121617 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

December 16-19, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 101 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

Murder, plunder complaints filed against Aquino over dengue vaccine controversy

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

FORMER Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and former Health Secretary Janette Garin are now facing mass murder and plunder complaints in connection with the government’s purchase of the controversial dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.

Former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr. filed the complaints before the Office of the OmbudsFormer President Benigno Aquino III (center) takes oath before testifying at the hearing on man on Friday, December 15. the controversial Dengvaxia dengue vaccine at the Senate in Pasay City on Thursday, Dec. In his complaint, Syjuco called 14, 2017. The vaccine was procured for P3.5 billion by the government during his term and

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was administered to 830,000 students nationwide.

USA

DATELINE Goodbye net neutrality: What happens now?

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

DESPITE pressure by the American public and hundreds of businesses including Google, Apple, and Facebook, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on Thursday, December 14 to repeal net neutrality rules, a move many are calling an end to a free and open internet.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said at the FCC’s open meeting on Thursday that the new rules were “not going to destroy the internet”, “end the internet as we know it”, or “end de-

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PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

GOODWILL VISIT. President Rodrigo Duterte takes a seat in front of the Pakistan Navy Ship Saif’s helm while he is given a tour inside the vessel docked at Pier 15, Port Area, Manila on Thursday, December 14.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Supreme Court junks Robredo supporters’ AFP vows to uphold rights bid to shoulder her counter-protest fees amid abuse concerns on extended martial law

by AJPRESS SUPPORTERS of Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo have failed to convince the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to allow them to pay the remaining balance of her counter-protest fee.

In a statement on Thursday, December 14, the Piso Para Kay Leni movement said the SC on November 7 denied with finality its motion for reconsideration to accept its monetary contributions to shoulder Robredo’s balance.

The high court barred Robredo’s supporters in August to help pay the remaining fee for her counter-protest in the election pro-

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by AJPRESS THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday, December 15 assured the public that it will continue to uphold human rights amid concerns of possible military abuses after Congress extended the martial law proclamation in Mindanao.

In a press briefing, AFP Chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero vowed that any soldier who vioThe fundraising campaign was meant help Vice President Leni lated the law will be held liable Robredo shoulder the legal fees involved in the election protest filed against her by former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” for their misdeeds, adding that Marcos, Jr. Inquirer.net photo the AFP’s Human Rights Office will actively monitor the activities of the troopers.

The military chief also assured the public that all human rights complaints would be listened to and acted upon.

“We have our mechanism to check on the discipline and misconduct of our soldiers to make sure that they are accountable and they are answerable for their

Catering hall owner, manager indicted for forced labor, visa fraud

Duterte thumbs down anti-political dynasty law

TWO men in Long Island, New York are facing charges of forced labor and visa fraud following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York.

Ralph Colamussi, 61, of East Northport, NY and Roberto Villanueva, 60, residing in the Philippines, allegedly lured Filipino immigrants to the United States with false promises of good

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not in favor of including an anti-political dynasty provision in a new constitution that will allow the country to shift to a federal system of government.

Duterte, whose children are elected officials in his home city of Davao, said such a measure would restrict people’s choices.

“I cannot fathom about dynasty because it’s not…it’s a restriction. The antidynasty (law) is a restriction of the free-

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Defendants allegedly forced immigrants from the Philippines to work without proper pay

by LLANESCA

T. PANTI ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte

Philstar.com photo

SWS: More Filipinos see better life, economy in 2018

by HELEN

FLORES Philstar.com

pino adults expect their lives to improve in the next 12 months against only four percent who MANILA — More Filipinos expect it to get worse, yielding are optimistic that their personal a net personal optimism of +42, quality of life and the economy classified by the SWS as “excelwill get better in 2018, the Social lent.”

This was two points above Filipinos flock to a church on Friday evening, Dec. 15, to celebrate the start of the nine-day Weather Stations (SWS) said in the excellent +40 (44 optimists, Simbang Gabi or dawn masses. The Simbang Gabi culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Dec. its latest survey.

Forty-seven percent of Fili24, Christmas Eve. Inquirer.net photo u PAGE A3

AFP Chief Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero Inquirer.net photo

misdeeds,” Guerrero noted.

Concerning the possibility of expanding the military rule nationwide, the AFP chief said, “Let us not talk about martial law for the whole country because our concern for now is the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.”

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From the Front Page

Murder, plunder raps filed...

PAGE A1 t the Department of Health’s (DOH) mass immunization program under the Aquino administration “illegal, unjust, improper, inefficient, life-threatening and outright unconscionable.”

“I file this complaint for the crimes of mass murder and other related and resultant crimes

through reckless imprudence, and negligence, and plunder, and graft and corruption, for and on behalf of 733,000 school children who were inoculated with the deadly vaccine Dengvaxia through apparent recklessness and negligence, and their apparent anxiety to spend P3.5 billion of public funds,” Syjuco said in

his complaint.

The former lawmaker accused the Aquino administration of using Filipino children as “guinea pigs.”

Through the mass immunization program, more than 730,000 Filipino children were administered Dengvaxia since its launch in early 2016. The program continued under the current administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

The DOH, however, suspended the vaccinations earlier this month after the drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur released an analysis which found out that “for those not previously infected by dengue virus… in the longer term, more cases of [the] severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”

Aquino on Thursday, December 14 defended his administra-

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FIBA HOSTING. Antipolo Congressman Roberto Puno; Alfredo Panlilio, president Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas; Manuel Pangilinan, SBP Chairman Emeritus and FIBA Central Board member; Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano; and coach Chot Reyes, president of TV5 network pose for photographers during the thanksgiving for the Philippines-Japan-Indonesia FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 hosting held at Crowne Plaza in Pasig City on Thursday, Dec.14.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Duterte thumbs down...

PAGE A1 t dom of an individual,” Duterte said during the ruling PDP-Laban party’s Christmas benefit dinner for Marawi City held in Pasay City late Wednesday, December 13.

“It’s the people’s choice who should be their leaders. Sovereignty is something very sacred. It can only be placed in the hands of people,” Duterte said.

“He (elected official) could be the son of a b***h, but if he is the choice of the people, we can’t do anything about it,” he added.

Duterte’s daughter, Sara, is the Davao City mayor. His son, Paolo, is Davao City’s vice mayor. The President was Davao City mayor for three decades before being elected President in May 2016.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque also said a federal government was not aimed at ending political dynasties, but toward improving the local government units’ access to the country’s resources.

“The sad reality is, whether be it unitary or federal, the rich tend to be elected. But what we are pushing now is for a sys-

tem of government where local governments will have access to resources because they are in the best position to address the needs of their local constituencies,” Roque said.

Roque’s position was a pivot from his stance in July 2016 or less than a month after he was elected to Congress. At that time, Roque said changing the constitution to institute a federal government would not help the poor.

“I’m a convert. I’ve had a case pending in the Supreme Court for the longest time, the right of Palawan to its just share of 40 percent gross of the Malampaya [natural gas field]profits, Malampaya revenues. Under a federal form of government, there would be no debate that local governments would be entitled to revenues derived from natural resources found in their area,” Roque said.

“So to me, that’s the biggest argument for federalism because under the existing Local Government Code, although it provides for local autonomy and fiscal autonomy, it’s simply is not implemented,” Roque added. n

AFP vows to uphold rights...

PAGE A1 t Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the area on May 23, following the attack of IS-inspired Maute terrorists in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. It was supposed to expire by the end of the year.

Earlier on Wednesday, December 13, Congress approved Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to retain martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018 for the “total eradication” of Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists and communists rebels in the area.

Critics, however, expressed concerns that the extension of martial law in Mindanao may serve as an opening for military abuses.

In a statement, human rights group Amnesty International (AI) described the granted extension request as “an ominous move that almost certainly signals further abuses in the months ahead.”

“Civilians in Mindanao have faced unlawful killings, destruction of their homes, ill-treatment and numerous other human rights abuses at the hands of Philippine armed forces and Islamist militants since the imposition of

martial law,” AI claimed, adding that the violations in Marawi, “have been carried out with impunity.”

Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the area on May 23, following the attack of IS-inspired Maute terrorists in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Maute continuing its recruitment In a separate press briefing, AFP Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo confirmed that the remnants of the Maute terrorist group are continuing their recruitments in Mindanao.

“I cannot tell you if they doubled. But what I can tell you is they are continuing with their recruitment activities,” Arevalo told reporters, saying that the relatives of the militants and young residents in the areas were the most “vulnerable” to join the terrorist group.

“And that what is what we intensely are working on to prevent them from continuing to recruit these vulnerable sectors of our society,” he added.

According to him, the terrorists are “offering financial remunera-

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Goodbye net neutrality...

PAGE A1 t mocracy”, but advocates for net neutrality are not having it.

While the net neutrality rules enacted under the Obama administration’s 2015 Open Internet Order prohibited internet service providers (ISPs) — Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Cox, Charter, etc.

— from blocking, throttling, or charging consumers for “fast lane” access to certain sites, the new regulations will allow such practices as long as ISPs are transparent about it.

Pai’s new Restoring Internet Freedom order requires ISPs to disclose anytime they block content, or prioritize any content that is their own, or of their partners. It also gets rid of the Internet Conduct Standard which gave the FCC the authority to

monitor improper ISP practices.

The FCC’s main argument that led up to their final decision was that the net neutrality regulations were hurting broadband infrastructure by stifling ISPs, thus preventing them from growing. But many have noted that it wasn’t necessarily the case.

Back in May for example, pronet neutrality advocacy group Free Press released a report that cited ISPs saying that they had not been hurt by net neutrality — some even said that their investments actually increased.

“We found that not a single publicly traded U.S. ISP ever told its investors (or the SEC) that Title II negatively impacted its own investments specifically,” the report said.

Catering hall owner, manager...

PAGE A1 t jobs in the hospitality business only to force them to work for substandard wages at a catering hall now face charges of forced labor and visa fraud, the federal government said on Monday.

Each one is being charged with conspiring to engage in forced labor of immigrants and visa fraud, as well as related substantive counts, fraud in foreign labor contracting and fraudulent inducement of aliens to enter and remain in the United States in violation of law.

Both defendants were arrested Monday morning and will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields.

“As alleged, Colamussi and Villanueva lured immigrants from the Philippines to the United States with false promises regarding jobs and overtime pay in order to line their own pockets at the expense of the victims,” said Acting United States Attorney Bridget M. Rohde. “This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will hold accountable those who engage in such illegal, exploitive behavior.”

At the time of the events alleged in the indictment, Colamussi was the owner and operator of Thatched Cottage, a popular catering and wedding venue in Centerport, New York, as well as the owner and operator of the Jellyfish Restaurant, a popular bar located next door to the Thatched Cottage.

As alleged in the indictment, between approximately August 2008 and March 2013, Villanueva

and Colamussi recruited prospective employees in the Philippines with false promises of jobs with overtime pay, as waiters, servers, cooks, chefs and food preparation.

The prospective employees were illegally made to pay the defendants money in advance in order to qualify for the visa interview in the United States and directed to conceal such payments from the United States Department of State during visa interviews.

“This case is an example of ruthless labor trafficking hiding in plain sight. These individuals allegedly committed visa fraud while forcing people to work in their catering hall under horrible conditions, in what seemed to be an inescapable situation,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez. “It is important for anyone who may believe they are a victim of trafficking to know that our investigations are victimcentered, focusing on keeping the victim safe while bringing their traffickers to justice.”

Workers were not only brought to the United States by means of fraudulent promises of specific employment, but upon arrival, were forced to work at lower than promised wages without overtime.

The workers were also forced to care for Colamussi’s relatives, including his father, and to perform construction work at the Jellyfish Restaurant.

Workers were brought to the United States on H-2B visas that expired shortly after their arrival in the United States. Once their

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

ISPs cited in the report included AT&T whose CEO told investors that the company would actually “deploy more fiber” in 2016, and Charter whose CEO told investors, “Title II, it didn’t really hurt us; it hasn’t hurt us.”

Title II is the legal foundation on which net neutrality is based.

Yet as the efforts and call-toactions to maintain net neutrality were thwarted by a 3-2 party line vote, advocates of net neutrality have quickly looked at what actions could be taken next.

Most prominent is the role of Congress, which under the Congressional Review Act, can overrule the FCC’s new regulation, and pass a joint resolution of disapproval. Congress used the same legal framework earlier this year to revoke internet-privacy rules the FCC adopted last year.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-19, 2017

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GRIDLOCK. Traffic is at a standstill on the Metro Manila Skyway and below at the height of Christmas shopping and partying. Congress has passed a tax reform bill whose revenues will be spent to upgrade the country’s crumbling infrastructure.

H-2B visas expired, workers were allegedly told by Colamussi and Villanueva to apply for student visas and to fraudulently represent that they intended to attend school full-time and had sufficient resources to support themselves during school.

Colamussi and Villanueva, at times, deposited funds in the workers’ bank accounts to give the appearance of resources and then withdrew the funds once the student visas were approved. The workers continued to work for Colamussi and Villanueva during the term of their student visas, attending school one day a week.

When the workers objected to performing certain jobs or working consecutive shifts, Colamussi and Villanueva threatened to report them to immigration authorities.

Colamussi had many workers whose visas had expired living in the basement of his home in East Northport, New York, and working for him off the books.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Colamussi and Villanueva face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, 10 years for visa fraud and fraud in foreign labor contracting, and five years for conspiracy to commit visa fraud and inducement of an alien to illegally enter and reside in the United States. Defendants also face forfeiture of all proceeds and the house in East Northport where the immigrants lived in the basement.

(Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rusell Palma

Supreme Court junks Robredo supporters’...

PAGE A1 t

test filed against her by defeated vice presidential bet and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The Presidential Decree No. 46 prohibits public officials and employees from receiving “any gift, present or other valuable thing to any occasion.... by reason of his official position, regardless of whether or not the same as for past favor or favors or the giver hopes or expects to receive a favor or better treatment in the future.”

Following the high court’s recent decision, Cristina Lim-Yuson, one of the proponents of

the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni movement, said the group will turn over the money it collected to fund the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) flagship antipoverty program, Angat Buhay.

“We plan to turn over the money to an Angat Buhay partner foundation, which will manage the money for us,” Yuson said.

She added, “The money given by thousands of VP Leni supporters will now promote the welfare of our poor countrymen, as this was the alternative plan from the onset in the event that our petition would not be granted by PET.”

SWS: More Filipinos see...

PAGE A1 t four percent pessimists) in June.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 23 to 27 using faceto-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide.

SWS noted that net personal optimism had been excellent (+40 and above) since December 2015, except in March 2017 when it was a very high +36.

The pollster attributed the twopoint rise in net personal optimism nationwide to increases in Mindanao, Metro Manila and the Visayas.

It rose by one grade from very high to excellent in Mindanao, from +37 in June to +46 in September.

It stayed excellent in Metro

Manila, up by six points from +46 to +52.

It stayed very high in the Visayas, up by three points from +36 to +39.

However, net personal optimism fell by one grade from excellent to very high in balance Luzon, from +42 to +39.

Net personal optimism also improved by one grade from very high to excellent in class ABC, up by 14 points from +39 in June to +53 in September.

It stayed excellent in class D, or the masa. It was up by a point from +41 to +42.

It stayed very high in class E, up by a point from +37 to +38.

The September 2017 survey also found nearly half of Filipinos

Yuson said the group met with Robredo on Wednesday, December 13, to discuss the turnover of the funds raised, which totaled to P7.5 million.

In a statement, Angat Buhay head Georgina Hernandez welcomed the group’s donations.

“It will go a long way in helping poor communities as part of VP Leni’s advocacy to uplift the lives of Filipinos living in the fringes of society,” Hernandez said.

Robredo was ordered to pay a total of P15 million for her counter-protest. She already settled the first half worth P8 million last May. ■ expect a better economy.

It found 43 percent of Filipino adults who are optimistic that the general economy would get better next year while 12 percent feel it would deteriorate, resulting in a net optimism score of +30, also classified as excellent.

This was three points higher than the excellent +27 (39 percent optimistic about the economy, 12 percent pessimistic about the economy) in June.

Net optimism about the economy had been excellent (+20 and above) in all eight surveys since December 2015.

SWS said net optimism about the economy remained excellent in all areas.

The four-point rise in national net optimism about the economy was due to increases in Mindan-

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Transgender individuals allowed to enlist in military an order that required the military to start accepting transgender military enlistees at the start of 2018, AS the court case advances, citing “vague claims.� transgender people will be allowed U.S. District Judge Colleen Kolto enlist in the United States mili- lar-Kotelly of the District of Columtary starting January 1, thwarting bia previously blocked the policy President Donald Trump’s effort to that banned transgender individuban transgender troops. als from serving in the military, citon Monday, December 11, a fed- ing a lack of fact-based reasoning eral judge denied a request from behind the presidential memo, as the Trump administration to delay reported by the Asian Journal in

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

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october. “The court is not persuaded that defendants will be irreparably injured by allowing the accession of transgender individuals into the military beginning on Jan. 1, 2018,� she wrote in her ruling on Monday. “especially in light of the record evidence showing, with specifics, that considerable work has been done, the Court is not convinced by the vague claims in [the administration’s] declaration that a stay is needed.�

Kollar-Kotelly previously cited concerns that the ban is unconstitutional, violating rights to due process and equal protection guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment. in his original tweet announcing the ban, Trump wrote that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,� claiming he was consulted by “my generals and military experts.� (This was despite the Pentagon later saying it was not notified of the ban prior to the announcement.)

According to a rAnD Corporation study, there are more than 6,500 transgender military personnel and that the estimated medical costs for transgender troops would only amount to 0.004-0.017 percent of the total health care spending of the Defense Department.

Following the judge’s ruling on Monday, the administration is exploring legal options to try to move forward with the ban, according to a White House official. n

AFP vows to uphold rights...

PAGE A2 t

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tionsâ&#x20AC;? and are also â&#x20AC;&#x153;continuously using social media in their recruitment activities.â&#x20AC;?

The AFP, however, assured that they are currently monitoring the recruitment activities in the area, and are coordinating with concerned government agencies to counter such entreaties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have made efforts there.

For example, we conduct dialogues among the youth to counter violent extremism,â&#x20AC;? Arevalo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The objective is to make them realize and learn what is extremism, and how is recruitment being done by these extremists,â&#x20AC;? he added. n

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, and White House senior staff, speaks to members of the press at a working lunch with bicameral tax conferees from the U.S. Senate and House, in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Wednesday, December 13, in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

Republicans unveil merged version of GOP tax overhaul, vote scheduled next week New bill increases refundability of child tax credit, scraps Obamacare individual mandate penalty,

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

CongreSSionAl republicans are closer to their first major legislative victory in the Trump era. on Friday, December 15, details of the consolidated version of the Senate and House tax bills emerged after representatives from both chambers worked out the concerns between their two bills.

