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OC TO BER 25 -31, 2019 Volume 12 - No. 51 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

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PH climbs to 95th spot in World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ rankings

by IAN

NICOLAS CIGARAL Philstar.com

MANILA — Ease of doing business in the Philippines improved over the past year, with the Southeast Asian country climbing 29 notches in World Bank’s “Doing Business 2020” report released on Thursday, October 24.

Out of 190 economies, the Philippines advanced to the

DATELINE

95th spot from 124th place in 2019. The country’s score improved to 62.8 from 60.9 previously.

Compared to its peers in the East Asia Pacific, the Philippines ranked below Singapore (2nd), Hong Kong (3rd), Malaysia (12th), Taiwan (15th), Thailand (21st), China (31st), Brunei (66th), Vietnam (70th), Indonesia (73rd) and Mongolia (81st).

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Following court injunctions, immigration experts weigh in on the future of public charge Five judges impose injunctions, delaying implementation of the new rule that would expand the definition of public charge in immigration AFTER multiple judges halted the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the public charge rule, immigration experts and attorneys are assessing the impact of public charge in immigration law and the next steps.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, federal judges in California, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Washington State blocked the controversial new rule regarding government assistance programs for applicants seeking permanent residency or a non-immigrant visa from taking effect. (It was to take effect on Tuesday, October 15.)

In other words, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed changes to what

u PAGE 2

The Washington-based multilateral lender’s annual report looks into the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it.

Quezon City was used as a benchmark for the Philippines.

According to World Bank, starting a business in the Philippines became easier following the abolition of the

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NEW PHILIPPINE CHIEF JUSTICE. President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath to newly appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday, October 24. See story on Page A7.

Malacañang photo by Karl Normal Alonzo

Comelec ready to hold Duterte just needs rest - Palace special polls for VP post

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

by SHEILA

CRISOSTOMO

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to conduct special polls in three provinces in Mindanao in connection with the electoral protest of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez posted on

Twitter that this is the call of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), which is hearing Marcos’ protest case against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“It is the Comelec’s job to hold elections. So, obviously, yes, the Comelec would be able to do it if it becomes necessary,” Jimenez said.

The statement comes in Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo

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MALACAÑANG on Thursday, October 24, said President Rodrigo Duterte was advised by his doctor to take a rest after he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and medical evaluation on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

“He was diagnosed to be having muscle spasms causing what he described to be an unbearable pain at the pelvic and spinal area of his body,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement.

“The chief executive has been advised by his doctor to rest for a couple of days

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Inquirer.net photo

UN body: PH the country withfastest growing epidemic of HIV

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

A STUDY conducted by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) found that the Philippines has the “fastest growing epidemic” of the sexually transmitted disease, with a 203 percent rise in FAHM AT PCGNY. The Philippine Consulate General in New York celebrates Filipino American History Month with a documentary film new HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) screening of Manila 1945: The Rest of the Story and a panel discussion on Fil-Ams across generations moderated by Dr. Cherubim Quizon, infections from 2010 to 2018.

Worldwide HIV cases, on the other hand, associate professor of anthropology at Seton Hall University (right) with (from left) Steven Raga, Chief of Staff at the New York State Assembly; Leezel Tanglao, deputy managing editor for membership and innovation at HuffPost; retired US diplomat Sonny Busa and declined by at least 18 percent.

Anne del Castillo, commissioner at NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

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From the Front Page

PH climbs to 95th spot...

PAGE 1 minimum capital requirement for domestic companies.

The country also made dealing with construction permits easier by improving coordination and streamlining the process for obtaining an occupancy certificate.

“The Philippines strengthened minority investor protections by requiring greater disclosure of transactions with interested parties and

enhancing director liability for transactions with interested parties,” World Bank added.

Worldwide, 115 economies made it easier to do business, World Bank said, with New Zealand remaining the most business-friendly country in the world.

Somalia was the worst with a score of 20.

Meanwhile, the economies with the most notable

improvement in Doing Business 2020 are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China, India and Nigeria.

“The Doing Business 2020 study shows that developing economies are catching up with developed economies in ease of doing business,” World Bank President David Malpass said.

“Still, the gap remains wide,” he added. n

UN body: PH the country with...

PAGE 1

Only Pakistan and Malaysia registered an increase in HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region, with 57 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

“Fastest growing in terms of growth rate, comparing 2010 and 2018…” said UNAIDS country director Louie Ocampo in a forum on Monday, October 21.

According to him, the growth of HIV cases can be attributed to vulnerable populations, such

as the youth, which do not have access to contraceptives or do not effectively use them.

“But in terms of absolute number, it is still very low and we have not defeated African countries when it comes to the number of cases,” Ocampo noted.

The Department of Health in June released a report that 6,372 new cases had been recorded since the start of the year, accounting for about 10 percent of the total reported

HAIL TO ‘NENE’. Senate President Vicente Sotto III delivers his eulogy during the necrological service of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, October 23. Pimentel, who was hailed as the Father of the Local Government Code, also authored the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

cases of 68,401 since 1984.

200,000 HIV cases in PH by 2025 The number of HIV cases in the Philippines is predicted to hit 201,000 by 2025 if the country fails to implement some “drastic moves,” according to UNAIDS. “The Philippines has been projected to have 201,000 HIV cases by 2025, up from 56,000 cases in 2016 and 142,000 cases in 2022,” Ocampo said.

Following court injunctions, immigration...

PAGE 1 defines a public charge do not currently apply.

On Thursday, October 17, immigration experts and attorneys broke down the current state of the public charge rule in a national teleconference hosted by Ethnic Media Services (EMS) along with the National Immigration Law Center u PAGE 4 (NILC) and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC).

In the call, each speaker emphasized the fact that the public charge rule only affects a small sect of immigrants and, historically, has had a limited impact on the sect of immigrants seeking permanent residency that also relies on public benefits. Generally speaking, the public charge test is discretionary and any given green card or permanent residency seeker could either be turned away or accepted into the country depending on their unique circumstances.

“The concept of public charge has been a part of immigration law for 100 years, and what is changed now is how the DHS wants to interpret it. They want to apply a stricter standard,”Allison Davenport, supervising attorney at the ILRC, told reporters on the call.

Several categories of immigrants are not affected by the public charge test, including refugees, asylum seekers, victims of crime applying for special visas like the U-visa and T-visa, unaccompanied minors, those seeking renewal of Temporary Protected Status or recipients of DACA. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of immigrants who are permanent residents or already citizens are not affected by either the current rule or

the Trump administration’s new rule if it is passed in the future.

“No matter what the courts decide, these people will not be directly affected by that potential change in the public charge rules,” Davenport said.

Davenport noted that if the court injunctions are lifted in the future, there will be a grace period before the public charge regulation will take effect. For now, the pending court cases will determine the future of public charge as a determinant in immigration law.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the Trump administration sought to include Medicaid, Section 8 housing and food stamps, justifying the rule change by saying that “self-sufficiency has long been a basic principle of U.S. immigration law.”

Despite the recent court injunctions, the confusion surrounding public charge has resulted in many immigrant families wondering whether or not they shouldn’t utilize public benefits in fear that it would affect their plans to acquire green cards or other forms of residency.

But as previously reported in the Asian Journal, any rule changes to public charge would not apply retroactively.

For example, if an immigrant is on food stamps before the rule is put into effect, they will still receive that assistance.

“Families should continue to use the services they need,” Mayra Alvarez, president of the Children’s Partnership, said in Thursday’s teleconference. “People should feel safe using those benefits even if the injunctions are lifted. This rule was not meant to be ret-

roactive. It would only count benefits received after the date the new regulation goes into effect. The injunction is clear, that benefits received before that would not be considered.”

