LA Midweek Edition -- December 21 -- 23, 2016

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LOS ANGELES

M I D W E E K M I D W E E K

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December 21-23, 2016

Volume 26 - No. 102 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

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PNP chief seeks forgiveness for drug war deaths

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

DAYS before Christmas, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked the public for their prayers and forgiveness for deaths related to the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Speaking before police officers and their families on Monday, December 19, Dela Rosa also asked for their tolerance and understanding if the killings continue.

“I would like to ask everyone, ang hinihingi kong gift sa iyo ay pagdasal niyo kami, ang inyong mahal sa buhay, ang inyong kapulisan, na sana patawarin kami ni Lord dahil dito sa mga namamatay sa war on drugs (the gift I’m asking for is that you pray for us, for your loved ones, for the police force, that the Lord forgive us for those who were killed in the war on drugs),” Dela Rosa said during the opening of PNP’s Christmas party for Camp Crame-based officers and their family in Quezon City.

USA

DATELINE LA introduces fund for immigrant rights

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NETTED. Chief Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Bicol police director, said the drugs could be part of at least three tons of cocaine reportedly dumped off the coast of Samar in 2009 or a shabu laboratory dismantled in Catanduanes recently.

Philstar.com photo by Jorge Hallare

Duterte: ‘US a land of hypocrisy’ Duterte to Pacquiao:

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 19, hit the United States anew, calling it a “land of hypocrisy” for its criticism of the Philippine government’s deadly crackdown on illegal drugs.

For the past previous months since Duterte took office, the United States has reiterated several times its concern over the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings related to the Philippine government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Records from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show that around 6,000 people have been killed in the campaign from July 1 to December

The city looking to combat Trump’s deportation threat

IN conjunction with city officials and philanthropists, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the installation of a $10 million fund dedicated to assisting the city’s undocumented immigrants facing deportation.

The announcement comes amid the historic election of President-elect Donald Trump, who has proposed stringent immigration plans, including deporting millions of undocumented immigrants.

If passed by the city, starting early next year, the LA Justice Fund will challenge proposed policies from both the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress.

“People who have built their lives in America have rights, and they deserve all of the protections that our legal system provides,” Garcetti said in a statement released on Monday, December 19. “The LA Justice Fund

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Lawmakers, community groups rally in LA against Trump’s antiimmigration proposals LOS ANGELES — Roughly 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Pershing Square on Sunday, December 18, before marching to the steps of City Hall, where lawmakers and community leaders pledged to resist proposals by President-elect Donald Trump.

Immigration was the most prominent topic discussed at Sunday’s rally, which coincided with International Migrants Day. At the event, demonstrators, lawmakers and community leaders spoke out in support of the rights of undocumented residents, especially those who may face a greater risk of deportation under the incoming presidential administration.

“We will not go back to the days when we persecuted [people] because of religion or discriminated against [people] because of the color of their skin or their legal status,” California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de

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President Rodrigo Duterte

Electoral College officially declares Trump presidency

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

PRESIDENT-elect Donald Trump on Monday, December 19, has received the necessary 270 votes in the Electoral College, officially securing the presidency.

Each state’s electors convened in their respective states to officially cast their ballots. When all the votes were counted, Trump received 304, while Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received 227.

When the initial votes came in on Election Day on November 8, Trump had won 306 electoral votes while Clinton won 232.

In Texas, there were 10 electors who ended up voting for a candidate other than who they were expected to vote for: eight who were supposed to vote for Clinton and two were supposed to vote for Trump.

As expected, all 55 electors from California, a staunch blue state, voted for Clinton.

In a ceremony in the state Assembly chambers, the electors cast their votes. The mood around the chambers was “muted, even a bit glum”, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

“Today’s solemnity and formality reminds us that in our nation, American greatness and American independence, rests on a foundation of law,” Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Cordova), who lead the ceremony, said in the chambers.

Flaw in the system?

Although Trump won more electoral votes, he

‘I think you will become president too’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

BOXING champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao could become one day a president of the country too, according to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking at Pacquiao’s 38th birthday celebration on Saturday, December 17, Duterte called the senator “president-to-be.”

“I asked permission from president-to-be Manny Pacquiao. Ako, Senator Manny Pacquiao nagbitaw na ako ng salita, oo, klaro na ’yan (I already said my piece. It’s clear),” Duterte said in a speech in General Santos City.

“Look. Ito ha. Man, magpulitiko ka man, magiging presidente ka rin, tingin ko eh, totoo. (Manny, you are a politician and I think you will also become a president),” he added.

Pacquiao previously admitted that he has considered

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Fil-Am activists urge release of political prisoners in PH

by ERIC

President-elect Donald Trump

still trails Clinton in the popular vote (individual vote) by about 3 million votes as of press time, which raised concerns over the validity of the Electoral College.

Lawmakers — including Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and former Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — have proposed eliminating the Electoral College

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ANTHONY LICAS AJPress

MORE than a dozen Filipino-American activists rallied outside the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles on Monday, December 19, calling for the release of hundreds of political prisoners affiliated with leftist rebels.

The protest was sponsored by the Southern California chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), which identifies itself as the information bureau of the Philippine National Democratic movement.

Participants in the rally say President Rodrigo Duterte has failed to fulfill earlier pledges to free 400 members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Why is taking so long to fulfill these promises?”

Bayan USA’s Secretary-General, Nikole Cababa asked

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A DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

PNP chief seeks forgiveness for…

PAGE A1 t

Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office, records from the PNP show that around 6,000 people have been killed from July 1 to December 12 in relation to the government’s policy on narcotics. The crackdown was Duterte’s main campaign promise during the presidential election.

Dela Rosa, however, reiterated that of the 6,000 recorded deaths, only over 2,000 were killed in police operations while the remaining were “deaths under investigation” or vigilantestyle killings.

“Meaning, maraming nakisakay sa ating war on drugs, maraming sumabay. ‘Yan dapat ang ma-address natin and we are working on that (This means that there are many who rode on our war on drugs; many went along at the same time. That’s what we need to address),” he added.

The PNP chief also noted that although Duterte hates seeing his fellow countrymen dying, the

president “loves peace-loving Filipinos so much” that he would rather have the government kill drug personalities to save innocent people.

Even with the international and local criticism, the government will not back down from its antiillegal drugs campaign.

“Prangkahan tayo (Let’s be frank). While I am begging for forgiveness for what is happening right now, I am also begging your indulgence to please understand if the killings will continue, but we will not stop our war on drugs,” he said.

He then added, “Hangga’t nandyan ‘yung problema (While the problem exists), we will continue confronting that problem. Hindi po mahihinto ito (This will not stop). We cannot guarantee you na walang mamamatay dahil (that nobody will die because) in every action, there is a corresponding reaction.”

Meanwhile, the latest survey from Social Weather Stations (SWS) – conducted from De-

cember 3 to 6 – showed that 8 out of 10 Filipinos were worried that they, or someone they know, might fall victim to extrajudicial killings in connection with the administration’s war on drugs.

Despite the worry, the same survey also revealed that Duterte garnered a “very good” net satisfaction rating.

According to the poll, Duterte scored a +63 net satisfaction, just a one point down compared to the previous survey conducted last September.

UN: Duterte killings ‘constitute murder’ Following Duterte’s earlier confession that he had ‘personally’ killed drug suspects before, the United Nations (UN) on TuesCHRISTMAS RUSH. Shoppers hunt for bargain items at the Divisoria market in Manila on Saturday, Dec. 17, a week before gift-giving on day, December 20, asked the Christmas Eve. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan Philippine authorities to probe the president for his claims.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (CHR) Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on Philippine PAGE A1 t This has prompted the presipines for compact development, authorities to “demonstrate subject to a further review of dent to invite her to come to 12—with 2,000 people slain their commitment to upholding concerns around rule of law and the Philippines and investigate. u PAGE A3 during legitimate police opera- civil liberties.”

However, her visit comes with tions while the remaining 4,000 After a $434-million package in the following conditions: she were killed in extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings, most re- 2011, MCC said it has withheld should have a public debate with portedly conducted by unknown its second aid due to “significant Duterte, who in turn should be concerns around rule of law and able to ask the UN special rapsuspects. porteur his own questions, and “America is a land of hypoc- civil liberties.”

On the other hand, the coun- she should take an oath to “conrisy. There are 40,000 Americans killed every year, drug-related,” try could lose more foreign as- firm her intention to be truthful.”

Callamard, however, said in a Duterte said in a speech before a sistance if Duterte continues group of exemplary government to impose conditions on Agnes statement that these conditions Callamard, a United Nations set by the Philippines were “inemployees.

At the same time, the president (UN) special rapporteur seeking consistent with the Special Rapalso reiterated that the country to conduct an investigation in porteur Code of Conduct and could survive even without the the country on the extrajudicial Terms of Reference for country help of the U.S., following the killings linked to the drug war, visits.”

Casiple noted that former PresMillennium Challenge Corpora- according to Ramon Casiple, tion’s (MCC) decision to report- a political science professor at ident Ferdinand Marcos blocked edly withhold its $434-million the University of the Philippines a UN fact-finding investigation in relation to the assassination of financial assistance to the Philip- (UP).

Last August, Callamard lam- former senator Benigno Aquino pines.

Earlier this week, the MCC, a basted Duterte for reportedly Jr. in 1983, which resulted in the U.S. poverty reduction agency, giving the Filipino people the cutting of some foreign aid and said that it has “deferred a vote “license to kill” drug suspects in the downgrading of the Philippines’ credit ratings. n on the re-selection of the Philip- the country.

Duterte: ‘US a land of…

Duterte to Pacquiao: ‘I think you will…

PAGE A1 t

running for president.

In an earlier interview with Agence France-Presse, the senator said he has thought of aiming for the top political position in the country when he retires from his boxing career.

Duterte then gave the senator advice to: “Sundan mo lang ang

linya mo at ganun lang ang ugali mo – ’yang style mo, stay humble. Mababa lang (Follow your path and retain your style. Stay humble).”

This, however, was not the first time Duterte mentioned the idea of Pacquiao becoming a president.

Last month, during their meeting at Malacañang, Duterte re-

portedly raised senator’s hand and said, “For president na ’to ha. (This one is for president).”

Pacquiao, while still maintaining boxing career, had served two terms as a member of the House of Representatives before winning a senatorial post in the recent May 2016 national elections. n

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From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 21-23, 2016

A

Electoral College officially…

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entirely and rely on the popular vote to select a president.

“If the Electoral College had selected any other person than Trump, then I would’ve believed it had proven its value as a safeguard to protect American citizens from someone unfit to lead us as our President,” New Yorkbased Filipino-American activist Steven Raga told the Asian Journal in an email.

“And even though it does not necessarily mean the current system in place could not do so in the future, the results from yesterday’s vote leaves me unconfident in utilizing the Electoral College for future elections and am open to its possible dissolution,” Raga added.

Singing a similar tune to those who fear a Trump presidency, Raga added that the system did not work in the interests of the American majority. Of the upcoming administration, Raga envisioned an apocalyptic future with lesser opportunities for “people of color, women, and those of certain religious backgrounds.”

Despite wide disapproval of

the results, Trump’s camp still believes it won the election fair and square, and celebrated the reality television star’s incoming administration.

Trump’s running mate Vice President-elect Mike Pence tweeted in response to the results, congratulating his partner’s win.

“Congratulations to @RealDonaldTrump; officially elected President of the United States today by the Electoral College!,” he tweeted just after the results were in, adding that he is “honored” and “humbled” to become the country’s next vice president.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) also celebrated its candidate’s win and a Republican leadership in the White House.

“This historic election is now officially over and I look forward to President-elect Trump taking the oath of office in January,” RNC CoChair Sharon Day said in a statement released on Monday. “Our unified Republican government will hit the ground running next year so we can deliver real change and make America great again.”

Day added: “For the good of

the country, Democrats must stop their cynical attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this election, which Donald Trump won decisively in the Electoral College with more votes than any Republican since 1988.”

Bipartisan support for Russian hack probe Back in October, the government announced that it was “confident” that Russia was responsible for a hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which resulted in the release of thousands of emails.

Those emails revealed damaging information about the Democratic Party as well as its presidential nominee, Clinton.

In a turn of events, the CIA revealed earlier this month that the Russian hacks were orchestrated GLAMMED UP JEEPNEY. Children walk past a colorfully hand-painted jeepney designed by students of the Mapua Institute of Technology, to sway the election in Trump’s during the 6th Pinoy Ultimate Jeepney design competition at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr. favor, mainly by producing and distributing “fake news” aimed to defame Clinton.

Although the RNC finds the allegations nonsensical, the proposed investigation on the hack has received resounding support PAGE A2 t and fair trial, equal protection admitted being a killer.”

Last week, Duterte claimed from Democrats and Republi- the rule of law and their inde- before the law, and innocence cans, including Senate Majority pendence from the executive by until proven guilty. As a govern- that he had killed drug suspects u PAGE A4 launching a murder investiga- ment official, if he encouraged when he was still the mayor of tion.” others to follow his example, Davao City.

