091819 - Southern California Midweek Edition

September 18-20, 2019 Volume 29 - No. 73 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

Palace hits US docufilm on Duterte as ‘derogatory, biased’ saturated with false and baseless narratives relative to the Philippine government’s anti-narcotMALACAÑANG on Tuesday, ics approach, specifically on the September 17, dismissed as “de- nature and number of deaths rogatory and biased” a documen- arising from police operations tary film, which looked into Pres- against it,” he added. ident Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly “On The President’s Orders,” campaign against drug dealers which was produced by awardand users in the Philippines. winning filmmakers James Jones “The Palace is vexed by the and Olivier Sarbil, will debut at continuous spread of disinfor- Cinema Village in New York on mation against our country’s October 4 and Laemmle Theaters campaign against illegal drugs in Los Angeles on October 18. and criminality,” Palace spokesIt will also air nationwide in the person Salvador Panelo said in a United States on PBS Broadcast statement. in October. A special press pre“Foreign audiences have been u PAGE A2

by CATHERINE

VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo ManilaTImes.net photo

USA

DATELINE Anti-human trafficking summit highlights scope of trafficking within Filipino community FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

“Nanay” Fedelina Lugasan recounts a life of modern slavery AFTER decades of enslavement, Fedelina Lugasan can finally breathe.

This past July, the 83-year-old Filipina domestic worker was rescued in Northridge, California after more than 30 years of domestic servitude with meager pay and no days off.

Born in Leyte, Philippines, Lugasan was 16 years old when she was recruited by the family of Benedicta Cox as the family’s live-in housekeeper in Manila. When she was 28 years old, Lugasan was brought to the U.S. to care for Cox’s sister who was sick but little did Lugasan know that she would end up working for the entire family.

For the next three decades, Lugasan served the Cox family, cooking, cleaning and caring for the

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs executive order to confront youth vaping pidemic SACRAMENTO – On Monday, September 16, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to confront the growing youth epidemic and health risks linked to vaping. The executive order directs the Department of Public Health (CDPH) to launch a $20 million statewide digital and social media public awareness campaign to educate youth, young adults and parents about the health risks of vaping nicotine and cannabis products. CDPH is also tasked with developing recommendations to reduce smoking among young adults and teens by establishing warning signs with health risks where vaping products are sold and on product advertisements.

“We must take immediate action to meet the urgency behind this public health crisis and youth epidemic,” said Governor Newsom. “As a parent, I understand the anxi-

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Duterte meets with officials of Communist PH Senate conducts ‘historic’ hearing on divorce bill Party of China

DIVORCE BILL. Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, and Family Relations, presides over the public hearing on proposed “Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines” at the Senate in Pasay city on Tuesday, September 17. Also in photo is Len Arcilla (inset), resource person from Divorce Coalition Pilipinas, narrating the suffering under her unsuccessful married life.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Monday night, September 16, said President Rodrigo Duterte met with Chongqing party chief Chen Min’er and other members of Communist Party of China (CPC) in a courtesy call at the Palace’s Music Room.

In a press statement, Malacañang described Chen as “a protégé of Chinese President Xi Jinping,” and that he “is seen as a rising political star in China.”

Chen became the Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing, one of China’s leading cities, two years ago, as well as one of the 25-member Politburo, the CPC’s top decision-making body.

He also served as the head of the provincial department of propaganda and vice governor of Zhejiang province. He became Guizhou’s governor in 2013 before being promoted as provincial communist party secretary.

Accompanying Chen in Malacañang were hinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, Vice Minister of the International Department-CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) Guo Yezhou, Executive Vice Mayor of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government and Secretary-General of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee Wang Fu. The Filipino officials present during the meeting included PDP-Laban President Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, Department of Energy Secretary and PDP-Laban Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority Secretary and PDP-Laban Vice President for International Affairs Raul Lambino, Department of Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Jose Eduardo Mala-

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THE Senate on Tuesday, September 17, conducted its first ever hearing on the proposed divorce law in the Philippines.

Presiding over the hearing is Senate committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who called this first deliberation on the divorce bill “historic.”

“This is history in the making,” she said in her opening statement.

“We are in the process of making history by crafting a policy to make dissolution of marriage available to all Filipinos who want second chances in love, to rebuild their families and start all over again,” she added.

Hontiveros, while a staunch supporter of the institution of marriage, said Filipinos especially women and their children “should

have the right to turn the page and be free from abusive and loveless relationships.”

“My sympathy and support go out to my countrymen, especially since there are many women who are victims of domestic violence and psychological abuse,” she said in Filipino.

“They, together with their children, deserve all the chances available in this world to build nurturing families and find true

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DND concerned about AFP deal with China-backed telco

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal (2nd from right); AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, Maj. Gen. Adrian Sanchez Jr. (right); Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company chief administrative officer, lawyer Adel Tamano (left); and Dito president and chief executive officer Dennis Uy (2nd from left) lead the ceremonial signing of memorandum of agreement allowing the new telco player to build its communications facilities in military camps and installations held at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City last September 11.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

THE Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, September 16, said it has a concern over the agreement between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Chinese-linked telco firm Dito Telecommunity Corp.

“Nothing unusual, just that when somebody puts something up inside camp, we have to look into this always,” said DND spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong in an interview on the sidelines of the plenary hearing

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Senators reject ‘crazy’ idea to ban private cars along EDSA

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

In this Sept. 13, 2019 photo, motorists plying EDSA northbound in Quezon City experience bumper-to-bumper traffic during the morning rush hour traffic.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel de Guzman

VIRAY

SENATORS have rejected the proposal of a lawmaker to ban private vehicles from EDSA during rush hours.

Rep. Edgar Erice (Caloocan City) said EDSA should only be accessible to public utility vehicles from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Erice’s proposal is a “crazy idea” but he is free to suggest solutions to the traffic crisis in Metro Manila.

“I don’t take those seriously. Private car owners pay a lot of taxes.

Excise, VAT, duties, road users tax on vehicles and excise, VAT on petroleum. Hundreds of billions a year,” Recto told reporters.

Senate President Tito Sotto, meanwhile, said Erice’s suggestion was “not a well-thought-of idea.”

While the Caloocan solon suggested adding buses during rush hours, Sotto questioned where to “dump” public vehicles during non-rush hours.

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A September 18-20, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

DND concerned about AFP deal with China...

PAGE A1 for the DND’s 2020 budget at the House of Representatives.

“As with any proponent or entity that wishes to put up any infrastructure inside camp, we have a concern always,” he added.

The AFP on Wednesday, September 11, signed an agree-

ment with Dito Telecommunity that allows the telco to put up its communication equipment and facilities inside military camps and military communication sites.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said he was unaware of the agreement at the time it was signed, and

that he will now “carefully scrutinize” it.

“I am traveling kasi when this came out. When I inquired the CSAFP said the MOA is going to my office for my approval.

So now I am aware of it and I will scrutinize it carefully before giving my approval. I’ll be back in Manila on the 20th,” he said in a text message.

Despite this, the deal with Dito Telecommunity followed the regular process, according to Andolong, as the AFP is “usually authorized” to enter into agreements which are later submitted to the secretary of national defense (SND) for evaluation.

“Whether they like it or not, dadaan kay SND ‘yan (it will pass through SND)… The buck stops with the SND. It’s up to him whether he will approve this or not,” Andolong said.

Threat to national security?

Dito Telecommunity being composed of a consortium with Chinese government-controlled China Telecom has drawn worries and criticism that China may use the deal for espionage.

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas on Monday expressed concern over the deal’s national security implications, pointing out the danger of having a Chinesebacked telco gaining access to Philippine military facilities.

However, the AFP dismissed the concerns, explaining that the facilities of Dito Telecommunity would be “physically separate” from the military’s own communication lines, and that they would be built in military reservations, not necessarily “within camps.”

AFP public affairs chief Colonel Noel Detoyato, for his part, said they are open to Lorenzana scrutinizing the agreement as well as to calling the deal off should he find anything that compromises national security.

Andolong, meanwhile, is firm in his belief that the AFP exercised due diligence before signing the agreement with Dito Telecommunity.

“I think the AFP knows what it’s doing. They had their own vetting and evaluation of the deal. So we’re pretty confident that they did that,” Andolong said. n

RICE PRICE MONITORING. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar (in vest jacket), together with other government officials, supervises the unloading of NFA rice during the on-site price monitoring in Commonwealth Market, Quezon City. The DA is working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in monitoring the prices of rice in the market.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Palace hits US docufilm on...

PAGE A1 view is set for September 24 in Los Angeles.

The documentary film was included as official selection of 2019 Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom; 2019 HotDocs Film Festival in Toronto, Canada; 2019 Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York and 2019 CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Panelo, who also serves as Duterte’s top legal counsel, said the U.S. docufilm appeared to be the latest addition to the “unmitigated vilifications” against Duterte.

“We find this derogatory and biased, if not outright fiction. It is obvious that the film medium is riding on the coattails of the president’s international popularity and success, and is being used as a medium to espouse a one-sided information bordering on black propaganda aimed at gullible foreign audiences who know little or zero-knowledge about the Philippines and its government,” he said.

Panelo further pointed out that “in creating a film, it is easy to select fractions of video clips or soundbites that serve the purpose of the filmmakers in falsely portraying a dangerous Philippines and a murderous government while omitting scenes that

reflect the opposite.”

“Moviegoers are more inclined to watch a thrilling film that depicts a country as menacing instead of a lackluster motion picture showcasing its progress and development,” Panelo said.

“Those who will watch the movie is advised and informed that the Philippines is an archipelago where the illegal drug trade is a billion-peso industry, in that 97% of small villages which we call barangay, have or had already been infiltrated,” he added.

Panelo maintained that “the government’s campaign against prohibited narcotics is anchored primarily on national security and public safety.”

He also reiterated that “drugrelated killings are absolutely not state-initiated nor statesponsored.”

“These killings result from violent resistance on the part of those sought to be arrested by police agents, proof of which is the death of scores of policemen and serious injuries to hundreds of others,” Panelo said, adding that “a number of these deaths is also caused by members of the prohibited drug industry who kill each other because of, among others, rivalry, botched deals and swindling.”

“The president, as strict enforcer of the law, does not tolerate abusive police officers.

They are not – and will never be – exempted from administrative sanction and criminal prosecution should there be an abuse on their part,” he added.

Panelo then echoed Duterte’s line in his State of the Nation Address that “those who abuse their authority will have hell to pay.”

“The docufilm, together with its so-called cinematic investigation on drug-related deaths, evidently has been deliberately overdramatized for the purpose, apart from putting the Philippines in a bad light, of creating a better cinematic experience for its audience,” he said.

“We caution its potential viewers to be circumspect in evaluating the truthfulness of the film,” the Palace official added.

