102418 - Southern California Midweek Edition

October 24-26, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 83 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

Cabinet ‘good’ rating a nod to govt’s taming of inflation

by RALPH

VILLANUEVA ManilaTimes.net

THE “good” rating that the Duterte cabinet received in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows the people’s appreciation of the government’s efforts to address inflation, Malacañang said.

The cabinet’s net satisfaction rating in the SWS poll jumped by seven points, to +32 in September compared with June’s +25.

This was good for a “good” rating, a notch higher than the “moderate” one last quarter.

The survey was conducted from September 15 to 23.

DATELINE

In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the timing of the survey said a lot about the government’s efforts to bring down prices, as well as the Filipinos’ perceptions of official actions of the Duterte administration on the issue.

“Since the survey was conducted during the month of September when inflation was at 6.7 percent, the findings tell us that our people, indeed, recognize and appreciate the efforts of the administration in stabilizing the prices of basic commodities and bringing a comfortable and dignified life for all,” Panelo added.

The 6.7 percent inflation rate

USA

was the highest in nine years.

Malacañang blamed rising oil prices in the world market as one of the main drivers of inflation, prompting the Duterte administration to float the possibility of suspending the second tranche of the fuel excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The possible suspension, however, will result in about P40 billion in revenue losses for the government, the Department of Finance said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the recordhigh inflation was mainly brought MONDAY AGENDA. President Rodrigo Duterte shows a gesture of respect as he takes center stage during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines

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DOJ not taking Trillanes case to appeals court, says Guevarra

by TETCH

TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Getting to know the LA River: What it is, what it does and how it’s changing MOST people recognize Los Angeles River as the set of some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. In 1978’s “Grease,” John Travolta competed against a rival greaser in a heated drag race under the 6th Street Viaduct. Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan sped down the river at breakneck speed in one of the few heartwarming scenes in the action thriller “Drive.” In the 1990s, premier action star and future-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was forced down the LA River in James Cameron’s classic “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Other than playing a pivotal cinematic role, the LA River is an important part of the city’s and county’s history, present and future. The river is vast, literally and figuratively. Stretching 51 miles from Canoga Park all the way down to its mouth in Long Beach at the LA Harbor, the LA River has an expansive range that flows through 17 river-adja-

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Reported hate crimes in LA County increase for 4th straight year, survey says Crimes against AAPIs are relatively low, but county cites underreporting as a “serious” factor LAST week, the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission (LACCHR) released its Annual Report on Hate Crime, a yearly analysis of all the hate crimes reported in 2017.

Hate crimes are categorized as crimes with “evidence that bias, hatred, or prejudice based on a victim’s real or perceived race/ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation is a substantial factor in the commission of the offense,” according to California state law.

The report found that there were 508 hate crimes in Los Angeles County, a 5 percent

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(LMP) Luzon Island Cluster Conference at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Monday, October 22. Duterte urged local chief executives to continue to fulfill their mandate to the public with “integrity, honesty, and accountability.”

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Inquirer.net photo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will not go straight to the Court of Appeals to question the ruling of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 dismissing their motion to arrest Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for coup d’ etat.

“The DOJ will file, not later than Friday [October 19], a motion for partial reconsideration of the order of RTC-Makati Branch

148 (coup d’ etat) only insofar as it found Sen. Trillanes had sufficiently shown that he filed his certificate of amnesty and that therefore it follows that he also admitted his guilt for the offense of coup d’ etat and recanted all statements inconsistent with such admission of guilt,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday, October 23.

Guevarra’s statement came at the heels of the statement of Presidential Spokesperson

Salvador Panelo that Solicitor General Jose Calida will take the case straight to the Court of Appeals and abandon plans of filing a motion for reconsideration.

Guevarra earlier said the DOJ will decide on the next legal step on the Trillanes case.

The Justice Chief said acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon already discussed with Calida this afternoon the government’s next step on the case. ■

Palace slams international No special treatment for ‘Citizen Bong Go’ group for comments

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MALACAÑANG on Monday, October 22, accused the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) of interfering with the Philippines’ domestic affairs after the group called for the release of detained Sen. Leila de Lima and expressed concern over the revival of cases against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. During its 139th Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU reiterated its call on Philippine authorities to release De Lima immediately and to abandon the legal proceedings against her. While De Lima is in jail over drug-related charges, the IPU stressed that the steps taken against her were in response to her vocal opposition to President Duterte’s war on drugs, including

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FORMER special assistant to the President and senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong Go said that he was just an ordinary citizen who wanted nothing more than to continue serving the public by passing laws that would uplift their lives.

Go said that if elected in the 2019 mid-term elections, he would support the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte and push for the institutionalization of the Malasakit Center.

Under the direction of Duterte, Go put up 15 Malasakit Centers all Senatorial candidate and former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go (middle) accompanies over the Philippines, which serve Taguig City congressional candidate Alan Peter Cayetano (left foreground) during his Certificate of

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Candidacy (COC) filing at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila last week.

PNA photo

‘All systems go’ for Boracay reopening on October 26, PNP says

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippine National Police on Monday, October 22, said it is ready for the reopening of world-famous Boracay island on October 26.

“We are all systems go,” Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regional director for Western Visayas, said in a press briefing.

“In fact, on October 25, we’ll be conducting the capability demonstration wherein the chief PNP will be present to grace the occasion,” he added.

Bulalacao said other activities The newly renovated Cagban Jetty Port in Boracay. The port, which serves are also scheduled for that day but as Boracay’s main entry and exit point, will be operational during the redid not say what they were. opening of the resort island on October 26.

He did not specify the number Philstar.com photo by Walter Bollozos

of cops to be deployed during the reopening of the island but he said there will be enough personnel.

“We are well prepared in so far as the equipage –the number of personnel needed, the facilities, especially the buildings because we constructed substations in the area. We transferred the Malay Police Station headquarters and many more,” he added. Boracay is part of Malay town.

Police to enforce ordinances vs littering Bulalacao also said the PNP is implementing the municipal ordinances on proper waste management.

He said that some of the guests during the first day of the “dry

run” opening of the island on October 16 broke the rules.

“They themselves threw trashes and did not throw them in proper places,” Bulalacao said in Filipino.

“The PNP implements all the municipal ordinances especially those with punitive provisions,” he added.

Bulalacao said the PNP will hold a press briefing on Boracay on October 25.

The famous tourist vdestination was closed to the public for six months since April after President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted its environmental woes. He ordered the closure of the island to pave way for its rehabilitation and restoration. ■

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From the Front Page Reported hate crimes in LA County increase...

PAGE A1 increase from the previous year.

For perspective, there has been a collective 32 percent rise in hate crimes since 2013.

About half of all the reports were racially-motivated hate crimes, which increased 9 percent from the previous year.

Anti-black crimes and anti-Latinx crimes rose 15 percent and 16

percent, respectively.

Notably, reported crimes against transgender individuals rose to the highest it’s ever been at 33 in 2017, and 94 percent of them were violent crimes.

Crimes against the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community rose slightly from 16 total crimes in 2016 to 18 in 2017. The API community comprises 15 per-

cent of all LA County residents but only account for 5 percent of racially-charged hate crimes.

Anti-Chinese, anti-Japanese, anti-Korean and anti-Filipino slurs were used in seven of these crimes, but many of these crimes were generalized as anti-Asian slander.

But it should be noted that these only include crimes that were reported to authorities. Reasons for not reporting a raciallycharged hate incident could be because the incident bared not enough importance to involve police, reporting the event could bring more harm to the victim, and a whole host of reasons that the commission acknowledged.

“We believe that under-reporting of hate crimes is a serious problem in the Asian community because of the linguistic and cultural barriers, immigration status, unfamiliarity with the criminal justice system and fear that reporting hate crimes could bring retaliation or unwanted publicity,” the commission wrote.

The county’s findings reflect and confirm the national studies that found that hate crimes in America have been steadily increasing over the last few years, especially in the country’s largest cities.

In May of this year, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at the California State University at San Bernardino reported at 12 percent increase in hate crimes in the 10 largest American cities, the highest level in more than a decade.

“Hate crime rates in the country’s largest cities have increased for the past four years; all against the backdrop of an overall crime rate that has been declining since the early 1990s,” Abigail Hauslohner wrote in the Washington Post in May. The LACCHR wrote in the report that the rise in hate crimes could be due to the uprising of white nationalism in the last couple years, national headlines reporting hate crimes and increased media coverage on noncriminal acts of hate.

Non-criminal acts of hatred, in particular, have been surging for the past year. Many a video have gone viral of individuals — usually white — taunting people of color, immigrants, and other minorities.

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NEVER LOOK DOWN.Painters hold on to the scaffolding while painting a building in Quezon City. Workers on Sunday, October 21, called for a significantly bigger wage hike after the Department of Labor and Employment said that the Metro Manila minimum wage would be adjusted by at least P20 per day before the end of the October.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Cabinet ‘good’ rating a nod to...

PAGE A1

about by the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index, as well as alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

To address the rising inflation, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Administrative Order 13, which removes non-tariff barriers and streamlines administrative procedures on the importation of agricultural products; Memorandum Order 26, which directs the Departments of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to

adopt measures to reduce gap between farmgate prices and retail prices of agricultural products; MO 27, which also directs the DA and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to adopt measures to ensure efficient and seamless delivery of imported agriculture and fishery products from ports to markets; and MO 28, which further directs the National Food Authority to immediately

release existing rice stocks in its warehouses.

On Friday, October 19, Panelo voiced confidence that the Filipinos will experience a “disinflationary” trend this month.

Despite the higher net rating, he said, members of the cabinet would not be complacent and will continue to work hard.

“Notwithstanding the favorable survey numbers, the members of the official family of the president will not grow complacent in addressing national issues, Panelo added. n

Palace slams international group...

PAGE A1 her denunciation of his alleged responsibility for extrajudicial killings.

The IPU also expressed deep concern over the revival of rebellion and coup d’état charges against Trillanes even if he and his companions have been granted amnesty.

The group said Duterte’s “exclusive preoccupation” with Trillanes’ situation gave “serious weight” to the allegation that this is a targeted attempt to silence the senator.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Office of the President regards IPU’s recent resolutions and decisions on the cases of De Lima and Trillanes as an “affront to the core” of the Philippines’ state principles.

Membership withdrawal As this developed, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said she has recommended to her counterpart Senate President Vicente Sotto III the Philippines’ “withdrawal of membership” from the IPU. “Since this is the second

time they did it (to my knowledge), I am recommending to the Senate, which heads the delegation, that we withdraw our membership with the IPU,” she told reporters in a chance interview.

Arroyo, a former president who is now a congresswoman from her home province Pampanga, recalled that the IPU “did the same thing” when former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III in 2017 objected to its interference in Manila’s domestic affairs. n

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Dateline USa

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ASEAN, US to hold joint maritime drill in 2019

SoutheaSt asian nations and the united States will be holding joint maritime drill in 2019 as a way of enhancing their relationship.

In a joint declaration, defense ministers from the association of Southeast asian Nations (aSeaN) said they welcome the exercise with the u.S., as well as an ongoing joint drill with China in Zhanjiang. “[We] welcome the conduct of the asean-China Maritime exercise in 2018, and intention to conduct the asean-united States

Maritime exercise in 2019, which will enhance friendship and confidence between asean member states’ navies and the People’s Liberation army Navy and the united States Navy,” the declaration read. the aSeaN defense chiefs were all gathered in Singapore for the 12th asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the aSeaN Plus Defense Ministers’ Meeting, which will be attended by defense heads from the u.S., Russia, China, australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and India.

In a separate statement, the Singapore Defense Ministry said Singapore’s Minister for Defense Ng eng hen and u.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis held an informal meeting among asean defense chiefs. the exercise, it added, was in conjunction with the u.S.’ exercise Southeast asia Cooperation and training (Seacat), with Ng and Mattis also welcoming it as a “useful” confidence-building measure that would “build the capacity of and enhance cooperation between regional navies.” the aSeaN defense ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to abide by laws and regulations that would observe the order and avoid incidents within the seas surrounding Southeast asia.

In the joint declaration, the asean defense ministers pointed out the commitment to “fully and effectively” implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in disputed waters of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). they reiterated the importance of the freedom of navigation within the contested waters. “[the exercise of this freedom calls for] confidence-building measures and, through practical maritime cooperation, [promotion of] peace and stability,” the declaration said. “[We] reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea,” it added, noting that the resolution should be in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 united Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (uNCLoS). the defense chiefs adopted guidelines for air military encounters and the operational annexes on observing existing aviation conventions and rules, among others. the guidelines, drafts of which were provided to reporters, recognize the safety and security of air lanes as “important” for the growth and prosperity of countries in the aSeaN region. they stressed the “safe and smooth” conduct of encounters between the aSeaN militaries’ aircraft. the defense ministers also welcomed positive developments in the Korean Peninsula such as the inter-Korean summits and the recent summit between u.S. President Donald trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.| “[We also reiterate] our support for the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” the declaration further read. (Dempsey Reyes/ManilaTimes.net)

Getting to know the LA River: What it is...

