110918 - San Francisco Edition

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 17 - No. 45 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared in the U.S. midterm elections Fil-Am candidates eye local offices throughout Southern and Northern California

by RAE

ANN VARONA JOSEPH L. PERALTA AJPress

AS the 2018 midterm elections took place on Tuesday, November 6, a number of things quickly became apparent as the counts came in. For one, voter turnout soared above previous years, especially among young voters and women. When it came to the candidates, a record breaking number of 116 women won in their respective races which included 42 being women of color. Looking at the battle for PAGE A2

Feds cracking down on DMV employees giving out fake licenses and permits

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

WHILE the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has had criminal cases filed against it before, federal authorities have most recently been putting a heavier focus cracking down on its workers caught issuing fraudulent driver’s licenses and permits.

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by AJPRESS ON November 6, California voters didn’t just cast their ballots for candidates. They headed to the polls to vote on 11 ballot measures, which covered issues from farm animal confinement to daylight saving time.

As final results for certain races continue to emerge, here is how the measures did on Tuesday:

CLARIFICATION on the issue regarding Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello’s call for the agency to return the terminal fees and travel taxes collected from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been made by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Bello had reportedly sent letters to CAAP to reiterate his request to refund some P500 million worth of terminal fees and travel taxes collected from the OFWs since 2015.

The law states that migrant workers and OFWs registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) are exempt from paying travel tax and airport fee.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday, November 6, that the agency is not the only entity responsible for collecting the said fees from OFWs, since CAAP

Proposition 2: Bond for housing for those with mental illness — YES Sixty one percent of voters said yes to this proposition that seeks to amend the Mental Health Services Act to fund No Place Like Home Program, which finances housing for individuals with mental illness, as well as ratifies existing law establishing the No Place Like Home Program. It allows the state to use up to $140 million per year of county mental health PAGE A2

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WELCOME HOME. President Rodrigo Duterte embraces an emotional Jennifer Dalquez as the latter met with the him at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, November 6. Dalquez returned to the Philippines after she was acquitted of murder charges and saved from death row in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Malacañang photo by Rolando Mailo

Midterm election: California maintains the blue majority

Newsom wins gubernatorial race, Pelosi wins re-election as Dems take House and other election results MEDENILLA AJPress

ALTHOUGH the anticipated national “blue wave” that Democrats (and non-Democrats who vowed to vote Democrat in protest of Trumpian conservatism) were hoping for left a lot to be desired, California remained blue as ever after the contentious 2018 midterm elections.

As with all elections, it will take a few weeks for all the votes to be tallied, and it might take a while before a winner is officially declared by the office of the Secretary of State. But more than enough votes have been counted to confirm the clear winners.

To no surprise, Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Gavin NewMAGICAL. Ayala Avenue, Makati City’s main thoroughfare, comes alive as dazzling lights were som won the gubernatorial race switched on Monday night, a signal that Christmas is near. The switching of street lights and the Festival of Lights at the Ayala Triangle Gardens are two pre-Christmas events awaited against Republican businessman every year.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina John Cox, with Newsom win-

MAKATI City has edged out Quezon City as the Philippine’s richest city. With assets of P196.57 billion, it was the richest city in 2017, based on the Commission on Audit’s 2017 Annual Financial Report on Local Government.

Makati City saw more than a

Proposition 1: Bond for veterans, affordable housing — YES Over 50 percent of voters approved this measure, which will authorize $4 billion in general obligation bonds for existing affordable housing programs for low-income residents, veterans, farmworkers, manufactured and mobile homes, infill, and transit-oriented housing. The fiscal impact means increased state costs to repay bonds averaging about $170 million annually over the next 35 years.

CAAP clarifies issue on OFW terminal fee, travel tax refunds’

by KLARIZE

TOLENTINO ManilaTimes.net

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

From affordable housing to daylight saving time: How California’s 11 propositions fared on Election Day

Makati is PH’s richest city

by REINA LEANNE

N O V E MBE R 9 - 1 5 , 2 0 1 8

three-fold increase in its assets —from P49.494 billion in 2015 to P54.85 billion in 2016.

Quezon City dropped to second place with P68.33 billion in total assets. In 2016, its asssets was valued at P59.556 billion.

Manila remained on third place with P38.677 billion in total assets.

Of the provinces, Cebu was the wealthiest in 2017 with as-

sets totaling P34.139 billion, up from P32.429 billion in 2016 and P30.331 billion in 2015.

Compostela Valley, a newbie on the list, placed second with P18.95 billion, while Batangas climbed to third spot with P15.568 billion in total assets from its previous fourth ranking in 2016 with P8.694 billion assets.

Meanwhile, Cainta in Rizal

ning 59.3 percent to Cox’s 40.7 percent. Since the June primary, Newsom maintained a comfortable lead in the polls.

Democrats also won every statewide office, including incumbents Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Controller Betty Yee. Notably, women made history in statewide office. Former American diplomat and businesswoman Eleni Kounalakis will be the state’s first woman lieutenant governor and CPA Fiona Ma won the race for state treasurer.

It’s the first time more than two women have been elected into California’s statewide constitutional offices.

However, former Republicanturned-independent candidate for insurance commissioner Steve Poizner won against Democratic Sen. Ricardo Lara of Bell province was the richest town in 2017 with assets totaling P3.988 billion. It was also the wealthiest in 2016 and 2015 with P3.511 billion and 3.176 billion, respectively.

It was followed by Sual town in Pangasinan with P2.528 billion.

Limay town in Bataan came in third with P2.42 billion in total assets, down from its P2.54 billion in 2016. ■

Gardens.

Elsewhere, Sen. Dianne Feinstein -- who has held office since 1992 -- handily won her re-election campaign with 54 percent of the vote against CA state Senator Kevin de Leon, a progressive Democrat who penned the sanctuary state law.

Dems take House Though the “blue wave” ended up looking more like a ripple, the Democrats managed to take control of the House of Representatives; as of press time, Democrats have 222 seats and Republicans have 196.

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California’s 12th District, current House minority leader, won her re-election in a landslide, and she is poised to become the next Speaker of the House.

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, Pelosi told MSNBC that she was “confident” that she would become the next speaker and that she is the “best person” for the job.

President Donald Trump, who is known for his candid remarks on the Democratic Party, tweeted on Wednesday that Pelosi “deserved” to be speaker because of the House takeover by Democrats.

Widely seen as a moderate, left-of-center Democrat, Pelosi said that she plans to take a more bipartisan approach in the House going forward and to find “common ground where we can.”

Though the Democrats already took the House of Representatives hours before any of the hotly contested districts in California were

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NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

From affordable housing to daylight saving...

BELENISMO SA TARLAC 2018. Tarlac Heritage Foundation Inc. Co-Founder Dra Isa Suntay (4th from right), Major General Gilbert Gapay (3rd from right), Chief of the Mechanized Infantry Division Phil. Army and Major General Filemon Santos Jr., (3rd from left) lead the ribbon cutting of the Philippine Army Belen during the formal opening of the 11th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2018 at the Camp Servillano Aquino McArthur Highway in Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City on Monday evening, November 5.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Feds cracking down on DMV employees...

PAGE A1 t Federal officials say that investigators from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have also been joining in on the work of undercover agents.

Cases on the department notoriously known for long lines have shown up in the last number of years, but the numbers saw a stark uptick last year with at least 20 more cases having been filed by prosecutors since.

In June of this year, a federal jury found a former Salinas DMV employee, Robert Turchin, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and identity fraud, and three counts of identity fraud.

“This prosecution of a California state employee for bribery resulting in grave danger to public safety is very troubling,” said U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott during the trial. “It is alarming to think that unqualified persons were licensed to operate big rigs and buses on our public roadways. We will continue to do everything we can to root out pub-

lic corruption at any level, and hold those in positions of trust accountable for their greed.”

A month later, Sarah Laray Sandoval, a former West Sacramento DMV employee, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after she plead guilty to three counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Along with her co-defendant Anthony Zamarron, authorities said their schemes resulted in a loss over $77,000, and involved over 100 victims.

The Sacramento Bee reported of one of defendant from a case last year being the daughter of a DMV deputy chief of investigations and enforcement.

Kari Scattaglia and Lisa Terraciano—both former DMV employees in the Los Angeles area— pleaded guilty last November to charges regarding their role in allowing numerous California driver’s license applicants to pay their way out of taking written and behind-the-wheel exams, according to federal court docu-

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Scattaglia was a licensing registration examiner and manager in Arleta and Granada Hills, while Terraciano worked as a motor vehicle representative in Winnetka.

Court documents showed Scattaglia as being responsible for issuing at least 68 fake licenses and permits.

“The DMV Investigations Division conducts a thorough investigation of every complaint filed and takes action when an employee is found to be committing workplace fraud,” reads a statement obtained by Redding’s local ABC 7 station KRCR. Armando Botello of the DMV’s Office of Public Affairs continued, “These employees are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and works closely with U.S. Attorney offices statewide. The DMV is responsible for initiating the cases involving all 40 DMV employees, brokers, driver school owners/operators that have been referred to the federal Eastern District since 2011.” n

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PAGE A1 t funds to repay up to $2 billion in bonds. These bonds would fund housing for those with mental illness who are homeless.

Proposition 3: Bonds for infrastructure projects — NO This would give $8.877 billion in state general obligation bonds for various infrastructure projects. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs to repay bonds averaging $430 million per year over 40 years. Local government savings for water-related projects, likely averaging a couple hundred million dollars annually over the next few decades.

Proposition 4: Grants for children’s hospitals — YES This would allow $1.5 billion in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund grants for construction, expansion, renovation, and equipping of qualifying children’s hospitals. The fiscal impact is increased state costs to repay bonds averaging about $80 million annually over the next 35 years.

Proposition 5: Expand tax benefit for certain homeowners — NO Voters rejected this measure which would have removed certain transfer requirements for homeowners over 55, severely disabled homeowners, and contaminated or disaster-destroyed property. If it passed, schools and local governments would have lost over $100 million in annual property taxes early on, growing to about $1 billion per year. Similar increase in state costs to backfill school property tax losses.

Proposition 6: Repeal gas tax — NO Fifty-five percent of voters

voted “no” on this proposition which attempted to repeal a 2017 transportation law’s taxes and fees designated for road repairs and public transportation. Backed by the California Republican Party and other interest groups, Proposition 6 argued that the 2017 law — which imposed a 12-cent-per-gallon tax on gas and 20-cents-pergallon diesel fuel — led to high fuel prices and vehicle fees for drivers. Those who opposed the measure rebutted, saying that the tax would impede infrastructure projects statewide, one of which includes the train station connecting passengers to LAX Airport.

Proposition 7: Changing daylight saving time — YES With 60 percent of votes in favor, this proposition allows the Legislature to change daylight saving time period by two-thirds vote, if changes are consistent with federal law. This measure has no direct fiscal effect because changes to daylight saving time would depend on future actions by the Legislature and potentially the federal government.

Proposition 8: Regulating kidney dialysis clinics — NO Considered the most expensive ballot race in California’s history, 62 percent of voters rejected Proposition 8, which sought to regulate the amounts outpatient kidney dialysis clinics charge for dialysis treatment.

The proposition was sponsored

by United Healthcare Workers West, while $110 million was spent by the dialysis industry and backed by over 160 medical groups to defeat the measure. It would have also required rebates and penalties if charges exceed

limit and annual reporting to the state, and clinics would have been prohibited from refusing to treat patients based on payment source.

Proposition 10: Repealing rent control restrictions — NO With 97 percent of precincts reporting, 62 percent of voters rejected this measure which looked to repeal state law that currently restricts the scope of rent control policies that cities and other local jurisdictions may impose on residential property.

Californians for Responsible Housing, a group against the measure, said, “The stunning margin of victory shows California voters clearly understood the negative impacts Prop. 10 would have on the availability of affordable and middle-class housing in our state.”

Proposition 11: Private ambulance employees on call during breaks — YES Fifty nine percent of voters said “yes,” which means private ambulance companies could continue their current practice of having emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics stay onduty during their meal and rest breaks in order to respond to 911 calls. Private ambulance companies would attempt to reschedule meal and rest breaks that are interrupted by a 911 call.

Proposition 12: Standards for farm animal confinement — YES Over 60 percent of voters approved this measure, which will establish minimum requirements for confining certain farm animals, and prohibit sales of meat and egg products from animals confined in noncomplying manner. n

CAAP clarifies issue on OFW terminal...

PAGE A1 t operates only seven international airports.

“Among the seven international airports that CAAP manages, it is only via the Davao International Airport, where the OFWs pass through. This airport does not charge terminal fees for OFWs,” Apolonio said.

The six other airports are in General Santos, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Kalibo, and

Laoag.

Apolonio noted that these airports are being used mostly by tourists, and not by the OFWs. According to him, the bulk of what Bello was requesting to be refunded is not under CAAP’s jurisdiction.

“Majority of the OFWs use the airports in Manila (NAIA), Cebu, and Clark. These other airports have their own mandates,” he said.

Apolonio also said that travel tax is normally included in the ticket — this is how the airline would know if the passenger is an OFW or not when he or she books the ticket.

He said CAAP could not comment on the issue regarding travel taxes collected from the OFWs. “The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) collects travel taxes,” he said. (AJPress) n

PAGE A1 t congress, Republicans retained the Senate, while Democrats won control of the House.

While a number of races have yet to be determined, results have come in for the nation’s Fil-Am candidates which included six who ran for Congress. Here’s a rundown on how the candidates did.

Fil-Ams take losses in Congress, as Ortiz-Jones fights on in very close race Of the 435 seats that were up for grabs in the House of Representatives, six were being eyed

by Fil-Am candidates TJ Cox (CA-21), Christina Osmeña (CA14), Kenneth Mejia (CA-34), Gina Ortiz-Jones (TX-23), Jennifer Mijares-Zimmerman (FL-01), and Bobby Scott (VA-03).

Cox, who received an endorsement by former U.S. President Barack Obama, ran to represent California’s 21st Congressional District, which covers much of Central California’s San Joaquin Valley, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent David Valadao (54 percent to 46 percent).