The likelihood of the billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passage became more probable on Friday after Sen. Bob Corker (r-Tenn.), who was previously critical of both versions of the bill, confirmed his support for the merged version, citing conversations heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had with Democrats and republicans that swayed his decision.

Sen. Marco rubio (r-Florida), who also expressed concerns about the child tax credit, also promised support for the bill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For far too long, Washington has ignored and left behind the American working class,â&#x20AC;? rubio tweeted on Friday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;increasing the refundability of the Child Tax Credit from 55 percent to 70 percent is a solid step toward broader reforms which are both Pro-growth and Pro-Worker.â&#x20AC;?

Specifically, the refundable portion of the child tax credit would increase to $1,400, with the overall credit increasing from $1,000 to $2,000.

Significantly, the bill details slightly higher tax cuts for lower- and middle-income Americans by way of a reduction in benefits for the more affluent.

Additionally, the individual mandate penalty in the Affordable Healthcare Act (obamacare) is eliminated, as first detailed in the Senate bill.

The mandate â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which is the requirement that Americans are to secure health insurance or pay a penalty â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is one of the least popular qualities of obamacare, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one that experts say is necessary to allow the program to run sufficiently because there is less incentive for healthy Americans to enroll, which would balance out the costs for those who are sick.

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks on tax reform in the Grand Foyer at the White House on Wednesday, December 13, in Washington, D.C., announcing that Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate have agreed on a deal on Tax Reform legislation.

White House photo by Stephanie Chasez

The Congressional Budget office (CBo) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the nonpartisan body that provides financial estimates for every piece of legislation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; warned that with the scrapping of the obamacare mandate, premiums will surge as healthier Americans opt out of the system altogether.

The CBo estimated that 13 million people would lose coverage.

Critics have indicated repealing this mandate would finance the widely panned massive corporate tax cut, which would lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.

(The new rate is slightly higher than that of the individual House and Senate bills, which called for a 20 percent tax rate for corporations.)

According to the authors of the bill, a family of four earning a median income of $73,000 will see a rough tax cut of $2,059. other key finalized details in the bill include: â&#x20AC;˘ Keeping the seven individual tax brackets, but the figural thresholds would change eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax for corporations, but increases the exemption amount from the AMT for individual filers â&#x20AC;˘ Creating a 20 percent business income tax deduction for owners of â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass throughâ&#x20AC;? businesses â&#x20AC;˘ Allowing for the immediate write-offs by corporations of new equipment costs â&#x20AC;˘ Continuing the exemption of the value of tuition waivers

from taxes â&#x20AC;˘ Doubling that standard deduction from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals. For married couples jointly filing, it increases from $12,700 to $24,000 â&#x20AC;˘ Allowing filers to write off the cost of state and local taxes, up to $10,000 and filers must choose from sales, income and/ or property taxes for the deduction rather than deduct from all local taxes â&#x20AC;˘ Maintaining the child adoption tax credit The merged version of the bill brings together details from the Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of the bill with the Senateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draft. Previously, both have been criticized for bringing more benefits to corporations and higher-earners, leaving middle- and lowincome Americans with little to no advantages.

With the confirmed support of Corker and rubio â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and expected confirmation from Sen. Susan Collins (r-Maine) who has been seen as the deciding factor â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the bill moves closer to passage as the republicancontrolled Congress brings it to a vote. republicans are looking to bring a vote to the bill next week, with the hope of presenting a completely overhauled tax system to Trump by Christmas. on Friday, Trump told reporters that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen the bill and he thinks â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to do very, very well. i think that we are going to be in a position to pass something as early as next week, which will be monumental.â&#x20AC;? n

SWS: More Filipinos see...

September. on the change in personal quality of life compared to 12 months net optimism about the econPAGE A3 t ago, the September 2017 survey omy stayed excellent in the Viao and Metro Manila, combined showed 39 percent believing with a steady score in balance sayas, despite dropping by three their lives improved and 19 perpoints from +27 in June to +24 in luzon and a slight decline in the cent said their lives worsened for September.

Visayas. record-high net gainers score of net optimism about the econoit stayed excellent in Mindan+19, classified as very high. my stayed excellent in class ABC, ao, up by 17 points from +34 in This was two points above the up by 11 points from +22 in June June to +51 in September. net gainers score of +17 in June, to +33 in September. it also remained excellent in it stayed excellent in class e, and similar to the record-high Metro Manila, up by three points up by eight points from +25 in +19 in September 2016. from +27 to +30. net gainers had been very June to +32 in September. it stayed at excellent +23 in high (+10 to +19) in all five surit also stayed excellent in class balance luzon from June to SepD, from +27 in June to +30 in veys since September 2016. n tember.

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Young Fil-Am woman named mayor of Daly City Buenaventura is the new the vice-mayor. Councilmembers Inquirer.net Judith Christensen and Michael DALY CITY, California — A Guingona were absent during Filipino American woman city the nomination and turnover councilor made history Mon- rites.

“This moment is surreal and day, December 11, when she was named by a three-member something special to me,” Maycouncil board as the new mayor or Manalo said immediately afof this city, which has a huge ter being sworn into office by State Assembly Member Phil Filipino population.

New mayor Juslyn Manalo Ting, (19th Assembly Dist.). “I was chosen unopposed and thank the community and every sworn in during a turnover single person here who put me ceremony at the city council’s (in the position).“ Manalo told INQUIRER. chamber, replacing incumbent Mayor Glenn R. Sylvester, end- NET that her priority is to focus ing his one-year watch. She on the economic development is the first Filipino American of Daly City, “particularly, hotels, business offices, housing woman to be occupy the post.

Councilmember Raymond and human services.”

by Rose

GaRcia-Paquette

Murder, plunder raps filed...

PAGE A2 t

tion’s purchase of Dengvaxia, which some critics described as “rushed” procurement.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on his administration’s mass dengue immunization program, Aquino explained that there was no information on the health risks posed by Dengvaxia.

“I just want to state for the record, what we had then, none of this warning on November 2017,” said the former president.

Aquino also explained that he immediately approved the purchase of the vaccine in December 2015 using the “unutilized” funds for that year, as the savings were set to expire before 2016.

He further noted that the 2016 national budget did not factor in the procurement of the Dengvaxia because the dengue vaccine was not yet included the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF) — which serves as a guidebook of legal medicines — during the budget deliberations.

“The choice is simple. We can implement it at this point in time for the protection – or wait at least a year as minimum and expose our people to a risk that

could have been prevented because of this vaccine,” Aquino said.

Aquino was responding to Senator Richard Gordon after the latter took note that the certification and budget release for the procurement of Dengvaxia was immediately approved after the former president’s meeting with Sanofi Pasteur officials on December 1, 2015 in Paris.

“I’m sorry Mr. President, na natapat lang. December 1, nagmeeting kayo sa Paris tapos biglang dumating kagad ito at natanggap kagad ang Saro at narelease yung pera later on (I’m sorry, Mr. President, it was a coincidence. December 1, you met in Paris then the Saro was released and the funds were issued later on),” said Gordon, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its certification for Dengvaxia on December 22, 2015.

By December 29 of that year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to the Department of Health (DOH) for the procurement of the vaccines, obligating P3.5 billion for the vaccination program. n

Goodbye net neutrality...

PAGE A3 t Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) have already made a promise to introduce a resolution of disapproval and have been backed by other Democrats such as Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

But of course, a resolution to overrule the FCC’s regulation would require a simple majority pass, which if vetoed by Trump, would then require two-thirds of each house to quash his decision. In a GOP controlled House and Senate, it’s hard to see how successful this course could be.

On the afternoon preceding the voting day, 107 of the 239 House Republican lawmakers sent Pai a letter of support that read, “The record is exhaustive, every viewpoint is well represented, and the time has come for the Comission to act.”

A few GOP lawmakers have though, voiced their support for a free and open internet.

On Tuesday, December 12, Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) sent Pai a letter urging the FCC to delay their vote.

“The internet has been and remains a transformative tool, and I am concerned that any action you may take to alter the rules under which it functions may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences,” wrote Coffman. “Therefore, I urge you to delay your upcoming vote and provide Congress with the opportunity to hold hearings on the net neutrality issue and to pass permanent open Internet legislation.”

Coffman added that the four previous FCC chairmen — two of whom were Republicans and two of whom were Democrats — “all took steps to uphold the basic principles that guaranteed a free and open internet” and that he believed “Congress can find the right balance of light-touch regulatory authority while celebrating the same open Internet protections that exist today.”

In a statement last month, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) opposed Pai’s proposal and said “internet providers must not manage their system in an anti-competitive way that limits consumers’ choices.”

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) tweeted Monday that he asked Pai to preserve the net neutrality framework, adding, “The upcoming decision should not allow for corporate monopolistic domination, whether internet service provider delivery or content creators. #NetNeutrality.”

Other Republican representatives like Rep. Dave Reichert (RWA) and Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) also made statements in support

of preserving a free and open internet.

Congress has a window of 60 legislative days to disapprove any rule by simple majority vote, and the public is not slowing down their pressure.

It may be notable to add that three out of four Republican voters say they support net neutrality, according a highly cited poll from the University of Maryland. Another Morning Consult/Politico poll showed a majority bipartisan support for maintaining net neutrality as well.

Over 1.2 million calls pressuring them to act have been made so far on BattleForTheNet.com alone.

In the meantime, the deregulation from Thursday’s vote will still take a few months to go into effect. Advocates against the roll back of net neutrality will most likely use their time looking for ways to hinder the process.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said on Thursday, shortly after the FCC decision, that he would lead a multi-state lawsuit to stop the rollback of net neutrality. This comes as Schneiderman’s investigation into two million comments “that stole real Americans’ identities” in the FCC public process continues.

“The FCC just gave Big Telecom an early Christmas present, by giving internet service providers yet another way to put corporate profits over consumers,” said Schneiderman. “Today’s rollback will give ISPs new ways to control what we see, what we do, and what we say online. That’s a threat to the free exchange of ideas that’s made the internet a valuable asset in our democratic process.”

Representatives of the tech world have also been sending out statements voicing their opposition of the rollback.

“We remain committed to the net neutrality policies that enjoy overwhelming public support, have been approved by the courts, and are working well for every part of the internet economy, “ said a Google spokesperson. “We will work with other net neutrality supporters large and small to promote strong, enforceable protections.”

A Netflix spokesperson said in a statement that the company was “disappointed in the FCC’s decision to gut the net neutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity and civic engagement.

Today’s decision is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix will stand with innovators, large and small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.” (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

“I am so thankful for this opportunity; it brings forth new ideas to boost the city’s economy and housing development opportunities, “ Manalo said.

A ‘people person’ The mayor’s family attended the ceremony at City Hall — her mother, Josefina, and father, Carlito, were seated in front with the audience along with her sister, Carley Ann, and Manalo’s husband, El Palamo.

During an exclusive interview, Mommy Josie, as she is commonly called, recalled the mayor’s humble beginnings and community participation.

“My daughter was actively involved in community service during her school days, “according to ‘Mommy Josie’ Manalo. “She graduated with a degree in Asian American Studies and Public Administration from the San Francisco State University.

Born and schooled in San Francisco from pre-school to college, 37-year old Juslyn, is a real “ people-person” even when she was a small child, said her mom. “She would share her meal with her classmates and showed a deep understanding of poverty.

Mommy Josie added that Juslyn was a former cheerleader and currently,the chairwoman of SamTrans Bus. City officials back Manalo San Mateo County Supervisor David J. Canepa told this INQUIRER.NET that “We are

Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo is now mayor.

Councilor Juslyn Manalo being sworn in as mayor by Assemblymember Phil Ting.

Josie and Carlito Manalo, sister Carley-Ann and Mayor Manalo’s husband, El Palamo, waiting for the turnover ceremony to unfold.

witnessing a reorganization where I see that she has more potential. “ “I think she’s gonna make history tonight, “Canepa said, while describing Manalo as “level-headed and very good.“

Citizen of the Year Award goes to Sonia Reyes, between Assemblymember Phil Ting and former Mayor Glenn Sylvester.

Outgoing Mayor, Glenn Sylvester, meanwhile, said: “I have complete confidence in her; we have the same projects and ideas and I believe she will continue the plan toward more affordable housing, more retail

Inquirer.net photos by Rose Paquette

(stores) to provide revenue and raise the city’s minimum wage to $12 an hour. “ Vice-mayor Buenventura, for his part, said that Manalo “is more than capable in doing this job. I am ready to support her.” n

A december 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeNd ASIAN JOUrNAL

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Fear compromises the health, well-being of immigrant families, report finds

Samantha Artiga, director of the disparities policy project at the Kaiser Family Foundation, discusses how fear and toxic stress affect immigrant families. “A lot of families with mixed [immigration] status are scared they will be separated from each other due to deportation,” she said.

Photo by Paula Andalo/KHN

Immigration activists protest in front the Capitol in Washington earlier this month.

(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

LuIS Ramirez has lived in the u.S. without immigration papers for two decades, but he is more worried about deportation now than ever before.

Ramirez said he and his wife, Luz Cadeo, who is also here illegally, have already made plans in case they are arrested by immigration police: the couple, who live in Lakewood, Calif., would try to find work in their native Mexico while their youngest u.S.-born children, ages 15 and 18, stayed in the u.S. with a relative.

“We are taking it very seriously,” Ramirez, who works as a welder, said in Spanish. But, he added, “it’s very difficult to explain to [our children] the reality of what could happen.”

Immigrant families like Ramirez’s are living with heightened fear and uncertainty because of stricter immigration policies and increased enforcement under the trump administration, according to a report released Wednesday, December 13 by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health news, which produces California Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) the fear, and the stress it creates, is compromising children’s health, possibly for the long term, the report said. It is also causing some parents to forgo health care or withdraw from public health programs such as Medicaid, which covers people with low incomes, and Women, Infants and Children, which provides nutritional assistance. the report, based on focus groups with 100 parents and in-

terviews with 13 pediatricians, found that immigrants across the nation are anxious about being deported and separated from family members. Some parents are reluctant to leave their homes or participate in recreational activities. this post-election anxiety isn’t limited to immigrants without papers, according to the report. “these feelings of fear and uncertainty extend broadly across different groups of immigrants, including immigrants who are here legally,” said Samantha Artiga, director of the disparities policy project at the Kaiser Family Foundation and one of the authors of the report. “they no longer feel like a green card is enough and [believe] that they really need to seek citizenship to feel secure and stable in the country.”

Shirley Avalos, a u.S. citizen, said she saw that anxiety in her mother, a legal permanent resident, also known as a green card holder. At one point, her mom couldn’t find her green card, and she was scared to drive until she found it. Donald trump has gone “overboard,” said Avalos, who lives east of Los Angeles.

In the interviews, parents and pediatricians reported that immigrant children were suffering from depression, anxiety, stomach ailments and headaches. they also saw children who were having problems eating, sleeping and doing schoolwork. the overall stress could have lifelong consequences for the health of those children, said Lanre Falusi, a pediatrician at Children’s national Health Sys-

tem in Washington, D.C., and past president of the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “the ongoing, consistent, serious fears and stress that these families are experiencing can have actual physical effects on kids,” Falusi said. “their brains are still developing, so they are particularly sensitive to their environments and their experiences.”

While most parents said they were still taking their children to the doctor, the report showed that some families have shifted toward more walk-in visits to avoid having to provide personal information to schedule an appointment.

Ramirez said his family still goes to the doctor when needed, but they try not to give any more personal information than necessary.

Falusi said she has seen a diminished use of health care services firsthand since the 2016 election. “When there are rumors around immigration raids, the parking lots are empty,” she said. “the clinics are empty.” to try to help families feel more secure, physicians are posting welcoming signs and stationing bilingual staff out front. they are also reassuring families that their information will be kept confidential.

Both parents and pediatricians also reported that racism, discrimination and bullying — especially toward Muslims and Latinos — had increased since the election. “the anti-immigrant rhetoric has really emboldened people to be outwardly hateful, and that is damaging for our kids in particular,” said Jenny Rejeske, senior health policy analyst at the national Immigration Law Center.

In addition, many aspects of daily life — including everything from driving to seeking jobs — have become more difficult for immigrant families, according to pediatricians and parents. one Latino parent from Boston, for example, said the children used to go to the park but now they spend more time inside for fear of being deported.

Daisy Juarez, 27, who was born in the u.S. and lives in Los Angeles, said the strict immigration policies have affected her entire family, especially her stepfather, a construction worker who is here illegally. Juarez’s sister, 10-year-old Amy, said she gets nervous about her dad being arrested by immigration officers.

“What if they deport him and I can’t see him anymore?” she wondered. “If they deport him, I’m gonna miss him a lot.”

While deportations also soared under President obama, they mostly targeted undocumented immigrants with criminal records, Rejeske said. President trump has shifted that focus to all immigrants here illegally, regardless of how long they have been in the u.S. or whether they have children who are u.S. citizens, she said. trump also has banned travel

Peter V. Lee, the executive director of Covered California, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 at La Familia Counseling Center in Sacramento.

Photo by Ana B. Ibarra/KHN

Covered California enrollment deadline extended to Dec. 22 to get health coverage starting Jan. 1 Don’t be fooled, Californians.

Despite what you may be seeing or hearing about a Dec. 15 enrollment deadline, you still have more than six weeks to choose or switch your Affordable Care Act health plans.

It’s true that Americans who live in the 39 states that rely on the federal health insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov, face a final deadline Friday to sign up for plans.

But Californians who buy their own insurance via the private market or the state health insurance exchange, Covered California, have a three-month open enrollment period that ends Jan. 31, 2018.

“With all the confusion at the national level, we did not want to add to that confusion by changing the open enrollment period this year,” said Lizelda Lopez, Covered California spokeswoman. the trump administration cut healthcare.gov’s sign-up period in half, to 45 days, as part of what it said was an effort to “improve the market and promote stability.”

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act, also known as obamacare, saw the move as an attempt to sabotage the exchanges and the health care law.

Some other states that run their

own exchanges have opted, like California, to keep longer enrollment periods: Washington state has a Jan. 15 drop-dead date; enrollment in new York ends Jan. 31, and residents of Colorado have until Jan. 12. though Californians have until the end of January to enroll in coverage, Friday was supposed to be the deadline for those who want their new plans to start on Jan. 1.

But as in previous years, Covered California extended that deadline, so Californians will now have until Dec. 22 to sign up for coverage that starts on new Year’s Day. If they sign up between Dec. 23 and Jan. 31, their coverage will kick in at a later date.

“Covered California is seeing a huge influx of consumers, and we know that not everyone is getting through on the phone or is able to get an appointment with a certified enroller,” said Covered California’s Executive Director Peter Lee. Dec. 22 will be the first in a series of such deadlines: Jan. 15 is the last day to sign up for coverage starting Feb. 1, and for those who sign up after Jan. 15, coverage will start March 1.

