072018 - San Francisco Edition

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 17 - No. 28 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

Asian Americans now have the highest income inequality among all racial and ethnic groups, new Pew report shows

INCOME inequality has been steadily rising for the last 50 years for all Americans and, as a result, has become a key political issue, igniting the call for minimum wage increase and holding those responsible for the 2008 recession accountable via government regulations.

Those who are slighted by the wage gap — namely women, blacks and Hispanics — have always been on the forefront for calling for legislative change for income equity.

But there’s one group who is largely ig-

Trump ‘sides’ with Putin on the US investigation over Russian collusion in the 2016 election Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki prompts universal outrage for appearing to undermine U.S. Intelligence OF the many controversies and political disputes of the Trump era, no issue has cast a shadow over this administration more than the issue of Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election.

Russia — and its long-time president Vladimir Putin — remains a looming presence over the Trump presidency in a myriad of ways.

President Donald Trump’s perceived “obsession� with the former Soviet Union and its

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Duterte trusts China ‘will be fair’ on South China Sea row

USA

DATELINE The wage gap between rich and poor increases among Asian Americans

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expecting China to be fair on the South China Sea row as he expressed optimism that Filipinos would eventually view Beijing as a “good neighbor.�

Duterte, who has been accused of not doing enough to assert the country’s maritime claims, said the Philippines and China have agreed to discuss the dispute some other time as Beijing has to deal with its bilateral relations and issues.

“We will allow them (China) the sufficient period to sort out things and I’m sure that in the end, China will be fair and the equity will be distributed,� the president said. “I cannot talk about—well, elaborate these things now. They are in the blueprint. But in the days to come, we would realize that China, after all, is really a good neighbor,� he added.

Duterte said the two countries are talking about a “concerted effort� to “develop� but did not elaborate. The president previously said he was open to

In this Aug. 17, 2016 photo, President Rodrigo Duterte chats with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. PPD ďŹ le photo by Toto Lozano

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Report: Hate crimes increase by 17 percent in California Experts attribute the increase to the uprising of white supremacy amid the Trump era ACCORDING to a new report from the California attorney general, reported hate crimes across the state have increased for the third year in a row, jumping by 17 percent in 2017.

The 2017 California Criminal Justice Data Report from Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office found that there were 1,093 reported hate crimes in California last year compared to the 982 in 2016. Records show that hate crimes have increased every year since 2014, and that there was a 44 percent jump since then.

The FBI defines a hate crime as “a traditional offense like murder, arson or vandalism with an added element of bias� and that bias could be based on “race, reli-

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PAL’S NEW AIRBUS. President Rodrigo R. Duterte poses for a photo with the ofďŹ cials of Philippine Airlines (PAL) including PAL President and COO Dr. Jaime Bautista (right) during the rollout of PAL’s new Airbus A350 and A321 Neo aircraft at the Lufthansa Technik Philippines located in the Macro Asia Special Economic Zone of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 17.

MalacaĂąang photo by Alfred Frias

Filipino-French footballer Pacquiao scores first KO win in 9 years celebrates World Cup win

by EDDIE

ALINEA ManilaTimes.net

by OLMIN

LEYBA Philstar.com

Image from Alphonse Areola’s Instagram account shows the 25-year-old Filipino-French goalkeeper with the World Cup trophy after France defeated Croatia in the ďŹ nal.

Photo from Instagram/@areolaofďŹ ciel

MANILA — Filipinos joined the celebration of France’s triumph in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, taking pride in having a Filipino footballer, reserve goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, reap success with Les Bleus.

The 25-year-old Areola, born to Filipino parents who immigrated to France, is being hailed as the “first player with Filipino blood to win the World Cup.�

Areola had long been eyed by the Philippine Azkals since his days with the French youth squad, with manager Dan Palami

Majority of Filipinos oppose Charter change, says survey

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPress

TWO in three Filipinos are not in favor of the current administration’s moves to change the 1987 Constitution, a Pulse Asia survey released Monday, July 16, revealed.

Pulse Asia’s June 2018 National Survey on Charter

Change, taken from June 15 to June 21, showed that 67 percent of Filipinos were against Charter change. Out of that percentage, 37 percent disapproved changing the Constitution now and in the future while 30 percent were not up for it at present but may be open for Charter change in the future.

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inviting him to join the Philippine 11 back in 2011.

But Areola’s stint with France flourished, and after starring in the Junior Les Bleus’ championship run in the U20 World Cup in 2013, his chances of being elevated to the French senior team skyrocketed. By 2015, he was already called up for Les Bleus and eventually made it to their final roster in the Russia World Cup. “It wasn’t the Azkals he represented in the World Cup but being part of the champion France team in the biggest tournament of all is something to make us Filipinos proud,� said football

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KUALA LUMPUR — The champ is back. Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao proved that he is still a force to reckon with after devastating Argentine Lucas Matthysse

Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Lucas Matthysse of Argentina during their WBA World welterweight title bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, July 15.

Photo from Instagram/mannypacquiaohighlights

at the Axiata Arena on Sunday, July 15.

The gritty eight-division champion won through a technical knockout on the seventh round, his first victory via stoppage in nine years. The fighting senator

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From the Front Page

The wage gap between rich and poor increases...

19TH T’NALAK FESTIVAL. Senator Nancy Binay performs the ceremonial break during a local billiards tournament in Koronadal. Binay was in South Cotabato as the keynote speaker during the 52nd South Cotabato Foundation Anniversary and 19th T’nalak Festival.

Senate photo

PAGE A1 nored in the wage disparity conversation: the Asian American community.

Since the 1970s, income inequality among the Asian American community has steadily increased, making the wage gap between rich and poor within the community the largest disparity among other racial and ethnic groups.

A recently released report from Pew Research Center measured the wage gap of the community from 1970 to 2016 and found that Asians in the top 10 percent of income distribution make nearly 10.7 times as much as Asians in the bottom 10 percent. This puts the Asian American community’s disparity at the top before blacks (9.8), whites (7.8) and Hispanics (7.8).

The study’s researchers theorized that immigration patterns are a factor in the Asian American community’s growing wage disparity. Like Latin Americans, immigrants accounted for the spike in the Asian population in the U.S., roughly comprising 81 percent of the growth which experienced a dramatic uptick in the 1990s after the Immigration Act of 1990.

That act allowed migrants from many countries to come to the U.S. by seeking asylum or through family reunification programs, brought over a wide variety of Asian immigrants who varied in education levels, professional skills and incomes.

In terms of average income, the top 10 percent earn a median yearly income of $133,529 while the bottom 10 percent make $12,478 a year on average, according to Pew which used U.S. Census Bureau data to conduct the study.

The report found that, overall, Asians are the highest earning racial and ethnic group in the U.S., with a median annual income at $51,288. But high wages are certainly not the reality for many Asians.

As any Asian American knows, the community is generally seen as a high-earning group, as posited by the broad “model minority myth” which sees all Asians as extremely studious and financially successful.

While that may be a goal for some Asian Americans, that narrative erases the reality of many Asian Americans and their families, many of whom live below the myth’s expectations, according to the researchers of this study.

“Asians are often pictured as the highest achieving group in America, but Asians are actually the most economically divided or diverse group,” Pew researcher Rakesh Kochhar told the Huffington Post.

In terms of economic disparities within the Asian American

Infographic courtesy of Pew Research Center

community, the model minority myth erases the specific concerns of disadvantaged Asians in America and renders them invisible in the broader issue of income inequality, according to Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director for Asian American Federation.

In New York City, for example, Asian Americans have the highest poverty rate at about 26.6 percent but public resources specifically tailored for struggling Asians are scarce, according to NYC Center for Economic Opportunity.

“The model minority myth chooses to highlight the successful immigrant examples and brush aside the high rates of poverty,” Yoo told HuffPost in 2017. “The myth assumes that we somehow have the capacity to work ourselves out of poverty without any help.”

Now organizations are working to dispel the model minority myth by showcasing the diversity of the Asian American community. The Los Angeles-based legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice this year has delivered

comprehensive and intersectional dives into the Asian communities in Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley by aggregating data on income, English proficiency, education and a wide variety of issues.

As reported in the Asian Journal, Advancing Justice hopes that efforts like this to dispel the myth that the Asian American community is prosperous across the board and will generate public programs and legislation to help uplift this underrepresented sect of the Asian American community.

“Asian Americans are the most immigrant of any major racial group, be it in the San Gabriel Valley, be it the state of California, be it nationally,” Dan Ichinose, director of the Demographic Research Project at Advancing Justice-LA, said at a media event in February.

“These data consistently show that immigration policy isn’t just something that affects Latinos; it is something that affects Asian American communities in a really significant way.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

Duterte trusts China ‘will be fair’ on...

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a joint exploration with China in the South China Sea, even suggesting that the two countries adopt a ‘60-40’ sharing deal.

China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea but this is being disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims. In 2016, a Hague-based arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s maritime claim has no legal basis but Beijing refused to recognize the ruling.

China has built structures, including military facilities on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Panganiban (Mischief), Zamora

(Subi), Burgos (Gaven), Kennan (Hughes), Mabini (Johnson) and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reefs, areas off the province of Palawan that are also being claimed by the Philippines.

Despite Duterte’s effort to portray China as a friend of the Philippines, majority of Filipinos think Beijing should not be allowed to militarize the disputed areas.

Eight out of 10 Filipinos or 81 percent think the government should not “leave China alone with its infrastructures and military presence” in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea, according to a Social

Weather Stations poll conducted last June.

The president has repeatedly said that insisting on the Philippines’ maritime claims would create “trouble” and that a war with China would only result in a “massacre” of Filipino soldiers.

Officials have denied that Duterte has abandoned the Philippines’ claims, saying the President is just pursuing noncontentious aspects of Manila’s relationship with Beijing such as economic cooperation. They insist that Duterte will not give up even an inch of the Philippines’ territory to other countries. (With Job Manahan) n

Dateline USa

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Trump ‘sides’ with Putin on the US investigation...

PAGE A1 denouncement of the invesmemes and conspiracy thetigation, frequently insisting ories as to how and why the that there is “no collusion” bepresident has been keeping tween the Trump campaign a close tie with Putin and and the Russian government; Russia, arguably the United he also has not agreed to be States’s rival world power. questioned by the investigation.

On Monday, July 16, Trump Just last week, the Justice Demet with Putin face-topartment indicted 12 Russians face in a two-hour meeting for hacking American emails, Helsinki, Finland where data from the Democratic NaTrump contradicted his tional Committee and voter dataown country’s intelligence bases reportedly in order to help agencies and said there is U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin the Trump campaign. met on Monday, July 16 in Helsinki, Finland. no definitive reason that Trump reportedly has also Official White House photo by Shealah Craighea would explain Russia’s suggested shutting the investiue to wonder if the only possible gation down, prompting Washmeddling in the election.

“President Putin says it’s not explanation for this dangerous be- ington lawmakers to try to pass Russia. I don’t see any reason havior is the possibility that Presi- legislation that would prevent him why it would be,” Trump said dent Putin holds damaging infor- doing so. U.S. Reps Eric Swalwell when asked by reporters at the mation over President Trump.” (D-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings Trump responded to the push- (D-Md.) were among the first to following news conference.

U.S. intelligence had confirmed back by tweeting that he has introduce such a bill, the Protectthat it found evidence that Rus- “great confidence in my intel- ing Our Democracy Act, which is sia had tampered with the 2016 ligence people” and that he rec- supported by all Democrats and election with against Democratic ognizes “that in order to build a two Republicans in the House. candidate Hillary Clinton using brighter future, we cannot ex“If recent days’ shameful specstate-sanctioned cyber warfare clusively focus on the past - as tacles – the ridiculous [Peter] and planting fake news stories on the world’s two largest nuclear Strzok hearing, and the presipowers, we must get along.” dent’s refusal to confront Putin social media.

However, Trump’s sidling to- as the scheming antagonist he Trump’s suggestion that he sides with Putin on this mat- ward Putin also adds another rip- is – don’t convince more Repubter sparked massive backlash ple on the Justice Department in- licans to put country over party at home from lawmakers and vestigation — headed by special and sign onto this bill, I truly don’t experts of all political leanings. counsel Robert Mueller, former know what will,” Swalwell said in U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan FBI director — over whether the an op-ed in The Hill. “Meanwhile, — who has been criticized for not Trump presidential campaign had as indictments pile up and hearbeing tough on Trump — said anything to do with Russia’s re- ings continue, we’ve seen many that the president “must appre- ported tampering with the election. targets of the president’s vitriol In October 2016, a few weeks stand before Congress, raise their ciate that Russia is not our ally.”

“There is no moral equivalence before the election, the U.S. gov- right hands, swear their oaths, between the United States and ernment publicly confirmed that and tell what they know. PresiRussia, which remains hostile to it was “confident” that Russia “di- dent Trump must do the same our most basic values and ide- rected the recent compromises with Mueller without further deals,” Ryan said in a statement. of e-mails from U.S. persons and lay or obstruction. That’s how to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also institutions, including from U.S. help bring this sordid chapter in chimed in, saying in a statement, political organizations.” our nation’s history to a swift and A snowball effect ensued af- just close.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJ“No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly be- ter it was revealed that several members of the Trump campaign fore a tyrant.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck had met or with Russian officials Schumer (D-NY) unabashedly during the campaign, including called Trump out in a tweet storm a meeting at Trump Tower in on Monday, saying, “For the New York City between Donald president of the United States Trump, Jr., Jared Kushner and to side with President Putin Paul Manafort and Russian offiagainst American law enforce- cials. (Manafort has been indictment, American defense officials ed by Mueller, and Trump, Jr. and American intelligence agen- said that the meeting was meant cies is thoughtless, dangerous to discuss the adoptions of Rusand weak. The president is put- sian children by Americans.)

As Mueller’s team adds more ting himself over our country.”

Schumer also theorized that names to the list of indictments, “millions of Americans will contin- Trump has not been shy in his

Pacquiao scores first KO win...

PAGE A1 hard-punching Argentine beltowner thrice — in the third round with a vicious left-right combination, in the fifth and in the seventh round where he let loose a powerful left uppercut that sent Matthysse kneeling.

Referee Kenny Bayless motioned the fight was over without even counting as Pacquiao jumped around the ring in celebration of his crowning as the new World Boxing Association welterweight champion.

“I’m back!” Pacquiao exclaimed during the post-fight news conference.

