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J U LY 26-AUG UST 1, 2019 Volume 12 - No. 40 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Palace commends Philippines’ improved DATELINE USA Suspension lifted on ranking in Global Innovation Index FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

heavyweight boxer who kissed Fil-Am reporter during interview

enactment of laws that seek to provide incentives to innovative businesses.

Philstar.com The Philippines’ ranking in the index, which MANILA — Malacañang is optimistic that the measured the innovation performance and Philippines’ ranking in the Global Innovation progress of 129 countries, rose to 54th this year Index (GII) will improve further following the from 73rd last year.

by ALEXIS

ROMERO

Among its Southeast Asian peers, the Philippines did better than Brunei (71st), Indonesia (85th), and Cambodia (98th) but lagged behind Singapore (8th), Malaysia (35th), Vietnam (42nd) and Thailand (43rd).

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Lacson suggests death penalty for law enforcers who plant evidence

CALIFORNIA boxing officials on Monday, July 22 lifted the suspension on Bulgarian heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev who kissed a Filipina American reporter on camera during a post-fight interview in March.

Pulev, who was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), had paid the maximum $2,500 fine and completed a sexual harassment course.

Through a unanimous vote, the Commission allowed Pulev to reapply for his license to fight again in California on the condition that any future offense would mean a lifetime ban on fights in North America.

The suspension came after Pulev grabbed Fil-Am Vegas Sports Daily reporter Jenny “SuShe” Ravalo’s face last March, and kissed her during an interview following his win in Costa Mesa, California.

Ravalo posted footage of the interview online and obtained high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred as her attorney. She added in a statement posted to Allred’s Facebook that Pulev again touched her inappropriately after the interview.

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Thursday, July 25, said that once the death penalty bill is signed into law, law enforcers who will be found guilty of planting evidence on suspects should be sentenced with death penalty.

President Rodrigo Sen. Panfilo Lacson Inquirer.net photo Duterte on Monday, July 22, asked Congress to revive and approve the death penalty on crimes related to illegal drugs, as well as plunder in his fourth State of

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

MEETING WITH MAYORS, GOVERNORS. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the meeting with the local chief executives at The Manila Hotel on Tuesday, July 23. The meeting came a day after the president delivered his Station of the Nation Address (SONA).

The meeting, which was dubbed by politicians as “SONA Part 2” or “Post-SONA,” was attended by around 80 provincial governors, 130 city mayors, and 1,490 municipal mayors. The president talked about 3 main points, reminding them of his efforts against illegal drugs, corruption and the the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

Malacañang photo by Valerie Escalera

Pacquiao incurs blurry vision post-fight vs Thurman

by AJPRESS FOLLOWING his win, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao experienced blurry vision during the post-fight press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last Saturday, July 20, according to trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao, 40, faced the media after winning against 30-year-old American boxer Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao lands a punch during his bout against Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday, July 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 40- in a 12-round battle for the year-old Filipino boxer won the WBA Super Welterweight title from the previously WBA Super Welterweight unbeaten Thurman.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty title.

Roach noted that the blurry vision could be an allergic reaction to the Vaseline that was used on the boxer’s face during the fight, around the eyes in particular.

“Last night was just weird a little bit. He was having problems seeing at the press conference and I think that he said he has or he might be allergic to Vaseline or something,” said Roach to Filipino reporters.

He assured that they will “find out what’s causing that

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Marcos files own version of SOGIE bill; rejects same sex marriage, divorce bill

by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

MANILA — Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday, July 25 said she is against legalizing same-sex marriage and institutionalizing divorce in the country.

During a weekly press forum at the Senate on Thursday, Marcos said she is not in favor of same-sex marriage because it is “too complicated.”

This even after she filed Sen. Imee Marcos

Inquirer.net photo

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From the Front Page

Palace commends Philippines’ improved...

PAGE 1 The Philippines was cited as among those who outperformed in innovation relative to their gross domestic product and who caught up with innovation leaders more quickly than their peers. It was also among the countries with “notable” moves in GII rankings along with the United Arab Emirates (36th), Vietnam (42nd), Thailand (43rd), India (52nd) and Iran (61st).

“We foresee that the Philippines will further improve its rankings with higher scores in all of the aspects for innovation following President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the Philippine Innovation Act and the Innovative Startup Act into laws,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“We commend those departments and agencies responsible for the improvement of our country relative to its economy’s innovation development,” he added.

The Philippine Innovation Act and the Innovative Startup Act were signed into law last April.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo

The Philippine Innovation Act aims to use innovation to help the poor and to make micro, small and medium enterprises competitive. It also creates a P1 billion innovation fund to boost entrepreneurship engaged in developing innovative solutions benefiting the poor. The Innovative Startup Act, meanwhile, establishes a program that would provide benefits and incentives for startups or startup enablers. A startup is a person or registered entity in the Philippines that aims to develop an innovative product, process or business model.

“May this good news further motivate them in creating an environment that nurtures inno-

Philstar.com photo

vation and creates business opportunities as we become one of the fastest growing economies in the globe,” Panelo said.

Citing the trade department, Panelo said the Philippines’ scores significantly increased in five of the GII’s eight pillars, namely institutions, infrastructure, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs and creative outputs.

Switzerland was the most innovative country in this year’s GII followed by Sweden, the United States, Netherlands and United Kingdom. The GII report was released jointly by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Cornell University, INSEAD and their partners. n

18TH CONGRESS. Senators of the 18th Congress pose for a souvenir photo during its opening on Monday, July 22. The Upper House elected Senator Vicente Sotto III as Senate President.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Lacson suggests death penalty for law...

PAGE 1 the Nation Address (SONA).

“Suggestion ko nga pag napatunayang nag-plant [ng evidence] ang law enforcement, bitay din. Kasi mabibitay ang pinlantingan mo (My suggestion is if it is proven that law enforcement planted drug evidence, they should also face capital punishment because the person on which you planted the evidence will also face death),” said Lacson in an interview with Radio DZMM. “Dapat lang kung nahuli ka nagplant dapat bitay ka rin para rin mag sampung beses sila mag-isip bago mag-plant

sila (If you are found guilty of planting evidence, you should be sentenced to death, that way erring authorities will think ten times before considering planting an evidence themselves),” he added.

Lacson also said that the threshold on death penalty for drug trafficking should be at an amount that would make it difficult for law enforcers to plant evidence on suspects.

“My suggestion is the threshold of the quantity, volume should be difficult for the law enforcement to plant,” he stated.

Lacson noted that, while there are tons of illegal drugs

entering the Philippines, most victims of the drug war only possessed a small amount of it.

This knowledge led him to discuss the amount of threshold for the proposed death penalty bill, specifically for drug traffickers, with Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Aside from Lacson, several other senators such as Pacquiao, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go also filed separate bills proposing the revival of the death penalty.

Lacson is optimistic that the measure would stand a chance in the Senate. n

Ravalo told the Commission before the Monday meeting that she had been bullied online as a result of her speaking up, and even named Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum as being among those who dismissed her experience, reported the Associated Press.

In a videoed interview last month, Arum said of Ravalo’s accusations, “I know what sexual harassment is — I really do — but that wasn’t sexual harrasment.”

He added, “I’m very sympathetic to sexual harassment charges, if it’s real sexual harassment, not bullsh--.”

Arum also said that Ravalo was acting like Pulev’s “semigirlfriend” before the fight, and was “fooling around” with Pulev while he was in training — statements that Ravalo denied.

In a letter to the CSAC be-

fore the Monday vote, Allred requested that the Commission sanction Arum for his statements and require Arum to attend the Monday meeting so that Ravalo could testify to the impact of Arum’s statements.

