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Volume 16 - No. 50 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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DATELINE Covered California’s Dec. 15 deadline approaches for consumers seeking health insurance coverage FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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 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

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University of California continues support for DACA WHILE Congress was narrowly able to avoid a government shutdown on Thursday, December 7 by passing a bill to extend government funding by two weeks, Democrats in the Capitol stepped up in their demands for Congress to protect DREAMers before the year’s end. “We will not leave here without a DACA fix,� House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters on Thursday.

But as the fight to solidify what should become of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, one thing that remains certain is the University of California’s intent to advocate for the roughly 800,000 people brought illegally to the U.S. as children. “This is a busy time at the University of California,� said University of California (UC) President Janet Napolitano to reporters on Tuesday, December 5 in a meeting meant to provide updates on the university.

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

Duterte on nationwide martial law: ‘All options are on the table’ Congress approves extension in Mindanao

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is not dismissing the possibility of declaring martial law nationwide.

Just hours after Congress approved his request to extend martial law in Mindanao for one more year, Duterte expressed the likelihood of expanding the scope of the military rule if the “enemies of the state� continue to intensify

their recruitments and attacks.

Duterte cited, in particular, the threats posed by the New People’s Army (NPA). “All options are on the table,� the president told reporters when asked

if he is inclined to declare martial law nationwide. “There’s only one rationale there, the existence of the Republic of the Philippines. You threaten the existence of the

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

by RAE

ANN VARONA AJPress

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 San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee 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 their Glen Park home, according to a report by the San Fran-

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CONGRESS EXTENDS MARTIAL LAW. Senate President Aquilino “Koko� Pimentel III (left) exchanges pleasantries with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during the special joint session of Congress on Wednesday, December 13. The Senate voted 14-4 while the House voted 226-3 in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus until December 31, 2018.

Senate photo by Ariel Cagadas

Duterte: I won’t jail ex-presidents

by LEILA

B. SALAVERRIA Inquirer.net

HIS predecessors have nothing to fear, at least from him.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, December 13 said he was not wont to go after former presidents. “But to be filing cases against a former president, that’s not my attitude. It’s true,� Mr. Duterte said at a benefit dinner for Marawi.

He also made a reference to a message from Kris Aquino, sister of former president Benigno Aquino III. He was apparently referring to Kris’ text message earlier this year asking him not to imprison her brother. At that time, he also told her he was not into the habit of sending political opponents to prison.

On Wednesday, Mr. Duterte said he had not even filed cases against an opponent, former

Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, who had sued him several times. “Not once did I retaliate,� he said.

He would rather fight it out, he said. “I want to kill you if I see you. If we get unlucky and our talks get nowhere, then I’ll just shoot you. Why would I file cases? That’s what I told In this July 27 photo, Duterte led the ďŹ rst meeting of the National Security Boy [Nograles’ nickname],â€? he Council at MalacaĂąang with four former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Benigno Aquino III. said. â–

PNP chief asks Fil-Ams to Impeachment complaint against pray for a drug-free PH Morales fails to get endorsement

failed to get an endorsement from an incumbent congressman.

GROUPS of lawyers have Without endorsement from a lodged an impeachment com- House member, the House Secplaint against Ombudsman retary General only “noted� the Conchita Carpio-Morales on impeachment complaint and Wednesday, December 13—but u PAGE A3

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

by AJPRESS

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa Inquirer.net photo

DE C E MBE R 1 5 - 2 1 , 2 0 1 7

AHEAD of the Philippine Simbang Gabi tradition that commences this week, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Ronald “Bato� Dela Rosa has asked the Filipino-American community in New York for the gift of prayer.

In his message during the parol lighting event held at the Philippine Center in New York on Tuesday, December 5, Dela Rosa asked Filipinos there to pray for the police’s success in its return to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. “Sana ay isama niyo kami sa inyong prayers na ang PNP ay magiging successful sa war on

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DECEMBER 15-21, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page PAGE A1 t

Duterte on nationwide...

Republic of the Philippines, I am sure that everybody will react and do what he must do to prevent it,” he added.

While he did not provide the specific parameters that would guide his decision on declaring a nationwide martial law, Duterte noted that he would listen to the recommendation of the military and the police.

In a joint session on Wednesday, December 13, Congress approved Duterte’s request to retain martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018. The Senate voted 14-4 while the House voted 226-23 in favor of extending military rule in the area.

Among the senators who voted in favor of Duterte’s request were Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Joel Villanueva, and Migz Zubiri.

Those who voted against the extension, meanwhile, were Senators Bam Aquino, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan.

In his letter to Congress, Duterte cited continuing threats posed

by Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists, local terrorist groups, and the NPA in seeking an extension for martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

But during Congress’s joint session this week, Drilon questioned the NPA’s inclusion as the basis for the extension request, saying that the communist rebels were not mentioned in the original martial law proclamation on May 23.

Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao following the attack of Maute rebels in Marawi City. The president’s 60-day proclamation was initially set to expire last July 22 and was then extended by Congress until December 31 of this year.

“The NPA has been there for the last 4 decades, suddenly in the

extension request today, the NPA is cited as an additional ground for martial law extension in Mindanao… Is this now a prelude to declaring martial law nationwide?”

Drilon added.

The senator further pointed out that the under the 1987 Constitution, Congress “can only extend the proclamation of martial law in case of actual, public uprising and taking arms against the government” and not just threats.

“The government through Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared the rebellion in Marawi City to have been terminated and no longer exists. It is on this basis that we believe that the continued imposition of martial law up to Dec. 31 is unconstitutional,” Drilon said.

Responding to Drilon, Lorenzana said that rebellion “has not stopped” but “just moved to another place.”

“The situation in Marawi has substantially changed from the time that our troops were fighting the ISIS-inspired Maute group,” the Defense secretary explained. n

From the Front Page

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

PNP chief asks Fil-Ams...

PAGE A1 t

drugs. Sana sa aming pagbabalik sa war on drugs wala nang mamatay, hindi na ito madugo (Please include us in your prayers and ask that the PNP will be successful in the drug war. I hope that there will be no more deaths),” Dela Rosa said.

Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte brought the police back to his drug war nearly two months after he barred them from joining the campaign amid public outcry on deaths of suspects, including teenagers.

Data released by Real Numbers PH of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) showed that there were about 4,000 drug personalities killed during PNP drug war operations from July 2016 until

October 2017.

This time around, the PNP chief vowed that the police will be more cautious in its operations.

“What I can guarantee you is that we’ll still proceed with our war on drugs in full speed, but with extreme caution,” Dela Rosa said.

“Ingatan na hindi tayo masisingitan ng masasamang tao, mga masasamang sindikato, na sasakay sa ating war on drugs (Be more cautious to not let bad persons and syndicates slip in on us and ride the war on drugs),” he added.

Dela Rosa also maintained that the PNP wants to preserve life.

“Hindi po kami basta-basta na lang pumapatay. Sinasabi meron namang nagkakamali, meron nag-

Covered California’s Dec. 15...

PAGE A1 t

– 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 consumers for coverage in November -- the first month of California’s three-month openenrollment 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/findhelp/ 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

University of California...

PAGE A1 t

The leading public research university had just closed the application season for the upcoming year’s fall entering class, which Napolitano said was among the largest, and most diverse ever in the history of the institution.

After having set off a course two years ago to increase enrollment by 10,000 students, they are expected to surpass that mark by fall of 2018. Napolitano said that last year’s class enrollment was the largest ever since World War II, with current numbers sitting around 260,000 students in total throughout its ten campuses — roughly 200,000 are undergraduate students.

And applications are coming in full force with the UC system last year getting around 200,000 applications. UCLA, its Los Angeles campus, received the most applications of any campus in the entire country, according to Napolitano.

“We anticipate increasing enrollment by approximately 2,000 more students,” said Napolitano.

Aside from its reputation as the world’s leading public research university, UC has prided itself in providing historically underrepresented student populations with opportunities to pursue a world-class higher education through their “Achieve UC” program, for example.

“We view ourselves as a gateway to opportunity for Californians and we’re proud of that,” said Napolitano.

But perhaps the most notable demographic in light of recent issues of immigration are the university’s undocumented student population.