“I know it because—I am not “Such acts directly contra- he may also have committed vene the rights enshrined in incitement to violence,” Al Hus- trying to pull my own chair—in Davao I used to do it person6th largest economy in the world. Article III of the Philippine Con- sein said. ally. Just to show to the [policestitution.

The killings described He pointed out that it’s “unWith this package of legislation men] that if I can do it, why can’t by President Duterte also viothinkable for any functioning we are telling the next Adminisyou?” Duterte said in a speech late international law, including judicial system not to launch intration and Congress: if you want on Monday night, December 12, the right to life, freedom from vestigative and judicial proceedto get to them, you have to go in Malacañang. n violence and force, due process ings when someone has openly through us.”

De Leon assured Californians that the state would not resort to the inhumane immigration practices in the 1950s under Presi- PAGE A1 t lease of 20 additional political not breathing at the time of dedent Dwight D. Eisenhower’s of the Philippine government on prisoners. livery and died shortly afterward “Operation Wetback”, which Monday. “[Duterte] has every “There are still hundreds left due to respiratory complications, Trump previously praised. power to grant general amnesty.” in prison who are in there for according to Cababa.

Filipino-American AssemblyDuterte had referred to himself trumped up charges,” said TerDr. Geneve Rivera-Reyes — a man Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) ear- as a leftist president in the past. rie Cervas, the secretary general doctor from the non-profit orgalier this month proposed AB 3, He has also vowed to make prog- of Gabriela USA, an organization nization Health Action For Huwhich would create state-funded ress on efforts to end hostilities that advocates for the empower- man Rights (HAHR) who cared centers to train defense attorneys between the government and ment of Filipino women and oth- for Rosal during her incarceraand public defenders on immi- communist revolutionaries. er progressive goals. “[Inmates] tion — said the physical strain gration law and the implications A major breakthrough took include women, even children Rosal faced in prison may have of criminal conviction. place this past August when and the sick and elderly.” contributed to the newborn’s “Immigration is critical for members of the Duterte adminCababa and Cervas listed se- death, according to a release keeping alive the American istration sat down with represen- vere overcrowding and a lack of from the Filipino activist group dream — a dream that the Unit- tatives from the NDFP and the vital medical services as some Karapatan. ed States is the land of oppor- Communist Party of the Philip- of the harsh conditions encounDuterte had denied a request tunity for people from all over pines (CPA) for the reopening tered by jailed NDFP members. from the NDFP for the release of the world,” Bonta said at the of official peace negotiations in They said some activists who 130 prisoners on Thursday, Depress conference. “I’m proud to Oslo, Norway. were arrested while they were cember 8, saying he had given support a package of bills that So far, 19 jailed NDFP mem- pregnant like Miradel Torres “too much too soon,” to the comprotect California’s immigrant bers have been released so that and Andrea Rosal were denied munists. population and challenge our so- they could serve as consultants adequate prenatal care before In light of that statement, prociety to end policies profiling and during peace talks. On Tuesday, giving birth while they were in testers are urging Duterte to live discrimination based on race or December 20, government peace custody. Torres was separated up to prior commitments, rather religion.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJ- panel chair, Silvestre Bello III, from her baby not long after giv- than hold the freedom of political Press) announced the scheduled re- ing birth, while Rosal’s child was u PAGE A4

PNP chief seeks forgiveness for…

LA introduces fund for immigrant…

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will reach out to people who are American by every measure except the papers they hold — our family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They are part of our community, and we will fight for them.”

The reserve is a collaboration of the City of LA, the County of LA, the California Community Foundation, the Weingart Foundation and the California Endowment. The government will provide $5 million with the other $5 million coming from private foundations.

According to the city, the LA Justice Fund is one of the first programs that allocates local taxpayer money into providing legal services for the city’s undocumented community. Garcetti stated in a press conference that the fund will help “law-abiding” immigrants, but clarified that the those with a criminal history would not be denied help.

As many of the city’s undocumented immigrants fear for their future in the midst of the election, the City of LA has reassured the community that its lawmakers will maintain itself “as a welcoming and inclusive city.”

Soon after the election, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced that it will uphold Special Order #40, which restricts officers from conducting investigations solely based on a person’s immigration status.

The city’s efforts to provide protections and offer legal help to migrants who can’t afford attorneys matches similar endeavors at the state level.

On Monday, December 5, several members of the state Legislature announced a series of bills dedicated to challenging Trump’s immigration promises and protecting the rights of undocumented immigrants.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) and Senate Leader Pro-Tempore Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) have initiated resolutions that urge the president-elect to retract on his promise for mass deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants.

“Immigrants are a part of California’s history, our culture, and our society,” Rendon said in a statement. “They pay taxes, sometimes more than billionaires, and they help drive the engine that makes California the

Fil-Am activists urge release of political…

A DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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Women doctors may be better for patients’ health

by Shefali luthra Kaiser Health News

WHEN a patient goes to the best hospital, he or she usually hopes for a doctor who is knowledgeable and experienced.

Something else to wish for? A woman physician.

That’s because female doctors may on average be better than their male counterparts at treating patients in the hospital and keeping them healthy long-term, according to findings published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study, conducted by a team of researchers at Harvard, examined a random sample of Medicare patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2014 treated by general internists. Overall, the researchers scrutinized more than 1.5 million hospitalizations, controlling for differences in hospitals and patient cases.

Their conclusion: Patients who saw a female doctor were less likely to die within 30 days of leaving the hospital. They were also less likely to get readmitted within a one-month span of their initial discharge.

“Women physicians are more likely to do evidence-based medicine, and follow clinical guidelines,” noted Ashish Jha, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the study’s co-authors. “They are more likely to communicate in a way patients report is more effective.”

And those tendencies, it seems, result in healthier patients.

To be sure, there’s a long-held notion that patients often consider gender when choosing a doctor. But this is the first to suggest that, for patients of all identities, female physicians may be more effective.

The findings come as hospitals are increasingly pressed to

figure out ways to keep patients healthier, and for longer. The 2010 health law restructured how they get paid so that they’re rewarded for patients’ long-term health, and penalized when patients get readmitted. And while the Trump administration has vowed to repeal the law, analysts say many of those payment reforms — which enjoy bipartisan support — are expected to stick around.

With such incentives in play, hospitals may now see more value in female doctors — who, research has found, are consistently paid less than their male counterparts and less likely to get promoted.

“Understanding characteristics that are somehow associated with higher quality of care, and lower cost, is important in this era,” said Yusuke Tsugawa, a physician and research associate at Harvard’s school of public health, and the study’s lead author. Hospitals, trying to improve their bottom lines, “might look at their female doctors slightly differently — as a more valuable professional in the team.”

Put another way: Paying female doctors less than men isn’t just unfair, Jha said. It’s actually inefficient.

“There’s a little craziness around it,” he said. “The people who seem to provide somewhat better care are the ones who are getting paid less. I think that makes very little sense.”

That’s the idea behind an op-ed published in in conjunction with the study. It argues that the paper’s findings suggest hospitals serious about improving patient health should invest in improving female salaries and other benefits, so that they’re comparable with those of male doctors.

Still, it’s unclear why this difference emerges, or even how meaningful it might be. The study’s conclusions suggest

Fil-Am activists urge release…

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prisoners as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.

Peace talks are scheduled to continue in January, however, some NDFP leaders are calling for the release of their remaining colleagues as a prerequisite to further deliberations, according to Cababa.

“The ball is really in the court of President Duterte,” Cababa told the Asian Journal. “He really has to make some positive steps

and show that he really cares about peace, that he really cares about everyday Filipinos.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been in conflict with the armed wing of the NDFP, the New People’s Army, for over four decades. Communist rebels have been pushing for increased independence from Western powers and sweeping political and economic reforms in addition to the release of its members. n

women are better about communication and following rules in terms of how they practice medicine.

But that’s all conjecture, noted Anna Parks, an internal medicine resident at the University of California-San Francisco and the oped’s principal author.

“It’s pretty speculative right now to say what women are doing better than men,” she said.

“We need to gather more data on this, so instead of going off of stereotypes, we have hard evidence.”

That said, generalizing the findings gets tricky. The paper only looks at Medicare patients, who are older, and it only focuses on the inpatient setting. Jha said he thinks the hospital-based findings would likely hold if expanded to other age groups.

But that’s not necessarily true for other kinds of medicine. The researchers are now examining whether physician gender may relate to surgical outcomes. It’s also unclear whether outpatient cases — for instance, patients seeing a regular doctor to manage a chronic condition — may yield a different result. In hospitals, patients don’t get to choose their doctors, Jha noted, whereas they might pick a surgeon or a primary care doctor.

Others note that much more research is necessary before physician gender should be factored into the quality equation.

The differences between male and female doctors may not hold under additional examination, suggested Mark Friedberg, a senior natural scientist at the RAND Corp., a non-profit think tank. He was not involved with the study.

Other factors, such as a doctor’s age or educational experience, may matter more.

“It would be a mistake to change anything in public policy on the basis of these results, or to advise patients to change their behavior based on this information alone,” he said.

If the findings hold, they point to a way health care can become more efficient and safer for consumers.

“What this should do is to prompt us to look at these specific behaviors these female physicians are practicing,” Parks said.

“Those are behaviors we should be inculcating in all physicians.”

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. n

PASKUHAN. Despite rainshowers, students gaze at fireworks marking the end of the yearly ‘Paskuhan’ celebrations of the University of Santo Tomas.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Deejae Dumlao

US senator: China had no right to seize drone

by Patricia lourdeS Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA, Philippines — The seizure of an unmanned United States oceanographic vessel in international waters shows China’s flagrant violation of the freedom of the seas, an American senator said.

“China had no right to seize this vehicle. And the United States must not stand for such outrageous conduct,” US Sen. John McCain said in a statement.

Such behavior from China fits a pattern of destabilizing behavior including bullying its neighbors and militarizing the disputed South China Sea, the senator said.

The American senator warned that this behavior will continue unless met with a strong response from the US. “Freedom of the seas and the principles of the rules-based order are not self-enforcing.

American leadership is required in their defense. But that leadership has been sorely lacking,” McCain said.

McCain added that instead of promoting a “peaceful rise,” China has been demonstrating its willingness to use intimidation and coercion to disrupt the rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region.

“As I have said repeatedly, we must adapt U.S. policy and strategy to reflect this reality and

ensure we have the necessary military forces, capabilities, and posture in the region to deter, and if necessary, defeat aggression,” the senator said.

The Chinese government said that it will give back the underwater glider after securing an “understanding” with the US government.

Last Thursday, the Chinese navy seized the drone, which was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research.

The US government filed a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded the drone back. However, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the Chinese government can keep it. n

Lawmakers, community groups rally in LA… PAGE A1 t

León told people in attendance of Sunday’s demonstration. “That’s not America, and that’s certainly not California.”

He and other elected officials stood behind state legislation — introduced during the first session of California’s recentlyelected Legislature on Monday, December 5 — designed to challenge Trump’s hardline stance on immigration. Among those bills were one that would provide free legal counsel to people facing deportation hearings and another that would improve legal services for undocumented immigrants involved in criminal proceedings.

Other proposals submitted earlier this month include legislation that would make it more difficult for the federal government to fund a border wall between California and Mexico and establish a Muslim registry. Another bill would effectively end the state’s use of private facilities to house undocumented immigrants.

In addition, a bill introduced by de León would prevent U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from utilizing any state or local resources.

“We are either resistors or collaborators, and the city of Los Angeles will not collaborate with Donald Trump’s administration,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo on the steps of City Hall on Sunday.

Cedillo and other lawmakers applauded policy decisions from state and local institutions that would protect undocumented immigrants from being singled out and deported.

A week after Trump won the presidency, California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy White said the institution he heads would not take part in federal efforts to identify and deport any of its students.

During a Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, November 16, White said the CSU “will not enter into agreements with state or local law enforcement agencies, Homeland Security or any other federal department for the enforcement of federal immigration law.”

University of California (UC) President Janet Napolitano followed suit with similar commitments outlined in a statement released on Wednesday, November 30.

Los Angeles Police Chief Glenn Beck announced on Monday, November 14, that his department would continue to honor a 1979 special order that prevents officers from stopping and questioning Angelenos strictly for immigration purposes.

“This is truly a Filipino issue,”

California Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León speaks to the crowd on Sunday, December 18.

Photos by Eric Anthony Licas

Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) Executive Director Aquilina Versoza told the Asian Journal following Sunday’s march. “The policies that the federal administration will be taking are really going to affect us, and our community doesn’t realize how big the impact will be.”

She said that Trump’s positions on issues like the environment, worker’s rights, and education, in addition to immigration, could mean significant changes for Filipinos. Moving forward, Versoza and PWC hope to foster discourse and awareness at the local level to bolster political engagement within the community.

Sunday’s march also drew representatives of organized labor and the environmental move-

ment, in addition to supporters of immigrant, LGBTQ and workers rights. Ian Kamus, a community organizer at PWC, said the organization’s presence at the event illustrated the wide scope of concerns felt by many Americans in the face of Trump’s impending leadership.

