082419 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

AUGUST 24-27, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 64 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

Philippines, China to sign agreements on DATELINE USA education, economic and social development FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by DARRYL JOHN

ESGUERRA

Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and China are scheduled to sign bilateral agreements in the field of education, science and technology, and economic and social development when President Rodrigo Duterte makes his visit to Beijing next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday, August 23.

Speaking at a pre-departure briefing in Malaca“Magkasama Tayo Aangat (Together We Rise)” by Eliseo Silva

ñang, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre said Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping will witness the signing of “a number of cooperative bilateral documents and memorandum of understanding.”

The DFA official, however, noted that some of the deals are still on the “vetting” stage.

“There are several agreements that are in the pipeline. Some of them are on the final stages of vetting but I cannot give you a specific number.

It pertains to education, science and technology,

and economic and social development,” Montealegre said.

Duterte will embark on a working visit to China next week, the fifth time he will visit the country since assuming office in 2016.

The president will leave on August 28 for Beijing where he will meet Xi for the eighth time. He is also scheduled to receive a call from Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan.

The Chinese vice president will also accompau PAGE A2

explores Filipino migration in the U.S. Photo courtesy of Eliseo Silva

Sandigan drops LA-based Filipino artist unveils mural Mamasapano raps vs on Sacramento State Benigno Aquino III campus depicting Fil-Am migration, identity

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A Los Angeles-based Filipino artist recently completed a new mural in the California State University, Sacramento campus.

Eliseo Silva’s “Magkasama Tayo Aangat (Together We Rise),” unveiled on Sunday, August 18, is a tribute to Filipino migration, particularly by Filipina women, in the United States and the merging of the Filipino and American cultures.

“Like my own migration story, the mural depicts a multigenerational experience that many Filipinos can relate to,” Silva told the Asian Journal.

Located on the entrance of the college’s Brighton Hall, the 22” x 48” mural was completed over the course of 10 days beginning in early August.

Vince Sales, arts curator for the Philippine National Day Association’s (PNDA) Lau PAGE A3

US slams ‘bullying’ in South China Sea

WASHINGTON – The White House accused China of “bullying tactics” in the increasingly tense waters of the South China Sea and said it would resist Beijing on the dispute.

“China’s recent escalation of efforts to intimidate others out of developing resources in the South China Sea is disturbing,” President Donald Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton tweeted.

“The United States stands firmly with those who oppose coercive behavior and bullying tactics which threaten regional peace and security.”

China has been accused of deploying warships, arming island outposts and ramming fishing vessels in the resource-rich sea, also contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Washington has repeatedly criticized China’s attempts to exert growing dominance in the disputed waters, but Bolton’s latest broadside comes as the two economic superpowers face off in a damaging trade war.

In Manila, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said that while President Duterte may have been displeased by reports of Chinese incursion into Philippines waters, his administration has not given up on peaceful means to resolve any conflict with Beijing.

“I think it has something to do with Ship Identification System… when they pass

THE anti-graft court Sandiganbayan this week dismissed the graft and usurpation charges filed against former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III over the 2015 Mamasapano massacre.

In a six-page resolution promulgated on Thursday, August 22, the Sandiganbayan 4th Division dropped the charges upon the request of Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who said that there was no sufficient ground and evidence to charge Aquino.

The former president had been accused of violating of Section 3 (a) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, and usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

“Considering that the records of the present cases are bereft of any evidence that would merit further proceedings as against accused Aquino...the u PAGE A2

SOLAR-DIESEL POWER PLANT. President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated on Wednesday, August 21 the P550-million Tumingad Solar Power Project, the country’s first and largest hybrid solar-diesel microgrid with battery facility. Speaking before the attendees of the inauguration rites, President Duterte said the commercial operation of the 7.5-MWp hybrid solar-diesel power plant will pave the way to a greener tomorrow for Romblon and the rest of the country. It is a milestone, he said, not only for the people of the province but also for the environment.

Malacañang photos by Richard Madelo

Trump says he’s ‘seriously’ looking to end US birthright citizenship

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

President Donald Trump said he is “very seriously” considering putting an end to U.S. birthright citizenship, which grants legal citizenship to those born in the country regardless of where their parents were born.

“Where you have a baby on our land — you walk over the border, have a baby.

Congratulations, the baby is now a U.S.

citizen,” Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, August 21.

“We’re looking at that very seriously, birthright citizenship,” Trump added.

“It’s — It’s, frankly, ridiculous.”

Trump last publicly criticized birthright citizenship in October 2018 in an interview with Axios, describing birthright citizenship as “a magnet for illegal immigration” and what he called “anchor babies.”

He suggested the idea of eliminating it u PAGE A2

Supreme Court distances from Sanchez case, clarifies it only interpreted the law Former DFA chief Yasay released on bail after arrest tied to bank case Former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Supreme Court on Friday, August 23, distanced itself from the reported possible release of convicted rapist and murder Antonio Sanchez, clarifying that it did not order the release of the former mayor.

According to SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka, the high court ruled only on the retroactive application of RA 10592, which expanded the application of good conduct and time allowance for prisoners.

“The Supreme Court did not order the release of Mayor Sanchez in its recent decision,” said Hosaka in a press briefing.

He added, “In those cases, the primary u PAGE A5 issue was the legality of the Implement-

ing Rules and Regulations of RA 10592 which provided for the prospective application of the said law.”

RA 10592 was initially to be applied prospectively, which means its provisions will only cover cases from the time it was enacted in 2013.

However, the en banc declared the law should be applied retroactively in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.

Hosaka said that the SC ruled that the law should have retroactive application as it had the effect of reducing the sentences of qualified prisoners, making the law advantageous to them.

“Thus, the Supreme Court struck down the IRR and ruled that RA 10592 be applied retroactively, because it had the effect of lowering or reducing the senu PAGE A2

by AJPRESS Former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. posted bail on Friday, August 23 after his arrest for several alleged violations in relation to the now-defunct Banco Filipino.

Yasay, along with five other officials, were arrested on Thursday after criminal charges were filed in a Manila court for allegedly violating banking laws.

The former secretary paid

P60,000 for each of his four cases, totaling to P240,000.

The former secretary is accused of violating Republic Acts 8791 and 7653 or the General Banking Law and the New Central Bank Act, for his involvement in an anomalous loan from Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgages Bank.

Yasay, however, argued that the incident occurred between 2003 and 2006, while he joined the bank three years later.

“To all my friends, allow me to inform you that I am now being u PAGE A3

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From the Front Page

Trump says he’s ‘seriously’ looking to...

PAGE A1 t

nize birthright citizenship or via executive order and argued “jus soli (law of the soil).” that the U.S. was “the only counFollowing Trump’s Wednestry in the world where a person day comments, many again comes in and has a baby, and also emphasized that birthright the baby is essentially a citizen citizenship was a right granted of the United States.” through the U.S. Constitution Many were quick to correct since 1868.

Trump in pointing out that at Section 1 of the Constitution’s least 30 other countries recog- 14th Amendment says: “All per-

sons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they reside.”

Ending birthright citizenship through executive order has been said to be unconstitutional, including by James Ho, a conservative federal appeals court judge who was appointed

by Trump to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to Ho’s appointment in 2006, he wrote a paper highlighting how revoking birthright citizenship despite the clear language of the amendment would raise constitutional questions.

“Opponents of illegal immigration cannot claim to champion the rule of law and then, in the same breath, propose policies that violate our Constitution,” wrote Ho. “The birthright is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers,” he added.

On Twitter, several lawmakers criticized Trump for considering stepping over his Constitutional powers.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris responded to Trump on Wednesday in a tweet that read, “The President should ‘seriously’ consider reading the Constitution.”

“Trump said he’s ‘seriously’ considering ending birthright citizenship — a right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment,” she said in another tweet on Friday. “This type of attack isn’t new, which is why I’ve been discussing this issue since 2010.

We must fight back.”

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, another Democratic presidential candidate, suggested on Twitter that Trump’s comments were being made to distract people from other issues resulting from the current administration.

“Trump is talking about Greenland and racist policies like ending birthright citizenship to take your eyes off the ball — off an economy that’s beginning to crater; off a trade war that’s wreaking havoc on farmers across America; off his cruel desire to take away your healthcare,” tweeted O’Rourke. n

Philippines, China to sign...

PAGE A1 t

ny Duterte when he watches the Philippine national basketball team game against Italy in the 2019 Fiba World Cup on August 31 in Guangzhou, China.

Aside from raising the coun-

try’s arbitral victory against China in the South China Sea dispute, Duterte earlier said he would also push for the “exploitation of natural resources” in the West Philippine Sea through the joint oil explora-

tion deal with Beijing.

The Philippines and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for oil and gas exploration during Xi’s state visit to the country last year. n

Sandigan drops Mamasapano raps vs...

PAGE A1 t Court finds that the dismissal of the said cases is indeed warranted,” the resolution read.

“Wherefore, premises considered, the subject Motion to Withdraw case Information is hereby granted. Accordingly, the criminal cases filed against Benigno Simeon Aquino III... are dismissed without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate charge/s against him,” it added.

Division chairman Associate Justice Alex Quiroz penned the resolution with the concurrence of Associate Justices Reynaldo Cruz and Ronald Moreno.

Aquino was charged with graft and usurpation by thenombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales in November 2017 for allowing the participation of sacked police chief Alan Purisima in the operation even

though Purisima was already suspended at the time.

The operation led to the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) policemen.

Earlier, Martires slammed his predecessor for filing the charges, stressing that the president cannot usurp the power of a subordinate nor influence or induce a subordinate to act against the law.

“He’s the president of the Philippines, he got all the power, how can he usurp the power of policemen who were his subordinates. He’s the commander-in-chief... He can anytime take over the functions of the chief PNP,” Martires said after the hearing of his motion to withdraw the cases.

The withdrawal of Aquino’s cases came as a setback for the families of the SAF 44, who wanted to charge Aquino with

44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Represented by administration ally Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), the SAF 44 asked the Supreme Court to change the charges.

The appeal is backed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“Nothing can prevent us from re-filing a complaint. But we will first wait for the decision of the Supreme Court because as you know, we have a certiorari case saying that the former ombudsman exercised grave abuse of discretion, so out of respect and deference to the highest court, let us wait first on its ruling,” VACC lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said.

Martires, for his part, said the Office of the Ombudsman “will entertain” a refiled complaint as well as “investigate it.” n

Supreme Court distances from Sanchez...

PAGE A1 t tences of qualified prisoners, hence, advantageous to them,” he said.

The spokesman also stressed that the policy to increase good conduct and time allowances to qualified prisoners stemmed from RA 10592 itself and not from the tribunal.

“Finally, the implementation of RA 10592 is not within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court,” he said.

“Like all laws, it is to be implemented and executed by the executive branch of government. Again, the judiciary merely interpreted the law and ruled that it can be applied retroactively,” Hosaka added.

Sanchez not eligible Malacañang on Friday said convicts serving sentences

for heinous crimes, such as in the case of Sanchez, are not eligible for early release from prison.

The statement came following a review of RA 10592.

“A review of Republic Act No. 10592 or the law on Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), which amends the Revised Penal Code on the computation of the duration of imprisonment based on an offender’s good conduct, reveals that it is categorical in excluding recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and persons charged with heinous crimes from the benefit of its coverage. This is the letter and the spirit of the law,” said Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“Thus, the inevitable conclusion is that all those convicted

of a heinous crime, including Mr. Antonio Sanchez, would be ineligible and disqualified from availing the benefits of the GCTA,” he added.

It was earlier reported that Sanchez was one of the 11,000 prisoners likely to walk free from prison due to the recent ruling that declared the law on GCTAs should be applied retroactively, or to all cases, even from before the enactment of the measure in 2013.

Sanchez, who was thenmayor of Calauan, Laguna, was convicted in 1995 for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta as well as the murder of Allan Gomez. He was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua. n

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A

Fil-Am caregiver faces charges for taunting 91-year-old dementia patient

by Rae

2020 NATIONAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAM. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III receives the copy of the P4.1-T 2020 National Expenditure Program from the Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary Wendel Avisado on Tuesday, August 20 at the Senate Office.

They were joined by (from left to right) Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

Senate photo

LA-based Filipino artist unveils mural...

PAGE A1 t hiARTS program, said that he pushed for a Fil-Am mural — given that Filipino Americans are the largest Asian American group in the state — to be created during the Wide Open Walls (WOW) festival in Sacramento, considered the largest mural event of its kind in the country.

“The organizer suggested that we have the mural at Sacramento State since there’s an important educational component to the mural. Sacramento State agreed, after my approach, and was receptive because of Eliseo’s body of work and the robust Fil-Am student presence on campus,” Sales shared with the Asian Journal.

One of Silva’s most famous works is the 1995 mural “Filipino Americans: A Glorious History, a Golden Legacy” at Unidad Park in Historic Filipinotown, which is one of the 10 monumental murals in Los Angeles.

After PNDA led the fundraising for the project, Silva came to Sacramento to conduct a “mural in minutes” workshop during the organization’s Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference. He also listened in on other workshops, including one on spoken word, that helped inspire him as he created his latest work.

“The mural also answers these questions posed to the students who joined our workshops: Where I’m from? and Where I’m at?” Sales said. “The visual responses to these two questions are interesting and diverse and you’ll see variations in our journeys in the U.S.” Using vibrant colors and intricate details and patterns, “Magkasama Tayo Aangat (Together We Rise)” shows two

hands — that of a mother on the left and a child on the right to symbolize the duality of the Fil-Am identity. The mother’s hand is holding a fan that represents the rice terraces in the Philippines’ Cordillera region.

The child’s fan references the stripes and stars of the American flag and other prominent landmarks and figures, such as Little Manila in Stockton, San Francisco’s SOMA Pilipinas, and the late historian Dawn Mabalon.

“On one hand, a lot of Filipinas leave the Philippines as caregivers, nurses or nannies and leave their children behind so there’s a physical separation. But when they come here to America, there’s another kind of separation, which is the complete disregard for the Filipino traditions, that’s why the two hands are apart,” Silva described.

In between the two hands is a more realistic-looking woman, who stands for a Maranao princess from the folk tradition of the indigenous Muslim group in Mindanao. Also depicted in the mural are Philippine mythology symbols, the Sarimanok, a protective, lucky bird with a fish caught in its beak, and the Naga, a serpent-dragon creature.

“Even though a lot of us tend to blend in once in America, we should aspire to stand out instead and share our Filipino stories, retain the best traditions from both countries and create new things by embracing both to advance American culture,” Silva added.

Similar to his 1995 mural, it also honors the legacy of the Filipino farmworkers in central California and that their history and contributions should not be forgotten.

Los Angeles-based Filipino American artist Eliseo Silva poses in front of his newly unveiled mural “Magkasama Tayo Aangat (Together We Rise)” at Sacramento State.

Photo courtesy of Eliseo Silva

Former DFA chief...

PAGE A1 t arrested from my house by police officers of Manila on the basis of a warrant of arrest issued by the RTC of Manila Branch 10 for criminal charges that were alleged[ly] committed by officials of Banco Filipino from 2003 to 2006, clearly appearing on the face of the Information filed by the prosecutor, when in truth and in fact I joined the Bank only in 2009,” Yasay posted on Facebook along a mug shot photo of himself.

He previously said in the Facebook post that he would not post bail as he would “ques-

tion this abuse of process and travesty of justice.”

During the term of then-President Fidel Ramos, Yasay was the chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

He served as the first foreign affairs secretary under the Duterte administration on June 30, 2016. However, the Commission on Appointments denied his ad interim appointment in 2017 due to questions about his citizenship.

Yasay was previously a United States citizen, but he claimed that his citizenship was voided after he left his residency. n

Silva was one of three artists who were chosen as part of the campus project during the WOW festival; the other two artists were Miami-based Hoxxoh and Jillian Evelyn, who is also from LA. “Through my work, I hope this will inspire more people to share Filipino stories and art.

A mural is a first step towards that,” the muralist said. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress) n

ann VaRona AJPress

A YOUNG Filipina American caregiver faces charges in a lawsuit filed by an Illinois family this week for a Snapchat video that showed her and another caregiver taunting an elderly woman with dementia.

According to court filings, Filipina American certified nursing assistant (CNA) Jamie Montesa recorded a Snapchat video of fellow CNA Brayan Cortez repeatedly throwing a hospital gown at 91-year-old Margeret Collins who tried to wave it away.

Typed on the video along with two laughing emojis was a caption that read, “Margaret hates gowns!”

Family members of Collins were alerted of the incident after another worker at the Abington of Glenview Nursing and Rehab Center shared the video with them last December. Collins has since been moved to another facility, but family members said she suffered anxiety and nightmares from the incident.

Montesa and Cortez were arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct in January, but face a new civil lawsuit along with the nursing home facility for violating the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, as well as state privacy laws for posting on social media.

The lawsuit was filed Wednes-

Fil-Am caregiver Jamie Montesa Photo courtesy of Glenview Police Department

day, August 21 for over $1 million and states that the nursing home administrators and managers allowed Montesa and Cortez to “mentally and emotionally” abuse Collins.

Instead of providing care to Collins, the lawsuit added that the two workers further used their “position of power and influence to harass, taunt, bully, degrade and take advantage of Margaret.”

Levin & Perconti, the law firm representing Collins, added that residents with dementia like Collins are often targets of elder abuse due to their diminished ability to speak up and communicate.

“This was a sick game the two CNAs decided to play for their own enjoyment,” attorney John Perconti told local Chicago news outlet WGN-TV. “By filing this lawsuit and pursuing this lawsuit, we will prevent this from happening to other individuals in this facility as well as other facilities.”

Collins’ daughter, Joan Biebel, told WGN-TV that staff at the Abington were aware that Collins disliked wearing gowns and preferred wearing her own clothes.

“If they were in her room, they should have been there for a reason — to help her, assist her — not to exploit her and threaten her and demean her and post it on social media,” Biebel told WGN-TV. The Washington Post reported police records showing that Cortez told police that he and Collins had an inside joke about her not wanting to wear hospital gowns, and that he was unaware of Montesa recording the video.

Montesa reportedly told police that she secretly filmed the incident because she thought Collins was uncomfortable.

In a statement, the nursing home said, “Privacy and dignity of our residents are of the utmost concern at The Abington.”

It added that Montesa and Cortez, after a six-day suspension, were fired for violating the nursing home’s standards and policies. n

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Sen. Cory Booker, Mayor Eric Fil-Am professor selected as Faculty Garcetti lead talk on gun violence Fellow for Public Good at Cal State LA

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

IF there was one singular political issue that has defined the 2010s for America, it’s guns. Mass shootings in schools, churches, movie theaters and supermarkets have frequently ignited national conversations on whether or not firearms, particularly assault weapons, should be more strictly regulated by the government, if not banned.

Along with the zeitgeist-defining issues of police brutality and racial profiling, the broader issue of gun violence has escalated into one of the most pressing divisive issues in the country, making the conversation on gun control vs. gun rights as polarizing as the issue of abortion.

At the forefront of this issue is Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who has spent the better part of the decade fighting for “common sense gun reform� on the Senate floor and fighting the formidable influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Capitol Hill. Booker is among the candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination who has vowed to take down the gun lobby and impose stricter regulations on the sale of firearms to the public.

While campaigning in California, Booker sat down with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the pro-gun control organization Moms Demand Action and Black Lives Matter in a roundtable talk in Los Angeles on Thursday, 22 that centered around gun violence in America: its traumatic effects, the importance of accountability and, most crucially, how to prevent and stop the proliferation of mass shootings.

Booker said that he vows to “awaken this sense of urgency because this has to be a movement and a movement to do what we organize governments to do which is to protect our citizenry.�

In May, Booker unveiled a sweeping 14-point gun control plan that would, among other things, establish a licensing program in which individuals must obtain a five-year license in order to purchase and own a firearm.

(Booker’s home state of New Jersey is one of nine states that currently requires a license or permit for certain firearms.)

by AJPress

Senator from New Jersey and 2020 presidential hopeful Cory Booker laments the widespread “impiety of empathy� on the issues of mass shootings and killings of unarmed black Americans by law enforcement during a discussion in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 22 with Mayor Eric Garcetti and representatives from Moms Demand Action and Black Lives Matter.

AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla

The plan also proposes to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks, increase oversight on gun manufacturers and close loopholes that allow individuals on the federal terror watch list to purchase guns. Booker’s plan reflects many of the similar gun control initiatives promoted by other Democrats, including a Democratic bill passed in the House on universal background checks.

Opponents of gun control who advocate for the right to own firearms without the strict regulations proposed by Democrats have criticized plans like Booker’s for a perceived infringement on their constitutional right to bear arms.

Republicans have criticized these ideas for lack of feasibility as well as measures that simply are not needed. President Donald Trump this week claimed that the U.S. has “very strong background checks� and suggested that every gun sale requires a background check, which isn’t true. (Twelve states, including California, impose background checks, but since it’s not federal law, many states don’t conduct them.) “How this is framed by the NRA as common sense ridiculous. With cars, we don’t say, ‘You don’t have to get a license to own and operate a car.’ We as a government say for cars, which are dangerous, too, you have to get trained and be approved and licensed by the government. Why we have that fear when it comes to guns is

absolutely rational,� Garcetti said, praising Booker’s efforts on the hill to curb the NRA’s influence on gun laws in the U.S. According to the nonprofit organization Everytown for Gun Safety, there are 36,383 gun deaths by intent every year in the United States as well as 100,120 injuries. Most recently, the shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, which occurred within less than 24 hours apart, claimed the lives of 31 people in total.

According to data from the FBI, Statistics Canada, Australia Crime Statistics and the Homicide Index Home Office, 73% of all homicides in the U.S. were gun-related in 2017; for perspective, England and Wales’ gun-related homicide rate was 3% in 2017 and 2018, Canada’s was 38% in 2018 and Australia’s was 13% in 2013 and 2014.

In the case of gun violence, the political gridlock on gun laws has defined the current state of American politics, forming a clear ideological line on an issue that has become more politicized as presidential administrations changed and as weapons became more sophisticated.