Despite continued federal threats to kill the Affordable Care Act and widespread consumer confusion, Covered California has experienced a solid start to

enrollment for the 2018 coverage year. In early December, it reported 102,000 new enrollees and 1.2 million renewals in the first month of the sign-up period. that represents a 28 percent increase in new sign-ups from the same period last year, Covered California said. Renewal rates are similar to last year’s.

“Consumers are continuing to check out their options and take advantage of the lower prices,” Lee said. the agency has poured a huge amount of money into advertising, setting itself apart from the federal marketplace. While the federal government cut its advertising budget sharply this year, Covered California deployed a $45 million ad budget — more than four times what the feds are spending. that money is paying for tV, radio and online ads, plus more.

Covered California has also earmarked money for two bus tours to promote enrollment, and for 12 newly painted murals that don’t have anything directly to do with signing up for health insurance. n Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

from certain countries, boosted immigration enforcement and announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides temporary legal status to people brought to the u.S. illegally when they were children. the two older children of Ramirez and Cadeo are both part of that program, known as DACA. Cadeo said she worries because now authorities have all of their children’s information and can easily find and deport them. the pediatricians, interviewed

this fall, were from eight states and the District of Columbia, and they serve immigrant populations. the focus groups were conducted in five languages with parents from 15 countries, including Mexico, Syria, Brazil and Korea. the discussions took place in Chicago; Boston; Bethesda, Md.; and five California cities — Fresno, San Diego, oakland, Los Angeles and Anaheim.

Many of the parents who participated in the focus groups came to the u.S. after fleeing war and violence in their native

countries, said Artiga of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “they don’t have an option to return to their native country and now they are really worried about whether they are going to be able to remain here,” Artiga said. “those individuals are in a really difficult situation.” n This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

KHN’s coverage is funded in part by Blue Shield of California Foundation. (Anna Gorman/ californiahealthline.org)

by AnA

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 16-19, 2017

A

D ateline PhiliPPines Pacquiao warned to not negotiate fight vs. McGregor Chief Justice Sereno dances away impeach woes

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

As fans of the Filipino eightdivision world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao get excited over recent hints of him getting back in the ring, names of who he will fight have yet to be finalized. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White made it clear though that “The Notorious” Conor McGregor was not going to be it.

Following reports that a possible match between Pacquiao and the Irish boxer were in the works, White shot them down and threatened that legal action against Pacquiao and Top Rank Promotions would be made if reports are true.

“That would be weird because he’s [Conor’s] under contract with us,” White told EsPN. “If that’s true, I will be suing Manny Pacquiao and whoever’s representing him. so I’m assuming that’s not true.”

On Friday, December 8, Pacquiao said he had opened talks to fight McGregor in April, after his legislative duties finish.

“If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us,” said Pacquiao when asked about it.

Answering questions on whether he had already reached out to McGregor’s handlers for a possible fight, Pacquiao told AFP, “initially, but we have yet had any follow-up conversations”.

Just last month, Pacquiao teased the fight by posting a photo of McGregor on Instagram and Twitter along with a caption that read, “Happy Thanksgiving! stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018

by eVelyn

MacaiRan Philstar.com

MANILA — If Chief Justice Maria Lourdes sereno’s impeachment troubles are causing her stress, it didn’t show at yesterday’s Christmas party, December 15 at the supreme Court, where she gamely danced after speaking about the high tribunal’s achievements under her leadership.

One of her dance partners was Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, who is expected to testify in the impeachment proceedings against her in January.

The four magistrates also danced with their respective partners. sereno and Bernabe were later seen going to the middle of the crowd, encouraging them to join in the dancing.

Employees said sereno would “Happy Thanksgiving! Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018 @thenotoriousmma,” Pacquiao usually dance at special occaposted on Twitter and Instagram, using McGregor’s social media handle last Nov. 23. sions at the sC. As in previous took took a win over Pacquiao in Christmas parties, not all justices @thenotoriousmma”.

Bob Arum, chief executive offi- 2015 via a 12-round unanimous were present. cer of Top Rank Promotions, com- decision.

Pacquiao’s last fight was in July mented on the situation saturday of this year where he lost against night by calling it “old news”.

“Is it true that Pacquiao reached Brisbane, Australia’s Jeff Horn, out to McGregor? Yes, but it’s old thus also losing his World Boxing news,” said Arum to reporters of Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

Fight Hype.

But even if a McGregor-Pac“If I promoted that fight, I would tell everybody upfront, ‘Guess quiao bout doesn’t happen — what, it’s not a f*cking fight. It’s which White has said won’t a spectacle,’” he added. “If you — fans of Pacquiao may still get want a spectacle, you can watch to see the Filipino boxer in the it. But one thing I would be ring next year. “siguro mga January malalasure of is Manny wouldn’t carry McGregor the way the other guy man natin (Maybe we can know

by January),” said Pacquiao to did.”

McGregor’s last fight resulted ABs-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

“By April, may laban na (There in an upsetting tenth round loss to the undefeated American boxer will be a match by April),” he Floyd Mayweather who also added. n

Overseas Filipino workers cluster in Cabinet recommended

by Helen

FloRes Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will recommend the creation of a cluster for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Cabinet.

Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday, December 15 said the OFW cluster aims to fast-track assistance extended to Filipino migrant workers.

“We recommend the creation of a Cabinet cluster on OFW. I

talked to Cabinet secretary (Jun Evasco) and I already mentioned that to the President,” Cayetano said during a Christmas lunch for the DFA press corps.

“We’re proposing the OFW cluster so that everyone who has to do with OFWs and their families can be included in the discussions,” he said.

He said they are also looking at the possibility of forming an interagency body on OFWs that would provide, among others, job assistance to returning Fili-

pino migrant workers.

“The interagency (body) on OFWs can get some of our OFWs abroad who want to go back home and use their expertise at the right price and benefits,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cayetano said government agencies are set to sign the revisions on the legal assistance for OFWs on Monday.

From P400 million, the Duterte administration has raised the fund for OFWs to P1 billion. n

In her 14-minute Christmas message, the Chief Justice encouraged employees to spread the good news on their accomplishments in the past five years or since her assumption to office as sC chief. she admitted that significant positive changes in the judiciary under her leadership were rarely talked about.

“We have been working and working… but many people are not aware of the changes that we have been making” toward attaining their goal of “gold standard for public service,” she said. she said that the sC employees should let the nation know that they have been working with pride, honor and dignity in recent years. some of the sC’s achievements, she said, were its wise spending program as shown by its not having been issued a notice of disallowance by the Commission on Audit (COA), decongesting of dockets by 50

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno attends the Supreme Court Christmas party.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

percent and the operation of 294 electronic courts by the end of the year.

The sC has also made possible the resolution of small claim cases in 24 hours. Furthermore, trial time has been reduced from five or seven years to only six months to one year.

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A8 DECEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

The Dengvaxia controversy

FEATURES

WE commend former President Benigno Aquino II for honoring the Senate’s invitation to attend the Blue Ribbon inqury into the Dengvaxia controversy. He did not invoke privileges in order to avoid questions.

To the contrary, he answered all questions posed to him patiently.

He knew the facts at hand when his government had to make a decision on how to address the Dengue problem facing the country.

Compared with the way he handled the inquiry, the health officials of his administration were more argumentative and righteous.

Never once has any of the Aquino officials acknowledged that what his government implemented turned out to be a mess. Apology was never on their minds.

President Aquino had an elaborate rationale for his decision-making on Dengvaxia. But this notwithstanding, his testimony failed to settle many questions that still trouble the Filipino public concerning the issue.

1. Why was the information given by the Department of Health inadequate to guide and lead President Aquino to the correct decision? How could the DoH miss utterly the possibility that Sanofi Pasteur would declare its immunization vaccine unsafe for those without a dengue history?

2. Why was the Philippines the first country to

contract and commit to the use of Dengvaxia? And why a whopping P3.5 billion contract for a vaccine that had yet to be cleared by the World Health Organization (WHO)? Why didn’t the Aquino government wait for the clearance?

3. Why was the Dengvaxia immunization drive timed to coincide with the may 2016 elections?

Did politics figure in Aquino’s decision?

4. Finally, was the Philippines made into a laboratory — and Filipino children into guinea pigs — for Dengvaxia?

These questions remain, despite all the talking.

An investigation into the Dengvaxia controversy is best carried out by the Department of Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),because they are the agencies of government that are in the best position to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry.

We remain skeptical that an open congressional especially under the light of live television. Edgar inquiry can ferret out the facts and accountability, Matobato is the only one we can remember who

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

confessed to crimes during his testimony. (ManilaTimes.net)

Mourning the death of the internet as we know it, as it should be in a democracy

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE internet has been an important part of our modern civilization. It has exponentially changed our world by leaps and bounds because it made access to information and communication so easy and quick. It has also provided us with bridges to connect with our family wherever in the world they may be and has helped connect us with networks important to our businesses, professions, and advocacies. The internet has also given all of its us-

ers the platform to promote our talents, sell our merchandise, and share our opinions and perspectives with the global community.

However, the internet as we know it is now dead, thanks to the unrelenting efforts of the Trump administration to undo almost all the legacies of the Obama era, especially regulations that are meant to protect the ordinary consumers from corporate greed and private interests of well-connected people who will do anything and everything for money, power, and control.

Last Thursday, December 14, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to dismantle rules that regulate the

businesses that connect consumers to the internet, and as the New York Times reported, this move will grant broadband companies the power to potentially reshape Americans’ online experiences.

In 2015, the FCC implemented these regulations to have stronger oversight over broadband providers as Americans have migrated to the internet for most communications. We heard about “net neutrality regulations” that prohibited broadband providers (like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, etc) from blocking websites or charging for higher-quality service or certain content.

These Obama-era rules man-

date that the federal government will also no longer regulate highspeed internet delivery as if it were a utility, like a phone service. The goal of this regulation is to democratize the use of the internet — to level the playing field for all Americans to have access to information, which empowers people and helps them make intelligent decisions.

This move of the FCC is in congruence with the view of the Trump administration and the new FCC chairman that unregulated business will eventually yield innovation and help the economy. However, information is not an ordinary commodity.

Access to information is vital in a

democracy.

Would you allow these broadband companies to control which information we will have access to, which data will be promoted and which ones will be blocked? Would you trust these internet corporations to not yield to powerful, well-connected and well-funded forces which may ask or even demand that their political and economic positions be favored and prioritized in shaping the public’s mind and decision-making process?

As the NYT reported, critics of the changes say that consumers will have more difficulty accessing content online and that start-

ups will have to pay to reach consumers.

Are you okay with this? Are you yielding your right to be informed without the hidden agenda of people in power? Are you abdicating YOUR own power in this democracy?

If NOT, then let the whole world know. Protest against this Trump administration decision that kills net neutrality. *** 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

#MeToo: Changing the culture of violence Of pushers, politicians and presidents towards women’s safety and respect Street Talk

“Feminism is hated because women are hated. Anti-feminism Rhizomes is a direct expression of misogyny; it is the political defense of women hating. Men who want to support women in our struggle for freedom and justice should understand that it is not terrifical- PROSY ABARQUEZly important to us that they learn DELACRUZ, J.D. to cry; it is important to us that they stop the crimes of violence against us.” - Andrea Dworkin, women’s rights activist CYNTHIA Hogan went to do a study on the National Football League (NFL), commissioned by then-Senator Joe Biden. Her study “ripped the mask off the epidemic of rape.” She found out that 67 percent of women suffered sexual assault and survivor networks were organized in the United States.

“First it starts with a bonfire, a pep rally, then, the teams get together. In one case, he walked with her to her dorm, where she went to get her coat, as she was getting cold. He jumped her into the shower,” Biden shared at the White House Summit on Women on June 12, 2016. What made it worse was the resident advisor told the student she was not raped at all.

It led the former vice president to change the law from knowing the assailant, the only way then to file a rape charge, to one of second-degree rape.

He felt that for women to feel they are no longer abused, is to know they are believed, but also the best way to seek justice is for women to identify their attacker.

Seven women, according to Biden, pulled him aside, after the law was passed, to tell him they had been raped. He emphasized, “Every woman has the right to her life, free of violence. We have to take off the social blinders that make it easy to overlook violence. Get men involved. It’s on us!”

When television cameras kept their focus on the crowds at the Republican National Convention, on July 19, 2016, crowds chanted, “Lock her [Hillary Clinton] up,” as Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn spoke, I was so horrified. I remembered what Biden said, “We have to take off the social blinders that make it easy to overlook violence.”

Yet, Flynn went along, and he said, “Yes, lock her up,” as the Los Angeles Times reported on July 22, 2016, including “having Hillary shot for treason.” Even the media relished reporting it, without any condemnation of these crude and “bastos” (offensive) actions.

If these chants from ill-advised delegates were tolerated at the Republicans’ political convention, should we now be surprised that the legislators are being asked to resign, both Democrats and Republicans, from Congress and California’s state Legislature in 2017?

Or that Hollywood has censured Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, among many others?

On Thursday, Dec. 13, 2017, Dan Johnson, an American evangelical pastor and Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, committed suicide, after being accused by Maranda Richmond (now 21 years old), of kissing her and fondling her underneath her clothes when she was just 17 years old. He also made a racist post comparing former Pres. Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to monkeys. Privileged and racist behaviors are at times, twins of sexist behaviors.

“Privilege is invisible only until looked for, but silence in the face of privilege sustains its invisibility.

Silence is the lack of sound and voice. Silence may result from a desire for quiet; it may signify intense mental concentration; it may also arise from oppression or fear. Whatever the reason, when there is silence, no criticism is expressed. What we do not say, what we do not talk about, allows the status quo to continue,” writes Stephanie Wildman and Adrienne D. Davis.

Time Magazine’s ‘silence breakers’ Time‘s Persons of the Year are five women with these descriptors: Isabel Pascual (a strawberry picker who spoke out against harassment), Adama Iwu (a California lobbyist who led a charge to call out harassment in state politics), Ashley Judd (an actor who publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment), Susan Fowler (a software engineer whose blog exposed Uber’s toxic culture), Taylor Swift (singer-songwriter who countersued her groper for $1 and won) and Anonymous (the hospital worker who reported her office harasser but still fears consequences).

Note that the 45th resident in the White House tweeted on Nov. 24, 2017, “Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named ‘Man (Person) of the Year’ like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot.”

How presumptuous is that tweet to assume a na-

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A FEW weeks ago, I posted on Facebook two anti-drug abuse ads that I created back in 1972.

The headline of one read, “Is a pusher paying more attention to your child than you are?” The other ad showed a father swigging a bottle of gin, while his son smoked marijuana. The headline bluntly stated, “One dope deserves another. If you want your kid to stop doing his thing, you can begin by stopping yours.”

I felt that, in today’s permissive environment, the importance of parental responsibility and parental example needed to be brought front and center.

Some readers have pointed out that pushers and parents are not the only culprits in the deterioration of moral values. According to them, politicians and Presidents bear the onus, as well.

Indeed, pushers, politicians and Presidents may be today’s “reverse role models” – and not just in the Philippines. It’s happening just as blatantly in America.

The Philippines has President Rodrigo Duterte and the U,S. has President Donald Trump. Additionally, the Philippines has a kennel of legislative puppy dogs, while America has unabashed transactional politicians.

Sadly, there’s nowhere wellmeaning parents can turn to spare their children from the criminal influence of drug pushers and the morally debilitating influence of politicians and Presidents.

By the time this piece comes out, the results of the special senatorial election in Alabama will have been determined. The special election has been due to the vacancy created by the appointment of erstwhile Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to Attorney General (the U.S. equivalent of the Philippines’ Secretary of Justice).

As of this writing, pollsters have said that the contest be-

GREG B. MACABENTA tween Democratic candidate Doug Jones and Republican Roy Moore is too close to call.

There’s more to this special election than being a toss-up between candidates of opposing parties in a predominantly Republican state, where President Donald Trump convincingly trounced Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections.

Moore, 70, a former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, has been accused by several women of being a sexual predator. He is said to have had sex with a 14-year old girl, a criminal act. He also reportedly forced himself on a 16-year old.

These he did when he was in his early 30s and an assistant district attorney.

In the wake of the allegations against Moore, other instances of sexual harassment committed by prominent U.S. politicians have hit the headlines. One Senator and two Congressmen have been forced to resign following public disclosure by the victims of their sexual misconduct.

However, in spite of the accusations against Moore, as well as a threat by some Republican Senate leaders to subject Moore to an ethics gauntlet should he win, he enjoys a slight edge in the public opinion polls vs. the Democratic contender. Moore, who has denied the accusations, also has the support of the evangelicals in the state. This brings into question the moral values of the evangelicals, as well as that of the hardcore supporters of Moore.

What is even more eyebrowraising is the fact that President

Donald Trump has expressed his full support for Moore.

Trump himself has been accused by several women of being a sexual predator. While he has flatly denied the allegations, there are video and audio proof of his misconduct, including Trump’s recorded voice bragging about grabbing women on their private parts.

The accusations against Trump were made during the presidential campaign. He won anyway.

Does this say something about the moral values of Trump’s supporters? Unfortunately, that seems to be the case.

If all these were happening in Philippine politics, that would hardly be hot news – or the stories would be very quickly suppressed (a tactic known as “suppress relations.”). Sadly, in our country, politicians and the public don’t give a damn about immorality. In fact, President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have been flaunting their extramarital affairs.

Pundits attribute the situation in both the Philippines and the U.S. to realpolitik. The decisions and choices of politificians are made based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.

Trump’s decision to throw his support behind Moore is obviously self-serving. Condemning Moore for sexual misconduct would boomerang on Trump. But the other reason is the fact that the Republicans cannot afford to lose a seat in the Senate where they hold a 54 to 44 edge over the Democrats, with two independent senators tending to side with the Dems. Some Republicans, like Senator John McCain, also tend to be mavericks.

The vow of Trump and the Republicans to repeal and replace Obamacare – the controversial health care legislation passed

u PAGE A9

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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#MeToo: Changing the culture of violence...

PAGE A8 t

tional magazine would have you on their year’s cover?

Time Magazine created a timeline for 2017, when the first whistleblower for sexual harassment came from Summer Zervos on Jan. 17, followed by Susan Fowler, a former software engineer for Uber who revealed a toxic culture that saw the removal of the CEO and 20 more.

Each month, a courageous woman breaks her silence, including hotel housekeepers who would clean rooms, only to see the male guest masturbating in front of them that would make them leave the room in a hurry.

One said: What makes them think that with their hotel fees include sexual services?

By October, it had included Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie exposing Harvey Weinstein, a rainmaker of Hollywood, and Hollywood responded swiftly, removing him from the Academy membership and fired from his firm.

Time Magazine analyzed #Me Too as: “Yet it doesn’t have a leader, or a single, unifying tenet. The hashtag #MeToo (swiftly adapted into #Balance-TonPorc, #YoTambien, #Ana_kaman), which to date has provided an umbrella of solidarity for millions of people to come forward with their stories, is part of the picture, but not all of it.”

