121317 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

December 13-15, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 100 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Duterte asks Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao for one more year

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

A soldier guards Masiu Bridge in the lakeside village of Raya Madaya, one of the main battle areas in Marawi City, in this photo taken on Oct. 22, a week after President Duterte declared the city free of terrorists.

Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has formally asked Congress to extend anew his martial law proclamation in Mindanao for one more year to achieve the “total eradication” of Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists and communists rebels in the area.

In a letter dated Friday, December 8, Duterte requested Congress’s approval to extend the martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao until December 31, 2018.

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USA

DATELINE SF’s first Asian American mayor, Ed Lee, passes at 65

DOLE ANNIVERSARY. President Rodrigo Duterte flashes his signature pose with the officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) during the agency’s 84th Anniversary Celebration at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos City. During his speech, the president reiterated that he would stake everything to crush the drug menace and expressed zero tolerance for corruption.

Malacañang photo by Yancy Lim

Sereno camp: Justices’ testimonies are only opinions, not grounds for impeachment

by AJPRESS

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

PRAISED as a trailblazer and voice for civil rights, Ed Lee, mayor of San Francisco and friend of the city’s Filipino-American community, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, at the age

of 65.

Lee passed away at 1:11 a.m. at Zuckerberg General Hospital from a heart attack while grocery shopping at a Safeway supermarket with his wife, not too far away from

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Supreme Court Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Francis Jardeleza, Teresita de Castro, and retired Associate Justice Arturo Brion attended the House justice committee hearing on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Monday, Dec. 12.

Inquirer.net photo by Noy Morcoso

THE camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday, December 12, dismissed the testimonies of four Supreme Court (SC) justices as mere “personal opinions” and could not serve as grounds for the chief magistrate’s impeachment.

In a statement, Atty. Jojo

Duterte wants to hold Sanofi accountable for Dengvaxia mess

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“Their statements did not prove that the allegations against the Chief Justice were impeachable offenses. It is unfortunate that their (justices) perspectives were colored by their personal sentiments,” he added.

Lacanilao also expressed alarm over their supposed

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by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte wants to hold French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur liable for the medical issues hounding the drug company’s landmark dengue vaccine, Malacañang said Tuesday, December 12.

In a media briefing, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Duterte is standing by the decision of the Department of Health (DOH) to hold Sanofi accountable following the manufacturer’s disclosure that its dengue vaccine Dengvaxia poses more risk and severe infections among those who had not been previously infected by the virus.

“He (Duterte) stands by the recommendation of the DOH to hold Sanofi responsible,”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Thomas Triomphe, Sanofi Pasteur’s Asia Pacific head, listens during the Senate hearing on the dengue vaccine controversy on Monday, Dec. 11.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Covered California’s Dec. 15 deadline approaches u PAGE A2 for consumers seeking health insurance coverage PNP drug enforcement chief As the calendar turns to 2018, Covered California is ringing the Christmas bell that a wonderful gift awaits most people who sign up for health insurance by Dec. 15 — lower prices.

A new analysis finds that the net monthly premiums for the 85 percent of Covered California enrollees who get financial help — the price they will pay after a plan’s premium is discounted by the federal subsidy — is an average of 10 percent less than new and renewing consumers paid last year.

Open Enrollment for health plans began Nov. 1 and through Nov. 30, the data showed that the average net price for plans selected by new and renewing consumers

Lacanilao, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, lamented how the testimonies of the four SC justices against the chief justice were “colored” by their personal sentiments.

“Their testimonies reflected personal opinions of the justices on matters already decided by the Supreme Court en banc,” Lacanilao said.

Roque told reporters.

He added that the president also wants a

asks public for a second chance

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PNP-DEG Chief Supt. Albert Ferro Inquirer.net photo

WITH its return to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, the Philippine National Police’s Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) asked the public to give the group a second chance to prove itself.

In a statement on Monday, December 11, newly-installed PNP-DEG Chief Supt. Albert Ferro did not deny that the police committed mistakes in the past.

Despite the previous errors, Ferro asked public for its trust as he vowed for a reformed unit and more transparent police operations.

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www.TravelTradeConsumer.com Asian Journal’s series of annual events showcasing tourism, trade, and business opportunities in the USA and Philippines.

Inquirer.net photo

Filipinos in US told to be vigilant after NY attack

by JEFFERSON

ANTIPORDA ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, December 12 called on Filipinos abroad to exercise a higher level of vigilance in the wake of the attempted terror attack in the United States.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York said the incident involved the premature detonation of a pipe bomb carried by a lone attacker in an underground passage in the terminal, the main transport hub for buses going in and out of New York.

Consul General Maria Teresa Dizon de Vega said the consulate immediately issued an advisory requesting members of the 56,100-strong Filipino community to avoid the area and to observe usual precautions while

the investigation was ongoing.

No Filipino was hurt in the incident that happened in the terminal commonly used by Filipinos from New Jersey and nearby areas to take their connecting subway rides to their offices in Manhattan.

“We encourage our kababayan (compatriots) abroad to heighten their vigilance,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

The DFA also advised Filipinos traveling abroad for work, business or pleasure to make sure they have the contact details of Philippine embassies and consulates in the countries they go to.

The latest attack in New York came more than five weeks after eight persons were killed and 11

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A december 13-15, 2017 • LA mIdWeeK ASIAN JOUrNAL

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From the Front Page

Duterte wants to hold Sanofi accountable...

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refund of the P3.5 billion the government paid for the vaccines in 2016, saying that there has been a “concealment” of health risks posed by Dengvaxia.

“He (Duterte) wants a refund of what we had paid because there was concealment of a material fact and that is that children who have not developed dengue may acquire the disease three to six years after the vaccination,” the Palace official said.

“That was not a known fact when government decided to embark on the vaccination program,” he added.

Last year, at least 730,000 Filipino children were administered Dengvaxia as part of the DOH’s mass immunization program under then-Health Secretary Janette Garin during the term of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. But the DOH immediately suspended the its anti-dengue vaccination program on December 1 after Sanofi released an analysis

which found out that “for those not previously infected by dengue virus… in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”

According to the DOH, 8 to 10 percent or about 70,000 children who were administered Dengvaxia have not had dengue yet.

Malacañang said that Duterte will also “run after individuals who have criminal culpability” over the vaccine controversy that prompted a Congressional probe into the dengue immunization program.

“The president is awaiting results of the investigation. And he has promised that after investigation are — has been or have been conducted both by the Senate and the Department of Justice (DOJ) — that he will run after all individuals who may have criminal culpability for this,” Roque said.

‘Disservice to Filipino people’ During the joint hearing of the

Senate blue ribbon, health and finance committees on Monday, December 11, Asia-Pacific head of Sanofi Pasteur Thomas Triomphe insisted that there has been no negligence on the part of the company.

“We have not seen any negligence on the part of the company. But we are willing to cooperate,” Triomphe said.

The Sanofi official also clarified that Dengvaxia “continues to be effective and safe” despite their study showing it could cause “0.02 percent increased risk of getting traditional Dengue symptoms, such as fever, low platelet count, or nose bleeding.”

“This updated information, which is part of Sanofi Pasteur’s HOME SWEET HOME. Workers rush the construction of transitory houses for families displaced by the war in Marawi City. The housing project that sits on 22 hectares in Barangay sagonsongan in Marawi City will serve as temporary homes for more than 1,000 families. post-licensing monitoring acManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan tivities conducted as a matter of best scientific practice, shows that seronegative persons have a 0.02 percent increased risk of getting traditional Dengue symptoms, such as fever, low PAGE A1 sure total eradication of DAE- “have been monitored in their platelet count, or nose bleedDuterte noted that both the SH-Inspired Da’awatul islami- continued efforts towards radiPAGE A4 Philippine National Police (PNP) yah Waliyatui Masriq (DIWM), calization/recruitment, financial and the Armed Forces of the other like-minded Local/Foreign and logistical buildup.”

He added that the group of Philippines (AFP) recommended Terrorist Groups (L/FTGs) and a one-year martial law exten- Armed Lawless Groups (ALGs), Turaifie, who is believed to be and the communist terrorists Hapilon’s potential successor sion.

“I ask the Congress of the (CTs) and their coddlers, sup- as Emir of DAESH Wilayat in the Philippines and Southeast Philippines to further extend the porters, and financiers.”

“The security assessment sub- Asia, has been monitored to be proclamation of Martial Law and the suspension of the privilege of mitted by the AFP, supported planning to conduct bombings, the writ of habeas corpus in the by a similar assessment by the “notably targeting the Cotabato whole of Mindanao for a period Philippine National Police high- area.”

He also said the Bangsamof one (1) year, from 01 January lights certain essential facts that 2018 to 31 December 2018, or I, as Commander-in-Chief of all oro Islamic Freedom Fighters for such other period of time as armed forces of the Philippines, (BIFF) also “continue(s) to defy the Congress may determine, in have personal knowledge of,” he the government by perpetrating at least fifteen (15) violent inciaccordance with Section 18, Ar- added.

The president noted that de- dents during the Martial Law peticle VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” the president said spite the deaths of Abu Sayyaf riod in Maguindanao and North leader Isnilon Hapilon, and of Cotabato.” in his letter.

According to him, the BIFF Section 18, Article 7 of the Maute brothers Abdullah and Constitution states that Con- Omar, the remnants of their “has initiated at least eightygress, through joint voting, may groups “have continued to re- nine (89) violent incidents mostrevoke or extend the declaration build their organization through ly harassments and roadside of martial law and suspension of the recruitment and training of bombings against government the privilege of the writ of habe- new members and fighters to troops” this year. carry on the rebellion.”

Duterte also cited the attacks as corpus.

“These activities are geared of the New People’s Army (NPA) Duterte declared martial law and suspended the writ of ha- towards the conduct of intensi- to justify his request to extend beas corpus in Mindanao on fied atrocities and armed pub- martial law.

He claimed that, while the May 23 following the attack of lic uprisings in support of their IS-inspired Maute terrorists in objective of establishing the government was addressing the Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The foundation of a global Islamic threats posed by the IS, commupresident’s 60-day proclamation caliphate and of a Wilayat not nist group “took advantage of was initially set to expire last July only in the Philippines but also the situation and intensified their 22 but was extended by Congress in the whole of Southeast Asia,” decades-long rebellion against Duterte said. the government and stepped up until December 31 of this year.

The president took note that terrorist acts against innocent In his letter, Duterte explained that he wanted another martial the remnants of DAESH-inspired civilians and private entities.” law extension “primarily to en- DIWM members and their allies PAGE A4

Duterte asks Congress to extend...

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A december 13-15, 2017 • LA mIdWeeK ASIAN JOUrNAL

SF’s first Asian American mayor...

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their Glen Park home, according to a report by the San Francisco Gate.

“It is with profound sadness and terrible grief that we confirm that Mayor Edwin M. Lee passed away,” read a statement from the mayor’s office. “Family, friends and colleagues were at his side. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anita, his two daughters, Brianna and Tania, and his family.”

City Hall flags were brought to half-mast on Tuesday as condolences poured in for the city’s 43rd and first-ever Asian American mayor, who was the son of immigrant parents from the Chinese province of Guangdong.

“On behalf of all Californians, Anne and I extend our deepest condolences to Mayor Lee’s family, his many friends and the entire City of San Francisco,” tweeted California Governor Jerry Brown. “Ed was a true champion for working people and epitomized the California spirit. He’ll truly be missed.”

After serving as City Administrator of San Francisco, Lee was appointed Mayor of San Francisco in January 2011 to serve out the remaining term of former Mayor Gavin Newsom. Lee then won the election in November 2011, and was re-elected in 2015.

Prior to being a civil servant, the Seattle native became the first in his family to attend college and graduated from Bow-

doin College in 1974, and the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley in 1978. He then went on to work as a housing activist and civil rights attorney.

In a 2011 interview with Northwest Asian Weekly, Lee recalled watching his parents work to provide for him and his five other siblings, and feeling compelled to pitch in. Lee’s father passed away from a heart attack when Lee was just 15, prompting Lee to work in restaurants to help his family.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) who served as San Francisco’s mayor from 1978-1988 said, “Ed was an excellent mayor of a great but sometimes challenging city. His equanimity and quiet management style was effective and allowed him to solve problems as they occurred.”

Over 140,000 jobs were said to have been added during Lee’s tenure, creating the city’s most successful economic expansion in its history.

Many homes were also said to have been added to the housing market under Lee than at any other time in San Francisco’s history, resulting in a decrease in eviction rates and average rental and home prices.

Greenhouse gas emissions, too, dropped 28-percent under his leadership.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes San Francisco, said, “Mayor

Dateline USa

Lee’s first priority was always the people. As a community organizer, civil rights lawyer and hardworking son of an immigrant family of modest means, Ed Lee understood that the strength of a community is measured by its success in meeting the needs of all of its people. He knew the rhythms and the workings of San Francisco at the most granular level, and dedicated decades to improving the lives of all San Franciscans.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) also took to Twitter and said, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. He was a fierce advocate for civil rights and worked tirelessly for workers’ rights and his leadership will be missed. Keeping the mayor’s family in my prayers during this difficult time.”

Having been a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors where he served as chair of the Technology and Innovation Task Force, Lee was known to have a close relationship with the tech world.

TechCrunch described Lee as an “advocate to attract and keep tech companies in the city, luring them away from Silicon Valley in the South and also choosing San Francisco as their starting point.”

The tech news site recalled Lee once telling them he visited a different tech company each week.

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CHRISTMAS LOVE. A Malacañang employee sends a message as she admires the Christmas tree that adorns the Kalayaan grounds in the Palace — that love should define the merriest season of the year.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Micah Sebastian

Sereno camp: Justices’ testimonies...

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“misrepresentations” during the impeachment hearing, which he claimed were meant to mislead the general public and members of the justice committee.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo De Castro, Noel Tijam, and Francis Jardeleza, and retired Associate Justice Arturo Brion testified before the House Committee on Justice on Monday, December 11.

During the hearing, they accused Sereno of delaying the May 29 request of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to transfer the trial of Maute cases from tougher U.S. immigration rules, Mindanao to Taguig City.

De Castro also said that Seresaying the current “lax” policy “allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country.”