Duterte has overseen a narcotics crackdown in which police have killed more than 6,000 suspected drug offenders since he was elected three years ago.

Rights groups, however, say the actual number of dead is at least three times higher.

Government has repeatedly denied involvement in summary killings, saying drug suspects slain in police operations had resisted arrest. n

PH Senate conducts ‘historic’ hearing on...

PAGE A1 and meaningful relationships,” the senator added.

Hontiveros also maintained that the divorce bill is “pro-marriage, pro-family and pro-children” as it will make people respect marriage more by being more discerning with their choices in life and protects children from abuse and rebuilds broken families.

“It makes us respect marriage more by being more discerning with our choices in life. It protects children from abuse and rebuilds broken families,” she said.

“We can call it whatever we want. Divorce. Dissolution of marriage or whatever. The important thing is, giving a second chance to our people,” Hontiveros added.

Change of term According to Hontiveros, if the lawmakers have an issue with semantics, advocates were open to changing the term “divorce.”

She said if the term “divorce” is contentious, then “dissolution of marriage” would be issued in the committee report she will draft.

“The term dissolution of marriage is acceptable already for the advocates. It’s fine with them if the

word divorce is already contentious, as long as the grounds they are asking for to have a second chance [in life] is covered,” Hontiveros said.

She added that some of her colleagues in the Senate are more inclined to support the “dissolution of marriage.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III himself had said that a measure with the term “dissolution of marriage” has a better fighting chance in the upper chamber than divorce.

“I don’t have the exact numbers right now pero in terms of sensing, I do sense there is more openness to the dissolution of marriage bill compared to other contentious bills,” Hontiveros said.

She also said that she is willing to hold more hearings or technical working group meetings before elevating it to the plenary should there be calls for extensive discussion on the issue.

Banning divorce is ‘tortuously inhumane’ Resource persons who were at the hearing stressed that banning divorce does not only lead to exploitations but is also “tortuously

inhumane.’

Marc Anthony Luna from the Divorce Coalition of the Philippines addressed the panel saying that annulment is “one of the milking cows” of lawyers. A former OFW, Luna said he didn’t pursue annulment because he doesn’t believe in it and it is a process that is being exploited.

Independent journalist Ana Santos said that the divorce ban in the Philippines has created scammers who take advantage of married couples breaking up.

Apart from lawyers (both fake and legitimate) who run away with their clients’ money, she also added that there are courts that manufacture annulment proceedings and decisions.

Santos, who went through an annulment, said the divorce ban is “tortuously inhumane” as it “not only takes such a long time, not only bleed you of your money but it pits the couple against each other.”

An annulment is a civil procedure in which a judge declares the marital union between a husband and a wife no longer PAGE A4

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Dateline USa

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-20, 2019

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ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs executive...

PAGE A1 ety caused by the deceptive marketing tactics and flavored options designed to target our kids. With mysterious lung illnesses and deaths on the rise, we have to educate our kids and do everything we can to tackle this crisis. There is a broad and bipartisan coalition of legislators seeking to protect our youth, and we are committed to working with the Legislature and stakeholders to build on these executive actions and put forward a strong tobacco reform package in 2020.”

The Governor also announced that he signed SB 39 by Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), legislation which will impose stricter age verification requirements for tobacco products sold online or by mail.

Vaping devices are the most commonly used tobacco product in California and more than 80 percent of high-school teens who consume tobacco use a vaping device. Of the California teens who consume tobacco products, 86.4 percent report using a flavored tobacco product. There are over 15,500 eliquid flavors, some of which have proven to cause significant health effects.

From 2016 to 2018, vaping among California high school students rose 27 percent. In 2018, 10.9 percent of California high school students reported

using e-cigarettes and 14.7 percent reported using cannabis.

“As a state, we can no longer stand by as a new generation falls victim to big tobacco, with vaping products that directly target our children,” said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “The Governor’s action will raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco products and the risks associated with e-cigarettes and vaping, as well as look at enforcement actions that show Californians the gravity of targeting young people and their health.”

The Governor’s executive order includes: • Increased enforcement of e-cigarettes: The Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) will develop recommendations to remove illegal or counterfeit vaping products from stores and reducing youth vaping consumption through increased enforcement and incorporating nicotine content into the calculation of the existing tax on electronic cigarettes.

CDTFA shall consider revenues currently derived from taxation of electronic cigarettes and the revenues that may be collected from a nicotine-based tax, the potential for evasion and the feasibility of instituting a stamping requirement to maximize compliance. CDTFA shall submit its recommendations to

the Governor’s office by October 29, 2019.

• Warning signs at retailers and on advertisements: The CDPH is directed to develop recommendations to reduce the availability of vaping devices to persons under 21 years of age, which includes the establishment of warning signs about the health risks of vaping at retailers where any vaping product is sold and in any vaping advertisements. This includes increased enforcement regarding sales of vaping products and specifically e-liquid flavors, to youth. In addition, the CDPH shall make recommendations regarding the establishment of standards for nicotine content and uniform packaging for purposes of including nicotine content in the calculation of the existing tax on electronic cigarettes. The Department of Public Health shall submit its recommendations to the Governor’s Office by October 14, 2019.

• Program Funds for Vaping Awareness Campaign: The CDPH is immediately directed to allocate a total of at least $20 million in tobacco and cannabis program funds for a vaping awareness campaign, including digital and social media messaging focused on youth, young adults and parents. This will build upon the award-wining and longest running anti-tobacco program in the nation. n

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Dateline USa

A September 18-20, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

Is #Facebookdown? Hashtag trend as users report problems The hashtag #Facebookdown trended on Twitter Philippines Sunday after several users complained that they were experiencing technical problems on the social networking site.

Facebook users took to Twitter to report the issues they were experiencing with the social media giant prompting the hashtag to make it to the top trending topics in the country since Sunday noon, September 15.

As of posting, Twitter recorded over 2,000 tweets about #Face-

bookdown.

A live outage map from website downdetector.ph, which reports the performance of Facebook worldwide in real-time, showed that the Philippines is among the countries that reported having issues with using Facebook.

Other countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, France, hungary, Greece and United Kingdom also reported having Facebook problems.

The tech website said Facebook has been having issues since 9:28

a.m.

It added that users reported problems about logging in (48 percent), total blackout (38 percent) and usage of Facebook apps (12 percent).

The website downdetector.ph said Facebook users in the Philippines also experienced problems on Saturday, September 14.

The social media giant has yet to issue a confirmation or statement regarding the reported temporary Facebook outage. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)

Police rule out foul play in American’s death in Cagayan de Oro AUThOrITIeS on Monday, September 16, ruled out foul play in the death of an American national inside his house here Sunday night, September 15.

Bryan richard roche, 59, a divorcee native of Boston, Massachusetts, was found dead by his Filipina partner at 10:42 p.m. on Sunday.

City police spokesperson Major evan Viñas said roche, a retired U.S. Army soldier, who arrived here about two years ago, was “already lifeless” when his Filipina partner Lani Manzano, 49, checked on him inside their rented apartment in Barangay Camaman-an here.

Viñas said roche, who relied only on his pension for his daily needs here, was left inside the house alone on Sunday as Manzano was out of the house for hours before she found the foreigner dead in his room.

“She must have been gone for hours and when she came back, she found roche already dead,” Viñas said, referring to Manzano. roche had been briefly detained at a local police station on June 6 this year for grave threats filed by a neighbor but the complaint was later dropped.

Senior Master Sergeant Neil Apollo delas Alas, the investiga-

tor, said the American had earlier been confined at the Maria reyna Xavier University hospital, where he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas, and hypertensive urgency.

Viñas said the victim insisted on going out of the hospital against the doctor’s advice on Sept. 15. he said roche signed a waiver and was released on Sunday afternoon. “he told his partner he would rather stay at home than at the hospital,” Viñas said.

The U.S. embassy in Manila had been informed of roche’s death. (Jigger Jerusalem/Inquirer.net)

Senators reject ‘crazy’ idea to ban private...

PAGE A1 “My original suggestion is still the best, no parking in the entire Metro Manila streets from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Sotto said.

Sotto earlier suggested implementing a “no parking” policy in all city streets to encourage private vehicles to take alternative routes to their destinations.

This would decongest eDSA as private vehicles would no longer have to pass through the major thoroughfare in Metro Manila, Sotto said. n

Duterte meets with officials of Communist...

PAGE A1 ya III, and Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Francis Tolentino.

Back in March, Duterte also met with a Chinese delegation

led by Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, to explain that the Philippine government had nothing to do with the com-

plaint filed against Xi before the International Criminal Court by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and former Foreign Secretary Albert del rosario. n

Senate conducts ‘historic’ hearing on...

PAGE A2

valid. Proceedings cost at least P200,000 and it is the only option for Filipino couples who want to break up their marriage.

A predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines is one of the two countries that still ban divorce (the other one is Vatican City, an independent ecclesiastical sovereign city-state).

The Family Code of the Philippines states that a marriage can

only be annulled if: • The party in whose behalf it is sought to have the marriage annulled was 18 years of age or over but below 21 and the marriage was solemnized without the consent of the parents, guardian or person having substitute parental authority over the party • either party was of unsound mind • The consent of either party

was obtained by fraud • The consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue influence • either party was physically incapable of consummating the marriage with the other and such incapacity continues and appears to be incurable • either party was afflicted with a sexually-transmissible disease found to be serious and appears to be incurable. n

CHINESE FUGITIVES. Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Dante Jimenez (middle), Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Atty. Tobias Javier (left), and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (right), present the three Chinese fugitives wanted by Chinese authorities for their involvement in economic crimes in China in a press conference held at NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on Monday, September 16. The arrested fugitives were identified as Chen Xianfeng, 42; Wang Changsen, 27; and Qin Shuxin, 24. Jimenez said that warrant of arrest for the suspects revealed their engagement in an investment scam that victimized more than a thousand individuals in China amounting to more than 100 million RMB (over P700 million).

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Anti-human trafficking summit highlights scope of...

PAGE A1 children, all with no pay and days off. Although the home in Southern California had four bedrooms, Lugasan was forced to sleep on the floor with no mattress.

“I worked so hard even when my body was really hurting, and when it got really bad, I would cry [and] tears would be coming out nonstop. But I couldn’t complain, I couldn’t protest, and I felt so helpless,” Lugasan said of her decades of servitude under Cox at a summit on human trafficking on Friday, September 13, in Los Angeles hosted by the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).

Speaking with the conviction of Lugasan — who affectionately goes

by Nanay Fedelina — recounted a lifetime of lies and neglect begat onto her by her employers, who mocked Lugasan whenever she said she wanted to leave, asking her, “Where would you go?” “[The Cox family] would threaten to call the police if I ever left and accuse me of stealing their things, which I never did. That scared me. I did not know anyone who could help me and of course, I didn’t want to go to jail for something that I didn’t do,” Lugasan recalled.

