LA Midweek Edition -- July 6 -- 8, 2016

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

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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

Volume 26 - No. 54 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

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Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of drug pushers, users surrender President links 5 PNP generals to drug trade by eriC

Anthony liCAs

trict (QCPD) Director Chief supt. edgardo tinio have all been rePresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte’s lieved of their posts, according to promise of a bloody war on drugs Duterte. the new president also lodged convinced thousands of self-confessed drug pushers and users to accusations against Vicente Loot, surrender to police and has led former PNP general and current to accusations of corruption at mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, the highest levels of law enforce- and former PNP Deputy Director, Gen. marcelo Garbo Jr. ment.

“Imbestigahan ninyo ito at During a televised speech on tuesday, July 5, Duterte accused ‘wag ninyo akong bigyan ng zarthree high-ranking police officials zuela (investigate this and don’t and two retired police generals give me a farce),” Duterte said.

Loot, Diaz, and tinio have pubof contributing to the “deterioration of law and order” by aiding licly denied the president’s allegations. they say the president is Philippine drug cartels.

National Capital region Police misinformed, and has potentially office (NCrPo) Chief Joel Pag- biased future proceedings by dilao, Western Visayas regional publicly shaming them.

“Because of that statement, I Director Chief supt. Bernardo Diaz and Quezon City Police Dis- will be tried by publicity,” Loot AJPress

USA

DATELINE FBI finds Clinton ‘extremely careless’ in use of private server from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Does not recommend criminal charges

fBI. director, James B. Comey said tuesday, July 5 that the organization would not recommend criminal charges for hillary Clinton’s handling of classified emails.

In a statement, Comey said presumptive Democratic presidential nominee hillary Clinton was “extremely careless” for using a personal, nongovernment email address, which she routed through a server in her Chappaqua, NY home.

According to the New York Times, she sent or received about two dozen emails marked “top-secret,” the highest level of classification, through that address. “there is evidence to support a conclusion

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Transgender troops now allowed to openly serve in military

trANsGeNDer troops can now enlist and serve openly in the military, the Pentagon recently announced. the announcement came as a surprise after top officials voiced concerns about medical, housing and uniform issues for transgender individuals. the policy change removes one of the last military restrictions based on sex or gender identity.

Carter said that the move was a way to be all inclusive of the U.s. population to recruit as many qualified troops for a stronger military.

“We don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications to serve preventing

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told ABs-CBN News. “I hope I will be given a chance to face my accuser ... and clear my name.”

During his speech, Duterte also warned officials and citizens to not get involved with the drug trade, or else they face being killed.

“I’ve been warning everybody.

Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy the youth of my country because I will kill you,” he said.

Duterte’s vow to end drugs is slated to reach the classrooms as well. education secretary Leonor Briones revealed on monday, July 4 that drug education will be strengthened and taught to students, as early as the age of 10.

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US report: PH ‘fully compliant’ in human trafficking efforts

by KlArize

medenillA AJPress

the Philippines is in full compliance with United states standards according to the annual human trafficking report released by the state Department. the assessment, which was released on thursday, June 30, has upgraded the Philippines, where human trafficking has historically been a critical issue, from tier 2 - not full compliance making significant efforts to comply with standards - to tier 1, which is full Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. compliance with the minimum standards of the trafficking Victims Protection Act (tVPA). however, a tier 1 rating does not mean that trafficking has been eradicated and the country is doing enough to fix the issue. rather, the rating indicates that the government “has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking” and has made significant moves to to address the

SECOND MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo chat when the latter paid the Chief Executive a courtesy call in Malacañang on Monday, July 4. The two officials met for the first time during the turnover of police command in Camp Crame last week.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Robredo pays courtesy call on Duterte, assures support

robredo took the opportunity to set up an appointment with the president on friday, July 1, mANILA – Vice President during the change-of-command Leni robredo paid a courtesy ceremony of the Armed forces visit and had a closed-door of the Philippines (AfP) in Camp meeting with President ro- Aguinaldo. “oK naman, very cordial. drigo Duterte on monday afternoon, July 4, at the malacañan sinabi ko sa kanya if pwede ako Palace, expressing her full sup- magpa-set ng courtesy visit as port to the newly elected leader soon as possible. sabi naman nya, anytime (it was okay, very amidst political differences. four days after their inaugu- cordial. i asked him if i could ration, the two highest-ranking schedule a courtesy visit as soon Philippine leaders had their as possible. He said anytime),” robredo said. first private talk.

by Joseph

Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress

Although robredo initiated the visit, she bared that Duterte also had plans of meeting her. “he was telling me naunahan mo lang ako (he was telling me that I got to it first). I was really planning to invite you over,” added robredo. members of the press were not allowed to cover the muchanticipated event, except the Presidential Broadcast staff – rtVm. on its facebook page, rtVm posted a two-minute clip showing the president’s

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Supreme Court defers action on Bongbong Marcos poll protest by edu

punAy Philstar.com

mANILA — the supreme Court (sC) has deferred action on the election protest of former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni robredo in the vice presidential race last may 9. the case filed with the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet), composed of the 15 sC justices as members, was included in their regular session on tuesday, July 5.

But the Pet members decided to move to next tuesday their discussions on marcos’ protest.

According to an insider, two u PAGE A3

magistrates were on leave yesterday – Associate Justice Jose mendoza and Chief Justice ma.

Lourdes sereno, who is also chair of the tribunal.

It was earlier learned that the case has been raffled to Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, last appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III, who is tasked to study the protest and submit recommendations for action of the Pet. Caguioa and Aquino were classmates from elementary to Sen. Bongbong Marcos Philstar.com photo college at the Ateneo de manila counsel and then secretary of University.

Prior to his appointment to the justice.

Aquino’s sister, popular actress sC last January, Caguioa was Aquino’s chief presidential legal u PAGE A2

Pacquiao for death penalty, against divorce death convicts to be hanged.

As for the divorce law, he said it needed study, noting the counmANNY Pacquiao on tuesday, try already allows the annulment July 5 said he was preparing for of marriage, which for him is like his new tasks as a neophyte sen- a divorce. the world-famous boxer ator, including memorizing the 1987 Constitution, which may dropped by the senate media ofend up being revised under the fice late monday, July 4 during his first visit to the senate, his new Duterte administration.

Pacquiao also said he was for new office for the next six years the death penalty and wanted starting July 25 when the 17th

by Christine

AvendAño Inquirer.net

Sen. Manny Pacquiao

Philstar.com photo

1

Congress opens its session. reminded that he had been slammed for not attending sessions in the house of representatives where he served as representative of sarangani province for six years, Pacquiao said he was “ready” to attend the sessions regularly.

“We are going to have (chairmanships in) committees so we

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A JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of…

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“I think what needs to be added are [pointers] on how children would know that they are being drawn in, how they should say no, and how and where to report if they are offered illegal drugs,” Briones said, according to Inquirer.

The new president -- dubbed “The Punisher” -- campaigned largely on a promise to eradicate crime in the Philippines within his first six months in office. Since Duterte’s landslide victory in May, law enforcement agencies throughout the country have ramped up operations, especially against drug-related crimes.

For those who don’t surrender, they risk losing their lives.

The president has called upon citizens to shoot suspected drug dealers that resist arrest, and has promised legal protection to police who kill criminals in the line of duty. Duterte has also offered bounties to cops for kill-

ing drug lords, while cautioning members of the police force that they are not beyond scrutiny.

“Oo, attainable ‘yan; kaya ‘yan. Hindi kaya kung hindi tayo kikilos at ang komunidad hindi tutulong (Yes, it is attainable, we can do it. It is only not attainable if we do not move and if the community will not help),” said Duterte’s newly appointed PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa to reporters on Tuesday, May 31.

As the former director of the Davao City Police Office, Dela Rosa was credited with reducing the circulation of illegal drugs in the city by 60 percent, according to Philstar. However, human rights groups allege that Dela Rosa has connections to the “death squads” responsible for the vigilante murders of more than 1,400 people since 1998, Reuters reported.

“As far as I know, wala akong death squad. During my time, legitimate operations ang ginaga-

wa ko. Napapatay namin ‘yung kalaban through legitimate operations (As far as I know, I do not have a death squad. During my time, legitimate operations were what I did. We only killed our enemies through legitimate operations),” said Dela Rosa in May. One of the strategies Dela Rosa employed in Davao, named Oplan Tukhang (Operation Plan tuktok-hangyo), sent officers to each home of a neighborhood to offer potential suspects a chance to turn themselves in. Dela Rosa has exported the tactic throughout the country since becoming the PNP’s Chief.

Almost 1,400 alleged criminals surrendered to the authorities in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasay and San Juan, two days after the president officially took office on June 30. In Leyte, Sarangani, Rizal and Pampanga, over 1,100 people turned themselves in to police. Prior

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CEREMONIAL TOSS. President Rodrigo Duterte takes center court for the ceremonial toss before the Philippines vs France game in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held at the MOA Arena on Tuesday, July 5. Duterte, who was in a brown polo and jeans, braved the bad weather and showed his full support to Gilas Pilipinas, arriving at the venue in Pasay City after making a speech at the Philippine Air Force in Clark, Pampanga.

Inquirer.net photo by August Dela Cruz

Robredo pays courtesy call…

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assistant, Bong Go, receiving Robredo warmly.

Shortly after his proclamation, Duterte once told that he would not appoint Robredo any cabinet position.

But the Robredo told in an interview that she just set meeting with the president to show her full support.

“I told him that I was just there to personally convey my message of support, that he has my full support,” Robredo told ANC’s “Talk Back” with Tina MonzonPalma Monday night.

It was a closed-door meeting, but Robredo gave a few tidbits, sharing that they were just mostly exchanging notes, talking about children, tackling life in Manila now, security and support.

Assuring her support Although she comes from a different political party, Robredo expressed her willingness to help and support Duterte fix the country.

“Natutuwa tayo na nagkaroon tayo ng pagkakataong makausap ang ating Pangulo (I am happy that I was given the chance to talk to our president),” she stated. “Sinabi natin sa Pangulo na buong buo ang suporta natin sa kaniya dahil ang kaniyang tagumpay ay tagumpay ng ating bansa (I told the president that I am wholly supporting him be-

cause his success is the success of the whole country).”

During Robredo’s speech at the Tapatan sa Aristocrat on Monday, she pledged to rally her support for Duterte’s administration.

“As the vice president, I believe that my No. 1 responsibility is to help rally everyone behind the new administration,” Robredo explained.

Future meetings will follow The meeting between the Philippines’ two highest leaders will not be the last, as Duterte had told Robredo to regularly meet him to talk about the country.

“Sabi niya nga, gawin kong mas regular ‘yung aking pagbisita para alam ko naman ‘yung kung anong nangyayari. Parang sinabi niya yata sa akin na mas mabuti na ‘yung nalalaman niyang information about the country’s situation, alam ko din.

Kaya nagpasalamat ako (He said, I should regularly visit him so I can know what is going on. It’s like he’s saying that it is better that I know the information about the country’s situation. That is why I thanked him for that),” the vice president said.

Robredo said that she already left her contact number with the president’s assistant.

Leni: Different Duterte Although the meeting last Monday was only the second

time they talked after winning the election, Robredo remarked at how well Duterte treated her.

“He was very respectful, malumanay magsalita.... Nahihiya pa nga ako kasi mina-’ma’am’ niya ako (He was very respectful, very soft-spoken...I was also a little embarrassed because he kept calling me ‘ma’am),” she explained.

“Malayo siya doon sa dati kong nakikita sa TV at sa preconceived idea ko of him. ‘Yung sound and fury, nagmumura, madaling magalit, pinagagalitan kung sinong nakaka-get his ire. Ibang iba (He was a far cry from what I used to see on TV and my the preconceived idea of him. The sound and fury, the swearing, hotheaded, scolding anyone who tests his temper, he was different),” Robredo said in a television interview.

After the two finished their meeting, Duterte even walked Robredo to her car.

“I was telling him, ‘Mr. President, ‘wag mo na po ako ihatid.’

Sabi niya, ‘That will be very ungentlemanly of me if I don’t bring you down kasi babae ka (Mr. President, you don’t have to take me [to the car]. That will be very ungentlemanly of me if I don’t bring you down because you are a lady),” Robredo recounted. n

Supreme Court defers action…

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Kris Aquino, was the top campaign contributor of Robredo in the polls.

In his protest, Marcos questioned the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities all over the country involving some 9 million votes.

Marcos lost to Robredo by a slim margin of 263,473 votes in the final and official tally. He garnered 14,155,344 votes while Robredo got a total of 14,418,817.

He sought the nullification of about a million votes cast in three provinces – Lanao del Sur,

Basilan and Maguindanao – over claims of massive cheating.

Marcos also asked the PET to order the reopening of ballots and manual recount of about eight million votes in 23 provinces and five cities.

The son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos sought the annulment of the proclamation of Robredo as vice president and his declaration as duly elected vice president.

Veteran poll lawyer Romulo Macalintal, counsel of Robredo, said on Tuesday that the PET is not expected to immediately act on the case.

“With due respect to the members of the Supreme Court constituting the PET that will hear and decide the election protest of former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo, the tribunal should first make a judicial determination as to whether or not Marcos’ protest is sufficient in form and substance to avoid unnecessary expenses by both parties,” he said in a statement.

Macalintal believes that the protest is not sufficient in substance and could be dismissed outright. n

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From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 6-8, 2016

A

FBI finds Clinton ‘extremely careless’…

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[that Clinton] should have know that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation,” Comey said.

