092218 - Los Angeles Weekend edition

SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 75 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Governor Brown signs new anti-bullying bill for California

Palace tells ouster plotters: Dream on

by CATHERINE

VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

MALACAÑANG on Thursday, September 20, told those who want to oust President Rodrigo Duterte to continue dreaming because it would never happen.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. made the statement after antiDuterte groups said they would stage protests during the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late

21, when the country marks the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, up to October.

The president also claimed that the Liberal Party (LP), the Magdalo group, the Left, and other critics have formed a loose coalition to destabilize his administration. Both the LP and the Magdalo group have denied the alleged connivance to oust the president.

Roque said Duterte had met with representatives from the government’s intelligence agencies but he

strongman Ferdinand Marcos on Friday, September 21.

In a news conference, Roque said the anti-Duterte protests were something that the government could handle.

“It’s not anything that the State cannot deal with. Dream on to those who want to remove the president,” Roque told reporters.

In various speeches and interviews, Duterte had said destabilization efforts against him and his government would reach its peak by September

CALIFORNIA Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday, September 18 signed into law, an anti-bullying bill that would require the California Department of Education (CDE) to buckle down in addressing bullying in California schools through new bullying prevention guidelines.

Authored by Assemblymember David Chui (D-San Francisco), AB 2291 requires local education agencies in to adopt bullying prevention procedures by December 31, 2019. Prevention procedures would also focus on tackling cyberbullying.

“We applaud Governor Brown for signing this

by NESTOR CORRALES important legislation into law,” said Andrew MeInquirer.net dina, California Policy Manager at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California (Advancing CAPAS, Tarlac – President Rodrigo Duterte on ThursJustice-CA), which sponsored the bill along with day, September 20, cheered the United States after Advancement Project, Council on American- Washington’s National Security Adviser John Bolton u PAGE A4 accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of being “ineffective, unaccountable and indeed outright dangerous.”

Duterte, in a speech before military troops at the Camp O’Donnell here, said the “timely word of Bolton” was “quite refreshing.”

“That’s why it is good that there is international pressure against ICC because Bolton cursed them,” the President said.

“The timely word of Bolton now is quite refreshing to us lalo na ako ‘yung pinakamaingay (especially because I’m the loudest one). Binastos ko sila. Binabastos nila tayo eh (I insulted them [because] they’re insulting us). I only bow to the Filipino people. I will not bow to anybody,” he added.

Screen grab from a Facebook video shows Sierra Measelle Duterte has repeatedly slammed the ICC for launch-

declined to provide further details.

“It’s a regular intel briefing which unfortunately remains classified,” the Palace official said.

Roque assured the public that maximum tolerance would be observed as usual by the police during the demonstrations on Friday, September 21.

He reiterated that Duterte has always been for free speech.

“It’s always been to observe maximum tolerance since it’s the law and

u PAGE A2

Duterte: US attack on ICC ‘refreshing to us’

making racial taunts from her car in Portland, Oregon. Filipina Selina Cairel (inset), the target of the rant, posted the video online so others may see ‘this kind of behavior and how people of color encounter this all the time.’

u PAGE A2

GARDEN TOUR. President Rodrigo Duterte takes a tour inside the Hardin ng Lunas at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday, September 20. The president also inspected the personnel of the Mechanized Infantry Division (MID) as they prepare for a capability demonstration as part of the 12th Activation Anniversary of MID at Camp O’Donnell.

Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

Video of white woman Filipino millennials: We know nation’s history yelling racist remarks at Filipina goes viral

by GABRIEL

PABICO Inquirer.net

Fil-Am tells the Asian Journal that the encounter is a reminder that racism and harassment ‘can really happen anywhere’ WHAT began as an innocent outing for donuts in turned into an upsetting, but familiar affair of bigoted attitudes and racist verbal harassment toward a person of color.

Last week, Selina Cairel, who is half-Filipina and half-English, posted a video on her Facebook page of a young white woman, Sierra Measelle, hurling racist and xenophobic Students from various universities and advocacy groups participated in the anti-martial law demonstration on Friday, September 21 at the Luneta

u PAGE A3 Park in Manila.

Inquirer.net photo by John Gabriel Lalu

LALU

RAIN did not dampen the fervor of millennials who participated in anti-martial law demonstration on Friday, September 21 at the Luneta Park in Manila.

On the 46th anniversary of martial law declaration in the country, these millennials — students from various universities and advocacy groups — declared their disgust over President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been vocal about his admiration to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his brand of governance,

u PAGE A2

Lorenzana, Mattis discuss PH-US partnership in Pentagon

by FRANCES

MANGOSING Inquirer.net

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana met his U.S. counterpart James Mattis at the Pentagon to discuss the partnership of both countries.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) released a short video and a few photos from the visit scheduled on Tuesday, September 18.

“During their meeting, the two leaders highlighted the longstanding friendship and values between their countries,” the DOD said.

“The Philippines-U.S. alliPhilippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana meets his U.S. counterpart Defense Secretary ance remains robust, based on James Mattis at the Pentagon to discuss defense partnership.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense an enduring history of close en-

gagement and our unwavering commitment to work together on shared values,” Lorenzana said in his remarks during the meeting.

Quoting Filipino statesman Carlos Romulo, Mattis said the alliance of both countries brings “common love for liberty, shared allegiance to democracy, and a battle-tested comradeship.”

No other details of the meeting were immediately available.

The meeting comes almost a month after three U.S. officials, which included Mattis, supposedly wrote to President Rodrigo Duterte, to express support to the Philippine military’s mod-

u PAGE A5

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, sits with former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile on a one-on-one interview about the events that led to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.

Photo from Facebook/Bongbong Marcos

Aquino slams Enrile, Marcos over martial law claims

by DARRYL JOHN

ESGUERRA

Inquirer.net

FORMER President Benigno Aquino III on Friday, September 21, slammed the claims of former Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile about martial law during the rule of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Aquino stressed that there is a law that provides compensation and reparation for victims of human rights abuses to belie Enrile’s

claim that there was no massacre or arrests of Marcos critics during martial law.

“Merong batas na Human Rights Compensation bill na binabayad doon sa lahat ng mga biktima ng human rights abuses noong panahon ng batas militar,” Aquino told reporters in an interview after attending a mass commemorating the 46th anniversary of Martial Law declaration in the country.

u PAGE A5

A September 22-25, 2018 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Filipino millennials: We know...

PAGE A1 t even asserting they know much about the nation’s history.

“Never again, never again to martial law,” the students said in unison. “Duterte, Marcos – walang pinag-iba.”

A Manila university student said not being physically present during the Marcos’ martial law years is not a reason to disregard what happened during the

so-called dark days of Philippine history.

“Hindi naman dahil hindi namin naabutan ‘yong panahon ng martial law eh ibig sabihin hindi namin alam ang nangyari noon,” said the student, who requested not to be named wary of being attacked by online trolls.

“We think it is important to remember events like these, to raise awareness among the

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From the Front Page

youth,” she added.

Organizers from the United People’s Action said at least 10,000 people, majority of which were students, marched from different parts of Manila to Roxas Boulevard for the protest action.

Personalities such as former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Kabataan partylist Rep. Sarah Elago, and former Solicitor General Atty. Florin Hilbay addressed the crowd. They asked them to use the past as an example to stay vigilant amid the present situation in the country.

Sereno, in particular, requested young people to read Supreme Court (SC) documents on the two-decade rule of Marcos, which she said has been labeled “wrong and evil”.

“Alam niyo po ba, ang Supreme Court, mangilan-ilang beses na (sinabing) mali, makasalanan ang martial law ni Ginoong Marcos.. Ang Supreme Court na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi na kailangan at hindi na dapat maulit ang martial law,” she said.

Sereno also said the SC likewise labeled then Sandiganbayan’s investigation on the death of opposition leader, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., as “moro-moro” or merely for show.

“Ano po ang sinabi ng SC sa Galman versus Republic of the Philippines, Sandiganbayan? Ang sabi po nila, nakaka-hindik na ang mismong pangulo ang siyang sa prosekusyon at sa mga huwes ng Sandiganbayan na mag-moromoro,” she explained.

“Kayong mga kabataan, basahin niyo po kasi very graphic ang description, kung paano ang makapangyarihan gaya ng isang presidente kayang magpatawag at turuan lamang ang mga sangay ng hustisya upang sumama sa isang moro-moro,” she added. n

CLENCHED FISTS FOR DUTERTE. Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte raise their clenched fists as a sign of support to the administration during a gathering at Rizal Park in Manila for the observance of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Friday, September 21.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Palace tells ouster plotters...

PAGE A1 t

that is what the President has been following whether or not there is a law, but more so since there is a law,” Roque said. He said no one could complain that Duterte was “onion-skinned” as the president had allowed people to protest for or against the government.

“He lets them do it, he recognizes the importance of free speech,” Roque said.

“So we will give maximum tolerance to everyone because after all, the President was not the one who declared martial law in September 21 many years ago,” he added.

Last year, Duterte signed Proclamation 310, which de-

clared September 21, 2017 the National Protest Day to give way to those who wanted to protest against the government.

Students warned The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, September 20, urged students to stay out of danger and not join the massive rally set by militant groups.

Mayor Joseph Estrada cancelled classes in Manila Friday because of the rally.

Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, PNP spokesman, said in a news conference it was possible for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to infiltrate the rally to recruit

Duterte: US attack on ICC ‘refreshing...

PAGE A1 t ing an investigation against his brutal war against illegal drugs.

“If you would notice hindi naman ako nagyayabang, tayo ‘yung una, hindi lang ako pumayag, binullshit ko sabi ko p…..i.. ninyo,” he said, eliciting applause from the military.

“I said do not fuck with my

country. Mas marunong pa kayo kung anong gawin sa problema [namin],” he added.

In March, the Philippines withdrew from the ICC due to “baseless” accusations against him by UN officials, and alleged violations on due process by The Hague-based ICC. Speaking at the graduation

rites at the Philippine Military Academy in March, Mr. Duterte urged governments to withdraw from the ICC saying the tribunal — which is examining charges of crimes against humanity filed against him over the thousands of killings in his war on drugs — is “rude.”

He called the Rome Statute,

members and cause trouble.

“This is always the modus operandi of the CPP-NPA-NDF. They will infiltrate a peaceful demonstration or rally and they will try to instigate participants to create trouble and violence because this is a good media copy for them,” he said.

Durana said the PNP would deploy 4,000 police in different areas to ensure peace and order.

Another 1,000 police personnel were reserved and would be on standby at the PNP National Headquarters.

Intelligence operatives will also be deployed to monitor the activities and look for wanted members of the CPP-NPAthe treaty that established the ICC, “bullshit.”

Although the Senate ratified the Rome Statute, Mr. Duterte said the treaty was never enforced in the Philippines because it was not published in the government’s Official Gazette, as required by law.

“You know, if it’s not published, there is no law,” he said.

Due to that flaw, he said the ICC could never have jurisdiction over him, “not in a million years.” n

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DATELINE USA

Video of white woman yelling racist remarks...

PAGE A1 t remarks at Cairel outside a donut shop in downtown Portland, Oregon on the evening of Tuesday, September 11.

That video, which was posted the following day, quickly circulated throughout social media when national news outlets picked it up, garnering more than 2 million views.

According to Cairel, after getting donuts that Tuesday, she and her three friends got into her car and started to back out of the spot. That was when Cairel saw Measelle and her friend walked behind her car, so she pressed the brakes. Cairel said that she “wasn’t even close to hitting them” but asked the two girls if they were OK. That was when the insults began. “[Measelle] literally took one good look at me and started laughing and was like, ‘She’s Asian. She can’t see that’s why she can’t drive,’” Cairel, 22, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview. “I didn’t know this person, she didn’t know me and she knew nothing about me, but said that.”

Although the remark was shocking to Cairel (who was the only person of color in the car), she “wanted to be the bigger person” and just leave. But she felt compelled to ask Measelle, who is reportedly in her mid-twenties, why she would say that to her, to which Measelle laughed, pulled out her phone first to start recording and said, “this is going on Instagram.”

“So, she pulled out her phone first, and began saying these nasty things about Asian folks, saying, ‘You’re all illegals.’ She made fun of my accent because she thought I’d have an Asian accent, and both she and her friend just kept on laughing,” Cairel recounted.

That was when Cairel decided to record the interaction because she wanted people to “know that this kind of behavior shouldn’t be accepted.”

In the 30-second video, Measelle, laughing, tells Cairel, “Before you say anything, you might want to make sure you’re actual legals, and then call the cops.”

After Measelle drove away, Cairel recounts an insistent feeling of shock that this had happened to her. She decided to post the video on her Facebook page for her friends and family with a caption detailing her disturbance by the interaction with a complete stranger. But after

her friends and family shared the video, people across the country did, too, and they mirrored that sense of shock and disgust at Measelle’s comments.

“I was really overwhelmed, and I kind of didn’t expect anyone to care at all,” Cairel shared. “I was so surprised that actual people cared and I felt very appreciated by that. And it got my hopes up that there are good, nice people out there in the world!”

Portland — which is famously branded as a liberal’s haven — is Cairel’s “home away from home.” Cairel — who was born in the Philippines, but relocated with her family in Washington state when she was 11 — lives about an hour’s drive north of Portland in Vancouver, Washington and regularly visits the Rose City.

But this is the first time she’s ever had an encounter like this before, and it opened her eyes to the sobering reality that racism and bigotry “can really happen anywhere and to anybody at anytime.”

Shortly after Cairel’s video went viral, Internet sleuthers doxxed (Internet speak for the foraging and release of someone’s personal information) Measelle and publicly posted her full name, address, occupation and her place of work. (Because of the video, her employer reportedly fired her.)

This opened the door to bullying, threats and general hostility towards Measelle, who ended up deleting her social media accounts, a consequence that Cairel doesn’t agree with.

“I felt a little bit of guilt because people just started exposing her. It did not feel good, and it was uncalled for, regardless of what she said to me and what she has done. It’s still not OK,” Cairel affirmed.

After the video went viral Measelle apologized to Cairel via Instagram direct message, and later publicly, writing in an Instagram post on Sunday, Sept. 16: “I am sorry for the ignorant, hateful comments I made to [Cairel] and her friend. I’m ashamed that I let my emotions get the best of me, and I reacted in such a hurtful manner that goes completely against my beliefs and morals.

I’m extremely disappointed in myself and my lack of empathy.”

Cairel decided not to respond to Measelle, remarking, “It was all still fresh and it just kept replaying in my mind: what she

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

A3

US Army Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion performs change of command ceremony

said to me, her laughing, her voice. It’s going to take some time for me to find forgiveness.”

The ubiquity of social media has captured these moments has given a rise to the exposure to the taunting of certain minority groups all throughout the country. Like Cairel, the individuals posting the videos — who are often the targets of such bullying and harassment — do so to expose the prevalence of racism.

Though Asians aren’t the most targeted minority group, according to FBI hate crime statistics, Filipinos have been more frequently subjected to racist and xenophobic heckling by strangers, as reported by the Asian Journal.

In Las Vegas last year, a woman called a Filipino-American man and all Filipinos “orange savages,” launching into a tirade: “If it weren’t for Teddy Roosevelt needing a f—ing port in the Philippines, you’d be speaking Chinese or Russian now.”

Earlier this year, a FilipinoAmerican family was taunted by a woman in the line of a grocery store in Daly City, California, where the woman scoffed at the amount of food the family bought Captain Miguel Diaz and falsely classified the family as immigrants and accused the family (and all immigrants) of “taking our food” and “taking our jobs.”

In Los Angeles, a Filipina nurse was verbally harassed by a white couple in the parking lot of the Eagle Rock Plaza, where the woman of the couple actually went up to the nurse and struck her, causing swelling and bruising on her temple.

Though Cairel said that she still feels shock from the encounter with Measelle, she said it hasn’t broken her spirit and, actually, has faith that society is actually moving towards acceptance of all people and hopes that people who has similar incidents stands up for themselves.

“I have a really positive view of the world, believe it or not, that we’re progressing towards leaving all the racism, discrimination and prejudice behind, especially with [millennials],” Cairel beamed. “It made me proud of who I am as a Filipino and as an American and proud of my parents who worked so hard to bring us here. Be proud of who you are and stand up for yourself if this happens to you. Don’t let this disrespectful behavior go unseen.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

U.S. ARMY Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion Commander, LTC Patrick Flood presided over the change of command ceremony from Captain Tifani Summers to Captain Miguel Diaz at the Museum of Military History in Simi Valley on Wednesday, September 19.

Captain Summers served in Los Angeles for two years and has done a tremendous job connecting with the local community. She recently accepted a position into the Public Affairs Brand and will be attending school at The Defense Information School (DINFOS), Ft. Meade in Maryland before being stationed in Korea.

Captain Diaz, who grew up in East Los Angeles, will be taking over the Ventura Recruiting Company. Captain Diaz enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps as an infantryman in 2003. In 2010, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Adjutant General Corps from the Army’s Officer Candidate School in FT Benning, GA. He has served in various locations and duty positions across the continental United states and has amassed several distinctions throughout his career.

Working with Captain Diaz is SFC Anthony Bustamante, a Filipino-American recruiter based in Tarzana. He can assist in answering questions about college opportunities through the U.S. Army.

In his speech, Commander, LTC Flood quoted former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt saying: “The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

He also swore in some future soldiers. Lunch was served at the reception for local dignitaries, families, friends and supporters. ■

A September 22-25, 2018 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

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An aspirin a day can be risky for older people, finds new study cine found that rates of heart disease, disability, or dementia were not brought down by takTaking aspirin has for a long ing a daily “baby” aspirin. it also time been believed to help stave found that taking the aspirin inoff heart attack and strokes. But creased the risk of death — priresults from a new study says marily from cancer — in those 65 that taking a daily aspirin may years or older. actually bring some risks for “Clinical guidelines note the some people. benefits of aspirin for preventa new study published in the ing heart attacks and strokes new England Journal of Medi- in person with vascular condiby Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

tions such as coronary artery disease. The concern has been uncertainty about whether aspirin is beneficial for otherwise healthy older people without those conditions,” said Richard J. Hodes, director of the national institute on aging.

“This study shows why it is so important to conduct this type of research, so that we can gain a fuller picture of aspirin’s benefits and risks among healthy older persons,” he added.

The study involved over 19,000 people from australia and the U.S. who were ages 70 years or older (65 years and older among Hispanics and blacks in the U.S.), and who did not have cardiovascular disease, dementia, or disability. Half of the participants took a low-dose aspirin of 100 milligrams daily, and the other half took a placebo.

The three party study, which took place over a span of five years from 2010 to 2014, did not see much of a difference between the groups when it came to dementia or disability as a result of taking aspirin. it did though, see a higher risk of bleeding from those that took aspirin, compared to those that took the placebo (3.1 percent compared to 2.7 percent).

“The use of low-dose aspirin as a primary prevention strategy in older adults resulted in a significantly higher risk of hemorrhage and did not result in a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease than placebo,” said a conclusion of the study which was published in three papers.

When it came to the overall death rate, 5.9 percent of aspirin takers placed higher than the 5.2 percent of the placebo takers. in regards to death from cancer, those in the aspirin group were more likely at 3.1 percent, compared to the 2.3 percent in the placebo group.

“The increase in cancer deaths in study participants in the aspirin group was surprising, given prior studies suggesting aspirin use improved cancer outcomes,” said Leslie Ford, M.D. associate director for clinical research, nCi Division of Cancer Prevention. “analysis of all the cancer-related data from the trial is under way and until we have additional data, these findings should be interpreted with caution.” n

NEVER AGAIN. An artist applies finishing touches on giant illustrations of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and President Rodrigo Duterte, in preparation for a huge rally on Friday, September 21.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

US to provide food, hygiene kits to ‘Ompong’ victims ManiLa — The United States government has committed to extend assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Ompong, which barreled into the country over the weekend.

Through the U.S. agency for international Development (USaiD) in partnership with a

non-governmental organization, Washington will be providing hygiene supplies for the 5,500 people who were affected by the typhoon in Cagayan province.

The USaiD, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United nations World Food Programme will also be trans-

porting 1,000 metric tons of food to familes who were affected by the typhoon.

U.S. ambassador Sung kim expressed condolences for the victims of the typhoon, which left dozens dead in the Philippines.

“We hope that our support

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Governor Brown signs new anti-bullying...

PAGE A1 t

islamic Relations (CaiR-Ca), and Equality Ca. “at a time when divisive and harmful political speech is on the rise, it’s vital that every educator in California have the tools they need to prevent this type of vitriol and maintain a safe school environment,” added Medina.

While existing law requires the state department of education to develop online training tools to assist educators, parents, students, and community members about the prevalence and effects of bullying, the new bill further requires schools to annually keep and provide an updated list of other available online training tools online to school staff across the state.

The goal is to encourage further encourage trust between educators and their pupils.

“Every student deserves an opportunity to thrive in a safe learning environment,” said Reshma Shamasunder, Vice President of Program Strategy at advancing

Justice-La. “However, students are often hesitant to report incidents of harassment in fear that teachers are not properly trained to intervene. aB 2291 will ensure that school staff are given the training and tools they need to address and prevent bullying.”

Bullying, including cyber bullying, remain prevalent in today’s schools with 28 percent of U.S students in grades six to 12, and 20 percent of U.S. students in grades nine to 12 saying they’ve been bullied, according to a study cited by the U.S. government’s Stop Bullying campaign.

Studies have shown that race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation have been among the most common reasons students have been experiencing bullying. For example, a nationwide report by CaiR-Ca found that out of 1,0141 Muslim students surveyed in California, over half (53 percent) said they were bullied over their religion in 2016. aside from affecting emotional

health, studies have also shown bullying to impact school districts’ financial costs. in California alone, a study published last year in School Psychology Quarterly found that school districts lost about $276 million a year due to bully-related student absences. it found that 10.4 percent of students statewide reported having missed at least one day of class in a given month because they felt unsafe.

Similar to other studies, reasons found for absences were bullying of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

On the new law, aarti kohli, Executive Director of advancing Justice - asian Law Caucus said that the law would ensure that California remains at the “forefront of championing safe environments for immigrant and vulnerable communities.”

