081019 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

AUGUST 10-13, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 62 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

USA

DATELINE Philippine-based website linked to El Paso shooter being investigated by police FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

POLICE in the Philippines said they are investigating the controversial website 8chan, which has received backlash after it was found to be linked to the recent mass shooting in El Paso, Texas that left 22 people dead and 24 injured.

The investigation is being done by the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which was prompted after reports that the El Paso shooter published a 2,300-word white nationalist manifesto on the site before carrying out the attack.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the investigation is looking at whether the site’s current Philippine-based owner Jim Watkins was negligent in moderating the site.

“The first thing we want to know is the influence of 8chan in the Philippines,” Lt. Col. Elpidio Ramirez, the case’s chief investigation officer, told the Wall Street Journal.

But Watkins wasn’t in the Philippines as of Thursday, August 8, according to Philippine officials. Watkins did say earlier this week that he was headed to the U.S. where lawmakers have requested he testify, but it is unclear whether he intends on testifying.

He did post on Twitter a screenshot of an u PAGE A3

CA Governor Newsom to deposit $331-M into legal fund for struggling renters, homeowners

Philippines to fire off diplomatic protest over Chinese survey boats, warships

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — The Philippines’ top diplomat confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs will be protesting the presence of Chinese survey ships in Philippine waters.

“Okay, got it, General. [DFA] firing off diplomatic protest,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Philstar.com photo Locsin Jr. tweeted in response to

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

Ryan Martinson, assistant professor at China Maritime Studies Institute of the U.S. Naval College, tweeted photos of two Chinese oceanographic survey ships located operating in Philippine waters.

The first one was Zhang Jian spotted 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines, which started operating there since August 3. u PAGE A2

US Homeland Security lifts security alert on NAIA

by AJPRESS THE United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rescinded the public notice it issued on the security conditions at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

A news release on Thursday, August 8 said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan has ordered “effective immediately, rescission of the Public Notice regarding security conditions at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines (MNL) issued in December.”

This development comes after the December 27, 2018 notice that alerted travelers that NAIA failed to “adequately implement and maintain international security standards and recommended practices.”

Since then, the Philippine government has cooperated to improve the airport’s security operations.

“Both the Manila International Airport Authority and the Government of the Philippines civil aviation security

NEW OFFICERS. President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath to the newly promoted officers of the Philippine National Police during a Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

u PAGE A2 ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 8.

Labor chief reveals findings of DOH declares national probe on Eddie Garcia’s accident dengue epidemic

Earlier court ruling ordered state to divert funds from 2012 lawsuit

AFTER the California Supreme Court ordered the state to return funds from a 2012 settlement to a legal fund for renters and homeowners last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday, August 7 a plan to redirect the $331 million that lawmakers illegally spent on debt repayment.

Speaking at a meeting with Public Counsel, a legal aid clinic in Los Angeles, Newsom revealed the plan to divert the funds into what it was originally intended for: a trust fund to help struggling homeowners and renters pay u PAGE A4 Eddie Garcia

by AJPRESS MANILA — Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has revealed part of the findings of their department’s investigation on the accident that eventually led to the death of veteran actor Eddie Garcia.

In an interview with the press following a forum on Wednesday, Bello confirmed to reporters that GMA fell short in complying with the Department of Labor and Employment’s requirement to have a safety officer looking over every activity in the entertainment industry.

“There was lack of compliance with the requirement Inquirer.net photo

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Department of Justice on Friday, August 9 began its preliminary probe into the sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo and other personalities for allegedly being involved in a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from Robredo, who is the chair of the minority Liberal Party, former senators and failed senatorial bets identified with the party, Catholic Church leaders and lawyers were named in the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal InInquirer.net photo vestigation and Detection Group

their quick response fund to address the epidemic situation,” he said during a press conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo.

The announcement came following the national dengue alert that DOH issued three weeks ago.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, as chair of the NDRRMC, said he has issued a memorandum circular urging all agencies of NDRRMC “to support the nationwide dengue epidemic response.”

“Lahat nung mga member ng u PAGE A2

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, August 6, declared a national dengue epidemic amid the rising cases of the mosquito-borne disease that has so far claimed at least 622 lives since January in parts of the Philippines.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the declaration was needed to speed up reu PAGE A2 sponse.

“It is important that a national epidemic be declared in these areas to identify where a localized response is needed and to enable (PNP-CIDG). the local government units to use Robredo on Thursday asked the DOJ to compel the PNP to produce more evidence in its allegations before she submits her counter-affidavit.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, who heads the panel of prosecutors for the complaint, shared that during the preliminary investigation proceeding, they received at least 15 motions that arose from the possibility that the PNP-CDIG may yet submit more evidence.

She added that the filing of counter-affidavits has been suspended and deferred “pending ‘DENG-GET OUT’. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III (left), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña (right), and National Disaster Risk the resolution of these 15 mo- Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director, Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, tions.” pose with a mascot during the press briefing of “Sabayang 4 o’clock habit para Deng-Get Out”, held

DOJ starts probe into sedition raps vs Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo

the remarks of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Lorenzana urged the Philippine government to ask the Beijing why Chinese research vessels and warships are entering Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Defense chief, however, admitted that the Philippine military has yet to confirm the presence of Chinese survey ships in the country’s EEZ.

u PAGE A2

at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 6.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

A August 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

DOH declares national...

PAGE A1 t NDRRMC na agencies (All member agencies of the NDRRMC) will now support the efforts of the DOH to stop this epidemic, eliminate this epidemic,” he said.

Lorenzana also explained that a national emergency or state of calamity had not been declared due to the disease only affecting select areas.

“May mga areas na malaki, mas malaki ang tama, may mga

maliliit (There are areas that are worse affected, others not so much). It’s up to the provinces [and] towns to declare their own state of calamity,” he said.

Duque noted that 146,062 dengue cases were recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to July 20 — a figure that is twice the recorded cases (73,818) during the same period last year.

Based on a DOH dengue surveillance report, Western Visayas

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

From the Front Page had the most number of cases at 23,330, followed by Calabarzon with 16,515. Zamboanga Peninsula reported 12,317 cases; Northern Mindanao, 11,455; and SOCCSKSARGEN, 11,083 cases.

Meanwhile, the seven regions that have exceeded the epidemic threshold are Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

Ilocos, Central Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on the other hand, are the regions that have exceeded the alert threshold.

A risk A group of doctors, scientists and health professionals on Thursday, Aug. 1, urged the government to lift the ban on Dengvaxia vaccine due to the surge in dengue cases.

Dengvaxia was banned in 2017 after Sanofi Pasteur, its manufacturer, disclosed that the vaccine FIGHTING DENGUE. Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III checks on the dextrose of one of the dengue patients admitted at could cause severe dengue in pa- the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City, during his rounds in regional government hospitals on Wednesday, August 7. Data from the Regional tients with no prior exposure to Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the DOH in Calabarzon shows that the province of Quezon has recorded 3,604 dengue cases with nine deaths from January 1 to August 3 this year.

Photo courtesy of DOH-Calabarzon the virus.

Duque, for his part, pointed out that Dengvaxia was not costeffective at P1,000 per dose.

“It is not recommended for mass vaccination because there is no reliable test that would es- PAGE A1 t cannot also detect the supposed pines what its ships are doing in tablish prior dengue infection. If Chinese research ship Dong Chinese ship in Ilocos Norte in the the country’s EEZ. there is, this particular test cross- Fang Hong 3 was also detected in West Philippine Sea. “If their intention is only to reacts with several other viruses,” northern Luzon on August 7.

Lorenzana earlier confirmed study the area or the fish or whatthe health secretary said.

“We’re to confirm this on our that Chinese warships passed ever the marine life there, then it “Who knows that severe den- own especially in the east fronting through the Sibutu Strait in Tawi- is not a security threat but if they gue reaction will not occur in a Pacific Ocean because we do not Tawi at least four times from Feb- are doing other things like making particular individual? So there’s have any radar equipment there to ruary to July. reconnaissance or surveillance of a risk,” he added. n The DND chief stressed that our positions then it’s a threat,” monitor the area,” Lorenzana said, adding that the military’s radars China should inform the Philip- Lorenzana said. n

Philippines to fire off diplomatic...

DOJ starts US Homeland Security lifts security... probe into...

PAGE A1 t

The PNP-CDIG was given five days by the prosecutors to submit its comment and opposition to the respondents’ motions.

“After five days, with or without comment, we will have the motion submitted for resolution,” Torrevillas said.

“Only those [pieces of] evidence submitted by the CIDG and only those [pieces of] evidence which are already part of the record, will be appreciated and considered in resolving the complaint,” she added.

The tentative filing of the respondents’ counter-affidavits has been set by Torrevillas on September 6. n

PAGE A1 t authorities have demonstrated they are willing to work toward sustaining those improvements,” the DHS said.

Thursday’s announcement notes that the U.S. State Department has provided $5 million to

help fund airport security improvements through training and technology at the Manila airport.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has provided aviation security advisors to help the Philippine government implement other corrective mea-

sures for the airport’s security.

“DHS and TSA remain committed to working with the Government of the Philippines to help ensure a strong security posture at MNL and enhance global aviation security,” the release added. n

Labor chief reveals findings of probe on...

PAGE A1 t that in every activity there should be a safety officer… They didn’t have one. Otherwise, Eddie Garcia would not have died,” Bello said partly in Filipino.

Bello shared the findings of the Occupational Safety and Health Center, which he tasked to investigate the accident after

he visited the actor’s wake last June.

In a recent press statement, GMA said that it has completed its own probe on the incident and would first share the findings with Garcia’s family before releasing it to the public.

Garcia died last June 20 due to neck and cervical fracture in-

curred after he tripped in a cable wire in Tondo, Manila, while shooting gun fight scenes for a now shelved GMA TV series, “Rosang Agimat.”

Following his death, actors in the industry have joined hands to call for better safety and security measures in the entertainment industry. n

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

Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 10-13, 2019

A

Dealing with the lingering effects of a mass shooting

CHINESE DONATION. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua (right) hands over a PHP10 million check to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año (middle) during the turn-over of financial aid to the victims of the Batanes earthquake held at DILG-Napolcom Center, Edsa corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City on Friday, August 9. Also in photo is Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco (left).

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

American aircraft carrier docks in Manila

by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

AMID tensions in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy’s USS Ronald Reagan is in the Philippines as it continues to cruise international waters to help provide security in the region.

The USS Ronald Reagan is among the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the US Navy, which is based at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike group also includes the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville, which are all in Philippine waters.

Select members of Manila-based reporters as well as high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were given a chance to go on tour inside USS Ronald Reagan.

“I will tell you that the beauty of this aircraft carrier is that it pro-

vides a lot of security and stability to this region. Just go out there and set an environment where these current disputes can be solved in a peaceful manner,” Commander Rear Admiral Karl Thomas told reporters invited to tour the aircraft carrier.

Thomas said the presence of the aircraft carrier would be able to “provide security in this very important region.”

“That is our goal, to be able to sail and operate wherever the international law allows,” Thomas added.

Tensions in the disputed waters rose as President Rodrigo Duterte said he would invoke the ruling of a United Nations-backed tribunal favoring Manila in its claim in the hotly contested South China Sea. earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Mark esper said he was in favor of deploying ground-based missiles to Asia “within months,” after Washington pulled out from the

Philippine-based website linked...

PAGE A1 t email he sent to homeland Security Committee leaders, Reps.

Bennie Thompson and Mike Rogers, saying he would be in the U.S. and was willing to talk on the phone.

“Rest assured I am not an extremist,” wrote Watkins. “My telephone should work worldwide.”

In a video statement posted Tuesday, August 6, Watkins defended the 8chan website and downplayed claims of it being used as a platform for far-right extremism and mass shooters.

“My company takes a firm stand on helping law enforcement, and within minutes of these two tragedies, we were working with FBI agents to find out what information we could to help in their investigations,” said Watkins.

“We have never protected illegal speech, as it seems that we have been accused of by some less than credible journalists,” he added.

Numerous reports have recently pointed out that manifestos were posted on 8chan by both the gunman who attacked two New Zealand mosques, and the gunman who attacked a Southern California synagogue earlier this year.

Watkins though said in his video that the el Paso shooter’s manifesto was originally posted on Instagram, and later uploaded by someone else to 8chan.

“First of all, the el Paso shooter posted on Instagram, not 8chan,” said Watkins. “Later someone uploaded a manifesto. however, the manifesto was not uploaded by the Walmart shooter. I don’t know if he wrote it or not, but it was not uploaded by the murderer.” however, a spokeswoman of Facebook, which owns Instagram, denied Watkins’ claims and said the company has “found nothing that supports this theory.”

Matthew Prince, chief executive of Cloudflare — a U.S. cybersecurity firm that served 8chan — affirmed that there has been evidence that the manifesto was uploaded to 8chan prior to the attack.

‘A cesspool of hate’ Cloudflare announced on Monday that it would no longer be providing services to 8chan, making it hard for the site which remains operative. Currently, an error message shows up on the site’s address.

“8chan has repeatedly proven itself to be a cesspool of hate,” Prince wrote in a Monday blog post.

Watkins described Cloudflare’s move as “cowardly.”

8chan was founded in 2013 by the now 25-year-old Fredrick Brennan as a place for unfettered speech — an alternative to another notorious site, 4chan, that became subject to self-censorship after facing numerous controversies.

Watkins, a U.S. military veteran who learned his way around computers while in the Army, came into the picture in 2014 and eventually took full ownership.

Following the el Paso shooting, Brennan has also called for 8chan

to be shut down, saying that Watkin’s irresponsibleness has turned the site into one where extremism is embraced.

Brennan left the 8chan in 2016 and cut ties with Watkins in 2018.

“It’s not doing the world any good,” Brennan told the New York Times on Sunday. “It’s a complete negative to everybody except the users that are there.

And you know what? It’s a negative to them, too. They just don’t realize it.”

On Twitter, he posted, “The only ones who will suffer from 8chan going down are mass shooters who planned to use it as a platform and Jim Watkins.”

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY RFP NO. E745-20 ON-CALL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Authority) is seeking to retain a bench of qualified firms to provide on-call professional engineering design services. The period of performance for this project shall be for a three-year base period and one two-year option.

Requests for Proposal (RFPs) may be obtained via download at: http://www.metrolinktrains. com/doing_business. (Vendors must register on the website in order to download the document). electronic Proposal Submittals are due at 2:00 p.m.

(PST) on September 17, 2019.

The Authority will conduct a Pre-Proposal Conference at 10:00 AM PST on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at the Authority’s Dispatch Operations Center located at 2704 Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768.

The contract to be awarded is subject to a financial assistance agreement between the Authority and U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) under grants issued by the Federal Transit Authority. In conformance with the Authority’s Disadvantaged Business enterprise (DBe) Policy and Program, the Authority has established a 10% DBe contract-specific goal on this project. Prime Proposers will be required to either meet the DBe goal or submit a Good Faith effort (GFe) demonstrating intent to meet the goal for their Proposal to be deemed responsive to DBe Program requirements.

For further information contact: Wai Shong Chan, Contracts and Compliance Administrator at chanw@scrra.net.

8/10/19 CNS-3281124# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

VeRONICA Kelley was working at an office building across the street from the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., in December 2015 when a county employee and his wife entered with semiautomatic rifles and opened fire, killing 14 and wounding 22. Most of the victims were the shooter’s own co-workers.

The couple went on to wound two police officers later that day.

Since then, Kelley, the 52-yearold director of the county Department of Behavioral health, has broadened the department’s focus to caring for people struggling with psychological trauma from mass shootings — no matter how they’re insured. (The department also coordinates services for lowincome people with serious mental illness and substance-use disorders, and youths with serious emotional disturbances. Most are uninsured or have Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.)

Kelley and her department have seen firsthand how the psychological wounds of mass trauma can linger indefinitely. More than 400 people were victims of the shooting, witnesses or first responders. They’ve also noticed how the trauma expands beyond those who were nearby: people who lost friends or relatives to the carnage, those who live or work near the notorious crime scene — or even people who were traumatized by watching news coverage.

After the three recent mass shootings in Gilroy, Calif., el Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, which killed 36 — including two gunmen — and wounded at least 51, the number of people indirectly affected by mass gun violence continues to multiply.

“What we notice is that there’s a slight uptick in attempted suicides” when there are other mass shootings, Kelley said. “We see a slight uptick in attempts and hos-

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Moscow.

Thomas said some officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were toured aboard USS Ronald Reagan “to see how an aircraft carrier operates.”

“There are obviously some other navies that operate in this part of the world, it’s [in] international waters,” he said. he confirmed that the Chinese Navy operates with several ships at the disputed South China Sea. “Being in this part of the world, operating in the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, certainly we believe that everybody should Veronica Kelley, who has helped her community weather the aftermath of a mass shooting, have the freedom to operate has advice for others who have recently experienced one: “Trauma is different for everybody, where international law allows,” and it takes however long it takes.” he added. n Photo courtesy of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health

pitalizations around our anniversary as well.”

The increase in suicide attempts is the reason Kelley closely monitors national news. After the recent spate of mass shootings, she alerted her crisis response team to be prepared for more requests to respond to mental health crises — and sent emails to all county department heads to keep an eye on their employees. San Bernardino is California’s fifth-most populous county, home to about 2.2 million people. With 22,000 employees, the county government is the largest employer in the county.

Kelley’s department also sends emails to survivors and posts social media messages for the public, reminding people about the potential recurrence of PTSD. Separate messages linking to a suicide hotline number and the Disaster Distress helpline were posted on the department’s official Facebook page — without gory details or even mention of the crimes — after Gilroy, el Paso and Dayton.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been forced to become pretty effective at this kind of work,” Kelley said.

California healthline’s Anna Almendrala spoke with Kelley about what her department has learned about the long-term psychological effects of surviving a mass shooting, and the triggers that can set recovery back.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Three high-profile mass shootings in eight days. What is going through your head right

u PAGE A4

A August 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

Dealing with the lingering effects of a...

PAGE A3 t now?

We weren’t surprised. Unfortunately, I think when you’ve been in a mass shooting, it kind of presents you with your new reality.

But I think you don’t really fully understand it until it happens in your community.

Q: In addition to the uptick in suicide attempts among San Bernardino survivors with each new mass shooting, did you notice an impact on mental health for residents who were not directly

involved?

I think our shooting really helped educate people about the importance of wellness, and an increase in understanding that mental health and addiction are just one part of our whole physical wellness.

We’ve been reached out to by folks who are not Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are in need. And by folks, I mean bigger organizations, and bigger communities, like businesses.

The golf courses had never

Dateline USa

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

What to know about the Equifax data breach settlement

called us to come out to talk to them about mental health. And then they did.

Q: What advice do you have for people in places like Gilroy, El Paso and Dayton?

One of the things we really focus on is getting people to get off social media, stop watching the news and don’t read about this stuff over and over again.

Get active. We know the way to treat a traumatized brain is to kind of reboot it like you do with a phone or a computer — turn it on and off. The natural way to reboot a brain is physical exercise.

Our brains need to recover, and so they need uninterrupted sleep.

They need natural sleep, not sleep that’s impacted by weed or alcohol.

Q: What needs to change when it comes to addressing mental health issues stemming from mass shootings?

Remembering that behavioral health first responders exist. Acknowledging the need for that.

You call the fire department when a building is on fire. You can call behavioral health first responders as well.

We created community crisis response teams, and we respond to any sort of crisis. We’ve developed a system of care where we actually get referrals, including from law enforcement, and we actually deploy with law enforcement to these crisis calls.

Also knowing that recovery from trauma is different for everybody, and it takes however long it takes. The only way to get through it is actually to go through it.

Q: How do mass shootings differ from responding to other traumas, like fire or natural disasters?

Most of us know what fire looks like. We’ve created a fire in our living room in the fireplace, or we’ve been out camping. We know if there’s an earthquake, duck and cover.

But we are not all taught active shooter training. We haven’t all witnessed what someone getting gunned down with an automatic weapon looks like, and so we just aren’t as accustomed to it.

Also, when you have someone who takes a weapon and a lot of ammunition and then goes after human targets, that’s different.

The trauma is more personalized.