Vying for a congressional seat in California’s 14th Congressional District which covers most of San Mateo County, was Republican Cristina Osmeña whose

great-grandfather, Sergio Osmeña, was the second president of the Philippines. Running against Democrat Jackie Speier, Osmeña ended up with the lesser votes with 23.6 percent compared to Speier’s 76.4 percent.

Also running in California was 27-year-old Los Angeles resident Kenneth Mejia who ran under the Green Party in hopes of representing California’s 34th Congressional District which includes Chinatown and Downtown Los Angeles. Tuesday’s vote revealed Rep. Jimmy Gomez of the Democratic Party to have won his reelection by taking 74.2 percent of the votes compared to Mejia’s 25.8 percent.

Fil-Ams in local races in Northern California In key local races, some FilAmericans are seen as winners due to very healthy leads in their races, while others are still in the mix with mail-in ballots still to be counted. (Note: The Asian Journal got information from the counties’ different election sites, with the results of the counting of votes from precincts. These numbers, and some of the results, may change in the days and weeks ahead.)

As of press time, State Assemblymember Rob Bonta of the 18th District, the first Filipino

American to ever get elected to California’s State Assembly, looks like a lock for reelection. He has garnered 59,953 votes, or nearly 87 percent of votes cast, over his challenger, Republican Stephen Slauson, who has 9,004 votes.

State Assembly candidate and Republican Christina Laskowski lost her bid to the 22nd Assembly District seat held by incumbent Democrat Kevin Mullin.

Laskowski was able to get 17,100 votes or 27.2 percent of total votes cast, to Mullin’s 47,755 votes (72.8 percent).

In Daly City, which is home to a healthy Filipino American population, current Councilmember Ray Buenaventura leads in the polls, having garnered 6,051 of votes cast (31.4 percent).

The other three candidates are separated by hundreds of votes, namely Pamela DiGiovanni (4,814 votes), Gabriella Makstman (4,238 votes) and Rod DausMagbual (4,156 votes). There are only three slots open in the city council.

In the town of Colma, Joanne del Rosario, currently the Vice Mayor, was re-elected to the city council, along with another Helen Fisicaro, herself running for reelection. Del Rosario garnered 119 votes, or 50.6 percent of total PAGE A3

A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared...

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Dateline USa

US Navy pushes ASEAN sea code

by Dempsey

Reyes

ManilaTimes.net

THE United States Navy is pushing for the Code of Conduct between Southeast Asian countries and China to prevent any miscalculations in the South China Sea. Admiral John Richardson, U.S. Navy chief of naval operations, said in a telephonic press conference that Washington will welcome the drafting of the Code of Conduct, which is considered as a “very positive development.”

“These codes of conduct serve to, as I said before, with this operational arrangement, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (Cues), they serve a tremendous benefit in terms of providing for safe and professional passage (in) high seas,” Richardson said, noting that the U.S. Navy and

Fil-Am pipe bomb suspect held without bail in NY Suspect Cesar Sayoc made first appearance in Manhattan federal court after court hearing in Florida

Cesar Sayoc Jr., the suspect who mailed the bombs to various Democratic officials last week.

Photo courtesy of the Broward County Sheriff

A FEDERAL judge on Tuesday, Nov. 6 has ordered the man suspected of sending more than a dozen explosives to high-profile Democrats to be held without bail in his first appearance in New York federal court.

Cesar Sayoc, Jr., who is half-Filipino and half-Italian, was transported from Florida to New York on Monday and made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Kim referred to Sayoc as “a serious risk of danger to the public and a flight risk.”

Sayoc wore a navy blue prison uniform over a beige T-shirt and conferred with his assigned counsel, public defender Sarah Jane Baumgartel. He did not wear handcuffs or shackles and answered, “yes, sir” to Lehrburger’s routine questions.

The defense did not challenge the federal government’s denial of bail. Prior to his transport to New York, he appeared before a

federal judge in Florida on Monday, Oct. 29.

The 56-year-old faces five criminal counts: interstate transport of explosives, mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents, making threatening interstate communications and assault of current or former government officials.

He allegedly mailed at least 15 pipe bombs to known critics of President Donald Trump, including high profile Democrats like Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as news organizations like CNN and prominent Democrat donor George Soros.

After he was identified, it was revealed that Sayoc was a regular attendee of Trump rallies. A Twitter account believed to be run by Sayoc expressed allegiance to Trump as well as harassment towards other accounts who criticized the president.

On the day he was arrested, federal officials uncovered a van allegedly belonging to Sayoc that was adorned with pro-Trump stickers and posters as well as incendiary messages towards Clinton, Obama, CNN and other parties Trump has repeatedly attacked.

If convicted, he’ll serve up to 48 years in prison.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, Sayoc had compiled a list of about 100 targets and had prepared the list before he was first arrested on Friday, Oct. 26. Federal officials have not publicly released the names on the list but have been privately contacting those listed.

In addition to Obama, Clinton and Soros, Sayoc had allegedly mailed pipe bombs to former Vice President Joe Biden; former Attorney General Eric Holder; Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of

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A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared...

PAGE A2 t votes cast.

Fil-Ams Flor Nicolas and Mark Nagales are currently in the top three in the race for South San Francisco’s three city council slots, along with councilmember Mark Addiego who is running for reelection. Nicolas, who has been a resident of South San Francisco for over 30 years and has a chemical engineering degree from Mapua Institute of Technology and a Master of Public health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has garnered 3,067 votes (18.4 percent). Nagales, also a resident of the city for more than 30 years and a congressional aide to Congresswoman Jackie Speier for 10 years, currently has 3,026 votes (18.2 percent). Nipping at their heels is Pradeep Gupta who has 2,855 votes, or 17.1 percent of total votes cast. There are only three vacant slots for the city council in South San Francisco.

In the Jefferson Elementary School District, Maybelle Manio, a graduate of San Francisco State University, looks like a lock to be reelected as a member of the Governing Board, along with Marie Brizuela and Clayton Koo. Manio has garnered 4,106 votes, or 26.5 percent of total votes cast.

Dianne Martinez, the first FilCalifornia; Rep. Maxine Waters Am elected to the city council of of California and actor Robert Emeryville and who is running for re-election, leads vote-getDeNiro.

None of the explosives that ters for the city’s two open city were mailed detonated and did council slots. She currently has not injure anybody, according to 1,471 votes, or 49 percent of votes cast. officials.

In Union City, Pat Gacoscos, Sayoc has been ordered to return to court next Monday, Nov. who is bidding to get re-elected 12. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n as a councilmember, is currently

the Chinese Navy had been sailing in the same waters.

Richardson explained that it was “not uncommon” for Washington and Beijing to encounter each other in high seas.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have not concluded the formation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. In August, Singapore Minister of Defense Ng Eng Hen urged ASEAN and China to conclude the formation of the Code of Conduct for maritime stability and maintenance of centrality.

Richardson, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of understanding freedom of navigation, since it is being used to contest maritime claims.

The South China Sea is being claimed in whole and in part by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Philippines and Vietnam. n Richardson Photo from Defense.gov

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018

among the top three vote-getters in the race for the city’s three city council slots. She has garnered 2,777 votes so far, or 13.65 percent of the votes cast.

Marlo Rodriguez, a city council candidate for District 6 in Oakland, was unsuccessful in her bid, garnering 490 votes, or 8.5 percent of votes cast. Rodriguez finished last among the five candidates vying for the seat.

In Yolo County, it looks like Christopher Cabaldon gets another term as Mayor of West Sacramento. Cabaldon currently has 5,187 votes (52.8 percent), with challengers Joe Deanda and Esther Moskalets getting 3,969 votes (40.4 percent) and 666 votes (6.8 percent), respectively.

Marico Sayoc is among the three top vote-getters for the Town of Los Gatos’ three city council seats. The former mayor of Los Gatos has garnered 4,314 votes so far, or about 27.4 percent of votes cast and currently sits in second place.

Jose Esteves’ bid for another turn as Mayor of Milpitas will not be successful this time around.

Esteves currently trails current Mayor Rich Tran, garnering 2,210 votes to Tran’s 3,834 votes.

The race for city council is very close to call at this point, with FilAm Gary Barbadillo (2,285 votes) trailing Carmen Montano (2,630 votes) and Karina Dominguez (2,436 votes) for the two open city council slots.

Thelma Boac currently sits in the top three for the race for the Berryessa Union School District’s Governing Board Members.

Boac sits in the second spot, with 4,675 votes or nearly 23 percent

of votes cast. There are three spots in the governing board up for grabs in the BUSD. In El Cerrito, councilmember Gabriel Quinto was successful in his reelection bid, garnering 4,729 votes, or about 51 percent of the votes cast.

About 17 miles north of El Cerrito, Jesus Malgapo trails Hakeem Brown, Katy Miessner and Pippin Dew for the three city council slots for the City of Vallejo. Malgapo currently has 13,305 votes (19.86 percent), and trails third-placer Dew by about 407 votes.

Tony Ubalde is currently in the top three for the Vallejo City Unified School District race, with three slots being contested by eight candidates. Ubalde sits on the third spot with 11,616 votes (15.94 percent), some 654 votes ahead of fourth placer Christy Gardner. Another Fil-Am, Ruscal Cayangyang, is in fifth with 10,407 votes (14.2 percent).

Outside of California, Florida pediatrician and Democratic candidate Jennifer Zimmerman ran for Florida’s 1st Congressional District against Republican Matt Gaetz who ended up taking the win with 67.1 percent of the votes compared to Zimmerman’s 32.9 percent on Tuesday.

But perhaps one of the most closely watched congressional race in this year’s midterm election was in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District between Republican Will Hurd and Democrat Fil-Am Gina Ortiz-Jones. While two-term holding Hurd claimed a victory from Tuesday’s count, others claimed the results were PAGE A4

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NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Prison destroys future of children — UNICEF exec

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility would have dire consequences on the future of children placed in prisons, the Philippine representative of the United nations Children’s Fund (UniCeF) warned.

Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on wednesday, october 31, UniCeF Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander said putting children in prison enhances their criminal behavior.

“we have global evidence about this. it doesn’t keep the child out of criminality. in fact, it enhances the child’s criminal behavior. They are sort of groomed into being criminals when they are put into prison,� she said. “There are hardly any examples showing children returning to a normal life after they are Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila thrown into prison as children,�

Bay forum on Wednesday, October 31, UNICEF she added. instead of putting children in Philippine representative Lotta Sylwander said putting children in prison enhances their prisons, Sylwander said children criminal behavior. Philstar file photo by Boy in conflict with the law should be Santos put through a restorative justice procedure that it already provided under the existing Juvenile Justice and welfare Act. Sylwander called for additional resources to enable the full implementation of the law, which sets the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 15.

A proposal is pending in Congress to lower it to at least 13 years old.

But according to the UniCeF official, it is unfair to put the blame on children, given that many of them are forced to commit criminal acts by the adults around them. “giving the child the blame and responsibility for actions is very unfair because they do not understand, they do not have that cognizant capacity,� she said. “we as adults should put the effort into actually helping these children into a normal, stable life.

Taking them out of a bad family situation, take them out of gangs and restore their right to a proper and fair life,� added Sylwander.

Taguig rep. Pia Cayetano, who was also at the forum, agreed with the UniCeF official that criminalizing acts of young children is not the solution to the problem.

However, she stressed the need to understand officials, including President Duterte, who saw that the higher minimum age of criminal responsibility has resulted in more minors committing crimes. “There is a belief that because we increased it to 15, that created boldness in the criminal minds to use the children,� she said. “we have to understand the causes to understand the frame of mind of people.�

Cayetano stressed the need to address the root causes of the problem, including poverty and teenage pregnancy. “one, we need to get the children out of the streets and number two, make them accountable or make them understand that what they are doing is not acceptable,� she said. n

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OFF TO KOREA. Philippine Navy holds a send-off ceremony at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila for its landing dock ship, BRP Tarlac, with helicopter attachment afloat on board for a conduct of port visit to Vladivostok, Russia, and participation in International Fleet Review, at Jeju Island, South Korea. Several troops were currently in South Korea to undergo training for the arrival of eight amphibious assault vehicles from the same country later this year or early 2019.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Hello? It’s I, Robot, and have I got an insurance plan for you! by

BarBara Feder ostrov Kaiser Health News

“AnnA� will not stop calling.

She really, really wants to sell you health insurance. what a lot of consumers really, really want is to smack Anna upside her robocalling head.

As health insurance open-enrollment season gets underway in California and nationwide, automated phone calls offering Affordable Care Act or other health plans are spiking — and driving many consumers to the brink.

California residents may have it worst, because its open-enrollment period is twice as long as in other parts of the country. “it’s at epidemic levels at this time of year,� said Aaron Foss, founder of nomorobo, who estimates his spam call-blocking service, based in Long island, n.Y., headed off more than 850,000 health-related robocalls in october alone — nearly five times their interceptions for September, Foss said. nomorobo tracked about 820 different robocall pitches for health insurance in the last week of october. More than 100 of them were from the robot Anna.

Almost all of these calls are illegal, according to rules published by the Federal Trade Commission in 2009. Many offer skimpy health plans that don’t cover what you might need, insurance regulators and consumer advocates say. others, they say, are downright fraudulent, with unscrupulous insurance “brokers� taking payment and promising insurance that never comes through.

Alice Cave, 62, a retired data analyst from Alexandria, Va., who spends winters in Tucson, said she’s gotten so many of these calls that she typically won’t answer her phone unless she recognizes the number. on Monday, expecting a call from a California reporter, she answered her cellphone. it was “Anne.� (Anna’s robot cousin? other relatives include “Jordan,� “Allison� and “Mandy,� though variants on Anna remain most prevalent.) “She was saying, ‘i really need to talk to you — we’ve got deals on health insurance.’ i thought, ‘god, what a crock,’� Cave said. “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Anything that comes

in on the phone, i’m going to be skeptical. why would they offer me this deal? i already have great insurance. it’s crazy.�

Some fed-up consumers try to stymie robocallers, with amusing results. Twitter user Jon Heise in June confounded his robot by insisting, after whatever it said, that he was a “meat popsicle.� eventually, it hung up. it’s not all fun and games. in California, the Department of insurance is investigating health insurance robocalls, said Janice rocco, deputy commissioner for health policy and reform. in late August, the agency filed a court order against Health Plan intermediaries Holdings LLC, accusing the Florida company of deceptive and misleading practices in selling “obamacare� plans that didn’t comply with the health law. The company could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation, rocco said. in this case, the company’s robocalls featured “Anne,� according to the court order. in its legal response, the company did not admit to the agency’s allegations and denied responsibility. A hearing date has not yet been set, rocco said. (Arkansas’ insurance commissioner issued a cease and desist order against the company in 2016.)