But the issue isn’t solely about guns but also about the culture of America that has bred violence among many communities across the country. Booker still lives in the Central Ward of Newark, a neighborhood historically plagued by gang violence, and he has said that he still hears gunshots from

u PAGE A5

A FILIPINA American professor has been named one of two faculty fellows at Cal State LA. Melanie Sabado-Liwag, along with Shikha Upadhyaya, was selected as a Faculty Fellow for the Public Good for 2018-20, after a competitive review process by a a team of former faculty fellows.

Sabado-Liwag and Upadhyaya, both assistant professors, are collaborating with community partners and the university’s Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good to address social, economic and health disparities.

An assistant professor of public health, Sabado-Liwag is working with the Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI) and other community organizations to understand their roles in the community.

FASGI is one of the few nongovernmental organizations serving low- income, marginalized, and underserved Filipinos in Los Angeles County. “The role of a culturallyspecific organization, such as FASGI, has a pivotal place in addressing social inequalities and social services gap created by health disparities,� she said.

Through the faculty fellowship, Sabado-Liwag is focused on addressing gaps in services to marginalized groups, and creating strategic plans to guide the enhancement and development of projects that reengage the community.

Melanie Sabado-Liwag

According to Sabado-Liwag, despite being one of the thirdlargest and rapidly expanding ethnic groups, the health needs of Filipinos are poorly understood and underestimated. “The social and economic diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnic groups are often masked, overlooked and deemed as unproblematic,� she said.

Her objective is to inform and build services and resources for the community and existing research on health promotion.

A West Covina resident, Sabado-Liwag holds a Ph.D. in health promotion sciences from the School of Community and Global Health at Claremont Graduate University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health

Cal State LA photo

Disparities in Bethesda, Maryland.

Upadhyaya, who teaches marketing, is working with Ascend to analyze national-level data on experiences related to the implementation of twogeneration programs that empower, educate, and engage low-income families.

The Faculty Fellows for the Public Good program promotes engaged scholarship and interdisciplinary interaction around the central theme of the university and the public good.

Cal State LA is designated an anchor institution by the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities.

The faculty fellows have received funding to complete their research projects during the summers of 2019 and 2020. n

Pastor’s wife deported to Philippines after 20-year quest for US citizenship — report MANILA, Philippines — The United States deported a 66year-old Filipina after a two-decade quest for U.S. citizenship, a Chicago-based radio station reported.

According to a WBEZ 91.5 report on Wednesday, August 21 attempts to stop the deportation of Julita Bartolome by two Democratic lawmakers failed.

Bartolome came to the United States in 1988 as a domestic

worker but overstayed her visa.

Her lawyer, Katherine Del Rosario, told WBEZ that Bartolome lacked access to a good counsel and did not know how to navigate the immigration system until recently. “This case is about a woman with no criminal history and actually a very long history of benevolent volunteerism and involvement in her church and her community.

She’s being sent back to a coun-

try she hasn’t called home for 30 years,� Del Rosario was quoted as saying in the report.

Bartolome’s flight departed Chicago at 1:20 a.m. Friday (Manila time).

Ten-year wait Bartolome lived in Florida until 2000 when she married Edgardo, a widowed father of two.

WBEZ reported that Bartolome

u PAGE A5

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Sen. Cory Booker, Mayor...

PAGE A4 t his home.

“The path to violence often looks like a public health problem.

Cities like Newark, Los Angeles and Oakland are doing things to not only get guns off the streets but also to invest in the communities that are impacted by the violence and by doing the things we know will prevent violence,” Booker said.

As the mayor of Newark, he focused on providing economic resources to education programs, after-school programs and out-

and in the strongest nation on the planet Earth, and we’re telling them that we can’t protect reach initiatives to build relation- you, so we’re going to teach you ships between community lead- in school how to hide or how to ers and neighborhoods impacted shelter in place [in the event of a school shooting],” Booker said. by gun violence.

Booker recognizes the solu- “That’s what this has got to be tions on the sweeping issue of about. Awakening a movement gun violence won’t happen over- in this country for us to protect night, but he urges Americans to ourselves and reclaim American not become desensitized to news freedom: freedom from fear, freeof mass shootings and, instead, dom from violence, freedom from understand that it is an issue to this trauma that hits millions of Americans in this country, and be solved.

“We’re seeing a capitulation to not just those who lose their lives, fear. It should be so unacceptable but the families, communities and to Americans that we’re about the lives that are shattered by gun to send children back to school, violence every single day.” n

US slams ‘bullying’ in South China Sea...

PAGE A1 t through our sea lanes and turn them off. We are able to (only) monitor the commercial vessels,” Nograles said when asked about the President’s unusual reproach on China.

“It came to the attention of the President, they are switching it off when they pass through. I believe that was the context on why there was that announcement,” Nograles said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday that – as ordered by the Chief Executive – foreign ships face “unfriendly” treatment if they continue to enter Philippine territorial waters without proper clearances.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it is ready to enforce the President’s order.

“We are ready to implement orders. We will follow orders and deploy our vessels. We will also collaborate and seek guidance with National Security Council (NSC),” PCG spokesman Captain Armand Balilo told The STAR on Monday.

“We have been monitoring through the National Coast Watch. Regarding issues like this, PCG cannot act without the guidance of the NSC and the DND (Department of National Defense). We are just waiting for the orders. We depend on our monitoring system and the National Coast Watch for all ships passing our territory,” Balilo said.

Speaking at a media forum, Nograles said the President has ordered a thorough monitoring of all ships – commercial and military – passing through Philippines waters.

“That will be the challenge, because the President made

Dateline USa

that pronouncement, it will be up to our security forces,” he said.

“At least we will have a system and mechanism. Documentation also is key here… serious documentation of what we believe as transgressions of our territory,” he added.

Nograles maintained the government would abide by protocols in dealing with trespassing foreign vessels. Filing of a diplomatic protest can be one of these mechanisms, he added.

“We have protocols (to follow), if it’s violation of our internal laws it can be enforced by the police or the Coast Guard. If it’s violation of the law of the seas, or the Fisheries Code, then we rely on the Coast Guard. Anything above that, it will be dealt with by the Navy, especially national security concerns,” he said.

He emphasized the administration is prepared to explore all peaceful options in dealing with disputes with friends in the region.

“We want to explore all possible options, the DFA should also push for all these possible options,” he said. DFA stands for Department of Foreign Affairs.

“So, as friendly neighbors, we can still talk, the lines of communication are still open, that is something that we are currently looking right now,” he said.

“There are many opportunities for us to defuse the tensions right now, because these can just be a matter of misunderstanding. And misunderstandings can be best threshed out if there is healthy talks between good neighbors,” he

pointed out.

Senators, meanwhile, voiced support for President Duterte’s directive to require foreign vessels passing through the country’s waters to seek permission from the government.

“Way to go! The President deserves everybody’s support in regard to this guidance,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said.

He said Duterte’s directive “is unequivocal and clear for all the concerned agencies of government to do what is necessary to deal with any situation relative to the issue.”

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Philippines, as a sovereign nation, should be treated with respect.

“I believe in the golden rule of treating others as how you want to be treated so these nations who want their borders and rules respected should do the same for us,” Zubiri told reporters.

He, however, emphasized that steps should be taken— including modernizing the military and Coast Guard—to ensure the government can monitor foreign vessels straying into the country’s waters.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the committee on foreign relations; and Sen. Christopher Go in separate interviews on Tuesday said the Senate may look into the reported Chinese intrusions.

Pimentel said he has set a briefing with officials of the DFA, headed by Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “We will have also specifics, like what date, what time, what vessel, as well as, how the

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

Pastor’s wife deported to Philippines...

PAGE A4 t was granted a voluntary departure and given 30 days to leave the U.S. after overstaying her visa. She appealed the case but lost.

Del Rosario said Bartolome’s lawyer at the time did not notify his client that the appeal was junked and that the removal was still in effect. During that period, Bartolome moved to Illinois.

In 2002, the couple filed a family petition called I-130, which was granted. Because of the removal order, Bartolome had to wait 10 years to receive a green card.

They refiled the I-130 petition a decade later to apply for a green card.

Taken into custody at interview Bartolome was arrested and taken into custody last month after the couple was called in for the I130 interview by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“Everything about her case is approvable except for the fact that she didn’t get the right advice from the right people at the DFA understands the international law involving the passage through territorial waters, international straits (of such vessels),” he said.

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the intrusion of the vessels and Locsin said the government will not hesitate to file more if warranted.

He said foreign military vessels passing through the country’s waters must give advance notice, as “no sovereign country would want to be surprised by the presence of a military vessel within its territory.” Go said an investigation is in order because “what is ours is ours.”

For Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas II, the issue of China’s incursions should be taken up by Duterte with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet in Beijing from Aug. 28 to Sept.2.

“While we appreciate China’s friendship, the actuations of its ships undermine Philippine sovereignty and, in a sense, threaten the security of the country, particularly those near the affected provinces,” the Mindanao congressman said.

(Christina Mendez/Philstar.com with reports from Paolo Romero, Robertzon Ramirez, Delon Porcalla, Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude, Reuters) n

right time. She tried her best for the last 20 years to gain legal status in the U.S.,” Del Rosario was quoted as saying.

She added: “If [this administration] is not going to exercise discretion on a person like this, who would they exercise discretion for?”

Pastor’s wife Bartolome’s husband is a pastor at Filipino Immanuel Baptist Church of Chicago.

“They go together to minister to people, visit people in the

A

hospital, counsel people or lead Bible studies. And now my dad is planning to resign because he can’t do these things without her,” Aaron, Bartolome’s stepson, told WBEZ. The family now plans to seek an immigrant visa and a waiver so Bartolome can re-enter the United States after the deportation.

The U.S. deported more than 256,000 people in 2018 as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants. n

A August 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

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Dateline PhiliPPines

DoH upholds permanent ban on Dengvaxia

by Joshua

Vera Cruz ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Health (DoH) upheld on Thursday, August 22 the permanent revocation of the certificates of product registration (CPRs) of Dengvaxia, the first vaccine against dengue.

The Health department said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the CPRs because of the failure of French drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur to submit post-approval requirements.

“The decision concerns Sanofi’s complete disregard of FDA regulations, which were precisely put in place by law to ensure safety,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said, even as he clarified that Dengvaxia’s efficacy was not the issue.

While it is true that Sanofi passed its first and second Risk Management Plan (RMP), it did

Photo shows vials of the Dengavaxia vaccines manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur.

ManilaTimes.net file photo

not pass its third but jumped to its fourth RMP. “[RMP contains data about] adverse events na kanilang nakita habang nasa mercado ‘yung

produkto. Itong mga requirement na ito, hindi ito nacomply ng Sanofi (that they monitored while the product is in the market. Sanofi failed to comply with these requirements),” Duque said.

Sanofi, however, said that although it did not pass a third RMP, it submitted a Periodic Benefit Risk Evaluation Report (Pebrer).

But Health Assistant Secretary Charade Marcado-Grande said a periodic report is different.

“What we require is your RMP, because the contents of the Pebrer and the RMP are [different],” the official said.

Duque said the DoH has not closed its doors to a new dengue vaccine, adding that Sanofi can reapply for a certificate of registration.

“They just have to go through [the process], ensuring compliance with FDA,” he said. n

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (left) delivers his message during the opening ceremony of the 7th Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law, held at the Monet Ballroom of the Novotel Hotel Manila, Araneta Center in Quezon City on Thursday, August 22. The conference is considered the biggest international law event in the region as participants all over the world, including members of international tribunals, international law experts, government officials, lawyers and scholars attend the event.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

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File photo shows DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya

Photo courtesy of Philippine Information Agency

DILG downplays militarization on campuses ‘figment of imagination’

by Darwin

PesCo ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, August 21 branded allegations of “militarization” in schools a “figment of the imagination gone overdrive.”

In a statement, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the accusations are “classic communist propaganda which used the politics of fear to portray government as a repressive monster to earn political pogi points from students in order to ‘arouse, organize, mobilize’ the youth sector.”

Malaya said there was noth-

ing wrong with student activism and in fact, all the department wanted to address was Communist recruitment in schools.

Malaya added that using youth idealism and dynamism to encourage armed rebellion against the State was “completely unacceptable.”

“Criticism, protest and resistance is part and parcel of democratic politics,” Malaya said, emphasizing that government is not the “evil monster.”

“We are your parents, siblings, friends and countrymen who love our country as much as you do,” he added.

DILG expressed alarm over reports of alleged missing

students who were recruited to join leftist groups and also that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has now been targeting minors who had been in Senior High School.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that some student organizations from the University of the Philippines and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, have been infiltrated by communist rebels.

Año said a dialogue with state university executives, along with the police and student organizations, would help for their awareness campaign against the recruitment strategies of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP. n

PCSO lost roughly P1.25B due to suspension of STL operations

by DaPhne

GalVez Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — Almost P1.25 billion were lost from this year’s total revenue of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) after operations of its small-town lottery (STL) were suspended for a month.

PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said Friday, August 23 that the amount represents around 5% of its projected 2019 total revenue of P25 billion.

For the first half of 2019, Garma noted that 52% of PCSO’s overall revenue came from STL. “So nung na-suspend siya for a while, that’s one month, so most likely that’s five percent of what they’re supposed to be remitting to PCSO,” Garma told reporters after the House budget hearing on the agency’s 2020 national budget.

“Medyo nawala but it’s okay kasi mas mapapabuti this time sa pagbabalik natin,” she added.

Last July, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the suspension of all PCSO gaming activities such as STL, Keno, Peryhan ng Bayan, and Lotto, among others.

Duterte reinstated lotto operations days after his closure order, and on Thursday, August 22, Malacañang confirmed that the president has directed the lifting of the suspension on STL operations on the condition that certain re-

PCSO General Manager Royina Garma

quirements are met.

But Garma expressed confidence that the lost revenue could still be recouped before the year ends with the opening of STL operations in new areas.

“Wala na ‘yung one month because they didn’t operate.

Philstar.com photo by Marianne Bermudez

Baka ma-offset ‘yan with the opening of new areas of STL,” the PCSO official said.

“And then magkakaroon na ng tamang assessment on how much the area could generate and what is due for PCSO. I think mababawi natin,” she added. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

A

Civilian government workers to enjoy yearly pay hike til ‘22

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

ARRIVAL HONORS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) and Philippine Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command, Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad (left), troop the line during the arrival honors for the BRP Conrado Yap. The warship, a newly-acquired vessel from South Korea, arrived at Pier 13 South Harbor in the city of Manila on Tuesday, August 20.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

BIR the next agency to be cleansed by alexis

rOmerO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue would be the next agency to be cleansed of corruption, President Rodrigo Duterte said, as he called for changes in the way corporate income taxes are assessed because of what he described as high-level corruption.

Duterte said some companies are in cahoots with corrupt examiners and are not paying the right amount of taxes.

“The corruption is at the higher levels. I am monitoring it... well, of course, it affects a lot of Filipinos. Checkpoint, Customs, BIR. So BIR is next,” the president said during the launch of a solar power facility in Romblon.

He said the assessing of tax dues based on the net income of corporations has resulted in leakages that benefit corrupt BIR examiners.

“When we look at the net, net minus deduction... in the end, the examiner will tell you, that is not allowed and after some computations, the tax to be paid will be huge. The examiner will then say we will assess you at P5 million. You give us P2 million, you pay P3 million,” Duterte said.

The president said the income

tax of corporations should be based on gross revenues or the total amount of sales before any deductions.

“There is no cheating when we go for the gross,” Duterte said.

“Before I leave, we will go for the gross. Examiners will question that,” he added.

Duterte previously implemented personnel changes in the customs bureau, an agency he described as one of the “most corrupt” in government. The President has ordered the dismissal of 64 customs personnel facing charges.

“I really insisted. I’m not satisfied with six or seven of you going out. I want the 64 with cases in Customs dismissed. And I will insist on that even if I have to put my foot down as president,” the President said.

Duterte: I will change the government Fed up by what he described as corruption at the upper levels, Duterte promised to “change the government” before he steps down.

He said the Philippines is taking time to develop because of moneyed families who remain in power despite the changes in leadership. He said the military and the police had ousted

administrations but allowed crooked politicians from rival parties to seize power.

“Why did it take so long for us to reach this kind of developmental stage? (The late President Ferdinand) Marcos was good but he allowed the family to intervene. He was really good but all succeeding, the military and police, do not be offended because it’s true,” Duterte said.

“If there are demonstrations and you know democracy is tilting one way or the other, you intervene and join the clamor for change. The problem with the military and the police, after they oust these fools, they give the power to fools from the other side. The politicians who keep on talking, they belonged to previous administrations that did not do anything, the rich,” he added.

Duterte claimed there have been instances when the debt owed by rich families were reduced from billions to millions.

“You know what I want to do before I step down? It might scare you. I will really step down. Just give me five days, do not fuck with me for one week, I will change government,” the president said.

“I won’t leave the Philippines in shambles,” he added. n

CIVILIAN government employees will enjoy yearly salary increases until 2022 or the last year of President Duterte in office under the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5, Acting Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said Friday.

“It is programmed for three years starting 2020, thus the corresponding funding requirements must be included in the annual national expenditure program (NEP),” Avisado told the Inquirer.

In a separate interview, Assistant Secretary Rolando U. Toledo of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) noted that the upcoming SSL 5 could be the shortest, as the previous SSLs had been usually implemented for at least four years.

Toledo said the DBM has yet to determine the total cost to implement SSL 5 in the next three years.

Avisado earlier said the planned SSL 5 had a P31.1-billion funding under the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund in the proposed P4.1-trillion 2020 national budget.

Last Thursday, Avisado told the House appropriations committee that the Office of the President would transmit the proposed measure to Congress next month as the DBM had decided that the salary hike must be covered by a law.

For his part, Toledo said a law would be a “stronger” basis for the annual salary increases—“you will already have a legal basis if it’s a law; if it’s an EO (executive order), there may be changes when the administrations change,” he explained.

Avisado said the amount allocated for next year was based on a survey that the DBM conducted in coordination with the Governance Commission for GovernmentOwned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG).

According to Avisado, the GCG was expected to submit a report in relation to the proposed salary increase within the month.

The lowest salary grade is expected to enjoy a 10-percent increase in pay under the proposal, Avisado said.

Next year’s allocation for another round of salary raise is nonetheless lower than the P51-billion

budget for this year, during which the fourth tranche of SSL 4 was implemented.

The current SSL was implemented during the past four years under EO No. 201 issued by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2016.

The previous administration had lacked time to enact the salary adjustments into law as the mea-

sure came too close to the 2016 national elections The fourth tranche of salary hikes under SSL 4 was nonetheless delayed due to the late passage of the P3.7-trillion 2019 budget.

DBM data provided to the Inquirer showed that as of July, the government had more than 1.2 million civilian workers. n

A8 AUGUST 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

FEATURES

Good conduct

As of Thursday, June 22, it looked like authorities were less inclined to include convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez among the prisoners who may be released soon for good behavior while behind bars.

Court records show that bodyguards of Sanchez had kidnapped two students of the University of the Philippines–Los Baños, Mary Eileen Sarmenta and her friend Allan Gomez. Sarmenta was given by the bodyguards to Sanchez as a “gift” and was raped by the mayor, after which he tossed her to his men who gang-raped her before killing her. Gomez was tortured before being executed.

Also excluded from the good conduct rules are recidivists and habitual delinquents. While serving his seven life terms simultaneously, the former mayor of Calauan, Laguna was slapped with additional charges: for possession of shabu and marijuana in 2006, and then for keeping a kilo of shabu in a statue of the Virgin Mary in 2010. Sanchez allegedly sold P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs to fellow inmates. During raids in 2015, he was among the inmates who were found to have air-conditioning units and flat-screen TVs in their cells.

How can that constitute good behavior, especially in this time of tokhang and Double Barrel?

Sanchez’s lawyer during his trial, now presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, has stressed that he has nothing to do with the possible release of his former client.

People deserve a second chance, but crime victims also deserve justice. Thanks to cases in which perpetrators of even heinous crimes get clemency,

the criminally minded are encouraged. The lament of Mary Eileen Sarmenta’s mother resonates: why does our justice system favor the criminal? (Philstar.com)goodwill.

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica says gifts given in gratitude are okay, but not if these are given in exchange for a favor.

The problem with all these proffered views is that they reduce the issues to simply a matter of opinion.

That is not how the rules for official conduct are designed to be observed. The rules are strict and obligatory In the United States, where the bribery and corruption of public officials have been studied at length, the government came out with the rule that bribery is permissible only to “the extent of something that can be eaten or smoked in a single day.” (Source: William Safire’s Political Dictionary.)

The big problem with President Duterte’s statement is that as president he is our chief implementer or executor of the law. Congress makes the law. And the judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, interprets the law.

In our system of separation of powers, president Duterte has no authority to serve all three functions at once. He should defer to the constitutional order. (ManilaTimes.net)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo photo

Protecting the vulnerable Street Talk and environment: The legacy of Gina Lopez lives on

The Fil-Am Perspective

The pains and joys of aging

GREG B. MACABENTA

GEL SANTOS-RELOS I HAD the privilege of meeting Gina Lopez for the first time in the early 90s when her family welcomed her back after being away for a long long time.

She was among the heirs of the late Eugenio (Geny) Lopez Jr. and Chita Lopez - owners of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.

You probably knew about her through the amazing programs and advocacies she had founded and spearheaded — Bantay Bata, Sineskwela, and the Rehabilitation of Pasig River in her fight to protect the environment.

Regina Paz La’O Lopez went to be with the Lord on August 19 at the young age of 65, after battling brain cancer. But her life story and all the amazing things she has done for the Philippines, the environment, and for humanity live on.

Gina’s journey reminds me of the life of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit religious order, and whose real name was Iñigo Lopez from the village of Loyola in the Basque Country in Spain.

In my visit to Iñigo’s ancestral home where he was born, raised, and had a conversion, I found out that St. Ignatius was born to a wealthy family. When he almost lost his life when he was gravely injured during a battle in Pamplona, he had a conversion and offered his life to something bigger than himself. From being a knight, he chose to be a pilgrim of God. Like St. Ignatius, Gina was born to a rich, powerful, and loving family, and lived a very comfortable and sheltered life. This was why at the age of 18, the high society of Manila was surprised to find out that the second child and eldest daughter of Geny and Chita left home to be a missionary in Portugal, India and Africa.