According to the Migration Policy Institute, misinformation and misrepresentation of the public charge rule may result in “millions of immigrants” who “will stop asking for help with health, nutrition and social services.”

Last year when the rule change was first proposed, senior policy manager with the Health Access Project Heng Lam Foong told the Asian Journal that roughly 3.8 million Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants relied on public benefits.

Research from the Migration Policy Institute backs this up, revealing that 300,000 immigrants of the more than 941,000 recent green card holders that would have been subjected to the rule come from Asian countries.

“The policy itself, the mere suggestion that the administration was considering the policy, has resulted in Asian immigrants and other immigrants pulling out of public benefits,” John C. Yang, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, told NBC News this week, adding that the new rule was “just a made-up reason to exclude certain classes of immigrants.”

The attorneys and experts on Thursday’s conference also encouraged immigrants who may be worried about their public benefits to seek legal assistance before either going off their benefits or signing up for them. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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US official denounces China’s action on SCS

48TH GAWAD SAKA AWARDEE. PCOO Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar (5th from right), Agriculture Secretary William Dar (4th from left), and DA Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan (2nd from left), pose with Mr. Vicente Lugaygay (front), the Outstanding Fisherfolk-Aquaculture Fisheries awardee during the 48th Gawad Saka awarding ceremonies held at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Tuesday, October 22. Lugaygay, of Barangay Rizal, Santiago City in Isabela, received a trophy and P250,000 check.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

New committee seeks to ensure all Filipinos are counted in 2020 census Fil-Am leaders in Los Angeles launch Filipino Complete Count Committee of LA County

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

IN an effort to combat an undercount, Filipino American leaders in the Los Angeles area have established a new outreach endeavor to ensure a full count of Filipino residents in the United States in the 2020 census.

On a bright morning in Unidad Park in Historic Filipinotown, the Filipino Complete Count Committee of LA County (FCCCLC) was launched on Saturday, October 12 with the comprehensive mission to increase Filipino participation for the decennial count scheduled for April 1, 2020.

“We need to make the concerted effort to count every single member of our Filipino community,” Executive Director of the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and co-chair of the FCCCLC Aquilina Soriano Versoza said at the committee’s launch.

Distributed to every household in the U.S. every 10 years, the census survey asks the following: the name, sex, age, dates of birth, race of every person living at that address and the relationships of everyone in the house to one central figure, usually the head of the household.

Every household will be able to respond to the survey via mail, phone or online. As digital options become more ubiquitous, most households will be able to complete the questionnaire online. On or between March 12-20, 2020, households will receive a letter

in the mail on how to answer the census survey online.

Soriano Versoza emphasized the significant relationship between the census count and federal funding as a major influence on the committee’s genesis.

According to data retrieved from the 2018 American Community Survey, there are more than 4 million Filipinos in the United States. California is home to 1,651,933 Filipinos, making the the largest Asian and Pacific Islander group in the Golden State; Los Angeles County alone has more than 400,000 Filipinos.

An accurate count is tantamount to how the estimated $675 billion of federal funds is diverted to states and local communities every year. The federal funding determined by the census also affects the number of representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives and the ways in which federal, state and local districts are drawn every year.

“If [the Filipino community is] undercounted, then the government doesn’t see as much of a need to put resources toward infrastructure like streets or parks that serve those communities,” Soriano Versoza noted.

“We are making the argument that our community needs these dollars and they deserve these dollars, but if we don’t have an accurate count, then it makes it really hard for us to advocate for as much resources as we actually should be getting,” Soriano

Versoza explained.

Historically, Filipinos have been one of the hardest-tocount communities. Soriano Versoza noted that undocumented Filipinos often don’t complete a survey for fear that their immigration status will be used against them.

But Ivy Daulo, partner specialist at the LA Regional Census Center emphasized that census responses are confidential by law and will not be shared with any other government agencies.

Additionally, the Trump administration’s proposal to ask a question about citizenship on the next census has been blocked by federal judges; as of press time, that question will not be on the 2020 census.

At the end of Saturday’s launch, members of the Filipino community in the Greater Los Angeles area signed a resolution establishing the committee and promising to encourage greater Filipino turnout at the 2020 census.

“No other API committee I’ve observed is as organized and diligent with meeting twice a month and getting work done,” Artesia City Councilwoman Melissa Ramoso told the Asian Journal, noting that the LA committee was established after Nevada’s Filipino American community established its own complete count committee.

“We have to set the precedence for our Filipino and API communities,” Ramoso affirmed. n

CHINA’S repeated provocative actions in the South China Sea (SCS or West Philippine Sea) inhibit Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, including the Philippines, from accessing over $2.5 trillion in energy reserves and have contributed to instability in the region.

United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell stressed this on October 16 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“We remain skeptical of the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) sincerity to negotiate a meaningful Code of Conduct [in the South China Sea] that reinforces international law,” Stilwell said.

He finds China’s maritime claims in the SCS, underscored by its self-imposed “nine-dash

line,” unlawful, unreasonable and have no basis whatsoever.

The islets and atolls in the SCS are said to have rich aquatic resources and mineral and gas deposits that remain untapped and are disputed by China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China’s actions, such as patrolling the SCS, putting up structures and bullying its neighbors, pose a threat “to all trading nations and all who value freedom of the seas and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” Stilwell said.

“While claiming that they are committed to peaceful diplomacy, the reality is that Chinese leaders — through the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) navy, law enforcement agencies, and maritime militia — continue to intimidate and bully other countries,” he said.

As emphasized in the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, it is the policy of the United States to ensure freedom of navigation, overflight and other lawful uses of the sea.

Stilwell said the U.S. works closely with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region through joint maritime training and operations to maintain free and open access of the seas.

“Along with the daily operations of U.S. ships and aircraft throughout the region, we conducted more Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea in 2019 than in any of the past 25 years, to demonstrate that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” Stilwell added. (Bernadette Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net)

UN body: PH the country with...

PAGE 2

To help curb the epidemic, he stressed that the local governments should have a higher level of commitment to confront the disease like putting in place a functional local AIDS council and creating an investment plan.

He added that psychosocial support should be continuously provided to those living with HIV. Ocampo also said that it was important to “destigmatize and mainstream” condom use as well as to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — which is only given by some HIV advocacy groups and not yet A UNAIDS study found that from 2010 to 2018, the Philippines saw new HIV part of the national program — to high-risk (human immunodeficiency virus) infections grew by 203 percent, when groups. n cases worldwide had declined by at least 18 percent. Inquirer.net photo

Comelec ready to hold special polls...

PAGE 1

the wake of a pending petition of Marcos for the annulment of election results for the position of vice president in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan.

This is the third cause of

action that Marcos took to nullify Robredo’s proclamation after he was defeated by a margin of 263,473 votes in the 2016 elections.

Marcos claimed there were terrorism, intimidation, cheating and harass-

Duterte just needs rest...

PAGE 1 and limit his physical activity, particularly avoiding standing or walking for long duration,” he added.

Duterte’s visit to Japan was cut short on Tuesday because of an “unbearable” pain in his spine and pelvic area following the chief executive’s motorcycle accident last week.

A c c o r d i n g t o Pa n e l o , Duterte’s recent motorcycle accident and another motorbike accident years ago “may have caused or possibly aggravated the current pain he is suffering from in his lower back.”

“The president was advised by his doctor to rest, as well as to take medicines that will relieve him of the pain caused by the muscular spasms. His doctor ruled out any surgical procedure for the president,” he added. “The Palace assures our countrymen that they need not worry about the president’ health.”

The spokesman also gave the public reassurance that Duterte is feeling much better and that he will continue to perform his presidential duties in the following days.