However to warrant a criminal charge, Comey said there needed to be evidence that Clinton intentionally sent or received classified information, which the FBI did not find.

“Our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” Comey said.

On Friday, July 1, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said she would accept the FBI’s recommendation, according to various media reports. Lynch has triggered controversy after meeting with former President Bill Clinton at the Phoenix airport.

“We are pleased that the career officials handling this case have determined that no further action by the department is ap-

propriate,” Clinton’s spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement on Tuesday. “As the secretary has long said, it was a mistake to use her personal email, and she would not do it again. We are glad that this matter is now resolved.”

Many Republicans viewed Comey’s statement differently.

“The system is rigged,” presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted.

“As usual, bad judgment!”

In a statement, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus added, “The [FBI] confirms what we’ve long known: Hillary Clinton has spent the last 16 months looking into cameras deliberately lying to the American people.”

The investigation had lasted for a year, in which the FBI poured over servers, emails and interviewed dozens of people,

according to the Times.

For the investigation, Clinton’s lawyers turned over 55,000 pages of email to the State Department, but withheld many that she claimed to be personal, regarding matters such as yoga classes and her daughter’s wedding.

Three days before Comey made his statement, FBI investigators interviewed Clinton -- a sign that the investigation was winding down.

The FBI investigation unearthed additional work-related emails that Clinton failed to turn over, some of which contained classified information. However, there is no evidence those were withheld intentionally.

Comey’s statement came just hours before Clinton’s first joint campaign appearance with President Barack Obama in North Carolina. (By Cybele Zhang / AJPress)

FLORES DE PUSHER. Photo from Tanauan City’s Hope Facebook page shows 11 suspected drug pushers marching in a mock Santacruzan yesterday. Under the shame campaign dubbed ‘Flores de Pusher,’ the suspects are paraded around the city while formal complaints are prepared against them.

US report: PH ‘fully compliant’ in human… Pacquiao for death penalty, against divorce

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problem and meet the standards of compliance per the TVPA. “The Philippines is a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor,” the report said.

Government corruption that has allowed traffickers to operate remains a critical problem and a significant drawback to anti-trafficking efforts, but in the last year, the country has made crucial steps.

In the last year, the Philippine government collaborated with the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Bureau to develop initiatives to eliminate human trafficking.

Trafficking of migrant workers is one of the most pressing issues, and last year, the Philippine government allocated more funds to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). The report detailed some of the commission’s efforts, including producing antitrafficking prevention campaigns for migrant workers and increasing awareness and prevention training for “government officials, prospective employees and the general public.”

Other highlights include the conviction of officials suspected in facilitating trafficking, assisting about 1,500 victims and providing a temporary shelter for male Filipino trafficking victims

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will be very busy,” he said.

He defended his absences in the House, saying there were occasions he had to go on training for boxing matches.

There were also times, Pacquiao said, that he was just in his office in the House and unable to be physically present on the floor because “my constituents in Congress, the entire Philippines, is in my office.”

Asked whether he would still accept boxing matches despite announcing his retirement, Pacquiao maintained “my mind and in Saudi Arabia.

The State Department recommended that the Philippines increase the availability of shelters and protection resources and programs to accommodate the needs of victims “with a particular focus on male victims and mental health provisions.” Also, the report stated that the Philippines should increase anti-trafficking training to authorities and provide education and safe migration tactics for migrant workers.

The State Department has been releasing the report annually since 2001 after the passing of the TVPA in 2000. The report identifies the minimum standards for combating trafficking, rates each country’s compliance

to those standards and offers solutions tailored to each country.

Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. was on the forefront of the Philippines’ antitrafficking campaign and hailed the State Department’s rating as a win for anti-trafficking advocates.

“The Embassy will continue its engagement with the US State Department to ensure that the Philippines’ efforts to combat this scourge are accurately reported and considered by the State Department,” Cuisia said in a statement.

“Our country’s goal is to remain in Tier 1 to ensure that the estimated 10 million Filipino workers overseas are protected from unscrupulous practices,” Cuisia added. n

heart is to work” in the Senate.

Pacquiao said being religious was important for a leader and for the nation, as success will not come to them “without the guidance of the Lord.”

Asked whether he would invite senators to join him in his Bible studies, he said if they were willing to do so.

Pacquiao said he had been preparing for his Senate tasks, reading in particular the Philippine Constitution.

He recalled that before he rediscovered God, he knew nothing about the Bible but things

changed when he started reading it and now he could readily “preach the word of God … share its verses.”

“Same thing with the Constitution. We are reading it and memorizing it,” Pacquiao said. But this could be an unnecessary task as the Duterte administration is keen on revising the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for a shift to a federal form of government.

Malacañang said Mr. Duterte was supporting the convening of a constitutional commission (Con-con) whose delegates are elected to revise the Charter. n

Pres. Duterte effect: Thousands of…

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to Duterte’s inauguration, more than 200 people from Agusan del Sur and Sarangani had also submitted themselves to police custody in June.

“Sumuko kami dahil sa batas ni Duterte. Natakot kami sa kapulisan baka anuhin kami.

May pamilya kami kaya natakot kami (We surrendered because of Duterte’s law. We were scared of the police because they might [hurt] us. We have families that is why we were scared),”Allan Looc, a drug user, told GMA News.

Drug-related killings have been on the rise since Duterte

won the election last May. At least 45 people with suspected links to drug trafficking were killed in different operations in Bulacan. There have also been 63 drug-related deaths recorded in many parts of the country.

Meanwhile, in Tondo, Manila, a man was found dead with a note saying “Drug Lord Ako (I am a Drug Lord).” Other bodies displaying similar messages have turned up throughout the country.

“It’s going to be a dirty fight.

It’s going to be a bloody fight.

I am not apologizing for it,” said Duterte during Tuesday’s speech.

The uptick in murders committed by police and incidents of apparent vigilantism has drawn the concern of human rights groups and the Catholic Church.

In spite of the violence, supporters of the crackdown have told the general public that they have nothing to fear.

“I will assure the public that kami ay mga pulis, hindi kami kriminal, susunod kami sa police operational procedure (I will assure the public that we are policemen, not criminals, [and] we will follow police operational procedure),” said Dela Rosa.

(With reports from Joseph Almer B. Pedrajas / AJPress)

A JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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12-time Olympic Medalist Natalie Coughlin does not qualify for Rio

by Cybele

zhang

AJPress

SWIMMER Natalie Coughlin, who is a quarter Filipino, will not appear at the 31st Olympiad this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 33-year-old swimmer, who has represented the U.S. in three Olympic Games, failed to qualify in the 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle last week.

She pulled out of her final event, the 50-meter freestyle qualifier, in a press conference on Friday, July 1.

“It’s a difficult decision because you train for so many hours to get to this meet and to hopefully move onto the next stage, which is the Olympics,” Coughlin said in the press conference, according to the Washington Post.

“That just didn’t work out for me this time, which is fine. I’m obviously disappointed because I’ve been working so hard.”

The 5-foot-8 swimmer decided against competing in the 50-meter freestyle because she knew she would not swim her personal

Natalie Coughlin Photo courtesy of USA Swimming National Team website

best. She had spent the majority of her training focusing on her other two events, according to USA Today.

“There are so many special [Olympic] moments I have had.

Anything beyond that is icing on the cake in terms of legacy or anything like that,” Coughlin said.

Coughlin grew up in Vallejo, California with a half-Filipino

mother. According to GMA News, her grandmother is from Cavite and Coughlin was “raised with a lot of Filipino culture.”

“Where I went to my first nine years in school, kindergarten through eighth grade, was primarily a Filipino school,” Coughlin said in an interview with GMA News. “I was very much exposed to the Filipino culture.”

Over the course of her career, Coughlin has won three gold, four silver and five bronze Olympic medals, according to her official website. She is tied with retired swimmers Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for most number of Olympic medals achieved by an American female in swimming.

This will probably be the end of Coughlin’s Olympic career, although she insists she is not retiring from swimming.

“I’m not announcing a retirement or anything like that; I’m just not going to the Olympics,” Coughlin said. “From there, I don’t know. Swimming has been a part of my life since I joined my first club team when I was six years old.” n

Transgender troops now allowed to openly…

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us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can best accomplish the mission,” Defense Secretary

Ash Carter said in a press conference on Thursday, June 30.

“We have to have access to 100 percent of America’s population for our all-volunteer force to be

able to recruit from among them the most highly qualified and to retain them.”

The move is considered a win for LGBT rights, but the change will not happen overnight.

According to Carter, the Pentagon will create a training handbook, establish new medical conduct and provide assistance for changing a troop’s gender in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS) by Oct. 1.

By that date, the military will be required to provide “medically necessary” care to transgender service members.

According to a RAND Corp study commissioned by the Pentagon, there are between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender troops in the active-duty force, and of those troops, up to 140 would need hormone treatment and up to 130 would seek gender reassignment surgery.

RAND Corp. also indicated that the move is estimated to leave a “minimal” impact on the military’s readiness and budget, and the new healthcare accommodations represent “an exceedingly small proportion” of the Depart-

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER. The Army’s predominantly Christian 6th Infantry Division (ID) in Camp Siongco, Maguindanao on Wednesday, July 6 for an Eid’l Fitr congregational prayer, something so peculiarly new for local Muslims. Public officials and ranking clerics in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were elated with 6th ID’s gesture, planned by its commander, Major Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, a military peace-activist.

Philstar.com photo by John Unson

Report: 5,000 water systems violate federal law

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

MORE than 5,000 water systems in the United States violate federal law, affecting approximately 18 million Americans, according to a new report.

In its report released on Tuesday, June 28, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that these systems violated lead and copper laws, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the body that is responsible for regulating the water systems, knew about them but did little to nothing about it.

A CNN report indicated that in approximately nine out of 10 ment of Defense’s (DOD) overall medical expenses.

The projected costs for each troop’s healthcare would be as much as $50,000, according to an official from the DOD anonymously told USA Today (DOD officials are not authorized to speak publicly). The official also added that altering shower facilities and sleeping quarters may be expected to cost $10 million, but it is difficult to project.

The U.S. is the 19th country to allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military.

In February, the Department of Defense removed barriers to

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cases of contaminated water, the EPA took no enforcement action.

NRDC said that the water systems required to complete thorough water testing, regular reporting of contamination and meticulous water treatment, but these water systems have failed to do so; in other words, these systems have committed health, monitoring and reporting violations.

“These violations were recorded because the systems were not doing everything that they are required to do to protect the public from lead issues, which could include failure to treat to reduce lead levels in the water (health violations), failure to monitor the water for lead as required (monitoring violations), or failure to report lead results to the public or government,” the report said.

But the 5,000 systems that have committed violations only made up the reported violations and failed to account for unreported instances.

Erik Olson, health program director at NRDC, told CNN that some water utility companies manipulate the systems’ machinery and purposefully use imprecise testing methods so that they don’t detect higher levels of lead.

In other words, there are water systems who are breaching the law but don’t get reported.

The NRDC mapped out leadrelated issues reported throughout the U.S. and found that lead

contamination is rampant across the country and the contaminated systems cover an expansive geographic scope.

According to NRDC’s findings, there were 13 reported violations in Los Angeles County water systems that served over 5,000 Angelenos. Kern County’s water systems were especially affected with 74 reported violations that affected 102,691 residents.

There are many reasons why a water system can fail, but one of the most common reasons is through repairs gone wrong.

Unsafe levels of lead were discovered in Sebring, Ohio earlier this year after workers altered the water’s chemistry to prevent pipe corrosion. It took five months before the city issued a warning of the water’s detrimental effects to children and pregnant women, according to reports from The Columbus Dispatch.

In 2001, The Washington Post reported that lead levels in Washington, D.C.’s tap water escalated to 20 times the federallyapproved level, and it took three years before residents found out.

Yet the problem may be a product of the country’s infrastructure. Thirty years ago, Congress passed a law that banned lead water pipes, yet between 3.3 million and 10 million of them remain in today’s water systems, allowing lead to infiltrate many of the country’s water systems. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte to launch all-year-round lifestyle check of gov’t execs

by NestoR

CoRRAles Inquirer.net

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, July 5, vowed to launch an all-year-round lifestyle check of government officials in a bid to stop the “decades of corruption” in the Philippines.

“Then we have the corruption in government. Again it has to stop… [these] decades of corruption,” Duterte said in his speech at the 69th Philippine Air Force Anniversary here.

He warned government officials and employees who would not stop their corrupt practices that they would “place themselves in jeopardy of going to prison.”

The president cited in particular customs and internal revenue executives who are engaged in corrupt activities.

“I am sure that this is the time

President Rodrigo Duterte

for, you know, landing softly.

Kayong nabubuhay diyan with the extra frills, ang sweldo mo per diem mo lang ‘yan kasi meron kang kinikita (Those of you who live with extra frills, your salary is per diem only because you stil learn extra),” he said.

“Well, this time, we have to

learn how to live frugally and toned down. We are used to buying cars for everybody in the family,” he added.

He urged his newly appointed Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon to “do his thing” and stop corruption in the Bureau of Customs.

He also reaffirmed his trust in the newly appointed internal revenue chief Ceasar “Billy” Dulay.

“Lahat ‘yang mga fixer, stop!

(All you fixers, stop!) I hope Faeldon would do his thing. Stop corruption sa Customs (Stop corruption at Customs). At si Billy Dulay, I know him (And Billy Dulay, I know him). He’s very good, he’s honest, I hope he can deliver,” he said.

