LA Midweek Edition -- January 27 -- 29, 2016

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

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E DITION January 27-29, 2016

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Volume 26 - No. 8 • 3 Sections - 22 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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A homecoming fit for a queen

House panel approves bill exempting Pia Wurtzbach from taxes

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach returns to the Philippines

by Allyson

EscobAr

by AJPrEss

AJPress

fANs lined the streets of manila to makati City as Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the newlycrowned miss Universe 2015, traveled by float in her homecoming parade on January 25. the float traveled for more than three hours from the sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel in manila, down roxas Boulevard to Ayala Avenue in makati City. At one point it rained, but the weather did not stop adoring filipinos hoping for a selfie with the beauty queen from attending.

With thousands of supporters present, Wurtzbach smiled and waved a filipino flag to the crowd, wearing her signature crown and a teal dress by filipino designer Albert Andrada with traditional butterfly sleeves. she stood elegantly on top of a decorative float with her parade band, surrounded by police escorts. the parade was one of the nearly weeklong homecoming in the Philippines, which will end in a grand parade and show at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Jan. 28.

Wurtzbach told press that she would also be advocating for hIV awareness and testing, as well as disaster relief, while visiting

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DATELINE

HOMECOMING QUEEN. Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach waves to the crowd during her grand homecoming parade outside the Sofitel in Pasay City on Monday, Dec. 25.

Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Filipina fatally stabbed in Hawaii

A 65-year-old filipina was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband of 35 years on the morning of January 18 in oahu, hawaii. melita fajotina died from stab wounds to her neck and was found in her home in Aliamanu, oahu at around 5:43 am, reports said. the honolulu medical examiner’s office declared her death a homicide.

Police arrested her

Melita Fajotina

the Philippine house of representatives Committee on Ways and means approved a bill on tuesday, Jan. 26 exempting Pia Wurtzbach from paying taxes on her earnings as the reigning miss Universe. house Bill 6367, filed by reps. rufus rodriguez of Cagayan de oro and maximo rodriguez Jr. of Abante mindanao party-list, was unanimously passed in the committee.

“In view of the tremendous achievement of Kagay-anon ms. Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and for bringing pride and honor to the Philippines by winning the 2015 miss Universe pageant, it is only right that all her winnings and prizes be exempt from any form of taxes and duties,” the bill read. the tax break measure came in response to Bureau of Internal revenue (BIr) Commissioner Kim henares’ statement that Wurtzbach has to pay taxes for her winnings. the BIr earlier said that the winnings should be subjected to a maximum 32 percent tax.

“I am aware just like any employee that I have to pay taxes. I have never (missed it) when I was with ABs-CBN, Binibining Pilipinas. When I start working in the Us, I’d be doing that as well,” Wurtzbach previously said of her intentions to pay taxes, according to inquirer. the measure is expected to be submitted for ple-

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New York, other states dig out after epic blizzard NeW YorK – the great blizzard of 2016 unloaded 26.8 inches of snow, the second biggest snowfall in New York City history, almost breaking the record set in 2006.

According to unofficial totals reported by the National Weather service, the historic blizzard now ranks among the biggest snowfalls in the city’s record books, missing the record by a tenth of an inch.

Communities across the northeast United states began digging out from the blizzard on monday, Jan. 25. “this weekend, mother Nature sent us the second largest snowfall since 1869 – and hundreds of our tireless workers rose to the challenge to keep our city safe,” said New York

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A DAY BEFORE SENATE PROBE REOPENS… Senate ends probe Ex-SAF chief recounts Pres. Aquino’s on Binay cases involvement in Mamasapano planning by mArVin

sy

Philstar.com

The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee finally concluded its probe into the alleged anomalies involving Vice President Jejomar Binay.

mANILA — After 25 hearings over 17 months, the senate Blue ribbon subcommittee finally concluded its probe into the alleged anomalies involving Vice President Jejomar Binay.

No new information was presented during tuesday, Jan 26 hearing which, as subcommittee chairman sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said, was to wrap up the unfinished issues. “our public committee hearings on the two resolutions will end tues-

Philstar.com file photo by AJ Bolando

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by yuJi

VincEnt GonzAlEs Inquirer.net

A DAY before the reopening of the senate probe on the mamasapano clash, the former chief of the Philippine National Police’s special Action force (sAf) reiterated that President Benigno Aquino III was involved in the “preparation and planning” of oplan exodus, where 44 elite commandos were killed in the hunt for international terrorist Zulkifi bin hir alias marwan.

In a radio interview on tuesday, Jan 26, retired sAf chief Getulio Napeñas recalled a meeting with Aquino at malacañang last year, which was also attended by dismissed PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisima and sAf Intelligence Group Director fernando mendez.

Napeñas said Aquino had a hand with the decision not to coordinate early with the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP). the failure of the botched

1

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Retired Special Action Force Director Getulio Napenas. AP file photo

Comelec postpones printing of ballots RESYONG P !

THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28- FEBRUARY 3

by JAimE

r. PilAPil ManilaTiames.net

the Commission on elections (Comelec) has postponed printing of ballots for the second time to give the supreme Court (sC) enough time to decide on disqualification cases filed against sen. Grace Poe. the printing of the ballots was reset to february 8.

It was scheduled earlier by the Comelec for february 1. the printing of the ballots should have started on tuesday, January 26. the poll body also earlier said it will include the names of Poe and Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte in the official list of presidential candidates in the may 2016 elections even if the tribunal is yet to issue a decision on the cases questioning the senator’s candidacy.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they are yet to complete the list of candidates.

“today, oral arguments are being conducted by the sC. there is a call to postpone the printing of the ballots,” he added.

Commissioner Christian Lim expressed sadness with the postponement.

“It’s heavy. I feel bad, I don’t want to move the date of printing,” he said.

“We will finalize the list of candidates by february 3. We understand that there [are] ongoing oral argument[s], and we hope that the supreme Court can close the oral arguments today,” Lim added. the Comelec will be printing 57 million ballots until April 25, just two weeks before the may 9 elections.

After the printing, the poll body will verify the ballots to weed out damaged copies. the ballots will then be transported to various precincts in all provinces.

Also on tuesday, the Comelec started the so-called final trusted Build of the election management system (ems) software wherein the source code is converted to

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A JANUARY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

A homecoming fit for a…

PAGE A1 t

her home country and attending to her duties as Miss Universe.

Wurtzbach also visited Malacañang Palace, home of President Benigno Aquino III, and paid a courtesy call to the President, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the Philippine Senate.

“We’re erasing the image that Filipinas are not palaban [fighters], because in fact we are,” she said following the visit. “We go out there and we’re brave and fearless…much more different than what people think we used to be. I think that speaks on how

modern we are now.”

She also confirmed her appearance as a special correspondent at this year’s 50th Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers on February 7.

“I see it as a great compliment.

It is a great way of me connecting to more people and being recognized, not only as Pia and as Miss Universe, but as a Filipina,” she said, according to CNN Philippines.

Wurtzbach, 26, is the Philippines’ first Miss Universe in 42 years, since Margarita “Margie”

Moran-Floirendo was crowned in 1973.

Last year, beauty queen Filipinas also took over the pageant scene with Trixie Maristela’s victory in the Miss International Queen, Ann Lorraine Colis’ win in Miss Globe, Angelia Ong’s big success in the Miss Earth, Leren Mae Bautista’s high accomplishment in Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International, and Wurtzbach’s renowned triumph in the Miss Universe.

“It’s good that we’re finally getting the recognition that I think we deserve,” Wurtzbach said. n

House panel approves bill exempting Pia...

PAGE A1 t

nary approval.

The prizes covered under the measure include: her year-long salary, accommodations in a New York apartment for the duration of her reign, living expenses, wardrobe and personal services, among others.

In addition to her one-year salary, Wurtzbach brought her Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach stands on her float, as hundreds of Filipinos line the streets of Manila.

Photo courtesy of Miss Universe Facebook page

Senate ends probe on Binay…

PAGE A1 t

day, Jan. 26. This representation would like to assure everyone that legislative ideas based on the evidence that we have gathered and our findings on the two resolutions shall be forthcoming.

To remind everyone, this subcommittee’s proceedings were undertaken in aid of legislation,” Pimentel said in his opening statement.

The decision to end the hearings was made after Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who came out with the resolutions that paved the way for the conduct of the probe, agreed to conclude this yesterday.

Trillanes said he just wanted the presentations made during yesterday’s hearing to be placed on record to be included in the final committee report to be drafted by Pimentel.

A partial committee report was released by Pimentel last year but it only focused on the allegedly overpriced parking building

turned Makati City Hall 2 building.

After the parking building issue, the subcommittee took up several other issues, namely the main Makati City Hall Building; University of Makati Nursing Building; Makati Science High School Building; the supplies for Ospital ng Makati; the alleged irregularities in the Pag-IBIG Fund; the granting of developmental loans to favored contractors; the award of service contracts to favored bidders; the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Alphaland joint venture agreement; University of Makati-STI joint venture agreement; the award of government land to an unqualified private corporation, Meriras Realty and Development Corp. property in Comembo, Makati; the so-called “Hacienda Binay” in Rosario, Batangas; the benefits of Makati City senior citizens; Makati City sister cities; the Makati Friendship Suites and Makati Hom-

eville.

During Tuesday’s hearing, former Makati City barangay chairman Renato Bondal recapped the reports that came out last year regarding the move of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze several bank accounts and financial instruments under the names of the Vice President, his friends and associates.

A total of 242 of the bank accounts and financial instruments were ordered frozen by the Court of Appeals, the sum of which is said to be around P11 billion.

Bondal pointed out most of these were hidden by the Vice President under the names of his close aides such as Gerardo Limlingan and Eduviges Baloloy, who have standing warrants of arrest but could not be located.

He also showed a web of names and organizations representing the alleged “Binay syndicate,” all of which were traced

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$300,000-crown — made of 18k gold, diamonds and blue sapphire — back with her to the Philippines. Wurtzbach said the crown was given on loan and cannot be subjected to tax by the BIR, according to GMA News.

Joined by her mother Cheryl Alonzo Tyndall, Wurtzbach also received the congres-

Ex-SAF chief recounts Pres. Aquino’s…

PAGE A1 t

operation had been attributed to a broken chain of command and lack of coordination among police and the military.

“Pinatawag ako ni Gen. Purisima mag-present doon sa Malacañang. Hindi ako nag-volunteer niyan. Tinawag n’ya ako. Ibig sabihin siya ang nagmamando, namamahala. Siya ang pinagkakatiwalaan ng pangulo. Nagbriefing ako doon sa loob, prinesent ko ‘yug concept of operation.

‘Yung mga video, kung anu-ano pa. Marami akong pinakita,” Napeñas told co-anchors Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja of “Dos por Dos” on DZMM. (Gen. Purisima summoned me make for a presentation in Malacanang. I didn’t volunteer for that.

He called me up to do that. That only meant he was the one who was in command, who was manning the [operation]. He was the one the President trusted. I had a briefing inside [Malacanang], where I presented the concept of operation. The videos, among others, I showed them all.)

“Nagsalita ‘yung pangulo.

(Paano) ‘yung coordination with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Nasabi ko na rin ‘yan noon. Ang sagot ko, sir, with all due respect compromised po ang AFP. Kaya ang recommendation po namin time-on-target sabihin sa AFP. Sinegunduhan ‘yan ni Gen. Purisima at director for intelligence group. Hindi umimik ang president,” he added.

(The President asked, ‘[How’s] the coordination with the AFP.’ I had pointed out that out before.

My answer was, ‘Sir, with all due respect, the AFP is compromised.

So we recommend we’d tell the AFP time-on-target.’ Gen. Purisima supported that and the director for intelligence group. The President didn’t say anything.)

Asked what he thought of Aquino’s non-response, Napeñas said he considered it as a go-signal.

“After that naiwan silang dalawa (Purisima and Aquino), lumabas kaming dalawa ni director intelligence group. Paglabas ni Gen. Purisima, sinabi sa akin,

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sional medal of distinction on Tuesday afternoon.

“I know you have our country in mind when making laws.

On that note, we have the same inspiration, the Philippines. So let’s continue confidently working with a heart for the Filipino people,” Wurtzbach told 173 House members before receiving the House medal. n

‘saka ninyo sabihan ‘yung dalawa kapag nandodoon na.’ Sabi n’ya ‘kayo na ang bahala kay Gen. Catapang.’Totoo ‘yan, sinabi n’ya ‘yan,” he said, referring to former AFP chief Gregorio Catapang.

(After that, Purisima and Aquino stayed, while the director for intelligence group and I left the room. When Gen. Purisima went out, he told me ‘to tell the other two once [you’re there].’ He said, ‘you handle Gen. Catapang’. It was true, he said that.)

“Anong impression dun? Eh ‘di approved n’ya ‘yun,” he said.

(What’s the impression with that? That means it’s already approved.)

Citing an exchange of text messages between Aquino and Purisima, Napeñas went on by saying that the President himself approved the time frame of the operation and ordered the deployment of additional troops.

“Nag-recommend ako kay Gen. Purisima na imbis na gagawin namin ‘yan before ng visit ni Pope, first window, gagawin natin ‘yan

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

From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-29, 2016

A

Ex-SAF chief recounts Pres. Aquino’s…

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on second window, (January) 21 to 26, something like that, dahil doon sa sinabi ng Pangulo na dagdagan ang tropa,” he said.

(I recommended to Gen. Purisima that instead of pushing with the operation before the Papal visit, first window, we’d do it on second window (January 21 to 26), because of what the President said about increasing the number of troops.)

“Too tight yung first window at saka yung tropa na idadagdag ay nasa Tacloban for the Pope’s visit. Sinagot ako ni Gen. Purisima OK. Sumagot ang pangulo natin, OK. So that means ano ang im-

pression nun? Pangulo pala ang nag-approve talaga ultimately,” he added.

(The first window was too tight and the troops to be included were still in Tacloban for the Pope’s visit. Gen. Purisima told me ‘OK’. The President said OK. So what is the impression? It’s the President who approved ultimately.)

The Senate committee on public order will resume its investigation bloody clash on Wednesday, more than a year after the tragedy, on the initiative of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who claimed that he was set to prove Aquino’s “direct” and “active” involve-

ment in the operation.

Napeñas was among the personalities summoned by the committee in the reopening of the probe.

“Prepared (ako) sa mga tanong ni Sen. Enrile. Prepared naman po tayo d’yan kasi yung detalye naman halos memoryadongmemoryado natin,” he said.

(I am prepared for Sen. Enrile’s questions. We’ve always been prepared for that because the details we’ve memorized thoroughly.)

Napeñas is running for senator under Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance party. n

Enrile also questioned the links made by Bondal between Binay and the various organizations that supposedly formed the “Binay syndicate.”

Enrile pointed out Bondal showed no evidence to back up his claims, such as a paper trail that would show a transfer of funds or other assets that would link Binay to the various organizations.

