LA Midweek Edition -- March 02 -- 04, 2016

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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. 18 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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Comelec can’t stop Pacquiao-Bradley fight DATELINE USA

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from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by sheila

Crisostomo Philstar.com

mANILA — Commission on elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista on tuesday, march 1 conceded that the poll body could not stop senatorial bet sarangani rep. manny Pacquiao’s bout with American timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las

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Vegas.

In a press briefing, Bautista said that in his personal opinion, it is beyond the Comelec’s jurisdiction to stop the fight.

“You have to distinguish the fight from the fact that it is being broadcast in the Philippines. Personally, I don’t think I can prohibit Pacquiao from boxing. that is his profession,”

said Bautista. he, however, maintained that the Comelec could regulate the broadcast of the fight.

“I think we can do that because as you all know, we have some form of control, regulatory supervision over entities which have franchise during election period.

“But as to whether we can stop

Pacquaio from fighting, that’s different,” he added. the full commission discussed Pacquiao’s case in a meeting yesterday and it decided to uphold the recommendation of the law department to give him five days to comment on two letters that they received concerning the match.

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QUALIFIED OR DISQUALIFIED

Poe’s name will remain on ballot

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

New poll: Clinton and Sanders both top Trump

by William

B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

the supreme Court (sC) is yet to rule on sen. Grace Poe’s eligibility for the may 2016 elections, but qualified or not, her name will remain on the ballot, the Commission on elections (Comelec) said on tuesday, march 1.

It is too late to erase the names of disqualified candidates or make any changes on the ballots Sen. Grace Poe since printing has started last month, according to the poll body.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said even the name of former ofW party-list rep. roy señeres, who

ACCorDING to a new CNN/orC International poll, Donald trump is not leading among Us voters after all. the poll, which sampled at least 1,000 telephone interviews with American adults between feb. 24-27, and included at least 920 interviews among registered voters, concluded that both of the remaining Democratic candidates for president easily beat out republican front-runner trump.

Although Clinton won by a landslide over the weekend in the south Carolina primary, putting her well ahead in the race for the Democratic nomination, she is likely to face

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More rain for California expected in March heAVY showers were expected in droughtstricken California this past february, but it ended up being the second hottest with an average low temperature of 65.9 degrees. “everyone’s been asking, ‘Where’s the rain?

Where’s the rain?’” said matt mehle, a meteorologist with the National Weather service in monterey.

Although the state was forecast to experience intense rainstorms from el Nino, rainfall in southern California has ceased after a single big storm in early January. rain that typically comes to California during an el Nino year has stayed toward the Pacific Northwest, sf Gate reported. “el Nino is here. It is occurring, but unfortunately, the resulting weather pattern is not,” mehle said, according to sf Gate.

Despite a parched february, el Nino did

UNFAIR ADVANTAGE. The People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley pose for photographers in New York last Jan. 21, for their upcoming April 9 fight in Las Vegas. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) that while Pacquiao has the right to fight, the live telecast “will have consequences on his candidacy” if he violates the Fair Election Act. AJPress photo by Troi Santos

CoNstaNte AJPress

the body of a missing German adventurer was found inside an abandoned yacht off the coast of Barobo in suigao del sur. two filipino fishermen over the weekend discovered the body of 59-year-old manfred fritz Bajorat inside a 40-foot yacht called sayo, which had been sailing around the world for the past two decades. Bajorat’s body, which was preserved in part to salty air, dry ocean winds and hot temperatures, was found sitting at a desk near a radio telephone.

It remains unclear how long Bajorat was dead, but reported sightings of him have not been mentioned since 2009. Cause of death and how long Bajorat was missing also remain a mystery.

Bajorat’s body was taken to

p. Calleja Inquirer.net

by perseus

eChemiNaDa Philstar.com

mANILA — Vice presidential aspirant sen. ferdinand marcos Jr. ignored on tuesday, march 1, the continued criticism of President Aquino, saying the people would judge the marcoses and the Aquinos in the coming may elections. “the President criticized not only me personally but everything about my family. And I say, leave it to the people to

Missing German found off PH coast by agNes

by Niña

Bongbong to Aquino: Let people judge Marcoses

1

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!

Butuan City for an autopsy, which showed there was no foul play involved. “the doctor believes that the man died of natural causes, and there is no evidence of foul play,” a spokesman from the Barobo police station told mailonline.

Dr. mark Benecke, a forensic criminologist in Cologne, Germany, told German newspaper Bild that the way Bajorat was sitting appears to indicate that his death was unexpected, and suggested it could have been from a heart attack. the German embassy in manila is working with local officials to find his daughter in Germany, according to the Daily mail. Bajorat is believed to have a daughter who works as a captain on a freight vessel.

Police are also attempting to

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Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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Philstar.com file photo / Efigenio Toledo IV

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shoULD he get elected president in the upcoming elections in may, expect the foreign policy of presidential candidate Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte to be lukewarm to the United states. his running mate and spokesperson senator Alan Peter Cayetano voiced Duterte’s position on the implementation of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA), the defense deal between the Us and the Philippines, during the annual business forum organized by the Joint foreign Chambers of the Philippines dubbed as “Arangkada” on tuesday, march 1.

Cayetano said eDCA, the 10-year agreement, which has recently been ruled constitutional by the supreme

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A MARCH 2-4, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Comelec can’t stop Pacquiao-Bradley…

PAGE A1 t

“The Comelec en banc approved the recommendation of the law department that Rep. Pacquiao be directed to submit his comment to the letters of Rep. Bello and Saguisag within five days from receipt of the notice,” he said, referring to former Akbayan party-list congressman Walden Bello and former senator Rene Saguisag.

The two have sought clarification whether or not the upcoming boxing match will give Pacquiao “unfair advantage,” thus violating the Fair Elections Act. According to Bautista, the law department had provided several “options” on how the commission could look into the case.

One of these is Pacquiao’s boxing match with Mexican Jorge Solis in Las Vegas before the 2007 elections when he was then running for congressman of South Cotabato.

The Comelec had resolved to allow the airing of only the prefight sparring sessions and disal-

lowed the broadcast of the actual bout in South Cotabato. For the rest of the country, full-broadcast was authorized.

“But again, there is a difference because at that time, Cong.

Pacquiao was running for congress as opposed to now that he’s running for national office.

That’s why we thought that the best recourse is to ask him to comment,” Bautista added.

The law department also took note that the upcoming fight is not a title match, unlike the one in 2007.

Saguisag asked the Comelec in his letter to “advise him (Pacquaio) to reset the fight.”

“Candidate Pacquiao had or must have known our elections will be on May 9, 2016. Therefore, for him to agree to fight in April meant he surely must have realized the value of free publicity for his first bid for national office,” he said.

Saguisag added the Comelec should “make sure that Manny does not enjoy unfair advantage

by circumvention.”

Malacañang prefers to let the Comelec decide if Pacquiao could be disqualified as a senatorial bet if his bout with Bradley pushes through.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. pointed out the poll body has the sole mandate to decide on such cases, especially in light of concerns that the Filipino boxing champion will have undue advantage over other candidates.

“We recognize the Comelec’s duty to regulate the candidate’s activities during the election period, and this includes Rep. Pacquiao’s scheduled fight,” he told 30TH ANNIVERSARY. President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday, Feb. 1 joined the Presidential Security Group (PSG) as it celebrated its Malacañang reporters.

30th founding anniversary. The PSG was first formed in March 1, 1986, under the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, as Comelec commissioner Roa separate support unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It replaced the Presidential Security Command as the group dedicated wena Guanzon and former Comfor the security of the president and his family.

Inquirer.net photo elec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. warned that the airing of Pacquaio’s fight, which will be on pay-per-view worldwide and not just on a national scale, puts the Bautista also explained that if dates–Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, other senatorial candidates in a PAGE A1 t u PAGE A3 passed away in February, will a candidate died or was disquali- Jejomar Binay, Poe, Rodrigo also be on the official ballot. fied, their votes will be physically Duterte, Miriam Santiago and Señeres had backed out from counted but these will be de- Señeres–as well as the 115 partythe presidential race a week be- clared stray. list groups. fore he died.

“You will know the votes of The names of the 50 senatorial Bautista said it is not possible these people who [were] dis- candidates and local candidates to cross out or put a line across qualified and those who passed are at the back. the names of candidates who away,” he said.

Up for grabs in the 2016 elecwere disqualified or who passed Comelec spokesman James tions are the positions for Presiaway to indicate that they are Jimenez earlier said that more dent, Vice President, 12 senators, no longer in the race because it than 10.5 million ballots have 115 party-list representatives, would entail a reprinting of bal- already been printed by the Na- 235 district congressmen, 81 lots that is no longer possible at tional Printing Office (NPO). governors, 81 vice governors, this time. his is roughly 25 percent of the 772 members of the Sanggunian “We could not do that [put a 56.7 million ballots that need to Panlalawigan, 144 city mayors, line across the names]. It would be printed for the national and 144 city vice mayors, 1,610 city be complicated, we would not be local elections on May 9, 2016. councilors, 1,490 municipal mayable to meet our April 25 deadPrinting has to be finished not ors, 1,490 municipal vice mayors, line to finish the printing of bal- later than April 25 or two weeks 11,924 municipal councilors and lots,” he explained. before election day. a governor and a vice governor “So printing will continue even The ballots are precinct-spe- for the Autonomous Region in if the Supreme Court rules to cific.

Muslim Mindanao and 24 ARMM disqualify [Poe],” the Comelec Printed on the front are the assemblymen. chairman said. names of the presidential candiThe Manila Times has reported that a draft decision written by SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo disqualified Poe on the PAGE A1 t albums of Bajorat’s family and grounds that she did not meet retrace Bajorat’s last voyages friends, clothes, tins of food, and the residency requirement for and the people with whom he last a letter he wrote to his wife, Clau- presidential candidates.

The SC magistrates, however, spoke. One person told Bild he dia, who died of cancer in 2010. last heard of Bajorat a year ago Christopher Rivas, 23, a resi- are yet to vote on del Castillo’s on Facebook for his birthday, the dent of P-$ Poblacion, was fish- decision.

But Poe’s lawyer, George GarDaily Mail reported. ing with a friend about 40 miles Most of the cabin was under- off the coast when he saw the cia, also on Tuesday said everywater, but paperwork on board yacht with a broken sail. The pair thing remains speculative until was used to identify Bajorat. The then informed authorities of what the High Court comes out with Daily Mail reported that other they saw, according to news. its resolution on Poe’s disqualiitems retrieved include photo au.com. n u PAGE A3

Poe’s name will remain on…

Missing German found off PH…

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From the Front Page

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2-4, 2016

A

Bongbong to Aquino: Let people judge…

PAGE A1 t

judge. That’s essentially what I’m saying. Leave it to the people to judge.”

In a press briefing during his campaign in Rizal province, Marcos asked Aquino what he has done for the country during his administration.

“Who did the most for this country? Who did the most for the people. That’s the judgment not only for Marcoses, not only for Aquinos. That’s the judgment that every voter has to make for every candidate.“ Marcos said voters would decide who among the candidates have helped the country and who have sacrificed to bring progress and development particularly in the countryside.

He said the people must scrutinize every candidate from president down to the municipal councilor if they are wiling to sacrifice and if they are capable of doing their jobs.

Marcos also accused Aquino of derailing the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

He reminded the President that the BBL is a local bill and

must first be approved by the House of Representatives before he, as chairman of the Senate local government committee, could act on it.

Marcos said the weakness is not in the process but in the bill itself, which is also unconstitutional and unlikely to bring peace – the reason the congressmen did not approve it.

Meanwhile, he also praised on Sunday the selfless dedication of volunteer firemen who risk their lives to serve the people and their property.

Speaking before the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines Inc. at the launch of activities to welcome “Fire Prevention Month” at the Harbour Center in Tondo, Manila, Marcos said the group serves as living proof that the spirit of volunteerism is very much alive.

“The spirit of volunteerism that is shown by our volunteer firemen is a good example to our young people,” he said.

Marcos said volunteer firefighters provide crucial assistance to the public in times of fire, noting

that with the use of their own resources volunteer firefighters normally manage to acquire better equipment compared to their government counterparts.

Officials of Rizal province declared their support yesterday for Marcos.