According to Napolitano, approximately 4,000 students are thought to be undocumented — a vast majority are in DACA. For UC, the issue is personal and is especially so for Napolitano who created the DACA program in 2012 while serving as secretary of Department of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013 under the Obama administration.

“I started DACA because it was clear that Congress was not going to be able to act to address or form immigration law comprehensively, and that these young people were particularly the victims of that because they had been brought to the country at a young age,” said Napoli-

tano.

She added that the average age at which people were brought to the U.S was around six years old.

“They grew up in the United States, they played by the rules, they’ve done everything that’s expected of them,” Napolitano added. “They got into the University of California.”

As the program crumbled this year in the hands of the new Trump administration, the university has continued to set in place resources and services to help DREAMers. These services include the DREAM loan program for financial aid, legal services, campus-based student service centers, and enforcing that police or other enforcement not contact, detain, question, or arrest individuals based on suspected undocumented status.

When designing DACA, Napolitano said they had no real idea how many would end up being enrolled in the program.

“When we started, we didn’t know whether it would be 5,000 or 50,000. We just didn’t know,” said Napolitano. “It ended up being close to 800,000 DACA enrollees.”

President Trump rescinded DACA in September, leaving it up to Congress to pass a bill to save it by the deadline of March 5, 2018.

Shortly after on September 8, UC filed suit in federal court against the Trump administration.

“The basis is that they violated the administrative procedures act, and the due process clause of the constitution,” said Napolitano who became the only cabinet secretary to have filed a lawsuit against her successor.

Commenting on Trump’s decision, Napolitano said, “I think it is inconsistent with the law, it’s inconsistent with good immigration enforcement policy, and it’s inconsistent with our values as a country.

“To say I strongly disagree is too understated,” she added. “It’s really quite infuriating.”

Napolitano said that the case is slated to be heard in federal court in San Francisco on December 20, 2017.

“It’s been a very successful program and very popular because Americans as a whole recognize the value and talent that these young people bring,” said

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aabuso pero kinakasuhan natin yan (We don’t just kill people.

There maybe those who commit mistakes or become abusive but we file charges against them) Generally, we want to preserve life,” Dela Rosa said.

Term extended In a press conference on Wednesday, December 13, Duterte said he is planning to extend Dela Rosa’s term as the PNP chief by two to three months before assigning him to head the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

“I have the discretion to extend even beyond retirement age.

Marami pa kasi akong gawin (I still have things needed to be done). I want to do some things in Mindanao of utmost importance and I need to extend the tour of duty of Gen. Dela Rosa to something like two to three months,”

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 15-21, 2017

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the president told reporters.

Dela Rosa is set to retire in January 2018, but Duterte said he still needs the police chief to oversee some reforms in police camps in Mindanao.

“It’s mainly infrastructure and maybe the physical setting of the headquarters of the Armed Forces (AFP) and the police to suit the demands of the moment,” said Duterte.

Asked who will replace Dela Rosa as the PNP chief once he retires, Duterte said the matter has yet to be decided.

“Wala pa (Nothing yet). I usually do not interfere. I don’t know. They have a sort of an entity wherein the PNP is tasked with reviewing the senior officers’ promotion parang board of generals,” the president told reporters. n

Impeachment complaint...

PAGE A1 t could not consider it as “filed.”

A verified endorsement is required before an impeachment complaint may be considered filed before the lower House.

Among those who filed the impeachment complaint against Morales were advocacy groups Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), Tanggulang Demokrasya, and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution, Inc. Complainants also include some relatives of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Forces (PNP-SAF) who were killed in the botched Mamasapano operation on Jan. 25, 2015.

They accused Morales of cul-

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

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales Philstar.com photo

pable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

Among the grounds they cited in their complaint include Morales’ supposed conspiracy with Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang in releasing bank infor-

mation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his family while citing the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) as their source.

The AMLC, however, denied that it released copies of the bank accounts of the Duterte family to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Morales is in conspiracy with Carandang in making illegal and irresponsible statements to the public on the falsified and spurious bank transactions of President Ro-

drigo Duterte and the Duterte family,” the complaint read.

The Office of the Ombudsman was conducting a probe on the alleged hidden wealth of the presidential family based on the claims of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Morales previously said she has inhibited herself from acting on any case filed against the Duterte family as her nephew, lawyer Manases Carpio, is married to Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

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From the Front Page

DECEMBER 15-21, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

SF’s first Asian American mayor...

PAGE A1 t cisco 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.”

Condolences also came from Hillary and Bill Clinton as both were good friends of Lee. “Saddened by the loss of my friend, Mayor Ed Lee. I’ll always be grateful for his leadership and his steadfast support. It was a privilege to spend time with him earlier this month at the @aids_memorial on #WorldAIDSDay2017. He will be missed,” tweeted Mr. Clinton.

Hillary Clinton tweeted Tuesday night, “Mayor Ed Lee’s death is a terrible loss for the people of San Francisco. He was a good friend & a vocal advocate for the city he served & loved. My thoughts are with his family.”

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 Bowdoin 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 Lee’s first priority was always the people. As a community or-

ganizer, 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

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

point.”

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

Leaders from the Asian American community also sent their condolences, reflecting on their experiences with Lee. Assessor Carmen Chu who is also Chinese American and a daughter 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

University of California...

PAGE A3 t Napolitano.

UC efforts As the year comes to an end, the university has had its fair share of issues to deal with. Just this month, results from an investigation prompted by a whistleblower accused Napolitano’s office of meddling in an April audit came in. No evidence was shown to put the office in trouble.

At Napolitano’s meeting with reporters on Tuesday, she shared a number of other efforts happening in the UC system.

In regards to student body information, Napolitano shared that 42 percent of UC students are first in their families to go to college. Out of the university’s faculty population, 900 faculty members were themselves the first in their family to attend college.

“From our first generation efforts, we want those students to see others who were once in their shoes, as possible role models,” said Napolitano.

As many universities across the U.S. have had to face issues

surrounding sexual harassment and misconduct, the UC system was not exempt.

“We totally redid the framework for handling those cases, whether they involve students, or faculty, or staff. We reformed the way they’re investigated, they’re adjudicated, they’re sanctioned. We’ve put things on timelines,” said Napolitano.

“We’ve made clear that the complainant has access to what’s going on. We’ve provided survivors all with what we call a care advocate that provides counseling and other types of support. We have our first ever system-wide Title 9 officer. We’re now constituting a system-wide student advisory panel. I think we’re making some real progress,” she added.

Free speech has also been a big issue in the past couple of years. Controversial right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos, for example, had been slated to speak at some campuses at the invitation of certain student groups. Many other students did not take it well — students at UC Berkeley particularly started

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 (D-San 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 and is the city’s first black female to take the position. A vote on who will assume mayorship will come in the following weeks.

The Lying in State of Mayor Lee will take place on Friday, December 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while the memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m. Both events are open to the public and will be held at the Rotunda of the San Francisco City Hall. n

headline-making protests.

“We’re actually standing up something we’re calling the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. It’s designed to sponsor research on free speech, particularly understanding what students understand free speech to be, what is their understanding of the first amendment, where did those understandings come from, what are best practices in terms of how campuses handle hate speech and at the same time, protect the values of inclusiveness and safety for students,” Napolitano said, adding that they were getting ready to appoint the center’s first group of research fellows.

Of course, Napolitano answered questions regarding the university’s efforts in maintaining its reputation as a research leader.

“We’ve always been at the cutting edge of research. There are new fields that are emerging all the time. And new types of jobs — jobs that we can’t even imagine today — will be jobs that emerge 10 years from now or 15 years from now,” said Napolitano.

“So that’s part of the challenge of the university — to be a premier research institution that actually is helping create that new knowledge on which those new jobs and new technologies will be based,” she added.

“We have a whole initiative dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship. We do things from funding student competitions, to investing in our own companies that come out of UCrelated research. There’s a lot of activity going on there.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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Impeachment complaint...

PAGE A3 t The complainants also accused Morales of “selective prosecution” and “failing to act on complaints to the great prejudice of the Filipino people.”

They claimed that Morales was being partial to the cases involving former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. They noted that the Ombudsman cleared Aquino of liabilities over the P72-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) controversy yet charged former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for violating the Revised Penal Code for usurpation of legislative powers.