Arum, who attended sexual harassment classes with Pulev and is licensed by the CSAC, did not attend the Monday meeting.

“Where’s the evidence that [Arum] benefited from the class?” asked Allred, criticizing the Commission’s lack of discipline towards Arum. “I think the best evidence of Mr. Arum’s feelings are what he says on that video.”

According to the Associated Press, Pulev also agreed to participate in a video campaign being considered by the CSAC about sexual harassment. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

Suspension lifted on heavyweight boxer who...

PAGE 1 “I did not encourage, nor consent, to Mr. Pulev grabbing my face, kissing me, or grabbing my backside. I was there at the event covering the match as a professional member of the press,” said Ravalo at a news conference following her interview with Pulev.

Pulev responded to Ravalo’s accusations by saying that the two were friends and that he was so “elated” by his win that he gave her a kiss. His team further released their own video footage of Ravalo partying with his team after the fight.

Pulev apologized to Ravalo before the Commission’s vote on Monday, and said that the kiss was “100%” his mistake.

Of his sexual harassment training, he added, “I learned I should have more respect for woman. Not only me, but all people should know this.”

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Int’l rights group asks PH gov’t to drop raps vs Robredo, 35 others HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights watchdog, urged the Philippine government to withdraw the sedition complaint filed against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 others over their alleged involvement to the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

“Philippine authorities should drop cases for inciting sedition and other offenses against opposition politicians, religious leaders, and human rights advocates,” HRW said in a statement on Wednesday, July 24.

This was after the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed sedition and other complaints against Robredo, lawyers, opposition members and other personalities over their alleged link to the six-part video series which tagged the family and allies of President Duterte to the illegal drugs trade.

HRW Asia Director Brad Adams said the complaint was an attempt to harass and silence the critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-

Dateline USa

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drug campaign.

“The preposterous complaint against the vice president and the others is a transparent attempt to harass and silence critics of President Duterte’s bloody ‘drug war,’” Adams said in a statement.

“Threatening criminal charges against the vice president, outspoken bishops, and rights lawyers suggest that Duterte’s egregious human rights record is catching up with him,” he added. (Consuelo Marquez/ Saturday’s bout marked Pacquiao’s 62nd win of his 71-fight professional career, and at 40 years old, he made history as the oldest Inquirer) welterweight champion and the fifth-oldest boxer to win a world title in any division..

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

Pacquiao dares Mayweather to Pacquiao incurs blurry vision post-fight... rematch after Instagram rant

by Josef

Ramos ManilaTimes.net

NEWLY-crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion Manny Pacquiao called out retired undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible rematch after his long Instagram rant on Tuesday, July 23.

Pacquiao, 40, responded to @FloydMayweather’s post showing photos of their previous fights four years ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the eight-division world champion lost via unanimous decision. “@FloydMayweather You come to my fight and then use my name in a post but I’m the one that is trying to stay relevant? If you want to be relevant again…#MayPac2,” Pacquiao posted through his official Instagram account @MannyPacquiao also on Tuesday.

Mayweather Jr., undefeated in 50 fights with 27 knockouts, was in attendance during Pacquiao’s fight against previously undefeated American Keith Thurman last Saturday, July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena.

Pacquiao, who arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning, won by a split decision.

Mayweather slammed critics on Instagram for attaching his name with Pacquiao, especially in fights.

“I find it real ironic how every time Pacquiao’s name is brought up in the media, my name is always attached to it,” Mayweather said in.

Photo screengrabbed from Manny Pacquiao’s Twitter account.

“This man’s entire legacy and career has been built off its association with my name and it’s about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man’s name hold weight of its own.”

The boxing community became interested in a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout 10 years ago, but was realized five years later after issues like purse sharing and allegations of Pacquiao using performance-enhancing drugs were resolved.

“For years, all you heard was that “Floyd is afraid of Manny Pacquiao.” But what’s funny is when we finally fought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat their words!”

Despite Mayweather’s win

over Pacquiao, the boxing community has sought for a rematch after Pacquiao was reported fighting with an injured right shoulder during the first bout. But after Mayweather’s win over Andre Berto in September 2015, he retired.

Pacquiao had since undergone shoulder surgery after that bout.

There were many events where Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. Had met as fans hoped that one day the rematch will finally happen. But Mayweather Jr. expressed zero interest of any Pacquiao rematch in the future.

He also added that the critics were just upset after he broke Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record and retired undefeated. n

PAGE 1 problem and go from there.”

“Manny, he fought a great fight last night. He took a little too many hits, and maybe a little bit too much punishment,” Roach added.

Despite Pacquiao taking 192 power punches from Thurman compared to the 113 that he landed on his opponent, the Filipino boxer still won by split decision for dealing much more damage. The judges scored the fight 115112 (twice) and 113-114.

Pacquiao knocked out Thurman in the first round and landed a left hook on Thurman’s body in the 10th round that stopped the American boxer’s momentum.

“He’s very tough. He’s very young. I can say he’s heavyhanded, man. Not like my other opponents,” Pacquiao said, referring to Thurman.

Pacquiao also said he is planning to sit out for the rest of the year out after his latest fight. He previously fought

Adrien Broner in January for the WBA welterweight championship, but said his fight with Thurman was the best one this year, which may even give him the honor as ‘Fighter of the Year.’

The boxer turned senator plans to return to the boxing ring next year. He’ll be 41 years old then.

“Ang sarap, no? (Feels good, right?)” he said.

Due to his eyes, the boxer, who arrived back in Manila on Tuesday morning, was not able to attend Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, choosing to rest instead upon his doctor’s advice.

Saturday’s bout marked the Filipino boxer turned senator’s 62nd win out of 71 matches as a professional fighter, making history as the oldest welterweight champion and the fifth-oldest boxer to win a world title in any division.

Senate Resolution 20 — a consolidation of various resolutions filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sens. Nancy Binay, Christopher Go, Richard Gordon and Bong Revilla — commended Pacquiao for his latest title and for bringing pride to Filipinos globally.

“The abilities and skills I have are given by God. I believe that ability, skill and responsibility has a purpose and that purpose is to inspire the Filipino people to rise above their limitations and overcome their circumstances,” Pacquiao said. “There are many who say that there won’t be another Manny Pacquiao. But I believe that we have many boxers who are just waiting for an opportunity, waiting for our help. It is high time for us to invest in our boxing talents who are loaded with potentials.

The so-called diamond in the rough can just be around the corner.” n

Marcos files own version of SOGIE bill...

PAGE 1 her own version of a bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (SOGIE).

Another version of the SOGIE bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading last 2017 but remained pending at the Senate, was filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

“Wala, ayoko…nun (None, I don’t want it),” Marcos said when asked if her version of the SOGIE bill has a provision on legalizing same-sex marriage.

The neophyte senator argued that the government should take “little baby steps” in social change.

Aside from her version of the SOGIE bill, Marcos also filed a measure on conjugal partnership.

Marcos also said that she is against the divorce bill.

Earlier, Hontiveros also refiled a measure that would institute absolute divorce in the country.

The Divorce Act of 2019 seeks to make psychological incapacity of either spouse, irreconcilable marital differences, marital rape, or

being separated for at least 5 years as grounds for divorce, among others.

But Marcos said that the “welfare of the children of a broken marriage and the situation of the abandoned spouse” should be “primordial.”

“I am not so concerned about the legal status of consenting adults. Ang primordial dapat should be the welfare of the children of a broken marriage and the situation of the abandoned spouse. I think there are insufficient safeguards and no safety nets for both,” she said. n

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OPINION

FEATURES

Priorities in the second half THIS time there was no “coup” at the House of Representatives, and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the post of speaker with no turbulence on Monday, July 22. Vicente Sotto III also regained his post as Senate president without incident.