“I’m not done yet. I’m still here.

I feel I’m only 27 years old,” he told the media.

The TKO victory was Pacquiao’s first since stopping Miguel Cotto in 2012.

Matthysse, meanwhile, endured his fifth defeat in a 14-year career.

The Argentine never landed any solid punch.

Pacquiao took control right at the opening bell by connecting with powerful unanswered combinations, which he continued in the next round.

On the third round, the Filipino legend caught Matthysse with a left cross and a right straight. Sensing he had the advantage, Pacquiao pressed on with his attacks, ending the fourth round with a solid right. Matthysse was warned for a head butt earlier in the round.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Kuala Lumpur for a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, watched the fight from the ringside. He was accompanied by his son Sebas-

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Report: Hate crimes increase...

PAGE A1 gion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.”

More than half of the reported hate crimes in California involved racism, but crimes against victims based on sexual orientation and religion have also suddenly increased.

Anti-Asian crimes comprise of only 3.4 percent of the hate crimes reported last year — crimes targeting blacks and Latinos were 27.6 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively. But antiAsian sentiments have been exemplified more and more in the form of harassment, with many Asian Americans posting stories on social media about people telling them to “go back to your country.”

Experts have correlated the sudden uptick of hate crimes with the disconcerting rhetoric toward minorities by President Donald Trump and the nationwide resurgence of white supremacist groups after Trump’s election.

“The current Administration’s anti-immigrant, anti-China, and anti-Muslim rhetoric have certainly affected our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities,” civil rights and legal organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles said in a statement sent to the Asian Journal. “Through our hate tracker, we have received several reports of AAPIs being told to ‘go back to China’ or who have been verbally harassed with racial slurs.”

Filipinos have been among the

many targets of this harassment.

Last month, the Asian Journal reported that a Bay Area Filipino and Mexican-American family was chided by an American woman at the grocery story who told them to “go back to your country” because [immigrants] “steal our food, steal our money, steal our jobs.”

Last year, Filipina-American Quiggle Ignacio, a registered nurse, was sitting in her car at the Eagle Rock Plaza in Los Angeles when a white couple hit her car with a shopping cart. When Ignacio looked at the couple, the white woman reportedly yelled at her, “what are you looking at, b*tch? F*ck you, you chinky Asian!”

Ignacio then confronted the couple, asking why she was yelling at them, to which the man called her “stupid” and told her to “go back to your country,” according to a video Ignacio posted on Facebook. The woman then reportedly hit Ignacio multiple times on her face, which caused facial bruising, as seen in photos Ignacio posted. (Ignacio reported the crime to the police.)

“I’m a good person and a hard worker, follow the law and take care of my patients like my own. There’s no race or color that would change my service to them. I take care of them just like how I would take care of my family,” said Ignacio, according to NextShark. “What did I do to get hit in the face? I didn’t do anything wrong or bad to them. I was the victim but then I got hurt and I got discriminated. At this point, I really pray that people

stop being racist and stop hurting other people.”

When Trump first announced his presidential campaign in 2015, he touted his plans to build a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border with a callous message that brought his campaign early criticism for generalizing Mexican and Central American immigrants as “criminals” and “rapists.”

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs.

They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said.

That message set the tone for his campaign — and, eventually, presidential — rhetoric and political outlook. In August 2017, a group of white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville, Va. and spewed racist, nativist messages, which prompted counter protestors, one of whom was killed by a white supremacist who drove a car into the crowd.

Trump hesitated when condemning the act, saying that there was violence “on both sides” and that there were some “very fine people” within the white supremacists, a comment that received wide criticism from Americans of all political leanings.

While the president has walked back on his more controversial statements which were perceived as racist, the perceived correlation between the sheer PAGE A4

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Dateline USa

Majority of Filipinos oppose Charter change...

PAGE A1 Meanwhile, only 18 percent were in favor, and the remaining 14 percent were undecided on the matter.

The survey also showed that 62 percent or six in 10 Filipinos are against the proposed shift to a federal system of government.

Out of that percentage, 34 percent were opposing it now and in the future and 28 percent were being against it at present but may be open to it in the future.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the lack of information regarding federalism could explain why it is unpopular among Filipinos.

“For this reason, we cannot expect our people to support an initiative, which they know only little about. There is clearly much work to be done in terms of spreading awareness and knowledge on the aforementioned issue,” he said in a statement on Monday, July 16.

“We will therefore exert even more effort to inform and educate our citizens about federalism since the approval of the proposed changes in our current Charter ultimately lies in the hands of the

Filipino people,” he added.

The survey was done two weeks before the Consultative Committee (Concom) submitted its final draft proposal for a federal constitution to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“During the period March to June 2018, the overall level of support for charter change now declines (-5 percentage points) while public opposition against it now and in the future becomes more notable (+5 percentage points),” Pulse Asia said.

The survey showed big pluralities in Metro Manila (40 percent), the rest of Luzon (40 percent), the Visayas (43 percent), and Class D (38 percent) are not in favor with charter change now and in the future.

“About the same percentages of those in Class E either reject it now and in the future (32 percent) or oppose it now but may be supportive of its in the future (30 percent). In Mindanao and Class ABC, nearly the same percentages oppose charter change now but may be open to it in the future (34 percent and 30 percent, respectively), support it now (28 percent and 25 percent, respectively), or

reject it now and in the future (26 percent and 38 percent, respectively),” Pulse Asia said.

The survey also showed how the support for Charter change now declined among Metro Manilans (-17 percentage points) while opposition became more pronounced in the Visayas (+15 percentage points) and Class E (+12 percentage points).

“Almost seven out of 10 Filipinos (69 percent) have at best a low level of knowledge about the federal system of government that is being proposed by charter change advocates,” Pulse Asia said. “From March to June 2018, the only significant change is the increase in the percentage of Metro Manilans with little/ almost no/no knowledge at all about the proposed federal system (+15 percentage points) and the consequent decline in the percentage of Metro Manilans with at least enough knowledge about it (-15 percentage points).”

It also noted that a small majority of Filipinos (55 percent) report awareness of proposals to change the country’s charter. This overall level of awareness is higher than the March 2018 figure (49 percent). n

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Pacquiao scores first KO win in 9...

PAGE A3 tian, Mahathir and his special assistant, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Duterte heaped praises on Pacquiao but also urged him to consider hanging up his gloves.

“I’d like to see my friend rest on his laurels at this time and enjoy life,” Duterte told journalists after the bout. “He has so much money already. He can enjoy life.”

“I would like to congratulate Senator Manny Pacquiao for giving us pride and bringing the Filipino nation together once more,” the president said in a statement.

“You have proven time and again that you are not just a public servant, but one of the greatest boxers of all time.

This win will surely cement, yet again, your position and legacy in boxing’s Hall of Fame.

May you continue to inspire Filipinos not only in boxing but also in the public service,” he added.

This is the first time an incumbent president watched Pacquiao fight.

The president’s special aide also sent his regards to Pacquiao, for “showing the whole world the heart, the courage and the skill of the Filipino.”

Cheers, tears Millions of boxing fans across the Philippines erupted in cheers and tears of joy when they saw

Pacquiao beat Matthysse.

In the run-up to the fight, Pacquiao was trailed by whispers that he was past his prime and doubts he would be able to best the big-punching Matthysse, who is four years his junior.

But when Pacquiao’s victory was sealed in the seventh round by knockout, fans around the nation of over 100 million jumped to their feet and roared with joy.

“I was confident he could do it. It’s not about his age,” Christopher Lasala, 39, said in Manila. “I was so happy when he knocked out Matthysse, I kept clapping. I said I knew Pacquiao would win.”

Flora dela Paz, a life-long boxing fan, had tears streaming down her face as she watched Pacquiao raise his arms in victory.

“I am just so happy. I got goosebumps,” the 68-year-old retired shoemaker said. “He won, he won!”

Pacquiao is idolized by tens of millions of Filipinos after rising from the streets to the pinnacle of boxing.

Known to his countrymen as Pambansang Kamao (The National Fist), Pacquiao was crowned WBA welterweight champion at the age of 39.

To most of the 105 million Filipino population, the winner of an unparalleled eight world championships in different weight

divisions is a beloved national symbol and living proof that success is possible with hard work even if you are dirt-poor.

Pacquiao declared a net worth of P2.946 billion pesos ($56.2 million) in 2017 and placed 20th in Forbes’ list last year of the highest-paid athletes of all time with total earnings of $510 million.

He has successfully parlayed his boxing fame into a political career, getting elected to the House of Representatives and then, in 2016, to the Senate.

He admits to having considered running for president someday and many Filipinos are urging him on.

Known for his generosity and common touch, he has given away huge amounts to friends, supporters and to the poor. He is known for accommodating his fans, letting them watch his training sessions.

The 1.66-meter southpaw began his professional ring career as a teenager, and in 23 years has compiled a 60-7-2 win-lossdraw record with 39 knockouts.

In the ring he is a volume power puncher who uses lightning footwork to create angles with which to deliver flurries, the likes of which have felled Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. (With reports from Ralph Villanueva and AFP)

Report: Hate crimes increase...

PAGE A3 volume of hate crimes and harassment towards minorities in the last three years and the rise of Trump cannot be discounted.

“I think people, particularly

with bigots, they are now more emboldened and we are seeing this across a spectrum of data points,” Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San

Bernardino told the Los Angeles Times. “If you look at bigoted social media posts, if you look at the number of white nationalist rallies across the nation and in California.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Filipino-French footballer celebrates...

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fan Jona Tamayo in Filipino.

The 6-foot-5 Areola was the third choice keeper behind skipper Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda and didn’t earn his cap in the Russia WC but he’s expected to get his chance in future forays of Les Bleus.

Areola, currently a goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain FC, is one of 18 players in the French team with immigrant background, along with the likes of Paul Pogba from Guinea, Kylian Mbappe from Algeria and Cameroon and Samuel Umtiti from Cameroon.

French Ambassador Nicolas Galey on Monday, July 16, emphasized that France’s victory in the FIFA World Cup, a day after Bastille Day, is a reminder of the power of sports in bringing peoples and cultures together.

“A day after the celebration of the French National Day last July 14, we applaud the victory of the French National Football Team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup after an excellent match against Croatia, whose team played impressively as well,” Galey said in a statement.

“This triumph, which comes

20 years after winning the championship for the first time in 1998, symbolizes the spirit, unity and also diversity of the French nation, exemplified by athletes such as Alphonse Areola, a young French-Filipino football player,” he added.

“We thank our Filipino friends who fervently cheered alongside our compatriots throughout the competition, and look forward to more occasions to share our passion for sports in the Philippines,” Galey said. (With reports from Pia Lee-Brago/Philstar. com) n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 20-26, 2018

D ATELINE PHILIPPINES Dela Rosa: Senate run is still open

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa is keeping his options open as he looks forward to the 2019 elections.

Dela Rosa clarified to reporters on Tuesday night, July 17, that “Senator Bato” is still a possibility, following reports saying he would run for governor of Davao del Sur after transferring his voter registration to the province.

“In preparation lang ‘yan just in case ang final decision ni PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) ay gov[ernor], DavSur (Davao del Sur) but as of now, no final decision yet from PRRD. (“That’s just a preparation in case PRRD’s decision is gov, Davsur but as of now, no final decision yet from PRRD,)”

Former PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa Philstar.com photo

he said in a text message.

“Option for Senate run is still open,” he added.

Dela Rosa has repeatedly announced that he will only run for

public office if Duterte wishes him to do so since they have been long-time companions. The condition for which position is the same — Duterte will decide for Dela Rosa.

The top cop-turned-corrections-chief has a chance at landing a seat in the Senate in 2019 based on a June 2018 Pulse Asia survey.

The survey revealed that he is part of the so-called “Magic 12”, besting potential candidates like veteran politicians Aquilino Pimentel III and Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Not only that but he was also included in the top 12 in a Laylo survey in November 2017, and in the top 20 in a November Social Weather Stations poll, based on documents obtained by Rappler. ■

Gov’t may limit number of tourists in Boracay

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE government is planning to control the number of tourists that can visit Boracay, although the inter-agency task force overseeing the ongoing rehabilitation of the island has not yet determined the number of people that would be allowed once it reopens in October.

This was revealed on Monday, July 16, when an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) told senators that the research determining the carrying capacity of Boracay Island has yet to be completed during the joint hearing of the Senate Committees on tourism and local government.

The research, which is expected to be completed in August, will determine the capacity of the island, as stated by Bighani Manipula of the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau.

However, according to a 2008 study, the carrying capacity of Boracay Island is only about 35,000, which creates conflict given that the population in the island reaches 60,000 and 110,000 especially during peak season.

Senate Tourism Committee chairperson Sen. Nancy Binay claimed that Boracay has ex-

A5

ON THEIR TOES. Policemen question motorists in Quezon City as the Philippine National Police started implementing its Oplan Sita. The PNP increased police visibility more than a week before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

PH Supreme Court reprimands Sereno for public statements against justices

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Policemen and Philippine Navy personnel help government teams and private groups in cleaning up Bolabog Beach on Boracay Island.

Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon

ceeded its capacity, based on initial figures.

According to her, efforts to rehabilitate the island would be put to waste if the government allowed overpopulation in the island.

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, for his part, said the issue “would be discussed by the task force once the study on the carrying capacity of the island is available.”

But Binay is unmoved, saying that the government would be sending out false hopes by announcing Boracay would be open in October when in reality the island cannot accommodate

more visitors.

“You are saying by October 29 Boracay will be operational but apparently because of the carrying capacity it is possible that Boracay is not yet ready to accommodate tourists,” Binay told Densing.

Densing insisted that the task force will come up with a mechanism to manage the number of tourists allowed to visit the island to prevent overcrowding once data becomes available.

Another hearing is set to be conducted by the committee before the reopening of Boracay to check on the progress of its rehabilitation. ■

FORMER Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday, July 17, was reprimanded by the Supreme Court (SC) for the public statements she issued earlier on the quo warranto case.

Justices of the high court voted unanimously to cite Sereno in contempt and penalize her with a “reprimand” that also carries a warning of harsher punishment if she repeats the violations. They ruled that Sereno violated the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct.

According to the Court, Sereno’s statements on the quo warranto case filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida violated the sub judice rule, which prohibits parties from discussing merits of their pending case before the public.