They further claimed that Morales was partial in the Mamasapano massacre case, saying she “downgraded” the charges against Aquino when she only filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against Aquino and dismissed the VACC’s complaints of multiple homicide.

“The Office of the Ombudsman sat on the complaint as well as turned a blind eye on the criminal responsibility of former president Aquino III for the death of the 44 PNP-SAF and the wounding of fifteen others, during the conduct of the botched Oplan Exodus,” the complaint read.

It was Aquino who appointed Morales as the Ombudsman in 2011.

Morales, meanwhile, refused to comment on the impeachment complaint against her, saying, “Until I get hold of a copy of the complaint, I have nothing to say.” n

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

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PNP drug enforcement chief 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 PNPDEG 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.

“I do subscribe doon sa tinatawag na (in what we call) ‘6Ws’ — ‘what went well, what went wrong.’ We have to examine and come up with good safeguards.

Come up with a good reform,” Ferro said.

“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 credibility),” he added.

Ferro used to head the PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIG), which was disbanded following its alleged involvement in the slaying of Korean businessman 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. ■

Palace: 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.

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, govern-

ment 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. 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.

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.

HEALTH CHECK. A nurse checks the temperature of a policeman who was vaccinated with Dengvaxia in September. Hundreds of policemen who got the vaccine will be monitored for five years by the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Legarda: PH must seek ‘climate justice’

by BERNADETTE

E. TAMAYO

ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines, as one of the highly vulnerable countries to climate change, must “pursue justice” in the international arena for the millions of Filipinos whose basic human rights are curtailed because of the effects of severe weather changes.

Sen. Loren Legarda noted that “compared to industrialized countries, the Philippines barely contributes to global warming, and yet we bear its brunt.”

She said the Philippines must demand for commitments from developed countries to have access to the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund in anticipation of the full implementation of the Paris Agreement by 2020.

“We always need to contextualize the discussion on climate change with the issue of human rights,” said Legarda, chairman of the Senate committees on Climate Change, Finance and Foreign Relations.

Every year, millions of families get displaced, thousands of lives and livelihoods are lost and billions worth of agriculture and infrastructure are damaged because of climate change, Legarda said.

“It is time that we seek justice

for these tragedies. Climate justice is to demand for what is right and just for the Filipinos who everyday fall victim to climate change,” she added.

“It is to improve our capacity to adapt and mitigate. It is to commit to upholding the right of every Filipino to a better life,” the senator said.

She cited a report of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that states that disasters cost the Philippine economy P206 billion annually, cutting the country’s gross domestic product by 0.3 to 0.4 percent.

Between 2011 and 2015 alone, the agriculture sector in the Philippines suffered production losses of P163.6 billion because of climate change.

Legarda said the Philippines also “experiences increases in school dropout rates, mental and psychological issues, outbreak of communicable diseases and malnutrition, among others, due to climate change impacts on the health and education sectors.”

She also cited the global climate deal Paris Agreement, which acknowledges climate change as “a common concern of humankind, [and that]Parties should, when taking action to

address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity.”

“The Paris Agreement charters a new path for the fate of humanity—one that protects our rights, safeguards our environment and secures the future for our children,” Legarda said.

“We must ensure commitment from all countries and foster global solidarity in order to realize this goal,” she added.

Legarda called on the Duterte administration to promote climate justice by advancing climate change adaptation and mitigation at the national and local levels.

She described the Senate version of the proposed 2018 P3.76 trillion budget as a “climate budget for institutionalizing adaptation measures, as well as including special and general provisions that will ensure ecological integrity, clean and healthy environment, risk-sensitive investments, and disaster preparedness.” ■

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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 AntiCorruption 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 This year the UNODC and UNDP have ill-gotten wealth. It is a powerful tool that can be tapped by any government with a serious cam- launched a global campaign that focuses on the paign to go after crooked public officials and impact of corruption on education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and development as their cohorts in the private sector.

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

well as the achievement of the SDGs. The campaign stresses 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 won- The Fil-Am derful season is just opening the hearts of people to give more, in Perspective gratitude to all the blessings we have received in the past year.

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

One of these causes that is 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 Philip-

pines 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 more so, spiritually as well. Fr. Greg is now the Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino and is based in Rome.

He reports directly to Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

As I have learned from Fr. 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 stu-

dent 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.

“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

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

tic 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 with-

in 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 notori-

ous 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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CJ1

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL We look back before we look ahead: Remembering a few of our many successes from 2017

Your Immigration Solution NANCY MILLER AT REEVES Miller Zhang & Diza, we handle cases in all avenues of immigration law: family-based, employment-based, business and investments, deportation defense, naturalization, appeals and federal litigation. The cases are very different but a common theme that runs through how we handle them is: never give up. A friend of mine once told me that she knew my philosophy is “it ain’t over till the alien wins”. That is true for all the lawyers and support staff of RMZD. This week and next, we will give a few examples of the practical application of that philosophy.

Some cases require persistence from the client and skill and comprehensive knowledge of immigration law to get them over the finish line. “Jane” was petitioned by her father, a citizen by virtue of his service to the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II. Just as the visa was finally available, Jane’s father fell ill and passed away. Several years later Jane came to RMZD and we set to work preparing and filing a request for humanitarian reinstatement of the petition. Despite our efforts, USCIS initially denied the request. But we did not give up.

We filed a comprehensive motion to reconsider pointing out the numerous errors in the USCIS decision. After a few months USCIS issued a decision approving the motion and reinstating the petition. By now, Jane herself had five children two of whom were over the age of 21. She feared that they would not be allowed to immigrate with the family and, indeed, initially the National Visa Center excluded the overage children from the case. But we struck back and explained to the NVC and then again to the Embassy that both children were eligible under the Child Status Protection Act. In the end, Jane and her five children as well as her husband

were finally able to immigrate to the United States and fulfill Jane’s father’s wish for his family.

In this next case, “Mary” did not know she had a removal [deportation] order for failure to appear at a hearing before the immigration judge. Mary had never received notice of the hearing.

RMZD successfully reopened her case which allowed her to stop fearing that “knock on the door”. Unfortunately, many circumstances, including how she

she also had an outstanding order of deportation for many of those years. The man she married was a U.S. citizen and so were their children but she felt hopeless about her immigration situation. She was not willing to return to her native country to complete the process for her green card since she knew she would be barred from returning for 10 years due to her deportation order and her unlawful presence in the U.S., and she also knew that she was ineligible for adjustment of status. Her RMZD attorney explained that she would be eligible for her green card through adjustment of status if we could get her court case reopened. We contacted the Department of Homeland Security and explained all of the reasons why we believed Ana’s case should be reopened. And we are now happy to say that not only was her case reopened, but that she is a proud lawful permanent resident of the U.S. And while she is thrilled with her green card, she cannot wait to apply for U.S. citizenship!

Having a lawyer who knows the law is important. But having a lawyer who knows the law and never gives up can make all the difference. Stay tuned for more success stories next week.

“ Some cases require persistence from the client and skill and comprehensive knowledge of immigration law to get them over the finish line.’” entered the United States, made most forms of relief unavailable to her. Mary applied for asylum based on her membership in a particular social group which was denied. Notwithstanding the denial, we strongly encouraged her to seek counseling for past traumatic experiences. In counseling, Mary disclosed the terrible abuse she had suffered by her relatives in the U.S. which potentially makes her eligible for relief under the Violence Against Women Act. Meanwhile, her asylum appeal had been dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals, and a Petition for Review was pending before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

We were able to successfully reopen her case before the Board of Immigration Appeals based on reconsideration of past traumatic experiences that impacted her ability to seek asylum within one year of her entry. We are now preparing to present her VAWA case to the immigration judge. Success will give Mary a green card.

“Ana” entered the U.S. more than 25 years ago and did not have valid immigration status for the vast majority of that time.