“We’re responsible for creating the next generation of leaders, and we must ensure that they understand the meaning of respect,” said kohli. n

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New Medicare advantage tool to lower drug prices puts crimp in patients’ choices

by SuSan Jaffe Kaiser Health News

PH-UE COLLABORATION. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III receives EU Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Franz Jessen, during the latter’s courtesy call at the Philippine Senate on Tuesday, September 18. They discussed the EU’s continuing commitment to help the drug rehabilitation program of President Duterte. They also recognized the importance of the EU’s GSP+ Scheme which has visibly improved the Philippines’ trade volume with the EU, making the EU the second largest export market and the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

Documentary highlights Facebook ‘cleaners’ ‘The Cleaners’ to be shown at 8th Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Hong Kong

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

MiLLiOnS of new content are uploaded to the internet every single day, entering the timelines and feeds of the internet’s over 4.2 billion users. that includes 500 hours of video uploaded to Youtube every minute, over 90 million photos added each day to instagram, and over 6,000 tweets posted every second.

With such high volume of content being added so quickly, it’s an unfortunate fact that malicious content also makes way into the internet’s main stream.

But what most may not know is that it isn’t artificial intelligence or special algorithms that are getting rid of reported posts. rather, the taking down of content is done through a more manual method of human hands, many of which are in the Philippines.

Created by german filmmakers Hans Block and Moritz riesewieck, a new documentary called “the Cleaners” — which will be shown at the upcoming Human rights Documentary Film Festival in Hong Kong — follows the tasks of Filipino workers in Manila who spend hours each day clicking through large amounts of inappropriate content so that everyday social media users wouldn’t have to. as the film’s trailer states, “everything that goes up, doesn’t always stay up.” the content ranges from graphic photos of child abuse, images of self-harm, and posts of terrorist attacks, among others. the documentary shows how 15 to 20 content moderators in Manila, who were hired by outsourcing companies and stayed anonymous in the film, decide whether to “ignore” or “delete” tens of thousands of posts a day.

“For most of them, it’s a job they are proud of,” explained riesewieck in an interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP). “You have to consider many people have jobs that are much less prestigious than working in such nice looking buildings in one of the best parts of Manila.” the Filipino workers get paid around $1 to $3 an hour, which compared to other jobs, is rather decent.

“With this money, they can care for the whole family of five, six, or seven persons,” added riesewieck. “they are the breadwinners and they are happy to get this job.”

One moderator likened the job to that of security.

“i am passionate about my job,” he said. “as a moderator, you’re like security. You protect the used.” given the nature of the content, the film also raises questions on how being regularly exposed to the often hard to stomach content may affect the moderators mentally. this, as moderators see approximately 25,000 images a day, a number one joked should get him a guinness Book of World records. according to the directors, many of moderators did not even know what their jobs would entail when applying. they only found out about the content after signing the contract.

On the personal reaction Block had when filming the documentary, Block told The Globe and Mail, “it is tough, but the main difference is that i can talk about my feelings, i can take a break and talk to psychologists.”

He added, “these content moderators are not allowed to speak a word to their nearest friend or their families, because they signed non-disclosure agreements. this is the worst you can do if you’re traumatized. this can lead to the worst consequence, which is also part of our movie: the suicide is extremely high.”

Last year, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a plan to add 3,000 new employees worldwide to scour through harm and harassment reports on the multibillion company’s platforms. With a staff number of roughly 4,500 before the hiring, the increase of staff by over 50 percent all the more proved how serious the problem of malicious content was.

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen people hurting themselves and others on Facebook — either live or in video posted later. it’s heartbreaking, and i’ve been reflecting on how we can do better for our community,” said Zuckerberg in the announcing statement. “if we’re going to build a safe community, we need to respond quickly,” he continued. “We’re working to make these videos easier to report so we can take the right action sooner — whether that’s responding quickly when someone needs help or taking a post down.”

Facebook’s vice president of operations Ellen Silver, commented on the job and said that it wasn’t one that just anyone can do. “this job is not for everyone — so to set people up for success, it’s important that we hire

Aquino slams Enrile, Marcos over...

PAGE A1 t “May edad na si Senator Enrile pero hindi naman siguro pwedeng gawing parang dahilan ‘yun para maniwala tayo sa gusto nyang pagbabago ng katotohanan. Pwede nating unawain pero pasensya na, ang totoo ay totoo; ang pambobola ay pambobola pa rin. ,” he added.

During a recorded discussion posted on Bongbong’s social me-

dia accounts, Enrile claimed that no one was arrested for just criticizing the late President Marcos.

Enrile, 95, also claimed that there were no massacres committed during the imposition of martial rule.

“During martial law there were no massacres like what happened in Mendiola during the supposed democratic government of Cory aquino,” he said. n

Lorenzana, Mattis discuss PH-US...

PAGE A1 t

ernization program and to offer a partnership with them for defense procurement. the U.S. has expressed concerns about the Philippines’ plans to buy military equipment from its rival, russia.

Last week, President Duterte met with U.S. ambassador Sung Kim in Malacañang, but he refused to discuss the details of the meeting: “i cannot discuss

that until i get his [Kim’s] permission…there was nothing earthshaking but more of confidentiality. i hate to break the rules.”

Kim, meanwhile, said that the meeting was mostly about defense priorities and economic partnerships. the U.S. has also been very vocal of its concern over China’s militarization of the South China Sea, where the Philippines is one of the claimants. n

people who will be able to handle inevitable challenges that the role represents,” said Silver. “Just as we look for language proficiency and cultural competency, we also screen for resiliency.” n

Starting next year, Medicare advantage plans will be able to add restrictions on expensive, injectable drugs administered by doctors to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, macular degeneration and other serious diseases.

Under the new rules, these private Medicare insurance plans could require patients to try cheaper drugs first. if those are not effective, then the patients could receive the more expensive medication prescribed by their doctors. insurers use such “step therapy” to control drug costs in the employer-based insurance market as well as in Medicare’s stand-alone Part Dprescription drug benefit, which generally covers medicine purchased at retail pharmacies or through the mail. the new option allows advantage plans — an alternative to traditional, government-run Medicare — to extend that costcontrol strategy to these physician-administered drugs. in traditional Medicare, which covers 40 million older or disabled adults, those medications given by doctors are covered under Medicare Part B, which includes outpatient services, and step therapy is not allowed. about 20 million people have private Medicare advantage policies, which include coverage for Part D and Part B medications.

Some physicians and patient

advocates are concerned that the pursuit of lower Part B drug prices could endanger very sick Medicare advantage patients if they can’t be treated promptly with the medicine that was their doctor’s first choice.

Critics of the new policy, part of the administration’s efforts to fulfill President Donald trump’s promise to cut drug prices, say it lacks some crucial details, including how to determine when a less expensive drug isn’t effective.

“Do you have to lose vision before you are allowed to use” medication approved by the Food and Drug administration, asked richard O’neal, vice president for market access for regeneron, which makes Eylea, a medicine that is injected into the eye to treat macular degeneration. in 2016, Medicare paid $2.2 billion for Eylea prescriptions for patients in traditional Medicare, more than any other Part B drug, according to government data.

Medicare advantage insurers spend about $12 billion on Part B drugs, compared to the $25.7 billion traditional Medicare spent in 2016 on such drugs. insurers that adopt the step therapy policy can apply it only to new prescriptions — medicine a patient hasn’t received in the past 108 days. the change in policy gives insurers a new bargaining tool: Pharmaceutical makers may want to compete by cutting prices to get their product on

the plans’ list of preferred lists, allowing patients to receive the medicines without step therapy pre-conditions. that “strengthens their negotiating position with the manufacturers,” Medicare chief Seema Verma said when she unveiled the policy last month. it could also save patients money since they usually pay a portion of the Part B prescription cost. in addition, Medicare is requiring plans to share the savings with enrollees.

“Competition is a big factor in price concessions,” said Daniel nam, executive director of federal programs at america’s Health insurance Plans, an industry trade group. But insurers haven’t had much leverage to negotiate lower prices for these drugs without strategies like step therapy, he said.

O’neal, however, predicted that step therapy would not work to lower his company’s drug prices because he said there isn’t an alternative approved by the FDa that’s as effective and less expensive. Humana, however, in comments on the trump administration’s proposal to cut drug prices, said it could use other effective eye medications and save money.

Federal health officials told insurers in a memo last month that they could substitute a less expensive Part B drug to treat a medical condition the FDa has not approved it for, if insurers can document that it is safe

u PAGE A6

A September 22-25, 2018 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

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Floyd Mayweather: ‘No Pacquiao rematch in December 2018’

by AbAc

cordero Philstar.com

IT seems Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not ready to jump into the ring to fight Manny Pacquiao in a rematch in December as fight fans had wished and hoped for.

Mayweather ticked the fancy of the boxing world when he said last Saturday in Tokyo that he’s coming out of retirement to take on Pacquiao.

“I’m coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year,” he said on the day he met the Filipino legend during a rave party in Tokyo.

However, the retired American superstar sang a different tune on Thursday, September 20.

“I know everybody heard about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, but before the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, I will be back in Tokyo for a huge boxing event. Stay tuned,” Mayweather said.

In a video clip posted by top

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Philstar.com photo

entertainment portal TMZ, the 41-year-old Mayweather hinted at a big event in Tokyo that may feature him.

He did not categorically say if he’s going to figure in a tune-up fight in Tokyo before setting up the rematch with Pacquiao or if

it’s an event that needs his full attention.

Pacquiao told reporters last Tuesday he’s ready to fight Mayweather in the U.S. — any time, any day.

The reigning WBA welterweight champion can’t wait to get his hands on Mayweather, and stressed that he won’t need any tune-up fight.

“He said ‘Easy fight, easy fight,’ so I told him, ‘Let’s fight. I have the belt,’” said Pacquiao.

But Mayweather’s latest statement could mean that no rematch of their 2015 blockbuster showdown is happening soon or as early as December.

Pacquiao may have to name another opponent after saying he wants to do another fight on December 8 or on January 12 or January 19.

“We hope to finalize it this week,” he said.

In the list are British superstar Amir Khan, Kell Brook and Mike Garcia.

“They’re all available,” said Pacquiao. n

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FRESH FROM MINDANAO. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol (2nd right) brought fresh vegetables from Mindanao to be sold at affordable prices in the TienDA Malasakit Store at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila on Friday, September 21.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Foreign powers sail to South China Sea ‘to create trouble’ — Chinese envoy

by FrAnces

MAngosing Inquirer.net

NAvIES of foreign powers outside the region sail to the South China Sea to cause trouble with their freedom of navigation operations, the Chinese envoy to the United Kingdom said.

Liu Xiaoming, ambassador of China to the UK, told the Induction Program for Commonwealth Diplomats on Wednesday that the regional states have made efforts to ease the tensions in the disputed waterway.

“Some big countries outside the region did not seem to appreciate the peace and tranquility in the South China Sea. They sent warships and aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to create

trouble,” he said in his remarks which were later posted on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

China claims most parts of the South China Sea, including waters close to the shores of the Philippines, vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.

China and ASEAN countries are in the process of negotiating a Code of Conduct over the bitterly contested waterway.

Liu scored the freedom of navigation operations mostly carried out by Western powers like the UK and the United States, saying it was a “serious infringement of China’s sovereignty.”

“Freedom of navigation is not a license to do whatever one

wishes. Such ‘freedom’ must be stopped. Otherwise, the South China Sea will never be tranquil,” Liu said.

Weeks ago, it was reported that UK warship HMS Albion sailed near the China-held Paracel Islands and China had warned it to leave.

Last week, a Japanese submarine, along with three ships, held exercises in the disputed waters. But Japan later denied that the activities were intended to challenge China’s massive claims in the hotly contested waters.

China, which has transformed disputed islands and reefs into military installations, insists that it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea. n

Fil-Am students who hung self-made poster at McDonald’s to be featured in marketing campaign

by KAtrinA

HAllAre Inquirer.net

WHAT was supposed to be a harmless prank pulled by two men at a McDonald’s store in the U.S. turned into something more, all thanks to Ellen Degeneres.

The television host surprised Jehv Maravilla and Christian Toledo, two Filipino-Americans who hung their self-made poster at the fast-food chain, by announcing that they would be featured in its marketing campaign. Degeneres made the announcement on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” aired on Monday, Sept. 17.

Degeneres said that what Maravilla and Toledo did was a “good prank,” and invited them to guest at her show. She asked them how they pulled it off. She got curious as to how Maravilla managed to get into the fast-food chain unnoticed—by dressing up as a fake manager.

“I went to a Goodwill nearby with my friend, and he suggested I go get a uniform so I could dress like the part,” he told Degeneres, adding he made a fake badge at home.

“Wait, they just have McDonald’s uniforms for sale anywhere?” Degeneres asked.

Maravilla replied: “Yeah, it was weird! It was the first location we

Christian Toledo and Jehv Mahravilla pulled the ultimate prank by sneaking in a fake poster at a fast-food chain to promote Asian representation.

Photo from Twitter/@Jehvolution

went to, and it was the right size for me too. So it was like meant to be!”

Since Degeneres has had the habit of surprises, she made sure the two would not leave emptyhanded. Aside from being featured in the marketing campaign, she revealed the edited version of Maravilla and Toledo’s poster hung outside her studio—which now included herself. Degeneres also asked the duo if they could sneak in a fan-art of herself in

their local fast-food branch.

But she saved the best for last: Not only do they get featured in the campaign, but also get paid for it for $25,000 (approximately P1.3 million).

Maravilla and Toledo pulled the prank in the Texas branch of the fast-food chain, and said on Twitter that the poster had been hanging for 51 days without being noticed. He said that their goal for the prank was to promote Asian representation. n

US to provide food, hygiene kits to ‘Ompong’ victims PAGE A4 t

will provide comfort to the victims during this difficult time.

We also hope to provide further assistance as needs are identified,” Kim said in a statement.

The American envoy also commended the Philippine government for evacuating residents

before the storm and for its search and rescue efforts.

The number of people killed in the wake of “Ompong” has risen to 81, mostly victims of a massive landslide in Itogon, Benguet where dozens are still believed to be buried under mud.

The figure could still in-

crease as 59 are still missing while searchers continue to dig through a 300-meter landslide.

Damage to agriculure has reached an estimated P16.76 billion as of Tuesday, according to the Department of Agriculture. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

New Medicare advantage tool to lower...

PAGE A5 t

and effective. Yet coverage for a Part D drug is usually denied for a condition that doesn’t have FDA approval, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which helps beneficiaries with appeals.

Several representatives of medical specialty groups recently met with Alex Azar, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to express their concerns.

Dr. Stephen Grubbs, vice president of clinical affairs at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, was among them. He said Azar told him the new step therapy policy would not have a big impact on cancer treatment.

Patients and their physicians who encounter problems getting specific Part B drugs can appeal using the “process that we have throughout the Medicare Advantage program and Part D plans,” advised verma.

Under this system, if patients don’t want to follow their insur-

ance plans’ requirements to try a less expensive medication first, they can request an exceptionto step therapy.

“They need their doctor’s support,” said Francine Chuchanis, director of entitlement rights at Direction Home, an Area Agencies on Aging organization that serves older adults and people with disabilities in northeastern Ohio. The physician must tell the plan why its restrictions should be lifted and provide extensive documentation.

The plans have 24 hours to respond to an expedited exception and 72 hours for a regular request. During this time, “people are going without their drugs,” said Sarah Jane Blake, a Medicare counselor for New York’s StateWide Senior Action Council.

However, Dr. David Daikh, president of the American College of Rheumatology, said plans frequently do not meet the 72-hour deadline.

“We raised this point with the

secretary and his staff,” he said.

“They replied that they felt that there would not be a backlog for this program.”

If a plan denies the exemption, patients can file a “reconsideration” appeal. During this process, patients still can’t get their medicine unless they pay for it out-of-pocket.

Only a tiny fraction of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries filed a reconsideration appeal last year. Of the 3,498 cases that were decided, just 1 in 10 beneficiaries won decisions fully or partially in their favor, according to Medicare statistics.

“That’s disheartening to say the least,” said Blake, but she wasn’t surprised. “Beneficiaries are intimidated by the hoops they have to go through and often give up trying to purchase the drugs prescribed for them.” n This story was produced

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

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 22-25, 2018

A

D ateline PhiliPPines Robredo: ‘Another EDSA won’t be good for Philippines’ Duterte sees Reds defeated in mid-2019

by Christina

MANILA — They have not joined forces and there is no conspiracy to oust President Rodrigo Duterte through mass actions that are supposed to start today, the 46th anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law, and culminate in October.

This was stressed by Vice President Leni Robredo who heads the opposition Liberal Party (LP), Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV of the Magdalo party-list group and chairman Jose Ma. Sison of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Thousands of police officers have been deployed for today’s rallies in Manila to commemorate the declaration of Martial Law, with pro-administration groups holding their own rallies to express support for President Duterte.

Former President Benigno Aquino III and Robredo are scheduled to attend a mass at De La Salle University in Manila to commemorate the declaration of martial law.

The government said it was prepared for the rallies and any possible destabilization attempts.

Duterte had said the LP, Magdalo and CPP were conspiring to boot him out by next month.

roMero Philstar.com

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

Facing “The Chiefs” last night on Cignal TV’s One News channel, Robredo said, “Filipinos are not keen on supporting another uprising. It will not be good for the country if we will go through another political upheaval the likes of EDSA. I feel we have gone through so much already.”

She denied that the LP was involved in any ouster plot, adding that if there is any such movement afoot, she would not be part of it.

LP vice president for external affairs Erin Tañada had issued a similar denial to The Chiefs, stressing that the party is busy preparing for the 2019 elections.

Sison and Trillanes also categorically denied conspiring to

Philstar.com photo

oust Duterte, although the exiled communist leader stressed that their rebellion has always aimed to replace the Philippine government and its leader.

Trillanes told The Chiefs that it would be impossible for him and the Magdalo, which represents soldiers, to “lie in bed with the enemy” since communist rebels continue to kill government forces. The two groups, he said, are “like oil and water.”

Sison, speaking to The Chiefs

by Skype from the Netherlands, said he had also consulted rebel forces in the Philippines and was sure that no such talks for a conspiracy had transpired. He said Duterte was “lying” for claiming that there is a taped conversation to prove the conspiracy. n

Ombudsman to decide Mocha’s fate

by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

MALACAñANG on Thursday, September 20, said it would let the Office of the Ombudsman decide the fate of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, following the filing of a complaint against her for an online video that supposedly mocked sign language.

“For now, we can’t expect dismissal from the Office of the President,” Roque told reporters.

“Let’s wait for the decision of the Ombudsman because, anyway, there is already [a]complaint. The Ombudsman can already order the dismissal of anyone in government because it is both an administrative and criminal case,” he said.

Four persons with disabilities filed the complaint before the Ombudsman against Uson of the

The president had also claimed that Sison is dying of cancer.

National Democratic Front MANILA — President Rodrigo (NDF) peace panel chairman FiDuterte is expecting the defeat of del Agcaoili denied Sison is dythe decades-old communist in- ing. He said the CPP founding surgency by the second quarter chairman has recovered from a of 2019 as the prospects for peace bout of arthritis. talks between the government Sison added that people conand the rebels remain uncertain. sider Duterte a clown who imagDuterte said many communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered despite threats of being assassinated by their former comrades.

“I think that if God is merciful, this would be over by about the second quarter of next year.

Many are surrendering. The good thing there is there are firearms,” the President said.

“Usually, they do not bring firearms. That’s really prohibited. You will really be killed. But this time, they are coming down and surrendering firearms,” he added.

Duterte said rebel leaders were among those who have abandoned the armed struggle.

Intelligence personnel were able to gather information from the insurgents who surrendered, he added.

Previous presidents have also predicted the demise of the communist movement, the oldest existing Maoist insurgency in the region.

Peace negotiations between the government and the rebels were terminated after Duterte accused the communists of seeking a coalition government, a powersharing setup that he said is not allowed by the Constitution.

The president has also chided the rebels for launching attacks against government forces and civilians while talks of the opioid are ongoing.

‘Delusion’ Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison claimed that Duterte showed signs of delusion when he predicted the downfall of the CPP-NPA next year, saying it is more likely that the president will be ousted from power before that period.

Sison, in his social media post yesterday, said that Duterte’s statement may be a result of his taking too much Fentanyl.

“It is more likely that Duterte would be ousted from power” than him destroying the people’s revolutionary movement by the middle of next year, Sison said. by alexis

Mendez

Philstar.com

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and blogger Andrew Olivar, in connection with the online video of Olivar mocking sign language.

They cited violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, the Civil Code of the Philippines, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“We need to tell the Philippines and the whole world that what Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and her male companion (Olivar) did, where they seemed to play with sign language and insulting our friends who are deaf, was very wrong,” complainant Lauro Purcil Jr., convener of the Philippine Coalition on the United Nations (UN)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, said.

“She (Uson) is a high-ranking government official and she should give the correct example and information, with respect to the deaf and other people with disabilities,” he said.

“She (Uson) put our government to shame. President Duterte should do something and teach his people, especially those in high positions, to respect Filipinos, whether or not with disability.”

Uson and Olivar have apologized but Purcil and complainant Carolyn Dagani, president of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, told reporters they did not accept the apology.

“No we don’t accept,” Dagani said.

“Well, we would like to see

u PAGE A11

ines that he has all the money to give jobs and houses to the millions of people who participate in the revolutionary movement.

“More importantly, he is now the target of people’s rising hatred. They reject the traitorous, tyrannical, murderous and corrupt character of his regime,” Sison said. n

A8 SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Revisiting martial law

FEATURES

THERE have been some mass protest actions, but for many Filipinos, the yearlong martial law in the entire Mindanao has largely gone unnoticed. This is thanks to the conduct of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in enforcing martial law.

There is renewed interest, however, even among millennials, on the conduct of the AFP and other state forces four decades ago, when they were the enforcers of martial law declared by dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972.

Under Marcos’ military rule, the AFP and Philippine Constabulary, particularly the PC Metropolitan Command or Metrocom which operated in Manila and surrounding towns and cities, could barge into private homes and drag anyone to detention by virtue merely of a so-called Arrest, Search and Seizure Order that did not emanate from the courts.

A number of individuals rounded up by virtue of an ASSO were tortured or executed. Others remain on the list of the country’s desaparecidos.