PAGE A1 cent cities.

Millions of drivers pass it over it every year, and nearly 1 million residents live within 1 mile of the river and provides “834 square miles of healthy watershed,” according to statistics provided by the La County Department of Public Works (LaCDPW). With that kind of impact, the La River is an historical landmark.

Before Spanish colonists showed up in 1781, the La River was the primary source of freshwater for the indigenous peoples and even contained the now-endangered steelhead trout. Nearby forests were home to wildlife who would also utilize the river. over time, more and more europeans and white americans from the east began settling in what we now know as La County, building homes, businesses and cities adjacent to the river. after an aggressive rainfall in 1938 in which the river overflowed beyond its banks and flooded neighborhoods throughout the county, the u.S. army Corps of engineers started encasing the river in a deep concrete trench that would prevent spillage during storm and flood seasons.

Focus on the Lower LA River though long stretches of the river feature little to no flow of water during the warmer times of the year, the 19 miles of the Lower La River features some of the county’s most critical water conservation processes. though not as prominent as the upper river, the lower river is a vital part in understanding the county’s plans for water conservation in the era of climate change, droughts and sustainability. on a media tour through the Lower La River on thursday, oct. 11, the LaCDPW showcased the county’s water conservation processes which are currently in the process of enhancement.

Natural vegetation grows along the Dominguez Gap Wetlands, which function as a natural habitat for wildlife as well as an offline water source to be sent back to the river or to water treatment plants. there are safety amenities for

Photos courtesy of Los Angeles County Public Works

first responders to use in the event a person falls into the river.

Recreational features like the walking trails and bike paths are located adjacent to the river. as you move further south down the river, the water level and velocity of flow increases until it reaches the trash boom in Long Beach, the “last line of defense” that uses two critical trash collection systems (one for floating trash and one for belowthe-surface trash) that collects debris, vegetation and pollutants from urban and agricultural runoff. overall, the Lower La River system is a complex system that controls filtration, transportation of water and pollution filtration, and the LaCDPW is hoping to update the system with the upcoming Lower La River Master Plan. under the La County Board of Supervisors, the LaCDPW will update the existing river plan, a broad, “multi-objective guide” for projects and research for the river pertaining to flood protection, environmental enhancement, recreational opportunities, restoration of habitat for wildlife, safety and improving public health.

Notably, there are hundreds of acres of unoccupied land that could be used to build parks and other public amenities that could help revitalize the river’s role in the greater La community. “there’s so much potential

here for projects that could really put forth innovation in terms of water conservation in the county as well as provide a community benefit, which is why we’re looking forward to working with these river-adjacent communities to hear what they’d like to see come out of projects,” LaCDPW senior civil engineer and project manager for the Lower La River Master Plan Caroline hernandez told reporters.

Amping up the county’s stormwater systems throughout its history, the county has been working on how best to maintain the river and combat problems that may arise during storm season, which typically falls from october to april each year.

Meteorologists and weather experts predict a 75 percent chance that the 2018-2019 storm season will be an el Nino year, which typically means more precipitation in the united States, especially southern California.

Measure W: Is it necessary? enter Measure W, a proposal to fund more county projects relating to La River revitalization and stormwater management that La County residents will vote on this upcoming midterm election. Measure W would impose a tax on private property owners a parcel tax which will fund stormwater capture and management projects as well as maintaining the La River’s key features. homeowners and private business owners would be taxed 2.5 cents of every square foot of the property that water doesn’t soak into. two-thirds of the county’s fresh water supply comes from outside sources, meaning only one-third comes from the local supply. With the eminent threat of climate change, utilizing more sophisticated ways to capture and store more rain water could help the notoriously dry county be better prepared for droughts.

Currently, stormwater projects are financed through the General Fund, but Measure W would create a fund dedicated to stormwater management and conservation. the estimated revenue would be $300 million a year.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

No special treatment for ‘Citizen...

PAGE A1 as one-stop shops that hasten the delivery of medical services to indigent patients and provide access to free medicines. a fast lane prioritizing senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) is also available in every center.

Go said that he would push for the enactment of a law institutionalizing Malasakit Centers so that these would continue to be operational even after Duterte’s term ends in 2022.

Go credits President Duterte for imparting many lessons dur-

ing their more than two decades together, especially on being loyal to the nation and to the Filipinos.

“Sa kanya ko talaga natutunan ang pagserbisyo na may malasakit sa sambayanan. Marami akong natutunan sa kanya kaya nakarating ako dito. Dahil na rin sa kanya, after 20 taon, nagpapasalamat ako na marami akong natulungan dahil sa kanya. akin na itong naumpisahan at ipagpapatuloy ko kapag nasa senado na ako (It is from [President Duterte] that I have learned how to serve with concern for the people. I

have learned much from him to be where I am now. And because of him, in 20 years, I was able to help many people. I have started this and will continue once I am in the Senate), Go said.

Go filed his certificate of candidacy on october 15 accompanied by Duterte, executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin andanar, former Foreign affairs secretary alan Peter Cayetano, former Justice secretary Vitaliano aguirre 2nd, and presidential security personnel. (ManilaTimes.net)

Reported hate crimes in LA County increase...

PAGE A2 over the summer of 2018, there were many incidents of white people calling the police on black people for various reasons that weren’t illegal: having a barbeque in the park, selling water, using a coupon at CVS. a video of a white woman explicitly telling a Mexican family that “all Mexicans are criminals and rapists” because “the president [trump] said so,” referencing

trump’s infamous campaign announcement in 2015. the asian Journal has been reporting on non-criminal acts of hatred towards Filipinos over the last year. a woman in a Daly City grocery store was filmed taunting a Filipino-american family with anti-immigrant remarks. a white couple in eagle Rock Plaza in Los angeles verbally and physically harassed a Filipina nurse in her car.

“Putting an end to hate crimes is a top priority for the County of Los angeles,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Sheila Kuehl. “We live in one of the most culturally diverse places in the world with more than 200 languages and cultures enriching the region. hate violence, white nationalism, misogyny, and all forms of intolerance are not welcome here.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte approves telco franchise of Villar-owned Streamtech

by Nestor

Corrales Inquirer.net

18, 2018, allowing streamtech “to construct, install, establish, President rodrigo duterte operate and maintain telecomhas approved the franchise of the munications systems throughout Villar-owned streamtech sys- the Philippines.” tems technologies inc. to pro“the franchise shall be in efvide nationwide telecommunica- fect for a period of 25 years,” the tions services. law said. the president signed repubthe Villar family, known for lic Act no. 11089 on October real estate development, was

looking for prospective partners in its bid to be the country’s third telco player. “the family is looking seriously at getting involved in the telecom side. When i say seriously, it’s possibly a national involvement,” Manuel Paolo Villar, company president of Vista Land & Lifescapes (VLL) said. n

If re-elected, Enrile wants to fix Train Law

by Neil JaysoN

servallos ManilaTimes.net

FOrMer senate president Juan Ponce enrile criticized several policies of the duterte administration such as the tax reform law that has led to an uptick AKLAN TOURISM AND TRADE CENTER. Senator Loren Legarda leads the groundbreaking of the Aklan Tourism and Trade Investment and Promotions in inflation, vowing to fix them if Center at the Aklan Provincial Capitol in Kalibo. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance who allotted the funds for the said project, Legarda elected anew to the senate. stressed the importance of tourism and trade in spurring local economy and boosting rural livelihood.

Senate photo enrile, who is seeking a comeback to the senate in 2019, said he was concerned with the economy following the implementation of the tax reform for AcsenAtOrs Franklin drilon, persecution of our fellow sena- ommendation is based on the celeration and inclusion (train) Panfilo Lacson, and risa Honti- tors Leila de Lima and (Antonio) wrong premise. “the iPU has Law. yet to act on its Human rights veros on tuesday, October 23, sonny trillanes,” drilon said. the 94-year-old politician said “Arroyo’s proposal is despair- Committee’s recommendation the situation has gone “beyond rejected the proposal of House speaker Gloria Macapagal-Ar- ing, defeatest and will be seen to the iPU Governing Council. the control” of President rodrigo royo that the Philippines with- by the world as a tacit admis- Having said that, it is premature, duterte’s economic managers. draw from the inter-Parliamen- sion that indeed critical law- if at all, to denounce the iPU as “We must find solution para ang makers are being persecuted a whole, much less withdraw taumbayan di masasaktan, kung tary Union (iPU). drilon, Lacson and senate under the duterte administra- membership from the body.” alam nila na ganun at wala silang “second, by withdrawing, suggestion mahirap yun (We President Pro tempore ralph tion,” said drilon, also senate it would imply that the Philip- must find solution for the people recto were part of the Philip- minority leader. the senate majority bloc said pine senate acknowledges the not to get hurt; if they [economic pine delegation this month to the 139th iPU conference in that the supposed inquiry by political persecution of oppo- managers] knew it was like that the iPU Committee on the Hu- sition senators. third, it is the and do not have suggestions, it Geneva, switzerland.

Aside from Arroyo, House man rights of Parliamentarians senate, not the House of repre- would be difficult),” enrile said in members present in the same into the alleged political perse- sentatives, that is a member of a radio interview. iPU meeting were representa- cution of de Lima and trillanes the iPU, so i’m not sure where enrile said that while he was tives Gustavo tambunting, ron is still in the recommendation speaker GMA is coming from,” not completely opposed to the salo, rodante Marcoleta, and stage “and is thus not binding he said in a text message. train Law and train 2 or trabaHontiveros said the plan to ho Bill, he would revise sections for now.” eric Martinez.

Asked to comment on Arroyo’s withdraw membership in the so that the poor would not bear With 178 members and 12 associate members, the iPU is an proposal to withdraw from iPU, iPU is a “virtual admission of the brunt of increasing prices. organization of national parlia- senate President Vicente sotto guilt on the part of the duterte “Hindi ko haharangin pero isamentarians worldwide. Formed 3rd said, “i am inclined to con- government.” suggest ko mga babaguhin para “it only confirms the iPU’s se- din masasaktan sapagkat pag in 1889, the iPU aims to “pro- cur but after due consultation rious concerns about our coun- pinatawan mo ng buwis ang entect and build global democracy with my colleagues.”

“Perhaps the iPU’s human try’s worsening human rights erhiya at babagsak pa ang valor through political dialog and rights committee should be re- record. if this goes on, the way ng peso di mo mareresolve ang concrete action.”

“House speaker Gloria Maca- minded that the Philippines is a it’s going, the Philippines will inflation (I will not oppose the pagal-Arroyo should mind her sovereign state with a working soon run out of intergovern- bill, but I will suggest changes own and we will mind our own. judicial process, and a Constitu- mental bodies that it can be part to avoid hurting people because i oppose the proposal of Arroyo tion that decrees the separation of. President rodrigo duterte if you impose taxes on energy that we withdraw from the iPU of powers for the executive, leg- cannot withdraw our country and if the value of the peso furjust because this global body islative and judicial branches,” from the world,” Hontiveros ther slides, inflation will not be said. (Bernadette Tamayo/Ma- resolved), enrile added. of parliamentarians expressed sotto said in a text message.

Lacson said Arroyo’s rec- nilaTimes.net) its concern over the political the senatorial candidate added

Senators oppose PH withdrawal from IPU

Former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile

ManilaTimes.net photo

that the current situation of increasing prices would be worsened by “rushing” the shift to a federal form of government.

He said that he wanted to join the discussions as soon as possible as there were several amendments that needed to be made to the draft charter. enrile claimed that nobody so far had reviewed the charter the way he had. enrile filed his certificate of candidacy on October 17 for the second time during the filing period last week as the first time was marred by a mistake on his form.

His 2019 senatorial bid was met with criticisms amid his pending case before the antigraft court sandiganbayan 3rd division, which junked his pleas

to dismiss the plunder case against him. enrile was charged with plunder together with former senators ramon “Bong” revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” estrada at sandiganbayan over alleged misuse of their pork barrel or Priority development Assistance Fund (PdAF), the lump-sum funds previously allocated to legislators. the supreme Court allowed enrile to post bail in August 2015 due to his old age and medical conditions. enrile, however, downplayed these criticisms and said he was “innocent.” “di nila mapapatunayan na ako ay tumanggap (They will never prove that I received money),” he said. n

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OPINION

Successful rehabilitation

FEATURES

IN polluted, overcrowded Metro Manila, good news comes rarely on the environmental front. Last week saw one of those rare moments, as the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission became the first recipient of the Asia River Prize Award conferred by the International River Foundation.

