080217 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

AUGUST 2-4, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 62 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Palace: UN experts should coordinate with Office of the President

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday, Aug. 1 urged United Nations (UN) experts to coordinate with the Office of the President (OP) regarding reports of threats against indigenous people or Lumads in Mindanao.

Three UN special rapporteurs earlier released a joint statement calling on the Philippine govern-

ment to address reports of human rights violations against Lumads and human rights defenders.

Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children said that levels of attacks Presidential Communications Assistant

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Secretary Kris Ablan

Malacañang photo

Sen. Angara wants revision of tax rules on balikbayan box

USA

DATELINE Asian American voter potential eyed in 2018 and beyond

ASEAN ALERT. A soldier checks a combat vehicle stationed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex where leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 2. The 50th Asean Ministerial Meeting and other activities will be held in Manila from August 2 to 8.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo

by WINONA

SADIA

Inquirer.net

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Rep. Judy Chu, Fil-Am actor/ activist Lou Diamond Phillips discuss importance of mobilizing the AAPI electorate

BY now, many are seeing the significance of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) electorate following the 2016 general election.

Particularly, the AAPI community won big during the Senate races and AAPI voter turnout was the largest in American history.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the Asian American electorate is the fastest-growing voter group in the United States

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It’s official: Los Angeles will host 2028 Olympics

Senator Sonny Angara

Inquirer.net photo

THE Department of Finance (DOF) should revise its implementing rules on duty- and tax-free balikbayan boxes to give due benefits to millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Senator Sonny Angara said on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Under the Customs Administrative Order No. 5-2016, which contains the

by DANA

SIOSON

AJPress

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, August 1, warned that more operations against personalities involved in illegal drugs will be conducted “without fear or favor.”

In a press conference, PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the police is building more cases against those tagged in illegal drugs nationwide, following the raid in Ozamiz City that led to the death of 15 people, including its mayor, Reynaldo Parojinog Sr.

AFTER weeks of negotiations, the City of Los Angeles has finally locked in a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, a move that officials are confident will be financially advantageous.

The deal brings the Summer Games back to LA for the third time after the city hosted in 1984 and 1932.

“This is a big win for Los Angeles,” Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA Olympic bid committee, told reporters at a news conference on Monday, July 31 at the StubHub Center in PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa

He remarked that the operation in Ozamiz City should serve as a warning to others who remain in the illegal drug trade.

“We are now conducting a case buildup against them, and when there is a case already, we will operate,” Dela Rosa said.

According to him, the PNP will base its case buildup on a list of alleged drug lords and narco politicians earlier announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The PNP chief, however, assured that those who were erroneously tagged in the list have nothing to fear, as the results of police investigations would surely show whether they are involved in narcotics or not.

“But if we are able to validate that their involvement in illegal drugs is continuing, then they have to prepare themselves. As I said, the PNP operates without fear or favor,” Dela Rosa added.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) previously filed drug trafficking charges against businessman Peter Lim, Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, and five others.

The suspected drug personalities are all facing a complaint -- which was filed on July 5 -- regarding the alleged violation of Section 26 (b) of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Section 26 (b) is an attempt or conspiracy for the sale, trading,

ManilaTimes.net photo

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DFA: Framework on South China Sea code might skip Hague ruling

Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said the framework, which is expected MANILA — The arbitral rul- to be endorsed by Southeast ing that voided China’s expan- Asian foreign ministers next sive claim in the South China week, would be “generic” and Sea might not be mentioned would outline the nature of the in the framework of the code code of conduct for parties in of conduct for claimants in the the dispute.

“It’s an outline, the nature of maritime row, an official said on the code of conduct, what prinTuesday, Aug. 1.

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

boxes, or not exceeding the amount of P450,000 in a year, given that the goods are not in commercial quantities.

“Ang intensyon ng CMTA ay gawing tax-free ang balikbayan boxes na may halagang P150,000 times three kada taon, at hindi P150,000 divided by three (The intention of CMTA is to make taxfree the balikbayan boxes amounting to P150,000 times three per year, and

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PNP vows more operations against drug personalities

City promises economic upturn leading up to the games

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implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Customs Modernization Tariff Act (CMTA) as signed by the DOF and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in December last year, “all balikbayan boxes per sender in any calendar year shall not exceed P150,000.”

This rule, Angara said, was contrary to the intent of the CMTA, which allows OFWs to send up to three P150,000worth of duty- and tax-free balikbayan

ciples govern the behaviors of (the parties). I would think it’s something more generic so there’s no specific mention (of the arbitral ruling),” Bolivar told reporters in Malacañang.

“In broad strokes, definitely, there’s an identification of the legal basis, what are we trying to accomplish in terms of the legal basis, and then the princi-

ples of the law of the seas. And then perhaps, a statement on how countries should behave in the region,” he added.

When asked if the legal basis would include the arbitral ruling, Bolivar said: “We will have to see. It’s a negotiation. As mentioned, it’s already part of international jurisprudence.”

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Former Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III at the tomb of his parents, former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino and Sen. Ninoy Aquino, on the 8th death anniversary of his mother on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon

Aquino hits threats to abolish PCGG, CHR

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

FORMER Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III expressed his apprehension against the plan to scrap the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the agency tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of late President Ferdinand Marcos.

He also criticized the threat of his successor, President Rodrigo Duterte, to abolish the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Speaking to reporters, Aquino stressed that the Philippines still needed the two government agencies, which were both created during the term of his mother, the late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier disclosed the current administration’s proposal to abolish the PCGG and transfer its

power to another agency as part of a bigger plan to trim redundant agencies in the executive branch.

The PCGG was created in 1986 to recover about $10 billionworth of the ill-gotten wealth acquired by and his cronies.

“Have they finished their job yet? During my term, they had still recovered some of the [illgotten wealth of the Marcoses],” Aquino said of the PCGG. Since its establishment three decades ago, the agency has so far recovered an estimated P170 billion-worth of cash and assets plundered by the Marcoses.

The agency also reported that it was able to recover P57.1 billion in 2012, P631 million in 2013, P1.57 billion in 2014, P14.01 billion in 2015 and P481.95 billion in 2016.

“Indeed their work is not yet

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A AUGUST 2-4, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Palace: UN experts should...

PAGE A1 against many groups in society have been spiraling.

“It’s a very strongly-worded statement and we anticipate a more detailed report regarding the allegations mentioned here in the report,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan said.

In the joint statement, the UN experts said that they have been in contact with the government regarding such concerns.

Ablan, however, said that the UN special rapporteurs have not been in contact with the Office of the President.

“As far as the PCOO is concerned… the [Office of the President] has not been contacted by the [UN Human Rights Council].

If it’s perhaps the [Commission on Human Rights] then we’d like to reach out to the UN to coordinate with the OP,” Ablan said.

The UN experts called on the Philippine government to prevent violence or killings against

indigenous communities, human rights defenders and farmers.

“We urge the Government to ensure effective protection of individuals and groups who may be subject to extra-legal, arbitrary or summary executions, or those who received death threats,” the UN experts said.

Lumad schools The statement comes on the heels of a threat by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 23 to bomb Lumad schools — those set up by indigenous peoples’ groups to teach the children and members of their community — for allegedly operating without government permits and allegedly teaching children to rebel against the government.

The threat has since been walked back, with the president saying he did not say he would have schools with children inside bombed. A Palace spokesperson also clarified that “on the contrary, he said that they should get out of the schools as he was re-

ferring to structures and not the children.”

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, has said that despite the strong warning, the actual bombing “will not happen. I’m sure of that.”

On July 26, the Save our Schools Network reported harassment by a paramilitary group at a Lumad school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

SOS Network claimed four members of the Alamara paramilitary group came to the Lumad school in Sitio Dulyan in Barangay Palma Gil. “They were looking for Lando Dalin, a student, [and] Benancio Dalin, Benjo Bay-ao and Nonoy Dawsay all of whom are [Parents, Teachers and Community Association] members of the school,” SOS Network said.

“They threatened to burn Salugpongan Community school if they could not kill at least one of the four identified,” the alert said. n

FOR MARAWI CHILDREN. A Senate personnel inspects books and toys donated for children affected by the fighting in Marawi City. The staff of senators donated and collected toys to be shipped to children staying in evacuation centers in Marawi.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Sen. Angara wants revision of tax rules...

PAGE A1 not P150,000 divided by three),” Angara said during an oversight committee hearing on the review of CMTA’s implementation.

“Ang bawat balikbayan box ay karaniwang naglalaman ng P80,000 worth of items. Talagang pinag-iipunan po ito ng ating mga magigiting na OFW. Kung kaya, para dagdag pakunswelo sa kanila, ginawa nating P150,000 ang tax-free kada kahon (Each balikbayan box usually contains around P80,000 worth of items.

This is our OFWs’ heard-earned money. That is why to provide additional comfort to them, we made it P150,000 the amount of each box that is tax free),” the lawmaker added.

But DOF Assistant Secretary Mark Joven explained during the hearing that there was an “ambiguity” in the language of the law which led to the Finance Department misinterpreting the said provision.

Ang Asosasyon sang Mangunguma nga Bisaya-Owa (AAMBIS-OWA) party-list Representative Sharon Garin, a member of the oversight committee and who was part of the CMTA bicameral committee, said the DOF should have reviewed the records of the bicameral hearing which could help them determine the intent of the law.

Angara then urged the BOC and the DOF to immediately resolve the issues on the IRR of the

balikbayan box law as Christmas season is nearing and this is the period when OFWs send their gifts to their loved ones in the country.

“Magbe-Ber months na naman po at sigurado akong nagsisimula nang mamili ng mga ipapadala ang ating mga kababayan abroad. Noong nakaraang taon pa namin naipasa ito. Sana ay mapakinabangan na ngayon ng ating mga OFW ang mga benepisyong hatid ng batas na ito (‘Ber’ months are coming and I’m sure our fellow Filipinos abroad are already buying stuff they intend to send here. We passed this since last year. I’m hoping our OFWs can benefit from this law),” he said. n

PNP vows more operations...

PAGE A1 administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical.

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the eight suspects to submit their respective counter-affida-

vits. The preliminary investigation of the case is set on August 14.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II also issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (Ilbo)against the accused.

Aside from Lim, Espinosa, and Co, also charged were Lovely Adam Impal, Jun Pepito, Rupel

Malindangan, Max Miro, and Marcelo Adorco.

Co is currently detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, while Espinosa is under the government witness protection for testifying against Sen. Leila de Lima. Impal, on the other hand, was named by Espinosa as his supplier of illegal drugs. n

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US Navy lists 3 major threats to Asia-Pacific community

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The North Korea’s missile tests, China’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea, and the Islamic State (IS) threat in the Philippines are among the three major regional concerns the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) is facing.

PACOM Chief Navy Adm. harry harris Jr. discussed these three issues during the JapanU.S. Military Statesmen Forum in Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 28.

During the forum, harris described North Korea as “a clear and present danger” to global peace and stability.

Last week, Pyongyang launched its 12th missile test this year, which is also its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in less than a month.

The PACOM chief said that the regime of North Korea’s leader,

Kim Jong-Un, is not only a threat to South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., but also “to the entire world because North Korea’s missiles point in every direction.”

“It’s the reason why we call for all nations to implement far stronger economic sanctions against Pyongyang,” he added.

According to him, China plays a vital role in the issue, and should exert influence and help promote denuclearization in the region. harris, however, noted that China must also tone down its aggressive activities in the South China Sea, citing Beijing’s reported militarization and construction of artificial islands in the disputed area.

“Some might find it odd for me to advocate cooperation with China on one hand while criticizing Beijing on the other, but as I like to say, great powers can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he said.

China claims almost the entire

Asian American voter potential...

PAGE A1 — and political organizations are taking notice.

At this year’s Politicon, the annual nonpartisan political convention held in LA, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) acknowledged the shift in the overall American electorate.

“Asian Pacific Islanders are on the rise in this nation and I see it with my own eyes,” said Chu, who became the first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 2009.

Chu was one of the panelists at the convention’s panel called “Asian American and PAcific Islanders: Crucial Vote in Swing States” which explored the potential impact of AAPIs in the American political system.

Chu, who also chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), sung the many achievements of Asian Americans in the last election alone: the number of AAPIs in Congress jumped from 13 to 18 (the most in U.S. history), the “unexpected” election of three Asian American women in the U.S. Senate and the highest voter turnout for AAPIs in U.S. history (35 percent, nationwide).

Notably, she discussed the impact of AAPI voters in swing states. For example, 9 percent of Nevada’s population are AAPIs, but 69 percent of them voted for Democratic nominee hillary Clinton for the 2016 presidential election; Clinton ended up winning the state.

In Virginia, another swing state, AAPIs are 5 percent of the population and 81 percent of AAPIs voted for Clinton; Clinton also ended up winning Virginia.

