LA Midweek Edition -- December 02 -- 04, 2015

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E DITION December 2-4, 2015

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Volume 25 - No. 94 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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US Marine guilty of Laude murder Faces up to 12 years in prison by allYson

escobar

AJPress

US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

DATELINE

AP photo

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

White House strengthens visa waiver program THE White House announced changes to a visa waiver program aimed at securely screening migrants from 38 nations not required to get visas before traveling to the US. In light of the deadly Paris terror attacks in November that left 130 dead, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now gather more information from travelers about past visits to countries, such as Syria and Iraq, the White House said on Monday, Nov. 30.

The White House characterized the “enhancements” as “a move that would stymie terrorists who try to use lost or stolen passports to travel.”

“Where we have opportunities to make meaningful enhancements, we won’t hesitate,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in Paris for the UN climate

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Study: Harder for California students to get into state public universities

TIGHTER admissions standards and lack of state funding are making it more difficult for California high school students to be accepted into the state’s public university system, a new report found.

The Campaign for College Opportunity on Monday, Nov. 30 released “Access Denied: Rising Selectivity at California’s Public Universities,” which revealed that the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems lack the capacity, among other factors, to serve the state’s growing population of college-eligible and ready students, forcing campuses to turn away a significant portion of applicants.

California is currently ranked 49th in the country in the percentage of undergraduate

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JOSEPH Scott Pemberton, the US Marine Private First Class charged with murder for the death of Filipina transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in October 2014, was found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in the Philippines, where he will remain in prison.

Pfc. Pemberton, who was on a break after taking part in joint military exercises in Subic Bay, was charged with the homicide of Laude, whom he reportedly strangled to death in the hotel room they had checked into in Olongapo City, near the former US naval base northwest of Manila.

Laude, 26, and Pemberton, 20, met at Ambyanz Disco Bar around 10:55 pm on Oct. 11, 2014, and left for the nearby Celzone Lodge motel, where they were seen checking in around 11:30 pm. Laude’s naked body was found in the early hours of the morning with her head slumped in the toilet. Two used condoms were also found in a trashcan inside the motel room.

The cause of death was determined by

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Filipino protesters rally for convicted US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton to be sent to a Philippine prison, in front of the US Embassy in Manila on December 1, 2015.

AFP photo

Comelec unit disqualifies Grace Poe from 2016 presidential run AJPress

A DIVISION of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Sen. Grace Poe from joining the 2016 presidential race, citing her failure to meet residency and citizenship requirements.

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Comelec’s 2nd division ruled on a disqualification case against Poe filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo, who charged that the senator does not meet the 10-year residency requirement and is not a naturalborn Filipino citizen, as mandated by the Constitution for a presidential candidate.

The ruling said Poe’s certificate of candidacy (COC) contains “material representations which are false. Hence, it is should be denied due course and canceled.” “...(T)he Certificate of Candida-

Senator Grace Poe

cy for President of the Republic of the Philippines in the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections filed by respondent Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares is hereby canceled,” the three-page decision added.

Elamparo’s petition noted that Poe’s COC for senator in 2013 stated that she had been a resident of the Philippines for ‘six years and six months’ before May 13, 2013. Poe has responded to the COC error, by saying that she returned to the Philippines earlier than marked.

“By the principle of estoppel and the Filipino people relying on what she stated in her certificate of candidacy during the 2013 senatorial elections, respondent cannot deny her six years and six months residency in the Philippines as of May 2013,” Elamparo said.

Since Poe is a foundling — who was adopted by actress Susan Roces and late action star and former presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. — Elamparo said Poe cannot be considered a natural-born

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Duterte denies slur on Pope: I was cursing gov’t incompetence

by Yuji

Vincent Gonzales Inquirer.net

AFTER drawing flak for cursing Pope Francis over the traffic congestion that his visit caused in January, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Dec. 1 issued an apology and clarified that the curse was not directed to the leader of the Roman Catholic Church but to the Philippine government’s incompetence.

“I can never curse my Pope. I was cursing at the incompetence of government. If it was taken by some in that light, I sincerely apologize.

I will continue to curse so our suffering nation takes action,” Duterte was quoted as saying by his staunch supporter and former North Cotabato Mayor Manny Piñol.

During his proclamation as the presidential bet of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-

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UN tribunal to issue ruling Pinoy! on PH vs China case by 2016 Paskong Presyong Sulit Deals!

THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3- 9

by niña

P. calleja Inquirer.net

THE United Nations Arbitral Tribunal concluded the second round of oral arguments on the merits in the Philippines’ case challenging China’s claims over near-

ly the entire South China Sea, announcing that it will issue a ruling by 2016.

“The tribunal now enters its deliberations and intends to issue its award in 2016,” the international tribunal said in a press statement e-mailed on Tuesday,

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Aquino: Climate change calls for global ‘bayanihan’

PARIS – President Benigno S. create an inclusive and compasAquino III has called for global sionate society.

“This spirit of bayanihan, dear bayanihan to address the impact of climate change, saying no ef- colleagues, is exactly the same fort by a single country is enough spirit that informs the Climate Vulnerable Forum. It is also at to solve the problem.

Aquino said the Philippines the core of what we launch tohas been tapping bayanihan to day: the Manila-Paris Declarapromote national transformation, tion, which embodies our shared institute good governance and aspirations for a world that is

more just and more sustainable,” the President said in his speech at the 21st climate conference in this French capital.

Aquino said the members of the Climate Vulnerable Forum or V20 are survivors and could become a “collective force towards a fairer, more climate-proactive world.”

The Philippines chairs the V20 – the countries deemed most vulnerable to climate change: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Maldives, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Barbados, Kenya, Tuvalu, Bhutan, Kiribati, Rwanda, Vanuatu, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Saint Lucia and

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A DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

US Marine guilty of Laude…

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officials as drowning.

Pemberton was detained aboard the U.S.S. Peleliu and later at the Armed Forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, pending the investigation.

The young Marine first testified that he was intoxicated at the time of Laude’s death, and that he became enraged after discovering Laude was a man, which led to a fight in the room and prompted a defensive chokehold. He claimed that Laude was still alive and breathing when he left the scene, leaving the door slightly open.

The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court threw out PemberCLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT. resident Benigno S. Aquino III arrives for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) High Level Event at Le Maroni ton’s defense that he merely of the Blue Zone UNFCCC Le Bourget in Paris, Frace on Monday, Nov. 30. Earlier, the President delivered his National Statement on the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Malacañang photo by Joseph Vidal rendered Laude unconscious in a chokehold, and that someone else had strangled and drowned her n the toilet bowl after he had left the scene, reported The Phil“The month of April 2006 is ippine Star.

In response to the foundling isPAGE A1 t citizen under the provisions of sue, the division said, “the citizen- also when my husband resigned Pemberton has been charged the 1987 Constitution. ship issue involving foundlings is from his job in the USA. The pe- with murder but was convicted The petition also specified that a question of first impression in riod between March-April 2006 of the lesser offense of homicide, even if Poe was a natural-born that, to our best knowledge, there [and] September 2012 is around which does not require malicious citizen, she “lost that status when is no jurisprudence on the issue.” six years and six (6) months. intent. The court found no treachshe became a citizen of the UnitFollowing the ruling, Poe ex- Therefore, this is the period I in- ery, abuse of strength, or cruelty dicated [albeit, mistakenly] in my ed States of America.” Poe had pressed disappointment. lived in the US and renounced “My critics will use any ex- COC for senator as my ‘Period of her Filipino citizenship, but reac- cuse to exclude me, much like Residence in the Philippines bequired it in 2005. they tried to do when FPJ ran fore May 13, 2013,’” Poe stated Tuesday’s decision was signed for president, and in the process in her affidavit submitted to the PAGE A1 t

by Presiding Commissioner Al disenfranchising the people as Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) The electoral tribunal previ- on Monday, the tough-talking Parreno, Commissioners Arthur well. They show a lack of trust Lim and Sheriff Abas. in the ability of Filipinos to make ously dismissed the disqualifica- mayor took a swipe at the Church “We would have wanted to de- the right decision,” Poe said in tion complaint in a 5-4 vote. and cursed the Pope in jest for Poe’s lawyer is expected to the supposed inconvenience his clare the respondent eligible to a statement. “I have faith in the seek the highest position in the process, and we are confident appeal the decision before the visit brought to commuters and land within the gift of our people. that the Comelec en banc will Comelec en banc — a panel con- motorists.

After all, she is not only popular, side with the interest of the peo- sisting of the chairman and all “Sabi ko, ‘Bakit?’ Sabi sarado six commissioners — within the na [ang daan]. Sabi ko, ‘Sinong she is, potentially a good leader. ple.”

However, it is our bounden duty Poe and her camp have main- next five days. darating?’ Sabi si Pope. Gusto “Unang remedy is go to the en kong tawagan, ‘Pope, p— ka, to resolve this case by applying tained that she is indeed a natuthe Constitution, law, jurispru- ral-born Filipino citizen and has banc (First remedy is go to the en umuwi ka na. ‘Wag ka nang budence and none other,” the rul- complied with the residency re- banc). We have six commission- misita dito,’” Duterte said. ers. Collectively, we are confident ing read. quirement.

Echoing Duterte, Piñol, who atthey will see the merits of our po- tended the proclamation, said the sition. Our position is grounded mayor’s use of the cuss word was on laws and confident it will be “misunderstood” and not directsustained,” Poe’s spokesman ed to Pope Francis, noting it was Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchal- “merely an expression that comes the Sea (UNCLOS).

PAGE A1 t The hearing, which started ian said in a press conference on almost naturally from Duterte’s Dec. 1.

The Philippines wrapped up last November 24, was held in Tuesday. mouth and peppers almost all of Despite Tuesday’s ruling, there his public discourses.” its arguments on Monday, Nov. the Peace Palace, the headquar30 on the last day of the week- ters of the Permanent Court of are still three more disqualifica“Yesterday, he used it in jest long hearings on the merits and Arbitration in The Hague, the tion cases — filed by former Sen. to express his exasperation and Francisco Tatad, De La Salle Uni- disappointment over the inability remaining issues of jurisdiction Netherlands.

The Philippines brought up versity Professor Antonio Contre- of government to address Metro and admissibility in the arbitration initiated by the Philippines a case before the international ras and former University of the Manila’s traffic problem,” Piñol against China under the United court in a bid to stop China’s in- East Law Dean Amado Valdez said in a Facebook post.

Nations Convention on Law of u PAGE A3 — against the senator. n “Duterte, in spite of his human

Comelec unit disqualifies Grace Poe from 2016…

on the part of the soldier.

He can still appeal against the verdict and sentence, reported Reuters.

“This is not quite a victory,” said Laude’s sister, Malou. “We expected a murder conviction but instead got homicide. We are not contented with the decision.”

“No amount of money could pay for the years I spent raising my child,” said Laude’s mother, Julita Cabillan. “What they did to my child was gruesome. Just because we are poor doesn’t mean we can’t fight for justice.”

Pemberton sentenced up to 12 years Pemberton was sentenced for six to 12 years, with time already spent in detention credited, according to the court clerk and The Associated Press. He will be held by the US-controlled Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which has jurisdiction over national prisoners.

“Pemberton will remain at Camp Aguinaldo guarded by the Philippine National Police and BuCor personnel until his appeal is decided with finality by the court,” said the Department of

Justice (DOJ), which also hinted on the possibility of Pemberton being transferred to another detention facility pending final agreement.

“In any case, [his] detention shall at all times be carried out within Philippine territory, under the guard by and in line with existing regulations of the BuCor,” the DOJ added.

The Olongapo City Regional Trial Court also ordered the Marine to pay more than 4.5 million pesos ($95,350) to Laude’s family, including expenses for the wake and burial, as well as “moral and exemplary damages,” according to USA Today.

The case sparked widespread outrage from activists and groups both at home and abroad, demanding the cancellation of joint military actions between the US and the Philippines, particularly the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which allows rotational deployment of US forces into the Philippines.

The court ordered the Philippine Commission on Visiting Forces to “submit within five days

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Duterte denies slur on Pope: I was cursing…

UN tribunal to issue ruling on…

Presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte strikes a pose during the MAD for Change concert at McKinley West Open Field in Taguig City on Sunday.

Grig C. Montegrande/Inquirer.net

frailties and publicly admitted weaknesses, is a devout Catholic and I believe he would never show irreverence toward the prince of his Church, the Roman Catholic Church,” he added.

Insinuating it was only Duterte who could combat the proliferation of drugs, crime, and corruption, Piñol said a “flawed statement cannot override the desire

of people for real change in this country.”

“At the end of the day, however, the whole country would still have to answer the question: Who could protect the country from the evils of crime, drugs and corruption? Who could bring this nation together in peace and provide jobs for people in the countryside?” he added. n

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From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2-4, 2015

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US Marine guilty of Laude…

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from today the Memorandum of Agreement entered into…and the written agreement between duly authorized representatives of the US and the Philippines on the confinement or detention of accused Pemberton after conviction, according to Inquirer.

In 2009, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that convicted US personnel must serve their

sentences in the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that under the VFA, confinement or detention

by Philippine authorities of US servicemen shall be carried out in facilities agreed on by both the US and Philippine governments, by “appropriate authorities,” said Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, spokesperson for the DFA. Both government parties

agreed upon Camp Aguinaldo as the place of Pemberton’s confinement until the appeal is settled.

“This is a sad day for the Philippines. It shows the US gets what it wants,” said lawyer Harry Roque.