The PC and Metrocom have been disbanded,

with Constabulary members absorbed into the Philippine National Police. But today, as the country remembers the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, the objects of fear are PNP members who abuse state power and resort to extralegal means of fighting criminality.

The abuses have fueled renewed interest in the dark days of the dictatorship, and bolstered the resolve to blunt any attempt to restore authoritarian rule. If more people are commemorating the anniversary of martial law today, it is because they perceive dark clouds again forming in the horizon.

Perhaps their eyes are merely playing tricks on them. But when it comes to protecting basic freedoms, it cannot be stressed enough that eternal vigilance is a small price to pay. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Truth over power: Public figures and church officials occupy positions of public trust

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. TRUST is a tower built stone by stone. Lies remove stones from the base and can topple the highest tower. When trust is important there are no little lies.

– Michael Josephson MICHAEL Josephson is a former law professor and attorney who founded the non-profit Joseph and Edna Institute of Ethics from which he operates as a speaker and lecturer on ethics.

He speaks on six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, citizenship, responsibility, caring and fairness.

At St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, the students learn about and behave towards caring, respect, trustworthiness, citizenship, kindness and responsibility. Since 1999-2003, St. Genevieve pursued character education. On October 17, 2003, it became “the first high school in California and the first Catholic school in the nation designated as National School of Character from the Character Education Partnership based in Washington, D.C.” These lessons on what constitutes good character are practiced by all: parking lot attendants, students, teachers, principal and pastor that this high school proudly displays a banner on its front door, “National School of Character.”

It also proudly has undertaken this cultural change by the legacy left behind by the Class of 2000, “who decided that instead of bullying the incoming strangers, they would make them feel welcome in their new home, “

Principal Dan Horn wrote in his book, “Anointed Moments.”

Character education continues to the present with inspirational speakers that come regularly to impart their knowledge and wisdom.

Perhaps our revered Catholic Church, headed by Pope Francis can rebuild the Church from these simple pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, citizenship, responsibility, caring and fairness.

I write this not to be sanctimonious but to embrace the darkness that has plagued the stewards of God with cases of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse by the way is not about abuse of sex, but abuse of power. This abuse of power from the priests, enabled by hiding of the bishops and higher up administrators has cost the U.S. Catholic Church, according to National Catholic Reporter’s Jack and Diane Ruhl on Nov. 2, 2015, “The U.S. Catholic Church has incurred nearly $4 billion in costs related to the priest sex abuse crisis during the past 65 years, according to an extensive NCR investigation of media reports, databases, and church documents.” The meter of financial exposure is still ticking as Brooklyn diocese reached a record settlement of $27.5 million with four victims of abuse by lay educator as reported by New York Times on Sept. 18, 2018 by Sharon Otterman.

The Vatican owes it to its 1.2 billion Catholic parishioners to come clean, to fully account for all these crimes. Yes, these are crimes that should not be en-

abled nor should have been facilitated by secrecy. Instead, a full accounting of all the predators who were hiding inside the institution, and pretending still to be God’s servants, when they have in fact dislodged themselves from being aligned with God and have embraced darkness as to perpetuate the abuse on these young men who are now grown up and can speak of their trauma. We must fully make an accounting, and display the names of these men, some of whom got imprisoned and died while in prison. But more than names, their methods of luring the children and young adults, like Fr. Brendan McGuire, so called “grooming” must be exposed.

Do you recall reading California priest, Fr. Brendan McGuire, who shared his trauma of being a victim of abuse he suffered at the hands of a priest when he was 18? It was a secret he held for 35 years, according to Mark Pattison of the Catholic News Service of Sept. 20, 2018. His verboten story was finally shared to his congregation, at five weekend masses Sept. 8-9 at Holy Spirit Church in San Jose, where he is pastor, Pattison continued.

In an interview with Catholic News Service, Fr. McGuire related, “he has heard from 45 men who told him they also had been abused. Five of the men were priests, he added, and four of those had been abused while they were seminarians.

‘One man was 95 years old. He’d been holding it for 60-plus years, 70-plus years,’ the priest said. ‘I

Happiness is a Filipino

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA WITH all of the bad news coming out of Manila, like typhoons, runaway inflation and Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo, I felt a need to inject some happy thoughts into the prevailing atmosphere. So I went through my Happiness File (I have all kinds of files) and found the following gem: Happiness is a Filipino.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philippines is ranked seventh happiest country in the world.

Yes, indeed! The Philippines is just two rungs below Mexico and the United States which are sixth and fifth respectively in the “happiness” rankings.

Wrote K. Davidson, Chronicle science writer, “The ‘happiest place on Earth’ isn’t Disneyland: It’s Denmark.” The Danes scored a 7.96 on a 10-point scale.

Following Denmark are the

Netherlands (7.49), Norway (7.45), and Luxembourg (7.30).

The U.S. scored 7.29, Mexico garnered 7.18 and the Philippines tallied an impressive 7.03.

Other countries in a list of 21 ranked according to the happiness index are Brazil (6.96), Ireland (6.96), Belgium (6.91), United Kingdom (6.88), Germany (6.59), Spain (6.29), South Africa (6.26), India (6.06), France (5.98), Japan (5.88), South Korea (5.79), Italy (5.78), Portugal (5.58) and Greece (5.54). Yes, Greece was ranked the “unhappiest” of all.

I came upon this news item just when we had guests at home, among them, Edward Kareklas, a full-bloodied Greek who was married to Boots Wilson, a Pinay (I should hasten to point out that Edward has already passed on to a happier place in the Great Beyond).

I asked Edward if the reported unhappiness of his compatriots was due to acting out too many Greek tragedies. Before he could respond, one of our guests quickly suggested that one pos-

sible explanation for the high happiness rating of the Filipinos may be likened to the Pinoys’ attitude towards an economic recession. Since most of our people have lived in recessionary circumstances all their lives, an officially declared economic recession makes no difference for them.

I pointed out as much in a recent piece about Pinoys eating and drinking and drinking and eating as a way to dare the fates to do their worst. In fact, if you ask the guys downing gin at the corner store what they are doing, their response will likely be, “Nag-ha-happy-happy!”

So my friend’s thesis sounded credible enough. However, I had to douse cold water on that conjecture.

I pointed out that the rankings were based on an analysis of surveys conducted by scholars around the world over several decades. The analysis was commissioned by the Chronicle and undertaken by a leading American “happiness researcher,” Michael Hagerty, psychologist and

thought 35 was a lot.”

By the way, this incident of sexual abuse started in Bray, Ireland when he was just 14 years old and he did not recognize the “grooming” by the priest for his final play until he was 18 so “it wouldn’t be child abuse,” Pattison reported.

Truth over power I write this not to dampen your enthusiasm as a Catholic churchgoer but to hold this as an example of healing. By embracing this systematic darkness where upon the Holy Spirit has not been illuminating parts of the Catholic Church, we need even more so now before the scheduled summit called by the Vatican in 2019 to implore its presence to heal the Catholic Church under Pope Francis. It is not an accident that Pope Benedict resigned, given this litany of sexual abuses by hundreds and perhaps thousands of priests, that must be fully accounted for and be dealt with numerous candles lit, candles lit to exorcise the darkness of abuse of power of these church leaders and lay workers.

Until Fr. McGuire shared his personal truth to his congregation, he felt imprisoned by the abuse of power that he suffered. Until he spoke, 45 other men could not start living a life of truth as they hid their lives of trauma from their families. Until Fr. McGuire spoke, the memory of ‘’illicit grooming” by this Irish priest could not be expunged from his being. Abuse lives in this priest’s molecular cells and he needs to talk about the trau-

ma in order to fully heal. He said that his healing starts when his trauma is acknowledged and when he is heard.

So now we also find that it is not just the institution of the Catholic Church, it is also the executive branch of the United States, personified by the thousands of lies coming from the mouth of the 45th U.S. President. One mainstream newspaper has employed fact checkers and as of Sept 4, 2018, Fact Checker has reported Mr. Trump has made 4, 713 false or misleading claims in 592 days Judge Brett Kavanaugh in office. It is now Sept. 22, 2018, he has had 18 know why, as it would reveal his days more that he has lied while many entanglements with Rusin the august halls of the White sian banks and Dutch banks who House, once revered as the seat loaned him their currencies to of power, where truth is the cur- keep his businesses running.

But we are not simply talking rency.

This same president has just of the U.S. President’s duty to tell nominated Federal Judge Brett the truth at all times, nor of the Kavanaugh, whose court opin- U.S. bishops to tell the truth of ions have been withheld by the 65 years, even 68 years of sexual National Archives, once a neutral abuse.

We are now faced with this body of source of information, which now claims they report to judge who is accused when he the National Executive, meaning was at his drunken 17 year old the President and released 7% condition, of attempted rape of then a 15 year old minor. of this judge’s past records.

This minor is now Dr. Christine Do you recall a similar withholding of information from this Blasey Ford, a professor of psyPresident, who did not disclose chology and statistics, a holder of his federal tax returns? We now u PAGE A9

professor of management at the University of California at Davis.

The Chronicle story said that the surveys asked hundreds of thousands of respondents in more than 20 nations a common question: “How happy are you?”

Hagerty noted that “the most important sources of personal happiness are: close ties to friends and family, wide political freedom, high income, and a narrow gap between rich and poor.”

My guests were quick to cast doubt on Hagerty’s findings. Except for the first reason, namely, family ties and friendship, Filipinos could not possibly be described as happy, they said.

“Why not?” one of my Pinoy guests argued. “We Filipinos have wide political freedom. We are free to vote into office everyone we are paid to vote for. Our elections are so free, people can actually vote several times, and even the dead are free to vote.”

“What about high income?” one skeptic shot back. “And what about the gap between rich and poor?”

“You’ve got to see it in proper context,” the guest retorted.

“Haven’t you heard the saying that money can’t buy happi-

ness? And hasn’t it been said that it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? And isn’t heaven the place of ultimate happiness?”

That notion quickly caught on.

“That must explain why rich Asian countries like Japan and South Korea are way down in the happiness rankings,” said another guest.

Having read through the entire Chronicle news item, he supported his thesis by quoting a paragraph about “the happiest places in America”: “The happiest states are what Hagerty calls ‘the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) region’ Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. That finding might startle those who still cling to old stereotypes about those states as home to moonshine operators, Ku Klux Klansmen and die-hard supporters of Donald Trump. It certainly surprised Hagerty considering that ‘traditionally, they’ve been an economically depressed region.’”

Indeed, Li’l Abner’s hillbilly kinfolk were ranked happier than

the “surfer dudes and beach babes” in Sunny California. That effectively silenced the skeptics.

As the conversation drifted on to other happy topics, like Christmas and the New Year, my mind still dwelt on the Chronicle story.

It reminded me of a scene in the movie, “Bridge on the River Kwai,” where the Japanese officer, played by Sesuo Hayakawa, also made a reference to happiness.

Said he to Alec Guiness and the other British and American POWs, who were laboring to finish the bridge under tortuous conditions: “As General Yamashita said: ‘Be happy in your work!’”

I also recalled the old Tagalog movie dramas where the poor farmer would remind his wife and children that family love, and not wealth, was the true source of happiness.

And then they would glance wistfully at their bare cupboard, scratch their empty stomachs, snuff the flame on their lampara, and slip off into slumber - there to dream of happiness. (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)

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

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OpiniOn & Features

Truth over power: Public figures and...

PAGE A8 t

four degrees from four different universities, including Stanford University and the author of at least 50 scientific journals, who called for an FBI investigation of this incident. This is not a case of “he said, she said,” like Anita Hill who came forward to testify about Judge Clarence Thomas’ sexual harassment actions towards her.

My point is that trauma has a far-reaching impact and effect.

That the victims are never really liberated from the harm and that they get to relive their “dark episodes” even 35 years, even 60 years, even 70 years later, when the national news turns on the light on another victim in the past, just like Dr. Ford and Fr. McBride.

The male U.S. Senators are now mistreating her with comments like, “she is confused and mixed up,” and Judge Kavanaugh has offered a bait that there might be another person responsible for the incident, and even shared a photo of someone like him, except that someone like him is known to Dr. Ford and she asserted it is not him, but Judge Kavanaugh.

The U.S. Senate, an august body known to be the conscience of the nation, has placed an arbitrary deadline of Monday, Sept.

24 for both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, all eleven white male in their winter years.

Why do I bring this up? Can you imagine if you are Dr. Ford being questioned by eleven white males, with no woman in the committee? It speaks loudly of the lack of diversity and even the silencing of women’s voices in this once august institution that Americans respected? What has happened that the leadership in the Republican Party’s hands has concentrated power in only one gender? Is this not abuse of power as well?

Why is this U.S. Senate showing presumption of bias: “Unfazed and determined. We will confirm Judge Kavanaugh. #ConfirmKavanaugh #SCOTUS,” Mike Davis, the confirmation panel’s top staffer for judicial nominations, tweeted late Wednesday, as reported by “Roll Call” and “The Rachel Maddow Show”.

Mike Davis wrote, as reported

by New York Post’s Bob Fredericks on Sept. 20, 2018, “I personally questioned Judge Kavanaugh under penalty of felony and 5

years of imprisonment, if he lies.

I ‘m still waiting to hear back from the accuser’s attorneys, who can’t find time between TV appearances to get back to me.”

In the first place, Mike Davis is not a skilled FBI investigator, he is Chuck Grassley’s lawyer who should show neutrality and perhaps even a semblance of professionalism as to not reveal his bias and instead, his commitment and conviction to get at the truth.

It elicited a tweet from Brian Fallon, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer, “Does he sound unbiased to you?” as reported by New York Post.

It also elicited an enlightened response from Fr. Christopher J. Devron, S.J. who wrote on Sept.

19, 2018 about Brett Kavanaugh and Toxic Masculinity: lessons from another all-male Jesuit high school. At first, his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court was a high point, particularly when he said that the motto of his Jesuit high school was ‘men for others,’ and claimed he has tried to live that creed, Fr. Devron wrote.

They have then descended that roller coaster with the revelation that in one speech, Judge Kavanaugh quipped: “What happens at Georgetown Prep stays at Georgetown Prep,” alluding to the weekend drinking, boozing, partying that happens in this suburban school in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Fr. Devron writes that their euphoric feelings about this nomination have changed since these new revelations. He writes that he is the president of Fordham Prep, a 177-year old all male Jesuit secondary school in Bronx, N.Y. with nearly 1,000 current students and 12,000 living alumni and “been privileged to witness the mission of all-male Jesuit education — to develop men for others, who dedicate their lives to God’s greater glory — as a powerful and transforming force. I believe this force can challenge the prevailing cultural forces that pressure young men to adopt values that reflect a vastly different posture toward the more vulnerable members of our society and those who are different than themselves. God’s spirit helps our students see and know the dignity that resides within each person. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the term “toxic masculinity” has entered the popular lexicon. Toxic masculinity, we are told, springs from a society that

inculcates young men with a “bro mentality,” leaving them devoid of empathy, sensitivity and compassion and leading them –especially when they are together—to objectify and disrespect girls and women.”

Is it any surprising that after 35 years Dr. Ford is now just coming out to reveal her trauma?

You, our readers, are at the best vantage point to make your own conclusions.

For me, I believe Dr. Ford as she has revealed her trauma to her therapist in 2012, even passed a polygraph test and told her husband decades before, as Francey Youngberg, a former federal employee and lawyer, posted in her Facebook page.

But more than that, I believe Dr. Ford, as she is the first one to ask for an FBI investigation knowing that lying to the FBI is a felony. She has put herself at a disadvantage, and chose to speak up as a citizen to ensure only a judge to the U.S. Supreme Court has good character, for example, trustworthiness and his ability to tell the truth is displayed at all times.

Even the trait of good citizenship as in not preying on minors, even if that happened in his teenage years, and of course, responsibility, Judge Kavanaugh can now stand up before the U.S. Senate and admit to what he did then, when he was stone drunk and what he did then so as to pin Dr. Ford to the bed and to control her, and placed his hands over his mouth and started to undress her and grope her. Hardly the mannerisms we expect from a jurist that will be in lifetime position of public trust. In fact, as a federal judge of the appeals court, he does not deserve to be in this lifetime position of power as well. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 10 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong.

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 22-25, 2018

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A10 September 22-25, 2018 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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SWS: Less crime in Q2, but Pinoys feel streets not safer even in military-ruled Mindanao MANILA — There were fewer Filipinos who fell victim to crime in the second quarter, but they hardly view the streets safer, even from drug addicts, and despite the government’s war against criminality, pollster Social Weather Stations found.

Across the archipelago, some crimes have also become more prevalent in Mindanao, where President Rodrigo Du-

tetre hails, than the rest of the country despite the prevailing military rule on the island in order to fight terrorism.

The second quarter SWS survey, held from June 27 to 30, released on Thursday, September 20, showed that over the past six months, there were fewer people who experienced pick-pocketing and physical violence. The number of Filipinos whose homes were

broken in or property was damaged were also lesser while carnapping incidents remained steady.

Broken down, only 0.2 percent of respondents said they suffered physical violence, a “record-low,” according to SWS. Four percent experienced pick-pocketing on the streets, down from 4.6 percent in the previous three months. Breakins (from 2.2 percent to 1.8 percent), property crimes (from 6.1 percent to 5.1 percent) and other crimes (from 6.6 percent to 5.3 percent) also declined.

A total of 0.5 percent of respondents said their cars were stolen, steady from the first quarter.

By location, SWS noted that cases of break-ins have fallen in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, but rose in Visayas and Mindanao.

Mindanao, where martial law has been in effect since May 2017, also experienced a rise in street robberies as well as carnapping during the survey period.

On the flip side, cases of burglary and physical violence fell in Mindanao, while rising elsewhere, SWS found.

Despite the respondents saying they have not experienced crime over the past six months, 46 percent of them still feel streets remain unsafe, steady from the previous quarter.

A majority of 55 percent said they fear burglary could still happen, while 41 percent fear drug addicts are still within their neighborhood. Both were up one point from previous three months.

Broken down by location, fear of drug addicts rose in Mindanao and Metro Manila, fell in the Visayas and was “hardly changed” for the rest of Luzon.

The survey was held a month before Duterte defended again his anti-drug war during his State of the Nation Address before critics, saying it will be “as chilling as the day it began.”

The drug war has taken the lives of over 4,000 people since Duterte took over the presidency in July 2016, according to government data. Estimates of rights groups, however, far exceed this number. (Philstar.com)

The IPT, convened in Brussels, Belgium, handed down the guilty verdict to Duterte, United States President Donald Trump and international monetary organizations Wednesday (Brussels time) after hearing testimonies on the alleged rights violation of the current administration.

Photo from Facebook/International People’s Tribunal

‘People’s court’ finds Duterte guilty of rights violations

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — The International People’s Tribunal found President Rodrigo Duterte “guilty” of violating the political and economic rights of Filipinos in a ruling described by Malacañang as a sham.

The IPT, convened in Brussels, Belgium, found Duterte, U.S. President Donald Trump and international monetary organizations guilty on Thursday, September 20, after hearing testimonies on the alleged rights violations of the Duterte administration.

“We heard the testimonies of the witnesses—many of them heart-wrenching, traumatic and horrific—experts and resource persons, as well as the digests of the wealth of data, information, facts, analyses and other evidence presented and submitted before us and we have made an initial analysis and observation,” the jurors said.

The decision reads: “It is our consensus, therefore, that the defendants Duterte, Trump and all other defendants are guilty of all charges specified in the indictment, which account for their accountability for crimes against humanity, war crimes and violations of law and legal instruments referred to in this indictment.”

Testimonies on rights abuses, attacks on journalists IPT’s verdict will be submitted

to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Parliament and the International Criminal Court, which is conducting a preliminary examination into the government’s bloody war on drugs.

IPT, however, is not a strictly legal and judicial proceeding.

For two days, witnesses, families of victims and concerned organizations raised the issues of alleged extrajudicial killings linked with the government’s anti-narcotics campaign and counterinsurgency program, detention and political persecution of dissenters and activists, rights abuses during the Marawi siege and imposition of martial law in Mindanao, and attacks on journalists.

According to a report on alternative media site Bulatlat.com, the IPT has indicted abusive administrations in the past, starting with ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. in 1980.

A people’s tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands indicted the Arroyo administration “for human rights violations, economic plunder and transgression of Philippine sovereignty” in 2007. A people’s tribunal in Washington, DC also indicted former President Aquino III with U.S. President Barack Obama, for “crimes against the Filipino people” in 2015.

‘Sham’ verdict Presidential spokesper-

son Harry Roque, however, dismissed IPT’s decision as “sham.”

“It has no official sanction.

The validity of the findings will depend on the credibility of the tribunals,” Roque said.

The president’s mouthpiece insisted that the tribunal as a “propaganda body of the international Left.” Testimonies at the proceedings were given by groups and indivduals either associated with the national democratic movement or have been critical of the Duterte administration’s policies.

“Therefore, we set it aside as being a useless piece of propaganda against the government,” Roque said.

But rights group Karapatan and National Union of People’s Lawyers maintained that the IPT is a legitimate venue for redress and grievances.

“The IPT follows and respects due process where the Defendants are duly notified and given an adequate opportunity to participate and defend themselves; has its rules of procedure that is consistent with universal standards of evidence; convened by prestigious and respected international lawyers’ organizations; presided by a panel of eminent jurrors of different disciplines; and where the proceedings are conducted in an open and public trial,” NUPL said. n

DEATH TOLL REACHES 103

Gov’t lists ‘lessons learned’ in typhoon aftermath

by Dempsey

reyes ManilaTimes.net

THE government learned a number of lessons following the catastrophe caused by the Typhoon “Ompong” in Northern Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday, September 19.

Ricardo Jalad, the council’s executive director, emphasized that pre-emptive evacuation of residents in affected areas should be fully implemented to prevent casualties.

Jalad also pointed to the need for active participation of local government units and local chief executives in evacuation and preparations for coming typhoons.

Itogon, Benguet, where a landslide killed dozens of miners, he noted, was known for accidents

during calamities.

Before Ompong hit ground, the council called for the pre-emptive evacuation of all residents in northern Luzon provinces to prevent casualties, rather than forced evacuations, Jalad said.

He reiterated that forced evacuation would be up to provincial leaders.

“That’s up to the leadership on the ground because that is their responsibility. It is impossible for me to see everything on the ground. For me, what we have been pushing for is pre-emptive evacuation and we did that,” he told reporters.