“Despite the limited physical

ment in the three provinces during the elections.

Jimenez said it is the PET, not the Comelec, that must first determine if there was a failure of elections in these areas that warrants the holding of special polls. n

activity that he has to impose on himself, the President will meet Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua today (October 24) to discuss, among others, certain infrastructure projects in the country which are financed by China,” Panelo said. “[Duterte would] continue to perform his presidential duties, which include attending to local and foreign engagements in the following days, with the same passion and dedication, in obedience to the constitutional command to serve and protect the Filipino people,” he added. n

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OPINION

FEATURES

Stunted, obese

POOR diet is making Filipino children grow up stunted and in poor health. Those in their teens, meanwhile, are suffering from obesity. This assessment is contained in a global report prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fund, which called for interventions to promote a healthy diet among Filipino children.

Unicef, in its State of the World’s Children: Children, Food and Nutrition report, warned that in the Philippines, one in three children under five years old is stunted while about seven percent of children are too thin for their height.

Among Filipino adolescents, meanwhile, a tenth are overweight, UNICEF reported, making them vulnerable to diseases. UNICEF attributed this not only to inadequate nutrition but also to poor hygiene and unhealthy behavior as well as incomplete immunization, now worsened by a vaccination scare.

UNICEF reported that by the age of 2, Filipino children who are undernourished

5

in both quantity and nutrient needs were already irreversibly stunted and may be suffering from anemia. Wrong diet is also blamed for obesity, with children particularly from poor families consuming too much processed foods that are high in sugar, fats and salt but lacking in the nutrients that are essential for healthy growth.

Adolescent obesity in the country has tripled in the past 15 years.

Proper nutrition need not be expensive.

Many parents, however, need information on what types of food are needed for the healthy growth of their children, particularly in the first two years of life. UNICEF reported that among Filipino children aged 6 to 23 months, around 44 percent are not fed fruits and vegetables, which are readily available particuPhilstar.com photo larly in rural areas, while 59 percent are not fed eggs, dairy products, fish or meat.

Filipino babies are breastfed during their first The importance of breastfeeding in healthy six months of life. child growth also needs greater emphasis.

To address these problems, the government UNICEF reported that only about a third of has launched a program to promote nutritious

Editorial

diet during a child’s first 1,000 days. The program must get sufficient and sustained support, so that healthy eating can become ingrained in national life. (Philstar.com)

Trump’s actions impeach himself with his betrayal Robredo: Our worst and most useless vice president ever of presidential oath and defiance of the Constitution Commentary The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS KABABAYANS who are loyal fans of President Donald J. Trump have been contending that the launching of an impeachment inquiry into him is doing the country a disservice because it takes away valuable time and resources from Congress that should otherwise be spent in writing legislation that will help the life of ordinary hardworking Americans.

Some Republicans refuse any inquiry or investigations and just wanted Congress to immediately make Representatives vote on Trump’s impeachment NOW, if they have the evidence that indeed, he committed impeachable offenses that warrant his ouster.

There are also many Trump supporters echo the talking points of Republicans that instead of impeaching Trump, the American people should be given the power to vote him out of office.

As the country is divided in this issue, we should just go by what the Founding Fathers of America have already stipulated in the Constitution to pro-

tect our democracy.

The Founding Fathers, fearing the potential for abuse of executive power, considered impeachment so important that they made it part of the Constitution even BEFORE they defined the contours of the presidency, according to House records.

“Impeachment, as Alexander Hamilton of New York explained in Federalist 65, varies from civil or criminal courts in that it strictly involves the ‘misconduct of public men, or in other words from the abuse or violation of some public trust.’

Individual state constitutions had provided for impeachPAGE 8

RIGOBERTO TIGLAO TO very clearly see why Leonor Robredo — the Yellow Cult’s last pathetic attempt to create a false idol — has been the Republic’s worst vice president, one just has to remember our past vice presidents.

In comparison to these, she is an intellectual and political pygmy.

Let’s start with the most recent one. Jejomar Binay had been Makati mayor for six terms, and despite the

Yellows’ intense campaign to paint him as corrupt in the past elections, his role in Makati’s growth as the country’s premier financial district is incontestable.

Even as he won the vice presidential post in 2010 against the Yellows, he helped President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as chairman of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). He was also presidential adviser for OFW concerns and head of the Task Force OFW, which assisted OFWs who were maltreated by their employers to return to the Philippines with the assistance of the government.

Did he spend his time criticizing his president, to the

extent of sending messages to the United Nations and other bodies abroad full of lies about the current administration? No. His predecessor was Noli de Castro, one of the country’s most successful broadcast journalists who helped President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s often beleaguered administration survive the intense Yellow propaganda against her. For six years, he ably managed the country’s housing program as HUDCC chairman.

Opposition Teofisto Guingona had been a veteran senator for 12 years, an executive secretary and justice secretary. In the PAGE 10

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Palace disputes Robredo’s ‘failed drug war’ claim

by Nestor

Corrales Inquirer.net

AID FOR FIRE VICTIMS. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, talks to fire victims in North Bay Boulevard, Navotas City.

Go handed over financial assistance and relief goods to hundreds of families affected by the blaze on Wednesday, October 23.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Peralta named as new PH chief justice by ritChel

MeNdiola AJPress

ASSOCIATE Justice Diosdado Peralta on Wednesday, October 23, was named as the new chief justice by President Rodrigo Duterte, replacing Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin who retired from the tribunal on Oct. 18.

“We are certain that with Chief Justice Peralta at the helm of the Supreme Court, the Judiciary will continue to be well-managed as it thrives to uphold the principles of judicial excellence, integrity, and independence,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, confirming the

appointment.

Peralta has been serving the SC for more than a decade, starting on Jan. 13, 2009 when then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him to the high court.

When he faced the Judicial and Bar Council panel on October 2, Peralta shared the criticisms he received for not being a Bar topnotcher or an honor student as well as his dreams of leading the SC. “If I remember what I have experienced since I started working, it’s hard. I think I deserve to be chief justice because I worked very hard all these years,” he said.

According to Peralta, his

work experiences “are more than enough to compensate with what they say that I do not deserve because I’m not a topnotcher or I’m not an honor student.”

“I hope you have to take those into consideration that there is hope for an individual like me,” he added.

Peralta applied thrice for the chief justice position.

The first two times he applied, he lost the position to retired chief justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro and then Bersamin.

Peralta will serve as chief justice until March 27, 2022, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. n

Gov’t targets to lift 1-M Filipinos out of poverty every year — Palace there is no denying that millions of families remain poor.”

THE government has tarBut he assured the public geted to lift 1 million Filipi- that “bringing a comfortable nos out of poverty every year, life for all, with the objective Malacañang said Tuesday, of reducing poverty at a sigOctober 22. nificant level, is the overarchPresidential spokesperson ing socioeconomic goal of Salvador Panelo issued the the Duterte administration.” statement after the latest SoHe, however, said that cial Weather Stations (SWS) “poverty is a concern that survey showed fewer Filipino cannot be addressed overfamilies labeled themselves night and this administration poor. recognizes this fact.”

The survey showed 42 per“[O]ur economic managers cent or some 10.3 million Fil- have intensified their efforts ipino families consider them- and targeted to lift one milselves poor as of September lion Filipinos from poverty this year. every year,” he said.

Panelo said that “notwithTo realize this, he added standing the latest survey that “pertinent departments showing favorable results, and agencies have instituted

by Nestor

Corrales Inquirer.net

social protection measures, which include rice liberalization and institutionalization of cash transfers, to ensure that no one is left behind as we progress as a nation under the leadership of [Duterte].”