This year, the US has increased its military aid to the Philippines, as tensions between China have risen over territories in the South China Sea. n

Aquino: Climate change calls for global…

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CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING: Senator Cynthia A. Villar distribute early Christmas gifts to residents, especially to children of Orani, Bataan.

The senator visited Orani, the hometown of her husband’s mother Nanay Curing. The senator and her husband, former Senate President Manny Villar, have been engaged in gift-giving during the Christmas Season as a way of sharing their blessings, and making other people happy.

Senate photo

Study: Harder for California students to get…

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students enrolled in a four-year university.

The report went on to note, “when our four-year public university system cannot serve all qualified California students, we produce fewer bachelor’s degree holders and ultimately hurt the economy and threaten the future of our state.”

The findings come amidst the application deadline for fall 2016 admission to the UC and CSU campuses. The UC system expects about 200,000 applications for admission, while CSU anticipates 800,000, according to EdSource.

For fall 2015, 60 percent of California residents who applied were accepted by UC schools

(down from 63 percent the previous year), while about threequarters were admitted into CSU schools. At CSU, 139,697 eligible students were turned away between 2009 and 2014.

In contrast, 62.2 percent of international students were accepted by UC schools, seeing an increase from 60.1 percent, a Reuters report stated.

Given the budget cuts at UC and CSU campuses, critics allege that the public universities are instead accepting out-of-state and international students, who pay more in tuition.

The average grade point average (GPA) of admitted students to six of the nine UC campuses in 2014 was over a 4.0. The median SAT score of admitted stu-

dents to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego was less than 400 points away from a perfect score.

The gap between the number of UC applicants and those admitted has more than doubled between 1996 and 2013.

“It is a shame that hard-working, talented California students need to be virtually perfect to get a spot at the University of California. It should not be more difficult for a student to enroll directly in a four-year university than it was for previous generations,” Michele Siqueiros, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity, said.

Students applying to the CSU system find a similar challenge of rising admissions standards.

countries, then travel back and forth from Europe, using the program to come to the US. The federal changes were announced as the White House faces criticism and pushback from lawmakers in Congress against President Barack Obama’s plans to welcome an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next fiscal year.

“As opposed to the rhetoric we have heard from the Republicans, the administration is offering it as an alternative...to rationalize and strengthen the programs that track persons so we have better information and can implement cautious policies,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, according to NBC News.

Though the polls have shown a majority of Americans who also oppose the plan, officials such as CIA Director John Brennan to Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the

chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee and California Democrat Sen. Diane Feinstein, the committee’s ranking member, are more worried that the visa waiver program is a greater concern in that it makes it much harder to keep track of potential terrorists and prevent attacks in the States.

As the administration works to address those concerns, DHS will also look at pilot programs for collecting biometric information, such as fingerprints from visa waiver travelers, the White House said in a statement.

A task force in the House of Representatives will meet this week to discuss details of the program, and hopes to craft legislation to pass “by the end of the year,” said House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (RCalif).

McCarthy told reporters that

Vietnam.

The group has formally asked the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to lower its temperature goal to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Review sends a clear message that the current long-term temperature goal of holding global warming below 2 degrees Celsius is inadequate and that it is essential that this target is strengthened towards a below 1.5 degrees Celsius goal,” the group said in the Manila-Paris joint declaration adopted during the 21st Conference of Parties to the UNFCC (COP21) here.

“We urge the UNFCCC Conference of Parties to heed the 20132015 Review into the adequacy of the current long-term temperature goal of holding global warming below a 2 degrees Celsius increase above preindustrial levels,” it added.

Full de-carbonization The group is also advocating a

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White House strengthens visa waiver…

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change summit. “We are cleareyed about the stakes.”

The nation’s nearly 30-yearold visa waiver program helps bring nearly 20 million people from 38 countries (i.e. a majority of European countries, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) to the US every year with less stringent screening. Under the program, citizens of participating countries are allowed to travel to the US without a visa for stays of 90 days or less if they meet certain requirements.

Supporters of the waiver program, which includes a crosssection of lawmakers from tourism-reliant states and the businesses that support them, have said the program offers an economic boost. Opponents worry the program could serve as a backdoor for potential terrorists to travel to ISIS-run terrorist training camps in other

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UN tribunal to issue ruling on PH vs China…

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cursions and massive land reclamation works in its territorial sea.

After concluding the hearing, the court has given all the parties until December 9, 2015 to review and submit corrections to the transcripts of the hearing.

The Philippines, on the other hand, may submit further written responses to the questions posed by the Tribunal during the hearing and other related materials by December 18, the The Philippine delegation to the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague. File Photo from Hague court said. the Department of Foreign Affairs Inquirer.net photo While China has refused to participate in the entire arbitral proceedings as the country claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost the entire South China Sea, the tribunal has decided to give China the chance to comment in writing by January 1, 2016.

The tribunal cited a provision under Article 5 of Annex VII to UNCLOS that states that the tribunal must “assure each party a full opportunity to be heard and to present its case.” n

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climate agreement that provides for the full de-carbonization of the world economy and 100 percent renewable energy production by 2050.

“The agreement being negotiated for adoption in Paris at COP21 must require no backsliding and a progression of commitments to avoid developments regressive towards achieving the long-term goal,” the V20 said.

The V20 lamented that the goals in the emission reduction plans or Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that countries submitted are not enough to limit warming below the current target of two degrees.

Further substantial action would be needed to close the gap between the INDCs total level of ambition and the emission pathways consistent with the 1.5 degrees goal, the group said.

The V20 has set a target of $20 billion in new investments in climate action by 2020 with focus

on regional, domestic and private sector mobilization.

It also cited the importance of including loss and damage in the Paris climate deal, saying it would establish options for compensating affected populations.

The group said international efforts for addressing loss and damage should include a mechanism that would comply with the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, a displacement coordination facility that would assist people affected by extreme weather events and a financing process.

The V20 also adopted a threeyear road map of activities aimed at enhancing cooperation among and protection for the climate vulnerable countries.

Global champion As this developed, Sen. Loren Legarda has been appointed as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)’s Global Champion for Resilience.

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A DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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Fil-Am law group pushes for naming of Long Study: Harder for California students to get…

Beach school facility in honor of Larry Itliong PAGE A3 t

THE largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States is spearheading efforts to name a Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) school facility in honor of Filipino-American labor leader, Larry Itliong.

Leaders of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA), based in Southern California, met with LBUSD officials back in August to seek clarification on the naming process, after learning that Cabrillo High School was building a new moot court classroom.

The group formally sent LBUSD Board of Education its proposal to name an LBUSD school facility after Itliong on Nov. 16, considering that West Long Beach has a high concentration of Filipinos.

One out of 10 enrollees at Cabrillo High School is Filipino, and Filipinos make up the third largest group in the campus, next only to Hispanics and African Americans, respectively.

The dedication is another push to memorialize the late Filipino farm labor leader’s contributions to the state. In July, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 7 into law, which annually designates October 25 as “Larry Itliong Day.” “PABA’s proposal will not only recognize the contributions of

Filipino Americans, but will also be consistent with the text of AB 7, which encourages public schools to remember the life of Mr. Itliong, recognize his accomplishments, and educate the students about the contributions he made to this state,” PABA President Christine Gonong stated.

Itliong, originally from San Nicolas, Pangasinan, migrated to the United States in 1929 at the age of 15, and worked as a migrant farmworker in Montana, South Dakota, Washington and California, where he saw the plight of other labor workers, especially Filipinos.

As a leader of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), Itliong is remembered for sparking the California farm labor movement in 1965, organizing an eight-day strike with 1,500 Filipino grape workers in Delano. The boycott called for increased wages and better working conditions for the farmworkers.

In 1966, Cesar Chavez’s National Farm Workers’ Association (NFWA) joined Itliong’s AWOC, forming the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), one of the largest unions in the history of the nation. Together, Itliong and Chavez led the historic march to Sacramento to fight for better working and living conditions,

which eventually led to agreements for better wages and protections of farm workers in the 1970s.

Despite Filipinos being the largest Asian American group in California, there is only one school in the state named after Filipino-American heroes, the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in Union City, California. Formerly known as Alvarado Middle School, the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School was named after Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, another labor movement leader from Saoag, Ilocos Sur. “I believe that this proposal will inspire students and highlight the rich diversity in Long Beach,” said PABA Governor Ireneo A. Reus III, who grew up in Long Beach and attended schools in the LBUSD. “Just as the LBUSD already named a school after Cesar Chavez to honor Mr. Chavez’s contributions and legacy, PABA believes that the LBUSD should also name a school after Mr. Itliong to honor his contributions to this great state and the labor movement.”

PABA’s application is currently pending the LBUSD Board of Education’s review, and is being supported by Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Carson Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina and the Filipino Migrant Center. (AJPress)

WHO poised to end AIDS epidemic by 2030

by Sheila

CriSoStomo Philstar.com

MANILA – The AIDS epidemic is seen to end by 2030 if the progress in treating the disease over the past 15 years can be sustained and accelerated, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report showed.

WHO’s Global Health Sector Response to HIV 2000-2015 report noted that much has been achieved to reverse the spread of HIV. The report cited the Millennium Development Goal that called for halting and reversing the spread of HIV on a global basis, which had been met.

The number of HIV deaths had been reduced by 42 percent– from a peak of more than two million in 2004 to an estimated 1.2 million in 2014 – the report stated.

“Since 2000, an estimated 7.8 million lives had been saved, fewer people are acquiring HIV

and projections of an end to the epidemic by 2030 – a goal once considered unattainable by many experts – are now realistic,” the report added.

The WHO said the rapid scaleup of access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), which it considered as one of the greatest public health achievements in recent times, has made treatment available to more than 16 million people living with HIV across the globe.

More than 11 million people in Africa alone are receiving HIV treatment as against only 11,000 who took the medication 15 years ago. The figures represent a thousand-fold increase, the WHO said.

The WHO said much remains to be done, noting that 60 percent of people with HIV have not yet enrolled in antiretroviral treatment.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said new HIV infections in Africa in the

last 15 years decreased by 41 percent, more than in any region in the world.

“But the number of people acquiring HIV infection is still too high and young women and adolescent girls continue to be disproportionately at risk,” Moeti said.

The WHO said recent clinical trials have confirmed that early and expanded use of antiretroviral treatment saves lives by keeping people living with HIV healthier and reducing the risk that they will transmit the virus to partners.

With such confirmation, WHO recommended in September that all HIV-positive people start ART as soon as possible.

At the international conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Zimbabwe, which starts today, WHO is presenting a set of recommendations to enable countries to expand treatment rapidly and efficiently. n

Six of the 23 campuses now require a higher GPA and/or SAT score than the CSU baseline eligibility requirements. Within the CSU campuses, impacted majors that require a higher GPA and/or SAT score have increased by 135 percent since 2004.

“CSU denying 30,000 eligible students last year is heartbreaking for all the talented students whose only opportunity to succeed professionally relies on their ability to access a high quality and affordable university education,” said Ivna Gusmao, a recently retired college counselor from Reseda High School who has been serving students in the Los Angeles public schools for over 30 years, in a statement. “Getting into the UC for students today is more like playing the lottery. College counselors can no longer tell students with any accuracy where they are likely to get in even if they had a 5.0 GPA.” The report also pointed out that the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education — which adapts to California’s population growth and is still the current structure being used — is outdated. The plan envisioned the public university system to be free and available for all qualified California residents and placed caps on admission to UC and CSU schools at the top 12.5 percent and top 33 percent, respectively, of state students based on academic achievement.

However, funding for the public universities has dropped — an estimated $1 billion lost between 2006 and 2014 — at the expense of raising tuition, increasing class sizes and decreasing enrollment.

Figures show that the cost to attend a UC has increased by 200 percent in the past 15 years. For the 2015-16 school year, the estimated average cost is $29,500 for those living off campus and $33,600 for those living on campus, according to the UC Admissions website.

“Many more students struggle to pay tuition and fees that have skyrocketed in recent years. It is imperative that California reinvest in its public higher education system so that California youth from all backgrounds, especially low-income students of color, have equal opportunity to enroll in and graduate from the state’s four-year universities,” Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, said.

Released on Monday, Nov. 30, the Campaign for College Opportunity’s new report found that it is harder for eligible California students to be admitted into the University of California and California State University systems, due to insufficient funding and rigorous admissions standards.

Infographics courtesy of the Campaign for College Opportunity

In November, UC President Janet Napolitano held an ethnic media roundtable to discuss perceptions and barriers faced by minority communities in applying to the university system.

Addressing the costs, Napolitano cited that more than half of California resident students at UCs pay no tuition because of programs that cover that cost for families that make $80,000 or less. Pell Grants, which offer awards of up to $5,775, depending on family income, are also options; 41 percent of UC students are benefitting from them.

“The state’s economic future depends on our students being able to access, afford and complete a postsecondary degree,” said California State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León in a statement reacting to the report. “A majority of the 6 million children attending our K-12 public schools are lowincome and underrepresented minorities, and California must take a more strategic approach to establish a pipeline from our K-12 school system to our higher education institutions.”

With its findings, the Campaign for College Opportunity has pro-

posed that Governor Jerry Brown and state lawmakers do a strategic overhaul to prioritize funding for public higher education, so that more California students are accepted into the public fouryear universities.

Further, the report called for caps on the number of out-ofstate and international students who are admitted.

“Increased competition for limited spots in college is not a win-win situation – there are winners and losers at the precise time we need more educated Californians to maintain a thriving economy. Just like California’s drought threatens our future and calls for immediate solutions, so too does the shortage of a college-educated populace,” Siqueiros added.