Duterte has always named the Bureau of Customs as one of the most corrupt government agencies along with the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. n

Task force on media killings to be formed

by Alexis

RomeRo

Philstar.com

MANILA — With a radio anchor shot and seriously wounded on the first day of the new administration, President Duterte is forming a task force to deal with the killings of journalists, Malacañang said on Sunday, July 3.

Speaking over state-run radio dzRB, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the legal team of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and that of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea are drafting an administrative order to define the roles of the task force.

“We are doing this so that our colleagues in the media will feel safe and to stop the extrajudicial killings of members of media,” Andanar said.

An existing committee, he said, is tasked to address extrajudicial killings in general. The new order would focus on media killings.

Andanar made the announcement three days after Saturnino Estanio Jr., a broadcaster in Surigao City, survived an ambush – the first incident of media violence under the Duterte administration.

The 41-year-old Estanio, an anchorman for dxRS Radio Mindanao Network, was known for

Transgender troops now…

PAGE A4 t

allow women who meet physical standards to serve in frontline combat roles. In 2011, the DOD repealed the controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that required gay and lesbian troops to conceal their sexual orientation to avoid discharge from the military.

“This is a historic day and for me satisfied a promise I made to a group of transgender soldiers I

met two years ago,” former Pentagon personnel chief Brad Carson told USA Today.

Carson played a major role in the construction of the plan, and said that the move was “hardfought and overdue.”

“I’m proud to have pushed this reform and I salute the contributions transgender service members have made and will make in the future to our nation. (Klarize Medenilla / AJ Press)

his commentaries against illegal drugs and gambling.

His five-year-old son was also shot and critically wounded.

Last May, Duterte stirred controversy after saying that some of the slain journalists were involved in extortion or shady transactions.

Some media groups and the United Nations scored Duterte for his remark, which they interpreted as an apparent endorsement of media killings.

Duterte, however, said that his statement was misinterpreted and maintained that he would never condone extrajudicial killings because these are against the law.

Duterte, who used to hold lengthy late-night press conferences, has since evaded journalists and has vowed not to grant interviews until the end of his term.

The Philippine press has been dubbed as the freest in Asia, but the country still ranks low in terms of media freedom due to the risks faced by Filipino journalists.

It ranked 138th in the 2016 World Press Freedom Index,

u PAGE A7

PLASTIC CHAIRS DONATION. Senator Cynthia A. Villar poses with the officials and students who are beneficiaries of school chairs made from recyclable plastic wastes. The senator has been giving the sturdy and durable school chairs to public schools to help the government cope up with the problem on the lack of school chairs. Upper photo shows the senator with beneficiaries from Upper Bicutan National High School. Lower photo shows her with beneficiaries from Sucat Elementary School. Both schools are found in Paranaque City.

Senate photo

Mike Arroyo wants case junked

by DJ

YAp Inquirer.net

failure of the prosecution to pres- ment in the deal, stressing that ent strong evidence. the primary witness against him, Biblical envy De Venecia III, was “not a cred“If Joey can’t have it, no one ible source.”

FORMER first gentleman Jose Incredible claim Miguel Arroyo asked the San- can. This is therefore nothing but “Aside from De Venecia III’s diganbayan antigraft court on a case of biblical envy. It is one of Tuesday to throw out a corrup- the Seven Deadly Sins, probably perjurious and incredible claim tion case against him over the because it consumes people, and that Jose Miguel told him this scuttled $329-million national it pushes them to do unjust acts,” was ‘his project,’ no other evibroadband network project with Arroyo argued in the 54-page de- dence was presented to incriminate Jose Miguel. None of the China’s ZTE Corp., calling it an murrer.

De Venecia had said Arroyo witnesses had ever met him, “inexistent, victimless crime” whose key witness was motivat- told him to “back off” the deal, a or heard him discuss the NBN claim that the latter stressed re- project with anyone,” Arroyo ed by “biblical envy.”

Arroyo argued for his acquittal mains uncorroborated. He said it said. was “insufficient to prove a De Venecia III, then the presias he moved to discredit one of the whistle-blowers in the case, conspiracy” adding that even dent and owner of the losing bidJose “Joey” De Venecia III, son De Venecia’s own father did not der Amsterdam Holdings Inc., only cried foul when it became and namesake of the former support the claim.

Arroyo said the prosecution apparent he would lose the deal, House Speaker, as a disreputable witness, whose claims the prose- failed to establish his involve- Arroyo stressed. n cution had failed to corroborate.

Demurrer Through his lawyer, Ruy Alberto Rondain, Arroyo filed a demurrer to evidence before the GSFF 4FPVM $JUZ UPVS court’s Fourth Division asking to be absolved of the graft charges linking him, and his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to the controversial deal, which was aborted in 2007.

A demurrer to evidence is a pleading by an accused seeking the dismissal of the case over the

A JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Still in danger

“TODAY, we continue the long journey toward an America and a world where liberty and equality are not reserved for some, but extended to all. Across the globe, including right here at home, millions of men, women, and children are victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. We remain committed to abolishing slavery in all its forms and draw strength from the courage and resolve generations past.” — Pres. Barack Obama Every year, millions of Filipinos go to great—and in some cases—drastic lengths by working abroad, to pursue better lives for themselves and their families.

There are an estimated 15,000,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) across the world. On average, 6,000 Filipinos leave the country each day to work abroad, an increase from only around 2,500 before 2010. At least a quarter of the country’s labor force has gone to work overseas.

Many of these OFWs are often compelled to work while succumbing to unfair and harsh working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and human rights abuses. We’ve heard news of Pinoys who faced death row in China and the never-ending and horrific stories of domestic helpers in the Middle East -- all for a chance to seek greener pastures.

Despite the billions of pesos they bring home -which continues to prop up the Philippine economy -- the nightmares of being an OFW still linger.

These people who resort to severe measures are employed through illegal channels. While many of them would refuse to admit it (for fear of losing their jobs), some of these modern heroes are victims of human trafficking.

The Philippines has recently been upgraded as a Tier 1 country by the 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which rated 190 nations according to

their efficiency in addressing human trafficking. This is a welcome development for the Philippines after lingering in Tier 2 status the past years.

The annual TIP report is used as a comprehensive resource by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations on countries in tiers based on their compliance with the standard of the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).

Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the US Government’s anti-human trafficking policy.

Tier 1 countries met minimum the standards of the American government’s “principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking,” which means a government “fully complied” with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Tier 2 nations do not fully comply but are “making significant efforts” to do so, while Tier 2 Watch List involves other negative indicators. Nations under Tier 3 neither comply nor make significant efforts.

However, the TIP report describes the Philippines as “a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.”

The TIP Report also said that a significant num-

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

ber of Filipino migrant workers are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor—predominantly via debt bondage—in the fishing, shipping, construction, education, nursing and agricultural industries, as well as in domestic work, janitorial service, and other hospitality jobs, particularly across the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Despite continuous worldwide sanctions and efforts to alleviate human trafficking, business continues to thrive for this repressive industry.

Stereotypically, human trafficking stories often depict victims as innocent young girls, who are seduced from their homes and forced into the sex

industry. But now, cases involve men, women and children of all ages falling prey to traffickers for a promise of better pecuniary compensation.

No matter how strict the laws are implemented or how rigorous campaigns are against human trafficking, the problem will not cease to exist if not dealt with first at home. Filipinos or anyone for that matter, seek jobs abroad due to lack of economic opportunities and the struggle to meet the basic needs.

Before apprehending perpetrators, governments should first promote and protect the basic human rights. (AJPress)

Fil-Ams hopeful about Duterte presidency and the plight of overseas Filipinos A RECENT “Balitang America” online viewer poll revealed that a large majority of Filipinos in America are feeling very hopeful under the Duterte presidency. Eighty-seven percent of kababayans who voted in The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast opinion poll feel the Philippines will be better off with newly sworn-in President Rodrigo Duterte stirring the country toward a new direction.

Many Fil-Am community leaders share the optimism, especially after Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said topping the “marching orders” he received from Pres. Duterte is to make sure that the needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are “specially and adequately addressed.”

“We want to make sure that from the very day, the first day that the recruitment processes start,

SINGAPORE — The words were harsh Demand to and fro. It started during the cam- and Supply paign and continued over the past weeks.

Mr. Duterte called the bishops hypocrites. The bishops Boo ChanCo in response said they would remain quiet, but not before ascribing to Mr. Duterte the arrogance of Pilate.

Amidst all that, the new Duterte administration announced tax reforms, among them updating the 20 year old tax brackets and rates. Former BIR chief Kim Henares had warned the Duterte administration must find new sources of revenue or face serious fiscal problems.

Irritated by the noisy bishops, some Duterte supporters want the new administration to start taxing the religious sector. Taxing the churches will also clearly set the demarcation line between church and state.

If there is a president who can carry out that very dramatic shift in policy, it will have to be the no nonsense Mr. Duterte. And there is no danger Mr. Duterte and his Finance secretary will be hit by lightning if they do tax the church.

There is no better place to understand how to tax churches in our neighborhood than Singapore. Here, the governing laws clearly delineate what belongs to Ceasar and what belongs to the church.

Churches get tax considerations in this city state not because they represent religions, but because they register as charities and that’s the basis of their tax exemption. Churches are required to make an accounting of their finances. Income earned from side businesses must be taxed like any commercial transaction.

up to the time that they arrive at their point of destination, we will The Fil-Am be ready and available to help them in their needs,” Yasay said Perspective in an ABS-CBN News report.

“We know that as they go abroad, they’ll be the subject of a lot of difficulties, uncertainties, and vulnerabilities, and the least Gel SantoS-ReloS that we can do for our overseas workers, who—in a true sense—are our economic heroes, is to make ourselves readily available for their service,” the DFA chief explained.

The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a Filipino-American group based in the nation’s capital, offered their support to Duterte’s marching order

in this statement: “We support the call of President Duterte to provide assistance in securing and protecting the rights of OFWs from their country of origin until their final destination . We also call upon the Phil Government to revamp its existing policies on [the] deployment of Filipino workers overseas, which includes [the] elimination of recruitment agencies and for the government to undertake direct supervision and approval of employment contracts with receiving countries.”

MHC Executive Directors Atty. Arnedo Valera, Grace Valera and Jesse Gatchalian further stated: “The Government among others must initiate bilat-

eral agreements with countries employing OFWs with involved countries committing to protect and uphold the human rights and dignity of Filipino workers around the world . We also call on President Duterte to investigate and jail illegal and legal recruiters who have caused the physical,psychological and emotional abuse of Filipino workers!”

Do you share this optimism that the concerns of OFWs will finally be addressed under the DuterteRobredo administration? *** 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

Will Duterte dare to tax the church?

Some recent cases were cited by the Singapore Policy Journal in their website published out of the JFK School of Government in Harvard. The handling of the cases shows how the Singapore government seriously enforces its laws.

“On Oct. 21, 2015, all six defendants in the City Harvest Church case were found guilty of Criminal Breach of Trust in the false declarations and misuse of approximately S$50 million in church donation funds (for varying purposes, primarily to fund the international singing career of the pastor’s wife. Public queries have been raised about the pastor’s $10 million dollar penthouse in Sentosa, and his wife’s expensive lifestyle...”

In 2007, a Buddhist leader was caught for misuse of $50,000 of charity funds from Ren Ci Hospital (which was established by his Buddhist monastery) and numerous “questionable” loans to fund his lavish lifestyle.

“Although no wrongdoing has been insinuated, public queries have also been raised about the New Creation Church’s billion-dollar project with Capitaland to build a commercial retail venue in Buona Vista using charity funds...

“Large religious organizations are thus coming under scrutiny now – are the rules governing their use of finances too relaxed today, thus leading to these excesses?”

Elsewhere in the world, there is also increasing talk about taxing churches.

An op/ed article in Forbes observed: “it’s worth shaking up conventional wisdom. Re-examining fundamentals—like the tax exemption afforded churches—can be downright liberating. We may have a hard time criticiz-

ing a church or religion, but taxing them might be different.”

Indeed, the Gospel tells us Jesus himself is not against paying his own tax. He said we should give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and to God what is God’s. He asked one of his disciples to go fish in the lake and he will find a coin in the mouth of a fish. The disciple was instructed to take the coin and pay the tax due from him and from the disciple.

So, if the Son of God didn’t mind paying taxes, where did we get this practice of exempting the church from paying taxes?

I googled and found an op/ed article in a website appropriately called: http:// www.tithing.com. The article traced the origins of this practice of exempting the church from taxes. It is apparently all very medieval.

“In the medieval times the Roman Catholic church and the English throne were in marriage with one another, so therefore, the Catholic Church was exempt from paying taxes. The church and the government were essentially one organization, so if the government were to tax the church, they would be taxing themselves.”

The article noted “the tax exemption that was imposed upon the Catholic Church would lay the foundation and traditions that we find in our modern laws today… Although the church and the state no longer operate as one entity, these tax-exempt laws seem to have been ‘grandfathered’ into our common laws.”

But why should we continue this medieval practice? The same article cited Erik Stanley from LATimes.com who says, “In general, governments believed that churches, along with other types of community groups, enhanced and supplemented government services such as feeding the hungry, housing those in need of shel-

ter and in general using private funds for public good.”

That sounds like a good reason to grant tax exemption to churches as some (but not all churches) do help provide needed social services. But the tithing.com article author observed that is not always the case anymore.

“The government relishes the opportunity to take on more social responsibilities while the church gladly passes on the torch. Now that we are free from taking care of people’s needs, we can spend more money on ourselves, on our church buildings, on our programs, on our stage design, and on our sound equipment. We relish the opportunity to beautify our image, while the government relishes the more godly response.”

