071319 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

JULY 13-16, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 54 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

PH rejects UN resolution to investigate drug war

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines on Thursday, July 11 rejected a United Nations resolution that mandates a “comprehensive” international review of the drug war that has been ongoing since President Rodrigo Duterte took office three years ago.

The United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) resolution seeks an investigation into the rising death toll, which has been disputed, ranging from 6,600 individuals according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to around 27,000 based to human rights groups’ estimates.

The text, initially proposed by

Iceland, calls on United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to prepare a “comprehensive written report on the situation of human rights in the Philippines,” over the coming year.

The measure received the backing of 18 states in the 47member rights council, with 14 nations voting against and 15 abstentions.

Leila Matar, deputy director for Human Rights Watch in Geneva, hailed the resolution as “a modest but vital” step that “signals the start of accountability for thousands of ‘drug war’-related killings.”

Amnesty International, meanwhile, called Thursday’s vote

“crucial.” “[It] provides hope for thousands of bereaved families in the Philippines and countless more Filipinos bravely challenging the Duterte administration’s murderous ‘war on drugs,’” said Amnesty’s regional director for east and southeast Asia, Nicholas Bequelin, in a statement.

However, the vote was immediately rejected by Philippine ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Evan Garcia. It is a “tiny, minority-approved” measure that “insulted” the Philippines, he said.

“We will not accept a politically partisan and one-sided resolution,” the ambassador added.

“This resolution does not repre- Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, works out with trainer Freddie Roach during a media workout day on Wednesday,

July 10 at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. Pacquiao will face off with Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday, July 20 at the MGM Grand AJPress photos by Noel Ty

u PAGE A2 Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao remains confident ahead of July 20 fight against Thurman

USA

DATELINE Suspect arrested in broad daylight killing of 70-yearold Filipino man in LA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE suspect in the deadly attack of a 70year-old Filipino man was arrested on Thursday, July 11 after being detained in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) authorities said that Gerson Carrillo Torres, 22, has been booked on suspicion of murder with his bail set at $2 million following his arrest around 3rd and Wall Streets.

The attack of Fil-Am Julius Rondez happened the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2 around the corner of East Temple and North Alameda Streets when the assailant “hooked his right arm around the victim’s neck, striking him,” u PAGE A2

by RAE

The Philippines’ population is likely to double to more than 216 million by the year 2058, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Philstar.com photo

PH population to double by 2058

by AJPRESS

THE Philippines’ population is predicted to grow twice its size by 2058, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Since the last census conducted in 2015, the country’s population rate has already slowed down at 1.76 a year.

“Under this growth rate, our population, which is now 108.1 million, is expected to double in 39 years,” Pernia said in a speech during World Population Day on Thursday, July 12.

The Philippines had already become the 13th most u PAGE A2

ANN VARONA AJPress

WITH less than 10 days to go until Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s fight with Keith “One Time” Thurman, Pacquiao assured that he was feeling good and finishing training camp strong.

“They’re very excited. It’s the biggest challenge they’ve had in a long time,” said Pacquiao’s longtime publicist, Fred Sternberg, on Thursday, July 11.

Having spent nearly four weeks training in the Philippines, Pacquiao recently came back down to Los Angeles to do some final training at Hollywood’s Wild Card Boxing Club with his coach Freddie Roach. He held a media day training on Wednesday.

Sternberg added that Pacquiao’s current training camp may be “their best camp in many, many years.”

Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) and Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) are set

Manny Pacquiao says being 40 won’t stop him from winning on July 20.

to fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 20, and the fight has been hyped up as being a fight between a

boxing legend, and a possible legend in the making.

Aside from holding the title u PAGE A4

Delisted martial law victims, kin confront lawyer Swift DOT: 3.4-M tourists visited

PH January-May 2019

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

Sung Kim to become next US envoy to Indonesia

THE White House on Thursday, July 11, announced that United States President Donald Trump is planning to nominate U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim as the new ambassador to Indonesia.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Sung Y. Kim of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Indonesia,” the White House said on its website. u PAGE A3

DELISTED martial law victims and their relatives on Tuesday, July 9, confronted American lawyer Robert Swift about why they were taken off the official list of people to be awarded compensation after winning the Hawaii class action suit that resulted in a nearly $2-billion award for some 6,000 martial law victims.

“We were one of the first to join the Hawaii lawsuit in 1986, but why were we delisted? There are a lot of us from Region 3 who were delisted. Our husbands are still missing. Until now we have no justice. There were a lot of true victims who were denied,” said Helena Jimenez in Filipino during a forum at the University of the Philippines Law Center.

According to her, she only received compensation once,

by AJPRESS

Martial law claimants lawyer Robert Swift hands over a check to a martial law victim at the Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday, July 9. The lawyer is wrapping up the third round of distribution of checks worth $13.75 million to some 6,500 class suit members.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

through Republic Act No. 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, managed by the nowdefunct Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB).

She was not awarded compensation when a New York

federal court ordered the distribution of $13.75 million to Marcos human victims earlier this year.

Jimenez was not alone — of the initial class members of close to 10,000, only around u PAGE A3

A TOTAL of 3,489,270 tourists were recorded to have visited the Philippines for the first five months of 2019, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the numbers — which mark a 9.76 percent increase from the same period last year — are very encouraging.

“The numbers are very encouraging. From 3,178,984 tourists recorded from January to May in 2018, we are already close to breaching the 3.5 million mark this year. This only shows that the preservation of our environment can go hand in hand with economic gains,” she said in a statement.

The month of May saw a 15.62 percent growth in tourist arrivals, increasing from 537,743 last year to 621,719 this year. It is the highest month-per-month growth rate this year to date.

Korea continues its reign as the country’s number one source market with 788,530 January to May arrivals, chalking up an 11.76 percent growth rate comprising 22.6 percent of the total arrivals. u PAGE A4

A July 13-16, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN JOuRNAl

Suspect arrested in broad daylight...

PAGE A1 t according to officials.

Photos of the assailant — who was initially suspected to be homeless — were shared following the attack and revealed a man of about 150 pounds, 5 feet 8 inches, with dark hair.

Rondez, an employee of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for over 30 years, was on his way home before he

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From the Front Page

was struck. He was quickly taken to a hospital in critical condition where he passed away the following night.

An autopsy revealed that Rondez’s death was a result of blunt head trauma from hitting his head when he fell to the ground.

According to a bulletin sent to LADWP staff, Rondez was employed as a senior commercial field representative in meter ser-

Julius Rondez Photo courtesy of the Rondez family

vices and field operations, and was a huge fan of the Dodgers and Lakers.

In the bulletin, LADWP General Manager David H. Wright described Rondez as being someone “known for his happiness, sense of humor and one-of-a-kind personality.”

“He was kind, peaceful and a family man who took great pride in his loved ones,” he continued.

He reportedly had plans of retiring in six months.

Rondez was also getting ready to go on vacation the day he was attacked, his daughter Janice Rondez told KTLA. “He was every to us,” added Janice. “My father didn’t deserve this. I don’t think anyone does.”

Rondez’s son Charles told local CBS Los Angeles that their father was strong for his age and enjoyed running marathons and biking every day.

Torres has not been determined homeless, but Rondez’s family also urged Los Angeles city leaders to act on the homeless crisis for the sake of safety.

Janice Rondez told CBS that their father — who was a foster child in the Philippines — would have wanted the same.

“There’s so many people on the street that have no other options because their options are getting cut,” said Janice Rondez. “Instead of being upset and angry, he would want us to tell everybody that they should help because that’s what he would’ve done.

According to an obituary posted on memorial park Forest Lawn’s website, Rondez was born in Davao City, Philippines. His funeral will be held at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California.

Rondez is survived by his wife, and his three children and five grandchildren. (Rae Ann Varona /AJPress)

ANTI-GAMBLING CAMPAIGN. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (right) and Manila Police District director, Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. (left), lead the destruction of confiscated illegal video karera (online gambling game) machines at the Manila city hall quadrangle on Wednesday, July 3. The new mayor has promised to “move heaven and earth” to clean up the Philippines’ capital city.

PNA Photo by Avito C. Dalan

PH rejects UN resolution...

PAGE A1 t

sent a triumph of human rights but a travesty of them.”

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. released a statement on the Department of Foreign Affairs website wherein he rejected the result as well, calling it “a politically partisan and one-sided resolution.”

He added, “The Philippines renews its solemn responsibility to protect the law-abiding against the lawless by any means efficient to achieve the defining purpose for the existence and expense of a state. To that responsibility, my

President has made an iron, unwavering and total commitment; and it will not be weakened by this ill-fated resolution.”

Locsin also said that the adoption of the resolution has “no effect as such resolutions, especially those passed by a tiny minority, can and will be ignored.”

“By a tiny minority, rejections and abstentions vastly outnumbered it,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the resolution “reeks of nauseating politics completely devoid of respect for

the sovereignty of our country, even as it is bereft of the gruesome realities of the drug menace.”

Duterte told reporters in Manila on Thursday that he would “review” the report once ready.

“Should it proceed impartially, we are certain that its result will only lead to the humiliation of the investigators, as well as of Iceland and the 17 other nations supporting it, since there never have been — nor will there ever be — state-sponsored killings in this part of the world,” Panelo said. n

of the Philippine population will not hinder the government’s goal of reducing poverty incidence.

“Our total fertility rate has likewise gone down over time — from 6.4 in 1969, to 4.1 in 1994, and now down to 2.7 children (per woman of reproductive age) in 2019. Our target fertility rate is 2.1 children. This

will be feasible if we can ratchet up modern contraceptive use,” Pernia said.

“This had gone up from 24.9 percent in 1993 to 40 percent in 2017. Fortunately, there are now more users of modern contraceptives. There are also now more rural than urban women who use modern family planning methods,” he added. n

PH population to double...

PAGE A1 t populous country in the world, with Filipinos now accounting for 1.4 percent of the global population, according to Pernia, who heads state planning agency, the National Economic and Development Authority.

He urged the full implementation of the reproductive health law to ensure that the increase

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A

Presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren releases immigration plan following meeting with AAPI voters in Las Vegas

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

RAILWAY PROJECT. President Rodrigo Duterte witnesses the signing of the loan agreement for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project between Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Asian Development Bank Vice President Ahmed Saeed during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday, July 11. Joining the President are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

Rent control bill advances in California Senate AB 1482 guarantees and expands rent control to more rental units

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

CALIFORNIA is now closer to having statewide rent control after the California Senate Judiciary Committee approved AB 1482 on the evening of Tuesday, July 9.

AB 1482 is an “anti-rent gouging bill” that would make it illegal for property owners to raise rents higher than 7% and the Consumer Price Index (which averages at 2.5% statewide) in one year. The state Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill 6-1 after an intense 14-hour marathon session after many absences in the committee prolonged the vote.

“We have to recognize some people are hurting in our economy,” said California Sen. HannahBeth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), chair of the judiciary committee.

Earlier this year AB 1482 passed the State Assembly. The bill now makes its way to Senate Appropriations Committee, and if fully approved by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, California would be the second state to pass a statewide rent control bill after Oregon became the first in February.

Additionally, AB 1482 would tighten the requirements for eviction, only allowing landlords to evict tenants with “just cause,” a

provision that was included in a separate bill that didn’t pass the Assembly.

The bill would make the most significant impact on cities that don’t already have rent control laws in place. But many cities in California already have rent control laws, like Los Angeles, renters in these cities still benefit from the bill. According to a report from UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, AB 1482 would protect 4.6 million households “from unsustainable rent increases” in the short term.

However, the bill doesn’t guarantee rent control across the board. In cities that have limited rent control, the bill’s effects would apply to buildings built after 1995, which have been historically been exempt from rent control per the controversial Costa Hawkins Act. The bill states that AB 1482 would not apply to units built less than ten years ago or buildings owned by those with ten or fewer single-family homes.

That being said, Los Angeles city law already places rent control on units built before 1978, but this bill would open up rent control to buildings built between 1978 and 2009. In its report, the Terner Center estimated that in three California communities — Los Angeles’

California DMV to allow customers to pay with credit card — but at a cost

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

THIS year, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is expected to allow customers to make transactions via credit card but will charge a fee.

Currently, the DMV does accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards through internet, over-the-phone transactions and payments at self-service DMV now kiosks and has never imposed fees for those payment methods. But if you plan to visit your local DMV office, it’ll only allow payments through cash, check, money order or ATM/debit cards.

But that’s expected to change this year through administrative changes that would impose extra fees for credit card payments.

Per Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to “bring the DMV into the 21st century,” the famously antiquated department will be making changes to its payment system that

would allow in-person payments through credit card, but with a fee of 2% or 3% of the transaction.

According to reporting by CalMatters, DMV spokesperson Jaime Garza affirmed the change but did not provide a precise date for when the changes would take effect or a specific number for the fee itself.

“There are some technical requirements that are necessary to implement this process,” Garza told CalMatters. “We will be communicating with the public after we have determined a date for the passing of the fee.”

The department estimates that it’ll raise approximately $45.3 million a year and it’s expected to grow to about $72 million a year after the department adds field offices and establishes more DMV Now stations.

The revenue is set to achieve the long-term goal of improving technological efficiency and reducing long wait times at the DMV.

Delisted martial law victims...

PAGE A1 t

6,000 received compensation after they had completed the requirements for registration.

A requirement to claim compensation was submitting claim forms twice, first in 1993, and again in 1999.

Swift, for his part, said: “I would have been delighted to only require the 1993 class filing but the court required the second filing.”

“It wasn’t until 2011 when there was money to distribute that the court made the ruling as to eligibility, saying that people must have filed in both years,” he added.

Carol Araullo, a claimant, said she never got a notice to register a second time despite never chang-

ing her address.

Swift explained that the delisting due to circumstances beyond the control of lawyers, such as the failure of the postal system to deliver letters in time.

“They only gave me five weeks.

We tried to get the word out, we sent letters to class members, we worked furiously to do that,” he said.

He also said that there was not much he could do as he had to abide by a court order.

“There was an order and I have to abide by that order,” Swift said.

“In litigation, you don’t always get what you want. You try hard, but ultimately it’s up to the court to decide that,” he added. n

Sung Kim to become next US envoy...

PAGE A1 t “Ambassador Kim’s extensive history of public service at the Department of State, including as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks, Director of the Office of Korean Affairs, Special Representative for North Korea Policy, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs,” the White House added.

Kim assumed his post as the ambassador of the U.S. to the Philippines in November 2016 fol-

lowing the nomination of former President Barack Obama.

The announcement did not mention who will next serve as Washington’s top diplomat in Manila.

On Tuesday, July 9, the U.S. Embassy denied rumors that Mina Chang, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations of the U.S. Department of State, will replace Kim as the next envoy to the Philippines.

“We’ve seen this claim. It is not true,” U.S. Embassy deputy press

Boyle Heights, San Francisco’s Mission District and Fruitvale and West Oakland — roughly 32% more rental units would receive stronger protections against rent increases under AB 1482.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s passing of AB 1482 comes at amid what experts call the state’s worst housing crisis.

Six bills designed to make housing more affordable in California didn’t pass in the Senate last May, which LA Curbed dubbed “the worst month in California’s housing policy history.” n

IN her bid for the White House, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren released an immigration plan this week, a few days after meeting with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members in Las Vegas who posed questions about fixing the broken system.

“Our immigration system makes American stronger, not Dozens of AAPIs from the Las Vegas area heard Warren speak at Café de Manila. weaker. Part of that is keeping Tuesday, July 2 at an AAPI meet log; and providing an achievable families united,” Warren said on and greet at Café de Manila in pathway to citizenship for the Las Vegas. “But at the heart of it some 11 million undocumented has to be the understanding that individuals in the U.S. America is a country that will be For Filipinos, the immigration made stronger by having families backlog continues to be an issue, who want to be here and invest in with some waiting over 20 years this country.” to come to the United States and The senator estimated that be reunited with their families. around $700 billion would come “We need to do two things: We from allowing more immigrants need a president who will do evinto the country, who in turn start erything she can to move this systheir own businesses or take on tem along and make it work betother jobs. ter and we are also going to need The presidential hopeful’s plan an overhaul at the congressional — which was revealed ahead of level,” Warren told the Asian an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal following her remarks on on Thursday, July 11 — proposes Tuesday, July 2. “That means that “a rules-based system that is fair, we must rewrite our immigration humane, and that reflects our val- laws so they align with our values ues.” and a big part of our values is Warren’s ideas include: de- keeping families together.” criminalizing those who cross the Also part of her plan is to “reDemocratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who border and other “simple admindistribute unused visas to reduce is running for president, speaks to Asian istrative immigration violations”; this backlog and reunite more American and Pacific Islander community members at Café de Manila in Las Vegas on separating law enforcement from families with their loved ones.” immigration enforcement; reducDuring a two-day tour of the Tuesday, July 2.

AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal ing the family reunification backPAGE A5

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2 environmental groups receive P20-M in grants from US embassy THE United States embassy in Manila on Thursday, July 11, awarded two grants amounting to P20 million to two local organizations to rehabilitate Manila Bay and reduce plastic pollution in Philippine oceans.

The grants were awarded to Ecowaste Coalition and Mother Earth Foundation which were tasked to promote and expand community-based recycling programs, improve solid waste management, and support research on plastic waste around Manila Bay. U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law said these partnerships were “critical to protecting urban coastal areas that rely on tourism and fisheries sector.� “We are proud to work togeth-

er with the Philippines in finding innovative solutions to keeping plastic waste out of our oceans,�

Law said.

The grants are part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP), which supports solid waste management and water recycling efforts by local and national governments, civil society organizations, and academic institutions in the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

The USAID said that eight million tons of mismanaged plastic wastes were deposited in the world’s oceans each year — the equivalent of dumping an entire garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute.

“This waste threatens marine ecosystems and human health as it makes its way into the global human food supply, mostly through fish products,�

Law said.

The Philippines, comprised of over 7,000 islands, is the world’s third largest plastic polluter to the marine environment, contributing to about 750,000 metric tons annually.

The USAID said that with rapid population growth and urbanization, municipal waste generation was “expected to rise dramatically in the coming decades.� “By 2050, we may have more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight,� the USAID said. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes. net)

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

Manila mayor a ‘total rockstar’ – US envoy Pacquiao remains confident ahead of...

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko� Moreno Domagoso is a “total rock star,�according to U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim when the two met at the envoy’s office on Friday, July 12.

The U.S. ambassador commended Moreno for the “new dynamism and energies you bring to your position.�

Domagoso told Kim of his plans for Manila the core values that have influenced his mindset and leadership style on a daily basis.

The two also talked about the national government’s campaign against the war on drugs and how Domagoso supported and implemented it while reminding authorities to respect human rights. “We appreciate your approach. You’re dealing with it in a manner that is consistent with human rights and the rule of law,� he said.

Ambassador Kim also told Domgagoso how “proud� the U.S. was for having sponsored him for the International Visitors Leadership Program in 2011. “We are proud of you being an alumnus. We

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim met with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday, July 12. Moreno discussed with Kim his priorities and exciting plans for the city.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

have a good success in identifying future leaders,� he said.