Recently, UC regents approved aRecently, UC regents approved a plan to increase the enrollment of California undergraduates by 10,000 by 2018. For the 2016-17 term, $25 million was allocated to UC to increase the number of in-state undergraduates by 5,000. The number will increase by 2,500 students for each of the following two years. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

A DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Self-destructive

“THE people of the Philippines are not ready for my kind of style,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned in September when he turned down ardent calls by his supporters for him to run for the presidency.

In a sudden twist of fate, Duterte made his presidential bid official on Friday, Nov. 27, as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president as the standard-bearer of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party, with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party as his running mate. Duterte’s entry into the presidential race makes it a five-cornered fight where he will go against prominent names including Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Sen. Mar Roxas.

The documents he submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) included priority programs he will implement if elected as the Philippine president. These included “streamlining bureaucracy by introducing digital systems and technologies” and “values formation in all elementary and high schools nationwide.” He also plans to reduce crime and eliminate drugs, make drug dealers and criminals face stiffer penalties and strengthen the criminal justice system. His national platform of government also focuses on fixing government administration, tax reforms, shifting to federalism and building disaster and resilient communities.

Despite throwing his hat late in the competition, Duterte received the highest score in a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted two weeks ago in Metro Manila. One in every three voters (34 percent) in Metro Manila said he or she would vote for Duterte if elections were held early this month. He was followed by Poe with 26 percent; Binay, 22 percent; Roxas, 11 percent; and Santiago, 7 percent.

His supporters want him to turn the Philippines

as safe and as thriving as Davao City.

He may be rough around the edges, but his unconventional and vigilante-style of leadership has turned Davao City the fourth safest place in the world as ranked by Numbeo.com, and the country’s most child-friendly based on a government ranking.

In the last few days, Duterte’s presidential bid surged as he was hogging the majority of news headlines. He was a serious contender and if the recent survey will dictate the 2016 election results, he has the makings of the next Philippine president.

The presidency is almost his for the taking -until he opened his mouth. During his proclamation as the official standard-bearer of PDP-Laban on Monday, Nov. 30, Duterte didn’t mince words as he told the audience of the kind of leader he is going to be. He admitted to being a womanizer (he has two wives and two girlfriends), and is not afraid of killing criminals and drug dealers.

He had constant applause on the onset of his speech, but the cheers died down when he decided to take a swipe at the Roman Catholic Church and curse Pope Francis.

Duterte might have overlooked that the Philippines is still a predominantly Catholic country and the majority of the populace is not ready for his nononsense kind of leadership. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) criticized Duterte’s recent speech and cried foul over his cursing of Pope Francis.

“Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

title ‘Honorable’?” CBCP President and Archbishop Socrates Villegas lamented.

Not one to back down on his detractors, Duterte responded to the Church’s leadership by saying to not to judge him because the institution is also not spotless.

“You priests, you bishops, you condemn me.

And you suggest that I withdraw and I will withdraw, but then I will start to open my mouth. There are so many secrets that children are hiding. This religion is not so sacred,” Duterte retorted.

If he continues to charge like a raging bull, Duterte will force his supporters to think twice before checking his name on the ballot come election

next year.

He needs to dial down on the crassitude and vulgarity, and realize that being the most powerful man in the country means taking a central role in every Filipino’s life. He will shape the system, make crucial decisions about the economy, and represent the hopes and interests of every Filipino in the world.

Duterte might have gotten plaudits for now, but factors that might take a toll on his standing are yet to come. After all, good politicians should know that holding a public office means embracing challenges and opportunities that the post offers them. (AJPress)

Roxas and Duterte tied as Fil-Ams’ top favorites for president Will this change with the new Duterte controversies?

AFTER previous denials of his intent to join the race to Malacañang, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has finally declared his candidacy for the presidency His supporters who’ve been waiting for this moment rejoiced, saying “the eagle has landed” and pinning hopes that Duterte is the leader the country needs during this page in Philippine history.

Politicians, businessmen, and ordinary Filipinos have jumped ship from the camps of Roxas, Binay, Poe and Santiago to declare their all-out support for the Duterte campaign. They contend that Duterte is the candidate who can bring about real change. Unlike past presidents and his current political rival, they admire Duterte for being a straight talker and a strong leader who has been instrumental to Davao City’s progress, peace and

got caught in a traffic jam during order. the Catholic leader’s visit in the Even some Fil-Ams have been The Fil-Am Philippines in January. Duterte energized by Duterte’s bid for the himself said a friend told him presidency. In The Filipino Chan- Perspective that the traffic jam was caused nel’s daily newscast “Balitang by the Pope’s arrival, ”Gusto America,” an online poll revealed kong tawagan, ‘Pope p******.” that Duterte is now tied with Mar Duterte reportedly later deRoxas, as the top two candidates nied cursing Pope Francis. kababayans in America would vote Gel SantoS-reloS However, he maintained that he for if the elections were held today, would still not invite the Pope Francis back to the surpassing Binay, Poe and Santiago.

But would the dynamics change with the latest country if he becomes president.

The blunt Davao City mayor was also criticized controversy about Duterte, whom his critics say has gone too far with his language and style, to the for flaunting that he has two wives and two mistresses, contending that his possible presidency point of using the “P.I.” curse on Pope Francis?

As ABS-CBN News reported, Duterte came under won’t change that. Worse, he would even give fire for cursing at Pope Francis after he allegedly details about his sexcapades with women, offend-

ing those who say he sounds like he just sees and treats women as objects.

Others have expressed concern over his “dictatorial tendencies” in the way he implements changes, without respect and regard to due process and the rule of law.

Amid these criticisms Duterte said, “I don’t crave for ratings, I do not need praises, I will not die if I don’t become the president. If you don’t like my character, the solution is, do not vote for me.”

Would you vote for Duterte? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos

How the average Pinoys regard the Spratlys conflict PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has been Street excoriated for his handling of the festering Talk conflict with China over the Spratlys. From losing trading revenues to being pulverized in a shooting war, Aquino’s GreG B. MacaBenta “belligerence” has been severely criticized, but the pundits have not offered any constructive and realistic suggestions on how we should handle the situation, aside from the equivalent of the late Senator and Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus’ classic advice: “If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it” (or words to effect).

Meanwhile, the United States has begun to turn on the pressure on China over the broader issue of unhampered access to the strategic maritime lanes comprised by the South China Sea. From being simply an amicus curiae, calling for diplomacy and the rule of international law in resolving the conflict, the US has begun to assert its position as a concerned party with economic, military and political interests at stake.

In his speech at the recently concluded ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Barack Obama was no longer subtle in his drubbing of China, in the presence of high-level Chinese delegates: “I commend ASEAN for working to ensure that all nations uphold international law and norms, including the peaceful resolution of disputes, freedom of navigation, and freedom of overflight. And I applaud ASEAN for working to create a code of conduct for the South China Sea. For the sake of regional stability, claimants should halt reclamation, new construction, and militarization of disputed areas.”

The response of China’s Deputy For-

eign Minister Liu Zhenmin was like that of a dirty old man who had been told to keep his hands off a young girl: “One should never link the military facilities with efforts to militarize the South China Sea,” Liu said. “This is a false argument. It is a consistent Chinese position to firmly oppose the militarization of the South China Sea.” To soft-pedal the loss of face that China had to bear at the summit, a mere deputy foreign minister was designated to express the protest, instead of the head of the Chinese delegation, Premier Li Keqiang.

President Aquino, obviously emboldened by the increasingly vocal US position on the issue, had his own blunt words to say: “It is regrettable that China continues to massively reclaim and build structures in the sea known by many names, in total disregard of international law as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.” For sure, the alarmists cannot be blamed for pointing out that, what started as an irritant between the Philippines and China - as well as between China and several other countries ringing the South China Sea - is fast becoming a dangerous game of chicken between two economic and military super powers. Even international geopolitical analysts are saying as much.

Unfortunately, in an election season, the possibility of armed conflict that could involve the Philippines appears to have a low priority in the minds of the Filipino people. We appear to be more interested in the virtual teleseries

involving Sen. Grace Poe, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Liberal Party presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas, with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago being mentioned as an afterthought.

However, the average Pinoy who has some familiarity with the Spratlys controversy has some down-to-earth views on it, as I found out on my last trip to Manila. I broached the subject to the tricycle drivers plying our neighborhood in Parañaque. Here are their views: 1. How should the Philippines handle the Spratlys conflict? Napasubo na tayo, kaya panindigan na natin. Pero kahit hindi tayo pumalag, talagang balak ng Tsina na kunin ang South China Sea dahil sa angking yaman nito. Kung baga, matagal nang balak gahasain ang anak mong dalaga. Gagawin at gagwin iyon. (The die is cast, so we have to hold our ground. But even if we did not protest, China really intended to control the South China Sea due to its natural resources. It’s like, there has always been the intention to rape your daughter. It would have happened, anyway.)

2. Couldn’t the Philippines have arranged to share the resources of the Spratlys with China? Kung puede sana, nuon pa, sinabi sana natin na pagsaluhan na lang ang yaman ng dagat, pero siyempre, lamang din ang Tsina dahil higante. (If it were possible, back then, we could have offered to share the wealth of the sea, but of course China would have had an advantage, being a giant).

Walang iniwan iyan sa hatian ng mga magsasaka at ng mga may-ari ng isang hacienda. Siyempre, lamang ang haciendero. (It’s no different from the sharing arrangement between the farmers and the owners of a hacienda.

Naturally, the hacienderos get the big-

ger share).

3. What will happen next? Will a favorable decision of the world court help the Philippines? Iyang nakuha na ng Tsina, hindi na natin mababawi, pero dapat wala nang mabawas sa teritoryo natin. Kaya tama lang na manindigan tayo. Sa bagay na iyan, malaking tulong ang suporta ng America at makakatulong ang pabor na desisyon ng world court. (What China has taken, we cannot get back, but we should not lose any more territory, which is why we should stand our ground. In that regard, the support of America is a big help and so will a favorable decision of the world court.).

4. Will our trade with China suffer because of the conflict? Ang mga intsik ay negosyante. Sa ngayon, mas malaki ang binibili natin sa Tsina kaysa binebenta natin sa kanila. Siyempre tuloy pa rin ang pagbebenta sa atin, kahit may alitan. Negosyo lang iyan. (The Chinese are businessmen. As of now, we are buying more from them than what we are selling to them, that’s why they will continue to sell to us in spite of the conflict. It’s just business) Pero dapat siguro gumawa tayo ng sariling pagkakakitaan, para hindi tayo masyadong nakasandal sa ibang bayan – tulad ng pagpapalago ng agriulutura, turismo at teknolohiya.. (But we should do something about generating earnings from other sources so that we don’t depend too much on other countries - such as agriculture, tourism and technology) 5. Do we really need the support of the US in dealing with China? Bakit, kaya ba nating suwagin nang mag-isa ang Tsina? Kung hindi ba nakikialam ang America, hindi ba lalo tayong inaapi? (Why, can we take on China by ourselves? If America were not in-

volved, wouldn’t we be bullied even more?)

6. Do you think the US and China will go to war over the South China Sea? Girian lang iyan, at maaaring magkabarilan ng kaunti, pero hindi nila palalakihin iyan. Talo silang pareho at ayaw nilang mangyari iyan. Parang Russia at America nuong Cold War. (It’s just posturing and maybe some shooting, but they will not let it become a big conflict. They will both lose and they don’t want that that happen. Just like Russia and America during the Cold War).

7. Do you think the US will defend the Philippines in an armed conflict with China? Sea? Huwag nating kakalimutan na ang pakikialam ng America ay laging para sa sariling kapakanan. Kung ang kapakanan ng America ay apektado sa labanan ng Pilipinas at Tsina, makikialam ang America. (Remember that American involvement will always be in its own interests. If its interests will be affected by a conflict between the Philippines and China, America will get involved.)

8. Do you think the Philippines should remain neutral? Tayo na nga ang inaapi, papaano tayo hindi mapapadawit sa alitan? (We are the ones being bullied, how can we avoid being involved in the conflict?)

9. Is it too late to repair relations between the Philippines and China? Kahit ba ginahasa ang anak mong dalaga, kung pakakasalan, puedeng mag-areglo. (Even if your daughter is raped, if there is an offer of marriage, an amicable settlement is always possible.)

Sometimes, it helps to listen to the neighborhood tricycle driver and the average Pinoys. They may be wiser than we give them credit for. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.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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Dateline PHiliPPineS

No credible ISIS threat in PH, says Palace by nEstor

CorralEs Inquirer.net

THERE is no “credible and “verified” terrorist threat in the Philippines posed by the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Malacañang said on Saturday.

Quoting Philippine security officials, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said there is no basis to confirm the speculations against the threat posed by ISIS to the Philippines.

“There is no credible terrorist threat directly link to the ISIS. Validation of information gathered thus far has produced no basis to confirm such reports.

The intelligence community continues to monitor threats to ensure proper response by the security forces,” Coloma said over state-run DZRB radio, quoting the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Coloma explained that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had said that there has been no “verified foreign terrorist presence” in the country.

“No credible and verified foreign terrorist presence has been established in our country and

Margareta Wahlstrom, special representative of the UN secretary general for disaster risk reduction, announced Legarda’s appointment on Nov. 30.

Legarda was a UNISDR regional champion for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for Asia-Pacific since 2008.

“I wish to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, who has been most supportive in our initiatives to strengthen resilience of the various institutions in my country,” Legarda said in a video message played at the forum.

