091119 - Southern California Midweek Edition

September 11-13, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 71 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Criminal investigation is underway over deadly Santa Cruz Island boat fire that killed 34, including Fil-Am family The Labor Day tragedy becomes one of California’s worst maritime disasters

US: Chinese political, economic ties eroding sovereignty of nations

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

THE political and economic leverage that China has on several nations has virtually begun to “erode” their sovereignty, the United States de-

fense secretary said.

During his trip to the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he saw how China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative is manifesting itself throughout the region.

“The more dependent a country

becomes on Chinese investment and trade, the more susceptible they are to coercion and retribution when they act outside of Beijing’s wishes,” the Pentagon chief recently said at London’s Royal United Services Institute.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a

AFTER the tragic Labor Day fire on the diving vessel Conception that claimed 34 victims, a joint investigation conducted by federal and state authorities has gone underway, a law enforcement source said on Monday, Sept. 9.

Initial reporting from the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press said that the Dept. of Justice; the Coast Guard; the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investivation. The criminal probe follows a search of the company that owns the 75-foot vessel, Truth Aquatics, on Sunday, September 8.

“No criminal charges have been filed at this time,” a source close to the investigation told Reuters on Monday.

According to the Times, the investigation will center around the possible safety measures that could have either prevented the fire or mitigated the scope of the tragedy.

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In this Sept. 2, 2019 photo, then-Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance law.

Philstar.com photo by Mong Pintolo

NOT ANYMORE

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PSA: Filipina overseas workers outnumber males

A SURVEY by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released earlier this summer showed that an estimated number of 2.3 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) worked abroad at anytime during the period April to September 2018.

Of the 2.3 million, female OFWs comprised 55.8 percent of the total number.

Additionally, female OFWs were generally younger than male OFWs, with about 47.5 percent of the female OFWs belonging to the age group 25 to 34 years. Male OFWs in the same age group, on the other hand, made up 38.9 percent.

Male OFWs aged 45 years and older comprised 21.2 percent of all male OFWs while the female OFWs in this age group accounted for 14.5 percent.

The survey also revealed an increase in the number of OFWs in elementary occupations, rising to 37.1 percent and making it the biggest among occupation groups of OFWs. Other large occupation groups included the service and sales workers (18.8 percent) and plant and machine operators and assemblers (13.8 percent).

global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in several continents.

STATE VISIT. President Rodrigo Duterte hosts a state banquet for Republic of Singapore President Halimah Yacob at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, September 9. Yacob, Singapore’s first female president, is in the Philippines for a five-day state visit.

Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo

Sison mocks PNP arrest threat: ‘Extradition my foot’

by DELFIN

MALLARI Inquirer.net

JR

“EXTRADITION my foot.”

This was the mocking reply of exiled Philippine communist leader Jose Maria Sison to the Philippine National Police’s statement that it was seeking the help of the International Criminal Police Cooperation (Interpol) to arrest Sison.

Sison, in an online interview from his base in Utrecht, the Netherlands on Tuesday, September 10, said the Philippine government has no authority to have him arrested because he was a Philippine communist leader Jose Maria Sison Inquirer.net photo “recognized political refugee.” u PAGE A2

Duterte won’t reappoint Faeldon: He’s now hired by a ‘private corporation’

by DARRYL JOHN

ESGUERRA

Inquirer.net

Also, he said, the Philippines and the Netherlands do not have an extradition treaty that would make it possible for the Duterte administration to bring him back to the Philippines.

He added that the Netherland government was likely to reject any attempt by the Philippine government to arrest him “not to speak of the bad reputation of the Duterte regime as human rights violator and mass murderer.”

Sison and other Philippine communist rebel leaders had been charged with the killing of supposed spies in the 1980s in a case that was breathed new life

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has shot down speculations that he is likely to reappoint yet again axed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon.

On Tuesday, September 10, the president said Faeldon was already hired by “a private corporation,” thus, ruling out possibilities that he would be reappointed again to another government post by Duterte.

“Hindi na siguro. May tumanggap na sa kanya (Maybe now. He’s being hired by private corporation) private corporation,” Duterte said when asked if he will reappoint Faeldon.

Duterte fired Faeldon following the controversy on the release of heinous crimes convicts on the basis of “good behavior.”

But the president also said he still trusts Faeldon whom he called an “upright man.”

Duterte first appointed as chief of the Bureau of Customs, where he served from June 2016 to August 2017.

He was relieved from his post after P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs entered the country through the Manila International Container Port.

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‘No action’ yet as PET finishes ballot count in Marcos poll protest African swine fever reaches the Philippines

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

THE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has not yet taken any action despite finishing the recount of ballots concerned in the electoral protest of defeated vice presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The tribunal announced on Tuesday, September 10, that it concluded the recount and revision in the three pilot provinces — Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental — that Marcos had identified.

The recount on the three provinces, which involved 5,415 election precincts, started in April 2018.

According to the tribunal, member-incharge Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa submitted a report on the revision of ballots Vice President Leni Robredo and former Sen. Bongbong Marcos

Inquirer.net photo

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Health officials assure public that pork meat still safe for consumption

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PH Agriculture chief William Dar ManilaTimes.net photo

THE Department of Agriculture on Monday, September 9, confirmed that the African swine fever was the cause of death of pigs in some parts of the Philippines, but quickly reassured that pork in the country remains safe for human consumption.

According to Agriculture chief William Dar, 14 out of the 20 blood samples of dead pigs from

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A September 11-13, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

US: Chinese political, economic...

PAGE A1

The BRI, seen as the center of China’s economic diplomacy, includes helping countries build infrastructure and facilities.

Esper also warned of the Chinese economic power and Russian aggression and their threats to global security. “(We) cannot stand idly by

while authoritarian nations attempt to reshape the global security environment to their favor at the expense of others,” Esper said.

He said this influence ultimately trickles down to the security arena, and leads countries to make sub-optimal defense decisions in fear of upsetting the Chi-

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper Photo from the U.S. Defense Dept.

nese Communist Party and being punished through economic measures or political backlash.

The defense chief added that China has stolen technology to push forward military gains.

Indeed, every Chinese company has the potential to be an accomplice in Beijing’s statesponsored theft of other nations’ military and civilian technology,” he added.

Esper said Chinese companies also pose a risk to the secure and resilient telecommunications infrastructure on which U.S. allies and partners depend for interoperability, intelligence sharing and mobilization. n

‘No action’ yet as PET finishes...

PAGE A1 last Monday, September 9.

Following this advisory, the PET reminded the camps of Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo that they are still subject to the subjudice rule.

“Hence, they are strictly ordered to refrain from making any public statements to the media with regard to the case,” the tribunal said.

Last year, both Marcos and Robredo were fined P50,000 each for violating the court’s subjudice rule when they disclosed information to the public about the ongoing election recount.

Under the subjudice rule, both parties are not allowed to discuss information in their pending cases. n

Colorful lanterns are on display along Aguinaldo Highway in Dasmarinas, Cavite on Monday, September 9. September is the start of the “ber” months where Filipinos began their early countdown to Christmas, one of the longest and most important occasion in the country.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Duterte won’t reappoint Faeldon...

PAGE A1

ber 2017 until October 2018.

Duterte then appointed him to Subsequently, Faeldon was the Office of Civil Defense, where named BuCor Director-General he served as deputy administra- in November 2018. But Duterte tor for operations from Decem- sacked him in the wake of pub-

lic uproar against the impending release of convicted rapist-murderer, former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, last September 4. n

Sison mocks PNP arrest threat: ‘Extradition...

PAGE A1 when a Manila court issued an arrest order for them.

But Sison said the charge against him must go through due process in the Netherlands “with my rights to be informed of the charge, to have counsel and to ask for judicial review.”

“For the charge to be valid, the alleged crime must have been committed in The Netherlands,” he said.

“My points here are sustained by previous court decisions in the Netherlands at the highest level of the judicial system,” he said.

Sison said his panel of legal counsels “can easily debunk the charge which refers to a fabricated incident in 1985.”

“Duterte and his military nincompoops are just doing psywar about something that they do not know anything about,” he said.

“Extradition, my foot!” Sison said as he taunted the government efforts to force him to return to the Philippines to face the criminal cases against him.

“I am protected by the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights’,” he added.

Earlier, PNP Chief Oscar Al-

bayalde announced that the Philippine police were seeking the help of Interpol to arrest Sison.

Albayalde said the PNP, through the Philippine Center of Transnational Crimes, is coordinating with Interpol for the issuance of a “red notice” for Sison’s arrest.

A red notice is an international alert for a fugitive and is considered to be a valid request for provisional arrest by Interpol, according to Albayalde.

Sison and his wife Juliet have been living in the Netherlands as political refugees for more than three decades now. n

fever, depression, loss of appetite, redness of ears, abdomen, and legs, vomiting, and diarrhea that may lead to death.

The DA stressed that, while ASF is confirmed to have reached the country, the Philippines is not in an epidemic stage.

Dar also said that as long as the hogs passed through the proper process of slaughtering and preparation as approved by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), pork is safe to eat.

“The public should not fear eating pork,” he said.

Dar, along with other agriculture and health officials, as well as hog stakeholders, and members of the private sector had a boodle fight of different pork dishes for breakfast at the DA headquarters in Quezon City to prove pork and processed pork meat were safe for human consumption.

“We hope the public will understand, as we have shown today during the boodle fight, it is safe [to eat pork],” Dar said.

The Department of Health, for its part, gave assurance that ASF does not pose any risk on human health, reiterating that as long as meat was “thoroughly” cooked, it is safe.

“We want to allay the fears of the public by saying that, as long as pork is bought from reliable sources and it is cooked thoroughly, pork is safe to eat,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo also said there is no reason to be alarmed.

“I think there is no need to worry considering the DA secretary has not cautioned us not to avoid or not to eat, or to avoid,” Panelo said. n

African swine fever reaches the...

PAGE A1

some areas in Rizal tested positive for ASF virus based on tests conducted in the United Kingdom.

“Out of the 20 blood samples, 14 are positive with African swine fever,” Dar said in a press briefing.

“We continue to monitor, even beyond the 10-kilometer radius.

So far, so good. No incidents,” he added.

ASF, a highly contagious viral disease among domestic and wild pigs, has no cure and no vaccine.

The Philippine Star reported that mortality rates of ASF are as high as 100 percent.

The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs, ingestion of contaminated materials such as food waste, feed or garbage, or contaminated fomites or biological vectors. Infected hogs may experience high

PSA: Filipina overseas workers outnumber...

