112919 - Northern California Edition

Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 18 - No. 44 • 2 Sections – 16 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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NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 5, 2019

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DATELINE Palace slams Midler for Duterte criticism

Firing VP akin to EJK — Lagman

by JESS

DIAZ Philstar.com

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

MALACAÑANG on Sunday, November 24, slammed singer-actress Bette Midler for describing President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the world’s most detestable leaders as well as lumping him together with the likes of U.S. President Donald Trump and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

“She, however, has no right as she is incompetent and a gullible talking head as well, on matters concerning foreign leaders she has no personal knowledge of,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“She should be circumspect as an influencer and should refrain from giving one-sided and judgmental comments on internal affairs of another sovereign state, especially if her references are false narratives coming from the political opposition and some biased media outlets whose agenda is to besmirch President Rodrigo

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Governor Newsom announces Early Childhood Policy Council and a team to develop master plan for early learning and care

OPPOSITION Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay on Tuesday, November 26, likened to an extrajudicial killing President Duterte’s removal of Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

“The summary dismissal of the vice president as ICAD co-chair without any valid reasons and due process is akin to an extrajudicial killing. Like EJK victims, Robredo fought and criticized the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs,” Lagman said.

He claimed that the president fired Robredo to hide from her data on the anti-drugs campaign.

gayan de Oro City, said Robredo’s removal was “rather unfortunate.”

“President Duterte’s experiment in appointing her was doomed from the very start. The VP is leader of the opposition, a lawyer and an advocate of human rights. Her views on the anti-illegal drugs campaign were diametrically opposed to the current thrusts of the administration,” he said.

Rodriguez said Duterte’s “All Boys Club was therefore worried, to say the least, on her entry into the picture.”

“To them, her appointment was totally unacceptable. So it’s now business as usual,” he added.

The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the people are awaiting Robredo’s report on the drug war. (With Rhodina Villanueva) ■

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday, November 22, announced the selection of diverse experts, practitioners and parents to guide California’s efforts on early learning and care. The Governor today appointed 20 members of the state’s new Early Childhood Policy Council and advisory committees, including national experts, practitioners, and parents.

He also announced the creation of an Early Childhood Action Research Team to develop a Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, which

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LINKED TOGETHER. President Rodrigo Duterte joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in as they pose for a family photo prior to the start of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday, November 26.

Malacañang photo by Arman Baylon

Drilon says House to blame for SEA Games budget mess Panelo of employing diversionary

by AJPRESS tactics such as accusing Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno of irSENATOR Franklin Drilon on regularities in the preparation of Tuesday, November 26, said the 2019 national budget. the House of Representatives is Drilon, however, pointed out to blame for the mishaps in this that there are only three oppoyear’s Southeast Asian Games sition members in the Senate which the country is hosting.

— not enough to delay the pasAccording to the opposition sage of the budget. senator, the House of RepresenFurthermore, he said that even tatives was late in submitting if the budget was delayed, most the proposed national budget of the funds used for the SEA in December, containing some Games infrastructure were from P95 billion in pork barrel that fu- separate loans. eled debates. This delay, some “I really do not understand congressmen claimed, led to the the relationship between the SEAG blunders. blunders and the budget delay,” “If there was any delay, it was Drilon said. because of them,” Drilon said in Some of the mishaps experiFilipino. enced before the official launch of Last December, some mem- the regional sports event include bers of the House of Represen- members of foreign delegations tatives were accused by Presi- to the sporting event complaindential Spokesperson Salvador ing about awful accommodations

Hontiveros: ‘China-made’ blackouts can cripple PH According to her, with China controlling 40 percent of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on (NGCP), it has the capability to Monday, November 25, warned undermine national security and that “China-made blackouts” “even topple the government.”

Hontiveros gave out the warncould paralyze the country’s economy, vital communications system ing after deliberating on the and even the electoral system. u PAGE A2

MENDIOLA AJ Press

Her dismissal “is similar to the extrajudicial killing of some victims to silence them and cover up incriminatory information known to them,” he said.

Lagman belongs to the opposition Liberal Party (LP), which Robredo chairs.

Another LP leader, Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City, who is the party’s secretary general, said the vice president was fired as she might have “discovered significant information on the root of our nation’s drug trade.”

“What was important to her was putting a stop to the killings. That’s why she talked to the right people, coordinated with the right agencies, asked the right questions. Why was she suddenly removed?”

Belmonte asked.

Another congressman, Rufus Rodriguez of Ca-

PNP says Robredo did not commit ‘missteps’ as drug czar CONTRARY to Malacañang’s reasons for firing Vice President Leni Robredo as cochair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), the Philippine National Police on Tuesday, November 26, said they did not see Robredo make any “missteps” during her 18-day stint as the administration’s anti-drug czar.

“During her stay as co-chair of ICAD, we haven’t really noticed any report or missteps,” said PNP spokesman Bernard Banac in an interview with ANC’s “Early Edition.”

“But in the continuing discussion, of course, there is that exchange of ideas and insofar as discussion on a higher level, the PNP is not really involved anymore so we leave it to the higher authorities,” he added.

According to Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Robredo committed several ‘missteps’ including seeking the advice of certain foreign institutions and person-

by RITCHEL

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

and delayed transportation after their arrival in the Philippines, inadequate food served to the athletes, and unfinished venues.

‘Apology not enough’ Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, for his part, said that the organizers of SEAG this year will be made “answerable” for “apparent inefficiencies” that happened in the past few days.

“They said before, the preparation, venues, and everything that will be used for the games were almost ready and complete. As of October 30, 2019, PHISGOC stated that preparations are 90% complete. How come these have happened?” he said in Filipino on Monday, Nov. 25.

“To all the parties, remember, one’s failure is the failure of us all.

Let me remind everyone that you will be answerable to the Presi-

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Senate bill seeks to teach GMRC anew

nity, respect for oneself and giving oneself to others in the spirit of community, for the effective and SENATOR Panfilo Lacson has holistic development of the decifiled a measure institutionalizing sion-making skills of the child.”

“It is the aim of this act… to betgood manners and right conduct (GMRC) as a separate subject for ter mold our youth to have strong pupils from kindergarten to Grade values and moral foundation which 3 to counter the negative effects will contribute in shaping a reof the internet on the attitude of spectable society,” read a portion young Filipinos.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1185, Lacson said no less than Education Secretary Leonor Briones had pointed out that “technology without good manners is a disaster” and that “online or technologydriven pedagogy” could not inculcate social values and skills among young students.

Strong values By having a separate GMRC subject, he said the students would be able to understand “human digby MARION

RAMOS Inquirer.net

of Lacson’s bill, a copy of which was furnished the media on Sunday, November 24.

“The teaching method shall be actual or situational, rather than conceptual, thereby allowing the [students] to directly relate to the lessons, readily incorporate them in practice and make such behavior commonplace,” he added. ■

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From the Front Page

Drilon says House to blame for SEA Games...

PAGE A1 dent and most especially to the Filipino people,” he added.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) on Sunday, Nov. 24, issued an apology to the foreign teams that arrived in Manila for the “inconvenience” and “confusion.”

“You can’t fix this with an apology. What we need to do is rouse everyone, we can’t be wimpy here,” Go said.

“I am, therefore, delivering this privilege speech to urge Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) and all Filipinos: don’t let this fail,” he added.

Go stressed that Filipinos should help one another instead of gloating at the organizers’ blunders and playing the blame game.

“It’s sad that many of our countrymen are clapping their hands for the wrong reasons. They give

us applause because they want us to fail,” he said.

“Let’s help each other and show of support for our athletes. There is a right time for everything. No finger pointing at the moment.

But after the Games, we’ll hold accountable those who need to be held accountable,” he added.

Go also said he is ready to conduct an investigation on any

Photo courtesy of Philstar.com

anomalies and irregularities that will arise during and after the games.

This will be the fourth time that the Philippines is hosting the biennial regional event in which athletes from 11 countries will compete. The 2019 SEA Games will officially open on Saturday, Nov. 30, and will run until December 11. n

ASEAN LEADERS. President Rodrigo Duterte and his partner Cielito Avanceña join other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in as they pose for posterity during the welcome dinner hosted by the South Korean President at the Hilton Busan Hotel on Monday, November 25. Malacañang photo by Arman Baylon Manilatimes.net photo

PNP says Robredo did not commit ‘missteps’...

PAGE A1 alities that have prejudged the campaign against illegal drugs as a violation of human rights as well as failing to present a program of action in her new role as ICAD co-chair in the three weeks she was in office.

Banac, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to Robredo for her contributions to the ICAD. “In her three week stint as co-chair of ICAD, we were able to gain a lot of ideas from her, especially her advocacy and her desire for community-based rehabilitation of drug users and her desire for more transparency of the campaign against illegal drugs,” he said.

“Along that line, we would like to also share that her desires and the direction of the PNP matches,” he added.

Banac also assured that Robredo’s firing would not affect the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

“The PNP will continue on and will pursue the campaign against illegal drugs, especially high-value targets relentlessly,” he said.

Lacson: It’s a pity Senator Panfilo Lacson, for his part, finds it a loss for Robredo to be removed from her post as ICAD co-chair, saying that she was doing the job justice.

“I feel sorry at the loss. I’d say she was on the right track in ad-

dressing the problem of drugs,” he said Monday, Nov. 25.

“It is my opinion that VP was doing the right things. That’s really what ought to be done, you consult with those in the know, that’s really what she did,” he added in Filipino.

As the drug czar, Robredo met with representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development to discuss ‘best practices’ in tackling the country’s drug problem. (Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress) n

Palace slams Midler for Duterte...

PAGE A1 Roa Duterte and his administration before the global stage,” he added.

Midler is an outspoken critic of Trump and took to Twitter on Saturday, Nov. 23, her sentiments on Trump’s ongoing impeachment hearings and why it should be a concern for Americans.

“For Americans who think the impeachment hearings have nothing to do with them, think again.