Former vice governor Frisco San Juan Jr. said the Marcos family has done so much for the progress of the province, especially during the term of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

“We will assure you that the province of Rizal will forever be Marcos country,” said San Juan.

Aside from San Juan, those who welcomed Marcos were Gov. Rebecca Ynares, Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares III, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, Antipolo 1st District Rep. Roberto Puno and former Antipolo mayor Angelito Gatlabayan.

For his part, Marcos thanked READY FOR THE FIRES OF MARCH. Firefighters hone their skills on water bucket relay during the National Fire Olympics held to mark Fire the political leaders of Rizal, and Prevention Month. Firefighters from various regions participated in the event held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan those present, for the warm welcome as he promised more livelihood assistance to the province once he is selected as vice president. (With reports from to 47 percent, and she holds 48 are still seen unfavorably by maPAGE A1 t Non Alquitran) stronger Republican opposition percent to Cruz’s 49 percent, nar- jorities of voters: almost 6-in-10 between Florida Sen. Marco Ru- rowing the race match-up from 3 have a negative view of Trump, bio, or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. with 38 percent in favor; while 53 points to 1.

According to the poll’s hyVermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, percent have a negative view of “We will be decisive. And in the pothetical match-up scenario, who has the most positive favor- Clinton, 44 percent positive. planning itself, we know what are which appears most likely to able rating (60 percent of regisCruz also has a net negative the equipment and technology to emerge from the looming prima- tered voters) of any presidential rating, while impressions of Car[be] given or loaned to us,” Cay- ries, Clinton tops Trump 52 per- candidate in the whole field, beat son, Rubio, and Kasich leaned etano said. cent to 44 percent among regis- out all three Republicans by wide positive.

He said Duterte capitalizes on tered voters. The result has also margins: outnumbering Cruz 57 According to the poll, 78 perself-sufficiency. “Even if the US slanted in Clinton’s favor, since to 40 percent; crushing Trump cent of US voters (including is our friend and ally, we won’t the last CNN/ORC poll in Janu- 55 to 43 percent, and 53 to 45 almost the same share among depend on them completely,” he ary.

Democrats, Republicans and Inpercent against Rubio. said.

Against Rubio and Cruz, howSanders also fares better than dependents) say that the nation Cayetano said the Philippines ever, Clinton faces the same lik- Clinton in each match-up among is even “more deeply divided on must weigh its national interest ability challenge in the polls. The men, young voters, and indepen- major issues facing the country,” and align itself with US only if former Secretary of State trails dents. than it has been in the past. “the US’ national interest [aligns] closely behind Rubio, 50 percent Overall, Clinton and Trump u PAGE A4 with ours.”

In previous speeches and interviews, Duterte expressed his PAGE A2 t PAGE A2 t willingness to set aside the Phil- disadvantageous position. ippines’ claims in the disputed Brillantes, a veteran election lawyer, ad- fication case. sea if China would help our coun- vised the people’s champ to postpone the “We don’t believe it. Until the SC comes out with a rultry build a railway system. ing, we remain qualified,” Garcia added. fight.

Duterte announced earlier he “Granting that she is disqualified, we can still file a Pacquiao is running for senator under the is also open to enter a joint ex- opposition United Nationalist Alliance. motion for reconsideration. It’s a long process. Under a ploration partnership with China Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said worst-case scenario, her vote would only be considered for oil and gas in the West Phil- the poll body might have to modify its May as stray,” he said. ippine Sea provided that it drops 2007 ruling where it restricted the showing “The issue of delisting at this point is impossible,” Garits claims on disputed waters. of Pacquiao’s fight with Solis, but that this cia added.

The Philippines has a pending was only in South Cotabato.

He said the Poe camp remains confident of winning the arbitration case challenging the The commissioners are now in the process case pending before the SC as they have established durlegality of China’s nine-dash line of discussing whether the ruling may still be ing the oral arguments, in their pleadings and evidence claim in the West Philippine Sea applicable. submitted to the court, that Poe has met the 10-year resiat the United Nations.

“In 2007, we also had the same incident dency requirement.

The arbitral tribunal is expect- and definitely, the commission is studying if “Even the Solicitor-General, the government’s lawyer, ed to issue a ruling before Presi- it can apply in the coming boxing match,” says she [Poe] is a natural-born Filipino and has met the dent Benigno Aquino III steps Jimenez told reporters. (With reports from 10-year residency requirement. So who will doubt what down from office in June. n the Solicitor-General has said?” Garcia said. n Delon Porcalla)

New poll: Clinton and Sanders both top…

If elected president, Duterte’s foreign policy…

PAGE A1 t

Court does not assure that the US will defend the Philippines from China in case it gets involved in a confrontation with the latter over claims in the South China Sea. The EDCA allows the US to rotate its troops and access Philippine military bases. In return, the US promised to help modernize the Philippines’ armed forces and build and improve military infrastructure and facilities.

The controversial deal has been challenged by left-wing groups for fear that it will allow the return of the American bases in the country.

“The Americans knew about the intrusions of the Chinese into the West Philippine Sea. But they only talked about it in the last few years,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano lamented that US President Barack Obama during his state visit to our country in 2014 gave a “generic” response to the question if it will defend the Philippines’ territory against China.

Obama, unlike his previous statement in Japan that US will stand by the Japanese in defending their territory in the East China Sea against China, did not give a categorical statement with

Presidential aspirant Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he answers questions as guest speaker during the Joint Meeting between Rotary Clubs of Manila, Makati and Makati North at the Manilo Polo Club.

Inquirer file photo/Raffy Lerma

regard to the Philippines, Cayetano said.

“We gave EDCA for free,” Cayetano said noting that when it was signed by our country and the US, the compensation for the use and access of the Philippines’ military bases was likewise not guaranteed.

Nevertheless, Cayetano said the Duterte’s camp still wants to continue implementing EDCA, however, “from a position of strength.”

Comelec can’t stop Pacquiao…

Poe’s name will remain on…

A MARCH 2-4, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Step aside UP Diliman, here comes UP Global

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

BGC. The building carries no less than my father’s name whose prime advocacy is education,” SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy said when he turned over the facility to UP on Tuesday.

“He worked hard and sacrificed so much early in his life just to be able to receive formal education.

He wants the same for every Filipino,” he added.

Postgrad classes Postgraduate classes will be held on the new campus. The UP College of Law will offer an evening Juris Doctor program. The Cesar E. Virata School of Business will offer MBA and DBA classes starting 2017.

Other UP Diliman units that will offer postgraduate studies at UP BGC include the College of Engineering, School of Statistics, School of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, and College of Architecture.

The new campus is on BGC’s 32nd Street, next to International School and close to C-5 highway.

Based on BGC’s master plan, this is the area designated for academic institutions.

Sy said the donation was made through the family-led SM Investments Corp. This conglomerate is the most valuable in the stock market to date, with a market capitalization of P658 billion. It is the biggest player in the Philippine property, banking and retail businesses.

Father’s advocacy “This is really my father’s advocacy. He always really wanted to encourage people to (pursue) education,” Hans Sy said.

“We would eventually want to give to all schools. It just so happened that UP is among the first schools,” he said.

He added that even if none of the Sy children had gone to UP,

the donation would show everyone that the SM group was not keen on supporting only its controlling owners’ alma mater.

“We will continuously invest in education for the people,” he said.

In 2012, SM Investments donated P300 million to De La Salle University, where some of the Sy children had studied. The money was used for the construction of a new building likewise called Henry Sy Sr. Hall.

In the case of UP BGC, the younger Sy said the group itself had built the facility and turned over the completed project to UP. For other regular projects of this magnitude, he said it would have easily cost P500 million. “As you know, we always ride along with SM’s volume of purchasing,” he said.

Oblation UP itself provided the “Oblation”—the icon of UP. “We don’t want to make any mistake there,” Sy said.

It took the project about a year and a half to be completed since the signing of the deal between UP and SM to put up a professional schools building.

Asked whether the project had stirred as much controversy as when the College of Business Administration was renamed, UP president Pascual said: “You know, in UP, there are some groups with ideological beliefs that are not compatible with business. But the silent majority, the big majority by far, are supportive.”

UP is also SM’s longtime partner in its nationwide college scholarship program under SM Foundation Inc. Through this program, SM provides free college education to thousands of deserving students from low-income families. n

THE country’s premier state university has a sleek new campus—University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City (UP BGC)—at the heart of the bustling central business district, thanks to tycoon Henry Sy Sr., who built and donated a P400million building meant for postgraduate programs.

The nine-level UP BGC building, which is named after the SM patriarch, is ready to start offering postgraduate courses in the coming schoolyear starting August.

The satellite campus, which stands on a 4,300-square-meter lot in Taguig City earlier donated by state-run Bases Conversion Development Corp., is the 17th campus under the UP System.

“This new campus of UP in BGC will bring UP closer to those who need the professional programs that we offer. Given the commuting challenge that we have in Metro Manila, the attractiveness of a place for whatever you do depends on how accessible it is,” UP president Alfredo Pascual said in an interview during the turnover ceremonies on Tuesday, March 1.

Alumni, professionals “We’re targeting here the professionals—people who are already working, for their executive development programs and continuing education programs.

Also, the venue can start offering programs geared for the international market,” Pascual said.

The new campus also brings the UP professional schools closer to the alumni and other professionals who want to teach but are not able to travel to the main campus at UP Diliman in Quezon City.

The new satellite campus spans a total area of 12,000 square meters and will house 29 classrooms, three laboratories, a study area called learning commons, faculty lounges, an auditorium, a moot court or a venue for simulated court proceedings for law students, a multipurpose hall, discussion rooms, office spaces and an executive lounge.

Basement parking The campus also comes with a multilevel basement parking area.

“It is with great pride that we turn over today the Henry Sy Sr. UP AT BGC SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy (left) turns over to UP president Alfredo Hall to the highly esteemed Uni- Pascual the P400-million, nine-level University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City building Photo by Eloisa Lopez versity of the Philippines here at in Taguig City.

RE-INTERMENT. President Benigno Aquino III on Monday morning led the re-interment of the remains of former president Elpidio Quirino at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig. Quirino took over the presidency in 1948 after President Manuel Roxas died of a heart attack.

Quirino is the third president to be buried in the national cemetery. Both President Carlos P. Garcia and President Diosdado Macapagal were interred at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Photo from Quirino Foundation

Roxas to Binay: Why should we trust you?

by DJ

Yap Inquirer.net

LIBERAL Party standardbearer Mar Roxas on Tuesday, March 1, ratcheted up his attacks on Vice President Jejomar Binay, suggesting that the latter could not be trusted for failing to answer questions about how he came by his enormous wealth.

“The point here is why should we trust you?” Roxas said, addressing Binay, who on Monday criticized Roxas’ record as transportation and communications secretary.

“He needs to answer the question: Where did his wealth come from?” said Roxas, the chosen successor of President Aquino.

He cited Binay’s remarks during the first presidential debate last month.

“He said during the debate that he inherited his landholdings. But wasn’t he himself the one who said that his mother had died because they couldn’t afford to buy medicine? So, was there land or was there no money to buy medicines? What is the truth, Vice President Binay?” Roxas said.

He said that it was true that Binay had come from poor be-

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) and Former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Inquirer.net file photos

ginnings but now he is “no longer poor.”

“You are wealthy now. Hundreds of millions went through the account of Ebeng Baloloy, your assistant secretary,” he said, referring to Eduviges Baloloy, a longtime aide of Binay’s.

Roxas also cited what he described as the “thievery” in Makati City, which Binay served as mayor for a long time, and for

which he is now facing corruption charges.

“It’s not I who is saying it. It’s the COA (Commission on Audit) that’s saying it, it’s the Ombudsman that’s saying it. But even now, you have not answered the questions,” Roxas said.

Binay has returned to the top of the preelection opinion surveys, followed by Sen. Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Roxas is in fourth place. n

LP unfazed by NPC stand to back Poe

by Christine

avenDaño Inquirer.net

AS the biggest political party in the country, the administration Liberal Party (LP) is not bothered that the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco is supporting presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, according to an LP official.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, LP vice chair, noted on Tuesday that the NPC support for the Poe-Escudero team was not total because some members were backing LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

“We respect the decision of the NPC,” Drilon said in a radio interview.