The council, he said, had signed an agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to issue a directive to enforce pre-emptive evacuations.

Jalad said pre-emptive evacu-

ation was seen as an “inconvenience” by residents, especially in Gonzaga, Cagayan.

“They are very delicate there when it comes to storm surges.

They evacuated, yes, but they still left one member per family in each household to ensure the security of their things,” he explained.

103 dead Among the deadly accidents caused by the typhoon was the collapse of a bunkhouse in Ucab village, Itogon, Benguet, wherein authorities have retrieved 41 bodies so far.

Authorities also recorded 11 dead in Baguio City and three in La Trinidad, Benguet. The death toll has climbed to 103.

The Cordillera police said more than 50 persons remained missing at the bunkhouse site, and four in Baguio City. n

Sister Patricia Fox testifies vs Duterte gov’t before int’l tribunal MANILA — Australian nun Patricia Fox testified against the Duterte government before an international tribunal on Tuesday, September 18, narrating the political persecution she experienced.

Fox is among the 31 witnesses who were slated to testify before the International Peoples’ Tribunal in Belgium from September 18-19. The witness list also includes a Marawi sultan named Hamidullah Atar.

A video recording of Fox’s testimony was presented before the international court by lawyer Kathy Panguban, who is among the missionary’s legal counsels.

The proceedings were streamed live on Facebook.

The 71-year-old nun who has worked for the welfare of laborers, land reform and peasant rights in her 28 years as a missionary in the Philippines caught President Rodrigo Duterte’s ire for joining rallies.

The nun was ordered deported and placed on the immigration blacklist after Duterte directed the Bureau of Immigration to investigate her.

But the nun said the political activities that made her an undesirable alien are a part of being religious.

“As a human being, especially as a religious, we have to stand with the oppressed and what I was doing was listening to... the workers who are just asking to be [regularized]... the tribal peo-

Australian nun Patricia Fox testified against the Duterte government before an international tribunal on Tuesday, September 18.

Philstar.com photo

land,” she said.

“So to me, it’s a human rights issue. To me, it’s what you do as a human rights defender, particularly as a religious.”

Asked why she thinks the president wanted her deported, Fox attributed it to Duterte’s sensitivity to criticisms.

“I think President Duterte is particularly sensitive about any criticism and particularly that’s in Mindanao... because the human rights abuses in Mindanao are increasing under martial law...

I was there and I was listening and I was supporting the people who... are endorsing a report of what was happening there and particularly he doesn’t like outsiders, what he terms outsiders, criticizing [him],” she said.

Palace unfazed Malacañang, meanwhile, was unfazed by human rights group Karapatan’s announcement that

Duterte administration before the international court, dismissing it earlier Tuesday as a “propaganda” by leftists.

The rights group said Atar would be testifying about the “human rights violations committed by the Duterte regime to the Meranaws during the Marawi City siege, and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.”

Karapatan described the IPT as a “global court” convened by the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, IBON International and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque belittled Karapatan’s announcement and described the trial to be conducted by the tri-

u PAGE A11

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 22-25, 2018

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Security council to probe ABS-CBN sites’ breach by dEmPsEy

REyEs ManilaTimes.net

THE National Security Council (NSC) will investigate the hacking and data breach of news and entertainment giant ABS-CBN’s online shopping sites, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said on Thursday, September 20.

Esperon urged all companies to heighten their firewalls, saying similar incidents had transpired before the hacking of the network giant’s sites.

The Department of Information and Communications Technol-

ogy (DICT) has a program staffed with personnel knowledgeable of the repercussions of hacking and customer data breaches, he noted.

As for the alleged participation of Russian servers, Esperon said: “We still need to confirm this but the servers are only the depository while the real perpetrators are the people.”

“Of course, we will be looking into this,” he added, noting that the NSC would be joined by the DICT and the National Privacy Commission in probing the incident.

Esperon said the incident had national security implications because the privacy of the Filipinos were placed at risk.

The listed broadcaster disclosed that the hacking incident involved the ABS-CBN and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) online stores, with data of 213 customers possibly compromised.

ABS-CBN was forced to temporarily stop the sites’ operations after the incident.

The broadcasting giant allayed fears of the public, saying it was an isolated case. n

No plan to challenge Arroyo’s leadership by maRy

GlEEfER JalEa ManilaTimes.net

MARINDUqUE Rep. Lord Allan Velasco refuted allegations that he was set to replace House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid reports that she would be unseated over a budget feud among top lawmakers.

“I categorically deny any involvement in any plan whatsoever to unseat the Speaker… I didn’t aspire for such position then, in the same way that I am not aspiring for the Speakership now,” Velasco told reporters on Tuesday.

His name previously floated as potential contender when thenHouse Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was ousted and later replaced by Arroyo.

“I assure Speaker [Arroyo] that I am not behind any plot to challenge her leadership, and I wish to put to rest all further rumor-mongering,” Velasco said, reiterating his support for Arroyo “since Day One.” His statements came a day af-

ter top lawmakers debated heatedly over an alleged P55-billion in “pork” inserted in the P3.757-trillion national budget, sparking rumors of Arroyo’s possible ouster.

Sources previously said the ouster plan came from groups who wanted to insert the fund in the 2019 budget, disagreeing with Arroyo’s inclination to have fair distribution among lawmakers.

The issue led to a suspension of the supposed plenary deliberations sponsored by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Karlo Nograles after a heated caucus with Majority Leader Rolando Andaya and Arroyo.

According to House sources, there were two versions of the national budget: one prepared

by Nograles that included the P50-billion funds allocated for the respective districts of some congressmen, and the other one allegedly prepared by the House leadership without the proposed amount.

Andaya clarified that Arroyo had “no intention to reduce the

GOTCHA! Policemen pin down a member of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment after member of the group attempted to force their way to the Sofitel hotel where an international mining conference was being held on Friday, September 21. Eight protesters were arrested.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Teresita de Castro won’t vote on ICC withdrawal case

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Philstar.com file photo

amount of the presented budget but will instead investigate the misplaced insertion.”

“There is no slash to be talked about. The president’s [Rodrigo Duterte] budget in terms of aggregate amount is intact and the Speaker has no intention to reduce that amount of budget as presented… we only want to align the budget based on the policies of the President,” he previously said. n

Ombudsman to decide Mocha’s...

PAGE A7 t

penalties applied if this is prudent. They can learn their lesson and this will be an example for others. It’s easy for them to apologize and change their minds.

But this will really set a bad example if it is not penalized,” she said.

Dagani, in her personal capacity, called for Uson’s resignation or removal from office by the president.

Flailing arms Uson, through her Facebook account, posted a video of

blogger Olivar flailing his arms around pretending to do the sign language. He could also be heard making squeaking sounds. Uson reacted that Olivar looked like a monkey.

The video quickly drew flak from netizens and nongovernment organizations such as the Philippine Federation for the Deaf, which expressed anger over the actions of Uson and Olivar.

This was not the first time the duo was criticized for a Facebook video that went viral. The

first was when Olivar, in early August, made a lewd dance about federalism in Uson’s Facebook live video.

Almost two weeks after the video went viral and was criticized, the PCOO reminded its officials and employees to be careful when posting content on their social media accounts.

This was the third complaint against Uson at the Ombudsman following the previous ones filed

by Akbayan Youth and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for allegedly spreading fake news. n

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) will rule on the case involving the Duterte administration’s withdrawal of the country’s membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) without the vote of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro.

The SC has reset the continuation of oral arguments on two petitions seeking revocation of the withdrawal from ICC membership until October 9, with De Castro no longer with the Court.

De Castro is set to retire from the judiciary on October 8 when she reaches mandatory retirement age of 70, which means the SC will rule on consolidated petitions of opposition senators and the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court led by former Commission on

Human Rights chairperson Loretta Rosales under a new chief justice.

The Chief Justice joined the earlier oral arguments on the case held last Aug. 28 and Sept.

4.

During interpellation, De Castro quizzed petitioners on the validity of the Rome Statute, a treaty ratified by the government in 2011 that created the ICC. “It would seem there are provisions in the Rome Statute which will require domestic legislation to put them into effect. As of now, I think it is conceded that we do not have any implementing legislation yet,” she stressed during the hearing.

“So the question is whether or not the Rome Statute is already in force and in effect as of this time, and what will be the consequence of this to the power of the President to withdraw from (it)?” the SC chief pointed out.

The SC has reset the continuation of oral arguments on two petitions seeking revocation of the withdrawal until ICC membership from to Oct. 9, with De Castro no longer with the Court.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

Petitioners argued that Republic Act 9851 or the International Humanitarian Law penalized the crimes covered in Articles 5, 668, 769 and 870 of the Rome Statute like genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. n

Sister Patricia Fox testifies vs Duterte gov’t...

PAGE A10 t

bunal as a “sham.”

“Because that’s not an official proceeding; that’s a propaganda proceedings by the Left,” Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque said he does not know the sultan who would testify against the administration.

“It seems there’s one sultan that they selected amongst themselves. I was a godfather to a royal wedding recently and I think I

met all the royal families, so to speak. Although the Constitution prohibits really the grant of nobility,” the presidential spokesman said.

“I don’t know who he is, and that’s a sham proceeding because it’s not an official proceeding, it’s for propaganda purposes,” he added.

Aside from Atar, Jerome Succor Aba, chairman of militant group Suara Bangsamoro, would

testify on his allegation that he suffered religious discrimination, arbitrary detention and torture in the hands of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Karapatan said the verdict from the IPT would be submitted to the International Criminal Court, the European Parliament and the United Nations Human Rights Council. (Alexis Romero/Philstar. com)

A12 September 22-25, 2018 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B1

JOURNAL Yes, there’s a new man in Glaiza’s life Catriona Gray to level up

everything for Miss Universe 2018

by LHAR

SANTIAGO ManilaTimes.net

IT was only last column when Showbuzz came out with an item about Glaiza de Castro left hanging in the air by an ex-boyfriend who disappeared without warning. He just didn’t show up one day—no explanations, no phone calls, no messages.

While everyone around her seethed with anger over the gall of this guy, Glaiza decided to move on after having a good cry.

She told herself, he just wasn’t “God’s best choice” for her.

“I’ve been praying for the right man for me. Sometimes, people come into your life and you think siya na yon pero hindi pala. Yung pagkawala nung dating boyfriend ko I believe was God’s way of telling me that he isn’t the one for me. That’s why don’t have hatred in my heart,” she declared.

Focusing on her career proved fruitful for Glaiza after the ordeal, so much so that she rewarded herself with vacations both here and abroad. And—it was during one of these trips that she met someone who has all the makings of Mr. Right.

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

The singer-actress is now enjoying the company of Irish surfing instructor David Rainy whom she met during a vacation in Siargao.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Glaiza was in Siargao with friends when an Irishman approached them and introduced himself.

“His name’s David Rainy, and he’s a surfing instructor

in Ireland. He seemed nice so we entertained him. Hindi niya alam na artista ako. After that meeting, we got together again a few more times and we were PAGE B2

IF Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray won Best in Long Gown, Swimsuit and National Costume at the 2018 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, she assured that her award-winning performance and outfits in these categories will be “topped up” come Miss Universe 2018.

In an interview with Philstar.com during Dairy Queen’s Cheesecake Blizzard launch, Catriona revealed that she is already fully prepared for the pageant because she likes to prepare early.

“Ever since Binibini, I’ve really been hands-on since I’ve been an independent candidate. I’m hands-on in every single aspect of my preparations because I’m having so much fun,” she enthused.

“I’m about 99 (percent prepared) e. I want to prepare early kasi. I don’t want to be stressed because (by) November I just really want to relax, refresh and review. I don’t want to be stressing about costumes or clothing

Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

or things like that, so I really prepared early talaga and I have a few pasabog,” Catriona said in an interview with the press on the sidelines of the send-offs to Miss Philippines Globe 2018 Michele Gumabao and Miss Philippines Grand International 2018 Eva

Patalinjug.

The Miss Universe Organization has just introduced this year’s contestants from all over the world, including the Philippines’ Catriona Gray and the pageant’s first transgender contestant, Spain’s Angela Ponce. “#MissUniverse season is almost here! Meet some of the 2018 contestants who will be competing for the crown. Who do you think will take home the title?” the organization captioned its video on their Twitter account.

Also in this year’s lineup is the controversial Melba Shakabozha from Zambia, who was reportedly involved in a stabbing incident with her Finnish lover.

Nevertheless, the Miss Universe Zambia Organization said in a statement that their investigation concluded that the accusations were null and void and they will take necessary legal actions against the accuser and other parties involved.

This year’s edition of Miss Universe will be held on December 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kim Chiu confronts her fears

by MARINEL

R. CRUZ

Inquirer.net

Kim Chiu

Photo from Instagram/@chinitaprincess

EVEN the most popular celebrities have fears and sometimes fight low self-esteem,” declared actress Kim Chiu. “I am actually afraid of failure.”

Kim is one of four hosts of “Star Hunt,” an ABS-CBN program that aims to give people a chance to pursue their dreams by giving them opportunities to join talent competitions and reality shows.

“You always see us all dressed up and looking pretty, but we also have our struggles,” said Kim. “I fear for the day

that I will no longer have the audience’s support, that I will not be able to stay in this business longer than I want to.”

The actress said her fears never left her, “I just don’t give in.” Kim added: “I love my work. I get to entertain and inspire people. That’s why I am able to hold on.”

Kim, the 2005 “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB): Teen Edition” grand winner, shares hosting chores with Robi Domingo, Alex Gonzaga and Melai Cantiveros, who also took part in PBB. “Whenever I see young auditionees, I recall the time

when I was the one lining up to audition,” Kim shared with the Inquirer. “I say to myself, ‘One day, one of them will be able to fulfill his dreams and will become rich.’ These kids have already surpassed Step 1 of the fulfillment of their dreams.”

Kim recalled her own audition experience. “The queue was really long. I got home so late. I was worried because I didn’t tell my grandmother about where I really went.

Things like this aren’t allowed in a conservative Chinese family, but I didn’t think about that when I decided to audition. I wanted to be on television, and

it was to that audition that my dream brought me.”

Since it started airing in August, “Star Hunt” has featured interesting and heartwarming accounts of people who fall in line during auditions, patiently waiting for their turn to shine.

So far, many successful Star Dreamers (or auditionees) have become or may become a part of shows like “I Can See Your Voice,” “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” “Dance Kids,” “Pilipinas Got Talent,” “Little Big Shots,” “MMK,” “Pinoy Big Brother,” and the soon-to-be-launched dance competition, “World of PAGE B2

B2 SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

ENTERTAINMENT

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Smoke-free Mid-Autumn Festival: Quitting smoking helps you fully engage in friends and family gathering SAN DIEGO – The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated in Asia. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night.

A symbol of reunion, it is also known as reunion festival.

Nowadays, there are many Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese living in the United States who still gather with relatives and friends to watch the moon, eat moon cakes and play lanterns during Mid-Autumn Festival.

Smoking not only harms every organ in your body but it also harms everybody in your family. Although smoking is still the leading cause of death, this is completely preventable, you can quit smoking, so that you and your family and friends can share health and happiness!

As smoking is dangerous, quitting naturally brings many health benefits.

Blood pressure and pulse normalize within 20 minutes after cessation, and nicotine will be out of the body in about three days. After one year, risk of heart disease is cut by half, and after five years, cervical cancer risk falls to that of a nonsmoker.

After ten years, lung cancer risk is cut in half.

“You can quit smoking,” said Dr. Shu-Hong Zhu, Professor of Family Medicine and Public

Health at the University of California, San Diego, “The more you try to quit smoking, the closer (you are) to success, so that you and your family and friends can share health and happiness!”

Here are some tips on how to help you get started in quitting smoking: • Identify your reason of quitting smoking The more you see the reason to quit, you are more likely to start quitting. Do you quit because you want to breathe easier? Be around longer with your family? Whatever gets you fired up, write it down, a strong reason can get you started. And it will help you stay quit when you’re tempted to smoke.

• Call the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) If a smoker has had a failure to stop smoking on their own will, try using a free service that specializes in smoking cessation.

People who call the ASQ are twice as likely to quit for good.

A trained advisor will help you make a personal plan. We also provide smokers two weeks of free nicotine patches in the mail for free.

• Get Support Research shows that support while quitting can really help.

Talk with your family and friends about your plan to quit during Mid-Autumn Festival gathering.

Let them know what they can do to help you and cheer for you.

After Mid-Autumn Festival, there is Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays coming one after another. If you want to fully engage the gathering time with friends and family without looking for smoking areas on holidays and even on everyday, call ASQ to start quit smoking plan today!

ASQ offers service to help smokers who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to quit smoking.

ASQ is operated by the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ). ASQ provides FREE evidence based smoking cessation services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to Asian communities in the U.S. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully.

We encourage all Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean and Vietnamese speaking smokers to call ASQ if they want free help quitting smoking.

Friends and family of smokers may also enroll to learn how to help smokers quit. Cessation advisors who speak Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean and Vietnamese are ready to offer useful information. Smokers can receive a free two-week

supply of nicotine patches while supplies last.

We encourage health care providers and community leaders to refer Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean and Vietnamese speaking smokers by visiting our website and selecting “Web Referral”. ASQ will provide cessation advice and free patches at no cost to your patients.

Visit www.asq-shop.org to order free promotional materials and fact sheets about smoking.

Shipping is free.

Over 13,000 Asian language speakers from all 50 states have enrolled in ASQ services since 2012. ASQ is funded by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ASQ is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time (10am – Midnight Eastern Time).

To enroll, call or register online today!

• Mandarin & Cantonese 1800-838-8917 www.asq-chinese. org • Korean 1-800-556-5564 www.asq-korean.org • Vietnamese 1-800-778-8440 Morisette Amon www.asq-viet.org To learn more about ASQ in English, visit: www.asiansmokersquitline.org.

(Advertising Supplement)

Photo from Instagram/@itsmorisette

Morissette owns up to her mistake, learns from the experience

by ALLAN

POLICARPIO

Inquirer.net

ON the local music scene, Morissette Amon is one of the very few singers who can access the whistle register and incorporate its use into her singing. It’s a high-risk, high-reward feat— done correctly, this airy and piercingly high vocal embellishment is an instant showstopper; flub it and you have the makings of a viral online video.

But despite the volatile nature of whistle notes, Morissette still chooses to do them live onstage, even if it meant missing it once in a while. “Anything can happen during a performance, and not everything will ever be perfect,” she said.

“I still get nervous before I sing, because you just never know,” added Morissette, who had joined such talent searches as “Star Factor” and “The Voice of the Philippines.”

A few months ago, during a show in Cebu, she barely eked out her planned whistle in her performance of “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigan Ka.” The video of which spread on social media—not because of the bungled note per se, but because of what Morissette did after.

She didn’t let the situation rattle her. Instead, the 22-year-

old recording artist composed herself before having a second go at it. She pulled it off—with extra riffs for good measure.

And then, with a triumphant look on her face, she pointed to the raucous crowd and quipped, “Live!”

“I don’t know how I was able to save that moment,” she said.

“You have to accept the fact that [mistakes] happen; you’re just human. But it’s an experience I can learn from.”

Messing up a note is one thing; losing your voice is another. Prior to her recent concert in Dubai, Morissette found herself panicking. All of a sudden, her voice was gone. It was so bad she had to take steroids just so she could do the show.

“It took 30 minutes before the medicine kicked in. But I’m glad we were able to work around the situation. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing to everyone who flew and traveled all the way to the venue,” she related. “I was on tour and I had gone to Canada and Australia. And I guess my body was already telling me to slow down.”

“I realized that I really have to look after myself … take care of my health,” added Morissette, who held her first major solo concert at Smart Araneta Coliseum in February.

Yes, there’s a new...

PAGE B1 pretty much friends by the end of vacation.”

Glaiza thought that was that with David when she returned to Manila, but she was surprised when he followed her a couple of days later. He also stayed in touch after going home to Ireland, and couldn’t be away from Glaiza much longer that he’s back in Manila to see her.

Flattered by his attention and effort, Glaiza is also happy David’s been getting along with her family, after spending time with them at their newly acquired beach house in Baler.

Now aware she’s a local celebrity, David has also been open to joining Glaiza in some of her showbiz commitments, where Showbuzz also met him.

To be sure, the man is extremely smitten by the actress with his eyes always on the pretty lady.

Playing innocent, Showbuzz casually asked David if he likes Glaiza, to which he replied, “I wouldn’t be coming back here if I didn’t like her; I enjoy her company so much.”

In turn, Glaiza said of her Irish suitor, “He’s very kind and natutuwa ako na nakikita niya mga ginagawa ko. I’d ask him if he’s sure na gusto pa rin niya kong samahan after the first time kasi siyempre we have different cultures, not only because of our nationalities but yung culture sa trabaho. Obviously he’s up to it it and I’m glad he’s having fun.”

To be sure, David must be excited that come September 27, Glaiza will be fl ying near enough Ireland. She will be in London to look for a school where she can study music production.

“He said he’ll come see me in London where he also has sisters he can visit. Maybe we’ll hang out a bit more,” Glaiza smiled.

So what’s their status? Is romance in the air?

“I don’t want to say it’s that already,” Glaiza sensibly replied. “Let’s see fi rst. I don’t want to assume anything. We both just want to enjoy ourselves.”

Kim Chiu...

PAGE B1 Dance Philippines.”

Kim tagged along when the auditions were brought to her home province, Cebu. “There were so many kids. Some were already feeling restless and were crying, but there’s this one boy who stood out because he was so good at acting. He did a declamation piece,” the Cebuana recalled. “His mom kept crying backstage. When I spoke to them, the boy said it

that day, but he failed to attend because of the audition. At 9, he already knew what he wanted to become—an actor.”

Kim added: “If good things happen to you because you’re at the right place and time, then it was God who led you there.

There will be obstacles that you will have to hurdle before achieving success.”