PAGE A1 According to PSA, 58.7 percent of female OFWs were in elementary occupations.

Cause-oriented group Lilac Center for Public Interest (Lilac) noted that the rising number of young female workers in elementary occupations, many of them were not able to finish their elementary or high school education, had led to abuse and maltreatment.

“The data on women domestic workers falling into distress and becoming victims of abuse is alarming, given that Filipino migrant labor is now steadily being feminized,” said Nicon

Fameronag, Lilac president.

He called for the revival of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (Tesda) training regulations for the Domestic Work National Certificate (NC) 2, to reinforce the educational attainment requirement for domestic work trainees, and to stop the deployment of those with knowledge, language and skills deficiency.

According to Fameronag, this requirement and must go handin-hand with Tesda’s strict implementation of training before assessment, particularly for those who are first-time domestic workers, including the

enforcement of the rule that a domestic worker trainee must present a training certificate before assessment.

“Tesda’s implementation of the Domestic Work NC 2 training regulations has become lax to the point that instead of a full, no nonsense two-week training, many domestic workers now receive the so-called ‘one-day enhancement training’ package in assessment centers, where they are given a 100-percent assurance that they can receive a National Certificate 2 on domestic work the next day,” Lilac said. (Ritchel Mendiola/APress)

Criminal investigation is underway over deadly Santa...

PAGE A1 Early reports of the investigation found that among those safety deficiencies included the lack of a “roaming night watchman,” which is required in the event of any dangers while at sea.

Authorities have suggested that smoke inhalation was “likely” the cause of death for the 34 victims. The Santa Barbara Coroner’s Office decided to forgo the traditional autopsies and instead ordered DNA analysis to identify the bodies.

On Monday, September 2, the boat was anchored about 20 yards away from Santa Cruz Island caught fire at around 3:15 a.m., according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Including the ship’s crew, there were 39 people on board at the time of the fire.

Emergency services responded to the scene quickly with firefighters battling the blaze as the ship sank 64 feet, officials reported.

Five crew members of the Conception were able to escape the destruction by jumping overboard after which a nearby boat

Victims of the Conception dive boat fire (L-R): Evanmichael Solano, Angela Rose Quitasol, Michael Quitasol, Fernisa Sison, Nicole Storm Quitasol. Christina Quitasol, far right, was not aboard the boat.

rescued them; one of the escapees suffered a broken leg.

But the tragedy claimed the lives of 34 people in what is now considered one of the worst maritime disasters in California history As previously reported in the Asian Journal, Filipino American Michael Quitasol, 63, was on the boat with his wife Fernisa Sison, 57, and Quitasol’s three daughters from a previous mar-

riage: Evanmichel, 37; Nicole, 31 and Angela Rose, 28. The family of five had been celebrating Quitasol’s 63rd birthday on the boat.

As the massive investigation continues to progress, the FBI is seeking help from anyone who may have information. Those who may have information are urged to call (800) CALL-FBI. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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DATELINE USA

‘WE WIN AS ONE’. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Vince Dizon, and Senator Pia Cayetano pose for a photo opportunity at the Aquatics Center, New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The newly built facility recently got accreditation from Fédération internationale de natation (FINA), the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competition in water sports.

Photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Pia Cayetano

Number of Americans without insurance rises in 2018

by PHIL

GALEWITZ Kaiser Health News

FOR the first time in a decade, the number of Americans without health insurance has risen — by about 2 million people in 2018 — according to the annual U.S. Census Bureau report released on Tuesday, September 10.

The Census found that 8.5% of the U.S. population went without medical insurance for all of 2018, up from 7.9% in 2017. By contrast, in 2013, before the Affordable Care Act took full effect, 13.3% were uninsured. It was the first year-to-year increase since 2008-09, Census officials said.

Census officials said most of drop in health coverage was related to a 0.7% decline in Medicaid participants. The number of people with private insurance remained steady and there was a 0.4% increase in those on Medicare.

The increase in the number of uninsured people in 2018 was remarkable because uninsured rates typically fall or hold steady when unemployment rates drop.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell slightly from about 4.3% in 2017 to 4% in 2018.

The uninsured rate continued to vary by poverty status and whether a state expanded its

Medicaid program under Obamacare. Texas (17.7%), Oklahoma (14.2%), Georgia (13.7%) and Florida (13%) had the highest uninsured rates in 2018, according to the report. None of those states have expanded Medicaid under Obamacare.

The percentage of uninsured children under the age of 19 increased by 0.6 percentage points from 2017 to 2018, to 5.5%.

“The Census data are clear — the uninsured rate for kids is up sharply and it’s due to a loss of public coverage — mostly Medicaid,” Joan Alker, executive director of Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said in a statement.

“These children are not getting private coverage as the Trump Administration has suggested but rather becoming uninsured,” she said. “This serious erosion of children’s health coverage is due in large part to the Trump Administration’s actions that have made health care harder to access and have deterred families from enrolling their children.”

The share of Americans without medical insurance fell steadily since 2014 but then leveled off in 2017, the year Donald Trump became president.

Health care advocates have complained that efforts by the Trump administration and Con-

gress are jeopardizing insurance enrollment. They point to cuts in outreach programs that aim to tell consumers about their health care options under Obamacare and the elimination of the ACA’s tax penalty for people who don’t have health coverage.

Alker complained that the administration’s policies are causing the loss of children’s coverage. “In a period of continued economic and job growth, we shouldn’t be going backwards on health coverage,” said Judy Solomon, a senior fellow for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. “This backsliding almost certainly reflects, at least in part, Trump administration policies to weaken public health coverage.”

She attributed the drop to the Trump administration making it harder for families to enroll for coverage in Medicaid by curtailing outreach efforts, allowing states to ask for more paperwork and proposing a so-called public charge rule that would make it harder for legal immigrants to get permanent resident status if they have received certain kinds of public assistance — including Medicaid.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. ■

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WHO calls for intensified campaign vs cervical cancer “We need to scale up both our capacities and quality for screenPhilstar.com ing, treatment services and palTo eliminate cervical cancer in liative care,” WHo Southeast Asia the Philippines and other coun- regional director Poonam Khetratries in Southeast Asia by 2030, pal Singh said. the World Health organization Vaccination against HPV, early (WHo) is pushing for an intensi- detection and prompt treatment of fied human papillomavirus (HPV) early invasive cancers and palliaimmunization. tive care are proven effective stratThe WHo stressed the need for egies to address cervical cancer, all countries in the region to ex- according to Singh. pand vaccination, screening and He said member countries treatment to curb the rising cases should work toward a target of 90 of cervical cancer. percent of girls fully inoculated

by Mayen JayMalin

Dateline PhiliPPines

with the HPV vaccine by age 15.

He added that Southeast Asian countries should also be able to screen 75 percent of women who are 35 and 45 years old and 90 percent of women identified with the cervical disease should receive treatment and care by 2030.

“It is necessary to include these by aJPress services in the essential services packages toward universal health coverage to meet the targets,” ombudSmAn Samuel marSingh said. tires on Tuesday, September 10, Cervical cancer is considered a suspended the bureau of CorrecPAGE A5 tions (buCor) legal chief and two other buCor executives as the investigation into the anomalies surrounding the good conduct eign direct investments, which, time allowance law continues. martires gave out three sepashe said, have persistently rerate orders that imposed six mained at low levels.

Garin also quelled fears against months of preventive suspenallowing foreign skilled profes- sions without pay on buCor legal sionals to work in our country, chief Fredric Santos, Technical citing Filipinos’ ability to com- Superintendent maria Fe marpete overseas and the Profes- quez, and Correctional officer III sional Regulation Commission’s Joel nalva.

“This office finds that the evisafeguards on professions. “by working with profession- dence in the form of testimonies als from more advanced coun- of witnesses and public docutries, Filipinos gain fresh perspectives and new knowledge, broadening the skills set they PAGE A5

Ombudsman metes out suspension of BuCor legal chief, 2 other execs

House OKs bill allowing more foreigners to practice profession in PH THE House of Representatives gave its nod to a bill allowing more foreigners to practice their profession in the country and lowering the direct local hires required of foreign investors.

Voting 201-6, the chamber favored House bill no. 300 that will amend Republic Act no.

7042 or the Foreign Investment Act of 1997 if enacted into law.

Seven lawmakers abstained.

The bill amends Section 4 of RA 7042 to exclude the “practice of professions” from the coverage of the foreign invest-

ment negative list, which identifies economic areas or sectors where foreign participation is restricted or banned.

It also lowers the employment threshold from 50 to 15 direct employees for small and medium-sized enterprises established by foreign investors with a minimum paid-up capital of u.S.$100,000.

In her sponsorship speech of the bill, House economic reform committee chair and AAmbISoWA Rep. Sharon Garin said the measure would attract more for-

ments showing the anomalous release of prisoners convicted of heinous crimes/offenses, appear to be strong,” martires said.

It was found that marquez was the one who signed the release orders for three convicts in the Chiong sisters murder case on August 16 while then-buCor chief nicanor Faeldon was out of town. meanwhile, Santos was grilled by the Senate blue ribbon committee on his role in relaying to Faeldon the information about department of Justice order 953, which states that the justice secretary is the final approving authority for the release of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment.

Santos before a Senate inquiry said that he did, however, back-

tracked when Faeldon denied this.

As reported by Rappler, preventive suspension is the usual first act of the office of the ombudsman during an investigation. The eventual acts concern administrative charges which may result in dismissal from the service, and criminal investigation which may result in the filing of charges before the antigraft court Sandiganbayan. martires had also meted out preventive suspensions on 27 other officials, including documents section chief Ramoncito Roque who has been accused of extorting P50,000 from an inmate’s wife in exchange for early release. Roque, for his part, denied the accusation. n

Duterte will certify SOGIE bill as urgent

“Pilipino rin ito (They are also Fiipinos). You might not like them but they are Filipino. I do PRESIdEnT Rodrigo duterte not want it in a… meron ako (I on Tuesday, September 10, will have) anti-discrimination. bakcertify as urgent the Sexual ori- la, yung mga disable (The gays, entation and Gender Identity disable). nauna ako, sa totoo and Expression (SoGIE) Equal- lang (I was the first, believe ity bill, which would protect me),” he added. members of the lesbian, gay, duterte met previously with bisexual, transgender and queer the LGbTQ advocates, including (LGbTQ) community. transgender woman Gretchen “Yes, whatever would make Custodio diez, in malacañang the mechanism, what would and expressed his full support, make them happy. Gusto ko ka- his former top aide and now gaya ng kay (What I want is sim- Sen. Christopher Lawrence ilar to) Senator (Juan Ponce) En- “bong” Go has said. rile, gusto ko happy siya (I want diez made headlines last them to be happy),” duterte month after she was barred said. from using the female comfort

by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

room of a shopping mall in Quezon City. diez, however, was released on the same day after the janitress apologized and backed out from pursuing the unjust vexation case.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo, who is also duterte’s chief legal counsel, had said the incident was a clear violation of Quezon City’s Gender Fair ordinance.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros had refiled the SoGIE bill at the 18th Congress. The House of Representatives approved the bill in 2017, but the Senate version experienced delays during the period of interpellation. n

Iceland resolution on drug deaths forgiven –Locsin

by Pia lee-Brago Philstar.com

mAnILA — The Iceland-initiated resolution to monitor the drug war killings in the Philippines is “forgiven,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

“It was nothing anyway. As I always say, the French always do it better –love and war and anything in between. I’m gonna kiss the hull of that boat,” Locsin tweeted.