Under federal law, calls using prerecorded messages are legal only for such things as doctor appointment reminders, flight cancellations, credit card fraud alerts and political candidates.

Calls to sell products and services are not. in a typical robocall sales pitch, a friendly female voice comes on the line. Sometimes the call appears to originate from major insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna or from a local number a caller might suppose is a school or neighbor. often, the voice will ask the consumer to dial “1� to enroll or “2� to opt out of future calls.

Both options can be a trap, experts say. “if you pick up, you become a lead that’s sent to health insurance agents or brokers,� nomorobo’s Foss said. And option 2 doesn’t put you on a do-not-call list; it merely lets the spammers know they’ve hit a working number, he added.

A reporter from Kaiser Health

news connected with one of the insurance brokers behind one of these robocalls by pressing the dreaded “1.�

A man identifying himself as “ray Khan� said he’s a licensed insurance broker and provided a national insurance Producer registry number. The reporter was unable to locate Khan in that national registry with that number, which was not assigned to anyone.

Khan asked for the reporter’s Social Security number and other personal information. He said he did not have an office and that enrollment needed to be done over the phone. He referred the caller to a website that does not provide information about plans offered but is a platform for consumers to be contacted by brokers. “it’s a legitimate company. we work for different insurance carriers,� Khan said. “You have to trust someone if you want to do it.�

That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do — trust folks who call you out of the blue, according to the Department of insurance’s rocco. “Someone selling a comprehensive medical plan is not going to be reaching you via a robocall,� rocco said.

Most of what’s sold through these automated calls are socalled skinny plans that don’t comply with Affordable Care Act requirements, or are shortterm insurance plans, which typically offer coverage for only a few months and often don’t cover preexisting conditions or prescription drugs. Such plans have been outlawed in California, starting Jan. 1.

Despite state and federal crackdowns — some involving multimillion-dollar fines — robocalls aren’t going away anytime soon. So the best thing for consumers to do when they receive one is to just hang up or, like Virginia resident Cave, not respond to unfamiliar numbers, advises the Federal Communications Commission. instead, check out the federal obamacare exchange, healthcare.gov, or your state’s marketplace.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

A rundown on how Fil-Am candidates fared...

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PAGE A3 t still too soon to be final given the closeness of Hurd’s and ortizJones’ numbers.

As of early wednesday afternoon, Hurd was up less than one percent over U.S. Air Force veteran ortiz-Jones (49.2 percent to 48.7 percent). Her campaign said that not all ballots, such as provisional ballots, absentee ballots, have been counted. “This election is not over—every vote matters and must be counted. gina’s campaign has been powered by grassroots energy from day one, and we won’t stop working until every provisional ballot, absentee ballot, and military or overseas ballot has been counted,� said a statement released by her ortiz-Jone’s camp. if ortiz-Jones wins, she would become the first female Fil-Am member of Congress, the first iraq war veteran, and the first openly lesbian to hold a U.S. House seat in Texas.

Currently, only one serving member of Congress has Filipino

ancestry and as of Tuesday, retained his seat. Scott, whose maternal grandfather is of Filipino ancestry, ran unopposed in Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District and easily won re-election.

Fil-Ams eye offices throughout Southern California in Southern California where the Filipino population has been on the rise, at least 14 Fil-Ams sought local office positions. in Artesia, Fil-Am Melissa ramoso—who was the only female on the ballot list—took the third seat up for grabs in the Artesia City Council with 20.04 percent of the total votes. Leaving the council was four-year term Fil-Am Councilmember Victor Manalo who came in fourth with 18.01 percent of the votes. in Fil-Am hub Carson, former Mayor Pro Tem elito Santarina and new candidate oz Buendia were among the city council candidates but were unable to get a seat. with only two open seats, Santarina—who has 15-years in the city council—came in third with 16.02 percent of the votes.

Jed Leano held on to a seat on the Claremont City Council, as did half-Mexican, Fil-Am Letty Lopez in nearby west Covina for the city’s council, and Tzeitel Paras-Caracci for city council in Duarte. none of the Filipino candidates running for city council in Southern California’s orange County won their elections. Mark Anthony Paredes ran in garden grove, Phil Bacerra in Santa Ana, and Christina Mackey in Laguna Hills. Former councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Lorri galloway came in third in her run for Anaheim’s Mayor.

Down south in San Diego, Mark Bartlett hoped to be the first Filipino councilman in Chula Vista but missed narrowly behind incumbent John McCann. Dita Delossantos Yamane came in third in her race for national City Mayor.

But Fil-Am republican Chris Cate won re-election to represent San Diego City Council’s District 6, garnering 57 percent of the votes. n

Midterm election: California...

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PAGE A1 called, California Democrats are in line to flip three of the reddest districts. in the 25th District, which comprises much of northern Los Angeles County, the republican incumbent rep. Steve Knight is trailing his Democratic challenger Katie Hill by nearly 3 points,

according to the Associated Press.

Democrat Mike Levin defeated republican incumbent Darrell issa down in the 49th District which comprises wealthy portions of orange and San Diego counties. elsewhere in orange County, longtime republican congressman Dana rohrabacher

of the 48th District lost his seat on Tuesday night to Democrat challenger Harley rouda.

However, in California’s 39th District in orange County, republican candidate Young Kim took ed royce’s seat after defeating Democratic candidate gil Cisneros, who ran a grassroots campaign. n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018

A5

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Fighting corruption is Customs chief’s priority

by EVELYN

MACAIRAN Philstar.com

MANILA — The campaign against corruption is newly appointed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s top priority.

Guerrero attended his first flag-raising ceremony Tuesday, November 6 and told BOC employees that he is bent on implementing reforms and would be working hard toward addressing the corruption problem in the agency.

“First of all, I want to announce that there would be reforms in the agency and we would intensify our efforts to become better public servants,” Guerrero said.

“But the fight against corruption and cleansing of the BOC of corrupt officials will be my top priority as your commissioner.

For this reason, it is ordered that we put a stop to the ‘tara’ (bribe per container) system and other means of soliciting or receiving (bribe) money for transactions in the bureau,” he added.

Guerrero issued the order at a time the agency is gripped by its latest controversy involving 1.6 tons of shabu, estimated to be worth P11 billion, which allegedly passed through the Manila International Container Port (MICP) undetected last July 14.

He pointed out that there have been many commissioners who

entered the doors of the bureau but they failed in their mission to rid the agency of corruption.

“Painful it may be to accept, but our agency is again at the center of another big controversy. When will we start fixing our agency?

There have been many commissioners who came to the BOC but up to now, we have not yet fixed the system,” he said.

Guerrero, who previously served as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, told BOC officials and personnel to always remember the vow they make before the Philippine flag every Monday morning: to work to the best of their ability and to faithfully serve the people.

“Illegal activities have no place in the Bureau of Customs, and all the more that illegal activities and employees engaged in illegal acts have no place in any government agency… Let us serve with honesty and integrity. Let us keep the dignity and nobility of public service,” the new Customs commissioner said.

Guerrero warned them that he would not hesitate to use the authority and powers as commissioner in order for him to accomplish his mission.

For more than 30 years of serving the country, Guerrero has protected his name and reputation because he believes that this is a treasure he will leave his family.

He also said he would not allow the good name of the agency and reputation of many of the Customs employees to be tarnished by the illegal activities of a few employees.

Guerrero reminded his subordinates to be one with the agency and that the successes and failures of the agency are also the successes and failures of everyone in the bureau.

“In this regard, concerns and transactions in the bureau should follow official channels and the regular process. Everything should be documented, reported and transparent,” he said.

Guerrero also mentioned that he did not authorize anyone to use his name to conduct any legal or illegal transactions at the BOC, and that anyone illegally using his name should be immediately reported to the proper agencies.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano was open to the suggestion of Senate President Vicente Sotto III to place “graduates of seminaries” at the BOC. It was reported that Sotto was not convinced that sending soldiers to take over the BOC was the best solution and instead proposed that the corruption-ridden agency be privatized. He also made passing mention of putting graduates of seminaries in the BOC.■

Boracay rehab to continue — DENR

by HELEN

FLORES Philstar.com

MANILA — Rehabilitation of the world-famous Boracay Island will continue even after it was reopened to tourists on October 26, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Monday, November 5.

Cimatu said the agency would continue to monitor the quality of water in the resort island to ensure safety of tourists and residents.

He said the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system to ensure water quality.

The DENR will ensure compliance by all establishments with

the rules stipulated in the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).

“The government continue to receive application for compliance from different establishments,” Cimatu said.

One of the conditions in applying for an ECC is a service connection to a sewage treatment plant.

Prior to its reopening last month, the EMB said that 717 of 1,258 establishments in Boracay were given certificates of compliance.

At least 155 hotels and other establishments with a total of 7,308 rooms have been allowed to receive guests since Oct. 26.

Cimatu said Boracay would no longer be called a cesspool as business establishments are now cooperating with the gov-

MISS EARTH 2018 WINNERS. Vietnam’s Nguyen Phuong Kan (3rd from left) wins the title of Miss Earth 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday. Also crowned were Miss Fire, Melissa Flores of Mexico (left); Miss Water, Valeria Ayos of Colombia (2nd from left); and Miss Air, Melanie Mader of Austria (right).

Manilatimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia

PH inflation stays at 6.7 percent in Oct, still at 9-year high — PSA

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO Manilatimes.net

PHILIPPINE headline inflation rate was steady at 6.7 percent in October, unchanged from September but still at a nine-year ernment in maintaining cleanlihigh, the Philippine Statistics ness on the island.

The Boracay interagency task Authority (PSA) reported on force earlier said it would limit Tuesday, November 6. the number of tourists to 19,215 per day, based on the carrying capacity recommendation of the DENR.

by KRISTINE JOY PATAG According to the carrying caPhilstar.com pacity study, the island and its swimming areas can only support 55,757 people per day, inMANILA — There is a “reign cluding 36,542 residents and of fear” for lawbreakers in the workers, and 19,215 tourists.

Philippines but no tyranny as Interior and Local Govern- Australian missionary Sister Pament officer-in-charge Eduardo tricia Fox claims, presidential Año earlier said the task force spokesperson Salvador Panelo was studying the possibility of said. closing Boracay for one month Panelo, in a press briefing, every year to allow the island to said that Fox, whom Immigration heal itself. ordered to leave the Philippines Barge sinks off Boracay last weekend, might be referring A barge loaded with sand sank to a “reign of fear” on law violaPAGE A6 tors, and not a “reign of terror,

The October inflation fell within the 6.2-7.0-percent forecast range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

It, however, exceeded the 6.5 percent estimate of the Department of Finance (DoF) and matched the 6.7 percent average forecast of economists polled by The Manila Times.

“Mixed movements in the annual growths were posted among the commodity groups,” national statistician Lisa Grace Bersales said in a news briefing.

For the year to date, inflation remained above the Bangko Sentral’s 2.0-4.0 percent target for 2018, at 5.1 percent. ■

Palace: No tyranny, just ‘reign of fear’ for lawbreakers tyranny” in the country when she was interviewed upon her arrival in Australia.

After a legal battle with the Immigration bureau that lasted for months, the elderly nun left for Australia on Saturday night after the Bureau of Immigration threw out her plea to extend her temporary visitor’s visa.

Fox was greeted in Australia by Filipino supporters and by media agencies. In a video posted by Advanced League of People’s Artists Melbourne, Fox said: “At present, the Philippines, the human rights abuses are just

increasing and it’s a reign of terror. Of tyranny.”

But Panelo said: “Perhaps what she refers to is a reign of fear on part of those who violate the law. They know for a fact that there is a reign of strict enforcement of the law against violators of the law, there is a reign of fear on the minds of hearts of those violators because they know that the law is running after them.”

The presidential spokesman stressed that Fox was a violator of the laws. “That’s precisely why she departed from this country.”

PAGE A6

A

NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Manila mulls protest vs China

by Catherine

S. Valente Manilatimes.net

THE Philippines is considering taking diplomatic action against China over reports that Beijing had started operating weather monitoring stations on its artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Malacañang said on Monday, November 5.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would take the necessary action once the report was confirmed.

“Certainly, the DFA will do its work and make the necessary diplomatic protest,” Panelo told reporters.

“Again, these are news reports. We have not validated it.

But if they are validated, I’m sure the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Teodoro Locsin Jr.) will do his job,” he added.

On November 1, Hong Kongbased South China Morning Post

PAROL MAKER. A hard-working grandmother makes more “parol” to meet orders and earn extra income for the coming Christmas season at the Plaza Quezon in Las Piñas City on Sunday, November 4.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

published a report titled “Beijing opens weather stations on artificial islands in South China Sea.” The report quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang confirming that Beijing had started operating a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on the Spratly Islands.

China had conducted land reclamation projects on several reefs in the resource-rich sea. Military and civilian facilities were built on its artificial islands including airports, docks for large ships, solar power stations, water desalination plants, and hospitals among others.

Panelo, however, downplayed the effect of Chinese activities in the disputed sea even after an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China.

“It can never be too late when you protest on a particular thing,

especially when the award is yours,” Panelo said, as he defended anew president Rodrigo Duterte’s soft stance on China’s reclamation projects.

“We’ll have to leave it to the President’s judgment on when and where the perfect time would be made. He has six years to do it,” he added.

Since assuming the presidency, Duterte has sought to downplay Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing in exchange for improved ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

Duterte has also refused to flaunt the Philippines’ victory against China in 2016 when a United Nations-backed tribunal invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims to disputed waters.

The president said he would bring up the arbitration ruling at the proper time.

Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling, insisting that it has “indisputable sovereignty” over 90 percent of the waters. n

Boracay rehab to continue — DENR

PAGE A5 as it was sailing toward Boracay yesterday morning.