Based on what he saw in Bondal’s presentation, Enrile said all he saw was a direct link between Binay and Limlingan to the JC Binay Foundation and nothing else.

“Was there anything to show that there was a transfer of funds that paved the way for the Vice President’s control of these organizations through that foundation?” Enrile asked.

Former Makati City vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, who used to be allied with Binay, said he was part

of the incorporators of JC Binay Foundation and what he has been able to prove was Limlingan and Baloloy were the bagmen of the Vice President.

“That is your word. But you are presenting a concrete evidence of relationship. You have to prove each step of the whole relationship. That is your interpretation.

That is your conclusion. There is no problem with that, but whether that is true to fact or reality is something else,” Enrile said.

Even in the bank accounts presented by Bondal, Enrile said he only managed to show two persons, referring to Limlingan and Baloloy, transferring money to each other and nothing directly involving the Vice President.

“You show that in court and that’s meaningless. You have to trace the flow of wealth, where it originated,” Enrile said. (With reports from Helen Flores and Alexis Romero)

Blue Ribbon ends probe on Binay…

PAGE A2 t

from the creation of the JC Binay Foundation and its officers Binay and Limlingan.

Binay finds an ally It was during this part of the presentation of Bondal that Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile started questioning the conclusions being made against the Vice President.

This was the first time that any senator other than Pimentel, Trillanes and Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano attended the hearings since they started in August 2014.

Enrile, an ally of the Vice President in the United Nationalist Alliance, was also the first senator who came to the defense of Binay in the hearings.

On the claim of Bondal that the declared net worth of the Vice President grew by 2,300 percent from P2.5 million in 1998 to P60.25 million in 2014, Enrile noted Bondal failed to consider how the cost of the assets were derived as well as the exchange rate that varied from year to year.

Comelec…

PAGE A1 t

machine-readable binary instructions (executable code).

Lito Aviera, a volunteer from the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), said the process is part of transparency measures to ensure credible election results.

On hand to certify the procedure was SLI Global Solutions, the local counterpart of Smartmatic TIM, the provider of the vote counting machines or VCMs to be used in the polls. n

Filipina fatally stabbed in…

PAGE A1 t

husband, Isagani “Sonny” Fajotina, on Tuesday, Jan. 19 on suspicion of second-degree murder, but he was released pending further investigation.

The case is being investigated by detectives as a murder-attempted suicide. Isagani Fajotina — who relatives said suffered from mental health problems — remains hospitalized at Queen’s Medical Center with a self-inflicted stab wound. He is expected to survive, police said.

Isagani, a Vietnam War veteran, and Melita Fajotina moved to Hawaii from the Philippines. The retired couple previously worked

at Queen’s Medical Center where he was a janitor and she was a nursing assistant.

Several relatives, including a daughter and two grandchildren, and tenants live in the couple’s home. There were a few witnesses to the fatal domestic violence, according to police.

“I couldn’t understand cause the sister-in-law was screaming in Filipino and the daughter was just screaming, running out here waiting for the cops,” Wiiu Wilson, a tenant, told Hawaii News Now. The suspect’s sister-in-law also suffered a minor cut on her neck

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EPIC BLIZZARD. More 60 million people in the East Coast were affected by a blizzard over the weekend.

Contributed photo by Nina del Rosario

New York, other states dig out after epic…

PAGE A1 t

City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New Yorkers should continue to use extreme caution when walking and driving. When shoveling, remember to stay safe, and do not overexert yourself.”

Because of the predicted snowfall, a travel ban was imposed in New York City, including Long Island. New Jersey Transit, the Long island Rail Road and the Metro North trains were also shut down as major roads, state highways and railways were covered with feet of snow.

Under the ban, only emergency vehicles were allowed on the streets. Drivers who ignored the order faced heavy fines and license points. Even the public was warned not to go outside.

“If you want to go really quickly to someplace near your home, stay with your kids – adult supervision necessary,” de Blasio said on Saturday, Jan. 23. “This is a vastly intensifying storm and it’s slippery, it’s gusty. I, as a parent, wouldn’t let my kids out of my sight.”

Many New Yorkers heeded warnings to stay home, but not after going to Central Park to snap a few photos and enjoy the blanket of snow covering the entire park.

Among them were Fil-Ams Marilen Clemente and Nina del Rosario who both live in the city’s Upper East Side neighborhood and a few blocks away from Central Park.

“I went to Chinatown and bought water and ingredients for sinigang on Friday,” Clemente told the Asian Journal. “I also readied water in a pail and other containers in case there’s electricity and water shortage. I also made sure my phone was fully charged.”

Shortly after noon, Clemente and del Rosario went to Central Park to take some photos.

“I was more excited than scared,” Clemente said. “But of course, we were careful and we were hoping that no one gets injured.”

By 2:30 pm, it was announced that only emergency vehicles

were allowed on the streets and by 4:00 pm, anyone caught walking around the city would be subject to a ticket and possible arrest. It was also around this time when the travel ban was imposed. The ban was lifted early Sunday morning.

The blizzard of 2016 affected more than 60 million people as the storm’s effects stretched from Georgia to Massachusetts.

According to Weather.com, eleven states have declared states of emergency.

In Leesburg, Virginia, the snowfall was also as historic.

With almost four feet of snow burying parts of the state, many private company employees were not able to report for work on Monday because of unplowed roads.

Carol del Pilar-Boado, a banker, was one of them. The bank where she works is running on two-hour delays because of employee shortage. Out of their 35 branches, only six were able to open, including the branch

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A JANUARY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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

Flu season at a low in California Experts say weather helps

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

FIRST ANNIVERSARY. President Benigno S. Aquino III holds a private talk with relatives of slain Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers at the Mamasapano Massacre immediately after the program at Camp Crame for the commemoration of its first anniversary on Monday, Jan. 25. The President earlier presented the PNP Medalya ng Kabayanihan to relatives of the 44 SAF troopers Malacañang photo by Gil Nartea who were slain in the massacre.

Covered California makes final push for health care enrollment in AAPI communities

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California joined with leaders of the Asian American community to spread the word that time is running out for uninsured Californians to sign up for quality health insurance coverage.

“We are teaming up with leaders of Asian-American communities to make sure that we reach out to everyone who is eligible for coverage,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “We want to drive home the message that the deadline is coming up and remind consumers that financial help is available through Covered California.”

Assemblymember Rob Bonta, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Health, said uninsured Asian Americans across the state should explore their options in this new era of health care and get coverage for 2016.

“Health care is now a right and not just a privilege for the fortunate,” Bonta said. “Enrolling in Covered California gives people access to the best doctors and hospitals in the state, and that is critical to building strong families and communities.”

Assemblymember Kansen Chu, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Human Services, said there is still time for those who have waited to get coverage for the remainder of 2016.

“The uninsured are among the most vulnerable in California

and that can change now,” Chu said. “Every community in California can benefit from better health service and lower costs for care.”

An outreach effort on Tuesday, Jan. 26 included a teleconference with Covered California, Asianlanguage media, Bonta and Chu, as well as officials from Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Asian Pacific Health Care Venture Inc. In addition, Bonta, Chu and Lee wanted to alert consumers to the rising tax penalty if they choose to remain uninsured in 2016 and reassure them that their immigration status will not be shared with immigration authorities.

“We know that many mixed families live in California, and consumers should know that when someone applies to Covered California their information will not be shared or used by any immigration agency,” Bonta said.

Chu added: “A consumer’s information will only be used to determine their eligibility for health insurance programs available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and will not affect the immigration status of any family member on the application.”

While noncitizens and undocumented residents will not be eligible for Covered California health insurance plans, they may still be eligible for specific, lim-

ited Medi-Cal programs. Individual consumers and their families are encouraged to research their options through Covered California to see what health coverage is available to them.

As for the tax penalty, in some cases a consumer could actually save money by purchasing health insurance instead of paying the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“The tax penalty starts at $695 for an adult, or $2,085 for a family of four, and can easily be several hundred or even thousands of dollars more,” Lee said.

“That’s money that goes straight to the IRS, and the consumer gets nothing in return. Don’t gamble with your health or your financial future.”

Covered California has also built an extensive network of Asian-language resources, including online resourcesavailable in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Lao, Tagalog and Hmong. These can be found by clicking on “Other Languages” in the top right corner of www.CoveredCA.com.

Consumers can also speak to certified enrollers in their language at (800) 300-1506 and find thousands of local certified enrollers by visiting www.

CoveredCA.com/get-help/local.

The in-person assistance is free, confidential and available in a variety of languages throughout the state.

Consumers who apply may be

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INFLUENZA was responsible for the deaths of 146 Californians between October 2014 and late January 2015. When the flu season ended that year, over 400 people had died of the infection—an outbreak the state rated “moderately severe.”

Last year, California faced a huge improvement in the flu situation, when the season’s death toll plummeted to 78, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Since October, there were three reported flu-related deaths in California, and health experts are saying the weather could be part of the reason.

Between El Niño’s unusually warm temperatures and the weekend’s winter storm “Jonas” blizzard, much of the country has been experiencing unusual bouts of weather.

December 2015 was, on average, the country’s hottest and wettest December on record, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Health experts said the weather created conditions least conducive to the spread of the flu.

As of mid-January, flu cases were minimal or low in 47 states, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around the same time last year, activity was mini-

mal or low in 17 states.

Fewer patients are showing up with the flu, said Helen Macfie, who monitors emergency room visits at Southern California’s six MemorialCare Hospitals. Even at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, which runs one of the busiest ERs in Los Angeles County, flu visits have lessened.

“We’re really seeing very little uptick so far, so mostly more common colds and those sorts of things,” she said. “Definitely slower than in prior years.”

Nevertheless, public health officials are warning that flu outbreaks are “unpredictable,” and that the country could still be hit hard in the coming weeks. “The flu season often peaks in February, though the past three seasons did so in December,” said Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist for the CDC. “We seem like we’re back on a more normal pattern actually,” she said. “Because recent ones were unusually early, it feels like this one is abnormal.”

She also pointed to CDC data that show flu activity going up from the first week of January to the second week. “It may peak in February, it may be a little bit later. I don’t know, but we’re definitely seeing a true increase in flu activity,” Brammer added.

“Large numbers of people probably aren’t falling sick from the flu because most of the strains

circulating are the same as last year’s. That means that people who were infected last year still have some immunity against the virus,” said Sadina Reynaldo, an epidemiologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

In Los Angeles County, 456 people had tested positive for the flu as of two weeks ago, according to county. During last year’s flu season, there had been around 1,405 flu diagnoses.

According to the CDC, people have been infected this season by other viruses including H3N2, H1N1 and some B viruses. Though experts say H3 viruses can cause bad flu seasons, with more hospitalizations and deaths, researchers found that the strains circulating match those included in the current available vaccine—meaning that this year’s flu shot is likely providing strong immunity for those who got vaccinated.

Reynaldo also encouraged everyone to be vaccinated against the flu, even those who are healthy and likely to recover.

“It’s not for you; you don’t want to spread it to someone else who may not be so fortunate if they get sick,” she stressed.

James Tamerius, a professor at the University of Iowa who studies the environment’s effect on human health, said this year’s

u PAGE A5

New York, other states dig out after epic…

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where she works.

“I’m not sure if the roads will be plowed by Tuesday, otherwise, I’d still be working from home,” she told the Asian Journal.

Boado and her family were prepared for the arrival of blizzard Jonas. They stocked up on food and the basics – eggs, water, bread and milk. She said she also marinated lots of meat, and on Friday, she cooked four Filipino dishes.

“We were a little worried about losing power because we do not have a fireplace and it is freezing,” she added. “But we have flashlight batteries, lanterns, extra blankets in case we lose power.”

Louise Bejer, a lawyer in midtown Manhattan, had no chance to prepare.

“I worked late on Friday eve-

ning and I got home past midnight, by then there were already flurries,” she said. She was not that worried, though since she always keeps supplies in her apartment, from canned goods, frozen meats and fish in the

freezer, bottled water, matches and candles.

“I think the most preparation I did was I made sure that all of my gadgets were charged so if we lose power, I could still work,” she said.

(Momar G. Visaya / AJPress)

Filipina fatally stabbed in…

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after trying to intervene, reports said.

“There was one other individual who was injured when she attempted to intervene, but she was treated and she’s in good condition,” said Lt. Phillip Lavarias of the Honolulu Police Department.

A recent study presented by lawmakers found that 30 percent of fatal domestic violence cases in Hawaii involved Filipinos.

“What stood out for me was the level of over-representation of D.V. related deaths within the Filipino community,” state Rep. Della Au Belatti, chairwoman of the House Health Committee, said according to Hawaii News Now. The study noted that most of the women killed previously sought help or contacted agencies, such as law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, courts and health care providers. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-29, 2016

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Dateline PhiliPPines

PH calls for international action vs terrorism

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — With terror attacks across the world becoming bolder and indiscriminately targeting civilians, there is greater need for nations to close ranks to fight terrorism “in all its forms and wherever they may occur,” a statement from Manila addressed to the international community said.

“The Philippines and the Filipino people stand in solidarity with other peace-loving countries and individuals in expressing deep concern on the continuing terrorist acts happening in many parts of the world, which are indiscriminately targeting innocents and civilians,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

The DFA issued the statement in the wake of terror attacks across the globe, including in major urban centers like Paris and Istanbul.

A new UN action calls for a comprehensive approach to combating extremism, includ-

A woman is being evacuated from the Bataclan theater after a shooting in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015.

AP file photo/Thibault Camus

ing taking systematic preventive steps to address the underlying conditions that drive individuals to radicalize and join violent extremist groups.

The UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism appeals for concerted action by the international community and cites critical elements for its success

including good governance, rule of law, political participation, quality education and decent jobs and full respect for human rights.

The action plan provides more than 70 recommendations to UN member-states to prevent the further spread of violent extremism stemming from “poisonous ideologies.” n

Duterte to skip presidential debates unless disqualification case is dropped

by Nico

aLcoNaBa

Inquirer.net

DAVAO CITY – “Am I a candidate?”

This was the question raised by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night to the Commission on Elections when asked if he would take part in the first presidential debate sponsored by the Comelec and media organizations.

Duterte, in a press conference late Monday night, Jan. 25, said he was puzzled why the Comelec included him in the list of those invited to the Feb. 21 presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro,

when it still has not resolved the disqualification cases filed against him.

“Please ask them (Comelec) why they included me in the debate. How sure are they that I am a candidate?” he told reporters.

Duterte earlier said he would not show up at the presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 21 because he has been busy traveling around looking for campaign funds.

“I have no time for that, may be in the future there would be other presidential forums,” he said in an earlier interview.

But on Monday night, the

mayor said he would go to the Cagayan de Oro City debate but only if the Comelec declared him a legitimate presidential candidate.