“The Court acting on the show cause order contained in its May 11, 2018 decision reprimanded the respondent with a stern warning that the repetition of the same acts will merit a heavier penalty,” SC Spokesperson Theodore Te said

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

in a press briefing.

Sereno’s public remarks against six justices who voted to oust her despite the plea for their inhibition because of their alleged biases were also part of the basis for the administrative sanction.

“She may be held liable for disbarment for violating the Canons of Professional Responsibility for violating the sub judice rule by repeatedly discussing the merits of the quo warranto petition in different fora and for casting aspersions

Inquirer.net photo

and ill motives to the Members of the Court even before a decision is made, designed to affect the results of the Court’s collegial vote,” the Supreme Court decision read.

The SC issued a show cause order against Sereno when it ordered her removal from office through a decision on May 11, which became final on June 19.

Sereno, for her part, asked the Court not to penalize her as she did not violate any rules in her PAGE A6

A

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CBCP calls for peace, sobriety amid conflict with Duterte

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA — The pastoral exhortation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that called for peace and sobriety among the faithful amid the Church’s conflict with President Duterte was read during masses in churches in Metro Manila over the weekend.

The letter issued by CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles after their 117th plenary assembly last week was read in all parishes upon the request of Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The letter urged Filipino Catholics “to remain steadfast in our common vocation and mission to actively work for peace... in these times of darkness, when there’s so much hatred and violence, when murder has become an almost daily occurrence, when people have gotten so used to exchanging insults and hurting words in the social media.”

It was also read in anticipated masses last Saturday, July 14, and in regular masses on Sunday, July 15.

The archdiocese, in a circular issued by its chancellor Fr. Reginald Malicdem on July 11, asked all parish priests, rectors and chaplains to read the CBCP letter during the masses.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of CBCP public affairs committee, said the letter was also read in other churches nationwide upon discretion of bishops in their dioceses.

“The bishops thought that

Filipinos should know the stand of the Church on issues besetting the country today,” he explained.

The CBCP issues a pastoral statement every year at the conclusion of its plenary assembly.

The statements of the bishops serve as guidance to priests as well as the Church’s flock, but they were previously not read in masses.

In the two-page “Rejoice and Be Glad” pastoral exhortation, CBCP called for peace and sobriety amid its conflict with President Duterte.

The bishops stressed that the Church and the faithful should not counter the attacks hurled against it.

“Vengeance is never the way of Christ. It is not the way of Jesus to return evil for evil; no, we can conquer evil only with good (Romans 12:21). Up to the last moment of his breath, he had nothing but words of mercy towards his tormentors, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do (Lk 23:34)’,” read the CBCP letter.

But the bishops drew the line and would not compromise when it comes to the core teachings of the Church.

The CBCP president also gave assurance that they recognize the constitutional provision on the separation of church and state and explained that, “When we speak out on certain issues, it is always from the perspective of faith and morals, especially the principles of social justice, never within any political or ideological agenda in mind.”

“For the stupidity of God is

wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength,” Valles quoted the apostle Paul.

To those who were angered by the insulting statements made by people in authority, CBCP said vengeance is never the way of Jesus Christ.

The bishops also denied insinuations that they are involved in destabilizing the government. “Our concern is never the establishment of any earthly kingdoms. Worldly kingdoms come and go. We work only for God’s kingdom which is beyond this world – so that we can start learning to live life ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.”

The CBCP also clarified that they do not regard humans as their enemies, since their battleground is spiritual.

“Our enemies in this world are not fellow human beings…

We do not fight our battles with guns and bullets. We do not seek protection from those who might wish to harm us by wearing bullet-proof vests, because the battles that we fight are spiritual,” it said.

The bishops recalled that even the Savior Jesus Christ suffered and was called crazy or “prince of demons” because he did not compromise with evil. “His peace is never the peace of compromise or capitulation of evil; it is also not about the absence of conflict and turmoil.”

Meanwhile, the CBCP also asked Catholics to observe a three-day prayer, fasting and almsgiving from July 17 to 19 and ask for God’s mercy for those who blasphemed God’s name. n

LINGAP LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN. Members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) gather for the medical and dental services being offered for free during the “Lingap Laban sa Kahirapan” (Aid to Fight Poverty) event at the Quirino Grandstand grounds in Manila on Sunday, July 15. The charity mission is conducted in commemoration of the INC’s 104th anniversary on July 27.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

NBI files malversation raps vs Aquino, 18 others over P3.5-B Dengvaxia mess THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to file technical malversation and graft-related charges against former president Benigno Aquino 3rd and 18 other government officials over the nationwide implementation of the P3.5 billion dengue immunization project that was later deemed unsafe.

Aside from Aquino, former Health secretaries Janette Garin and Paulyn Ubial, former Budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad and 15 others were also included in the complaint that was filed on July 13 but released to reporters only on Monday, July 16.

The NBI said that Aquino approved the realignment and eventual release of P3.5 billion budget

for Dengvaxia, the anti-dengue vaccine, on December 29, 2015 from the Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefits Fund based on Garin and Abad’s recommendations.

The NBI said that realigning the MPBF fund was illegal since the immunization project was not provided under the 2015 national budget and the vaccine procured even if its manufacturer, French firm Sanofi Pasteur, had not secured a certificate of product registration.

“There is technical malversation because government funds amounting to P3 billion intended for the 2015 Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF) of the Executive Department was utilized for the procurement of Dengvaxia under the Health department’s school-based immunization program. Although the source of fund was declared as savings by the Chief Executive, its intended purpose failed as there

is no existing program, activity or project for dengue procurement and immunization,” the NBI said in its 55-page complaint.

Under the law, the crime of technical malversation is committed when a public officer applies public funds under his administration not for his or another’s personal use, but to a public use other than that for which the fund was appropriated by law or ordinance.

“MPBF may only be obligated and disbursed before the end of the validity of appropriations on December 31, 2015. Hence, its release in 2016 is unlawful,” the NBI said.

The NBI also accused Aquino, Garin and Abad of allegedly conspiring with government officials and Sanofi executives since the budget for Dengvaxia has been released before it was listed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Llanesca Panti/ManilaTimes.net)

Robredo camp calls on SC to junk Calida manifestation THE camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has asked the Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to junk the position of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) calling for the adoption of a 50 percent shaded oval as valid vote threshold in the ongoing poll recount of the 2016 Vice Presidential race.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the lead counsel of Robredo, made the plea in a 13-page manifestation filed on July 13 and released to reporters on Monday.

Macalintal said Solicitor General Jose Calida was incompetent to comment on the valid vote threshold, considering that the OSG and its representatives did not attend and observe the ongoing revision, recount and re-appreciation of ballots in the electoral protest on the 2016 vice-presidential race filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “The OSG had no basis when it issued a reckless conclusion that the application of the 50-percent threshold percentage does not disenfranchise the voters. OSG has revealed to the Honorable Tribunal its lack of knowledge

on the ongoing revision, recount and re-appreciation of ballots,” Macalintal said in a statement.

Robredo has a pending appeal before the PET asking the high court to set at 25 percent the valid ballot shading threshold in accordance with the Commission on Elections’ September 2017 resolution.

The Marcos camp favors the 50-percent threshold, which was based on PET’s 2010 rules on poll protests.

Calida campaigned for Marcos during the 2016 elections and was one of the leaders of group AlDuB (Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong).

Macalintal also said the 25percent threshold was in accordance to the valid vote threshold used by the vote counting machines (VCM) in the 2016 polls.

Robredo beat Marcos by 263,473 votes.

“In those instances where the ovals were not fully shaded but still met the 25 percent threshold, the VCMs still read and counted the votes cast. To disregard these valid votes previously read and counted by the VCMs will result in massive disenfranchisement of voters,” Macalintal said. (ManilaTimes.net)

Heart disease, diabetes top PH killers

by Ed

VElasco ManilaTimes.net

NON-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart ailments and diabetes accounted for 68 percent of deaths in the Philippines since 2012 due to poor lifestyle, heavy smoking and alcohol consumption, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

Speaking at the opening day of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-sponsored Innovations and Actions against NCDs forum, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo described the dilemma as “disturbing” because many NCD-related deaths are sudden, thus causing severe pain to family members.

The top killers are heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and aneurysm.

Domingo said 68 percent of deaths in the country from 2012

to 2017 are related to these diseases. He said that based on Noncommunicable Diseases Progress Monitor 2017, 29 percent of the country’s 105 million population will not reach the age of 70 because of unhealthy lifestyle.

“The rising cases is also attributed to too much consumption of salt, rice and sugar,” Domingo said.

Unhealthy lifestyle, which is characterized by lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption, is one of the triggers of these diseases, he added.

In the entire Southeast Asia, NCD-related deaths reached 7.9 million in 2015, Domingo said.

The official said the DoH is trying its best to help Filipinos combat NCDs through health financing, health service delivery, health regulation and good governance. n

PH Supreme Court reprimands...

PAGE A5 compliance filed last month. She claimed that the public statements she made were in response to attacks against her.

She also argued that she could not be blamed for explaining her side to the public when the House justice committee repeatedly rejected her demands to be given the right to due process during the impeachment hearings.

Sereno also mentioned how her right to be heard by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court was denied, as well as her right o be heard by an objective and impartial tribunal when the six justices she

accused of bias still participated in the proceedings against her. These were Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, Samuel Martires and Teresita Leonardode Castro.

According to Sereno, she “cannot reasonably be expected to keep her silence despite vigorous assaults on her integrity” and that her public statements were made as “party-litigant” and not as counsel or judge.

Her camp has deferred commenting on the latest SC ruling, choosing to first wait for an official copy of the decision. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 20-26, 2018

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A closer look at the ‘darling’ Philippine economy

by IAN

In a statement issued Friday, July 13, the financing institution said it expects increased public investments due to higher public capital outlays and infrastructure spending.

Photo by Miguel de Guzman/Philstar

World Bank keeps 6.7% growth forecast for PH

by CZERIZA

VALENCIA Philstar.com

THE World Bank is maintaining its growth projection of 6.7 percent for the Philippines this year and in 2019 as it sees the economy being driven by strong consumption.

In a statement issued Friday, July 13, the financing institution said it expects increased public investments due to higher public capital outlays and infrastructure spending.

It also expects private consumption to expand by 5.9 percent this year, further strengthening by 6.2 percent in 2019.

The World Bank said real GDP

growth is expected to accelerate toward the end of 2018 into the first half of 2019 due to spending related to the 2019 senatorial elections.

“The government’s ability to carry out its investment spending agenda will determine if the Philippines can achieve its growth target of 6.5-7.5 percent over the medium term,” said Birgit Hansl, World Bank lead economist for the Philippines.

“In addition, higher private investment levels will be critical to sustain the economy’s growth momentum as capacity constraints become more binding,” she added.

In its June 2018 Global Eco-

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

IN an attempt to fire back at Vice President Leni Robredo, who advised President Rodrigo Duterte to pay attention to the economy instead of hurling tirades against her or God, presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed: “all economies in the world will agree that we are a darling economy.”

The Philippine economy has, in fact, enjoyed uninterrupted growth for the past quarters, thanks to benign inflation in the previous years that had given the central bank enough room to keep interest rates low.

But some economists recently flagged some concerns that might dent the country’s bullish growth story.

To supercharge economic growth, the Duterte administration plans to spend more than P8 trillion to upgrade the nation’s dilapidated infrastructure and aging ports.

To supercharge economic growth, the Duterte administration plans to spend more than P8 trillion for the nation’s dilapidated infrastructure and aging ports.

Presidential photo by Toto Lozano

In the first quarter of 2018, the Philippines remained one of the best performing economies in the region after it grew 6.8 per-

cent, faster than the preceding three month’s 6.5 percent and the 6.4 percent pace in the comPAGE A9

nomic Prospects report, the bank also cautioned the country to be vigilant of the economy’s capacity to service rising demand to stave off inflationary pressures.

The bank also warned that Philippine exports are projected to moderate in the coming years as global growth is expected to decelerate because of a confluence of factors including higher commodity prices, strong but gradually moderating global demand, and tightening of global financing conditions.

“Uncertainty around global growth conditions has risen, with the possibility of trade and other policy shocks emerging from major economies,” said the bank. ■

Farm tourism taking root in PH

by LINDA

B. BOLIDO Inquirer.net

ISST president Dr. Mina T. Gabor Inquirer.net photo

THE Philippines hopes to boost farm tourism as it hosts the Global Farm Tourism Summit on July 17-19 at the Summit Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Dr. Mina T. Gabor, president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), said the event would be an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences among

the countries, as well as local delegates, participating in the international conference.

Initatives She would particularly want to see more local government officials participate so they could learn from their colleagues, who had successfully pursued farm tourism, how the initiative was helping their communities and how it could be adopted in other places.

PAGE A9

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OPINION

Full steam ahead

FEATURES

INSTEAD of talking about no elections in 2019, authorities must begin preparing in earnest for the midterm polls in May. With less than 10 months to go, preparations should be going full steam to ensure that the elections will be as peaceful, orderly and credible as possible.

Local races are particularly violent in this country. With law enforcers’ poor record of solving crimes, murder has become a favored method of permanently eliminating political rivals. The campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes could raise the level of violence in the upcoming elections.

Already, two mayors and two vice mayors have been assassinated in different parts of the country in less than a month. While police saw no link among the attacks, the cases do not bode well for peaceful elections in 2019. Security agencies must draw up measures to prevent violence from escalating in an election year.

The Commission on Elections, meanwhile, now has a complete bench following the appointment of former justice undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr. to fill the seat vacated by Sheriff Abas who has been promoted to Comelec chairman.

Kho, a fraternity brother of President Duterte in San Beda Law’s Lex Talionis, will serve in the

Comelec until Feb. 2, 2022.

There are so many matters to attend to in ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

The Comelec can now proceed at full speed in working for this objective, without being sidetracked by the noise over Charter change and the proposed shift to a federal system of government.

It won’t be long before the Comelec becomes busy accepting the certificates of candidates for local government posts, the seats in the House of Representatives and the 12 slots up for grabs in the Senate. Voters’ lists must be cleaned up together with the automated voting process.

Campaign financing must be monitored, even within the Comelec’s limited capabilities, especially because of the administration’s concern about the rise of narco politics. There’s a lot of work ahead and those tasked to make the preparations must leave no room for distractions.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Trump goes on damage control after choosing to side with Putin over the US intelligence community on Russia’s interference in 2016 election READING from a script, President DonThe Fil-Am ald Trump attempted to clean up the mess Perspective he created during the joint press conference with Russia President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland on Mon- GEL SANTOS-RELOS day, July 16. This follows intense criticism from Republicans, Democrats, and our allies in the international community when Trump said he believed Putin’s denial over the findings of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to damage Hillary Clinton and help Trump win.