“Today’s attempted mass mur- PAGE A1 der attack in New York City — the “I do subscribe doon sa tinasecond terror attack in New York tawag na (in what we call) ‘6Ws’ in the last two months — once — ‘what went well, what went again highlights the urgent need wrong.’ We have to examine and for Congress to enact legislative come up with good safeguards. reforms to protect the American Come up with a good reform,” people,” Trump said in a stateFerro said. ment. (With reports from AFP) “Sana pagbigyan niyo po kami ng chance na ipakita ang aming karakter at kredibilidad (I hoped that you would give us a chance to prove our character and credpine market... would be a ibility),” he added.

Ferro used to head the PNP’s regression in the country’s approach to solving a major Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIG), public health concern and which was disbanded following a disservice to the Filipino its alleged involvement in the slaying of Korean businessman people,” he said. n

Filipinos in US told to be vigilant...

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others injured in Manhattan after they were ran over by a truck driven by a lone follower of the Islamic State.

A 27-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh detonated a homemade pipe bomb strapped to his body in a crowded New York subway passage during the morning rush hour Monday, injuring three people and putting the city on edge.

Akayed Ullah told police inves-

tigators he wanted to avenge U.S. air strikes on the Islamic State group and was also inspired by Christmas terror plots in Europe, and chose the location for his attack by the Christmas posters on the subway walls, U.S. media reported.

His bomb failed to detonate properly, leaving him the only one seriously injured in the incident.

President Donald Trump seized upon the attack to call for

Philippine market would be a “regression” in the fight against dengue and a “disservice to the Filipino people.”

“To permanently remove the vaccine from the Philip-

tice Jardeleza was appointed by President Aquino. The SC en banc resolved to grant Secretary Aguirre’s request,” Lacanilao stressed.

Lacanilao further claimed that it was absurd to accuse Sereno of treason for doing her constitutional duty as ex-officio chair of the JBC. The alleged manipulation of the JBC list and delaying of Aguirre’s request are among the grounds in the impeachment complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon against Sereno.

Gadon has accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, high crime and betrayal of public trust. n

PNP drug enforcement chief asks public...

Duterte wants to hold Sanofi accountable...

PAGE A2 ing,” he added.

Triomphe pointed out that completely pulling out the Dengvaxia vaccine based on a small risk percentage from the

no’s move to assign the Maute cases to herself “showed no respect and courtesy to the Court en banc; while Tijam described chief justice’s move as an “arrogation” upon herself of the power of the court en banc.

The justices also accused Sereno of manipulating the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted to thenPresident Benigno Aquino III to exclude then-Solicitor General Jardeleza.

But Lacanilao insisted that there is no point in raising the previous issues.

“We do not see the point of raising these issues again. That’s all water under the bridge. Jus-

Jee Ick-Joo last year.

The PNP-DEG chief also thanked PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for his trust, saying he did not expect to be reassigned to another anti-illegal drug unit following the controversy.

In an interview with Rappler, Ferro likewise urged Filipinos to “own” the drug war and be on board with the government in its efforts to curb narcotics in the country.

Ferro encouraged Filipinos to help the DEG by providing information on suspected drug users, and traders, as he recognized that his team will not

achieve much success without the help from local communities.

“Most of our anti-illegal drugs operations were a product of information coming from the civilians, not all of those come from the police,” Ferro said.

He went on to say, “Winning the hearts and minds of the people is the biggest challenge for me. We need the Filipino people to own this campaign against illegal drugs.”

“The Filipino people should recognize that the president is with them against illegal drugs,” Ferro added, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte. n

Duterte asks Congress to extend...

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Asked the reason for the NPA’s inclusion, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said that government expects “intensified fighting on the part of the NPA.” “As in fact, they have been exhibiting more intense targeting of our soldiers and civilians after the president had already classified them as a terrorist group,” the Palace official told reporters during a media briefing on Monday, December 11.

Roque said the government will also “use the full force martial law” to counter the possible attacks of NPA in Mindanao.

“For as long as there are acts of rebellion being committed in the island province of Mindanao, yes he will use the full force of

martial law against the NPA as well,” Roque told reports.

He further noted that the act of rebellion committed by the communists “is a continuing crime, so for as long as they don’t lay down their grounds, they are committing a criminal act.”

House, Senate leaders expect approval While Congress has yet to convene in a joint session, both House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel predicted that Duterte’s request for martial law extension for one more year will get a nod.

Alvarez on Tuesday, December 12, said that he does “not see any reason why we should not grant it.”

“We cannot say that the security concerns in Mindanao have already ceased after the end of the Marawi crisis. They are not yet over,” the House speaker noted.

“There are still movements and remaining members who are there,” he added.

In a separate statement, Pimentel agreed that the martial law extension request will likely get an approval in the House. Pimentel said he also believes that the Senate would yield the same answer.

“The Senate will also prevail but even if you deduct or subtract the senators, majority na rin yung mag sasang-ayon. Yan ang aking prediction (majority will agree. That is my prediction),” Pimentel said. n

Covered California’s Dec. 15 deadline approaches...

PAGE A1 this year was $120 per month, down from $134 per month at this point last year. And, for those who selected a bronze plan, the average cost for 2018 was only $45 per month, compared to $87 in 2017.

“When you do the math, hundreds of thousands of Californians are the winners – getting quality coverage at lower rates than last year,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “Consumers are finding out they can get quality coverage for less than they expect.”

The experience of an individual will vary based on their circumstance, including whether they get subsidies to help purchase coverage, where they live and the plan options they choose, Lee said.

The analysis found that consumers who select a Silver-tier plan are on average paying $3 per month less than they were in 2017, while consumers who select a Gold-tier plan will pay on average $78 less per month.

Though open enrollment continues through Jan. 31, 2018, Lee stressed that consumers must sign up by Dec. 15 to get covered for all of 2018. Free help to sign up is available on CoveredCA.com and you can find in-person help in your area through the website.

Despite all of the negative rhetoric coming out of the nation’s capital, Covered California has signed up 102,000 new consum-

ers for coverage in November -- the first month of California’s three-month open-enrollment period – which is substantially ahead of last year’s pace when more than 80,000 consumers signed up for coverage.

Lower prices are helping drive the enrollment surge, Lee said.

“Consumers are continuing to check out their options and take advantage of the lower prices for many enrolling and renewing in coverage,” Lee said. “For those who haven’t signed up yet, it is critical to get enrolled

by Dec. 15 to have coverage beginning on Jan. 1.”

The impact of the Affordable Care Act is obvious as a new survey from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows California’s uninsured rate dropped to 6.8 percent in first six months of 2017, down from 17 percent in 2013 — a new record low. Prior to the ACA, the uninsured rate was at 17 percent in 2013.

Since 2014, more than 3 million people have purchased health insurance through Covered California, and nearly 4 million have enrolled in the state’s Medi-Cal program.

Consumers interested in learning more about their coverage options should go to www.

CoveredCA.com where they can get help to enroll. They can explore their options and find out if they qualify for financial help by using the “Shop and Compare” tool. They can also get free and confidential enrollment assistance by visiting www. coveredca.com/find-help/ and searching among 800 storefronts statewide or more than 17,000 certified enrollers who can assist consumers in understanding their choices and enrolling, including individuals who can assist in other languages. In addition, consumers can reach the Covered California service center by calling (800) 300-1506. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Urban poor chair, 4 other execs fired UNICEF: Government, kids face new risks online

by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 7 fired Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman James Mark Terry Ridon and four other commissioners, saying they rarely conducted hearings and yet found the time for junkets abroad.

In remarks at Malacañang, Duterte blasted the commission’s top officials, particularly Ridon, a former student activist, who he said “had too much, too soon.”

The four other commissioners were Melissa Aradanas, Joan Lagunda, Manuel Serra Jr. and Noe Indonto.

“Today I fired the whole of the Commission of the Urban Poor.

One is because it’s a collegial body and I have heard that they never had had any hearing except for one or two,” Duterte said.

“He (Ridon) was appointed September and he traveled about seven times. And to think that the office is an urban poor agency. I cannot understand why you have to be there at every powwow in the international scene. We cannot afford it,” he added.

The president clarified that his decision to fire Ridon, who was a representative for the left-leaning Kabataan party-list in the previous Congress, was nothing personal.

Ridon supposedly traveled with officials from other agencies, including the National Housing Authority and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary. The trips were for international conferences related to poverty alleviation and development.

Urban Poor chairman James Mark Terry Ridon

Trips approved by Palace In a statement, Ridon said the trips were approved by Malacañang.

“All trips were covered by travel authorities issued by the Office of the President and recommended by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary involving international conferences relevant to the urban poor: poverty alleviation, public housing and climate change,” Ridon said.

In a radio interview, Ridon admitted he was surprised at Duterte’s decision but said he served at the pleasure of the President.

Ridon thanked Duterte for the “opportunity to serve the nation,” adding that the commission had performed its mandate “with integrity and confidence” despite the “heavy burden of undertaking genuine reform.”

“The public record of the agency can speak for itself: we had implemented with full integrity the presidential promise of no demolition without relocation,” Ridon said in a text message.

In a news conference, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte fired Ridon and all four

other commissioners for being “notorious for junkets abroad.”

“So this kind of work performance has no place in the Duterte administration. We reiterate, we are serious about the drive against corruption in government,” he said.

Not abolished Roque initially said Duterte was abolishing the entire commission but soon issued a correction.

He said the filing of charges against the commissioners would be “logical conclusion.”

Under Executive Order 82 dated December 8, 1986, the commission serves as the direct link of the urban poor to the government in policy formulation and program implementation.

Former president Benigno Aquino 3rd transferred the commission under the supervision of the Office of the President in March 2012.

In August 2016, Duterte appointed Ridon, a graduate of the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, to head the agency.

The President’s decision to fire Ridon and the other commissioners came after the collapse of peace talks with communist rebels and Duterte’s move to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing as terrorist organizations.Roque said the Duterte’s decision had nothing to do with Ridon’s affiliations with the Left.

“Even if Terry Ridon is left-leaning, I know that he is separate from leftist groups because he was no longer taken as Kabataan party-list’s nominee for a second time,” he said. n

Human rights commissioners barred from seeing de Lima

New Zealand Center for Human Rights Law, Policy and Practice and Philippa Erica Dargan, depTHE Philippine National Po- uty director of Sydney-based lice (PNP) barred international Asia Pacific Forum of National human rights commissioners Human Rights Institution, were from visiting Sen. Leila de Lima not allowed to enter the PNP on Sunday, December 10 Inter- custodial center inside Camp national Human Rights Day. Crame where the senator is deBased on the information tained. provided by de Lima’s office, It was learned that they were human rights commissioners denied even if they complied Rosslyn Joy Noonan, director of with the 10-day prior notice rule

by JefferSon

antiporda ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — With one in three internet users worldwide being a minor, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said governments and children are exposed to new risks and harm online and offline.

In a report titled “State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World,” the UNICEF highlighted digital divides and debates on the impact of the internet and social media on children’s safety and well-being.

“Digital technology is now an irreversible fact of our lives. Our dual challenge is how to mitigate the harm while maximizing the benefits of the internet for every child,” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said.

The report presented UNICEF’s outlook on how digital technology affects children’s lives. It also identified dangers as well as opportunities for the minors.

It said the government’s and private sector’s failure to keep up with the pace of digital technology has exposed children to new risks and harm, and left millions of the most disadvantaged children lagging behind.

The report explored the benefits digital technology can offer for the most disadvantaged children, including increasing their access to information, building skills for digital workplace and giving them a platform to connect and communicate their views.

“The internet was designed for adults, but it is increasingly used by children and young people and digital technology increasingly affects their lives and futures,” Lake said.

The report presented current data and analysis about children’s online usage, the impact of digital

imposed by the PNP leadership.

The new policy, which was implemented in September, requires those who wish to visit detainees at the custodial center to inform the institution 10 days in advance.

But based on the document provided by the senator’s camp, a request letter addressed to In its report, the UNICEF highlighted digital divides PNP Chief Ronald de la Rosa and debates on the impact of the internet and dated November 5 was received social media on children’s safety and well-being. by the PNP on November 6. n Philstar.com photo

technology on their well-being, digital addiction and the possible effects on brain development of looking at the screen longer than necessary.

According to the report, young people are the most connected age group. Worldwide, they have a 71 percent presence online, compared to 48 percent of the total population.

African youth are the least connected, with three of five not online, compared to Europe’s one in

every 25 not connected online.

Close to 56 percent of all websites are in English and a majority of children cannot find content that they can understand or is culturally relevant.

The report showed that millions of children are missing out. About one third of the world’s youth, or 346 million, are not connected online, which exacerbates inequities and reduces children’s ability to participate in an increasingly digital economy. (Philstar.com)

cns 3079017

A6 DECEMBER 13-15, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

United against corruption

FEATURES

IT’S the season of giving, when crooks expect more than the usual “gifts” to grease the wheels of government. By law the solicitation or acceptance of such “gifts” by public servants is expressly prohibited. Yet graft persists, with red tape designed to encourage the payment of grease money.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that a staggering $2.6 trillion, or about five percent of the global GDP, is stolen worldwide through corruption every year, with $1 trillion paid in bribes. Experts have stressed that money lost to corruption could otherwise be used for poverty alleviation and the achievement of sustainable development goals or SDGs. In developing countries, the UN Development Program places the funds lost to corruption at 10 times more than official development assistance.

This includes the Philippines, where people are familiar with the consequences of corruption. Basic services break down. Investors are turned off by unfair competition and red tape, taking their money – and potential jobs – elsewhere. People get ahead in life through connections rather than merit. Inclusive growth becomes impossible. A corrupted justice system fuels insurgencies and promotes public support for short cuts to law enforcement, at the risk of civil liberties.

In fighting corruption, the nation can get assistance from the international community. Twelve years ago this week, the UN Convention Against Corruption went into force as the international community recognized the serious impact of corruption on development efforts and poverty alleviation. The Philippines signed the convention in December 2003, just two months after it was adopted by the UN General Assembly, and ratified it in November 2006.