“If I go there and they later disqualify me, that would make look like a fool,” he said.

“You (Comelec) resolve the cases first. Why invite me when you are not sure if I am a candidate,” he added.

The first debate in Cagayan de Oro City will be hosted by the Inquirer and television network GMA-7. Other media companies will be sponsoring succeeding debates with the Comelec. n

NEW MACHINES. Comelec employees demonstrate the new Vote Counting Machines (VCM) as part of the Comelec’s roadshow to showcase the VCM’s new security features. The VCM’s will be used for the upcoming national elections this May. Inquirer.net photo by Alexis Corpuz

Ramos: Philippines should stop US, China from warring

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — Former President Fidel Ramos on Monday, Jan. 25 said that the Philippines should use its position to prevent China and the United States (US) from starting a war.

Ramos stressed that the country should stop preparing for war and prepare for peace instead.

“We must play our role properly to prevent the Chinese and the Americans from warring against each other and we are in a beautiful position to do that because we’re in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea which are the two greatest oceans of commerce,” Ramos told Philstar.com in an interview.

The former president also recalled how he ordered the Western Command to act against China’s activities in the Mischief Reef during his term.

“When the Chinese started to build around Mischief Reef even if we have very few military resources in the area I ordered the commander of the West Command... to remove all of the Chinese looking signs in our area and he did especially on the vi-

cinity of Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group,” the former president said.

Ramos, however, noted that

nobody wants a “World War III” and suggested that the Philippines should use its geostrategic position from preventing conflict in the region.

“Today, my humble position is that because nobody wants World War III anymore... Stop preparing for war, meaning no more military build-up. Start preparing for peace,” Ramos said.

The former president said that the country could prevent conflict in the region by enhancing its maritime capability, including safety of life at sea, safety of open navigation, search and rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

“That is what we should do as a multinational coast guard task force in the Asia Pacific to begin with,” Ramos said.

The Philippines recently filed a protest against China’s test flights on the Kagitingan Reef in the West Philippine Sea. China, however, claimed that the Philippines’ accusations were made with an “ulterior motive.”

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama earlier said in his State of the Union address that the US should “set the rules” in the Asia-Pacific region and not China. n

while 8 percent said it would be worse, to yield a net score of “very high” +30 (correctly rounded), the same score gained in November 2010 which were both the highest since 1998.

Asked about changes in their quality of life over past 12 months, 31 percent claimed their lives had improved (gainers) while 27 percent said their lives worsened (losers), resulting in a net score of +5. It was statistically unchanged from +4 net score (29 percent gainers and 25 percent losers) in September.

By region, net personal optimism rose in the rest of Luzon (+42 from +33), the Visayas (+32 from +25), Mindanao (+41 from +34) and Metro Manila (+43 from +40).

Net personal optimism among socioeconomic groups also improved among Classes D (+40 from +31) and E (+42 from +35) but declined among ABC (+34 from +41).

Net economic optimism also went up in Metro Manila (+26 from +19), with double-digit im-

provements in the Visayas (+24 from +7), the rest of Luzon (+32 from +19) and Mindanao (+36 from +25).

An improved economic optimism was also recorded among Classes D (+31 from +17) and E (+34 from +25) except in ABC (+13 from +16).

Meanwhile, net gainers increased in Mindanao (+7 from +3), the rest of Luzon (+8 from +7), declined in the Visayas (-5 from -1) and unchanged in Metro Manila (+2). It also went up among Class E (+11 from +4), declined among ABC (+7 from +18) and retained among D (+3).

For net personal optimism, the SWS considers a rating of +30 and above as “very high”; +20 to +29 as “high”; +10 to +19 as “fair”; +1 to +9 as “mediocre”; 0 to -9 as “low”; and -10 and below as “very low.”

For net economic optimism, a score of +10 and above is considered “very high”; +1 to +9 “high”; 0 to -9 “fair”; -10 to -19 “mediocre”; -20 to -29 “low”; and -30 and below “very low.” (Inquirer.net)

“Stop preparing for war... start preparing for peace,” former President Fidel Ramos told Philstar.com in an interview. Patricia Lourdes Viray

More Filipinos see improved quality of life this year

BONGBONG’S MARKET VISIT: Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. visits the Pasay City Public Market on Libertad St. to meet with barangay officials, market vendors and tricycle drivers.

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Flu season at a low in…

mild season could be due to the warmer temperatures seen in December. “I don’t think it’s the sole reason, but it could be delaying it a bit,” he told the Times.

Forecasts show that the warmer weather will continue in many parts of the country. According to the National Weather Service

Climate Prediction Center, both the whole northern half and the West Coast will experience unusually warm temperatures into late April, largely because of El Niño’s tropical conditions.

“It was once believed that the flu was transmitted more in cold weather because people spent more time indoors in closer prox-

Covered California makes final…

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eligible for financial assistance depending on their income and family size. Approximately nine out of every 10 enrollees receives some level of financial assistance to help pay for their health care, with the average Covered California household receiving

$5,200 in financial assistance in 2014. Consumers can find out if they qualify by using the Shop and Compare Tool on Covered California’s website.

Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31. Consumers who qualify for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal can enroll at any time. n

imity, making it easier for germs to jump from person to person.

However, there isn’t much scientific evidence to back that up,” said Tamerius.

The accepted theory now is that the influenza virus thrives in low humidity, and is “therefore more likely to infect somebody who comes into contact with it,” he added. “It’s also possible that spending time in cold, dry air makes humans more susceptible to catching the virus.”

“There definitely seems to be a link.”

Influenza spreads easily in cold, drier conditions—and statewide, California has experienced a largely warm fall and winter season, punctuated by heavy El Niño rains. n

TWO OUT of five Filipinos expect their quality of life to improve in the next 12 months, the highest turnout in the last three decades, the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

The Fourth Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey report, conducted from Dec. 5 to 8 and results of which were first published in BusinessWorld newspaper, also showed that a record-high number of Filipinos expressed optimism on the economy this year.

Out of 1,200 respondents aged 18 and up nationwide, 45 percent said they were optimistic about changes in their quality of life in 2016, while 5 percent said otherwise.

The latest figure yielded a personal optimism net (optimists minus pessimists) score of “very high” +40, the highest since SWS conducted the same survey in April 1984.

The SWS poll, which had a margin-of-error of plus-or-minus 3 percent, also found that 39 percent of respondents expected the economy to be better this year,

A JANUARY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Recurrence

IT has been a year since the bloodbath between the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), and elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. That fateful Sunday on Jan. 25, 2015 left 44 elite policemen and 19 Moro rebels dead.

The government’s failure to successfully resolve the Mamasapano encounter has become emblematic of persistent dangers that affect everyone. Criminal charges have been filed against 90 commander and members from different Moro entities, but justice has yet to be delivered for the victims’ kin.

Justice department spokesman and Undersecretary Emmanuel Caparas said the agency is aware of the cry for justice for the families of the slain policemen and vowed to have a resolution soon.

“The DOJ continues to do what it needs to do so that it can deliver justice to all parties involved.

Let’s just say the authorities are moving as quickly as they can, as responsibly as they can, as judiciously as they can so that justice may be delivered,” Caparas said.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile initiated the resumption of the Senate investigation into the Mamasapano encounter and vowed to implicate Pres. Benigno Aquino III for his active and direct involvement in the planning and preparation of the botched “Oplan Exodus.”

For Sen. Bongbong Marcos, the reopening of the Senate investigation will address the government’s unfulfilled promises and the continuing cries for

justice of families of the 44 slain SAF commandos.

“No case has been filed in court to prosecute those responsible.

We owe it to the families of the SAF heroes to resolve these issues and the Senate investigation will allow us the opportunity to do that,” Marcos said.

Earlier, Aquino admitted that he believes that the resumption of the Senate investigation is fueled by politics and an attempt to put blood on his hands.

“We all know that the campaign period is coming soon. Among our opponents, they see that this has been the greatest burden I have had since I took office. Perhaps, they are trying to take this opportunity,” Aquino said, alluding to his administration’s rivals.

Meanwhile, on the first anniversary of the Mamasapano encounter on Monday, Jan. 25 Aquino awarded the fallen SAF troopers with medals to honor their their gallantry during the operation that resulted in the death of Zulkifli Abdhir (also known as Marwan), who was one of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted terrorists.

“On this day, we are gathered to honor the valiant efforts of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force. Together with the whole nation,

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

we whole-heartedly recognize them for their service. To our valiant SAF: Thank you so much for your heroism to promote peace,” Aquino said in Filipino after presenting the posthumous awards to the fallen SAF troopers’ families. The President also assured them of the government’s assistance and vowed justice over the killings.

Another victim of the Mamasapano encounter is the fate of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The peace pact made between the national

government and Muslim rebels in the country— meant allow comprehensive growth and development in the southern region—has been gaining headway, and an expected passage in the legislature was already underway, until the Mamasapano tragedy occurred.

Depending on the outcome of the Senate investigation, the future of the peace and stability in Mindanao will remain in a precarious balance.

(AJPress)

Surprises ahead of the start of presidential election primaries and caucuses IN less than a week, the race to the White House takes off in Iowa for both the Democratic and the Republican parties. The voters of this state and all the others, as scheduled perhaps until summer, will head to the polls and choose the candidate who they believe will best represent the principles, vision and advocacies of their party.

The developments of the week preceding the February 1 Iowa caucuses headlined so many unexpected twists and turns many were not expecting in the past six months.

The Bush brand did not seem well for Jeb Bush, who many thought would be the frontrunner for the GOP, but six debates later and the entry of billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump has shaken and perhaps redefined what “conservative” means for the Republican Party.

Donald Trump has been perceived as someone embracing more liberal principles, and yet he has emerged to be the candidate most likely to be the nominee of the Republican Party. Trump dominated the recent CNN/ORC poll with 41 percent of Republican voters nationwide saying they

will vote for the billionaire. CNN further reported that more than two-thirds believe he will win the The Fil-Am party’s nomination.

Perspective Trump has beaten candidates in the polls who were more traditional Republicans embracing conservative principles with strong ties to evangelical Chris- Gel SantoS-ReloS tians. According to CNN, the nearest competitor, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, got 19 percent support in the poll.

The CNN/ORC poll revealed that no other candidate hit double-digits. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio landed at 8 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 6 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 4 percent, and the rest at 1 percent or less.

In the Democratic Party, the latest Fox News Poll shows frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s national lead among likely Democratic primary voters has narrowed -- 49 percent to Sanders’ 37 percent.

In Iowa, the Fox news poll reveals Clinton with 48 percent support to Sanders’ 42 percent and

former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s 3 percent. Sanders remains the frontrunner in New Hampshire, the first primary state after Iowa with a 56 percent to 34 percent advantage over Clinton.

The surge of Bernie Sanders in the polls over time has been fueled by the support of the younger voters who see the 75-year-old senator as the candidate who can bring real change in America, with his “democratic socialism” principle.

This is different from the Soviet Union kind of socialism, and Sanders defined it in the recent Democratic town hall meeting in Iowa: “What democratic socialism means to me is that economic rights, the right to economic security, should exist in the United States of America,” said Sanders, who calls himself a “democratic socialist.” He said the term means that government listens to the middle class as much as it listens to the rich, and that government helps students

have access to college. “Creating a government that works for all of us, not just a handful of people on the top. That’s my definition of democratic socialism.”

The CNN-sponsored debate highlighted how each candidate differentiated themselves from each other, with Clinton perceived as the more “experienced” candidate while Sanders highlighted that aside from his experience and preparedness for the highest post in the nation, he has the better judgement to be President.

We will know by February 1 who among the candidates in both parties will have the wind behind their backs heading to New Hampshire. And we will see if another billionaire, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will join the race as he has been seriously thinking of doing so.

Abangan! *** 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

Did Aquino expect the US to save the SAF, as they did his mother in 1989? the 2002 Bali attack, THE United States’ and had trained role in Oplan Exodus Commentary Islamic terrorists that killed an internaaround the world in tional terrorist but led bomb warfare. The to the worst massacre US also wanted to of Philippine troops in prove that nobody recent history must be can escape the long established if we are arm of its law: Marto understand and put RigobeRto tiglao wan was indicted in closure to this national tragedy brought upon us by this in- August 2007 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of competent president.

A report by the respected Los Ange- California.

Former police colonel Getulio les Times on the episode, published September 2015 or after months of Napeñas, then commander of the investigative work, depicts our govern- Philippine National Police Special Acment and the military as puppets that tion Force that undertook the mission, US special forces de facto directed as testified in the Senate hearings on the massacre last year: part of its international war on terror.

One of the Americans ordered (Army According to the LA Times report, US special forces trained the police 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. commandos, gave them high-tech Gen. Edmundo) Pangilinan to fire the equipment, “ferried them around” us- artillery. However, Pangilinan refused ing aircraft flown by US contractors, and told him “Do not dictate to me what pinpointed where Marwan was hiding, to do. I am the commander here!”

Why would an American dare order provided photographic aerial maps to the site, and even provided “real time” an army general to fire artillery if he intelligence while the operation was had no commanding role in the operation? being undertaken using drones.

There were several pieces of eviIndeed, Zulkifli bin Hir, aka “Marwan,” a Malaysian, wasn’t really high dence of US involvement in the operain the Philippine police and military’s tion disclosed in the Senate hearings: order of battle, as he was believed to testimonies of a local mayor and an have been given refuge by the MILF SAF trooper that they saw drones cirfor his huge financial donation to the cling the battle field, Napenas’ discloinsurgents, but only on condition that sure that there were six Americans at he didn’t undertake his terrorist activi- the operation’s command post, and his explanation that a Federal Bureau ties in Mindanao.

It was the US who designated him as of Investigation officer was waiting at “HV1” (high value target no.1) here as General Santos City airport to whom a an international terrorist linked to its SAF officer gave Marwan’s severed finarchenemy Al-Qaeda, with the FBI put- ger right after the operation, for DNA ting a $5 million bounty on his head; testing in an FBI laboratory in the US. There was in fact photo evidence of this was mainly because he was believed to have supplied the bombs in US involvement: Newspaper photos of

Caucasians tending to and loading the wounded on a helicopter on the day of the massacre. The chopper’s markings are clearly visible.

Why didn’t the Senate establish who or what agency or what country operated this helicopter? Like meek colonial subjects, the Senate and the press shirked away from finding out why that helicopter was there pre-positioned for the operation.

How can we pretend to be a sovereign nation when Oplan Exodus was almost entirely an American operation, from which it swiftly distanced itself from when it resulted in 44 of our elite police troops massacred?

It is the American role in the Mamasapano operation that explains what had been a mystery to me. This is something that can’t be discussed, for some flimsy national-security reason, only in closed executive sessions in the Senate. The nation, the loved ones and relatives of the massacred SAF 44, deserve to know the truth.