Want to leave the door open to a Hitler? A Stalin? A Castro? A Duterte? A Pol Pot? A Putin? An Assad? A Chavez? A Kim Jong Un? A Mussolini? A Mugabe? An Amin? #Trump’s the gateway to

that,” the singer said in a tweet.

Panelo, in response, lifted some lyrics from Midler’s song to fire back at her.

“We suggest that she revisit her famous song ‘From A Distance’ and learn from its lyrics that she may look at a foreign leader of a distant country with a positive outlook: ‘From a distance there is harmony & it echoes through the land/ It’s the voice of hope/ It’s the voice of peace/ It’s the voice of every man/ From a distance we are instruments/ Marching in common band/ Playing songs of hope/ Playing songs of peace/ They are the songs of every man,’” Panelo said.

Bette Midler Photo from Twitter/@bettemidler (AJPress) n

Governor Newsom announces Early Childhood Policy...

PAGE A1 includes state and national leaders in social impact, financing, policy, and equity issues.

“Every child in our state should have the resources and support they need to live happy and healthy lives,” said Governor Newsom. “We are bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds to create a Master Plan for Early Learning and Care that will be rooted in lifting up California’s children and families today, tomorrow and into the future.”

The Early Childhood Action Research Team will develop a comprehensive roadmap for California to accelerate the governor’s goal of providing universal preschool and action steps to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care that embraces the strengths and meets the needs of parents and young children.

The Action Research Team will consist of social impact experts from respected organizations including Child Trends, RAND, WestEd, Social Policy Research Associates, Parent Voices, Low-Income Investment Fund, American Institutes for Research, Stanford University’s School of Education, and Neimand Collaborative. The Action Research Team will produce a report by October 1, 2020. The Health and Human Services Agency will oversee the Team’s work in collaboration with the State Board of Education, the

Photo courtesy of ca.gov

Department of Education and the Governor’s Office.

The governor announced that the Early Childhood Policy Council will be chaired by California’s Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.

The governor also named 20 members to the Council, including thought leaders from across the state in social services, child care and child trauma. The Council will elevate the needs of young children and their families as well as advise the governor, Legislature and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on statewide early learning, care and overall development.

The Council will provide recommendations on all aspects of the state’s early childhood system, including support for the demographic, geographic and economic diversity of the state’s children and families and ways

the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education’s final report can be updated and improved. It will hold at least four public meetings per year and prepare a formal annual report.

The governor invested an additional $2 billion in this year’s budget to ensure that all children in California have the critical foundation they need for healthy development and learning in the earliest years. This down payment immediately expands California children’s access to quality education and health care, funds a two-generation strategy that invests in parents so they can invest in their children, and eases some of the financial pressures on parents to help them provide opportunities for their children and achieve economic security for their families. n

Hontiveros: ‘China-made’ blackouts...

PAGE A1 2020 budget of the Department of Energy last week. She discovered that the operations of the NGCP, which runs the country’s electricity grid, can be accessed

by Chinese managers and engineers.

President of the state-owned National Transmission Co. Melvin Matibag also admitted that China can control and even shut down the country’s power transmission system “remotely.”

Hontiveros insisted that this could have devastating effects on the country such as crippling the society, sabotaging elections, and shutting down communications.

“Imagine a foreign country, which is an unrepentant tres-

cause the collapse of our economy; and undermine our national security. It could even overthrow our government,” she continued.

“With the flick of a switch, China could plunge the whole Philippines into darkness. By the simple push of a button, our country could be at the mercy of China-made blackouts,” the senator added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros Photo courtesy by Inquirer Hontiveros is now calling for a passer and aggressor in our seas Senate investigation on the matand territories, controlling our ter.

“We want to know if our ennational electricity grid. It could cripple our entire society,” she ergy systems are not compromised, and if we have the techsaid.

“It could sabotage our elec- nical safeguards to ensure that tions; shut down our access to these systems and infrastructure television, the internet and other continue to be in our full concommunication technologies; trol,” she said. n

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Dateline USa

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Covered California’s new state subsidies program provides relief for middle-income Californians

FIRE VICTIMS. Several families, whose houses were razed by fire, are housed temporarily at the Barangay Tatalon Covered Court in Quezon City on Sunday, November 24, A total of 1,382 individuals were affected by the fire in Barangay Tatalon that reached fifth alarm.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

US to rev up sea, air operations in SCS

by Jaime Laude Philstar.com

The United States military intends to further increase sea and air activities over the disputed South China Sea in keeping with its resolve to keep the vital sea lane free and open to maritime and air navigation.

Admiral philip Davidson, commander of the hawaii-based U.S. Indo-pacific Command, declared this before the halifax International Security Forum in nova Scotia, Canada where he was one of the key speakers last Saturday.

Davidson pointed out that freedom of navigation by air and sea is of global importance, including those in the South China Sea, where trillions of dollars in commerce transit each year. “navigation in those waters will pick up as the U.S. continues to rotate its forces through Singapore and projects air and sea power from bases in Japan,” Davidson said.

China, still enforcing its already invalidated nine-dash maritime and territorial claim to almost 90 percent of the South China Sea, has reclaimed seven formerly obscure maritime features in the region.

Over the years, Davidson noted Beijing has transformed these man-made islands into highly fortified forward military bases with its navy and Coast Guard ships, supported by hundreds of militia vessels disguised as fishing boats, now having an imposing presence in the disputed region.

Currently, he said China wants to draw up a code of conduct with the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASeAn) for operating in those waters. he urged ASeAn-member states to ensure that such an agreement, if reached, does not restrict their freedom of navigation nor limit their ability to operate in the disputed region for commerce and military exercises.

The U.S. and its allies and partners would be around to fully support ASeAn-members to exercise their right to navigate in the region, he said.

“Canada, new Zealand, Australia, Japan and India have all sailed

Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, declared this before the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada where he was one of the key speakers last Saturday, November 23.

Philstar.com photo

through those waters and partici- telling his audience that “freedom pated in military exercises,” Da- and support of the international order is worth defending.” n vidson said.

The U.S. military has been challenging China’s huge military presence in the region through a sustained freedom of navigation operations (FOnOpS) and overflights.

Davidson said the U.S. has increased its operations in the South China Sea to include the conduct of several exercises in September and October and two FOnOpS in the last week or two.

A U.S. navy destroyer USS Wayne e. Meyer on innocent passage sailed close to China’s occupied areas in the paracels last Thursday, november 21, while littoral combat ship USS Gabrille Giffords navigated within 12 nautical miles off Mischief (panganiban) reef in the West philippine Sea a day earlier.

At the internal security forum, Davidson also spoke on wider threat from China, noting that Beijing is expanding its military presence beyond the South China Sea. “They are now operating globally, to include areas around South America, europe and Africa. There have been more of these global Chinese naval deployments in the last 30 months than in the last 30 years,” the U.S. navy admiral said. he added that China has been developing and fielding advanced ballistic missiles and hypersonics.

To counter this, he said, the U.S. is ramping its missile defense systems and developing long-range precision fire as a deterrence. he concluded his speech by

Open enrollment for 2020 is underway, and more Californians than ever before are eligible for financial help for their health insurance.

The reason is a new state subsidy program. It will help lower the cost of coverage for almost 1 million people, including for some middle-income Californians for the first time since the patient protection and Affordable Care Act became law in 2014.

“California is making coverage more affordable for lowincome families, and we are making history by becoming the first state in the nation to provide financial help to middleincome people like small-businesses owners, early retirees and the self-employed,” executive Director peter V. Lee said.

“Whether you never thought you could get financial help, or you have checked before, you need to check again because there is new money available that may dramatically reduce the cost of your coverage.”

So far during open enrollment, eligible low-income consumers who qualified for a subsidy are receiving an average of $19 per month per household on top of any federal assistance they receive, while eligible middleincome Californians who have received a state subsidy are getting an average of $526 per month, per household.

For someone like Don from San Jose, who worked in the tech industry for years before retiring early to pursue his passion in history and literature, the state subsidy program is a much-needed financial lifeline.

Since his decision to retire, Don has been paying over $33,000 a year for a COBRA Blue Shield ppO Silver plan for himself and his wife. In 2020, they will be receiving $1,282 a month through the state subsidy program. They will pay a net premium of $1,900 per month.

“I feel a weight has come off our financial shoulders, and I have more freedom to pursue my new passion,” Don said. “I’d like to give heartfelt thanks to Gov. newsom and the state of California for making this possible.

I applaud all the resulting help, relief and new opportunities that will be given to other Californians.”

Another big change for 2020 is the restoration of the individual mandate here in California. people who do not get covered could face a penalty administered by the Franchise Tax Board when they file their 2020 taxes in the spring of 2021. A family of four would pay at least a $2,000 penalty, and potentially more, for not having health insurance throughout 2020.

These two new state initiatives, the state subsidy program and the restoration of the individual mandate, are key elements in Covered California’s record-low 0.8 percent rate increase for the upcoming year.

Consumers will need to sign up by Dec. 15 in order to have their coverage begin on Jan. 1, 2020. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can visit www.CoveredCA.com or get free and confidential in-person assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller. They can also have a certified enroller call them and help them for free, or they can call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2020. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

China aims to finish bases in Scarborough – Carpio

by Bernadette

tamayo ManilaTimes.net

RETIRED justice Antonio Carpio believes that China aims to complete its air and naval military base in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal first before it agrees to any Code of Conduct in the South China (West Philippine) Sea. Carpio, during the recent international conference titled “Changing the World Order? China’s Long-Term Global Strategy,” sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung-Philippines, predicted that China would build a military base on Scarborough Shoal before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in 2022.

The Scarborough Shoal is being claimed by the Philippines and China. It is located a mere 123 miles west of Palauig, Zambales, “well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone,” he said.

“The most opportune time for China to build on Scarborough Shoal is before President Duterte leaves office on June 30, 2022,” Carpio said.

He pointed out that Duterte “has publicly stated that he cannot stop China if China reclaims Scarborough Shoal, practically giving China the green light to reclaim and build on Scarborough Shoal.”