In an essay she wrote for Rogue on March 2016, Gina shared her journey and the unconventional life choices she made.

Gina wrote that she went to Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Boston, an all-girls school run by nuns. Even then she intimated that she had an interest in meditation. “My inner self had a thirst that was not being quenched,” she wrote.

“Then I met someone in Har-

Gel Santos Relos interviewed Gina Lopez as a guest on The Filipino Channel’s “Balitang America” in September 2010.

vard who recommended I go to an ashram that taught meditation.

When I entered the ashram, apart from the meditation, they had some singing.

I had an experience. I felt something deep. Tears rolled down my cheeks, I felt something I had not felt in church or in school. I had a feeling of Divine Love. That changed my life forever.”

Eventually, Gina left home.

She wrote that it was not because things were not good, but because she “had this urge to do something”.

“I became a full-fledged yoga missionary. I went to Portugal, India, then Africa. It was in Africa that I spent 11 years and met my now ex-husband with whom I have two sons. The basic responsibilities of an Ananda Marga yoga missionary are to teach yoga-run, pre-primary schools, and children in homes for the underprivileged. The slogan is “Service to humanity is service to God.” I was constantly looking for money to survive and take care of the children I was responsible for.”

“Like all institutions, one has a goal, but often what happens is something else. As I implied earlier, I grew up in a bubble where people were good and loving and true. This results in a naïveté about people and life.”

Gina’s life in Africa was the opposite of the comfortable life she lived in their home in Forbes Park in the Philippines. “ I lived for six years in Kenya. Two of those years were in a slum area where we had to

Gina Lopez during her years as a missionary

stand in line for water, and the toilet system was pathetic. It was there that I learned to value water. I had one pail, and that was it: for bathing myself and using the last bit for washing my underwear. When one doesn’t have much, one treasures every little bit. I lived as the poor lived, so I learned how not to be wasteful— a trait I carry to this day where I use every bit of everything. I learned how to value empty containers, because they can be of use eventually.”

“It is in Africa that I learned the quality of persistence. Hardship has its value. What was not good was that the organization insisted on obedience. Blind obedience is not healthy because one gives up the faculty of discernment. It is much better to live according to principle than according to rules, because situations in life change. What is good in one situation may not be so in another. The ability to adapt develops intuition and intelligence. I did not learn this there, but I am learning it while managing the institutions I cur-

u PAGE A10

I WAS in my mid-20s, at the peak of my virility, when I came upon this verse. I found it extremely funny. I also thought it referred to people who had reached 40, which, at the time, I considered old or, least, “middle age.”

This week, 55 years later and turning 80, I no longer think it’s funny. I particularly feel the pain of those who have to bear with, not just a water spout, but an involuntarily dripping faucet due to incontinence, on top of the usual ailments of an overused body.

These are among the vexing pains of old age. But compared to these, aging also brings joys a-plenty.

Among the biggest sources of joy, of course, are grandchildren.

As they shriek and dash around the house, causing chairs to tumble and breaking collectibles, your urge to unsheathe your belt and apply it on their butts is doused by a kiss on the cheek and the beautiful words, “I love you, grandpa.”

Next on the list is retirement – no longer having to jump out of bed in the morning to struggle with the traffic in a futile effort to get to your business appointment on time. No longer having to worry about meeting a deadline and pleasing the boss – or, if you are the boss, no longer having to wonder if your people are calling you a grumpy old man behind your back.

And then there are the opportunities to travel – the chance to finally visit those faraway places with strange-sounding names – that is, if you have the funds.

Otherwise, you can at least settle back on your easy chair – no stress, no pressures – and flip the TV to the travel channel for a vicarious tour of the great cities of the world.

In the Philippines, being a senior citizen offers many advantages, not the least of which is younger folks treating you with respect. This is more than you can say about some Western societies that treat old people like discards.

At banks and other service establishments in the Philippines, there are special counters for senior citizens. The only downside is that the pretty young thing at

“Now that I’m growing older, My pilot light is out; What used to be my sex appealIs now my water spout…” the counter tends to call you Lolo or Tatang, thus spoiling your flirtatious fantasies.

I find it totally amusing that in the Philippines, where ladies still balk at revealing their age and old men dye their hair to look young, everyone readily flashes a senior citizen’s card when the restaurant bill comes. The 20% discount can add up to hefty savings.

Indeed, there seem to be more discounts offered to old folks in the Philippines than in America, where my family and I have resided for over 33 years. Of course, in the U.S., seniors get special treatment in a number of ways – in terms of health care, for instance.

My wife and I used to spend a small fortune each month for our health insurance in California, but from the time we became 65, Medicare reduced the monthly assessments to an affordable amount while still retaining the quality of health maintenance and preventive care.

In fact, this is one of the problems with retiring in the Philippines. While there are many advantages (our measly social security pension can go a long way) there does not seem to be a regimen of preventive care and health maintenance - unless, perhaps, you pay extra for the service. One is usually already in extremis or terminal when brought to the hospital.

In the U.S., your primary health care doctor constantly monitors your bodily functions, the better to spot potential problems, such as a prostate condition, at their early stage and, thus, curable or controllable.

At U.S. airports, where security checks are very strict, folks over 75 are allowed to keep their shoes on and you don’t have to pass through an X-Ray scanner (you can’t say the same thing about NAIA – the security people insist on your taking off your shoes even if you look as ancient as Methuselah).

In America, among Pinoys, one of the fears of old people is the prospect of being consigned to a home for the elderly. The im-

pression is that it is a virtual banishment to a place where they are supposed to just await their date with the Grim Reaper.

For this reason, many Filipino families that are caring for their aging parents feel guilty about even discussing the subject of an old folks’ home for them.

The truth is that a well-run home for the elderly is a better option for aging parents than being left alone in the house while everyone else is at work or in school – having only the TV for company. A home for the elderly, with social activities, nursing care and the company of fellow seniors, is most certainly a better option for inay and itay than being used as unpaid babysitters.

Finally, whether one is in the Philippines or in America, the inevitability of passing away has to be addressed. Among superstitious and ultra-religious Pinoys, this is a topic that is considered almost irreverent to take up.

This, at least, may be the attitude of younger family members – as if by avoiding the subject, Death can also be avoided.

But, frankly, when you reach the ripe old age of 80, you become resigned to the inevitable.

According to statistics, the average life-span of people in America is 76. That means that a person like me who makes it to 80 years is already enjoying a four-year bonus.

Those who live to be 90 or older may not necessarily be more fortunate – not if they have failing health and, most certainly, not if they have not yet made peace with God, with their families, their friends, their enemies, and with their creditors. I believe I have – or, at least, I have tried my best to do so.

I have also just launched my second book, “Confusions of a Communications Man,” which tells about the joys and pains of being in the profession of communications. I end the book with a beautiful ballad by Tony Bennett, which I would like to share.

It tells of the joys of aging: “As I approach the prime of my life, I find I have the time of

u PAGE A10

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OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

A

Lawyers to challenge any new anti-subversion law

REMEMBERING NINOY. Former Senator Heherson Alvarez (center) and members of the Ninoy Aquino Movement offer flowers during the commemoration of the 36th death anniversary of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Wednesday, August 21. Ninoy’s untimely death led to the awakening of the Filipinos’ revolutionary spirit that brought an end to the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Bong Go: Duterte plans to hold LGBTQ meet

Domingo Egon Cayosa, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, said the IBP is prepared to fight any effort to restore the martial law-era anti-subversion law, which was repealed in 1992 as the Ramos administration explored peace with communist rebels. Philstar.com file photo by eMManuel

tupaS

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s premier organization of lawyers will contest before the Supreme Court an anti-subversion law if it is revived by Congress.

Domingo Egon Cayosa, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, said the IBP is prepared to fight any effort to restore the martial law-era anti-subversion law, which was repealed in 1992 as the Ramos administration explored peace with communist rebels.

“It’s possible not only the IBP but many other lawyers because it will run into constitutional difficulties,” Cayosa said in an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News on Wednesday,

Members of the LBT Community celebrate the Pride Month at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City on June 29, 2019.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

by Catherine

S. Valiente

ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENTRodrigo Duterte is planning to call for a national convention for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) to hear concerns of community members, according to his former special assistant and now Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Go, during a media interview, said Duterte thought of the convention after his meeting with transgender woman Gretchen Diez and other members of the

LGBTQ community in Malacañang on Monday.

The senator added the proposed convention would most likely be held after the President’s visit to China at the end of the month.

The convention, he said, would have representatives from each region where they would raise their concerns, comments and suggestions on how to further protect their rights and promote their welfare.

The president will also be present at the convention, according to Go. On August 16, Diez filed a com-

plaint against Araneta Center Inc., Starline Security Agency Inc. and the sanitation services agency contracted by the Araneta Center for supposedly violating the Quezon City Gender Fair Ordinance.

The ordinance penalizes discrimination against the LGBT community, including heckling, verbal or non-verbal ridicule and vilification, as well as the refusal of services and accommodations based on a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

It requires government agencies, private offices and commerPAGE A10

August 21.

Administration officials have been pushing for the revival of the anti-subversion law or Republic Act 1700 to pave the way for the outlawing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and all its front organizations.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año first broached the idea of restoring the law following reports of massive recruitment by left-leaning groups of students at colleges and universities.

Cayosa, however, said lawmakers would embarrass themselves if they bring back to life a law that has been proven to be ineffective.

“Congress will only put itself in a bind or even embarrass itself if they will listen to these knee-jerk reactions and suggestion,” he

said.

Cayosa said there are enough laws to address security concerns such as Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act. All that is needed, according to Cayosa, is honest to goodness police work.

He stressed that additional laws meant to label particular groups or associations are unlikely to help solve the country’s problems.

Former Anakpawis party-list representative and Defend Negros Network Ariel Casilao said an anti-subversion law will just revert the country back to the dark days of martial law under dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

He expressed fear President Duterte would simply use the law to intensify his crackdown on his critics. (With reports from Edith Regalado) n

Fearing swine flu, meat vendors now required to display certifications on stalls by louiSe

Maureen Philstar.com

SiMeon

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now requiring all meat vendors in the country to display their meat certificates or have the products confiscated amid fears over African swine fever (ASF).

In a recently issued administrative order, Agriculture Secretary William Dar ordered meat vendors to display meat inspection certificates on their stalls is-

sued by the DA-attached agency National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

“Inability to do so would mean that the carcasses shall be considered hot meat and shall be confiscated and disposed,” said Dar. The order was directed to all provincial, city and veterinary offices and municipal agriculture offices as part of the implementation of precautionary measures to ensure food safety and food security.

Dar also ordered the deploy-

ment of local government inspection and enforcement teams to closely monitor all wet markets in the country amid the abnormal deaths of pigs in Rizal and Bulacan provinces.

“All animals brought to the slaughterhouse should be checked for fever and signs of diseased conditions. Diseased animals shall be condemned and properly disposed,” he added.

There will also be stricter monitoring of all NMIS accredited cold storage warehouses for

u PAGE A10

A10 August 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND AsIAN JOuRNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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

Fearing swine flu, meat vendors now...

Philstar.com file photo

Philstar.com file photo

PAGE A9 the inspection of all imported and local meat.

NMIS officers are directed to strictly implement the “No Veterinary Health Certificate, No Slaughter” policy and all suspected animals will be put “on hold status.”

In terms of quarantine control measures, the DA has prohibited the transportation of live animals, meat products and byproducts unless accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and shipping permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry and its regional veterinary quarantine offices.

The department has also set up quarantine checkpoints in all in-

gress and egress from provinces and municipalities.

Dar continues to call on the public to report to BAI any unusual number of swine mortalities and advised backyard raisers not to feed hogs with food wastes or swill.

Swine farmers will also be educated to observe good animal husbandry practices and biosecurity measures such as putting foot baths, regular disinfection of farms, vaccination and deworming.

The DA’s culling operations remain ongoing to avoid further spread of the disease.

The DA is still mum on the statistics of mortality in Rodriguez but initial data from the ground

The pains and joys of aging PAGE A8 my life; Learning to enjoy at my leisure all the simple pleasures; And so I happily concede that this is all I ask, this is all I need: Beautiful girl, walk a little slower as you walk by me; Lingering sunset, stay a little longer with the lonely sea; Children everywhere, when you shoot at bad men, Shoot at me, take me to that

strange enchanted land, Grown-ups seldom understand; Wandering rainbow, leave a bit of color for my heart to own; Stars in the sky, make my wish come true before the night has flown; And let the music play - as long as there’s a song to sing, Then I will stay younger than spring.” (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com) n

PAGE A8 rently head.”

It was through her experience in Africa that she learned the value of guts and will — qualities she said she had honed further in the Philippines.

After 20 years of being a missionary, Gina went back home to her family in the Philippines.

In 1994, she then channeled her love and mission to helping our country through ABS-CBN Foundation, starting Bantay Bata to rescue and help abused kids. She pioneered educational programs like “Sineskwela”.

“I started working with the ABS-CBN Foundation. I am also chair of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. I am well and happy. I discovered a meditation school more than 10 years ago, which has and continues to help greatly in life,” she said.

“My passion is to take care of the environment and address the poverty in the country. I remain convinced that we can have a country without poverty if we take care of the environment and institute mechanisms wherein the community around benefits.

I have been able to do it in a few sites where the communities are able to send their kids to college in the second year, so I know it can be done.”

It was her passion and mission to take care of the environment that compelled President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint her to be Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources at age 62.

The New York Times wrote: “In moving to halt the operations of 28 of the country’s 41 mining companies, she was taking aim at businesses that accounted for about half of Philippine nickel production, which environmentalists said had left rivers, rice fields and watersheds stained red with nickel laterite.

“I’m going to do the right thing and let the dice fall where it may,” Ms. Lopez said when she canceled the mining permits. “And I am going to hope that maybe these politicians, even if they’re funded by mining money, must have love for God and country in their hearts.”

“But Ms. Lopez’s swift assault on the industry faced stiff opposition from influential mining groups, and she was forced from her job when the Philippine Congress denied her confirmation to the post just 10 months after Mr. Duterte appointed her. While Mr. Duterte is best known for his bloody antidrug campaign, he has spoken out against abuses by the logging industry and mining companies.”

“What a waste,” she said after she was forced out. “Everyone would have benefited from the

management and care of the environment.”

But as ABS-CBN News reported, despite losing the job, Gina looked at the experience an opportunity to further her advocacy.

“I got really popular [when I was] rejected from DENR, so I’m riding on a crest and I’m maneuvering all the support into building green models on the ground,” she said in an interview with Earth Island Journal.”

Gina started an organization called I LOVE (Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies), which she hoped would facilitate “green models” throughout the country.

The ABS-CBN profile on Gina chronicled that up until her death, “Lopez was active in promoting sustainable development and lifestyles. She hosted the environmental television show “G Diaries” on ABS-CBN and had a social enterprise company under the brand G Stuff that sells organic products.

Gina also wrote columns in the Philippine Star, where she also talked about meditation, having a healthy lifestyle through nutritious food and exercise, and natural remedies.

“One of the biggest mistakes of humanity is to foolishly think we are these physical bodies and life ends when this physical body deteriorates,” she said. “The truth is that we are spirit. Living now gives us the opportunity to ‘hone’ our spirit so that it is more aligned with higher forces of truth and light.”

Three years before she passed, Gina wrote: “Life is what you make of it. The experience of life is how you see it.

You can see it negatively or you can see even the seeming failures as a positive opportunity to grow. If we take on this positive bent, everyone around benefits. My consistent experience in life is that as long as one commits to integrity and service, there are Divine Forces that help.

I feel it every day, when I meditate in the morning, as I do my work. Life is a challenge. There are also negative forces that exist, and they are within one’s self.

One needs to be keenly aware of them.”

Rest in God’s perfect love and peace, Gina. Thank you for teaching us how to really live.

Protecting the vulnerable...

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

TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

revealed that about 600 backyard pigs died on ground zero while roughly 1,800 to 2,000 pigs are affected in the one-seven-ten kilometers protocol of the agency.

The protocol means that all hogs within a one-kilometer radius will be culled while those in seven- and 10-kilometer radiuses are under strict surveillance.

ASF continues to ravage Southeast and East Asia one year after an outbreak occurred in China.

ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar and American wild pigs. Mortality rates are as high as 100 percent. n

BOOK LAUNCH. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the University of the Philippines (UP) Press Book launch the “Philippine Yearbook of International Law”, “Treaties: Guidance on Practices and Procedures”, and “Enhancing International Legal Cooperation” at the Monet Ballroom of Novotel Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, August 22. At the event were (from left) Prof. Rommel Casis, director of the Institute of International Legal Studies; DFA Undersecretary for Administration J. Eduardo Malaya; Judge Yuji Iwasawa of the International Court of Justice; and Dean Fides Cordero Tan of the UP College of Law. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Bong Go: Duterte plans to hold LGBTQ...

PAGE A9 cial establishments to “designate toilet rooms and lavatories labeled as all gender [comfort rooms].”

Diez filed the complaint after she was prevented from using the women’s restroom to pee on August 13.

The incident prompted the renewed call for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (Sogie) Equality bill, which the 17th Con-

gress failed to pass.

In a meeting at Malacañang on Monday evening with representatives of the LGBTQ community, the President expressed support for the Sogie bill.

Meanwhile, Go asked the public to wait for the President’s position paper on the Sogie bill.

He said it was also likely that Duterte would sign an executive order creating an LBGTQ Commission pending passage of the

said measure.

Go pointed out that Davao City was one of the first cities in the country that implemented its own anti-discrimination law.

Until he won the race for the presidency in 2016, Duterte was mayor of Davao City for many years.

“Maybe he (the President) will sign an Executive Order on an LGBT Commission while waiting for Sogie bill to pass,” he said. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

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A12 AUGUST 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal New Filipino American musical ‘Felix Martha Stewart: Lessons on life, leadership & success Starro’ set to premiere off Broadway

by Nathalie

toMada Philstar.com

by MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

FINALLY, for the first-time ever, a musical created and directed by Filipino Americans will be presented off-Broadway.

Ma-Yi Theater Company is pleased to open its 30th anniversary season with the world premiere of “Felix Starro,” a new musical by Jessica Hagedorn and Fabian Obispo.

“Felix Starro,” based on a powerful short story by acclaimed Filipino American writer Lysley Tenorio, stars “The King and I” and “Miss Saigon” alum Alan Ariano playing the title role.

Directed by Ralph B. Peña, this Filipino musical also features Caitlin Cisco, Francisca Muñoz, Ryan James Ortega, Diane Phelan, Nacho Tambunting, and Obie and Lortel award-winner Ching Valdes-Aran.

“This is a blessing for me, to be able to do this.” Ariano said.

“We don’t see a lot of representation, we don’t see Filipinos on stage all the time so to actually find out that there’s a new, original musical written for Filipinos, about Filipinos, by Filipinos, that’s great news.”

Making his Ma-Yi debut with “Felix Starro,” Ariano gets to play a Filipino role for the first time ever. A Broadway and Off Broadway veteran with a career spanning three decades, he has played a multitude of roles and has various musicals tucked under his belt. He was most recently seen playing the role Sam Carmichael in the East West Players production of “Mamma Mia!” In “Felix Starro,” Ariano takes on the title role of the protagonist Felix, a famous faith healer in the Philippines, whose clients once included celebrities and big politicians. After falling on hard times, Felix decides to go to San Francisco for one last healing mission with ailing Filipinos in

“Felix Starro” cast with Fabian Obispo at the media preview for the Filipino American musical.

Alan Ariano and Nacho Tambunting star in “Felix Starro,” a Filipino American musical about a Filipino faith healer.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

the Bay Area.

Nacho Tambunting plays Junior, Felix Starro’s nineteenyear-old, orphan grandson, who goes along as his assistant. Unbeknownst to Felix, Junior has plans of his own.

“Felix Starro” is a universal story that touches on the issues of faith, family, love, loss, betrayal, and what it means to be an undocumented immigrant in America. That makes the characters and the story relatable.

“Felix Starro’s” story is relat-

able because it deals with relationships, faith in not only your religion, but faith in each other.

Trust is a big subject in this show, and faith, those are all universal subjects,” Ariano added.

Tambunting is excited that he gets to play the role of a Filipino for the first time. In the few years that he has been in the United States, he has played other ethnicities before, including his recurring role as Francis in the NBC show “Rise.”

PAGE B2

AMERICAN lifestyle and media mogul Martha Stewart imparted a handful of lessons on success, leadership and life during the latest leg of the ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel’s Leadership Series.

Proud to call herself a “neat freak” and a “perfectionist,” Martha built an empire out of her love for all things home and living — from cooking, entertaining, gardening, to decorating, organizing and crafting. After starting her career as a stockbroker, she had a flourishing home-based catering venture, before eventually going into publishing with bestsellers like Entertaining, Martha

Martha shares a laugh with forum moderator Karen Davila. The lifestyle expert, media mogul and celebrity entrepreneur is the latest guest of the ANC Leadership Series, which previously featured billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, among other high-profile names. Philstar.com photo

Stewart’s Baking Handbook, Martha Stewart Living, which Martha Stewart’s Homemaking spawned her own TV show.

Handbook, and the magazine PAGE B2

EntErtainmEnt

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Felix Starro, a new Filipino American musical... Part I: One mistake erases all the good one has done PAGE B1 Born and raised in Manila, Tambunting began his career with Repertory Philippines in 2006 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; appearing in productions like: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sound of Music,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seussical,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peter Pan,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Camp Rock,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Producersâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jack and the Beanstalkâ&#x20AC;? to name a few. He moved to New York in 2014 to attend NYUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tisch School of the Arts, and later graduated with a BFA in Drama.

He described his role as â&#x20AC;&#x153;very challengingâ&#x20AC;? especially since his character has a lot of stage time, which means he does not have many opportunities to go off stage to use the bathroom or drink water so he has to plot his time accordingly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is exciting to get into the role as the show progresses and we can now see how we move from one scene to the next. I am excited for everyone to see it,â&#x20AC;?

Tambunting shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am fortunate and grateful that this opportunity,â&#x20AC;?