Is 45th’s presumption a form of male privilege?

Or of the 45th president stealing a kiss on Rachel Crooks’ lips, as she casually converses with him a decade ago, as reported by Vanity Fair. “She’s told the story of what happened after that too many times to count, and now she retells it quickly, in shorthand: They shook hands, and then he gave her a double-cheek

kiss, which is something she’d come to expect from important New York men and thought of as totally normal. Not so normal was the way that Trump kept kissing her on each cheek over and over, in between saying things like, ‘Where are you from? You should be a model. Do you know I have my own agency?,’ and then kissing her on the lips. Then he went up the elevator. (Trump has denied all allegations of sexual impropriety),” the report said.

The Huffington Post on Dec. 12, 2017 published a list of 21 women who came forward alleging Trump of sexual misconduct.

The Atlantic listed 19 women, while The Independent reported 17 women. CNN cataloged 15 women.

When taken in the context of the infamous Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged to Billy Bush about how he groped women because of his celebrity status, the statements of these women appear credible: from unsolicited kissing on the lips, to reaching down under skirts to grab genitalia, grabbing their breasts, grabbing their buttocks, even his own former wife, Ivana Trump’s marital rape allegations in her own book, as well as walking unannounced on several teens who were naked in the Miss Vermont Teen USA in 1997 to a Miss USA pageant room in 2000.

Could these patterns of maldevelopment from someone unformed by normal interactions with one’s parents to recognize what is appropriate conduct, or not, to know what boundaries are, to know how not to take advantage of someone else’s body? #MeToo in Filipino-American community But isn’t that the mental attitude of men who grope women?

Or the pastor of a Filipino evangelical church who raped a demure, shy Filipina parishioner one evening decades ago?

I was helping inventory the assets of a non-profit about to move to another facility. Constance — as we will call her in this piece — confided that she has been raped by her own church’s pastor. I listened to her story and encouraged her to expose the pastor to the congregation, to take the microphone one church meeting and to muster all her courage to read what she wrote, and to include how she felt. She exposed the unlawful sexual abuse committed by her pastor. She broke her silence.

Imagine the twin feelings of outrage knowing that a shepherd of God ended up molesting his own sheep? The pastor was relieved of his duties. But, Constance’s trauma took time to heal.

Constance fell in love. For years, she could not bring herself to marry the love of her life, her tender-hearted best friend, who supports her and showers her with public gestures of affections: holding her hand, supporting her arm as she alights a vehicle and walks with her, as if a valuable treasure, and affirms her.

It was not till Constance was in the brink of a major surgery that she mustered the courage to trust again and to marry her best friend.

She had been able to turn her life into an inspiring one, as she became a pastor herself, giving her time and resources now to helping out students.

For all the criticisms being made against men in power, there are beings of light, the likes of Biden and even Warren Buffett, who have championed women empowerment. Language has

Of pushers, politicians and...

PAGE A8 t during President Barack Obama’s administration – was stymied by the nay vote of McCain, in addition to the negative votes of some Republican senators.

The recent close vote in the U.S. Senate on the sweeping tax reform bill (51 yeas and 49 nayes) illustrate just how valuable every single vote is for each of the political parties. In other words, Moore may be the devil incarnate but, as far as Trump is concerned, he will be an ally and to hell with

moral values.

If that sounds too much like Philippine politics, remember that Filipino politicians learned their tricks and tactics from the Americans.

What, in fact, could be pointed out is that the Americans can now learn a few tricks and tactics from Malacanang and the Philippine Senate and House.

Such incentives as pork barrel funds to motivate solons to dance to the music of the President and such tricks as bribing Senator

judges to impeach a sitting Chief Justice may still be unheard of in Washington DC and Capitol Hill – but politicians of whatever race, nationality or ideology are quick learners.

In the face of all these, I’m inclined to create a variation on the ad with the headline, “One dope deserves another.”

The subhead will read: “If you have a Duterte or Trump as your President, it’s all your fault.” (gregmacabenta@hotmail. com)

LEGARDA GRADUATES FROM AFP COLLEGE. At the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College (AFPCGSC) Class 62 graduation, Senator Loren Legarda received an Academic Excellence award for her research paper, “The AFP in the Humanitarian Space: Building Resilience, Fostering Resilient Communities,” which explores the role of the military not just in responding to disasters, but also in reducing climate and disaster risks.

Senate photo

something to do with their methods of empowerment.

Biden calls for our own consciousness to be alive and conscious, “It is on US!” to make a woman feel safe on American campuses.

Warren Buffett — who mentors women on growing their business skills under the Gold-

man Sachs’ 10,000 women, a global program of entrepreneurship — said, “Entrepreneurship is all about perseverance, about believing enough to withstand anything or everything that comes your way.”

A human being must feel secure that her dignity is not diminished by creeps who take lib-

erties to grope women’s bodies and some men, as well.

I was witness to a Sony senior executive say to a man in a public gathering: “What gives you the right to address this woman in that tone and language?” It made the man stop bullying his partner in this executive’s pres-

u PAGE A10

A10 december 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeNd ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Impeachment complaint against Morales fails to get endorsement

by DAnA

sioson AJPress

GrOuPS of lawyers have lodged an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Wednesday, December 13—but failed to get an endorsement from an incumbent congressman.

Without endorsement from a House member, the House Secretary General only “noted” the impeachment complaint and 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 culpable 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 information 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 rodrigo 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. 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

PAROL-MAKING WINNERS. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar hands a trophy to Andrew Flores who won the first prize in the parol making contest during the 12th Parol Festival in Las Pinas City. Flores also got a P20,000 a cash prize while Rogelio Apuli and Luzviminda Gallardo also got P15,000 and P10,000, for the second and third place. The Parol Festival is an annual competition of giant parols made by Las Pineros. Photo also shows Las Pinas Mayor Imelda Aguilar.

Senate photo

Sen. Leila De Lima urged the Senate to investigate into the “suspicious circumstances” surrounding a bloody police raid in Tondo.

Philstar.com photo by Joven Cagande,

De Lima urges Senate to investigate bloody Tondo drug raid

by AuDrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Leila De Lima on Friday, December 15 urged the Senate to investigate into the “suspicious circumstances” behind a bloody police raid in tondo, which is an alleged case of summary execution disguised as a legitimate law enforcement operation.

De Lima filed Senate resolution 566 to direct the appropriate Senate panel to probe into a report by wire agency reuters showing a video footage contradicting a claims of cops that an anti-drugs operation in tondo, Manila was a legitimate police activity. “there is an imperative need to ensure that killings are seriously investigated, prosecuted and punished, especially by ensuring that victims, witnesses and victims’ families are not discouraged from coming forward,” De Lima, one of the fiercest critics of President rodrigo Duterte and his brutal campaign against illegal drugs, said.

“It is also important that an investigation by an independent body is immediately and automatically launched every time there are serious injuries and casualties resulting from law enforcement operations, which body will automatically preserve the evidence, including eyewitness testimonies,” she added.

In a report late last month, reuters obtained a security camera video casting doubts on police killings in the bloody war on drugs.

One footage showed police, led by officer Santiago Pascual, taking at least 25 minutes before hauling away the men they had shot. the men did not show any sign of life and were being car-

Sen. Leila de Lima

ried away by their arms and legs. they were loaded into makeshift bicycle vehicles to be brought to hospitals. the story also undermined police claims that the suspects were killed in self-defense after they offered violent resistance.

According to the report, eyewitness accounts indicated that the three men were “executed” in Barangay 19 in tondo. the video also showed the victims falling to the ground before Pascual turned the camera away.

“It’s disturbing that the same Station Commander, as reported, even had the temerity to go so far as defending the act of tampering with surveillance cameras as being done for a ‘valid security reason’ and to ensure the operation wasn’t compromised, which raises more questions about, if not outrightly invalidating, the claimed legitimacy of the operations,” De Lima, who is detained on drug charges she claimed were concocted, said. the senator said that it was disturbing that witnesses and the families of the victims were being discouraged from filing charges and being told that it was useless to pursue a case because they would be fighting the

Philstar.com photo

government and the police were just following orders.

She also urged senators to push the Philippine National Police to condemn and censure the acts of Santiago who tried to conceal the killing by allegedly tampering with evidence.

De Lima also stressed that need to discourage law enforcers from immediately dismissing eyewitness testimonies on supposed abuses by government authorities. “this is to prevent a chilling effect on those who have information about such abuses,” she said.

She stressed the need for the government to implement stronger measures that would ensure that cops would respect the human rights of suspects. “there is a need for measure ensuring that operations are planned in such a way to prevent casualties as far as possible with use of deadly force employed as a last, not as the first or only resort,” she said. the Senate, dominated by the president’s allies, issued a rare rebuke of police in August following a string killings of teenagers who supposedly committed crimes and resisted arrests violently. n

‘Don’t doze off during Simbang Gabi’

by Ashley Jose ManilaTimes.net

It has been a Filipino tradition to complete the nine-day Simbang Gabi (dawn Masses) from December 16 to 24, and if you fall asleep while attending the liturgy, it’s your fault, not the priest’s, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.

“We do not want our priests to be entertainers. Sometimes the priests are tempted to entertain people so that people would not fall asleep. But the Mass is not entertainment,” Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Committee on Public Affairs, said.

Secillano said priests were not

entirely at fault because it was the churchgoer’s duty to be prepared to go to church. the CBCP official also urged the faithful to be responsible Mass-goers.

“Owe it to the church, to God to be very much alive when they attend church service. So the burden is not on the priests.

People should feel responsible that when you are inside the church you should be attentive.”

Priests however are expected to deliver relevant and substantial homilies, Secillano said.

Homilies need not always revolve around current issues, but they should be relevant to the lives of the people, he said.

“Let us say, for example,

there are so many problems that an individual faces. So at least the Word of God should offer some solace, should offer some assurance,” he said. the Simbang Gabi is also known as the “Misa de Aguinaldo,” votive Masses elebrated in the early hours of the morning nine days before the Nativity.

According to the late Dominican historian Fr. Fidel Villarroel, O.P., “there is no precise record of when the Aguinaldo Masses started in the Philippines. What is clear is that from Spain, through Mexico—where it was well established in the 16th century—the religious missionaries brought this practice to the Philippine islands.” n

#MeToo: Changing the culture of violence...

PAGE A9 t ence.

It is all on us to keep us all safe and secure. It is recognizing #Metoo no longer means to be silent, as silence enables the bullies to walk around, entitled to harm the next human being! It is on us to make sure that they are not in public service or positions of leadership, inflicting harm on folks they have power over and even stranger to them!

As American abolitionist Maria Weston Chapman once said, “Let us rise in the moral power of womanhood; and give utterance to the voice of outraged mercy, and insulted justice, and eternal truth, and mighty love and holy freedom.” *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan

Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong.

She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

Chief Justice Sereno dances away impeach woes PAGE A8 t

She also announced the SC would decentralize its maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) to allow local courts to directly purchase needed office supplies.

Sereno also praised the SC employees, saying they deserve to be rewarded. “that is why it gives me great pleasure to announce that we will keep on creating incentives for the judiciary for this kind of

performance. You deserve everything that you are going to get this month and for the months to come because so much output has been produced,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Gadon said his impeachment case against Sereno is likely to boost his chances in the next senatorial elections.

With more justices set to testify against the SC chief, Gadon told reporters at a forum in Pampanga there is “zero chance she would not be impeached.” He

also made it clear he would turn down any offer of position from the administration so he could focus on his advocacies.

“I cannot do all these things if I were in the government,” he said.

Gadon, who previously had an unsuccessful run for the Senate, is also associated with the Marcoses and former president and now Pampanga rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (With reports from Ding Cervantes)

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE PIA, DANIEL, VICE

Journal

Unlikely trio in a likely blockbuster hit

by Christina

alpad

ManilaTimes.net

While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to judge that a comedian, a teen star and a beauty queen would be miscast in a single movie, Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla and Pia Wurtzbach are out to prove they can and will be a hit in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad.â&#x20AC;?

Directed by Joyce Bernal and written by Danno Mariquit, Star Cinemaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official entry to this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Metro Manila Film Festival has actually staged a coup in gathering three of the most talked about showbiz personalities in a superhero movie. in the Revengers, Comedian Viceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who has conquered both the big and small screens with blockbuster hits â&#x20AC;&#x153;Praybeyt Benjaminâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Super Parental Guardians,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Showtimeâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gandang Gabi Viceâ&#x20AC;? respectivelyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;has the role of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gandarra,â&#x20AC;? the appointed protector of the earth. Unfortunately, the story finds him with temporary memory loss and thus lives as the simpleton emmy.

Padilla, meanwhile, plays Chino, emmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s younger brother who lived a normal life until his quick super powers manifest. hailed as showbizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teen Kingâ&#x20AC;? with a string of romantic flicks opposite perennial partner Kathryn Bernardo, Padilla becomes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rappidoâ&#x20AC;? in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Revengersâ&#x20AC;?.

Finally, Miss Universe 2015 Wurtzbachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big return to the big screenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;having started a career as a teen with ABS-CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;finds her as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kweenie,â&#x20AC;? an eccentric superhero who suddenly comes into the lives of the siblings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Revengersâ&#x20AC;? is Wurtzbachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first lead role on the big screen, having previously appeared in â&#x20AC;&#x153;All My lifeâ&#x20AC;? (2004) and â&#x20AC;&#x153;All About loveâ&#x20AC;? (2006) before focusing on pageantry.

On the surface, it would seem like the trio of stars are poles apart, not just in talent but also

Miss Universe 2015 PIa Wurtbach as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kweenieâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Teen Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Daniel Padilla as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rappidoâ&#x20AC;? and Blockbuster comedian Vice Ganda as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ganddaraâ&#x20AC;? in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad.â&#x20AC;? Star Cinema photos

personality. Vice is well loved for his loud and frank nature; Padilla is idolized for his cool, kilig and serious roles; and of course, Wurtzbach is worshipped for her beauty, grace and poise, as well as admired as a champion of hiV awareness and the lGBT community. happily though, the actors revealed at â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Revengersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? grand press conference all the way in enchanted Kingdom that they get along well on the set. â&#x20AC;&#x153;it actually felt like we were playingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ang daming tawa sa set! Sobrang saya lang at hindi ako nahirapan sa movie na ito,â&#x20AC;?

Wurtzbach divulged. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But of course, we respect each other on set so kahit may kulitan, we know when to get into business mode for our scenes,â&#x20AC;? Vice Ganda assured.

Piaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new reign, Viceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extended role Besides enjoying themselves on set, their director related on her part that the casting worked for the camera with nothing but praises for each actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance.

According to Bernal, Wurtzbachâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who The Manila Times previously reported took a refresher acting courseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x153;can make fun of herselfâ&#x20AC;? given the comedy entailed in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Revengersâ&#x20AC;?.

B

â&#x20AC;&#x153;She doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come on set with an attitude that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i am Miss Universe,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; not even a bit of that. i also admire that she really puts in the time to study her role,â&#x20AC;? she commended. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At saka si Pia, wala sa timing, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what actually made her funny,â&#x20AC;? Vice butted in, unable to control his laughter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pia is a natural, she has been surrounded by gays throughout her journey in the pageant so kumbaga, immersed na siya!â&#x20AC;?

Vice further enthused, adding they instantly felt a connection ever since she guested on his Sunday night talk show after winning Miss Universe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But seriously, right from the first time we were put together on screen, Pia and i had chemistry na, kaya hindi masyadong mahirap to work with her.â&#x20AC;?

Wurtzbach returned Viceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s praises whom she considers one of the key people who made her return to acting easier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than being a co-star, Vice has guided me to help improve my acting,â&#x20AC;? she said gratefully.

She further expressed admiration for the work Vice has given the movie beyond his capacity as an actor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;he really is the brains of all PAGE B2

Will Coco Martin recoup â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ang Pandayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; P100-M budget? by riCky

Calderon ManilaTimes.net

COCO Martin faced the biggest challenge of his career when he decided to direct the newest version of iconic character â&#x20AC;&#x153;Panday,â&#x20AC;? popularized by Fernando Poe Jr., the King of Philippine movies.

The movie is a joint venture of Star Cinema, Viva Films and Cocoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CCM Productions, and is one of the much-awaited entries in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Metro Manila Film Festival.

This is Cocoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baptism of fire in movie directing. his previous experience is only as creative consultant for the top-rating series â&#x20AC;&#x153;FPJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ang Probinsiyano.â&#x20AC;?

Judging by the trailer of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang

Pandayâ&#x20AC;? posted on social media, Coco seems to have made a fairly decent and impressive movie.

For one, Coco certainly made an effort to create a good story for Flavioâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the main character which was created by Carlo Caparas and was immortalized onscreen

by FPJ, then Bong Revilla, and Richard Gutierrez .

As an actor and a debuting director, he believes that a good story is the best framework of a good movie. Coco made sure to be on top of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pandayâ&#x20AC;? projectâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from conceptualization to the development of the story to ensure that it will appeal to people of all ages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;i donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the people to say Coco Martin PAGE B5

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

Bryan Termulo: Prince of teleserye theme songs Seagal to spend first Christmas in Philippines

by BOy

aBunda Philstar.com

wHIlE he is dubbed Prince of Teleserye Themesongs and has gained a good reputation as a talented cover artist, singer Bryan Termulo still looks forward to breaking more grounds as far as his music career is concerned.

His ultimate goal: to score a hit original song or two that his very voice can truly lay claim to.

That dream of having an original song to his name is now realized with the release of his single Agwat under Ivory Music and Video.

It’s one thing to be acknowledged rendering an already popular track like Regine Velasquez’s dadalhin, which he delivered to good acclaim as theme to that well-followed series walang Hanggan. It’s another thing to be identified with a new hit song and you’re the voice behind it. “dream ko talaga na makilala ako sa at least isa o dalawang hit original songs. Gusto ko yung sasabayan ako ng nanonood o nakikinig sa akin dahil kilala nila yung kanta at alam nila na ako ang nagpasikat nun,” shared Bryan.

Such lofty, but doable dream is no doubt one of the main thrusts for his career at this point. one thing going for him is the fact he is now under the guidance of Asia Artists Agency (AAA), a talent management that houses a strong stable of performing acts.

Bryan acknowledges that with the backing of a management company, his career plans can be more solidified. “Now that it is official, I feel that my vision as

Bryan Termulo

Philstar.com photo

an artist will be realized.”

Elaborating more on his vision to become a voice with hit songs of its own, he said, “Iba rin talaga kapag magkakaroon ako ng kanta na tatak Bryan at hindi tatak ng ibang artist na may version ako.”

The song “Agwat” written by Bryan lotho is a ballad about long-distance relationships and he sure sings it with some raisethe-bar touch. And he calls it, “Bryan’s version 2.0.”

Social media savvy himself, he does a video-blog, which he fondly calls as lakBryan. He very much makes use of his cellphone and other gadgets to connect with fans and even natives of remote places he reaches. A good wiFi connection during a gig means fans get to see him live online.