The parties to the convention have grown to 183, with 140 signatories as International Anti-Corruption Day was observed on Dec. 9. The convention is legally binding and allows the global community to cooperate in going after those accused of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering as well as in the recovery of ill-gotten wealth. It is a powerful tool that can be tapped by any government with a serious campaign to go after crooked public officials and their cohorts in the private sector. corruption on education, health, justice, democThis year the UNODC and UNDP have launched racy, prosperity and development as well as the a global campaign that focuses on the impact of achievement of the SDGs. The campaign stresses

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

that uniting against the scourge of corruption can promote development, peace and security. (Philstar.com)

Simbang Gabi offering: How to help Filipino priests help and serve Kababayans back home CHRISTMAS is less than two weeks from now, and this wonderful season is just opening the hearts of people to give more, in gratitude to all the blessings we have received in the past year.

Our generous spirit goes beyond giving to our family and friends, as we are also compelled by love and sense of purpose to support causes we believe in.

One of these causes that are close to the hearts of Filipinos is to help our kababayans go deeper in their faith. Among the means to fulfill this is to help our Filipino priests, so they may be in the position to reach out to Filipinos even in the remote areas of the Motherland.

Last November, I got to meet Father Greg Gaston during my husband’s University of the Philippines College of Medicine Class of 1990 mini-reunion in Austin, Texas. Fr. Greg used to be one of their classmates until he heeded his true calling

— to be a priest and help heal people not only physically but The Fil-Am more so, spiritually as well. Fr. Greg is now the Rector of the Perspective Pontificio Collegio Filippino and is based in Rome. He reports directly to Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

As I have learned from Fr. GEL SANTOS-RELOS Greg, “Pontificio Collegio Filippino (Pontifical Filipino College) is the home in Rome of Filipino priests. Here they reside and undergo formation, while doing further studies in the best Catholic Universities in Rome — close to the Holy Father physically, spiritually and doctrinally.

Upon returning to the Philippines, they serve in the seminaries to train our future priests, and in other specialized ministries.”

This Christmas season, please find in your

heart the desire to help our Filipino priests by helping Collegio Filippino. Your tax-deductible gift will go along way in the spiritual development of Filipinos back home. God will bless us all abundantly! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here is the appeal from Cardinal Tagle and Fr. Greg Gaston: “Please assist the Collegio’s operations, programs, and upkeep. Help build our Scholarship Fund for board and lodging ($10,000 a year per priest), tuition ($5,000 a year) and other needs.

“Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila suggests a monthly love offering, the equivalent of an hour of your salary. This way, without leaving your place, you VOLUNTEER AN HOUR to help our student priests!

“In a special way, we need your help for the renovation of our heavy duty kitchen, which will eventually serve up to 80 persons, plus hundreds of guests at times. Our kitchen also reaches out to our Overseas Filipino Workers who volunteer, undergo culinary training, interact and learn from each other, and are nourished spiritually.

Donate online or contact us: www.FRIENDSOFTHECOLLEGIO.org.

For checks, pay to: “Friends of the Collegio”, and mail to Friends of the Collegio, 1819 Ridgeview Ct., Dupont, WA 98327 USA.” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

Dead in 25 years?

Demand and Supply BOO CHANCO PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was being melodramatic as usual when he declared Metro Manila will be dead in 25 years. He just wanted to highlight Clark. With its New Clark City, the former US base seems to be where our future lies.

“Manila, I think will be, in about 25 years... a dead city. It will start to decay and there is no way we can rehab the place…

You have to disperse the crowd, limit the factories at some time in the future. But in about 10 years from now, they should close Manila and start to develop... ito, ito ang pinakamaganda ngayon eh,” the president said of Clark.

I think President Duterte is right about our dying National Capital Region. At the rate we are going, Metro Manila will be totally unlivable sooner than 25 years. But the president is wrong to suggest government should wait 10 years to start closing down Manila to further growth. It should start decongesting now.

Architect Jun Palafox, an internationally recognized city planner, not only agreed with the president, but also said Metro Manila’s deterioration has actually begun. Jun is right.

“It’s happening now. In 1976 I worked with the World Bank... for Metro Manila. What we said then, Metro Plan Manila, it was one of the best metro plans in the world. Kaya ako nakilala overseas,” Palafox said.

Palafox and his firm have been commissioned to plan livable cities abroad. He is frustrated his home metropolis remains ugly and chaotic.

“We said that time, with the do-nothing scenario, we will have catastrophic traffic, catastrophic planning, lack of decent housing.

And what do we have now?”

Palafox said Metro Manila should have completed eight train lines by 1992. In the past six years, only four kilometers of roads have been built.

A JICA presentation paints the picture with numbers: the population of Metro Manila is 12 million, while Mega Manila to include adjoining provinces is 23 million. The population density of Metro Manila is 191 persons/ hectare. This is higher than Tokyo and other major Asian cities.

For comparison, Tokyo’s population density is 131 persons/ha; Seoul 170 persons/ha; Jakarta 131 persons/ha; and Shanghai 124 persons/ha.

The tragedy of Metro Manila reflects the tragedy of the whole country. We lost over 30 years to properly develop. Unfortunately, we had lousy leaders, national and local. Worse, our politicians are acting as if everything is just fine.

If Metro Manila will be dead in 25 years, should we still invest good money in it now? No, the president isn’t suggesting we shouldn’t. In fact, the Duterte administration is embarking on an ambitious infrastructure program for Metro Manila including the Mega Manila Subway, funded by Japan’s generosity.

A so-called Super Consortium of some of the country’s top conglomerates has expressed their intention to submit an unsolicited bid to totally rehabilitate NAIA. If that happens, NAIA could get a new lease on life. But the Super Consortium will need at least 25 years to recover their investment.

The Super Consortium includes the Abotizes, Ayalas, Gokongweis, Gotianuns, Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s

“At the rate we are going, Metro Manila will be totally unlivable sooner than 25 years. But the president is wrong to suggest government should wait 10 years to start closing down Manila to further growth. It should start decongesting now.”

Philstar.com photo

Manuel V. Pangilinan, and taipans Andrew Tan and Lucio Tan. They are making the unsolicited offer partly out of love of country, but mostly out of self interest. They know their businesses, specially Lucio Tan and the Gokongweis, will be negatively affected if NAIA remains what it is today.

And there is still that other unsolicited offer of San Miguel’s Ramon Ang to build a totally brand new airport in Bulacan.

San Miguel’s airport is intended to replace NAIA and compete with all the new international airport being built in our part of the world. It’s easier to build from scratch.

President Duterte’s pessimistic view of Metro Manila seems to be because of the worsening

traffic situation in the capital.

The transportation department may seem to look busy, but has so far been proven inept in addressing our problems.

An announcement by MMDA to set a 50 kph speed limit on EDSA is simply hilarious. A JICA study reveals that close to half of the Metro area’s road network operates below 20 km/hr.

The president is correct to call for the development of other potential urban hubs outside Metro Manila.

In fairness to the Duterte administration, they have made some baby steps in that direction. Malacanang has not been approving the usual flow of PEZA-endorsed tax benefits for BPOs and other industries within Metro Manila. The property

sector is complaining, but this is the right thing to do… get them to locate outside the NCR. For it to make sense, development must be encouraged to go even outside Mega Manila (which includes Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite). According to JICA, its study indicates that Batangas, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite will see more rapid growth, even greater than in Metro Manila.

For one thing, JICA says, traffic congestion in BRLC is just as bad as Metro Manila. According to JICA, some P3.2 billion a day is being wasted because of Metro Manila traffic, while in BRLC it is P2.2 billion a day.

I have seen the plans for the New Clark City and I am excited about it. But we are notorious for our ability to make good

plans, only to fail in the execution. I am hopeful Clark will not be typical because we cannot afford to fail.

We definitely need to reduce Metro Manila’s population to more manageable levels. Clark should be just one alternative we should be looking at. We need growth centers in our Pacific coastline. Every region should have at least one.

The administration should provide a more comprehensive growth strategy beyond just Clark, or we will just repeat our mistakes. That’s the lesson we should have learned by now.

(Philstar.com) *** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ boochanco.

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

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13-15, 2017

A7

Joma Sison to lose asylum status

by JEFFERSON

ANTIPORDA ManilaTimes.net

NO TO EXTENSION. Members of Salinlahi hold a rally in Mendiola, Manila to show their opposition to the military’s proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 this year to quell the rebellion of the Islamic State-inspired Maute extremist group. Congress extended it until the end of December.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Decision to have a Chinese telecom player a ‘political decision’

by AUDREY

MORALLO Philstar.com

MANILA — The decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to allow a Chinese company to become the country’s third telecommunications player was a “political decision” meant to strengthen Manila and Beijing’s bilateral relations, a spokesman of the Philippine leader said on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

“The Chinese government has selected a company that will invest in the telco (industry) of our country. It is China Telecom, the largest telecommunications company in China,” Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said over dzBB. Harry Roque, a spokesman for Duterte’s office, dubbed this possible entry as a means to break the “duopoly” of Smart and Globe, the Philippines’ main service providers.

Roque said that the choice of China was because the president would like to strengthen further the two nations’ ties and Beijing had one of the biggest telecoms market in the world.

“But it was a political decision of the President to...to offer it to a Chinese company. Intended I guess also to strengthen our bilateral ties with China, coupled with the fact that given the huge telecoms market in China, Chinese companies ought to have already technical know-how ‘no in providing competent and reliable telecom services,” Roque said in a media briefing in the ornate, wood-paneled presidential palace.

“And the eventual player that was chosen by China, China

Telecom without doubt is one of the biggest in the world ‘no. And of course, we want to avail of the fact that we’re very proximate to China ‘no,” Duterte’s spokesman said.

The chief executive invited China last month to invest in the Philippines’ telecoms market, one of the most unreliable and inefficient in Asia Pacific, following the bilateral meeting between Duterte and Li Keqiang, China’s premier.

Over the weekend, government officials said that state-run China Telecom Corp. could become the country’s third telecoms player as Manila continued to try to improve the country’s notoriously poor internet and voice services.

Roque also doused hesitations that the entry of a company would expose the Philippines’ data infrastructure to a state-run firm of China, which has a longrunning territorial dispute with Manila over waters in the West Philippine Sea. “Well, as far as security considerations are concerned, we will look into that because there are really concerns overall on cyber security in general,” he said.

Inviting other foreign players from other countries would not be easy, according to Roque, as there is already a standing invitation to a Chinese company to invest in the country’s telecoms infrastructure. “[I]t would not be as simple as it seems. There will be legal challenges. But we are confident we can overcome all these challenges because after all it is our commitment to provide viable public service in the telecoms industry to the Filipino people,” he said.

Andanar, the PCOO official,

said that China Telecom would have to find a local partner as the Philippine Constitution limited foreign ownership of public utility to 40 percent. ■

JOSE Maria Sison may lose his political asylum status once the court declares the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

Once the court outlawed the CPP, the Philippines can transport Sison back to the country and make him answer for his crimes, Cayetano said.

Sison has been living in the Netherlands since 1987.

“There is no asylum for terrorism, so if it can be proven that they are not in fact legitimate victims of persecution but are terrorists, then a country can decide to reverse the granting of asylum,” Cayetano said in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Philippine-Cambodia 2nd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Manila.

The Department of Justice recently ordered the Office of the Prosecutor General to file a formal petition before a regional trial court seeking to declare the CPP/ NPA terrorist groups.

Under Section 17 of Republic Act 9372, or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, the DoJ needs to seek clearance from the court before an organization, association or group could be declared terrorist.

Analyst Ramon Casiple shared the same view, noting that a court ruling outlawing the CPPNPA could result in the cancel-

lation of Sison’s political asylum status and even his passport.

Even if there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Netherlands, the Dutch government, Casiple said, could go after Sison once the court legally declared the CCP as a terrorist group.

The Dutch government has its own anti-terrorism law and the CPP founder would be considered violating that law, added Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms.

Duterte in a speech Thursday, December 7 criticized Sison for living the good life in Utrecht while members of the NPA struggle daily in the mountains.

The President also dared Sison to leave his “sanctuary” in The Netherlands and bring the fight in the Philippines.

Casiple said the move of President Rodrigo Duterte to tag the CPP as a terror group showed that he has lost confidence on communist leaders because of their recent actions and pronouncements.

He cited the order of the CPP leadership to intensify offensives against government forces when the military was preoccupied with the crisis in Marawi City.

The analyst added that the CPP even used the declaration of martial law in Mindanao as justification for the attacks even if it was clear that the group was not the target.

Cayetano said Sison wanted to make it appear that he has a legitimate ideology and that he is fighting for a belief without using

Joma Sison

Philstar.com photo

force.

“Have you ever heard Joma Sison told his group not to attack or bomb the plantation, mines and cell cites in the country? You never heard him say that because that is part of their strategy and that makes them liable for terrorism,” the Foreign Affairs chief said.

Sen. Francis Escudero meanwhile called on the police and the military to strictly observe the provisions of the HSA because these set the procedures on the tagging of a group as terrorist.

The HSA also creates an antiterrorism council and grievance committee to implement the law.

“Any offense committed under HSA necessitates stronger evidentiary requirements. You can’t just file murder, illegal possession of firearms or any non-bailable offense,” he added.

Escudero said that while the declaration removes the possibility of peace talks, the government should still pursue peace and bring the armed conflict to a permanent and just closure. ■

DARE TO INSPIRE. DARE TO LEAD. B E L E G E N D A R Y.

SF’s first Asian American mayor...

PAGE A1 Leaders from the Asian American community also sent their condolences, reflecting on their experiences with Lee. Assessor Carmen Chu who also is a Chinese American child of immigrants said, “I remember how proud I was to support and see San Francisco elect its first Asian American Mayor. He is at the same time a friend and mentor and I will miss him.”

San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim shared how when she first met him in 2001 when he was the Director of Public Works, Lee would personally deliver cleaning supplies every Saturday morning to youth leaders.

“He was always friendly, humble and a dedicated public servant committed to getting things done,” said Kim. California Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (APILC) Chair and Assemblymember Rob Bonta (DOakland) called Lee a “stalwart leader for civil rights.”

“His leadership will leave a lasting legacy for Californians for generations to come. But before anything else, Mayor Lee was a good person with a big, warm heart,” said Bonta.

Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) who serves as APILC’s parliamentarian described Lee as an “incredible leader, mentor, trailblazer, advocate, and most importantly, a wonderful friend”, while Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) described Lee as a “devoted public servant who just got things done with a deep love for our city.”

“Mayor Lee worked tirelessly to improve the lives of every San Franciscan during time of both great prosperity and extreme

hardship, and his legacy will persist in the years to come,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (DSan Francisco).

