moral character; (7) siya ay sumasangayon sa mga prinsipyo at adhikain ng US Constitution; (8) ang aplikante ay marunong magbasa, magsalita, at magsulat ng Ingles; (9) mayroon siyang pagkakaunawa ng kasaysayan at gobyerno ng US; at (10) ang aplikante ay kailangang mag oath of allegiance sa US. Pagkatapos magfile ng naturalization application, ang aplikante ay makakatanggap ng biometrics o fingerprinting notice. Pagkatapos ng mga pangunahing proseso, siya ay makakatanggap ng Interview Notice.

Sa Interview, ang aplikante ay bibigyan din ng speaking test, reading test, writing test at civics test. Ang speaking test, reading test at writing test ay kailangan para madetermina ang kaaala-

man at pag-unawa ng Ingles.

Ang civics exam naman ay magpapakita kung ang aplikante ay may kaalaman at pag-unawa sa kasaysayan at gobyerno ng US. Pagkatapos ng interview, sasabihin ng USCIS Officer sa aplikante kung ang kanyang naturalization application ay aprubado, nasa ilalaim ng pagsusuri, o denied.

Kung aprubado ang naturalization application, ang aplikante ay maaaring sumali sa naturalization ceremony kung saan kailangan siyang mag-Oath of Allegiance sa US. Ang aplikante ay exempt sa English language requirement kung siya ay (1) may 50 taon gulang noong nag-file ng naturalization application at 20 taon na siyang green card holder at nakatira sa US (ito ang “50/20 exemption”); (2) may 55 taon gulang noong nag-file ng naturalization application at 15 taon na siyang green card holder at nakatira sa US (ito ang “55/15 exemption”). Kahit na ang aplikante ay may 50/20 or 55/15

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPA, mBA

THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Act”) makes changes to the general business credit by adding a new Paid Family And Medical Leave Credit and changing the Rehabilitation Credit and the Orphan Drug Credit.

1. Paid family and medical leave credit: The Act introduces a new component credit for paid family and medical leave which is available to eligible employers for wages paid to qualifying employees on family and medical leave. The credit is available as long as the amount paid to employees on leave is at least 50% of their normal wages and the leave payments are made in employer tax years beginning in 2018 and 2019. The maximum leave allowed for any employee for any tax year is 12 weeks. There must be a written policy in place.

Qualifying employees are those who have been employed by the employer for one year or more.

Paid leave provided as vacation leave, personal leave, or other medical or sick leave is not considered family and medical leave.

2. Rehabilitation credit: Old law allowed a taxpayer to

The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAs

THE rooms of the dormitories are now clean and empty, and the seminary is quiet, for the academic year has ended, and the seminarians have left for summer vacation.

Some of them finished their long years of seminary formation—seven years for most of them. They are now newly ordained priests, excited in their first assignment.

From time to time I would remind them, especially those who are starting their priestly ministry or even those who will have internships, to focus on preaching Jesus and all his actions in their lives and the world.

“We preach Jesus Christ, not u PAGE C5 ourselves,” I would tell them. “If

Three changes to the general business credit take the entire credit in the year the structure was placed in service.

The Act changes the rehabilitation credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures paid or incurred by eliminating the 10% credit for expenditures for qualified rehabilitation buildings placed in service before 1936, and retaining the 20% credit for expenditures for certified historic structures, but reducing its value by requiring taxpayers to take the credit ratably over five years starting with the date the structure is placed in service. The Act also provides for a transition rule for buildings owned or leased at all times on and after January 1, 2018.

3. Orphan drug credit: The Act changes the orphan drug credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions. For clinical testing expense amounts paid or incurred in tax years beginning in 2018, the former 50% credit is cut in half to 25%. Taxpayers that claim the full credit have to reduce the amount of any otherwise allowable deduction for the expenses regardless of limitations under the general business credit.

Similarly, taxpayers that capitalize, rather than deduct, their expenses have to reduce the amount

charged to a capital account. The credit has been reduced and now equals 25 percent of qualifying clinical testing expenses. However, the Act gives taxpayers the option of taking a reduced orphan drug credit that if elected allows taxpayers to avoid reducing otherwise allowable deductions or charges to their capital account.

The election for the reduced credit for any tax year must be made on a tax return no later than the time for filing the return for that year (including extensions) and in a manner prescribed by IRS. Once the reduced credit election is made, it is irrevocable. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

you do this, then you won’t fail, no matter how you think and feel that you’re not competent enough,” I would add.

Indeed, the priestly ministry is about proclaiming the actions of Jesus Christ in our lives and the world. It’s because although he now “sits at the right hand of the Father,” his Spirit resides in the Church through Word and Sacrament and is alive in the works and love of His presentday community of disciples and followers.

This belief in the continual presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit in the Church is deeply rooted in the words of Jesus to his disciples before he ascended to heaven: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, and the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor

knows him. But you will know him, because he remains in you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (John 14:15-21) Indeed, it’s the Spirit of Christ that moves the hearts of men and women to dedicate their lives as missionary disciples in a world that often does not know or accept Jesus Christ. It’s the Spirit of Christ that makes people respond to this heroic call of service, often forgetting or abandoning the comforts of this world.

Furthermore, it’s the love of Christ that compels a person to believe in him, to follow him, to live by his truth, and to proclaim his love to the whole world. It’s

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Preach Jesus!

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

What to do if you’re fired and asked to sign a release AN employee may be asked to sign some documents at the time of termination. One of these documents may be a severance or separation agreement. This is a contract between an employer and an employee who is about to leave the employer’s employment. In a typical severance agreement, the employer agrees to give the employee additional compensation (the severance pay) in exchange for the outgoing employee’s release or agreement not to sue the employer for any employment-related claims such as wrongful termination or back wages.

Employers are not required by law to provide any severance pay to their employees, regardless of whether the end of employment is due to a resignation, a firing, or a layoff. Even if an employee has worked for several years for the same employer, the employer is still not obligated to provide a severance pay if the employer decides to fire the long-time employee. Most employers do not sponsor formal severance pay plans.

However, some employers offer formal severance pay plans that provide conditions for eligibility. An employer, for example, may provide severance pay to long-time employees in the event of a layoff. This means severance pay is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee.

A severance pay is usually calculated according to a specific formula, often based on the employee’s length of service.

An employee may try to negotiate for more severance pay than what is being offered, es-

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrenCe yAng HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does not seem to recommend the assumption of debt. Otherwise, it should say, it’s OK to be a borrower, but not a lender or vice-versa.

This statement is clear. It does not sound like fake news. It’s straightforward. It doesn’t sound like a mysterious early morning tweet from the president.

On the contrary, the Bible is specific. Don’t be a lender or a borrower. Why not a lender, because you might end up losing your money? Why not a borrower, because debt service will end up destroying your life?