“I myself know that I’m only halfway through the journey,” declared Kim. “I still have a lot

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

B3

‘Abay Babes’ – a sizzling hot comedy

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

CONQUERING THE FEAR OF UNCERTAINTY AND SIX ICE AGENTS KNOCKING AT THEIR DOOR ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY!â€? After they were offered jobs as caregivers, Danilo (left) and Millet (center) took a big gamble when they decided to stay in the U.S. to pursue their American dream. It was not easy, especially after their hard-earned money was lost to a lawyer who hardly did anything to move their case forward. They eventually went out of status, and even had ICE agents come knocking on their door. The couple then consulted with Atty. Michael GurďŹ nkel, who took over the case, and helped them acquire their green cards. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael GurďŹ nkel (right) was also able to help their two daughters avail of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and getting approval on their green cards the same day President Trump cancelled DACA. Watch this encore episode of “Citizen Pinoyâ€? – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Discovering the Cenacle, the room of “The Last Supper�

by EMIL

PERITO

FAMOUSLY known as the “Upper Room,� the Cenacle — which sits atop ancient Jerusalem’s highest point, Mount Zion — is where Jesus and His disciples are traditionally believed to have had the Last Supper.

For Christians, the Upper Room was also not only the site of the Last Supper, but the location where the Apostles frequented when in Jerusalem. In fact, the Catholic Encyclopedia calls the Cenacle “the first Christian church.�

Since at least the fourth century AD, the Cenacle — which derives its name from the Latin word Coenaculum — has become a famous pilgrimage site for Christians for centuries. This, despite having gone through many rebuilding cycles before standing in its present Gothic structure.

The earliest historical mention of the building dates back to AD 384, through the writings of the early pilgrim Egeria whose letter titled “Peregrinatio� or “Itinerarium Egeriae� is widely believed to be the earliest travel account of its kind.

MOONLIGHTING

99

$

And while the Cenacle remains a focal point for visitors, the room is also connected to other worthy exhibits, such as a large cenotaph — or tomblike monument — in the lower level. Originally thought by 12th century Crusaders to be the tomb of King David, and mentioned in the 10th century Vita Constantini, most scholars today though cite 1 Kings 2:10 in determining the tomb’s location. According to the verse, David was buried “in the City of David� which is believed to be the ancient Jeru-

salem’s eastern hill.

Also connected to the Cenacle is the fortress-like Church of the Dormition, traditionally believed to be where the Virgin Mary “fell asleep,� or passed away.

Established in 1995, Air Plus Travel specializes in religious travel. Join us in one of our organized trips to the Holy Land in March and October 2018. For more information, contact Air Plus Travel at (562) 863-0624, or visit us at www.airplustravel. net (Advertising Supplement)

The Indignity of Aging

LEON

WHEN a person is old, he or she has only one’s soul for company. There are times when you feel it crying, but you do not ask why. Your eyes are dry, but heavy, hot tears drop on your heart.

There is nothing to do but wait and listen to the emptiness which is sometimes gentle on a quiet day. The space and feeling of non-existence can be elevating.

Age puzzles me. Old people are not protected from life by engagements, pleasure or duties.

We have a duty to be “all right� and not be a problem, or burden those that care while we carry on our age lightly.

Being old, I am out of step, troubled by my lack of concord feeling at variance with the times. It must be the essence of age. It is confusing — I feel wounded and exposed, bereft of a right matrix with the present crime, corruption in high places heavy on my heart. I weigh and appraise while recoil suffering, just like the rest of my colleagues.

The old live by recalling the past, fascinated by the query of where future is. The present seems empty, as there is nothing to be said about the old, except that they are absorbed by age.

We wonder how much is in the minds of the old? How much older we have to become, and what degree of decay we must have to endure? We keep whispering, �Is this age yet? How far must I go?�

For age can be dreaded more than death. �How many years of vacuity to what degree of dilemma must I advance?� With thoughts in our hearts, we know ignominy as well as dignity. These warps you before the end, but can we garner enough merits to warrant a place for ourselves?

But all is unchartered and uncertain leading the way to the unknown, like an end to a procession through time. One’s steps are uncertain, but there is gain, as well as loss.

There were times when I knew peace, but my mind was as empty as a cloudless sky on a summer day when my hands were too arthritic and only my music pre-

7 ĂŠ* , ĂŠ

FAMILY PRACTICE / PEDIATRICS

by MYLAH DE

IF the previous week’s Filipino movie scene saw a regular-looking comedian become a leading man, this week will see gorgeous leading ladies becoming comediennes.

Viva Films presented dramatic stars and an international beauty queen in Cristine Reyes, Nathalie Hart, Meg Imperial, Roxanne Meg Imperial, Nathalie Hart, Cristine Reyes, Kylie Verzosa and Roxanne Barcelo are the big Barcelo and Kylie Verzosa as the screen’s newest sexy comediennes.

Philstar.com photo big screen’s newest sexy comediennes at the media conference for its upcoming movie “Abay Babes.�

A visual treat given these gorgeous girls, Abay Babes director Don Cuaresma nevertheless promised a riveting story with the right mix of fun and intrigue.

Here’s the plot: Many years after high school, Emerald, Ruby,

Perla, and Goldie (considered the Bicol “It Girls� of their batch) are &RANCISQUITO !VE 3TE reunited for the latter’s upcom"ALDWIN 0ARK #! ing wedding. Joining them is Jade, Goldie’s friend from Amer0HONE s &AX ica. Everyone is excited about the get-together, but somehow, Goldie’s friends are finding it hard to believe she is going to be the first among them to get married, considering that she is the least attractive in the group.

Emerald, Ruby and Perla secretly joke that Goldie might just be making her wedding up.

And when they realize they have `ˆiÂ?ĂžÂ˜ĂŠ °Ê+Ă•ÂˆÂ?>˜œ]ĂŠ /iÀÀÞÊ ii] never seen videos or pictures of

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the groom, Zack, the three start to take their joke seriously.

Playing the role of Emerald is Hart who entered showbiz in 2008 via ABS-CBN’s Star Magic.

In May 2018, she was the cover of the final print issue of FHM. Emerald has the alias “Bicol Express� because, according to her, she is the hottest among her friends. She works as a commercial model.

Ruby, Reyes, is the class topnotch back in high school and is now a doctor. She is called “Pili Nuts� because, ultimately, guys would choose her beauty 0LANNING !CCESS #ARE 4REATMENT over all others, “pili� being the Filipino word for “to choose.�

Reyes shared she enjoyed jamming with the girls between takes. Her last film was a family drama, making the comedy “really fun to do.�

7E !CCEPT !LL -AJOR )NSURANCE Perla, who is called “Mt. May00/ (-/ -EDI CAL -EDICARE #($0 .O )NSURANCE on� because of her perfect figure, 7ALK INS ARE AVAILABLE - & s 7E ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS AND CASH is played by Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa. She first &LU 3HOT IS .OW !VAILABLE

Author hangs on to photographer Sid T. Guerero, climbing steep on a coverage

Former Beauty Queen of Masantol, Pampanga, Adelina Nicdao smokes away with grace, as she enjoys her octo years with Maria Nicdao.

Photo by: Guilbert Nicdao

When I am with other people, I try to find a point in myself as I walk on egg shells of affection, trying not to hurt or misjudge. All of these are very tiring, but love at any age takes everything away from you. My notes as not helping me think, but it eases my crabbed heart, when I wanted to scale the sky, without offering flowers of humility.

Now, each extra day is a gift, in which I may gain some new

love or know the richness of my youngest grandson, Ezekiel, as he express himself with form and sweetness.

Today, I seem so well — almost brilliantly well — so I ran off, feeling like a sugar drunk toddler.

It used to be called being “in the hands of God.�

Has anyone better words to describe it? *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.

ONLY

For Immigration Physical

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PAGE B5

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B SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart

Warning: Date-rape drugs

faces up to 30 years in prison.

What a way to end a brilliant career and a great reputation.

What are date-rape drugs?

PhiliP S. Chua, Date-rape drugs, sometimes MD, FaCS, FPCS referred to as Party Drugs or IN news reports on April 26, simply Ecstasy, are medications 2018 and on June 8, 2018, come- that can be slipped into drinks and dian Bill Cosby, now 81, admitted make a person unconscious for 15 he gave the drug Quaaludes or minutes or so. Quaalude (sedaeven Benadryl to women without tive, sleeping pill) and Benadryl their knowledge to have sex with (anti-allergy pills) can also lead them. Cosby was found guilty on to drowsiness, sleepiness, the all 3 counts of sexual assault and severity dependent on the dosage.

There have been reports of dozens and dozens of women in the United States who were under the influence of a date-drug known as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), a clear and flavorless liquid, when they were raped.

What is this drug legitimately used for?

GHB, manufactured by Orphan Medical, a drug firm in Minnesota, was developed for the treatment of narcolepsy. In smaller doses, this drug induces euphoria (a sense of well-being). As a date-rape drug, GHB causes the victim to fall into a deep sleep, oblivious of the sexual assault until they wake up. Some do not even remember what had transpired.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder which causes the persons to nod off without notice. They just suddenly and rapidly fall asleep.

There are about 100,000 people in the United States with this ailment. Orphan Medical states that GHB can help the patients who have the form of narcolepsy that is accompanied by temporary muscle paralysis.

How safe is GHB? Used as a prescription drug for narcolepsy and taken as directed by the physician, GHB is safe.

Its abuse as a date-rape drug has led to countless comas and several hundreds of deaths from overdose.

Is GHB legal?

Twenty states in the U.S., including Illinois and Michigan, have banned GHB, allowing police to arrest those who manufacture or sell this drug. Eight states have listed GHB as a controlled substance with varying degrees

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 of criminal penalties, making it available only as a prescription drug.

What other drugs have been used?

Ketamine and Rohypnol are both controlled substances that have been used as date-rape drugs. Other perpetrators have tried ordinary sleeping pills, which do not act fast enough and do not induce a deep enough level of unconsciousness, thus foiling the rape attempt.

Are some sold as dietary supplements?

Yes, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States warns the public against “more than half a dozen sleeps aids and party drugs in the guise of dietary supplements sold in health food stores and on the internet”, which are substances that are unregulated and can maim and kill.

Parents and children alike must be aware and vigilant about this, if date-rape, or even death from this drug, is to be prevented.

Under what other names are they sold?

The FDA cautions the consumers not to use products containing GHB, GBL (gamma butylrolactone) or BD (1,4 butanediol).

Some such drugs are sold under the name Revitalize Plus, Weight Belt Cleaner, GHRE, Serenity, Thunder Nectar, SomatoPro, Enliven, Tetramethylene glycol or 23H)-Furanone di-hydro, and NRG3. These drugs can cause severe nausea, vomiting, dangerously slow breathing or cessation of breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, and death.

Are there date-rape drinks?

Yes, three of them are Cherry fX Bombs, Orange fX Rush, and Thunder Nectar. The claim that these drinks are from Kava plant

and are safe is not true. These and other date-rape beverages have BD (1,4 butanediol, an industrial solvent) in them.

How is the date-rape drug used?

The usual modus operandi of the perpetrator is to invite the woman to go out on a date with him. Most of these men are friends or acquaintances of the women.

Some target victims are casual pick-ups in lounges and bars.

The drug is discreetly poured into the drink, and moments later the victim is taken from the bar to a vehicle or to a secluded area or motel room, or raped right in her own home or wherever the party was.

Do victims remember the assault?

Some date-rape drug victims do not remember what had happened to them until they physically felt that they were assaulted. The drug blurs the memory somewhat for the most recent event. Some people are so sensitive to the drug that they overdose on it easily even on moderate amount.

Is there an antidote a woman can take?

No, the only “antidotes” a woman can use to avoid date-rape drugs or date-rape are discipline, common sense, will power, and vigilance. There is no medication one can take to ward off the bad effect of date-rape drugs. Some drugs could even be used in cigarettes or “cookies and candies.”

How can women avoid these drugs?

The question may sound trite and the answer obvious, but nonetheless it is a most fundamental one, especially for the young and uninitiated ladies.

The following set of advice may sound an over simplification but

could be life-saving: (1) Never go out with a “stranger.” Having a liaison with a man you just met is risky, unhealthy, and dangerous; (2) Also remember that many of the apprehended perpetrators were friends of the victims; (3) When on a date, at a restaurant or at home (his or even yours) watch your drink and your food with vigilance and care; (4) If you suspect “something,” stop drinking your cocktail and stop eating your food, and excuse yourself and leave, or call a trusted friend to join you ASAP; (5) If you do not feel well at this point, get the assistance of the bar tender, the waitress or any woman; (6) Do not go with your date to the car; (7) If your suspicion is really strong, or if you actually witnessed your date slipping a drug into your drink or food, ask the waitress to “bag” the food for you to take home and have it tested for drugs at the toxicology lab of a hospital; (8) If this tested positive, hand over the evidence to the Police as you file a criminal complaint. Having said all this, we recommend caution and restraint: one should not be too paranoid, either, and be over suspicious of your date, because this, too, could spell a disaster.

Be careful, be smart, and enjoy a safe date. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Filipino-American Actor, Darren Criss wins his first Emmy movie.

He fended off tough competiBy Monet Lu tion, including Patrick Melrose’s Benedict Cumberbatch, Genius: Picasso’s Antonio Banderas, CONGRATULATIONS are in The Looming Tower’s Jeff order for this fine actor for win- Daniels, USS Callister’s Jesse ning best actor – the first Filipino- Plemons and Jesus Christ SuperAmerican to do so. star’s John Legend.

Darren Criss won his first “Oh, my God, you guys are Emmy for his role as Andrew witnessing the most extraordinary Cunanan in FX’s The Assassina- moment of my life thus far. I’m tion of Gianni Versace: Ameri- very privileged to be in this room can Crime Story where he won among so many people who inbest actor in a limited series or spire the crap out of me, and I’m so honored to be nominated,” he said in his acceptance speech. “A lot of you guys, I’ve been a fan of for such a long time. Actors are really only as good as the moments they are given and the moments they are granted. So I am profoundly indebted to my friend Ryan Murphy for entrusting me with this opportunity of a lifetime and for believing in me.”

Criss also thanked his mom and dad, saying: “Unlike the character I played, I was lucky enough to be raised in a home that was very loving and emphasized the value of hard work, compassion and not taking yourself too seriously.”He concluded by thanking his fiancée, producer Mia Swier.

I have admired this young actor. I like his performance in Glee and just love how he is proud of his Filipino roots.

In his interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, the Hollywood actor shared his love for the Filipino cuisine, namedropping his favorite Pinoy restaurant in Los Angeles.

“Tuesday morning, I said to my mom, ‘Let’s go get some fatty, unhealthy Filipino food,’ as you do when you want to celebrate and you’re half-Filipino,” he quipped. He then mentioned LA Rose Cafe Hollywood, a restaurant established by Lemuel

Balagot in 1982, before saying: “I go there all the time. It’s very, very Filipino.”

“The guy that runs the place will give you a hard time if you don’t finish your food, like a real Filipino uncle,” he added.

Darren’s mother is from Cebu City. As a young kid, he has always loved music and performing.

Criss opened up about stepping into Cunanan’s shoes for the acclaimed Murphy-directed and -produced series. Though Cunanan murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace in July 1997 — and killed himself not long after — Criss explained how he learned to sympathize with his infamous character.

“I had a friend tell me when I got the part, ‘You’re playing the gay boogeyman,’ he said. “I was like, ‘Excuse me?’ He was like, ‘When he was on the run, we would all spook each other [by saying] Andrew Cunanan is going to come get you.’ The things that are said about him in the show aren’t crazy.”

“Andrew didn’t really creep

me out as much as he broke my heart. He had so much potential, but somehow went from being a bright, promising young man to a murderer,” said the actor. “He felt like he was nothing and had nothing in the world.”

When it came to playing Cunanan, Criss wanted to make sure he was portraying all of the complex aspects of his character, which included everything from killing in cold blood to singing Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” at the top of his lungs in his car.

“Human beings are so complex,” he said. “We are capable of so many different emotions and the reasons behind those emotions. I’m not asking people to empathize or pardon anything that Andrew has done, but I do like people unconsciously figuring out how much they can relate to this person whether how little or how much.”

He added: “It is my job to humanize him, but the hope is that we’re not glamorizing anything.”

Well, that explains why this guy deserves the award. He gave it his all and just dedicated so much to make sure he gives justice to his role. Something, I believe, is very Filipino of him.

To Darren Criss: I can’t wait to see more of you in the Hollywood scene. Good luck and continue making us proud. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

How to get over a broken heart, according to ‘Nakalimutan’ stars

by Nathalie

tomada Philstar.com

THE lengths you go to just to recover from a heartbreak is the theme of the upcoming romantic comedy-drama, Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka. The film marks a couple of firsts. It’s the first film of former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Fifth Solomon and the first film venture of long-time concert producer Wilbros Live.

“We’ve been wanting to try movies. Our mission is to help promote Filipinos around the world through concerts like we combine international and local artists. And with movies, we’re able to and need to release it globally. It’s worth trying,” said Glenn Llamas, one of the brothers behind the production outfit.

“When I saw the script and read the story, I believe this is a strong movie. I believe this film has a fighting chance. Filipinos are always known to enjoy and watch movies and concerts.”

Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kali-

“Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka” stars Jerald Napoles, Keiko Necesario, Joj Agpangan, Alex Gonzaga and director-writer Fifth Solomon.

Philstar.com photo

Gonzaga, whose character will exhaust all means, including the surgical kind, just to bury her past with an ex. Vin Abrenica, Candy Pangilinan, Jerald Napoles, Rufa Mae Quinto, Jayson Gainza, Loisa Andalio, Alora Sasam, Joj Agpangan, Jai Agpangan, Ricci Chan, Juan Miguel Severo and Keiko Necesario also appear in

“There’s realism mixed with fantasy,” explained Fifth, who also wrote the script, in a presscon. “Like if there’s a clinic that can remove your broken heart, will you have it taken out? Something like that. Because at times, we’ve done everything to move on, we tried Tinder, food-tripping, getting ourselves drunk

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How to get over a broken heart...

PAGE B4 or soul-searching in Korea, but why can’t we still forget the person we (once) loved?” So, given the chance, he added, will you be willing to have your heart replaced so that you will forget all the painful memories?

The stars won’t go that extreme for sure. But like the film’s lengthy title, they all agree the recovery is a long process.

For Alex, she has learned to forget all her exes but “I couldn’t forget all my stupidity because during the time I was dating, from the start pa lang, (people were telling me) that’s not the guy for you. I always had doubts, but I would also always convince myself ‘no, that’s not true, kami, kami, kami.’ Even when I saw that we were drifting apart, I (would find) ways of making myself look really stupid just to prove to myself that ‘No, this is right for me.’

But it turned out they were right, he’s not really meant for you.”

Jerald, on his part, shared, “Maybe (this is a) cliché but the wound really hurts while you’re going through it. Pag-naghilom siya, mas matatag na yung parte ng balat na nasugatan pero meron ng marka ang sugat. So there’s a little part of you, which you gave away, and part of that person that you won’t forget. It won’t go away. Once you’ve entered another person’s life, and once another person comes into your life, some things will be left behind.”

The actor revealed that his biggest heartbreak was his previous relationship. “I was living with my ex-girlfriend, a French girl, muntikan na ako mapabilang sa mga kababayan na naka luwagluwag (laughs). Pero di natuloy, kasi ex eh.

“We lived together for two years, and I couldn’t forget that because it was my first time to live-in with someone. We made plans, we saw the future. The reason I couldn’t forget her because we were like a married couple already. It was her face that I saw first the moment I wake up, and it was her face I would last see before I would sleep. Damn! But we’re OK now. When I went to France last month, we saw each other and talked. Four years after our break-up, that was our first closure (in person).”

Keiko, who also performs the film’s theme song, Let Me Be The One, related her own experience as well. “I’m NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth). I’m waiting for the

right one. And I think there’s nothing wrong with that. But I take a risk. I’ve fallen in love thrice, as in nagmahal talaga.

Pinaka-masakit siguro happened three years ago, but you have to remind yourself that you need to forget and you will be able to forgive what happened and forgive yourself,” she said, adding that since she’s a religious person, her decisions are coupled with prayer.

When asked to offer concrete ways of moving on, Joj shared, “Always remember selflove. If you don’t leave something for yourself, ikaw yung kawawa (you’ll find yourself in the losing end). So self-love is important. It’s not selfish. Then I love to travel. That’s one thing.

Another is be thankful for the people who are there for you like family, friends because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who can help you. It’s your choice to stay tanga (stupid) or become a strong person, the best version of yourself.”

According to Jerald, it was easier for him to move on with his life because her girlfriend moved back abroad. “I had no choice eh, I needed to accept it. (I had to accept that it was painful), habang naliligo ka, nag-sho-shower ka, ‘Hindi na niya ako mahal.’ Basically, it helped that she was no longer here. You have to cut the communication (line). If you want a concrete tip, you shouldn’t have any communication with the other person. You have to give yourself time and the next time, for the closure.”

Does he believe that in order to “get over, get another”? Jerald said, “The thing is, if you will find a rebound, make sure you’re not fooling yourself. Because sometimes, when you don’t know that person is a rebound, you might think you’re hurting that person but you’re actually hurting yourself. You’ll try to keep up with the feelings na nasaktan ka, kailangan mong pag-takpan sa pamamagitan ng pag-rebound.

So, to each his/her own but as long as you’re not hurting another person, that’s a good process (of recovering from a heartbreak).”

Alex, on the other hand, believes one has to teach himself or herself to forget. “Sometimes, you have to fake it till you make it. You have to convince yourself that you’re happy, you’ve forgotten (the person) even if you haven’t yet, you have to tell

yourself always ‘move on, move on,’ then one day, you will wake up without having to make any effort to forget because you’ve totally forgotten already.”

The funny actress further shared that she moves on by doing all things that make her look stupid “in one take” — call, text and go after that person — and when she has nothing more to give, that’s the time she has to pick herself up. “Ako kasi totodohin ko muna ang pagiging tanga.

Yung mag-mumukha na talaga akong putik. Kunwari na text mo na, todohin mo na, tawagan mo na. Laylay na talaga, sagad na talaga, sa pagiging tanga. Kapag sobra na akong tanga na wala na akong magagawa kasi nasa baba na ako, kailangan mo na syempre umangat.”

Alex was also queried about the boys who broke her heart, but she wouldn’t give names. She is writing a book about getting over exes and stressed that none of them is in showbiz, contrary to what people think.

She said, “Sa lahat po ng aking ginaganito, wala pong showbiz, believe it or not. Kung meron kayong iniisip, kung iniisip niyo po si Kean (Cipriano, the rockeractor who was once rumored to be her boyfriend), hindi po.

