121918 - Southern California Midweek Edition

December 19-21, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 100 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Duterte talks tough, but he’s no bully – Palace

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

DUTERTE LEADS HANDOVER OF BALANGIGA BELLS. President Rodrigo Duterte kisses one of the Balangiga Bells after witnessing the official handover of its Transfer Certificate at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Samar on Saturday, December 15. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celiacs

USA

DATELINE Duterte thanks US for returning Balangiga bells FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells from U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The president, then, personally led the handover ceremony of the historic bells to the people of Balangiga.

He also handed the certificate of transfer to Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza.

Duterte, in his speech, thanked the U.S. government for the return of the century-old war artifacts.

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Melissa Ramoso is the only woman and Fil-Am on the Artesia City Council.

AJPress photo by Mark Xavier Bautista

Melissa Ramoso sworn in as only woman and Fil-Am on Artesia City Council

PRESIDENT Duterte’s tough talk is not bullying but an expression of “dislike” and a warning to criminals to deter them from committing illegal acts, Malacañang clarified Monday, December 17.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte did not feel alluded to when Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle issued a reminder urging the people not to use power to bully others.

“I agree. But whom does he refer to? Because those in pow-

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DOT gives up 7.4-M tourist target for 2018

by NEIL JAYSON

SERVALLOS ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) said it was not confident of reaching its 7.4 million tourist arrival target for the year, as the industry faced heavy losses over the Boracay Island shutdown in April.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said the agency has instead settled for at least 7.2 million tourist arrivals before the year ends, after almost 500,000 tourists either DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat canceled their trips or ManilaTimes.net photo were diverted to neighboring countries over the Boracay closure.

“I’m not confident. Though it has been increasing, we have to admit that the closure of Boracay, of course it’s the top tourist destination,” Puyat told reporters.

Puyat, however, said that this year’s foreign visitor arrival target had already surpassed last year’s by 7.43 percent.

Data from the DOT showed that from January to October 2018, foreign tourist arrivals reached 5,880,895, higher than last year’s 5,474,310.

Tourism spokesman Benito Bengzon said the diversion of some tourists to alternative destinations such as Bohol, Cebu and Palawan helped the gradual increase of visits, but these were not enough to hit the 2018 tar-

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Filipina Miss Universe titleholders celebrate Catriona Gray’s victory

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

MISS Universe titleholders for the Philippines, Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) and Pia Wurtzbach (2015), expressed their congratulatory remarks to Catriona Gray as she

claimed the fourth crown for the country during the 2018 Miss Universe pageant.

Gray, donning a Mayon volcano-inspired red gown by Mak Tumang, was crowned during the ceremony at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, December

17. She paired her gown with her conversation piece, “Three Stars and a Sun” ear cuff, that earned the admiration of many for being a homage to the Philippine flag.

Diaz, the first Miss Universe, commended Gray’s advocacy

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Sotto: No need to legalize medical marijuana because it’s already legal

by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

Senate President Vicente Sotto Inquirer.net photo

MANILA—There is no need to legalize medical marijuana because it is already legal, Senate President Vicente Sotto said on Tuesday, December 18.

“Hindi kailangan [i-legalize] eh kasi allowed already,” Sotto told reporters in a press conference.

Sotto argued that there is a provision under the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, of which he was the principal au-

thor, that allows the use of medical marijuana for “compassionate use.”

He also cited a Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) compassionate special permit circular that allows access to drugs and medicines that are not registered in the Philippines for compassionate use, noting that it is the physician’s responsibility to apply for the substance permit from FDA. “In other words, in the Dangerous Drugs Act, combined with the FDA circular, we have a

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Philippines moves up to 8th in gender gap ranking Meanwhile, the following countries in East Asia and the Pacific region were behind the THE Philippines climbed two Philippines: Lao People’s Demoplaces to reach the eighth spot cratic Republic (26th), Australia out of 149 countries in this year’s (39th), Mongolia (58th), SinGlobal Gender Gap Report of the gapore (67th), Thailand (73rd), World Economic Forum.

Vietnam (77th), Indonesia (85th) The WEF index showed the and Myanmar (88th).

Philippines, which placed eighth In terms of the overall index, this year from 10th in 2017, was Iceland remained the world’s the second highest ranked coun- most gender-equal country as it try in the East Asia and the Pa- topped the list. cific.

This was followed by Norway Within the East Asia and the in second place and Sweden in Pacific region, New Zealand third, while Finland and Nicara(sixth) was ahead of the Philip- gua ranked fourth and fifth, repines. spectively.

Philstar.com photo

by LOUELLA

MELISSA Ramoso was sworn into the Artesia City Council as the only woman and Fil-Am councilmember on Monday, December 10, after receiving over 1,700 votes during the election period.

“I am grateful and extremely humbled that 1,762 voters cast their ballot in favor of me, for me to be seated before you today,” said Ramoso.

She is now also the city’s youngest councilmember and will serve a four-year term.

“I may be the youngest to sit at the dais, but I’m not here to play. I’m here to work hard and serve,” she said, briefly mentioning that her first office hours at City Hall will be on Decem- According to this year’s Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic ber 21st from 2 to 4 p.m.

Forum, the Philippines was the second highest ranked country in the East

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FOURTH FILIPINA MISS UNIVERSE. Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters crowns Miss Philippines Catriona Gray as her successor at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, December 17.

Photo courtesy of Miss Universe Organization

Asia and the Pacific.

DESIDERIO Philstar.com

Yemen was at the bottom of the list at 149th spot.

The WEF’s Global Gender Gap report seeks to measure the relative gaps between women and men across four key areas: health, education, economy and politics.

In the health and survival pillar, the Philippines saw its ranking drop to 42nd place from 36th last year.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ ranking improved to 14th place in the economic participation and opportunity pillar this year from the previous year’s 25th place.

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Sotto: No need to legalize medical...

PAGE A1 compassionate use provision. It’s allowed already,” Sotto said.

Under the RA 9165 Sec. 2, the government must aim to achieve a “balance in the national control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.”

Sotto also cited an FDA report last Oct. 2017, which reported that the agency received a total of 585 applications for the special permit as of September 2017, 583 of which were granted. In 2016, 558 of 565 applications were approved.

The Senate President’s reaction came amid Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s answer when she entered the Top 10,

From the Front Page

saying that she supports the use of medical marijuana when she was asked on her stance on the legalization of the drug.

The Senate President said that it is just a “matter of information campaign” because many people who are calling for the legalization of medical marijuana do not know this provision.

However, he insisted that there is no need for an intensified information campaign for this provision because those who need the drug for medical purposes are already in the know.

“Nakita mo naman maraming may alam eh lalo na yung may sakit. Alam nila. Kasi ang daming nag-aapply so ‘yung may mga medical problem, alam nila at binibigyan sila ng mga permit ng mga doktor nila,” Sotto said. “‘Yung mga hindi alam kasi o yung ibang nagsasabi na dapat ilegalize yan, hithit ang gusto eh.

Hindi naman cannabis oil ang DAWN MASS. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as the Baclaran Church, is all lit up for the first dawn mass held on Sunday, December 16. To Filipinos, the dawn mass is the signal that Christmas is near.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada gusto eh,” he added. n

DOT gives up...

PAGE A1 get as some of the foreign visitors canceled altogether.

Bengzon said it should be understandable for the DOT to miss its target as Boracay generates the lion’s share of the country’s tourism revenue.

“I think people have to understand that Boracay is such an important and popular destination, which generates 80,000 [tourists] per month. If you multiply it by 6 which is the number of months it was rehabilitated, then you’re talking of approximately 500,000 that we lost. People have to understand the situation when we start talking whether or not we do not reach 7.4 [million],” he explained.

Boracay was closed last April for rehabilitation due to high counts of coliform and numerous other environmental issues.

The DOT, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are also eyeing the rehabilitation of El Nido, Bohol and Siargao.

Puyat, however, assured that the islands would not be totally closed, saying only those that violated environmental laws and ordinances would be shut-down. n

Duterte talks tough, but...

PAGE A1

er would also apply to those in the church. You use the pulpit for bullying people, then it’s the same,” Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday when asked to react to Tagle’s remark.

“If the message is in the generic or general term, then I agree.

You cannot be using power to bully or to coerce people. The president is against that too,” he added.

Asked to explain what the president does, Panelo said: “He expresses his sentiment on a particular matter, situation.

He expresses dislike and he explains it.”

“He threatens criminals, yes.

To make them feel threatened and stop doing their criminal acts,” he added.

During his second State of

the Nation Address (SONA) last year, Duterte admitted being a “bully” to the enemies of the state.

“To the left, I will not talk to you. Why should I?” Duterte said, referring to communist rebels.

“They accused me of being a bully. That’s true. I said I’m a bully to the enemies of the state.

If you don’t want to talk to me, I don’t want to talk to you,” he added.

During a homily at the Manila Cathedral last Sunday, December 16, Tagle reminded the faithful not to bully anyone and not to use their power to disrespect or coerce others.

Tagle said the one who uses power to belittle his fellow man is “the one who is most afraid and insecure.”

Quoting St. Paul, the apostle who spread the teachings of Jesus to non-Jews, Tagle said the secret to happiness is not belittling other people.

Tagle did not mention names during his homily but his remark came after Duterte hurled a series of tirades against the Catholic Church, to which more than 80 percent of Filipinos belongs.

Duterte, who claimed to believe in God but not in religion, has called the Church “the most hypocritical institution” for its supposed failure to stop the sexual abuses of priests. He has also accused a bishop of amassing wealth at the expense of parishioners and has claimed that about 80 percent of priests are gay, allegations that remain unsubstantiated. n

Philippines moves up to 8th in...

PAGE A1 “It manages to narrow its economic participation and opportunity gender gap due to increases in wage equality for similar work and women’s estimated earned income,” the WEF said.

As for the educational attainment pillar, the Philippines maintained its top position.

It likewise held on to the 13th spot in the political empowerment pillar.

Apart from looking at the

gaps in the four key areas, the index also seeks to identify potential role models by showing which countries are leading in terms of distributing resources equitably between women and men. n

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A

Filipina Miss Universe titleholders celebrate... Potential armed conflict in South China PAGE A1 for the children in her interview with radio station DZMM. she also suggested that the new titleholder should pursue a modeling career outside the country since she has the potential to thrive in that industry. “in my opinion, if New York offers her to become a model and she has the discipline, she should go for it. she should go international and be a model and be in the biggest modeling agency. And siyempre (of course) visit us so often because the philippines is very proud of her,” Diaz said.

Moran, in her interview with Abs-CbN News Channel, welcomed Gray to the roster of Miss Universe winners. she praised the young queen for inspiring the Filipinos. “she was excellent but in the end, she nailed it in her answer [to] the final question. she really nailed it. she did very well. i think she was well prepared. she was enthusiastic; whatever she answered, she answered it well and complete. she prepared for it,” Moran said.

Miss Universe 2015 pia Wurtzbach, who was personally present to witness Gray’s victory enthusiastically, described how the reigning queen proudly represented the philippines in the pageant.

“You started strong and captured our hearts with your grace, commitment and fearlessness!

And that walk. How could anyone forget that walk? Now, you’ve conquered the Universe! This is just the beginning. Congratulations, Miss Universe 2018. You have made us all proud! Raise your flag!” Wurtzbach said.

During the final question portion, Gray was asked about her most important life lesson and how would she apply it to her time as Miss Universe. “i work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is poor and very sad. And i’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty of it and look in the beauty of the faces of the children and to be grateful,” Gray said. she added, “And i will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where i could give something, where i could provide something as a spokesperson. And this, i think if i can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world

Sea among top US concerns in 2019

by Frances

G. ManGosinG Inquirer.net

A possible armed confrontation over the disputed maritime areas in the south China sea is on the top list of security threats concerning the United states in the coming year, according to an annual survey of U.s. foreign policy experts.

An assessment conducted by the Center for preventive Action of the Council on Foreign Relations, a U.s.-based independent think tank, said a potential conflict between China and one or more southeast Asian claimants (brunei, Malaysia, philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam) was the only “top tier” priority involving China despite the growing geopolitical rivalry between U.s. and China.

The survey released on Tuesday said the likelihood of the conflict would be “moderate,” which means it has an even chance of occurring in 2019. but the impact of this would be “high” on U.s. interests, however. This means “the contingency directly threatens the U.s. homeland, a defense treaty ally, or a vital strategic interest, and, thus,

Official headshot of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Photo courtesy of Miss Universe Organization

where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have smiles on their faces.”

More than just the crown As the whole country celebrates the win of the newlycrowned Miss Universe 2018, Filipinos begin to wonder what lies in store for the 24-year-old reigning queen as she proceeds to her post-pageant life. pride and honor are not the only things that she bagged for the philippines. Aside from the iconic rising phoenix crown bearing over 100 pearls by Mikimoto & Company, ltd.; the Miss Universe organization (MUo) granted Gray with tons of other perks and prizes throughout her reign.

With the crown and title, Gray will receive a year-long salary just for being Miss Universe. she will be provided with luxury accommodations in a New York City apartment for the duration of her reign — including living expenses.

Her clothing and cosmetic needs will be well taken care of as she will be supplied with a year’s worth of beauty products, such as skin and health care essentials. Chinese laundry will also grant her with a full shoe wardrobe in her year as Miss Universe. opportunities will flood the Filipino-Australian queen as she struts to various events including casting opportunities, movie premiers, screenings, broadway shows and launch parties. Her entire look will be styled by the official MUo fashion stylist and a modeling portfolio will be organized for her by leading fashion photographers.

“Through the organization, the winner is provided a platform for possibility based on her objectives for the year.