The LCT Bato Twin had just left Sambiray Port in mainland Caticlan town when it figured in an accident at past 9 a.m., according to Lt. Cmdr. Joe Luviz Mercurio of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Aklan station.

A speed boat and two inflat-

able boats were deployed to rescue the barge’s 12 crewmembers.

Mercurio said a squall hit the barge, causing it to take in sea water.

“The sand quickly absorbed the water until it became too heavy for the barge,” he said.

Mercurio said a team of divers was deployed in the area to

check any oil spill.

Meanwhile, 11 persons including four children were rescued from a yacht that developed engine trouble in the waters off Subic at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

The passengers of M/Y Fusion were taken to the Subic Port by a responding team of the PCG and crewmembers of a tugboat.n

Palace: No tyranny, just ‘reign of fear’...

PAGE A5 Duterte ordered probe vs Fox Fox was in the country for 27 years, helping land reform advocates, labor groups, indigenous peoples and people behind bars.

Last April, agents of the Bureau of Immigration detained her for nearly 24 hours over an intelligence report that she had violated an Immigration order banning foreigners from engagement in partisan activities and political assemblies.

Duterte later admitted to ordering the investigation into Fox for “disorderly conduct.”

“It is not the military who arrested the nun. It was upon my orders implemented by the Bureau of Immigration,” the chief executive said in a speech last April 18.

He would vent his ire against

the elderly nun in several of his later speeches, accusing Fox of having a “shameful mouth” and of treating the Philippines like a “mattress to wipe your feet.”

Fact-finding mission, meetings with farmers Fox apparently earned the ire of Duterte by taking part in a factfinding mission in April to probe reported rights abuses committed by state forces against farmers in Mindanao, parts of which are affected by a decades-long communist insurgency.

She also reportedly met with farmers in Duterte’s hometown of Davao City after they were arrested on charges of possessing explosives.

Fox bought her deportation case to the Department of Justice, but it has yet to rule on her Petition for Review.

She also said that the culture

of impunity is getting worse in the country. She recounted: “Every day you hear, ‘I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you.’” These have been mimicked even by kids, the Australian nun who spent decades going around the Philippines for humanitarian work.

“There’s been a culture of impunity for a long time and it’s getting worse,” Fox added.

Fox testified against Duterte at the International Peoples’ Tribunal in Belgium last September.

The tribunal’s verdict finding Duterte guilty of rights violations is non-binding, but organizers said it would be forwarded to the International Criminal Court.

The Philippines is leaving the ICC after its prosecutor opened a preliminary examination into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the government’s capaign against drugs.n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018

Business news

A

Economists see faster growth in Q3

Inquirer.net file photo

by Ben

O. de Vera

Inquirer.net

THE economy likely grew at a faster pace in the third quarter as robust government expenditures on public goods and services, especially infrastructure, offset the impact of higher prices on consumer spending.

Seven economists polled by the Inquirer last week projected the gross domestic product (GDP) to have grown by more than 6.1 percent during the July-to-September period, faster than the three-year low 6-percent expansion posted in the second quarter.

Economic managers had blamed the slower-than-expected second-quarter growth rate to high inflation as well as the implementation of a number of environmental policies that affected the agriculture and services sectors, including the sixmonth closure and rehabilitation of top tourist destination Boracay Island.

The government will announce the third-quarter GDP performance on Thursday, November 8.

But Bank of the Philippine Islands vice president and chief economist Emilio Neri Jr.’s forecast was only 5.9 percent yearon-year growth during the third quarter as “net exports will continue to be a drag owing to elevated oil prices and the surge in capital goods just as merchandise exports remain soft.”

“Slowing agricultural output and decelerating electricity sales

also indicate sustained softness in third-quarter production. Thus, despite sustained strength in government and private sector capital outlays providing a boost for construction and the trading sectors in the third quarter, weaker demand for nonfood and nonfuel consumer items likely remained a damper on overall spending during the quarter, more so that the dollar value of cash remittances continue to slow down,” Neri said.

The highest forecast, meanwhile, was 6.7 percent by Land Bank of the Philippines market economist Guian Angelo Dumalagan, citing “faster gains in most spending components.”

“Government spending picked up, along with investment spending, supported by the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the government. The recovery in exports also contributed to faster growth.

While consumption spending improved, its rate of increase was tempered by the surge in consumer prices, which weighed down on households’ purchasing power. On the production side, the services and industry sectors remained as growth drivers, offsetting the downward pull coming from the agricultural sector,” Dumalagan explained.

Oxford Economics senior economist Beatrice Tanjangco projected 6.5-percent growth in the third quarter as rising inflation should still weigh on private consumption and overall domestic demand, but the ongoing government infrastructure drive

Foreign investments seen to hit new high

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is bullish that FDI inflow to the Philippines will continue to sustain its growth and surpass the record achieved last year.

Philstar.com file photo

by Mary

Grace Philstar.com

Padin

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) sees foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Philippines reaching another record high this year, exceeding the $10 billion recorded in 2017.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is bullish that FDI inflow to the Philippines will continue to sustain its growth and surpass the record achieved last year.

“This year, year-to-date, we’re already up by 52 percent.

So we’re optimistic that our FDI will be much higher this year,” Diokno said in a press briefing.

Diokno highlighted the FDI growth in the Philippines during his recent visit to Geneva, Switzerland for the 2018 World Investment Forum.

“They were surprised that while global FDI is declining, ours has increased. Average FDI during the time of Aquino was $4.5 billion. Last year it was $10 billion,” he said.

Net inflow of FDIs hit a record high of $10.05 billion in 2017 on the back of positive investor sentiment amid the country’s sound macroeconomic prospects, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

This was 21.4 percent higher than the $8.28 billion recorded in 2016.

Data showed that FDI-to-gross domestic product ratio has also doubled to 3.2 percent in 2017 from 1.6 percent in 2005.

From January to July this year, FDI inflows jumped 52.1 percent to $6.67 billion from $4.38 billion in the same period last year.

For the month of July, alone, inflows surged 165.5 percent to $914 million from the $344 million recorded the same month in 2017.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez earlier said the reforms implemented by the Duterte administration have deepened investor confidence, as reflected by the rise in foreign investments.

The finance chief said investments have fueled the country’s economy, which grew by six percent in the second quarter of the year.

For 2018, economic managers have adjusted the country’s economic growth target to a range of 6.5 to 6.9 percent, lower than the previous goal of seven to eight percent amid headwinds in both the global and domestic landscape.

Despite this, Dominguez remains confident the Philippine economy is strong and resilient enough to overcome these difficulties, especially with measures in place to ensure sustained economic expansion.n

should provide some support, with faster public sector investment and a pickup in government consumption.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s Michael Ricafort sees third-quarter GDP growth within the range of 6.3-6.5 percent, partly with election-related spending kicking in ahead of the midterm elections in May next year.

ING senior economist Nicholas

NEW DIALSYSIS MACHINE. Senator Richard Gordon (3rd from left) chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) shows to the media a dialysis machines during the inauguration of the Dialysis Center at the PRC Head Office in Port Area, Manila on Tuesday, November 6. Also in the photo are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (2nd from left), Japanse Ambassador Mr. Koji Haneda (right), and Dr. Takao Suzuki (2nd from right), the donor of the 14 dialysis machines.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Antonio Mapa’s forecast was 6.3 percent, but cautioned that “we may have to see the other sectors of the economy ‘step up to the plate’ with consumption seen to take a backseat with households bearing the double whammy of accelerating inflation and elevated borrowing costs after Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hiked [interest rates by] 150 basis points in only a matter of months.”

Moody’s Analytics economist Katrina Ell said her projection of 6.3-percent third-quarter expansion reflected drag from slower manufacturing, although partially absorbed by the “still upbeat” performance of investments as well as exports.

For Ateneo de Manila University economics professor Alvin Ang, the economy likely grew 6.1 percent during the July-to-Sep-

tember period, “as consumption slowed down and the government cannot fully fill up the slack.”

“Also, the storms that passed us have further weakened agricultural output,” Ang added.

As for Maybank Investment Bank group chief economist Suhaimi Bin Ilias, GDP growth for the entire second half would likely average 6.3 percent, the same as in the first semester.n

A8

NOVEMBER 9-15, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Unsustainable

FEATURES

DESPITE appeals from environment groups, truckloads of trash were collected from the different cemeteries in Metro Manila as the holidays for remembering the dead ended on Friday, November 2. Garbage, however, litters the National Capital Region even on ordinary days, clogging drainage, aggravating flooding, and providing breeding grounds for disease-causing mosquitoes and vermin.

The piles of garbage are just among the indicators of the unsustainable state of Metro Manila. In the 2018 Sustainable Cities Index, which is drawn up by Arcadis NV, an Amsterdam-based global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, Manila ranked 95th out of 100 mega cities worldwide, and 21st out of 23 Asian cities included in the list.

The latest index, released this week, ranked cities based on three factors: people, which includes quality of life and social sustainability; planet, which covers pollution and sanitation; and profit, which is measured in terms of productivity based on economic growth, innovation and infrastructure. The Philippines ranked 93rd in the people sub-index, 91st in the planet and 98th in the profit pillar.

London was ranked as the world’s most sustainable city. Swedish capital Stockholm followed; Scotland’s capital Edinburgh came in third. In

Asia, city-state Singapore was rated the most sustainable. It also placed fourth globally, ahead of Austrian capital Vienna. Hong Kong and Seoul also ranked high among Asian cities.

The Arcadis report, however, categorized Manila as one of the “evolutionary cities” where there are “opportunities” for improving sustainability.

These are cities that change rapidly as new circumstances arise, according to the report.

Although Metro Manila remains mired in urban blight, there have been positive developments recently, such as the rehabilitation of the Pasig River — a successful program that has received international recognition. Energy and water efficiency together with other sustainable elements are being designed into new property developments. Manila may rank low in the sustainability index, but there is hope for dramatic improvements. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS NOVEMBER 6, 2018 will be recorded in political history as the day of the most consequential midterm elections of our time.

As of press time, we now know that a record number of Americans voted in the polls, sent in, and dropped off their ballots ahead of time, to make their voices heard two years since President Donald Trump took office.

As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” reported, the stakes couldn’t be higher, with 35 Senate seats, 435 House seats, and 36 gubernatorial seats up for grabs.

This election will also determine if the Republican Party will keep the majority in the Senate and the House of the Legislative branch of the U.S. government, especially after the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as Justice of the Supreme Court, tilting the balance of power leaning conservative.

A majority of Americans say America is headed in the wrong direction and voted for Democrats to win back the House The winner of the gubernatorial races will have consequences in future elections, especially the redistricting of states.

All these have a lot to do with the concern about the balance of power and the need for the checks and balance to function as it should as mandated by the Constitution to protect the integrity of our democracy.

Democrats needed to win 23 seats to win back the majority in the House. The U.S. Senate has 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. To win back the Senate majority, all incumbent Senate Democrats needed to win and flip two more. Republicans also had control of most governorships all over the nation, holding 33 to the Democrats’ 16 seats.

NEWSFLASH: Democrats took back the majority in the House of Representatives, winning even in districts won by Trump in 2016.

As expected, Republicans kept the leadership in the Senate, even

Opinion

YEN MAKABENTA IT startled me to read in the papers some weeks back that the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) had called for resignation of the Secretary of Finance, Carlos Dominguez, because of his alleged silence on the scandal and controversy wracking the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

It was an astonishing display of effrontery by an office that we normally do not hear about very much, and was created by executive order only a year ago. And the missile was directed against a Cabinet official who is nominally the second most important member of the president’s Cabinet.

For perfectly good reason, the Palace simply brushed aside the resignation call. And no further mention of the matter would probably have been made — but for my present curiosity about the matter.

I want to use this incident to write a few words about the President’s Cabinet, its role, and the relative ranking of its members.

This matters now because the President is currently on a hiring spree, and he means to hire re-

Philstar.com photo

expanding the majority by adding two more states in their column.

Ahead of the midterm elections, RealClearPolitics released findings that may indicate how the election may change the political landscape in America.

RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling aggregator that looks into the results from major polls of all political colors — conservative, liberal, centrist, etc.

For the period October 14 to November 3, 2018, just within a little more than two weeks before the November 6 Midterm Elections, RealClearPolitics reported that a majority of Americans — 54.3 percent — feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only 39.5 percent believe the United States is going in the right direction.

President Donald Trump’s closing message in his campaign trail: a vote a Republican is a vote for Trump. Contrary to requests of the Republican Party leaders,

including House Speaker Paul Ryan, for Trump to focus on the economic gains in the past two years under Republican control, Trump chose immigration as his closing argument because he said “it works” to push Republicans to vote.

Trump has been criticized for fabricating a border crisis, painting a picture of “invasion” of America by more than 3,500 asylum seekers from Central America — men, women, children — walking through Mexico to try the legal recourse of applying for asylum in the United States to flee from violence and hunger in their countries.

Trump sent 15,000 active duty troops to the border, a move responded to by military officials with obedience to the commander-in-chief even though they expressed there is no imminent border crisis and that the U.S. military would not have anything to do anything with asylum seek-

ers at the border.

The president also doubled down in the use of scare tactics and vilification of asylum seekers saying they are criminals, drug peddlers, gang members, and are infiltrated with terrorist Middle Eastern without offering solid proof. He is using the same scare and hate tactics that catapulted him to the presidency in 2016, blaming the Democrats and the free press alongside the asylum seekers and immigrants.

On the other hand, the Democrats’ closing argument focused on delivering health care coverage, protecting those with a preexisting condition — issue #1 for voters which has been the subject of the GOP’s obsession to repeal in almost 10 years.

The Democrats also campaigned on repealing the permanent tax breaks Trump and his Republican cohorts have given to the richest of the rich Americans and Corporations, give more tax

breaks to the middle class, and protect social services including education, Social Security and Medicare.

They also vowed to fight for higher wages, and better benefits for all workers; protections for consumers and the environment; equality for all, ending discrimination against people regardless of their race, gender, who they choose to love, and continued to campaign on passing a comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen America.

DID YOU VOTE? We know now that Trump does not control both chambers of Congress. How will this help steer the country in the right direction?. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

The role of the Cabinet and who matters there

tired military officers to positions in the Cabinet, all if he can.