The tithing.com author complains, “Giving statistics state that the church spends 85 percent of the funds it receives on internal operations and only three percent of our money goes towards aiding and ministering towards the unsaved.”

Transparency that is unheard of today in the management of church funds, is another reason why churches must pay taxes like the rest of us. An article in The Economist noted “Billy Graham, for example, long ago opted not to classify his empire as a church, in part because he wanted to encourage other religious charities to be transparent and accountable.”

Today, church leaders do not reveal anything about their finances or their governance, and are largely unaccountable to the public. That’s why the scandal in the Vatican Bank happened which is now being cleaned up

by Pope Francis.

Indeed, Mr. Duterte can rightfully accuse church leaders of hypocrisy by demanding transparency from government. Cardinal Tagle even launched a slogan “Huwag Magnakaw” as if it is

only government officials who are capable of stealing.

But tough as Mr. Duterte is, I doubt he is brave enough to tax churches. He may abhor the Catholic bishops, but he is in bed with that Quiboloy fellow and indebted to the INC for supporting him.

These two religious groups (and we can add El Shaddai as well) are in dire need of transparency too. We were recently shocked to see pictures of the expensive private jets of both Quiboloy and the INC head. I doubt if they paid paid proper import taxes on those planes.

We were dismayed to see how these religious leaders live in utter luxury while their members, many poor as many Pinoys are, are obligated to contribute what little they have to support their lavish lifestyle.

I once asked the senior pastor of the Christian group I am attending if he thought it was right for the church to pay taxes. He said he is willing to pay taxes, but right now he is not obligated by law to do so.

Tax the churches? It sounds like too much of a revolutionary idea that even a Duterte may not have the guts to do.

But it is an idea whose time has come.

It raises funds for government to use to help the poor with social services the churches are unable or unwilling to provide.

And best of all, church leaders can become true to the teachings of Christ and resist the temptation to live in luxury. Being required to pay taxes will force them to show their congregation they are honest in the handling of their funds.

As The Economist article puts it, our “reward is a much-needed burst of transparency. Let there be light!” *** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com.

Follow him on Twitter @boochanco.

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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Aguirre vows Ampatuan conviction under Duterte term by edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday, July 4 vowed to secure the conviction of the principal defendants in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre within the term of President Duterte.

Aguirre said the resolution of the multiple murder case against Andal Ampatuan Jr. and brother Zaldy Ampatuan by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 could be expected in the next six years.

“I believe that the conviction will come in the next few years.

The case should be decided well within the six-year administration of President Duterte,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre, a known litigation lawyer, said the Department of Justice prosecution team handling the case has a standing order to block dilatory tactic of defense lawyers during the ongoing trial.

The previous administration had aimed to convict the Ampatuans who were charged at the Quezon City RTC before President Aquino stepped down from office.

Former Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas admitted that this target was really difficult to meet.

“The court will really have a hard time resolving that case considering the number of parties involved. Perhaps it would take four to five more years for the verdict from this point when the defense have just started presenting their case,” he explained to The Star.

“There are just too many people involved in this case and there are more possible witnesses – including warlords in Maguindanao – who are afraid to come forward and who have actually moved on already,” Caparas stressed.

Caparas believes the case would not end with the possible conviction of any of the accused, citing possible filing of appeals in higher courts, including the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, that could take even more years to resolve.

“An ordinary suit where there is one accused and one victim already takes several years to be resolved with finality. Imagine how long this case where you

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST. Funeral parlor workers lift the body of one of the two drug suspects who were killed in an alleged shootout with police in Barangay Bonuan Tondaligan in Dagupan City on Monday, July 4.

Inquirer.net photo by Ray Zambrano Zaldy and Andal Ampatuan Jr.

have 59 victims and almost 200 accused,” he pointed out.

Still, he gave assurance that the DOJ has done its part in ensuring the speedy resolution of the case.

He said the prosecutors would always oppose dilatory moves of the defendants.

Six years into the trial, the RTC has yet to resolve the case, which involves 59 victims, 197 accused with 111 of them arrested and arraigned, 147 prosecution witnesses and 300 defense witnesses.

One of the principal accused, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. died in July last year. Two other accused, Hernanie Decipulo and Sukarno Badal, had also died while in detention.

The Ampatuan clan’s patriarch and several of his sons and relatives were accused of killing 59 people, including 32 from media.

Among the dead were the wife and two sisters of Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu who was then the vice mayor of Buluan, Maguindanao, two female lawyers and the media workers who covered the supposed filing of the certificate of candidacy of Mangudadatu, who would run for governor of Maguindanao and challenge a scion of the Ampatuan clan.

Mangudadatu won the election.

The Mangudadatus have accused the Ampatuans of masterminding the incident, specifically pointing to then mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao as one of the leaders of 100 armed men who abducted Mangudadatu’s supporters.

The Ampatuans denied the al-

legations against them.

The Supreme Court, for its part, has adopted measures to expedite the resolution of the Maguindanao massacre case, including the designation of RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to exclusively hear the multiple murder case.

The SC also designated a third assisting judge to handle the conduct of all non-trial incidents in the Maguindanao massacre cases, such as arraignments and pre-trials, as well as to decide incidents and motions not vital to the merits of the cases with dispatch.

In 2013, the high court also issued several new guidelines, including the use of judicial affidavits in lieu of the direct testimonies of the witnesses, to speed up the trial proceedings.

Records show that the RTC handling the case has resolved all outstanding formal offers of evidence against the bail applications of the accused. It has also resolved all bail applications of the major accused, with only those of Ampatuan Jr. remaining.

But the trial court had ordered accused Ampatuan Jr. to close his presentation of evidence.

The proceedings have reached the hearing of the evidence-inchief of the main case.

The prosecution has filed three batches of formal offers of evidence against 95 accused, thereby resting its case against them.

After these formal offers of evidence are resolved, the defense may either present its evidence and then rest or submit a demurrer to evidence. n

China open to talks if PH ignores arbitral court China has said it plans to ignore the Court’s ruling, which would represent a snub of the MANILA — China is ready to international legal order. start negotiations with the PhilipThe Philippines, Vietnam, Mapines on South China Sea-related laysia, Taiwan and Brunei have issues if Manila ignores an arbi- overlapping claims in the area. tration ruling expected next week Beijing has rejected the arbion their long-running territorial tration case, claiming the court dispute, the official China Daily has no jurisdiction and saying reported on Monday, July 4. it wants to solve the issue biThe Philippines brought the laterally. In recent weeks it has case to the Permanent Court of ramped up its propaganda camArbitration in The Hague and paign downplaying the outcome a ruling is expected on July 12. of the case.

The case contests China’s claims Negotiations between China to the bulk of the South China and the Philippines could cover Sea, a body of water through “issues such as joint development which $5 trillion in ship-borne and cooperation in scientific retrade passes every year. search if the new government

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

puts the tribunal’s ruling aside before returning to the table for talks,” the China Daily said.

China’s main, government-run English newspaper did not name its sources but identified them as “close to the issues between the two countries.”

“Manila must put aside the result of the arbitration in a substantive approach,” it quoted one source as saying.

China’s foreign ministry last month said the two countries had agreed in 1995 to settle disputes in the South China Sea “in a peaceful and friendly manner through consultations on the basis of equity and mutual respect.” n

Task force on media killings to be…

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making it one of the countries with “very difficult” press situations.

While the ranking was an improvement from 141st in 2015, Reporters Without Borders, the media watchdog behind the index, noted that those behind the killing of journalists “usually go unpunished.”

“Often committed by private militias in order to silence reporters who are investigating them, these murders usually go unpunished,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“In this climate of terror, media outlets succumb to self-censorship or corruption, in which journalists receive ‘favors’ in exchange for positive coverage.”

More than 150 journalists have been killed since democracy was restored in the country in 1986, according to watchdog Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.

Previous administrations have formed bodies that would address extralegal killings.

In 2007, then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued AO 211 creating a task “against political violence.”

In the order, Arroyo called political violence “a fundamental moral and governance challenge.”

The task force was directed to “prioritize the formulation and implementation of measures to prevent further political violence and ensure peace and security all

over the country.”

It consisted of representatives from the justice, defense, interior and local government departments, offices of the national security adviser, political adviser, Presidential Human Rights Committee, and the Philippine Information Agency.

In 2012, then president Benigno Aquino III created an interagency committee on extralegal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave human rights violations through AO No. 35.

The committee was tasked to make an inventory of all cases of extralegal killings, investigate unsolved cases, monitor and report cases under investigation and trial, and investigate and prosecute new cases. n

A JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

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PLDT, Globe welcome new admin’s move to cut red tape

to be worked out. But we are hopeful that this will help us expedite our network rollout MANILA — Telco players by simplifying and facilitating PLDT Inc. and Globe Tele- the issuance of permits and com Inc. welcome the new clearances,” Ramon Isberto, administration’s commitment PLDT and Smart Communicato improve the business envi- tions Inc. public affairs head, ronment by cutting red tape said in a text message.

He said the simplified issuas this would enable them to deliver improved internet ser- ance of permits and clearances for deployment of the necesvices.

“At this point, the specifics sary infrastructure would be a of this major initiative have still u PAGE B2

by LoueLLa

D. DesiDerio Philstar.com

by Ben

o. De Vera Inquirer.net

PAL looks for strategic investor, taps Morgan Stanley in search “We’re working with our financial consultant,” he said.

He said talks with possible MANILA — The national car- investors were ongoing and rier has tapped Morgan Stan- the carrier was hopeful the ley to assist in its search for a partner could be taken in as strategic investor. early as next year.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) PAL is looking for a partner president and COO Jaime Bau- that could help in growing its tista told reporters it has hired presence and competing with Morgan Stanley as its financial other global players. consultant as the carrier looks To compete with the likes for a strategic investor to sup- of Singapore Airlines and Qaport its expansion plans. u PAGE B2

THE Duterte administration has set conservative macroeconomic targets for the near term while the new government adjusts, even as economic managers said Tuesday, July 5 that they want a significant reduction in poverty after six years.

Following the Cabinet-level, interagency

Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) meeting Tuesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed they cut the 2016 gross domestic product (GDP) growth target to 6 percent to 7 percent from the earlier goal of 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent set by the Aquino administration.

Diokno attributed their lower target for this year to the following: tapering effect of election spending, slow agricultural output

due to El Niño, weak infrastructure due to seasonality and weak external trade.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia noted that the 2016 target was made conservative given that the new administration has just come in.

But Pernia told reporters that economic growth in the second quarter likely hit at least 7 percent due to election spending

u PAGE B2

Duterte admin to honor contracts left by Aquino gov’t

by LoueLLa

D. DesiDerio Philstar.com

by TeTch

Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II

THE Duterte administration will respect existing contracts left by the Aquino administration, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Sunday, July 3.

“As of the present, we are to honor existing contracts. The sanctity of contracts must be respected,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre exercises administrative su-

pervision over the Office of Government Corporate Counsel and attached agencies of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He, however, said that such assurance is without prejudice to possible review if necessary.

“Because we just assumed office, there is no directive yet to review any particular contract,” Aguirre explained.

Port developers who earlier expressed optimism in doing business with the

u PAGE B2

B JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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2016 GDP growth cut to…

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PLDT, Globe welcome new admin’s…

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win-win situation because faster rollout means communities and businesses would benefit faster from improved connectivity.

Globe also welcomed the new administration’s commitment to improve government services by reducing bureaucratic red tape.

The Ayala-led telco is optimistic the new administration’s efforts would lead to the standardization of local government units

(LGU) permits and fast track the approval process of securing permits to build cell sites and right-of-way.

“We are optimistic that the policy direction made by President Duterte will be immediately implemented and thus shorten the permitting process for cell sites and right-of-way,” Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said.

Globe has been pushing for the reduction of the number of

permits necessary to build cell sites.

At present, there are 25 permits needed to build cell sites with the process taking at least eight months.

“Our commitment to the Duterte administration is to improve internet services in one year. We can do this if we have the full support of the LGUs and other government agencies in fast-tracking the permits in our rollout,” Castelo said. n

year, which was a huge decline since 2010 when it recorded 3.14 and ranked 44th.

The report ranked countries based on key criteria of logistics performance, including border clearance efficiency, infrastructure quality, timeliness of shipments, ease of arranging competitively priced shipments, competence and quality of logistics services and ability to track and trace consignments.

The Philippines’ score in the WB report dropped in all criteria except in timeliness of shipments, which jumped to 70th this year from 90th in 2014.

The survey showed that on the criteria involving customs services, the country’s ranking dropped drastically.

In the efficiency of the clearance process that included speed, simplicity and predictability of formalities by border control agencies including customs, the country declined to 78th place from 47th in 2014.

For the quality of trade- and

transport-related infrastructure – such as ports, railroads, roads, information technology – the country decelerated to 82nd from 75th previously and also declined to 60th place from 35th in the ease of arranging competitively priced shipments criteria.

For competence and quality of logistics services, for example transport operators and customs brokers, the country slipped to 77th from 61st.

It also fell to 73rd from 64th on the ability to track and trace consignments.

“The LPI plays an important role in raising awareness, and is often the starting point of a policy dialogue,” Daniel Saslavsky, trade specialist and co-author of the report, said.

For the second time in a row, Germany is the top performer with a score of 4.23, while Syria ranked last with 1.6. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines placed seventh, with Singapore still leading. n PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista

Duterte admin to honor contracts left…

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Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the move by the Duterte administration came just in time for the local port and logistics business, which declined in terms of global competitiveness based on a World Bank (WB) study.