Debt will literally enslave you with minimum payments to keep them current that will cost you a fortune in the long run. You will eventually lose a fortune that should be in your bank account.

You will need this fortune for your retirement but if you have too much debt, instead of having this fortune available for your use to augment your social security when you retire, you will have nothing but debt that keeps on asking for more money from you every month. For those of you who don’t have debt, read on, so you won’t decide to plunge into a sea of debt.

So how much debt is too much? I posed this question here exactly 20 years ago. If you were 45 then, you would now be ready to retire at 65. Were they 20 long years? No, in fact, they were 20 very short years. Your 5-year-old

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. pecially if the employee has been with the company for many years, has an excellent service record, or has provided increased value to the employer’s business. An employee may also negotiate how to receive the severance pay, for example, as a lump sum payment, as a salary continuation for a specific period, or as periodic payments. Each method has an advantage and a pitfall.

Most importantly, before signing or negotiating for a severance agreement, or any other agreement that releases employer liability, an employee should keep in mind the following things: Has the employer paid all hours worked by the employee, including overtime?

Has the employer paid the employee for meal or rest breaks that were not provided to the employee?

If the employee is entitled to vacation, has the unused vacation been paid?

If the employee is being terminated, what is the reason for the termination? If an employer fired an employee for a discriminatory or retaliatory reason, the employee may be entitled to damages.

Does the severance agreement protect the employee from any potential claims for wrongful behavior or harassment that might be brought by the employer?

So, should you sign a severance package? It depends. If you

had been paid correctly for all hours worked, if you received all your meal and rest periods, and if you have no issues regarding your termination, then a severance package is a generous and welcome benefit. But if you were not paid all your hours worked, including overtime, and you were not provided meal and rest periods, or the termination was wrongful – then a severance package may be a way for your employer to stop you from asserting your rights and seeking remedies in court. If this is the case, you would be in a better position to consult with a knowledgeable employment attorney before you sign anything.

Lastly, employers must immediately pay all compensation due to the employee at the time of termination. It is illegal for employers to threaten to not pay terminated employees unless the employees sign some kind of “release.” A release signed by the employee under these circumstances may not be enforced. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

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

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

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How much debt is too much? son is now 25, done with college and working. Your toddler then is now an adult. Your 3-year-old daughter then is now 23, also an adult. She is now a registered nurse. Your son is now a mechanical engineer working for an international construction firm based in Hong Kong. Your parents who were then 69 are now 89. They have good genes but they have all kinds of aches and pains and both need caregivers to help them along.

So what happened? Twenty years just passed by so fast you didn’t notice as time flew by so fast like a speeding train. Let’s just say that 20 years ago, you and your spouse had a net combined income of $4,000. I already said you were 45 years old then.

You had a house mortgage to pay, maybe a second trust deed, one of those home improvement loans, had one or two car payments. Your son and daughter were still in grade school.

You examined your debt level then when you read my article 20 years ago. You were in fact at a major crossroad in your life.

You had about $30,000 of credit cards, which needed 25% of your net household income, or close to $1,000 to make minimum payments on your credit cards. It felt like wage garnishment and your heart was being ripped out through your wallet, right? What was left was $3,000, which you allocated for the house, the cars, food, electricity, insurances and other living expenses. After all these expenses, probably, your household had nothing left.

If you had nothing left, where would you have gotten $1,000 a month to make minimum payments? By borrowing more. So, in one year you will have had to borrow $12,000. So in one

year, you owe, not $30,000, but $42,000, and instead of needing only $1,000 for debt service, you needed $1,300, and so on and so forth. In year three, at 48, you will have owed $66,000, instead of $30,000, needing almost $2,000 minimum payments, instead of $1,000. You would have dug a hole so deep for yourself that you couldn’t get out of it. You might as well have MasterCard and Visa tattooed on your forehead because they own you and you work for them.

Let’s say that you did get a promotion that gave you an additional $1,000 of net income. Should that have gone to debt service of credit cards of $30,000? Think about it. $1,000 of debt service means $12,000 a year of money that should go to your savings and investments for your future, should it not. If you actually paid $12,000 a year to service $30,000 of credit cards, after using all of your additional income to keep your credit card masters happy, you would have paid them $60,000 in five years, and worst of all, you still owe them the same $30,000!

Shouldn’t you use the $60,000 to save and invest for your family’s future instead? Aren’t you sacrificing your family’s financial future and opportunities in favor of servicing your credit cards that are taking 25% of your monthly net income? Although you may not admit what you are doing, you are actually killing the ability of your family to save for the future by keeping these cards current over the years.

If you read my article then and chose not to wipe out the $30,000 of credit cards 20 years ago, how much money would you have paid your credit card masters?

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Grounds for annulling a marriage MOST couples that want out of a marriage in California usually file for Divorce. There are circumstances though that allow a couple to have their marriage “voided” rather than “dissolved.”

There is a big difference between the two concepts. With a voided marriage, it restores the couple to status of unmarried person as if they have never been married before. In a divorce, the couple would always be regarded to as married during the period of the marriage.

Unlike Divorce which can be obtained regardless of the reason. Voiding a marriage may only be obtained based on certain grounds. It is void in cases of incest and bigamy. It is voidable in cases of minority, Unsound Mind, Fraud, Force, or Physical Incapacity. Marriages between parents, children, ancestors and descendants, brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, and aunts and nephews are incestuous and are void from the beginning. So are bigamist marriages where either party was still married to another person when they entered the marriage.

Barrister’s Corner Atty. kenneth UrSUA reyeS Nevertheless, it is best to obtain a Nullity Judgment to clarify the legal status of the parties under these circumstances.

Certain situations does not necessarily make a marriage void but makes it voidable on the parties option. One such circumstance is when the petitioner was under 18 years old when the petitioner married and the parents did not provide their consent. The Nullity petition based on this ground has to be filed within four years after the party turns 18. The parent of the minor may also file the Petition provided it is filed prior to the minor turning 18. Another situation is a bigamist marriage where the first spouse has been absent and not known to be living for 5 years prior to the second marriage or if the party be-

lieved the spouse to be dead at the time of the second marriage.

A Nullity based on this ground may be filed during the life of the other party.

A marriage may be voided if either party was of unsound mind at the time of the marriage. Unsound Mind means a person is incapable of understanding the nature of the marriage contract and the duties and responsibilities it creates which depends on the degree of mental capacity of the party. This may not be a ground if the party later on came to reason yet continued to freely cohabitate with the spouse.

Fraud is another ground for voiding a marriage. The false representation or concealment must relate to a substantive matter and directly affect the purpose of the party deceived in entering the marriage. The fraud must go to the very essence of the marital relation before it is sufficient for an annulment. It is not sufficient simply to contend that your spouse turned out to be a lazy, drunken disappointment.