“The potential for the AAPIs to be the swing vote is enormous, and that’s what I mean when I say we can go from being marginalized to the margin of victory,” Chu said to massive applause.

The congresswoman emphasized the importance of the AAPI role in the 2018 midterm elections, which are “critical” and can give the Democratic Party (the party preference for a majority of AAPIs) a chance to win back the house.

During midterm elections, the opposing party of the current president historically wins more seats. But Chu discussed going further and tackling historically Republican districts that voted for Clinton, many of which are in

South China Sea, with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, as its rival claimants.

Regarding IS, harris said the terror group is a clear threat that must be brought down.

While its main operating areas are in the Middle east and North Africa, the PACOM chief noted that the terror group is trying to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, particularly in Marawi City, Philippines.

An IS-linked terror group laid siege of Marawi City on May 23, and the Philippine government’s operation to reclaim the area has since been ongoing. harris pointed out that the incident in Marawi should serve as a wake-up call for the IndoAsia-Pacific nations.

by Rae ann VaRona AJPress “Only through multinational collaboration can we eradicate The Philippines Dragon Boat AlISIS and other violent extremist organizations before they liance Team (Alliance) took silver in both the Men’s and Women’s spread,” he stressed. n 500-meter events and placed 6th overall in the Toyota Super Dragon California.

Final during the annual 2017 Long California’s 45th congressional Beach Dragon Boat Festival. district — which comprises of a The 2017 Long Beach Dragon heavy Republican votership from Boat Festival took place on July Orange to Mission Viejo — vot- 29-30 at Marine Stadium in Long ed for Clinton and has an open Beach, California, where local and congressional seat in 2018. The international dragon boat teams state’s 48th district (centered in from various age groups came huntington Beach) also has an together to compete in the annual open seat next year. dragon boat races.

Both these districts have a “Over 200 teams from different strong AAPI votership that have countries competed in 18 different the power to shift the midterms. divisions,” Dr. howard Chen, the “Can you imagine, if you mobi- festival’s founder and organizer, lize those voters and get them to told the Asian Journal. turn out and get them to be the Included in the international swing vote, how we could turn lineup were teams from Taiwan, those seats and win back the Canada, and Singapore, among house? It would make a huge others, added Chen. Representing difference,” Chu said. the Philippines for the first time in Also on the panel was Filipino- the festival was Alliance.

American actor and activist Lou established in 2016, the team Diamond Phillips, who discussed consists of Filipino paddlers from the shift happening among different parts of the world inyounger AAPIs. cluding the U.S., Qatar, Dubai, “We’re seeing a generation Singapore, Canada, and the that is starting to embrace their Philippines. All were former memown and perhaps even break bers of the Philippine Dragon Boat away from the more stained tra- Federation (PDBF) teams, the govditions of their immigrant par- erning body for dragon boating ents. They’re becoming more in the Philippines as recognized vocal which is exactly what we by the International Dragon Boat need,” the actor said.

Federation (IDBF).

Phillips is no stranger to social Although it was Alliance’s first activism. Since the early 2000s, time competing at the festival, he has been an outspoken advo- which started in 2003, the team cate for the Filipino equity Act, was welcomed with a lot of supPAGE A5 port from the Filipino-American community, including Filipino paddlers from other teams.

“Racing with Alliance is like you are part of [the] Justice League,” Benj Rodrigo, one of the team’s rowers, shared with the Asian Journal. “We support each other and fight together.”

With members from all over the world, Alliance only trained together as a boat for a couple of days before the festival, but have been communicating regularly via group chat.

“We were competing with teams who trained together the whole year round,” Alliance Team Captain John Panuelos told theAsian Journal. Because Alliance consists of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the team was only able to squeeze in around two hours of practice together total. Rodrigo is based in Singapore, Panuelos in Abu Dhabi, their co-captain from Qatar, and their coach from the Philippines.

Nevertheless, they were able to pull through, bagging two silver medals and placing 6th overall in the Toyota Super Dragon. Among their competitors were national teams from the U.S. and Taiwan.

Rodrigo, who started rowing in 2014 back in the Philippines, was glad to be representing the coun-

Contributed photos by Jhay Oh Otamias

Philippine team wins silver at Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival

try at the festival.

“It was my first time pacing in a big event while representing our country,” he shared. “I kept reminding myself that every stroke of my paddle was for my country.”

Dragon boat festivals, or Duanwu Jie, have many origin stories. One, which the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival refers to, goes back to Qu Yuan, an ancient poet who served as a top advisor to the Chu state’s king during the Warring States period of China. Slandered by jealous officials upon advice he gave to the king, he was sent into exile where he wrote poems.

In 278 BC, the capital of Chu was conquered by the Qin state. This lead Qu Yuan to commit suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Saddened by his death, locals began to row out searching for his body. This eventually became a festival commemorating his death spanning over 2,000 years throughout southern China. The water sport gradually gained popularity abroad including in the Philippines.

“Dragon boat racing has been popular in the Philippines for some time,” said Panuelos. The country holds many dragon boat festivals and regattas with the biggest being the Cherifer PremiumPDBF Dragon Boat Regatta in Manila Bay. Rodrigo’s Philippine home team, Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team, just recently held its first-ever Triton PCL Dragonboat

It’s official: Los Angeles will host...

PAGE A1 Carson, California, which is slated to be one of the venues for the 2028 Games.

For the last few weeks, the city has been in talks with both the IOC and officials from Paris, a rival bid city about which city shall host the 2024 and 2028 games. Last month, the IOC complicated the competition for the 2024 Games when it named two winners in LA and Paris.

The latter city is slated to host the 2024 Games.

“There is no other metaphor. It was a marathon,” LA Mayor eric Garcetti said at the press conference. “A couple times, we were counted out altogether. But we never hit a wall. We never lost our focus, and today we are at the finish line.”

“We are here today to make history,” Garcetti said. “I’m proud to say the Olympics are coming back to the United States of America.”

According to Wasserman, the predicted contribution from the IOC to Paris in 2024 will be $1.7 billion. Significantly, the IOC contribution to LA in 2028 would be at least $2 billion because of the sponsorship money the city is predicted to receive.

Additionally, LA would also

generate more savings and supplementary revenue in domestic sponsorship deals that would be unclaimed by international corporate partners of the IOC. Usually, the bulk of contributions from the IOC isn’t sent to the host cities until a couple years before the games, but the IOC has agreed to give LA an advance of $180 million that will cover the organizing committee’s costs for the additional four years.

Notably, as much as $160 million of the advanced contribution will be funneled into public youth sports programs, which Garcetti promised could see increased funding as soon as within the next year.

Moreover, LA’s bid estimate includes a $487.6 million contingency, money set aside for cost overruns to avoid huge financial blows that have plagued host cities in the past. If the 2028 games finish at or are under budget, that contingency would be converted into a surplus; and, city officials have made a deal to keep most of that money.

“I can look people in the eye and say this is a much stronger deal financially,” Garcetti said. “I want something for the people of LA now. I want the excitement to

Cup in July, which he said was a success.

According to the PDBF, more than 30 teams have been organized in the Philippines, comprising of students, professionals, businessmen, and military personnel. Aside from the country’s National Team, which holds many world records, club teams have been active in dragon boat races across Asia, Australia, europe, the U.S., and Canada.

At the recent 2017 Taiwan International Dragon Boat Championships held in July, the Philippines set a new world record, taking gold in the 20-seater men’s 200m along with three other gold medals, according to the Manila Bulletin.

The feeling of reaching the finish line together as a team is one of Rodrigo’s favorite things about racing.

“It’s a team sport,” he said, adding that Alliance felt like being with family. “You are not doing it for yourself, but you’re doing it for everybody and for the team.”

For Panuelos, the whole process is what he enjoys most. “From prep to the actual race, to getting results and seeing what we have accomplished...every race is different,” he added.

Prior to the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, Alliance participated in the 21st Annual Kaiser Permanente Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California last year, where they won four gold medals and one bronze. n build.”

Garcetti, who led the city’s campaign to bring the Olympics back, is positive that the terms of the agreement should “outweigh” any perceived uncertainties in hosting a massive global event 11 years in advance.

Addressing the costs of infrastructure and transportation projects the city has lined up, Garcetti assured that upcoming city projects were not dependent on the bid, adding that the city is “modeling the Olympics around the city, and not modeling the city around the Olympics.” experts have said that rather than constructing new stadiums and arenas, LA could save billions by relying on existing venues such as the Staples Center, the Coliseum, and the Stubhub Center. Additionally, rather than constructing a new Olympic Village, athletes and members of the media could be housed at the UCLA and USC campuses.

When asked whether he was upset the city lost the heavily-campaigned-for 2024 Olympic Games, Garcetti said that hosting 2028 is more beneficial to Angelenos.

“What we were able to negotiate — this deal was too good to pass up,” Garcetti said. “This legacy can inspire a whole new generation.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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DFA: Framework on South China Sea code...

PAGE A1 Foreign ministers from 27 countries will gather in the country for the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings to be held on Aug. 2 to 8 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The Philippines is the chairman of this year’s summit, which has the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

Foreign ministers from the 10-member regional bloc are expected to review the progress and direction of the ASEAN community-building efforts and to exchange views on key issues including the South China Sea dispute.

China claims about 90 percent of the entire South China Sea but it is being contested by Taiwan and four ASEAN members — Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

In 2002, ASEAN and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to address maritime disputes peacefully. More than

14 years have passed since the declaration was signed but parties have yet to craft a binding code of conduct.

Philippine officials are optimistic that a framework for the code of conduct would be endorsed this year. The framework was completed last May. Arbitral ruling In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s maritime claim before an international arbitral tribunal, calling it “excessive” and “exaggerated.”

A Hague-based arbitral court ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, saying China’s maritime claim has no legal basis.

China has dismissed the ruling as “illegal since day one” and “a mere piece of paper.”

President Duterte has said he is ready to temporarily set aside the ruling to improve the Philippines’ ties with China.

Duterte excluded the arbitral ruling from the agenda of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit last April, saying the issue should

Asian American voter potential...

PAGE A4 which called for stronger recognition and benefits for Filipino World War II Veterans. He has also actively fought for rights of Native Americans One thing all the panelists agreed on was that prospective representatives — on local, statewide and national platforms — must address the issues of individual communities and avoid treating the AAPI community as a monolith.

“What I don’t want to see is a homogenization of Asian American experience. You cannot necessarily segment or subdivide the Asian vote,” Phillips asserted.

“There are so many of us classified as Asian, and each of these individual communities must be addressed and not just washed over the same big brush. So it’s going to be incumbent upon representatives to address our community’s needs, individually.”

Also on the panel were MSNBC journalist and anchor Richard Lui, political strategist Bill Wong and founder and president of the Millennial Action Project Steven Olikara.

Fil-Ams weigh in on representation, urge AAPIs to become politically active Asian Americans in the public

eye are not the only ones noticing the impact of AAPI participation in the political system.

Helen Ronaldo of Buena Park, California became “more politically minded” during a high school class government class where she learned about the importance of Asian American representation in governing roles.

“I realized that up until recently, the people governing our country were basically all white, straight men who were ignorant of the issues facing many demographics. I’m happy to be alive at this time when we’re seeing a shift in our government in term of diversity, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Ronaldo, 18, told the Asian Journal after the panel on Saturday.

The future political science major at Cal Poly Pomona added that although she advocates a more diverse pool of lawmakers, she notes that “it’s not about filling a quota”, but rather “it’s all about who is best fit for the job.”

“Historically, a lot of people weren’t elected because of their race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation,” Ronaldo remarked.

“There are a lot of qualified folks from the Asian community who can serve all Americans and shed a light on people who were once

only be discussed by the Philippines and China. But he vowed to bring up the landmark decision before Chinese leaders within his term.

Bolivar could not say when a binding code of conduct would be completed.

“We don’t want to put a timeframe on that. But definitely, it will begin as soon as the approvals process of the framework is over…Well, this is actually a very big step that we have a framework that will be endorsed by the ministers in a few days,” the Foreign Affairs spokesman said.

“What we’re trying to achieve is more than just binding, it’s an effective code of conduct, one that will be respected and observed by all. We’re hopeful, because of the commitment between the ASEAN and China,” he added.

Joint communiqué will reflect interests of ASEAN, individual nations PAGE A7 ignored by senators, Congressmen and other political leaders.

Representation is really important in all spheres, but especially in our government because our government is supposed to be a representation of all of America.”

Jun Uy also believes in the importance of representation to mobilize the AAPI community and praised Asian Americans currently serving in the government, notably CA Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) — who is the first and only Filipino American in the state Legislature — and Sens. Mazie Hirono (DHawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois).