They earlier complained of a series of BOC directives issued last year, saying it introduced uncertainties to live contracts with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

According to port developers, these BOC memorandums encroached the PPA’s regulatory authority in licensing port operators and which port stakeholders also considered as a midstream change in rules.

In the WB’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI) biennial report entitled “Connecting to Compete 2016: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy,” the Philippines fell 14 places this year to 71st place out of 160 countries from 57th in 2014.

The country scored 2.89 this

boost.

The Philippine economy grew by a better-than-expected 6.9 percent in the first quarter.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s economic team also reduced the growth goal for next year to 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent from 6.6 percent to 7.6 percent previously.

For the remainder of the Duterte administration, the DBCC set a target of 7 percent to 8 percent growth each year until 2022.

In a statement, the DBCC said the Duterte economic team “remains optimistic of the growth potential of the domestic economy despite global weak forecast and recent market developments in the US, the EU and the Asean region.”

At the end of the Duterte administration, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the poverty rate will have to be reduced to about 16 percent of the population from about 25 percent at present.

The poverty reduction scheme will entail bringing down the number of poor Filipinos by 1.25-1.5 percentage points per year, Dominguez noted.

As for the fiscal targets, Dominguez said they reduced the 2016 revenue goal to P2.573 trillion from P2.697 trillion previously, citing below target collections thus far.

For 2017, revenue targets were also slashed to P2.975 trillion from P3.04 trillion previously, before revenues exceed the P3trillion mark to reach P3.3 trillion in 2018.

“The collections of the bureaus

of Internal Revenue [BIR] and Customs had been weak due to low global oil prices and slower imports. [Former BIR commissioner] Kim Henares had collected below target,” Diokno said in an interview.

The latest data from the country’s biggest tax collection agency showed that as end-May, the BIR’s tax take amounted to P660 billion, up by over a tenth year-on-year but a fifth below the P833.9-billion target for the fivemonth period.

Economic managers said they were “committed to increase government revenue collections through proposed legislative measures which the Duterte administration is expected to pass within the first year to support higher spending.”

Dominguez reiterated their plan to pitch a comprehensive tax reform proposal to Congress

by September, which he said would likely include an adjustment of income tax rates, higher excise taxes on fuel products, as well as review of the value-added tax (VAT) exemptions to broaden the base.

However, the Duterte administration kept the expenditures target for this year to about P3 trillion, Dominguez said, as Diokno cited the need to sustain spending on public goods and services.

“There’s no point cutting on spending. We have to make up for the past neglect in infrastructure,” Diokno said.

Hence, the budget deficit this year would be a wider 2.5 percent of the GDP by year-end, Diokno said.

“Deficit spending will be raised

to 3 percent of GDP for the medium-term from 2017 to 2022 to support higher infrastructure expenditures,” the economic managers said.

“Furthermore, the DBCC principals also committed to increase the infrastructure program in 2017” they added, specifically to 5.2 percent of GDP, according to Diokno.

“The infrastructure program also includes subsidy and equity to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and transfers to local government units (LGUs) for [their] development projects,” the economic managers explained.

The DBCC nonetheless further cut its growth forecasts for merchandise exports and imports to 3 percent (from 5 percent previously) and 7 percent (10 percent perviously), respectively.

Also, Diokno said they will submit the proposed 2017 national budget of a record P3.3 trillion to Congress on Aug. 15.

The DBCC during the meeting also kept the inflation target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the period 2016 to 2022, while the foreign exchange rate was projected at P45 to 48:$1 for the medium term.

“The country’s firm macroeconomic fundamentals and strong external position could support the broad stability of the peso over the medium term,” the DBCC said.

The borrowing program for this year was kept at 86-percent domestic, 14-percent foreign, while a mix of 80-percent domestic and 20-percent foreign will be implemented in the succeeding years, Diokno said. n

PAL looks for strategic investor, taps…

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tar Airways, PAL is working on achieving a five-star rating in five years by improving its services, expanding to more international destinations and increasing its fleet.

PAL currently has a three-star ranking from Skytrax, an aviation consultancy based in the United Kingdom.

Earlier this year, PAL acquired six A350-900 aircraft to be used for long-haul flights.

The first A350 is expected to be delivered by 2018 and the carrier is studying four locations in Europe such as Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg

in Germany, Rome in Italy and Paris in France, to utilize the aircraft.

For this year, PAL is adding seven new aircraft composed of five Airbus 321s and two Boeing 777-300 ERs, to its existing fleet.

PAL has already taken delivery of two Airbus 321s for this year.

Next year, the carrier will be taking delivery of two Airbus 321 aircraft with new engine options.

PAL currently has more than 70 aircraft and flies to 44 international and 30 domestic destinations. n

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Debt Relief Atty. lAwrence yAng CLIENTS are seniors. Husband is 72. Wife is 71. Both are retired and receiving combined social security and pension total of $4,015/mo. Husband is still in good spirits although he is not in good health. He has been on dialysis for three years. He had hypertension when he was still working and left that condition untreated for years. He was ignorant of the fact that untreated hypertension destroys the kidneys because too much blood flows through the kidneys for too long.

Damage to the kidneys by untreated hypertension is irreversible, unlike damage caused by overdose of medication, which is reversible. By the time that client was educated on the cause and effect of hypertension on the kidneys, it was too late; his kidney function had been reduced to 10%, requiring dialysis, 3 X a week. But what about a kidney transplant? His doctors say that because of his age, he may not survive a kidney transplant. So he has resigned himself to being tied up to a dialysis machine to live. Wife is healthy, and they both seem happy. Their problem now is two-fold: 1) Their loan modification request was rejected two weeks ago, and they are now 8 months in arrears in their mortgage 2) IRS has placed a tax lien on their house for $15K for back taxes from 2005 to last year, 3) Credit cards of $30K. They said that they wanted to keep their house because it had $150K of equity. They bought the house for $40K, forty years ago. Now its fair market value is $450K. They refinanced five years ago and owe $300K on the mortgage. Their default on the mortgage is $17K, the IRS is hounding them to pay the tax lien and threatening to sell their house if they don’t pay up, and they can’t pay the $1K monthly to keep the $30K of credit cards

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes ON June 26, 2013, the US Supreme Court struck down section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional in the landmark case US. V. Windsor.

The BIA shortly thereafter issued a decision in Matter of Zeleniak holding that DOMA is no longer an impediment in recognizing same-sex couples under the immigration and Nationality Act. Matter of Zeleniak, 26 I&N Dec. 158 (BIA 2013). This means a same-sex marriages are now valid for immigration purposes as long as the marriage is recognized in the “place of celebration.”

This means a same- sex marriage is valid for immigration purposes as long as it was valid in the place of celebration. The same-sex marriage is valid even if the applicant is applying in a country in which same-sex marriage is illegal. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v.

Hodges that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. The court ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples and the refusal to recognize those marriages performed in other jurisdictions violates the Due Process and the Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

In the area of immigrant visas,

What’s New Arlene Al-os, cPA, MBA 1. DON’T be late. Always remember first good impression will get your audit off on the right foot.

2. Don’t walk in without records. Be prepared with complete and organized records.

3. Don’t dump a paper bag in the auditor’s face. Do not have the auditor sort through paper bags of cluttered documents. A happy auditor may not necessarily favor you but an annoyed auditor in all certainty will not help you.

4. Don’t volunteer information. A typical agent is a low key, friendly agent. Always keep in mind that he/she is not on your side. Do not let yourself be deceived with a peaceful ambience and you begin chatting and provide unnecessary information.

5. Don’t be a chatterbox. Most tax payers are afraid to talk prior

Community Journal

Seniors file chapter 13 to rescue house and handle tax liens Client files chapter 7 for $40K credit cards

current.

Can a chapter 7 help clients in their situation? NO. Chapter 7 will not give them the opportunity to cure their default on the house, and Chapter 7 will not resolve the tax lien problem. It will discharge the $30K of credit cards, but the two main problems will remain unsolved. However, Chapter 13 will allow clients to “freeze” the default on the mortgage and give them 5 years to pay that off without any interest, and Chapter 13 will “freeze” the IRS tax lien and allow clients to pay that off over 5 years without interest. And in Chapter 13, in clients’ case, nothing has to be paid to the $30K credit cards, those will just be discharged in full. How much will they pay on their Chapter 13 plan of reorganization? On the mortgage default of $17K, that will be $283 a month for 60 months. On the tax lien of $15K, that will be $250 a month for 60 months. They don’t have to pay any portion of the $30K credit cards because their home exemption of $175K covers their entire equity in the house of $150K. Together with court administrative expenses, their plan payment will be $586 a month, more or less.

Can they afford $586 a month of plan payment to cure their mortgage default and to pay off the tax lien? Their household income of $4,015 monthly is good enough to provide them a disposable income that is more than $586 a month because in Chapter 13, they don’t have to pay $1K a month to keep their $30K of credit cards current. Under their reorganization plan, the pay credit cards nothing. If they complete plan payments in 60 months, they will be back on current status on the mortgage, will owe IRS nothing and IRS will have to remove the tax lien on their house, and

they will owe nothing on credit cards. So, Chapter 13 is perfect for senior clients. It’s too bad there is no Chapter 13 to cure his kidneys. For that, he has to ask our God, Yahweh, or His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, for a cure. Jesus resurrected his friend Lazarus who had been dead for 3 days. Jesus healed the blind and performed numerous miracles of healing the sick and resurrecting the dead, to prove that He is the Son of God. So, healing his kidneys, this is something between client and Jesus but it is certainly possible. He needs to ask and it will be given.

Chapter 7 Client is 50 and single. He has a good job that pays him $55K a year. He doesn’t own a house and has just bought a new car. He doesn’t want to continue payments on his old car where he pays $258 a month for a title loan at 22% interest. He wants to give up the old car and he wants to get rid of $40K of credit cards. Chapter 7 is perfect for client. He can keep his new car, surrender his old car and not owe any return deficiency, and discharge $40K of credit cards.

With Chapter 7, he can become productive again and start saving money again. Without credit card payments and the old car payment, client is looking forward to beef up his retirement account at least by $800 a month.

“Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

— Matthew 7:7 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

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

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What immigration benefits are available to same-sex marriages post DOMA? a same sex US Citizen spouse or legal permanent resident spouse may now petition for an immigrant visa for their spouse as long as the marriage was valid in the place of celebration. Validity of the marriage is not based on the place of domicile.

Stepchildren acquired through the same sex marriage can also qualify under the same requirements as stepchildren acquired through opposite sex marriages.

Same sex spouses and qualified children or step children can also qualify as dependents of employment-based categories and family-preference categories as derivatives.

Same-sex partners of US citizens may also apply for K-1 fiancé non-immigrant visa the same way opposite sex partners may petition for a fiancé visa. The same sex US Citizen spouse may then file an immigrant petition and adjustment of status after the fiancé enters the US and marries the US citizen spouse.

Widows and widowers of samesex spouses can also qualify for immigration benefits under INA 204(l). Generally, this is done by filing a self-petition within two years of the death of the US citizen same sex spouse.

In the area of non-immigrant visas, same-sex spouses and their children are now eligible for nonimmigrant visa as a derivative.

Same sex spouses and their children can qualify as derivatives in non-immigrant visas including H, E , L , O , R visas, etc.

For aliens with final removal orders issued prior to the Windsor decision, the recognition of the validity of same sex marriage makes available new relief for their case. It may be possible to file a motion to reopen the deportation/removal case even if the removal order was issues past 90 days. ***

Monette AdevA MAglAyA ONE of my favorite writers is Saint Paul, aka Saul of Tarsus, who lived about two thousand years ago.

He had something to say about what does matter in life and about a special kind of love that in Greek is called Agape (ahgah-pay). Agape is unconditional love, a kind of love that has no agenda or motivations, a kind of love that is exemplified in God sending His only Son, a kind of love that if emulated by humans, sets us apart from all of God’s creatures, makes us a little closer to the angels and truly created in God’s own image and likeness.

But Paul didn’t start out as a defender of the Christian faith.

He was, in fact, an avid persecutor feared by early Christians. He had a unique status. As a Jew and a Pharisee who was also a Roman citizen, he used everything in his power and position to quash the growth of the church persecuting the members of the then budding Christian church. Paul stood by tacitly approving the stoning of St. Stephen, the first martyr.

Paul was a young, rising brilliant star of his time eager to make his mark in the Judaic tradition and he was hot and bothered by the intensity of the love and fervency of the Apostles and early believers. This startup movement was a threat to his career track and his Judaic core belief system. He was going to make it his life’s work to eliminate Christ’s early followers and eradicate what Christ himself has started. If murder and mayhem were the tools to get it done, he was going to use them.

But God had other plans for Paul. On his way to Damascus on a mission to arrest and persecute Christians, a blinding light struck him. He fell off his horse while Jesus’ voice is heard asking him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” This dramatic, miraculous conversion when he temporarily became blind was a critical juncture for the Christian church.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit who suffused his entire being when the scales of his blindness fell off his eyes, Paul’s teachings and writings have an eternal shelf life - true today, as it was then, and

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, nonspecific 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.

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1. Birth date, professional license, driver’s license, and accidents.

2. Type of neighborhood you live in, properties owned with addresses.

3. Bankruptcies, judgments, liens, UCC filings.

4. Possible associates, number of people at work, transactions with relatives.

5. Concealed weapons permit, criminal records.

IRS has reverted from a gentler and kinder IRS to enforcement and compliance. They have reverted to the business of audits and collections rigorous enforcement programs.

In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication is not to be considered a “covered opinion” or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for IRS audit, tax dispute, or any other purpose. *** Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities.