He said the NPC had supported for almost six years President Aquino’s daang matuwid (straight path) policy but had to part ways with the LP over candidates it wanted to support in the May elections.

Still, Drilon maintained that the LP remained the country’s biggest political party with a big machinery.

“That’s why we are not bothered by the NPC decision,” he said, adding the LP will continue

Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Inquirer file photo / Joan Bondoc

to present the Aquino administration’s record of good governance to the voters.

He expressed the hope that the Supreme Court would hand down its ruling in two weeks’ time on the petitions seeking to disqualify Poe as a presidential candidate over questions of her citizenship and residency.

“I have long been asking the Supreme Court to expedite its decision on this case,” he said. n

More rain for California expected in…

PAGE A1 t

bring rain and snow to Northern California, and the state is expected to receive some showers in the coming days.

“Given the model consistency and agreement, confidence is quite high that our area will see periods of significant rainfall along with locally strong winds from this upcoming weekend well into next week,” according to the National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Officials hope the showers will increase the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which is a crucial source of water for California.

The drier February ranks as the 37th driest on record in Los Angeles. It comes amid California’s four-year drought, which has cost

the state’s agricultural economy an estimated $1.84 billion.

Downtown Los Angeles received only .79 inches of rain last month, falling short of the 3.8 inches it normally collects.

“Typically, from past six strong El Ninos, we have generally seen above normal rainfall. But since October 1 we’ve only seen five inches of rain so far (across Southern California),” said National Weather Service meteorologist Robbie Munroe, according to Reuters. “We were certainly expecting a lot more.”

A wetter-than-average March is expected, but the impact on the drought may be too little too late, according to The Washington Post. Even rainfall in the past few months has not significantly alleviated California’s parched

state.

In the Mountain High ski area, located about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, the resort closed on Sunday, Feb. 28, due to warm weather and will not re-open until there is new snowfall.

“Toward the end of the week, we do expect snow to fall at the resort,” Munroe said, according to the LA Times. We’ll see rain and high-mountain snow starting Saturday evening, with snow showers at resort level Sunday and lasting into Monday.”

The severity of California’s drought prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to issue the state’s first mandatory water restrictions last year, requiring cities and communities statewide to reduce water use by a minimum of 25 percent. (Agnes Constante/AJPress)

New poll: Clinton and Sanders both top…

PAGE A3 t

The nationwide survey asked voters to choose which of all the remaining top candidates, regardless of party, they trust most to handle seven key issues. According to CNN, Trump tops the list on the economy, terrorism and immigration, while Clinton is the top choice when it comes to health care, race relations and foreign policy. Voters are about evenly split between Trump and Clinton on gun policy.

Though the share of leaned Re-

publican voters choosing Clinton on any of the tested issues tops out at 8 percent on health care, Trump is the most trusted for 15 percent of leaned Democrats on terrorism, 14 percent on the economy and 13 percent on immigration.

Republicans generally have the edge on the economy, terrorism, immigration and gun policy, while more voters choose either Sanders or Clinton on race relations and health care. Foreign policy has about an even split between the two parties.

The margin of sampling error for the results, based on the total sample, is plus or minus three percentage points.

The poll also determined that if Michael Bloomberg, an independent and former mayor of New York City, decide to run as an independent candidate, his candidacy would harm Clinton’s bid to beat Trump, more than it would defeat Sanders’ campaign. However, few polled said they would consider backing Bloomberg, should he decide to run. (Allyson Escobar/AJPress)

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A

Dateline PhiliPPines

Foreign investors urge Aquino to implement more reforms

by Richmond

S. meRcuRio

Philstar.com

The economy is moving, these recommendations are being put into part but not 100 percent of what we originally suggested in 2010,” he added.

The Arangkada assessment 2015 identified the sectors of business process outsourcing, infrastructure, manufacturing and tourism as having benefited much from policy and economic reforms.

Arangkada Philippines is a major advocacy launched in 2010 by the JFC. It is funded by a $1-million grant from the US Agency for International Development and is administered by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, foreign business groups appeared unimpressed by the business platforms presented by representatives of presidential aspirants at yesterday’s Arangkada Philippines forum. The candidates did not show up and only sent their representatives.

Former finance secretary Gary Teves represented Jejomar Binay, vice presidential candidate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano showed up for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian came for Sen. Grace Poe and Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo represented Manuel Roxas II. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had no representative.

“I was not satisfied with the answers the candidates gave as to addressing the vast array of the protectionist restrictions and regulations in the government and other regulatory agencies,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Julian Payne said.

“We’ve heard what we wanted to hear. The issues have never

changed, they remain the same.

What I want to hear is how do we get there,” said Ryan Evangelista, executive director of the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.

The issues brought up by the candidates include pursuing economic growth, addressing corruption in the government, improving infrastructure and tax reforms.

“Reforms have begun. What we want to see is a continuation of the reforms done in recent years, even in the previous administration, and build on that.

The country has great potential.

We have many ideas. What we need is more rapid implementation,” Forbes said.

The foreign chambers of commerce in the country are urging the next administration to initiate bolder measures to steer the Philippine economy to greater progress over the next decade.

“2016 is a crucial year for the Philippine economy. The results of the May elections will serve as an opportunity for newly elected leaders to build on the success of the Aquino administration but at the same time chart a long-term vision that cuts across the typical six-year planning cycle to adopt bolder reforms that will spur inclusive growth,” the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines said.

“For the Philippines to make growth more inclusive, the incoming administration and future leaders should undertake reforms that sustain and increase GDP growth,” it said.

“This will require continued good governance, political will to undertake more structural reforms, better infrastructure, a fair regulatory regime and lower busi-

MANILA — Agribusiness, infrastructure, creative industries, telecommunications and mining should be given greater attention by the government as part of its continuing reform activities, foreign business groups in the Philippines said on Tuesday, March 1.

The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC), the largest coalition of foreign investors in the Philippines, made the assessment based on recommendations from local and foreign groups originally published in 2010 in Arangkada Philippines.

The JFC said it was happy to POST PROTEST. The vegetable trading post of Benguet’s La Trinidad town suspended operations from 7 to 9am on Monday, Feb. 29 when report that nearly three fourths of its occupants staged a protest march to resist an eviction order. Operations resumed when its occupants won a 20-day freeze order the reforms pushed by business from a court that shields them from eviction until March 20.

Inquirer.net photo by Aya Balanoy and investors groups in 2010 have been addressed by the government as of last year.

“The public sector is the enabler of job growth, while the private sector is the engine. The two must work in parallel for inclusive growth and job creation,” to keep America safe,” said FBI order us to give them something

by AgneS conStAnte the JFC said.

AJPress Director James Comey. we don’t have, to create an oper“The private sector is doing its On Thursday, Feb. 25, Comey ating system that does not exist share and is ready to do more TECH giant Apple and the told a different house panel that because it would be too dangerto improve inclusive growth FBI faced off Tuesday, March 1, the code Apple was directed ous,” Bruce Sewell, Apple’s genthrough investing. Various firms in front of the House Judiciary to write would work only on eral counsel, said during Tuesgenerously support a wide range Committee, arguing whether the Farook’s phone and would not day’s hearing. “They are asking of socially responsible and ecoagency should have the right to leave the company. for a backdoor into the iPhone nomically oriented activities, compel technology companies to “[So] the idea of it getting out – specifically to build a software especially in education, health, assist the government in access- in the wild and it working on my tool that can break the encryption housing and disaster relief and ing encrypted devices. phone or your phone … is not a system which protects personal recovery,” it added.

Apple and the FBI are engaged real thing. [In addition] the code information on every iPhone.”

The JFC lauded the national in a legal battle about if the com- will be at Apple, which I think Sewell also said that writing government for major improvepany should be forced to hack has done a pretty darn good job a new operating system “will ments in the Philippine economy an iPhone used by Syed Farook, of protecting its code,” he said. weaken our safety and security, over the past five years but said one of two shooters who killed Apple, however, has said the but it will not affect the terrorists a number of binding constraints 14 people in a shooting rampage case would set a significant prec- in the least.” still remain which prevent the last December in San Bernardi- edent that could amount to creatDuring his testimony, Sewell country from achieving inclusive no, California. ing a master key for its devices. added that the company believes growth.

The agency wants Apple to cre- Tim Cook, the company’s CEO, Congress should strike the balThe Arangkada assessment for ate software that would bypass has called such a software the ance on the security issue. How2015 showed 74.50 percent or the iPhone security feature that “equivalent to cancer.” ever, Rep. James Sensenbrenner 333 of the 462 recommendations erases data on the device after 10 “The FBI has asked a court to u PAGE A7 are active and moving, an overincorrect passcode entries. all improvement from the 51.44 Legislators accused the Juspercent in the first assessment in tice Department of overreaching 2011. its authority, and undermining It was a slight improvement privacy and cybersecurity, The from the 74.22 percent posted in Guardian reported. Rep. Zoe Loflast year’s assessment. gren (D-California) also called the “There has been great progdepartment’s attempt to coerce ress, not enough, but great Apple into unlocking Farook’s progress. Philippine economy is phone a “fool’s errand.” doing very well but it can do bet“We are asking to ensure that ter,” American Chamber of Comwe can continue to obtain elecmerce of the Philippines senior The Joint Foreign Chambers said it was happy to report that nearly three fourths of the reforms tronic information and evidence advisor John Forbes said. pushed by business and investors groups in 2010 have been addressed by the government as pursuant to the legal authority “A lot is continuing to progress. of last year.

Philstar.com/file photo that Congress has provided us

Apple, FBI testify at congressional hearing about hacking iPhone of San Bernardino shooter

A MARCH 2-4, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Pessimistic

FOR a country infamous for its “dirty politics,” conducting a peaceful and clean conduct of elections will be a challenge for the Philippine government. While the country’s polls have been automated since 2010, some Filipino voters still express concern over possible cheating in the general elections in May. About four in every 10 Filipinos believe that there will be cheating in the May elections, according to the latest poll by Pulse Asia. The survey, conducted from Jan. 24 to 28, showed that an alarming 39 percent of the respondents are sure that candidates will cheat, while only 29 percent believed otherwise. 32 percent of those polled were ambivalent on the issue.

The same poll also revealed that seven out of 10 Filipinos or 65 percent said there will be massive vote-buying, 37 percent believe that there will be tampering of vote-counting machines. Others believe that there will be changing the actual vote count (32 percent) and the deployment of flying voters (31 percent) as forms of cheating.

Voters hoarding, replacing ballots inserted in machines, threatening other voters and election officers, machines being stolen and brownouts were also among the forms of cheating schemes that the respondents believe may occur.

For the May 9 elections to have a satisfactory conclusion, senatorial candidate Richard Gordon on Monday, Feb. 29, urged the Supreme Court to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue receipts to voters after casting their votes.

In his 24-page petition for mandamus, Gordon cited the Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Law, which states that the Voter Verification Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT is one of the mini-

mum systems capabilities of the automated election system and a major security feature of the vote counting machine. He explained that VVPAT allows every voter to confirm whether or not the machine cast the vote correctly based on the choice of the voter, thereby ensuring the integrity of the elections.

“The right to suffrage is a powerful tool placed in the hands of every Filipino giving them the ability to change the course of our country’s future.

Therefore, it is essential that the sanctity and credibility of our election system be continuously protected from threats putting its results in question. In order for the system to be protected, it is essential that implementation of various security systems must be complied with,” Gordon said.

The Comelec voted 7-0 “not to enable the feature of printing a receipt,” deciding against using the VVPAT because it could be used as a tool for vote-buying and would also extend the voting period by seven hours.

Despite some doubts on the accuracy of the automated polls, the Comelec allayed fears of possible tampering of the May 9 elections with voters not getting a print out of their votes. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista assured that there is no reason to worry because safeguards are in place even in the absence of printed record of votes.

Last week, the Comelec conducted mock polls

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

to identify the possible problems that the Comelec may encounter during the actual transmission of votes in May. Bautista reported that the mock election would enable the Comelec to improve the system long before the scheduled May 9 elections.

Political reform in the Philippines is hounded by higher a public expectation. The growing cynicism in Philippine politics is like a cancer where a cure remains elusive. The stakes are higher in May, this makes it imperative to have empowered citizens

who appreciate and are responsible for the votes they will cast.

