082918 - SoCal Midweek Edition

August 29-31, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 68 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US blacklists three IS recruiters including Filipino All three had connections to Philippine terror group A 28-year-old Philippine national was among the three men from Southeast Asia to be added to the U.S. Treasury’s sanctions blacklist on Friday, August 24, for involvement with the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed the sanctions on Philippine national Mohammad Reza Lahaman Kiram, Indonesian national Mohammed Karim Yusop Faiz, and Malaysian national Mohamad Rafi Udin, freezing their assets and denying them access to the U.S. financial system. The three were said to be recruiters for the Islamic militant group and appeared in a beheading video for ISIS. “Treasury is targeting ISIS recruiters who have engaged in a beheading video and other brutal acts as part of a propaganda campaign to attract radicals to join militant terrorist groups in Southeast Asia,” U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Sigal Mandelker

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California lawmakers to vote on net neutrality legislation Big Telecom attempts to slow down support for net neutrality by spreading “misinformation” AFTER the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to slowly reduce net neutrality protections, Democratic lawmakers have promised to challenge the Trump administration in order to maintain open and equal access to the internet.

In California, Democratic leaders are taking that fight seriously. The California Legislature will vote on two bills this week that would implement the strongest net neutrality protections in the nation.

SB 822 would prohibit Internet providers from blocking or slowing down Internet speeds or charging websites extra fees for faster service.

According to the bill’s author, Sen. Scott

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Duterte: Filipinos are ‘everyday heroes’

by CATHERINE

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte honored “everyday heroes” who help build the Filipino nation as the country marked National Heroes’ Day on Monday, August 27.

In remarks at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, Duterte recognized the “extraordinary heroism of countless Filipinos” who, he said,

“have faced seemingly insurmountable odds in defense of this nation and the values that it stands for.”

He encouraged Filipinos to remember the heroes’ “exploits,” and also to emulate their “selflessness” and “to live up to their example as we go about our daily lives.”

“Today, let us honor ordinary Filipinos who, despite the challenges that come their way, continue to work for the well-being [of] their families, the

betterment of their communities, and the advancement of our nation. These are our [everyday] heroes that we need our youth to emulate and look up to,” Duterte said.

“It is my sincere hope that as we come together to honor our heroes and celebrate their extraordinary feats and love of country, may we further inspired to embody the ideals and values that they stood up for,” he added.

Duterte said it was also important

to honor “those heroes whose statues proudly stand along hallways and pedestals, or whose portraits are embedded in our currency and history books.”

The president then honored brave Filipino soldiers, especially the fallen ones, for sacrificing their lives to quell terrorist threats in Mindanao last year.

He thanked those who took time to help in rebuilding the war-torn city of

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PH mourns passing of ‘true friend’ THE Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), mourned the death of United States Sen. John McCain who it described as a “true friend of the Philippines.”

“We deeply mourn the death of Sen. John McCain, a true friend of the Philippines and one of our champions United States Sen. John McCain in the United States Photo from Senate.gov Congress,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement.

Cayetano at the same time extended the Filipino people’s deepest condolences to the family of the 81-yearold Republican legislator.

“We will remember Senator McCain for translating

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HONORING FILIPINO HEROES. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the National Heroes Day celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday, August 27. Duterte honored “everyday heroes” who help build the Filipino nation as the country marked National Heroes’ Day. Duterte recognized the “extraordinary heroism of countless Filipinos” who, he said, “have faced seemingly insurmountable odds in defense of this nation and the values that it stands for.”

ManilaTimes.net photo by Andrea De La Cruz

Senators no-show at SC hearing on PH withdrawal from ICC

by TETCH

TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net

MINORITY senators failed to appear on the oral argument on Tuesday, August 28 that questions the validity of the government’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

During the start of the oral argument, a certain Atty. Anna Marie Corominas made a manifestation that the minority senators still need to decide about representation.

Corominas asked the high court that the senators be allowed to participate on next week’s session.

Detained Senator Leila De Lima was sup-

posed to argue on behalf of the minority senators but her bid was denied by the Supreme Court.

De Lima as well as the other minority senators filed separate motions for reconsideration, which were also denied by the high court.

Aside from De Lima, her co-petitioners include Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Antonio Trillanes IV and Riza Hontiveros said they have yet to receive a copy of the high court’s resolution denying the request of detained Senator Leila De Lima to argue on behalf of the Senate on the oral argument Detained Senator Leila De Lima was supposed to argue on behalf of the minority senators but set for August 14 to August 28. ■ her bid was denied by the Supreme Court.

Inquirer.net photo

Tourism chief: No more smoking, drinking at Boracay white beach Senate scraps ‘allegiance

by FAYE

ORELLANA Inquirer.net

Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

Inquirer.net photo

DEPARTMENT of Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said smoking and drinking in public places would be banned in Boracay.

“Definitely no more smoking and drinking sa white beach.

Why? Because this is a public beach,” Puyat said during the Meet with Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday, August 28.

According to Puyat, the smoking and drinking ban imposed on Boracay Island would ensure the safety of the public walking along the white beach.

She explained that the ban covers not only the beach but other public places in Boracay.

“They can smoke and drink

where they stay, in the private, but the long beach has to be protected,” Puyat asserted. “Ito very sure ito, no smoking and drinking in the public places.”

Puyat made the revelation after her meeting with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eduardo Año last week.

The meeting aimed to the discuss the guidelines on how to lower the carrying capacity of the island. However, Puyat explained that this still has to be discussed further.

The call to lower the number of tourist arrivals in Boracay was made after Puyat announced that the island would be no longer be a “party place.” ■

fee’ for dual citizenship

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

The Senate finance committee has adopted an amendment for the proposed 2019 national budget, which directs the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to stop collecting fees from Filipinos who want to reacquire their Philippine citizenship.

During the budget hearing, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano mentioned that the department is considering the proposal of Sen. Franklin Drilon to remove the fee for oath taking.

In November 2017, Drilon asked the DFA to stop collecting “allegiance fees” from Filipinos in various parts of the world

who are applying to reacquire their Philippine citizenship.

The Philippine government is currently collecting €45 or $50 from Filipinos who want to reacquire their Philippine citzenship, which refer to the “one time fee for the processing of the application and issuance of the corresponding Identification Certificate.”

“We will put a supporting study with it to show that not only is the loss of revenue negligible but the tendency of a person who now has a Philippine passport to participate in the Filipino community,” Cayetano told the Senate panel.

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A August 29-31, 2018 • soCal AsIAN JOuRNAL

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From the Front Page California lawmakers to vote on net...

PAGE A1 Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill would ensure “that we all get to decide for ourselves where we go on the internet, as opposed to having internet service providers tell us where we are allowed to go.”

The other bill, SB 460, would reject public contracts to companies that don’t follow these new

state regulations; in other words, it would not allow companies that violate the rules established

by Wiener’s bill from receiving public funding.

California Democrats argued that, without net neutrality rules that regulated telecommunications companies, providers would be allowed to sell bundled service packages that gave select

websites for consumers or slow access to news sites if readers refuse to pay more for faster service.

This would put digitally-native startups at a disadvantage and, they argue, would only benefit large corporations.

Late last year, the FCC — headed by Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai — voted to repeal Obama-era regulations that prevented companies from discriminating against certain websites and forced websites to pay if they wanted faster internet speeds. This widely criticized move prompted protests and calls to Congress to vote against the repeal, which took officially took place in June of this year.

An overwhelming majority of voters support maintaining net neutrality, which has become a contentious issue for the upcoming midterm elections. A December 2017 survey from the University of Maryland found that 83 percent of voters (82 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats) opposed the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality regulations.

The term “net neutrality” was first coined in 2003 by Columbia University media law professor Tim Wu who saw a battle for Internet service beginning to emerge after some Internet providers banned some customers from using virtual private networks (VPNs) or setting up their own WiFi routers.

The term denotes the principle that Internet service providers should treat all data on the world wide web equally. In other words, net neutrality means that these providers — like Verizon, AT&T and Spectrum, for example — can’t intentionally block, slow down or charge fees for specific sites and content on the web.

During the administration of former President Barack Obama, the FCC has fought to preserve net neutrality rules. In 2009 when Apple was caught blocking AT&T iPhone users from making calls via Skype, the FCC pressured both companies to seize the Skype blocks.

In 2015, the FCC passed a broad net neutrality order that prevented companies from blocking or prioritizing any Internet traffic.

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PROPOSED DFA BUDGET. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano presents an overview of the DFA and its attached agencies’ proposed FY 2019 budget during the public hearing presided by Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 28. Also in photo are Usec. Ernesto Abella (right) and Usec. Sarah Arriola (2nd from right).

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Duterte: Filipinos are...

PAGE A1

Marawi in Lanao del Sur. A total of 165 state troops were among more than 1,000 killed in the five-month war between government and Islamic State-linked Maute terrorists in Marawi City.

“We honor our volunteers who, despite the risks to their lives and safety, have dedicated their precious time and resources to rebuild and bring back the once thriving and prosperous city back to its former glory,” he added.

The president likewise recognized the dedication of the Philippine National Police in advancing his “relentless and chilling” campaign against illegal drugs.

“We honor our dedicated police

officers who, through an intensified campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, have made our streets, neighborhoods, communities and businesses safer and more conducive for growth and development,” he said.

Finally, Duterte honored teachers and overseas Filipino workers for the sacrifices they make for their families and communities.

“We honor our educators who, despite limited resources, have made it possible for our youth to learn and understand what it takes to become heroes in their own right by contributing to our efforts in nation-building,” Duterte said.

PH mourns passing of...

PAGE A1 America’s commitment into action and for playing a vital role in keeping our alliance strong and capable to address current strategic challenges,” the DFA secretary said.

Cayetano said the late senator showed his humanitarian spirit and his lifelong dedication to the cause of peace and justice in his support of the Mindanao peace process.

Cayetano was among the last senior Philippine government officials to be received by McCain, then chairman of the Senate

armed services committee.

The meeting took place in McCain’s office in Capitol Hill where Cayetano was joined by Permanent Representative to the United Nations Teodoro “Teddy Boy” T. Locsin, Jr. and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Luis Montales.

Discussed in that meeting were challenges confronting Manila and Washington and how the partnership could be further strengthened to address non-traditional security concerns, such as drug trafficking and violent extremism.

Cayetano said McCain even

“We honor our overseas Filipino workers who, while enduring the hardships of working away from their homeland, have contributed to our national development while providing the needs of their loved ones,” he added.

The country celebrates National Heroes’ Day every last Monday of August, under Republic Act 9492 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on July 24, 2007.

The annual celebration coincides with the Cry of Pugad Lawin — now known as Cry of Balintawak — which marked the beginning of the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonizers. n

shared his family’s history and affinity with the Philippines and revealed that his grandfather served in the Philippines during the American Occupation and the Second World War. McCain’s father, who became a Navy admiral, also saw action in the Philippines and was a recipient of our Legion of Honor.

“Senator McCain also told us about the time he spent in Subic as a young Navy aviator serving in Vietnam and his arrival at Clark Air Base after his release as a prisoner of war,” he added. (Jefferson Antiporda/ManilaTimes.net)

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A

Bill to curb school bullying heads to Gov. Brown’s desk Legislation comes as studies show divisive rhetoric in national politics has filtered down to schools

SACRAMENTO — Legislation

by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to prevent bullying and harassment in California schools passed the Assembly floor on Monday, August 27, on concurrence and now heads to Governor Brown. Assembly Bill 2291 would require the California Department of Education (CDE) to establish guidelines to prevent bullying and disseminate online training modules to local educators.

“Our children should not be afraid to go to school,” said Assemblymember Chiu. “When one student is bullied, the entire class suffers and misses out on valuable learning opportunities. We must do more to work with the Department of Education and local educators to prevent bullying before it starts.”

While bullying is an age-old problem, recent findings indicate that the divisive and xenophobic rhetoric plaguing our national politics has trickled down to schools.

Studies have shown that the most common reason a student is bullied in the United States is related to the victim’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. It is estimated that school districts in California lose out on $267 million dollars annually due to bullying-related absences.

A survey by the Council of American-Islamic Relations revealed that 55 percent of Muslim students have experienced bullying and harassment related to their religion. The analysis also indicated that students are wary

to report incidents of bullying due to a fear of retaliation and a belief that educators do not have the necessary training to intervene and prevent bullying.

