080118 - Southern California Midweek Edition

August 1-3, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 60 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Philippines enjoying economic rights Trump reaffirms possible gained from arbitration — Cayetano government shutdown, DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

calling it ‘small price to pay’ for border security

PRESIDENT Donald Trump made clear on Tuesday, July 31, that he’s serious about shutting down the government if Congress fails to pass new immigration and border security measures like border wall funding.

Trump sounded off the likelihood of a government shutdown at least twice since the weekend, starting with a tweet on Sunday, July 29, saying that he was “willing to ‘shut down’ government if Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!”

He doubled down on the threat on Monday, July 30, during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, saying, “If we don’t get border security after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown.”

He added that the U.S. was the “laughing stock of the world,” and had the “worst immigration laws anywhere in the world.”

While the initial shutdown remarks did alarm some Republican lawmakers, others also seemed confident that Trump wouldn’t shut the government down as the political risk seemed too great in light of the upcom-

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — Amid criticisms from the previous administration, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano insisted that the Philippines is implementing the sovereign rights it has gained from the arbitration award on the South China Sea. The Philippines’ top diplomat, however, admitted that the Philippines is “co-controlling” with China on the dis-

puted waterway.

“I can argue that we’re now under cocontrol or at least co-coordination with China and three out of four of our sovereign rights in the arbitration award are implemented now,” Cayetano told reporters on Tuesday, July 31.

Hitting back at critics who have been suggesting to pursue the Aquino administration’s policy toward Beijing, Cayetano insisted that their strategy did not produce results.

The Philippines, under Aquino leadership, pursued the arbitration against China, which later on resulted to a victory for the country. The arbitral tribunal ruled that Beijing violated its commitment under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea when it constructed artificial islands within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

“What did the award say? Awards says first: fisheries. Before, we were

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Aquino shares the blame in impunity - Palace

by NATHALIE

No Filipino affected so far

by California wildfire – DFA

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ROBLES

AJPress

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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is closely monitoring the fast-spreading wildfire in Northern California that has already destroyed hundreds of structures and forced thousands to evacuate.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is also checking the situation of Filipinos in Redding and surrounding areas to determine if the so-called Carr Fire has affected any Filipino in the area.

Consul General Henry Bensurto reported however that they have not received any request for assistance so far from any Filipino in Redding and areas nearby.

Bensurto said there are about 227 Filipinos in the city of Redding, which is being threatened by the fire that has already burned more than 344 square kilometers or 85,000 acres and destroyed 500 structures.

The fire has forced the evacuation of some 38,000 people in neighborhoods on the west side of Redding, Bensurto added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Philstar.com photo

SMUGGLED LUXURY CAR. President Rodrigo Duterte watches as a contraband Lamborghini luxury car is turned into a pile of wreckage after it was subjected to condemnation and public destruction at Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan on Monday, July 30. A total of 68 contraband luxury vehicles worth over P277 million and eight contraband luxury motorbikes worth over P19 million were destroyed as part of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s campaign against smuggling and corruption in the government.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

MALACANANG responded to former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s criticism saying that he shares the blame in the culture of impunity for his failure in addressing media killings during his term.

“I wish he did more also in protecting human life,” presiFormer President Benigno dential spokesperson Harry Aquino III Inquirer.net photo Roque said.

This was after Aquino on Monday, July 30, publicly stated his objection to President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Puwede bang paghiwalayin iyun? Puwede bang wala kang karapatan na universal nga. Maski saang parte ng mundo, pare-pareho iyung basic rights (How can those [human rights and human lives] be sepa-

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Palace entrusts Tulfo’s refusal Duterte to Abu Sayyaf: Let’s talk peace to return 60-M to ‘legal process’

by CATHERINE

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

Television Network (PTV).

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that after consulting MALACAÑANG said on Mon- with President Rodrigo Duterte, day, July 30, that it will let the they decided to “let those liable legal process run on the contro- be held responsible“ shortly after versy involving radio personalities Ben Tulfo strongly stated that he Ben and Raffy Tulfo and former has no intentions of returning the Department of Tourism (DOT) money.

Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo in In a Facebook post on “Bitag connection with the P60 million Live”, Ben addressed his critics worth of government paid adver- urging them to file a case at the tisements aired on the People’s u PAGE A2

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

WITH the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) ratified by Congress and signed into law, President Rodrigo Duterte turned his attention to the Abu Sayyaf Group, urging it to talk peace with the government.

The president also appealed to Moros to give the Bangsamoro law a chance.

He asked terror groups not to spark conflict or mount acts of violence while the BOL is being implemented.

“Huwag natin pasukan ‘yan. Hindi panahon natin ‘yan. Hindi ‘yung away na pwede tayong makipagsapalaran na ubusan. Mag-

usap na lang. Iyong Abu Sayyaf, mag-usap na lang tayo (Let’s not go to war. It is not for us. Not the kind of fight that will finish all of us. Let’s just talk. Abu Sayyaf, let’s just talk),” the president said in a speech in Jolo, Sulu.

“Iyong BBL tapos na. Bigyan lang natin ng panahon. Huwag tayong mag-giyera (The BBL has been signed. Let’s give it a chance. Let’s not go to war),” he added.

Duterte also expressed willingness to visit Abu Sayyaf camps as long as the terrorists promise not to harm him.

“Baka i-hostage mo ako. Ibigay ninyo ‘yung word of honor ninyo na hindi niyo ako kid-

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Palace: Bangsamoro Organic Law not perfect, but not rushed

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

THE Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is not perfect but its passage was not rushed, Malacañang said Tuesday, July 31.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque could not say which provisions of the BOL would be reviewed, but expressed readiness to reach out to groups that have concerns over the measure.

Roque noted that people in Presidential spokesman Harry Roque could not say which provisions of the BOL would be reviewed, but expressed readiness to reach out to groups that have concerns over the measure.

Photo by Miguel de Guzman/Philstar.com Sulu were not in favor of includ-

ing their province in the new Bangsamoro region.

“You know, nothing is perfect and of course the BOL as signed into law is a result of compromise. So all that the President was saying was, if you have specific complaints, we are open to discuss these complaints with the view of possibly amending further the law,” Roque said in a press briefing.

“It wasn’t really rushed. It’s been there. It has been pending. It took us almost a year to discuss the BOL; there’s been substantial consultations… the

President even called members of the Congress and Senate – if I’m not mistaken – at least three times to the Palace,” he added.

Last week, Duterte said he was open to modifying the BOL to respond to the concerns of some groups who are not satisfied with the measure. The BOL, which will create a new Bangsamoro region with enhanced autonomy, was signed into law last Thursday, July 26.

Roque said Duterte made the statement to assure the people in Mindanao that he wants ev-

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Aquino shares the blame in...

PAGE A1 rated? Is it possible to have no rights when it is universal? Everywhere in the world, it is all the same basic rights),” Aquino told the reporters.

In a report from ABS-CBN News, the former president included a quote from his late father, Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

“Naalala ko iyung sinabi ng ta-

tay ko noong araw, ‘pag pinayagan mong yurakan ang karapatan ng isa, hinahanda mo iyung pagkakataon na iyung karapatan mo rin ang mayurakan (I remember what my father once said, ‘if you allow the rights of another person to be violated, you are paving the way for your own rights to be trampled upon),” the younger Aquino stated.

From the Front Page

Roque clapped back noting that Aquino was also at fault in several issues involving human lives.

“It was during his administration that the United Nations noticed that we were in breach of our obligation to the right to life, especially on the killing of journalists as well,” Roque said.

In a report from Inquirer.net, Aquino’s remarks were an apparent swipe when Duterte stressed that he was more concerned with human lives in combating illegal drugs.

“If you think that I can be dissuaded from continuing this fight because of demonstrations, your protests, which I, by the way, find misdirected, then you got it all wrong. Your concern is human rights, mine is human lives,” Duterte said last week.

Roque ensured the public that Duterte is standing by his controversial statement and that there should be no argument about the value of human rights.

“The president goes by what he says. He’s pursuing the drug war because he values human lives,” Roque said in a press briefing.

“If the construction of many is that human life forms part of human rights, then so be it. That proves my point [that] the president is espousing, protecting, advancing human rights.”

The Duterte administration had been drawing flak in its increasing drug war casualties, as well as the growing number of slain journalists since the president assumed office. n

No Filipino affected so far...

BEDLAM. Thousands of students, some accompanied by their parents, packed the registrar’s office of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on Monday, July 30 to submit their application for the university’s College Admission Test. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Philippines enjoying economic...

PAGE A1 not able to fish bit now we can already fish. There’s a tentative fishing agreement,” the secretary said.

The Foreign Affairs chief also noted that the Filipinos are now guaranteed safety of life at sea when there are storms as there are arrangements on the matter.

The Philippines also has tentative agreements with different parties for environmental protection, according to Cayetano.

“Last is oil and gas which we are, as I said, working on. We’re looking for a framework,” Cayetano said, referring to a possible joint exploration with China in the South China Sea. “Joint development is one mechanism of cooperation by countries in areas in dispute and we will not be the first country to do it,” he added.

Former President Benigno Aquino III had called on President Rodrigo Duterte to be more

transparent to the public on negotiations with China, particularly on the disputed South China Sea. The former president asked when binding rules based on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea can be released.

“We request that perhaps they can bare their negotiations, be more transparent with their dealings so that the public would have no concern for worry,” Aquino said over the weekend. n

Palace entrusts Tulfo’s refusal to return...

PAGE A1 Commission of Audit (CoA) and Ombudsman.

“Sa mga nagsasabing isauli ang pera… mamuti na mga mata!

PAGE A1 Wala kaming isasauli! (To those Initially, five persons have who ask me to return the money, been reported injured and 12 even when your eyes turn white! others have been listed missing. We will return nothing!)” Ben But latest reports indicated that wrote. death toll from the wildfires is The CoA earlier this year found now at five, including two fire- irregularities in the advertisement men, a great-grandmother, and deal between the tourism detwo children. partment and PTV’s show “Kilos The Consulate General has as- Pronto.” sured that it continues to moniIn their report, the commission tor developments and is in touch claimed that the ads were not with authorities for updates on supported by the necessary docuthe Carr Fire, especially on no- ments mainly the Memorandum tifications about foreign nation- of Agreement (MOA) and the Cerals affected by the blaze. (Darryl tificate of Performance (COP).

John Esguerra/Inquirer.net) The report also stated that the

former tourism secretary might be found liable for graft on grounds of conflict of interest.

Teo denied her involvement in the irregularity but resigned after the issue escalated.

The ads were aired on a program produced by Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., a company owned

by Teo’s brother, Ben Tulfo.

In Ben Tulfo’s defense, he wrote in the same post that they were complete in all their contracts and documents. As proof, he mentioned how they delivered and finished the videos aired nationwide, worldwide and in social media. He denied the claims that there was a conflict of interest.

In a report from the Philippine Star, Roque said that those

who benefited from the contract should be investigated.

“Those who received (commissions) should be charged... The names should be revealed,” he added.

In a report from The Manila Times, Sen. Antonio Trillanes is said to file plunder charges against the Tulfo siblings for their alleged refusal to return the money.

In another Facebook post, Ben Tulfo responded to Trillanes in a staunch statement. He encouraged the senator to be mindful of what comes out of his mouth considering that he is a senator.

“Act more respectable like most of your colleagues in the Senate,” he added. He also challenged his critic to a fistfight. n

Trump reaffirms possible government shutdown...

PAGE A1

ing midterm elections.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the Washington Post on Monday, July 30 that he was sure Congress would be able to avoid a shutdown.

But Trump said Tuesday afternoon that he didn’t care about the political consequences.

He tweeted, “I don’t care what the political ramifications are, our immigration laws and border security have been a complete and total disaster for decades, and there is no way that the Democrats will allow it to be fixed without a Government Shutdown.”

“Border security is National Security, and National Security is the long-term viability of our Country,” Trump added in a following tweet. “A Government Shutdown is a very small price to pay for a safe and Prosperous America!”

The latest shutdown threat followed a tweet he posted that referenced a Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography report showing an increased homicide count in Mexico for the year 2017.

Bad timing, say Republicans Trump’s shutdown threats came several days after GOP lawmakers were said to have come up with a plan to avoid a government shutdown before the November midterm elections.

Trump has threatened a government shutdown over border wall funding before — in February, he said that he would “love to see a shut down if we can’t get this stuff taken care off”

— but the timing of the recent comments is what lawmakers, including Republican, are most worried about.

If a government shutdown were to occur, it would happen in September — close to elections where Republicans are hoping to keep a stronghold in Congress.

At a meeting with Trump last Wednesday, July 25, McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan reached an agreement with the president that funding for the wall would not have to be reached by the end of the current financing period.

McConnell also reportedly warned Trump that pursuing a fight over border wall funding could hinder Trump’s nominee Brett Kavanaugh from taking the vacant Supreme Court seat.