Trump’s critics say he failed in his duty as president to protect the United States from Putin’s Russia, despite evidence proving this foreign adversary meddled in our elections through cyber warfare, hacked our power grid, hacked

the state election websites stealing personal information of more than 500,000 voters, etc.

The transcript of the press conference stated: “I have great confidence in my intelligence people. But, I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be.”

Trump said in a news conference that he “misspoke” and had to clarify what he said, claiming “In a key sentence in my remarks, I said ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t.’ The sentence should have been, ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’ You can put that in.”

He added, “I think that probably clari-

“I’M still here,” Pacquiao said.

“Sometimes you just need to rest and get it back, and that’s what I did.”

And just like the legendary bird, Manny Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, rose from the ashes and soared and converted what some said would be a collective ridicule to a strong finish. Pacquiao took another crown and showed to the world that the legendary fighter will see greater days ahead. In convincing fashion, Pacquiao redefined himself sans a corner wanting in his last fight against Jeff Horn in the Battle of Brisbane. Without Freddie Roach in his corner, Pacquiao willed and trained by his lonesome with his all Filipino crew.

“Roach trained Pacquiao (39-4, 36 KOs) for 15 years, helping the Filipino become one of boxing’s most accomplished fighters and one of its biggest drawEdit Edit date and times.”

That Pacquiao was also producer and fighter of his recent fight against Lucas Matthysee didn’t sit well with the old guards of the boxing world. He was joined by a new promotions team along with trainers Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez and Raides “Nonoy” Neri. “Pacquiao, once viewed as one of the most ferocious punchers in the sport, had not knocked out an opponent since his tour de force against Miguel Cotto, whom he knocked out in the 12th round to win a welterweight world title for the first time in November 2009,

accused past administrations, the Democratic National Committee, and the U.S. intelligence agency for and of the hacking. He pointed the finger at everyone else except Vladimir Putin and Russia.

During the news conference, Trump had all the opportunity to bring out that issue of Russia’s assault in our democracy and make Putin accountable, but he did NOT. He had the opportunity to ask Putin about his government’s culpability in Crimea and Ukraine, but he did NOT. Instead, he stood there with Putin, side by side, and hailed the Russian dictator — the adversary of the United States and the free world — for his strength and power.

How could Trump even be successful in working toward peace and healing as he professed were his goals in meeting with Putin without addressing these issues with transparency? And why did he have to attack our allies calling them our

“foes,” and our intelligence agencies while being meek as a lamb with Putin?

No wonder Russia was celebrating after the summit, because he just gave Putin all that he wanted without being made accountable for Russia’s transgressions against the United States and other parts of the world.

The bigger concern is this: what really transpired between the private meeting between Trump and Putin with only their interpreters with them? Why the secrecy? Many worry that Trump could have made concessions to Putin, otherwise why did the president of the United States choose NOT to be transparent?

THINK ABOUT THAT. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

In Pacquiao, the phoenix rises

Commentary

MA. LOURDES TIQUIA

fies it.”

The president affirmed that he believes, supports and has faith in the U.S. intelligence agencies, but continued on to say the meddling could also have been done by “others” — an attempt to water down Russia’s culpability, and is an assertion that is not part of the 65-page detailed report about Russia’s meddling that resulted in the indictment of 12 top ranking Russian officials, in addition to others previously indicted in the probe that is still ongoing.

While Trump’s ever-loyal fan base may believe this alibi, all his other statements prior to the summit when he already got the intelligence report days before it was made public, and during the summit with Putin, would negate such defense.

Trump continued to call the Mueller investigation a “witch hunt,” blamed the Russia probe as the reason for the strained U.S.-Russia relationship, and

a fight many view as the peak of his career. It had been 13 consecutive fights since he had won by knockout, a stretch in which he went 9-4.”

Pacquiao united all Filipinos in victory and defeat. Pacquiao has also shown the world that a poor boy from GenSan in Mindanao can capture their hearts and minds, and excel in a sport of pure brute force. Pacquiao redefined boxing. He evolved, and the world watched by seeing the only senator in the ring to come back and staged a stunning win with a TKO after nine years. Pacquiao had lost four of his last 13 fights after the Cotto conquest.

His power was present, speed reduced but Pacquiao was more guarded and methodical.

That the game was done in Malaysia augurs well for Pacquiao and Asean. The man has brought boxing to Australia and now, Malaysia. Here’s hoping his next fight will be in the continent thereby bringing boxing and the Pacquiao brand to Asia more than the wheelers and dealers of Nevada.

The story of Pacquiao is the story of the Philippines. His is the story of those in the 22 percent poverty line. In a country controlled by only 40 families, Pacquiao was a disruptor. He became part of Manila’s socalled elite, who welcomed him grudgingly. Masking a sneer, Pacquiao, after a worldly bout, found solace with his god and has since chosen the path of service. Still the milking cow of many, Pacquiao maintained his own stubbornness on how to do things. His was a lone voice ridiculed by critics as not knowing a thing or two in being rich and classy or being a senator. He is just a boxer who was lucky, as

President Rodrigo Duterte strikes his signature pose with Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Jinkee Pacquiao, Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao and Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad prior to the Senator’s World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight title fight at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, July 15. Pacquiao went on to win the WBA Welterweight title after knocking out Lucas Matthysse in the seventh round. Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

some would put it. But the poor Manny towers over them all today. He has the money, the public adulation and support, and he is an elected public official.

In all these steps, he did it by himself, his way. And Pacquiao in the Senate is like talking to power, a big punch for Juan dela Cruz against all that has put him down.

And this is where a lot of people can’t believe what Pacquiao has accomplished. Pacquiao’s story is a nation’s story. From the ashes, the Philippines is finding its path to rebirth. Not easy, quite divisive, but willed by collective hands that, despite the noise, will see better days

ahead.

Just like Duterte who continues to be ridiculed and laughed at two years in office, he plods on. Imagine a church hitting a duly elected president with a frame that he was just elected by 16 million and 34 million did not, and that he was not elected by their god. What kind of church promotes such divisiveness? And they want the separation to be crystal clear? Imagine various sectors consistently plotting for two years to remove a duly elected leader. Imagine a so-called opposition hitting the Duterte administration on purely personal matters, not offering any program or recommending

solutions to national problems?

And they blame the Train Law for inflation when clearly the law put money on taxpayers’ hands, increasing dispositive income?

Is the country so condemned to greedy individuals who, in the guise of protecting and defending democracy, erode its very core? We will be hitting the three years of the Duterte administration and more and more the greedy ones will try to unseat him with their one-two punch — mainstream media and destructive politics. It does not make things any better what with a rowdy Duterte crowd not being able to take the high ground. It seems gutter politics

is the vogue these days. But if Duterte hits its stride with the Build, Build, Build program and at a historical high of 80 percent approval and trust ratings, able to pursue its legislative and legacy agenda, it would be very hard to oust the man from Mindanao.

Critics saw a ghost when Pacquiao entered the ring but after the stunning rounds, the ghost became the phoenix rising. “In order to rise from its ashes, a phoenix first must burn.” And as we burn as a nation, “hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams.” We will prevail, and it will be a better Philippines. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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Business news

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 20-26, 2018

A

NBI help sought vs fake peso bills on social media ‘Grab’s growth in PH slowest among neighbors’

by Daxim

l. lucas

Inquirer.net

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to search for individuals or groups that have been maliciously posting photos of defaced Philippine currencies on social media.

In a statement, the central bank said the move was in connection with recent online and social media posts that contained fictitious Philippine currencies.

“The NBI has also been requested to look into the identities of those who have initiated the circulation of ‘fake news’ to deceive the public or generate entertainment from manipulated images of Philippine bank notes and coins on social media or any website on the internet,” it said.

The BSP, under the New Central Bank Act, has the sole power to issue currency within the Philippines.

Section 50 of the law states that: “No other person or entity, public or private, may put into circulation notes, coins or any other object or document which, in the opinion of the Monetary Board, might circulate as currency, nor reproduce or imitate the facsimiles of Bangko Sentral notes without prior authority from the Bangko Sentral.”

The central bank is likewise vested with police authority to investigate, make arrests, and conduct searches and seizures in accordance with the law, for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the currency.

The move comes after a Facebook page began circulating last month pictures of what was purportedly the new P10,000 bill supposedly released recently by the BSP, something authorities quickly denied.

A Facebook page called “Filipino Secret Files” has over 126,000 followers, of whom over 121,000 have acknowledged or approved of the site’s posts by

clicking “like” on them.

The BSP reacted to the misleading information after the item was shared on Facebook thousands of times in the hours following its publication.

In a statement, BSP advised the public that its New Generation Currency banknote series currently in circulation is made up of only six denominations only, namely the 1000-, 500, 200-, 100-, 50- and 20-Piso banknotes.

“The BSP has not produced and has not issued a 10,000Piso NGC banknote,” the central bank said a day after the fake news post went viral.

Information on Philippine banknotes and coins including official press releases and advisories may be accessed through the BSP website www.bsp.gov. ph or through the BSP’s official social media accounts on Facebook BangkoSentralngPilipinas, Instagram BangkoSentral, Twitter @BangkoSentral or YouTube Bangko Sentral. n

Farm tourism taking...

PAGE A7 t The former tourism secretary said more Filipino farmers were becoming interested in developing their farms into tourist destinations to supplement their income from crop production.

Demand for this kind of travel program was growing, she said.

The idea of organized farm visits was boosted significantly when they decided to call it farm tourism instead of the old agritourism, she said.

With incentives and other forms of support being extended under the Farm Tourism Development Act, more farmers were opening up their land to visitors.

New destinations Gabor said Philippine farm tourism destinations had opened up from north to south, with destinations ranging from a small 20-square meter mushroom production venture to vegetable farms like one devoted exclusively to eggplants to orchards and vineyards where people can pick fresh fruits for a fee.

Many farms were drawing both local and foreign tourists and had also become learning centers, Gabor said. Visits by students were organized so they could learn firsthand about farming and farmers.

The summit’s theme, “Managing Climate Risks through Sustainable Farm Tourism,” was very relevant, Gabor said, as farmers were among the most vulnerable

to weather disturbances. But they could also contribute significantly to reducing its negative impact through smart, more environmentfriendly agricultural practices.

Gabor said farm tourism was not only helping increase farmers’ incomes but was also drawing back to the farms many young people who had turned their backs on their families’ means of livelihood.

She said the young people were usually taking care of the business side of farm tourism, like marketing, financial management and other administrative responsibilities. Traditional farmers, for instance, Gabor said, priced their produce without including the cost of their labor, one reason why their incomes were low.

With their children in charge of the financial aspect of the business, prices of produce had become more realistic as labor cost was now being factored in. Young people were employing new technologies and using social media to increase their farms’ appeal to tourists and to promote them as destinations.

Gabor also expected the growing appeal of farm tourism and the additional income it brings to farmers to reduce the conversion of farm lands for other purposes so they could continue to be used for food production.

Extra income She said farm tourism could

A closer look at the ‘darling’...

PAGE A7 t parable period last year.

However, the first quarter economic growth figure fell below the government’s 7-8 percent target range for 2018, which Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia attributed to “spoiler” inflation.

Inflation reaches five-year high Inflation jumped to a fresh five-year high of 5.2 percent in June, beating both government and market expectations. Yearto-date, inflation averaged 4.3 percent, above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2-4 percent target band.

People have blamed soaring prices on the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion TRAIN) law, which lowers personal income taxes while raising excise levies on fuel and “sin” products, among others. Supply-side factors like higher global oil prices—worsened by the continuing depreciation of the peso—are also pushing up commodity prices.

The government plans to release subsidies, in the form of fuel vouchers and cash transfers, to help cushion TRAIN’s impact on prices.

The BSP expects inflation to peak in the third quarter of 2018, or “earlier” than its previous projection. Meanwhile, analysts at Nomura said headline inflation will likely peak only around August or September, before gradually easing from there.

Independent think tank IBON, which is critical of TRAIN, has meanwhile said the government “should stop hyping TRAIN’s cash transfers because when they are ended by 2020, the higher prices of goods and services due to TRAIN will remain.”

To rein in inflation, the BSP has introduced back-to-back rate hikes this year. Higher interest rates discourage people from borrowing money and spending, causing a decline in demand which, in turn, tempers inflation and can even slow down the country’s economic growth.

The latest round of policy tightening is also expected to lend some strength to the peso, which has been hovering at 12year lows and has weakened by more than 7 percent against the U.S. dollar year-to-date, making

it one of Asia’s worst performing currencies so far this year.

Concerns over rising domestic inflation, weaker peso, trade tensions and ongoing normalization of monetary policy in advanced economies have battered the country’s financial markets.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ trade deficit—wherein the country’s imports exceeds its exports—rose to a five-month high of $3.70 billion in May, as the government’s aggressive infrastructure drive continues to push up imports while exports slump despite relief from the peso’s depreciation. Some economists believe the persistent trade deficit could have a negative impact on the economy.

Jobs and wages In June, the government said that unemployment had eased slightly in April at 5.5 percent — around 2.36 million Filipinos — from 5.7 percent recorded in April 2017.

Underemployment—which the government defines as the proportion of those already working but still seeking more work or longer working hours— however jumped to 17.0 percent or 6.9 million in April from 16.1 percent or 6.4 million a year ago.

IBON, in a statement in June, said that “official unemployment figures do not reflect discouraged workers or those who have dropped out of the labor force after failing to find work after six months.”

It added that although employment grew, the agriculture sector saw a drastic drop in employment. It said employment in agriculture dropped by 723,000 to 9.8 million in April from 10.5 million in April 2017.

The think tank also pointed out that the “hunting and forestry subsector lost 558,000 jobs, while fisheries lost 134,000.”

It added the job statistics do not reflect “poor quality work or jobs that are insecure, lack benefits and have low wages.” It said the growth in underemployment indicate that, for many, “full-time work still does not give enough income for the employed to meet their basic needs.”

“Madam Vice President, there is no problem with the economy,” Roque stressed in his comments to Robredo on Thursday, July 12.n

be a way to make the most out of the country’s 7,000 islands. Each community could focus on one specific product and collaborate in raising the value of that product, she said.