“We know that we need to stand together today as never before,” Stewart Kwoh, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, told demonstrators at the beginning of Sunday’s rally. “We will mobilize, we will stand together, we will be in the courts together and we will be in the hallowed halls of legislature to stand up for justice.” (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

Electoral College officially…

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Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

This is the sign of a possible unraveling of the world order that was established after World War II, which has made one of the most peaceful periods in the history of the world,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said on CNN on Sunday, December 18. “We’re

starting to see the strains and the unraveling of it, and that is because of the absolute failure of American leadership.”

“This is serious business,” the 2008 Republican presidential nominee added. “If they’re able to harm the electoral process, they may destroy democracy, which is based on free and fair elections.”

At the meeting of the elec-

tors on Monday, after the votes were collected, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged the investigation into the alleged hack.

“I move that as an Electoral College, we do not normalize this election. We do not accept Russian interference in our election,” Pelosi announced, the electors applauding in agreement. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Philippines not deviating from arbitral Poe tells De Lima ethics court ruling on South China Sea Mendez and Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will not “deviate” from an international tribunal’s ruling that rejected China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea, but Manila must build trust with Beijing before discussing “sensitive” bilateral issues, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said on Monday, Dec. 19.

At the same time, President Duterte said he was open to joint oil exploration with China in the disputed waters, and would later “bring up” with Beijing the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.

Beijing had rejected the July ruling after the tribunal determined that China had breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights by endangering its ships and fishing and oil projects.

“I will bring this up someday,” Duterte said in a speech at Malacañang yesterday before government workers who received awards for outstanding performance. “What will I do with Scarborough Shoal, swim there every day? For what? Send my soldiers there to die?… If I send the Marines there, they will be wiped out.”

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said earlier yesterday that Duterte has been “revitalizing” relations with China but was not “deviating from the four corners of the ruling.”

“The Philippine government reaffirms its respect for and strict adherence to this milestone rul-

ing and will be guided by its parameters when tackling the issue of maritime claims in the South China Sea,” Andanar said.

The ruling, on a case brought by the previous Aquino administration, soured relations with China, but President Duterte, who took office on June 30, has sought to engage China, marking a reversal in the foreign policy of the old US ally.

Duterte has played down the arbitration, saying it would “take a backseat” during talks in China in October.

Last Saturday, he said he would “set aside” the ruling and would “not impose anything on China.”

But in a statement yesterday, Yasay explained that “revitalizing” ties with China was one of Duterte’s priorities and the government had been working to build “confidence and trust” with China.

“This we will continue to do for the foreseeable future, until such time that we achieve a trust level that will allow us to discuss the more sensitive issues in our bilateral relations,” Yasay said.

The government is also reaffirming “its respect for and firm adherence to this milestone ruling” and would be “guided by its parameters” when tackling the issue of maritime claims in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, he said.

“I also wish to reiterate what the President has stated in the past that he will not deviate from the four corners of the ruling,” the DFA chief said.

As state party to the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

Andrew Tan’s group commits P1.2B for drug rehab centers terpiece program to eradicate illegal drug abuse.

Inquirer.net This was announced on TuesTHE group of property tycoon day, Dec. 20 by the tycoon’s son, Andrew Tan has committed as Kevin Tan, executive director at much as P1.2 billion to build sev- Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), eral modern drug rehabilitation during the signing of the deed of and treatment facilities in part- donation for a new 500-bed drug nership with the government, rehab center in Taguig City. This u PAGE A7 backing President Duterte’s cenby doris

duMLao-aBadiLLa

the Philippines “will respect its rights and responsibilities under these treaties, including those rights recently reaffirmed by the July 12th ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on maritime entitlements in the South China Sea,” he added.

Earlier yesterday, former foreign affairs chief Albert del Rosario said he was disturbed by Duterte’s declaration that he was setting aside the ruling of the PCA while unwinding military dealings with the US. “The foregoing declarations are most sadly being made after we had taken a firm rules-based position to defend what is ours – and won,” Del Rosario said in a statement.

“Now, we seem to be on a track to relinquish those gains that have been made to benefit our people.”

Del Rosario was instrumental in challenging China’s so-called nine-dash line on its maps, setting out its extensive South China Sea claim and filing the case in The Hague.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the waterway where about $5 trillion worth of goods passes every year. n

probe to be fair

by PaoLo

roMero and Marvin sy Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Grace Poe on Monday. Dec. 19 assured Sen. Leila De Lima of a fair probe by the Senate ethics committee, provided the senator would explain why the illegal drug problem apparently flourished during her term as secretary of justice.

Poe is a member of the ethics panel which will handle the probe on the complaints filed against De Lima, including the alleged obstruction in the House inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

She said the rift between De Lima and President Duterte should not always be blamed on politics and the senator must explain why she was being tagged in the NBP illegal drug trade.

“Sen. De Lima was justice secretary in the past administration when all these things flourished in the Bilibid and anywhere else,” Poe told ANC. She said it’s proper for De Lima to answer the allegations against her.

u PAGE A7

LUNSOD NG CERRITOS PAUNAWA NG HALALAN ANG PAUNAWA AY IBINIBIGAY SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO na ang Pangkalahatang Halalang Munisipal ay gaganapin sa Lunsod ng Cerritos sa Martes, ika-11 ng Abril, 2017, para sa mga sumusunod na opisyal at panukala: Para sa dalawang (2) mga miyembro ng Konseho ng Lunsod - Buong panahon ng panunungkulan na apat na taon Ang panahon ng paghaharap ng kandidatura para sa halalang munisipal ng Cerritos sa ika-11 ng Abril, 2017 para sa tatlong puwesto sa Konseho ng Lunsod ay bubuksan sa Lunes, ika-19 ng Disyembre, 2016 sa ika-8 ng umaga at magsasara sa Biyernes, ika-13 ng Enero, 2017 sa ika-5 ng hapon.

Go Metro for the Holidays Whether you’re shopping, attending a holiday event or entertaining out-of-town visitors, avoid the tra;c and parking hassles by going Metro.

With six rail lines and nearly 200 bus routes stretching across LA County, we’ve got your trip covered.

Metro is Made for New Year’s Going to the Rose Parade or Rose Bowl Game?

Make it easy…Go Metro! With numerous bus and rail options available, you can start the New Year with stress-free travel. And if you’re celebrating during the holidays, you can get home safely with free service on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Go Metro to Santa Anita Park Before the bell goes o=, the smart ponies ride with us to the park. It’s a sure bet you’ll skip the tra;c and parking fees, and when you show your TAP card, you’ll save even more once you’re at the track. Visit metro.net/discounts to learn more.

Go Metro to LA Football Metro is the smart choice for fans attending football games at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Metro provides frequent bus and rail service to the stadium, so you won’t get caught in tra;c or miss a minute of the action. To plan your trip and >nd the route that’s best for you, visit metro.net/gameday.

Kung wala o iisang tao lamang ang iminungkahi para sa isang inihahalal na katungkulan, ang paghirang sa inihahalal na katungkulan ay maaaring gawin tulad ng itinatadhana ng Seksiyon 10229, Kodigo sa mga Halalan ng Estado ng California.

Ang mga lugar ng botohan ay magbubukas sa pagitan ng mga oras ng ika-7 ng umaga at ika-8 ng gabi. /s/Vida Barone Klerk ng Lunsod, Lunsod ng Cerritos Pinetsahan: December 16, 2016

metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro

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by Christina

A DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Desensitization

DESPITE efforts by President Rodrigo Duterte to vociferously fight the drug crisis in the country, many still refuse to see its success.

Whether they are guilty or not, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country.

The gruesome photographs of blood-soaked corpses of alleged drugs suspects are constantly shown with headlines in various media outlets almost every day. This shows how there is a level of desensitization to the violence among a certain segment of the population.

But waging a punitive war on drugs also has consequences. It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives.

While Duterte and his hard stance on drugs received high approval ratings, a majority of Filipinos are worried that they or anyone they know would fall victim to such killings.

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that 8 out of 10 adult Filipinos or 78 percent of 1,500 respondents fear getting killed in the drug war.

The poll, conducted from Dec. 3 -6, also showed that 39 percent of the respondents consider the issue of extrajudicial killings as “very serious.”

For 71 percent of the respondents, it is “very important” that drug suspects are caught alive.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has asked the public for indulgence after admitting that the

killings might continue. He vowed that the police will be relentless in its war on drugs.

“Andyan na tayo. Kung merong mamamatay dyan, pasensya na po dahil hindi kami humihinto sa aming trabaho. Hangga’t nandyan ‘yung problema, we will continue confronting that problem. Hindi po mahihinto ito. We cannot guarantee you na walang mamamatay dahil in every action, there is a corresponding reaction. (We’re already here.

If there are people killed, forgive us because we won’t stop doing our job. While the problem persists, we will continue confronting that problem.

This will not stop. We cannot guarantee you that there will be no more deaths because in every actions, there is a corresponding reaction,)” the police chief said.

Dela Rosa earlier has asked for forgiveness from the public on behalf of the police and the government for the killings. Dela Rosa asked the public to pray for the 160,000-member police force so God would forgive them for killing people.

This brutal anti-drug crackdown is painstaking and often thankless. Perhaps what it needs is to re-assess the problem and propose policy recommendations for a radically different approach— one that will not inflict fear among the citizenry but ignite civic participation instead. (AJPress)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

The beginnings of our Christmas tradition CHRISTMAS is my favorite season of the year because it just makes us look at what matters most in our life, be thankful for them, and yearn to spread the joy and love with others. A fitting prelude to New Year, Christmas also serves as a good time to look back to the year that was, as we look forward to the year ahead.

For us Christians, the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus, who taught us how to live the

life of faith, love, charity and service that he exemplified in His own life. The “belen” and “simbang gabi” are the best illustrations of the real meaning of Christmas for many kababayans.

Christmas is also a feast that we share among family, friends,

and the community, enjoying traditional food like jamon, queso de bola, kakanin, and the usual fiesta fare featuring Filipino food like embutido, menudo, morcon, lechon, buko salad, potato salad, leche flan, ube halaya, and many more.

As early as September, Filipinos start working on building that

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel sanTos-relos

Christmas spirit by playing Christmas songs, decorating the house with a parol and Christmas tree. *** 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

Joe de V, my hero MANY of us ordinary folks have From The our heroes. Mine is Jose de Venecia Jr. I Stands write this tribute six days before he turns 80 on Saturday, the Domini m. Torrevillas 26th day of December 2016.

I imagine that on Monday, the VeraPerez Gardens in San Juan City will be filled to the rafters to celebrate JDV’s natal day. For sure his guests will include foreign dignitaries from many parts of the world, who, ironically, hold him up as a prophet while to my mind, he seems half-forgotten in his own country.

JDV is best remembered as the only Speaker of the House of Representatives for five terms, or 12 years – in the 9th (1992-1955), 10th (19951998), 12th (2001-2004), 13th (20042008), and 14th (2008) Philippine Congress. He was president of the dominant party, LAKAS-CMD, and ran for president in the 1998 election but lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada (who would early in his term be ousted from the presidency), finishing second in a field of 11 candidates. He was one of the 1974 TOYM awardees.

No longer involved in domestic politics, De Venecia has reached out to promote peace among leaders of other countries. He has assumed the role of statesman, respected and held in awe by heads of state. He is founding chairman and founding president of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI). ICAPP is composed of more than 300 ruling and opposition political parties in 52 Asian countries, while CAPDI is a joint political-civil society organization in the Asia Pacific.

According to De Venecia, ICAPP is a forum of political parties of Asia-Oceanian countries, which was launched in Manila Philippines in September 2000.

The objectives of the conference are to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties from different countries in the area and with various ideologies; to enhance mutual understanding and trust among Asian countries; to promote Asia’s regional

cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties; and to create an environment for sustained peace and shared programs of development.”

On Feb. 15, 2016, some 150 parliamentarians, representing more than 40 nations, signed a resolution to form the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP). This event took place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea at an International Leadership Conference.

Since the inauguration of IAPP in Seoul in February, regional chapters of IAPP have been launched in the AsianPacific, East African, West African, European, Central American and South American regions. A North American IAPP chapter was launched at an international leadership conference in Washington, D.C. last month.

De Venecia, with his amiable personality and remarkable intelligence, was elected president and chairman of IAPP. Among the distinguished participants in the conference were IAPP cochair Dan Burton, former Nepal Premier Madhaw Nepal, first black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada, Rep. Jean Augustine, UPF President Thomas Walsh and Washington Times chair and publisher Thomas McDevitt.

In the US Senate and House of Representatives, JDV asked governments and parliaments “to combine forces to tackle the almost incredible but all too real problem of the richest one percent (1 percent) or 80 of the world’s richest individuals owning sixty percent (60 percent of the wealth of the world, or the same amount shared by 3.5 billion who occupy the bottom half of the world’s income scale.”