On Tuesday, McConnell and other Senate GOP lawmakers said that they are still following their plan to approve 9 of the 12 spending bills by the end of August.

“We’re trying to go through a normal appropriations process that prevents a big event at the end of the fiscal year, which has become all too common around here,” said McConnell, as quoted by the Washington Post.

“Hopefully we don’t get to that position at the end of the fiscal year,” he added.

Responding to Trump’s earlier shutdown threats, the New York Times quoted Republican Rep. Tom Cole saying: “We’re going to have a challenging midterm anyways, and I don’t see how putting the attention on shutting down the government when you

control the government is going to help you.”

On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who serves as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, similarly said he didn’t think the shutdown would be helpful, “so let’s try and avoid it.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told NPR’s “Morning Edition” that the shutdown issue puts Republicans “in a bad position.” He dismissed Trump’s blame on Democrats and said that because Republicans hold majority in both the House and the Senate, they could pass funding for the wall if they wanted.

“Many Republicans don’t want to spend $25 billion to $40 billion on a wall when they don’t have enough money for medical research, for cancer research, for rebuilding some of our water supplies in the United States,” said Leahy.

Trump has yet to receive the full $25 billion he requested, but House Republicans last month in July released a spending bill that puts $5 billion towards Trump’s wall next year.

Asked on Monday whether the $25 billion was a red line, Trump said he didn’t have a red line, and “always leaves room for negotiation.”

“I just want great border security,” said Trump.

A government shutdown usually happens when Congress is unable to pass a budget. The deadline for the next budget is September 30. (Rae Ann Varona /AJPress)

Palace: Bangsamoro Organic Law not...

PAGE A1

eryone to be involved in peace efforts.

“Many people in Sulu were against it (BOL) just because traditionally, Sulu does not want to be part of it (Bangsamoro). But I think, things have changed,” he said.

“And I think the message of the president is he really wants to reach out to the people of Sulu and he wants lasting peace to include Sulu. He is willing to sit down with Sulu and talk about possible amendments.”

Duterte has also expressed readiness to talk to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

founding chairman Nur Misuari, who has been critical of the government’s peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The BOL will implement the 2014 peace agreement between the government and the MILF. Duterte has promised Misuari to provide him autonomy if the MNLF leader asks for it.

“I think he’s reaching out specifically to Nur Misuari and he is willing to listen to Nur Misuari... to accommodate some of Misuari’s wishes if it can be accommodated. But as of now, I think it’s just really a strong message that if you are not happy with BOL, come talk

to me,” Roque said.

Amending the BOL requires legislative action but Roque believes the process won’t take long.

Roque could not say whether there would be formal rites for the signing of BOL, noting that Duterte is not fond of ceremonies.

“I would personally want to see a ceremony and I would like to invite all the stakeholders... I think we deserve one,” he said.

The president’s top aide Christopher Go said the ceremonial signing of BOL would be held on Aug. 6 in Malacañang.

(With Cecille Suerte Felipe)

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Calif. firefighters endorse Prop. 8, say it will improve dialysis patient care, protect taxpayers Clinics’ inadequate staffing, patient care strains 911 system LOS ANGeLeS – California’s ers, representing more than largest union of firefighters en- 30,000 firefighters in the state. dorsed a statewide ballot initia- “Prop. 8 will correct that probtive, contending it will improve lem, protect patient safety and patient care for people with kid- ensure taxpayers aren’t on the ney failure, decrease pressure hook subsidizing operators that on the 911 emergency response put profits ahead of patient care system and spare taxpayers from and public safety.”

According to the Los Angeles picking up the tab for dialysis clinics that fail to invest in ad- County Fire Department, just 20 dialysis clinics in their jurisdicequate staffing.

Prop. 8, the Fair Pricing for tion placed 2,457 emergency Dialysis Act, will appear on the calls over a five-year period, with Nov. 6 ballot and is supported by the volume increasing from an the California Democratic Party, average of 20 calls per clinic in HEARING ON HOUSING IRREGULARITIES. Senator JV Ejercito, chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, the California Public employees’ 2012 to 31 calls per facility in 2016 – and that’s a fraction of the presides over a Senate inquiry looking into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of government programs on the resettlement Retirement System, veterans, 169 clinics in the county. programs for victims of disasters, Tuesday, July 31. “The presence of a mafia-like gang is not remote because wrongdoings in projects like patients, healthcare advocates housing will not happen without the collusion and manipulation of erring officials and cheating contractors,” Ejercito said.

Dialysis employees have reand more than 130 community Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo organizations, labor unions and ported that chronic understaffing is a contributing factor to patient churches.

“Taxpayers and our 911 emer- emergencies and use of 911, as gency system are being stressed workers are overwhelmed on a by dialysis providers that refuse daily basis, which makes it diffito invest in safe staffing levels cult to deliver proper patient care tative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer, Summit in November 2017.

by Kris Crismundo The Philippines’ suggestion and patient care practices,” said or infection control. in his opening statement during PNA Prop. 8 improves care for diBrian K. Rice, president of the a Senate hearing, mentioned was then welcomed by Trump.

The Philippine and United that his office is “actively engag“With this ongoing uncertain- California Professional Firefight- alysis patients by limiting dialyStates governments are now ing in efforts to commence new ty in global environment where making internal preparations trade agreements.” there are more protectionist ahead of formal talks on a possi“We are speaking with a num- measures being instituted by ble expansion of trade relations, ber of countries in Southeast both sides and there is fear in esa senior trade official told report- Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa,” calation of trade war, I think it is ers Friday, July 27. imperative for us to discuss and Lighthizer said.

Department of Trade and InLast May, a USTR delegation to ensure that our exporters will dustry (DTI) Undersecretary Ce- led by its representative for Asia continue to have good access ferino Rodolfo said the longtime Jeffrey Gerrish visited the Phil- to key markets and that include allies will be engaging in discus- ippines and met with Finance also the US,” Rodolfo noted. sions for a possible free trade Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, “Some of our products that go agreement (FTA).

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, to other countries as part of the “What I can confirm is that and Agriculture Secretary em- value chain end up in the US. talks are ongoing, both the talks manuel Piñol.

Preserving and securing and enbetween the US and the PhilipDuring the meeting, both DTI hancing market access to the US pines and the internal processes and the USTR reaffirmed their is very important. It can come by of both sides. We do not want interest for exploratory discus- way of the FTA, or some other to preempt the processor and sions for a possible FTA. ways. But what is important is the result. But the intention is to The Philippine government that we are looking closely at it come to a decision whatever will has raised to U.S. President Don- and closely discussing it with the that be — on whether to start an ald Trump its interest to have a U.S.,” he added.

Travelers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

FTA negotiation or not,” added free trade deal with the US durBilateral trade between the Rodolfo. ing Trump’s visit in the country two countries last year reached United States Trade Represen- when it hosted the 31st ASeAN U.S.$20 billion. n

sis corporations’ revenues to 15 percent above the amount they spend on patient care and pushes them to invest in hiring more staff, buying new medical equipment, and improving facilities.

According to the U.S. Renal Data System, 66,000 Californians with life-threatening kidney failure get treatment in dialysis clinics.

The two largest companies, DaVita and Fresenius, made $3.9 billion in profits from their U.S. dialysis operations in 2016 – with a clinic profit margin nearly five times higher than an average hospital in California – while patient care suffered. Dialysis patients and caregivers report sanitation problems, including bloodstains and cockroaches in clinics.

People with kidney failure often must undergo dialysis treatment three days a week at clinics to remove their blood, clean it, and put it back in their bodies. each treatment lasts three to four hours. n

No new airline terminal assignments

law, TIeZA is in charge of collecting the fees, but only receives 50 percent of the collection, while CheD gets 40 percent and NCCA receives 10 percent.

Paragas said CheD gets a big budget annually but did not elaborate on NCCA’s case.

Asked how soon the TDF could be established, Paragas said the pending passage of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Package 2 is hindering the agency from doing so since it involves a lot of sectors in terms of incentives.

“I really want to push for it, but what is derailing us is the TRAIN 2,” Paragas said.

Under TRAIN 2, at least 120 special laws on investment incentives will be amended or repealed while lower corporate income tax rates will be imposed.

Paragas earlier said he targets to establish the TDF by the end of the Duterte administration in 2022.

The TIeZA, tourism infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism, is mandated to develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country. n

PH, US governments getting ready for FTA talks

by dexter

Cabalza Inquirer.net

TheRe will be no transfer of airline companies to different terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for now.

In a statement on Monday, July 30, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the

reshuffling of some airline companies’ terminal assignments on Aug. 31 “would not proceed as originally envisioned.”

According to the MIAA, it has deferred the implementation of the Terminal Regularization Program through a letter dated June 5 addressed to Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chair of the house committee on trans-

portation.

Under the program, Naia Terminals 1 and 3 would be reserved for international flights while Terminals 2 and 4 would be used solely for domestic flights.

The MIAA said that discussions with some airline operators “gave rise to unforeseen operational constrains that require [more] time to resolve.” n

Inquirer.net photo

P500 tourist fee may replace P1,620 travel tax

by Catherine

talavera Philstar.com

The Tourism Infrastructure and enterprise Zone Authority (TIeZA) is eyeing to replace the P1,620 travel tax charged to Filipinos flying to other countries with a P500 fee for all, including foreign tourists.

“What we want to do right now is revisit that (travel tax) and make a tourist development fund specifically for departure,” TIeZA chief operating officer Pocholo Paragas said over the weekend.

Under Presidential Decree 1183, passengers who are leaving the country irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and the form or place of payment are required to pay a travel tax of P1,620 for economy class and P2,700 for first class.

Paragas said he wants to replace the P1,620 with a P500 fee that will go to the Tourist Development Fund (TDF).

Last year, Paragas said TIeZA was eyeing to create a TDF to be used for the improvement and development of infrastructure for tourists visiting the country. he added that charging P500

will also lessen the burden on Filipinos currently paying the P1,620 travel tax.

While a law is required to establish the TDF, Paragas said he would prefer an executive order first to push for this concept.

“What we wanted to do, prior to law is if there is an eO that can help us set up this frame of mind, it will work,” Paragas said.

In December, Paragas said he already submitted a copy of a draft bill for the creation of the fund to President Duterte.

Paragas said they are still updating the draft and coordinating with international partners.

“We’ve been dealing with the international segment, the international airlines, (other) countries; we’re trying to coordinate with them to finalize the best fit for the Philippines,” he said.

Meanwhile, Paragas said under the proposed TDF, he is requesting that the allocation for the Commission on higher education (CheD) and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) from the travel tax be scrapped to give TIeZA more funds.

Under the current travel tax

Staying away from nanny and caregiving job scams FINDING a new job can be a challenge. Websites can help you find work, but scammers also use these sites to find people to rip off. Do you look for work on caregiver/nanny job sites?

Sometimes scammers will offer a job but say you need to buy supplies or other equipment. They pressure you to act quickly, before you have time to think. They send you a check and tell you to deposit it and transfer money to their vendor to buy the supplies.

Don’t do it — scammers post fake job listings for nannies and caregivers, then make up elaborate stories to get your money. The positions seem real, but they’re not — it’s a scam. The check will bounce. So, the money you sent

is actually your own — and it’s gone.

Some scammers may pressure you to send money via gift card or cash reload card. Anyone that asks you to pay with such a card is scamming you.

If you’re looking for work on a caregiving site: • Don’t send money to someone who says they want to hire you. Don’t deposit a check and wire money back. Don’t send them a gift card or cash reload card.

• Search online for a potential client’s name, email address, and phone number. You might find complaints by others who’ve been scammed and find out more about the scammer’s tricks.

• If you sent money to a scammer posing as an employer, contact the company you used to send the money (bank, wire transfer service, gift card company, or cash reload card company) and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed if possible.

• If you sent money to a scammer posing as an employer, contact the company you used to send the money (bank, wire transfer service, gift card company, or cash reload card company) and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask to have the transaction reversed if possible.

(By Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC)

Duterte to Abu Sayyaf: Let’s talk...

PAGE A1 napin, hindi ninyo ako targetin, eh ‘di papasok ako doon, makipagusap (I will go there but you might take me hostage. Give me your word of honor that you will not kidnap or target me, then I will come and to talk with you),” he said.

Duterte made the statement days after he signed the BOL, formerly known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the result of decades-long peace talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government.

The president asked the terror group to give him more time to address their grievances about Mindanao and government.

“Ngayon, may presidente kayo na may dugong Moro. ‘Di bigyan ninyo ako konting panahon (Now you have a president who is a Moro, give me a chance),” he said.

Duterte reiterated that civilians will suffer when war breaks out.

“Ang problema, ang mga mahirapan ang mga bata, matanda, pati mga babae. Mag-iwan lang tayo ng maraming orphans (The problem is the children, the elderly, and the women will be the ones who will suffer. We will only leave many orphans behind),” he said.