Daming nagsasabi kung part siya ng libro, di po talaga. Because what happened with us was just friendship and nag-feeling lang kami na may something. But we both knew, there was really nothing.”

“So everyone in the book, they’re non-showbiz. How many?

There are 32 of them (laughs).

No, there are three of them. Two of them Chinese, one of them, the producer (laughs),” joked Alex.

The writer-director readily agreed with his stars that moving on is hard, but it’s not impossible. “Masakit siya, sobrang sakit, especially if you’re used to it and one day, it’s no longer there. What I do is, I keep myself busy with work, I go out, go shopping — see, it’s so expensive to move on, right? The person who hurt me is in Australia, so mahal (it’s expensive)! Hindi ko na hinabol kasi may visa pa eh (laughs),” Fifth said, referring to an ex he met while taking up a Masteral course in Film in Australia. “So, I just accepted it because it was going to cost me money. And you just have to entertain yourself and accept the fact that you need to forget.”

PWC team provides assistance and free services to the Filipino community at the Los Angeles Community College.

Another Disconnection Notice From Your Phone or Utility Company? PWC Can Help

PILIPINO Workers Center (PWC) can offer assistance to Filipinos who are having issues with their phone and utility bills.

Whether the issue is having an unusally high bill, unauthorized charges or other concerns, PWC will be directly coordinating with the phone or utility company on your behalf. Your PWC case worker can check your bills, help you fill out paperwork, and talk to the phone or utility company for you about your bill or your account. Through the Team and Changes program, you will be freed from the hassle and pressure of having to talk to a

customer service agent or being put on hold for a long period of time, as we will do the hard work for you. And most of all, we speak Tagalog!

Through the Team and Changes program, PWC can help you get your services restored by setting up payment plans, finding payment assistance programs, or negotiating with the utility company on your behalf. You will still be required to make a payment, but PWC can find ways to make payments easier for you and your family. For questions on how to get assistance, contact PWC at (213)250-4353 and ask about the

Team and Changes program.

Pilipino Workers Center is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization located in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, but serves Filipinos throughout California. Pilipino Workers Center’s mission is for all people and communities to have the right to a healthy, dignified quality of life. PWC focuses on providing programs that help meet the immediate needs of workers and their families while at the same time building their leadership to take collective action for long lasting change. For more info, visit www.pwcsc.org.

(Advertising Supplement)

‘Abay Babes’ – a sizzling hot...

PAGE B3 appeared in the movies “Ang Panday” and “Kasal,” but Abay Babes gives the beauty queen her first lead role.

“I have this desire to be really good at something,” Versoza once said. “I want to be good at acting, not being an artista.”

Goldie, the class clown in the movie, is played by Barcelo.

Her moniker is “Abaca” (fiber), because she is the toughest of them all. In real life, she says she is also a tough chick, which,

together with talent, is necessary to survive in show business.

Finally, Jade, the videographer who will document the girls’ road trip to the wedding venue, is played by Imperial. Yet another different role for the adventurous actress, she believes it is in “[being] fearless that life becomes limitless.”

A noted prime time series director on ABS-CBN, Cuaresma is excited to see his first movie for Viva Films on the big screen and counts himself lucky to have

worked with a group of five different females who share a common denominator of hard work.

“Abay Babes is a story about friendship ng limang kababaihan with intimate stories to tell.

Thankfully, all of us had a happy working relationship during the shoot and ‘ni isa sa kanila ay hindi ko kinakitaan ng attitude problem.”

The comedy flick also stars Tom Rodriguez, Marco Gumabao, Mark Bautista and Candy Pangilinan.

B SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

C1

JOURNAL

Obtaining the rights and responsibilities reserved for US citizens

Your Immigration Solution

ATTY. AMANDA KWONG CONSTITUTION Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. It is a perfect opportunity for all U.S. citizens to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Some of the many rights that U.S. citizens enjoy are the right to free speech, the right to freedom of religion, and the freedom of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.� There are also many responsibilities that accompany U.S. citizenship, including the responsibility to support and defend the Constitution, serve on a jury when called, and defend the United States if the need arises.

To obtain all of the rights and responsibilities available to U.S. citizens, a noncitizen may apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. There are several requirements that a lawful permanent resident (green card) must meet for their application for naturalization to be approved. These requirements include the applicant being 18-year-old or older, meeting continuous physical presence requirements in the U.S., possess good moral character, demonstrate knowledge of the English language and U.S. history, etc. In addition, the applicant cannot currently be in immigration proceedings, cannot have an outstanding order of deportation, etc.

The issue of good moral character is frequently cited by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) when they deny applications for naturalization.

Good moral character is required for the five-year period before the application is filed, and for three years if the application is being filed by a person living in “marital union� with their U.S. citizen spouse. In addition to these 3 and 5-year requirements, the USCIS may also consider acts

prior to that period of time.

There are certain criminal acts that pose as permanent bars to good moral character. For example, anyone who has been convicted of murder at anytime cannot be found to have good moral character. The permanent bar also applies to someone convicted of an aggravated felony after November 29, 1990, even if a waiver had been granted. The only exception to a permanent bar of good moral character is if the applicant was fully pardoned and has demonstrated rehabilitation.

For crimes that are not considered permanent bars, such as providing false testimony made

after only three years.

In addition to being a permanent resident for a certain number of years, there are also certain physical presence requirements that must be met.

Generally speaking, an applicant must be physically present in the United States for at least half of the three or five years preceding the filing of their application.

Unfortunately, it is not always as easy as simply counting the number of days that you have been present in the country. Rather, a person’s continuous residence may be disrupted by one or more lengthy absences from the U.S. A disruption in the continuity of residence will force an applicant to delay the filing of their application.

There are many things to consider when deciding whether to file an application for U.S. citizenship. In addition to all eligibility concerns, a person must also consider whether a denial of their application could potentially lead to deportation proceedings.

However, despite the process being difficult and stressful, it is important to remember that the benefits and freedoms that come with U.S. citizenship are paramount. Consult an experienced immigration attorney today to ask if becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen is an option for you.

“An applicant must typically be a continious permanent resident for five years to be eligible for U.S. citizenship.� under oath to obtain an immigration benefit, they will then be weighed against positive factors.

Acts that may still be overcome by submitting positive evidence of good moral character are failing to register for the Selective Service, owing back taxes to the government, etc. If good moral character issue is a potential issue, it is extremely important for the applicant to present evidence that they do indeed possess good moral character despite the possible grounds for denial.

An applicant must typically be a continuous permanent resident for five years to be eligible for U.S. citizenship. However, three years is acceptable if applying based on living in “marital union� with their U.S. citizen spouse.

There is no requirement that the marriage be the basis for permanent resident status. Thus, an applicant who already had their green card at the time of marriage could apply for naturalization after three years of living in “marital union.� A person who obtained permanent resident status as a battered spouse or child may also apply for naturalization

*** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration ďŹ rms in the United States with ofďŹ ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 795- 8009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPA, mBA

WHEN an audit is completed, you will be notified of the Agency’s determination: 1. No change: IRS accepts your returns as filed. You will be asked to sign the examination report. That concludes your pain and suffering. About 11% of correspondent audits and 8% of field audits end with a no change verdict, a win for taxpayers.

2. Changes: The Agency recommends adjustments to your return. If you agree with the bill, that concludes your audit. The IRS will bill you for additional taxes and any applicable penalties and interest. If it’s a refund, I’m sure you will agree right away, sign, and wait for your check. If not, go to Appeals described below.

3. Appeals: If you disagree

The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAs SOME people are not religious, but they possess genuine human qualities of compassion, kindness, empathy, and care for other people. They are people who may not always go to church or are not even part of any religion, but they have a deep sense of shared humanity. They’re not easy to judge other people because they also see their brokenness, struggles, and pain. They live “big,” which means that they try to appreciate other people’s perspectives and understand their situations.

They’re more inclusive and open-minded.

I remember meeting this category of people when I joined a weekend retreat last summer in Pitt Meadows, B.C., Canada called The Daring Way, which helps people live a more vulnerable, authentic, compassionate, and courageous life. Those who joined the retreat were not all part of a church, but they came with good intentions.

They were also there to improve their relationship with their loved ones and to become

Community Journal

What happens after an IRS audit is completed?

with their findings, you have the right to talk to an IRS manager (which I never do since manager almost always backs his/her compliance technician) or file an appeal (da best) with the independent Office of Appeals. Send a protest letter via certified mail.

Note that the appeals process is less formal and cheaper. You have your best shot at resolving your tax problems with Appeals.

Historically, Appeals has been able to settle the majority of the cases that come within its jurisdiction. I love Appeals because they are independent. Independence is the most important of their core values. Independence from their own compliance function (auditors) is critical for Appeals to accomplish its mission.

To resolve disputes effectively, Appeals must show itself to be objective, impartial, and neutral in fact and in appearance. If taxpayers perceive they will not get

Minding Your Finances

a fair hearing in Appeals, more tax controversies would be liti- Atty. RAymond gated in Tax Court, which would BulAon increase the cost and burden to IF you are considering bankboth the taxpayer and the Fedruptcy as a last resort to solve eral Government. your debt problems, it is impor*** tant for you to have your case Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude evaluated by a professional who from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State can advise you if it is appropriate University with an MBA. Vic worked with for your situation. While there SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen are a lot of cases where filing is Consulting) and Ernst & Young before the only solution, in other cases, establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation there may be non-bankruptcy alternatives. in Pasadena, California.

In other cases, it may not even *** be necessary or practical. Your He has 50 years of experience in objective in filing must be clear defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, and your expectations must be FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental realistic. Are there more advanagencies. He is publishing a book on his tages than disadvantages or is it expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE the other way around? Will you IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire get a meaningful discharge of about the book or email tax questions at debts or will most debts remain when your case is closed? These vicsy@live.com. are some of the questions that (Advertising Supplement) must be answered before you file your bankruptcy petition.

If you are filing for Chapter 7, for instance, and you have substantial assets, some of your assets may not be exempt from liquidation by the court trustee.

If possible, your bankruptcy atple, to listen to their opinions and torney must help you organize angsts, and yet still stand on the ground of our authentic selves Barrister’s and the values we believe.

In her book, Braving the Wil- Corner derness, The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, Brene Brown presents some scenarios of people Atty. Kenneth with different political views and uRsuA Reyes the genuine kindness they possess. Here are two of them: COUPLES get divorced for “The political rhetoric: Demo- various reasons. California is a crats are losers. no fault state. The reasons why a Your experience: As a lifelong couple is getting divorced are ofconservative, this sounds about ten irrelevant to the issues of the right. But what about your clos- family law case. Divorce is often est friend at work—the one who a difficult and negative experidrove you to the hospital when ence for most families. However, you got the call that your hus- getting divorce may have some band had a heart attack at the unintended benefits in the immigym and was being rushed to the gration law arena. Four situations ER? The one who sat with you in in which filing for divorce can be the CICU then raced to pick up beneficial to your immigration your kids from school and take case are as follows: them to the house? The one who Married sons and daughters helped you plan the funeral and of U.S. citizens shouldered your workload while If you were petitioned for legal you were out? permanent residence by your US The political rhetoric: Anti- Citizen parent as a married son abortion activists are hypocrites or daughter 21 years old or over, and closed-minded fundamen- you are classified in immigration talists. law under family sponsored third Your experience: As a femi- preference (F3) which usually nist activist, you couldn’t agree carries a long wait time. The wait u PAGE C3 time for Filipinos for example is

Living side by side in a divided world

more caring for others and the planet. They were there to learn how to brave the wilderness of opposition, rejection, and criticism. They were there to learn how to live a wholehearted life— a life driven by the values of authenticity, empathy, self-compassion, gratitude, joy, trusting, faith, creativity, self-care, humor, and meaningful work. Indeed, they were there to become better human beings!

Would it be that they are also the kind of people that Jesus is referring to in this Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 9:38-43,45, 4748)? One day, John asked Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him.

Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. No one performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.”

In a world of social media where everyone is taking sides, we must take this Gospel as a challenge to be tolerant, kind, and understanding of other peo-

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

Don’t make these mistakes if you are filing bankruptcy your financial affairs in such a way as to maximize your exemptions upon filing.

Most people who file for Chapter 7 have little or no assets, of course, and most people get to keep everything that they have.

My point is, if you are in doubt, consult a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney and don’t try to do it yourself. I have seen people who have tried to save money by filing their own bankruptcy case only to find out later that they are actually paying a bigger price by not being able to exempt a particular asset or discharge a certain debt.

A lot of people who have valuable assets also mistakenly believe that they can just simply transfer assets to family members right before filing in order to protect those assets from being taken by the trustee.

This doesn’t work because the Bankruptcy Code allows the trustee certain powers one of which is the power to set aside certain transfers made to family members within 2 years prior to filing (deemed fraudulent under certain conditions). Additionally, the trustee may, on the basis

of state fraudulent conveyance laws, go back further back to a much longer period of time (as long as 7 years in some cases) under certain circumstances.

What this means is that you cannot simply sign a quitclaim deed on your real property right before filing think that this is the right way to protect your assets in bankruptcy. If you are having financial difficulties and filing for bankruptcy looks inevitable, what you do before you file may have an adverse impact on your case because you may not be aware of the legal implications of your actions. Again, careful pre-petition planning with your bankruptcy attorney may prevent future problems with your bankruptcy case. Your lawyer should advise you what you can and cannot do legally.

To those who are more interested in Chapter 13 debt consolidation, you must know that Chapter 13 is only appropriate for certain situations and may not accomplish your objective as effectively as filing for Chapter 7 would. Every case is different and requires careful analysis of

u PAGE C3

4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case currently 22 years. The priority date is normally the date the petition was initially filed by your US Citizen parents. If you get divorced, you revert back to single status and your category automatically becomes reclassified to first preference (F1) where the waiting time is substantially shorter.

For example, for Filipinos the wait time under F1 category is 10 years shorter than F3 category. This means if your parents filed your immigration petition 12 years ago, then you can adjust to a green card now instead of waiting another 10 years.

Married sons and daughters of legal permanent residents If your parents are legal permanent residents, getting divorced will convert you back single status making you eligible to be petitioned by your legal permanent resident parents under the family based second preference (F2b) category if you are 21 years old or older or under the family based second preference A (F2a) if you

are under 21 years of age.

For those who married after they were petitioned by their LPR parents (F2A and F2B), the petition is automatically revoked under operation of law the moment you get married and cannot be reclaimed by a divorce. In theory, it can be argued that filing a subsequent petition after your divorce under the same category inherits the previous petition’s priority date under 9 FAM 42.43 N10 and 8 CFR 204.2(h), Part 205. However, success of such argument is not clear since the old petition was automatically revoked the moment you married.

The best thing that can be done in this situation is to have your LPR parent repetition you as an F2A or F2b even if you are unable to reclaim the previous petition’s priority date.

Conditional legal permanent residents in failed marriages For those who obtained their legal permanent residence status

u PAGE C4

Community Journal

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

Same-sex harassment at work equally illegal

(Employer’s failure to prevent is actionable) COLE H worked as a truck driver for Beverly Fabrics for eight years. During the last 5 years of his employment, he experienced bullying and harassment by a coworker, Dan Rangle. Rangle referred to himself as “Big Swingin’ Dan.” Rangle’s inappropriate comments escalated when he spread gossip among other workers that Cole H was bringing male prostitutes into his work truck. Cole H, who is married with four children, was disgusted by the comments.

When Cole H reported Rangle’s behavior to supervisors, he was told there was no way to change Rangle, and his complaint remained unresolved.

Meanwhile, Rangle’s misconduct worsened. Rangle started sending sexual photos by text to Cole H’s work phone, and did not comply when Cole H told him to stop. Rangle also told coworkers that Cole H was gay.

While continuing the offensive comments, Rangle ramped up the harassment by inappropriately touching Cole H. Rangle put Cole H in a head lock while acting as if he was going to kiss him. Rangle brushed the back of his hands against Cole H’s buttocks. Rangle twice rubbed his genitals, through his pants, on Cole H’s arm Fed up, Cole H bypassed his supervisors and reported Rangle’s misconduct to upper management. Five years after first reporting to his supervisors, Rangle was finally terminated.

Cole H was then reprimanded by his supervisor for going over his head to complain. Afterwards, his work assignments

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng

THE client is a foreign company that has been doing business with a California company since 2012. The client is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of a certain kind of equipment, which the CA company sells and distributes in the United States.

Business was good reaching low million dollar figures until the CA company was sued by a person, whose relationship to the California company I am not clear on.

But this plaintiff was able to get a judgment against the CA company for $1.0-M and proceeded to levy the bank accounts of the CA company. The company appealed the judgment saying that the state court judgment was based on fake documents then filed a Chapter 11 case to shield itself from the judgment levy on its bank accounts so that it could continue operating. The client’s interest in the case is that the client gave the CA company a credit line of $3.0-M for trade financing of its shipments to the CA company.

When the CA company filed for Chapter 11, it owed the client about $400,000 unpaid. The client continued to do business with the CA company despite it being on Chapter 11 and continued shipping its merchandise. The CA company continued paying the client until the trustee forced the conversion of the Chapter 11 case to Chapter 7. When the case was converted to Chapter 7, the client was still owed $250,000, and the CA company had not yet executed the transfer documents for a trademark that the client had bought and paid for in the amount of $120,000.

So, we filed two claims against the Chapter 7 trustee. One claim was for $250,000 of unpaid merchandise, which we claimed was secured because there was a title retention agreement for unpaid merchandise, and a claim for ownership of the trademark, or $120,000. A lot of litigation ensued between the client and the Chapter 7 trustee, and the plaintiff who had a $1.0-M judgment against the debtor.

The court eventually ruled in favor of client on the issue of the trademark ruling that since the client had bought and paid for it,

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. c. Joe SAyAS, Jr. were changed which made it impossible for him to do his job. He eventually resigned.

Because of the harassment, Cole H developed PTSD, major depression and an adjustment disorder, and was deemed by his doctor unable to work. He sued the employer for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and failure to prevent harassment, discrimination and retaliation At trial, the employer’s Vice President of Operations and Risk Management, to whom Cole H reported the harassment, admitted that he did not investigate Cole H’s complaint, even though he investigated every other complaint of male-female or femalemale sexual harassment. Cole H testified that two months after the complaint, the VP came to him and told him the company was glad this didn’t happen to a woman.

Harassment created by a “hostile environment” arises where unwelcome sexual conduct unreasonably interferes with an employee’s job performance or creates an intimidating, or hostile working environment, even if it does not lead to economic job benefits. Here, the coworker’s unwelcome sexual comments and inappropriate touching of Cole H despite requests to stop

created a hostile work environment for Cole H (and others who witnessed this interaction).

Under California law sexually harassing conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire and sexual harassment does not require proof of sexual desire towards the victim. The sexually harassing comments or conduct may be motivated by anger or rage and sex is used as a weapon to create a hostile work environment.

Because the employer knew of the harassing conduct by Cole H’s coworker and failed to stop it, the employer is liable for harassment by its employee. Such employees may be entitled to wages and benefits lost due to wrongful termination; future loss of earnings; emotional distress damages for the mental pain and suffering caused by the employer’s illegal discrimination; and, in certain instances, punitive damages. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at nocost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Client files adversary against debtor for $370K the client owned the trademark.

The trustee agreed to not challenge this and considered it as a final disposition of that matter.

So, the trustee transferred the trademark to the client. However, the unpaid inventory is still an issue and the trial is next month. There are specific steps that a creditor can take to protect itself in bankruptcy. The first is to make sure that your claim is secured because secured creditors are treated differently from unsecured creditors. Secured creditors have priority over unsecured creditors in bankruptcy.

If there is money left in the bankruptcy estate, secured creditors get paid in full first; then, if there is money left, unsecured creditors share equally proportion.

The legal problem that normally surfaces a secured creditor is whether or not its claim is actually secured in the legal sense of the word. For instance, a mortgage that is signed by both parties but not recorded is not a secured debt. It is an unsecured debt. But if the mortgage is recorded, the mortgage becomes a secured debt. Even if there is a bankruptcy, the mortgage holder can ask permission from the Court to proceed with foreclosure on the property if the postpetition mortgage payments are not being made. So, in Chapter 13 if the post-petition mortgage payment has not been made, the creditor can file a motion for relief from the automatic stay. This motion is normally heard in 30 days. If the debtor does not pay the post-petition default on or before the hearing date with certified funds, the court will grant the relief motion and allow the creditor with State law foreclosure remedies.

Senior files Chapter 7 to discharge $40K credit cards The next client is a 62. He still works as a radiology technician and makes about $70,000 a year.

He is single and doesn’t own a house. He has several dependents; his sister and two nieces.

He also sends money abroad to another sister who has a large family because his brother in law does not work. In other words, the client has a good heart and all his income is spent to care for his family. The choice now is there is a conflict between money that has to be sent to his sister

abroad or to pay for minimum payments on his $40K credit cards. He sends $1,200 a month to his sister abroad, while he also needs $1,200 a month to keep his $40K credit cards current.

It’s hardly a choice, is it? The right choice is to continue sending $1,200 a month to his sister with the large family because they have to continue having a roof over their heads and food to eat. Some of the money sent goes to the college education of his nieces and nephews, which is also good. On the other hand, $1,200 a month to keep $40,000 credit cards current is a luxury that the client can no longer afford. He has paid it for at least ten years, which is a grand total of $144,000. $144,000 is more than enough to pay off $40,000 of credit cards, isn’t it? But that’s not how it works. After paying $144,000 for 10 years, clients still owe the very same $40,000 of credit cards! It’s totally unfair.

But whoever said that the world has to be fair? Instead of paying for credit cards, the client could have bought a house instead, here or abroad so that the house can be used as a family home for his relatives. The client wants to continue working until forever. I can understand that. As long as one is healthy, one will feel the same even in the sixties, one still feels young. It’s all in the mind.

I started counting backward a long time ago. Truth be told, I don’t feel a day over 28 but that was a long time ago, yet it feels like that was only yesterday. So this is life. We are only here temporarily and only for a short period of time.

The client decides to get a Chapter 7 discharge, then buy a house here after two years when his credit score is about 650.