Friend of SF Fil-Am community “The Filipino community has a long and storied history in the city of San Francisco,” said Lee in a June statement when he earmarked $150,000 for the Filipino Cultural Heritage District in San Francisco called SOMA Pilipinas.

“These investments signify our commitment to preserving the neighborhood as the cultural, economic and social core Filipinos in the city and the families and seniors who call it home,” Lee added.

These remarks for the Filipino community were common during his term, as Lee often tweeted photos of himself participating in community events.

Just last month, Lee praised the monthly Filipino Night Market in San Francisco, calling it “the best party that has ever happened at the old mint” as reported by Balitang America.

“I think it’s incredible, but to give it that energy with the Filipino culture, the family of the modern artists, with some of the traditional things they want to present, performances… I think this is a really great use of an old building but also a special thing for San Francisco, of our Filipino community coming out.”

Lee is survived by his wife Anita, and his two daughters Brianna and Tania.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed has stepped in as acting mayor. A vote on who will assume mayorship will come in the following weeks. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

Transforming Filipino women and men of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds into global leaders and influencers who ignite, drive, and fuel the greatness of the Philippines.

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13-15, 2017

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

B1

London’s capital economic PH overheating fears ‘overdone’

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net

CONCERNS that the Philippine economy could overheat are exaggerated and monetary authorities are unlikely to intervene in the short term, London’s Capital Economics said.

In a report, the research firm noted that fast growth, easy credit and a worsening trade balance had led to suggestions that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) interest rates would have to be raised in response.

“We think such fears are overdone, [and] with inflation moderating we expect BSP to leave rates on hold both this year and next,” it said.

Capital Economics explained that fast economic growth on its own does not indicate overheating, adding that the Philippines’ current expansion pace was actually lower than many Asian economies at similar levels of development.

Credit growth, while also fast, is concentrated in productive

investment and the research firm said this should actually improve the economy’s capacity over the medium term.

Inflation, meanwhile, moderated to 3.3 percent in November from 3.5 percent in October after an uptrend since July.

“Accordingly, we are skeptical that the economy is overheating and the BSP needs to take action,” Capital Economics said.

“We expect no change to policy at … [this] week’s meeting and, whereas the consensus and financial markets are expecting rates to be raised at least twice next year, we think they will be left unchanged,” it added.

BSP to keep rates steady until 2018

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILLI

In an interview, Deputy Treasurer Erwin Sta. Ana said the BTr is preparing for the upcoming issuance of $1 billion in debt papers next year.

by MARY

GRACE Philstar.com

PADIN

THE government is planning to sell $1 billion in dollar-denominated global bonds in early 2018, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said last week.

In an interview, Deputy Treasurer Erwin Sta. Ana said the BTr is preparing for the upcoming issuance of $1 billion in debt papers next year.

Aside from raising new money, Sta. Ana said the government is also gearing up for

a new batch of debt swap transactions, but the amount has yet to be determined.

“We are actually preparing for an issuance of debt paper in the early part of next year, but of course we are still undergoing the usual approval and securing those approvals,” Sta. Ana told reporters.

For one, he said the government would have to secure the approval of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“We do have a shelf registration with the U.S. SEC, but we really have to refresh the information filed with the SEC on an annual

File photo by Philstar

basis,” he said.

According to Sta. Ana, the government would closely monitor the developments in the market due to the possiblility of an interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

“We are closely monitoring the markets.

In fact, there is a high probability that there could be a possible rate hike this month, but we will definitely look into what the conditions are coming into the new year,” he said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said banks and financial institutions have

u PAGE B3

Gov’t pushing for inclusive globalization at WTO meet

Philstar.com

THINK tank Capital Economics said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may keep interest rates steady until next year.

Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics, said the Philippines is the only country in the region that is likely to meet the World Bank’s 5.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) spending target.

Leather said the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan are set to benefit from a big increase in infrastructure spending over the next few years.

The Philippines has com-

Government to sell $1 B dollar-denominated bonds next year

by ANNA LEAH

E. GONZALES ManilTimes.net

The Philippines has committed to raise infrastructure spending to six percent of GDP by 2020 from only four percent last year.

File photo by Philstar

mitted to raise infrastructure spending to six percent of GDP by 2020 from only four percent last year.

u PAGE B5

THE Philippine delegation to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC) 11 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will push for inclusive globalization and has identified three priorities to make sure it would benefit Filipinos, the Dpeartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Sunday, December 10.

“At the WTO MC 11, we will argue for inclusive globalization. Hence, in Buenos Aires, the Philippines’ continuing pri-

orities are: first, the substantial reduction and/or elimination of trade-distorting domestic support by developed countries and developing countries [that] retain domestic support entitlements, as well as the elimination of all forms of export subsidies; second, the improvement of disciplines to protect the domestic agricultural sector through a special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for agriculture; and third, outcomes that will lead to greater participation in international trade for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), partic-

ularly those based in developing countries,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a statement.

Lopez and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol lead the delegation. It is made up of representatives of their respective departments, as well as of the Department of For- iff Commission; National Food eign Affairs; National Economic Authority; Intellectual Property and Development Authority; Taru PAGE B5

Business news

B DECEMBER 13-15, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Cybercriminals continue to prey on online banking

by Philstar

ONLINE banking remains a hard target for cyber-attackers in Asia-Pacific, cloud security solutions leader Trend Micro said.

Online banking attacks, ransomware and malware incidents have all prominently spiked in the region, as Asia-Pacific has consistently ranked as the most targeted for cyber-attacks, it added.

The company’s most recent security report revealed 35.7 percent of all ransomware detections were from Asia-Pacific while Europe, Middle East and Africa came at a far second with 25.24 percent, followed by Latin America (22.66 percent) and North America (15.71 percent).

Online banking malware detected and blocked by the Trend Micro network was at 118,193, and 47 million malicious online mobile apps were reportedly downloaded by Asia-Pacific users. The company also noted 436 million malware detections, which were notably high in Japan, Australia and Taiwan.

Trend Micro attributes AsiaPacific’s standing to a number of factors, including un-updated systems and even computing

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA PENALTY could still be relived even if you fail to file your tax returns and pay taxes owed if you have reasonable cause.

How to establish reasonable cause • Facts. Provide facts, situations, circumstances that have not allowed you to file your tax return timely and pay taxes owed.

• Ability. How the facts, situations, circumstance did affect you to do your daily activities.

• Actions. What did you do to file your tax return and pay taxes owed despite the facts, situations, circumstance?

• You have sole authority. Is the filing of the tax return and payment of taxes owed cannot

habits that allow the transfer of malware. The region is also a major hub of transnational enterprises, and is often used as a stepping stone to other targets.

Global businesses chalked up over $4 billion in financial and economic losses from WannaCry in the early part of the year. The ransomware attack infected over 300,000 machines worldwide and was then followed by Petya, another ransomware attack.

“Asia-Pacific was targeted by threats and cyberattacks disproportionately in the first half of the year. Companies in the region need to better understand cyberattacks and prioritize funds accordingly for effective security,” said Richard Sheng, Trend Micro senior director for Asia-

Pacific and Middle East Africa.

Other cyber-attacks from the first half of the year came from Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where emails may be infected with malware or used by cybercriminals to dupe recipients into a con.

Cyberpropaganda, where the internet is used to sway perception and public opinion, has also become prevalent. Trend Micro noted in their research on Chinese, Russian, Middle Eastern, and English-based underground markets that these now offer tools for creating content, boosting social media reach or even influencing online polls with vote buying. Fake news is one of the glaring examples of cyberpropaganda. n

Penalty relief: How to establish reasonable cause be delegated to someone else but you as the only authority?

Common situations for reasonable cause • Taxpayer: death, serious illness, inevitable absence • Inability to obtain records • Casualty: fire, natural disaster • Execution of ordinary business care and prudence to meet obligation.

What are considered valid supporting documents for reasonable cause?

• Hospital records and physician letter to establish illness • Court records • Specify dates: start and end, if ongoing • Natural disasters records: police report, fire certificate,

declaration of disaster area • Death certificate if there is death. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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Gov’t open to NAIA rehab offer

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

THE government is open to accepting the proposal of seven of the country’s largest conglomerates to redevelop and rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s chief economist said.

“Yes, [we’re] open to the consortium of conglomerates for the NAIA improvement project,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Ernesto M. Pernia said in a text message Friday, December 8.

Last week, it was reported that a “superconsortium” comprised of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., Andrew Tan’s Alliance Globe Group Inc., Ayala Corp., Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp., Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings Inc., Lucio Tan’s

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA JOSHUA was excited with his new job at the inn. It sure beats having to herd sheep this time of the year when the cold nights chilled his bones on the hillside pasture where he tended his family’s small herd of sheep and cattle. The job fell to his younger brother this time.

Jacob, the owner of the village inn was his father’s friend who had asked if Joshua could help him mind the inn for a little while as he and his wife will be going on a long journey. Jacob liked and trusted Joshua like the son he never had. The young man was a good worker and a natural who quickly picked up the ropes of the business.

Not long after, Jacob and his wife left for their journey to the town north of the country where they were born many miles away to comply with the Roman emperor Augustus’ decree that everyone be counted for the census. It was for the purpose of taxing the people of nations the Romans had conquered. Few, if any, in Israel dared disobey the mighty Roman Empire’s edicts.

The inn was busy. People for miles around were on the

LT Group and Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. will join forces to submit an unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate the country’s main gateway.

JG Summit and LT Group own the country’s two biggest commercial air carriers—Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines, respectively.

Priority The NAIA is suffering from worsening congestion as its four passenger terminals serve 40percent more than its designed capacity.

The government earlier announced that under its ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, improvement of the NAIA would be a priority alongside the development of the Clark International Airport as the second major airport by 2020.

However, it has not announced any firm decision on what it plans

to do about NAIA—whether to keep it as the main air gateway or let the private sector build a new international airport elsewhere and downgrade NAIA to a secondary airport.

More information There are existing unsolicited private sector proposals to build new airports. As for San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) proposal to build a new international airport in Bulacan province, Pernia said “more information is needed for technical evaluation.”

SMC’s unsolicited proposal, which was earlier awarded an original proponent status, is currently being evaluated by the Investment Coordination Committee of the state planning agency NEDA. ‘Aerotropolis’ The P700-billion new international “aerotropolis” being pitched by SMC to the Depart-

u PAGE B5

A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s untold tale “As he told the story of that wondrous night to Luke, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone and God alone.” move going back to their own hometowns. The brisk business brought by overnight travellers in their otherwise sleepy town tired him out. Yet, he felt pretty proud of himself of the work he was doing.

Today, just before sundown, he had filled the 12 modestly furnished rooms with tired and hungry travellers. He thought of meeting up with his shepherd friends in the pasture once he had turned over the inn’s affairs to the night attendant. He had heard his shepherd friends on night watch talk about an unusually bright star that has been moving in the heavens for many nights now. They said it was a spectacle to behold and he wanted to see it for himself.

The rumor buzzing around town was that the soothsayers in King Herod’s palace studying the unusual heavenly display were cowering in fear, loathe to tell the king the meaning of the unusual star. Eventually, they had to tell

the king for nothing escapes him.

Herod did not suffer fools gladly.

The prophecy will come to pass. The king to rule all kings was to be born very soon within the kingdom. It was no wonder King Herod was in a vicious mood. Joshua thought the ruthless king would remove all threats to his kingship by all means fair or foul. It was bad enough he had to bow to the superior might of the Roman conquerors who had allowed him to be king within his territory.

Just as Joshua was about to lock up for the night, a couple came in. The man, visibly tired and leaning on his staff with one hand, was supporting the woman who was heavy with child with his other hand. The woman looked to be in some pain. Still, Joshua noted the stately calm, grace and beauty about her. There was this mysterious glow. The man asked Joshua for a room and told him his wife was about to give birth.

u PAGE B3

BUSINESS NEWS

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A client wants Chapter 7, but can he avoid the presumption of abuse?

A CLIENT wants Chapter 7, but can he avoid the presumption of abuse?

The client is 55, married with a son and daughter who have just entered college. His income is $5,600 gross a month. The wife’s income is $5,500 gross a month.

So, the combined gross of his household of four is $11,100 a month. His income was actually higher than $5,600 a month until four months ago. Four months ago, his gross income was $6,700 a month. He suffered an income reduction of $1,100 mostly due to the evaporation of overtime. The employer decided to hire another person. That killed the overtime pay. He doesn’t own a house but with two children in college, there are a lot of additional expenses that did not exist before.

For instance, he had to provide his son with a new car for college. He also gave his daughter a new car for college. Both cars are being leased. He himself is paying for a late model car, and his wife also drives a new car. Therefore, the client is paying for four new cars. At $500 per month for each car, the car payments total $2,000 per month. Car insurance for four new cars is almost $1,000 a month. So, four cars plus insurance, is about $3,000 a month.

Even if the household’s gross income is $11,100 a month, after taxes and other payroll deductions, net take-home pay for the household is about $8,000. After $3,000 of car payments, what is left is $5,000 for rent, food and other necessities. Rent is $1,500 so what is left is $3,500. Gasoline for four cars is at least $1,000, so what is left is $2,500. There are still food, medicals, and other stuff that have to be paid. After everything is paid, there’s really no disposable income left to pay for credit card debt, if any.

Unfortunately, client owes $40,000 of credit card debt. The wife owes only $10,000 of credit cards. The client’s $40,000 in credit cards require at least $1,200 of minimum payments to keep them current. Wife’s $10K of credit cards require at least $300 of minimum payments.

There is no $1,200 and no $300 of disposable income left. So what happens now?

Well, certainly husband starts to default on the $40K, but the wife is still valiantly paying her $300 to keep her $10,000 of cards current. The client prefers to get a Chapter 7 fresh start and not pay any portion of the $40,000. The wife prefers to not file Chapter 7 for her $10,000.

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG

This is a good decision because $10,000 of cards is still manageable for them if the husband does get rid of his $40,000. Instead of $1,500, they only have to produce $300 to keep her cards current. If the husband is able to discharge $40,000 in Chapter 7, then the household would have reduced their credit card debts from $50,000 to $10,000 a reduction of 80 percent. That should be close enough to a fresh start for the family with only the major debtor spouse filing a Chapter 7.