The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

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Staying centered in a world gone mad “In a swirling world full of illusions and artifice that only tend to distort and act as centrifugal forces pushing God away as the center of our lives, Paul’s directives make absolute sense.” will be for much of human history.

In the quiet of your soul, read the gospels, discover the exquisite beauty, range and depth of human emotions made known to God, contained in the Psalms, all 150 of them, and then read Paul. You’ll be surprised at the clarity and current relevance of many of his writings. He has a wealth of wisdom to share with anyone seeking meaning in a confusing world seemingly bent on self-immolation. In a swirling world full of illusions and artifice that only tend to distort and act as centrifugal forces pushing God away as the center of our lives, Paul’s directives make absolute sense. His words have the power to keep you centered, as they were intended to be, not on yourself, but on God. Ironically, it’s like being in the eye of the storm where there is peace while swirling forces rage about in the periphery.

This one below, if etched in many hearts and minds and lived out in our daily rounds through thoughts and more specifically in even the tiniest of actions, particularly in couples, already married or planning marriage in the foreseeable future, could remarkably bring down the alarming rate of break-ups and a whole universe of heartaches among couples and perhaps, preserve families.

These days, the very structure and integrity of the family unit are heavily assaulted from many fronts with media and the internet leading the charge at a time when the church is weakened by internal abuses and scandals.

As history will bear and as written in the song, “Canticle of the Turning,” which is based on the Blessed Mother Mary’s “Magnificat,” it is when the church is at its most vulnerable when the forces of heaven align to defend it and go on the offensive.

Marriage as a bedrock institution between man and a woman is in serious danger, as man-

made laws masquerading as civil liberties, are enacted to challenge it, all in the name of political correctness. Strong family units built on love are so essential in creating strong societies from the ground up. Each generation builds upon and learns from the ones that came before it.

The passage below is a favorite among couples and wedding planners and for good reason.

These words are more than the pretty, superficial veneer of rituals in weddings. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 13, are words to live by telling us what really matters as he did then to members of the early church who were probably just as lost, confused and disconcerted as most of us probably are.

Set your hearts on the greater gifts. I will show you the way which surpasses all the others.

If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind.

Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.

Love never fails. … And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

UERMMMC- Medical Alumni Association of America Inc. holds 28th National Convention in Newport Beach

UERMMMCMAAAI will hold a three (3) day convention at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa in Newport Beach , CA on June 30 to July 2, 2016 .

UERMMMC graduates from all over the US, the Philippines and other countries will come for this annual convention. On the first night , June 30 , the theme Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified is “UERM’s Got Talent,” also a Family Law Specialist. He was President of Hollywood Night event , particithe Philippine American Bar Association. He is pated by different chapters in the

Don’ts in an IRS audit to the introductions to the auditor, and then become more relaxed and conversational when they find out that the auditor is not mean after all.

6. Don’t fight the auditor. Remember: he didn’t choose to audit you. He is simply doing his job to work on a given case file.

He could make life more difficult for you.

7. Don’t ever bribe an auditor.

Don’t ever try it as it will go directly to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

8. Don’t be overconfident especially if you have little know how about taxes and audits.

This is certainly not the time for an ego trip.

9. Don’t underestimate the skills of the auditor. The agent is a professional. Compared to his skills, you are an amateur.

10. Don’t represent yourself if there are difficult issues at hand.

What you’re trying to save could cost you a lot more down the line. Now is not the time to save a penny for a buck.

IRS auditors have access to a Custom Comprehensive Report about you. It contains:

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 6-8, 2016

U.S. Talent presentations include MAA – Midwest, MAA Las Vegas, MAA Michigan , MAA No. California ,MAA So. California , MAA MARVADC .

On the second night , the theme is “UERM Goes Broadway” and on the third night is the Gala Night and the theme is “ Gold and Silver in 2016 “ .The keynote speaker for the Gala Night is Rolando Puno, M.D. ’77 , Spine Surgeon and

Calendar of Events across

Inventor who will be presented “Lifetime Achievement Recognition” by the Dean of UERMMMC , Dean Alfaretta Tan-Reyes and President of UERMMMC , Romeo Divinagracia, M.D. Attendees can get Category -1 CME credits by attending their CME on “Updates in Medicine”. Agnes Joaquin ,M.D. is the overall Chairperson for the CME and participants will be given 8 cred-

u PAGE B4

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES J U LY 9

FEU Sword Fraternity Alumni International Assn. also known as SANDUGO with a Facebook page of “feusfi (Abroad) is holding their 30th Anniversary of its founding. Its members are graduates of the FEU ROTC/WATC Advance course in Manila. Phil. . This group is based in Los Angeles, CA. The celebration/Reunion will be attended by other Frat Members from the Philippines, other States of the US, Canada, Australia and Tokyo. It will be held in the residence of one of the Founders at 1341 Montezuma Way, West Covina, CA, 91791 on July 9, 2016 starting at 1600H. After the 9th, Tour of Los Angeles, trip to San Diego and Las Vegas are being arranged. We are enjoining Frat members who are “Abroad” that we have no (or have changed) contact info to please get in touch to “reconnect”, or at least let us know you are still OK and/or update your data. Contact person and for more information - Frat Cmdr Romy Calderon 626 826 2745, e-mail “feusfi@gmail.com” and Brod Ted Bautista, Tel no.626 392 5024, e-mail -”samba1341@gmail.com”

J U LY 1 6

UBSCI to celebrate 28th Anniversary The United Batanguenos of Southern California Inc. (UBSCI) will celebrate their 28th Anniversary & Coronation Night on July 16, 2016 at The Odyssey Restaurant - 15600 Odyssey Dr., Granada Hills. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call Romy Elepano, Governor ( 323) 498-9333; Carmel Gonzales, Vice-Gov. (818) 785-2078 or Tony Lina, Vice-Gov. (323) 474-5877.

S E P T E M B E R 8 -1 7

42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept.

17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.

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

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PeoPle & events

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Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA holds Fil-Am students receive college scholarships from Ronald Induction and 38th Anniversary Ball McDonald House Charities® of Southern California IT’S all systems go for the 38th anniversary of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, which coincides with its Induction Ball on July 16, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel on 4700 Airport Plaza Dr., Long Beach, California.

This was announced by Lino Caringal, Jr., a business entrepreneur who assumed the presidency on Jan. 1 this year. Caringal, a Philippine Military Academy alumnus Class 1972, will be sworn in by Fil-Am Artesia Mayor Victor Manalo. Mayor Manalo will also be the guest speaker. Caringal, past president of The Global Urdanetanians and The Original Urdanetanians succeeds businessman Eddie C. Ferrer who has been president for the past four years.

PB-USA, a 501 C-3 non-profit organization has been on the forefront of partnering with the provincial government of Pangasinan and its people. It has donated three low-cost Gawad Kalinga homes in the town of Villasis, Pangasinan totaling $9,000, providing scholarship grants to children of poor families but academically well-endowed college-bound students enrolled in various state colleges and universities in the province, livelihood and trade seminar, trade mission, community outreach to the City of Cerritos and Los Angeles Lakambini pageant, monetary assistance to regions devastated by natural calamities like Typhoon Haiyan victims, promoting goods and products produced and manufactured in Pangasinan, among others.

Several manufacturers and producers showcased their products during the First Trade Expo & International Street Festival held in Artesia in October 2014. No less than Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Vice Gov. Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and a couple of Pangasinan Board members were also on hand to lend their moral support for this endeavor.

Other officers who will be sworn in are outgoing President Eddie C. Ferrer of Dagupan City who will retain his Board seat; Nieves Coquia (Dagupan City) as chairperson of the board; Mellie Soriano (Bayambang) vice chairperson; Lina Cabal (Alaminos) board secretary; Esmeralda Ceralde (Dagupan City), Neil Estrada (Calasiao), Rhenee M. Ferrer (San Carlos City), Bong Soriano (Bayambang), Eliseo Turingan (Sual) and Arsenio Valencerina (Bugal-

EMPLOYMENT

The last three presidents of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, who have been affectionately branded as “The Triumvirate,” are (from left) Dan E. Nino (2011-2012), Lino Caringal, Jr. (2016-2017) and Eddie C. Ferrer (2012-2015. They are spearheading the 38th anniversary celebration and Induction Ball of one of the active and oldest community organizations of Southern California.

Photo by Pons Co

lon). Caringal is also part of the board.

Also to be inducted are six vice presidents representing the six congressional districts of Pangasinan province: Rey Rodrigo, Oscar Camacho, Claro Guico, Roger Cabal, Perlita Rasing and Segundino Solis; executive officers Menchu Madriaga, secretary; Flordeliza Soriano, Assistant secretary; Gigi de Vera, treasurer; Julie Estrada, assistant treasurer; Beth Garcia and Linda Ortaleza, auditors; Lito de Vera, Eva Mateo, Elmer Orlino and Leocio Dumlao, business managers; Elisa Urbano and Noime Dumlao, public relations officers; Mel Oxciano, legal counsel; and Henry Ward, marshall.

Other support personnel include Emmanuel Coquiua, Ways and Means Committee; Nanding Soriano and Bert Garcia, Finance; Dennis Solis, Next Gen legal assistant; Bong Soriano, Youth, Hospitality and Membership; Lydia Ceralde, scholarship; George Han, webmaster; Mike Mandapat, photography and video; Dan E. Nino, Ernie Delfin, Ping Coquia, Elpidio Estioko, and Lora Dobuzinskis, media advisory council; Eddie C. Ferrer, Felix Lopez, Pons Co, Virginia Coquia, Nanding Soriano, Peter Magno, Gus Ganay and Ernie Delifin, project management team.

A novel thrust during Mr. Ferrer’s administration was the inclusion of the youth and young professionals whom he christened the “Next Gen” as an equal participants and partners in community building and in the organization’s activities and projects. And who will take the mantle of leadership someday when the Pangasinense old guards in our community have already faded away.

Music and entertainment will be provided by Babes and Friends Band and NextGen DJ music by Oliver Estrada. To spice up the

evening, raffle cash prizes will be up for grabs.

Other highlights include the promenade walk of 23-year-old Miss Pangasinan-USA Alyssa Lauren Soto to be escorted by presidents of PB-USA, founder of World Film Institute Dr. Antonio Gellini and followed by Corporate sponsors present; presentation of awards to livelihood and development donors; awards for Outreach and Cooperation by the Arts and Entertainment Leaders of Los Angeles that impacts the youth, family, Filipino and other Asian-Pacific communities here and globally; dinner entertainment songs by Dr. Alfred “Alvis” Quinto and dance presentation by the Bayambang Association of Southern California under its President Oscar Camacho and photo collage film clips by Bong Soriano and JR Araquel.

Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, an umbrella organization of all Pangasinan town and city associations was founded in 1978 by the late Dagupeno and Ambassador Armando C. Fernandez, then the Philippine consul general of Los Angeles. Past presidents of PB-USA in chronological order since the 1970s include Alfredo C. Reyes from (San Jacinto), Renato D. Casaclang (San Manuel), Ray Parayno (Calasiao), Adolfo U. Dotimas (San Nicolas), the late Ernesto A. Reyes (San Carlos City), Mel Castelo (Bolinao), Tony Barlongo (Tayug), Tony V. Banaag (Dagupan City), Gil B. Mislang (Mangatarem), J. Bing Dela Vega (San Carlos City), Ads Diaz (Dagupan City), Mely I Cerame (Mapandan), Dan E. Nino (Mangatarem) and Eddie C. Ferrer.

For more details, interested parties may call Lino Caringal, Jr. at 714-331-0954, Eddie C. Ferrer at 714-827-2366 or Dan E. Nino at 562-921-5116. (denino1951@ gmail.com)

EMPLOYMENT

TWO Filipino-American high school seniors were out of 21 Asia-Pacific American (APA) students who were awarded college scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Southern California, to help reduce the financial burden of college. The students each received a $2,000 scholarship through the RMHC/Asia Pacific American Increasing Achievement (ASIA) program. In addition, a $500 honorarium was awarded to an organization each student supported. In total, the Chapter awarded over $288,000 in funds to 94 exceptional high school seniors who reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Students were recently honored at an awards luncheon hosted by the McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California, which took place at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Brandon Pundamiera joined Carson High School counselor Lisa Engel and Chris Ishida, local McDonald’s owner/operator and chair of the RMHC/Asian Pacific American Increasing Achievement (ASIA) scholarship program at the 2016 Scholarship Luncheon.

Clarisse Soriano from Victorville, California also received a scholarship. Born in the Philippines, Clarisse has excelled academically while finding time to give back to her community through multiple organizations, including St. Mary’s Medical Hospital. She’ll be attending University of California, Berkeley in the fall to study Biology.

The college funds were awarded through four RMHC scholarship programs: RMHC/ Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources, RMHC/African American Future Achievers, RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement, and RMHC/Scholars. Scholarship recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including academic achievement, community involvement, leadership skills, letters of recommendation and financial need. Scholarship funds are made possible through the fundraising efforts of more than 100 local McDonald’s owner/operators, McDonald’s corporate staff, RMHC of Southern California and the global RMHC office.

Since 1990, the Southern

Clarisse Soriano

Brandon Pundamiera (center)

California chapter of RMHC has awarded more than $5.4 million in scholarship funds to more than 3,200 local students to help make their dream of a college education a reality. Local McDonald’s operators pay for all administrative costs of the Southern California scholarship program including producing and distributing the applications and hosting the recipient recognition event.