He’s still paying for a new car, so as long as he pays the car loan on time, his credit score should be over 600 by the second year. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Living side by side in a divided...

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more. Except for that great teacher you had in your Catholic high school. She had more integrity than anyone you know, and she constantly encouraged you to think critically about tough issues, even when it means disagreeing with her. She’s actually the one who taught you how to be an effective activist. She’s not a hypocrite or close-minded.

Brown’s real-life examples inspire us to learn the art of living harmoniously and bravely with people in a polarized society.

In the light of this Sunday’s Gospel, let’s not exclude people from our lives just because they don’t share our beliefs and opinions.

Let’s be more human to one another! *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Rever-

the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

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Reinstatement for surviving beneficiaries of an I-130 petition filed by a deceased relative DEAR Attorney Tan, My US Citizen mother filed an I-130 immigrant petition on my behalf, which has a priority date in February 2000 and which has been approved. She filed the I130 petition after I came to the US in 1999 as a tourist from the Philippines. Since my arrival, I have lived in the US and have been out of status.

Since I was petitioned as an unmarried adult daughter, I was advised that I had to wait several years to get a green card. Recently, my mother passed away. Can I still get a green card through my mother’s petition? -Apparently In Limbo Dear Apparently In Limbo, When your mother passed away, the I-130 that was approved on your behalf was revoked by operation of law pursuant to 8 CFR Section 205.1.

However, depending on the facts of a particular case, all is not lost. You may be eligible to get a green card pursuant to INA Section 204(L).

Under INA Section 204(L), relief from an automatic revocation of an I-130 petition is available to certain surviving relatives. Surviving relatives who are eligible to seek 204(L) relief include a 1) principal or derivative beneficiary of an I130 petition that was filed by a deceased permanent resident or U.S. Citizen, and 2) derivative beneficiary of an I-130 petition that was filed by a permanent resident or U.S. Citizen where the principal beneficiary has died. Section 204(L) relief is also available to derivative

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn beneficiaries in I-140 employment-based petitions where the principal beneficiary has died.

Another requirement for Section 204(L) relief is that the person seeking relief must have “residence” in the US. What is meant by “residence?” It is your primary home or principal actual dwelling place. At least one beneficiary must have resided in the U.S. when the petitioning relative died, and must continue to reside in the U.S. when seeking Section 204(L) relief. It is worth noting that all beneficiaries of a petition can benefit from Section 204(L) relief as long as at least one of the beneficiaries meets the residence requirement. Further, although “residence” is required, Section 204(L) does not require actual physical presence in the U.S. when the relative died.

In your case, it appears that you are eligible to obtain a green card. You are a principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition filed by your US Citizen mother. Further, you appear to meet the residence requirement in that you have been in the US since your arrival in 1999—you resided in the US when your mother passed away, and currently reside in the US. A check of the USCIS visa bulletin indicates the priority date

for the I-130 petition filed by your mother on your behalf is current, so you can file an I-485 adjustment of status application, requesting reinstatement of the I-130 petition filed by your mother pursuant to Section 204(L).

As a sidenote, Section 204(L) relief is also available if one’s relative died while the I-130 was pending, not only after the I-130 petition was approved.

Section 204(L) relief therefore is broader than Humanitarian Reinstatement of a petition under 8 CFR Section 205.1, which can only be requested by the principal beneficiary when the petitioner him/herself has died, and after approval of an I-130.

Relief under Section 204(L) is discretionary, and can be denied if factors in support of relief are not presented properly.

It is accordingly recommended that you seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Don’t make these mistakes if you are...

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not only your present but probably your future goals as well.

Will your Chapter 13 case restrict you from doing certain things like selling your home, business or acquiring a new loan perhaps? Or will it allow you more freedom to do with your property or business as you please once you have gotten back on your feet? What debts will be repaid or discharged after you have completed your payments over 3-5 years? Can your Chapter 13 eventually wipe out debts that are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 case?

A lawyer who advises you to

file for bankruptcy without completely evaluating your situation to see whether bankruptcy is even appropriate for you may be doing you a disservice. What I find even more interesting is that some people simply listen to bankruptcy advice given by their friends, co-workers, neighbors, dentist or hairdresser instead of seeking professional help. Don’t risk being misinformed. Seek the help of a competent bankruptcy attorney.

Since 1997, I have helped thousands of clients get out of debt in order to live more financially secure lives. Let me help you determine if bankruptcy is

right for your situation or if other options are available in order for you to avoid it. Call Toll-Free 1866-477-7772 to schedule a free office consultation. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

C4 SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

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merica

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

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

People and Events

Department of Beaches and Harbors launches poster contest

Educational campaign reminds residents that “ocean pollution begins at home.”

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

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

S E P T E M B E R 22

Sto. Tomas Batangas Association of Southern California to celebrate 36th anniversary The Sto. Tomas Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate its 36th anniversary & coronation Night on Saturday, September 22 at the Los Serranos Country Club (15656 Yorba Ave. Chino Hills, CA 91709). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band.

For attendance, please call Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391, Offie Villanueva at (626) 9608407), Mylee Moncada at (818) 322-9429, Rosalie Nasu at (909)631-9356 or Rosie Sancianco at (951)898-7628.

Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in Lake Balboa, CA Come celebrate with us! The Archdiocese of Los Angeles Filipino Ministry San Fernando Region invites all to the 10th regional celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila on Saturday, Sept. 22 at St. Bridget of Sweden Church (7100 Whitaker Ave and Gault, Lake Balboa, CA 91406). It starts with a procession at 4:00 pm. and mass at 5:00 p.m. The Principal Celebrant is Rev. Fr. Albert Avenido, Moderator & Chaplain, Filipino Pastoral Ministry- Archdiocese for Los Angeles. A reception and program follows right after mass at the School Parish . For a schedule of the nine-day novena masses prior to the event, please call Patty Santiago at (818) 472-4288 or Alex Quadra (818-624-4684 or a.e.quadra@att.net).

S E P T E M B E R 23 -26

Tau Alpha Grand Reunion in Las Vegas Tau Alphans everywhere, join D’Argos Adventure in Las Vegas on September 23-26, 2018.

Experience O’le Las Vegas, the Birthplace of the Mob. Most of the four-day event will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino on Fremont St. The “Meet & Greet” á la Western style, will be on Sunday, September 23; followed by a Family Picnic on Monday, September 24 at the Madeira Canyon Park in Henderson; a subsequent Nightcap in the Golden Nugget on the evening of September 24; D’Fabulous 50s Nostalgia Dinner-Dance will be in the Golden Nugget and the Gala Dinner/Fraternity Ball will be on Wednesday, September 26 at the Golden Nugget, Bel Air Rooms. There will be a privately hosted Bon Voyage Brunch on September 27. Tau Alpha is the 3rd oldest fraternity in the University of the Philippines. Chartered in 1932 as the College of Engineering Fraternity. Contact Art F. Jorge, chairman of the 2018 Tau Alpha Grand Reunion, at artnmyr@yahoo.com.

S E P T E M B E R 26

United Architects of the Philippines - Southern California chapter hosts UAP president in Monterey Park, CA The United Architects of the Philippines - Southern California Chapter, Inc. (UAPSOCAL) a chartered member by the UAP, the only accredited architectural professional organization recognized by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines, will host the national president of UAP who will be in Los Angeles in connection with the induction of the incoming chapter officers and new members on Wednesday, September 26 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Monterey Hill Steak Restaurant (3700 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 9175). Interested UAP corporate members, Filipino-American architects, designers, and allied professionals are welcome to attend the event and join the prestigious organization. For more information please contact Jun Joaquin at (323) 675-5042 / (323) 907-3050 or email at uapsocalchapter@ gmail.com.

S E P T E M B E R 29

Laoguenian Association of Southern California to hold induction ball in City of Industry, CA The Laoaguenian Association of Southern California, Inc. (LASC) will hold its induction of new set of officers on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the Pacific Palms Resort & Hotel (1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744). The new inductees are headed by Mario Medina, president-elect. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call Sonny Siazon, past president & adviser, at (714) 720-3913.

PHII and JPRMM symposium on modern-day heroes in Rosemead, CA The Philippine Heritage Institute International and the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement invite the youth, ages 15-35, to the 12th Annual PHII Youth Congress on Saturday, September 29, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Garvey Community Center (9108 Garvey Ave., Rosemead, CA 91770-3337). Join to celebrate the stories and achievements of modernday heroes that inspire our youth to dream, to act, to find, to emulate, or to be just their own heroes. Keynote speaker is Dean Tanglao, Doctor of Physical Therapy; CEO/Founder of Kinda Fit Kinda Fat®. Joining him are featured speakers: Josef T.D. Madrigal, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Christelle Narvasa, nursing student, Mount San Antonio College; Cristina Narvasa, undergrad student at Cal State Univ., Fullerton majoring in Biological Science; Delilah Dijamco, Financial Advisor, The Prudential Insurance Co. of America; and soon-to-be teen Ryan dela Cruz, 3-time Taekwondo national champion. PHII’s vision is to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education, and recognition, with the youth as its main focus. Breakfast and lunch will be served. To RSVP, please contact: Josie E. de Jesus (714) 272-0300; Dr. Anna A. Chickey (562) 900-0379; Email Amelia Carpio at ameliacarpio33@yahoo.com or freyabnish@gmail.com.

PBRC 30th Anniversary in South San Francisco, CA The Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center (PBRC) will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on September 29, 2018 at the Holiday Inn along South Airport Blvd. in South San Francisco, CA starting at 6 p.m. According to PBRC president Ray Satorre, the event will recognize the organization’s outstanding volunteers, as well as honor Perla Gange Ibarrientos and Monica Abello for their continuous service to the PBRC. Both Ibarrientos and Abello were among the founders of the organization about 30 years ago. Money raised from the event will enable the nonprofit organization to continue their projects, including legal immigration clinics, Tai Chi classes for seniors, senior cultural dance, Eskabo (Filipino martial arts) classes for youngsters and adults, Tagalog classes, and the PBRC outreach project for the Daly City Public Library children and their parents (parol-making or bamboo lanterns). For more information about the 30th Anniversary celebration of the PBRC, call (650) 992-9110 or send email to pbrc333@ sbcglobal.net.

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

DID you know that ocean pollution begins at home? With the new Can the Trash! Clean Beach Poster Contest and educational campaign from the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH), children and families will learn that trash that makes its way to storm drains and other parts of the County’s watershed may eventually end up in the ocean.

The educational campaign includes an original song and video titled “Clean and Blue,” as well as the “Ocean Heroes” activity guide. The activity guide was developed in partnership with Heal the Bay and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. All materials are available online at beaches.lacounty.

gov/postercontest.

Students in grades 3 – 5 are encouraged to watch the “Clean and Blue” video and share what they learned by drawing a picture with a message about ways to keep the ocean and beaches clean and healthy, and the importance of doing so. Students’ artwork can then be submitted to the Can the Trash! Clean Beach Poster Contest via the website.

Five winners from each grade will have their designs wrapped around trash barrels at Los Angeles County beaches.

“We have a responsibility to keep our ocean and iconic beaches as clean and healthy as possible, and the Can the Trash!

Clean Beach Poster Contest is a creative way to promote this mis-

sion using the energy and ideas of the next generation,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose Fourth District includes the County’s southern beaches. “I’m looking forward to seeing students’ art and environmental messages on beach trash barrels!”

“Through the Can the Trash!

Clean Beach Poster Contest and educational campaign, we hope to teach individuals from an early age the importance of keeping our watershed and beaches free of trash and other pollution,” said DBH Director Gary Jones.

All poster contest entries must be received by January 12, 2019.

For more information and to watch the video, visit beaches. lacounty.gov/postercontest. ■

FACC-SLAA celebrates Filipino-American History Month with Fil-Ams Got Talent, a dance group competition THE Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of SouthBay Los Angeles Area (FACC-SLAA) has been recognizing and celebrating October as Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in the City of Carson since 2011, very shortly after the Chamber of Commerce was initially chartered earlier that same year.

The celebration of FilipinoAmerican History Month in October commemorates the first recorded landfall of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, in Central California. In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States.

This year, FACC-SLAA will once again be celebrating Filipino American History Month, with a celebration named FilAms GotTalent (a Dance Group Competition). This will again be held at the SouthBay Pavilion Mall (20700 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746) from 1:00 until 4:00pm on Saturday, October 13th, 2018.

FACC-SLAA will feature exhibits from various businesses and companies that our members and colleagues throughout the SouthBay, Los Angeles community are involved with. The highlight of our celebration will be a dance competition dubbed Fil-Ams Got Talent, which is open to local dance groups that include at least 2 members of Filipino descent. The top win-

ners, and a number of special awardees, will receive a total of $2,500 in Cash Prizes!

Applications for Vendors and Dance Group Contestants to be involved with FilAms Got Talent (a Dance Group Competi-

tion) are now being accepted.

For information on how sign up, please visit our website at www. faccsouthbayla.org. For additional info, please email facc. slaa@gmail.com or call (562) 544-8210. ■

4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your...

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through marriage based petition by their US Citizen spouse of less than 2 years marriage, the legal permanent residence status conferred is usually a “conditional legal permanent residence” valid only for 2 years. The couple would need to sign and file a joint petition to remove this condition prior to the expiration of the 2 years or the conditional legal permanent resident spouse would fall out of status.

The problem arises when the marriage is in trouble. Often it becomes difficult to obtain the cooperation of the US Citizen spouse specially when the couple has separated. US Citizen spouse often refuse to sign the I-751 for or appear at the I-751 interview if one is set by the USCIS. Filing for divorce would terminate the marriage and allow you to file a “waiver” of the joint petition to remove the conditional LPR status based on entering into the marriage in good faith. Terminating the marriage by filing a divorce is a requirement in order to file the “waiver.” It is important to time this correctly as soon as the marriage starts falling apart because by terminating the marriage early on, you might be able to file the waiver before the expiration of your 2 year conditional LPR thus allowing you to extend your LPR status in 1 year increments until a final decision is made in your case.

Married aliens in non-imm grant visas and those without

status For those who enter the US as a non-immigrant and are separated from their spouse but still married, filing a divorce would open up opportunities in case they meet a new significant other who is a US Citizen and who can petition them as an immediate relative. This is usually the fastest of process in obtaining legal permanent residence. In countries such as the Philippines where there is no divorce, many people come to the US to start a new life after they have been separated from their old spouse (often still married to them). Even if the alien over stays their status as a visitor, the alien can still adjust to that of a legal permanent residence if petitioned by a US Citizen spouse.

If the alien was never inspected, the alien can still adjust to legal permanent residence if they are grandfathered under INA 245(i) and there are no special restrictions on their status. To be grandfathered under INA 245(i), the alien must have been a beneficiary of a legal permanent residence petition filed no later than April 30, 2001.

Finally, a common concern of divorcing immigrants is “What happens if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?” The truth is you do not need your spouse’s signature to obtain a divorce in California. You only need to provide your spouse notice that you filed a divorce by personally serving your spouse the divorce petition and sum-

mons. In countries that are members of the Hague Convention, special procedures need to be followed to effect service. So yes it is possible to divorce your spouse even if your spouse is in a country that does not recognize divorce among its citizens such as the Philippines. For some immigrants, filing for divorce opens up opportunities in this land of milk and honey. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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FASTERCON18 celebrates generations of rising tech leaders Applications now open With keynote address from tech pioneer, entrepreneur, investor and philsthropist Dado Banatao

BERKELEY, CA — Filipino Americans in Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (FASTER) is honored to have the Silicon Valley legend, Dado Banatao this year’s keynote speaker at the annual FASTERCON conference hosted in UC Berkeley on Saturday, October 6.

Every Filipino American History Month, FASTER, a community organization dedicated to cultivating the Filipino American community in tech celebrates the contributions of leading Filipino American technology professionals making an impact on the tech industry and community and in partnership with media outlets, The Filipino Channel University (TFCU) and Kubo. The hope is to increase more Filipino American youth from all backgrounds to pursue careers in tech, and especially in engineering, where the number of Filipino Americans nationally in the profession still remain underrepresented. FASTER pays homage to trailblazers like Banatao and highlight both seasoned professionals and millennials succeeding across various verticals and roles in the tech industry including blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, cleantech, biotech, artificial intelligence.

The conference, along with the annual mentorship program, helps build upon the effort for facilitating a strategic pipeline into the tech industry. Students and professionals listen in on a fireside chat with Banatao, considered to be the leading Filipino American Silicon Valley tech pioneer, whom also has a hall in his name in the engineering school at Cal. He is well known for making his mark in computer hardware early on and was a part of the wave of innovation with key tech thought leaders such as Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (Apple’s co-founders from Berkeley). Banatao has given back generously over the years through many initiatives, including PhilDev Foundation and an Asian Pacific Fund scholarship in his name awarded to excelling high school students pursuing careers in engineering.

Banatao scholar, UC Berkeley alumnus, and FASTER Board member spearheading the young alumni and student organizing conference committee, Corrina Calanoc, noted the significance of continuing mentorship for

Dado Banatao is this year’s keynote speaker at the annual FASTERCON conference.

FASTER which features their annual mentorship program for students interested in pursuing tech careers.

“I benefited greatly from having people throughout my college experience serve as ate’s and kuya’s who helped me navigate institutions as a first generation college student. I’ve already seen the brilliance and innovation that transpires from accomplished engineers working together with students to tackle world problems during my time as a Banatao scholar. At first glance it seems like there’s still such sparse representation in tech, but formalizing mentorship within this industry will give folks a better picture of how wide our community spreads and that’s so exciting to me.”

This year’s conference agenda includes programs for Filipino American students and professionals. Breakout sessions for Filipino tech professionals include workshops for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), independent consultants, tech startup entrepreneurs, and Pinays in tech (sponsored by Filipinas In Computing under the Anita Borg Institute Systers affinity groups). Charity Nicolas, Cal Pilipino American Alumni Chapter President and FASTER Board Member, recently founded Tech-In-Color, where members of FASTER PROS professional component, provide community service to high school students

giving them exposure toward various tech career paths. TechIn-Color allows students to experience a “day-in-the-life” shadowing through company tours with partner companies such as Gap, Pinterest, Pandora, Twilio, and Tesla.

“As a mother and first-generation Filipina, I hope Tech-InColor and FASTER will create more equity for students of color looking for opportunities leading into tech and STEAM careers. By building a pipeline now, we hope this professional support system will provide invaluable guidance and mentorship to them throughout their career journey,” Nicolas continued.

Erin Pangilinan, FASTER Founder and Board President reiterated the importance of early exposure to support the life cycle of Filipino Americans as a whole and recognizing and celebrating Filipino American tech professionals at all roles and levels who have historically contributed to the making of Silicon Valley.

“Silicon Valley’s rich history of Asian American contributions is significant, and Filipino Americans have always been a part of that storyline, whether it has been tech legends like Dado Banatao, our uncles and aunties working on the assembly line at Selectron like mine, or my parents in biotech as research and development scientists, our community’s stories need to be told. Early exposure to the tech

industry in my own backyard carried me through all different phases of my career from civic engagement and now back into the spaces of immersive and emerging tech. Not everyone has that kind of support. We want to be able to help our community look to leading professionals and encourage others to aspire for achievement in their career, whether academic or industry related to technology, with an emphasis on technical skills that enables many to rise up like Dado and become leaders not only for the Filipino American community, but for all those entering tech. FASTER’s values strive for excellence in professionalism and education as well as serving community and we believe Dado embodies that. We encourage all students to become like him, and many other leading professionals no matter their background to demonstrate it is possible to achieve greatness.” Pangilinan emphasized that these success stories and those also readily forgotten have powered Silicon Valley’s tech companies for years.

“Many people do not talk about folks like Dado, Bobby Murphy (co-founder and CTO of SnapChat, and Stanford alumnus). We have talented folks in all areas of the industry from founders, lead designers, engineers, managers etc. that are relatively unknown and we hope through learning by example and sharing these stories, in our conference and through media partnerships, to spread the message partnering with TFCU, Kubo etc. and hope to inspire the next generation of Filipino Americans to enter careers in tech where they can bring value in impacting the lives of millions with the products that they create and services they provide.”

FASTER is dedicated to helping students and professionals rise in the next step of their career, encouraging professionals to leverage their networks with cross collaboration. FASTER strengthens a network of support through service. It takes a village to thrive as any entrepreneur and FASTER helps the tech ecosystem that we hope will bring more Filipino Americans into the tech workforce and engender Filipino American made-products and Filipino American founded companies now and for generations to come. n

for the Music Center Spotlight program

Annual, free premier arts education program for high school students offers more than $100,000 in scholarships

SOUTHERN California high school students interested in the performing arts can apply now to be a part of The Music Center’s Spotlight arts education and scholarship program presented by The Music Center. The annual free program offers arts training, experience and workforce development skills taught by professional artists and arts administrators, and awards more than $100,000 in scholarships.

All students who apply to Spotlight receive written feedback from a distinguished panel of judges and a certificate of achievement. In addition, they have an opportunity to receive valuable audition experience and knowledge in their performance disciplines through master classes and performance.

Students also experience a supportive environment in which to develop important life skills, including self esteem, preparation and perseverance. The deadline for submission is October 15, 2018.

How it works: High school students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply for free.All students whether they apply to Spotlight or not are invited to attend The Spotlight Academy, a free day of performing arts workshops for students, parents and teachers, on September 30, 2018 at The Music Center. Students can RSVP for The Spotlight Academy at http:// musiccenter.org/spotlightacademy.

Preliminary 1 (first round) auditions: Students submit an online video in one or more of the following categories: acting, bal-

let, classical instrumental, classical voice, jazz instrumental, non classical dance and non classical voice. Note: Semifinalists and Honorable Mentions from the previous year will bypass the Preliminary 1 first round and advance automatically to preliminary 2 live auditions.

Preliminary 2 (second round) auditions: Students who advance to this round will audition live before a panel of judges.

Semifinal master classes/auditions: Fifteen Semifinalists in each category will participate in a master class to gain feedback before their semifinal audition.

Two Grand Prize Finalists and an Honorable Mention in each category are announced after the Semifinal auditions.

Grand Finale: Spotlight will conclude with a Grand Finale evening performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall on June 4, 2019.

Spotlight is part of The Music Center’s commitment to helping all students gain outstanding arts learning experience in their schools and in the community.