In the Philippines, the income and social gap is so great that like Disraeli’s Britain in the 1840s, the rich and the poor among us have become virtually ‘two nations’.”

In 2011, the richest Philippine families accounted for 76 percent of our country’s gross national income. The two riches families alone together held 6 percent of our entire economy.”

He said, “The two nations situation,

the incredibly huge gap between the rich and the poor, still exists in many countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa and a number of cities in Europe and North America.”

He pointed out that in IAPP “We observe that inequality is an unavoidable result of market operations. Inequality is the price of capitalist dynamism. Left to itself, rapid economic growth accelerates income inequality.”

But inequality, though unavoidable, De Venecia pointed out, “can be mitigated, made less painful – by government activities and parliamentary action. And it is right that the states and parliaments should do so – because economic insecurity, if left to itself, will steadily erode the social order and eventually generate a backlash against the economic system as a whole.”

He submitted that “the merging and exiting governments today, in search of new platforms, systems, and structures of government might consider a Jose de Venecia synthesis of the best of socialism and capitalism.”

He pointed out that since Presidentelect Donald Trump’s electoral victory, “we have already noticed the beginnings of significant improvement in the deteriorating US-Russian relations and better chemistry between Philippine President Duterte and Mr. Trump (who) begins to assume office only on January 21, next year.”

De Venecia pointed out that the US “has been the fulcrum of the regional power balance since the end of World War I and Pax Americana has given the Philippines and the East Asian states the breathing spell to put their houses in order, as it is the American market that has enabled them to expand their economies at the world’s fastest rate during this last half-century.”

Let’s go to JDV’s roots. He was born in Dagupan City on Dec. 26, 1936, to Judge Jose R. de Venecia Sr., and Casimira Villamil Claveria. He graduated with a bachelor of science in journalism at the Ateneo de Manila in 1955.

Before he entered politics, JDV was in business, pioneering overseas contract work for Filipinos as one of the first Philippine prime contractors in the Middle East and North Africa in the mid-1970s. Records show that he hired 51,000 Filipinos for his companies and engaged in port operations in Saudi Arabia, agriculture in Africa, and mass housing and oil exploration in the United Arab Emirates. His Middle East engagements led to the employment of millions of Filipinos. He conceived and implemented the historic dollar-remittance program for overseas Filipino

workers.

His entry into politics began with his election as congressman of the 2nd District of Pangasinan (1969 to 1972). In the first free election after the antiMarcos EDSA Revolution, he was elected congressman in 1987.

He was reelected in 1992 and joined the newly created party Lakas Tao of President Fidel Ramos. He initiated the move to unite the National Union of Christian Democrats – a cluster of the Progressive Party of the Philippines and the Union of Muslim Democrats – with Lakas Tao to make it a dominant party. In the same year, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. He created the “Rainbow Coalition,” converging political parties that include the LDP, NPC, Lakas NUCD, and other minor parties to make a solid majority in the House. He was reelected congressman and speaker in 1995. Again, he ran and won as congressman of the 4th District of Pangasinan, and was in his fifth term when he lost the speakership.

As President Ramos’ peace envoy, he reached out to secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the RAM-SFP-YOU military rebels, and the Communist Party of the Philippines.

He met Libyan President Moammar Qadafi and MNLF Chair Nur Misuari that resulted in forging a peace agreement in Tripoli in 1976. His persuasion of Misuari to accept autonomy led to the signing of the peace pact on September 2, 1996. He met military rebels, and Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni in the Netherlands, and Hashim Salamat, MILF chair, in Mindanao.

As the year draws to a close, we say hello, happy birthday to my good friend JDV. In today’s parlance, my BFF. *** Email: dominitorrevillas@gmail.com

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Poe tells De Lima ethics probe to be…

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NEW LICENSES. After years of delays, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) handed out at least 7,500 plastic license cards on its first day of printing and distribution in Metro Manila. LTO executive director Romeo Vera Cruz said the number of the served clients on the first day exceeded their expectation, which they only pegged at around 5,000 customers. He added that the first day of distribution was “very successful,” as there were no major glitches reported in the 36 LTO offices in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

Andrew Tan’s group commits P1.2B for…

PAGE A5 t

is the second site committed by the group following the earlier announcement on a similar project in Davao.

Targeted for completion in 2018, the new facility will rise on a 6,852-sqm lot inside Camp Bagong Diwa, adjacent to an old and overcrowded facility which serves about 1,000 drug reformists, or double its ideal capacity.

Under the contract, AGI will design and build the new facility, which will be run and managed by the Department of Health (DOH). The new facility will offer a wide range of services and amenities such as a physical therapy center, out-patient department building, support building, ward, swimming pool, basketball court and gym.

“We plan to build more in other parts of the Philippines. So this is basically just the start of many, many more facilities that we hope to build along with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and DOH,” Tan said in a press briefing after the signing ceremony.

“Alliance Global expresses its full support to the ongoing drug rehabilitation program of the government. This modern facility is part of the company’s social responsibility in helping

Andrew Tan

the government accommodate the rising numbers of drug surrenderers and help prepare drug dependents to slowly regain their normal lives in a safe and healthy way,” Tan added.

With a P1.2-billion budget, Tan said, the group would have enough to build one or two more facilities, possibly in the Visayas and/or Mindanao. The group is still finalizing the cost structure for the upcoming facility in Taguig.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano signed the deed of donation with AGI.

Nearly 900,000 drug users have voluntarily surrendered since the Duterte administration intensified the campaign against drugs, according to Ubial.

“We’re trying to expand the capacity of DOH so we can address this problem.”

Cayetano said this facility won’t be for the exclusive use of Taguig residents but “will be shared with other cities.”

As of end-2015, there were only 44 DOH-accredited drug rehabilitation centers nationwide. Of these, 15 are government-owned and have a combined capacity to accommodate 5,300 in-patients.

Tan’s group, through Resorts World Foundation, also earlier broke ground for a drug rehab facility to be built on a 19,909sqm lot in Malagos, Davao City, targeting it for completion by end-2017. n

Poe rejected moves by some sectors to look into De Lima’s private life.

Like De Lima, Poe did not sign a Senate committee report clearing the administration from any involvement in extrajudicial killings.

Poe said she empathizes with the former justice chief, especially with Duterte and many other individuals accusing De Lima of receiving drug money.

“But she cannot just ‘brush off’ the allegations. She must explain herself,” she said.

Among those who accused De Lima of accepting money were NBP convicts, drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and her former lover and driver Ronnie Dayan.

Aside from criminal charges, De Lima is facing an ethics complaint for allegedly advising Dayan to snub the House inquiry.

De Lima may face penalties ranging from reprimand to expulsion should the panel find merit in the complaint.

Poe said the coming proceedings in the ethics committee, chaired by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, might be difficult and that De Lima is aware that all public officials are accountable to the people.

“But I will be very fair, look at the merits of the case and if it really has something to do with what she has done as a senator,” Poe said.

‘Drug war like Nazi Holocaust’ De Lima is expected to return to the country this week following a series of engagements in the US and Germany, where she criticized the Duterte administration for the drug-related extrajudicial killings.

She likened the war against illegal drugs to the Nazi Holocaust.

De Lima said Duterte’s recent pronouncement that he wants to execute six criminals per day once the death penalty is re-

Senator Grace poe

stored was an understatement, considering how determined the President has been in taking out people involved in illegal drugs.

“The emerging comprehensive program of this administration revolves around death and killing.

Given that around 20 or more are being summarily executed everyday, it is even an understatement that Duterte will execute only a quarter of that number every day once the death penalty law is passed,” De Lima said.

“I won’t put it beyond him to order the execution of twice that number just to match the statistics on EJKs,” she added, referring to the extrajudicial killings.

The manner in which the administration is carrying out the war against illegal drugs and the rising number of killings prodded De Lima to compare it to the way

the Nazis in Germany killed over six million Jews during World War II. Just as Hitler saw the murder of Jews as the “final solution,” De Lima said Duterte’s campaign to eliminate the drug problem through summary and legal executions is not at all different.

“This ‘final solution’ eerily harks back to the final solution of the Nazis to their so-called Jewish problem. Duterte is just on his way to delivering on his promise to exterminate the supposed three million addicts who he regards as sub-humans,” De Lima said.

For criticizing the war against illegal drugs and the extrajudicial killings, De Lima has been treated as an enemy of the President and his supporters.

The President has accused De Lima of involvement in the illegal drug trade and for allegedly turning the country into a “narco state.”

Many of the President’s supporters, including members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and Solicitor General Jose Calida, tagged De Lima as “public enemy number one” and “patron saint of narco politics.”

De Lima said Duterte’s supporters are “expected to echo his insanity.”

“I’d rather not dignify yet another act of lunacy on the part of those evil minds. They’re as unhinged as their principal,” she said. n

FILIPINO PROGRAMMING

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A DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 21-23, 2016

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

B

Asian Youth Center awarded $5,000 from Royal Business Bank, announces annual campaign and installation dinner The grant will fund employment services for low-income youth in Los Angeles County

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. — On Friday, December 16, the Asian Youth Center (AYC) a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering low-income, immigrant and at-risk youth through education, employment, and social services, received a $5,000 grant from Royal Business Bank during a press conference.

The $5,000 check for AYC’s

Youth Employment Services was presented by Simon Pang, executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Royal Business Bank. Mr. Pang attributed the success of Royal Business Bank, which opened its doors in 2008 and now has 16 branches, with its dedication to serving the needs of the community, especially the Chi-

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DOT, PAL launch direct Cebu-Singapore flights

by Mary

Grace Philstar.com

Padin

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL), the nation’s flag carrier, together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) has formally launched new direct flights between Singapore and Cebu following President Duterte’s state visit to the Asian neighbor.

The launching was initiated with PAL PR 518’s maiden flight from Changi International Airport to Mactan-Cebu Inter-

national Airport (MCIA) at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, December 17.

According to the DOT, the opening of the new route through PAL is part of the agency’s route development program and policy thrust to further develop and utilize secondary gateways in the country.

“The lifeblood of Philippine tourism is connectivity. We are an archipelago and most of the tourists can reach us only by air,” Tourism Secretary Wanda

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Up 4% from projected 2016 level Zeno Ronald Abenoja, director at the BSP’s Department of Economic Research, said cash remittances would hit $27.7 billion in 2017 or $1.1 billion higher than the projected record level of $26.6 billion this year.

File photo

remittances would hit $27.7 billion in 2017 or $1.1 billion higher than the projected record MANILA, Philippines — The level of $26.6 billion this year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas “For 2017, it is expected to (BSP) sees a sustained four per- sustain its growth at four percent growth in cash remittances cent. This takes into account the next year amid strong demand continued demand for Filipino for skilled Filipino workers workers overseas,” he said. abroad.

Abenoja said the central bank Zeno Ronald Abenoja, direc- retained the four percent growth tor at the BSP’s Department of target for cash remittances to Economic Research, said cash $26.6 billion this year from

by Lawrence

aGcaoiLi Philstar.com

$25.6 billion last year.

Latest data from the BSP showed remittances coursed through banks went up by four percent to $22.12 billion in the first 10 months of the year from $21.27 billion in the same period a year ago.

The US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, UK, Japan, Qatar, Hong Kong, and Kuwait accounted for more than 80 percent of the total cash re-

mittances from January to October.

For October alone, the amount of money sent home by overseas Filipinos contracted by three percent to $2.1 million as currencies in countries hosting Filipino workers continued to weaken against the US dollar.

Remittances from sea-based Filipino workers fell 11.1 percent due to stiffer competition in

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SM Prime opens 7th mall in China PROPERTY giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. said on Monday, Dec. 19 it has opened its seventh mall in China, reflecting its strong confidence in the Chinese economy.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, SM Prime said it soft-opened SM City Tianjiin on Saturday, adding a total of 565,000 square meters of gross floor area (GFA) to the

company’s China malls portfolio.

This brings SM Prime’s combined China malls GFA to 1.5 million square meters. Among its malls in China are SM City Xiamen, SM City Jinjiang, SM City Chengdu, SM City Suzhou, SM City Chongqing and SM City Zibo.

SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said the newest mall opening “gives SM

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B DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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DOT, PAL launch direct Cebu-Singapore…

PAGE B1 t Teo said.

“That is why I consider initiatives like this as critical to the continuing development of our tourism market. We are opening more gateways and with it, wider access for visitors,” she said.

Teo said the launching of the new flights to and from Singapore is expected to boost Cebu as a tourist destination and international gateway in the Visayas region.

“We now have the chance to make this not only a main tourist attraction, but also a major hub from which travelers can hop to as many of destinations in Visayas as possible,” she said.

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Antonio Morales, for his part, expressed optimism that the flight would further attract Singaporeans to visit the Philippines.

He decribed President Duterte, who just recently visited Singapore, as an “effective” tourism ambassador who has a strong following and appeal to the Singaporean masses.