So the two chambers of Congress should have no problem tackling in earnest the rather long list of legislative priorities that President Duterte laid out in his State of the Nation Address — his fourth, and the first as he enters the second half of his term.

Some of the president’s priorities are expected to be contentious: the restoration of the death penalty for plunder and heinous crimes related to drugs; the revival of mandatory ROTC or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12.

The rest of the measures require thorough spadework, notably the creation of new departments for overseas Filipino workers, disaster resilience, and water resources management.

The President also wants to increase excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol and get the

5

second phase of his tax reform program approved. He wants a new round of salary standardization for government workers, to include teachers and nurses, as well as a government “rightsizing” measure.

The other priorities are the rewriting of the National Defense Act and amendment of the Human Security Act, the modernization of fire protection services, the National Land Use Act and National Valuation of Property Act, the creation of a trust fund for the coconut levy and setting up of a national academy for sports. He wants the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections moved again, from May to October 2020, and the passage of the Magna Carta for Barangays.

Apart from those bills, Malacañang expects the 18th Congress to pass within the year the General Appropriations Act for 2020. The fourmonth delay in the enactment of this year’s GAA has derailed the implementation of the President’s priority Build Build Build infrastructure program and slowed down economic growth for 2019. legislation, and there’s still a lot on the plate Three years is a short time in Philippine of the 18th Congress. With leadership conflicts

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

out of the way for now, it should hit the ground running. (Philstar.com)

ABANGAN: What is Gel Santos Relos up to with PH-US ties: Robust, vibrant & dynamic Babe’s the new changes at The Filipino Channel?

Eye View Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Manila, Philippines, joining other news bureaus like “Balitang Middle East” and “Balitang Europe.”

While the daily news stories will still be gathered by its news correspondents from GEL SANTOS-RELOS different parts of the United THIS just in — after 12 States, “Balitang America” years of delivering the daily will be anchored by news news from the studios of The personalities from ABS-CBN Filipino Channel (TFC) in News Channel (ANC) in MaCalifornia, “Balitang Amer- nila beginning July 29, 2019. ica” will be taping its daily This means you will no lonnewscast from the ABS-CBN ger watch me on the anchor’s

The Fil-Am Perspective

chair daily as you used to in the past 12 years.

This change in the organization will then help the news bureau in North America to expand its audience, reaching out to younger generations who are born and raised here, using new digital platform programs.

Under the leadership of “Balitang America” (BA) Executive Producer Troy Espera, ABS-CBN International and TFC have rolled out PAGE 10

BABE ROMUALDEZ THE recently concluded eighth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) between the United States and the Philippines was a great success, with the conversations covering a wide spectrum of issues aimed at deepening the partnership even further in the areas of security and defense, as well as trade and investment. Dis-

cussions were also conducted on how both countries can enhance cooperation to combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking, terrorism and other mutual concerns.

Co-leading the Philippine delegation were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Ricky Manalo and Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, while U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randy Schriver co-led the American delegation.

I was pleased to host a din-

ner for the delegates, most especially Assistant State Secretary David Stilwell who was on his first official trip to the Philippines. Secretary Stilwell’s appointment was overwhelmingly confirmed by the U.S. Senate last June — a very welcome development considering that the post has been unfilled for over two years.

We were happy to see the guests in a relaxed and jovial mode, enjoying the special Filipino dishes prepared by Chef Jessie Sincioco. I expressed my gratitude to evPAGE 10

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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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 26-AUgUSt 1, 2019

Dateline PhiliPPines

Panelo: No need for Congress in Duterte Locsin: I refuse to renegotiate MDT deal to unleash China on PH fishing areas

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

by nestoR

coRRales Inquirer.net

M A n i LA — M a l a c a ñ a n g doubled down on its defense of President rodrigo Duterte’s supposedly verbal agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that would allow China to fish in Philippine territorial waters, saying the president was simply exercising his powers to enter into verbal or written agreements with other countries. in a commentary published in inquirer, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales questioned the secrecy behind Duterte’s fishing deal with Xi. They said there was something fishy about the fishing deal being kept “secret and hidden from the Filipino people for nearly three years.”

Duterte previously revealed that he agreed, during his bilateral meeting with Xi, to allow Chinese fishermen to bring their trawlers into the

Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in exchange for China allowing Filipinos to fish in Scarborough Shoal, which is part of the Philippines but has been under the control of China since 2012.

“The contention that the agreement between PrrD and President Xi is void as it was entered under duress or fear is of no moment,” said Salvador Panelo, presidential spokesperson and chief legal counsel, in a statement that used the initials of President rodrigo roa Duterte.

“The agreement was entered into not because of any threat or vitiation of consent, but because the President sees such arrangement as pragmatic which can keep at bay any conflict between two countries, while we gain a venue where we can assert our sovereign rights,” Panelo added.

Panelo said Duterte was motivated by nothing but “the welfare of the Filipino people in general not just to ensure their physical safety but also

to enable them to exploit the natural resources in the waters being controlled by China as a source of their livelihood.”

“These are being achieved now,” Panelo said.

Panelo said “we also find it absurd” for Carpio-Morales, also a former Supreme Court justice, and Del rosario “to argue that we have kept the secret agreement.” “it is not as if they or the critics were the ones who discovered said agreement and revealed it to the Filipino people,” he added, saying the “the oral agreement was recorded by an appropriate officer during the bilateral meeting.”

“The president was explicit about it,” he said.

“At the risk of being redundant, we reiterate: The agreement was made to maintain peace and order in the disputed waters while negotiations are ongoing,” he added, referring to Scarborough which is part of Philippine territory as “disputed.” n

According to him, the help of local communities in the drug war is not enough to crush the drug trade. Corruption needs to be eliminated, as well.

Corruption Duterte expressed his frustration over the unrelenting corruption pervading the government, vowing that he will spend the remaining three years of his term to fight it.

“Corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives,” he said.

The president cited the massive fraud within the Philippine Health insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), conning the government of millions of pesos that could have been used to treat illnesses and save lives, and said he was “grossly disappointed.”

To fix this, Duterte said he ordered the national Bureau of investigation (nBi) to arrest and cause the prosecution of those liable. He also appointed retired army general ricardo “Dick” Morales

as the new PhilHealth president to prioritize ridding the agency of corruption.

Duterte went on to say that he has identified the enemy who dumped the country into the quagmire it is currently in. “i have met the enemy face-to-face and sadly, the enemy is us. We are our own tormentors... We are our own demons; we are as rapacious predators preying on the helpless, the weak and the voiceless,” he said.

“We find corruption everywhere in government with every malefactor watching his cohort’s back in blatant disregard of his oath when he assumed public office… no amount of euphemism can trivialize or normalize betrayal of public trust or any other criminal offense. it is an injury laced with insult. it is both a national embarrassment and a national shame,” he continued.

According to Duterte, catharsis is needed to help stop corruption.

PAGE 8

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea: highlights of Duterte’s 4th SONA

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PreSiDenT rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, delivered his fourth State of the nation Address (SonA) that lasted for an hour and 33 minutes.

He arrived 55 minutes late at the Batasang Pambansa Complex and started his speech at exactly 5:15 p.m.

After the initial pleasantries, Duterte thanked his supporters, threatened erring government agencies, and laid out the policies he wanted to adopt for his remaining three years in office.

Here are the highlights of his speech: Illegal drugs “it has been three years since i took my oath of office, and it pains me to say that we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists,” Duterte said.