“Ano bang gawain natin?

Magpatayan tayong lahat? Ako, pwede niyo akong patayin maski saan. Anong makukuha ninyo. O kung mamatay itong mga sundalo ko bukas, marami namang papasok. Walang katapusan (What should we do? Should we just kill each other? You can kill me anywhere, but what would that do)?

If my soldiers die tomorrow, new ones will come in. This will never end),” he added.

Duterte also said he was willing to confer Abu Sayyaf members the Order of Lapu-Lapu, an award he gives to courageous soldiers fighting for the government.

“Ito ang binibigay ko sa mga

sundalo ko. Iyong mga Abu Sayyaf na gusto ng medalya ng Lapu-Lapu, sabihin mo pagbalik ko kasi ako ang maglagay rin sa kanila para tabla. Pero walang away ha? (This is what I give my soldiers. Now, if there are Abu Sayyaf members who want this, too, tell me so when I return, I will give this to them so all will be fair. But there should be no more fights),” he said.

It was not the first time that the president expressed his openness to a dialogue with the Abu Sayyaf.

Days before he assumed the presidency in 2016, Duterte declared that the Abu Sayyaf was not his enemy and that he wanted to ask them if they were “willing to talk or do we just fight it out?”

Duterte also said he did not consider members of the group as criminals because they committed their illegal acts out of “desperation.” n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Palace to lawmakers: No harm in sponsoring TRAIN 2

by Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday, July 30, told lawmakers that the second version of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) will not impose new taxes.

“TRAIN 2 is different so there is no need to be afraid,” Roque said.

Roque said that senators running this upcoming election might not want to be linked in another tax law so as not to earn the public’s ire. He also explained that the reform law will only affect corporate taxes.

“This tax bill is different because it does not impose new taxes. It will lower the corporate tax so we won’t have the highest corporate tax in Asia,” he added.

Roque also emphasized the importance of informing the public about the primary objectives of the tax law.

“It’s correcting their misconception that we are levying new taxes. We are not, we are making it easier for corporations to operate.” Roque stated.

TRAIN 2 provides a 5 percent decrease in corporate taxes from

the current 30 percent down to 25 percent.

“We are reducing the tax burden on corporate tax filers,” Roque added.

In a report from the Philippine Star, the Department of Finance said that TRAIN 2 will help more than 95 percent of the corporations in the country. Such corporations are said to be paying the highest corporate income tax in the region.

TRAIN 2 aims to include new incentives for current businesses to further expand and later on adopt a new form of technology.

It also strives to rationalize the incentives given to investors.

Roque said that the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office must work with the lawmakers in discussing the reform law so any traces of hesitancy will be eliminated.

According to the report, finance officials said TRAIN 2 would simplify an overly complex corporate tax system. Its complexity imposes a large administrative burden for the government and taxpayers and gives “special treatment” to a minority of corporations that pay 6 percent to 13 percent.

Senate majority leader Miguel

New Ombudsman vows speedy justice caNlas ManilaTimes.net

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Inquirer.net photo

Zubiri admitted that no senator wants to sponsor the measure since they were “traumatized” by the first version of TRAIN. The first version of TRAIN exempts individuals earning an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below from paying personal income tax. It also increased the tax exemption for 13thmonth pay and other bonuses to P90,000.

However, TRAIN 1 also imposed new taxes on diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, bunker fuel for electricity generation and higher taxes on oil products. It is also criticized for the increase in commodity prices but officials dismissed those claims saying it was purely a result of a weak peso and a global oil price hike. n

House Speaker Arroyo meets Davao City Mayor Duterte ‘Rainbow coalition’ celebrates a week after capturing the House by llaNesca

PaNti ManilaTimes.net

SPEAKER Gloria Arroyo hosted a thanksgiving lunch with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, and administration lawmakers on Monday, July 30, a week after their successful bid to capture control of the House of Representatives.

Arroyo said her meeting with the Davao mayor was “very nice and pleasant.”

Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro of Capiz, who was one of the 184 lawmakers who voted for Arroyo as speaker to replace Pantaleon Alvarez last week, revealed that Mayor Duterte was a guest of the speaker in a luncheon held at a Quezon City hotel.

“She (Mayor Duterte) was invited by the speaker but she did not speak. She did not make pro-

Former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (right) meets Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (left) during lunch with members of the House of Representatives at Seda Hotel in Quezon City on Monday, July 30.

Photo from the Office of the House of Representatives

nouncements,” Castro told The Manila Times.

“There was luncheon of members of the House with Speaker Arroyo. Nothing was discussed

corruption at the Ombudsman’s pending at the Office of the Omoffice. budsman to ease the backlog of “I am not saying I will summon cases.

OuTGOING Supreme Court her. What I’m saying is I will de“That is one of my priorities Justice Samuel Martires vowed mand for her to identify the em- and when I assume office I would to weed out corruption and speed ployee, officer of the make the necessary announceup justice when he assumes his OMB whom she gave money ment on what has to be done. I post as Ombudsman. to,” Martires said in English and will have a meeting with them on There are about 9,000 cases Filipino.

Wednesday when I officially aspending at the Office of the OmMartires said one of his priori- sume office, and tell them what I budsman. ties will be to attend to the cases like,” he said. n At his last flag raising ceremony at the high court on Monday, July 30, Martires thanked all the court personnel and officials for their support.

He will officially begin his seven-year term on Wednesday, August 1, replacing Conchita Carpio Morales, who retired last week In an interview, Martires said weeding out corruption will be his priority.

He added that he wanted Ombudsman applicant Edna Batacan to identify the corrupt officials at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Batacan admitted during the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires greets an employee after his last flag-raising ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma interview that she was a victim of rite at the high court on Monday, July 30.

by JomaR

other than expressing her appreciation for all those who supported her and urging everybody to start working on matters pendPAGE A7

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OPINION

No one’s tool

FEATURES

HE won’t allow himself to be used as a tool for political persecution, and he will address allegations of corruption and slow justice in his office. Samuel Martires, who formally assumes his post this week as ombudsman, is making the right noises so far about his priorities. Only time will tell if he will prove true to his word.

One of his predecessors, Merceditas Gutierrez, had promised to be “merciless” in her work. She ended up accused of being overly merciful toward allies of the president who appointed her, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In March 2011, under a new administration, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gutierrez. She resigned as ombudsman 10 days before the start of her Senate impeachment trial.

President Duterte and his allies also eyed the impeachment of Gutierrez’s successor, Conchita Carpio-Morales, on accusations of dispensing selective justice. Morales, however, was spared and retired as scheduled last week.

Martires, who like Morales is a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, can learn from the experiences of his predecessors. His opinions in the SC and as a Sandiganbayan justice have been

favorable to Rodrigo Duterte and the current administration as well as the Marcoses.

The new ombudsman is clearly aware of doubts about his independence from the appointing power. Independence is a critical element in effectively carrying out his constitutional mandate. President Duterte, also aware of the doubts, has stressed that he could not issue orders to the ombudsman, but that he hoped Martires would “do what is right.”

Doing what’s right means fighting corruption without fear or favor. What’s right is also working faster so that those facing court trial cannot secure an acquittal by citing any “inordinate delay” on the part of the ombudsman. Martires’ sound bites have been encouraging so far. His words will be put to the test every day. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

‘Medicare for All’ would save America $2 trillion over 10 years while covering everybody

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE TRUTH really has a way of revealing itself, and in many times, those who intend to undermine it become instrumental in actually putting the spotlight on what the public needs to know.

In this case, I am talking about the clamor of most Americans to have “Medicare for All,” pushed by former presidential candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for decades.

Standing on the principle that HEALTH CARE is a RIGHT of ALL Americans, and not just

a privilege for a few, Sanders’ push for universal health care has been met by strong corporate opposition who wants to continue with making money out of health care, which has caused so many American families file for bankruptcy in this richest and most powerful country that is America.

Corporate giants and the people they lobby and donate campaign contributions to in both the Republican and Democratic Parties contend that America cannot afford “Medicare for All” because it will just be too costly and America can-

not afford it.

One of the richest of the rich Americans who wish to undermine the growing support for “Medicare for All” are rightwing billionaires Charles and David Koch, who even funded a study conducted by George Mason University-based Mercatus Center.

The results of the study that corporate America wanted to highlight was that Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) widely popular “Medicare for All” plan would cost $32.6 trillion over the next decade.

However, the analysis of such

report revealed something that the Koch Brothers would find to be counter to their intent of funding such a study.

As Matt Bruenig of the People’s Policy Project notes— though absent or buried in much of the initial reporting— even the Koch brothers’ numbers, which Sanders says are vastly inflated, demonstrate that the “U.S. could insure 30 million more Americans and virtually eliminate out-ofpocket healthcare expenses” while saving “a whopping $2 trillion” in the process.

In response to the

study, Sanders wrote: “Let me thank the Koch brothers for sponsoring a study that shows that Medicare for All would save the American people $2 trillion over a 10year period. I suspect that that is not what you intended to do, but that is what is in the study of the Mercatus Center—an organization that you significantly fund.

“At a time when the United States spends far more per capita on health care than any other country on earth, almost 18 percent of our GDP, a Medicare-for-all health care system

would save the average family significant sums of money. The time is long overdue for the United States to join every other industrialized country and guarantee health care to all in a cost-effective manner.”

Will you support “Medicare for ALL”? *** 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

Beyond federalism, ConCom’s notable reforms

With Due Respect ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN BEYOND and apart from its controversial federalism proposals, the consultative committee (ConCom) nonetheless deserves credit for crafting notable reforms that can be seriously discussed and eventually adopted now or in the future, whenever constitutional amendments or revisions are at hand.

Let me briefly outline some.

First, in Article I of its draft constitution, the ConCom defined our “National Territory” in clearer language, unmistakably upholding our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the South China Sea, thus: “[The Philippines] has sovereignty over islands and features outside its archipelagic baselines pursuant to the laws of the Federal Republic, the law of nations, and the judgments of competent international courts or tribunals.”

Moreover, our country “has sovereign rights over that maritime expanse beyond its territorial sea to the extent reserved to it by international law, as well as over its extended continental shelf, including the Philippine Rise.”

And, without directly mentioning our claim over Sabah but implicitly alluding to it, the ConCom’s draft stressed that our country “likewise has sovereignty over other territories belonging to the Philippines by historic right or legal title.”

This definition of our national territory should calm down even those who attack the Duterte administration for alleged timidity in asserting our arbitral maritime victory over China, and the current and previous

administrations’ alleged neglect in pushing for our “historic right or legal title” over Sabah.

Second, in its Article II, “Declaration of Principles and State Policies,” the draft unequivocally clarifies, “The government is the protector of the people and the Federal Republic” while the “Armed Forces of the Philippines shall secure the sovereignty of the Republic and the integrity of its national territory.”

The foregoing replaces the ambiguous “declaration” of the present Charter that says, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State.” This provision is being misused by political adventurers to justify a military coup against supposedly abusive civilian regimes.

Third, Article III, the “Bill of Rights,” starts with a major amplification: “The rights under this article are demandable against the state and nonstate actors, and their enforcement shall be consistent with international standards.”

This is significant because, under our prior constitutions, the Bill of Rights was traditionally demandable and enforceable only against the state and state actors. We now know that there are “nonstate actors”—like large multinational companies, international organizations, some local conglomerates and even powerful individuals—who/which can and do violate fundamental rights, especially of the poor and the weak.

Fourth, recognizing our people’s right to prosperity and wellbeing, “Social and Economic Rights” as well as “Environmental and Ecological Rights” are expressly enumerated and cherished in the draft.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and members of the Consultative Committee present the draft federal charter to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang. The president however asked the ConCom to revise the provision in the proposed constitution so that the transition president will be elected by the people.

Malacañang photo

Fifth, to correct injustices in precipitate acquittals, the draft provides clear exceptions to the double jeopardy rule, “where the offended party is deprived of due process or where there is a finding of mistrial, or when the trial court acted with grave abuse of discretion …”

Sixth, for the first time in our

constitutional history, the draft contains a definition of “political dynasty” and self-executing prohibitions for the members thereof from running for, or being appointed to, or for being declared ineligible for a public office.

Seventh, in line with worldwide trends to propel the

economy, the draft retains the nationalistic provisions of the 1987 Charter but allows the legislature—taking into account the evolving national interest—to change the ownership percentages as well as the management and control prerogatives that can be allowed to foreigners.

Eighth, the various methods of amendment or revision are worded simply and clearly, especially the separate voting requirements in the bicameral legislative branch.

There are some more wellconceived reforms, but my space is limited. I will take them up at another time. (Inquirer.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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Carmen Nakpil, renowned writer, historian, dies at 96 MANILA — Celebrated historian and writer Carmen “Chitang” Guerrero Nakpil has passed away early Monday, July 30. She was 96.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines broke the news of Nakpil’s death on its Facebook page. Nakpil died at 1:30 a.m., according to her daughter beauty queen Gemma Cruz-Araneta.