He believes that reclamation and island-building works on Scarborough Shoal would be China’s final act before signing the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, an agreement to settle

Retired justice Antonio Carpio

the disputes between China and five claimant states in the hotly contested maritime region.

“China needs to build on Scarborough Shoal to complete its radar, missile and fighter jet coverage of the entire South China Sea,” Carpio said. “Right now, there is a hole in the northeast portion of the South China Sea where China has no radar, missile and fighter jet coverage.”

Carpio added, “An air and naval base on Scarborough Shoal will plug this loophole.”

After establishing military superiority over the entire South China Sea by completing its base on Scarborough Shoal, Carpio believes that China would then quickly sign the Code of Conduct “to strategically impede the claims of rival states.”

The Association of Southeast

Photo courtesy by Rappler

Asian Nations and China are finalizing the Code of Conduct that seeks to address maritime grievances and other issues.

“Unlike many others, I dread the day when China says it is ready to sign the Code of Conduct because that means that China will have already reclaimed and built on Scarborough Shoal,” Carpio said.

In a different forum organized

by Stratbase ADR in Makati, Carpio was quoted as saying, “China has not finished its island-building and will reclaim Scarborough Shoal, a high-tide feature, between now and its signing of the Code of Conduct sometime 2022.”

Unless the Code of Conduct makes an express reservation, this means all prior reclamations and island-building by China will gain de facto recognition by other disputant states, he added. n

Philippines-South Korea sign 4 agreements during Duterte visit by alexis

romero Philstar.com

THE Philippines and South Korea have signed four agreements and a joint statement on a proposed free trade deal to further enhance their bilateral ties.

President Rodrigo Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday witnessed the signing of an agreement on social security, the implementation program of a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation, and a joint statement on the early achievement package of the negotiations on the proposed free trade deal.

Two other agreements on education and fisheries were also signed on the sidelines of Duterte’s visit here but were not among the documents inked during a ceremony held after his

meeting with Moon.

In a recent interview, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man said the agreement on social security would benefit tens and thousands of Filipino workers here.

There are about 58,000 Filipinos in South Korea based on latest government data.

The cooperation on education, meanwhile, is expected to satisfy the demand of Filipinos who want to learn about Korea’s language and culture and to expand existing education facilities. The fisheries deal, Han said, would enable the Philippines to use Korean technology to develop its fishery resources.

The implementation program on tourism cooperation seeks to introduce joint programs and activities that will bolster twoway tourism promotion and align

tourism efforts between the two countries.

The document, which is valid until 2024, also aims to facilitate deeper and meaningful interactions between Filipinos and Koreans, and strengthen overall cooperation on tourist safety, security and quality assurance.

The Tourism department recorded 1,624,251 arrivals from Korea in 2018, equivalent to 22.78 percent of the 7.1 million tourists who visited the Philippines that year.

The joint statement on the early achievement package of the negotiations on free trade agreement, meanwhile, highlighted the two countries’ resolve to pursue a trade deal. Officials said an agreement, which would reduce the tariffs for some Philippine agricultural and industrial products, may be signed next year. n

Confirmed polio cases in Philippines rise to 8 MANILA — Another child in Mindanao has tested positive for poliovirus, bringing to eight the number of polio cases two months after an outbreak was declared in the country.

A nine-year-old girl from Basilan was the country’s eighth confirmed polio case, Department of Health said Monday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the child was unvaccinated.

Prior to this, the agency had documented six other polio cases in Mindanao. One case was reported in Laguna.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo earlier said the confirmation of polio cases in Mindanao is a cause for concern because “there is an active transmission of the virus within the island of Mindanao and there are children unprotected from the virus.”

The re-emergence of polio in the Philippines after nearly two decades came after the country was hit by measles and dengue

Philstar.com file photo

outbreaks earlier this year stoked by falling vaccination rates.

According to the DOH, the initial round of the synchronized polio vaccination reported 96% coverage among children in the National Capital Region. Davao del Sur recorded a 92% coverage, while Lanao del Sur reported an 85% coverage.

Coverage in Davao del Sur is at 92% and 85% in Lanao del Sur. Polio can cause paralysis and can be fatal in rare cases. The disease has no cure and can only be prevented with several doses of oral and injectable vaccines. (Gaea Katreena Cabico with a report from Shiela Crisostomo/Philstar. com) n

PH POLO TEAM. Members of the Philippine polo team pose for a photo prior to a practice session with Argentine and British players at the Miguel Romero Field in Calatagan, Batangas on Saturday, November 23. From left are Coco Garcia, Nicole Eusebio, Jam Eusebio, Santi Juban, Anthony Garcia, 1PacMan party-list Rep. Mikee Romero, and Antonio Veloso.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

House term sharing should hold – Duterte

by Christina

mendez

Philstar.com

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco should honor their gentleman’s agreement on the term-sharing for the speakership, President Duterte said.

“Our agreement is sharing, half-half. Now, if anyone of them would not honor it, be it Lord Velasco or si Peter Cayetano, that is… that would be his decision,” Duterte said in a chance interview after the dedication ceremony of his great grandson in Davao.

“But he has to take care that there is an agreement of sharing.

If you violate it… Usapan ‘yan,” he added.

It was the president who intervened in the duo’s fight for the speakership before the 18th Congress opened last July.

Under the term-sharing agree-

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco Philstar.com file photo

ment, Cayetano would turn over the House reins after 15 months to Velasco, who will preside in the next 21 months of this Congress.

The controversy emerged anew after Cayetano and his allies hinted they would want continuity, meaning the current speaker should stay at his post. n

Probe into Australian bank finds potential payments for child exploitation in Philippines MANILA— Australian banking giant Westpac, currently at the center of an international money laundering case, was found to be directing money to the Philippines that could have been used for child exploitation.

Agence France-Presse on Wednesday, November 20, reported that Westpac faces a massive fine after being accused by regulators of “serious and systemic” breaches of money-laundering laws involving more than $7 billion.

Australia’s financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, said it had taken legal action against Westpac for failing to report more than 19.5 million international fund transfers, including “high-risk transactions” to Southeast Asian nations potentially linked to child exploitation.

Australia’s Westpac faces huge fine for money-laundering breaches Overall, AUSTRAC chief Nicole Rose said, Westpac violated the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing act 23 million times.

Among the most damaging allegations, the regulator accused Westpac executives of “indifference” to clear evidence that some international transfers were used to fund child exploitation.

“Since at least 2013, Westpac was aware of the heightened child exploitation risks associated with frequent low value payments to the Philippines and Southeast Asia,

both from AUSTRAC guidance and its own risk assessments,” it said in the report of AFP. For its part, Westpac said it “accepts responsibility for the issues that have occurred.”

“Westpac has identified the need to improve financial crime management, based on issues identified by its business, financial crime and internal audit teams over a number of years,” the bank said in a statement.

It said that it has worked closely with AUSTRAC in addressing the risks of child exploitation and other serious crime.

The bank said that there is an ongoing customer due diligence in relation to financial indicators of potential child exploitation risk in relation to payments to the Philippines and South East Asia.

In December 2016, AUSTRAC also issued Westpac’s financial crime team with industry guidance regarding key indicators for the purchase of child exploitation material involving international funds transfers to the Philippines and South East Asia.

AUSTRAC alleged that Westpac failed to carry out appropriate due diligence on 12 customers, with a view to identifying, mitigating and managing the known risks of child exploitation.

Among the immediate fixes Westpac has identified is a lookback screen of its customer transactions.

“Westpac has undertaken a further review of all child ex-

ploitation transaction types for the Philippines over the past 12 months, to identify and report any further suspicious transactions or customers that warrant investigation,” the bank said.

Efforts to raise awareness on sexual exploitation in Philippines underway The bank said it is also investing to reduce the human impact of financial crime by protecting people.

It is investing $ 18 million to match the funding of the International Justice Mission over three years to tackle Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) in the Philippines.

“This will enable IJM to expand on-the-ground initiatives in Southeast Asia to help end child exploitation,” Westpac said.

Likewise, it is matching the Australian Government’s funding for SaferKidsPH partnership with Save the Children, UNICEF and The Asia Foundation by investing $6 million over six years.

The move is to also “raise awareness of OSEC and support programs to protect children in the Philippines.”

In September, AUSTRAC also ordered an investigation into global money transfer platform PayPal, amid concerns it may be being misused by sex offenders to buy child abuse material from the Philippines and other parts of Asia. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com with reports from Agence FrancePresse) n

Prosecutors wants Zaldy Ampatuan in jail to prevent escape as ruling nears

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — As the court ruling on the 2009 Ampatuan massacre nears, state prosecutors have asked the Quezon City court handling the multiple murder case against former regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan to transfer him back to jail.

In a Manifestation with Urgent Motion filed last Friday, the Department of Justice urged the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 to order Ampatuan’s return to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City from his confinement in a Makati hospital.

Ampatuan, one of the primary accused in the gruesome massacre, was brought to the hospital last October after suffering a stroke. He has since been confined at Makati Medical Center, where he is receiving physical and occupational therapy.

State prosecutors however pointed out that Ampatuan re-

Philstar.com file photo

mains in the hospital “without any certainty and/or definite ate on when he will be finally discharged.”

Documents submitted to the court by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology stated that Ampatuan is suffering from a recurring heart ailment, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and

chronic atrial fibriliation.

‘Therapy can be done inside jail’ While the prosecutors said they remain mindful of Ampatuan’s medical condition, “it is apprehensive that his alleged hospital confinement under the cloak of being still undergoing PAGE A5

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 5, 2019

PROTECTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS. Senator Grace Poe entertains kids after giving a short speech at the opening of an exhibit celebrating the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the National Children’s Month at the Senate on Monday, November 25. In her speech, Poe said the Senate, adhering to the spirit of the convention by passing laws that are pro-children, “ensures that every child’s right is protected.”

Senate photo

Soldiers, pro-IS groups clash in Maguindanao

by Aj jAcinto ManilaTimes/net

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Philippine troops have tightened security in the troubled region of southern Mindanao where soldiers are battling pro-Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Maguindanao province, officials said on Sunday.