Nullity based on fraud has to be filed within four years of discov-

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Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases UNDER Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions (2011) 52 C.4th 541, the California Supreme Court ruled that persons who are injured and who are pursuing a personal injury claim cannot recover the full amount of medical bills incurred if an insurer paid a smaller, negotiated amount to the medical provider. The Court’s ruling further limited an injured person’s right to recover for past medical expenses.

In light of the Howell decision, it is even more important for a person who suffered injury to develop his/her claim for other economic damages. The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.”

Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1).

A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future

Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss

is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

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What causes people to file...

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out too thin because you are paying a mortgage, huge credit card debts, etc. and making sure that you can still pay for your normal monthly living expenses, you will become very vulnerable to any fluctuations in income since you are barely surviving. Most people are only one paycheck away from bankruptcy especially if they have zero savings.

Another situation I frequently see is where people keep refinancing their mortgage every time they accumulate a good amount of equity in order to pay off their debts. Once the credit cards are paid off, it doesn’t take very long before they are used again and then maxed out over just a few years, sometimes with balances even higher than they were before the refinance. And of

course, with each refinance, the mortgage amount keeps growing, along with the monthly mortgage payment. Stop looking at your home as an ATM machine and make sure that the purpose of any refinancing that you do helps you better your overall financial condition, not make it worse.

Lawsuits, Judgments and Wage Garnishments: Some people have no choice but to file bankruptcy right away in order to stop aggressive creditor collection action. I don’t know why but I see a lot of people who wait until they have one of the above before doing anything about their financial problems. You will be better off planning ahead of time as you may have better options besides bankruptcy if you can no longer pay your debts. But if you wait until you have been sued, received a

judgment, or having your wages garnished, you may find yourself with very limited options.

For the last 20 years, I’ve been helping people and business owners get out of debt. If you are in debt and have no clue what you should do next in order to change your situation for the better, I offer a free consultation.

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

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C4 JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

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merica

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 29

UST Medical Alumni Association of SoCal anniversary ball in Garden 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) 3871632.

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.

J U LY 6

Philippine Cultural Night at St. Paul in Chino Hills, CA Grove, CA The Filipino Catholics of Saint Paul the Apostles invite you to their Philippine Cultural Night on July 6 at the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (14085 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA 91709). The program will begin at 6 p.m. Children volunteers will be performing popular folk dances. Watch Fr. Joseph Pilotin, MS, Parochial Vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, dance the Tinikling as in previous cultural nights. Savor Filipino dishes while watching cultural performances. For more information, contact The Filipino Catholics president Tessie Lightholder (909) 576-4152; Email: tessielightholder@gmail.com; or vice president Edzel Fuertez (909) 5194958; Email: edzelf@hotmail.com. We invite you to also visit the church’s website: sptacc.org.

J U LY 2 0

The Ibaan Association USA-Canada gala dinner in LA The Ibaan Association USA-Canada gala dinner in LA The Ibaan Association USA-Canada will hold its 32nd Annual Gala Dinner & Dance July 20, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City - Ballroom A at 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For reservations call Monica Benitez at (323) 697-3731 / email: monica_benitez03@yahoo.com or Irene May Villafranca at (323) 4232299 /email: imay02@yahoo.com. Tickets are $85 for Adults and $40 for Children (3 to 10 years old). Please make checks payable to: Ibaan Association USA-Canada and mail to: Merly Pagunsan at 5025 Heintz St. Baldwin Park, CA 91706. For sponsorship information on our 2019 Souvenir Program please contact President Noli Reyes at homesbynoli@gmail.com or call (818) 458-7888. Please RSVP by April 12, 2019.

J U LY 24 -28

40th annual Philippine Nurses Association of America National Convention in Atlanta, GA The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) will have its 40th annual national convention from July 24 to 28 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA, hosted by the PNA-GA chapter. More information and details TBA. To learn about the PNA-GA, please visit: https://pnaga.wildapricot.org/.

J U LY 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.

AU G U ST 1 - 9

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.”

On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.

AU G U ST 2

Masskara Festival in Long Beach, CA The Long Beach Bacolod Association (LBBA) will be having its second annual Masskara Festival event in Long Beach, CA at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel on Friday, August 2 located at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a sister city organization, dignitaries from both Bacolod, Philippines and Long Beach will be in attendance. The dinner ball will also feature live entertainment and Masskara dancing. For tickets please call Malou Mariano at (562) 335-2587.

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Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.

AU G U ST 5 - 9

SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program in LA Happening from August 5-9, 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.

AU G U ST 1 5 -1 8

NaFFAA’s National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond.

Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference,

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

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Grounds for annulling a marriage PAGE C3 t

ering the fraud.

Certain marriages that are entered into by force are voidable. Circumstances that meet these standards requires that the forced party’s free will to have been overcome by the spouse such as through the use of threats. These type of Nullity must be filed within four years from the date of marriage. A marriage where the spouse was found to be incapable of physically engaging in copulation may be voided. It can only be filed by the spouse that does not have the physical incapacity and must be filed within four years of the marriage. Before deciding weather

a divorce is the appropriate avenue to end your marriage, parties should evaluate if a Nullity is a viable alternative and weather it serves their best interest. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

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

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

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. ***

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

vested in apple only 10 years ago would be worth how much today? That $10,000, which was 10 months of minimum monthly payments for you then, would be worth $677,000 today! If you invested three years of minimum payments on credit cards 10 years ago, you would have a cool $2 million today! What a small change in your life direction would have meant in benefits for you and your family! Our God is so great, indeed! Because he blesses those who rely on Him with abundance!

You want to be a millionaire when you retire? Get rid of your credit cards now and invest your savings in equities. Twenty years from now when you check your

million dollar portfolio, you will be so glad that you read my article today and made the wise decision of your life. And how would your credit score be 20 years from now if you wiped out your cards now?

It would be perfect at 830.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

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How much debt is too much?

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A lot. You would have paid them $240,000 in 20 years. You would have paid them a quarter of a million dollars. And how much would you still owe them today, the same $30,000. You are making them rich, while keeping yourself poor. That’s the simple truth.

If you took my advice 20 years ago and wiped the $30,000 out with a Chapter 7 petition then, how much would you have now that you are 65? You probably would have $500,000 if you invested the savings of $1,000 a month for 20 years wisely. Not with Bernie Madoff of course. If you bought Apple shares 20 years ago, you would now be extremely wealthy. Because $10,000 in-

20th UPAAA Grand Reunion & Convention...

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

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

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

Leadership & Achievements

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

Working with the College of Human Kinetics, UPAAA has started a program to alleviate Food Insecurity among athletes in UP Diliman. A monetary donation was given to Ilang-ilang Residence Hall to improve the inner courtyard of the dorm, under the Adopt-a-Dorm project.

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

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

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

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

People and Events

La Salle Alumni Association to host family day ONE La Salle Alumni Association of Southern California is hosting its first annual Family Day on September 7, 2019 at Cameron Park in West Covina, California.