AB 2291 will require the California Department of Education to develop guidelines to protect students before bullying begins.

While CDE provides resources for students who have been bullied, but there is no requirement to provide proactive guidance to prevent bullying or cyber-bullying. The bill will help educators and parents stop bullying before it happens, by equipping them with proper tools they need in the classroom and at home. AB 2291 will also build on a 2014 law, AB 1993, that instructed CDE to create online training modules to recognize the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying. This bill will ensure those modules are publicly available and distributed to school staff throughout the state.

The California Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Advancement Project, and Equality California are sponsoring AB 2291.

“It is more important now than ever to address bullying that focuses on long term impact,” said Yannina Casillas, Legislative and Government Relations Coordinator for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California (CAIR-CA). “In CAIR California’s statewide report on school bullying, we found that 55 percent of Muslim students in California

reported having experienced one or more forms of bullying. The toll that Islamophobia takes on the mental health of American Muslims is significant and even more substantial for students, who are expected to bear the burden of defending against Islamophobic stereotypes while coping with possible mental distress resulting from bullying. AB 2291, will be a step forward in advocating for learning environments that are free from hostility and discrimination.”

“No student should have to experience fear and intimidation in the classroom,” said Andrew Medina, Policy Manager with Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California. “AB 2291 will provide school employees with the tools and resources needed to best serve our students when faced with school bullying. The strong bipartisan support for AB 2291 sends a clear message that California will provide supportive learning environments for our most vulnerable students.”

“It is a right of every student to come to a safe and welcoming school environment,” said Khydeeja Alam Javid, Director of Governmental Relations for the Advancement Project California.

“Unfortunately, the pervasiveness of bullying is an epidemic that is eating away into that civil right. Our schools need the tools to do more to prevent bullying on school campuses and this bill provides such opportunities. We thank Asm. Chiu for his PAGE A4

“there is good opportunity for agriculture and trade in Papua New Guinea,” which the country can take into consideration.

“Meanwhile, the Philippines, which is known for having good laws such as in disaster and climate change resilience, can lend help to other countries like Timor Leste in terms of legislation,” she noted.

The proposed 2019 budget of the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (TCCP) under the DFA is set at P3.68 million.

Legarda also stressed the importance of the Philippine government’s presence abroad through foreign service posts.

To date, there are 85 Philippine foreign service posts — 60 Philippine Embassies, 21 Philippine Consulates General, and four Permanent Missions—based in 60 countries. Three posts will be opened this year and the DFA hopes to open or reopen 14 more posts next year.

Legarda said, “it is but imperative to open more posts, especially where we have an increased number of Filipino workers.”

In line with this, the senator added that foreign service officers should learn more foreign languages to enhance the discourse with their counterparts in their area of service. n

THEY’RE BACK. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomes soldiers who participated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise held in Hawaii. At least 25,000 personnel from 26 countries participated in the huge military exercise.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Senate scraps ‘allegiance fee’...

PAGE A1 Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate finance committee, immediately recommended the adoption of the amendment even without Cayetano’s proposal to include the study.

“We consider it adopted as of this hearing so there will be no fees regardless of a study, how much it will generate for the Philippine government,” Legarda said.

Legarda is yet to check if the veto for the proposal was conditional but assured the Senate panel that they are adopting the amendment for the proposed

2019 budget.

Drilon added that he was disappointed when the Department of Budget and Management vetoed his proposal to scrap the fee as it will result in a loss of revenue for the government.

He noted that the total fees the Philippine government is collecting is significant and suspected that his proposal was vetoed as he was a member of the opposition.

“Indeed, I could not understand why did the budget department recommended the veto of this very simple provi-

sion. How much do we earn from this? Very negligible,” Drilon said.

Drilon expressed his hope that the Cayetano would support the proposal to stop collecting fees from Filipinos who want to reacquire their citizenship.

The senator authored Republic Act 9225, which states that natural-born Filipinos who lost their citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country may reacquire their Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the country before a duly appointed Philippine official. n

Legarda asks DFA to strengthen PH cooperation with other nations US blacklists three IS recruiters...

by Darryl John

EsguErra

Inquirer.net

SENATOR Loren Legarda on Tuesday, August 28, urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to continue strengthening the Philippines’ technical cooperation with other nations.

“Technical cooperation with other nations is good diplomacy. This exchange of ideas and knowledge benefits both the nations that are in agreement,” Legarda, chair of the Senate committees on Finance and Foreign Relations, said during the hearing on DFA’s proposed P27.5 billion budget for 2019.

According to the senator,

PAGE A1 said in a statement.

“We are sanctioning these terrorists along with our U.N. and international partners as part of a coordinated effort to counter ISIS’s global networks that enable the group to recruit foreign fighters to conduct international terrorist attacks,” added Mandelker.

The U.S. move comes a day after the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council put similar charges on Udin, Faiz, and Kiram on Thursday, August 23. The council required all U.N. member countries to prohibit the three men’s travel, freeze their assets, and deny them access to the international financial system.

According to the U.N., Kiram

is a senior ISIS member and was a member of Ansar Khalifa Philippines, a Philippinebased militant group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Philippine police believe Kiram was responsible for the 2012 bus bombing in Zamboanga City which left at least seven passengers injured.

The U.N. said that Kiram was seen in 2014 training recruits for Ansar Khalifa Philippines, before traveling with his wife to the Syrian Arab Republic in 2015.

In 2016, Kiram appeared in an Islamic State recruitment video that was distributed on social media. The U.N. quotes Kiram calling on supporters to “unite and join under the command of

the emir of the soldiers of the caliphate in the Philippines, Abdallah al-Filipini.”

Indonesian national Faiz, 49, also had ties to the militant group in the Philippines. In 2014, he joined the Islamic State in Syria and helped with the recruitment of people from Southeast Asia to join the Philippines’ Islamic State-linked group, Abu Sayyaf. He was jailed in the Philippines for nine years on charges of illegal possession of weapons and explosives.

Malaysian national Udin, 52, also traveled to Syria in 2014. He also helped with recruitment in the Philippines under former Abu Sayyaf leader, Isnilon Hapilon. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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California confronts environmental threats in new climate change assessment by rae

ann Varona AJPress

BEING a harbinger for environmental policies, California on Monday, August 27, published a comprehensive assessment outlining the risks of global warming that are threatening the state.

Titled as California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the assessment is the fourth to have been put out by the state since 2006 when former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an assessment before signing the Global Warming Solutions Act. The act was the first to require in law, a sharp reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“In California, facts and science still matter,” said California Governor Jerry Brown on the recent assessment. “These findings are profoundly serious and will continue to guide us as we confront the apocalyptic threat of irreversible climate change.”

While many in California may be aware of the climate changes shown by city smog and increasing wildfires, environment advocates are seeing the assessment as holding weight against the federal government’s opinions on climate politics, such as the Trump administration’s efforts to rid climate change regulations meant to curb pollution from automobiles and coal-fired power plants.

The assessment relied on over 40 peer-reviewed reports detailing the impact of climate change on the California’s infrastructure, people, and natural systems.

Rising temperatures The assessment projects that by 2100, the average annual maximum daily temperature will have increased by 5.6 to 8.8 degrees, depending on greenhouse gas emission reductions.

As wildfires hit both Southern and Northern California areas, the report found that the average area burned can increase by up to 77 percent if emissions con-

tinue to rise. That would equate to an insurance cost increase of about 18 percent in highest risk areas.

On its community impact, the assessment said that heat waves in cities could cause two to three times more heat-related deaths by 2050.

“Heat-Health Events (HHEs), which predict risk to populations vulnerable to heat, will worsen drastically throughout the state,” read the assessment. It added that by mid-century, the Central Valley — which includes the cities of Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Stockton — is projected to experience HHEs lasting two weeks or longer. In the Northern Sierra region, HHEs could occur four to 10 times more often.

In July, Southern California experienced record breaking heat waves with widespread triple digits temperatures.

The assessment said that a prototype heat warning system called the California Heat Assessment Tool (CHAT) was developed to support public health departments in taking actions to reduce the number of heat related deaths and medical conditions.

Water challenges “Water management practices in California face growing challenges from continued climate change and extreme weather,” read the assessment.

By 2050, the assessment projected water supply from snowpack to decline by twothirds. This, as the state of California continues to be drought prone.

As California also ranks first in the nation for producing the most food, water challenges naturally pose a major threat to the state’s agriculture.

One of the studies in the assessment found that under certain precipitation conditions, California’s agricultural production could face climate-related

Bill to curb school bullying heads to...

PAGE A3 leadership on this issue and look forward to working with our partners to get this important piece of legislation signed by Governor Brown.”

“California teachers are on the front lines of protecting our stu-

dents from bullying and cyberbullying, but we need to equip them with the training and tools to do so,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “We’re proud to stand with Assemblymember Chiu in support of AB 2291 and are

water shortages of up to 16 percent in certain regions by 2050.

“Hotter conditions due to climate change could lead to loss of soil moisture,” read the report, adding that increasing soil organic matter can help increasing soil water holding capacity, which is one adaptation option the state can take.

Rising sea level California’s famous beaches are also at risk, found the assessment — 31 to 67 percent of Southern California’s beaches may completely erode by 2100 if large-scale human interventions aren’t made, it said.

Furthermore, with a projected 50 centimeter or roughly 20 inch of sea level rise, $17.9 billion worth of commercial and residential buildings could be swamped by 2050.

“The Fourth Assessment funded a study providing technical guidance on design and implementation of natural infrastructure, such as the use of vegetated dunes, marsh sills, and native oyster reefs, for adaptation to sea-level rises,” read the assessment, referring to efforts.

“There is also a model to estimate shoreline change along the California coast at a resolution useful for local planners,” it added.

In addition to buildings, the report added that transportation infrastructure like airports are also susceptible to major flooding and may experience the major impacts by 2040-2018 if protective measures are not implemented.

“San Francisco airport is already at risk of flooding from storm surge,” read the report.

And then there are California’s already heavily trafficked highways. Miles of highways vulnerable to coastal flooding in a 100-year storm event will triple from current levels to 370 miles by 2100, reported the assessment.

Over 3,750 miles will be exposed to temporary flooding. n

committed to working toward a day when all our students — including those who are LGBTQ — have a safe and supportive school in which they can learn and succeed.”

Governor Brown has until September 30 to sign the bill. n

YOUTH SUMMIT. Young leader-delegates pose for a photo during the Global Youth Summit 2018 held at the MOA Arena in Pasay City on Saturday, August 25. The Global Youth Summit (GYS), the largest gathering of youth in the Philippines, is a youth development platform aligned with the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summit, in partnership with Global Peace Foundation and supported

by SM Cares, will be hosting more than 15,000 young leaders from the Philippines and foreign delegates.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

New study: taking aspirin daily does not reduce chance for heart problems

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

A LONG-standing theory that taking a low-dose aspirin every day will cut the chances of a heart attack, stroke or other heart problems has been debunked by a new major research study.

Over the weekend, the European Society of Cardiology 2018 presented two studies that challenged the century-long, widelyaccepted doctor recommendation for aspirin use in adults.

The studies included adult participants who took aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke and who had no history of these medical emergencies.

One found that aspirin did not help prevent a first stroke or

heart attack in folks with a moderate risk for one due to health and lifestyle variables like smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Another study explored the use of aspirin on diabetics, who are statistically more likely to die from heart problems.

Researchers randomly assigned 15,480 adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes — who don’t have any other outstanding health issues and no history of heart issues — either one aspirin pill, 1 gram of fish oil, both these pills, or a placebo pill every day for the next few years.

After just under eight years, researchers found that while there were fewer heart prob-

lems among the aspirin users, there were more cases of serious bleeding.

“There’s been a lot of uncertainty among doctors around the world about prescribing aspirin” for a vast majority of patients who haven’t had serious heart problems in the past, said Dr. Jane Armitage of the University of Oxford in England, one of the study’s lead researchers.

“If you’re healthy, it’s probably not worth taking it.”

The research study tested 100 milligram aspirin tablets, which is more than the commonly-sold 81-milligram tablets in the U.S., but is still considered a low dosage. n

Amnesty renews call to drop charges against De Lima HUMAN rights group Amnesty International stressed its call for the Philippine government to drop politically motivated charges against Sen. Leila de Lima.

Marking her second birthday in detention, the senator stressed her innocence despite what she called trumped-up charges against her.