To discourage people who will rely on cheating to win, Filipino voters must exercise the right of suffrage with tenacity and good cheer. They must realize the power that belongs to them, which is to choose the leaders they think are adequate to hold an office. It will strengthen their participation in this democratic process and trust in the system after this election. (AJPress)

The nomination race to the White House must go beyond Super Tuesday

WHO won on “Super Tuesday”? As I write this on March 1, primaries and caucuses were held in a dozen states (and one US territory) to select a presidential candidate in both the Republican and Democratic Party nominating contests this year. In the most recent polls leading up to Super Tuesday, news organizations have projected that GOP front-runner Donald Trump and Democratic Party front-runner Hillary Clinton are on the verge of being coronated as the winners, but let the actual figures after the elections tell the story.

What exactly is “Super Tuesday”?

Politico explained that “Super Tuesday” is the unofficial name for a Tuesday during the presidential primary election when the largest number of states hold their nominating contests.

The results of these contests will account for about half of all delegates that will determine who will be each party’s nominee.

Aquino’s afflictions UNDYING hatred Opinion of the “Marcos past,” unreasoning fear of a “Marcos-friendly future,” and total rejection of any suggestion from any source that Filipinos had begun to Francisco TaTad rethink the real value of Martial Law and Ferdinand Marcos’ real standing among Philippine Presidents are among the saddest afflictions of President B. S. Aquino 3rd.

These were aggressively on display on the 30th anniversary of the February 25, 1986 EDSA ‘revolt,’ when Aquino relaunched his late parents’ lifelong campaign against the late President Marcos. Completely anathema to Aquino was The New York Times’ observation that Filipinos had become nostalgic about the “golden age” of Marcos, when the Philippines and their President were highly respected everywhere. Aquino frothed in the mouth upon reading this.

Ninoy’s politics Since the late ‘60s, the discrediting and destruction of Marcos had been the main object of the late former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.’s politics. As senator, his uninterrupted polemics was against Marcos. He authored only one law—the Study Now, Pay Later law, which the late former Senator Raul Roco, during his own campaign, claimed to have drafted as Ninoy’s chief of staff—but he delivered endless antiMarcos speeches.

In one such speech he blew the cover behind Marcos’ national security project for Sabah, the Philippine territory, which had been incorporated into Malaysia against our formal protest. This ironically made Ninoy a “hero” and Marcos a “knave” especially to the Malaysians, the British and so many naive and unthinking Filipinos, who had

The states choosing their nominee this day were Ala- The Fil-Am bama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Perspective Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia will hold contests for both Republicans and Democrats. Republicans in Alaska will hold caucuses. Gel sanTos-relos Democrats in Colorado will hold their caucuses as well. Finally, Democrats in American Samoa also held their nominating contest this Super Tuesday.

Politico explained the significance of Super Tuesday: “No other primary day has as many delegates grouped at once, and thus no other day gives a single candidate as much of a chance to declare a sense of certainty about his or her position.”

The results of Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses will certainly give so much momentum to whomever may win decisively in more states for both parties.

Sometimes, many candidates concede and suspend their candidacy, making the frontrunner the apparent nominee until formally coronated during their respective party’s convention. This puts an end to the primaries and caucuses scheduled in other states after Super Tuesday.

But there are times, like in 2008 between candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, when the race was been tight, pushing the scheduled primaries and caucuses to continue in all states to determine the nominee.

No matter what the results of Super Tuesday

might be, I hope we have a repeat of the 2008 election process. Citizens in all states must have their voices heard in choosing whom they want to be their party’s nominee. This also gives the voters the opportunity to present their views and aspirations on different issues that may have an impact on how the next president of the United States may stir the country moving forward. This will also energize and motivate citizens from all states to exercise their right of suffrage in the general election in November, after being heavily invested during the primary season. *** 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

Why is Aquino so afraid of Marcos?

no appreciation of the paramount national interest involved. To this day we suffer the consequences of that highly irresponsible and “treasonous” act.

Aquino went beyond mere speeches.

Communist broker In 1969, he brokered the meeting between Amado Guerrero (aka Jose Maria Sison), leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and Bernabe Buscayno, aka Commander Dante of the New People’s Army (NPA), which forged the ties that launched the Communist rebellion against the government. When the Communists came knocking at the gates of Malacañang, Marcos decided to fight back by declaring Martial Law in 1972. The oligarchy, which counted on the Aquinos, condemned Marcos for proclaiming martial law, but not the Communists who had threatened to overthrow the government and provoked a constitutional response from Marcos. This continues to this day.

Plaza Miranda bombing In 1971, Aquino accused Marcos of having ordered the bombing of the Liberal Party political rally at Plaza Miranda, where all the top party leaders were on stage except for himself, the party secretary-general, who was mysteriously out of reach during the attack. He surfaced later, dressed in a military uniform, apparently ready to oust Marcos and take over, if any of the LP leaders had been killed. The toll was high, but none among his top colleagues were killed.

Years later, the Communists confessed to the crime, but former Senate President Jovito Salonga, one of the most seriously injured bombing victims, said, “Ninoy had something to do with it.” But Aquino never apologized, nor was condemned for it. As Marcos’

most important martial law prisoner, he was sentenced to death by a military tribunal, but allowed to leave for the US for a heart surgery. He returned three years later only to be gunned down at the international airport that now bears his name.

Marcos warning Marcos, through his Defense Secretary, Juan Ponce Enrile, had tried to dissuade him from coming home, citing a reported security threat, which the government was apparently still trying to ascertain. This went unheeded, and he returned. The rest is history. Marcos was blamed instantly for the murder, and members of the aviation security command were accused and convicted of the crime. But the grieving widow, who became revolutionary president after ousting Marcos, never bothered to find out the real brains behind it.

Neither did her son PNoy, who became President in 2010. Mother and son simply encouraged the public to believe, without any basis, that Marcos was responsible.

Cory’s politics Cory spent her six and a half years in office trying to wipe out anything and everything that bore Marcos’ mark. She discarded the government’s full-scale industrialization program; scrapped the Department of Energy, the all-but completed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and the entire national energy program; exempted her own family-held Hacienda Luisita from land reform; left all of Imelda Marcos’ cultural projects to the elements; expunged “Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa” from the national consciousness; handpicked 50 individuals to write a new Constitution because she could not trust the Filipinos to elect those who should do it; barred the Marcoses from returning to the country to answer charges against them, but instead asked the US to prosecute them for some of these crimes; spent over a

trillion pesos in six and a half years to build a few flyovers in Metro Manila, as against the P600 billion or so Marcos had spent to build all the infrastructure in the country in 20 years; barred Marcos from being buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani where even dogs and scoundrels lie.

PNoy does one better Now PNoy has done his deceased parents one better, by savaging not only Marcos pere but also Marcos fils.

He has warned the nation against the “dangers” of making Sen. Ferdinand (Bonging) Marcos Jr. the next Vice President of the Philippines. As though the vice presidency, which has no known official duties or responsibilities, had become more important than the presidency, and in charge of running the government. Or that, finally guiltstricken about his hopelessly inept and heartless six years in office, Aquino has reached the conclusion that no son of a former President should ever be allowed to go near it.

To Aquino and his claque, trying to prevent Bongbong from becoming Vice President has now become as important as, if not more important than, trying to prevent Vice President Jejomar C. Binay from becoming the President.

The plot against Binay continues, even after it has begun to produce the most embarrassing results. But it has, interestingly enough, also spun a subplot against Mar Roxas, the very candidate who is supposed to benefit from the original plot.

If Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and his “Samar Group” had their way, Aquino would have dumped Roxas by now for his poor survey ratings. He would have openly supported Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares, the constitutionally ineligible foundling, whom he is trying to help before the Supreme Court where her disqualification by the Commission on Elections is under

review. Upon my petition and those of three other petitioners, the Comelec has disqualified her and cancelled her Certificate of Candidacy for misrepresenting herself as a natural-born citizen and a resident of the country for the last 10 years.

Still, Aquino has not shown the same aversion to and fear of Binay as he has vis-a-vis Marcos. Why is this?

Is it because he knows that even with the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machine—now renamed VCM (voting counting machine)—under his control, he may not be able to stop the surge in favor of Marcos, without courting serious trouble? As the only Ilocano candidate for Vice President, Bongbong has rekindled the spirit of the “Solid North,” which has already produced three Presidents—Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay and Marcos, and which has traditionally contributed the cream of its youth to our armed forces.

What millennials say Among the millennials, the crank propaganda effort to recreate “the horrors” of Martial Law appears to have failed. A friend who was detained during martial law tells me of his conversation with his young daughter, who is an unabashed Bongbong supporter. “Did you know I was a Martial Law victim?” he asked his daughter. “You told me so,” she said.

“Why then are you supporting Bongbong, whose father was the author of Martial Law?” he said. “Well, I know nothing about his pop. But we’re talking of Bongbong, and he is cool.”

And that, he said, was the end of their conversation.

Is any millennial saying, Aquino is cool?

Unblemished Of the five senators running for VP, Bongbong alone has not been tarred for receiving P50 million or more from Malacañang to convict and remove Su-

u PAGE A7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Miriam vows boom in infrastructure if elected

by RainieR

allan Ronda

Philstar.com

MANILA — Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago vowed on Tuesday, March 1, to invest in public infrastructure, where previous administrations performed poorly, to help facilitate rapid economic growth if she wins the May elections.

Santiago, in a statement, said that the projects she wanted launched through public-private partnership include an international airport, a new railway system from Manila to Sorsogon, a modern integrated urban transit system in Metro Manila with lines reaching Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna; and one mixed-use government center with adjacent residential, commercial and entertainment facilities in Metro Manila and in each of the 17 regions.

Santiago said that she would also start a major infrastructure project in every region and province.

“The poor state of public infrastructure that this administration inherited from its predecessor was pushed back further during the last five years. When I assume office, I will hit the ground running,” the senator said.

Santiago, the consistent leader in campus surveys since the filing of certificates of candidacy, said that her administration would set aside five percent of the budget for public infrastructure.

“To make the facilities affordable to citizens, the government will not require a premium from winning contractors. In fact, in some cases, because of the benefits government subsidy may be allowed,” said Santiago.

She plans to spend an estimated P819 billion on infrastructure projects in 2017, with the amount rising to P1.3 trillion in 2022, adding that some of the amount would have to be sourced through loans, for as long as the returns are greater than the cost.

Santiago repeated her criticism of bold promises made by her opponents without matching plans on where funds will be sourced.

“We cannot build modern infrastructure on the basis of promises alone. It will have to be financed through better tax administration, tax policy reform and government borrowings,” the senator said.

Death penalty Santiago’s vice presidential runningmate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his support yesterday for the re-imposition of the death penalty only for convicted drug lords.

Marcos said while he is against capital punishment, he will agree to an exemption to re-impose the death penalty on drug lords because they are destroying the

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the consistent leader in campus surveys since the filing of certificates of candidacy, said that her administration would set aside five percent of the budget for public infrastructure.

Philstar.com/Jonathan Asuncion, file

country’s youth and future.

He said the next administration should act more resolutely in the fight against illegal drugs in the light of reports that 93 percent of barangays in Metro Manila have illegal drug peddlers.

Marcos said based on other countries’ experience in fighting illegal drugs, it is not the amount of money put in the campaign that would make a difference.

Ill-gotten wealth exhibit Meanwhile, the Department of History of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City yesterday opened an exhibit on the ill-gotten wealth of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies.

The exhibit, which was put up in partnership with the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, features various images and information on the known ill-gotten wealth amassed by the Marcoses.

“It’s very important for the history department to teach our students never to forget what happened in the past because the past is still present with us,” said department chairperson Maria Bernadette Abrera.

“We think that the issue of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth and the recovery process is a very material part of that process of remembering,” she added.

The exhibit was put up a week after the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution that toppled the dictatorship.

It is located at the Palma Hall lobby and will be accessible to students until Saturday.

Abrera admitted that there is a need to strengthen efforts to remind the younger generation of the horrors of the martial law regime.

