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DATELINE Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies gets $1-M state allocation for research FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

THE year-old Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis will be receiving $1 million in state funding to go towards expanding research on Filipino American communities.

Announcing the funding on Thursday, October 24 was Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), who was born in Quezon City, Philippines and became the first Fil-Am to ever be elected to the California Legislature. “This is a time for celebration,� said Bonta, who championed the funding. “I hope this is just a down payment for ongoing funding.�

The Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies (BCFS) is the first of its kind not only in the University of California (UC) system, but in the

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US Speaker Pelosi urges probe into shooting of American rights worker in Ifugao

Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Robredo won’t buy: Palace not serious about drug czar offer

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJ Press

The spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo insisted Wednesday, October 30, that the administration could not be serious about its offer of a drug czar post since the invitation was merely sent through mobile text.

According to lawyer and former lawmaker Barry Gutierrez, MalacaĂąang and presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo are merely messing with Robre-

do, who’s only been working seriously. “Kung seryoso talaga sila, hindi idadaan sa text o tawag ni Sec Panelo. Ginugulo lang nila si VP habang gumagawa ng seryosong trabaho kaysa pumatol sa mga ganitong pa-showbiz (If they are really serious, Secretary Panelo won’t make the offer through text or a phone call. They are just messing with the vice president who is working seriously instead of reacting to these gimmicks),� Gutierrez said in a tweet. “Sana hindi ito sukat kung gaano sila ka-seryoso

sa pag-ayos ng drug war (I hope this is not a gauge of their seriousness with the drug war),� he added.

On Monday, October 28, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would “surrender� his law enforcement power to Robredo to specifically take charge of his drug war for six months.

He made this offer after Robredo criticized anew the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

But Robredo opted not to respond to the president’s call, saying she was unsure if the statement

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Gov. Newsom launches resource website for Californians impacted by wildfires and power shutoffs

UNITED States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she has called on the Philippine government to investigate the attempted murder of a Chinese-American human rights and environmental defender who was shot in Lagawe, Ifugao in August.

Brandon Lee, an American volunteer of the Baguio City-based Cordillera Human Rights Alliance was shot in front of his house on August 6. “Grateful that Brandon Lee has returned home to San Francisco for refuge and care after

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday, October 28, the launch of a new state website with tools and resources for Californians who have been impacted by wildfires and utility-directed power shutoffs.

The website, RESPONSE.CA.GOV, combines emergency response, recovery and resilience information into a single place for easy access by users. It is a one-stop portal that includes local and state resources, health services, shelters and housing, preparedness information, and more. “California continues to rise to the challenge of power shutoffs and natural disasters,� said Governor Newsom. “RESPONSE.CA.GOV provides Californians with a unified portal for critical information during this state of emergency. This site will continuously be updated as need-

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PARTING GIFT. President Rodrigo Duterte receives a token from outgoing Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua during his farewell call to the president at the MalacaĂąang Palace on Monday, October 28.

MalacaĂąang photo byRobinson NiĂąal

Locsin says China is not threatening war More than 8,000 people affected by Mindanao earthquake

by AJPRESS FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday, October 28, said China is not threatening to go to war with the Philippines over resources in the South China Sea. His statement came after British journalist Bill Hayton questioned his tweet saying that China does not need the Philippines’ oil and gas reserves in the contested waters. “China doesn’t need our oil and gas. We do. And China is the only one offering to help develop it. A Filipino discovered humongous oil and gas just offshore Beijing. It’s rolling in minerals,�

Locsin said in a tweet.

In response, Hayton said: “The only one? Shell and Chevron are already doing it. PRC is

threatening war to prevent the Philippines developing its own resources.�

Locsin replied on Tuesday morning, October 29, pointing out that the Malampaya natural gas field, operated by Shell Philippines Exploration with partners Chevron Malampaya and Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation, is running out. “Shell and Chevron’s Malampaya is running out. No it is not threatening war; we’re almost there,� he tweeted.

According to Locsin, China does not see a problem in conducting joint exploration with the Philippines in areas in the South China Sea. “In undisputed areas, China sees no problem doing it explicitly under Philippine law; in disputed areas under my (memo-

PH among world’s worst impunity offenders

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

According to its 2019 Global Impunity Index, Somalia is the The Committee to Protect world’s worst country for the Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday, fifth year in a row based on October 29, listed the Philip- unsolved journalist deaths as pines among the 13 countries a percentage of each country’s that make up the world’s worst population with 25 killings in impunity offenders. u PAGE A3

randum of understanding) on Oil & Gas which spares either from conceding sovereign claims,� he said.

Locsin also noted in a separate tweet that the Malampaya gas field had “long antedated the Arbitral Awardâ€? that invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. In May 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte said that Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a threat of war should the Philippines invoke the July 2016 arbitra Duterte, for his part, told Xi that the West Philippine Sea “is ours and we intend to drill oil there.â€? “I said it is ours and I will drill the oil. And I tell them do not do it because it is ours. But I have the arbitral ruling. But they said that if you force the issue, we will go to war,â€? he said. â–

333,285 family food packs and food and non-food items for affected families.

THE National Disaster Risk ReAs of 6 a.m., on Wednesday, duction and Management Coun- the NDRRMC placed the official cil (NDRRMC), in its latest situa- death toll at five, with nearly 400 tion report released Wednesday, people injured.

October 30, said that 1,681 famiHowever, the Davao del Sur lies or 8,402 people in Mindanao police reported three more have been affected by the mag- deaths following the strong nitude 6.6 earthquake that hit tremor.

Cotabato on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

According to NDRRMC, those who were displaced are from Kidapawan, Mlang, and Tulunan with 3,505 in evacuation centers while the rest were being served outside the evacuation sites.

It said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) central office, field offices, and National Resource Operations Center have P1,978,803,246.13 in standby !.$2%7 " 3(). funds, and added that there are

by AJPRESS

Davao del Sur police chief Colonel Alberto Lupaz said two residents of Digos City succumbed to cardiac arrest and hypertension over panic triggered by the earthquake while a resident of Barangay Tagaytay in Magsaysay was killed in a landslide.

Two people were also reported missing following a landslide

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From the Front Page

Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies gets $1-M...

REMEMBERED. Caretakers of the Libingan ng mga Bayani clean the tombs of our fallen heroes ahead of the observance of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day, on Monday, October 28. November 1 and 2 have been declared as special non-working days under Proclamation No. 555, series of 2018, issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, to strengthen family ties by providing more time to observe their most cherished tradition of visiting loved ones during the period Manilatimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili

Robredo won’t buy: Palace not serious... the few issues the Robredo camp, considered as a key part of the opposition, and the administration have butted heads. A few weeks Robyn Rodriguez, director of the center and chair of Asian American studies, and Assemblyman Rob Bonta engage with students as they ago, Gutierrez urged Panelo to ac- celebrate a $1 million gift to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies, UC Davis, Thursday.

Photo by Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis cept the existence of a mass transfor researchers. The archive was cording to the university. port crisis, after Panelo accepted a PAGE A1 nation.

“The Filipino American com- established in 2014 and currently challenge for him to commute.

It’s named after Fil-Am labor ac- munity is one of the oldest im- has collections primarily on FilipiThe two sides also gave different tivist, migrant worker, and author migrant groups in California, no American labor history, but will views on other issues like the ChiCarlos Bulosan who is best known but our community’s place in expand to include research matenese occupation of the West Philfor his 1946 book “America Is in California history and U.S. history rial on other aspects of the Fil-Am ippine Sea, the country’s relations the Heart.” more broadly — from leading the experience such as immigration, with Beijing, and on the ongoing “This allocation provides a cru- farmworker movement to fight- culture, neighborhoods and hispoll protest against Robredo. n cial early boost to a center focused ing during World War II — is not toric buildings, the workforce, and on an area that deserves more widely known or taught,” said Ro- veterans.

Other planned projects menstudy,” said Robyn Rodriguez, di- driguez. rector of the Bulosan Center and “As one of the largest and fast- tioned at the center’s opening last chair of Asian American studies. est-growing Asian American com- year included an oral history projPAGE A1 Management Assistance Grant populations during these events. ed to provide Californians with the to help ensure the availability of Under Governor Newsom’s “It gives the center, the first of munities, Filipino Americans’ ect called “Preserving California’s resources they need.” resources to fight the Getty Fire. leadership, California passed AB its kind at a major research cen- contemporary issues will require Historic Filipino American Sites,” RESPONSE.CA.GOV provides California has also secured Fire 1054, wildfire safety and utility ter, a very strong start in better deeper investigation and under- which will conduct interviews to Californians with information and Management Assistance Grants reform legislation that expands researching the second-largest standing. We are excited to lead record and preserve the moveresources for current incidents, to bolster the response to the the CPUC’s ability to hold utilities American group in the nation.” efforts to expand the field of Fili- ments, successes, and experiences of those who have worked The allocation announcement pino studies,” Rodriguez added. transportation impacts, vital health Kincade and Tick fires, for which accountable for their safety record services information, shelter and the Governor previously declared — a central part of the Governor’s comes as Fil-Ams across the U.S. The BCFS launched last Oc- to preserve and promote their Filcelebrate October as Filipino tober 2018 with the goal of con- Am communities. housing locations, unemploy- a state of emergency in Sonoma wildfire safety actions.

Since its launch, the center has ment assistance and other state and Los Angeles counties.

The legislation created a new American History Month. With tinuing Bulosan’s legacy through information. The website also diOver the course of the past wildfire safety division at the CPUC a population of 3.5 million, the education, advancing research, raised $30,000 in private donarects users to Public Safety Power week, the Governor has met with and a board of independent expert Fil-Am community is among the and promoting advocacy for both tions.

“The aim of the center is to upShutoff information and prepared- emergency responders, health of- advisors to more effectively regu- largest AAPI groups in the nation. contemporary and historical isness tips. As incidents continue to ficials, residents and local leaders late the safety of publicly owned The large majority of Fil-Ams live sues faced by Filipinos both in the lift the voices of the most marginalized in the Filipino community in evolve, the portal will be updated in Petaluma, Napa, Geyserville utilities. The law mandated that in California, mainly in the Los U.S. and abroad. to reflect the latest information and Los Angeles, and held public utilities tie executive compensa- Angeles region (500,000), the San Among the center’s programs the United States and diaspora,” and any additional resources the briefings regarding the ongoing tion to safety performance, invest Francisco Bay Area (300,000), and is the Welga! Filipino American said Rodriguez. “Its programs are state may develop.

Digital Archive, an online archive driven by close collaboration with fire threats and the need to hold $5 billion in safety improvements in greater Sacramento (75,000).

Roughly 1,800 students at UC that serves as the center’s infor- community-based organizations.”