De Lima was accused of being involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as justice secretary.

“Amnesty International considers the targeting of Senator de Lima by the authorities as a blatant attempt to silence one of the most prominent critics of the violent ‘war on drugs’ and bar her from participating in public life,” the group said in a statement released Monday.

The group appealed to Philippine authorities to release De Lima and allow her to perform her duties as a senator.

De Lima has been detained for 18 months at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City over alleged violation of the Compre-

hensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Amnesty insisted that the charges against De Lima stemmed from her criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s socalled war on drugs, which has resulted in extrajudicial killings of thousands of drug suspects, as well as other human rights violations.

“The political persecution of Senator de Lima contines in an increasingly dangerous context where human rights defenders and civil society organizations face intimidation and obstruction in their attempts to investigate and raise concerns about human rights in the country,” the statement read.

The rights group also lamented the police’s restrictions against the senator while in prison. The police has been randomly inspecting private correspondence to her and limiting visits.

The police denied requests of several groups of foreign dignitaries, such as European and ASEAN parliamentarians, to visit her in detention, the group noted.

“In light of the above, Amnesty International calls on the Philippine authorities to drop all charges against Senator de Lima and ensure she is released immediately and unconditionally as she is a prisoner of conscience solely detained for peacefully exercising her human rights,” the group said.

De Lima, meanwhile, launched her second book titled “Fight for Freedom and Other Writings” as she celebrated her 59th birthday in detention.

In February, De Lima launched her first book to mark her first year in detention. Her second book will contain a collection of writings, speeches, letters and notes about her quest for freedom.

“To my oppressors, jailing me despite my innocence is your burden to keep. To the Filipino people: No matter the persecution, I will never stop fighting. [This book] is dedicated to family, friends, and supporters who cry out for my freedom,” the senator said in the book’s dedication. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

PH deepens ties with US, ASEAN allies with maritime exercise The drills will also feature in- Balilo said. tegration of information sharing The sea phase set at the end among allies through maritime of the drills includes tracking THE Philippines with its U.S. information exchange hosted by and boarding operations west off and Southeast Asian counterparts the Information Fusion Center in Subic, Zambales and Sulu Sea. on Monday, August 27, launched Changi Naval Base in Singapore “SEACAT demonstrates the this year’s Southeast Asia Coop- and 3rd Thai Naval Area Com- combined commitment of navies, eration and Training (SEACAT), mand in Thailand. coast guards, law enforcement a maritime security exercise “Participating countries have and other interagency organizaamong regional navies and coast sent liaison officers to man the tions from the U.S. and ASEAN guards. watch team who will facilitate to work side-by-side in ensurAbout a hundred local and for- exchange of information, coor- ing a transparent and inclusive eign maritime law enforcement dinate surveillance operations, information-sharing architecture members from Bangladesh, Bru- and alert respective headquar- where all partner nations, large nei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philip- ters in the conduct of maritime and small, contribute to maritime pines, Singapore, U.S, Thailand interdiction operation/vessel domain awareness,” said Rear and Vietnam will join the drills, board, search and seizure op- Adm. Joey Tynch, Commander the U.S. Logistics Group Western eration to the vessel of interest,” Task Force 73. n Pacific in a news release.

The week-long exercise, which started in 2002, will address common concerns of maritime security threats in Southeast Asia such as illegal fishing, smuggling, illegal drug and human trafficking.

The Coast Guard hosted the launch held in Manila, spokesperson Capt. Armand Balilo said in a statement.

“This event also aims to promote international cooperation between participating agencies,” Participants of Seacat pose for a group photo outside the Coast Guard Surface Support Force detachment at the Port Area in Manila.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard he said.

by Frances

Mangosing Inquirer.net

California lawmakers to vote on net...

PAGE A2 In 2018, after the current incarnation of the FCC voted to repeal the Obama-era rules, 29 states have considered their own net neutrality protections. Six governors — including those from Hawaii, New York and Montana — have signed executive orders to reinstate net neutrality, and three states — Oregon, Vermont and Washington — have passed laws to protect these rules.

The two bills that California’s lawmakers will be voting on are the most stringent net neutrality protections among these 29 states. As a way to disrupt SB 822 from gaining traction, Big Telecom has been robocalling

senior citizens in the state in order to spread “misinformation” about the bill and urge them to contact their state representative to oppose the bill.

“Your Assembly member will be voting on a proposal by San Francisco politicians that could increase your cell phone bill by $30 a month and slow down your data,” says a voice on an automated call paid for by legal reform group the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC), a group that lobbies for legislation that reduces the number of lawsuits filed against corporations. “We can’t afford higher cell phone bills. We can’t afford slower data. We can’t afford Sen-

ate Bill 822.”

The claim that the bill would increase cell phone bills is false and is not based on anything listed on the actual bill, which only calls for a reinstatement of the FCC’s 2015 regulations. CJAC has also been spreading false claims of rising cell phone bills through Facebook and Twitter ads.

“The reality is that they’ve already lived under these rules under the 2015 Obama order and they did really well: they made huge profits, they weren’t laying off workers, they weren’t jacking up people’s bills,” Wiener said.

“This is just all played-up misinformation.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Cheers, jeers greet new CJ De Castro at Supreme Court AFP eyes more military assets from Russia

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — Newly-appointed Chief Justice Teresita De Castro’s arrival at the Supreme Court drew two different reactions: Applause from employees and protest from critics.

De Castro arrived at the Supreme Court compound in Padre Faura, Manila on Tuesday, August 28, to a group of employees waiting to congratulate her on her new post as the country’s top judge.

They erupted in cheers and congratulations as De Castro arrived and was handed a bouquet of flowers.

Asked by members of the press for a short message to employees, De Castro replied that she had to meet with the en banc before anything else.

The en banc or full court session of the justices was scheduled at 10:00 a.m.

The court also held oral arguments on the consolidated cases challenging the country’s withdrawal of membership from the International Criminal Court.

The scene on Tuesday was a far departure from flag ceremonies at the Supreme Court in recent months. Employees wore red during the height of the impeachment proceeding and quo warranto petition against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, a move seen as support for the moves to oust her from office.

MANILA — Apart from a submarine for the Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is also looking at the possibility of acquiring other military assets for the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force (PAF) from Russia.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said his visit to Russia gave him the opportunity to not only look at the submarine but other military hardware as well, like helicopters.

“I also saw their other equipment in the Army exhibition in Moscow,” he told reporters in a chance interview during the arrival in Manila of the Navy contingent that participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Lorenzana said the AFP can Newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita De Castro arrives at the Supereme Court on Monday, look at the hardware by probably August 27. She was welcomed with applause from employees. Asked for a short message to sending the Army and the technical working group (TWG) of the the SC staff, she said she would first want to meet with SC en banc.

Philstar.com photo by Kristine Joy Patag PAF to Russia.

For the submarine, he added Outside the gates of the SC, a Rodrigo Duterte had declared an that the Philippine Navy, also small pocket of protesters called enemy.

Sereno’s colelagues in May through a TWG, will likewise visit for De Castro’s removal by imvoted in favor of a petition voidpeachment.

“Ang cheap, ang cheap ng jus- ing her appointment as chief justice niyo (Your justice is so, so tice in 2012.

De Castro also testified at the cheap)!” they chanted.

Presidential spokesperson House of Representatives when Harry Roque earlier said De Cas- it took up an impeachment tro was the “best choice” for the complaint against Sereno, who is known for her critical stance high court’s top post.

The Malacañang spokesman, on some of Duterte’s pronouncehowever, insisted that De Cas- ments and policies.

De Castro is set to take her tro’s appointment as chief justice was not a reward for helping oath before President Rodrigo oust Sereno, whom President Duterte on Friday, August 31. n

PH welcomes home Asiad gold medalists Diaz, 3 lady golfers

by BenJie

Vergara ManilaTimes.net

ASIAN Games 2018 weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz returned home from Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday, August 28.

Diaz, who captured the Philippines’ first gold medal in the women’s 53-kilograms event at Jakarta International Expo Hall A, thanked the crowd who greeted her shortly after she arrived via Philippine Airlines (PAL) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.

Officials of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), as well as Special Assistant to the President Lois Kaye Go, Yuka Saso, Hidilyn Diaz, and Bianca Pagdanganan.

ManilaTimes.net photos by Andrea De La Cruz PAGE A7

Members of the Philippine Navy arrive at Manila’s South Harbor yesterday after joining the Rim of the Pacific exercise in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

Russia to look at the vessel.

“We are still looking around, we’re scouting for assets that suit our capabilities, our budget and our need for such equipment in our events, in our defense,” he said.

Lorenzana noted that the AFP is not only focusing on Russia but is also considering military equipment from France, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia, South Korea, Indonesia and even the United Kingdom.

He confirmed that Russia is also inviting the AFP to join

training exercises since Russia conducts army, special forces, ranger, shooting and even culinary exercises annually.

Lorenzana said the military will look into sending an observer to such training next year to determine if the AFP would join the same, considering that there is a lot to learn from the Russians.

“And then later on, if the Army, Navy, Air Force say, ‘sir, we need those, can we participate’, then we participate,” he said. (Philstar.com)

A6 AUGUST 29-31, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

A new chief justice

FEATURES

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he just followed seniority in appointing Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita de Castro as the new chief justice.

The President picked De Castro even if she has less than two months left before her retirement. And even if, for just 41 days in her new post, taxpayers will now have to give her much more than the pension that she would have originally received plus all the other perks of a retired chief justice.

No one is questioning De Castro’s competence or qualifications.

One doesn’t get appointed to the Supreme Court without the requisite intellectual capability and expertise. She was also the most senior SC member in the running for the job – but only because the more senior magistrate, Antonio Carpio, had declined his nomination.

This is just one of the controversies bedeviling De Castro’s promotion. She has promised judicial reforms in 41 days, in a branch of government that has been in dire need of improvements for decades.

Some quarters argue that her appointment is illegal because she faces an impeachment complaint. But with just 41 days to serve, De Castro may rest assured of being spared from ouster.

Critics have pounced on her appointment because she is known as the archenemy of her predecessor, Maria Lourdes Sereno. Despite Sereno’s ouster and the expunging of her appointment as chief justice, she can no longer be stricken off Filipinos’ memory

as the first woman and the youngest ever at age 52 to serve as top magistrate — and she did this for nearly six years, not just 41 days.

De Castro will be remembered for being one of the eight SC justices who voted to kick out Sereno through a mere quo warranto petition filed by the government’s chief lawyer. Carpio declined his nomination because having voted against the quo warranto case and wanting the removal of a chief justice to be by impeachment, as stipulated in the Constitution, he said he had to be consistent and did not want to benefit from Sereno’s ouster.

Because of the circumstances, De Castro has been branded by critics as the “endo” or end-ofcontract chief justice and her appointment dubbed as the start of a revolving-door policy that makes SC justices beholden to the executive.

The Philippine judicial system is weak enough.

De Castro has 41 days to show that her appointment has not aggravated that institutional weakness and undermined the rule of law. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

McCain and Trump: A study in contrast between true and faux leaders

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS AMERICA mourns the passing of Senator John McCain— war hero, six-term senator, a true statesman, patriot and public servant.

Amid all the tributes to McCain’s heroism and dedicated service to America among his colleagues, constituents, family, friends, world leaders, and Americans— Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, it was painful to watch the President of the United States — Donald J. Trump, staring at reporters during a news conference with stern eyes, arms crossed and held tight against his chest, when asked several times if he could say something about the passing of McCain, if he thinks he was a hero, if he could honor McCain for his service to America.

Silence.

His silence revealed more than his words could ever say about what is really in his heart.

After all, he denigrated McCain when the latter was alive just because the good senator had the moral and testicular fortitude to stand up to the president who has an insatiable need to be adored and have everything his

way even if it would not be for the good of the country.

Trump could not handle dissent, and as the most successful businessman and reality show superstar he claims to be, the word “accountability”, “rule of law” and owning up responsibility when he makes a mistake are alien to him. His mantra is to win, to make a profit, to benefit from whatever he gets into— and he would do anything and everything he could to make that happen, no matter what the cost.

Because McCain is not consumed and motivated by political expediency, he did not have to swallow his principles just to massage Trump’s ego, agree with him in policies, programs and legislative agenda of the president he did not think would be in the best interest of the American people.