The united nations Human Rights Council adopted in July the Iceland resolution, which the Philippine government dismissed as a “tiny majority-approved and one-sided” resolution.

After hinting at a possible withdrawal from the unHRC in July in response to the adoption of the resolution, Locsin said the Philippines after all is staying in the council and will not sever relations with any country, including Iceland.

French Ambassador nicolas Galey said France’s co-sponsoring the Iceland resolution is not the “alpha and omega” of international relations and should not put in danger the friendship between the two countries.

In July, Locsin criticized France and other Western countries for supporting the Iceland resolution which also seeks a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

Human rights officials have said the resolution did not call for an investigation. no representative of the department of Foreign Affairs (dFA) showed up for the traditional diplomatic toast at the celebration of bastille day, the French national day, on July 14 at the official residence of the French ambassador in Forbes Park, makati.

Sources said the French embassy was informed by the dFA that no one from the dFA would be available for the bastille day celebration.

The unusual break with diplomatic tradition in this country was seen as a snub and a show of disapproval toward France for

co-sponsoring the Iceland resolution before the unHRC. ‘Poor nations get blame’ meanwhile, in a speech at the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) day celebration at dFA, Locsin said poor nations get the blame for violence and unrest from the use of weapons sold by rich countries.

He said states that make and sell weapons should share with the “victims” the responsibility of keeping the spirit of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions alive. “but in general, the problem is this: the weapons making and selling states are never blamed by international civil society because it is composed mostly of people who come from those states, and the selling states are so impregnable they need not resort to extraordinary measures of social control,” Locsin said.

“So the blame is persistently laid squarely on the weak countries of the victims whose governments are their customers,” he said.

According to Locsin, the commitment of the Philippine government to international humanitarian law is well-established in history “although this sterling record has been cast in the shade, and is today disparaged by those who are—either actually on the payroll of non-state actors or should be, for the great service they render to protect them and advance their interests.” “our own city of marawi fell to one such group when it was attempted to serve a warrant on its leader for drug trafficking. It took our boys six months to take back marawi in door to door fighting.,” Locsin said.

“It is silly to pretend those means are not used by the most advanced states whose civil societies denounce those means only when availed of by lesser states in desperation. on top of which, advanced states can apply unconventional means with more precision and therefore circumspection,” he added.

Also at the dFA event, defense

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Philstar.com photo

Secretary delfin Lorenzana said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can be trusted to respect and uphold human rights and the International Humanitarian Law even in times of conflict or war.

“We assure the people that the defense department, through the AFP, will carry on, continue the conduct of capacity development mechanisms, and troop information and education programs on human rights and IHL at all levels of command. We continue to tap human rights and IHL in this pursuit,” Lorenzana said in a statement read for him by undersecretary for defense policy Ricardo david Jr. “This celebration reaffirms our commitment, most particularly that of the Philippine IHL Ad Hoc Committee members, in adhering to the internationally accepted norms or conduct on the rules of war giving special treatment or protection to those parties/sectors who are not involved in armed conflict,” Lorenzana’s message read.

“We ensure that all officers of the Armed Forces, at all levels and staff assignments, are to be held responsible for their acts and omissions in violations of human rights, IHL, and other relevant laws.” n

MONDAY TRAFFIC. Vehicles including motorcycles crowd the southbound lane of Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in Quezon City on Monday, September 9. According to a 2017 Japanese government-funded study, the resulting gridlock in Metro Manila costs about USD67 million daily in lost productivity.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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Residents line up to get a kilo of rice after a cleanup drive Barangay Daang Hari in Navotas City. For every sack of garbage turned in, a resident gets a kilo of rice.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Mindanao more peaceful because of BOL – Duterte

by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that Mindanao has become more peaceful following the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which gives Muslims full autonomy.

In his speech during the inauguration of a hotel in Davao City late Friday, September 6, Duterte lauded the “almost” zero incidents of fighting in Central Mindanao.

“I was going to give you the factors that would, you know, shape Mindanao whether for the worse or for the better. We have been able to strike a solution in central Mindanao,” the president said.

“There is less fighting now because of the BOL. And I’d like to congratulate my brother Muslims, Moros of Mindanao that there has

been almost no incident here in the Central Mindanao area,” he added.

But Duterte admitted the New People’s Army (NPA) remains a big problem in the region.

The president formally ended peace talks with communist rebels in March this year. The government has instead formed localized panels to talk with rebels in communities.

“The NPAs remain to be a big problem… I just hope that we’d be able to do something about it before my term ends,” Duterte said. “‘Yun lang. You have to consider the law and order of Mindanao.

I do not recommend any new economic activity or investment on the western side, especially in the islands there. I do not think that it would be prudent for you to consider it. Maybe, in the fullness of

God’s time, we’d be able to come up with something that’s a workable solution for all,” he added.

On January 21, the people ratified the BOL creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the final step in the 2014 peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The BOL aims to give the impoverished south an expanded autonomous area, offering self-determination to the nation’s 4 million Muslims by empowering them to elect their own parliament.

The law would also give the people in parts of the southern Philippines that have Islamic majority control over many local government functions, including taxation and education. It will likewise allow Muslim Filipinos to incorporate Sharia law into their justice system. n

WHO calls for intensified campaign vs cervical...

PAGE A4 significant public health problem in the region, with an estimated 158,000 new cases and 95,766 deaths reported due to illness in 2018 alone.

The WHO is prioritizing cervical cancer elimination as worldwide cervical cancer remains one of the gravest threats to women’s lives.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has been implementing a school-based HPV immunization program.

As this developed, health experts are also campaigning for regular screening to address the high number of lung cancer deaths in the country.

Oncologist Meredith Garcia said lung cancer is currently the leading cause of death among Filipino cancer patients. In 2018, over 15,000 deaths were recorded due to lung cancer.

Garcia, however, said the problem can be addressed by early diagnosis and treatment. She en-

couraged the people to undergo regular screening, considering that some forms of cancer, like lung cancer, is commonly asymptomatic.

Garcia also advised cancer patients against alternative medicine, which, she said, puts patients at greater health risks.

The survival rate among lung cancer patients has significantly improved in the past years with the availability of new treatment, according to medical experts. n

House OKs bill allowing more foreigners to practice profession in...

PAGE A4 may already have,” the lawmaker claimed.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said she opposed the ap-

proval of the bill because it was not thoroughly discussed, and would burden small and medium companies with additional competitors.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, meanwhile, questioned the “disjointed” count of congressmen present at the plenary as well as the result of the voting. n

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 11-13, 2019

A

A6 SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Relieve Faeldon of his ‘yoke’

FEATURES

PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte’s swift sacking of Nicanor Faeldon as Bureau of Corrections chief was widely applauded.

The applause, however, died down as the president just as quickly picked up his fallen friend, describing Faeldon as a good man.

The president has said that he would not tolerate even “a whiff” of corruption in his administration. In vouching for his loyal friend, he has cited the collection of billions in taxes from cigarette firm Mighty Corp. when Faeldon headed the Bureau of Customs. Faeldon had to be moved out of the BOC, however, amid a scandal involving the release of large shabu shipments through Customs.

Faeldon’s integrity as Bureau of Corrections chief has yet to be established as the Senate continues its inquiry today into what is emerging as a systematic collection of payoffs by BuCor officials for the early release of prisoners based on Good Conduct Time Allowance, especially after the Supreme Court ruled last June that the GCTA law must be applied retroactively. The President himself had hinted that corruption was possible in the release of about 2,000 prisoners under the GCTA, including heinous crime offenders such as the rapist-killers of the Chiong sisters.

While the president is free to express his opin-

ion about his appointees, his statement has fueled speculation that he is again preparing to recycle Faeldon to yet another position in government.

This would be unfortunate for his avowed campaign for good governance. Senators are still trying to determine if there was money involved in the aborted release of former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez. Even if Faeldon is eventually cleared of suspicions of graft, his competence for public service is under question.

This is evident in the joke that has spread following his sacking. He should be recycled to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, according to the joke, because when he was BOC chief, large shipments of shabu disappeared; at BuCor, about 2,000 inmates also disappeared from prisons; so as MMDA chief, he might make EDSA traffic disappear.

After being fired from yet another government post, Faeldon claimed he felt relieved of a heavy burden and he could now sleep soundly. The President should not burden his friend further with the yoke of public service. It’s time to put Faeldon out to pasture. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Home economics, house repairs and child care: Schools should bring back survival skill classes for ALL students

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS STUDENTS of today’s generation are so well trained and proficient in a lot of high-tech skills like computer and internet use, camera techniques, music mixing, editing, online publishing and social media distribution — skills that the older generation is just coming to terms and even struggling with.

However, we notice that there seems to be a deficiency in the skills of the youth when it comes to the very skills we were taught by our parents and our teachers early in life from grade school to high school. These are skills that we need in our day to day life like cooking, mending our clothes, washing and ironing clothes, doing repairs in the house, putting air in our tires, and troubleshooting power tripping and outages, etc.

This came to my mind after I came across an article online about the Colegio Montecastelo of Spain published by Racfheed on Facebook.

This school offers home economics specifically for boys, teaching them what we learned in “H.E.” during our grade school and high school years — the basics of cooking, sewing, ironing, house cleaning, etc.

The school also teaches the boys those skills that are typically taught to boys like the basics of carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and electrician skills.

This school in Spain wants to stop gender inequality by teaching boys the basics of doing household chores, pointing to how women have always been expected to cook, wash the dishes, do the laundry, take care of the children, while also working full time or part-time job for the family.