Versatile that he is, he also studied the Russian language and knows a number of Russian songs that he hopes he can sing

live if given the proper venue. His knowledge of the language was put to good use when he visited Russia to study at the Bashkir University in Ufa for almost a month. why he has the urge to take such difficult challenge is probably his instinct as a clean, fun man. He doesn’t smoke nor drink.

And, comic punchline intended, he couldn’t even finish a glass of wine while on a plane.

“I think it’s in my upbringing. we were brought up in the house to be always righteous as much as possible. That’s why it’s never in my system to have vices,” he shared.

Bryan first earned public attention after placing runner up in “Pinoy Pop Superstar 3”. He came out with his debut album Begin in 2010 and followed it up with the gold record “Hanggang Ngayon” two years later.

Some of his noted teleserye songs were “Kung Maibabalik” for “Honesto”, “Sa Isang Sulyap Mo” for “Juan dela Cruz” and “Kailan for Ina, Kapatid, Anak”.

As TV actor, he appeared on ABS-CBN’s “Budoy”, “Huwag Ka lang Mawawala” and “dream dad”.

Bryan’s positivity may just lead to some great development as he keeps going, noting, “I always keep on praying for good things to happen. I don’t put pressure to anything. If it happens, it does. you just have to keep working hard all the time while enjoying life.”

No wonder this fine, goodlooking gentleman has survived 10 long years in the biz. He certainly has the right mindset to go with his talents.

by Edgar

O. Cruz

Philstar.com

Hollywood A-lister Steven Seagal of “End of a Gun” and “Perfect weapon” fame has been in the metro since early November this year but it was only last dec. 9 that the cast and crew of “General Commando”, a nine 45-minute episode American series that tackles drug trafficking and terrorism issues, commenced principal photography.

The shoot goes through the Christmas holidays which means Steven will experience his first Filipino Christmas. Co-producer former Gov. luis “Chavit” Singson, known for generous hospitality, will Steven Seagal, his wife Elle and their son Kunzang pose with former Gov. Chavit Singson’s magnificent tiger. host him, offering the use of his private plane and pricey villas. The the ‘80s but this is the first time he Philippe Martinez of wake of multi-billionaire made possible the decided to shoot. He is also making death and co-written with Bey loholding of the 2016 Miss Universe it a professional base as he reboots gan, General Commander tracks Philippines at no expense to the feature-in-progress, Attrition, and the missions of a furtive rogue corral big investors of a sound stage global paramilitary unit that fights government.

A global wanderer, Steven has for future big and small screen major criminal organizations to avert world war III. Steven plays been quietly slipping in and out projects.

Produced and directed by ex-CIA agent Jake Alexander who of the country for vacations since is out to bring the killer of a colleague friend to justice. Steven’s Mongolian wife Elle acts in the series.

Chavit went bigger with his business plan to be a film producer by getting Steven as actor of a relevant film that will certainly click with Pres. Rodrigo duterte as it focuses on his national crusade. No wonder Steven received a Malacañang reception, got to clench his right fist with the country’s leader wearingbarong tagalog and pet the governor’s magnificent tigers. with Steven’s reach mightier than ever, he makes Christmas celebration here look like child’s Sen. Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee with the Seagals.

Philstar.com photos fantasy.

Unlikely trio in a likely blockbuster...

PAGE B1 the jokes. Sometimes he comes up with a joke on the spot, while we’re doing a scene. Talagang napabilib ako sa kanya kasi ang dami kong natutunan and since then, I’ve become a fan,” wurtzbach shared.

Even Padilla—who caught the tail-end of the press conference what with his tight taping schedule for prime time drama “la luna Sanggre”—attested to Vice’s talent. The young actor also credited the comedian for taking an active part in designing the superhero costumes.

Promting Vice to talk about it, Star Cinema photo the comedian obliged and said,

“From the very beginning, I wanted my costume to be very colorful so that kids can easily recognize my character Gandarra.

“For Pia, I fought for her to be in a two-piece because she can confidently wear it, she has a very different energy when wearing one.

“And for daniel, we decided to highlight his manly image, pangbalanse sa outrageous outfits namin, ika nga,” Vice finally noted with a rightful hint of pride.

Billion-peso target Now that Vice has returned to arguably the most profitable season for the movie industry, he did not hesitate to say he wants

P1 billion in revenue for “The Revengers”.

A consistent top grosser in the festival since 2012, his starrers have always hit the P300-million mark at the very least—”Sisterakas” (2012) earned P393-million; “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” (2013) P421 million; “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” (2014) P455 million; and “Beauty and the Bestie” (2015) P529 million.

Had his film “The Super Parental Guardians with Coco Martin”made it to last year’s festival—an edition that hogged headlines for carrying mostly indie films—his MMFF record of P529 million would have been

toppled with P590-million box office receipts.

As such, it can be argued that Vice is in the right mind to aspire for a figure that has never been made by a single movie in local cinema.

Finally asked what draws him to make movies for the MMFF, having limited himself to a single big screen project per year, the comedian wholeheartedly replied, “Christmas is the happiest season of the whole year. I have always loved to have a movie in the MMFF because I want the whole family, children included, to have a movie they can watch and enjoy altogether.”

H Mart opens 66th store in Arcadia, CA

by AJ Press International supermarket chain H Mart on Friday, December 8 formally opened its doors in Arcadia, California, to a line of eager customers ready to shop inside the 40,000-square-foot space.

During the grand opening ceremony — which included a ribbon cutting, Chinese Lion Dance, and Korean traditional folk dance — community, business and political leaders spoke about the importance H Mart will serve to the local area.

“Arcadia was recently voted the most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County. People with businesses come from all over the world because Arcadia is a great city,” Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson said in his remarks.

“H Mart is a quality and robust supermarket chain and serves a very diverse community…

Arcadia is honored that H Mart chose [the city] as its very first supermarket in the San Gabriel Valley.”

Located in the San Gabriel Valley, 59 percent of Arcadia’s population is Asian, according to the 2010 U.S. Census — and it’s a number that continues to grow.

“Arcadia is just a great fit for us. It’s very up-and-coming, it’s very international, and it’s very modern,” H Mart President Bri-

H Mart President Brian Kwon (left) and Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson (right) led the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, December 8. AJPress photos courtesy of Ding Carreon

H Mart President Brian Kwon (center) was joined by Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson (center right), Arcadia city councilmembers, representatives from the offices of Rep. Judy Chu and California State Senator Ed Hernandez, and local business and community leaders during the supermarket’s grand opening in Arcadia, Caifornia on Friday, December 8.

an Kwon told the Asian Journal.

“We’ve had a lot of people trying to get [H Mart] to Arcadia for a long time so it worked out and we found the right spot. We’re here and we welcome neighbors to come and give us a try.”

The market boasts fresh meat, fish, poultry, produce and pantry options, directly from its California “warehouse and local farms…to retain and elevate its freshness to meet customers’ needs,” H Mart said. There are also freshly baked goods, ready-

Inside H Mart - Arcadia, which is over 40,000-square-feet

to-serve dishes, and a food alley with several vendors where meals are made-to-order.

Among the culinary options include KSides (ready-made Korean side dishes from japchae noodles to kimchi), Tous Les Jours Bakery (sweet and savory options galore), Okii Okii tea (boba drinks and more refreshments), Cr8zy Buns, Maru Maki Express, Han Kitchen, and Sogongdong Tofu and BBQ. Though H Mart has traditionally featured Korean food and products, its markets have since included other Asian cultures,

and invite other ethnicities inside to get a glimpse. What better way to learn about cultures than through their food and shopping customs?

“Especially nowadays, it’s gotten to the point where people are missing a place in their lives other than work, other than home. Where do people meet or go? We really want to keep the

atmosphere of an Asian cultural market and connecting place so Asians can connect to their roots,” Kwon said. “For people who are not Asian, they get a better feel for authentic Asian culture, not just mass-market Asian culture.”

Founded in 1982 in Woodside, New York, H Mart continues to be a leading international supermarket chain with locations across the United States, Canada and the UK. Carrying on its purpose as a one-stop shop, customers can expect H Mart to open up

in various areas in the coming year.

“We’re going to places where our customers and people who shop at our stores demand us to be. Sometimes we can’t keep up with that demand, but we try our best,” Kwon said, hinting that H Mart’s expansion plans next year include Austin, Texas and other parts of California.

H Mart Arcadia is located at 1101 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA 91007 and is open seven days a week. For more information, please visit www.nj.hmart.com.

H Mart President Brian Kwon (center) receives a proclamation from Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson (center left) and members of the City Council.

H Mart’s aisles are filled with items across various Asian cultures.

A peek into H Mart - Arcadia’s food alley where dishes are made-toorder

Fresh produce and much more can be found at H Mart.

H Mart President Brian Kwon

A long line of customers formed outside of H Mart - Arcadia ahead of the doors formally opening at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 8.

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-19, 2017

B

Darren Espanto’s Christmas

by BaBy

a. Gil

Voice Kids Philippines” three years ago. Back then, he was known as the boy with the crystal-clear vocals who could stop everyone on their tracks whenever he sings Whitney Houston’s “One Moment In Time”. It also did not hurt that he was cute and appealing. He was signed to a recording contract by Universal Music after the contest and has not stopped one bit in his determined and steady climb to the top.

His first album titled Darren Espanto zoomed to the top of iTunes upon release in 2014 and became a Platinum seller. It produced the hit singles “In Love Ako Sa ‘Yo”, “You Are The Only One” and “Ah Basta Gusto Kita”. The now muchlauded “Be With Me” came next and similarly gave Darren several hit songs like “Seven Minutes”, “Starlight” and “Parachute”. A year later, Darren is making his hit bid for the charts with his first Christmas album.

Titled “D’s Christmas”, it is notable not only because it is by a true hitmaker like Darren but also because it marks the debut of “Pasko Na”, which is his first Christmas composition. I like it when artists come out with their original works, more so when

it is a Christmas song. We can certainly use new additions to our THAT was quite a haul that usual line-up of Christmas “In Our Darren Espanto brought home Hearts”, “Pasko Na Sinta Ko” and after the recently conducted Awit “Miss Kita Kung Christmas” and Awards night. The Canadian-born given Darren’s hitmaking clout, pop idol was the top winner in the his “Pasko Na”, a song which is People’s Voice category of the so full of hope and longing, might Awit, wherein instead of judges just make the grade. choosing the winners, fans vote The other new song in the for their favorites. He bagged the album is “Pasko Bawat Sandali”, awards for Favorite Male Artist; which was written and arranged plus Favorite Collaboration in

by Jungee Marcelo. Then there “I’ll Be There” with Jed Madela; are the usual Yuletide Chestnuts: Favorite Song, “Alam”; Favorite “My Grown-up Christmas List”, Record/ Single, “Alam”; and Fa“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts vorite Album, “Be With Me”.

Roasting On An Open Fire)”, Darren’s “Be With Me” was “Sana Ngayong Pasko”, originally also conferred the Bestselling

by Ariel Rivera; “All I Want For Album of the Year Award for 2016.

Christmas Is You”, the biggie by There are some claimants for this Mariah Carey; Justin Bieber’s honor around as recording artists “Only Thing I Ever Get For Christalmost always tend to believe that mas”; and the traditional carol “O their every release is a big hit. But Holy Night”. because Darren’s was certified Darren’s voice is just settling by the Philippine Association of down after undergoing growRecord Industry or PARI, the trade ing-up changes, which must be organization behind the “Awit”, the reason why he tended to take then it truly means that indeed, things easy with his singing in Darren sold the most number of the album. Fans who loved his albums last year. soaring vocals in his early days Darren has come a long way might be disappointed. On the from the time he was tapped by other hand though, young listencoach Sarah Geronimo to join her ers who prefer their idols with team in the first edition of “The soft and easy sounds will surely find “D’s Christmas” very much to their taste.

If you can, try to get the specially numbered limited edition version of the album. The CD comes inside a booklet with 60 pages of colored, and from what I have heard, never-before-seen photographs of Darren. You can download the album, borrow or dupe a copy, but there is no way you can do that to the booklet. So go out and buy your own album now.

Meanwhile, Darren’s latest non-Christmas release is Dying Inside, the theme from the movie All Of You, which is one of the enTitled “D’s Christmas”, it is notable not only because it is by a true hitmaker like Darren Espanto tries in the coming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). but also because it marks the debut of “Pasko Na”, which is his first Christmas composition.

Philstar.com

Barbie Forteza & Derrick Monasterio: ‘Almost a love story’ BY this time, young actors Barbie Forteza and Derrick Monasterio are already in romantic Italy, not on holiday, but hard at work to shoot their upcoming movie, “Almost A Love Story,” under BG Films International.

The huge project is very significant for the teen stars since it signals the return of their love team back when they were tweens. They even had the cutest of names from their fans—remember “Derbie?”

A few days before Barbie and Derrick left for their European shoot, Showbuzz sat with them to ask how they feel about their return to the big screen, as well as something more personal. Why did the budding romance, which everyone perceived to be getting serious, get nowhere?

“What really happened?” The Times went straight for the bull’s eye.

“Ours is actually almost a love story,” they both admitted, laughing they were able to use the title of their movie from the get-go.

“We were in many projects together. Kami ang pinag-love team ng GMA. We became really close, and I admit I felt then I was responsible for Barbie. Alam mo ‘yon? I felt that as her leading man, I have to protect her. I was already on that level but I wasn’t courting her,” Derrick revealed.

“It’s true, we were so close and we really cared for each other. We were very comfortable sa pagsasama namin, and tell each other whatever we felt, what our problems were. Sa closeness namin, parang kulang na lang, maging kami, and our fans were really saying na kami na but I don’t know,

Derrick Monasterio and Barbie Forteza

wala talagang nangyaring ligawan, but it led to a very beautiful friendship,” Barbie said in agreement.

The last project she and Derrick did together was the series “Half Sisters.” From there, they pursued separate projects.

“We would bump into each other every now and then and the level of friendship that we developed would still there. Ganu’n pa rin, kulitan pa rin. He’d still look into may bag at maghahanap ng pagkain. Walang ilangan,” Barbie enthused.

“Hindi pilit ang closeness namin even if we don’t see each other regularly. We’re happy for each other, like if I know she’s happy with her love life or she’s happy for me,” Derrick added.

Clearly, these special friends are very excited to be back together and working in Italy to boot!

“It’s our first time in Europe

GMA photo

so we’re really excited. I’m just thankful that it’s Derrick who’s with me. At least, may kaibigan ako in a place unfamiliar to me, and I won’t be alone if I get lost,” said Barbie.

“Ako naman, thankful din that Barbie is my leading lady because this is the first time that I’m working with our production team.

Barbie has worked with them before in ‘Laut’ so she knows their working style so she can orient me. And in Italy, of course I’ll take care of Barbie. As I’ve said, I feel responsible for her kaya hindi ko siya pababayaan even if it’s also my first time in Italy,” Derrick added.

Due back in time for Christmas, the youngsters hope they can squeeze in some gift shopping in their tight schedule for their families and friends. (Lhar Santiago/ManilaTimes.net)

Teen stars out to prove acting mettle in ‘Haunted Forest’

AFTER their remarkable TV and movie performances, Jane Oineza, Jameson Blake, Maris Racal and Jon Lucas are determined to raise the bar and share more undiscovered facets of themselves as actors in Regal Entertainment, Inc.’s official Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Haunted Forest.”

“Haunted Forest is both a big challenge and blessing for all of us—a challenge because it’s the only horror film in the MMFF line-up, and a Christmas blessing because not everyone is given the opportunity to be part of

Regal’s 60-year legacy,” shared Oineza who is now dubbed the “Princess of Horror Movies what with notable outputs in back-toback thrillers.

Besides horror roles, Oineza was highly acclaimed when she received the finalist certificate from New York Festivals 2013 and a nomination from the 41st International Emmy Awards for her “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode in 2012.

Like Oineza, the rest of the lead stars consistently go all-out in honing their craft as actors.

Last year, Racal earned praise for her notable supporting role

New faces of horror (from left) Jameson Blake, Jane Oineza, Maris Racal and Jon Lucas.

in “Vince and Kath and James;” while “It’s Showtime” Hashtags members, Blake and Lucas, have both proven they are not just topnotch dancers but also as actors in independent films.

“The viewers will get to know a new Jane, Maris, Jameson and Jon while watching Haunted Forest. In the film, they fall in love, they will fear for their lives, but they will also learn family values through the different characters,” shared Blake, the other half of new love team, JaneSon. Rated PG by the MTRCB, H a u n t e d Fo re s t a l s o s t a r s Raymart Santiago, Joey Marquez, Jerald Napoles, Betong Sumaya, Myrtle Sarrosa, Miho Nishida, Beverly Salviejo, Fiona Yang and Kelvin Miranda.

Under the direction of international award-winning filmmaker Ian Loreños, Haunted Forest will revolve around the estranged relationship of Aris (Santiago), a policeman and his daughter, Nica (Oineza). Their differences only get worse when Aris is reassigned to the province, which Nica detests. Once there, they find a mysterious forest which will change their lives forever.

(ManilaTimes.net)

Caregiver petition allows Isaac 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.

B DECEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS 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:

Features

Unhealthy foods 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, result-

ing 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 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 PAGE B5

Monet Salon and Reflections by Monet Salon end the year with a BANG!

MONET Salon and Reflections

by Monet Salon have been in the “transformation” business for more than 25 years. Located in Winnetka and Panorama City — just outside of LA — the salons are known for their professionalism and dedication to consistently provide high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products at affordable prices.

As a celebration of yet another beautiful year, the franchise is closing 2017 with year-ender discounts.

They are also announcing the comeback of their pioneer stylist.

Monet Lu, owner of Monet Salon and Reflections by Monet, brings 20+ years of experience to the City of Angels and prides himself on providing the best experience for his clients.

Every year is different and this year we’ve had breakthroughs because of our consistent service and because our OG-Stylist Nick is back. As a thank you, we want to close this year with great discounts that are sure to put the “happy” on your holidays!

The salon recently took on – by popular demand – their famous stylist Nick, who’s been a client favorite for many years.

Salon service offerings include: haircuts, perms, hair coloring,

highlights, as well as a wide selection of quality hair and facial care products. Keratin Treatment with haircut starts at $100 for short hair. This Smoothing Therapy treatment penetrates throughout the hair structure and repairs hair damage. Color and highlight starts at $100 (short hair), and their latest technology in hair awakening called Hair Reborn is made to instantly restore and vitalize weak and damaged hair, giving you that brilliant shine you’ve always wanted. This Hair Reborn treatment already comes with haircut for only $49.99 for short hair. You may contact the salon to inquire about treatment for long hair and expect a huge discount.

Aside from hair treatments, their bridal hair and makeup packages are quite popular among blushing client-brides.

One of them said: “Thank you so much for making me look and feel so beautiful on our very special day.