To fight this “social menace,” Duterte pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty on crimes related to illegal drugs, as well as plunder.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday, July 23, said he refuses to renegotiate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States despite the Department of national Defense (DnD) seeking a review. “i refuse to renegotiate the MDT to make it more specific as DnD wants because i believe with sound authority based on long learning of deterrence theory that in vagueness lies its greatest strength. Keep ‘em all confused so they don’t stir lest they trigger World War 3,” said Locsin in his tweet.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, on the other hand, has been pushing for a review of the MDT. According to him, the treaty is ambiguous on coming to the defense of the Philippines in cases of threats related to maritime domain in the South China Sea. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, for his part, assured the Philippines that the U.S.

DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Inquirer.net photo

obligations under the MDT are “real.”

“As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft, republic vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Pompeo said during his visit in Manila last March.

Under the MDT, the Philippines and the U.S. are required

to come to each other’s aid in case of an armed attack.

Locsin in April said the Philippines’ military ally remains to be only the U.S., implying that the two countries alliance is still strong despite the former’s growing relationship with China.

Lorenzana noted that the country lacks forces to join the U.S. for a military coalition to protect oil tankers from being seized by suspected iranian military units in the Persian gulf.

When asked if the Philippines, as the U.S.’ ally, is prepared to participate in the coalition in the wake of the developing maritime tension in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense secretary answered: “They can ask for assistance but we don’t have any assets to send there. We can’t send any ship.”

“We only sent observers and soldiers for peacekeeping operations, but not for activities that require capital assets like ships that we don’t have,” he added. n

july 26-august 1, 2019 • NEW yORK aND NEW jERsEy asIaN jOuRNal

Dateline PhiliPPines

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

DUTERTE’s 4TH SONA. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City on Monday, July 22. The president’s speech lasted for 93 minutes.

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea...

Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development Corp. and Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center, Inc.

PAGE 7 “Catharsis is what we, individually and collectively, need to do today – not tomorrow but today. Self-purgation followed by the resolve to do what is right and proper, is good for the nation’s health,” he said.

Duterte also acknowledged that he does not know when will corruption end.

“Let me ask you: When will corruption end? Kailan ba talaga ‘to? Hanggang kailan (Until when)? Well, I don’t know. I’ve been in – with government for almost 35 years now. I am not singling out myself. It’s the entire gamut of our system,” he said.

“Corruption exasperates.

It frustrates. It is also exasperating that there are times when I think that perhaps it is blood that we need to cleanse and rinse away the dirt and the muck that stick to the flesh like leeches,” he added.

Duterte also claimed that there are no sacred cows in his administration, saying he has fired or caused the resignation of more than 100 officials and appointees of government “without regard to relationship, friendship and alliance.”

He vowed to take responsibility for the shortcomings of his administration and pursue programs that would protect Filipinos as well as improve their quality of life.

“We are now entering a period of consequences.

The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during my

first half of my term. I assume full responsibility for that. As president, I cannot pass the blame to anybody, so it’s on me,” Duterte said.

“Though we cannot change the past, we will not squander the future. I will push harder in the pursuit of programs that we have started but always within the parameters of the law. I will not merely coast along or while away my time during the remaining years of my administration,” he added.

Bills pushed Aside from the reinstitution of the death penalty, Duterte asked the Congress to: • Pass the bill establishing the Department of Water Resources and Water Regulatory Commission that would enact reforms in water management in the country; • Fast track the creation of the Department of Disaster Management that would focus solely on disaster and climate change resilience plans and programs; • Postpone barangay and SK elections to October 2022 “to rectify the truncated terms of sitting barangay officials;” • Enact a Magna Carta for Barangays that aims to declare barangay officials as regular government officials, and further empower barangays to improve their delivery of government services; • Establish a Department of Overseas Filipinos that would address concerns of Filipino workers abroad; • Pass TRAIN 2 or TRABA-

HO bill – that aims to reduce the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent, broaden the tax base, and rationalize tax incentives to businesses – as well as three remaining tax reform packages that seek to raise the excise tax on both alcohol and tobacco, reform the real property valuation system, and revise the taxes on capital income and financial services; • Pass a new Salary Standardization Law (SSL) that would raise the pay of government workers, including public school teachers and public hospital nurses; Duterte also requested the approval of the National Defense Act, Uniformed Separation and Retirement Pension Bill, as well as the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Service improvements The president implored the government agencies to improve their services and ensure their responsiveness to people’s needs. He listed off the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Social Security System (SSS), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or PAG-IBIG Fund) as the top five agencies that need improvements in their service delivery.

“Simplify. Just like the others. You can do it electronically... I’ve been asking that from you since three years ago. ‘Pag hindi pa ninyo nagawa ‘yan ngayon, papaPAGE 10

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july 26-august 1, 2019 • NEW yORK aND NEW jERsEy asIaN jOuRNal

Dateline PhiliPPines

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

Duterte wants liquor ban, not Jollibee invests $100 million to midnight curfew, Palace clarifies acquire Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

by AJPress MALACAñANG on Tuesday, July 23, clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte was referring to a liquor ban during certain hours when he called for the closure of establishments by midnight.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, Duterte asked Congress to pass a law requiring business establishments to adopt a midnight curfew.

Presidential spokesperson

Salvador Panelo, for his part, clarified that Duterte only wants a ban on liquor consumption by midnight with his statement.

“No. Liquor ban,” he told reporters when they asked if the president’s proposal covered all establishments.

Panelo also noted that Duterte wanted to replicate the ordinance in Davao City wherein drinking liquor is only allowed until 1 a.m.

After his SONA, the president admitted that the liquor ban may not be a “popular move.”

“I do not think it is a popular move because it will affect adversely businesses that operate during nighttime. But for a small city like Davao, it seems that the people liked it. But in other countries, in other states, by 12 o’clock, everything is closed,” Duterte said in a press briefing.

“I was just suggesting...

Congress to ponder on it and maybe sleep on it and if they want. But it can improve tremendously the quality of life.

Stop drinking at almost 11, then you go home,” he added. n

ABANGAN: What is Gel Santos Relos up to...

PAGE 5 “TAYO” (a Filipino word that means “we” or “us”) - a new digital brand that offers fresh storytelling of uplifting and positive stories that make Filipinos in North America proud of their rich heritage.

“TAYO” features stories that are relevant to both Filipino-American and FilipinoCanadian communities, serving to also unify news brand across the North America region.

Our San Francisco Bay Area Correspondent Rommel Concara has also started working on a podcast, so Filipinos will get to know kababayans who have made a mark in the community.

TFC will also continue to give platforms where kababayans in North America will have a chance to air out their opinion on issues that matter to us.

Townhall meetings will still continue especially as Filipinos in North America exchange perspectives and information that will help the community in making informed decisions as we make consequential decisions during elections and other civic

exercises.

HOWEVER, this change will also allow TFC in North America to expand and strengthen its reach and service to its core audience — our kababayans who immigrated to the United States, including the Lolos, Lolas, and other immediate members of the family who have been loyal viewers of the programs from the Philippines to keep them connected to the Motherland and ease away their homesickness.

In my continued commitment to the Filipino American community, I am working with TFC on a new digital brand that will help Filipinos navigate their new life in the United States, empowering YOU with information that will help you know, understand and adapt to your new way of life as immigrants, citizens and members of the workforce in the U.S. Equally important — this program will be like “family” to YOU — to which you can ask questions, air out concerns, exchange perspectives and opinions in matters that truly touch you and your

families on a personal level.

I will continue to serve you as a true Kapamilya — your “Ate”, “Tita” or simply your kapamilya “Gel”, who will strive to make you feel you are not alone as you start and adapt to your new life in the United States.