“I rally behind them, not just because of their ethnicity though, but because now I can rest easy and know that there’s someone who has my interests in mind and understands the Asian American experience,” Uy, a social worker living in Burbank, told the Asian Journal. “It’s like when you see videos of little girls who are excited about Wonder Woman: there’s finally a mainstream female superhero on the forefront. They’re excited that there’s someone who looks like them making waves, and that’s how I feel about seeing Asian faces in government, as well as entertainment and other places.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Governor Brown signs AB 617.

Photo from the Office of the Governor

Gov. Brown signs groundbreaking bill to reduce air pollution BELL GARDENS – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Thursday, July 26, signed AB 617 by Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) to establish a groundbreaking program to measure and combat air pollution at the neighborhood level — in the communities most impacted.

“All this poison is the basis of our prosperity and that’s the dark paradox of modernity – we get the goodies but we get the poison with it. So today, we are taking a step to take the poison out as well as increase the prosperity,” said Governor Brown at today’s bill signing ceremony.

“Today we are proving that California will always stand with our most disadvantaged communities. Faced with some of the most destructive impacts of air pollution in the country, we think creatively, work collaboratively and act quickly – defying the odds to protect our children; and the future of our great, golden state,” said Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León.

“There’s an old expression, ‘think globally, act locally.’ The cap-and-trade and air quality bills the Governor is signing into law this week do both. With these bills we are continuing California’s global leadership on climate change and, at the same time, bringing direct air quality improvements to local communities that have been most harmed by pollution. California is once again showing you can succeed by being visionary and practical at the same time,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.

“We passed these bills today for people like Maria who takes care of her five grandchildren in

a one bedroom apartment in Bell Gardens but, is afraid to let the kids play outside in the poisoned air, and for Rocio who grows vegetables for her family in Commerce, but worries they could be toxic from the contaminated soil.

This package, though historic, is only a strong down-payment. We have much work ahead of us to address regions, like mine, that have been treated like wastelands for generations. Justice is never swift. Environmental justice won’t be either. California is at the tipping point of greatness and I have no intention of letting my home go backwards again,” said Assemblymember Cristina Garcia.

“California has come together to act on climate, united across party lines with one clear vision for the future. Together AB 617 and AB 398 will allow us to achieve our ambitious climate goals without leaving anyone behind. We have created a positive trajectory that the world can follow. Our groundbreaking climate change policies are centered on air quality and the all too real public health ramifications of global warming.

The community plans outlined in AB 617 are critical in targeting pollutant hot spots and ensuring true climate equity in areas that historically have been disproportionately impacted by pollution; communities like those that my colleague from Bell Gardens and I both represent,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.

“For too long, landlocked, freeway-locked communities near heavy industry like mine have been ignored during major environmental movements in California. This is an issue that hits close to home for me (and many other inner city legislators). My young son, who is being raised in these

neighborhoods, unfortunately has asthma. I’m proud to be an author of AB 617 to ensure that future generations of Angelenos have the ability to breathe clean air,” said Assemblymember Santiago.

The bill signed establishes a comprehensive, statewide program — the first of its kind — to address air pollution where it matters most: in neighborhoods with the dirtiest air. This new program helps dramatically improve air quality in local communities through neighborhood air monitoring and targeted action plans that require pollution reductions from mobile and stationary sources with strong enforcement and timetables. The legislation also mandates that large industrial facilities, including oil refineries, in California’s most polluted communities upgrade their old, dirty equipment with cleaner, more modern technology by December 2023 at the latest. The legislation also increases the penalties against polluters that the Legislature has not been able to increase in more than 35 years.

The governor signed the legislation at the Neighborhood Youth Center in Bell Gardens.

Earlier today, Governor Brown spoke at the opening of Proterra’s new 100,000 square-foot zero-emission battery-electric bus production facility in the City of Industry. A day earlier, Brown signed AB 398 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia — part of the legislative package announced with AB 617 — to improve and extend the state’s world-leading cap-andtrade program by 10 years until 2030 and help ensure California continues to meet its ambitious climate change goals. n

A6 AUGUST 2-4, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Law enforcement

FEATURES

DURING the early morning of Sunday, July 30, members of the Philippine National Police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), armed with search warrants, raided homes of alleged illegal drug personalities in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog Sr. and his wife died during the raid on their house, while 13 other people were left dead after the police operation.

Authorities claimed that the shootout ensued when the Parajinogs and their supporters fired at police officers.

Ironically, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed in and around the Parojinog residence. However, the CCTV cameras were “paralyzed” during the time of the incident.

Citing irregularities on how law enforcers conducted the raid, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is awaiting the official police report and is already initiating its own investigation on the incident.

“No conclusions yet at this time, but the purpose of the investigation is to determine if protocols were followed in the implementation of the search warrant and use of deadly force,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.

CHR commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana reminded the PNP to comply with the existing rules of engagement covering arrest and search warrants.

“There are set procedures on how to legally and validly serve warrants of arrest or search warrants,” Gana said.

Several lawmakers have assailed the credibility of the police operations and expressed doubt that due process was followed in the raid.

The slain mayor’s daughter, Nova, accused the policemen of planting drugs at the scene.

Meanwhile, Malacañang vowed that it would not meddle in the CHR’s investigation.

United Nations human rights experts urged the government to immediately act on the increasing reports of human rights violations, including murder, threats against indigenous peoples and the summary execution of children.

There are unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines that have become emblematic of persistent dangers that threaten everyone.

Unless the PNP clarifies what really transpired during that fateful morning, the Parojinogs’ case will just be added to the string of criminal incidents wherein police officers have instantly shot suspected drug peddlers and pushers upon encounter.

We live in a civilized society that is bound by laws, which required all people to live based on respect for the sanctity of life, democracy and human rights.

It is unpleasant to see officers you expect to uphold the law and apprehend criminals, as the

Editorial

same people the citizenry should be afraid of. It is a betrayal of trust and a degradation of peace and security. They are, after all, in charge of ensuring the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Without proper enforcement, stringent national and international laws do little in promoting and protecting the right of every citizen. When this happens, the world succumbs to senseless violence. (AJPress)

Could the new chief of staff General John Kelly reign in on Trump?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE White House is in chaos, but let us look at the glimmer of hope in President Donald Trump’s appointment of General John Kelly as chief of staff, replacing Reince Priebus, who reportedly served for the shortest time in White House history — January 20 to July 27, 2017.

Kelly previously served as the secretary of Homeland Security until Priebus stepped down amid the controversies, legislative failures, and internal turmoil that continue to hound the Trump administration. Priebus was the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) since 2011 until Trump appointed him in January this year.

Kelly was a decorated retired

Marine general whose service to the country includes three tours in Iraq. He has earned the respect of people he has worked with, with a kind of leadership that can withstand pressure, instill order and structure in the system. As a person, Kelly has been admired for his adherence to the truth, respect for people and the rule of law.

In the seven month-old Trump presidency, many Americans hope Kelly as chief-of-staff can reign in on what is wrong in how the Trump administration is being ran, be able to help weed out all the drama in the White House and help the president be on the right track in fulfilling his promises to the American people.

His first few days give us reasons to be optimistic — he fired the potty-mouth Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. He has started to implement the military discipline and chain-of-com-

mand, initially by making people in the White House like Steve Bannon, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Kellyanne Conaway, etc. report to him instead of going directly to Trump, as was the case during Priebus’ term.

BUT the big test here is how he can be effective in his job with the 71-year-old Donald Trump as the “boss”. Questions we need to follow up on: Will Kelly be able to reign in on Trump’s Twitter problem which has proven to be the source of many of the Trump’s presidency problems — his reckless, impulsive use of twitter to accuse President Obama and the British spies of wiretapping and surveilling him; to lambast government officials in co-equal branches of government like judges, legislators who disagree with him; to pick a fight against leaders of other countries (except Russia’s Putin) as well as international

organizations whose policies go against his own agenda; to announce policy changes like the banning of transgenders in the U.S. military which has blindsided even his own Defense Department secretary and Pentagon officials; and to use twitter aggrandize himself without regard for the truth?

WHICH brings me to the next point — could Kelly reign in on Trump to be honest, transparent and faithful to the truth? Could he convince him to cooperate with the Mueller investigation instead of demonizing the investigators and the investigations themselves and help get to the bottom of the allegations against him? Could he convince Trump that doing this would actually help remove the cloud of doubt hovering over his presidency if indeed he is not hiding anything?

Just last Monday, another expose came out from the Wash-

ington Post which alleged that Trump “dictated” the misleading statement Donald Jr. gave regarding his meeting with the Russian lawyers and other Russian players in the Trump Tower in June of 2016, during the U.S. presidential campaign season. This, after their repeated denials about Trump’s having no knowledge about the meeting and denials about having anything to do with Donald Jr.’s statement, which also came from no less than his personal lawyer. Could Kelly make Trump stop all the lies and be transparent and forthcoming from this day forward?

Could Kelly rub off on Trump the RESPECT he needs to accord to people he work with, people he does not agree with, people critical of him, and make him realize he is now representing the Office of the President of the United States of America? Could he make Trump understand that

the three branches of government are co-equal and he, as president, should therefore respect their authority and treat them as partners in making America great again?

Could he make him comprehend that he, as president, is not above the law, and should be leading with example on how to respect and follow the rule of law?

I sincerely hope Kelly succeeds, because if he does, Trump has a better chance of succeeding in fulfilling his promise of making America great again.

Otherwise, one of two things may happen: either Kelly resigns or Trump tells him, “YOU’RE FIRED!” *** 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 ABSCBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

It is not the bells, but the story of Balangiga that matters

From A Distance CARMEN N. PEDROSA PRESIDENT Duterte’s demand for the return of the Balangiga bells has revived an issue when Americans took over the Philippines. The U.S. has not returned the bells after more than a century since the war. Both Americans and Filipinos claim these bells are trophies of war.

“Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage.” Duterte said in his second SONA. The U.S. Embassy replied “We are aware that the Bells of Balangiga have deep significance for a number of people, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We will continue to work with our Filipino partners to find a resolution.” The bells were used to signal the Filipino attack on American soldiers eating their breakfast.

There is a book entitled “The Ordeal of Samar,” by Joseph L. Schott. A review by Thomas Connell wrote that troops were sent there to civilize the natives because Samar was a hotbed of rebel activity.

“On Sunday morning, Sept. 28, 1901, some 500 Filipino rebels who had slowly gathered inside the church, some dressed in women’s clothing, waited for the

signal to attack. While the U.S. troopers were having breakfast, police chief Sanchez grabbed a sentry’s rifle and fired it, signaling the insurgents to begin their assault on the garrison. The bells rang and the church doors burst open, with screaming rebels brandishing bolos and other improvised weapons such as picks and shovels. It was combat at close quarters; bolos against Krag rifles. The only advantage held by the rebels was the element of surprise,” wrote Ramon Farolan in a column.

“Reprisal was swift in coming. First on the scene was Company “G,” also of the Ninth Infantry, stationed at Basey. The force entered Balangiga, firing away with Gatling machine guns and light cannon. Twenty natives captured at the edge of the town were brought to the plaza and executed. All houses were torched to the ground.

The brigade was headed by Brig. Gen. Jacob Smith. who commanded“I want no prisoners.

I wish you to kill and burn, the more you kill and burn the better you will please me. In his handwriting were the words “The interior of Samar must be made a howling wilderness.”

The Americans argued that the bells were part of the spoils of war, paid for with the blood of American soldiers. We, too, paid a terrible price for a war not of our own making. Theirs was a war of conquest; ours was a fight

for freedom. That is the story of the bells of Balangiga. Whether or not the US returns the bells has become moot. The event is about how the Philippines was colonized and how the poor townsfolk of Balangiga fought back. The bells are the symbol of one of the bloodiest events of America’s colonialism of the Philippines.

“In the mean time some of the liberal left wing extremist newspapers back home started a series of anti-military articles stating that the military was out of control and was randomly executing peaceful Filipino citizens.”

Many careers were ruined as a result of this political lynch mob spurred on by the Democrats back home. There is a lot of action taking place in this book and one would recognize many of the players like; Presidents Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft, Army Generals Chaffee and Smith and USMC Captains Bears and Porter and many others. The political intrigue reminds one of today’s political arena even though this story took place over one hundred years ago. The reader might also find it interesting that “water boarding” was used by the U.S. Army in this story. “ according to an American review.

The author writes about the ordeal of the American soldiers trying to clean Samar of insurrectos.

Because the author was an American the purpose of the sto-

This May 2001 photo shows the two bells of Balangiga at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, that signaled an attack

by Filipino insurgents on occupying American troops in 1901.

Inquirer.net photo

ry was to impart the experiences of the American soldiers.

I do not know if a book has been written by a Filipino. “I mean, this is about Samar, would it perfectly make sense if a Filipino would write about it? Anyway, the book was based on the court-martial records and after reading it, it was fair and objective enough,” the review continues.