The governor declared on utilities accountable for the con- without profit, and go through a Monday, October 28, a statewide sequences of their power shutoff new yearly wildfire safety review Davis are of Filipino descent, ac- mational repository, and is free (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress) n emergency due to the danger- decisions. and certification process. It also ous weather conditions. Earlier The Governor has also an- requires new inspections of utility today, Governor Newsom joined nounced a $75 Million Program electrical equipment. Under the the state’s top fire and emergency for state and local governments law, utilities must create a wildnearly every year since the index criminal groups, politicians, govmanagement officials to provide to mitigate the impacts of power fire safety committee in their cor- PAGE A1 The Committee to Protect Jour- was first published in 2008,” CPJ ernment officials, and other powan update on statewide fire and shutoffs, and unveiled a series of porate board, and provide direct erful actors resort to violence to wind conditions, and announced new partnerships and new tools to board-level safety reporting to the nalists (CPJ) on Tuesday, October said.

“The country’s fifth-worst silence critical and investigative 29, listed the Philippines among that California has secured a Fire help secure medically vulnerable CPUC. n the 13 countries that make up ranking is due in part to the reporting.

“Unchecked corruption, inefthe world’s worst impunity of- deadly ambush of 58 individuals, including 32 journalists and fective institutions, and lack of fenders.

According to its 2019 Global media workers, in Ampatuan, political will to pursue robust in //", 9Ê /Ê 7 Impunity Index, Somalia is the Maguindanao, on November vestigations are all factors behind world’s worst country for the fifth 23, 2009. The trial of over 100 impunity,” the media watchdog year in a row based on unsolved suspects behind the massacre noted.

Other countries listed in the journalist deaths as a percentage is due to conclude this year, but of each country’s population with as of August 31, 2019—the final index were Syria, Iraq, South 25 killings in a country of 15 mil- date CPJ counted convictions for Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, lion people, while the Philippines this year’s index—no verdict had Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria, and India. Together these ranked fifth with 41 killings in a been announced,” it added.

CPJ has found that the coun- 13 countries accounted for 222 country populated with 107 miltries listed in the index represent of the 318 deaths in the last 10 lion people.

“The Philippines has been a mix of conflict-ridden regions years with many of the cases among the worst five countries and more stable countries where linked to war and civil unrest. n

PAGE A1 of Duterte was serious or merely a joke.

Panelo, however, claimed the president was serious about his challenge to Robredo. He even said he had sent a text-invitation to Robredo.

Robredo felt offended by the administration’s supposed lack of seriousness in tackling the issue.

She said the invitation should not have been sent through text out of respect to the Office of the Vice

President.

Just earlier, Panelo even further prodded Robredo to take the post, saying it is a chance for her to prove that she is not only good at criticizing the government’s policies.

Should Robredo take the position, this would be her second role in Duterte’s Cabinet, after being the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair in 2016.

The drug war issue is only one of

Gov. Newsom launches resource website...

PH among world’s worst impunity...

More than 8,000 people affected by Mindanao...

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PAGE A1 in Barangay Upper Bala in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, according to NDRRMC. It said that a total of 394 people were injured —328 in Cotabato, eight in Davao del Sur, another eight in Lanao del Norte, nine in Bukidnon, 40 in South Cotabato, three in Sarangani, three in Sultan Kudarat, and one in Sultan Kudarat.

It added that a total of 133 infrastructure were damaged by the quake, including 94 schools, 11 health facilities, and 20 private establishments.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the mag-

nitude 6.6 earthquake, which was tectonic in origin at a depth of seven kilometers, struck Tulunan, Cotabato at 9:04 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29.

Listed below are the following areas that felt the earthquake: Intensity VII - Tulunan & Makilala, Cotabato; Kidapawan City; Malungon, Sarangani Intensity VI - Davao City; Koronadal City; Cagayan de Oro City Intensity V -Tampakan,Surallah and Tupi, South Cotabato; Alabel, Sarangani Intensity IV - General Santos City; Kalilangan, Bukidnon Intensity III - Sergio Osmeña Sr., Zamboanga del Norte; Zam-

boanga City; Dipolog City; Molave, Zamboanga del Norte; Talakag, Bukidnon Intensity I- Camiguin, Mambajao Instrumental Intensities: Intensity VII - Kidapawan City; Malungon, Sarangani Intensity V - Alabel, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato Intensity IV - Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; General Santos City Intensity II - Zamboanga City Intensity I - Dipolog City; Bislig City; Palo, Leyte 270 aftershocks were recorded as of Tuesday midnight, of which 50 were felt, said the NDRRMC. n

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Pacquiao challenges Mayweather in a video with Jack Ma

by AJPress Reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion Sen. emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao challenged Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a rematch in an instagram video alongside China’s richest man, Jack Ma. in the video, Pacquiao and Ma were seen hitting the pads.

“Floyd Mayweather if you want a real fight, fight me. if you want an exhibition, my guy, my friend Jack Ma will take care of you. The real Manny team,” Pacquiao said.

“Yeah, i’m ready anytime, anyplace. Manny team is ready,” Ma responded.

“Yes, that’s right,” the senator said before ending the video clip.

The video was also shared on Pacquiao’s official Twitter and Facebook page.

This is the second time Pacquiao met Ma, who is the 21st wealthiest man in the world with a networth of over $38 billion, in Hangzhou, China.

Him or me? Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao poses with China’s wealthiest man, Jack Ma. The senator and his wife Jinkee (not in photo) visited the Chinese billionaire to thank him for his pledge of donation to Pacquiao’s foundation. The couple was also accompanied by Chinese actor and producer Jet Li. Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao

Macairan Philstar.com

AMiD reports that there have been justices and judges who have been victims of killings, newly appointed Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said he would want to create a security team patterned after the United States Marshal Service.

During his first flag ceremony, Chief Justice Peralta bared his 10point program and mentioned that there is a need to provide protection to judges and justices, as well as increased security at the halls of justice in the country.

“We hope that we can devise the system either through legislation or through court initiative, the creation of a security system patterned after the U.S. marshals,” said Peralta.

According to its website, the

Census Bureau embarks on a hiring blitz Thousands of high-paying jobs available in California, nationwide

by Mark HEdin Ethnic Media Services

WiTH Census Day — April 1 — fast approaching, the Census Bureau is ramping up its hiring.

There are thousands of jobs to fill.

The national census, taken every 10 years since 1790, is the country’s biggest single peacetime project. The goal is to count each and every person living in the United States, no matter how young or old, no matter their citizenship, no matter anything. if they’re here, they count.

Knowing how many people live where will affect political representation and billions of dollars’ worth of spending decisions over the next decade. it’s so important that California has committed

US Speaker Pelosi urges probe into shooting...

rematch between Pacquiao and PAGE A1 being brutally shot in the PhilipMayweather were indeed ongopines, where he was fighting for ing. n environmental and indigenous peoples’ rights,” Pelosi said on her Twitter account.

She added: “i have encourU.S. Marshals Service and its Ju- sult with the court en banc as to aged the Philippine government dicial Security Division (JSD) pro- how to solve the issue of backlog to investigate this disturbing tects the judicial process by pro- and other concerns,” he said. crime.”

All other courts are expected tecting federal judges, jurors and Lee, a California native, is to continue to comply with exist- back in his home city. He and other members of the judiciary.

One of the programs of the JSD ing rules and guidelines pertain- his mother Louise arrived in San is the national Center for Judicial ing to prescribed periods for trial Francisco on a medical transport Security (nCJS) and one of its dates, including promulgation of last Saturday, according to sofunctions is to provide protection decisions and other rules geared cial media posts of Mar gordon for its judicial family. u PAGE A4 and Matty Haney, district superit was reported that 30 judges have been killed since 1999.

Peralta, who was appointed

by President Duterte as the 26th chief justice last Oct. 23, promised to be a public servant who would lead by example. “i have emphasized before that my judicial philosophy has always been to start from home and lead by example. Thus in order to achieve this first point, clerk of court will be required to conduct periodic inventory of all the cases pending in their divisions and con-

Meanwhile, a reliable source inside Pacquiao’s camp shared that negotiations for a possible

CJ Peralta wants security team patterned after US marshals

by EvElyn

GRAVE LOCATOR. Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos (right) is briefed by Michelle Nitro, web developer of the City Planning Department, on how to search the name and location of graves, during the launch of the 3D Directory, Kiosk and Database System held at the Garden of Life Cemetery in Barangay Vergara on Monday, October 28. The project comes a few days before the annual observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia

$180 million just to try to make sure everyone in the state responds to a census questionnaire, whether it’s done online, on paper, over the phone or in person.

There’s that much at stake.

The federal government will spend billions to do that counting and hire about a half-million people to do the work. Plenty of jobs are still open. Pay varies depending on where you are, but in northern California, hundreds of jobs are still open that pay from $24 to $33 per hour.

“We still urgently need people to apply for the jobs,” a San Francisco-based census recruiter told ethnic Media Services. “We welcome all applicants.”

Just as the 2020 Census will be the first to rely on people going

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visors of San Francisco City and County. “it took a movement—here in the Bay Area and US-wide, in the Philippines and internationally to bring him back to safety,” Haney wrote on Facebook.

Lee, also a paralegal volunteer of the ifugao Peasant Movement and a contributor to online paper northern Dispatch was among the activists tagged by the military as alleged supporters of the new People’s Army in 2015.

“Weeks and days before this incident, the 54th [infantry Battalion, Philippine Army]

frequented the ifugao Peasant Movement office as well as the residences of Brandon and other officers of the Justice and Peace Advocates of ifugao conversing with them, gathering data, and intimidating them,” CHRA said in a report on the shooting by reogional weekly northern Dispatch.

The Philippines was the deadliest country for environmental and land activists in 2018, with at least 30 recorded deaths, according to watchdog global Witness. (Gaena Katreena Cabico / Philstar) n

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Metro Manila worst to drive in, says Waze ranking

by FrAnco LunA Philstar.com

STOPPING POLIO. Thousands of motorcycle riders join the Unity Ride to Stop Polio to mark the end of the government’s vaccination campaign against the disease on Sunday, October 27. The motorcade started at the Boy Scout Monument in Quezon City and ended at the St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth Avenue ManilaTimes.net photo byRuy Martinez

DOT celebrates PH 8th travel destination ranking

by Jerome

Aning Inquirer.net

THE Department of Tourism is celebrating the designation of the Philippines as the 8th favorite country of the readers of Conde Nast Traveler (CNT), a New York-based luxury and travel magazine.

“Gaining yet another prestigious recognition as the 8th favorite country in the world speaks well of concerted efforts of the Philippine tourism industry stakeholders in nurturing the many natural wonders the country is blessed with,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said.

The Philippines ranked eighth among the 20 most favorite countries in the world of the CNT Readers’ Choice Awards 2019.

The Philippines scored 90.63 from among 600,000 readers of the magazine. Indonesia topped the list, followed by Thailand, Portugal, Sri Linka, South Africa, Peru and Greece. n

MANILA is the worst city in the world to drive in, according to a ranking by traffic navigation app Waze.

According to Waza data, it took 4.9 minutes to drive a full kilometer in Metro Manila in September 2019, marking a significant increase from April’s recorded figure of 3.8 minutes.

The nation’s capital is set to repeat as the worst in the world to drive in according to Waze’s 2019 ranking, country lead Sarah Rodriguez said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Waze’s 2017 Driver Satisfaction Index, which surveyed data among its claimed 90 million active users, also labelled Metro Manila drivers as the most miserable in Asia in a list spanning 39 countries.