He had heard about the casting call for the show and then last May, he was invited to audition. He got a call back in June and a few days later, he was cast.

It has been a year since he had a job so he was fervently looking forward to getting the role. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had just finished Rise, which was cancelled, the same time I graduated from NYU and I was going through a lot of auditions and it was really tough,â&#x20AC;? he shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to be an actor, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sort of realize it till youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually in it: the reality of what it means to go from audition to audition and get the job.â&#x20AC;?

Early years The story of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Felix Starro,â&#x20AC;? the musical, actually began five years ago when the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco commissioned Fabian Obispo to write a musical based on a short story that its artistic director read.

Carey Perloff, then the artistic director of ACT, loved the book Monstress, Lysley Tenorioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut short story collection, particularly the story about this Filipino faith healer. She approached Obispo and asked him if he could write a musical about it. He in turn asked Jessica Hagedorn if sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be interested in doing the book.

So they started writing it and a year later, held a workshop in San Francisco. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somehow, that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pan out,â&#x20AC;? Obispo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And then, Ma

A sad reality on being judgmental and unforgiving

Life Coaching in a Different Perspective Stargazer

AJPress photo by Troi Santos

Yi picked it up.â&#x20AC;?

And now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here.

From just six songs, the musical has evolved into having 18.

Apart from being internationally renowned for his iconic choral arrangements of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Obispo has been a longtime composer and sound designer of Ma-Yi Theater Company, having previously worked on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Chinese Lady,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teenage Dick,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;House/ Rules,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Romance of Magno Rubio,â&#x20AC;? just to name a few. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The range of music, Fabian wrote a lot, we have elements of the indigenous, it is spiritual. It has elements of pop music because it is all around them, and elements of the church because the healers take from religion,â&#x20AC;?

Jessica Hagedorn said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Felix Starroâ&#x20AC;? marks the long overdue return to the New York stage of novelist and playwright Hagedorn whose criticallyacclaimed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dogeatersâ&#x20AC;? (The Public Theater, 2001) was called â&#x20AC;&#x153;imaginative and fluidly impressionisticâ&#x20AC;? by the New York Times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had the blessing of a very generous writer in Lysley Tenorio who agreed to my offer to adapt his story. His story is not set in 1985 but I set it in 1985 because in a way it makes sense. That was the height of the phenomenon of faith healers, it was also the end of the Marcos regime so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the political landscape the grandfather is fleeing from, and of course you get the 80s music as well,â&#x20AC;? Hagedorn added.

Through the years, the script grew, and they saw what worked and what didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is about faith, family, beliefs; there were people drawn to those faith healers who were not Filipino like Shirley Maclaine and Andy Kaufman,â&#x20AC;? Hagedorn explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People used to travel to the Philippines because they thought it was their last chance, because why not.â&#x20AC;?

Milestone Since its founding in 1989, MaYi Theater Company was originally a Filipino American theater company and it eventually expanded its focus to the wider Asian American theater. It has distinguished itself as one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading incubators of new work shaping the national discourse about what it means to be Asian American today.

Building on the recent success of the Lortel Award-winner â&#x20AC;&#x153;KPOPâ&#x20AC;? and Mike Lewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teenage Dick,â&#x20AC;? they are looking forward to sharing a distinct Filipino story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This story needs to be told because it is about representation, so that the younger generation can see that they are represented,â&#x20AC;? Ariano said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That if they are actors, that there are roles for them to play and if they are writers, that they get inspired to write more stories about their roots.â&#x20AC;?

The creative team includes Obie award-winner Marsha Ginsberg (scenic design), Brandon Bieber (choreographer), Becky Bodurtha (costume design), Oliver Wason (lighting design), Julian Evans (sound design), Paulo K. TirĂłl (orchestrations), Ian Miller (musical director), Cristina Sison (production stage manager) and Jorge Z. Ortoll (executive producer).

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nothing To Sneeze At! Foods That Fight Allergies

By Grace O

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ATCHARA PICKLE Serves 8-10

Ingredients 8 cups coarsely grated green papaya (or cucumber # Ÿ < 1/4 cup coarse salt 8-10 cloves of garlic ; <?

1/4 cup julienned fresh ginger 1/2 cup pearl onions, peeled 1/2 cup red bell pepper strips 1/2 cup green bell pepper strips 1/2 cup carrot florets or strips

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1/2 cup jicama strips

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1. Place the papaya shreds in a colander and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.

ABOUT GRACE O

Pickling solution 3 cups white balsamic vinegar (champagne or seasoned rice < 2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup white sugar (for a sweet-and-sour pickle, double the <

Procedure

2. Make the pickling solution by combining ingredients in a ; # < for 10 minutes or until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

3. Squeeze any remaining water out of the papaya shreds.

Toss together with the remaining vegetables and place into wide-mouth pickling jars.

4. Pour the cooled pickling solution over the vegetables. If the solution is too warm, the vegetables will cook. Top off the jars with water if necessary so that the vegetables are completely covered. Close jars tightly and put in the refrigerator overnight to cure.

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won Gourmandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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

A FRIEND of mine spoke to me about how people can be so judgmental and unforgiving. He was very sad about how things turned out for him. I felt really, really bad for Antonio, my friend.

Although the present society claims to accept the LGBTQIA group, many people still only have tolerance, but not a total acceptance of them.

Are people really by nature unforgiving and judgmental? My friend asked me with tears in his eyes. He now feels ganged up on and ostracized for a verbal misdeed.

As he looked away with tears in his eyes, he told me about a conversation with a young male friend a year ago.

They talked a lot and his feelings toward this young man started to develop. Their closeness was that of deep fondness and real caring.

Then one thing led to another until he did not know what came over him and the exchange of words became too personal. Until that fateful day in May of last year when he made that bold statement in a Facebook chat.

Yes, he made a mistake. He made a mistake by professing how he felt to this young man. It was a simple exchange of feelings through chat. Nothing ever happened physically. They were just words â&#x20AC;&#x201D; words blown out of context. It may seem that those words were harmless, but the glaring truth remains. The young man was still a minor and his parents did not take it sitting down.

One thing led to another and a complaint was sent to the office where Antonio worked. With so much malice and ill intent to besmirk Antonioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation, word spread around. Full of humiliation, Antonio resigned from the office he used to serve with so much enthusiasm.

Now he looked at me so helplessly and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know it was wrong. I know I made a mistake.

But did I deserve all the public disgrace? I was asked to resign from a job that I was good at. And up to now, people talked behind my back as if I was the dirtiest person ever.â&#x20AC;? He lowered his head and I felt his pain.

I cannot blame the parents for standing up for their son. Of course, if this happened to me, I would have done the same. But would I do it with such fervor that it seemed I wanted to destroy Antonio and pulverize his dignity? Maybe I would do it quite differently though. Or maybe it would be different if the tables are turned?

Antonio tried to move on by applying for other jobs. But then the stories would continue and haunted him so bad. At one point, an influential person wanted to hire him but changed her mind after someone revealed about the alleged â&#x20AC;&#x153;scandalâ&#x20AC;?. It was very much heartbreaking.

So many questions ran inside my head. Could it have been different if a man and a young girl were involved instead? Would there be less humiliation? I do not know the answer. All I can feel is Antonioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frustration. How can one move on when people have cast the stones of judgment and not give him a chance to stand up again? One cannot escape the ghost of a mistake haunting for a long time.

In exasperation, I shook my head and gagged at the thought of how hypocritical people can be.

In this society (the Philippines), where corrupt officials get elected and the double standard of morality prevails, we can altogether be so mean and harsh with words against our neighbor because of a false sense of righteousness. Where so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;sarado katolikosâ&#x20AC;? could be so demeaning and be the best rumormongers. It applies in this case of Antonio.

I could only comfort Antonio by lifting his spirits. Yes, he was a good and hardworking professional. He did his best in performing his duties in the office. Beyond the resources available to him, he spent his own money just so he can finish his office projects well. But again the bad outweighed the good. Sad truth.

He must carry the lessons that presented itself though it must be so devastating. In short, he has no

choice but to make a positive decision to move on. I comforted him and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be strong Antonio. With humility, accept the repercussions and try to stand up!â&#x20AC;?

I also told him to make clarifications with people who matter. A lawyer would be of help in protecting his reputation. Where stories are woven, let them be subjected to the law. I advised him to get court clearances to prove that nothing was ever charged against him. He must consult the lawyer what legal means can be done to those who actively spread stories to destroy his reputation.

Amidst situations like these, one must force himself to stand up and move on. Yes, people can be demeaning but you must be able to acknowledge what has gone wrong.

One mistake should not ruin your life but instead, challenge the very best of you to pick up the pieces of your shattered dignity.

While I was writing this article, I came across a Facebook post of another friend who was expressing his sadness over people making judgments over him. He said that no matter how numerous your good deeds are, not one will be remembered but your one lousy mistake.

I sent a private message and reached out to him. It seems like judging others is prevalent in this day and age. This Facebook friend told me that in his case, people who are the nobodies are the ones full of hypocrisy and jealousy.

And sad to say, their words are even sharper than the knife.

In the next article, we will tackle where all of this negativity comes from. *** Stargazer is a life coach, aura reader, psychic/ clairvoyant, and lecturer on the paranormal. She uses the aura, energies & vibrations as focal points of her psychic readings. Using several techniques involving the psychological, spiritual, paranormal and her own experience of the intricacies of life, Stargazer makes one get in touch with his inner and understand life in a positive manner.

Faith in God and belief in self is what Stargazer emphasizes on. Currently, Stargazer is a radio anchor of DZMM Teleradyo, the radio arm of ABS-CBN. Her show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pinoy Vibesâ&#x20AC;? has been airing every Sunday morning since Sept. 2007.

She can be reached at stargazerphils@gmail. com. For more information, please visit http:// stargazer.ph/.

Martha Stewart: Lessons on life, leadership...

PAGE B1 Martha went on to establish the media and merchandising company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and when it went public in 1999, she became â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first self-made female billionaire.â&#x20AC;?

Nowadays, the 78-year-old domestic goddess continues to expand her brand via shows such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Martha & Snoopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Potluck Dinner Partyâ&#x20AC;? with rapper Snoop Dog and the Food Network cooking competition â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choppedâ&#x20AC;? as guest judge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perseverance is very important and believing in what you are creating and what you are making,â&#x20AC;? she told the audience of business executives, entrepreneurs and students at the ANC Leadership Series forum held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza last Tuesday.

In the course of achieving her success, Martha was asked by the moderator, news anchor Karen Davila, about the sacrifices she had to make. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got divorced in the middle of planning to start my own company and ultimately go public. I think, my marriage suffered terribly as a result. But I think, I also had a creepy husband,â&#x20AC;? shared Martha, drawing laughter from the attendees.

She, nevertheless, clarified that marriage isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a hindrance to any form of accomplishment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am one of the few divorced, unmarried women in my group.

Most of my friends have long marriages. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m jealous. Because it makes it easier. I mean, if somebody could take out the trash and buy you wine (laughs).

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just kidding!â&#x20AC;?

Turning serious this time, Martha continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about balance and balance is hard to attain. And when people say oh, do you have balance? No, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have balance. Nobody is balanced. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a crazy, upsidedown world. To find that balance is really difficult. So, you have to make a good life and in whichever way it ends up, consider it a good life.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe in marriage. I believe in having children. I think it is terribly important for women to have children. I get upset when my friends donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have children. Because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re joy and and grandchildren are even more joy,â&#x20AC;? said Martha, who has no plans yet of retiring or slowing down, but mused that her grandaughter could be the â&#x20AC;&#x153;heiressâ&#x20AC;? to her throne.

Here are some of the noteworthy lessons on life, leadership and success that the audience learned from Martha during the forum:

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat together with TV personality and lifestyle host Martha Stewart tour around Manila, visiting famous landmarks including Intramuros, Fort Santiago, and San Agustin Church.

Photo courtesy of DOT

Making the most of her visit to the country, lifestyle guru Martha Stewart visited this province on Wednesday, August 21, to plant rice.

Photo from Instagram/@marthasewart48

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get sloppy. When asked how sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to still look good, fashionable and be this dynamo at 78, Martha said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an entrepreneur, you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too sloppy. You always have to have that appearance, no matter what you have. Always make sure you look good. So, I eat well, I exercise well. I dress well. I try. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t (let go of yourself). Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wear your dirty apron to the grocery.â&#x20AC;?

Find an idea that appeals to a broad audience. She said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plenty of people have lots of ideas, but is that an idea that appeals to a very broad audience?â&#x20AC;?

Martha considered herself lucky because when she started lifestyle, it was just an emerging industry and was not â&#x20AC;&#x153;promoted in any way.â&#x20AC;? She shared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m good at promotion and good at public relations. So, I thought this is a limitless and vast subject, and to find a subject thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of limitless, specialist and very appealing, and I needed it.

And I thought, so does all my friends and all the people I know and meet.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why it was successful because it was a big enough idea. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much tinier than Steve Jobs and Apple, although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as far-reaching and you have to have a lifestyle in order to get that iPhone or that Apple Computer.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all related in a way.â&#x20AC;?

Fill a void. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another thing an entrepreneur must do is fill the void,â&#x20AC;? Martha advised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist that you love that you have in your mind that can fill that void that everybody wants?

Need and want and void â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those three words are very important.â&#x20AC;?

She further said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finding the niche thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big enough and more important enough to fill that void. I think it is very important to withstand the ravages of day in and day out market, the market climate, interest rates, the trade tariffsâ&#x20AC;Ś Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really hard to be in business, and to survive all the influx of problems that can occur. But that strong brand will generally survive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We make nice things. We make things for the kitchen, we make things for the bed and PAGE B4

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B

Carlo: You always want to do your best even if you’re not perfect

by AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

CARLO Aquino found himself in hot water lately, after Angelica Panganiban—who had earlier accused him of leading her on—said on Twitter that it would be “stupid” of her to work with the actor again in the future.

But as much as he would like to avert his eyes from the scathing comments or negativity in his social media accounts, Carlo conceded that there’s really no escaping those.

“No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will come across something, especially when they [bashers] are in the mood,” he said when asked by the Inquirer how he handles the biting remarks he gets online. “I had tried disabling comments on my pages in the past, but turned it back on because they wouldn’t stop, anyway.”

Criticism directed at him is fair game. It’s when his loved ones gets dragged into the fray that gets his goat.

“I don’t mind if it’s about me.

But people who didn’t have anything to do with the decisions I have made? Why?” Carlo told reporters at a recent press conference for his solo show “Liwanag in Concert,” which is set on Aug. 31 at Music Museum.

If some people are happy

Carlo Aquino

Inquirer.net photo

spreading hate, then so be it, he said. Carlo declined to go into details about his rift with Angelica, and would rather focus on the blessings he has been getting.

“Every day is a new day. My heart is filled with gratitude. I’m happy with my family, my career—ang sarap lang,” he said.

“There are different kinds of love, and I’m in love with everything

happening in my life right now.”

The upcoming concert, for instance, is a dream come true for the 33-year-old star. “This is my first major solo show, so I’m excited. Something we used to just talk about is now a reality,” he said.

Carlo grew up in a music-loving family. His father sang often and would play songs by The Beatles, Bee Gees and Matt Monro. In the 1990s, he was exposed to alternative rock music—the Eraserheads, Rivermaya. His elder brother was part of a band and wrote songs.

“He taught me how to play the guitar. It was hard because he’s right-handed, and I’m a lefty. I tried playing the instrument with my right at first. But eventually— through perseverance—I managed to learn playing with my left.

And that’s how it all started,” he related.

He’s feeling a bit nervous, Carlo, who has already started rehearsals, admitted. “I’m always nervous. Now I’m nervous! It’s because you always want to do your best despite the fact that you’re not perfect.”

But nonetheless, he’s determined to seize this moment and just enjoy the experience. “You never know if it’s going to be the first and last,” Carlo pointed out.

Judy Ann grateful to Coco for ‘Ang Probinsyano’ stint by cody

cePedA Inquirer.net

JUDY Ann Santos, who recently capped off her stint on “Ang Probinsyano,” is nothing but grateful to lead star and director Coco Martin.

Santos entered the show as “Jane” in July, as revealed by production company Dreamscape.

On Aug. 20, she bid her character goodbye, and took to Instagram to thank the crew and cast as she shared photos from their taping.

“Thank you so much for the very warm welcome from the first till my last taping day,” Santos said. “Naramdaman ko kung gaano nyo kamahal ang programang bumuo sa pamilya ninyo. Salamat sa opportunity na mapabilang sa pamilya ninyo…”

Santos dedicated a separate post to Martin on the same day and also shared a series of photos

given me,” she said. “Your passion and love for your craft is undeniable.”

In their short time together, Santos said she saw just how important work and family are to Martin.

“Kahit tawa ka ng tawa sa mga eksena natin, nakita ko kung gaano ka importante sayo ang trabaho mo at pamilya mo,” she said.

“Sana nabigyang buhay ko ang papel na binigay mo sa akin…”

Santos is also not closing her doors on working again with Martin, saying she looks forward to their next project together.

“Till our next project… Sana by then na experience mo ng Judy Ann Santos makapagpahinga at enjoyin ang Photo from Instagram/@officialjuday mga naipundar mo,” she said. of the two of them as Cardo Dali- “Bilang ate ng 4 na linggo sayo, say and Jane. masaya ko at proud ako sayo.

“Salamat @mr.cocomartin for Maraming salamat Cardo Dalithe chance and trust you have say.”

Ion denies being in a relationship with Vice Ganda

by Krissy

AguilAr Inquirer.net

“IT’S Showtime” host Ion Perez denied rumors that he is in a relationship with comedian and actor Vice Ganda.

“Hindi,” Perez said when asked if he and Vice Ganda are officially together, as seen in a video uploaded by ABS-CBN on Wednesday, August 21.

“Sobrang malapit lang kami sa isa’t isa kaya siguro ‘yung mga tao nag-iisip sila, ganun ‘yung nagiging reaksyon nila,” Perez explained.

Perez’s statement came a few months after he admitted Vice Ganda as “special” to him.

The model-turned-host, however, did not deny the closeness he and Vice Ganda have, saying the comedian is no stranger to him anymore.

“Sobrang malapit lang kami sa isa’t isa. Sobrang close kami.

Close na close kami ni Vice. Parang hindi na rin siya iba sa akin,”

VIce Ganda and Ion Perez

Perez said.

The two have been a subject of constant teasing by “It’s Showtime” hosts, fuelling online rumors about their supposed ro-

Photo from Instagram/@viceiion

mance.

However, they have also been spotted outside the noontime variety show; one instance was when their mothers met.

Paying it forward: Anne looks back on scholar’s journey ANNE Curtis’ career has been filled with many blessings and she pays this forward by helping other people make their dreams come true.

Curtis guested on “Magandang Buhay” on Aug. 19, two days before the initial release of her erotic romantic drama film “Just a Stranger” with Marco Gumabao.

During her interview, Curtis was asked about her passion project “Dream Machine” by hosts Karla Estrada, Melai Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal.

“Ang dami ko nang dreams na natupad so naisip ko (I’ve had many dreams fulfilled so I thought) how do I pay it forward?” said Curtis. “And dun ko naisip (that’s when I realized) I want to make other people’s dreams come true, whether they be big or small, gusto kong makatulong kahit papaano (I want to be able to help).”

Curtis was joined by one of her scholars, Sareena Calonzo, who is deaf-mute. It will be remembered that Calonzo graduated from Miriam College in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship, much to the pride and joy of Curtis.

Today, she works as a customer service representative.

The two looked back on their history, with Calonzo sharing that she had written a letter to Curtis if she could be one of her scholars.

“So she asked the coordinator of the deaf students in her school

Anne Curtis Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith

kung pwede ba siya (if she could) mag-send ng scholarship letter for Ms. Anne. Kasi mahal din daw yung fee for the interpreter so gusto niya din maging scholar talaga para makatulong din sa parents niya (The fee for the interpreter is also expensive, so she wanted to be a scholar so she could help her parents),” Regina

Marcelo, an interpreter, said.

“After a few weeks nagulat daw siya. She was very happy, kasi nalaman niya na willing nga si Ms. Anne na tulungan siya and she can’t believe it talaga (She was surprised after a few weeks.

She was very happy upon knowing that Ms. Anne was willing to help her),” added Marcelo.

Calonzo had been following Curtis’ shows even years before she applied to be one of her scholars. It was in watching Curtis’ 2005 soap opera, “Kampanerang Kuba,” that she started to idolize the actress.

Curtis, on the other hand, is nothing short of proud of her scholar. She also knows full well that Calonzo would go on to inspire others.

“And now, graduate na siya and she has a job, so nakakahappy nakaka-proud… She’s very willing and even her mom makikita mo (you can see) they really want to help her to succeed in life,” said Curtis.

“And I want also malaman din ng mga tao (for people to know) what [is] this ability that you have to make your dreams come true, na meron ka talagang makikilala na makakatulong sa’yo (that you will really meet people who will be able to help you),” added Curtis. “Pero ikaw, like si Sareena, alam ko magiging inspirasyon din siya sa iba (but you, Sareena, I know you will be an inspiration to others).” (Cody Cepeda/Inquirer.net)

STILL MORE IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED THIS SUNDAY IN PART 4 OF “CITIZEN PINOY” IN CHICAGO! How can doctors, nurses, or caregivers in the Philippines immigrate to the U.S.? Can a previous petition be reopened/revived if the applicant did not appear for the interview? Can a person be refused a visa because they are depressed? Get the answers to these and more on an encore episode of — “Citizen Pinoy,”, this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Ruru takes a leap into music scene by izA iglesiAs ManilaTimes.net

TWENTY-one-year-old TV heartthrob Ruru Madrid always puts his best foot forward in the many teleseryes he has landed in his young career. As he comes of age, however, he has taken a big leap into the music scene, launching a debut solo single, titled “Nawawala,” under GMA Music.

Though christened as GMA Network’s “Kapuso Action Drama Prince,” it can be recalled that Madrid had previously recorded duets with leading lady Gabbi Garcia as theme songs of their primetime soap operas “Let the Love Begin” and “Sa Yakap Mo.” Apparently, Madrid had long been inclined to music.