Alongside The Miss Universe organization, she will plan how to achieve her goals on the national and global scale,” the MUo said in a statement. n

is likely to trigger a major U.s. military response.”

While a non-claimant in the south China sea, the U.s. has expressed concern over China’s militarization of the disputed features. it also regularly sends its warships for freedom of navigation operations to challenge China’s massive maritime claims.

The U.s. is the philippines’ oldest treaty ally but has remained vague if it would defend the latter when push comes to shove in the disputed features.

The philippines and the U.s. are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty, signed on Aug. 30, 1951, which calls for both states to come to each other’s defense against an armed attack. but the U.s. commitment to defend the philippines if the attack involves disputed territories has persistently raised doubts in recent years.

“We’d like to avoid hypotheticals — what if this happens, what if that happens. in general, our alliance is ironclad and we are committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty and in protecting our treaty ally the philippines in ensuring its sovereignty isn’t threatened,” Dr.

Joseph Felter, U.s. Deputy Assistant secretary of Defense for south and southeast Asia, told journalists last week when asked if the U.s. would come to the aid of the philippines in case of conflict in areas involving the disputed features in the West philippine sea.

The rest of the Tier 1 security concerns in the survey include: a highly disruptive cyberattack on U.s. critical infrastructure and networks; renewed tensions on the Korean peninsula following a collapse of the denuclearization negotiations; and an armed confrontation between iran and the U.s. or one of its allies over iran’s involvement in regional conflicts and support of militant proxy groups.

The annual preventive priorities survey produced a list of top 30 contingencies and assessed each in terms of its likelihood and potential impact on U.s. interests. The results were sorted into three tiers of relative priority for preventive action.

About 500 U.s. government officials, foreign policy experts, and academics were respondents to the survey conducted in early November 2018. n

Health care is where the jobs are: But what kind of jobs? by rachel

Bluth Kaiser Health News

MoRe Americans are now employed in health care than in any other industry.

The bureau of labor statistics, which tallies job creation, says that for most of this year the health sector outpaced the retail industry. only government, on all levels, employs more people. one of the consistent features of the bls reports is that health care has reliably added thousands of jobs to the economy each month.

November was no different.

The health care industry created 32,000 jobs, adding to the 328,000 health care positions created since early 2017. but what kinds of jobs? Were they highly paid doctors and hospital executives or were they positions on the other end of the pay scale, such as nursing home aides and the people who enter data for billing in hospitals and clinics? it’s hard to know for sure, because the bls monthly data mea-

sure industries not occupations and what information it does have on occupations is overly broad. For instance, it says hospitals accounted for about 13,000 jobs in November. Another 19,000 jobs were for “ambulatory” care, which is a broad term for services delivered outside of hospital systems, like in clinics and private doctors’ offices. but another set of bls data offers additional insights. every two years, bls puts out a wonky set of numbers called “industry-occupation matrices,” which more finely slices job categories and predicts which will grow or shrink over the next 10 years.

The most recent, from 2016, still provides a pretty accurate snapshot, according to Joanne spetz, a professor at the University of California-san Francisco’s institute for Health policy studies.

Registered nurses are the fastest-growing occupation. They account for more than 25 percent of jobs in hospitals. if that share remained the same last

month, 3,289 of the new hospital jobs added in November went to RNs. Healthy growth The federal government projects that many patient-facing jobs in the health care industry will continue to grow vigorously, but not jobs inputting patient information. it’s likely that many of the hospital jobs went to medical assistants, who currently make up only 1.5 percent of the industry.

Medical assistants are usually the people taking your vitals and helping the doctor take notes.

The bls expects about a 16 percent increase in these jobs in the next decade.

“There will be a fair amount of growth in physician and surgeon employment in the next decade, but so many more medical assistants than physicians,” spetz said.

The national median pay of a registered nurse is $70,000 a year, according to more bls data. For medical assistants, it is PAGE A4

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Mayor Garcetti announces record investment for LA’s ‘GEAR UP’ college readiness program At nearly $78 million, the GEAR UP grants are the largest Los Angeles has ever received to support youth in underserved communities MAyOR Eric Garcetti announced last Tuesday, December 12, a $77.8 million grant to offer free tutoring, college and career counseling, financial aid advice, and other college readiness services to more than 14,000 students in over 60 schools and academies across Los Angeles.

The awards — part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) — are the largest received by Los Angeles since the initiative was first authorized by Congress in 1998.

These investments will support a broad coalition of 30 educational institutions and college access organizations, including the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the youth Policy Institute with Bright Star Schools, and nine local colleges and universities.

“A child’s zip code should never be a barrier to the dream of a college education, and GEAR UP helps put that goal in reach for thousands of young Angelenos,” said Garcetti. “With this year’s record-breaking grants, students across our City will receive the guidance and support they need to get into college, earn their de-

grees, and chart their course into the middle class.”

“Thanks to this grant, over 14,000 students will benefit from direct support that will help them navigate the process of applying for college and preparing for success once they enroll,” said LA Unified Board Representative Kelly Gonez. “At LA Unified, we know that it’s not enough to get our students to the high school graduation stage — we need to ensure our students are prepared to succeed in college and careers.”

“Reach students where they are, treat their schools as extensions of their communities, offer them the tools to succeed and they will shine,” said Dixon Slingerland, president and CEO of the youth Policy Institute, which together with BrightStar will provide college counseling services and other academic supports through the GEAR UP grant, in addition to administering the grant overall. “Across Los Angeles, students in GEAR UP classes consistently demonstrate dramatic test score gains. With this grant, we’re proud to add another college-bound cohort to the thousands of kids who know that when they see obstacles on

the path to success, there are helping hands to clear the way.”

Garcetti has made expanding opportunity for the city’s most vulnerable young people a top priority since taking office, with a core focus on connecting underserved families to higher learning and job opportunities, and ensuring every Angeleno has access to a college education.

To that end, in 2016, he launched the LA College Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free community college to LAUSD graduates. Since its inception, more than 9,000 students have enrolled in classes, and California is using the City’s success as a model to expand free community college statewide.

The mayor has also expanded the LA’s Best after school program to provide summer activities and education to 1,000 additional elementary aged students.

He’s tripled participation in the Hire LA’s youth initiative, opening doors to paid professional experience for 17,000 high school and college students, and launched the FamilySource College Corners, 16 of which are in operation, to offer college application assistance to students and their parents. n

Melissa Ramoso gets sworn in by outgoing CA State Treasurer John Chiang on Monday, December 10 at Artesia City Hall.

AJPress photos by Mark Xavier Bautista

Melissa Ramoso sworn in as only woman...

PAGE A1 Prior to Ramoso’s election, FilAm Victor Manalo had served on the city council since 2007. He ran for re-election during this cycle, but failed to make it to the top three.

Among Ramoso’s most immediate goals for herself as a councilmember is to be well-informed of all the projects and what the city processes are so she will be well prepared to answer and find solutions for Artesia’s residents, she said.

“I’m reading through my city’s finances, project plans and even city codes,” Ramoso told the Asian Journal. “I will be making my rounds with residents again so I can make sure I address their concerns from when I was on the campaign trail.”

She added that listening to residents and being their voice is one thing she is most looking forward to as a councilmember.

“I’ve been in public service for over 14 years and now I can make a greater impact as an elected official. The city has [the] ability to grow especially with an incoming rail system,” she said, referring to the new light rail route soon to connect Artesia and Downtown Los Angeles.

“Being able to prepare and plan for possibilities is exciting. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for my city’s future,” added Ramoso.

Councilwoman in the making At her swearing-in ceremony, Ramoso shared with attendees how her interest in politics started young when she was just 6 years old, and how it was something family members were fully aware of.

“My grandfather told me that GOODIES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. Miss Philippines 2018 candidates assisted by QCPD personnel distribute bags of goodies to over 200 indigenous President George H.W. Bush liked people during the “QCPD District Director’s Gift Giving and Feeding Program for the Indigenous People/ Mendicants” on the corners and streets broccoli just like me. Last week at Camp Tomas Karingal covered court in Quezon City on Monday, December 17.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon in President George W. Bush’s eulogy, I found out that he actually didn’t like it,” said Ramoso jokingly.

She said it was from that conversation with her grandfather that she realized he either wanted to make sure she ate her vegetables, or wanted to pique her interest in government.

“It was both,” said Ramoso. “And

Ramoso (center) with her family members (L-R) Flordeliza Ramoso, Angelito Ramoso, Xavier Delatorre, George Aloupas, Trixie Ramoso, Brian Delatorre, Liam Revilla, Monica Revilla and Jerome Revilla following her swearing-in ceremony on Monday, December 10.

it was the start of many political conversations for years to come and countless letters he’d share with me which he had written to U.S. Senators and elected officials.”

She added that her passion also came from coming from a long line of public servants: a grandfather who was a teacher and WWII veteran, her mother and father who were former government workers and are also veterans, and her grandmother who was a former librarian and teacher before being dubbed the Mayor at the Norwalk and Cerritos Senior Centers due to her long pontifications.

“As millennials call it today, she was my ‘spirit animal,’” Ramoso said of her grandmother.

Of her journey to being elected councilmember, she said this election was unlike any she’s experienced in her government career leading up to her win.

“Voters would slam a door in my face, not want to shake my hand, give me a hard time and then tell me they went in another direction with their vote after the fact, or because I was a woman. I was not even approved membership to exclusive closed Facebook groups of Artesia residents,” said Ramoso.

She continued, “Regardless of what I went through, I will be a councilmember for all Artesians. Respect should always be given with no political

boundaries. I will listen to you.

I will help you find solutions and implement them. I will always inform you of what is happening in our city. I will keep you safe.”

Born in neighboring Downey, Ramoso has long been a local to the area and received her education from the ABC Unified School District’s Richard Gahr High School before going to the University of California, Irvine for her undergrad.

To those who witnessed her being sworn into office, she expressed gratitude to her mother and grandfather for having brought her to Artesia almost every weekend as a young child. There, they would walk from one plaza to the next, giving her a chance to learn about her culture and other cultures through food and small business which she called the “backbone to our local economy.”

On what it means to be elected the only woman and Fil-Am on the Artesia city council, Ramoso called it a tremendous honor.

“I have a big responsibility and I should serve with dignity and grace,” Ramoso told the Asian Journal. “Regardless of being a woman or not, I will have to have tough skin to be an elected official. My father told that I need to do what is right and I promise to do that, so I honor my family and the Filipino-American community.”(Rae Ann Varona/ AJPress)

But the idea that hospitals and doctors’ offices are hiring only lower-paid support staff might be overblown. The BLS figures “health care practitioners and technical occupations” still make up more than 37 percent of the ambulatory industry, and “health diagnosing and treating practitioners” are almost 23 percent.

So nearly 70 percent of ambulatory hires last month were probably physicians or other skilled professionals like registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers and personal care aides.

“What we have seen over the past couple years is with the job growth in health it is not dominated by back office,” said Ani Turner, an economist who focuses on health sector labor trends with Altarum, a nonprofit health research and consulting organization.

Another thing hiding in the numbers? A dissipating distinction between ambulatory and

hospital care. Traditionally, hospital jobs were pretty straightforward; they referred to the doctors, nurses and support staff who worked in hospitals.

But as business models shift, more care is given outside of hospital walls, something not reflected in employment numbers that split health into two distinct categories. Employees who staff the clinics, surgery centers, labs and imaging centers run by hospitals are counted as hospital staff, Turner said, though they work in outpatient settings.

So those 13,000 new hospital jobs the BLS cited last month may not reflect real-world trends about where hiring happens.

“Whether in physicians’ offices, free-standing clinics or hospital outpatient clinics, you’ll see it as the two separate settings, but the same trend,” Turner said.

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

Health care is where the jobs are: But what...

PAGE A3 $32,480. Doctors’ median pay is more than $200,000.

Far more of those medical assistants found work outside the hospital in the ambulatory sector: almost 1,300.

There is also a good chance that in these ambulatory settings many of the newly created jobs were filled by non-medical staff.

As of 2016, fewer than 30 percent of staff in ambulatory settings were workers whom Spetz calls “paper pushers.” If the trend held up, around 5,700 of the hires in November, or 30 percent of ambulatory jobs, fall into these categories. These jobs can pay as much as medical assistants. The BLS says the median income of “medical record and health information technicians” is about $39,000 a year. BLS is predicting around a 20 percent increase in “information and record clerks” and another 22 percent increase in “secretaries and administrative assistants.”

Duterte thanks US for returning...

PAGE A1 He also said that the return of the bells was possible due to “several efforts made by both Americans and the Philippines” and that no one should take credit for the return of the bells, not even him, because it was the voice of the Filipino people especially the people of Balangiga, that convinced the U.S. to return them.

“Let me be very clear on this: There are some who are front loaders and pedantic in the government. The bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation,” Duterte said.

“But nobody can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans. The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people. Period,” he added.

‘Vibrant’ U.S.-Philippines relations According to Duterte, the homecoming of the artifacts was “truly a milestone and part of a meaningful history of the United States

and the Philippines,” a vibrant chapter in the Philippine-U.S. bilateral relations.

Used to signal a historic siege during the Philippine-American War in 1901, where Filipinos killed 48 out of 74 U.S. troops, the Balangiga bells were taken as war trophies when the American forces led the Balangiga Massacre, where about 2,500 Filipinos were killed.

Duterte said the bells’ return is a “restoration of Filipinos’ dignity.”

“I am sure that our ancestors are celebrating with us here on this remarkable victory. And that it does not only bring back the glory of the town, but also contributes to the full restoration of our dignity as a Filipino,” he said.