President Rodrigo Duterte in June promised to secure a fiveminute travel time from Cubao to Makati for commuters and motorists. The two cities are about eight kilometers apart, or about a 40minute drive, according to Waze.

66 minutes a day spent in traffic However, a study by the Boston Consulting Group commissioned

by Uber shows that Metro Manila motorists wait in traffic for an average of 66 minutes every day on top of 24 minutes spent looking for parking at their destinations.

The study listed Manila as the third worst in Asia, just behind Bangkok and Jakarta.

Data from the MMDA revealed that in 2018, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue serviced 402,000 vehicles per day, far exceeding its supposed capacity of 288,000 daily.

The Department of Public Works

Philstar.com file photo

and Highways (DPWH) has assured the public that infrastructure projects under the administration’s Build, Build, Build program are underway to help decongest traffic in the metropolis.

According to the BCG study, Filipinos will spend a little over 16 days stuck in traffic in one year. Urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr furthered this number in an interview with ANC, saying that this stacks up to “at least nine to fifteen years taken from your life” given the full 40 years of one’s economic life.

And according to Waze’s Rodriguez, this is only going to get worse as the country inches closer towards Christmas season. “This is the time of the year when Filipinos travel the most and also spend the most time per drive,” she said.

Rodriguez noted that traffic congestion has begun to constantly build up throughout the day and then peak in the evening, according to recent Waze data.

“Two years ago, there were two spikes — morning rush hour and evening rush hour — then in-between there was a dip,” she said.

“Now, it has changed. There’s no more midday dip.”

20-percent increase in traffic after August

MMDA traffic head Edison Nebrija has warned the public that EDSA traffic increases by about 20 percent in the months after August.

According to him, the usual figure is expected to balloon to 487,058 cars a day in the coming months, much higher than the recorded volume this time last year.

In an attempt to alleviate the coming holiday traffic, the MMDA has called for a ban on weekday sales from November 11 until January 8, 2020. Mall operators also agreed to open their establishments at 11 a.m. on weekdays.

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 earlier announced that it would not be extending its operating hours during the Christmas season as it typically does to give way to its scheduled rail replacement. They promised better services for commuters once the repairs are finished.

The Light Rail Transit-1 line on the other hand said they would still hold longer hours. Meanwhile, three LRT-2 stations remain out of commission after a rectifier-transformer along the line caught fire in early October.

This comes in the midst of what transport and worker groups have called a mass transportation crisis. n

CJ Peralta wants security team patterned...

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PAGE A3 toward the realization of speedy disposition of cases.

The 67-year-old Chief Justice said they would sustain the program to weed out misfits from the judiciary and adopt a system where the court may initiate, on its own, the investigation of cases being handled by members of the judiciary even in the absence of complaints.

“In order to do this, I plan to impose timelines in resolving administrative complaints, including complaint initiated by the court and timelines for the court to resolve these complaints,” he added.

Peralta also intends to strengthen the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) and implement the judicial integrity board as soon as possible. This would help the OCA monitor and effectively address the concern of the lower courts on matters of infrastructure, communication, lack of per-

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta attends his first flag ceremony on October 28.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

sonnel, equipment and supplies issues.

He added they would also want to address problems on the inequitable distribution of cases in the lower courts, to create an audit office dedicated to the conduct of judicial audits and to appoint more judicial supervisors to con-

duct and oversee these audits and implement the judicial integrity board and possibly harmonize its functions with the OCA. They would also create a round-the-clock help desk in the office of the chief justice and other offices to receive the concerns of court users. n

Census Bureau embarks on a hiring...

PAGE A3 online to fill out their household questionnaires, would-be workers must use a computer to apply for census jobs. The website for applying is: www.2020census. gov/jobs.

Nationwide this week, the Census Bureau is hosting thousands of events as it kicks its recruitment effort into high gear to help fill those jobs.

About a half-dozen different types of work need to be done. The biggest need: Workers to ring the doorbells or knock on the doors of people who didn’t fill out the census questionnaires online, on paper, or by phone. These workers, known as “enumerators,” will have to instill enough trust to get an in-person response.

Every “Area Census Office” (there are 30 in California, from Bakersfield to West Covina) will need 600-800 enumerators. The pay scale can range up to $30 per hour in some areas, such as the Northern California counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco.

In San Diego County, the pay rate for enumerators is pegged at $20.50 per hour; in Del Norte and Fresno counties, it’s $16.50; in Kern County, $17. In Los Angeles, there are eight ACOs, seven of them are offering $21 per hour. At the eighth, it’s $18.

For every 20 enumerators, there has to be a supervisor. So every ACO needs between 30 and 40-some of those, depending on the size of the local population it’s trying to count. Supervisors make a few dollars more per hour, and recruiters too.

Then, every census office also needs dozens of office clerks, and for every 10 of those, a supervisor.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, the pay rate for those positions runs to $24 and $31 per hour, respectively.

The Census Bureau has filled most of its office management positions, the Bay Area source said, and completed the address verification stage of the census process, finalizing the lists of addresses where it believes people live.

So, for now the main thrust is to attract job applicants for the ac-

The Census Bureau reports having completed its process of verifying addresses for purposes of mailing notifications about the 2020 Census. Now, it is hiring thousands of enumerators who will go door-to-door next spring to collect information from those who do not respond to the online questionnaires.

tual enumeration process.

The census figures it may need up to eight applicants for every opening: An applicant may find that temporary work is not for them, or find other jobs while the census is reviewing their application, or simply change their mind about wanting the job.

The positions, though, are ideal for people seeking extra income because the hours are flexible and the schedule could allow the workers to hold another job or attend school.

Applicants must clear a background check, be citizens, 18 or older and have an email address.

They’ll be fingerprinted, too.

Having a misdemeanor conviction isn’t necessarily a disqualifier, a census spokesperson told Ethnic Media Services.

Although census work is under way already, the jobs the Census Bureau is recruiting for now are expected to begin next year. Office staff will be employed in the run-up to the release of the census questionnaire, April 1 at the latest, earlier in some cases, whereas enumerators won’t be brought in until it’s clearer how much follow-up work needs to be done to collect data from those who didn’t respond to questionnaires.

The non-response follow-up work that comprises the bulk of the enumerators’ assignment is expected to run from May through the end of July.

In all cases, before the new employees begin working, there will be weeks of paid training, for instance in using government-issued mobile devices to collect the information.

Another essential aspect of the training process involves taking an oath to preserve the confidentiality of respondents’ personal information.

The toughest laws the government has on protecting people’s personal information are the laws about handling census data.

Workers can face $250,000 fines plus five years in jail if they violate their sworn oaths to protect people’s privacy. All the data will eventually be made public, but not until 72 years after it was collected.

So for next year’s census, personally identifiable information is locked up until 2092. It’s the aggregate data the census compiles, not the personal data, that’s used to make decisions about billions of dollars’ worth of federal spending every year, or how many Electoral College votes and Congressional representatives you get.

The San Francisco recruiter said that although specific language skills are not required for any job openings, multilingual people are encouraged to apply and may get preferential consideration because those skills will help assure that every community is fully counted. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 1-7, 2019

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

DOH confirms third polio case by evA

CAsAlJAy ManilaTimes.net

FLOWERS FOR DEPARTED LOVED ONES. A man selects among the bunch of flowers sold along Dimasalang Road in Sampaloc, Manila on Tuesday, October 29, in preparation for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. During the annual observance, Filipinos usually bring flowers and light candles at the tombs of their departed loved ones.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

THE Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Monday, October 28 that another case of polio had been detected in Maguindanao.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the patient was a four-year-old girl in Datu Piang town.

The child’s stool test result sent on October 24 to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan came back positive. It was a vaccine-derived poliovirus linked with a confirmed polio case in Morogong, Lanao del Sur. The patient did not receive oral polio vaccine and was first reported as a case of acute flaccid paralysis in September.

The Health department will conduct a vaccination drive for children up to 59 months old in Datu Piang on November 4 to 8.

A baby receives a polio vaccine in Baseco Compound, Manila last October 14.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Meanwhile, officials of the DOH and representatives of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Childrens’ Fund will meet with the local officials of Datu Piang on October 28 to 29 to

discuss the outbreak response.

The Health department again called on parents to have their children vaccinated under the “Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio” program. n

Duterte’s pain reduced to one-fourth – Palace Government lost P234 billion to BOC corruption in 2 years

by Alexis

by edu

PunAy Philstar.com

RomeRo

edith RegAlAdo

MANILA — A House leader pushed for a legislative inquiry on the illegal practices at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that he said had cost the government P234 billion in losses in just two years.

Deputy Speaker and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has proposed an investigation in the House of Representatives on the controversial “benchmarking” and “tara” systems in BOC. “Benchmarking is the fastest way of clearing and releasing shipment at the port of entry aggravated by the tara system that

Philstar.com

MANILA — The pain in President Duterte’s lower back has eased, Malacañang said, in an effort to put an end to speculations about his health.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said “only one-fourth” of the “unbearable pain” felt by Duterte last week remains.

“By the way, the president mentioned something about his health. Because I asked him directly, ‘how’s your pain, Mr. President?’ If I am not mistaken, his response was, ‘the pain is only one-fourth now, the threefourths is gone’,” Panelo said at a press briefing.

Quoting Duterte’s longtime partner Honeylet Avanceña, Panelo said the president even used a treadmill last Sunday.

“In other words, there was a considerable easing of pain, otherwise he would not push through with his Bangkok trip and he would not use the treadmill,” he added, referring to the President’s participation in the coming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

While the pain experienced by Duterte has eased, Panelo said

President Rodrigo Duterte

the 74-year-old leader is still taking pain relievers.

Last week, Duterte had to cut short his trip to Japan because of what Panelo described as “unbearable pain” in his lower back.

Duterte was in Japan to witness the coronation of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Panelo later claimed that there was nothing serious about the president’s condition, which doctors said was just caused by muscle spasm.

Days before visiting Japan,

Philstar.com file photo

Duterte fell off his motorcycle at the Presidential Security Group compound.

Duterte was his usual fiery self when he administered the oath taking of newly appointed officials. His speech, however, was interrupted a number of times by coughs, a condition he blamed on the cold temperature in Japan.

Panelo said Duterte is also expected to visit the tombs of his parents in Davao City before leaving for Thailand. n

allows bribes from importers and brokers as if this is normal, tolerable and acceptable,” his resolution read.

Marcoleta said he personally examined BOC records and reports and found that the agency lost an estimated P234 billion in collections in 2016 and 2017 due to these corrupt practices, where values of shipment are being altered and fake commercial invoices and packing lists are being used as bases in computation of duties and taxes by customs brokers for the release of shipment to the consignee.

He revealed that BOC data showed a pattern of corruption over the period from January

2016 to November 2017 and indicated some evidence of the said illegal practices.