He said the Executive Branch would “continue to implement medium to longterm programs to alleviate poverty, such as enhancing investments not only in infrastructure to address economic disparities in urbanrural areas but also investing in human capital, including ease of access to education and health, in order to make good the commitment of the President to deliver genuine and meaningful change to our society.” n

MANILA – What “failed drug war?”

Malacañang hit back on Thursday, October 24, at Vice President Leni Robredo for saying the government’s fight against illegal drugs is “not working.”

“We ask ourselves, ‘why is this still happening?’ The president has already made very serious threats to drug syndicates, to drug lords … and yet it’s still very prevalent, so obviously, it’s not working.

We have seen a lot of police that have abused their powers and not been penalized,” Robredo told wire news agency Reuters.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Malacañang was no longer surprised when Robredo “again demonized the president and this administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.”

“With all due respect to the office she holds, the VP’s latest remarks are unquestionably

Vice President Leni Robredo Inquirer.net photo

bereft of factual basis and devoid of recognition of the successes that the war on illegal drugs has reaped,” Panelo said in a statement.

He said Robredo “is echoing the lies and black propaganda of some of her colleagues in the political opposition, which to say the least is unfortunate, especially since she was part of the Cabinet when the government’s program against the drug menace was launched.”

“The fact that the drug cartel has not been totally destroyed does not mean that the fight against it has failed,” Panelo said.

“It only means that the extent and magnitude of the drug problem, which is the result of neglect and failure by past administrations to arrest or curb it, is monstrously enormous hence the administration has not wavered in the vigorous battle it has waged against it,” he added.

“It is a continuing wonderment,” Panelo said, “why VP Leni has ignored the fact that the majority of our people have recognized and have given their thumbs-up to the policy of the Chief Executive on this issue, with more than 8 out of 10 Filipinos, or 82%, expressing satisfaction with his antiillegal drug campaign.” ”The Office of the President, therefore, suggests to our former colleague in the Cabinet to detach herself from the critics and detractors of the war on drugs PAGE 10

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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Group: Philippines needs sustained family planning program

by Catherine

talavera Philstar.com

MANILA — As the Philippines makes progress with its initiatives in family planning, sustained implementation of the programs by the next administrations is needed to achieve better population development, the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

“We are making inroads now, in terms of access to family planning services, (reducing) abortion of unwanted pregnancies,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in an interview recently with “The Chiefs” on OneNews.

“The use of modern contraceptives by women has gone up,” Pernia said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Pernia lamented the discontinued implementation of family planning in the past decades, noting that the country would have benefited from it by now.

“If only we were able to sustain our family planning program. We started early in 1969; Thailand, I think 1979.

They sustained it over three, four decades but us, I think it was discontinued,” Pernia said, adding that religious and other conservative groups called off implementation of the program in the 1970s.

Pernia said the Philippines and Thailand had similar population statistics in the 1970s at around 37 million each.

“We are now 107 million,

PopCom officials lead the launch of the No More Children Having Children campaign in Quezon City on Wednesday, October 23.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

while Thailand is only 69 million and they have lower poverty,” Pernia said.

The NEDA director general emphasized the need for stronger family planning measures in the country, explaining the relation between population growth and poverty.

“The poor, they only want about three or four children at the most but they’re having six, and that’s why it’s very hard to reduce poverty,” Pernia said.

“If we had been successful in sustaining our family planning program, our poverty rate would be similar to Thailand, which is now about nine percent,” he stressed.

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the nationwide poverty incidence fell to 21 percent in the first half of 2018, compared to the 27.6 percent in the first half of 2015.

Under the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, the

government is targeting to cut the poverty rate to 14 percent by 2022.

Moreover, Pernia expressed hope that future administrations will continue its current programs on family planning.

“We’re really going full blast now in terms of spreading modern contraceptives,” Pernia said.

“Under this administration, we aim to lift about six million Filipinos out of poverty,” he added.

Earlier this year, Pernia emphasized that the government is redoubling efforts in implementing the country’s population and family planning program, referred to as the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

Pernia cited the issuance of Executive Order 71 in December 2018 as a significant measure in implementing the government’s family planning program. n

Trump’s actions impeach himself with...

PAGE 5

Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development Corp. and Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center, Inc.

ment for ‘maladministration’ or ‘corruption’ before the U.S. Constitution was written,” the House website reads.

To argue against impeachment in favor of elections is a dereliction of duties the Constitution has mandated Congress to perform, and is pure and simple political expediency for both the Democrats and the Republicans.

While there may be so many other problems and issues that are important to the lives of the American people, nothing is more important than to hold the nation’s leaders accountable to the people and be required to be worthy of the public trust accorded to their position of power.

Otherwise, government would be remiss in truly serv-

ing the interest of ALL Americans just to benefit the people in power and those that are close to them.

The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach an official, and it makes the Senate the sole court for impeachment trials. The power of impeachment is limited to removal from office but also provides for a removed officer to be disqualified from holding future office. Fines and potential jail time for crimes committed while in office are left to civil courts. (House.gov) Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution stipulates: The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Convic-

tion of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

As the Congressional Research Service explained,“The House impeachment process generally proceeds in three phases: (1) initiation of the impeachment process; (2) Judiciary Committee investigation, hearings, and markup of articles of impeachment; and (3) full House consideration of the articles of impeachment.”

WHERE are we now in the impeachment process? Congress has already started the impeachment investigations and have been issuing subpoenas for witnesses to appear before Congress and/or submit documents required of them.

House Speaker Nancy PeloPAGE 10

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Palace disputes Robredo’s ‘failed drug...

PAGE 7 whose false narratives against it have been repudiated by a majority of Filipinos,” he added.

He advised Robredo to do “more active consultation with her Filipino constituencies instead of totally relying on the insights given by her advisers whose ideas contradict the realities on the ground.“

“She is better off without them. She should rely more on her motherly instincts and gut-feel as a lawyer,” he said.

Panelo said Duterte and his administration that are not intolerant of the criticisms from Robredo.

“This administration takes no offense from those who are critical of its policies and

welcomes constructive criticisms but the same however should be based on facts and the law,” he said.

“Otherwise, they become a disinformation campaign and an abuse of the freedom of speech and of expression, and unproductive to the mature evolution of a democratic society and a hindrance to its progress,” he added. n

Robredo: Our worst and most useless vice...

This file photo shows the UP Diliman Automated Guideway Transit System, a locally designed and built prototype monorail system, developed by the Department of Science and Technology.

Philippine Information Agency - Gitnang Luzon

Baguio City closer to getting monorail, cable car system

by Artemio

DumlAo Philstar.com

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City may soon have a cable car or monorail system after being picked by the United Nations Development Program and the Department of Transportation as one of the pilot cities for a low carbon urban transport system.

UNDP and DOTr officials had already briefed city officials on the project to provide local governments with technical assistance and linkages

with interested private sector partners.

The Baguio local government, which indicated interest in the program, was required to formulate its Local Public Transport Route Plan, which would be the basis for rationalizing the public transport routes in the city and to see what low carbon mass transport system could be put up.

The DOTr had also earlier required all local governments in the country to formulate their own LPTRPs to determine additional routes and additional

public utility transport vehicles their areas might need.

The DOTr order was related to the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

Among the low carbon urban mass transport systems being eyed for the city are a cable car system or a monorail system, or a combination of both.

The UNDP and the DOTr will be commissioning a feasibility study on the appropriate mass transport system for the city by next year. n

Trump’s actions impeach himself with...

PAGE 8 si’s office just released on Monday, October 21 a “fact sheet” which explains in details the allegations against President Trump amid the House Democrats’ ongoing impeachment inquiry.

“President Trump has betrayed his oath of office, betrayed our national security and betrayed the integrity of our elections for his own personal political gain,” the document stated.