Also present in the meeting were Josh Morris, Internal Political chief of the embassy and Cesar Chavez, Domagoso’s chief of staff. (Joshua Vera Cruz/ManilaTimes.net)

DOT: 3.4-M tourists visited PH...

PAGE A1 t Following close behind is China, with 733,769 arrivals for a 30.96 percent increase and a 21.03 percent market share. The United States ranks third with 472,469 arrivals, while Japan places fourth with 281,988.

Taiwan also saw a double digit growth at 27.24 percent or 128,986 arrivals.

Other countries included in the top ten markets are Australia with 123,851; Canada with 114,605; Photo shows tourists in Boracay Island after its rehabilitation. Just for the first five months the United Kingdom with 92,914; of 2019, a total of 3,489,270 tourists visited the Philippines, marking a 9.76 percent increase Singapore with 64,951; and Mafrom last year’s figures.

Photo courtesy of DOT laysia with 64,951. n

PAGE A1 t of boxing’s only eight-division world champion, Pacquiao has garnered an incredible boxing career by fighting and defeating some seven current or future Hall of Famers like Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, and Shane Mosley.

Pacquiao, 40, has also been named a three-time Fighter of the Year and remains the Boxing Writers Associations of America’s reigning Fighter of the Decade. On the side, he also serves as a senator in the Philippines.

Thurman, on the other hand, is currently the longest reigning welterweight world champion and has been described as one of the welterweight division’s most dangerous boxers.

The 30-year-old has also won all of his professional fights, with the exception of a non-recorded win from a No Contest with Mexico’s Francisco Garcia back in 2009.

With a 10-year age difference between the two, boxing fans have been curious as to what has changed in Pacquiao’s performance over the years. “That’s what I’m trying to prove this time because we know there are people doubting my capability at the age of 40,� said Pacquiao on Thursday.

He added, “But at the age of 40, I’m not thinking about my age. I’m thinking about making my fans happy.�

Along with co-trainers Buboy Fernandez and Freddie Roach, Pacquiao spoke to media and worked out at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Wednesday, July 10.

Manny Pacquiao chats with comedian Michael Blackson who visited the media workout day on Wednesday, July 10.

Pacquiao has before told the same with a few adjustments in Asian Journal that training has, recovery. On Thursday, he asfor the most part, remained the u PAGE A6

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Dateline USa

Presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren...

PAGE A3 t

Silver State, her event last Tuesday was her first shot at meeting community members in Las Vegas, during which she spoke about fighting against government corruption, investing in minority businesses through a capital fund, and other issues pertinent to AAPIs. “Elizabeth has always been a fighter…who knows how to win.

She’s what our country desperately needs and now, she’s fighting to build an America that works for everyone,” Filipino American Sonny Vinuya, president of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, said in his introduction of the senator.

Warren, a former law professor who has been a Massachusetts senator since 2013, started off her remarks with a story about how her mother took on a minimum wage job to save their family home.

“However, today, a full-time, minimum wage job in America will not keep a mom and a baby out of poverty. That is wrong and that is why I am in this fight,” she declared.

The senator slammed the federal government for working “great for those at the top [but] doesn’t work for anyone else, calling it “corruption pure and simple.”

She hinted at an anti-corruption plan that includes ending lobbying, requiring that the Supreme Court “follow basic rules of ethics,” and transparency in tax returns for candidates running for federal office.

She went on to propose a wealth tax, which would put a 2% tax on those with over $50 million in net assets.

“When I talk about things like the wealth tax, which would be a 2% tax on everybody with more than $50 million in accumulated wealth and how we can use that money to provide universal child care, universal pre-K and cancel student loan debt for about 95% of folks that have got it, it’s not just progressives who want to sign up,” Warren told the Asian Journal.

As a figure among progressives in recent years, Warren said a plan like this would be attractive to voters no matter where they fall in the political spectrum.

She added, “In fact, it’s not just Democrats who want to sign up.

That’s something that has very broad appeal to Democrats and Republicans and independents because it’s right. I think the old

Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes a photo with Cristina Llorente-Drost, Rozita Lee and Edward Drost.

AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

left-right politics are starting to break down.”

The latest Economist-YouGov poll released on Wednesday, July 10 revealed Warren in second place at 17 percent with California Senator Kamala Harris trailing third at 14 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden held the first spot with 22 percent.

With the AAPI population considered the fastest-growing racial group nationwide, the electorate is projected to increase twofold by 2040 and has already shown its strength as a key swing vote in major local and national races in recent cycles.

Warren hired Roger Lau as her campaign manager, which was historic because he is the first Asian American campaign manager for a major U.S. presidential candidate.

“One of the ways I try to engage is to get out and meet people face to face. What brings us together is a love of family and a belief that we can be an America that creates opportunity, not just for those at the top, but create opportunity for everyone,” Warren told the Asian Journal after her speech.

Another plan the Massachusetts senator has put forth that could potentially be attractive to minority voters is a $7 billion fund to invest in minority-owned small businesses.

“The whole notion that we have an entrepreneurship gap because people of color, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Latinos, have a lot more difficulty accessing the capital they need. And so, I have a plan to fill in that capital gap and to make sure that investment fund is managed by a very diverse group of people,” she told the Asian Journal. “It’s a plan that uses a basic model of lending that now goes through SBA, but says this is capital. So it’s not about carrying more debt from the beginning. It’s about having a capi-

tal infusion from the beginning.”

In Nevada alone, eligible AAPI voters are estimated to account for 10% of the state’s electorate.

Filipinos are considered the largest AAPI group in Nevada, with 169,462 Filipinos in the state according to the latest American Community Survey (ACS) released in September 2018.

As 2020 approaches, AAPIs, especially across Nevada, have made it known that candidates should not ignore the electorate’s strength.

“2020 is going to determine the direction this country takes for generations to come,” Warren told the crowd on Tuesday. “2020 is going to come right through the center of Nevada.”

Already this year, Democratic candidates — such as Senators Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand, South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Beto O’ Rourke, Marianne Williamson, Andrew Yang, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro— have made it a point to meet with AAPI community leaders and businesses in the Las Vegas area.

In an effort to increase voter turnout and accessibility, the state Democratic Party has unveiled a plan for voters to cast their ballots for the Feb. 22, 2020 caucus via phone, with English, Spanish and Tagalog options.

“The Silver State plays a decisive role in choosing our country’s Democratic nominee for president — We are the first Western state, the first diverse state, and the only early battleground state,” Nevada Democratic Party chairman William McCurdy II said in a statement earlier this week. “We know it is imperative that Democrats across our state have every option and opportunity available to vote and I couldn’t be more excited to see this new process become a reality.” n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 13-16, 2019

A

Pacquiao remains confident ahead of...

PAGE A4 t sured that he had no concerns over his performance.

“My body’s reaction is okay.

My mind and everything is fine, and I’m a big believer of God. This is a blessing,” said Pacquiao.

Asked what keeps him motivated and always ready, Pacquiao said it’s been easy given that he loves exercising.

“I really love exercise. I’m addicted to exercise and even if I do not have a scheduled time, I almost everyday exercise like playing basketball four to five hours almost every day,” said Pacquiao, adding that he usually doesn’t hit the boxing gym until he has a scheduled fight.

“So when the time comes in and I have a scheduled fight, I’m so motivated to work hard, play hard, and focus for the rest of the fight,” said Pacquiao.

In the weeks leading up to the fight, Thurman has vowed to be the fighter to send Pacquiao into retirement. He recently told ESPN that he predicts needing less than six rounds to knock out Pacquiao.

But Pacquiao — who has heard his opponents make similar predictions many times before — has remained unfazed by the comments.

“I’m not angry with him. I’m just motivated,” said Pacquiao, adding that Thurman’s words have at times gotten to his mother Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao.

But for him, it’s just feed for his motivation.

“It gives me more motivation to focus on the training and how hard I push in training,” said Pacquiao. “This will be a very interesting fight.”

Thurman’s most recent win came earlier this year by majority decision, even after coming from a 22-month hiatus resulting from a couple elbow and hand injuries. Now, he’s expected to come to the ring with even more power and preparation.

To Pacquiao, that just means an even better fight.

“I understand that it’s hard to start again, but this time around, he’ll work hard and will be prepared for this fight,” said Pacquiao. “I’m expecting him to work hard and prepare.”

As for his own preparation, Pacquiao is also using experience and strategy to finish strong.

“My style is still the same, but I’m more experienced. But [I’ve

gotten] strong in timing,” said Pacquiao.

Roach chimed in and said that Pacquiao’s motivation to train has been very serious and that they’ve had to make sure he didn’t overtrain.

“He’s unbelievable. He wants to work out every day, but we have to hold back a little bit,” said Roach. “We’re on a tight schedule right now and we’ll give him a couple extra days off and try not to have him overtrain because he does have a tenden-

cy to do that, but we’re ready to go.”

“I already accomplished what I’ve wanted to accomplish in boxing, and I’m continuing my career because boxing is my passion,” said Pacquiao. “God gave me blessings, and I’m thankful for the good health, speed, and power.”

The Pacquiao-Thurman fight will take place on Saturday, July 20 (Fox PPV, 9 p.m. ET) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. n

A July 13-16, 2019 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN JOuRNAl

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D ateline PhiliPPines 9 in 10 Filipinos believe regaining China-held islands in West Philippine Sea important by aJPress

A recent survey revealed that 93% of adult Filipinos believe that it is important for the Philippine government to take back control of islands occupied by china in the West Philippine Sea According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from June 22 to 26, 74% of the respondents said this is “œvery important,” while 19% said this is”somewhat important.”

Only 1% said it is “somewhat not important.” Another one% said “not at all important,” while 4% were undecided. the survery also noted that the perception of Filipinos on regaining control of islands in the West Philippine Sea has “increased steadily in four surveys since June 2018.”

the figure was 89% rating in December 2018, and 87% in September 2018 and in June 2018. the survey also revealed that 89% of the respondents said it is not right for the Philippines to leave china alone with its infrastructures and military presence in the claimed territories.

With regards to militia, 92% said the country should strengthen its military capability, especially the navy.

Majority of the respondents are urging the government to take some forms of actions such as taking the issue to international organizations — to which 83% voted for — and forming alliances with other countries to help in defending the West Philippine Sea — to which 84% of Filipinos agreed with.

However, President rodrigo Duterte’s stance on china’s pres-

ence in the West Philippine Sea has remained unchanged.

On Monday night, he said he might use the State of the nation Address this month, his fourth, as an opportunity to “educate” Filipinos on the West Philippine Sea. “What they are saying that it is unconstitutional... maybe on my SOnA I will educate people that what I said ‘You (china) can fish (in the eeZ)’... I am right,” he said, referring to him allowing the chinese to continue fishing within the country’s exclusive economic zone (eeZ) due to its MODERN PUV. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III delivers his keynote message during the launching friendship with china. of the ‘One Road One Nation’ Modern PUV (public utility vehicle) at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa City on Thursday, July 11. Delgra PNA Photo by Avito C. Dalan While critics were quick to underscored the importance of cooperation of local government units in the PUV modernization program. point out Duterte’s pronouncement was a violation of the constitution, the President defended himself and said: “What I did was not unconstitutional. As a matter

by Ritchel Mendiola of fact, it was in keeping with AJPress the law.” n

Poe files bill seeking to promote PH movies

7,000 foreign workers face deportation

by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

MAnILA — At least 7,000 foreign workers, mostly chinese employees with no permits, could soon be deported as the government starts implementing a stricter policy to regulate the employment of foreigners in the country.

Dominique tutay, director of the Department of Labor and employment’s Bureau of Local employment, said DOLe is submitting to the Bureau of Immigration the list of foreigners working without the necessary alien employment permits (AePs).

“As of June 24, there are 7,000 foreign workers in the list who were given until mid-June, but are yet to comply with the requirements. We will give it to the (Bureau of) Immigration for possible deportation,” tutay said.a tutay said most of the foreign workers are probably not applying for AePs for now because the new policy regulating the employment of foreigners is yet to take effect.

Prior to the implementation of the new policy, tutay said DOLe had already recorded an increase in the number of foreign workers applying for work permits. compared to 9,000 in the first quarter last year, the number of AeP applications rose to 15,000 during the same period, she noted.

But tutay said the number of foreigners facing deportation could also go higher considering that DOLe has only inspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) located in Metro Manila.

She said DOLe and the Department of Finance (DOF) would deploy a joint inspection team to check other POGO firms in economic zones and other regions nationwide.

On thursday, July 11, a joint memorandum circular (JMc) governing employment of foreign workers in POGOs and other companies in the country was signed by the different concerned government agencies.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said aside from an increase in revenue, the JMc will ensure

that no Filipino will be deprived of work because of the entry of foreign nationals.

“Foreign nationals will not be given a working permit if they won’t be paying taxes. So those are the most important objectives of the joint memorandum circular,” Bello said. the Bureau of Internal revenue (BIr) expects to collect P2 billion in revenue from foreign workers as a result of the JMc’s implementation. the JMc is set to take effect next week.

Bello said the JMc will be retroactive, thus foreign nationals should immediately comply with the requirements and secure the necessary work permits to avoid immediate deportation. the JMc provides that foreign nationals intending to work in the country shall secure a work visa as well as apply for tax Identification number (tIn).

Under the JMc, the government shall also develop a system that would capture the data on foreign nationals working in the Philippines.

Based on DOLe data, there are 130,000 foreign workers legally employed in the country. n

tWO separate bills seeking to promote local movies and film tourism have been filed by Senator Mary Grace Poe. Under the proposed Philippine Independent Film Incentives Act of 2019, up to P5 million in incentives will be granted to production outfits of award-winning movies.

P5 million will also be granted to full-length award-winning films, while P3 million will be granted to short feature films. “this bill seeks to further promote the production of Filipino indie films and provide support to filmmakers, including aspiring ones, who operate on meager budgets to produce their artistic craft,” said Poe in the bill’s explanatory note. the Philippine Amusement and Gaming corporation (Pagcor) will be tapped to provide a P50-million fund for the incentives.

Meanwhile, the proposed Philippine Film and television tourism Act of 2019 will generate jobs and promote the country at the same time.

“We have sparkling beaches, imposing waterfalls, historical

Senator Grace Poe

heritage sites, where many of our movies have been shot. We should grab the opportunity to market these so that movie fans will also be travelers to these destinations,” Poe said.

A Philippine Film and television tourism Authority (PFttA) will be established to promote the country as a location site for films and television programs, under the measure. there will also be an Inter-Agency committee on Film and television tourism to be its governing body.

Poe is the daughter of national

Inquirer.net photo

Artist for Film the late Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan roces, an award-winning actress. Before becoming a senator, she headed the Movie and television review and classification Board.

“Our family is indebted so much to the industry, this is the reason why we cannot ignore it,” she said.

“With intervention from the government, we have to work together to help the Philippine film industry get back on track to excellence and profitability,” the senator added. n

AFP to soldiers: Coup will not succeed by deMpsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

tHe Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on thursday, July 11 warned soldiers to not even think about staging a coup against President rodrigo Duterte, since they would not succeed.

“If ever there are any AFP personnel contemplating to stage a coup d’etat, we warn them not to even make that losing proposition. We will never allow that,” Brig. Gen. edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said in a statement.

“We will prosecute vigorously and punish harshly anyone in the AFP who will violate the Articles of War, the AFP code of eth-

ics and the AFP core values of Honor, Service and Patriotism.

We assure our people of that resolve,” he added. the statement came amid reports of a brewing coup d’etat among the military, coming no less from President Duterte. the President said on Monday that the military was getting restless because problems on corruption, illegal drugs, terrorism and rebellion persist. He called on lawmakers to work to change the constitution.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo on tuesday said such statement stemmed from information Duterte received that a coup is looming.

Arevalo said any attempt to have Duterte removed from power would not succeed.

“If we have any colleagues in the AFP plotting anything, we are warning you all and reminding you, at the same time, that you will not succeed because this is not the right time to conduct such movements like that,” he stressed.

During the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Magdalo group led by former senator Antonio trillanes 4th staged a coup leading to the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003, the Marine standoff in 2006 and the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007. n

PH House coup looms, says Paolo Duterte by catheRine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

JUSt days after President rodrigo Duterte endorsed rep.

Alan Peter cayetano as the next speaker of the House of representatives, the fight for the top House post seems to be far from over, with an alleged coup d’etat being plotted against the taguig lawmaker, according to Davao city rep. Paolo Duterte.

A screenshot of a text message, which reportedly came from Paolo was shared with the media on thursday, July 11, claiming that one of the three other speaker hopefuls is planning a coup against cayetano.

“May election pa sa July 22 at doon ako mas interesado, kung sino ang mananalo. Kasi may balita-balita, may isa sa tatlo na balak mag-coup d’etat on the day (There will be an election on July 22 and that is where I am interested, who will win. Because there are talks that one of the three is planning a coup d’etat on that day),” the text read.

“Mukhang hindi pa tapos ang laban para sa kanilang tatlo at sa mga backers (It looks like the battle is not over yet for the three and their backers),” it added. three other lawmakers were gunning for the speakership: Marinduque rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Leyte rep. Martin romualdez and Davao city rep.

Isidro Ungab.

Velasco was the popular choice among lawmakers, but the president announced last week that cayetano and Velasco would share the speaker’s term. Ungab was backed by the Duterte coalition formed by Paolo and his sister, Davao city Mayor Sara Duterte-carpio. congressmen in favor of other bets were left with no choice but to adhere to the president’s decision that cayetano would be the

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano

speaker for 15 months and Velasco, 21 months.

Of the three bets, only romualdez had so far given in, and even rallied support for cayetano in a gathering with other lawmakers on Wednesday evening.

“From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of this group, on behalf of those who were not even here, we are firmly, solidly, unanimously behind your leadership,” he told cayetano in front of around 30 other lawmakers, most of whom were known allies of romualdez.

Wishful thinking the president, however, dismissed as “wishful thinking” talks of a possible coup at the House.

Duterte on thursday expressed confidence that cayetano would be elected speaker.

“You heard of wishful thinking?” Duterte told reporters during a chance interview, when asked about the alleged coup against cayetano.

Asked if he was confident that cayetano would get enough votes for the top House post, the president answered, “Alan? He will.”

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the reported coup against cayetano did not show

ManilaTimes.net photo

the chief executive’s lack of authority in the chamber.

“It’s not the reflection of the clout of the president because the president didn’t want to interfere in the first place. He didn’t want to intrude. It’s them who somehow persuaded him to come in,” Panelo told reporters.

Panelo, also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, noted that the president only gave his “suggestion” because the three front runners for speaker sought his advice. “the vote on the speaker would lie on the members of congress. the only reason why the president gave that suggestion is because those who were vying for it went to him and sought his wise suggestion to settle the row between and among them,” he said.

In 2018, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seized the top post from Davao del norte rep Pantaleon Alvarez, reportedly with the backing of the Davao mayor. the coup happened hours before Duterte delivered his State of the nation Address.

Members of the House of representatives and the Senate are set to elect their leaders on July 22. (With reports from Glee Jalea/ ManilaTimes.net)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 13-16, 2019

A

Robredo says she believes Duterte knows she’s not part of ouster plots constantly dragged into alleged destabilization plans, Vice President Leni Robredo said on FriMANILA — Despite being day, July 12, she believes Presiby GabrieL

Pabico Inquirer.net

LaLu

dent Rodrigo Duterte knows that she is not a threat.