Where could this President — who had never really shown himself to be really decisive and courageous — find the guts to pretend to command Oplan

Exodus, even asking his close friend Police Chief Alan Purisima – in spite of Purisima’s having been sacked a month before — to be his “executive officer?”

From the Americans, who assured him that, short of having American boots on the ground, they were on top of Oplan Exodus. The Americans probably told him: “We’ll do all the work. Just be in Zamboanga City to congratulate your troops for a job well done.”

As the operation unraveled, Aquino was still probably hoping for the American military to somehow turn things around. After all, the Americans saved

his mother at the last minute in 1989, when US Phantom jets swooped from Clark Air Base to force down the RAM rebels’ T28 Trojans (the so-called “Tora-Toras”) that were bombing Malacanang, and thereby defeating that coup that had nearly won.

This time around, of course, no US fighters swooped down on Mamasapano. The kind of drones the US sent were unarmed.

This president could be guilty not only of criminal negligence but treason, for letting a foreign power undertake a military operation within our country, one that resulted in 44 SAF troopers massacred. n

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Dateline PHiliPPineS

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-29, 2016

A

Sandigan again resets Corona arraignment

by Dona

Pazzibugan Inquirer.net

FORMER Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona again succeeded in deferring his arraignment set Tuesday before the Sandiganbayan for perjury and misconduct.

The antigraft court’s Third Division deferred the arraignment to April 5, while it tackles Corona’s second attempt to have the charges dismissed.

Corona was charged by the Ombudsman with perjury and violation of the code of conduct for public officials for allegedly not correctly declaring his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), for which he was impeached in 2012.

Corona arrived with wife Cristina and two grown-up children for his scheduled arraignment on Tuesday.

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

But the court shortly announced it would postpone the not show he willfully omitted arraignment since Corona filed some assets, saying the SALN a petition last week to quash the form said it contained truthful statements “to the best of his charges.

The former chief justice argued knowledge.”

The Sandiganbayan also dethat the charges against him did

Inquirer/niño Jesus Orbeta

ferred Corona’s arraignment originally set last Oct. 15 to rule on his appeal challenging the antigraft court’s decision that there was “probable cause” to try him. n

House OKs bill to allow LGUs to expropriate land for housing by gil

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

C. CabCaungan jr.

Bradley to go for Pacquiao’s shoulder

Inquirer.net

THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill granting more powers to local government units (LGUs) to take over private and government land for urban poor housing projects.

Voting 171-0 on Monday night, House members approved House Bill No. 6342 or “An Act Strengthening the Right of Local Government Units to Expropriate Lands for the Benefit of the Landless.”

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, chair of the House committee on housing and urban development, who sponsored the bill, said the measure would address the huge housing backlog by relaxing rules on the acquisition of land for housing projects.

Under the bill, Benitez said LGUs would be allowed to expropriate any land within their jurisdiction even if still subject of a court case.

The bill, Benitez explained, also allows the expropriation of land even if its ownership is still subject of a pending court litigation which was one of the main stumbling blocks to the construction of relocation facilities in the same area.

The bill also provided that all idle lands in urban and urbanizable areas would be expropriated unless the owner introduces improvements within one year of receipt of notice of acquisition.

The bill would empower LGUs to take over prop-

SENATE COMMENDS MISS UNIVERSE. Senate president Franklin M. Drilon presents Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach a copy of Senate Resolution 1697 commending her for winning the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant on December 20, 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. “The Filipina beauty queen’s positive attitude and strong determination to fulfill her dream of winning the 2015 Miss Universe title are indeed positive example and great inspiration to her countrymen, particularly the youth, that no dream is impossible as long as he or she puts his or her heart and mind in it,” Drilon said. Also in photo is Senator Sonny Angara (right).

Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez

erty owned by the government or any of its subdivision, alienable lands of the public domain, unregistered or abandoned and idle lands, and those declared areas of priority development, zonal improvement program sites and slum improvement and resettlement program locations. n

MANILA — Timothy Bradley vowed to do whatever it takes to beat Manny Pacquiao in their rubber match this April.

That includes targeting the Filipino icon’s recently injured right shoulder.

Speaking to boxingscene.com, Bradley said that’s what every smart fighter would have done.

“I think the answer would be – what would you do? Come on, let’s think here. You are a smart guy. What would you do?” the American said.

At last week’s press tour to promote their fight, Pacquiao insisted that his shoulder has 100 percent healed. He incurred the injury while training for Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, and he claimed it was the primary reason he lost to the undefeated American.

There had been reports that

Timothy Bradley

Mayweather was aware of Pacquiao’s injury prior to their fight, so he went after it during their showdown.

While Pacquiao underwent surgery in Los Angeles to treat a torn rotator cuff, there’s no guar-

antee that he won’t re-injure it.

Bradley is fully aware of that.

“Would you target that shoulder? What would you do? I will do whatever it takes to win,” said the WBO welterweight champion.

(Dino Maragay/Philstar.com))

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COMMUNITY Journal

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Business News Asian American Business Roundtable Gov’t OKs sale of IBC-13 for at least P1.98B gathers unprecedented group of industry leaders for multi-day summit

by Ben

and

PepsiCo, JP Morgan Chase, and Zappos Among Key Speakers to Address Global Business Challenges and Help Foster Asian American Leadership in US, the Venetian Las Vegas to Host “Taking Risks and Changing The Game” Summit January 29-30, 2016

Los AngeLes — Asian American Business Roundtable (AABR) announced that it was launched to promote the growing prominence of Asian American executives throughout the Us and capitalize on Asia’s continuing emergence as an engine of global economic growth. As part of the launch, AABR will bring together the most accomplished, forward-thinking Asian American innovators and entrepreneurs, many of whom have been honored as “outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business,” at its first multi-day summit, in partnership with The Venetian Las Vegas, on January 29-30, 2016 (www.aabusinessroundtable.org).

“Asian Americans have a unique understanding of both Western and eastern cultures and business practices, which can be crucial in helping companies identify untapped business opportunities, reach new markets and operate crossculturally,” said John Wang, President of Asian American Business Development Center,

O. de Vera Miguel r. CaMus Inquirer.net

TYCoon Ramon s. Ang is interested to bid for state-run Intercontinental Broad-casting Corp.

(IBC-13), which the government on Monday, Jan. 25 said it would sell at a floor price of P1.977 billion.

Ang told the Inquirer that he would join the bidding for the cash-strapped television network once it was placed on the auction block. Ang is president of san Miguel Corp., but his potential participation would likely be done on a personal capacity.

Ang had sought out media assets in the past. In 2014, Ang said he was in talks with the owners of gMA network Inc. on the acquisition of a minority stake. The negotiations, however, collapsed in the middle of last year as “deal-breaking” disagreements erupted between both camps.

A spokesperson for Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which controls TV5 and had previously expressed interest in IBC-13, said they were “not interested” to bid for the state TV network.

San Miguel president Ramon S. Ang.

gMA chair and chief executive Felipe gozon also said they were not interested to bid.

An official of ABs-CBn Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The governance Commission for goCCs (gCg) said President Aquino already approved the privatization of IBC-13, which the gCg had recommended. The privatization will be implemented by a committee to be comprised of representatives from IBC-13, the gCg and the Presidential Communications operations office (PCoo).

Asked about the timetable for

Inquirer file photo / Leo M. Sabangan Ii

the privatization, presidential spokesperson and PCoo chief Herminio Coloma Jr. only said they “will prepare a media statement.”

“The privatization rationalizes the state’s portfolio in the communications sector in view of the overlap with PTV-4 [People’s Television network Inc.], which is already sufficient to address market failures in the private broadcast industry such as providing programs with social value but are not considered profitable,” the gCg explained.

At present, the government runs both IBC-13 and PTV-4. n

Cebu Pacific likely hit 18-M passenger target 2015, 8.8 percent higher than the 15.33 million in the same period in 2014.

For the 11-month period, the total number of flights of the carriers rose by eight percent to

by lOuella

d. desideriO Philstar.com

MAnILA — Cebu Air Inc., the operator of budget carriers Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, expects to u PAGE B2 have achieved its 18 million passenger volume target for 2015 due to the strong performance in the January to november period.

Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs Paterno Mantaring Jr. said in a text message the group expects “full-year results tension between saudi Arabia remittances, saying that it would will meet the 18 million target in by lawrenCe agCaOili and Iran as well as the continued not be as large as before.

Philstar.com passenger volume for 2015.” decline in oil prices.

“In the past we had the 1991 operating statistics posted on MAnILA — The Bangko senBsP Deputy governor Diwa gulf War and the 2003 second Cebu Pacific’s website showed tral ng Pilipinas (BsP) said remit- guinigundo downplayed the gulf war, but our overseas Fili- its combined passenger volume tances from overseas Filipinos impact of the rising tension be- pino workers were able to move with Cebgo reached 16.68 milwould remain resilient amid the tween saudi Arabia and Iran on u PAGE B3 lion in the first 11 months of

121,009 last year from 112,020 in the comparable period in 2014.

Mantaring said the “growth in passengers carried by the Cebu Pacific Air group from January to

u PAGE B2

Remittances to remain resilient amid low oil prices, Saudi conflict

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Business news

NutriAsia to bring condiments business overseas “It’s a joint venture and it (inby IrIs C. Gonzales volves) the whole (product) line Philstar.com of Silver Swan,” he added.

MANILA -— NutriAsia Group Last year, NutriAsia and Slivof Companies wants to create a er Swan sealed a joint venture bigger condiments business fol- agreement to create a much biglowing a joint venture agreement ger condiments business in the with another Filipino-owned Philippines. condiments giant, Silver Swan NutriAsia is known for its UFC, Manufacturing Co. Papa, Jufran and Mafran banana The aim is to bring Silver catsup brands as well as the popSwan brands outside the Philip- ular Mang Tomas lechon sauce. pines, particularly to the US, said It also has the Datu Puti vinegar Joselito Campos Jr., company and the Datu Puti soy sauce. chairman and chief executive ofAsked if a public listing would ficer. be possible in the future for Sil“We want to help them intro- ver Swan, Campos said it is a duce their products in the United possibility, but the goal is to furStates,” Campos told The Star. ther grow the company first.

On the other hand, Silver Swan is the company behind the famous Silver Swan Soy Sauce and Vinegar. It was founded by the late Sy Bun Suan, who set up a small-scale family-owned venture that sold soy sauce in Manila’s Chinatown.

At present, Silver Swan’s line of products includes sweet and spicy chili sauces, oyster sauce, salted black beans and catsup.

NutriAsia, together with Bluebell Group Holdings, also owns 67 percent of Del Monte Pacific Limited.

Both companies are also beneficially owned by the Campos family. n

which formed AABR. “We are launching this Summit to leverage the collective knowledge, experience and networks of recognized industry leaders, and enable access to their unprecedented source of business intelligence and ability to enhance global relations.”

The Summit, Taking Risks and Changing the Game, will discuss issues of social and economic appeal, as well as gamechanging strategies to inspire personal development and corporate growth. Key speakers to date include: Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Global R&D, PepsiCo; Phyllis Campbell, Chairman, Pacific Northwest, JP Morgan Chase; Jon Spector, President and CEO, the Conference Board; and Maggie Hsu, Chief of Staff to Tony Hsieh, Zappos. The Summit will address current national and global business challeng-

es as well as key growth strategies, focused on the following topics: 1. Bringing New Talent into the C-Suite and Boardroom 2. Building Social Networks and an Innovation Marketplace 3. Retaining High Ability Women Innovators 4. Successful International Business Alliances “The Asian American Business Development Center does an incredible job of recognizing the contributions of Asian Americans in the business community, and we are grateful to partner with them in bringing this new concept to our Las Vegas resorts,” said George Markantonis, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo. “We hope this new annual Summit will become a leading platform for knowledge-sharing among key executives and leaders in the Asian-American commu-

Cebu Pacific likely hit 18-M passenger…

PAGE B1 t

November 2015 can be attributed to Cebu Pacific’s long-haul operations in Australia and the Middle East, and the launch of our new route (Cebu-Narita) in Japan.”

For November alone, the airlines carried a total of 1.465 million passengers last year, up 5.4 percent from the 1.390 million passengers ferried in the same month in 2014.

The carriers saw an increase in passenger volume even as the number of flights for the same period declined by 4.9 percent year-on-year.

The airlines had a total of 9,918 flights in November last year, lower than the 10,434 in the same month in 2014.

Cebu Pacific has announced earlier it plans to launch flights to new destinations this year.

By March 15, Cebu Pacific will be flying to its first US destination through its services between Manila and Guam.

The flights between Manila and Guam will be offered four times per week and utilize the airline’s brand-new Airbus A320 fleet.

Cebu Pacific also has plans to begin offering services to Hono-

Balisacan quits NEDA post

by MayvelIn

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

SOCIO Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has resigned as director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to lead the newly created Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

Balisacan’s resignation will take effect on January 31, 2016.

Deputy Director General Emmanuel Esguerra will serve as officer-in-charge of the NEDA. “Taking on the job as the first chairperson of the PCC is a very compelling challenge that is hard to ignore. I see this as both a great responsibility and another privilege to steer the economy toward the right direction to realnity.” ize all its growth potential,” BaliThrough its Summit, AABR sacan said in a statement issued seeks to increase the visibility on Monday. and presence of Asian AmeriThe PCC, created after the cans in US business, address signing of Republic Act 10667, or national and global business the Philippine Competition Act challenges of the 21st century, on July 21, 2015, is a quasi-judiand develop a mentorship pro- cial body that will seek to provide gram to groom future genera- a level-playing field in trade and tions of Asian American business leaders. AABR also looks to assist global corporations seeking to expand in Asia, as Debt well as Asia-based companies Relief seeking US partnerships.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Asian Ameri- Atty. LAwrence yAng can Business Roundtable SumClient 1: Garment Factory mit are now available. For more CLIENT presents himself as a information, please contact Xiaotang Huang, at (212) 966- businessperson, who has been 0100 or xiaotang@aabdc.com, in the garment business since or visit www.aabusinessround- 2002. He has a factory with ten employees where he pays his table.org.

AABR Summit is taking place sewers a little over the miniJanuary 29-30, 2016 at The mum wage. When business was good, his factory was humming Vene- tian, Las Vegas. n along. Orders for his garments were pouring in. He never did have enough capital to operate his business so at first he relied on credit cards. When that was lulu this year.

On Friday, Cebu Pacific re- not enough, he was able to get ceived its first Airbus A320 air- several small business loans from commercial banks. When craft from Toulouse, France.

The carrier expects to accept that was not enough, he got a delivery of another brand-new hard money high interest loan Airbus A320 before the end of of $200K. Unfortunately, he also personally guaranteed each and the month.

With the new two new aircraft, every loan that the company Cebu Pacific would be operating got. Lately, the business has not a total of 57 aircraft composed been able to pay the debts on of eight Airbus A319s, 35 Airbus time, and he’s been getting a lot A320s, six Airbus A330s, and of collection letters and phone calls. Several letters threatened eight ATR 72-500s.