Not only was she undocumented,

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

File photo by Philstar

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 infor-

mation filed with the SEC on an annual 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

u PAGE CJ4

Gov’t open to NAIA rehab offer

*** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the

by BEN O. DE VERA oldest, largest and most experienced Inquirer.net immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, THE government is open to Las Vegas, Manila and China. accepting the proposal of seven Telephone: (800) 795-8009 of the country’s largest conE-mail: immigration@rreeves.com glomerates to redevelop and website: www.rreeves.com rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino *** International Airport (NAIA), the The analysis and suggestions offered country’s chief economist said. in this column do not create a “Yes, [we’re] open to the conlawyer-client relationship and are sortium of conglomerates for not a substitute for the personalized the NAIA improvement project,” representation that is essential to Socioeconomic Planning Secre- chief Ernesto M. Pernia said in a a “superconsortium” comprised every case. tary and National Economic and text message Friday, December 8. of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., (Advertising Supplement) Development Authority (NEDA) Last week, it was reported that u PAGE CJ3

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Community Journal

DECEMBER 15-21, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

DACA renewal requests affected by USPS service delays

The CTV Files Atty. LiLLi B. BAcuLi ON September 5, 2017, United States Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions formally announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, which has protected from deportation nearly 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. The DACA program also provided them with legal work authorization, allowing them to enroll in postsecondary education, and to work and contribute to our society economically and culturally.

Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced that it will stop processing any initial DACA accepted after September 5, 2017. Any applications already accepted by this date will be processed. DHS indicated that current beneficiaries of DACA will not be impacted before March 5, 2018. This is to give Congress the “time to deliver on appropri-

ate legislative solutions.” DHS has also announced that it plans to continue to accept DACA renewal applications for any DACA beneficiary whose status expires between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, so long as these applications are accepted by October 5, 2017. Any applications received after October 5 will be rejected. In addition, DACA recipients whose valid employment authorization document is lost, stolen or destroyed may still request a replacement through the normal process. However, DHS will no longer adjudicate advance parole request associated with DACA, any that are currently pending will be administratively closed and filing fees refunded.

Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received reports that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has identified USPS mail service delays that affected a number of renewal applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Because the DACA policy has been rescinded and individuals can no longer request deferred

action under DACA, and in light of the mail service delays identified by USPS, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke has directed USCIS to accept DACA renewal requests from individuals who resubmit their DACA renewal request with individualized proof that the request was originally mailed in a timely manner and that the cause for receipt after the October 5, 2017, deadline was the result of USPS mail service error.

Affected DACA requestors who do not have such proof may contact USPS, which will review the cases on an individual basis and provide a letter if appropriate. USCIS will not accept requests that do not include individualized proof that the request was originally mailed in a timely manner to be received by the October 5 deadline, and that the cause for receipt after the Oct. 5, 2017, deadline was the result of USPS mail service error.

In addition, USCIS had discovered certain cases in which the DACA requests were received

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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 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.

Health@Heart PhiLiP S. chuA, Md, FAcS, FPcS

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THE Christmas season is upon us once more and feasting has already started. As we indulge and enjoy the food galore, it behooves us to stay away from foods that are unhealthy, which will eventually cause us harm in the future.

Some of these items that are hazardous to our health include refined sugars, artificial sugars, processed meats/vegetables/ fruits, potato chips, and soft drinks of any kind. These beverages are very toxic to our body but, unfortunately, the damage is not immediately evident. Junk foods like hamburger and French fries are fine if consumed occasionally, like once a month or less.

Here are some other unsafe food items to watch out for in order to truly enjoy the holidays: Poorly cooked pork/seafood Unlike beef, which could be eaten rare or medium, pork is safe only when fully cooked, especially in barbeque form.

Improperly cooked pork could lead to a microworm infestation called trichinosis, where the tiny roundworms enter the muscles, even in the eyelids, the heart, etc. and pose a danger not only to health but to life. Eating raw seafood, like oysters, mussels, shrimp, fish, can also cause bacterial infection, like salmonella, not to mention hepatitis. Unhygienic food handlers (including all of us) can contaminate the food and cause Staphylococcus food poisoning, Shigella, and an E. coli infection (from fecal contamination of food and or water), leading to severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. Even leftover rice, if not refrigerated, and if it is kept covered airtight in a warm environment, can cause Bacillus cereus to thrive, multiply, and produce chemical toxins, resulting in food poisoning. Rice is best consumed within 24-48 hours. When leftover rice appears moist or sticky, and/or smells spoiled, it should be discarded.

Microwave popcorn A recent UCLA study reports that chemicals (one of them perfluorooctanoic acid – PFOA) in the inner surface (lining) of the bag are compounds that may be a culprit in the development of infertility in humans. The findings also stated that these chemicals vaporize at high temperatures, seep into the popcorn, and can cause cancer of the liver, pancreas, and testicles, as they accumulate in the body over time until they reach the toxic level years later. Manufacturers, like Dupont, have promised to phase

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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.”

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. 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.

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

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Unhealthy foods out PFOA by 2015 under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s voluntary plan. In the meantime, pop your own corn in a skillet.

Canned tomatoes Bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen, is in the resin linings of tin cans. The acidic nature of tomatoes causes this chemical to leach into the tomatoes. BPA has been linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and suppression of sperm production and chromosomal damage. This report was filed by Fredrick Vom Saal, Ph.D., an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri. The best option is fresh (organic, if possible) or bottled tomatoes. As far as organic fruits and vegetables are concerned, their shelf-life is also longer than the conventional ones.

Farmed salmon “Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers,” stated David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany in a major study in the journal Science on contamination of fish. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, antibiotics, brominated flame retardants, pesticides such as dioxin and DDT, according to Dr. Carpenter.

The wild-caught Alaskan salmon, even canned, is a good option for salmon lovers.

Corn-fed beef To fatten cattle for better profit, commercial farmers feed them corn and soybeans. A new comprehensive study by the US Department of Agriculture and Clemens University found that “compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in betacarotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid, calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s, and lower in saturated fats. Better option: beef from grass-fed cattle, stipulated on the packaging label.

Non-organic potatoes Conventional (non-organic) potatoes are treated with fungicides and herbicides. Root vegetables like potatoes also absorb these chemicals that pollute the soil. No matter how much you wash non-organic potatoes, you will never get rid of the chemical contamination because the chemicals are in the flesh. While organic potatoes (grown without the use of any chemicals) are a bit more expensive, they are the healthier alternative.

Non-organic fruits and vegetables The same chemical contamination is found in non-organic fruits and vegetables. Those with skin or rind are better protected. Af-

ter washing them, peel the skin, like in apples, bananas, papaya, oranges, lanzones, pineapple, carrots, radish, squash, upo, patola, etc. Those which are eaten as a whole, fruits like the various berries, prunes, grapes, and vegetables like lettuce, beans, etc., obviously contain more contamination and should be thoroughly washed. Again, organic, where possible, is the choice.

Milk with artificial hormones To increase milk production, producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST), which exposes the cow to have udder infection and even pus in the milk. At the same time, it also leads to higher levels of insulin-like growth hormone factor (IGF-1) in milk, which, in some people, might “increase the risk for the development of cancer of the breast, prostate and colon,” according to Rick North, former CEO of the Oregon Division of the American Cancer Society who is now an advocate for food safety.

While this quoted statement is still not proven 100 percent IGF1 in milk is “banned in industrialized countries.”

Healthy food items Included in the list of health foods that provide nutrition and also boost our immune systems are: oatmeal, fresh vegetables (all plant-based varieties), like green leafy vegetables for salads, broccoli, legumes, fish, nuts, pomegranates, mangosteen, rambutan, watermelon, peaches, avocados, berries of all kinds, various spices common in the kitchen, like garlic, onions, curry, turmeric, pepper, olive oil, dark chocolates, red wine, coffee, green tea.

Also, please do not text and drive, unless you want to meet God sooner. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities, and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. ***

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Things that can mess up your child’s CSPA eligibility

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ ELIGIBILITY for benefits under Section 3 of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is based on a mathematical formula, where you subtract from the child’s age the length of time it took USCIS to process and approve the petition. You take the date the petition is filed, and the date it was approved. How long did it take USCIS to approve the petition?

Three months? Six months? One year?

Next, you wait (sometimes many years) until the priority date is current (or visa is available). How old is the “child” when the priority date finally becomes current? You subtract from the child’s age the length of time it took the USCIS to process and approve the petition. If the child’s age is calculated to still be under 21, your child could possibly qualify under the CSPA. However, parents sometimes do things that could mess up their child’s CSPA eligibility: • Don’t ask USCIS to “expedite” the approval of the petition! Under the mathematical calculation, the longer USCIS takes to approve a petition, the more time you can subtract from the child’s age when the priority date becomes current.