But can client actually qualify for Chapter 7? If you consider that the median income for a family of 4 in California is $6,800 a month and compare that with client’s household income of $11,100, you can see that there’s going to be a problem overcoming or avoiding the presumption of abuse under the means test for Chapter 7. However, even if client’s income of over the median for a family of 4, if he has additional allowable deductions, he might still qualify for Chapter 7. For instance, if the client takes care of a parent by giving that parent $1K a month, the entire $1K is deductible; or, if there is a nondischargeable tax debt that is being paid by installment of $500 a month. That is also deductible. So just these two items can squeeze client through the means test if applicable because they can make any disposable income on the means test disappear altogether.

This kind of case requires a lot of detailed examination of what client’s monthly expenses are. It looks like the client has a 401Kloan repayment of $500 a month.

In Chapter 7, the repayment of $500 cannot be deducted in the means test. But in Chapter 13, the $500 a month 401K-loan repayment is deductible in the means test analysis. I like to call this 401K-loan repayment paradox. Let’s say the presumption of abuse arises in this case and the disposable income that pops up is $500 a month. The client will not qualify for Chapter 7 because he has $500 of disposable income monthly. But in Chapter 13, we can deduct the $500 401K-loan repayment. Removing the $500 401K-loan repayment

in Chapter 13 would actually make the client’s disposable income zero in Chapter 13, making client’s plan payment zero!

If this case is filed as Chapter 7, documentation of expenses must be complete. The $1,000 being sent to the mother must be fully documented. Otherwise, the U.S. Trustee may file a motion to dismiss for abuse of bankruptcy law. At that time, the client will have the option of converting to Chapter 13. So there is some gambling involved here. If the client has good documentation of expenses, he may be eligible for Chapter 7.

I just had a hearing on a Chapter 7 case where I informed the client that there was a possibility that because her income was over the median for a family of two, there could be some headwinds with the U.S. Trustee asking about her expenses. The client was 70 years old. She still works and makes $75,000 a year.

She sends $2,000 a month to her 72-year-old husband who lives abroad. He doesn’t work and has diabetes and hypertension.

The client was fortunate that her case went through smoothly without questions from the U.S. Trustee even though her income was over the median. This is a borderline Chapter 7 case that if there was inadequate documentation of expenses could have been dismissed or converted to Chapter 13. Each case has different circumstances and so may have different endings.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

“Then he said this is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns & build bigger ones, and there I will store all my supplies of grain.

And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink & be merry.” “But God said to him “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.

Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This is how will it be with whoever stores up thing for themselves but is not richtowards God.” Luke 12-21 (The parable of the foolish rich man told by Jesus) ***

Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

A Christmas story: The innkeepers...

PAGE B2 t Alas, the last room has been let and Joshua told him so.

Joshua glanced at the woman and his heart was filled with pity. He thought quickly of his own home for them to stay for the night but it was some distance away. He had to think and act quickly. It looks like the woman was about to give birth at any moment. Joshua had seen to his own mother at childbirth.

He had helped his own father deliver some of his brothers himself.

“Maybe, I have something for you. It’s not much but it would get you through this cold night at least,” he told the couple.

“Come with me.”

Joshua gathered some blankets and sheets quickly. He gave instructions to his attendant to heat water. He then gathered food and other provisions.

He moved in haste leading the couple to an empty stable a few yards at the back of the inn.

Earlier in the day before the sun was up, he took to clearing the stable himself. He didn’t know why he did it. But now he was glad he did so. He thought the squalid stable with its walls and roof can shield this poor couple from the cold night as the woman delivers her child.

Joshua gave the man the blankets and clean sheets, the warm water and some extra oil for the lamp to burn through the night.

He set a makeshift table for the bread, fish and wine and lit the lamp in one corner.

He moved quickly as he helped the man make his wife comfortable. He could see the woman’s face etched in pain for the birth pangs seem to be stronger now.

Beads of sweat lined the woman’s brow. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to meet up with his friends tonight. Somehow he

knew his place was right here where he was needed for the long night ahead.

Just before he went back to the inn to fetch a few more things, he said to them, “I’m Joshua. Let me know if you need anything else.” The man replied, “I’m Joseph and this is Mary.

Thank you. You have done more than you can possibly know.

The Lord’s light burns bright in you.” Mary looked up at Joshua and smiled through her pain.

For as long as he lived, Joshua will never forget that smile.

Mary’s child was born that night. Joshua could not remember a night more filled with wonder, mystery and myriad points of light.

It was a night like no other.

Joshua’s entire being was engulfed with the mystery happening before his very eyes. He remembered Mary wrapping her child gently in swaddling clothes and placing the child in a manger. The child was bathed in light. The whole stable was filled with warmth. Even the animals in the stable were subdued, eying the child in the manger. Soft, sweet music seem to emanate from a choir of angels above the stable and a sweet heavenly fragrance wafted through the air.

Joshua’s shepherd friends came to visit the child. How could they have known? They told him that an angel had given them the good news of great joy. Angels led the shepherds to the stable where they found the child.

Filled with awe, they knelt before the child who was to be king. Later on that night, three men garbed in royal splendor and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh travelling from afar, came to pay the child homage. They had been following the bright star hover-

ing about the heavens for many nights leading them to that dusty town called Bethlehem.

Many years had passed since that night yet Joshua, now much older, remembers every detail clearly. His memory of the wonder of that night stayed with him. He had remained the innkeeper. Over the years, he had struck a friendship with a quiet, scholarly man named Luke. He was a physician who was a regular guest at the inn. He observed that the thoughtful Luke was always writing in rolls of papyrus in his room.

Not wanting to keep the wonders of that night to remain a secret and be forgotten when he passed, Joshua told the story to Luke. He told every detail. As he did so, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.

Since that night of mystery and wonder, Joshua’s life was never the same again. The light of that bright night burned in his soul forever. He could not have known at the time he was a quiet witness to the unfolding of the greatest mystery on earth. .* * * MERRY CHRISTMAS! May everyday of our lives be filled with the wonder of Christmas Day. May true gratitude and humility transform the hearts of all, specially, of the young ones who may hOnly God’s light can defeat the darkness that threatens to engulf the soul. Take heart.

God is in charge.

Above all, may Christmas fill our hearts and homes with the myriad points of light, love and joy throughout our lives. . ***

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Government to sell $1B...

PAGE B1 t

already expressed interest to participate in the bond issuance.

Early this year, the government raised P99.57 billion through the sale of global bonds. Under this fund-raising activity, the government generated $500 million from the issuance of fresh 25year global bonds at a rate of 3.7

percent. Another $1.5 billion in debt was swapped.

Meanwhile, Sta. Ana said the Treasury is also studying the structure for the possible issuance of Samurai-bonds or yen-denominated debt notes also next year.

“We are looking at several proposal coming from banks and we are still looking at the opti-

mal structure. We are currently studying the Samurai-bond issuance,” he said.

Despite the possible issuance of both global and Samurai bonds, the BTr and the Department of Finance (DOF) assured the government would maintain its 80:20 borrowing mix, in favor of domestic lenders.■

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 13-15, 2017

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest commences in a marriage. All property acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in the State of California is community property. Family Code Section 760. That means any property acquired by either spouse regardless of who’s name it is on is community and each spouse has a half interest on the asset.

That characterization continues until the date of separation. Any property acquired after the date of separation is that spouse’s separate property. If you are the spouse that is not in control of the asset, it would be in your interest to stretch the marriage as long as possible and postpone the date of separation as late as can be so you can characterize more assets as community and also obtain spousal support for a longer duration. If you are the spouse that has control of the money, it would be in your interest to shorten the marriage as much as possible and to establish a sooner date of separation to minimize the community interest of your soon to be ex-spouse.

So how does the Court determine the date of separation? In the case of Marriage of Davis, the California Supreme Court held that the couple needs to be

B3

When am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case? living separate and apart in order to be separated. The Court looked into the legislative intent of the original statute that was over 100 years old. However, this case holding was abrogated by the state legislature when it enacted Family Code Section 70 effective January 1, 2017 by defining “Date of Separation” in the California Family Code.

Effective January 1, 2017, the “date of separation” is statutorily defined to mean the date a “complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred,” as evidenced by (i) a spouse having “expressed to the other spouse his or her intent to end the marriage” and (ii) conduct that is “consistent with his or her intent to end the marriage.” New Fam. C. 70. Fam.C. 70 abrogates prior case law that made living in separate residences an additional, indispensable prerequisite to establishing the date of separation.

[Fam.C. 70(c)] ) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to abrogate the decisions in In re Marriage of Davis (2015) 61 Cal.4th 846 and In re Marriage of Norviel (2002) 102 Cal. App.4th 1152.

So not only do you have to express to your spouse that you are now separated but you have to act accordingly. You cannot be telling your spouse that you are separated but still going out on “date night” or going on “cruise vacation” as a couple. Your conduct has to reflect your expres-

Calendar of Events across

sion of a separation from your spouse. The flip side of the coin is under the new statute, you can be separated even if you are still living together if you have communicated to your spouse that you are separated and you conduct yourself in the house not like a spouse but more like a roommate including sleeping in separate rooms, not having intimacy, and not going out as a couple. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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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 6

Filipino-American Christmas holiday party in Madison, WI Filipino-Americans in the Madison, Wisconsin area will come together to celebrate Paskong Pinoy, honoring traditions and people in a culture-rich gathering with song, dance and food. PAMANA invites you to Paskong Pinoy 2017 on Saturday, December 16, 5pm, at Turner Hall, 3001 S. Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI. Enjoy the Christmas party showcasing Filipino culture, music and hospitality. “Mano po, Ninong, mano po, Ninang.” Sound familiar? We hear this phrase in the Philippines more and more often as Christmas approaches. “Ninong” and “Ninang” are the Filipino words for godparent. In the Philippines, part of a Ninong (godfather) or Ninang (godmother) job is to give gifts to their godchildren during Christmas.

We will re-introduce this Filipino tradition at Paskong Pinoy 2017. Parents, please bring a secret gift for our PAMANA Ninong and Ninang to give to your daughter or son. Be sure to write your child’s name on the gift. To help in the planning, please RSVP online at www. pamanamadison.org/events. Guests who registered by December 10, 2017 will be entered in a drawing for two movie gift certificates! (Board and committee members are ineligible in the drawing.) Bring a family-favorite dish to share for this potluck party. The recommended size is at least 10 servings (half a pan), or enough for your family, whichever is greater.

Admission to the party is free. Donations are welcome. The suggested donation is $5/individual or $10/family. This will help defray costs for the event expenses. You can also make a generous tax-deductible donation at $100 or more. For more information or if you have any questions, email pamana.madison@gmail.com or call the event chair at (920) 747-0068.

D EC E M B E R 27-29

Ateneo de Naga High School Class ’67 celebrates 50th anniversary in Naga City The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) High School Class 1967 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 from December 27 to 29 with various activities lined up for its 153 alumni members. (ADNU is a leading Jesuit university in the Bicol region located in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines). The activities include the publication of its 50thAnniversary Yearbook, a coffee table book which features the individual life stories of the class members after high school, tributes to their mentors, and various articles about school life in the 1960s. Also scheduled for the middle of the year is a golf tournament which — aside from fostering camaraderie — will essentially be a fund-raising activity for planned alumni projects such as a medical mission to a remote provincial town, scholarships, and donations for other worthy causes. This year’s reunion will be at the ADNU main campus in Naga City with various fun and commemorative activities lined up for the occasion. All batch members, wherever they are domiciled, including those residing in foreign countries, especially those in the USA and Canada, are enjoined to contribute their life story articles for the anniversary book as soon as possible, to participate in the various identified activities and outreach projects, and attend the grand homecoming in December. For coordination and for details about the events and activities, please email or call up any of the following batch members: Jojo de Jesus (email: jvdejesus6@yahoo.com; cell: 09772114750); Nilo Ezequiel (email: nilo. ezequiel0977@gmail.com; cell: 09257200926; Antonio Sibulo, MD (email: assjrmd@gmail. com).

D EC E M B E R 28

Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA Global Law Centers will be hosting an immigration forum on Thursday, December 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. It will be held at Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801); admission is FREE. The forum is about employment-based immigration, information regarding fast-track work visas ( H-1B1, TN, E-3), green card by Marriage, familybased immigration, employment sponsorship for green card, and work visas after graduation. Candidates with H-1B, TN, F-1, OPT & other visas issues are encouraged to attend for FREE immigration consultation & immigration assistance. For more information, please contact Global Law Centers at (714) 657-7460 or www.globallawcenters.com.

D EC E M B E R 3 1

Fil-Am Council of Ventura County to host New Year’s Eve celebration in Oxnard, CA The Filipino American Council of Ventura County, Inc. invites the community to an evening of GLAM and GLITTER as we ring in the new year on Sunday, December 31, from 6 p.m. - midnight at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center located at 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard, California. This year, the Fil-Am Council has taken over OPACC to provide guests with two options to celebrate! The Oxnard Room: Glam & Glitter — The magical evening will include dinner, a short program featuring the induction of officers for the Filipino American Council, raffles, and a lot of dancing to live music by Boyd Elston which includes the latest cha-cha, ballroom, and tunes to line dance to! Donation: $45 presale, $50 at Door; $25 children 12 years and below. Attire is semi formal. The second option is the Ventura Room: THE FLIP SIDE! Local deejay, DJ CARL10 will be mixing the hottest tracks for our GENX guest to groove to, from old school to new school and everything in between! Donation is $25, doors open at 9 p.m. Sponsorships are available. For more information, please call Myrna Viloria at (805) 236-8901 or Grace Tuazon at (805) 766-3231. To purchase tickets, please visithttps:// www.eventbrite.com/e/fil-am-council-of-ventura-county-new-years-eve-celebration-tickets39771817577?aff=es2.

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

B4 DECEMBER 13-15, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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People and Events

Clifton Middle School students celebrate Students walk a mile in a dinosaur’s shoes Kindness Week with screening of ‘Wonder’ Research to clarify misconceptions about prehistoric creatures MONROVIA, Calif. – More than 650 Clifton Middle School students took a walking field trip to a nearby theater on Nov. 17 to watch “Wonder” as a culminating event to Kindness Week.

The film shows the struggles of a middle school student with a genetic disorder trying to make friends.

Clifton sixth-grade teacher Nikole Burgess prepared her students for the screening by showing the film trailer and reviewing the book.