“You have ably led the UNISDR in empowering nations, business, individuals and the whole of society to build safer communities. I thank you for the trust given to me as Global Champion for Resilience,” she added.

She said the Paris climate agreement must aim for nothing less than the transformation of the global economy.

“It must set in motion steps that develop innovative finance

A

Binay scores anew in case vs ex-Makati vice mayor

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma says security officials have not received “verified” and “confirmed” threats which the ISIS could carry out in the Philippines.

Inquirer file photo

this is the reason we need not unduly raise our alert level. We call on our people to always remain vigilant and alert and to cooperate with the authorities. Our constant call is for a collective and participative security awareness and preparedness among our people,” the AFP said.

On Thursday, October 26, eight

armed men carrying the flag of ISIS, including a suspected Indonesian national, were killed in an encounter with government forces in Sultan Kudarat.

The government troops recovered five ISIS flags and documents including radios, firearms and explosive materials from the suspects’ possession. n

Aquino: Climate change calls for global…

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2-4, 2015

approaches able to respond to impacts that are beyond the reach of adaptation,” she added.

Legarda was unable to travel to Paris because of her duties as chairman of the Senate committee on finance, which is working on the 2016 budget.

Daughter’s future In attending the climate talks, National Youth Commission commissioner Dingdong Dantes said he represented his newborn daughter.

“I come from an archipelago that knows an average of 22 typhoons a year. On paper, I am a commissioner representing the youth of the Philippines, but in my heart I feel like I’m really just representing my daughter, Maria Letizia,” he told the forum on Monday.

“If you here are first time parents as well, you know that I really shouldn’t have left her or her mother’s side at this time even for a single minute. Yet, here I am. I am here because when I represent Maria Letizia, I represent the world,” he added.

“You are all also here for yours – your sons and daughters – and

for those still without, the children you are about to bear, if fate bestows you,” Dantes said.

A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund warned that children would bear the brunt of climate change because about 530 million of them reside in flood-prone areas and 160 million others are in drought severity zones.

Dantes said the youth have an important role to pay in spreading awareness about climate change.

He cited the Philippines’ launching of #NOWPH last year, which aims to promote vigilance for the care of the planet through social media. NOW stands for Not on our Watch.

“To choose to be involved and to get people involved is certainly the greatest contribution we can make in addressing the common problems we face in our common world. With a reach of 221 million social media impressions, and 3.6 million total pledges, please listen to all these voices saying NOW,” Dantes said.

(Alexis Romero / Philstar.com with Christina Mendez)

MANILA – Vice President Jejomar Binay has scored another victory in the libel case he filed against former Makati vice mayor Roberto Brillante in 1988.

In a decision promulgated recently, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed Brillante’s petition assailing the hold departure order (HDO) issued against him by the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 145 in June 1992 over his libelous statements against Binay and his aide Francisco Baloloy.

The CA’s special 11th Division held that the lower court was correct in preventing the flight of Brillante over his failure to pay the fine imposed on him.

“The RTC acted within the ambit of law when it denied his motion to lift the HDO,” read the ruling penned by Associate Justice Pedro Corales.

Associate Justices Sesinando Villon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela concurred with the ruling.

The complaint for five counts of libel stemmed from an open letter written by Brillante in 1988 addressed to then President Corazon Aquino discussing the alleged participation of Binay and Nemesio Prudente, former president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, in a supposed assassination plot against Augusto Syjuco, who was a candidate for Makati mayor at the time.

Baloloy, who was identified in the letter as among the persons who attended the meeting organized by Binay and Prudente to plan the assassination of Syjuco, filed a libel suit against Brillante.

In a decision promulgated recently, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed former Makati vice mayor Roberto Brillante’s petition assailing the hold departure order (HDO) issued against him by the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 145 in June 1992 over his libelous statements against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his aide Francisco Baloloy.

Star/File photo

The Makati RTC convicted Brillante of libel in June 2014. The CA upheld Brillante’s conviction.

In October 2014, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Brillante and ordered him to pay Binay and Baloloy P500,000 in moral damages.

‘Allies jumping ship’ Meanwhile, Binay is not bothered by the possibility of his party mates leaving the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to support the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“In politics, it (shifting of support) really happens, you should not get hurt,” Binay said on the sidelines of the 27th Pacific Insurance Conference in Makati City.

The Vice President praised boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao for sticking with him.

He said Pacquiao chose to stay with him amid pressures to

change his allegiance to other presidential aspirants.

Pacquiao is running for senator in 2016 under UNA. Pacquiao was wooed by the administration’s Liberal Party to be part of its senatorial slate but he declined the offer.

During Binay’s visit in General Santos City on Friday, Pacquiao reiterated his support for the Vice President.

‘Unresponsive government’ Binay took a jab anew at the current administration, saying Filipinos could no longer afford a government that does not respond to the needs of the people.

“There is no room for insensitivity or aloofness in this world.

Those who fail to understand the people they serve will fail – be they corporate service providers or political regimes,” he said.

(With report from Helen Flores)

and have urged Congress to give Homeland Security additional powers for extra security measures, such as increasing fines for air carriers that fail to verify passport data, and requiring all travelers to use passports with embedded security chips.

The White House also wants to expand the use of a “pre-clearance program” in foreign airports, to allow border officials to collect and screen biometric information before visa waiver travelers can board plans going

to the US. Earnest urged Congress to pass legislation before the holidays.

“We saw Congress a couple of weeks ago pass legislation related to refugees that would not actually do anything to enhance our national security, they were able to take those steps in three or four days. Surely over the course of the next three weeks, they should be able to do something that actually would strengthen our national security,” he said.

(Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

White House strengthens visa waiver…

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lawmakers were “interested in requiring all countries in the waiver program to issue e-passports with chips and biometrics.” Another intended change would be to make sure that passengers were screened against a database of lost and stolen passports.

In the meantime, the White House said administration officials are talking to senators from both parties about the official visa waiver program changes,

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COMMUNITY Journal

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Business News

Climate change talks raise hopes Investors cautious on negative for rejuvenated tourism industry news, say foreign groups

by Louise

Maureen siMeon

Philstar.com

MANILA – The travel and tourism industry remains hopeful the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) taking place in Paris next week will bring about positive results to maintain tourism inclusiveness and sustainability.

The Airports Council International (ACI) and other members of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC) reiterate the industry’s commitment to make a meaningful and long-term contribution to fighting climate change.

“We have a serious responsibility to ensure that we decouple the growth of the sector from its impact on our environment to ensure that tourism can continue to contribute to socio-economic inclusiveness and development in the long term,” GTAC chairman David Scowsill said.

Tourism contributes about 10 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and supports one in 11 of all jobs. Over one billion people cross international borders yearly, a number expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030.

“The growth in travel and tourism will bring

about enormous social and economic development across the world, particularly for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states,” he added.

Furthermore, important industries which comprise the travel and tourism sector including aviation and shipping, have also expressed their longterm commitment to alleviating climate change.

The aviation industry and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have set aligned goals of improving fuel efficiency and stabilizing net aviation carbon dioxide emissions from 2020 through carbon neutral growth.

These include the adoption of new technology and alternative fuels, improved operations, better use of infrastructure, and the development of a global market-based measure to enable the industry to stabilize its carbon dioxide emissions from 2020.

On the other hand, the cruise and shipping sector is targeting to build new cruise ships with energy efficiency design standards for a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide by 2030 as well as utilizing special lighting to reduce power consumption by up to 20 percent. n

Citi hikes PH growth forecasts for 2015, 2016

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA – American banking giant Citigroup has raised the country’s economic growth forecasts for this year and next year on the back of robust domestic demand led by strong household consumption.

Citi senior economist Jun Trinidad said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines has been upgraded to 5.8 percent instead of 5.6 percent this year and to 5.1 percent instead of 4.8 percent next year.

“Domestic demand theme will continue to prevail in a less than stellar 2016 with household consumption leading the way.

Election spending peaks in the first quarter of 2016 but windfall remittance gains with Philippine peso veering to 48.50 would

by richMond

s. Mercurio

Philstar.com

MANILA – Negative news is bad for business, and what is bad for business could spell doom for the economy.

The “laglag-bala” or bullet planting scam in the country’s airports has not yet made a dent on the Philippine economy yet, but it poses the threat of wounding the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination if it is not addressed immediately.

“Investors are certainly not amused and will question the ability of the Philippine government to deal with issues affecting business,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) executive vice president Henry Schumacher told The Star.

The Philippines continues to be recognized as one of the top-in-mind attractive destinations among investors globally due to its sustained robust economic growth rates, according to foreign business groups in the country.

The country’s economy improved six percent in the third

Henry Schumacher and Bo Lundqvist

quarter of the year, the third fastest growth in Asia next to China’s 6.9 percent and Vietnam’s 6.8 percent.

Last year, foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country even soared to a record high of $6.201 billion from $3.737 billion in 2013.

FDI inflows this year, however, have plunged. FDIs declined 35 percent in the seven-month period from a year ago.

Although the bullet planting

and allegations of extortion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has nothing to do with this downtrend yet, it may have implications moving forward.

“I do not think that, at this point, the previous incidents would in a big way affect investor confidence. If allowed to continue, however, this type of incident may contribute to damage the security reputa-

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PH firms seen going overseas by doris

duMLao-abadiLLa Inquirer.net

GLOBAL property consulting firm Jones Lang Lasalle sees large Philippine property developers scouting for more offshore investment opportunities to diversify their portfolio even as prospects remain bright in their home market.

Christopher Fossick, JLL managing directain China and emerging mar- tor for Singapore and Southeast Asia, said in a prime demand,” Trinidad said. briefing last week that for now, the best return Trinidad said out the risks of kets recovery.

He said unfamiliarity with for local developers would be to focus on their slower momentum would come from government in transition new government’s policy agen- “doorstep.”

One would question why these developers that would cause ongoing pub- da could curtail private investwould go overseas when the opportunity in the lic investments to slow down ments.

For next year, Trinidad warned local market was good, Fossick said. sharply post-elections as well Net office property yields – referring to yields as offshore developments led by domestic demand could ease to tightening global rates, unceru PAGE B2 from renting out property less the average cost

of borrowing – were estimated at 3.5 percent in Metro Manila, much better than the net yield of 0.9 percent in Singapore, 1.7 percent in Kuala Lumpur and 0.3 percent in Bangkok.

“Having said that, every organization willl want some diversification, not to have all your eggs in one basket. So I think it’s just natural that what you do as investor is to look for other markets,” Fossick said. As such, the JLL executive said he was not surprised to see the likes of Ayala Land Inc., SM Prime Holdings and Gokongwei group investing overseas.

ALI has invested in real estate projects in Malaysia and mainland China and is looking at opportunities in Vietnam. SM Prime, now the leading property developer in Southeast Asia, has a growing chain of shopping malls in mainland China. n

B DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

Investors cautious on negative…

PAGE B1 t

tion of the Philippines, which is one of the factors potential investors for sure will look at,” Nordic Business Council Philippines (NBCP) president Bo Lundqvist told The Star.

NBCP promotes and facilitates trade, commerce, industry, and investment between the Philippines and the Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) and Baltic (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) countries.

The “laglag-bala” or “tanimbala” scam at NAIA has gained prominence not only in the country, but even in other countries in Asia and the United States, placing fear and concern on both local and foreign travelers alike.

Lundqvist said the Philippines’ reputation as a safe and easy place to do business should be protected, if the country wishes to continue enjoying its status as an attractive investment destination.

In the World Bank’s October report gauging economies in terms of ease of doing business, the country’s ranking dropped six notches to 103rd from last year’s 97th spot across 189 economies.

Schumacher said aside from the Philippines’ reputation, tourists, overseas Filipino workers and business travelers are the ones currently suffering from the prevalence of the bullet planting modus.

In terms of sector, foreign business group executives said it is obviously the country’s tourism industry that would take the biggest blow should the scam continue and remain unaddressed.

“If this catch on further international press, most probably if the incidents target foreign arrivals, it will for sure affect the tourism industry. This industry is volatile and potential security threats can immediately cause cancellations of large

number of incoming tourists for a long period of time,” Lundqvist said.

The tourism sector is one of the bright spots seen in further expanding the Philippine economy.

The contribution of the tourism industry to the economy was estimated at 7.8 percent last year and is currently the third largest dollar earning industry of the Philippines next to semiconductor and business process outsourcing industries.

But if there is any consolation for the country at present, it is that the bullet planting modus has yet to make its impact on the local tourism industry.

“I did a quick survey of lots of APEC guest and only about one third even knew about it and that third, while thinking it was creative and a bit funny or strange, certainly didn’t think it was a headliner and didn’t understand why it kept making news,” American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Ebb Hinchliffe said.

“There has been a limited number of incidents of which only a few have involved foreigners. I do not think that at this point, these incidents will bring harm to the Philippine economy. Neither do I think it reflects on the majority of airport workers in the Philippines.

However, if it is not swiftly addressed by the government, it may create further bad press for the Philippines,” Lundqvist added.

Department of Tourism (DOT) assistant secretary Art Boncato Jr. assured the DOT would extend all efforts to work with all sectors to ensure guests are accorded the kind of hospitality the Filipinos are celebrated for.

Boncato said the country is now pushing towards exceeding the five million mark in foreign arrivals by the end of the

year.

“Things are looking up with our Visit the Philippines Again 2016 tactical campaign. The DOT’s mandate is to grow tourism because it is about providing food on the table of many communities who rely on it,” Boncato said.