The program is designed to help students explore their professional goals and increase their confidence. Spotlight alumni are performing with the world’s best dance companies, top orchestras and leading jazz clubs; singing in the leading opera houses; and starring on Broadway. They are also major executives working behind the scenes in arts schools, institutions and businesses.

For more information, including details on how to apply in each category, visit http://musiccenter.org/spotlight. n

C SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018

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USCIS’s new “denial memo” is now in effect Barclays ‘positive’ on PH growth STARTING on September 11, 2018, a new USCIS Policy Memorandum (PM) became effective, instructing officers on how to adjudicate (process and make decisions on) petitions, applications, extensions, etc., when the initial filing was incomplete or insufficient. The PM creates a dangerous minefield for people, because even if they make an innocent mistake or accidentally forget to include certain documents, the case could now be immediately denied and they could be placed in removal/deportation proceedings.

In the past, if a person filed a petition, application or other request, and an officer believed additional documentation or information was required, the person would typically be served with a request for evidence (RFE), giving that person approximately 87 days to cure the deficiency, by providing the documents or further information. The new PM allows officers to skip or dispense with an RFE and deny the case outright.

While the PM does state it is not intended to penalize filers for innocent mistakes or misunderstandings of evidentiary requirements, it nevertheless “restores to the adjudicators (officers) full discretion to deny applications, petitions, and requests without first issuing an RFE or a NOID

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ (notice of intent to deny).” The policy intends to discourage “frivolous or substantially incomplete filings used as ‘placeholder’ filings.” In other words, USCIS believes that many filings have no merit and are being filed merely to buy time or obtain benefits to which the person is not entitled.

USCIS lists a number of situations where it can deny filings outright: Statutory denials: This is where the person has “no legal basis for the benefit/request sought, or submits a request for a benefit or relief under a program that has been terminated.”

This might include a waiver application where the person does not have a qualifying relative on which to base the waiver (such as a spouse or parent who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident). Therefore, if a person committed fraud, and submitted a fraud waiver without having a qualifying relative, there is no statutory basis for the filing of a

waiver application.

Denials based on lack of sufficient initial evidence: This is a scary and critical change in policy. If all the required initial evidence is not submitted at the time of filing, USCIS can deny the benefit outright without issuing an RFE. This could include a marital petition, but the couple accidentally forgot to include a marriage contract; a family petition and they forgot the birth certificate; or an adjustment of status application (Form I – 485), and they forgot to include the affidavit of support. An outright denial could also be issued when the officer believes there was insufficient supporting evidence.

This could include a hardship waiver, but the officer believed not enough evidence of extreme hardship was submitted. Rather than issuing an RFE asking for more evidence, they can deny outright. Similarly, if a person files a request for an extension of status for a visitor’s visa, and the officer believes they did not provide enough evidence to justify the extension, the extension request can be denied outright.

And the consequences could be severe! With a denial, a person could be considered out of status, and USCIS could issue a notice to appear (NTA), placing that person in deportation.

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Business Quote of the Week

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net

PHILIPPINE economic growth is expected to stay strong this year but slow somewhat from 2017, British investment bank Barclays said, with above-target inflation a challenge to continued expansion.

“We have been positive on the growth outlook of the Philippines for quite some time. We are forecasting close to 6.5 percent growth for this year,” Barclays Director of Research Rahul Bajoria told reporters at the Marriott Hotel here on Wednesday, September 19.

The lender’s 2018 projection represents a slowdown from last year’s actual growth of 6.7 percent and is also lower than the government’s 7.0-8.0 percent target.

Gross domestic product growth fell below expectations in the second quarter at 6.0 percent, bringing the first half expansion to an average of 6.3 percent.

Barclays, Bajoria said, expects structural inflows such as overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances and foreign direct investments (FDI), as well as public spending, to be the main drivers of growth for the rest of the year.

“Remittances flows seem to

— Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner

be coming through in the numbers,” he observed.

Personal remittances, which sum up the net compensation of overseas Filipino workers, personal transfers whether in cash or in kind and also capital transfers between households, totaled $2.675 billion in July—up 4.5 percent from a year earlier.

It took year-to-date remittances to $18.462 billion, a 3-percent increase year on year.

Bajoria added that FDI was picking up as well, “which is generally a good indicator that …. you will probably see more investment numbers.”

He, however, estimated that

net FDI inflows would reach about $6 billion this year, lower than the over $10 billion posted in 2017.

As of the first half of 2018, net FDI inflows reached $5.755 billion, 42.4 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

“Government spending is also a big driver of growth … as construction momentum sort of picks up and the projects are getting contracted out,” Bajoria also said.

Government expenditures grew by 23 percent to P1.931 trillion in the first seven months PAGE D5

WB loan available for recovery effort

by CZERIZA

“EQ equals IQ...emotional intelligence, intellectual intelligence. Now, I don’t meant they’re the same.

I just mean that they are probably equally important. ...Most of the trainwrecks that I’ve seen...in the media business or generally – in other industries – have come about more from a fascinating lapse of EQ or social relations more o than they have come about due to a failure of analytic intelligence.”

File photo by Manilatimes.net

VALENCIA Philstar.com

THE government can tap a $500-million loan from the World Bank to rehabilitate areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong, the Finance department said on Tuesday, September 18.

“Should the President declare a state of calamity, we will be able to access a $500 million loan from the World Bank at very favorable terms and interest rates,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said at the sidelines of a government briefing on the economy.

He added that the Finance department had already recommended the loan to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“With regard to the typhoon, we are waiting for the final assessment of the crop damage.

So we don’t know exactly at this point in time how much of the crops have been damaged,” Dominguez also said.

The Department of Agriculture has said that a total of P14.27 billion worth of crops were damaged.

Dominguez noted that the toll on infrastructure still had to be

determined, so the government doesn’t “have the total picture at the moment.”

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has said that it is too early to assess the toll from the typhoon, but added that the inflationary impact would likely be limited to the short term.

“Historically, typhoons cause disruptions in supply but the impact tends to be localized and transitory. So I don’t think it will create a problem on inflation for a longer horizon,” central bank Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said on Monday, September 17. ■

D SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Gov’t set to OK SMC’s Bulacan airport project Largest selection of smart choices that

A PROPOSED new airport at Bulacan province from conglomerate San Miguel Corp. could finally get a go-ahead from the government by early next year, paving the way to its construction meant to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“Hopefully, if everything is agreed upon, the proponent can be granted final approval and award of the contract by early next year or hopefully toward the end of this year,” Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso said in a briefing on Tuesday, September 18.

Reinoso is pertaining to SMC’s proposed Bulacan gateway worth P700 billion. The unsolicited project was submitted by the company in 2017 for government approval, months after the Duterte administration took over.

The proposal of an airport in Bulacan substituted SMC’s original proposal in 2014 to the previous government to construct a $10-billion airport in the reclaimed area at Manila Bay. During the time, the previous government of Benigno Aquino III has refused to accept unsolicited infrastructure projects from the private sector, partly because of corruption controversies that hounded past unsolicited projects like the construction of the Terminal 3 of the NAIA in 2001.

Unsolicited proposals mean the study for the project’s feasibility and viability is done by the private proponent, not by the government. In effect, it is the private sector proposing the project for construction and not the other way around.

When the Duterte administra-

are fun to drive at Subaru of Glendale

tion took office in July 2016, it became open to accepting unsolicited proposals, which included that of the proposed 50-year concession agreement for SMC’s Bulacan airport.

Reinoso said the government and San Miguel Holdings Corp.

— a unit of SMC —are in final stages of revising the contract’s terms.

Once the project is approved, it would still undergo a Swiss challenge where SMC’s original proposal would be placed on tender offer to see if other potential bidders can match it.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expressed concerns that SHMC might not

have the financial capability to build the massive international hub over a 2,500-hectare property with six runways and can handle up to 100 million passengers a year.

He had suggested that SHMC should sign joint liability agreements with its parent company to ensure it would not be overwhelmed by costs. SMC had said it is ready to initiate those sharing mechanisms as soon as the concession agreement is signed.

The airport in Bulacan is one of the two gateways being prioritized by the government to decongest NAIA’s three terminals, which have been operating over their capacity. n

USCIS’s new “denial memo” is now in...

PAGE D1 Given the backlogs in the immigration courts, it could take months or years for the person to get a hearing date. Or, the person might have to file a motion to reopen or reconsider, costing additional time and expense for something as insignificant as not including a marriage contract or birth certificate on the initial filing.

While the USCIS was supposed to be the “benefits” branch of the Department of Homeland Security, tasked with the job of looking for ways to approve cases, it now appears just the opposite is true: USCIS is looking for ways

to deny cases. That’s why it is all the more important that you consider having an attorney assist you with your immigration case, as the stakes are so high if any little mistake or oversight is made, it could result in your going out of status, or even being placed in deportation. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials,

“Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement

Andrew Marilla (Sales and Leasing Consultant) and Christian Marilla (Finance Manager)

ASSOCIATES at Subaru of Glendale understand every person’s needs are unique, and work closely with car shoppers to ensure they move painlessly through the process of making one of their most important purchases.

Their staff pay close attention to the needs of their clients in order to pair them with a car that compliments their lifestyle at a good value. They also offer the largest inventory of vehicles from the carmakers who won the Kelley Blue Book’s awards for best overall brand and most trusted brand for 2016.

The Japanese car manufacturer’s reputation and collection of affordable options make its cars an easy pitch for Internet Sales and Leasing Consultants at Subaru of Glendale.

“There’s no reason to beat around the bush about certain things; we just give out straight information,” said Garchitorena.

He added that “we don’t charge an arm and a leg for safety.”

Subaru’s EyeSight system — which is available on select models — uses some of the most advanced technology to help many of its vehicles deliver the highest possible scores in front-end crash prevention tests and earn the top safety pick recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). All-wheel drive is also standard on every model except the rear-wheeldrive, sport-inspired BR-Z. The dealership ranked second in sales in Southern California is also prepared to act as a resource for owners of cars with the market’s highest resale value, according to KBB. Between its full-service maintenance department and network of trusted bodywork mechanics, Subaru of Glendale can provide everything needed to ensure their cars’ award winning performance.

Subarus have a “go anywhere type of mentality,” according to Garchitorena, a 10-year veteran of the auto industry. He said their

excellent handling and superb traction on difficult terrain make them safe and reliable vehicles in all situations, and a good option for people pursuing an active lifestyle.

Andrew Marilla, sales and leasing consultant, also shared his own experience owning a Subaru.

“I drive one. I own one. I’ve been very happy with the performance, safety and reliability. The best part is that I’ve had two Subaru vehicles prior to even working here. We have a stress-free, friendly, no pressure customer service here which is why people love us. So to all our kababayan, ang dito kami para tulungan kayo!” he said.

Fo r m o r e h e l p f i n d i n g the right model for you, visit SubaruofGlendale.net. For additional information on their lineup or financing, expert insights, or test drives, call 855230-1547, or drop in at 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 D

BPO sector showing signs of renewed vigor Philippines can overcome ‘temporary adversities’ — DOF

could be more than the numbers we saw in 2016,” he said.

In 2017, the industry’s net ofTHE business process out- fice takeup dropped 26 percent sourcing (BPO) industry in Met- from the 485,100 square mero Manila is starting to regain its ters (sq m) recorded in 2016 to momentum in the office property 357,999 sq m. market, but its growth could have The latest figures, however, been “so much bigger” without show a glimmer of hope. tax reform.

As of September this year, the David Leechiu, CEO of the numbers have already reached Leechiu Property Consultants 301,275 sq m, marking more firm, said on Tuesday, Septem- than 84 percent of the total takeber 18, that the BPO industry in up in 2017.

Metro Manila was starting to re“That could have had tremencover from its “massive decline” dous growth in 2017, but we in net office takeup last year. scared them away. And we’re “It’s just about recovering trying to win them back in 2018. and gaining track in 2018, but I think we’re going to close 2018 it could be so much bigger. It more or less the same number

by Roy

While recognizing that the country is indeed facing some headwinds, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the local business community should also take a look at the country’ strengths, which provide economic managers with tools to overcome these challenges.

File photo by Philstar.com

by GRaCe

padin

Philstar.com

THE Department of Finance (DOF) on Tuesday, September 18, expressed confidence that the Philippine economy can overcome “temporary adversities,” such as high inflation and a widening current account deficit.

While recognizing that the country is indeed facing some headwinds, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the local business community should also take a look at the country’ strengths, which provide economic managers with tools to overcome these challenges.

“We would like to encourage everyone to take a long view of our situation as a country,” Dominguez said during a press briefing on the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

“First of all, we do face twin deficits, a potential fiscal deficit and current account deficit. We also are experiencing elevated

inflation rates. However, we should look at the strengths that the Philippines has,” he said.

For one, Dominguez said the country currently has a strong financial position given good revenue inflows.

In the first seven months, government revenue grew by 21 percent to P1.65 trillion from the P1.37 trillion in the same period last year.

The finance chief said the Philippines also enjoys good credit rating, as a result of adept fiscal and debt management.

He said the country’s debt-togross domestic product (GDP) ratio in 2017 was maintained at 42 percent, while debt service is currently only 13 percent of the annual budget.

“We have a lot of headroom in managing the fiscal deficit.

There are always actions we can take there,” Dominguez said.

On the monetary side, Dominguez said the Philippines has a healthy banking system, and a robust gross international reserve.

“We have an exchange rate

that is very flexible that moves as necessary with the tides. We also have very high domestic liquidity and in necessary, we can augment that liquidity by further reducing the higher reserve requirements,” he said.

With these, Dominguez said, “we have a lot of tools in our tool chest and we are very confident that we can overcome whatever temporary adversity we are facing.”

He said the Philippines is expected to sustain its economic growth this year, and continue being among the top performers in the region.

“The momentum is being sustained by policy and infrastructure reforms. Firm and decisive political leadership pushes forward these reforms,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez also said inflation, while elevated, is not seen by economic managers as a “structural infirmity.”

“It is a transient phenomenon that all of government is now mobilizing to deal with decisively,” he said. n

Stephen C. Canivel Inquirer.net

[as], if not slightly more than, 2017,” he said.

This comes as the Duterte administration has been pushing for further tax reform since last year, which includes rationalizing the incentives of the industry.

This uncertainty was recently offset by two things, Leechiu said, the higher wages in the U.S. that pushed firms to outsource and the weaker peso.

“What I would like to say is that we still have to keep working together to remove all these obstacles because the BPO industry could very well keep growing at a tremendous pace,” he added. n

Trabaho bill ‘to yield little results’ – Fitch unit by ed

velaSCo Manilatimes.net

CORPORATE income tax (CIT) cuts under the House-approved Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher Quality Opportunities (Trabaho) bill are unlikely to generate higher investments given the Philippines’ poor business environment, a Fitch Group unit said on Thursday, September 20.

Trabaho, the second tax reform package under the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), calls for a gradual CIT lowering and the streamlining of tax incentives for investors. It was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives on September 10 and will now be considered by the Senate.

“The proposal to lower corporate income tax rates is unlikely to result in a tangible boost to investment without an improvement to the business environment,” Fitch Solutions Macro Research said in a September 20 report.

On a positive note, it said the

bill’s impact on revenue collections would likely be “negligible” in the short term, with effects further down the road to be addressed by other pending CTRP packages.

“We are therefore maintaining our forecast for the Philippines’ budget deficit as a share of GDP to come in at 2.9 percent in 2018 and average 2.6 percent from 2019-2027,” Fitch Solutions added.

While taxes are among the considerations of investors looking to relocate, the Fitch unit said “we believe that more of them are deterred by the poor business environment caused by red tape and corruption, as well as poor infrastructure conditions.”

It cited the World Economic Forum’s 2017-2018 Global Competitiveness report as stating that “inefficient government bureaucracy,” “inadequate supply of infrastructure” and “corruption” as the top three concerns with regard to doing business in the Philippines.

Tax rates, in comparison, only rank fifth.

The government has said the

CIT cuts will make the country’s rates at par with Asian neighbors, but Fitch Solutions said the reductions, to take effect starting 2021, will be “so gradual that it will take until at least 2025 before they fall in line with regional levels.”

In particular, it said the Philippines would only catch up to Indonesia and Malaysia after 2025.

Under the Trabaho bill, the current 30 percent CIT will be cut by 2 percentage points every two years until it hits 20 percent in 2029. While CIT accounts for almost one-fourth of government revenues, the expected P62-billion loss in 2021 will represent just 1.5 percent of government revenues that year.

As the measure will also limit available tax incentives, this could offset some of the revenue loss. Succeeding CTRP packages that contain revenue-enhancing measures, including higher taxes on “sin” products, property taxation reforms and a bigger government share of mining revenues, are expected to make up for the CIT losses. n

D SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Philippines sees higher exports to US as trade war with China worsens

During the economic briefing for banks and other finance institutions late Tuesday, September 18, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said with the imposition of steeper tariffs on Chinese imports, the U.S. may turn to the Philippines for imports of key capital goods such as electronics, transport equipment and non-agricultural products.

File photo by Philstar.com

by Czerina

ValenCia Philstar.com

THE Philippines can boost trade with the U.S. amid its escalating trade war with China as it looks for other sources of capital goods, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

During the economic briefing for banks and other finance institutions late Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said with the imposition of steeper tariffs on Chinese imports, the U.S. may turn to the Philippines for imports of key capital goods such as electronics, transport equipment and non-agricultural products.

“The trade war will have a

positive net effect on the Philippines. That is because our main exports to the U.S. comprise electronic and transport equipment as well as non-agricultural products – chemical and rubber products, ferrous metals and mineral products – as inputs to their production,” he told investment strategists.

By NEDA’s preliminary analysis, increased outbound shipments of these products to the U.S. would contribute $34.7 million to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 and is expected to rise to $50.7 million by 2022 to 2023. From 2018 to 2022, this would average $42.2 million.

Pernia noted, however, that this simulation for the top Phil-

ippine exports to the U.S. at the moment is only an indicative figure and would still have to be subjected to a more detailed analysis.

Electronics, which remain the top Philippine export commodity worldwide, are also shipped to China but NEDA, for now, has not yet conducted simulations for the Chinese market.

Pernia believes that while imports of such commodities from the Philippines would be a little more expensive, Philippine products are competitive.

“I think we’re competitive.

Maybe even if we’re a bit more expensive. But because the source in China is not available, so they (U.S.) have to get more from the Philippines,” he said.n

Barclays ‘positive’ on PH growth PAGE D1 of 2018. Of the total, P437.2 billion was spent for infrastructure and other capital spending.

A primary risk to economic growth, Bajoria pointed out, is high consumer price growth that he forecast to average 5.1 percent this year—above the 2.0-4.0 target—before easing to 3.5 percent in 2019.

EMPLOYMENT

“Challenges around inflation … are likely to persist for some time but I think the central bank, as it said, is on top of the situation,” he said.

Consumer price growth has exceeded target since March, prompting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policymaking Monetary Board to raise key interest rates by a total of 100

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 D

Driving joy to people the Browning Mazda way MAZDA builds cars that inspire, excite, and most of all, bring joy to people. This is the philosophy that guides people behind Browning Mazda, from the manufacturing of cars down to the service it gives to its customers.

At Browning Mazda in Cerritos, California, customers can get the key to unlock their dream car that will usher them toward their journey of a thousand miles — and more!

Whatever suits your taste or lifestyle, the customer service and sales team at Browning Mazda will guide you through your journey to find the perfect car. Not only does this dealership specialize in new Mazda models, but it has a fantastic and huge selection of used cars for sale.

Mazda vehicles are recognized for their safety features. As Mazda drivers, customers get maximum confidence and enjoyment out of their drive knowing that these available systems are constantly working to alert them from potential hazards, avert collisions, or reduce their severity when one is unavoidable. It is another example of Mazda’s Jinba Ittai philosophy of creating oneness between car and driver.

It is an experience drivers won’t find at any other brand.

Mazda is well-known for its affordable, quality-performance vehicles. Browning Mazda employees believe that a car should stir the emotions, it should make your heart race before you even get behind the wheel.

This is why Browning Mazda’s mantra is “make cars that make driving matter.” No wonder the employees don’t feel competition at all when it comes to their brand. Mazda considers “a car as an art” which makes it a cut above the rest. As a company commitment, Browning Mazda will continue to defy convention in everything it does in order to achieve the best possible results.

You may reach Browning Mazda’s Jun Paguinto at (213) 321-6728

Browning Mazda takes pride in its loyal customers from whom it draws strength. Here are a few examples of how Browning Mazda drives joy to its customers’ lives: “The family still comes back for great deals even on accessories.”

(Maurice Varela, a customer since 1998) “Excellent attention and courtesy, a treatment that makes you feel comfortable.”(David Colmenares) “I’ve bought two vehicles here.

Service has been good.” (Erick Montoya) “I’ve purchased two new cars here and have always taken them back to be serviced at Browning Mazda. The service is always always prompt and reliable.”

(Deidra Toney) An essential part of driving joy to the people is giving back to the community. A core value of The Browning Automotive Group is to partner with the communities where our associates and clients live. Through the Browning Family Foundation and other sources, they support a widerange of organizations, primarily focusing on the next generation

basis points. A fresh rate hike is expected to be announced next week after inflation hit a fresh nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August.

Bajoria is one of several local and regional bank analysts, portfolio strategists and economists who joined a BSP-sponsored tour of ongoing developments at the New Clark City. n

FOR RENT

SERVICES

and those with special needs.

They believe that strong, vibrant communities are mutually beneficial to all. Browning Mazda sponsors an annual “Drive For Good” where Mazda donates to several charities such as; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, American Red Cross and American Heart Association, to date Mazda has raised $15,564,550. They also sponsor local blood drives, health fairs and recently we were sponsors in ABC Education and Foundation- Into the Summer Fun Run. Browning Mazda is always running specials from sales to service and parts. Customers may approach Browning Mazda’s very own Filipino salesperson, Jun Paguinto, who boasts a 13-year career in sales.

To learn more about how Browning Mazda dealership in Cerritos, you may call Jun Paguinto at (213) 321-6728.

Or take a trip and swing by the dealership at 18827 Studebaker Road, Cerritos, CA 90703.

Make that first step toward your amazing journey of a thousand miles at Browning Mazda!

(Advertising Supplement)

D SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2018 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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