The lawmaker explained that a House inquiry is necessary to dig deeper into this issue with the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Internal Revenue to conduct investigation and audit, respectively, on some 283 importers, 166 customs brokers, 272 examiners and 145 appraisers that supposedly benefited from the scheme.

Marcoleta said his proposed legislative inquiry is an offshoot of the congressional investigation in August 2017 on the alleged syndicated and technical smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu. n

Cayetano eyes longer term as speaker by glee JAleA ManilaTimes.net

HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on Monday he was willing to serve as full term leader of the lower chamber if Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco would forego their termsharing pact.

“Well I’m open to the possibility if Congressman Velasco himself would say, ‘You do it.’ I won’t convince him otherwise anymore,” Cayetano told the me-

dia in English and Filipino.

Under the deal, Cayetano would sit as speaker for 15 months while Velasco would have 21 months.

“Having said that, [Velasco] has his own leadership, following, and he also heads the party of our President (Rodrigo Duterte) so I have to also respect that,” Cayetano said, referring to the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) headed by Velasco in the House. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano PAGE A7 Manilatimes.net file photo

A6

NOVEMBER 1-7, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

OPINION

On a roll

FEATURES

ARE government lawyers so incompetent, or is justice being undermined by mind-boggling wealth? Just within this year, the Marcoses have won three major cases, setting back efforts to recover billions of dollars in assets amassed during the 20-year regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The latest victory was handed to the Marcoses by the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division, with Associate Justice Alex Quiroz penning the decision and Justices Reynaldo Cruz and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega concurring. The three ruled that most of the documentary evidence submitted by state lawyers were not part of public record but “mere unauthenticated photocopies.”

The ruling courtesy of the Fourth Division brings to 22 the number of civil forfeiture cases against the Marcoses and their cronies that have been dismissed. Nineteen wealth-related cases remain pending.

The wholesale dismissal can be confusing when juxtaposed with established evidence that massive wealth has been accumulated illegally during the Marcos years. The Swiss government has turned over to the Philippines $680 million in assets, after determination of their illegal nature, which were deposited in Swiss banks by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, signing as William Saunders and Jane Ryan for the accounts. Prime pieces of real property in the United States have been seized and forfeited in favor of the government. A law has been passed, provid-

ing reparation for human rights victims of the Marcos dictatorship, to be taken from recovered stolen assets including the Swiss accounts.

In the vaults of the central bank, Imelda Marcos’ eye-popping collection of expensive jewelry worthy of royalty is being readied for auction. The government is still trying to recover priceless paintings by the masters from the former first lady.

There’s so much corpus delicti lying around, but how come no one has been convicted and sent to prison for illegally amassing such wealth in a country where about 30 percent of the population lives in poverty?

It’s not just the judiciary that seems to have a soft spot for the Marcoses. A former official of the Presidential Commission on Good Government lamented this year that even the Anti-Money Laundering Council failed to act on a PCGG request to go after Marcos’ heirs for possible money laundering.

At the rate the wheels of justice are turning in the Marcoses’ favor, one day history may be rewritten to declare that the king’s ransom accumulated by a in his time, was handed to his family as a gift by the president of this country, classified as low-income people themselves.

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS BREAKING NEWS: PBS reported, “The U.S. House of Representatives plans to hold a formal vote Thursday, October 31, on the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump over his alleged abuses of power while in office.”

“In a letter explaining the decision, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats that she wanted to push back on claims

by Trump and Republican lawmakers that the impeachment inquiry is not valid without a floor vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, introduced a resolution last week condemning the inquiry as ‘illegitimate’.”

“While Pelosi said Monday that the Trump administration ‘made up’ the argument that the

SHORTLY after his visit to Russia, the subject of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aka Digong visiting the United States came up.

It was as though someone had been prompted to ask Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo about it.

It was a reasonable question though, considering that Digong has already visited Russia twice, although the first one had to be aborted because of the Marawi crisis. He has also been to China four or five times.

Panelo’s reply was that a visit to the U.S. was still “unsure” because Digong dislikes cold weather and long flights. That may be so but we know that there are other more significant reasons why Digong is averse to visiting the U.S. In my view, a visit to the U.S. may not be advisable at this time for two reasons: 1) President Trump is very much preoccupied with the impeachment process against him, the crisis concerning Syria, Turkey, Iran and the Kurds, the trade negotiations with China, not to mention his bid for reelection; and 2) the prevailing hostility toward Digong (and Trump) of the U.S. mainstream media, some members of the U.S. Congress and human rights organizations in the U.S. I think Trump would not really want a visit from Digong at this

And every judicial court will uphold the historical revision. (Philstar.com)

In demanding delicadeza, accountability, justice from public officials, there’s NO gray area: Either you call them out OR you enable them impeachment inquiry is illegitimate, she said she wanted to take the vote to ‘eliminate any doubt.’”

“This week, we will bring a resolution to the Floor that affirms the ongoing, existing investigation that is currently being conducted by our committees as part of this impeachment inquiry, including all requests for documents, subpoenas for records and testimony, and any other investigative steps previously taken or to be taken as part of this investigation,” Pelosi said in the letter.

MEANWHILE in Japan, BBC News reports: “Japan’s new Minister of Trade Isshu Sugawara quits after gifting melons, oranges, roe and royal jelly to constituents.

“He is also said to have offered “condolence money” of 20,000 Japanese yen ($185;

Commentary

REYNALDO ARCILLA

Philstar.com photo

£145) to the family of a supporter. It is customary in Japan to give money as a condolence to grieving families - what is known as ‘incense money.’”

“Japan’s election law bans politicians from sending donations to voters in their home constituency.”

Despite any defense he can use, the public official resigned just the same, after being accused of violating election law.

MEANWHILE in the Philippines, politicians who give away dole outs, free goodies, cash gift, abuloy sa patay, pera sa binyag, regalo sa kasal while campaigning — they usually win in elections. In fact, many voters expect this kind of generosity from politicians and are deemed to be signs of their being pro-people and compassionate.

YET, voters openly say they

abhor politicians corruption, bribery, yet expect to continue to get these freebies from the elected officials who, through their salaries only, will not be able to sustain this handing out gifts and money to their constituents.

But many people don’t seem to care however these public officials are able to get the funds to give away. What matters to them is that they get them.

If the politician they voted for in the past do not deliver on this expectation, many of them lose their luster and popularity among many voters and get voted out in favor of new more generous political candidates.

For political survival, politicians justify and rationalize corruption. And therefore, the pattern of corruption continues to be perpetuated.

If we do not call out public

officials for their transgressions against the Constitution, against the rule of law, against moral decency, against the attack on the truth and our democracy, then we are in effect enabling them.

If we pride ourselves of being “apolitical” , and would not speak up nor speak out and just leave it up to more politically engaged people the task of making our leaders accountable, then our silence is also complicity. This silence means we side with the aggressor, we condone the abuser.

If we refuse to call out the public official we elected because we hate the “other side” of the political aisle more, or because we think it is being more patriotic to give our 100 percent loyalty to the candidate we voted for despite the transgressions, then we ourselves

are attacking the Constitution, the rule of law, our values and moral compass.

Mga kababayan, the choice is ours to make. There is NO gray area here. It s either we call out our public officials for their lack of delicadeza, abuse of power, corruption, attacks to the truth and our democracy, OR, we enable, empower them more to continue committing their transgressions.

WE DESERVE THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE GET.. *** 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.

Digong to visit US?

time as it could exacerbate his present problems. Also, in light of the recent report that his telephone call in April 2017 congratulating Digong for an “unbelievable job on the drug problem” left many in the White House “genuinely horrified.” One may expect those people to violently object to a Digong visit.

It is no secret that several members of Digong’s Cabinet and some in his coterie of friends, advisers and businessmen would only be too happy to see him go to the U.S. to please their U.S. masters.

In any case, above all other considerations, we, the Filipino people, would not want our President to be insulted and vilified while he is in a foreign land upon the invitation of its head of state, period!

Digong should heed doctors’ advice I truly felt so bad and sad for Digong when I saw him in a photo grimacing in what must have been excruciating pain in front of his daughter Sara, and another photo showing him sitting down with his head bowed and propped up on his cane.

The pain was caused by the motorcycle spill he had at the Malacañang grounds a few days before.

Many of us who have experienced some kind of intense physical pain in the course of our lives can readily sympathize with what he was going through.

Only his must have been worse. He is 74 years old — old by any standard, physically that is. And with all the problems of

the country borne on his already slightly stooped shoulder.

At his age, it is also likely he had not fully recovered at the time from the jet lag he got from his trip to Russia the week before.

It was, therefore, quite a relief when Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that Digong had consulted doctors after going to the wake of the late former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. “Sabi ng mga doktor niya, mga expert ito, ang mga neurosurgeon niya before pa, ay wala daw pong dapat ikabahala. Purely muscle spasms,” Go said.

“Binigyan lang po siya ng gamot, pain reliever…at kailangan po magpahinga ang Pangulo. He was advised to rest, rest, rest, kailangan talaga,” he added.

Digong should heed the doctors’ advice. He still has a plateful of things to do in the remaining two-and-a-half years of his term.

That is just around the corner.

Digong’s Man Friday Speaking of Go, people are quite aware that Digong has not really “released” him from being his special assistant after his election as a senator. It does appear that wherever Digong is, so is Go. To the detriment of his duties as a senator? Perhaps. But, if at all, no one can fault him for that.

From where I sit, I think he has become like a putative son to the President. Their very long association and Go’s work ethic did that. The President obviously feels at ease and comfortable with Go around, as he has proven himself to be an efficient and

President Rodrigo Duterte with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano

reliable Man Friday.

I quite appreciate their relationship. I was once in a somewhat similar situation with one of my former bosses.

Locsin on plastics For once, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Tweeterboy” Locsin Jr. made a sensible suggestion in his usual acerbic manner — criminalize the sale and use of plastics in the country.

“Just criminalize the production, sale, use and very possession of plastics. Period. The Philippines is the No. 3 plastics polluter. Enough talk. Just do it… No discretion on the part of government officials who take bribes like they breathe in and out,” he tweeted.

Let us hope someone in Congress will pick up his suggestion.

Reminders This segment is intended to remind the Duterte administra-

tion of some of its yet unfulfilled promises and matters that need attention and/or follow-up action. More importantly, the people are entitled to know what’s being done about them.

1. Digong’s promise to rid the country of foreign troops. This, of course, necessitates abrogating the untested and unproven worth to us after seven decades of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S., along with the lopsided and constitutionally infirm Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

2. Reciprocal visa arrangements with the U.S. What is the Department of Foreign Affairs doing about this? Our embassy in Washington? No less than President Digong has said he wanted this done more than three years ago. Has he changed his mind? If not, Locsin should be directed to start

Malacañang photo

things moving.

Needless to say, such reciprocal arrangements should also be pursued with all other countries.

I know that certain offices in the government, the Department of Tourism for one, and some members of the private sector resist such a move for the cockeyed reason that it will lessen the number of tourists coming here.

That’s pure hogwash! As long as we get our act together and make the country attractive to foreigners, they, including Americans, will come with or without visa fees.