Cebu Air’s network currently lawsuits.

I asked him if the business was covers 64 destinations on over still profitable. He said no. It’s 98 routes. n

Asian American Business Roundtable…

PAGE B1 t

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

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan

industry.

The PCC has also been tasked to protect consumer welfare and advance domestic and international trade and economic development.

The body has the power to conduct inquiries and penalize all forms of anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.

“We would want to address

the problem of having a growing economy but with the benefits of such growth only for a small sector. Promoting fair and healthy competition among firms is a major factor in ensuring that the benefits of growth are properly shared,” Balisacan said.

Recognized as a leading economist in Asia, he is expected to bring to the PCC his expertise in development economics, international economics and applied welfare economics.

Balisacan has been an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology since 2008 and an adjunct professor at the Australian National University since 2011.

The former dean and professor of the University of the Philippines School of Economics also served as director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, or Searca, from 2003 to 2009 and undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture from 2000 to 2003. n

Business owners seek bankruptcy relief been losing 4 to 5K a month. He said just to continue operating and meet payroll, he had to get a HELOC against his residence for $80K last month. It looks like his back is against the wall. To make matters worse, two material suppliers have filed lawsuits abroad against him and the business to collect $60K each of invoices that have not been paid for six months. I then proposed a Chapter 11 only if he thought that the business could later on turn a profit if reorganized. He said he didn’t want to do the business anymore and wanted a peaceful life now that he was 65. He wanted to close the business.

The problem of course is that he had personally guaranteed all the debts of the business. This means that pretty soon, all of the creditors of the business will be suing him to collect on his personal guaranty. We added up the business debts that he guaranteed and came out with a total of $500K! Client was personally on the hook for half a million for the debts of business.

After analyzing his financials

and assets, fortunately for client, I told him that he could do a Chapter 7 to wipe out the $500K without any risk of losing his house and all of his personal assets. Since he was 65, his homestead exemption is $175K. With the $80K HELOC he got last month, his equity in the house was $150K, which is well within the exemption amount. But he can’t get rid of the $80K of HELOC since that’s a voluntary mortgage on his house.

He asked if he could go into business again after the bankruptcy? I said “Yes, certainly.”

He would be debt free once the discharge is entered, and his credit score will increase every year.

Client 2: Coffee Shop Client presents himself as a relatively new businessperson.

He bought a retail outlet in a mall serving “Boba drinks” and other desserts. He started only two years ago. He got a 2nd mortgage from his house of $40K to buy the improvements and equipment from the previous owner. He also signed a new

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA AMID all the hype about climate change, global warming and all junk science made possible by manipulating data to support predetermined results to advance a political global agenda, we all need to step back, take a deep breath and SEE THE BIG PICTURE. The Big Bang Theory claims that out of gas and dust, the universe was born 13.2 billion years ago in a spectacular explosion.

The solar system where our tiny, fragile, magnificent earth orbits was born only in the last 4.5 billion years.

Life, in the form of single celled organisms began on earth 3.4 billion years ago and man began to walk the earth just a few million years ago. How does one fathom the unfathomable?

One brilliant writer drew a more readily comprehensible parallel about the existence of human life as we know it, in this way. If the time frame of 13.2 billion years were to be thought of as a 24hour day, human life only began the last two or three seconds just before midnight.

Our planet earth, with its satellite moon, is the third rock from the sun — an ordinary, garden variety, midsize yellow star — only one of two billion stars in an ordinary, garden variety spiral shaped galaxy called the Milky Way. Scientists estimate that our sun has enough fuel in its belly to burn for another 9 billion years at current brightness before it dies. There was a time when men thought that the Milky Way comprised the entire universe. Now we know better. Galaxies huddle together to form clusters and superclusters and our galaxy — the Milky Way — is only one of a small group of about 20 galaxies orbiting in our tiny neck of the woods of the visible cosmos. Scientists now claim that there are perhaps 125 billion galaxies.

Edwin Hubble — for whom the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was named — theorized that the universe is still expanding. In 1993, the Hubble telescope has been able to turn out stunning photographs of about 40 billion other galaxies orbiting in space in a universe that is perhaps, boundless. Since then, that telescope, the extension of the hu-

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes CONSIDER the common divorce scenario where the divorce judgment provides primary custody of the children to one spouse while the other spouse only gets visitation. The parties begin to file separate tax returns.

What are the tax consequences of the non custodial parents with regards to claiming the children in his or her return?

A non-custodial parent can no longer file as head of household, even if the non custodial parent is allowed to claim the children as dependents under the divorce judgment because this requires that the parent have custody of the children at least 6 months of the year. Non custodial parents also can no longer claim the earned income tax credit. However, the non custodial parent can claim the child tax credit In the absence of a provision in the judgment which states otherwise, the parent with pri-

Community Journal

Seeing the big picture

“Get out of yourself and out of the house, preferably in the countryside with less artificial sources of light on a moonless, cloudless, velvet night and gaze at the stars in the heavens.

Fall in love with your own life all over again.” man vision into the vastness of the universe, has continued to astound even the most cynical among us. It has photographed the existence of another 1,500 galaxies, previously undiscovered. In 1997, the Hubble showed evidence of a black hole bigger than the sun’s mass — 300 million times at least.

A few astronomers even theorize the distinct possibility that there is not just one universe but the existence of multiverses. The concept and the imagery of watching the night skies particularly on clear, moonless nights boggle the mind and strains the limits of the human imagination.

Man has been sending out probes to find some other forms of life comparable to human life in the outer reaches of space but have found nothing convincing — as of yet. And while we search and probe for other life forms, we know that absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence.

What is the point of bringing up this cosmic canvass that seems little to do with our mind, body and spirit? The point is this.

It has taken billions of years in a universe so incredibly vast — it staggers the human imagination — for anyone born on earth to be given the wondrous gift of life the Creator of the Universe is giving each one of us — whether we deserve it or not — a gift that puzzles us no end.

One thing is certain, there is nothing on earth more precious than life itself. Looking at the big picture makes us see how infinitesimally tiny we are in the grand scheme of things, most times, how laughably insignificant our concerns are, how trivial our pursuits, how fearfully short and delicate life is and how utterly foolish to throw away the minutes and the hours in useless, useless fretting and worrying.

Next time you feel overwhelmed with tension, worry and ill health and seriously thinking of giving up — as you are perhaps tempted to do while

you figure out the complexities and parry with the slings and arrows of your life — do what the wise among us have done — sometimes out of sheer desperation. Look heavenward. Get out of yourself and out of the house, preferably in the countryside with less artificial sources of light on a moonless, cloudless, velvet night and gaze at the stars in the heavens. Fall in love with your own life all over again.

Thoreau was right when he said that the darkness reveals the heavenly lights.

Carl Sagan, the noted astronomer who began researching the origins of life beginning in the nineteen fifties made his mark in astronomy and cosmography showing that Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold and our wondrous planet, the Earth, a tiny blue and white marbled dot, a mere iota, in the vast expanse of the cosmos — just right, for human life. We live in the tiny sliver of the Goldilocks zone with liquid water.

To the question of whether we are alone, there are, as yet, no answers. Unfazed and undaunted by the silence of galactic neighbors to earthly probes by radio telescopes beamed into outer space, listening for signs of intelligent life, similar to ours perhaps with a mind-body-spirit connection as well, somewhere in deep space, Sagan wrote: “It says something about the rarity and preciousness of life on this planet.

The flip side of not finding life on another planet is appreciating life on earth.”

If the earth with all its beauty and abundance and the vast expanse and majestic glory of the heavens themselves cannot impress upon thinking, feeling man the fragile and utterly precious nature of his own life, it is doubtful anything ever will. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Tax consequences of divorce, non-custodial parents mary custody of the children is ordinarily entitled to claim the children as dependents for tax purposes. If a qualifying child is claimed as a dependent by both parents and the parents do not file a joint return, the child is normally treated as the qualifying child of the custodial parent IRC § 152(c)(4)(B)(i) However, the Code allows the dependency exemption and child tax credit to be shifted to the noncustodial parent when a child receives over one-half of the child’s support during the calendar year from the child’s parents who are either (i) divorced, (ii) legally separated, (iii) separated under a written separation agreement, or (iv) living apart at all times during the last six months of the calendar year. The child must be in the custody of one or both of the child’s parents for more than one-half of the calendar year. IRC § 152(e) (1)(A) & (B) To shift the exemption and child tax credit to the noncustodial parent, the custodial par-

ent must release or waive his or her claim to the exemption for the year by executing IRS Form 8332. IRC § 152(e) (2). The custodial parent can waive this right to claim the children as dependents and let the non custodial parent claim them by executing IRS Form 8332 and filing it with his or her return.

Certain Tax Court cases held that the waiver is effective even if the Form 8332 was not filled out in detail. In Bramante (T.C. Memo 2003-228), the custodial parent and agreed to waive her right to exemptions on Form 8332. The custodial parent realized that as her income increased, the value of the exemptions increased. The custodial parent discovered that her Social Security number was missing on the form and that the noncustodial parent, had dated the form in his handwriting. The tax court still upheld the waiver as effective despite the missing details from Form 8332.

In Boltinghouse, the IRS ar-

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Business owners seek bankruptcy…

PAGE B2 t

lease with landlord for 5 years at $3K a month. Unfortunately, gross receipts were just a little over $3K a month. Therefore, buying the business was a very bad decision. To continue operating for 2 years, he borrowed $80K of credit card debt.

He hasn’t paid the rent for two months and has just received a letter from the landlord saying that if he does not update the rent by Oct. 30, landlord will file a lawsuit for eviction and demand the entire balance of the rent of $108K. He asks if landlord can do this? Of course he can. Since client breached the contract, landlord can accelerate the rent for the next 3 years and demand payment of the entire balance of $108K! So, with the lease balance of $108K, plus credit card debt of $80K, client needs to wipe out $188K of unsecured debt to get his fresh start in life without accumulated debt. He decides that Chapter 7 will provide him the relief from the consequences of a bad business decision. I assured him that it was the right thing to do. After all, Walt Disney filed for Chap-

ter 7 bankruptcy when his first business venture failed. So, I said, you’re in good company because Disney is so successful now worldwide and does billions of $ of business yearly despite the fact that Mr. Disney also filed for Chapter 7 relief at the start of his business career.

It gave him the fresh start that he needed and it will give client the fresh start without accumulated debt that he needs.

Client 3: Health Care Facility Client presents herself as the owner-operator of 3 health care facilities with 12 employees.

The make a long story short, the business has been losing patients. In addition, Medicare demands a reimbursement for overpayment of $150K. She’s also borrowed last resort high interest loans for $100K for payroll, and has been looking for investors for new money to continue operating. I suggested a Chapter 11 reorganization because the facilities had equity of about $300K altogether and they do have some interested investors who have the funds to put in but need a little more time and convincing. Chapter

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-29, 2016

Calendar of Events across

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Need access to capital? Having difficulties with bank loans?

The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA (FACC-GLA) is hosting a FREE workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs or business owners in need of a small loan. This free workshop and consultation will include beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Please join us at FACC-GLA (5121 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 205 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403) on Thursday, January 28. For more information, please contact FACC-GLA president Leo Maranan, 818-290-0577.

JA N UA RY 3 0

Infant Jesus of Prague 9 hour Novena and Mass The Infant Jesus of Prague Apostolic Group is celebrating 32 years of service and prayer, and will hold its 32nd annual 9-hour Novena and Mass in honor of the Divine Child Jesus on Saturday, January 30, at Saint Joseph the Worker Church (19855 Sherman Way, Winnetka, California). The Novena starts at 7:00am with Mass following at 3:20 pm. Based in San Fernando Valley, the Apostolic Group aims to promote the Gospel message of Jesus and spread devotions to the Infant Jesus. For more information, please contact Leo Nevada at (818) 633 3926 or visit www.IJPAG.com.

Year of the Monkey celebrations at The Grove and the Americana at Brand Both The Grove in Los Angeles and the Americana at Brand will transform into a grand celebration of cheer and good fortune on Saturday, January 30 from 2:00 – 5:00pm with two Chinese New Year parades, including traditional lion and dragon performances, Chinese and Korean folk dancers, and a special appearance by cast members from the comedy TV series “Fresh Off the Boat” at The Americana. Guests can also enjoy traditional lantern décor, calligraphy artists, face painters and craft activities for kids, gourmet food and cultural bites, special shopping offers and surprise gifts (including cash prizes or gift cards) in lucky red envelopes, from now until Feb. 8. The dancing fountains at both properties will turn red for Lunar New Year, and the event will conclude with a final parade. Share your photos of the event by tagging #LunarAmericana and #LunarGrove.

F E B R UA RY 1 - 4

Prof. Enrique Soriano Talks About Philippine Business and Franchising Opportunities Prof. Enrique Soriano, ASEAN Family Business Advisor and book author will be delivering a talk on Philippine business and franchising opportunities on February 1st at the Philippine Consulate in New York and on February 4th in Boston. Free admission but reservations required. This is a wonderful opportunity for kababayans to learn about owning a business while still working in the US. This event was put together by BKP, a US based social enterprise group helping Filipino children to read their way out of poverty; the Philippine Consulate in New York, and the Harvard Philippine Forum.

F E B R UA RY 3

A Tagalog conversation with USCIS: ‘How to Become a US Citizen’ United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites you and your relatives to attend a Tagalog-language community event on Wednesday, February 3rd, from 6:00–7:30pm, at the Carson Community Center (801 East Carson Street, Hall A, Carson, CA 90745). Representatives will go through the process and answer your questions about how to become a lawful citizen of the US. For more information about the event, please email us at Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.

F E B R UA RY 5 -A p R I L 1

Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours Eagle Rock High School invites the community to International Baccalaureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on Friday, February 5; Friday, March 11; and Friday, April 1. Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 712, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short questionand-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd.net for more information. We look forward to your visit!

F E B R UA RY 5 -1 5

University of the East Tau Alpha Sigma (TAS) fraternity golden anniversary Please join us in congratulating TAS for their Golden (50th) Anniversary to be held at Tower Club, Philamlife Building in Makati, Philippines on February 5, 2016. All brothers from all over the world are encouraged to attend. There will be fun–filled activities including dancing, singing, reminiscing college days, golf, trips to Bicol, Batangas, and Tagaytay and reconnecting with both old and new TAS brothers and their spouses. Those who have not yet confirmed their attendance, please contact: (USA) Bernie Lim (bernielim@sbcglobal. net) & Rene Marcos (rmarcos_cpa@verizon.net); (PHILIPPINES) Rodrigo Mangay-ayam (rodman0983@yahoo.com.ph) & Manny Bautista (Manuel.D.Bautista@ph.ey.com).