ABANGAN: A podcast/teleradyo para po sa inyong lahat, mga Kapamilya. And so if you have anything you want us to talk about in our teleradyo, information you need to help you in your day to day challenges in America, heartaches and pains and worries that keep you up at night, share them with me so we can address your concerns in our new teleradyo.

Send your messages to: Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos. You may also email me: gelrelos@icloud.com.

ABANGAN! Malapit na malapit na! *** 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

PH-US ties: Robust, vibrant...

PAGE 5 eryone present, among them Executive Secretary Salvador “Bingbong” Medialdea who took time to join us despite his busy schedule, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. who flew in from Hong Kong.

The BSD is supposed to be an annual discussion but we skipped last year due to scheduling problems. We really have to commend Undersecretary Ricky Manalo who

worked hard to put everything together, and Assistant Secretary Honey Isleta of the Office of American Affairs.

The occasion also served as a farewell of sorts for U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim, who will be leaving for his next post in Indonesia. Many are saddened by the news because Ambassador Kim is very well-liked and well-respected because he has been doing such a great job in strengthening ties between

the Philippines and the U.S. Most importantly, he is also liked by President Duterte — and that is really something else.

While many want his tour of duty extended, many also accept that such is the diplomatic life. Many will miss him, and we can only hope that the next top diplomat to the Philippines will also be of the same caliber, having Ambassador Kim’s engaging and charismatic ways. n

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PHILIPPINE fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Wednesday, July 24, disclosed that it will be acquiring United States-based The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) through a $100 million investment.

The $100 million is JFC’s initial investment. Jollibee Worldwide Pte Ltd, its Singapore-based subsidiary that owns Java Ventures, LLC. in the United States, will handle the purchase.

According to Reuters, JFC will invest another $250 million, for a total of $350 million in acquisition.

“The acquisition of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be Jollibee’s largest and most multinational so far with business presence in 27 countries,” said Jollibee Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong in a statement.

“This will add 14 percent to [Jollibee’s] global system wide sales, 26 percent to its total store network, will bring international business’ contribution to 36 percent of worldwide sales, and will bring [Jollibee] closer to its vision to be one of the top 5 restaurant companies in the world in terms of market capitalization,” he added.

According to Tan, their priority is to accelerate the growth of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf brand particularly in Asia through brand development, marketing and franchise support system.

As of December 2018, CBTL has 1,189 outlets spread across the United States, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Largest Asian restaurant company JFC was named the largest Asian restaurant company in

2013. And with 3,200 stores, including over 600 stores found in 13 countries overseas, its expansion still show no sign of stopping.

In 2018, it acquired Mexican chain Tortas Frontera, which serves pulled pork, chorizo and beef sandwiches with sides of guacamole and cilantro salsa; Tim Ho Wan, which is famous for its barbecue pork buns; and U.S. chain Smashburger, which serves burgers in 351 stores across U.S. Jollibee also created joint ventures with Panda Express and Vietnamese noodle soup chain PHO24 to bring their popular menus to the Philippines.

Locally, JFC owns several well-loved brands like Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, ang Mang Inasal. It is also the official local franchise for Burger King. n

PAGE 8 tayin ko talaga kayo (If you still haven’t done that, I will kill you),” Duterte said.

“Simplify and make your services responsive to – client-friendly. Your client is the Filipino, our employer – from where the money in our pockets come from, from our salaries,” he added.

Duterte also thanked Executive Secretary Medialdea for his work on increasing the number of lines for Hotline 8888, making it more responsive to the public.

Rehabilitations Duterte touted the successful rehabilitation of popular tourist spot Boracay Island after its six-month closure to the public.

“We cleaned and rehabilitated the island and I allowed it to heal naturally. I am proud to say that it has been restored close to its original pristine state,” he said.

His next focus is the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, which already started back on January 27, 2019.

“Though we have a long way to go, we are encouraged by the test results of the waters near Padre Faura,” he said.

“We will relocate informal settlers — I hope it can happen during my time — along the waterways and shut down establishments that continue to pollute and poison our waters,” Duterte added.

West Philippine Sea

(WPS) Earlier, Duterte said he will educate his critics about the WPS on his fourth SONA; however, his “lecture” was only reiterations of his previous statements before.

According to him, the country is performing a “delicate balancing act” on the WPS issue to avoid conflict with China.

“On the matter of the West Philippine Sea. The avoidance of conflict – armed conflict and protection of our territorial waters and natural resources compel us to perform a delicate balancing act,” Duterte said.

He also said he is not ready to go to war with China.

“A shooting war is grief and misery multiplier. War leaves widows and orphans in its wake. I am not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more destruction, more widows and more orphans, should war, even on a limited scale, breaks out,” he explained.

The president said a bilateral discussion would prove to be fruitful than a squabble in public, which is why the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea between the two countries exists.

Duterte repeated that he wanted to resolve the issue in a “peaceful way, mindful of the fact that it is our national pride and territorial integrity that are at stake.”

He also insisted that he was only invoking traditional fishing rights when he granted the Chinese permission to fish in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

Critics have been quick to point out that such an act could be a ground for impeachment, as it violates the chief executive’s constitutional mandate to protect the country’s marine wealth in its EEZ. However, Duterte cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and said the Philippines can enter into fishing agreements with other countries.

“Our ownership of the West Philippine Sea is internationally recognized.

However, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the arbitral award in the case of (Philippines versus China) recognized instances where another state may utilize the resources found within the coastal states exclusive economic zone the arbitral ruling even state,” he said.

In the end, Duterte maintained that the WPS belongs to the Philippines.

“The West Philippine Sea is ours. There is no ifs and buts. It is ours. But we have been acting, along that legal truth and line. But we have to temper it with the times and the realities that we face today,” Duterte said. n

Corruption, drugs, West PH Sea...

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 26 - AUgUSt 1, 2019

COMMUNITY Journal

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON July 10, 2019 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fairness for HighSkilled Immigrants Act of 2019 (HR 1044). To become a law, it would still have to pass in the Senate and be signed

by President Trump. Its provisions would increase the waiting time for green cards through Filipino employmentbased petitions, and decrease the waiting time for Filipino family-based petitions: • it would eliminate the per-country limit for all employment-based immigrants; and • it would increase the percountry limit for all familysponsored immigrants from 7% to 15%.

Each year, the U.S. government allocates a certain number of world-wide immigrant visas, and the various countries get equal allocations. It is like a pizza pie: each slice of pie is exactly the same size for each country, regardless of how many people may have applied from a particular country. A person is eligible for their visa when the “priority date” on their case

HR 1044 would hurt and help Filipinos

finally becomes current for their country on the monthly Visa Bulletin.

Some countries, with large populations, have a tremendous backlog for employment-based immigrant visas, especially China and India.

There are some estimates that because there are so many Indians applying for immigrant visas, the waiting time could be up to 60 years, based on their priority date.

Other countries, where not so many people have applied, have a very short waiting time, even though their priority date may have been much later than the priority dates of Indians or Chinese.

HR 1044 would eliminate the per-country allocations of employment-based visas, and instead people would receive their immigrant visas on a first-come, first-served basis.

This would result in Chinese and Indian cases with older priority dates moving ahead of many other countries with more recent priority dates, such that the average waiting time for an employmentbased visa may increase to up to seven years. Countries that did not previously have a sig-

nificant wait time in employment-based preference categories will undoubtedly see an increase in their wait time.

Many high-tech companies favor this change, because they want to hire Indian and Chinese high-tech workers, but the wait is so long. This could result in Filipinos and applicants from other countries now having to wait longer, so that the Indian and Chinese immigrant visa applicants will move ahead in the line.