Long wait is over Duterte was not the first president to ask Washington to return the Balangiga bells, as reported

by Rappler. Then-president Fidel Ramos in 1994 requested the same from his U.S. counterpart,

Bill Clinton, but to no avail.

In 2014, an online petition signed by more than 3,000 people also urged the U.S. to return the Balangiga Bells. However, thenU.S. president Barack Obama made no mention of the matter when he visited the Philippines that year.

Duterte first demanded the bells’ return during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2017 in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim. “We know fully well that several efforts have been made by both Americans and the Philippines.

It is really indeed a long and tedious process to the point that the outcome was disappointing sometimes, but the long wait is over,” Duterte on Saturday said.

The Balangiga bells finally arrived home in December 11, after making a stopover in Okinawa, Japan, where the two bells in Wyoming, and the bell in South Korea were reunited. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Drilon uncovers P16-B ‘pork’ in 2019 budget

by Bernadette

tamayo ManilaTimes.net

PAMPANGA’S UNIQUE LANTERN CRAFTMANSHIP. A strange giant lantern draws passersby in front of the Heroes Hall building in San Fernando City in Pampanga during the Giant Lantern Festival 2018 on Saturday, December 15.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Void Bangsamoro law, Supreme Court urged in 2001.

Only an amendment to the Constitution will allow the creation of A GROUP of constitutionalists a new autonomous region, Philand framers of the 1987 Constitu- consa said.

Political participation through tion have petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the Bangsamoro the ARMM was part of the 1996 Organic Law (BOL), which grants final peace agreement between wider autonomy to Muslim Min- the government and the Moro danao, illegal and unconstitu- National Liberation Front, from which the MILF broke away. tional.

The BOL needs to go through a In a 37-page petition filed on Dec. 11, 2018, the Philippine plebiscite before it is implementConstitution Association (Phil- ed, and there will be two days of consa) assailed the legality of voting in January and February Republic Act (RA) 11054 or the 2019.

Violation of separation of BOL, which forms the Bangsamoro Autonomous powers Philconsa’s arguments are Region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindan- similar to those raised by the ao (ARMM) as a result of a 2014 Province of Sulu, through Gov. peace deal with the Moro Islamic Abdusakur Tan 2nd, in October.

It said establishing a parliaLiberation Front (MILF).

Philconsa, represented by law- mentary form of government in yer Manuel Lazaro, is recognized the BAR would violate the docby the high court as an expert on trine of separation of powers enconstitutional issues impressed shrined in the Constitution. “[A]ny exercise of power of the with public interest or of tranlegislative and the executive descendental importance.

The association pointed out partments or any of their respecthat the BOL violates Section 18 tive functionaries beyond what is and 19 of Article X of the 1987 circumscribed by the ConstituConstitution, which, it argued, tion and law is unconstitutional, authorized the enactment of and a nullity,” the Philconsa petionly one organic act for Muslim tion stated.

It also cited the deliberations Mindanao, RA 6734 passed in 1989 and amended by RA 9054 of the Constitutional Commission

by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

Manuel Lazaro

ManilaTimes.net photo

that drafted the 1987 Constitution, which it said was crystal clear that the ARMM and the Cordilleras are the only autonomous regions recognized by the Charter.

“It is indubitable the ARMM and the Cordilleras were created by the Constitution. They are the only autonomous regions recognized by the Constitution. The [BAR] was created by Congress in violation of the Constitution,” it said.

“In light of the language of Article X of the Constitution and the clarifications [that commission delegates] Fr. Joaquin Bernas and Blas Ople elicited, it is submitted that: (a) A Constitutional amendment is the only way to create a new and distinct autonomous region, such as the PAGE A7

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon discovered over P16 billion lump sum appropriation supposedly to assist local government units (LGUs) in the P3.7 trillion national budget.

However, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) tasked to assist LGUs disowned the fund, claiming no knowledge on how the money would be implemented, Drilon said.

In his budget interpellation, Drilon zeroed in on the huge increase in a lump-sum appropriation called Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which was given a budget of P40.26 billion for next year, up by P8.8 billion this year.

The fund was supposed to be used for assistance to municipalities, P11.7 billion; assistance to cities, P2.6 billion; other financial assistance to LGUs, P16.18 billion; and conditional matching

grant to provinces, P8.2 billion.

Drilon has asked the DILG to explain the nature of the huge lump-sum funds.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, who defended the DILG’s budget, confirmed that the agency had nothing to do with the implementation of the P16.18 billion other financial assistance to LGUs. “This is quite a sizeable sum of money. This assistance to LGUs is a mandate of the DILG. But now you’re saying the DILG has nothing to do with these funds?”

Drilon said.

“This budget is full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Each day we discover something new.

Hence, the Senate should intensify its scrutiny of the spending bill,” he added.

The senator said the DILG’s admission that it was not aware of the P16 billion earmarked for LGU assistance only reinforces doubts about the budget.

He said that the P16 billion should instead be used to aug-

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon ManilaTimes.net photo

ment the budget of the Department of Health.

“If the DILG had nothing to do with this item, we will move that we give it to the Department of Health, because, certainly, our 900 rural health units should have the highest priority in the budget,” Drilon said. n

A6 DECEMBER 19-21, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Spectacular

FEATURES

IN a word, Miss Philippines Catriona Gray was “spectacular” at the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand this year. It was no surprise to anyone that she ran off with the much-coveted crown. She was amazing throughout the week of competition in “Amazing Thailand.”

First, Catriona is truly a sight to behold in her statuesque 5’10” frame. And in her good looks, she appears to have distilled the best qualities from her mixed parentage (a Filipino mother and an Australian father).

Second, she showed great flair in walking the ramp. She executes a slow-motion twirl at the apex of her walk, which leaves audiences gasping.

Early in the pageant, when she did the twirl, she established herself as a crowd favorite. Supermodel Tyra Banks expressed her awe of her.

During coronation night, Catriona once again did her signature twirl. This prompted pageant commentator Carson Kressley to exclaim in admiration: “Oh wow, a slow-mo turn! And then she goes on into giving us great face that great attitude. She’s killing the game here.”

Third, Catriona is highly quotable, probably more so than most Filipino politicians. At the Miss Universe pageant she answered many questions with intelligence, poise and a little wit.

In the finals, she was asked what is the most important lesson she’s learned in her life. She replied: “I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is very…poor and it’s very sad. And I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty in it… As a spokesperson, if I could teach

people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children could have a smile on their faces.”

During the Top 5 Q&A, she was asked her thoughts about the legalization of medical marijuana. She said: “I am for it being used in a medical use, but not so for recreational use because I think if people were to argue, what about alcohol and cigarettes?

Everything is good but in moderation.”

The totality of her feat at the Miss Universe pageant reflects her varied background, education and training. She was born in Queensland, Australia. She studied at the Trinity Anglican School in Queensland. She earned a certificate in music theory from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In addition, she obtained a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation and a black belt in the martial art of choi kwang do.

Finally, this young lady can sing. She was the lead singer of her school’s jazz band, and starred in a local production of “Miss Saigon.”

What kind of ambassador will Catriona be for the Philippines and the Miss Universe beauty pageant? She will be remarkable. She will turn heads and win admirers even without executing her signature slo-mo twirl. (ManilaTimes.net)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

Trump embroiled in a growing web of investigations and legal cases: What’s next for the president and the US?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s quotable soundbites during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections campaign trail as compiled by TIME: “She’s likely to be under investigation for criminality for a very, very long time to come,” Trump said during an Oct. 31, 2016 speech in Warren, Michigan.

“We’re going to be tied up in court for the rest of our lives with this deal,” he added, referring to if Clinton were elected.

“She’s not going to win the election, but I’m just saying. If Hillary is elected, she will be under protracted criminal investigation likely followed by the trial of a sitting president. This is just what we need.”

Two days ahead of the election on Nov. 5, 2016, Trump said Clinton’s “current scandals and controversies will continue

throughout her presidency” and it would be “impossible for her to govern.”

FAST FORWARD to the present time. These are the FACTS: President Donald Trump is now embroiled in several investigations and lawsuits and all of these stem from his lies and cover-ups to the American people and institutions, his attack on the rule of law, and his sleeping with the enemies of the United States, as he projects all of these transgressions to his political opponents and democratic institutions, including the news media, the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, and other members of the U.S. intelligence community.

Last week, the results of independent investigations have proven that from his denials and lack of knowledge about his affairs, testimonies under oath and corroborating evidence point out Trump actually had

knowledge of and directed the payment of hush money to cover up his affairs just before the 2016 election.

Furthermore, from the denials of his campaign’s communication and business ties with Russia, the Mueller probe has now proven that at least 16 of his team had in fact been in correspondence, meetings and even, deals with Russia.

After Mueller’s 18-month-old airtight and methodical investigation — which has led to charges against 32 people including 26 Russians, with four aides to Trump have pleaded guilty to various charges — the Special Counsel this week has released three important filings, sentencing three of these people in the Trump orbit — Trump’s ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, and Trump’s former attorney and fixer Michale Cohen.

The Mueller probe that investigates on the alleged conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign to help Trump win is far from over, contrary to Trump’s incessant chanting of “No collusion.”

THIS WEEK, just on Tuesday, December 18, CNN and all other news media reported that the Donald J. Trump Foundation has agreed to dissolve under judicial supervision amid an ongoing lawsuit concerning its finances, according to a document filed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court by the New York state Attorney General’s office.”

The dissolution of Trump’s charitable foundation resolves one element of the attorney general’s civil lawsuit against the foundation, and as CNN reported, this includes claims that the president and his three eldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric — all violated campaign-finance laws and abused its tax-

exempt status.

Rather than operating it as a genuine charity as it pretends to be, the lawsuit alleges that Trump and his family allowed it to be used “as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests.”

This agreement to dissolve also allows the attorney general’s office to review the recipients of the charity’s assets. The foundation’s most recent tax return listed its net assets at slightly more than $1.7 million.

The closure of Trump’s “charitable foundation” is but part of the growing web of criminal and other investigations touching almost every nooks and crannies of Trump’s business and political operations, including but not limited to his presidential campaign, his inauguration committee and his family real estate business.

As this reality show drama un-

folds starring the President of the United States, will you continue to wear your MAGA spectacles that allows you to view the universe only according to Trump’s narrative?

Are you just going to beca spectator, grab a bag of popcorn and view this as an entertainment show?

OR, will you now be part of the enlightened citizenry that should now be demanding accountability from our elected officials, especially from the 45th President of the United States and his cohorts?

We deserve the government that we elect, tolerate, and condone. *** 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

Is martial law extension constitutionally justified?

At Ground Level SATUR C. OCAMPO UPON President Rodrigo Duterte’s behest, the Senate and the House in joint session voted to again extend martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao. This third extension will remain until December 31, 2019. The vote was 235 yes, 28 no, 1 abstention.

No doubting the overwhelming “yes” vote. What lingers disquietingly, however, is the question whether the extension complies with the provision of the 1987 Constitution, specifically Section 18 of Article VII (Executive Department).

Essentially Section 18 says the President may, “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it,” suspend the privilege of the writ or place the Philippines “or any part thereof under martial law.” It requires the President to submit a report in person or in writing to Congress within 48 hours. Voting jointly by at least a majority of all its members, Congress may approve or revoke his proclamation. Upon the president’s initiative, Congress may, in the same manner, extend such a proclamation for a

period it shall determine – “if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

Section 18 also says the Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by a citizen, “the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation… and must promulgate its decision thereon within thirty days from its filing.”

Through Proclamation 216, Duterte originally declared martial law and suspended the writ privilege for 60 days on May 23, 2017, in the wake of the “siege of Marawi” by the combined forces of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf extremist groups. The proclamation denoted the siege as a “rebellion” to comply with the constitutional requirement, and Congress and the Supreme Court both approved it.

With Congressional approval, the period was first extended for six months until end-December 2017. Although the Marawi siege had been quelled by October, the security forces recommended a second extension, for one year, citing various justifications that didn’t seem to accord with Section 18. However, the extension easily sailed through Congress and was again upheld by the Supreme Court.

In his letter-request to Congress, dated last December 6, Duterte wrote:

“A further extension of the implementation of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will enable the AFP, the PNP, and all the other lawenforcement agencies to fully put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country.”

He said that during the extended martial law period in Mindanao, “we have achieved significant progress in putting the rebellion under control, ushering in substantial economic gains.” Despite these gains, he noted, the security assessment submitted by the AFP and the PNP highlights “certain essential facts which indicate that rebellion still persists in Mindanao and that public safety requires the continuation of martial law in the whole of Mindanao.”

For instance, he said the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Daulah Islamiyah (former Maute group) and other groups which “seek to promote global rebellion” continue to defy the government by perpetrating hostile activities. He mentioned four bombing incidents during the extended period of martial law. Duterte also cited “342 violent incidents” alleged by the AFP to have been carried out by

the CPP-NPA and the continuing kidnap-for-ransom activities of the ASG. All of these, he said, “merely illustrate in general terms the continuing rebellion in Mindanao.”

He promised to submit “a more detailed report on the subsisting rebellion in the next few days.”

Doesn’t this statement suggest that the indicators Duterte cited are insufficient to establish an actual rebellion threatening public safety? Yet, without waiting for the “detailed report,” Congress approved the requested extension.

Based on their statements to the press, the chiefs of the AFP and the PNP however seem to have different takes on the martial-law extension: Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the new AFP chief, vows stricter implementation of the extended martial law “to prevent another Marawi.” For his part, PNP director-general Oscar Albayalde says the extension will assure the people of Mindanao another full year of peace and security against the “imminent threat of violence from extremist and communist terrorist forces.”

Note that both officials point, not to actual or ongoing rebellion, but to potential or imminent threats of violence, which no longer justify martial law declaration.