Many husbands (not all), especially in the Philippines, would be seen having happy hour with a chilled bottle of beer while watching TV when they come home from work. Both the husbands and the wives are tired from their jobs, but the women are expected to do all the chores as the husband enjoys “me time,” and then

expects the wife to please him in bed at night.

For many families, it seems the explanation for this is that the husbands do not know how to cook, iron the clothes, clean the house, or bathe the babies, because these are chores women have been trained to do. But more than this is the stigma that they will look like “under the saya” or emasculated if they do the chores typically done by the wives. But they contend that they are the ones the wives run to to do house repairs, gardening and changing bulbs.

This delegation is great — men and women having the division of labor and doing chores they are more adept with. However, times are changing. We now have both the husband and the wife taking full-time jobs. There are times when it is the wife who gets a better job opportunity than the husband, but somebody has to stay at home to take care of the kids and do household chores. The man of the house has to step in and do the household chores while the woman helps in providing for the

family. This is what marriage and partnership are all about.

Now what this school in Spain is doing is breaking down the walls of stereotypes institutionally, and this helps the collective psyche of the boys who will grow up to be the men of the house to feel no shame in doing household chores and taking care of the children. It even teaches the lesson to the fathers of these children, no matter how belatedly. After all, it is never too late to learn something good, right?

Many of my followers on Facebook who are in their 40s and older would comment that they remember having these classes when they were still in grade school and high school. Unfortunately, with the cost-cutting because of less budget now being appropriated to education, these subjects — home economics, vocational, music and arts — are the first to go. And with both the husband and wife working, who will really have the time to train the kids consistently and relentlessly in these life skills?

THEREFORE, I hope our

schools will bring these skills back to the curriculum as mandatory subjects. I propose to take this initiative several notches higher.

I think these life skills — household chores, taking care of the babies, basic carpentry, plumbing, electrician skills, changing flat tires, among others, should be taught to ALL students, boys and girls learning together.

Teaching girls skills typically identified with boys will empower them, giving them the confidence that they do not need a knight in shining armor to solve problems in the house, and will not fall prey to unscrupulous repairmen who would charge hefty service fees for a simple job because they think the women know nothing about the issue that needs repairs anyway.

I would like to include financial literacy to the “home economics” aspect of the learning. All students should be taught about budgeting money, how to balance checks, how to live within your means, how to save money, how to invest money, the pros and cons of using credit cards,

and different kinds of loans.

These skills, I believe, will help shape more responsible and independent adults in the future.

They will be more self-reliant, frugal, and will discover the joy of mending, repairing, making things work instead of dumping tattered clothes, appliances and furniture that can still be repaired.

These skills will create better dynamics between couples, siblings, roommates because they all can share in the responsibilities of making and keeping a home.

And as each generation stands on the shoulders of the previous generations, we can expect to have better, happier and more productive homes and families in the future.

Now isn’t this something worth investing in? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

UN should account for doomsday forecast 30 years ago

Commentary

YEN MAKABENTA I REMEMBER the year 1989 well because it was a time of tumult in the Philippines and the world.

At the time, I was serving as editor in chief and associate publisher of the daily newspaper Philippine Daily Globe.

The work kept me awake all day to follow what was happening in the country and the world.

In 1989, the tumult behind the Iron Curtain burst out in earnest; it would culminate in the color revolutions in all of Eastern Europe and in the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1990. The collapse of communism meant also the end of the Cold War. In the movies, James Bond suddenly became old.

In December 1989, then-Col. Gringo Honasan staged his nearly successful coup against the government of President Corazon Aquino, which plunged the Philippines for a time into darkness and confusion.

In 1989, the United Nations (UN) quietly detonated its forecast that planet Earth had only 10 years to go before it imploded on account of global warming. In doing so, the world body rained down grim tidings on a hapless humanity, even forecasting the

disappearance of entire countries. This report forced me to sit up at my desk: The Philippines could be one of the countries that would be drowned by the rising sea levels.

It is now exactly 30 years since that eventful year. Mercifully, mankind and planet Earth are still alive and kicking. Communism is banished. And the Philippines is much better than the sick man everyone used to speak of in patronizing tones.

On September 23, the UN will convene its umpteenth Climate Action Summit in New York City to dramatize the urgency of combating climate change and averting climate apocalypse.

Before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says one more word about the UN’s climate forecast, I believe the world should present him a bill for all the wrong predictions about the climate that the UN made 30 years ago and continues to foist on the world. It is time for a reckoning.

UN prediction of global disaster in 1989 To show what the UN must account for, l am reprinting here the report of the Associated Press on the UN’s forecast of global disaster in 1989.

The report, written by Peter James Spielmann, was issued on June 30, 1989, with the headline, “UN predicts global disaster.”

This is what Spielmann wrote: “A senior UN environmental

official says entire nations could be wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the global warming trend is not reversed by the year 2000.

“Coastal flooding and crop failures would create an exodus of eco- refugees, threatening political chaos, said Noel Brown, director of the New York office of the UN Environment Program, or UNEP. “He said governments have a 10-year window of opportunity to solve the greenhouse effect before it goes beyond human control.

“As the warming melts polar icecaps, ocean levels will rise by up to three feet, enough to cover the Maldives and other flat island nations, Brown told the Associated Press in an interview.

“Coastal regions will be inundated; one-sixth of Bangladesh could be flooded, displacing a fourth of its 90 million people.

A fifth of Egypt’s arable land in the Nile Delta would be flooded, cutting off its food supply, according to a joint UNEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study.

“Ecological refugees will become a major concern, and what’s worse is you may find that people can move to drier ground, but the soils and the natural resources may not support life. Africa doesn’t have to worry about land, but would you want to live in the Sahara?’ he said.

“UNEP estimates it would cost the United States at least $100 billion to protect its east coast alone.

“Shifting climate patterns would bring back 1930s Dust Bowl conditions to Canadian and U.S. wheat lands, while the Soviet Union could reap bumper crops if it adapts its agriculture in time, according to a study

by UNEP and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

“Excess carbon dioxide is pouring into the atmosphere because of humanity’s use of fossil fuels and burning of rain forests, the study says. The atmosphere is retaining more heat than it radiates, much like a greenhouse.

“The most conservative scientific estimate that the Earth’s temperature will rise 1 to 7 degrees Celsius in the next 30 years, said Brown.

“The difference may seem slight, he said, but the planet is only 9 degrees warmer now than during the 8,000-year Ice Age that ended 10,000 years ago.

“Brown said if the warming trend continues, ‘the question is will we be able to reverse the process in time? We say that within the next 10 years, given the present loads that the atmosphere has to bear, we have an opportunity to start the stabilizing process.’

“He said even the most conservative scientists ‘already tell us there’s nothing we can

do now to stop a … change’ of about 3 degrees. “‘Anything beyond that, and we have to start thinking about the significant rise of the sea levels … we can expect more ferocious storms, hurricanes, wind shear, dust erosion.’

“He said there is time to act, but there is no time to waste.

“UNEP is working toward forming a scientific plan of action by the end of 1990, and the adoption of a global climate treaty by 1992. In May, delegates from 103 nations met in Nairobi, Kenya — where UNEP is based — and decided to open negotiations on the treaty next year.

“Nations will be asked to reduce the use of fossil fuels, cut the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases such as methane and fluorocarbons, and preserve the rain forests.”

This would lead eventually to the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Accord.

Mother of doomsday scenarios I am not alone in monitoring what the UN has been doing during the past three decades in pursuit of its climate agenda.

Other climate skeptics, including top climate scientists, and major writers have been doing the same. They have published statements rejecting the UN’s climate change reports and its climate agenda. I have continu-

ously written on their articles over the last two years to keep readers posted on the debate between the climate alarmists and climate skeptics.

One skeptic, Daniel Hunter, came up with the idea of demanding from the UN an accounting for its wrong predictions and fear mongering. He wrote the following comment on Fox News this week: “Global warming is the mother of all doomsday scenarios. It blew away other environmental issues like candles on a cake….

“Thirty years ago this week, the United Nations issued a global warming report that I distinctly remember. It predicted worldwide disaster… “[H]ere we are 30 years later, and I look back at that 1989 report, I think only this: What happened?

“The predictions in the report were not just a bit ‘off’ — like my calculations in my high school math class, my understanding of Shakespeare, or my failed attempt to high jump. The UN report was flat-out wrong. It was 100 percent, complete opposite, 180-degree wrong.

“Can I get an explanation, please? “[The] UN has a 30-year track record of being wrong on this issue, so I take its reports on climate change and ‘we have 12 years left’ with a grain of salt the size of the Maldives.” (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2019

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

A

Philippines travel, tourism sector PH dollar reserves reach nearly 3-yr high in Aug gets recognition for economic growth

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

by Catherine

THE country’s gross international reserves (GIR) soared to an almost three-year high of $85.611 billion in August on the back of the government’s foreign currency deposits and the central bank’s investment income.

The figure — the largest since September’s 2016’s $86.139 billion — was also 0.51 percent and 9.85 percent higher than those posted in July and a year ago, respectively, preliminary data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday showed.

In a statement, the central bank said the month-on-month increase “reflects the national government’s net foreign-currency deposits and [the] BSP’s income from its investments abroad.”

These were partially tempered by payments made by the govern-

talavera

Philstar.com

THE World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is commending the Philippine travel and tourism sector for its significant growth in recent years, emphasizing its large contribution to the economy.

Based on results from the WTTC’s Benchmarking report, it said the travel and tourism sector was the largest sector in the Philippines last year, contributing $82 billion to the country’s economy or contributing nearly 25 percent share to total GDP. “As we know and is now reaffirmed by this benchmarking research, the travel and tourism sector is key for the country’s economy, underpinning much of spending and supporting millions of jobs,” WTTC president and chief executive officer Gloria Guevara said.

“The industry has experienced incredible growth over the last nine years and WTTC commends the Philippines government for recognizing the importance of travel and tourism as a driver of economic growth and for their strategy in spreading the benefits of the industry across the country,” she said.

The ‘benchmarking’ study from WTTC, compares the industry’s economic impact to eight other key sectors (agriculture, mining, health, automotive manufacturing, retail, financial services, banking and construction), across 26 countries and 10 world regions.

On the global front, the travel and tourism sector generated $8.8 trillion, accounting for a 10.4 percent share of the global GDP in 2018.