According to the officials, the soldiers also recovered powerful improvised explosives after a clash on Friday with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya in Inaladan village in Shariff Saydona town.

Two of the improvised bombs were assembled and rigged to

“Jetmatic” water pumps, and another plastic bottle containing ammonium nitrate and iron nails was also recovered from the area, according to Col. Jose Narciso, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.

“The IEDs (improvised explosive devices) were already rigged and ready to be used. It appears that they are planning to use these IEDs for something or somewhere where it will have a big impact. The reason we launched these combat operations is to seek those terror devices immediately and disable them since different local governments in Central Mindanao will be having their festivals,” he said.

Narciso added that the North Cotabato towns of Isulan and Midsayap are set to celebrate the annual Kalimudan and Sinugba festivals, as well as founding anniversaries of different municipalities in the province.

“It was timely that we found them (IEDs) for we have received reports that these groups were planning to use them as soon as possible,” he said.

Despite continued military operations and extended martial law in the South, Islamic extremists also continued their attacks on soldiers and innocent civilians the past three years, and bombing targets in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. n

Prosecutors wants Zaldy Ampatuan...

PAGE A4 continuous physical and occupational therapy may provide him all the opportunity for convenient escape.”

“The prosecution panel, therefore, is of the view that accused Zaldy Ampatuan would do any last ditch move towards his liberty, be it resorting to his act of taking flight,” the motion further read.

The DOJ also said that the therapy Ampatuan is receiving may be done inside Camp Bagong Diwa.

If the accused’s continued retention in the hospital be necessary, the DOJ asked to augment

the security personnel guarding him to prevent him from taking flight.

“In deference to this Honorable Court, it should now stop extending so much grace, sympathy or concern to accused Zaldy Ampatuan but has to act firmly and with an iron hand to prevent any untoward contingency while its decision is still underway,” the prosecutors added.

Quezon City RTC Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Reyes has until December 20 to issue a ruling on the Maguindanao massacre, considered the worst election-related violence and attack on press

freedom in the country.

November 23, Saturday, marked the 10th year since the Ampatuan massacre took the lives of 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists.

They were on their way to a local Commission on Elections office to witness the filing of the certificate of candidacy for thenBuluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu when they were flagged and killed by gunmen in Ampatuan town.

Members of the Ampatuan clan, political rivals of the Mangudadatus, were accused of ordering the killing. n

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OPINION

Security for VIPs

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FEATURES

FOLLOWING the killing of a judge in San Fernando, La Union on November 5 for still unknown reasons, the Supreme Court is proposing the creation of a special group patterned after the U.S. Marshals Service, whose members will be assigned exclusively to protect members of the judiciary. A bill supporting the proposal has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Mario Anacleto Bañez was the second judge to be murdered this year, and the 31st since 1999.

While it is clear, however, that certain members of the judiciary can face serious threats to their personal safety in line with their work, this proposal must be seen in the proper context.

Judges aren’t the only ones who face death threats and are actually assassinated in this country. Similar threats are faced by lawmakers, local government executives, labor arbiters and other officials, journalists, environmental advocates, leftleaning activists and even priests. There are reports that several regional officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue have been kidnapped for ransom in the past months. In the conflict areas of Mindanao, teachers are targeted by Islamic terrorists for hostage taking, rape and murder.

Why should members of the judiciary get special protection? It’s unfair enough that too many members of the Philippine National Police are deployed

as personal bodyguards of government officials and even certain private VIPs who can very well afford to pay for their own security detail.

If bodyguards would speed up magistrates’ dispensation of justice, perhaps the proposal could become palatable to taxpayers. But if this measure would be passed, what would stop members of Congress from creating their own special protective force at taxpayers’ expense? Who decides which sector deserves more protection than others?

There are currently 2,561 trial judges, 15 justices of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, 70 justices of the Court of Appeals, nine in the Court of Tax Appeals and 15 members of the Supreme Court.

How many marshals will be deployed to protect them?

The proponent of the House bill was quoted as saying, in explaining his measure, that “right now, tacks.” But the same could be said of a majority every active judge is a sitting duck, with absolutely of the population. The proposed funding for this no protection whatsoever against potential at- proposal is better spent in improving public safety

Editorial

At Ground Level SATUR C. OCAMPO IN August President Duterte vowed to distribute all agricultural lands equitably through a “unique brand of agrarian reform” to accomplish the program’s primary aim: “uphold the welfare of the landless farmers, promote social justice, and attain sound rural development.”

Moreover, he conflated this ambitious goal with another one — ending the five-decade armed conflict with the CPP-NPA by grabbing from the revolutionary movement “the richest issue of them all — land reform.” Focusing on Negros, where he said the farmers’ struggle for land is deep and protracted because of the feudal system obtaining there, Duterte stated his game plan thus: “Kunin mo ang initiative sa komunista. What they are really parlaying is land. Eh di unahan na natin, ibigay na natin.”

He taunted the CPP-NPA: “You cannot win a fight for social justice or for a better life…if you go to revolution, it won’t work. I am not challenging [you]. You might win or you may lose, but that is

something to be seen.”

Then he made the cryptic statement, “I am serving notice to everybody that in the coming months it will be — not really bloody, but there will be, at least, a little trouble for our country.”

Carrying out his plan, he added, would “make us a magnet for all criticisms” and critics are “waiting for us to commit a wrong.”

Were the simultaneous raids in Bacolod City, on October 1, part of the “little trouble” Duterte warned about in August?

The operations carried out by joint AFP-PNP security forces on the offices of progressive organizations resulted in the arrest of 57 persons, including 14 minors. It was covered by search warrants issued by a Quezon City RTC judge and directed by the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC, formed via Executive Order 70 and headed

by Duterte).

If the Bacolod operation was “not really bloody,” let us not forget the AFP-PNP operations twice carried out earlier in Negros Oriental (first on Dec. 27 to Jan. 15, then on March 30 this year), during which 48 civilians were killed and several others arrested.

THE U.S. Navy last week, in its actions and official statements, in effect revealed what was really one of the real aims of the Philippines’ arbitration suit that President Aquino III and his foreign secretary Albert del Rosario brought against China in 2013.

It wasn’t to win back for the Philippines islands or reefs it claims to own in the Spratly islands, which it alleges China grabbed from it. The arbitration was intended — other than to demonize China as an evil aggressor in the South China Sea — to provide the U.S. Navy with additional legal justification to undertake its so-called freedom of navigation operations (Fonops) in the South China Sea, a major part of the American “Pivot to Asia” program started by President Obama in 2011.

The Fonop has been the U.S.’ way of challenging what it thinks are territorial waters and maritime zones that countries have declared but which it thinks are illegal. It does this by having a warship sail into such waters and zones to challenge the claiming countries to enforce what they claim are their sovereign rights – which of course they don’t, faced with the might of the U.S. navy.

On November 18, the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Gif-

measures in general. Every person in this country deserves protection from lawless elements. (Philstar.com)

‘Not really bloody’ but unjust, repressive

That was a really bloody operation, legally enabled by a hundred search warrants issued by a single RTC judge in Cebu City, in pursuance of Memorandum Order 32, issued by Duterte on Nov. 22, 2018.

Mind these facts: 1) Most of those killed in their homes and arrested in Negros Oriental were landless farmers fighting for land and social justice, advocacies that Duterte vowed to uphold.

2) Among the offices raided in Bacolod was that of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, its leader (among other mass leaders) was arrested. And 3) those arrested in both operations have been charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a nonbailable offense. They all aver that the firearms and explosives were planted in their houses and offices during the supposed searches.

Metro Manila has not been spared: in the nation’s capital, two parallel raids, arrests, and charges were carried out on Oct. 1 and 5. The series of AFP-PNP operations have been promptly denounced, here and abroad, as foul, unjust, and repressive actions taken by the state against progressive organizations critical of certain policies and programs

as well as human rights violations by the government. Preemptive steps, taken by the national offices of the progressive organizations, have apparently deterred wider raids and arrests.

Meantime, the NTF-ELCAC is pursuing another tack. It is now seeking to disperse political detainees, among them NDFP peace consultants, being held in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City by sending them to already overcrowded provincial and local jails in places where trumped-up charges have been filed against them. Thus far, the chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has written to three Regional Trial Court judges to issue court orders for the transfer, and one judge has already acceded to the request to transfer two detainees.

In seeking the transfer of these political detainees to Lucena City; Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Gumaca, Quezon; and Malolos, Bulacan, the BJMP chief cites as ground the “institutionalization of the wholeof-nation approach” under EO 70 that “includes national efforts to prevent opportunities for Communists Terrorist Groups (CTGs) to conduct organized activities while under detention”(emphasis mine) and the “timely resolution”

of the cases against the detainees pending before the regular courts.

In a statement given to media, the Bicutan political detainees accuse NTF-ELCAC of “blatantly interfering in the judicial process, fabricating lies and false scenarios.” The move to disperse them, they say, runs counter to the long-established practice, even during the Marcos dictatorship, of detaining political detainees in “common facilities for practical reasons, including easier monitoring and control by the state authorities.”

Court records, they add, show that most of the political detainees in Bicutan had been transferred there from local jails – such as the couple Frank Fernandez and Cleofe Lagtapon, NDFP consultants from Negros – upon motion of local wardens “who were worried about security risks in holding them.”

As regards “organized activities,” the Bicutan detainees point out that whatever they have undertaken “cannot be anything but legitimate and justified.” They cite political discussion among themselves and their visitors, social gatherings and celebrations, handicrafts and other livelihood projects, sports, and health and

wellness activities.

In my eight years of detention at the former Bicutan Rehabilitation Center during the Marcos dictatorship, we political detainees were able to organize ourselves and manage our day-to-day activities, including cooking our own meals. I was elected spokesperson and chief negotiator with the Command for the Administration of Detainers (headed in succession by Defense Undersecretaries Jose Crisol and Carmelo Barbero, and Col. Jose Sta. Romana). We took up matters relating to our rights and welfare (easing restrictions, improving facilities, health care), priorities in detainee releases from time to time, etc.