PWC has estimated that throughout her decades of work, Lugasan’s back wages come to about $1.6 million, using California’s minimum wage at the time Lugasan began employment with the Cox family in 1980.

But Lugasan’s lifelong experience in modern slavery isn’t unique at all. Just like Lugasan, tens of thousands of people all over the world are duped into promises of stable work and income in the United States only to be subjected to harsh working conditions, low

pay and abuse.

Trends show that a growing number of traffickers are utilizing social media platforms in order to coerce victims into sex work or domestic servitude.

According to a report from the U.S. health and human Services, an estimated 50,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. annually, with a majority of them coming from Mexico and the Philippines.

According to the human Trafficking hotline, a significant majority of victims are women and minors and an overwhelming majority of cases are reported in California.

Filipinos may be recruited by individuals who promise things like stable income, shelter and a pathway to citizenship, or they may be tapped by agencies in hospitality, the service industry or homecare who end up exploiting workers and threaten them into submission.

And it may be difficult to even identify a human trafficking situation on its face. PWC executive Director Aquilina Versoza noted that, like Lugasan, oftentimes looks as normal as picking up kids from the school, running errands or working in the garden. But behind the pedestrian facade may be hiding something more sinister.

“It just really sheds a light on how our judicial system fails to protect victims and that the need for anti-human trafficking reform in our legislation is more urgent than ever,” Versoza said at the summit. “We celebrate Nanay Fedelina’s freedom today, but as I’ve said, it’s bittersweet. Nobody should ever have to endure what she has endured for so many years.”

Lugasan was finally rescued in 2018 when she collapsed in a

hospital while watching over Cox who was sick at the time. In the days preceding the collapse, she had not been able to sleep or eat, and when hospital employees suspected mistreatment of the woman, they contacted law enforcement.

The FBI then searched Cox’s residence and found all evidence of abuse and exploitation. Both the FBI and the PWC helped Lugasan during her rescue and transition into normal life, helping her obtain health care, housing, food and legal services. (After a lengthy investigation, law enforcement put Cox on house arrest, sentenced her to five years probation and ordered her to pay $101,119.98 in restitution.)

Through the help of the PWC and the Filipino American community at large, Lugasan said she’s now able to live the life she’s always wanted to live, and she feels emboldened as ever to be active in the fight against human trafficking.

“Now that I am free from the abuse, I want to let all workers who might be in a similar situation to seek help and don’t let people mistreat or abuse you. Like PWC, there are so many of us who are looking to help. I felt so alone before, so I know how [isolating] it feels, but please know you are not alone,” Lugasan said.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline can connect you with services and support and, most importantly, confidentiality. Call the hotline at 1-888-373-7888, text 233733 or visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org to chat with a representative. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SeptembeR 18-20, 2019

D ateline PhiliPPines Smuggling costs PH gov’t P200-B every year BoC (Bureau of Customs), especially steel,” Buhay party-list ManilaTimes.net Rep. Jose ‘Lito’ Atienza said.

A PARTY-list lawmaker urged He lamented that the Customs the government to intensify ef- bureau has yet to implement a forts to curb smuggling, saying provision of the Customs ModP200 billion is lost every year be- ernization and Tariff Act on the cause of this illegal activity. pre-inspection of container vans.

“Instead of introducing new Section 440 of the law mandates tax reforms to raise revenue for that container vans should be inthe government’s social services spected at their ports of origin. and infrastructure programs, the “They should be cleared at the government should be looking port of origin before shipment. into the issue of smuggling at When the Duterte administraby Jaime

PilaPil

Buhay party-list Rep. Jose ‘Lito’ Atienza

ManilaTimes.net photo

tion came in, we expected that it would be implemented, but until now, nothing has changed. Obviously, the DoF (Department of Finance) is not keen on its implementation,” the lawmaker said when the House of Representatives deliberated on the budget of the DoF. “Obviously, the government— the BoC and the DoF—don’t want to know what is inside the container vans. They are merely dependent on the declaration of importers. Industry analysts say that a minimum of P200 billion is lost every year due to unabated smuggling,” Atienza said.

“The huge amount of tax revenues the government is losing due to this malpractice could be used to fund infrastructure projects under the President’s ‘Build, Build, Build‘ ”programs, particularly those that are intended to alleviate the country’s transportation system to ease the commuters’ daily burden,” he added.

The lawmaker earlier urged the government to look into the possible collusion between Customs officials and large steel makers, saying lost tax revenues rooted on corruption could be enough to fund social services and infrastructure projects. n

Immunity from suit only applies to president – SC

by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

THE Supreme Court has ruled that immunity from suit does not extend to the alter egos of the president.

The high court denied the petition for review on certiorari filed by former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio, who was convicted by the Sandiganbayan for violating the Anti-Graft.

The case stemmed from the lease agreement involving 11 motor vehicles entered into by the PCGG with the United Coconut Planters Bank Leasing and Finance Corp. from 2007 to 2009.

The project did not undergo the required bidding.

“Sabio cannot claim immunity from suit for being an alter ego of the president. It was the PCGG, through Sabio and his commissioners, not the president, who entered into the subject lease agreements without the requisite

public bidding,” the court’s third division said in its ruling.

The ruling, penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, said it would be “ridiculous to hold that alter egos of the president are, likewise, immune from suit simply because their acts are considered acts of the president if not repudiated.”

“In fact, the 1987 Constitution is replete with provisions on the constitutional principles of accountability and good governance that should guide a public servant. The rule is that unlawful acts of public officials are not acts of the State and the officer who acts illegally is not acting as such, but stands in the same footing as any other trespasser,” it added.

It said Republic Act 9184, or the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” provides that all government procurement shall be done through competitive bidding, except as provided for in Article XVI the same law.

As a result, the Supreme Court

affirmed the decision of the Sandiganbayan in 2017 convicting Sabio.

The high tribunal held that there was bad faith on Sabio’s part in entering into the lease agreements without “undertaking the required procurement process; and subjecting government funds to unnecessary expenditure without pre-allocation and the necessity for the same.”

“As correctly ruled by the Sandiganbayan, Sabio’s acts unmistakably reflect a dishonest purpose or some moral obliquity and conscious doing of a wrong; a breach of sworn duty through some motive or intent or ill will,” it said.

It also noted that Sabio was a member of the Board the of United Coconut Planters Bank, the parent company of UCPB Leasing when the lease agreements were entered into, thus giving unwarranted benefit and advantage in favor of UCPB Leasing. n

A

Group to DA: Stop all pork imports by eireene

Gomez ManilaTimes.net

A BIG group composed of dozens of organizations has called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to immediately stop the importation of pork and processed pork meat.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) appealed to DA Secretary William Dar to suspend the issuance of sanitary and pytho-sanitary (SPS) permits and cancel all permits that have been issued for pork imports.

The group pointed to tainted pork imports as the source of the ASF virus that had affected hogs in several areas in Luzon.

“Protecting the local agriculture and supporting the interest of Filipino farmers at this time of an outbreak, through the non-issuance of SPS does not violate our commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO),” Sinag President Rosendo So said.

He explained that when there is an outbreak of diseases, countries are allowed to protect their agriculture.

“Under WTO rules, there is always that assumption of regularity on whatever policy of the national government. Countries/ trading partners are free to sue us at the WTO dispute settlement body. But nobody will do that,” So added.

Sinag Executive Director Jayson Cainglet said the country should not allow pork imports from all countries, not just from nations affected by swine fever.

He cited an incident when the country imported 250 kilos of pork from Germany, which was not affected by ASF. However, the meat was instead found to have come from Poland, which reported swine fever cases.

“The DA should be very strict since it’s so tricky now whether or not the pork we import is infected by ASF. If we really want to prevent the spread here, then just suspend the pork importation from all countries,” Cainglet said.

The group also urged all concerned agencies to increase border control and fully implement quarantine policies.

“We ask our partners at the local government units to remain vigilant against imported frozen meat being sold at the wet mar-

Prices of pork cuts are listed near a stall of a meat vendor at the Paco Market in Manila. Some groups have warned that the prices of pork have dropped because of the swine fever cases reported in several areas in Luzon.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

kets. We ask the public to continue to patronize our local pork that remains safe, clean and wholesome,” Sinag said.

The group counts as its members the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., United Broilers and Raisers Association, Philippine Maize Federation Inc., Philippine Confederation of Grains Association, Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc., as well as irrigators and farm inputs associations across the country.

Dar admitted that the country could suspend pork importation from all countries. He, however, said the DA’s Crisis Management Task Force would study the proosal “and make a pronouncement as soon as possible.”

The Agriculture chief clarified that while the ASF episodes in several areas in Bulacan and Rizal provinces may be considered an outbreak, there is yet no epidemic of swine fever.

He gave assurances that ASF cases had been contained in Barangay Pritil, Guiguinto, Bulacan; and in several areas in Rodriguez, San Mateo and Antipolo, all in Rizal.

“The incident will not affect the supply and prices of pork in the market, the ASF is confined and specific in certain areas only and not in the entire country,” Dar said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (Pcafi) urged the DA and local government units to implement protocol on the disposal of dead hogs. The group made the call following reports that carcasses of pigs were found floating in the Marikina River.

“Offenders should be prosecuted as this is apparently a viola-

tion of certain memorandum act of DA regarding the disposal of dead hogs,” said Pcafi President Danilo Fausto. “Stricter implementation of biosecurity procedures should be observed,” he added.

Edwin Chen, president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, said hog raisers, particularly those from small backyards, should be advised on proper procedures in the disposal of dead hogs.

“In commercial farms or in a locality, DA people have a designated areas for burying. The site should not be near a waterway or a creek,” he added.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Monday, September 16 told The Manila Times that he had directed the City Health Office to spearhead the said test, which can be completed at least a day.

This order came after the city government submitted water samples to the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and the Laguna Lake Development Authority to test the water quality in the Marikina River.

Teodoro also said the results of a separate laboratory test on blood samples from dead pigs were scheduled to be released by the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry on Monday. The test was expected to identify if the retrieved pigs were infected by ASF. The city authorities earlier banned fishing, swimming and any other water-related activities.

Sinag is one of the strongest lobby groups in the farm sector in the country, composing of 33 allied industry groups across commodities. n

A6 SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Beyond emergency powers

FEATURES

AFTER three years, it looks like senators remain lukewarm to proposals to give President Duterte emergency powers to untangle the traffic mess particularly on EDSA. The bone of contention has always been the Senate’s request for the administration to specify exactly what powers are being requested or for what specific purposes.

Senators have refused to grant blanket authorization that might open doors to corruption, by circumventing procurement laws or the constitutional separation of powers, for example. An exasperated President Duterte has said he’s no longer interested in the emergency powers.