“At such a young age, these students have already overcome incredible obstacles and demonstrated a passion for and dedication to achieving their dreams,” said Vince Bryson, CEO, RMHC of Southern California. “Our goal is to provide families with the health and educational resources needed to keep their

child healthy and happy. Today it is our privilege to congratulate these students for their academic achievements and wish them well as they set out towards a bright future of many more accomplishments.”

For more than 30 years Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California has been dedicated to creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy. In addition to four scholarship programs, the organization operates six Ronald McDonald Houses, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and a Community Grants program. n

UERMMMC- Medical Alumni…

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it hours .The Alumni Foundation USA (AFUSA) will be having their Donors Appreciation Hour on June 30, 2016 (2:30 – 5:30 pm). For their part, the UERMMMC Alliance and Friends will have fundraising and will hold Auction on June 30, and July 1 and a Newport Beach Cruise at the Newport Bay on July 2, 2016

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

at 11:00 a.m.

For inquiries on the event, please contact Joselito Babaran, M.D., President, MAA So Cal Chapter and Convention Chairman at 818. 395.9478 and Teri G. Pastor, M.D. Treasurer, UERMMMC- MAAAI at her email at babesmd@gmail.com.

(By: Ms. Lucy Babaran, Alliance & Friends, CA Coordinator)

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

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B JULY 6-8, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

Myla RaMos, PResident of seaRchPRos solutions

Starting small to making it big by

HARD work and dedication definitely pay off—and FilipinoAmerican businesswoman Myla Ramos is living proof of it.

From humble beginnings as a housekeeper, Ramos and her company, SearchPros Solutions (with co-founders Heather Kocina and Rayna Pearson), is now one of the most successful and fastest-growing companies in the United States.

A national human resource and staffing company, SearchPros in 2010 won a 10-year, $250 million annual contract to provide labor for national technology defense and aerospace giant, Lockheed Martin Corp. In 2011, the company was named Small Business of the Year for California and Small Business Subcontractor of the Year in the district of Sacramento.

Fast forward to 2016, Ramos and SearchPros are still flying high. The company was awarded by the US Chamber of Commerce as the 2016 DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year last month and became a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year. They were also recently featured in Forbes magazine’s Women Business

Malou liwanag-Bledsoe / AJPress

Myla Ramos (in front) at seven years old, with her mother Angela Espino Mendoza from Pulilan, Bulacan; father Tito “Boy” Santiago Mendoza from Marilao, Bulacan; and brothers Angelo (baby) and Ireneo Mendoza; getting ready to leave for the US.

At the Entrepreneur of the Year awards in San Jose.

Leaders issue.

Working hard toward her dreams Ramos was only seven years when she and her family migrated to the US to follow the American dream. Growing up as an immigrant, she watched her parents struggle to make ends meet.

“I remember living in a onebedroom flat with my grandparents, parents and my other

Ramos and her family, parents, brothers and their families.

siblings,” she shared in a past interview with the Asian Journal. “I thought to myself, I don’t want to live like this all my life. I don’t want to live just to get by.

So I began working hard.”

“I got tired of being the poor immigrant,” she added.

“Being in the US is a blessing. If you work hard, no one will put any labels on you. The only way to succeed is to educate myself and work hard.”

From there on, Ramos started worked in a hotel as a housekeeper while attending high school and college at San Francisco State University (SFSU). When she was promoted to Assistant General Manager, she worked 12-hour shifts from 7 am to 7 pm and then would go to her classes after.

Her perseverance paid off and she graduated from SFSU with honors in Industrial Psychology and a minor in Business Administration.

Relationships built on success After college, Ramos was

hired by one of the top staffing agencies in the world to help open their office in San Mateo, California. Because she loved helping people, she knew it was the perfect job for her.

However, the idea of SearchPros came out on Christmas Eve in 2004. Ramos, along with co-founders Heather Kocina and Rayna Pearson were all working at the staffing agency, surrounded by contractors who were waiting to be paid. However, they found out late in the day that the checks were not coming — ruining Christmas for many.

That was when Ramos, Kocina and Pearson created a plan to build a business of their own.

“We made a decision that night to follow our big dream — start and run a business of our own, be the role models we never had, provide a better life for our families and contribute to our community,” Ramos said in an interview with the US Chamber of Commerce.

Adding that it was never “just a job,” Ramos said that

Myla Ramos and her family: husband of 20 years, Pernell Ramos with kids Mikayla (12) and Perrin (16).

SearchPros is their legacy for their families and the community.

“We didn’t get a paycheck for the first couple of years,” she said. “Every dollar we received was reinvested back

to SearchPros.”

Today, SearchPros has its own corporate-owned headquarters — a far cry from the 120 square feet rental space they had when the comContinued on Page 3

entertainment

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The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

Hmart announces winners of California Customer Appreciation Sweepstakes Two California residence won Toyota vehicles in the Hmart Customer Appreciation Sweepstakes.

Jin Son (403XXXX1601) was selected the grand prize winner of a 2016 Toyota RAV4 XLE. Yoeurng Yang (403XXXX3078) won the first prize, a 2016 Toyota Corolla L. A total of 381 winners were drawn at Hmart in Buena Park, CA on Monday, June 27 at 4pm. one second prize winner received a $500 Hmart Gift Certificate; Seven third prize winners (one per store) won a CowAY Air Purifier; 21 fourth prize winners (3 per store) each won a $100 Hmart Gift Certificate; and 350 fifth prize winners (50 per store) each won a 15lb of Haru Haru Rice.

Hmart employees and managers hosted the raffle drawing on Monday and also recruited children to help select two car

winners.

California Hmart customers who were smart card members and made purchase between March 26, 2016 to June 26 were eligible to enter the sweepstakes. Customers who met this requirement from seven stores – Buena Park, Diamond Bar, Irvine, Norwalk, Garden Grove, San Diego and

Los Angeles – and submitted the bottom of their shopping receipts were entered into the contest.

Hmart has a total of Eight locations in California. The Asian supermarket was established in 1982 in Queens, New York and has since expanded to 13 states in the country.

(Advertising Supplement)

Enrique Gil shows another side in ‘Dukot’

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

A NEw Enrique Gil will be seen in his upcoming film “Dukot.”

The Kapamilya actor said he went out of his comfort zone for this film. He’s done comedy, drama and romantic

comedy but has never done an action film.

Some of the films he has done before are “The Reunion,” “She’s the one” and “Just the way You Are.” “I want to try something new na hindi ko pa nagagawa before,” he said about accepting the project. “No’ng

Enrique Gil said he went out of his comfort zone for his upcoming film “Dukot” under director Paul Soriano.

na-pitch sa akin ang movie, slideshow pa lang, first page sinabi ko, ‘sige, gagawin ko.’”

His director Paul Soriano during an interview in “Tonight with Boy Abunda” described him as a “hungry actor,” being surprised himself of the performance that Enrique has given in the film.

Reacting to this Enrique said, “Siguro po kasi it’s my first time to do something else, especially action.”

This film, he admitted, has gave him a brand new experience especially he’s currently working on the primetime TV series “Dolce Amore” with love team Liza Soberano.

“You will learn a lot from different things, with other great actors,” he explained.

“Bago lahat ‘to, e, iba ang vibe ng show. So na-enjoy ko lahat.

I wanted to learn.”

Also part of the film are Shaina Magdayao, Ricky Davao, Christopher de Leon and Alex Medina. It’ll be in theaters on July 13. (Philstar. com)

Starting small to making...

From Page 2 pany first started. The Citrus Heights-based business now also has 30 recruiters placing thousands of employees in 28 states and 8 countries.

And though SearchPros did not win Entrepreneur of the Year, Ramos still has a lot to be proud of.

“The winner was FitBit — and honestly I don’t even know how we got nominated in the same category since he has a $2 billion company, and this was only regional,” she shared. “we did wIN the National US Chamber of Commerce Company of the Year!

That was an amazing honor and [a] prestigious award.”

Giving back and holding on to her Filipino heritage As successful as she is now, Ramos clings to her Filipino heritage and believes in the importance of giving back to the community. Today, SearchPros supports the PCDH19 Alliance to help families affected by epilepsy, sponsored the 2015 St. Johns Program that offers shelter and self-sustainability readiness for women and children, provided resume workshops for job seekers through the Sacramento Area Human Resources Association, “adopted” a village to support typhoon relief to the Philippines, and raised money

Let’s grow, right now.

When it comes to business, timing is everything.

Ramos taken last year in the Philippines, where they brought Christmas to a village by giving gifts for all the kids, as well as serving spaghetti and chicken to the people.

for the women’s Empowerment Shelter.

“I am a first generation Filipina-American from Abangan Sur, Marilao, Bulacan; led by my devout Catholic grandparents in a traditional Filipino household,” she shared. “My family has always been the center the center of the universe with my extended Titas, Lolos and Lolas always in the peripheral.

“Like many immigrants, we started with humble beginnings, living with relatives and taking whatever menial jobs were available to survive.

Always an outcast as a product of two worlds I struggled to find the balance of the

competitive, extroverted and aggressive US tendencies and the religious, respectful, introverted Filipina way,” she said.

Realizing that these two worlds were complementary in the business world, Ramos used that to her advantage and is harvesting the fruits of her labor.

“I attribute a lot of our success because I have been able to incorporate the positive American values and the rich Filipino heritage,” she shared and then added, “I find that timing, family support, perseverance, ten years of trying and little prayer will help anyone succeed.”

And, with historically low rates, there’s never been a more opportunistic time to expand your business with a commercial real estate loan from Comerica. As the leading bank for business*, we’ve been financing business expansion for nearly 150 years. Whether you need to build or purchase, expand or refinance, it’s the right time. Are you ready?

Call 800.705.2387, stop by a Comerica banking center or visit comerica.com/cre.

®

RAISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS. MEMBER FDIC. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER. Comerica Bank NMLS ID: 480990 *Comerica ranks first nationally among the top 25 U.S. financial holding companies, based on commercial and industrial loans outstanding as a percentage of assets.

Data provided by SNL Financial, June 2015.

CBP-6100-06 06/16

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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

Jessy Mendiola: Nothing wrong with ‘hanging out’ with Luis Manzano JESSY Mendiola doesn’t see anything wrong with “hanging out” with Luis Manzano.

“I don’t see anything wrong with hanging out with Luis,” she said in an interview aired in “Tonight with Boy Abunda” on Thursday, June 30. “We go out from time to time. Sometimes we go out as groups and siguro halata naman na hindi kami nagtatago kasi may mga pictures naman to prove na yes we go out.”

Jessy has been linked to Luis since last April, when Jessy first posted a photo with Luis for his birthday.

Despite being open in going out with Luis, the Kapamilya actress doesn’t want to label their relationship.

“We are friends and we are getting close to each other, but he knows I have to do a lot of things right now and he knows I’m enjoying my life as it is,” she explained.

When asked if Luis has a chance to win her heart, Jessy didn’t hesitate to say yes through she didn’t mention whether the actor is courting her.

“I am not denying anything,” she explained. “Ayoko

Jessy Mendiola

Philstar.com photo

naman maging sobrang pretensious na wala. Mayro’n, kasi like what I’ve said Luis is a nice guy and any girl would be happy to

have him.”

Jessy was named on Thursday as FHM Philippines’ Sexiest Woman of 2016. (Philstar.com)

Ate Glow gets hitched!

Rene Boy ‘Ate Glow’ Facunla ties knot with British beau

WEDDING bells rang all over social media late Monday, July 4 when photos of comedian Ate Glow (Rene Boy Facunla in real life) surfaced on Facebook showing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s most popular impersonator marrying her British boyfriend in England over the weekend.

Entertainment website PEP.ph broke the happy news, a day after it also uploaded an interview with trans woman Angelina King (formerly Ian King) and his wife TV host and model Joey Mead.

Based on the posts, Ate Glow’s wedding took place at the Chelsea Registry Office in London on July 2.

The comedian met her now husband way back in 2013 while vacationing in the European City, who knew from the start that she was a transsexual. (ManilaTImes.net)

features 5

Family is Kuya Kim’s number 1 priority Kim Atienza takes pride in being known as “Kuya Kim,” but what gives him greater satisfaction is being called “papa.”

While his transition from politician to TV personality has been a success, this former manila City council member holds his achievements in his personal life most dear.

“Having kids really makes you grow. With them, you gain such perspective,” he shared.

“To be a parent, you have to be very selfless and be very conscious of how you spend your time. There has to balance and family should always be the No. 1 priority.”

A father of three, Atienza thought himself “immortal” in his bachelor years. “i was young, and felt that i was going to live forever. When i had my kids, and i watched them grow up so fast, and i realized i’m getting old!” he laughed. “But with that, i also realized that life is finite. [i asked myself] what am i going to do with the years that are given to me alive? it made me value time.”

Like any dad in any age, Atienza admits that he has stumbled many times as a father. He is humble enough to realize, however, that making mistakes is all but a natural part of parenthood.

But thankfully, whenever he finds himself at a loss, he turns to his father former manila mayor Lito Atienza for a little wisdom.

A man who wears many hats both literally and figuratively, Kim Atienza holds his achievements in his personal life most dear.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

How does Kris Aquino feel when she’s impersonated?

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

KriS Aquino reacts to the impersonations of her made by other actresses.

Angelica Panganiban and recently Barbie Forteza were impersonating her in their respective shows.