Through the fact sheet, the Speaker’s office wants the American people to understand what Pelosi’s office calls proof of a “pressure campaign” and “cover up” by Trump related to Ukraine.”

As the Hill reported, “The sheet includes quotes from Trump and the anonymous whistleblower who filed a complaint regarding Trump’s July 25 phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he pressed for an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son, Hunter.”

This is is corroborated by, among others, the testimony behind closed doors by top US acting envoy in Ukraine Wil-

liam “Bill” Taylor before the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees on Tuesday, October 22.

As National Public Radio reported , “President Trump orchestrated a parallel foreign policy for Ukraine that made U.S. aid to the country contingent on investigations to help himself politically.”

“In a written statement to three House committees tasked with Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, Taylor said he ‘became increasingly concerned’ as ‘irregular, informal channels’ of policymaking diverged from official U.S. goals — led by Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.”

A copy of this opening statement was obtained and published by the Washington Post, New York Times and CNN. Trump, his cohorts, and many members of the Republican Party have been stonewalling the investigations and ignoring subpoenas — a blatant disregard of the rule of law and an obstruction of justice.

For Trump to fight against this constitutionally-mandated process and vilify Congress for doing its sacred duties to pro-

tect our democracy is a grave violation of the Constitution he has swore to uphold and protect. It also gives the message that he is above the law, precisely the cornerstone of the impeachment mandate in the Constitution.

The impeachment process has to be made public because the American people has to be part of this civic exercise. Our government is a government of the people, for the people, by the people. Our elected leaders should therefore be made accountable to us, the people.

We are a nation of laws and that violating this would have consequences. It also sends the message to all public servants, present and future, that no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States of America. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos.

PAGE 5 first year of the Arroyo administration, he had been a voice of wisdom in the Cabinet, and was its foreign secretary. He resigned in 2002, as he was often at odds with Arroyo’s foreign affairs policy. He did support the Yellow opposition, especially after the socalled “Hello Garci” scandal broke out.

But did he go around the country and the world spreading lies about the President then, as Robredo has been doing? No. A university economics professor and trade industry assistant secretary, President Joseph Estrada’s vice president, Arroyo, was a three-term representative of Congress, and took on the job as Social Welfare and Development secretary, giving that department a boost in prestige and influence. She did go against her president, when she resigned her post, in October 2000, since Estrada’s clinging to the presidency had become untenable and damaging to the country’s stability.

Even as she let the wheels of justice run to prosecute Estrada, did she ever go around the country and the world spreading lies to paint her former president evil? No. Even as he ran against Fidel Ramos’ party, Estrada, mayor of San Juan for 17 years and a senator, was extremely cooperative with his president, and took on the job as head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, which effectively terminated — figuratively or not — the kidnapping gangs that had plagued the country during that time.

Even as Ramos’ propaganda machine started to do him in in 1997, as he was emerging as the strongest candidate for the 1998 elections, did he ever badmouth his president, even as that administration’s alleged corruption had started to smell? No. Pre-martial law We can go to vice presidents in the pre-martial law era and what stands out is the

fact that all of them were both men of stature in the political firmament and supportive of their presidents, even if one, Diosdado Macapagal, would later run against his president and another, Fernando Lopez would throw the full weight of his clan’s media empire against his president, Ferdinand Marcos.

Given such veritable political, intellectual or economic titans as our past vice presidents, it is indeed astonishing that such a lightweight as Robredo became vice president.

It is explicable only if the allegations of massive cheating — such as cases of zero votes in Moro towns or districts where the Iglesia ni Cristo has proven in many elections to have solid command in elections — are true.

Robredo was the Yellows’ pathetic attempt at repeating history — which therefore as the aphorism says it would result in — is a farce. She couldn’t have won election as barangay chairman if her husband Jesse had not died in an accident for the Yellow to use their old “necro-politics” playbook, and if the Yellows did not have such a formidable electoral cheating machine in the last elections.

A more thinking vice president would do what Binay or Arroyo did, which was to fully support the incumbent president, to prove she could be a leader of the nation. But what has she done in the past three or so years? Demonize her president, not only to the country, but to the world.

Treason This verged on treason in 2017 when she sent a video message to the 60th meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs, which was full of lies, among them that under the Duterte government “more than 7,000 people have been killed in summary executions.” Every chance she gets, she puts out some inane statement that criticizes the President for every policy, every move he makes.

Assume that there were

indeed extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s watch — and I myself believe there have been given that there are undeniably psychopaths in the police, in any police force anywhere in the world — what should a responsible vice president have done?

She should have organized a task force of researchers, para-legals and lawyers to investigate each instance of alleged EJK, and with the prestige of her office, prosecuted these police criminals.

Has she done this in even one case? No. Do you know who represented the parents of the 17-year-old Kian Loyd de los Santos, whose murder by Caloocan police became the poster for the Yellows’ claims of EJKs under Duterte’s watch? Lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office, an overworked, understaffed government office.

She doesn’t even consult with the more mature and veteran Liberal Party stalwarts like Senators Franklin Drilon and Manuel “Mar” Roxas. The only two people she is said to listen to are her spokesman Ibarra Gutierrez of the pinko party Akbayan and the Quezon City congressman Jorge Banal, who seems to be always by her side, but whom she has said in a Facebook post as merely her “political close-in.”

We taxpayers gave Robredo’s office P1.7 billion since July 2016 — and P700 million for next year — for her to spread lies around the world?

Robredo is Exhibit A of the damage to our political system inflicted by the Yellows’ in their 18-year-old rule under Corazon Aquino, Ramos and Noynoy, so bad that it produced the worst vice president in our history, who probably even prays she can be president.

And I always thought we were evolving toward a better kind of politics.

Never again, I hope. (ManilaTimes.net)

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COMMUNITY Journal

11

2019 Taiwan Food FesTival

99 Ranch Market proudly presents fantastic flavors of Taiwan

CAN WE REINSTATE OUR SON’S PETITION FROM 1999 SINCE HE IS NOW SINGLE AGAIN AFTER HIS MARRIAGE WAS ANNULLED IN 2018? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” More Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen Pinoy” taping in Illinois will get the chance to have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out what is the fastest way to petition children from a previous marriage. What can one do if her visa renewal was denied because she overstayed on her first trip? A woman was petitioned by her first husband, but she has since remarried. She discovers that her first husband passed away in 2010. What are her chances of being a U.S. citizen now that the petitioner has died? Can her second husband petition her? Get answers to these questions and more on an encore episode of — “Citizen Pinoy”, this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

RELIEF Act could expedite family petitions Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ ON October 16, 2019, a bill (or proposal) was introduced in the Senate called the “Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act,” or RELIEF Act (SB 2603). If it is enacted (or becomes law), it could cut the waiting time for family and employment petitions to five years. This could include brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (F-4) and married children (F-3), where right now the waiting time could be up to 30 years!

This bill would also classify spouses and minor children of green card holders as “immediate relatives,” such that they would be immediately eligible for green cards, just like the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens.

The RELIEF Act would increase the number of green cards available so as to clear out the backlog. Some of the highlights of the RELIEF Act include:

• Eliminating family and employment green card backlog over the next five years, based on the dates the petitions or applications were filed. This could mean that if you were petitioned by a sibling or as a married child, you could be eligible for a green card in about five years!

• Classifying spouses and children of green card holders (F-2A) as “immediate relatives,” meaning they would be immediately eligible for green cards, just like the spouses and children of U.S. citizens.

• Providing additional “age out” protection for children who qualify for green card status based on a parent’s immigration petition.

We hope the RELIEF Act will pass in Congress and be signed by the president. It is not yet law. However, in the meantime, people may want to consider filing family petitions now, such as a petition of a sibling or for married children, if they have not already done so. This is because even though the waiting time is up to 30 years, if the RELIEF Act becomes law, the waiting time could be reduced to about five years.