The faster the USCIS approves a petition, the less time you can subtract from the child’s age. If USCIS took three months to approve the petition, you can only subtract three months from the

child’s age. If USCIS took two years to approve the petition, you can subtract two years from the child’s age. Therefore it is always better, for CSPA purposes, for the USCIS to take longer to approve the petition.

• Your child must “seek to acquire a visa” within one year of when the priority date is current. Not only does a child’s age have to be under 21, but the child must also “seek to acquire” a visa within one year of availability. This is done by filing certain forms with either USCIS or NVC. In other words, CSPA eligibility is a two–step process. There have been many cases where the child’s age was calculated to be under 21 years of age, but the parents messed up by failing to satisfy the second step of “seeking to acquire” the visa for the child within one year of visa availability.

• Don’t naturalize after your child’s 21st birthday if he or she is CSPA eligible. If your child’s age is calculated to be under 21 and the child seeks to acquire a visa within one year, the child’s age is “locked in” as a minor.

However, if the parent thereafter naturalizes after the child’s 21st birthday, the child’s CSPA eligibility is destroyed. I know of several cases where the child qualified under the CSPA: the age was locked in, and the only thing left was the visa interview. But the parent went out and naturalized, which destroyed CSPA eligibility.

There have been published court decisions specifically holding

that if the parent naturalizes after the child’s 21st birthday, the child is no longer eligible under the CSPA. My point is that the CSPA can sometimes be a confusing and complex law. What may seem to make sense (such as rushing the approval of a petition) can actually be harmful to a case. Before you act as your own attorney, giving yourself advice, and making up your own laws and rules, you should, instead, consult with an attorney to make sure you’re doing it correctly and are properly strategizing the case. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 15-21, 2017

A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s...

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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 hovering 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

Gov’t open to NAIA rehab...

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ity 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 Bula-

can 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 Department of Transportation would involve a massive airport spanning 1,168 hectares as well as city complex to be built on a 2,500-

hectare 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 buildoperate-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.■

Business News

Tax reform to lift 250 K Pinoys out of poverty

by MARY

GRACE Philstar.com

PADIN

THE government’s tax reform program could help lift up to 250,000 Filipinos out of poverty over the next six years, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

Reynaldo Cancio, director of NEDA’s National Policy and Planning Staff, said the agency’s analysis showed that reforms in the tax system could help reduce poverty in the country and create about 500,000 additional jobs for Filipinos.

“We say that in terms of employment, the tax reforms could generate about half a million additional jobs over the next six years. With respect to poverty, our analysis is that it could lift about 200,000 to 250,000 Filipinos out of poverty. So that’s out of the six million that’s been targeted over the next six years,” Cancio said during an earlier hearing of the Senate ways and means committee on the Tax Reform For Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act. According to Cancio, the bulk of the jobs are expected to be

created in the construction and retail sectors.

Meanwhile, leaders of foreign business groups have also reiterated their support for the tax reform bill, citing its benefits in leading the country into an investment-led economy.

Julian Payne, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said the TRAIN would benefit people with lower-level incomes and make the tax system more progressive.

“We definitely support the fact that (TRAIN) will maintain a responsible fiscal framework that will include funding for the public sector, for fiscal and social infrastructure, which will benefit the poor as well,” said Payne, who also represented the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) during a Senate hearing.

On the other hand, fiscal reform advocacy group Action for Economic Reforms criticized the proposed two-tier automobile ex-

cise tax under the Senate version of the TRAIN, saying it would impact the middle class more than the rich, and would adversely affect the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program.

The approved auto excise tax amendment in the Senate Bill 1592 provides for a simpler two-tier tax of 10 percent for vehicles priced up to P1 million, and 20 percent for those priced over P1 million.

AER senior economist Jo-Ann Diosana said the House version, which proposes to increase the excise tax rates of basic cars to four percent and higher increases for high-end cars, is more progressive than the Senate version.■

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

DACA renewal requests affected by...

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at the designated filing location (e.g., at the applicable P.O. Box) by the filing deadline, but were rejected. USCIS will proactively reach out to those DACA requestors to inform them that they may resubmit their DACA request. If a DACA requestor does not receive such a notification and believes that his or her DACA request was received at the designated filing location by the filing deadline, he or she may resubmit his or her

DACA request with proof that the request was previously received at the designated filing location on or before the filing deadline.

If you have filed for a renewal DACA Application and your file has been rejected, consult with a licensed immigration attorney regarding the proper steps to take in re-filing the rejected renewal DACA Application. *** Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A

Calendar of Events across

CAREGIVER PETITION ALLOWS ISSAC TO BE REUNITED WITH HIS CHILDREN IN THE U.S. AS GREEN CARD HOLDERS. Driven by the desire to improve his life for his children’s sake, Isaac (left) jumped ship when his ship docked at Los Angeles in 2007. Fortunately, he found an employer who was willing to petition him as a caregiver. The employer’s petition was approved, but Isaac still had to wait several more years before his priority date was current and he was eligible for a green card.

All that time, Isaac could not return to the Philippines due to his immigration status. But he still made that sacrifice, knowing it was the right way to do. For him, it was better to wait, if everything was done properly and legally. Isaac knew he was in capable hands under the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, who helped obtain green cards for Isaac and his two young sons.

Watch this happy family reunion on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement)

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Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys. com. For general information visit www. chuatinsayvega.com.

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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.

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

CJ

DECEMBER 15-21, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

More OFW households turn to savings

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino households receiving remittances from loved ones abroad are turning to savings, the results of a quarterly survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Rosabel Guerrero, director of the BSP’s Department of Economic Statistics (DES), said the latest Quarter Consumer Expectation Survey showed the percentage of OFW households using remittances to save improved to 42.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 42.1 percent in the previous quarter.

The percentage of OFW households using remittances to save was almost six times the 7.2 percent recorded when the CES was launched in the first quarter of 2007.

On the other hand, she said the

percentage of OFW households using remittances for investments declined to 5.9 percent from 8.5 percent in the previous quarter.

Data showed the level of OFW households using remittances for investments was more than double the 2.3 percent recorded when the CES was launched 10 years ago.

Latest data from the central bank showed personal remittances climbed 4.8 percent to $23.16 billion in the first nine months from $22.11 billion, while cash remittances inched up 3.8 percent to $20.78 billion

from $20.02 billion.

Of the 471 households included in the survey that received OFW remittances for the fourth quarter, 97.2 percent used the remittances to purchase food and other household needs.

The proportion of households that allotted part of their remittances for education stood at 62.6 percent, purchase of consumer durables at 23.4 percent, and purchase of house at 14.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the percentage of OFW households which allocated part of their remittances for medical expenses stood at 54.1 percent, debt payments at 42 percent, purchase of motor vehicle at 8.5 percent.

Meanwhile, more respondents expected interest and unemployment rates to rise and the peso to depreciate against the dollar over the next 12 months compared to a quarter ago.n

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 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 re-

Dominguez said banks and financial institutions have 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 25-

EMPLOYMENT

year 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 yendenominated debt notes also next year.

“We are looking at several proposal coming from banks and

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

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.

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

TIEZA eyes Tourist Development Fund

Government to sell $1 B dollar...

PAGE CJ1 t

by MayveLin

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, gion need to better understand is concentrated in productive incyberattacks and prioritize funds vestment and the research firm accordingly for effective secu- said this should actually improve rity,” said Richard Sheng, Trend Micro senior director for AsiaPacific and Middle East Africa.

Other cyber-attacks from the first half of the year came from by catherine taLavera Philstar.com Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where emails may be infected with malware THE Tourism Infrastructure or used by cybercriminals to and Enterprise Zone Authority dupe recipients into a con. (TIEZA) is targeting to create a Cyberpropaganda, where the Tourism Development Fund beinternet is used to sway percep- fore the end of the Duterte Adtion and public opinion, has also ministration, which will replace become prevalent. Trend Micro imposed travel taxes for tourists, noted in their research on Chi- an official of the agency said. nese, Russian, Middle Eastern, TIEZA chief operating officer and English-based underground Pocholo Paragas told reporters, markets that these now offer tools the agency has drafted and subfor creating content, boosting so- mitted a bill to President Duterte cial media reach or even influenc- for the creation of a Tourist Deing online polls with vote buying. velopment Fund, two months ago.