Foreign business groups are now calling for the immediate solution to such extortion scheme which has been allegedly targeting migrant workers and tourists.

Schumacher said the modus should have been stopped and eradicated the minute it became known.

“First impressions for tourists and visiting businessmen last,” Schumacher said, urging the government to replace the management of NAIA to solve the issue.

“That management cannot even provide taxis. If you arrive at Terminal 3 in the late afternoon or early evening, there are long lines of passengers waiting for transport. Of course, you can get a taxi for three times the normal rate – with official receipt,” he said.

For Lundqvist, he said it is important for the government to conduct a proper investigation into the matter, with the objective of finding the perpetrators and use the full force of the law to sentence them.

“If the Philippine government can resolve the issue in a transparent and permanent way, I believe it will not cause significant harm,” he said.

“I would also like to see the government enforcing transparent security measures in place at all airports, preventing airport staff from at any part of the airport harassing passengers. Perhaps added to that, airport staff may need education in customer service and their important role as first line representatives of the Philippines as foreign travelers arrive here,” Lundqvist added. n

Citi hikes PH growth forecasts for 2015…

PAGE B1 t

5.4 percent from about seven percent this year with ongoing public private partnership (PPP) project implementation as the key anti-cyclical growth catalyst in play.

The country’s GDP growth accelerated to six percent in the

third quarter from the revised 5.8 percent in the second quarter and from 5.5 percent in the same quarter last year due to robust government and private consumption.

Trinidad said the growth in the third quarter was better than Citi’s forecast of 5.8 percent.

Trinidad said domestic demand excluding investments soared eight percent year-onyear to lead GDP on the back of upbeat household consumption with 6.3 percent growth, government consumption with 17.4 percent, and uplifted real investments with 9.3 percent. n

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Clients with long pending loan modifications resort to chapter 13

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT no. 1 presents her long tale of bad news that started when she wanted to refinance her fully paid house 2007. That was the year of what some people call “predatory” lending. Client became a victim of a loan broker who promised her that she was getting a refinance loan at 2 percent per annum fixed for 30 years. Wachovia, which died with the rest of the other lenders like Countrywide and IndyMac, gave her a refinance loan of $400K. She thought she was getting a 2 percent per annum fixed rate loan for 30 years since that is what the loan broker said she would get. But the loan that was given to her was actually an ARM. You know, one with an adjustable rate that fluctuates every six months. After paying her mortgage for two years at $2,400, she thought everything was good. However, all of sudden she gets a notice of default from Wells Fargo, the assignee of the Wachovia loan, saying that her house was going to be foreclosed after 90 days if she did not cure the default of $20K. In 2009, the fashion was “sue the banks” for giving you a loan that did not comply with your expectations. A lot of homeowners were actually fooled by unscrupulous lenders who represented to the buyers that, just like my client, that they were getting a really cheap mortgage loan at very low interest. The funny thing was that no matter how diligently and timely they paid their mortgage payments, the balance of the loan kept on getting bigger.

Homebuyers then thought, now, that can’t be right. There’s something wrong going on here.

After investigations conducted by the district attorneys, it was determined that there was a massive fraud perpetrated by the banks on homebuyers. The banks marketed their teaser low rates, which were only good for a specific period of time. When adjustment time came around,

“

most homebuyers were faced with a higher mortgage payment. The banks that got bail out funds were required to settle with the government by forcing them to give loan modifications under HAMP. Sure, some people got sweetheart deals in HAMP, reducing payments, converting ARMS to fixed 30 or 40-year loans, and even reducing principal if your house was upside down. However, many people to this day are still left holding the bag. And since HAMP will end by December 31, 2016, next year, most banks are now reluctant to dole out loan modifications unless there is a very good

with the bank. Under the worst situation, client can file an adversary proceeding in Chapter 13 to ask the bankruptcy court to rule on her claim of fraud against the bank.

Client no. 2 is almost in the same situation. It’s been a nightmare for her since 2010. That’s when she sold her residence in Orange County and transferred her equity to buy her new residence in Riverside. She became the victim of identity fraud when unknown persons made it appear that she applied and got a HELOC line of credit against her new house in Riverside for $40K. The first mortgage and the HELOC line are with the same bank.

Thus, imagine her predicament and frustration when she found out her mortgage payments for the first mortgage, were being used by the bank to pay the 2nd mortgage HELOC, which she never applied for. In effect, her arrears on the first mortgage became bigger and bigger until a notice of default was recorded.

Again, she retained several lawyers in the last several years to try to get the bank to remove the 2nd mortgage based on fraud and to reinstate the first by applying her payments to the 2nd to the first mortgage. Unfortunately, while negotiations were going on, a foreclosure sale notice was recorded despite the negotiations. So, to stop the foreclosure, client needs Chapter 13. In the 13, she is also going to avoid the 2nd trust deed because her house in Riverside is upside down.

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Deuteronomy 31:8

Chapter 13 does not exclude or kill the loan modification process. In fact, Chapter 13 enhances debtor’s chances of successfully resolving her claim of fraud with the bank. Under the worst situation, client can file an adversary proceeding in Chapter 13 to ask the bankruptcy court to rule on her claim of fraud against the bank. reason to give one.

Client has had several lawyers over the years working on a resolution of her claim of fraud.

She doesn’t want to sue the bank. All she wants is to have that the bank modifies her loan to 2 percent fixed 30 as what she was promised by the loan broker 8 years ago. However, she has gotten another notice of default, and this time her default is $40K. The right thing to do is file a Chapter 13 to protect the house from foreclosure and continue negotiations on resolving her fraud claim against the bank. Otherwise, she will certainly lose her house to foreclosure even while the resolution of her fraud claim is pending. Certainly, this is not fair or just, but that’s the way the foreclosure process works. Only a Chapter 13 can stop the foreclosure on its tracks. Further, a motion to allow debtor and bank to pursue the loan modification is a standard motion in Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 does not exclude or kill the loan modification process. In fact, Chapter 13 enhances debtor’s chances of successfully resolving her claim of fraud

”

*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA HAVE you ever felt sometimes that nothing ever changes?

It feels like the same ‘ol, same ‘ol, each and every single day, doing the same thing over and over again from sunrise to sunset.

We are like the mythical Greek figure Sisyphus destined to roll a rock uphill. When we reach the topmost point, the rock rolls down to the bottom of the hill and we have to roll that rock again uphill over and over again until the end of our days.

The tedium is enough to drive us out of our wit’s end.

But although it may sometimes feel like it, human life is not meant to evolve that way.

Human life wasn’t meant to move in half cycles or in flat lines. The best of human life was intended to go through seasons and complete one cycle – hopefully, happily in one glorious cycle until the end game, until it is time to cross over and to finally come home.

But while alive, we have to fight the tedium of our days.

The grease that puts the ease in cycling through the rough and tough seasons in one’s life with grace and equanimity is that wonderful thing called JOY. JOY is that magical, mystical potion from which loving and appreciating one’s life, with all its countless heartbreaks, comes.

Seasons come. Seasons go. They move in cycles and circles.

A circle is perhaps the perfect geometric structure there is.

Although some would claim the triangle or a square to be

Barrister’s Corner

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2-4, 2015

Circles, cycles and movement Calendar of Events across “Life is like riding a bicycle.

To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

— Albert Eistein

better structures because of their stable nature, the circle and all its derivatives — the orb, the sphere, the globe and every structure on earth and in the universe with a core, circumference and radii emanating from the core — can teach and even help us to understand much about nature, our very own human life story and its cycles and seasons.

From the micro to the macro levels, every creative urge in every level, in the intellectual and the physical realms, begins as a thought and if tenaciously pursued and fleshed out by one’s strength of will, proceeds from concept to completion as a circle.

Even in the mundane reality of living an ordinary life from day to day, circles and cycles mark the patterns of our lives.

Note nature’s seasons and cycles of birth and death, of sleep and wakefulness, of sunrise and sunset, of the waxing and waning of the moon and of the quarter million year rotation of the solar system around the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way and in the grandest of levels, the movement of a nearly infinite number of galaxies in the universe, the edge of which only the Creator knows.

On the minutest level, the astounding movement of electrons around a nucleus and the wondrous flow of the human bloodstream from and to the heart are

cyclical.

As science has found out, blockages, either man-made or natural to the flow or movement in the processes existing in nature at all levels, can create anomalies, abnormalities and mutations, resulting in pain and illnesses in the human body and if uncorrected, result in diseases, debilitation and ultimately, death. This presents a strong argument for regular exercise and movement, which pumps the movement of blood flow down to the capillaries and strengthens the muscles of the heart.

Nature moves in cycles. While the earth’s atmospheric cloak adheres to the surface because of the gravitational pull of the earth’s mass, the hydrologic cycle will continue to maintain our seas and give us rain to sustain all planetary life — that is, for the time being —unless something unforeseen and catastrophic upsets and upends this delicate homeostatic-like balance.

In a way, the life of our living, breathing planet is reflective of human life itself.

“Life,” according to Einstein, “is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

And on that point, we are finding out he is absolutely right. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Relief from default in divorce cases

know that he or she was served with a Summons. This situation places the defaulted party in a precarious situation in THERE are situations in both that the first time the defaulted Divorce and Child Support party usually becomes aware cases where the Summons and of the existence of the case Petition resulted to a default is when the default child supagainst one party for failing port judgment or divorce judgto respond on time. In certain ment is actually being enforced situations, the defaulted party against the defaulted party. At failed to respond on time be- this point, the party no longer cause he or she did not even has the right to participate or

Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

Community Journal

defend itself in the litigation.

Based on my experience in practice, the defaulted party usually gets in this situation because they moved residences and the summons was served at the prior residence.

Sometimes, the proof of service of summons is fraudulent or defective. Fortunately, relief is available for the defaulted party.

If a default judgment

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS D EC E M B E R 3

AAPA Awards Gala

Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) will host The Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, honoring prominent leaders who trailblaze and inspire others to become leaders, and celebrating the 2015 graduating class of AAPA Mentees. The theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” The gala will take place on Thursday, Dec 3 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, at the Hilton San Gabriel (225 West Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776).

Expose your brand to the professional community who are your customers, clients, potential employees, entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders. Your support will directly benefit the AAPA mentees in the program. To purchase a ticket or ad, the cost is $50 each (limited time only); full/half/quarter page ad sizes are available in full color. Please visit http:// aapaawards.eventbrite.com/ for more details and to RSVP by Nov. 13. Please get involved by emailing lia.andika@aapamentoring.com.

D EC E M B E R 4

Filipinotown Christmas Festival and Parade

This holiday season, the Historic Filipinotown Christmas Festival kicks off on Friday, December 4th with a Christmas Parade along the streets of Temple, Beverly, and Alvarado.

Participants in the parade come from various community organizations and businesses, and include Fil-Am community leaders and humanitarian advocates. A reception will follow after the parade with live entertainment, vendor booths, and delicious food. The crowning of Miss/Mrs. Filipinotown will be presented on December 11th at Casa Italiana in downtown Los Angeles. Join us as we celebrate the holidays in Historic Filipinotown! Please email Project Manager Lou Razon at lou.filipinotown@gmail.com for sponsorship inquiries, or visit www.historicfilipinotown.org for more details.

D EC E M B E R 5

Santo Nino de Cebu Association Annual Dinner Dance The Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc. will hold its ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER DANCE on December 5, 6pm - 12:00 midnight, at Almansor Court (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801). For more details and reservations, please contact Helah (626) 215-2684, Gemma (909) 997-1026, Nelia (818) 425-9926, Joy (909) 228-0437 or Willo (818) 458-0779.

Pasigueñans of Northern California 30th Annual Fiesta Celebration The Pasigueñans of Northern California invites all Pasigueñans, families, and friends to its 30th Annual Fiesta in honor of its patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The annual fiesta will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Joseph A. Fernekes Building, in Orange Memorial Park (781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080). Celebration of the Holy Mass will be at 3:00pm, which will be followed by a sumptuous dinner, dancing, entertainment, and raffle drawing. For more information, please contact Flery Santos-Panganiban (707-567-4779), Polly Santiago-Cortez (925-876-7695), Edna Balido-Reyes (925-260-9764), Edith Balido (925-681-9770), Chit Santos-Dalangin (707-704-7887), Marico Enriquez (650-483-8306), Oscar Rosales (707-332-4991), Jerry Field (925-681-0974), Marivic Beltran-Tuazon (707-656-1081), or Pete Saguisag (650-994-0701).

D EC E M B E R 9

St. Joseph School presents WRAPPING ALL THE WAY What: Annual Christmas Presentation Featuring TK through 4th Grade and Parish When: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm Where: St. Joseph Parish (1150 W. Holt Avenue Pomona, CA 91768) The St. Joseph School Annual Christmas program serves as an opportunity for all students and parishioners to come together to celebrate the joyful season. All are welcome to come and be merry. Donations are welcome. For more information, please call: Director Ning Manahan at (909) 629-4101 or (909) 622-3365

D EC E M B E R 1 5

LA Archdiocesan SIMBANG GABI 2015 WHAT: LA Archdiocesan SIMBANG GABI 2015 WHEN: Tuesday, December 15, at 6:30pm WHERE: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) Principal Celebrant: Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez, D.D., Archbishop of Los Angeles The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, San Fernando Pastoral Region, will sponsor the first day of the Archdiocesan Simbang Gabi. Pre-liturgy/Parol Procession will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Rev. Jose H. Gomez. Filipiniana attire is requested to be worn by organizers and participants. This year’s theme is “Jesus Our Savior, Empower Our Families to be Better Stewards of Your Creation.” For the Parol Procession Guidelines and other information, contact any Chairperson: Patty Santiago – email: piesan@hotmail.com; Phone: (818) 472-4288 or Raymond de Guzman- email: rdeguzman1317@verizon.net; Phone: (818) 634-8664.