“We have to continue bombarding them with information,”

Why is Aquino so afraid…

PAGE A6 t

preme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona during his Senate impeachment trial. Next only to Senate President Franklin Drilon, who received P100 million, Francis Escudero received the biggest chunk of P98 million, while Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes 4th, and Greg Honasan received not more than P50 million each.

This was an unspeakable crime, which should have immediately disqualified them from public office. Aquino knows this could not be said of Marcos.

The long view But one more thing needs to be said, Although Bongbong may not have in him Aquino’s vindictive streak, and as Vice President, he may take no active interest in jailing Aquino for his crimes, his own presidency could just be a matter of time, and when his time comes, he could have the nation’s political history purged of all the bogus and revisionist claims that have made heroes out of opportunists, traitors, villains and scoundrels during the two Aquino regimes. The Aquinos, whose treason began with PNoy’s grandfather’s collaboration with the Japanese during the last Pacific war, would finally be exposed for what they are, and brought down from their outrageous pedestal.

Permanently, we trust.

Leni in trouble Aquino’s fear has apparently become palpable within his own circle. Thus, some close supporters of Congresswoman Leni Robredo, the Liberal Party vice presidential candidate, have accused him of preparing to dump her because of her poor survey ratings, in favor of Escudero, who has higher ratings. Robredo and Escudero, together with Honasan, are not only Bicolanos but also natives of the same town, Bulan, Sorsogon. By marrying the late former Naga City mayor and former DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, whose death in a private plane crash remains a mystery, Leni became a resident of Camarines Sur, the biggest of the Bicol provinces, where she is said to enjoy strong “hometown” support. By

contrast, Escudero is said to have made so many political enemies in his native Sorsogon. No wonder, despite his supposedly high rating, I have yet to hear someone say she’ll vote for him.

And Roxas, too Malacañang has formally denied the accusation, just as it has denied that Aquino was positioning the constitutionally ineligible Mrs. Llamanzares to replace Roxas, should his numbers fail to improve. But Malacañang was reportedly behind the move to make Solicitor General Florin Hilbay argue before the Court as ‘Tribune of the People,’ that foundlings of no known parentage are natural-born citizens, even without any basis in the Constitution. And Malacañang was reportedly behind the recent move of the Commission on Human Rights to submit an intervention in the Llamanzares case, even without leave of Court after the parties had submitted the case for resolution.

As lead petitioner against Mrs. Llamanzares, I have asked the Court, through legal counsel Manuelito Luna, to require the CHR to show cause why it should not be cited for contempt for its illegal and highly unethical intervention. We shall see how the Court treats our motion.

A medical issue Amid all this, Aquino has managed to remain reasonably restrained with respect to anyone that threatens to cancel his (declared or secret) presidential candidate. It is the vice presidential contest where he tends to exaggerate his reaction. At the mere mention of Marcos’ name, he seems to froth in the mouth, ready to climb walls. This could present some custodial problems after he steps down.

Should he take former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s place in her present detention, or does he need a “home” or an “institution” where he will have the privilege of thinking that he is the only sane person in the whole wide world? This appears to be a medical issue; the doctors should be looking into it. (fstatad@gmail.com)

she said, noting that the process of seeking justice for the victims and recovering the ill-gotten wealth amassed by those in power is not yet over.

Earlier reports said the Marcoses and their cronies had amassed up to $10 billion worth of ill-gotten wealth.

Since its creation in 1986, the PCGG said it has recovered around P170 billion or around $3 billion.

Almost P94 billion were remitted to the national treasury while another P76 billion were identified as escrow funds.

Abrera said there is a long way

to go in efforts to recover billions still missing.

“We need to keep it alive and going because it is the young people who are precisely going to benefit from it,” said Abrera.

“It is not just the quest of one commission, but a quest of the entire Filipino nation because we are seeking justice and we are seeking the truth,” she added.

Susan Macabuag of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation said they are pushing for a separate subject dedicated to the history of martial law. (With reports from Perseus Echeminada, Janvic Mateo)

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2-4, 2016

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Apple, FBI testify at congressional…

PAGE A5 t

(R-Wisconsin), warned, “I can tell you you’re not going to like what comes out of Congress.”

Other tech companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter, support Apple’s stance.

Former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul has also called on the public to stand by Apple.

“The government spying on us has not prevented one terrorist attack,” he said.

Paul also said it would be a “precedent-setting case” if Apple cooperates with the FBI in this particular instance.

“We have a fundamental right to go about our daily life without the threat of government surveillance of our activities,” he said.

Critics of Apple include New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who said at a press conference last week: “This has become the Wild West in technology. Apple and Google are their own sheriffs and there are no rules.”

Tuesday’s hearing comes one day after a federal judge in New York ruled that Apple does not need to help investigators unlock an iPhone in a separate drug-related case.

“There’s already a door on that phone. We’re asking Apple to take the guard dog away and let us pick the lock,” Comey said, according to CNN. A federal magistrate previously ordered Apple to cooperate with the FBI and unlock the phone.

Federal agents believe the de-

vice could contain information about whether or not Farook and his wife, Malik Tashfeen, worked with others to plan the attack.

Furthermore, Comey on Thursday, Feb. 25, told a congressional panel that the iPhone could have “locator services” that would help the FBI fill in a gap in the whereabouts of Farook and Tashfeen when they fled police after the San Bernardino shooting rampage last December.

“We’ve looked at every gas station camera, every intersection camera, we have the whole route, but we’re missing 19 minutes before they were finally killed by law enforcement. The answer to that might be on the device,” Comey said.

Those who testified agreed that Congress needs to approve legislation that clarifies when technology companies must turn over consumers’ encrypted data.

In Congress, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael Michael McCaul (RTexas) and Senate Intelligence Committee member Mark Warner (D-Virginia), have introduced a measure that would establish a National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges. The entity would consist of 16 “experts representing all of the interests at stake so we can evaluate and improve America’s security posture as technology – and our adversaries – evolve.”

Attorneys are scheduled to respond to Apple’s appeal regarding the San Bernardino iPhone

by March 10. A court hearing is slated on March 22. n

A MARCH 2-4, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2-4, 2016

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal Millennials snap up PH condo market

Binay vows to push for OFW bank

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

Presidential candidate Jejomar Binay talks about his economic platform during a dialogue with the country’s business sector in Pasay city. Binay, 73, faced several months of investigation by a Senate committee over alleged corruption when he was still mayor of Makati city, Manila’s version of Wall Street. He has denied the allegations, which have weighed down on his popularity.

Inquirer.net file photo

MANILA — Vice President Jejomar Binay vowed to create a bank for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) if he gets elected president in the May 9 polls.

Binay, who served as presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said it is high time for overseas workers to have their own bank so that their earnings can be augmented.

“We should reconsider the proposal to create the OFW bank, where they can invest and become an additional income for them,” he said.

The OFW Bank project was conceptualized in 2006 to consolidate the financial assets and operational capabilities of government financial institutions like the Land Bank of the Philip-

u PAGE B2

Liwayway Group buys Spain’s Cola Cao business in China by ricHmond

s. mercurio

Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino-owned snack food maker Liwayway Group of Companies is braving the economic headwinds in the world’s second largest economy, recently completing a $13-million acquisition and embarking on more expansion in China.

While most manufacturing firms are exiting China due to its slowing economy and rising labor costs, the homegrown firm behind the Oishi brand has seen these as opportunities to further strengthen its grip in the Chinese market.

In an interview, Liwayway

by catHerine

talavera ManilaTimes.net

BESIDES indirectly driving the Philippine economy by providing flesh to the now booming business process outsourcing (BPO), the country’s young citizens, called millennials, are also seen to be driving the local condominium market, according to property experts.

Claro Cordero Jr., head of research and consultancy at global property advisor Jones Lang Lasalle in the Philippines, said a chunk

Deal worth $13 million

B

of demand for residential condominiums in Metro Manila could have come from the millennial market.

“Majority of residential condominium demand may have come from young professionals and young, upstart families, which is composed primarily, of the millennial market,” Cordero told The Manila Times.

“This trend is growing due to the increasing income levels of this market segment, as well as availability of affordable financing schemes.”

Property listing website Lamudi Philip-

pines estimated that one or two people in every working millennial’s network nowadays live in a condominium.

The online property agent firm observed that living in condominiums is becoming a trend among young Filipinos because of the many advantages that it presents to them.

“It has become a trend that dictates the lifestyle of many young Filipinos nowadays, especially those in Metro Manila, because of the many advantages, features, and services a condo offers and provides,” Lamudi cited in

u PAGE B3

Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services to begin issuing termination letters to Medi-Cal recipients

Carlos Chan

chairman Carlos Chan told The Star the company has recently acquired Spain’s Cola Cao business in China in a transaction costing between $12-to $13-

u PAGE B2

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Beginning March 2016, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) will begin sending Notice of Action letters to Medi-Cal recipients, terminating benefits for those who have not completed their Annual Redetermination forms or provided incomplete renewals between July 2015 and March 2016.

Medi-Cal recipients are expected to complete an Annual Redetermination form in order to renew their health insurance benefits for another year. For those beneficiaries who haven’t completed a renewal

LOS ANGELES

in the last 12 months, be on the lookout for any mail coming from DPSS as it may contain a Notice of Action letter. Failure to respond to DPSS will result in termination of Medi-Cal benefits and loss of your health insurance.

If you have moved in the last year, call your DPSS Eligibility Worker and let them know your new address. This is important to ensuring you receive DPSS letters and maintain your health insurance benefits.

If you receive a Notice of Action letter and are unsure of what to do, talk to an APHCV

u PAGE B3

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PH’s largest solar farm up in Batangas Purisima: BIR should focus on rich taxpayers by doris

dUMlao-abadilla

and

Inquirer.net

A SEA of metalloid panels as far as the eye can see gleams in the sun in a 160-hectare farm traversing a rolling terrain near the foot of Mount San Piro in Batangas province.

Instead of growing crops like rice or corn, this vast farm harvests heat from the sun and generates enough energy to power the whole of western Batangas.

This is the 63.3-megawatt Calatagan Solar Farm at the convergence of Calatagan, Lian and Balayan towns, the largest solar facility completed in the Philippines to date.

Located 10 minutes from Calatagan’s popular beach resorts, such a glistening man-made structure with a unique undulating landscape—not yet common in this part of the world—attracts curiosity. Passersby often stop to take selfies with the farm for a background.

Solar Philippines—a renewable energy firm led by 22-year-old entrepreneur Leandro Leviste—developed, financed and constructed this solar farm at a cost of $120 million (P5.7 billion).

Comprising more than 200,000 panels built by 2,500 people, this solar farm was completed ahead of other projects backed by conglomerates and foreign investors racing to secure feed-in-tariff allowance.

The farm started generating power weeks before the March 15 government deadline to build capacity to obtain fiscal incentives under the country’s feed-intariff regime.

Unprecedented

With over three decades of oper-

BIGGEST SOLAR FARM Rather than harvest rice and corn, this 160-hectare farm in Calatagan, Batangas province, the largest solar facility in the country, generates heat from the sun, providing power to the western part of Batangas.

Contributed photo

solar will soon become cheaper than coal. As the only local company organized to develop and build solar farms from end-toend, we are in a unique position to realize that potential.”

While there are other solar power projects in the pipeline, the Calatagan project—apart from being the biggest completed so far—marks the first time a local company has developed, financed and constructed this type of renewable energy facility.

The majority of the cost was funded by Philippine Business Bank (PBB), the banking arm of the Zest-O group led by business magnate Alfredo Yao, Leviste said. Other banks that supported the project were Banco de Oro, China Bank and Bank of Commerce.

“We owe this success to banks like PBB, who support SMEs Unique position “Whereas others see solar as (small and medium enterprises) just a part of their portfolio, we in emerging industries as partbelieve it will one day supply the ners more than just as financial largest share of the energy mix,” institutions,” Leviste said. “We look forward to extend these partLeviste said.

“Costs continue to improve, and u PAGE B3 ation, Calatagan Solar Farm is expected to offset over 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting over 5 million trees. Now that this farm has been switched on, it is expected to continue to employ at least 100 people and boost the economy of Batangas.

Built on previously unproductive land in Barangay Paraiso, Leviste said this farm was now generating unprecedented livelihood for three towns.