In cases of deadlock, we resorted to fasting and hunger strikes. In all instances these militant actions forced the authorities to recognize the reasonableness of our demands, and we prevailed.

So what’s bugging the NTFELCAC? Are they scared of what the political detainees can do, cooped up in such a limited space in a high-security facility in Bicutan? Is it because, as Secretary Año has admitted, the government is losing “in the propaganda war”? (Philstar.com)

US Navy confirms real intent of PH arbitration vs China

Commentary

RIGOBERTO TIGLAO

Philstar.com photo

fords passed by Mischief Reef in the Spratlys, occupied by China on which it has built an artificial island. China as well as the Philippines and Vietnam claim the reef as part of their sovereign territory.

China calls the Spratlys its Nánsh Qúndo, the Philippines its Kalayaan Island Group, and Vietnam, Qun o Trng Sa. The U.S. ship deliberately sailed within 12 nautical miles of the artificial island, or within its theoretical territorial sea.

Navy spokesman While there has been at least a dozen such Fonops in the Spratlys since 2011, what is significant is how the U.S. navy spokesman, Reann Mommsen, justified it this time: “USS Gabrielle Giffords demonstrated that Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation in its natural state, is not entitled to a territorial sea under international law. Under international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), features like Mischief Reef that are submerged at high tide in their naturally formed state are not entitled to a territorial sea.

The land reclamation efforts, installations and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterization under international law. By engaging in normal operations within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, the United States demonstrated that vessels may lawfully exercise high-seas freedoms in those areas.”

That justification, the language itself, was practically lifted straight from the Hague arbitration tribunal’s July 2016 ruling. While Unclos does contain the provision that an LTE is not entitled to a territorial sea under international law, no country can unilaterally declare any specific feature as such. There has to be an international court or an arbitration agreed upon by the two contending parties for a specific feature to be declared as an LTE. For example, Japan’s “Okinotorishima,” the size of a bedroom juts out of the sea only because the Japanese built an embankment around it, and it would be a stretch to claim it has an territorial sea and 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Yet Japan does claim it is an island which has a territorial sea and EEZ, which gives it a huge 156,000 sq km of EEZ. Japan even rigorously defends that EEZ, protesting every time a survey ship enters that EEZ. China claims Okinotorishima does not have an EEZ, but Japan simply ignores that claim.

Baker Island Not only Japan. Almost all the major powers have “rocks,” which they claim have EEZs. The U.S. claims Howland Island, Baker Island and Kingman Reef have EEZs which gives it huge areas in the Pacific where it has sovereign right. Australia has McDonald Island, while France, Clipperton Island. Why should there be double standards, one for the “imperialist

powers” and another for China, I can imagine the Chinese to be asking.

The U.S. — even if it didn’t accede to the Unclos — is now claiming that Mischief Reef doesn’t have maritime entitlements because of the PH v. China arbitration ruling that it, together with six other reefs China occupies, are LTEs or rocks, which under Unclos are not entitled to territorial seas and EEZs. In fact, such declaration that specific features are LTEs or rocks is the first time this was done.

But the ruling backfired on the Philippines, as it not only declared that Mischief Reef and other such formations are not entitled to a territorial sea nor an EEZ. What shocked scholars and international law experts is that the tribunal ruled that no feature in the Spratlys was an island, and could not have territorial seas and EEZ. The tribunal ruled them all to be either LTEs or “rocks.” It meant that features we possess that are obviously islands — PagAsa which is the biggest island there, Likas, Parola, Lawak, and Kota — are merely “rocks.” In effect we lost the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

The tragedy here is that it is only the Philippines which agreed to be bound by the arbitration suit, as China refused to participate in it. Only the Philippines will be losing the right to claim EEZs around its islands in the Kalayaaan Group of Islands. Taiwan, whose Taip-

US combat ship Gabrielle Giffords: Free to patrol the Spratlys, thanks to PH arbitration suit.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy photo

ing island even has an airport was also ruled as a mere “rock,” can and would obviously ignore the arbitration’s ruling since it is not a part of it. Vietnam which has the biggest number of islands, next to us, will ignore it.

Boon However, the ruling is a big boon for the U.S., which I have argued in several columns brilliantly manipulated Aquino and del Rosario to file the suit. The U.S. even provided its preferred Washington-based law firm to do all the arguing.

The U.S. Navy’s lawyers who have had sleepless nights justifying the Fonops before, can now claim, as it did recently in the case of the Giffords’ recent sailing by Mischief Reef, that the tribunal has ruled that all waters in Spratlys are high seas, not part of any territorial sea claimed by any country, except for the short 500-meter “safety zone” around a “rock.”

That the U.S. Navy’s worries

whether or not its ships are complying with international laws in its Fonops was demonstrated when U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter wrote in December 2015 to Sen. John McCain, who had asked for an explanation of the legality of such operations. Ash in his letter noted that one problem is that there were “factual ambiguities” in the Spratlys, among them that the claimants “have not clarified whether they believe a territorial sea surrounds” features they occupy.

The arbitration tribunal, however, ruled that no feature in the Spratly islands can claim a territorial sea nor an EEZ, making almost all of the Spratly islands international waters that U.S. warships can freely sail in and through. That’s a huge load lifted from the shoulders of the U.S. military lawyers.

And it was even the Philippines which paid over P700 million for lawyers’ fees and other expenses for the suit. (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 29, 2019

Friday, November 29, 2019

SF

cover story

From the cover: Photo by Anthony Chan

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

Fil-Am actress Cassie Grilley shows her love for acting in ‘Gypsy’

Tony Award-winning musical on striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee runs until Dec. 8 by

AJPress

IT doesn’t come as a surprise that San Francisco native Cassie Grilley has loved acting. Growing up, she watched musicals and even performed in her grandmother’s musical theater group, Young People’s Teen Musical Theater Company, which was founded in 1984.

Fast forward to the present, the Filipino American actress is shining onstage through numerous plays.

After being the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in Bay Area Musical’s production of “Hairspray,” Cassie is back in the supporting role of “Agnes” in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical, “Gypsy.”

“Gypsy” is loosely based on the 1957 memoir of famous striptease artist, Gypsy Rose Lee. The story is about Rose, (who is Agnes’ friend Louise’s mother), and her dreams and efforts to raise two daughters as performers.

In an interview with Inquirer.net, Cassie shared that playing Agnes is fun. “...It’s been fun with this character because it’s been open ended,” she said.

“She’s super quirky and it’s a fun character to play. She’s like ‘I’m in a real live theater for the first time.’ It parallels a lot with my excitement for the theatre.”

Cassie also admits that the musical theater is definitely in her body since she

was a baby. And although her family is supportive of her career choice, her mother was initially apprehensive.

“There’ll be times when she’ll be like ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ I think my mom felt a lot more comfortable because knowing my grandma and knowing how they are all artists and they’re still afloat and they’re still making money…

Yeah, it’s definitely what I love to do.

There are success stories. And she’s like, ‘Oh, I understand.’ I’m very aware of how lucky I am,” she said in an interview with Inquirer.net Of course, Cassie has faced challenges of being a bi-racial actress in an industry that is full of stereotypes. Having a Filipino mom and a Caucasian dad, the young actress shared that her identity and appearance is something that she “is still working on.” Whether playing the role of Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray” (where a patron said she wasn’t “white enough”), to the Asian production or “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon”

(where someone alluded that she wasn’t Asian); Cassie shared that she continues to audition for roles to play regardless of their ethnicity.

Playing the lead role of “Rose” is Ariela Morgenstern. Others in the cast are Jade Shojaee, Tia Konsur, DC Scarpelli, Emma Berman, Chloe Fong, Jean-Paul Jones, Elaine Jennings, Olivia Cabrera, Glenna Murillo, Mark Robinson, Ernie Tovar, Amber Lee Wunderlich, Dakota Colussi, Kayla Yee, Juan Castro, Benjamin Nguyen, Phillip Leyva, April Deutschle, Veronica Ortiz and Teddybear Nguyen.

“Gypsy” is directed/choreographed

by Matthew McCoy, with musical director Jon Gallo and is onstage until December 8 at Alcazar Theatre, 650 Geary Street, San Francisco. Music by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Tickets range from $50-$1000 and may be purchased online at www.bamsf. org/gypsy.

Follow Cassie Grilley on Instagram @ cassiewassie295.

Cassie Grilley

Photo by Anthony Chan

Fil-Am songwriter couple back for more ‘Frozen’ delights

conclusion of the first movie, but according to its filmmakers, ManilaTimes.net there is an underlying detail that ultimately leads to a great THE second installment of adventure — one that will bring the highest-grossing animated clarity to everything we know feature of all time, Frozen, about these beloved characters. is back for more musical hits Directed by Jennifer Lee thanks to our kababayan, Oscar and Chris Buck, “Frozen 2” sees award-winning songwriter Robthe animated gang venture out ert Lopez and wife Kristen. of Arendelle and traveling to an After their massive 2013 ancient forest where they hope success for the soundtrack “Let to find out the origins of Elsa’s It Go,” the tandem was tasked extraordinary powers. anew to produce two original The film will take viewers to songs for Frozen 2. a tale of discovery where the From their well of talent sisterhood bond of Queen Elsa first came “Some Things Never Oscar winning songwriting duo Robert and Kristen and Princess Anna is tested, Change,” which, according to Lopez.

Inquirer.net photo by Ruben Nepales as they brave the land of the Robert, reignites the audience’s unknown together. connection with Princess Anna witnessed that in our own two Kristen Bell who is the voice and Queen Elsa. girls because they are four years behind Princess Anna shares “‘Some Things Never apart and the younger one her thoughts on why she thinks Change’ is something we had to thinks the older one still hung Frozen 2 is an important film write in order to reconnect with the moon up to this day and I to share specially to children the characters of the present want to write about that.” who will be its biggest audiday, in their happily ever afters Now, if you loved “Let It in the first film. Maybe they Go,” you will also enjoy the sec- ence, “It’s hard to articulate why people love Frozen cause aren’t all unhappy but there is ond song they wrote for “FroI don’t really know, I mean, I’m something restless and things zen 2,” “Into The Unknown.” biased because we spent a lot that need to happen in order “First thing we learned is of time in the first film, and the for them to move up in their that there is a voice calling second building a story we think lives.”