Nakpil was the chairman of the NHCP from 1967 to 1971.

“Her works in Philippine history and culture, and her contributions to the development of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, will live on and serve as a guide for succeeding generations of Filipinos,” NCHP said.

She also chaired the Cultural Committee of the Philippine Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization from 1967 to 1980 and was elected to the executive board of UNESCO Paris in 1982.

She was a founding member of Writer’s Union of the Philippines, member of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Wom-

Carmen “Chitang” Guerrero Nakpil Nakpil died at 1:30 a.m., according to her daughter Gemma Cruz-Araneta.

Photo from Facebook/National Historical Commission of the Philippines

en and International Association of Historians of Asia.

Nakpil, moreover, received the Rizal Pro Patria Medal for Journalism and several of National Press Club’s journalism awards including the Journalist of the Year award in 1957, among others.

Nakpil has published: “Woman Enough and other essays” (1963), “A Question of Identity” (1973), “The Philippines and the Filipinos” (1977), “The Philip-

pines” (1989), “Rice and Conspiracy” (1990), “Centennial Reader” (1998), “Whatever” (2002), “Myself, Elsewhere” (2006), “Legends and Adventures” (2007) and “Exeunt” (2008).

“Myself, Elsewhere,” first in an autobiography trilogy by Nakpil, won the National Book Award in 2006.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Theresa’s College, Manila in 1942. (Philstar.com)

House Speaker Arroyo meets Davao City Mayor...

PAGE A5 ing with the House, and there was also an announcement that we might able to elect certain officers of the House,” Castro added.

The president’s daughter admires Arroyo and does not see eye to eye with Alvarez. Alvarez had accused Mayor Duterte of turning opposition for forming her own regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) or Alliance for Change.

She then accused Alvarez of betraying her father by bragging to people that as the speaker, he could unseat the president through impeachment. Alvarez denied making such statements.

Mayor Duterte was said to have played a key role in Arroyo’s rise as speaker, with sources saying the president’s daughter burned the lines to marshal support for the former president.

Subsequently, The Times ran a story, citing House sources, of PDP-Laban members mulling jumping ship to the Davao City mayor’s HNP. Castro, however, maintained that the presence of the mayor during the lunch meeting was not a discussion about people jumping ship or political parties merg-

ing with her regional party.

“She (Mayor Duterte) was there to say hello. Nothing was discussed about any coalition,” he said.

Castro, however, conceded that a number of political parties, namely Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition, National Union Party, Lakas-CMD and PDP-Laban were well-represented during Speaker Arroyo’s lunch.

“As former Speaker [Jose] de Venecia used to call it, it was a rainbow coalition,” Castro added.

‘Political force’ Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the HNP regional party of Mayor Duterte has become a “political force” to reckon with.

The senator made the remark on Monday as Arroyo threw a thanksgiving luncheon for Mayor Duterte, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, and more than 100 lawmakers who elected her speaker.

“Accept it or not, Mayor Sara Duterte’s HNP has already emerged as a political force to reckon with, not only in her region but the national political scene as well,” Lacson said in a text message.

“The fact that she is being talk-

ed about as the ‘architect’ behind the changing of the guard in the HoR (House of Representatives), true or not, says it all,” he added.

Asked to comment on Arroyo’s election as House speaker, Lacson, once a fierce Arroyo critic, said “I still believe that no person is beyond redemption.”

“Regardless of her past ‘sins’ against the Filipino people, she may have regretted all those and make time for genuine and selfless service to the nation. Or so I hope,” he said.

Arroyo became the first woman speaker of the House two years after regaining freedom from detention over corruption charges and a year after she was sacked as deputy speaker by defying Alvarez and voting against the death penalty bill for drug traffickers.

After four years in detention, the Sandiganbayan on July 21, 2016 ordered Arroyo’s release from hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, two days after the Supreme Court acquitted her and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Benjamin Aguas of plunder over their alleged misuse of P366 million in PCSO funds from 2008 to 2010. n

RANDOM DRUG TEST IN SENATE. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III holds up his specimen bottle to show his participation in a surprise randommandatory drug testing of employees at the Senate on Monday, July 30. The test was administered by officials of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) of the Department of Health (DOH). Senator Gregorio Honasan also participated in the drug test.

Senate photo by Joseph Vidal

No information on Paco Larrañaga’s clemency plea, Palace says

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the Office of the President has not yet received any information on the clemency appeal of the camp of convicted Spanish-Filipino Paco Larrañaga.

“No informaton to confirm nor deny but the power to grant clemency is an executive power,” Roque said when asked to comment on Larrañaga’s case in on Monday, July 30.

“But that will have to go through the board of the pardon and parole within the DOJ (Department of Justice),” he added.

Roque made the statement after the lawyer of Larrañaga, Sandy Coronel, expressed intent to file a formal appeal for clemency to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Coronel said the Larrañaga camp would try to file a petition before the DOJ so that the president could grant her client Larrañaga pardon.

“The legal remedy is a pardon from the president,” Coronel said in a live video on the Facebook page Give Up Tomorrow.

“If the president extends pardon, that undoes everything,” she added.

Larrañaga was one of the seven men dubbed as the “Chiong Seven” who were imprisoned for the alleged kidnapping and rape of the Chiong Sisters, Marijoy and Jacqueline in Cebu City in 1997.

Marijoy was allegedly murdered.

Imprisoned Spanish-Filipino Francisco Juan “Paco” Larrañaga claimed his co-accused are innocent too.

Photo from Facebook/Give Up Tomorrow

The six other accused are Jozman Aznar, Rowen Wesley Adlawan, Alberto Allan “Pahak” Cano, Ariel Balansag, James Andrew “MM” Uy and James Anthony Uy. The Chiong Seven’s case resurfaced after Viva Films released a film titled “Jacqueline Comes Home” which is based on the true-to-life tragic story of the Chiong sisters.

This social media buzz prompted calls to boycott the film as a documentary released in 2011 titled “Give Up Tomorrow” previously aired the side of Larrañaga where his witnesses said he was not in Cebu City during the time of the supposed kidnapping.

The support for the documentary also paved way for an online petition urging Duterte and the Supreme Court to review the case of the Chiong Seven who re-

mained in prison.

Coronel said the real legal recourse for Larrañaga is with the Office of the President because a retrial would take a longer time.

Larrañaga’s legal counsel is also urging the public to keep supporting the online petition launched for her client citing that their camp is hopeful it would help the case.

“We will include the public in the parole,” Coronel said.

“The public is initiating this call for the extension of this clemency,” she added.

Larrañaga is currently jailed in Spain. He was relocated in 2015 and was reported to have been allowed to work as a part-time chef in Spain, although he would return to his Spanish jail cell by night.

He claimed his co-accused are innocent too. n

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More Filipinos seen to go cashless – Visa No cash? No problem

by Lisbet

K. esmaeL Manilatimes.net

THE future of the Philippines to go cashless is “good,� payments system giant Visa said, noting more Filipinos are embracing digital payments.

Stuart Tomlinson, Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam, presented in a media briefing on Thursday, July 26, its latest Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes Study which showed that 70 percent of the 500 Filipino respondents have tried to go cashless, with convenience and safety as the main factors driving this adoption.

He said 71 percent of the participants are also aware of contactless payment technology, using cards or smartphones, while 69 percent wants to use the system over cash.

File photo by Manilatimes.net

This marks Filipinos’ shift to digital lifestyle, he said, adding that 58 percent now prefer shops that also accept cashless payment options, not just cash.

VisaNet March 2018 data also stated that more local consumers opt to purchase items using their cards.

Also under the consumer payment attitudes report, Filipino online shoppers have

u PAGE B2

ADB to support program enabling more disabled persons to work by czeriza

VaLencia Philstar.com

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it would support more projects in the Asia Pacific region that would enable more persons with disabilities to contribute to the economy.

In a statement, the bank said it reinforced its commitment to this initiative by signing the Charter for Change during the Global Disability Summit 2018 held recently in London.

The multilateral development bank said capacitating persons with disability is part of its Strategy 2030 which has among its key targets the elimination of

IMF sees continued dollar outflows for Philippines Luis Breuer, IMF mission chief to the Philippines, said the multilateral lender now expects the country’s current account deficit to hit 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or five times wider than the previous projection of 0.3 percent of GDP. File photo by Philstar.com

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MULTILATERAL lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Philippines would continue to spend more US dollars than what it earns amid higher importation of capital equipment and raw materials to support the growing economy.

Luis Breuer, IMF mission chief to the Philippines, said the multilateral lender now expects the country’s current account deficit to hit 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or five times wider than the previous projection of 0.3 percent of GDP. “The current account deficit is expected

to rise to 1.5 percent of GDP by end-2018, reflecting increased imports of capital goods and raw materials,� Breuer said.

The projected current account shortfall of the IMF is wider than the revised projection of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of 0.9 percent of GDP or $3.1 billion.

The country’s current account consists of transactions in goods, services, primary income and secondary income. This account measures the net transfer of real resources between the domestic economy and the rest of the world.

Last year, the country spent more dollars than it earned, translating to a current account deficit of $2.52 billion or 0.8 percent

of GDP, more than double the shortfall of $1.2 billion or 0.4 percent of GDP recorded in 2016.

This was the highest since the current account shortfall amounted to $2.87 billion or 3.5 percent of GDP in 1999. The deficit peaked at $5 billion or 5.1 percent of GDP during the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Breuer said the current account deficit of the Philippines is projected to remain manageable, financed largely by foreign direct investments (FDIs).

This despite the projected lower FDI inflows of $9.2 billion set by the BSP for this year after reaching a record $10.02 billion

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Philippines on track to sustain first world status by czeriza

VaLencia Philstar.com

File photo by Philstar.com

remaining pockets of poverty in the Asia Pacific region. “ADB’s new long-term corporate strategy, Strategy 2030, advances social inclusion and human development, particularly of poor and vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities,� said Wendy Walk-

u PAGE B4

IT has been said so often that it has almost become gospel: The Philippines is on track to first world status within a generation’s time. We are – after all, in the socalled Asian Century in which the region is becoming an engine of global growth in the next 20 years.

We see the improvement in economic indicators, in the affirmations of international credit-rating agencies, in the encouragement of development partners to build, build, build and grow, grow, grow.

But people are more than just numbers,

and in every story of economic development comes a change in the identity, hopes, dreams, and aspirations of its people.

On a personal level, we may see more tangible signs such as having more mothers having careers outside the home and how almost every family now has someone working overseas. There are also more instances where member living abroad is a professional, perhaps the child of a former overseas domestic helper who plowed her life’s earnings for the child’s education.

How is rapid economic progress changing Filipinos and how exciting and challenging is this time for us as a people?

For the country’s chief economist, Filipi-

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia

nos now stand at the precipice of hope and unlimited opportunity as more possibilities open to a generation that is more educated

u PAGE B2

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

Business news

B AUGUST 1-3, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA YOU may exclude from gross income gain from sale of principal residence under Internal Revenue Code Section 121.

1. You may be able to exclude gain of $250,000 or $500,000 if you are married filing a joint return.

2. To be eligible for the bigger $500,000 exclusion for joint filers, must meet the three requirement: (a) at least one spouse must pass the ownership test; (b) both spouses must pass the use test; (c) during the two-year period ending on sale, neither spouses excluded gain from sale of another home. You can avail of this exclusion once every two years.

3. Ownership and use test: You must meet the five-year period ending on the date of sale. You must have : (a) Owned the your principal residence for at least two years, and (b) lived in your principal residence as your main home for at least two years.

4. Only a principal residence

Exclusion of gain from sale of home

used as main home is eligible.

Second homes and vacation homes are not.

5. Exclusion determined on individual basis: If one spouse is eligible for the exclusion and the other spouse have used the exclusion during the two-year period ending on sale, the eligible spouse is entitled to a maximum exclusion of $250,000.

6. If you use two homes, the property that you use majority of the time will be considered your principal home. There are relevant factors to determine which one is your principal residence, including: your place of employment and principal place of abode of family members, address on your income tax, driver’s license, DMV auto registration, mailing address for bills and correspondence, and location of banks, church, and recreational clubs.

7. Gain attributable to nonqualified use: Any use other than as your principal residence is nonqualified use. This includes vacation home, renting it out, vacancy, and allowing someone’s living in it. The allocation

of the gain for the nonqualified use is the amount of the gain multiplied by the fraction of aggregate periods of nonqualified use during the period of ownership divide by the total period of ownership.

8. Nonqualified use do not include: temporary absence by reason of (a) change of job location, (b)Health considerations, and (c) unforeseen circumstances includes foreclosure or voluntary conveyance. ***

Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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Philippines on track to sustain...

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and more attuned to global sensibilities.

Filipinos have also become more demanding of their government, expecting more tangible outcomes from their leaders.