Incidentally, now that a modified visa upon arrival will continue to be given to Chinese nationals, we should ask China to extend the same privilege to our travelers, that is, if no such arrangement yet exists. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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A

Palace to water firms: ‘Shape up or ship out’ Duterte calls on Congress to abolish Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission

by CAtheRine

s. VAlente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may take “drastic action” against water concessionaires if they fail to resolve the water crisis in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Malacañang warned on Monday, August 28.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo reiterated Duterte’s warning to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and water concessionaires Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to “shape up or ship out.”

“I suppose the fact that they have not undertaken corrective measures that will prevent the evolution of this upcoming crisis again would be a factor that would make the president decide on drastic action against them,” Panelo said in a news briefing.

Panelo said the MWSS and the two water concessionaires failed to undertake measures to improve supply and avert another crisis.

He added that Duterte might seek accountability from the water concessionaires or even revoke their contracts.

“Well, the message again is shape up or ship out. ‘Yun naman ang message palagi ni presidente, eh. Kung hindi mo kaya, umalis kayo (That has always been the message of the president. If you can’t do it, get out),” he said.

Panelo made the statement after Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and other senators sought accountability from the two water concessionaires servicing Metro Manila, as residents suffer from a new wave of service interruptions.

Go, the president’s former aide, said he would suggest to Duterte to review the contracts of Maynilad and Manila Water, noting that these private firms were penalizing consumers.

“I do not believe that there is a

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

A boy receives a free water container from the local government of Mandaluyong City a day after Manila Water and Maynilad announce the rotational water interruption in Metro Manila because of the low water supply from Angat Dam. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

shortage. Do not pass the burden to the people. You entered into that business, you should have an answer for that. You should have not signed the contract if you cannot comply with (your commitment) to supply water,” Go said in a statement.

“The president should have those (concession agreements) reviewed. I will suggest to the President to review the contracts that are not in favor of our countrymen,” he added.

Maynilad and Manila Water started implementing rotational water interruptions on October 24 because of the receding water level in Angat Dam. In March this year, Duterte castigated officials of the MWSS, Manila Water and Maynilad because of the water shortage gripping parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province.

Duterte had claimed that the officials knew about the problem leading to the water shortage but they did not resolve it to prevent it from happening.

In May, the president also questioned the concession agreement with a water company, which he did not identify, as it bound the government to the deal until 2070.

Meanwhile, Panelo denied claims that the water service interruptions were being used to push forward the deal with China to construct the controversial Kaliwa Dam. He said if the investigation concluded that the project would do citizens more harm than good, the government could scrap the deal.

“If the findings show that it is indeed disadvantageous and against the people there, it can be rescinded,” Panelo said. The dam contract was signed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country in November 2018.

“I’m sure the Chinese government will understand because it will do the same if it was placed in the same situation,” Panelo said. n

will likely be disunity,” he said.

Cayetano, who was appointed speaker in July, garnered a 64percent approval rating and a 62percent trust rating in the third quarter survey of Pulse Asia.

Some of his allies in the lower chamber attributed these high ratings to his strong leadership.

“I’m very proud of the 18th Congress, but we have an agreement. And so far, the President is not changing it,” Cayetano said.

The Manila Times reached out to the camp of Velasco but has not gotten any response as of posting. n

Cayetano eyes longer term...

PAGE A5 Cayetano still has 12 months to serve as speaker.

“I am planning for 12 more months. So hopefully, we can work on full blast during that time and until that time, it would be good to focus on what we need to do because if not, there

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Ocotber 28 called on Congress to abolish the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, saying it no longer has a function to perform.

“If Congress is listening, abolish it. There is nothing to clean in the Pasig River,” the president said during the oath-taking of new appointees in Malacañang.

The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission is an inter-agency body mandated to ensure that the water body is rehabilitated to its historically pristine condition to make it conducive to transport, recreation and tourism.

It was created in 1999 through Executive Order No. 54 and not through Congress.

Last month, Duterte dismissed Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia due to alleged corruption.

He later on declared that Pa-

The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission was created in 1999 through Executive Order No. 54 and not through Congress.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

sig River would no longer be restored to its pristine state because of the establishment of new factories and the booming population.

“You can’t clean Pasig because we do not have zoning. People go to Pasig even during the time of (national hero Jose) Rizal and the Spaniards,” the president said in

a speech delivered last September 18.

“Over the years, factories sprung up...how you can you clean that? So I will dissolve this commission, place it under (Environment secretary) General (Roy) Cimatu, in the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” he added. n

RR of ‘game-changing’ Bawal Bastos Law signed

by CeCille

sueRte Philstar.com

Felipe

MANILA — The “game-changing” Bawal Bastos Law will push for a new and positive culture and attitude among Filipinos and will lead to the eventual discarding of lewd and violent behavior in streets, schools, workplaces and online, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the measure were signed on Monday, October 28.

“This is a historic day. At last, the Bawal Bastos Law now has an IRR. The days of lewd men and other persons who will do gender-based public harassment are now numbered,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.

The senator, the principal sponsor of the law, said once implementation is in full swing, the law will reform existing policies on gender-based public harassment.

“This law will change our attitude and use of language against women and members of the LGBT community,” said Hontiveros, who is also chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender

equality.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Technical Drafting Committee (TDC) signed yesterday the IRR of Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos) Law, which was signed by President Duterte last April.

According to the law, actions or deeds considered as gender-based harassment in public spaces are defined as unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person, regardless of motives.

These acts include catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist slurs, persistent uninvited comments or gestures on a person’s appearance; relentless requests for personal details, statement of sexual comments and suggestions; public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping or any unwanted advances.

It also included gender-based online sexual harassments such as acts that use the information and communications technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological and emotional threats,

unwanted misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist remarks and comments online.

The law also strengthens the administrative actions against sexual harassment in workplaces and in education and training institutions, while recognizing that sexual harassment may be committed even between peers, or by a student to a teacher, or a trainee to a trainer.

Hontiveros said the IRR was subjected to intense review by government agencies, advocacy groups and members of academe, which will pave the way for the law’s full, just and effective implementation.

“I am confident that the IRR is appropriate and sufficient to ensure that the provisions of the law are easily understood, that offenders will be held accountable while ensuring due process and, most importantly, that victims are assured of justice and assistance to help them recover and move on,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros thanked various government agencies led by the PCW and partner organizations, advocates and women and LGBT groups that worked hard in drafting the measure’s IRR. n

A

NOVEMBER 1-7, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

Telling stories of human experiences of love and friendships Bindlestiff presents ‘Tagalog 2019,’ one-act plays with live English subtitles

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe /AJPress

WITH the Filipino American community gaining greater exposure in spite of ongoing challenges, Bindlestiff Studio — the only blackbox theater in the nation dedicated to showcasing Pilipino/Pilipino-American performing arts — is proud to present the mainstage production of “Tagalog 2019,” a collection of one-act plays written and performed in Tagalog, with live English translation creatively woven throughout the evening.

The production opened last October 17 and will run until November 2, 2019.

Bindlestiff Studio is the primary performing arts venue of the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District.

“The same moment we were producing the first ‘Tagalog’ was when the community was galvanizing to establish SOMA Pilipinas,” said Lorna Velasco, co-producer and former Bindlestiff Artistic Director. “Bern Sy of Bayanihan Community Center and many community

leaders have been fighting for over 15 years to have a Filipino Heritage District, as a way to fight the onslaught of displacement and gentrification that has been happening in the South of Market since the 1990’s after the first dot com boom. To have ‘Tagalog’ at Bindlestiff in the heart of SOMA Pilipinas, year after year, is our way of saying, ‘We are still here. And we aren’t going anywhere.’”

Three stories of love, human experiences and friendship Three new playwrights from the prestigious Virgin Labfest of the Cultural Center of the Philippines will make their U.S. debut in the heart of the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District: “Ensayo (Rehearsal)” by Juan Ekis. Lolo (grandpa) Peds anxiously waits for his acting partner, Lola (grandma) Tisha. As the amateur actors work through a scene for the first time in their lives, they discover that they are in for a little more than just

a rehearsal. (Directed by Joe Cascasan.)

“Labor Room” by Ma. Cecilia Maki Culvera de la Rosa.

Three women meet in a busy delivery room. As expectant mothers come and go, they build a short and sweet friendship. Amid want, loss, and grim possibilities, these women give birth to hope.

(Directed by Aureen Almario and Laura Priscilla Paule.)

“Mga Bata sa Selda 43 (The Kids In Cell 43)” by Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina.

Philip and his younger brother, Ino, are playful children from the slums, who were kidnapped by aliens...so they thought. But their dreams of escaping to reunite with their mother shatter when they meet Ed. (Directed by A. Samson Manalo.)

“Tagalog 2019” features Akiko Aspillaga, Kathlyn Cabrera, Nic Feliciano, Nix Guirre, Faye Lacanilao, Russelle Anne, Bryan Palac, JC Quimpo, Sunshine Roque, and Tina Shauf-Bajar.

“A production like Tagalog in today’s world is absolutely necessary to wel-

Faye Lacanilao, Russelle Anne and Nix Guirre in “Labor Room” by Ma. Cecilia Maki Culvera de la Rosa.

Lovi’s dating rules by allan PolicarPio Inquirer.net

THAT person has to accept the path I’m taking—that career is one of my priorities,” Lovi Poe said of her nonnegotiables when it comes to dating.

“That should be automatic. I shouldn’t need to tell him that.”

“I don’t want someone dictating, asking me to stop what I’m doing. I can’t see myself sacrificing my career for love,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for the upcoming dramatic flick, “The Annulment,” which opens in cinemas on Nov. 13.

Sense of humor is also a must, she added. “He has to be funny.” But looks and other physical aspects? Not so much.

“You have to be a good person. You have to have the heart and the soul, the right amount of love, loyalty and understanding,” she said.

The 30-year-old actress is currently in a long-distance relationship with Monty Blencowe, a Los Angeles-based English movie producer and medical researcher. She described him as an “old soul,” a “nice and good person.”

“I met him in Los Angeles a while back. And our friendship just grew,” she said.

“We’re sharing this moment together. And while we’re far away from each other, we make sure to be part of each other’s life,” related Lovi, who was just on a five-month vacation in the United States, where she and Monty got to spend some qual-

Nic Feliciano and Bryan Palac in “Ensayo (Rehearsal)” by Juan Ekis.

come home those who once felt embarrassed or alienated because of our native tongue or accents,” actress, Nic Feliciano explains the show’s personal resonance.

“But probably above all, it’s clear that globalization is here. If we can find a way to bridge the gap between here and home, I think we can start to imagine a world where we can share the talents we learned here to benefit the home we left as well. Tagalog is a great start towards that or at least a good reminder of why that’s important.”

Catch the last week of “Tagalog 2019” at Bindlestiff Studio, 185 Sixth Street, San Francisco until November 2, Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 (general) and $15 (students) and are available online: https://tagalog2019.bpt.me. *”Tagalog 2019” is sponsored by the SF Arts Commission and SF Grants for the Arts.