Farm tourism, Gabor added, would not only increase the incomes of farmers but also boost the economies of communities that pursued and promoted it.

Gabor’s ISST conducts training programs for people interested to go into farm tourism.n

by Reicelene Joy ignacio Manilatimes.net

GRAB’S growth in the Philippines is the slowest among the Southeast Asian countries it invested in, the transport network company’s (TNC) chief said late last week.

In an interview, Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu blamed the slow growth on overregulation.

“How can we grow? We can’t add cars,” he said.

Despite this, the Grab official said the firm’s financial backers still believe in the country’s potential and continue to invest, as shown by the recent launch of GrabFood and GrabPay, its fooddelivery and mobile wallet apps, respectively.

His remarks came after Grab reported a total comprehensive loss of P2.91 billion last year and P1.56 billion in 2016.

These also came after Cu said Grab drivers lost the urge to drive after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered the firm’s P2-per-minute charge on rides to be removed, causing their income to drop.

The board also imposed a P10million fine on the company over that charge, which it said was not authorized.

According to Cu, the P2-perminute charge was presented to the LTFRB in a technical working group, and that Chairman Martin Delgra 3rd—who later signed the order imposing the fine—was

present during its meetings and did not object to it.

Delgra had said the fact Grab informed the board of the former’s decision to impose that charge did not mean the agency had agreed to it.

“If they thought that the P2 is wrong in the first place, they should have come after us a week after they have found out,” Cu said.

“We’re going to file [a]motion for reconsideration on that decision,” he added.

The Grab Philippines chief also said his company was seeking to make another acquisition outside the TNC market, but did not disclose the name of the company or industry. n

Cash remittances to stay positive – HSBC by mayvelin

u. caRballo Manilatimes.net

BANKING giant HSBC believes that cash transfers by Filipinos working abroad are gaining momentum as growth was likely sustained in May. “We expect remittances to rise 7.5 percent month-on-month and 9.2 percent year-on-year in May as overseas transfers begin to recover after a slow start to the year,” HSBC said in a report released over the weekend.

HSBC’s forecast is higher than the 5.5 percent recorded a year earlier but lower than the April’s 12.7-percent expansion in cash remittances, to $2.347 billion, that was a rebound from March’s

9.8-percent decline.

“Remittances growth has been robust across regions with the exception of the Middle East, where remittances have declined on a yearly basis since the beginning of the year due partly to restrictions on overseas Filipino workers’ deployment to Kuwait at the start of the year,” HSBC pointed out.

The primary contributors to growth in remittances was the United States with a 4.2 percentage points contribution to April’s 12.7 percent growth, followed

by Canada with 1.9 percentage points and Singapore with 1.0 percentage points.

HSBC said it expected cash remittances “to recover toward the

end of the year now that the [Kuwait deployment] ban has been lifted and for remittances growth to remain broadly in line with its historical trend of 5-6 percent.”

In February, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait following the killing of domestic helper Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer.

The ban was fully lifted in May after the two nations forged a deal to protect Filipino migrant workers in the Gulf state.

Cash remittances amounted to $31.3 billion in 2017, 5.3 percent higher compared to the prior year and also topping the Bangko Sentral’s 4.0-percent forecast.n

A10 July 20-26, 2018 • NORCAl ASIAN JOuRNAl

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

SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

Friday, July 20, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

The cost and culture of being a caregiver Filipinos share their experiences in caring for others by

THE Philippines has for years provided the international community with caregivers who have watched over people of all ages in both hospitals and homes.

At the Fountain Valley Regional Hospital in Fountain Valley, California, two Filipinos shared their experiences working at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“You know how it is when you get a baby that is less than a pound delivered, and you get everything going, and then one day you see them go home with their parents? You’ll see right there — it’s a miracle,” said Riza Sarosa.

“You can see how the skin is so translucent. You can see pretty much everything — the heart beating on the chest.

They’re so little,” added Juliet Joson. “Life is a miracle for them to be able to survive.”

Aside from both wearing glasses and being similar in height, the two are often called “twins” by their coworkers due to their similar backgrounds.

Both were born and raised in the Philippines, both went to university in the Philippines, and both eventually joined the millions of Filipinos who found themselves leaving home to find better opportunities abroad, specifically in the field of caregiving.

In Canada, where Filipinos make up a big majority of the nation’s caregiver workforce, a 39-year-old caregiver also shared her experiences.

Like Joson and Sarosa, she too left the Philippines with hopes of finding better opportunities.

“What I love about being a caregiver here is that family will treat you as family too,” said the caregiver in Canada who chose to remain anonymous. “I

Rae ann VaRona / AJPress

love taking care of the elderly because I treat them as my real parents or grandparents too.”

Resiliency and hard work Entering the field of caregiving abroad naturally means making sacrifices.

For one, many have to deal with leaving behind their families and loved ones — sometimes not being able to be with them during tough times. Joson shared of how the last time she was in the Philippines was in 2012, when her father passed away.

It also often means putting personal plans on hold such as pursuing further education, which was the case for Sarosa and the caregiver from Canada.

And then there are the challenges that come from the jobs themselves.

Having first arrived in the country in 2016, the caregiver in Canada recounted that her first experience working in the country consisted of almost 24hour workdays.

“I took care of three children, ages three, two, and one, while the mother was pregnant on their fourth child,” shared the caregiver.

“I resigned after almost four months because I was forced to work almost 24 hours a day,” she added.

After a month since leaving the first family, she went on to work for an elderly couple in their late 80s, staying for them a little over a year and five months.

“You have to feel what they feel. You have to see their needs too,” she shared.

But ask any Filipino who chose to care for others on what keeps them going, they’ll most probably nonchalantly respond by saying it’s just part of who Filipinos are.

“One quality of Filipinos

“What I love about being a caregiver here is that family will treat you as family too.”

is that they are very resilient,” said Sarosa. “They work hard.

They have to help their family and they want to give back.

And they just keep on going.

They don’t give up.”

Such hard work and resilience is what makes many around the world consider Filipinos to be such great caregivers, said the caregiver in Canada.

“They love Filipino caregivers here because we are hardworking and trustworthy,” she said. “We are great caregivers here because we value and love our job dearly.”

Joson and Sarosa in action, putting PIC lines on twin babies.

Nurses Riza Sarosa and Juliet Joson share their experiences as caregivers.

Taking care of family: The struggles of an unpaid caregiver

By Malou liwanag-bledsoe

WE may always think that as Filipinos, our culture dictates that we are expected to take care of our parents when they are no longer able to take care of themselves.

However, here in the United States, Americans face the same situation.

There is no denying that American society is aging, with the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age. Although a 2017 Gallup poll found that 74 percent of U.S. adults plan to work in some capacity beyond age 65, many of them are not financially prepared for the possibility that they may not be able to support themselves if they become ill.

Attitudes have changed toward health care, with the elderly opting to age in their own homes. Rising health care costs make the elderly burdened and cash-strapped, extending on to their families. In the end, many family members have no choice but become unpaid caregivers.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 there were 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and

/ AJPRESS

older in the U.S. In that group, 9 in 10 are providing care for an aging relative.

Michelle (not her real name), a 50-something Filipino who lives in Daly City, has been taking care of both her parents since June of last year.

“I’ve been taking care of them for sometime now,” she said and then added, “Since my mom had her stent and my dad had his triple bypass, 2011 and 2014 respectively. They were pretty capable [to take care of themselves] up until last year when my mom broke her arm in a nasty fall.”

Her parents are now in their eighties and Michelle shared that her dad is also in the early stages of dementia, making it more difficult for her to leave them at home. “ ...Early stages of dementia started to show more obviously than before, to the point where it would be scary to leave them alone. My mom was in constant pain and we could not get a home visit from a PT [physical therapist] and had to travel to get her the

therapy she needed. And no PT would accept us for Saturday appointments and they close at 5 p.m. on weekdays. We eventually found one that could take us at 4:30 p.m.,” she said.

Unfortunately, Michelle is almost alone in taking care of her parents, as other family members are back home in the Philippines.

Her daughter, now in her twenties, is busy working multiple jobs in order to pay for college. The glimpse of a silver lining, however, is that she is able to work from home.

“I am lucky that my job allowed me to work remotely, although there was a drastic cut in my income, but on the other hand, I do not need to commute and spend for meals outside the house,” she said.

With less income and whatever monetary benefits her parents get, Michelle said it’s a struggle to stay afloat. She has been trying to get some financial support from state and federal programs, but it hasn’t been easy.

“I have tried applying for IHSS (In-Home Support Services) from San Mateo County, but meeting

their qualifications isn’t easy,” she explained. “I have just managed to get them both their MediCal eligibility, which is one of the major requirements [for a lot of programs]. There may be some support group somewhere, but I haven’t really looked.”

At present, Michelle isn’t thinking about the possibility that she may have to take care of her parents (or at least one) in the next five (or even 10) years. She shares that she tries to get out as much as she could, even for short periods, but within running distance from their home. She also has started exercising to relieve stress, but still feels that she needs a long break. “...I am in it alone, and being from a Filipino family, I am expected to take care of my parents. They are too proud to ask for help, and each time they are asked if they are independent and capable of caring for themselves, they say they are — even if they clearly aren’t,” Michelle said. “I get burned out and I feel trapped in the situation only because my world now revolves around my parents and I feel I have lost myself and my bearings. It is very limiting and

New USCIS policy: Denial = immigration court and possible deportation Your Immigration Solution Eric r. WElsh WHEN the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) eliminated the words “nation of immigrants” from its mission statement earlier this year, many advocates worried that the Trump administration was transforming the agency from a benefits provider into another enforcement tool. Last week, the agency confirmed those suspicions, releasing new guidance that will dramatically increase the number of people that will be ordered to appear in immigration court for possible deportation.

USCIS is the component of the Department of Homeland Security that is responsible for making decisions on petitions from family members and employers, applications for green cards and citizenship, asylum applications, and many others.

While the USCIS has the authority to issue a Notice to Appear (NTA) (the document that starts the process in immigration court of deporting an alien from the United States), they have traditionally only used its authority to issue NTAs very sparingly, instead deferring virtually all decisions related to prosecution of immigration violations to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Until now, USCIS would only decide whether or not to grant or deny the application, focusing attention on eligibility for benefits and allowing ICE to decide if the person should be forced out of the country.

USCIS’ new guidance directs its officers to issue a NTA in virtually every case where USCIS denies a benefit application and the applicant is removable from the U.S. Most significantly, the guidance directs USCIS to issue a NTA to any person who is “not lawfully present in the United States” at the time that an application is denied. The guidance also directs USCIS to issue a NTA regardless of status when the application is denied and the applicant has a criminal record; any record of fraud or misrepresentation (including entering the U.S. with false documents); and many others.

The guidance makes clear that the reason for the denial is not relevant: so long as the person applying is removable when the application is denied, USCIS is directed to issue the NTA. This guidance will result in almost every denied application being referred to immigration court. There are exceptions for USCIS officers based on prosecutorial discretion that will be decided on a case-by-case basis, but this will require a “high level of concurrence” with various field office heads and a Prosecutorial Review Panel. Except for extreme circumstances, any person who applies for a benefit with USCIS and receives a denial should expect to go to immigration court.

It is important to remember that the guidance instructs USCIS to issue an NTA only if an application is denied. If an application is approved, the applicant will receive the benefit (green card, citizenship, etc.), and will never need to go to court. People will not be referred to immigration court simply because they are removable or because they are out of status.

Despite the new policy, people should not be discouraged from applying for an immigration benefit. They should not forego the opportunity to obtain a benefit for which they are eligible simply out of fear of deportation. Burying your head in the sand is not the answer.

Rather, people should still pur-

sue their immigration dreams.

However, they should proceed with care. The new policy will require greater attention to detail and special care with all potential eligibility issues. The new policy does not mean “do not apply,” it simply means “apply correctly.”

So, how do you make sure you are applying correctly?

Because of the stakes now at play in a denial, potential applicants should seek guidance and assistance from an experienced immigration attorney.

Effective representation can be critical to securing an approval.

Almost all immigration benefits are discretionary, meaning that even when the forms are filled out the right way and the proper fees are paid, USCIS can still deny the application if it deems the applicant unfit for the benefit, or if it decides that not all of the evidence was presently properly or on time.

Many applications require a showing of hardship or other equities that will require the applicant to submit extensive evidence and declarations, as well as legal briefs regarding eligibility. Some applications are more complicated and difficult than others, but all should be handled with special care by people who know what they are doing.case where USCIS denies a benefit application and the applicant is removable from the U.S. Most significantly, the guidance directs USCIS to issue a NTA to any person who is “not lawfully present in the United States” at the time that an application is denied.

The guidance also directs USCIS to issue a NTA regardless of status when the application is denied and the applicant has a criminal record; any record of fraud or misrepresentation (including entering the U.S. with false documents); and many others.

The guidance makes clear that the reason for the denial is not relevant: so long as the person applying is removable when the application is denied, USCIS is directed to issue the NTA. This guidance will result in almost every denied application being referred to immigration court. There are exceptions for USCIS officers based on prosecutorial discretion that will be decided on a case-by-case basis, but this will require a “high level of concurrence” with various field office heads and a Prosecutorial Review Panel. Except for extreme circumstances, any person who applies for a benefit with USCIS and receives a denial should expect to go to immigration court.

It is important to remember that the guidance instructs USCIS to issue an NTA only if an application is denied. If an application is approved, the applicant will receive the benefit (green card, citizenship, etc.), and will never need to go to court. People will not be referred to immigration court simply because they are removable or because they are out of status.

Despite the new policy, people should not be discouraged from applying for an immigration benefit. They should not forego the opportunity to obtain a benefit for which they are eligible simply out of fear of deportation. Burying your head in the sand is not the answer.

Rather, people should still pursue their immigration dreams.

However, they should proceed with care. The new policy will require greater attention to detail and special care with all potential eligibility issues. The new policy does not mean “do not apply,” it simply means “apply correctly.”

So, how do you make sure you are applying correctly?

Because of the stakes now at play in a denial, potential applicants should seek guidance and assistance from an experienced immigration attorney.

Effective representation can be critical to securing an approval.

Almost all immigration benefits are discretionary, meaning

“Burying your head in the sand is not the answer.