And so this was the root of the animosity between Trump and McCain. The president even insulted McCain and other prisoners of war (POWs) when he said McCain was not really a hero because he was captured. These words from a man who dodged being drafted to do his duty to defend the country.

Trump hated McCain because he was afraid people may one day realize that he, Donald J.

Trump, was not really a true and real leader when compared to McCain.

John Sydney McCain was an embodiment of the virtues of a truly decent, respectful public servant, that was why he earned the respect of his colleagues in office and of the American people, even during the times when we disagreed with his stand on some fundamental issues. Because we know that his heart was in the right place. Because we know that his life had been dedicated to causes bigger than himself— and that is to serve the country we all love. Because he exemplified what it is to be a true civil servant — “Public Service is a Public Trust” and he had always been accountable for his actions to deserve that trust.

Trump hated McCain because he was afraid that people might soon realize that behind that facade of a “strong” leader that he hopes to project to the public, he is just a shallow petty celebrity figure whose aspirations, motives, and actions are all about Donald J. Trump — his image, his fame, his fortune. It was all about how the government and the people of America would serve and defend him, and not the other way around.

McCain left a farewell letter to

De Castro’s just reward Commentary

JOJO ROBLES I THOUGHT that Maria Lourdes Sereno had only purchased, using funds of the Supreme Court, a bullet-proof Toyota SUV during her abbreviated term as pretender to the position of chief justice.

I only learned recently that the SUV was bought together with three “big bikes,” the oversize motorcycles favored by the powerful to clear a path for them on Metro Manila’s clogged-up streets.

And the only reason I learned about the bikes is because new Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro said she would be using neither the SUV nor the motorcycles that the infamous Sereno was forced to return after she was expelled from the court. De Castro, the legitimate successor to the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, would in all likelihood continue to use her nondescript

Toyota van, which she rode in to her swearing-in ceremony yesterday as befits someone who doesn’t claim to be constantly conducting a two-way conversation with God. Yes, it appears that propriety, seniority and even sanity have been restored to the high court with de Castro’s assumption to Corona’s post. And the end of Sereno’s tenure as faux chief justice also marks the final vindication for Corona, who was forced to step down by a vengeful president who used government funds to buy a Congress that was only too willing to remove the head of a co-equal branch — for fat fees, of course.

At this late date, I still do not know if President Rodrigo Duterte actively worked to remove Sereno. All I know is, her own colleagues in the high court rebelled against Sereno’s misbegotten and misguided rule, deciding in the end to throw her out through an unprecedented but totally legal and unassailable quo warranto proceeding.

And now that De Castro, who will be chief justice only for less than two months, has ended

Sereno’s bogus reign, Duterte is being accused of “rewarding” de Castro for voting with eight other justices to remove Sereno.

I suppose the opposition, which fought hard to retain Sereno and which is now engaged in the pathetic move to impeach the eight justices who removed their Godconversing idol, is correct — but for entirely different reasons.

De Castro was surely rewarded with the chief justiceship because she is the most senior magistrate among the three whose names were submitted to the President.

She was also certainly rewarded for being an accomplished jurist, having gone through the judicial mill starting as a law clerk in the Supreme Court in 1973 after passing the bar in 1972 with a grade of 80 percent.

De Castro was also rewarded for steadily climbing the ladder of accomplishment, working her way from being state counsel of the Department of Justice (1978), leaving the department only in 1995 as head of its legal staff. And Duterte must also have rewarded de Castro for getting appointed to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, eventually becoming presiding justice and

the American people that really touched my heart. I hope we will all be reminded of what to expect from Trump and all of our public officials. I hope we will all be moved to discern what it is to truly be a good and responsible citizen of this great nation: “My fellow Americans, whom I have gratefully served for sixty years, and especially my fellow Arizonans, Thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public office has allowed me to lead. I have tried to serve our country honorably. I have made mistakes, but I hope my love for America will be weighed favorably against them.

I have often observed that I am the luckiest person on earth.

I feel that way even now as I prepare for the end of my life. I have loved my life, all of it. I have had experiences, adventures and friendships enough for ten satisfying lives, and I am so thankful.

Like most people, I have regrets.

But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else’s.

I owe that satisfaction to the love of my family. No man ever had a more loving wife or children he was prouder of than I am of mine. And I owe it to America. To be connected to

America’s causes - liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people - brings happiness more sublime than life’s fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves.

‘Fellow Americans’ - that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world.

We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history.

We have acquired great wealth and power in the process.

We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.

We are three-hundred-andtwenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue

and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.

Ten years ago, I had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. I want to end my farewell to you with the heartfelt faith in Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening.

I feel it powerfully still.

Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender.

We never hide from history. We make history.

Farewell, fellow Americans.

God bless you, and God bless America.”w ***

chairman of that tribunal’s first division until she was appointed in 2007 to the Supreme Court by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Of course, Duterte must also have rewarded de Castro for her work in convicting former President Joseph Estrada of plunder when he was still very popular, so popular that Arroyo later pardoned Estrada. And Duterte must also have noted, in his reward-giving, that de Castro once served as president of the International Association of Women Judges (2012-2014) and as chairman of the bar examination committee in 2015.

In other words, Duterte rewarded de Castro for her seniority and achievements, not because she was a college classmate, as Sereno (the most junior and most unaccomplished magistrate at the time) was to the president who appointed her, Noynoy Aquino. And de Castro has also been known to refer to the Almighty in public for the rewards she has received, even if, unlike Sereno, there is no record that God ever talked back to de Castro.

As de Castro said upon her appointment to the high court in2007: “Everything happens in

God’s time. I believe that my 34 years of service in the judiciary and a good track record make me qualified for this position.”

And so, yes, de Castro was rewarded for her hard work and performance. Now she has until her mandatory retirement in October to enjoy her just reward.

Even if a top-of-the-line bulletproof SUV and three motorcycle outriders aren’t part of the reward package for the new chief justice. *** But as I’ve said, the assumption of de Castro to the chief justiceship is also a vindication for the injustice committed by Aquino and his Congress lapdogs against Corona. And it is fitting that Sereno was not removed from office by Congress through impeachment, by many of the same lawmakers who condemned Corona only because Aquino larded them with Disbursement Acceleration Program funds.

It is also proper that Corona is officially being replaced by de Castro, who is only exactly one week older than Corona. Corona would have retired upon turning 70 on October 15; it’s as if some karmic law was at work to make the justice closest in seniority to

Corona take over his position, even if only for 41 days.

Of course, Corona is now dead, having succumbed to a heart attack right before the 2016 elections that put Duterte in Malacañang. He never saw the justice who usurped the position in 2012 removed six years later — but I’m sure he would have approved of it.

Corona would have certainly appreciated the fact that, because Sereno’s appointment has been deemed void from the beginning in the quo warranto case, de Castro succeeded him in a straight line. The details will have to be worked out, but I am sure that at some future time, the Supreme Court will eventually continue to call Corona the country’s 23rd chief justice and de Castro the 24th, when it has figured out what to do with the six-year judicial black hole during which Sereno reigned.

As for everyone else in Malacañang, Congress, the media and elsewhere to have passed their unfavorable judgment on Corona simply because Noynoy said so, they, too, will have their day of reckoning. The removal of Sereno forms only the first part of granting justice to Renato Corona. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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

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Lorenzana hits China’s nukes in WPS

by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

DeFenSe Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has objected to China’s transport of “nuclear elements” to the contested area at the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), as reported by the U.S. defense and military establishment.

“We definitely object to that because they (China) should not be bringing any nuclear [elements]in the disputed area,” Lorenzana told reporters at Pier 13, Manila after the arrival ceremony for the Philippine navy contingent from Hawaii on Monday, August 27.

The Pentagon had raised alarm over Beijing’s plans to establish

floating nuclear power plants on the hotly contested islands and reefs in South China Sea, in a report to the U.S. Congress.

“We are talking about our disputes in a civil matter and there is no need for [China] to militarize to that level where they will bring in nuclear-armed aircraft or any other weaponry there that are nuclear-tipped,” Lorenzana said.

Also, on Monday, Lorenzana, joined by Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. and highranking officials of the navy, welcomed the 700-man navy contingent that participated in the Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) exercises held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“Participating in the exercises

that are far away from us means that we are already capable of patrolling our seas since we have surface ships, capital ships going to the oceans,” the Defense chief stressed.

Vice Admiral Robert empedrad, navy chief, said the Rimpac drills “sends a very strong signal” that the Philippine navy has extended its reach “far beyond” when it comes to the country’s territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone. empedrad said the Philippine navy conducted drills with the most advanced navies in the world such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Singapore navy, Republic of Korea navy, Australian navy and the U.S. navy. n

Duterte: ‘I’m tired of listening to Joma Sison’

MAnILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is tired not just of corruption in government but also of listening to his former professor turned fierce critic Jose Maria Sison, the rebel leader who previously claimed the Chief executive was seriously ill.

Duterte said Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, seems to be waging his revolution by monitoring the sickness of other people.

“I am tired of listening to Joma Sison. Look at how degenerate he is. He no longer has an ideology.

He keeps on monitoring the illness of other people,” the President said the during national Heroes Day rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.

Last week, Sison claimed to have received reports that Duterte went into a coma and cited the president’s supposedly darker face and shaking hands.

Sison made the statement days after Duterte admitted that he was fed up with corruption in government and had considered resigning because of the endless chase against corrupt officials.

Duterte shot down rumors that he is sick, but admitted being in “perpetual pain” because of a motorcycle accident during his younger years.

The president previously said he was experiencing back pains, migraine and Buerger’s disease or inflammation of blood vessels due to smoking.

Duterte claimed that his face was darker because he likes to roam the mountains.

The president turned the tables on Sison by saying that the rebel

ALL SMILES. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia on the sidelines of the National Heroes’ Day commemoration at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday, August 27.

Malacañang photo by Rey Baniquet

Economic managers to set unified stand on federalism

by CzeRiza

ValenCia Philstar.com

CPP founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison

leader is suffering from colon cancer.

Duterte described Sison as a “discredited leader” who is “talking nonsense.”

He also claimed that Sison is a “freeloader” who does not pay his hospital bills in the netherlands, where he has been in self-exile since 1987.

The president said Sison’s rebellion is bound to fail and even threatened to slap him if he sees him in hell.

Sison challenged Duterte to undergo medical examination at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and in turn, the rebel leader would release to the public his own medical certificate.

“I challenge Duterte to submit himself to a medical examination by the best independent diagnosticians of the PGH to establish whether he is physically and mentally fit for his position,” Sison said in a statement posted on the national Democratic Front website.

Sison said the president should resign to enable him to get enough

Philstar.com photo

rest.

“Despite my right to privacy as a private citizen, I am willing to show a true and verifiable medical certificate on the state of my health as soon as he shows his own medical records as a matter of public interest,” Sison said.

Duterte’s close aide Christopher Go said Sison should just come home and see for himself that the President is healthy.

“If he wants, the President can have a checkup... We will see that the President is strong. He is in tip-top condition and has a clean bill of health,” Go told radio station dzRB. Duterte made light of rumors that he is sick.

“Sa awa ng Diyos po kaya ko pang umibig (By God’s grace I can still love),” he said.

The word war between Duterte and Sison erupted after the government canceled the peace talks slated for June supposedly to allow the president to revisit the previous deals signed with the communists. (Philstar.com)

MAnILA — economic managers are expected to come up with a unified position on the proposed shift to a federal form of government in their meeting this week, according to an official of the national economic and Development Authority. neDA undersecretary for planning and policy Rosemarie edillon said the administration’s economic cluster is convening on Wednesday to discuss, among other matters, fiscal and economic assumptions based on the draft federal charter prepared by the consultative committee (Con-

com) reviewing the 1987 Constitution.

This will be the first time that the economic cluster that includes neDA, Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will be meeting after the draft charter was released. economic managers have raised concerns over the proposed shift to a federal form of government. Among the issues raised was that it would be too costly and thus disruptive to the growth momentum of the economy.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia warned that the shift to a federal system

could cost the administration additional expenses amounting to as much as P131 billion in the first year of transition.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III also said the country’s credit ratings might be downgraded as rating agencies had earlier expressed concern over federalism that would create uncertainties in the country’s political landscape.

He said an unmanaged fiscal deficit could also derail the administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program. economic managers also pointed out that some regions are not prepared to make such a transition. n

PH welcomes home Asiad gold medalists Diaz, 3 lady...