Come now Sen. Franklin Drilon and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who voted “No” to the extension, citing its lack of factual and constitutional basis. Their insights as seasoned lawyerlegislators should be given due consideration, along with Sen. Chiz Escudero’s credible assertion that Mindanao achieved economic growth “not because of martial law but because of (the Duterte administration’s) allocation of resources where Mindanao got bigger attention.”

Martial law, Escudero stressed, “cannot be the new normal for Mindanao.”

Drilon insisted that “there is no actual rebellion or armed uprising in Mindanao which can justify the declaration of martial law” in that part of the country.

He revealed that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, during the closed-door security briefing for senators last Monday, had described the martial-law extension as “a psychological war, to quell an armed uprising.” He also recalled that the AFP had classified the local terrorist groups as merely “a peace and order problem today.”

Likening martial law to antibiotics, Drilon said these are “resorted to only when ordinary over-the-counter drugs have ceased to work.” Unlimited resort to such powerful medicine,

he added, “desensitizes the body and eventually no longer becomes effective in providing the protection that it was designed to give.”

Presumably recalling what he heard at the closed-door security briefing for House members Tuesday, Lagman also averred there are no constitutional and factual bases for the extension.

He concluded rebellion does not persist in Mindanao and public safety is not imperilled.

“An extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” he warned, “will prolong inordinately the regime of martial law to a total of 951 days [2 years and 4 months].”

This, he added, “contravenes the prescription of the 1987 Constitution delimiting the period of martial law to a short duration, since the original proclamation should not exceed 60 days.”

When Lagman and other oppositors bring the issue again to the Supreme Court, the latter should thoroughly review if this third extension is really sufficiently based on facts, beyond the security forces’ self-serving inputs. Can the people hope that the Tribunal will reconsider its ruling last year, that it has no power to review the decision of Congress granting President Duterte’s request? (Philstar. com)

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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Sotto’s solution to ‘pork’ insertions: Scrap them SENATE President Vicente C. Sotto III proposed a simple solution to the allegations of “pork” insertions in the 2019 budget bill, whether by lawmakers or by the executive branch — scrap them.

“We will just scrap it. If it’s needed, then we will put funding, if not, then we will cut,”

Sotto said on Tuesday, December 18, after Senator Panfilo M. Lacson called on fellow lawmakers to continue scrutinizing the proposed amendments to spending to stop the new practice of “parking pork” in the budget.

“We can clearly see that huge amendments were introduced by a senator, and these consist

mostly of infrastructure projects that were not consulted with the agencies,” Lacson said.

He said the finance committee chairman should have realized that these amendments could pave the way for legislators to earn kickbacks from infrastructure projects. (Jovier Joe Ismael/ ManilaTimes.net)

Void Bangsamoro law, Supreme Court...

PAGE A5 [BAR] in this case or to abolish an existing autonomous region, such as the ARMM; (b) Congress is prohibited or has no authority or jurisdiction to create other autonomous regions; (c) Congress cannot defy or supplant the ConHEARING ON THE PROPOSED CREATION OF BLISTTDA. Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, stitution; and (d) Congress canpresides over the public hearing on Senate Bill 1692 and House Bill (HB) 6974 that seek to create the Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon Sablan, Tuba and not amend the provisions of the Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA). Present during the hearing are Rep. Mark Go, principal author of HB 6974, Baguio District Engineer Rene Constitution,” it said.

Zarate, former Benguet Vice Governor Edna Tabanda and Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera listen.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo Named respondents to the case are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives headed by Senthe BOC, the Bureau of Internal shipment to a private warehouse

by Paolo RomeRo in Cavite in a subsequent raid Revenue and the Department of ate President Vicente Sotto 3rd Philstar.com but found only four empty lifters Trade and Industry for the prop- and House Speaker Gloria MacaMANILA — The Senate Blue that are now widely believed to er and accurate registration of pagal Arroyo, respectively.

The petitioners argued that Ribbon committee released on have contained more than 600 consignees.

Tuesday, December 17 its report kilos of the drugs.

It also called for the periodic on its inquiry into the alleged The committee asked the De- training of BOC x-ray operators smuggling of tons of shabu into partment of Justice, the Office of and the creation of a Customs the country, recommending the the Ombudsman and other con- academy. filing of drug charges against cerned agencies to investigate The committee also sought several government officials, im- at least 18 individuals –includ- amendments to the Customs porters and Hong Kong nation- ing former and current officials Modernization and Tariff Act to als. of the BOC, the Philippine Drug shorten the declaration of abanIn its 45-page report, the com- Enforcement Agency (PDEA), doned goods from 30 days to mittee – chaired by Sen. Richard the Philippine National Police just three days.

Gordon – also made other recom- (PNP), private importers and Meanwhile, the shabu shipmendations to help prevent drug eight Hong Kong nationals for ment from the empty magnetic smuggling through the Bureau possible filing of drug charges, lifters found in Cavite could have of Customs (BOC), including the among others. made its way to Mindanao, acelimination of “consignees-forAmong those named in the re- cording to PDEA chief Director hire,” lifestyle checks and inves- port were dismissed PNP Supt. General Aaron Aquino. tigation by the Anti-Money Laun- Eduardo Acierto; former PDEA “There was a ‘high similarity’ dering Council of those allegedly deputy director general Ismael between the illegal drugs recovinvolved in the P11-billion shabu Fajardo; former BOC intelli- ered from the first shabu shipshipment case. gence officer Jimmy Guban; con- ment at the Manila port and the The report was signed by 14 signee Marina Signapan; Karina drugs recently seized in Mindsenators, including Gordon, Cuasay; BOC agents Gorgonio anao,” Aquino said. based on several resolutions Necessario and Joseph Dimayu“This could mean that there seeking to probe corruption as ga; private importer Meg Santos; was only one source, one manuwell as drug smuggling at the BOC x-ray operator Noli Marti- facturer, the way it was produced BOC. nez; BOC appraiser Girlie Umali; was the same,” Aquino said.

The report, however, made no BOC examiner Jenaline Garcia The sample was taken from the mention of former customs chief and Hong Kong nationals KC P2.4-billion shabu stuffed inside Isidro Lapeña, under whose Chan, Hsu Chung-chun, Zhang magnetic lifters and seized at the watch an estimated ton of drugs Quan, Lin Tien Yi, Lou Tian Yi, port of Manila. contained in scrap magnetic Chen Minxuan, Fung and Ping Aquino earlier said the misslifters entered the country in Cheung James. ing drugs have “flooded” Metro two separate shipments, one of Guban was recommended by Manila. which was intercepted at the Ma- the panel to be entered into the Shabu prices dropped to about nila International Container Port government’s witness protection a third as the drug shipment that last August yielding 355 kilos of program. the authorities failed to recover the shabu.

The panel also pressed for were allegedly sold in the meAuthorities traced another closer coordination between tropolis. n

Senate seeks raps vs alleged shabu smugglers

Congress committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in passing the BOL in July.

Leonen is ponente The former government chief negotiator of the peace process with the MILF, Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen, was tasked to be the ponente or member in charge of studying the petition and drafting the ruling.

Philconsa filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition and asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order that will stop the respondents from implementing the BOL. “[U]ntil and unless a TRO or preliminary injunction is issued,

unlawful disbursements or uses of public funds pursuant to the illegal/unconstitutional RA 11054 will escalate into continuing violations, if not a flaunting disregard or defiance, of the Constitution, and the laws further prejudicing public interest and welfare,” it added.

It also urged the tribunal to issue injunctions on both RA 11054 and Executive Order 120 that formed a Bangsamoro transition commission, for “creating public offices only Congress has the mandate to create.”

Philconsa said the commission should stop spending public funds and return the balance to the Treasury. n

A december 19-21, 2018 • Socal ASIAN JOUrNAL

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B

DTI pushes more support for MSMEs

During a recent meeting of the MSME Development (MSMED) Council, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said there is need to continue supporting the sector as programs being implemented have resulted in the significant growth in the number of enterprises.

PPD file photo by Toto Lozano

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for more support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to promote the continued growth of the sector.

During a recent meeting of the MSME Development (MSMED) Council, Trade Sec-

retary Ramon Lopez said there is need to continue supporting the sector as programs being implemented have resulted in the significant growth in the number of enterprises.

Department of Interior and Local Government director Annaliza Bonagua said there were 1.39 million business establishments registered in local gov-

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Filipino freelancers on the rise

by Cora LLamas

Manilatimes.net file photo by mayveLin

u. CarabaLLo

Manilatimes.net

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is optimistic the Philippines will hurdle whatever challenges await it next year.

“If 2018 has not been easy for us, 2019 will not be bereft of challenges as well,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a year-end statement issued Thursday night.

The external environment, he admitted, is expected to be less supportive for potential economic growth.

“But the resilience of the Philippine economy in 2018 will likely continue over the

Manilatimes.net

TO date, there are approximately 1.1 million Filipinos who have decided to work as freelancers, telecommuters, individual consultants or service providers, out of a country with a population that has reached more than a hundred times that number.

This new working class is composed of digital natives, who are tech-savvy and prefer to continually explore their career options, instead of just settling down for one for the long haul. Flexitime, mobility, and work-life integration are as sacred to them as stability and job security are to their parents and older siblings. Throw in a high level of fluency in English communication skills and other core competencies valued by employers who outsource work for cost-effective reasons. All those factors combine to forecast a huge growth potential for Filipino freelancers in Asia.

Economy to weather next year’s challenges medium term,” Pernia nonetheless said.

The NEDA chief assured that key reforms implemented this year would enable the economy to remain robust despite domestic and external risks.

The “Build Build Build” program, which is expected to gain steam next year, will provide an additional boost.

Pernia also announced that more projects of regional significance would be included in line agency budgets for implementation following the signing of a Joint Memorandum Circular between the NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management.

“We expect this move to provide a strong foundation for growth next year,” he said.

Pernia also believes that the Philippines’

hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games next year would be something to look forward to, particularly for the tourism sector.

The NEDA, meanwhile, will continue to urged reforms in line with the Philippine Development Plan.

The agency will be reiterating its call for the immediate passage of amendments to the Public Service Act, the Universal Health Care Bill, Coco Levy Bill and the National Land Use Act. It also wants Congress to pass the 2019 budget —unlikely to be ratified by legislators before the end of this month — at the soonest possible time, with Pernia saying: “We need this to make sure that we are on track of meeting our development targets.”n

Economic growth in Asia-Pacific will slow as part of global growth cooldown — Bank of the West chief economist Sebastian Siseles, Vice President of Freelancer.com Manilatimes.net file photo

That assessment comes from Sebastian Siseles, the vice president of Freelancer.com, which has positioned itself as “the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing market-

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ECONOMIC growth across the Asia-Pacific region will continue in 2019, but is expected to slow amid a global economic downturn, Bank of the West Chief Economist Scott Anderson said at the recent 24th Annual Pacific Rim Client Appreciation Dinner.

Emphasizing its decades-long commitment to the Pacific Rim market, Bank of the West held its annual Pacific Rim Client Ap-

preciation dinner last night in San Gabriel, CA for more than 400 Pacific Rim clients. Attendees – many of whom are Asian immigrant and Asian-American entrepreneurs – heard from Bank of the West executives about the Bank’s commitment to making a positive impact on the communities it serves.

“Global growth is slowing and we are in the late stages of a cy-

clical expansion,” said Anderson.

“Asia, particularly the most developed countries in the region, will continue to grow faster compared to other regions across the world, but we are seeing signs that the period of strongest growth is over.”

In the United States, Anderson expects the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates twice throughout 2019, but pause fur-

ther rate increases as the domestic economy cools. With U.S. job growth slowing, Anderson estimates the U.S. unemployment rate will rise by the end of 2019 after reaching record lows earlier in the year. He also projects domestic Chinese GDP growth in 2019 will lag that of other developing Asian countries.

Anderson along with Yukinori

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B DECEMBER 19-21, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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Warming PH-China ties to Retail, healthcare sectors on hiring spree boost local construction

by Lisbeth

K. esmaeL Manilatimes.net

THE deepening PhilippineChina relationship is expected to bolster the local construction industry over the next 8 years, a Fitch group unit said.

In a report released Friday, December 14, Fitch Solutions raised its growth rate forecast for the Philippine construction sector from 8.8 percent to 9 percent for 2019-2027.

Optimism in the industry, it noted, is being buoyed by the strengthened bilateral ties between the two nations, evident in “positive developments” witnessed recently. After 13 years, it was only in November of 2018 when a Chinese president paid a state visit, it noted.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte closed a number of bilateral deals, including a 10-year cooperation for an infrastructure program.

“China’s willingness to invest and swift execution of agreements are welcoming signs for the infrastructure industry, where projects often progress slowly due to the existence of complex issues such as financing, land acquisition, lack of technical expertise and weak political will. Chinese involvement in Filipino projects is expected

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA 1. TAX identity theft is a significant threat. Fraudsters are more sophisticated and large breaches happening so frequently like the 2017 Equifax incident which affected many Americans, so beware if you: 1) Receive a notice or letter from the IRS regarding a tax return, tax bill or income that you are unaware or not familiar.

Someone could have possibly filed a false return using your Social Security number (SSN) to claim a refund or get a job.

2) Unsolicited email or other form of communication asking for your bank account number or financial details and personal information. Remember that the IRS will not contact taxpayers using email, text or other social media channels.

IF you’re a job seeker applying online, it could be better to look past BPO (business processing outsourcing) and ITES (IT-enabled services) industry postings, as this sector saw stagnant growth in online recruitment activity in the past year, according to a recent report by Monster. com.