F E B R UA RY 6

Miss Magsingal Organization of America Coronation & Dinner-Dance The Officers and Members of Miss Magsingal Organization of America (MOA) cordially invites townmates and friends to attend our Miss MOA 2016-17 Coronation and Dinner/Dance on Feb. 6, from 5:00pm -12 midnight at the Hilton of Stockton (2323 Grand Canal Blvd, Stockton, CA). Our Royal Court to be honored and crowned are: Her Majesty Queen, Jillian Foronda; 1st Princess, Jemina Atanaya; and 2nd Princess, Jeramae Luczon. Attire is formal, dinner is $50/person, with live band entertainment. Limited seats are available on a first come first serve basis. For more details, please call Tereso U (209) 603-8440, Lanie (209) 814-8004, and Grace (209) 817-5674. Thank you.

St. Finbar Catholic Church Valentine’s Dinner Dance When: Saturday, February 6 from 7:00 - 11:00pm.

Cost per ticket: $30.

For more information on all events, please contact Marian Nobleza at 818-219-6463.

11 is the ideal solution.

Even if you don’t have a business, you may have racked up F E B R UA RY 1 2 credit card and other debt over the years. If you’re stuck in the An Intimate Night with Miguel Vera minimum monthly payment Beat the Valentine’s Day rush and get your tickets to “An Intimate Night with Miguel mode, you will never pay them Vera,” a special Valentine Show featuring Miguel Vera, performing the greatest OPM hits and off. So, now is the time to seriromantic Filipino classics by Cayabyab, Canseco, and Cruz. The one-night-only concert will ously consider a Chapter 7 or take place at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel (7675 Crescent Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620) on Chapter 13 to give you a fresh February 12 at 8:00pm. Special guests include Annie Nepomuceno and Kit Navarro. Please start without accumulated debt. call (714) 814-0412 or (818) 913-329 for tickets and information. Tickets are $40 each.

You owe it to yourself and your family to put yourself in firm financial footing now for future If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the prosperity by getting rid of acdetails at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com cumulated debt now. Call my office for an appointment and I will interview you personally.

“Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your PAGE B1 t the same period in 2014. warned.

God goes with you; He will nev- elsewhere and find alternative The BSP has slashed the About 79 percent of the cash er leave you nor forsake you.” employment,” he said. growth target for cash remit- remittances came from the US, — Deuteronomy 31:6 However, he said the flexibili- tances to four percent instead of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab *** ty of overseas Filipinos would be five percent for 2015 and 2016 Emirates, Singapore, the United Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in affected if the conflict spreads to due to the global economic slow- Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil other countries in the Middle down and the depreciating cur- Hong Kong. litigation and has successfully represented East. rencies in host countries against Remittances from Filipinos more than five thousand clients in California.

“My concern is that if the the dollar. based in Saudi Arabia went up Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) Saudi-Iran conflict extends beLatest data from the central 5.6 percent to $2.4 billion in the 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. yond their respective borders bank showed cash remittances first 11 months of last year and Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite and affect all the contiguous went up 3.6 percent to $22.83 accounted for 10.5 percent of the 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. jurisdictions, then we will have billion in the first 11 months of total cash sent home by overseas (Advertising Supplement) some challenges,” Guinigundo last year from $22.08 billion in Filipinos. n

Remittances to remain resilient…

B JANUARY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

The Kite Runner Prof.

EnriquE M. Soriano “FIGHTING multinationals was very tough. At first, everyone thought I was crazy. They told me, how would I survive this? True enough, it’s by the grace of God that I’m still here in the toothpaste industry after 20 years. God is good,” – Cecilio K. Pedro In our fast-paced, hectic world we all need a daily dose of faith, hope and love. Stories of heroic struggle against odds, survival and eventual triumph have always inspired people, given them hope, courage to fight, and egged them on to persevere.

When you read inspirational, you’ll start to see a few common threads. Hard work, passion, determination, and drive are all common elements of these stories. Surprisingly, obstacles, failure, and incredible odds are also elements of these stories. In almost every case, the main character of the story would never have been expected to achieve so much in a single lifetime. These individuals, however, overcame tough odds, surpassed difficult obstacles, and “Things aren’t always what they seem.” If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later. I am sure Cecilio Pedro’s story

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Faith and Pinoy pride: Outperforming and outhinking the giants would ignite your never-say-die spirit and inspire you to become all that you can be. His company, Lamoiyan Corporation, is the manufacturer of Hapee toothpaste, the first homegrown toothpaste in the Philippines.

I first had the opportunity to exchange notes with Cecilio more than a decade ago when he was our speaker in an ATENEO MBA Roundtable meeting with fellow Professors. Then a little more than a year ago, we had the rare opportunity to share stories when we were both invited as resource speakers in a Family Business Conference at AIM. Knowing the man up close and listening intently to his inspiring story gave me goose bumps in a positive way and today I want to share his story. Reflecting upon it, the key to success is the owning of the family’s devotion to the business, its resilience in coping with disappointment, and the intensity of its long-term commitment to the business. That in a nutshell best characterizes the country’s Toothpaste King.

It is my fervent hope that family business owners and visionaries can learn so many lessons about Cecilio’s values, faith, tenacity and vision for his company.

Cecilio Kwok Pedro is an entrepreneur who made it to the top after his failure back in 1985.

His principle is much grounded and to quote this man of humility, he once said, “We are competing against the giants. Without faith and without the intervention of

the Divine, it is really difficult to survive in this industry.”

Twenty-five years ago, people thought Cecilio Pedro was crazy for competing head-on with global toothpaste brands Colgate and Close Up. Faith Will Give You Courage, Courage Will Give You Faith Before he went head-to-head with Colgate and Close Up, the two multinational toothpaste brands were Pedro’s only customers.

His first company, Aluminum Container Inc., sold aluminum toothpaste tubes to these foreign firms from 1978 to 1985.

“At that time, I was thinking that toothpaste is something that everyone uses. And multinational firms will be here for the long term, so I thought it was a safe business,” he said.

All was going well for his company until plastic toothpaste tubes were invented. Both Colgate and Close Up decided to switch to plastic tubes in 1985, forcing Pedro to close shop.

“I never thought that they would switch to plastic tubes.

My business got in trouble when they left,” he lamented.

Relying on a few customers was Pedro’s biggest mistake yet.

Money stopped coming in, and he was left with millions of aluminum tubes.

Deeply mired in debt, he could have committed suicide had it not been because of his deep faith in God’s power and mercy. He turned his crisis into opportunity

Tax consequences of divorce on non…

PAGE B3 t

gued that missing details in the separation agreement defeated the waiver (T.C. Memo 2003134). In this case, the parties executed a separation agreement allowing the non custodial parent to claim one of his children, but the non custodial parent did not file a Form 8332. As a result, the court had to decide whether the agreement conformed in substance to Form 8332. The IRS contended that the agreement was not in substance a Form 8332 because it did not reflect the years the exemptions were to be waived and it did not provide Social Security numbers for the parents. Although the IRS pointed to some cases in which the Tax Court had rejected waivers that were ambiguous as to the applicable years, the Tax Court

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

said that it was clear that this agreement applied to the years the parents began filing separate returns. As in Bramante, lack of Social Security numbers was not considered a serious defect by the Tax Court.

The custodial parent can waive the dependent exemption each year or for a number of years.

The non custodial parent should file form 8332 with his or her tax return in order to be entitled to the exemption. To avoid any confusion and tax issues with the IRS, the parties should attempt to agree or resolve in court the issue of who will claim the dependency exemption of the children as part of the divorce judgment.

Parties should seek the assistance of an experienced attorney to weed through complex family law issues.

***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

***

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. (Advertising Supplement)

when he opted to compete with Colgate despite its being a multinational. With faith, guts and hard work, he put up a “David vs.

Goliath” type of fight. When his sales started to dent Colgate’s, they offered to buy him out but he answered, “I don’t think you can afford my price.” Lamoiyan has now captured 30% of the market and still growing.

Now, Hapee toothpaste tubes and sachets are selling like hot-

cakes in the Philippines, making his company, Lamoiyan Corporation, the country’s first homegrown toothpaste empire. (sorianoasia@gmail.com) (Part 2 will follow) *** Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of Asean-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and Program Director for Real Estate and the former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO

Graduate School of Business. He is slated to deliver a talk on Philippine Business and Franchising Opportunities. The first talk is in NY on Feb 1 at the Philippine Consulate and Boston on Feb 4 at the Harvard Campus and in LA. The talk is organized by the Philippine Consulate in New York, in coordination with the Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (bkpinc.org), the Harvard Philippine Forum, TFC with Asian Journal as media partner. For those interested to attend, pls email nzuelke@gmail. com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusines.com.

People and Events Feb. 1 deadline approaches for the $1.2 million Edison Scholars Program ATTENTION high school seniors: don’t miss your chance to earn a $40,000 scholarship.

Seniors dreaming of becoming engineers and planning to study science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) in college have until Feb. 1 to apply for Edison International’s $1.2 million Edison Scholars Program.

Thirty high school students in Southern California Edison’s service territory will each be awarded a $40,000 scholarship from Edison International, the parent company of SCE. Since 2006, 520 students have received $5.3 million in scholarships.

“We strongly encourage high school seniors from SCE’s service area who will be pursuing STEM studies in college to apply for the Edison scholarship,” said Tammy Tumbling, SCE’s director of philanthropy and community investment. “We know that the costs associated with STEM education are high and can be a

deterrent for underserved, lowincome students. That’s why we offer 30 scholarships — so we can help a greater number of students realize their dreams.”

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or above and either live in or attend public or private high schools in SCE’s service area.

High school seniors must demonstrate financial need and plan to be a full-time undergraduate student majoring in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, computer sciences/info system, environmental engineering or environmental sciences at a four-year college or university.

Students from underserved communities and ethnic minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply and get additional eligibility information, students are encouraged to go to: scholarsapply.org/edisonscholars.

Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. Edison Scholars may also be eligible for summer internships at SCE after completing their second year of college.

Edison International’s support of charitable causes such as the Edison Scholars Program is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders. SCE customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations. In addition, dependents of Edison International and SCE employees are not eligible for the Edison Scholars Program.

About Southern California Edison An Edison International (NYSE: EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California. n

PCCHS / PUPLHS 1996 Golden Jubilee

THE Philippine College of Commerce High School Laboratory Batch 1966 (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee from February 20-21 in Manila, Philippines.

According to the President of the PCCHS Batch ‘66 Alumni Association, ROLAND ATIENZA, about 55 batchmates from Australia, Canada and USA have confirmed attendance to the Homecoming and 50 from Manila local chapter. Activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee Celebration are as follows:

February 20, 2016 -- 6:0012:00 pm. Formal Program/Dinner at the Banahaw Ballroom, The Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 21, 2016 -- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm - Visit the ANAWIM Home for the Abandoned Elderly, Montalban, Rizal Province (Fellowship/ Lunch/Donate basic needs of the elderly) - Tour of Manila (Former PCCHS in Lepanto, Intramuros Tour (old churches and Cathedral, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago) - Dinner/Cultural Show, at

Barbara’s, Intramuros February 22, 2016 - BREAKUP GROUP (To Palawan, Laguna and respective hometown provinces of the guests) For inquiries, please contact the following members of the CORE group: Agnes T. Sule #09165567000 suleagne s@yahoo.com, Roland Atienza #09062947156 atienza8@yahoo.com, Rebecca T. Sayed 09064032624 rebecca.sayed@ yahoo.com, Lourdes T. Flores lulutflores@yahoo.com, Rebecca Sayed rebecca.sayed@yahoo. com. n

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PeoPle & events

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion

ATTENTION all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of funfilled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our

best memories during our high school and college days.

There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-544-8210 or loiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 or Monette_santillan@yahoo. com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818-

University of the East Tau Alpha Sigma (TAS) fraternity golden anniversary PLEASE join us in congratulating TAS for their Golden (50th) Anniversary to be held at Tower Club, Philamlife Building in Makati, Philippines on February 5, 2016.

All brothers from all over the world are encouraged to attend. There will be fun–filled activities including dancing, singing, reminiscing college days, golf, trips to Bicol, Batangas, and Tagaytay and reconnecting with both old and new TAS brothers and their spouses.

Those who have not yet confirmed their attendance, please contact: (USA) Bernie Lim (bernielim@sbcglobal.net) & Rene Marcos (rmarcos_cpa@verizon.net); (Philippines) Rodrigo Mangay-ayam (rodman0983@yahoo.com.ph) & Manny Bautista (Manuel.D.Bautista@ph.ey.com). n

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281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at 661794-8906 or rmaghari@gmail. com; Sally Mendoza at 323-6950235 or sally.mendoza616@yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 orhoney@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 orconnieacosta1@att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808 or vee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323-627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com. n

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 27-29, 2016

Pilipino American Coalition at Cal State Long Beach to host 30th annual Pilipino Cultural Night

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Pilipino American Coalition (PAC) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) will host its 30th Annual Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 26, 2016. This is a special year for the student organization, which has proudly celebrated Pilipino culture and history with the CSULB and Long Beach community for the last three decades.

What began in 1986 as a THE Filipino American Chamber of small cultural show with a cast Commerce of Greater LA (FACC-GLA) is hosting a FREE workshop for aspir- of 20 students has evolved into ing entrepreneurs or business owners the largest student-run cultural in need of a small loan. This free work- event at CSULB. The production, shop and consultation will include bev- which involved more than 150 students in the last few years, has erages and hors d’oeuvres.

Please join us at FACC-GLA (5121 garnered the acclaim from surVan Nuys Blvd, Suite 205 Sherman rounding community members, Oaks, CA 91403) on Thursday, Janu- including nonprofit organizaary 28. For more information, please tions and elected state officials. contact FACC-GLA president Leo Ma- The production is completely run by both Pilipino and non-Pilipino ranan, 818-290-0577. n

Need access to capital?

Having difficulties with bank loans?

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students, from the script-writing, to the cultural dance choreography, and the year-long planning and practice that is put into a show that consistently sells out to crowds of up to 1000 people.

These young adults, who voluntarily participate in this grand production, are passionate about learning, teaching and celebrating Pilipino culture.

PCN is more than just a production. PCN is about “bringing people from different paths in life together for one night” according to one of this year’s PCN Coordinators, Rachel Shin. Participants range from college freshmen to college graduates, with each individual committing to practices four nights a week.

The theme of this school year’s production centers on “going back.” We invite you to celebrate 30 years of sharing Pilipino culture as our show follows the journeys of Regina, Claire, Moses,

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Moureen, and Ruben back to the Philippines. Their trip may not be exactly what they expect as they learn the importance of family, friendship, and what it means to be Pilipino.