“I think hope has been stirred and it is now at the highest level in recent years. Filipinos are now expecting a lot from this government and indeed this administration is trying very hard to deliver commitments in a timely manner,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

With the rise of technology and rapid economic progress at home and in the region in recent years, Filipinos have also become more critical of themselves, benchmarking their accomplishments not only locally, but globally as well.

“This is really an age when we are facing rising expectations.

Because of technology and social media, everybody is easily made aware of what is going on around the world, what is going on in neighboring countries in Asia,”

said Pernia. “Filipinos are now able to relate what is happening here versus what is happening in other countries.”

Armed with higher levels of education and greater access to technology, the Filipino is now unafraid to make the world his professional playground. Pernia believes this newfound strength is enabling the shift in the profile of Filipino workers abroad.

“There’s also a changing structure of the types of Filipinos working abroad. They are more educated, with more professionals and technical workers compared with the previous era when blue collar workers were more prominent in overseas labor markets,” said Pernia.

The Philippine economy is growing at a phenomenal rate, one of the fastest in Asia that it is said that by 2050, the Philippines will be the 16th largest economy in the world, driven by its young and growing population that is becoming more educated and worldly.

“Filipinos are better able now

than before. We have innate talents and it’s a matter of developing these talents. Many Filipinos are also up for challenges to compete or fight it out in the competitive market,” said Pernia.

Even if most Filipinos still possess traditional family-oriented values, more and more Filipinas are joining the workforce, cultivating careers while taking the lead in taking care of their families.

Pernia said this movement among Filipinas would help the country reach further heights.

Thus, there is a need to capacitate more women to have productive careers.

One way the government is doing this is by pushing for the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law that will educate women on the proper spacing of children.

“It’s really important so women will not be burdened as traditionally so by excessive childbearing and too much child care

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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA WHILE appearances may deceive, more often than not, what you are is reflected on the outside.

Becoming your own style icon does not mean maxing out your credit cards just to follow the latest fashion trends. Don’t do it. It’s a fool’s errand. You can never get caught up with it anyway. Fashion, like technology, will push the latest trend just to keep and grow market share.

It’s all about money and profits.

Who says you have to buy every season’s new fashion? Don’t let those so-called fashion Nazis dictate how you dress.

First, get comfortable in your own skin. Focus on the positive features and accept and mitigate what you consider as flaws.

Then find the style that suits you — something well within your means and makes you comfortable and confident while you do the things you love to do, or in many cases, have to do, on a daily basis.

Experiment with the clothes you already have in your closet.

Chances are, with the exception of underwear, you probably have all you need. Test combinations of cut, color, texture and style.

Take a photo of the combinations that work for you and make you feel good and confident. Browse through magazines and pick a few that appeal to your own sense of who you are.

Stick to the time-tested classics and it is more than likely, you will hit the bullseye of being your own style icon. Dump the Hollywood look. Entertainment industry stylists push trends that are

The bucket list

Become your own style icon (Tenth of a series)

“... As within, so without...”

—Hermes Trismegistus

flashy, show far too much skin and wobbly, jiggly bits of flesh.

Notice how they almost have the same cookie cutter look and the same frozen faces botoxed to the max? No, you don’t want to go there.

Keep mixing and matching.

Discard the ones you know in your gut you will never, ever use. Reclaim valued space in the closet. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There is no fashion police to issue you a ticket. Pretty soon, you will know in your gut the look that telegraphs who you are without saying a word.

You’ve heard it before. “Dress for success! Dress to impresss!”

Or that famous line: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit!” (Okay, I am going off tangent here.) But the point is you must regard slogans with a bit of caution.

Catchy rhyming slogans are not necessarily true. Discernment is key. When you dress to impress, you will simply get stressed trying to top each ensemble you put together with the next one. Your ego becomes the driver plus your wallet is lighter.

Life is just too short to obsess on this matter.

The focus becomes the dress not on how your style makes you comfortable allowing you to function without having to fuss preening all day in front of a mirror. The right style projects the person quite easily, making you your own unique style icon.

There may be clones of you, but no one is quite like you. God and

your choices make it so.

If you work for an organization, it means you have to blend your style and comply with the company dress code. Looking professional and competent is key. Remember that as an employee, you are a reflection of the company you work for.

If casual jeans and tees are the norm in the company or because the nature of your work requires you to be holed up all day in some obscure cubicle and does not have to face the public, then wear them. It doesn’t mean, however, that you are required to dress down at all times.

Predictability is boring. From time to time, make an effort to look really good just to make yourself feel good. Why buy clothes and let them hang by their lonesome in the closet? Believe it or not, it does your psyche good to receive compliments from time to time, particularly on down days.

Do you know what is the cherry on top of a unique style icon?

It’s a killer smile. A smile that comes from your eyes is a light bulb that dispels darkness and negativity. It is essentially a sneak preview of the wellspring of goodness and love busting to get out from within you.

Next week: Back to yet 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

More Filipinos seen to go cashless...

PAGE B1 t

surged from 71 percent in 2016 to 92 percent in 2017. Top categories propelling this growth include paying utility bills, fashion, travel, and beauty products.

“Currently, online shopping contributes about one-fifth of total spend on Visa cards in the Philippines,” he said.

Visa’s bullishness on the Philippines cashless state was also driven by the government and industry leaders’ initiatives to

increase the knowledge of Filipinos about electronic payments, the official said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it was targeting to increase cashless payments to 20 percent from the current 1 percent by 2020. Telco giants PLDT Inc. and Globe are also advancing digital adoption among enterprises, for an example, through quick response (QR) code system present in various merchants to allow consumers to

purchase goods via their smartphones or buy loads and transfer money through mobile apps PayMaya and GCash.

Visa has also boosted its presence in the country with a recent partnership with retail giant SM for cashless transaction. Under the partnership, 5, 000 contactless terminals are enabled across 59 SM Stores in 68 SM Supermalls nationwide, allowing cardholders to make contactless payments. n

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

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG

SURE there are alternatives to bankruptcy. But bankruptcy is the only solution that provides viable debt relief for those who are unable to repay their debts. Some people sign up for debt settlement and find out after having paid into the pot that they have been sued by several creditors despite attempts by the debt settlement business to settle their debts over time.

If we compare debt to cancer because they do have similarities as the debt burden keeps growing and growing over time while cancer grows and spreads over time with the end game of both killing the financial or organic health of the victim resulting in the death of the victim, what is the more effective cure?

Certainly, all of us have family and friends who have fought with cancer. First, you try to kill all the cancer cells with chemotherapy and/or the latest cancer-fighting medical technology. Fortunately, there are state of the art treatments now that work where the body’s own immune system is coaxed to fight the cancer cells, or stem cells from a donor are used to replace the patients’ own unhealthy cells that become cancerous.

If the treatment works, you still have to go through the remission process. This is a five-year period where the patient is cancer-free but is being monitored to see if the cancer returns. If it returns, it comes back with a vengeance. If it doesn’t, you’re home free.

Right now, I have three clients who have fought cancer. One just died after fighting it for four years and used all the new treatments. One was in remission for four and a half years trying to reach five years. But the cancer cells have just returned. He was still working but now can’t walk without assistance because the cancer cells have returned after disappearing for four and a half

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s signature in order to get a divorce. What is more important is being able to properly serve your spouse with the divorce petition and satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the Court by showing that either you or your spouse resided in the State for at least 6 months prior to filing the petition and in the County for 3 months prior to filing the petition.

When you file a divorce petition, you have to serve your spouse with the summons and petition. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response after being served with a divorce petition. If your spouse fails to file and serve you with a response, you can file a request for default against your spouse after 30 days. You can also file a proposed judgment for the court to approve. The default procedure can be done even if there are issues of property division, custody, visitation, and support. However, the Court will still review your proposed judgment and property division to make sure it conforms to the policy towards equal division of community property. Meaning, you have to propose a division of community property that is pretty much equal between the spouses. If your proposed

BUSINESS NEWS

last year.

“Downside risks stem mainly from rising inflation, continued rapid credit growth, higher US interest rates and U.S. dollar, volatile capital flows and trade tensions,” Breuer added.

The BSP expects the country’s external payments position to further bleed this year with a wider balance of payments (BOP) deficit of $1.5 billion or 0.4 percent of GDP instead of $1 billion.

The BOP is the difference in total values between payments into and out of a country over a period. A deficit means more foreign exchange flows out of the country to pay for the importation of more goods, services and capital than what flows in from exports.

Latest data showed the coun-

B3

Is bankruptcy right for you? Calendar of Events across America “ Bankruptcy is the best and most effective way of getting rid of accumulated debt bar none. It’s truly a miracle solution to debt problem.”

years and now have just spread to his leg. The third is cancer free and entering the five-year monitoring period.

Now, if there was a miracle drug that once taken gets rid of all cancer cells and replaces them with new healthy cells that enable the patient to be cancer free for the rest of his life, isn’t this treatment the best and most effective way of dealing with cancer?

Bankruptcy is the best and most effective way of getting rid of accumulated debt bar none.

It’s truly a miracle solution to debt problems. Bankruptcy is guaranteed by the United States Constitution to enable debtors to have a fresh start in life without the burden of accumulated debt so they can become productive again. The United States Supreme Court calls Chapter 7 as the “fresh start” law, and Chapter 13 as the financial reorganization on a personal level. Bankruptcy, indeed, is the miracle cure for accumulated debt that debilitates every debtor who suffers from this malady.

How many times have I pointed out that Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before Disneyland became successful? If it’s the right choice for Walt Disney, it’s the right choice for anyone with accumulated debt who wants a fresh start in life, just like Mr. Disney. Mr. Hershey of Hershey chocolates, possibly the world’s largest and most successful chocolate business, also filed for Chapter 7 once to get rid of accumulated debt. Several big dioceses of the Catholic Church filed for Chapter 11 reorganization to handle the molestation lawsuits. Orange County filed for bankruptcy about 20 years

ago for those of you who are too young to know. Why did they file for bankruptcy? That’s because bankruptcy is the right choice and the most effective way of dealing with debt and providing the debtor with total and complete relief from debt.

Are you facing foreclosure and want to save your home? Chapter 13 will stop the foreclosure on its tracks and allow you five years to pay off the default while protecting your house from foreclosure.

If you owe credit cards and other unsecured debts like medical bills, Chapter 13 may even allow you to have a zero payment plan to unsecured creditors. This means you pay nothing to get rid of credit cards while you pay only the default on your house over five years!

For example, the client owes $20,000 of default on his house because he has not paid it for six months, and he owes $50,000 of credit cards and $100,000 of medical bills. He can propose a Chapter 13 plan that pays only $350 a month for 60 months.

This will pay the $20,000 default on his house over five years. He pays nothing to credit cards and medical bills. In other words, he doesn’t have to pay $150K of unsecured debt. Upon finishing his plan payments on the 60th month, he is back to his current status on the mortgage. He rescues his house from foreclosure. And the court wipes out all $50,000 of credit cards and $100,000 of medical bills without any payment on them at all.

Let’s assume the same client with the same unsecured debt but no problem with house payments. His home equity is less than $175,000 and he is at least

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Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuse to sign? ”When you file a divorce petition, you have to serve your spouse with the summons and petition.” property division is one sided such as distributing all community property to you and giving all the community debts to your spouse, the Court would probably not grant your judgment.

The Court would probably set a hearing for you to explain why this is an equal division of community property.

The only time you may need your spouse’s signature is if your spouse files a response to your divorce petition. This is called “contesting” the divorce.

If your divorce is contested by your spouse, you can resolve the case either by “settlement” or by “trial.” However, you do not have to settle all the issues in the case at once. Under the concept of divisible divorce, you can settle some of the issues and set the other issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on for trial.

Our office try to resolve cases through settlement because it is more cost effective and the parties are usually happier with the outcome. In that situation, the parties may avoid the cost and uncertainty of going to trial by executing what is called a stipulated judgment which is in essence an agreement as to all the issues in the divorce case.

For issues which you and your spouse cannot agree on, you will have to go through the litigation process which involves obtaining discovery, exchanging declarations of disclosures, and prepar-

ing the case for trial. Ultimately, you will obtain your divorce at trial in addition to adjudication of the distribution of community assets and debts amongst other issues. It is in the best interest of the party to retain the representation of competent counsel who will assert his or her rights under the family code. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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IMF sees continued dollar outflows...

PAGE B1 t

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 1-3, 2018

try’s BOP deficit swelled to $3.26 billion in the first half of the year from only $706 million in the same period last year due to the widening trade deficit. The shortfall was more than double the projection of $1.5 billion for this year.

For his part, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the country’s BOP position has been posting deficits since 2016 on account of strong foreign currency outflows, reversing previous surpluses accumulated from the large inflows due to quantitative easing since the global financial crisis.

“With the normalization of US monetary policy and rising global interest rates, we see significant corrections in capital flows that are affecting our BOP

and exchange rate. This is compounded by uncertainties posed by the trade war and geopolitical risks,” Espenilla said.