Based on the Monster Employment Index (MEI), retail and healthcare were the two industries that saw the highest growth in online recruitment activity from August 2017 to August 2018, at 40 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

After retail and healthcare, logistics and the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurances) industries also enjoyed signifiPresident Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Malacañang on Nov. 20, cant growth of 27 percent and 21 2018.

Presidential pool file photo percent, respectively. to expedite the progress of infra- China’s expertise in road and At the opposite end of the structure projects, boosting the railway construction. spectrum were BPO/ITES and growth of the construction inHowever, some Filipinos’ dis- Education, which respectively dustry in the next decade,” Fitch approval against the Duterte Solutions said. administration’s warming rela“We expect the construction tion with China may threaten Immigrant of Chinese-backed Filipino proj- the growth of the construction ects to gather pace in the follow- industry, it said.

Living: 101 ing years,” it added.

“The South China Sea dispute The Fitch unit also stressed will continue to pose a downside and Beyond that while Japan and the U.S. risk as projects can potentially remain the largest foreign inves- be suspended or cancelled if tors in the country, this would tension between the two nations Monette AdevA MAglAyA eventually change given the escalate,” Fitch Solutions said.

“Infrastructure Cooperation Pro“Such a risk will be ampligram between the Government fied once the leadership transiONE of the things that make livof the Republic of the Philip- tion takes place during the 2022 ing in this land exciting is coming pines and the Government of Philippine Presidential Election, to an appreciation of the culture, the People’s Republic of China where the current President Ro- the language and the origins of (ICP)” agreement, where the drigo Duterte is expected to step certain phrases that are repeatPhilippine government could tap down.” n ed like a refrain year after year when Christmas comes. I have often wondered who Virginia was and what was the reason Francis Church made famous the line, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

But lest we forget. The generos3) Aggressive robocalls in- IRS’s tax reform. Here is a sum- ity of Santa Claus and everyone all sisting you must call back and mary of important developments around us comes from the love of settle your tax bill. The IRS will you should be aware of: God who sent His only begotten a) 2018 increase in standard Son as a gift to the world. CHRIST contact you first through official correspondence by mail and will deduction for all filers. It is highly IS the reason for the season and not: demand immediate payment recommended to consider filing every season. over the phone, threaten to ar- a new Form W-4 for withholding Forget the Grinch who would rest you, demand your credit or to reflect your actual tax liability like to steal the joy of Christmas debit card number, or use of gift under the new tax law. and the Scrooges who would b) The new 20% deduction rather shrivel up and die than give card to pay your taxes.

4) Report any suspicious com- available for individuals that have love on Christmas Day. There are munications from the IRS by call- qualified business income from unseen and unseeable wonders of ing 800.366.4484 or completing a partnership, S corporation or Christmas that live in the hearts the IRS Impersonation Scam Re- sole proprietorship. This is effec- of many Filipino-Americans year tive for tax years 2018 through round who squirrel and stash porting Form.

2. IRS penalties for under- 2025. away gifts and send them in bac) The increase in child tax likbayan boxes. There are millions payment of estimated taxes.

IRS charges penalties and inter- credit to $2,000 per qualifying worldwide who work and save and est for not paying the appropri- child and $1,400 for additional remit to make Christmas for their ate amount of taxes throughout tax credit and is subject to phase families abundantly blessed. Yes, the year. Make sure to pay the out of $200,000 for single and indeed, there is a Santa Claus that required payments before the $400,000 for married filing joint- lives in the hearts of each and evend of the year to avoid penalties ly. ery one of us who makes the spirit d) For mortgages that originat- of Christmas alive and well. and any surprises come filing ed in 2018, the interest deduction season.

The weather is highly unusual 3. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is limited to interest on debt up in most parts of the world this year (TCJA). To learn how these to $750,000 ($375,000 for mar- but if you tune in to sky watchers’ changes affect you check out the u PAGE B5 websites and internet segments

What’s new: Year-end review and planning

saw 0 and -3 percent year-onyear growth.

The index, compiled by online career and recruitment resource Monster.com, is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity, based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career websites and online job listings across the Philippines.

Overall, online hiring in the Philippines saw an 18 percent year-on-year growth.

In terms of occupations, those under the purchase/logistics/supply chain category had the highest demand with a 38 percent growth, followed by posts under sales and business development, healthcare, and HR and admin (32 percent year-on-year growth each).

Other occupation categories which registered positive growth include: finance and accounts,

31 percent; software, 22 percent; marketing and communications, 18 percent; hospitality, 15 percent; and engineering 11 percent.

Customer service is the only occupation which saw a decline (one percent) from last year’s numbers.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of a country’s economic development. A McKinsey Global Institute study predicts the Philippines’ economy is set to rise again and will achieve sustained growth over the next decade.

The IMF, too, retained its growth forecast of 6.7 percent for the country.

In line with this optimistic outlook, the MEI has reported an uptick in the demand for talent in logistics and supply chain.

This can be attributed to the fastchanging infrastructural landscape of the economy, which is

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Christ is the reason for every season “No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and lives forever.

A thousand years from now, Virginia, may 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

—Francis P. Church devoted to science, the heavens are putting out spectacular light shows seen during midnight and the early morning hours. The auroras about 50 miles above the poles are probably breathtaking.

At no other time during the year is the line, “Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.” more appropriate to ponder than at Christmas time when all the splendors of the world around us, if we look carefully and listen well, take on special meaning.

Enjoy the Christmasseason. By now, friends and loved ones back in Philippines would have received the balikbayan boxes filled with goodies that we have been dutifully squirreling away and generously sending since September this year. Remittance companies have never been busier as we send the much appreciated dollars that go a long way in making Christmas merry across the miles.

The spirit of giving seems to burn brighter in women during the season. As a rule, women do Christmas. If you are the woman of the house, my best guess, is that you make Christmas happen in your family by doing practically everything from shopping to

wrapping to cooking to decorating. If your mate pitches in and helps you, you are one of the lucky ones.

Women have complicated their lives far more than they care to admit to themselves. We need to simplify. We need to take stock of all the good that has come and quietly nurture a grateful heart.

More than likely, all we have is all we need. We need to forget all the what-might-have-beens because these are like excess baggage that makes the journey on life’s road even more cumbersome, even torturous.

I personally like to imagine my troubles, real or imagined particularly come Christmas time, tied in neat little bundles on the computer screen of my mind that I can drag and drop to the little trash bin icon and simply empty them all out into cyberspace never to be seen again— or at least, for the time being.

Christmas is a time for remembrance of things past, mostly the good ones. It is a time for editing out and leaving the unwanted footage on the cutting room floor those memories that are best left forgotten. It is a time to say “thank you”, a time to draw lessons from

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Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG HOW can you answer a question like this? Let’s comment about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or a borrower. It does not seem to recommend the assumption of debt. Otherwise, it should say that there’s nothing wrong to be a borrower, but not a lender, or vice-versa. But the Bible is specific. It says do not be a borrower or a lender. Why not be a lender? Because you might end up losing your money. Why not a borrower?

Because debt service might end up destroying your enjoyment of life. Those of you with too much debt know very well how a heavy debt load can destroy the quality of your life. For those who don’t have debt, read on, so you won’t decide to plunge into a sea of debt.

So how much debt is too much?

Well, if you and your spouse have a net combined income of $4,000, are about 40 to 45 years old, have a house mortgage to pay, maybe a second trust deed, one of those home improvement loans or HELOC, have on or two car payments and have children who are about to finish high school, you might examine your debt level now and realize that you are at a major crossroad in your life.

If you have about $30,000 of credit card debt, about 25 percent of your net income or close to $1,000 might be needed to make minimum payments on your credit cards, every month.

What’s left of your net income is $3,000, which is allocated for the house, the cars, food electricity, insurances and other living expenses. After all these expenses, probably, your household has nothing left. The problem is your eldest child is graduating from high school and has good grades, did good on the SAT, and he or she wants to go to college.

If you did not have the $30,000 of credit cards, you would be able

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES CONSIDER this common factual situation. You are over 21 years old and your U.S. citizen parent petitions you while you are inside the United States. Since this is a preference category, you have to wait many years for your priority date to be current. As the years go by, your petitioning parent dies which in turn revokes the petition. Can you still apply for your green card when your priority date becomes current?

Under Section 204(l) of the immigration and nationality act, you may apply for a green card despite the death of the petitioner once your priority date becomes current as long as 1) you were in the United States at the time of the Petitioner’s death, and 2) you continuously resided in the United States until the present time when you apply for adjustment of status. This provision does not apply to beneficiaries that are outside the United States. This provision also applies to both approved and pending Petitions.

This avenue is available to all family based petitions as outlined in INA section 204(l)(2).

This includes 1)immediate relative petitions and 2)preference family petitions such as unmarried sons and daughters of us citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of lpr, married sons and daughters of u.s. citizens, and brothers and sisters

BUSINESS NEWS

Do you have too much debt? Calendar of Events across

to provide for his college expenses. But you’re saddled with too much debt as it is.

Indeed, you have too much debt because your children’s college education negatively impacts your debt level. Yes, you might have already sacrificed the future of your children in favor of the future of Visa and Mastercard. You might have to plead guilty to this, just the way, Michael Cohen, pled guilty to several felonies including violating federal election laws at the direction and with the cooperation of Individual-1. Like Mr. Cohen, you might have admitted that you have followed the darkness instead of the light.

Let’s use the same example, but let’s assume that you have no children and that you are a senior citizen going into retirement. Do you have too much debt? How is your debt level affecting your golden years? If you figure that you are setting aside 25 percent of your net household income to service your credit cards, then your debt level has destroyed your ability to set aside money for your retirement when you were younger many years ago.

If you had $30,000 of credit card debt when you were 45 and are now 65 and just starting to receive Medicare, how much money could you have saved up for retirement, instead of paying to keep the $30,000 of credit cards current for the last 20 years? You paid $1,000 a month for 20 years.

In one year you paid $12,000. In 20 years, you paid $240,000. If you had invested the $240,000 in the stock market, it would have double every seven to eight years despite the sometimes very volatile market like it is now.

Let’s just say that you did so poorly in the market that the $240,000 doubled in 20 years.

Then, you would have at least $480,000 now for your use as you go into retirement. $480,000 even at 5 percent growth is $24,000 a year. That means you would be able to use $24,000 of your portfolio of $480 to add to your pension income or social security, without reducing your principal of $480,000.

Because you did not get rid

of your $30,000 of credit card debt 20 years ago, after paying $240,000 of interest for 20 years, you still owe the very same $30,000 of cards! So, you choose what you would rather have. Pay $240,000, and still owe $30,000 after 20 years, or save $480,000 and have $480,000 in your wealth portfolio as you retire.

Don’t think that 20 years is a long time. It’s not. It’s a very short time. For those seniors out there who are now 65, I am sure you remember that you were a young man or woman of 20 just last week. Where did all that time go? You feel the same but when you look at the mirror or pictures of yourself, you can see that you don’t look like you were 20 anymore.

Look at former Pres. Bush who died last week at 94. He was a great and honorable man.

I remember him when he was president in 1990 as he led the American forces that kicked Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. It’s now 2018. So 1990 was 28 years ago — 28 years ago, Pres. Bush was only 66.

And a month ago was the 50th anniversary of the battle of Mutter’s Ridge in Vietnam when Robert Mueller, then a young marine, now the special counsel investigating the Russian collusion matter, displayed honor and valor in saving his fellow Marines from a massacre, earning him the bronze medal of valor. That was 1968.

Time waits for no man, not even you. Get rid of your debt now if you are eligible. Or do you choose to be forever “slave to the lender”?

If you need debt relief, call my office for an appointment. I will analyze your case personally. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Can I qualify for a green card despite the petitioner’s death?

of U.S. citizens.

Derivative beneficiaries of pending or approved employment- based immigrant visa petitions are also covered by this section. This includes the spouse and unmarried children under age 21 of an individual who was sponsored under the employment-based category.

If you fail to meet the requirements of INA 204(l) because you did not continously reside in the U.S. since the death of the Petitioner, you may still try to reinstate the Petition under 8 CFR Sec. 205.1(a)(3) Humanitarian Reinstatement. The DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) may exercise discretion “for humanitarian reasons” to reinstate the petition and to allow the Affidavit of Support requirements to be satisfied by the qualifying I-864 of a spouse, parent, mother-inlaw, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild or legal guardian of the beneficiary, as long as the petition was “approved” prior to the Petitioner’s death.

DHS discretion does not mean “guaranteed” approval. The case will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Some of the factors that the DHS may consider are 1) disruption of an established family unit; 2) hardship to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; 3) beneficiary is elderly or in poor health; 4) beneficiary has had lengthy residence in the U.S.; 4) beneficiary has no home to go to; 5)undue delay by USCIS or consular officer in processing

petition and visa; 6) and Beneficiary has strong family ties in the United States.

The beneficiary must be prepared to show proof of the original I-130 that was filed, proof of I-130 approval if approved, a copy of the Petitioner’s death certificate, proof of substitute sponsor’s relationship to the beneficiary, and meet all the I864 requirements *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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Getting to know Southern California’s Filipino foster children

IT’S still such a shocker that there are roughly 200 Filipino children in the Los Angeles foster care system at any given month, with very few Filipino foster parents to take them in.

Whenever we share that statistic with kababayans who are interested in fostering or fostering-to-adopt, the first question we typically get is, “What happened to these children that they ended up in the foster care system?”

The number one reason children are detained by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is due to general neglect and/or drug or alcohol usage. Subsequently, the majority of Filipino cases that are referred to the Asian Foster Family Initiative (AFFI) also fall under this category, which is defined by a lack of supervision and/or providing the basic needs of the child.

