100518 - San Francisco Edition

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T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 17 - No. 28 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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Philippines’ top diplomat decries airing DATELINE USA of ‘anti-Duterte’ BBC docu mentary PH Foreign Secretary Cayetano defends Duterte FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

at UN General Assembly

by RAE

ANN VARONA

AJ Press

PHILIPPINE Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly held Saturday, September 29, in New York, saying that the country was on track to “salvaging� itself from becoming a narco-state.

Cayetano said that the Philippines was “uncompromising� on the issues of rule of law, and the “just and equitable peace that leads to order, development and prosperity, and the protection of each and every humigrant selfsufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to man beings’ rights.�

PAGE A2

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

THE Philippines’ top diplomat cried foul after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a documentary about President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown against illegal drugs.

The documentary, titled “Our World—Philippines: Democracy in Danger?�, aired last Saturday, September 29. “Now, two years after being elected, critics say Duterte is attacking the very institutions designed to keep his power in check. He’s locking up those who criticize him, whilst the children of former dic-

tator Ferdinand Marcos are emerging as powerful players,� BBC said in the description of the documentary posted on its website.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano accused BBC of producing an “anti-Duterte propaganda, more worthy of tabloid journalism and gossip.�

The DFA secretary claimed that the episode was misleading and failed to mention that the president’s so-called war on drugs has made the country “safer, healthier and more prosperous.� “The episode also makes little mention of the sheer magnitude of the drug problem in the Philippines, the enormous damage to millions of families

caused by addiction, and the fact that police are under strict orders to follow the law in the conduct of our campaign against illegal drugs,� Cayetano said in a statement.

BBC ‘biased’ for De Lima, Trillanes, Sereno Cayetano also accused BBC of being one-sided on the cases of Sen. Leila de Lima, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, all known critics of Duterte.

De Lima has been detained for allegedly being involved in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison. Duterte recently revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes and ordered his PAGE A2

Mocha Uson resigns, mulls entering politics

CAPAC celebrates Fil-Am History Month SLOWLY, but surely, Asian Americans are making their presence even more known in Hollywood, public office, the restaurant industry and other sectors of American life in this age of diversity and equal representation.

But Asians in the United States is not a recent phenomenon. The Filipino-American community, in particular, has a long and rich history in the United States from fighting under the American flag in World War II and becoming a driving force in the U.S. Armed Forces to playing an instrumental role in agriculture and the fight for workers rights in California.

In 2009, Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month as a way to nationally recognize “the critically economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions Filipino-Americans had made in countless

u PAGE A3

Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who announced her resignation during deliberations on the PCOO budget at the Senate Wednesday, October 3, told her critics ‘the ďŹ ght has just started.’ Photo by KrizJohn Rosales/Philstar.com

by PAOLO

ROMERO Philstar.com

COMMUNICATIONS Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson resigned Wednesday, October 3, in what she described as a “sacrifice� to pave the way for Congress’ approval of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) budget and at the same time give her the freedom to hit critics of the PAGE A3

KEEPING HIS PROMISE. President Rodrigo Duterte gives his watch to one of the personnel of the 803rd Infantry Brigade (803IB) during his visit to Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy in Catarman, Northern Samar on Tuesday, October 2. Over the weekend, Duterte also visited a military camp in Prosperidad, Davao City, where he promised to give soldiers Rolex watches each for their future accomplishments..

MalacaĂąang photo by Robinson NiĂąal

Poll: Most Filipinos have confidence in Trump but many countries are frustrated

by IAN

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

FILIPINOS’ confidence in United States President Donald Trump has improved, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center.

The survey also revealed the Philippines is one of the countries with the most positive views of the U.S. under Trump.

According to a new 25-nation poll taken from May 20 to August 12 this year, 78 percent of respondents from the Philippines trust Trump, higher than the 69 percent recorded in the 2017 reading.

However, Trump’s confidence ratings in the Philippines since taking office in January 2017 were lower than the scores received by his predecessor Barack Obama, who garnered a trust rating of 94 percent from Filipinos surveyed in 2015.

Broken down, it is only in four countries—the Philippines, Israel, Nigeria and Kenya—where more than half the public voice has faith in Trump.

Meanwhile, majorities in four of the five Asia-Pacific nations polled gave Washington a positive rating, including 83 percent in the Philippines, one of the

highest ratings in the survey.

Months after he came to power, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stoked diplomatic alarm by announcing his “separation� from the U.S. after being infuriated by Obama’s criticism of his bloody war on drugs. He said he would forge closer ties with China and Russia—the two superpowers that have historic rivalries with Washington.

But since Trump’s election victory in 2016, ties between Manila and Washington had a fresh start, with the Republican leader praising his Filipino counterpart’s deadly anti-narcotic campaign.

U.S. global image deteriorates under Trump Overall, Pew Research Center found that America’s global image “plummeted� following Trump’s election, amid intense opposition to his administration’s policies and a widely shared lack of confidence in his leadership, especially among key allies.

Across all countries, 27 percent said they had confidence in Trump, well-below Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 30 percent and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 34 percent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the only leader in

which most respondents expressed confidence at 52 percent. French President Emmanuel Macron was just behind at 46 percent.

Since becoming president, Trump has repeatedly stirred a hornet’s nest by abandoning international agreements like the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal.

He has also been criticized for his apparent affinity for strongmen leaders like Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un while berating traditional allies.

According to the same Pew Research Center survey, most respondents still want the U.S. as top global power, but see China on the rise. â–

PH military denies plans to oust Duterte

The Manila Times.

Military arm still supports Duterte THE Armed Forces of the PhilAside from AFP, the Philippine ippines (AFP) on Thursday, Sep- Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine tember 27, denied the claims that Air Force and the Philippine Ma- AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo PNA photo by Joey O. Razon some of its officers are planning PAGE A3 to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office.

AFP Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalos vowed that the Philippine military would remain professional and obedient to the 1987 Constitution “that it has sworn to uphold and to defend.� “We will never allow ourselves in the ranks of the active service to take direct or indirect participation in any political actions against the present duly constituted authorities,� Arevalo said as reported by !.$2%7 " 3().

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From the Front Page Philippines’ top diplomat decries airing...

CENTENARIAN. Department of Social Welfare and Development Acting Secretary Virginia N. Orogo gives a P100,000 check and a plaque of recognition to senior citizen Lolita Ramos during the Elderly Filipino Week 2018 and the National Respect for Centenarians Day at Liwasang Aurora, Quezon City Circle on Sunday, September 30.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

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PAGE A1 t arrest.

Sereno’s appointment as the country’s top judge was nullified following a quo warranto petition that Solicitor General Jose Calida filed.

Cayetano insisted that all three critics of the president have been given “their day in court.”

“The rule of law has been upheld in all three cases. They are not, as the report unfairly alleges, victims of any crackdown on the political opposition. The report also failed to mention the obvious: all three remain free to criticize the Duterte Administration,” Cayetano said.

De Lima has been in government custody since February 2017 but releases handwritten “dispatches” through her staff.

She is heavily escorted when brought to and from court hearings, with her police escorts at times trying to block media cameras from taking photos. On at least one ocassion, her escorts coughed simultaneously to drown out what she was shouting to reporters covering the hearing.

Both Trillanes and Sereno were interviewed in the documentary.

Trillanes warned of a possible declaration of nationwide martial

law while Sereno talked about how the administration is threatening the independence of the judiciary.

“Given the opportunity, he would pull that trigger so we, the members of the opposition, are preparing for such an eventuality,” Trillanes told BBC correspondent Howard Johnson.

Sereno described how the Duterte administration does not like criticism and shows viciousness to groups that they consider as critics.

“I think that is precisely the impression that this adminsitration wanted — that you cannot cross him (Duterte) and if you cross him you’re going to pay a high price for it,” Sereno told Johnson.

Duterte’s trust ratings Cayetano also claimed that the BBC reported did not take into consideration that Duterte continues to enjoy high trust and approval ratings.

Citing the latest Pulse Asia survey, the DFA chief said seven out of 10 Filipinos trust the president while three out of four approve of his performance.

The latest Social Weather Survey (SWS), meanwhile, found that Duterte’s satisfaction rating went up to 70 percent.

What Cayetano failed to mention was that Duterte suffered a double-digit drop in his approval and trust ratings. The latest Pulse Asia poll showed that his approval rating fell from 88 percent in June to 75 percent in October while his trust score decreased from 87 percent to 75 percent in the same period.

A recent SWS survey also found that majority of Filipinos consider Duterte’s controversial “God is stupid” remark and joke about Davao City rape cases were “bastos” or vulgar.

‘Present an accurate, balanced view’ The DFA secretary called on the BBC to present an “accurate” and “balanced” views of the issues in the Philippines next time.

“More importantly, we believe that by doing so, BBC will be able to regain the trust of its audience in its journalistic professionalism and repair the damage it has inflicted on the Philippines and the Filipino people as a result of this one-sided documentary,” Cayetano said.

Roque challenges BBC on Alston report Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had earlier challenged BBC to produce a report PAGE A3

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PAGE A1 t “As a sovereign and democratic country led by our duly-elected president, we are on track in salvaging our deteriorating country from becoming a narco-state, or a state held hostage by the rich and powerful who ignore the plight of the poor, powerless, and marginalized, or both,” Cayetano said at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

In response to the criticism on the war on drugs which has been building up in the country and abroad, Cayetano said such criticism was based off of misinterpretation.

“We may sometimes differ in how we express ourselves, yet this should not be interpreted as turning our backs on the universal declaration on human rights,” said Cayetano. “On the contrary, we are instituting all of these reforms to be able to protect the rights of every single Filipino.”

“Yes, rights of all Filipinos, if that is at all possible,” continued

Cayetano, adding that the Philippine government would choose to protect rights of “law-abiding citizens and law enforcers” over those of “drug lords and criminals.”

“Who wouldn’t? Wouldn’t you do the same?” added Cayetano.

Since taking office in 2016, President Duterte and his administration have been a focus of human rights advocates in regards to the war on drugs that advocates estimate has left at least ten thousand people dead from extrajudicial killings. Government statistics have held the number below 5,000.

A preliminary investigation by the UN-recognized International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently underway in response to complaints filed against him.

On Thursday, September 27, Duterte admitted to the extrajudicial killings in a speech at Malacañang Palace which his presidential spokesperson Harry Roque downplayed as not being

serious.

“I told the military, what is my fault? Did I steal even one peso?” said Duterte. “My only sin is the extrajudicial killings.”

Roque followed up by saying that the comments were “playful” and should “not be taken literally” — a response Roque has before made following remarks made by the president.

During the Thursday speech, Duterte added that he did not plan on ending the war on drugs.

“It will not end. As I have said, I will put on the table my life, the presidency. I can lose it at anytime. My honor,” said Duterte.

At the UN General Assembly, Cayetano closed his speech saying, “The Filipino People will remain to be persistent in our quest for peace order development and prosperity, and the quest for a safe and comfortable life for all Filipinos.”

“We will continue to have faith, put actions to our faith, and love our neighbors,” said Cayetano. n

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A

Philippines’ top diplomat decries airing of...

PAGE A2 on Duterte’s supposed links to the Davao Death Squad.

Roque claimed that former United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston already cleared Duterte of liability in relation to killings blamed on the vigilante group that targeted drug offenders.

“I also mentioned in the BBC that what the Philip Alston report said were administrative lapses and it’s there. Will someone please get the relevant paragraph cited by BBC and will you please write a letter to BBC, because they should not have just limited it to mentioning the paragraphs, they should actually have shown what Philip Alston said?” Roque said in a press briefing Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

In 2008, Alston noted that

“while repeatedly acknowledging that it was his ‘full responsibility’ that hundreds of murders committed on his watch remained unsolved, [Mayor Dutetre] would perfunctorily deny the existence of a death squad and return to the theme that there are no drug laboratories in Davao.”

Alston also said that “the mayor freely acknowledged that he had publicly stated that he would make Davao ‘dangerous’ and ‘not a very safe place’ for criminals, but he insisted that these statements were for public consumption and would have no effect on police conduct.”

He said: “The mayor’s positioning is frankly untenable: He dominates the city so thoroughly as to stamp out whole genres of crime, yet he remains powerless in the face of hundreds of mur-

ders committed by men without masks in view of witnesses.”