There is word that another general will soon become the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). And there is also talk that Sen. Gregorio Honasan will be named secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), because he will soon be termed out of the Senate.

The President also has a penchant of giving freely cabinet rank to some of his new appointees.

Role of the Cabinet The fact of the matter is that Cabinet members are not all alike. Some are more equal than the others.

The Constitution places executive authority in the President alone.

The Cabinet is not formally recognized by the Charter.

There is only passing mention that the vice president may be appointed as a member of the Cabinet. Then follows a section on presidential appointments to the executive branch of the government.

The Cabinet has no constitutional identity as a collective decision-making body.

The notion of collective leadership — which is typically

found among Cabinet members in parliamentary systems — is incompatible with constitutional reality in a presidential system.

The president is not first among equals; he is the person in charge.

Cabinet members are presidential appointees, serving at the president’s pleasure.

The president is not obliged to consult them as a group or act according to their preferences.

Cabinet’s political significance This is not to say that the Cabinet has no political significance.

Cabinet members are the principal spokespersons for administration policy. They are also the top political executives expected to provide direction for the fulfillment of the government’s commitments.

There is a hierarchy of importance in the Cabinet. The secretary of foreign affairs is the highest-ranking member of the presidential Cabinet. He is also fourth in the line of succession to the presidency behind the vice president, the speaker of the House and Senate president.

After the foreign affairs secretary, the secretary of finance comes next in the line. Then comes the secretary of defense.

Irony of resignation call The resignation call of the

PACC, because of its extravagance and lack of substance, had the effect of focusing public attention on the importance of Dominguez’s work in the Duterte administration.

The so-called watchdog group that made the call did not present a persuasive case for Secretary Dominguez’s departure, be it in terms of 1) his direct or 2) command responsibility for the mess at Customs and the inexcusable entry through the bureau of billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs.

The watchdog’s main criticism of Dominguez is that he chose to be silent about the troubling developments at Customs, and has offered no ideas on how the problematic situation can be resolved.

Wait a minute. There seems to be a sensible reason for the secretary’s reticence, because the President has already taken a direct hand in addressing the Customs mess, and he has even gone as far as ordering the military to take over the bureau and effect a system-wide cleanup.

There is room for argument on whether a military takeover is the correct solution to the problem. Indeed, I foresee litigation at the Supreme Court on whether the President’s move is constitutional or within his au-

thority as head of the Executive branch.

National attention is better focused now on solutions that will truly avail and lead directly to the process of building a better and more responsible customs bureaucracy.

It makes no sense for the nation to be distracted now by a debate over the merits or demerits of Secretary Dominguez’s stewardship of the Finance department.

The public and the media should rather take guidance from certain supervening realities about our economic and fiscal situation today, such as: 1. The country is enjoying today a hard-earned record for exemplary economic performance, including the highest or second-highest GDP growth in Asia. And this is due in no small part to steady and effective performance by our Finance department.

2. The Bureau of Customs is the second biggest and most important revenue–generating arm of the government, second only to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). It has recently been recording higher revenue collections that are vital for the government’s fiscal position.

3. The Finance department under Dominguez is spearhead-

ing the passage of a highly important and consequential tax reform package through the Congress. The nation needs him to be in place as one of the principal architects of this reform measure.

4. Finally, the administration of President Duterte has launched the most ambitious infrastructure modernization program ever attempted in the country, which will literally require billions, if not trillions, of dollars to finance. The program is so far-reaching the Philippines will be a new and supermodern country by the time it is completed. This will surely not happen without a competent and effective finance secretary, who enjoys the confidence and trust of international financial institutions and lenders.

Marcos and his Finance secretary It is striking that during the time of President Marcos, he accorded the highest importance to his Finance secretary, Cesar Virata. Indeed, when we switched to parliamentary government under the 1973 Constitution, he chose Virata as his prime minister and virtual successor.

That may have set off the epic conspiracies and dissensions that eventually toppled his presidency. (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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SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

Friday, November 9, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

2nd Annual Cinematogrofo Film Festival 2018 Breaking barriers through film and story telling

by AJPress with interviews by

AFTER a successful first year, ABS-CBN’s Cinematogrofo Film Festival is back to continue to showcase emerging film talents from around the world from November 8-11 at the AMC Kabuki 8 in San Francisco’s Japantown. On its second year, the festival’s theme is “Breaking Down Walls,” which refers not only to divisions along global political lines but also aims to empower storytellers in breaking through barriers in film and story whether in terms of subject matter, representation and cultural limitations.

“We’re sophomores this year and we’re kind of like in a transition,” said Executive Director John D Lazatin during the festival’s press conference.

“Cinematogrofo is a vision of our company to put people on the world stage, originally, it was to put Filipino-Americans on the world stage. “ Cinematogrofo Festival and Exhibitions Director Miguel Sevilla also shared that through film they have made the connection with issues between the Philippines and other countries, such as the

MoMAr G. visAyA

LGBT community, the plight of migrant workers and historical perspectives.

“We have paired these films together in a sort of dialogue or conversation. What we want to do is to be the bridge that connects different cultures that share the same issues and concerns and that is the idea behind the programming this year,” Sevilla explained.

“We will also introduce a new batch of Cinematogrofo originals, we have brand new talent discoveries who are really skilled and talented and this is part of the reason why we do the originals initiative because we want to discover filmmaking talent and support them all the way.”

Sevilla talked about the highlights if the upcoming festival, including its muchanticipated opening night film, “Signal Rock,” the official entry of the Philippines for the Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

“It is a beautiful film, it is smaller in scale than our opening night film last year (“Ang

Fil-Am actor Dante Basco in a scene from “The Debut.” The film, which is celebrating its 18th year, is the centerpiece feature of this year’s Cinematogrofo Film Festival.

Yeo Siew Hua, director of “A Land Imagined.” The Singaporean film examines the plight of migrant workers in a foreign land.

Larawan”) but this has the grand emotional sweep of any epic that you would likely see this year,” Sevilla said.

For the centerpiece presentation this year, all eyes will be on “The Debut,” which will mark its 18th anniversary screening. Released in 2000, is the first known FilipinoAmerican feature drama produced in the United States.

For closing night, Cinematogrofo is breaking down its programming walls and staying true to its theme by expanding its reach beyond the borders of the Philippines and the U.S. As such, the festival will close with the film “A Land Imagined,” winner of the top prize at the 2018 Locarno International Film Festival. The Singaporean drama, examines the plight of migrant workers in a foreign land.

Apart from the opening and closing night, and centerpiece feature films, the festival has a diverse lineup of films, as well as a tribute to Los Angeles-based media arts organization Visual Communications (for its significant, lasting contribution to Fil-Am and Filipino culture and communities), plus panels and conversations, and forum discussions.

The festival will also have the Completed Films Special Programming, presenting three feature films that were developed and co-produced through the inaugural initiative of Cinematogrofo Originals.

These films are “Bitter Melon”

by HP Mendoza, “Mirador” (sneak preview) by Loy Arcenas and “The Trade” (sneak preview) by Francis dela Torre.

About Cinematografo The festival is named after ‘Cinematografo’ — the first movie theater in the Philippines that opened in August of 1897. From this grand establishment was born a rich heritage of celebrating films and the venue introduced Filipinos to the custom of going to the movies. The new film festival in San Francisco aims to continue this tradition wherever Filipinos may be, and intends to draw in a wider audience of Asian American and independent cinephiles and movie lovers across the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally.

For a complete list of films and screening schedules, and/or tickets, please visit https://cinematografofilmfestival. com.

The opening night film, “Signal Rock,” is also the official entry of the Philippines for the Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

A scene from “Bitter Melon” by director HP Mendoza.

Photos from Larsen Associates

“Call Her Ganda,” one of the documentaries included in the festival, is a film about Filipina trans-woman Jennifer Laude who was brutally murdered by a U.S. Marine.

A scene from “Mirador” by director Loy Arcenas.

What’s stopping Zanjoe and Maja from Benjamin Alves brushes off excitement on Quezon role taking friendship to the next level

by Dolly Anne CArvAJAl

by MJ MArfori

Inquirer.net

ManilaTimes.net

SOMETIMES, friendship is better than love. Lovers come and go, but friends remain. So, it’s quite tricky to fall for a best friend. Romance could ruin the friendship when Cupid plays tricks on a couple.

Maja Salvador and Zanjoe Marudo’s movie, “To Love Some Buddy,” tackles what it’s like when two friends get the urge to merge.

They make quite an interesting onscreen pair since Zanjoe’s ex (Bea Alonzo) and Maja’s ex (Gerald Anderson) are officially a couple.

Is crossing the demarcation line between friendship and love worth the risk? Or is it better to stay friends to avoid complications that intimacy brings? Platonic or erotic?

Let the story of Julius (Zanjoe) and Faith (Maja) help your heart decide.

Here’s my chat with Zanjoe: Would you fall for a best friend? Never say never. I would rather not preempt the situation. It would be nice and exciting, though.

What makes a girl best friend material and wife material?

Best friend: Supports you in everything you want to do, even if it’s stupid.

Wife: You will just feel it

BENJAMIN Alves is slated for bigger things to come for his career but he does not want to get too excited about it.

After blockbusters “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” he is set to headline the trilogy finale as former President Manuel L. Quezon which he already played in the previous film.

Although that is already set in stone as far as the production is concerned, Benjamin does not want to keep his hopes up.

“I don’t want to get too excited because three years namin binuo itong Goyo, and we want to enjoy this first, but yes, that is in the horizon… in time,” he told Manila Times.

The archives of information and encounters of people with Manuel Quezon is far richer in depth compared to the first two instalments of the hero trilogy. As early as now, Benjamin is already doing his homework.

“Inaral ko na talaga. I want to imbibe his character. Marami na rin ako nakausap and what is good is that totoong tao namin ipapakita si Manuel Quezon. The good and the bad. The reality of how he was,” he revealed.

“May vision na si Jerrold

Zanjoe Marudo and Maja Salavador

when she’s the one you want to spend forever with. No basis.

What’s stopping you and Maja from taking your friendship to the next level?

Maja and I are just starting to build a beautiful friendship.

It’s too early to be thinking of romance. We will just let nature take its course.

What do you find hard to understand about women?

Mood swings. But, what the heck, men still go crazy for women.

Would you take an ex back? Haven’t done it. Maybe or maybe not. It will depend on a lot of factors like why we broke up and our willingness to

Photo from Instagram/@iammajasalvador

correct our past mistakes.

Are you open to the idea of working with your ex, Bea, and her boyfriend, Gerald? I’m fine with it. As long as the story is good and the role I will portray is one that I can give justice to.

What will it take for a girl to pin you down? She must be smart, fun to be with and [be able to] cook well.

If your life story would be made into a movie, what would the title be? “World War Z” As a post-All Souls’ Day question, whose death impacted you the most? Fernando Poe Jr. and Marlon Brando.

I have always wanted to meet them.

Benjamin Alves

and the TBA production about Manuel Quezon. I’m excited for what they have in store but again, all I can do as an actor is prepare for reading materi-

GMA photo

als and fight the good fight via Manuel Quezon,” Alves added.

We are all looking forward to it! Until next week! Ta-ta!

Your Immigration Solution ATTY. BEN LOVEMAN PRESIDENT Trump announced that his administration is preparing an executive order to end birthright citizenship.

This announcement was met with outrage and skepticism from his critics, who argue that the move would be both unconstitutional and un-American. Critics also suggest that the announcement is another example of President Trump trying to motivate Republican voters ahead of next week’s crucial midterm elections.

In support of the announcement, President Trump claimed that “we’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years, with all of those benefits.” In fact, at least 30 other countries, including Canada and Mexico, have birthright citizenship. Despite near consensus on the illegality of unilaterally ending birthright citizenship, Vice-President Mike Pence said that the Constitution is not clear on the issue and that the language of the Constitution leaves open the possibility that only persons born in the U.S. to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents should automatically become citizens.

At issue with the proposed policy is the language of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The language has long been universally interpreted to mean that any person born in the U.S. is automatically a U.S. citizen.

Any proposed executive action would apparently seek to undermine the amendment process by offering a different interpretation of the words of the 14th Amendment so as to not require any change to the Constitution. The Constitution is not subject to revision or reversal through executive action, instead requiring a 2/3rd majority vote in both houses

Kisses Delavin and Donny Pangilinan

President Trump proposes ending birthright citizenship

of Congress and then ratified by 3/4th of state legislatures.

However, some supporters of this proposed change argue that the language of current Amendment should be read as including only children of lawful residents or U.S citizens, though they do not cite any authority for this position.

Human Rights advocates argue that eliminating birthright citizenship would create a permanent sub-class of children born in the United States. The executive director of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Kristen Clarke, roundly criticized the proposal stating, “The letter and spirit of the Fourteenth Amendment places those born in this country on equal footing, and an executive order that strips away citizenship would create a permanent group of second-class citizens and invite litigation.”

Many legal experts suggest that it is unlikely that President Trump’s proposal could be successfully carried out, despite his party controlling both Houses of Congress and being in control of the U.S Supreme Court. However, recent events, including the election of President Trump, have shown that almost anything is possible and that the President’s proposal cannot simply be ignored.

In the end, the proposal to end birthright citizenship my never actually be implemented.

Perhaps, as some political pundits have suggested, this really is just a way to increase voter turnout for the Republican party in a midterm election where Republican control of Congress is at jeopardy. While the legality and seriousness of the proposal is in question, it should serve as a reminder to everyone that we need to make our voices heard through the upcoming election.

For non-U.S. citizens, who are obviously not eligible to vote next week, it is a reminder of the importance of U.S. citizenship. While your election efforts in 2018 may be limited to helping friends or family get to the polls or encouraging them to vote, it is also impor-

ABS-CBN photo

DonKiss on doing ‘Meteor Garden’

by JAN MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA love team DonKiss, composed of Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin, would be delighted to portray the roles of Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai if ABS-CBN should be the one to do a local version of “Meteor Garden.”

In separate interviews with Philstar.com, the “Playhouse” stars said they are ready to take part, if there will be an opportunity, in the “Asianovela” series.