Kathlyn Cabrera, Sunshine Roque and JC Quimpo in “Bata sa Selda 43 (The Kids in Cell 43)” by Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina.

Kathlyn Cabrera and Sunshine Roque in “Bata sa Selda 43 (The Kids in Cell 43)” by Rolin Migyuel Cadallo Obina.

Photos by Robert Suguitan

Why still no wedding bells for Pokwang and Lee by allan PolicarPio Inquirer.net

Lovi Poe

ity time together. “We’re just hoping for the best.”

In Monty’s first visit to the Philippines, Lovi showed him some of the country’s most scenic and popular tourist spots, like Samal Island in Davao and Boracay. “He has already met my mother, who has nothing but good words for him,” she related.

Meanwhile, Lovi clarified that she and her FilipinoFrench ex-boyfriend, Chris Johnson, are still on good terms.

“He has been good to me.

He’s a friend, still. It has always been nice, and I have nothing but good words for him. It just didn’t work out,” she said of Chris whom she dated for two years.

While she does feel “inspired” seeing and being surrounded by happily married couples, Lovi said the idea of settling down has yet to cross her mind.

“I believe in people who love each other, and make things work after making that commitment,” Lovi said. “But there’s still a lot of things I

POKWANG doesn’t have a dream wedding—she just wants a wedding, period.

“Basta maikasal lang, OK na! But as a Catholic, of course I want to get married in a Photo from Instagram/@lovipoe church, in Antipolo preferably, where I grew up. So my townwant to do … It’s inspiring seemates can watch, too!” she ing people who are so in love. told reporters at her recent It makes you think that it really launch as the first celebrity enis possible.” dorser of the liquefied petroBesides, more and more leum gas company Regasco. people nowadays, Lovi The 46-year-old televiobserved, are no longer in sion host-comedian, who’s in a mad rush to get married. a four-year relationship with “People take their time now.

American actor Lee O’Brien, The world has become more isn’t keen on going on a honopen—traveling is easier and eymoon, either. “Wala nang you meet new people. So it’s honeymoon. Let’s save up just about finding that one money!” she shrieked. person whom you click with,” But when will they actushe pointed out. ally tie the knot? It’s a ques“The Annulment”—protion that has been hounding duced by Regal EntertainPokwang since giving birth ment and directed by Mac to Malia—her baby girl with Alejandra—follows the lives of Lee—last year.

Gari (Lovi) and Sherwin (Joem “I’m still fixing things. My Bascon) whose whirlwind mom has a health condition, romance leads to marriage. too. I just want to make sure The relationship starts to crack that everything’s in place beshortly after, prompting Gari to fore that (wedding) happens,” seek annulment. pointed out Pokwang, who’s “Making this movie made not so optimistic about having me realize just how hard it is another baby. to keep a relationship going.

“Expired na nga [matris You have to make sure that ko]! But despite that, my sex you’re right for each other,” life is happy. Masaya ‘yan!” she said. “What happens to quipped Pokwang, who has our characters is something an elder daughter from a past I wouldn’t wish even on my relationship. worst enemies.”

Pokwang and Lee O’Brien

Right now, she has her hands full with work and raising Malia, who at 1 year and 9 months, is already quite a crowd-pleaser. “She loves getting up on stage during my shows. She would cry when you take her away. Nang-aagaw ng eksena!” Pokwang related. “When I do photo shoots, she’s always there, emoting!”

It’s still too early to say whether or not Malia would grow up wanting to become an actress, she said. “But I

Photo from Instagram/@itspokwang27

wouldn’t mind if it happens.

I will support her in whatever she wants to do in life. I want her to finish her studies, of course.”

Pokwang considers herself blessed to be with someone like Lee, who “has a great heart,” and whom she described as her “No.1 fan.”

“What I love about our relationship is that there’s balance. We give and take. We listen to each other. We support each other when it comes Continued on Page SF3

Iza comes clean about mother’s suicide: It’s liberating

by Marinel r. cruz Inquirer.net

NOW, I can be a true and authentic advocate for mental health,” declared actress Iza Calzado, who recently admitted in a 28-minute video uploaded on Facebook by She Talks Asia that her mom, Mary Ann Ussher, “committed suicide” in 2001.

“It feels liberating. I cannot be [an advocate] without Iza Calzado Photo from Instagram/@missizacalzado talking about it,” said Iza. “In

some ways, it comes from a place of triumph. I can say that I am now starting to heal. I’m more complete now, compared to when I joined the business at 19.

How could I talk about it then, while feeling shame, fear and guilt at the same time? I was still processing all those feelings with the grief.”

The actress added: “What’s important is that I get to use my mom’s story to

help others. She was very vocal about her condition. She talked about her depression openly, it’s just unfortunate that not a lot of people understood it. She did a lot of reading on it, but there was hardly any help. There was a lot of misdiagnosis, as well. I guess she would have loved for her story to be an instrument to help others.”

Iza chose to tell her story on Oct. 10, which was Mental Awareness Day. “I never lied

about it when I was asked before. I would just always say I couldn’t talk about it,” she said, adding that there were media people who knew about what really happened to her mom, but chose not to publicize it as a sign of respect to her dad, the late director-choreographer Lito Calzado. “I also didn’t want to talk about it on television for the sake of high ratings.”

She said there were times when she had to call people’s

attention for erroneously reporting that her mom died of cancer. Iza said the confusion was caused by the fact that she lost two mothers to breast cancer. “My dad’s second and third wives both died of cancer, but not my mom,” she stressed.

In December, while reading reports about her wedding to British businessman Ben Wintle in the papers, Iza recalled finally telling herself: Continued on Page SF3

Immigration Corner

November 2019 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Visa Issuance Date

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories.

A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning in October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***

March 15, 2009

September 15, 2008

(2A) Spouse and Second Preference minor children (below 21 years old) of green card holders

September 01, 2019

Current

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holders

April 01, 2009

October 01, 2008

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens

December 01, 1998

June 01, 1998

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens

March 01, 1999 September 01, 1998

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Current

February 01, 2018

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Current

February 01, 2018

Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or

legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Why still no wedding bells...

From Page SF2 to work,” she said. “We make sure to give each other space.

Just because you’re partners doesn’t mean you have to be in each other’s business all the time. It’s all about respect and trust.”

Aside from an upcoming series, Pokwang is also part of the comedy flick, “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity”—an entry in this year’s

Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which stars Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza.

“Working with Bossing and Maine has been fun.

We’re all happy on the set.

Magaan lang,” said Pokwang, who previously worked with Vic in the 2011 comedy “Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!” “Both Bossing and Maine have busy schedules. But we see to it that we adjust to each other.

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

Application Filing Date

FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

community

That’s why I had a great time working with them.”

Lee, on the other hand, is part of the drama film “Culion,” which is also an MMFF entry. So it looks like it’s going to be a hectic Christmas season for the couple. “He has spent four Christmases here, so he knows how crazy the MMFF can get. We will be on different floats!” she said.

FRAUD WAIVER DENIAL TURNED AROUND TO APPROVAL WITH NO FRAUD WAIVER REQUIRED, ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY!” Wilma entered the U.S. on a C-1 “transit” visa, on her way to work in Guantanamo, Cuba. She remained in the U.S., married a U.S. citizen, and filed for adjustment of status. A “consultant” gave her hope and said he would take care of Wilma’s papers. Unfortunately, the consultant altered Wilma’s documents and put down false information (that she entered on a visitor’s visa), to cover up that she actually entered on a C-1 transit visa. Her case ended up being denied because of fraud!

Wilma then consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington, DC. Atty. Gurfinkel convinced them that Wilma committed no fraud, and was eligible for a green card, despite her entry on a transit visa. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel’s determination won the day for Wilma, when her name was cleared, and she got her green card with no fraud waiver required, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Iza comes clean about...

From Page SF2 “I cannot have her death written that way all the time.

I have to come forward and talk about what happened.”

Iza found the “proper venue” via She Talks Asia, a women’s movement of which she is a cofounder. “It’s good that I came out with the story in that manner,” she said, referring to the video, which she herself edited, along with videographer Carmen del Prado and host Bianca Gonzalez.

She Talks Asia cofounder Sarah Meier did the two-hour interview with Iza. “While editing, I would ask Ben and my friends for advice because it was a twohour conversation that we had to trim to 28 minutes.

Sadly, we had to leave out a lot of details,” she shared with the Inquirer.

When the video went public, Iza said people reached out to her. “I realized that this can happen to anybody. We are not glorifying it—I want to stress that. I’m alarmed

by the large number of teen suicides. It’s something that I want to understand and help with.

“Hopefully, we can find real solutions to this in the

same way that we’re so gung ho at finding a cure for cancer or HIV/AIDS. There’s a lot that we still don’t understand, but we’re learning.

There’s still hope.”

SF

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

celebrity world

Congresswoman and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto heads list of November birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar VILMA Santos-Recto, known to the Philippine entertainment industry as the Star for All Seasons and is now a congresswoman, heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays this month of November. Santos-Recto will celebrate her birthday on Sunday, November 3.

Other personalities who will turn another year this month are: November 1 - Filipino parish priest Fr. Abraham Alonzo, and former Mrs. RP-USA winner Arlene Lindalop; November 2 - Former top fashion designer in San Francisco Encarnito “Ito” Curata (now based in Manila), and caregiver Myrna Padilla Bautista; November 3 - New Haven Health and Hospice owner Eunice Bejar-Lee, and Kadok’s Restaurant owner Ricky Tejada; November 5 - Handsome actor Gabby Concepcion, actress Shaina Magdayao, former Miss Philippines Earth winner Melissa Sokukawa, and Fil-Am basketball player J Taylor; November 6 - Singeractress and TV host Jolina Magdangal; November 8 - ABS-CBN 2 Vice President for Entertainment Deo Edrinal, singer-actress Vina Morales, actress Angelica Panganiban, and balladeer Basil Valdez; November 9 - “Eat! Bulaga” co-host and actress Pauleen Luna-Sotto, actress Janice de Belen, singer-comedienne Tuesday Vargas, actor Rafael Rosell, and lawyer Ted Laguatan; November 10 - Pittsburg party planner Susan Tanedo; November 11 - Former Philippine Vice President Jejo-

mar Binay who will be celebrating his 76th birthday, and Comedy Queen Ai Ai delas Alas; November 12 - Singer for all occasions Tess Gregorio, and Knights of Columbus leader Pat Ancheta; November 13 - International wine distributor executive Ronald Villar, and San Bruno Filipina community leader Alma de Leon Scott; November 14 - Former Mrs. RP-USA winner Leilani Vinegas of Fairfield; November 18 - Filipina caregiver Remy Acedillo, and actor Enchong Dee; November 19 - Antioch community leaders Joselito and Margarita Cabrera; November 24 - ABS CBN News Senior Vice President Ging Reyes;

November 25 - Former Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Bianca Manalo, singer-actor and program director Randy Santiago, and actress/TV host Melai Cantiveros; November 28 - Senate President Frank Drilon, and former Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Leoncio “Jun” Cardenas; November 29 - TV 5 Artist Relations Chief Jeff Remigio, and “Eat! Bulaga” co-host Paolo Ballesteros; November 30 - San Francisco veteran photographer Bonifacio Valera, and the late entertainment producer Sunny Tila.