Fake news is one of the glaring “Tourist Development Fund. It’s examples of cyberpropaganda. n not a tax, it’s a fund we get for the tourists coming because it will be the same fund used to make their next trip better,” Paragas said. we are still looking at the opti“What we wanted to do is (cremal structure. We are currently ate) a tourist development fund studying the Samurai-bond issu- because other countries do it that ance,” he said. way,” Paragas said.

Despite the possible issuParagas said the fund would ance of both global and Samurai be used for the improvement and bonds, the BTr and the Depart- development of infrastructure for ment of Finance (DOF) assured the tourists visiting the country. the government would maintain He cited countries such as its 80:20 borrowing mix, in favor Japan and the U.S. where the of domestic lenders.n said scheme is implemented to

Cybercriminals continue to prey on online banking

by PhiLstar

London’s capital economics says PH overheating fears ‘overdone’

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

tourists, but is not gravely felt.

“So what we want to do is put it inside the ticket, so that the people coming in, they don’t feel it,” Paragas said.

“It’s already with the President now. They’re reviewing it.

They’re going to do a reply and of course we’re going to do it moving forward. But I’ve also submitted a copy to the Senate and the House,” Paragas said.

Under the draft bill, Paragas said the rate needed to be paid by tourists for the fund maybe lowered moving forward, if the country’s need for infrastructure development is lessened.

“It’s really reliant on the development of the country. Now if we can get investments coming in, soft loans coming in from all other countries, some from the banking industry, then we can lower it immediately,” Paragas said.

Paragas said a review on the charged rates would be done every two years, under the draft bill.

Moreover, Paragas does not expect the bill to be approved immediately, but targets to make the Tourist Development Fund happen by the end

SERVICES

of the Duterte administration.

The TIEZA is the government agency in charge of collecting travel taxes.

Under Presidential Decree (PD) 1183, individuals who are leaving the country irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and the form or place of payment are required to pay a travel travel tax of P1,620 for economy class passage and P2,700 for first class passage.

While TIEZA is in charge of collecting travel taxes, Paragas emphasized that the agency only receives 50 percent of the collected travel fees.

Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 provides that half of the proceeds from travel tax collection is accrued to TIEZA, while 40 percent goes to the Commission on Higher Education, and the remaining 10 percent is given to the National Commission for Culture and Arts.

The TIEZA is the tourism infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism. It is mandated to develop, manage, and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country.n

Community Journal

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

Apply to be a Hercules Youth Ambassador for a trip to Japan in July-Aug. 2019 Application deadline is January 19, 2018

ARE you interested in visiting Japan in late July through early August 2019 and representing Hercules as a Youth Ambassador? A trip to Tsushima, (Hercules’ sister city) and other cities in Japan is being planned. The affiliation between the cities of Tsushima, Japan and Hercules, California USA celebrated its 36th anniversary on November 5, 2017. The portion of the trip itinerary that covers the visit to Tsushima gives youth ambassadors the chance to experience

a home stay and to witness its two-day world-renowned Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival. Before returning to California, visits to Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo are expected. In addition to the Youth Ambassadors, the trip in 2019 will include adults who will also act as chaperones.

Interested students must be Hercules residents and in the 8th or 9th grade. Detailed information is included in the pages of the Youth Ambassador application packet (PDF) that can be

downloaded at www.ci.hercules. ca.us or requested by sending an email to hercsiscity@hotmail. com. After receiving the document, read it thoroughly, print it, and fill out all of the required information before submitting it

by January 19, 2018.

Information about the sister city relationship between Hercules and Tsushima as well as of the Hercules Sister City Association and its activities can be found on the City of Hercules web site at http://www.ci.hercules.ca.us n

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approve greenhouse cannabis cultivation ordinance THE San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently approved an ordinance allowing mixedlight (greenhouse) cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated areas and prohibiting for another year all other commercial cannabis-related activities.

If approved by the Board at its second reading on Dec. 12, 2017, the County will only issue licenses for mixed-light cultivation and greenhouse nursery cultivation in areas designated “agriculture” by the County General Plan or on land with documented agriculture use for at least three prior years. All parcels proposed for cultivation must also be set back a minimum of 1,000 feet from residential parcels, schools, youth centers, playgrounds and alcohol or drug treatment facilities.

After final approval, the ordinance allowing greenhouse cultivation takes effect Jan. 12, 2018. However, the Planning Department anticipates being ready to begin processing applications on Jan. 2, 2018.

The ordinance also requires comprehensive application requirements, including criminal background checks; recordkeeping policies; and regulations including odor control and ventilation, noise, lighting and hazardous materials. Failure to comply will carry fines up to $5,000 and the possible suspension or revocation of the licensee’s right to engage in commercial cultiva-

tion activities within the county.

“By approving a tightly controlled ordinance for commercial cannabis cultivation, the Board of Supervisors will be supporting our local growers. I don’t foresee any material community impact. It seems this a very vigorous, rigorous and well thought out ordinance,” said Board President Don Horsley.

As part of its actions, the Board also extended the prohibition for a year on personal outdoor cultivation on the grounds of a private residence and on all commercial medical cannabis activity.

Horsley emphasized that the moratoriums give the County more time to study whether to allow other types of cultivation and should not be seen as a definitive leaning toward long-term prohibition.

“We have heard a lot of feedback from the public on both sides of the issues and I want to thank the residents who took the time to make their voices heard.

The implementation of Proposition 64 is an evolving issue, especially as the state determines how it will craft its own governance, and the County will continue evolving with it. Today’s actions by the Board give us the ability to do that,” Horsley said.

In December 2016, the Board of Supervisors first enacted a temporary moratorium on all commercial cannabis uses so that staff could study how or if the County

could implement Proposition 64, the statewide voter-approved law legalizing the use. The County also hoped to work with its cities on uniform regulations but several have since passed their own ordinances governing cannabis.

During the past year, County staff have held regular workgroup meetings involving multiple departments including Agriculture, Planning & Building, Environmental Health and the Health System. Several community meetings and presentations were also held to give residents opportunities to learn more about the draft ordinance’s details, ask questions and submit comments.

The draft ordinance, copy of the temporary moratorium and related documents are available online at http://cmo.smcgov.org/cannabis-ordinance.

Frequently asked questions about Proposition 64’s implications for local businesses and licensing is available at http://www.smchealth.org/ marijuana. (Christa Bigue).n

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 15-21, 2017

CJ

Redwood City FD urges fire safety during the holiday season THE City of Redwood City is urging Redwood City and San Carlos community members to exercise fire safety through the holiday season, especially while cooking and enjoying holiday decorations such as trees, tree lights and candles. Learn from these tips to decrease the chance of home fires this winter.

Candles • Consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles.

• If using traditional candles, keep them at least 12” away from anything flammable, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed.

• Use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over. Place candles on uncluttered surfaces, and avoid using them in the bedroom.

Holiday trees According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 200 home structure fires caused by holiday trees per year. Twenty-six percent of Christmas tree fires result from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.

Follow these tips to prevent tree-related fires in your home: • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

• If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 1–2” from the base of the trunk.

Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily. This will prevent the tree from prematurely drying out and shedding its needles.

• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, such as a fireplace, space heater, radiator, candle, heat vent or light.

• Decorate your tree using lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.

• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 screw-in bulb lights.

• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.

• After Christmas, remove the tree from your home. Dried out trees are fire hazards and should not be left in the home or garage.

• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

Kitchen Unattended cooking is a leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries, according to the NFPA. Exercise life-saving caution in the kitchen in the following ways: • Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even

if it’s for a short period of time.

• If you’re simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.

• Consider creating a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried, to avoid exposing children to the fire hazards in your kitchen.

• If a small cooking fire develops and you decide to fight the fire, smother stovetop flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

• If you have any doubt about fighting even small fires, evacuate your home immediately and call 9–1–1.

• Only use turkey fryers outdoors.

Fire extinguishers All homes should be equipped with a fire extinguisher. If you do not have a fire extinguisher, the Redwood City Fire Department recommends investing in one to assist with small kitchen fires and other potential home fire hazards.