“The Ordeal of Samar” talked more of the hardships of the American soldiers who had to go through in order to clear Samar of the members of the Katipunan. It also exposed the horrors, torture and deaths of the

Filipino insurrectos in the hands of the Americans.

In short, some of the American officers during that time did go beyond and had taken advantage of their position. They viewed Filipinos as a group of people to be subdued and they thought that all means were applicable.

But in fairness to Major Waller who led the troops, he only acted in line of what he has ordered or in accordance of his duty. He was not involved in any torture.

He lost a few of his men in the Samar campaign. I think the failure and controversy surrounding the Samar campaign, the execution of 11 natives by firing squad,

the torture and other indiscretions by the American soldiers to eventually give the Philippines its independence.”

To me, Americans committed a propaganda blunder by not returning the bells. They could have done so earlier and be done with it but keeping it only reminds Filipinos of American infamy. It is the story that has become historical with a worldwide audience. The Americans might have taken over Balangiga and taken the bells but it is not something to be proud about. To Filipinos this is a story of courage and bravery against all odds.

(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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HIV infection rate in PH fastest in Asia Pacific - UN

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Philippines has become the country with the fastestgrowing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Asia and the Pacific, according to a United Nations report.

A recent UNAIDS report on the global HIV epidemic states that the number of new infections in the Philippines increased by 140 percent in the past six years, from an estimated 4,300 in 2010 to an estimated 10,500 in 2016.

With new infections more than doubling over the past six years, the Philippines also becomes one of eight countries that account for more than 90 percent of new HIV infections in the region.

Figures show that 83 percent of newly reported HIV cases in the Philippines occurred among males who have sex with males (MSM) and transgender women who have sex with males (TGM), with the majority of the new infections occurring among 15- to 24-year-old MSM and TGW. The UN, however, noted that while the Philippines is the country with the fastest percentage increase, its “number of new infections is not as high as several countries in the region which are estimated to have tens of thousands of new infections annually.”

Eamonn Murphy, director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia-Pacific, said Manila “has a small window of opportunity to act now and stop a major HIV epidemic from taking hold.”

“If HIV programming is redirected to focus on the people most at risk and where they are located, I’m sure the country can not only return to a stable situation but even end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030,” Murphy added.

In a statement, Philippine Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said HIV is one of the top health priorities of the government.

A UNAIDS report showed that the number of new HIV infections in the Philippines increased from 4,300 in 2010 to 10,500 in 2016.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

“We have significantly increased the budget allocated to HIV in the past few years, and are now implementing programs which we expect to have a positive impact,” Ubial said.

With the new information on HIV cases, the Philippines “has retooled its program to expand HIV services for males who have sex with males and transgender women and has opened clinics that cater specifically to their needs in urban areas, where the risk of HIV is higher.”

The strategy targets “117 cities where 80 percent of the new infections have been reported and to open in each such city at least one HIV clinic which has convenient evening hours for working people, and is a one-stop shop that provides prevention, counseling, laboratory work-up, and treatment services.”

The Philippine government has also “taken measures towards enabling rapid HIV screening and delivery of test results.”

To those who test positive, the Department of Health (DOH) said it gives up free antiretroviral (ARV) medicine every year and other outpatient services worth P30,000 ($U.S. 600) per person.

“The [DOH], together with the Philippine National AIDS Council, other government agencies, local government units, and partner civil society groups is determined and committed to halt the increase in the number of cases and start reversing the trend of the epidemic in five (5) years,” Ubial added. n

Aquino hits threats to abolish...

PAGE A1 finished. There’s no single person who knows all that needs to be recovered,” the former president added.

Referring to CHR, Aquino said its functions were not “maximized yet.”

“Will we allow ourselves to submit to threats abolishing the agency which protects human rights? As long as we haven’t reached a perfect society, I think we still need an agency such as CHR,” he remarked.

Duterte previously threatened to abolish the CHR in a press conference after his second State of the Nation (SONA) last week.

The CHR was created in 1987 to protect citizens from all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights.

It has been monitoring reports of thousands of summary killings and human rights abuses allegedly done by the police in connection with Duterte’s controversial anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“And when the time comes, yung CHR, yung opisina dito (the CHR, its office), you are better abolished,” Duterte warned.

Malacañang later clarified that the commission “cannot be abolished by mere legislation.”

It noted, however, that the chair-

person and its members can be replaced.

Aquino further called on Filipinos to preserve the country’s democracy amid these trying times.

His late parents, Cory and Benigno “Ninoy” Jr. Aquino, are still considered the country’s democracy icons after leading the fight against Marcos’s dictatorship.

Cory Aquino became the country’s president after Marcos was toppled down in the peaceful EDSA revolution in 1986, also known as the People Power Revolution, three years after the assassination of her husband in 1983.

“Anything that’s not taken care of will crumble. It’s our obligation, as those who benefited from the sacrifices of the ones who came before us, to defend the rights that were not handed down but fought for,” Noynoy Aquino said.

On Tuesday, August 1, Aquino and his sisters commemorated the 8th death anniversary of their mother at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Cory passed away in 2009 due to colon cancer.

“If we do not value these rights, we might wake up one day and have already lost them,” Aquino added. n

DFA: Framework on South China Sea code...

PAGE A5 Asked if the Philippines’ ties with China would affect the outcome documents of the ASEAN, Bolivar said: “As chair, our role is to accurately reflect the discussions that will happen around the table.”

“The AMM (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting) is joint communiqué, is a negotiating statement, so all member-states of the ASEAN will have to negotiate that joint communiqué, so it will reflect all the interests of the ASEAN as a grouping and personal, individual interests of the countries,” he added.

Bolivar said a joint working group would meet on the code of conduct once the framework is endorsed.

“There’s definitely an extensive discussion. Whether it’s heated or not, I cannot say,” he said.

North Korea to send representative Bolivar also confirmed that North Korea foreign minister Ri Yong-ho would be attending the

ASEAN Regional Forum next week.

He could not say if North Korea’s missile tests would be discussed during the forum, which would also be participated in by the United States, China, Japan and South Korea.

“We expect an exchange of views on regional and international security issues of concern,” Bolivar said.

“Since the issues you mentioned are a concern for several countries in the region, then we expect a candid and free flow of discussions during that time, on these issues,” he added.

ASEAN foreign ministers urged North Korea to “exercise restraint” in a joint statement issued last April. The regional bloc also reiterated its support for efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Duterte has said China could serve as intercessor between the U.S. and North Korea, stressing that the tension cannot be addressed through violence. n

COLOR RUN. Thousands of participants to the Color Manila Challenge get a dusting of colored powder after crossing the finish line at McKinley West in Taguig City on Sunday, July 30. The fun run was held in the city to promote a healthy lifestyle.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Sereno impeachment case eyed over purchase of luxury car

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno is facing a possible impeachment case over her reported order purchase of a luxury sport-utility vehicle (SUV) using judiciary funds.

Lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, president of Pro-Duterte Constitutional Reformers to Federalism, said he is planning to file an impeachment complaint against Sereno before the House of Representatives this week.

In an interview with DZMM on Monday, July 31, Gadon said Sereno’s purchase of the “immodest and extravagant” vehicle can be considered as the betrayal

of public trust, which is grounds for impeachment.

Using government funds, Sereno reportedly ordered the purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser worth over P5 million for her official business.

About P3 to P4 million, also from government funds, was allegedly used for the bullet-proofing of the said vehicle.

While Gadon said Sereno is entitled to buy a vehicle as a high government official, the lawyer insisted that it should not be too expensive.

“She (Sereno) is entitled to buy a vehicle. The issue here is why is it too expensive and too luxurious when there are other models that are cheaper but have the same function,” Gadon

reasoned.

The lawyer further remarked that President Rodrigo Duterte himself only uses a second-hand vehicle.

“Even President Duterte did not ask for a new car and the one he uses is only a secondhand,” Gadon said, claiming that Sereno’s predecessors did not buy luxury vehicles using public funds as well.

The lawyer also pointed out that the dealer’s website shows that the cost of the SUV was only around P4.5 million, which is about P600,000 less than the P5.1 million acquired by the high court for Sereno.

Sought for a statement, the camp of the chief justice refused to give any comments on the is-

sue.

“There will be an appropriate time for comments on things like those. This is not the time,” SC Spokesperson Theodore Te told reporters, saying that “the media will be informed when it is the appropriate time.”

Apart from the car purchase, Gadon also questioned Sereno’s alleged undeclared earnings in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) when she was a private lawyer and represented the government in an arbitration case.

He also claimed that the Chief Justice has not acted on the pending applications for benefits of the surviving family members of deceased justices under unknown reasons. n

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

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BSP: No need for immediate response to US Fed policy by mayvelin

u. caraballo ManilaTimes.net

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it does not need to respond immediately to any United States Federal Reserve policy action as the Philippines’ inflation rate outlook proves appropriate at present. “In the past we have been saying as well that we do not have to respond immediately with any pressure coming from the U.S. Fed,� Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters late Thursday, July 27.

The U.S. Fed on Wednesday, July 26 (Thursday in Manila) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged and gave no clear signal about the chances of another rate increase this year or about any concern over low

inflation.

The U.S. central bank, however, did confirm it plans to begin reducing its massive bond holding “relatively soon.�

The U.S. is reported to have $4.5 trillion of government and mortgage debt. The plan to wind down its balance sheet is seen indicating the Fed’s upbeat outlook on the US economic recovery.

Looking inward, the BSP sees a different set of factors as basis for its next policy move. “I think we have our own id-

u PAGE B5

Yao’s Zest-O eyes US, ASEAN expansion by raaDee

s. sausa ManilaTimes.net

THE Yao Group of Companies said it is looking to further expand its production in the U.S. and the Asean region. “Our expansion in North America, we have already started production but more on the tropical variants,� Alfredo Yao, chairman of the Yao Group of Companies, told reporters during the 25th Metro Manila Business Conference (MMBC) held at the Manila Hotel on July 27.

Yao also said that expansion of production in Indonesia is ongoing, while in Vietnam, they are also about to start production of their Zest-O brands. “For our local expansion, we have health drinks like soya,

Tax reform seen positive for stocks

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

THE much-anticipated legislation of the first phase of the Duterte administration’s tax reform program this year will propel the local stock barometer to as high as 8,700 by end-2018 as tax cuts put more money into consumers’ pockets, regional investment house CLSA projected.

In a 112-page special report in July titled “Tax us, please!� written by the Philippine research team led by Alfred Dy, CLSA analyzed the impact of the tax reform program, the first package of which is targeted to

raise P133.8 billion or 0.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018. “Tax hikes are rarely met with cheers but the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) is something to celebrate,� the study said.

CLSA commissioned a nationwide survey of 1,200 Filipinos aged between 21 and 59 across seven income brackets to gain a glimpse of how the proposed CTRP package 1 — and particularly the lowering of personal income tax — would affect consumption. “All told, average take-home pay could increase by 7 percent from which our re-

spondents hope to save 26.9 percent of the incremental earnings with the remaining 73.1 percent going to consumption,� the research said.

The survey also suggested that banks would benefit from more deposits and loans while retailers could be winners too as people allot an extra 13.8 percent for groceries, CLSA said.

Telecommunication companies are also seen to gain as CLSA’s respondents said they would spend 2.8 percent more on mobile load and 3.3 percent more on broadband.

Quick-service restaurants were also iden-

u PAGE B2

Resorts World to open 10 bingo outlets this year milk and chocolate,� he added.

Meanwhile, Yao is hoping that within this year the company’s illegal patent issue with China will be resolved.

About five years ago, Yao’s Zest-O brands encountered illegal patent issues in China.

The local beverage conglomerate has already established a plant in China but its operation was stalled because of the patent issue. Yao expects the case in China to be settled within this year. n

by angelica

ballesteros ManilaTimes.net

LISTED gaming firm Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) said on Friday it is targeting to put up 10 more bingo outlets this year in line with its commitment to put up 20 branches annually.

The company has so far put up 11 branches since the third quarter last year up to the first quarter of 2017. “For this year, I guess the target is about 20 per year, so maybe

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another 10, either [by]acquisition or new services,� LRWC Investor Relations head Alfredo Reyes told reporters following the company’s stockholders’ meeting. “We’re on the lookout for good areas where we can set up good retail operations. So that’s the countryside, for instance, there’s still a good market for the retail of electronic bingo.�

Details have yet to be finalized as the company is still in the process of locating potential sites.

u PAGE B2

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Business news

B AUGUST 2-4, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

PAL ready to invest $400 M Remittances, BPO revenues seen to shield peso for NAIA 2 expansion by iris

gonzaLes Philstar.com

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA - Philippine Airlines has proposed to invest $400 million to expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, citing the need for new capacity given the worsening congestion in the country’s main gateway.

However, PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said if the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) proceeds with a plan to reshuffle airline operations, PAL may no longer proceed with its proposal to expand T2.

“We proposed to expand NAIA 2 because we need a new airport.

But there are new developments now,” Bautista told The Star recently.

The government wants to move the local operations of PAL and Cebu Pacific to T2, currently PAL’s hub for local and international flights.

PAL’s international operations will move to NAIA T1 while other international airlines in NAIA 1 will then move to NAIA T3.

Bautista said PAL has no problem with the proposed reshuffling of terminal operations, which would be easier to implement compared to expanding T2.

“That is easier to do rather than propose a new international terminal, but it is really important to have a new international terminal. We are open to both possibilities for the good of the country,” Bautista said.

He said if PAL does not proceed with the expansion of T2, the government could still proceed with the project or even convert it into a low cost domestic terminal, similar to other airports, which have separate termi-

nals for budget airlines, he said.

“They can convert it into a low cost domestic terminal like other airports, for example, Singapore, which has a budget terminal. That is easier to do,” Bautista said.

But if the reshuffling of terminal operations does not happen, Bautista said PAL would pursue its proposal to expand T2.

PAL has already submitted its unsolicited proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

If there are no problems, the company may complete the project by 2020.

The cost of the project, Bautista said, is $400 million.

Under the expansion plan, PAL wants to lease some of the government-owned idle lands that are adjacent to the existing T2. This includes the areas occupied by Nayong Pilipino where the Philippine Village Hotel is and another area of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

PAL will need a total of 33 hectares for the expansion but at present it only has a lease contract covering 18 hectares, Bautista said.

The MIAA would need to

get an opinion from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel if PAL can lease the additional properties, he added.

According to PAL’s preliminary studies, there will be a new terminal building with a total floor space of approximately 90,000 square meters for T2 Annex designed with 11 to 12 wide-body aircraft gates.

The proposed annex is intended to handle approximately 14 million passengers yearly, according to PAL’s letter to MIAA dated May 10, 2017, as cited by Star columnist Boo Chanco.

At present, T2 has the capacity to handle 7.5 million passengers per annum. Last year, it handled 13.2 million passengers through the three terminals as T2 was unable to handle some of the volume. This was an increase from 11.9 million in 2015.

At the end of the day, what is important is for the country to have another major gateway as soon as possible, which it can do by expanding Clark, Bautista said.

“It’s really good to have another airport aside from NAIA but Clark (International Airport) should be developed,” he said. n

MANILA - The Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU) said steady remittances and revenues from the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector would continue to stabilize the peso amid the volatile global financial markets.

Japan’s largest bank said remittances from Filipinos abroad as well as BPO revenues have contributed steadily to the country’s growth.

The 2022 IT-Business Processing Association of the Philippines roadmap sees the IT-business process management sector booking $39 billion worth of revenues and creating 7.6 million additional jobs.

BTMU stressed the need to monitor the impact of the policies of US President Donald Trump on the industry but said it was unlikely to derail the trajectory of the positive momentum in the sector.

It pointed out BPO revenues offer better support to the peso as its growth pace is at least twice the projected four percent growth in cash remittances this year.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sees remittances hitting a new all-time high of $28 billion this year, four percent higher than last year’s $26.9 billion aided by the strong demand for skilled Filipino workers.

Latest data from the central bank showed personal remittances grew 5.2 percent to $12.61 billion in the first five months while cash remittances rose 4.5 percent to $11.35 billion.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sees remittances hitting a new all-time high of $28 billion this year, four percent higher than last year’s $26.9 billion aided by the strong demand for skilled Filipino workers.

Photo from Philstar

BTMU said the projected growth in remittances is premised on no disruptions to deployment to the Middle East, especially Qatar, which has seen the government rescind its earlier ban of Filipino workers there.

The Trump administration has also been implementing stricter immigration rules that could affect remittances since about 33.2 percent of the total overseas Filipinos are deployed in the US. “These should continue to be stabilizing forces for the Philippine peso this year,” the Japanese bank said.

The peso has been an underperformer in the region depreciating by 2.1 percent since the start of the year. The peso flirted

with the 51 to $1 level this month amid the country’s ballooning trade deficit.

“This has more to do with the Philippines’ current account balance turning into a deficit on stronger economic growth as seen in Q416 and Q117, and in particular on an investmentled growth strategy that was set in place by the prior Aquino government, and continued under the current Duterte administration,” the bank said.

The BSP expects the Philippines to book a current account deficit of $600 million instead of a surplus of $800 million this year. The country last booked a shortfall in its current account was 14 years ago.n

Clients with wage garnishment, huge Resorts World to open 10... sales tax, freak accident seek BK relief

PAGE B1 t Meanwhile, the company said it remains positive on its business outlook for the rest of the year.

LRWC chairman and President Reynaldo Bantug said the company is slowly regaining lost ground in terms of the number of operating sites.

“Year 2016 was a stable year until towards the end. When 2017 started, it was chaotic. So of course that has an effect on

your revenue side, but slowly we’re regaining the previous levels,” Bantug said in the same interview.

“But we’re now following strictly, of course, all the government requirements. The new requirements that Pagcor has are strictly being followed,” he added.

LRWC is engaged in retail gaming through its bingo and eCasino outlets (AB Leisure Ex-

ponent and Total game Zone Extreme), online gaming based in Cagayan (First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corp., First Cagayan Converge Data Center Inc. and LR Land Developers Inc.), casino operations in Midas Hotel and Casino (Prime Investment Korean Inc. and Hotel Enterprises Philippines Inc.) and property and investments in City of Dreams via leasing payments from Belle Corp. (AB Leisure Global Inc.). n

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Freak accident liability I think I want to discuss the client with the freak accident first.

First client is 45. This is really a very unusual case. In fact, I have never encountered a case like this before in the last 30 years.

Client has a rental condo that needs plumbing repair because of water leak coming out of the walls. He hires a plumber that he knows from work. Plumber determines that the leak is coming from a water pipe that is inside the wall. So he cuts a hole through the wall big enough for him to work on the leaking pipe.

He uses a blowtorch to seal the leak. The blowtorch accidentally sets the inside of the wall on fire.

They try to stop the fire from spreading. They fail to stop the fire from spreading. The condo burns down. The fire spreads to the other condos in the building. Eventually, the entire building is on fire and is destroyed.

The building has a master insurance that covers the repairs for building so the building is reconstructed and everybody gets their condos back in shape.

So what is the problem for client if the insurance has paid for everything and all the damage caused by the fire? The problem of course is that the insurance company will sue client to recover whatever they can from client and client does not have liability insurance for the fire.

I don’t know what else to call this but a freak accident. This is potentially a multimillion liability for client in the future.

If client qualifies for Chapter 7 relief then he has no worries anymore because Chapter 7 will just wipe out all of his potential liability for the damage caused. If he does qualify, he can wipe this out and have a fresh start. What we can learn from this accident is that if you should have a plumbing problem and the plumber uses a torch, you better stand behind him with a big fire extinguisher! So, just in case the same thing happens, you can immediately use the fire extinguisher on the fire to kill it and prevent your house from being burned down by a plumbing problem.

Wage garnishment The second client is 63. She had car repossession some time ago. As far as she knows, the repo deficiency was about $25K. Must have been an expensive car with that kind of deficiency. She has just received a wage garnish-

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng

ment order for $40K based on the repo deficiency judgment!

She still works and earns a gross of $5K monthly. How does the wage garnishment work? It will take 25% of her gross wages, or $1,250 a month until the $40K is fully paid at legal interest of 10% a year. She can’t live with such a big deduction from her wages. She won’t be able to pay her rent of $1,100 if the garnishment is done. She also owes about $30K of credit cards.

She needs Chapter 7 relief to stop the garnishment, wipe out the judgment of $40K and all of $30K of credit cards. She will get a fresh start without the burden of accumulated debt. She will be able to reestablish credit immediately. She still has a car payment. She will also be able to get new credit cards as soon as she is done with her bankruptcy because there are banks that specialize in giving new credit cards to debtors who have just come out of bankruptcy.

Huge sales taxes The third client is 66. He operated a business for several years but did not pay sales tax for his products as they got sold.

He owes $120K of sales tax. He closed his business last year.

However, before he closed his business, he was audited by the State and it was determined that he owed $120K of sales tax. Well, that’s bad news. Nobody wants to owe $120K of sales tax at the age of 66; in fact, no one at any age would want to owe so much sales tax. I mean, at 66 you get full benefits from social security but if you owe $120K of sales tax, then your social security will just go to pay the sales tax.

Now what kind of retirement is that? That would be like living in the twilight zone, wouldn’t it?

Now the question is, are sales taxes dischargeable in Chapter 7? In California, sales taxes are dischargeable. The reason they are dischargeable is because they are transactional taxes. They are not taxes, which are held in trust by debtor. If they were held in trust by debtor then there would

be a fiduciary relationship that was breached and that would make the tax not dischargeable.

So sales taxes are not excepted from discharge, therefore they are dischargeable. The caveat is that the legal prerequisites to discharge the sales tax must be met.

Credit cards If you owe credit card debt that eats up a significant portion of your net income, it’s time to get rid of them now with a Chapter 7 wipe out or Chapter 13 reorganization. It’s time to get a fresh start and become productive again. If you owe $30K of credit cards, the minimum payment is $1K a month just for interest payment to keep them current.

In three years you will pay $36K of interest but still owe $30K of principal. Get out of financial quicksand now with Chapter 7 or 13. Owe nothing but keep all your assets, your house, your cars, your retirement accounts and everything else you own and more of your net income for your future financial well being and the financial well being of your family. Even Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before he became successful. Hershey also filed for Chapter 7 before his Hershey chocolate business became successful. Orange County also filed for bankruptcy to protect itself a decade ago. Several Catholic dioceses filed for bankruptcy protection from child molestation lawsuits just several years ago. So, if there is too much debt, bankruptcy is a prerequisite for future success and productivity.

It’s the right step to take and the simplest and best solution to take.

Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advise to any reader. There is no attorney client relationship established by this article with reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with Attorney Yang.

First general consultation is free.

“JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THE DISCIPLES, SAYING, ‘ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.’ MATTHEW 28:18 n

*** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

Tax reform seen positive...

PAGE B1 t tified as potential beneficiaries, with 4.3 percent slated for dining out, while travel was also seen to get a boost, taking 3.4 percent of the bigger wallet.

However, the study noted that higher excise tax might cause a short-term slowdown in growth in the automobile sector.

On personal income tax, CTRP package 1 seeks a shift from a flat 30-percent to a progressive tax rate wherein individuals who earn more are taxed higher, while individuals who earn less than P250,000 a year

will not be taxed at all. Those who earn P5 million or more a year will be placed in a maximum tax bracket of 35 percent.

Assuming that package 1 will be passed within this year, CLSA reiterated its “bullish” market view, upgrading its yearend 2018 Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) target from 8,600 to 8,700, while affirming its end-2017 target of 7,900.

Given that in the last five years the PSEi has traded at an average price-to-earnings ratio of 18.4x, CLSA said it seemed that the market was “fully valued

this year but still has some considerable upside in the next 18 months.” A price to earnings ratio of 18.4x means investors are willing to pay 18.4 times the kind of money they expect to make from companies in the PSEi basket.

Investors should focus on the key beneficiaries of Package 1, particularly those who stand to benefit from the higher disposable-income windfall. These companies are Ayala Corp., Globe, Jollibee, Metro Pacific, PLDT, Puregold, Robinsons Retail and Security Bank, CLSA said. n

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA DURING the 2010 Super Bowl, a 30-second pro-life ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, got some precious air time before a captive audience of over a hundred million. It’s theme: Celebrate Life.

It was a simple ad in a white backdrop that has Tim’s mother telling a short narrative that when she was pregnant with Tim while she and her husband were doing missionary work in the Philippines more than 20 years ago, she contracted a life-threatening disease, which had her doctor advising her to abort her baby. She decided against aborting her baby.

The ad closes with the result of that decision, the young Heisman Trophy winner — Tim Tebow, her football playing son who takes time to do Christian missionary work in the Philippines and elsewhere, playfully tackling her mother and asking, “Are you still worried about me, Mom?” Pro-abortion groups, NOW and NARAL, worked hard to prevent CBS from airing this ad. As it turns out, the ad was so benign that many, on both sides of the issue, had their heads scratching about why there was so much banshee-wailing and offensive counter-positioning from women pro-abortion groups whose intolerance of viewpoints other than their own, has become more and more strident and desperate.

Edmund Burke, once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The issue of ABORTION stares us in the face. That is why true blue dyed-in-the-wool Christians and Catholics who voted for Clinton in the last election despite knowing full well she stood for abortion even at near full term must deal with cognitive dissonance so strong and unrelenting, their conscience should make it difficult to sleep most nights.