A portion of a 2009 addensum to the Alston report reads: “The Mayor of Davao City has done nothing to prevent these killings, and his public comments suggest that he is, in fact, supportive. Mayor Duterte responded to the reported arrest and subsequent release of a notorious drug lord in Manila by saying: ‘Here in Davao, you can’t go out alive. You can go out, but inside a coffin. Is that what you call extra-judicial killing? Then I will just bring a drug lord to a judge and kill him there, that will no longer be extrajudicial.’”

In the same report, Alston noted he “is not aware of a single conviction for a death squad killing in Davao. As a result, death squad members operate with complete impunity.” n

CAPAC celebrates Fil-Am History Month...

PAGE A1 t ways toward the development of United States history,” according to the bill, H.R. 155.

October was the selected month in commemoration of the first arrival of Filipinos to what’s now known as Morro Bay, California on Oct. 18, 1587, and to honor labor activist Larry Itliong who was born on Oct. 25, 1913.

Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) are celebrating Filipino American History Month by honoring and recognizing the many contributions of Filipino-Americans.

“During Filipino American History Month, we celebrate the incredible contributions and sac-

rifices Filipino-Americans have made to our great nation over many years. From serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, to strengthening our economy by helping to shape emerging technology and health care industries, the Filipino-American community has overcome prejudice and discrimination to thrive and become a vital part of the American story,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a ThaiAmerican Iraq War veteran said in a statement.

The Los Angeles County is home to the largest concentration of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. In 2002, current mayor and then-councilor Eric Garcetti designated part of the Westlake and

PH military denies plans...

PAGE A1 rine Corps all supposed ongoing recruitments in their respective commands to participate in the “Red October” plan supposedly involving the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva assured that no officer or soldier had been monitored to be involved in plans to oust the president.

“There is no reason for us to lose our loyalty. When you say loyalty, of course, [we refer]to the Constitution. We work for the Constitution, we work for the sovereignty of the state, we are always sticking to that,” Villanueva said.

He that the 96,000-strong army was also supportive of the Duterte administration.

Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata stated that none of their activities are in any way associated with removing Duterte from office.

“As what the [military] chief of staff said, these rumors should not be dismissed outright, but as I mentioned, I haven’t heard of any rumors of recruitment or anyone being recruited within the Navy’s ranks,” Zata said.

Air Force spokesperson Maj. Aristides Galang Jr. said that his Air Force troopers were very grateful to the president for boosting their morale through the support they have been receiving in his administration.

“With all the platforms we have been receiving and the ongoing modernization program, our troops and officers, we are all focused on the modernization program of the Air Force,” Galang said.

Philippine Marines spokesperson Capt. Jerber Belonio still pledged the Marines’ loyalty to the Constitution despite reports that some Marine personnel and officers were getting haircuts to sympathize with Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, the former Navy officer whose amnesty was revoked

by President Duterte.

“So far, nothing out of the ordinary is happening here,” he said.

Palace urges the military to work with NBI Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Thursday, September 27 urged the military to work together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by sharing intel on the supposed “Red October” ouster plot against Duterte.

“It is the mandate of the NBI and law enforcement agents to investigate and look into every possible crime that may happen. So, if the military has intelligence information, I hope they can share it with the NBI so we can know whom to punish,” Roque said.

On Monday, September 24, Duterte expressed his disappointment upon hearing rumors that some of the military officers were working together with the Liberal Party to remove him from office. n

Echo Park region of LA proper as Historic Filipinotown in honor of the Filipinos who settled in Los Angeles and helped make the City of Angels the multicultural hub it is.

“The everyday contributions of Filipino-Americans in Los Angeles — from business, to entertainment, to public service — continues to make our city one of the most vibrant in the nation,” said U.S. Rep Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), whose district comprises Historic Filipinotown. “I am honored to join my colleagues in recognizing the Filipino-American community’s achievements and serve as their champion in Congress.”

PAGE A4

EXPOSED. Alpha Phi Omega fraternity members lead the annual oblation run at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines grounds on Monday, October 2.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Justine Ruth Bitancor

Mocha Uson resigns, mulls entering...

PAGE A1 Duterte administration.

While Uson has resigned, she said the “fight has just started.”

Uson announced her resignation during deliberations on the proposed P1.41-billion PCOO budget for 2019 before the Senate finance subcommittee chaired

by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, as she accused leftist lawmakers of holding hostage the agency’s budget in retaliation to her criticisms of them.

“For those who have been criticizing me, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you

have succeeded. I did not resign because I’m afraid of you. I just want that when we face each other, the fight is fair,” Uson, who is also a popular blogger, said in Filipino.

“One day, we will face each other. But unlike you, who hide behind your positions, I’m ready to fight as an ordinary Filipino along with those without a voice in our society,” Uson warned.

Flanking the controversial official when she made her statement at the Senate was her boss, Secretary Martin Andanar, and other PCOO officials.

Andanar did not make any response.

Uson thanked Andanar and President Duterte for giving her a chance to be a public servant.

After announcing her resignation, Uson asked to be excused from the budget deliberations as she is no longer an official of the agency.

Uson lamented that her critics in the House of Representatives used her absence in the plenary deliberations to block the passage of the PCOO’s budget on Tuesday, October 6 when she PAGE A4

A

OCTOBER 5-11, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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CAPAC celebrates Fil-Am History Month...

PAGE A3 The Filipino and Filipino-American war effort in World War II went largely ignored for decades until the Obama administration began providing specialized benefits to Filipino veterans.

Last year, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the remaining Filipino World War II veterans and to the families of soldiers who passed, a

major show of recognition that Filipino veteran advocates have been fighting for for decades, but CAPAC believes that Congress must continue to provide “basic veterans’ rights” to this community of service members.

“Some of the most significant contributions came from the more than 200,000 Filipinos who fought alongside American service members during World War

II,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (DHawaii). “Far too many of them have still not received the basic veterans’ rights they earned. As we celebrate Filipino American History Month, we must continue our efforts to honor those brave Filipino veterans and their families by finally giving them the benefits and recognition they deserve.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

Mocha Uson resigns, mulls entering...

PAGE A3 was on official business as member of the Philippine delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Uson said the militant House members were getting back at her for her reports on how the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army were using the helpless lumads in their attempt to oust Duterte.

Uson said she grew tired of GREEN, GREEN PROGRAM. Senator Loren Legarda speaks as she expressed her support for the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) Green, Green, Green Program, which aims to make the country’s cities more liveable and sustainable through the development of public open spaces.

Senate photo

Presidential photo by Toto Lozano

the “system” where every year, she was being asked not to criticize certain lawmakers so that the PCOO’s proposed budget would not be blocked.

“This system angers me. But rotten as it may be, I have to follow it so because of that, I will make the sacrifice,” Uson said.

Uson said she has been accused of all kinds of sins but she has not responded in full out of respect for Andanar. She said critics in the House should

be ashamed since Duterte was “untiring in working to put our country in order.”

‘The fight is on’ In announcing her resignation, Uson also indicated that she might run for the Senate or the House as she warned critics that the “fight has just started.”

Uson referred reporters’ queries on the details of her resignation to Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go. (With Christina Mendez, Helen Flores, Jess Diaz) n

Calida: Duterte merely implemented the law in revoking Trillanes’ amnesty PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte only implemented the law when he revoked the amnesty granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV by the Aquino administration, according to Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“The president’s act of revoking the coverage of the petitioner under Proclamation 75 through Proclamation 572 is in line with his mandate to ensure that all laws are faithfully executed and his ordinance power,” Calida said in a news release.

He said Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution provides that the President shall ensure that all laws are faithfully executed. “Thus, the president has the power to take ‘necessary and proper steps’ to carry into execution the law,” he said.

Trillanes was arrested on September 25, for the revived charge of rebellion, on the orders of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 Executive Judge Elmo Alameda.

The court issued the arrest order after Duterte signed on August 31, 2018 Proclamation 572, revoking the amnesty granted to Trillanes under Proclamation 75 for his involvement in the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the February 2006 marine standoff and November 29, 2007 Peninsula Manila Hotel siege.

Calida said Trillanes had failed to meet the minimum requirements under Proclamation 75 issued by former president Benigno Aquino 3rd.

“Proclamation 572 finds its basis on petitioner’s (Trillanes) failure to fulfill the minimum requirements to qualify under the amnesty proclamation. Despite this omission, petitioner was wrongfully included among those covered with the grant of amnesty. In revoking his coverage under Proclamation 75, the president was merely performing his constitutional duty,” Calida said.

Calida said that when Trillanes applied for amnesty, he was expected to comply with the requirements for the grant.

“Amnesty presupposes the commission of a crime. One must admit guilt before the state may grant an applicant forgiveness.

Having failed to comply with these requirements, petitioner is therefore not entitled to the benefits of amnesty,” Calida said.

Calida said Trillanes refused to admit the charges of coup d’etat and rebellion against him. “His public statements that the criminal charges filed against him were improper further confirm his nonadmission of guilt. Moreover, he failed to comply with the require-

ments enumerated under Proclamation 75, Concurrent Resolution 4, and the Order of the Regional Trial Court of Makati-Branch 148,” he said.

No copy of form Calida insisted there was no copy of the application for amnesty by Trillanes on file. “There is no document or record evincing his admission of guilt or narrating the facts of his involvement or participation in the July 27, 2003, February 2006, or November 29, 2007 incidents. There is no proof of his recantation of all his previous statements that are inconsistent with his admission of actual involvement and guilty,” Calida said.

“Thus, the grant of the amnesty to him through the Department of National Defense Ad Hoc Committee Resolution 2 is void,” Calida said.

Calida said Article 5 of the Civil Code provides that non-compliance with mandatory laws such as Proclamation 75 voided the amnesty act, hence, “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aptly invoked the faithful execution clause under the Constitution and his ordinance powers and issued Proclamation 572, declaring the coverage of the petitioner under Proclamation 75, void.” (ManilaTimes.net) n

PAGE A6

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

A5

PNP backs lowering age of criminal liability

by ROY

NARRA Manilatimes.net

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, October 1, backed the proposal of Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd to lower the age of criminal liability from 15 to 13 years old.

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said this could help curb the rate of juvenile delinquency.

“We’re supporting that proposal. We’re just getting inputs from different regions and our legal services but we support this,” he said in a news briefing.

Albayalde said in Mexico and some European countries, the

age of criminal liability ranges from six to 10 years old.

However, the Child Rights International Network (CRIN), a global research, policy and advocacy organization monitoring ages of criminal responsibility around the world, showed on its website that in Mexico, children below 12 years old “can only be subject to rehabilitation and social assistance.”

In most European countries, CRIN showed the age of criminal liability ranges from 12 to 15. In UK, however, children can be held liable from the age of 10 while in Ireland, children aged 10 or 11 can be made liable for certain crimes such as murder,

manslaughter, rape and sexual assault.

In recent weeks, groups of juvenile delinquents were apprehended by police authorities in Manila after they went viral on social media for stealing properties from passengers.

These videos show groups of young beggars in areas like Ermita ganging up on a jeepney full of passengers to intimidate and steal their personal belongings.

Sotto said Senate Bill 2026, or the Act Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility, was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal to decrease crime rate. ■

not behind the DDS. But the documentary also quoted Alston as saying that paragraphs 39 to 43 of his report “clearly implicate Duterte in the killings.” BBC also described Roque’s claim as an “interesting interpretation.”

Asked to react to the BBC documentary, Roque said the television network should have shown what Alston really said.

He said Alston had cited possible administrative lapses but had cleared Duterte of the killings.

“I also mentioned in the BBC that what the Philip Alston report said were administrative lapses and it’s there. Will someone please get the relevant paragraph cited by BBC and will you please write a letter to BBC, because they should not have just limited it to mentioning the paragraphs,

they should actually have shown what Philip Alston said?” Roque said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“It is clear there that his conclusion is administrative liability for failure to investigate perhaps.

So we can refer to the same paragraphs?” he added.

Roque said he would be proven correct once the Alston report is produced.

He also took pot shots at Howard Johnson, the BBC reporter who conducted the interview for the documentary.

The problem with the reporter is the interview was lengthy and he argued with me on legal points. I’m the only counsel who is accredited in the ICC (International Criminal Court) list of counsel, then he argues with me.

So please produce the Alston report,” Roque said. ■

Palace to BBC: Show report on Davao Death Squad

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Tuesday, October 2, challenged the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) to produce the report of former United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston on the deaths tied to the Davao Death Squad (DDS) as he stood by his claim that President Duterte has been cleared of the killings.