Recently a fire extinguisher company, Kidde, recalled their fire extinguishers with plastic handles due to failure to discharge and nozzle detachment.

The Redwood City Fire Department is urging all community members to check their brand of fire extinguisher and if you own a Kidde brand, contact Kidde immediately to request a free replacement fire extinguisher and for instructions on returning the recalled unit, as it may not work properly in a fire emergency. Contact Kidde toll-free at 855–271– 0773 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday, or online here and click on “Product Safety Recall” for more information.n

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And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

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DECEMBER 15-21, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, December 15, 2017

AJPress Photo by Noel ty

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 15, 2017

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.”

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 and tested makeup, fitness, and

Rae ann VaRona / AJPress

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

Jonas Gaffud

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’ journeys 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 in the 66th Miss Universe Pageant 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.

“From start to finish, we get to know her background, what her life story is, and then

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

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

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

MauRICIo-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

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 leading lady—Dawn eagerly relished letting her hair down.

Sharon Cuneta and Robin Padilla reunite in “Unexpectedly Yours”.

Philstar.com photo by Regine David “it’s been 20 years since i the material, though. To win Sarah G is to our generation: last did a comedy, and that was singer/actress/dancer in one win- the hearts of the audience, also with Bossing [Vic’s showbiz you must know them and they some package.) And to do that, must know you. So Sharon went moniker] in [the sitcom] ‘OK Ka Sharon had to win the hearts where they were: the barangays, Fairy Ko’,” she recalled to The of the masa — the real cash Times. “So, to do this [movie] the palengkes, the stand-alone cow — with stories that are less theaters of the past. This was the was very exciting for me because whimsical and more relatable: i very rarely do projects in compre-social media age and facetales of poverty and systemic to-face interaction was the gold mistreatment that always ended edy that are wacky. Madalas ang standard. with retribution and victory. mga roles na ginagampanan ko “it was part of the plan, Despite Sharon’s wealthy masyadong serious.” background, she had an uncanny to help me get closer to the in “Meant to Beh”, Dawn masses. But in the end, it’s really empathy that allowed her to plays the role of Andrea Balatbat, your movies eh,” she ruminates. convincingly mirror struggles wife to Vic’s Antonio. A middle“it’s either they like you or they she had not personally experidon’t. it’s either they accept you aged couple, they try their best enced. The young actress didn’t Continued on Page SF3 to raise three children in what simply rely on the strength of

Dawn Zulueta plays the role of Andrea Balatbat in ‘Meant To Beh’

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, Continued on Page SF3

entertainment SF3

Triumphs and tragedies of 2017

By Monet

Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto admit mutual relationship

Lu

TODAY I woke up with a smile on my face. Christmas is 18 days away, as of this writing!

The sound of Christmas music and the cold winter breeze brushing against my face made sure I remember that. But aside from the stark reminder that I only have a few days to “wrap-up’ my Christmas list, I realize that this is the best time to take a moment and remember the things that have happened this year. I’ve rounded up a few of the good – and the not-so-good – things that have happened in 2017.

Religious communities come together 2017 was a tough year but it was also filled with a number of significant milestones. One of them was the time churches and synagogues offered space, money, and helping hands— raising more than a million dollars to rebuild a mosque’s in Texas which was burned out in January. The Victoria Islamic Center have broken ground in May and by September they were distributing emergency supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey. Such remarkable generosity that’s enough to restore our faith in humanity. Surely, this event made this year really memorable.

Notable scientific advancements Innovations in 2017 include a treatment for ALS and a device to help regrow skin for burn victims.

Remember that challenge where your friends and family tag you to pour a bucket of icecold water on yourself and you pass along the challenge until everybody you know has done it and the whole thing goes viral – but for a good cause?

Yes, I am talking about the ALS ice bucket challenge. And 2017 is the year that it led to real progress in treating and curing the disease. ALS is a rare, lethal disease where motor nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord are damaged and killed by the body’s glial

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

cells, leading to atrophy, paralysis, and eventually death from respiratory failure.

After the famed “ice bucket challenge” helped raise money to research a cure, Israeli scientists at Ben-Gurion University found a way to stop the increased activity of glial cells, restoring the nervous system’s immune defenses and increasing life expectancy, The Times of Israel reported.

Another medical innovation that happened this year was the development of “SkinGun” which is designed to help damaged skin regrow with no scars. Burns are painful to treat and often leave behind obvious scarring which makes this device “heaven-sent.” As of writing, the device is awaiting FDA approval, but has already proven successful for patients in both the U.S. and Germany, according to Newsweek.

Taiwanese court rules in favor of same-sex marriage While it was in 2015 when the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage as legal in all 50 states, it was only in 2017 that Taiwan followed suit.

Taiwan’s constitutional court has ruled that the country’s civil laws barring same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, giving the legislature two years to fix current laws or enact new ones allowing gay marriage which would make the island nation the first in Asia to do so. If you remember the LGBTQ community rejoicing (so colorfully) when it was officially

announced two years ago, it wouldn’t take much for you to imagine how they would have received the news over there in Taiwan. That’s definitely something they can cross off their 2017 bucket list!

A cancer drug breakthrough Any medical advancement or a way to extend life is always good news. Much more if it’s a cure for cancer. This year, for the first time, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug to treat any tumor sharing certain genetic characteristics — regardless of cancer type. For years, doctors focused on treating cancer cells depending on where they were in the body. Pembrolizumab (known by its brand name Keytruda) is an immunotherapy drug that blocks the cancer cell’s ability to protect itself from the body’s immune system. Cheers to 2017: the year we found a way to beat the Big-C! Mass shootings, disasters and bombing Incidents There were triumphs in 2017 but there were also tragedies and news that broke our hearts – and will take a while for us to forget. From Texas to Florida to Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and England, the pain was like a nightmare – except it was real. It all happened before our eyes. The extent of the suffering was unfathomable. Houston and Florida are still reeling from sequential hurricanes. Puerto Continued on Page SF5

Robin Padilla, Sharon Cuneta...

From Page SF2 in your role or they don’t. And by God’s grace, I was able to pull it off so it worked for me.”

“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

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – December 15, 2017

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.

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.

According to Julia, time will come when the public will know their real relationship status.

“I believe that time will

Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia

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 answered that they are the best

ABS-CBN photo

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 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.

Dawn Zulueta goes...

From Page SF2

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 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.

SF4

celebrityworld

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 15, 2017

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar COMEDY Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas married Gerald Sibayan in a ceremony that took place at the Christ The King Church in Quezon City last December 12.

Wearing a Frederick Peralta creation that featured intricate beading and splashes of color, Ai-Ai looked radiant as she said her “I do’s” with Gerald who is

Handsome actor Arjo Atayde plays the lead actor in the newest TFC teleserye “Hanggang Saan”.

about 29 years her junior.

According to newspaper reports and from online portal PEP.ph, the Comedy Queen, true to form, made church-goers chuckle as she said, “Yes, super I do, Father!” when asked by the priest if she is accepting Gerald as her husband.

Ai-Ai also joked about the fit of the wedding ring during the ceremony, again eliciting some laughter from wedding attendees.

The mid-morning ceremony featured a performance by singer Martin Nievera, who performed “Ngayon at Kailanman” as Ai-Ai made her way to the altar. The song is reportedly one of the favorite songs of the Comedy Queen.

Ai-Ai’s Matron of Honor was one of her besties, Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

Among the principal sponsors were former Vice President Jejomar Binay, Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto, Lily Monteverde, Atty. Felipe Gozon, Boy Abunda, Lolit Solis, Cristy

Ai-Ai delas Alas ties knot with Gerald Sibayan

Comedy Queen Ai-Ai deals Alas wed her boyfriend of more than three years Gerald Sibayan in a mid-morning ceremony at Christ The King Church in Quezon City last December 12.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta was a very attentive Matron Robin Padilla is starring currently in the movie of Honor to her bestie Ai-Ai delas Alas who got mar- “Unexpectedly Yours” with Megastar Sharon Cuneta. ried to Gerald Sibayan recently.

San Jose’s fabshionable community leader Susan Pacifico together with Cristine Paul will spend their Christmas in Fairfield during a reunion with their relatives and close friends.