“Tingin ko, ito hula ko lang, ‘pag nakikita ako ni Presidente ramdam niya naman na hindi ako threat (I guess the President doesn’t see me as a threat),” Robredo told DZMM. “Ibig sabihin wala naman akong pagnanasa to wrestle power from him gaya nang pino-portray ng iba, sa tingin ko alam niya ‘yon (I don’t have any desire to wrestle power from him like what others want to portray. So I think he knows that),” she added.

Robredo said this even as hitches in their working relationship have been well documented.

Shortly after assuming the vice presidency in 2016, Robredo was PACKED. Patients lie or sit on the hallway of the emergency room of the Philippine General Hospital, which has run out of space for the huge volume of patients seeking medical attention. The hospital’s emergency room has been under renovation since last year, but a makeshift appointed as the administration’s room set up could not accommodate the hundreds of patients who arrive every day.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina housing czar.

However, the Vice President tendered her resignation after Duterte supposedly ordered her to refrain from attending cabinet helps me craft new implement- the freezing of several highby catherine VaLente meetings. n ManilaTimes.net ing rules [on] how not to rob a ranking Customs officials and country properly,” Duterte said. employees, whose names would PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte “So, I will be asking them to be disclosed at the appropriate on Thursday, July 11, escalated report here. And from the sourc- time, as they face administrahis threat against officials and es that I have commissioned… tive and criminal charges, for employees of the Bureau of I would have cut down corrup- unlawful activities,” Palace Customs (BOC), this time tell- tion by a third or one-half,” he spokesman Salvador Panelo ing them to either resign or face added. said in a statement late Wednessecurity guarantee definition charges over allegations of corDuterte later told reporters day night. provided by the US, it may ruption. that he had stripped the alleg“The President’s latest action not be necessary therefore In his speech during an event edly corrupt Customs officials underscores this administrato shrink to China’s threat of in Malacañang, Duterte said he and employees of their duties tion’s zero tolerance on corrupwar,” Del Rosario said in the would fire 64 Customs officials “to prevent further damage to tion among erring officials,” he same forum. and employees next week. government interest.” added.

Last week, Duterte chal“I’d like to just give you an ex“Let me be very clear. Let The Palace official said lenged the U.S. to declare a tra news for the day. I was read- me talk. I will relieve them of Duterte would “continue to war against China, claiming ing the dossier from all intelli- their duties. As yet, they are not dismantle corruption in the buthat Washington has been us- gent sources and I am… If I can ousted or dismissed because of reaucracy and rid it of corrupt ing the Philippines as “bait.” dismiss them, I will be dismiss- their right to be heard. But, ipi- officials and employees.”

“They said we have a U.S.-RP ing something like 64 Customs natanggal ko na sila sa trabaho “The anti-corruption campact. Okay. Let America declare employees,” he disclosed. nila ngayon (I already had them paign is continuing as it is rethe war. Let them assemble all “But most of them ‘yung removed from their jobs) to pre- lentless. No one will be spared,” their armaments there in South nandiyan na (who are already vent further damage [to] gov- Panelo added.

China Sea. Fire the first shot there), we will be filing charges, ernment interest,” he said.

But, during a news briefing and I’ll be glad to do the next,” 64 of them. So, this early, they When asked if he would drop on Thursday, he said the unDuterte said, reffering to the might be also learning the — his plan to file charges against named Customs officials would 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty what’s going on here, and they BOC personnel who would heed be on floating status for the (MDT). are also hearing us. It’s a simple his call for their resignation, the meantime, as he also clarified In his visit to Manila in case of — you resign or I file President replied: “Well, that that Guerrero was not included March, U.S. Secretary of State charges. And that goes for all of would be up to the Ombuds- in the President’s freeze order.

Mike Pompeo assured the Phil- us. We are workers of govern- man.”

Panelo confirmed that the ippines that any armed attack ment and we serve the people, “That is not my discretion. President met with some Cusin the South China Sea will trig- period,” Duterte said.

The Ombudsman is the prose- toms officials earlier this week, ger the MDT. According to the President, cutor sa mga taga-gobyerno (of but he was not privy to details “As the South China Sea is he would summon the Customs government workers) who are of the meeting. part of the Pacific, any armed officials to Malacañang to hear facing charges,” he added.

Last week, the President attack on Philippine forces, their side on Monday, July 8.

Duterte made the announce- warned that he would fire sevaircraft or public vessels in the “In the meantime, their case[s] ment a day after he ordered the eral BOC officials over accusaSouth China Sea would trigger are being heard in obedience “freezing” of some high-rank- tions of corruption. mutual defense obligations un- [to] the rule [on] the right to be ing executives of the agency for Despite this, Panelo on Tuesder Article 4 of our Mutual De- heard, I want them to be here “unlawful activities.” day said Duterte still trusted fense Treaty,” Pompeo said. n in Malacañang. My view is that “The President has directed u PAGE A10

Duterte to fire 64 Customs officials

Vice President Leni Robredo

Inquirer.net photo

Raising war with China over arbitral award meant to ‘scare’ Filipinos

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — Enforcing the Philippines’ arbitral win against China does not necessarily mean going to war with Beijing, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio stressed.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been consistent on his position that the Philippines cannot go to war with China despite its victory before the United Nations-backed tribunal.

“The claim that enforcing the abitral award means going to war with China, a war the Philippines will surely lose, is an utterly false claim, designed to intimidate the Filipino people to submit to the will of China,” Carpio said in a forum on the West Philippine Sea. The SC magistrate pointed out that the Philippines cannot go to war as it is prohibited in the Constitution.

Under Section 2, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, “The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international

law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.”

Carpio also noted that international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, has outlawed going to war to settle territorial or maritime disputes among states.

Leaders of nations accused of war of aggression can be held liable under the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court.

“Thus, it is obvious that the only purpose of raising the specter of war is to scare the Filipino people to submit to China,” Carpio said.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, meanwhile, said going to war is not an option for China.

The former top diplomat noted that that Beijing’s economy relies of global trade, that needs open shipping lanes, such as the Malacca Strait and the Indian Ocean. These waterways are dominated by Washington’s naval power.

“With the recent clearer

A8 JULY 13-16, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Informed choice

FEATURES

THIRTY-two years ago, the global population hit five billion.

With 7.4 billion people on the planet, and 83 million added every year, the United Nations estimates that by 2030, the world population will hit 8.6 billion.

That’s a lot of people competing for limited resources. Meanwhile, the United Nations estimates that every day, about 800 women around the world die of complications related to pregnancies.

In 1989, two years after the so-called Day of Five billion, the UN began observing World Population Day on July 11. In 1994, Egyptian capital Cairo hosted the International Conference on Population and Development, during which 179 governments recognized that reproductive health and gender equality are critical in attaining sustainable development. Achieving the unmet goals of the Cairo conference is the message in this year’s observance of World Population Day. With the Philippine population approaching 105 million, President Duterte has made implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 part of his socioeconomic agenda. Legal obstacles, however, derailed his program, even with his signing of an executive order to push for its implementation.

With those legal obstacles now out of the way, and with those in charge of family planning coordinating not just with RH advocates but also with the Catholic Church, the only question is how efficiently the government can implement the program.

Contraceptives have been around for decades in this country and the information is available for spacing childbirths. But the right to reproductive health and the ability to make an informed choice on family size are limited to women with financial means and sufficient education. The RH law seeks to empower all women to make that choice and to enjoy reproductive health.

At the same time, the government must give more attention to the role of men in planning family size and promoting women’s reproductive health. If population growth is to be tamed, women must not bear the entire burden. A stronger push is needed to achieve the population goals set in Cairo 25 years ago.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Why we need Kamala Harris

Commentary

REP. TED LIEU DONALD Trump’s election in 2016 was a turning point for our country. He has lowered our standing around the world, sought to divide us, and inflicted pain on too many Americans — particularly immigrants and children of immigrants. We cannot afford four more years of him in the White House.

We need to elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States.

Kamala would be the first Asian American in history to be elected president. We need her in the White House fighting

for the issues that are critical to our community. The power to make change in this election is in our hands: Nevada’s APIA community is the fastest growing demographic in the state and a powerful voting bloc. Groups like One APIA Nevada, Asian Community Development Council, and AAPI Democratic Caucus are funneling this growing strength, and we need to harness it to elect Kamala as our next president.

I’ve known Kamala for many years. During the first Democratic presidential debate, Americans all over the country saw what I’ve always known her to be: tough, smart, compassionate and prepared to take on Trump.

Everyone who tuned in to the debate saw what kind of president she would be. A president who

is focused on the real tangible issues on voters’ minds — the things that wake them up at three in the morning. She spoke clearly about the struggle parents across our country face when they have a child burning up with a high fever and have to take them to the emergency room, knowing they’ll incur thousands of dollars in medical bills even if they have insurance.

Kamala will take on these issues through what she calls her 3AM agenda. An agenda that will have a direct and immediate effect on people’s lives, paychecks, and health care. She will reverse the Trump Administration’s trillion-dollar tax cut for big corporations and the top 1%, and pass her LIFT Act to give a tax break of up to $6,000 to working families

Why Fil-Ams should care about the 2020 Elections Commentary

JASON TENGCO IN 2016, only 50 percent of eligible Filipino American voters participated in the presidential election. Let me repeat: only half of us voted in 2016.

As a community, we can — and must — do better this time around. From the economy to health care, climate change to the Supreme Court, there’s simply too much at stake for us to sit on the sidelines. As we gear up for the 2020 elections, I urge my fellow Fil-Ams to pay close attention to what the candidates are saying around all issues, but especially immigration.

Let me start with the facts.

There are more than 300,000 Filipinos in the Philippines waiting to reunite with their loved ones here in the United States. These include wives and husbands, daughters and sons, and sisters and brothers that are separated from their families. The Philippines has the second highest number of family-sponsored waiting list registrants in the world, second only to Mexico. Furthermore, Filipinos suffer some of the longest wait times of any group: more than 20 years.

In addition to family reunification, we cannot forget that there are an estimated 310,000 undocumented Filipinos living in America. These include more than 5,000 young Filipinos that

have benefitted from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), giving them work authorization and protection from deportation. A separate Obama Administration proposal called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) would have granted similar protections to certain undocumented parents, but was rescinded by the current administration.

As we head into another contentious presidential election cycle, there is plenty of talk on both sides of the aisle about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Let’s begin by looking at the campaign websites of the four Democratic candidates currently polling the highest: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders.

Biden focuses on pursuing “a humane immigration policy that upholds our values, strengthens our economy, and secures our border.”

Harris commits to “fight to pass immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people living in our communities and contributing to our economy.”

Warren highlights that “we need expanded legal immigration that will grow our economy, reunite families, and meet our labor market demands.”

Sanders emphasizes the need to “expand DACA and DAPA, including providing immediate legal status for young people eligible for the DACA program.”

In comparison, Trump’s website details how: “President Trump called on

Congress to fully fund a wall along the Southern border, to close legal loopholes that enable illegal immigration, to end chain migration, and to eliminate the visa lottery program.”

“The Department of Homeland Security took action to wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in an orderly fashion, following the assessment of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that DACA lacks legal authorization.”

“The Trump Administration rescinded the unlawful Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program.”

As the candidates begin campaigning and participating in debates, we should hold them accountable by demanding specifics about their immigration plans. It’s incumbent upon us to remain informed and to have honest conversations about how these proposals will impact us as a community. But no matter where we stand politically, I think we can all agree that these presidential candidates should keep the interests of the Fil-Am community in mind both on the campaign trail and, if elected, once they occupy the highest office in the land. *** Jason Tengco is a Senior Advisor and former Executive Director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) at the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of the Asian Journal, NaFFAA, and UC Berkeley.

each year. Education is a key component of Kamala’s agenda and she will make the largest federal investment in teacher pay in U.S. history to fully close the teacher pay gap and give the average Nevada public school teacher a $15,000 raise.

Kamala won’t stop there.

She will push to make sure our families are protected, insured, and healthy. As gun violence continues to plague our communities, she will not wait to act. If Congress does not send comprehensive gun safety legislation to Kamala’s desk within her first 100 days as president, she will take executive action to mandate the most comprehensive federal background checks in history, revoke the licenses of gun manufacturers that break

the law, keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and ban the importation of AR-15 style assault weapons.

As the child of immigrants, Kamala also deeply understands the pain our communities feel when this administration continues to treat immigrants as less than human — separating families, caging children, and threatening DACA recipients with deportation. For Kamala, protecting our families also means keeping them together. As president, Kamala will take executive action to keep immigrant families together and eliminate barriers that prevent Dreamers from accessing a path to U.S. citizenship. We still need a 21st century immigration reform, and Kamala will fight to get one passed. Until then, her plan will

protect Nevada’s 64,000 immigrants from deportation.

This is the Kamala I know — a tough fighter and a relentless advocate for the people. Her candidacy means so much more than just the plans she will enact.

That’s why I’m proud to support Kamala Harris for president and ask that you join me and millions of other Americans to help us win.

*** Ted W. Lieu represents California’s 33rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his third term in Congress and currently sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He was also elected by his Democratic Colleagues to serve as a Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Duterte last card: War or martial law?

AN overwrought President Duterte warned in his speech in Leyte on Friday, July 12: “Do not force me to declare war, because I have something else. I have a card which I can throw anytime.

And you won’t like it. But at least it will give a sense of order.”

The President was taking off from a hot point — his dare to the United States to wage war on China on regional maritime issues, thereby triggering the 1951 Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty that binds the allies to help each other in the event of an armed attack on one of them.

It seemed that the president was talking of two options – (1) waging war against China and (2) throwing “something else,” a “card.”

Duterte’s threatening to play that “card” prompted us to pose on Twitter: “Is Duterte threatening to declare Martial Rule as his last card? Not to save the Republic but himself.” (We referred to it as Martial Rule because of its harsh aspects, but we’ll use “martial law” here to go with the common usage.)

Among the netizens who answered our question about what that “last card” might be was Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. who tweeted: “We go to war the president gets plenary war powers. Plenary.” (He repeated “plenary” as if to call attention to the Commander-in-Chief’s vast powers in wartime.)

We beg to disagree with Secretary Locsin, even if he is close enough to the President to second-guess his thinking. We do not see a war with China as Duterte’s threatened “last card.” Instead, we see it to be his probably declaring martial law nationwide, or its revolutionary equivalent.

And we believe that if Duterte takes whichever drastic step –

Postscript

FEDERICO PASCUAL JR. wage war or declare martial law — it is not to save the Republic but to save his skin.

Duterte does not want a war with his friend and benefactor China. His suggestion of a war initiated by the U.S. is just another Duterte bluff, puffed up with his usual bluster. It was good copy, for a while, like his cursing foreign dignitaries, but it should not be taken seriously.

In contrast, imposing martial law is a lot easier, now that all the elements needed are already in Duterte’s near-dictatorial control. The shock effect of martial law could achieve, initially, what he called “a sense of order” that some sectors associate with a military regime.

Not that we prefer martial law to a shooting war with China, but we hope Locsin is wrong, or just kidding as he sometimes is, in saying that Duterte’s “last card” is war.

In Leyte, Duterte dared the U.S. to “fire the first shot” at China while he and “his” (possessive case) soldiers bring up the rear.

One wonders if he cleared this comic script with his other new friend President Trump, or preliminarily compared notes with the U.S. ambassador in Manila.

PH-U.S. pact is for defense, not offense The PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, as its title and text say clearly, is a defense pact. It was/ is not intended as a tool or excuse for offensive military action

or aggression against any sovereign nation.

The treaty, never fully invoked in its 68-year existence, springs to action only if the Philippines/ the U.S. were attacked, or if Philippine/U.S. forces, air/sea craft, or public vessels were attacked by military or militia forces of another state.

If the U.S. were to initiate the attack or fire Duterte’s suggested first shot, that would violate not only the spirit of the mutual defense treaty but also myriad other treaties, conventions, codes of civilized conduct and common sense. But then, it’s Duterte talking.

Duterte, a lawyer, may want to review Article II of the Constitution that he swore to preserve and defend. It says: “Section 2.

The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.”

His legal shortcuts and alleged violations of constitutional provisions pertaining to the nation’s territorial integrity and its marine wealth have raised a clamor for his impeachment. The political numbers game, however, cannot prosper in the Congress controlled by Duterte proxies.

The specter of impeachment and a groundswell of negative PR perception and action abroad may have pressed Duterte’s harried mind to raise the scare of a “last card,” true or not, whatever it is.

If we may borrow one of Duterte’s favorite adjectives for persons who cross him, his idea for Americans to attack China on

u PAGE A9

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NO TOY. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde looks at a gun on display at the Defense and Sporting Arms show being held at the Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. The exhibit included new models of firearms. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

‘Reds recruit youth through social media’

by Bernadette

tamayo ManilaTimes.net

ILOILO CITY — New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas continue to recruit children, which is a gross violation of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s Convention on the Rights of Children, according to a military official.

First Lt. Hazel Joy Durotan, 61st Infantry Battalion spokesperson, said they gathered evidence that NPA rebels who clashed with soldiers in Roxas, Capiz last week are recruiting children aged 10 to 14.

“Our IT experts managed to open mobile phones left behind by the rebels. They were exploiting these children through their social media accounts,” Durotan said.

“These minors appear to be in school but seemed to be adventurous. Gusto nang humawak ng baril,” she said.

A portable generator, a multimedia projector, two hand gre-

“Our IT experts managed to open mobile phones left behind by the rebels. They were exploiting these children through their social media accounts,” First Lt. Hazel Joy Durotan, 61st Infantry Battalion spokesperson said.

Philstar.com photo

nades, a landmine, eight rifle grenades, four backpacks, two mobile phones, a container of gasoline and two sacks of rice were among those recovered from the rebels.

Durotan said the rebel group is led by a certain Guning and

operating in the first district of Capiz and fifth district of Iloilo.

Aside from recruiting minors, the group of communist guerrillas are planning to attack government forces and installations, Capt. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesman, said.] n

Our own unsolicited advice is for the President to (1) rest for a few days until his July 22 State of the Nation Address, (2) refrain from making statements on Chinese issues, (3) leave the talking to Secretary Locsin, and (4) forbid his lawyer Sal Panelo from clarifying or interpreting his silence.

To recall, Duterte said in Leyte: “Let America declare the war. Let them assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea. Fire the first shot and I’d be glad to do the next. May RPU.S. pact man kaha tayo, then let us honor it. Do you want trouble? Okay, let’s do it!” (Philstar.com)

Duterte last card: War or martial...

PAGE A8 t

behalf of their little brown brother Filipinos is not only juvenile — it is stupid.

Washington does not even have to react to his dubious dare, except probably to send friendly counsel to Duterte, either through his doctor or his foreign secretary, to relax and cool it.

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Locsin warns people under drug syndicates’ payroll may take advantage of UN probe

SEEKING FREEDOM. Members of various groups hold a rally in front of the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Quezon City to seek the release of political prisoners.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Marcos seeks 1-centavo price ceiling on SMS

by Javier ismael ManilaTimes.net

SENATOR María Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos has urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology to reduce the cost of a text message from P1 to one centavo.