Kicking off with an Inter La Salle Basketball Tournament, a Cycling Run, and the One La Salle Invitational Basketball League, the event will coincide with a family picnic. Fun games and raffle prizes will be up for grabs.

One La Salle is currently drafting basketball players of all skill levels

who attended any La Salle school in the Philippines (DLSU, LSGH, DLSZ, DLS-Lipa, EAC, CSB, etc) for the Inter La Salle Basketball Tournament. Please contact Pep Siy (951) 346-6413 or Erick Cordero (626) 975-6353 with your name, contact information, skill level, and position played.

Cycling enthusiasts who attended La Salle schools, are related to La Salle alumni, or anyone who enjoys riding with La Salle friends are invited to RSVP to Butch Bau-

tista (714) 651-8188 or Alger Brion (626) 274-4345 for the Cycling Run. Alumni, family and friends are invited to watch our One La Salle Open team play against different alumni basketball teams for the first One La Salle Invitational League.

Come and get to know our alumni, our family, and our friends by sharing great food, participating in fun games and winning raffle prizes. ■

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019

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People and Events On photography: The dance of light and shadow VICS MAGSAYSAY Contributed by

YES, there are images like those of a sunset or trees in fall; colors in an awesome display of blazing colors that will truly move you into tears with their ineffable beauty.

But there are also nondescript images of leaves, flowers, trees or scenery that do not hit you hard.

Why? For a photographer, what needs to be done? And what’s the role of freedom of the creative spirit in the pursuit of beauty and excellence?

“FREEDOM: Showcasing the creativity of free-spirited Filipino American photographers” is a group photo exhibit of 10 Filipino American photographers — Nikki Arriola, Joanna Allas-Fojas, Robert Gamo, Rick Gavino, Vics Magsaysay, Phillip Ner, Randy Ordoñez, Rodolfo Samonte, Bienvenido Sibug and Benny Uy — slated this June 30th at the Filipino Cultural Center, 1740 W. Temple Street in the Historic Filipinotown of Los Angeles. The exhibit runs up to August 31.

Presented by the Filipino American Press Club of California, Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and Pamana ng Lahi. Bernie Targa-Ganon will emcee the event. Special guest performers: Genise Sarino, Mark “Bagyo” S. Villamac Ho, Mon Concepcion and Nikki Arriola, Robert Gamo, Rollie Javier, Imelda Bosing and George Ludeveca. Sponsors:

“ Both light and shadow are the dance of love.” – Rumi Fiesta Fast Food, Mervin Luwee Villamac Ho, Margie del RosarioCanlobo and Belle Gonzales.

A camera is a camera. It is a tool that is used to capture images.

The camera can only capture the physical attributes of anything-shapes, forms, colors, and textures. The captured image does not stop there if it has to win the hearts of viewers. For many photographs, there is still a need for a creative and expressive void to be filled. For beauty to enter our hearts easily, it needs a vehicle — a vehicle that goes beyond the boundaries of the physical. What is not within the camera’s capturing power, the energy of the emotion, has to be added. And this is where the soul, the passion of the photographer, enters.

Well-known landscape photographer Ansel Adams was so passionate in his craft. He spent much time in the darkroom with his brand of dodging and burning, thus bringing about a metamorphosis of his captured image into a beautiful butterfly of natural beauty. The celebrated photographer infused his prints with the added value of his own passion during the darkroom process to bring out the iconic landscape photographs for which he was so well known.

This, in turn, elicited the vehicle of emotion that strikes a resounding chord in one’s innermost feeling.

Preach Jesus!

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this love that motivates Christians to spend their energies and time in studies and work to form communities of faith and disciples, to preach his words of forgiveness and mercy, to help the poor, and to advocate for justice, respect, and dignity of every human being.

The Church (1 Peter 3:15-18) asks us then to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts and to be always ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks us for a reason for our hope.

Absolutely, we have no other reason for our hope in Jesus Christ other than that he loves us to the end of times. For that, we

preach Christ—his eternal love and actions in our lives and the world. Amen! *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

Naturalization process

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exemption, kailangan pa rin niyang mag-civics test. Maaari siyang mag-civics test sa kanyang tubong lenguahe sa pamamagitan ng pagdala ng interpreter sa kanyang interview. Kung ang aplikante ay may 65 taon gulang at 20 taon nang green card holder noong nag-file siya ng naturalization application, maaari siyang mabigyan ng konsiderasyon para sa civics test.

Ang aplikante ay maaaring maging eligible sa exemption sa English at civics naturalization requirements kung siya ay may pisikal o developmental disability, o pagkukulang sa pag-iisip.

Ang mga ito ay maipapakita sa pamamagitan ng certification ng licensed medical doctor, osteopathic doctor o licensed clinical psychologist.

Naturalization is the process by which US citizenship is granted to an alien after he fulfills the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). An applicant is eligible for naturalization if he fulfills the following requirements: (1) He must be at least 18 years old; (2) He has been a permanent resident for at least 5 years or has been a permanent resident for 3 years as a spouse of a US citizen (USC); (3) He must demonstrate continuous residence in the US for at least 5 years before filing the application; (4) He must show that he is physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of the 5 years immediately before the date of filing the application.

Absences of more than 6 months but less than 1 year may disrupt an applicant’s continuous residence; (5) He must have lived for at least 3 months in the State or USCIS district where the application is filed; (6) He must be a person of good moral character; (7) He must demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the US Constitution; (8) He must be able to read, write and speak basic English; (9) He must have a basic understanding of US history and government (civics); and (10) He must take an oath of allegiance to the US. After the application for naturalization is filed, the applicant will receive a biometrics or fingerprinting notice. Once the preliminary process is complete, USCIS will schedule an interview, together with speaking test to demonstrate an ability to speak in English, reading test to demonstrate an ability to read in English, writing test to demonstrate an ability to write in

English, and a civics test to demonstrate a basic understanding of US history and government.

After the interview and exams, the alien will be notified if his application is approved, continued or denied. If the application for naturalization is approved, the applicant can participate in a naturalization ceremony where he would need to take his Oath of Allegiance.

An applicant is exempt from the English language requirement if the applicant is (1) 50 years old or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as a permanent resident in the US for 20 years (this is the “50/20 exemption”); or (2) 55 years or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as a permanent resident for at least 15 years (this is the “55/15 exemption”).

Even if the applicant is qualified for the 50/20 or 55/15 exemption, he must still take the civics test.

An applicant may be permitted to take the civics test in his own native language by bringing an interpreter during his interview.

An applicant who is 65 years or older and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing the application for naturalization may be given special consideration on the civics requirement.

An applicant may be eligible for an exemption to the English and civics naturalization requirements if he is unable to comply because of a physical or developmental disability, or mental impairment as certified to by a licensed medical or osteopathic doctor or a licensed clinical psychologist. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty.

Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams.

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

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

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It is in pushing the envelope of an image’s emotional content that its physical nature is transcended. And in so doing, a dance of sharpness and blurriness, of light and darkness, kindles the overall mood, thus transforming the form and design into something non-physical, into something that truly uplifts the human spirit.

In one of our Facebook exchanges, painter, essayist and versatile artist Alfredo Roces echoed and wrote this: “Vics, the camera lens does not arbitrarily distinguish sharp and soft. The most one can do with a camera is to use the lens opening to blur the background, or the slow shutter to blur movement; but otherwise, the camera gets everything as sharp as the lens can.

The artist’s eye and mind, on the other hand, makes arbitrary decisions and you, with your ‘Photoshop blur,’ have added the artist’s capability and given the image an “artistic” feel. This is why I cannot empathize with artists who insist on copying a photograph exactly, thus dispensing with the ability to use the artist’s sensibility regarding sharp and soft focus.”

For documentary purposes, I agree that a photograph has to be technically as sharp as possible— that is the purpose. But when it comes to fine-art photography, the interplay of light and dark, sharp

and soft has to be dispensed with, much like an acupuncturist tonifying or sedating the acupuncture points of the patient to achieve the necessary balance of yin and yang to promote homeostasis or wellbeing.

And for a photographer — or any person — there is always this inherent freedom of the spirit to

search for this relatively stable equilibrium of life. For me, “homeostasis” in an image elicits a feeling of serenity, bringing a kind of solace into our frenzied phase of living. It is a time when the continuous chatter in our minds stops for a while. This is simply what meditation means—no mind.

Art is beauty. Beauty is art. They

are interchangeable. And when we see beauty, our hearts are at peace; we are transported back to our essence. *** Vics Magsaysay, Ph.D., is a fine-art nature photographer, painter, sculptor, writer, graphic designer, alternative healer and holds a doctorate degree in clinical hypnotherapy.

C JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

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Mother’s eight-month delay in filing petition Acting on ‘Chinese-only’ shops, DTI causes extra 12-year wait for daughter requires menus, signs in English, Filipino I RECENTLY had a consultation where a mother’s confusion and lack of understanding of immigration law resulted in her delaying filing a petition for her minor child for approximately eight months. The child “aged out” and could not qualify for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The child was then reclassified as an adult, and now it is estimated that her priority date will become current in 2028.

Had the mother acted promptly, the child would have been in the U.S. as of 2016.

In her case, the mother got her green card in July 2014 through her U.S. citizen daughter’s petition. However, she waited an additional eight months, until March 2015, to petition her younger daughter, who would be turning 21 in mid-2016. The reason was she thought she had to have a job and be financially established before she could file a petition. This confusion and misunderstanding caused the problem. She could have filed the petition for her younger child as soon as she got her green 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 earning enough, they could

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ always get a co-sponsor on the affidavit of support.

Here, the mother had a U.S. citizen daughter who could have acted as a co-sponsor. They could have filed the petition right away instead of waiting several months.

Another option would be an employer-sponsored green card through PERM or labor certification, which would take about 23 years. The employer does not need to be a major corporation.

It can even be a sole proprietorship if the employer has the ability to pay. In addition, jobs such as caregivers are still available and the waiting time for a caregiver’s green card is about the same as for a college graduate or skilled worker.

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.

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: 1-866-4873465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINE (Advertising Supplement)

Business Quote of the Week

“Don’t let someone else’s vision of success force you to stray from the path you worked to be on. Carve your own path and you’ll always be heading in the right direction.”

— Michelle Phan, co-founder of Ipsy

by ROY

STEPHEN C. CANIVEL Inquirer.net

AMID the rise of Chinese food parks and other establishments with menus and signs only in Chinese, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is requiring businesses to have their marketing materials written in English or Filipino.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez signed Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 19 on June 21 and gave business establishments a month to comply.

The DTI has yet to set the order’s date of effectivity, which is 15 days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

DAO 19 was drawn up as the Duterte administration saw an unprecedented influx of tourists and workers from China, giving rise to food and service shops catering mostly, if not exclusively, to Chinese customers.

In a statement on Thursday, the DTI said the order was “prompted by the surprise inspection [the agency conducted] in a Chinese food park” in Las Piñas City in May. ‘Deceptive, unfair’ Inspection teams then found that all 33 food stalls in the park had signs, price lists and receipts only in Chinese. (See related story

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

in Metro, Page A8.)

The DTI called such business practice “deceptive, unfair, or unconscionable” to non-Chinese speaking customers.

“With this new DAO, we are enhancing the protection of consumers on their right to accessible information that can help them in making wise purchase decisions,” Lopez said.

“Presenting information on products and services in foreign languages other than those officially recognized and used by the consumers are deemed unfair and discriminatory, thus, inimical to their interest,” he added.

Under the order, Filipino texts in marketing materials are not lim-

Inquirer.net file photo

ited to Tagalog but may include regional dialects.

Shops that require translations from foreign languages must secure a “certification” from the embassy of the country whose language was used, an accredited translator, or an institution recognized by the DTI. Failure to comply with the order entails a fine of P1,000 to P300,000, “depending on the capitalization [of the establishment] and frequency of offense,” the department said.

Violators also face cancellation of their business name certificate issued by the DTI and revocation of business permits and other government clearances. ■

IIF: Rising imports to help PH post stronger growth Timely execution of fiscal spending a must

by BEN

O. DE VERA Inquirer.net

THE Philippines stands to benefit from rising importation while most of its Asean neighbors suffer from declining shipments from overseas, which is seen to hurt their economies in the nearterm, the Washington-based Institute of International Finance (IIF) said.

With strong imports, including those of capital equipment, the Philippines is seen to have a

better chance to rebound from a slow first quarter growth, the IIF said.

The sluggish global trading environment has led to a sharp import compression in major Southeast Asian economies and in South Korea in the first half of 2019. Except for the Philippines, the large Asean economies and South Korea all posted sharp tumbles in external trade, IIF research head for Asean and India Reza Siregar and associate economist Yuanliu Hu said in a June

24 Asean Economic Views report titled, “Import Compression: Unraveling Growth Outlook.”

The report said major traders in the region experienced consecutive months of sharp yearon-year declines in capital imports beginning as early as late 2018.

“Learning from past experiences, the recent fall in imports should, in our view, offset the impact of weak exports on the overall net export balance and supPAGE D2

D JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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‘Firms to hire fewer workers in Q3’ Amid the bustle and blight, Metro

Manila becoming pricey for expats

by mayvelin

u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

BUSINESSES in the Philippines plan to hire fewer employees despite their stronger expansion plans for the third quarter of 2019, a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey found.

Results of the recently released Business Expectation Survey (BES) put the confidence index (CI) of companies with expansion plans at 33.5 percent, up from 33.2 percent in the previous quarter.