All God-fearing and /or Godloving citizens everywhere across the nation should fully engage in this issue. As a dyedin-the-wool Catholic conservative in agreement with millions of Christian evangelicals in many parts of the county, I staunchly believe that the gift of life is from God and that life begins at the moment of conception.

There can be no equivocation on this issue. Abortion is nothing less than the murder of innocents — a most grievous offense against the Holy Spirit from whom all life emanates. It is the duty of all who hold human life sacred to fight for it and uphold moral laws that guarantee the life of future generations.

It’s not easy to stick your neck out these days particularly with the so-called intellectual pundits of the liberal media spewing ridicule, bile and sarcasm over those who believe differently, relying on their Ivy League credentials for their authoritative take on social mores.

It takes courage that comes from deep down to confront the issue of immorality that is becoming so pervasive and ingrained in popular culture, we can drown in it just by switching on the television or watching the movies. The scripts of sitcoms and the stories on TV are skewed towards political correctness, rather than what is true, good and moral, while most pander to the least common denominator in order to serve the largest demographics and the biggest markets.

Our scandal-plagued churches and political figures seem to have

What’s New ARLENE AL-OS, CPA, MBA IF you receive an IRS notice, keep the following suggestions in mind: • Be alarmed, but do not panic. Call your tax professional for guidance. Do not delay your response. Mail your response at least one-week before the specified deadline.

• Do not ignore the notice.

Read the notice very carefully and understand what have caused the trigger. Most IRS notices are about your income tax return.

• Read the instruction. Each notice deals with a particular issue and includes explicit instructions on what to do. Understand the instructions and the requirements. If you are confused and clueless, seek advice from your tax professional.

• Respond timely. A timely response could save you from additional charges of penalty and interest.

• Understand the notice. A notice could be about changes to 1) tax return; 2) taxes owed; 3) payment request; and 4) additional

The fight for dear life

“America your very future as a nation depends on your willingness to protect the right to life of the most defenseless in your soceity.” - Pope John Paul II lost the moral high ground and the voice that once seemed so sure and resonant in matters affecting life, is lost in the din and cacophony of so much chatter.

That is why the family which was once a strong unit of society has to be revived and energized to take charge of a child’s upbringing — not society, not government, and certainly not the treacherous, lying media.

A moral grounding that starts from childhood, nurtured in the teen years and blossoming in adult life is basic in order to see through the twisted logic of political correctness and immorality and confront it head on.

The moral issue of abortion far transcends any earthly concerns.

The battered economy, the war on terror, national security, taxes, energy independence — all these are important issues of our time but as history will attest, all these will be overcome in due time and will eventually come to pass. But the crux of all these problems hinge on how we handle the critical issue of abortion.

Western Europe is taking what looks like a dangerous turn. Once the bastion of Christianity and of Western civilization, it seems headed towards nihilism with its ultra liberal, globalist policies. This is the third time in a hundred years that Germany, as head of the EU, is undermining Europe. World War I, World War II and now via the EU and its suicidal policies, Germany might just succeed without firing a single shot. Just consider for instance, that most of its leaders are childless and seems incapable of thinking ahead for the benefit of future generations. If Western Europe doesn not wake up from its self-induced stupor, the time will come it will be beyond help, even from above.

Its churches are empty and its populations seem bereft of the passions that a solid belief in the defense of the Christian faith requires in fighting the inroads of an antithetical faith that seek to overpower it. Alas and alack, political correctness may have already killed Europe’s soul.

With God’s blessings through a change of leadership brought on by what seems like the silent majority making its voice heard so resoundingly in November last year, America still has one chance to correct the moral depravity it has fallen into in the last 50 years.

It is fundamental to our humanity and our connection to divinity to fight the evil that abortion brings to our world. Our decision to take abortion down or uphold it, will reverberate for centuries beyond our time.

Abortion strikes at the root of our essence as human beings.

This is a call to fight for the unborn — the most defenseless of all creatures, a call to preserve the life of thinking, feeling, spiritual beings in human form.

Estimates of the number of abortions in this country alone have reached the 48 million mark, the population of a country. Worldwide, the figures could be staggering. China is beginning to pay the price for its draconian one-child policy that has brought on a serious and detrimental societal imbalance in its male-to-female ratio, in a culture that puts a higher stock on sons.

While we may think we can choose to play God and decimate our own humanity in the name of

a woman’s right to choose, God alone gives the gift of life and He chooses when and how to take it away. That must have been the deal from the beginning of time.

How special is man in the scheme of creation? Consider the big picture. Some wise person once said that if the beginning of time till now can be thought of as a 24 -hour day, civilization came to exist about 11:55 PM and the spark of life that is man only came to be in the last 2 seconds before the stroke of midnight.

As best as our most brilliant scientific minds through the centuries can figure out, the universe is about 15 billion years old and our sun which was born in the last 4.5 billion years with yet another 5 billion years or so left before it dies, is a common yellow star that makes it possible for man, the highest form of life as we know it, in the solar system, to live on planet earth.

We seem to take it for granted that it took a really long time, about 100,000 years or so before man, in his present form, became the crowning glory of creation, although this can sometimes be debatable when we come to realize our collective stupidities throughout history.

Man is a thinking, feeling, spiritual being in physical form, capable of so much good or of so much evil. In between these two extremes are the multitudes, who in their lifetimes, come to learn, appreciate, enjoy and fight for that gift of life to continue for generations yet to come. Of course, along with that gift of life comes the gift of free will and therefore, the opposite can also be true.

We can choose to do nothing and allow the terrifying prospect of abortion, death and decay to overcome and overwhelm us.

Sometimes, we feel that by ourselves alone, we are powerless to stop this horror from being indelibly imprinted into the fabric of modern life. But together as one voice, countless silent prayers sent heavenward by millions, maybe even billions, among us who believe in the power of prayer, are heard and miracles rain down upon us in our time of need. When we assault heaven with our prayer arrows, the Spirit comes and moves the chosen ones to action, those special human beings, a bit larger than life, who can lead and make the world turn on its axis for humanity to do God’s will.

And indeed on the issue of abortion in America, the miracle came to pass on November 08, 2016. Still, no one should become complacent. For a nation can only be as good as the people who live in it. Pray without ceasing.

The consequences of doing nothing and allowing the horrible evil of abortion to continue unchallenged, are dire. Choose life. Along with free will, nothing in the physical world of the entire universe can be greater.

If God himself in His infinite love, so valued human life that he sent His only Son in human form, for the ultimate sacrifice to save us, where do we get the gall and the temerity to think any less of it? Who do we think we are to even think that we can choose to take it? ■ *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

10 tips to handle an IRS notice

information about a specific item on a tax return.

• If you AGREE to changes in your income tax return. Compare your original return versus per IRS income tax return as changed. Double check the information if changes are appropriate. If you agree of the IRS changes and assessment of additional taxes due, pay the tax liability either in full or on installment. Be aware that penalties plus interest continues until the tax liabilities are fully paid.

• If you DO NOT AGREE with the IRS notice. Mail a letter to the IRS: 1) explain why you do not agree; 2) include information and documents to support your disagreement; 3) scan all documents prior to mailing as you might need it for reference if more documentation is required or in case of lost mail; 5) send your mail via certified mail with return receipt for your records and tracking; 6) Use the IRS address provided on the notice; 7) Wait for the IRS to consider; 8) allow at least 30 days for IRS to respond.

• Call if necessary. Use the

phone number provided in the notice to call. Be sure to have a copy of: 1) the notice, and 2) tax return with you when calling.

• Keep copies of all IRS notices. Always keep copies of any notices received with your tax records. Make sure to provide copy of the notice to your tax professional.

• Beware of IRS payment scam. You have several payment options for taxes owed. To make a payment, visit IRS.gov/payments or mail your payment to the address provided in the notice. If in doubt, call your tax professional. ■ ***

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 tax-related penalties.

*** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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Calendar of Events across

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ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS AU G U ST 5

2017 St. Joseph College of Olongapo City “grand alumni reunion gala night” in Alpine, CA The St. Joseph College of Olongapo City Class of 1987 is hosting a grand alumni reunion gala night on Saturday, August 5. The fundraiser will benefit the high school library project. It will be held at Viejas Casino and Resort at 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA 91901 from 5 to 11 p.m. It is $87 / person and the attire is formal. Please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949)861-1732 or Maridy Salle Curry at (818)730-4490. For registration and for further details about the upcoming event, you may also visit http://sjs2017grandreunion. com.

17th Annual St. Francis Children’s Fund fundraising dinner dance silent auction in Burbank, CA Join us for a night of great food, dancing, fellowship, and answering to God’s call of helping our poor children in the Philippines. This special fundraising dinner dance and silent auction will take place on Saturday, August 5 at Burbank Legion Hall Post 150 (940 W. Olive Avenue Burbank, CA 91506) from 6 to 11 p.m. For reservations, please call Emie at (818) 748-7361 or Ramon (818) 297-6618.

AU G U ST 1 2

Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California’s annual picnic in El Monte, CA The Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California invites alumni, their family and friends, to its annual picnic and membership meeting on Saturday, August 12, at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Picnic Area D #9 ((near Legg Lake area with free parking for the early birds). The address: 750 S. Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, 10 a.m. to sundown. For more information call: Jessie Mario Duran 626.715.2525, Joji Amparo 909.991.8919, and Zeny Duran Bennett 626.824.3595.

AU G U ST 1 3

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) Induction Ball in Whittier, CA The Univeristy of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) will hold its Induction Ball on August 13, 2017 Sunday at the Double Tree by Hilton - Whittier on 7320 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz will swear in Mutch Carino as President of UPAAGLA for 2017-2019, together with the newly elected officers composed of Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu Mercado (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer). The 2017-2019 UPAAGLA Board of Directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Relson Banas, and Angie Alvarez. The advisers of UPAAGLA are Dr. Arnel Joaquin, Vicky Gancayco, Jazmin Gaite, Alma Onrubia, Frank Mamaril, Doris Maligalig, and Sonja Menor. Red carpet arrivals and No Host Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m.

Program and dinner start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, sponsorships and souvenir program advertisements, please call Dick Cu (562) 547-0560.

AU G U ST 1 2-1 3

24th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival in San Francisco, CA The Pistahan Parade and Festival is an international celebration of Filipino community, culture and cuisine. Experience the best of Filipino art, dance, music and cuisine at the Yerba Buena Gardens. On Saturday, August 12, the Pistahan Parade will feature elaborate floats, marching bands and colorful contingents as it marches down Market from Civic Center to 4th St. The festival will include live entertainment, popular balut eating contest, delectable Filipino cuisine, cultural exhibits, hands-on workshops for kids and adults. It will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. Admission is free. For more information, please call 415. 625. 3976 or visit http://www.pistahan.net.

AU G U ST 1 9

Philippine Madrigal Singers to perform in Northridge, CA Philippine Madrigal Singers in Concert on Saturday, August 19 is the long-awaited return to Los Angeles of the world-renowned prize-winning choir. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall at the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) located at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. The theatre is part of CSUN, and tickets are $70, $55, and $40 online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com. Special student pricing is available only in-person at the VPAC box office, call or visit (818) 677-3000 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tour information at www.musicartsevents.com.

AU G U ST 2 0

Philippine Madrigal Singers in Loma Linda, CA An Evening with the MADZ on Sunday, August 20 is an opportunity to hear the awardwinning first-ever two-time European Grand Prix winning choir, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, at Campus Hill Church, 11057 Hill Dr Loma Linda CA 92354. The performance is at 7 p.m. $40 General Admission, $20 Child/Student. For tickets, call Ephraim Dela Cruz at (909) 831-4225, Marjorie Ann Reyno-Huynh at (909) 965-6936 or Nemuel Enriquez at (323) 2290506.

SEPTEMBER 1-4

Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School international reunion in Las Vegas Come and celebrate with RMCHS alumni and guests for the third biannual international homecoming. Sing, dance, party, share precious memories and join the fun from Friday, September 1 to Monday, September 4 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Join the golf tournament in the morning of Saturday, Sept.

2 and then wear your best (black and white) for a dinner dance later that evening. Make this event an opportunity to reunite with your own batchmates, watch a show, visit tourist spots, and stroll along the Las Vegas Strip. For more information, visit the RMCHS 2017 INTL REUNION Facebook page.

O C TO B E R 1 4

26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

O C TO B E R 2 1

NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.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

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Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES FOR most people, being served with divorce papers by your spouse is probably one of the biggest surprises in your life.

The spouse in the receiving end of the divorce sometimes are not offered any explanation for the divorce petition by their spouse.

You may start getting upset about how this can happen to you and start doing things that are going to be seriously detrimental to your divorce case later on in the proceeding. Here are seven things you should not do.