The PRRC bested the Yangtze River rehabilitation effort in China.

The honor, conferred during the 21st International River Symposium in Sydney, Australia, considered the scale of the problem and recognized the response of the PRRC. Fidel Ramos, whose wife Ming was among the ardent movers of the river cleanup during his presidency, may still not want to swim in the Pasig as he says he used to do in his youth. But those who haven’t taken a close look at the river for some time should try taking the ferry today. They may be pleasantly surprised. Floating solid waste has become a rare sight and water lily is not allowed to proliferate.

The water does not stink like a cesspool, and children fish along the banks in certain areas.

It wasn’t just the water cleanup that was recognized. The awards body noted that the PRRC, from 1999 until last year, resettled in decent homes 18,719 families living along the banks of the 27-ki-

lometer river. The PRRC dismantled 376 private structures encroaching on the river, established nearly 37,500 meters of environmental preservation areas and developed 17 of 47 identified Pasig tributaries.

The challenge for the country is sustaining the rehabilitation effort and further improving the state of the river. National hero Jose Rizal wrote about fishing and picnics along the Pasig. Other countries have shown that rivers can be restored if not to a pristine state, then at least to a much cleaner one.

Another challenge is to apply the principles behind the successful rehabilitation effort to other bodies of water in Metro Manila and in other densely populated and polluted urban centers across the country. This is a success story that must be replicated. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Who you will vote for is a reflection of your values — and your children are watching The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS IT’S LESS than two weeks before the consequential midterm elections and already, the fiery and toxic battle for your votes has already been revealing the true color of the candidates, the politicians they choose to associate with, and the party they represent.

They are who they are, but the question is who will you vote for? Your answer may very well reveal who you are, what you are, what values you hold dear, what principles you stand for. As this transpires, your children are watching.

Will you vote for a politician who just tells you what you want to hear, entertains you, arouses your emotions, gets you fired up, gives you empty promises, knowingly fabricates stories, manipulates you, and lies to you — just to win. Win. Win. Win. And money.

All without regard for the truth, without respect to your sensibility, decency and intelligence, and without consideration of the greater good.

WILL YOU VOTE for a politician who used to trade personal insults with a former rival in politics — calling them names, convincing the American people

why that candidate is BAD for America — only to kiss each other’s behinds because of political expediency to win, win, win. Just like how Trump labeled Ted Cruz “Lyin’ Ted” during their battle for the Republican nomination in 2016, insulted the latter’s wife, defamed his family, and suggested his father was a co-conspirator in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.

Cruz fought back and called Trump a “sniveling coward” a “pathological liar.” That was then, now they need each other.

Trump needed Cruz to defeat the popular Democrat Beto O’Rouke so the Republicans could continue to have control of the Senate, and so he would now campaign for Cruz, labeling him as “beautiful Ted”. Cruz, of course, needed Trump’s support and endorsement in Texas to win, and so he now sings only love songs for the president. Politics at its worst.

WILL YOU VOTE for a politician who capitalizes on your baser emotions like FEAR, to cause you to hate and be afraid of other people? Just like how President Donald Trump would scare you about the thousands of people from Central America — men, women, children who are fleeing violence, hunger, pain; fathers, mothers, grandparents who only want to give their children and grandchildren a better and safer life just like what you did when you decided to immigrate to the

United States?

They walked thousands of miles from their country to do a legal recourse. That is, to go to the border and apply for asylum.

U.S. laws allow this, and each asylum seeker would have to be screened and evaluated, and then their application will either be accepted or denied. But they had to at least try to save their family.

But what did Trump do? He demonized them and called them criminals, violent gang members, drug peddlers who are coming to destroy America. He even added another layer to the fabricated story, that these asylum seekers are NOT just people from Central America. Trump said there are “unknown” people from the Middle East — aka Muslim or terrorists in his language — who will do us harm, just as he had labeled Mexicans and Muslims even before he became president. When asked by reporters if he has proof, he flatly said “No proof.”

Sadly, this is not just happening now. It has been part of plan’s goal “to make America great again” -- vilifying and discriminating against immigrants, especially people of color; demonizing all of the Islam faith, limiting not only illegal immigration but also legal migration — when this great nation is built and enriched by immigrants.

WILL YOU VOTE for a politician who cares more for money than the truth, life of a human being and justice? Like Presi-

Why I am a Republican and why Filipinos should vote for Republicans

Commentary

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON, ESQ. REPUBLICANS have treated Filipinos better than the Democrats. After the Spanish American War, President William McKinley, a Republican, decided to take the Philippines instead of giving them back to Spain or to a third nation like China or Japan. If the Democrats who opposed McKinley had prevailed, Filipinos would now be eating with chopsticks. Susmariosep.

Democrats double crossed Filipinos. When World War II broke out, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on Filipinos to join the war, promising them American citizenship and full veterans benefits. But after the war, a Democrat-controlled Congress broke the promise, leaving more than 200,000 Filipino soldiers who survived with an empty bag.

Que lastima. The Rescission Act of 1946 signed by President Harry

Truman, a Democrat, provided that the service of Filipinos in the U.S. military should not be considered to have been in active military service for the purpose of any law conferring rights, privileges, and benefits by reason of such service.

Despreciable.

It was a Republican-controlled Congress that granted U.S. citizenship to Filipino WW II veterans. I drafted the bill for my friend Republican Congressman Thomas J. Campbell of Palo Alto, California, who sponsored it. Muchos gracias.

President Ronald Reagan, a compassionate Republican, whom I met while campaigning in California, granted amnesty to more than three million illegal aliens.

The Obama administration went to the Supreme Court to prevent Filipino immigrant children who turn 21 while their visa petition is pending from using the priority date of their parents. The Court of Appeals had sided with the children. Thus, their parents would have to file new petitions for them with a new priority date.

Republican values are the same as Filipino values Republicans favor life, liberty,

and the pursuit of happiness.

Many Democrats support assisted suicide and the perpetuation of violent and filthy-mouthed confrontation. Republicans are religious, hardworking, self-reliant, and thrifty. Many Democrats do not believe in the Almighty and rely on welfare benefits at the expense of honest taxpayers.

Republicans are conservative and want fewer taxes. Democrats are liberals and like to tax and squander. Republicans hate illegal drugs and dislike abortion. Many Democrats love illegal drugs and like abortion. Republicans want a strong military to protect America. Many Democrats do not give a damn.

“If Democrats had any brains, they’d be Republicans,” writes Ann Coulter.

I say, “If Filipinos had any brains, they’d be Republicans.” ***

were criticizing former President Barack Obama for “massive spending,” which was intended by the previous administration to stimulate an economy struggling to recover from the deepest recession.

Trump’s spending, on the other hand, was to give welfare to the richest of the rich, in permanent tax breaks, when this approach was what drove the U.S. into the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

What is worse — the Republicans are now blaming the deficit to “welfare programs” like Social Security and Medicare — social benefits that we all already paid for deducted from our paycheck, as an investment toward our retirement and healthcare needs.

These politicians are proposing to cut funding for social services and would want to touch our retirement money in Social Security and Medicare, but not their own lifetime entitlement.

WOULD YOU VOTE for politicians who enable, condone, support these political tactics?

Do these politicians reflect your own values, principles and aspirations? If so, how would you explain your decision to your children and grandchildren? ***

dent Donald Trump who again peddles a new conspiracy theory that terrorists infiltrated the botched interrogation of Jamal Khashoggi, a brave Saudi national who was a legal U.S. resident who wrote for the Washington Post.

The Turkish government’s investigation has proven that Khashoggi was brutally murdered by Saudi officials who are close to the Crown Prince, reportedly because of his writings that call for freedom of the press and freedom for the people of Saudi Arabia.

While Trump awaits the results of the investigation of the murder of Khashoggi by the Saudi government, who were named by the Turks as the suspect in the killing, Trump’s administration keeps on stressing the strong alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia, in the fight against Iran. This, despite the fact that a big majority of the 9/11 terrorists who attacked America in 2001 were Saudi nationals.

“With all that being said though, we have $450 billion, $110 billion of which is a military order, but this is equipment and various things ordered from Saudi Arabia, $450 billion,” Trump said in defense of Saudi Arabia. “I think it’s over a million jobs. That’s not helpful for us to cancel an order like that. That hurts us far more than it hurts them.”

But according to the reporting

of Politifact, “The $110 billion in arms sales to the Saudis would be eye-popping enough, but this was the first time we heard the $450 billion total that included everything else. Nor has Trump said that 1 million jobs are on the line.”

Or could there be stronger ties that bind Trump’s business empire and his son-in-law Jared Kushner with the Saudis?

WILL YOU VOTE for a politician who, on the eve of the midterm elections, fearful of losing control of the House, would say he will unveil a resolution pledging congressional action sometime after elections on a 10 percent middle-class tax cut, claiming his administration has been working with Rep. Brady on the plan “very hard for a pretty long period of time.” This statement by President Trump took his own White House staff and the Republicans in Congress by surprise, not knowing what Trump was talking about.

The problem with this “Hail Mary” attempt that looks like a desperate attempt to “buy” votes for his cohorts in Congress was that Trump’s earlier permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations had already caused the U.S. deficit to balloon to $779 billion in the fiscal year 2018, up 17 percent from last year, according to final data released by the Treasury Department.

That’s the biggest spike since 2012 when the Republicans

Commentary

Immigrants built this country

GIL CISNEROS

FOR centuries, the United States of America has been a shining beacon of freedom and hope for millions of people around the world. Immigrants have come to this country in search of the American dream, and in return they have built the America that we live in today.

When the Pilgrims famously settled in Massachusetts in the 1600s, they came to practice their religion freely and start a new life. When the potato famine struck Ireland in the 1840s, thousands came and took low-wage jobs to feed their families. After the Vietnam War in 1975, many came to escape violence and starvation. In all of those cases, immigrants traveled to America knowing there was a good chance they could perish along the way amidst Emmanuel Samonte Tipon, Esq. is a Yale dangerous conditions. Still, they and University of the Philippines graduate persisted.

Millions have come to America, and practices law in Hawaii specializing in immigration and criminal defense. He is the each with their own reasons and Founder and Chairman of Legal Immigrants for their own story to tell. In AmerTrump (LIFE) whose motto is “We respect the ica, they have worked hard to good laws.” He can be contacted at filamlaw@ improve their own lives. In the process, they have bettered the yahoo.com.

lives of all those around them.

Immigrants often take the most difficult and laborious jobs, toiling for long hours and making little money. They make an immeasurable impact on our country, contributing to our economy and paying taxes.

One needs to look no further than Southern California to realize the value of immigrants. Here, our community thrives because of our diversity. We are a melting pot of cultures, strengthened by the different experiences that each of us brings. There are few places where one can drive for a few miles and see the world.

Southern California is one of those few.

Numerous studies also show that immigrants are far less likely to commit violent crimes. They’re not here to make trouble. They’re here because they care about this country and what it stands for.

Every year, thousands of immigrants join the U.S. military and risk their lives to defend this country. Since 9/11, nearly 300 immigrants have died in the line of the duty. Many of them were still waiting to become U.S. citizens, but they all made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and the U.S. Constitution.

Today, immigrants make up

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

17 percent of the U.S. workforce.

In Southern California, they are even more important. California’s 39th Congressional District lies at the intersections of Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. Here, nearly a third of the district was born outside the United States, not to mention the thousands who are second or third generation immigrants whose parents and grandparents came to this country not long ago.

The immigrants of today are not so different from those first came to America. They, like many before them, are coming to the United States to build a better life for them and their children. They are seeking the American dream, a promise of opportunity that has uplifted millions of people who now call this land home. That is still the promise of America today, but only if we work to keep it that way.

On November 6, voters will cast an important ballot that will influence whether America continues to be a welcoming place for all. The stakes have never been higher.

In Congress, I pledge to always advocate on behalf of our immigrant families and to fix our PAGE A7

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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A

Former VP Binay receives international scout award by neil Jayson

seRvallos ManilaTimes.net

FORMER vice president and Makati City congressional candidate Jejomar Binay was awarded the Bronze Wolf Award for “exemplary leadership and service” to scouting by the World Scout Committee (WSC).