It is more horrific. I would say it is terrible to die in a fire, but I would say that it is more violent to die being shot 50 times.

u PAGE A5

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

IN September 2017, Equifax revealed that approximately 147 million people had their personal data stolen by hackers who got through the consumer credit reporting company’s servers. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that a reached settlement would allow those affected to avail of certain services and compensation.

The settlement requires that Equifax pay at least $575 million in compensation to victims who had their personal data exposed from the Equifax data breach.

“An affected consumer is someone whose information was exposed in the breach, meaning that their name, address, social security number, or other personal information was actually part of the information that a hacker got their hands on,” said Jacqueline Connor, an attorney with the FTC. Available benefits There are several benefits available to those who were affected, one being free credit monitoring of up to 10 years, Connor told reporters in a telebriefing last week.

Of those ten years, at least four years of monitoring will be at three credit bureaus being Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Also included are up to six years of free monitoring of

one’s Equifax credit report and $1,000,000 of identity theft insurance.

“That means if you’re a victim of identity theft and you discover it while you’re covered by this product, you can get up to a million dollars of insurance coverage for your out-of-pocket losses,” said Connor.

Those who were still a minor in May 2017 are eligible for a total of 18 years of free credit monitoring, according to the FTC. Another category of benefits available to victims are reimbursements of up to $20,000 per person for time dealing with the breach, or other cash payments made a result of the breach.

Expenses include losses from unauthorized charges made to one’s accounts, fees paid to professionals like attorneys or accountants, costs from freezing and unfreezing one’s credit report, and costs for credit monitoring. Smaller expenses like document shipping expenses, mileage, phone charges, and notary fees can also be reimbursed.

For reimbursement of time spent on a breach, victims can be compensated $25 per hour up to 20 hours.

But claim amounts may be reduced, as limited funds are available during this initial claims period, according to the FTC. It said that during this ini-

tial claim period, a maximum of $31 million can be used for time spent dealing with the breach.

That means if valid claims account for over $31 million, everyone with valid claims will receive an equal percentage of their claimed amount.

One other benefit breach victims can avail of is at least seven years of identity theft restoration services.

“I know that these three categories sounds like a lot and it might seem overwhelming to think about how to proceed, but I can assure you it’s simple,” said Connor, adding that she went through the processes of making claims herself.

No more cash payouts The FTC originally offered an alternative cash payout of $125 instead of the free credit monitoring, but later withdrew the option due to an “overwhelming” public response.

“Because the total amount available for these alternative payments is $31 million, each person who takes the money option is going to get a very small amount,” explains the FTC on their website. “Nowhere near the $125 they could have gotten if there hadn’t been such an enormous number of claims filed.”

Consumer rights groups claim that the FTC engaged in false advertising when it announced the $125 payout op-

u PAGE A5

CA Governor Newsom to deposit...

PAGE A1 t for legal services and advice.

Though the plan would need approval by the Legislature before going into effect, Newsom emphasized to correct the mistakes made by the state’s lawmakers, noting that the Californians who were affected by “unscrupulous practices” by mortgage lending companies deserve the fund.

“The idea that human beings could take advantage of other human beings at this level and go to bed at night and hug their kids is rather extraordinary in and of itself,” the governor said.

“Those that aspire to get into [the middle class] are being slammed, because we had been unable to produce enough housing, to prevent evictions and foreclosures and unscrupulous practices and to preserve the

existing housing stock.”

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, the State of California received $410 million in a 2012 settlement with the five largest mortgage services in the country: Ally, Bank of America, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. After the national mortgage crisis, these companies were charged with multiple federal violations and agreed to pay more than $20 billion to affected homeowners.

The companies also made a separate payment of $2.5 billion to states to be used for a mortgage fund as a resource for homeowners and renters, with California receiving $410 million. However, $331 million of what the state received was illegally diverted to pay off state debts.

A coalition of homeowners groups, including the Bay Areabased nonprofit National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), have tried to force the state to repay those funds. In 2018, the State Legislature tried to block the ruling of a California appeals court that required the state to return the money to the homeowners’ trust fund.

Last month, the Supreme Court of California rejected the Legislature’s request and left in place the appeals court order, ruling in favor of the homeowners.

“We fought so hard for five years and now we have to fight again for where the money will go,” said Filipina American Faith Bautista, president and chief executive of the NAAC. “This has to be impactful.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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

What to know about the Equifax...

PAGE A4 t tion, as it was unlikely at the start that the reserved cash payout amount would be able to cover the affected 147 million people.

Demand Progress, an internet and social welfare focused consumer group, launched a petition to have the FTC investigate its sudden withdrawal.

“We demand the Federal Trade Commission and its Office of Inspector General launch an immediate investigation into the Federal Trade Commission’s false and deceptive advertising surrounding its settlement with equifax,” reads the Demand Progress petition.

Acknowledging the issue, the FTC insists on its website that free credit monitoring would be of better value, emphasizing that people are guaranteed at least four years of free monitoring and identity theft insurance, among other services.

“The market value of this product is hundreds of dollars per year,” said the FTC. “You can still choose the cash option on the claim form, but you will be disappointed with the amount you receive and you won’t get the free credit monitoring.”

Free credit reports for all U.S. consumers Connor said that regardless of whether or not personal data was exposed as part of the breach, all U.S. consumers are entitled to six additional free annual credit reports from equifax for a total of seven years. That’s a total of seven free credit re-

ports from equifax from January 2020 until December 2026.

“It is important because being able to look at your credit report lets you make sure that there are no mistakes or problems with your credit report,” said Connor, adding that identity theft was one problem that could be caught through frequent credit report checks.

“You can catch any misuse of your identity and work right away to stop it,” said Connor.

Filing a claim The first step in the claim filing process is finding out if you were affected. The FTC has set up an online tool that allows people to find out by entering their last name and the last six digits of their Social Security number. Connor encourages people to try different variations of their last name to make sure they don’t miss out due to spelling errors or differences.

If one is found to have been affected, a file to claim money can be done on the equifax Data Breach Settlement website.

“We are updating our page with current information and it contains the ability for a consumer to sign up for email updates and alerts,” said Connor.

“Most importantly, we have a direct link to the legitimate settlement website,” she added. “If a consumer is concerned about scams, they should go through our website so they can be confident they’re going to the right place.”

The website is www.ftc.gov/ equifax. n

Dealing with the lingering...

PAGE A4 t Q: So you’re saying there’s something about being able to see the perpetrator?

Right. And especially that feeling of betrayal for our own county employees. That was a theme for a lot of them. he was one of them; they had just had a baby shower for him. he was considered part of the county family. And so it’s far more personal than if there was just a fire.

Q: You spoke to your counterpart in Santa Clara County, Toni Tullys, after the Gilroy shootings. What did you say?

One of the things I reminded her about, because it’s summertime and we’re still close to the Fourth of July, is that people shoot

off fireworks. It is really triggering and activating for people who experience a shooting to hear fireworks go off.

If you’re going to go out, you might want to plan so that you get somewhere early. While that sounds horrifying that you would have to be so deliberate in living, it is helpful to reduce triggers and to be prepared in the event that something happens.

That’s what we were advised from the folks who survived Sandy hook and from the Colorado shootings. We want to take all the things we’ve learned and share them. (This story was produced

by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation)

Dateline USa

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY RFP NO. QM161R-20 EXTERNAL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) AND LABOR COMPLIANCE (LC) SERVICES The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Authority) is seeking a qualified consultant or bench of qualified consultants to provide administrative and monitoring assistance in support of the Authority’s Disadvantaged Business enterprise (DBe)and Labor Compliance (LC) programs.

The Authority anticipates awarding a five-year contract with a one-year option for an extension.

Proposals must be submitted online at http://www. planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=13821# at or before 2:00 p.m. (PST) on August 21, 2019.

The contract to be awarded is subject to a financial assistance agreement between the Authority and U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) under grants issued by the Federal Transit Authority. DBe Program requirements will apply in conformance with Title 49 CFR Part 26, “Participation by Disadvantaged Business enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs.”

The Authority has not set a contract-specific Disadvantaged Business enterprise (DBe) participation goal on this contract, but proposers are encouraged to afford DBes every opportunity to compete for and participate on this U.S. DOT-assisted contract.

For further information contact Armine Menemshyan, Contract and Compliance Administrator at 213.452.0294 or email MenemshyanA@scrra.net.

8/10/19 CNS-3282472# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 10-13, 2019

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Duterte urged to keep promise to workers

tual employees by banning the notorious endo (end of contract) practice of many employers,” Rep. Raymond Mendoza of party-list Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said in a news conference.

TUCP is a large confederation of conservative labor organizations.

Mendoza said workers believed then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte during his campaign for presidency in 2016, where he repeatedly said he would outlaw the endo practice.

“He was the only candidate who made that promise despite the possibility of incurring the ire of businessmen-employers,” he said.

It got more disappointing when he vetoed “an already watered-down security of tenure bill,” Mendoza said. “He failed our workers.”

Mendoza also urged foreign chambers of business and indusMany were disappointed when the president vetoed an already watered-down security of try to stay away from the controtenure bill.

Philstar.com photo versy surrounding the bill. n

by Jess

diaz Philstar.com

campaign promise to workers by signing a new version of the security of tenure bill that he earMANILA — A lawmaker on lier vetoed.

Thursday, August 8, urged “Mr. President, keep your President Duterte to fulfill his promise of regularizing contrac-

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DENGUE PROTECTION. Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo of the Department of Health in Calabarazon emphasizes the importance of self protective measures against dengue, during the meeting with Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and local officials held at the Quezon Medical Hospital in Lucena City on Wednesday, August 7. Janairo reminded the public to continue to be vigilant, clean the surroundings, and use repellants and protective clothing to avoid being bitten by dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Photo courtesy of DOH-Calabarzon

Duterte open to Dengvaxia program revival

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

IN light of the Department of Health’s declaration of a dengue epidemic across the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is open to reviving the government’s Dengvaxia vaccination program.

“Yes, I am open to the use of Dengvaxia again. Maraming patay ’yan (There are so many deaths). It’s an epidemic,” he told reporters after leading the oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted star rank generals at Malacañang on Thursday, August 8.

The vaccine was banned in December 2017 after its manufacturer, the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, said patients who had no prior exposure

to the dengue virus could suffer severe symptoms.

By the time it was discontinued, more than 800,000 public school children had already been treated under the P3.5-billion immunization program, which began during the Aquino administration. Later, Sanofi reimbursed P1.16 billion to the government for the unused vaccines.

Duterte said he would wait for what medical experts conclude on the matter.

“I don’t need foreigners telling me. My own Filipino scientists and doctors will tell me what to do. I will be guided by their announcement,” he added.

The president also said he was willing to tap both Western and alternative medicine if they could help in saving people’s lives from dengue.

“I’d rather go on the side of science. If nobody would believe me, still I would say if there’s anything there in the western medicine and even the herbals of the orientals, if it would be saving people’s lives, I’ll go for it,” he said.

The president acknowledged that the incidence of dengue cases has reached epidemic levels but declined to give a definite answer as to whether he will allow the use of Dengvaxia again.

However, he revealed that his daughter, Veronica, had been inoculated with the vaccine.

Based on the DOH’s report, 146,062 dengue cases were recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to July 20. It added that the figure was 98 percent higher than what was recorded during the same period in 2018. n

20 cases vs Marcoses dismissed by aJPress THE Sandiganbayan’s Judicial Records Division revealed that 20 forfeiture cases against the Marcos family and their cronies have been dismissed by the antigraft court, with 21 more cases pending, and one indefinitely archived.

So far, only one case was ruled in favor of the government — Civil Case No. 0033-F — which involves the turnover to the state of P83 billion in assets acquired through the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) or coco levy fund for the benefit of coconut farmers.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) filed all 43 cases in 1987, the year after dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division on Monday, Aug. 5, dismissed Civil Case No. 0034 that seeks to claim from the Marcoses a total of P102 billion in moral and exemplary damages.

According to the Second Division, it dismissed the case for lack of evidence, with the PCGG, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), only providing photocopies of documents. It failed to present key witnesses during the trial to authenticate their affidavits.

The PCGG, meanwhile, said it would appeal the dismissal of the P102-billion civil case against the Marcoses.

“I am still awaiting receipt of the official copy of the decision,” said PCGG acting chairman Reynold Munsayac.

“We will definitely consult the handling lawyers from the OSG

and explore all possible legal remedies to pursue the case and protect the interests of the Republic,” he added.

Of the 21 pending cases, two have been submitted for resolution last year.

Civil Case No. 0008, which seeks to recover from the Marcoses and their cronies a total of P1.052 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth composed of P609.27 million in shares of stocks and P443.05 million in real properties, was submitted for decision by the Second Division on Nov. 9, 2018.

Civil Case No. 0002, seeking to recover from Imelda and her children Imee, Bongbong and Irene a total of P200 billion worth of ill-gotten wealth allegedly amassed during martial law, was submitted for decision in August 2018. n

Study: Teenage pregnancies prevalent in disaster-hit areas

by RainieR

allan Philstar.com

Ronda

MANILA — The displacement of families during the onslaught of natural disasters often results in pregnancies not just among adult mothers, but also among teenage girls.

A study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed a significant increase in the number of teenage mothers in Eastern Visayas after the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and Typhoon Ruby in 2014.

Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña on Tuesday, August 6, said the result of the study calls for more attention to and protection of the welfare of teenagers, especially girls in times of disaster.

“Whenever there is crisis like natural disasters, when families are evacuated, relocated or displaced, given the poor conditions in temporary shelters or evacua-

tion centers where there are less provisions for privacy and security, adolescents, especially girls who are a 10 to 19 years old, are considered a vulnerable group,” Dela Peña said.

He said the study, conducted by Gloria Luz Nelson and Ma. Victoria Rodriguez, both of DOST’s National Research Council of the Phlippines, yielded worrisome statistics on the precocity of young girls in the countryside.

“Most youths had their first boyfriend at the age of 15. There are those who had their boyfriends at the age of 10,” Dela Peña said.

The study also estimated the age of sexual initiation of teenage mothers at 15.

Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made like legislation for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy that will address both sexual and non-sexual risk factors that in-

crease the incidence of teenage pregnancy in times of disaster.

The researchers also proposed provisions of safe and private spaces for adolescents who have been displaced from their own homes as a result of disaster.

Nelson, a sociologist and professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, said the study raised the need to speed up the construction of permanent relocation homes for displaced families.

She said the longer the period of stay in evacuation centers and transitional homes, the higher the likelihood for a teenage girl to get pregnant.

Nelson said that in evacuation centers and relocation sites, young girls are forced to live in small, crowded environments where they are exposed to a lot of new people.

In such environs the girls might have a consensual sex experience. n

A study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed a significant increase in the number of teenage mothers in Eastern Visayas after the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and Typhoon Ruby in 2014.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 10-13, 2019

A

Bill on medical marijuana pushed anew SWS: 4 of 5 Filipinos satisfied with

of medical treatment, expanding research into its medicinal properties and for other purposes.”

ISABELA Rep. Antonio Albano “Its objective is for the patient has not given up on his bid to le- to have access to safe, affordable, galize medical marijuana. available medicinal cannabis He refiled a bill previously au- prescribed by a registered phythored by his brother Rodolfo sician in cases where cannabis Albano, seeking to provide Filipi- has been found to be effective in nos the right of access to medical prevention, treatment and manmarijuana. agement of specified symptoms, House Bill 279, or the “Philip- illnesses and diseases,” Albano pine Medical Cannabis Compas- said in his explanatory note. sionate Act,” seeks to grant acThe measure defines medical cess to medical cannabis “as a cannabis as products such as compassionate alternative means capsules and oil in their pharmaby Glee Jalea ManilaTimes.net

ceutical formulation, which shall have detailed and accurate information regarding the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol certified by the Department of Health registered physician to qualified patients.

Identification cards will be issued to qualified medical cannabis patients and caregivers upon compliance with DOH documentary requirements.

Medical cannabis will only be accessed through Medical Compassionate Center dispensaries. n

Malacañang to ‘abused’ Chinese: File charges

by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

MALACAñANg on Thursday, August 8, urged Chinese workers who allegedly suffered from abuse while working in the Philippines to file complaints, assuring them that the government would not tolerate the violation of their rights.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the assurance after the Chinese Embassy in China called on the Philippine government to punish casinos and offshore gaming firms that illegally employ its citizens.

According to the embassy, some Chinese workers had their passports taken away, while others were subjected to “extortion, physical abuse and torture, as well as other ill-treatments.”

Citing media reports, the embassy said Chinese workers suffered from “modern slavery” because of limits to their freedom.

“They should file [a] formal complaint, so that this particular concern will be raised in the appropriate agencies of the government, so we can properly respond,” Panelo said during a news briefing.

“We will not allow any violation of their rights as visitors or working nationals in this country. We certainly have the Constitution to guide government authorities in dealing with them,” he added.

Panelo, who also serves as President Rodrigo Duterte’s top legal counsel, said the government “cannot do anything” unless an official complaint is filed.

“We will not allow any abuse on any foreign visitor or worker in this country from our own countrymen — we have laws. We have always enforced the law,” he added.

‘Main target’ In a statement, the Chinese

This photo taken in May shows Chinese workers working on a bridge that will connect Chinatown and Intramuros.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Orbeta

Embassy said casinos and Philippine Offshore gaming Operators (POgOs) target Chinese as their primary customers.

“A large number of Chinese citizens have been illegally recruited and hired in the Philippine gambling industry,” the embassy said.

It claimed that the employers of Philippine casinos and POgOs “do not apply necessary legal work permits for their Chinese employees.”

“Some Chinese citizens are even lured into and cheated to work illegally with only tourist visas,” the embassy added.

It also deplored the plan of Philippine Amusement and gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Vice President Jose Tria that Chinese working in POgOs would be transferred to “self-contained” communities or hubs. It said this move “may infringe on the basic legal rights of the Chinese citizens.”

Sen. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, said the Chinese ambassador and the Philippine government “should work closely with China in combatting gambling and gambling-related

crimes.”

“Like the ambassador, we share his concern that online gambling will be a hotbed for money launderers and will result in more crimes,” the senator added.

Sen. Sherwin gatchalian said Pagcor’s plan to transfer POgOs to “self-contained” communities or “hubs” might be well-intentioned, but was not necessary.

“What we want is for POgO operators and their employees to pay the correct taxes and not devour local jobs that are exclusively for our countrymen,” he added.

“Isolating these firms and workers into hubs will not bring additional revenue for the government, nor will it solve the issue of foreigners encroaching on jobs meant for Filipino citizens,” gatchalian said.

The embassy also warned Chinese companies or individuals in the Philippines to immediately stop their illegal activities.”

It said China would destroy networks of criminal syndicates, which “organize gambling overseas and open online gaming.”

(With reports from Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)

conduct, outcome of May midterm polls the upper chamber—believable.

Of the proportion, 45% said the results were very believable MANILA — An overwhelming and 41% said the outcome was majority of Filipinos expressed somewhat believable.

Only 14% said the results were satisfaction with the conduct somewhat and results of the May midterm unbelievable—9% elections, according to the latest unbelievable and 5% strongly survey of the Social Weather Sta- unbelievable.

No one from the opposition tions.

This, despite controversies that became a senator of the counmarred the 2019 polls such as try. defective vote counting machines and SD cards, and the hours-long delay in updates from Commission on Election’s transparency survey.

Results of the June 22 to 26 survey showed that 80% of the 1,200 respondents expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the midterm elections. Of the proportion, 38% said they were strongly satisfied while 43% said they were somewhat satisfied.

Only 12% expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the elections was done, while the remaining 7% said they were undecided.

This translated to a net satisfaction rating of “very good” +68— five points below the record high “excellent” +73 obtained after the conduct of the 2016 national elections.

The polling firm noted the net satisfaction with the elections has been ranging from “very good” to “excellent” since 2010.

The net satisfaction with the conduct of the May polls was highest in Mindanao at “excellent” +77. It was followed by Visayas at “excellent” +71, Balance Luzon at “very good” +66 and Metro Manila at “very good” +54.

The SWS survey also found that 79% agreed with the statement “The Commission on Elections performed its job independently without favoring any candidate or group.”

Only 10% disagreed with the statement, while 11% percent said they were undecided.

This yielded a net agreement score of “extremely strong +70—nine points higher than the “extremely strong” +61 in June 2013.