As for family-based petitions, HR 1044 proposes to increase the amount of visas from 7% to 15%, which represents an increase from 15,820 to 33,900 family sponsored green card that any single country could receive in a fiscal year. This proposal would benefit the Philippines, as the backlog for family-based petitions is very long, and it would mean the Philippines would receive more family-based visas and a shorter waiting time.

Again, this is only a proposal, and must still pass the Senate and be signed by President Trump. However, PAGE 12

Fil-Am dancer Bailey Munoz advances to ’So You Think You Can Dance’ top 20

By Billy De la Cruz AJPress

FOLLOWING Filipina American dancer Hannahlei Cabanilla’s win on “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 15 (SYTYCD) last year, another Fil-Am talent is set to make a splash in the American dance contest’s ongoing 16th season.

On its 7th episode, Filipino American dancer Bailey Munoz from Las Vegas, wowed the judges as he danced to “Beggin” by Four Seasons during the Academy Round of the competition.

He received the golden ticket making him part of the top 20 hopefuls out of 64 contestants who will move on to the next round. Fellow Filipino American dancer John

11

Bailrok with his parents, Fredie and Barbra, and younger sister Faither.

Photo by Bev Llorente

John Tarrayo failed to make the cut, however.

Also known as “BailRok,” 19-year-old Munoz is no stranger to the spotlight.

In an interview with ABSCBN News’ Bev Llorente,

BailRok gave the news crew a tour to his house in Las Vegas.

He proudly showed his wall of fame, a collection of his childhood photos with A-list celebrities he has worked with and PAGE 15

IS THERE A WAY TO EXPEDITE THE PETITION FOR A 42-YEAR OLD SPECIAL CHILD SINCE HER GRANDMOTHER WHO USED TO CARE FOR HER HAS ALREADY PASSED ON? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” The first batch of Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen Pinoy” taping in Illinois have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out if the petition for a married son, that has dragged on for 15 years, can be expedited since he is needed by his aging parents to care for them. Can a U.S. citizen petition her mother who has married twice, but her first marriage has not yet been annulled? Get answers to these questions and more on an encore episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m .PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

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JULY 26 - AUgUst 1, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERsEY AsIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA “I’VE had it!” Charisse said to herself as she put down her phone.

This one broke up with her via text message, saying he’s found someone else and something about her being too square.

They say three is a charm or in her case, she thought, three strikes and you’re out. She stiffened her spine, picked up her phone and was going to just block his calls, hesitated for a bit, and with a glint in her eye and a decisive finger, deleted his name from her contact list forever.

Charisse used to go into a season of self-pity after a breakup but realized that it was like flogging yourself silly after the one you foolishly trusted kicks you to the curb.

One day she took action.

She decided to be kind to herself and take none of the bad behavior others feel they can pile on her. She built her selfconfidence daily, rigorously with positive affirmations and learned to do many things with excellence just like her Mom and her Lola taught her — two generations of awesome women who continue to guide her.

As a research associate for a non-profit firm for a decade, she made a modest living allowing her to have her own place and some expendable time doing things for others. She kept close tab of her expenses but made sure she had money for her continuing education and time to spend generously with other people.

Charisse kept in close touch with her family keeping them in the loop about her simple but utterly engaging life.

She mentally threw out the window the new wave speeddating, internet dating, webchatting schtick.

It works for some but certainly not for her. It’s a jungle out there. She decided she will do things the old fashioned way. She was going to be a jolly mini-renaissance girl, a well-rounded lady that considers technology as a useful tool but never a crutch.

“Hah! Tall order,” she admitted to herself but she knew on the gut level she was going to do it or die trying. Her dad and her brother said she had spunk and gumption. She always got going when the going got tough. She thought it was the built-in spark plug wired into her by praying to God constantly.

Community Journal

Once Upon a Time Series Charisse’s Confection A Story in Two Scoops (Part 1 of 2)

“ … Baking was her magic wand to shoo away the blues…”

She learned how to do things, like write, bake and cook, even dance and sing and do stand-up comedy — pursuits that made her so busy, so disciplined and so doggone tired she just didn’t have time to be sad.

She talked to senior people in the mall and at the senior center and realized she enjoyed learning so much from their stories. She also felt their intense loneliness. She became friends with them and looked forward to senior center nights. She became particularly close to Dolly, an elegant graceful, silver-haired lady that seemed like she was to the manor born.

Boy, were those senior citizens a hoot to be with! She learned to tango and do the foxtrot with them. She volunteered to read to the children at the library. The kids made her laugh and they taught her to be joyful and lighthearted.

Her friends complained that she was missing in on the action. Quietly, she begged to differ.

Best of all, she rediscovered prayer and its powerful, wonderful effect on her and the people around her. She found comfort in the quiet sanctity of her small parish church.

Through her journey of selfdiscovery, Charisse learned to never be one to wallow over a break-up — more so with an extremely crass text break-up.

“What is wrong with guys these days who won’t be man enough to do a face-to-face break-up? So many beta boys, spineless soy boys around her orbit! Where are the gentleman alpha males that pursued the love of their life with all they’ve got?

Charisse was convinced romance and courtship are dead like the dodo. Or perhaps, the reason there are no alpha males and manly men is that women don’t act like women these days. And the men are so confused they want to be women.

“Oy Vey!” she sighed. She picked up the expression from one of the Jewish women at the center. She alternates it with her mom’s expression of exasperation, “Hay Naku!”

At this rate, I will be the only single lady aka “old maid” whose sell by date is about to expire among her group

of friends. The current social media template seems to work for her friends but not for her.

Charisse shrugged her shoulders. With an impish grin, she said out loud, “I don’t care.

I will be a happy, single lady just the same. So goodbye to love.”

Charisse sprung into action to slam shut another annoying damper of a mini-chapter of her life. She went to her kitchen, tied her long lustrous brunette hair into a bun, put on her apron determined to whip out a delicious baked goodie, a confection like no other.

Baking was her magic wand to shoo away the blues. She opened her pantry, peeked at her refrigerator and checked out ingredients for one of her specialties, Crema de Fruta, a layer of lady fingers, covered by cream, then a layer of peaches and cherry and a thin layer of clear gelatin on top to hold the layers together. She will bring her delicious confection to the Senior Center tomorrow for Dolly who will be celebrating her 80th birthday.

Dolly loved seeing her every time she stopped by at the Senior Center. Her eyes lit up when she sees the younger woman. She loved to regale her with wonderful tales of a glorious past. Charisse listened and learned of a wonderful, well-heeled family life until a tragic accident wiped out all except for a grandson.

Dolly’s eyes would close when she recalls the tragedy while Charisse kept her respectful silence squeezing the woman’s hand slightly as a tiny measure of comfort.

Charisse’s natural curiosity as a researcher would normally drive her to check out her story on the internet.

But she felt Dolly’s story was told to her in confidence like a secret and so it will stay that way. She purposely didn’t ask for her full name because she enjoyed the mystery and the company of the older woman.

She thought that too much information overload has killed all the mystery and wonder in this world. And so she just let it be.

(To be continued next week …) *** 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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Franchising workshops at Fiesta in America

FILIPINO Americans looking for viable investments only need to attend Fiesta In America on August 10 and 11 at new Jersey’s Meadowlands Expo Center to discover an untapped field of business in the Philippines. On both days of Fiesta In America, workshops on franchising opportunities in the homeland will be held for free by Jonathan Petalver, Program Director of the Center for Continuing Education Transformational Sales Leadership at Ateneo Graduate School of Business. A noted business author, Petalver is also the founder of the Training Hub for Entrepreneurship Academy, and holds MBAlevel strategic and executive classes.