The Bronze Wolf is the highest honor given to a volunteer scout leader worldwide, and is given by the WSC, the executive body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Binay, who served as chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scouting Committee, called on fellow scout leaders to fulfill the mission of the scout movement to develop INTRODUCING THE SIKLESA. Fairgoers pose for a picture while trying the ‘siklesa’ outside the World Trade Center during the 2018 Manila Fame fair. The biannual trade show is the country’s premier lifestyle and design event. Manila FAME aims to promote the Philippines as a reliable source for quality home, fashion, architectural and interior pieces by presenting masterpieces crafted by local small and medium enterprises to the global exports market.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ DIosina

AFP backs call for Reds to surrender

by Dempsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

THE New People’s Army (NPA) does not need Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison in achieving lasting peace in the country, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

In belittling Sison’s role in ending what is probably the world’s longest communist insurgency, Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said the military joined President Rodrigo Duterte’s renewed call for communist rebels to surrender to the government.

“The NPA [rebels] do not need the likes of Jose Maria Sison to broker for peaceful and meaningful lives for them. They can avail [themselves] of localized

peace talks, as the AFP has been supporting [such talks],” Arevalo said in a statement.

“CPP leaders abroad are out of touch and have only their personal interests to protect in making ludicrous demands for the talks but do not perform their share to make peace work,” he said.

Arevalo cited the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, in which former NPA rebels receive a “wholistic package” of benefits such as health, education and livelihood and legal assistance.

“This is the best time to surrender and avail (sic) of these benefits now enjoyed by hundreds of former rebels,” he said.

At the same time, the military spokesman branded the revolu-

tion being pushed by the NPA rebels as “passé,” saying Filipinos have “already realized the inutility” of the ideology being presented by the local communists.

In a speech last Friday, Duterte reiterated that he was willing to provide jobs to NPA rebels surrendering to the military, saying he did not want to kill them.

Arevalo backed the statement of the president, boasting that hundreds of communist rebels had yielded. “[T]hey have come to realize that while they were being pushed to fight it out in the frontlines, the CPP leadership in Europe and in the cities luxuriate in the money they extort from business persons,” he said. n

Martial law in Mindanao has reduced crimes, says archbishop by evelyn

macaiRan Philstar.com

MANILA — Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad is not opposing the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao as he said it has helped restore peace and order in the region.

Jumoad said that crime incidents in Mindanao have gone down since martial law was enforced. “In my experience, martial law in Mindanao has lessened crimes and is able to enforce discipline among people

in this place. Many have voluntarily surrendered their guns but still there is still a lot to do,” said Jumoad, who has been serving in Mindanao since he became a priest in 1983. He was named bishop of Isabela in 2002 and archbishop of Ozamiz in 2016.

“Our men and women in uniform here are professionals and very respectful,” he said.

The prelate did not rule out the possibility of some soldiers committing abuses as he urged people to stay vigilant and report these atrocities.

“Let us just be vigilant and point out human rights violations. There is still freedom of the press and we can still ventilate our opinions,” Jumoad said, reacting to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo’s statement that the government might again extend martial law in Mindanao.

President Duterte first ordered martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after the Maute terrorists laid siege on Marawi City.

Duterte has asked Congress to extend martial law until the end of this year. n

the youth’s physical, moral, intellectual and social responsibilities as citizens and individuals.

“I hope that those among us who are leaders in their own right are making a conscious and sustained effort to be catalysts of holistic growth among the youth, taking every opportunity to bring out the best in them and help them achieve their full potential,” Binay said in the awarding ceremonies on Saturday, October 20, at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Binay first joined the scout movement as a cub scout.

He was regional chairman of the Asia-Pacific Scouting Committee for 12 years where he enlisted several Asian countries into

Former Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay ManilaTimes.net photo

the organization.

Binay was also part of the transition team that transferred the World Scout Bureau Global Office then in Geneva, Switzerland to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. n

Substantial wage hike unlikely, labor admits

by William

Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

LABOR groups sought President Rodrigo Duterte’s intervention for a “substantial” wage increase for some 4 million wage earners in Metro Manila, after a consultation on Monday with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR).

Representatives of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) submitted during the meeting a supplementary position paper amending its original P320 daily wage hike petition filed in June 2018 to P334 a day.

ALU-TUCP Vice President Louie Corral admitted that the petition for a substantial wage increase was unlikely to be granted, saying that “the NCR regional wage boards were just being polite, perfunctory and routine and just wanted to get over it.”

“It looks like the NCR wage board is not sure about its full mandate. These are times of eco-

nomic hardship and difficulty for workers in a supposedly growing economy. We fear that what we encountered today are wage board members who don’t want to take real responsibility and make the hard decisions for fairness and decency,” Corral said.

Amid rising prices of goods and cost of services, the President should intervene in the wage issue, he said, adding it might be mishandled and result in a backlash against the Duterte government.

“We therefore call on the President to lead from the front on the wage petition issue. Workers are already barely surviving on their daily minimum wages,” Corral said.

Corral claimed that economic managers were pre-empting the wage board deliberations and misleading the President by saying that a substantial wage increase would be inflationary.

Inflation, however, was caused by profiteers and cartels in electricity, petroleum and rice, as

well as the excise tax and valueadded tax on power and oil, he said.

Metro Manila workers recieve P512 minimum wage a day. The real value or purchasing power of the minimum wage, however, has fallen to P340 a day, the group said.

The last wage increase, amounting to P21 per day, was granted to minimum-wage earners in Metro Manila on Oct. 5, 2017, out of the original petition of P184 per day.

It brought the daily minimum wage rate in the private sector to P512 from P491.

ALU-TUCP has also sought from the government a P500 monthly grocery subsidy for minimum-wage earners to help them cope with rising inflation and eroding wages.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he had recommended a P200 subsidy to the President, subject to the approval of the Departments of Finance and of Budget and Management. n

Immigrants built this...

PAGE A6 country’s broken immigration system. We are stronger when we work together to build a better future. I’ll fight to ensure we end the detention and separation of families, we keep our promise to DACA recipients, and I refuse to fund the administration’s senseless border wall.

I am proud of my MexicanAmerican heritage, and I come from a family of service. My father fought for our country in Vietnam,

and I followed in his footsteps serving in the Navy for 10 years.

I have seen firsthand the contributions that immigrants make to our armed forces and our society.

The immigrants who have woven the fabric of America have made tremendous sacrifices. I will defend the United States as a welcoming land of opportunity, so that future generations can find the same strength in America that we and our ancestors have. ***

Gil Cisneros is an independent leader running for Congress to ensure our children are provided with the same ladder of opportunity that the Navy provided him. Son of a cafeteria worker, Gil is not a career politician, he is a veteran, philanthropist, and education advocate, who pledges to stand up to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries to lower healthcare costs, protect education funding, and work to create good-paying local jobs. Gil refuses contributions from PACs because he believes the government should work for the people – not corporate special interests.

A OctOber 24-26, 2018 • Socal ASIAN JOUrNAL

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B

Journal

A SMARTER WATER SYSTEM FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Philippines eyes foreign debt market next year Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the government is looking to issue euro-denominated bonds and British-pound denominated Sterling bonds in 2019.

Philstar photo by Geremy Pintolo

by Mary

GraCe aPdin Philstar.com

THE Philippine government plans to tap various commercial offshore debt markets as part of its borrowing program next year, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

In an interview, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the government is looking to issue euro-denominated bonds and British-pound denominated Ster-

ling bonds in 2019. “We hope to do something in England. We are getting invitations from some of the ambassadors from Europe to have a roadshow in Frankfurt,� Dominguez said.

Dominguez said he has also ordered the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to make a presentation to express the Philippine government’s interest in Norway’s $1 trillion wealth fund.

The Duterte administration

is considering issuing U.S. dollar-denominated global bonds in 2019.

Aside from these, Dominguez said the government also intends to make a comeback in the samurai and panda bond markets as early as next year. “For the samurai, we plan to do it within 12 to 18 months from August. In China, we will come back to the market again within 12 to 18 months from last

u PAGE B3

Fuel tax deferral means substantial 2020 increase

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

CONSUMERS should brace for a substantial fuel tax hike in 2020 should the government shelve increases set to take effect next year, a senior Finance department official warned. “The suspension is temporary and there is already the law that provides the scheduled increase,� Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua told reporters. “So if you suspend for one year, by 2020 you have to apply the full amount,� he added.

Economic managers have recommended that President Rodrigo Duterte order the deferment of a second round of fuel tax hikes next year given rising inflation.

Higher taxes on fuel products, among other goods and services, were implemented under the Tax Reform of Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law that took effect at the start of 2018.

Under the law, a second and third round of fuel tax hikes should be implemented at the start of next year and in 2020.

Following a P2.50 increase this year, the excise tax on diesel

Every year LA County wastes billions of gallons of water because our 100-yearold water management system wasn’t built to capture most of the rain that falls in our region. The result is that the rain washes over streets and other paved DUHDV SLFNV XS WUDVK DQG SROOXWDQWV DQG À RZV RXW WR RXU ULYHUV VWUHDPV DQG into the ocean.

Measure W is a local parcel tax that would help modernize this system. Using technology, science and nature-based solutions, Measure W would provide local funding for projects that could: *capture and store enough storm water for two million families, one third of the county’s residents *clean the plastic, trash and toxins from LA’s waterways, beaches and ocean *increase natural spaces that can improve public health, especially in underserved communities.

Commuters ride a jeepney in Quiapo, Manila in this photo taken on Friday, October 19. Taking the jeepney will become more expensive as regulators have approved fare hikes in response to higher fuel prices, among others.

Manilatimes.net photo by Russell Palma

If approved by 66.7% of local voters, Measure W would generate an estimated $300 million per year by authorizing a parcel tax of 2.5 cents per square foot of a property’s impermeable surface, or $83 a year for a typical single-residence home. Low income seniors and schools would be exempted.

For more information, please visit: http://safecleanwaterla.org/

will increase to P4.50 per liter in 2019 and by P6 per liter in 2020.

u PAGE B3

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

B OCTOBER 24-26, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

Health expenditures rise 8% in 2017

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For Filipinos abroad: Where to expect a Jollibee store next by ira

Pedrasa Inquirer.net

LONDON – The first Jollibee branch in the United Kingdom may only be 300 square meters, but the busy bee is set to dominate Europe one store at a time.

In an interview with reporters ahead of the opening of the Earl’s Court branch on Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 a.m., Jollibee CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said the company planned to open 50 stores in the next five years in Europe, focusing on Italy, Spain and the UK. The UK, home to about 250,000 documented Filipinos, alone will have the biggest chunk of that number, totaling Out of the total health expenditures last year, 96.1 percent were current health expenditures while 3.9 percent comprised health capital formation 25 stores, mainly in Liverpool, expenses in the government sector.

Philstar photo by Michael Varcas Manchester and Birmingham.

A store costs around $1 miltures while 3.9 percent com- compulsory contributory health

by Czeriza ValenCia philstar.com prised health capital formation care financing schemes made expenses in the government up 33 percent of the country’s health expenditures amounting Immigrant THE country spent more for sector. healthcare last year with out- Every Filipino spent an average to P225.9 billion.

Voluntary health care payment Living: 101 of-pocket expenses growing of P6,791 for health as seen in steeply, the Philippine Statistics the per capita health spending schemes, meanwhile, contribut- and Beyond during the year using a popula- ed P85.7 billion or 12.5 percent Authority (PSA) reported.

The country’s total health tion count of 104.9 million. This of the total.

More than half (50.1 percent) Monette expenditures at current prices has grown from P5,834 in 2015 of the out-of-pocket medical AdevA MAglAyA grew by eight percent to P712.3 and P6,388 in 2016.

The bulk of health expendi- expenses amounting to P186.6 billion last year from P659.3 bil(HERE’S an abbreviated verlion in 2016, contributing 4.5 tures came from households as billion went to pharmacies, pripercent to the Gross Domestic seen in the 54.5 percent share vate hospitals (P97.5 billion or a sion of a fascinating story from Greek mythology. This is a of household out-of-pocket ex- share of 26.1 percent).

Product (GDP).

Providers of ambulatory redux.)

Out of the total health expen- penses to the total health expenLong ago in the island of healthcare received P50.3 billion ditures last year, 96.1 percent ditures.

Crete, there lived a man named Government schemes and or 13.5 percent of the total.n were current health expendiDaedalus, who was famed for his skills as an inventor. He worked for King Minos. Foremost among What’s his many achievements was New building the labyrinth in which the king kept the Minotaur, a fearsome, legendary beast which was half-man and half-bull that (Part 4) Arlene Al-os, fed on human flesh. It was said must file election to choose 100% and each succeeding year. The that anyone who went into the CPA, MBA depreciation deduction with the limitation applies to both if the labyrinth never came out of it • YOU may need to pay quar- IRS by October 15, 2018. The taxpayer elects not to claim bo- again because of its complex, terly estimated taxes unless tax election allows to write-off depre- nus depreciation or the taxpayer undecipherable winding walls owed is less than $1,000 upon ciable assets in the year placed in elects to claim bonus deprecia- and corridors. filing of the tax return or you do service and generally applies to tion.