4 of 5 Filipinos say results of Senate race ‘believable’ According to the same SWS survey, 86% of the respondents found the election results for senators—which saw allies of President Rodrigo Duterte dominating

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

Eighty-eight percent of the respondents also said the election results for House of Representatives members were credible, while 8% said the outcome was not believable.

Allies of Duterte also dominated the lower chamber with his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano installed as the House speaker. The president’s son,

u PAGE A10

A8 AUGUST 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OPINION

National security and economic gains

FEATURES

AT least some government officials sounded the alarm. Several security officials have expressed concern over reports that the government intends to grant Chinese investors the right to develop three Philippine islands ostensibly for tourism.

There is a presidential decree prohibiting the sale of the country’s islands particularly to foreigners, but this is not the principal concern of the security officials. What they are worried about is that the three islands have strategic importance to national security.

Fuga is part of the Babuyan archipelago, the second northernmost group of islands in the Philippines after Batanes. The island hosts telecommunications cables and served as a jump-off point for troops during World War II. Part of Cagayan province, Fuga, with a population of over 2,000 and land area of about 70 square kilometers, is close to Taiwan, which Beijing considers as a renegade province. Xiamen-based Fong Zhi Enterprise Corp. reportedly plans to set up a $2billion “smart city” on Fuga.

Grande and Chiquita islands, meanwhile, are located off Zambales, at the mouth of Subic Bay where the former U.S. naval base is located.

Sanya CEDF-Sino Philippine Investment Corp.

reportedly wants to build $298million mixed-use facilities on the islands, including 80 high-rise buildings.

The deals involving the islands were among those signed during President Duterte’s visit to China in April for the Belt and Road Initiative Forum. The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which would have had jurisdiction over Fuga, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority have since clarified that the deals have not yet been finalized.

Even if the islands are to be developed supposedly for non-military purposes, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has cautioned the government about the possible security implications of such deals, in the light of the country’s maritime dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea. The Philippine Navy spokesman also stressed the need to strike a balance between national security and economic gains. It’s a comment worth heeding by the national leadership. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

President Trump dishonors victims of mass shooting in El Paso and Dayton with his visit

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump insisted on visiting El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio in the wake of the two mass shootings that happened last weekend. These two latest mass shootings, which were less than 24 hours apart, claimed the lives at least 31 people and injured 53.

The two incidents marked 251 mass shootings in the U.S. , just on the 216th day of this year.

On August 5, the Monday after the massacre, Trump spoke to the American people using a teleprompter in the White House, he blamed hatred, mental illness, violent video games, movies, television programs, the media, past administrations, and said that “now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside — so destructive — and find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion and love.”

When news broke that Trump would be visiting El Paso and Dayton, the people of the grief-stricken

communities told him he was not welcome in either city, and some victims and their families would not want to see him nor meet with him.

This is so painfully true in El Paso where the 21-year-old white male shooter used a powerful assault weapon to kill his target — Hispanics — out of hatred and contempt against immigrants, his manifesto revealed.

He told investigators he needed to kill as many Mexicans as possible because of their “invasion” of Texas.” This “Hispanic invasion” would echo Trump’s assertions to fire up his base in campaign rallies. In fact, many lines in the shooter’s manifesto sounded like they were lifted from Trump’s tweets.

The Texas Tribune reported that several Texas prominent officials and politicians including U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar and former Texas Rep., now Democratic presidential candidate, Beto O’Rourke have cited Trump’s divisive rhetoric for inspiring what officials have

deemed an act of domestic terrorism.

The Trump administration said the president wanted to console the victims and their families.

Brushing off criticisms before flying to El Paso and Dayton last Wednesday, Trump said he “brings people together” and wanted to “stay out of the political fray.”

And so on Wednesday, Trump visited hospitals in Dayton and El Paso, where some of the injured victims were confined. He had been welcomed with rallies, protests, with messages like “No assault weapons,” “Stand up to the NRA”, “We can end gun violence,” “Do something,” “Go home devil” and “Trump go home.”

There were Trump supporters who were upset about these protests and banded with fellow supporters who welcomed him with signs of their own, in red, white and blue: “Welcome Trump.” “He loves El Paso because El Paso loves him,” MSN reported.

However, Trump’s preaching of ‘love and unity,’ the idea that

“he brings people together” and “staying out of the political fray” drama did not last long. Trump betrayed his own self during his visit to the grieving communities.

After pleasantries, handshakes and photo-ops, Trump’s real motivation shone through, making some members of his own staff and administration officials deem the visit as “not ideal.”

As the Washington Post reported, “As Trump exchanges pleasantries with doctors and others at the University Medical Center of El Paso, the video shows him pausing to reminisce about dueling rallies that he and the Texas Democrat staged in El Paso in February focused on immigration and border security.”

“That was some crowd,” Trump said of his event. “We had twice the number outside. And then you had this crazy Beto. Beto had like 400 people in a parking lot, and they said his crowd was wonderful.”

Trump, who was supposed to help heal the people grieving and hurting because of the tragedy,

was more consumed about attacking his political opponents on Twitter. He was live-tweeting his attacks against former Vice President Joe Biden who gave a speech while Trump was in Texas and Ohio. The president complained about local officials whom he considered political foes for allegedly “mischaracterizing his visit” and of course, he attacked his favorite boogeymen — the mainstream news media — with his usual “fake news” allegation because of the truth and the facts he did not want to be revealed.

Have you seen that picture posted by First Lady Melanie Trump where she was holding a baby? A senior White House official confirmed to CNN that the infant is the son of Jordan Anchondo, 24, and Andre Anchondo, 23, a young couple who were killed in last Saturday’s shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Did you see President Trump grinning as he was making a thumbs-up sign standing there next to Melania?

As CNN reported, “Jordan Anchondo shielded her 2-month-old

baby in her arms as she was shot, saving his life but sacrificing her own. Andre was killed as he attempted to jump in front of his wife to protect her.” Think about this: this poor baby lost his parents because a shooter opened fire, inspired by Trump’s rhetoric demonizing Hispanics. And now, Trump and Melanie are using this baby as a prop in their photoopp?

This baby in Melania’s arms was already discharged from University Medical Center before Trump’s visit, but had to be brought back to meet the president and first lady in person, a hospital official told CNN’s Jim Acosta. The same official said Trump acted during the hospital visit with “an absence of empathy.”

The Washington Post reported, “President Trump grew angry with aides on Air Force One on Wednesday for failing to allow cameras to record his visits to hospitals treating the victims from two mass shootings, complaining that he was not receiv-

u PAGE A10

Resist, vote and respect the US Constitution

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. [Editor’s note: This column has been republished and updated.]

“WE are fortunate in our society that a means of resistance has been built into the law and the political process – the vote.

The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy. We must use our votes, our power and our organizational abilities to create a movement for good. We must not give up this power. We must not give in. We must not give out. We must use what we have—all our talents, resources, energy, and creativity. We must do all we can to help build a better nation and a better world.” - Congressman John Lewis, 2008 I was four when the U.S. civil rights movement started in 1956, and 13 when it ended in 1968.

I was in my third year of high school in Manila. I had long been inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches, but I did not realize the full significance of the civil rights movement in redeeming the soul of America. Not until I saw two exhibits, “Road to Freedom” and “Breach of Peace” at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

I saw the exhibits one cold, dreary weekday when gray clouds blanketed Los Angeles

and rains were pouring nonstop. The weather compelled you to shirk, to hide underneath the blanket. But at the urging of my daughter, Corina, I went.

I found myself perusing more than 170 photographs, taken by over 35 photographers. The images were moving: policemen hosing down citizens; a hotel owner pouring acid on the swimming pool with black folks wading in; attack dogs pursuing demonstrators kneeling on the sidewalk; a fresh pool of blood next to a man laying down on the sidewalk; police using their batons on folks in a prone position; unarmed boys and women with linked arms, guarded by rifle-armed men; buses that were firebombed with passengers locked inside; and a storm of state troopers breaking up marchers.

More images moved me to tears: linked arms of men in their coats braving the rain and snow; women holding hands with men clad in their overalls; young black faces singing with tears in their eyes, afraid yet defiant of injustice; marchers standing tall while being given a two-minute warning by state troopers, yet not cowering in fear; a woman kneeling on the sidewalk, dressed in her Sunday suit, pearl earrings, a hat and an umbrella; a poster demanding freedom, and hovering is a white police officer inside a black po-

lice van. Images of lynching or killings were not there, nor corpses, but the audio recordings of the marches were enough to move us to tears — me, along with exhibit-goers composed of young students, teachers, young professionals and older folks lingering, reading captions, listening to Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches.

Many more brutalities were documented for preservation, displaying America’s loss of its soul.

Equally moving were photographs depicting hope and a sense of idealism that America’s constitution has yet to be realized: ” life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone.”

America brutally reflected on those images had another side to it, an aspiration contained in the Bill of Rights that all men are equal, but deeply buried in its soul.

A short documentary depicted Rabbi Rachel Cowen speaking of the civil rights movement as ”a religion, a secular creed, a community, with values, its liturgy, its rituals, part of a larger narrative, with its high ideals that the world can improve, love would conquer, it would triumph.” Dorothy Zellner spoke of her conviction, that when you see such inhumanity, there is a moral imperative to go, ”Thou shalt not stand idly by.“ Half of the white attorneys

working in the South were Jews who felt a kinship with the injustice happening to blacks.

Rabbi Prinz shared a ”sense of complete identification and solidarity born of their painful experience.” This mattered to him to take a stand. Will he allow these state troopers to kill in his name?

These were the dilemmas that they faced, dilemmas that are not unlike the choices and decisions that are now to be made by U.S. Congress.

Will we stand by as America loses its soul today?

Will we allow the 45th U.S. President Donald Trump, as described by former FBI Director James Comey, to continue in his presidency?

As recounted by the New York Times’ editorial board in a piece entitled “Mr. Comey and All the President’s Lies” on Thursday, June 8: “In sworn testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mr. Comey, the former F.B.I. director made clear that he had no confidence in the president’s integrity. Why? “The nature of the person,” he said. Confronted with the low presidential character for the first time in his career, Mr. Comey began writing meticulous notes of every conversation with Mr. Trump. “I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting,” he said.

Mr. Comey said he was stunned during one Oval Office meeting by Mr. Trump’s request — which he very reasonably understood as an order — to drop the F.B.I. the investigation into Michael Flynn. Mr. Flynn had been forced to resign as national security adviser the day before, after lying about his contacts with Russia. And Russia, Mr. Comey usefully reminded the senators, had gone to unprecedented lengths to disrupt the 2016 presidential election, using “overwhelming” technological firepower.

“This is about America,” Mr. Comey kept saying. Russia “tried to shape the way we think, we vote, we act — that is a big deal,” he added. “They’re coming after America. ... They want to undermine our credibility in the face of the world.”

The Russia investigation, he said, is “an effort to protect our country from a new threat that quite honestly will not go away anytime soon.”

There is an aspect to public servants like Mr. Comey that Mr. Trump and his administration seem unable to comprehend, to their peril — a dedication to their roles that places service above any president’s glory.”

Loyalty to the U.S. Constitution over party ideologies When I was part of a panel on clean elections at an EDSA-I commemoration forum in 2010,

I spoke of three traits of good citizenship: loyalty, teamwork and social responsibility.

The FBI director was sworn into office on Sept. 4, 2013, while the 45th U.S. President took his oath on Jan. 20, 2017.

Both swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and in addition, the FBI director swore: “to protect and to defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.” They swore to be loyal to the U.S. Constitution!

Barely four months into office, the president fired Comey on May 9. During this fourmonth period, the FBI and other intelligence agencies were pursuing their investigations on the interference of Russian hackers in the Nov. 2016 presidential election.

In the same period, General Michael Flynn tendered his resignation as national security advisor on Feb. 13, as he “inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador,” according to his resignation letter of the same date.

On June 8, ABC News reported, “Flynn first came under investigation for his ties to Russia during the campaign when he was Donald Trump’s senior foreign policy adviser and a strident supporter. Flynn failed to

u PAGE A9

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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OpiniOn & Features

MALASAKIT CENTER. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, presides over the first public hearing on the country’s health situation and healthcare system at the Senate on Wednesday, August 7. Go said among his priority bills is to institutionalize the one-stop shop Malasakit Centers all over the country.

PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan

Resist, vote and respect the...

PAGE A8 report that he had secretly met with the Russian ambassador, even lying to vice-president elect Michael Pence about discussing lifting sanctions with the ambassador at that meeting. Pence then unknowingly repeated the lie to the public. That discussion was at the heart of President Trump’s request to the then-FBI director to drop the investigation, according to the advance copy of Comey’s testimony.”

The report continued: “The probe, which has already ensnared several current and former associates of President Donald Trump, has expanded to look at a questionable paid appearance Flynn made in Russia and side work Flynn was doing in the midst of the 2016 campaign through his consulting firm, the Flynn Intel Group. The firm belatedly filed papers with the Justice Department to disclose work he did that could have benefitted the Turkish government. Flynn also accepted $45,000 to attend a dinner in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his firm received $500,000 from a Dutch company with ties to Turkey.”

The question for members of the House and Senate now is, “Will you respect the U.S. Constitution and find that obstruction of justice was committed by this 45th U.S. President when he

asked Comey, ‘Can you let this go?’”

Comey was fired as FBI director ostensibly because the agency was in chaos and he could no longer provide leadership. Yet, he is the same FBI director who served under the prior 44th U.S. President for three and a half years? If true, three and a half years of chaos and lack of leadership would have been too long to remain unaccountable for, unless that chaotic leadership was a pretext to stop the investigation on Flynn?

Teamwork and social responsibility The question now to those who represent us in the House and Senate, to those with Democratic and Republican affiliations — would you set aside your party ties and seek the truth and allow the American public the courtesy of your public representation?

Would you do the teamwork needed to get credible evidence and give us the courtesy of not just deep throat bystanders of the Nixon era, but to give us the courtesy of knowing what are the hidden skeletons in the 45th president’s closet?

More than ever, we need to show that as America — when a powerful institution, like the White House, is short and lacking in truth, honesty and the highest levels of ethics — those other institutions, like legisla-

tive, like judicial, like the states and the local cities will rise to represent the best of America and its soul.

As our congresspersons, senators and some judges who were elected to represent our public interests as “the collective American people,” we challenge you to restore our standing in America. It is the shining city upon the hill that has momentarily lapsed into its dark corroded, rusty self, reminiscent of the yesteryears of Civil Rights movement, because of the 45th U.S. president’s lies, now numbering over 492+ as one reputable newspaper has cataloged.

Let not your sworn oaths of legislative offices be a fake allegiance to our U.S. Constitution! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.”

She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong.

She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 10-13, 2019

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A10 August 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Police winning war against drugs – Albayalde THE police is winning its campaign against illegal drugs under the first three years of President Rodrigo Duterte, Police General Oscar Albayalde said on Friday, August 9.

“Crime has remained on the down trend and we are winning the war against illegal drugs,” Albayalde said at the 188th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

From July 2016 to July 2019, 163,622 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted resulting in the arrest of 256, 227 drug personalities and deaths of more than 6,000 other individuals.

At least 1,283,336 drug personalities have surrendered.

“As I promised, since I assumed command of the PNP in April 2018, we will not relax, we will not relent and we will fulfill

our President’s vision of a drugfree Philippines,” the PNP chief stressed.

Over 435, 000 drug suspects have graduated from the Recovery Wellness Program, which rehabilitate drug dependents.

“Your strong campaign and operations against criminality, illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and other forms of terrorism as well as the efforts of Internal Cleansing in the PNP are truly commendable,” President Duterte said as he was guest of honor of the program.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief also presented the start of the revitalized PNP Internal Cleansing Program for the erring policemen.

Also, the PNP Capability Enhancement Program acquired a total of 22.6 billion from 2016 to 2019.

Albayalde thanked the Presi-

dent “for his deep commitment to the eradication of illegal drugs in the country and for continuing to challenge us to achieve new heights in the war on drugs, crime and corruption.”

“Tuloy tuloy po ang pagbabago sa pambansang kapulisan (Change in the national police is ongoing),” the PNP chief said.

Albayalde said that from July 2016 to July 2019, a total of 2,476 police officers with various administrative cases were dismissed, 493 demoted, 4,240 suspended, 202 meted with forfeiture of salaries, 684 reprimanded, and 45 placed under custody.

At least 438 dismissed police officers were found to have been involved in drug-related cases. (Darwin Pesco/ManilaTimes.net)

EMPOWERING THE COUNTRYSIDE. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar (center), says there is a need to review the Agri-Agra Law that would make commercial banks provide loans to farmers and fisherfolk, during the Roundtable at Lido Cocina Tsina, Panciteria in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City on Wednesday, August 7. Joining him (from right) are former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Director Lito Vergel de Dios; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal; Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano; Philippine National Police, Directorate for Police Community Relations Executive Officer, BGen. Bartolome Bautista; Seismological Observation & Earthquake Prediction Division OIC Ishmael Narag; and veteran broadcaster and moderator Melo Acuña.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Military backs lifting of martial law in Davao City OSG slams Saguisag, defends taking PNP-CIDG as client in sedition complaint

by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — The Office of the Solicitor General reiterated that serving the police as complainant is within its duties, as its authority during the preliminary investigation into the sedition complaint was questioned earlier on Friday, August 9.

In a statement, the OSG maintained that rendering legal assistance to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, that accused more than 30 people of committing sedition, is “well within the bounds of law.”

It stressed that the office is “bound to serve its clients in any matter, which, in its opinion, affects the welfare of the State and the Filipino people, as the ends of justice may require.”

The OSG also slammed former Sen. Rene Saguisag, legal counsel of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for his “gutter talk.”

“Whatever personal misgivings he has in connection with official proceedings should best be kept to himself,” the OSG, primary lawyer of the government of tough-talking Duterte,” added.

During the preliminary investigation proceeding at the Department of Justice earlier Friday, Saguisag raised before the panel that the OSG is the tribune of the people, and should not act as a “lapdog” of the government.

The police’s complaint named more than 30 respondents—all notably vocal critics of the government—and accused them of conspiring to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

Administrative code The OSG also rebutted Saguisag and said the office’s mandate, as provided by Administrative Code of 1987, “is broad in scope.”

The Administrative Code provides that the solicitor general is “the principal law officer and legal defender of the government.”

It shall also represent “the Government of the Philippines, its agencies and instrumentalities and its officials and agents in any litigation, proceeding, investigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer.”

The OSG stressed that its authority recognizes only a “few

limitations,” such as representing local government units and a public official accused in a criminal case.

“Mr. Saguisag should be reminded that several personalities are charged with crimes against Government and public order,” the OSG added.

The same adminnistrative code states that the OSG shall “[r]epresent the Government in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals in all criminal proceedings; represent the Government and its officers in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and all other courts or tribunals in all civil actions and special proceedings in which the Government or any officer thereof in his official capacity is a party.”

This means that should the case reach the Court of Appeals, the OSG would represent the DOJ. The proceeding is currently at the preliminary investigation stage, and has yet to reach any court. (Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) has recommended the lifting of martial law in Davao City, citing the improved security situation in the area.

The Davao City Council earlier drafted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to lift the military rule in the city. Martial

were “believable” with only 8% saying they were not believable, while 89% found the mayoral results credible. Only 11 said the outcome was not believable.

on the security landscape.

Santos, however, said that “everything should be weighed” if the President will decide to lift martial law.

“But it’s up to the higher level because maybe they are still seeing that terror threat may still spill over in some places which is what we have been preventing. But we are assured that the security in Davao City is wellestablished as of now,” Santos said. n

Duterte warns: Ban STL, ‘drugs will come in’

by CatheRine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said that illegal drug trade may take over if the lotto operations, including the Small Town Lottery (STL), were totally stopped.

Duterte made the statement as he backed police and military generals who owned STL franchises from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“Besides sabi ko dito sa (what I said about) STL, lotto, there is already an existing organization.

You create a vacuum, drugs will come in. Iyan ang mahirap (That is what’s difficult). So I cannot be humble and say I will do it, I will kill the STL or jueteng that goes The survey has sampling er- with it,” Duterte said in his speech ror margins of ±3% for national during the 118th Police Service percentages, and ±6% each for Anniversary at Camp Crame in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Quezon City.