“I would love to be Shan Cai kasi stable na ‘yan e. ‘Pag Shan Cai alam mong palaban na babae, cute, so I’m such a fan even though I haven’t seen the whole ‘Meteor Garden’,” Kisses said.

“I think na if ever I play the role, I would really give my best kasi it’s such a great role. Everybody in the industry, I think, wants that role,” she

added.

She also said that her onscreen partner, Donny, is fit to do the role of the young millionaire bad boy Dao Ming Si. “Yes, I think bagay kay Donny ‘yung Dao Ming Si na role,” she said.

Kisses is also wondering if the “Meteor Garden” characters would still retain their Chinese names in the Filipino version.

For his part, Donny said he is willing to portray the role if the offer comes.

“Wow. Hindi ko pa po alam e. Siguro ‘pag dumating na ‘yung offer,” he said.

Although not a fan of “Meteor Garden,” Donny said Kisses is fit for the role of Shan Cai: “Kahit sino kaya ni Kisses yan!” he assured.

According to an online poll

by Philstar.com, Donny and Kisses are among netizens’ top choices to star in the Filipino version of “Meteor Garden.”

tant to seriously consider applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. If you have been a lawful permanent resident for the required number of years, have good moral character, etc., now is the time stop being a green card holder and start being a U.S. citizen.

The proposal to end birthright citizenship may not directly affect you, though it is likely to affect someone you know. Consult a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney today to discuss how and when this change may take effect, as well as the possibility of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

entertainment SF3 “The Islanders”: Film retraces Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

by EDMUND SILVESTRE Philstar.com

“1936: The Islanders in Berlin” will pay tribute to the Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth overall at the 11th Summer Olympics. Up to this day, it’s the highest finish of any Asian team in Olympic basketball history.

The little-known saga of the Philippine basketball team that endured historical injustice at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, is the subject of the Philippines’ first historical sports feature film which will start rolling anytime now.

Veteran sports anchor and writer Bill Velasco, who is the film’s co-producer and writer, said that the movie “1936: The Islanders in Berlin” will pay tribute to the Filipino hoopsters who placed fifth overall at the 11th Summer Olympics. “It is up to this day the highest finish of any Asian team in Olympic basketball history,” he stressed.

Award-winning indie filmmaker and writer Arlyn dela

Veteran sports anchor Bill Velasco is co-producer and writer of the upcoming movie.

Cruz-Bernal will direct and co-produce under her Blank Pages Productions.

The Filipino squad — called The Islanders from what was then known as the Philippine

Philstar.com photos

islands before it became a Republic — was the darling of the German media as well as adoring blonde girls, who sent them scented love letters Continued on Page SF8

SF

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

celebrity world

Filipina international beauty queens turn over their crowns

By Ferdie Villar FILIPINA actress and Miss Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita “Winwyn”Marquez turned over her crown to Venezuelan beauty Nariman Cristina Battikha during the pageant’s coronation night last Sunday, November 4, at Salon Siriono Fexpocruz in Bolivia.

Philippine representative Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez ended her run early in the competition, as she failed to make it to the top 10. However, she did made headlines for her Philippine flag-inspired gowns designed by Benj Laguiab IV. Marquez thanked all her supporters via social media saying, “w” The Philippines joined the pageant for the first time last year, making Marquez the first Filipina to win the title. Reina Hispanoamericana is an inter-

national pageant celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture.

Another Filipina international beauty queen who passed on her crown is Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco. This year’s titleholder is Miss Vietnam, Phuong Khanh Nguyen, who was crowned at the recently concluded pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Philippines’ representative Celeste Cortesi failed to bring home the Miss Earth crown, and settled at the top 8. The Filipino-Italian model bade her goodbye after failing to expound on the subject “#malnutrition” at the competition’s hashtag round.

“My perspective on malnutrition actually depends on my values and beliefs. I think that it’s about respect, and I think that respect is the key to serve

the purpose of our knowledge and humanity,” Cortesi said during the round.

Cortesi, however, won special awards, including “Beauty of Face and Poise,” “Beauty of Figure and Form,” and “Intelligence and Advocacy.” She also ranked fifth overall in prepageant activities, including a gold medal for resort wear; silver medals for swimsuit and evening gown; and a bronze medal for the National Costume competition.

The Philippines has not won a beauty pageant title yet this year.

Next to represent the Philippines will be Ahtisa Manalo at the Miss International 2018 pageant in Japan on November 9; Katarina Rodriguez at the 68th Miss World on December 8 in Sanya, China; and Catriona Gray at the 67th Miss Universe on December 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Miss Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez is shown in photo turning over the crown to this year’s queen, Nariman Cristina Battkha of Venezuela.

(Photo from Instagram @narybattikha)

Although Philippine representative to Miss Reina Hispanoamericana 2018 did not make it to the top 10, she made headlines for her Philippine flag-inspired gowns — like this one in photo — designed by Benj Leguiab IV. (Photo from Instagram @benjleguiab_iv)

Cebuana beauty Shaila Mae Rebortera was recently crowned as Miss Millennial This year’s Philippine representative to Miss Earth Celeste Cortesi failed to Philippines 2018, a pageant sponsored by “Eat! Bulaga” on GMA 7/Pinoy TV. take home the crown but managed to make it to the top 8.

(Photo from Facebook) (Photo from Instagram @celeste_cortesi)

Talented actress Kris Bernal is the lead star in the daily teleserye “Asawa Ko Karibal Ko.”

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco is shown in photo as she turned over her crown to this year’s winner, Miss Vietnam Phuong Khanh Nguyen.

(Photo from Instagram @phuongkhanhnguyen)

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA IT is November. And we are coming full circle. Again.

A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is.

Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, human life, its cycles and seasons, and ultimately, ourselves and perhaps, our place in all these.

From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge in every level —in both the intellectual and the physical realms— begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will and purpose, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle.

Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives.

Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of sunrise and sunset, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the

Actor Gardo Versoza portrayed the role of a building contractor in last weekend’s episode of Manny Pacquiao’s show, “Stories for the Soul” on GMA 7.

Circles, Cycles and the Seasons of our Lives “To everything – turn, turn, turn.

There is a season – turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven.”

-A song by The Byrds (based on the Book of Ecclesiastes)

quarter million year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows.

On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream from and to the heart are cyclical.

As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, DEATH. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and physical movement, which pumps the smooth circulation of blood flow down to the tiniest capillaries in our eyes and strengthens the muscles of the heart.

Nature moves in cycles.

While the earth’s atmospheric cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic or water cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic upsets and upends this delicate homeostatic-like balance.

In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life itself.

“Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle.

To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

And on that point, we are finding out Einstein is absolutely right. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http:// issuu.com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

California Service Center approves less than 7% of Humanitarian Revalidation requests Immigration Corner

AFTER 13 YEARS OF WAITING FOR THE FAMILY TO BE REUNITED, THE U.S. EMBASSY STILL DENIED THE RELEASE OF THEIR VISAS. MISERY AND REDEMPTION ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Tatay Lando (2nd from right) went to the U.S. to provide a better life for his family. After 13 years, the petition became current in 2016. However, when his son, Allan (left), and his grandson, Chean (2nd from right) went to the U.S. Embassy for their interview, some doubtful details came up in Allan’s paperwork that caused the Embassy to deny their visas. Father and son left the Embassy heartbroken and traumatized over the incident. Immediately, Tatay Lando sought the help of leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael Gurfinkel. Watch how hope was renewed, and a family was happily reunited after many, many years on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Health@Heart PhiliP S. chuA, MD, fAcS, fPcS A scary polio-like disease, which peaked every other year since 2014 and has stumped health officials all over the United States, is causing widespread concerns, especially among parents, in this country.

Here’s a report from the CDC: “U.S. health officials are investigating an outbreak of a mysterious, polio-like disease that causes weakness in one or more limbs. The rare disease — acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM — has sickened 62 people, mostly children, in 22 states so far this year and is suspected in 65 more cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced October 16, 2018.”

“Starting with an outbreak of 120 cases that brought the disease to national attention in 2014, close to 400 cases have been confirmed in the United States. So far, the CDC has been unable to figure out what’s causing the outbreaks. “This is a mystery,” Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National

I HAVE long suspected that with the way the California Service Center (CSC) adjudicates humanitarian revalidation requests, it is virtually impossible for any beneficiary in the Philippines to qualify. Little or no discretion is being exercised, and it seems the virus, poliovirus and non-polio Humanitarian Revalidation enteroviruses have led to sympadjudicators have forgotten toms that match those of AFM. the “humanitarian” portion However, testing has shown that of humanitarian revalidation. the U.S. cases since 2014 have They simply find ways to deny not been caused by poliovirus,” humanitarian revalidation reported the CDC. requests.

How was poliomyelitis In fact, I served a Freedom eradicated? of Information Act (FOIA) reThe first clinical description of quest, to find out what CSC’s Polio was made by British physidenial rate was. I requested: cian Michael Underwood in 1789.

• the total number of In 1840, Jacob Heine reported humanitarian revalidation’s his studies that showed the requests submitted to the CSC involvement of the spinal cord. since 2010 The first outbreak of polio in the • the total number of United States was in Vermont, in humanitarian revalidation 1894, with 132 cases. On March requests that were approved 26, 1953, Jonas Salk, an Amerisince 2010 can researcher, announced his • the total number of discovery of a vaccine against humanitarian revalidation rethe crippling disease polio. The quests that were denied since Salk vaccine was first used in 2010.

1955. Then came the oral polio I just recently received vaccine developed by Albert the CSC’s response, and the Sabin in 1961. By 1979, thanks results are shocking, but really to the vaccines, poliomyelitis has not surprising: been completely eliminated in A total of 10,755 humanithe United States. Polio is also tarian revalidation requests on the verge of being eradicated were submitted to CSC since worldwide, except in Northern 2010.

Nigeria and the border between A total of 720 humanitarAfghanistan and Pakistan. ian revalidation requests were What is the treatment for granted! That means less AFM? than 7% of the humanitarian Since the etiology (cause) has revalidation requests submitContinued on Page SF7 ted were granted.

Polio-like mystery

Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases in Atlanta, said during a news briefing. ‘We haven’t solved it yet’. Although the disease is frightening, fewer than one in a million people in the United States get AFM every year, based on CDC data collected since 2014.”

What is AFM? Acute flaccid myelitis is a disease that afflicts the spinal cord, causing weakness of the arm or leg and loss of muscle tone. There could also be headache, neck pain, difficulty in speaking, swallowing or breathing. Respiratory failure is also part of the symptom complex in some cases. Affected children often start having a fever and respiratory problem and suddenly have weakness or paralysis of their limbs. Ninety percent of the cases this year were 18 and younger. This can worsen so fast that it is prudent to seek medical care immediately.

What is the cause AFM? The U.S. CDC presently has no answer as to what is causing this rare mysterious polio-like entity. Between 2014 and 2016, the study on the 149 confirmed cases did not yield any causal agent. “Infections with viruses such as West Nile Virus, adeno-

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

A total of 7309 humanitarian revalidation requests were denied.

There are some discrepancies because not all I-130 petitions were properly updated in their system, and there may be duplicate receipts because some cases were converted from humanitarian revalidation to the survivor law, section 204 (l), where humanitarian revalidation is not required if the beneficiary was in the U.S. at the time of the petitioner’s death and remained or resided continuously in the U.S. The CSC concedes there are no regulations setting forth factors for eligibility, and they therefore robotically rely on seven factors listed in the Department of State’s (DOS) Foreign Affairs manual (FAM): (1) Disruption of an established family unit; (2) Beneficiary is elderly or in poor health; (3) Beneficiary has had lengthy residence in the United States; (4) Beneficiary has no home to go to; (5) Undue delay by DHS or consular officer in processing the petition or visa; (6) Hardship to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; and (7) Beneficiary has strong family ties in the United States.

In applying these supposed “eligibility” factors, virtually no Filipino in the Philippines could ever qualify for humanitarian revalidation, as at least 5 of these 7 factors would not even apply! For example, if the applicant is relatively young and healthy and living in the Philippines, they would not be elderly or sickly, there is technically no “disruption” of the family unit in the U.S., and they would obviously not

have “lengthy residence” in the U.S., but instead have a “home” to go to. Since it typically takes many years for the priority date on most petitions to become current, obviously there would be no “undue delay” by the USCIS. It appears that the CSC has set up and relied on Humanitarian Revalidation factors that are virtually impossible to meet or satisfy. If so, why even bother having these factors? Why not just simply flip a coin?

What makes this situation more frustrating is that if the beneficiary happened to be in the U.S. when the petitioner died, (even if TNT) then, under the “Survivor Law,” the petition is automatically revalidated, without anyone having to prove any of these unachievable factors. Thus, if a person came to the U.S. years ago as a visitor, overstayed his or her visa, worked without authorization, and otherwise violated the immigration laws, that person would be quickly and easily entitled to pursue his or her green card, despite the death of the petitioner. But, if they obeyed the laws, and patiently waited in the Philippines for their petitions, then they have to satisfy these seven factors, which are virtually impossible to satisfy.

In conclusion, the relief is called Humanitarian Revalidation and the goal is family reunification. The CSC needs to inject a little more humanity in adjudicating these requests. The goal should be to exercise discretion, and not to see how many form denials can be generated. A miserable 7% approval rate shows the CSC is really not exercising any discretion, but instead Continued on Page SF8

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entertainment

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

ROOTS and WAVES Art Exhibit and Music Soiree presented by JCI Makati October 27, 2018, Makati City, Metro Manila- FAMAS Awardee and former Queen of Visayan movies Gloria Sevilla and award-winning Actress/Director Suzette Ranillo graced the Art Exhibit and a Music Soiree’ presented by the JCI Makati, featuring budding artist Amihan T. Palabyab (20) and the original OPM music of Mic Manalo, Isagani Palabyab and Area Five. The OPM music was complemented by the soul-jazz fusion covers of Amihan Palabyab and Dino Robles. Earlier at around 10:30 am, Past National President of the Philippine Jaycee Senate, Sergie Valencia opened the exhibit, assisted

by JCI Makati Senator Albert

Alday, IPP Poch Gonzales, PE Kurt Soliman, Project Chairman Nick Satur, , JCI Mem. Marvin Salazar and JCI Mem. Elmar Nabisa. Amihan Palabyab presented thirty pieces of her art works, in both acrylic and water color which she produced over a period of 12 months while working at Cardinal Santos Medical Center as a licensed Radiological Technologist. “Working full-time as a RAD Tech at a major Metro Manila hospital does not give room for any mistakes. It is therefore stressful and sometimes toxic.