You are a true Master of Art!” For Hair and Make-up, you may call the salon for consultation. They also offer great discounts.

If you’re down for some makeover and ready to make heads turn on your Christmas party, visit Monet Salon at 20113 Vanowen St. Winnetka, CA 91306 and Reflections by Monet at 8340 Vannuys Blvd #H, Panorama City 91402 or call (213) 216-4923.

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Blushing Bride Ai Ai delas Alas stunned in her pastel-themed wedding

By Monet

Lu

IT was magical. A moment so surreal and poignant that it brought memories of both pain and redemption; of love that’s found after the heart has been broken one too many times. Walking down the aisle on her off-shoulder princess cut ball gown that featured intricate beading on the bodice and accentuated by a unique, hand painted veil edge, Ai-Ai delas Alas is the blushing bride who proved that this love is “riper” this time around, and the “right one” for her.

The pastel-themed wedding of Ai Ai delas and Gerald Sibayan was held at Christ the King Parish in Green Meadows, Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Some of the industry’s brightest stars and personalities graced the highly anticipated wedding, along with family and close friends of the couple who all wanted to witness the special moment that marked the start of Ai AI and Gerald’s happily ever after.

It’s no secret that Ai Ai had two failed marriages: first to Miguel Vera, and the second to Jed Salang, which lasted only a few months.

But Ai-Ai said she is now sure that she’s marrying for the right reasons, admitting that the first marriages were stained with wrong intentions.

In an interview she said: “At that time I had hidden agenda because third parties were involved at gusto kong mang-inis. Nakarma tuloy ako. You know, kapag sinimulan mo ng mali, matatapos na mali. This time, I have my life in order, it’s my first real and right marriage, and I’m marrying all out of love. Gusto kong makasama si Gerald habang buhay. This time, there’s forever.”

I watched the video of Ai Ai tearing up as she walked down the aisle. She wore a simple tiara, and a silver drop necklace. She looked stunning and very happy.

According to pre-wedding reports, her gown is by designer Frederick Peralta, and was a gift to to Ai-Ai by friend Marian Rivera.

The entire ceremony was well-

The couple of three years happily exchanged “I do’s” on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Christ the King Church in Greenmeadows, Quezon City.

Photo from Instagram/@ Gerald Sibayan

attended by celebrity guests such as Alden Richards, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Randy Santiago, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, and Barbie Forteza. Vic Sotto, Pauleen Luna, Piolo Pascual, and Pops Fernandez were also at the wedding. Megastar Sharon Cuneta also attended the wedding as matron of honor.

The principal sponsors were Mr. Eugenio R. Abunda Jr. and Ms. Cory Vidanes; Atty. Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and Mrs. Analita del MundoRamos; Mr. Henry Chua and Ms. Susan Co; Mr. Bobby Co and Ms. Lolit Solis; Mr. Delfin De Dios Jr. and Ms. Nancy Yang; Mr. Butch Espino and Ms. Maribel Espino; Sen. Richard Gordon and Ms. Fely Dela Cruz; Mr. Felipe Gozon and Mother Lily Monteverde; Mr. Alex Lim and Ms. Susan Lim; Mr. Robert Ogie Mendoza and Ms. Melissa Rubio-Mendoza; Sen. Ralph Recto and Cong. Vilma Santos-Recto; Mr. Willie Revillame and Ms. Cristy Fermin; Gov. Chavit Singson and Ms. Julita B. Cayanan; Mr. Antonio P. Tuviera and Ms. Avin Arayata; and Bro. Mariano “Mike” Velarde and Ms. Geraldine Desiderio-Garcia; and Bro. Bo Sanchez. Ms. Ana Puno, who is a friend of mine, was also one of them and was accompanied by Bong Prada Lim. The entourage consisted of the following: Sophia Andrea Delas Alas (Maid of Honor), Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan (Matron of Honor), John Kenneth Monterubio, Richard “Alden” Faulkerson Jr. and Sancho Vito Delas Alas (Best Men), Arolas Amahit, Bayani Agbayani, Ogie Alcasid, Lito Alejandria, Gerry Catama, Carlos Antonie Cayanan, Kevin Dalisay, Heildenberg Dimarukot, Ariel Manalo, Jerald Guillen Napoles, Piolo Jose (Groomsmen), Socorro Adam, Lenlen Rogacion, Regine

Velasquez-Alcasid, Lovely Abella, Malou De Guzman, Barbara Ambas Forteza, Bianca Carlos, Abby Bañares-Co, Rufa Mae Magallanes, Valeen Margarita Montenegro, Cielito Fernandez, Shanna May Retuya, Marilou Santiago, Eugene Domingo, Joan Fagara-Delas Alas and Rechie Del Carmen (Bridesmaids), Mr. Marvic Sotto and Ms. Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Candle; Mr. Dingdong Dantes and Ms. Marian Rivera-Dantes, Veil; and Mr. Joseph Calata and Ms. Marnely S. Calata, Cord (Secondary Sponsors), Stephen Sibayan (Bible Bearer), Gabriel Sibayan (Coin Bearer), Seth Andrei Delas Alas (Ring Bearer) and Ambella Sibayan and Angela Sibayan (Flower Girls).

It was a beautiful wedding but more importantly, it’s a beautiful story. It’s about losing and finding hope. It’s one that is not exempt from pain and doubts (especially from the naysayers who think a May-December affair will never work). But that’s where the “sickness” and “poorer” part of marriage will be tested. I wish Ai Ai and Gerald will stand the test of time and remain in love with each other no matter the circumstances.

To Gerald and Ai Ai, the start of your “forever” has begun. May you continue to live for each other’s happiness for the rest of your lives.. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning 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

99 Ranch announces Toyota Sweepstakes winner

by AJ Press

After a two-month long sweepstakes in 15 of 99 Ranch Market’s Southern California stores, it hosted the Toyota Award Ceremony on Saturday, December 9 at its popular San Gabriel location. At this exciting event, 15 finalists out of 150,000 entries were randomly selected and invited to attend. These 15 finalists participated in three stages. The first two stages eliminated five finalists and the last stage removed four finalists thus revealing the winner of the new Camry: Ms. Xiaohui.

The 2018 Toyota Camry Award Ceremony included a Latin performance, a K-POP performance, breakfast from BF Bakery, and a Toyota Activation center.

All these activities delivered a well-rounded and engaging experience for all 15 finalists, their families, and any interested guests.

99 Ranch Market would like to everyone who attended the award ceremony and to all who participated in the Toyota Sweepstakes.

Also, a special thank you to the sponsors: Toyota and Southern California Toyota Dealers.

Once again, congratulations Ms. Xiaohui!

Toyota Camry winner, Ms.Xiaohui (middle), with Tawa and Toyota Representatives.

Ms.Xiaohui (left) poses next to her new Toyota Camry alongside Tawa representatives during the award ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 9.

AJPress photos courtesy of Mark Xavier Bautista

Ms. Xiaohui’s winning moment.

Ms. Xiaohui receives the keys to her new Toyota Camry.

The 15 finalists out of 150,000 entries for 99 Ranch Market’s Toyota Sweepstakes.

The Camry that was awarded for 99 Ranch Market’s Toyota Sweepstakes.

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-19, 2017

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Unhealthy foods Hemodialysis nurse & dialysis technician training PAGE B4 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 beta-carotene, 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 veg-

etables The same chemical contamination is found in non-organic fruits and vegetables. Those with skin or rind are better protected. After 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 IGF-1 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. *** 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. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Will Coco Martin recoup ‘Ang...

PAGE B1 that I scrimped on the budget.

I want them to see kung saan napunta ang pera. Whatever that needs to be spent to make a good movie, I bankrolled it. They will see where the money went when they watch ‘Ang Panday,’” said the actor-director when asked of the production cost.

Rumor has it that Coco spent P100 million for “Ang Panday.”

As such, many are predicting that “Ang Panday” will be the top- Coco Martin as “Ang Panday” grosser in the festival.

Star Cinema photo

programs at Renal Care Training Institute

RENAl Care Training Institute established in 2013 is a California Department of Public Health approved Hemodialysis Training School, opened by two Registered Nurses who are dedicated on helping both professionals and non-professionals obtaining an affordable and meaningful career for as short as 6 months.

Renal Care Training Institute is aware of the hardships in obtaining an education and jobs among the youth, and we believe this can answer some of our new high school graduates, as well as the unemployed looking for a new or wanting to change and reinvent themselves.

There are many good reasons to pursue a career in healthcare, but perhaps none is so noble as wanting to spend your career helping others live a happier, healthier life. If you are considering of starting or changing career in the healthcare business, one of the shortest route is becoming a Hemodialysis Technician.

As a Hemodialysis Technician,

Class of 2014

you can truly make a difference in the lives of those with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. It is a career in high demand, as the population in the United States continues to age and the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes, a major risk factor for kidney disease, continues to climb.

Becoming a Dialysis Technician is a major decision, Renal Care Training Institute can help lead you down the right path.

Enrollment ongoing, we are offering classes for Tuesdays & Thursdays 5 PM to 10 PM, or Saturdays & Sundays 9 AM to 5 PM. Completion requires 120 hours of Theory & laboratory, and 200 hours of Clinical Internship with DaVita Kidney Care or other dialysis centers to graduate. The graduates will be prepared to sit for the national certification examination for Dialysis Technicians. We have 96% employment rate among our students.

Call or email us immediately

Class of 2015

DIAlYSIS TECHNICIAN FACTS Projected Jobs Created

47,900

Projected Job Growth

30%

low Salary

$38,580

Average Salary (Median)

$57,580

High Salary

$78,900

Entry-level EDU

Certification

Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015

Class of 2017

to avail of our special discounted us at renalcaretraining.com or rate for a limited time, (818) 233- facebook.com/renalcaretrainin9641 | (818) 398-6442 | info@ ginstitute for more details. renalcaretraining.com. Visit (Advertising Supplement)

Class of 2016

B DECEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY Journal

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,

*** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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Community Journal

Bankruptcy debt relief: Chapter 7 or 13?

IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, which type of bankruptcy is right for your situation: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?

Here are some things to consider in choosing between the two.

Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts do consider your ability to pay when you’re applying for debt relief.

In other words, sometimes even though you want to file for Chapter 7, your income may be too much to qualify. For starters, below are some of the basic things you need to know.

Under Chapter 7, you receive a fresh start by having most debts wiped out (“discharged”). This includes most unsecured debt except student loans, alimony, child support, most taxes and debts incurred by fraud.

If you have non-exempt assets, you may possibly have to sell them in order to pay creditors.

However, most filers do not. For example, almost 100 percent of my clients keep everything and lose nothing at all by filing Chapter 7.

Under Chapter 13, you must still pay off all or some of your debts over a three to five-year pe-

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon riod. Priority debts must be paid in full while unsecured debts are paid either a percentage or in full, depending on how much you can afford.

The discharge of debt under Chapter 7 usually occurs within five months, as opposed to the three to five-year repayment plan under Chapter 13. Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years while Chapter 13 stays on it for seven years — both from the date of filing.

Most people are able to rebuild their credit, however, much sooner than seven to 10 years from their bankruptcy case filing date by timely paying debts that are reported to the major credit bureaus.

There is no limit on the amount of debt you may have if you are filing Chapter 7. However, Chapter 13 does have limits on both secured and unsecured debts.

The important thing to remember is that not because you

want to file Chapter 7 necessarily means that you can do so. Not everyone is eligible. If the court thinks that your income is sufficient to fund a Chapter 13 repayment plan, then your Chapter 7 petition will be denied.

Under current law, you can only file a Chapter 7 once every eight years so if you’ve had a recent bankruptcy and you find yourself in debt again, you may not have a choice but to file a Chapter 13.

Your bankruptcy attorney can review all relevant dates and advise you what is possible and best for your situation.

If you need help in getting your finances back on track, call my office at 866-477-7772 to schedule a free confidential consultation. Since 1998, I have represented more than 5,000 clients in bankruptcy. Let me help you get out of debt once and for all. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPA, mBA

passport restrictions? The Government Accountability Office issued a report on the government’s inability to collect $5 billion from 200,000 who were issued passports. The report recommended that Congress enable IRS and State Department to coordinate and use passports to collect unpaid taxes.

6. Who is affected? The passport restriction will mostly affect people who travel internationally and owe seriously delinquent tax debts. It may also affect domestic travel. Bad. 7. How will I learn that I have been referred for passport sei-

Estate Corner

Atty. BriAn Lerner

QUESTION: I am so afraid that I will be deported (even though I have legal status here) because I’m an immigrant. Is that the case?

Answer: U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), the body of law governing current immigration policy, provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members. Lawful permanent residency allows a foreign national to work and live lawfully and permanently in the United States. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are eligible *** to apply for nearly all jobs (i.e., None of the information herein is injobs not legitimately restricted to tended to give legal advice for any U.S. citizens) and can remain in specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon the country even if they are unhas successfully helped thousands of employed. Each year the United clients in getting out of debt. For a free States also admits noncitizens attorney evaluation of your situation, on a temporary basis. Annually, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at Congress and the president deTOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. termine a separate number for (Advertising Supplement) refugee admissions.

10 questions and answers about new passport restrictions 1. CAN you get a passport if you owe taxes? Of course, you can. But if your taxes, penalties and interest total more than $50,000, you fall under a new category called “seriously delinquent” that subjects you to passport restrictions.

2. What exactly are passport restrictions? The State Department will deny your passport application or revoke your current passport.

3. When is this new law effective? Actually, it has been in the books since 2015 when President Obama signed it into law but certifications were re-scheduled for January 2018 under President Trump’s watch.

4. What are certifications? IRS does not have the authority to seize passports so it “certifies” individuals who have “seriously delinquent” tax debts to the State Department which denies or revokes passports.

5. Why did Congress create

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zure or revocation? IRS will send Letter 508C (Notice of Certification of your Seriously Delinquent Federal Tax Debt to the State Department) to your last-known address. At that time, IRS will also send the certification to the State Department which will also send you a separate notice about your passport restrictions.

8. Who can I call to check if I’m subject to passport restriction?

Call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 4872778. You may want to set up an agreement by calling the IRS at (855) 519-4965 for domestic calls, (267) 941-1004 for international calls. Consider hiring a tax professional to help settle your debt with the IRS. This is serious business.

9. How can taxpayers get their passport restrictions lifted? You must get back into good standing with the IRS. Pay your entire

u PAGE C4

The Prophetic Voice ReveRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAs “REJOICE always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ.” St. Paul admonishes us with these words in his Letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thes 5:16-17). They are words that fit our celebration on this Third week of Advent, which the Church calls “Gaudete Sunday.”

Yes, despite the depressing firestorms in California, the Church reminds us to rejoice, not with an attitude of indifference to the sad situation of our brothers and sisters who lost their homes, but in the spirit of prayer and hope that God will take care of them.

For ages, Christians and Jews alike have responded to this exhortation by keeping in the mind the words of Prophet Isaiah:

Is President Trump erasing all immigration laws from the books?

Immigration to the United States is based upon the following principles: the reunification of families, admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, protecting refugees, and promoting diversity.

This fact sheet provides basic information about how the U.S. legal immigration system is designed.

One president cannot simply ‘erase’ all the laws regarding immigration to create fear and to try to make political points. One such way to come into the U.S. is based on Family Immigration.

Family unification is an important principle governing immigration policy. The family-based immigration category allows U.S. citizens and LPRs to bring certain family members to the United States. Family-based immigrants are admitted either as immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or through the family preference system.

In order to balance the overall number of immigrants arriving based on family relationships, Congress established a complicated system for calculating the available number of family preference visas for any given year.

The number is determined by starting with 480,000 and then

subtracting the number of immediate relative visas issued during the previous year and the number of aliens “paroled” into the U.S. during the previous year. Any unused employment preference immigrant numbers from the preceding year are then added to this sum to establish the number of visas that remain for allocation through the preference system. However, by law, the number of family-based visas allocated through the preference system may not be lower than 226,000. In reality, due to large numbers of immediate relatives, the actual number of preference system visas available each year has been 226,000. Consequently, the total number of family-based visas often exceeds 480,000.

Another way is through a multitude of temporary type of visas. Temporary employmentbased visa classifications permit employers to hire and petition for foreign nationals for specific jobs for limited periods. Most temporary workers must work for the employer that petitioned for them and have limited ability to change jobs. There are more than 20 types of visas for temporary nonimmigrant workers. These include L-1 visas for

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The joy of living the Gospel “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to all prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.” Even Jesus Christ referred to these words of Isaiah at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4:18) We can also sense this attitude of joy in the ministry of John the Baptist, as we heard in this Sunday’s Gospel. All throughout the Reading, John the Baptist exudes excitement and joy at giving testimony to the coming of the Light, the long-awaited Messiah.

John is “the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.’”

Today, God calls each one of us to uplift each other’s spirit, encouraging and affirming one another through our faith in Jesus Christ. In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis reminds us of this task: “On the lips of the

catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and how he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’”

I kept this truth in mind as I went to different churches this past week to help in administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I told penitents to believe in God who loves each of us so dearly, who forgives us from our sins and wishes us all a life of peace and joy. We may not be rich in material things, we may be suffering from physical or emotional pain, but the truth remains that there is a God who loves us that he sent his only Son to save us.

Our mission is to believe in God’s promise, not to despair but to keep on hoping, to be like John the Baptist in giving testimony to our faith, to rejoice always, to give thanks to God in all circumstances, and to pray

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

Community Journal

Are part-time employees entitled to paid sick leave?

Q: I AM a part-time hourly employee working in retail. I work between 20 to 30 hours a week. I recently got sick and had to be out for three days.

I was told that I was not entitled to paid sick leave because I was a part-time employee. Is this right?

A: No, you are entitled to paid sick leave. In California, an employee working for 30 or more calendar days within a year is entitled to paid sick leave. This applies to full-time employees, as well as temporary, parttime, and seasonal employees.

The law also provides paid sick leave to both non-exempt (hourly) and exempt (salaried) employees. Employees may begin using accrued sick leave on the 90th calendar day of employment.

Employees may use paid sick leave for the diagnosis or treatment of a health condition or for preventive care for themselves or to care for a sick family member, such as a child, parent (including parent-in-law), spouse, registered domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild or sibling. Employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may also avail of paid sick leave for specified purposes.

How do employees earn sick leave? Employees become entitled to one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. This is the accrual method of earning sick leave.

Thus, an employee who works 40 hours per week accrues 1.33 hours per week of paid sick leave. Accrued paid sick leave must carry over to the following year and may be capped at 48

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. hours (or 6 days). An employee who is exempt from overtime requirements, and does not have a normal workweek, is deemed to work 40 hours per workweek.

The employer may lend paid sick days to an employee before the employee has earned them.

Alternatively, instead of having employees earn the sick leave, employers can provide 24 hours or 3 days of paid sick leave at the beginning of each calendar year, anniversary date or twelve months basis. This is called the up-front method. If this method is used, then the employer will not need to track accrual but will still need to track and display usage of sick leave on the employee’s pay stub. Also, if this method is used, the employer is not required to provide for carry-over of unused sick leave.