The CI is calculated as the net of percentage of companies that replied in the affirmative and the percentage of firms that answered otherwise on their views about a given indicator. “Stronger expansion plans were recorded across subsectors, except for manufacturing, whose expansion plans were unchanged from a quarter ago,� the central bank said.

Despite this, survey results also showed the employment outlook index fell to 26 percent from 29.7 percent.

by Doris

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

“This suggests that more firms will continue to hire new employees, although the number of new hires may be lower, compared to those found in the previous quarter’s survey,� the BSP said. “Employment prospects were generally expected to moderate across sectors, except for the services sector which remained steady,� it added.

The employment outlook is consistent with the less-optimistic overall business sentiment for July to September.

Firms were less upbeat for the

Manilatimes.net file photo

next three months, with the index sliding to 47.6 percent from 52 percent three months earlier. “Business optimism was dampened by expectations of interruption of business activities during the rainy season and stiffer competition,� BSP Department of Economic Statistics Director Redentor Paolo Alegre Jr. has said.

The latest BES, which polled 1,501 companies nationwide, was conducted from April 1 to May 28.

Its results are considered indicative of the direction of overall business activity. n

Moody’s: April-June growth ‘not very great by mayvelin

u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

MOODY’S Investors Service on Thursday expressed some pessimism about the Philippine economy’s performance in the second quarter as it continued to flag the delayed approval of this year’s national budget as the main drag to growth. “At this point, I don’t think you should be excited about Q2 (second quarter),� Moody’s Vice President and Senior Credit Officer Christian de Guzman told reporters in a briefing.

Although he did not give an exact forecast for gross domestic product (GDP) growth for April to June, de Guzman said Moody’s expectation was based on the fact the government lost its chance to spend for the first five months of the year. “Because of the budget impasse, you lost four months. Because of the election ban, you also [lost] another month. So for Q2, our expectations‌are not very great,â€? he said.

A dispute between Congress’ two chambers over alleged insertions resulted in the four-and-ahalf-month delay of the passage of this year’s budget. This forced the government to run on last year’s budget, limiting it to spend for items detailed in the 2018 outlay

Manilatimes.net file photo

and not on programs and projects supposed to be implemented this year.

This put total national government spending in January to March — which include expenditures for infrastructure and capital outlay, maintenance, personnel services and subsidies — at P778 billion, up 0.8 percent or P6 billion from the amount in the same period last year.

This also resulted in a lowerthan-expected 5.6 percent Philippine economic growth in the first three months of the year, well below the government’s target.

The government also blamed the delayed budget on the P809million budget deficit for the first five months of the year, which is 99.4 percent lower than the P138.7 billion in January to May 2018.

While its view of second-quarter GDP growth is less rosy, de Guzman stressed that Moody’s downwardly revised 6 percent full-year 2019 growth forecast for the Phil-

ippines remained intact. “The upside risks and the downside risks right now are balanced for the 6-percent forecast that we have,� he said. “Downside risks include a worsening [of] US-China trade tensions that will have a massive impact on the region, even though the Philippines is less exposed than other Asian countries. Other developments include, perhaps, the oil prices, if there is indeed an escalation of geopolitical tensions,� the official added. “And on the upside, I think it is, perhaps, if there is further evidence that there is a significant catch up with regard to government spending.�

Earlier, the country’s economic managers unveiled their “catchup plan� that set an infrastructure spending target of P792.97 billion for the second to fourth quarters after actual infrastructure spending reached P207.2 billion in the first. n

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Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

DESPITE its many qualities, both good and bad, that endear the metropolis to foreigners, Metro Manila is fast becoming a costlier place for expatriates to live in.

Based on global consultancy firm Mercer’s 2019 Cost of Living Survey, eight out of the top 10 of the world’s most expensive cities for expats are Asian cities.

The high cost of living was mostly driven by high-cost consumer goods for expats and a dynamic housing market.

Manila ranked 109th of 209 cities surveyed, yet it went up 29 spots from the last study, thus posting the fourth sharpest climb in the world. “While the Philippines’ robust economic growth continues to attract talent, business and invest-

Inquirer.net file photo

ments from all over the world, the findings of Mercer’s 2019 Cost of Living study should signal its public and private sectors to take a deeper look and start

a conversation on which factors are behind the dramatic increase in its cost of living from 2018 to 2019, and how they can be adPAGE D3

IIF: Rising imports to help PH post stronger...

PAGE D1 t port the current account position.

However, the multiplier effects of import contraction on investment will likely dampen the GDP growth outlook for countries in the region this year and possibly the next,� the IIF said.

The IIF warned that since import flows were highly linked to investment flows, the sharp reduction in capital and intermediate imports being experienced

by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea signaled a slowdown in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and therefore weaker investment outlooks for these countries. “Except for Malaysia, we find that countries with a high export and import correlation—such as South Korea and Thailand—tend to report a relatively high FDIcapital import correlation. The trade-offs between net exports and investment due to import compression are, in fact, not new. Fallen imports contributed to stronger current account positions, sluggish investments, and slower GDP growth during the 1997 East Asian crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis in South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand,� according to the IIF. In the case of the Philippines, which bucked the trend of declining imports, Siregar told the

Inquirer in an e-mail that “since imports remained relatively strong, including capital imports, we should expect growth to rebound from its level in the first quarter of 2019.�

As of April, the Philippines’ imports rose 2.9 percent yearon-year to $35.2 billion.

But Siregar said the recovery in gross domestic product growth could only happen if it was coupled with “more timely execution of fiscal spending.�

To recall, GDP expansion fell to a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first quarter, below the government’s downgraded 6-7 percent full-year target range, as the government operated under reenacted 2018 appropriations at the start of the year and underspent about P1 billion a day.

President Duterte signed the P3.7-trillion 2019 national budget only on April 15, or more than four months late, as the two houses of Congress squabbled over pork funds.

At present, the government was implementing a catch-up spending plan to reverse the slower first-quarter GDP growth.

However, Siregar acknowledged the problems also being caused by increasing imports and declining exports. “Indeed, the challenge facing the Philippines is more on main-

taining external imbalance—the current account imbalance,�

Siregar said.

This challenge, he said, was amplified by the tighter competition on the financial account side amid the expected weaker global economy.

Attracting FDIs and portfolio investment to finance the current account deficit and keeping surplus balance of payments can be more challenging in the coming quarter, Siregar added.

The current account deficit ballooned to $1.216 billion as of end-March, equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP, from only $322 million, or 0.4 percent, of GDP a year ago.

This wider current account gap had been attributed by the government to the also bigger first-quarter trade-in-goods deficit, which at $12.4 billion was 17.3-percent larger than a year ago amid faster growth of imports over exports.

The prevailing current account deficit had been putting pressure on the peso, which weakened to 12-year lows last year.