Daedalus was brilliant and this • Achievement Award to Em- was a problem for the king. Alnot owe any taxes in prior year if depreciable assets used in the you have income from business business with life not more than ployee. Achievement award to though Daedalus had been giving as sole proprietor, or receiving 20 years. These assets generally employee can be excluded from the king great and loyal service K-1 as a partner or shareholder qualify: computers, furniture and wages if the award is tangible all his life, Minos was deeply inof S-corporation. Refer to IRS equipment, machinery, etc. For personal property. Tangible per- secure and feared that Daedalus Publication 505 for more infor- timely filed 2017 return and did sonal property does not include who was wise, celebrated and not elect out but wanted to elect gift certificates, gift cards, meals ingenious would, one day chalmation.

• Starting January 1, 2018, the out will need to file an amended and lodging, movie theater tick- lenge him to become king. As a ets, etc.

20% of qualified business in- return. preemptive move, Minos impris• Amusement, recreation, and oned Daedalus and his son, Ica• Luxury automobile deprecome deduction or section 199A business income deduction is ciation. Starting January 1, 2018, entertainment are now non-de- rus in a prison tower. The king depreciation deduction is subject ductible under the new act. Busi- underestimated Daedalus, for available to business owners.

• Qualifying property in service to dollar limitation in the year nesses may still claim 50% de- one dark night, father and son on or after September 27, 2017, automobile is placed in service u PAGE B5 escaped from their prison tower.

What’s new: Tax cuts and jobs act

lion to $1.5 million.

“The vision of the company is to become part of the top five restaurants in the world.

Today we are at 11 or 12, depending on stock price. To achieve that dream, we will require aggressive expansion,” Tanmantiong said, noting the big boost would still come from Filipinos wanting a taste of home.

Jollibee will have its soft opening in Manhattan on October 27; Malaysia before the end of the year; Guam by next year; then Australia and Indonesia by 2020.

Admittedly small, the branch plans to take up a bigger space if a deal with the next-door neighbor Levi’s pushes through. n

(From left) Jollibee head of international market Dennis Flores, the bee of the hour and Jollibee CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong practice for the opening of Jollibee’s first UK store on Saturday, October 20 (8 a.m., UK time).

Inquirer file photo

Children just like you (1 of 2 parts)

“The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.”

—Alfred North Whitehead They found out however that it was well nigh impossible to escape the island with the paranoid King Minos sending out an all points bulletin to his mindless minions. Minos’ soldiers carefully searched every boat that left the island.

Father and son took cover in a remote cave along the shore hidden from the watchful eyes of Minos’ soldiers while Daedalus figured out a way to escape.

Watching the seagulls for hours soaring and diving for food on the shore, Daedalus was struck with the idea of flight as an escape route. He caught one bird and studied the structure and form of its wings and after careful thought, decided to copy how a wing is made. He instructed Icarus to catch seagulls and pluck their feathers. When there were enough feathers, he sewed them together and used melted wax to bind the feathers on a wooden framework. He created the contraption so skillfully that they looked like a giant replica

of a bird’s wings. He customized two pairs of wings for himself and for his son, careful to take each of their individual body weights into consideration.

But having wings was one thing, knowing how to use those wings to fly was another. So Daedalus strapped his wings and still taking his cue from the seagulls on how to soar, swoop, dive and glide, he proceeded to learn how to fly so that the wings felt like a seamless part of his arms and his body. He studied wind currents, the waters of the sea and the heat of the sun. Having gained the skill, he proceeded to teach his son patiently. At first, Icarus stumbled and fell and when he got past the first few fumbles, the youth learned quickly, his lithe, svelte form seemingly destined for flight.

He learned to fly like a bird, swooping and diving, gliding and circling about, looking down below at the blue waters and their island prison, now a mere speck

u PAGE B5

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Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG THE clients are young seniors at 62. The husband took an early retirement as he has a serious illness. Two years ago, the husband was diagnosed with stage 3 leukemia. He has been undergoing treatment with a new cancer-fighting drug that is still experimental.

The cancer went into remission last year but resurfaced recently. I sometimes wonder, with all our advanced technology that can send people to Mars, we still cannot cure cancer.

Sure, certain cancers can now be fought effectively if detected early enough and we know more about cancer now that we did a couple of decades ago. There is, of course, our City of Hope that boasts of being cutting edge on cancer treatment, but if you are unlucky enough to get cancer, I am sure that the thought of dying sooner than later will certainly be a constant thought in your mind. I’ve also heard of people who get cured of cancer by stem cell therapy administered by a group of German doctors in Mexico. The cost of treatment is about $30,000 per session using stem cells from a fetus, which they provide. In any event, the best thing that can happen for our loved ones and us is that we never get sick until we die of natural causes.

I rely on Psalm 91, written by Moses a long time ago, for protection from cancer and other illness for my loved ones & myself.

In that Psalm, Moses says that “Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty can say to Him, ‘you are my defender and protector, you are my God, in you I trust.’ He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. So, like Moses, I go to our Lord to keep my loved ones and myself safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.

Going back to the clients, since husband fell ill, he stopped

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which a couple is married. Often, a foreign national is in his/her home country and, for one reason or another, the U.S. citizen cannot travel to that country to marry him/her. A solution in such a scenario can be found with the K-1 Fiance(e) Visa.

A K-1 visa allows a foreign national to come to the United States to marry a United States citizen. The K-1 visa is valid for ninety (90) days after entry to the United States, during which time the marriage must take place.

Once the foreign national is issued a K-1 visa, any of his/her unmarried children under the age of 21 may be issued K-1 visas. Upon arrival in the United States, the foreign national may immediately apply for permission to work. A two-step process is involved to obtain a K-1 visa.

First, the United States citizen (the petitioner) must file Petition for Alien Fiance(e) along with supporting documents with the USCIS. Through the filed petition and documents, the peti-

BUSINESS NEWS

Seniors with $40K credit cards seek Chapter 7 relief working; hence, his income went down as he now receives social security at 62. He took an early retirement. Normally, one would wait until 67 to get full social security benefits. But with the client’s illness, he may not be around at 67 so he might as well start getting social security even if it’s a lesser amount now.

The clients are paying for a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. They pay $600 a month with five more years to go. They feel that it’s too much of a debt burden and have decided to return the 4Runner.

The dealer told them that even with a voluntary return of the car, they would still owe about $12,000. This is called the voluntary car return deficiency. What happens is that the dealer sells the returned car at wholesale and uses the proceeds to pay a portion of the car loan. Since clients still have five years on the car loan, at $600 a month, they owe $36,000.

The dealer anticipates selling the car for $24,000 at wholesale. The sale proceeds of $24,000 will be used to pay down the $36,000, leaving a balance of $12,000. By the contract, clients have agreed to pay $36,000 for the car, so they are still contractually liable for the unpaid difference of $12,000 even if the car has been returned.

In addition, the clients owe $40,000 of credit cards. They need $1,200 a month for minimum monthly payments. Since the client only gets $1,100 from social security, it’s a no-brainer that they need to wipe out the $40,000 of credit cards as well as the $12,000 voluntary car return deficiency. Clients have further decided to buy a cheaper car where they will only pay about $200 a month or less on a lease.

I told them to go ahead and get a smaller car, which is consistent with pre-bankruptcy planning.

Client needs Chapter 13 to handle $50K personal guaranty The second client is 52. He owns a California S corporation and has a residence that has $300,000 equity. His import

distribution business was doing well since it started in 2002. But business turned south last year when gross sales went down by 30 percent. With a 30 percent sales reduction, the company is losing money. He obtained a $50,000 loan from the bank, which required him to execute a personal guaranty for $50,000.

The company has not paid the loan for several months. The bank then sued the company and client on his personal guaranty last week. Since the client has $300K,000 of equity in his house, the non-exempt portion of the homestead equity is $200,000. That’s a lot more than the $50,000 guaranty. The client does not qualify for Chapter 7 relief. However, Chapter 13 will provide relief in that client will be given a repayment plan of 60 months to pay $50,000 without interest, that’s about $850 a month for five years.

Since the client now works for the employer and has a gross salary of $3,500 a month, and his wife also has some income, Chapter 13 will protect his house from a judgment lien of $50,000 from the lawsuit.

If he were to opt for Chapter 7, he would lose his house.

The trustee will sell his house, give him his exempt equity of $100,000, then use the $200,000 to pay the $50,000 and trustee administrative and legal fees which will be substantial.

So Chapter 7 is not the right way to go. Chapter 13, however, will provide adequate relief while protecting his residence from a judgment lien. Besides, Chapter 13 trustee has no power to sell the debtor’s house. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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K-1 visa: Fiancé visa to marry U.S. citizen tioner must demonstrate three things. To begin, it must be shown that the foreign national has a bona fide intent to marry within ninety (90) days after arrival. This is often accomplished by producing evidence that a marriage is going to take place—i.e. wedding announcements, catering contracts, etc. In addition, it must be shown that both parties are unmarried and of legal age. Birth certificates, and if one has been previously married, evidence that the prior marriage has been legally terminated are usually satisfactory to accomplish this. Finally, evidence must be provided to show that the parties have physically met each other within the past two (2) years. The petitioner may submit photos of the couple, plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc. as proof that the couple has met.

Exceptions to this third requirement apply in certain circumstances that cannot be explored here due to space limitations of this article. The USCIS may also schedule an interview of the petitioner wherein inquiry will be made on the foregoing issues.

Once approved, notice is sent to the petitioner and the file is forwarded to the appropriate consulate abroad.

Second, after the petition is approved, the foreign national can apply for a K-1 visa in his/ her home country. An interview is scheduled where the foreign national must provide certain documents for issuance of the visa. An affidavit of support from

March,” he said.

To recall, the government sold 1.46 billion renminbi ($230 million) worth of panda bonds last March. In August, the BTr also raised ¥107.2 billion ($1.39 billion) worth of samurai bonds.

The national government intends to increase its borrowing program to P1.19 trillion in 2019 from this year’s P986 billion.

National Treasurer Rosalia De

Leon said this was in anticipation of the higher fiscal deficit programmed by economic managers for 2019.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee earlier raised the government’s fiscal deficit ceiling to P624.73 billion for 2019, equivalent to 3.2 percent of the gross domestic product.

According to the Treasury, P297.2 billion ($5.504 billion) of the total amount to be borrowed

The excise tax on gasoline, meanwhile, will increase to P9 per liter and P10 per liter by 2019 and 2020, respectively, after having been raised by P7 this year.

“In the law, it does not say additional, it says that at this time — this is the amount and by that time it is the full amount already,” Chua said.

“So if you suspend in 2019, you have to implement both [the] 2019 and 2020 increase,” he added.

Deferment of next year’s tax hike appeared a given early last week as a Palace official announced the move, which economic managers confirmed.

Statements issued later in the week, however, caused confu-

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 24 - N OV E M B E R 9

FASGI presents FAIR art exhibit in Los Angeles FASGI is pleased to announce FAIR – FASGI Artists Impressions & Reflections – an art exhibit to be held from October 9, 2018 to November 9, 2018 at the FASGI Bayanihan Center (135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles, CA 90026). FAIR is presented as part of FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program. FAIR will showcase five internationally-acclaimed artists who will unveil new and original artworks: Rafael Maniago, Cesar Devera, Johnny Otilano, Mat Relox, and Tiinz Taruc. FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program was created in 2016 to promote and uplift Filipino and Filipino American arts and culture. The program’s mission is to: (1) help Filipino American artists to be properly recognized and given economic opportunities for advancement; (2) enable Filipino Americans to get in touch with their culture; and (3) to educate mainstream America on Philippine/American art. The program currently includes a permanent gallery, special exhibits, portraiture, parol-making, and an artist-in-residence program. Art workshops, instruction, and live projects are currently being planned for commencement in 2019.

O C TO B E R 26 -28

Wellspring gathering in Palm Springs, CA The creators of Wanderlust bring the first annual Wellspring, a first-of-its-kind wellness gathering, featuring the world’s leading innovators, teachers and socially conscious companies from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28 in Palm Springs, CA. From invigorating workouts and hands-on treatments to inspirational, actionable workshops, Wellspring connects us to a common goal: fostering healthy individuals, a healthy society and a healthy planet. Events will take place from October 26-28, 2018 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center (277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262) and Renaissance Hotel (888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262). Wellspring Sage badges are on sale now at https://wanderlust.com/wellspring/. The 3-day badges include unlimited access to all event areas, advance scheduling for all sessions; guaranteed access to any prescheduled session, access to lodging at the on-site Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel and select partner hotels (first come, first served), a premium gift bag and more. For a limited time, receive a $150 hotel credit when you purchase your Sage badge. Special savings and scholarships are available for wellness professionals, locals to the Palm Springs area, active students, and active and retired military and their families.