How much should employers pay for sick leave? Employers must pay sick leave at the employee’s current hourly rate of pay. For employees who are paid by commission or piece rate, their hourly rate is derived by dividing their total compensation for the previous 90 calendar days by the number of hours worked. Payment for used sick leave should be no later than the payday for the next regular payroll period after the sick leave was taken.

If the need for paid sick leave is foreseeable, the employee

should provide reasonable advance notice to the employer.

If the need for paid sick leave is unforeseeable, the employee should provide notice of the need for the leave as soon as possible. However, employees should not be denied payment for sick leave simply because the employees failed to provide prior notice for an unforeseen illness or that the employees did not provide details of their condition. Employees also cannot be required to find a replacement to cover their scheduled shift before they can be granted paid sick leave.

All employers, big and small, must provide paid sick leave to its employees. The protection to employees is so important that employers cannot retaliate or discriminate against those who use paid sick leave. Hence, any type of sanction against the employee for availing of paid sick leave, including termination, may be actionable against the employer. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

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Client with nondischargeable judgment of $80K needs Chapter 13 relief THE client is 50 and operates a business. There is a state court judgment against him for $80K. Is this judgment dischargeable in bankruptcy?

The answer is: If the judgment is for breach of contract only, the $80,000 is dischargeable. If the judgment is affirmative for FRAUD, then the $80,000 fraud judgment is not dischargeable. In this case, client accepted $80,000 in cash, which was wired to him by the plaintiff. The deal was that client would use the $80,000 to buy a brand new Tesla and ship the car to plaintiff’s country.

Plaintiff was a foreigner who did not live here. In his defense in state court, the client said that the plaintiff owed him commissions for previous transactions.

However, at the state court trial, the client failed to offer sufficient evidence that the plaintiff owed him anything. The client never bought the Tesla so the plaintiff wants his $80,000 back and sued the client for breach of contract and fraud.

Well obviously, there’s something amiss when one receives $80,000 in cash to buy a car but doesn’t buy the car despite representing to the guy who gave him the money that he was

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared.

If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $350,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is $300,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states.

Commencing a probate case is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioner’s attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorney’s fees commencing with

news resulting from Russian collusion that never happened.

Debt Since the judgment is not disRelief chargeable, the client cannot get Chapter 7 relief. The only thing that the client can do is file for Chapter 13 so he can pay off the $80,000 over five years without Atty. LAwrenCe yAng interest. Chapter 13 will protect going to use the money to buy client’s house from judgment him a brand new shiny Tesla. I creditor’s forced sale of his house mean, the client should have sold to satisfy the judgment. The him the London Bridge and the Chapter 13 will require a plan bridge to Alaska too for a little bit payment of $1,400 more or less more of cash, right? When you monthly, and after 60 months, give somebody $80,000 to buy the judgment would be fully paid a car that you could have bought off. This is a lot better than havyourself, that says something ing the judgment accrue legal interest of 10 percent a year, that about yourself right?

So, the State court judgment would make the $80,000 double found that client defrauded in about six or seven years since plaintiff of his $80,000 since he the interest is compounded.

If you need debt relief, set an misrepresented to the plaintiff that he was going to buy the appointment to see me. I will anTesla but never did. If there is a alyze your case personally. fraud judgment, that judgment *** is not dischargeable. Otherwise, people would be able to per- Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in petrate a fraud on others to get bankruptcy, business, real estate and their money then, discharge their civil litigation and has successfully liability for stealing the money in represented more than five thousand bankruptcy. Even our beloved clients in California. Please call Angie, POTUS, Mr. Trump, would agree Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for that money fraudulently obtained an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, should not be dischargeable in Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, bankruptcy even if it were fake Alhambra, CA 91803.

How important is it to have a living trust?

4% of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well.

There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the estate’s obligations and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims.

The probate court file would be public record.

On the other hand if you have a living trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold. Basically, you and/or your spouse can be named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had a trust. For revocable trusts, you can later on, at any time during your lifetime, revoke the entire trust if you change your mind.

The assets held in your living trust will be managed by the trustee and distributed according to your directions without court supervision and involvement when you pass away. This can save your heirs time and money.

Since the trust would not be un-

der the direct management of the probate court, your assets and their value and your beneficiaries’ identities would not become a public record. Your heirs and beneficiaries would still have to be notified about the living trust and advised, among other things, of their right to obtain a copy of the trust.

If you are contemplating setting up a trust or have an existing trust that needs to be updated because your family circumstances have changed over the years, you should set an appointment with an experienced attorney that understands and can competently advise you in the law. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association.

He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 16-19, 2017

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Writ of mandamus relief for unreasonable delay in pending immigration filings A COMMON question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until USCIS makes a decision?” The question is understandable, in that an unreasonable delay in the USCIS’ adjudication of a petition or application can have adverse effects, including loss of employment and employment opportunities, possible termination of employment, and difficulties in obtaining student and credit loans.

While an immigration filing is pending, the typical response by USCIS upon inquiry is that further time (usually 90 or 180 days) is needed to make a decision. However, often that 90 or 180 days that USCIS needs to make a decision turns into months and sometimes years. What option does a petitioner or applicant have to compel the USCIS to act on his or her case?

Pursuant to the Mandamus and Venue Act of 1962, a Writ of Mandamus action can be filed in the US District Courts to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the USCIS, DHS’s bureau, to act on a petition or application for which adjudication has been unreasonably delayed. The statute allows for an “action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty.”

The legal duty for USCIS to promptly act on a pending petition or application can be found in the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”), 8 USC Sec. 1571, and 5 USC Sec. 555(b). These statutes form the basis of Writ of Mandamus relief.

The APA gives the court authority to “compel agency action unlawfully held and unreasonable delayed.” The policy for processing immigration applications is set forth under 8 USC Sec. 1571, which states that “the processing of an immigration benefit application should be completed no later than 180 days after the initial filing of the application.” Further, 5 USC Sec. 555(b) states that “within a reasonable time, each agency shall proceed to conclude a matter presented to it.”

A typical case in which Writ of Mandamus relief is a viable option is in a green card application based on marriage. I have had several inquiries in recent months concerning delays in processing of these cases. Typically, the green card applicant along with his or her US Citizen spouse is interviewed by a USCIS officer and at the end of the interview, the green card applicant is advised that additional time is needed

by USCIS to make a decision. The timeframe

given to make a decision is 180 days; however, more than 180 days pass and no decision is made. The applicant then seeks to get updated status of the application via an Infopass appointment, and is advised that the case is still under consideration and more time is needed.

In such a case, a writ of Darrick V. Tan, Esq. mandamus can be filed in Federal Court to compel the USCIS to act on the application. Often, a decision is made on the case after the Writ of Mandamus is filed in that the unreasonable delay is brought to the attention of the USCIS. A prompt decision is often made by USCIS after filing to avoid the use of government resources in having to defend the meritorious action.

It is important to keep in mind that Writ of Mandamus relief is available to a variety of pending petitions and applications, not just green card applications based on marriage. To determine whether Writ of Mandamus relief is a good option in your pending immigration case, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** 3LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277.

Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

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The joy of living the Gospel...

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unceasingly.

Our mission is to be instruments of joy in others through our generosity, kindness, and thoughtfulness, especially during this Christmas season.

May Jesus Christ enkindle in our hearts this inner joy of be-

lieving in God’s eternal love for all of us! *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St.

Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (19912001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

C DECEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL Your Neighborhood Estate Planning Attorney Atty. GrAce GAil cArA GROWING up, I rarely went to the doctor because my mom was a nurse and took care of whatever ailment I had. She would use various treatments like feeling for a fever with the back of her hand, checking my blood pressure, or even checking if I had scoliosis.

But it was not just my mom that I would be able to go to about my health issues or questions. I had my entire family. 10 of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are nurses.

Several of my cousins are studying to be in the medical field in some manner and we recently added a Doctor to the number.

But have you ever thought about just how prevalent the Filipino community is in the health care industry? A November 2010 study by the CA Health Care Almanac found 18% of Registered Nurses in California are Filipino, 15% are students enrolled in pre-licensure RN education programs, and 16% are LVNs. In Los Angeles alone, there are 27.6% of Filipino Registered Nurses.

As such, I think it would be safe to say that the Filipino community is one of the prominent ethnicities in the health care industry.

And I believe it is also safe to say that Filipinos takes care of their own, their family. From my experience, I find our community is one that strives to do everything they can to provide for the health of their loved ones, even in terms of long-term care.

But what happens if you could no longer take care of yourself?

Some are fortunate enough to have children with the ability and time to care for their parents, every hour of the day. What about those that do not? What about those that have no one to care for them? Is a nursing home a viable option?

The myth: All nursing homes are bad Our Filipino culture used to harbor the belief that when a loved one needs the care and assistance of a nursing home, it is a reason for guilt and sadness for the entire family. Parents who are told they may need nursing home care are filled with the belief that this is the end of their lives and they will be forgotten. This does not need to be the case.

In fact, some seniors are happy

Community Journal

Caring for your loved ones to go to a skilled nursing facility because they no longer feel guilty for the burden they imagine they place on their caregiver. They may even be relieved to receive constant nursing, medical, and rehabilitative care that only the nursing home healthcare professionals can provide.

Further, nursing home residents receive constant mental and physical stimulation from their daily social interactions, activities, outings, and dining. It is unlike a hospital where visiting hours are restricted. Nursing homes aim to be an actual “home” for patients. There are no restrictive visiting hours, and they even allow for visits with family and friends for holidays and events.

Overall, nursing homes help the residents feel comfortable, make new friends, and continue with their life activities appropriate to their current capabilities and age. Thus, it is important to research which nursing home is best for your loved one.

In your search, you may notice a common theme; Nursing homes are expensive. Facilities offering all day and night skilled nursing care are costly, averaging $8,515 per month. It may seem impossible to pay for such care. However, there are programs that can help, including Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal vs Medicare Often, it is easy to confuse the terms, “Medi-cal” and “Medicare.” They are not the same and it is important to differentiate between them.

Medicare is an entitlement. All persons, 65 or older, who made social security contributions, are entitled to Medicare. This means anyone meeting the age, disability and/or coverage requirements receives Medicare. Medicare is comprised of several parts (hospital and medical insurance), but it does not pay for all medical expenses. Many times, people need to supplement Medicare’s coverage with a private insurance.

Further, Medicare only covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing home care. The first 20 days are paid 100% by Medicare. Days 21 to 100 require a co-payment by the patient. Thus, it is unlikely that Medicare will cover any substantial nursing home costs.

However, that does not mean that one cannot seek any other help in covering the cost of a nursing home.

Medi-Cal is a combined federal and CA State program which is specifically designed to help

recipients and low-income persons pay for medical care. Even if you receive Medicare, you can still receive Medi-Cal, so long as you qualify. This is what sets Medi-Cal apart. It requires that you qualify for benefits, based on your needs.

What Does Medi-Cal Cover Medi-Cal pays for health services under the term “medically necessary,” which includes: some prescriptions, adult day health service, ambulance services, some home health, some dental, laboratory costs, eyeglasses, some medical equipment, and more.

All services covered by MediCal, or those costs remaining over a person’s share of cost for nursing home care, will be covered if the income and resource requirements are met. Specifically, nursing home care is covered

by Medi-Cal when there is prior authorization by a physician or health care provider. This means their stay at a nursing home is “medically necessary.”

How to qualify for Medi-Cal For those who are over the age of 65, qualifying for medi-Cal is based on your assets. The current resource limit for a single individual is $2000 and Medi-cal requires a person to be considered “medically needy.”

Does this mean that if you have assets over $2000, you cannot qualify for Medi-Cal? No. There are ways that you can protect your assets and still qualify for public assistance through MediCal. However, this requires strategic planning when making health care decisions free of financial constraints.

An elder law attorney can help you achieve the goal of preserving you and your loved one’s independence, quality of life, and dignity. If you should have any questions about planning for your loved one’s long term care, contact your Friendly Neighborhood Estate Planning Attorney.

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

Is President Trump erasing all...

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intracompany transfers; various P visas for athletes, entertainers, and skilled performers; R-1 visas for religious workers; various A visas for diplomatic employees; O-1 visas for workers of extraordinary ability; and various H visas for both highly-skilled and lesser-skilled employment. The visa classifications vary in terms of their eligibility requirements, duration, whether they permit workers to bring dependents, and other factors. In most cases, they must leave the United States if their status expires or if their employment is terminated.

Another way is through permanent immigration. The overall numerical limit for permanent employment-based immigrants is 140,000 per year. This number includes the immigrants plus their eligible spouses and minor unmarried children, meaning the actual number of employmentbased immigrants is less than 140,000 each year.

There are several categories of

legal admission available to people who are fleeing persecution or are unable to return to their homeland due to life-threatening or extraordinary conditions.

Refugees are admitted to the United States based upon an inability to return to their home countries because of a “wellfounded fear of persecution” due to their race, membership in a particular social group, political opinion, religion, or national origin. Refugees apply for admission from outside of the United States, generally from a “transition country” that is outside their home country. The admission of refugees turns on numerous factors, such as the degree of risk they face, membership in a group that is of special concern to the United States (designated yearly by the president of the United States and Congress), and whether or not they have family members in the United States.

Each year the president, in consultation with Congress, determines the numerical ceiling

for refugee admissions. The total limit is broken down into limits for each region of the world as well. After September 11, 2001, the number of refugees admitted into the United States fell drastically, but annual admissions have steadily increased as more sophisticated means of conducting security checks have been put into place.

In other words, there are many ways to immigrate to the U.S. which the President cannot simply make disappear. *** Atty. Brian D. Lerner has been an Immigration Attorney for nearly a quarter of a century. He is married to a Filipina and has helped thousands of Filipino families all over the country.

In addition to his offices in Southern California in Long Beach and Carson, he has an office in Quezon City. He is a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Legal Board of Specialization, California State Bar. The initial consultation is free. Call (562) 495-0554 and/or send an e-mail to blerner@californiaimmigration.us.

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10 questions and answers about...

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tax bill or set up an installment agreement. IRS will send a decertification letter to the State Department which then lifts your passport restrictions within 30 days.

10. Can you just pay the balance to under $50,000 to remove passport restrictions?

No. Reducing the amount under $50,000 will not decertify your account.

Tip 1: Pay the balance to under $50,000 and set up a streamlined installment agreement for the rest.

Tip 2: If you owe between $50,000 and $100,000, use new IRS expedited installment agreement process to quickly get in good standing with the IRS. If you owe more than $100,000, pay the balance down to under that amount to get into a special 84-month payment plan. This process buys you time. Do this before your case is submitted to the State Department.

Beware: TSA could require passports rather than driver’s licenses to board flights, including domestic flights. ***

Calendar of Events across

Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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America

***

Grace Gail Cara, Esq. is an Estate Planning attorney at Elder Law Services of California. She can be contacted at (310) 348-2995 or grace@ elderlawcalifornia.com. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Asian American Journal. The information presented does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such.

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ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS D EC E M B E R 1 6

Filipino-American Christmas holiday party in Madison, WI

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

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.

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.

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&

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ

Things that can mess up your child’s CSPA eligibility

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: 1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

Immigration Corner

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 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 reenactments) 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 attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com 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)

Business Quote of the Week “I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me 30 years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.”

- Aliko Dangote, Nigerian billionaire and owner of the Dangote Group

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NEDA: Martial law extension has ‘no Farm tourism seen as viable strategy discernible impact’ on PH economy

by Ian

nIcolas cIgaral Philstar.com

MANILA — The National economic and Development Authority on Thursday, December 14 said the one-year martial law extension in Mindanao won’t hurt the country’s economy.

Congress on Wednesday, Dec. 13, swiftly granted President Rodrigo Duterte martial law powers over the entire southern region for an extra year to defeat jihadist militants and communist rebels

NEDA Director-General Ernesto Pernia Philstar.com photo

operating there.

In a press conference, NeDA undersecretary Rosemarie edillon said that while it is hard to determine the effect of martial law extension in Mindanao, the prolonged declaration has ‘no discernible impact’ on inflation, tourism, construction and shipping.

“There was even a slight decline [in inflation]. Period of January to May (before Martial Law) and June to November, there was even a slight decline. While in Luzon and Visayas, inflation stayed the same,” edillon said.

She then cited improved investments in Mindanao compared to the rest of the country as well as positive results of the central bank’s Business expectations Survey and Consumer expectations Survey in the fourth quarter “In fact, there was a slight uptick for the second period, which is after the Martial Law declaration in Mindanao, mainly because of Davao,” edillon said.

“But again, this also goes to show that the rest of investors actually were able to isolate the Marawi Crisis from the Martial Law implementation, and that did not affect their decisions,” she added.

On May 23, Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao after the principal Islamic city of Marawi was stormed by heavilyarmed homegrown extremists who pledged allegiance to ISIS. In July, Congress overwhelmingly voted to prolong military rule in Mindanao until yearend after the proclamation reached its 60-day constitutional limit, giving Duterte more time to stabilize the strife-torn region where ISIS was gaining influence.

In his letter to Congress, Duterte cited continuing threats of ISISinspired terrorists in seeking for an extension of martial law, adding that those who escaped the Marawi battle were actively recruiting to carry out future assaults.

FARM tourism will open up new perspectives for inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) and will revitalize the farm tourism sector as a sunrise industry in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Gil Saguiguit, Jr., director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SeARCA), said farm or agriculture tourism diversifies income for small farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural systems and community involvement. he also disclosed Senator Cynthia Villar is pushing for signing into law of the Farm Tourism Development Act. It effectively institutionalizes the Philippine government’s farm tourism programs in helping raise farmers’ incomes and increase players in the rural tourism industry.

SeARCA held last week a five-day exposure workshop

on farm tourism practices designed for different stakeholders to learn and adopt trends in farm tourism across Southeast Asia.

It received participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam—plus Taiwan represented by a resource person.

The workshop also showcases agriculture as a productive business endeavor and an exciting field of study among young people.

In a similar effort to boost agritourism, the Southeast Asian AgriMuseum and Learning Center in Agricultural and Rural Development will in the future offer this farm tourism workshop, according to Saguiguit.

“These initiatives will place agriculture and the exciting prospects it has to offer centerstage. This is towards greater appreciation of agriculture not just for the youth in their career

choices, but also for other important sectors and the general public,” he said.

The workshop was held in partnership with the Department of Tourism and International School of Sustainable Tourism, which SeARCA has tapped as knowledge partners.

“These two institutions have been very busy making great progress in advancing farm tourism in the Philippines, along with partner agencies like the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture, Technical education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Trade and Industry, with the active engagement of farm tourism operators,” said Saguiguit.