Painting became my outlet to release my stress because in art I could fully express myself, my emotions and there are lots of

room to make mistakes”, Amihan said in her speech before friends, family and other art and music lovers. Makati JCI Immediate Past President Pocholo Gonzalez welcomed the guests, while President elect Kurt Soliman congratulated Amihan and Past President and JCI Senator Gerry Palabyab for initiating the event. The event was chaired by JC Nick Satur and his team members, , JCI Mem. Marvin Salazar, JCI Mem. Owen Formento, and JCI Mem. Karlo Hain.. Red and white wine flowed courtesy of Bodegas, Vinos y Mas, while JC Joey Garcia, owner of Oishi Batchoi Restaurant sponsored the venue, nuts and chips./GPP

Opening of the Exhibit L-R. JC Nick Satur, Makati JCI Sen. Albert Alday, PE Kurt Soliman, Amihan Palabyab, Past JCI Senate National President Sergie Valencia, , JCI Mem. Marvin Salazar and JCI Mem. Elmar Nabisa.

Amihan t. Palabyab, the Artist.

FAMAS Awardee, Queen of Visayan Movies Gloria Sevilla, Oishi Batchoi Restaurant owner Joey Garcia and Actress/Director Suzette Ranillo at the Roots and Waves Art Exhibit and Music Soiree, Oct. 27, 2018.

L-R (Back row)- MJC Elmar Nabisa, Nick Satur, Lina Palabyab, Edmund Silvestre of Phil.

STAR, Suzette Ranillo, Special (Guest), JCI Senator Gerry Palabyab, JCI Mem. Marvin Salazar, JCI Mem. Owen Formento, JCI Mem. Karlo Hain.. Front row (Seated) – Amihan T. Palabyab, artist, Gloria Sevilla Guest of Honor.

JCI Makati Pres. Elect Kurt Soliman, Actress/Director Suzette Ranillo, Past Pres. Poch Gonzales and JCI Treasurer and restauratur Joey Garcia.

EMPLOYMENT

Some of the Art Pieces

EMPLOYMENT

The guest performers.

SERVICES

Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq.

A stepparent may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent – stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old. This means that the stepparent and the biological parent of the stepchild must get married before the child turns 18 years old.

If the petitioner can no longer file an immigrant petition for the stepchild because the child has turned 18 years old, the child can still be petitioned by the biological parent after she obtains his or her permanent residency status. The significance of having a U.S. citizen

stepparent file for a stepchild is so that they could avoid the visa backlogs for visa petitions filed by legal permanent residents for their minor children (2d preference category). But considering the current visa priority dates being processed under the 2d preference category, the stepchild may be able to immigrate sooner than later even if petitioned by a legal permanent resident biological parent.

If the biological parent is about to get married to the U.S. citizen petitioner and the biological parent has a child who is already over 18 years of age, it might be wise to consider postponing the marriage to give the child an opportunity to enter the United States faster.

Instead of marrying the biological parent, the U.S. citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent. Once the fiancé petition is approved, both the biological parent and child can be issued the corresponding K visas for them to enter the United States.

Upon marriage of the U.S. citizen to the biological parent,

both parent and child can file their respective applications for adjustment of status to have their status changed from K to permanent resident status.

The decision whether to file a fiancé petition or an immigrant petition is crucial especially if the child is aging out or turning 21 years of age. The decision to just get married instead of filing a fiancé petition could mean a long wait of at least eight years before the child can be able to immigrate to the United States and join the biological parent. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Manila. 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 (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; (916)449-3923 Dchua@ctvattys.com

PG&E senior vice president of Gas Operations.

Before the colder winter months when natural gas appliances typically see the most use, PG&E encourages customers to schedule an inspection by calling the customer helpline at 1-800-743-5000.

Helpful winter gas safety tips • Install carbon monoxide detectors to warn when concentration levels are high.

- All California single-family homes are required to have carbon monoxide detectors.

- Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor, near sleeping areas and common areas.

- Batteries should be replaced at least twice a year.

- Check the expiration date – most carbon monoxide detectors have a shelf life of five to seven years.

• Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills or propane heaters.

• Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes.

• When using the fireplace to stay warm, make sure the flue

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Polio-like mystery...

From Page SF5 not yet been determined, there is no cure for AFM at this time.

Management basically consists of treating the symptoms and physical or occupational therapy for limb weakness. A few patients who had AFM recovered for no clear reason, but most did not.

This illness, believed to be viral in nature, commonly occurs in the late summer and autumn. Investigations are ongoing to discover the cause of this dreaded illness, reminiscent of the polio epidemic of 1916, when it occurred each summer in various cities of the USA. The worst was in 1949, where 2,720 died, and 42,173 cases were also noted in UK and Canada. US-CDC recommends seeking medical consultation at the very first suspicious symptom/sign of AFM. *** Anti-Cancer: Exercise and Veggies Women who don’t smoke, and who eat vegetable-rich diet and exercise daily cut their cancer risk by 30 percent, reported the World Cancer research Fund International and the American Institute for Cancer Research.

The studies also recommend the following habits to prevent chronic diseases: abstinence from tobacco; moderation in alcohol intake, better yet abstinence; limiting red meat, fat and salt; not gaining more than 11 pounds after age 18; exercising daily; eating omega-3 rich fishes three times a week, and five or more portions of vegetables, nuts, and fruits daily. Eating salads loaded with meat or eggs or dressings with a lot of fats defeats the

purpose. Salad with olive oil and vinegar is preferred.

Veggies combined And talking about vegetables, a combination of broccoli and mushrooms have been found to have a more powerful cancer-fighting properties than when eaten alone. Studies suggest that certain nutrients, when combined, become more effective anti-cancer agents. Selenium (found in mushrooms, nuts, sunflower seeds) and Sulforaphane (broccoli, watercress and cabbage) are two such nutrients.

Ginger has two anti-cancer compounds in it: 6-gingerol and 6paradol. These substances help inhibit cell transformations that could lead to the formation of cancer. The higher concentration of these ingredients are found in fresh ginger. The fresher, the better.

Fasting is out, #NoRice is in Fasting is the wrong way to start, or even “punctuate,” your dieting schedule. Fasting has no place at all in controlling weight or quality of nutrition for our body. The temporary weight loss resulting from fasting is thru water loss (dehydration). The best way to maintain your weight is to burn the calories your take in daily (Example: If you take in 2000 calories, you should exercise off 2000 calories that day). It is a matter of intake and output, an obvious common sense approach. If one is overweight and wants to lose weight, then the calories burned should be higher than the calories ingested, until the goal is reached…and at that point, the maintenance intake and output formula should

prevail. Those who want to gain weight to reach the ideal weight, obviously, should have more intake than output of calories.

Minimizing rice, white or brown, or better yet eliminating rice from our diet, greatly helps, not only in weight control and reducing or preventing belly bulge, but in our general health, metabolic and cardiovascular.

Today, #NoRice is in.

Helping, religion, improve longevity A recent report of a 5-year study among older people revealed that those in the habit of praying and helping others, providing support, love and care to friends or family were 60 percent less likely to die, compared to “unhelpful” people. This includes running errands, assisting in house chores, childcare, etc. It suggests that having a purpose in life, having religion, and serving our fellowmen are healthy for the body, not only for the soul.

This, of course, is not limited to the older people only. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; comments questions: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

Celebrate Graton’s 5th year anniversary

GRATON Resort & Casino is the Bay Area’s first choice on gambling entertainment.

Graton Resort & Casino is inviting you, your relatives and friends to celebrate its 5th year anniversary and enjoy the moments of luck! Graton has prepared lots of activities allowing you to experience exciting casino games, gourmet food, entertainment shows, and ensuring that you are all satisfied at one time! Get your free Graton’s Collectible Anniversary Rewards Card starting November 1. More rewards are waiting for you!

Starting today until November 29, Graton invites you to participate in the Anniversary Slot Tournaments which will be held every Thursday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Up to $30,000 in prizes can be won at each tournament, with the top prize up to $10,000 cash. Total prize up to $150,000!

All reward members get one free entry into each tour(Advertising Supplement) nament. Premier, Platinum and Elite members win double the prize amount! Come to Graton to celebrate its 5th year anniversary – get a chance to win the prizes in the slot tournaments and experience the feeling of a winner! Don’t miss the chances! For more information related to this promotion, please visit GratonResortCasino.com or call (707) 588-7100. is open so venting can occur And, your feedback has safely through the chimney. been instrumental in Graton’s • Make sure water heaters commitment to offering the and other natural gas appliancvery best experiences to you. es have proper ventilation.

Graton Resort & Casino’s new • Visit www.pge.com/ non-smoking gaming area is en_US/safety/gas-safety/gassafety-tips.page for more winter now open! The 9,000-squarefeet non-smoking gaming heating safety and savings tips. area is located next to the If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, you should casino valet. It offers 300 slot machines and video poker. get out immediately and call Now, you can choose to enjoy 911. If a PG&E customer ever gaming in a non-smoking smells the distinctive “rotten environment at Graton Resort egg” odor of natural gas in or & Casino. around their home or business In addition to the exciting they should immediately call entertainment gaming, no mat911 and PG&E at 1-800-743ter if you want to have gour5000.

About PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/ newsroom/index.page.

With free annual gas safety checks, PG&E keeps customers safe and warm

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.

— With winter right around the corner, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is reminding customers to schedule a free in-home safety inspection of their gas appliances. During the visit, PG&E also will relight pilot lights.

Inspections by PG&E gas service representatives help ensure that gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces and ovens, are operating safely and efficiently. Properly installed and maintained natural gas appliances can significantly reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the Center for Disease Control, every year in the United States at least 430 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning and approximately 50,000 people will be sent to the hospital.

“Carbon monoxide can’t be seen, it can’t be smelled, and it can’t be heard. The best safeguard is to equip your home with carbon monoxide alarms on every level and in sleeping areas and have PG&E or a qualified expert examine all appliances to ensure they are able to safely receive natural gas service,” said Jesus Soto,

community

met food with your family, or gather with friends to watch a show, or enjoy a luxury spa treatment alone, Graton is always your best choice! It includes 200 elegant comfortable rooms and luxurious suites, glamorous lobby and luxurious spa, and more than 130 table games, including Blackjack, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker and more. It also offers 3000 slot machines, live poker, video poker and a large function space for different music concerts and special events. In the casino, there are delectable restaurants and bars, that offer different cuisines, such as twelve-time World Pizza Champion Chef Tony Gemignani’s Tony’s Of North Beach, Pan-Asian Eatery Boathouse, top-quality steakhouse 630 Park Steakhouse, classic American dishes from Daily Grill, and 500 seats

in the Marketplace, which offers casual and convenient eateries for your selection – you will have a happy and unforgettable experience.

About Graton Resort & Casino: Graton Resort & Casino is located in Rohnert Park, California, next to the Golf Course Drive exit of 101 freeway. It is accessible to easy transportation, has gourmet food, entertainment & accommodation all in one, and is the largest integrated resort in the Bay area. The casino is owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, managed

by Station Casinos LLC. For more information, please visit www.GratonResortCasino. com, www.facebook.com/ GratonCasino or www.twitter. com/PlayGraton (Advertising Supplement)

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

C

alendar of Events

across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 9

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

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

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

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Art exhibit inspired by Filipino food movement in Santa Ana, CA In “Super Sarap” — from November 3 to December 15 at Gallery 6/67 — three artists Mik Gaspay, Jeanne Jalandoni, and O.M. France Viana revisit commonplace objects and food within Filipino cooking. Through sculpture and photography, the artists elicit personal and collective memories and offer cultural connections that go beyond the Philippine diaspora.

The exhibition title, “Super Sarap,” fuses both English and Tagalog together, to hold multiple meanings. It can convey something that is extremely delicious, an expression of excitement and affirmation. Artists in “Super Sarap” play with these definitions and mutate symbols, making them both strange and familiar, challenging the expectations of cultural norms. It is guest curated by Patricia Cariño Valdez, an independent curator based in Oakland, CA. In addition to the exhibit, there will be two art and culinary events: an intimate four-course gourmet dinner prepared by acclaimed Orange County Chefs, Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar on November 15 and Chef Ryan Garlitos of Irenia Restaurant on December 9 combined with an exhibition walk-through. The opening reception for Super Sarap will be on Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery 6/67 is located at 404 West 4th St., Suite K (2nd floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery visits are by appointment. For more information about the exhibit and related events, visit https://www.gallery667.com.

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2nd annual Cinematografo International Film Festival in San Francisco The second annual Cinematografo International Film Festival will be held from November 8 to 11 in San Francisco. The Cinematografo International Film Festival is the premier event for Filipinos abroad to tell their stories and the platform to bring these films to the world stage. The festival is an annual celebration of film and culture, highlighted by Cinematografo Originals – a co-production initiative to help filmmakers realize their stories on the big screen.

On its second year, the festival’s theme is “Breaking Down Walls,” which refers not only to divisions along global political lines but also aims to empower storytellers in breaking through barriers in film and story whether in terms of subject matter, representation and cultural limitations. For more information, please visit https://cinematografofilmfestival.com/.