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.

*** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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Candidates’ Forum in South San Francisco, CA

next year will be sourced from external lenders. This is 14.1 percent lower than this year’s P346 billion.

The remaining P891.7 billion under the 2019 borrowing program will come from domestic lenders.

Dominguez said the national government is still planning to issue U.S.-dollar denominated global bonds this year as part of its pre-funding efforts. ■

Fuel tax deferral means substantial...

PAGE B1 t

Calendar of Events across

the petitioner, proving that the foreign national will not be relying on public assistance upon arrival, in addition to originals of documents mentioned hereinabove, must be presented. Other documents may also be requested by a particular consulate. If all requirements are met, visa issuance will follow. After arrival in the United States and marriage, the foreign national may thereafter begin the process to obtain permanent residence. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

Philippines eyes foreign debt...

PAGE B1 t

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 24-26, 2018

sion as one official said the recommendation should be recalled and the Finance department noted that crude prices were not at levels that would prompt the suspension.

The tax hikes under TRAIN law have been blamed for rising inflation, which hit a fresh nineyear high of 6.7 percent in September.■

“The Upside Down” – the Ateneo Blue Eagle Circle Halloween fundraiser party in Sunland, CA The Ateneo Blue Eagle Circle (TBEC) invites you to “The Upside Down” – a fundraiser Halloween Party, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00pm PST, at the Tierra del Sol event hall on 9919 Sunland Blvd., Sunland, CA 91040. Kids of all ages are welcome to join! Fr. Carmelo Caluag will be celebrating an anticipated mass at 5:30pm. Program will follow thereafter. Tickets are $40.00 per person, which includes food and drinks. Alcohol will be served for 21+ years old only. Kids 12 and under come in free. Wear your best Halloween Costume, inspired by the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things”, for a chance to win a special prize! For more information about TBEC or the upcoming event, call or text Benkie Natividad at (818) 484-0948, or visit http://bit.ly/UpsideDownTBEC.

LA Builder Lions Club to hold Outstanding Parents Night The Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will hold its 28th Anniversary & Annual Outstanding Parents Night on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Oxford Palace Hotel (745 S. Oxford Ave. Los Angeles 90005). The club is headed by Lion Ken Marchand. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call PDG Sonja Menor (323) 4650613, Tita James (818) 203-2325 or Willard Palahang at (661) 312-0912.

The Friends of the Filipino American Community (FFAC), a political action committee headed by Dr. Fel Amistad, is hosting a Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, October 27 from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Fort McKinley (101 Brentwood Drive) in South San Francisco, CA. Along with meeting the candidates running for State and City offices, the forum will also tackle the different Propositions included in the ballot in the coming November 6 elections. For more information, please call Dr. Amistad at (650) 544-5221.

O C TO B E R 27-28

Holy Family Catholic Church Paris Country Fair in Glendale, CA On Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, bring the whole family to the Parish Country Fair at Holy Family Catholic Church (400 S. Louise Street & 400 E. Lomita Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205). There will be bounce houses, food trucks, carnival games, face painting contests and more! The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, please visit www.hfglendale.org or call (818) 243-3743.

O C TO B E R 27- D EC E M B E R 1 2

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles features Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future exhibition JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is pleased to announce the upcoming SOU FUJIMOTO: FUTURES OF THE FUTURE exhibition, taking place Oct. 27 - Dec. 12, 2018 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, located at Hollywood & Highland. Named the Wall Street Journal’s Architecture Innovator of The Year in 2014, Fujimoto has designed public and private buildings around the world since establishing his atelier in 2000. This exhibition is a showcase of over 100 models and large-scale photographs of past and current projects by the celebrated Japanese architect. Fujimoto addresses many opposite concepts, including the recurring theme the “primitive future.” This apparent contradiction refers to the primordial, intuitive moments that reconnect us with our own humanity, and open us up to new possibilities. His designs often feature juxtapositions of outside and inside, nature and urbanity, objects and spaces, public and private. And, his work considers the macro and micro: when does an object become a space? Exhibition dates from Oct. 27 to Dec. 12 are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day 11/22). JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (inside Hollywood & Highland).

Admission is free. For more information, please call (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles/events/.

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

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People and Events

Arcadia named Top 50 Safest City in California

City of Burbank receives Excellence in Economic Development Awards

Honors presented by the International Economic Development Council

Photo courtesy of the City of Arcadia

THE City of Arcadia was named one of the top safest cities in California by SafeWise.com, a professional safety review and comparison website. There are 486 cities in California, and Arcadia was ranked 44th out of the top 50 safest cities. The Arcadia Police Department continues to be one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the state.

EMPLOYMENT

“The City of Arcadia has always taken great pride in our public safety efforts,” said Mayor Sho Tay. “Even as we face difficult financial challenges, we are still committed to keeping our City a safe and welcoming place for families, visitors, and businesses.

We are honored to receive this recognition.”

To identify the 50 safest cit-

ies in California, SafeWise.com analyzed the 2016 FBI Crime Report Statistics and population data. The website’s evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes in each city, with a calculated rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. For more information or to see the full report please visit: www.safewise.com/ blog/safest-cities-california/.■

EMPLOYMENT

THE City of Burbank / Economic Development & Housing Division recently won two Silver Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its City of Burbank Business and Economic Development 2016-2017 Annual Report and the Burbank Economic Development Business Attraction Video.

The Division produces an Annual Report that is timed for release at the State of the City address each October. An annual gathering of more than 500 businesses and decision-makers, the State of the City officially unveils the Mayor and City Council’s priorities, themes, and commitments for the coming year. View the 2018 State of the City video here https://youtu.be/GeQiCqXmIjQ. The Annual Report is downloadable at https://econdevburbank. com. This Report is also used for marketing in the Los Angeles

Photo courtesy of the City of Burbank

Business Journal, reaching more than 100,000+ regional decisionmakers.

“This year our judges reviewed some extraordinary projects that advanced both communities and businesses. We congratulate all the award winners, and thank everyone who nominated their projects for sharing their success with fellow IEDC members. What we learn from each other helps us to grow and advance as a profession,” said Craig Richard, the 2018 IEDC Board Chair.

“It’s an honor to receive these two Economic Development awards,” stated Mary Hamzoian,

FOR RENT

HOME AGENCY

City of Burbank Economic Development Manager. “As ‘Media Capital of the World,’ our goal is to achieve excellence in attracting cutting-edge industry to Burbank and our Annual Report and Video are instrumental to our success.”

About the International Economic Development Council The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers.

With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. To learn more, please visit: www.iedcONLINE.org.■

B OCTOBER 24-26, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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Atras Abante: Filipinotown history reimagined An art exhibit from October 25 to November 17

LOS ANGELES - In their quest to generate and revitalize artistic and cultural programs in the Filipino American community, Puro Arte and KitaKits presents their inaugural exhibition, “ATRAS ABANTE (Look back to move forward): Filipinotown History Reimagined,” on October 25 through November 17, 2018 at the Regis House Community Center at 2212 Beverly Blvd., Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

The groundbreaking exhibition, born as a reflection and response to the rapidly shifting composition of the Historic Filipinotown, features the work of of emerging and established Filipino American contemporary artists: Ferdinand Agriam, Cirilo Domine, Marlon Fuentes, Maryrose C. Mendoza, Christine Morla, Chris Sicat and Rey Zipagan.

“The drastic shifts, changes, and disruptions taking place in communities of color in Los Angeles have caused great uncertainties,” said Tala Mateo, Lead Curator and Co-Founder of KitaKits artist collective. “I believe that art and artists have the power to confront these issues to open conversations and discussions.”

The collaboration between established artists from Puro Arte and the emergent artist collective of KitaKits in partnership with the Regis House Community Center is a strong signal that

“Untitled” by Cirilo Domine and the “Bells of Balangiga” by Rey Zipagan

Filipino American artists in Los Angeles are committed to deepening theirs roots in Historic Filipinotown to maintain and grow the legacy of that community.

“Puro Arte calls out to Filipino artists of Los Angeles to stake claim to a historical neighborhood that is changing and struggling to keep its name relevant in the face of rapid gentrification. There is a need to address the existence of a FilipinoAmerican community or Historic Filipinotown will exist only in name.” said Reuben Domingo, Co-Founder & Director of Puro Arte.

Alhambra Pumpkin Run and Halloween Fest

The 5th Annual Pumpkin Run and Halloween Fest will take place on Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Downtown Alhambra.

THE time is upon us for the Annual Alhambra Pumpkin Run and Halloween Fest. This is a great family event that features 5K and 1K runs, as well as live entertainment, trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, a pumpkin pie eating contest and much more!

Download the 5th Annual Pumpkin Run Map to view the course, timeline of events and other information at http://www.cityofalhambra.org Pumpkin Run information Run/walk start at 2nd Street & Main Street in Downtown Alhambra Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. 5K

start - 8 a.m., 1K start - 9:30 a.m.

Halloween Festival information Location is at 2nd Street between Main Street and Commonwealth, in front of Alhambra High School from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

You can also download a copy of the Hallowscream Trick-or-Treat map of Downtown Alhambra at http://www.cityofalhambra.org To register for the run/walk, or for more details about the event, please visit the Alhambra Pumpkin Run website or email event organizers at alhambrapumpkinrun@gmail.com. Come out and enjoy this wonderful event! n

Whats new: Tax...

PAGE B2 t

duction on meals if 1) provided to potential customer or client 2) not extravagant 3) the employer or employee is present 4) purchased separately from entertainment events. You may rely on Notice 2018-76 until the Department of Treasury publish regulations on when business meals expenses are deductible.

• Unless you are member of Armed Forces on duty, moving expenses is no longer deductible. Payment by an employer to employee for qualified moving expenses is subject to federal income tax.

• Exclusion from employee’s wages of qualified bicycle commuting reimbursements has been suspended. These reimbursements must now be included in employee’s wages starting 2018 through 2025.

• Starting January 1, 2018 through January 1, 2026, the

miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to 2% adjusted gross income floor has been suspended. Any unreimbursed employee travel expenses for business standard mileage rate under Notice 2018-03 cannot be utilized to claim for itemized deduction. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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Children just like you PAGE B2 t

from above, and frolicking about overhead, chasing the seagulls and rolling in the clouds. Freedom was a heady drink. Icarus felt complete elation, knew the incredible lightness of being and tasted the sweet freedom of flight.

Then came the day when Daedalus and Icarus were to fly out of Crete. The sun was up, and the wind was mild and Daedalus decided it was an auspicious day to make the great escape. Daedalus sat his son down and looked him in the eyes for serious pre-flight instructions knowing that once in the air, there would be little chance for communication.

“Pay attention, Icarus. Stick close behind me and watch

your altitude. Fly too low and the sea with its moisture will make your wings too heavy. Fly too high and the heat of the sun will melt the wax in your wings.

Take heed and stay close.” Icarus nodded agreement but he was far too excited and his mind was already in the sky.

(To be continued …)

*** 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” http://issuu. com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before agenda-driven google.

“II” by Chris Sica

“Opening up our Regis House to this wonderful project is so exciting and a great reminder that it is our mission to be there for all people and do our part,” said Sister Albertina Morales of the Regis House. “ This is my reminder that we need each other to become our best selves.” Hosting the exhibit is part of their mission to create a safe space for those conversations—a place that when people walk in, they are home.

The exhibit is free to the public, but guests are encouraged to register online at http://bit.ly/puroarte1025 before coming. n

in between Domine and Morla’s work

“Etemenanki #04” by Ferdinand Agriam

“Kapwa” by Maryrose C. Mendoza

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 24-26, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

From bean to bar: Fil-Am chocolatier Hernan Lauber finds joy in native Philippine cacao On promoting the Philippines as the “Napa Valley of cacao”

by RAE

FILIPINOS love chocolate.

And sure, that affinity includes the Hershey’s, M&M’s, and Toblerone bars that fill up balikbayan boxes sent by loved ones abroad, but there’s also the traditional tablea chocolate disks whisked in boiling water to make hot tsokolate, or mixed in with glutinous rice to make champorado.

To Fil-Am chocolatier Hernan Lauber, the Philippines is what he describes as the “Napa Valley of cacao” — a big claim, given that the country may not initially be one that comes to mind when talking about the bean.

“The Philippines currently produces less than one-percent of the world’s supply of cacao but it’s been a part of Filipino history for as long as it’s been part of European history,” said Lauber, the chocolatier behind the new bean-to-bar chocolate brand, “Oodaalolly”.