Do not confront your spouse and commit domestic violence Many spouse feel very angry and upset upon receiving the divorce papers. You may start blaming your spouse and attacking your spouse. You may even yell, threaten, scream, or even physically assault your spouse.

This type of confrontation is called “domestic violence.” You may be arrested criminally if your spouse calls law enforcement.

Your spouse may also file a domestic violence restraining order against you. Either one would compromise your ability to seek custody of your children, child support, and spousal support. It would also affect your credibility as a witness for future proceedings. In addition if you do this in front of the children, this may be looked at as domestic violence and abuse against the children.

The incident may be reported to Child Protective Services for in-

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

Seven things you should not do when served with divorce papers by your spouse vestigation.

Do not run to the bank and empty out all your bank accounts or sell assets except for funds necessary retain legal representation in the divorce.

If you have assets, do not run and empty out your bank accounts with the goal of securing it from your spouse. The divorce petition and summons includes certain automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROS) which prohibits transferring and encumbering assets. You will be in violation of the ATROS if you do this. Your spouse may also make a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against you. However there are certain exceptions to withdrawing funds such as funds necessary for your living expenses and funds you need to retain an attorney.

Do not cut off your spouse from any insurance policies One of the ATROS prohibits you from removing your spouse from health insurance coverage and other insurance policy. It would be a violation of ATROS to do so. You need to maintain your spouse on all existing insurance until the divorce is finalized or the status of marriage is dissolved in a bifurcated trial.

Do not take off with your child and move out of state or out of the country If the child has been living in this state, California Court has jurisdiction over your child even if you leave California after being served the divorce. Your spouse

can get an order from the California court to return the child to California and get sole physical custody of your child. This can be enforced through law enforcement in other states. In addition, this would also be an ATROS violation. Such a move would seriously undermine your claim for custody of the children.

Do not use your child as a messenger to communicate with your spouse Divorce process is a very difficult process for the children.

Children often blame themselves for the divorce of their parents.

Children sometimes manifest this through their academic performance during the divorce process. Do not involve the children in your divorce case. Using the children to communicate messages to your spouse puts them in a difficult and very stressful situation. This will also affect your claim for custody of your children if you regularly involve your children in your attempt to communicate with your spouse.

In addition, you should not say disparaging remarks about the other parent to your children.

Do not stalk your spouse in social medias such as facebook or tweeter.

Your spouse probably stopped informing you as to what is going on in his/her life at this point.

You may be curious if your spouse hooked up with a third party or an old flamer. You may be curious what your spouse are telling your friends and family.

Do not stalk your spouse in social media such as facebook. Do not hack into your spouse’s e-mail.

This is a crime. Your spouse can also file a domestic violence restraining order against you for stalking. Most of the evidence obtained illegally is not admissible in court anyways. If you have been unfriended by your spouse, let it be.

Do not quit your job voluntarily If you think you can dodge child support and spousal support by quitting your job voluntarily, it is not going to happen.

Your spouse’s lawyer will argue that there was no legitimate reason for you to leave your employment and may seek the court to impute income on you.

Your spouse may seek vocational evaluation for purposes of determining your earning capacity. In addition, the amount of income you will lose by quitting is substantially more than the money you will owe in child or spousal support. Even if you are successful in dodging the support orders by quitting your job, your spouse can modify them back up the moment you go back to the work force.

If you have been served with divorce papers and are unsure how to react, seek professional help before you dig yourself deeper in the hole. ■ *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only

BSP: No need for immediate...

PAGE B1 t

iosyncratic considerations for the domestic economy,” Guinigundo said.

“Yes interest rate differentials will be a material factor when the U.S. Fed starts jacking up interest rates… But if you look at the probability of a further increase or normalization of the U.S. Fed, I think it has gone down from over 90 percent to about 40 percent or 50 percent,” he explained.

For the rest of the year, the BSP does not expect any additional pressure to come from the US central bank, Guinigundo said, seeing the next Fed interest rate hike possibly happening in

the first quarter of 2018.

While there seems to be some recovery in U.S. growth, Guinigundo does not see that necessarily resulting immediately in more jobs.

“And in the general scheme of things we don’t expect the U.S. Fed to continue exerting pressure on us to start considering a possible tightening of monetary policy in the Philippines,” he said.

“After all, with [an average] inflation rate [forecast]of 3.1 percent in 2017 and 3 percent for 2018 and 2019, there is very little reason why the BSP should start considering a possible increase in our policy rate,” he added.

The central bank—after lowering its reverse repurchase rate to 3 percent from 4 percent on May 16, 2016 in the runup to adopting an interest rate corridor system on June 3 that year— kept its key policy rate unchanged at its June 22 meeting.

The Bangko Sentral said in its recent inflation report that baseline forecasts showed that inflation was likely to settle near the midpoint of the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2017 to 2019.

Inflation is projected to peak in the third quarter of 2017, driven by positive base effects and continued strength in do-

mestic economic activity before it reverts to the midpoint of the target range in 2018 to 2019.

Risks to future inflation remain tilted toward the upside. The impact of the government’s fiscal reform program and the pending petitions for adjustments in electricity rates are the main upside risks to inflation, the BSP report said.

Meanwhile, the main downside risk to inflation is expected to continue to be in the uncertainty about the global economic landscape.

The prevailing inflation outlook supports the view of keeping the policy rates steady,” it added. ■

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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Wednesday, August 2, 2017

MAGAZINE

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 2, 2017

RACHELLE ANN GO & CHRISTINE ALLADO

ALL SET TO PLAY THE SCHUYLER SISTERS IN THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF ‘HAMILTON’

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA/AJPress

FILIPINA thespians Rachelle Ann Go and Christine Allado are both embarking on a major career move as both will star this fall in the West End production of “Hamilton: An American Musical.”

The two ladies will take on the roles of the Schuyler sisters: Rachelle Ann will be Eliza Schuyler Hamilton while Christine will take on dual role of Peggy Schuyler and the temptress Maria Reynolds.

This Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and Grammy Award winning musical will be staged at the Victoria Palace Theater in London at the end of this year.

We caught up with Rachelle Ann at the Broadway Theater a couple of weeks before she leaves her “Miss Saigon” family. Fans have until August 5 to catch her as Gigi Van Tranh, the same role she had at the West End revival of “Miss Saigon” a few years ago.

Performing on Broadway has been very fulfilling for Rachelle Ann and she said she would miss the entire cast, particularly Jon Jon Briones and Eva Noblezada, who were also her co-stars in London.

“Nakakalungkot because I will leave my cast here in New York, sobra na akong napalapit sa kanilang lahat (It saddens me that I will leave my cast here in New York, I have gotten attached to them so much). Eva has become like a sister to me, I am going to miss her a lot,” she shared as segued to the chorus of Schuyler Sisters, one of the songs from Hamilton.

“Si Kuya Jon Jon din, and mga Pinoy sa cast (Also Jon Jon, and the Filipino cast), actually, the entire cast because we’re all one big family here.”

Rachelle Ann’s last show will be on August 5 and after that, she will fly to Manila for a month before embarking on yet another journey to London to start the rehearsals for “Hamilton.”

She is excited for this new chapter in her life where she takes on the demanding role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton. It is a big role and Rachelle Ann is making sure that she fits the shoe real well. She has been listening to the music over and over again for it to become a part of her system.

Rachelle Ann heard that there were auditions in London for Hamilton so she signed up and auditioned for the show last year without having seen the show, which she finally watched on Broadway weeks before they opened “Miss Saigon.” She has seen it twice already and she is planning to catch it one more time before she flies to Manila.

“It’s another dream musical for me. I listened to the album and na-in love ako sa music (I fell in love with the music). Sabi ko, ‘Naku, Lord, parang gusto ko ito!’ Then narinig ko yung songs ni Eliza so sabi ko, ‘This is what I want’. At that point, cli-naim ko na, I’m going to do this. (I said, ‘Lord, I think I like this!’ Then, I heard Eliza’s songs so I said, ‘I’m claiming it, I’m going to to this),’” she shared.

Rachelle Ann auditioned for two roles – Eliza and Peggy and sang a number of songs - “Burn,” “Schuyler Sisters,” “Helpless,” “That Would be Enough.”

During the same auditions, she saw fellow Filipina Christine Allado. The two stars have met a few times in London.

Christine Allado Christine Allado is an acclaimed classical Filipino crossover singer making her name in theater. She is a proficient artist and actress with a voice that fuses her classical soprano roots with a contemporary spin of pop, musical theatre and jazz.

“I still can’t believe it,” Christine told us at the Ma-Yi Anniversary Gala held in Tribeca

Rachelle Ann Go with fellow “Miss Saigon” cast, Eva Noblezada Photos from Rachelle Ann Goʼs Instagram account: @gorachelleann

Christine Allado with Paolo Montalban Photos from Christine Alladoʼs Instagram account: @christineallado

Rachel and Eva with Jon Jon Briones

Christine with Edwin Josue and Jerry Sibal

earlier this year. “I am so excited to be a part of the ‘Hamilton’ family in London, I can’t wait.”

Recently, she had the great honor of singing the Philippine national anthem at the Battle of Brisbane, the title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn. As a performer, Christine joined the world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli as his featured artist in CINEMA World Tour around Europe and Asia.

This fall, she will be a part of the multi award winning musical “Hamilton.” Christine will play a dual role of Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.

Christine was a sophomore at the University of the Philippines Diliman, taking up Business Administration, when she decided to pursue her dream. She moved to Hong Kong for that and ended up

doing “High School Musical” in 2009 and “The Golden Mickeys” in 2010.

Chasing her dream eventually brought her to London where she further honed her singing and acting chops. Her journey led her to West End, where she became a part of “Here Lies Love” as an understudy for Imelda and starred as Vanessa in the triple Olivier Award-winning musical and another Lin-Manuel Miranda creation “In The Heights” at the King’s Cross Theatre in London’s West End and performed in the Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House on ITV, broadcast worldwide.

She also filmed for the BBC’s production of the 60th Anniversary of “West Side Story” playing the lead role of Maria. At the Burnham Stage she played Christine Daae in

“The Phantom of the Opera.”

Getting the role “They told me last December, pagdating na pagdating ko sa Pilipinas, sabi nila I got the role, Eliza Hamilton. Yun ang pinakamasaya ko sigurong Pasko sa ngayon. (As soon as I arrived in the Philippines, they said I got the role, Eliza Hamilton. That’s my happiest Christmas so far),” she said laughing.

And that is why she made sure that even in the thick of rehearsals for “Miss Saigon” earlier this year, she made it a point to watch the musical.

She cried during and after watching it not only because she is going to be a part of that family but because of how amazing the show is.

She is now looking forward to a month-long break in the Philippines where she hopes to rest and recharge while doing more research on Eliza. For now, an uncle of hers is doing the research for her and he has been sending her lots of links and books.

For now, Rachelle Ann is taking it all in and enjoying her remaining days in “Miss Saigon.”

“I want to enjoy every single night. When I learned that I was leaving on the 5th, yung araw na yun naiyak ako sa stage. Parang kailan lang, we opened on Broadway and now I have a couple of weeks left na lang. So I am just enjoying Photo by Troi Santos the moment kasi hindi ko alam

Christine Allado

Rachelle Ann Go on the ʻHamiltonʼ stage.

kung makakabalik pa tayo sa Broadway, di ba? So I just give 101 percent every night. (I cried on stage the day I learned that I was leaving on the 5th. It was like yesterday, we opened on Broadway and I just have a couple of weeks left. So I am just enjoying the moment because I don’t know if I would still be back on Broadway, right? So I just give [my] 101 percent every night),” she remarked.

From her West End debut as Gigi in “Miss Saigon” in 2014 to Fantine in “Les Miz” (both in London) and then making her Broadway debut reprising her role as Gigi to going back to London for the role of her life, Rachelle Ann is enjoying every minute of her life as a theater performer.

She is eternally thankful to friends who pushed her to audition for “Miss Saigon” a few years ago, along with some well-meaning people around her warned that she will be forgotten in the Philippines when she leaves her pop star career there. She also thanked a fellow Filipina for leading the way.

“Laking pasalamat talaga kay (I am extremely grateful to) Lea Salonga for opening these doors for Filipinos. It is a good thing for us to be essaying these roles, like me doing Fantine in ‘Les Miz’ and now this,” she expressed. “Wala na sa kulay, nasa talento na. (It’s not about skin color anymore, it’s about talent.) ”

Jona Soquite wins ‘The Voice Teens’ Joshua Garcia assures he and Julia remain humble

By ELIJAH

RODEROS AJPRESS

“DISCIPLINE and humility are the traits of a true champion.

And I believe you possess these traits.”

These were the words uttered by Coach Sarah Geronimo on Jona Soquite’s journey before the big reveal on “The Voice Teens” winner.