This should not mean he is giving up on the traffic mess in Metro Manila, which experts estimate is costing the country billions in lost economic productivity. A recent report said patients in ambulances have died because heavy traffic in Metro Manila prevented the vehicles from reaching hospitals on time.

The president’s spokesman facetiously suggested that helicopters be deployed for such emergencies.

No one stuck in infernal traffic can afford to laugh.

In fact some officials are showing that certain things can be done, even without emergency powers, to improve traffic flow. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno cleared some of the most congested streets in the country of vendors, illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions, opening the streets to vehicular traffic. He has

so far sustained his campaign without incurring a lawsuit.

Schemes to rationalize bus deployment and movement on EDSA have been proposed, with at least one measure involving provincial buses now the subject of a court injunction. Even without emergency powers, authorities can clamp down on “colorum” buses and prune the number of franchises covering EDSA. The president can use his considerable political capital to get industry players to cooperate in rationalizing the deployment of buses, so that they don’t have to engage in cutthroat competition for passengers and turn various stops into virtual terminals.

There are also several schemes being considered to reduce the volume of private vehicles. Police traffic teams are exploring tighter enforcement to keep vehicle flow moving along EDSA. As for long-term measures, emergency powers will not solve bureaucratic bottlenecks and inefficient processes in implementing infrastructure projects necessary for reducing traffic.

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Some agencies have started opening to the public roads in private subdivisions, even without approval from homeowners, to ease traffic along main thoroughfares. This can be done without emergency powers, and it may be carried out in a way that would

enjoy the support of homeowners. The president has immense persuasive powers that can be applied to get everyone on board. Even without special powers, many things can be done in the name of public interest. (Philstar.com)

What we need to know about suicide, the 10th cause of death in the US

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SUICIDE — the act of taking one’s own life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2017, the 10th cause of death in the United States was suicide. Worse, suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents 10 to 19 years old.

Suicide follows heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, kidney disease on the causes of mortality, according to the report of the CDC. It has now become a public health problem that is begging to be talked about, understood and addressed.

What causes suicide? What drives a person, who is equipped with life instinct for life preservation, harm him/herself to end it all?

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there is no one cause for

suicide. However, this tragedy “often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.”

HOWEVER, SUICIDE CAN BE PREVENTED. We just have to be better informed about what it is all about, what the warning signs are and how we can respond appropriately to help your self, a loved one, a co-worker, a friend, a student or anybody that exhibits such warning signs.

It is not just about being “malungkot” all the time. Some people can be functional or have a smiling brave front, but deep inside they are hurting and dying in spirit.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention cautions that we need to be on the lookout for “a change in behavior or the

presence of entirely new behaviors.” The foundation explains that “this is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.”

Warning signs: Watch what they say or post on social media or write about.

If a person talks about: • Killing themselves • Feeling hopeless • Having no reason to live • Being a burden to others • Feeling trapped • Unbearable pain Be mindful of their behavior.

Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change: • Increased use of alcohol or drugs • Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods • Withdrawing from activities • Isolating from family and friends • Sleeping too much or too little • Visiting or calling people to

PH, China and US: Joint exploration vs rearmament Commentary

DAN STEINBOCK President Duterte’s joint exploration framework with China is a historic breakthrough. But since it has potential to de-escalate tensions over time, it is opposed by those interests that prefer rearmament, even if that would lead to a split of Southeast Asia and new nuclearization.

IN early 2018, the Philippines and China agreed to set up a special panel to work out how the two could jointly explore oil and gas in parts of the South China Sea (SCS) that both sides claim without having to address the issue of sovereignty. That was something of a breakthrough.

Last fall, President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Philippines resulted in the bilateral memorandum of understanding on oil and gas development in the contested SCS. It was one of the some 30 documents signed during Xi’s visit in Manila.

Following a recent meeting with Xi, Duterte said the Philippines could set aside the ruling of the international arbitral tribunal on China’s SCS claims, in exchange for a joint oil and gas exploration deal with Beijing.

Xi-Duterte framework relative to Malampaya To undermine the breakthrough and cooperation, critics argue that Duterte is “abandoning” the in-

ternational ruling on the disputed sea. In reality, setting aside the ruling does not mean abandoning it.

As I have argued since the early 2010s, the friction between the Philippines and China can be overcome by focusing on the economic cooperative potential, suspending the stated bilateral differences, creating mechanisms to settle those disagreements over time and fostering joint confidence-building measures. That’s what most Asean countries aspire to, including those that have SCS disagreements with China.

It may be useful to compare the stated joint exploration framework with another historical precedent. In 1989, during the rule of President Corazon Aquino, a gas field was discovered off the shore of Palawan. Following successful appraisal in the 1990s — during the presidencies of Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada — the Malampaya field became operational in 2001.

According to its operators’ estimate, as of 2018, the Malampaya, whose supply is forecast to start declining by 2022, has surpassed $10 billion in Philippine government revenues. That’s a nice way to say that that 90 percent of the Malampaya revenues go to multinationals in Europe and the US. In reality, the Philippine interest in the gas field is just 10 percent, as opposed to the British-Dutch Shell (45 percent) and the U.S. Chevron (45 percent).

According to President Duterte’s statement, China has promised to give the Philippines 60 percent of the profits from any gas or oil deal

as opposed to China’s 40 percent.

That’s a breakthrough, something that none of Duterte’s precursors achieved in the past decades.

Of course, there is another possible approach to the SCS issues, as well. After Duterte’s statement, Vice President Leni Robredo, the last major holdout of the Liberal Party meltdown following the 2016 election, blamed Duterte for a “shameful” sellout to China over the joint-exploration deal. In turn, Duterte has argued that the Philippines needs to stop the “foolishness” of such scenarios.

Where would such scenarios lead?

The other scenario In the April phone conversation between U.S. President Trump and Duterte, Trump boasted about two U.S. nuclear submarines near North Korea. “We have a lot of firepower over there,” Trump said. “We have two nuclear submarines — not that we want to use them at all.” The willingness to use nuclear weapons in the region is the latest phase in the ongoing rearmament.

During the Cold War, Washington created the security architecture in the region, including the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (Seato) signed in Manila in the mid-1950s. The Seato’s stated task was to contain Soviet communism. Hence, the U.S.-led wars from the Korean Peninsula in the early 1950s and the massacre of almost a million Chinese communists in Indonesia in the mid-1960s, to the war in Vietnam and subsequent conflicts in the former Indochina in the 1970s until the Seato’s dissolution.

say goodbye • Giving away prized possessions • Aggression • Fatigue Be sensitive about their mood changes. People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods: • Depression • Anxiety • Loss of interest • Irritability • Humiliation/Shame • Agitation/Anger • Relief/Sudden Improvement Who could be at risk? The foundation discusses the characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life: Health factors • Mental health conditions • Depression • Substance use problems • Bipolar disorder • Schizophrenia • Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships • Conduct disorder • Anxiety disorders • Serious physical health conditions including pain • Traumatic brain injury

Environmental factors • Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs • Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment • Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss • Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide Historical factors • Previous suicide attempts • Family history of suicide • Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma How you can help: The Foundation for Suicide Prevention advises that if you think someone is thinking about suicide, assume you are the only one who will reach out. Here’s how to talk to someone who may be struggling with their mental health.

• Talk to them in private • Listen to their story • Tell them you care about them • Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide • Encourage them to seek treatment or to contact their

doctor or therapist • Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems or giving advice If a person says they are considering suicide: • Take the person seriously • Stay with them • Help them remove lethal means • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-2738255 • Text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7 • Escort them to mental health services or an emergency room LASTLY, if I may add, let us pray for them and their families.

Let us visualize the light of God surrounding them like a shied, dissipating the dark clouds hovering above them, and healing them to wholeness.

GOD BLESS YOU. ***

Today, the region looks very different. In relative terms, America’s economic role has been descending. Meanwhile, China has matured into a major economic contributor, as reflected by the economic spillovers associated with One Road One Belt initiatives.

Ever since President Obama’s Pivot to Asia in the early 2010s, the Pentagon has been pushing rearmament in the region, through arms sales. In 2017, the U.S. sold $42 billion in weapons to foreign countries, but $8 billion (20 percent of the total) in the “Indo-Pacific” region. Yet, in global arms transfers, Asia Pacific is the most lucrative region (over 40 percent of world total). Consequently, US defense contractors would like to double their revenues in the region.

The Pentagon’s highest executives have a personal stake in rearmament. Former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis served on the board of General Dynamics, a leading U.S. defense contractor.

His successor Patrick Shanahan served over 30 years in executive roles at Boeing, the largest U.S. military exporter.

Current Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been recognized as America’s top military lobbyist. He spent seven years as the head of government relations at the leading defense contractor Raytheon.

In the early 2010s, the strategic goals of the former Aquino government and those of current Vice President Robredo have largely converged with the U.S. “pivot to Asia.” As President Obama’s Defense Secretary Leon Panetta affirmed in 2012, this plan was predicated on the deployment of

60 percent of U.S. warships to Asia Pacific by 2020 — that is, next year.

Last month, the Pentagon’s new chief Esper illuminated the next phase of U.S. rearmament in the region.

Pentagon’s missile aspirations in Asia A day after Washington withdrew from the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia — that President Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987 hoped would ensure peace in the 21st century — Esper stated the U.S. will be looking to deploy new ground-launched, intermediaterange missiles in Asia.

According to Pentagon estimates, a low-flying cruise missile with a potential range of about 1,000 kilometers could be ready for deployment in 18 months.

The U.S. continues to have almost 4,000 nuclear warheads.

Esper has acknowledged the U.S. is considering placing new medium-range conventional weapons in Asia: “We would like to deploy a capability sooner rather than later.” While he has not specified where the U.S. intends to deploy these weapons, U.S. allies in the region are historically prioritized.

In brief, geopolitical pressure toward missile deployments is about to begin in Southeast Asia.

Asean vs nightmare scenarios In the Philippines, the history of nuclear deployments has been largely covert. Article II Section 8 of the Philippine Constitution forbids the presence of nuclear weapons in the country. But such clauses do not constrain its allies.

During the Cold War Marcos era, U.S. nuclear warheads were

secretly stockpiled in the Philippines. When the U.S. Navy withdrew from Subic Bay naval base in 1992, it was due to the failure to iron out differences, including Manila’s ban on nuclear weapons.

By 1995, the Asean countries agreed on the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. The Bangkok treaty entered into force on March 28, 1997 and obliges its members not to develop, manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or have control over nuclear weapons. However, allies are not constrained by such limitations.

When President Aquino and Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario agreed with the U.S. on a rotating U.S. military presence in Philippine bases in March 2016 — right before Duterte’s landslide win — the effort seems to have been to lock in a path to closer military alignment (which eventually would require such deployments).