According to some historical accounts, cacao first came to the Philippines aboard Manila galleons by way of Acapulco, Mexico in the 1670s. The first cacao plants in the Philippines yielded pure aromatic and mild Criollo cacao beans which have a distinct reddish color, and are today very rare and generally regarded as the superior bean over the more common Trinitario and Forastero cacao beans.

Situated along the cacao growing sweet spot dubbed the equatorial “Cacao Belt,” the Philippines nonetheless found itself laying low in the modern global cacao market, unable to meet even its local demand. As a result, the Philippines began importing much of its cacao beans from nearby Malaysia and Indonesia, and its chocolate products from the U.S. and Singapore,

according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

But the country has recently been showing global ambitions for its chocolate to capture a larger slice of the growing global market.

In 2015, the Philippine government’s Department of Agriculture and the Mindanao Development Authority signed an ambitious agreement to increase cacao bean production tenfold to 100,000 metric tons by 2020. By 2017, the Philippines joined the international Cocoa of Excellence Programme for the first time where it snagged a spot in the top 50.

On what makes the Philippines the “Napa Valley of cacao,” Laubner said it goes back to the country’s unique agricultural landscape.

“Cacao is truly an agricultural product, so it is influenced by how and where it’s grown,” said Lauber. “Since much of the country is still agrarian, especially in the provinces, the cacao can be found among many other types of fruits including bananas, mangoes, and guavas, all of which have an impact on the flavor of the beans.”

Growing up on chocolate Born in the Philippines, Lauber spent the first two years of his life in the country and grew up in other parts of the world like Geneva, Toronto, and New York, before moving outside Philadelphia where he spent the bulk of his middle and high school years. He then went on to get a degree in mechanical engineering, before getting his MBA in international business.

“I spent my childhood bouncing around the U.S., the Philippines, and Switzerland which sounds glamorous when I tell people, but it really wasn’t,” shared

ANN VARONA / AJPRESS

Lauber. “When I was a kid and spent summers in the Philippines with my mom’s family — there was no running water, no electricity, so it was humbling to have that experience.”

Yet despite all the moving, there was one thing that remained rather constant and that was his exposure to quality food and most importantly chocolate by the influence of his dad who worked as a Swiss-trained pastry chef.

Lauber described how his dad, after finding a business partner at Swiss hotel in Toronto, decided to start a chocolate business in the early ‘80s. As the ‘90s came around, Lauber’s dad decided to pursue his own venture.

“He is a traditional chocolatier, importing bulk chocolate from Switzerland, melting it down, and creating chocolate confections. It wasn’t necessarily something he intended to do, but being an immigrant and having no higher education, it was what he knew best,” said Lauber.

He continued, “So I basically grew up in a chocolate factory, as did my two sisters,” adding that time at the familyrun factory was a typical afterschool activity that continued into college.

“I first started as a dishwasher in the fourth grade, then I got to start decorating truffles, then feeding the enrobing machine, then making shells, and from that point on, I helped out with whatever was needed,” said Lauber. “You could say I apprenticed with a Swiss chocolatier for over a decade.”

Oodaalolly By the early 2000s, Lauber decided to try his hand at the chocolate business and create his own chocolate company that got rid of the melting of

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Chocolatier Hernan Lauber creates chocolate bars with Filipino cacao.

Photos courtesy of Hernan Lauber / Oodaalolly

Oodaalollyʼs products include dark chocolate and dark milk chocolate

imported bulk chocolate, and focused more on bean-to-bar.

After running the idea through with his dad who had a few hesitations given that the bean-to-bar market was rather small, Lauber decided still to go ahead with it and got a loan from the Small Business Association. But just as he was ready to launch, he got an offer to move to Europe with his engineering job and decided to take the opportunity.

However, chocolate was still on his mind. After moving to Sydney, Australia with his wife who he met in Europe, and then back home to the U.S., plans of his chocolate business were put back on the table.

“One thing to keep in mind is 15 years ago, there were probably only a few U.S. chocolate makers being Hershey’s, Scharffen Berger, and a few other companies,” Lauber said of the market when they returned.

He added that today, there are close to 300 U.S. bean-tobar makers.

Lauber and his wife—who being half-Italian, also grew up with an affinity for good food—decided to try all the bean-to-bar makers they could get their hands on before deciding that entering the chocolate business was indeed what they wanted to do.

“I just thought we could make bars as good as what we tasted, but we would only use Filipino beans and focus only on them,” said the second generation chocolatier.

One thing that distinguishes oodaalolly from other chocolate makers is that they source their own cacao beans directly from the Philippines without using any distributors, he said.

The cost and logistics of sourcing their own beans have as a result been more challenging, but that has also meant having direct access to supply which Lauber holds important. Lauber said he spent a year working on the process before launching their original collection of bars in December of 2017.

Currently, the maker has three bars: 60-percent dark milk, 70-percent dark chocolate, and 70-percent dark almond and sea salt. All bars are single roast, single origin, and use 100-percent Filipino cacao.

Yet oodaalolly’s bars are only the beginning as the maker is taking the next step in making sure its products come as close from the source as possible.

In 2018, oodaalolly planted about 4,000 cacao plants on his grandfather’s land in Western Visayas after testing some out on his mom’s property a few years ago.

“They sprouted pods

Hernan displays his products at Undiscovered SF, a monthly night market in San Francisco that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the SOMA Pilipinas district.

Oodaalolly chocolate is made in small batches using Swiss techniques.

Samples of the almond and sea salt chocolate

rather quickly so hopefully in a few years, we can start harvesting some of our own plants,” said Lauber.

As for the definition of ‘oodaalolly’? The name, Lauber shared, is a play on a phrase from his older son’s favorite cartoon when he was about a year old during their days moving back from Sydney.

“Oodaalolly is an expression of joy, surprise, delight, ecstasy, and effervescence, and is often shouted or sung repeatedly,” said Lauber.

He added, “That’s what we want people to feel when they eat our bars. A bit of joy, and a bit of delight. If

it causes you to sing—even better. But if it makes you smile, even a little bit, then we have achieved success!”

In the meantime, Lauber hopes that oodaalolly helps make true Philippine chocolate a more common part of everyday life.

“When I met my father-inlaw for the first time, he had this magical ability to pull out a bar of chocolate at the most random times. While waiting for a train, when sitting on a park bench, while enjoying an espresso. It always put everyone in a good mood,” said Lauber. “The best way to enjoy oodaalolly is by sharing a bar with those you love.”

entertainment Maine enjoys everything that comes her way The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

by Deni Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com

WHAT is the real score between Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde?

The two actors have been recently reportedly spotted to be dating, and even kissing, in restaurants in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Although pictures of the pair eating out have spread online, no proof yet has surfaced to show them actually kissing.

In a recent press conference launching Maine as Marian Rivera’s new co-endorser for skincare brand Maxi-Peel Zero, Maine might have not confirmed if she is dating Arjo or anyone, but she affirmed that she is open to having a boyfriend who also works in showbiz.

She also said that if ever she has or would have a boyfriend, she would not keep it a secret, but will try to be low-key about it as much as possible.

“Hindi naman secret. Pero mas okay na kung anong ginagawa n’yo, you keep it private.

Kasi s’yempre mahirap, people will meddle eh. Parang ang dami nilang i-co-comment about sa buhay mo, about sa love life mo, so mas okay na kung private. Pero hindi naman ‘yung as in sikretong sikreto,” she said in an interview with the press following the launch.

Maine Mendoza

During the press conference, Marian revealed that Maine has a lot of suitors.

Maine said she just laughed at Marian’s revelation.

“Wala naman!” said Maine when the press squeezed her about her suitors.

She, however, admitted that she opens up to Marian about her love life.

The best advice she got

Photo from Instagram/@mainedcm

from Marian, said Maine, is to enjoy everything that comes her way.

“Kung anong meron ako, kung anong dumating sa’kin, ienjoy mo lang ‘yan,” Maine said of Marian’s advice.

“Minsan ka lang mapupunta dito sa showbiz, minsan ka lang magiging bata, so i-enjoy mo lahat ng kung anong binibigay sa’yo.”

After troubled past, Baron Geisler now speaks the gospel, educates on mental health

by CoDy

CepeDA

Inquirer.net

ACTOR Baron Geisler has come a long way since March when he was involved in a physical altercation with family members that left him bloodied and bruised. Things have been looking up for Geisler since he vowed then that he would be going back to rehab—an undertaking that he promised to

take “very seriously this time.”

Geisler remained true to his word and has now flipped over a new page as he continued on his journey to recovery and healing. Geisler recently shared on social media the recent goings-on in his new life, one of which is becoming a speaker in symposiums where he raises awareness about mental health and dangerous vices.

He took to Instagram on

Oct. 18 and shared some pictures during his time at the Digos City District Female Jail in Davao del Sur where he was a guest speaker in their “Drug Symposium.”

In his post, Geisler extended his gratitude to the policewomen of the Digos City Distritct Jail, who gave him handmade tokens as remembrance.

Continued on Page 4

entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

A real-life ‘Miss Saigon’ couple and a 7-year-old belter among FASO @ 10’s exciting guests

A couple who performed as Kim and Chris in “Miss Saigon,” fell in love in real life and got married. A tiny 7-year-old girl who belted a powerful version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”

in a sports event which led to her duet with one of her idols, Grammy and Tony winner, Jennifer Holliday.

These are among the exciting guests in “FASO@10: A

Decade of Music, Harmony and Community,” the 10th anniversary concert of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, on November 3 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.

Fil-Am Broadway performers Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall will perform “Sun and Moon” from “Miss Saigon,” their first time to sing the duet again after more than 20 years since they met in the popular musical, took their onstage romance offstage as well and became husband and wife.

Deedee, who played Kim in several productions of the Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil hit musical, recalled, “Cliffton and I have sung ‘Last Night of the World’ together countless times. But we haven’t sung ‘Sun and Moon’ since we performed together in ‘Miss Saigon’ over 20 years ago during the Asian tour production of ‘Miss Saigon.’ This FASO show will definitely be nostalgic for us.”

Cliffton added, “Deedee and I met in 1995 when we were both cast in the second national U.S. touring of ‘Miss Saigon.’ We later traveled to Hong Kong and Singapore as a real-life couple, playing Kim and Chris, and fell in love with each other night after night. We have been married now for 15 years (and counting) and have our own Tams (two sons – Tam is Kim and Chris’ son in ‘Miss Saigon)!”

“We were just friends for years,” Deedee said. “We didn’t start officially dating until 2001.

So by the time we were hired to play opposite each other in the Asian tour of ‘Miss Saigon,’ we were already a couple which made our love scenes onstage effortless and that much more believable – so I’ve been told.”

Watch sparks fly again when this husband and wife render their passionate duet number in “FASO@10.”

And prepare to be enthralled by Malea Emma Tjan-

drawidjadja, a pint-sized performer but a giant talent, who has been making waves since she belted “The Star Spangled Banner” in an L.A. Galaxy-Seattle Sounders game and wowed the crowd. The video of Malea’s stunning version of the U.S. national anthem has gone viral and been viewed more than 1.9 million times.

Malea’s thunderously-applauded performance in that game led to her guest appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and a surprise duet with musical theater legend Jennifer Holliday of the latter’s original Broadway showstopper in “Dreamgirls,” “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” The Fil-Am girl, possessing uncanny poise and stage presence, impressively sang the difficult stage aria with Jennifer, who was bowled over by Malea’s talent.

FASO, noted for its community outreach programs and workshops to nurture promising talents, booked Malea as a guest in the coming concert before all these breaks came her way.

The late Dr. Lucresia R. Kasilag (1918-2018), the grand dame of Philippine Music, will be honored by FASO to celebrate her 100th birthday.

“Festival,” one of the composer and educator’s works, will be performed by FASO under the baton of musical director Robert “Bob” Shroder.

The orchestra will also honor Dr. Ramon Geluz, the composer of the first original Filipino musical opera in the U.S., “Karim at Jasmin.” Pete Avendano, Joan Cano and Kit Navarro will sing a medley of songs from “Karim at Jasmin.”

Expected to rouse the audience in a patriotic spirit is FASO’s performance of a “politically inclusive” medley of songs, as arranged by Louie Ramos, the orchestra’s arranger-in-residence, including tunes during the Philippines’ struggle for independence against Spain and the U.S. “Some of these songs are cleverly mashed up in ironic and unexpected ways,” Louie promised.

Erwin Andaya, Mikaela Bautista, Nayah Damasen and Gelo Francisco will render this “patriotic medley.”

FASO will also pay tribute to Melvin Corpin, a composer who contributed several arrangements to the orchestra. He passed away a few months ago.