Data from the DOT showed visitor arrivals from Singapore reached 133,000 during the first nine months of the year, making it the seventh largest source mar-

DOT, PAL LAUNCH NEW SINGAPORE-CEBU DIRECT FLIGHTS: The Department of Tourism and Philippine Airlines formally launched the Philippine flag carrier’s new direct flights from Singapore to Cebu, a few hours after President Duterte left for Manila following his two-day State Visit to the Lion City. In photo are (from left) PAL SVP for Airline Operations Nicky Gozon, GMCAC chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, PAL area head for Visayas Sales Reyani Romano and PAL SVP for Philippine sales Harry Inoferio. Standing behind are captain Dodgie Monteza and first officer Stephen Toring.

ket of the Philippines during the period.

PAL’s Singapore-Cebu flights are now available four times a week. Singapore to Cebu flights are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while Cebu to Singapore trips are on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The company earlier an-

Young Global Leaders Analisa Belares (CEO & Founder, Womensphere & NewChampions5050), Richard Dacalos (Co-Founder, Upstart the Board Game & SPIN), Sen. Bam Aquino, Winston Damarillo (Head of PLDT Capital / Executive Chairman, Amihan Global) and Karen Davila (Broadcast Journalist, ABS-CBN) wrap up the Ocean 2016 Summit at BE Grand Resort in Panglao, Bohol. OCEAN Summit

Filipino startups lack in ‘scaling up’

nounced its discounted roundtrip airfare for Singapore-Cebu flights at $130 (plus $68 travel tax), which can be booked until endDecember, and for travel until

by Patricia Lourdes Viray Philstar.com mid-March next year.

Aside from PAL, Air Asia, Cebu PANGLAO, Philippines — Lack Pacific and Tiger Airways also serve the Singapore-Cebu route. of innovation is not the main reaThis brings the total flights from son why most startup companies don’t make it big.

MCIA to Singapore to 31. n During the Ocean Summit in Panglao, Bohol a few weeks ago, broadcast journalist Karen Davila dismissed the notion that the success rate of startup companies is big.

“One percent of startups only succeed,” Davila said.

Davila noted that the founders of successful companies now such as Uber and Airbnb are not from the Philippines.

Unilab Foundation Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi said that Filipinos are innovative but lack in different aspects.

“We’re not lacking in innovation. We’re lacking in patience, professionalism and scale up in terms of dreaming big and going beyond,” Fresnedi said.

“We don’t really dream big,” Davila agreed.

Fresnedi added that Filipinos tend to be content with what they have. This not entirely good or bad but this is also not the key to building a “mega-billion” company.

“My thought has always been think big, start small, move fast.

We fail on the move fast bit because we become very happy,” Fresnedi said.

Meanwhile, PLDT Disruptive Business Group Head Benedict Patrick Alcoseba said that Filipinos have great ideas but lack in the sustainability side.

“The challenge we’ve had is not the lack of entrepreneurial spirit but the scaling up part and I try to think why we have not scaled up. Looking at examples from abroad it’s an ecosystem thing,” Alcoseba said in the same conference.

The ideas are great but there is no place to make it bigger, Alcoseba said.

“Although we are resilient as a people, if these ideas are not nurtured, these ideas are not supported, are not granted a place or platform where it can grow bigger into something that the original owner envisioned for then it dies a natural death. That’s a reality,” Alcoseba said.

Alcoseba also noted that there should be a movement from the government to support venture capital.

“I think we have not really thought about the impact we can make as a people with our ideas if we go beyond 7,107 islands and maybe we should start now.

All of those ideas in a way that they could really, truly change the world from wherever we are,” Fresnedi said.

The Ocean Summit is a biannual gathering of the World Economic Forum community in the Philippines, where leaders across sectors connect and discover new ideas. n

SM Prime opens 7th mall in…

PAGE B1 t

Prime a wider perspective on China’s shopping culture, allowing us to capture bigger opportunities as an international integrated property developer.”

The company said that consumer spending growth in China is driving SM Prime’s expansion in that country.

“From 2000 to 2010, China’s consumption grew from around $650 billion to $1.4 tril-

lion, creating the largest consumer market in the world,” SM Prime said “China’s consumption has been growing faster than any other country’s in absolute terms.”

SM City Tianjin is located within the Tianjin Airport Economic Area at the emerging Binhai New Area, the largest free trade zone in Northern China. The area is a thriving central business district where international corporations

in logistics and financial services are setting up offices, according to SM Prime.

“Considered as a ‘new economic pole’ along the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and Shanghai Pudong New Area, the Binhai New Area is home to over 2,000 enterprises from 130 countries,” the company said.

SM Prime said the new China mall offers shoppers accessibility

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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 52 and married. Her husband filed for Chapter 7 relief for $30K of credit card debts two years ago. At that time, I suggested to her that she should just file a joint Chapter 7 petition with her husband so that she could also get rid of her $35K of credit cards. She said that although she was having a hard time making the payments on the cards, about $1K a month, she wanted to wait and see. She grossed $3K a month and nets $2,500. I told her then that her minimum payment of $1K a month represented 40% of her net income.

That’s a big chunk of her net income. If she were making a net of $10K a month, then $1k a month would only be 10% of her net.

That would not put too much of a strain on her. But 40% means that for every $1 that she makes 40 cents goes to credit card interest. She’s actually working for the credit card companies. I filed her husband’s case two years ago. Wiping out $30K of credit cards was a big relief for him. His net income was $1,500 and $1K a month credit cards was simply outrageous. More than half of his net income was being used to pay for his cards.

Both client and her husband come to see me. He says he’s pretty happy that he has no credit cards to pay for. It’s been two years and he actually got new cards, which he doesn’t use. If he uses it, the pays the entire balance when it’s due. He says his credit score is now 610. He bought a new CRV last year and paying $450 a month for it. He said that $450 a month is definitely better for a car payment because you get to use and at the end of the payment term, you own the car.

Whereas with credit cards, you keep paying the minimum but the principal remains the same even after ten years. In his case,

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes TO many people, the New Year signifies a chance to have a fresh beginning. People dispose of old personal items and clean out the closet in order to make room for the new. The same line of thinking goes with getting rid of the spouse upon realizing over the holidays that your spouse is stuck in his or her old ways which you can neither change nor live with. You decide to take action and file a divorce.

Before you take any action, you need to think about your situation carefully. First, you should decide whether you should you move out of the family residence or not? If you and your spouse are communicating and have some type of respect left with one another, it may be more economical to continue residing in the same household until you resolve the issues in the divorce case. However, if your relationship is heated and riddled with conflict, then someone should to move out.

If your spouse has threatened you, hurt you, or committed domestic violence, you may file a domestic violence temporary restraining order and request the court to order your spouse to move out of the house. In the same application, you may also request for custody, support, and attorney’s fees. If on the other hand you decide to be the one to move out, you should move somewhere close to your spouse if you have children to make it easier for both of you to co-parent with the children.

Second, you should decide whether your spouse is the type

Community Journal

Client seeks Chapter 7 relief for $57K credit cards

as it is adjacent to the airport and can be reached through the cities of Beijing and Qinhuangdao via buses, expressways and highspeed railways.

It said the new mall was 60 percent occupied upon the soft opening over the weekend.

“SM City Tianjin opened with anchor tenants such as Dadi IFree Cinema, Bravo Yonghui Supermarket, Jiawen, FTZ Korea World, Decathlon, Acasia Food Court and Watsons. It also features a kid-friendly Exploreum, Wellness tenants, a skating rink, as well as 8,110 parking slots for the shoppers,” the property development firm said.

The company’s latest China mall was designed by ARQ, a world-renowned design agency.

“SM City Tianjin has three structures that are positioned

PAGE B1 t

Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $100K credit cards

he paid $12K a year for ten years and he still owed the same $30K when he filed for Chapter 7 relief two years ago. He could have ended up with four cars of $30K each all four cars fully paid after 5 years. Or he could have just saved up $120K in his retirement account instead of forking over $120K for ten years of credit card payments yet still owe the very same $30K. He says that wife now wants to file Chapter 7 to get rid of her $57K cards. I said I thought that was only $35K two years ago, wasn’t it, now its $57K so what happened? He says her income went up a bit when her employer was sold to another company so she started to use the cards more.

But then the new owner started to lay off people to downsize. After downsizing, a significant portion of the labor force was shipped out to Mexico because labor costs there were a lot lower. Then recently, her employer started to automate. Last week, wife was laid off. Client has been looking for a new job and has actually had two offers but the net income was $2500. Considering that the minimum payments on her credit cards was almost $1,800, she said that she was now convinced that it was time to get rid of the $57K cards. In her present situation, 72% of her net income was going to be used for minimum credit card payments. To say that she can’t pay for them is a statement of the obvious.

They had another car payment of $300 for an older model Camry. It had two more years to go. Now I guess the choice is between making the car payments for the new CRV and the Camry and the basic necessities of rent and food, or $1,800 for minimum payments on $57K of credit cards. What would you do?

This is an open and shut case for

that looks like a large blossoming flower from above, symbolizing growth and new opportunities,” SM Prime said.

Together with its Philippine mall portfolio, SM Prime has a combined GFA of 9.1 million square meters. The company has a total of 60 malls in the Philippines, four of which were opened this year.

SM malls that opened in 2016 are SM City East Ortigas in Pasig City with a GFA of more than 80,000 sqm; SM Cherry Congressional in Quezon City with more than 13,000 sqm in GFA; SM City San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan with 101,000 sqm in GFA; and SM City Trece Martires in Cavite with 84,000 sqm in GFA. In a separate statement on Monday, the company’s recreational arm, SM Lifestyle En-

Greece, and the Netherlands declined both in US dollar equivalent and original currency.

BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said the recovery of oil prices in the world market amid the plan of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to lower global production would result to higher deployment of overseas Filipinos in oil-rich countries.

“Our rate of deployment continues to grow, although a little bit more modest. It continued to grow because of the profile of the skills that we send abroad,” he said.

The commitment to reduce global oil production resulted to a dramatic jump in oil prices to above $50 per barrel level.

He said the economic recovery as a result of higher prices would allow oil-rich countries to hire more Filipino workers.

“That is a lot of material value to the stability of our remittances,” he added.

There are about 10 million Filipinos working overseas who send money to their loved ones in the Philippines accounting for about 10 percent of the country’s domestic output as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP). n

Asian Youth Center awarded $5,000 from… the Empress Harbor Seafood Restaurant in Monterey Park.

The theme is “Double Happiness” to celebrate the merger between Project NEO and AYC. At the event, Helen Romero Shaw will be installed as the AYC Board President, and Mary Wong, Bruce Chen, and Bryan Chau will be installed to the AYC Board. Current President Jim Smith will step down to become the Immediate Past President.

“AYC deeply appreciates the grant of $5,000 from Royal Business Bank for employment services for low-income youth.” said Michelle Freridge, executive director of AYC. “Every dollar donated to our year-end cam-

Calendar of Events across

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Starting the new year fresh with a divorce who will disclose all the financial assets or not after you file for divorce. Although the family code (family code 2100 et seq.) imposes a duty to disclose all material facts and information, spouses’ are not always forthcoming in disclosing completely all assets, debts, income and expenses specially after a divorce case is commenced. What sometimes happens is once a divorce case is commenced, assets are either not disclosed, disappears, or documents/ bank statements are not produced even with formal discovery. You should gather and make copies of all financial documents before filing the divorce.

Third, there is an automatic temporary restraining order (ATROS) in place once you file and serve your spouse with the divorce papers. The four standard mutual restraining orders are 1) removing their minor children from the state without the prior written consent of the other party or a court order. family code Section 2040(a)(1) 2) restraint from transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property, real or personal, whether community, quasi-community, or separate without the other party’s written consent or court order; fam code 2040(a)(2) 3) restraint from cashing, borrowing against, canceling, transferring, disposing of, or changing the beneficiaries of any insurance or other coverage, including life, health, automobile, and disability held for the benefit of the parties and their child for whom support may be orders.

Fam C 2040(a)(3). 4) restraint from creating a nonprobate transfer or modifying a nonpro-

B

Remittances to hit record $27.7-B…

the supply of seafarers particularly from East Asia and Eastern Europe while that of land-based workers also slipped 0.6 percent.

Top countries that contri-butChapter 7. You can’t drive your ed to the decline in total cash remittances in October were Saudi visa or MasterCard.

Next client is a 65. She is a Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, member of the medical profes- Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, sion. She married late and has a and the United Kingdom.

Remittances from the UK de17-year-old daughter who is starting college. Her husband passed clined 5.9 percent even as the away 3 years ago due to a mas- volume of remittances in origisive stroke. He was also a profes- nal currency increased by 16.5 sional. Their household income percent. On the other hand, re3 years ago was $150K. She still mittances from Italy, Germany, works and nets $7K a month. The problem is her $100K of credit cards, which requires $3K of minimum monthly payments. That’s PAGE B1 t also 40% of her net income. With nese immigrant community. Jim a child about to start college, she Smith, AYC Board President and would have to set aside at least Police Chief of Monterey Park, $1K a month college expenses accepted the check on behalf of even if daughter may qualify for AYC. student loans. The choice is keepAYC announced its Annual ing the cards current and paying Campaign, “English Rules!” for her daughter’s college ex- which will run until the end of penses. The choice is clear. Cli- 2016. Verena Kwan, AYC develent decides to get rid of $100K of opment manager, spoke about credit cards with Chapter 7. how English skills are important Financial stress is relative. For because it is the foundation of someone who nets $3K a month, all other learning for youth. The even $15K of credit cards is hard $30,000 fundraising goal of the to maintain because that person campaign will help AYC provide would have to pay $500 a month intervention tutoring to over 200 for minimum payments on $15K youth in 2017. just to keep those cards current.