That scenario could bury the economic promise of the Philippines in the 21st century. President Duterte’s rebalancing, including a joint exploration deal, is an effort to foster new economic cooperation with China, in addition to the old ties with the U.S. That rebalancing is very much in line with Asean’s efforts at peaceful, regional economic integration. Rearmament and nuclearization aren’t. (ManilaTimes. net) ***

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

Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the European Union Center (Singapore). For more, see http:// www.differencegroup.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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Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2019

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

A

PH top global source of online fraud, abuse – report Remittance growth fastest in 9 months by carLos Federico

c. de ManilaTimes.net

guzman

IN its 2019 Q3 Fraud and Abuse report, fraud prevention technology firm Arkose Labs outlined current trends in the online fraud and risk landscape.

The report was based on over 1.2 billion user sessions (transactions) and attack patterns analyzed by the Arkose Labs Fraud and Abuse Prevention Platform from April 1 to June 30, 2019.

Evolving threats listed by Arkose Labs were payment fraud, denial of inventory, inventory scalping, gift card fraud, fake accounts, spam and malicious content, application programming interface (API) abuse, account takeover, search and scraping, and brute force attacks.

Also mentioned as exacerbating factors were the global availability of stolen and breached user data, as well as developing economies becoming hubs of fraud due to easy access to sophisticated tools, availability of manual labor and large economic incentives associated with online fraud.

According to Arkose Labs, the Philippines is the single biggest originator of attacks across both automated and malicious human traffic, with US a distant second.

Rounding out the rest of the top five source of attacks were Russia, China and Indonesia.

Except for China, where attacks were primarily being human driven, automated attacks represented the bulk of traffic.

Various reports and conditions support the findings of Arkose Labs about the Philippines such as: The Philippines is a hyperconnected country with 79 million internet users, an online demographic larger than the living populations of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore combined. Global agency We Are Social also reported that Filipinos are the top Internet users globally with the most time spent online at an average of ten hours and two minutes spent per day on the Internet.

Awareness and preparedness on cybersecurity in the Philippines is very weak, with the Philippines being among the most prone to cybersecurity attacks.

There is a high incidence of software piracy in the Philippines. According to a 2017 report by BSA and IDC, the Philippines had a 64 percent rate of unlicensed software installation, which is higher than the Asia Pacific regional average of 57 percent. Malicious actors often

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

Manilatimes.net file photo

embed malware into cracked unlicensed software and infected computers could be turned into botnet platforms used to launch automated attacks.

The Philippines is home to an underground industry of spammers, click farms, and account farms.

In 2015, Doug Clark reported how just a single operation in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu was generating thousands of social media phone-verified accounts (PVAs).

Also in 2015, a Vocativ report showed how most of Donald Trump’s Facebook likes were coming from outside of the USA, and that most likes originated from the Philippines.

In 2018, the New York Times reported on the large-scale operations of Devumi, a shady company, which sold Twitter followers and retweets and had staff operating from the Philippines.

What then could be done?

The Department of Information and Communications Technology and Department of Education must pursue a more aggressive form of cybersecurity and cybersafety awareness in their internet media and information literacy (IMIL) campaigns, not just in schools as part of the curriculum and with the youth but also with the older population.

Facebook and Google, which have Philippine offices should strongly consider filing legal cases against click farms and account farms for computer-related fraud as these outfits get away with their operations in the Philippines with no aggrieved parties to file cases against them.

The ordinary online Filipino must stop patronizing pirated software as the social and financial risk of malware infections could severely impact their lives, like with stolen passwords for e-

Philippines’ CA deficit to widen until 2021 — Fitch

Philstar.com file photo

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

THE country’s current account (CA) deficit would continue to widen until 2021 due to strong import growth, according to Fitch Ratings.

The debt watcher said the subdued export performance and generally strong import growth in 2020 and 2021 would keep the CA in a deficit of between 2.4 percent and 2.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

For 2019, Fitch said the country’s CA shortfall may hit 2.4 percent of GDP due to weak export performance in the first half.

Exports went down by 0.5 percent to $34.22 billion from January to June compared to $34.39 billion a year ago.

On the other hand, imports also declined by around one percent to $53.12 billion from $53.63 billion a year ago.

This translated to a 1.7 percent improvement in the trade deficit to $18.9 billion from January to June compared to $19.23 billion in the same period last year.

The CA position measures the net transfer of real resources between the domestic economy and the rest of the world. It consists of transactions in goods, services as well as primary and secondary income.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects a record CA

deficit of $10.1 billion this year, 27.8 percent wider than the $7.9 billion shortfall recorded last year.

The projected deficit is equivalent to 2.8 percent of GDP for this year from 2.1 percent of GDP last year.

On Friday, September 13, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. reported that the country’s CA deficit thinned to $1.74 billion or one percent of GDP from $3.75 billion in the same period last year.

This after, the shortfall narrowed sharply to $145 million in the second quarter from $3.28 billion in the same quarter last year.

Despite the improvement, Dakila said the country’s CA position would remain in deficit for the rest of the year.

“The CA will not swing into a surplus this year. The deficit is lower than what we had projected,” Dakila said.

Government economists expect the country to incur a wider CA deficit due to stronger imports to support the growing economy as well as weak global growth and the trade war between the U.S. and China.

Dakila said the shortfall remains manageable due to the strong inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) as well as foreign portfolio investments or hot money. n

banking, online transactions and social media accounts.

Arkose Labs will have a webinar on their 2019 Q3 Fraud and Abuse report to break down and analyze their findings on Wednesday, September 25 at 1:00 a.m. Philippine Standard Time. *The author is an ICT advocate and a member of Democracy.net. ph, an ICT rights, governance, development, and security advocacy group. n

MONEY sent home by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) recovered in July, recording the fastest growth in nine months, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Monday, September 16.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said personal remittances went up by 7.2 percent to $2.87 billion in July from $2.67 billion in the same period last year.

The rise in personal remittances was the fastest since the eight percent increase recorded in October last year.

From January to July, Diokno said personal remittances, composed of cash and non-cash items that flow through both formal or via electronic wire and informal channels such as money or goods carried across borders, rose by 3.6 percent to $19.12 billion from $18.46 billion in the same period last year.

“The steady growth in personal remittances during the first seven months drew support from the remittance inflows from land–based overseas Filipino workers with work contract of one year or more, which aggregated $14.6 billion from $14.2

billion in the same period last year,” he said.

Diokno said inflows from the compensation of sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts also contributed to the growth, rising to $4.1 billion from $3.8 billion.

Liewise, the BSP chief said cash remittances coursed through banks also went up by 7.5 percent to $2.58 billion in July from $2.4 billion in the same month last year.

This was the fastest growth since the 8.7 percent increase recorded in October.

For the first seven months, Diokno said cash remittances went up by 3.9 percent to $17.22 billion from $16.58 billion in the same period last year. Remittances from land-based and seabased workers increased by 2.5 percent to $13.4 billion and 8.9 percent to $3.8 billion, respectively.

According to Diokno, remittances from the U.S. accounted for the highest share of total remittances in the first half of the year with a share of 36.8 percent followed by Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany and Qatar.

“The combined remittances

from these countries accounted for 78.1 percent of the total cash remittances from January to June 2019,” Diokno said.

The BSP has retained the growth target for both personal and cash remittances at three percent for this year.

Remittances usually fuel personal consumption, helping sustain a steady economic growth.

The amount of money sent home by overseas Filipinos usually account for 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Strong inflows from remittances, earnings of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as well as tourism receipts continued to boost the peso that recovered strongly late last year.

Jun Trinidad, chief economist at Philippine National Bank (PNB), said in the bank’s latest Macro Alert the peso could still weaken to the 53 to 54 versus $1 level due to the current account (CA) deficit.

Trinidad said the key concern would be the trade and CA deficit risk as well as whether the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows would remain vibrant once capital goods imports accelerate as well as investment project approvals get converted to actual real investments. n

A SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2019 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019

Filipina American’s vegan ice cream brand turns family stories into pint-sized memories

by Christina M. Oriel / AJPress IT’S often said that food is a form of storytelling with its dimensions of narrating our culture, identity, relationships, memories, decisions we make and much more.

For Christy Cunanan, one of her fondest childhood memories was listening to her grandparents’ stories about their lives in the Philippines and the culture, which has shaped her identity as a second-generation Filipina American.

As she documented the

family’s stories and memories, she sought to engage more with the content versus idly recording them.

By day, Cunanan has been a production coordinator at Walt Disney Animation Studios for the past five years, where she has worked on “Big Hero 6,” “Moana,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” and most recently, “Frozen 2.”

Showing her culture through dessert became that palpable route of sharing during her free time. The experimentation in late

Maiz (corn), mangga (mango), and ginataan mungo (mung beans) flavors on display at Cheeri Cheeri’s test kitchen at Cunanan’s house in Pasadena, California.

2015 started at her childhood home in Pasadena, California, with making Filipino-inspired doughnuts, but getting the right textures proved to be a challenge. Then, came the idea of ice cream in its traditional formula with milk and eggs.

“I wanted to share this beyond Filipinos because at work, I would hear people saying, ‘Wow you’re really close with your family. That’s not common,’” Cunanan recalled in a recent interview with the Asian Journal. “I didn’t know if that was a Filipino experience or my own experience but I wanted to make sure that there was a strong intention of sharing that.”

Her lolo Cesar, who has since passed away after starting the endeavor, wasn’t the biggest ice cream fan, Cunanan admitted.

“But he loved the Philippines and it was about sharing his cultural pride,” she said. “I intended to make it clear that it’s coming from a point — regardless of if it was ice cream or doughnuts — that it is proudly Filipino.”

The first flavor Cunanan attempted was puto bumbong, after the rice cake delicacy traditionally served during the Christmas season. Next came

(L-R) Calamansi, ginataan mungo, mangga at sago, and buko pandan with pinipig Contributed photos Christy Cunanan with a pint of the puto bumbong flavor

calamansi since her family had a tree in their backyard. Her family, close friends and coworkers were the initial taste tasters for the creations.

“That’s the theme that resonated: What’s something that you would see in the Philippines but you don’t get to experience daily here? How can I bring that to you consistently in a way that makes either you think of someone or a personal memory?”

Cunanan explained. “We’re not just thinking about trends or the younger generation, but all generations.”

The ice cream soon took a different turn after her mom adopted a vegan lifestyle, which the rest of the family followed in support as well. The recipes were modified to be plant-based using coconut milk, and continue to be crafted in that manner to this day.

“When we look at Filipino cuisine before the Spanish colonization, even the desserts use rice and coconut milk, which are essentially vegan,” Cunanan said.

“Beyond the meat, we sometimes don’t see that our diet at its roots can be considered plant-based.”

Through her ice cream, it suddenly became an intersection of veganism and her Filipino heritage and being a touchpoint to talk about both parts of her life.