WIN (Waraynon Initiative Network) Chorale is joining the combined choir consisting of members of the Holy Family Filipino Chorale, Pacific Vocal Artists and Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles in a performance of Melvin’s composition masterpiece, “Ha Imo La,” a Waray folk song. The WIN Orchestra, of which Melvin’s four sons are members, will also join

Then: Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall as Kim and Chris in “Miss Saigon.”

Now: More than 20 years later, the husband and wife in real life are excited to sing “Sun and Moon” again in FASO@10.

Rush Garcia’s “Ang Pipit (A Symphonic Variation),” which won FASO’s first International Orchestral Composition Competition, which was established to promote Philippine folk music, will be performed by the orchestra for the first time.

this number.

“FASO@10” will also premiere the winning entry in the International Orchestral Composition Competition, the orchestra’s first composition contest to promote Philippine folk music and to commemorate its 10th anniversary. “Ang Pipit (A Symphonic Variation)”

by Rush Garcia and Patrick Owen-Leary won the competition which encourages budding composers to create original compositions for full orchestra that incorporate themes from Philippine folk songs.

Also performing special numbers are the FASO Chil-

dren’s Ensemble and Alumni, who are spotlighted in two songs; Christina Blay, a featured performer from the FASO Workshops, who is rendering a solo piece, “Isang Lahi”; and singer Joey Albert, a friend of FASO. The show, presented by Espina Lawyers, APLC and Silver Saddle Ranch and Club, begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. Alex Theatre is located on 216 N. Brand Blvd. Tickets and other details at: https://www. alextheatre.org/event/filipinoamerican-symphony-orchestrapresents-faso-10th-anniversaryconcert.

After troubled past, Baron...

From Page 3 “Special shoutout to the beautiful ladies of Digos City District Jail. I am touched by the handmade tokens of appreciation and I am more than grateful to have shared His story to each and everyone of you,” Geisler wrote. “Your strength and resilience inspire me to overcome the battles I face everyday. I will be praying for you.”

Geisler also shared a picture of his certificate of appreciation from the drug symposium, which recognized him for imparting his “valuable insights and inspirations to the Female Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL)” last Oct. 17.

Back in Sept. 24, Geisler showed pictures of him speaking in the Mental Health Symposium on the Awareness on Depression and Suicide in Cebu.

“This is being headed by the Phil. Mental Health Association,” Geisler wrote then. “#PMHACEBU #payingitforward #ItsallAboutHim #grateful #Love #futuregeneration.”

Geisler, too, has accepted the divine in his life. A scroll on his Instagram feed would show him sharing pictures of verses he had taken from his own Bible, sometimes with his own interpretation and sentiments on the verse.

Last Oct. 9, Geisler shared pictures of him having lunch with some members of the Maranatha Knights of the Kingdom. Being involved with the group has changed Geisler’s life for the better, as he said,

Baron Geisler

he has come a long way since being involved with the people behind Maranatha.

“I can never get enough wisdom from our meetings.

I’ve come along way since you brothers, dads and lolos took me under your wing. God is Faithful and Good all the time.

More of Him less of me,” he wrote. “Pointing it always back to the cross. My identity is upon Him! Much love and respect to Pastor Joseph, Pas Michael and Dad Lyndon.

Thank You, Lord. Eternally grateful.”

Geisler, too, has inspired the youth with his journey.

Last Oct. 16, a certain Ellen Ternio took to Facebook to

Photo from Instagram/@baron.geisler

show a picture of Geisler in Sulop National High School in Davao del Sur where he shared his personal testimony.

In Ternio’s picture, Geisler can be seen on stage behind a podium, where he spoke to the students and staff of the high school.

“Kilala mo ba sya? Sya lang naman si BARON GEISLER. Yung nakilala mong adik na artista. Pero ngayon nandito sa Sulop National High School, sharing the Gospel OF GOD,” wrote Ternio. “Akala ko di na sya mag babago sa pinag gagawa nya noon. BUT with GOD, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. I’m blessed with his testimony.”

entertainment

Lani continues her fight to keep family intact

by Boy

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

ABundA

Philstar.com

CALL her a martyr and you won’t hear a single word of protest from Lani Mercado if it means fighting for her right as a wife in order to keep the family intact.

Straightforward and honest, Lani didn’t hesitate to speak her mind on the subject of her marital relationship with husband, former senator Bong Revilla, who has been detained for four years now at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame. It can be recalled that Bong was arrested on plunder and graft charges on the alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds or PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Funds). Although the trial regarding the case ended in August, Bong’s case is up for decision.

It was on the hot seat of “Tonight With Boy Abunda” when Lani, with eldest son Bryan, expressed difficulty Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado: I am here because I love my children. I love my family.

Philstar.com photo by Ver Paulino coping to the situation of

physically not having the padre de pamilya by their side.

“I look forward to visiting him twice a week. I told my children we have to adjust na kung may problema man pwede siguro nating sabihin sa kanya pero ‘yung hindi na kayang i-solve na problema.”

“It’s very hard you really have to be strong for everyone,” added Bryan who is one of the three lead actors in Tres. The three-part action anthology also stars his brothers Jolo and Luigi. His mom, on the other hand, has a guest appearance in one of the episodes.

The now Bacoor City mayor also gave light on issues pertaining to Luigi, her husband’s son by another mother.

“At first, everything was just hearsay. I spoke to the mother (of Luigi) once over a telephone conversation. Then, when my mother-in-law died in 1998, Luigi was brought to the house; he was around

two years old. But Bong told me that he will be visiting my mother-in-law. So when he first came into the room, in our house, wala parang nagmelt na ‘yung heart ko, so I embraced the boy.”

She admitted to feeling furious at first. “It’s normal because it was painful na pinagtaksilan ka at may bunga ‘yung pagtataksil na ‘yun.”

But her anger didn’t last long knowing that she, too, came from a second family. Lani came from the second relationship of her mom and her half-siblings accepted her.

For the first time, Lani also revealed to the public that Luigi’s mom was Bong’s former girlfriend. “The relationship rekindled after I lost my daughter in 1991 so it was very difficult for me because I just lost a child.”

She added, “I told her (during their phone conversation) ‘I’ve been here in a marriage for how many years at

ikaw pumapasok ka…you still have a way out because you’re not married. I am here for life and I am here to stay so whatever you have with my husband, I hope you’ll realize that this is not right.’ Really, there are things that happen in our life na hindi natin maintindihan. And it happened and I cannot erase the past.”

Lani never denied about contemplating on ending her marriage before. “A lot of times, actually. But I am here because I love my children.

I love my family. I love Bong and that’s the reason I am here for them.”

What’s her reaction to people telling that she’s a martyr?

“Kung ang ipinaglalaban mo ay kung ano ang para sa ‘yo because you have other people to take care of. Not just yourself. It’s your children, it’s your family. And it is your right to take care of it no matter what, I am a martyr. I’m guilty in that sense.”

Journey former lead vocalist

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Jasmine Curtis-Smith builds self-confidence to fight cyberbullying

entertainment Carmina and twins spell weekend fun on TV The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

by alfred

Bayle Inquirer.net

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

THERE will always be the issue of “generation gap” no matter the year, decade or century among parents and their children.

From fashion choices to ways of socializing, these two generations are always likely to clash as life happens.

Forever interesting, these are the very issues Generation X mom CarminaVillarroel and her Generation Z twins Mavy and Cassy are ready and raring to tackle in a new fun family weekend show titled “Sarap Di Ba?” on GMA Network.

“Ang gusto naming mangyari is to bridge the generation gap ng magulang and teenagers,” the 43-year-old actress shared during the show’s launch.

“As parents, we try our best na intindihin yung mundo ng teenagers and sila naman intindihin nila yung magulang nila nang mas mabuti,” Villaroel shared.

“In our discussions, you get two sides – side ng adults, our mom, tapos yung side ng teenagers,” Cassy, meanwhile,

Carmina Villaroel and twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi.

offered.

A talk-variety show, Sarap Di Ba? will demonstrate how family members can strengthen their relationship with each other.

Being the Gen X mom, Villarroel keeps televiewers happily entertained as she tackles relatable and more dynamic topics about family, food and fun activities for everyone.

Meanwhile, the Gen Z twins join their mom in the weekend morning about the latest trends in music, pop culture, fashion, and technology.

GMA photo

As non-millennial, the actress may not be readily aware of all the trends and lingo that kids these days use, but she knows how to observe, listen, and be interested in what her twins are into.

Viewers should look forward to Mavy and Cassy’s adventures and misadventures in their personal vlogs or video blogs as they share what teens and children actually care about.

Finally, the fun bonding would not be complete without the delicious and healthy meal ideas from the trio.

Miss Philippines finishes in Top 15 of Miss Globe by arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

VOLLEYBELLE Michele Gumabao made it to the Top 15 in the Miss Globe 2018 pageant held in Tirana, Albania on Sunday night, October 22, but was no longer able to advance toward crown.

All the same, she is due to return to the country bearing two special awards, namely Miss Social Media for garnering the highest number of online votes for the pageant, and Miss Dream Girl of the World.

Crowned Miss Globe 2018 was Yo Yizhou of China with first to fourth runners-up in Australia’s Montana Farrah Seaton, Turkey’s

Miss Philippines Globe Michele Gumabao

Perihan Koz, Italy’s Rosa Fariello and Albania’s Alba Bajrami, respectively.

The rest of the Top 15 picks

JASMINE Curtis-Smith has found strength to overcome cyberbullies and bashers by building up her self-confidence.

The actress had her own brush with negativity online like many other celebrities, but there were times when the bashing and trolling really affected her. To overcome the negativity, Curtis-Smith realized she had to overcome her own insecurities.

“I can see, after my birthday this year, I became a little bit stronger. May na-build ng konting confidence. All I can say is you really learn to love yourself para ang sarili mo lang yung pakikinggan mo (I can see, after my birthday this year, I became a little bit stronger. I’ve built up a little more confidence. All I can say is you really learn to love yourself so that you only listen to yourself),” said the actress in an exclusive interview with Push.

Curtis-Smith recalled how overly sensitive she was to posts she saw on Twitter and Instagram. It came to a point where the comments made her cry.

She said, “On social media,

Jasmine Curtis Smith

it’s very easy, it’s very cruel, kasi kung mataba ka, at fault ka. Kung payat ka, at fault ka.

Kung sobrang ganda mo, at fault ka. Kung may mga pekas ka sa mukha, at fault ka. (On social media, it’s very easy, it’s very cruel, because if you’re fat, you’re at fault. If you’re thin, you’re at fault. If you’re too pretty, you’re at fault. If you have freckles, you’re at fault.)”

The actress recalled one post she made on Instagram that garnered over 500 comments, the majority of which were made by bashers. This caused her insecurity to sky-

Photo from Instagram/@jascurtissmith

rocket.

However, the indiscriminate attacks by bashers and bullies also made Curti-Smith decide to just put her smartphone down and not mind the comments. So far, she said it has worked for her.

“Basta stand your ground, know yourself para you can love yourself enough, na wag mong ibigay yung sarili mong negative energy don sa kanila hindi kanila ma-affect. (Just stand your ground, know yourself so you can love yourself enough so that you don’t give in to the negative energy.)”

Jay R, Mica Javier now engaged

by Jan

Milo severo Philstar.com

AFTER being in a relationship for more than five years, RnB singer Jay R and singer Mica Javier are now engaged.

On his Instagram account, Jay R announced his engagement with the GirlTrend member.

“Meet my (fiancée),” he wrote on the caption of their photo.

For her part, Mica described Jay R’s proposal as “surreal” and she shared how surprised shw was with what happened.

“I can’t believe it. He pulled off the biggest surprise ever, I had NO CLUE what was happening even while it was happening. The space went silent as I watched him mouth the words, eyes teared Photo from Instagram/@gumabaomichele up, our dearest friends and family clamouring in the background...” were the candidates from Canada, she wrote on her Instagram acRussia, Brazil, Vietnam, Myanmar, count.

Estonia, France, Portugal and “For a fleeting moment I Romania.

She said yes! Mica Javier agreed to marry Jay-R.

Photo from Instagram/@mica

froze in shock, thoughts battling between “are we still shooting a music video?!” and “hang on is this forreal?!”, I was stunned and it was surreal but there was no doubt in my mind, my answer was always going to be YES. I love you @ rnbjayr & I’m so excited to be your wifey!” she added.

Celebrities in the venue at the time of proposal also shared pho-

tos and videos of the couple.

“Congratulations @rnbjayr and @mica on your engagement! We are so happy and excited for your new life together. We love you and may God bless you always,” Jaya captioned her video.

Kris Lawrence and Maxene Magalona also shared photos of the engagement on their Instagram stories.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 24, 2018