Elsa… she’s hearing this voice Kristen also reveals that their but doesn’t want to tell anyone is important enough to say and put on screen. inspiration in writing the film’s because she’s worried about “We try to make it about hit songs comes from their two rocking the boat and she knows real problems acknowledging daughters, “Chris Buck showed that there is something in her that kids can see complexity us a beautiful piece of artwork that she feels like she wants to and struggle and suffering and where Elsa was throwing snow answer it,” the couple exrelate to it… I feel like they’re up to Anna who was completely pounded. going to love the second one delighted, like it was the best The animated film takes for those reasons.” thing she has ever seen. We place three years after the

by MJ MArfori

“Frozen 2” isn’t just ice and snow — the characters encounter the fall season and venture into the enchanted forest.

Fil-Am environment modeler John Aquino on building ‘Frozen 2’ world

by ChristinA M. oriel AJPress

AS “Frozen 2” hit theaters over the weekend, viewers once again are transported to the world of Arendelle and accompany sisters Elsa and Anna along their new set of adventures.

After the success of “Frozen” in 2013, lingering questions remained, including: Why does Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) have magical powers? Together with Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad), and Sven, Elsa sets on a journey that tests the range of her abilities and whether they’re enough for the world. Songwriting duo Filipino American Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez are back with a soundtrack full of catchy hits that will stick like the first movie (“Into the Unknown” is easily the new “Let It Go,” for example).

Beyond the characters themselves, the backdrops of “Frozen 2” are equally as spirited and intricate, in part thanks to the work of an environment modeling team that includes Fil-Am John Aquino.

Aquino served as a senior environment modeler on “Frozen 2,” which entailed building the story locations, whether it’s the kingdom of Arendelle or wherever the storyline takes the characters, such as the enchanted forest and dark seas.

While the environment of “Frozen” was mostly cool hues, snow and ice, “Frozen 2” presents an enchanted forest during the autumn season, so there are trees with leaves changing colors and falling to the ground and lush hills. Still, this portrayal of fall is underrated and cool, with orange and red hues that align with the “Frozen” palette.

“This time out, Anna and Elsa’s adventures take them outside the borders of Arendelle so I was responsible for building all of the trees, the props, the castle, the cliffs that you see in the movie, huts or houses in the village,” Aquino told the Asian Journal in a recent interview ahead of the film’s release.

Production designer Michael Giaimo, along with directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, took a trip to Norway, Finland and Iceland to study landscapes, people and cultures that would inspire the story and environments found in the film.

The photos and notes they took during the trip were then relayed to the environment mod-

eling team to start building.

“I want the audience to be enchanted and enamored by the beauty of the world Anna and Elsa live in and have them feel like this is a real place. With capturing that magical, mystical aspect, it’s something that still resonates once you leave the theater,” he said.

Born in Manila and raised in Southern California, Aquino set his sights on becoming a comic book artist, but was enthralled with the world of film animation.

He came to Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1996 as an apprentice after finishing a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic arts from Point Loma College in San Diego.

His early work at the studio includes serving as an effects animator on “Hercules,” “Fantasia 2000” and “The Emperor’s New Groove.” He then came into his current role as a modeler, having a hand in films like “Tangled,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Frozen,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia” and “Moana” before the most recent “Frozen 2”.

In his 23 years at Disney, technology has changed the way artists and modelers have operated, making more precise and easier in some ways.

“I used to be a traditional artist, drawing effects for our 2D films. When the computer age came for the industry and CG was the flavor for the animation industry, I decided to go into environment building because [to me] it felt more artistic and sculptural,” Aquino said. “Over the years, from ‘Chicken Little,’ which was my first CG film, to ‘Frozen 2,’ there have been leaps and bounds regarding technology,” he said.

One of the challenges with “Frozen 2”, Aquino described, was the handling of the trees in the enchanted forest since a major element was the mysticism in that setting.

“We rely on our proprietary software of making trees but we had to go an extra step in order for them to be more dynamic and more art directed and really following design of almost a flat nature,” he said. “But really, also with the environments, we had to go into a little bit more detail in order for us to capture [it]. We don’t want it to look too fantasy, we want it to look like it’s a real place too, a real analog place.”

Earlier this year, Aquino had the opportunity to step into the director’s chair with his own short,

Walt Disney Animation Studios environment modeler John Aquino, who’s worked on films from “Frozen 2” to “Moana.”

“Lightning in a Bottle.”

Aquino’s creation comes through Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Circuit, a program that allows employees at the studios to pitch an idea and receive studio support to develop an original short film.

The program is similar to Pixar’s Spark Shorts, which included fellow Fil-Am artist Bobby Rubio’s “Float” this year, featuring the studio’s first-ever Filipino characters.

In Aquino’s “Lightning in a Bottle,” the young boy protagonist captures lightning inside a jar that soon mimics his own actions.

He must then decide whether to keep it or release it back into the sky.

For this, Aquino studied electricity and weather patterns to help develop the lightning character.

It was one of six new shorts that debuted at the “Short Circuit” panel at D23 Expo in the summer and screened at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

Though, we’ll have to wait until it drops on Disney+ sometime in early 2020.

“As a Filipino American, I want people to know that we have a voice in the animation industry. It takes a village to raise a child as they say, and in this case, I used to think animated films were just done by one person. It’s actually done by multiple people coming together, collaborating, and Filipino Americans are part of that,” Aquino said.

He added, “It’s an exciting time for Filipino Americans at Disney Animation. We are being recognized for our hard work and have been given opportunities for the first time in directing and telling our stories, whether it’s with me directing ‘Lightning in a Bottle,’ or Josie Trinidad being selected as a director for a Disney feature film.”

Regine, Ogie fulfill dream Italy honeymoon 9 years later

by Cody CePedA Inquirer.net

ASIA’S Songbird Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid seemed to be lost in their own little world during their trip to Italy. The lovebirds were with other Kapamilya stars including Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dimples Romana, Jodi Sta. Maria, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla who flew to Italy for their “ASAP Natin ’To Rome” show on Nov. 16.

Alcasid shared to his fans that their dream honeymoon after they got married in 2010 was Positano, a village on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. However, they never got to go since Velasquez got pregnant with their son Nate two months after.

“And so, we both said ‘maybe someday,’” said Alcasid via Instagram on Nov. 19. “Well, the Lord has blessed us after 9 years of waiting because finally we made it here. It certainly was worth the wait.”

Velasquez and Alcasid wasted no time in reveling in the beautiful sights and scrumptious eats of Italy, making sure they did not miss out on the pastas and

Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid by a bridge in Ponte Vecchio, Florence.

Photo from Instagram/@ogiealcasid

gelato.

The couple also did their fair share of shopping and took to the luxury outlets at the Mall Firenze in Tuscany.

They then went sightseeing and took to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence before wandering off to Ponte Vecchio, complete with a “tabing ilog” moment.

Velasquez and Alcasid also had the chance to meet with Giorgio Pinchiorri, the owner of 3 Michelin star-awarded restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri, plus see its wine collection, which is one of the most extensive in the world.

Velasquez did many things differently or that she would not ordinarily do, during their trip, as per her Instagram post today, Nov. 22. Nevertheless, she said she and Alcasid still had a memorable time in their adventures in Italy.

“I walked ( I hate walking) I ate (a lot) I drank wine ( I don’t really drink). I shopped but didn’t really buy anything for my self. My phone was almost fully charged at the end of the day coz I was talking (a lot) and I was laughing the whole time,” said Velasquez. “To make a long story short I had a great time.”

community

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

The entrepreneur mindset: Seeing your clearest what Seeing my vision

WHY AM I BEING HELD FOR QUESTIONING, AND MY PASSPORT AND GREEN CARD BEING TAKEN EVERY TIME I ENTER THE U.S. EVEN IF I AM A PERMANENT RESIDENT? THIS QUESTION AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ON “CITIZEN PINOY: YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT!” The fourth and final batch of Kapamilya who came to the “Citizen Pinoy” taping in Virginia get the chance to have their questions answered this Sunday. Find out if someone is able to acquire her work permit if there is an employer willing to sponsor, even if her B1-B2 visa already expired a year ago. And get to know what the best option is for someone who filed all necessary paperwork for humanitarian reinstatement after their father died, but the documents were misplaced by the USCIS. Get answers to these and more on a brand-new episode of — “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Immigration Corner

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks

work, dedication, and passion for this worthy public service.

Thank you to all of our friends in the media, who THANKSGIVING is when people step back and reflect on through their prestigious publications, enabled us to reach all of the wonderful things and events to be grateful for, and to those who need our services give thanks to those people who and inform the Filipino commuplayed such a key role in helping nity about newsworthy immigration information. You serve us achieve them. as an avenue to help “BRING At this Thanksgiving, I FAMILIES TOGETHER” and would like to once again give help “MAKE THE AMERICAN thanks to all of the people who have been so kind and support- DREAM COME TRUE.” Thank you to my staff. Your ive of me and my immigration tireless efforts and dedication to law practice. our clients are the main reasons Thank you to all of my clients. You are the reason I am we can continue to provide quality service to our many loyal able to remain in business. I clients. also know how important your Thank you to my wife, immigration matter is in your life Millie.

People say that behind and in the life of your family. I every successful man, there is a appreciate your trust and conFilipina wife. After many years of fidence in my office, in allowing marriage, I know it’s true. Words us to handle such an important cannot express my gratitude for matter.