For one of the first tasting events held at Cunanan’s home, it was set up like a focus group to test whether the various flavors reminded guests of the Philippines or their families. “I didn’t think a flavor was ready if it didn’t. If more people said yes, then it felt relatable to enough people,” she said.

By early 2017, Cunanan’s passion project became more concrete with an actual name: Cheeri Cheeri.

“I was serving the ice cream to co-workers to test and they

Christy Cunanan started Cheeri Cheeri, a pop-up ice cream concept, in 2015 based on her family’s stories.

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

had cones in their hands and they would cheer, which made me think of the feeling when I remember my lolo and lola,” Cunanan recalled. “It’s happiness and cheerfulness. Even though the name isn’t directly Filipino, it reminded me of the doubleness of names like Jun Jun, so that’s why it’s Cheeri Cheeri.”

However, with representation such an important consideration in building the brand, Cunanan is cognizant about making sure people aren’t detracted and feeling left out, whether it’s those who can’t relate to the cheerful tone or aren’t vegan.

“It’s definitely been easier for millennials when they see ‘vegan.’ If you say this is for vegans, people may not see themselves in it. If you say this is a very happy product, people who may not feel that way will not see themselves either. How do you show something that’s honest? By leaning on that it’s dairy-free is the best way. It may matter that they want a healthier diet but they want it to taste good too,” she said.

The logo, which can also be interpreted as ice cream melting, is representative of Mount Arayat in Pamapanga, where her lolo was from. On its side,

the logo bears a silhouette of a woman lying down to represent Maria Sinukuan, the mountain goddess associated with that mountain whom Cunanan heard stories about growing up. “It’s a brand led by a female so I wanted to show land, femininity, and the Philippines all in one,” Cunanan added.

Pop-ups with other Filipino American chefs and restauranteurs, particularly in the vegan space, and food festivals have been the route for pushing out Cheeri Cheeri’s flavors.

What makes Cheeri Cheeri stand out is the uncompromising fervor to champion Filipino flavors in addition to the ones we’re familiar with by now on a mainstream level, such as ube.

And Cunanan doesn’t see a need to translate or give them English names, noting that her brand could be the first point of contact to Filipino flavors for some people.

“I’m more focused on making a more level playing field so that customers are intrigued to try everything instead of just picking the most colorful one,” she said, putting her background in sociology to use. “It’s about understanding how people Continued on Page 4

Skylight Books in Los Angeles

by Thelma

entertainment

Sugay

THE room was beaming with indescribable frenzy as though awaiting the arrival of royalty. The audience crossed all barriers — age, color and interest. Already, a sign that whoever was about to appear had managed to attract a diverse crowd because of some significant accomplishment or discovery.

Finally, the event’s moderator at Skylight Bookstore in Los Feliz announces the name everyone’s been waiting for: “Ladies and gentlemen, the author of Trick Mirror, one of the greatest essayists in this era, Jia Tolentino.”

There was applause from everyone who has obviously been captivated by her book, or at least heard about it from a friend or read some credible review from their favorite critic.

It is unusual that the author becomes as beloved as the book but in this case, Jia is her book. Filled with memorable quotes and “Jia-isms,” the chapters are both moving though inconclusive, an opinion validated by the author herself whose self-deprecating demeanor is quite refreshing, but at the same time, endearing.

“People are smart. It’s a sign of respect not to offer a solution. I am not authorized to provide the answers. My job is to make you aware of some issue enough for you to think about it and eventually maybe organize yourselves to come up with some idea or the beginning of something.

The clarity I took away from this especially the day after elections is that I will never be that certain again —and I should never be. That it is no longer appropriate to feel that your sense of morality applies to understanding what’s going to happen in the future. There is no permanent solution, only a collective one, like through policies,” she said.

A writer who shies away from pontificating ironically was raised for 12 years in a mega church in Texas. “...I didn’t meet anyone who was pro-choice or anti-war until I went to college. The school was like this Bush-era, Texan Christianity and the most hegemonic,” Jia said and continued, “I learned early on that

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019

Fil-Am Bailey Munoz wins ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Season 16

by Billy

De la AJPress

Article author Thelma Sugay (2nd from left) and her children Tessa Bartholomew (far left) and Miguel Sugay attend Skylight Book’s event with Filipina American author Jia Tolentino (far right).

you don’t have to have to feel like the situation is about you, or addressed to you or made for you in any way to be able to enjoy it just by learning about it”. It is perhaps this attitude that has made her feel very comfortable in any given situation. [I} am maybe uncomfortable like once a year.”

It’s almost as though she lives her life but is not immersed in it. While living it, Jia can simultaneously step out of her life and almost be a spectator of the same. Because she is able to extract herself from it as it happens, she remains objective.

That perhaps is where that clarity comes from for this accomplished writer.

Admittedly, Jia adds that her motivation to write the book stemmed from a seeming sense of both dread and uselessness. Fear and humility are the least accurate adjectives to use in describing this young writer who comes across as confident and never at a loss for just the right language, a literary gift only shared by a few.

“I think I chose to become a writer because it gives me an excuse to re-read some classic favorites like Little House on the Prairie and the Leo Tolstoy classic Anna Karenina, “ she shared.

Asked about her final selection of nine topics, Jia explained the process in simplistic terms.

“I had like 20 clip boards in my mind and every story

considered would be classified and filed into one of those clip boards until there were nine.”

Having have listened to the audio book (yes, I still have yet to read the actual book in its entirety), I have decided that my favorite essay would be that on the internet, how it began to be this generative tool full of surprises and usefulness until it no longer is. Perhaps it’s because I have always been intimidated with technology and my weakness lies in the effective use of social media. This chapter almost brought me an overwhelming sense of relief knowing I may not have to worry about it too much longer, that sometime soon a new system will reappear and that social media will be a thing of the past.

Oh well, at least Jia will be happy to know I got from her book what I needed to get right at this moment.

Cruz

A FILIPINO American emerged as the best dancer of them all!

On Monday, September 16, Fil-Am Bailey “Bailrok” Munoz was hailed the champion of the 16th season of “So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD).” The 19-year-old succeeds Filipina American Hannahlei Cabanilla who won the previous season last year.

Aside from being named “America’s Favorite Dancer,” Las Vegas-native Bailrok will also take home a $250,000 grand prize and a cover article in Dance Spirit.

Fellow finalists Mariah Russell, Gino Cosculluela and Sophie Pittman finished second, third, and fourth respectively.

Bailrok will also join the rest of this season’s top 10 dancers as they go on tour this fall.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m the first b-boy ever [to win],” Bailrok told Hollywood Junket following his victory.

Week by week, Bailrok has

Bailey “Bailrok” Munoz won “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 16.

Photo from Instagram/@danceonfox

wowed the judges by breaking out of his “b-boy shell” and excelling at every genre — from ballroom, to contemporary, to hiphop — and nailing every performance assigned to him. “B-boying/girling” is a form of hip-hop dancing which has evolved into a highly demanding type of dance physically and mentally.

Bailrok revealed that finding a whole new strength in himself

was his favorite part of his SYTYCD journey.

“I really wanted to show that I could do it, that I could [overcome] obstacles I was faced and to give it my 100% every time I was on that stage,” he said.

Behind BailRok’s recent success are his proud parents, Ferdie and Barbra Munoz, and his younger sister Faithe, who Continued on Page 4

Michelle Dee crowned Miss World PH

by Nika

roque ManilaTimes.net

MICHELLE Dee, the daughter of former supermodel and 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez and former action star Derek Dee, was crowned Miss World Philippines on Sunday, September 15, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

She will represent the country at the global Miss World pageant in London, United Kingdom on December 19.

The 24-year-old, an eyecatcher from the start of the pageant, also won special awards — Miss BlueWater Day Spa, Miss Myra E, Miss Best Skin and Miss Bench.

She was crowned by last year’s winner Katarina Rodriguez and pageant judge Manila May-

The other winners were Kelley Day, Miss Eco Philippines; Katrina Llegado, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas; Isabelle de Leon, Miss Multinational; Glyssa Perez, Miss Tourism Philippines; Vanessa Mae Walters, Miss Eco Teen Philippines; Shannon Christie Kerver, First Princess, Miss World Philippines; and Cassie Banks, Second Princess, Miss World Philippines.

A psychology graduate from De La Salle University, Dee was a model for clothing brand Bench in 2016. She also appeared in several films. Dee was a supportMiss World Philippines 2019 Michelle Dee ing character in the 2019 film Photo courtesy of Miss World Philippines “Because I Love You,” starring or Francisco “Isko” Domagoso.

David Licuaco and Shaira Diaz, Dee, whose advocacies and also played roles on the include the care of children with small screen, most notably as autism, bested 39 other candiMochi in the primetime teleserye dates.

“Love You Two.”

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019

Marvel artist on PH heroine Wave: Fan response has been insane

by Oliver

M. PuluMbarit Inqurier.net

MARVEL Comics’ new superheroine Wave debuted just a few months ago, but Filipino fan reception has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Pinoy comic book artist Leinil Francis Yu. “The response has been insane,” Yu told the Inquirer of the Cebuana character he cocreated with “Agents of Atlas” writer Greg Pak. “I couldn’t be happier. I really am surprised by how fast she has been accepted and how far she’s come, considering she’s just a few months old.”

Yu, who is currently the penciler of a new “X-Men” title, related, “My editors reached out to me, like with most projects. We all worked closely together via email.”

Wave, aka Pearl Pangan, is a hydrokinetic, or a person with the power to control water. Design-wise, her look was influenced by the illustrator’s music and game preferences, aside from the writer’s ideas.

“I started out with a fullbody wet suit as suggested by Greg and worked from there,” he recalled. “She is water- and tech-based so I added the sci-

Leinil Francis Yu

fi armor. I used [the color] teal, as the band Weezer’s ‘Teal Album’ just came out that time, and I thought it works well with gold or yellow. I added the fins to drive home the fact that she is mobile in water. I am very much influenced by video game design. To add a Filipino touch without explicitly plastering the flag on her, I gave her kampilan/Lapu-Lapu swords with a sci-fi twist.”

While not the first Filipino superhero in American comics—artist Whilce Portacio created Grail for his Image series “Wetworks” in the early

’90s, and writer Matt Fraction introduced superteam Triumph Division in Marvel’s “Iron Man” in 2008—Wave received immediate interest since the announcement of her existence in March. She debuted in “War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas” in May. Some fans, having just seen “Avengers: Endgame,” hoped that she would translate to Marvel’s live-action world, eventually.

The character is already crossing over to another medium. “Her involvement in [the game] ‘Marvel: Future Fight’ will be substantial,” Yu said. “I look forward to seeing more video game iterations on her design.”