“Now, let me say this to you Visayas, and Mindanao. n now. There are allegations that police generals, retired, are into the STL, lotto and what not. I said you do not have any problem with me. It if’s a bidding, you participate, as long as it is not rigged in your favor and you secure it, complying with the laws, no corruption, I will not begrudge you,” he added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, had said police and military generals have cornered STL franchises from PCSO and were among those who have not been remitting the government’s share of the earnings The president said there was nothing wrong for police and military generals owning STL franchises as long as all requirements were met and no “under-the-table deals” took place.

“If you have friends who are millionaires and would finance a corporation and you are an incorporator, I don’t see any reason why you should not be in that business,” he said.

Duterte also sternly warned uniformed men engaged in such operations not to use their position or office to intimidate, oppress or strike fear among their competitors.

He further told police to observe delicadeza, a Filipino virtue that referred to adherence to generally accepted moral standards, by asking to be assigned to an area where they do not operate a business.

“Ang hinihingi ko lang naman is walang gapangan (All I’m asking is there should be no under the table deals) and no oppression or pressure. And if there’s a bidding and you win it by all means but as if you know, part of your honor, delicadeza, ask yourself to be assigned somewhere where you are not operating or a participant or an incorporator of a corporation doing business in your area. Ayan lang naman, delicadeza iyan eh.

Pangit kasi tignan na ikaw ang chief of police diyan, (That’s all there is, that’s delicadeza. It’s inappropriate to see that you’re the chief of police) it’s propriety, You look for somewhere else because the Philippines is too big,” the President said.

“Do not oppress your competitors as they will shout foul and then you will drag me into the picture. Kung malinis lang ang negosyo ninyo (If your business is clean), if it’s clean, you don’t deprive government of money due to the country and the people, okay sa akin (That’s okay with me). And I’m addressing myself to all,” he added.

As of now, Duterte said only lotto operations were allowed.

STL operations are still suspended, along with those of Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan.

The president said he was looking for the “best way” to ensure that the operations of other PCSOlicensed games would not be tainted with any irregularities.

Duterte reiterated that he abhorred gambling, but would al-

low “everybody, every Filipino,” including policemen and military men, to engage in a gambling business because it is allowed by law.

“Gambling per se is not good but if it’s allowed by law, I cannot be more popish than the pope. Hinihingi ko lang (My only request), do not shortchange government,” he said.

The President said he has a plan to ensure that government would get its rightful share from legal gambling operations and hinted that regulation of such businesses may be placed under the Office of the President.

“Ang hinihingi ko lang, do not shortchange government at talagang mawawala iyan all together (My only request is do not shortchange government or you will lose everything),” Duterte said.

“Now, if I can have my way, meron akong plano, hindi ko muna sabihin ngayon, (I have a plan, I won’t reveal it yet) but this will guarantee that the government will have the rightful share and we can always open your books and I can always ask the policemen and military what is happening there,” he added.

On July 26, Duterte ordered the suspension of all PCSO-licensed games, including lotto, STL, Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan, because of “massive” corruption in the state gaming firm.

The President, however, ordered on July 31 the lifting of suspension of lotto operations in the country, since the lottery game “remained untainted.”

The rest of the gaming schemes operated by the PCSO, such as the STL, Keno, and Peryahan ng Bayan, remain suspended, until Duterte’s office completes the results of an investigation into supposed corrupt practices in the agency.

Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte was ready to identify at least 10 PCSO officials who were involved in corruption. n

PAGE A8 ing credit for the trips and his foes were dominating television news.”

Trump, when in front of the camera, gloated, “We had an amazing day,” Trump said in El Paso as he concluded his visit. “As you know, we left Ohio. The love, the respect for the office of the presidency.” And then he posted pictures from all the photo-ops in the hospital.

His White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino took aim at the Ohio officials on Twitter saying, “The President was treated like a Rock Star inside the hospi-

tal, which was all caught on video.

They all loved seeing their great President!”

On Twitter, Trump said: “Leaving El Paso for the White House.

What GREAT people I met there and in Dayton, Ohio. The Fake News worked overtime trying to disparage me and the two trips, but it just didn’t work. The love, respect & enthusiasm were there for all to see. They have been through so much. Sad!” Yes, the visit to the grieving communities in El Paso and Dayton pivoted to him, Donald J. Trump. Of course, it is all about politics. It is all about “winning”

no matter what the cost. It should and would always have to be about him.

He dishonored the memory of those who died and the pain of those who were injured and bereaved during his visit with his hateful and divisive rhetoric and his insatiable, unhinged self-love and self-aggrandizement. ***

SWS: 4 of 5 Filipinos satisfied with conduct...

PAGE A7 Paolo Duterte, was elected as one of the deputy speakers.

Eighty-four percent said the results of gubernatorial race

law in Mindanao was declared in 2017, but it was extended until December 2019.

EastMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos said his command reported before the council the “improvement” of the security situation in the area that led to the creation of the resolution.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier this year planned to ask the President to lift martial law in Mindanao, saying she had firsthand knowledge

President Trump dishonors victims of...

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.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

De Lima seeks furlough to visit ailing mother

by KRistine Joy

Philstar.com

patag

MANILA — Detained Sen. Leila de Lima asked a Muntinlupa court to allow her to visit her ailing mother who may be at the brink of death.

De Lima filed a Very Urgent Motion for Furlough to ask the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to allow her to visit her 86-year-old mother, Norma de Lima, in Iriga City on August 15 or as soon as possible.

If her furlough is granted, De Lima said that it could possibly be the last time she can see her mother.

“As a daughter, she owes everything to the woman who gave

her life and, in her present predicament, the only way she could show her deepest love and appreciation for her mother’s love and care over the last 60 years is to be with her in her last moments on earth,” De Lima implored the court.

The senator said that her mother was brought to Villanueva Tanchuling General Hospital in Iriga City on August 4, and was admitted for “body malaise, altered level of consciousness, hyponatremia.”

The attending doctor deemed Norma’s condition as critical and “is said to be expected to further quickly deteriorate.” It was also said that the doctors opted not to administer more drugs as Norma is “not expected to linger much

longer.”

De Lima said that since her detention at the police headquarters on Feb. 24, 2017, she has only seen her mother twice: On Dec. 23, 2018, when her mother was brought to Camp Crame and last June 16, for the celebratory dinner of her son’s passing at the Bar. De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame for almost two and a half years now. She stands accused in the government’s conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade case.

She is accused of having a hand in the proliferation of drug trade in the national penitentiary during her stint as secretary of justice, an allegation she has vehemently denied. n

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A12 August 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE JOURNAL

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Pia Wurtzbach calls on Miss U to block users spreading hate comments

by KRISSY AGUILAR Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Universe Organization should not only spread positivity, but also block people sending hate comments in its page, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach said Thursday, August 8.

Miss Universe reposted via its official Instagram account Wurtzbach’s Twitter post which read: “To anyone who’s going through something, kapit lang.

We’re here for you!”

While she recognized the organization’s effort to share up-

Filipina American R&B singer Jules Aurora sings the national anthem at the Rose Bowl for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team match against Ireland. Contributed photo

Filipina American sings national anthem for US women’s soccer victory tour match at Rose Bowl

by AJPRESS A FILIPINA American singer sang the national anthem at the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team match against Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Saturday, August 3.

R&B singer Jules Aurora was asked to perform in front of a crowd of 37,000 who watched the first game as part of the team’s cross-country victory tour, following their FIFA Women’s World Cup championship

win last month in France.

“Being able to perform for this team of strong and inspiring females at the iconic Rose Bowl is just a dream come true,” Aurora told the Asian Journal. “I believe that ’empowered women, empower women’ and being able to stand in front of thousands of people – as a female, as a minority, and representing that message, is a true honor.”

Aurora, a Southern California native, was most recently in the East West Players’ “Mamma

Mia!” and is best known for her appearances on FOX’s “American Idol: Season 10,” as a Hollywood week finalist, and “The X Factor: Season 3,” as a finalist in the Top 50 girls. She released an R&B EP project entitled “Worth It” and will be a recurring guest star on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless.”

The U.S. women’s team beat Ireland 3-0 on Saturday night.

The Rose Bowl was the site of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, which the U.S. team also won.

dates about Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Wurtzbach said it should also take time to block hate comments in its page.

“Hi! Aside from posting pictures, positive messages, updates about Cat, why not take time to scroll thru the comments also and block the ones that are spreading hate on this page,” Wurtzbach commented.

Wurtzbach pointed out how the Miss Universe’s account has been “toxic” because of hate comments when it should reflect its own purpose which is to “uplift, empower and inspire.”

“Miss universe celebrates uni-

ty in diversity. Miss universe uplifts, empowers, inspires. I think the ig [Instagram] account (and comments that everyone can see) should reflect that also,” the beauty queen said.

“Not sure if they’re aware but its become quite t o x i c here already. That’s not what MU is about. No more bullying and spreading hate on this page please,” she added.

Wurtzbach made the call after Gray was described as “fat” by Thai beauty queen Coco Arayha Suparurk in an Instagram post.

Gray has yet to directly adPAGE B2

ENTERTAINMENT

B2 AUGUST 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Remembering President Cory Aquino MOONLIGHTING

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Julia Barretto denies ties with Gerald Anderson, calls out Bea Alonzo for ‘bullying’

by JAN MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

by MYLAH DE

LEON

I COVERED the presidential term and sailed through its choppy waters while chronicling President Cory Aquino’s wavy patterns of success and glory, laughter and grief, loss and devastation, troubles and genuine delights.

Through the oppressive summers, we fluttered around her — hot and heaving, sticky and dusty, marinated in different astringents, alcohol and talcum.

The rainy days never dampened our spirits, only our shoes. As palace reporters, we took note of changes, some exits (which grieved her) and a few entrances in a broad colorful exposure that prepares you for anything.

Each day brought unexpected twists: shouting matches behind the scenes among the biggies, intrigues among the lightweights; plus surprises which did not surprise the Malacanang Press Corp.

The daily coverage of the president, given her round the clock presidential schedule, saw more twists and turns than a roller coaster.

The Press Lounge is generally filled with activity, cigarette smoke, profanity and ribald humor. In a smoke-filled confusion, 27 sassy presidential reporters spend endless hours playing trick with words coming up with statements that could move you from sublimity to nausea. These 23-24 specimens make me feel like a fossil, after all most of them are children of my colleagues.

We’ve covered typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, golf games of disdainful royalties, cabinet men’s wrongdoing;s between entrances and exits where vindictive reprisals from their loyal supporters cannot be discounted. We soldiered, because after all, these were all in a day’s work.

The next few hours you’re down in the lowlands going after the indefatigable Chief Executive as she heads anywhere from Pangasinan and Pampanga, to Cotabato and Koronadal.

If one thought that walking

President Cory welcomes me to the Malacanang Press Corps

down the corridors of power at the palace is all perks, think again. If often could be more quirks listening to Presidential Press Secretary Buddy Gomez, Adolfo Azcuna and Cabinet Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus; translating Malacanang policies and programs in three versions purporting to be about as authoritative as gospels from St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. John.

Meanwhile, deadlines flashed while you have to be in seven places in so agonizingly short a time.

Between Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur, while President Cory flew into each place, we took the low road; in a ride that slithered, coiled and snaked its way up the rugged roads until you’re all about shaken, rattled and rolled. You dangled by your cuticles, three and a half hours airborne, inside the belly of a metal container called Fokker, and discovered what it is to have pains even in your nails up to the follicles of your hair.

But once we passed the grunt level, we graduated from survival to comfort. In blue jeans, sweat soaked shirts, and rubber sneakers; we found the trips to Hacienda Luisita were bucolic benedictions that sent sprits soaring. The First Family comforted us to bliss. Balsy and Eldon Cruz served you hand foot with food on the moderate side of sinful until your fabric tore. As ever, President Cory’s specialty pate de foie gras was to die for.

Noynoy (then a senator) made the Malacanang Press Corp comfortable and at home; and gave me boyish little interviews which infuriated serious reporters.

The men around President Cory’s regime Who will say that President Cory isn’t the one who’s quick to take a firm grip on things? She lost no time asking for emergency powers to arm her when shooting war breaks out in the Middle East.

To top these, Congress came in to endorse the whole idea — lock, stock and barrel. Senate President Jovito Salonga and Speaker Ramon Mitra have said Amen.

The skillful spade work in Congress largely can be credited to her dynamic Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos (to be replaced by Secretary Drilon till the end of President Cory’s term) who the pace of work at Malacanang. He put his old ties with the Lower House to good work, buttonholing key solons for the swift passage of the emergency powers act.

President Cory was thoroughly delighted with the upturn, and showed little of her scars from the anxiety she went through when she let go of her Cabinet officials whose company she had cherished. It was indeed agonizing for her to put Secretaries Jose Concepcion, Catalino Macaraeg and even Fiorello Estuar to past tense. But life has to go on the palace.

As they said, she was the Queen we never had.

MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya actress Julia Barretto finally broke her silence on the issue linking her to the Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson breakup.

In her Instagram account, Julia started her statement by saying how she struggled these past weeks as her “faith, patience, and strength were put to the test.”

“I have endured many harsh words hurled against me and my family everywhere on social media. It is exhausting and painful. While some might have forgotten, I am also human,” Julia said.

The young star said she was attacked on social media because of issues, first, for allegedly cheating on ex-boyfriend Joshua Garcia and second, for being the rumored third party in the Gerald-Bea split.

“Let’s be clear: Josh and I had broken up four months ago. We have publicly admitted it together and we have cleared that there was no third party involved,” she said.

“From now on, anything I do in my private and love life is not considered as cheating, and is none of anyone’s business,” she added.

Referring to Gerald’s recent

statement, Julia said the actor made it clear that there was no third party involved in his split with Alonzo.

“I would like to disassociate myself from the breakup of Bea and Gerald. Their issues are entirely their own,” Julia said.

Julia, however, criticized Bea’s social media activities.

While Bea did not name Julia in her posts, Julia took note that Bea liked a photo of an Instagram user regarding Julia and Gerald’s alleged sweet gestures at the birthday party of actor Rayver Cruz.

“Since I was brought into this mess without a choice, this is what I have to say. Your heartbreak should have been a private matter, but you have selfishly turned it into something of national concern. Bea, you wanted to keep your hands clean by not mentioning me in your controversial post, but with a click of your finger, in your sly way, you have charged everybody to destroy me for you,” Julia said.

“You have encouraged a culture of hate by purposely liking harmless photos, putting malice into the minds of many, which resulted in the outrage of insults against me. You are a woman of great influence and following.

You could have used that power to promote strength and grace in

women, but instead, you’ve used that to promote social media irresponsibility. That is downright bullying,” Julia added.

Julia continued her post by saying that she will refuse to become Bea’s victim.

“You can play the victim all you want, but I refuse to be your PAGE B4

Pia Wurtzbach

Instagram/@piawurtzbach

Pia Wurtzbach calls on Miss U to...

PAGE B1 dress the issue, but spoke up against any form of bullying and bashing either online or offline after Suparurk’s post went viral.

“It is never, ever okay to put someone down for the sake of ‘expressing your opinion.’ With words come power and we should be using those words to build someone up and not pull

them down,” Gray previously said in a Twitter post.

“Obviously I stand firmly against any form of bullying and bashing – online and off,” she added.

Mama Mia! That’s a Delicious Pizza

By Grace O

Pizza is a favorite food for most of us, but it’s even better when topped with delicious, agedefying toppings. My Kale Cashew Pesto is so full of anti-aging ingredients, I don’t have room to list them all here. (See the full recipe below.)

Pesto is a versatile spread that works on pasta, in sandwiches, in soups, and on this delicious pizza with artichokes, it works well in place of tomato sauce. Artichokes pair nicely with pesto, and they contain the lutein, which reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

I used to steam, trim, and de-choke my own artichokes until I met Jane MacDonald at the Natural Foods Expo West. She is the president of Monterey Farms in Salinas, California.

She takes fresh artichoke hearts, steams them, tosses them in olive oil, and grills them. Then she vacuum-packs them without adding any preservatives. You can buy her ArtiHearts at Whole Foods or order them by the case online at her website www.MontereyFarmsArtichokes. com Kale is practically a wonder drug, what with all its antioxidant power from the FoodTrients indoles, carotenoids, choline, quercitin, vitamin C, as well as vitamin A and calcium. It protects against many kinds of cancer, as do olive oil and the sulfur compounds in garlic. Basil contains the lycopene, another cancer-fighter. Cashews contain copper and the zinc, which boosts the immune system. They are a sweet nut that helps to balance the bitterness of the kale. I use Tuscan kale, a tenderer, less bitter version of the green. It is also called lacinato kale, black kale, or cavolo nero. Young purple kale works as well.

ABOUT GRACE O

Pesto Whole-Grain Pizza with Artichokes

Ingredients 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 Rustic Crust Great Grains organic pizza crust ½ cup Kale Cashew Pesto recipe (follows) 1 cup shredded mozzarella 6 oz. (1 package) Monterey Farms Grilled ArtiHearts

Instructions Brush crust with olive oil. Spread pesto evenly over the whole pie. Scatter the shredded cheese evenly across. Arrange the artichoke hearts on top. Bake at 425 degrees for 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese melts and is slightly brown.

Kale Cashew Pesto

Ingredients

1 cup Tuscan kale leaves, stems removed, tightly packed 1 cup basil leaves, tightly packed ½ cup cashews, unsalted 1 tsp. crushed garlic ¼ tsp. sea salt 4 Tbsp. olive oil + 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions Place all ingredients except the cheese and the final Tbsp. of olive oil into the bowl of a food processor. Blend together for 10 seconds, or until the mixture is very granular but not smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the final Tbsp. of oil and the cheese. Blend for another 6–10 seconds, or until you get an emerald-colored paste.

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

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

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

ENTERTAINMENT

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-13, 2019

B3

Megaworld International wins the Quality Choice Prize 2019 in Berlin

TRUE LOVE FOUND OVER A CUP OF COFFEE RESULTED IN MARRIAGE, A GREEN CARD, AND A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER’S REUNION. Magoy (center) had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years, and was lonely and guilty for having left her children behind in the Philippines, when she arrived in the U.S. She found love at a random stop in a coffee shop, where she met U.S. citizen Daniel. Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband, which allowed her to marry Daniel (without having to obtain an annulment in the Philippines), which, in turn, enabled Daniel to petition Magoy in the U.S. and Magoy’s daughter, Kara, from the Philippines, without having to adopt Kara. Watch this heartwarming story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Vital Health Capsules PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS ONE of the best ways to lose weight is to eat a piece or two of fruit with meals. Women who ate a piece of pear or apple have been shown in a study to shed more extra pounds than those who ate the same controlled-calorie meal without eating fruits.

The high-fiber fruits obviously satisfy the hunger sooner, leading to lower total calorie intake.

Heavier people are more prone to illness and recovery from a medical condition or surgery also takes longer among them.

Eating a lot of fruits, which are loaded with vitamin C may also lower one’s risk of heart disease, as much as 28 percent. Fresh fruits and fruit juices are better sources of vitamin C than pills.

Diabetics should adjust the calories from these in accordance with their physician/nutritionist.

Listening to a relaxation tape, is a more economical way to reduce stress and improve sleep.

It also has been found to be as effective the more expensive therapeutic massage or other pricier gimmicks.

To have a more restful sleep, write down all the things you have to do the following morning. Doing so reduces the anxiety and stress from the “memory space” in your brain because you eliminate the worry that you might forget some of the things you have to do when you wake up. This way, you have peace of mind while you sleep.

Having a lot of good friends and taking time to enjoy their company is good for health and mental well-being. Medical studies among hypertensives (high blood pressure patients) have shown that those with the fewest friends in their immediate social circle had the highest blood pressure readings.

Properly caring for your overall health can make your physiologic age 16 years younger than your chronologic age.

Soft drinks of any kind is toxic to our body, especially to children’s and teenagers. Whether it is cola or uncola, regular or diet or zero-cal, flavored or not, all pop beverages increase the risk for metabolic syndrome.

More and more people and family are giving up soft drinks and

drinking filtered water instead, and this is definitely healthier.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory protein that has been linked to aging and disease, and found elevated in the blood of persons with unmanaged chronic stress. One of the best ways to manage stress and also improve the immune system is to take daily long unhurried walks, listen to soothing music and good jokes, do some regular dancing, and spend time with family and friends.