“Being on a peninsula (Calatagan), facing the South China Sea, the solar farm enjoys a steady breeze, the highest levels of sunlight in Southern Tagalog and is seldom hit by typhoons,” Leviste said.

Solar Philippines said this latest project was just the beginning of its plan to transform the power industry.

Liwayway Group buys Spain’s Cola Cao…

PAGE B1 t

million.

Cola Cao is a chocolate drink manufactured by Spanish firm Idilia Foods, a company that has decided to move out of the Chinese market.

Chan said Liwayway plans to invest about $7-to $8-million more to put up new lines in the acquired Cola Cao factory in Tianjin.

The Liwayway Group is expected to continue Cao Colas business in China to add to its portfolio of more than 100 snack food and beverage products.

Aside from the acquisition of

Cola Cao, Chan said the company also intends to add more to its 16 existing plants in China.

“We’re going to put up at least one plant in Southern China. The land is already given to us so we have to build. This year we will start development and in two years it will be operational,” he said.

Chan said the Liwayway Group has been fortunate to maintain last year the growth it posted in China in 2014, despite challenges in the country’s economy.

“We’re still expanding in China and in Southeast Asia a lot,” he said.

Aside from Shanghai, the company has snack-making plants in 14 other locations around China such as in Harbin near Mongolia and Xinjiang near Kazakhstan.

The Liwayway Group also has plants in the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and India.

The company started in the Philippines in 1946 by selling starch and coffee and then expanded into the snack food business several decades after.

It ventured in China in 1993, marking the start of the company’s international expansion. n

by Katrina Valdez MayVelin U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

THE tax bureau should look into the creation of a unit focused on high net worth individuals, a Cabinet official said, given the need to improve the government’s revenues.

“The high net worth individual taxpayers (HNIT) are still lagging behind in terms of nation-building, in terms of paying taxes. My proposal is for the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) to create a high net worth large taxpayer group,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said on Monday, Feb. 29.

Purisima, who was speaking at the kick-off of a Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) campaign, cited the need for a more focused effort to expand the tax base.

Large taxpayers, he noted, account for about 62 percent of total revenue collections but only comprise about 2,000 companies.

“The LTS is doing a good job but I think we need to expand the base, because this country is not just made out of 2,000

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima

companies. There are more than 2,000 companies and individuals that make this economy vibrant,” Purisima said.

“The challenge that I have for the BIR is to expand the LTS. Create a second tier, because it is important that we focus our efforts,” he added.

LTS employees, Purisima said, should be capable of handling

the load given that each one is only handling four companies at most.

“The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) average is 1:13, so there is room to actually increase the coverage of the LTS group,” he said.

The BIR, Purisima said, while contributing significantly to government revenues, was still behind a target of 16 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“To date, BIR collections account for 13.6 percent of the GDP,” he said.

The BIR on Monday said the LTS collected P881 billion last year, a 6.97 percent increase from the P824 billion netted in 2014.

The LTS tally accounted for the bulk of total BIR collections, or 61.15 percent, covering 2,320 large taxpayers—1,236 regular large taxpayers and 522 excise large taxpayers.

Based on preliminary data, the BIR likely collected P1.45 trillion last year. The final figure will be released with the issuance of the 2015 cash operations report. In

u PAGE B3

IFC urges Philippines to continue PPP program in Asia because of the high participation of the private sector in public infrastructure projects.

Pathak said making the PPP MANILA — The International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of Center as a permanent institution the World Bank Group, is urging would provide “significant” longthe Philippines to continue its term benefits for the country as it public-private partnership (PPP) would ensure fairness and transprogram to take advantage of the parency in the planning, procureexpertise of the private sector in ment, award and implementation meeting the country’s growing of projects.

“Fairness and transparency atinfrastructure needs.

During a recently held PPP tracts more private sector firms conference, IFC director for East Asia and the Pacific Vivek Pathak said installing the PPP Center as a permanent institution would enable the Philippines to maintain PAGE B1 t its position as a regional leader in pines, Development Bank of the private sector engagement.

Philippines, Overseas Workers “The Philippines has been Welfare Administration and the a model for how to use public- Philippine Postal Corp. private partnerships, or PPPs, Data from the Bangko Sentral to leverage the extensive exper- ng Pilipinas showed the OFWs tise and resources of the private sent around $25.767 billion back sector to meet the country’s to the Philippines last year. growing infrastructure needs,” A total of 2.3 million Filipinos Pathak said. worked abroad in 2014, accord“By building on what it has al- ing to the Philippine Statistics ready achieved, the Philippines Authority. can accomplish even more,” he Binay also vowed to increase added. the OFW legal assistance fund Pathak said the country has (LAF) to help OFWs in distress. been leading in the use of PPPs “We will protect our OFWs,

by Czeriza

ValenCia Philstar.com

to participate in PPP projects.

More participation leads to competition and helps achieve better bids and more equitable terms for the government and the public,” he said.

The IFC advised the government on two PPP projects awarded under the Aquino administration: the NAIA Expressway (Phase II) project and the LRT 1 Cavite Extension and Operations and Maintenance project. n

Binay vows to push for… we will increase the LAF to help them,” Binay said in a radio interview.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there are 90 Filipinos facing death penalty abroad.

The LAF can be used for OFWs’ legal concerns such as filing cases against erring or abusive employers, hiring lawyers, bail and other litigation expenses, Binay said.

The Vice President said there is a budget for the LAF, but the Aquino administration did not re-

u PAGE B4

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Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2-4, 2016

B

Business owner files Calendar of Events across America chapter 7 as losses mount

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng Business owner files chapter 7 as losses mount CLIENTS are spouses who own and run a business together.

They own an S-corporation that has been in business for 20 years.

They have 10 employees. An Scorporation, as distinguished from a C-corporation, is one where the profits of the business “flows through” to the 1040 of the individuals, unlike a C-corporation that pays its own income tax based on corporate profits.

For instance, if the S-corporation business makes a net profit of $100K for 2015, that net profit is added to the gross income of the stockholders of the S-corporation. If you own 20% of that Scorporation, you will have to add $20K to your gross income for 2015 in addition to your income from all other sources. Whereas if that were a C-corporation, the corporation would pay income tax by itself on the $100K profit for 2015, and either keep the net profit after tax in the coffers of the corporation as retained earnings, or distribute the net profit to the stockholders, in which case, the profit distribution becomes a dividend to the stockholder which the stockholders declares as dividend income in his individual tax return. Other than this differentiation in the treatment of corporate profit, both S and C-corporations have all the same benefits that a corporation provides.

Both S and C corporations are legally separate entities from their stockholders. Liabilities of the S and C corporations

Young client seeks chapter 7 relief for $$70K credit card debt

and deemed liabilities of the corporations themselves and do not transfer to the individual stockholders. This is called the “corporate shield” given to stockholders. For all intents and purposes by law, the corporation is treated as a separate and distinct “legal person” from the individual stockholders. For example, Volkswagen was recently found cheating on emissions.

The company programmed the computers in their diesel cars to act in a way that it appeared that emission standards were being complied with. In fact, they were not. In other words, Volkswagen, the corporation told a bold face lie. When it was found out, there was a big scandal and its stock tanked. Massive penalties for fraud soon followed levied by the Feds in the billions. There were multiple lawsuits filed against Volkswagen. Buyers wanted to return what they bought. If you were a stockholder of Volkswagen, can you be sued for this corporate fraud with millions of victims worldwide? If you were a stockholder of Volkswagen, do you have to worry about being sued by the victims because you own shares in Volkswagen, certainly not. Because the fact that Volkswagen is a corporation means that the company is legally a separate and distinct entity from you as a shareholder.

Therefore, you cannot be sued as a stockholder of Volkswagen for the corporate wrongdoing of the company. This is called ‘corporate legal fiction’ which is

actually quite a brilliant idea that allows free enterprise to prosper.

Without this ‘corporate shield and legal fiction’ people will be afraid to invest in businesses for fear of having their individual assets exposed to liability for anything that goes wrong with the corporation that causes damage to anyone.

In clients’ case, their business was doing well for 17 years. But the last 3 years was bad. Clients had to refinance their house to put in another $80K in the corporation to finance the loss of the last 3 years. Refinancing their house was actually making a bad situation worse. Why suck out the equity in your house causing you to pay a higher mortgage to keep a business that is hemorrhaging to keep it afloat? You’re letting the business loss drag your house down too. The corporation is supposed to be separate from your personal assets, but by refinancing your house, you combine the two together.

In other words, if the business is sinking, why let your house sink with it too? You business can sink and die, that happens many, many times in the world of business. But to link your house to the business, that’s the same as getting a gun and shooting yourself in the leg.

Clients’ S-corporation owes $120K of bank loans and suppliers credit, which it can no longer pay. Clients decided to discontinue the business because of mounting losses. I ask them if they want to continue the

u PAGE B4

PH’s largest solar farm up in…

PAGE B2 t

at present. Other projects in Mindanao (20 MW) and Luzon (50 MW) are seen to boost its capacity to 150 MW by midyear.

Leviste is confident his company could build more projects outside of the next round of solar feed-in-tariff, the allowance the government gives—and consumers pay for—as an incentive to renewable energy producers.

With solar energy, the Department of Energy has set a new solar feed-in-tariff rate of P8.69 per kilowatt effective until March 16—applicable to the next 71 MW to 500 MW of capacity built.

The installation target for solar energy under this feed-in-tariff regime was capped at 500 MW until March 15.

“We’re charging ahead at full speed on our next batch of projects, even without a next round of feed-in-tariff, because by making solar cost competitive, we can grow the market beyond subsidies and supply the entire demand of the Philippines,” Leviste said.

“The exciting thing is that the Philippines will be among the first places where solar will overtake fossil fuel, because existing rates are so uncompetitively high, allowing the Philippines to become a global leader in solar power and positioning it for when the numbers start to make sense More projects in the rest of the world. That can Solar Philippines will soon only happen if companies like us begin construction on its next are focused on making solar cost projects in Mindanao and Luzon. competitive for the long term, It aims to complete 500 MW of instead of just maximizing profcapacity by 2017. its from subsidies in the short Including the Calatagan proj- term,” he said. ect, Solar Philippines has a total Great challenge solar power capacity of 80 MW For solar farms built on land,

Solar Philippines’ strategy is to buy all the land occupied by its projects. This is because few landowners are willing to tie down their property for over 25 years, Leviste said.

“Land acquisition is one of the greatest challenges for solar projects in an archipelago where arable land is highly valued, and most other solar developers are unwilling to risk buying lands outright,” he explained.

“We consider our patience and willingness to make an up-front investment for land to be one of our competitive advantages, demonstrating our long-term commitment to bring solar to every province of the Philippines,” he added.

A son of environmental advocate Sen. Loren Legarda, Leviste shares the vision of SolarCity and Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk, who believes in a future where solar energy will replace the electricity grid we know today.

Leviste was about to finish his senior year at Yale University, where he was majoring in political science, when he heeded the call of entrepreneurship.

He founded Solar Philippines in 2013, initially running the new enterprise from his bedroom. He has since assembled a 200-man team.

He was among the Filipinos who landed in Forbes Asia Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list of “inspiring young leaders in various fields covering consumer technology, enterprise technology, the arts, healthcare and science, media, social entrepreneurship, finance, industry and retail.” n

PAGE B1 t

like Olympic-size swimming pools and basketball and tennis courts.

CBRE Philippines Chairman Rick Santos said with the average age of Filipino workers at 23.2 years old, the Philippines has one of the youngest workforces in the world, which is now even setting the trend in the local real estate market.

Santos said the millennial market has boosted profits of BPO companies, which have been keeping the local real estate sector busy.

He said the BPO market is taking the country by storm, adding an estimated six million square meters of office space in the market every year.

Santos said aside from the office property market, the residential property market is feeling the impact of the millennials, noting that more and more young Filipinos are opting to live in condominiums. n

nerships into future projects.”

Leviste said he expected this solar farm to break even in eight years.

On top of malls When Solar Philippines began building solar power plants, it first built solar panels on top of shopping malls such as Central Mall Biñan, SM North Edsa and Robinsons Palawan. It still dreams of turning every vast rooftop in this country into a power plant.

However, building solar farms on idle tracts of land is now seen as a way to scale up operations and generate power at a lower cost.