The BSP chief added the external position remains manageable as the country has sufficient liquidity buffers against global headwinds with gross international reserves (GIR) level of $77.67 billion as of end June, equivalent to 7.5 months’ worth of imports.

Aside from the twin deficits in trade and current account, the peso slumped to its weakest level in 12 years piercing the 53 to $1 level this year as the U.S. Federal Reserve jacked up interest rates for the second time this year and sees two more rate hikes instead of one for the rest of the year. ■

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 AU G U ST 1

Screening of “Ignatius of Loyola” film in New York Produced by Jesuit Communications Philippines (JesCom), “Ignatius of Loyola” is a modern and very human take on the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, often called ‘The Saint of Second Chances.’ As a brash, hot-headed soldier in a time of political upheaval in Spain, the young Iñigo went from living a life of brutal violence and debauchery, to becoming one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. This film chronicles Iñigo’s torturous struggle to turn from darkness to light—a struggle that nearly destroyed him, but also gave him the key to a spiritual weapon that continues to save lives to this very day.

Hosted by the Magis Theatre Company, Loida Nicolas Lewis, and Dr. Angie Cruz, come and watch Ignatius of Loyola on Wednesday, August 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wallace Hall, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Avenue, New York City. For inquiries, call 212-756-8958. (Note: This movie is not suitable for young children).

AU G U ST 2-1 1

SIPA presents Filipino Summer Program (Session 2) in LA Join SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program that showcases LA youth the beauty of Filipino culture and history. Every single day students will learn and gain a better understanding of different aspects of the Filipino culture and community, such as Filipino food, Pilipinx cultural dances, Filipino Martial Arts, etc. The last day of the program will be a SIPA Summer Party where the families can come join SIPA as we celebrate the end of the program with food, music, and fun! Some of our special guests include dancer Megan Batoon, UCLA’s Samahang Pilipino Cultural Night, and Los Angeles Doce Pares Eskrima! Youth ages 6-15 are eligible for the program. Those over the age of 16 can volunteer. Participants do not need to be Filipino.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are served for all students! Session 2 is from August 2-11 (excluding Sundays). Registration ends on Thursday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. Drop-off of children begins at 8 a.m., and pick-up ends by 6 p.m. at SIPA Office (3200 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026). The application and more information can be found at bit.ly/sipasummer18.

AU G U ST 3 - 4

University of the Philippines International Nursing and Healthcare Forum in New Jersey Join the 2nd annual University of the Philippines International Nursing and Healthcare Forum on August 3 and 4 at the Double Tree by Hilton (2117 Route 4 Eastbound / Fort Lee, NJ 07024). Soiree and welcome reception will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday (registration fee is $50). On Saturday, there will be a breakfast educational program from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (registration fee is $50 with CH Credits and $30 without CH Credits). The day will end with a dinner & dance from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. (registration fee is $100). Mail your registration and payment to UPINHF c/o Iren Bobis Roldan at 26931 Fort Apache Circle, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Make checks payable to UPINHF INC. For more information, please visit www.upinhf. org.

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association hosts 39th annual reunion in Las Vegas, NV Calling all 2018 jubilarians and class coordinators! Save the date for the University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association’s 39th annual reunion on August 3 and 4 at the Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas. This year’s theme is “Confronting the modern-day challenge of bioethical and other critical health care issues. For more info/registration, please visit UPNAAI.com.

AU G U ST 4 - 5

Travel, Trade and Consumer event in Carson, CA The Travel, Trade and Consumer Exhibition will encompass the bustling SouthBay Pavilion (20700 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746), and is free to the public. Presented by the Department of Tourism & the Department of Trade and Industry, the public can participate in promotions and raffles offered by the exhibitors in booths that will line the main mall. Aside from chances to win plane tickets and other exciting prizes, the Mainstage will host a variety of entertainment and interviews by TV personalities. Outdoor food booths shall be serving Philippine delicacies. A B2B area is also available for business presentations. For exhibitor inquiries, please visit www.traveltradeconsumer.com and contact info@asianjournlainc.com.

AU G U ST 5

Idyllwild Arts Foundation presents summer concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles On Sunday, August 5, Idyllwild Arts Foundation presents the culmination performance of the High School Summer Chamber Festival Orchestra and Festival Choir & Ensemble of Idyllwild Arts. The program will feature over 150 young people. They are thrilled by the chance to perform on Walt Disney Concert Hall’s world-class stage, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and determined to honor this rare chance. The featured repertoire will include Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite and The Journey of Harriet Tubman by Ron Kean, which students will perform under the masterful batons of Maestros Larry Livingston, Dr. Joseph Modica, and Assistant Conductor Sey Ahn. The nearly two-hour performance will take place at 3pm at Walt Disney Concert Hall with a pre-concert VIP reception beginning at 1:30pm in the Founders Room. Tickets can be purchased by the public for $20 or $40: https://www.idyllwildarts.org/disneyhall2018/.

AU G U ST 1 2

UBSCI to celebrate 30th Anniversary The United Batanguenos of Southern California will celebrate its 30th Anniversary & Coronation Night at the DoubleTree Hotel-Whittier (7320 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA) on Sunday, August 12. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Mylee Moncada (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377; Rose Pascua (323) 382-1124 or Romy Elepano at (323) 498-9333.

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Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles’ “Hibang sa Awit” at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles (PCS-LA) invites you to a concert celebrating Original Pilipino Music, better known as OPM, at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, August 17 at 8 p.m. in “Hibang sa Awit” (Mad About Songs). “Hibang sa Awit” highlights the new modern classic Filipino music and the kundiman created by some of the most respected Filipino composers including Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Ruben Federizon, and Robert Delgado to name a few. Very special friends including award winning jazz singer, Mon David; esteemed inspirational singer, Edward Granadosin; and a local/community gem, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Choir; will join PCS-LA as they infuse various musical styles into a treat for the whole family to hear. Tickets available at the box office or at www.musiccenter.org.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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ADB to support program enabling more...

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er, ADB Social Development Thematic Group chief.

“ADB supports global and national efforts to accelerate implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, as well as achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” she added.

The commitments ADB announced at the summit include developing a corporate strategic framework on disability, ensuring the inclusiveness of education programs, improving access by persons with disabilities to training and employment, and enhancing data and analysis on

social protection programs.

This is in line with the 10 commitments outlined in the Charter for Change, the official outcome document of the summit which promotes the rights, freedoms, dignity, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities through better representation; improved access to education, economic opportunities, and finance; and the use of technology for better social services, among other measures.

ADB said it has been making efforts to improve social and economic inclusion and human development in Asia and the Pacific. In November 2017, ADB approved a $25 million loan and a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to

and home work. So women can actively participate in the workforce, pursue their careers, continue their education,” said Pernia.

“Implementing the RPRH Law also means making women more aware of opportunities that lie ahead if they space and limit the number of children they will have,” he added.

Filipinas, he said, could have a valuable contribution in nation building as they are traditionally better performers in school.

“There should be better distribution of roles between men and women. This is general gender equality. Women should not be viewed by society as an inferior gender. It’s an old thinking.

Women should be able to reach their full potential in careers.

Women are better performers in school. There is a lower drop out rate among them, so why should civil litigation and has successfully they be given secondary roles?” represented more than five thousand he said.

As the country continues its clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for growth trajectory, there will an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, come a time when working overMailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, seas will no longer be the sole option or choice for most FilipiAlhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement) nos to achieve a better quality of

life.

When that time comes, Pernia believes the aspirations of Filipinos will change again to one that is rooted, but with the ability to easily travel for work or leisure much like other Asians who struggled in the wave of globalization.

“Those who do not want family separation, they will aspire to find jobs here as the economy grows,” he said. “Filipinos are now more mobile. In the future they may be more rooted, but with the ability to travel unlike before.”

Many young Filipinos, for instance, are becoming more entrepreneurs, instead of seeking employment, as they see a growing market for goods and services.

“There are now many millennials that do startups, so entrepreneurship among them is also becoming more of the goal than employment. Their ambition is also becoming wider,” said Pernia.

The government has laid out a vision of what the lives of Filipinos should be within a generation’s time. By 2040 at least, the Philippines is envisioned to

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help finance a project to address economic, social and rights issues of people with disabilities in Mongolia.

The project aims to improve the early identification of children with disabilities; enhance service delivery, work, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; and promote policymaking in favor of persons with disabilities.

The summit, hosted by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, the Government of Kenya, and the International Disability Alliance, brought together over 700 delegates from governments, donors, private sector, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities. n

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PAGE B3 t 65. He files for Chapter 7 and gets rid of $150K of unsecured debt for a fresh start as he enters his retirement years. Or, he is 45 with home equity that is not over $100,000. He still gets to wipe out $150,000 while keeping all

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become a predominantly middle class society enjoying work-life balance with family and friends.

These aspirations are contained in the Ambisyon Natin 2040, a set of aspirations laid down in 2016 that is best captured in the Filipino words “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay.” Rooted, comfortable, and a secure life free from worry and strife.

This seemingly simple aspiration for the common Filipino family entails a gross monthly income of P120,000 (at 2015 prices). This means a family of four can have a car, a mediumsized house, college education for the children, and something to spare for occasional trips – all while working in the country.

At the time of its creation, Ambisyon was not tied to a national economic plan but was meant to determine the medium-term and long-term aspirations of Filipinos regarding the standard of living, finances, and security within a generation’s time.

But in 2017, the government aligned its new medium-term development plan with this longterm vision.n

B5 AUGUST 1-3, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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People and Events “Crisis Text Line” services now available San Gabriel pickleball players win gold at tournament

THE Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) has partnered with the Crisis Text Line to bring awareness around emotional well-being and mental health. Crisis Text Line is a national not-for-profit agency providing free, 24/7 crisis support via text messages. Trained counselors help bring individuals experiencing crisis to a calmer state of mind and help create a plan to stay safe and healthy.

Crisis Text Line has processed over 72 million messages to date, dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.

“The partnership with Crisis Text Line is another way Pasadena is working to reduce stigma around mental health and to encourage all who are experiencing emotional distress to reach out for help,” said Michael Johnson, Director of Public Health. “By allowing individuals to text with a

live, trained Crisis Counselor at any time, people can receive critical assistance immediately.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18.3% of adults in the U.S. lived with a mental health illness in 2016.

However, less than 50% of those individuals received treatment.

“We are proud to partner with the Pasadena Public Health Department to bring lifesaving support at your fingertips,” said Liz Eddy, Director of Communication for Crisis Text Line.

Those experiencing crisis are encouraged to text LA to 741741 or reach a Crisis Counselor

through Facebook Messenger at www.facebook.com/crisistextline. Counselors are available 24/7 and will respond quickly to help the texter out of their moment of crisis and to start creating a safety plan. This service is free and confidential. For more information regarding Crisis Text Line, visit https://www.crisistextline.org.

Throughout Pasadena, signs will be posted to support awareness of suicide prevention and where to access free resources.

To inquire about Social and Mental Health Programs at PPHD, such as youth mental health, LGBTQI2-S outreach, senior mental health, and substance abuse services, call (626) 744-6339.

Since 1892 PPHD has worked to promote and protect the health of the greater Pasadena area. Visit the department online at https://ww5.cityofpasadena. net/public-health/. ■

New Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officially breaks ground ON Wednesday, July 25, Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste, Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean, Councilmembers Bob Kellar, Bill Miranda and Cameron Smyth from the City of Santa Clarita; Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District, County of Los Angeles; Sheriff Jim McDonnell from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Captain Robert Lewis from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station hosted an official groundbreaking for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. The event took place at the construction site located along Golden Valley Road, between Centre Pointe Parkway and Robert C. Lee Parkway.

The new 46,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, Sheriff Station will feature a detached 4,000square-foot vehicle maintenance facility to repair vehicles on-site, a heliport, 9-1-1 dispatch center, a jail and enough space to house the entire Sheriff’s team.

“Our highest priority is your safety. We are building a stateof-the-art facility and providing our deputies with the tools necessary to keep Santa Clarita one of the safest cities in the Nation,”

said Mayor Laurene Weste.

The City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles are working together to finance and construct the new and larger Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, to replace the existing 25,100 square-foot station located at 23740 Magic Mountain Parkway. The existing station opened in 1972, and at the time, the population of the Santa Clarita Valley was at 50,000.

“As of July of this year, the estimated station service area population is at 293,000 residents and rapidly growing to 300,000,

which would be six times the population for what it was originally built for,” said Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

“As someone who’s worked for Los Angeles County for three decades, this is a day that I know we’ve all been waiting for,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “This station is going to be a wonderful way for us to show those who want to go into law enforcement why L.A. County Sheriffs are the best, most qualified and trained officers in law enforcement.”

Representatives from the Aero Bureau, Special Enforcement

SAN GABRIEL pickleball started in December 2016 at Smith Park and now has open play sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The group has grown to over 20 players.