In the documentary “BBC Our World: Philippines – Democracy in Danger?,” Roque claimed Alston had “completely cleared” Duterte of liability in relation to the killings blamed on the DDS, a vigilante group that reportedly targeted drug offenders.

Roque said it was clear from Alston’s report that Duterte was

AFP: Lapses possible in handling of Trillanes amnesty papers clared the amnesty granted to the senator, one of his fiercest critics, as “void from the beginMANILA — Sen. Antonio ning” for Trillanes’ supposed Trillanes IV on Tuesday, October, non-compliance with amnesty 2, did not hold back from asking application requirements.

The proclamation also said the the country’s top defense officials on his missing application for military “has no available copy of his application for amnesty in the amnesty.

President Rodrigo Duterte de- records.” Trillanes’ filing of his

by KRISTINE JOY

Philstar.com

PATAG

application for amnesty in 2011 was heavily covered by media and is supported by documents based on the application and by the military officer who processed it.

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Gen. Carlito Galvez, Armed Forces of the PAGE A6

HEARING CANCELLED. Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima leaves the Court Room of the New Bilibid Prison, in Muntinlupa City after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 cancelled for the second time its hearing on the trumped-up drug charges against her.

Despite the witnesses against the Senator being convicted of heinous crimes which disqualifies them from being state witnesses, the Court hastily denied Sen. de Lima’s Motion to Disqualify Witnesses even before her camp could file a Reply to the Prosecution’s Comment.

Senate photo

Duterte writes to Xi: I hope our friendship will lead to stronger partnership

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — Extending his greetings on China’s 69th founding anniversary, President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese President Xi Jinping that their recent interactions have “borne much fruit.”

“As we continue to cooperate in promoting and sustaining peace, stability and security, it is my hope that our friendship will lead to a stronger partnership in the bilateral, regional and multilateral fora,” Duterte said in his letter to Xi. The president also said that he was looking forward to meeting his Chinese counterpart in Manila soon.

The Chinese president is expected to visit the country this year. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua earlier said they are working with the Philippine side

to finalize the details of Xi’s visit to the Philippines.

“I look forward to welcoming you in Manila soon and to discuss the path forward our countries and peoples to sustain our bonds and make it more meaningful,” Duterte told Xi. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, told his counterpart Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the Philippines remains committed to forging a stronger partnership with China.

“I take pride in the evolution of the partnership between our two countries in recent years. The past years have witnessed how our robust bilateral relations supported our countries’ objectives in strengthening cooperation, and spurring development in a multitude of areas,” Cayetano said in his letter to Wang.

The renewed relationship between the Philippines and China

comes as the two countries hold a bilateral consultation mechanism to resolve the South China Sea dispute.

The Duterte administration appears to have shelved the July 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in exchange of renewed ties with Beijing.

The arbitral ruling, which was a victory for the Philippines, invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. It also concluded that Beijing violated its commitment under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as it constructed artificial islands in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

In the past months, China has deployed surface-to-air missiles and electronic jamming equipment on its outposts in the Spratly Islands, despite claiming that the installments were not directed to any country. ■

A

OCTOBER 5-11, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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BUSINESS NEwS

Mangyaring Samahan kami upang Talakayin ang North Housing (Pabahay sa Hilaga) Lahat ng miyembro ng Komunidad ng Alameda ay iniimbitahang samahan ang Awtoridad ng Pabahay ng Lungsod ng Alameda (Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, AHA) at ang aming mga kabakas, ang Alameda Point Collaborative at Building Futures, habang ang AHA ay nagsisimulang magplano sa pagpapaunlad ng dating lugar ng Pabahay sa Tanod Baybayin na kilala bilang “North Housing.�

Habang ang AHA ay naghahandang sumulong, humihingi ito ng komento ng publiko tungkol sa mga pangangailangan ng komunidad tungkol sa nakaguhit na plano, pagiging makikokonekta, at pagprograma.

Lahat ay iniimbitahang sumama sa AHA para sa isa o higit sa isa na mga darating na pulong.

Mga Paksa at Lokasyon ng Darating na Pulong ng Komunidad Pangkalahatang-tanaw sa Plano sa Proseso at Lugar Lunes, ika-8 ng Oktubre 6:00 - 7:30pm Ruby Bridges Elementary - Multipurpose Room 351 Jack London Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 Pangkalahatang-tanaw sa mga Gusali at Pagiging Abot-kaya Miyerkoles, ika-24 ng Oktubre 6:00 - 7:30pm Shinsei Gardens - Community Room 401 Willie Stargell Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 Pagtalakay sa Pinal na Plano sa Pagpapaunlad Miyerkoles, ika-14 ng Nobyembre 6:00 - 7:30pm City Hall West 950 W. Mall Square Alameda, CA 94501 Introduksyon sa mga Amenidad sa mga Serbisyo sa Residente Miyerkoles, ika-19 ng Disyembre 6:00 - 7:30pm Alameda Point Collaborative - Mural Room 677 W. Ranger Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 Hindi kailangan ng RSVP para makadalo. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, mangyaring kontakin si Danielle Thoe sa dthoe@alamedahsg.org, bisitahin ang www.alamedahsg.org o tumawag sa (510) 7474300.

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong na may interes sa paglahok sa programang inilahad sa itaas ay isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng nilinaw ng Seksiyon 504 ng Batas ng 1974 sa Rehabilitasyon na nag-aatas ng isang kaluwagan upang lumahok o magkainteres, ang isang paghiling para sa kaluwagan ay maaaring makuha kay Danielle Thoe, (510) 747-4316 o magpadala ng email sa dthoe@alamedahsg.org. Ang naturang kahilingan ay dapat kabilang ang isang paglalarawan ng kaluwagang hinahangad, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng kaluwagan. Anumang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay susuriin at ang isang sagot ay ipagkakaloob sa loob ng limang araw ng trabaho pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan. Ang paunawa ng anumang kaluwagan na iginawad ay agad ipagkakaloob sa humiling. Mangyaring kontakin ang Lungsod sa (510) 747-4316 (Tinig), (510) 522-8467 (TDD), o email dthoe@alamedahsg.org upang humiling ng anumang ibang makatwirang mga kaluwagan na maaaring kailangan. Ang tagapag-ugnay ng Seksiyon 504 ng CDBG/HOME ay si Tonya Schuler-Cummins. Si Ms. Schuler-Cummins ay maaaring makontak sa (510) 747-4342 o 504coordinator@alamedahsg.org.

Ang isang kopya ng 504 na pamamaraan sa karaingan ng Lungsod ay matatagpuan online sa www. alamedahsg.org.

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may ugnayan ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 na wika na maaaring gumanap bilang mga tagasalin para sa mga residente na naghahangad ng impormasyon na nauukol sa mga pederal na programa. Kung binigyan ng paunawa nang maaga ng limang araw ng trabaho, makikipagayos ang Lungsod upang makakuha ng isang tagasalin. Mangyaring kontakin ang Lungsod sa (510) 7474316 (Tinig), (510) 522-8467 (TDD), o email dthoe@alamedahsg.org.

PATAKARANG WALANG-DISKRIMINASYON Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay hindi nagdidiskrimina laban sa sinumang mga tao dahil sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, angkan, sekso, kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuang marital, katayuang pampamilya, pinagkukunan ng kita, henetikong impormasyon, kondisyong medikal, kapansanang pisikal o kapansanan ng isipan, o anumang ibang kategoryang protektado ng batas.

IMF: Philippine economy ‘facing new challenges’

by Ian

nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com

THE Philippine economy continues to grow robustly but is facing new challenges, the International Monetary Fund said. “The Philippines economy continues to do well but is facing new challenges from rising inflation and a less benign external environment, in addition to persistent poverty and inequality,� the IMF said in a report. “The new environment requires adjustment of the policy mix to balance growth and stability objectives, while fostering inclusion,� it added. “The medium-term economic outlook remains favorable, which places the country in a good position to tackle still elevated levels of poverty and inequality.�

Gross domestic product—or the value of all finished goods and services produced in the country—sharply eased to 6.0 percent in the second quarter, the slowest pace in three years.

In the first half of 2018, the economy grew 6.3 percent, well below the government’s 7-8

Gross domestic product—or the value of all finished goods and services produced in the country—sharply eased to 6.0 percent in the second quarter, the slowest pace in three years.

File photo by Philstar

percent goal for this year until 2022.

In its report, the IMF forecasts the economy to expand 6.5 percent this year and 6.7 percent in 2019, buoyed by bullish domestic demand.

The IMF added that domestic inflation, which soared to an over nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August, is expected to

remain above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2-4 percent target band this year despite tighter monetary policy.

Ea rly this we e k , Ma nila based Asian Development Bank slashed its growth outlook on the Philippine economy amid elevated inflation, lackluster exports growth and “moderation� in agriculture. n

AFP: Lapses possible in handling...

PAGE A5 Philippines chief of staff, went before the Senate Committee on Finance for a budget hearing.

Trillanes barrelled through and asked the officials whether he applied for an amnesty.

Lorenzana: Before my time Lorenzana said that he is “not knowledgeable� on the senator’s application as it happened long before he was Defense chief. He was head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. at the time.

Lorenzana repeated that he received a call from Solicitor General Jose Calida “asking for amnesty records of Trillanes, et al.�

Lorenzana said that he told the solicitor general that a member of Calida’s staff could coordinate with his staff on the matter.

Galvez: There may have been some lapses Galvez, meanwhile said, that they reached out to the AdHoc Committee on the matter “to shed light [on] this missing document.�

He said that there may have been “some lapses� and that documents were not properly transmitted from J1, or the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. “The old papers [were not] brought down pabalik sa GHQ (back to General Headquarters),� he added. “Kaya po si [Lt. Col. Thea Joan] Andrade walang nakitang papel, apparently ang suspicion po namin sir, ang repository ay hindi naibaba sa GHQ,� he added.

(That may be why Andrade did not find the paper, apparently, our suspicion is the repository was not brought to GHQ) Proclamation 572 cited Andrade’s certification that “there is no available copy of his application for amnesty in the records.�

Galvez: Berbigal said Trillanes applied for amnesty Sen. Panfilo Lacson briefly reminded Trillanes that they may be veering away from the budget deliberation, which is the purpose of the hearing, but he

allowed Trillanes to continue his questioning.

Trillanes asked again in Filipino: “Did I apply for amnesty?�

Galvez then referred to the affidavit issued by Col. Josefa Berbigal that “according to her,� the senator applied for amnesty.

In a press briefing September 28, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque inisted on the government’s position that since there is no copy of Trillanes’ application form, he did not apply for amnesty.

Trillanes was arrested over Proclamation 572 last week, as Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 revived his rebellion case and granted the Department of Justice’s motion for a warrant and hold departure order. The senator is due to attend a hearing on the rebellion case in November.

Makati RTC Branch 148, however, opted to defer ruling on the DOJ’s motion and instead set a hearing on Friday, October 3, to allow both parties to present their evidence. n

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

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‘HOT’ CIGARETTES SEIZED. Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña presents the smuggled Chunghwa ‘Soft’ cigarettes seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, October 2. PNA Photo by Avito C. Dalan

Property prices rise in Q2 — BSP

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

PROPERTY prices picked up in the second quarter of the year due to strong demand for townhouses and condominium units, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported over the weekend.

The central bank’s residential real estate price index (RREPI) rose by 4.8 percent to 117.2 in the second quarter from 111.8 in the same quarter last year.

The RREPI measures the average change in prices of various types of housing units comprising of single-detached/attached house, duplex, townhouse and condominium unit based on data from housing loans granted by universal, commercial and thrift banks.

The BSP said the average price of townhouses booked a doubledigit increase of 13.3 percent, followed by condominium units with 9.1 percent and single-detached housing units with 0.6 percent.

Costs to acquire homes grew faster at 5.1 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR) as higher growth in prices of condominium units and townhouses offset the decline in prices of single-detached houses and duplexes.

On the other hand, the average residential property prices

The Central Bank’s residential real estate price index (RREPI) rose by 4.8 percent to 117.2 in the second quarter from 111.8 in the same quarter last year.

File photo by Philstar.com

in areas outside NCR climbed 4.1 percent compared to yearago prices due to higher prices of townhouses, duplexes, single detached houses and condominium units.