AYC also announced its InNeedless to say, the order of stallation Dinner which will be payment priority is food, shelter, held on January 11, 2017 at transportation etc. It’s about time you seriously consider getting rid of your debts. Your family’s future financial security depends on your getting rid of debt as soon as possible.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present and well proved help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

bate transfer in a manner that affects the disposition of property subject to the transfer without the other party’s written consent or court order. fam c 2040(a)(4).

There are exceptions to the above restrictions. One exception is for property transfers in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life. Examples would be property transfers as part of your usual business operations or to pay for usual household living expenses. Another exception is payment of reasonable attorney’s fees. fam c. 2040(a)(2). If you need to do any transactions that may violate the ATROS, it is best to do it prior to filing and serving the divorce petition provided you do not breach your fiduciary duty to your spouse. If you are thinking of filing a divorce, it is best to consult an experienced family law attorney before taking any action. *** 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 (Advertising Supplement) is not a solicitation.

SM Prime opens 7th mall in…

PAGE B2 t

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 21-23, 2016

tertainment Inc. (SMLEI), announced the launch of its first concept cinema, the Cafe Cinema at the SM Mall of Asia, over the weekend.

SMLEI said the Cafe Cinema concept is offered in the brand new Cinema 7 and Cinema 8 of SM MOA, which provides a total of 153 seats each.

The Cafe Cinema features a big lounge area with dining seats where moviegoers can grab a meal while waiting for the movie screening.

SMLEI president Edgar Tejerero earlier disclosed that the company is looking to launch new cinema concepts which include the cafe cinema and a children’s cinema.

Tejerero noted that these new cinema concepts will be offered in 12 of SM’s major malls by next year. (ManilaTimes.net)

paign “English Rules!” will help AYC help youth with English Language skill development - a critical skill for success in school and employment.”

Chin Ho Liao, mayor of the City of San Gabriel, spoke about the importance of AYC’s programs and commended Royal Business Bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.

Other special guests included Jason Pu, City of San Gabriel councilmember; Alan Wong, AYC board member; and Keith Thomas, senior vice president of Royal Business Bank.

Online donations for the “English Rules!” campaign are accepted at http://bit.ly/AYCenglishrules. n

America

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Simbang Gabi at St. Basil’s Church in Los Angeles St. Basil’s Church is hosting Simbang Gabi at on Wednesday, December 21. The church is located at 637 S. Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005. For more information, please call (213) 381-6191.

D EC E M B E R 22-23

Simbang Gabi at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles Everyone is invited to Simbang Gabi at St. Brendan Church in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. on both Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23. The church is located at 310 S. Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020. For more information, please call (323) 936-4656.

D EC E M B E R 29

4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Let us honor our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. on Thursday, December 29, through a wreath-laying ceremony in the City of Carson – home to the very first full size statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Southern California. Unveiled in 2012, the 8 feet bronze statue (on top of a 7-foot granite pedestal) is the first and only monument to be installed in the International Sculpture Garden of the City of Carson. The 4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and Commemoration of the 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is organized by the Philippine Consulate General – Los Angeles, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement, Kalayaan Inc., Knights of Rizal, in collaboration with the City of Carson. Light refreshments will be available at 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. This one-hour program promptly starts at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held at Carson International Sculpture Garden at 801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745. For more information, please call: Councilmember Elito M. Santarina (310)952-1713; Riezl Pe Benito (310)952-1743; Chito Mandap (626) 823-8752; Wilma Bautista (213) 637-3031.

D EC E M B E R 3 1

Grand Park + The Music Center in Los Angeles host New Year’s Eve celebration Los Angeles will put its mark on New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world as Angelenos join together with friends and family to share their hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2017 at the fourth annual Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. The West Coast’s flagship New Year’s celebration will feature three stages with live music, DJs and dancing throughout the night; large scale inflatable art; and 3D digital video mapping on City Hall along with an integrated light show to count down to the new year in true L.A. style. The free family-friendly event, which attracts thousands from all over Southern California and beyond, reinforces Downtown Los Angeles as a destination for a grand-scale New Year’s Eve experience. Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. takes place from 8:00 p.m. on December 31, 2016 to 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and will cover 90 acres from The Music Center Plaza to City Hall (Hope Street to Spring Street) and from Temple Street to 2nd Street. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend. For more information about Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A., visit grandparkla.org/nyela or musiccenter. org/nyela.

JA N UA Ry 28 , 2 0 1 7

Historic Filipinotown Scavenger Hunt Explore the cultural gems of HiFi (Historic Filipinotown) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m! Meet Filipino-specific challenges (from a Balut eating contest to dancing Tinikling to a hip hop beat!). You may find yourself meeting a little-known community hero, tasting a Filipino food challenge or receiving your very own Filipino nickname! You will be having a blast while building your bayanihan spirit by asking your friends and family and even your Facebook fans to donate money to sponsor your Team to take this challenge. You and your team choose your own fundraising goal! Funds raised by this event will go to the programs and services of 2 HiFi community organizations, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) to provide vital services to families, workers and seniors in our community. Services include free or low-cost citizenship application assistance, human trafficking survivor support, civic engagement, wage theft claims assistance, cultural programs and more! Have fun, Discover Historic Filipinotown win prizes and support your community while doing it! Go to www.pwcsc.org/HiddenHiFi to sign up now. PWC is located at 153 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA JOSHUA was excited with his new job at the inn. It sure beats having to herd sheep this time of the year when the cold nights chilled his bones on the hillside pasture where he tended his family’s small herd of sheep and cattle. The job fell to his younger brother this time.

Jacob, the owner of the inn was his father’s friend who had asked if Joshua could help him mind the inn for a little while as he and his wife will be going on a long journey. Jacob liked and trusted Joshua like the son he never had. The young man was a good worker and a natural who quickly picked up the ropes of the business.

Not long after, Jacob and his wife left for their journey to the town north of the country where they were born many miles away to comply with the Roman emperor Augustus’ decree that everyone be counted for the census.

Few, if any, in Israel dared disobey the mighty Roman Empire.

EMPLOYMENT

Community Journal

A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s untold tale

‘As he told the story of that wondrous night to Luke, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative.

It was to be between him and God alone.”

The inn was busy. People for miles around were on the move going back to their own hometowns. The brisk business brought by overnight travellers in their otherwise sleepy town tired him out. Yet, he felt pretty proud of himself of the work he was doing.

Today, just before sundown, he had filled the 12 modestly furnished rooms with tired and hungry travellers. He thought of meeting up with his shepherd friends in the pasture once he had turned over the inn’s affairs to the night attendant. He had heard his shepherd friends on night watch talk about an unusually bright star that has been moving in the heavens for many nights now. They said it was a spectacle to behold and he wanted to see it for himself.

The rumor buzzing around town was that the soothsayers in King Herod’s palace studying the unusual heavenly display were cowering in fear, loathe to tell the king the meaning of the unusual star. Eventually, they had to tell the king for nothing escapes him.

Herod did not suffer fools gladly.

The prophecy will come to pass. The king to rule all kings was to be born very soon within the kingdom. It was no wonder King Herod was in a vicious mood. Joshua thought the ruthless king would remove all threats to his kingship by all means fair or foul. It was bad enough he had to bow to the superior might of the Roman conquerors who had allowed him to be king within his territory.

Just as Joshua was about to

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EMPLOYMENT

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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAyMond BulAon ARE you worried about your future due to having too much debt?

You’ve probably heard the saying, “The failure to plan is a plan to fail”. And yet so many of us don’t realize how we so easily neglect to plan for our financial future.

Ask a few people you know what kind of financial planning they have done for the next 510 years and you’ll be amazed at the responses you will get. “Oh, I can’t worry about that right now. I have enough problems dealing with my current financial situation, let alone think about what my life would be 5-10 years from now.” Or maybe you’ll get something like, “I’ll start saving for the future at the right time. I just can’t start doing that right now.” And then, of course, “the right time” never comes. Before you know it, years have gone by and no preparation has been done.

I think that the reason this hap-

Can’t plan for the future due to excessive debt pens is exactly what most people will tell you. If you are so wrapped up in your own financial struggle at the moment, you’ve got blinders on that stop you from seeing anything else but your present situation.

According to Maslow, man’s primary need is the need to survive. So long as you’re in survival mode, the only thing in your mind is the goal to work as hard and as many hours as you can so that you can make enough to make ends. And because your ability to survive depends on your ability to produce income that will sustain your needs, you become very vulnerable to anything that threatens that security. Instead of being on the offensive, you are always on the defensive.

Have you ever watched a boxer in the ring with a good defense but has nothing else, no offensive strategy, no counterpunching ability? That means you may always be able to block the punches that life throws at you but you’ll never win the fight. The moment you let your guard down, you’d be down for

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the count. And it can happen in a split-second.

What you need to do is to get out of “survival mode” so that you can start taking control of your own future. No one else is looking out for you. Remember, people who succeed in their financial goals are those who make things happen, not those who wait for things to happen.

Once in a while, you have to ask yourself the following questions: Have you set financial goals for yourself and your family for the next 5-10 years? What kind of lifestyle would you like to have then? Where would you like to live? What school would you like to send your children to?

How much do you need to have in your bank account before you can start feeling a bit secure?

Only you can provide answers to these questions.

If you are currently in “survival mode” and want to get out, do you have an exit plan that can get you back on track? Or are you just rolling the dice on your financial future hoping that

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Community Journal

A Christmas story: The innkeeper’s…

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lock up for the night, a couple came in. The man, visibly tired and leaning on his staff with one hand, was supporting the woman who was heavy with child with his other hand. The woman looked to be in some pain. Still, Joshua noted the stately calm, grace and beauty about her. There was this mysterious glow. The man asked Joshua for a room and told him his wife was about to give birth.

Alas, the last room has been let and Joshua told him so.

Joshua glanced at the woman and his heart was filled with pity.

He thought quickly of his own home for them to stay for the night but it was some distance away. He had to think and act quickly. It looks like the woman was about to give birth at any moment. Joshua had seen to his own mother at childbirth. He had helped his own father deliver some of his brothers himself.

“Maybe, I have something for you. It’s not much but it would get you through this cold night at least,” he told the couple.

“Come with me.”

Joshua gathered some blankets and sheets quickly. He gave instructions to his attendant to heat water. He then gathered food and other provisions. He moved in haste leading the couple to an empty stable a few yards at the back of the inn.

Earlier in the day before the sun was up, he took to clearing the stable himself. He didn’t know why he did it. But now he was glad he did so. He thought the squalid stable with its walls and roof can shield this poor couple from the cold night as the woman delivers her child.

Joshua gave the man the blankets and clean sheets, the warm water and some extra oil for the lamp to burn through the night.

He set a makeshift table for the

bread, fish and wine and lit the lamp in one corner.

He moved quickly as he helped the man make his wife comfortable. He could see the woman’s face etched in pain for the birth pangs seem to be stronger now.

Beads of sweat lined the woman’s brow. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to meet up with his friends tonight. Somehow he knew his place was right here where he was needed for the long night ahead.

Just before he went back to the inn to fetch a few more things, he said to them, “I’m Joshua. Let me know if you need anything else.”

The man replied, “I’m Joseph and this is Mary. Thank you. You have done more than you can possibly know. The Lord’s light burns bright in you.” Mary looked up at Joshua and smiled through her pain. For as long as he lived, Joshua will never forget that smile.

Mary’s child was born that night. Joshua could not remember a night more filled with wonder, mystery and myriad points of light.

It was a night like no other.

Joshua’s entire being was engulfed with the mystery happening before his very eyes. He remembered Mary wrapping her child gently in swaddling clothes and placing the child in a manger. The child was bathed in light. The whole stable was filled with warmth. Soft, sweet music seem to emanate from a choir of angels above the stable and a sweet heavenly fragrance wafted through the air.

Joshua’s shepherd friends came to visit the child. How could they have known? His friends told him that an angel told them about the good news. They were led to the stable where they found the child.

Filled with awe, they knelt before the child who was to be king.

Later on that night, three men garbed in royal splendor and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh travelling from afar, came to pay the child homage. They had been following the bright star hovering about the heavens for many nights leading them to that dusty town called Bethlehem.

Many years later in his old age, the memory of that night still stayed with Joshua. He had remained the innkeeper. He had struck a friendship with a man called Luke, a physician who was a regular guest at the inn. He observed that the thoughtful, quiet Luke was always writing in rolls of papyrus in his room.