Rather, people should still pursue their immigration dreams.”

that even when the forms are filled out the right way and the proper fees are paid, USCIS can still deny the application if it deems the applicant unfit for the benefit, or if it decides that not all of the evidence was presently properly or on time.

Many applications require a showing of hardship or other equities that will require the applicant to submit extensive evidence and declarations, as well as legal briefs regarding eligibility. Some applications are more complicated and difficult than others, but all should be handled with special care by people who know what they are doing. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com website: www.rreeves.com *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

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Meet young Fil-Am ice skaters Sofia Lexi and Natasha Jolyn Frank rado Springs. The altitude here is tough but is the best training ground for them. They have been skating 6-8 hours a day doing on-ice and off-ice training.

They are taking stretching classes, and ballet and contemporary dance classes. They usually wake

By Monet Lu up at 4 in the morning, skate 5 am, then go to school then back I RECENTLY came across the on ice training after school, till hashtag “#startthemyoung” and about 6-7 pm.” Precious Frank I say that I truly support it. I’m says when I asked her about her a firm believer of dreaming big daughters. and going after your dreams.

Preciousa Tongko - Frank is I was reminded of that once a former Bb. Pilipinas candidate. again when I crossed paths with She competed in 1990 and won a friend of mine whose kids are “Ms. Photogenic.” She was also currently being trained to coman actress and a PMAP profespete for a skating competition. sional model for 10 years. She As she and I talked about her now works as a Principal Consultand the girls, I finally found my ant for Med Tech Solutions. Her #startthemyounggoals. Today, I husband, Noah Frank was a am honored to feature these two former Junior Olympian Skier. He young athletes. used to work as the Director of Meet future Olympians Sofia Guest Services at the Peninsula Lexi Frank and Natasha Jolyn Beverly Hills Hotel and an AsFrank. sistant Manager at Beverly Hills “Sofia is 12 years old and Hotel. He gave all that up and Natasha is 10. Both girls are com- got work at the Pasadena Ice peting in Anaheim, Glacier Falls skating Center as a hockey coach by end of July and in the 2018 to get the girls more ice time to Showcase Nationals and regionpractice. als in October. They have been “Noah is no stranger to ice training really hard here in Colosports. One day we took Sofia

to the ice rink to skate. He took her on the ice and after the public session there were ice skating lessons. When Sofia saw the lessons and the little girls in pretty dresses, she begged us for lessons. That was how it started. Natasha saw her big sister skating and of course, wanted to copy her so she did.

Sofia started skating at 3 years old and Natasha started at 2,” Precious added.

At such as an early age the girls were taught to train hard if they want to succeed and achieve their goals.

“Just put it this way, when other kids would still be waking up to get ready for school, the girls (Sofia and Natasha) have had already skated for 2-3 hour, then they go to school. That is really hard - They have been doing this for 8 years. If that is not dedication, I don’t know what is.”

Sofia is in 8th grade while Natasha is in 5th grade. Sofia, an A-student, wants to be an Olympic coach and physical therapist. Natasha is an animal lover, and wants to be a

Continued on Page SF4

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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar THERE’S a new comedy tandem in showbiz with the team-up of Zanjoe Marudo and Empoy Marquez in the new Star Cinema movie, “Kusina Kings.”

According to the two actors, it wasn’t difficult to get that comedic timing between them because it just comes out naturally on set.

“Nagwo-work na kung paano kami sa totoong buhay.

Ganun na rin ang dapat gawin namin sa movie lalo na ito ang una naming tandem,” said Zanjoe.

“On-cam, off-cam, ganun kami ni Z. Yung batuhan namin ng linya...Wala kami hinahanap na bagong ano...

Nandun na sa reality ang dapat namin ikilos sa shooting namin,” added Empoy.

Since the two have already

worked together in other projects, they know each other quite well to make it easy to get that chemistry onscreen.

Zanjoe shared that his first project with ABS-CBN was with Empoy, along with other films.

“Ganun kasi kapag may nakita ka na isang tao kahit bago kakilala pa lang parang makikita mo agad ang connection,” Zanjoe said.

“Siguro dahil pareho kami taga-probinsya at laking kalye, nagkokonek agad kami parehas.”

Being a model and then actor originally, Zanjoe has less experience in making people laugh. However, Empoy commented that he was able to see Zanjoe’s comedic skills in “Kusina Kings.”

“Yung pagmamahal niya

Zanjoe Marudo shows his comedic timing in new film with Empoy Marquez

Comedian Empoy Marquez has teamed up with actor/model Zanjoe Marudo in the new film, “Kusina Kings.”

sa trabaho, yung dedication niya… Nakita ko na versatile siyang actor. Puwede sa drama, puwede sa comedy. Kahit saan puwede siya,” Empoy said. *** Congratulations are in order for celebrity couple Aubrey MIles and Troy Montero for they are expecting another child. The wonderful news was shared by the actress on Instagram by posting a mock movie poster entitled, “The New Roommate.” The two also revealed that the newest addition to the family will arrive next year.

This is sexy star’s third pregnancy. She already has two kids — one from a previous relationship and another one with Troy.

Aubrey does not see any complications with her pregnancy, since she has been living a healthy and active lifestyle. The couple also has been making headlines after posting casual naked photos for their fans on Instagram.

*** Actress Lotlot de Leon is now engaged to her boyfriend of almost six years, Lebanese businessman Fadi El Soury.

Fadi proposed to the actress last Sunday, July 15, while they were having dinner at the Nature Wellness Village in Tagaytay City.

In an interview with PEP.ph, the actress said that she was suprised when the waiter put a dessert plate for her with the words “Marry Me!” “Para akong nablangko for a while!,” Lotlot said, adding that although she knew that Fadi was planning to propose to her, she wasn’t sure when.

As for Fadi, he shared that he didn’t say anything when it happened. He just went down on one knee and then told Lotlot, “Don’t cry.”

According to the couple, they are planning for a beach wedding, sometime in December.

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!

Concert King Martin Nievera will be the guest performer for TFC’s Unity Cup Golf Tournament at the Gala Night Awards on Saturday, August 4.

The event is sponsored by ABS-CBN/The Filipino Channel for the benefit of Bantay Bata.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

Actress Lotlot de Leon is now engaged to her boyfriend of almost six years, Lebanese businessman Fadi El Soury.

CJak Roberto is the newest talent of GMA 7/Pinoy TV and is one of the leading men of Bea Binene in the teleserye, “Inday Will Always Love You.”

Actor/model Zanjoe Marudo shows his comedic skills in his new film, “Kusina Kings” with Empoy Marquez.

Sexy actress Aubrey Miles has recently announced that she is pregnant with husband Troy Montero.

This is her third pregnancy.

Handsome actor Troy Montero is thrilled that he and wife Aubrey Miles are expecting their second child. They will welcome their new bundle of joy in 2019.

The bucket list

The art of “staycation” (8th of a series)

known to man.

Sure, the mountain of laundry is there, the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms need [Select a handful of those cleaning, the garden needs things on your bucket list that weeding. But for a “staycation” have the highest chance of to recharge your spirit, you may coming to fruition given your need to turn a blind eye to the time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s energy screaming demands of your immediate environment. Just say goes into ‘low batt mode’ and NO. This time is for you alone. life has run out of sockets to So okay, you are obsesplug into.] sive about a clean home. Just It’s summertime and the reserve a day or two of your living should indeed be easy. vacation time to sprucing up And yet the default setting for modern life is to plan a vacation just the essentials. Don’t go to elsewhere, the farther away, the Home Depot and decide painting the house as your “staycabetter. tion” project. It doesn’t work Vacations are fine. They that way. are meant to recharge our The art of doing a proper energy levels so we can come back swinging and getting into “staycation” is deciding you just want to give yourself time the groove of normal life. The to JUST BE. You rip and shred problem with an elaborate, all too often expensive vacation, is your to-do list and find joy in we come home tired, jetlagged, the moment, forgetting the light in the wallet, a few pounds demands of your life, for the heavier and needing a vacation time being.

So go ahead. Wear your pafrom the vacation. Are we idiots jamas all day. Turn off or mute or what? the phones. Turn off the TV So how about learning the and mute the music. Vegetate. art of “staycation?” This is when we decide that our home Order pizza. Let the world turn without your input. If you have a is the best place to stay put stressful job, you will appreciate and spend our time away from a true “staycation” done right. work, away from stresses and Swing in a hammock and just away from it all: ringing phones; deadlines and produc- look at the sky and dwell on the wonderful parts of your life as tion quotas, intrigues, to-do you remember lessons learned lists and every aggravation

over the years mixed with countless moments of overwhelming joy. Edit out the ugly and blot out its existence, for the time being. Or better yet, think of nothing and take a nap just because you’re sleepy as a gentle summer breeze rocks you.

There will be time enough for all the demands of your life in the next few days. But for the moment, all you want is to do absolutely nothing and JUST BE. There is an upside to a quiet “staycation.” When you clear your mechanism and tune out the noise that invades your being, you may come to a rare state of grace — that state when you are thoroughly convinced that God is in His heaven and all is right with the world.

Unplug and be receptive.

It is in the stillness that we find who we truly are. It is when we are quiet that we can listen to our thoughts and perhaps, listen to that still small voice that speaks to us.

Next week: Another idea to consider for The Bucket List … *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

Immigration Corner

August 2018 priority dates

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

atty. MiChael GurFinkel, eSQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date BEAUTY QUEEN’S CASE DENIED BECAUSE OF FRAUD, ON A ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Karen married U.S. citizen Paul in 2007. It was a match made is earlier than the cut-off date in heaven, until their beautiful life was put under extreme hardship when Karen’s adjustment of status was denied, after she was found guilty of immigration listed below. If your priority date fraud. They submitted a fraud waiver, and even that was denied. The couple was devastated and all plans for their family and businesses were shattered. was “current,” but later retroEverything seemed hopeless until leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel took over Karen’s case and fought to convince USCIS Karen never committed any fraud. Watch how the “Beauty Queen” and her family regained their charmed life and Karen’s name was cleared, on an encore episode of “Citizen gressed (or “moved backwards” Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement) and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, are likewise due to similar bad Beginning last October choices on our part: eating heart attack and stroke. Many 2015, the format of the Visa forms of cancer are literally “self- processed foods, or, a highBulletin changed, in that a new PhiliP S. Chua, cholesterol, high-fat, high-carinflicted” and preventable.

MD, FaCS, FPCS bohydrate, high salt, low-fiber Damage to our DNA column was added, called the diet; and, dangerously living a Whether we realize it or not, “Application Filing Date.” If a MOST cancers, in gensedentary life (as a couch potato, person’s priority date is earour bad habits and our closets eral, are caused by the body’s doing only finger exercises with and shelves at home are the two lier than the Application Filing repeated exposure to harmful the TV remote, and munching of the most substantial sources Date, they can already file for chemicals in our environment. on all the junk foods around), of cancer-causing chemicals adjustment of status and work These include tobacco, alcohol, simply getting fat. This scenario that we come in contact with, or and all dangerous ingredients reminds us of the strategy to get authorization (provided they are inhale the fumes of, daily, which otherwise eligible and USCIS in common household cleansthe most weight on cattle and adversely impact our body, indicates on its website it will ing agents, like laundry, kitchen, hogs, before an early slaughter: health, and longevity. The other walls, windows, floor, and toilet use the Application Filing Date keeping them in a tight “cage” carcinogens are from the envidetergents. Added to these are where they practically cannot ronmental poisons forced upon for that month). This could allow the variety of chemicals, solumove, and feeding them freus by irresponsible industrial people to obtain work authorizations or sprays we have in the quently to maximize their weight tion much sooner than before, corporations and pollutant-emitgarage, for cleaning cars and and fat. And it works. Much like ting vehicles. All these toxic where they had to wait for the the floor underneath them. Our our couches at home. agents damage our DNA, which priority date to be current (in the home is a major source of expo- leads to many forms of illnesses The Philippines “is a country Visa Issuance Date column) in sure to these toxic agents. And of diabetics,” a lecturer once of various severity. order to both file for adjustment the pollution of our rivers and said, accounting diabesity Major culprits and be eligible for a green card. lakes and oceans from industrial (diabetes-obesity) to our staple Statistics show that most of toxic wastes, and air pollution food, rice. If we stayed away the illnesses that affect, maim, from these same companies and and kill human beings today are from rice, bread, and miniline control. from our car exhaust system, de- brought on by any/or a combimize our deserts, there will be And one toxic agent frestroy the protective ozone layer less diabetics amongst us, he nation of these two substances: quently found in our home are above us and are major sources continued. While it is hard to alcohol and tobacco (including soft drinks. All kinds of pop bevof carcinogens (cancer-causing imagine how an Asian, especially erages are unhealthy, increasing secondhand smoke). These agents). a Filipino, could stay away from diseases include lung ailments the risk for the development of To boot, many of us regularly (bronchitis, emphysema, lung rice, it is surprising to find out metabolic syndrome, both in ingest with gusto two major that many Filipinos, including the adult and in children. cancer), cardiovascular diseases cancer-producing substances: more-health-conscious younger (high blood pressure, heart atGuide our children tobacco and alcohol, two culprit- tack, cardiomyopathy, rhythm ones, have been able to abstain The best is to start among agents that account for most from eating rice. They opt for problems and sudden death), pre-school children, and guide of the diseases, disabilities and protein and vegetables, fruits, metabolic diseases, like diabethem about healthy lifestyle that deaths in the world today. The and nuts. Not eating rice at all tes mellitus, and, many forms early on. This is to protect the indiseases include cancer, lung also helps in weight and waistof cancer. The other factors tegrity of their DNA, and should

Health@Heart

Toxic agents in our home

First Preference

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

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

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

February 15, 2008

August 1, 2006

December 1, 2017

July 22, 2016

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

December 15, 2007

February 15, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

August 1, 1995

May 1, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

December 1, 1995

April 22, 1995

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 1, 2017

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 1, 2017

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar 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. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does 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: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

start early as possible. Once damaged, the DNA are scarred and pathology ensues, showing up as diseases as they grow older. When I suggested in my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children,” that healthy lifestyle should start in the womb and dieting must begin in the crib to be proactive and preemptive in disease prevention at the cellular level, the goal is to protect their DNA. This is the way to maximize good health and longevity

and prevent them from having the so-called “natural and expected diseases of old age” like arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid problems, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. These major ailments are not natural and expected. They are largely preventable. We, humans, were not born doomed to have those illnesses. Majority of our diseases are self-induced, self-inflicted.