In the second quarter, the BSP said about seven in 10 or 77.1 percent residential real estate loans were intended for the purchase of new housing units.

By type of housing unit, 46.1 percent of residential property loans were for the acquisition of condominium units, followed by single-detached units with 45.6 percent and townhouses with 7.8 percent.

By area, condominium units were the most common house purchases in NCR, while singledetached houses were prevalent in areas outside the region.

NCR accounted for 45.2 percent of the total number of residential real estate loans granted during the quarter, followed by CALABARZON with 27.9 percent,

Central Luzon with 6.9 percent, Central Visayas with 5.9 percent, Western Visayas with five percent, Davao Region with 3.5 percent and Northern Mindanao with 1.7 percent.

The BSP placed the real estate and project finance exposures of Philippine banks under tight watch after debt watchers and multilateral lending agencies raised the red flag over the possible overheating of the economy, The BSP’s Monetary Board has approved enhancements to the prudential reporting requirements in order to strengthen oversight of banks’ real estate and project finance exposures.

Latest data from the BSP showed loans extended by big banks for real estate activities grew 15.6 percent to P1.32 trillion in end-August from P1.14 trillion in end August last year. The sector accounted for 16.8 percent of the total loans disbursed by universal and commercial banks.n

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OCTOBER 5-11, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Above the law

FEATURES

LAWMAKERS must be reminded that they are on the payroll of taxpayers so their employer — or their boss, as a former president put it — is the Filipino public. Lawmakers must also bear in mind that their job designation does not put them above the law, but commits them to uphold it.

There must be no room in Congress for the kind of arrogance being imputed on ACTS-OFW partylist Rep. John Bertiz. A viral video showed the congressman shoving what appears to be his identification card at the face of a security screener at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2. The video showed Bertiz then grabbing the screener’s ID card and taking a photo of it.

Initial reports said Bertiz resented being told to take off his shoes for the x-ray machine – a standard requirement for all departing passengers. His camp explained that he was irked upon seeing a group of Asian-looking foreigners being escorted past the security area without going through the same checks.

If Bertiz wants foreigners to comply with Philippine laws and regulations, he must be the first to show compliance. He should take off his shoes – plus his belt, jacket and whatever other items ordinary folks are told to put on the tray for the x-ray machine.

In other countries, he would have landed in jail for creating a scene. Considering the threats to global

security particularly aviation, such requirements are for the safety of all departing passengers, himself included. After complying with the rules, he can then castigate airport personnel who might have exempted foreigners from security screening, as his camp claims.

Bertiz was still in a joking mood after incident, blaming his “monthly period” for the outburst. For sure, women are not amused.

This is the second time in just a week that Bertiz has drawn flak. At the oath-taking of new engineers at the Professional Regulation Commission recently, he drew boos from the audience when he joked that those who did not know Special Presidential Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go would not get their PRC license. The negative reaction to the “joke” could rub off on Go. House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, who counts 44 members in his bloc, said they would initiate an ethics probe of Bertiz. With the probe, the House should convince the public that its members understand that no one is above the law – least of all those who craft legislation. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

No to Kavanaugh Supreme Court Justice nomination: Let me count the why’s The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is right. The recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing involving his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — accused of sexual assault that allegedly happened in the 1980s by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of Psychology at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine — could be a blessing in disguise.

It is important to stress that such hearing on September 27 was NOT a trial of either Kavanaugh nor of Dr. Ford. It was a hearing that was supposed to help the members of the committee in making the consequential decision of endorsing Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor.

Despite criticisms on how 90 percent of Kavanaugh’s work had not been made public for scrutiny, despite of three allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against him by three women who came forward and made public their accusations under oath, Trump and the Republicans pushed forward to proceed with

the vote on his nomination.

But as public protests and opposition against the confirmation vote mounted, the Senate Leadership decided to conduct the hearing on September 27, while maintaining that they would still continue with the vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination the day after, as originally urgently scheduled.

It took a long, excruciatingly painful nine-hour hearing where both Dr. Ford and Kavanaugh were both given the chance to present their testimonies, one after the other. Dr. Ford was 100 percent sure that it was Kavanaugh who sexually assaulted her that night in a party, as Kavanaugh himself said he was 100 percent sure it was not him, and that he had never sexually assaulted anyone in his life.

The difference, however, was that Dr. Ford had called for an FBI investigation on her allegations, and that she had nothing to gain in coming forward, and got everything to lose. She said she told her story because she believes it is her civic duty to let the American people know material information about this man who is now about to be voted on to sit in the Supreme Court.

On the other hand, what was at stake for Kavanaugh was a powerful lifetime position in the nation’s highest court. He said he was not guilty and yet he had repeatedly resisted any supplemental FBI investigation, a posi-

THE preamble of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares: “The General Assembly proclaims this universal declaration of human rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for the rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves, and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”

The Declaration goes on to list 30 articles, almost all of which correspond to a human right.

Article 1 provides: ”All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and con-

They also wanted to find out the veracity of Kavanaugh’s testimony that he gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the sexual misconduct allegations and his testimony under oath about his drinking habits, behavior and problem.

Pending the results of the FBI investigation, the hearing on September 27 had revealed through his own actions even more reasons why Kavanaugh should NOT be confirmed to be Justice of the Supreme Court.

Sure he is well qualified based on his educational and professional sections of his resume.

However, these are not the only attributes required of the job, and Kavanaugh failed immensely in these aspects.

Kavanaugh’s own words, demeanor and actions during the hearing have proven that he does NOT have the honesty and temperament that the lifetime position of Justice of the Supreme Court requires.

During the hearing, Kavanaugh’s belligerence, arrogance and disrespect were revealed when questioned and challenged about his fitness for the job. The Democratic senators in the committee, after all, were doing their job in asking hard questions during this job interview, and Kavasnaugh failed.

During the hearing he could not say YES to Democratic Senators who repeatedly questioned

him if he would ask for more FBI investigations from Trump and the Senate leadership. Shouldn’t he be the one asking for and even supporting it because it would clear his name -- IF he is indeed telling the truth in his testimony?

What could he be hiding?

During the hearing, Kavanaugh made unfounded statements alleging this was part of a conspiracy lead by Democrats to put him down and to revenge on behalf of the Clintons. This partisan rhetoric already disqualified him because as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he is expected to set aside his own political and personal biases and emotions, and just make judgement based on the constitutionality of the issues before him.

During the hearing, Kavanaugh argued again and again that yes, he liked beer but that he has never drank to the point of being blacked out with no control over his behavior. However, after the hearing, several of his classmates in Yale, in high school, have came forward to dispute his claims.

His classmate and friend in Yale said in a statement: “If he lied about his past actions on national television, and more especially while speaking under oath in front of the United States Senate, I believe those lies should have consequences. It is truth that is at stake, and I believe that the ability to speak the truth,

even when it does not reflect well upon oneself, is a paramount quality we seek in our nation’s most powerful judges.”

On July of 2018, the New York Times reported that Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell warned Trump against nominating Kavanaugh, saying that his lengthy paper trail would pose difficulties for his confirmation.

But Trump nominated him with urgency for one reason: Kavanugh has written in the past that no sitting president should be investigated while in office. Trump chose Kavanaugh because he thought he could use his vote to save him from the Russia probe.

NO to Kavanaugh in the Supreme Court. He poses a danger to the independence of the Supreme Court, supposedly a co-equal branch of government tasked to provide check and balance among the executive, legislative and judiciary branch of government.

With the leadership in Congress and the spineless members of the executive all controlled by Trump, NO to KAVANAUGH. He poses a threat to our democracy. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Human rights a standard of achievement, not a law

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA

tion supported by Trump and the Republicans in Congress.

Thankfully on Friday, September 28, Republican Senator Jeff Flake — one of the members of the committee — rocked the boat. After hearing the testimonies of both Dr. Ford and Kavanaugh, then after being confronted by two women rape survivors after he said yes he would vote YES to confirm Kavanaugh, the senator had a sleepless night.

Flake changed his vote to a NO, but said he would support a vote ONLY if the Senate delays the full vote by a week so that the FBI could do an investigation that Dr. Ford deserved, just as the Democrats in the committee have been asking all along. His call for due diligence had been supported by his Republican colleagues in the committee, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

Trump and the Republican leadership in the Senate endorsed the supplemental FBI investigations, but questions and criticisms had been raised about the limit and scope of the investigation which may get in the way to unearthing the truth and may cover up material information about growing concerns about Kavanaugh’s fitness to sit in the Supreme Court.

The American people demanded to know the truth not only about the sexual assault alleged against him by the three women who came forward under oath.

science, and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Article 30 provides: “Nothing in this declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of the rights and freedoms set forth therein.”

PH one of first UN signatories The universal human rights declaration was approved unanimously by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948, by 48 nations, with eight abstentions (including six members in the Soviet bloc at the time, South Africa and Saudi Arabia) to be the common universal standard of human rights for all nations and peoples.

Newly liberated from war and having recovered its independence on July 4,1946, the Philippines joined the historic deliberations on the United Nations in San Francisco. It was one of the first 48 signatories of the UN charter.

The language of the declaration suggests that the so-called rights

are not really rights at all, but are instead only goals to aim at.

The listed rights include the familiar rights of life, liberty and security of person (Article 3), equal protection and recognition before the law (Articles 4, 6, 7), due process of law (Articles, 5, 8-12) freedom of conscience and speech (Articles 18-19),freedom of assembly (Article 20), self-government (Article 21), as well as rights not widely acknowledged prior to the Declaration: the right to seek asylum (Article 14), the right to a nationality (Article 15), and especially various socioeconomic or welfare rights, such as the right to work (Article 23) , the right to leisure (Article 24), the right to an adequate standard of living (Article 25), and the right to education (Article 26).

Limits on sovereignty What gave immediate impetus to the writing of the human rights declaration were the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler. What distinguished the post-World War 2 developments from earlier human rights initiatives, was the growing acceptance of the view that the way nations treat people under

their jurisdiction is no longer just a domestic concern but is now one that calls for the attention of the international community.

This view chipped away at the old concept of sovereignty. It recognizes that individuals can be beneficiaries of international law and that they can find protection and remedies within the international community against abuses by their own or other governments.

International law on human rights serves as a supplement to domestic human rights law, especially when it is received by a sovereignty into its municipal law.

Human rights a standard, not law In a perceptive essay on human rights (“Human rights in International Relations,” December 13, 1998), Fr. Joaquin Bernas noted: “From the start, the human rights declaration was not seen as law but only as ’a common standard’ for nations to attempt to reach. Its authority was primarily moral and political. It would take another 18 years before the United Nations could convert the aspirations of the declaration into conventional international law embodied in the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

With all this, Bernas noted, there still was one glaring weakness. In the international human rights system, “Individuals have to depend on their own state for the vindication of their rights when violated by other states.

In international law this is what is called the nationality-of-claims requirement. If a state violates the rights of an alien, only the state of that alien can sue in his behalf.”

British rights, human rights In an article, “Why Sovereignty Matters,” Jeremy Rabkin of the American Enterprise Institute sharply criticized the contemporary trend toward the internationalization of justice. He wrote: “International human rights law is not the product of court rulings, but of international conferences.

Abstract pronouncements are enough. At that, they need not even be authoritative pronouncements of supreme governmental authorities. Words spoken by dip-

lomats at conferences are given much weight, and then the reconfiguring of those words by commentators is supposed to give more weight…Soon there is a towering edifice of words, which is then treated as a sure marker of ‘customary international law.’”

In England, there is still an ongoing debate on whether it was wise for the United Kingdom to pass its Human Rights Act, which was mainly pushed and passed by the Labor Party.

Political opponents and critics prefer to call the rights “British rights” than “human rights.”

The late UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher penned a striking chapter in her book, Statecraft, which she titled, “Human rights and wrongs.”

She believed that the conventions and protocols that came out of the 20th century preoccupation with human rights detracted from national sovereignty.

In a spirit of dissent, she penned one of the most famous expressions of her political philosophy: “For me, duties precede rights, and though charity begins, it does not end at home.” (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

Pilakula/FACINE 25:

Celebrating 25 years of Filipino films by

AJPress

THE 25th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival is celebrating its silver anniversary with Pilakula/FACINE 25 with award-winning films in competition from October 19-21 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco.

The longest-running festival of films in the United States, the festival has been the premier showcase of new works and Filipino film classics in the United States for the past 25 years.