D EC E M B E R 1 8

Blessed Hope Christian Church Night of Praise Come celebrate the birth of Christ and praise God with the congregation at our upcoming Christmas Praise Night, on Friday, December 18 at 7:30pm. Our church can be found at 474 North Summit Ave. Pasadena, CA 91103. Please contact Jun Recio (818) 472-5244 for more details.

D EC E M B E R 29 -3 0

Pampanga High School Class of ’65 Golden Jubilee Celebration The Class of 1965 of the Pampanga High School will hold “TULA ampong SAYA,” its 50th Anniversary Reunion, this coming December 29-30, in San Fernando Pampanga, Philippines.

All 1965 graduates of the Pampanga High School (PHS), formerly the Jose Abad Santos High School (JASHS), and their spouses are welcome to all scheduled events. Admission is free.

The celebration will begin with BISPERAS on December 29 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, enjoying fun games, old music, and togetherness at the DIASPORA FARM RESORT in Santa Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga. On December 30, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, join us for KAPIYESTAN, a provincial fiesta luncheon featuring familiar Kapampangan dishes, at the Mulang Galang orchard in San Antonio, Mexico, Pampanga. The evening of Dec. 30 will conclude with TERAKAN, a gala dinner-dance from 6:30 pm to 12 midnight, at the Fortune Hongkong Seafood Restaurant in the San Fernando, Pampanga. Enjoy a fun evening of dancing to the retro music of Decadas and the mellow songs of folksinger Jerry. Class ‘65ers, please join us in celebrating our 50th Golden Anniversary! Full details on preparations, events and venues can be found on “TULA ampong SAYA,” on Facebook. For donations, interest in the 50th Anniversary Reunion souvenir memory book, highlighting the successes of individual Class ‘65ers and the accomplishments of the PHS Class ’65 Foundation, Inc., please contact the jubilee reunion organizing committee in the Philippines: Joseph Deang (0927-228-8588); Erlie Aquino Estandarte (0929-219-0248); Corazon Cunanan (0939-118-2888; 0926-660-35540); Cecille Morales Bernas (0932-509-2646); and Marcial Morales (0918-915-9095); and Dan Galang 0929-427-9308; 045-966-0764). In the US and Canada, please contact Dan Galang at (510) 487-5551 or at (510) 648-1047.

JA N UA RY 9

Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu All are cordially invited to the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebu on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bellflower, California, organized and sponsored by the Santo Niño de Cebu Association of Southern California, Inc., a non-profit religious organization. The Eucharistic Celebration will be presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, His Excellency Bishop Oscar A. Solis at 10:00 am followed by the traditional procession of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, fiesta lunch and Sinulog presentations. Food and financial donations are welcome, and all donations are tax deductible.

For further information, you may contact the association President, Danny C. Diluvio at (323) 252-4991 or email at: dannydiluvio1@gmail.com.

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

B DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Relief from default in divorce…

PAGE B3 t

is entered against a party who was served with summons, but service did not result in actual notice in time to defend the action, the party may serve and file a notice of motion to set aside the default or default judgment, and for leave to defend the action. Code Civ. Proc., § 473.5, subd. (a) “Actual notice” means genuine knowledge of the party litigant. Rosenthal v. Garner, 142 Cal. App. 3d 891, 191 Cal. Rptr.

300 (2d Dist. 1983)The Courts has strictly construed this term to implement a policy of liberally granting relief so that cases can be resolved on their merits.

Olvera v. Olvera, 232 Cal. App. 3d 32, 283 Cal. Rptr. 271 (4th Dist. 1991) In addition, actual notice by a party’s attorney will not be imputed to the client.

Rosenthal v. Garner, 142 Cal. App. 3d 891, 191 Cal. Rptr. 300 (2d Dist. 1983) There is an additional angle of argument available for non native English speakers. Receipt of summons and complaint by a non-English speaking defendant lacking in

EMPLOYMENT

business sophistication may not impart “actual knowledge.”

Goya v. P.E.R.U. Enterprises, 87 Cal. App. 3d 886, 151 Cal. Rptr. 258 (2d Dist. 1978); Tunis v. Barrow, 184 Cal. App. 3d 1069, 229 Cal. Rptr. 389 (2d Dist. 1986) So even if you actually received the complaint, if you do not speak English and are not sophisticated with business and legal matters, you may use the arguments that the default judgment should be set aside because you did not receive “actual notice.” It is the Court’s policy to, as reflected in the Olvera case, to liberally grant setting aside such defaults and having the case heard on the merits.

Default Judgment may be set aside by an attorney by filing a Motion for relief from default.

This would be accompanied by a declaration from the defaulted party that he never received actual notice. A copy of the proposed response is also required to be filed with the court. This type of motion must be filed and served within 2 years after entry of default judgment or within 180 days after service

of a notice of default or default judgment on the defaulted party, whichever comes first. If you are a defaulted party, you should retain the representation of an experienced attorney to set the default aside as soon as you can. *** 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.

*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement)

EMPLOYMENT

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

People and Events Knights of Rizal- Historic Filipinotown (KOR- HFT) announces the first Rizal Memorial Essay Writing Contest LOS ANGELES – Calling all Filipino-American youth and student writers in California!

The Knights of Rizal-Historic Filipintown (HFT) announced on November 15, 2015 that it will hold the first-ever Rizal Memorial Essay Writing Contest for 2015 Knights Commander Arturo Garcia of Historic Filipinotown (HFT) announced that the Rizal Memorial Essay Writing Contest will start accepting entries rom November 18 to December 18, 2015.

Rules of the contest The last day for submission of entries will be at 6pm on December 18, 2015 (must be postmarked on that day).

Those who are interested to join the contest must submit their entries to KOR-HFT c/o People’s CORE at 1610 Beverly Blvd. Suite No. 2, Los Angeles, California, 90026.

The theme of the contest is: if Rizal was in Historic Filipinotown, how will he envision the development of the area?

Entries must contain 1,500 words and be double spaced with the participants’ name.

Entries must be submitted in two separate en-

velopes.

One envelope must contain the following: 1) assumed name or coded number 2) true name, address and telephone number.

This process is to maintain the impartiality of the judges. The entries will be safeguarded by the KOR-HFT officials and will be held for safekeeping.

Prizes The prizes for the Rizal Memorial Writing Contest will be: First Prize - $500 and a plaque Second Prize - $350 and a plaque Third Prize - $150 and a plaque The Board of Judges, composed of prestigious writers and journalists in California, will be announced later.

The judging process will be held from December 20-25, 2015. The winners will be announced from December 27-29, 2015. The awarding will be held on Rizal Day, December 30, 2015.

For more information about the contest please call at (213)241-0995 or email us at agarcia@ peoplescore.net. n

SERVICES

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PeoPle & events

UST alum Bro. Eric Serrano is new president of APOGLA BRO. Eric Serrano, an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas (Pi Chapter) is the new President of Alpha Phi Omega of Greater Los Angeles (APOGLA) for Development Year 2016.

A physician from the Philippines who is now employed as a registered nurse and Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS) of a Home Health Agency, Bro. Eric will succeed Bro. Dan E. Nino, whose term will end Dec. 31, 2015. He will be sworn in with his executive officers on Dec. 12 at the Embassy Suites AnaheimSouth on 11767 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, near the Disneyland Resort and coinciding with APOGLA’s 35th foundation anniversary.

Bro. Aleks Garcia, president of Alpha Phi Omega Council of North America (ACNA) based in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, will induct the officers, while APO Philippines National President, Bro. Luis Paredes, will be the guest of honor and guest speaker.

The other officers who will be sworn in are Bro. Rocky Marte (Theta-UP Los Banos) vice president; Sis Ruth Manalastas (PiUST) secretary; Bro. Troy Agagon (Gamma Epsilon-De La Salle University) treasurer; Bro. Bong Ansula (Pi-UST) assistant treasurer; Bro. Raul David (SigmaAdamson University) auditor; Bro. Rene Madella (Sigma-Adamson University) sergeant-atarms and Bro. Jobee Jovellanos (Delta Nu – Philippine Air Transport & Training Services College of Aeronautics) sergeant-atarms, as well as Board members, Sis Ophel Amon and Fely Montecillo (both from Alpha – Far Eastern University).

After his election as president, Bro. Eric said, “as your next leader and with your unflinching support, allow me to be as a father, a friend and servant brother to all -- pledging to do all I can to fulfill my campaign promises.”

Bro. Eric Serrano was a former Board chairman (2012 and 2014) and current Board member and service project chairman of the successful Heal The Bay Coastal Clean Up conducted at the Echo Park Lake last September. He was also a recipient of the Dr. Librado I. Ureta Award.

He pledged to work with members of the ACNA Board and its executive leaders on some of

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 2-4, 2015

B

Menard Leelin pays courtesy visit to Philippine Embassy

THE Republic the Philippines Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., received a courtesy visit from Mr. Menard L. Leelin at the Philippine Embassy diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. on November 25, 2015.

Mr. Leelin, a long-time Cerritos, California resident, successful Filipino-American businessman, and owner of Leelin Bakery and Cafe, had a warm, pleasant, and friendly conversation with Ambassador Cuisia during his recent business and family vacation trip to the Nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. They discussed various business and current issues concerning the Philippines and the United States, among many others. Mr. Leelin expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Cuisia for the warm hospitality he received during his courtesy visit.

Leelin Bakery and Cafe op-

Menard L. Leelin with Ambassador to the US, Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.

erates six store chains in Los Angeles, Cerritos, Eagle Rock, North Hills, Panorama City and West Covina in Southern California. Additionally, Menard’s fam-

ily owns four Yojie Shabu Shabu Japanese Fondue Restaurants in Artesia, Diamond Bar and Los Angeles, California, and one in Las Vegas Nevada. n

2015 AAPA Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala Theme: Waves of Change - Oceans of Opportunity

Eric Serrano with Dan Niño

the more pressing issues besetting the Council. “I will lead by example. We will continue to perform community service as much as allowable within our annual schedule of activities. We will also engage with the City of Los Angeles in line with many of their community-oriented services; to strengthen our ties with APO-USA and APO-Philippines. We should foster better and stronger ties with them.”

APO of Southern California, the precursor of APO-GLA, was founded on Oct. 30 1980, as the first APO alumni association

organized outside of the Philippines. Among its community service programs are providing manpower volunteers for the Los Angeles Marathon, Feeding America, Heal The Bay Clean Up and Operation Gratitude.

Alpha Phi Omega Collegiate Fraternity was founded on Dec. 16, 1925 at the Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. In the Philippines, it was established

by Bro. Dr. Librado I. Ureta at the Far Eastern University. For many of us, even beyond graduation, the over-riding spirit of the Fraternity refuses to fade. n

ASIAN American Professional Association (AAPA) invites you to its 2015 Achievement Awards & Graduation Gala, to be held at the Hilton San Gabriel on Thursday, December 3, 2015 from 5:30 to 9:30pm. This is the premier event in Los Angeles celebrating prominent leaders who have made significant contributions within the Asian American community and the graduates of the 2015 AAPA Mentoring Program.

More than 300 corporate and community leaders, elected officials, donors, supporters and AAPA mentors, mentees, and alumni are expected.

This event includes dinner, an awards ceremony, a keynote speech by Southern California Edison President Pedro Pizarro, an awards ceremony to recognize our distinguished Achievement Awardees, and a graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our 75 mentees.

Achievement Awardees: -Asian Pacific Community Fund, a nonprofit communitybased fund, is receiving the Community Achievement Award for their commitment to empowering under-served Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) and investing in organizations that provide culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services to the API community.

-Bill Imada, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of the IW Group, Inc. and Commission

Member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is receiving the Executive Achievement Award for his leadership in promoting diversity and the success of the professional community, as well as his efforts to improve the health, education and economic status of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.

-MUFG Union Bank, NA, a full-service bank that provides a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial, retail banking and wealth management solutions, is receiving the Diversity & Inclusion Achievement Award for its deep commitment to diversity, reflected in their diverse and multidimensional workforce, workplace diversity programs, and philanthropy within diverse communities.

-Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company in unmanned systems, cyber, and logistics, is receiving the Corporate Achievement Award for its deep commitment to diversity, as reflected in its workplace culture of inclusion, diverse and multidimensional workforce, and resources for workplace crosscultural competency, such as GlobeSmart.

Event sponsors include Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, Bank of America, PG&E, and APEX Computer Systems Inc. For questions or to attend this

event, please contact: Lia Andika, AAPA Program Director, at lia.andika@aapamentoring. com Event details: www. aapaawards.eventbrite.com About AAPA AAPA is dedicated to inspire, develop and promote the professional community to maximize their career and leadership potential. Our vision is to foster a national network of diverse professionals in management and executive pipelines who will become future leaders and inspire others in their community.

Since 1999, 70 passionate AAPA volunteer Mentors provided the award winning AAPA Mentoring Program to over 1000 Mentees in Southern California. The AAPA Mentoring Program is a year-long program providing an opportunity to build trusting mentoring relationship and leadership skills throughout the year. Its one-on-one mentoring, led by dedicated and qualified executives and managers, has produced highly-motivated and confident career-minded professionals.