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entertainment

by JAN

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

Isabelle Daza wants to remove stigma surrounding depression, anxiety

by CODY

CEPEDA Inquirer.net

ISABELLE Daza couldn’t help but be emotional in her recent talk about mental health, particularly about the stigma surrounding mental illness and how social media, despite its breakthroughs and innovation, can lead one to depression and anxiety.

Daza shared her talk on Instagram last July 13, despite being shy sharing it as she didn’t “look her best.”

“So I’m kinda shy or scared to post this cause I don’t look my best but thats not the point. I’m sharing this very personal, emotional talk because I want to stand up against the stigma that mental illness is something we should be ashamed about.”

In her moving talk, Daza shared that she wants to remove the stigma that mental illness is something to be ashamed of.

“My name is Isabelle Daza, I’m a social media influencer.

I’m here today because I want to remove the stigma that mental illness, anxiety, depression is something that we need to be ashamed about,” Daza said at the start of her talk.

“It’s amongst us, but God forbid, anybody find out that we’re not living this perfect life… With social media, I’m not gonna say it’s the most awful thing on earth because social media has helped us with a lot.”

But despite the good things social media has opened up to its users, Daza shared that it can also be a a source of negativity.

“It generates this jealousy and it generates this ‘I’m not good enough,’ ’I’m not as pretty,’ ‘I’m not as thin,’” Daza continued, seemingly crying.

EMPLOYMENT

Gerald Anderson: BeaRald still ‘on’ MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

MONTHS after Kapamilya actress Bea Alonzo said she and Kapamilya actor Gerald Anderson are no longer a couple, Gerald said there is no reason to move on.

In a Skechers event last week where he is an endorser, Gerald said: “Okay naman kami. Wala namang move on na dapat gawin. Nagulat ako sa tanong mo ha,” Gerald told Philstar.com while laughing.

Reports say Gerald and Bea did not really break up, but this has not been officially confirmed by the actors.

Recently, photos of the couple reportedly spending time together at a zoo surfaced on social media. User @ bearald_rock posted pictures of the couple enjoying the zoo and interacting with animals.

The photos reportedly were a repost from Jen A., who is allegedly Gerald’s sister.

Gerald, who is doing a new teleserye under ABS-CBN and a basketball player of Marikina Shoemasters at the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), will be leading the in-

Recently, photos of the couple reportedly spending time together at a zoo surfaced on social media.

Pictures of the couple enjoying the zoo and interacting with animals were posted on Instagram. The photos reportedly were a repost from Jen A., who is allegedly Geraldʼs sister.

Photo from Instagram/@bearald_rock

augural Skechers Performance Run at SM By the Bay, MOA Complex.

The race has three categories: 5k, 10k, and 21k distances to cater to both beginners and seasoned runners. Registration is ongoing online and in select stores across the metro.

Gerald said his teammates as well as their coaches will run in the event for them to have a bonding. He refused to tell if Bea will be running

alongside them.

He has yet to make a debut on the hard court due to a hamstring injury, but he said he is doing fine now, so he hopes to play and help his team soon.

The actor also looks forward to meet Xian Lim in the court. Xian plays for the MPBL team Mandaluyong El Tigre.

Xian logged six points and six rebounds in 15 minutes of play during his debut.

Empoy redefines this generation’s ‘pogi’ (Actually, I’m often alone, I really choose to be alone. The people I come across with, those I bump EVER since his recordinto would whisper to each breaking sleeper hit “Kita Kita,” other and say, ‘oh he smells comedian Empoy Marquez good in person),” he said while immediately rose to leading man throwing in a little joke at the status. Because of his new-found media conference Tuesday, July Photo from Instagram/@isabelledaza fame, he has amassed a huge 17 for his newest film “Kusina Kings” which he top-bills with Daza also encouraged her following that has gone crazy over this generation’s “new Kapamilya hunk Zanjoe Marudo. audience to reach out to the pogi.”

However, the deluge of Tagging along with his fame people they love. “Whole love his fans have for him does is his now inexplicable appeal to point of being here today was not faze the simplicity Empoy women. As they say, the fastest to inspire someone, talk to has had through the years. way to a woman’s heart is a the person you love, I don’t Unlike most celebrities with funny man’s spirit. True enough, mean like send them a messecurity personnel all over, the he has developed legions of sage on Instagram and troll country’s funniest leading man female fans fancied over his somebody,” she said. still chooses to stroll out alone. funny antics.

“Connect with them, and “Actually madalas ako magAsked how he is now with validate them and say ‘I hear isa, mas gusto ko ‘yung nag-iisa, girls, the ever funny Empoy you’ and it’s okay to not be ‘yung mga tao nakakasalamuha joked, “Elementary palang ako okay sometimes, but we’re ko, nakakabungguan ko, ganto na’ko, walang pinagbago. gonna get through this. tapos magbubulungan sila, ‘uy (Since I was in elementary I was People need to be heard and mabango pala siya sa personal. already like this [a chick magnet] maybe we can save a life.”

by CLARIZEL ABANILLA Inquirer.net

“I’m not traveling as much.’ I felt like I need to be relevant, I need to be talked about, I need to post something today.”

In the video, Daza’s audience can be seen listening intently as she spoke articulately. “I can’t imagine being a teenage girl looking up at influencers and wanting that life and then going home and feeling like ‘I don’t have it.’

Maybe this can lead to mental illness and depression and anxiety.”

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

Photo from Instagram/@empoy

nothing has changed).”

A fruit of right project at the right timing, Empoy is now one of the most sought-after comedians of this generation.

Apart from shooting movie after movie, he is also part of ABS-CBN’s top-rating primetime series “Since I Found You.”

Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage The CTV Files ATTY. DENNIS CHUA, ESQ. A stepparent may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent – stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old.

This means that the stepparent and the biological parent of the stepchild must get married before the child turns 18 years old.

If the petitioner can no longer file an immigrant petition for the stepchild because the child has turned 18 years old, the child can still be petitioned by the biological parent after she obtains his or her permanent residency status.

The significance of having a U.S. citizen stepparent file

for a stepchild is so that they could avoid the visa backlogs for visa petitions filed by legal permanent residents for their minor children (2d preference category). But considering the current visa priority dates being processed under the 2d preference category, the stepchild may be able to immigrate sooner than later even if petitioned by a legal permanent resident biological parent.

If the biological parent is about to get married to the U.S. citizen petitioner and the biological parent has a child who is already over 18 years of age, it might be wise to consider postponing the marriage to give the child an opportunity to enter the United States faster.

Instead of marrying the biological parent, the U.S. citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent. Once the fiancé petition is approved, both the biological parent and child can be issued the corresponding K visas for them to enter the United States. Upon marriage of the U.S. citizen to the biological parent, both parent and child can file their respective

applications for adjustment of status to have their status changed from K to permanent resident status.

The decision whether to file a fiancé petition or an immigrant petition is crucial especially if the child is aging out or turning 21 years of age. The decision to just get married instead of filing a fiancé petition could mean a long wait of at least eight years before the child can be able to immigrate to the United States and join the biological parent. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ ctvattys.com. The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic.

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Toxic agents in our home

From Page SF5 Teaching and guiding our children from age one is vital to their future.

Healthy lifestyle Living a healthy lifestyle will prevent or eliminate most of these diseases and provide us a healthier, happier, and more productive life. And this singular wonderful benefit in itself is worth all the sacrifices and hard work one needs to invest to achieve it. Components of lifestyle are our philosophy, attitude, behavior, habits, diet, exercise, and psychological and mental state.

On the household front, we agree that these chemical agents make it a lot easier for us to do our chores at home, but the potential side-effects and complications from their use – possible diseases, disabilities and early deaths — are too high a price to pay. And for these dozen or more chemical agents we use at home daily, perhaps we can minimize the danger of toxicity

by limiting their use and by being extra cautious not to inhale their fumes or allow them to touch our skin.

Homemade cleansers In view of the toxic nature of all cleaning chemicals we use at home, whether with immediate or delayed effects not obvious until years down the line, the oldfashioned non-chemical scrubbing and cleaning methods used by our great grandparents and theirs for centuries are becoming more and more popular today.

Water, the universal solvent, is the main vital ingredient in cleansing. To a gallon of water, add one ounce (30 cc) of vinegar and a teaspoon (5 cc) of liquid soap, creating your own overall spray cleansing agent at home.

An ounce (30 cc) of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in one gallon of water is also a safe cleansing agent at home. The peroxide breaks down to H2O (water) and extra oxygen. Both are not only effective cleansing agents but safer, and lesser

expensive. An ounce (30cc) of regular 70 percent alcohol to a gallon of water is also safer than any those chlorinated agents, Lysol, etc. These toxic agents also harm our environment (air, soil, water).

This will certainly appear to be one retrogressive step, but, ultimately, I am sure, it will be evident that this is a great leap forward that will actually spell progress and safety. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; comments questions: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

Get together at Graton in this hot summer luck and happiness will follow!

SUMMER is here, gather together with relatives and friends at Graton, luck and happiness will follow! Graton Resort & Casino prepared lots of activities allowing you to experience exciting casino games, gourmet food, entertainment shows, and ensuring your countless wishes are all satisfied at one time! Graton Resort & Casino invites you to play games together, to test your luck, to experience the exciting feeling as a winner!

The last Friday of each month, there is Mustang Madness Giveaway, a Ford Mustang will be guaranteed given away as well as 50 cash winners. Every 25 points get one entry, giving you extra fun to your summer, bringing an unexpected Moment of Luck!

And, starting from today till September 27, every Thursday, 5pm – 10pm, “Blazing Hot” Slot Tournaments will be held, top prize up to $10,000 cash, total prize up to $390,000!

All reward members get one free entry into each tournament. Premier, Platinum and Elite members win double the prize amount! Come to Graton Resort & Casino to join our hot summer party now!

Get together at Graton, luck will follow. For more information related to the promotion, please visit Graton website or call 707-588-7100.

In addition to the exciting entertainment gaming, no matter if you want to have gourmet food with your family, or gather with friends to watch a show, or enjoy a luxury spa treatment alone, Graton is always your best choice! It includes 200 elegant comfortable rooms and luxurious suites, glamorous lobby and luxurious spa, more than 130 table games, including Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and more. It also offers 3000 slot machines, live poker, video poker and a large function space for different music concerts and special events. In the casino, there are delectable restaurants and bars, that offer different cuisines, such as Twelve-time World Pizza Cham-

pion Chef Tony Gemignani’s Tony’s Of North Beach, a topquality steakhouse 630 Park Steakhouse, classic American dishes from Daily Grill, and 500 seats from the Marketplace, offering casual and convenient eateries, for your selection, you will have a happy and unforgettable experience.

Graton Resort & Casino is in Rohnert Park, California, next to the Golf Course Drive exit of 101 freeway, easy transportation, it has gourmet food, entertainment & accommodation all in one, is the largest integrated resort in the Bay area. The casino is owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, managed by Station Casinos LLC. For more information, please visit www.GratonResortCasino.com, www.facebook. com/GratonCasino or www. twitter.com/PlayGraton.

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entertainment Meet young Fil-Am ice skater...

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

From Page SF3 veterinarian specializing in dogs and cats.

“Sofia is a good singer. She loves to sing in the shower. I think given a chance she would love to be in a TV show or commercial. I showed the girls my portfolio and some of my old movies and commercials. She pretends to act on stage all the time. Both of the girls would make up programs and perform at home in front of family and friends. Natasha loves animals. She loves dogs and cats. She also loves watching wrestling wrestling (WWE). She knows everyone in it. She would love to see a live wrestling match. Both of them are great skiers. We try to go up the mountains every year to ski.”

Sofia and Natasha have been featured in LATV. “That was her first exposure to Filipino TV. I want the Filipino people to be proud of them. It is hard work and dedication. The girls are proud to be half Filipinos. They eat Bagoong and fish heads. “ “If you ask them, they know what their Olympic year is! (laughs). Sofia is 3 years away from that and Natasha is 7 years.

Baby steps. Figure skating takes a lifetime to learn. It takes a minimum of 14 years to master the skill. Their main focus now is training. Sofia is being coached by Tammy Gambill (see photo). She brought 3 Olympians in Korea. We were training with her in Riverside. Last June, she was asked to move to Colorado Springs to work in the US Olympic Training Center, so we packed up our house and moved to Colorado Springs. We arrived here in Colorado Springs June 29 and started Training right away. It was a no brainer. Now, my girls are training in in the U.S Olympic Training Center, with different Olympic coaches and is skating with the best of the best skaters in the world. It’s amazing! It’s one step closer to their dream. As a parent all I can do is support them so they can make their dream a reality.”

And while the girls have amazing coaches and trainers, they have the BEST coach one can ever have – their Mom. And she has this to say to her young skaters: “Believe in yourself, pray and believe in God. With God you can do anything. Hard work

pays off. When you fall, get up and try again. When it gets to hard, just look at the wall (it says US Olympic Training Site). [I tell them]: you are so close in achieving your dream. Hang on and work harder and be better that anyone in the ice rink.”

Such an inspiration. All I can say is, I believe in hard work and passion. And these lovely young ladies have them – plus they are lucky to have the best parents in the world who would go through lengths to support their kids. To Precious and Frank, keep up the good work! And to the girls, Natasha and Sofia: the best days of your life is ahead of you. Good luck and stay dedicated. *** 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 sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

L-R: Sofia (in pink) with coach Tammy Gambill (world renowned Olympic coach). Sofia with coach Jean Yu (international coach; former South Korea Olympian and two-time World Champion competitor). Sofia at the 2018 Showcase for Skaters. Natasha (in blue) with coach Denise Moore.

Natasha and Sofia’s action shots; both girls are now being trained at the official U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Quit Smoking Today: Have a fresh start and a fresh taste in this summer A healthy recipe: Rainbow Vegetables & Tofu Lettuce Wrap

SAN DIEGO – When the weather is getting hotter, we want to have something refreshing and lettuce wraps are the perfect summer food.

Colorful vegetables contain various phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are healthy for your body.

Using less sauce and seasoning will bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients which also give a very refreshing taste of the lettuce wraps. However, smoking can really affect the sensitivity of taste buds, so smokers may not be able to fully enjoy the original flavors of food. The good news is smokers’ sense of smell and taste begin to return to normal within just a few days of quitting.