It added that this was 1.4 times higher than agriculture (7.7 percent contribution), 1.5 times higher than banking (7.1 percent contribution) and automotive manufacturing (6.8 percent contribution) and 1.7 times higher than mining (six percent contribution).

Based on results from the WTTC’s Benchmarking report, it said the travel and tourism sector was the largest sector in the Philippines last year, contributing $82 billion to the country’s economy or contributing nearly 25 percent share to total GDP. Philstar.com photo by Walter Bollozos

“Among those analyzed, travel and tourism was the fastest growing sector in 2018, increasing 3.9 percent, ahead of automotive manufacturing (3.7 percent) and health (3.3 percent), and higher than the global economy growth rate (3.2 percent) for the eighth consecutive year,” it said.

“Strong growth in travel and tourism is driven by the continued rise in the number of middleclass households, solid growth in global consumer spending, low unemployment rates, continued rebound from security threats, currency depreciation and visa relaxation in several countries around the world,” the WTTC said.

The report said the travel and tourism’s contribution to employment in 2018 was 26.4 percent ahead of both retail and construction at 20.4 percent and 15.7 percent respectively, and only just behind agriculture (31.1 percent).

In addition, the WTTC’s benchmarking report said travel and tourism contributes 319 million

jobs (10 percent of all jobs) to global employment, ahead of financial services (9.1 percent) and health (7.4 percent).

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that the tourism sector contributed a 12.7 percent share in the country’s GDP in 2018 at P2.2 trillion. This is already above the Department of Tourism 10 percent GDP contribution target for 2022 under the National Tourism Development Plan.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the tourism sector plans to release an adjusted target later this year.

Apart from surpassing GDP contribution targets, the country also exceeded its 86 million domestic tourists target for 2022 as it closed 2018 with a total of 111 million domestic tourists.

“It should be adjusted, but again, it’s a process. All sectors should be involved, because this was done even before President Duterte’s time, the targets. So we’ll talk to them (private sector) again,” Puyat said. n

Manilatimes.net file photo

ment for servicing its foreign exchange obligations.

The latest reserve level was enough to cover seven-and-a-half months’ worth of imports, higher than the 7.4 and seven months’ buffer in July and a year earlier, respectively. It was also equivalent to 5.2 times the country’s short-term external obligations due within one year and 3.8 times based on residual maturity.

Net international reserves, which refer to the difference between GIR and total short-term

liabilities, increased to $85.6 billion from $85.17 billion a month earlier.

GIR are foreign assets that are readily available to and controlled by the central bank for direct financing of payment imbalances and for managing the magnitude of such imbalances. It consists of holdings of gold, special drawing rights, foreign investments and foreign exchange, including reserve position in the fund.

The Bangko Sentral is expecting higher GIR this year on the back of its positive outlook on foreign portfolio investment flows.

The BSP revised its 2019 projection for foreign portfolio investments, also called “hot money” — called as such because of the ease by which these can be taken in and out of an economy — to a net inflow of $4 billion, reversing its previous forecast of a $200-million net outflow. n

A SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

‘Rice. Noodles. Yum.’: A myriad of flavors from the Philippines and beyond Author Abigail Sotto-Raines shares recipes of favorite noodle and rice dishes from all over Southeast Asia

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe / AJPress TWO staple ingredients not only in Filipino cuisine but in Asian dishes as well are rice and noodles. This comes as no surprise because the Philippines have been a melting pot of different cultures from Southeast Asia.

This is why Filipino American first-time author (who also manages the blogsite, Manila Spoon) Abigail Sotto-Raines is so excited to share to everyone her favorite dishes via her book “Rice. Noodles. Yum.: Everyone’s Favorite Southeast Asian Dishes.”

Born and raised in the Philippines, Abigail often spent her days with her grandmother cooking traditional Filipino meals in which rice and noodles provided the base for so many delicious and interesting flavor combinations. Later on, she traveled extensively in Southeast Asia where she discovered the wealth of rice and noodle -based dishes.

Currently residing in Hamden, Connecticut with her husband Mark and two kids (William and Sophie), Abby is a lawyer turned stay-at-home mom. However, her love for cooking did not begin naturally.

“Truth is, I had to learn to cook out of necessity,” she wrote in her blog, Manila Spoon. “As anyone familiar with the Philippines would know, when you grow up with a maid, oftentimes you never learn the wonderful art of cooking. Back then, I always knew that when dinner’s on, the food would be ready at the table, often prepared by

Sa Po Gai Fan

anyone in the house but me.

I did dabble a bit on cooking after college but never really pursued it passionately.”

It was when she got married and settled in the United States that she had to learn how to cook. Starting with basic recipes, Abigail eventually became comfortable in the kitchen through trial and error. She started Manila Spoon to document her adventures in cooking and to share her collection of recipes which her family have tried and enjoyed through the years.

After six years of blogging, she released just last June, “Rice. Noodles. Yum.” containing 75 (yes, 75!) authentic rice and noodle dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and The author, Abigail Sotto-Raines with her husband William and children William and Sophie. the Philippines. Apart from Photo from ManilaSpoon.com popular Asian dishes like pad thai from Thailand and serabi from Indonesia; she included fusions and recipes with a twist like an Asian-Italian spaghetti and meatballs made of rice noodles and curried beef gravy, and Suman Con Chocolate (Steamed Glutinous Rice Cakes with Chocolate Sauce).

There are more easy-to-follow recipes inside the cookbook that readers will surely enjoy cooking.

“Rice. Noodles. Yum.: Everyone’s Favorite Southeast Asian Dishes” is available on Amazon (www.amazon.com), Barnes & Noble, Book-A-Million and IndieBound (www. indiebound.org).

Visit Abigail’s blog at www.

Moo Sarong manilaspoon.com.

Photo on cover from the author’s Facebook page.

Food photos courtesy of Adrian Schwalbe of YC Media.

Suman con Chocolate

(Steamed Glutinous Rice Cakes with Chocolate Sauce) Suman is a tube-shaped rice cake made with glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, wrapped in either palm, banana or bamboo leaves, then steamed. It is always a great choice for breakfast as it can be paired with a variety of options: plain sugar, coconut jam, with fruits and, of course, a big favorite—homemade chocolate sauce. This breakfast treat is almost always paired with coffee or hot chocolate.

Serves 8 (16 rice cakes) 2 cups (400 g) sticky or glutinous white rice 1 (13.5-oz [400-ml]) can coconut cream plus enough water to make it to 2½ cups (600 ml) ½ cup (100 g) white sugar 1¼ tsp (8 g) salt, divided 16 (9-inch [27-cm]) softened banana leaves for wrapping 2 cups (480 ml) heavy or double cream 6 tbsp (42 g) cocoa powder ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar Soak the rice in water overnight or for at least 3 hours. Rinse the rice well. Drain. Place the rice and coconut cream diluted with water in a wok or deep pan. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Adjust the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid has nearly dried up. Add the sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt and continue to cook until the sugar is fully dissolved and the rice begins to pull away from the edges of the pan when stirred. Remove from the heat and allow the rice to cool.

Defrost the banana leaves, if frozen. Clean the banana leaves by wiping off the white residue with a damp cloth or paper towel. Pass each leaf through a flame or place it on the stovetop to heat it up until it turns dark green. This will help prevent the banana leaf from tearing as you roll it up.

Scoop about ¼ cup (45 g) of the rice near the edge of the banana leaves. Flatten it to elongate to about 5 inches (15 cm) in length. Roll until you reach the other end. Twist the edges then tie each end with a twine or a thin strip of banana leaf. Repeat until there’s no more rice left.

Place the rice parcels in a steamer tray or basket. Steam the rice parcels over rapidly boiling water for 30 minutes. Make sure that the water doesn’t touch the steamer basket.

To make the sauce, place the heavy cream, cocoa powder, brown sugar and ¼ teaspoon of salt in a saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 to 8 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Set aside.

When the rice parcels are done, peel the banana leaf cover from each cake then serve the rice cakes warm or at room temperature drizzled with the chocolate sauce. Suman may also be threaded in skewers and dipped in the sauce.

Mee Kati

Friendship leads to love for Enrique

tor was seen holding a bouquet of flowers for his girlfriend.

The story of their friendship was brought up when MANY say that friendship Enrique started answering is the best foundation for a relationship. Enrique Gil couldn’t questions about friends in line with Greenwich’s celebration of agree more when he revealed that he and girlfriend Liza Sober- the Friendship Month with its ano started out as good friends. Barkada Box Awards. Enrique is the latest addition to the grow“Yeah, we were just in ing Greenwich barkada that a barkada level at first,” he includes Yassi Pressman and recalled. “I mean, our relationRobi Domingo. ship started out from us being “I’m the fun guy in the barkafriends and for some reason, it da,” he began. “I’m more of became more than that.” the makulit in the group pero Their romance has been ako rin ‘yung kuya who always smooth-sailing for years now checks on everyone na ‘O, with both Enrique and Liza kamusta ka na?’ ‘Kumain ka expressing their love for each na ba?’ And I am the kuya beother without fail. It can be cause I think I’m the oldest in recalled how the 26-year-old actor visited Liza in the U.S. after the group but it feels weird sometimes since ako din ‘yung she underwent surgery for her injured finger. In a video, the acContinued on Page 4 Enrique Gil with Liza Soberano

by Bot

glorioso Philstar.com

Carioca

(Fried Sticky Rice Balls with Coconut Caramel Sauce) Sweet memories are made of these! During my elementary-school years, these were my favorite merienda or afterschool snack. They are so deliciously comforting—loaded with coconut flavor and smothered in a coconut caramel sauce.

These crispy rice balls are so tasty that even my little boy, who doesn’t like coconut at all, totally loves these!

Photo from Instagram/@enriquegil17

What’s next for Maymay? by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

MAYMAY Entrata’s career continuously blooms these days.

Right after winning “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7” in 2017, she fulfilled her ambition of becoming an actress starring in major roles for TV shows such as “La Luna Sangre,” “Wansapanataym’s Ikaw Ang Ghosto Ko” and “Hiwaga ng Kambat,” and movies like “Loving in Tandem,” “Da One That Ghost Away,” “Fantastica,” and most recently, in the blockbuster hit “Hello, Love, Goodbye” as Kathryn Bernardo’s Maymay Entrata cousin, Mary Dale.

Photo from Instagram/@maymay On September 3, “Hello,

Love, Goodbye” was officially declared as the highest grossing Filipino film of all time.

ABS-CBN’s movie arm, Star Cinema, announced during the film’s thanksgiving party that the Kathryn Bernardo-Alden Richards romantic drama has chalked up a worldwide gross of ₱880,603,490.