Petalver’s free workshops on franchising business categories, specific companies with thriving operations, as well as the do’s and don’ts of the owning a franchise will shine a light on this growing field of private enterprise.

According to Eric Soriano, ASEAN Family Business Advisor and a former Fiesta In America workshop speaker, investing in a franchise provides opportunities in a already-proven business model and brands. “Overseas Filipinos who have the burning desire to own a business in the Philippines [should] take a leap of faith towards financial independence,” said Professor Soriano. And although success is not guaranteed as in any business endeavor, a study commissioned by the Philippine Franchising Association reported a 97% success rate for franchises.

Fiesta In America’s free workshops led by Jonathan Petalver will be held between 1pm and 3pm on both days of the event. Although reser-

vations are not required, early comers will be assured of seats in the seminar room the Meadowlands Expo Center.

Free small business advice from experts is just one component of Fiesta In America, the biggest expo and cultural show of its kind on the east coast. This year’s cultural show will be headlined by Philippine teleserye superstars JC De Vera and Yam Concepcion, Grammy winner A Taste Of Honey (their number 1 hit is the disco staple “Boogie Oogie Oogie”), acclaimed ABBA tribute band Dancing Dream, as well as Fil-Am singing sensation RADHA, one of the recent top contenders on The Voice.

Fiesta In America offers a cornucopia of delights for attendees of all stripes. Philippine export products, immigrant-tailored services, free

health screenings, and savory native cuisine are in store at the Trade Pavilion and the Food Court. A roundtrip ticket to the Philippines will be raffled off as this year’s Grand Prize. And on August 11, a costumed Santacruzan featuring the 2019 Hermano and Hermana Mayor (Kits and Cora Reyes), this year’s Reyna Elena, her consorts and constantinos, will follow a Holy Mass.

To attend, sponsor or exhibit at the expo and at the People’s Ball (Fiesta In America’s community tribute gala on August 9), call 212682-6610 or email info@fiestainamerica.com. For more information, log on to www. fiestainamerica.com. Video and photo galleries of past editions are also available on Facebook.

(Advertising Supplement)

HR 1044 would hurt and help...

PAGE 11 I would urge people who are thinking about pursuing an employment or family-based petition to file them before this law takes effect, as there is a “do not harm” provision in HR 1044 which provides that these new allocations may not apply to employment-based petitions that have been approved. For family-based cases, it means that the backlog or waiting time will be much shorter for Filipinos.

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not

constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 26 - AUgUSt 1, 2019

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JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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(212) 655-5426 N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S• EY J U LY 26 , 2 0 1 9

people events arts culture entertainment

THE STORY OF THEO & PHILO:

This Filipino chocolatier wants the Philippines to be known globally as a great source of chocolates

I

BY

MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS

t was a sweet victory for five Philippine chocolate brands at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London last June when they garnered a total of 24 awards across various categories.

AuroChocolate (Davao), Dalareich Food Products (Bohol), Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation (Davao), MS3Agri-Ventures (Davao), and Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates (Davao) impressed more than 100 expert judges who make up the panel. This year’s board of judges include leading chocolatiers and some of the UK’s most prominent food writers and bloggers.

These five brands bested over a thousand entries from close to 50 countries. Their chocolates were judged not just on the taste but were marked for appearance, depth of aroma and flavor, length, and complexity over a rigorous 25 session judging process over a three-month period.

Theo & Philo, one of these PH brands, made it to this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center where we had a chance to chat with its founder Philo Chua. For the first time this year, the Philippines had a pavilion called Food Philippines.

Before he became a chocolatier, Chua was in the Information Technology (IT) field, working as a programmer in

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Pittsburgh. While writing something on the side about chocolates, he learned in his research that the Philippines is one of the few areas in the world where cocoa trees grew and that inspired him to know more about it.

That was his “aha moment” as he pondered on the single origin chocolate bars that he saw in stores and why there was nothing like that from the Philippines when there’s plenty of cacao over there.

History After years of working in the United States, he eventually returned to the Philippines in 2007 and just after a couple of years of trial and error there, he started Theo & Philo, making premium artisanal chocolates.

“It became a hobby of mine when we started,” he said laughing. “I really wanted to go back home and maybe do something with food, medyo nagsawa na rin kasi ako sa IT.” He took a chance and gambled.

“If it failed, okay lang. At least I tried,” he said.

Fortunately for him, it worked out, eventually. Theo & Philo became the first bean-to-bar, single-origin chocolate maker in the Philippines.

Theo comes from theobroma cacao, which is the cacao tree’s scientific name. That, combined with Philo, which also means love in Greek (philos) and you get Theo & Philo, chocolate and love.

Now, his goal for Theo & Philo is for it to become a global Filipino brand.

“That is the ultimate dream, that when people think about the Philippines, they also think about our chocolates, specially our brand,” he said.

Summer Fancy Food Show 2019 CITEM, the marketing arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry curated the list of ten companies, including Theo & Philo that joined in this exhibition at the Fancy Food Show.

In the course of our interview, a number of people passed by the booth and complimented Philo for the beautiful packaging of the chocolates, and when they tried some of the variants, they all expressed their hearty approval.

Chua shared that he made a conscious effort to come up with a great product, and that included beautiful, artsy and classy packaging.

“When I was younger, I was into arts and design. Part of the thing that also attracted me here was you could express your creativity not just with the chocolates but also on the packaging,” Philo explained. “From the get go, we really wanted to show something different, so the flavor, the packaging reflected that.”

Theo & Philo has been in existence for about nine years now

Theo & Philo founder Philo Chua

and year after year, it has been pushing Philippine chocolate in the tough and highly competitive global market.

“We’ve been improving every year, and the chocolate industry in the Philippines has been growing every year as well. We can see more improvement, and more people getting into the chocolate industry in the coming years,” he said. “The government is doing a very good job in promoting the industry and the cacao industry is beginning to boom.”

Chua considers making a mark in the history of the chocolate world in the Philippines as his biggest achievement in the past nine years or so.

They are the first one to do the “bean to bar” concept there, creating premium chocolate bars using only the local cacao beans. Looking back, he said he is happy that he was able to help start this particular movement of chocolate from the Philippines that can compete globally.

Theo & Philo started back in 2010 with just two variants: 70% dark and milk chocolates.

The other flavors came about during the Christmas season the same year when they decided to make something special for the holidays. They realized that people responded to their special flavors so they decided to continue them and make them a staple.

He takes pride in saying that their chocolates are distinctively and Filipino, some of them inspired by classic Pinoy dishes and snacks such as adobo and turon.

Now, they have about a dozen variants, including ginger & mint, black sesame and barako coffee. His personal favorite is the dark chocolate with calamansi and their bestseller is green mango & sea salt.

PAGE 15

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EntErtainmEnt

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 26 - AUgUSt 1, 2019

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Dani defends sister Julia amid cheating accusations CONTENT creator Dani Barretto has reportedly spoken up regarding the alleged relationship of her sister, actress Julia Barretto, with actor Gerald Anderson.

In Twitter posts screenshot by a Twitter site dedicated to Julia (Dani’s tweets are only available to approved followers), Dani reportedly said: “Nag-usap lang sa party, at may chismo-

Julia and Dani Barretto Photo from Instagram/@danibarretto

sang nag-decide mag-picture, cheating na agad? Bawal ang ‘hi’ sa isa’t isa, bawal magkamustahan? Cheating na agad ‘yun?! They worked together!!

Of course, they’re friends! Pati ‘yun bawal na din?”

Another Twitter user pointed out that the one who uploaded Julia and Gerald’s controversial photos from fellow actor Rayver Cruz’s birthday party claimed that the two were seen leaving the party together in one car.