“One peso is way too much to pay for every text message you send and that cheaper text messages and a strict price ceiling are long overdue,” Marcos said.

Marcos has filed Senate Resolution 6 to make sure that telecommunication company (telco) providers abide by the global trend toward cheaper and faster services to the public.

According to Marcos, the recent entry of the third telco provider Dito Telecommunity Corp., formerly Mislatel Consortium, would likely lower customer fees charged by industry rivals Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom.

Mislatel Consortium or the Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc. is comprised of Udenna Corp., China Telecommunications Corp. and Chelsea Logistics.

The Philippine government awarded a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Dito on Monday, officially allowing its operation as the third telco provider in the country.

But Marcos said the public should already enjoy lower charges, particularly on the short message service (SMS) or text

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday, July 12, said some people — under the payroll of drug syndicates — may take advantage of the United Nations (UN) human rights investigators to undermine the Philippine government’s war on drugs.

He stressed this point to justify the Duterte administration’s decision to deny entry to any UN representative tasked to review President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug campaign.

“The Philippines rejects this resolution,” Locsin said in a press statement.

“It cannot, in good conscience, abide by it. We will not accept a politically partisan and one-sided resolution, so detached from the truth on the ground,” Locsin said of the Iceland-sponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution seeking a review of the Philippines’ war on drugs amid

allegations of extrajudicial killings (EJK) involving suspected drug personalities.

“Because we don’t want congenital liars finally being able to say they were eyewitnesses to what never happened, gathered evidence that doesn’t exist and provide simulacra of proof of nonexistent events to justify their pay from the drug cartels,” Locsin said on Twitter.

Reacting to a netizen’s observation that the UN resolution is a form of foreign intervention, Locsin said, “First establish real death toll by body count; match police reports with forensic findings; victims surely not vaporized.”

“We found remains of Communit purges; why not of alleged victim of EJK. We just can’t trust foreigners who don’t shower daily. It’s an Asian thing,” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also dis-

missed the UN resolution. “We have a functioning criminal justice system that deals adequately with erring law enforcers,” he tweeted.

“We regularly provide our Human Rights Commission the budget they need to perform their mandate. Obviously, we can manage without the intervention of the UN Human Rights Council,” the senator said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked the government to keep an open mind and display statesmanship amid the UNHRC’s move to seek a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the country.

The resolution, introduced

by Iceland, was adopted by 18 countries but rejected by 14 others, including China. At least 15 countries abstained, including Japan. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)

PCSO owes govt P8.4-B – COA by reina

TolenTino ManilaTimes.net

Sen. Imee Marcos

messages.

“Even if text messages cost only one centavo each, the three telco providers would still be able to profit from that,” the neophyte senator said.

Marcos said text-messaging services were “a practically costless forwarding service that piggybacks on a readily available signal.”

She said the so-called “handshake” or persistent communication between a cellular communications tower and a handset allows the delivery of text messages, which were small and simple relative to more dataintensive internet-based communications.

“The overhead cost of forwarding text messages is far less than real-time mobile data transfer,” Marcos said.

Despite the billions in profit raked in by telco providers from text messaging, Marcos said in-

THE Commission on Audit (COA) urged the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to settle the P8.4-billion dividends it owes the government once the Department of Finance (DOF) denies the charity agency’s request ManilaTimes.net photo for exemption.

“PCSO has not declared and ternet speed available to Filipinos lagged behind that of other remitted dividends to the national government for dividend years Southeast Asian countries.

The Philippines placed 33rd 1994 to 2016 in the total amount in Asia and 23rd in Asia-Pa- of P8.426 billion, contrary to the cific in mobile broadband in- provision under Section 3 of Reternet speed, based on the public Act (RA) 7656,” COA said 2019 Speedtest Global Index. It in its audit report on the PCSO ranked 103rd among 139 sur- for 2018.

“This is a reiteration of the auveyed countries in terms of modit observations as management bile internet speed.

The index put the country’s has not complied yet with recomaverage mobile internet down- mendation to remit dividends,” it load speed at 15.06 Megabits added.

Under RA 7656, governmentper second (Mbps), far below the owned or -controlled corporaglobal average of 26.12 Mbps.

“Lower SMS fees will reduce tions (GOCCs) shall declare and the cost of doing business, par- remit at least 50 percent of their ticularly among small-scale entrepreneurs, who frequently communicate with their customers through text messages,” she added.

Marcos said the flow of information and knowledge-sharMANILA — President Rodrigo ing among lower-income users Duterte will endorse Leyte Rep. would also be encouraged. n Martin Romualdez if the lawmaker decides to run for Vice President in the 2022 elections, Malacañang said on Friday, July 12. “[I]f Romualdez will run for VP

annual net earnings as cash, stock or property dividends to the government.

The PCSO had claimed that it did not have annual net earnings, and in 2016, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel opined that the charity agency was not covered by RA 7656.

However, a COA memorandum issued in January 2018 said Section 3 of RA 7656 and Section 6 (D) of RA 1169 “should be interpreted in a way that they can be harmonized in accordance with the rules on statutory construction. Thus, the interpretation that any balance from the operating fund will be reverted back to the charity fund only after the declaration and remittance of the required dividends under RA 7656, is more in accord with the purposes and intents of the two laws.”

COA maintained that the PCSO was not among the GOCCs exempted from the coverage of RA 7656.

COA asked the PCSO to settle the P8.426-billion dividends in arrears “due to the national government,” in compliance with RA 7656, “ once their request for exemption will be denied by the Department of Finance.”

A letter from the DoF, dated March 16, 2016 and addressed to COA, confirmed that PCSO “is not exempted from RA 7656, but likewise recognized the PCSO’s mandate that all balances of any fund shall regularly revert to and form part of the charity fund.”

The PCSO had said it was “still in negotiation with the DoF, on whether or not it would be required to remit the dividends for CYs (calendar years) 1994 to 2016.”

COA said in its audit report that “[i]t is the position of the audit team that the PCSO must comply with the Dividends law considering that it was not expressly exempted from the coverage of RA 7656.” n

If Romualdez runs for VP in 2022, Duterte will endorse him, says Palace in the next elections, he (Duterte) will endorse him,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Duterte has endorsed Romualdez to be the next majority floor

leader of the House of Representatives.

Romualdez, president of LakasCMD, reclaimed his seat in Congress during the May 13 midterm elections. (Nestor Corrales/Inquirer.net)

Use emergency powers vs traffic, Duterte urged

by Javier ismael ManilaTimes.net

SENATOR Francis Tolentino has filed a bill in the Senate that seeks to authorize the President to exercise emergency powers in addressing the traffic and congestion crisis in Metro Manila and other major cities.

In filing Senate Bill 213, Tolentino said the Philippine transportation infrastructure had been unable to keep up with the demands of a rising economy and growing population, as well as the land, air and sea traffic congestion and mass transportation shortage.

The traffic congestion crisis must be considered a national emergency because of its detri-

mental effects to life, economy and productivity, he said.

The senator cited a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency showing that the traffic and congestion crisis in Metro Manila alone had been a major contributor to an estimated loss of P3.5 billion a day.

Tolentino said this crisis must be recognized as a national emergency requiring urgent, immediate and sweeping solutions, for the general welfare of Filipinos.

His bill proposes to declare the existence of a national emergency in view of the traffic and congestion crisis in Metro Manila, Metropolitan Cebu and other highly urbanized cities, in

accordance with Section 23(2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

It authorizes the President, for a limited period and subject to restrictions, to exercise powers necessary to effectively address the said national emergency.

Under the proposed measure, the President is granted emergency powers to employ the necessary government resources; exercise or employ executive actions and measures — necessary and incidental, unhampered by existing laws, regulations and procedures — to solve this escalating problem; and to adopt short-term, midterm, and long-term development plans for a sustainable and efficient transport system. n

Duterte to fire 64 Customs...

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Guerrero as the president “has not mentioned anything” about the BOC chief.

Guerrero, a former Armed Forces chief, has been with the BOC since November last year.

In October 2018, Duterte placed all BOC personnel under “floating status” because of their supposed involvement in irregularities within the bureau.

The president also wanted the military to “take over” the BOC, in an effort to rid the bureau of erring personnel.

His previous plan was strongly opposed by his critics, saying a military takeover of Customs bureau was a violation of the 1987 Constitution.

Section 3, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “civilian authority is, at all times,

supreme over the military.”

Malacañang, however, clarified that military personnel would not hold assignments or designations at the BOC. The Palace said the soldiers would be effectively guarding the Customs employees to make sure that all operations were in order and all laws were strictly enforced in all processes undertaken. n

PEACE MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte gives a warm welcome to Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur Misuari prior to the start of their meeting at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, July 9. Duterte earlier announced that he proposed creating a negotiating peace panel for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to attain peace in Mindanao.

Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

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Jinkee Pacquiao flaunts new design of modern Beverly Hills mansion by

Niña V. GuNo Inquirer.net

Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

Alden, Kathryn are perfect strangers in ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’

by

Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

CASTING actual strangers in the role of strangers was the simplest idea that turned box-office director Cathy Garcia Molina’s latest vision into perfection.

Asked to helm another Kathryn Bernardo-starrer after their winning trio with Daniel Padilla resulted in the highest-grossing Filipino movie of all time [2018’s “The Hows of Us” which raked in P915 million], Molina knew she needed to bring out something new and something more from the promising actress.

“Given that ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ is a story about two strangers who meet and fall in love, to actually have actors who are new to one another would be the perfect way to do it. So we asked ourselves who would best fit the role opposite Kathryn, and for some reason, we couldn’t think of anyone in ABS-CBN to cast in this movie,” the fiery filmmaker, who made movie stars out of John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo, Toni

Gonzaga and of course Bernardo and Padilla, admitted at a press conference on Tuesday.

“It couldn’t be DJ again,” she went on, using Padilla’s nickname, “because they’ve been together in almost all their movies; and it couldn’t be any other actor from the network either because Kathryn has worked with almost everyone here. And like I said, I wanted to see fresh emotions, fresh reactions and basically a fresh pairing for Hello, Love, Goodbye.”

In the course of what Molina described as “a very lengthy process” toward finally shooting the romantic drama by Carmi Raymundo [t[the same writer of “The Hows of Us,” “My Ex and Whys” and “Finally Found Someone,” among others] Star Cinema’s top executives suddenly came up with the name Alden Richards.

“Of course I knew that Alden’s a talent of [rival network] I immediately liked the idea. Ang fresh sa akin ni Alden and true enough, natuwa ako sa nabigay ng tandem nila para sa pelikula.”

While there was nothing simple in pulling off the pairing of these two strangers — both prized and carefully-guarded talents of the country’s competing media giants — Molina was only too happy that both their managements eventually saw beyond the industry’s strictly enforced practice of exclusivity in favor of granting their wards a rare opportunity.

After all, just like most things in life, it is usually when one steps out of one’s comfort zone that a lot of growing up and selfdiscovery happens.

Major changes At the same press conference, Alden was first to acknowledge how crossing over to Star Cinema became an eye opener for him in terms of approaching his career.

“I’m really happy I was able to work with these amazing people, with Kathryn and such an amazing director. Binago po ni Direk Cathy how I see my work na hindi puwedeng half-baked ang commitment,” he opened up when asked to talk about his exPAGE B2

MANNY Pacquiao and his brood are in California awaiting his July 20 fight against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.

Before the fight, wife Jinkee Pacquiao and their five kids are staying at the family’s sprawling Beverly Hills mansion.

In January, the home was burgled while Pacquiao was in Las Vegas for his fight against Adrien Broner, which the Filipino boxer won. It seems like it went through a makeover after the robbery, based on Jinkee’s new pictures of the home.

The Hollywood mansion is tastefully designed with clean lines and neutral colors. Jinkee marked their arrival in the States with a picture of their dining table on July 6. Accenting the wooden table is a gray carpet, and Edison bulbs in glass bubbles add character to the minimalist setup.

A top view shows the light wooden stairs with a display

Photos from Instagram/@jinkeepacquiao

of indoor plants underneath A bubble chandelier catches the eye, and underneath are two white armchairs on a cowhide rug.

Previously, the dining table was set up next to the stairs, as per a February photo.

Floor-to-ceiling glass panels give the house an airy feel, as

seen in a picture of the house’s living area. One can see the swimming pool outside, while a large sectional couch faces a flat-screen TV in the living room.

The seven-bedroom, eight-bath mansion was purchased in 2015.

It was previously owned by rapper Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.

Another child for Mariel & Robin by

Boy aBuNda Philstar.com

MOTHERHOOD becomes Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla. Playing her real-life role as mother is one portrayal Mariel wants to be highly recognized for. In fact, she aspires to become an award-winning mom. She considers motherhood as one of the greatest gifts she has received from God. Mariel looks radiant. She is a picture of a blissfully contented wife and mother. I only want her to be happy in life. I have known Mariel since she started in showbiz, having trained her in hosting together with Bianca Gonzalez and Drew Arellano. All three are

now under my management at the Asian Artists Agency.

Mariel has embraced motherhood with love and courage. She and husband Robin Padilla are now expecting another baby girl.

The couple happily shared the good news in a gender reveal party which was attended by their families and close friends.

According to Mariel, Robin was not aware of their baby’s gender before the party. This was the biggest secret she had kept from Robin because she doesn’t hide anything from him. “There were times na madudulas na ako pero ginalingan ko talaga na i-surprise siya sa gender ng aming baby No. Mariel Rodriguez (with husband Robin Padilla): PAGE B2

Family is always top priority.

Photo from Instagram/@marieltpadilla

EntErtainmEnt

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Marian donates excess breast milk Danilo: From streetboy to farm boy by

Ricky Lo Philstar.com

kRissy AguiLAR

by

Inquirer.net

FOR actor Dingdong Dantes, his wife Marian Rivera truly is a “superwoman� for donating her excess breast milk to babies in need.

Dantes was all praises for Rivera’s dedication to promoting breastfeeding in an Instagram post on Tuesday, July 9. “There are many things I admire about my wife, but one of them that really makes her a superwoman in my eyes is her dedication to breastfeeding,�

Dantes wrote. “Being a witness to what she went through with Zia, and with what she is providing for Sixto, I know that producing that precious milk is not easy. And because she is blessed with this, I salute her for choosing to donate her excess expressed milk to those who need it the most,� he added.

Rivera donated her breast milk to a parenting community called The Parenting Emporium, as seen in its Instagram

Dingdong Dantes with wife, Marian Rivera, and kids Zia and baby Sixto.

page.

In an Instagram post, The Parenting Emporium said Rivera’s breast milk will go to baby Mati who was born premature and is currently at a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). “Baby Mati will be drinking special breastmilk tonight as he tries to grow stronger so his

Inquirer.net photo

parents can bring him home from the NICU,� The Parenting Emporium captioned a video of the Dantes family packing Rivera’s breast milk. “He was born too early and needs lifesaving breastmilk to combat all the life-threatening conditions of a preemie,� it added.

No third party involved in Kim’s breakup with cager bf by

ALLAn PoLicARPio Inquirer.net

“#singlebuthappy�

KIM Domingo used this hashtag in an Instagram post two weeks ago, prompting her followers to conclude that her three-year romance with her erstwhile boyfriend, basketball player Mike AcuĂąa, has already ended.

At a press conference for her upcoming horror-drama series “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko,� the GMA 7 talent confirmed that she was indeed single; and that while there are men out there “dropping hints,� she’s not open to dating or entertaining suitors at the moment. “I want to focus on my work,� she told reporters.

In another post, she wrote that “Weak people [seek] revenge. Strong people forgive.

Intelligent people ignore.� Was she alluding that she has been wronged in some way? “There’s no third party [in-

Kim Domingo

Photo from Instagram/@kimdomingo_

volved],� the 24-year-old celeb stressed. “My career doesn’t have anything to do with it, either.�

Kim appeared at the media event wearing short hair. And as the saying goes, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to

change her life.�

However, it turned out to be just a wig. “I just wanted to try it,� she said, adding that she can’t really cut her hair because of television continuity. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the breakup.�

One-Dish Meals: The Beauty of Bowls

By Grace O

‘Bowls’ are having a culinary moment. They’re not exactly salads, not exactly soups. They can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

7RGD\¡V ERZOV DUH GHÀ QHG DV RQH GLVK PHDOV They are typically packed with a lot of nutritious ingredients. They’re easy to make and are perfect for our busy lives. $VLDQ FXLVLQHV KDYH WUDGLWLRQV RI RQH GLVK PHDOV like ramen (Japan), pho (Vietnam) and bibimbap (Korea) — all characterized as bowls of fragrant broth, noodles or rice, some sort of protein and fresh vegetables. But the world of bowls has gone global and there is every reason to explore

bowls inspired by other parts of the world.

I think I was a little ahead of the curve when I came up with Seafood with Wild Rice and my *UHHQ 7HD 1RRGOHV ZLWK (GDPDPH IURP P\ À UVW book, The Age Gracefully Cookbook.

Each mouthful provides the taste of the sea with the textures of fresh vegetables and wild rice to FUHDWH D ZKROHVRPH à DYRUIXO DQG À OOLQJ RQH GLVK PHDO 7KH 2PHJD V LQ WKH VHDIRRG DQG wild rice smooth and soften the skin. For variety, try adding chicken and sausage to your favorite seafood.

SEAFOOD WITH WILD RICE 2 bay leaves Ÿ cup chopped carrot Ÿ cup chopped celery Ÿ cup chopped broccoli Ÿ cup chopped red bell pepper Ÿ cup chopped yellow bell pepper ½ lb. seafood medley

Sea salt and ground pepper to taste Instructions 1. Place the rice in a bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight.

2. Combine the chicken broth and rice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook covered over low heat until all liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 Tbs. of the olive oil. Set aside to cool.

Serves 2 Ingredients 1 cup wild rice or a combination of wild and brown rice 4 cups water 2 cups chicken broth 4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil Âź cup chopped onion

3. Heat the remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bay leaves, carrot, celery, broccoli, and peppers and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the seafood and cook for 10–12 minutes.

Turn the seafood at least once during cooking. Season with the salt and pepper.

4. Add the rice to the skillet and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

H AV E you ever wondered whatever happened to Streetboys, the dance group managed by director Chito RoĂąo?

Wel l, t he g roup has long disbanded and the members have gone different ways, most of them have families of their own.

Still visible on T V as “It’s Show t i me� co-hosts are reelected Makati Councilor Jhong Hilar io and V hong Navarro, both of whom star in movies every now and then. Meynard Marcellano is reported to be performing at t he Universal Studios in Singapore while two other members have opted to stay in the UK after appearing in the West End production of “Miss Saigon.�

What about Danilo Barrios, said to be the cutest among the Streetboys?

He’s now living in a farm 20 kilometers from Tarlac City with his wife, Regina SoqueĂąo, and their two children aged five (kindergarten) and three (nurser y), plus Dan i lo’s 15year-old daughter with a former girlfriend (not the dancer who is now happily married to a politician in Pampanga). “Masaya at tahimik,â€? is how Danilo and Regina described their present life far from the madden i ng crowd. “So d i fferent from showbiz,â€? added Danilo. “Less stress, quiet and simple. We own our time, no pressure.â€?