Organized by the Filipino Arts & Cinema International (FACINE), a not-for-profit media arts organization based in San Francisco, the festival aims to advance the interests of cinemas from the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora.

The festival opens with Arnel Barbarona’s “Tu Pug Imatuy (“The Right to Kill”),” a hard-hitting drama on the indigenous Filipino community or “lumad” caught in militarization, on October 19, Friday at 7 p.m. and will close with the Shanghai International Filmfest Best Feature film of 2017, Paolo Villaluna’s “Pauwi Na” (English translation going home but its international title is “Pedicab”),” a return-to-home tale of an impoverished Filipino family, on October 21, Sunday at 7 p.m.

As part of their 25th year, FACINE launched its 1st cineSuri: Critical Essay Writing Competi-

tion on Filipino Cinema and Salin-Cine: Isang Pagtutunghay sa Larangan ng Pagsalin sa Pelikulang Pilipino (Translating Film: An Introductory Look at the Art and Practice of Subtitling/Translation in Filipino Film) which constitute FACINE’s three-year celebration of the Centenary of Filipino Cinema, 2017-2019.

This year’s festival highlights include juried competition among 9 feature-length and 39 short films and the launching of two new programs: cineSuri: Critical Essay Writing on Filipino Cinema and SALIN-CINE: Isang Pagtutunghay sa Larangan ng Pagsalin sa Pelikulang Filipino (Translating Film: An Introductory Look at the Art and Practice of Subtitling/Translation in Filipino Film) which constitute FACINE’s three-year celebration of the Centenary of Filipino Cinema, 2017-2019.

FACINE 25’s roster of festival honorees include Gawad Gintong Ani, a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to multi-media actor and performer, the late Bernardo Bernardo, the Gawad Pilakula, an award for a Filipino film artist in diaspora, to filmmaker H.P. Mendoza, Gawad Lingap Sining to Animahenasyon, the annual animation film festival in the Philippines and the Gawad Sulong, Sine to archivist, critic and film preservationist, Jojo de Vera.

Films and screening sched-

Carlo Aquino and Bela Padilla play lead roles in the movie “Meet Me in St. Gallen.”

ules Friday, October 19 “Tu Pug Imatuy” (“Right to Kill”) at 7 p.m. (Opening film) Manobo with English subtitles, 90 min, 2017 Directed by Arnel Barbarona / Written by Arnel Mardoquio Cast: Malona Sulatan, Jong Monzon, Jamee Rivera “Tu Pug Imatuy” follows lumad couple Obunay and Dawin who are uprooted from their traditional way of life after a military encounter.

“Bomba” (“The Bomb)” at 9 p.m.

Tagalog with English subtitles, 95 min, 2017 Directed and written by Ralston Jover / Story by Dennis Evangelista Cast: Allen Dizon, Angeli Nicole Sanoy Pipo makes ends meet by taking on the toughest jobs. Life is more difficult because he’s deaf, supporting himself and his teenage lover.

Friday, October 20 “Tale of the Lost Boys” at 2 p.m.

English and in Tagalog and Atayal (indigenous Taiwanese) with English subtitles, 83 min, 2017 Directed by Joselito Altarejos / Written by May de los Santos Cast: Oliver Aquino, Soda Voyu A story about an unexpected connection between a Filipino and a Taiwanese aborigine who are both in search of their identities.

“Meet Me in St. Gallen” at 4:30 p.m.

English/Tagalog with English subtitles, 94 min, 2018 Directed and written by Irene Emma Villamor Cast: Carlo Aquino, Bela Padilla Celeste (Bela Padilla) as-

sumes the name “Katy Perry” whenever she hangs out at coffee shops, meets Jesse (Carlo Aquino), as in those of the American romantic-comedy drama film” Celeste and Jesse Forever.” Their time spent together ends up on a one-night stand and will reunite sometime, somewhere.

“Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha” (“The Family That Does Not Weep”) at 7 p.m.

Tagalog with English subtitles, 105 min, 2017 Directed and written by Mes de Guzman Cast: Sharon Cuneta, Nino Muhlach A lonesome and alcoholic woman attempts to fulfill a local legend about the family that doesn’t weep with the help of her nanny and her nanny’s uncle in the hopes of reuniting her own estranged family.

“Melodrama/Random/Melbourne” at 9:30 p.m.

Directed and produced by Matthew Victor Pastor Written by Celina Yuen and Matthew Victor Pastor Cast: Celina Yuen, Kristen Condon, Matt Furlani, Gregory Pakis, etc A feminist documentarian, a pick up artist and a virgin’s lives collide. Blood will be shed on neon-lit streets of Melbourne.

Sunday, October 21 “2 Cool 2 Be Forgotten” at 2 p.m.

English and in Tagalog, Kapampangan with English subtitles, 95 min, 2016 Directed by Petersen Vargas/ Written by Jason Paul Laxamana Cast: Khalil Ramos, Jameson Blake, Ethan Salvador A coming-of-age story of a friendless and smart high school sophomore, who lives in post-lahar Pampanga in the late 1990s; His life takes a turn after the two

Megastar Sharon Cuneta is the lead star in the movie “Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha” (The Family That Does Not Weep).

Assunta de Rossi and Empoy Marquez in “Kita Kita” (“I See You”), a film about a blind woman who falls in love with a man who uses kindness and humor to make a connection with her.

new half-American students, the Snyder brothers, transfer to his school.

“Kita Kita” (“I See You”) at 4:30 p.m.

Japanese with English subtitles, 95 min, 2017 Directed and written by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Empoy Marquez A blind woman falls in love with a man who uses kindness and humor to make a connection with her.

“Pauwi Na” (“Pedicab”) at 7 p.m. (Closing film) Tagalog with English subtitles, 124 min, 2016

Directed by Paolo Villaluna/ Written by Ellen Ramos Cast: Cherry Pie Picache, Bembol Roco, Chai Fonacier The film follows an ailing man, a thief, a dog, a blind pregnant woman and Jesus Christ while the family goes through a tragi-comic journey of self-discovery as they decide to pedal their way from Manila to Bicol.

For more information and full program schedule, please see website at www.facine.org.

For tickets purchase go to www. facine.org or www.roxie.com (festival passes and group rates available).

SF

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

celebrity world

Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s fans are excited over reunion movie with Richard Gomez

By Ferdie Villar FANS of both Megastar Sharon Cuneta and actor-politician Richard Gomez can hardly wait for their reunion movie to come out. Entitled “Three Words to Forever,” the upcoming movie will be directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina under Star Cinema.

Although there is no release date yet, the project has been confirmed via a story conference last August.

Months ago, Sharon hinted that she’ll be doing a movie with a young superstar and one of her previous leading men. That time, the Megastar explained that the production company was ironing out filming schedule, since she is busy with other projects and the then-unnamed actor was also busy.

After her reunion movie with action star Robin Padilla, a lot of her fans had a feeling that it was Richard. The two were romantically linked back in the ‘90s and their last project was “Walang Kapalit” in 2003.

The young superstar she mentioned is no other than Kathryn Bernardo. *** Many people have nothing but admiration for actress Jodi Sta. Maria. Apart from being a great actress and mother, she is also working hard to finish college. At present, the actress is taking up BS Psychology at Southville International School and Colleges.

Jodi shared that she does not get any special treatment in school, in spite of her popularity.

“Ay hindi, wala at ‘yun ang gusto ko, tinatrato ako bilang isang normal na tao at ordinaryo,” she said in an interview with Push during the ABS-CBN

Ball.

She added that she does not allow her busy work schedule to derail her dreams of getting a diploma.

“I just make sure that I have a lot of time for studies, talagang time management lang din talaga. Kasi pag hindi, ‘yung pagka-busy natin will pull us out from left and right, up and down, kaya kailangan sabihin natin na kapag nasa taping, imbis na chumika, mag-aral. So I think ‘yun ang secret doon ayusin ang schedule,” she said.

Talking about Jodi, her ex-

boyfriend Jolo Revilla recently admitted that he still loves her.

On “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” Jolo said that he learned a lot of things from the actress, including being a responsible father. According to him, Jodi once told him to always give a hundred percent to his child.

“Kahit wala na kami ngayon...wala akong masasabing masama sa kanya e dahil nagmahalan naman talaga kami e.

Eight years is eight years,” Jolo shared. He also said that he still loves her, but maybe they need time apart.

Golden Cañedo of Cebu City was hailed as the first champion of GMA Pinoy TV’s “The Clash,” a nationwide singing competition that finished its season last September 30.

Actress Jodi Sta. Maria shared that in spite of her busy work schedule, she still manages to find time to study so that she can get a college degree.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s fans are excited about her reunion movie with actor-politician Richard Gomez. The movie entitled, “Three Words to Forever” is directed by Cathy Molina-Garcia under Star Cinema.

Filipino community and civic leader Eunice Bejar Lee, proprietor of New Haven Care Home in Northern California, is scheduled to leave on Saturday, October 6 to bring children’s books, candies and toys for indigent children in her hometown in Laguna, Philippines. During her trip, she will also visit her 85-year-old mother, Ester Bejar.

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA Actor Jolo Revilla recently admitted on “Tonight With Boy Abunda” that he still loves his ex-girlfriend Jodi Sta. Maria.

(Enjoy a redux of a series of previous articles tweaked and fine-tuned for these days — which, for many of us, would be a much different season, than when these were published years earlier.)

Remember the story of the three little pigs?

Everyone does. But we relegate the story to children’s lit and condescendingly forget that these cute little porkers bring home an important point about the choices we make when we embark on building something worthwhile — like choosing the foundation on which we live our lives.

The first pig built his house of straw and the second one built his house of sticks and went partying till the cows came home. Enter the big bad wolf.

Hankering for crispy chicharrones, he came down huffing and puffing and blowing both houses down in a snap, much to the utter dismay of the two hapless, lazy porkers. Running for their lives with their curled, tiny tails and the hair on their chinny, chin chin a-quivering, they dashed over to safety, straight to the house of their other stolid, somewhat stodgy brother pig who had built his house methodically, meticulously, slowly, brick by solid brick.

Enter the big bad wolf again, now crazed with the thought of wolfing down not one but three pigs. He does his blustery huffing and puffing… well… you know how the story ended (that is, unless Disney produces a blockbuster sequel with their spin on the ending.)

Any structural engineer will agree with the third porker and allude to the biblical reference about a house built on a rock and the wind and rain could not prevail upon it. He will tell you that solid foundation work taking stress points into account is basic in building anything of value that’s meant to last. The same is true in living one’s life.

I am certain there are countless other pointers hundreds of thousands can add to the growing pool of knowledge that hopefully, translates to wisdom in this continuing saga of human life. In the interest of brevity I’ll cull out only 15 bite-size pointers, released in 3 bursts of 5 pointers each.

1. Get your ducks in a row.

Set your priorities. Align your

Beautiful, young and talented actress Mikee Quintos shows her acting ability in the well-liked “Onanay” of GMA Pinoy TV. She is one of the lead actresses in the TV series, which also features Superstar Nora Aunor.

California State Senator Scott Wiener (2nd from left) was the guest of honor at the 6 Beds, Inc. 4th anniversary held at the Embassy Suites in Burlingame, CA recently. Also shown in photo above are (from left) Dorie Paniza, president of 6 Beds, Inc., and 6 Beds loyalists Roxanne Gould and Robert Naylor.

How to Build a House of Bricks in Any Season First of 3 parts

“I build my house of straw.

I build my house of hay.

I toot my flute. I don’t give a hoot.

And play around all day.”

—Fifer Pig time, decisions, actions and resource allocation according to your set of personal priorities: health, happiness, family, peace, wellbeing, wealth, time, fame, recognition, and applause. There’s a whole menu to choose from. You choose what’s important and what’s not. Without an internal value system and a firm sense of direction, you’re more than likely to be distracted by the many pitfalls along the way. Consider technology and its spawn, social media, as a double-edged sword. It can either help or hinder, depending on how you use it. As a tool, it is awesome but become obsessed with it and you’re a goner. FOCUSED MINDFULNESS is the antidote to all distractions.

2. Ask for HELP. Fold that ego to the size of a postage stamp. There is help out there.

Use it. We need others to help us on the first get-go during the first years of scrambling, scraping and just getting our bearings straight. Don’t be too proud to ask and seek out only those who mean well. Don’t forget to say thanks and show appreciation to those who have helped you every step of the way. There is a place in Hades for the grossly ungrateful.