To this, Dani said: “Of course she will say that!!! Her photos can’t back up her allegations!

Have you seen the photos?

There is nothing wrong with them. It is just two people talking. What is so wrong about that?”

It can be recalled that last Sunday, Gerald’s girlfriend of three years, Bea Alonzo, started posting cryptic Instagram posts, which many Internet users interpreted as hints that Gerald

might be cheating on her.

“You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake anymore, it’s a choice. ENOUGH,” Bea wrote.

Bea also liked the Instagram posts of a certain Kath Cabrera, who posted stolen shots of Julia and Gerald from Rayver’s party.

Kath shut down her Instagram account following threat from Julia’s mom, Marjorie Barretto, that she plans to take legal action against her.

But after a short Instagram hiatus, Kath is back and has shared photos of Gerald and Julia walking in a parking lot, where she allegedly saw the two riding only one car and doing “different gestures.”

Gerald and Julia starred in the romantic drama “Between Maybes” shown in cinemas last May. (Deni Rose M. AfinidadBernardo/Philstar.com)

Rico Blanco, ‘Nagbabalik’

By Mark Bonifacio ManilaTimes.net

FORMER Rivermaya vocalist turned solo artist Rico Blanco officially marked his return to the local music scene via an explosive first single, “Nagbabalik,” released on July 3, which finds the master songwriter collaborating with one of today’s hottest bands, IV of Spades.

This definitely comes as a welcome surprise to music fans of all ages, as Blanco — a Filipino music icon who has written and performed a wealth of the most enduring classics in Philippine music history — has since been on a self-imposed hiatus from releasing new material, touring and performing starting around two years ago.

Blanco had nothing else to prove, and more importantly, he was happy, grateful and pleased with all that he had accomplished. It was, as the old adage goes, the perfect time to quit: while at the top… the very top.

“By the end of 2016, I asked myself ‘when does it really stop?’” recounts Blanco, in what is possibly the first sitdown interview he’s done in a while.

“And don’t get me wrong, I was so thankful that the blessings kept coming, but then the question I kept asking myself was ‘when do I get to do those other things I always said I would do?’ So despite being counter-intuitive, on January 1, 2017, I made a decision to choose work that was fun and interesting to me – not work

Rico Blanco Photo from Instagram/@ricoblanco100

that was part of some strategy or work that would lead to an even bigger plan or goal; I realized I had more than what I needed, and that I found this certain… contentment,” he shares.

It was during this downtime that the acclaimed singersongwriter was able to pursue other passions and goals, with the encouragement of his family: traveling, painting, photography and as far as the closest thing to work was concerned, duties as President of The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP).

But just as sure as you can’t keep a good man down, or in Blanco’s case, you can’t keep a great artist destined to reach-for even greater heights, Rico found himself, yet again – achieving the goals he had set, and satisfying his thirst for his non-musical exploits and projects.

“It sounds funny, I know,”

Blanco chuckles, “but I was able to plant flags into the long-term goals I had set and was able to regain my peace of mind; so while I’m literally waiting for the paint and cement to dry from what I had started to build, I now have this window of time to explore, create and collaborate in music once more.”

In fact, before Blanco’s hiatus, he unknowingly called it “prophesized” (if you will) at the time, as he took to Twitter and commended artists like Moira Dela Torre, Kiana and IV of Spades for keeping OPM alive.

“But no one excited me as much as IV of Spades – no one,” Blanco claims. “I do love a lot of artists, for sure, but not since the Eraserheads or Bamboo the band did I feel as excited as a music fan: waiting for each of their next releases, hungry for more, with a desire to play their music over and over again. No one captured my imagination as much as these kids.”

While Blanco was enjoying being a fan, it had turned out IV of Spades were also big fans of his work. And after what started out as an invitation to simply hang out (and other unplanned opportunities wherein both artists would bump-into each other), did the prospect of playing together pop-up.

It seems “Nagbabalik” isn’t just a declaration of Blanco’s return to the local music scene, but is also symbolic of the resurgence of local music once again in both the studio and stage.

AAIFF OPENING NIGHT. Lea Salonga (4th from right) led the stars at the 42nd Asian American International Film Festival’s Opening Night reception and screening of Yellow Rose. Joining Ms. Salonga were Leslie Lewis, Liam Booth, Karen Elizaga, Jeremiah Abraham, director Diane Paragas, Princess Punzalan, Cecilia Mejia and Orian Williams.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

Fil-Am dancer Bailey Munoz...

PAGE 11 met through dancing.

“When I toured with Bruno Mars, it was such an amazing experience. He is the coolest guy. He is a good person to look up to,” he shared.

In 2010, then 9-year-old BailRok landed a spot on the semi-finals of “America’s Got Talent.”

“I started at a very young age. It was such a blessing for me being on ‘America’s Got Talent’ when I was younger,” he told ABS-CBN News. “I’ve been lucky enough to perform with Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber. I got to dance with Beyoncé, Megan Trainor.”

His other notables performances include an appear-

ance in Chris Brown’s music video, in “Dancing with the Stars,” and at a New York Knicks’ game.

As for his current journey on SYTYCD, BailRok hopes that his love and passion for dancing will help him through the tough competition ahead.

He promised to give it his all as he considers getting the golden ticket not only a dream come true, but a chance of a lifetime as well.

Behind BailRok’s success, and his SYTYCD journey, are his proud parents, Ferdie and Barbra Munoz, and her younger sister Faithe.

“We haven’t really digested what he has experienced through dance,” Ferdie Mu-

noz told ABS-CBN News.

“I know how hard he works when he’s performing at something. Specifically for SYTYCD, he’s spent months training. I know that this is something he is preparing for,” Barbra Munoz shared.

“During that audition, I was not necessarily scared or nervous, it’s a combination of both because I know he really wanted it and worked so hard for it.”

Next week, BailRok and the rest of the top 20 performers will partner with SYTYCD “AllStars” to compete for a spot in the top 10.

“So You Think You Can Dance” airs on Fox on Monday nights at 8 p.m.

The story of Theo & Philo...

PAGE 14 “I am also proud of our adobo because it is something very unique,” he stated.

The idea was to come up with an iconic Filipino flavor, so what could be more iconic than adobo, the Philippine national dish. Using soy sauce in chocolate was a bold step, something unheard of before, but Chua took the risk and it paid off.

People gravitated towards this flavor because it is savory and sweet, like bacon and chocolate, and he realized that his clients are getting used to this kind of combination.

“It’s not anymore as weird as before so we decided to give it a chance,” he quipped.

Two of the variants that Chua mentioned (adobo and

green mango & salt), along with their labuyo, cashew & pili and pili nuts & pinipig, were among the award winners at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, considered the Oscar Awards for chocolates.

Locally sourced Tony Meloto, in a speech he made in Boston about 15 years ago, talked about how Switzerland is most famous for their chocolates but they don’t produce a single cacao bean. He then asked, how is it that the Philippines, which produces a lot of cacao, is not able to come up with chocolate that could compete with other world class chocolates?

“Exactly! That’s true. We’re the first one in Southeast Asia to have cacao because of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade,” Chua exclaimed.

Theo & Philo chocolates are all locally sourced from farmers in the Davao region of the Philippines, where majority of the cacao comes from. The company has been working with Gawad Kalinga communities through the years.

They source their raw cacao and other ingredients from GK communities in the Malabog area of Davao province, helping provide a sustainable livelihood for farmers and others who work on the farm.

“After being in the U.S. for seven years, I saw the stark contrast of how differently some Filipino people were living and how they could use help,” Chua told NetSuite in an interview. “Growing up and in school, I was always involved in organizations that helped people out, so it was a natural thing.”

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