The Pilipino American Coalition (PAC) at California State University, Long Beach has been one of the premier collegiate Pilipino-American student associations on the West Coast since its establishment in 1972. CSULB PAC is one of the largest student organizations on campus and has more than 150 active members per semester. In addition to hosting events and activities that create strong social ties among students, PAC participates in philanthropic ventures, academic enrichment programs, and cultural awareness lessons. For more information about Long Beach PCN, CSULB PAC’s annual production, please visit www. lbpcn.com. n

B JANUARY 27-29, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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The Asian Journal

MDWK Wednesday, January 27, 2016

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 27, 2016

Dante Basco: Creating stories & opportunities in entertainment for Asian Americans

I

by Agnes ConstAnte/AJPress

t’s a Wednesday afternoon at the Honor Bar in Beverly Hills, where Filipino-American actor Dante Basco decides to order a crispy chicken sandwich with no tomatoes for lunch. Wednesdays happen to be one of his three designated workout days during the week—the other two are Monday and Friday—and he’s knocked out his exercise for the day in the morning before his midday meal.

While waiting for his food, Basco picks up his cell phone to respond to an email. He leads quite a busy life in which he wears many hats: he’s also a creative consultant, producer, poet, writer and speaker. He even carves out time to play video games online and use social media, both of which are ways he communicates with his fans. “the more you communicate, the more you build this relationship. the way I look at my whole online life is an ongoing conversation I have with fans ... and it’s kind of like you’re talking to a collective group,” he says.

One of his favorite ways to interact with fans is by answering questions in the middle of the night on tumblr, a blogging platform used widely by younger generations. some questions he has been asked include what

his favorite snack is, his favorite Filipino food, his favorite noncomputer game hobbies, and others pertaining to life choices and heartbreak.

“I don’t think everyone really understands how old I am,” says the 40-year-old actor. “[My fans] ask me for a lot of advice. I think in a lot of ways I’ve become like a cool uncle or older brother figure talking to [them].”

Basco’s acting career has spanned over 25 years, longer than the lives of many of his younger followers. He’s no stranger to the big screen and television, with filmography including the iconic role of Rufio in the 1991 movie “Hook” and the voice of Zuko in the popular Nickelodeon animated television series “Avatar the Last Airbender,” for which he has become well-known among the younger generation.

Dante Basco with co-stars Sascha Rasmussen and Dionysio Basco in the play “Midnight Makeout Session.”

Working toward elevating Asian Americans in entertainment In addition to acting, Basco continues his creative journey these days in ways that help elevate Asian Americans in entertainment. In late 2013, he helped found an Asian American arts collective in Downtown Los Angeles called We Own the 8th. the collective meets on the eighth of every month and is meant to curate, educate and inspire the next generation of content creators, including singers, writers, actors and Youtube personalities.

“One of the first questions I asked was, why are we, as Asians, the most affluent ethnic community in America, yet the least represented in media?

Why? It’s on us. We need to educate ourselves about the importance of us telling stories, the importance of us. Being affluent is cool: we eat at nice restaurants, we drive nice cars, we live in good neighborhoods. For all intents and purposes we’ve kind of achieved the American Dream, but we’re invisible within what the cloth of American media is. And for us to be just happy enough with us just being here is not good enough,” Basco says.

Another way he’s working toward boosting opportunities for Asian Americans in media is through a production company he established a few years ago with a partner called Kinetic Films, which is focused on creating projects for Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI). the company has so far produced three films starring Photo by Natalie Amanulla AAPI Youtube stars, all of which

In 2000, the Fil-Am actor played the role of Ben Mercado in “the Debut,” a landmark film for the Filipino community where his character struggles between his family’s Filipino traditions and his American dreams.

“Being able to represent for the community in that way and for it to be as impactful as it was, [I’m] super proud of that,” Basco says of the movie.

Also featured in “the Debut” were Basco’s brother, Darion Basco, and Filipino actors Gina Alajar and tirso Cruz III. “[that movie] really connected me w/being Filipino in a real way.

“And if you watch it today, it still means something to people. so this is Filipinos doing it in America. I’m as proud of that as anything,” he says.

Photo by Bader Hower

Follow Dante Basco: Wordpress: dantebasco. wordpress.com/ YouTube: youtube.com/user/ thedantebasco Twitter: @dantebasco Tumblr: rufiozuko.tumblr.com/ Facebook: facebook.com/ OfficialDanteBasco Instagram: @dantebasco Snapchat: @rufiozuko Dante Basco is active on several social media platforms to communicate with his fans.

have been sold and done well. A fourth project involving FilipinoAmerican Youtube singer AJ Rafael is also underway.

“We’re on the right track.

People are very impressed with us as an indie company, creating as much product as we have, being able to sell the product.

We haven’t broken through any crazy monetary boundaries yet, but we’re building an audience.

Now that’ll also help inspire that if my company is doing this, there’s also got to be a lot of other companies that can do this,” Basco says. the Fil-Am actor has expressed interest in creating a self-sustainable system where Asian Americans put out 10 to 15 independent films per year so that the community can expect to see about one per month, and so AAPI creatives involved in the process continually improve at

their respective crafts.

“A historical film, horror film, teenage comedy, let’s keep it going. No one’s going to like all of them, but they’re going to like one of them,” he says, and the really good ones will carry over to the mainstream.

Basco himself has taken a hand at writing, having co-written one of the films produced under his Kinetic Films called “Hang Loose,” which came out in 2012.

More recently, during the holidays, he spent some of his time off working on an original play he wrote called “Midnight Makeout session.” the play ran in December of last year and depicts the lives of friends in Los Angeles attempting to find a way to get back to a time of romance and magic in life that they’re missing.

Inspiring others and finding inspiration through speaking & observing Basco’s success in the entertainment industry is demonstrated in the longevity of his career as an actor, as a poet who began the venue that inspired Def Jam Poetry and in his having started a band in the ‘90s that ran for a decade long, among a number of other feats.

He also travels across the country speaking at prestigious post-secondary institutions including Duke University, Princeton University, the University Continued on Page 3

entertainment

Dante Basco: Creating stories...

From Page 2

it feels like to receive an acof Pennsylvania, University of ceptance letter to an ivy league California campuses and Brown institution.

University.

“I don’t know a lot,” he says, But it’s ironic, Basco says, be- “but I write what I see.” cause while he never attended Basco notes that he is a four-year college, he speaks at infinitely curious, able to talk colleges where he talks about his to anybody and that people he career and his own story. sees or meets may sometimes “I didn’t go to regular colwind up in his future creations.

Chan, and it’s not the industry’s fault. It’s just that we have to, as a group, make more product, because at the end of the day in this town, product wins.

Talking doesn’t win, raging, being mad... what product can you make? That’s what wins. So that’s what I’m trying to instill in the next generation.”

“One of the first questions I asked was, why are we, as Asians, the most affluent ethnic community in America, yet the least represented in media?” lege, but I grew up in LA and I understand the education I got on the sets of hollywood, the streets of hollywood, graduating high school, starting a poetry venue out of my living room, that venue becoming inspiration to Def Jam Poetry on hBO, and [that] now being the biggest open mic in the country ... having the career I’ve had, these are all college,” he says.

Although his own life did not include four years at a university, speaking at colleges allows Basco, as an artist, to live the experience vicariously through engaging with students and touring the campus while he’s there. In conversing with today’s generation, he learns about their thoughts, fears, hopes, and what

“I can talk to anybody. I can talk to a plumber about being a plumber. I really want to know.

I can talk to an eyeglass maker about making eyeglasses because I insatiably want that interesting information. even stupid information. It’s all important to somebody, and why? There’s a connection. I don’t know why.

But all those details make great stories.”

As Basco continues to create with his community in mind, he holds a strong opinion about Asians making their own stories in America.

“If you ask people still to this day, ‘Who’s a famous Asian you can think of?’ I guarantee you 99 percent are going to say Jackie Chan. Nothing against Jackie

After all his accomplishments and as he achieves even further success, the Fil-Am actor says life has become less about him personally and more about lending a hand to the community, something he’s doing through his production company and We Own the 8th.

“Once you’ve acquired some success, you’re able to drop a lot of ego and see the importance of helping others and the group. Whether the group is the production company I’m a part of, the community at large, the world, or the Asian American community or the Filipino community, there’s a lot of room for us to help out and help grow things,” he says.

3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 27, 2016

Claudine returns to do a teleserye and a more stable personal life

Bernard Palanca, and Meg Imperial.

ManilaTimes.net “In this business, you cannot She was long considered call yourself an fulfilled actress if the queen of soaps on prime you haven’t worked with Cesar time TV until her personal life Montano,” she enthused. encountered many controversies.

Perhaps another reason why But now, Claudine Barretto, who the controversial actress is back at the height of her career was on track is that she is also in christened the “Optimum Star,” better terms with ex-husband is back where the likes of direcRaymart Santiago, with whom tor Joel Lamangan believes she she had a highly publicized belongs. separation and continuing She will be starring in the spats.

Viva tele-drama “Bakit Manipis “Raymart and are very good ang Ulap” on TV5. The piece is friends now, and we’re really Claudine Barretto ManilaTimes.net photo trying to be good parents. Naga remake of a 1985 film drama written and helmed by the really grateful na lahat naman ng fail na po kami as husband and late and noted director Danny pinangarap ko na abot ko. Pero wife, so we don’t want to fail Zialcita.

I can say na teleserye talaga ang as parents naman,” Claudine Claudine expressed her grati- forte ko at kahit noon minsanexplained. tude to Viva and her director for minsan lang ako sa pelikula,” As they say, a good family giving her another shot to thrive Claudine explained. life—no matter how unconvenin what she calls her “forte” in Claudine is further overtional it may be—is always the show business. whelmed by a stellar cast foundation for all other aspects “I’ve been in the industry for assembled for her return to the of one’s life. With Claudine’s 24 years—I was 11 when I started teleserye in Cesar Montano, revelations, Philippine showbiz’ in theater with Repertory PhilipDiether Ocampo, Ruffa Guterstwhile Optimum Star, may just pines. Bata pa lang ako gusto terez, Diether Ocampo, Dindi be starting her climb to the top ko na talaga mag-artista and I’m Gallardo, Samantha Lopez, once again.

by Tessa

Mauricioa-arriola

Liza, Enrique react to Cathy Garcia-Molina controversy

MANILA—Liza Soberano and enrique Gil expressed their sympathy to director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Molina was their director in the defunct primetime TV series “Forevermore” and now to their upcoming TV series “Dolce Amore.”

The director was recently involved in a controversy with two of her “Forevermore” talents Alvin and Rosellyn.

Alvin claimed that Molina cursed and humiliated him in front of the show’s staff.

“Kasi ang tagal na no’n,” said enrique in an interview with Philippine entertainment Portal.

“That was like a year ago, tapos ngayon lang lumabas.”

The Kapamilya actor was sad that the director was judged by the public without first hearing her side of the story.

Photo by Diana Williams Meanwhile, Liza said the

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano

talents who complained might not really know Molina.

“Kasi for me, I worked with her multiple times already so I knew Direk Cathy as a person,” she explained. “After the scene, when the scene is cut, she

Philstar.com photo

comes to us and hugs us, ‘very good, anak.’ Gano’n siya.”

Now that they’re working again with the director, the onscreen love team said Molina recently had a health issue but is now doing well. (Philstar.com)

4

entertainment

Vilma Santos: ‘I allow my Andre Paras works on two love teams kids to treat me as barkada’ The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 27, 2016

by Marinel

by riCky lo Philstar.com

NoT many actors are as lucky as Andre Paras who has two screen partners: one for TV, Barbie Forteza in the new GMA afternoon show “That’s My Amboy” (that premiered on Monday, Jan. 25, closely following “The Half Sisters,” their first team-up) and the other for film, Yassi Pressman in Viva Films’ “Girlfriend For Hire,” directed by Vanessa de Leon from a screenplay by Joey Reyes.

“Andre is enjoying the best of both worlds,” said Yassi who has done two movies with Andre, ‘Diary ng Panget’ and ‘Wangfam,’ also both by Viva with which Yassi is under contract. “He’s very lucky.”

Half-British and half-Filipina, Yassi started doing commercials when she was six years old (for Colgate, followed by more than 20 for other products) at about the same time she competed in the Little Miss Universe contest on ABS-CBN (while her sister Luisa joined theLittle Miss Philippines contest of Eat, Bulaga!). Yassi became a GMA talent before she signed up with Viva.

“It helps that Andre and I were friends before we became a love team,” said Yassi who first met Andre’s brother Kobe (now in the US pursuing a

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

WHILE it is true that multiawarded actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos wears many hats, she says she considers being a mom the most important.

At a recent media gathering for her latest movie, “Everything About Her” (which begins its run on Jan. 27), Santos recalled the time when she had to “guide” her eldest son Luis, then a teenager, “because he had issues.”

“He was probably 18 or 19 then,” she recalled. “I would often hear stories from concerned friends of him getting drunk in public places. So, I confronted him and asked what was happening to him—and his reply broke my heart. He said he didn’t know what he wanted in life. It was sad, because his parents tried to give him everything, and even sent him to a good school.”

Andre Paras with Barbie Forteza in the new GMA show ‘That’s My Amboy.’

promising career in basketball) at GMA. “Kobe told me, ‘My brother has a crush on you,’ and I just smiled. Andre and I eventually became friends, just friends, no romantic ties at all.”

Said Andre half-joking, “The crush is still there. Really now, being friends, Yassi and I feel comfortable working together.

Andre Paras with Yassi Pressman (left) in Viva Films’ ‘Girlfriend for Hire,’ and co-star Shy Carlos.

Luis is Santos’ son with actor Edu Manzano. She also has a son (Ryan Christian) with Sen. Ralph Recto.

Santos said she was proud of what Luis had eventually become. At 34, he’s now one of the top TV hosts of ABS-CBN. “I’m a liberal mother. I allow my kids to treat me as their barkada, but there are also times when I am strict. I would confiscate their cell phones if they misbehaved,” she said.

“But look at Luis now! With our guidance, he was able to survive whatever he was going through as a teenager. He’s now responsible and is a good son.”

In “Everything About Her,” Santos plays Vivian, a rich and powerful career woman diagnosed with a terminal disease. She hires a nurse, Jaica (Angel Locsin) to take care of her and help her conceal her illness from her colleagues.

Vivian instructs Jaica to ask her

Vilma Santos

Inquirer.net photo

son, Albert (Xian Lim), to come home from the United States in a last-ditch effort to fix their estranged relationship.

Santos said she was impressed with Locsin’s performance in the movie. “I’m not saying this because she is Luis’ girlfriend. She is one person whom I truly respect,” the Star for All Seasons said of Locsin. “I saw how focused Gel (Locsin’s nickname) was with her work.

Portraying Jaica wasn’t easy.

Her peg for the character was direk Joyce (Bernal). She was willing to learn.”

Philstar.com photos

Same with Barbie and me.”

Like his dad Benjie Paras, Andre is a natural comedian while Kobe is more serious.

His character in Girlfriend For Hire, Andre pretends to be running away from Yassi even if he likes her.