“Mahilig po talaga ako sa alternative rock. Syempre yung mga OPM na kinalakihan ko like Parokya ni Edgar and Hale na naging influence ko sa music. So ito pong ‘Nawawala’ is parang modernized version nila since our listeners are mostly millennials and iba din ang trip nila ngayon.

Ang gusto nila millennials is yung may mga hugot na kanta. Yung kahit na masakit, trip pa rin nila.

So this single, saktong sakto doon kasi marami talagang hugot,” the clean-cut and clean-shaven Madrid said of his original song.

Composed by Kettle Mata, Roger Alcantara and Enzo Villegas, the newest recording artist on the block admitted he was swept with emotions himself when he first heard the arrangement, and more so when he learned the lyrics.

Ruru Madrid takes a big leap into the music scene.

“Noong first meeting ko with GMA Music, tinanong nila ako kung anong gusto kong klaseng genre. And then sinabi ko sa kanila na gusto ko yung Alternative Rock. May pinarinig sila sa akin na kanta — yung nawawala pero yung version na medyo ballad. Then napagisip-isip namin na bakit hindi namin gawing more modern na may pagka alternative rock ng konti so it’ll be more me.

“Besides taking part in that decision, ang talagang contribution ko as expected is yung atake sa song para mas mararamdaman ng mga listeners yung kanta about the perils of falling out of love.”

Stages of love Young as he is, Madrid explained, “Sa dalawang nag-

Photo from Instagram/@rurumadrid8

mamahalan, maraming stages na dadaanan di’ba? Dadaan kayo sa honeymoon stage and then after that dadaan kayo sa mga problema, and sometimes umaabot sa point na ang akala n’yo mahal na mahal n’yo pa rin yung isa’t-isa pero may nawawala na pala. And then you say to yourself, parang lahat naman binuhos ko, lahat naman ginawa ko para hindi mawala yung pagmamahal mo sa akin but still, you’ve fallen out of love.

That’s the story of the song.”

Like father Madrid also shared that besides his recording idols, his dad was his earliest musical influence.

The senior Madrid was part of a band when he was young.

“Hindi po ako singer but I love PAGE B4

B4 AUGUST 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Martha Stewart: Lessons on life, leadership...

PAGE B2

the bathroom. Today, we make Christmas decorations, we make practical tools. Those will always be in demand. And we will always continue to make them in the best possible way, the highest quality, and then more appealing in appearance. Because if you start making things that are ugly, people don’t want to have them.

They don’t want that stuff in their houses. And you don’t want them to have it.”

She cited one instance when

they were designing teacups.

She was aghast to learn that one of the works a designer came up with, she couldn’t put her finger in its handle. So, it was sent back to the drawing board so that he could make a handle that was useful. “So, useful utility is very important as the price. And I’ve always gone mid-range. Midrange is more important for me so that more people can have it. I buy my own stuff and I can afford the very high-end. But I don’t have to do that because I can find

Martha and at a very much better price.”

Lead by example. “I’m a tough boss. As I get older, (I’ve been) realizing that there’s balance in the workplace,” she said. “But I think that if I push myself harder, the people will know that I’m doing it, they also will.”

Embrace all opportunities.

Martha said that when she first started, opportunities to promote her brand were the newspaper, television, talk shows and radio.

“Now, look what we have!

We have Pinterest, we have Instagram, we have Instagram TV, we have Facebook Live, we have YouTube, we have so many other ways. And I embrace all of them.

I have channels on pretty much everything with our videos… and that’s the way you have to do it.

You have to embrace technology, keep ahead of the curve. Try to build a name and all those other areas.”

She noted that it does take time and effort. “Sometimes, you think, oh god I’m banging my head on a stone wall. Why am I doing this?”

She said she might not gain as much Instagram followers like Kim Kardashian, but she’s happy with her “2.5 million or so because they are very targeted towards the Martha Stewart brand.”

Know your worth. Referring to certain events (including a conviction related to a stock trading case) in 2004, Martha reflected, “Not everybody survives the debacle like I had to go through.

But I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a terrible time.

That’s when people were being sent to jail for infractions that were not really, you know, infractions if you want to put it that way. But it was a very, very tough time.”

How did she survive and bounce back? “First of all, I had the most fabulous company. And I had a very serious sense of self-worth.

Being sure of yourself and being and believing in what you do and what you are really helps.”

Plus, Martha stressed, she had her family to lean on for support and encouragement.

“Our company did not really suffer. Advertisers had to pull out.

At the end of it, they were right back because we had the best products. It was a tough time.

But again, I don’t think about that time very much. It was horrible. It wasn’t pleasant. I didn’t die. You know, I didn’t have coffee. I didn’t have luxuries. But it wasn’t lifethreatening, and I have my health and then a good family.”

MOONLIGHTING

What makes men interesting?

IF you were born a man, you wouldn’t worry about being unsafe, especially at night. You wouldn’t have to make use of a pretty face to hide your intelligence. You don’t have to listen to nasty remarks when you sleep with someone you like.

People won’t tell you sin was born, the day you picked an apple from that reckless woman, called Eve. You’ll be able to disobey without being derided and love without fearing pregnancy. You don’t have to pay an odious homage to blood every month or to take great pride in yourself, without being laughed at…nor bear sous, only to be slaughtered at war!

The simpatico is whom you will agree to have dinner, even if you’re not hungry; the antipatico is someone with whom you wouldn’t go to dinner even if you’re starving.

Simpatico is someone for whom you would jump into the river, in winter to save from drowning: the antipatico is someone you would calmly observe drowning in the river and refuse to go and help him, even if it’s is a very hot day in summer and you are dreaming of having a nice swim.

I cannot remember a time in my life when an interesting man was not the object of my interests, if not search. Unlike some women, I’ve never had the patience of an educator, nor the zeal of a reformer. You see, I prefer the finished product: not a man incapable of growth, but one who must have managed to acquire those perceptions, tastes and attitudes, which constitute, to me, the measure of my man’s worth.

What was my yardstick? Well, in my younger days, my prelimi-

nary judgments were largely visual, elegance in appearance and manners. I believe that class is elegance and price gently influencing — the old notion of refinement, a kind of carriage, a way of moving and dressing, use of voice and hands that proclaimed a being superior in perception and attainment, who doesn’t bludgeon sensibility and obliterate taste. There should be a refinement of behavior that commensurates with the possession of money and comforts; to discriminate between healthy freedom and sick license, in his demeanor.

A man who has never been exposed to other societies can not be interesting. I am speaking of a reasonable familiarity with foreign cities and peoples, art and customs. For the wholeness of a man to me suggest, primarily, a refinement of the senses. The eye that has not appreciated Michelangelo’s David in Florence or the Cathedral of St. Basil is not a sophisticated eye. The hand that has not felt the rough heat of the ancient walls in Siena, or the sweating cold of Salzburg stein of beer, is an innocent hand. So are the fingers that have not traveled, in conscious and specific savoring, over the contours of many different women.

You will recognize this man across the room. Easy in his clothes, hand well-groomed, oh no, not manicured. He does not laugh loud or often. He looks directly at the woman he speaks to, but he is not missing others as they enter, a flick of the eyes does it. For in all ways this man is not obvious. He would no more appear to examine a woman up than he would move his lips while reading. His senses are trained and his reflexes quick. And how did he get that way? From experience, observation, and deduction, he is educated in life.

I do not mean the elegance of

Health@Heart

New dangerous painkiller approved

by MYLAH DE

LEON

PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS THE U.S. FDA has recently approved a painkiller that is 10 times more potent than fentanyl and 1000 times more powerful than morphine, a faster killer when abused, a potentially attractive new drug for narco-lords and gangs.

The name is Dsuvia, which is projected to be great for medical use in medical facilities, but a disaster when illegally traded on the now narcotic-flooded stealth market.

More than 130 people die a day (yes, every single day) in the USA from drug overdose. Approved for hospital use only, Dsuvia would kill even faster and greater when it gets out, which will surely happen.

Wonder-fruit guava, versatile Guava, a green tropical fruit, now available all over the world, is not only refreshingly tasty but amazingly a source of many healthy ingredients. Among the benefits one gets from quava are: an aid to the management of high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, thyroid deficiency, overweight problem, diarrhea, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), for brain health, constipation, eye health, cough and colds, deficiency of Vitamins, A, B3, B6, and C, iron and potassium. It is a good antioxidant and detoxifier that helps in skin care and in lowering the risk for cancer.

A deadly summer or winter path Driving on the lonely road in Death Valley, Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Dessert, has killed countless people during boiling summer and freezing winter. It is one of the hottest places on earth, temperature reaching a record high of 134 degrees F (56.7 Celcius) on July 10, 1913. Winter here is also deadly. Death Valley was a warning name coined by pioneers lost here during the winter of 1849-2850.

AS father and son were found dead under their pick-up track that broke down on a very hot summer day on a practically abandoned Death Valley road some years ago.

What would happen if the sun disappeared?

The sun is 333,000 times the mass of Earth, and the heat it churns out has the same amount of energy as 100 billion (with a “B”) hydrogen bombs per second!

The sun heats our planet with just the right temperature to sustain life. When the sun disappears, the solar (sun) system that controls and locks allplanets into elliptical

orbits (including earth which is orbiting the sun at the speed of 67,000 miles per hour) would lose its natural gravitational force and “release” all the planets out of their orbit, flying off uncontrollably into the space, and cause chaos in the solar system, as Einstein had brilliantly shown in his Theory of Relativity in 1915. The entire earth would then be a big frozen ball of ice if the sun were not here. Einstein wrote “the force from gravity is not instantaneous, as it travels the same speed as light, so light from the sun would still be upon the earth momentarily. Therefore, if the sun disappeared, we would remain blissfully unaware for eight minutes that inevitable doom was upon us.” Life on earth would then cease, except for organisms which do not need light to survive.

Identity theft, techno-crimes In the past, before we had these amazing and mind-boggling advances in science and wireless technology, thieves had to pick you pocket, or steal your purse or briefcase to have access to your credit card, driver’s license, etc., or break your car windows to steal anything they want inside your vehicle. In today’s techno-world, all the criminal has to do is to come close to you with his special wireless data-copying gadget, and viola!, he’s got your credit card/license numbers within seconds.

There is also an electronic sonar copier that records the special code signal of your carkey-remote, and when you leave you vehicle to do you errand, the thief is able to open your car without breaking your window. To prevent this digital theft, make a pouch for your credit card, license, etc., using a aluminum tinfoil from your kitchen (termed Faraday Cage, electromagnetic enclosure) to act as RFID (Radio frequency identification) blocker.

RFID wallets are available, even in electronic stores, super markets or bookstores. For years, my wife, Farida, and I, have avoided (100%) using our car remote opener; we have been using the old-fashioned manual door closing method when we leave our cars.

Computer hacking While there is no 100% way to totally prevent computer hacking (the reason giant world companies, banks, stores, etc., have been hacked for ransom here and abroad), there bare a couple of things we, as individuals, can do to to greatly reduce this malicious hacking and computer fraud and scams, which could lead to emptying your bank accounts, or stealing your identity data, which are nightmares. These hackers,

diplomats, French actors, or Italian Princes. They are not real enough, He could simply be that boy next door, who would hold your hand with proper lightness and look into your eyes just long enough to create surface tension, who, in a well-modulated voice won’t rush you. He makes a flattering show of savoring your intelligence (and if my intellectual efforts are at this disposal, why not every material resource I possess?) and is not overcome by Pinot Noir or long black eyelashes. He doesn’t beguile – his sophistry is natural. He knows that the ardent look can be more effective than a hasty grab; the amorous lurch is not a compliment to me.

How he lives and what he surrounds himself with is index enough of his charm or lack of it. Are there no classics on his bookshelves? Does his record cabinet bulge with rock or jazz but lack Bach, Verdi or Prokofiev? A simple man is a limited man. His heart may be gold, but his company will be leaden. I am beginning to think other women will find this, my idea of a man, as an urbane monster — effete, affected, immoral, snobbish even unreliable, call it my romantic hubris.

He is certainly urbane, but with an appreciation of the natural world high in his category of perceptions. A man unaware or unmoved by the sea is merely half alive and as for the imputed defects, I do not hold them as such. Instead of effete, I would say civilized, instead of affected, effective; instead of immoral, curious; instead of snobbish, superior.

He is kind to those who are weak: generous to those who love him; ruthless to those who will order him around and fierce to the arrogant. This is the man. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol. com.

cyber-criminals, are merciless and persistent. Here are some tips in fighting back: Update your operating system and software frequently; download up-to-date security programs, anti-virus, anti-malwares, firewall.

Create a long and difficult password to access you computer nor your email, etc… but remember not to forget it, or you will be in trouble; destroy all personal data and info, and files, on your hard drive before selling or giving your computer away. If you know how, RESET your computer to erase all data; your router-modem internet and TV must have username and strong password; your cell phone must also have a very secure password to open it; use different password for each device; before using Cloud for storage, investigate and do due diligence to make sure it is legitimate and secure protection, otherwise, stay off Cloud. Also, use Bit Defender or Total AV, Kaspersky, McAfee, or Norton Security Set and subscribe to NordVPN or LifeLock for computer security.

But the most important and effective tools you have are your personal wisdom, carefulness, an analytical mind, a tiny bit of paranoia in this day and age, and humility to ask for help from our tech-saavy family members and friends on computer subjects too complicated for you. If any website or email writer is asking for personal data or your credit card, license number of insurance info, never give them any, unless they are Amazon or Best Buy, or other well-known established businesses, whose official website you are ordering online from. Today, it is no longer watching your back for dangers; it is now watching your front!

In spite of this technical maze, let us happily use our computers, tablets, smart phones and gadgets productively, and talk to these wonderful courteous female robots with artificial intelligence and lovely voices, Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Samsung’s Bixby, or our un-named Google Assistant, and enjoy life to the fullest, regardless of these cyber-criminals. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Ruru takes a leap into music...

PAGE B3 music. Lumaki ako sa pamilya na mahilig sa musika. Erpats ko nagbabanda before. Lahat silang magkakapatid —11 sila — pero lahat sila kumakanta talaga. Sa family ko kasi kapag hindi ka marunong kumanta, aasarin ka,” he recalled laughing.

“Pero noong bata ako hindi naman po talaga ako kumakanta.

Wala akong formal training. Pero

noong nag ‘Protégé’ ako [GMA Network’s talent reality program] doon na po ako naturuan. Syempre kapag mag-aartista ka dito sa atin, lahat kailangan mo gawin including singing,” he acknowledged.

Today, whether or not the love of talent for music is genetic, Madrid’s family is only too happy that he has decided to make singing a priority in his thriving career.

“I believe the best way to learn

is by experience. Syempre, the more na kumakanta ka, the more na nahahasa ang boses mo and kumbaga tinutulungan mo na din i-improve yung sarili mo. Since I grew up around music in the first place, I guess it’s natural to come to this. I just hope na sana magustuhan ng mga makikinig ang song ko. At sana abangan nila ang mga darating ko pang kanta,” he ended.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 24-27, 2019

B

Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez:

‘Twogether again’ at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles by

Prosy AbArquez-DelAcruz, J.D. AJPress

“That’s the state of how I was taught, was the whole thing of Ohana, wishes family...and that’s one thing that we don’t get enough of in the Philippines; [it is] all about family and same in Hawaii and that’s one thing I’ve always enjoyed is to be able to treat my people, of the people I perform with, the people that I perform for as if we were family.

I don’t go up there and become this big God and try and make people worship me. I hate that, if there’s anything about mine in my career I hate most is that. But to be able to relate to my audience to have them be the stars and not me during a two three hour concert that for me is the ultimate mission of my every show - so the upbringing of Hawaii, the atmosphere of the laid-backness of Hawaii but more than anything the Ohana factor, the family factor that became very part and parcel of my act even joking around about family how my mom raised me ala Rex [Navarrete a comedian] never end there; that kind of thing you know when he jokes about his grandmother and his mother being so Filipino is unbelievable. I put all of that in my show, okay so we got a Hawaiian Filipino with the spirit of Ohana and rich in everything.” – Martin Nievera, with Philipp Harth on Fan TV (2010).

I have watched Martin Nievera at his solo concerts in Los Angeles, and wondered about his accessibility to the audience.

I was not a fan yet. It reminded me of ASAP stars on The Filipino Channel with how they literally made the audience a part of their show. It makes for an unruly audience who would at times interrupt the singing with selfies.

But, after watching Nievera with Pops Fernandez, my initial impression of a flamboyant singer who attracts his audience with his exuberance and enthusiasm turned into an expressive Martin who was balanced with Pops and her serenity onstage.

As Pops came out in her ivory, no shoulder gown, with laced cutouts, Martin admired it by holding up the bottom to showcase the designs, to which Pops tenderly remarked to put it down as she had no slip underneath.

When Pops appeared as the first Filipina judge on CBS’ “The World’s Best” hosted by James Corden in early Feb. 2019, I wondered how she became a talent judge. I, of course, did not know that she has built a formidable singing and acting career, as the better half of Martin’s love team on television

and film, his former wife and the forever mother of two “wonderful treasures,” whom he referred to, their sons Robin and Ram. It was my classmate, Rose B., who reminded me of their television show, “Penthouse Live,” that she watched every Sunday for years.

But more than that, Martin has garnered 18 platinum, five double platinum, three triple platinum, and one quadruple platinum albums. That amounts to millions of records sold.

As an ex-married couple, the generosity in their friendship is palpable, when Pops said in a GMA interview with Janet Susan Rodriguez Nepales, “I got a call from Martin (Nievera, her ex). I was doing a video shoot. Martin texted me and asked me if I heard about the show. Yes, I told him.

He said that they chose him. I said, Really, wow good for you.

But then Martin said, I don’t think I can make it. I can’t make the dates. So he asked me if I could do it instead? I thought that was really touching of him to think of me. I said. That is so sweet of you.

Little did I know that I would be the first Filipina to be featured in the show as a judge. It was a wonderful experience. It is a fantastic show. I hope they will do more seasons and I can get together again with the other 49 judges.”

The duo performed at both Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and Samala hall at Chumash Casino on two consecutive weekends.

Samala, by the way, means “recognized by God” with a capacity of 1,500 seats, almost all claimed that evening. At the Palace Theatre, its 1,068 seats were all claimed, leaving the organizers to sacrifice their seats for others.

Palace Theatre in its golden 50 years was located on Broadway, a major thoroughfare and LA’s major commercial district. It was the largest historic theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “This venue was once graced by Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, Marx Brothers,” and add to that now, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez.

Today’s Palace Theatre has newly installed lighting and sound systems and their songs resonated loudly and a few times, one could feel actual reverberations of the band’s music go from one’s ears to the body, literally.

Nevermind that the sound dynamics have to be tweaked, nor that the fans were into smalltalk reunions in their seats, since thousands sat inside the theater,

Pops duets with her first-born, Robin Nievera

One of the opening singers, Cherilyn Diane

Kim Pidazo

Rock artist Malou Toler was one of the front acts.

Producers and the artists: (left to right) Roel Barrientos, Lady Barrientos, Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Alex Vicencio, Cyndi Vicencio, Dr. Lourdes Capulong, Lisa Castillo, Mikey Castillo.

as Manilow was applauded by fans and that became his dream for himself. “I was 17 years old I’d sang in a singing contest with 4,500 contestants.

It’s called California State talent competition, it’s four days long and I think I was one of the only Asians in there singing. There [were] a lot of Asian dancers, Bennett singers, [to make the] long story short on the fourth day I was crowned the overall grand champion of the state of California in1981,” Martin said in a FANTV interview in 2010 with Philipp Hart.

He shared that he and Pops became a stage team, fell in love, had two beautiful children, who were raised by Pops, and admitted he” messed up.” He then asked the men in the crowd, “How many of you here messed up?” Of course, to that question, no one would fess up. He declared, “They will be my life, the rest of my life.

This woman and two children.”

He then dedicated the concert to Rosie Chua, one of the organizers of this August 10 concert with this song, “Ikaw lang ang mamahalin”: “Sa bawat pag-ikot ng ating buhay/May oras kailangan na maghiwalay/Puso’y lumaban man, walang magagawa/Saan ka, kailan ka muling mahahagkan?

(In this cycle of life, there is time to say goodbye, even if the heart struggles, there is nothing that can be done. Where and when can I embrace you again?)”

The crowd went wild when he sang, “Sana ang tibok ng puso ko, sana yakapin mo kahit sandali, (Perhaps with my heart’s beat, perhaps you can hug me just one moment), one could feel the loving expressions. Even if the song was dedicated to his concert organizer, expressions towards Pops and her persona were what he was singing his words to.

Onstage, the expected rancor between ex-spouses was not there, only respect, candor and humor. For every verse and lyrics they sang, “Ikaw ang bigay ng Maykapal (You are a gift from God), or “Ikaw ang Tanglaw sa Buhay Ko, (You are the light force of my life), the fans could not get enough of their chemistry onstage. Though the couplehood is gone, they are thriving as a family and as they entertain their fans, moving them to tears, as well as laughter.

During the Chumash Casino concert that I attended a week later, courtesy of good friends, Martin described Pops as ”This woman [who] became the most understanding woman in the world. She raised our children Line of eager audience members formed outside the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 10 as Martin Nievera and Pops by herself, Robin and Ram. He Fernandez would reunite onstage. proceeded to belt out, “Baby I love you. This is my last chance for love.”

Perhaps the most endearing numbers for me were the duets of Robin Nievera, the first-born son, with his father and mother.

Robin is superb with his acoustic guitar and even his composition, “Home,” that was a fusion of his dad’s rendition of a yesterday song, “Unchained Melody,” sang in tribute to 10 million Filipinos who work overseas and in Los Angeles, over 500,000 now.

When Pops spoke of passing the torch to one of her earlier songs, “The Little Star,” she moved me to tears with her heartfelt love Martin Nievera meets the Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.ap in crowd. filled with excitement to see their idols, reunited.

The opening acts occupied time, a bit raunchy for my taste that we will leave it at that. But, one singer, Cherilyn Diane, who traveled from San Diego, did not resort to any external props or raunchy dance moves, as she simply sang to the audience’s delight, “I Surrender,”

by Celine Dion.