Your participation in the Achievement Awards gala will directly help to support the AAPA mentees in the program by motivating and inspiring them to further reach out and be in charge of their careers and communities. www.aapamentoring.com n

B DECEMBER 2-4, 2015 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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MDWK

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2015

Noel ‘Toti’ Cariño

Doing business for the good of the Philippines

by Agnes ConstAnte/AJPress

I

n the 1990s, there were many doubts about the future success of Boracay. “nobody believed me at that time that we would [develop] the island of Boracay,” said realtor noel “Toti” Cariño, who eventually went on to establish Fairways & Bluewater, the single largest stakeholder and landowner on the popular island.

“People were saying, ‘Boracay is a tiny island. Why would you develop a world class resort, much more put a golf course development there?’”

Today, Boracay is a tourist hotspot that attracts travelers across the globe. The island has topped lists of the World’s Best Islands, while its white, sandy beaches have received international praise.

Despite the lack of electricity on the island, water and ports to receive construction materials, Noel ‘Toti’ Cariño by 1995, Fairways & Bluewater was completed. The resort encompasses an area of more than 120 hectares – nearly 10 percent of the island’s land mass – and offers a wealth of water activities, a full 18-hole world-class championship golf course and spacious rooms with generous amenities.

Cariño’s role in the development of Boracay is only one in an extensive list of achievements. He is the current national president of the Chamber of Real Estate Builders Associations (CREBA), where he has been involved since 1976 and previously served as executive vice president. In november, the association received the Global Outreach Award for its contribution to promoting global awareness among cooperating partners of the national Association of Realtors in Asia.

In 1981, Cariño co-founded Fil-Estate Realty Corporation, which oversaw the acquisition, development and selling of more than 5,000 hectares of property worth approximately P80 billion in its 35-year history; today, he is working on a project in Puerto Princesa, Palawan through his current real estate company, Cariño Development argues. and Management Corporation.

The association has sugBut even with all his success, gested lowering the 20 percent he says his top accomplishment requirement to somewhere isn’t one explicitly outlined in his around 10 to 15 percent, and resume. What he’s most proud asking developers to actually of is his relationship with the real put up houses for the poor. estate industry, where he has “We are proposing this contributed to the development because we’ve seen the deteof a number of people involved rioration of Metro Manila as an in it through seminars. urban center,” Cariño said.

“Some of them have gone Buildings in Metro Mainto developing on their own, nila have continued to grow have established their own upward, a trend paralleled by realty company, some are now its population density. It’s a pillars in the industry as well. problem for the region, given So as far as accomplishments that roads and transportation are concerned, I’d say I’m very have not followed suit. As a happy I was able to contribute result, CREBA is advocating for to their development somehow mid-rise social housing in Metro in the industry as well,” he said. Manila to promote a better Advocacy for the poor quality of life and encourage Apart from private develop- the development of industries ments, as national president of outside the area. That way, CREBA, Cariño has been advoexpansion occurs horizontally cating for the creation of the instead of vertically.

Philippine Department of HousAn estimated 1.5 million ing and Urban Development. informal settler families (also He says his involvement called “squatters”) reside in the in real estate is not simply for Philippines, according to the profit, but to provide homes for national Housing Authority. Of as many Filipinos as possible. that number, Motoo Konishi, “It really pains everybody World Bank country director for when you see a lot of the dispar- the Philippines, said 600,000 ity between incomes. The haves – or about three million people have it and they have what, five, – are in Metro Manila. six homes? Whereas the guy Yet despite the density, Cariwho’s an ordinary employee is ño the problem is not impossijust renting a small space for so ble to fix: each hectare of land, many years,” he said, adding he says, can accommodate up that the average person in the to 750 housing units.

Philippines has no way of having “In Metro Manila alone, the his or her own home. problem can be solved in less The real estate association is than 10 years, provided that pushing to alter an existing rule we’re really able to sustain the in the country that requires deregulatory aspect that developvelopers to allocate 20 percent ers will have to comply with,” of their project to socialized Cariño said. housing. Developers, however, Cariño’s advocacy extends have the option to purchase beyond his real estate involvebonds and invest in the socialment and carries over to the ized housing effort if they don’t political realm. In 2001, he ran have the means to build the for the position of congressman housing infrastructure. Simply in Pasig City. investing results in no actual “I wanted to serve primarily housing production, CREBA because of these advocacies in

AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

housing. I thought that I could help out by being a legislator and introducing things through legislation. To be able to do that, you had to be a member of Congress so that’s why I wanted to serve,” he said.

However, he lost.

He went on to file a case with the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, adamantly believing he won the votes. Over two years later, the Tribunal ruled in his favor and swore him in one week before the end of the 12th Congress in 2004, and his first day was the last day of that session.

While his case was pending, Cariño served the people of Pasig by leading youth leadership training, setting up livelihood programs, organizing cooperatives and implementing livelihood projects through the War Against Poverty Foundation he established in 1995.

Despite the substantial delay in being sworn in, Cariño is acknowledged as the congressman of Pasig for the entire term.

“That was fun,” he said of his experience in public service. non-profit, energy, disaster prevention, and agricultural projects In addition to his experience in real estate and politics, Cariño has invested time into founding Kilusan at Ugnayan ng Maralitang Pasigueno Inc., which aims to boost the quality of life of the urban poor and out-of-school youths of Pasig City, and Lakas Pilipino, which has led social projects, such as feeding programs and voluntary cleaning of barangays in Pasig City.

The former congressman is also focused on solar energy, through a company he cofounded, SunAsia Energy Inc., where he is chairman of the Continued on Page 3

4th Impact eliminated from ‘The X Factor UK’

by Arvin

MendozA Inquirer.net

THE all-Filipino girl group 4th Impact was eliminated from the British talent show ”The X Factor” on Sunday, Nov. 29.

The group and their fellow contestant Lauren Murray fell in the bottom two during the show’s results night, so they had to battle for survival through a sing-off.

4th Impact performed “And I am Telling You” from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, while Lauren chose “Visions of Love”

by Mariah Carey.

When it came to the judges’ decision, the competition went into a deadlock.

Rita Ora saved her act, saying there’s a future for Lauren.

4th Impact’s mentor Cheryl Fernandez-Versini expressed her undying support. “I have a lot of love and respect for everyone on the stage. Lauren, that was fantastic, but my heart and my soul is with my girls.

“I think I’m going to send

SAn diego Inquirer.net

Jr.

FILIPINO Ryan Richard Tamondong won the grand prix at the Europop singing tilt held in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Tamondong bested contestants from 17 European countries.

Another Filipino contestant, Gyver Jude Concon, placed fourth in the 18-to-24 age category. Other Filipino contestants, Princess Faith Priel and Mikee Micosa, received a diploma and a medal.

The Philippines is the only Asian country invited to join Europop. This is the second year for

The all-Filipino girl group 4th Impact’s “The X Factor” journey ended on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Lauren home,” said Simon Cowell.

4th Impact was later booted out of the competition by public votes.

Minutes later when cameras stopped rolling, panic arose when one of the girls, Celina, collapsed on stage.

Cherly was quick to call for

help, and two producers rushed to attend to Celina.

The group later tweeted that Celina was okay after she was taken care of by paramedics who were always on standby during the series.

Cheryl also expressed gratitude to all the fans who showed support for her girls.

MANILA—Marian Rivera is happy with her new role as a mother to her first child with Dingdong Dantes.

Marian gave birth to their daughter Maria Letizia on November 23.

“Alam mo ‘yong pakiramdam na hindi mo maipaliwanag na ‘pag tinititigan ko ‘yong anak ko parang, ‘Wow, thank you Lord. Binigyan n’yo ako ng napakasayang biyaya na walang kapantay talaga,” she said during her phone patch during the Sunday, November 29 episode of

GMA-7 variety show “Sunday PinaSaya.”

The Kapuso “Primetime Queen” had an 18-hour labor, but said it was all worth it.

“Kahit anong hirap pag nakita mo na siya talagang priceless talaga,” she said.

Marian thanked her fans who prayed for her, adding that “napakalaking tulong talaga na nakaya ko ang paglelabor.”

She also promised them that she’ll soon be back in the show, but didn’t confirm when it will be. (Philstar.com)

the Philippines to join Europop.

Last year, Ana Katrina Ramsey won first place in the 18to-24 age category, while Gian Marla Gloria placed 4th place and Glee Nette Gaddi third in the 14-to-17 age group.

Also last year, “Goin’ Bulilit” mainstay Cha Cha Cañete placed second in the 10-to-13 age category, while Natalie Erin Martinez received a diploma and a medal.

“There is no doubt that the Philippines is blessed with so much talent. Filipino talent is truly world-class.” Viktor Leis, managing director of Leider Leis Musik Production (Europop organizer), said that the

Ryan Richard Tamondong, Europop grand prix winner.

Filipinos have set the standard for other countries in future competitions.

Noel ‘Toti’ Cariño From Page 2 board.

“It’s one of the things a country needs,” he said of renewable energy.

“In Asia, the Philippines has one of the highest cost in terms of energy, so getting into [solar energy] serves a purpose,” he added.

SunAsia Energy Inc.’s most significant ongoing project is a 60-megawatt toledo solar project in Cebu’s Toledo City.

Energy generated from the project will be sold under Feedin-Tariff, a policy mechanism geared to accelerate investment in renewable energy. Such a program normally guarantees that owners of facilities that qualify to generate renewable Feed-inTariff electricity will receive an established price for the energy they generate and provide to the grid.

SunAsia is working on four additional projects, including the 30 Megawatt Victoria Solar Project in Negros Occidental.

Under another company, Shelter Dome Technology Corporation, Cariño brought US-patented state-of-the-art Monolithic Dome Technology, which has proven most effective in withstanding typhoons, earthquakes and tornadoes.

The technology was found to be ideal for Philippine coastal villages, as well as regions hit by seasonal monsoon rains, typhoons and earthquakes.

Among projects completed by the company include a library/ classroom in Leyte for Pawing Elementary School students, for which it partnered with Habitat for Humanity.

Another project completed in September by Shelter Dome was a cluster of dome-shaped multipurpose centers in Eastern Samar, which will become home to a medical clinic, daycare center, and toy library,

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2015

A capella group gets the crowd dancing at the Plaza Del Sol

PH tops Europop singing contest

by BAyAni

3

The Filharmonic rocks VPAC at CSUN

Marian Rivera considers daughter Letizia ‘priceless’

Marian Rivera considers her daughter Letizia “priceless” after she gave birth to her on November 23.

entertainment

among other establishments.

Shelter Dome and Cariño Development and Management Corporation are currently working on library projects in Tacloban Leyte.

Also among Cariño’s businesses is LeonPhilippe Industries, Inc., which is in the agricultural and livestock industry. The company is focused on producing goat milk, which has been called super milk, as a means of promoting nutritional wellness in the Philippines. The milk is also used to produce hair and skin products. Furthermore, LeonPhilippe -- which, Cariño shares, is a combination of his first name, Noel, backward and the Philippines -- produces cacao seedlings for cacao and growers, entrepreneurs and interested farmers wishing to establish a cacao planting business.

Key to success With Cariño established across a diverse spectrum of industries, he says one attribute to his achievements is his openness to new ideas.

“I wouldn’t close my mind on things that are new just because they are new...I ‘d like to explore things and see where the creativity leads me. And I think that’s a good guide for progress to happen. When your mind is open, as they say, like a parachute, when it’s open, it’s good. When its closed you’re dead. Your mind is like a parachute, you know. It’s got to be open all the time,” he said.

When it came to Boracay, for instance, Cariño took the risk amid existing doubts because he was inspired by his travels abroad.

“I saw how countries develop, how tourism develops. It’s really from what you experience when you travel and see what other countries did. You just simply have to do it,” he said.

As Cariño continues to

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

contribute to the Philippines through his establishments, he says his businesses are those with a social conscience. Might as well make money and still help out, he says.

“The Philippines is growing.

We might as well grow properly, which means that wealth should be for everybody, not just a few,” Cariño said.

“America is so great because...everybody has a chance here to live the way that they’re living. But in the Philippines, we need to untangle some of the things that have pushed down people,” he added.

Through his involvement in CREBA, Cariño is working to do some untangling with Congressman Albee Benitez, chairman of the housing committee in Congress, to get local governments to submit idle lands they own in Metro Manila. These could be used for socialized housing, Cariño said, adding that there are a number of those lands.

But ultimately, in the end, with everything he strives to do and all his feats, Cariño says his goal is to be proud as a Filipino.

“I want to say that the Philippines can excel, can compete and it’s a country that we can all be proud of. But we have to do our part. Whatever it is, our contribution to nation building is paramount,” he said.

THE audience was clearly enthusiastic—screams and shrieks and emitted from the mixed crowd of college kids, tweens, and older fans at the 500-seat venue at the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC).

This was all for the FilipinoAmerican a capella group The Filharmonic, whose unbelievably a capella set brought a reaction from the crowd akin to that of boyband fandom.

The repertoire consisted of mostly Top 40 hits, save for Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September,” which was still a crowd pleaser. Though all songs were covers, the group surely made each one their own. From the opening “Chains” (Nick Jonas) to encore “Sugar” (Maroon 5), the Filharmonic kept the audience in rapt attention.

Smash hits “Shut Up and Dance,” “The Way,” “Stay” and “This Is How” kept the audience moving. But it was their cover of Bruno Mars ‘ “Treasure” which proved pivotal, as this song was the one the group first performed ever, and telecast nationwide on NBC when the group was formed to compete in the a acapella competition “The Sing Off.” The group admittedly acknowledged that they were not a fully formed group when approached by the NBC casting.