In the case of our mga kababayan, sometimes children are detained due to parents not understanding that they cannot leave their children at home, unattended, while they go to work. This falls under general neglect. Sometimes, we’ll see Filipino homecare workers who are so busy working and taking

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 19-21, 2018

Fostering & adoption 101 MARIAH OCA, MSW care of their clients that they are unable to support their children in the way the law requires them to. It’s extremely unfortunate because neglect, in this case, is not intentional. In cases like these, the parents are trying to make ends meet, however, at the cost of their children’s safety and custody.

Take one case, for example, where the birth mother was a victim of domestic violence.

For privacy sake, we’ll call her daughter Mary. Mary was just an 18-month toddler whose mother was abused, physically and emotionally, in her relationship. Given the conditions of their home, she didn’t have the capacity to provide Mary with her basic needs, thus Mary was detained

by DCFS. Mary’s mother was doing everything she could to get the custody of her child back. In the

meantime, DCFS eagerly sought for a Filipino foster family to take her in...but to no avail. Mary was placed in a non-Filipino home.

It would have been ideal if Mary was placed temporarily with a Filipino family who understands her heritage and who could provide her with a home, rooted in her mother’s culture. Stories like this break our hearts even more because while her mother was sorting out her custody battle in the course of many months, Mary forgot how to speak Tagalog.

Let me share one more case with you (names and key details will be omitted). There was a Filipino couple struggling with substance abuse, creating an at-risk environment for their baby. The baby was detained and placed in a non-Asian household. During courthouse hearings, the parents reluctantly took responsibility and admitted that they were unfit to take care of their child, thus terminating their parental rights.

In cases like this, the child is potentially up for adoption. From the very beginning of this case, Mary’s County Social Worker actively tried to find a Filipino family who can support this baby

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS D EC E M B E R 1 6 -23

Simbang Gabi at Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas Come and join Simbang Gabi at 8:30 p.m. from December 15-23 (except on Sundays at 5 p.m.) at Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church located at 1901 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89104. Complete nine days novena Mass with Christmas carols and a community feast!

For more information, please contact the parish at (702) 735-0510 or Cris Pelayo at (702) 2456235.

D EC E M B E R 1 8

Simbang Gabi at Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA Come and celebrate Simbang Gabi 2018 at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday, December 18 at 7 p.m. Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, bishop of Salt Lake City will be the main celebrant of the mass. A reception will follow after the mass at the Church Hall. This celebration is sponsored by the Fil-Am and multi-ethnic parish community of the Church of the Good Shepherd under the auspices of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 505 N. Bedford Dr. (at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd.) Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

D EC E M B E R 22

UPAAGLA annual holiday party in LA The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles invites you to the 2018 UPAAGLA Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 22, 2018 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Silver Lake Medical Center (1711 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA). The cost is $25 and attire is festive. Please register at: https://upaagla2018xmasparty.eventbrite.com. *Net proceeds from the event will benefit the UPAAGLA Scholarship Fund. For inquiries, please contact Ethel Rubio, President-Elect at upaagla.rsvp@gmail.com or at (818) 640-2946.

Simbang Gabi at St. Bridget Church in Las Vegas Bishop George Leo Thomas will celebrate Simbang Gabi at St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, December 22. Mass will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a potluck at the courtyard of the church. The church is located at 220 N. 14th St. Las Vegas, NV 89101. For more information, please call Andre at (702) 498-2934.

D EC E M B E R 29

UP Alumni Association Berkeley Chapter Celebrates 50th Anniversary The University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association (Berkeley Chapter) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a luncheon party from 11am to 4pm on December 29, 2018 at the Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton, California. All present and former members are invited, including alumni or graduates of the university’s high schools in Manila and Diliman, and the different institutes, colleges and campuses of the University. Interested parties are requested to get in touch with the following: Daisy Rodriguez (916) 768-9955, Henrietta Fajardo-Boyd (925) 433-3359, Diosy Rey (707) 315-2351 or Jay Castro (925) 899-8881.

JA N UA RY 5

Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA hosts Gala in Burbank, CA Enjoy the glitz, glamour and allure of Hollywood at the Gala Night of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA) on Saturday, January 5. Come dressed to the nines inspired by your favorite Cinema icons for a fun evening in an evening of dancing, good food and camaraderie for only $65 at the renovated Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport (2500 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505). FACCGLA members bring your friends and family, non-members welcome! Doors open at 6 p.m. Prefer to be a VIP donor?

Sponsorship packages available at faccgla.org.

JA N UA RY 1 8

Santo Nino Celebration at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance, CA Most Rev. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass on Friday, January 18 at St. Catherine Laboure Church (3846 Redondo Beach Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504) at 7 p.m. The Novena prayers and Chaplet will follow after the Mass. The parish has an exact replica of the Infant of Prague (Santo Nino) clothed in a relic of the Holy Robe that adorns the original statue in the shrine at Prague. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own statues; the devotion of touching them to the Holy Robe will conclude the celebration. For more information, please contact Lorna Arceo at (310) 345-4637, Maria Quan (310) 714-6537 or Vicki & Romy Balliyut at (310) 406-6575.

JA N UA RY 1 9

Sto. Niño celebration at St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA Please join us for Sinulog on January 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Finbar Church (2010 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506). Bring your statues of the Infant Jesus. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.

F E B R UA RY 9

St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA celebrates its 9th Annual Valentine Dinner Dance Come and celebrate Hollywood glamour on February 9, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For information contact Marian at (818) 562-6819 or send an email to minobleza@yahoo. com.

F E B R UA RY 1 5

Franchising Retail & Trade Conference in Cerritos, CA The Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) hosts this highly anticipated business event at the Cerritos Sheraton located at 12725 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, CA 90703. Attendees will have access to opportunities in business match making & referrals, roundtable discussions, entrepreneurship training programs, and networking & business connections with participants representing both the United States and the Philippines. Business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations, and the general public are all invited to attend. The Philippine Retailer Association (PRA) and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) will be present to network with the US business community. Also present will be local franchisor and franchisee business owners, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), the National Diversity Coalition (NDC), the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program, the Philippine Consulate Los Angeles Office, Philippine Dept. of Trade & Industry (PTIC) Los Angeles, and the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).Basic entry is only $10 but can and will vary depending on the participation experience desired. Registration for the Conference is simple and is processed online at by going to https://cofacc.org.

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

B DECEMBER 19-21, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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Filipino freelancers on the rise

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place by number of users and jobs posted. We connect more than 30 million employers and freelancers globally from over 247 countries, regions and territories.” About 10,000 jobs that exhibit about 1,000 skill sets are posted every day, viewed by companies all over the world who want work done fast and in high quality without having to shell out more overhead expenses by hiring a full-time employee.

The 1.1 million Filipino freelancers who have signed up for membership in Freelancer.com make it the fourth largest community in the website, ranking behind India, US, and Pakistan, in that order. A majority of them are Millennials who belong to the 18-37-year-old demographic. Their customers are based in India (20.71 percent), the US (19.78 percent), Australia (8.19 percent), Canada (4.03 percent), UK (3.92 percent), and local employers and companies based in the Philippines (8.73 percent).

Siseles explains the strengths of the Filipino freelancers that have attracted attention and business from both sides of the ocean: “These can be seen in the types of skills that are most sought after by employers and the types of jobs being done on the Freelancer. com: jobs in web development, graphic design and Excel are very

EMPLOYMENT

popular, for example. Additionally, English is widely spoken in the Philippines, which definitely helps when it comes to communicating clearly with employers” in the aforementioned international markets. Almost 100,000 companies from these countries are Freelancer.com members who continually hire Filipinos.

The top three payment platforms they use to send money to these remote workers are Paypal, bank transfers, and credit cards, in that order.”

A closer look at the Freelancer. com data shows that professionals who specialize in data entry, PHP and Photoshop are also in high demand. Many of the working freelancers on the site are also based in Metro Manila, specifically in Quezon City, Makati, Manila, and Pasig. The fifth largest source of Filipino freelancers is Talisay City in Batangas.

While the Filipino freelancing community may just be a small part of the overall Filipino workforce, Siseles believes that, given the worldwide trend of the industry, it may soon become part of the status quo than simply remaining at the fringe. He says: “The freelancing industry is still young, and it is very likely we’ll see immense growth in the years to come.

Freelancers will continue to play an increasingly important part in

the broader global labor market.

Forbes predicts that by 2027, majority of the workforce will be freelancers all over the globe. According to the Q3 Freelancer Fast 50 report, web development, internet applications, social media, and creatives dominate the online labor market.”

Filipinos freelancers who want to maximize this opportunity should continue to develop their skills and network virtually and professionally with employers who can give them the stints they need to succeed. Siseles gives other requirements for freelancing sustainability: “It’s very important to build a profile online with a portfolio of your past works, and also to establish a reputation backed up by good ratings and positive reviews, which employers often look for.”

He points out that the opportunity will always be present because employers and companies are always on the lookout for high-caliber, high-performing freelancers and remote workers: “Entrepreneurs, small business enterprises, and companies can largely benefit from the freelancing industry by hiring a freelancer to quickly and easily augment skills for short-term projects and sometimes even long-term projects and ongoing work. This means saving a great deal of resources.” n

EMPLOYMENT

Economic growth in Asia-Pacific will slow...

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Nishio, EVP and Head of the Bank’s Pacific Rim Banking Division, Michelle Di Gangi, EVP and Head of Small and Medium Enterprise Banking, and Ryan Bailey, EVP and Head of the Retail Banking Group, also participated in a press event prior to the an-

nual dinner. Nishio, at both the dinner and press briefing, provided an overview of Bank of the West’s Pacific Rim business over the last year, including its commitment to customers through representative offices in Tokyo and Taipei, respectively.

“Bank of the West wants to

positively support our communities and our customers, whether their needs are local or global in nature,” said Nishio. “We are honored our customers see Bank of the West as the bank that is best positioned to help meet the challenges they face in an evolving world.” n

DTI pushes more support for MSMEs

PAGE B1 t

ernment units as of November.

“These 1.39 million enterprises reflect a big jump from the more than 900,000 registered enterprises last year, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority. These are just the registered businesses, a majority of which are MSMEs. If we include those yet to be registered, the number may reach over six million,” Lopez said.

He said the MSMED Council is committed to serve all MSMEs, and encourage more Filipinos to

start their own businesses.

As part of the support for existing and potential entrepreneurs, the DTI aims to put up a Negosyo Center per municipality.

Negosyo Centers are being established in line with Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act signed into law in 2014, which aims to promote job generation and inclusive growth through the development of MSMEs. Through the Negosyo Centers, MSMEs can avail of various services such as business regis-

tration assistance, business advisory services, micro financing and market leads.

As of Dec. 13, 1,021 Negosyo Centers have been set up.

For this year alone, Negosyo Centers have provided business assistance to 915,675 entrepreneurs and registered 34,775 businesses as Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs).

Under the BMBE law, MSMEs can avail of tax and minimum wage exemptions, financing priority, and technical support from government agencies. n

May we all be centered in Christ this season and beyond.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@

asianjournalinc.com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition” http://issuu. com/asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before agenda-driven google.

Christ is the reason for every season

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the year about to draw to a close and to use a new and fresh supply of God’s gift called TIME, given in equal measure to all men, rich or poor, from one glorious day to the next.

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

B5 DECEMBER 19-21, 2018 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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People and Events

Overnight parking renewals Cleaner electricity coming to Paramount

SAN DIMAS residents are reminded that overnight parking on all City streets is prohibited between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., seven days a week. The City’s overnight parking policy adds to the aesthetics of the community and it allows for greater public safety. An overnight parking permit is required for all vehicles that are parked on the street during the restricted hours above.

San Dimas residents without sufficient off-street parking may apply for an annual parking permit by submitting a completed application, along with a $40, non-refundable, application fee. This fee is reduced to $20 on July 1 of each

year. Applications can be obtained on the City’s website at www. cityofsandimas.com but must be submitted in person at City Hall.

As a reminder for those who currently have an annual permit, it is time for your annual renewal.

Renewal letters were sent out at the end of October. Current annual permits expire December 31, 2018. 2019 permits are required effective January 1, 2019. In the past, there has typically been a rush of last minute and late renewals. Permits renewed in December will pay an annual renewal fee of $32. Permits renewed after December 31 will pay a renewal fee of $40. So it pays to turn in your

renewal application early.

Temporary parking permits can also be purchased for $2 per night at 24-hour parking permit machines located outside the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station at 270 S. Walnut Ave and outside of Century 21 at 1100 Via Verde Ave. These temporary permits can also be obtained online through the City website.

Enforcement of the City’s overnight parking policy which prohibits parking on San Dimas streets from 2 a.m. – 5 a.m. will be suspended during the holidays on the following dates: Christmas/New Year’s – Tuesday, December 18 through Tuesday, January 1. ■

ried taxpayers filing separately).

Interest on home equity loans is only deductible if the funds are used for home improvements or traced to business, investment or passive activity expenditures. e) 529 plans now allow for up to $10,000 in annual distributions for tuition at public, private, or religious elementary and secondary schools. f) The overall limit of $10,000 for property taxes and state and local income taxes or sales tax in lieu of income taxes. g) The Domestic Production Activity Deduction (DPAD) was repealed for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017. h) Entertainment expenses are no longer deductible. You may continue to deduct 50% of the cost of business meals if you or your employee are present at the event and the food or beverages are not considered extravagant. i) You can claim a larger 100% first-year depreciation deduction on qualified property new or used. The new law increased the maximum deduction from $500,000 to $1 million. It also increased the phase-out threshold to $2.5 million from $2 million. j) Small businesses can use the cash method of accounting starting in 2018. To qualify as a small business, taxpayers must satisfy a gross-receipts test. The grossreceipts test is satisfied if, during

Retail, healthcare sectors...