To all celebrants a very happy birthday and to all my readers Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

Vilma Santos-Recto, known as the Star for All Seasons, will celebrate her birthday on Sunday, November 3. Shown in photo with the actress-congresswoman are her son actor Luis Manzano, close friend beauty impresario Ferdie Villar, and former Mr. RP-USA Michael Back.

BANKRUPTCY

Comedy Queen Ai Ai delas Alas will celebrate her birthday on Monday, November 11.

Actress Shaina Magdayao will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, November 6.

Pauleen Luna-Sotto, will celebrate her birthday on Saturday, November 9.

Handsome actor Rafael Rosell will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, November 9.

Actress Angelica Panganiban will celebrate her birthday on Monday, November 4.

Antioch community leader Joselito Cabrera is celebrating his 40th birthday on Tuesday, November 19.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT HOUSING

Family unity is critical for business continuity (Part 2 of 2)

• Address Ownership Issues • Minimize Entitlement SUCCESSION is the great• Pursue Succession Emphaest single challenge to family size Shared Vision and Values business continuity due to the 2nd Phase - Pursue corfact that close family ties and porate governance by way of overlapping management and aligning expectations in the ownership interests often make board level objective decisions difficult. Poor Noted family business or no succession initiatives can expert, Dr. Ivan Lansberg once disrupt the family enterprise said, “for all the lip service given and fundamentally impact busito the importance of trust, it is ness continuity and planning in still a relatively scarce commodmany ways. Whether it is Illness ity in family businesses. By trust, or death of a key family figure, I mean the certainty, confimisalignment of family values, dence, or faith that someone major fight among siblings, the we depend upon will act in ways rivalry between family branches, that benefit us and will refrain family scandal, any issue involvfrom acting in ways that bring ing relationships among family us harm. Trust is not created by members can trigger conflict talking about it. It depends on and instability. behavior, it’s what we do, not For example, the death of what we say, that makes a difa principal owner can affect not ference. just estate taxes but possible A good corporate goverinfighting amongst the survivnance mindset can best be ing and unprepared members. summarized by Jaime Augusto When there is discord, the Zobel de Ayala (JAZA), the 8th chances of the enterprise movGeneration successor of the ing forward grounds to a halt. illustrious Zobel family whose Start by crafting good lineage can be traced back in agreements and policies 1834, making the Ayala Group As a fundamental guide to the oldest family business in the business owners and to conPhilippines. “We try to ensure tinue the article I wrote related that the next generation leaders to crafting solid agreements, I know that they are not merely have listed below a succession owners but also stewards of the process tailor-fitted to families business. Each new generation that are ready to embark on this should know early on the differgovernance journey: ence between ownership and 1st Phase - Pursue family stewardship. Ownership is like governance by way of aligning a possession; stewardship is a expectations within the family fiduciary role.” system I have listed several key What is there to align, you corporate governance metrics might ask? I am sharing as many to guide family members on possible pain points where fam- the importance of having that ily members can focus on. When fiduciary mindset (single-minded these elements are managed loyalty to the company): by way of family agreements, a • Succession significant part of the relation• Dividend Policy over ship process is addressed Reinvesting • Communication is Key • Most Deserving Qualities • Enhance Human/Intellec• Values / Culture tual • Cost Control vs. Growth • Asset Educate the Next • Owners’ Commitment Generation • Strategic Intent • Stewardship over OwnerFamily unity is critical for ship business continuity, when • Create a Conflict Resolufamily members bicker among tion Mechanism themselves, the resulting share-

community

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

CEO and thought leader (Mr. William Tiu Lim) who willingly holder squabble could lead to and generously shared his vision the loss of family jewels. JAZA and legacy initiatives geared toexplained that they must work wards transforming the business to prove their worth to deserve he founded, Mega Global, to something. As part of their Centennial status (100-Year old). governance metric, the family Your presence helped to does not award positions as a make this event a huge success, birthright or entitlement. They making it the biggest gatheralso value educational achieveing of family business leaders in ment and encourage the next years! generation to likewise work Rags to riches to ruin hard to gain the respect of the Few family corporations professional managers. The have survived way beyond Ayala group also promulgates three generations -- a curse that the “stewardship” principle to summarizes the life cycle of a the younger ones by educating business from rags to riches and them on the family’s history, then ruin. In the three-generawhat it has achieved through the tion effect, a family corporation years and its role in the national usually starts with the patriarch agenda. establishing the company to Their hope is that this will provide for the family. The instill a sense of pride to build second generation inherits the on the family legacy and inspire business and grows it, then the next generation to make comes the third generation to their own distinct contribution in squander it. Studies show that the future. seven out of ten affluent famiFamily before fortune lies will lose the family fortune On behalf of the W+B Family by the end of the second genAdvisory Group, the event oreration. By the end of the third ganizer ICON Executive Search generation, nine out of ten of and education partner, ExCED all affluent families have blown Institute, I want to personally through the family wealth, and thank all the participants who many have suffered terrible graced the 2nd W+B Famfamily strife. ily Business Conference titled, Research indicates that “CAN FAMILY-RUN BUSIfamily business failures can NESSES LAST FOREVER: A essentially be traced to several Talk About Building 100 Year factors: Old Enterprises,” last August Forbidden Issues. Lack of 31 at the Manila Marriott Hotel, trust and misunderstandings Resorts World Manila. Thank you in the family leads to conflict to Panay News for the media avoidance, lying, hiding things support! from each other.

I hope that everyone found Lack of meritocracy. The the conference informative and inability of next generation offworthwhile. The primary goal of spring to cultivate the requisite the forum was to bring together skills that match those needed Governance leaders (Institute by the current and future busiof Corporate Directors), Wealth ness environment Preservation and Risk experts Lack of clarity. The lack of (Deloitte and Bank of Singaplanning and governance at the pore) under one roof to discuss business, family and ownership multi-generational issues curlevels rently confronting 92% of familyWeak or misaligned values. owned and managed businesses Lack of common understanding in the Philippines. Our objective of what values the company and was to share powerful strategies the family lives by, and wants to related to Family and Corpopreserve rate Governance practices and An unfortunate lack of inspire everyone by inviting a succession planning. Foundpragmatic Enterprise-founder/ ers and owners are notoriously

poor at planning for the future of their businesses. For one, death is not an easy subject to talk about; nor is retirement, especially for rugged individualist and entrepreneurs or their families.

A family business without a formal succession plan is asking for trouble. We often hear this statement from business leaders, “No doubt, my children are being groomed to lead the business eventually but they are too young and inexperienced to make critical decisions.” Family business leaders, particularly the founders, often neglect the issue of succession because they are so protective of the business they started.

Although they want their ventures to survive them and to pass the torch of leadership on to their children, they seldom support their intentions by a plan to accomplish that goal.

They just dream of continuing the business long after they’re gone but take no steps to make that dream a reality.

Family Code of Conduct: The missing link The business is an extension of the family and successful growth comes at a cost. As the enterprise grows in size and scale, it becomes increasingly hard for the leader to manage the business. Predictably, when the company reaches this phase, we can expect internal struggles among the children, conflicts, and challenges resulting from the complexity, bureaucracy and the competitive nature of the industry.

Sibling partnership: A make or break phase Business Families Foundation states that “A sibling partnership is a partnership of brothers and sisters who inherit – totally or in part – a family business developed by the previous generation. There may be other owners in the partnership from previous or succeeding family generations, but typically the ownership and leadership is concentrated among the siblings from the same generation. The most crucial chal-

lenges for a sibling partnership are to manage: entitlement and team leadership. Sibling partnerships often struggle with defining what they view as rights versus responsibilities and ownership versus stewardship of the business(es) and family assets.” Over time, this natural transition and conflict (the shift over generations from founder to family owner/managers to cousin consortium) can strain family relationships. The family leader may impede growth because he or she does not have time to make all the necessary decisions. A number of skilled executives may be hired in response, which promotes the development of new cultures within the organization or only the children will manage which creates more conflict.

For the business to grow and remain competitive, institutionalizing behavior and reinforcing the organization with new talent becomes imperative.

This is where a Family Code of Conduct or FCOC becomes a powerful enabler to safeguard the growth momentum. The latter is one critical and important document that most Asian Family enterprises sorely lack.

Setting this aside can render a family constitution inoperable and useless.

Why is a Code of Conduct important?

Fundamentally, it all boils down to the SPA (Structure, Policies, and Accountability). An FCOC is a set of rules that help manage possible conflicts that might happen. A well-written code provides clarity, imposes rules on family members that are correlated with standards of professional conduct. It also articulates the values the organization wishes to foster among leaders and family members that are active in the business.

In doing so, it defines and regulates behavior of every family member.

Briefly, the main objectives of a FCOC are the following: • Formulates the Rules, Roles, Rights and ResponsibiliContinued on Page SF6

people & events SFFACC to host forum focusing on digital transformation, Nov 13-16

SF

tantly, that a rejected application could lead to the issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA)?

In September 2018, changes in policy were put in place allowing immigration officers to reject visa applications immeAtty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ diately due to missing or inaclion-dollar business opportunicurate information. Previously, ties that the local, state, and AS attorneys, we get USCIS will issue “Requests for federal governments offer. An frantic or panicked phone calls Evidence” (RFE) if there are example of an innovative retail from our clients worried about missing information, allowing space for pop-ups and events their cases. It’s a natural reapplicants to address gaps in the South of Market will be sponse – nobody wants to be in their paperwork. “Notices featured. The Chambers of in a place of unknowing – and of Intent to Deny” were also Commerce roundtable, aside we try our best to walk people issued, as per prior guidance, from networking and estabthrough the process. For the which gave applicants a 30lishing business-to-business most part, the panic comes day warning that their applicaconnections, will explore ways from information gathered tion would likely be rejected. and means to increase value from the wonderful world of Applications affected by to their organizations and the internet: someone read these policies and its recent take advantage of untapped this article or watched that changes in policy apply to: (i) opportunities. Local politivideo, then later fears are applications and renewals of cians are invited to address confirmed upon speaking with temporary (non-immigrant) what legislation is in place for a neighbor’s-husband’s-thirdvisas, and (ii) permanent minority-owned enterprises. cousin who had the “same resident status (immigrant) The San Francisco Cosmoexact situation.” Oh boy. visas. Securing such visas are politan Lions Club, in collaboMost attorneys cannot required in order for non-U.S. ration with Lions District 4-C4, speak about cases they have citizen foreign nationals to Peninsula Special Interest not handled. Each case is legally live and work in the Lions Club, and the South San unique – one tiny fact, one tiny United States.