Thank you to the entire Fili- your help, support and dedicapino community. I truly appreci- tion to our business. You are the “wind beneath my wings.” ate your warmth and support, And most of all, thank you and I thank you for all of your to the Almighty. Without His letters and emails telling me blessings, benevolence, and how you enjoy my articles and television show, “Citizen Pinoy.” guidance, none of this would be possible. May He allow me I am happy to be of service to to continue to assist people you, and I will continue to supwith their problems, and allow port Filipino events and causes. the prayers of all people to be Thank you to ABS-CBN, answered and fulfilled.

TFC, and the entire crew of *** “Citizen Pinoy,” who share my Michael J. Gurfi nkel has been an attorvision of providing a public-service program to the Filipino com- ney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars munity concerning immigration of California and New York. All immigrainformation. It makes me so tion services are provided by, or under proud and happy when people the supervision of, an active member of come up to me, saying they the State Bar of California. Each case watch “Citizen Pinoy” every is different and results may depend on single week, and have learned so much from the real life stories the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained and questions and answers herein (including testimonials, “Success presented. I thank all the crew of “Citizen Pinoy” for their hard Stories”, endorsements and re-enact-

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

Can I contact the USCIS office to find out why I get stopped and held up, and my passport and green card are taken every single time I enter the US even if I am a permanent resident?

Get the answer this Sunday on “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot”

“CITIZEN PINOY,” the most popular immigration program on television, completed several successful sessions with Kapamilya in Virginia. This Sunday, get the answers to questions from the fourth and final batch of attendees.

Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel replies to questions like --- Is it possible that the USCIS misplaced my documents? Our Kapamilya just filed humanitarian reinstatement and submitted all necessary paperwork, but it seems that USCIS misplaced the documents. What’s

the best option to move forward with the case?

An employer is willing to sponsor and obtain work permit for one of their employees. Is that possible even if her B1-B2 visa expired one year ago?

These and more questions will be answered on an all-new edition of the informationpacked, public service program on television — “Citizen Pinoy: Your Tanong, My Sagot —this Sunday 6:15 p.m. PST/ EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

Anne feels baby’s kick: ‘Bizarre, amazing feeling’

by CHA LINO Inquirer.net

IT appears that Anne Curtis’ child is healthy. The soon-to-be mother shared the “bizarre and amazing feeling” of her child moving inside her body, as her baby’s kicks got stronger.

The actress enthusiastically updated her fans on Twitter about the development on Sunday, November 24.

“Little one kicking so strong now. What a bizarre and amazing feeling .”

Curtis has been vocal about her journey through motherhood ever since she announced her pregnancy to the public on Nov. 10. In small snippets, the noontime show host regularly gives her fans an idea of her pregnancy quirks.

Curtis said yesterday that she Continued on Page SF6

ments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

One Global Academy JONATHAN OBOZA PETALVER ENTREPRENEURIAL Vision is more of a Business Plan written and seen. As the saying goes “You cannot see what you do not write”. A lot of entrepreneurs can say it but cannot write it. It is for your best intention that you can clearly explain and let others see what you see.

For instance, a carpenter knows his mission, and that is to provide a strong, beautiful shelter using his carpentry tools. He has to draw and write the design the shape as to how he sees it. As soon as he is done, he presents a great masterpiece through his God-given skills that even he sometimes cannot believe. This is a classic case of knowing your deepest WHY and your clearest WHAT that ends in a skillful HOW.

This article will guide you in crafting your Creed Statement which is different how others craft a Vision/Mission Statement. Primarily, Vision Statement clearly answers so many “WHATs”. This is in full support of your WHY until it becomes the HOW. A lot of times, we always seek for the HOWs without understanding that when the WHY meets the WHAT, the HOW is just an end RESULT. What do you see?

What do you see? A Frog or a Horse.

Well, actually, both. But it is not whether you say it is a frog or a horse. What’s important is you see something. If you see a frog, all your decisions will be frog-related decisions. If you see a horse, all your strategies will be horse-related strategies.

So what is the point? The point is where you see things clearly, it will give you more or less a clear direction as to where you want to bring your enterprise. That is why is it very, very important for entrepreneurs nowadays to pinpoint

the right direction by knowing a lot of WHATs before putting up something and offering to the public.

This will give impact and greater chance of success because as we said when the WHY meets its WHAT, the HOW will be very surprising!

So the question now is, how do we craft our Vision Statement?

There are 5 things that you need to consider in crafting a clearer VISION before starting up anything. A lot of times, the pitfalls of some entrepreneurs is that they forgot to write their own version of their “business plan”. Your Vision Statement primarily serves as your Business Plan and you have to be crystal clear about it.

In the next article I will share with you what are those questions that need to be answered for you to have a concrete and solid vision plan. *** Jonathan Oboza Petalver is the Founder and CEO of Petalver Management Consultancy Services. He is also the President and Dean of One Global Academy U.S.A.

SF

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

celebrity world

World boxing champ Manny Pacquiao heads list of December birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar INTERNATIONALLY known boxing champion and Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays this merry month of December.

The world-famous boxer will be turning 41 on Tuesday, December 17.

Other personalities celebrating their birthdays this December are: December 4 - Former Miss RP-USA Sarah Atienza Leong, and singer Yeng Constantino; December 6 - Philippine News Today Vice President for Operations and Promotions Thelma Cruz; December 7 - GMA 7/Pinoy TV President Atty. Felipe Gozon, Daly City medical assistant Susan Gonzales, and San Francisco jewelry designer and manufacturer Josie Harris; December 8 - Filipina caregiver Aida Marinas; December 9 - Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and Marina seaside community leader Anita Lomboy; December 10 - Former Miss RP-USA World Eva Reyes; December 11 - Former president of the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California Dr. Carmelo Lim Roco, and matinee idol Derek Ramsey; December 12 - Hillsborough successful businesswoman Upeng Abad Sy, and Concert Queen Pops Fernandez; December 13 - Former senator Manny Villar; December 15 - Cupertino jetsetter Rema Zafrani Vasa; December 16 - The late original Queen of Philippine movies Rosa del Rosario, multi-awarded actress Gloria

Romero, Health Professionals chief accountant Elvie Angeles, and actress Aiko Melendez; December 17 - Former Miss United Nations International Anna Satorre, and GMA Pinoy TV comedian Michael V (of the top rated show “Bubble Gang); December 18 - “The Gift” leading lady Mikee Quintos; December 20 - Star Cinema actress Valerie Concepcion, the late South San Francisco community leader Connie Belleza Gaspar, and singer-actor Carlos Agassi; December 21 - Former Mrs. RP-USA International and fashion model Marilen Bernardo, former Mrs. RP-USA World Christine Acha, and Filipino

restaurateur Manny Noguera (owner of Ongpin Restaurant); December 23 - Filipino hotel executive Marc Garvida; December 24 - Multi-award winning actress Lorna Tolentino; December 27 - Gilroy auto shop owner Dar Rabonza; December 28 - Former Mrs. RP-USA Las Vegas and fashion designer Nina Alberto, and former LBC treasurer Fely Ruiz; December 29 - San Ramon businesswoman Flora Enriquez; Former Philippine senator Manny Villar will celebrate his birthday on Friday, and December 13. He is shown in photo with his cousin, beauty impresario Ferdie December 30 - Star Cinema Villar. actor Jake Cuenca (who was born in San Jose, California).

Happy birthday to all celebrants and advanced Happy Holidays!

World renowned boxing champion and Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao heads the list of December birthday celebrants. He is turning 41 on Tuesday, December 17.

BANKRUPTCY

Cupertino Filipina jetsetter Rema Zafrani Vasa will celebrate her birthday on Sunday, December 15.

Health Professionals chief accountant Elvie Angeles will celebrate her birthday on Monday, December 16.

Former Miss United Nations International Anna Satorre will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, December 17.

Filipino restaurant owner Manny Noguera will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, December 21.

Former Miss RP-USA Sarah Atienza Leong will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, December 4.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT HOUSING

community SF5 Two magical words

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (CONTINUED from last week …)

So okay, your partner is the consummate slob and you have to pick up after him. He thinks he has a maid living with him for free. He has this maddening habit of not putting the toothpaste cap back on. That’s easy. Get one with a cap that snaps back on.

The point is to find a way to work around an annoyance ing it hard for Californians to or accept the tiny irritations. find room to breathe freely, With time and patience, things even in and around their own get easier. As you get older homes. and hopefully, wiser, your eyes You do so much to protect your family already. You install dim and your hearing goes for a reason. You become less alarm systems. You put baby critical as you see the bigmonitors around the house. ger picture more clearly. You But in reality, one of the most dangerous things of all may be become tone deaf and refuse coming from next door. to be thin skinned and easily So don’t ignore your offended. neighbor’s secondhand Love is a two-way street. smoke, no matter what it Note how you behave towards comes from. Your family’s him. How do you look to him? health is at stake. And the botDo you take the time and the tom line is: unless your complex is completely smoke-free, effort to look va-va-voom and give him that look that can you and your family could be make his heartbeat race just in danger.

(Advertising Supplement) a tad? Or do you nag him to death for every little thing? Do you make him feel small with your smartass barbs? Or does he feel he can soar like an eagle when you are around him?

Don’t buy into the modern concept of the throwaway or trade-up society that seems to imply you can change partners every five years or so. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It may work for cars and appliances but falls flat for human relationships.

Fix what can yet be fixed.

Nurture what can grow into something beautiful. Eat humble pie, if you have to. There is no shame if you truly love. Ask a Higher Power to help you keep things whole.

Taking your husband, wife

Your risk is on the rise: Secondhand marijuana and vape are harmful

THE smell used to give it away — that nasty, unmistakable scent of cigarette smoke.

And you knew, somehow, your neighbor’s smoke was drifting in your house. But what if your neighbor vapes? Or smokes marijuana? That’s when the dangerous chemicals from next door become harder to detect or possibly mistaken for something else. All the while, you and your family’s health is at risk, sometimes without you ever knowing it.

Truth is, secondhand smoke is sneaky. It doesn’t need an open door or window to enter your apartment. A neighbor’s smoke can travel through tiny cracks in the

floors, walls, pipes, ventilation systems, and even electrical outlets.

Secondhand smoke from cigarettes already kills 41,000 nonsmoking adults and 400 innocent children each year.