PAGE B2 t

likely creating more jobs,” said Abhijeet Mukherjee, CEO of Monster.com–APAC and Middle East.

“While the medium-term outlook may be positive, the labor market can be exposed to domes-

tic risks and vulnerabilities as a consequence of market irregularities and structural changes. The government’s Build, Build, Build campaign is looking to pave the way for a new era of growth and prosperity in the Philippines,” he added. (Inquirer.net) ■

this month further explaining the program.

In a nutshell, CPA buys the cleaner electricity and delivery is still made over Edison’s existing utility lines. Nothing else changes. You will still get a bill from SCE and deal with the utility on any service issues.

The only difference is that a percentage of the power will come

from renewable sources and there may be a subsequent savings on your monthly bill. This is just one more way that the City is doing its part to make Paramount as environmentally friendly as possible.

Have questions? Visit cleanpoweralliance.org, contact customerservice@cleanpoweralliance.org, or call (888) 5853788. ■

Getting to know Southern California’s...

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with a culturally sensitive home; however again, to no avail. This means this child will also likely lose their heritage and identity.

The irony of this all is that it’s a three-year testing period aver- Corporation provides accounting and part of the Filipino nature to supage annual gross receipts do not tax services to individuals, corporations, port each other with an unparalexceed $25 million (prior year $5 LLCs and business entities. The Firm has leled level of hospitality - serimillion). a niche in defending taxpayers audited ously, we know how hospitable k) Beginning January 2019, by the IRS and other governmental Filipinos are. With that in mind, the carryback of net operating agencies. (Advertising Supplement) I’d like to raise that the main realosses (NOLs) can now be carried forward indefinitely. NOLs generated after 2017 cannot reduce taxable income by more than 80%.

4. The Affordable Care Act (ACA). Beginning in 2019 the TCJA repealed the shared responsibility payment penalty that the ACA imposes on individuals do not have health insurance.

Other aspects of the Affordable Care Act are still in place.

5. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). AMT for corporate taxpayers has been repealed but still applies to individuals taxpayers. Many taxpayers are required to add back certain non-taxable income and deductions they’ve taken. That exemption increased in 2018 to $70,300 for single and head of household taxpayers and to $109,400 for married couples filing jointly. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy

What’s new: Year-end review...

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THE Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is coming to Paramount to provide cleaner electricity from renewable sources for the community at competitive rates.

All Paramount electricity customers will be enrolled automatically with CPA through Southern California Edison (SCE) in early 2019. CPA began mailing information to Paramount addresses

son there is such a shortage of Filipino foster homes is simply due to lack of awareness of this reality.

Not enough Filipinos in Southern California know enough about how the foster care system affects Filipino children and our community overall. The AFFI team’s goal is to help raise that awareness and we could certainly use your help.

*** We all know a family member, relative, or perhaps even ourselves who have the resources and the heart to share with these children. In order to attend our Pre-Approval Parent Trainings in March 2019, you must attend an Orientation hosted by the Asian Foster Family Initiative, which is the first and only Asian Pacific Island focused foster family agency in the nation. Please contact Mariah at moca@kfamla.org or (213) 235-4851 for any questions and/or to register.

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 19-21, 2018

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“I won’t be home for Christmas”: How OFW families mark the holiday season by

Nathalie Robles aNd Ritchel MeNdiola / AJPress

IT is not easy to work far from the place you call home.

But this ‘fear of missing out’ lingers especially on a special day like Christmas — when streets are decorated and jolly and everyone seems to spend this season with their families and loved ones.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, over 2.3 million Filipinos will be celebrating Christmas apart from their families this year.

The unsung heroes, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), all over the world brave the loneliness and the distance to sustain the needs of the families they left behind in the Philippines. Some might get to come home during the holidays, but most of them might not, given their circumstances.

Their families do their best to celebrate Christmas in a way that feels like they’re still together — by conquering the winter chill with good old-fashioned Filipino spirit.

No matter how bad Rachel Rivera wants to go home, she cannot. As an OFW, her vacation days are very limited so it doesn’t seem practical to spend the holiday season with her family if the trip would be expensive and time consuming. Of course, she misses her family in the Philippines. But she cannot afford to throw her job away because it pays more than what she can earn back home. That is a sacrifice she continually makes to ensure a

better future for her family.

Her family isn’t happy with the setup, either. They miss their bubbly and fun Rachel who would always jumpstart the holidays by gathering them all in one place and be the life of the party. She would urge the young ones to stop playing for a while so they could start with their festivities. She would ask the elders to prepare their gifts to the younger members of the family. Now that she is distant, there is a feeling that something is missing.

But thanks to technology and its innovative nature, she can spend time with her family even if distance does not seem to be in their favor. Through video-messaging applications, she can easily participate in the Christmas festivities by being on the other side of the screen. It is a little inconvenient, the family admits. But for Rachel and her family, it is better than nothing.

They have created a new tradition so that Rachel can be a part of the celebration -- she prepares her own Christmas meal and ‘joins’ the family dinner via technology. They would laugh, joke and talk about almost everything.

As a family, they too worry about Rachel. They often think about whether she eats on time or sleeps enough. They never fail to remind her to take care of herself. They would pray for her daily. They know that if things would go beyond their control, they only have to

Diana Mendiola with her family.

trust the God above.

Even if she herself cannot grace the halls of the place she called home, the gifts she sends become her substitute.

Canned food, clothes, chocolates, toys and gadgets for all her relatives would make their way to the family’s doorstep by Christmas through a balikbayan box. Her cousins would send her pictures of the nieces and nephews enjoying the toys she sent, while her aunts and uncles pose for the camera, showing off the clothes she gave them.

All the smiles on their faces and wholesome expressions of gratitude are enough to keep Rachel going.

“All my sacrifices will soon be worth it,” she said.

Even if she can’t be home for Christmas this year, she

AJPress illustration by Godwin Gasacao

is saving up to return to the Philippines for good.

For Diana Mendiola, whose husband is a Filipino seaman currently situated in Malta, Europe, celebrating Christmas apart is a normal occurrence, having already experienced this for over 10 years.

“It still gets a little lonely,” she said. “But it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

As soon as December rolls around, she and their two daughters, Dennise and Hannah, start decorating their three-story house. It’s nothing too grand, just the usual holiday fixtures like bright lights, a Christmas tree in the corner of their living room, and a parol lantern outside their home.

Christmas Eve is a busy

time for her. She prepares for the night’s festivities with a holiday menu that can feed her immediate and extended family — the ever-present hamonado and keso de bola; spaghetti; fried chicken; lumpiang shanghai; and her specialty, buko salad.

“I like making buko salad because it gives variety to the menu,” she said.

After attending Misa de Gallo at their nearby parish church, she and her family start eating as soon as the clock strikes 12. That’s when she contacts her husband, Edward, as well.

“We use Skype to communicate so he can see everyone else,” she said, explaining how their tablet gets passed around among family members so everyone can offer

their greetings and holiday wishes.

“That’s how he catches up with the rest of the family,” she added.

To compensate for his absence, Edward usually sends Christmas gifts that everyone opens during the call so he can see their reactions. Diana and her daughters also show off the Christmas decors around the house and provide a play-by-play account of the ongoing festivities to ease the homesickness.

In Diana’s household, Christmas is a family affair.

Despite the holiday made even colder by the empty head-of-the-family seat, the love and happiness shared by Diana’s other family members are enough to keep them warm and cozy this season.

Celebrating Christmas in America as new immigrants: Filipinos share their stories of beating the holiday blues

by KlaRize

MedeNilla AJPress

WE associate the holidays with many things. Presents under the Christmas tree. Yuletide songs playing everywhere we go. But most importantly, the holidays are about family, and as Filipinos, family time during the holidays is a must.

However, geographic distance and financial roadblocks make that impossible for some Filipino-Americans who may not get to travel back to the motherland to spend the holiday with their families. More so, spending the holidays in a brand new, unfamiliar country can feel lonely and foreign.

But there are ways to make the most of the holidays despite the change in residency.

Here are how some Filipino immigrants cope with spending Christmas in their new homes.

Filipino-American Los Angeles couple Nina and Michael

recently moved to the United States and are making a conscious effort to join nearby family members and bring in the flavors of home to their first American Christmas.

“As new immigrants, we’ve sought out family close by— for us, they’re like home in a new land. More so during the holidays,” the couple told the Asian Journal. “We are cooking homegrown favorites together—latik, Pinoy tamalos, longganisa, puto and the kids will be making [a] gingerbread house from scratch, while we enjoy American favorites like ham and steak. Feeling very grateful to have family with us, and reveling in the love of family this Christmas season, wherever we may be.”

Baguio-native Rodolfo Salazar moved to LA in 2017 and will be spending his second Christmas outside of the Philippines and away from most of his family. Having no

relatives who live in California, he said that his first Christmas was “lonely” compared to his celebrations back home, which included nearly a hundred friends and family.

“My first Christmas was very lonely and very depressing,” Salazar, who lives in Northridge, said with a sigh. “I didn’t really do anything but I called my brothers over FaceTime and spent a little time with them. But it really just made me sadder that I wasn’t with them. When you spend a lot of time with family, and then suddenly [find yourself] alone, it’s really shocking.”

Although he said he’d “like to forget” about his first Christmas, this year, he made a conscious effort to make Christmas 2018 even better.

“I feel better about it this year because I made friends with some of my neighbors and they invited me to spend [Christmas] with them!” he

said. “It’s funny because when I told them about how awful and lonely my last Christmas was, they said, ‘Why didn’t you tell us? You could have come over!’ So, I decided that to help them out with Christmas dinner and spend time with their family.”

Although his neighbors may not be his blood relatives, he said that they feel like family and that even though you may not spend Christmas with your own relatives, you can “find family” anywhere.

“It’s starting to feel like more of a home now,” Salazar said of living in California.

“The more people I meet and the closer I get to some of the friends I made, the less lonely I feel. Even though I miss my family back home, I’m not so worried [about feeling lonely] anymore.”

Administrative assistant Aida Apelacio moved from the Philippines to California

in 1993 and has spent nearly every Christmas in the U.S. without her immediate family.

Although she now has extended family in the United States, she, like Salazar, described that first Christmas without her family in 1993 as “really, really lonely” and “extremely sad.”

“It was unexplainable, especially for me because I am really close to my brothers and sisters and my mom.

When I had that first Christmas without them, it was really so hard and I really missed them a lot,” Apelacio told the Asian Journal in a phone interview.

In addition to missing her family and loved ones back home, Apelacio noted that she also misses the massive months-long event that is Christmas in the Philippines which, as most Filipinos know, begins in September.

“There’s nothing else like

it. It really is a special time of the year,” Apelacio said. “The small children singing Christmas carols around the neighborhoods, the different foods that they have over there and the Christmas parties we used to have over there. It was really, really fun and [a] very unique experience, and it is really beyond words.”

Apelacio, who is now married and living in Artesia, California, now takes advantage of the telecommunication advancements that have been introduced in the last 25 years to communicate with her family back home, especially during the holidays.

“It’s a lot easier now since we have all these social media like Viber, Messenger or Skype so our family feels less far away and we can feel less lonely. It would have been nice to have that before, but I’m glad we have it now,” Apelacio adds with a laugh.

Feasting on noche buena miles away

own version, this dish starts with the same ingredients AJPress — pasta, mayonnaise and FILIPINOS are known for marinated in pineapple juice, chicken. Others add carrots, their love for food and fellowsugar, salt and spices; then celery, cheese and sometimes ship, and noche buena — which baked. pineapple. is Spanish for “night of good• Keso de bola - Literally, a • Spaghetti - Filipino-style, ness” — is the epitome of both ball of Edam cheese (a semithat is. Made with tomato of those combined. hard cheese from Netherlands), sauce and paste, ground beef Typically after the last Mass usually with a red paraffin wax or pork, cheese and a little of Simbang Gabi, families go covering. sugar to sweeten the taste, the back home to a large spread • Bibingka - Flat cake spaghetti is a Filipino staple in adorning the dining table. cooked in banana leaves with parties and for noche buena.

Though families may have salted egg, kesong puti, served In some households, Christcreated their own traditions, with butter and grated coconut. mas is a time for the families to among the noche buena staples • Lechon - Roasted pig, reunite all relatives with their include favorite Filipino dishes pork belly, chicken, fish — it kin and clan depending on the such as lechon (roasted whole means anything that’s roasted number of family members. For pig), pancit, barbecue, rice, over coals. But in Filipino a more close-knit type of family, adobo and native rice cakes households, it is always the they usually organize a reunion (kakanin — biko, sapin-sapin, lechong baboy (pig) that rules since this is the time of the year bibingka, puto bumbong, over the table. where most members are availor cassava cake). However, • Leche flan - The Filiable. Some sort of production Western influence has brought pino version of a creme brulee number whether a dance or in spaghetti or fruitcake, and a — but better. A mixture of egg song performance is assigned fusion of Filipino with internayolks, condensed milk, fresh to the younger members of the tional dishes. milk and sugar; this sweet confamily as a form of entertainHere are some of the noche coction is steamed and topped ment. buena spread favorites: with caramelized sugar.

However, Overseas Filipino • Hamon/hamonado - Ham, • Macaroni salad - AlWorkers (OFWs) often feel (from the Spanish jamon). Pork though every Filipino has their farthest away from home during the Yuletide season. The Philippines is famous for making a big deal about Christmas — celebrating it as soon as the “-ber” months start, so it can be a little, if not a lot, jarring to spend it in another country, away from home and your loved ones.