PAGE A5 Christopher “Bong” Go, and other government representatives, welcomed Diaz and the three lady golfers, Yuka Saso, Bianca Isabel Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, who brought home two more golds in the individual and team events.

The Zamboanga native reportedly will be receiving cash amounting to P6 million – P2 million from the government through Republic

Act 10699 incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, P2 million from the POC, and P1 million each from Siklab Foundation and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong.

Diaz said she was grateful to God for bagging the gold medal, which all Filipino athletes dream of.

The weightlifter bested 11 other competitors by lifting 92 kilograms in the snatch and 115 kilograms in

the clean and jerk for a total of 207 kilograms against Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova (206 kilograms) and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao (201 kilograms).

Diaz made history for the Philippines when she ended the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought by securing a silver medal in the women’s 53-kilogram weightlifting division of the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. n

A August 29-31, 2018 • soCal AsIAN JOuRNAL

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seafood city fpfc

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B

Journal

Philippines targets $36 million export sales in world’s biggest food exhibit Aside from eligible products under EU-GSP+ scheme, the national pavilion will also showcase various food selections including tuna, coco and muscovado sugar, pili nuts, confectionaries, instant noodles, biscuits, crackers, sandwiches, dried fruits and juices, liquor and crafted spirits, heritage rice, turmeric products, banana chips, single-origin dark chocolate, and many more.

File photo by Philstar.com

national de I’Alimentation or SIAL 2018 in Paris, France, on Oct. 21-25, 2018.

THE Center for International Held at the Paris Nord VilTrade Expositions and Missions lepinte, SIAL Paris is regarded as (CITEM), the export promo- one of the biggest and prominent tion arm of the Department of food trade shows in the world. It Trade and Industry (DTI), is set is considered as a crossroad of to leverage on the Philippines’ world agri business supply and zero tariff privileges on selected demand and a springboard for products in Europe as it returns food companies. to showcase the country’s finest In 2016, the biennial food food exports at the Salon Inter- trade event housed 7,020 exby Czarina

ValenCia Philstar.com

hibitors from 109 countries and welcomed 155,766 visitors from 194 countries. “The Philippines’ return to SIAL Paris bolsters DTI’s aggressive campaign to elevate export opportunities for local firms to penetrate countries in the European Union (EU),� said newly appointed CITEM executive director Paulina Suaco-Juan.

Under the Food Philippines

u PAGE B5

ANZ: Peso still likely to hit P54:$1 by yearend

by MayVelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

AUSTRALIA-based ANZ Research continues to hold a bearish outlook for the Philippine peso despite noting that higher interest rates were providing the currency some relief. “While we have been cautious on the Philippines, we note some signs of improvement,� it said in a report.

In particular, the research firm File photo by Manilatimes.net pointed out that the peso was mostly trading in a narrow range ing100 basis points since May. Thursday, August 23. of P53.0-53.5:$1 since mid-June, The currency ended last week “Meanwhile, the economy is “outperforming its Asian peers� at P53.46 versus the greenback, moving in the right direction, after policy rate hikes total- two centavos stronger from u PAGE B5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Business news

B AUGUST 29-31, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

Hurdles seen for PH-US trade deal

by AnnA LeAh

e. GonzALes Manilatimes.net

CURRENT political events in the United States might impact the speed of discussions on a possible Philippines-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In an interview, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said negotiations for the deal “might be affected because the speed of [discussions on it]is triggered also by the [current U.S.]administration, because of the good relationship [between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump], so in a way it is being facilitated.”

His remarks came after Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen had implicated his ex-boss in crimes supposed committed during the latter’s 2016 White House campaign.

The move has fueled speculation that the divisive American leader would soon face impeachment.

Although Lopez refused to to

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA 1. BLENDED Federal Income Tax Rate: For Corporations tax elected to use a fiscal year will pay a blended tax rate and not the 21% flat rate. The new rate 21% is effective after December 31, 2017. You may want to consider amending your corporate tax return fiscal year ending January 31, 2018 to reflect the blended rate. For more information refer to Notice 2018-38.

2. Transition Tax on Foreign Earnings: Under IRC section 965, untaxed foreign earnings US company foreign subsidiaries are subject to15.5% if held in cash and cash equivalents or 8% rate for the remaining earnings and can be paid 8-year period installments. For more information refer to Notice 2018-07.

3. Foreign Person Transfer of Partnership Interest Withholding: Sale of partnership interest by a foreign taxpayer is subject to withholding under the new law provided that the sale is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business in

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The bucket list

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Ride that blast from the past

Monette AdevA MAglAyA

File photo by Manilatimes.net

comment on Trump’s possible impeachment, he emphasized that an FTA between Manila and Washington would be beneficial to both.

“It [also]makes economic sense for them to have an FTA with the Philippines, which is their so-called long-time ally.

They are doing it with Vietnam and Japan and [South] Korea…” he said.

While the Philippines currently

enjoys preferential duty-free entry to the U.S. through its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme, the Trade chief hopes that formal FTA discussions would soon begin.

During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last year, Trump said he would consider a possible FTA with the Philippines following a bilateral meeting with President Duterte. n

What’s new: Tax cuts and jobs act (Part 2)

the US. For more information refer to Notice 2018-08, Notice 2018-29, IR-2018-81.

4. Interest Expense for Business: Deductions for business interest is now limited to business interest income plus 30% of business adjusted taxable income for certain large businesses under the amended section 163(j). For more information refer to Notice 2018-28.

5. Depreciation and Expensing: You can now elect to expense immediately any property subject to section 179 and deduct in the year the property is placed in service. The phase-out threshold increased to $2.5million from $2million with maximum deduction increased to $1million from $500thousand.

6. Limitation on Carried Interest: Carried interest is taxed at a lower tax rate rather than ordinary income. It refers to ownership interest in partnership that share in partnership’s net profits. The holding period is subject to extended 3-year rule beginning after December 31, 2017 for applicable partnership interest. . For more information refer to Notice 2018-18.

7. Proposed Regulation on 20% Deduction for Pass through

Businesses: The 20% deduction of domestic qualified business income from trade or business is also referred as Section 199A and is available to taxpayers with 2018 taxable income below $315,000 for married filing joint returns and $157,500 for other taxpayers. For taxpayers earning more than the threshold amount, the deduction will be limited. For more information refer to Notice 2018-64, FAQs on section 199A at IRS.gov. And taxpayers can rely on proposed regulations until there is published final regulation. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

(Advertising Supplement)

WHETHER we like it or not, the past is a big part of who we have become. At some point, it may be worth our while to back track and come full circle just before the end game is in sight.

So the next time you get an invitation to a reunion, don’t hesitate, JUST GO. High school and college reunions are compelling reasons to go back and ride that blast from the past. Take the ride because it may never come again. Life is not only short. It is unpredictable as well.

Say NO to hubris.

You may have been too busy building a career, raising a family and have become so engaged with the nitty gritty to bother about such things as reunions. No you’re not indifferent nor have you become too big for your britches that you can’t be bothered. At any rate, there is nothing in this world to make anyone feel like a puffed up toad and think he or she is better than anyone else.

Life has a way of cutting back to size any show of hubris and arrogance.

So what is your excuse for ducking reunions? In truth, you may just have too much on your plate for far too long. But this time around, you have to make time because there might never be a next time. And you may just miss out on one of the grandest rides of your lifetime.

Why GO? There’s an upside to finally letting the past catch up with us. We get perspective. We hear life stories. Some are compelling while others are cautionary, sad tales. We begin to understand.

And if reunions really serve their purpose, we come out of the experience happy. We have checked off one item from our bucket list.

We may come out humbled by the experience of living this long and having walked this journey with classmates who, in all likelihood, come from a similar background and are cut from the same cloth. You feel you have been blessed abundantly along

(12th of a series - conclusion of 2 parts) with your contemporaries hav- including me. Sigh……

Oh, if we can only read the ing made it this far. thought bubbles that float around Like a Masquerade Ball Someone said that reunions during reunions! If you were are like masquerade balls. No psychic or a passably good mind one comes as his genuine self. reader, you can read what they Many try to hide the scars be- really mean when they effusively hind a mask. Like postings on say, largely out of well-meaning social media, we all try to pres- kindness, of how great you look. ent to the world the best versions Okay just for the night we will be of our photoshopped images, suckers for compliments, we will kind of wearing a Sunday dress. take them even if these are polite white lies.

If that is the case, so be it.

Or these compliments can be There is great fun and sidesplitting humor at reunions and true statements. If you have dicelebrations of this sort. We see eted, exercised and managed the same people and notice that to lose a few pounds to fit into a they have changed very little gorgeous dress and look shapely from what you perceived them with or without spanx, you can to be so many years ago. Then flash a killer smile and take a there are the few swan like char- bow.

We look at the adolescent acters that truly evolved from the gawky, awkward phases of youth crushes we had many moons ago and for which we kept quiet at the time for fear of ridicule and embarrassment and we see them now with fresh eyes, a far cry from our teenage ideas of “cute” and say to yourself, “Girl, what were you thinking?”

Well, turnabout is fair play. The guys are probably thinking the same thing — truly beautiful and oozing about you. For as nature would with class inside and out, confi- have it, the lean and scrawny spring chickens of the past have dent without being cocky.

Then, there are the class grown to mature Rhode Island clowns— the life of the party. Reds, meatier, heavier and may They are still funny, still the cen- even waddle around like ducks. ter of attention with the same LOL!!!

Laugh it OFF. mannerisms and facial expresThis is where the laugh sound sions as we reminisce with great fondness and hilarity the antics track comes in. If we have beand practical jokes they pulled come truly wise over the years, on their classmates. And then, many of us know without a doubt there are the quiet, deep ones, that a great sense of humor and still staying in the background more importantly, our unflinchand taking it all in. It’s a menag- ing faith in the goodness of God erie of characters, a few of whom, and the people who love us, susyou may want to be friends with tained us and got us this far. No one really gets far without help. despite time and distance.

We all know, even without Whatever Happened?

The memories come gushing the details, that each one’s life forth with shocking clarity as we is fraught with joy and beauty dust off the cobwebs from our mixed with the untold tales of memory banks and dig up pho- struggles, challenges and probtos and put them on social media lems that tend to overwhelm. No —a before and after, side to side one is spared the latter.

Life can be an equal opportucomparison in reverse, from the once cute young thing BEFORE nity tormentor. Very few have to the “Whatever happened???” charmed lives. It is how we deal AFTER. Hmmm, I am not sure with what life throws at us that u PAGE B5 the results would please many,

”...Someone said that reunions are like masquerade balls.

No one comes as his genuine self. Many try to hide the scars behind a mask...”

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Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG THE clients are seniors who just stopped working two months ago. The husband is 75 and the wife is 71. They own a house with $140,000 in equity.

Their unmarried son lives with them for free. For free, meaning that he doesn’t pay them any rent to live there. This is understandable because parents who love their children would normally just let their children live with them as long as possible for free just like when their children were still minors. Most parents still feel protective of their children no matter how old their children are. However, this situation can morph into something that is not good.

In the news several months ago was an article about parents on the East Coast who sued their 35-year-old son to eject him from their house. The son refused to leave and defended himself, claiming that he had the right to live in his parents’ house for free

BUSINESS NEWS

Seniors rely on Chapter 7 and son for debt relief and even if his parents did not agree. The judge did not agree with his defense and ordered him to leave the house and to take all of his personal belongings with him in two weeks. I would say that this is a rare situation because parents normally still take care of their children as long as they are able to do so. Perhaps parents were afraid that their son would not learn how to support himself if they were no longer around if they allowed him to live in their house for free forever.

House prices now are so high that young adults are forced to live back with their parents after they graduate from college. Maybe it’s a good idea to build and sell tiny houses for $50,000?

In my clients’ case, their residence now has equity of $150,000, but they still owe $500,000 on the balance of the mortgage. They pay $2,600/ month in mortgage to Chase Bank, and they owe $50,000 of credit card debt, which requires them to pay $1,500/month for minimum interest payments to keep them current.

Their combined social security income is $2,000/month. So, obviously, they have a problem.

They stopped working regular jobs only two months ago.

That gave them a net of about $3,500/month from their combined regular jobs. When you add $3,500/month to social security of $2,000/month, they had no problem making the house payment and the credit card payments. But starting two months ago, they could not make the credit card payments anymore.