“Being first-year middle school students added to the students’ ability to empathize with the characters,” Burgess said. “Many of my students were aware of the sensitive material and the film trailer brought out a lot of emotion, so they were eager to see the movie.”

Burgess compiled a list of motivational quotes called precepts, including “It doesn’t hurt to be kind” and “What you do is more powerful than what you say,” for

EMPLOYMENT

A Clifton Middle School sixth grade class fill a blank white page with encouraging and kind words after watching the motion picture, “Wonder” on Nov. 17.

her students to think about as they watched the movie.

“Kindness Week is an opportunity for our students to have meaningful conversations that develop compassion and empathy,” Monrovia Unified Board President Bryan Wong said. “Our students were able to step outside of their lives and learn how their actions and words might affect other people.”

After watching the movies, students discussed how “Wonder” related to their middle school

experience and how the precepts applied to their lives at school, at home and in the community.

“Monrovia Unified is dedicated to developing responsible students who are aware of both their actions and words,” Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “Our teachers, administrators and school personnel create supportive environments where students can share their experiences with each other while keeping in mind the lessons that Kindness Week offered.” ■

EMPLOYMENT

“JURASSIC PARK” has come to Cal State Fullerton, but without the peril.

“Stride Like a Velociraptor,” named for one of the world’s most well-known dinosaurs, thanks to the “Jurassic Park” movies, and lived on Earth around 75 million years ago, is a faculty-student research project led by Natalie Bursztyn, assistant professor of geological sciences.

Bursztyn and her student Rhyan Ibarra came up with the prehistoric project to give elementary, high school and college students the experience of “walking a mile in a dinosaur’s shoes.”

The focus of the project is for students to gain an appreciation for how big and how small some dinosaurs were, learn how stride length can be used to determine whether the dinosaurs were walking or running, and to clarify some common misconceptions about dinosaurs, Bursztyn explained.

“One of the biggest sources

of confusion in the sciences is the concept of scale,” she said.

“In geology, scale comes as a challenge in both the temporal or geologic time sense, and the magnitude, such as the size of structures, features and/or prehistoric animals sense,” she said.

“To confound matters, geologists have the additional burden of communicating both of these scale problems at the same time — that is, the unimaginable size of things that existed at times unimaginably long ago — like dinosaurs.”

Ibarra, a geology major, constructed dinosaur shoes for seven different dinosaurs — the velociraptor, brachylophosaurus, camptosaurus, dilophosaurus, tyrannosaurus, megalosaurus, and struthiomimus — in which scientific data about the dinosaurs’ footprints, stride and size are available.

“For my project, I want answers to questions such as whether students can discern walking

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and running speeds by walking the dinosaur strides? Can they figure out how big something is based on how big their footprint is,” said Ibarra.

The shoes were made of a foam cutout of the dinosaurs’ footprints glued onto Crocs sandals. The researchers took the dino shoes into schools, where students at Riverdale Elementary School in Garden Grove, Westminster High School, as well as at CSUF, participated in the project and wore the shoes for various activities to replicate the stride and length of each dinosaur.

Amy Rudenberg, a CSUF secondary education teacher credential candidate and student teacher at Westminster High School, assisted with the project. Her students in the ninth-grade physical science class participated.

“This is the crux of the new Next Generation Science Standards being newly implemented at schools,” said Rudenberg,

u PAGE B5

B DECEMBER 13-15, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Students walk a mile in a dinosaur’s...

Natalie Bursztyn, assistant professor of geological sciences at Cal State Fullerton, (L-R)) with CSUF students Rhyan Ibarra, John Ayers, Adrian Escobar and Brian Magumcia as they “Stride Like a Velociraptor” for research on dinosaurs.

Gov’t open to NAIA rehab...

PAGE B2 t ment of Transportation would involve a massive airport spanning 1,168 hectares as well as city complex to be built on a 2,500hectare location along Manila Bay in Bulakan town.

The proposed airport project would have six parallel runways and an initial capacity of 100 million passenger or over three times that of NAIA.

It was proposed under a build-operate-transfer scheme, with SMC to operate the airport under a 50-year concession. As part of the proposal, SMC will build an expressway that would link its airport to the North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan.

SMC plans to complete the project within six years from approval.n

Gov’t pushing for...

PAGE B1 t

Office of the Philippines; Professional Regulation Commission; Philippine Mission to the WTO; Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires; and the Philippine Senate.

Lopez said the SSM would allow developing countries to temporarily increase tariffs on agricultural products in cases of import surges or price drops.

“It prevents irreversible injury to very vulnerable farmers against price volatility. It also serves to balance large subsidies given to agricultural products in rich countries,” he added.

The Trade chief also said that, while trade ministers have been given a mandate to talk about and negotiate the SSM since the Hong Kong MC in 2004—one that has been reiterated strongly in the Nairobi MC two years ago— discussions have not progressed, thus denying poor farmers the choice of availing themselves of even temporary protection.

The delagation will also be pushing to discuss a comparable definition of MSMEs. “The Philippines places great importance on the role of MSMEs in promoting inclusive growth.

We need to ensure that even among MSMEs, competition needs to be fair among them. This

can be facilitated by discussing the need to align the comparable definition of MSME enterprise size, so that we level the playing field as we discuss various interventions for MSMEs,” Lopez said.

The Trade secretary noted that the challenge of including MSMEs in trade is not only important, but also urgent.

“If we are to make globalization truly inclusive, as emphasized by President Duterte, we have to ensure that MSMEs are empowered and upgraded to enable them to participate in the global value chain,” he said.

The Philippines, together with the Friends of MSMEs, is seeking appropriate arrangements within the existing framework of the WTO and relevant committees, such as the establishment of a working group under the General Council that will be mandated to consider how the multilateral trading system can impact and benefit MSMEs, with particular consideration to the needs and interests of developing and leastdeveloped countries.

“Lastly, in MC 11, the Philippines will argue for the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) to remain as the overall framework for WTO negotiations. Lopez said.n

BSP to keep rates...

PAGE B1 t

He pointed out the impending comprehensive tax reform program is seen raising government revenue by around one percent of GDP. The think tank said easy credit and a worsening trade balance have led to suggestions the BSP would soon need to raise interest rates to get a handle on an overheating economy.

“We think such fears are overdone, with inflation moderating we expect BSP to leave rates on hold both this year and next,” Capital Economics said.

According to the think tank, “fast economic growth on its own does not mean the economy is overheating, besides the Philippine’s current growth is actually lower than many Asian economies sustained at similar

levels of development.”

Credit growth, while fast, is concentrated in productive investment, which should actually improve the capacity of the economy over the medium term, it said.

Capital Economics said inflation in the Philippines moderated to 3.3 percent in November from a three-year high of 3.5 percent in October, bringing the average to 3.2 percent in the first 11 months.

“Accordingly, we are sceptical that the economy is overheating and the BSP need to take action. We expect no change to policy at next week’s meeting and, whereas the consensus and financial markets are expecting rates to be raised at least twice next year, we think they will be left unchanged,” it said.n

London’s capital...

PAGE B1 t The Bangko Sentral’s policymaking Monetary Board will hold its last meeting for 2017 this Thursday, December 14.

Monetary authorities have kept key interest rates unchanged since the reverse repurchase rate was cut to 3 percent from 4 percent in May last year ahead of the adoption of an interest rate corridor.

Capital Economics’ view is contrary to that of Japan’s Nomura, which last week said that policy rates could be adjusted by 25 basis points per quarter, for a total 100-bps increase, beginning next year given increased inflation risks.

Nomura also said that the risk of markets viewing the Bangko Sentral as behind the curve — particularly when other regional central banks are signaling normalization — may add to overheating concerns.

Central bank governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. last week also downplayed overheating concerns, likening the economy to a race car that runs best while hot.

“The engine is expected to get hot along the way. That’s what running engines do. But there’s a huge difference between a hot engine and an overheated engine. If we don’t like hot engines, we should keep our car parked,” he told reporters. n

PAGE B4 t who wants to teach high school science. “This activity gave the students a way to be engaged in learning through actively ‘doing’ science and not just listening to a lecture.”

Ibarra is currently analyzing the data to see whether a student’s perception of scale changed through this kinesthetic activity, and if it had a positive impact on learning. He plans to have the research completed by next spring for his senior thesis project.

Meanwhile, to get students excited about studying science, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is offering the course, “Dinosaur World.”n

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Calif. School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley announces matching gift challenge to support Duarte High School’s Choral Dept.

SMG Property, LLC, the real estate holding entity for California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV), is pleased to announce a matching gift challenge in support of the Duarte High School (DHS) Choral Department, and we are asking for the community’s help too!

In February 2018, 22 talented choir students from Cantabile Show Choir, Duarte High School’s advanced choir ensemble, will travel to New York City to participate in a five-day Broadway Residency with Manhattan Concert Productions.They will perform with professional Broadway actors on stage at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, accompanied by the New York City Chamber Orchestra. It will cost approximately $44,000 ($2,000 per student) to make this oncein-a-lifetime trip a reality for the DHS Cantabile Show Choir.

In support of this incredible student performance opportunity, SMG Property, LLC will be matching, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 of funds donated towards the trip. SMG Property, LLC hopes this matching gift challenge will encourage others in the community to contribute to this important cause. With this challenge, donors have a chance to double their impact and do twice the good!

SMG Property, LLC and

CSArts-SGV are honored to continue in their partnership with Duarte Unified School District and thrilled to be able to support the arts through this matching gift challenge for the DHS Choral Department. Together, we are making it possible for aspiring young artists to live their dreams!

You can donate online at https://www.duarteusd.org/ Page/4629.

You can also send donations to: Duarte High ASB-Choir 1565 Central Avenue Duarte, CA 91010 (Attention: Claire Hsu) California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) is a public charter school that provides a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment, offering bright and talented students a rigorous college-preparatory academic program and pre-professional arts conservatory training. Based on the innovative and award-winning curriculum of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), CSArts-SGV offers the same high caliber academic and arts education. Opened in August 2017, the school serves students in grades seven through 11 for the 2017 – 2018 school year. In 2018 – 2019, CSArts-SGV will expand to serve students in grades seven through 12. CSArts-SGV enables its students to study in one of the

10 arts conservatories offered including acting, classical & contemporary dance, classical voice, commercial dance, creative writing, instrumental music, integrated arts, musical theatre, production & design, and visual arts.

The public charter school was established in 2016 by the California School of the Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization established to operate a network of high achieving, comprehensive public arts charter schools, modeled after the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). CSArts-SGV is a tuition-free, donation dependent program. For more information, visit sgv.csarts.net.

Duarte Unified School District (DUSD) is the home of the California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley. The mission of DUSD is to provide the knowledge, skills and inspiration for each student to be successful in college, career and life. Each of our eight schools and Child Development Center are staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: A Focus on Results, Service Centered, 21st Century Schools, and Strong Partnerships. These four pillars serve as the foundation of our organization where 21st Century schools are producing 21st Century students. For more information, visit www.duarteusd.org.n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 13, 2017

Jonas Gaffud on making beauty queens BY

BEHIND every strong woman is herself, but it doesn’t hurt to receive expert guidance from someone who has proved to produce success. For beauty queens of the Philippines, that someone is Jonas Gaffud, or Mama J, as he’s called in the industry.

Last November 28, beauty queen fans, pageant enthusiasts, and proud Filipinos alike lined up outside of O Skin Care Med Spa in Cerritos, California to meet Gaffud and get a signed copy of his recently released book.

By his side were Miss Universe 2015 winner Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, and Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner Up Ariella “Ara” Hernandez Arida, who fans also anticipated to meet.

Gaffud’s book titled “The Crown: The Essential Guide to Becoming a Beauty Queen”, was released in August of this year and has been described as a “crash course into the world of pageantry.” In it are personal stories, industry insights, tried

RAE ANN VARONA / AJPRESS

and tested makeup, fitness, and posture tips, and much more — but we shouldn’t give away any spoilers.

The Philippines has long been caught up in pageantfever. Aside from the major pageants like Binibining Pilipinas, many Filipinos participate in smaller localized pageants, and even smaller pageants are held in schools and workplaces.

Then, there are the different pageants for groups like grandparents or the LGBTQ community for example.

As further testament to the popularity, the country holds an impressive track record in placing beauty queens in the top international pageants.

The Philippines has continuously placed in the Miss Universe pageants for the last seven years, and in the 16 years that the Miss Earth pageant has been held, the country has only been absent in the top 10 for three of those years.

Gaffud and his Aces & Queens squad — which started in the halls of UP Diliman where he got his geography degree — has become an institution in the world of pageantry. His first batch of trainees included the then law student Zorayda Ruth Andam, who won Bb. Pilipinas Universe in 2001.

Since then, Gaffud and his squad have helped over 30 beauty queens become winners. His most recent trainees include Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Arida who was third in Miss Universe 2013, and of course, Wurtzbach who took home the Miss Universe crown in 2015 in a highly-publicized win.

For the seasoned beauty queen trainer, his interest in

the world of pageantry started when he was a kid, and it wasn’t just for the beauty.

Gaffud said the stories of the women were a big pull for his interest.

Reading his mother’s magazines during those years is what got him thinking of what he wanted to do in the future, and after temporarily working in research after university, he decided to pursue his passion of creating beauty queens full time.

So what makes a queen?

“Come to me!” Gaffud told the Asian Journal while laughing. “Get a queen maker!”

Laughs aside, anyone familiar with the industry would indeed agree that beauty pageants are more than just about looking pretty. They entail a lot of hard work which Gaffud details in his book.

“There’s so much work before joining a beauty pageant, and then there’s so much work after winning a beauty pageant,” said Gaffud, encouraging people to look at the beauty queens’ duties after their wins.

Wurtzbach, who was first taken under Gaffud’s coaching in 2012, advocated on HIV awareness after taking the 2015 Miss Universe crown — something she promised to do in her title-winning answer.

“He’s very strict,” the model, actress, chef, and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador told the Asian Journal about Gaffud.

“He’ll make you cry, but it will all be worth it anyways,” she added.

In the age of social media, beauty queens are also not exempt from the bashing and bullying. Gaffud’s advice is to brush it off, and focus on being

happy.

But in all the years of watching the beauty queens work their way to the top, Gaffud maintains that not much has changed.