Not wanting to keep the wonders of that night to be forgotten when he passed, Joshua told the story to Luke. As he told the story of that wondrous night, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.

Joshua’s life was never the same again. The light of that bright night burned in his soul forever. He could not have known at the time he was witness to the unfolding of the greatest mystery on earth. *** HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY READERS!!!

Here’s my Christmas prayer to one and all.

May everyday of your life be Christmas Day. May Christmas fill your hearts and homes with the myriad points of light, love and joy! May we always remember God showed His love for us when Jesus Christ was born and lived among us more than two thousand years ago so those of us who believe may have eternal life. ***

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 21-23, 2016

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People and Events Warning from Department of Consumer Protection about gas pump skimmers ahead of holiday travel

THE holiday season is a busy travel time on Connecticut roads, and there is a lot for consumers to think about. The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has seen the number of skimming related incidents reported nearly double this year compared to 2015. Consumers should stay extra conscious of their surroundings at the pump during this time of heightened holiday travel.

“Unfortunately, criminals who commit fraud strike at a time when consumers are most vulnerable, or more occupied than usual. During the holiday season we’re thinking about finishing up work, family travel plans, and gatherings with family and friends,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris, “The last thing many consumers are thinking about is whether or not their gas pump card reader is secure. We hope consumers remember to keep checking the pump and their credit card statement in their routines to protect their finances during the holiday season.”

“We’ve seen a spike in the past year of skimmers appearing in gas pumps, and are working hard to make sure consumers and others that we work with know what to look for,” said Daryl Owens, an Inspector with the agency, “DCP has worked hard to collaborate with law enforcement to make sure we’re all communicating effectively and quickly about skimming attacks, and educating consumers. We want to be as Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is proactive as we can.”

SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To When consumers get their send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ financial information stolen, it asianjournalinc.com

An example of a secured gas pump seal

creates extra work for honest consumers and businesses. That said, it is preventable, and there are steps we hope consumers can take to protect themselves this holiday season: What you can do at the pump: • Make sure the seal on each gas pump isn’t broken or tampered with. If it is, that indicates that someone not authorized to inspect a gas pump has tampered with it.

• If you see a pump that you believe may have been tampered with – don’t use it. You should report that pump’s issue to the gas station attendant.

• Use your credit card or pay by cash. If you pay by cash, you won’t fall victim to a skimming attack. If you use your credit card, you will be able to recover your funds more easily, and keep money in your bank account.

• Pay inside. Paying inside reduces your risk of falling victim to a skimming attack significantly because it’s much harder for fraudsters to place a skimmer

indoors near the cash register. If you must pay outside, pick the pump closest to the building or security camera.

What you can do at home: • Check your credit card statement regularly. If you have a charge that looks unfamiliar, it’s important that you notice as soon as possible. That way, you can have a conversation with your credit card company.

• Plan your trips. If you’re taking a long holiday road trip, plan ahead so you know where you’re getting gas and you can re-trace your steps if need be.

• If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a skimming attack call your credit company first to make sure you get the necessary paperwork to get what you spent returned. Then make sure you alert your local police and DCP. If consumers have questions for DCP, or need to file a complaint related to gasoline, they may contact our Food and Standards Division at dcp.foodandstandards@ ct.gov or (860) 713-6160. n

Can’t plan for the future due to excessive… 4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

PAGE B4 t

“things will change somehow, sometime” for the better? Don’t leave something as important as your future to chance. You need to have a definite plan, a detailed map of where you want to go. See, that “lucky break” you’ve been waiting for may never come. It is time to take matters in your own hands.

Earl Nightingale once said that, “Luck is where preparedness meets opportunity”. Now, it’s your move.

If you have serious debt problems, perhaps you need to find out what you can do legally to wipe the slate clean and start over. Remember, our federal bankruptcy laws allow you to either eliminate or consolidate your bills when debts become unmanageable.

And while bankruptcy is not the solution to every problem and should only be resorted to when necessary, it has allowed millions of people regain control of their finances and change their lives

for the better. For more information, call our office at Toll- Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule a FREE personal consultation. We LET us honor our national have offices in Glendale, Cerri- hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. on Thurstos & Valencia. day, December 29, through a *** wreath-laying ceremony in the None of the information herein is intended City of Carson – home to the very to give legal advice for any specific situation. first full size statue of Dr. Jose Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped Rizal in Southern California. Unthousands of clients in getting out of debt. veiled in 2012, the 8 feet bronze For a free attorney evaluation of your situ- statue (on top of a 7-foot granite ation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at pedestal) is the first and only TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. monument to be installed in the (Advertising Supplement) International Sculpture Garden

of the City of Carson.

The 4th Annual Rizal Day in Carson and Commemoration of the 120th Martyrdom Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is organized by the Philippine Consulate General – Los Angeles, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement, Kalayaan Inc., Knights of Rizal, in collaboration with the City of Carson. Light refreshments will be available at 7:30 a.m. to

8:30 a.m. This one-hour program promptly starts at 9:00 a.m.

The ceremony will be held at Carson International Sculpture Garden at 801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745.

For more information, please call: Councilmember Elito M. Santarina (310)952-1713; Riezl Pe Benito (310)952-1743; Chito Mandap (626) 823-8752; Wilma Bautista (213) 637-3031. n

B DECEMBER 21-23, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

MAGAZINE

Jose LLana and Laura MicheLLe KeLLy in rodgers & haMMerstein’s “the King and i.�

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Photo by Matthew MurPhy

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 21, 2016

Fil-Am actor Jose Llana leads diverse cast of ‘The King and I’ National tour at Hollywood Pantages Theatre until January 21

by Christina M. Oriel / AJPress RoDgeRs and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” prevails as a timeless musical production that has undergone several revivals since it first premiered in 1951.

Based on the novel “Anna and the King of siam,” the story follows British schoolteacher Anna Leonowens who was hired to teach the children of King Mongkut of siam in the 1860s.

While casting a light on political and gender issues, the musical lives on in American culture for its catchy songs, such as “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “getting to Know You,” and “shall We Dance.”

Though the storyline may be predictable and well-known, the current national tour of the musical is a must-see with its lineup of talent, strong cast rapport, and stunning set displays and lighting.

For the Filipino-American community in Los Angeles in particular, it’s a treat to see a handful of Fil-Am actors on the Pantages Theatre stage, such as Jose Llana in the title role of the King and Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, the King’s head wife. They star alongside Laura Michelle Kelly as the lovable Anna.

It’s a full-circle moment for Llana to mark his return to “The King and I,” two decades after a previous revival of it launched his career. As a college freshman, Llana — who was born in the Philippines and grew up in Virginia — auditioned for and landed the role of Lun Tha (Tuptim’s young lover), in the

1996 production that starred Lou Diamond Phillips as the King and Donna Murphy as Anna.

“I think Lou Diamond Phillips and Donna Murphy will always be mentors for me, and people that showed me what it looks like to be a leader in a company and how to be a good person and professional in the theater industry,” Llana reflected during his interview with the Asian Journal, days before the national tour came to Los Angeles on December 13. since his first shot on Broadway, Llana’s extensive résumé has included “Rent,” “Flower Drum song” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County spelling Bee.” Recently, he portrayed late Philippine President and dictator Ferdinand Marcos in David Byrne’s off-Broadway rock musical “Here Lies Love.”

“What was different about [“Here Lies Love”] was that you were actually playing Filipinos.

You know we were talking about a time in Filipino history that a lot of people don’t like to talk about. That could not be more relevant now, especially now recently with Marcos being given a hero’s burial. But I think what’s important when Filipinos see other Filipinos performing, the more we all get to together remind each other where we come from,” Llana said.

Becoming King For the current revival of “The King and I,” director Bartlett sher eyed Llana in 2015 to replace Ken Watanabe for the royal role during its remaining

run on Broadway and eventually in the national tour, which kicked off this fall.

Before Llana officially joined the cast, the musical — which was housed at The Vivian Beaumont Theater of the Lincoln Center in New York — had just won four Tony Awards in 2015: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Kelli o’Hara as Anne), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang), and Best Costume Design (Catherine Zuber).

Llana said succeeding Watanabe was similar to “wearing [his] father’s shoes” and required three weeks of intense rehearsals. “[sher] wanted to get into the heart of what it meant as a ruler for my character, as the King to try and protect his country but at the same time protect his culture. And whatever decade you’re talking about, that’s always a constant struggle for anybody,” Llana said, noting that this revival really hones in on the “political message.”

The director praised Llana’s “superb” portrayal of the King on Broadway that he “begged” the Fil-Am actor to join the touring company. “[Llana] brings such joy and virility and strength to the King,” sher said in a statement. “And he is one of Broadway’s great talents.”

Llana’s thoughtful command of the role is evident throughout the show, while simultaneously slipping in moments of humor

Laura Michelle Kelly as Anna with the Royal Children

Michiko Takemasa as Little Eva in “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” scene

The cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I

and compassion. In “A Puzzlement,” the audience observes the King grappling with his identity and capacity as a leader, while iconic number “shall We Dance” catches the King in an unguarded moment that paints him with a tinge of humanity.

Fil-Am ensemble Though Llana is not the first Asian American to assume the role of the King, representing the community and bringing that diversity shows how much theater has progressed.

“I think the biggest shift in the last 10 years has been that the Asian American community and the theater community, in general now, will not stand for someone putting on yellowface,” he said. “It’s a lot less tolerated now — that’s a huge deal for us, as Asian Americans, that there is a part of us and we can actually be cast in it.”

But, he said, there is a lot more to be done in terms of making sure writers of color are given the resources and opportunities to write their own stories.

“What’s incredible is that diversity is thankfully finding its way into contemporary stories… and it gives us as actors of color opportunities to be part of the stories,” he said.

In addition to Llana and Almedilla, this national tour of “The King and I” boasts a cast of Fil-Ams in prominent roles: Brian Rivera as Karalahome; Lamae Caparas, Marie gutierrez, Michael Lomeka and Rommel Pierre o’Choa in the ensemble; and Almedilla’s son CJ Uy, Jaden and Kayla Amistad, and Adriana and Amaya Braganza as royal children.

“I could not be more excited,” Llana remarked. “It’s a really great, strong Pinoy company.” of her role as Lady Thiang, Almedilla told the Asian Journal that her interpretation is less “submissive” and more of a “strong woman who means business” and has the King’s best interests in mind. In a “pivotal moment,” she wows the crowd with her emotional, yet forceful rendition of “something Wonderful.”

Though the King and Lady Thiang don’t share big scenes together, both Almedilla and Llana noted a “mutual understanding” of one another to make the audience aware of the subtleties in the characters’ relationship.

After Los Angeles, the pro-

Jose Llana as The King in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I.

Photos by Matthew Murphy

Manna Nichols and Kavin Panmeechao as Tuptim and Lun Tha, respectively.

duction will be touring until next August across the United states, including stops in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Washington, DC. With frequent performances, Llana said devoting “quiet time” each night is an important reminder.

“I don’t sing as much as I normally do in this show because the King role is not necessarily a huge singing role, but I yell a lot and I speak a lot in the show. It’s very much a three-hour show. Both Laura and I have to really watch our stamina and make sure we can give a full-throttle show at the

end of the week as well as the first show of the week. When you’re on the road, the traveling is hard, and when we’re staying in each city, we can pretty much just focus on the show without all the outside influences coming in,” he said.

“The King and I” is at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre until January 21 from TuesdaysSundays with select Monday performances. There are no evening performances on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and no performances on Christmas Day. For more information, please visit www.TheKingAndITour.com or HollywoodPantages.com.

She said yes! Anne Curtis confirms features 3 engagement to Erwan Heussaff Puerto Rican model crowned Miss World 2016 The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 21, 2016

by Iza IglesIas

PH bet Catriona Gray makes it to Top 5

ManilaTimes.net

After six long years of being together, ABS-CBN hostactress Anne Curtis and restaurateur-food blogger erwan Heussaff are officially engaged. the couple hinted on the good news via their respective Instagram accounts. thirty-one year old Curtis posted a photo of her and Heussaff locked in a kiss with the caption “Je t’aime mon amour,” which is french for “I love you my dear.”

Meanwhile, Solenn Heusaff’s little brother captioned his post with the invitation, “Check out our latest video on Youtube, link in the bio. Highlights of our pretty amazing New York and Connecticut trip with this lovely lady. She’s a keeper.” And there, the revelation was made public in a six-minute video [posted both on facebook and Youtube] initially showing the couple on the said US holiday in November. the latter part of the video went on to show Curtis and Heussaff’s adventures since 2010, and finally by the 5:45 mark, the video finds the pair quietly sitting in the woods. Moments later, an emotional Heussaff knelt down, and opened a small box of what appeared to be an engagement ring. He then told

by arlo

CustodIo ManilaTimes.net

After six year together, Erwan Heussaff and Anne Curtis are finally engaged.