Laughter is the best medicine.

So they say. And they are right.

Medical literature is replete with information to show that tickling your funny bone really boosts your immune system. Various data show that those who indulge in cheerful or amusing pastime have higher levels of immunity. This translates to increased resistance to colds, infections and other diseases.

Positive emotions like laughter has been shown to control the roller coaster or spikes in blood sugar level after meals.

Those diabetics who watched funny shows during dinner, compared to those who listened to lectures during dinner, showed lower blood sugar levels. Preventing spikes in the level of blood sugar minimizes complications from diabetes.

Monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and high-fiber whole grains have been found to help prevent diabetes or help control blood sugar levels among diabetics. So, dipping a slice of whole-grain bread into a little olive oil, is a healthy way to start a meal, especially among those with diabetes. But make sure you obtain the advice of your attending physician on this and other health matters.

Diet high in fiber and folate, coupled with regular exercise, has also been found to lower among men the blood level of homocysteine, a marker substance for heart disease. Among women, similar diet and exercise reduce homocysteine level but the greater impact on this substance appears to be from minimizing coffee and alcoholic beverages.

Is too late for seniors to benefit from exercise? The answer is no, it’s never too late to exercise. Studies have impressively shown that even among those who were 65 and over, who lived a sedentary life, before starting a regimented exercise program, reduced the risk of cancer by 51 percent and of heart disease by 36 percent. Regular exercises

also make individuals feeling and looking 6 years younger.

Indeed, it is never too late to do good things. Consult your physician before you indulge in exercises after decades of “hibernation” on the couch, holding a TV remote control and munching on junk foods. By the way, it is not too late either to quit smoking (at any stage) and to start eating the right diet.

And talking about eating right, Dr. Fe del Mundo, internationally renowned oediatrician, scientist and medical leader, who was still practicing Pediatrics at age 92 (not a typo) at the children’s hospital named in her honor, located at 11 Banawe Street, Quezon City, Philippines, gave us the following advice, her formula for longevity: “Leave the table a little less full, a little hungry, and you will live longer.” Recent studies have corroborated and scientifically validated her “theory.” One good strategy in maintaining a good weight is drinking a tall glass of water before each meal, and by staying away from rice, bread, cake, and carbohydrates in general. Our health destiny is, to a significant degree, in our hands.

Organic produce is farmed without the use pesticides or other artificial aids, and raised in the natural way. It is healthier compared to the conventionally raised crops. The same thing with eggs, chicken, pork and beef, and other meats. The more we stay away from hazardous chemicals, even when we do gardening or home cleaning, the safer for us. Our kitchen, bathrooms, and garage are stocked with dozens of dangerous cleansing chemicals of various types. Deodorizers and home or car perfumed aerosols are dangerous too. For cleansing sinks, countertops, and other surfaces at home, it is safer to use a solution mixture of 500 cc water, 60 cc white vinegar, 30 alcohol, and 15 cc (1 tbsp) dishwashing soap. It is not only safer but very inexpensive compared to chemical cleaners on the market. And you can make this cleansing solution yourself at home. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Gretchen tests mettle in Prudential Ride London

by EMIL

C. NOGUERA Philstar.com

IT’S mission accomplished for volleyball star Gretchen Ho, who posted an impressive finish for a first-timer in the women’s Surrey 46 of the prestigious 2019 Prudential Ride LondonUCI World Tour that started in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and ended at the Buckingham Palace on Sunday, August 4.

THE former Ateneo de Manila University team captain registered two hours, 57 minutes and 49 seconds — better than the four-hour cut-off time in the lung-busting 46-mile (74-kilometer) event.

“I’m happy that natapos ko siya in less than three hours na ikinagulat ko kasi sa Pilipinas ‘yung 60 kilometers ko three hours and 15 minutes. Dito, 74 [kilometers], mas mababa pa ‘yung time ko. Climber kasi ako kaya parang mas nadalian ako dito sa race na ito,” said Ho. Determination and sacrifice did it for Ho, who also works as a television host.

TV host and volleyball star Gretchen Ho is all smiles after crossing the finish line of the women’s Surrey 46 of the prestigious 2019 Prudential Ride London-UCI World Tour that started in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and ended at the Buckingham Palace.

Photo from Instagram/@gretchenho

“I cried two times, like 10 keep on cheering for you in evkilometers to go and 3 kilome- ery stop. They keep on saying ters to go. I was overwhelmed, job well done, good job, you’re especially the moment people PAGE B4

Megaworld took the international spotlight once again as it continues its impressive winning streak this year by taking home the Quality Choice Prize 2019 in the Gold category from the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR). The company’s efforts were recognized during the Quality Choice Prize 2019 Convention last July 7, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany, where fifty-eight selected companies, public administrations and organizations from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australia gathered together for the convention and awards gala to witness the night of celebration and success. On behalf of Megaworld, Mr. Gerard Vito (Head of Training & Business Development of Megaworld International) and Mr. Ramon Cabigao (Vice President for Sales of MWI’s Europe 2 region) accepted the significant award.

The ESQR convention was held to honor companies and organizations around the world that make significant contributions in practicing good quality business and services, technological innovation and successful performance strategies. Megaworld, among other winners, demonstrated ESQR’s Quality Performance Model, making it the only Philippine real-estate company to be recognized during the event.

Last year alone, Megaworld received 100 awards from local and international award-giving bodies, the highest ever in the company’s history.

This is a testament to Megaworld’s commitment to uplift lives, impact society and help shape the nation.

(Advertising Supplement)

Lea won’t be part of new ‘Mulan’

by MJ

MARFORI ManilaTimes.net

FRESH from her highly successful UK concert tour, our very own Lea Salonga regaled us in an intimate afternoon serenade over succulent steak at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Resorts World Manila.

Lea was at her usual peak — vocally and energy-wise — happy to be back home and excited to promote her latest concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre on August 30 and 31.

Dubbed “The Perfect Ten,” the world class performances will round up RWM’s month-long first decade anniversary celebrations.

At the luncheon, Lea performed her Disney classic “Reflection” from the movie “Mulan,” which she said she won’t part of the live action remake in 2020.

“It’s going to be a whole different creative process and it’s nice

that it’s not going to be a musical,” she explained why.

Lea also candidly talked about her viral guesting mishap at “Sky News UK,” where she was introduced as the wrong guest, Anna Hughes, which she took ever so lightly.

Laughing heartily, Lea said, “I know right? But I think it was a confluence of factors that made that happen. My thing was just, well — it went viral and hopefully people would be more interested in my tour so it was a blessing.”

Clearly, work never stops for Lea Salonga, which she considers a blessing at this stage in life, because its proof her talent is still where it was decades ago.

And so over the weekend, Lea returned to her stint as one of the most favored judges in “The Voice Kids Philippines” on ABS-CBN. Updated with the bashing that other reality talent searches have been getting lately — practically the entire panel of “Idol Philip-

Fresh from a successful UK concert tour, Lea Salonga is set to regale audiences at Resorts World Manila’s NPAT this month.

Photo from Instagram/@msleasalonga

pines” save for Regine Velasquez — Lea empathized with James Reid, Moira and Vice Ganda.

Accused of choosing looks over actual singing talents in Idol, Lea pointed out they were coming from their place of experience in the industry.

“They were chosen for a reason — from what they learned in the industry. In the end look who won naman? They chose the right winner.”

B4 august 10-13, 2019 • La WEEKEND asIaN JOuRNaL

Features

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John Ablaza: From nature and culture to couture Enchong awaits confirmation of Guinness record for largest swim lesson

by Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

ACTOR-athlete Enchong Dee, who recently participated in an attempt to break the Guinness world record for what could be the largest swimming lesson in a single venue, said he was seriously considering “getting into the business of education.”

For a day in June, Enchong

taught basic swimming and water safety to an estimated 1,800 kids under his advocacy campaign called #HandogPalangoyniEnchong at the Aqua Planet in Pampanga. The campaign aims to give free lessons to indigent children, as well as to those afflicted with autism.

“These days, I’m more interested in empowering people. There

are a lot of things going on in our country, and I often want to say things to make people reflect. But I thought, instead of just talking, I might as well do something about it,” he told the Inquirer. “I never liked people in government who talk a lot, but don’t do anything.”

Enchong was once part of the national swimming team and even competed in the SEA Games and Asian Games in 2006. He has been teaching kids to swim since 2015.

He clarified that the recent swimming event “was not my personal initiative. The Lozada swimming school had been generous to me.

I’m so happy because it was a day when the little kids shone,” he recalled. “We hope for a drown-free Philippines. It’s so ironic that the entire country is surrounded by bodies of water and yet most Filipinos are afraid to swim.”

Enchong added: “Every time there’s a new casualty during typhoons, it’s always a child. I can’t accept that. If I can slowly teach kids what basic water safety is, I’ll do it … for free.”

The latest record posted by Guinness on its website of the largest swimming lesson in a single venue was at the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon in naples, Florida in the United States on June 2014. It was attended by 1,308 participants.

The site has yet to proclaim Enchong’s event as record-breaker.

Enchong also pointed out that he has been passionately promoting his advocacy, not because he plans to run for public office in the future.

“I pray that I don’t have to, because I feel that I am able to reach out to more people just by being an actor,” he declared, but when push comes to shove, Enchong said he would “first ask for divine intervention.”

THE internationally known Filipino designer takes stage via ‘nature & nurture’ fashion show in October When one’s sense of style and fashion is innate, it wouldn’t be hard to transition to different mediums. For international fashion designer John Ablaza, having a degree in horticulture from De La Salle Araneta University did not stop with just growing plants, but rather became the door into something bigger.

In 1982, Ablaza transitioned to interior decoration when he landed a job in Taipei, Taiwan, as a florist and decorator of Asiaworld Plaza Hotel, owned

by Filipino tycoon Tan Yu. However, the call to fashion was hard to resist and so in 1987, the ever-artistic Ablaza flew back to the Philippines and launched his career in fashion design. From there on until the 90s, he presented shows both local and international.

His creations have been featured in print such as Mod Magazine, Women’s, Woman’s Home Journal, Women Today, Miscellaneous Magazine and other countless glossy magazines.

In 1994, he once again worked out the country as an in-house designer of Ahla Al Wasayef, a couture shop patronized by the royal families of Bahrain.

Coming back to his country in 1998, Ablaza was given the task to do the replica of Jose Rizal’s personal belongings, as part of a traveling museum project by the national Centennial Commission. The exhibit traveled throughout the Philippines and to several cities in the United States and Europe. He was duly credited by the national Historical Commission of the Philippines for all his work and effort in the exhibit.

In 2004, he decided to branch out by taking a different avenue in the fashion industry. Ablaza then started designing bags and accessories, which he exported to France, Spain, Greece, Maldives, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda and the U.S. After a five-year residency in Canada and the U.S., he returned to the Philippines in 2010. During his time in north America, Ablaza participated in trade shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas to market his prod-

work, One Global Management Company Inc. — in cooperation with the Asian Journal Publications Inc., Balikbayan Magazine, Magic V Inc., Pageantry Global Inc., Miss Balikbayan International, miss Balikbayan USA, One Global Talent, Music Arts Events, Travel, Trade & Consumer, Lombard By The Bay and Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development — is proud to present “John Ablaza, nature & nuture” on Friday, October 25, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Scientology of the Valley Auditorium, 11455 Burbank Blvd., north Hollywood, CA 91601.

In “nature & nurture,” Ablaza incorporates natural and organic materials, sourced from all over the Philippines and Africa. He now promotes sustainable fashion to show his concern and love for Mother nature. Ablaza hopes to focus on his advocacy to mentor up and coming designers and artisans in the Philippines and different parts of the world.

For additional information on “John Ablaza, nature & nurture,” please call Priscilla Marte at (626) 484-0807 and/ or Trini Foliente at (818) 4552132, or e-mail info@oneglobalmanagement.com.

Big comeback in the offing for Nora Aunor by rito

P. asilo

Inquirer.net

In my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (www.philipSchua.com), I have discussed the amazing value of vegetables (and exercise, fruits, nuts, fibers) in lowering the risk for cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, Alzheimer’s, and various forms of cancer.

Since man roamed the earth, vegetables have been hailed as a great health food. And even before modern science came out with the medical data proving their value, parents, especially mothers, around the world, from different cultures and traditions, had already been encouraging their children to eat vegetables, especially, broccoli, kale, spinach, garlic, the multi-colored leafy veggies, fruits, nuts, and to be active.

In this new era of health consciousness, vegetables have once again been thrust to the centerstage, under the spotlight, not only as a great food item, but one that has remarkable medical powers that bolster the immune system and prevent diseases, including cancer.

A Mayo Clinic study showed that eating lots of vegetables lowers the risk of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (nHL). This clinical investigation revealed the following eight findings: “Those who ate a higher number of vegetable servings per week had a 42 percent lower risk of nHL than those who ate the lowest number. Those who ate the most servings of green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables had a 40 percent lower risk compared to the lowest intakes. Those who had the highest intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin had a 46 percent lower risk of nHL. Those who had the highest intake of zinc had a 42 percent lower risk. Those who ate a higher number of vegetable servings per week had a 42 percent lower risk of nHL than those who ate the lowest number. Those who ate the most servings of green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables had a 40 percent lower risk compared to the lowest intakes. Those who had the highest intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin had a 46 percent lower risk of nHL. Those who had the highest intake of zinc had a 42 percent lower risk.”

Researchers postulated that vegetables contain antioxidants that help the body repair the

ucts. He additionally undertook interior designing high end homes in new York, Rhode Island, Los Angeles, Toronto and Ottawa.

Deeply inspired by models who made an indelible mark in Philippine fashion, he also authored Ramp Diva: Filipina. The 300-page coffee table book chronicled the lives of top Filipina models over a period of five decades.

Since 2011, Ablaza has been showcasing his work in a series of fashion gala called “John Ablaza Couture and Culture.” It has been presented in the U.S., including Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco, new York, Toronto and Harare, Zimbabwe.

He also launched “Le Petite Couture,” a collection of miniature couture gowns, all handmade and mounted on a 23-inch mannequin. It was displayed in a curated exhibit at the Amar Estate in new York last May 2017 during his 30th year in the fashion industry. That same year, the Philippine Consulate General in new York also invited him to showcase “Le Petite Couture” as part of the 119th Philippine Independence celebration.

“Nature & Nurture” To showcase his most recent

SUPERSTAR nora Aunor was seen in five or six movies in 2016—that’s a lot, even for an actress of her caliber. But it’s been three years since we last saw the legendary actress on the big screen via the Metro Manila Film Fest drama, “Kabisera.”

Here’s great news for Ate

Guy’s avid noranians: Your long wait is over—and we’ve got the photos to show it, thanks to line producer Dennis Evangelista.

The movie is called “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” under Joel Lamangan’s helm. It’s understandably a work in progress, but its story is pretty compelling, so far.

It follows the tale of a 65-yearold retired seaman (Phillip Salvador) who, with the help of his gay

Nora Aunor in “Isa Pang Bahaghari”

best friend (Michael de Mesa), comes home to win back his paraplegic ex-wife (nora Aunor)— who has fallen on hard times.

But the task is easier said than done because the seaman is believed to have perished many years ago, when his ship exploded off the coast of Mexico!

For his bitter wife, however, his “death” was just a convenient excuse to abandon her and their three children.

Can he win her back, and earn his children’s forgiveness?

Compelling premise, if you ask us. But, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we’ll have to wait and see if the film lives up to viewers’ expectations.

Joining nora, Phillip and Michael in the cast of “Bahaghari” are Zanjoe Marudo, Joseph Marco, Sanya Lopez, Albie Casiño and Maris Racal (as the young nora).

For now, though, we’ll have to let these first-look photos speak for themselves. In Ate Guy’s case, the eyes have it. They tell a thousand tales, as always—and they hardly ever fail. Right, noranians?

Gretchen tests mettle in Prudential...

PAGE B3 gonna make it, you’re near the finish line,” said Ho. “naalala ko lahat ng pinaghirapan ko para makarating dito, lahat ng semplang, lahat ng training kahit puyat ako pagod, nagte-training pa din ako (All my sacrifices came to mind, my training, even when I was tired and had little sleep I had to train),” she added.

From volleyball to cycling The 29-year-old Ho had a fruitful volleyball career.

She helped the Lady Eagles to back-to-back finals appearance in Season 75 and Season 76 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines after 34 years of competing in the league.

Ho was also the team captain when Petron bagged its first crown in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) Grand Prix in 2014.

The middle-hitter served as PSL brand ambassador in the same year.

“It’s a totally different sport compared to volleyball. Mag-isa lang ako dito (cycling), ang kalaban ko lang dito ‘yung sarili ko (I’m alone here, I compete with myself). It’s really you against yourself, beating your own best time. Knowing how to handle situations, being stronger. It’s fulfilling, it’s a different kind of fulfillment and I’m proud of myself because I’m not rushing myself to progress,” stressed Ho. Ho turned to cycling because of former UCI World Tour queen, Filipino-American Coryn Rivera, whom she covered for a television program in 2017.

“She was so inspiring. I saw her win the classique event in [the] 2017 edition. So, after that, I got into cycling,” she narrated.

Rivera ruled the 2017 edition of

the Prudential Ride London-UCI World Tour women’s classique.

She finished third this year.

Meanwhile, fellow Pru Life UK ambassadors television host Kim Atienza and actor Zoren Legaspi also submitted best times in the Surrey 100 (more than 200-kilometer race).

Atienza crossed the finish line in 7:17:11, while Legaspi had 7:53.16.

“It’s a job well done for our Filipino cyclists here in London.

Their journey is not easy, they trained hard for this to ensure that they are in best form and I’m so proud of them,” said Allan Tumbaga, Pru Life UK senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

The other Filipino riders who completed their respective races were nelsi Rabe and Jose Santos (Surrey 46), and Ryan Benguelo and Carlos de Guzman (Surrey 100).

Julia Barretto denies ties with Gerald Anderson...

PAGE B2 victim. This post is not enough to sum up everything I went through. I took the time to step back and take a look at the situation that I am in,” she said.

She ended her statement by saying that she will not be dic-

tated by the public’s opinions about her.

“It is so hard to be human in this industry but I still have every intention to stay in this business that I love so much. For the longest time, I’ve always dealt with everything in silence, but

this time, I’m forced to grow up. I will not be sidetracked, derailed, and be dictated by people’s judgments and opinions about me,” she said.

“This is me getting myself free and getting my soul back.”

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B5

B6 august 10-13, 2019 • La WEEKEND asIaN JOuRNaL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Fil-Am leaders laud SMC’s $15-B international airport in Bulacan

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-13, 2019

C

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FVR WITH RAMON ANG. SMC President Ramon S. Ang does the thumb up sign with former President Fidel V. Ramos at the latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RPDEV office in Makati. In the photo are (left to right): Mr. Ang, MWSS Chairman Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco, Dagupan City Special Envoy for International Relations Melandrew Velasco, Engr. Alfredo Reyes, Gen. Wilson Victorio (Ret.), sportsman Freddie Jalasco and FVR.

by Melandrew

Velasco

CARSON, California - Several Filipino American leaders lauded the $15 billion international airport in Bulacan by San Miguel Holdings led by its president Ramon S. Ang even as they cited the collective and long term economic effects of said modern airport in terms of tourism, trade, job generation and business.

This was jointly stressed by Asian Journal Group of Publications Chairman Roger Oriel and former Pangasinan Brotherhood Association President Eddie Ferrer at the recently concluded Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo showcasing world-class Filipino products at the Southbay Pavillon Mall here in Carson graced

by Trade and Industry Commissioner Elnar and Dagupan City Special Envoy for International Relations Melandrew Velasco. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We welcome with great pride and expectations the approval of the Bulacan International Airport as this will further boost travel

and tourism to complement the booming economy now being experienced under the administration of President Duterte,â&#x20AC;? said Oriel whose Asian Journal publishes on print, on line and digital platform including the much-acclaimed Balikbayan monthly magazine.

For his part, Ferrer, who heads the E.C. Ferrer Customs Brokerage, Inc., said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We salute Mr. Ang for his vision and derring do attitude for investing in large scale big ticket projects such as the Bulacan international airport, skyways and the Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union Expressway or TPLEX. Modern road networks and world-class airports are what a modernising Philippines need in the millennial times.â&#x20AC;?