“We’ve had strong, classy women, ever since,” said Gaffud.

On answering why beauty pageants and queens are especially big in the Philippines, both Gaffud and Wurtzbach agreed that it was the young women’s journeys that made them special.

“I think they’re a symbol of hope, especially in the Philippines,” explained Gaffud.

While Gaffud admits that beauty pageants are a form of entertainment, he said that it’s more than just glitz and glamour. Pageants offer a glimpse into something that while fantastical, is still possibly attainable.

“We like to see the girls’ journies right?,” said Wurtzbach whose own personal story is in the book. She added that those stories are one of her favorite parts of Gaffud’s tell-all.

Pageant viewers may agree that watching the inspiring contestant stories is one of the most memorable parts of the night.

This year, the most highlighted moments included contestants speaking out against sexual harassment, and Miss Iraq Sara Eden’s story of joining Miss Universe and being a pageant queen despite discouragements — Iraq had been absent from the pageant for 45 years prior. Eden was joined by pageant queens from Laos, Cambodia, and Nepal whose countries were being represented in Miss Universe for the first time.

Gaffudʼs book titled “The Crown: The Essential Guide to Becoming a Beauty Queen”, was released in August of this year and has been described as a “crash course into the world of pageantry.”

Jonas Gaffud

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

Miss Universe 2015 PIa Wurtzbach and Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Ariella Arida with O Skin Care Med Spaʼs Olivia Quido-Co (center).

“From start to finish, we get to know her background, what her life story is, and then how she’ll go through the challenges of winning the local pageant first, which is Binibining Pilipinas, and then hopefully or eventually making it to the international pageants,” said Wurtzbach.

“I think it’s because we see inspiration through that. If a girl can do it, then so can we,” she added. “You see that we’re all different. Some of us had it easier, and some of us had it harder.”

“And then I also like that it’s a guide,” she added.

Yet despite being subtitled “the essential guide to becoming a beauty queen,” Gaffud said that the book contains content anyone can immerse themselves in.

“It’s a story of struggle and evolving,” said Gaffud. “It’s a story of everybody.”

“You know, you evolve. In life, you should not be stuck to where you are. You read books, you experience life, and then you change your perception — for the better,” he added.

Regarding the Miss

Universe 2017 pageant on November 26, Gaffud said he once saw Philippine contestant Rachel Peters during a birthday party for Maxine Medina, but that is the only time their paths have crossed so far.

As for Miss Universe 2017 winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa?

“I love her!” exclaimed Gaffud, adding that he predicted her to win.

“From the very start, I knew that she would win,” he said.

“A lot people really predicted her to win — a lot of pageant experts.”

While Gaffud’s trainees have notably been Filipina, he said he was open to the idea of training international beauty queens. He reportedly worked with Miss Universe Indonesia Kezia Warouw which generated mixed reactions from Philippine fans, but Gaffud said his guidance is for all.

“We’re here to help women. Not Filipino women alone, but women all over the world,” he said.

“And if given an opportunity, I would do it over and over again.”

Robin Padilla, Sharon Cuneta Dawn Zulueta goes wacky love team still very alive

by TESSA

MAURICIOA-ARRIOLA ManilaTimes.net

by IRISH

CHRISTIANNE DIZON Philstar.com

THEY say you can’t be tethered to the past if you want to move forward. But in the case of luminaries Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla, to fully appreciate their present stature and projects (we’ll talk about their new film “Unexpectedly Yours” in a bit) necessitates a clear-eyed look into their past.

And that is exactly what is happening this Sunday afternoon inside a rather warm dressing room at ABS CBN’s Dolphy Theater. (The air conditioner is no match for the number of people listening in to the interview: managers, assistants, stylists, etc.) You don’t become an icon by shooting from the hip; so these two veterans are sitting side by side, helping this millennial journalist understand how they came to be who they are.

“Mega”: an adjective that means, “of highest level of rank, excellence or importance. Sharon Cuneta was not given the moniker “Megastar” for nothing — she earned it. Her early films like “Dear Heart”, “P.S. I Love You”, “Friends in Love” — all glossy romantic movies vis-a-vis good-looking partners, one of whom she would end up marrying — endeared her to the naturally romantic Filipino public. But you can only go so far with that genre and the poor little rich girl shtick. Her then-manager wanted her triple-threat ward to go the whole nine yards. (You can say Sharon is what Sarah G is to our generation: singer/actress/ dancer in one winsome package.) And to do that, Sharon had to win the hearts of the masa — the real cash cow — with stories that are less whimsical and more relatable: tales of poverty and systemic mistreatment that always ended with retribution and victory.

Despite Sharon’s wealthy background, she had an uncanny empathy that allowed her to convincingly mirror struggles she had not personally

SHE is often referred to as the “goddess of Philippine show business”—beautiful, sophisticated and poised, with never a hair out of place. At age 48, she continues to gain the admiration of men and women, both young and old, for her classic features and quiet refinement.

But can you ever imagine Dawn Zulueta losing her cool?

Screaming to the top of her lungs? Or even going rogue with a Nerf gun in her hands?

Unthinkable as these scenarios may be for the prized actress, Dawn can actually say she has been in them, and is even raring to show them to the public. Because thanks to “Meant to Beh”—her 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry as top comedian Vic Sotto’s Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla reunite in “Unexpectedly Yours”. leading lady—Dawn eagerly Philstar.com photo by Regine David relished letting her hair down.

“It’s been 20 years since I experienced. The young actress didn’t simply rely on the strength of the material, though. To win the last did a comedy, and that was also with Bossing [Vic’s showbiz hearts of the audience, you must know them and moniker] in [the sitcom] ‘OK Ka they must know you. So Sharon went where they Fairy Ko’,” she recalled to The were: the barangays, the palengkes, the standalone theaters of the past. This was the pre-social Times. “So, to do this [movie] was very exciting for me bemedia age and face-to-face interaction was the cause I very rarely do projects gold standard. in comedy that are wacky.

“It was part of the plan, to help me get closer to the masses. But in the end, it’s really your mov- Madalas ang mga roles na ies eh,” she ruminates. “It’s either they like you or ginagampanan ko masyadong serious.” they don’t. It’s either they accept you in your role In “Meant to Beh”, Dawn or they don’t. And by God’s grace, I was able to plays the role of Andrea Bapull it off so it worked for me.”

Continued on Page 4 latbat, wife to Vic’s Antonio.

Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta are reunited in MMFF entry ʻMeant to Behʼ 20 years since doing ʻOK Ka Fairy Koʼ together.

ManilaTimes.net photo

A middle-aged couple, they try their best to raise three children in what seems like the perfect family set up. “Beh” is their term of endearment for one another, a millennial slang to “baby.”

Just like any couple, the Balatbats have their spats, especially given their very different personalities. Antonio is a bit rough around the edges, while Andrea is, well, “maarte,” as Dawn puts it.

As disagreements pile up, their marriage begins to fall apart, leaving a gap for new potential partners to step in.

The movie’s riotous trailer shows Dawn pulling her hair in frustration, exchanging amusing barbs in rapid speed with and just like her leading man, and going mad-woman-mode when she points a Nerf gun at

Vic and the super sexy “other woman” played by Andrea Torres.

“You can tell from sneak peak that I was thrilled to do a project such as this para maiiba naman di’ba? It’s something that allows me to show the public another side of me, and to see that I am capable of doing other things and other talents. Hindi lang lagi sa drama.”

Dawn was quick to say, however, that despite the comedy, the movie shows real-life conflicts that surround contemporary families, and ultimately imparts lessons to couples on how to avoid growing apart, and how children play an important role in keeping the family together as well.

“The material is very fresh and very now and masarap for Continued on Page 4

entertainment 3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 13, 2017

Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto admit mutual relationship answered that they are the best things that happened to each other’s lives this year.

“Ang pinaka the best na nangyari sa akin ngayong taon na’ to ay ang makatrabaho si Julia sa solong pelikulang ‘love you To The Stars and Back’ at siya mismo. Napatunayan ko na siya talaga yung nagbibigay

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

One star for Charice (left) and another star for Jake Zyrus.

Philstar.com photos

Why Charice & Jake have one star each on Walk of Fame by ricky lo Philstar.com

SomE people have been wondering (rather, “puzzled”) why Charice was given another star during the recent 12th anniversary of Walk of Fame (WoF), the pet project of the late German “Kuya Germs” moreno which is being continued by his son Federico moreno as president of the WoF Foundation.

“This time,” Federico explained, “the star is for Jake Zyrus as a show of support to the lGBT community.”(Jake Zyrus is Charice’s name as a “man.”) “The WoF Board of Trustees inducted mr. Jake Zyrus also for his exemplary career in the music industry.”

Federico added that the criteria for induction into the WoF are, 1). must have reached the epitome of success in the entertainment industry and 2). must have contributed a positive impact and must have helped in the growth of the entertainment industry.

Those at the event were visibly moved when mommy Gwapa with son-in-law arnel Cowley received the star for daughter isabel Granada (who died of aneurysm in Qatar last Nov. 4), one of the posthumous inductees together with Chichay, maning Borlaza, Joe Taruc and Eddie Romero.

Federico recalled that his dad almost gave up his dream to build a philippine counterpart of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. “it was a struggle and my dad almost walked away from it,” said Federico. “among those who have been quietly helping my dad from the beginning is Tita alice (Eduardo, CEo of Sta. Elena Construction). WoF wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Tita alice. my dad wanted to give her a star but Tita alice begged off.” alice was the last person whom Kuya Germs had talked to (on the phone) before he died.

“Tita alice was then in the States. my dad wanted to call her. as soon as the plane from the U.S. landed,Tita alice called my dad. it was his last phone call.”

The other inductees were: Regal matriarch lily monteverde, Karen Davila, Empoy marquez, atom araullo, anthony Taberna, parokya ni Edgar, matteo Guidicelli, Solenn Heussaff, Freddie Santos, Kris Bernal, Joe D’mango, mely Tagasa, and Tulfo brothers mon and Erwin.

The event was hosted by Jackielou Blanco and Kuya Germs’ nephew John Nite.

Kapamilya love team Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto said in a blogcon for their movie “Unexpectedly yours” with Robin padilla and Sharon Cuneta that they do not see themselves telling everyone the real score between them anytime soon, even though it looks like the only missing thing in their relationship is the confirmation. it can be recalled that Julia was left speechless after her friend, Erich Gonzales, revealed in an interview with Boy abunda that Julia and Joshua are now in a relationship. also in that show, Julia was asked: “Bakit hindi mo pa sinasagot si Joshua?,” to which she replied: “Sino ba’ng nagsabi na hindi pa?”

She also said it would be better to ask Joshua.

When asked for his comment on Julia’s remarks during abunda’s show, Joshua said he is happy that Julia is proud of him.

“Para sa akin, masaya ako na proud sa ‘kin si Julia, kaya niyang sabihin, kaya niyang maging honest sa nararamdaman niya.

Ayun ‘yung reaksyon ko,” Joshua said.

Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia ABS-CBN photo

according to Julia, time will come when the public will know their real relationship status. “i believe that time will come and whatever it is that’s going on between the two of us, i think it’s nice we can keep it between the two of us and i am actually really happy because every time we say this kind of stuff, people respect our choice of being private about what we really are because it will really come out. There will come a time, when we’re ready to share this with everyone, but right now kahit ‘yun man lang saming dalawa it’s our little secret,” Julia said.

When asked what is the best thing that happened to them this 2017, both Kapamilya stars

sa akin ng lucky charm and i hope sa 2018 ay magiging mas maganda at masagana pa,” Joshua said. “i’m proud to say that he’s the best thing that happens to me this year. period. Exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point,” Julia exclaimed.

features

Need health insurance? Now is the time to sign up for coverage Miss Universe supports Camiguin’s

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 13, 2017

jewelry made of ‘trash’ sea glass

by C.

Mendez Legaspi Philstar.com

BesiDes the white-sand beaches, volcanic springs and awesome waterfalls, Camiguin is also known for its sea glass accessories.

The Miss Universe queens who visited the island-province — Miss italy Maria Polverino, Miss Netherlands Nicky Opheij, Miss Canada Lauren Howe, Miss spain sofia del Prado, Miss UsA Kára McCullough, Miss Korea sewhee Choo, Miss singapore Manuela Bruntraeger and Miss india shraddha shashidhar — got up up close with Camiguin’s sea glass jewelry.

What makes the jewelry unique is that the source materials, bottle shards, are picked by little kids from the shores and created into fashionable accessories by women from the community. After years in the sea bed, tumbled by the waves and tides and smoothened in the process, they have turned

The white, green and brown (from beer bottles) sea glass jewelry sell for as low as P150 because they are more commonplace. “Red is the rarest and most expensive, at most P,000, because you need gold to bring out the red. They come from decorative vases and even old car tail lights, which nowadays are made of plastic.”

Bajuyo said you have to find 10,000 sea glasses to find a red one. Also rare are the yellow sea glass, which he plans to create into crowns for the next Miss Lanzones Festival or the Miss Tourism Camiguin.

The 2017 Miss Universe delegates were on a day-long, whirlwind tour of Camiguin as part of the Department of Tourism’s “Bring Home a Friend” campaign.

“We feel honored that the Miss Universe Organization and our Tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo has chosen Camiguin island as one of the destinations for their visit. it is a great opportunity for us to promote the province and Region 10,” said May salvaNa-Unchuan, the DOT Region 10 director.

The Miss Universe candidates experienced firsthand the beauty of the attractions of the island. Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed by the Lanzones Festival performers. They went swimming and frolicking on the white sand beach of White island and enjoyed fresh coconut juice at the Photo by Cocoy Bajuyo majestic Tuasan Falls.

into a precious commodity. sea Glass Camiguin is a brainchild of the couple Cocoy Bajuyo, an artist/photographer with international experience in the tourism sector, and elden Chamberlain, a British expert in public health and HiV/AiDs. The couple own the resort called Balai sa Baibai, which serves as the workshop and showroom of the gorgeous jewelry. They commission the pieces from a group of women and silversmiths who belong to the Komunidad sa Baibai, a livelihood foundation the enterprising couple set up with the help of the LGU and generous benefactors such as their generous friends, the Coalition for Better education and the German embassy.

“What makes the sea glass special is that it’s just trash, polished over time by nature and now becomes a gem,” says Bajuyo, who hails from nearby Cagayan de Oro.