They liquidated their $50,000 of 401K and converted that to cash and used that to cover the shortfall between their social security income, and their monthly necessary expenses.

Not a pretty picture. The $50,000 will be gone in a little over a year, and when that runs out, they won’t be able to even pay their mortgage of $2,600/ month.

Their son should now step in to help them financially because after all is said and done their son will be inheriting $150,000

u PAGE B5

Do I have a community property interest in a house which my spouse acquired before our marriage?

GENERALLY, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under family code section 760. How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or funds during the marriage?

The community in this situation acquires a pro tanto interest in the ratio that the payments on the purchase price made with community funds bear to the total payments on the purchase price and any appreciation should be apportioned accordingly. Marriage of Moore (1980) 28 C3d 366, 371, 373, 168 CR 662, 664, 665. Other expenses associated with the property are not considered in the calculation such as mortgage interest, taxes, and insurance. In essence, the real property would accumulate both a separate property and a community property component by the date of separation. The appropriate remedy in this situation

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES where separate property is subsequently paid with community funds is “apportionment.”

The process of apportioning between the separate and community property component is laid out in the Marriage of Marsden. In that case, the court determined the ratio or percentage in which the mortgage loan principal was reduced during the marriage and applied that percentage to the appreciation of the real property during the marriage. The community property component would then consist of the reduction in the mortgage loan principal during the marriage plus the portion of appreciation during the marriage applying the ratio discussed above.

In the Marriage of Marsden, the real property was purchased

by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage. The original mortgage was $30,000.

By the time the husband got married, the house was now worth $65,000 while the mortgage has gone down by $7,000. Both the appreciation of $26,700 and the mortgage reduction of $7,000 would be separate property since it occurred prior to marriage.

Marriage of Madsen (1982) 130 CA3d 426, 181 CR 910.

During the marriage until the time of trial, the property has appreciated another $117,500 (property now valued at $182,500) while the mortgage has further declined by $9,200 up to the date of separation. The ratio at which community funds paid down the mortgage ($9,200) during the marriage to the original purchase price ($38,300) amounts to 24.02%. This percentage of the property appreciation during the marriage of $117,500 ($28,223.50) plus the reduction in mortgage balance during the marriage ($9,200) would constitute the community component of the real property.

u PAGE B5

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 29-31, 2018

Calendar of Events across

America

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

Philippine-American Society of Certified Public Accountants holds induction of new officers and members in Anaheim, CA Join the Philippine-American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA-LA) on Saturday, September 1 for an exciting night of networking, dinner, dancing and fun, as it welcomes the organization’s newest members and officers for the upcoming year. This event will include appearances from the accounting profession’s most honorable guest speakers and sponsors. Like previous PASCPA events, this will be a great networking opportunity for all accounting students, young professionals, and seasoned veterans. It will be held from 6 to 11:30 p.m. at the Anaheim Marriott (700 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802). The program begins at 6:30 p.m. and the fee is $65 (no host bar). Attire is formal. To RSVP, please go to www.installationofofficers.eventbrite.com.

S E P T E M B E R 4 -27

SIPA hosts 8-session Entrepreneur Training Program (ETP) in Los Angeles The Entrepreneur Training Program (ETP) is an 8-session skills building training program designed for startup entrepreneurs covering the A to Z of starting and running a successful business. This is open to all! If you want to start your own business and don’t know where to start or how to start, this program was made FOR YOU! Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from the experts and from business owners themselves on how to build the business of your dreams! Program details: One time fee of $100 covers food and beverage and training materials for all 8 sessions; 5 FREE slots are available for College/University students and low income families; FREE Parking on site. Parking lot is accessed on Robinson St.; Includes FREE one-on-one business counseling with SIPA’s counselor, Fidji Victoriano; and you will receive a Completion Certificate at the end of the program. The eight sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the whole month of September 2018: September 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Program will be held at the SIPA Multipurpose room at 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (through Robinson St. entrance). For any questions or to register in person, please contact Fidji Victoriano at (424) 235-5011 or e-mail at fvictoriano@esipa.org. This program is brought by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in collaboration with the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Hollywood (FACCHO) and the support of Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (APISBP) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SEPTEMBER 8

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA hosts photoshop training “Adobe Photoshop Training” on Saturday, September 8 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. is a crash course for beginners to intermediate hosted by the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA). It will be held at BFG Boardroom (5121 Van Nuys Blvd), with instructor Peter Galace. Call to reserve your seat ($100) with Angelo Varsobia (818) 6469453 or Mary Trinidad at (661) 713-0014. Participants should bring their own computers, download a free version of Photoshop (https://bit.ly/2NYPbLW), and bring one USB thumb drive.

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

B3

B4 AUGUST 29-31, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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People and Events

West Ranch High School presents the Wildcat Classic Duarte Transit going lean and green in 2019 WEST Ranch High School is proud to present the 10th annual Wildcat Classic, a daylong display of musical artistry. More than 20 high school bands from the Santa Clarita Valley and around the region will gather for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra (SCSBOA) Marching Band Competition.

The Wildcat Classic is happening Saturday, October 20, 2018 3pm-9pm at Valencia High School’s football stadium, located at 27801 Dickason Dr. in Valencia. Tickets are $10; parking is free.

Each high school band will compete by division followed by an astounding showcase performance of the three-time state champion West Ranch Band and Colorguard. The day-long event culminates in an awards ceremony with awards presented in each division as decided by a panel of SCSBOA judges. The performance schedule will be announced prior to the event.

Vendors will be on site with apparel for the music enthusiast. Director Jason Marshall at 661For additional information, 222-1220 x 646 or jmarshall@ plenty of delectable food and drink options as well as gifts and please contact West Ranch Music hartdistrict.org . ■

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

DUARTE Transit is embracing the City’s long standing, successful contract service model and applying it to our aging transit system. Starting in early 2019, the City in conjunction with Foothill Transit is introducing a fleet of new, 35 foot electric buses that will operate on existing Duarte transit routes.

Partnering with Foothill Transit also brings much-needed transit expertise and resources to our small City including a fast charge infrastructure, and a fleet of state of the art electric buses, featuring the latest in green and fuel efficient technology.

There are many benefits that come with this transition in addition to being green and lean.

The increased capacity will also allow Duarte Transit to expand services to include students, who have historically been prohibited from utilizing the transit during peak hours as well as turning away fewer overflow riders.

Changing to 35 foot, quiet electric buses will also reduce noise pollution for residents and businesses along the both the green

Photo courtesy of www.accessduarte.com

and blue routes.

This one of a kind partnership first started building back in 2014 when the Duarte City Council began an outreach campaign for riders and residents composed of a series of surveys, public workshops and council meetings to discuss the current state of the transit system; including routes, alternative fuel buses, the need to accommodate students and potential fare impacts. This culminated in a decision in Fall of 2017 by the City

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Council to enter into a contract with Foothill Transit for the operation and maintenance of new electric buses. The contract service arrangement is very similar to the one the City has had with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since incorporation.

New Foothill Transit/City of Duarte buses are projected to arrive by the end of this year and be in operation by the beginning of 2019. Staff is continuing to conduct additional outreach to riders and residents over the next few months to solicit input and promote the new, improved Duarte Transit system. The public outreach workshops schedule and locations are as follows: • Wednesday, August 29, Duarte Community Center at 6 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 5, Duarte Senior Center at 9 a.m.

• Saturday, September 15, Duarte Senior Center at 10 a.m.

For over 30 years, the City of Duarte has been providing a fixed route bus system for the community composed of a small fleet of 16 plus year old diesel

u PAGE B5

BUSINESS NEWS

B5 AUGUST 29-31, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

ANZ: Peso still likely to hit P54:$1...

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which we have maintained needs to slow to avert risk of over-heating,” ANZ Research also said, noting that second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6 percent was the lowest in three years.

“The current account deficit has been contained at below 1 percent of GDP, while credit growth appears to have peaked,” it added.

Still, ANZ Research said it still expected the local currency to fall to P54 against the dollar by

yearend.

“We maintain a bearish view on the PHP (Philippine peso) on the back of deteriorating external balances,” it said.

The peso, described as Asia’s worst-performing currency this year, fell to the P53:$1 level in June due to concerns over the country’s widening current account deficit and the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates.

Economic managers have raised their peso-dollar exchange rate assumptions to P50-53:$1 for 2018-2022 from

P49-52.

Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. recently emphasized that monetary authorities remained committed to maintaining a flexible and market-determined exchange rate framework.

Espenilla warned that a fixed exchange rate was “a very dangerous path for a small open economy like the Philippines” and could also result in lower international reserves, over-indebtedness, deficits and an uncompetitive exports sector.■

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

Do I have a community property...

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The rest was the husband’s separate property. The husband in that case was awarded his separate property component of the real property plus one half of the community property component.

The Marsden apportionment method is also applicable to situations where a community real property is later transmuted into one spouse’s separate property through execution of a quit claim by the other spouse but is subsequently paid using community funds. Marriage of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d 489, 257 CR 397. In litigation, the community interest in the situations mentioned about is proven through expert witness testimony typiof $227.74 million.

Among the EU-member coun- cally by a forensic CPA. Since California case law altries, Germany is the Philiplows the creation of a community pines’ top trading partner with a total trade of $4.357 billion or interest in real property acquired 31.8 percent of EU’s total trade.

Revenue from export to Germany amounted to $2.329 billion while payments for imports PAGE B3 t were worth $2.028 billion or a of the equity in their house. The trade surplus of $301.32 million equity will only increase as the Within the EU, 90 percent of mortgage is paid down and when EU-Philippine trade is concen- the market price goes up further. trated among eight EU mem- Son can sell it at that time and get ber-states—Germany, France, $150,000 to $200,000 in cash, or the Netherlands, the United live in the house and continue Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Belgium paying the mortgage, or just rent and Denmark. out the extra rooms and receive The Philippines currently en- rent income. So, it’s only fair to joys a special trade arrangement his parents that he now helps and incentives with European his parents solve the house paycountries as one of the 30 coun- ment problem by contributing a tries listed under EU’s GSP. significant part or all of the mortUnder the EU GSP, develop- gage so the clients do not have to ing countries can export goods worry about it anymore. with reduced tariffs entering Fortunately, the son does make the EU to stimulate economic $70,000 gross income a year so growth and job creation in their he has the capacity to help out economies. The Philippines his parents at this time in their avails itself of the zero prefer- lives. But, is he willing to help ential duties on 6,274 products out? going to EU states. (Philstar.

If the son does provide this com) ■ help, the clients will have $2,000 of social security to cover their monthly necessary expenses,

Philippines targets $36 million...

PAGE B1 t

pavilion, CITEM is set to feature the country’s export-competitive products amid the Philippines’ growing relations with European countries and trade privileges under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus or GSP+ scheme.

“As the only Southeast Asian country under EU’s preferential scheme, we look to leverage on the zero-tariff privileges on selected products,” she said.

“These include coconut and marine products, processed fruits and other local food products.”

Aside from eligible products under EU-GSP+ scheme, the national pavilion will also showcase various food selections including tuna, coco and muscovado sugar, pili nuts, confectionaries, instant noodles, biscuits, crackers, sandwiches, dried fruits and juices, liquor and crafted spirits, heritage rice, turmeric products, banana chips, single-origin dark chocolate, and many more.

“We have carefully selected the product segments based on the bestsellers of the country’s previous participation in SIAL

PAGE B2 t

from 2012-2016 and market research to cater to the meticulous taste of Europeans,” Juan said.

In 2016, 20 Philippine companies netted $36.11 million export sales in SIAL Paris. For 2018, DTI-CITEM is targeting $36.15 million.

The delegation will also participate in business-matching sessions during the event in partnership with The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Paris.

The EU is ranked as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, third largest import source, and fourth largest export market.

In 2016, the Philippines’ external trade in goods with the EU states amounted to $13.713 billion or 9.7 percent share of the country’s total trade based on data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Exports to the EU reached $6.970 billion or 12.1 percent of the total export receipts while imports were valued at $6.743 billion or eight percent share of total import, resulting in a balance of trade in goods surplus

Don’t get annoyed. It is part of reunions. We let people take a bow, maybe even take a victory lap. We are each a built-in audience for one another. We still need each other’s approbation.

And if we have truly grown older gracefully, we ought to be bighearted enough to be generous with sincere praise.