The twin statements came shortly after conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is set to build the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest air gateway after emerging as the winner in the P735-billion New Manila International Airport ten-

der with no rivals by the Swiss challenge deadline last July 31. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our single-biggest investment in the country. It is a landmark Filipino project that will be built at no cost to the government and with no subsidies or guarantees of any kind,â&#x20AC;? SMC president Ramon Ang said in a statement last week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we hope to build is a long-term solutionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a sustainable and world-class Philippine gateway with enough runways and facilities to meet current and future needs,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The New Manila International Airport project, which aims to decongest Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), will cover roughly 2,500 hectares in Bulakan, Bulacan, located about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital district.

Upon full completion, it will have at least four parallel runways and a passenger capacity of more than 100 million, or about three times the current design capacity of NAIA. n

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C AUGUST 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon ARE your growing debts starting to worry you and cause you sleepless nights? Are you trying hard to pay what you can every month but feel like you’re just running on a treadmill and not getting anywhere? Do you dread getting those credit card statements every month knowing that you don’t have the money to pay them?

According to a recent study, about one-third of households in this country are either just barely making it or are having trouble paying their debts each month.

The Federal Reserve Board reports that consumer credit card debt is now about $1.1 trillion! In the last decade, credit card debt has increased 81 percent while the average family’s income grew only by 9%. This is scary.

If you are like the rest of the population and your debts are growing a lot faster than your income, how can you avoid debt from creeping up on you? The banks and the credit card companies know that when income is short, most people will resort to loans and credit cards to make up for the shortage in income.

So now you know why consumer credit card debt is steadily in-

The Metamorphosis

eRnie d. delfin LIKE millions of Americans (and millions more outside the United States), I too have watched the news about twin mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and in Dayton, Ohio, within 13 hours apart!

Of all the mass murder shootings that occurred in America, these two manmade tragedies hit me the hardest. Even as a man, I shed tears of deep sadness and extreme disillusionment when I saw on TV the outpouring of grief of a mother over the murder of her innocent son! As a father and now a grandpa, it moved me into uncontrollable tears as I felt the extreme pain inside her heart for a senseless death of a son!

Community Journal

Are your debts growing faster than your income? creasing. Unless you get a handle on your finances and control your borrowing, before you know it, you would be buried in debt and it would be difficult for you to get out.

A lot of people owe so much in credit card debt that they will never pay off their debts in this lifetime. What’s sad is that because these people are just so used to being in debt, they have reached a point where they don’t even realize what their debts are actually costing them. So, like robots, they just continue to work long hours, sometimes 2-3 jobs just so they could continue to make the banks richer with the interest that they are paying on their debts. These people have zero savings and no money for unexpected emergencies. Any unexpected disruption of income can turn into a major catastrophe.

Financial planners tell us that we should try to keep our debtto-income ratio below 36% (about 28% for housing and 8% for other recurring debt payments). To calculate your own ratio, divide your total monthly debt payments by your total monthly gross income. In your monthly debt payments, include your mortgage, car, loan and credit card payments. What do

you get? What I usually find is that some people are way above this amount, sometimes as much as 70-80%!!!! And then they wonder why they never have enough money for food, utilities and other basic living expenses.

If your debts are out of control and you need help in figuring out what your options are, we can help you explore all your nonbankruptcy and bankruptcy alternatives. Bankruptcy is not always the solution to debt problems. If it is, we will explain to you how this may be your best option in getting a fresh financial start so you can start rebuilding your credit. If you have other options available, I will point them out to you as well if they are worth considering. Bankruptcy should be your last option, not the first.

To schedule a free consultation, please call us at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

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A nation in crisis: Ora et labora (pray and work) urgently needed now Part 1 of 2 column) and uttered by politicians and many community leaders about this increasing violence, but it seemed that there is no decrease of these horrific public massacres. What is happening to our society and to our world? WHY, WHY, WHY? While watching a CNN coverage, appropriately titled “A Nation in Crisis,” I felt grief as I empathized with the families of these murdered innocent people, plus dozens more who were hurt, who were in the wrong place in the wrong time. To help ease the pain, I thought of venting my feelings by writing about it.

Once this column is published I hope and pray that the unhealthy

A weekend before these horrific tragedies, my entire family — with our son EJ and daughter Donna with her husband Kahoy (Tri) and two young daughters — were also in Irvine Park where it could also be a “potential” place of a random shooting like the one that occurred in Gilroy Garlic Festival a couple of weeks ago. For several hours, with thousands of people enjoying different food booths and free entertainment (including my son EJ, contributing his time as a DJ talent), we had a great quality time with the family. These days, it is becoming riskier to be in public places with your family!

Millions of words have been written by journalists (like this

u PAGE C3

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Tax & Stock Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

A MOST important tip for trading is to keep your emotion in check. Use logic, not emotions. Do not allow emotions to get the better of you; otherwise, you could be forced into a losing trade. Be aware that stock prices influence the collective emotions of investors. When investors are worried about a company, its price declines. When investors feel optimistic about the company’s future, its price rises.

A person who feels negative about the market is called a “bear,” while a positive investor is called a “bull.” The constant battle between bulls and bears results in the constant rise and fall of stock prices. These shortterm movements are driven by

The emotional and illogical side of investing for beginners “ If stock prices move contrary to our expectations, it creates tension.” emotions from rumors, speculations, and hopes rather than logic and systematic analysis of the company’s assets, management, and prospects.

If stock prices move contrary to our expectations, it creates tension. Unexpected price movements create uncertainty as to what to do next – sell to avoid more losses, sell to lock in profits, keep and wait for rebound, or buy more to take advantage of price dip. Should I sell my position and avoid a loss? Should I keep the stock, hoping that the price will rebound?

If stock prices move as ex-

pected, there are still questions: Should I take a profit now before the price falls? Should I keep my position since the price is likely to go higher? Thoughts like these will flood your mind, especially if you constantly watch the price of a security, eventually building to a point that you will take action.

Since emotions are the primary driver of your action, it will probably be wrong.

When you buy a stock, you should have a good reason for doing so and an expectation of what the price will do if the reason is valid. At the same time, you

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A prayer in the face of gun violence WE’VE all been distressed by a series of mass shootings in our country in the past two weeks. At times we don’t know what to say anymore. We’re afraid for everyone’s safety, and we’re angry at the inability of our leaders to prevent any more mass shootings.

Fr. James Martin, S.J. wrote the following prayer for America magazine that expresses our utmost sentiments and longings in the face gun violence. I am quoting it without interruption as it appears in the original site.

Almighty God, I come before you, once again, after another shooting.

I am sad, God. So I ask you to receive into your loving care the souls of those who were killed, to care for those who were wounded or hurt in any way, to console the family members and friends of those who died or were wounded, to strengthen the hands of the rescue workers, medical professionals and caregivers.

I pray too for the shooter, as I must as a Christian.

All this makes me inexpressibly sad, God. But I know that the sadness I feel is your sadness. It is the same sadness your son expressed when he wept over the death of his friend Lazarus.

I am tired, God. I’m tired of the unwillingness to see this as an important issue.

The Prophetic Voice ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS I’m tired of those in power who work to prevent any real change.

I’m tired of those who say that gun violence can’t be reduced.

All this makes me tired. But I know that the tiredness I feel is your tiredness. It’s the same tiredness that Jesus felt after his own struggles against injustice that led him to fall asleep on the boat with his disciples.

I am angry, God. I’m angry at the seeming powerlessness of our community to prevent this.

I’m angry at the selfish financial interests who block change.

I’m angry that these shootings happen at all. But I know that this anger is your anger. It’s the same anger Jesus felt when he overturned the tables in the Temple, angry that anyone would be taken advantage of in any way.

Help me see in these emotions your own desire for change.

Help me see in these feelings your moving me to act. Help me see in these reactions your pushing me to do something.

Because I know this is the way you move people to action. And I know that you desire action. For Jesus did not stand by while people were being hurt. He plunged into their lives.

So help me to answer these questions: How can I help? How can I fight against gun violence?

How can I urge my political leaders to enact change? How can I help people understand that this is an issue about life?

I am sad over the loss of life, tired of excuses for the loss of life, and angry that we are paralyzed by the loss of life.

So turn my sadness into compassion. Turn my tiredness into advocacy. Turn my paralysis into the freedom to act.

Help me to be compassionate, to advocate and to act, as your son did, Almighty God. Let Fr. James Martin’s poignant prayer become our prayer too. As a community, let’s stand against violence, hatred, and bigotry. Let’s pray for God’s assistance and intervention.

Let’s not be discouraged from building a society of love, kindness, compassion, and hospitality, starting with our families, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and workplaces. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

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Community Journal

The employer’s duty to a “permanently disabled” employee LARA May (not her real name to protect confidentiality) was a dedicated and long-time employee for ABC Equipment Co. She was injured at work and had to take an extended medical leave of absence. Prior to her injury, Lara May was a valued employee at ABC Equipment, and was praised for her work ethic and job performance by her supervisors. During her medical leave, Lara also had an ongoing Workers’ Compensation case for her work-related injuries.

While her injuries had healed, a Workers’ Comp judge found that Lara was 17% permanently disabled. However, Lara’s doctor gave her a clean bill of health and released her back to work. When she contacted her employer to advise that she could return to work, the employer responded by terminating her.

The employer argued that Lara was terminated because of her 17% permanent disability.

However, there was no finding that Lara was not able to return to work. There was also no finding that Lara was a Qualified Injured Worker who needed to be retrained for another position. In other words, the employer fired Lara without inquiring whether her 17% permanent disability allowed her to perform the essential duties of her job.

Lara contacted our office for help. She had tried to return to work and had submitted a return-to-work authorization from her doctors, which had approved Lara’s return to work without restrictions. This meant that despite the 17% perma-

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. rheA SAmSon ANG isang US citizen (USC) ay maaaring mag-file ng petition upang madala ang kanyang fiancé(e) bilang K1 nonimmigrant upang magpakasal sila sa US. Kailangang maipakita ng USC ang mga sumusunod: (1) sila ay nagkita na ng personal sa loob ng 2 taon bago i-file ang fiancé(e) petition (2-year requisite period); (2) sila ay may totoong intension na magpakasal; (3) sila ay maaari at legal na pwedeng magpakasal sa US sa loob ng 90 araw mula sa pagdating ng beneficiary bilang K1 nonimmigrant.

Ang USCIS ay may discretion upang mag-waive ng requirement ng personal na pagkikita ng USC petitioner at ng beneficiary kung ang personal na pagkikita ay magdudulot ng lubos na pagpapahirap o extreme hardship sa petitioner, o kung ang kanilang personal na pagkikita ay magiging labag sa mga mahigpit na mga kaugalian, kultura, o mga kasanayan ng lipunan ng beneficiary. Sa determinasyon ng USCIS ng extreme hardship ng petitioner, tinitingnan ng USCIS kung sa loob ng 2-year requisite period, may mga pangyayari na (1) wala sa kontrol o di mapipigilan ng petitioner; at (2) ang mga pangyayaring ito na wala sa kontrol ng petitioner ay magtatagal o walang kasiguraduhan ang magiging tagal ng mga pangyayari.

Sa isang kasong napagdesisyonan ng Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), ang Petitioner ay nag-file ng fiancée petition noong Agosto 2015. Dahil dito ay kailangang nagkita na sila ng personal ng Beneficiary mula Agosto 2013 hanggang Agosto 2015. Sinabi ng Petitioner na hindi siya nakapagbiyahe upang personal na makipagkita sa Beneficiary dahil siya ay full-time na estudyante ng isang unibersidad, siya ay Arizona National Guard, at siya rin ay nasa US Army ROTC. Sinabi rin ng Petitioner na siya ay hindi nakapagbiyahe dahil sa mga dahilang pinansyal at pangkalusugan. Kanyang ibinigay sa USCIS ang kanyang mga university transcript at uniformed service identification card. Ibinigay rin niya sa USCIS ang kanyang medical records na magpapakita na siya ay nagkaroon ng back injury noong Hulyo 2015. Dahil sa back injury, ang Petitioner ay nagkaroon siya ng limitadong paggalaw, sinundan pa ng surgery at 6 linggong pagpapagaling.

Sinabi ng AAO na hindi naipakita ng Petitioner ang extreme

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. nent disability finding, Lara could still perform the essential duties of her job. However, Lara’s managers disregarded the doctors’ return-to-work authorization, and instead penalized Lara for the purported permanent restrictions finding in the Workers’ Compensation case. The employer noted in Lara’s personnel file that her termination was due to “Partial/ Total Disability” and that she was not recommended for re-hire.

California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. California law defines disability (whether mental or physical) as any disease, disorder, cosmetic disfigurement, anatomical loss, emotional or mental illness, or specific learning disabilities, which limits a major life activity. Working at a job is considered a major life activity.

The employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to employees to enable them to work despite their disability. The law and the regulations clearly contemplate not only that employers remove obstacles that are in the way of the progress of the disabled, but that they actively re-structure their way of doing business in order to accommodate the needs of their disabled employees.

Depending on the employee’s specific restrictions and the em-

ployer’s circumstances, the following are examples of reasonable accommodations: making facilities accessible to and usable by disabled individuals; job restructuring; offering parttime or modified work schedules; reassigning to a vacant position; or acquiring or modifying equipment or devices for use by the disabled employee.

The employer also has the duty to find and offer suitable jobs for the employee. Simply telling the disabled employee to check available job postings in the company is not enough.

The employer must in good faith determine whether a disabled employee can be transferred or reassigned to a vacant position. The employer is in a better position to know what jobs are vacant or may become vacant.

Our law firm prepared Lara’s case for trial. However, on the eve of trial, the employer agreed to settle the case and pay Lara a significant amount of damages. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

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

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

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Fiancé(e) petition hardship na nakapigil o naging balakid sa kanya sa pakikipagkita ng personal sa Beneficiary sa requisite 2-year period. Hindi siya nagbigay ng kanyang mga dokumentong pinansyal para maipakita na siya ay hindi nakapagbiyahe dahil sa pera. Sinabi rin ng AAO na hindi naipakita ng Petitioner kung paano naging balakid sa pakikipagkita sa Beneficiary ang kanyang pagpasok sa unibersidad, at kung may mga obligasyon niya sa National Guard na humadlang sa kanyang pagbiyahe sa 2year requisite period. Sinabi pa ng AAO na kahit na ang Petitioner ay may back injury at surgery, hindi naipakita na ang back injury ay balakid sa pagbiyahe ng Petitioner. Ayon sa AAO, kung hindi makapagbiyahe ang Petitioner para makita ng personal ang Beneficiary, maaari rin namang ang Beneficiary ang magbiyahe upang makipagkita sa Petitioner.

Ngunit hindi nila ginawa ito. Dahil hindi naipakita ang extreme hardship, hindi naaprubahan ang waiver ng personal na pagkikita ng Petitioner at Beneficiary at ang fiancée petition ay na-deny.

Sinabi ng AAO na maaaring magulit na lang ang Petitioner ng filing ng fiancée petition kapag siya ay nakasunod na sa lahat ng mga alituntunin tungkol dito. *** A US citizen (USC) may petition to bring a fiancé(e) in K1 classification for marriage. The USC must establish that the parties (1) have previously met in person within 2 years before the date of filing the fiancé petition (2-year requisite period), (2) have a bona fide intent to marry, and (3) are legally able and actually willing to conclude a valid marriage in the US within 90 days of the beneficiary’s admission as a K-1 nonimmigrant.

USCIS maintains the discretion to waive the requirement of an in-person meeting between the two parties if compliance would either result in extreme hardship to the petitioner, or violate strict and long-established customs of the beneficiary’s foreign culture or social practice. When determining whether extreme hardship prevented a petitioner from meeting beneficiary, USCIS looks at whether during the 2-year period, there existed any circumstances that were (1) not within the power of the petitioner to control or change; and (2) likely to last for a considerable duration or the duration could not have been determined with any degree of certainty.

In a case decided by the Administrative Appeals Office, the Petitioner filed the fiancée petition in August 2015 and was therefore required to have met

the Beneficiary in person at some point from August 2013 to August 2015. The Petitioner asserts that he was unable to travel to see the Beneficiary because he is a fulltime university student, is in the Arizona National Guard, and is in the US Army ROTC. Furthermore, Petitioner alleged that he was unable to travel due to financial and health reasons. He submitted his university transcripts and uniformed service identification card. Petitioner also submitted his medical records showing he suffered back injury in July 2015, subsequently had limited functional activity, and underwent surgery followed by a 6-week recovery period.

The AAO found that Petitioner had not established that extreme hardship prevented him from meeting the Beneficiary within the required time period. He did not submit financial documentation to support his assertion that he was unable to travel due to financial reasons, and there was no evidence in the records showing how Petitioner’s academic or National Guard responsibilities prevented him from travelling to personally meet the beneficiary during the requisite 2-year period.

The AAO found that although petitioner’s medical records showed that he was injured in July 2015, he did not present evidence that such injury prevented him from travelling. It was also not shown why the Beneficiary herself did not travel to meet with Petitioner.

As Petitioner was unable to show extreme hardship that prevented him from meeting the Beneficiary within the 2-year period prior to the filing of the fiancée petition, the fiancée petition was denied.

However, this is without prejudice to the filing of another fiancée petition at a future date once statutory requirements are met. *** ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty.

Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams.

As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others.

Please visit our office: LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010 Call or text us: (213) 381.5710 Email us: attorneys@lindainsamsonlaw. com.

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The emotional and illogical side...

PAGE C2 t should establish the point at which you will liquidate your holdings, especially if your reason is proven invalid or if the stock doesn’t react as expected when your expectation has been met. In other words, have an exit strategy before you buy the security and execute that

strategy unemotionally. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California.

*** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-13, 2019

C

E-2 Treaty investor visa allows for stay in US along with family DEARAttorney Tan, I would like to know if there is any way for my family and I to stay in the US if I invest in a US business. While I do have some money to invest, I do not have the $500k-$1m that I read was necessary to get a green card through investment. Do I have any other options? - S.K. Dear S.K., You should consider the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, which is a non-immigrant visa that allows a person to be admitted to the US with investment of a “substantial” amount of capital in either a new or existing US business.

A main objective of the E-2 Treaty Investor classification is to promote and encourage investment in the US. Accordingly, the Treaty Investor must demonstrate that he/she is actually investing a substantial amount of capital in the US enterprise. The Treaty Investor must show that he/she is placing capital at risk with the objective of generating a profit; the capital must be subject to loss if the investment fails.

There is no specific amount of money that is required to be invested to be considered “substantial.” Whether an investment is considered “substantial” is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The benefits of an E-2 Treaty Investor visa include an indefinite period of stay in the US with extensions of the E-2 visa. An E-2 Treaty Investor is allowed a maximum initial

Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn stay of 2 years, and requests for extension can be obtained in increments of 2 years. There is no limitation to the number of extensions an E-2 Treaty Investor may request. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa, and accordingly, the Treaty Investor must maintain an intent to depart the US whenever the E-2 status expires.

Another important benefit for an E-2 Treaty Investor is the ability to be accompanied to the US by his/her spouse and unmarried children who are under 21 years of age. An E-2 Treaty Investor’s spouse may apply for work authorization in the US, and no restriction is placed as to where the E-2 spouse can work.

The spouse can work for another employer.

Further, children who are under 21 years of age may enroll in US schools. The immediate family come to the US under the E-2 classification as dependents of the Treaty Investor. The family members will have the same duration of stay as the Treaty Investor.

In addition, an employee of a Treaty Investor may come to the US under the E-2 classification providing that he/she is the same nationality of the Treaty

Investor, and either has duties of an executive or supervisory character or has other special qualifications.

What are the general requirements to obtain an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa? To obtain E-2 Treaty Investor status, a person: 1) must be a national of a country with which the US maintains a treaty of commerce or navigation, 2) either has invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a US enterprise, and 3) seeks to come to the US to develop and direct the enterprise in which he/she is investing or is going to invest.

Consideration of the E-2 Treaty Investor visa is made on a case-by-case basis. The assistance of an experienced attorney who can assess the proposed type of business in which investment is contemplated as well as the amount of investment is therefore recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

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A nation in crisis: Ora et labora...