OFWs usually make do with their resources and imby Ritchel

MeNdiola aNd Nathalie Robles

AJPress illustration by Jillian Peñalosa

The noche buena spread for Regine and her friends in Dubai typically consist of lumpia, rice, Pinoy spaghetti and fruit salad. Facebook photos

Regine Santelices and her fellow OFWs in Dubai during their noche buena celebration last year.

agination so their holidays can have that distinct Pinoy feel.

For Regine Santelices, who’s celebrating her second Christmas in Dubai this year, one way to do this is by having a Filipino noche buena feast.

“Ours is the typical Filipino noche buena feast,” she said.

“People here usually prepare menudo, fried chicken, Pinoy spaghetti, smoked ham,crispy pata, lumpia, and fruit salad.”

To battle homesickness last year, she called her family residing in Pasig City through Skype.

“There wasn’t any specific time for Skype since it was hard to get signal here. I tried different apps to call them but none of those worked except Skype,” she said.

However, since Dubai banned the instant messaging app this year, she had to look

for other alternatives so she can continue being in touch with her family.

“I applied for a plan — international voice call for 300 minutes per month,” she said, adding that “I’m saving up minutes to call them this Christmas.”

Aside from having Filipino cuisine and contacting her family to fill her stomach and her heart respectively, she also mentioned the Christmas party that the Filipino community in Dubai throws annually as a noche buena tradition, as well.

“The good thing about Dubai is that there are a lot of Filipinos,” she said.

She added, “Even if you’re far away from your family, the fellow OFWs you’re with will somehow make you feel like you’re part of their family.

Their Christmas party usu-

ally consists of gift exchanges, grocery raffle, and karaoke.

“The one we anticipate for is the raffle for groceries. They give away rice, personal effects such as bath soap and the like, and other essential things. The cost of living here in Dubai is very high so this is important to us,” she said, sharing that she got a free rice supply for a month last year.

According to Regine, the feeling of sadness is still there — “it’ll take some time to get used to,” she admitted — but she remains positive, and promises to make the most out of the Christmas celebration this year.

Whether you celebrate noche buena among family and friends or in your new home away from home, the Filipino camaraderie and love for food are amplified during this evening.

Though the meal’s central focus may seem to be on the feast being served, the real reasons for getting together are the ever-present laughter, storytelling and love.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 19, 2018

The Revilla family

Photo from Instagram/@joloo_revilla

Lani on her first Christmas with Bong after his acquittal

by Dolly

Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net

RAMON “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s plunder acquittal has elicited ambivalent reactions.

But setting politics aside, I am featuring Bong’s ageless wife, Lani Mercado. She really stood by her man, no matter what.

Bong’s fans have missed watching him on TV and the silver screen.

Hopefully, the actor in him will opt to resume his show biz career instead of running for senator again. Après tout, it was show biz that paved the way for Bong’s political career.

So, why not go back to where he started?

Here’s my chat with Lani: What was the first thing that Bong did when he got home? There were a lot of people waiting for Bong to come home, so it was a time for receiving all their heartwarming greetings. The household staff was quite emotional, and it was a marathon of hugs and kisses—and selfies!

Then, we took time to pray. The family was complete, except for Ram who’s in San Francisco for his studies. So, it was a great time to say a prayer of thanks to God, for granting us this best Christmas gift ever— Bong’s acquittal.

What are his immediate

showbiz plans? No concrete plans yet, especially because of the elections next year. Bong has decided to return to the Senate, so there are a lot of invitations for him to travel all over the country to unveil the legislative plans that he had a lot of time to think about when he was in detention.

How was your first night together after a long time?

It was a happy but very long, exhausting day. Bong and I got to finally sleep together in our bed at home after four years, five months and 19 days. We slept way past midnight. We were both very tired, and it was a restful sleep, although quite short, because we had to wake up very early.

How has his incarceration changed Bong? He has become more concerned about the plight of our countrymen … and more deeply committed to his responsibilities to alleviate their plight. It has also made his relationship with God more clingy.

He has learned total surrender, and he now clings to God more tightly. The way he sees it, God allowed this greatest trial in his life to happen for reasons that continue to unfold as the future reveals them.

I believe Bong has now become more sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in

his life, especially on how he may serve as an instrument to make the lives of our people better.

What’s your message to Bong’s detractors? May God bless them all.

What has that family trial taught you? Deeper faith. It has also allowed me to develop certain virtues I would not have had the chance to learn more deeply if this trial did not happen to our family—like patience, fortitude, forbearance, letting go… I also learned to have hope and joy.

I learned that hope and joy are special graces from God, and we should never allow anything to steal them.

What’s your message to wives who want to give up on their husbands? Always be reminded of your wedding vows: In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse … Never let go of your husband. You can do that by never letting go of God in your life. Surrender your life to God, and He will do the rest.

Jodi Sta. Maria joins Rubby Sy-Coyiuto, Flawless’ CEO and founder, in leading the Pink Movement, which is about “uplifting people and helping them pursue all things beautiful.”

It coincides with the seventh anniversary of the aesthetic clinic.

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 19, 2018

Dimples Romana to set flavorful holiday memories

by Nika

Roque ManilaTimes.net

GROWING up in a flavorful and fragrant household, whose kitchen was ruled by a Kapampangan mother, it is almost a certainty that actress Dimples Romana has made a many flavorful holiday memories.

Her Kapampangan roots played a huge role in her love of food, with her hashtag #DimpsKitchen on Instagram showing an impressive and diverse range of dishes.

A mom of two kids, Romana shared that the Christmas season is the best way for her family to bond especially in the kitchen.

“Every Christmas talaga, we get together and we always cook. My husband Boyet cooks as well, my daughter Callie bakes and loves cake decorating, and my youngest Alonzo helps me out in the kitchen,” Romana told The Manila Times.

By trying out different cuisines or restaurants, part of Romana’s learning process is trying to recreate them at home. If the food came out a success and loved by the family, it would then be part of their staple household recipes.

The actress continued to share that food makes up a large part of their holiday traditions, saying that the fun activity brings them together.

“Usually it’s a competition between the family. Ipapatikim namin sa buong pamilya and then malalaman nila kung sino nagluto.”

Romana recently showed

Roger L. Oriel, publisher and CEO of Asian Journal Publications, and Gorden Kao, director of CCYP, ink an agreement for the 2019 Asian American Expo.

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

CCYP, Asian Journal partner for the 2019 Asian American Expo

Dimples Romana

Photo from Instagram/@dimplesromana

off her foodie and kitchen skills by preparing her special shrimp and sausage boil.

“I began cooking when I was nine years old, so I learned from my mom — she’s Kapampangan and she would cook a lot for the family,” she explained while preparing her dish.

Based on her stories and passionate approach to cooking, the holidays definitely feel like something to look forward to in their family. “I like trying new things so we would have different themes for Christmas.

We would do Filipino fiestas, Chinese or Japanese just to explore more.”

Celebrating with her family

The actress with director Yam Laranas.

and having themes for 15 years already, Romana said that they have not yet settled on one for this year. “However, we always go back to being able to share with the whole family kasi lagi kaming feast na style.”

“Our table and communication is very open, so I always ask my children what they want to eat,” she shared.

“Even if it’s not fit for our celebration, we serve it kasi Christmas is all about what you want to eat, and it’s all about family. So what’s the use of cooking something they will not enjoy diba? So para sa akin, kahit na hindi sila matched, basta gusto ng pamilya, okay na sa ‘kin,” she ended.

Photos courtesy of Viva Films

Anne returns to horror genre

by ChRistiNa

alpad

ManilaTimes.net

ACTRESS Anne Curtis is no stranger to bringing the scares to the big screen.

She was just in her early teens and a newcomer in showbiz when she did “Ika-13

Kapitulo” (2000) under the helm of Michael de Mesa. Six years later, sh e transformed into a sought-after young star when she did the Jerry Lopez Sineneng-Quark Henareshelmed movie “Huwag Kang Lilingon” (2006).

This year, the 33-year-old

actress returns to the genre via Yam Laranas’ “Aurora” as a more mature artist who has just done challenging roles for her latest project.

Aurora tells the story of Leana (Curtis), owner of a rundown inn in an island and guardian to Rita (Phoebe Villamor), her eight-year-old sister. One day, a ship named “Aurora” collided into a rocky shore near the island where they live. This results in to the demise of over a thousand passengers.

Many of the dead bodies turn up along the shore of the tiny island near the shipwreck, but many are still missing, and their distressed families are in need of a place to stay in as the search continues.

The same families eventually ask Leana to look for the cadavers in exchange for a large amount of money. And so, together with her ex-boyfriend Ricky (Marco Gumabao) and boatman Eddie (Alan Paule) they brave the strong waves and murky waters without knowing what awaits them.

A different kind of horror In the same manner that MMFF has been part of the Filipino Christmas tradition, watching horror films during the most cheerful time of the year has been part of viewers’ itineraries too.

And so for Aurora, a hor-

LUNAR New Year is upon us, so the Asian Journal is proud to announce that it is partnering up with CCYP Media Network for the exciting 2019 Asian American Expo at the Pomona Fairplex on January 19-20.

The Asian American Expo, which is known as the largest Lunar New Year celebration in the United States, will be celebrating its 38th anniversary and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The expo is a celebration and promotion of the richly diverse communities linked to the Lunar New Year, including the Chinese, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai cultures.

For its 38th expo, CCYP wanted to “modernize” the event as well as further promotion of “cultural diversity,” said Gorden Kao, director of CCYP. On deck so far are more than 1000 vendors, three massive food pavilions and 48 scheduled entertainers occupying eight performance stages. CCYP’s goal of diversifying the expo from a primarily Chinese-centric event to a “cultural village” representing more Asian cultures, including the Filipino-American community.

“We’re looking to establish a cultural village for the Asian American Expo 2019, so you see there’s a lot of moving parts going on because for me, it’s important for CCYP to collaborate with a lot of different organizations and people from different cultures to truly represent each group,” Kao said, adding that the collaboration with the Asian Journal was to bring in the Filipino-American flavor to the expo.

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. — along with its properties, Balikbayan Magazine and the Travel, Trade Consumer Expo — is one of the leading FilipinoAmerican media organizations with a global presence, and it is honored to be a sponsor for what promises to be the biggest Asian American Expo ever.

As if the expo couldn’t get any more exciting, ANIME Impulse will host its 4th convention at the expo where Anime fans are welcome to cosplay as their favorite characters! Fans also have the chance to meet their favorite cosplayers, play a wide range of vintage and new video games at the new gaming corner and sign up for the Cosplay Contest and the Cosplay Parade.

Another anticipated showcase is the return of BlushCon, a massive gathering of more than 20 of the most prominent ror film, to be included in this year’s lineup is a welcoming option for MMFF patrons.

But unlike the films under this genre that have competed in former MMFF editions, Curtis proudly noted that they are bringing a new sub genre of horror with Aurora.

“Iba ang makikita n’yo dito sa ‘Aurora’ — from the cinematography to the music, na talagang world-class, to the location, the acting and the color grading —lahat iba dito.

Kaya sobra akong excited to be back in the genre with this

Anne Curtis is the courageous Leana in horror flick ‘Aurora.’

brands in makeup and skincare that boast more than 70 beauty influences across the world.

Back for its second appearance at the expo, BlushCon is sure to please makeup enthusiasts who will get a first-hand look at the current trends sweeping the world of beauty and fashion.

The Asian Journal is proud to represent the Filipino-American community in what will surely be a memorable fun-

filled weekend for the whole family.

The 38th annual Asian American Expo will take place from Saturday, Jan. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Pomona Fairplex at 2705 Fairplex Dr., Pomona, CA 91768.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www. aaexpo.com.

film,” Curtis noted during the movie’s grand media conference.

“And one thing I learned while doing this movie, ito pala ‘yung sinasabi ni direk Yam na genre, ang ‘Elevated Horror,’” the actress proudly shared.

Asked what exactly elevated horror is, Laranas — the highly acclaimed director of “Sigaw” (2004), which was turned into a Hollywood film titled “The Echo” (2008), “The Road,” and “Abomination” — came to the rescue.

“Marami kasing permutations, branches of horror.

When you say elevated horror there is a clear story. It is story-and character-driven.

Susundan mo ‘yung kwento at tinatakot ka pero excited kang malaman ‘yung turnout ng story. Hindi ito ‘yung tatakutin ka lang for the sake of it,” the director explained adding that they hope the story will resonate with the MMFF audience.

With this abandonment from the typical horror formula, Curtis herself was surprised to have a different experience in making Aurora.

“When we were shooting the film, tinatanong ko kay direk, sabi ko, ‘yung character ko, hindi ba talaga siya sumisigaw nang todo, which is usual sa horrors? Then sabi niya,

hindi tayo ganun, kakaibang experience ang ibibigay natin sa lahat ng manononood ng Aurora,” Curtis recalled.

“This is really something different from all the other horror films I’ve done,” she added before citing that Aurora has the feel of her favorite Hollywood movies “The Sixth Sense” and “The Others.”

The departure from formulaic horror elements also afforded the movie of an MTRCB PG (Parental Guidance) rating, allowing younger children to experience a horror flick.

“Having a PG rating, ang aking metaphor diyan ay, tipong parang hihilain ni tatay at nanay yung anak nila, excited lahat. Aurora is something like that, sabay-sabay silang natatakot,” Laranas additionally explained.

In ending, Curtis calls out to the moviegoing public to catch their quality horror film beginning December 25.

“I have so much faith about this film because at the end of the day, it’s not about me, it’s about the film. I hope people decide to watch this film not because it’s me but because they really want to watch a quality and amazing film during the MMFF by direk Yam Laranaz,” Curtis finally shared.

(Advertising Supplement)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 19, 2018

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - D ecember 19, 2018