Francisco Golden Gate Lions detail could change the course Can USCIS refer a file to Club will hold a “Lions Day” of a case. And, in immigradeportation for the issuance on November 14. There will be tion cases where the threat of of a Notice to Appear after it several workshops and panels deportation is very real why the case has been denied? about Lions programs and would you gamble with your Yes. The U.S. Citizenship projects such as “Lions Fight life? Or your family’s life? and Immigration Services Diabetes”, Membership DeNew policy for rejecting (USCIS) may also issue an NTA velopment, Cyber Lions Clubs, incomplete or inaccurate when it finds a noncitizen has the foundations within Lions filings not complied with regulaClubs International, Reporting Did you know that a single tions governing admission or Using Digital Technologies, error could mean a rejected maintaining lawful status after Continued on Page SF7 application? And, more impor- admission.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

The San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (SFFACC) will host the San Francisco Forum by the Bay, “Digital Transformation – Disruptive Solutions for Today’s Challenges,” to be held on November 13-16, 2019, on the occasion of its 46th anniversary. Co-hosting this Forum are the San Francisco Cosmopolitan Lions Club (District 4-C4), San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, Rotary Club of Daly City and Colma Evening, and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

“Digital Transformation” which is also known as a revolutionary event for trail blazing entrepreneurs who advocate for change, focuses on the trends, advancements, and changes taking place in the areas of Education, FinTech, Health, Security, Women, Leadership, Management, and Agriculture.

The Forum’s opinion leaders and industry experts aim to provide attendees with knowledge and tools needed in the age of digital transformation in a changing world.

Through a series of fireside

chats, panel discussions, and workshops, the Forum’s organizers will encourage stakeholders to consider their options among many possibilities in a disruption economy. Businessto-business matching meetings will take place throughout the Forum. The Forum’s website, www.SFForumByTheBay.com, can automatically match registrants before they meet.

One World Institute (OWI), the Forum’s fiscal sponsor, will also handle the Fireside Chats from companies such as LinkedIn, Microsoft, Plug and Play, Bay Area Angel Network, Brain Sentinel Inc., Crowd Smart IO, and Riverside Equity Partners, among others.

A Chamber Day on November 14, 2019 is projected to gather members from chambers of commerce and business associations in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting business organizations for the sub-theme of the Forum, “Doing Business Locally.” Panelists will discuss what it takes for an organization, profit or nonprofit, to truly advocate for minority-owned companies to take part in the multi-bil-

The attorney-client relationship

The CTV Files

Consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before filing anything.

First things first, do not file anything with USCIS or any other government entity without first seeking advice. Filing for applications “frivolously” can and will come back and haunt you. While certain applications are available online making it easy to access, individuals must nevertheless proceed with caution when filing for any application with USCIS. Just because it is easier now to file for an application does not mean that you should. We urge individuals to pause and take the time to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney before submitting any application with USCIS. ***

Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 9556277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Oodaalolly founder Hernan Lauber featured speaker at Kakao Konek 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif — Hernan Lauber, founder of the Oodaalolly Chocolate Company, was a featured speaker at Kakao Konek 2019, the largest tablea/chocolate/cacao expo and conference in the region. Hernan discussed the potential of Philippine-sourced cacao in the United States chocolate market.

The United States is one of the largest chocolate producing nations in the world along with Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. This open market for chocolate means

that space is crowded.

Any new entrant to the U.S. market must innovate to stand out. Oodaalolly does both through its focus on ingredients and technique.

It produces the best chocolate using the highest quality Philippine cacao using Swiss techniques refined over several generations. Success rests upon a shared value chain based on helping build the reputation of the Philippines as a premier origin for the world’s best-tasting chocolate products.

Continued on Page SF7

Hernan Lauber addressing the Kakao Konek delegation.

Family unity is...

From Page SF4 ties and accountability of family members (4 R’s and A) • Identifies problems and solve them before they occur • Creates decision making simulations by ensuring that policy formation is informed and objective rather than made based on emotion • Reduce future family tension • Increase the likelihood of long term business and family success, survival, and prosperity • Strengthen the family with the experience in coming to an agreement Additionally, the code provides a set of rules and expectations into which an individual adheres to in compliance with his/her being a member of a family. It is essential for any type of family to prevent issues from arising and hostile situa-

tions from occurring among its members. The group dynamics is volatile which makes it very difficult to handle. An FCOC is necessary to establish a common ground among members who have differing points of views and needs.

In the end, a group that values a code of conduct will remain solid and resilient because there are constant elements being followed such as shared goals, family and work standards, scope and accepted behavior and disciplinary measures. *** Prof. Soriano is a National Agora Awardee for Marketing Excellence, an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author and Executive Director of ASEAN-based Consulting group, W+B Strategic Advisory. He has close to three decades of real estate experience and is currently the Program Director for Real Estate at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

(Advertising Supplement)

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019

Audience with City of Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan (L-R): Archie Velasquez, Nena Velasquez, Christian Buquid, Clarito Agustin, Mayor Sampayan, President Romel Chozas and Bobby Reyes.

Vallejo mayor to keynote Batangas City affair

Last September 25, 2019, the officers and members of the Batangas City-Sto.Nino Devotees Association led by President Romel Chozas paid a courtesy call on City of Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan. The association extended to Mayor Sampayan an invitation to be the guest of honor in its 40th Annual Fiesta celebration in homage to the Sto. Nino, patron and protector of Batangas City. The fiesta will be held on January 11, 2020 from 1:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Holy Spirit Church and Parish Center at 37588 Fremont Boulevard in Fremont, California. The theme for fiesta is “Pista sa Nayon.”

The association’s Liturgical Committee has scheduled the traditional nine Saturday novenas preceding the January 11 fiesta celebrations: 1st Novena, November 10, Sunday - Hosted by the Garcia families of Oakland/Alameda 2nd Novena, November 16, Saturday - Hosted by the Mendoza families of Daly City/Vallejo 3rd Novena, November 23, Saturday - Hosted by Ronnie and Fe Bueno in Belmont 4th Novena, November 30, Saturday - Hosted by the Friends of the Sto. Nino in Daly City 5th Novena, December 7, Saturday - Hosted by Ed and

Ching Calucag in the City of Marina 6th Novena, December 14, Saturday - Hosted by the Romera/Mendoza families in Dublin 7th Novena, December 21, Saturday - Hosted by Dante and Eli Minioza in Vallejo 8th Novena, December 28, Saturday - Hosted by Rey and Mila Evangelista in Pittsburg 9th Novena, January 4, 2020 - Hosted by Romel and Eden Chozas in Hercules The fiesta celebrations will be ushered in with a thanksgiving mass at 1:30 p.m. followed by a procession and Karakol at the Holy Spirit Parish Center.

The program of activities for the day includes entertainment numbers, award presentations (highlighted with the recognition of members 90 years old and older), followed by the address by the guest of honor, Mayor Bob Sampayan of the City of Vallejo.

Members and guests will be treated to an early buffet dinner catered by Hapag Pilipino of Daly City consisting of six entrees, three lechons, and anchored by the famous Kalderettang Batangan prepared by the association’s master chef Bayani Baliwag.

A grand raffle will be held

SFFACC to host forum...

From Page SF6 and the New Voices Initiative.

Volunteer-run service organizations and communitybased associations will have discussions about succeeding in a business environment and leadership and management, i.e. how technology is transforming leadership for good, democratizing human capabilities, improve management skills, leverage data collection to prevent delays, and plan well with modern ICT management.

The Fireside Chats will cover the following topics on November 15-16, 2019: 1) Artificial intelligence (AI) and its inescapable influence on our lives; how business organizations can take full advantage of AI; (2) FinTech, its disruptive potential and changes in Financial Markets and Value Networks; (3) Health, the new technologies changing health care, (4) Education, advances in learning innovation – how technology is changing the future of education; (5) Venture Capital, i.e. the current trends; (6) Private Equity; Business Valuations and current trends

in Private Equity; (7) Women Transforming the World with Digital Technologies; (8) Agricultural Technology; how AG-Tech provides new solutions to agricultural challenges worldwide; the impact of farmers using AG-Tech solutions; game-changing AG-Tech that increases productivity, reduces poverty, and fosters economic growth; and (9) Security.

The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center will be the primary venue of the San Francisco Forum by The Bay, located at 814 Mission Street, Mezzanine Level, in San Francisco, California.

There will be a stand-alone event to highlight the conclusion of the San Francisco Forum by The Bay: A Cultural Gala Night on November 16, with special performances by out-of-town cultural performers and a Post-Gala Reception that will be open to the public.

Separate tickets will be available for sale. Watch out for updates!

For more information about registration and sponsorships, please visit http://www.SFForumByTheBay.com.

Oodaalolly founder...

From Page SF6 Lauber discussed the need for stakeholder cooperation with Val Turtur, Philippine Cacao Council Chair, as a means to inculcate collaborative solutions to increase overall revenue generated by Philippine cacao.

Lauber believes the aphorism, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

The importance of cacao cannot be overstated, as it is the main ingredient in Oodaalolly chocolate. This was echoed in the keynote given by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. By being proudly Filipino we can tell a unique story and build up an industry that supports stakeholder growth from farm to bar.

About Oodaalolly Chocolate Chocolate maker Hernan Lauber founded Oodaalolly Chocolate in 2017. As a Filipino-American chocolate maker with a family history of working with chocolate, Oodaalol-

ly focuses exclusively on sourcing ingredients from the Philippines. A San Francisco start-up with “cacao in our blood,” Oodaalolly sources direct from the Davao region of the southern Philippines to create a unique and delicious product that’s innovative and sustainable.

About Kakao Konek Kakao Konek is the largest tablea/chocolate/cacao expo and conference in the Philippines region. It is organized

by CIDAMi - the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. - a valuechain organization composed of local industry stakeholders who share a vision to increase the importance and worldwide recognition of Philippine produced cacao products.

The Philippines produces less than 1% of the world’s entire supply of cacao but the crop has been part of the nation’s rich history for hundreds of years and is ascendant on the world stage for its unique flavor.

during the fiesta with the following prizes: 1st prize-$500 cash donated by President Romel and Eden Chozas, 2nd prize$400 cash donated by Genesis and Delia Montano, two 3rd prizes-$300 cash donated by Susan Mercado and Luigi and Mark Cuasay; and 4th prize-$200 cash donated by Rogam and Lea Chozas. After the program, there will be dancing all night with live band music provided by Jimi Acenas and the Synthesis Band.

For additional info, please contact: Rosie Agustin-(707) 645-8979, Romel Chozas-(415) 939-4938, Violie Reyes-(510) 791-1425, Malou Atienza Cuasay-(408) 729-8796, and Ching Calucag-(831) 883-2255.

BIOMEDIS REUNION. Biomedis-USA and Canada held their first grand reunion last October 19 at Fort McKinley Restaurant in South San Francisco. Shown at photo are the organizers of the event which include Pons Liongson, Bert Carreon, Mon Acas, Bill Balisi, Aries Reyes, Andy Mantes, and other members of the association.

Photo by Ray Guarin

ALUMNI HOMECOMING. YMCA Foundation 50th year Rizal Youth Institute Scholars held their Alumni Homecoming from October 11-13, 2019 in San Francisco hosted by Mario Panoringan and Commissioner Ray Satorre of Daly City.

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 1, 2019