Directed by Cathy Garcia Molina, the film beat another Bernardo starrer, “The Hows of Us,” in the box office race.

“The Hows of Us” also raked in a global gross receipts of over ₱800 million.

On her part, Entrata has dedicated the success of their movie to her mother who is

working in Japan as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for more than 20 years.

“Gusto ko lang din po ishare na naging fulfilment ko po ay yung nakita ko yung nanay ko dahil 20 years na siyang OFW at sinabi niya sa akin na ‘sobrang na-appreciate ko yung movie ninyo kasi bilang OFW mas marami nang nakakaintindi na tao kung ano yung totoong nangyayari na sakripisyo at paghihirap ng mga OFW.’ Kaya maraming salamat po,” Entrata told members of the press after her event for Modess Move Camp last week.

She also had to thank their Continued on Page 4

Serves 6 (24 balls) 2½ cups (315 g) sticky or glutinous rice flour 2½ cups (250 g) shredded sweetened coconut 1¼ cups (300 ml) coconut milk 2 cups (480 ml) cooking oil for deep-frying, or more as needed 1 (13.5-oz [400-ml]) can coconut cream ½ cup plus 3 tbsp (120 g) brown sugar ½ tsp salt In a bowl, mix the sticky rice flour, sweetened shredded coconut and coconut milk until a dough forms. Scoop out about a tablespoon (15 g) of dough and shape into a ball.

Repeat until all the dough is used up. A cookie dough scooper is helpful for this.

Heat the cooking oil in a saucepan over medium heat to about 350°F (175°C). To test if the oil is hot, dip a skewer into it. When bubbles form around the skewer, the oil is ready. Fry the dough balls in batches for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned all over. Scoop onto a strainer lined with paper towels to remove any excess oil. Repeat until all the balls are cooked. Set aside.

In a saucepan, stir together the coconut cream, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. When it starts to boil, lower the heat slightly, stir and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.

Dip the balls into the sauce, or to avoid sticky fingers, thread about four balls onto a wooden skewer and pour the caramel sauce over. Serve individually or on skewers.

entertainment

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

MInDS In MEETInG. The Department of Trade and Industry PTIC recently hosted a meeting with the collaborating partners of the forthcoming Filipino American Franchising Trade Mission (FAFTM) in March 2020. In attendance are from right to left Rodem R. Perez, Clark AVP for Business Development,Ellen Samson, FACC Foundation Head and current VP for Trade of COFACC, Maricris Gepte, Clark Business Development Specialist, DTI Commissioner Eric Elnar, Asian Journal Publications, Inc. CEO Roger Oriel, FACC SLAA vice President Jason Agcaoili, FACC Hollywood Board Member and Morgan Royall Capital President Allan Tirona.

Jake: I respect the law

by Honey

orio-escullar Philstar.com

JAKE Zyrus said he knew what was coming to him even before facing the media recently for the launch of his album titled Evolution under Star Music.

Carrying seven tracks including “Diamond”, “Hiling”, “Bagyo”, “DNM”, “Love Even If”, “I’ll Be There” and “Tapestry, Evolution” chronicles his progress not only as a transman but more importantly as a music artist.

Besides talking about his first official album as Jake Zyrus, he also addressed questions on two hotly-debated issues today — the restroom incident involving a member of the LGBT community and the proposed SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality) Bill.

“I knew this was coming,” said Jake when asked for his reaction about the restroom issue and which one — male or female comfort room (CR) he goes to.

“I used to think that way.

Pipilitin ko yung sarili ko to go to the male’s restroom but the more I grow older, the more I realized that not everyone thinks the same. Not everyone believes in the same beliefs that you believe in. So, nagsi-CR ako

During the launch of his first official album as Jake Zyrus, the 27-year-old singer shared his views on two most hotly debated issues today — the restroom incident involving a member of the LGBT community and the proposed SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality) Bill.

Philstar.com photo by Honey Orio-Escullar

kung saan ako dapat mag-CR, at kung ano po yung naiisip n’yo, dun ako nagsi-CR. I simply follow the law. I respect the law and if I respect the law, hopefully the government will see it and I hope that everyone follows it kasi madali lang naman eh.”

For Jake, what’s more important is understanding one another and treating each other well. “It’s just the CR and you know, it goes both ways, you know, it’s about behavior. It’s about how we treat each other.

This is not about sexuality any-

more. This is not about the CR anymore. This is not just about understanding me, understanding the LGBTQI community, this (goes) both ways.”

He stressed his point by quoting an old adage, “Pag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay,” explaining, “if someone does not understand what you’re going through, if someone does not understand who you are, you simply understand them because we don’t have the right to push everyone Continued on Page 4

entertainment Jake: I respect the law...

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

From Page 3 to accept our beliefs. Paano kung gawin sayo yun? Wouldn’t it be that offending? It’s the same thing with everything.

“So, if I go to a women’s restroom and they feel awkward, it’s not my fault anymore because I’m just following the law, cause that’s what they said, right?”

Even if Jake identifies as a transman, he respects the fact that he was born female.

“Biologically, I am a woman so I follow it because I don’t need everyone else’s validation of who I am. I transitioned to transman because it’s a fulfillment for myself, an achievement for me.

Nag-come out ako hindi para isampal sa lahat ‘O ito, ako yan,’ but because first of all, I’m in show business and I felt like it’s a must. It’s a must for everyone to know who I really am. I’m not pushing everybody to celebrate with me.”

He added that he’s thankful to people who support his decision and to those who don’t, he understands. “But I’m here and I tell you who I am because this is what makes me happy and I respect your happiness.”

When asked if he is in favor of separate restrooms for LGBTQIs, Jake said, “Sa totoo lang, ako po ay agree lang if it’s for the betterment of our country.

If it’s going to be a good thing for our country, if everyone’s

going to stop hating each other because of a restroom, nasa gobyerno na po natin yan. Pero yun po pabor ako kung okey sa lahat.

“I still believe na magbabago yan. Let’s be contented with whatever it is that we have right now. So ako, okey na ako dun because I know that someday… we don’t know what the future will bring but I’m comfortable with myself.”

Meanwhile, asked for his reaction on the SOGIE bill being debated in the Senate, Jake replied, “For me, when you say SOGIE bill, it’s for everyone eh.

The problem is, it always focuses on one group. Parang nasasarili, na-do-dominate and that’s what I don’t like because I am for anything na makaka-better sa lahat ng tao. If this bill will be good for everybody and not just the LGBTQI, if everyone benefits from it, if there’s no more discrimination and domination, then I’m all for it. But if this bill is going to be taken advantage of, dun mo masasabing mali talaga.

“Kung ito yung magpapagulo sa atin bakit ka mag-a-agree di ba? So, in order for us to reach that point, we all want for this country to be good, then we all have to be equal. As long as hindi nagkakaroon ng ganyan, we can’t pass any bill regarding discrimination and anything because even if it’s passed and approved hangga’t walang

nakakaintindi truly at hindi nagiging equal ang lahat, wala ring silbi yung bill. It’s all going to come from us.”

Jake believes that with or without the SOGIE Bill, “it’s up to us if we treat each other (nicely), if we understand each other. Kahit hindi mo ako tanggap pero respetuhin mo ako, rerespetuhin kita.”

He continued, “That’s why I said, what if we will just be contented with what we have because the more na pinu-push natin parang the more na binabasura, lalong inaalis kumbaga.”

Jake admitted that he is actually “unbothered” by all the fuss, thanks to his fiancée Shyre Aquino.

“I’ve been feeling spiritual because my fiancée is a Christian. She has been inspiring me and everything, sobrang nag-light yung feeling ko. I’m comfortable with everything because I’m (feeling) good spiritually so I feel calm. I knew what people are gonna say, I knew what they’re gonna post, I knew what they’re gonna comment and that’s when I realized I have to accept this, this is the world now. (I just) go with the flow,” he said.

“I have accepted that this is how it is today. Hindi na natin mababago kaya kung hindi ka na naiintindihan, ikaw na lang umintindi kasi you can’t eh…it’s not in your control anymore.”

Toni, Vicki, Hayden fly to Harvard University

by Ryan

aRcadio Inquirer.net

DR. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho jetted off to the United States with Toni Gonzaga, who has announced that she will be studying at Harvard University.

Kho, who is yet to announce the full nature of joining the trip, stated that it is for attending “a special course.”

Gonzaga will be taking classes in the said university together with TV writer Garlic Garcia, as seen in Gonzaga’s Instagram Stories on Sunday, September 8.

On the 16-hour flight to the U.S., Gonzaga and Garcia took the time to finish their required readings while the rest of their company were asleep. Gonzaga’s husband, director Paul Soriano, and their son Seve also accompanied the actress on her trip.

Kho was also hard at work,

Toni Gonzaga with Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho

“studying” with “laser focus” in his own plane seat, as seen in Garcia’s Instagram Stories.

“We’re here in Cambridge to attend a special course at the university where @victoria_belo learned all about lasers some 30 years ago,” he said in his Insta-

Photo from Instagram/@celestinegonzaga

gram post today, September 9.

“Can you guess what university this is?”

Gonzaga, as per her post on Instagram Stories, was set to start her classes in Harvard University on Monday, September 9.

Friendship leads to love...

From Page 2 pasimuno sa mga kalokohan, hahaha.”

Enrique also loves playing “harmless” pranks on his closest non-showbiz pals. “You can see on videos what I do to them while they’re sleeping because my house has somewhat become their house that every time I go home, they’re already there and we would all stay in one room. They sleep in my bedroom so they’re like a part

of my family,” he said, referring to his childhood friends who live in the same village where he resides which is located in the south of the metro.

“I’ve been with them since we were kids; we grew up together so you could just imagine the kind of bond that we have.

They’re like my second family.

My best friend lives in the house next to us.”

Asked about the three things that would make friendship work, the Star Magic talent replied, “Trust, honesty and having each other’s back no matter what. Just like a mother who loves her child whatever mistake he/she commits, I’m like that as a friend — na kahit anong gawin, mahal ko pa rin.”

Meanwhile, Enrique shared that he and Liza are not sup-

posed to attend the ABS-CBN Ball on Sept. 14 “because we’re supposed to be flying out to shoot for something (initially denying that it’s for their upcoming teleserye). But at the last minute, we got a call that we must be there so we will attend the ball and then fly out the following day,” said Enrique, who will wear a Randy Ortiz suit.