Economic managers had said that with the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build� infrastructure program in full swing, demand for imports of mostly capital goods would remain strong the near term. n

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Anti-red tape body claims high Exiting Manila airport among the fastest in Asia for international arrivals — report resolution rate despite lack of IRR, chief

by Ian

nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com

IT only takes less than an hour for international travellers arriving in Manila to deplane, gather their luggage, clear customs and immigration, and walk to vehicles with chauffeurs — making the Philippine capital among the fastest airport terminals to exit in Asia, a new report released Wednesday, June 26, found.

Passengers would only need an average of 37 minutes to exit the Manila airport — the seventh fastest airport in the region for international arrivals, according to Berlin-based chauffeur and airport concierge service Blacklane.

Globally, travelers would need an average time of 23 minutes to exit an airport after a domestic flight. For passengers from an international flight, it will take 38 minutes – a 65 percent increase – to do some check-ins and leave the airport, Blacklane said.

Blacklane said that since August last year, it compared hundreds of thousands of travelers’ flight arrival times to the times they entered chauffeured vehicles.

Blacklane then calculated the median number of minutes to exit terminals at hundreds of airports.

“The data does not take into account nationality, age, priority status, or checked vs. carry-on luggage,” Blacklane noted.

Passengers would only need an average of 37 minutes to exit the Manila airport — the seventh fastest airport in the region for international arrivals, according to Berlin-based chauffeur and airport concierge service Blacklane.

Philstar.com file photo

In the Asia-Pacific region, airports in China, Australia and India get international travelers through faster, with gateways in Shanghai and Macau securing the top two spots at 22 minutes and 32.5 minutes, respectively.

On the flipside, Blacklane found that capital cities are “the majority of the slowest airports to exit in APAC for international travelers.”

“Tokyo has two of the ten, with Beijing, Colombo, Hanoi, and Kuala Lumpur on the list. All of these take at least 46 minutes to exit. Four airports take 51 minutes or longer,” Blacklane said.

Luxembourg is the fastest airport in the world to exit for international arrivals, with a median time of 15.5 minutes. The slowest is Kansai in Japan, with a median time of 80.5 minutes, Blacklane reported.

Meanwhile, business travelers arriving from a domestic flight exit airports in a median time of 17 minutes. All other travelers have a median exit time of 24 minutes – a 41 percent increase.

For international arrivals, business travelers leave the airport in a 30-minute median time. All other travelers take 39 minutes, 30 percent longer. n

Amid the bustle and blight, Metro Manila...

PAGE D2 t dressed or mitigated to ensure the country’s continued competitiveness,” said Mario Ferraro, mobility leader for Asia, Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Mercer.

The costliest for the second consecutive year was Hong Kong.

Other expensive cities in the Asian region are Tokyo (second), Singapore (third), Seoul (fourth), Shanghai (sixth), Beijing (eighth) and Shenzhen (10th).

In populous India, Mumbai (67th) was the most expensive city, followed by New Delhi (118th) and Chennai (154th).

Bengaluru (179th) and Kolkata (189th) were the least expensive Indian cities.

Elsewhere in Asia, Bangkok (40th) jumped by 12 places from

last year. Hanoi (112th) and Jakarta (105th) also rose in the ranking, up by 25 and 12 spots, respectively.

Meanwhile, only one European city is in the top 10 list, which is Zurich at fifth place.

“Despite moderate price increases in most of the European cities, European currencies have weakened against the U.S. dollar, which pushed most cities down in the ranking,” said Yvonne Traber, global mobility product solutions leader at Mercer. “Additionally, other factors like recent security issues and concern about the economic outlook, have impacted the region.”

In a rapidly changing world, mobility programs have become a core component of multinational organizations’ global tal-

ent strategy. Organizations realize that to thrive, they must embrace change, adapt to new technologies and build emerging skills to attract, motivate and enhance talent.

The survey cited a number of factors, including currency fluctuations, cost of inflation for goods and services, and volatility in accommodation prices, that have contributed to the overall cost of expat packages for employees on international assignments.

The survey also found the world’s least expensive cities for expats were Tunis, Tashkent and Karachi.

New York City is used as the base city for all comparisons, and currency movements are measured against the U.S. dollar. n

Under the Ease of Doing Business Law, the government should complete simple transactions within three working days and complex transactions within seven working days.

Philstar.com file photo by Miguel de Guzman by alexIs

romero Philstar.com

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority on Wednesday, June 26, claimed to have posted a high resolution rate on complaints it has received even without an anti-red tape czar or the implementing rules of the Ease of Doing Business Law. ARTA deputy director general Ernesto Perez said more than 52 percent of the 166 complaints received by his agency have been resolved. He said a complaint is considered resolved if the concerned agency acts on it and the complainant is satisfied with the response.

Of the complaints, 48 percent were about queries on services related to Social Security System benefits and birth certificates while more than 47% were concerned about business permits and licenses to operate, Perez said.

There were also complaints about regulation of policies.

Perez said agencies that were the subject of most of the complaints were the Bureau of Internal Revenue, local governments and the Food and Drug Administration.

“Even without the IRR (implementing rules and regulations), we are already implementing the law because the law says it is ef-

fective June 17, 2018, so we are not relying on the IRR,” Perez said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, June 25.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in February that the Ease of Doing Business Law is already in effect even without the implementing rules and regulations, which are prepared by the executive department to guide the implementation of a law.

“The only problem now is we still don’t have the director general for the Arta tasked to issue the IRR to the public. It is stated in the law that the director general is the only one authorized to officially issue the IRR,” Lopez was quoted as saying in a BusinessMirror report that month.

“The number of complaints received by ARTA is also increasing and we are glad to inform the public that the resolution rate of ARTA is high, more than 52%; in less than two months, we already had a resolution,” Perez said Wednesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Ease of Doing Business Law in May 2018. It has been more than a year since the law was signed but its IRR has yet to be approved. Duterte has also yet to appoint an anti-red tape czar, a position created by the law.

Business groups have said an

IRR is needed to fully implement the law and to simplify government transactions.

Perez could not say what is delaying the approval of the IRR and the appointment of an antired tape czar. But he maintained that the absence of the IRR does not hinder the implementation of the law.

“We are determined and we are implementing the law, so therefore if we receive complaints and there is evidence, we prosecute,” he said.

Under the Ease of Doing Business Law, the government should complete simple transactions within three working days and complex transactions within seven working days.

Agencies are given 20 working days to finish highly technical transactions. It also requires all government units to streamline procedures for the issuance of permits, clearance and other type of authorizations by implementing the unified business application form.

Employees who violate the law may be slapped with a six-month suspension, dismissal from service, forfeiture of benefits, perpetual disqualification from government service, fines ranging from P500,000 to P2 million or a jail term that lasts for one to six years. n

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S&P slashes PH growth projection anew to 6.1%

PH to miss United States sugar quota weight (MTCW) from the US for the crop year 2018-2019.