As soon as Martin and Pops appeared in the Palace theater, the minor irritations of gossiping fans, of sound dynamics that needed tweaking and stabilized later, all were forgotten as they sang their opening medley, “Together Again”: “Together/ forever/To be together/Forever with You/Together again.”

They captivated everyone with this number, and Martin started relating their journey as a duo on stage and real-life. With how it all began, he sung, “No One Can Make Me Feel This Way,” and so expressively, he made us believe, “Tell me where I went wrong,” and recounted how Pops did not like him at first, as he was perceived to be arrogant.

Could it be because he was raised in Hawaii, a son of Bert Nievera, who was a member of Society of Seven? Martin got to watch his dad perform every night, at times, three times a night. He knew what a performing artist does onstage.

In 1980 at Concord Pavilion, Martin was one of the back-up singers for Barry Manilow and from that stage view, he watched

Consul General Adelio Cruz, Mrs. Catherine Cruz, philanthropist and businesswoman Priscilla Hunt, Batangas Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas, Brenda Nowatka, and Asian Journal CEO and Publisher Roger Oriel.

Ms. Priscilla Hunt (with flowers) hands Martin Nievera his bouquet. Producers onstage are: (Left to right) Aimee Chao, Debbie Alida (producer’s friend), Lady Barrientos, Alex Vicencio, Cyndi Vicencio, artist-Pops Fernandez, Roel Barrientos, Mikey Castillo, Lisa Castillo, Dr. Lourdes Capulong, artist-Martin Nievera

Martin Nievera serenades Ms. Priscilla Hunt, as producer Trinity Foliente looks on (rightmost).

for her firstborn. It reminded me of how I was, giving birth and caring for my own firstborn, a special favorite girl in my heart, Corina, and even more so, my granddaughter by her, Princess.

But as this firstborn sang, “I am not them, I am me,” you know he is asserting his identity, separate in style and skills and talents from his parents, and one who is finding his way around Los Angeles, introducing emerging talents to Hollywood. Of course, he is not them, but he is from them, and perhaps by embracing the musical genes that produced him while in the womb, he can be the next Andrea Morricone, who declares, “I knew music before I was even born. Morricone, born to parents who both were into music, one of whom is Ennio Morricone. Since then, the father and son won an Oscar for their latest film score. I wonder if that is also in the future of the Nievera and Fernandez family, a strong composition, all their own to be sung and to win an Emmy or an

Oscar?

Irrespective of that wish, when Pops sang, “I could have said goodbye/if I knew it would be the last time.” It was a very moving concert for me, now that I know their love story and how they manage to still bring out the best in each other, onstage and off, giving each one the generosity and support they need as parents to Robin and Ram. As the concert ended, Martin went to where the first row fans were seated and sang songs to Mrs. Priscilla Hunt, a respected philanthropist, whom he serenaded. Then, other fans intruded into the song to get their selfies, which Martin encouraged.

Indeed, it was Ohana night, all over again, even after 37 years of performing on stage. Martin has made every concert space his own playground, his own home, and his own comfort zone, and became ours as well, even if just for a night.

“I knew music even before I was born.”

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

B august 24-27, 2019 • La WEEKEND asIaN JOuRNaL

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COMMUNITY Journal

UPAAA announces 2019 Distinguished Alumni and Special Recognition awardees

by Joe

L. Garbanzos MPH/EMBA

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAA) announced its list of 2019 Distinguished Alumni and Special Recognition awardees.

These awardees will be honored at a Gala during the 20th Grand Reunion at the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA on Sunday, September 1, 2019. These awardees represent the best in their chosen field and live up to this year’s theme: “Lead, Elevate, Advance and Participate.”

Nelsie Parrado, president of UPAAA and co-host Sonia Delen, president of UPAA of San Francisco (UPAASF) are pleased to announce these distinguished alumni awardees. Dr. Francis Sy, UPAAA Chair Awards Committee, and Jim Cortes, UPAASF Chairman of the Board, co-chaired the selection committee, who was in charge with the most challenging task to select from the best and brightest UP alumni in America and around the world.

Honor and Excellence As UPAAA honors these 2019 distinguished awrdees, the association also recognizes that many of its alumni are uncelebrated but no less distinguished in their own right. Nelsie Parrado said, “We see them volunteering in communities, working in hospitals, finance, real estate, schools, churches and diverse other workplaces. To these uncelebrated alumni, the association is proud of their contribution and achievements. The alma mater’s call for Honor and Excellence is truly alive and well.”

To register for the 3-day 20th Grand Reunion at the Crown Plaza Hotel San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA on August 30-September 2, 2019, visit www.upaaagrandreunion.com/register. To learn more, you may visit Facebook page UP Alumni Association in America @OfficialUPAAA. Tickets to the Distinguished Speaker Series are available at www.upaaagrandreunion.eventbrite.com.

Special Recognition Awardees Philanthropic Services

Diosdado (Dado) Banatao is an entrepreneur and engineer in the high-tech industry, credited with having developed the first system logic chip and the first Windows Graphics accelerator chip for personal computers. He provides scholarships in engineering in the Philippines and also to high school students of Filipino heritage in California. He earned his BS in Electrical Engineering cum laude from the Mapúa Institute of Technology and his MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University in 1972. He was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by UP in 2000.

International Medical Services Aida Sarmiento is a Practice Manager at Midwest Pediatrics, Ltd., Lombard, Illinois. She is the UPAAA Vice President for Midwest, 2017-2019 and served as its board secretary 2015-2017.

With her husband, Dr. Rodolfo Sarmiento, she has participated in numerous medical missions in the last 20 years. She earned her graduate degree in Nursing from UP-PGH in 1967.

2019 Distinguished Alumni Awardees Leadership, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Olive Rocha-Aliga is the President of the University of the Philippines Vanguard Corps of Sponsors Alumni International (UPVCSAI).

She has provided strong leadership to UPVCSAI from its conception in 2004 to the present. UPVCSAI has supported various communitybased projects in the Philippines.

She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from U.P. in 1973.

Biochemistry and Community Service Dr. Juanita F Caccam, PhD developed a laboratory screening method for neonatal hypothyroidism at the San Diego Institute of Pathology and Mass Diagnostic Laboratory.

She founded the UPAA of San Diego in 1983. She earned her B.S. Chemistry from U.P. in 1956 and her PhD in Biochemistry from the Duquesne University in 1964.

Culture and Culinary Diplomacy Cristeta Gomez Pasia-Comer-

ford is one of the longest-serving White House executive chefs.

She is the first female and the first Asian American appointed to this position. She attended classes towards a B.S. degree on Food Technology at the UP College of Home Economics. On November 11, 2019, UP will confer her with the Degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa during the celebration of the 98th anniversary of the institution of the Home Economics program at UP College of Home Economics.

Finance, Institutional and Corporate Responsibility Polly Santiago-Cortez is the Vice-Chair of the Friends of UP Foundation of America (FUPFA).

She retired in September 2015 after over 38 years as a Federal Banking Regulator at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She was a founding member of Camp CEO for mentoring the underserved and at-risk teens in San Francisco.

She earned her B.S. in Business Administration from UP in 1966 and her MBA (Finance) in 1983 from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Science and Technology Dr. Benito de Lumen is Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Sciences at University of California, Berkeley. He is Founder and CEO of Narra Biosciences since 2012.

It is a biotech company commercializing the anti-cancer “lunasin,” a unique 43-amino acid peptide found in soybeans which has been shown to suppress chemical carcinogen-induced transformation in mammalian cells and skin carcinogenesis in mice. He earned his B.S. in Agricultural Chemistry from UP Los Banos in 1962 and his PhD in Agricultural Chemistry/ Biochemistry from University of California, Davis in 1971.

Plastic Surgery and Health Care Leadership Dr. Wilfrido C. Feliciano is a plastic surgeon. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at St. Louis University, Missouri from 1989 to 2005. He served as president of several professional organizations including UP Medical Alumni Society

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 24-27, 2019

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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon WHEN people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their debts and avoid contact with creditors. They think that by doing this, somehow the creditors will simply give up and go away.

Bad news: This rarely works.

Then one day they get a summons delivered to their home or work and that’s when they start to panic after learning that they’ve been sued. The next step of course is a wage garnishment, a bank account levy, a lien against their real property or any combination of the above. That’s when they rush to see a bankruptcy attorney to find out what can be done to protect themselves.

Painful consequences can result from non-action. But I do understand that sometimes, people just get so overwhelmed with their problems that they are paralyzed by fear. The fear of the unknown, the fear of making changes in their lives or some-

Tapat Sa Batas Atty. RheA SAmSon Noong Agosto 12, 2019, ang USCIS ay nagpahayag ng final rule na nagbabago ng mga regulasyon ng Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tungkol sa public charge. Sa ilalim ng Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), ang isang dayuhan ay maaaring maging inadmissibile o di pahihintulutang pumasok ng US kung mayroong posibilidad na siya ay magiging public charge sa hinaharap na panahon.

Ang final rule ay magiging epektibo sa Oktubre 15, 2019. Sa final rule, ang USCIS ay may awtoridad na pahintulutan na ang isang dayuhan ay mag-submit ng public charge bond sa kanyang pag-apply ng green card. Sa final rule, mayroon ding requirement na ang mga dayuhan na humihingi ng extension of stay o change of status sa USCIS ay hindi nakatangggap ng public benefits na mahigit sa itinalag-

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Ignoring debt problems now can be painful later times, , the fear of making those difficult decisions that they’ve been avoiding to make. I know because I see it all the time. But the reality of it is that if there are dreadful consequences to not facing your debt problems, you will either face them now or later, it’s just a matter of time.

So how do you start to tackle the problem when it seems so enormous that you almost feel like giving up before you even start? How do you get out of debt if you are currently feeling trapped in your situation with no way out?

There basically only 4 ways to get out of debt if you’re on the verge of insolvency: (1) increase income so you can start paying larger amounts on your debts to hopefully avoid filing bankruptcy, (2) reduce expenses so that you can increase your disposable income and have more money available for debt repayment, (3) Convert assets you don’t need into cash and use the money to negotiate with creditors, and (4) File bankruptcy to wipe out debts or consolidate your bills (This re-

quires filing either a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13).

If you’re feeling paralyzed by debt and can’t think clearly at the moment, you need a good attorney who can properly evaluate your situation and recommend possible solutions. The first thing you need to do when you don’t know what to do is to realize that sometimes, you cannot do it on your own. There is nothing wrong with getting legal help.

The sooner you get help, the sooner you would be able to protect your home, your job, your car, your bank account and other assets. For more information and to schedule a free consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-4777772. 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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Inadmissibility due to public charge ang threshold.

Ayon sa USCIS, ang pagpapatupad ng public charge inadmissibility law ay magsusulong ng mga mithiin ng sariling kakayahan, pagsandig sa sarili, pagiging masipag at matiyaga, na silang mga naging pundasyon ng US. Ito rin ang mga inasahan ng ilang henerasyon ng masisipag na dayuhan na naghanap ng mga oportunidad sa US sa matagal at mahabang panahon. Ang final rule ay hindi nag-aapply sa mga US citizen (USC) kahit ang USC ay kamag-anak ng dayuhan na sumasailalim sa public charge ground ng inadmissibility. Ang mga isaaalang-alang ng DHS ay mga public benefits na direktang natanggap ng dayuhan para sa kanyang kapakanan, o kung saan naka-lista ang dayuhan bilang beneficiary ng public benefit.

Ang public benefit na natanggap ng dayuhan para sa iba ay hindi rin kasama, kahit ang public benefits ay natanggap ng mga miyembro ng pamilya ng dayuhan.

Ang DHS ay nagbago na rin ng interpretasyon ng “public charge” at kasama na ngayon dito ang mga non-cash benefits tulad ng food stamps, Medicaid, at mga housing voucher o mga housing subsidy upang matiyak na ang mga dayuhang napapailalim sa public charge inadmissibility ground ay may sariling kakayahan at hindi umaasa sa public resources para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan.

Subalit sila ay umaasa sa sariling kakayahan at sa mga mapagkukunan ng kanilang mga pamilya, o kaya ay sa sponsor at mga pribadong organisasyon para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan.

Ang bagong depinisyon ng “public charge” sa final rule ay isang dayuhan na nakatanggap ng mga public benefit ng mahigit ng 12 buwan sa loob ng 36 buwan sa pangkalahatan. Kaya’t ang pagtanggap ng dalawang benefit sa isang buwan ay bibilangin bilang dalawang buwan. Sa final rule,

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Tax & Stock Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

6. Avoid Leverage That Amplifies Stress During A Market Crash: Sure, there’s stress during a crash – lots of it. Add margins (meaning loans that you incurred to buy more stocks) and you get more stress. Those loans have to be paid - right in the middle of a market crash. Malo.

7. Don’t Try To Time the Market Don’t try to forecast when stock market crashes will occur. Just know they will come. In Berkshire’s 2017 shareholder letter, Buffett outlined four times when Berkshire stock fell 37% or more.

Warren Buffet said that the biggest decline occurred from March 1973 to January 1975, when Berkshire stock declined a whopping 59%.

No one can tell you when these will happen. The light can at any

Warren Buffett’s advice during a market crash Part 2 of 2 Stocks have survived correctime go from green to red without pausing at yellow. These pullbacks, tions, recessions, and depressions. which were all accompanied by They will survive them in the future. broader drops in the stock market, So, if you find yourself amid a stock are undoubtedly painful for inves- market crash, stay out of debt, stay tors. But no matter how much you focused on the long-term, and take wish to avoid them, trying to time advantage of buying. Remember: When the going gets tough, the them is a fool’s errand.

8. Don’t View Stocks As Ticker tough goes shopping – for bargain stocks.

Symbols While stock prices may plum*** met, the majority of companies Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude with good business models and from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State strong competitive advantages will University with an MBA. Vic worked with likely see a far smaller negative im- SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen pact to their underlying businesses Consulting) and Ernst & Young before during these periods. establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation 9. Stay Focused On the Long in Pasadena, California.

Haul *** Remain focused during down- He has 50 years of experience in turns. Don’t get caught up in short- defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, term economic forecasts of sheer FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental optimism or gloom and doom. agencies. He is publishing a book on his Long-term investors are not short- expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE term traders. They are business IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire owners with long-term views. about the book or email tax questions at 10. The Bottom Line: vicsy@live.com.

To be in close friendship with Jesus

IF there is one fundamental thing that God desires for each one of us, it’s a close relationship with him. After all, we are his sons and daughters. He wants that we develop and nurture an intimate friendship with him.

God wants us to know and love him with all our heart, mind, and soul. How do we build this mutual friendship and love? There is no other way except through a discipline of prayer and study.

It’s the logic of life in any relationship. If you want to know your children and have them know you too, then you must spend a lot of time to talk and listen to them and be with them. If you want your marriage to be healthy, then you must have affectionate time together with your spouse no matter how busy you are with your children and the household choirs. If you want to know what your friend values, then you must take time to know him.

So if you long to have a personal relationship with God, with Jesus our Lord, you must take time to be with him in prayer and to know him.

It’s the message that Jesus implies in his parable in this Sunday’s Gospel. People were standing outside the door knocking and saying, “Lord, open the door for us.” He will tell you in reply, “I do not know where you are from.” And you will say, “We ate and drank in your company, and you taught in our streets.” Then he will tell you, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me all, you evildoers.”

The Lord does not want a mere

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” Family Code 760.

This becomes a problem if you are the spouse that has the substantially higher income or the one who accumulates the majority of the assets during the marriage.

You are called in family law lingo “the in spouse.” The other spouse (or in our lingo also called the “out spouse” gets a half interest on everything accumulated during the marriage even if the asset is under your name alone or it was accumulated solely due to your sweat and hard work. The out spouse, who stayed at home most of the marriage, gets a one half interest on all the accumulations during the marriage under California community property law. For example, if you opened a savings account during the marriage under your name alone for which you religiously and diligently stash away 25% of your earnings during the marriage while your spouse blows away his/her salary during the marriage, your spouse still gets a half interest in the money you saved in your savings account. Another example would be if you purchase a piece of real property during the marriage under “your name alone” and have your spouse sign a “quit claim” deed, your spouse may still have a claim for a half interest in your real property. Another example would be if you owned a business prior to marriage, but due to your hard work, long hours of labor, and efforts, the business grew exponentially during the marriage, your spouse may still have a claim for an interest in the business.

Signing a premarital agreement may serve as added protection to the future “in spouse” and a hurdle for the future “out spouse” by avoiding or altering the applicability of California community proper-

The Prophetic Voice ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS casual relationship with us--of merely “eating and drinking.” Instead, he wants an intense, loyal, and passionate friendship with us.

Jesus uses the image of the bride the groom to express this kind of relationship with us, members of the Body. He is the groom, and we are his bride.

On his part, he showed this kind of friendship by becoming one like us to show us the way and the will of his father, and ultimately by dying on the cross to save us from the darkness sin and to give us eternal life.

But here on earth, as long as we live, he is offering us this kind of friendship because he knows that it’s what would give us life, joy, meaning, and purpose. St. John Eudes poetically expresses this desire in his writing: “I ask you to consider that our Lord Jesus Christ is your true head and that you are a member of his body. He belongs to you as the head belongs to the body. All that is his is yours: breath, heart, body, soul, and all his faculties.

He belongs to you, but more than that, he longs to be in you, living and ruling in you, as the head lives rules the body. He desires

that whatever is in him may live and rule in you; his breath in your breath, his heart in your heart, all the faculties of his soul in all the faculties of your soul, so that these words may be fulfilled in you: Glorify God and bear him in your body, that the life of Jesus made manifest in you.

You must, then, have one breath with him, one soul, one life, one will, one mind, one heart. And he must be your breath, heart, love, life, your all.”

So how do we establish this intimate relationship with Jesus? As I mentioned, it is through the disciple of prayer and study. So take time first thing in the morning to thank God and pray to him for guidance. Read and meditate on the Scriptures like the Readings of the Mass for the day. Contemplate the presence of Jesus and the company of Mary and the Saints in your life. Spend a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. Go to daily Mass if you can. Be with like-minded people whose earnest desire is to grow in faith, prayer, and knowledge of God. As you discipline yourself to do these exercises, you will notice and feel in your heart an increase in faith and love for Jesus. Your life would become more serene, focused on the essentials of life, and centered on God. You will experience the joy of being in intimate friendship with Jesus, which nothing in this material world can offer. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Do I need a premarital agreement before getting married? ty law to assets 1) already owned by each and 2) to property and income to be acquired or earned during their marriage. Marriage of Grinius (1985) 166 CA3d 1179, 1186, 212 CR 803, 807 Premarital agreements may validly provide that the earnings and accumulations of each party during marriage will remain that party’s separate property, free of any claims, community property or otherwise, of the other party. Premarital agreements may also serve to preserve a person’s estate for his or her heirs, free of the other party’s inheritance claims.

Pursuant to Family Code §1612(c ),“ Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located.

(2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property.(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event.(4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement.(5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy.(6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement.(7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty. However, the right of a child to support may not be adversely affected. Family Code 1612(b).

Premarital agreements that are entered into voluntarily by parties who are each represented by independent counsel and aware of the effect of the agreement, a post 1985 premarital waiver of post dissolution support does not offend contemporary public policy and is not per se unenforceable.

Under both the Uniform Pre-

marital Agreement Act and prior law, the spouse claiming the agreement is invalid or not enforceable bears the burden of proof on that allegation. Family Code. 1615(a); Marriage of Bonds, supra, 24 C4th at 27, 99 CR2d at 269; Marriage of Iverson (1992) 11 CA4th 1495, 1502, 15 CR2d 70, 74–75; However, the UPAA (as amended effective 1/1/02) deems that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court makes five prescribed findings provided for under Family Code. § 1615(c) (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. (2) The party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations he or she was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that he or she received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 24-27, 2019

Home health employees are entitled to overtime Q: I am a registered nurse in the Philippines but I have not yet obtained a license in California. However, I am working as a ‘private nurse’ to a bed-ridden patient in Los Angeles. My duties are mainly nursing duties – tube feedings, inserting catheter, tracheal suctioning, observing and recording vital signs, administering therapies prescribed by doctors, etc. I am a live-out employee and work a 12-hour shift, 7 days per week.

I am paid a flat daily rate for all work hours. What are my rights?

A: You are a non-exempt, hourly employee entitled to overtime pay. This means, for all work beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours a week, you must be paid one and a half times your regular hourly rate (“time and a half”). For all work beyond 12 hours per day or beyond 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day, you must be paid two times your regular hourly rate (“double time”). You are also entitled to one hour additional pay at your regular rate if you were not provided any of your two 30-minute uninterrupted meal periods, and one additional hour of pay at your regular rate if you are not provided at least three 10-minute rest periods.

Another issue that may arise for employees who work in private households has to do with the distinction between live-in and live-out employees. Live-in employees are those who live at the employer’s house. Liveout employees are those who go home after their daily work is done. The computation of a

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrenCe yAng THE client is 66. He purchased a business about 10 years ago for $2 million. He put in $500,000 of his own money and borrowed a $1.5 million small business loan through the Small Business Administration.

The business owns real property worth $800,0000 in 2010. It derives revenue through rentals of the real estate that it owns. In the first year of operations, gross revenues were $1 million with net profit after tax of $100,000, which is good. In the second year of operations, gross revenue was slightly below $1 million, with net profit after tax still about $100,000. In the third year of operations, gross revenues dropped by 95%! How did this happen?

It appears that a recession happened in the city where the business was located and a lot of the people there lost their jobs, so the demand for the business of debtor dried up. Well, this is what happens to businesses.

Even now with the trade war going on, a lot of businesses are having difficulty surviving. When times are good, businesses that are well run with good margins, make a lot of money. When times are bad, a lot of businesses go belly up.

For instance, many farmers

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. private household employee’s overtime hours would depend on whether the employee is livein or not.

A live-in employee may be employed as much as 12 hours per day, provided that the employee has at least three hours free of duty during the 12 hours span of work. Such off-duty hours need not be consecutive. If an employee is required to work during scheduled off-duty hours, the household employee must be compensated at the rate of one and one-half (1 ½) times the employee’s regular rate of pay (“time and a half”) for all such hours worked.