“I am the type who plays hard-to-get,” Andre said, still joking, “even in real life.”

Andre and Yassi’s teamup is known as YanDre and that of Andre and Barbie, AnBie. “It’s not at all confusing,” according to Andre who, at sixfoot-plus, towers over his two leading ladies. “My character in That’s My Amboy is different from my character in Girlfriend For Hire, so okey lang.”

Good thing fans of both love teams don’t get confused and don’t get jealous of each other.

Live and let live, you know.

“The YanDre team is at peace with the AnBie team,” assured Andre. “So no problem.”

Cristine Reyes, Zanjoe Marudo and Isabelle Daza lead the cast of “Tubig at Langis.”

ABS-CBN photo

Isabelle Daza expected to shine in ‘Tubig at Langis’ WHILE fans of the former team-up of Zanjoe Marudo and Cristine Reyes are excited to see them together again in ABS-CBN’s upcoming primetime series “Tubig at Langis,” The Manila Times has its eyes on the beautiful Isabelle Daza, who completes the love triangle in the TV adaptation of yet another Danny Zialcita classic.

Although the public hoped the daughter of former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz would follow in her mother footsteps— blessed with both the looks and wit for the pageant—Isabelle has clearly found her niche as an actress.

In the past several years, the 27-year-old beauty proved

that she has chops for acting, appearing in GMA Network’s Niño and Indio, among, others, and when she moved to ABS-CBN, as lawyer Martha Lacsamana in “Nathaniel.”

As she takes on a third of the top billing in “Tubig at Langis,” The Manila Times asked her on Friday how she feels about her career and what her famously outspoken mother has to say about her craft and her celebrity.

“She is actually one of the deciding factors why I’ve chosen to be in this network because she has always said to me that I should do something that makes me feel fulfilled.

Something that makes me feel proud every day when I wake

up,” shared Isabelle.

“And I’m very happy where I am now and up to now, I do listen to what my mother has to say, whether or not I ask for her advice,” she added with a giggle. “Because really, she does know a thing or two about staying long in this business.”

Also included in the cast of “Tubig at Langis” are Vivian Velez, Lito Pimentel, Nadia Montenegro, Marco Gumabao, Ingrid Dela Paz, Dionne Monsanto, Archie Alemanie, Victor Silayan, and Miguel Vergara. It is directed by FM Reyes, and will begin airing weeknights on ABS-CBN beginning February 1. (ManilaTimes.net)

Everything about direk Joyce Bernal by

Pablo a. TariMan Philstar.com

DIRECToR Joyce Bernal is a small woman with inquisitive eyes and is not likely to catch attention on the set.

Her lean profile is deceiving because she can look fragile.

But when work begins, the fragility is gone and replaced by a no-nonsense attitude that translates into full focus on the story and characters. In one moment, she commands full attention behind the camera.

To be sure, she has her own set of rules that applies to herself and to her co-workers. She has to constantly remind herself that she is not in the movies to promote camaraderie but to tell

Joyce Bernal

“Recreating reality on film involves some kind of passion which should not waiver until the film is in the can.”

a good story.

“Filmmaking is a big process,” she said in a presscon she shared with Vilma Santos, Angel Locsin and Xian Lim. “This time I am not assigned to do a rom-com (romantic comedy) and so I insist that people be in character when they report on the set. You try to capture many nuances on film and they can easily dissipate with too much familiarity. You try to recreate a lot of things in this family drama and that is what should count. You have to recreate sexual tension, you have to define characters and you have to capture the milieu in which these characters move. So when I work, I forget that Ms. Vilma Santos is a governor of Batangas. on the set, we are all artists with no official titles. We are there to tell a story and not to be goody-goody with each other. I am aware that with this attitude, I can elicit ‘open letters’ when I work but I don’t care.”

The director is referring to an open letter which circulated in social media and denounced a director for unfair treatment.

“You cannot work well if you are intimidated by the stature of our actors. of course, the respect is there but when it’s time to work, everybody is equal on the set. I have work to do and it is not a joke and actors have to do justice to their parts. I told Xian (Lim) I don’t really mind if he forgot to greet Gov. Vilma (Santos) or Angel (Locsin) bePhilstar.com photo fore a take. What counts is that

everyone is able to contribute well to doing justice to this family drama.”

Direk Joyce pointed out that every process in filmmaking is hard work. “Recreating reality on film involves some kind of passion which should not waiver until the film is in the can. The thing is people only remember what they saw on the set. Shooting is just part of the whole process. The preparations before a shoot are equally important. This is where you set your goals and this is where you size up all the roles. That is why we do a lot of character analysis. We are constantly dissecting why one character is so driven she forgets she is also a human being.

“So you have to guide your actors to make sure they don’t stray from the elements that make the role not like any other.

Gov. Vilma is a highly-driven CEo of a company. She has a corporate side but she also has her mean side. I know that in reality, Gov. Vilma is not like that at all. So I have to help her bring out her impossible side.

She has to look powerful and impregnable. Until, of course, something sad happens in another chapter of her life. Again, you have to make sure the transition of the character is well laid-out. From a powerful figure, she is suddenly confronted with a cruel fate. Your role here is to make sure the characters look their individual parts. As you can see, filmmaking is a neverending process.”

entertainment

Erich-Daniel love affair ‘not scripted’ “It’s REAL. We’re genuinely happy together,” said Erich Gonzales of her boyfriend, Brazilian-Japanese actor Daniel Matsunaga, who is also her leading man in the ABs-CBN teleserye, “Be My Lady.”

During a recent media gathering, the actress pointed out that the concept of a program dealing with interracial romance was developed “long before Daniel and I realized that we were in love. this isn’t part of any script (or publicity stunt).”

Business unit head Ruel Bayani echoed Erich’s statement: “the original story featured a Filipino woman and an American guy. We were having a hard time completing the cast when Ma’am Charo (santos-Concio, former ABs-CBN president), suggested Daniel and Erich. We simply changed the nationality of the male character to Brazilian.”

Daniel recalled that he and Erich first met on the set of the morning show, “Kris tV,” and eventually got to work together there on several episodes. they first realized that they felt “something more than friendship” for each other while working on the defunct Kapamilya series “two Wives.”

“I waited for three years for that special someone, then she finally came along. she is such a blessing to me,” added Daniel, the grand winner of the reality series, “Pinoy Big Brother: All In” in 2014.

More time together “Be My Lady” is his first big

7

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 27, 2016

Ex-couple Derek and Solenn, no regrets about their split work. He said if you can do it, then go ahead. He doesn’t ask questions.”

For his part, Derek said he is “It’s hard to hang on to lucky that his current girlfriend, ‘what ifs.’ We only deal with the Joanne Villablanca, “trusts me present,” said actor Derek Ramand understands my work. the say when asked if he ever connice thing about her is that she sidered rekindling an old flame accepts the kind of job that I do. with actress solenn Heussaff.

I was already an actor when we the two worked together met.” for the first time in Jason Paul Inquirer.net photo In “Love is Blind,” Derek Laxamana’s romantic comedy my best.” plays Wade, who leaves his sexy flick, “Love is Blind,” which will the couple likewise clarified start screening nationwide on and beautiful girlfriend Maggie that the pictures they uploaded Feb. 10. (solenn) for the ordinary-lookon Instagram during their ing hotel intern Fe (Kiray Celis), “Everything happens for a recent vacation in Bali, Indomuch to the surprise of his famreason. I don’t regret anything. nesia, weren’t prenup photos. ily and friends.

After all, solenn is still very much Derek Ramsay and Solenn Heussaff “We celebrated my birthday Asked whether it was posa part of my life, even after the there. the place is truly lovely, sible for him to fall in love with split [nine years ago],” said Derek lot from what Derek and I went and we simply wanted to share someone who is not physically during the press conference through.” our magical moments there attractive, Derek replied: “When organized by the film’s producer, When it comes to handling (with our supporters),” Daniel you see someone you’re physiRegal Entertainment, on Wednes- relationships, Derek said he explained. cally attracted to, you want to day. “the great thing about us is and solenn are the same in the the Brazilian-Japanese talk to that someone to find out that we’re still good friends. I can sense that “we both give our celebrity also denied he has if you have a special connection. call her anytime, knowing that all. What I learned from what immediate plans of settling she’ll be there for me.” happened to us was to not focus If so, you then get into a reladown with Erich. “Of course I tionship. It’s harder when there’s solenn said the relationship too much on one another, to have future plans with her, but lasted for four years. “Derek was not forget myself. she was there no attraction. ” our focus now is the show. We For her part, solenn said she my first real boyfriend. He was studying, and I was here trying believe that things will happen has always been “more attractmy first love, so our relationship to figure out what I wanted to in God’s time. My immediate ed to personality. Of course, if I was kind of intense,” she shared do with my life, but still my prigoal is to build a home for my enter a room and see someone with reporters. “I was also ority was to answer the phone family here in the Philippines,” studying abroad. there was no whenever she called. It was then good-looking, he will catch my he pointed out. attention, but he has to have skype then. I still bought phone when we started having fights “Marriage is a big deal,” the intellect to be able to my cards, so I could call him for 20 for petty reasons.”

Erich added. “We don’t want interest! minutes.”

According to solenn, her to rush something that we want “Personality is what lasts. she said the long-distance Argentine boyfriend Nico Bolto last forever. We’re grateful the physical aspect is only there romance had been tough for zico isn’t the jealous type and to be given the chance to work her. “But it made me more in the beginning. A woman’s that he has no issues with her together!” (Marinel Cruz/Inbreasts will eventually sag— mature. I think every relationworking with an ex-boyfriend. quirer.net) that’s the truth!” ship is different. I’ve learned a “He doesn’t meddle with my

by Marinel

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga

break in ABs-CBN. He said: “I’m thankful for the opportunity. the show is even more special because I’m working with my girlfriend. We get to spend a lot of time together. I also learn a lot about her.”

Erich said “Be My Lady” was special to her in the sense that she would often go to work “feeling inspired.” the set is located in Arayat, Pampanga.

According to director theodore Boborol, working on a love story with real-life sweethearts has its advantages. “You can’t fake their chemistry—it’s natural. Another plus factor is that they help each other even when I’m not on the set. Work for us is made easier because of this. the two read their scripts together and discuss characterization.”

Erich admitted to feeling the pressure of being the lead star in the series. “I think it’s a good thing, because it keeps me from being complacent. As a result, I push myself to give

Reminder from Matteo: Don’t shoot! by riCky lo Philstar.com

BY “don’t shoot!,” Matteo Guidicelli doesn’t mean shoot with a gun but with a camera (especially video).

At the presscon for “tupang Ligaw,” his latest indie starrer directed by novelist Rod santiago for Baby Go (BG) Productions, Matteo was asked what he had to say about actors in sex videos (“solo flight”) that have gone viral at the start of the year.

Matteo Guidicelli stars in the indie film ‘Tupang Ligaw.’

Philstar.com photo Asked if he has one, Matteo

answered in jest, “Mayroon ba?

Hahahaha!,” adding, “Delikado ang social media so everybody and not just actors should be careful with what we post, not just what we do but what we say because the whole world sees it. social media is open to everybody.”

It doesn’t mean that Matteo is not active on social media.

“I do have twitter and Instagram,” he said, “but I’m careful about whatever I post. the thing is don’t shoot na lang, huwag namag-selfie ng mga private

activity.”

He and his girlfriend sarah Geronimo do exchange tweets but only “innocent” ones. If ever he has something personal to tell sarah, Matteo said he’d rather do it, yes, personally.“Harapharapan na lang.”

Matteo is re-inventing himself into an action star in “tupang Ligaw” in which he plays a soldier looking for his missing brother (played by Pinoy Big Brother discovery Rico Barrera). the search leads him to Barrio Paraiso ruled by El Diablo (played by Paolo Contis). that’s where the soldier

uncovers the truth about his brother’s fate.

“He’s daring,” said Dennis Evangelista who is helping BG Productions. “Matteo is also good in the dramatic scenes.

Remember, he is a Best Actor winner for the Cinema One film saturday Night Chills in 2013.

One memorable scene shows him revealing to his mother (played by suzette Ranillo) the painful truth that his brother is dead.”

Baby Go is so impressed with Matteo’s work on tupang Ligaw that she’s thinking of casting him in a Visayan movie (90 percent of

the dialogue in Cebuano) to be shot in Cebu, Matteo’s hometown.

He also dreams to play a tarzan-like character. Is he willing to wear only a loincloth?

“Why not?” laughed Matteo who is active in sport, fit and fabulous. After all, he has the body for it.

Incidentally, Matteo admitted that he and sarah have no plans yet for Valentine’s.

“We haven’t thought about it. she’s busy promoting her album and I’m also busy promoting my own album, aside from this movie.”

8

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 27, 2016

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Trip to Manila(From LAX)- Francisco Gacuya, West Covina Trip to Manila(From SFO)- Alma Payopay, Union City (1) 2016 Honda HRV- Franchett Patigayon, Panorama Cruise to Alaska (2 tickets)- Sandra Kho, Seattle 1 year supply of 25lbs rice- Ma. Gina Yuzon, S. Vermont 2 year supply of 25lbs rice- Vivian Delos Santos, N. Vermont 3 year supply of 25lbs rice- Jocelyn Bollozos, Pittsburg 4 year supply of 25lbs rice- Rowena Jasmin, National City 5 year supply of 25lbs rice- Roy Mamacos, West Covina 6 year supply of 25lbs rice- Ariel Ellivera, Oxnard (1) 42" Flat Screen TV- Crisanto R. Pajarito, N. Vermont (1) Home Theater System- Mary Aleli, Canoga (1) Home Theater System- Laura Lueth, S. Vermont (1)Sony Playstation- Catherine Morales, Oxnard (1) X Box One- Carlos Tan, Pittsburg (1)Apple iPad Air- Evangeline Pascual, San Jose (1) Apple iPad Mini 16 Gb- Ira Sabio, American Canyon (1) Nextbook tablet- Eduardo Tizon, National City (1) Go Pro- Tabotabo, Elk Grove (1) Nextbook Tablet- Christopher Ulmilla, San Jose (1) Nikon Digital Camera- Rodolfo Balagtas Jr., Vallejo (1) Nikon Digital Camera- Ann Sendaydiego, Vallejo (1) Nikon Digital Camera- Nida Salgo, Elk Grove (1) Nikon Digital Camera- Jane Villanueva, Elk Grove (1) Nikon Digital Camera- Janet Escano, Oxnard (1) ASUS Laptop- Alice Fiel, Vallejo

NATIONAL CITY 2720 E. PLAZA BLVD. NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950 (619) 475-1025

“WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE SALES PROMO WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPLACE ITEMS WITH PRODUCTS OF APPROXIMATE VALUE. NO RAIN CHECKS. PROMO GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON OR PROMO. PRICES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. GIVEAWAYS NOT VALID FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISCOUNT.”