Fermin, Willie Revillame, Tony Tuviera, Marivin Arayata and Senator Richard Gordon.

Secondary sponsors included Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera (another of Ai-Ai’s besties, who reportedly gifted Ai-Ai the wedding gown), Vic Sotto & Pauleen Luna, Randy Santiago & Marilou Coronel, Pops Fernandez, Eugene Domingo, Barbie Forteza, Valeen Beauty expert and travel consultant Cristina Caseres will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Montenegro, Jerald Napoles and Piolo Pascual. Alden Richher residence in San Bruno.

ards was the best man.

A beaming Ai-Ai and Gerald faced family and friends after the nuptials.

This is the third marriage for Ai-Ai, who was previously married to Miguel Vera and Jed Salang. The couple had been dating for about three years prior to getting engaged last April. *** Gabby Concepcion clarified recently to reporters visiting the

Gabby Concepcion says the Sharon Cuneta-Robin Padilla starrer is a totally different project from the scrapped reunion movie with his ex-wife Sharon.

set of his teleserye, Ika-6 Na Utos that Robin Padilla did not replace him in the movie that Padilla shot recently with his exwife, Sharon Cuneta.

According to PEP.ph, Gabby told reporters that the film that Robin shot with Sharon was a totally different project from what had been planned as the reunion movie for Gabby and Sharon. The Sharon-Gabby starrer was shelved due to scheduling conflicts, stemming from Concepcion’s busy schedule for his teleserye.

Padilla, in a presscon for his and Sharon’s movie, “Unexpectedly Yours,” had initially blurted to reporters that the movie is not really “his film” but really a Sharon-Gabby project. But the Megastar corrected him and said that the reunion movie had been scrapped and that their movie was a totally different project made for them.

Gabby revealed that he had not seen the movie as of press time since he is busy shooting episodes for Ika-6 Na Utos.

How Georgina Wilson coped without a ‘yaya’ for her son

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

Photo by Cocoy Bajuyo

Miss Universe supports Camiguin’s 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 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. 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 majestic Tuasan Falls.

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!”

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,

‘It’ girl Georgina Wilson-Burnand and son Archibald.

Philstar.com photo

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 with the ‘it’ girls,” she said. “I don’t read that much, so I learn more about being a mom from the people around me…I’m still learning how to feed him.”

She also finds it fortunate to have companies like Chicco that support moms and help them become better through helpful baby products.

The only problem she has with having a community to help 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 full-on 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, some-

times 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?

“I’m not a strict mom and I just want him to be happy in life.

He can make his own decisions and we can talk. But one thing that I feel strongly about is going to school,” she explained.

Whether or not her son has a “yaya,” Georgina treasures the time she spends with her son and finds every second of it to be precious.

“I didn’t know how happy I could be until I met Arch,” she stressed. “It’s the best adventure I’ve been on. I guess I’m more emotional nowadays. Kids bring tears…happy ones!” (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar. com)

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

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

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.”

IT’S up to you to figure out what “coming out” in today’s headline means. Those words came from Funfare’s VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent) who said that early next year, Mark Bautista is “coming out” with a tell-all book that can send shock waves through the industry.

“Mark will leave nothing to the imagination,” swore the VDPA close to Mark, who claimed to have seen the rough draft of the book stamped “highly confidential” at the moment and once it is out in the market, “it is bound to cause a lot of people sleepless nights.”

When word leaked that Mark was “coming out” with a “no-holds-barred” book, some people (this one included) dismissed it as, well, a false alarm, until Funfare’s VDPA said that

it’s true.

“If you have read the autobiographies of Cliff Richard, Ricky Martin, Olympic American diver Greg Louganis and other celebrities ‘coming out’ of their shells,” added the VDPA, “you will have an idea what Mark’s book is all about.”

Anyway, let’s wait and see until the book’s launch.

The big question is: Will Mark name names and invite whoever are “revealed” in the book to its launch? Will somebody stop its publication? Will anybody file a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) against its release?

“One thing is sure,” continued the VDPA. “Something profound happened to Mark during his prolonged stay abroad, starting in London where he played Ferdinand Marcos in the musical ‘Here Lies Love.’”

Triumphs and tragedies...

From Page SF3 Rico hasn’t gotten to its feet in the wake of Maria. The people of Charlottesville, Virginia watched hate march into town and take one of their own–an event from which they’re still recovering, families (of the victims) of the Manchester bombing incident were still healing from the tragedy that struck them when six months later, a man hauled a cache of weapons into a hotel room in Las Vegas and unleashed a hailstorm of death on concertgoers below, killing dozens and wounding hundreds. I can only wish that these tragedies will unite humankind and and make us stronger than ever.

• Increase in suicidal rates If there’s one very important reality that we can take away from Linkin Park’s vocals Chester Bennington and Audioslave lead singer Chris Cornell’s death (which both coincidentally happened in 2017), it is the disarming fact that suicide is not predictable.

It could happen to anyone, whether you’re an ordinary citizen or you’re an award-winning famous celebrity. As documented in a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates have been increasing since 2000 after decades of decline.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that each

year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds.

It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds. Death is sad no matter how or when it happens. It is my hope that we will all cherish every moment we spend with our loved ones because we don’t know if and we’d still get to spend another year with them.

Every passing year is an opportunity to remember and be thankful for what we have accomplished, even the things that we didn’t get to do. Because both are reminders that we still have a lot to live for and a reason to thank The Man upstairs for giving us another year to make up and move forward.

As we celebrate the holidays ushering us towards the end of 2017, may we all take a moment to reflect and be grateful. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns.

Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Philstar.com photos

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.

SF5

Vice Ganda prefers doing blockbusters than acting awards MiLo SeveRo Philstar.com

‘Something profound happened to Mark Bautista abroad,’ claimed somebody close to the actor shown left and right playing Ferdinand Marcos in “Here Lies Love” in London.

Philstar.com

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - December 15, 2017

by Jan

Is Mark really ‘coming out’ early next year?

by Ricky Lo

entertainment

AFTER not making it at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) last year, comedian Vice Ganda will return to the big screen on Christmas Day with his MMFF entry, “The Revenger Squad,” with co-stars Daniel Padilla and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

In a recent digital conference held at ABS-CBN, Vice was asked what he will choose: doing a blockbuster movie or an acting award?

Vice chose “doing blockbusters” because he does not consider himself a good actor.

“Hindi naman ako magaling umarte eh. Nakakatawa lang siguro ako. Ayokong i-claim na ang galing kong actor. Mas gusto kong sabihin ng mga tao na ‘nakakatawa ang pelikula mo.’ Ayoko ding mag-pretend na ako ay magaling at mahusay na actor. Ang gusto ko lang ay magpasaya at ‘pag pinapanood nila ‘yung patawa ko ay tumatawa sila.

Nandoon sa akin ang achievement,” the “It’s Showtime” host said.

Vice said he is happy that

Vice Ganda stars in the MMFF entry “The Revenger Squad.”

Philstar.com photo

his film is included in this year’s film fest. The “Gandang Gabi Vice” host added he will not hesitate to join yearly in the MMFF. “Iba-iba kasi ang taste ng tao so marahil iba ang taste nila last year, iba ‘yung taste nila ngayon. So ngayon sa taste ng bagong jury pasa-

do ‘yung material namin kaya pumasok kami. Hindi naman din nila sinabi kung bakit kami pumasa.”

Since Vice’s film competes against others like “Panday,” he said his film’s new dynamics will make the movie more competitive.

“Ang laban namin, bago ang dynamics namin. Pia, Daniel, Vice. Sobrang bago.

Sa mga nakalipas na panahon, meron na kaming naitanim sa mga manonood na magagandang experience.”

“Ngayon pa lang kineclaim na namin na success ito hindi lang para sa amin pero pati na rin sa mga manonood na hindi sila malulugi pag pinanood nila yung pelikula namin,” he assured.

For “The Revenger Squad,” Vice said he made sure that they did not recycle jokes from his past movies.

“I always make sure na ‘yung comedy ko, nasasabayan kung ano ang uso, ano ang trip ng tao, so every year ibaiba, kung ano ‘yung relevant.

Ngayon may kinalaman ‘to sa mga kaganapan ngayon.

‘Yung punch line namin current so bago!”

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The Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - D ec emb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7

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