He, too, assured fans during the Greenwich event held at Market! Market! that a new teleserye that he is starring in with Liza will air soon. Taping is set to begin this month with Enrique visibly hesitant about telling that some scenes will be shot in Europe.

“Certainly, it will air by next year and we will fly out to, basta (laughs). It will be super exciting.”

What’s next for...

From Page 2 director for guiding her despite being a newbie in the cast. The 22-year-old also enthused that she has earned a new family because of the film.

“Grabe. Kagabi po kung nakita at narinig ninyo yung mga speech namin during the thanksgiving party, nag-iyakan kami lahat ng cast ng ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ lalo na sila Kathryn at Kuya Alden kasi na-touch talaga sila sa mainit na pagsuporta ng mga tao. Nagpapasalamat din ako lalo na kay direk Cathy. Isa sa mga iniidolo kong direktor si direk Cathy, kahit hindi naging matagal ang shooting ko doon pero yung disiplina bilang isang aktor at aktres ay hangga’t maari na may oras pa ako noon ay talagang nakikinig ako. Salamat, direk,” Entrata said.

“Yung movie po kasi hindi lang maganda yung kuwento, kung hindi yung samahan na nabuo namin saka yung journey na meron kami, yung experience. Yun yung isa sa mga pinakamagandang experience ever na hindi ko makakalimutan.

Kaya siguro naging matatag yung pagsasamahan namin,” she continued.

On to the next one Because of her hard work, she along with her onscreen partner, Edward Barbers, treated herself to a much-deserved travel to Japan.

“Nagbakasyon po ako sa Japan, kasama ko po yung nanay ko. Masaya ako kasama ko din si Dodong, nakapag-relax kami.

Nagpapa-healthy kami for our upcoming concert,” Entrata enthused.

According to Entrata, their “MayWard” tandmen is currently preparing for their upcoming concert dubbed “M.E. and U” on September 27 at the New Frontier Theater. This was a year after she also held her very first solo concert “The Dream Maymay In Concert” on February 2018 which led to a nationwide tour titled, “The Dream Tour” which started in April last year.

Meanwhile, it was during their stay in Japan when Entrata thought of doing vlogs on YouTube just like some of the actresses before her. She has uploaded their mukbang (binge eating) date with Barbers. As of this writing, she has garnered more than 260,000 subscribers in less than a week and a million views for her first video.

“Yung YouTube channel ko po hindi ko in-expect na ganun ang mangyayari. Pero kasi mahigit isang taon ko siyang iniisip gawin. Kasi ako po, nanonood lang ako ng mga vlogs pero hindi ko inisip na magagawa.

Marami kasing nagsasabi. Iniisip ko lang kung paano siya gawin baka kasi mawala ako sa sarili ko.

Kausap ko lang sarili ko. So nagtry ako, nagpatulong ako kay Dong. Tapos nag-advice din si Ms. Alex Gonzaga and Ms. Kim Chiu na dapat kung ano yung

personality mo, yun ang ipapakita mo. Di mo naman kailangan na maging maarte ka o kailangan mong maging perfect sa kanila,” she said.

“Abangan nila yung baliwbaliwan ko sa vlogs. Tawa lang sila nang tawa. Kasi dun ko na-realize na yung mga tao pala ngayon, mas tutok sila sa social media para hindi puro negative lang ang papasok sa utak nila kapag may nagku-comment nang hindi maganda. Siyempre isa na yung vlog sa way para ipakita sa kanila na go lang dapat nang go.

Keep moving lang. Ang vlogs ay pang-iwas stress lang,” Entrata mentioned.

ABS-CBN Ball, New York Fashion Week On the other hand, the young star has opened up about her plans for the upcoming ABS-CBN Ball which will happen on September 14 at Shangri-La at the Fort. The theme this year is “Modern Filipiniana” and just like the past years, Entrata will arrive with her loveteam Edward Barbers.

“Di ko pa po puwedeng sabihin ano ang preparations.

Pero excited ako sa inspiration ng susuotin ko, pero hindi ko pa puwedeng sabihin. Ang designer ko ay si Ms. Furne One pa rin.

Siya rin po ang designer ko last year. Gusto ko rin magpasalamat kasi Ms. Furne One kasi imposible na siya yung maging designer ko ulit kasi may sakit siya. Pero pinush niya pa rin.

Kaya ayun, sobrang thankful ako sa kanya,” she noted.

It will be remembered that Entrata was the fashion muse of the celebrated designer, whose Amato Couture Fashion Show was presented during the Arab Fashion Week in November 2018.

In relation to that, during the press conference for the 20th anniversary of Knowledge Channel, which launched her as one of the hosts of the show “Puno ng Buhay,” Entrata opened up that she recently auditioned for the New York Fashion Week.

“Nag-audition po ako sa New York Fashion Week,” she said during an interview with ABS-CBN. According to her, she had a live audition for the prestigious occasion as a muse for Furne One. “Yung designer pa rin po si Ms. Furne One, parang online po. Bale pinost lang po yung audition ko. Live po yun, hindi lang si Ms. Furne One [ang present] kundi yung mga, sino nga ba yun? Yung mga nasa New York Fashion Week, mga malalaking tao dun,” Entrata revealed.

She shared though that it is still not sure if she will be accepted to walk the New York Fashion Week runways.

“Hindi po biro kasi yun, so hindi ko pa po talaga alam kung sakaling matutuloy po yun. Kung tanggap ako, e, di tanggap. Pero alamin po natin,” she ended.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Continued from the previous week…)

There were happy times too and she chose to dwell on them.

Elaine imagined herself to be like a film editor retaining the reels of fun and laughter they had during the early years of their family life.

She smiles broadly recalling their wedding, two normal childbirths, flying kites in the open space and on the beaches when the children were growing and just countless fun times they shared and recorded in fading photographs and video clips.

And like the editor of her life, she chose to gloss over and edit out the ugly parts and leave them on the cutting room floor, swept in a bin and zapped away from memory. Poof. Gone. Forgiven and Forgotten.

This is just how I cope and how I choose to remember my life and times, Elaine thought.

Some couples are described as two peas in a pod. Elaine and Neil were more like two Mexican jumping beans trapped in a pod.

She often gritted her teeth and bit back a retort when things got heated. She didn’t want the children to hear. She turned to prayer, first as an escape valve, and later as a real comfort and eventually, a deep, unfailing source of peace and strength.

With a solid faith in God ‘s mercy and love, peace did come to their home. A deep-seated respect for each other quietly slipped in during their mature and last few years together.

Elaine placed everything in the backburner when she took care of Neil as he languished. She felt his pain and for his part, Neil began to see her in a different light.

Theirs was not an all-consuming love affair, which she sometimes thought was the stuff of

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAyMond BUlAon SLEEPLESS nights… Stressed out… Worried about the future…

Always broke no matter how hard they work…Feeling hopeless about their situation.

This is what most people are going through when they are considering bankruptcy in order to get out of debt. The word “bankruptcy” often produces negative feelings because some people equate it with failure. They think that filing bankruptcy means they have failed and that they are admitting defeat. But nothing can be further from the truth.

Listen to me! Bankruptcy is not about failing; it’s about starting again and putting the past behind you so that you can move on to bigger and better things.

A lot of creditors will lie to you when you’re in debt and tell you that bankruptcy is the ‘worst mistake’ you can ever make because your credit will be ‘ruined forever’ and that you will never be able to buy a car or house again. Wrong again.

The truth is that bankruptcy is a fact of life. At one time or another, everyone experiences financial difficulties. When you’re in a situation where you have done everything you can to pay your

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case. However once the divorce case is opened, many self-represented petitioners are not able to finish their divorce case to judgment for various reasons. The most common reasons are the following: Improper Proof of Service of Divorce Petition Self-represented litigants are not familiar with the code of civil procedures on how initial pleadings should be served on the opposing party and the notice requirements. As such the Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction on the other party until proper service on that party is done properly.

Failed to prepare and exchanged required financial disclosures California family code requires

community 5

Once upon a time series...

Meet Elaine, the rock Part 2 of 2

“…Elaine and Neil were more like two Mexican jumping beans trapped in a pod. ...”

Hollyweird garbage anyway, but they managed to work out their differences over time. As they mellowed, they became patient and kinder with each other. Eventually, love did come to dwell in their hearts. A sense of overwhelming peace washed over them in the few remaining years left.

During the critical times, Elaine learned to tough it out. She stood her ground to keep her family together. And yet, she understood the frailty of unions which crack and fall apart at the merest hint of trouble.

Elaine decided early on that she would be the glue to hold her family together — no matter what. The only thing that would break her resolve would be if there was another woman involved. Thankfully, there wasn’t.

More than anything, it was personality differences that threatened their marriage.

Their two children turned out right and became upstanding, caring young adults of strong faith. For Elaine, it was all worth the struggle of keeping their family whole.

Two years into her grief, Elaine thought she was finally done with all her struggles. She expected a season of calm. But fate had other plans. Life wasn’t done with her yet and another curve ball was headed her way.

Elaine’s younger sister, Joyce and her husband, Jerry, died suddenly, within months of each other, her brother-in-law in a motor accident and her dear sister, in a rare, aggressive form of cancer

that left two teen-agers — a girl and a boy — to fend for themselves.

Elaine had a huge heart and she took the youngsters under her wing and helped them heal after the tragic loss of their parents.

She helped them finish school and get onto meaningful career tracks. She became their mother and the two orphans realized just how great Aunt Elaine was. They called her Mom. Instead of two children, now she had four who loved her dearly.

As she looked back at her life, Elaine marveled at how she had managed it all. She realized she was never alone during her seasons of struggle over darkness.

There was always something guiding her and protecting her – a bright light that shone in her heart and is reflected in her being. God and His angels have been with her every nanosecond of her valiant. little life. Of this, Elaine is certain.

Elaine didn’t accrue material things for herself. In fact, she gave them away as fast as she could. Yet the one thing she did have is a family cobbled together by nothing more than steadfast love, kindness and a deep, unyielding faith in the goodness of God. Elaine knew she was going to be just fine no matter what.

She would be leaving a small yet beautiful legacy. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Trapped in debt and have no choice but to file bankruptcy? creditors but nothing has worked, bankruptcy may be your only option so you can start a new life.

And this is exactly what Congress intended when they passed bankruptcy laws. So with bankruptcy, you get another chance. You wipe the slate clean and move on with your life, free from the burdens of debt.