Reunions allow us to reconnect with those we chanced to walk with years ago. Life seemed lighter then. It was an innocent time when the sounds of youth-

*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended

to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 (Advertising Supplement)

Seniors rely on Chapter 7 and son...

The bucket list

and setbacks don’t break us, they only make us stronger, more pliable and in the end, victorious.

Yes, you can say quietly to yourself that, yes, somehow you have arrived.

We are still students of life learning from one another as we laugh and compare notes, celebrating moments and grieving quietly at times — a little wiser, and a little wider perhaps.

Mark my words, there will be a lot of humble bragging.

prior to marriage, one has to consider vehicles to protect themselves if you own property and you are contemplating of getting married. There are several ways of avoiding the creation of a community interest on your separate real property. One, you can sign a prenuptial agreement. Two, the parties can execute a postnuptial agreement if the parties are already married. Three, the parties can execute a transmutation agreement with a waiver of any family code section 2640 reimbursement claim. If your divorce case involves complex issues of asset distribution, it is best to retain the representation of competent counsel.

ful laughter filled the air after the last bell has rung to signal the end of a day in class. Someday, if we are so blessed, we can be reunited once again, perhaps, in another lighter, gravity-defying dimension, free of all cares and pretensions in that place we call heaven. ***

which should all be covered with maybe $1,000 saved every month since they no longer will have a house payment.

The only problem left will be the $50,000 of credit cards.

These can be taken cared of with bankruptcy. Chapter 7 will wipe out the entire $50,000 without any repayment whatsoever. They get a fresh start in life as they retire without accumulated debt.

They can thus save $1,000 a month and use that for whatever they want to. They can invest or spend it traveling the world.

If you’re about to retire, you must seriously consider getting rid of your credit card debts now because when you retire and rely on social security, your income will suffer a significant reduction. When that happens, the last thing you need to worry about is credit card debt. True? Yes, this is absolutely true.

Fortunately, the son is willing

to help out and pay for half the mortgage. This means that clients will still have to pay half or $1,300 for their share of the mortgage.

After that payment, they would still have $700 of social security left for necessary expenses but with the Chapter 7 discharge of their $50,000 of credit cards, the clients may have $300 left every month as savings.

If you need debt relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** 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)

Duarte Transit going lean and green...

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buses which environmentally and economically don’t work for the community anymore.

Recruiting and maintaining a fleet of part time drivers has also grown increasingly more difficult and expensive. Transitioning to this contract service will relieve the City of long standing Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP staffing challenges and allow the of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send City to consider the implementacomments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ tion of fares which can used to asianjournalinc.com offset the ever-increasing cost of

providing local transit. The City will also get the support of a full maintenance facility at the Arcadia Yard on Peck Road to keep the buses on the road.

Duarte Transit is NOT shutting down as of January 1. If you have questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Duarte Transit Supervisor, Dave Rendon at (626) 359-1813.

About the City of Duarte The City of Duarte was incor-

porated on August 22, 1957.

With integrity and transparency, the City provides exemplary public services in a caring and fiscally responsible manner with a commitment to our community’s future. For more information visit www.accessduarte.com or call (626) 357-7931. Follow the City of Duarte on Facebook at facebook.com/duartecommunity; Twitter @CityofDuarte; Instagram @city_of_duarte and LinkedIn. ■

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

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 29-31, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 29, 2018

From family-style meals to desserts, Filipino cuisine shines at LA Food & Wine Festival came a permanent space at Far East Plaza in Chinatown).

Yao, the chef at Kato in THE Los Angeles Food & Bar) and Alvin Cailan (The Usual West LA, has been nominated Wine Festival (LAF&W) this past in NY). Both dinners priced at as a Rising Star Chef by the week brought together dozens $150 per person were sold out.

James Beard Foundation and of renowned culinary personali“It’s our time. The people is one of this year’s Food and ties from across the country for from Food and Wine recognize Wine Best New Chefs. five days of events. how much we represent our Together, the two chefs preFrom Wednesday, August culture and how much we repsented an eight-course menu, 22 to Sunday, August 26, the resent Los Angeles in general. featuring dishes like kilawin (flat 8th annual festival occupied Now we showcase. It’s always iron tartare, patis aioli, kelp spaces around LA from Grand been my credo, which is just for chips and vinegar powder); softAvenue in Downtown to Barker us to be a part of the convershell crab with black vinegar and Hanger in Santa Monica for sation,” Cailan told the Asian fermented broad bean; lumpia lunches and dinners by highJournal. “For us, to actually do sariwa (a take on the fresh profile chefs to food tastings something to where people Filipino spring roll with brown paired with hundreds of wine know, ‘Hey we’re Filipino, we’re rice flour crepe, black kale, samples. on the billboards, we’re on the maitake mushrooms); kesong Of course, a festival showmarketing’ not because of PR... puti dumplings (uni ginataan, casing the LA food landscape but because we’re persistent chicken skin chicharon, and couldn’t be without Filipino and we work hard to promote sorrel); turbot (a flatfish) in dry cuisine. our culture through our food.” chili paste; and pork belly with For the first night on Valencia, along with his eggplant, bagoong, vegetables Wednesday, two Filipino dinners brother Chase, helms LASA, and ampalaya powder. kicked off the fest — one by which was named one of Food The meal ended with their Chad Valencia and Jon Yao and & Wine’s Best Restaurants of take on the shaved ice dessert, the other presented by Barb 2018. (LASA was a series of halo halo.

Batiste (Big Boi/B Sweet Dessert monthly pop-ups before it beKababayan spirit at Big Boi On the other side of the city in West LA, Cailan and Batiste closed down the latter’s Big Boi for the dinner.

Cailan — the LA-native chef whose portfolio includes Eggslut, Amboy, and Unit 120 — moved to New York to do a series of pop-ups that spawned into the Usual, an American comfort food restaurant that has some Filipino influences on its menu. For him, his participation in this year’s LAF&W was like a “homecoming.”

The two chefs, who first met at LAFW five years ago, have both presented alongside each A lucky winner (center) of a roundtrip ticket and hotel stay in the Philippines joins Philippine Departother at prestigious culinary ment of Tourism - LA attaché Richmond Jimenez, Chef Barb Batiste, Chef Alvin Cailan, Philippine gatherings like Pebble Beach Airlines Area Manager Michelle Narvaez, Catherine Cruz, and Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz.

Food & Wine but never had the The raffle was announced after Batiste and Cailan’s dinner on Wednesday, August 22 at Big Boi in West chance to do something collabLA as a kick-off for the LA Food & Wine Festival. orative until this year.

“Chef Barb is truly like one of my best friends,” Cailan shared with dinner guests. He added that the menu is “a shine of who we are…[and] our friendship.”

Batiste, who has a background as a pastry chef, first opened B Sweet Dessert Bar on Sawtelle Avenue four years ago, garnering praise for her bread puddings, halo halo, and ice cream donut sandwiches. Earlier this January, she launched Big Boi just a few doors down as a tribute to her late father Angel and classic Filipino dishes she grew up eating.

“You walk into Big Boi and Chefs Alvin Cailan (The Usual) and Barb Batiste (Big Boi/B Sweet) teamed up for a family-style the first thing you read on the Filipino dinner for LAF&W. wall is, ‘What is Filipino food?’ because people always ask.

You can’t really compare it to anything. I always tell people, ‘if you like really flavorful food, then you’re probably going to end up loving it,’” she told the Asian Journal.

With a four-course, familystyle meal, the pair intended to show that Filipino food is about sharing. A few of the tables were occupied by guests who didn’t know one another, but by having that communal Batiste’s halo halo and turon bread pudding experience, they could “see what kababayan means,” Cailan added.

Spanning about three hours, it started off with Batiste’s pan de sal and ube butter (which has the consistency and deep purple color similar to ube halaya, a mashed jam version of the yam).

Next came hiramasa kinilaw by Calian using kingfish, coconutcalamansi vinaigrette, lemongrass, cilantro and Thai chili.

The dishes he prepared were meant to be “half educational, half comfort food,” especially the kinilaw because Batiste’s kare kare (peanut stew with oxtail and vegetables) he has spent the past year or so preaching that the seafood dish, ceviche as its known in other countries, originated in the Philippines.

“It was in the 1500s with the first documented recipe, which was way before anyone from Chile or Peru who claimed to have invented ceviche,” Cailan said. “I’ve been on this soapbox proclaiming that seafood cooked with acid is our thing and they can’t take that away from us because that’s the truth.”

The heartiest dish of the Kristine de la Cruz (Créme Caramel / FrankieLucy night was Batiste’s kare kare Bakeshop) presented her purple yam pavlova at (peanut stew with oxtail and the Lexus Grand Tasting at the Barker Hangar in Cailan made a version of kilawin with chicharon vegetables) paired with white Santa Monica on Saturday, August 25. at the kick-off dinner on Wednesday, August 22. rice and bagoong (shrimp paste). Everything was made from scratch, Batiste said, mirroring how her family prepared it.

“With Alvin in New York and me being here in LA, I told him what I wanted to make and in turn, he kind of paired it. I did the very savory thing and then Batiste’s homemade pan de sal and ube butter, he did something for the next which she had at her dinner on Wednesday, Cailain’s tokwat baboy — crispy pork belly with course that was so different August 22 and at the Ultimates Bites event on crispy tofu from the course beforehand,” Thursday, August 23.

by Christina

M. Oriel / AJPress

Cailan and Chef Antonia Lofaso hosted “Ultimate Bites LA” in Downtown LA on Thursday, August 23. Batiste was one of the presenting chefs with her pan de sal and ube butter.

AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

Chef Ross Pangilinan’s pork ravioli in adobo broth

De la Cruz’s pavolva paired well with a chilled rosé.

Batiste’s pork adobo and longanisa with garlic fried rice at the LAF&W’s Lexus Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, August 25.

Chocolatier Tonet Tibay

Chef Ross Pangilinan

she said.

The last savory plate was Cailan’s take on tokwa’t baboy, crispy pork belly with crispy tofu, which he considers his “favorite snack and drinking food.” In a somewhat healthier manner, his version was topped with cucumbers and tomatoes.

Lastly, Batiste put her sweet touch with a dessert mini sampler of turon bread pudding, ube cheesecake, and halo halo.

The night ended with everyone satiated, but one guest, in particular, left with something extra: two round-trip tickets to the Philippines, a culinary tour for two and a hotel stay. The prize was raffled off courtesy of the Philippine Department of Tourism — Los Angeles, represented by attaché Richmond Jimenez, and Philippine Airlines area manager Michelle Narvaez.

Filipino bites On Thursday night, Cailan and Antonia Lofaso — who has appeared on Top Chef and various Food Network shows — hosted the tasting event “Ultimate Bites LA” ($225 for VIP; $175 for general) on Grand Avenue in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dishes from 23 chefs and hundreds of wine and cocktail options were for available for consumption.

Batiste also had her pan de sal and ube butter at the event, while Cailan whipped up pozole verde con pulpo.

Other standout dishes included: the bay scallop with yuzu, burnt orange and poppy seeds by Nickolas Erven of Rappahannock Oyster Bar; Wagyu beef “Philly cheesesteak” from Holly Jivin of The Bazaar by José Andres; and the summer truffle slider by Gregg Wiele of Patina.

Guests were invited to

place the votes for their favorite “bite,” as the chef with the most votes will be featured at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April 2019.

By Saturday came one of the festival’s culminating events, the Lexus Grand Tasting at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica ($225 for VIP; $175 for general), featuring over 25 chefs.

Batiste yet again was present with pork two ways, adobo and longanisa with garlic friend rice, and her nitro cold brew coffee.

Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar (named 2017 restaurant of the year by Orange Coast Magazine) in Santa Ana had pork ravioli in adobo broth with pickled chili and crispy shallots. It was a resounding hit, with the dish being picked up by guests so quickly and many dubbing it as one of their favorites that day.

Pangilinan — whose impressive background includes Michelin-starred Les Trois Marches in Versailles and sous chef at Patina — is set to introduce Terrace by Mix Mix at the South Coast Plaza this fall, which will have French, Italian and Filipino influences, tapas style.

On the sweeter side, two Fil-Am chefs presented small dessert bites.

Kristine de la Cruz of Créme Caramel LA in Sherman Oaks and FrankieLucy Bakeshop in Silver Lake had her “purple yam pavlova” (ube custard, meringue dollop and brûléed graham cracker on top).