A live-in employee must have at least 12 consecutive hours free of duty during each workday of 24 hours. If the employee is required to work during the 12 consecutive off duty hours, then the employee must also be paid time and a half for all hours worked.

A live-in employee generally must be allowed a one day off (of not less than 24 hours) after 5 consecutive days of work in a workweek. If the employee is required to work for a 6th or even a 7th consecutive day in the workweek, the employee must be paid time and a half for hours worked up to and including 9 hours. Live-in employees who

worked in excess of 9 hours on the sixth and seventh workdays shall be compensated at double the employee’s regular rate of pay (“double time”).

The overtime compensation for ‘live-out’ employees is computed in the same way as that of a regular non-exempt employee who works in other occupations. This means ‘liveout’ household employees must be paid time and a half for all hours worked that are more than 8 hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week. Hours worked more than 12 hours in a day or more than 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day must be paid double time.

Correctly distinguishing between the two groups of employees makes a difference in the employee’s ability to recover overtime. Hence, it is wise to consult with an experienced employment attorney if an employee working in a private household has questions in this regard. *** 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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are facing the prospect of bankruptcy because one of the biggest buyers of our farm products, China, has stopped buying our produce because of the trade war tariffs that Pres. Trump imposed on goods from China. To help farmers survive, the Feds have given them at least $16-B of aid. Of course, our farmers don’t want aid, what they want is to be able to sell their produce to China again, and make their profit.

Our farmers have their hands tied as of now. There is nothing they can do except to continue to eat their losses and suffer in silence. How long will they last until they say, “enough is enough!” Who knows? Even the European Union is now drawing plans to retaliate against the U.S. because of the possibility that all those Mercedes Benzes, BMWs & Audis etc., that used to come into the U.S. tax-free may in the next few months be slapped with significant tariffs. If this happens, the Europeans may stop eating American beef and become vegetarian.

Even Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, told the president a few days ago that the tariffs imposed on China will make Apple less competitive than Apple’s S. Korean rival, Samsung, because Apple’s main source of parts is China which faces tariffs, while Samsung’s sources in S. Korea

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Inadmissibility due to public...

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kasama na sa “public benefit” ang mga cash benefits para sa income maintenance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) o mga food stamp, mga Medicaid, Section 8 Housing Assistance sa ilalim ng Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, at iba pang subsidized housing. *** On August 12, 2019, the USCIS announced a final rule amending Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regulations by prescribing how DHS will determine whether an alien who is applying for admission or adjustment of status is inadmissible to the US under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) based on his likelihood of becoming a public charge at any time in the future.

This final rule will take effect on October 15, 2019. Under the final rule, USCIS has the authority to permit an alien to submit a public charge bond in the context of adjustment of status applications. The rule also includes a requirement that aliens seeking an extension of stay or change of status demonstrate that they have not, since obtaining the nonimmigrant status they seek to extend or change, received public benefits over the designated threshold.

According to the USCIS, the

enforcement of the public charge inadmissibility law will promote the ideals of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, industriousness and perseverance, which have laid the foundation of the nation and have defined generations of hardworking immigrants seeking opportunity in the US ever since.

The rule does not apply to US citizens (USC), even if the USC is related to an alien subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility. DHS will also consider only public benefits received directly by the alien for the alien’s own benefit, or where the alien is listed as the beneficiary of the public benefit. Benefits received on behalf of another will not be considered. Neither will receipt of public benefits by one or more members of the alien’s household be attributed to the alien, unless the alien is also listed as a beneficiary of the public benefit.

DHS is revising its interpretation of “public charge” to incorporate consideration of non-cash benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, and housing vouchers or other housing subsidies to better ensure that aliens subject to the public charge inadmissibility ground are self-sufficient and do not depend on public resources to meet their needs.

Rather, they rely on their own capabilities, as well as the resources of family members, sponsors and private organizations. The rules redefines “public charge” as an alien who receives one or more designated public benefits

Writ of Mandamus relief for unreasonable delay in pending immigration filings A COMMON question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until USCIS makes a decision?”

The question is understandable, in that an unreasonable delay in the USCIS’ adjudication of a petition or application can have adverse effects, including loss of employment and employment opportunities, possible termination of employment, and difficulties in obtaining student and credit loans.

While an immigration filing is pending, the typical response by USCIS upon inquiry is that further time (usually 90 or 180 days) is needed to make a decision.

However, often that 90 or 180 days that USCIS needs to make a decision turns into months and sometimes years. What option does a petitioner or applicant have to compel the USCIS to act on his or her case?

Pursuant to the Mandamus and Venue Act of 1962, a Writ of Mandamus action can be filed in the US District Courts to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the USCIS, DHS’s bureau, to act on a petition or application for which adjudication has been unreasonably delayed. The statute allows for an “action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty.”

The legal duty for USCIS to promptly act on a pending petition or application can be found in the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”), 8 USC Sec. 1571,

for more than 12 months, in the aggregate, within any 36-month period (such that, for instance, receipt of 2 benefits in 1 month counts as 2 months). The rule further defines the term “public benefit” to include any cash benefits for income maintenance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, most forms of Medicaid, Section 8 Housing Assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, Section 8 ProjectBased Rental Assistance, and certain other forms of subsidized housing. *** 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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Legal Advice Atty. DArriCk tAn and 5 USC Sec. 555(b). These statutes form the basis of Writ of Mandamus relief.

The APA gives the court authority to “compel agency action unlawfully held and unreasonable delayed.” The policy for processing immigration applications is set forth under 8 USC Sec. 1571, which states that “the processing of an immigration benefit application should be completed no later than 180 days after the initial filing of the application.” Further, 5 USC Sec. 555(b) states that “within a reasonable time, each agency shall proceed to conclude a matter presented to it.”

A typical case in which Writ of Mandamus relief is a viable option is in a green card application based on marriage. I have had several inquiries in recent months concerning delays in processing of these cases. Typically, the green card applicant along with his or her US Citizen spouse is interviewed by a USCIS officer and at the end of the interview, the green card applicant is advised that additional time is needed by USCIS to make a decision. The timeframe given to make a decision is 180 days; however, more than 180 days pass and no decision is made. The applicant

then seeks to get updated status of the application via an Infopass appointment, and is advised that the case is still under consideration and more time is needed.

In such a case, a writ of mandamus can be filed in Federal Court to compel the USCIS to act on the application. Often, a decision is made on the case after the Writ of Mandamus is filed in that the unreasonable delay is brought to the attention of the USCIS. A prompt decision is often made

by USCIS after filing to avoid the use of government resources in having to defend the meritorious action.

It is important to keep in mind that Writ of Mandamus relief is available to a variety of pending petitions and applications, not just green card applications based on marriage. To determine whether Writ of Mandamus relief is a good option in your pending immigration case, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney. *** 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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Do I need a premarital agreement...

PAGE C2 t

the agreement.(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. In addition, the parties are required to provide each other with full disclosure of all material financial information.

A premarital agreement may be unenforceable if found to be undo not have a tariff problem. So, conscionable when it was executed global trade is not really as sim- and the requisite disclosures were ple as raising the tariff wall. The lacking and not waived Additionlast time a trade war happened, it ally, a spousal support provision in was immediately followed by the a premarital agreement executed great depression. under the UPAA, whether before Back to the client: When your or after January 1, 2002, is not gross sales plunge by 95%, that enforceable if found to be unconcan’t be good. There was noth- scionable at the time of enforceing client could do to rescue his ment. Family Code § 1612(c). If business. It was de facto bank- you are the higher earning spouse rupt. The SBA foreclosed on the and have assets to protect, it is improperty and got $500,000 from the auction sale of the property. The client thought that he had nothing else to worry about since the SBA already took the property back. He was surprised to receive a statement from the SBA through the lending bank that he personally still owed the SBA $1 million post-foreclosure.

I suspect that the foreclosure was done judicially, and or, that he signed a personal guarantee.

Whatever it is, he still owes the SBA a cool $1 million after he lost his business.

Then the client turned 66 and started to receive social security. And here comes the SBA, through the U.S. Treasury Department, deducting an amount each month from his social security to repay the $1 million.

Come on, that sounds absurd, doesn’t it? The client now depends on social security, which is really not a princely sum, but

Is a $1-million SBA loan dischargeable?

C

portant to seek the representation of experienced counsel in drafting a premarital agreement to make sure that all statutory requirement are met which increases the likelihood that your premarital agreement will be deemed enforceable when attacked in court in case of a divorce. *** 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)

C4 AUGUST 24-27, 2019 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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People & Events

Three Fil-Am authors to hold book talks The 8th Annual PAPC Plaridel Awards call for entries Submission deadline extended to August 31, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Philippine American Press Club USA is proud to announce the eighth Plaridel Awards which will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2019 in San Francisco. Call for Entries are now in full swing. Entries for this year’s competition must have seen print or had been broadcast through a Filipino American or mainstream media anywhere in the U.S. between June 1, 2018 thru May 31, 2019. Deadline for submission has been extended to August 31, 2019.

Established in 2012, The Plaridel was created to inspire and empower journalists of Filipino descent by acknowledging and celebrating outstanding journalism. Now in its 8thyear, The Plaridel has become a benchmark among Filipino American journalists in rating news and contents nationwide. With the caliber of the judges chosen for The PlaSAN PEDRO, CA — Three new dren. If you are from Samar, do 1996, he received the U-M Life- ridel, PAPC is confident that wintime Achievement Award for his ning articles are outstanding in books will be launched by Phil- not miss this interesting talk.

Abraham Gabriel Pagtama, activism and work in Filipino content, form and style among ippine Expressions Bookshop on Saturday, August 31 from 3:00 popularly known as Gabe Pagta- American and Hmong commu- other aspects of good journalism. ma, was born in Shape, Belgium nities. The Bathala Series is a p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Trophies will be given to the The bookshop is located at The and grew up in Los Angeles. He scheduled 7-book series that will winners with the best written arArcade, a vintage 1928 Art Deco has a degree in business from explore pre-Spanish Philippines building which is on 479 West Marymount University (LMU), through the eyes of modernSixth St., Suite 105, Historic Arts Los Angeles. He was fascinated day Fil-Am characters. EnlightDistrict, San Pedro, CA 90731. at an early age with writing and enment is Book One in a series Talks by three Filipino American filmmaking when he realized that that exposes the beautiful folk- PAGE C1 t authors of diverse backgrounds stories could be told on camera. lore of the Philippines to young in America (UPMASA) and Misbut all rooted in their cultural He is greatly influenced on his adult readers. His Fil-Am writer’s souri-Southern Illinois Chapter of heritage will be given by Wilmo career by his Dad, Abe Pagtama, voice in Young Adults fiction is a UPMASA. He participated in 25 Orejola, MD., Abraham Gabriel a lifelong actor who has been on voice representing thousands of medical missions to the Philipthe Conan O’Brien Show and had Filipinos living in the shadows pines and performed numerous Pagtama and Reno Ursal.

Dr. Wilmo Orejola was born worked with known actors in Hol- of America. He is a dad of three cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, in Basey, Samar, Philippines lywood. Gabe himself has worked teenagers and has been happily and repairs of burn contractures and skin grafts. He is a lifetime and his book, “An Basaynon: A in front of the camera and behind married since 2006.

The event is part of the com- member and Governor, 2014History of Basey, Samar and its the camera. His novel, “Based on People” is focused on the local True Events: Watsonville Riots,” munity outreach program of 2016, of Philippine Economic and Philippine Expressions Book- Cultural Endowment (PEACE), history of his birthplace, a fitting is his first book.

Reno Ursal, author of “The shop aimed at raising the visibil- which provides funds for building tribute by a grateful son. He studied at the Divine Word University Bathala Series,” grew up in Rog- ity of Filipino American authors artesian wells, and funds to Filipiin Tacloban, and finished his ers City, Michigan and received a in the community and in the lit- nos affected by natural calamities.

Doctor of Medicine degree at the BA in English from the University erary scene of Los Angeles. In He earned from UP his BS PreCebu Institute of Medicine. His of Michigan. His parents, both the words of bookshop founder Med degree in 1961 and his MD two other books, an epic poem, medical doctors immigrated to and owner, Linda Nietes-Little, degree in 1966.

Surgical Missions and Com“A Mat Weaver’s Story: The the US and practiced in the small “let us support them. Kung hindi Legend of Bungansakit” (2001) Northern Michigan town, where tayo, Sino pa? Kung hindi ngay- munity Service Dr. Roy B. Guinto is a thoracic and a historical novel, “Ghost of Reno found refuge in reading on, kailan pa? This is a free prothe Insurrection (2006),” were English classics. After college, gram and sales from the authors’ surgeon and has served as Presilaunched by the same bookshop he moved to the SF Bay Area books support her literacy pro- dent of NJ-NY-CT Chapter of UPsome years ago. His medical in- and worked for Fil-Am-owned grams in the Philippines. If un- MASA in 2010-2012. He coordiventions have been published in music label Classified Records able to attend but would like to nated the BalikPaaralan Project medical journals. He lives in New promoting Fil-Am artists such order books, email: info@philip- to provide support for educational Jersey & North Carolina with his as Jocelyn Enriquez, Pinay, Drop pinebookshop.com or call (310) opportunities to poor, deserving young Filipinos. He earned from wife, children and grandchil- n Harmony and Julie Plug. In 514-9139 or (310) 548-8148. ■ U.P. his BS Pre-Med degree in 1966 and his MD degree in 1972. alendar of Events Community Empowerment and Human Development Dr. Labayen started as a Field Director in the Philippines for Outreach International from 1981 ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! to 1994 and became its Chief Field PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT Officer from 2012 to 2018. He developed and implemented the GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. strategy of Participatory Human Development from 1982 to 2018.

CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 It has become the main strategy DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES against poverty by Outreach International in its field operations FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Philippines, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic ReAU G U ST 3 1 public of Congo. He earned from UP his BS Pre-Med degree in 1968 Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School reunion in Las Vegas and his MD degree in 1972.

The Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School (RMCHS) International will hold its fifth bienImmigration Law nial reunion and we are calling all graduates or former students to come out and join up at Atty. Teodoro Laguatan heads the “2019 RMCHS International Reunion (Several Paths … One Reunion)” on Saturday, August an ethics based law firm in the 31, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Gold Coast Hotel and Casino (4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, San Francisco Bay Area. He does NV 89103). For reservations or information, please contact the following: Rommel B. Fajardo complex litigation not only in im(Batch ’78) at (301) 655-4469 or e-mail: rommelbf@gmail.com or Lamberto Glory (Batch ’74) at migration law but also other areas (210) 542-7575 or e-mail: threeglories@msn.com. You may also visit the RMCHS 2019 Internaof law including human rights. He tional Reunion Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1302890069812234. is the national co-founder, Legal Counsel and Spokesperson of the SEPTEMBER 7 U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG). He earned his BA in UPAAGLA Grand Gala in Los Angeles Public Administration from UP in 1968 and his law degree from UniThe University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) versity of San Francisco in 1979. celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. at the LA Grand Hotel (333 S. Mass Communication Figuera St, Los Angeles, CA). With the theme “Taking U.P. To The Future” the event will have Ms. Venus Veronica BacatanDistinguished U.P. Alumni Guests including Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, Leighton is the only ethnic female Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz and current University of the Philippines journalist that carries tri-media President Danilo L. Concepcion. All U.P. Alumni are invited and encouraged to attend. To RSVP platforms (print, broadcast and and for Gala details, visit https://upaagla2019gala.eventbrite.com. Early Bird pricing is $85 until website) in the field of mass media July 15, Regular pricing is $100. Sponsor packages are still available to get better pricing plus communication in North America. perks, please inquire by contacting upaagla.sponsor@gmail.com. Special Booking rate at the She is the sole founder, creator, LA Grand Hotel for Sept 7 is available for $189/night at https://bit.ly/310GWWY. To inquire publisher, editor and manager about UPAAGLA, please send email to upaagla.prez@gmail.com. of the longest-running monthly Filipino American publication SEPTEMBER 7 (Via Times News magazine) and the executive producer of a sister

ticles or reportage that provide a unique perspective on the issues and concerns of Filipino Americans and/or the community at large.

Categories for print and online articles include Investigative/InDepth Story, Commentary or Editorial Essay, International Reporting, Entertainment Story, and Youth Voice among others. For Broadcast TV and Radio, the categories are Community Reporting, and Documentary. Last but not least, there is a category for Photojournalism. Writers can submit entries for three different categories in the Plaridel Awards.

Philippine American Press Club, U.S.A. (PAPC) is now in its 31st year of providing a venue for its members to network and affirm their journalistic endeavors as they chronicle the lives and times of their compatriots,promote and share their culture and history, champion their causes and provide a vehicle where readers/listeners can voice their concerns and ideas for the betterment of the community and society at large.

The name Plaridel was chosen in honor of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, a Filipino patriot, journalist and publisher who brought his craft and zeal as an expatriate to Europe in the late 1800s. He was a prolific writer who kept his constituents abreast of the goings on in their expat community as well as in their homeland. In him PAPC has found a hero – a person to emulate and an inspiration to Filipino American writers and publishers everywhere, who continue in their journalistic aspirations and service to their constituents in the new land they now call home.

For more information on The Plaridel Awards, including entry forms, rules/regulations and categories, please visit www.papcusa. org.

The Philippine American media have been providing news and information to the community since the 1920s. At present, total monthly circulation of the combined major publications in print/online and broadcast is approximately over 3 million nationwide. ■

UPAAA announces 2019 Distinguished Alumni...

C

across

America

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.

S E P T E M B E R 22

‘Friends…Unplugged,’ a benefit concert in Los Angeles The Philippine Disaster Relief Organization (PeDRO), in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation International, presents ‘Friends…Unplugged,’ a benefit concert in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m. at the Aratani Theater (244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). Artists included Becca Godinez, Morris Albert, Odette Quesada, Ner De Leon and Kevin Click. Additional artists to be announced. Tickets are $65 for lower orchestra, $45 for upper orchestra and $35 for Balcony.

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

broadcast outfit (Chicago Philippine Reports TV), the only locallyproduced television show in the Chicago and the Midwest areas.

She earned her degree in Foreign Service from UP in 1961.

Environmental Sciences and Engineering Dr. Emmanuel Cris B. Liban is the Executive Officer, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability in Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). He is a Commissioner of the LA City Board of Transportation Commissioners and the LA County Beach Commission. He served as a Technical Adviser for the Philippine Development Foundation in working to eradicate poverty through education, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He earned his BS Geology degree magna cum laude from UP in 1989 and his Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env) from UCLA in 2003.

Neurophysiology and Medical Education Dr. Edward C. Mader Jr. is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Louisiana School of Medicine in New Orleans. He is currently the Program Director for the Clinical Neurophysiology training and Co-Director of the EEG and Epilepsy Monitoring Unit of the University Medical Center.

He earned from UP his B.S. Biology degree in 1983 and his MD degree in 1987.

Education Dr. Luisito S. Pablo is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at University of Florida. He has a strong track record of research and clinical experience on anesthesia and pain management. He earned his DVM cum laude from UP in 1978. He completed a Master of Science and Large Animal Surgery and Medicine Residency at Auburn University in 1982.

Veterinary Medicine and Community Service Dr. Cirilo Reyes Jr. is the Production Veterinarian at Seaboard Foods. He is an Advisor to the Board of Directors, Southwest Kansas Filipino-American Association. He is the Director of the Vet Book Project which coordinates veterinary book project donation from the U.S. to all veterinary schools in the Philippines since 2002. He earned his DVM degree from UP in 1981.

Quantum Physics Dr. Mary Jacquiline Romero is a quantum physicist in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems at the University of Queensland, Australia. Her research expertise and interests are

in the field of quantum foundations and quantum information. In 2016, she was awarded a Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) to continue her work on quantum foundations and single photon manipulation, specifically studying security in higher-dimensional quantum systems. She earned her BS Applied Physics degree from UP in 2006 and her PhD at the University of Glasgow in U.K. Pediatric Nephrology and Women Empowerment Dr. Constancia Somera-Uy is Emerita Professor of Pediatrics at the Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School. She served as Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Nephrology at University Hospital. She was the recipient of 11 Golden Apple Awards for her excellence in teaching to the medical students. She was named the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Master Educator in 2011. She earned from UP her BS Pre-Med degree in 1964 and her MD degree in 1967.

Medical Science Dr. Josefino B. Tunac is the President and Chairman of Arterez, LLC, a biotechnology group.

His expertise is in the design and discovery of pharmacologically bioactive molecules from various sources including microorganisms, tissue culture cells and other organic sources. He has been involved in the discovery and development of a range of bioactive compounds including anticancer, anti-infective, anthelminthic, cardiovascular, anti-arthritic, immunosuppressive, and antiviral drugs. He earned his BS Plant Pathology degree from UP in 1964 and his PhD in Medical Science in 1974 from Rutgers University.

Pediatric Medicine Dr. Winston C. Umali is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at CarePoint Health Christ Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is active in providing leadership in several professional societies and community organizations including serving as President of UPMASA NY-NJ-CT Chapter and President of the Handang Tumulong Foundation, Inc. He received the Award of Excellence in Pediatrics from the Pan-American Concerned Citizens Action League in 2016 and recognized as “One of the Top Three” in Jersey City, NJ in 2017

by Bestrated.com. He earned from UP his BS Psychology degree cum laude in 1988 and his MD degree in 1994. ■

Is a $1-million SBA loan dischargeable?

PAGE C3 t

here comes the SBA garnishing a portion of his social security.

It’s a nightmare come true. So what does client need now? He needs to wipe out the $1 million SBA balance and get a fresh start in life. Quite simply said. It’s true this is what he needs.

So the question is, can a Chapter 7 discharge wipe out the $1M SBA balance? What do you think? The SBA loan is a federal loan and now it’s the U.S. Treasury Department that’s deducting repayment from client’s social security benefits. Take a guess.

Well, I can tell you this. There’s a lot of things not going right with living in America nowadays but I still believe that there are many good people here that we can depend on to do what is right.

And the answer is: YES, YES,

SBA loans are dischargeable!

Why are SBA loans dischargeable? The general rule is that any debt is dischargeable unless excepted from discharge by the bankruptcy code subsection 523.

The exceptions cover debts incurred by fraud or deceit, intentional torts like wrongful death, breach of fiduciary relations.