Can you just imagine what would happen if we had no bankruptcy laws that can help people get out of debt when they can no longer help themselves? Filing for bankruptcy means that you are filing a petition for relief from the bankruptcy court. The court reviews your application and determines whether on not you are entitled to the relief you are seeking. It is not for dishonest people who are trying to cheat the system.

Contrary to what others think, most people who file for bankruptcy are honest, hard-working people who have gotten themselves in a big financial mess. In some cases it is caused by factors beyond their control. In other cases, it is a result of making bad financial decisions. But who hasn’t made a bad decision in their life at least once? Life is not perfect.

Neither are you.

Filing bankruptcy can help you regain your footing if you have lost control of your finances. If you are

living your life without a financial plan for the future, you will never achieve financial security. So you can say that bankruptcy is a tool that allows you to reorganize your finances so you can plan a better future for yourself and your family.

It is neither good nor bad in and of itself. You can use a tool for the wrong or right reasons. Using it for the wrong reasons is NOT the intent of our bankruptcy laws.

Is it for you? Maybe, yes.

Maybe, no. It certainly is not for everyone. But when appropriate for your situation, it could be the best thing that ever happened to you- and it could be a big turning point in your life if you are drowning in debt. This is what you need, isn’t it?

If you need some straight talk about bankruptcy and get all your questions answered, I will give you a free initial consultation so we can talk about your situation. Just call 866-477-7772 and schedule an appointment. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

I filed my own divorce but I can’t finish it that both parties exchange complete and accurate financial disclosures. Proof that these financial disclosures have been exchanged needs to be filed in Court. The court will not enter judgment on a divorce case unless the financial disclosure requirements are satisfied.

Default Judgment does not conform with the Petition for dissolution If the respondent has been defaulted and the petitioner is moving for a default divorce judgment, the default judgment must conform to the divorce petition. If the two does not conform to each other, the court will often reject the judgment.

Child Support requested is not guideline Child support in California is based on guideline. Sometimes the self-represented litigant will try to ignore child support or seek a child support order that is not based on guideline. This will result on the judgment being rejected by the Court.

Pension and Retirement plans were not joined Some pension and retirement plans (such as local government retirement plans) need to be joined in the divorce action if there is a community property

interest in these plans. Self-represented litigants are not aware of these rules and often ignore this requirement.

QDRO was not prepared to divide Pension and Retirement plans Certain pension and retirement plans that are covered

by ERISA requires a qualified domestic relations order to be divided (QDRO).

Self-represented litigants often ignore this requirement. As a result, the plan is not divided.

Unequal division of community property in default divorce cases If there is no settlement agreement, then the court has to divide the community property and debt equally between the parties. Often, self-represented parties will try to propose or prove up an unequal division of community property and debt usually in their favor.

Trying to save on legal fees by handling your own divorce case could turn into a nightmare if your case has issues that needs to be handles a certain way. It is like trying to fix your own plumbing problem if you have no plumbing experience, it could end up costing you more.

Continued on Page 6

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwrence yAng LET’S give bankruptcy a historical and legal perspective.

Right now, when we say bankruptcy law, we refer to the federal law called the “Bankruptcy Code” of 2005.

Creditors did a lot of lobbying in Congress to fashion the 2005 bankruptcy Code to enhance their interests. Thus, the 2005 Bankruptcy Code incorporates the “means test,” which basically uses the deductions allowed by the IRS from gross income to set the threshold to filter out which debtor can qualify for Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code. Chapter 7 is the “fresh start” chapter of the bankruptcy code, which allows the debtor to “discharge” most, if not all of the accumulated debt, while allowing the debtor to keep most, if not all of his assets through a system of asset exemption.

For example, senior clients own a house with equity that is within the exemption, a retirement portfolio of $500,000, an older model MB-E 350 with a car loan of $15,000, a new Tesla Model X with a car loan of $50,000, and they owe $70,000 of credit card debts. They pay $2,000 a month to keep the $70,000 of credit cards current.

Since they now rely on social security income and income from their $500,000 of retirement savings, they are having a hard time setting aside $2,000 a month for credit cards.

Even if their combined social security income and portfolio income is $80,000 a year, allocating 30% of that income or $24,000 a year to keep their cards current is a pain. They would like to travel the world more often but the $24,000 a year for credit cards means they have to stay put in LA. So clients are not a good place to be in.

In this case, given these circumstances, Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code will allow clients to keep their house, their cars, their retirement portfolio (must be ERISA qualified 401K, IRA, DBP etc.) while “discharging” their $70,000 of credit

What does a ‘fresh start’ after bankruptcy mean?

cards.

In other words, bankruptcy law allows them to keep all their assets and all their income sources while the Federal court issues an order that “wipes out” the $70,000 of credit cards. Just

imagine the amount of money clients are going to save if the $70,000 is discharged. In two years they save $50,000. In four years, they save $100,000.

Whereas, if they did not get rid Continued on Page 6

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 S E P T E M B E R 22

Virgen de los Remedios procession and mass in Los Angeles Filipinos, Latinos, Marian groups, civic organizations and devotees will join in an afternoon procession during the annual pilgrimage to Mary on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. This year’s celebration includes special prayers for the Catholic Church in the Philippines that the clergy and faithful be always courageous instruments of God’s truth, love and peace. Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has asked Filipinos to pray in solidarity for four Catholic bishops, three priests and a religious brother among others who have been filed with charges of inciting sedition, libel and obstruction of justice by Philippine authorities. Newly appointed Filipino auxiliary bishop Alejandro Aclan of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will preside in the solemn concelebrated Mass. Catholic columnist, Rev. Rodel Balagtas will deliver the homily, as he leads his kabalens from Minalin who are hosting this event. The highlight of the festivities is the reenactment of canonical coronation of Virgen de los Remedios bestowed by Pope Pius XII in 1956. The procession and mass begins at 2:30 p.m.

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

S E P T E M B E R 28

75th Anniversary of Leyte fundraiser gala in Carson, CA The Erasto R. Batongmalaque Foundation will be holding a fundraising gala on Saturday, September 28 at the Carson Community Center leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Leyte landing on Oct. 20. The foundation is dedicated to servicing the ongoing needs of surviving veterans of World War II as well as other veterans of recent conflicts. This will lead into two other events on Oct. 12 and Oct. 20. The ticket is at $75 payable to the E.R.B. Foundation. Call Julie at (310) 835-8365 or (424) 257-2504 for more information.

Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Chatsworth, CA The Archdiocese of Los Angeles Filipino Ministry invites you to the San Fernando Region celebration of the feast day of the first Filipino Saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila. This festive occasion will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at St. John Eudes Church, 9901 Mason St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Procession will start at 10:30 a.m. Eucharistic celebration will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Joel Henson, director of Ongoing Formation of Clergy, Archdiocese of Los Angeles as the main celebrant. Reception, fellowship and program to follow immediately after the mass. For further inquiries, please contact Patty Santiago (818)472-4288, Dominic Mendoza (818) 687-4890 or Mia Macalino (818) 517-4300.

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

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

people & events 6 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

What does a ‘fresh start’...

From Page 5 of these cards, they will spend another $100,000 in four years, but still, owe the same $70,000!

The relief from debt for clients is tremendous. It’s the difference between night and day.

The bankruptcy “discharge” is the essence of the bankruptcy “fresh start.” The United States Supreme Court, in many bankruptcy cases, brought before it has stated that the bankruptcy “discharge” gives the honest debtor, a new opportunity in life and a clear field for future effort, unhampered by the pressure and discouragement of pre-existing debts.”

It is obvious that clients are suffering a lot of pressure and discouragement to fork out $24,000 of their income every year to service their $70,000 of credit cards. Thus, bankruptcy law and the U.S. Supreme Court want to give clients a new opportunity in life unhampered by the pressure and discouragement of pre-existing debts, even though they are now seniors.

And of course, a fresh start really has nothing to do with age, my youngest client is only 22 and she needs a fresh start because of pre-existing debt that she cannot pay off since a friend of hers used her credit cards without her knowledge and consent.

Just think about it. Clients still have their house, their cars, their retirement portfolio of $500,000, and still have all their income, but they don’t have the $70,000 of credit card debts anymore. It’s the same as having all cancer cells successfully removed from your body. Except that in Chapter 7, clients do not

have to undergo chemotherapy.

They get a fresh start in life with all of their assets, which they keep, and have zero credit card debts. Further, they will be able to rebuild their credit score very fast. They have nothing to lose except burdensome pre-existing debts. Just the other day, another senior client discharged $30,000 of credit cards, and he feels great! He actually had a total makeover. He had a triple bypass and after one month of recovering from that, he said, “let’s go ahead and file my Chapter 7 case because , with my triple bypass, I feel great, and now I want to feel great financially with a ‘fresh start’ without my $30,000 of credit card debts!”

What does the federal bankruptcy court “discharge” order mean? It means that creditors cannot collect, in any way, shape or form the discharged debts from the debtor. This is permanent. Even if clients win the lottery of $100M next year, they don’t have to pay back the $70K as long as 6 months from discharge date has elapsed.

Creditors lose the right to collect permanently. The debts as discharged permanently. Debtors are given a new financial start in life.

How long is the wait to buy a house after bankruptcy? Normal ly, in two years from discharge date, debtors can qualify for mortgage loans to buy a house at higher interest. If a person with an excellent credit score will pay 4%, in two years, a discharged debtor will pay maybe 6%.

But not all debts are dischargeable. Child support and

alimony are not. Student loans are not, unless you can show extreme hardship. Debts incurred by intentional torts cannot. For instance, you killed somebody and the victim’s family obtained a $50 million judgment against you, that $50 million cannot be discharged. You will bring that debt to hell with you. However, I did settle a $1 million wrongful debt judgment against the debtor for $50,000. The client made an illegal U-turn causing an accident with a motorcycle that caused the death of the motorcycle driver. The debtor’s asset structure was favorable and conducive for a $50,000 settlement.

The debtor had to go to jail for three years for the homicide.

Is bankruptcy constitutional?

Of course, it is. Article 1, section 8, clause 4 authorizes Congress to make “uniform laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States.”

Even our loving God favors debt forgiveness. Deuteronomy 15:1 – At the end of every 7 years you shall grant remission of debts.

If you need debt relief, call our office to set an appointment. 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 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South-Lower Level Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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I filed my own divorce but I can’t finish...

From Page 5 If you opened up your divorce case but cannot seem to finish it due to some issues, it is best to seek the help of a highly qualified family law attorney. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

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

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

The specific facts that apply to your

matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of

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Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail “mailto: kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com” kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 11, 2019