Two San Gabriel residents have developed their skills enough to compete in a recent Senior Pickleball Tournament. Ixchel Amor is a Black Belt in Kung Fu, loves mountain biking, and is an accomplished artist who teaches art in her studio nearby. She initially borrowed a paddle and started to play pickleball, but now plays six times a week. The other player is Lipen Chang, who heard about the game from a friend, bought a paddle and came to see if he would like it. He often practices with his wife Josephine, and keeps busy with his 3 sons who attend/graduated from Gabrielino High School.

Ixchel and Lipen competed in the Pasadena Senior Pickleball Tournament at Scholl Canyon Golf & Tennis Park located in Glendale. This 3-day tournament is a USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) sanctioned tournament, from which qualifying players can advance to the national Senior Pickleball Tournament held later in the year. A total of 217 players from California and other states registered for the event.

Ixchel and Lipen both played with doubles partners from other Pickleball groups, and both Team, K-9, Arson Explosives, Mounted Enforcement Unit, SCV Command Post and Search and Rescue were on hand to celebrate today’s milestone. In addition, representatives from the offices of Congressman Steve Knight, State Senator Scott Wilk, State Assemblyman Dante Acosta and State Assemblyman Tom Lackey presented certificates honoring the groundbreaking event. The event culminated with a golden shovel ceremony to unearth the first soil from the development site.

The new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is expected to be completed by 2020 and is part of the City’s Santa Clarita 2020 Community Strategic Plan. For more information, please visit SantaClarita2020.com. ■

emerged as gold medalists in the 50-59 age group. Congratulations to Ixchel and Lipen on their wins!

If you would like to try pickleball, new players are always welcome at Smith Park. For more munity Services at (626) 308information, please contact Com- 3875.■

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

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 1-3, 2018

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Performance artist Jasmine Orpilla and art director Peter de Guzman merge traditional Filipino dance and contemporary Western styles in new production in downtown LA

by Klarize

Medenilla / AJPress

“THEY are afraid, my brother...They are afraid of our mighty fists, my brother…They are afraid of the magnificence of our works, my brother...They are even afraid of our songs of love, my brother.”

This is the final stanza of Filipino Carlos Bulosan’s poem “Song for Chris Mensalvas’ Birthday,” which provided the inspiration for a new original work by a Filipino-American creative collaboration between performance artist Jasmine Orpilla and art director Peter de Guzman of the dance company Malaya FilipinoAmerican Dance Arts.

“How Many Years Did We Fight the Beast Together” is a new multidisciplinary performance art piece by Orpilla and de Guzman that premiered on Thursday, July 19 at the Roy and Edna Disney/ CalArts Theater (REDCAT) at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

The REDCAT New Original Works (NOW) Festival 2018 is held every Thursday to Saturday from July 19 to August 4 and features both veteran and upcoming performance artists.

Orpilla and de Guzman’s work was one of three performance works showcased in the first week of the festival.

The work has three key sensory elements: singing, dancing and instruments.

Bulosan’s poem was reconstructed into the libretto of the piece, sung in an operatic style by Orpilla, who had cultivated a rich career as an international soprano vocalist, as a way to symbolize the “Western point of view and approach to music” against the backdrop of untouched, orthodox Filipino dance.

“We’re taking these traditional forms without changing or appropriating them or moving a muscle in terms of the traditionality, and we’re putting them in this context of contemporary theatre to underline this point of view of the Western eye toward different cultures, towards the tradition of Pangalay dance,” Orpilla said in a recent phone interview with the Asian Journal.

The show opens up with Orpilla, decked out in pristine Maria Clara regalia, singing

those Bulosan lines to the backdrop of dancers’ silhouettes. The curtain drops to reveal four Pangalay dancers and tulingkang gong players.

Orpilla transitions to the background of the stage to give the dancers and musicians the spotlight.

The Pangalay dance, which has its roots in the Sulu Archipelago and Sabah of the Southern Philippines, comprises graceful intention with the flexible “fingernail” gestures.

“It’s a dance form that has been largely misunderstood because of the way a lot of dance companies interpret it,” de Guzman told the Asian Journal.

“Our performance of Pangalay isn’t changed to make it contemporary, but rather it’s contemporary because of the context that it will be performed, with the juxtaposition of the libretto, the Carlos Bulosan poetry and the imagery that the viewer gets to experience,” said de Guzman, whose dance company, the Malaya Filipino-American Dance Arts, provided many of the resources and talent for the Pangalay portion of the piece.

Both de Guzman and Orpilla acknowledged the importance of premiering this work at the REDCAT, which has lauded itself as being a purveyor of diversity and uplifting artists from all walks of life. For them, showcasing these antiquated styles of dance and music in the contemporary, often homogeneous world of performance art was a way to challenge the status quo, a major theme in their piece.

In their July 19 performance, the audience largely comprised of white art enthusiasts, which isn’t unusual for high-brow, even avant-garde artistic media. By presenting these deeply rooted artistic customs of the Philippines to this audience was profoundly breaking barriers of what constitutes art worthy of a grand showcase.

As with all performance art, the economy of symbolism in their collaboration tells a story much deeper than the blending of Western and non-Western artistic modes.

Orpilla dons a Maria Clara

Experimental artist and singer Jasmine Orpilla sings in an operatic style in “How Many Years Did We Fight the Beast Together” at the REDCAT NOW Festival on Thursday, July 19. All photos by Vanessa Crocini.

The show combined Western singing styles and traditional Pangalay “fingernail” dancing of the Tausūg ethnic group in the Southern Philippines.

dress and hip-length hair to exemplify the Filipina feminine ideal that was established after European colonization, which posed several questions concerning the Filipino beauty standard largely molded after Western ideals.

“We’re making a statement of each other as well, like how Filipino Americans of different generations and how they look back on their ancestry and what direction do they go moving forward,” Orpilla remarked. “And this

even goes beyond that and we approach the question of what is entertainment? Is this supposed to be entertainment? No, it’s not. And what is beauty? Is beauty the Maria Clara look or is it [the look] before the colonial era?

What do we consider Filipino beauty? These are the questions we wanted to raise with this work.”

Scrutinizing the colonial mindset: a life-long project Throughout the thread of her work, Orpilla — who was

Orpilla wears a Maria Clara dress to signify the Philippine culture’s mainstream definition of beauty.

Peter de Guzman (left), resident artistic director of Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, facilitated the dance portion of the multi-faceted performance that also included kulintang gong players (right).

raised in Japan and Saudi Arabia with roots in Ilocos Sur, Philippines — has been exploring these themes, which are centered around the history of colonial influence in Filipino identity and “how racism affects someone’s perception of self.”

Though Orpilla, a trained soprano with a broad vocal range, has enjoyed international distinction after having performed all throughout Europe, Asia, Saudi Arabia and North America, she’s primarily stayed within the performance art realm because “everything else wasn’t fulfilling me and wasn’t allowing me to explore the themes that really gratified me.”

Similarly, de Guzman, after dissatisfaction with the contemporary dance scene, spent 10 years in the Philippines under the mentorship of Pangalay dancer and academic Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, who penned the book “Pangalay: Traditional Dances and Related Folk Artistic Expression.”

While in the Philippines, de Guzman studied the forms of Pangalay and the regional culture and mores behind it to be able to capture an authentic, untouched replication of it in his current work with Malaya Filipino-American Dance Arts.

This collaboration began roughly two years ago when Orpilla wanted to explore authenticity with traditional Filipino art that deviates from the mainstream mode of entertainment and pageantry. With her long-standing creative mission to explore colonialism, white-washing and “microaggressions” associated with racism, Orpilla’s collaboration with de Guzman fields questions to Filipinos everywhere about our community’s clear-cut definitions of beauty, art and entertainment, and to see from where those standards derived.

“You, now, have generations of Filipino Americans who have researched deeply their cultural heritages,” de Guzman said. “And you can see that in the kinds of art we see Filipino Americans creating in college theaters, dance companies and all these other avenues, and so we see these artists performing their identity with much more depth and knowledge of their cultural heritage.”

De Guzman and Orpilla’s piece, which was unintentionally showcased in the era of diversity (or lack thereof) in arts and entertainment, speaks volumes of how creative people of color can reclaim their identities and unapologetically deviate from the accepted definition(s) of beauty and art. And if that makes audiences uncomfortable, then all the better because that means the message is coming through, Orpilla said.

“In many ways, art isn’t supposed to be comfortable and there definitely are moments in this piece that might make people uncomfortable, but that’s what art is supposed to do: make you take an introspective dive,” Orpilla noted. “This is something that I’ve been delving into this for quite a while, and this isn’t all that I can say about this particular theme [of challenging accepted notions of aesthetics]. There’s so much more to do, so many other specific narratives to tell.”

“How Many Years Did We Fight the Beast Together” isn’t the only Fil-Am premiering original work for the REDCAT NOW Festival. This week, on Thursday, Aug. 2, Los Angeles-based artist Jay Carlon will be premiering his own dance performance at the REDCAT titled “CARLON: fold, unfold, refold,” which combines kinetic movement and vibrations and the distortion of sounds.

Fil-Am businesses on display at Travel, Trade & Consumer Roadshow in Carson, CA

entertainment

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 1, 2018

Free event on Aug. 4 & 5 features exhibitors, seminars, entertainment & food

AN exciting summer weekend of Pinoy pride is coming up on August 4 and 5 at the South Bay Pavilion in Carson, California!

The Travel, Trade and Consumer Roadshow (TTC) is the brainchild of the Asian Journal’s CEO Roger Oriel, in an effort to showcase and encourage Filipino and Filipino-American business through product and service exhibition and educational sessions, with entertainment for the mall-going public.

The event is free, so mall shoppers are welcome to immerse in Filipino ingenuity and talent in the two-day event that has four zones: The Exhibitor Row, B2B Area, Mainstage, and Sari-Sari Food Pavilion.

Asian Journal sought out exhibitors that exemplify Filipino entrepreneurship, and associated organizations and services that benefit the Filipino-American community.

The Exhibitor Row traverses through the main aisle of the mall, along the pathway of shoppers. Multiple sectors are represented, from services, manufacturing, handicrafts, business education to national defense.

The Mainstage will be the center of attraction with various Los Angeles talents performing throughout the day, interspersed with an F21 Red Fashion Show featuring the Love Of Country Ambassadors, TV show tapings, and the much-awaited raffle. The coveted prize is a Roundtrip Ticket to Manila courtesy of Philippine Airlines and a hotel stay courtesy of the Department of Tourism. The winner will be announced via a raffle on Saturday, August 4 at 6 p.m.

Media companies on display are The Filipino Channel (TFC), Crossings TV, a new free channel of Filipino content.

TFC’s popular TV show “Citizen Pinoy� will go on the mainstage on Sunday afternoon, with renowned Atty. Michael Gurfinkel.

Spectrum/ Charter Channel, home of the National Asian American Coalition’s (NAAC) “Owning A Piece of America,� will likewise be taping a segment on Saturday afternoon,

and presenting a fitness demo by Thalassia Mombeleur.

Iconic Filipino brands are represented by the maker of our favorite cookies and Sky Flakes crackers, Monde MY San, Philippine National Bank, and Lay Bare Salon, whose more than 100 franchises in the Philippines is starting to sprout in the U.S. with its two Los Angeles locations.

Free sugaring and Lay Bare’s signature hair removal methods shall be demonstrated at its booth.

All the way from Pangasinan, Philippines, facilitated by EC Ferrer Customs Broker, are handicraft and furniture makers from the region, along with products made of Philippine cacao and bamboo, among others. New products include Nutridense’s Rice Mongo Curls, and IC Green, a superior and unique kind of oil additive that enhances and increases engine efficiency, invented and patented by a Filipino.

Other industries represented are real estate with Lombard by the Bay and Megaworld; services CSI Professionals, Elder Law Services, and Western Union; and local business House of Seafood.

Among the organizations present are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) along with government entities the U.S. Army and the California National Guard.

Performers scwheduled to appear are premiere saxophonist Ner De Leon, vocalist Annie Nepomuceno, jazz guitarist Ric Ickard, classical singer/actor Glenn Fernandez, jazz singer Bing Martin, teen singer/songwriter/dancer Louisa Tampi, vocal coach and artiste Jona Peralta, 4700 Band member

Alvin Reyes, young singer/producer Chris Venegas, acoustic duo Kenneth and Nathan, and professional DJ Josh Evan.

Outside the main Entrance, the Sari-Sari Food Pavilion will be serving Filipino food from White Rabbit, Achara and Neri’s Curbside Cravings, and cool desserts from PopCupz, TastyBlock Hawaiian Shave Ice, Boba Truck and Churrostix.

On the opposite end of the mall from the Mainstage, a booth targeted for free seminars on various business topics is hosted

by Ferdinand Soriano of Planet 63. Take advantage of these free sessions to learn from industry experts about Export Financing, Sourcing and Shipping, Packaging and Labelling, Cross-Cultural Trading, International Trade, Franchising and many more.