PAGE C2 t

hurt inside me will also be lessened or dissipated by sharing the pains with others.

Having read and heard various factors and causes why America is suffering from this senseless mass murders has disillusioned me, but I am trying hard to understand. It seems that more and more people who have great biases, prejudice and suppressed hate are becoming bolder in coming out to vent their hate and anger by shooting innocent people. I cannot fathom how and why a person has that degree of anger to kill other human beings

who have not done anything to make the killer’s life miserable.

I am no expert in sociology and psychiatry, but I have my own theories based on my life experiences.

I left the Philippines to move to America in my early twenties, as a fresh college graduate and newly licensed CPA in mid 70s. That time, I never heard any mass shooting like what just happened in Texas and Ohio.

With over a 100 million Filipinos, spread all over 7,000 islands in the Philippines, I believe that the country has never experienced these senseless mass killings

like the ones that happened this week. I attribute that to our faith and religion, where despite of the fact that Filipinos in general are poorer in material terms than Americans, still possessed that innate knowledge of God (LOVE) and still know what is right and wrong.

Many Filipinos may be economically challenged but love is present in the home where close-knit relationship in the family still exists. When family members have problems, they can go “home” for comfort and get support unconditionally,

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C4 AUGUST 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Client with $300K credit cards successfully passes US trustee exam THIS client case is unusual.

She is young at 28 and owes about $300,000 of credit cards.

She used these cards to fund a “gift card” business. What’s a “gift card” business? There are many people who cannot qualify for credit to purchase items like iPhones, TVs, personal computers, and other big-ticket items but they want to buy them nevertheless.

The client comes into the picture by providing the financing to buy these items. How does she provide the financing?

She uses her credit cards to purchase gift cards. These gift cards are then sold to the buyer who wants to buy the TV. In between the ultimate buyer and the client, there are several layers of marketing or distributors of the gift cards. There is one main distributor who is in contact with several wholesalers. These wholesalers are the ones in contact with the ultimate buyers.

The client adds a margin to her credit card costs. The marketers and distributors also add big margins to their costs. The marketers and distributors collect the money from the ultimate buyers, and turn over the collections to the main distributor. The main distributor turns over all the collections to the client who uses the collections to pay back her credit cards.

The client makes money, the main distributor makes money, the marketers and distributors make money, and the ultimate buyer is then able to acquire the merchandise they want.

This business model has a lot of weaknesses, but it’s a legitimate business enterprise. This is a critical issue in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. If credit cards are used to fund a business, the transaction is no longer a consumer debt. The transaction becomes a business debt. $300,000 used for consumer debt is a big deal and may be used by the U.S. Trustee as grounds to dismiss the Chapter 7 case. But $300,000 used for business debt is another ballgame because business debt is not a consumer debt! This distinction makes all the difference in Chapter 7 cases. It’s the difference between black and white, or night and day.

If a debtor used $300,000 of credit cards to travel the world, buy a Porsche SUV, and other personal stuff, the U.S. Trustee can dismiss his case by motion

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a misconception that the only assets or properties that have to disclose assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even think that since an asset or property is situated in a different country or state, that property is not community property and not subject to division in California family court. One has to understand the general community property presumption in California.

Property acquired before marriage is the acquiring spouse’s separate property, as is property obtained during marriage that can be traced to a premarital acquisition. Family.

Code. 770(a). Rents, issues and profits” of separate property are separate property. All property acquired during marriage and before separation, other than by gift or inheritance, is presumptively community property. Family Code 760, 771(a), 772; Marriage of Bonds (2000) 24 C4th 1, 12, 99 CR2d 252, 258; Marriage of Lehman (1998) 18 C4th 169, 177, 74 CR2d 825, 828.

Pursuant to Family.Code.

760, community personal or real property is consistently defined no matter where situated.

Family Code §760 defines “Community property” as “Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person dur-

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG to the court based on the argument that the $300,000 from the debtor is primarily consumer debt. That has been bankruptcy law even under the old law, which was replaced by the new bankruptcy code in 2005.

If the client had used the $300,000 for consumer purchases, then her case would not see the light of day. It would be subject of a motion to dismiss by the U.S. Trustee.

In this case, the client used all of the $300,000 to finance a business. Of course, given that a large number of credit cards used, we expected the U.S. Trustee to conduct a thorough examination and investigation.

At the 341A, the U.S. Trustee showed up and asked the client a lot of questions about the nature of the business. UST asked what happened to the main distributor. The UST also asked why the client did not sue the main distributor and the marketers and smaller distributors to collect the money. The UST asked why she went into this business in the first place. Many other questions were asked to probe the veracity of the client’s testimony about the business use of her credit cards.

Before the start of the hearing, the UST asked me if the client was willing to sign documents, which authorized the UST to obtain all of her credit card statements directly from the credit card companies. I said sure. I gave the documents to the client who signed all the authorizations and I gave it back to the UST. After the hearing, the UST asked for copies of all evidence supporting the client’s claim that the $300,000 was used for business. The client produced the following evidence: 1) Text through we chat between client and main distributor where orders for gift cards are placed in the hundreds and client confirms the availability of gift cards to meet his demands, 2) Receipts from retailers for iTunes gift cards, staples, etc. hundreds of receipts,

3) Pictures of inventory purchased and sold through the Internet.

Client’s declaration under penalty of perjury was made explaining how the business was conducted and using the foregoing as exhibits.

Apparently, the client had entered into this transaction with the main distributor twice before for $100,000 each time and there were no problems in 2015 and 2017. These two successful jaunts encouraged her to get into the business a third time. Unfortunately, the third time failed as collections became slower and slower. It was not possible to sue the end-users as all of them were contacted through the internet with no physical addresses.

The hearing was continued for two months. During these two months, the client gathered her evidence and we presented them to the UST to prove that the client really did use the $300,000 credit cards for business. Thus, the $300,000 was not consumer debt but business debt.

The deadline for the UST to file a motion to dismiss based on findings that the client did not qualify for discharge expired on August 2. The UST did not file the motion. This means that the UST is satisfied that the $300,000 was used for business debt and there was no ground to dismiss the case.

The client will be getting her discharge in due time and she is now on the way to a fresh start in life without $300,000 of credit card debt! The bankruptcy court will wipe out all her $300,000 credit cards.

Thanks be to God! God knows she needs a fresh start with no debt. Imagine being burdened by $300,000 of credit card debt that never goes away.

Nobody needs that kind of pressure and problem in life.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment. I will analyze your case personally. *** awrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 2841142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Disclosure and characterization of overseas assets in divorce ing the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” As such, out-of-state community property is community property for all purposes, including intraspousal management and control fiduciary obligations. It does not matter if the property is located in another state or another country.

For the same reason, the parties to a divorce case is required to disclose all property, separate and community, including those outside the state. During the marriage, the parties’ fiduciary duties require full and accurate disclosure of true and full information affecting community property transactions.

FamilyCode. 721(b), 1100(e). In addition,disclosure duties arise upon separation in anticipation of dissolution, nullity or legal separation. The post-separation disclosure duties extend to all assets and liabilities in which either party has or may have an interest or obligation, regardless of community or separate property characterization, and to current earnings, accumulations and expenses. These duties “arise without reference to any wrongdoing.” Family.Code.

721(b), 2100(c), 2102(a)(1); Marriage of Feldman (2007) 153 CA4th 1470, 1475–1476, 64 CR3d 29, 33; Marriage of Brewer & Federici (2001) 93 CA4th 1334, 1342–1344, 113 CR2d 849, 854–855. Parties to a divorce case has a duty to provide full and accurate disclosure of all assets and debts including those in other states

and other countries. Failure to disclose could result to certain legal consequences to the nondisclosing parties including sanctions and attorney’s fees.

If you are contemplating a divorce and you own assets and properties outside the state or country, its best to retain the representation of an experience family law attorney. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto:kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com” kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

A nation in crisis: Ora et labora...

PAGE C3 t which seems to be missing in many homes in America, whose culture is quite individualistic and self reliant.

Mother Teresa (now a saint) reportedly has described America as a nation that was becoming a spiritual desert upon learning that God is gradually being removed from schools. Even reminders of American history — whose early settlers and founding Fathers believe in a Higher Power — as well as displaying the Ten Commandments

and the Nativity scene in public places are now being removed!

Even the word Christ is now deleted in “Christmas!”

Without that Supreme Power (that may be called God, Father Almighty or Allah), the demonic forces can easily fill that vacuum.

If someone no longer believes in God or Christ as the center of his moral or spiritual life, sooner or later he will find someone or something to become his god.

As one who believes that man is composed of body and spirit, I believe that this lack of faith and

belief that there is a moral GOD is one major but invisible factor or cause of the breakdown of the family unit and the values. Like termites silently and slowly tearing the American house, these cowards have become emboldened with their guns to kill others who they believe rightly or wrongly caused their miseries.

(To be continued next week) *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Websites: www.gkerc.org www.pagudpudsands.com www.kannaway.com/5236768

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

People and Events DPSS hosts care kit drive to benefit homeless individuals and families

THE Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) Volunteer Services Section is currently hosting its Care Kit Drive to seek donations of personal care supplies to be distributed to homeless individuals and families this October.

“These donations will help our homeless neighbors during times of extreme weather conditions, such as heat or rain,” said Eryn Aquino, DPSS volunteer services coordinator. “All of these supplies will support the safety, security and health of the community.”

DPSS is asking for new socks, shoes and hats, as well as hand sanitizer, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. Donation drop offs may be coordinated with the department’s Volunteer

Services Section by emailing DPSSVolunteers@dpss.lacounty. gov. The deadline to donate is September 30. All donations are tax deductible.

Through a charitable partnership with AmazonSmile, the Volunteer Services Section is also accepting online donations to support this drive. Those interested in donating can visit https:// amzn.to/2J2CRKU to view the items on the Wishlist. AmazonSmile will also donate half a percent from any eligible purchase, if a donor selects the Toy Loan Advisory Board as their charity of choice.

For more information on this campaign or to become a volunteer, please contact Aquino at (213) 744-4348.

Calendar of Events across

With 3.5 million customers served by 14,000 employees, the Department of Public Social Services is the largest local social services agency in the nation. The department currently provides benefits and services to families and individuals, including CalFresh food and nutrition assistance; Medi-Cal health, dental and vision insurance; financial and homeless assistance for qualifying individuals through the General Relief program and for families through the CalWORKs program; In-Home Supportive Services for disabled and elderly residents, and employment and supportive services to help residents prepare for the labor market. For more information, visit www.dpss.lacounty.gov. ■

America

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NaFFAA’s National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond.

Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference, visit naffaa.org/2019nec, or email us at nec@naffaa.org.

AU G U ST 1 7-1 8 A N D 1 9 -3 0

Liliw Association of East Coast USA Celebrates 30th Anniversary The Liliw Association of East Coast USA is calling on their fellow Liliweños to join the organization as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a number of events. On August 17, Saturday, a welcome picnic will happen at the Ross Dock Picnic Area of the Palisades Interstate Park in Fort Lee, New Jersey from 12 noon to 7:00 pm. The following day, Sunday, August 18 is the anniversary lunch from 12 noon to 4:30 pm at Waterside Restaurant (7800 River Road in North Bergen, NJ). From August 19 to 30 is an optional East Coast Sightseeing Bus Tour. Send an email to Liliw Association of East Coast USA President Teresita Guina at tessguina3@gmail.com or call her at (201) 913-7800. visit naffaa.org/2019nec, or email us at nec@naffaa.org.

AU G U ST 1 8

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of New Jersey Annual Picnic UPAA-NJ cordially invites all UP alumni, families and friends to its annual picnic on Sunday, August 18, 2019 from 1:00 pm until dusk at the Liberty State Park, Pavilion B, 20 Theodore Conrad Dr., Jersey City, New Jersey. Enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, games, prizes, music, dancing and of course savory Filipino food as we celebrate the summer outdoors. For more details please contact: Daisy Macadaeg, (201) 446-7767, keanemac@yahoo.com; Lani Benedicto, (201) 745-6829, benedicto78@yahoo.com; Minnie Corpuz-Castillo, (551) 587-2815, mcorpuzcastillo@gmail.com, Grace Concepcion, (201) 281-6271, feynman834@gmail.com or Johnny Ferrer, (201) 323-1303, juancferrer09@yahoo.com.

AU G U ST 3 1

Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School reunion in Las Vegas The Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School (RMCHS) International will hold its fifth biennial reunion and we are calling all graduates or former students to come out and join up at the “2019 RMCHS International Reunion (Several Paths … One Reunion)” on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Gold Coast Hotel and Casino (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103). For reservations or information, please contact the following: Rommel B. Fajardo (Batch ’78) at (301) 655-4469 or e-mail: rommelbf@gmail.com or Lamberto Glory (Batch ’74) at (210) 542-7575 or e-mail: threeglories@msn.com. You may also visit the RMCHS 2019 International Reunion Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1302890069812234.

SEPTEMBER 7

UPAAGLA Grand Gala in Los Angeles The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. at the LA Grand Hotel (333 S. Figuera St, Los Angeles, CA). With the theme “Taking U.P. To The Future” the event will have Distinguished U.P. Alumni Guests including Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz and current University of the Philippines President Danilo L. Concepcion. All U.P. Alumni are invited and encouraged to attend. To RSVP and for Gala details, visit https://upaagla2019gala.eventbrite.com. Early Bird pricing is $85 until July 15, Regular pricing is $100. Sponsor packages are still available to get better pricing plus perks, please inquire by contacting upaagla.sponsor@gmail.com. Special Booking rate at the LA Grand Hotel for Sept 7 is available for $189/night at https://bit.ly/310GWWY. To inquire about UPAAGLA, please send email to upaagla.prez@gmail.com.

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

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Terminating a failed marriage Only 21% of women in Ph have savings — study could ‘expedite’ your petition

Immigration Corner

by MARY

GRACE Philstar.com

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I was petitioned by my U.S. citizen parent in 2008 as a married child (category F-3). However, I am now separated from my spouse, as he was abusive, cheated on me, and is now living with another woman with whom he already has two children.

I want to join my family in the U.S. as soon as possible. Is there anything I can do to expedite my petition?

Very truly yours, JZ Dear JZ: As long as you are still married, you cannot expedite your petition. However, if a marriage is truly over, and there is no chance of reconciling or getting back together, you should consider terminating the marriage (through annulment if you are in in the Philippines, or divorce if you’re in the U.S.). Upon termination of a marriage, the petition would “automatically convert” from a married child of a U.S. citizen (F-3) to an unmarried child of a U.S. citizen (F-1), and the petition would be processed based on the faster priority dates for F-1 petitions. There would be no need for your parent to file a new petition, as you keep the original priority date of the F-3 petition.

The National Visa Center (NVC) is currently processing

“ As long as you are married you cannot expedite your petition.” immigrant visas for married children from the Philippines filed in 1997. They are processing immigrant visas for single children of U.S. citizens filed in 2008.

Therefore, if a person has an F3 priority date earlier than 2008 and they lawfully terminate their marriage, they could already be processed for an immigrant visa as single, which would also include their children under 21 years of age (or eligible under the Child Status Protection Act).

However, I want to warn and emphasize to people that just as there is the concept of sham or fixed marriage, there is also the concept of “sham divorce.” In other words, there are situations where people are not really in love and get married just for the papers, which is wrong and is a fixed or sham marraige. There are also situations where a couple is truly in love, but terminate their marriage to take advantage of having one spouse’s immigrant visa processed in the faster F-1 category. This is also wrong and illegal.

However, if a person had been petitioned as married, but the marriage is truly over and beyond all repair, you should consult with an attorney who

can evaluate your situation and determine if there truly is a legal way to “expedite” your petition through terminating your marriage. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-4873465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINE (Advertising Supplement)

Business Quote of the Week “The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.”

— Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA

PADIN

SIX out of 10 Filipinas manage their own household’s budget, but only two of 10 are able to put money into savings, according to a study commissioned by Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd. (InLife).

Citing the results of the Sheroes Landmark Study on Women, InLife executive vice president and Insular Health Care president Noemi Azura said most Filipinas are careful spenders who prioritize their families, but most of them don’t have savings for future needs.

“The results of the study indicated that six in 10 Filipinas manage their own money or are entrusted with their household’s budget. Most of these are spent on current needs, such as food and beverage, household bills and utilities, personal care products, and other items related to children’s schooling,” Azura said during the study’s presentation at the Filipi-now: Realities, Challenges, and Solutions for the Filipino Women of Today held in Makati City.

Citing the results of the Sheroes Landmark Study on Women, InLife executive vice president and Insular Health Care president Noemi Azura said most Filipinas are careful spenders who prioritize their families, but most of them don’t have savings for future needs.

Philstar.com photo by Joven Cagande

However, she said only 21 percent of the total respondents are able to set aside money for savings. Among those who do, they are able to allocate only three percent of their budget as savings, she said.

“More alarming is that while life insurance awareness is 30 percent, ownership is at a very low four percent. These are not

enough to cover future emergencies, especially in the event that the family’s breadwinner, which could be the woman herself, or the husband, meets an unfortunate incident,” Azura said.

On the other hand, Azura said Filipinas were found to be practicing healthy living by controlling their intake of food, keeping PAGE D2

PH trade deficit narrows further to $2.47B in June

by RICHMOND

MERCURIO Philstar.com

THE country’s trade deficit narrowed to $2.47 billion in June from $3.55 billion in the same month last year and $3.29 billion in May as exports continue to outpace imports for the third consecutive month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, August 7.

The state-run statistics agency said total export sales during the month grew by 1.5 percent to $6.01 billion from $5.92 billion in June 2018.

It attributed the growth to increases in the export sales of cathodes and section of cathodes; of refined copper (41.7 percent); fresh bananas (24.4 percent); ignition wiring set and other wiring sets used in vehicles, including

aircraft and ships (17.6 percent); gold (10.1 percent); electronic products (4.3 percent); machinery and transport equipment (3.0 percent); and other mineral products (1.1 percent).

Total value of imported goods, meanwhile, contracted by 10.4 percent to $8.48 billion in June from $9.47 billion year-on-year.

PSA attributed the decline to decrements in nine major import commodities. These are iron and steel (-40.3 percent); cereals and cereal preparations (-29.4 percent); industrial machinery and equipment (-20.7 percent); plastic in primary and non-primary forms (-16.4 percent); transport equipment (-12.6 percent); telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (-12.2 percent); mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-7.0 percent); other food and live ani-

mals (-6.7 percent); and miscellaneous manufactured articles (-0.1 percent).

Total external trade in goods in June decreased by 5.8 percent to $14.49 billion from $15.39 billion a year ago.

In a statement on Wednesday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the government must exert all efforts in boosting domestic demand and exports’ competitiveness to improve the country’s trade performance, as global growth would likely to remain sluggish for the rest of the year.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia partly attributed the external trade slowdown to ongoing trade disputes, Brexit-related uncertainties and rising geopolitical tensions.

PAGE D2

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Inflation hits 2-yr low; BSP seen to cut rates

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NAIA Consortium bares 4-year plan for airport rehab

Inquirer.net file photo

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

STABLE food prices, especially declining retail prices of rice, further eased inflation to a two-year low of 2.4 percent in July, the government reported Tuesday, August 6.

The increase in prices of basic commodities last month matched the rate posted in July 2017. Last month’s headline inflation rate was also the lowest recorded since the 2.2 percent in December 2016.

“The main driver in the downward trend of inflation in July was food and nonalcoholic beverages,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told a press conference.

In the case of rice, the Filipino staple registered a third straight month of declining prices—down 2.9 percent year-on-year in July,

1.7 percent in June and 0.7 percent in May, he said, noting that the last time that rice prices declined year-on-year was in June 2016.

As such, market watchers are all but certain that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will take advantage of the stable price environment to further cut interest rates tomorrow and give the local economy a growth boost.

In a statement, the central bank said the July 2019 rate of price increases “is consistent with the BSP’s prevailing assessment that inflation will continue to decelerate in the third quarter before firmly settling within the target range of 3 percent, plus or minus 1 percentage point for 2019 and 2020.”

With its policy-making Monetary Board deciding on interest rates on Thursday, August 8, the central bank said that ample

domestic food supply conditions have supported the continued easing of price pressures.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s Mapa said that rice prices last year were “really high” such that they dropped during the past three months.