In 2012, SeARCA spearheaded the First Philippine National Agritourism Research Conference that aimed to identify research gaps and policies that can help develop agritourism in the country. (ManilaTimes.et)

Philippine GDP seen growing 6.7-6.9% in 2017 Jollibee in the market

by Ben

o. de Vera Inquirer.net

growth target of 6.5-7.5 percent” this year, Socioeconomic Planning The economy likely grew faster Secretary ernesto M. Pernia told than the nine-month average of 6.7 reporters Thursday, Dec. 14.

Pernia, who heads the state planpercent during the fourth quarter, with annual growth seen breaching ning agency National economic and the 7-percent mark next year on the Development Authority, said gross back of the massive infrastructure domestic product (GDP) growth for buildup, the country’s chief econo- 2017 could settle within the range of 6.7-6.9 percent. mist said.

For the fourth quarter, Pernia said “We can say that we are well on the way to reaching our full-year GDP growth would be “a bit higher

than 6.7 percent.”

Pernia said ramped up government spending, sustained exports growth and robust consumer spending as well as recovery in the agriculture sector would boost fourthquarter GDP expansion.

For next year, Pernia said the ambitious “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program would bolster GDP growth, which the government expects to further accelerate to 7-8

percent. even as multilateral institutions had projected economic growth in 2018 to be below the government’s target range, Pernia expressed optimism that “we’ll enter the fullyear 7-percent growth territory next year.”

Pernia said rolling out at least six big-ticket infrastructure projects next year would help achieve the growth target.

for more global brands

by IrIs

gonzales Philstar.com

MANILA — Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) is bullish on the global economy as it continues its expansion overseas.

JFC chief executive officer ernesto Tanmantiong said the company is on the lookout for more brands abroad that are profitable and would have significant growth potential.

“We hope to create the Jollibees of other countries by sharing our competencies in fast food chain management and our close to four decades of experience and understanding on serving greattasting food and consumer value,” Tanmantiong said.

The company said it would also continue to expand its store network and renovation across the globe in line with its vision to be among the top five largest restaurant companies in the world.

JFC opened at the Brunei International Airport, making it the 15th Jollibee store in the east Asian country, as well as the opening of its sixth store in hong Kong.

These store openings reinforce JFC’s position as the largest Asian restaurant company and the 11th largest restaurant company in the world.

“When we started our first Jollibee Brunei branch back in 1987, we wanted to appeal not only to

Filipinos, but to locals as well. 30 years on, we are very happy to see the growth of Jollibee into a brand which is well-loved by the Bruneian community,” he said.

JFC’s store in Brunei, located in front of the airport’s arrival area, is part of the company’s response to the strong market demand for the brand.

This year marks the 30th year anniversary of Jollibee in Brunei, and it is now the longest running international operation in the business. Its sixth hong Kong branch, meanwhile, opened in Wan Chai, which is centrally located on the northern shore of hong Kong Island with a population of around 180,000 citizens and 15,000 Filipinos.

“The store posted impressive sales on its first three days of operation, showing a good balance of Filipino and local customers,” Tanmantiong said.

For this year alone, JFC has a target to open 100 to 120 stores abroad across its Jollibee, Chowking, Red Ribbon, Yonghe King, and hong Zhuang Yuan brands, with the aim of surpassing its historical performance.

Majority of the openings would be in its two priority markets, which are China (50 to 60 stores) and USA (5 to 10). JFC also targets to open in Vietnam (15), Middle east (15 to 35), and other Asian countries.

The volume of bitcoin transactions in the Philippines now averages $8.8 million in the first half of 2017, more than four times the $2 million per month average in 2015.

Philstar.com photo

Virtual currency gaining popularity in Philippines by lawrence

agcaoIlI Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is fasttracking the two-stage evaluation of the applications of 12 virtual currency exchange operators in its bid to strengthen financial consumer protection.

Melchor Plabasan, deputy director and head of the BSP’s core information technology specialist group, said the central bank is evaluating the application of 12 companies to operate virtual currency exchanges.

Of the 12 applicants, Plabasan said eight are completing the submission of the required documents, while four have completed the presentation of their business models.

“We are fasttracking the registration of the 12 applicants,” he said.

Plabasan said the BSP has approved the application of Rebittance Inc. and Betur Inc. (Coins. ph) to operate virtual currency exchanges in the country.

Bitcoin is the most popular form of virtual currency.

The volume of bitcoin transactions in the Philippines now averages $8.8 million in the first half of 2017, more than four times the $2 million per month average in 2015.

Last January, the BSP issued Circular 944 laying down the guidelines for virtual currency exchanges. It is the policy of the central bank providing an environment that encourages financial innovation while at the

same time ensure that the Philippines will not be used for money laundering or terrorist financing activities and that the financial system and financial consumers are adequately protected.

Thus, the regulator recognizes that virtual currency systems have the potential to revolutionize delivery of financial services, particularly for payments and remittance, in view of their ability to provide faster and more economical transfer of funds, both domestic and international, and may further support financial inclusion.

As a safeguard, Plabasan said large value payout amounting to more than P500,000 should be via check payment or direct deposit to accounts.

“We just regulate, we don’t endorse virtual currency because it’s not currency. We only regulate if it is used in delivering financial services like remittance,” he clarified. he said the BSP started monitoring virtual currency particularly bitcoins as early as 2014 when it issued a public advisory.

Plabasan said the BSP is set to issue a public advisory to warn the general public about virtual currency scams. he explained there’s a lot of pyramid schemes right now disguising as initial coin offerings.

“We want to advise the general public to be wary of these,” he said.

Virtual currency bitcoin hit another all-time peak of $17,428.42 on Tuesday.

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Nontraditional gifts that bring joy, water savings to every household When it comes to the importance of water conservation in Southern California, nothing brings holiday cheer like the gift of a new high-efficiency toilet, a rotating sprinkler nozzle, or replacing an old washing machine with a water-saving model.

In the spirit of giving, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers a sleigh-full of rebates on devices that save water inside and outside homes and businesses via the district’s online conservation portal at bewaterwise.com.

In place of the traditional poinsettia decoration, consumers may want to consider creating their own California Friendly® indoor centerpiece or outdoor pot that will flourish all year around, require minimal maintenance, and showcase

your flair for creativity. Many water-thrifty and beautiful plant ideas can be found in the gardening spot on bewaterwise. com or on Metropolitan’s social media platforms using the hashtag @mwdh2o.

Reusable water bottles also make great stocking stuffers. no need to buy expensive bottled water when Metropolitan provides over 19 million Southern Californians with healthy, refreshing water for pennies every day. Automatic sink fixtures, low-flow shower heads, and rain barrels offer inexpensive and unique options for those who want to spread the water conservation spirit to their family and friends and shower their landscape with captured rainwater.

So this year help make con-

servation a sustainable California way of life by giving non- traditional, practical, water and money saving gifts to those who are important to you. For more information on water conservation, California Friendly® landscaping, and rebates, visit bewaterwise.com. *** The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

(Advertising Supplement)

RCBC turns table on Bangladesh Bank

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MAnILA — Listed Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) turned the tables on Bangladesh Bank, saying the negligence of the foreign bank led to the $81 million cyber heist in February last year.

George dela Cuesta, first senior vice president and head of legal affairs at RCBC, said Bangladesh Bank should stop covering up the incident and should divulge its own findings as reports say the theft was an inside job.

“Bangladesh Bank should stop making RCBC its scapegoat,” he said.

Dela Cuesta pointed out RCBC revealed everything it legally could to the Senate and to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“Bangladesh Bank, however, has concealed everything it could. The contrast is telling,” he added. hackers stole $81 million from the funds of Bangladesh Bank at the Federal Reserve Bank of new York which found its way to the Philippines. RCBC was used as a conduit where the stolen funds were deposited and withdrawn through the use of fictitious accounts.

The funds were laundered through several casinos as these were previously not covered by

the Anti Money Laundering Act (AMLA). President Duterte signed Republic Act 10927 last July to include casinos under the AMLA. The legal counsel said at least from five reports – SWIFT; Fireeye, an international cyber security outfit; Bangladesh’s own finance minister; its governmentappointed panel; and a Bangladeshi expert – they point to a conclusion that somebody inside Bangladesh Bank had made the heist possible.

It was also reported the Bangladesh Bank had no firewall to protect its system and used second-hand $10 switches, making itself vulnerable to hackers.

Bangladesh Bank has reportedly terminated its contract with Fireeye.

“Bangladesh police investigated some Bangladesh Bank people but only for negligence.

Up to now, we do not know if anybody has been taken to court,” Dela Cuesta said.

According to Dela Cuesta, Bangladesh Bank must be compelled to disclose its findings that are crucial to the global fight against cybercrime.

Instead of sharing the results of investigation, RCBC said the statement made by Bangladesh Finance Minister Abdul Maal Muhith that he wanted to “wipe

out” RCBC from the world was “extremely irresponsible”.

Bangladesh Bank wants RCBC to return the stolen money.

“If it was stolen by your own people, why ask us? We are actually a victim of Bangladesh Bank’s negligence,” Dela Cuesta said.

RCBC said it received the funds in February last year in good faith because these were cleared and authenticated by the new York Fed and SWIFT, whose secure communications system is used by banks all over the world for their transactions.

Furthermore, global banks Citibank, new York Mellon, and Wells Fargo remitted the funds to RCBC. “These organizations are among the most sophisticated in the world and their remittances are accepted as a matter of course”, Dela Cuesta said.

Bangladesh Bank belatedly requested RCBC to freeze the funds to be frozen using ordinary email message, not the equivalent of a Code Red message banks use to raise an alarm.

“This resulted in their message being bunched with thousands of ordinary messages RCBC receives from all other banks all over the world each day. had they sent a Code Red, we would have caught it,” he said.

Inquirer.net photos

Anti-trust body issues guidelines on SM-Goldilocks deal MAnILA - The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it has issued a Statement of Concerns (SOC) to the parties involved in the planned acquisition of Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc., the country’s largest bakeshop chain,

by Sy-led SM Investments Corp.

(SMIC).

In a media briefing Tuesday, Dec. 12, PCC Commissioner Stella Luz Quimbo, said the antitrust body issued SOC last week and the parties are due to comment this week..

“The potential concern has to do with how SM will relate with the competitors of Goldilocks, for example, Red Ribbon and other bakeries,” Quimbo said.

She added that the PCC has pointed out in its SOC all its concerns regarding the deal such as SM’s ability to foreclose Goldilocks’ competitors and the

incentive, particularly in terms of increasing profits, when it totally or partially foreclosed other players in the cakes and pastries sector with SM’s planned acquisition of the bakeshop chain.

In this case, total market foreclosure means other bakeshop chains are barred to do their business in SM malls, while partial market foreclosure would mean allowing other players to be tenants of the mall but their location would be in a competitive disadvantage compared to Goldilocks’ spot.

Last August, SMIC told the Philippine Stock exchange that the company has preliminary discussion with Goldilocks for “possible equity investment, joint venture, or other cooperation agreement”.

But it noted that the deal is still pending and subject to the

approval of the PCC. “They are well-aware of what we think what could be the competition problems,” said Quimbo.

“And we have also provided guidance on how they can proceed; meaning, providing them specific guidelines on the kind of commitments they can propose and what are the acceptable to the PCC,” the Commissioner added.

Quimbo said that the involved parties could provide PCC with comments on the SOC, which the Commission would take into consideration when it would finally decide on the deal whether to approve it or to approve it with conditions.

She also said the companies could submit voluntary commitments in which PCC has provided certain guidelines. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)

More office space needed despite rise of AI by reiceLene Joy ignacio ManilaTimes.net

ReAL estate service provider Knight Frank Santos said that more office space need to be created in the coming years as there will be more jobs produced especially in the business process outsourcing sector amid rise of artificial intelligence.

“AI does not affect the BPO. It does not affect the office market,” says Ricky Santos, chairman and

chief executive officer of Santos Knight Frank during a press briefing held in Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque.

“There will be some new technology that will need backoffice support,” Santos said.

Several organizations have already warned the development of AI poses a risk to the BPO market in the Philippines as it would cut the number of jobs offered by the industry.

“While the outsourcing industry remains a key pillar of the Filipino economy, it also continues to be vulnerable to the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that would replace around 40,000 to 50,000 BPO jobs in the next five years,” online job hunting website Monster.com earlier said. however, Santos notes the demand for more office space PAGE D5

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Uber data breach affected 171,000 Filipinos

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — Personal data of an estimated 171,000 Filipinos were exposed in the massive data breach that hit mobile ride hailing application Uber last year, according to the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

NPC chairman Raymund Liboro on Friday, Dec. 15 said Uber has made public additional information about the breach, which is believed to have exposed personal data of over 57 million people worldwide.

“We were informed that around 171,000 Filipino citizens consisting of drivers and passengers were affected by the breach.

We understand this to be based on the mobile phone numbers included in the registry,” said Liboro.

“We were also informed that the exposure of the affected data subjects was limited to their registered name, e-mail address and phone number,” he added.

Liboro said they have summoned Uber officials in the country to look into their data processing operations to protect Filipino drivers and riders.

“We are looking at processes and procedures that Uber claims they have taken to ensure that this matter never happens again. We are paying particular attention to the steps taken to ensure that in the future, data breaches of this magnitude will not be concealed from regulators and from affected data subjects,” he said.

“We have received reports of irregular processing following the report of the breach, but we are still investigating these claims and

their link to the 2016 data breach incident,” added Liboro.

He reiterated that concealment of data breaches is a criminal offense under the Philippine data privacy law, but NPC has yet to comment on whether or not a criminal case will be filed against Uber.

Uber earlier confirmed that a massive data breach happened last year and that it was concealed by its former chief security officer and one of his deputies.

Reports also noted that the officials, who have since left the company, had paid a hacker to recover the stolen data.

The NPC said it is in close coordination with its counterparts in other countries, particularly the Federal Trade Commission of the U.S., to fully investigate the extent of the breach.

National Privacy Commission (NPC) chairman Raymund Liboro said Uber has made public additional information about the breach, which is believed to have exposed personal data of over 57 million people worldwide.

Photo from Uber.com

More office space needed despite...

PAGE D3 will continue to expand, as technological upgrades would only develop more jobs for people.

“As long as we continue to move up, we need to outsource jobs,” Santos says.

“With new technology developed, it would need more people,” according to Santos.

Santos added the government’s Build, Build, Build program will be a “big driver to the real estate market” as more roads and modes of transportation are constructed.

“We do see expansion. It also

EMPLOYMENT

depends where infrastructure grows,” he said.

Choosing when, where and how to work Meanwhile, Santos said that there has been a rising demand for a new workplace called Activity-Based Working (ABW). ABW enables people to choose where, when and how they want to work most effectively, as it provides different work settings based on unique needs.

“Technology is doing more of our work for us and affords us more time for creative innovation. The workplace, as an en-

abler, should be an environment that allows this. We no longer just ‘go to an office,’ but rather, we go to a workplace which drives our success,” Santos said.

On the other hand, the retail sector will also drive more growth for the retail industry, especially food and beverage companies, according to Santos.

“Metro Manila remains vigorous with the rising number of retail malls,” Santos said.

“In U.S., retail is getting hard because of Amazon… Here in the Philippines, people love going to malls,” he concludes.

EMPLOYMENT

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 Philippine Congress has finally ratified the controversial tax reform measure that would raise the take home pay of 7.5 million individual income tax payers and at the same time impose higher taxes on fuel, cars, tobacco, coal and mining, among others.

Senate photo by Ariel Cagadas

PH Senate, House ratify tax reform measure

by Bernadette

e. taMayo

Manilatimes.net

CONGRESS has ratified the Tax Reform and Acceleration Inclusion (TRAIN) bill before it adjourned its session for a month-long holiday break but not without controversy as members of the House of Representatives claimed that a lack of quorum during the voting nullified the ratification.

It was not the case in the Senate as it voted 16-4 to approve the measure that was expected to provide tax relief to almost 6.8 million workers.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, sponsored the bicameral conference committee report that would be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing on December 19.

The TRAIN is the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) envisioned by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, which seeks to correct a number of deficiencies in the tax system to make it “simpler, fairer, and more efficient,” according to the Department of Finance (DoF).

Some of the TRAIN provisions include: * tax exemptions for workers with an annual income of P250,000; * higher tax exemption cap for the 13th month pay and other bonuses of workers to P90,000 from P82,000; * simpler and easier filing and payment of tax for self-employed individuals and professionals (SEPs) to encourage payment of correct taxes; * shortening the number of pages of and simplifying the Income Tax Return form from 12 to 4 pages. * expanding the value added tax (VAT) base;

* increasing the excise tax on petroleum products; * increasing the excise tax on automobiles; * introducing the tax on sugarsweetened beverages.

‘Lack of quorum’ At the House, members of the militant Makabayan bloc protested the ratification of the TRAIN bill as it questioned the quorum since, it claimed, that there were only “a handful” of legislators left in the plenary to deliberate on the measure on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Act-Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said that Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, the deputy speaker who presided over the session, ignored his repeated objection to the voting.

Under House rules, the ratification of the measure is by simple majority through “viva voce” or “ayes and nayes.”

In a news conference on Thursday, Tinio said that the ratification was “a total farce and travesty of so-called representative democracy. With barely 10 people on the floor and despite my very clear objections due to obvious lack of quorum, the presiding officer and majority floor leader proceeded to adopt the final report of the tax reform bill’s bicameral conference committee [report]. ” Tinio said that the ratification should not be allowed because the copies of the bill were not given to them.

“Since there was no quorum and no actual vote was taken, the alleged ratification is clearly invalid. The brazen railroading of this TRAIN wreck on the poor exposes yet again the blatant disregard of the Duterte administration and its supermajority in Congress for even the most minimal standards of democracy,” Tinio said.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep.

F0R RENT

Carlos Zarate said that there was a violation of Rule 10, Section 63 of the House Rules on Conference Committee Reports, which states that “a conference committee report shall be ratified by a majority vote of the Members of the House present, there being a quorum.”

“Obviously the run-away TRAIN that would wreak havoc on our people with new burdensome taxes was not validly ratified and legally infirmed,” said Zarate said in a statement.

Tinio said he and his colleagues were considering asking the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the TRAIN bill.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, House majority leader, said, however, that the bicam report has been ratified and may only be challenged through the plenary or through legal actions.

“If any member is contesting the report of the presiding officer and the floor leaders about the proceedings leading to the ratification of the bicam committee report on the TRAIN, such member could bring it to the attention of [the]plenary or, if not contented, to the courts,” Farinas said in a text message to reporters.

Plenary sessions will resume in January.

Farinas, who left the House at around 7 p.m. Wednesday to attend to a personal matter, said that Abu confirmed the ratification to him.

Asked for a reaction, Abu said that everything was in order during the proceedings.

Abu said that Tinio should have approached Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor, majority floor leader, to be recognized so that he could voice his objection.

The plenary session was suspended initially for more than two hours because of a lack of quorum.

D december 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeNd ASIAN JOUrNAL

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