Miss Universe beauties with Cocoy Bajuyo and Elden Chamberlain of Camiguin.

Dawn Zulueta goes...

From Page 2 an artist like me to interpret a role like this the way i see it, and in a comedy set-up.”

Finally asked how she found working with Vic sotto after two decades, and in a movie for the very first time, the ever-gracious Dawn—who also knows how to be a tease within

her prim and proper ways—replied, “enjoy na enjoy akong katrabaho si Bossing kasi the last time nga kaming nagtrabaho ang tagal na. Dalaga pa ako noon. Pero ganun na ganun pa rin siya. Actually, hindi nga siya tumatanda. Sabi ko sa kanya, yummy pa din siya. Tuwang tuwa naman siya.”

“Meant to Beh” is a joint production of OctoArts Films, APT entertainment and M-Zet Productions, under the direction of Chris Martinez. Opening on Christmas Day as part of the MMFF, it also stars JC santos, Daniel Matsunaga, sue Ramirez, Gabbi Garcia, Ruru Madrid and Baby Baste.

AFTeR months of debate and questions about our health care system, it is understandable if some Californians are confused about what is happening to their coverage and whether financial help is still available to get health insurance.

Here’s what consumers need to know. The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land, and Covered California is rock solid and open for business. Covered California is the state exchange established under the Affordable Care Act, where Californians who do not have health insurance can sign up for quality health coverage and find out whether they qualify for financial help in paying for their premiums.

“Covered California remains strong, and the good news is that for most consumers, the price of their coverage is going down in 2018,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “if you do not currently have health insurance, now is the one time of the year when you can enroll without needing to meet special qualifying conditions.”

Covered California’s open-enrollment period began on Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31, 2018. However, if consumers want their coverage to begin on Jan. 1, they need to sign up for coverage by Dec. 15. Consumers who sign up after Dec. 15 will have their coverage start in either February or March.

Having health insurance is important because it protects cosumers and their families againstpotentially enormous medical billsif they get sick or injured. Covered California’s new ad campaign focuses on day-to-day examples of how life can change in an instant.

Whether it is falling off a ladder while putting up Christmas lights, stumbling off a curb while checking your phone, or discovering that there will be a new addition to the family, being covered is the best plan when life changes.

“More than 28,000 Filipinos are currently enrolled in a plan through Covered California,” Lee said. “We want to make sure everyone in the Filipino community knows about their options and the financial help that is available to

help bring that health coverage within reach.”

Consumers can see their options and find out if they qualify for financial help in just a few easy steps. All they need to do is visit www.

CoveredCA.com and click on the “shop and Compare” button. With their ZiP code, household income, household size and the ages of those who are applying for coverage, they will quickly find out which plans are available and whether they qualify for financial assistance.

For example, an individual could earn up to $48,240 a year, and a family of four up to $98,400, and qualify for financial help that would lower the cost of their monthly premium. Not only do a majority of Covered California consumers benefit from financial help, but a new analysis shows that the price they pay for their coverage is going down this year. “even if you have checked Covered California out before, check again,” Lee said. “Finding out whether you qualify for financial help only takes a few minutes and the prices could be more affordable than you think.” in addition to signing up online, consumers can get free, confidential in-person assistance to find out more about their coverage options. Covered California has partnered with insurance agents and community organizations across the state, who speak Tagalog and a variety of other languages, to help consumers find the best fit for their health care needs.

Consumers interested in speaking with someone in person can visit the “Find Help” page on www.CoveredCA.com and enter their ZiP code to locate a certified enroller near them. They can also contact Covered California’s service center at (800) 300-1506. Covered California provides resources in Tagalog on its website at https://www.coveredca.com/tagalog/.

“California is the most diverse state in the country and we want to do everything we can to make sure that people in every community can get the coverage they deserve and the care they need,” Lee said.

(Advertising Supplement)

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“Pull it off” is putting it lightly. Movies like “Bukas Luluhod ang mga Tala” resonated with real-life underdogs hungry for payback, and translated to serious box office returns. By the time 1986 rolled around, with a string of blockbuster hits under her belt, sharon Cuneta had become a veritable star.

Unbeknownst to sharon, an upstart actor was adoringly observing her rise to the top from the sidelines. As a teenager, Robin Padilla eagerly watched sharon-starrers like “P.s. i Love You” and found his Girl-On-TV in her. eventually, Robin’s own star would rise and he would receive top billing in his own movies.

One of those is “eagle squad”, where he first came on her radar.

“What i noticed was the way he moved,” she says. “When he does an action sequence, it’s like dancing. He’s very graceful and quick and sexy.” in those days, action films were all the rage, and Robin was the action star of his generation.

At 21, his manager gave him the gift of all gifts: a film alongside his dream girl sharon Cuneta.

On their first shooting day on Jan. 2, 1991, FPJ, sharon’s firstever action star leading man, visited the set of “Maging sino Ka Man”, and had a litany of reminders for Robin: “’Si ma’am,’ sabi niya, ‘Pagsisilbihan mo yan.

Pag magsi-CR yan linisin mo.

Pag tatayo yan, tatayo ka rin.”

He took these to heart and then some. sharon shares, “The attention he gave me was 100 percent. He refused to let the utility men make my coffee. sometimes i would ask for coffee and it would take forever.

And i would go, ‘Kuya, bakit po wala pa yung kape ko?’ And they’d go, ‘Ma’am, kasi ho bilin ni sir (Robin).’

“Maging sino Ka Man” wasn’t just a blockbuster hit; it’s common knowledge that as their characters Carding and Monique/Digna fell in love, sharon and Robin also fell in love on set. But because life is not like the movies, they fell out of love and their paths — both personal and career — diverged.

The two made a total of three films, and the last one came out 16 years ago, in 2001. Out of curiosity, i asked an insider from the company that produced all three how those did at the box office. His reply was quick: “Blockbuster naman po lahat ng films (together) nina sir Robin and Ma’am sharon.”

People say you can’t be tethered to the past if you want to move forward. But in the case of luminaries sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla, to fully appreciate their new film “Unexpectedly Yours”, necessitates a clear-eyed look at their past. And the cleareyed look reveals the past for what it is: the past.

The sharon who sits in front of us now is no longer a princess-ingénue, but a formidable politician’s wife and mom of four who has gone through very public breakdowns and breakthroughs.

This Robin, with his head cocked to one side, still has that bad boy appeal, but is no longer the reckless rebel he once was.

This Robin is a family man, now with a grandson(!).

The past — sharon and Robin could use the past. They could mine their romantic history to hook the audience into watching. They could invent drama to get the press going.

But this is not how legends work. Legends sell their work on the merit of the work. sharon and Robin say the film “Unexpectedly Yours” is a project they can be proud of, something they wouldn’t want struck out from their filmography.

“Ako masasabi ko, umarte ako dito. Kasi sa ibang pelikula ako lang yun eh,” Robin admits.

“Mahaba magsalita si Cocoy. Sa mga pelikulang ginagawa ko, mga short (lines) lang. ‘Papatayin kita!’ Mga ganun. Ito ang hahaba. Apat na page.”

On the surface, it’s a lighthearted romcom about Patty (a menopausal woman whose personal and professional life are both in shambles) and Cocoy (a bachelor for life who finally gets a shot at winning over Patty, his high school crush). But it’s not just about finding romance when you’re at the end of your

rope: it’s about domineering mothers in a patriarchal society, the web of lies in the interwebs, our culture of ageism and the reality of being eased out of the picture by somebody younger (and cheaper).

The film reportedly earned P14 million on its first day and P100 million in less than a week — figures that these days only young love teams with huge fan bases rake in. For sure, some would dismiss those numbers as “padding” the earning, but for what it’s worth, the 7:10 p.m. screening of “Unexpectedly Yours” at an upscale mall in Mandaluyong was packed, the audience a very responsive mix of millennials and Titas and Titos of Manila. “Ang gwapo ni Robin,” the Tita next to me giggled. “Nakakahawa yung tawa ni sharon,” somebody behind me quips. Nobody left the cinema until the finale scene ended. it’s been 26 years since sharon and Robin first lit up the screen together. And the box office turnout of their new film is an indication that we’re still not over them as a tandem, and more importantly, as individuals.

No need to call them #shaBin or #Robsha or #shaRob. Just sharon. Just Robin. They come from the old school, and the old school didn’t need portmanteaus to thrive. sharon posits a theory as to why the fickle public still wants them: “Because we have a history with our audience. When they met us, we were who we really were. Let’s just say we didn’t have all these workshops preparing us. We were just who we were. Kasi sabi nila no matter how nicely you package a gift kung yung loob naman bulok, itatapon lang yun. And we really owe it to the audience because they fell in love with us.”

Robin, who is only happy to let his storyteller of a screen partner and ex-lover regale us with anecdotes, flips the question back to us: “Meron bang taong makaka-get over kay sharon Cuneta?”

A good question — and we could say the same of him, too.

entertainment 5 How Georgina Wilson coped without a ‘yaya’ for her son Vic Sotto: ‘Maine is not suspended’ The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 13, 2017

CAN’T find a “yaya”? Do not worry because you are not alone.

Model, entrepreneur and TV host Georgina Wilson-Burnand was among the celebrities who did not have a babysitter for their babies.

In a recent interview with the press during her launch as Chicco endorser, the first-time mom recalled how she coped without a “yaya” to help her with her son, Archibald.

“It’s much easier to put up a company than it is to become a mother,” she said. “So, to everyone who’s done it and has done it more than once, I don’t know how you do it. It’s incredible and I’m honored to be a member of the community.”

When the help Georgina was expecting did not come, she was left without a “yaya” for the first four months since having Archie.

“So, I really have to learn from zero on what to do,” she enthused.

But instead of feeling sad about it, she was even thankful for the experience.

“What I love about it is that now that I have help, I taught her how to do everything,” she shared.

Thus, for moms who have no “yayas” to help take care of their little one, she reminded them that “things happen for a reason.”

“I’m so happy I had that chance to be with him, just me and him, so I think ‘yang bond na ‘yan is so special!”

‘It’ girls love Georgina’s ‘it’ boy Georgina said she chose the name “Archibald” for her baby even while he was still in her tummy because as a half-British, she wants a “super English name.”

Breastfeeding Archie was so much harder than she thought it would be. “Because people don’t talk about it. Yes, it’s amazing, but there’s a lot of pressure on it,” she admitted.

“It has been challenging for me, but I just persevered for as long as I could.”

Although she did not have a yaya for Archie, she is happy because “a community brings up a baby.”

“When you become a mom, there’s like this tightly-knit community… It’s all about your support group,” she observed.

Apart from her mom, Georgina also got help from her friends, including the ‘it’ girls.

When she gave birth to Archie, she recalled having at least 20 visitors every day, so Archie has become used to being carried by different people every day.

“Archie loves to spend time

by RICKY

CALDERON ManilaTimes.net

“NO, Maine Mendoza is not suspended from ‘Eat Bulaga’ and is just on vacation,” Vic Sotto, one of the noontime show’s main hosts said on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The statement came at the heels of what fans and industry observers thought was a suspension on Maine Mendoza.

It could remembered that the young star expressed in a lengthy open letter, among other things, that she and onscreen partner Alden Richards are only friends in real life. ʻItʼ girl Georgina Wilson-Burnand and son Archibald.

Philstar.com photo Maine posted the viral letter on November 26, a Sunday, “I’m not a strict mom and I with the ‘it’ girls,” she said. “I just want him to be happy in life. and although she still appeared don’t read that much, so I learn on “Eat Bulaga” the day after, He can make his own decisions more about being a mom from she has been missing her hostthe people around me…I’m still and we can talk. But one thing ing duties since November 28. that I feel strongly about is golearning how to feed him.”

Despite some members of Her friend, Raymond Gutier- ing to school,” she explained.

Aldub—the nickname for the Whether or not her son has rez, also helps her lose her a “yaya,” Georgina treasures the love team—expressing negapregnancy weight. tive sentiments over the letter time she spends with her son “You know, there are moms that has been shared more than and finds every second of it to who look amazing just after a 27,000 times, Vic believed that be precious. month. I’m not that at all!” she there is no reason to suspend “I didn’t know how happy I professed. the young star.

She also finds it fortunate to could be until I met Arch,” she “There is no reason for her stressed.

“It’s the best advenhave companies like Chicco that to be suspended in the first ture I’ve been on. I guess I’m support moms and help them more emotional nowadays. Kids place. Mr. Tony Tuviera [Tape’s become better through helpful bring tears…happy ones!” (Deni big boss and the producer of baby products.

Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Phil- ‘Eat Bulaga’] respects the opinThe only problem she has ion of everyone in the show,” with having a community to help star.com) her is that sometimes, some parents try to impose their parenting styles on her.

“Moms pass on judgment on each other on how to be a proper mother,” she fretted.

But for her, as long as your baby is happy and you are doing a good job, you have nothing to worry about.

“What is really important is that everyone respects each other’s mothering styles. If somebody wants to be a fullon mom, go for it. Somebody wants to be a career mom, go for it…I try to stay true as much as possible. I think like with other moms, sometimes you lose yourself. I feel like I am who I am, but I added ‘mom.’ I didn’t change myself completely.”

She wants to consider herself a “modern mom,” who, like what her mom is to her, is a friend to her son.

“I want to be his friend.

I don’t correct him. I don’t discipline. I guess, I’m just like my mom. I just bond with him a lot. I think I’m a relaxed mom…I don’t think that at this age he could be mean, so he does not need scolding, really. I think if not the future he becomes rude or unpleasant, I will not be okay with that,” Georgina expounded.

Like her, will she also allow Archie to enter showbiz?

Maine Mendoza and Vic Sotto

Vic further explained at the sidelines of his Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Meant to Beh’s” press conference.

The veteran comedian, however, admitted that he is not privy to Maine’s decision to go on vacation what with their limited personal interaction.

“I am not really in the know.

Personally, I don’t feel that Maine is going through a problem or something but I am not privy to anything because that

GMA photo

is Maine’s personal decision.

Nevertheless, whatever might be the problem, let us just respect the issues confronting her,” said.

Finally, while he cannot confirm the date of Maine’s comeback, Vic assured Aldub fans that the phenomenal love team will endure.

“The loveteam will always be there so let us wait for further development,” he ended.

6

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 13, 2017