3. Open your mind. Be informed. Observe the patterns of human behavior and the seasonal patterns of life. We are living in the throes of the Age of TMI (Too Much Information). The challenge is in sorting out the essentials from the ton of crud out there particularly on the internet. But above all, fear not the predictions of doom and gloom. If TV or social media are your constant companions, you will become a fearful, paranoid nutcase. The cycles of boom and bust, recession and bumper crop years happen over and over again with the regularity of night and day.

More often than not, life is a roller coaster ride, with its thrills and spills. Enjoy it. Learn to live and move with the seasons. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is a season for every purpose under heaven.”

4. Slow down. Pace your-

self. There is a learning curve that most of us will have to go through. There are a select few who can hit the ground running but for mere mortals, like you and me, we have to take a step at a time, at least in the beginning stages. Small mistakes and errors in decision-making are rectifiable; the big ones on the things that truly matter, will set us back years.

5. In going for the brass ring, know the price you have to pay to get it. America’s middle class is growing once again after a decades long lull.

The economy is on an upswing after being in the doldrums.

In hindsight, globalism which began Post-Reagan under 4 presidents had put in place policies which severely crippled the American middle class as they shifted jobs and industries outside of the country.

This is a season of optimism so take the opportunities presented in realizing your dreams, whatever you conceive them to be. But you have to be willing to pay the price. And no, you can’t cheat. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. There is no free lunch. You may be achieving your goal of a whopping six figure income that allows you the material status you seek, but see and understand what the price of putting in 16 hour shifts or taking on double or triple jobs is doing to your own health, your family, your marriage and your sanity.

Yes, only God knows how long seasons last. Man proposes. God disposes. But in any season of darkness or light, that delicate balance achieved by a steady, prayerful family life laser-focused on God as the center of it ALL, is still the key.

(Next week: The second of 3 parts.) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

I broke the law, but the officer exercised “prosecutorial discretion” Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ RECENTLY, I had to cross a boulevard. There were two lanes going in each direction with a center island. The “ABANDONED” PETITION SUCCESSFULLY REOPENED 10 YEARS LATER BY ATTY. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL. Elsinore (left) was petitioned by his father back in 2001.

However, when his younger sister, Elvie (center), checked the petition status online in 2005, she found out it was denied due to “abandonment.” USCIS had crosswalk was halfway down sent a notice to petitioner’s old residence requesting additional documents, but the petitioner never received the notice because he had moved, and therefore the block, about 200 yards did not respond. Their first lawyer’s motion to reopen was denied for being untimely, so their mother, an avid viewer of “Citizen Pinoy,” suggested they retain away. So, I decided to jaywalk leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. and cross the boulevard where (Advertising supplement) I stood.

I crossed the first two lanes and got to the center island, waiting for the traffic to clear, so I could cross the rest of the These honorable kababayans of boulevard when a patrol car a Caucasian, when she could ours who left their families in the came by. He stopped to let not even pronounce the words Philippines and sacrificed them- me pass, but the patrol car lit “live” and “Texas” properly.

PhiliP S. chuA, Our group of 23 cracked up selves to be able to support up like a Christmas tree with MD, fAcS, fPcS them, had suffered a lot from and started asking each other white, red, and blue lights discrimination and abuse. There- flashing for my benefit. I was every day which “dick” (deck) their cabin or the theater was on after and to this date, millions WHILE on an Iberian Peninabout to get a ticket for jayof Filipinos in the United States sula Cruise with my wife, Farida, and asking Jaime for “coopee” walking. are either physicians or nurses, and 21 other medical colleagues every morning we were at the The officer got out of the or well-trained professionals Ocean View Café main dinand friends last August 30, we patrol car and explained the in various fields of education, ing hall on the 14th “dick” for met a friendly Filipino coffee dangers of jaywalking on a business, engineering, scibreakfast. server by the name of Jaime, busy thoroughfare, such as I ence, technology, etc. Societal While the jest was made a Visayan, on board the Royal could get run over, or if a car impression, perception, regard, stopped for me, they could get only in fun, with no malicious Caribbean’s Celebrity Eclipse. and treatment of Filipinos in intent whatsoever, since some He relayed to us his humorous rear-ended. He concluded by America have all been positively saying, “I’m not going to ruin of the members of our group encounter with a female pasimpacted and have changed in were from the Visayas, and I, senger from the same region your day by giving you a ticket, our favor. a Tagalog, spent 13 years of aboard a previous cruise. and I’m certainly not going to There is really nothing my professional life as a proud Jaime said the woman waste my time giving out tick“adopted son” of Cebu, the sad wrong with having an accent. was talking to a companion in ets for jaywalking when there Practically all of us and every incident related by Jaime is unEnglish with a heavy Visayan are more serious crimes out fortunately not an isolated case. nationality have several dialects there. But I want you to take accent. Eager to meet a fellow and different accents. That Since Farida and I left “kababayan,” he asked if she to heart what I just told you.” is natural, normal and to be the Philippines for Chicago was from the Philippines. She Naturally, I was grateful that I expected. The tragedy in that on December 31, 1962 for looked at him with arrogance was not given a ticket. “humorous” incident was the her pediatric training and my and disdain, to his surprise and The point of this encounter woman’s obvious lack of patriotcardiac surgery residency (also embarrassment, and replied ism and pride in the Philippines; other major countries \not only in Chicago) and fellowship in with a firm “No, I only leeve in respect but like Filipinos, esTiksas!,” (meaning Texas). Jaime Houston, Texas; we have known and the denial of her national pecially by foreigners who had and heard of several similar sad origin. moved away laughing inside Today, when Americans been to the Philippines. We, as instances, even among some and wondering why she, who meet Filipinos, they almost a people, have made a good of our fellow Fil-Am physicians, obviously looked like an Asian, always presume they are physiimpression and reputation for who were embarrassed to say unmistakably a Filipina, was cians or nurses, etc. The reputa- ourselves around the globe, they were of Filipino heritage. ashamed of her heritage. She tion of the Filipinos abroad has especially in America.

In the 50s and 60s, imhad opted to re-label her DNA evolved in a wonderful way.

People in the United States migrant Filipinos were mostly “made in Ameereeka,” and People in the United States and openly admire Filipinos and I laborers and farm workers. consciously considered herself

Health@Heart

Proud to be a Filipino

is the officer exercised “prosecutorial discretion.” And I wish DHS would take a lesson from this police officer. I admit I broke the law by jaywalking, and the officer had every right to give me a ticket. But the officer decided the violation was not so serious as to take up (or waste) his time, when there are more serious crimes out there.

That is the essence of “prosecutorial discretion,” where although someone may have broken the law, their violation is not so serious that the government should waste time, money, and resources “enforcing the law.” The same policy used to be true in immigration.

Certainly, everyone who is out of status has violated the law, but DHS would exercise prosecutorial discretion and not go after the mere status violators, who pose no threat to society.

Instead, they were concentrating their efforts on removing the felons, rapists, murderers, terrorists, etc.

Unfortunately, the current administration views jaywalkers and felons in the same light: they broke the law and DHS must enforce the law. The government practices “zerotolerance,” and is refusing to exercise any prosecutorial discretion. USCIS started a policy of putting people in deportation if USCIS denied any immigration benefit, such as an extension of status or a denial of adjustment of status on a minor technicality. Court rooms, as well as detention facilities, are overflowing because DHS is not exercising prosecuto-

rial discretion, but instead is going after everybody. It may take years before a person can finally have their day in court.

If everyone is a “priority” for removal, then DHS is wasting valuable resources by treating jaywalkers the same as terrorists. Instead, like the police officer who lectured me, they should start exercising prosecutorial discretion and focus on the serious immigration violators and criminals, and not waste their time effectively going after jaywalkers. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars 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 and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do 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: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES

usually hear them say “Filipinos are good people.” Of course, countless millions of Americans have been patients of Fil-Am doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers over the past six to seven decades. It is my own observation that Filipino doctors and especially our nurses have excellent bedside

manner to the gratification of their patients. Americans consider them well educated, talented, amiable, compassionate, patient, and hardworking.

Naturally, as with any other nationalities, there are some rotten apples among us. But these are the minority exceptions.

Continued on Page SF7

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SF

entertainment The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

California divorce with a twist: The military spouse

Regine Velasquez allegedly to judge ABS-CBN’s ‘The Voice PH’

all property acquired during marriage is community property. And if anything out SAN DIEGO is “military of the community property is town” and Navy and Marine used towards separate propCorps families abound, as erty, the community might well as retirees from different turn out to have a claim on branches of our military. part(s) of separate property.

The military life is a test Separate property are “all of resilience and grit for property acquired before many families with divorce as marriage; all gifts, bequests, almost an expectation rather devise, or descents. All propthan the exception. erty acquired or exchanged The following seeks to ad- with traceable separate dress or clarify some common property; and all property misconceptions about military acquired after separation.” divorce. We urge individuFor military retirement als considering divorce to purposes, the portion of seek a licensed, competent, retirement earned during and experienced attorney to marriage before separation help guide them through the is considered community maze. property. A spouse is eligible “I found out my wife had to receive a portion of the an affair while on deploymilitary spouse’s retirement ment. I want to file for Dino matter how long they vorce but she does not want were married so long as the to. But it’s all her fault.” military spouse was earning California is a no-fault retirement benefits while divorce state. A party filing they were married. The Court for divorce does not need the may divide “disposable” consent of the other in order retired pay, which is the to file a Petition for Dissolu“gross” monthly retired pay tion (Divorce) or, in some minus certain deductions. instances, to get a judgment “S/he is the one who left of divorce. our family. I shouldn’t have Note that the Serviceto pay support.” members Civil Relief Act Issues of marital infidel(SCRA) gives military memity and family support can be bers a wide range of legal handled directly within the protections not available to military, with each military the general public, such as branch having their own postponing court proceedguidelines. In California ings. This includes divorce however, since this is a noand child support. In general, fault divorce state. There is the SCRA covers all active no assignment of blame or duty servicemembers, reserv- fault; fault does not factor in ists and the members of the the equation in the issue of National Guard while on acsupport. Some of the factors tive duty. that the Court will look at to “What? I have to share determine whether there is my retirement earnings? This basis for support, and if so, is mine!!” in what amount, are – length Generally, all of your asof marriage, age of parties, sets prior the marriage is just if there are minor children in your own separate property. the marriage, income of both However, California is a com- parties. munity property state and “I’m smart enough to so once you get married, handle my own divorce. Why

said ABS-CBN is always open to anyone.

Philstar.com “Is it for real? Is it a rumor?

RELIABLE sources from So, she is the very special guest ABS-CBN exclusively told then. The Kapamilya channel Philstar.com that the transfer has always been open to anyone do I need an attorney?” of “Asia’s Songbird” Regine and everyone. ‘Asia’s Songbird,’ You don’t need an attorney.

Velasquez from GMA to ABSfor me, is a plus,” Martin said.

There is no requirement that CBN is already “sure,” and that The rumored transfer, you must have an attorney. the singer-actress’ alleged first for Martin, showed that the However, in cases involvproject as a Kapamilya will be to Kapamilya network is loved by ing issues such as military become a judge in the hit reality artists. divorce, domestic violence, TV singing competition “The “It shows you how much the custody disputes, child supstation is loved because she is port, spousal support, and di- Voice PH.” During the first ABS-CBN the queen from where she was. vision of community property Ball last Saturday, September I’ve got nothing against GMA 7, assets it would be wise to 29, in Makati City, Kapamilya but the fact that we have now seek advice from a licensed Regine Velasquez GMA photo singers expressed their excitereceived their major blessing, and experienced attorney so In an interview with Philstar.

I think is a plus here in ABSas not to waste your time and ment about the possibility of the com, the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” alleged transfer.

CBN,” he said. money, not to mention the judge said: “Of course I know Morissette hopes that the He is looking forward to court’s time and resources, a few things here and there, rumored transfer is true.