“Depende, kapag maganda An avid triathelete, Atienza’s wife Felicia and children Jose 3rd, Elliana and Emmanuelle all came out happy ako. (It depends, I’m happy the New York City Marathon in 2015 to proudly cheer on their ‘papa.’ if it’s beautifully done),” she “my father was always a ing that our parents would replied when asked if she’s okay mentor, in my life and career, always be there for us, because being impersonated, during her especially during my time they were solid for us. guesting in marian rivera’s mornwhen i was in politics,” he “So the way Dad loves ing show “’Yan ang morning.” shares. inspired by his father, mom is the way i love my wife “Kung may itsura ang nag-imthe younger Atienza served now. i know that through loving personate sa iyo, why not, di ba? as barangay chairman for one my wife and their mother, i give (If the impersonator is appealing, term and manila city councillor my kids the security of knowing why not, right?)” she added. for three. that their parents will always be meanwhile, Kris said she “One of those moments i there for them. my kids know enjoyed a lot her vacation with could never forget was when i mama and Papa will always be her children Josh and Bimby in won a council seat in 1995 and there for them until they decide Hawaii. my father was proclaimed as to be on their own.”

Aside from having a good vice mayor. We gave each other Asked what kind of a parrest, she was able to spend a lot a big hug in Comelec,” the lov- ent he is, Atienza says, “As a of time with them. She said her ing son proudly recalled. parent, i’d like to think that i’m kids were not yet ready to go The older Atienza was a balanced combination of my home. equally proud that his son was dad and my mom. i got all the “Actually, ang mga boys, following in his footsteps, until good points from Dad, but of na-teary eyed sila nang pauwi,” the latter realized politics was course, you morph it a bit in a she related. “Sinasabi ni Josh, not where he truly wanted to way that you think is best for siyempre mag-goodbye na ‘yong be. your kids. Kasi iba na ang mga guards niya sa kanya, siyempre six The morning he told his kids ngayon eh,” he laughs. years ‘yon na-attach so ma-miss passionate politician father “i’m a softer version of my daw niya. Si Bimb naman sinabi, that he was leaving politics for dad. He was a bit strict and ‘kasi dito you’re just a mom.’ So good for a career in TV was a more controlling. i know my sinabi ko, i’ll still be just a mom, potentially tense moment. But dad loves me very much, but relax. (Actually, the boys got teary like any father who only wants he is very matipid with praise. eye on the the way home. Josh the best for his son, the former So with my kids, i’m more into said, of course the guards said mayor gave him his blessing. positive reinforcement and goodbye to him, they’ve been at“He simply said, ‘i’m happy communication. i reinforce their tached to for six years, so he will for you. Do whatever pleases good behaviour and i praise miss them. For Bimb, ‘because you,’ and then he gave me a them all the time.” here you’re just a mom.’ So I said, big hug,” Atienza recalls. “i am He admits he is not the per‘I’ll still be just a mom, relax.’”) who i am greatly because of my fect father by any stretch, but During their vacation, Kris father.” he always strives to live up to also realized how important it is it was from his father that his wife and children’s expectato spend quality time with her he not only learned how to tions. children, which she also advised become a hardworking proAtienza knows too well to other moms. vider, but from whom he “also the challenges and profound “Ngayon ko natutunan, kasi learned how to give love and blessings that come with being di ba, we always say quality time? share a life with another pera dad. But if there’s one thing Hindi, e, totoo ‘yong quantity of son.” that he’s learned so far, it is this: time,” she said. “iba talaga ‘yong “i admire the way he loves “in life and in parenthood, you mabuhusan mo ng maraming my mom. Their solid relationcan do better and be better by oras talaga at panahon ang anak ship gave us our base in life. simply trying your best.” (Manimo kasi ‘yon ‘yong mga hindi nila We grew up very secure knowlaTimes.net) makakalimutan. (“I have learned

that we always say quality time, right? No, quantity of time is also true. It is really different if you give more time and share more moments with your kids because they will never forget them.”)

Kris Aquino has no problem being impersonated by other actresses.

6

Summertime in Las Vegas

features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

Baron Geisler conquers his ‘demons’ through painting

Baron Geisler turned to painting to conquer his “demons” instead of drinking alcohol.

BARoN Geisler has found a new way to conquer his “demons” through art.

He posted on Instagram his artwork which he did when he was feeling “lonely.” Instead of turning to alcohol to conquer his “demons,” he decided to paint.

“People do get tired. doing my best to conquer my demons sa tamang paraan. Sobrang lonely ko. Can’t drink can’t

break promises. Eto magpipinta ako now,” he said on the caption.

The character actor had issues on controlling his drinking habits, which led him to be in rehab in previous years.

In another post, he said he doesn’t mind if his artwork is “PANGIT ATLEAST MAy RELEASE!!!!!!” (Joyce Jimenez/ Philstar.com)

Baby steps for Baste Duterte’s showbiz foray

by Tessa

Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

A dAy after the inauguration of President Rodrigo duterte, The Manila Times bumped into the lucky lady who snagged the management of the new “crush ng bayan,” the Chief Executive’s youngest son Sebastian. yes, he’s the man who gives the nickname “Baste” a hot and whole new meaning.

Reported in June by Manila Times Entertainment, veteran showbiz manager Betchay Vidanez landed the goldmine of plotting the 28-year-old davaoeno’s pending showbiz career upon the recommendation of action star Robin Padilla.

Padilla, a staunch supporter of Mr. durterte’s candidacy, actively campaigned for the winning bet, spending a lot of time with Baste in out of the country sorties like Hong Kong.

As showbiz’ Binoe (Padilla’s monicker in the industry) saw how the down-to-earth mestizo (Baste’s mom—Zimmerman is of German descent) naturally magnetized the crowd, he convinced Baste to join his own manager’s stable of talents.

That the President’s son agreed should come as no surprise. As the nation know by now, Baste is the only duterte among elder siblings Sara and Paolo who shunned running for office, instead choosing to manage his own auto repair shop while surfing and singing as front man in local rock band on the side.

Apparently, somewhere

Sebastian Duterte with girlfriend Kate Necesario

along the way of amassing thousands of fans and followers on social media during his father’s campaign, Baste realized he may just be bound for stardom.

According to Vidanes, however, the President’s son is heeding the call of showbiz for more “altruistic” reasons.

“He’s neither going into acting nor singing,” she told confided to The Manila Times.

“Endorsements lang muna kasi gusto niya yung talent fee ilagay sa isang foundation to help the poor.”

Adding that Baste is still very shy despite being the obvious public favorite among his siblings, he also outlined the kind of products he will be willing to represent, as well as the concept of the ads he would have to shoot.

“Walang liquior or any of those macho products that go well with a surfer/rocker image,” Vidanes continued. “Ang dami

nang offers [from consumer companies] actually, but we’re being very careful [given he is a member of the First Family].

Meron na kami napili but top secret muna!”

As to what will be required of him artistically, Vidanes said Baste wishes to be shown in ads—whether photographed or shot for TV—as naturally as possible.

“Ayaw niya yung masyadong staged, kung puwede nga daw yung parang sinusundan lang siya ng camera,” Vidanes said.

With these baby steps the President’s son is taking as he soon begins his foray into showbiz, what is “natural” is sure to prove exciting nonetheless. For wh else can wear a lip ring ever so naturally, clad in a barong Tagalog in Malacañang Palace no less, but Baste duterte? Now that’s hot—whether in showbiz or politics.

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

LAS VEGAS’ McCarran Airport was crowded with people determined to get an early start on the long weekend rush.

Las Vegas is already hot -- it is 103 degrees in the shade, a desert steamy heat that promised long sultry days. Bikinied bodies, oiled and gleaming, laid in various stages of undress, abound in hotel swimming pools.

The heat, the speed, smell, the hustle brings out the dancers, singers, casino, people, general show business visiting merry gamblers, melee of noisy tourists and middle America out on the four-mile stretch of the boulevard — all looking to be entertained. At $11 million an acre, the Strip is probably the most prime real estate in the world.

“Summer time and the living is easy,” says Gershwin. Elsewhere and everywhere, summer has already arrived.

Summer has officially arrived — that season when time stands still, when nothing bad can happen, when the mornings with the sun buttering the tree tops represents a chance to start over, to begin again and everything seems possible.

Summer is like a metaphor after another. A profusion of blooms, a fiery weather of dreams, a fever of the mind, a blossom of conscience, a sweating of regret and a premonition of desire. It is a garden of the spirit that bestows an imagination’s respite in the knowledge that there was more in the world that one could understand. Name me one masterpiece whose euphoria for July or August is equal to Wordsworth from his “daffodils.”

It is a time more mellow than autumn, more tender than spring and away from the inhospitable glare of winter. Summer is a high, candid definite time.

Summer is a voyeur’s paradise, as the whole city is taking off its clothes just to torment the men, (who just stare a lot, moronic with easy pleasure) at this all hang-out. Being just their

Vina Nacionales, the Moonlighter and Maria Sangadang weave memories on a summer weekend in Vegas.

true selves in sweet freedom, they are unburdened by cares and innocent responsibility.

It is the great trek, the movement of life from indoor to outdoor. The whole street is turned inside out, as if at every window people were shaking out the contents of shoe boxes, suit cases and closets.

I’m also hearing summer sounds again — neighbors talking in their garden, the sound of the winds through the magnolia, maple and elm trees as their leaves whispered and the birds too. When it rains, the thunder seems to enter the rooms, voices in the street day and nights admitting you to intimacies through windows and thin walls. That sound of a car honking on Rexford drive is inferior to that of a honking bird, is after all, an arbitrary decision.

But the saddest sounds of summer are those two hearts breaking. Summer romance, as a phrase, (when the two words are brought together) is something akin to “Summer Soldier.”

The romance carries away and the summer soldiers run away from duty or from the reality of things.

Sun-filled romance in summer is the dramatic background of much fiction. There’s the accident of meeting and the unreasonable heightening of the season. Classically, there is also the imbalance of clan or situation on hand, chilly truths swept away by the soft clouds, the fields, petals in the breeze and the urgency of the burst open water lilies called lotus.

Edith Wharton wrote a short novel called “Summer.” It is a bout a poor girl and a clever young man. As always, the man is alone. Idling about in the sunshine, and she is there as she has always been in the way of these romances. of course, it is not to last. The young man as it turns out, is engaged to someone.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles This is the summer landscape that engulfs Tess and Angel Clare and finally leads to a despair of such magnitude that only the genius of Thomas Hardy could imagine it in the changing seasons.

My favorite, Chekhov’s “The Lady with the dog,” is the story of a lady and a man are both married. They meet one summer and the romance flows along on a pitiless tide. Without any possible ending except misery, when they believe the love will at last end, or the devastation will have a solution — the final line says “no, it was only the beginning” So in spite of the meadows and the picnics under the shade of copper beech trees, the days will be staged again next summer with other lovers in other places. The freedom of the endless summers remain in memory like the summers of childhood that one remembers as having lasted forever.

Summer is a high, candid, definite time — but always beware of summer romance. *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@aol. com

Fil-Am author writes book on coping with cancer Memoir details the author’s tried, tested coping mechanism for “When Your Doctor Says, ‘It’s Cancer”

LoS ANGELES—J. P. Lansmart Jr. asks: what will do you “When your doctor Says, “It’s Cancer”? (published by Xlibris). In an equally challenging and encouraging memoir, the author shares how he has treaded the waters of life, all along knowing that he has cancer.

The National Cancer Institute cites that, “cancer has a major impact on society in the United States and across the world.

It is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2012, there were 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide.” The author is now one of the people who make up the growing number of people who acquire or gets stricken by cancer.

His debut publication is a memoir on how he copes and “masters” the art of living fuller while being stricken with cancer.

In it, he shows how he fought in breaking the “cycle of fear” through right choices, under-

standing the divine connection and recognizing that it is not “the end” but a start of “new life” where spiritual growth and renewal in the midst of struggle are possible.

It is his belief in trust and God that helped him live a positive life amidst his condi-

tion. The book is not just about his cancer but also courageously confronting the “pain, fear, and anxiety” other terrible diseases can cause to a person.

“It is the story of my life embellished with grace and ruled by a will from above,” Lansmart Jr. shares. “The most valuable thing I learned about having cancer is that I am not alone. I am in “potter’s hand” who can mold me to keep me or trash me away.

My breath may be short but my day is not. don’t let cancer rob you of all things.”

In the concluding chapter of the book, the author offers a “ prescription for a greater and safer America titled, “Peace on Earth, ‘Good and Well’ to All.” Roela Victoria-Rivera, also a Fil-Am and author of the book “Glimpses from Heaven” by WestBow Publishing, delivers the brief introductory message to the book.

Paul Soriano won’t stop Toni from working despite nearing due date PAUL Soriano won’t stop wife Toni Gonzaga from working despite nearing due date of her pregnancy.

Toni has entered the final trimester of pregnancy, and is set to give birth by the end of September until early october.

“For as long as the doctor allows her,” Paul replied when asked until when can Toni work.

“The doctor said she’s completely healthy, she can work as long as she gets her proper rest and her working conditions are safe.”

Toni is currently doing the sitcom “Home Sweety Home” with John Lloyd Cruz. She will

soon host the newest season of “Pinoy Big Brother” and has a hosting job for “ASAP.” Paul said they’re both excited for the coming of the baby boy, and are hopeful that they could be good parents to him.

“It’s exciting, it’s just how I make films, it’s unpredictable,” he said about being a parent.

“This is another challenge that I’m taking on with Toni.”

“My parents and Toni’s parents are there to guide us, to correct us if we make mistakes,” he added.

Paul directed the film “dukot,” which stars Enrique

Paul Soriano has no problem with wife Toni Gonzaga still working after entering the final trimester of pregnancy with their first child.

Gil, Shaina Magdayao, Ricky davao, Christopher de Leon and Alex Medina. The film will be in cinemas starting July 13. (Philstar. com)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - July 6, 2016

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