“Whether the panels are installed on land or on a rooftop, the business model remains the same, except the terms of the offtake agreements can differ. In either case, we enter into a power supply agreement with a buyer (such as the building-owner), or sell power to the grid’s Wholesale Electricity Spot Market,” Leviste explained.

“The real difference is scale and with that comes lower costs.

We plan to focus on solar farms as the best way to accelerate the deployment of solar in the Philippines, but we’ll also continue to develop rooftops, not least to spread awareness that the time for solar has arrived,” he said.

Millennials snap up condo…

one of its online advertisements paid by a local developer client.

Lamudi said one of the advantages that condominiums offer is the shorter time spent traveling to work or school because of its accessible location.

“This is a great advantage because the shorter the time you spend on traveling or commuting means a longer time in your hands for rest or running errands,” Lamudi said, adding that

the rows of retail establishments incorporated in most condominium developments are another plus factor.

“Retail rows within or around a condo building are now almost always included for the convenience of the residents, making everything that they need just within reach,” Lamudi said.

It also noted that a lot of condominiums in Metro Manila have become more appealing to millennials due to added amenities

Purisima: BIR should…

PAGE B2 t

the first 11 months of 2015, BIR collected P1.327 trillion.

This year, the agency is tasked to collect P2.025 trillion, covering more than half of the 2016 national budget, with most expected to be come from income and value-added taxes.

Purisima said some sectors

“underperformed” in terms of remitting taxes last year.

He cited the real estate industry in particular, saying: “Data from the National Economic and Development Authority showed that the sector expanded by 10 percent, but the tax collections (from the industry) went down by 12 percent.” n

Los Angeles Department of Public Social…

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Enrollment Worker. APHCV Enrollment Workers are certified enrollment counselors who can help you with all of the paperwork to keep your Medi-Cal benefits. Simply call (323) 644-3885 for more information.

Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. (www.aphcv.org) is a nonprofit, federally-qualified

health center that provides culturally competent health education and primary care services to over 13,400 patients annually, more than 47 percent of whom are uninsured. APHCV provides over 48,500 medical and mental health visits each year in multiple Asian languages, in addition to English and Spanish. APHCV operates four community health

centers in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. APHCV can be reached at (323) 644-3880.

Medical appointments for the APHCV-Belmont Health Center can be made by calling (323) 644-3885, APHCV-El Monte/ Rosemead Health Center at (626) 774-2988, and APHCVLos Feliz Health Center at (323) 644-3888. n

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS MARCH 4-6

GK USA National Summit 2016 There is no better time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) to present the Philippines as the new land of opportunity, with a steadily rising economy--the fastest growing in the world next to China, according to Bloomberg--and alleviating poverty. GK continues to evolve as a movement, starting with philanthropy expanding to sustainability, and creating hybrid, innovative systems to end poverty. The Summit will provide an opportunity for Filipinos, GK volunteers, partners, and millennials to reconnect with their homeland, contribute to their country and social entrepreneurship, and help to build bridges for a thriving nation. Asian Americans will have a taste of the emerging market of world-class, affordable Philippinemade products, such as Bayani Brew, First Harvest Peanut Spreads, Human Nature beauty products, and Theo Philo chocolates. Support GK’s humanitarian efforts to provide home and livelihood to the poorest of the poor, and learn about GK, GK USA, and GK Enchanted Farm programs. The Summit will take place from March 4-6, 2016, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). To register, please visit gk-usa.org.

MARCH 5

“An Enchanted Evening” Dinner-Dance for Gawad Kalinga As part of the GK USA National Summit, you are cordially invited to a dinner-dance, themed “An Enchanged Evening,” to benefit programs of Gawad Kalinga and GK Enchanted Farm. The Dance will take place on Saturday, March 5, 7:00pm, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). The cost is $100, with formal attire. The all-night program will include dinner, induction of the GK-USA Board of Directors, remarks from the Chairman of the Board, and all-night dancing. For more details on sponsorship packages for Gawad Kalinga builders and feeding programs, as well as GKEF programs and scholarships, please visit gk-usa.org. For tickets, please visit gk-usa.org/dinnerdance.

MARCH 6

Love to Nippon 2016 “Love to Nippon 2016” is the fifth-anniversary memorial event and community-wide tribute to those lost and the survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The free event will support the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the devastated regions, and helps prepare and train Southern Californians for future natural disasters through sharing information and education, and designating “3.11” (March 11th) as the official statewide natural disaster preparedness training day. The formal program includes peaceful interfaith prayers, incense-burning, musical tributes, panel discussions, and outdoor information booths hosted by the American Red Cross, Home Depot, LA County Fire Dept., US Coast Guard, and affected prefectures of Japan. Love to Nippon 2016 takes place on Sunday, March 6, from 1 pm – 5:30 pm at LAPD Headquarters, Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium (100 West First Street, Los Angeles, California 90012). The event is free.

To register (limited auditorium seating available), please visit www.lovetonippon.com. For more information, please call 310.484.1800 / lovetonippon2016@gmail.com.

Sacramento Showing of San Pedro Calungsod Movie, ‘Batang Martir’ What: A one-time showing of a previous Metro Manila Film Fest movie on the life and message of the 2nd Filipino saint, Pedro Calungsod. This showing is a fundraiser by Pacific Rim Heritage Foundation, to benefit the Filipino Community Cultural Center building fund.

Only 300 tickets are available.

When: Sunday, March 6 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm Where: Century Laguna 16 (Big Horn Blvd.), Elk Grove, CA 95758 Contacts: Josie Patria, (916) 392-6252; Lilia Rivera (916) 524-8008; Manny Buenaventura (916) 505-8555

MARCH 12

Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. Grand Marshals Gala The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) will launch the commemoration of the 118th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on Saturday, March 12 with the Grand Marshals Gala at the Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, New York 11102). The gala will take place from 7:00pm until 12:30am, honoring Dr. Leonidas “Ned” Pulido and wife Carmencita “Menchie” Pulido, who were chosen as the Grand Marshals of the 2016 Philippine Independence Day Parade in June.

Gala tickets are $100 per person, with formal or Filipinana attire. Please contact the Chairwomen of the Grand Marshals Selection and Gala Committee, Ollie David (732-499-7995) and Helen LaBarbera (516-581-8830), ir OUDCU President Dr. Prospero Lim (347-248-5106) for gala invitations and more information. Interested parties may also call any of the Committee Co-chairs: Drs. Emilio and Fely Quines (347-254-2945), Drs. Rod and Elma Castillo (201-869-4044), Dr. Ely Parico (908-265-1293), Dulce Barangan (516-343-8592), Lauren Martinez (347-284-9886), Thelma Cabralda (631-331-5891), Zita Lapena (917-454-9344), Nida Cortez (646-649-5531), or Angie Molina (917-478-6754) or any of the PIDCI Board of Directors.

FACC-SLAA Induction Gala The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce for South Bay Los Angeles Area (FACCSLAA) presents the annual fundraising gala and induction of its board members, to be held on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Gateway-Torrance (19800 S Vermont Ave. Torrance, CA 90502). Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera-Lim will be the inducting officer, with guest speakers Assemblymember Rob Bonta and former Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Attire for the dinner is Filipiniana/formal. The gala dinner is also a fundraiser for the FACC-SLAA Scholarship project of the chamber raising funds for deserving, eligible Filipino American students who are business (or related) majors in colleges and universities in the South Bay area. Four scholars who will each receive a $500 scholarship award. Fil-Am students applying for the scholarship should have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, low income/financial need, have no criminal record, must submit a one page essay on why the student is applying, and must be willing to volunteer or intern at FACC-SLAA for 80 hours. The deadline to apply is on Feb 15 to apply. Interested students, please email facc.slaa@gmail.com or fekoons@aol.com. Tickets for the FACC-SLAA Induction and Fundraising Gala are $60 each. Please email facc.slaa@gmail.com for more information, or contact President Cynthia Tan (310) 748-9688 or Fred Docdocil, VP Programs (310) 619-8101.

MARCH 13

Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association Fiesta The Sto. Tomas, Batangas Association of Southern California will celebrate their fiesta on Sunday, March 13, at 1:00pm at Sliver Star Financial office (217 N Azusa St. Azusa, CA).

For further details, please call Willie Manacsa (818) 400-7391, Ofie Villanueva (626) 3834152, Rosie Sancianco (951) 898-7628 or Myrna Jaurigue at (909) 545-9876.

M A R C H 1 8 -1 9

5th Statewide Disabilities Conference Agencies, service providers and caretakers, community organizations, consumers, jobseekers, families…please join us for the California Statewide Disabilities Conference from March 18-19, 2016 at The Westin Pasadena hotel (191 N. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA).

Expert panels/sessions/topics to be discussed include special education for those with disabilities, autism, assistive technology, ACA/Health, civil rights, mental health, financial wellness, discrimination, employment benefits, college supportive services, transition to adulthood, and outreach to the diverse Asian American - Pacific Islander community. This event is sponsored by the Asian & Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC), giving a voice and face to Asians and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, and improving access to resources for API families. APIDC has hosted four major conferences in California.

The conference will also include social service agencies, and exhibitors/representatives such as educators, attorneys, and health care providers. Special gift giveaways and raffle prizes are available to all registered conference attendees. For registration and more information (including scholarships) about the conference, please contact Jamie Hwang at 714-4033188, APIDC@gmail.com, and visit www.apidisabilities.net.

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

B MARCH 2-4, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA THERE are no shortcuts in arriving at a decision to live a simple life. Sometimes, one has to go through a personal hell experiencing an inner fatigue and helplessness over the never-ending chase for the almighty dollar and quality of life in order to come to a conclusion that there has to be a better way than what is commonly believed.

Money is a major consideration in deciding to simplify one’s life. Let’s face it. Our attitude and relationship towards money have a lot to do with it. If you are always strapped for money because you are too deeply buried in debt, then money has you in a stranglehold.

You have to work longer, harder hours in order to pay off the debt. Think of it this way. If you buy a new car which you have to pay on installment for the next five years, you have just signed yourself on to work for the next five years to pay it off. If you love your work and can see yourself doing it for the same company for the next five years, then driving a new car and being able to pay for it are bonuses of the work

Community Journal

Money, debt and your psyche “Every time you borrow money, you’re robbing your future self.”

— Nathan W. Morris that you love to do. But if you hate your job, it becomes a big problem. As Shakespeare would say.“Aye there’s the rub…” Overwhelming financial problems will prevent you from living simply.

Many who have taken the simple life path will tell you that being debt-free can be very liberating. It will allow you to breathe freely and lead you to appreciate everything with a twinkle in your eyes, about life under these big blue skies.

Saved money can give you options to take an extended leave, extended sabbaticals, switch gears to study for a change in career or simply to do the things you have always wanted to do but could not because you have been slaving your life away over things you have bought stashed in the garage, in the closet or in the basement unopened or things you have been maintaining to impress and create an image.

To be able to save money, you will have to live below your means and pare down your expenses to the barest minimum to cover the basic necessities. Your treacher-

ous, fat ego—the one that keeps wanting to impress others with bogus symbols of power and success—must be cut down to size.

If you have neither the motivation nor the discipline to do this, it won’t happen.

Ergo, put that big, fat ego on a diet, pronto.

If you begin to understand your attitude about money and how you can make it work for you instead of you working for it, then you are on the right track.

When it finally hits you that money can either free you or make a slave out of you depending on how you view it and how you use it, you can then begin to exercise the control you never knew you had over it.

The reward is tremendous. You begin to experience a rare sense of freedom that only a simple life gives. With little or no debt, you can be living in a relatively stress-free state of grace. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Business owner files chapter 7 as losses…

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business with a Chapter 11 and perhaps get away without paying any of the $120K. They decide for a Chapter 7 because too much competition has made the future of the business very bleak.

Will the S-corporation Chapter 7 affect the stockholders as individuals, of course it will not. The stockholders keep their good credit and everything else. They are not affected by the bankruptcy of the S-corporation, because after all, even an S-corporation is a legally separate and distinct entity under the law, therefore, it can file a bankruptcy by itself without affecting the individual stockholders.