And now secondhand vape is adding to the amount of toxic particles you could be exposed to every day. Because it’s not actually harmless water vapor. It’s a toxic aerosol that’s also filled with nicotine particles. To make matters worse, even secondhand marijuana contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke.

It’s new forms of secondhand smoke like these that are mak-

Calendar 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 D EC E M B E R 1

Kalayaan Incorporated’s Christmas Party and induction of officers in Monterey Park, CA Kalayaan Incorporated’s Induction of Officers 2019-2020 will be held during its Christmas Party on Sunday, Decemeber 1, from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Monterey Hill Event Center. The hilltop venue offers a spectacular view of the San Gabriel Valley, and is located at 3700 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, Calif. 91754. Kalayaan Incorporated, a non-profit public benefit corporation in the State of California, classified as a public charity organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, holds the annual celebration in Southern California of the anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence. Chairing the Induction and Christmas Party is Violet Mislang with Lady Hope Robillos, Co-chair, and Nonie Belarmino, Program Coordinator. Cost of lunch is $40.00. For more information, please contact Violet at (562) 644-4073, vmislang@gmail.com; Lady Hope at (310) 500-0917, lhopepr@yahoo.com; or Nonie (310) 357-0222, Idancenonie@outlook.com.

Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown anniversary & Christmas Party On Sunday, December 1, the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown will celebrate its 13th anniversary and Christmas Party during a major FUNdraising event. Expect a night filled with food, drinks, entertainment and activities such as raffle prizes and silent auction prizes. The Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown was chartered in 2007 originally of Filipino descendants, who are leaders of the community, professionals and entrepreneurs. Today it has members from different cultural backgrounds. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. at Capital Seafood Restaurant (50 N. La Cienega Blvd. Ste 130 Beverly Hills, CA 90211). Attire is business casual. Donation is $65.

D EC E M B E R 2

LA County Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Los Angeles kicks off the holiday season with the County’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday, December 2 from 5 to 6 p.m at the Music Center Plaza (135 N. Grand Ave). The joyous celebration will include civic speakers, including Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and performances by Brass Pacifica and a local school choir. The event is free and open to the public, plus hot cocoa will be served to keep attendees warm!

D EC E M B E R 7

UPHPEIS-AANA fundraising event in Whittier, CA UPHPEIS-AANA (UP High Prep Elementary Integrated System- Alumni Association in North America) is hosting its annual fundraising event with the 8th Annual Grand Reunion on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at the DoubleTree Hilton in Whittier (7320 Green Leaf Ave. Whittier, CA 90602) from 10:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Luncheon buffet includes entertainment, DJ music, dancing, raffle drawing and other fun surprises. Thereafter, guests are invited to more live dancing and fun music provided by the AM FM Band at Noypitz Bar & Grill at 333 S Alameda, LA 90013 in the evening. Funds raised will be use for needed building repairs, classroom and educational projects for UP Diliman students in Elementary and High School, and for the training of public school teachers in nearby communities. Tickets donations are $50.00 each which you can reserve on line through our website at www.uphpeisaana.org, or by calling for Bobby at (562) 607-8839 or Mabel at (562) 852-7116.

D EC E M B E R 22

SIPA’s Christmas toy distribution in LA During this season of giving, volunteer with Search to Involve Pilipino Americans on Sunday, December 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they spread joy in Los Angeles. Join SIPA as they hand gifts out to youth in the Historic Filipinotown community, eat delicious pancakes, and listen to some Christmas tunes! Contact Maria Carmel Valendez at maria@sipacares.org or (213) 382-1819 ext. 107.

D EC E M B E R 29

#HashtagLunchbag/SIPA food drive in LA The Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and #Hashtag Lunchbag are joining forces to create positive changes in Historic Filipinotown on Sunday, December 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. SIPA will be hosting a Food Drive with #HashtagLunchbag to create letters of encouragement, decorate lunch bags, and assemble sandwiches for those in need in Historic Filipinotown. When finished, they will be giving out lunch bags to homeless youth, women, and families. Registration contact and link: Maria Carmel Valendez at maria@sipacares.org or (213) 382-1819 ext. 107.

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

(Conclusion of 2 Parts)

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

- Jean Baptiste Massieu or partner for granted is the biggest cause of so many divorces these days. If alarming numbers are to be believed, half the population already live in Splitsville.

There is a disproportionate number of single moms and single dads worldwide struggling with severely diminished finances and dealing with court-appointed visits, juggling schedules, shuttling children in two locations and in cases of bitter, acrimonious divorces, competing for their children’s affections.

Honestly, who wants to live a life like that? Does anyone in his right mind really want to be disappointed and live cynical lives dealing with what I call the BIG D’s?

These are the doldrums of doubt, darkness, disease, depression, desperation, dejection, disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment.

You just wish you can DELETE all that from your life. Sadly, some go to the deep end tragically ending in death.

Love has died. Nothing matters. Yet love, according to the “Desiderata” is as perennial as the grass. While there is life, hope springs eternal.

Those who are not put off by a disastrous relationship think that “the right one” is just around the corner.

That may be so. But if they do not learn from their previous mistakes, they are doomed to repeat them.

There’s that D again. They will cycle in and out of one disastrous relationship after the other.

Single parenthood is no cakewalk in most cases. Ask around. Do not believe the

distortion of truth in movies spun by Hollywood or this trend of celebrities adopting babies and the media glamorizing the lives of single parents.

That is one tall tale of an ego on steroids. There is no romantic or comedic element in going it alone. Single parenthood is more like the Theater of the Absurd. The honest truth: there is little glamour or fun in single parenthood – in far too many cases, it is just an endless, harrowing tale of one struggle after the next.

There are exceptions of course. Unless fate played a dirty trick on you and you ended up meeting and marrying the partner from hell who is a sociopath, a psychopath, a criminal, a user, a liar, a pervert, a druggie, a murderer, a serial philanderer or just unfit to live in this planet with another human being, the best way to happiness would be to love, appreciate and say “thank you” to the one you’re with every single day of your life together.

And while you’re at it, blow a kiss to the heavens for making you a winner in the love lottery stakes sending you someone you love or can learn to love AND (THE BLESSING of all blessings) who loves you back!

Love is not a 50-50 proposition. It’s not even giving 110% of yourself to the other.

It sounds sentimental, sappy and old fashioned but whether you like it or not, it is giving of yourself without counting the cost. It is the pure, intrinsic nature of life’s greatest mystery Continued on Page SF6

people & events The attorney-client relationship

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

tion? And, more importantly, that a rejected application could lead to the issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA)? In September 2018, changes in policy were put in place allowing immigration officers to reject visa applications Atty. LiLLi BAcuLi coLLins, EsQ immediately due to missing or inaccurate information. Previously, USCIS will issue “Requests for EviAS attorneys, we get frantic or panicked phone calls from our dence” (RFE) if there are missing information, allowing applicants clients worried about their cases. to address gaps in their paperIt’s a natural response – nobody wants to be in a place of unknow- work. “Notices of Intent to Deny” were also issued, as per prior ing – and we try our best to walk guidance, which gave applicants a people through the process. For 30-day warning that their applicathe most part, the panic comes tion would likely be rejected. from information gathered from Applications affected by these the wonderful world of the internet: someone read this article policies and its recent changes in policy apply to: (i) applicaor watched that video, then later tions and renewals of temporary fears are confirmed upon speak(non-immigrant) visas, and (ii) ing with a neighbor’s-husband’spermanent resident status (imthird-cousin who had the “same migrant) visas. Securing such visas exact situation.” Oh boy. are required in order for non-U.S. Most attorneys cannot speak citizen foreign nationals to legally about cases they have not hanlive and work in the United States. dled. Each case is unique – one Can USCIS refer a file to tiny fact, one tiny detail could change the course of a case. And, deportation for the issuance of a Notice to Appear after it the in immigration cases where the case has been denied? Yes. The threat of deportation is very real why would you gamble with your U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may also issue life? Or your family’s life? an NTA when it finds a noncitizen New policy for rejecting incomplete or inaccurate filings. has not complied with regulations governing admission or maintainDid you know that a single error ing lawful status after admission. could mean a rejected applica-

The CTV Files

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

Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys.com; www.chuatinsayvega.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

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AIM can enroll students with an M1 visa, a non-immigrant student attending a non-academic trade or vocational school, which has been approved by the INS to offer such training. Not on a M1 visa? Students may still be able to study with AIM. AIM San Francisco BayMetro is located at 420 Whitney Place, Fremont, CA 94539 and offers Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Maintenance Technician programs. The AMT program is designed to provide students the knowledge and skills as an aircraft mechanic and prepares them for the FAA test. The maintenance technician course prepares the student for entrylevel employment within a wide variety of maintenance-related fields.

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Anne feels baby’s kick...

From Page SF3 was adjusting to her body’s need for more sleep. As a busy actress and host, she added that she couldn’t do her daily routine anymore without sneaking in a nap.

“Being someone who’s been so used to working so much.

Hindi ko na kaya (I can’t do it anymore).”

The actress also appeared to be craving a certain food, as per her post on Nov. 18, about her love for potatoes.

The weird sleeping patterns are apparently part of the journey. The actress expressed her shock when a fan said: “Wait on your [7th] or 8th month it (sic) your little one will wake you up at 1 [a.m.] or 2 [a.m.].”

Curtis was already in her fifth month of pregnancy when she

Anne Curtis Photo from Instgram/@annecurtissmith

and her husband celebrity chef Erwan Heussaff decided to share the news.

Two magical words...

From Page SF5 – LOVE, beyond all telling.

Those couples buried six feet deep, side by side at Forest Lawn probably understood what love and devotion meant.

Their souls may have fused.

Their hearts in the hereafter probably beat as one.

That is one story you can believe in.

How to find THE ONE if

you’re on the hunt? Or how can you make THE ONE realize that you’re THE ONE for him or her without beating him or her over the head?

That is one story for yet another day. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 29, 2019

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - November 22, 2019