In share the stage with Regine. especially when you have to pero I’ll reserve that for her to an interview with the media “My very first station is GMA keep going back to court answer.” during the first ever ABS-CBN 7 as well, so it’s a reunion of because of incomplete or But if the major transfer hapBall, Morissette said working sorts. And I think just like any missing documents that could pens, Jaya said it will be great with Regine in the Kapamilya bird, she’s just flying around have been addressed from for Regine as well as for her. network is something she looks and now, she’s perched on the the very beginning by a com“That’s great. Ito na nga. forward to. tower of ABS-CBN. And I’m petent and knowledgeable Sama-sama na ‘pag nagkataon “Kasi siyempre the chances glad she’s landed on ABS-CBN. attorney. no?” she said. to be able to work with her dito We’re very happy to have her,” Not all divorce cases are The singer added that the sa Kapamilya network is someMartin said. the same. It is important to “Asia’s Songbird” is ready for thing na hindi lang ako pero The possibility of working be properly informed about a lot of singers dito nilo-look for- something new in her career. with her stepmother Regine your rights and responsibili“And I know she’s ready for ward talaga, so I’m excited po in the Kapamilya network also ties under California law in something new, changes, open talaga kung mangyayari talaga,” excites Ogie’s daughter, Leila. divorce proceedings. The doors.

I mean, how open can Morissette said.

In an interview with the mewrong advice or information it be for Regine? Everything’s A true-born Regine fan, the dia during the ball, Leila said she can and will hurt you, and open for her. She’s the bigsinger said the Kapuso diva is heard about the rumor. waste your time and money. gest and the best artist, so I’m a very humble person, so she “I actually don’t know too Consult a licensed and expereally excited for her kung ano deserves to be on the top of her much about it because they rienced family law attorney man ang mangyari, definitely career. actually keep it out of the kids, I to help you navigate through ikatutuwa ‘yun ng mga fans,” “Ever since I could rememguess. But if ever, I’m all about your divorce. she said. ber, to the point na I was still family, and for me it’ll be fun, *** Jaya is excited on the posyounger noong sumasali pa ako but I don’t know. It will be cool,” Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an assible reunion of GMA 7 singers sa mga singing contests, songs Leila said. sociate attorney with Chua Tinsay When asked if she is willing & Vega, A Professional Legal Cor- talaga ni Miss Regine ang nilala- in the Kapamilya network as she, Ogie Alcasid, and Janno Gibbs ban ko.

I got to work with her sa to share the stage with her poration (CTV) - a full service law are already onboard. concert ko sa Araneta, and she’s stepmom on the variety show firm with offices in San Francisco, “Oh my goodness!

Oo nga a very humble person, kaya “ASAP,” Leila said it will be San Diego, Sacramento and Philipang dami naming taga-GMA deserve niya lahat ng nangyayari cool. pines. The information presented in dati! I’m crossing my fingers. Ka“If ever that chance came this article is for general informa- sa kanya,” Amon said. hit ako na-eexcite just thinking She can even recall some of along.

I don’t know if I can do tion only and is not, nor intended about na, if ever magmove siya the tips Regine gave her. her worthy,” she said. to be, formal legal advice nor the sa ABS, mag-guest kami tapos “Sabi niya, i-enjoy lang Leila stunned the crowd with formation of an attorney-client rekakanta. I’m looking forward to her outfit and this time, she did lationship. Call or e-mail CTV for talaga ito. Take as much as you an in-person or phone consultation can and bring it sa lahat ng jour- that. Nothing is impossible,” she not walk in the red carpet with said. her dad. to discuss your particular situation ney mo,” Morisette said.

Nievera will be openly Also at the ABS-CBN Ball “You know what, this year, and/or how their services may be welcoming Velasquez to the red carpet, Jaya admitted I’m gonna go from a baby to a retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) Kapamilya network once the young lady. It’s growing time.

495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ that she knows things on the But actually, we’re here toctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega. rumored network transfer of her rumor is true.

In an interview with the friend Regine, but she does not gether. I guess he just wants me com.w media during the ball, Martin want to spill any beans. to be independent,” she said.

(Advertising Supplement)

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

by Kara

JAKE Zyrus’ autobiography reveals some tough truths about the state of gender, poverty, and fame in the Philippines. He opens with a detailed look into his successful top surgery, walks us through three suicide attempts, and then dinners at David Foster’s.

“My boobs were gone. I couldn’t believe it.”

This is how the first chapter of “I am Jake” — the autobiography of Jake Zyrus — opens, and after this, it’s impossible to Graton Resort & Casino or enjoy a luxury spa treatment put the book down.

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She eats whatever you give her.”

Turning serious, Vic said he finds it hard to leave Tali for extended periods of time.

“A few months back, Pauleen and I went to London and stayed there for 10 days. She’s not a crib baby; she sleeps beside us. I missed that,” he said.

Luckily, Tali is now old enough to travel, so Vic and Pauleen take her with them when possible.

“So far, she has been to Cebu, Siargao and Hong Kong,” he said. “I’m not sure if she’s going to remember anything, though.”

As a mother, Pauleen is “focused,” “doting” and, as it turned out, quite the events planner. “Tali is turning 1 in November, but she started calling up suppliers and venues as early as April!”

Proud to be a Filipino...

From Page SF5 Since there are more than 10.2 million of Filipinos working overseas (more than 4 million in the U.S. alone, the second largest group of immigrants) out of the 106,876,588 total population of the Philippines (based on a 2018 report), an article was quoted as saying, “If the Filipinos around the world all left for home, cruise lines, hospitals, nursing homes, casinos, etc., would suffer greatly or be paralyzed.”

As a Fil-Am, who looks at the mirror every morning (excellent for curing identity crisis), I never forget that I have Chinese blood in me. And no matter how much I have mastered the English language, I am still and will always be a Filipino, who just happens to be also a U.S. citizen. I go to bed at night without any delusion of waking up in the morning and finding a Caucasian looking back at me in the mirror. I am content, secure, and grateful for what the Lord has blessed me with, including this non-Hollywood “tsinoy” face of mine. Nothing today, not even plastic surgery, can change our DNA. I do not wish to alter, revise or remodel God’s creation in me. I do not want any of my ten grandchildren not to recognize me or to ask me “What happened to your face lolo?” Or worse, “We want your old ugly face back, lolo.”

While I am among those who are terribly frustrated and greatly saddened by the pervasive political graft and corruption in the Philippines and the massive poverty, I am still proud of our heritage and all that is

Ortiga

Philstar.com

Vic on his...

From Page SF3 fort and had fever, so she was understandably feeling agitated. But that was only for a night,” Vic said. “When she’s not in the best of moods, I just sing to her, and that usually does the trick.”

Asked what has been the toughest part of taking care of Tali, Vic jested, laughing, that carrying her makes his back hurt.

“She weighs as much as a 10-year-old kid!” he said of his chubby baby. “She’s actually a bit overweight and is now on a diet. Whenever we bring Tali to the pediatrician, he would go, ‘O, lumaki na naman ’to!’

“We were advised not to feed her formula all the time, and instead give her fresh milk.

I don’t think it made much of a difference, though! She has also started eating solid food.

community SF Jake Zyrus gives a detailed look into his life

good in our people and our native land. This is the inspiration that has prompted our Las Vegas medical group (which includes most of the individuals with us on the cruise and other missionaries from various States) to do annual medical missions in Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon, and in Alminos, Laguna, January-February of each year.

I enjoin all Filipinos all over the world with this clarion call, those within the reach of my voice today, and those within the reach of yours tomorrow, to accept with pride and respect the honorable part of our culture and tradition, to pass them on to the future generation, and to never be ashamed of our roots, no matter how modest they could have been.

After all, if we seriously think about it, we really have every reason to be proud as Filipinos anywhere we are, in the Philippines or abroad, regardless of our accent.

Even if we are not from“Tiksas.” *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa 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; comments questions: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Jake Zyrus

most unabridged story yet, he looks more aloof and confident, he is chatty and acts loosely, he just radiates a good energy. And when you leaf through the pages of his book, you will understand why.

The book is not so much a celebrity profile as it is a deeply personal survivor‘s story: painfully taking us through his journey from his childhood living with poverty and abuse, to running around Hollywood circles meeting people like Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus and Aaron Carter, to the

Photo from Instagram/@jakezyrusmusic

long struggle of acceptance within, to finally come out, and to transition.

“Of course I’ve always wanted to share my story with everybody,” he tells us just last week as we were at his book launch in Quezon City.

“Dati pa, sa U.S. pa lang… but it was harder then, siyempre kelangan ’yung story mo sugarcoated. Ngayon mas open ’yung mind ko sa lahat, mas nagkaroon na ako ng lakas ng loob dahil din sa mga tao na nakikita ko, especially mga Continued on Page SF8

SF8

entertainment Jake Zyrus gives a...

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

From Page SF7 kabataan ngayon, ’pag nakikita ko ano ’yung reason ’bat nila tini-take lives nila, sabi ko, oh no… like almost the same reason why I tried to take mine.

If only malaman nila ’yung story ko...”

His autobiography could possibly be the most important piece of contemporary non-fiction of this time, as it walks us through numerous issues that need to be addressed. Unintentionally, Jake’s life is rife with them: LGBTQ acceptance, complex family situations, fame, living in poverty, and how all of these affect a child…

Yet his story is not written with self-pity — begging for some kind of commiseration. In fact, he recalls the abuse of his mom when he was a kid with lighthearted humor, remembering the names he would assign to her blows towards him.

“The Helicopter” is when she grabs your hair and furiously swings your head around. “The Remote Control” is when she forces your mouth open with a remote control. “The Boxing” is when she punches you hard in the stomach because you can’t hit the high notes. He just puts it out there as fact,

and we are left with our jaws dropped. But he tells his story not for the sake of it, but in the hopes that it will save someone else.

You don’t need to be a fan to appreciate this book.

Charice Pempengco made significant contributions to pop culture. I actually kind of forgot about this until the part where Jake recounts the dinners Charice would attend at David Foster’s house, how she and her mom were pulled out of the plane to meet with Oprah without makeup, and how she played a part in the show “Glee” at the height of its success. In the book, Jake recalls that it was actually David Foster who outted him in one of his private dinners, to an audience composing Barbara Streisand, Josh Groban, and Kenny G. “I watched as everyone in the room stood up and began clapping for us. Barbara even walked up to me and gave me a hug. Then, she held my chubby face in her hands and said, ‘Oh darling, I’m so happy for you!’”

“They treated me like… they just celebrated,” shares Jake. “That night they made

Calendar of Events across

me feel na kung sino man ako ay normal. They talked about it for a minute, and the next minute they moved on. That made me realize na parang — ang sarap sa feeling. The way they reacted, that made me realize na kelangan talaga, whoever you are, artista ka man o hindi, kung anuman trabaho mo, it’s really important to know who you are and accept who you are. Kasi ’yung feeling na ina-accept nila ako, pero ikaw hindi mo ina-accept sarili mo… dun nag uumpisa ’yung struggle. So ’yun ’yung perfect moment na minahal ko sarili ko kasi minahal din nila ako.”

Today, Jake considers it the perfect time to tell his story.

That it couldn’t have happened at another point in his life. “Lahat kasi perfect timing. Hindi lang sa events na nangyari sa life ko, (pero dahil) may peace of mind na ako, masaya na ako. Ganun pala talaga no ’pag iniisip mo — when you’re really happy with who you are, mas magaan ’yung lahat. I made the book not for myself, kasi obviously pinagdaanan ko na siya, but for other people. Na ma-realize nila na survival book siya.”

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C TO B E R 1 3

Daly City hosts Fil-Am History Month celebration Daly City celebrates Filipino-American History Month via Kasayahan sa Daly City at the Marchbank Park (2001 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, CA 94014) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be food trucks, a family fun zone, arts and crafts, a jump house, a beer garden, several vendor booths, a bubble machine, and entertainment from homegrown talent. Parking is free at the DC Station Garage on 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, and Marchbank Park is accessible on the second floor. This is a free event, and everyone is invited.Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Melvinsings! Maddie B, Kariktan Dance Company, American Center of Philippine Arts, Rudy Kalma, Mike Dayao, Guji, and more. Headliners to perform at the TFC Hour are “Queen of Freestyle” Jocelyn Enriquez and rapper and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra. For more information about this event, call (650) 991-8001 or go to their Facebook events pagehttps://www.facebook.com/events/264867907630476/.