You may want to consult

with an attorney to evaluate your immigration situation, and how this proposal could possibly help you and your family if it finally becomes law. This is great news! *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

BUENA PARK, CA — Organized by 99 Ranch Market, sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Bureau of Foreign Trade, “Fantastic Flavors of Taiwan-2019 99 Ranch Market Taiwan Food Festival” officially kicked off on October 12. This special promotion will last for 16 days until October 27 for three consecutive weekends in SoCal, Nevada, Texas, New Jersey, and Maryland stores. Customers will enjoy a variety of new and authentic Taiwanese food at the best prices!

Taiwan has always been known to have some of the best food in the world. Every year, a plentiful amount of

high-quality, diverse products and flavors emerge in the marketplace. From local foods, refreshing desserts, beverages, casual snacks to delicious noodles, it successfully highlights the essence and charm of Taiwanese food culture. The Taiwan Food Festival brings together many outstanding Taiwanese brands and an exclusive variety of popular products, showcasing one of a kind Taiwanese authentic flavors.

2019 Taiwan Food Festival features products includes Zuang mung bean (Green Diamond) and is known to be one of the most authentic Taiwanese-style ice pop.

Made with a traditional recipe, it preserves the naturally-

sweet flavor with the plump and firm texture of mung beans. Kimbo grass jelly and ai-yu jelly are two of Taiwan’s famous summer desserts, which are ultra juicy and fulfilling. Taiwanese pineapple cake and suncake are worldfamous desserts - a tourist’s favorite baked delicacies all year round. Mizuho and Sunbooth are the two musttry brands for these delightful confectionary. Don’t miss the classic Kuang Chuan Tea Time Milk Tea, Heysong Sarsaparilla Drink and Vitalon Supao Sports Drink among other countless classic products.

Dry noodles and Taiwanese pancakes are the two key PAGE 12

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Fil-Am musical drama ‘Yellow Rose’ picked up by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions

by AJPress

SOnY Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) announced on Thursday, October 24 that it has acquired all worldwide rights, excluding the Philippines, to the film “Yellow Rose,” directed by Filipina American Diane Paragas in her narrative feature debut.

“Yellow Rose” is a timely story about a Filipino teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while facing the threat of deportation. The film stars twotime Tony Award nominee Eva noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) in her feature film debut, Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga (Once on this Island, Miss Saigon), Princess Punzalan (Mula Sa Puso), Dale Watson (Friday night Lights), Gustavo Gomez (The Walking Dead), Libby Villari (Boyhood), and Liam Booth (Ghosts never Sleep).

Eva noblezada received her most recent Tony nomination for her portrayal of Eurydice in “Hadestown,” which won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. She received her first nomination for portraying Kim in the revival of “Miss Saigon.” Lea Salonga won the Tony Award for her portrayal of the same role in the original production of “Miss Saigon.” “’Yellow Rose’ has been a labor of passion for over 15 years and I’m thrilled that we can now share this very relevant story with the world,”

File photo

says Paragas. “We have the added honor of representing the real experiences of Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, and all immigrants seeking a better life in America.”

Yellow Rose features original songs developed for the film, written and composed by Watson, Paragas, noblezada, and Thia Megia. The film is written by Diane Paragas, Annie Howell, and Celena Cipriaso, based on a story written

by Paragas and Andy Bienen.

The film’s producers include Lead Producer Cecilia R. Mejia, Rey Cuerdo, Orian Williams and Paragas. Executive Producers include Carlo Katigbak, Olivia De Jesus, John D. Lazatin, and Juan Miguel Sevilla from ABS-CBn Global and Cinematografo Originals, Karen Elizaga, Gail Alvarez,

Victor Alvarez, and Dale Watson. Co-Producers include Jeremiah Abraham, Courtney Jones, and Thea Kerman.

The film premiered at this year’s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival where it received the Grand Jury Award and the Breakout Performance Award for noblezada’s outstanding performance.

Already having won a total of five Grand Jury Awards, the film is scheduled to screen at Austin Film Festival Monday, October 28 as well as the Hawaii International Film Festival in november.

“Yellow Rose” will be distributed in theaters in the Philippines by ABS-CBn. Paragas is managed by LBI Entertainment and is represented by Morris Yorn Barnes & Levine.

99 Ranch Market proudly...

PAGE 11 items that have generated big buzz in the markets recently.

We offer two popular celebrity brands Chia Yi Shi Ri and Kiki with many unique flavors paired with premium noodles. Uncle Onion carefully selects local, high-quality ingredients to bring the most original Taiwanese flavors.

It has become one of the goto Chinese pancake brands around the world. The 2019 Taiwan Food Festival offers various Taiwanese specialties, allowing customers to enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine.

In addition to the special promotions, we will be

hosting three special onsite promotional events at 99 Ranch Market Rowland Heights (10/12/19), Austin (10/19/19), as well as Edison (10/26/19) stores, where a great deal of Taiwanese food samplings including Greenmax cereals, Wu-mu spicy noodles, VE WOnG porridge, Ko-la-kou pea crackers, Jane-jane prepared shredded squid, Chimei buns, and many other great products samples will be offered for free! Make sure to come by and get your fix of these popular Taiwanese eats. On the day of the event, there are exciting programs such as in-house DJ playing

non-stop C-pop and K-pop remix and Taiwanese food edition kids cooking class.

Enjoy the “Buy, Play & Win” promotion, which with the purchase of three (3) selected Taiwanese items, customers can visit the redemption table to play a fun game and score some awesome gifts!

This will be an event full of fun and good food for your family to enjoy. 99 Ranch Market cordially invites you to join us to experience the fantastic flavors of Taiwan.

For more information, please refer to the official page: www.99ranch.com/2019-taiwan-food-festival.

(Advertising Supplement)

Angels Among Us

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

An angel is an invisible presence that must be acknowledged to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free will in humans.

You can acknowledge the presence of angels or deny it. It is your choice ultimately. The more angels are acknowledged and become a conduit to heaven, they become a hovering, guiding reality in one’s life growing ever stronger in their influence to shape every thought, word and deed in one’s life.

On the other hand, if the dark side prevails repeatedly in one’s soul that is made progressively weak by severe addictions of any kind, whether chemical, sexual or the human inclination towards pride, disobedience and evil, then the angel’s influence becomes weak. The human protectee is like a a cell phone that is not receiving signals and becomes dead on a skip zone.

Only a direct divine intervention wrought by the most powerful force of intercessory, unceasing prayers by

(Last of 4 Parts)

“All God’s angels come to us disguised.”

– James Russell Lowell one or more prayer warriors can avert the cosmic disaster of a soul lost forever to darkness, death and nothingness.

There is a study of angels called angelology. In it, it is claimed that there is a hierarchy of celestial beings grouped into three spheres.

According to Wikipedia, there is a First Sphere, the highest ranking of all because they are closest to God. This includes Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. The Second Sphere includes Dominions, Virtues and Powers. In the Third Sphere can be found Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

Our personal guardian angels fall in the last group. Each human being is believed to be assigned a personal guardian angel, Christian or not. The angels that keep watch over human beings belong to the lowest order of celestial beings and they are the ones concerned with the affairs of human beings. They are holy celestial beings who are agents of God intended as a help to mere mortals. They are powerful but we ourselves need to connect to that power to

take effect.

If you acknowledge that you as a child of God was given a personal guardian angel from the time God conceived you in His thoughts, there should be no fear in our hearts to face even the unknown. An angelic relationship can be nurtured daily and can grow wonderfully through time until the end of human life.