The artist, who also drew DC Comics’ “Superman: Birthright” in 2003, works using a Wacom Cintiq and the program Clip Studio, but still does traditional covers using a Pentel pocket brush pen and disposable Micron pens. On his longtime partnership with Marvel Comics, he reiterated important disciplines: “Dependability and work ethics.

Make sure you return emails and calls and always be honest with deadlines and your capabilities. Many good artists lose

their shot because they choke under pressure, and worse, go radio silent when editors come looking for them.”

Apart from comics, Yu designed vehicles for Joss Whedon’s science fiction film “Serenity” in 2005. “It was a good experience and a chance for me to try new things,” disclosed Yu. “I did work on other films but they were uncredited. I also did some video game designs a while back.

The main difference from comics is the sheer amount of revisions involved in film and concept art design. Then there is the secrecy, and NDAs (nondisclosure agreements), where a huge amount of work may never be seen by the public, until years later.”

Having drawn Marvel’s popular mutants, first in “Wolverine” in 1997 and in subsequent “X-Men” titles, Yu is illustrating the team’s adventures again in another flagship series.

“I thought I wasn’t ready yet at that time,” he recounted. “I always dreamed of drawing the X-Men but my skills weren’t ready yet. Too many characters to draw, too.”

Of all the characters he’s penciled, which is he most proud to have drawn? “The Avengers and Wolverine, but now it’s definitely the X-Men,” declared Yu. On the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Yu said, “It’s tremendous, but I am not sure how much of it translates to comic sales. It can only help. Marvel characters are now back to being household names.”

Filipina American’s...

From Page 2 might get excited about things and what means a lot to them…

Since ube is such a strong purple color, it’s very easy to identify it, which is fantastic… But what happens to all the other flavors that are just as memorable or beloved but people might not take a moment to get to know?”

Buko pandan, for example, has been a hit among customers as an iteration of the dessert using young coconut, pandan leaves and sago pearls. However, with Cheeri Cheeri’s mission to be all-natural and organic, Cunanan doesn’t use any additives or extra coloring so it doesn’t have that vibrant green hue.

Other flavors she’s introduced in rotation are also based on popular desserts and dishes — Maja blanca (coconut pudding), ginataang monggo (mung beans), manga (mango), ginataang bayabas (guavas), abukado (avocado), ginataan maiz (corn), taho (carmelized tofu), and buko fruit salad.

A savory dish like monggo, which uses mung beans and vegetables, may be intimidating for the unfamiliar, but creating it in ice cream form is a gateway to those tastes.

“If I had the real buko pandan, munggo or maja blanca, maybe someone would say those are ‘too strange’ but we hope that this is a start and people will have a good correlation,” Cunanan said.

For now, Cunanan is a solopreneur, with the help of a supportive family who scoop alongside her at events, but is

seeking opportunities to grow her business.

While the focus has been on the grander Filipino food movement nationwide, there are subsets to look out for, including those pushing plant-based cooking. Cheeri Cheeri has found itself at the forefront of this next progression of how Filipino ice cream is served and enjoyed.

“Once we start getting this going, we want this to be as accessible as possible so you don’t have to wait for a pop-up to try something,” Cunanan said.

“Now, it’s about trying to find the right partners who have the same vision as that because it’s coming from the heart. It’s not just about getting it out there. It’s about getting it done responsibly.”

Currently, the buko pandan and maiz flavors are available at Tatang in North Hollywood.

Special orders can be placed on the brand’s website (www.

CheeriCheeri.com) and more plans are expected to come in the next year.

With Cheeri Cheeri’s foundation in family stories, Cunanan hopes the experience of trying the flavors will start that memory sharing within other families that can be preserved for generations to come.

“I’ve thought about how this shapes identity. I had my grandparents who made me proud to be Filipina and that’s fantastic that the next generation will have so many different influences to be even more proud,” Cunanan said. “This is my way of packaging something that’s truthful.”

Fil-Am Bailey Munoz...

From Page 3 were always present during all his live performances.

Judge Nigel Lythgoe told Buzz that America got it right when it voted Bailrok as “America’s Favorite Dancer.”

“What I loved about Bailey is his heart is bigger than him.

And he’s the only one with the only style that hasn’t been done by anybody else on the series,” the “American Idol” producer added.

During the show’s finale episode on Monday, judge Mary Murphy was asked to name her favorite routine of the competition. She picked Bailrok’s Broadway routine with SYTYCD alumna Koko Iwasaki on the show’s 13th episode last September 2.

“He affects me,” Murphy explained. “He triumphs over his challenges.”

For his part, Bailrok said that performing a jazz routine to “Need You Tonight” by INXS, with fellow finalist Mariah was his favorite performance. Bailrok said that he appreciated the challenge to be sexy.

The judges stood from their seats as they raved about the duo’s performance.

Judge Dominic Sandoval especially commended Bailrok for his moves saying that “you’re

a b-boy, but you’re like Magic Mike the Filipino version.”

“Once again, blown me away!” Sandoval concluded.

Bailrok has found his niche in breakdancing as early as eight years old. He earned respect within the b-boying community as he showed confidence and creativity that matched those of his older and more experienced contemporaries.

In 2010, Bailrok performed as the other half of the Future Funk duo on “America’s Got Talent and finished in the semifinals.

Since then, Bailrok has worked and met with countless celebrities through dancing. He has charmed a lot of audiences with his diverse performances, ranging from a New York Knicks game to a political sortie of former U.S. Senator Harry Reid.

He was also featured in Chris Brown’s music video “Yeah 3x.”

In a previous Asian Journal report, Bailrok shared that when he is not busy breaking out some cool dance moves, he loves having tocino and longanisa for breakfast and often requests for his favorite adobo, kare-kare and lumpia. And just like most Filipino kids, Bailrok goes to church every Sunday and greets his grandparents with the traditional mano.

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAyMond BUlAon ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an option for you or are other options available? As we go move towards the end of 2019, this is a good time to look at your finances and see how you can leave your debt problems behind and have a better year for yourself and your family.

I find that a lot of people are mostly concerned about the effects of bankruptcy on their credit more than anything else. Most are under the mistaken belief that once they file for bankruptcy, their credit is ruined forever and that they will never be able to buy a house or obtain credit again. Of course, this is simply not true. Let me explain.

Yes, bankruptcy is reported on your credit record for 7-10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy you are filing but a lot of people quickly bounce back from bankruptcy in as little as 2-3 years.

I also find that most people who are in debt trouble already have

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwrence yAng CHAPTER 7 is called the fresh start because it wipes out all dischargeable debt while allowing the debtor to keep most, if not all, of his assets.

Meanwhile, Chapter 13 is the reorganization of debtor’s financial affairs because he or she is allowed to restructure debts with partial or no payments.

In Chapter 7, the debtor pays nothing to creditors and gets a fresh start in life with no debt but keeping all exempt assets.

In Chapter 13, the debtor pays something to creditors depending on whether creditors are secured or unsecured.

Which is better, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? The answer is it depends on what you are trying to achieve.

Let’s give some actual examples. The client is 64 and owes

Get out of debt and start fresh in 2020 bad credit anyway and filing bankruptcy, if anything, can only help them rebuild their credit in the long run. Yes, in most cases that I see, bankruptcy can actually improve credit by allowing the person a chance to start over after wiping out debts.

What most people don’t understand is that creditors look at several factors when evaluating a credit application and that whether or not a bankruptcy shows up on your report is only one of those factors.

For example, when buying a home, banks are not as concerned about it if your bankruptcy is at least 3 years old and all other credit characteristics are appropriate (good character, stable employment, amount of down payment, etc.). And if you are buying a car after bankruptcy, this is usually not a problem although in the beginning, you will obviously pay a higher interest rate or may even need a co-signor until such time you prove creditworthiness.

If you are in debt and your credit has suffered as a result, it may be better for you to just file bankruptcy and start over. Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy is not as hard as you think and this

is often a better strategy than not paying your bills and letting your credit continue to get worse every single month as you are reported to the credit bureaus by your creditors.

If you’ve been struggling with debt for a while now and nothing has changed, when are you going to get so sick and tired of your debt problems to finally do something about it? How about getting out of debt now before they year is over so that you can start fresh in the coming year? For a free attorney consultation regarding how you can get out of debt with or without filing for bankruptcy, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule an appointment. We have offices in Glendale, Valencia and Cerritos. he would have to be able to overcome that presumption of abuse by proving by a preponderance *** 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)

What’s the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy? $50,000 of credit card debt. His gross income is $5,000 a month.

He is married and his daughter and two grandchildren live with him. His wife receives social security of $1,000 a month. He owns a house worth $500,000 on which he owes a mortgage of $325,000.

He has a brand new Tesla Model X on which he pays $700 a month.

These are the basic facts for this client. So, should he file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?

In this case, all of the debtor’s assets are exempt. He can keep all his assets. The bankruptcy trustee cannot take any of his assets to sell and liquidate for creditors. Paying for $50,000 of credit cards is taking a big chunk out of his income.

He needs to set aside $1,500 a month to keep his credit card masters happy every month with minimum payments. So, if he can wipe out all of the $50K credit cards,

he can save how much? He can save $1,500 a month, or $18,000 a year. In two years, he will save $36,000.

Whereas if he just kept on going without Chapter 7, he would pay $36,000 to his credit card masters, but would still owe how much of credit cards? After paying $36,000 in two years, he would still owe his credit card masters exactly the same $50,000 that he owed two years ago.

It would thus give the client a great benefit if he could just wipe out the $50,000 of credit cards now at the age of 64. Why? Because in two more years, he will be getting full social security benefits even if he continues working his job which gives him $5,000 a month. If he has to continue paying $1,500 a month for $50,000 of credit cards, the amount is signifiContinued on Page 6

community 5 Scam-proofing basics 101

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA YEARS ago, I came across an email message from a legitimate contact telling a sad story and asking for emergency money in a far-off land. I searched some phrases and sure enough, it was a scam. Out it went with the spam trash.

My take on this: my contact’s email was breached and his contact list hacked. This is one of the reasons I am loath to forward emails sent by well-meaning friends, no matter how funny.

What is amazing is that people have been victimized by this scam all over the world when a few keystrokes would have verified it and a bit of common sense and a smidgen of cynicism would have raised one’s hackles and suspicions.

There are rough estimates of $183 million per year on average that have been scammed from the unsuspecting on the internet.

The figure could be more since a big percentage of people will not admit to being conned.

The electronic age has brought us wonders and unbelievable convenience defying space/time constraints and accomplishing things we can only do in previous

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

—Marcus Aurelius times if we were physically present in one place. With an internet connection, we can do great and wonderful things that were the stuff of science fiction not so long ago.

But there is a sinister side to the internet — a very sinister side. And it gets darker as moral turpitude and relativism appear to be on the rise and our capacity to be shocked is diminished with every jaw-dropping crime.

There was a time when crime was met with swift and appropriate punishment. Sadly, we have archaic laws governing these types of crimes and enforcement is nearly non-existent. We are in uncharted territory.