There is no SBA loan exception from discharge; therefore, the client’s SBA loan is dischargeable.

If the SBA wants to challenge the dischargeability of client’s debt, they would have to file an adversary proceeding alleging fraud, and they would have to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the client misrepresented facts with the intent to deceive the SBA into granting the loan.

If this happens, then I will certainly look forward to defend the dischargeability of this SBA loan before a federal judge. Frankly, I don’t think they can prove any fraud on the part of the client, because the truth is, there was no fraud.

So I look forward to helping the client obtain a discharge of his $1-M SBA loan so he can have his fresh start in life at the age of 66. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 24-27, 2019

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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

&

D1

September 2019 priority dates ‘PH growth to fall below 5%’

Immigration Corner

by MAYVELIN

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

December 1, 2008

June 1, 2008

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

July 1, 2019

Current

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

February 1, 2009

August 1, 2008

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

August 1, 1998

February 1, 1998

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

January 1, 1999

July 1, 1998

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

January 1, 2018

FAMILY CATEGORY:

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

First Preference

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month).

This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card.

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

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

July 1, 2016

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

July 1, 2016

*** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice

regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Business Quote of the Week “People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed.

Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

— Tony Robbins, entrepreneur and life coach

U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net

A REENACTED 2020 national budget could drag Philippine economic growth to below 5 percent next year, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia warned on Thursday.

“We will have a regressing economic growth performance of probably below 5 percent or [somewhere near that figure],” Pernia told lawmakers during the Development Budget Coordination Committee briefing on the proposed national expenditure for 2020 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

He was asked for his gross domestic product (GDP) growth outlook if the proposed P4.10trillion national budget for next year would not be approved on time, just like what happened to the 2019 appropriations.

Pernia, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief, said a reenacted budget “is not going to be good” amid the country’s growing population and infrastructure needs.

“Government spending and even private spending on fixed capital formation will be hampered by reenacted budget, as well,” he added.

The NEDA head pointed out that the country’s economic growth actually regressed in the first half of the year because of

This August 8, 2019 file photo shows Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia speaking during a briefing on the second-quarter gross domestic product growth in Pasig City.

Photo by Alvin I. Dacanay

the delayed approval of the national budget.

“Our growth regressed. We could have achieved 6.5 percent, but we only [posted] 5.5 percent.

That is a full one-percentagepoint regression in economic growth,” he said.

“We’re hoping that it’s not going to happen again,” he said as an appeal to lawmakers to pass the 2020 national budget on time.

A dispute between the Senate and the House of Representatives over alleged insertions resulted in a four-and-a-half-month delay in the approval of the 2019 outlay.

Before the approval in midApril, the government was forced to operate on last year’s budget, unable to spend on projects and programs supposed to be implemented this year.

On top of the delayed approval, government spending was also banned from March to May because of the May 13 midterm elections.

This resulted in government spending declining by 0.8 percent to P1.59 trillion in the first half of the year.

This also resulted in the country’s GDP growing by 5.6 percent in the first quarter and 5.5 percent in the second. ■

Del Monte to close four US factories

by DORIS

DUMLAO-ABADILLA Inquirer.net

of the current pack season.

In addition, Del Monte’s Cambria, Wisconsin facility will be MANILA, Philippines–Campos sold as an operating facility after family-led food and beverage completion of pack. The comconglomerate Del Monte Pacific pany will also sell manufacturing Ltd. (DMPL) is set to shut down assets at its Crystal City, Texas four of its American factories as facility and intends to transfer part of U.S. subsidiary Del Mon- production at this site to other te Foods’ shift to an “asset-light” locations later this year. business model.

Production at these locations In a disclosure to the Philip- will be transferred to other Del pine Stock Exchange on Thurs- Monte production facilities in day, DMPL announced a plan the US. These facility closures to close the production facilities are seen to offer Del Monte the located at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota ability to fully utilize the capacity and Mendota, Illinois at the end of other existing production fa-

cilities and increase its focus on branded growth and innovation.

“This decision has been difficult and has come after careful consideration. This restructuring is a necessary step for us to remain competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. Our asset-light strategy will lead to more efficient and lower cost operations,” said Joselito Campos Jr., DMPL managing director and chief executive officer.

“We are committed to doing all we can to provide the affected employees with resources and support.”■

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Technology to boost data security, privacy US fund management firm

by Tyrone JasPer

reinvests in AgriNurture

c. PIad

ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines urged its neighboring countries to enhance data security and privacy through the use of technology amid the digital age during the first Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) Data Protection and Privacy Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

“The Asean must harness technologies and digital innovation to its advantage through effective policies that will enable greater movement of data and ease of market access that will bridge the digital divide among the member states…,” Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said during his welcome remarks.

This, as they push guidelines to protect the digital citizens’ data, ensuring that “everybody can benefit from the digital economy and that no one is left behind,” he added.

The Philippine-led forum, attended by privacy regulators and enforcement agencies and bodies in Asean, served as a platform for sharing of knowledge and best practices, among others.

The Asean member states were also able to discuss matters on the proposed Data Classification Framework and Cross-border Data Flow Mechanism in the region.

Earlier this year, Liboro said a regional privacy framework could be crafted before yearend amid continued efforts to protect information and raise awareness on data security.

“Though Asean member states

by IrIs

Gonzales Philstar.com

Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro

are in varying stages of development when it comes to their respective data protection and privacy regimes, the forum ensures that everyone has a seat on the table especially in tackling common issues on data protection and privacy,” Liboro said.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) noted that among the Asean region, only three countries have established data protection laws: the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

It added that “Thailand passed [recently] its own data protection law, while other states in the region such as Indonesia are in various stages of developing their own data protection and data privacy laws.”

To strengthen enforcement,

MANILA, Philippines — AgriNurture Inc., the listed firm chaired by businessman Antonio Tiu, is getting a boost from a returning investor.

Black River, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black River Capital Partners Fund (Food) LP, has acquired a stake in ANI by buying the shares from Vikings Asia Agri Ventures BV (formerly known as Solveigh Philippines Agri Investments BV.).

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, ANI said Vikings Asia Agri Ventures sold 50 million shares Manilatimes.net file photo of ANI through a block sale at a NPC said earlier it was aiming to price of P13.642 per share for a finalize a fine scheme before the total of P682.1 million. yearend to regulate penalty fees Tiu identified the buyer of the for entities violating data privacy rights and policies.

Some of the cited infractions were unauthorized processing of personal data, unauthorized purpose of data collection and direct violation of commission policies and circulars.

by Mary Grace PadIn The Philippines is currently Philstar.com part of the five-member International Conference of Data ProtecMANILA, Philippines — Altion and Privacy Commissioners cohol consumption is projected (ICDPPC) executive board along to cost the Philippine economy with Australia, Canada, Burkina P211.2 billion by next year if Faso and the United Kingdom.

Congress does not approve a bill ICDPPC is a privacy agency which increases taxes on alcothat promotes information proholic beverages, according to the tection and security among 122 Department of Finance (DOF). privacy authorities worldwide. n Citing a study conducted in 2009, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the economic cost of alcohol consumpScores for business environment tion is estimated to rise by 10.69 percent to P211.2 by 2020 from risk and political risk are low.

The report identified favorable P190.8 billion in 2019, before factors in the Philippines, includ- further increasing to P232.7 biling “obvious advantages” in hu- lion by 2021 and P256.8 billion man resources, broad prospects by 2022.

“What we found, based on the for domestic demand, abundant resources and energy, and pref- study by (Jürgen) Rehm in 2009, erential tariffs from Europe and is that the cost of alcohol is estimated to be P211 billion to the the United States.

Regarding infrastructure, Philippine economy by 2020.

Deloitte noted that investment And this is the combination of was estimated to reach 7.4 per- deaths, sickness, loss of produccent of gross domestic product tive time working, the caretakby 2022 based on the Philippine ers, the grief,” Chua said during a presentation before the Senate Development Plan 2017-2022.

“The government recently an- ways and means committee.

According to Chua, the econounced 75 flagship projects to be carried out or completed by nomic cost of alcohol consump2022, covering railways, bridges, tion include the opportunities airports and dams,” the report lost due to alcohol-related death, sickness or injury, as well as sosaid. n

sold shares as Black River Food Fund.

“It’s a boost of confidence,” he said when asked for comment.

Black River is a U.S.-based asset management company.

In 2013, it was already an investor in ANI with an investment of as much as 30.92 percent in the food-focused fund.

Black River used to be owned

by Cargill, the world’s largest agriculture company.

Prior to this, in 2011, Black River bought a 28.11-percent stake in ANI. ANI is an exporter of agriculture products and hopes to ride on the steadily growing economy.

In the first half, the company reported a 50 percent jump in net income to P70.72 million.

Consolidated sale of goods and

services, meanwhile, rose to P2.4 billion, almost three times the P846.31 million registered in the same period last year.

Of the different businesses, the Philippine operations contributed 47 percent, while sales from foreign operations accounted for 53 percent of consolidated sales.

Among the different businesses, local distribution sales grew 29.45 percent to P62.15 million, mainly due to improvement in operations.

The group’s export sales, meanwhile, soared to P1.01 billion.

Moving forward, ANI expects to continue increasing the sales volume of many of its agricultural products such as banana along with the growing demand from different markets around the world. n

Alcoholism to cost Philippine economy P211 B — DOF ’

PH described as ‘moderately attractive’ by roMMel

doMInGo Inquirer.net

THE Philippines is a “moderately attractive” location for investments, especially among the 122 countries that China has signed agreements with respect to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

A report jointly issued by American consultancy Deloitte and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce described the Philippines as particularly good for investments in manufacturing, information technology, agriculture and transportation infrastructure.

This is so “[d]ue to the abundant labor resources of the Philippines and its natural envi-

ronment suitable for the four industries mentioned.”

The 226-page report, which is the second Belt and Road Countries Investment Index Report, discusses the latest trends in BRI investment opportunities based on data from 2017 and 2018.

These data include those from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Moody’s Investor Service and China’s Ministry of Commerce.

“The Philippines has a high macroeconomic attractiveness score and performs well,” Deloitte said.

“It’s the scale of its economy, labor supply and cost, although there is still room to improve its tax burden,” it added. “Its investment risk score is moderate.

The government spends the bulk of that amount in treating and caring for millions of Filipinos with liquor drinking-related ailments. Part of it is “law enforcement cost” and funeral and burial expenses for those dying of too much booze.

Philstar.com file photo

cial cost due to the abuse caused by a drunk person.

“If you are sick, you cannot work. And if you are disabled, you need someone to take care of you. And because of the grief, the social cost of having a drunk person beating someone, sexual abuse and all,” the DOF official said.

To lessen the economic cost of alcohol, Chua said the DOF and the Department of Health are pushing for the increase in alcohol taxes, as proposed un-

der Package 2 Plus of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

“For instance, the 30,000 deaths that is estimated by next year (due to alcohol) will be reduced by half. So that’s a big amount and that’s the main driver of the economic cost. Because if you die at 24 rather than 80, that means you have a lot of years of lost productivity. So it has a big contribution to reducing that,” he said.

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Restored Yanson management Tax reforms to make P52B tightens hold on PH’s largest bus firm for health care next year

by Ben

O. de vera Inquirer.net

by daxim

l. luCas

Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines–The majority stockholders of Bacolodbased Vallacar Transit Inc. have reorganized the board of the country’s largest bus transport company a few days after retaking control of the firm from a rival faction of Yanson family siblings.

In a statement, the group led by family matriarch Olivia Yanson also elected a new set of directors who, in turn reelected Leo Rey Yanson — the youngest of the brood — as the firm’s president, six weeks after he was ousted by four older siblings in a surprise boardroom coup.

The special stockholders meeting was held at the company’s main office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. Apart

from Olivia and Leo Rey, the new board also included Ginnette Yanson-Dumancas and Charles Dumancas as members.

Apart from their board seats, they also assumed dual roles in the firm. Olivia — who cofounded the bus network with a single jeepney in the 1960s — was named corporate secretary, Charles as vice president, and Ginette as treasurer.

SGV was appointed as the corporation’s external auditors for the year 2019.

Vallacar Transit Inc. is the largest subsidiary of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies and is the company behind Ceres Liner and Sugbo Transit.

The Yanson Group, the parent company, is one of the largest bus conglomerates in Southeast Asia which operates more than 4,000 buses nationwide. Established in

Additional revenues to be collected from tax reforms so far implemented should reach P195.5 billion next year, a portion of which would be spent on the implementation of the universal health care program, a Department of Finance (DOF) official said.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran told the House appropriations committee on Thursday that P153.8 billion would come from the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act alone.

Implemented in 2018, the Inquirer.net file photo TRAIN law jacked up or slapped 1968, the 52-year-old conglom- new excise on cigarettes, oil erate founded by the late family patriarch Ricardo Yanson Sr. now has a total of 18,000 employees who provide transport services to

by Catherine talavera Philstar.com 700,000 passengers daily.

It has 15 bases of operations MANILA, Philippines — The in the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Cagayan De country’s improving infrastrucOro, Butuan, Davao, Pagadian, ture is driving optimism for the hospitality market as it creates Dipolog, Bohol and Batangas.

A boardroom battle ensued on better experiences for guests, a July 7, 2019 when four Yanson property consultancy said.

In an interview, Jones Lang siblings, in a purported special board meeting, unseated Leo Lasalle Philippines head of reRey Yanson as the president of search Janlo de los Reyes told Vallacar Transit Inc. Leo Rey was The STAR that the outlook for subsequently replaced by his eld- the country’s hotel market remains bright. est brother Roy Yanson.

“It’s driven by infrastructure “The special stockholders meeting on August 19 effectively – a lot of infrastructure connectre-affirmed Leo Rey Yanson as ing the airports, direct flights. the rightful president of Vallacar Now tourists can go straight Transit,” the company statement to destinations,” de los Reyes added. said. n He emphasized that the improvement in infrastructure is key for hotels as it is an experiential industry.

“Hotel is an experiential inShould the original proposal be approved, the official said the dustry so the experience of the funding deficit for the Universal client from the airport to the Health Care (UHC) program for flight, the travel going to the 2020 would be narrowed down destination [is important] to imto P10 billion from the current prove customer journey,” de Los Reyes explained. gap of P45 billion.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette He explained that there is still a gap of P10 billion because Romulo-Puyat earlier attributed the tobacco sin tax bill recently the continued growth of foreign signed into law by the President arrivals to better connectivity provided a gradual increase in and infrastructure the country excise tax, instead of a one-time offers tourists, particularly with the opening of new airports such increase to P60 per pack.

“There’s really a gap so the as the Mactan Cebu Internationbudget will have to be repri- al Airport and the New Bohol oritized. But it’s more manage- Panglao International Airport.

“The Philippine tourism indusable,” he said. n

products, sugar-sweetened beverages, motor vehicles and cosmetic procedures, among other goods and services.

The TRAIN law also slashed personal income tax rates, granting workers a bigger take-home pay.

Beltran said the remainder of the incremental revenues expected to be collected next year would come from tax package “2 plus,” which would further increase excise on regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes and alcoholic drinks.

Republic Act No. 11346 signed

by President Duterte last month will raise cigarette taxes, while higher rates for heated tobacco, vapes and alcohol products are still pending in Congress. The

lower House on Tuesday passed on third and final reading the measure further raising e-cigarette and alcohol taxes.

DOF data showed that RA 11346 and the pending measure, once passed into law, would increase health care funding by a total of P397.4 billion—P52 billion in 2020, P67.9 billion in 2021, P80.4 billion in 2022, P94.7 billion in 2023 and P102.4 billionin 2024.

For 2019, the DOF targets to collect P113.1 billion from the TRAIN law, on top of P27.5 billion from the ongoing estate tax and delinquencies tax amnesties.

Last year, the TRAIN law generated P68.4 billion in net revenues, 8.1-percent higher than the P63.3-billion target. n

Improving infra drives optimism for hotel sector

Alcoholism to cost Philippine economy...

PAGE D2 t “And it also reduces the binge drinking and the prevalence so, I think, we can reduce the cost by half given the DOF-DOH proposal,” Chua said.

The House of Representatives last Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill, which seeks to raise excise taxes on alcohol, and electronic cigarette products.

However, Chua said the bill provides lower alcohol excise tax rates than the original DOFDOH proposal.

“The rates are lower. For instance, for beer they have P32

per liter, in the DOF-DOH it’s P40 per liter.For the distilled, they have P35 per proof liter, we have P40 per proof liter,” Chua said.

As a result, he said the estimated revenue gain from the Houseapproved bill only reached P17 billion, about half the P33.5 billion projected revenue from the original proposal.

Despite this, Chua still expressed optimism that the Senate would approve the original rates proposed by the DOF and DOH, which is contained in the bill filed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

Philstar.com file photo

try has indeed come a long way with better and increased connectivity. New, rehabilitated and expanded airports have contributed much to this growth,”Puyat said.

Foreign arrivals breached the four million mark in the first half of the year, reaching 4.1 million, a 11.43 percent increase from the year before.

In its Destination 2030 report, JLL along with the World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC) earlier emphasized that Manila

needs to add more evolving tourism policies that will help boost urban readiness for tourism grow.

It included Manila in its Dawning Developers index, which is characterized by emerging urban readiness and tourism infrastructure as well as current lower tourism growth, and lower visitor concentration, but has potential to grow.

“To improve their readiness, efforts should be focused on dePAGE D5

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EMPLOYMENT

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Startup hotel management firm raises AirAsia to remove processing $115M; PH operations expanding fees for Philippines

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

SINGAPORE – RedDoorz, Southeast Asia’s largest and fastest-growing hotel management and booking platform, announced Wednesday that it raised US$70 million as first close of a larger Series C funding.

The funding comes in quick succession after its $45 million round due to high investor demand, or a total now of $115 million.

Leading the round is Asia Partners, a Singapore-based growth equity firm with an exceptional track record in scaling multi-billion tech companies globally and across the region.

RedDoorz is the first portfolio company of Asia Partners, which focuses on growth-stage investments in technology and technology-enabled companies in Southeast Asia.

Two other leading funds, Rakuten Capital and Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund, joined the round. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and International Finance Corporation (IFC) also reiterated their support by participating in the round.

The startup’s Series C investment follows shortly after RedDoorz announced its Series B funding of US$45 million in April 2019. The new funding brings the total amount of funds raised by the company to approximately US$140 million since its launch in 2015. RedDoorz is now among the best-funded startups in Singapore and, specifically, is the best funded company in its category of online affordable accommodations across Southeast Asia.

Amit Saberwal, Founder and CEO of RedDoorz said, “We are thrilled to welcome a new group of seasoned investors joining us in our mission to build the leading tech-enabled affordable travel brand in Southeast Asia.

This new round is a testament to our strong business growth and market leadership position we were able to build during the last few years. RedDoorz operates in some of the most dynamic markets in the world and we see tremendous opportunities to continue growing our platform and expanding into new markets.”

“We believe we are on the

Photo courtesy of AirAsia by riChMond

MerCUrio Philstar.com

right track to create the next tech unicorn in Southeast Asia and with the backing of our new investors, who bring deep expertise building large successful tech and digital businesses in our region, we are well positioned to fully execute on our strategy and mission.”

RedDoorz will use the new funds to launch in new markets and scale technology, customer experience projects, people and marketing investments to further strengthen its leadership position in the region.

A significant portion of the latest proceeds will be used to build a second engineering hub in Vietnam which will complement the current regional tech hub

MANILA, Philippines — Asia’s largest low-cost airline AirAsia is set to remove processing fees for the Philippines starting next year to keep air travel affordable.

The AirAsia Group, in a statement over the weekend, said it will remove processing fees for Malaysia for bookings made from Oct. 1 and for Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines by Dec. 31.

Photo courtesy of RedDoorz The processing fee is a charge related to the ongoing adminisbased out of India.

The company also plans to trative, maintenance and develramp up its hotel staff and quality opmental costs of AirAsia’s ontraining programmes across all line systems to ensure a secure properties in Singapore, Indone- and safe booking environment.

Going forward, AirAsia said it sia, Vietnam and the Philippines as it helps employ approximately 10,000 people across the region through its hotel partners.

In the Philippines, RedDoorz has already created more than PAGE D3 t 1,000 jobs since the company veloping and enhancing urban launched in the country in 2018. infrastructure such as airport The company grew its network connectivity, accommodation of properties to more than 150 stock and addressing environhotels across 10 cities during the mental issues such as waste and first quarter of 2019, including water quality,” JLL said. locations in Metro Manila, Ba“These cities can also harguio, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Pala- ness opportunities to develop wan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and and improve existing tourism Davao. (Inquirer) n policies which foster growth at

would fully absorb the costs.

“AirAsia is synonymous with affordable air travel, and we hope that by doing this, we will stay true to our promise – now everyone can fly. We want to cut travel costs so our guests don’t suffer, and we believe every little helps,” AirAsia Group president Bo Lingam said.

The AirAsia Group is the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, servicing the most extensive network of over 135 destinations across all ASEAN countries, Asia, India, Australia, China, Middle East and Hawaii in the U.S. In the Philippines, AirAsia has stayed committed to giving its customers the lowest air fares possible as it continues to shun

away from adding fuel surcharge to fares.

Since the Civil Aeronautics Board allowed the imposition of the passenger fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights in September last year, AirAsia has yet to avail themselves of the fuel surcharge mechanism.

AirAsia Philippines operates a fleet of 24 aircraft on more than 500 weekly domestic and international flights from its hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu and Kalibo.

Last month, AirAsia Philippines appointed telecommunications executive Ricardo “Ricky” Isla as its new chief executive officer to pilot the company in its next stage of growth and profitability. n

Improving infra drives optimism for hotel... a pace that the city can afford,” it added.

JLL earlier cited the Philippine hospitality sector as among markets in the Asia Pacific region seen to attract investors this year, driven by the robust growth of the tourism industry.

“The overwhelming support for tourism that the Philippine government has demonstrated

is expected to bring forth a tremendous positive effect on the growth of the real estate industry’s hospitality sector,” JLL Philippines said.

It added that the Asia Pacific region is the only region expecting growth in hotel transaction volumes, anticipating a total of $9.5 billion this year, a 15 percent rise from 2018. n

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