Entrepreneur organizations like the Filipino- American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) and the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) shall be lending a hand, and will be on hand as the public’s available source for entrepreneurship questions, along with the Small Business Administration, the government entity that helps owners grow their small businesses.

Asian Journal Publications’ own newspaper and travel and lifestyle publication, Balikbayan Magazine, will be available free to the public, at its booth.

Ribbon-cutting and opening ceremonies are slated on August 4, Saturday at the Mainstage at 11 a.m.

For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer. com. (AJPress)

The actor-politician with Philippine Heart Association and Department of Health ofďŹ cials at the launch of his latest health advocacy.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Richard Gomez–dad, husband, public servant and health advocate

by ARLO

CUSTODIO ManilaTimes.net

ACTOR and now Ormoc City mayor Richard Gomez was his jovial self when he met the entertainment press at the launch of his latest health advocacy at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City early this month.

Under the auspices of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Gomez said he acquired a total of 11 units of automated external defribillator (AED), a life-saving device for his city as part of Ormoc’s disaster preparation measure. He added that local government units (LGUs) are allowed by law to purchase such items, dispelling immediately issues that may arise when asked about intervention from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The actor—known as Brown Adonis during his heyday as local cinema’s hottest property—also revealed there was not much convincing for him to give face to the advocacy campaign. “Sandwich at Zest-O lang sapat na [for talent fee],� he laughed.

He said that more people must be trained on cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and with the aid of AEDs, can save lives during emergencies.

Gomez himself went through CPR training and was

The happy and beautiful Gomez family, Richard with daughter Juliana and wife Lucy.

in every phase, making him perfect example to do echo seminar-training to save more people from heart attack or stroke.

SONA presence One of the questions posed

by The Manila Times after the formal launch was his and wife Ormoc City 4th District Representative Lucy Torres’ garb for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 23.

Goma (as he’s fondly called in the biz) said that he always has a barong on standby, and his wife can just recycle what she has as what she had done in the past. “Surprising nga ang ginawa niyang twist sa barong ko (in

SONA 2016), kaya suprising din this time,� Gomez said.

It turned out that the beautiful congresswoman wore an intricate lilac dress that hugged her figure while the mayor wore a simple barong.

Gomez also decided to attend the SONA together with his wife this year compared to the previous two when he spent the time listening to the president and watching the proceedings on wide screen he installed in the city hall and around strategic locations in the city for his constituents. “The SONA is where the President proclaims the policies, plans and goals of the administration and it is imporContinued on Page 4

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Gretchen Barretto on being entertainment called a mistress: ‘I’m the kabit Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company who’ll live happily ever after’ 4

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 1, 2018

by KATE

MATRIANO Inquirer.net

GRETCHEN Barretto’s relationship with partner Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco has always been an open book. This time, the eldest of the Barretto clan spoke up against an online basher who persistently sends her negative comments.

“Old news yes, I am all ALUMNI PHOTO: Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company alumni (left to right): Dennis ORGANIZER PHOTO: Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company organizers (left to Ballais, LuAnn Ballais, Maria Mylene D. Gumayao, Remedios “Bing” Martinez, right): Dennis Ballais, LuAnn Ballais, Dr. Tess Agner, Hazel Santiago, Victor that you say I am [and] you follow me on Instagram,” wrote Melissa Braga Montilla, Hazel P. Santiago, Nancy F. Calleja, Dennis Singson, Santiago, and Jess Reyes.

Barretto in a post she uploadand Victor Santiago. ed via the platform Saturday, July 28. “I am who I am [and] I so [love] it [and] you [d]ie in envy burn, burn, burn.”

“I am the kabit (concubine) who will live [h]appily ever after [and] you will be the envious who will die each time you see me soar high,” added the actress. “Rest In Peace envious [b****] I shall soar high while you die.”

Barretto posted a screen grab of the alleged basher Frederick Dison’s (@ boshie1185) reply on one of Members of the Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company at the Asian Journal office in Glendale, California on Tuesday, July 31. The 31 member dance company will her Instagram Stories, sharbe performing for their Kalipayan Philippine Cultural Benefit Show in partnership with the Waraynon Initiative Network this Saturday, August 4 at 3 p.m. at ing the Instagram page of the the Jack Tygett Theater in Chula Vista, California; and 7 p.m. at the Bristol Civic Auditorium in Bellflower, California. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or said basher. She had written in advance by contacting Derrick Anido (562) 805-8152, Lu-Ann Ballais (904) 881-0290, or Tess Agner (949) 350-0111.

Photos by Ding Carreon “LLL for Loser [face screaming in fear emoji]” alongside the Instagram handle of Dison.

“Kirida the dakilang kabit (Mistress, the great From Page 3 laughed out loud, eliciting as knowledge in CPR, accompaconcubine),” said the basher. nied by the use of the device tant that we attentively listen,” much from the few members “Greta, kirida, kabit (mistress, of the media that stayed to will increase the survivality of he said. concubine) sounds like a engage him in chat and banter. persons experiencing heart atJuliana, a surprising jewel tongue twister.”

Since it’s known that his tack and stroke by 33 percent, When talks shifted to his Barretto’s fans were quick daughter brought ABS-CBN as medical practitioner Ronald one and only daughter Julito express their support for talent Marco Gallo as her prom Cuyco, who chairs the PHA ana, the actor-politician even advocacy campaign, and PHA became more animated in shar- date, Gomez said that as far as he knows, the “Pinoy Big chairman Nanette Rey asserted. ing to the press snippets of his Brother 7” teen housemate is “It is only befitting that fatherhood. just a friend of his unica hija. we equip ourselves with basic He related how Juliana “But I won’t hinder her in knowledge in CPR and basic thought she was looking at him case she goes into romantic re- knowledge on how to operate but she was actually looking at lationship, baka ngayon meron an AED,” Gomez said, adding herself in the mirror. na pero ayaw pa lang sabihin that the danger lies in the delay “Funny how she thought sa amin, sa panahon ngayon in the time of bringing the pathat it was me when in fact it

by ARLO CUSTODIO normal lang na magkaroon na tient to the hospital before the was her. It’s really true, magManilaTimes.net ng karelasyon ang kabataan,” emergency procedure. kamukha kami ni Juliana, pero IT’S already the middle of the “groovy” dad said.

Just like in Japan, Sinmagkamukha rin sila ni Lucy,” the third quarter but the date “Sa showbiz naman, it’s gapore and other advanced he said. and venue of the 67th edition up to her if she wants to enter economies, all stakeholders, Does he regret having only of the Miss Universe has not showbiz. Siyempre, nasa show- including the Department of one child, wasting their genes, been announced yet. biz ako, nasa showbiz din ang Health, hope that both govwhen they could have proNevertheless, the country’s mama niya, kaya it’s no wonder ernment agencies and private duced more beautiful children if she enters the business too,” institutions—like malls, airports, representative to the world’s like Juliana? piers and schools—will be able most prestigious beauty “I think about it sometimes, he said. pageant said she has been The infomercial dubbed to install AEDs to save more but Lucy and I haven’t stopped training since June to win the “Gadget AED.PH” shows that Filipino lives. trying, we always try,” he fourth crown and title for the Philippines.

“I have been doing preparations since June. I’ve been training —walking my pasarela, working out, learning make-up techniques, and meeting with designers to make sure that the Filipino culture is represented 100 percent in all my outings for the pageant,” the FilipinoAustralian said during her launch as guest editor of ABSCBN Lifestyle digital content “Inspo”.

Gray is known to be articulate and able to answer even the hardest questions under pressure. She has also built a reputation as a singer and do-gooder via meaningful advocacies before she became a beauty queen.

What most people hardly know, however, is that she’s a good writer as well, which the network’s digital platform uncovers via Inspo. In turn, the show gives her confidence a boost as she prepares to carry the nation’s colors in international pageantry the second time around.

Like a regular person She said that as a voracious reader since childhood she imbibed the unwritten dictum that “good writing is good reading” and vice versa.

Inspo, abbreviated term for inspiration, fits Gray to a tee as the inaugural guest editor of the Lifestyle segment of the network with its motto, “Inspiring Stellar Stories” – helping curate the site content of style and fashion, food and dining, health and wellness, travel and leisure, pop culture, homes, technology, and “all other inspiring and relevant stories to guide every Filipina to live her best life.”

“I don’t really have [an] editorial background [but] I am a reader ever since I was very young. I find [that]I really enjoy expressing myself through literature, [and] through articles,” the 24-yearold towering beauty said.

She shared the challenges and stress of working in the media especially in meeting deadlines.

“That was the hardest part though. At the drop of a hat, like, it’s really a skill and I very much admire you guys for being able to meet all your deadlines,” she said.

As Inspo, Gray said she wanted to change people’s perception of beauty queens – that like everyone else they,

Richard Gomez–dad, husband...

Gretchen Barretto

the actress, applauding her for her tough remarks against the basher.

Earlier on Saturday, Barretto shared another screengrab of the comment Dison left on one of her Instagram posts. “I hope you could do better on the social media than showing off your lifestyle Ms. Greta,” commented the basher. “If you could do even better. #JUSTSAYING.” The actress retorted: “@ boshie1185 really, like bashing

Photo from Instagram/@juansarte

me is something better than what I am posting ?! I am who I am & I will do whatever pleases me Deal with it C’est la vie.”

Barretto for some time now has apparently owned up to the mistress tag she has been repeatedly labeled with.

Despite being together with the business tycoon for more than two decades, Cojuangco has yet to annul his marriage with equestrienne Denise Yabut Cojuangco.

Catriona redefines the meaning of being a beauty queen too, have interests, perceptions and even problems and not the picture-perfect that they always project to be.

“I feel like a regular person [as]a beauty queen is quite un-relatable and some people might look at us and be like ‘how can we relate to you, you always look pretty in photos.’

That’s the boundary I really wanted to break [through] my articles. Just to show people that I, too, have my own ups and downs. I am [a] very simple person behind the title of being a beauty queen,” she said.

Beauty queen defined “It’s a modern definition of a woman and that’s evolving,” Gray introduced her stand on transgender beauty queens, now that officially there is one candidate who will vie for the Miss Universe 2018 crown along with her and almost 100 other “true” women.

“If the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has allowed it and is saying that it’s in the name of inclusivity, then of course I’m gonna leave it up to the organization,” she qualified.

In a sit-down interview with The Manila Times (and another media entity) later, Gray said that thankfully Binibining Pilipinas requires a candidate to be born female.

Gray said the Oxford Dictionary definition of beauty queen as “a woman judged most beautiful in a beauty contest,” is now arguable as pageants have evolved to be so much more than a quest for outer beauty in recent years.

“No longer are organizations looking for the most beautiful to be ‘the face’ of their brand. Instead, an emphasis is placed on finding the ‘spokesperson.’ Timely, considering in the age of social media and legions of followers, individuals have public platforms like never before. I say it’s time for revision,” she said.

“It’s not just about [physical] beauty [as prize of the genetic lottery]. It’s now shifting to what we do have control over: our wit, charm, intelligence, personality. Beauty is becoming a mindset, an attitude,” she expounded.

“The selection of the new Miss Spain [Angela Ponce] as the first ever transgender to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant is bringing gender discussion to the forefront. All of this is a sign of the inclusive future of pageantry – candidates as advocates, [which is]one of the most beautiful progressions within the pageantry.”

Gray said that the advocacy she had been working the last three years now share the spotlight with her. She added that as an only child, it would be an overwhelming experience to become an “ate” to many young girls and

Catriona Gray aims to win the countryʼs fourth Miss Universe crown.

Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

boys within the circle of her advocacy – “Paraiso Bright Beginnings Project” – and the young people who may be nurtured by her writings and musings as Inspo.

Hence, her revised definition of beauty queen: Noun.

An empowered individual who promotes her cause and/or advocacy through the platform of a pageant. Judged as the most suitable spokesperson of the organization through a criteria of beauty, confidence, performance, communicative ability, and personality.

“And I thank you!” she said.

More prepared now than during Miss World Herself the country’s candidate to the Miss World pageant in 2016, ending in the Top 5, Talent Award second placer, winner in the Multimedia platform and one of five winners in the “Beauty With A Purpose” track of the contest, Gray said she agrees with the observation that she is better prepared this time for Miss U. In May, Miss World Organization executive director Steve Douglas Morley (son of chairman Julia Morley) was in Manila for the launching of Mr. World 2018 pageant in the country. When asked

by The Manila Times then his take on Gray being the country’s representative to this year’s Miss Universe, he said that he believes the alumna of their pageant is a lot more prepared this time.

“That’s true. I was 22 then, now I’m 24. Suffice it to say, I have matured, having gone through a lot [of experiences], so I can say that I am much more prepared to once again banner the Philippines in the international stage,” the future fourth Filipina Miss Universe told The Manila Times.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 1, 2018

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 1, 2018