“It may take multiple times for a smoker to successfully quit smoking” said Dr. ShuHong Zhu, Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, “As a friend or family member of a smoker, we can offer our support and call ASQ Chinese Quitline at 1-800-838-8917 to obtain free quit smoking information and give it to smokers.” Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) is a free nationwide telephone assistance for smokers and for those who want to help others to quit. Eligible smokers can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches.

Besides providing service in CANTONESE AND MANDARIN, ASQ also offers other service lines to help smokers who speak KOREAN AND VIETNAMESE to quit smoking.

Mei, a smoking advisor of ASQ would like to share her lettuce wrap recipe that serves 10 people and requires less than an hour prep time: Ingredients For Peanut Sauce • 1 head of Iceberg or butter lettuce (leaves separated) • 1 pound firm tofu (drained) • 5 cups cooked Rice Ver-

micelli or Korean sweet potato noodle or Buckwheat noodle (soba) • 1 large red bell pepper, julienned • 2 carrots, julienned • 1 English cucumbers, julienned • 1 cup red cabbage, julienned • 1 small bunch mint or cilantro, chopped (optional) • Oil for pan-fry • 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter • Juice of two limes (about 4 tablespoons) • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce • 3 cloves garlic, minced • Chile garlic sauce, or red pepper flakes (Optional) • Water, as needed, to thin out sauce, about 4 tablespoons Directions • Wrap tofu in paper towels, press for 30 minutes between 2 cutting boards topped with a heavy pan.

Afterward, dry tofu well with a paper towel, and cut into strips about the size of a finger.

• Meanwhile, make Peanut Sauce and set aside.

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry Tofu strips in single layer until golden brown, about 3 minutes each side. Remove from pan and set aside.

• To serve, you can pre-assemble the lettuce wraps or let your guests assemble their own at the table. Start with the lettuce leaf, add a heaping tablespoon of rice noodle, a strip or two of tofu, veggies, along with mint or cilantro.

Finally drizzle with peanut sauce. Bon Appetite!

This is a vegetarian dish with a variety of vegetables which are low calorie and rich in vitamin, helping smokers to fight off the urge to smoke and stay healthy!

Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ): ASQ is operated by the Asian Smokers’ Quitline

Calendar of Events across

(ASQ). ASQ provides FREE evidence-based smoking cessation services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to Asian communities in the U.S. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully.

We encourage all CHINESE/KOREAN/VIETNAMESE speaking smokers to call ASQ if they want free help quitting smoking. Friends and family of smokers may also enroll to learn how to help smokers quit. Cessation advisors who speak CHINESE/KOREAN/VIETNAMESE are ready to offer useful information. Smokers can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches while supplies last.

We encourage health care providers and community leaders to refer CHINESE/KOREAN/VIETNAMESE speaking smokers by visiting our website and selecting “Web Referral”. ASQ will provide cessation advice and free patches at no cost to your patients.

Visit www.asq-shop.org to order free promotional materials and fact sheets about smoking. Shipping is free.

Over 10,000 Asian language speakers from all 50 states have enrolled in ASQ services since 2012. ASQ is funded by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ASQ is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time (10am – Midnight Eastern Time).

To enroll, call or register online today!

• Mandarin & Cantonese 1-800-838-8917 www.asqchinese.org • Korean - 1-800-556-5564 www.asq-korean.org • Vietnamese 1-800-778-8440 www.asqviet.org To learn more about ASQ in English, visit: www. asiansmokersquitline.org.

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America

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

UPAAGLA Boodle Feast Fiesta in North Hills, CA University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) welcomes alumni of the University of the Philippines and their friends and family to meet, mix, mingle at this fun afternoon at 4 p.m. at 15255 Knapp St, North Hills, CA. Register on eventbrite.com or call President-Elect Ethel Rubio (818) 640-2946 or (800) 611-5705. Connect with UPAAGLA on Facebook or visit www.upaagla.org.

J U LY 22

Valentine in July concert in Los Angeles This two-and-a-half hour concert on Sunday, July 22 will feature two of the music industry’s best Singer-Songwriters then and today, David Pomeranz and Rey Valera. Their timeless and classic love songs became the movie/tele-serye themesongs in the Philippines. The event will be held at the Aratani Theater (244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available via www.thesgprod.com or by calling (424)232-6781.

J U LY 28

LA Builder Lions Club to hold installation of new officers The Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will hold their 28th Installation on new officers on Saturday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Oxford Palace Hotel (745 S. Oxford Ave, Los Angeles, CA). Music will be provided by Lion Willie Manacsa. Please RSVP to any of the following officers: Lion President Ken Marchand (818)749-1076; Lion Tita James (818)203-2325 or PZC Lion Yoli Ramo at (213)305-1332.

J U LY 3 1

Wealth strategies workshop in Sherman Oaks, CA Join this free “Proven Wealth Strategies Workshop” on Tuesday, July 31 at 6 to 8 p.m., where Wealth Financial Life Inc. will help you you learn the basics about money, uncover myths on how money really works, and tips to diversify considering taxes. Hosted by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) at 5121 Van Nuys Blvd, BFG Room, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. To register, email info@wflife.com or call (858) 4581380.

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

Green is for bikes!

Understanding the GREEN bike lanes in Concord tHe City of Concord continues to embrace a bold vision of a community where bicycling, walking, and driving serve the transportation needs of residents and visitors. the latest safety features of the Downtown Concord Bicycle Lane improvements Projects are the newly- installed GReeN bike lanes and GReeN bike boxes in the downtown area. these features are intended to safely connect the downtown area to BARt and other transit.

So, how do you navigate these new GReeN bike facilities?

GREEN bike lanes existing bicycle lanes now have green-colored pavement (B) within the white bicycle lane (A) to indicate “bicycle use only�. the bright, green color is meant to increase the visibility of cyclists using bike lanes.

Dashed, green-colored pavement (C) indicates where vehicles are allowed to cautiously use the bicycle lane to make a right turn. Bicycles have priority in these dashed, green-colored areas. Vehicles and cyclists should travel with added caution through the dashed areas.

GREEN bike boxes A bike box (A) connected to a white bicycle lane (C) is a designated, green-colored area at a signalized intersection at the head of the traffic lane. there are three locations: Grant Street @ Willow Pass Road, Grant Street @ Concord Boulevard and Grant Street @ Clayton Road. the bike box is designed to provide a cyclist with a safe and visible space in front of waiting traffic during the red signal phase of the traffic light. these brightly-colored, green boxes are equipped to trigger the traffic lights by the weight of a bicycle.

By being inside the bike box, cyclists are allowed to clear the intersection ahead of traffic once the light turns green.

Vehicles are required to wait behind the white stop line (B) at the rear of the bike box and are not allowed to make a right turn during a red light.

GREEN Bike Lanes FAQs 1. Are cars allowed to drive on or over green bike lanes or bike boxes?

Cars cannot use the green bike lane as a travel lane; the green lanes designate safe areas for cyclists. the white traffic paint bordering the bike lane is the enforceable traffic marking. Vehicles are required to wait behind the white stop line at the rear of the bike box and are not allowed to make a right turn during a red light.

2. What do the dashed green lanes mean?

The dashed green lanes are areas where cars and bikes are intended to cross paths. typically this occurs where the bike lane goes straight and there is a dedicated right turn or dedicated merge lane for vehicles. the green bike lanes are intended to draw the attention of both cyclists and drivers to the potential conflict area.

3. How do I make a right turn in a car when there is a green bike lane? once the white line that accompanies the green bike lane becomes dashed, using your turn signal, identify your intent. When safe to do so, move over toward the curb on top of the green bike lane. this will alert bicyclists to your intent and keep them from passing on the right.

Bicyclists should queue in line with vehicles. if a bicyclist is stopped and intends to go straight at the intersection, the vehicle should wait a safe distance behind the bicyclist.

4. What are green bike lanes made out of? the City is utilizing thermoplastic, which is often used for traffic markings in high travel areas. thermoplastic is a durable, functional and cost-effective type of plastic made from polymer resins that

becomes a homogenized liquid when heated and hard when cooled. the City did evaluate a painted surface, and determined that paint is not as durable as other surfaces.

5. Why green? And why so bright?

Green is the accepted standard color for bicycle lanes because it provides for minimal confusion with other colors. For example, red means no parking and blue signifies accessible parking. the bright green color clearly calls attention to the area and encourages drivers to use extra caution. Green lanes also help organize traffic on the road, and encourage bicyclists to position themselves more accurately as they travel across intersections.

6. Will more bike lanes start appearing?

Additional green bike lanes may be installed in strategic locations, for which the City of Concord’s Bicycle, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to transit Plan will serve as a blueprint to help develop a transportation network that meets the needs of all users — pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit patrons, as well as motorists — fulfilling the City’s commitment to Complete Streets. the City will continue to evaluate the green markings for effectiveness, public reaction, and maintainability.

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018

Soaring city pension costs in San Mateo County: Time for hard choices

On average, pension costs are 13.6% of general fund spending ReDWooD City, Calif. – Public pension costs are eating into city budgets and represent a serious threat to public services in San Mateo cities, says the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury in its new report, “Soaring City Pension Costs – time for Hard Choices.� the report reveals that in fiscal year 2016-2017, the 20 cities in San Mateo County spent a total of $102 million on their pension plans, representing an average of approximately 13.6 percent of their general fund expenditures.

As heavy a financial burden as this is, their pension costs are projected to double in seven years if new actuarial assumptions made by CalPeRS - the administrator of the pension plans - prove to be correct. the cities have a number of options for paying steeply rising pension costs. First, they can cut public services,

reduce employee salaries and benefits, or lay off employees in order to free up additional funds. Second, they can negotiate with bargaining units to increase the employee’s share of pension costs. third, they can attempt to increase revenues from taxes. Finally, they can use other existing resources, if available, to pay down their unfunded pension liabilities early. “San Mateo County cities face hard choices,� said Richard edminster, Civil Grand Jury Foreperson. “People have heard these warnings before and seem to take them lightly, but the fact is there is a major problem to be solved. the Grand Jury understands the desire of cities to expand their services in a time of increasing property tax revenues, yet it is difficult to think of a more important issue for them to address than the looming pension

crisis,� he said. the Grand Jury found that most of the cities do not appear to have adopted a longterm financial plan to address their rising pension costs. they have not adopted target funded percentages for their plans, dates for achieving them, or plans for monitoring progress. Nor have they made it a priority to provide clear, regular and public disclosure to their residents of their future projected pension costs and unfunded liabilities, cuts in services they will have to make, or increases in revenues they will need to seek.

The report was issued in conjunction with a companion report, “County Pension Costs – Hard Choices Paying Off.� Both reports are available on San Mateo County Court/Grand Jury website at: http://www.sanmateocourt. org/documents/grand_ jury/2017/city_pension.pdf

Sign up for SMCAlert to receive notifications in the event of emergency We live in earthquake and wildfire country. Stay informed of local emergencies through the free digital communication system for our county, SMCAlert! www. smcalert.info.

From traffic incidents to law enforcement activity, wildfires to downed electrical lines, and major disasters

like the Napa earthquake and the North Bay fires, SMCAlert allows emergency responders to immediately inform residents of emergency events and provide greater awareness and additional safety and security.

Sign up at www.smcalert. info. Select to receive alerts via text, email, and voice

messages to landlines, both home and work. emergency responders cannot send you information if you don’t register.

Daly City has the lowest usage rates of this free service in the entire county. Less than 2 percent of our population is currently subscribed. Let’s change that! Register today!

Pilgrimage to Some of ITALY’s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist 6SLULWXDO 'LUHFWRU 5(9 -2(/ %8*$6 ĹĄ 1RYHPEHU WR 1RYHPEHU 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; 86$ 520( 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH Upon our arrival in Rome, our Tour Escort will welcome us to Italy. Rome is the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all over the world. After a short panoramic orientation of this Eternal City to us Roman Catholics, we will have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 3DSDO $XGLHQFH 5RPH This morning before we continue with our tour, we will have a Papal Audience.

Then after, we will visit the famous Coliseum and see the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi Fountain, before heading to our Hotel. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D)

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH %DVLOLFDV We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, and even ancient Greek and Roman artists. the largest church in Roman Catholicism, St. Peter’s Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary Major, Followed by visit of the Basilica. We continue to visit the rest of the major Basilicas within the walls of Rome, and St. John Lateran, St Paul Outside the Wall. We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same steps that Christ ascended to receive Pilate’s unjust condemnation.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY )UL

Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the stigmatization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year. San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July, 1916 until his death on 23 September, 1968. Enjoy the drive going to San Giovanni, after we check in our Hotel. vWe visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated with him, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace that contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditating, see his room, his confessional box and the cruciďŹ x that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Celebrate Holy Eucharist (Hotel Gran Paradiso) DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN San Giovanni Rotondo (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6DW Ĺ&#x; 6$1 *,29$11, 52721'2 This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body. Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesome Basilica. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (Hotel Gran Paradiso)

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6XQ Ĺ&#x; 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR /DQFLDQR /RUHWR MASS AND BREAKFAST. We arrive at Lanciano, famous for the Miracle of the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The miracle took place during the 8th century when a Basiline monk doubted the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. He found himself holding the host that had changed into Real Flesh and the Wine on the altar had changed into Real Blood. We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine of Loreto to see the famous sacred home of the most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Since 1294 the holy home has been located inside the Basilica of Loreto. Celebrate Holy Eucharist in Lanciano. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi.

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; /RUHWR $VVLVL Today we explore the hilltop birthplace of St Francis of Assisi. In the Crypt of St Francis Basilica lies the tomb of one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Eucharist at the Crypt of St. Francis See the Basilica of St Clare, with her incorrupt body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its CruciďŹ x from which Jesus spoke to Francis about his mission in 1206: “Go, Francis, and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.â€? We visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi took place in 1240. The small Church of the Porziuncola is inside the Basilica itself. Pope Honorius III granted a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble Church on August 1st and 2nd every year, with Confession, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; $VVLVL 6LHQD )ORUHQFH We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of the Renaissance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the city’s history while admiring it’s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great medieval squares. Continue to Florence. (BB,D) We start with a guided walking tour of Florence, this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist.

Rest of the day free (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; )ORUHQFH 5RPH Leave Florence around 2PM Arrived Rome almost dinner time (BB.D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 86$ End of our wonderful Pilgrimage

Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at 1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867

SF10

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - July 20, 2018