De la Cruz — who began her venture with custard and leche flan — has continuously been a vocal advocate for Filipino flavors, by incorporating them into her desserts, whether

it’s ube or macapuno.

Tonet Tibay of Marti Chocolatt presented Frenchstyle chocolates infused with ingredients from the Philippines, like pandan, calamansi, and pili nuts.

It was her fifth year participating in LAF&W, as she usually does catering and special events.

Growing up in the Philippines, Tibay had an aunt who grew chocolate on her farm in Cavite, which her mom would turn into “champurado.”

Her chocolate creations have received accolades, including Best Chocolatiers in America by The International Chocolate Salon from 2010 to 2018 and Best Artisan Chocolate for Gift Giving by Forbes.

As evidenced by Fil-Am chefs participating in major food gatherings and successfully opening their own ventures, the Filipino food movement continues to show that it is beyond a fad.

Beyond cuisine champions like the late Anthony Bourdain and Jonathan Gold, however, Cailan said it’s up to the FilAm community to ensure the sustainability of Filipino cuisine nationwide.

“I don’t cook for anybody else but my people and if my people don’t support me and they don’t propel us to the next level, we’ll never get there even if we win some type of Top Chef or whatever. That’s fickle,” he said. “The solidarity of our people and support [are] what [will] bring us forward and will have us have Filipino food as a staple or as a mainstay like sushi, Pad Thai, or pho. If we want to be considered that style of an impact, then our people really have to support us.”

entertainment

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 29, 2018

Morisette Amon’s rise to diva stardom

her and start anew. Soon, her moment of being in the right Philstar.com place at the right time came.

That explains her moniker, Asia’s MORISETTE Amon belongs Phoenix. Like the mythical bird, to that circle of new Original Morissette was able to rise Pilipino Music (OPM) divas. and bounce back to chase her Her inclusion perhaps banks on dream. the fact that her vocal chops “I’m enjoying it,” she said captivate one’s attention and her of singing and why it didn’t give storyteller perspective comes up on her, too. “Let’s say if I’m from a sincere place. It’s safe to just doing it for the money or assume that they are the same qualities that have endeared her anything else of the like, mabilis maghanap ng reason na ‘wag to music enthusiasts here and nang ipagpatuloy. I’m doing it abroad. because I really enjoy it and I feel Before finally making a dent that I’m making more people in the recording industry, Morishappy and I’m able to help my sette has had her fair share of family.” detours and stops. Her journey With that, Morissette has has never been a walk in the become a reliable young singer, park.

“It is kinda funny. I had many who can do the Mariah Carey whistle. “Actually, I’ve had moments when I thought it was thoughts that sometimes I feel over,” Morissette looked back like that if I don’t do it or I don’t on her musical journey with The hit that whistle, I will be disapStar in an interview, following pointing people,” shared Moristhe standard roundtable (with sette. “There are times (when) I media) and group (first with feel that way. But (by doing that) broadcast, then with print).

“Pero hindi pa pala (but it wasn’t comes my being authentic or it is part of me as an artist.” the end yet). I won’t deny that The whistle and the vocal I had moments… (when) I felt break leading to it, Morissette like I didn’t have a place in the said, have become her stamp music industry and I didn’t have and style. “I don’t wanna do it a chance. Just when I gave up just for the sake of doing it but I (on my singing career dream), do it because it is what the song may dumating (there came an requires and the way I want to opportunity).” do it. I feel something is missing Let’s do a quick backtrack: in my performance if I don’t do Morissette joined TV5’s “Star it.” Although she does it with Factor” and finished it with great ease and confidence, runner-up honors. This led her Morissette never forgets her to becoming a Kapatid actress. core as a singer: That of being “But the network didn’t have a storyteller. “In a way, I’m a a platform for singers at that storyteller because I also choose time,” shared Morissette. “So, the songs I want (thinking) that I needed to earn for my family people (can) relate (to me and and it was the reason why I entered (showbiz). It was very brief. my songs)... Gusto ko (yung songs) na may message din,” I was enjoying it but (acting) is not my passion. I wanted to fight she said.

Fans will experience that for what I really wanted to be.

So, when ‘The Voice’ came, nag- singer-storyteller in Morissette when she shares the concert go kami (we took the chance). stage with Lani Misalucha, Asia’s I was happy that TV5 gave its Nightingale, in A Lani Morissette blessing.”

— Musical Journey on Sept. 22 Given her belter nature, and 23 at The Theatre at Solaire.

Morissette gave fellow “The Voice” artists a run for their mon- Although the two try to keep mum about what to expect, one ey and the public a showcase.

During the semis, Morissette got can assume of a show featuring Lani and Morissette’s personal voted out. “I didn’t win,” she hits, favorites, collaborations and recalled, “and I thought baka surprise song choices that narhanggang duon na lang. (Then) rate their tales as artists. we decided to move forward.”

Aside from the Solaire Resort Part of that was to continue & Casino show, Morissette has singing, put everything behind

by Jerry

Donato

Morissette Amon never forgets her core as a singer: That of being a storyteller.

Philstar.com photo

something up her sleeve for fans. “Amidst all the traveling (I make), I’m trying to make new music,” she said. “Hopefully, it will be out very, very soon.

Ayaw ko kasing maiwan yung mga tracks, yun yung mag-stay talaga, aside from the performances and live shows, yung music (I want to focus on recording tracks because they, as well as the music, are ones that will stay).” All this boils down to the fact that the singer has made her niche and found her voice.

Morissette is grateful for that.

Her success does not rest on her shoulders alone. It’s a collaborative project with dedicated people in it.

“I think it’s a big factor that I’m with my family because they keep me grounded,” she said on how to handle fame. “Oh yes, sometimes, I feel guilty of that… (that’s when) I appreciate people who are true to me, they really tell me (the truth). I have my family, my friends, my management (team)… I’m grateful to have people like (them).”

Asked how she maintains her vocal power and keeps her love for music strong, Morissette said: “I think (I’m) just being true to myself,” she said. “If I was just following a certain (path), I think I would eventually break away from it. As I have shared, it’s a big factor that I’m enjoying it (singing) as an artist. We, artists, have that thing that we really like to reinvent ourselves but at the same time, we don’t want to lose who we really are in our craft.“

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 29, 2018

Barbie couldn’t ask for more in life

by CHRISTINA

ALPAD ManilaTimes.net

AT an age when most young adults are still trying to achieve that balance between career and personal life, Barbie Forteza unabashedly declares she has attained hers.

Without sounding full of herself, the actress sweetly told The Manila Times, “Napaka-saya ko ngayon—kumbaga #goals [a popular social media slang which connotes a status people aspire for] na ako pagdating sa trabaho at sa personal na buhay.”

While people might raise an eyebrow at this statement— after all, she is only 21 years old and has only been in show business for eight years— Forteza gratefully points to the success of her ongoing prime time series “Inday Will Always Love You.” Real-life Happylou A romantic comedy series produced by GMA News and Public Affairs, “Inday Will Always Love You” sees Forteza playing Happylou, a bubbly and optimistic girl whose life takes a turn when she leaves Manila in search for her father in Cebu. She finds work as an assistant at a lechon store, but still does her best to stay positive.

The actress admitted that among the characters she had the privilege of portraying, Happylou was one of those she had been most excited for. In fact, she looked forward to the shooting days even before the cameras started rolling.

“Portraying Happylou is very personal to me kasi napaka-positive niyang tao, napakamasayahin at saka wala siyang arte. Ako sa totoong buhay, gusto ko ring makuha yung ganung klase ng character,” she intimated.

And now, three months into the show, Happylou’s optimistic attitude has already infected Forteza.

Barbie Forteza with real-life boyfriend Jak Roberto.

Paulo Avelino learns interesting facts about Gregorio del Pilar

by ALFRED

BAYLE Inqurier.net

Paulo Avelino learned a great deal of historical facts about Gregorio del Pilar when he prepared for his role in the upcoming historical epic “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.”

The actor said many of the facts he learned came from books and the movie’s script.

“Hindi ko alam na may gold tooth si Goyo (I didn’t know Goyo had a gold tooth),” said Avelino in a report by Push.

Avelino also noted how many of his personal discoveries about Del Pilar’s past were not included in the movie. However, he affirmed his awareness of Del Pilar’s theorized mistresses due to accounts from the historical figure’s relatives.

“Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” was directed by Jerrold Tarog and is a sequel to his previous historical film “Heneral Luna.” The movie, which “Along the way, lalo na pag nasa set kapag at hindi ko pa scene, minsan nagiging Happylou na rin ako, yung pagpapatawa ko ganun na rin katulad sa kanya. Pero nakakatuwa yun kasi ibig sabihin Happylou is already very close to my heart.”

Understandably, Barbie— and the Happylou in her—is ecstatic the show has been extended for another season.

Reason for celebration

Photo from Instagram/@barbaraforteza

MITA’S KITCHEN MARINADES AND SAUCES: Making food delicious with love from our family to yours

by JEFF

In our family, we call our grandmas “Mita.” It is a term of endearment given to all grandmothers in our family.

Coming from a family with a passion for cooking (my and mom and her sisters — the Gamboa clan from Pampanga

GAMBOA LAPRADEZ

— are all good cooks) and gathering together, we recognized that Mita’s affection towards her grandchildren could be found in the simple act of preparing home cooked meals, using only fresh and natural ingredients that’s

good for you.Food has always been the center of our gatherings, and every gettogether is not complete without lots and lots of Filipino food — maybe even too much! This loving gesture has been the key in the passing down of recipes from generation to generation, allowing Mita’s love and great tasting food to be shared for years to come.

Founded in 2012, Mita’s Kitchen marinades and sauces has built its brand around AUTHENTICITY, QUALITY and INNOVATION. Mita’s Kitchen simmer sauces are simple to use and takes the guesswork out of cooking.

Mita’s Kitchen marinades

are unique and flavorful. From the grill to the table, your family will surely enjoy it.

Mita’s Kitchen products are 100 percent MADE IN THE U.S.A with ALL NATURAL, PREMIUM INGREDIENTS and NO MSG. After all you would only want the best for your family!

People from all cultures could agree that fond memories of their childhood and family are often associated with food. Mita’s Kitchen provides food products reminiscent of grandma’s delicious home

Photo from Facebook/@GoyoAngBatangHeneral

took over a year to make, tells the story of Gregorio del Pilar, who was the youngest general during the Philippine-American war. He died in the Battle of Tirad Pass. The film will be released in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 5.

Avelino said the film should build a stronger sense of national identity among Filipinos by getting to know the country’s history. It would also serve as a reminder of past mistakes and a push to fix those mistakes.

In the coming weeks, viewers can look forward to bigger revelations and new characters in the series, portrayed by Jean Garcia, Kyline Alcantara, and Kim Domingo.

The last season ended when Amanda (Gladys Reyes) successfully amassed everything that Philip (Ricky Davao) owns, forcing Happylou and her family to return to Manila and start over.

As they rebuild a new life this season, Philip is reunited with Florence, an “old flame”(Garcia), who will help him put up a small business.

Philip’s girlfriend Marta (Manilyn Reynes), however, feels threatened.

As a love triangle ensues between Florence and Marta, viewers will be treated to funny banter and explosive catfights between the two senior actresses.

“I think nakuha namin yung kiliti ng tao kaya kami na-extend, kasi we tackle current events and other issues—from demolition to bagyo and baha—kaya nakaka-relate lahat ng tao,” Forteza offered when The Manila Times asked for their recipe in winning the audience and even the social

media.

“Tapos yung visuals, napaka-ganda and yung bawat character very relatable at kapag relevant sa viewers ang characters, madaling makacapture ng show ang puso ng mga tao,” the actress added.

Happy heart Beyond the set, Forteza is also a picture of happiness what with her ongoing romance with former screen partner and now real-life boyfriend, Jak Roberto.

As of late, the two Kapuso stars have been more open about their relationship, posting their sweet moments for their millions of followers to see.

And while she claims that work is still her focus, Forteza admitted it doesn’t hurt to have some time for the heart.

“Sa ngayon, masasabi kong nasa stage ako ng buhay na wala na akong mahihingi pa. Ang showbiz, alam naman nating magulo yan, na kahit walang mali sa iyo hahanapan ka nila ng mali but surprisingly walang nangingi-alam, walang namba-bash, walang humahadlang, walang problema, so sobrang saya ko lang!” she ended.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 29, 2018

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 29, 2018