The couple recently met with a handful of movie writers to talk about the thriving family business — actually four businesses: Tatioactive DX Beauty & Wellness Center (in Quezon City), Ysabelle (food supplements, etc.), Hugo (pillows and blankets, etc.) and My Precious

Danilo Barrios

One (jewelry). “Managing a business is just like being in showbiz,� admitted Dani lo. “Bot h are hard, parehong mahirap. The only difference is that in showbiz, you are tied to a schedule. In our own business, sarili namin ang oras.�

Married for more than five years, Regina and Danilo were introduced by Regina’s friend when she was 16 (a few years younger t han Dani lo). T hey lost track of each other and met again through Facebook after a few years. “At first,� confessed Regina, “my parents and my lola were strict; they didn’t approve of Danilo kasi daw may anak na.

Photo from Instagram/@sbdanbarriosjr

I learned that he was a dancer only much later. But I love him; he’s my first love, so we eloped.

Danilo is shy, kulang sa kapal ng mukha, so we didn’t really have a long courtship. In December, we will celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. No regrets.�

No, said Danilo, he doesn’t really miss showbiz, not now anyway. “I focus on our business(es) and our children, who are fast growing up. What I miss about showbiz is the camaraderie, the friendship. I miss my fellow Streetboys. It’s good that we reunite once in a while for specia l occasions, just l i ke when Kuya Chito celebrated his birthday.�

What makes K Brosas & Angeline tick by

Boy ABundA Philstar.com

K BROSAS and Angeline Quinto have a lot in common. Both are talented, funny and articulate.

K is dubbed as the Ultimate Entertainer for her gift of gab and impressive singing while Angeline wasn’t named the “Star Power� grand winner for nothing.

Her vocal power is notable that makes teleserye theme songs all the more affecting. Plus, her witty remarks never fail to elicit laughter.

It’s just but right to put them together in the musical concert dubbed Angeline K ‘To, Concert Namin ‘To happening on July 12 at the Araneta Coliseum. John Prats is in-charge of manning K Brosas and Angeline Quinto PAGE B4

Contributed photo

Alden, Kathryn are perfect...

PAGE B1 perience in unfamiliar territory.

To cite an example, he recalled how Molina told him point blank that he wasn’t registering well on screen and needed to lose weight. “When we were doing test shots at the very beginning, hindi na po napigilan ni Direk na sabihin, ‘Alden halika dito.

Tingnan mo ang taba mo.’ And I appreciated that [rather than take offense in what she said] ‘yon po talaga ang nag-drive sa akin [to lose weight] my best for the movie.� “He promised me he won’t look the same when I see him next and he kept his word,� the famously exacting director cut in proudly.

Alden lost between 20 to 25 pounds in one month sans trainers or special diets, and perfectly achieved the image of a handsome and confident playboy who works as a bar tender in Hong Kong. “To actually portray the role, Direk made sure we had our immersion—ako among the Filipinos in the bar [where we shot the scenes] OFWs na kinausap ko para magkuwento kung ano talaga ang buhay nila doon sa Hong Kong,� Alden continued.

All these, besides taking a

crash course in bartending before flying out to Hong Kong, and of course the guidance of his admittedly demanding director all made for a performance Alden didn’t know he could deliver. “Very clear yung mga pinagagawa sa amin ni Direk and nakakagulat when you see on screen na mas maganda pa pala sa akala mong nangyari yung kinalabasan,� the actor added in amazement.

In return, Molina, who is hardly known to be generous with her praises, floored the erstwhile stranger from the rival network when she later said, “Nu’ng sinabi nilang si Alden ang makakasama ni Kathryn, sabi ko ‘Hmmm, mataba lang pero mukhang marunong umarte itong batang ito‌’ Pero nagkamali ako — hindi lang siya marunong, magaling siyang artista.â€?

Natural friendship Kathryn, who found it refreshing, challenging and constructive to act across someone whose responses she can neither predict nor second guess, also values the friendship she forged with Alden. “One thing that I’ll always remember is the day we had a press conference to announce

we’d be doing this movie together, and I saw yung mic ng ABS-CBN at GMA na magkatabi sa harap namin ni Alden,� the blossomed actress recalled. “Naisip ko n’un, pwede palaya yon, and doon sa Hong Kong, walang ABS or GMA. We were a family working on this movie.�

Alden agreed that everyone’s openness only helped to pull the entire movie together, especially the way he and Kathryn forged their friendship. “Hindi pilit yung naging friendship namin,� he explained. “Walang nagsabi sa amin na ganito kayo dapat off cam para makatulong sa inyo on cam. Everything happened naturally and I’m really grateful for that.�

Amid a supportive team, Kathryn also eased into the character of Joy, a domestic helper who is determined to provide for her family and save up for a future back home. She lets nothing distract her from her plans until she meets Ethan, who seems content with building a permanent life as an OFW. As they fall into a deeper friendship, they become each other’s joy against the grime and grind of the city, but only “for now� as their respective realities and priorities eventually come between them.

Another child for Mariel...

ABOUT GRACE O

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks — The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmand’s ‘Best in the World’ Award for Innovation. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com

PAGE B1 2,� she shared in her vlog where she uploaded snippets of the party and her pregnancy photoshoot. Mariel is rising up to the millennium’s digital challenge with her online posts and videos.

She is now active in the vlogging universe.

The TV host said she wanted a boy for Robin but also wanted a girl for her daughter Isabella. She explained in her vlog, “I have a sister and my sister and I are the

closest ever. In life, you need that person, a sister, and they will be sisters forever, best friends forever. When I found out that she’s a baby girl, I cried because I was so happy. God really knows what my Isabella needs and baby surprise is exactly what she needs.�

Mariel wants to be the best mom for her daughters. I remember her telling me the joys of motherhood in one of our previous conversations, “Motherhood is a lifetime commitment. I

make sure to spend quality time with my Isabella. I’m a hands-on mom. I see to it that Isabella has everything she needs before I go to work. My family is always my top priority even if I’m busy with my career.�

Now, another bundle of joy is on her way and everyone is very excited to meet her soon. Like what I always say, a baby is always a blessing.

To Robin and Mariel, congratulations!

Features

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 13-16, 2019

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Gerald Anderson excited over Bea-John Lloyd screen reunion

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

GERALD Anderson reacted on the on-screen reunion of his girlfriend Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz.

In an interview with the media during a Skechers event — he endorses the sneaker brand — Gerald said he knew the project all along and he’s hoping that the two Star Magic artists will reunite on the big screen soon.

“Matagal ko na alam yun e.

Yun ang ginawa nila, yung brand na ini-endorse nila ngayon. Exciting no? Namimiss sila nang maraming tao. Sabi ko nga ‘dapat nga gumawa na kayo ng pelikula e’ kasi dun kayo nakilala talaga eh, yung partnership niyo, yung team work niyo, love team niyo so maraming nakakamiss sa inyo,” Gerald said.

“Sobrang refreshing diba? Si John Lloyd matagal nawala, sobrang na-miss natin siya sa mga movies niya, sa mga ginagawa niya so it’s good to see them together,” he added.

Gerald added that he’s a big fan of the John Lloyd-Bea love team. True to it, he said that a John Lloyd-Bea movie was the first Tagalog movie he saw in theaters.

“Oo naman. Yun ang unang movie na pinanood ko. ‘Now

Celebrity couple Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo

That I Have You’ sa sinehan nagbayad talaga ko. Fourteen or 13 years old ako nun,” Gerald said.

He added that Bea was his crush back then, so when he learned that a movie starring the actress was then showing in cinemas, he grabbed the chance to watch it.

“Crush ko na siya nun eh.

Hindi ko siya kilala pero napanood ko lang sa TV tapos sabi ng kaibigan ko, ‘tara may movie sila na pinapalabas’ sabi ko ‘talaga?

May movie sila?’ kasi hindi ko pa alam na malaking artista sila tapos takbo kami papunta sa

Photo courtesy of Star Magic

mall. Ayun ang unang pelikula na Tagalog na napanood ko,” Gerald said.

Despite being busy with their respective professional commitments — Gerald also has a stint with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League — Gerald said he and Bea always make time for each other.

“Pag gusto mo laging may paraan diba? Sacrifice, time management, understanding, napakahirap ng schedule namin so ginagawa namin yung best namin. That’s all we can do at maging positive lagi,” he said.

Paulo, Janine to star in movie ‘If We Don’t Make It’ by

niña v. Guno Inquirer.net

PAULO Avelino and Janine Gutierrez have been paired up for their first movie together.

The actors from rival networks will work in T-Rex Entertainment’s new project “If We Don’t Make It,” the indie production company announced on Tuesday, July 9. The story involves “two people who are more than friends but less than lovers.”

During the press conference in Quezon City, the two actors posed together, with Gutierrez in a denim dress and Avelino in a black outfit, sporting shoulderlength hair.

The film is written

by Jen Chuaunsu and directed by Prime Cruz, who both worked together on “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” and “Can We Still Be Friends?”

Gutierrez and Avelino are the latest in ABSCBN and GMA’s recent crossover team-ups.

Major pairings this year have included Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in “Hello, Love, Goodbye” and Maine Mendoza and Carlo Aquino in “Isa Pa Janine Gutierrez with Paulo Avelino with Feelings.”

TRADING AN OLD EMPLOYER FOR A NEW ONE STILL GOT THEM THE PRIORITY DATE FROM THE PREVIOUS EMPLOYER, THUS CUTTING WAIT TIME. Husband and wife, Jon (left) and Jen (center), were working for an employer who agreed to sponsor their employment petition.

However, the work became increasingly difficult that their quality of life suffered, making the couple quit their jobs. Faced without a sponsor, no jobs, and two deaths in the family that they could not go home for, was a tremendous burden for the family. When they asked the advice of leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, he told them to look for another employer who would be willing to sponsor them. Fortunately, Jon and Jen found a new employer that gave them new hope and a new lease on life. Atty.

Gurfinkel was also successful in transferring the priority date on the first employer’s case to the new employer’s petition, saving years of additional waiting time. Watch this success story on an all-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Lessons in retaining or transferring priority dates for employment-based petitions on a brand-new episode of ‘Citizen Pinoy’

THIS Sunday’s episode of “Citizen Pinoy” discusses how one may retain or transfer priority dates for employment-based petitions, even if an applicant may have changed employers or it’s a different type of job.

Jon was petitioned by his employer in August 2006, but when they parted ways in April 2008, the I-140 petition had been approved by then. However, without an employer to Photo courtesy of T-Rex Entertainment continue the sponsorship, Jon

and her wife, Jen, and their daughter, Trisha, seemed like they were facing an uncertain future.

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel them that they needed to find another employer who would be willing to sponsor them anew.

Fortunately, Jon and Jen were able to find another employer who was willing to sponsor them. Once the couple found a new sponsor, the Law Offices of

Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to file all the necessary paperwork and Jon and Jen retained their original August 2006 priority date from the previous employer’s petition, thus cutting years of waiting for a “new” priority date to be current.

Watch this success story on an all-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” — on Sunday 6:15 p.m.

PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select cable/satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

B4 JULY 13-16, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

FEATURES

What makes K Brosas...

PAGE B2 the show.

Angeline and K have a natural chemistry in bringing hilarious entertainment to everyone. So, expect to witness a showcase of excellent vocal performance and perfect comedic timing on stage. Certainly, their being close friends in real life makes everything they say or do to come out as natural as can be.

Did you know that a silicone bra was instrumental at how the

beautiful friendship of K and Angeline started?

K recalled having seen Angeline struggling hard to hide the straps of her bra in one of their out-of-the-country events for Kapamilya TFC subscribers.

The latter was then fresh from winning in the singing search and it was her first time to do a show abroad.

“She was wearing a backless gown and I saw her on the corner pulling the straps of her bra to

hide them on the side toward the underarms so they wouldn’t show in her outfit. Good thing, I had an extra so, I offered it to her kasi dapat talaga ganun ang suot para walang makikita ‘pag kailangan strapless (bra) sa damit,” shared K and then Angeline poked fun at herself through a revelation that until now she does not own one.

“Sumunod na nun pati eye liner ko, pagtapos mascara, sabi ko, ‘Bakit ‘di mo na lang kunin ‘yung make-up kit ko ‘day?’ (laughs),” added K. Kidding-aside, K was truly impressed with Angeline’s singing ability and described her style as “halimaw.”

For her part, Angeline appreciated K’s kindness by telling how she looks up to her as a big sister.

No wonder, the two truly feel oh so comfortable sharing details about each other without any one of them getting offended. K admitted that Angeline is the better singer compared to her.

“Kaya kong lumaban pero ‘di ko kayang taasan,” said K, obviously referring to Angeline’s ability to hit the high notes like she did when she effortlessly belted her hit single Lipad ng Pangarap.

K, on the other hand, displayed her torch singing skills where the notes are relatively lower but the style is sexier. “Hindi kailangan laging mataas; kailangan patapon,” she explained.

When it comes to riches, Angeline revealed K is more welloff with the latter’s newly-built four-storey house as one proof.

However, Angeline reminded that she is an extravagant lover and the most lavish gift she’s given a guy is an expensive watch. “But (through installment) two gives.

It’s not yet paid until now even if it’s been three years already since we’ve broken up,” she quipped.

What’s nice with Angeline is her candor. She is not afraid to show her true persona. It was a riot when K and Angeline obliged to pose for the camera like a model to determine who is sexier between them. They were initially asked to throw a fierce personality to shine through in the shoot and Angeline asked, “Fierce? Takot?” with K asking her back while laughing, “Fierce?

Takot? Ilan takot? Marami, fierce, hahahaha.”

With K and Angeline together, there’s absolutely a whole lot of fun.

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MOONLIGHTING

Summertime in Las Vegas

from his “Daffodils.”

It is a time more mellow DE LEON than autumn, more tender than spring and away from the inhospitable glare of winter.

Summer is a high, candid definite time.

Summer is the voyeurs’ paraVEGAS Mc Carran Airport was crowded with people de- dise, as the whole city is taking termined to get an early start off its clothes just to torment the men (who just stare a lot, on the long weekend rush.

Las Vegas is already hot, it moronic with easy pleasure), at is103 degrees in the shade, a this all hangout, by just their desert steamy heat that prom- true selves in sweet freedom, ised long sultry days. Bikinied unburdened by cares; only inbodies oiled and gleaming lay nocent responsibility.

It is the great TREK, the in various stages of undress, abound in hotel swimming movement of life from indoor pools. The heat, speed, smell, to outdoor, whole street turned hustle — dancers, singers, inside out, as if at every window casino, people, general show people were shaking out the business people, visiting merry contents of shoe boxes, suitgamblers, melee of noisy tour- cases and closets.

And I’m hearing summer ists and middle America seem to have clustered on a four-mile stretch of the boulevard, looking to be entertained at the Strip; at $11 million an acre, the most prime real estate in the world.

“Summer time and the living is easy,” says Ger- s o u n d s a g a i n . I c a n h e a r shwin. Elsewhere and every- the neighbors talking in their where, summer has already garden. I can hear the sound of the winds through the magarrived.

Summer has officially ar- nolia, maple and elm trees as rived. That season when time their leaves whispered and the stands still, when nothing bad birds too. When it rained, the can happen, when the morn- thunder seems to enter rooms, ings with the sun buttering the voices in the street day and tree tops represents a chance nights admitting you to intito start over, to begin again. macies through windows and Everything seems possible, as thin walls. That sound of a car honking on Rexford Drive it began to beguine.

Summer is like a metaphor. is inferior to that of a honking It is like a profusion of blooms, bird, is after all, an arbitrary a fiery weather of dreams, a decision.

But the saddest sounds of fever of the mind, a blossom of conscience, a sweating of summer are those two hearts regret, and a premonition of de- breaking. Summer romance… sire. It is a garden of the spirit as a phrase, (when the two that bestows an imagination’s words are brought together) is respite in the knowledge that something akin to “Summer there was more in the world Soldier.” The romance carries that one could understand. away and the summer soldiers Name me one masterpiece run away from duty or from the whose euphoria for July or reality of things.

Sun-filled romance in sumAugust is equal to Wordsworth

by MYLAH

mer is the dramatic background of much fiction. There’s the accident of the meeting and the unreasonable heightening of the season, and classically there is the imbalance of clan or situation on hand, chilly truths swept away by the soft clouds, the fields, petals in the breeze and the urgency of the burst open water lilies called lotus.

Edith Wharton wrote a short novel called “Summer,” which is about a poor girl and a clever young man. As always, the man is alone. Idling about in the sunshine, and she is there as she has always been. In the way of these romances, of course it is not to last. The young man it turns out, is engaged to someone else.

“D’Urbervilles” tells the summer landscape that engulfs Tess and Angel Clare and finally leads to a despair of such magnitude only the genius of Thomas Hardy could imagine it in the changing seasons.

And my favorite Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Dog.” The Lady and the Man are both married, they meet one summer and the romance flows along on a pitiless tide.

Without any possible ending except misery, they believe the love will at last end, or the devastation will have a solution.

The final line says, “No, it was only the beginning.”

So in spite of the meadows and the picnics under the shade of copper beech tree, the days will be staged again next summer with other lovers in other places. The freedom of the endless summers remain in memory like the summer of childhood that one remembers as having lasted forever.

Summer is a high, candid, definite time. But beware of summer romance. ***

“Summer is a high, candid definite time.”

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

Mayor Isko Moreno steps in and Manila is never the same again

BY MONET

LU

MOVE over, law-breaks and loiterers! There’s a new mayor in Manila – and he means business!

Like a superhero (I’m thinking, “The Mighty Thor”), he came just a week shy of being elected as mayor of Manila, with a sledgehammer in hand whacking gambling machines and throwing the first few blows at what he said was an illegally built barangay outpost. Just when all seems gray and hopeless, the new mayor swoops in and saves the day – or more particularly – Manila.

Clearly, Francisco Moreno Domagoso, aka Isko Moreno, is not wasting a single moment of his three-year term. Barely two weeks since he took over, he presents a suspect arrested for allegedly extorting money from sidewalk vendors in his district. And while we are still wrapping our minds over the miracle that is Manila, now, he goes to Manila Zoo and feeds Mali, the elephant.

People have been publicizing the city’s clean up all over social media. Apparently, the filthy Manila that we’ve known, grew up in (and oddly loved for sentimental reasons) is practically unrecognizable. I never thought I’d see the day when the streets of Divisoria and Carriedo that are packed with countless sidewalk vendors and are impenetrable to motor vehicles would become passable to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, clear of obstructions, and relatively clean.

But now, I am seeing photos of the streets of Manila like it’s being taken from the pages of my mind’s dream! People have been posting photos of the before-and-after Manila streets and it seems so surreal! I can’t help but ask myself, how is that it took only weeks for Moreno to transform Manila while the previous line of mayors before him have done nothing – even remotely close – to what he did?

Then I remember this young man’s background. This man is not some rich kid or a middle-class citizen who lived a normal, comfortable and traditional life where he grows up with parents who send him to school and gets home with food prepared and had his future planned – that may have been

Photo by Artu Nepomuceno

the life he dreamt of, because his life was anything but easy.

He came from poverty. And that may have been the reason he knew exactly what the city needs. He knows Manila like the back of his hand.