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PUPAA-USA Inc. to host dinner/dance and installation of officers in Glendale, CA The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association-USA, Inc., (PUPAA-USA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will hold its installation of officers and board members on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pacific Community Center (501 S. Pacific Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204). This will be a dinner and dance and membership night, holiday celebration. The net proceeds from this fundraising event will go to the PUPAA Scholarship Fund. This is a great opportunity to get together with former classmates, colleagues, friends, families and supporters. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and get inspired of what PUPAA, USA Inc. has done and contributed to our Alma Mater and what it can offer for you! The Officers and Board Members to be installed are: Chairman of the Board, Dr. Oscar Jornacion, Vice Chairman of the Board, Dr. Henry Divina; President, Monette Santillan-Rivera; Executive Vice President, Vee Cristobal; Vice President-Job Placement, Honeylette Deleon; Vice President-Finance, Jun Mapoy; Vice President-Public Relations, Rosemarie Mejia; Vice Presidents-Membership, Evangeline Codilla and Sandra Dollano; Vice President-Ways and Means, Aimee Sarmiento; Secretary, Marissa Palanca; Treasurer and Accountant, Dr. Gerry Fernando; Auditor, Linda Santos; and Assistant Public Relations Officers, Connie Acosta and Virginia Herbito. For other related questions, please contact Monette Santillan-Rivera at (818) 970-8317, Sandra Dollano at (213) 570-3179 and Vangie Codilla at (818) 468-3386.

Cecile Licad performs at Basilica benefit in San Francisco In San Francisco, Cecile will be performing live at the Centennial Piano Fundraising Concert for the Mission Dolores Basilica on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7p.m. Mission Dolores Basilica Church will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary of completion in December 2018. As part of the celebration it is the Basilica’s goal to purchase a Steinway concert piano worthy of the its reputation and to support our ongoing concert series, as well as the worship life of the Parish.

The Basilica Church, built between 1913 and 1918, features outstanding acoustics that have made it a premier performing arts destination for numerous Bay Area and international concerts artists and ensembles. Its existing piano needs replacement due to years of heavy use for worship services and concerts. For Tickets, visit: https://www.cityboxoffice.com/ordertickets.asp?p=10336&src=eventperformances. Cecile Licad is one of the youngest musicians to receive the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal. Cecile displays her daring musical instinct and superb training with every performance. As an orchestral soloist, this legendary master pianist boasts a repertoire spanning centuries of classical music. She has performed with the world’s most prestigious orchestras throughout four decades. More recently, Cecile received critical acclaim for her volume Anthology of American Piano Music album. She continues touring North America, Europe and Asia. Released this month of November, “American Landscapes” is Volume 3 of the highly acclaimed three-volumne Anthology of American Piano Music recorded by Cecile. Works by Aaron Copland, Anthony Philip Heirich, Percy Grainger, William Mason, Edward MacDowell, Arthur Farwell, Leo Ornstein, William Grant and Arthur Farwell are featured in Cecile’s latest CD. To purchase Cecile’s CD, contact St. Paul Alumnae USA at spmausa@gmail.com.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

Cecile Licad performs at Basilica Benefit in San Francisco

LEGENDARY master pianist Cecile Licad will be performing live at the Centennial Piano Fundraising Concert for the Mission Dolores Basilica on Saturday, November 10 at 7 p.m. in San Francisco.

Mission Dolores Basilica Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of completion in December 2018. As part of the celebration, the Basilica’s goal is to purchase a Steinway concert piano worthy of the its reputation and to support our ongoing concert series, as well as the worship life of the parish. The Basilica Church, built between 1913 and 1918, features outstanding acoustics that has made it a premier performing arts destination for numerous Bay Area and international concerts, artists and ensem-

bles. Its existing piano needs replacement due to years of heavy use for worship services and concerts.

Licad is one of the youngest musicians to receive the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal. She displays her daring musical instinct and superb training with every performance. As an orchestral soloist, this legendary master pianist boasts a repertoire spanning centuries of classical music. She has performed with the world’s most prestigious orchestras for four decades. Most recently, Licad received critical acclaim for her volume Anthology of American Piano Music album.

She continues to tour North America, Europe and Asia.

Just this November, she released “American Land-

scapes,” Volume 3 of the highly acclaimed Anthology of American Piano Music she recorded. Works by Aaron Copland, Anthony Phiip Heirich, Percy Grainger, William Mason, Edward MacDowell, Arthur Farwell, Leo Ornstein, William Grant and Arthur Farwell are featured in Cecile’s latest CD. (Prices are Volume 3: $20 plus $5 shipping, Volume 2 (double CD): $30 plus $7 shipping and Volume 1: $20 plus $5 shipping).

To purchase Cecile’s CD, contact St. Paul Alumnae USA at spmausa@gmail.com For ticket to the fundraising concert, visit: https:// www.cityboxoffice.com/ordertickets.asp?p=10336&src= eventperformances.

(Advertising Supplement)

“The Islanders”: Film retraces...

From Page SF3 mainly due to their exotic looks and agility when basketball was played outdoor on a dirt court and without shot clock.

“What we wanted to do was to somehow honor this team and bring to light the historical injustice committed against them,” said Bill, who is venturing into feature film after producing documentaries for international cable networks since 2010.

“It’s well-documented that the Olympic basketball rules were changed when the Philippines was winning and while the tournament was going on,” Bill pointed out in a detailed account based on extensive research and recorded interviews, including one with the late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla who, at 26, served as team captain.

“There was really no opportunity for people to raise hell about it because the war broke out and there were no Olympic games in 1940 and 1944, so it got forgotten,” Bill explained.

“What Filipinos remember now was Caloy Loyzaga’s era which was already the 1950s.”

The rules of basketball were totally different when it made its debut in the Berlin Olympics, Bill noted. “At the time, you had the jumpball after every made basket so the game was so slow and boring,” he said. “And because of that rule, everybody had to be the same height. The height limit was set at 6’3 and everybody complied.”

However, Germany, under Adolf Hitler, allowed the Americans to violate the rules as a political accommodation to avoid a boycott by the U.S. over the banning of Jewish and black athletes, according to Bill. They let the U.S. double the number of its players and let four athletes over 6’3 in height to play; the tallest was 6’8.

“This made everyone else an underdog,” Bill said. “On the third day, organizers declared a change in format that whoever lost from that point would be eliminated. As luck would have it, the Islanders’ next opponent was the U.S. And with numerous jumpball situations, the Philippines was knocked out…yet they competed with total sportsmanship and set records that still stand today.”

Bill said casting for the film has been completed following a grueling audition. Signed up were character actors, aspiring actors and athletes who have knowledge in basketball, he said.

He revealed that one actor being considered for a major part is Jhong Hilario to play Padilla’s co-team captain, Jacinto Ciria Cruz, the Islanders’ best player who later became a

Bill during a recent audition he conducted for the historical sports film.

(Left) The Islanders competing at the 1936 Olympics. (Right) Poster for the film to be directed by Arlyn dela Cruz-Bernal.

Philstar.com photos

The Philippine Olympic Basketball Team to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

World War II guerilla and was beheaded by the Japanese in 1944.

“Jhong and Jacinto have the same built, same height, color and everything…but Jhong is too busy with TV projects (‘Ang Probinsyano’, ‘It’s Showtime!’) and as Makati City councilor,” Bill said, adding that he has already talked to the actor-host.

Bill said the 1936 Olympics has over 4,000 hours of footage commissioned by Hitler himself and which can be used for the film since they are now public domain. The biggest challenge, he said, is the set design, of which “everything has to be recreated.”

“We found a supplier of 1930s cars in Kamuning, and we found locations like the Court of Appeals complex in Baguio City that looked like Germany in the 1930s,” Bill said. “Finding the ball is the hard part because they don’t manufacture them anymore wherein the leather was hand stitched and the inside inflatable part was separate from the skin of the ball.”

The late Sen. Ambrosio Padilla had served as team captain.

Bill added that one of the film’s highlights is the unimaginable travel of the squad to Europe at a time when there was no commercial flight yet.

They spent three weeks on a ship to get to Paris — enduring seasickness, boredom and lack of rice — and another week crammed into tiny compartments on a train to Berlin.

Bill said he has sought the help of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas to make representations to the International Olympic Committee and FIBA to honor the Islanders, all of whom are already gone now.

California Service Center...

From Page SF5 is looking for ways to always deny humanitarian revalidation requests. They need to be reminded of their mission statement and that they are the agency within Homeland Security in charge of providing/approving immigration “benefits,” not looking for ways to always deny them. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is li-

censed, 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 re-

garding 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)

Make a lasting, positive impact this people & events SF holiday season: Give family and friends gifts from the Arbor Day Foundation Piolo Pascual focuses on self-love The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018

CELEBRATE this year’s holiday season with friends and loved ones while supporting conservation and tree planting with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation.

• Returning for the ninth season in a row, Give-A-Tree cards from the Arbor Day Foundation offer a unique holiday giving opportunity with conservation benefits that will endure for generations. And again, this year, Give-A-Tree cards can be purchased individually and with customized text. Cards can be purchased for $5.95.

• Purchasing the Arbor Day Foundation’s coffee helps preserve rain forests in Central and South America. The Foun-

dation’s coffee, a part of the Rain Forest Rescue program, is shade-grown under the canopy of Latin American rain forests.

Unlike sun-grown coffee farms, this traditional shade-grown method gives the coffee a rich and delicious flavor. Cost per bag is $16.44, including shipping.

• The Foundation’s Trees in Celebration program allows the giver to honor loved ones while supporting crucial conservation efforts. For each dollar donated, one tree is planted in a high-need forest, and recipients are given a certificate showing them where the trees were planted.

• Give the gift of mem-

bership with the Arbor Day Foundation and recipients will be sent 10 free trees, which will be shipped at the right time of year for planting. Membership levels vary and begin with a $10 contribution.

“The holidays are a time for thinking about others, and as you do, take a moment to think about what you can do to protect the beauty and splendor of the earth,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We encourage everyone to give gifts that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.”

To purchase holiday gifts that give back to the planet, visit arborday.org.

Be the first to know: Online COLA notices

WE are constantly expanding our online services to give you freedom and control when doing business with us.

Our new online cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices are another example of our commitment in this area. Soon, you’ll be the first to know your new benefit amount!

Later this year, we will post the Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries with a my Social Security account. The COLA announcement usually occurs in October, but final benefit amounts won’t be calculated and available until December, when we send COLA notices that contain the benefit amount for the next calendar year.

These COLA notices will now be available to view and save via the Message Center inside my Social Security. The Message Center is a secure, convenient portal where you can receive sensitive communications we don’t send through email or text.

This year, you will still receive your COLA notice by mail. In the future, you will be able to choose whether you receive your notice online instead of on paper.

Online notices will not be available to representative payees, individuals with foreign mailing addresses, or those who pay higher Medicare premiums due to their income. We plan to expand the availability of COLA notices to additional online customers in the future.

Remember, our services are always free of charge. No government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information by email or request advanced fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid falling victim to fraudulent internet “phishing” schemes by not revealing personal information, selecting malicious links, or opening malicious attachments. You can learn more about the ways we protect your investment, personal information, and my Social Secu-

Regine Velasquez opens up about miscarriage, depression

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA singer Regine Velasquez said she was not expecting anymore to become a mother after she suffered miscarriage in 2010.

In an interview with Korina Sanchez on “Rated K,” the “Asia’s Songbird” recalled a period in her life when she was so down.

“Actually, hindi na nga namin ineexpect na we will be given one. Actually before him, I had a miscarriage. Noong time kasi na ‘yon when I got pregnant, parang hindi ako ready, tapos noong nawala parang ‘O my gosh.’ I felt really bad,” she said of her miscarriage.

But she and husband Ogie Alcasid are very thankful to God after receiving their son Nathan.

“Soon after that, God gifted us this little boy. That’s why

his name is Nathaniel James.

Nathaniel means gift of God,” she said.

Regine revealed that she suffered miscarriage during the late night talk show “Tonight with Arnold Clavio” in 2016.

The singer also admitted that due to the miscarriage, she suffered depression for a while.

Following her controversial transfer from GMA to ABSCBN, the singer has recently announced on Instagram that she is to become a part of new Kapamilya reality TV series, “Idol Philippines.”

Regine Velasquez Photo from Instagram/@reginevelasquez

Zsa Zsa Padilla remembers Dolphy through a treasured watch

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ZSA ZSA Padilla was hit by a wave of sentimentality when a treasured watch she once gave to Dolphy came back from the repair shop.

Padilla updated her Instagram account on Nov. 5 with a snapshot of the watch she and Dolphy “shared,” along with a long caption which told its story.

The watch was apparently a gift Padilla gave to Dolphy several years ago. However, oddly enough, whenever the King of Comedy would wear the watch it would never tell the correct time. Having little patience for such trivial things, the watch ended up getting little use.

It was around this time that

Padilla started borrowing the watch. She claimed the design appeared to suit her tastes more than Dolphy’s anyway.

Eventually Padilla just asked for the watch back and Dolphy just smiled at her. She and Dolphy apparently also had similar wrist sizes, so there was no need to adjust the strap.

Padilla wrote that she had nearly forgotten about the watch after she had left it at a shop for repairs. A text from the repair shop reminded her of where the watch had been.

Dolphy and Padilla had been in a domestic partnership for more than 20 years before the King of Comedy passed away on July 10, 2012.

His death was mourned by the entire showbiz industry and by Dolphy’s many fans.

rity account at https://www.ssa. gov/myaccount/security.html.

Be the first to know.

Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today at https://www. ssa.gov/myaccount and choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive your COLA notice online! (By Eric Phillips/Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sacramento, CA)

by MJ Marfori ManilaTimes.net

WHILE everyone is swooning and snooping around who our favorite showbiz heartthrob is dating, Piolo Pascual reveals to In The Know that he’s actually busy doing things for himself.

Gone are the days when Piolo pressures himself to be with someone because now, he is just busy with no one but himself. He no longer entertains queries about the last woman he was linked with, which was Shaina Magdayao.

“A lot has been said already. Puro he said she said and it’s better to clear things and kung kami na lang naguusap hindi yung sa iba namin naririnig kung anong sinabi namin. Right now I’m single and very happy being single,” he said.

The actor is busy with his son Iñigo Pascual, who he carefully moulds to be a very responsible young personality, “I am so proud of him and how he chooses his projects but, of course, I am [always] here to guide him in life.”

Besides this, Papa P as we all love to call him, is now

Piolo Pascual

open to talk about politics and even use his celebrity influence to educate people about what the real deal is in our country and what the fans should actually care about, but was firm to say that he does not need to run for a post to do so.

ABS-CBN photo

“Yes, lagi ako nililigawan pero I don’t need that because I am already heard in my platform which is to be this celebrity with a voice.

So if I’m going to influence it would be through my production house Spring Films,” he averred.

SF10

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 9, 2018