For as long as these laws which were structured in the past cannot keep up with the overwhelming volume of cyber crimes, it is in our best interest to learn how to become savvy net users and defend ourselves from the on-

slaught that comes electronically.

The amount of available crud (translate that to disgusting things like porn, pedophilia, scams and gambling and some such variation of evil) on the net is staggering. In the book I wrote, there is a chapter dedicated on avoiding the pitfalls of scams and the schemes of con artists designed to separate you from your hard-earned money.

This time, the level of sophistication is up several notches higher as many unscrupulous and oftentimes, amoral and downright evil people everywhere around the world see the internet as the modern, deceptively innocuous version of highway robbery using a computer instead of a gun.

If we are internet users, we are all at risk, unless and until we take the necessary psychological and physical precautions Continued on Page 6

Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce case

YOU and your spouse may have gone through a lengthy and contentious divorce proceeding. This is usually the most difficult period of a person’s life. Finally, time heals all pain. You and your spouse get tired of bickering and being mean to one another that you both decide to compromise each other positions and resolve all issues in your divorce case through settlement. Shortly thereafter, the divorce judgment is finally entered by the Court and you get a sigh of relief. Later you discovery that “Oops!,” your ex-spouse had community asset and/or debt that was left out of the divorce judgment. This may be a pension, retirement account, a hidden bank account, or a piece of real estate property which was not divided in the judgment. What is one to

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes do in this situation? The answer can be found in California Family Code §2556.

California Family Code 2556 provides “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing jurisdiction to award community estate assets or community estate liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by a judgment in the

proceeding.” California Family Code §2556. Even if the parties did not expressly reserve jurisdiction on that piece of asset, the Court retains the power to divide a specific property if there is a community interest in it.

The Court’s “continuing jurisdiction” over omitted community estate assets or debts is invoked by filing a post judgment Motion, or Request for Order in the divorce case. Family Code §2556 provides “A party may file a postjudgment motion or request for order in the proceeding in order to obtain adjudication of any community estate asset or liability omitted or not adjudicated by the judgment.”

The postjudgment partition of the unadjudicated community estate claims is properly entertained by Continued on Page 6

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Scam-proofing basics 101

people & events The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019

What’s the difference between Chapter 7...

From Page 5 cant enough to cause him a lot of financial and emotional pressure.

It just doesn’t make any sense to not get rid of the $50,000 of credit cards now. It’s like having a bunch of monkeys on his back that he has to keep on feeding every day. Nobody in his right mind wants to be in this situation.

But does the client qualify for Chapter 7? Well, we have to check if the client will qualify for Chapter 7 using the means test. We get his gross household income and family size and compare that with the state median income to determine if it’s below or over the median. If he is below the median, then we don’t have to proceed to the next step. He would appear to be eligible for Chapter 7. If he is over the median, we will have to determine if he has at least some disposable income that will allow him to pay at least 25% of the $50,000 in Chapter 13. We use the IRS deductions to arrive at his net disposable income. If his disposable income is such that he can pay at least 25% of the $50,000 over 60 months, then he would not be eligible for Chapter 7. If his case is filed as Chapter 7, there would be what’s called a “presumption of abuse” and he would have to be able to overcome that presumption of abuse by proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he is not abusing bankruptcy law. Motions to dismiss due to presumption of abuse are brought by the U.S.

Trustee and debtor would have to respond to that motion before a federal bankruptcy judge. If the judge believes the debtor, then he still gets a discharge despite the presumption of abuse arising.

Let’s just say that it’s not an easy task to overcome the presumption of abuse.

Let’s say the client passed the means test and there is no presumption of abuse. Then, I would file client’s case as Chapter 7 so he can get a fresh start without the burden of the $50,000 credit cards, which would be totally wiped out, while he keeps all his assets. If the client fails the means test, then I would file his case as Chapter 13 where he would have to pay at least $200 a month for 60 months, more or less. This means he pays $12,000 over 60 months, just the principal; no interest. After paying $12,000, the court will discharge $38,000 of the $50,000 and he will owe nothing.

Now, if the client in this example had a house that is worth $510,000, not $500,000, and owed $325,000 on it, I will file this case as Chapter 13 where the client would pay about $180 a month over 60 months. After that, $40,000 will be discharged.

If we add another fact, say client owes $10,000 to the IRS for last year’s income tax, then I would also file this as Chapter 13 where he would pay $150,000 a month to the IRS over 60 months with nothing paid to the $50K credit cards.

After that, the entire $50,000 would be wiped out.

In other words, only the IRS gets paid the $10,000, the credit cards do not get anything. If we filed this as Chapter 7 under the first set of circumstances, the $50,000 would be wiped out, but the $10,000 IRS debt would not be discharged because the income tax is not yet three years old. If the tax were owed for the year 2016 and all other conditions to discharge income tax were present, then Chapter 7 would wipe out the $50,000 credit cards, and the $10,000 income tax.

As you can see, many factors can affect which case should be filed, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. And the fact is that there are many other factors that can affect the issue of which case should be filed for the debtor, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

Suffice it to say that bankruptcy law is actually pretty complicated.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South-Lower Level Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Dealing with assets omitted from a divorce...

From Page 5 the court even absent an express reservation of jurisdiction in its prior judgment. Marriage of Moore & Ferrie (1993) 14 CA4th 1472, 1483, 18 CR2d 543, 549, fn. 9.

The postjudgment motion is available to any omitted asset or debt not adjudicated by the divorce judgment. However, Family Code §2556 does not extend to division and adjudication of any separate property. Marriage of Klug (2005) 130 CA4th 1389, 1396, 31 CR3d 327, 331–332.

If an asset was partially omitted, the Court can still divide and adjudicate the portion that has been omitted postjudgment under family code §2566. Community Property adjudicated under 2556

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shall be divided equally “unless the court finds upon good cause shown that the interests of justice require an unequal division of the asset or liability.” Family Code 2556. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

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

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

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

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

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From Page 2 to deal with this and become relatively “scam proof.” No one is sacrosanct. These scams are designed to prey upon two basic human weaknesses ingrained in our DNA wiring: GREED and FEAR. Here’s one blanket caveat to keep us on our toes about how lottery scams and cons play out in cyberspace. REMEMBER — and I can’t emphasize this often enough, on this matter, and perhaps, other significant areas of life — IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. Okay, repeat that as your mantra.

The scams that feed on greed are so sophisticated that they can send a seemingly authentic check by mail from a real bank with so many zeroes on it. If you bite at the first overture, they then ask for a processing fee from you for you to get the rest of the winnings. This is called the Nigerian scam apparently because the first perpetrators allegedly were well educated but destitute Nigerians who found that their facility for the English language could be exploited to scam millions using the internet.

The scam has spread and morphed with mind-boggling variations but with only nefarious purposes — to separate you from your money OR on a more sinister level, to steal your identity.

No one race or culture has the monopoly on these. These can originate anywhere in the world.

I have had mine come in purportedly from G7 as well as impoverished countries.

If you have not consciously joined any lottery, why in heaven’s name would you think you have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning even one thin dime?

Also, legitimate lotteries will NEVER, repeat NEVER, ask you for money in order for a winner to claim a prize.

One other purpose aside from stealing your money is stealing sensitive information if you work for corporations or government institutions. BE WARY of clicking on innocent looking links which can infect computer systems and networks with crippling viruses.

Some scams feed on your fear. One of the most deceptive things is to receive an email from your bank instructing you to click on a link and verify your information since someone supposedly is accessing your account and if you don’t verify your

information, particularly your pin number or password, this can result in a temporary hold on your funds. Or so, the scammer’s script reads.

The modern term for this is “phishing” and its derivative more laser focused version, called spear phishing,”which refers to the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company.

I received one of these phishing calls which had a legitimate ID on the caller ID asking us to call a number and even left a reference number claiming to check on some gas card purchases. I told her I need to verify if her call is legitimate. I detected a hint of dejection in her response. Sure enough, a check on the phone number she left indicated it was a phishing call.

No legitimate financial entity will ask you for financial information online. Cut scammers off at the knees with the simple expediency of calling the fraud unit of your bank or credit card company yourself.

Take the bull by the horns.

Generate the call. Get the telephone number from your statement or your card and DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER that the caller or e-mailer provided you with. It’s a TRAP. If it is an email, hit the spam button and empty the trash.

Don’t just delete it. Sure, they will morph into another form but be proactive and make it more difficult for them. These scams are like viruses or shape shifters and can mutate faster than the speed of light.

PC users are more vulnerable to spammers/scammers and pesky pop-ups than Mac users.

But this too can change. C’est la vie.

Is there karmic justice? Because con artists rarely ever see the faces of their victims or know the full extent of the damage that they wreak on real people with real lives, these crimes seem impersonal in nature and rarely, if ever, do con artists get their comeuppance or due punishment. Translate that to jail time or some form of punishment, like being exposed to an anthill, boiled in oil or tickled to oblivion… Just kidding of course…

Con artists should be happy we no longer live in Medieval Times.

Often, these scammers are based overseas outside of any

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jurisdiction. They say the wheels of justice grind ponderously, exceedingly slow and it seems during this age, even at the highest levels of political and social crimes and malfeasance, have altogether ground to a halt.

It seems all we can do, short of wanting to become the judge, jury and executioner ourselves, is to pray without ceasing that someday soon, the rule of law prevails and swift justice is meted out to perpetrators in due time.

Be on guard. Better yet, UNPLUG for long stretches from Facebook, Twitter, Gab, Instagram, Reddit or any other social media or from following inane and insane celebrity tweets on Twitter.

Strive to live in the REAL WORLD. The virtual world STILL cannot hold a candle to the real world. You can’t feel the sensation of a good sneeze virtually.

Or that of a hug or a kiss… Or of the wonderful feeling of being in your bed sipping a warm mug of cocoa as you listen to the gentle pelting of the rain on the roof at night as you prepare to go to sleep…

There is a lot of real living for us to do. The internet has its place in our world. But you are the boss and you can decide to curtail its influence on the quality of your own life. We get to pass this way but once. Choose well.

Grill salmon steaks brushed with butter (Yup! Butter makes it better!) and sprinkled with lemon on a summer’s day. Create panini sandwiches for friends or loved ones on your grill pan. Dance. Fly a kite. Knit a shawl. Take time to sip your tea or tend to your garden in the spring. Laugh with the kids. Log off for long stretches of time and create something with your hands that will make your heart glad and make the people in your immediate orbit praise God for having you in their lives — even for just a short while.

The virtual world is a blessing simply meant to enhance life, NOT REPLACE IT. That’s all it does. Even with all its bells and whistles, it is a spice, not the main entree.

After all, life tethered on terra firma, is for real living, right here, right now.

Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 18, 2019