Now, this the former scavenger and pedicab driver from the slums of Tondo is the youngest elected mayor of the city of Manila at 44 years old, the youngest-ever councilman (23 years old), and the youngestever elected vice mayor (32 years old) of the city.

He defeated former Manila mayors retired president Joseph Estrada and retired police general Alfredo Lim with a landslide victory of 357,925 votes – more than the numbers of Estrada and Lim combined.

The story of his years growing up in crippling poverty in the alleyways of Tondo to his big break in local showbusiness after being accidentally discovered by a talent scout during a neighbor’s wake is well known.

I remember this young man as the fair-skinned mestizo when he stepped into the lights of show business during the ‘90s. He’s always been a humble soul and quite seemingly awkward then. I can’t blame him. He’s not used to that kind of life, let alone the quick turn of events that he got himself into. He starred in teenybopper films before doing more mature roles under Seiko Films. At his peak, he also played the beau

of a young Claudine Barretto.

At his most controversial, he was the poster boy of bare-skin flicks.

He stayed in showbiz just as until he was ready to climb the city’s political totem pole and his eventual foray into politics is the best thing that happened to Manila. Indeed, he came a long way from scavenging for scraps to cleaning up the city—both literally and figuratively – as their newly elected mayor.

In the years I’ve watched my beloved city led by one mayor after another, I’ve always had these question lingering: will this city ever be rid of garbage, traffic and crime? Is there hope for Manila? Now, these questions have been answered and his name is “Mayor Isko.”

Thank you, Mayor Isko Moreno, and may all your plans – which I believe, is every Manileno’s dream – of a clean and safer Manila – come into fruition. Keep up the great work! *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces soldout fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 13-16, 2019

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B JULY 13-16, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 13-16, 2019

COMMUNITY Journal

Another quake reminds LA County residents to be prepared

Tax Tips Victor Sy, cPA, MBA

LOS ANGELES — Another quake felt in Los Angeles County on Friday, July 12 is an important reminder that all County residents need to remain proactive and take steps to be ready for an earthquake.

“It’s normal to feel nervous or worried about what could happen if a strong earthquake impacts our County,” stated Kevin McGowan, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). “The best way to calm any fears and rest easy at night is to equip yourself with knowledge about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.”

County leaders, along with seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, came together last week to bring forward resources and information on how to be earthquake ready. A video of this Earthquake Preparedness forum is available by clicking here.

OEM also urges the public to follow these earthquake tips: Before an earthquake:

Have a “go-kit” by your bedside, in your vehicle and at work.

Your kit should include the following items: extra battery or charger for your cell phone, flashlight, radio, extra prescription medicine(s), and an extra pair of glasses if you use them.

Have a pair of sneakers by your bedside.

To receive emergency notifications from authorities, register for Alert LA County at lacounty.gov/ emergency/alert-la. Cities, special districts, employers, schools and universities may have their own notification systems. Make sure you research which other systems are available in your community and sign up so that you are informed when there is a local emergency.

During an earthquake: If you experience shaking, “Drop” to the floor; take “Cover” under a piece of furniture or protect your head and neck with one arm/hand; and “Hold On” to the piece of furniture’s leg to keep it from shifting or uncovering

MORE than half of Americans have stocks in their portfolio. If you don’t, you are missing out.

Actually, you have been missing out big time. Conservative people keep their money in Certificates Of Deposit (CD). Conservatism is noble but earning 1% - 2% in a savings account is kind of silly when stock investors earn 8% - 12% in the stock market. Here are some Questions and Answers (Q&A) for you.

What is a stock?

A stock represents a share of ownership in a company. Stocks are sold as individual shares.

Why do companies sell stocks?

Companies issue stocks to raise capital which is used for research, expansion, and marketing.

How do I make money on stocks?

Buy stocks at a certain price and sell them later at a higher you until the shaking completely price. Buy low and sell high. Colstops.

If you are in a wheelchair or walker and are unable to take The cover, “Lock” your wheels; “Cover” your head and neck area with Prophetic a pillow or some type of object Voice that will deflect the debris from falling on to you, and “Hold On.” Never run out of buildings reVerend during an earthquake since most rodel G. BAlAGtAS people are injured by falling de“I Am the vine, you are the bris as they try to exit buildings branches. Whoever remains in during the shaking. me and I in him will bear much After an earthquake: Fires may be common after fruit, because without me you severe earthquakes due to rup- can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus’ image of the intimate tured gas lines. Locate your gas valve and turn off your gas only if connection between the vine and the branches speaks of his earyou smell gas.

For more information on how nest desire to be in union with to prepare for earthquakes and us. It’s the same message that other hazards and threats in Los he tells us when he refers to himAngeles County, download a free self as the Good Shepherd who copy of the County of Los Ange- cares for all his sheep and seeks les Emergency Survival Guide out those who are lost. Just as he at lacounty.gov/emergency or and the Father are one, he wants request a free copy by dialing 2- us to be united with him at all 1-1. The Guide is available in 15 times.

The way to be united with Jelanguages. n

C

Q&A for beginners in the stock market Part 1 of 2

lect dividends.

What are dividends?

A dividend is a portion of a company’s earnings that’s distributed to shareholders. Companies don’t have to pay them but some do. If you buy stocks of a company with a long history of paying dividends, you can have a reliable source of income.

Where do you buy and sell stocks?

Trade stocks on a public exchange such as New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq.

You need a broker to buy and sell stocks.

What are the types of stock?

There are two types of stock: common stock and preferred stock.

• A common stock represents an ownership share in a given company. When you buy shares of common stock, you get voting rights.

• A preferred stock also represents an ownership share in a company that entitles you to a predetermined dividend that’s

larger than what common stockholders receive.

How do I research Stocks?

What used to be a daunting task to research printed materials that arrived by postal mail is now at your finger tips via search engines such as Google, Yahoo or MSN. Subscribe to Investopedia, Market Beat, The Street, Motley Fool, Zacks, and other research websites. *** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

On being connected to God in a digital era sus is through a life of prayer and contemplation. Only through prayer and mindfulness of his presence and commandments can we grow in an intimate relationship with him.

This is not easy to do because of the many distractions we have in the world and within ourselves, especially in this era of social media. It’s hard for us to maintain a discipline of prayer when we are constantly on our cell phones looking at Facebook or Instagram and checking on messages and emails. Even in the church, we find people’s head bowed down not in prayer but in constantly being wired to the digital world.

To be constantly connected to God, I suggest these tasks and at-

titudes: First, choose the best time to pray during the day when you are less distracted and stick with it. It can be in the early morning when everyone in the household is still asleep. Don’t let your mind wired up right away to the digital world with your cell phone. Sit quietly to feel the Spirit of Jesus.

Allow His Spirit to appease your mind and relax your body. Do this exercise for fifteen minutes or more. Then read something spiritual or your favorite devotion. Doing this exercise without first reaching out to your phone would grant you a more prayerful spirit throughout the day.

Second, keep in mind the vision of Jesus for the Kingdom

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Community Journal

Renewal or replacement of green card ANG green card na tinatawag din na permanent resident card ang patunay na ang isang indibidwal ay may lawful permanent resident status sa US. Ito rin ay patunay na ang indibidwal ay maaaring tumira ng permanente at magtrabaho ng permanente sa US. Kung ang permanent resident (“PR”) ay 18 taon gulang o mahigit pa, kailangang ang kanyang green card ay parating nasa kanyang pagmamay-ari sa lahat ng oras. Ang green card ay maaari ring magpakita ng employment eligibility sa US kapag ang PR ay sumasagot sa Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification , maaari din itong gamitin sa pag-apply ng social security card at state-issued driver’s license, at maaari din itong ipakita sa mga opisyal ng Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) kapag ang PR ay bumabalik sa US matapos ang kanyang biyahe sa labas ng US, kung ang kanyang biyahe at hindi lumampas ng isang taon. Kung ang biyahe ng PR ay lumampas ng isang taon, kailangan niya ng reentry permit.

Ang green card ay maaaring i-renew o i-replace sa mga sumusunod na mga sitwasyon: (1) ang green card ay may bisa na 10 taon at ito ay nag-expire na o malapit nang mag-expire; (2) ang green card ay ninakaw, nawala or na-damage; (3) ang

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth URSUA ReyeS WHAT is the difference between a divorce and an annulment? Many people think these concepts are the same and interchangeable. There are many differences between the two concepts. A divorce ends a valid existing marriage. In a nullity, a determination is made about the validity of the marriage itself.

When a marriage is annulled, it has the same effect as if the marriage never existed. A nullity results in a void.

In California, any spouse can obtain a divorce regardless of the reason. A common basis used is a catchall phrase “irreconcilable differences.” However, anyone who wants to end a marriage can end the marriage and there is nothing the other spouse

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. RheA SAmSon PR ay binigyan ng green card bago siya mag-14 taon gulang at ito ay mawawalan na ng bisa bago ang ika-16 taon ng kaarawan niya; (4) ang green card ay may maling pangalan, araw ng kapanganakan o issue date dahil sa administrative error ng USCIS; (5) ang pangalan ng PR o ang iba niyang biographic information ay nabago sa pamamagitan ng legal ng proseso; at (6) ang green card ay walang expiration date.

Sa mga nakasaad na sitwasyon sa taas, ang PR ay maaaring mag-file ng I-90 Application to Replace Green Card na may filing fee na $455 at biometrics fee na $85 o kabuuang $540 sa ilang sitwasyon. Kung ang green card ay na-issue ng USCIS ngunit hindi natanggap ng PR o ang green card ay may maling impormasyon dahil sa USCIS administrative error, walang kailangang bayarang filing fee at biometrics fee. Kung ang PR ay conditional permanent resident, hindi Form I-90 ang kanyang kailangang i-

file sa USCIS para mag-renew ng green card. Ang conditional permanent resident ay kailangang mag-file sa USCIS ng Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence na may filing fee na $595 at biometrics fee na $85, o kabuuang $680.

Kung ang PR ay kailangang mag-biyahe habang nakasalang sa USCIS ang kanyang Form I90 Application for Replacement of Green Card, kailangan muna niyang mag-antay ng I-797 Receipt Notice. Kapag natanggap na niya ito, maaari na ang PR na mag-schedule ng InfoPass Appointment sa USCIS Field Office na pinakamalapit sa kanyang tirahan. Sa InfoPass, maaaring magpatatak ang PR sa kanyang passport ng Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp o I551 stamp. Ang ADIT stamp ay maaari din na makuha kung ang pisikal na green card ay nawala, na-damage o hindi natanggap ng PR at kailangan na niyang bumiyahe.

A green card which is also called the permanent resident card is proof that an individual has lawful permanent resident status in the US. It is also proof that the individual is authorized to live permanently and work permanently in the US. If the permanent resident (“PR”) is 18

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What is the difference between an annulment and divorce? can do to stop that. However in a petition for nullity, the court will not automatically grant you the nullity. There has to be a legal basis for seeking the nullity as outlined in the family code.

Some of the basis are 1) entering into a bigamous marriage 2) incestuous marriage 3)fraud in obtaining the other spouse’s consent to marriage 4) incurable physical incapacity 5) unsound mind among others. The petitioner would have to prove one of these grounds in court to be able to get a nullity.

In a Nullity, there is a statute of limitations. That means you have to file your nullity within a certain time period depending on the basis for seeking the Nullity. Each ground has a different statute of limitation. For example, if you are filing the nullity based on fraud, you have to file within 4 years of discovering

the fraud. If you blow the statute of limitation, this can be used as a defense to dismiss your case.

On the other hand there is no statute of limitation in a divorce.

You can file a divorce at any time regardless of how long you have been separated from your spouse.

In a divorce, husband and wife are presumed to be the parents of children born during the marriage. In a Nullity, the marriage has no validity so it will affect the presumption of parentage of the children. The Court will have to make a finding of parentage for the children on a different basis before it can make orders relating to custody, visitation, and support.

The treatment of spousal support (alimony) is different between the two. In a divorce, the spouse that has less earning

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

Chapter 7 or 13: Which is better?

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwRence yAng I’VE recently gotten a couple of clients who have been on debt consolidation and are now ready to jump into Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

First, let’s distinguish debt consolidation from debt settlement. No, they are not the same thing actually. However, both debt consolidation and debt settlement require negotiations with creditors because the aim of both is to either reduce payment by reducing the interest rate, or settling the debt owed by less than what is owed. Does this sound complicated? It’s not really.

Let’s take a look at one client’s case. He owes $60,000 of credit cards, to 10 different creditors.

He pays a minimum of $1,900 monthly to keep all these cards current. The interest rate on average for these cards is 21%. If the client keeps on paying the minimum of $1,900 at 21% p.a., it may take him more than 30 years to pay the principal down to zero.

In other words, he would have paid $684,000 in 30 years to pay off $60,000 of credit cards off in full. You don’t need to be a “stable genius” like you know who, to figure out that that’s a bad deal for you and your family. Paying $684,000 over 30 years to pay off $60,000 of credit card debt is just plain stupid as stupid does according to Forrest Gump. As someone would say, “Sad!” That’s the same as cutting off your two arms and two legs plus your two ears and a nose to pay $60K of credit cards.

In consolidation, the consolidator will try to get each one of your creditors to accept a lower monthly payment by agreeing to accept a lower interest. The effect of the lower interest is to shorten the amount of time it takes to pay off the principal because more principal gets paid with every payment. You pay the consolidator a lump sum amount, which he distributes to each creditor after the creditors have agreed to reduce their interest rate.

Debt settlement, on the other hand, is where the negotiator, negotiates with your creditors to accept an amount that is less than what you owe as a final set-

tlement of your debt. You then pay the negotiator who pays off the creditor.

So both consolidation and settlement are done by negotiation with your creditors. There is no court or judge involved in the process. Thus, both are done by mutual agreement with the creditors.

One problem with consolidation or settlement is what happens when not all your creditors agree to consolidation or settlement. Those who do not agree can just decide to sue you directly to collect their money and thereafter, levy your bank accounts, garnish your wages and put a lien on your house and cars. So who wants this kind of legal hassles? There is no peace of mind. It’s like an open wound that keeps on festering.

And, any amount reduced or saved becomes your income, so you’ll have to answer to the IRS

stop whatever they are doing to collect their money as soon as the case is filed. No more calls in the middle of the night or early morning. No more letters and lawsuits to collect. No more wage garnishments. No more creditor harassment day or night, forever.

Peace of mind immediately.

What happens is the bankruptcy court comes in and protects you and your assets from creditors and eventually, the court discharges or wipes out your legal liability to pay the debt. What can be better than this?

You need to exempt your assets, however. There are two legal systems to exempt assets in bankruptcy. Check with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer.

He or she knows what to do to exempt your assets. You get to keep your house, your cars, your retirement accounts, and pretty much everything you own as long as you are able to exempt them legally. So, you keep all your assets, but discharge or wipe out all your debts in one stroke. Before the discharge order is issued, and after the case is filed, your creditors cannot touch you or your assets.

They can’t even call you.

It’s like having Bruce Lee as your bodyguard. You become invincible. You then get a fresh start in life with no debt while keeping all your assets.

In Chapter 13, you might pay a portion of your debt, depending on the value of your non-exempt asset. In the above example, if you had a house with non-exempt equity of $10K, you would only pay $170 a month for 60 months. After making all payments, the court will wipe out the balance of $50K. In other words, instead of paying $1,900 a month for 30 years, you only pay $170 a month for five years, or a total of $10,000.

You pay the $170 to a courtsupervised Chapter 13 trustee, an officer of the court. He or she distribute or pays the $170 to all of your creditors. You pay only 16% of your total debt of $60,000. And the trustee cannot run away with your payments.

There is no such thing as a Chapter 13 trustee absconding and running away with your money.

Whatever you pay under your plan is guaranteed to pay your creditors, and the court will wipe out the rest of the unpaid debt as

“The effect of the lower interest is to shorten the amount of time it takes to pay off the principal because more principal gets paid with every payment. ” for the additional income you made by reducing debt payment.

Nobody wants to have this kind of problem with the IRS. Failure to disclose the income so derived may subject you to audit and penalties. Another set of problems arises.

On the other hand, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are bankruptcy procedures that discharges the debt. The discharge order wipes out your debt and gives you a fresh start in life in Chapter 7, or reorganizes your finances by allowing you to pay less than what you owe, through the bankruptcy court system.

Upon filing Chapter 7 or 13, the court issues an automatic stay order against all of your creditors. It says that your creditors cannot call you, file a lawsuit against you, stop wage garnishments, stop bank levies, stop liens against your house and personal assets. The stay gives you immediate peace of mind by ordering all your creditors to

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

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Why you should look at your paystubs Incorrect ones entitle you to additional payments

RODERICK Magadia worked as an hourly associate at a WalMart retail store in San Jose, California as a stock associate.

After 8 years of employment, Magadia was terminated. During Magadia’s employment, Wal-Mart used a “Myshare” bonus plan payment. This bonus appeared on wage statements as “MYSHARE/INCT.” Employees who received a MyShare bonus and worked overtime during the relevant time period also received an incremental overtime payment adjustment.

The paystubs show that overtime payment also as “OVERTIME/INCT.” Thus, the OVERTIME/INCT payment is listed on the paystub as a lump sum without “hours worked” or “hourly rate.” The formula for calculating the OVERTIME/ INCT payment cannot be determined from the wage statement alone.

Additionally, when an employee is terminated, the employee immediately receives all wages earned through the date of termination by check.

A “Statement of Final Pay” accompanies the check. But this Statement does not include pay period start or end dates.

Magadia sued Wal-Mart on behalf of himself and other employees, claiming, among other things, that Wal-Mart failed to provide its employees with accurate itemized wage statements.

Under California law, employers must provide all legally required information in an employee’s paystub. Otherwise, employees should be paid penalties, in addition to the wages.

The following information are

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights ATTY. C. JOE SAYAS, JR. generally required to be in an employee’s pay stub: 1) The employer’s name and address 2) The name of the employee and the employee’s Social Security or employee identification number (Per the law, only the last four digits of the employee’s Social Security or employee identification number may be shown on the itemized statement.)

3) The inclusive dates of the work period for which the employee is paid 4) The employee’s hourly rates in effect during the pay period. This will include the regular hourly rate and the overtime rate, if any.

5) The corresponding number of hours worked by the employee at each hourly rate. For example, if the employee worked 80 regular hours at $10 per hour and 10 overtime hours at $15 per hour, these should be reflected on the pay stub.

6) Total hours worked. In example number 5 above, the employee’s pay stub should reflect that the employee worked a total of 90 hours for the pay period.

7) Gross wages earned 8) All deductions. The employee may authorize the employer in writing that all deductions may be aggregated and shown as one item.

9) Net wages earned

It is important to examine the information in your pay stubs. Does it show the right number of work hours? Is work performed after one’s regular shift reflected? Is overtime work paid? Is there extra pay for working through lunch breaks? If any of these information are not provided, the employee may recover penalties.

Statutory penalties are due to employees while civil penalties are due to the State agency enforcing labor laws – the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

In the case against Wal-Mart, the Court ruled that Wal-Mart’s statements violated the law because they do not include pay period start and end dates. Additionally, the Court found that Wal-Mart’s wage statements does not list an hourly rate or hours worked for the overtime pay.