It was in July this year when THE Philippines will not meet the U.S. Trade Representative the sugar quota allocated by the announced that the US has reUnited States due to the expect- tained the 142,160 MT export ed shortfall in domestic sugar quota for raw cane sugar from production in the current crop the Philippines under the tariff year, the Sugar Regulatory Ad- rate quota (TRQ) scheme of the World Trade Organization. ministration (SRA) said.

“We are working on [it] and we This is the third-largest quota will see what happens but definitely for this year, we can only after those of Brazil and the Doship out more or less 120,000 minican Republic.

The TRQ allows the Philipmetric tons. In fact, USDA has allocated the shortfall of our vol- pines to export specified quanume to other countries. So it will tities of a product to the U.S. at still be served,” SRA Administra- a relatively low tariff but subject tor Hermenegildo Serafica said all imports of the product above on the sidelines of the Opening a pre-determined threshold to a of 7th Bio Energy Week in Pasay higher tariff.

Local sugar production for the City.

The Philippines received a to- current crop year, however, is tal sugar allocation of 142,160 projected to fall by 4.5 percent to metric tons raw value (MTRV) or 2.10 million metric tons (MMT) 132,201 metric tons commercial from 2.20 MMT in the last crop

by EirEEnE JairEE

GomEz

Manilatimes.net

year, according to United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report of its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila.

USDA attributed the decline in Philippine raw sugar on “unfavorable weather conditions in some sugarcane-producing areas resulting in reduced tonnage but with higher yield/purity.”

As of June 2, local production of raw sugar reached 2.064 MMT, up 1.29 percent compared to 2.038 MMT in the same period a year ago, latest data from the SRA showed.

The report also said the Philippines has so far shipped some 81,633 MT or 1.632,660 Lkg bags (50-kilogram bags) to the U.S. A sugar crop year in the Philippines starts September and ends by August. n

Gov’t pursues internet backbone project Workers are busy demolishing the top portion of the Marcos Bridge. The bridge is closed for rehabilitation.

Manilatimes.net photo by Roger Ranada by mayvElin

u. Caraballo Manilatimes.nbet

S&P Global Ratings reported on Wednesday, June 26, that it further reduced its Philippine growth forecast for 2019 to 6.1 percent from 6.3 percent, citing lower first-quarter expansion, state spending for infrastructure and an accomodative monetary policy as reasons for the revision.

The debt watcher’s revised outlook for the country’s economy is its second this year, with the previous figure itself a downward adjustment for the initial 6.4 percent.

The latest projection is higher than last year’s actual growth of 6.2 percent and falls near the lower end of the government’s downwardly revised 6.0-7.0 percent target.

S&P said the 5.6-percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth posted in the first quarter was lower than expected on account of the delay in passing this year’s national budget, as well as weak external demand.

Despite this, it noted that the recent drop in the jobless rate indicated that the labor market “still appears strong.”

Unemployment fell to 5.1 percent in April from 5.5 percent in the same month last year — equivalent to 2.286 million out-

of-work individuals, compared with 2.360 million previously — according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest Labor Force Survey.

“This could provide support to the private domestic economy to offset some of the headwinds from trade and the negative fiscal impulse in the first half of 2019,” S&P said.

A dispute between Congress’ two chambers over alleged insertions resulted in the four-anda-half-month delay of the passage of this year’s budget. This forced the government to run on last year’s budget, limiting it to spend for items detailed in the 2018 outlay and not on programs and projects supposed to be implemented this year.

“We continue to expect GDP growth to come in at the low end of the 6-6.5 percent range in 2019, with a likely resumption of the infrastructure build in the second half of the year to bring the fiscal impulse for the year to around neutral after being negative in the first half of the year,” the debt watcher added.

Earlier, the country’s economic managers unveiled their “catchup plan” that set an infrastructure spending target of P792.97 billion for the second to fourth quarters after actual infrastructure spending reached P207.2 billion in the first.

“We also expect BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) to maintain its easing bias this year, supporting growth, as inflation [is likely to] stay benign, especially compared to last year’s spike,” S&P also said.

The central bank started easing its monetary policy settings on May 9, but decided to take a “prudent pause” on June 20 by keeping the overnight borrowing, lending and deposit rates remaining at 4.50 percent, 5.00 percent and 4.00 percent, respectively.

Despite the pause, monetary authorities cut their 2019 inflation forecast to 2.7 percent from 2.9 percent, and their 2020 projection to 3.0 percent from 3.1 percent.

“Risks to external financing and exchange rate volatility are back on the radar as trade tensions reescalate,” S&P said.

The credit rater stressed in particular that spillovers of the trade dispute to the Philippine electronics sector could also be larger than it anticipated at least in the short run.

“Domestically, a resurgence in inflation from food or oil prices remains possible and could weigh on the consumption recovery and the ability of BSP to ease at a time when the fiscal impulse was already negative in the first half of the year,” it warned. n

by miGuEl

r. Camus

Inquirer.net

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will pursue a plan to build its own nationwide internet backbone, a ranking official said on Monday, June 24.

Denis Villorente, DICT undersecretary for special concerns, said under study was the expansion of a government-owned backbone following last year’s agreement with National Transmission Corp. and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for the use of their spare fiber assets.

“The backbone should land in all of the provinces in the Philippines,” Villorente told reporters on the sidelines of the National ICT Summit 2019.

The plan, part of the DICT’s National Broadband Project, involves laying down new undersea cables from Luzon to Visayas and then Mindanao. These will complement existing undersea cables already in place and also act as backup infrastructure.

Villorente said the project would increase NGCP and Transco’s existing fiber backbone to 10,000 kilometers from the existing 6,000 km. The backbone, which could support the needs of small internet service providers and even the country’s third mobile player, Mislatel Consortium, could be built

dict.gov.ph

“within” a P10-billion budget, he said.

A study on how the project will be implemented is yet to be finalized, Villorente noted.

In February, the DICT secured a P24-million grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

He said the agency financed a detailed engineering study that would be finished by the first quarter of 2019.

An international undersea cable being built by global companies such as social media giant Facebook will also provide inexpensive internet to the Philippines by next year. The cable, spanning 12,900-km from the United States to Hong Kong, will

land in the Philippines through Baler in Aurora and in Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union.

In line with the national broadband project, the DICT signed earlier this year an agreement with a unit of China’s HyalRoute Group. It formalized the agreement through a partnership with HyalRoute’s local subsidiary, Philippine Fiber Optic Cable Network Ltd. Inc. (PFOCN).

Under the partnership, the DICT said PFOCN would invest up to $2 billion to roll out fiber optic cables from 2019 through 2029. For its part, the DICT will provide assistance to PFOCN in procuring the needed permits and licenses. n

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