The government had also attributed the dip in prices to the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law since March, which allowed easier entry of cheaper imports to slash domestic rice prices.

Also, Mapa pointed to a yearon-year decline in prices of corn, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, while price increases eased for oils and fats, vegetables and other food products that month.

Besides food, Mapa said the other contributors to July’s lower inflation included slower yearPAGE D3

PH trade deficit narrows further to $2.47B...

PAGE D1 t “Despite the challenging external environment, the Philippines has shown resilience in its trade performance. The Philippines is among the countries in Asia with positive export growth,” he said.

“The government must continue promoting the competitiveness of the Philippine exports by implementing policies and laws, such as the Philippine Innovation Act. This will encourage innovation that will reduce the cost of production and elevate the quality of Philippine products to meet

international standards,” Pernia added.

The NEDA chief also said that, because of pessimistic global trade prospects, it was necessary to diversify markets and boost domestic demand to compensate for the weakness of external trade.

He also reiterated his agency’s call to diversify products and markets by establishing new trade relations and improving existing ones with strategic partners.

“In light of the current trade spat between [South] Korea and

Japan, we need to complete the negotiations for the free-trade agreement with South Korea and review the decades-old Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement to further expand the country’s exports in both markets,” Pernia said.

Also, “the government has been fast-tracking the implementation of infrastructure projects under the Build, Build, Build program to enhance trade facilitation and provide logistical support to manufacturers and exporters,” he added. n

Under the revised proposal which was endorsed last Friday by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), the NAIA Consortium intends to undertake in phases upgrades and rehabilitation works at the gateway during the first four years upon getting clearance to start work.

Philstar.com file photo by richmOnd

mercuriO Philstar.com

THE country’s biggest conglomerates which banded together to end congestion problems at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have laid down a four-year plan in its latest proposal to bring significant improvements at the country’s main international gateway.

Under the revised proposal which was endorsed last Friday,

August 2, by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), the NAIA Consortium intends to undertake in phases upgrades and rehabilitation works at the gateway during the first four years upon getting clearance to start work.

“It will be in three phases over four years,” Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben

Reinoso told The STAR, whose department reviewed “line by line” the NAIA Consortium’s revised proposal to see if it conformed with the terms of the concession agreement for the operation and maintenance contract of the Clark international airport.

A representative from the consortium declined to comment and give further details on the group’s plans, saying it may still change during the ongoing review procPAGE D3

Only 21% of women in Ph have savings...

PAGE D1 t a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and rest, avoiding vices, keeping themselves hydrated at all times, taking vitamins, and engaging in physical activities and sports.

However, she said only 23 percent of the respondents avail of health and wellness services, while only 12 percent do regular consultations with doctors.

As a result, Azura said eight out of 10 Filipinas believe they are healthy because they have access to healthy living, and that their families motivate them to be healthy.

“In our culture, Filipino women take on the default role of taking care of the sick family mem-

ber. They are expected to care for and nurture the sick, and this holds true, whether the women work full time, or stay at home to take care of the family. But when asked about future concerns on health, these women said they are more concerned with cardiovascular diseases, followed by diabetes and cancer,” Azura said.

The InLife Sheroes Landmark Study on Women, undertaken by the Philippine Survey and Research Center (PSRC), was commissioned in order to have a deeper understanding of the Filipinas, their attitudes, knowledge, awareness and practices with regard to finances and health, according to Azura.

She said the study has given InLife an opportunity to plan the next set of actions through the four focus areas of Sheroes — financial education, health and wellness, connection to business and social networks, and women-specific solutions.

“We are intensifying our efforts by developing our own financial education course for women, which is co-branded with the Philippine Business Coalition on Women Empowerment or PBCWE,” Azura said.

“We have also partnered with PLDT and Smart’s Gabay Guro Foundation to deliver the financial education module to about 20,000 teachers who are part of their Foundation.” n

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PH factory output dips for 7th straight month Senate seen meeting DOF timetable

for remaining tax reform packages

by anna Leah

e. GOnzaLes ManilaTimes.net

THE country’s manufacturing output, both in volume and value, declined for the seventh consecutive month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.

Results of the latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed that the volume of production index (VoPI) contracted by 10.5 percent in June from last year’s 9.8-percent expansion.

It was also worse than May’s 9.9percent decline.

PSA blamed the contraction on annual decreases in 11 major industry groups, led by petroleum products (-69.3 percent), furniture and fixtures (-40.5), and basic metals (-18.3).

Other groups that recorded declines were electrical machinery, machinery except electrical, food manufacturing, non-metallic mineral products, tobacco products, textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, and leather products.

The value of production index (VaPI), meanwhile, dropped by 9.6 percent, reversing the 10.9percent expansion in June last year and worse than the 9.1-percent contraction in May. “The decline of VaPi in June 2019 can be attributed to the decreases in the indices or three major industry groups led by petroleum products (-69.9 percent), basic metals (-23.0 percent), and leather products (-20.0 percent).

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said efforts to improve the business environment should be increased up to improve the country’s manufacturing sector.

“We need to instill a sense of urgency in government to implement economic reforms,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

THE Senate is “ready” to heed the call of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III to pass the remaining packages of the comprehensive tax reform program within 15-18 months.

“I’ve always been a hard worker and my main job is to provide the information that my colleagues need to be able to make informed decisions. I’m ready to do it,” Senate ways and means committee chair Pia Cayetano told the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia Manilatimes.net file photo Inquirer Wednesday, August 7, when asked if the Finance chief’s Ernesto M. Pernia said in a state- will also soften the risk to the sup- timetable was doable. ply of raw materials for the food ment.

Cayetano said “15 to 18 “Manufacturing output [is likely manufacturing subsector. months—if you have regular hearAs of end-July, only nine prov- ings, that’s a good time. But I don’t to] remain muted in the near term as business and consumer out- inces are expected to experience want to give the impression to my look for the third quarter of 2019 drought, compared to 32 provinc- colleagues that I’m rushing them. es as of end-June. turned less upbeat,” he added.

I want them to know that I will be “The government has been available to have these hearings.

Production, the NEDA chief said, could be stifled as the sea- working to strengthen the trans- And I know the DOF [Department sonal slack in domestic demand port and logistics sector as it is of Finance] people have made and business activities during the crucial to prop up manufacturing themselves available to give techrainy season limits overall manu- growth,” Pernia said. nical briefings.”

A joint administrative order facturing growth.

Last week, Dominguez said “Moving forward, domestic de- among various relevant agencies the DOF wanted the pending tax mand expansion is needed to sup- has been proposed, which aims reform packages tackled in Conport the growth of manufacturing, to reduce shipping costs and port gress and passed within the next especially given the slowdown in congestion.

15-18 months—before legislators “The passage of the amend- get busy with their preparations global demand” he added.

“The now-markedly slower ment to the Public Service Act is for the 2022 national elections. inflation rate, which is back to expected to encourage competi“That is our target because re[within the] government’s target tion in the air, maritime and road alistically speaking once you hit range, bodes well for producers of transport, as well as logistics serv- 2021…everybody starts focusing manufactured goods,” he added, ices, and enhance the productivity on something else,” he said. referring to the 2.4-percent con- and efficiency of service delivery,” The pending tax reform packsumer prime growth rate record- Pernia said. ages had been refiled in the 18th The recent issuance of the im- Congress by House ways and ed for July, which falls within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2.0- plementing rules and regulations means committee chair and Albay of the Ease of Doing Business and Rep. Joey Salceda, Camarines Sur to 2.8-percent range.

According to Pernia, the signifi- Efficient Government Service De- Rep. LRay Villafuerte and Quirino cant reduction in the intensity of livery Act is also expected to adthe El Niño weather phenomenon dress bureaucratic concerns. n

Inflation hits 2-yr low; BSP seen to cut...

PAGE D2 t on-year increases in prices of firewood, charcoal and jeepney fare, while prices of domestic air fare, petroleum and fuels for personal transport equipment, electricity and LPG declined that month.

For his part, ING Bank Manila’s senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the latest data provided evidence of a continued trend of slowing inflation in the Philippines.

“With the US Federal Reserve cutting rates by 25 basis points last Wednesday, it is widely ex-

pected by the market that the Philippine central bank will [also] be cutting rates this Thursday,” he said.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier told Bloomberg News that he saw up to 50 basis pints worth of rate cuts for the balance of 2019.

“We welcome this decelerating trend in prices but we remain on guard against possible upside risks such as adverse weather conditions, possible entry of the African swine fever and uncertainty in the global oil market,

among others,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a statement.

“Government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trad e and Industry and the National Food Authority should ensure sufficient supply of basic food commodities in view of the expected tropical cyclones that will enter the Philippine area of responsibility,” added Pernia, who heads the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority. n

Inquirer.net file photo

Rep. Junie Cua as tax measures had to emanate from the lower chamber.

The remaining packages included package 1C, raising the motor vehicle user’s charge coupled with lifting bank secrecy and automatic exchange of information to implement general tax amnesty; package 2 known as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and HighQuality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill, reducing corporate income tax rates while rationalizing fiscal incentives for investors; package 2 plus for higher excise on alcoholic products, heated tobacco and vapor products; package 3 reforming the property valuation system, and package 4 on capital income taxation.

President Duterte green-lighted three tax packages, including the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act that took effect last year.

The TRAIN law slashed personal income tax rates but jacked up or slapped new excise taxes on consumption of cigarettes, oil, sugary drinks, motor vehicles and cosmetic procedures, among others.

In February, the President

signed into law package 1B under Republic Act (RA) No. 11213 or the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, paving the way for the ongoing estate tax and delinquencies amnesties.

Last month, Duterte signed RA 11346 which further jacked up cigarette excise and imposed levies on e-cigarettes and vapes.

The proposal for a comprehensive tax reform program was first espoused by Dominguez’s predecessor, Cesar V. Purisima, who before the end of the Aquino administration pitched the DOF’s plan, only to be rejected, as it came too close to campaign season for the 2016 national elections.

While the proposal to cut personal income tax rates would appeal to voters, it was feared that slapping higher levies—including hiking the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 14 percent—would shed votes for the then administration bet Mar Roxas, as what had happened to Ralph Recto who lost his Senate reelection bid after he sponsored the VAT increase to 12 percent years back.

The Sin Tax Reform of 2012 was the only tax measure passed under the Aquino administration.n

NAIA Consortium bares 4-year plan...

PAGE D2 t ess.

The NAIA Consortium will still have to secure the go signal from the ICC and the NEDA board before a Swiss challenge for the project could commence.

Having been granted with the original proponent status, the consortium has the right to match better offers submitted by other proponents once a Swiss challenge is undertaken for the project.

The NAIA Consortium’s P102 billion unsolicited proposal aims to transform NAIA into a regional airport hub and expand its capac-

ity to meet the anticipated growth in passenger traffic from the strong economies of the Philippines and the region.

Back in September 2018, the Consortium said it could increase NAIA’s capacity to 47 million by 2020 and to 65 million by 2022 should they get clearance to start work late that year.

It also said then that Filipinos could expect a better airport experience as early as the third year from the time the group commences rehabilitation work.

NAIA has a design capacity of 31 million passengers, but it has been accommodating more than

its capacity in the last few years.

A revised proposal from the consortium to rehabilitate, upgrade, expand, operate, and maintain the aging NAIA for 15 years was accepted by the DOTr on May 1, and was then submitted to the NEDA for review a few weeks after.

However, the unsolicited proposal was returned by the government to the group early last month following a decision to require all proponents of unsolicited airport projects to pattern their concession agreements after the operation and maintenance contract of the Clark International Airport. n

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‘Philippines vulnerable to US-China Exports, imports down in first half trade tension, currency war’

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

by Lawrence

agcaOiLi Philstar.com

THE Philippines is vulnerable to the full-blown trade war between the U.S. and China as well as the ongoing global currency war, according to S&P Global Ratings.

S&P director Andrew Wood, in a live webcast said the heightened trade tension between Washington and Beijing could complicate things in emerging markets, including the Philippines, particularly in terms of economic growth and monetary policy settings.

“Of course things are complicated slightly by the recent developments in the global currency markets vis-à-vis China and the United States,” Wood said.

Although the Philippines is not one of the largest trade countries in the region and not an extraordinary trade oriented economy, Wood said the currency war and the trade tension would have some downward pressures on the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in emerging markets.

“We do have these downside risks to global GDP growth growing over time and we also have regional trade momentum slowing and that will have some impact on all economies in the region. So in the Philippines too there are some downside risks,” he said.

Economic managers retained the country’s GDP growth target at six to seven percent this year despite slowing down to a four-year low of 5.6 percent in the first quarter from 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter due to the delayed passage of the 2019 national budget.

Economists have penned a below six percent GDP growth in the second quarter as government spending has yet to pick up.

According to Wood, the peso has been weakening over the past few weeks as it returned back to the 51 to $1 level after momentarily breaching the 50 to $1.

“There has been some downward pressure on the peso over the past week and that will have an impact on the country’s macroeconomic outlook,” he said.

According to Wood, the peso and the Indian rupee are vulnerable to downward pressure from the ongoing currency war.

“The Philippines and India

have relatively strong external profiles, stronger than Indonesia, but they have proven to be relatively vulnerable when we do have these global contagion effects in the currency markets in the past. So the peso and Indian rupee could also be somewhat vulnerable to downward pressure,” Wood said.

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at China after it allowed the yuan to depreciate below the landmark seven-per-dollar level for the first time in more than a decade.

China was called a currency manipulator after Monday’s (August 5) 1.4 percent drop in the yuan or days after the U.S. imposed 10 percent tariffs on the remaining $300 billion Chinese imports starting Sept. 1.

China lets yuan drops China decided Monday to meet President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat with defiance, letting its currency drop to an 11year low and halting purchases of U.S. farm products.

The moves, which came four days after Trump threatened more taxes on Chinese imports, knocked stock markets worldwide into a tailspin. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 850 points by mid-afternoon.

Earlier, stocks tumbled from Shanghai to London on fears the escalation in U.S.-China trade tension will drag down a global economy that is already weakening.

Raising worries that China will wield its currency as a weapon in a trade war, Beijing let the Chinese yuan weaken to the politically sensitive level of seven to the U.S. dollar for the first time since February 2008.

After financial markets closed Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it was labeling China a currency manipulator for the first time since 1994.

Also Monday, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that Chinese companies have stopped buying U.S. farm products — a direct shot at Trump supporters in rural America.

Together, the currency devaluation and suspension of farm purchases suggest that China has decided to stand tough, rather than cave in Trump’s threats.

“The Chinese side won’t submit to the U.S.,” tweeted Hu

Xijin, editor-in-chief of China’s hardline Global Times newspaper.

The weaker yuan makes Chinese exports less expensive in foreign markets. It also helps offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products.

The Chinese currency hit 7.0391 to the dollar by late afternoon, making one yuan worth 14.2 cents. The level of seven to the dollar has no economic significance but carries significant symbolic weight.

“The thought of a currency war is crossing more than a few traders’ minds,” Stephen Innes of VM Markets said in a report.

Trump promptly took to Twitter to denounce the move as “currency manipulation.” He added, “This is a major violation which will greatly weaken China over time.”

China’s central bank blamed the yuan’s drop on “trade protectionism” — an apparent reference to Trump’s threat last Thursday to impose tariffs Sept.

1 on the $300 billion in Chinese imports to the United States in addition to the $250 billion he’s already targeted.

The U.S. and China are engaged in a bitter dispute over allegations that Beijing steals trade secrets and pressures foreign companies to hand over technology as part of an aggressive campaign to make Chinese companies world leaders in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The weakness of the yuan, also known as the renminbi, or “people’s money,” is among U.S. grievances against Beijing.

American officials complain that a weak yuan gives Chinese exporters an unfair price edge in foreign markets and helps swell the massive U.S. trade deficit with China.

The U.S. Treasury Department declined in May to label China a currency manipulator but urged Beijing to take steps “to avoid a persistently weak currency” and warned that it would be watching closely.

China’s central bank sets the exchange rate each morning and allows the yuan to fluctuate by 2 percent against the dollar during the day. The central bank can buy or sell currency — or order commercial banks to do so — to dampen price movements. n

MERCHANDISE exports rose for the third straight month in June while imports contracted also for three consecutive months, auguring well for second-quarter economic growth.

Even as exports inched up during the second quarter, the value of Philippine-made goods sold abroad during the first six months declined 0.8 percent to $34.11 billion from $34.4 billion a year ago, the latest preliminary data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Wednesday showed.

Meanwhile, end-June imports declined by 1 percent to $53.12 billion from $53.63 billion last year.

Since imports continued to exceed exports, the balance of trade in goods remained at a deficit, but narrower by 1.2 percent at $19 billion in the first half from $19.24 billion a year ago.

In June alone, the value of imported products that entered the country dropped 10.4 percent year-on-year to $8.48 billion, the biggest decline so far this year and reversing the 29.9-percent jump posted during the same month last year.

On the other hand, goods exports rose 1.5 percent year-onyear to $6.01 billion in June, the fastest monthly growth recorded thus far in 2019 but still slower than a year ago’s 3.7-percent increase.

National Economic Development Authority Inquirer.net file photo

As such, the trade-in-goods deficit during the month of June slid by 30.4 percent to $2.47 billion.

Between January and June, the top three destinations of Philippine exports were the United States ($5.61 billion, up 9.7 percent year-on-year), Japan ($5.14 billion, down 1.8 percent) and China ($4.59 billion, up 7.7 percent).

First-half imports to the Philippines were dominated by Chinese goods, which at $11.8 billion accounted for more than a fifth of the six-month total and grew 14.3 percent year-on-year.

While imports from Japan and South Korea followed those from China, shipments from the two countries dropped 7.8 percent year-on-year to $5.01 billion and 20.4 percent to $4.31 billion, respectively.

“Despite the challenging external environment, the Philippines has shown resilience in its trade

performance. The Philippines is among the countries in Asia with positive export growth,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

For Pernia, who heads the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), “considering the less optimistic global trade prospects, it is necessary to diversify markets and boost domestic demand to compensate for the weakness of external trade.”

Also, “in light of the current trade spat between Korea and Japan, we need to complete the negotiations for the free trade agreement with South Korea and review the decade-old Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement to further expand the country’s exports to both markets,” the NEDA chief added.

According to Pernia, “the government has been fast-tracking the implementation of infrastructure projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program to enhance trade facilitation and provide logistical support to manufacturers and exporters.”

“However, only 11 of 38 Neda board-approved project proposals out of the 75 infrastructure flagship projects are now in the construction phase. Further speeding up the rollout of approved projects and processing of those in the flagship list are called for to boost government spending to provide needed stimulus to economic growth,” Pernia said. n

IRR for EoDB law take effect

by TyrOne Jasper

c. piad

ManilaTimes.net

FIFTEEN days after its publication, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Effective Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, are now effective, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said recently.

In a statement, ARTA said IRR’s effectivity fortified the enforcement of the EoDB law, especially now that clearer guidelines prohibiting red tape were now provided.

ARTA called on government agencies to strictly follow the EoDB law and make sure they categorized the transactions according to the specified policies. RA 11032 sets the prescribed processing period: simple business transactions

should be completed within three working days, seven for complex transactions, and 20 for highly technical processes.

The agency, in turn, vowed to create a regulatory management system to help government agencies in crafting and finalizing policies seen to fast-track the processing of transactions.

Besides this, ARTA stressed that erring government agencies would be properly sanctioned.

First-time offenders could be given administrative liability with a six-month suspension. Second offense constitutes administrative and criminal liability with a penalty of at least P500,000, but not more than P2 million, up to six years’ imprisonment and dismissal from service, among others.

Should the government unit or agency fail to complete the processing within the prescribed

period, it will be penalized and the application would be automatically approved. ARTA also created a special task force dedicated to eradicating the so-called fixers, which it described as evident in many government agencies.

On July 17, the IRR of EoDB law was signed by ARTA, along with the Department of Trade and Industry and Civil Service Commission.

Former consultant to the Office of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Jeremiah Belgica was named as ARTA’s first full-fledged director general on July 3, which was already more than a year since RA 11032 was signed into law. Former Department of Trade and Industry – Consumer Protection Group Assistant Secretary Ernesto Perez was put in charge as ARTA awaited the appointment. n

D AUGUST 10-13, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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