The judge awarded the employees $102 million in damages, which included over $48 million in statutory penalties and $54 million in civil penalties. *** 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.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Renewal or replacement...

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years or older, he is required to have a valid green card in his possession at all times. The green card can be used to prove employment eligibility in the US when completing Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, to apply for social security card and state-issued driver’s license, or for readmission to the US after a trip abroad if the trip did not last longer than 1 year. If the trip lasted more than 1 year, a re-entry permit is needed.

The green card may be renewed or replaced in the following situations: (1) the green card valid was for 10 years and has expired or will expire within 6 months; (2) the green card has been lost, stolen or damaged; (3) the PR was issued a green card valid for 10 years before the PR turned 14 years old, and it will not expire before the PR’s 16th birthday; (4) the green card was issued with incorrect name, date of birth or issue date due to USCIS administrative error; (5) the PR’s name or other biographic information has been legally

changed; and (6) the green card does not have any expiration date.

Under the above situations, the PR can file an I-90 Application to Replace Green Card with filing fee of $455, plus biometrics fee of $85, or a total of $540 in certain situations.

If the previous green card was issued but never received or if the existing green card has incorrect data because of USCIS error, no filing fees or biometrics fee has to be paid. If the individual is a conditional permanent resident, Form I-90 cannot be used. Instead, the conditional permanent resident should file Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence with filing fee of $595, plus biometrics fee of $85, or a total of $680.

If the PR needs to travel pending the I-90 Application for Replacement of Green Card, he must wait for the I-797 Receipt Notice and then schedule an InfoPass Appointment at the USCIS Field Office nearest his residence to get an Alien Documentation, Identification & Tele-

communications (ADIT) stamp or I-551 stamp on his passport.

The ADIT stamp can also be obtained in case the physical green card is lost, destroyed, or was never received and the PR needs to travel. *** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

What is the difference between...

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capacity and access to resources may seek an award of spousal support. This is not available in a Nullity since the marriage is invalid and there is no spouse as a result.

The division of property is also different. In a divorce, community property is divided equally between the spouses. In a nullity, since there is no valid marriage, there is no community property created and properties are not divided between the spouse. Similarly, neither party can receive survivorship benefits and inheritance rights from the other party in a Nullity.

Finally, there are different immigration consequences between a divorce and a nullity when an immigrant spouse is involved. In a divorce, the immi-

grant spouse who obtains a greencard from a US Citizen spouse stands a bigger chance of keeping his or her greencard and ultimately become a US Citizen. In a nullity, the immigrant spouse may lose their greencard status when the marriage is found to be invalid since it is the basis for the greencard. It can jeopardize the immigration status of the legal permanent resident spouse. *** 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 (Advertising Supplement)

On being connected to God...

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throughout the day—his vision of love, peace, and justice. Stay close to it and do whatever you can in your personal life to live it concretely. It can be simple as putting a smile on your face as you meet people at work or school. It can be big and noble as organizing a fundraiser for needy children. And it can merely be being more present to your children and participating in their activities so they can feel your love and support.

Third, keep being anchored to your faith in God at all times, especially in periods of hardships and sorrows. Don’t be discouraged or impatient with yourself.

Stay close to God even if you don’t seem to feel his presence.

Endure those moments of desolation. Think of them as opportunities to grow in prayer, faith,

and union with God. Do not lose hope but remain in Jesus. Believe that he will help you overcome all your trials and challenges. Let go of your fears and surrender your life and all your preoccupations to God. Fourth, believe that God has given you the resources to live an abundant life. You just have to look for them. To do this you need a great deal of “pruning”— your laziness, self-doubt, fears, lack of self-discipline, pride, all your negative perceptions about yourself and others. You need to clear your mind from all the cobwebs of self-pity, pessimism, resentments, and anger. Trust in the human capacities that God has endowed you.

Our Lord, Jesus, has promises for us who remain in him. He says: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask

whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

May we never doubt his presence and love! May we be close to him every moment and every single day of our lives! 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.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 13-16, 2019

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People and Events

Calasiao Comprehensive National High School alumni hold reunion in Southern California

(From L-R) Joe Ico, Henry Solis, Valentino Aficial, Ellen Calimlim, Nida Millan, Cecile Aficial, Lady Nepacena, Naty Ico, Flora Soriano, Percy Decena Barcelon, Malyn Andaya-anderson, Aurora Cabugao, Jessie Cabugao, Ren Zulueta Laforteza, Cesar Nepacena, Alvin Dioquino, Ed Calimlim And Virgil Apilado.

ALUMNI of Calasiao Comprehensive National High School attended a grand reunion held at Sheraton Hotel in Cerritos, California on July 6. CCNHS Class of 1971 remains the “greatest” class for the year 2019 for the third year in a row.

Chapter 7 or 13: Which is...

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long as you finish your plan payments on time.

Once you’re done with your bankruptcy, as long as you pay your new debts on time, your credit score will improve very fast. On the second year from filing, your credit score may already reach 600. On the third year from filing, your credit score may already reach 670. That’s how fast your score will improve as long as you handle new debt with timely repayment. You can buy a car as soon as you obtain your discharge. Most car dealers finance debtors who have just emerged from bankruptcy. You

need to bring your discharge order. Expect a higher car loan interest if you buy a car as soon as you get your discharge, maybe 19%.

It’s a no brainer. Even Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before his Disneyland business succeeded. The owner of Hershey chocolates, the world’s largest chocolate business, also filed for Chapter 7 once before his business succeeded. Bankruptcy is the best and most effective way to get rid of debt and to start fresh in life without accumulated debt. Just ask Mr. Disney and Mr. Hershey. They both became billionaires after

starting fresh in life without debt through bankruptcy. Without Chapter 7, there would be no Disneyland or Hershey chocolates. Our world would be a sadder place indeed! *** 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)

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

C4 JULY 13-16, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

A

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 LY 1 3

Financial enrichment program in Los Angeles Come and join Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) for this FREE financial workshop on Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will be introduced you to the world of investing and learn topics such as: smart ways to invest, investing with kids, and more. Guest speakers are Jennifer Taylor, Justin Naoe, and Gerry Palon. SIPA is located at 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Enter through the Robinson St. parking lot (with the basketball hoop). Limited Free Parking spots, with street parking is also available around the area. Please read/follow posted signs. If you have any questions, please contact John Swing at (213)3821819 ext. 108 or email him at john@sipacares.org.

J U LY 1 3 -AU G U ST 1 0

Tagalog classes in Los Angeles This Filipino Language & Culture Pilot class is hosted by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and is organized by the Filipino Language Movement led by Ms. Ivy Daulo. This is the only community-based Filipino language & culture ADULT program in the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Filipino Language Movement. This is a 5-session program that starts July 13 to August 10, 2019. (*Schedule is subject to change based on the number of enrollees). Come and bring your entire family and learn Tagalog together! Student benefits include certificate of completion, handouts / workbook provided, learn with other peers (adults and youth are not mixed); family learning opportunity; taught by university Filipino language instructor and lifetime member of Council for Teaching Filipino; practical language learning tips & application each week Limited slots! Hurry and register now! Prices are for all 5 sessions: Individual Adult: $150 each for 5 sessions; bring a [artner: $250 for 5 sessions ($125 each adult); parent + child: $200 for 5 sessions ($150/parent + $50/child). We urge everyone to do the whole program so you can learn more but if it’s not possible to attend all 5 Saturdays, you can choose the dates you want to join us. $30 / session for adults or $10 / session for children.

Payment methods: Cash, Check (payable to: SIPA), Venmo (SIPALA) and Credit/Debit Cards are accepted. Send check payments to: SIPA at 3200 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Please register by emailing Fidji Victoriano (fidji@sipacares.org) if paying outside of Eventbrite.

SIPA is located 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Limited free parking on surface lots along Robinson St. and Dillon St. Street parking is also available around the area.

Please see posted signs for details.

J U LY 1 9 -2 1

International San Beda alumni grand reunion in Las Vegas The 3rd International San Beda Alumni Grand Reunion will take place on July 19 to 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bedan alumni from all over the world are invited to join the celebration. The highlight of the weekend affair is the Gala Night on July 20 at the Nevada Ballroom of Harrah’s Hotel & Casino. Other activities include welcome socials at The Piano Bar of Harrah’s, a golf tournament at Bali Hai Golf Club, tour of the Hoover Dam, lunch at the D’Pinoy Joint and mass at the Guardian Angel Cathedral. Organized by the San Beda Alumni Association of Southern California, this grand reunion will bring together Bedan alumni from different cities in the United States and other countries, including Manila, to reconnect with fellow Bedans and renew ties with their alma mater, San Beda University. This international grand reunion is made possible by Duty Free Philippines, Jun Castillo, and the GS ’72 & HS ’76 Batch of San Beda University. For inquiries and reservations, interested parties may call Philip Policarpio at (818) 536-9898 or Rey Castillo at (714) 749-2971.

J U LY 2 0

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.

AU G U ST 3 - 4

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/.

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

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

Bedans celebrate 3rd international grand reunion THE 3rd International San Beda Alumni Grand Reunion will take place on July 19 to 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bedan alumni from all over the world are invited to join the celebration.

The highlight of the weekend affair is the Gala Night on July 20 at the Nevada Ballroom of Harrah’s Hotel & Casino. Other activities include welcome socials at The Piano Bar of Harrah’s, a

golf tournament at Bali Hai Golf Club, tour of the Hoover Dam, lunch at the D’Pinoy Joint and mass at the Guardian Angel Cathedral.

Organized by the San Beda Alumni Association of Southern California, this grand reunion will bring together Bedan alumni from different cities in the United States and other countries, including Manila, to reconnect with

fellow Bedans and renew ties with their alma mater, San Beda University.

This international grand reunion is made possible by Duty Free Philippines, Jun Castillo, and the GS ’72 & HS ’76 Batch of San Beda University. For inquiries and reservations, interested parties may call Philip Policarpio at (818) 536-9898 or Rey Castillo at (714) 749-2971. ■

Shocks should never be in the water

Marco... POLO... Marco...

POLO...

The long-favorite game remains, along with swimming, splashing around and just plain floating, a staple of swimming pool fun every summer, but there’s another guessing game pool owners never want to play.

It involves electricity, namely the potential hidden electrical hazards in and around pools — and hot tubs and spas — that could lead to serious injuries and should never be ignored for the safety of occupants.

Forgettable prevention could lead to unforgettable tragedy, and that’s where the best prevention comes in.

“Swimming pools, hot tubs and spas should always be inspected at least once a year by a licensed electrician or pool contractor who will check your lighting, wiring, grounding and junction boxes to ensure they are properly and safely installed,” said Andrew Martinez, vice president of Safety, Security and Business Resiliency for Southern California Edison.

“These electrical inspections

should never be done by unlicensed pool owners or cleaning crews.”

Faulty pool lighting, faulty or nonexistent ground fault circuit interrupters and incorrect wiring — especially in older pools — are generally considered the greatest potential hidden hazards. Licensed professionals will not only repair these, but also make upgrades to comply with applicable local codes and the National Electrical Code.

Mark Chapman, a licensed electrician, pool and Jacuzzi owner and 34-year SCE employee who is now an electrical foreman, goes further on the lighting. He advises downgrading any 110-volt or higher pool lighting to 12-volt LED lighting, saying, “It will illuminate your pool just as well while drastically reducing potential risks from cracked or broken lights.”

And while essential on all electrical equipment, working ground fault circuit interrupters should be on all outlets within 20 feet of the water’s edge.

As for other hazards outside the water, a permanent or stor-

able pool should never be built or set up underneath power lines.

If this exists, there are clearance requirements that pool owners should consult with their local inspection agency about.

Additional outside-the-pool tips include: • Carrying long-handled cleaning tools horizontally and using them at least 10 feet away from power lines.

• Keeping electrical cords, wires and junction boxes at least five feet away from the water’s edge.

• Using only battery-operated appliances and devices near the pool.

• Never stringing lights above or near swimming pools.

• Keeping an emergency plan within view of pool users.

“The best prevention is awareness and annual inspections by licensed professionals,” said Martinez. “We strongly urge our customers and their families and friends to practice both to enjoy a summer of safe swimming.” (By Paul Netter / Southern California Edison) ■

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D1

Deported because Investment pledges up 27% to P304B in H1 extension denied

Immigration Corner

by ANNA LEAH

E. GONZALES ManilaTimes.net

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

“ If the extension is approved, there is no problem.

The person is allowed to visit for another six months.”

MANY people visit the U.S., and upon arrival are allowed to remain for six months. Near the end of that six months, some people decide they want to stay longer, either to spend more time with family, or visit other places within the United States.

Accordingly, they file for an extension.

If the extension is approved, there is no problem. The person is allowed to visit for another six months. But what if the request for extension is denied?

Recently, several people have consulted with me, where they applied for either an extension of status or change of status, and the request was denied. They were then sent an appointment notice to go to an Application Support Center for fingerprinting, at which time they were served with a notice to appear (NTA), placing them in deportation/removal proceedings.

Other people did not bother showing up for the fingerprinting appointment, and the NTA was mailed to them.

The NTA notes that they had entered as a visitor on a particular date, and were authorized to stay until a particular date. They

filed for an extension (Form I539) which was later denied. As a result, the person is alleged to have remained in the U.S. beyond their authorized stay “without authorization“ from USCIS, and they no longer possess a valid visa or other entry document allowing them to enter or remain in the U.S. They are also assigned a hearing date before a judge. If they decide to leave the U.S. before the hearing, it could be considered that they have “self deported.” If they attend the hearing, they may not have any “form of relief” to enable them to remain in the U.S. and might have to take “voluntary departure.“ This seems to be a new development under the Trump administration, because in the past, if someone’s application for extension or change of status was denied, all the person received was the denial. Now, they’re also being placed in deportation proceedings. Therefore, if anyone is thinking about applying for an extension, be aware of these new developments. If you have already been placed in deportation, you may want to consult

with an attorney, to determine if you have any forms of relief or if there are any other options available to you. *** 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 “Our emerging workforce is not interested in command and control leadership. They don’t want to do things because I said so, they want to do things because they want to do them.”

— Irene Rosenfeld, — former CEO of Mondelez International

INVESTMENT pledges approved by the Board of Investments (BoI) grew by 27 percent to P304.4 billion in the first half of 2019 from P238 billion in the same period a year ago.

In a statement on Wednesday, July 10, the BoI, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the power sector had the biggest share in total investments in the period with P192.4 billion, up 77.9 percent from last year’s P108.2 billion.

Investment pledges in manufacturing amounted to P45.3 billion in January to June, a 128.4percent increase from P19.8 billion in the first six months of 2018; information and communication, P33.2 billion from P340 million; and tourism accommo-

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo

Manilatimes.net file photo

dation, P8.6 billion from P1.2 percent are spread to areas outside the National Capital Region billion.

Of the total investment pledges (NCR). in the six months ending June, 96 PAGE D2

PEZA: TRABAHO bill causes investment decline in 2018

by ELIZABETH

MARCELO Philstar.com

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has blamed a pending bill in Congress that seeks to tighten the fiscal incentives granted to investors operating in economic zones for the sharp decline in its total investments in 2018.

Based on the Commission on Audit’s (COA) annual audit report on PEZA, the state firm only generated P140.242 billion in investments last year, 41 percent or P97.328 billion lower than the P237.570 billion posted in 2017.

“On the immense decrease in investments, (PEZA) management commented that TRAIN 2 or the TRABAHO bill was the sole and only reason why PEZA’s investments took an immense beating in 2018,” the COA report said.

The proposed Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill, is the second part of the govern-

Diokno said during the launch of the first set of banknotes bearing his name and signature the additional security features would be launched in the first quarter of 2020. Philstar.com photo

ment’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

The proposed bill seeks to lower the country’s corporate income tax (CIT) rate to 25 percent from the current 30 percent, while putting a cap on the grant of fiscal incentives to investors operating

in economic zones to a maximum of five years.

“Efficiency-seeking investments like those investments that go to PEZA will not put their investment where there is uncertainty,” PEZA explained in a comment incorpoPAGE D2

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Bill filed to limit ‘public utility’ to power, water BIR seeking P3B more from online casino workers as firms say foreigners already residents

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a new batch of notices to collect another P3 billion in personal income taxes from foreign, mostly Chinese, workers in Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogo) even as firms sought to pay lower tax rates by claiming that their employees were already Philippine “residents.�

Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay told reporters on Thursday (July 11) that the new notice letters issued this month by the bureau were on top of notices sent earlier seeking to collect at least P4 billion in back taxes last May. BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said the notices for P3 billion in taxes were for “current� tax payments, while the previous P4-billion worth of demand letters covered back taxes.

In July, the BIR will start collecting at least P2 billion in income taxes from Pogo workers—mostly Chinese, after which the agency will go after more of the previously unpaid taxes.

Guballa said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Dulay gave instructions to prioritize the collection of current taxes.

The Pogo sector currently employs up to 130,000 foreigners, but Guballa said the BIR believes there could be more un-

Villafuerte said his “business-friendly proposals aim to open wide the economy to more foreign investors and make the country’s business climate more conducive to big, long-term investments that could supercharge the economy and generate hundreds of thousands of decent-paying jobs for the country’s young, skilled labor force.�

Philstar.com file photo

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has filed a bill that seeks to limit the definition of a “public utility� by amending the 82-year-old Public Service Act. He authored two other measures that would amend the “outdated� provisions of the Foreign Investments Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, two laws that are more than 15 years old.

Villafuerte said his “businessfriendly proposals aim to open wide the economy to more foreign investors and make the country’s business climate more conducive to big, long-term investments that could supercharge the economy and generate hundreds of thousands of decent-paying jobs for the country’s young, skilled labor force.�

“We need to relax the restrictions in doing business in the country that have become dealbreakers for foreign investors despite the Philippines’ emergence as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia,� he said.

He said the approval of his three bills would serve as the “opening act� for Congress’ eventual move to amend the 1987 Constitution by paving the way to a government switch to federalism and liberalizing foreign ownership restrictions on businesses and land.

Under Villafuerte’s proposal, the term “public utility� shall refer only to transmission of electricity, distribution of electricity, and waterworks and sewerage systems.

The present law defines “public utility� to include telecommunications and other vital public services. It requires those engaged in these services to obtain franchises from Congress.

Villafuerte said certain business activities “have been misclassified as public utilities or services.� “Vast advances in technology and the modes of delivery of services require changes in our laws to be responsive to the changing times,� he said.

As for his proposed change in the Foreign Investments Act, he said he is suggesting that “practice of professions� be removed from the list of activities foreigners are barred from getting into.

His third bill seeks to lower the employment threshold to 15 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) established by foreign investors with a minimum paid up capital of $100,000. “These amendments will show the country’s openness to change and willingness to live up to our economic potential by reeling in more foreign investments,� Villafuerte said. n

PAGE D1 t rated in the audit report.

The TRABAHO bill was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives during the 17th Congress, but the Senate failed to pass a counterpart measure. Thus, the bill would have to be re-filed by both chambers in the upcoming 18th Congress set to open July 22.