O C TO B E R 2 0

West Ranch High School hosts Wildcat Classic n Valencia, CA West Ranch High School is proud to present the 10th annual Wildcat Classic, a daylong display of musical artistry. More than 20 high school bands from the Santa Clarita Valley and around the region will gather for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra (SCSBOA) Marching Band Competition. The Wildcat Classic is happening Saturday, October 20, 2018 3 p.m.-9 p.m. at Valencia High School’s football stadium, located at 27801 Dickason Dr. in Valencia. Tickets are $10; parking is free. Each high school band will compete by division followed by an astounding showcase performance of the three-time state champion West Ranch Band and Colorguard. The day-long event culminates in an awards ceremony with awards presented in each division as decided by a panel of SCSBOA judges. The performance schedule will be announced prior to the event. Vendors will be on site with plenty of delectable food and drink options as well as gifts and apparel for the music enthusiast. For additional information, please contact West Ranch Music Director Jason Marshall at 661-222-1220 x 646 or jmarshall@hartdistrict.org or visit their website atwww.westranchmusic.com.

Special Celebration in honor of our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima On Saturday, October 20, 2018, 5 p.m. at Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels at 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. With main celebrant: Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Sala zar. All the faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are cordially invited to join us in October, the month of the Rosary, to pray for peace and conversion in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. Please share this announcement with your parish, families and schools. Together we can bring peace to our world. Together in prayer, we make a difference. All are welcome!

For more information, please call 323-578-8411 or 818-421-6534.

Fil-Am Association of SCV,Inc. 35th Anniversary Gala The Siena College QC alumni will be holding its 35th Anniversary Gala. A black tie and hollywood glamour dinner and dance $60.00 (prepaid) on Saturday, October 20, 2018, 5p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, CA 91355. For details and purchase of tickets, please call: Mul (661) 253-1825, Zeny (661) 284-0181, Myra (424) 350-1056, Zony (661) 312-3422, Nic (661) 312-9077, Linda (661) 904-1365 and Emie (661) 877-2699.

O C TO B E R 27

9th annual Larry Itliong Day celebration in Carson, CA On Saturday, October 27, the 9th Annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration will be held at the Veterans Park, 22400 Moneta Avenue, also in Carson, California. The event is from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. with the 2018 Larry Itliong Labor Awards as highlight of the day. Speakers for the day are: Johnny Itliong, director of the Larry Itliong Foundation through Education, and son of labor leader Larry Itliong; Fernando Chavez, founder of the Chavez Law Group and son of union leader and labor organizer Cesar Chavez; and Historian Roger Gadiano, who is also a member of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) – Delano chapter.

Silakbo sa Mik Tinig, a local group who performs socially relevant raps about immigration, women, and demilitarization will be performing on that day.

Siena College QC global event in Garden Grove, CA The Siena College QC alumni will be holding its first global dinner-dance event on Saturday, October 27 at the Embassy Suites Anaheim-South, at 11767 Harbor Boulevard, Garden Grove, CA 92840. This event will be a great opportunity to catch up with all our alumni and faculty members from here and around the world. Let us all come together in the spirit of our school where we can create new memories and revisit the old. For more information please call Melba Dyquaiangco at (714) 609-1710 or email: sienaglobal2018@gmail.com.

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

Banners featuring Filipinos fly over San Francisco streets on Filipino American History Month SOMA Pilipinas Campaign is first major initiative to raise visibility of Filipino community in the city

TWO hundred fifty banners featuring the Filipino residents, workers and community organizations of the Filipino Cultural Heritage District now fly over the streets of the South of Market (SoMa), as the community celebrates Filipino American History Month. The banners are part of a campaign to gain visibility for SOMA Pilipinas within the district and the city.

This banner campaign highlights families, youth, seniors, artists and workers that live, work and provide services within the cultural district.

The awareness campaign comes on the heels of a unanimously-passed cultural district resolution by the San Francisco board of supervisors last May. Spearheaded by Supervisor Hilary Ronen, the resolution creates “a process for the establishment of cultural districts in the City to acknowledge and preserve neighborhoods with unique cultural heritage.”

SOMA Pilipinas was designated as a cultural heritage district in 2016, and last year received a state designation by the California Arts Council.

Sabrina Pacheco of Gold Metropolitan Media, the city light pole banner company that applied the banners said, “The SOMA Pilipinas Community Pride Campaign marks a step towards placemaking for the Cultural Heritage District and offers a powerful new way to enhance the spirit, energy, pride, and vibrancy of the community.”

Strengthening visibility and celebrating culture is integral to SOMA Pilipinas’ mission.

Despite the community being priced out of SoMa, the district still contains the largest concentration of Filipino residents, cultural assets and social services in San Francisco. The campaign was launched prior to the Board of Supervisors vote on major funding decisions under San Francisco Planning Department’s Central SoMa Plan.

The immediate need to be visible in the face of rapid development is clear when the Filipino community has historically been pushed out of their homes, non-profit space and small businesses. “When I looked up and saw {the ban-

ners} on the way to work, I felt proud yet melancholy because it was a hard struggle to get to this point. Two years for me but 100 years for the community,” said Desi Danganan, Executive Director of Kultivate Labs, a SoMa based non-profit.

Mary Ann Magsaca, a SoMa resident said, “SoMa has kids and families, in spite of what others say, we live and thrive here and the banners represent that.” She is featured in the campaign with her two young daughters that attend Bessie Carmichael Elementary.

The design team that created the artwork for the campaign saw it as an opportunity to send a humanizing message.

“The concept to us behind the pole banners is to show the complex vibrancy of our SOMA Pilipinas neighborhood: a beautiful spectrum of layered stories of who the people are that have defined this part of the city. We are happy, fun-loving, fearless, strong. Being visible in this way is our way of saying, if you see us– truly see us, displacement is not an option.” said Irene

Faye Duller, An Otherwise Co. Co-Founder.

Asserting the presence of the working class, newcomers and cultural bearers isn’t only an outward-facing message to decision makers, tourists and San Francisco neighbors. This campaign also sends a message that empowers and supports the people that contribute to SOMA Pilipinas.

Juvy Barbonio, a social worker at South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), believes being represented alongside other Filipino women “represents Filipina empowerment — Pinay power.” Rey Novicio, Program Coordinator at Filipino Mental Health Initiative-SF says “It feels like warm hug to see the beautiful brown faces of community warriors and service providers who share the same values and passion as you do.”

The banners are spread out throughout the district and can be found especially on Mission, Howard, and Folsom Streets, as well as on 4th, 5th, 6th 7th & 8th and 9th Streets.’

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - October 5, 2018

PNHS Alumni, USA 7th Biennial Grand Reunion, a fun filled event

by Emma

Hilario

Chem. Engr., MBA, J.D.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 was a fun-filled evening at the Westgate Hotel and Resort, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alumni of the Pangasinan National High School, formerly known as Pangasinan Provincial High School, traveled far and wide, eager to reunite with friends and former classmates.

The event started at five o’clock in the afternoon with guests arriving early, full of enthusiasm and smiles. Dinner was served early so that the fun would immediately start.

The event started with the inspirational speech of the Honorable Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil. PNHS is located in the town of Lingayen, in the province of Pangasinan. Lingayen is one of the areas in the Honorable Batoil’s Congressional District. He

was selected as the guest speaker because of his many accomplishments in improving and modernizing the town of Lingayen. One of his notable projects is the improvement and building of the Lingayen Beach bay-walk. It connects some of the towns and cities whose boundaries are located along the shoreline. Residents are now able to enjoy the beauty that the beach and the shorelines offer.

The food served was simple and delicious. The attendees were seen going from one table to the next, exchanging greetings and pleasantries with friends and former classmates. Alumni who graduated on the same year were seen taking group pictures and had many such pictures posted on social media.

Most of the night was spent by the attendees dancing their hearts out and their feet away.

From oldies but goodies, to modern music, the alumni danced to the beat. From waltz, to tango, to cha-cha, to the twist, to line dancing, and to rock-n-roll and other modern dances, the guests filled up the dance floor till the end of the event.

In recognition of the Hosting Class 1967, plaques of recognition and certificates of appreciation were given out. Kudos to the Executive Committee Host Class 1967 for a job well done namely: Teresita Quitlong Luciano, Sergio Ignacio, Elizabeth Hilario Sison, Sally Dalisay De Guzman and Rose Yanes Sacks. Many thanks to the Treasurer Virginia Panoringan Cantillo.

PNHS Alumni USA, through its Founder Mario Panoringan, announces that the next Biennial Grand Reunion will be held in 2020 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Stay Tuned….

Message from Mario Cendana Panoringan founder of PPHS-PNHS Alumni, USA LAS VEGAS, NV – The Pangasinan Provincial National High School Alumni, USA (PPNHS) held its 2018 7th Biennial Grand Reunion August 31 to September 2 in this city, with a standing room only attendance at the Westgate Resort Hotel & Casino. The 3-day event hosted by Class 1967 was Chaired by Teresita Quitlong-with Virginia Panoringan-Cantillo as Treasurer. Members of the Executive Committee include Rose Yanes-Sacks, Sally Dalisay-De Guzman, Sergio Ignacio and Elizabeth Hilario-Sison.

Founded in late 2005 by respected and retired San Francisco Bay Area business executive, Mario Cendana-Panoringan of Class 1965, PPNHS Alumni, USA held its first Biennial Grand Reunion in San Francisco, California on a Labor Day weekend in 2006, with close to 300 alumni and their guests in attendance.

The Alumni group was established specifically to serve as a link amongst its graduates and preserve the legacy of their Alma Mater, formerly Pangasinan Provincial High School and now Pangasinan National High School. It also aims to help the educational institution thru worthwhile projects that will benefit current students and the school.

Projects delivered include the 2008 Adopt A Classroom Project (10 classrooms with Classes 1965 and 1967 leading the way with 3 classrooms each), the Renovation of the Medical Dental Clinic, Donation of 20 benches along the

Lingayen Baywalk, conducted Medical and Dental Missions, Major Sponsor in the Photo Exhibit at the Agew Na Pangasinan Celebration (2017-2018), Donation of Books for the Provincial Library and a Major Sponsor of the School Feeding Program.

This year’s Biennial Grand Reunion brought more than 300 alumni, who came from Aruba, Australia, Canada, England, Philippines and the United States.

They took part in the 3-day celebration attending the Friday Meet & Greet and Hosted Cocktail Reception, the Saturday Night Grand Ball & Awards Dinner and the Sunday Fellowship Breakfast.

Congressman Leopoldo N. Bataoil of Class 1970 served as the Inspirational Speaker. A special video presentation titled “Through the Years” which was produced by Jovito Viray-Macam, was featured during the evening’s program.

The Mario Cendana-Panoringan Founding Chairman’s Perpetual Trophy for Largest Attendance was presented to Class 1975, together with the Largest First Timers Award. Special recognitions were given to Juanita Mangasi-Samiley of Class 1959, Lifetime Achievement Award, while Virginia Panoringan-Cantillo was presented with a glass trophy by the hosting Class of 1967, for her leadership role as an outstanding alumnae and teacher of Pangasinan Provincial National High School.

Other awards recipients included Linda Hilario of Class

1955 Most Senior Alumni; Jolly Juan Santos-Diaz of Class 2014 Youngest Alumni; Jovito MacamViray of Class 1970 and Fely Quitevis of Class 1962 Founding Chairman’s Plaque of Appreciation. Those receiving the Founding Chairman’s Medallions and Certificates of Appreciation for their continued support of the Alumni, USA included: Rose Yanes-Sacks, Sergio Ignacio, Sally Dalisay-De Guzman, Elizabeth Hilario-Sison all from Class 1967, Myrna Sison-Guiang and Bert Velasco of Class 1963, Ben and Angelina –Sison-Biag of Class 1965, Benjamin Tendilla, Class 1968; George Mata, Class 1970; Faustino Sino Cruz, Jr., Class 1971, Yolanda Ong-Ramos and Janice De Guzman-Rosales, Class 1972, Melva EvangelistaValdez and Arnold Galvez, Class 1975, Badette Pua and Gerry Gajeton, Class 1979 and Blas Tiangson of Class 1989.Friends of the Alumni, USA recognized for their support included Lydia Morales-Bautista, Mary Ann Verdeflor-Macam, Lito RamosCantillo and Jess Burguillos.

The 8th Biennial Grand Reunion will be held in Lingayen, Pangasinan February 17-23, 2020 with Classes of 1972, 1975 and 1985 with business executive Yolanda Ong-Ramos, Atty.

Melva Evangelista-Valdez and Atty. Verna Nava-Perez serving as Executive Co-Chairpersons.

Founding Chairman Mario Cendana-Panoringan will serve as Adviser.