Thus goes to show the immense talent of the members, brought together by fate and serendipity.

A significant plus are the beatboxing capabilities of Niko Del Rey and Trace Gaynor, who riff off in vocal percussion. Niko’s unique style stemmed from having to accompany himself when breakdancing. So adept is he that he can incorporate lyrics with a bass line and percussion in one breath.

Spontaneity and wit are qualities that all members possess, as they kept the crowd involved through a bit with Barry Fortgang, who made and

The Filharmonic: Jules, Trace, VJ, Joe, Barry and Niko.

The Filharmonic got the crowd dancing on their feet for most of the night.

New songs and new moves with Barry, Niko, Joe, VJ, Jules and Trace.

entertaining “poor execution” of a call and response. Needless to say, all are exemplary soloists, with Joe Caigoy’s endearing high tenor and VJ Rosales’ riffs.

The group is blessed with such individuality, expertly brought together, with the guidance of VJ, who acts as Musical Director though most of them contribute arrangements. Credited with founding the group is Jules Cruz, whose rare deep bass voice rounds out the sound

Photos by Rick Gavino

of these vibrant vocalists.

“Flashlight,” the group’s cover of the Jessie J song has reached over 2 million hits on YouTube and the group flawlessly delivered it live, with the requisite hand choreography.

Some people in the audience even knew the routine, as the group has a tutorial up on you’re its YouTube channel.

The group touted new songs and new moves for Continued on Page 5

4

entertainment

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2015

Mariel Rodriguez on how she recovered from second miscarriage miscarriage in an interview in the

by Joyce Jimenez ABS-CBN late-night talk show Philstar.com “Tonight With Boy Abunda.”

MANILA—Mariel Rodriguez “This one’s more [painful] admitted that her world turned kasi I had multiple pregnancies, “dark” when she had her second meaning either twins or triplets. miscarriage.

Iniisip ko, ‘wow, siguro nag-mis“I was about to go dark, I was carriage ako dati kaya pinalitan bitter, I was not in a good place,” ni God.’ Then I had one with a recalled Mariel about her second heartbeat so I was really hop-

Paulo Avelino: Happy with career and personal life

by Boy

ABundA Philstar.com

IN real life and off-screen, he is soft-spoken and can strike you as a bit shy. Even when he faces the press, his answers are measured, and he’s not as talkative or as gregarious as other actors.

But put him onscreen and Paulo Avelino seems to instantly transform. A lot of people remember his intense performances in TV dramas like “Walang Hanggan” and “Bridges of Love” where he showcased a totally different side of himself.

Mariel Rodriguez He will get another chance to ing. Then I lost the [one with] do this when he joins the cast heartbeat.” “‘Yon talaga nag-breakdown of the top-rating Dreamscape na ako. I was really going to lose drama “On The Wings Of Love (OTWOL)” as advertising exit already,” she added. ecutive Simon, the new boss of Mariel suffered her second miscarriage last August, just days Nadine Lustre’s character Leah.

Based on the show’s official after her husband Robin Padilla character description, Simon will announced that she is pregnant come in as a sort of third wheel with triplets. that will shake up the relationThe TV host said is thankful ship of Clark and Leah a bit. to husband Robin who has supPaulo is excited to be joining ported her during that time. the show, even if his character They went on a vacation is a bit on the kontrabida side, abroad, Mariel shared, and said a fact that might invite bashers that “[Robin] reassured me that and negative comments. “Di nathe world will be okay even if just the two of us. So was able to man maiiwasan ‘yon na madala ang tao sa pinapanood nila na make something bad, positive, character,” he says. “Pero hindi na na-feel ko pa ring blessed naman ako nag-join sa show ako. Masaya na ko ulit.” para sirain ang pagiging magAfter all that has happened kaibigan nila,” he explains. to their marriage, Mariel said As an actor, he has done she’s not asking for another baby mostly dramatic and intense anymore since she felt that it’ll roles, so for “OTWOL” he needs be given to them if it’s meant to to make some adjustments. But be. that is something that he has Mariel also explained her come to expect with every role decision to undergo dilation and curettage procedure three that he takes on.

“Siyempre, laging may months after her miscarriage. adjustment,” he says. “Bawat Usually, a woman immediately adjustment, medyo iba, but for undergoes the D& C proceme, that’s never-ending.

As an dure right after the miscaractor, you always adjust.

Maramriage. ing nadadagdag sa alam mo, But Mariel said that aside pero mas maganda ‘yon kasi pafrom wanting it to “go the naturang continuous ang learning.” ral way” like in her first miscarEver since he moved to ABSriage, she admitted that “for a CBN, Paulo has been kept busy, time I was holding on to it.” working on project after project, “Sinabi ko no’n God has and that’s not even counting the the last say, kaya I want it to go ones that aren’t network-prothe natural way,” she explained. duced. Sometimes it gets physi“Malay mo He’ll put Mother cally and mentally exhausting, Mary in me and give it life, says Paulo, but when he feels so I let it be. Then nagalit na that way, he thinks of his future, sa akin ang OB [obstetrician which — aside from it being gynecologist] ko, so sabi ko his passion — is the reason he sige.”

Paulo Avelino

got into show business in the first place. “Oo, napapagod din ako, medyo tumatanda na rin kasi (Paulo is in his late 20s) pero kailangan pag-igihan ang trabaho para sa mga pinapangarap sa buhay.”

Right now, his priority is his career. He wants to seize all the opportunities coming his way to the point that he’s willing to let his private life take the backseat. Paulo was formerly linked to mega-daughter KC Concepcion, but their relationship fizzled out before it could go the distance.

Since then, there have not been any reports of Paulo getting into a new relationship, or seeing someone. He’d rather spend his time studying the characters he plays instead of getting into a relationship right now. What he is in a relationship with right now is his career.

Paulo sees every role as a challenge because it forces him to tap into his creative juices. He likes three-dimensional characters, or those that stretch him as an actor.

“That’s why I always look for something broken about them,” he says, adding that, “Challenge sa akin lahat ng roles ko, like for instance, coming from Bridges (of Love), ibang-iba siya dito sa gagawin ko sa ‘On the Wings of Love.’”

The challenge he is facing in

“On the Wings of Love” is twofold: First, he is joining a show that is already successful and has a built-in audience and solid following built around the JaDine love team, and second, that Leah is a woman who is brilliant and yet has an air of mystery about her. He is intrigued by those types of women.

Despite this, he is excited to be working with James and Nadine. “Medyo late na ako papasok sa show, but it’s an honor dahil alam naman nating hit ang ‘OTWOL,’” he says. “Working with the love team, I’m pretty excited sa mabibigay kong bago, na mayayanig at palalakasin pa lalo sina Leah at Clark as characters sa show.”

He addresses the JaDine fans: “To the JaDine fans, thank you for the welcome. I’m just here as an actor, baka kainisan ako sa show, but I’m really just here to inspire everyone.”

Paulo is very happy with the way his career and life are going. On a scale of 1 to 10, he’d rate things as they are now as a 9. Why not a perfect 10?

Paulo quips: “Para may room for improvement.”

What is his Christmas wish?

“Hindi showbiz pero ngayon ang daming terror attacks, and not just in Paris. I just wish it would stop, and that everything would be peaceful for humanity’s sake.”

Moonlighting

contempt, and speaking an obligation becomes a civic duty. de Leon Call it righteous indignation, but there are a lot of angry people that sympathize with the victims, especially YarDs and yards of writfrom the media. ten papers spilled into violent Touching episodes took paragraphs. There were pitiless place at the Celebrity Centre accusations and vehement International in Hollywood last invectives that tried to open sunday, Nov. 22. the eyes of those who do not There were polemics, want to see, unplug the ears discussions of uncomfortable of those who do not want to truths (that most of us already listen and ignite the thoughts know, but not dare to express). of those who do not want to Like messengers of paucity, we think. were seduced by the artist and It has been six years since their heart-rending patriotic the ignominy of a conscious songs, poetry and music. and premeditated crime was In tears, a writer/lawyer carried out. 58 people, (32 said she will personally prosof them media workers) were ecute and support the case. slaughtered on a hill top in I don’t swim in an ocean sitio Masalay, Barangay salman of health but the moribund of in ampatuan, Maguindanao in my kind right there, made a what is now acknowledged as covenant. It will not be limited the worst incident of electoral to “I am here, I am here.” violence in recent Philippine as the national anthem was history, and the single deadliplayed, the journalists, who est attack on the media on love our flags, placed their record. right hand over their hearts to six years later, an injustice salute the flag. remains like a thorn pierced in Then, all of a sudden, some the brains and hearts of the newshens started to cry, in a families and friends of those silent, composed way -- no who died. They suffer physical moans, no hiccups. sorrow that lacerates: bitter My throat chokes a little, and acrimonious. but I cry more than those who There comes a moment cry with tears in times like this. in life when keeping silent More often, the words I write becomes a fault on a road of are nothing but tears.

by MyLah

Journalists travel to where their stories lead them, which often take them into dangerous locations, in order to bring news stories to the public and make them aware of what’s happening around them, so that they may make informed decisions. as we mark the 6th anniversary of the single greatest massacre of journalists, let us take a few moments to remember lost lives and the lasting impact this tragedy has had on their families.

Let us never forget the ultimate sacrifices that these journalists (including the ones we lost to typhoon Haiyan) have made for the public good.

Written words can do a lot of good but if evil, they can hurt as much as heal. That is why I never write rapidly.

I never cast away. I am slow, cautious and unappeasable -- never resembling those who are always satisfied with their products, as if their gall bladder expels ambrosia.

More than the rythym of the phrase, or the cadence use of words, reporters and drivers are driven by their civic duty—the moral challenge.

I do not believe in objectivity, it cannot exist within conscience or memory. ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol.com

The Filharmonic rocks VPAC at...

From Page 3 this show, aptly displayed in “Monster Mash-Up” where the FIlharmonic got the audience to “Whip” and do the “NaeNae.” CsUN’s own acapella group “acasola” opened the show, setting the stage for the Filharmonic. The show was a co-presentation of Philippine Patrons of the arts Usa (PPaUsa), Music arts Events and the Valley Performing arts Center.

PPa-Usa and Music arts Events are planning future shows. If you want to bring The Filharmonic to your city’s performing arts center, call (818) 322-5018 or email info@musicartsevents.com.

features

Six years of bruised souls

The Filharmonic’s set was high energy, unbelievably all a capella

5

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2015

Mango Mix

Indulging in the creative

by Martin

Jason L. ita-as

YOU don’t necessarily have to be an artist or a performer to have a creative side. Just like everything in the world has a science to it, everything has an equally creative side to it. From the way we write, the doodles we draw and the dreams that we have, everybody has that inner creativity just ready to be unleashed.

You might be telling yourself that living in a world where everybody is well-grounded and focused on a serious and ideal society would be better, but there are many advantages into letting yourself loose and exercising your creative muscles now and then: Fresh angles sure places like the office or a meeting might not be the right places to exercise your artistic sensibilities, but putting a bit of color and pizzazz in both your home and work life can open up your horizons. You might be able to find fresh new ways to solve your problems and even quick and enjoyable solutions to get from point a to point B. When you are creative, you look at everyday problems at new and exciting angles.

Feeling inspired Brand new ideas can be hard to find if you look at things from an overly serious and straightforward perspective. But when you mix and match by combining a colorful and fancy-free outlook with serious and well-grounded ideas and facts, you can come up with feasible ideas that are both acceptable and well received. Try getting inspiration from other sources, such as old ideas you may have abandoned in the past or looking into things like childhood memories and inspiration from doodles or suggestions from your friends and family.

A splash of color While black and white may seem concise and very clean, a little drop of color here and there can make anything look fresh and exciting. Each color carries an emotion usually attached to it in a subconscious way. red can incite feelings of hunger or aggressiveness, perfect for places where dining is encouraged. Blue colors are for more calm settings and can bring about waves of calmness and relaxation, much needed after work or school. Pick a color that best suits what you’re looking for and buy furniture or paint the room in that shade. You might find it a welcome change from your black, white and grey viewpoint.

Eco-creativity sometimes being creative about the old objects around your home can help you recycle or rework them to have new purpose, saving you money from purchasing new and expensive items. You can transform old soda bottles into cute new planters with a little paint and some string. You can transform unused wine glasses and a small plate into a nifty cake tray. you can switch up old shirts into scarves or quilts with a little stitch work. Just go online for a plethora of crafting ideas and tips and get cracking.

Make life exciting It may be a great idea to

keep grounded and have a serious, stable life, but an existence without a little bit of creativity can be a very dull and boring one. a lifetime is all about experiences and exploration. To deny your creative outbursts and artistic activities concerning music, theatre dance, art or writing/reading would be like you throwing a large chunk of your life away. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm and experiment with exciting new prospects and ideas.

Being creative doesn’t just mean being good at drawing, writing a novel or being able to flawlessly act. Creativity can stem from being able to appreciate paintings, enjoying a stage play or even just writing simple poems or being able to appreciate a good book. Indulge in your creative side and enjoy the variety the world has to offer.. *** Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include lowpriced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, Passport and Visa Concerns. It is the #1 producer of reliable travel services particularly when it comes to Philippine travel arrangements to the Filipino-American community in the US Mango Tours is able to provide its customers with a number of travel options at affordable rates because of its consolidator contracts with over 11 airlines. Book your travel bookings with Mango Tours by calling its 24/7 U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2-626452). Visit www. mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers.* *Advertising Supplement

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 2, 2015

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