Curtis,” “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Surprised and teary-eyed, the popular actress exclaimed, “Yes!” the video has since garnered 5.2 million views and more than 385,000 likes on facebook. family and friends have also gone online to congratulate the newly engaged couple starting off with Curtis’ sister Jasmine, who posted, “I am the happiest little sestra for you @annecurtissmith congratulations to you and @erwanheussaff! Never doubted the forever everyone sees in your relationship. God may have given you the biggest challenges in life but He also showers you with the best blessings that you deserve! woot woot! what will be

your wedding hashtag kaya?.”

It will be remembered back in May that Curtis said in an interview that she is not in a rush to get married even if her friends took the plunge one by one this year. Collectively known as the “It Girls,” Georgina Wilson tied the knot with Arthur Burnand in London on April 30; Solenn Heussaff married Nico Bolzico in france on May 21; and in September, Isabelle Daza exchanged “I do’s” with Adrien Semblat in Italy.

While Curtis and her finance have yet to announce the exact date of their wedding, it really does seem like the “It’ Girls” caught the wedding bug in a major way—and everyone is simply happy for them.

Two leading men and twice the comedy in ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2’

NINeteeN-year-old Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto rico was crowned Miss World 2016 in glittering rites held at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, USA on Sunday, Dec. 18.

She was crowned by 2015’s year’s titleholder, Mireia Lalaguna of Spain. Named first runner-Up was Miss Dominican republic Yaritza Miguelina reyes ramirez, while Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela was Second runner-Up. Miss Philippines Catriona Gray finished in the top 5, along with Miss Kenya evelyn Njambi.

Gray was included in the “fast track” winners for garnering the most number of likes for her introductory video online. for the Question and Answer portion, Del Valle was asked by Miss World 1975 Wilnelia Lady forsyth of Puerto rico what she would change about the world if given the opportunity.

She replied, “If I have the opportunity to change something about the world, I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance

of helping those in need. thank you.”

Gray, on the other hand, received her question from the outgoing Miss World, who asked, “Which qualities do you think it will take to wear my crown?” the fil-Aussie model answered, “I think, first of all, it takes bravery. to be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch. It is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts and my voice to try to uplift, empower and educate people.

And it would be my greatest honor and duty to hold this torch high enough so that all the world could fee and see its light. thank you.” the non-win of Gray did not sit well with beauty pageant aficionados in the Philippines and around the world who expressed on social media that on beauty and intelligence alone, she is far better than the top 3 winners.

Gray’s trainer, Jonas Gaffud, however, posted on facebook early Monday that filipinos should be proud of the country’s bet top 5 finish.

“Hey c’mon Philippines. If we won, no hatred on facebook right? But we did not. Let’s be

by Iza IglesIas

movie, there are certain elements we still used here, just like INterNAtIONALLY awarded the ‘film within the film’ treatactress eugene Domingo returns ment. the first one is about poverty porn, but this time, we’ve as herself in the sequel to her most successful box-office starrer done a parody on the romanticcomedy genre,” Marlon rivera, to date, “Ang Babae sa Septic who directed both installments, tank 2: #foreverIsNotenough.” explained at the movie’s grand One of the chosen finalists for press conference on December the 42nd Metro Manila film 15. festival (MMff), which opens After taking a consideron Christmas Day, this second able break from doing movies, installment promises to be funDomingo, on the other hand nier, braver, and—believe it or is excited that her big screen not—more romantic.

“If you watched the first Continued on Page 4 ManilaTimes.net

Eugene Domingo

why ORGANIC? Organic products meet stringent standards Healthier for you & kids Organic food tastes better Organic farming respects natural resources Avoids pesticides & are artificial-fertilizer-free Non-GMO, no synthetic pesticides, no growth-promoting antibiotics There are many, many more reasons to go Organic. But in short: You’ll leave the world a better place than when you found it

Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Dl Valle (middle) as she was announced the winner of Miss World 2016.

Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray

proud as filipinos and pageant fans of our girl Catriona Gray. for us she will be always our Miss World. But there are other families, friends and fans who root for their girl as well.

I exchanged pleasantries with an older guy who was so proud of Miss Puerto rico and he told me, he’s the father. I was touched by how happy he was for his daughter. remember this: We are not alone in this world. there are others.” Gaffud ended his post with the hashtag #beasport.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young of the Philippines hosted the event, her third year in a row since 2014 when she relinquished her crown.

features

4

Moonlighting

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 21, 2016

2017’s first new soap to star Ian Veneracion and Bea Alonzo

WHIlE everyone is busy deciding what movie to watch come Christmas Day for the Metro Manila Film Festival, ABS-CBN turned heads last week when they presented the network’s first new tele-

serye for the year with no less than box-office queen Bea Alonzo and one of prime time’s most sought after leading men Ian Veneracion.

Dubbed “A love to last,” the drama series depicts how

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by Mylah de

leon

SAN FRANCISCO – You think they’ll go away. They didn’t, they haven’t and they won’t. They are not just a passing phase with cultural mileposts. They are here to stay in the heart of the Castro.

The district is a world of its own: a special enclave, their home habitat where they are out and about. You can bring them anywhere. Sightings occur daily at shopping malls, amusement parks, fast food restaurants and local supermarkets — they are lovely!

You don’t need to look for arched eyebrows or limp Ian Veneracion and Bea Alonzo wrists. Some wear their hearts difficult love can be, even for on the hood of their cars. The those who believe in it. comic stand up, as always, Alonzo plays Andeng thinks that character developAgoncillo in the soap, a ment consists of the worst qualbread-winner and successful ity and present them as enterevents organizer. A romantic, tainment: a parody done either she knows there is one man with affection or cruelty. They for her with whom she will are at their best bartending, fall in love and raise a family. as you wonder why one insists Unfortunately, her ideal fairy on calling himself Margarita. tale love story was robbed He told me, ”Shirley Temple is of a happy ending when she taken and Virgin Mary didn’t just caught her fiancé cheating seem to fit his lifestyle.” on her just days before their At the Gay Pride March, wedding. She quickly picks up they are on display. Some the pieces, and unlike othgroups were grossly overers whose hearts have been dressed and others just as badly broken, she resolves to extremely underdressed. Family still believe that true love will ties are either nuclear or dyseventually come her way. functional, compared to an Meanwhile, Veneracion is overwhelmingly straight world Anton Noble 4th who thought in whose corridors they are his was happily married until always threatened. It’s been his wife Grace (Iza Calzado) the subject of countless books, asks for an annulment. He is magazines articles and talk suddenly left with three chilshows; and once you’re out, dren as he juggles his respon- you’re proud, you’re free. sibilities as president and CEO In the 60s with my Philets of his company. classmate Bernardo Bernardo, Fate brings these two souls we would happily, joyfully say, together in the most unex“Enola Gay, gay Paris, gay pected time and place, and wills them to try a love to last.

Also in the cast are Enchong Dee, Julia Barretto, Ronnie Alonte, JK labajo by arlo Custodio ManilaTimes.net and Hannah Vito. The series, which airs in January 2017, FIlIPINO beauty queens is directed by Jerry lopez Maggie Wilson-Consunji and PaSineneng and Richard Arelrul Shah were declared winners lano. (ManilaTimes.net) at the conclusion of “Amazing

The gaiety, frolic and freedom in the Castro

caballeros.” We all banded in all that was very, very…gay!

Some are gay but not “overdone.” That means it is like a camp without bonfire, regal but not too queeny — dizzy but don’t spin out of control. A fairy with clipped wings; promising but not in full bloom. He holds the falsetto, but doesn’t hold long enough.

Reading about gay people, my mentors were Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, EU Foster, Christopher Isherwood, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote. I was hoping understand and learn more about this lifestyle if not a strange culture of a rare section of society, but it was inadequate.

No one knows what makes a person so, though we have many theories. Existence of a gene? But environmental factors can’t be totally discarded.

Some experts believe that it’s traced back from over identified with dominating mothers/fathers, while others suggested that is not biological cells based but free choice.

In the middle of the 1900s, the first magazine called “One:

The Homosexual Magazine” had the following paragraph on its page one, when it was published in New York.

“ONE is a nonprofit organization corporation formed to publish a magazine dealing primarily with homosexuality from the scientific, historical and critical point of view…to sponsor educational programs, lectures, and concerts for the aid and benefit of social variants and to promote among the general public an interest, knowledge and understanding of the problems of variation…to sponsor research and promote the integration into society of such persons whose behavior and inclination vary from the current moral and social standards.”

It was a master stroke of consciousness — raising that reach to the core of what being gay was all about.

It started a movement, then they came forward and joined with their brothers and sisters in the march toward a new concept in society. ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

PH bets win ‘Amazing Race Asia 5’

Race Asia Season 5” in Bali, Indonesia. The duo won $100,000 in the AXN reality TV show.

Via Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2007 Binibining Pilipinas-World Wilson thanked her partner 2015 Miss Grand International 3rd Runner-Up Shah and everyone who supported them in their once-in-a-lifetime experience. “@wilsonmaggie ‘We did it!!!!! Aaaaaaah!!!! To everyone who supported us from the beginning till the very end, I have read all of your comments, words of encouragement and felt your love!!! Thank you so so much!!!!

Words cannot even begin to describe our experience! To my partner in times of stress, frustration, tears, laughter and happiness thank you @parulshah88 for always being there through the storms and sunshines! I could

Maggie Wilson-Consunji (left) and Parul Shah (middle) receive their US$100,000 check for winning ‘Amazing Race Asia Season 5’

have not asked for a better partner!! We did it BABE!’” Disproving the notion that beauty queens come weak in the physical and psychological departments, another duo of beauty queens—Yvonne lee and Chloe Chen of Malaysia—placed second.

Married Filipino couple Eric and Rona Tai, placed third. They were leading as they won the previous leg and had ease in the many tasks that ensued, but had a hard time finding a taxi that would take them to the venue of the final challenge, and when fi-

nally hailed one, the driver didn’t know where the Pit Stop was.

The race took them to six countries, 12 cities and 12,000 kilometers. Happier of the win is Shah, who said that her prize money will be used to cover her father’s medical expenses.

The Filipino beauty queens are the second team from the country to win the race, after buddies Richard Herrera and Richard Hardin in 2010.

TV hosts Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez placed third in the second season of the show in 2008.

Two leading men and twice the comedy...

From Page 4

comeback is no less than “Babae sa Septic Tank 2.”

“It wasn’t difficult to decide [to choose this for my comeback movie]. First of all, my writer is Chris Martinez and my director is Marlon Rivera. The material is perfect for the three of us considering what we’ve been through. As you know, we’ve developed a deep relationship since our friendship started way back,” Domingo, who is fondly called “Uge” in showbiz circles, told members of the entertainment press.

“And of course, it’s not hard to do something if you love the people you’re working with, and we’re very lucky because this is the perfect cast, and the timing is perfect,” she added.

According to the 45-year-old acting powerhouse, her time away from doing movies helped her reorganize both her personal life and career.

“The acting break gave me more time for myself so that I am happier now. I already know my priorities, and I’ve realized I don’t have to say yes to everything—I said yes to this because this is perfect for me,” Domingo elaborated.

She just as quickly clarified that in doing this movie, she ‘won’t necessarily be visible in films next year all over again.”

The actress added, “From

here on, it will always depend on the material because it is always an effort for a person to go to the mall and watch a movies so I want whatever I do to be worth their time,” she said.

Getting back into the comedic saddle was no problem for the talented Domingo whose namesake character also prepares for her “comeback” after a long hiatus from acting.

Together with her director (Kean Cipriano), line producer (Cai Cortez), and new production assistant (Khalil Ramos), she will tackle an emotionally-charged story of how a couple’s marriage goes through a rocky phase, and how they have to revisit Baguio City—where they had their “honeymoon”—in the hopes of salvaging their relationship.

In the movie within a movie, Eugene likes the project but has other plans in mind so that her vision collides with that of her director’s. Unwittingly, the director turns the supposedly dramatic script into a Filipino rom-com about a failed relationship.

Playing her leading men in the film are multi-awarded actors Jericho Rosales and Joel Torre.

Said Rosales of Domingo, “It’s not hard to work with this comedienne because the script is beautifully made. And the script is funny but intellectual. I had the most fun this year with

this movie.”

Feigning naughtiness, the handsome actor added, “We actually had a kissing scene amid the sunset—something of a Mexican or Spanish type of passionate scene.”

Rivera, on the other hand said he can’t ask more from his cast as they all gave their hundred percent on set.

“Their professionalism is amazing. We shot this film for 10 days, and they all knew their lines, they all knew their blockings, and they communicated and asked questions to make the scene the best it can be.

“With Jericho, when I asked him for comedy, he delivered.

When I asked for a leading man, he gave me the eyes. That’s the secret of leading men, they will deliver with their eyes. Uge looks like a poodle there, but Jericho treated her like a human,” Rivera joked.

Meanwhile, Domingo also praised showbiz’ “Echo.”“Jericho’s funny and cooperative. Comedy in him is very natural. But this is my tribute to Joel. He is my long-time crush and he knows it. The more he ages, the more handsome he gets!”

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2” is produced by Quantum Films, MJM Productions, Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Entertainment.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 21, 2016

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 21, 2016