Jona was hailed as the Grand Champion of “The Voice Teens” Philippines last Sunday, July 30.

Under the wings of Coach Sarah, Jona soared high on the grand finals’ performance with her rendition of “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly.

Voted as the first ever winner of the teens’ edition, Jona got 44.78 percent total of viewers’ vote cast via text and various online sites.

The 14-year-old diva was followed by Isabella Vinzon from Bamboo’s team, Mica Becerro from Lea Salonga’s team and Jeremy Glinoga from Megastar Sharon Cuneta with 22.42, 17.79 and 15.01 percent, respectively.

She took home a brand new house and lot, P1 million pesos trust fund, P2 million life insurance plan, a recording and management contract, along

By JOANNA

ESTORQUE AJPRESS

Jona Soquite

with fashion, business, and dental packages.

Jona who’s dubbed as the “Tabing Ilog Sweetheart of Davao,” also sang Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and “Better Days” with Geronimo during the first part of the finale on Saturday, July 29.

“It’s always magic when you sing,” Sarah proudly says.

She proved her doubters wrong when she performed George Bensons’ “The Greatest Love of All” during the semifinals.

“Talagang nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga sumuporta sa akin. Maraming salamat po. Sobrang saya po na noon sinasabi

ACTOR Joshua Garcia refuted the allegation hurled by netizens that he and rumored girlfriend Julia Barretto are “feeling famous” after a picture of them wearing masks while malling went viral.

“The people know how down-to-earth we are,” the young actor said in an interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) and Cinema News last July 26, at Ninoy ABS-CBN Aquino International Airport nila na parang ayaw nila ako, pero sa nakikita ko na halos kalahati yung naniwala sa akin.

Ang saya ko po na napakita ko yung totoong Jona,” she said in an interview on ABS-CBN News.

(I am very thankful for those who supported me. Thank you so much. I was so happy when they used to say that they didn’t like me, but I saw that half of the public believed in me. It was a great feeling knowing that I showed them who the real Jona is.)

Jona was a 4-chair turner with her version of the OPM Classic “Anak ng Pasig” during the blind auditions of “The Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto Voice Teens.”

(NAIA) Terminal 3.

Garcia joined the Sunday noontime show “ASAP” tour in Toronto, Canada.

The actor said they wore masks because they do not want to lose their endorsements while shopping.

“When we went to the mall, we buy at stores that we should not visit because we endorse products,” the actor stressed.

Garcia assured that they were not hiding and they just wanted peace.

“We work too much and we

just both want to watch ‘Spider Man,’” he said.

He also added that he and Julia do not want to reject people who want to take pictures with them while they were malling.

Netizens bashed them for wearing masks and said they were assuming that people would crowd over them in a public place.

The rumored couple would soon finish their next movie together. Joshua said they are halfway done and the teaser is already out.

ABS-CBN photo

Arnel Pineda embarks entertainment on a solo concert tour to promote new album

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 2, 2017

Los Angeles show, produced by Pageantry Global, Inc. in cooperation with Asian Journal Publications, Inc., Balikbayan Magazine and Love of Country, scheduled for December 3

JOURNEY frontman Arnel Pineda took time off his busy schedule to meet with the Filipino-American media on Saturday, July 29 in Queens, New York.

Pineda finished the Washington, DC leg of their Journey tour on Friday, Juy 29 and flew to New York. On Saturday, he had a band meeting in the morning and watched the musical â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hamiltonâ&#x20AC;? in the afternoon before going to Queens for the gathering of media and community leaders.

The following day, he performed with his band Journey, along with other bands FleetJak Roberto Photo from Jak Robertoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instagram account wood Mac and Earth, Wind and Fire at a packed show held at the Citi Stadium.

For Arnel, it has been a long six months of touring with the band and it came to a conclusion last Sunday. He is now looking forward to going and model returned to the

by Krissy AguilAr home to Manila to be with his GMA comedy anthology, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dear family, recharge his batteries AJPress Uge.â&#x20AC;? and go on another concert It was in this show where ACTOR Jak Robertoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mantour, this time flying solo to he garnered the tag â&#x20AC;&#x153;Abs ng agement, GMA Artist Center, promote his solo album.

Bayanâ&#x20AC;? because his character avoids assigning gay roles to This November, Arnel will was always topless. him to continue his leading embark on a nine-city North â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pagkapasok ko ng tindaAmerican tour dubbed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arnel man-hunk career path.

Pineda: The Album Promo Asked if he wanted a whole- han, topless na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan, kabitan Tour 2017,â&#x20AC;?covering both na ng lapel (When I enter the some look or to carry on with Canada and the United States. store, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m already topless and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Abs ng Bayanâ&#x20AC;? image It will start on November 4 in ready to wear the lapel),â&#x20AC;? he for his next project, the actor Vancouver and conclude on said. responded: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open po ako sa December 3 in Los Angeles.

However, his character kahit anong role! Actually kahit The Los Angeles concert is gay nga, e (I am open to accept Berto has evolved from being produced by Pageantry Globa water boy to a professional. any role. Actually, even a gay al, Inc. in cooperation with The actor said that he now role).â&#x20AC;?

Asian Journal Publications, wears leather shoes, black Since GMA Artist CenInc., Balikbayan Magazine and pants and polo shirt. ter rejects the idea, Roberto Love of Country.

Nonetheless, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean explained to Philippine EnterOrganized by MCY Enhe wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be topless anymore in tertainment and Up North tainment Portal (PEP) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasi mithe show because â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nagagawan Entertainment, the tour will nomold ako na Abs ng Bayan, tapos gay role (Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re molding ng paraan, e (They make a way see Arnel on stage performing my image as Abs ng Bayan and for me to be topless)!â&#x20AC;? original compositions and his Roberto is one of the a gay role doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit that).â&#x20AC;? favorite covers, the songs that he used to sing prior to him semi-regular hosts of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sunday After the successfu run of joining Journey back in 2007.

Pinasaya.â&#x20AC;? Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a member his primetime show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meant Aside from celebrating of the trio boyband, 3LOGY. To Be,â&#x20AC;? the 23 year-old actor

Jak Roberto on molding his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hunkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; image

his tenth year anniversary with Journey this year, 2017 is a milestone year for Arnel because he is turning 50 this September. And earlier this year, his dream of 35 years happened: he met his idol Steve Perry in the flesh, as bandmates Neal Schon and the rest of Journey took their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

His blessings continue to pour and Arnel is eternally thankful, humbled all the more by the good things that are happening to him today.

Just recently, he was at the White House where he was able to tour the Oval Office and shake the hands of President Donald Trump. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me to be able to see the Oval Office and see a piece of American history right there, it was something,â&#x20AC;?

Arnel shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pero hindi ito about sa religion or politics, medyo naba-bash kami ngayon (But this is not about religion or politics. We are getting bashed lately) about politics, but for me it is more about history. This is me, a Filipino involved in Journey, wanting to know more about American history. That was my intention. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very apolitical.â&#x20AC;?

He was then asked how the past 10 years flew by so quickly and what his plans are for the next few years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While doing it, the days are dragging, parang ang haba haba pero hindi ko namalayan, ten years na pala.

Ngayon naâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;realize ko na ten years na, parang kalian lang yung 2007 na nag-o-audition pa ako sa kanila (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like the days are long, but before I know it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already been 10 years. Now I realized that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been 10 years. It was just like yesterday, in 2007 when I auditioned for the group),â&#x20AC;? he

Arnel Pineda

said laughing.

In those ten years, Arnel was able to travel the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Puwera (except) Africa and Eastern Europe, yun na lang (those only),â&#x20AC;? he said â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and take the stage as the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frontman, delivering the classics such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Stop Believingâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open Armsâ&#x20AC;?.

And being a member of a legendary rock band, Arnel went through multiple life experiences he never thought heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be able to accomplish, like television appearances on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ellen,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Oprah Winfrey Show,â&#x20AC;? NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today Show,â&#x20AC;? among others or penning articles for international magazines, such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rolling Stone,â&#x20AC;? and filling up almost every famed arena in the world from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to the Wembley Arena in London and the Tokyo Budokan in Japan.

The band â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with Arnel as the frontman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has performed in almost 600 concerts across the globe starting with their 2008 tour. Their 2017 USA/Canada tour alone brought them to 73 cities.

Sometimes he still pinches himself to make sure that he is not dreaming.

Who would have thought that a guy like him would be sharing the same stage with some music legends such as

Fleetwood Mac and Earth, Wind and Fire? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Doon sa Dodgers Stadium, I was on the side watching and dancing when Earth, Wind and Fire was performing. Ang babait nila, we had photos with them and we exchanged stories as well,â&#x20AC;? he shared fondly.

Recognizing his need to grow as a solo artist, Arnel released his first ever EP back in 2015 and called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arnel Pineda Experimentâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;AP. ex.â&#x20AC;? The recording contained six all-original tracks.

Last year, Arnel released his first full album AP which includes songs he personally penned, some going as far back as the 2000s.

For now, his fans would have to wait till November to see him onstage once more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will sing the songs that I used to sing nung hindi pa ako (when I was not part of) Journey, mga classic rock songs,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The solo tour to promote the album will run from late 2017 to early 2018 with confirmed shows in the Philippines, nine cities in the U.S. and Canada and a possible European leg in the works.

For Sponsorships, please call Trini Foliente at (818) 4552132 or Cora Soriano at (213) 999-1993.

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 2, 2017

15th Historic Filipinotown Festival on Aug. 5 THIS year’s Historic Filipinotown Festival is set to happen on Saturday, August 5. Now on its 15th year, the celebration has become more prominent with the participation of NBC4 Southern California’s Emmy Award-winning meteorologist Fil-Am Shanna Mendiola, who currently appears on “Today in LA.” “Former chief of staff and now member of the LA County Board of Supervisors District I Hilda Sol will also be in attendance,” festival producer Leo Pandac added.

Produced and organized

by the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council Inc., the festival will feature world-class artists including “The Voice Philippines finalist Jessica Reynoso (who was coached by none other than APL de AP of the Black Eyed Peas) and the dynamic duo Krissy and Erika (villongco), who have just signed up with an international recording label. District 13 Councilman Mitch O’Farrell will greet his constituents as well.

The highlight of the event is the Battle of the Bands and World Dance competi-

tion sponsored by Millennium Dance Complex and Bella Fitness LA. Media partners for this year’s festival are Asian Journal and The Filipino Channel (TFC).

For more information, email 5khifirun@gmail.com or call (747) 221-2322, (213) 4131622 or (213) 413-332.

The 15th Historic Filipinotown Festival will be held on Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Silver Lake Medical Center (1711 West Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026).

(Advertising Supplement)

Marian Rivera thinks Liza Soberano is ‘perfect’ to portray Darna

by IrIs VIcente

good luck to her, and I guess anyone who wears it would get the support especially that MARIAN Rivera believes that Liza Soberano is “perfect” majority of the people want her for the role. Plus she’s beautiful to play the role of the Philipand sexy. She can do it). pines’ most iconic superhero Marian was not the only — Darna.

Darna who showed support to In an interview with Push, Liza as Angel Locsin also shared the former Darna expressed her thoughts. her approval of Liza, who was “I’m very excited for Liza. handpicked by Star Cinema for Actually, I think they posted the the role last May. comic books that I gave her. I “Okay naman. Maganda gave her those as a gift,” Angel siya. Perfect para sa kanya! said who portrayed the char(She’s okay. She’s beautiful. It’s acter onscreen in 2005. She perfect for her),” the actress was supposed to star in the said at the launch of her latest film adaptation but has backed whitening product endorsement at the New World Hotel in out when she developed a disc bulge in her spine.

Makati on July 27.

Marian was the last actress When asked what meswho played the role in 2009. sage she can give to Liza, the Since “Darna” made her primetime queen only said, komiks debut in the 1950s, “Nakakahiya namang magwhich was written by Mars Ravmessage bilang hindi naman elo, the fire-red costume has kami magkakilalang dalawa.

Nakakahiya naman. Good luck! been worn by several actresses in television and film, includFor sure naman, kahit sinong magsuot din niyan, siguradong ing Gina Pareno in 1969, Vilma Santos in 1973, Lorna Tolentino susuportahan. Especially kung in 1977, Rio Locsin in 1979, and siya na parang majority naman Sharon Cuneta in 1986 among yata, siya ang gusto. At ang others. ganda at ang sexy. Kaya niya Erik Matti, director of the iyan, (I’m reluctant to give a upcoming movie which was message because we personfirst announced in 2015, acally don’t know each other but AJPress

Marian Rivera Photo from Marian Rivera’s Instagram account

Liza Soberano Photo from Liza Soberano’s Instagram account

cepted the project to make the character known to a whole new generation of Filipinos.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 2, 2017

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