The PEZA said it has been consistent, together will all its industry partners, in opposing the proposed measure, explaining to the lawmakers that the bill would have “serious effects on PEZA investment, employment and export.� “As pointed out to them (lawmakers), the mere fact that there was a serious attempt through

the bill to change the incentive regime in PEZA, already scared away PEZA investors in 2018 even if the bill was not yet enacted into law,� PEZA said.

Based on the COA’s figures, PEZA has exceeded its target investments for 2018 by 4.97 percent, but only because the target was lowered to P132 billion from P229 billion in 2017.

COA’s records also showed that PEZA’s income from exports also declined by 3.14 percent to $49.736 billion in 2018 from $51.349 billion in 2017. PEZA’s export performance in 2018 fell short by 7.14 percent of its target of $53.410 billion for the year, the COA report showed.

On the other hand, the audit body commended PEZA for gen-

erating 88,256 additional jobs in 2018.

Based on records, PEZA generated a total of 1,506,088 jobs in 2018, higher by 6.22 percent than 1,417,832 jobs generated in the previous year.

The COA also commended PEZA for approving last year 55 ecozone developer projects with committed investments of P68.14 billion. The audit body also noted that nine newly proclaimed ecozones have already started commercial operations in 2018. “Growth in employment, exports and investments are PEZA’s major concerns and the factors that determine its success, performance and achievement,� the COA report read. n

by Jess

diaz Philstar.com

Bureau of Internal Revenue

registered firms and workers out there nationwide.

Under the joint memorandum circular (JMC) signed by the DOF and the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Labor and Employment (Dole) on Thursday foreign workers must now first register with Philippine embassies abroad and secure a tax identification number (TIN) before they can be employed in the Philippines to ensure collection of correct taxes from them.

Guballa said the BIR was already processing TINs for Pogo workers who have not registered as taxpayers.

But Guballa said some online

Inquirer.net file photo

casino operators are appealing for their employees be taxed with the same rates as residents, arguing that the Chinese had been living in the Philippines for at least six months.

Nonresidents are supposed to pay higher taxes than residents.

Dulay said online casino operators seeking lower tax rates could do so in courts “but our collection process will continue.� “The burden of proof is with them—they must prove that they were living here for a long time already, and they’re registered with the Bureau of Immigration and Dole,� Guballa said. n

Investment pledges up 27% to P304B... PEZA: TRABAHO bill causes investment...

PAGE D1 t Region 4A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces, or Calabarzon) remains the top investment location, receiving P201.2 billion. It is followed

by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with P27.7 billion; NCR, P11.3 billion; Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), 8.7 billion; and Region 7 (Central Visayas), P7.7 billion.

According to Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, among the latest approvals are the P4-billion 19.7 megawatt (MW) hydropower project of Rio Norte Hydropower Corp. in Isabela province; the P4.7-billion acquisition of the newest models of Airbus planes

by Cebu Air. Inc.; and the P2.3-billion 15MW thermal power plant of DMCI Masbate Power Corp. in Masbate province.

Singapore remains the Philippines’ country’s largest foreign investor with P35.4 billion. The Netherlands followed with P9.2 billion; Thailand, P8.5 billion; Japan, P5.8 billion; and the United States, P2.4 billion.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government was optimistic that it would hit its 2019 target of P1-trillion investments, noting that “there are still big-ticket projects coming,� including large “infrastructure projects in the pipeline.�

Rodolfo agreed, noting that “year-on-year, investments are still increasing.� “There are big-ticket projects in the pipeline, but we are exercising — as we do in all cases — prudence in diligently assessing their eligibility for incentives,� he said.

According to Lopez, the Philippines could be a recipient of manufacturing firms locating outside China as a result of its monthslong trade war with the United States. “Although there is now a truce between them [Washington and Beijing], we are ready to catch and absorb investments that will be redirected from China and other countries that will bear the brunt should talks break down again,� the Trade chief said. “We remain hopeful they will strike a deal, because the global economy is at stake. Both countries are among our largest trading partners, but for any eventuality, we have to diversify our markets by going beyond the traditional ones while further strengthening our domestic base,� he added. n

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PH trade deficit narrows in May

by AnnA LeAh

e. GonzALes ManilaTimes.net

THE country’s trade deficit decreased to $3.28 billion in May from $3.46 billion in April and $3.889 billion a year ago as exports improved and imports contracted, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, July 10.

According to the state-run statistics agency, total export sales in the month inched up by 1 percent to $6.16 billion from $6.09 billion in May 2018.

Total value of imported goods, meanwhile, slid by 5.4 percent to $9.43 billion from $9.97 billion last year.

The sales growth was attributed to increases in copper concentrates (192.1 percent); ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts and ships (31.7 percent); fresh bananas (28.6 percent); chemicals (20.1 percent); metal components (14 percent); gold (8.3 percent); other mineral products (7 percent); and electronic products (6.2 percent).

The decrease in imports was blamed on the drop in major import commodities, such as iron and steel (-25.5 percent); transport equipment (-19.3 percent); mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (17.2 percent); plastic in primary and non-prima-

ry forms (-13.7 percent); industrial machinery and equipment (4.8 percent); and other food and live animals (-3.7 percent).

Total external trade in goods reached $15.58 billion, down 3 percent from last year’s $16.06 billion.

According to Nicholas Antonio Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank Manila, the delay in the approval of this year’s national budget continued to affect imports.

“The ill-effects of the delay in the passage of the 2019 budget, coupled with still-elevated borrowing costs hurt demand for both capital goods and raw materials. Capital goods were slightly negative while raw materials dropped 10.7 percent for the month of May,” Mapa said in a statement.

Imports of raw materials, and intermediate goods and capital goods, posted the largest contribution to the total import value in the month.

“Almost all subcomponents for intermediate materials were in the red, with iron steel and nonferrous metals seeing doubledigit dips, while imports for use in electronics exports were down 10.4 percent, Mapa said. “ With [the] government and private sector’s plans for expansion on hold, capital goods and raw materials dragged overall

imports lower,” he added.

Despite the decline, the government remains optimistic that imports and exports of goods would be better in the second half of the year.

The “global economic outlook for 2019 remains subdued as policy uncertainties and some geopolitical tensions continue to pose risks to many economies.

But amid these external developments, the country’s economic outlook remains upbeat,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a separate statement.

According to him, the approval of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022, which lays down crucial broadbased reforms that will improve the overall climate for export development by removing regulatory impediments, enhancing trade facilitation and fostering supplychain linkages, should also further support external trade.

“Strategies under the PEDP must be implemented in harmony with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 to boost merchandise trade growth,” Pernia said.

“The Philippines should likewise continue to aggressively pursue regional integration and cooperation to dampen the effects of increasing trade tensions,” he added. n

Vehicle sales halt skid, rise 1.4% in 6 months

by LoueLLA

DesiDerio

Philstar.com

LOCAL car assemblers finally snapped a cumulative sales decline as total sales in the first six months rose 1.46 percent from a year ago, signaling improving demand particularly for commercial vehicles.

A joint report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. (TMA) released yesterday showed that total sales reached 174,135 units in the first semester, up from 171,635 units in the same period last year.

While passenger car (PC) sales were still down, sales of commercial vehicles (CV) increased yearon-year.

In particular, PC sales declined 6.4 percent to 52,418 units as of end-June from the previous year’s 56,029 units, while CV sales climbed 5.3 percent to 121,717 units in the January to June period

June period with a 42.18 percent market share.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. followed at second place with 17.92 percent market share and Nissan Philippines Inc. ranked third with 12.09 percent.

“We remain very optimistic that the local auto industry is already on a path of steady growth after we conclude the first half of the year on a positive note,” CAMPI Philstar.com file photo president Rommel Gutierrez said.

“The automotive brands’ colfrom 115,606 units a year ago.

For the month of June alone, lective efforts, highlighted by fleet CAMPI and TMA sales increased sales, good financing deals, and 8.7 percent to 31,950 units from model updates and upgrades, 29,395 units in the same month show that we have learned to adjust and adapt to market conlast year.

PC sales in June grew 22 per- ditions thus helping consumers cent to 9,532 units from the previ- acquire new vehicles with fewer hurdles,” he added. ous year’s 7,811 units.

Total sales of CAMPI and TMA The CV segment also rose 3.9 percent in June with 22,418 units reached 357,410 units last year, sold compared to 21,584 units a 16 percent lower than the 425,673 units sold in 2017, as demand for year ago.

By company, Toyota Motor cars was dampened by the govPhilippines Corp. remained the ernment’s move to impose higher top selling brand in the January to taxes on automobiles. n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 13-16, 2019 D

PH to grow 6-7% this year as gov’t, household spending ramps up

by DAxim

L. LucAs

Inquirer.net

THE Philippine economy is still on track of hitting a growth rate of as much as 7 percent in 2019 thanks to a spike in government spending in the second half of the year and even with slower gross domestic product expansion in the first quarter, according to the head of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Speaking to investors and analysts at an online UBS forum, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the lower inflation rate — brought under control earlier this year, after the nine year-high spike in 2018 — is also encouraging more Filipinos to help boost growth through increased household spending.

“Prospects for the Philippine economy continue to be favorable,” he said. “Despite the lowerthan-expected growth in the first quarter of 2019, we remain optimistic about meeting the GDP growth target of 6-7 percent for this year.”

“We expect that the government’s commitment to accelerate public spending will take the driver’s seat on the supply side, while household spending, supported mainly by cooling inflation and remittance inflows,

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno Inquirer.net file photo

will spur growth on the demand side,” Diokno added.

The Philippine economy grew by only 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019 as government spending was hobbled by the delay in the passage of the national budget by a deadlocked Congress. Debt watcher Moody’s cautioned that second quarter growth may also be adversely affected by the El Niño and the global slowdown brought by USChina trade tensions.

The central bank chief, however, said there was cause for optimism among investors in the Philippines because the country’s economy was “firing on all cylinders”.

The growth momentum will

likely receive a boost from Diokno’s own preference for monetary easing which will likely resume after the latest monthly data revealed that the pace of consumer price increases has resumed its downward trek.

“With inflation slowing again in June, the BSP Governor has sounded off on potential rate cuts in the near term, even hinting that the [overnight borrowing rate] cut will likely come before a further reduction in reserve requirements,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in an email to media.

“With the last installment of the latest reserve requirement reduction scheduled for end of July, we expect the BSP to gauge the effect of this additional liquidity into the financial system before making additional adjustments on this front,” he added.

The BSP implemented a 25basis point rate cut in early May as part of Diokno’s drive to feed the growing Philippine economy with more cash, but decided to pause last month after a surprise spike in that month’s inflation rate.

The central bank chief has hinted that authorities are ready to resume monetary easing after the consumer price index resumed its downtrend last month. n

Deal inked to boost ease of doing business in PH

by AnnA LeAh

e. GonzALes ManilaTimes.net

THE Board of Investments (BOI), Trade department, Investments Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission and more than 30 other government agencies signed on Wednesday the amended Investments Promotion Units Network Memorandum of Agreement (IPU Net MOA) which aims to further promote ease of doing business in the country.

“Once the MOA is in place, the delivery of frontline government services will be monitored by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to ensure that delays and hindrances among business transactions and other related cases are immediately addressed,” said BOI. The IPU Net MOA is aligned with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11032) and as part of its

mandate, ARTA will see to it that government agencies comply by processing simple business transactions within three days, complex processes within seven days and highly technical ones within 20 days.

“The IPU Net MOA complements the Ease of Doing Business Law. That is why the BOI and other related government agencies took upon themselves to ensure that investment related issues, concerns and queries (ICQs) are acted upon in the soonest time possible,” Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said.

“This will further expedite the processing of applications for permits, licenses and other requests.

With the signing of the newly enhanced agreement, the agencies involved can now make a bigger difference that matter in the business climate,” he added.

Rodolfo cited the importance of transparency and closer coordi-

nation among government units in attracting more investments into the country.

He said that due to the big increase in investment over the last three years, more investment-related issues and concerns were raised to BOI, thus the importance of widening the scope of the MOA became a priority for the IPU Net by involving more agencies to provide a more expansive investments facilitation service.

Since April 25, 2007, the IPUNet MOA has been a commitment from among the original 27 government agencies to sustain the efforts of the government in facilitating issues and concerns with prompt actions, streamlining of procedures and establishing a seamless coordination among its members to provide resolution on all investment-related transactions with efficiency.

BOI said that since then, it has ballooned to 37 agencies involved. n

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Jollibee, Panda form joint venture company

Photo courtesy of Food Evolution

by AngelicA

BAllesteros

Manilatimes.net

LISTED Jollibee Foods Corp. and United States-based Panda Restaurant Group Inc. have created a new joint venture firm that will operate Panda Express restaurants in the Philippines.

The fastfood-chain giant told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, July 8, that the new company, JBPX Foods Inc., would build and operate five Panda Express restaurants in Metro Manila.

Both firms have invested a combined $5 million (P256.6 million) as the authorized capital

stock of JBPX, which was incorporated on July 3 and certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 5.

“With proven track records in providing great-tasting food at a great value, [Jollibee] and Panda join hands to introduce…a globally influenced cuisine inspired by authentic Chinese culinary principles, to the Philippines,” Jollibee said.

“The two restaurant giants aim to deliver exceptional dining experiences through their shared foundation and commitment to their dedicated employees, loyal guests, and great operations,” it added.

Profits would be equally split between Jollibee and the Panda group, given that each invested $2.5 million.

Jollibee expects Panda Express to be well-received in the country in the long term.

Founded by the Cheng family in Glendale, California, Panda Express has more than 2,100 branches not only in the U.S., but also Puerto Rico, Guam, Guatemala, El Salvador, Aruba, Canada, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

Jollibee shares decreased by P3 or 1.05 percent to close at P282 each on Monday. n

CAB said.

Possible penalties are still being studied by the government for airlines that would record low OTP averages.

The OTP is a measure of operational efficiency, as it indicates the percentage of flights per airline that have departed and arrived on their specific schedules.

Cebu Pacific was earlier investigated by the CAB after cancelling a total of 172 one-way domestic flights from April 28 to May 10, which is equivalent to about 14 flights a day, out of its more or less 400 daily domestic flights.

The budget carrier reported during the hearings that it takes at least 49 minutes and as long

as 66 minutes from the aircraft’s closing of doors to actual lift-off.

Of the said period, about 19.6 minutes is spent from the closing of doors to the “blocks off” or the time the aircraft vacates the parking position, while 46.6 minutes from the blocks off to the lift-off.

The hour-long stay on the tarmac was observed to have pushed Cebu Pacific’s OTP to an average of 51.16 percent, with lows of around 30 percent in March.

Last month, the government and airlines reached an agreement regarding the need to impose penalties and sanctions for unreasonable flight delays or delays caused by the airlines. n

Airlines mandated to submit monthly performance report

by richAmond

mercurio

Philstar.com

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is requiring all local carriers to submit a monthly on-time performance (OTP) report as part of the government’s efforts to improve passenger service and address flight delays.

The CAB in its latest advisory mandated all domestic and international scheduled Philippine carriers to submit an OTP report which must contain the average of all daily flights per airport of origin on a monthly basis.

“If the actual departure or arrival time is up to 15 minutes past the original schedule, the flight is considered on time,” the

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Summer fun event at Park Place in Ontario Ranch on Saturday, July 20!

ONTARIO, CA – Celebrate summer the right way! You’re invited to the Summer Fun Event hosted by Lewis Community Developers on Saturday, July 20 at Park Place in Ontario Ranch. Come out from 11:00am to 2:00pm and enjoy fun festivities for the whole family – live music, kids’ activities, refreshments and a raffle drawing! Plus, you can tour 20-plus models of the nine distinctive neighborhoods and discover all the first-class amenities at this new masterplanned community by Lewis Community Developers and Stratham Communities. This is one exciting event you don’t want to miss out on!

Summer Fun Event attendees will have the opportunity to tour nine new home neighborhoods: Camden by CalAtlantic Homes – A Lennar Company, Coventry by Christopher Homes, Meadowood by Taylor Morrison, Seville by The New Home Company, St. James by TRI Pointe Homes, Stonewater

by Woodside Homes, Willowmore by KB Home, Aurora by Pulte Homes and Primrose by Richmond American Homes.

Extending from approximately 1,800 to 3,599 square feet, this dynamic range of residential designs offers three to five bedrooms and two-and-onehalf to five baths plus spacious two- or three-car garages, making them ideal for growing or multigenerational families. Plus, every home at Park Place comes with ultra-highspeed fiber-optic broadband at gigabit speeds, allowing you to stream, download and upload from multiple devices without slowing down. Prices begin in the $400,000s.

In addition to beautiful new homes and lightning-fast internet speeds that are 100 times faster than today’s average broadband connection, Park Place offers many top-tier amenities. All residents enjoy The Parkhouse, a world-class 14,500-square-foot central community clubhouse that features a resort-caliber swimming pool, fully equipped fitness and business centers, Wi-Fi, multiple game rooms, a library and a state-of-the-art movie theater with club seating. And a masterfully appoint-

Lewis Communities Park Place at Ontario Ranch

ed catering kitchen and adjoining multipurpose room are ideal for hosting special celebrations in style. Three acres of beautiful grounds surround The Parkhouse and are home to tennis courts, a creative play area and a dog park. Picnics with friends, family and neighbors are a delight at Celebration Park North and Celebration Park South, where kids and adults alike enjoy outdoor play, relaxation and socializing.

Plans at Park Place include a future elementary school within walking distance of each neighborhood. Not only is Park Place served by an award-winning school district, but it is also located near many universities and higher-education institutions, including Azusa Pacific University; Cal Poly Pomona; Chaffey College; Mt. San Antonio College; Platt College; Riverside Community College; The Art Institute of California; University of California, Riverside; Western University of Health Sciences; and the highly acclaimed Claremont Colleges, one of which is among the nation’s top ten.

Park Place is located within the greater community of Ontario Ranch, which will span over 8,000 acres and is planned to offer modern amenities and abundant recreation, including an expansive park and trail system. Proposed plans include retail and business spaces, along with nearly 1,000 acres dedicated to public open space, parks and schools.

Contact: Rachel Mullins (562) 499-6707

Directions to Park Place: If traveling on the 15 freeway, exit on Limonite Avenue and head west. Proceed on Limonite Avenue for approximately 2.5 miles and turn right at Archibald Avenue. Travel approximately 0.5 miles and turn right at Merrill Avenue. Continue for approximately 0.25 miles and The Parkhouse sales center will be on the left.

If traveling on the 60 freeway, exit on Archibald Avenue and head south. Proceed on Archibald Avenue for approximately 3.25 miles and turn left at Merrill Avenue. Continue for approximately 0.25 miles and The Parkhouse sales center will be on the left.

Call (888) 855-6249 for more information or visit www.parkplaceontario.com.

Park Place at Ontario Ranch reflects the vision and experience of Lewis Community Developers and Stratham Communities. Park Place is a true collaborative effort between award-winning homebuilders CalAtlantic Homes – A Lennar Company, Christopher Homes, Taylor Morrison, The New Home Company, TRI Pointe Homes, KB Home, Pulte Homes, Richmond American Homes and Woodside Homes.

We understand the wants and needs of today’s families because we have families of our own. We designed and built a community that we would live in. n (Advertising Supplement)

D JULY 13-16, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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