Who knows? In the end, we might be able to see this yet unseen godly presence, link up face to face, do a high-five, even dance a jig and thank our personal guardian angel, whether you gave him a name or not, whether he revealed his name to you or not, when we transition out to a celestial realm ourselves — finally free of ALL heavy worldly concerns and ALL constraints of time, space and gravity.

Just perhaps, that light at the end of a long dark tunnel might give us a glimpse of the face of God himself. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com.

Alex apologizes amid accusation of ‘indecent proposal’ to fitness coach

By Krissy AguilAr Inquirer.net

ACTOR Alexander Diaz has apologized amid allegations he made an indecent proposal to fitness coach online.

“I ask forgiveness from my management, the brands, supporters, friends, my family and everyone else I let down by what I did and/or who I am,” Diaz wrote Tuesday in an Instagram post.

“Im sorry, I was wrong in my actions and failed to uphold the values I so strongly try to convey online,” he added.

Diaz’s apology came after a certain fitness coach named Miguel Chanco reportedly took to Facebook PAGE 13

Alex Diaz

Photo from Instagram/@alexandermcdizz

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Claudine sees no end to family squabble

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

AFTER Marjorie Barretto’s television interview on Tuesday, October 22, where she lashed out at elder sister Gretchen, Claudine, who was in the thick of the altercation that occurred during the wake of their father, said reconciliation is no longer possible.

“Hindi. Ayaw ko na (No. I give up),” she said when asked if she sees and end to the squabble between them. “I haven’t spoken to any of my siblings. I mean on Marjorie’s side. So kahit nahati kami, divided kami, it’s so sad na napahiya na naman kami. Hindi sa harap ng Presidente, hindi na bale ‘yun. Pero ‘yung second night, gan’un na naman ‘yung away — worse.

Parang wala na, wala nang pag-asa. Mas maganda na lang ‘yung, pagkatapos nito, tama na (Thus, though we are divided; it’s so sad that we were again shamed. Not in front of the President,

EMPLOYMENT

Claudine and Gretchen Barretto Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto

Marjorie Barretto Photo from Instagram/@marjbarretto

that can be excused. But the second night, the fight worsened. There’s no more hope. I’ve had enough),” Claudine said.

In a radio interview, she narrated her version of the fight during their father’s wake last week that had become fodder for media.

Claudine said it was Marjorie who taunted her on that night when she and her sisters had a scuffle that was witnessed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“May press na dumating. Akala nila pinadala ko or pinadala ni Gretchen.

Tapos hindi ko alam na nagpa-interview na pala si Gretchen. So Marjorie went to my mom screaming, ‘You tell Gretchen!’ So sabi ng mommy ko, ‘You want to tell her, why don’t you tell her.’”

The actress said she, her mother and brother Jay Jay were sitting with some guests when Marjorie blurted, ‘I’m not the one who

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 25-31, 2019

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Alex apologizes amid accusation of...

PAGE 12 last week to accuse the actor of making an indecent proposal to him.

The actor then expressed thanks to supporters and vowed he will not “be shackled” by the fear of what others would say about him.

“But I sincerely thank everyone for not failing to

remind me that I am human and that I too am loved,” Diaz said.

“Never again will I be shackled by the fear of what might be said about who I am for fear of losing my career and instead, I will seek help, heal and champion change, acceptance and representation for the bisexual community and/

or anyone who is met with prejudice in our society,” he added.

Diaz also announced he will “rest” for now and will “come back stronger.”

“For now, I will rest, reevaluate and come back stronger and better than ever. I love you all, I have learned and I am growing. thank you,” the actor said.

goes to a psychiatrist, I’m not the one who’s crazy.’

“She was taunting me. So ako, tawa lang ako ng tawa.

Akala niya mapipikon niya ako (I just laughed. She thought I would be piqued).

Tapos sabi niya (Then she told me), ‘You, it’s your fault. You tell Gretchen…

Sabihan mo yang ate mo.’

Sabi ko, ‘You tell her yourself.’”

“Sabi niya (She said), ‘What? Lalaban ka?’ So tumayo ako. Sabi ko, ‘Oo lalaban ako.’ Tapos parang dinuro ako sa ulo. Ayun na, sinampal ko siya. Sinampal ko talaga siya. Nagsabunutan kami (So I stood up.

I said, yes, I will fight. She pointed a finger at me. I

slapped her. We pulled each other’s hair),” Claudine continued.

She admitted that the fight got so bad that their mother had a nervous breakdown.

Nicole, Atong’s girlfriend Claudine also confirmed that her niece Nicole, daughter of Jay Jay, was businessman Atong Ang’s girlfriend. On Monday, Ang denied he had a relationship with Nicole.

“So ‘yung pinagkakalat nila na si (the gossip that Atong and Gretchen [are in a relationship], wow! Mahiya naman sila kay (They should feel shame toward Dada [Cojuangco].” Dada

is Tonyboy Cojuangco, Gretchen’s partner.

According to Claudine, Gretchen had planned on visiting their father when he was in the hospital, contrary to what Marjorie had said that their elder sister only wanted a staged reconciliation for everyone to see.

“Gretchen was thinking of going pero she didn’t have the strength, the courage to face my dad yet. And pinagsisihan niya ‘yun (she was sorry for that).”

Shortly after Marjorie called her an “evil” woman, Gretchen said she was not allowed to go to the hospital because of the former’s outbursts.

SERVICES

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OCTOBER 25-31, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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people events arts culture entertainment

THE FILIPINO SCHOOL OF NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY: 10 YEARS AND COUNTING

Providing educational resource for the community remains a top priority

I

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA /AJPress

T all started a decade or so ago with ideas and a few questions about how young Filipino American children should grow up knowing about their history and heritage and the need for a place to do just that.

That idea became The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey, a nonprofit organization serving communities within New York, New Jersey and beyond, and earlier this month, it celebrated its first decade at The Women’s Club of Ridgewood in Ridgewood, New Jersey. It is an established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes the learning of Philippine language and arts, and the understanding of Philippine culture, values and tradition throughout New York, New Jersey and beyond.

The event coincided with the celebration of Filipino American History Month and the evening’s barrio fiesta theme focused on “Pagdiriwang” (which means celebration in Tagalog) and featured performances by the school’s various local community partners.

There was a Filipino martial arts demonstration from members of Filipino Kali Academy; several dances from the Southern Philippine region by Sining Kapuluan; and students from the school’s Sayawan Na! (Dance

Sayawan Na! Queens dancers Paige Yun, Tory Del Carmen-Dy (back L), Reeve Pelayo, Naomi David (back R), Darcy Pelayo and Dorian Pelayo

Now!) Philippine Folk Dance program who performed various rural dances with stringed accompaniment music played by the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla group of New Jersey.

Since its founding in 2008, the organization has been providing educational programs, workshops and events that teach Philippine languages, art, culture and history to both children and adults alike. To date, over 350 students have enrolled and attended classes, and the evening’s celebration included students, alumni, parents, staff and community partners.

Venessa Manzano, a nonprofit professional and Filipino-American community leader realized the need for a Filipino school in the NY/NJ area and started the school. Manzano mentioned that she recognized there was a dearth of educational tools on Philippine language and culture, especially in comparison to other ethnic

groups like the Chinese, Koreans, French, Armenians and Japanese who had their own cultural schools.

“At the time, many of my friends were settling down and starting families of their own. In friendly conversations, we’d talk about how we would love to impart with our children a love and understanding of their Filipino heritage. That got me thinking, and realizing, that there didn’t seem to be an established Filipino cultural school in the New York or New Jersey area,” Manzano shared.

“And hence, my search began. What also prompted me was when a close family member of mine commented on how learning about her Filipino culture wasn’t important to her since she doesn’t live in the Philippines. The possibility of losing our culture because the younger generation was becoming more “Americanized” along with the lack of importance our PAGE 15

Carmen Mateo and Laarni Hazel

Filipino Kali Academy of Norwood, NJ

Jessica and Daniel Santiago

Sayawan Na! students of Bergen and Rockland Counties

Maria Deauna (2nd from L) receives Outstanding Teacher Award with Arianne Maliwanang, Natalie Habana, Julian Habana, Xavier Habana and Venessa Manzano (back)

UP Alumni and Friends played beautiful music as guests entered the venue to celebrate The Filipino School of New York and New Jersey’s anniversary.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 25-31, 2019

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Matteo replaces James as Pedro Penduko

By JAn Milo seveRo Philstar.com

Judy Ann Santos (right) and Enzo Pelojero in “Starla”

ABS-CBN photo

Judy Ann explores her dark side

By Rito P. Asilo Inquirer.net

JUDY Ann Santos became famous for playing beleaguered heroines who overcome all types of adversity.

But while the actress is happy with roles that are snug fit for her wholesome image and prodigious acting skills, she says she’s more than happy to essay characters that cast her against type.

In ABS-CBN’s new primetime teleserye “Starla,” for instance, Juday says her role is not readily sympathetic.

“The series is about a star (Jana Agoncillo) who needs to grant good wishes so that she would become a fullfledged wishing star,” she discloses. “But the family drama that drives the show is the story of Teresa (Judy Ann) and her father, Greggy

(Joel Torre). The hatred and pain in her heart are fueling her need to wreak havoc on Barrio Maulap as a way to avenge her mother. She blames them for her death.”

While the story of “Starla” is “unusual,” Juday also finds it refreshing to head off the beaten track, she says.

“The character is very dark, which is challenging to do.

This is also the reason behind my recent guesting [as Jane] in ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ which felt like an intro to my character in ‘Starla’—handa lang kayo kasi naiiba ito.

Hindi ito bait-baitan dot com (laughs).

“Portraying Jane was something different and truly out-of-the-box for me, para maiba naman. It isn’t easy to play someone with a multiple personality disorder. I had to do it to challenge myself.”

But the actress says she really isn’t turning her back on the dramas she’s famous for.

In fact, her first collaboration with Brillante Ma Mendoza, “Mindanao,” which premiered in Busan early this month, has just been chosen as one of the entries in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival.

Is she open to a reunion film with Piolo Pascual?

The last time she worked with the heartthrob was in Joyce Bernal’s blockbuster rom-com, “Don’t Give Up On Us,” in 2006. The tried-andtested tandem of Judy Ann and Piolo were also seen in such starrers as “Esperanza,” “Kahit Isang Sag-lit,” “Bakit ’Di Totohanin” and “Till There Was You.” “Of course!” she answers with a laugh. “If it’s a very good material, why not?”

The Filipino school of...

PAGE 14 people placed on being Filipino was frightening,” she added.

It took about three years to start piloting programs and to register for the organization’s nonprofit status. They needed the time to first do some preliminary market research to see what’s out there and what is lacking in terms of available Filipino educational resources. What started off as a small children’s Filipino language and cultural program in Jersey City organically blossomed into a crucial educational resource for the community.

Manzano described the first few years of the school as “exciting” and “full of energy”.

“Many people were happy to hear about the school and its existence, and wanted to help in whatever way they could,” she shared.

The school then had their children’s Filipino language and cultural program operating in Jersey City along with the adult Filipino language program.

Now serving areas including Rockland County, NY; Queens, NY; Manhattan, NY; Bergen County, NJ; and Hudson County, NJ, the school also offers a language program for adults, Philippine folk dance classes, an annual summer potluck get-together, parol-making workshops, and other special workshops on Baybayin (Philippine ancient writing system), Filipino martial arts (arnis, kali), the kulintang (Philippine gongs), among others.

Michelle De Jesus, a parent whose children are enrolled in the school’s Sayawan Na! Philippine Folk Dance program, expressed her heartfelt appreciation of the organization and shared

how her family’s experience reminded her of her childhood.

“Growing up Pinay, I remember my parents taking us to our cousins’ houses on weekends where they would all bring potluck, we would all play and run around, and they would dance and enjoy life after working so hard all week,” she said. “My parents even sent me to Filipino class to learn the same dances – Itik-Itik and some Hawaiian dances with my cousins. These gatherings are so important to our culture and our families, it’s what grounds us.”

Through the years, the school has faced problems and challenges, among them finding space to hold the programs, especially in Manhattan. Since they don’t have their own physical space yet, they go out into the communities they serve and hold the

ACTOR Matteo Guidicelli is now officially the new Pedro Penduko in the upcoming local superhero movie to be released in 2020.

The announcement came from Viva Artist Agency’s social media accounts. “ # M a t t e o i s P E N D U K O !

Matteo Guidicelli is Pedro

Penduko in the upcoming film #PENDUKO directed

by Jason Paul Laxamana.

Filming soon,” the artist agency wrote in the caption.

Matteo also posted the news on his Twitter account with the caption “Penduko #2020.”

The fictional character was supposed to be played

by James Reid, but he quit

Matteo Guidicelli

programs in spaces such as dance studios, community centers, and small business meeting rooms.

As its founder, Manzano has big dreams for the school, and she hopes to realize them one by one.

“To ultimately have a paid full-time director, our own operating space and for program expansion into other communities in New York and New Jersey,” she revealed.

The anniversary event was also an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the school’s dedicated instructors who have helped build a strong foundation of learning, appreciation and awareness of Philippine culture for the students and community over the years.

They are: Kristal Aliyas, Joyelle Cabato, Laura Cabochan, Maria Deauna, Claro de los Reyes, Francis Estrada, Laarni Hazel, Joelle Lingat, Bing Magtoto, Joffin Motyka, Noel Pangilinan,

due to physical injuries and medical concerns, as announced by Viva Agency.

“James has spinal injuries and the film Pedro Penduko involves intensive training and major stunts.

His regular therapy and treatment prohibits him to train hard or perform for the rigid requirements,” the talent agency said in a statement last May.

Photo from Instagram/@matteog

Melissa Racelis, Daniel Santiago, Tricia Santos, Noel Shaw, Melissa Sumadchat, Alyssa Joy Tumbokon, and Christine Ucker.

“These individuals hold full-time jobs outside of their work with the school, and yet, because of their love for and passion of Philippine culture and teaching, they spend their evenings and weekends teaching class.

They are the school’s frontline heroes,” Manzano said.

And what is a good celebration without Filipino food? Guests enjoyed a spread of savory Filipino dishes including two large lechon and buko pandan cakes were provided by Asin (Caldwell, NJ), New BBQ Pit (Bergenfield, NJ) and Tropical Hut Filipino Cuisine (Maywood, NJ) with dessert

by Flushing Ice Cream Factory and by Tita Puring.

A community mural by commissioned Boston-based artist, Bren Bataclan, was also unveiled to the audi-

ence. It was the culmination of the drawings that participants drew during a workshop with Bataclan back in 2018. Also, a video montage (produced by MPW Media/ Redhot Media) featuring interviews of parents, students and teachers showcasing the school’s growth and impact on the community was shown during the program.

And as guests of all ages danced the night away to the music provided by DJ Ming Ampil of SoundQuestDJNY, the children enjoyed a modified version of the traditional Filipino party game of pabitin (commissioned by Lorial Crowder of Pabitin USA) with little trinkets and toys from the Philippines.

For more information on The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey, you may visit their Facebook page, Instagram account and website: www.filschool-nynj.org or, you can contact them at (774) 257-4669 or info@ filschool-nynj.org.

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