Young client seeks chapter 7 relief for $70K credit cards Client is 33, and recently married. He also dabbled into business, using his credit cards to fund the business. The business never turned a profit. He maxed out his credit cards at $70K. One credit card sued him to collect

$14K of credit card debt. At that time, he was still optimistic that his business would turn around and become profitable. But that was not to be. He entered into a stipulated judgment agreeing to pay $200 a month until the $14K was fully paid off. He just got married and wants a fresh start without debt, and opts for Chapter 7 relief. This will wipe out the $70K of credit card debt including the $14K stipulated judgment. Without debilitating debt, client can look forward to a fresh, new and productive life, and can even start another business that has a better chance of being successful from all the mistakes he learned from his failed business. This is what happened to Mr. Walt Disney who also sought Chapter 7 relief twice before his Disneyland business became successful.

From two bankruptcies, Disney is now a global multi-billion dollar business with the new $6.0 billion theme park opening in

Shanghai this June. Who knows, my young client may be another Disney in the making, learning from his previous mistakes.

Maybe 10 years from now, client may become a business tycoon.

Further, client’s decision to seek chapter 7 relief is completely confidential. Nobody needs to know unless he discloses it himself. His new wife is totally not affected even if she has her own assets. Those are her sole and separate assets.

“A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God (Adonai/Yahweh), who does not lie, promised before, the beginning of time.” — Titus 1:2

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

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The Kite Runner Prof. enrique M. soriAno I HAVE decided to prioritize this timely article related to the Year of the Fire Red Monkey hoping our dear readers can use the information as a good reference point in dealing with family members and business owners in the areas of relationships and growth.

At the start of any new year everyone is filled with anticipation and bated breath, eagerly wanting to know what will happen and what will be the trends that will drive the direction of activities in the upcoming year. It’s always useful to read some forecasts from a wide range of industry pros for the information can help validate or adjust one’s direction in his career or business.

2015 has been an interesting year. We have seen businesses experience both success and failure but struggle at times to understand why. This article will present interesting predictions for 2016 from the perspective of Feng Shui experts, the Philippine government, Asian Development Bank and business consultants, both local and foreign.

Feng Shui Predictions While we have officially welcomed 2016, the Chinese Zodiac New Year ushered in the Year of the Fire Monkey only last February 8, 2016. Cheerful and energetic by nature, monkeys represent flexibility, intelligence and confidence.

The Year of the Fire Monkey, being propitious for regular money supply, is also the right time in 2016 for families and couples to reconsider their daily relationships and break the routine.

Partnerships and New Projects According to an online article, the combination of Fire with the sign of the Monkey brings vitality and innovation to both business and personal relationships. If you start a new project, make sure you get associated with the right business partners, as new sparkling ener-

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA NEW Foreign bank account rules were aimed to fight terrorism financing, tax evasion, fraud, and money laundering.

Sorry to say, but folks like me and you get snared in the process. If we don’t follow the new rules, we get penalized.

Here is a written series of simplified articles on this subject to help you understand the new rules and protect yourself from harsh penalties if you fail to report foreign assets.

Q. What is FBAR? A. FBAR is a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts on FinCen (Financial crimes Enforcement Network) Form 114 (was Form TD F 9022.1).

Q. Am I required to report bank accounts in a foreign country?

A. Yes, if at any time you are outside the U.S and at anytime during the calendar year the aggregate value of all financial accounts is more than $10,000.

Q. Am I exempted from reporting if my accounts are in Euros, Chinese Yuan, Philippines pesos, or Mexican pesos?

A. No, just because they are not in US dollars does not exempt you from reporting foreign accounts. Convert to U.S. dollars any international denominations and report in the FBAR if the amount is more

Family businesses in the year of the fire red monkey gies also mean heavier risks in case of failure. At work, provided you stay quick, focused and surrounded by the right people, your business might become mature enough for takeoff in 2016.

Although the monkey may bring instability because it is an animal that’s crafty and restless, open to volatility and change, it could also herald major innovation, says Hong Kong-based soothsayer Thierry Chow, as technology falls into the “fire” category.

In an article written by George Sison, consciousness guru and founder of the Temple of Prayer, Peace and Prosperity (TOPPP), wrote that the Fire Monkey is particularly good in ventures that are speculative and is an expert in its evaluation of risks to be taken. The key words for this year are achievable, workable and feasible including what many may consider impossible.

Everywhere, new inventions and improvisations will arise.

The year is described as highly “competitive” and has also been compared to a big bluff game similar to poker. This will be played in all sectors including politics, big business and even diplomacy – and everyone will be given a chance to join.

The key is to fix all family feuds and misunderstandings Business will prosper in expected and unexpected ways as a result of new and unconventional ways of doing things. On the other hand, according to Feng Shui expert Marites Allen, future success is likely for anything associated with the water element as well as industries like spa, tourism, banking and shipping.

Lucky colors for this year include blue, black and grey. (No wonder Miss Universe 2016 Pia Alonzo was extra lucky in her stunning royal blue gown by designer Albert Andrada.) As things go, the coming Year of the Fire Monkey is ripe with possibilities, fraught with obstructions and challenges, with people (not necessarily politicians) looking for opportunities and advantages—much like the monkey, who is known for his

“scheming tactics.” Of course, one need not be a feng shui expert to know this as the national elections is on May 9.

Change is inevitable “Everybody will be looking out for themselves, especially financially. The elections will be largely peaceful but marred by conflict, and the next president, whoever that may be, will naturally have to deal with a lot of politicking and challenges,” Allen says. She refuses to predict who will win the polls without a thorough look at the candidates’ charts. She did say most of the candidates were born in the Year of the Rooster (so expect a cockfight, figuratively, when elections come). Allen also warns against air, shipping or land disasters during the year.

Traffic will continue to become a major problem.

On a positive note, those born in the years of the Sheep and Monkey will be financially blessed this year. “The number 8 [Wealth Star] flies to the Southwest this year. This is the corner of the Sheep and the Monkey, so they will enjoy the benefits of the wealth star throughout the year. What’s more there will be two months during the year that the number 8 doubles up. So, you might win in the lotto”, she advises, not totally in jest. Other lucky signs of the year include the Rabbit (prosperity), the Dragon and Snake (victory luck), Horse (windfall), and Rooster (romance luck). (sorianoasia@ gmail.com) *** Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of Asean-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and Program Director for Real Estate and the former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is slated to deliver a talk on Philippine Business and Franchising Opportunities. The first talk is in NY on Feb 1 at the Philippine Consulate and Boston on Feb 4 at the Harvard Campus and in LA. The talk is organized by the Philippine Consulate in New York, in coordination with the Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (bkpinc.org), the Harvard Philippine Forum, TFC with Asian Journal as media partner. For those interested to attend, pls email nzuelke@gmail. com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusines.com.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) #1 - FBAR filing requirements than $10,000.

Q. Who must file an FBAR? A. Any United States person who has signature authority over or financial interest in any financial account in a foreign country, if the collective value exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

Q. Who is a United States person?

A. “United States person” includes a resident or citizen of the United States, a domestic corporation, a domestic estate or trust, or a domestic partnership (the term “domestic” means formed in the U.S.) Q. What constitutes signature or other authority over an account?

A. Applies only to individuals.

If such person can control the disposition of assets in the account, then, he is a person that has signature authority over an account.

Q. What is a foreign country?

A. “Foreign country” includes all geographical areas outside the United States, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Q. When is the FBAR due?

A. It is due by June 30 of the year following. There is no extension of the due date. (TIP: File and amend later if you do not have all the available information to file the return by June 30). Returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015, new deadline is April 15.

Q. How do you amend a previously filed FBAR? A. Fill out a new FBAR completely and check the amend box. Use the original BSA identifier provided from your prior report after selecting the amend box.

Q. What happens if an account holder fails to file a required FBAR report?

A. Failure to file an FBAR could result in criminal penalties, civil penalties or both.

Q. Should I file FBAR with my income tax return?

A. No, It should not be filed with your Federal tax return because the FBAR is a separate report.

Q. Can cumulative FBAR penalties exceed the amount in a taxpayer’s foreign account?

A. Yes, penalties can be assessed every year. Repeated penalties can exceed what is inside the bank accounts.

FBAR UPDATE FOR 2015: EFILE online required starting 1/1/15 through the BSA E-Filing System website.

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.

(Advertising Supplement)

Binay vows to push for OFW…

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lease the fund.

He said his daughter, Sen. Nancy Binay, had pushed for the release of P100 million legal assistance fund for 2016, but the Department of Budget and Management did not release it.

Senator Binay had proposed the increase in the LAF from P30 million to P100 million.

Republic Act 10022, or the amended Migrants Workers Act, sets aside not less than P100 million yearly for the LAF, which is included in the budget of the DFA. The proposed 2016 national budget did not contain a special provision for the LAF, when the previous national outlays had it, the senator said.

The increase in the LAF is one of the steps that a Binay ad-

ministration will implement to protect the welfare of overseas Filipinos, the Vice President stressed.

Binay also vowed to implement Makati’s Yellow Card program nationwide under his presidency.

The Yellow Card program, which Binay started in Makati City during his term as mayor, provides beneficiaries free maternal, child and elderly care; free outpatient consultations and medicines; and government-subsidized hospitalization, on top of PhilHealth benefits.

Binay said the program has been recognized by the United Nations-Habitat as one of the world’s best practices.

“Our Yellow Card program has been recognized globally, and I plan to implement it nation-

wide,” Binay said in his speech at the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center auditorium in Manila.

Binay toured several areas in Manila on Monday, Feb. 29, together with his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, and United National Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidates Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram, Parañaque City councilor Alma Moreno, former police Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas, broadcaster Rey Langit and labor lawyer Allan Montano.

“In Makati, no poor people die due to poverty. We don’t allow that. We provide them all they need, even if the amount reaches millions of pesos. These include medicines, hospitalization that are given free to the poor who needed our support,” he said. n

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Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes FOR most people, being served with divorce papers by your spouse is probably one of the biggest surprises in your life.

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

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

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

This type of confrontation is called “domestic violence.” You may be arrested criminally if

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Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 2-4, 2016

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Seven things you should not do when served with divorce papers by your spouse your spouse calls law enforcement. Your spouse may also file a domestic violence restraining order against you. Either one would compromise your ability to seek custody of your children, child support, and spousal support. It would also affect your credibility as a witness for future proceedings. In addition if you do this in front of the children, this may be looked at as domestic violence and abuse against the children. The incident may be reported to Child Protective Services for investigation.

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

If you have assets, do not run and empty out your bank accounts with the goal of securing it from your spouse. The divorce petition and summons includes certain automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROS) which prohibits transferring and encumbering assets. You will be in violation of the ATROS if you do this. Your spouse may also make a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against you. Howev-

er there are certain exceptions to withdrawing funds such as funds necessary for your living expenses and funds you need to retain an attorney.

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

Do not take off with your child and move out of state or out of the country If the child has been living in this state, California Court has jurisdiction over your child even if you leave California after being served the divorce. Your spouse can get an order from the California court to return the child to California and get sole physical custody of your child.

This can be enforced through law enforcement in other states.

In addition, this would also be an ATROS violation. Such a

EMPLOYMENT

move would seriously undermine your claim for custody of the children.

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

Children often blame themselves for the divorce of their parents.

Children sometimes manifest this through their academic performance during the divorce process. Do not involve the children in your divorce case.

Using the children to communicate messages to your spouse puts them in a difficult and very stressful situation. This will also affect your claim for custody of your children if you regularly involve your children in your attempt to communicate with your spouse. In addition, you should not say disparaging remarks about the other parent to your children.

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

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

You may be curious if your

spouse hooked up with a third party or an old flamer. You may be curious what your spouse are telling your friends and family. Do not stalk your spouse in social media such as facebook.

Do not hack into your spouse’s e-mail. This is a crime. Your spouse can also file a domestic violence restraining order against you for stalking. Most of the evidence obtained illegally is not admissible in court anyways.

If you have been unfriended by your spouse, let it be.

Do not quit your job voluntarily If you think you can dodge child support and spousal support by quitting your job voluntarily, it is not going to happen. Your spouse’s lawyer will argue that there was no legitimate reason for you to leave your employment and may seek the court to impute income on you. Your spouse may seek vocational evaluation for purposes of determining your earning capacity. In addition, the amount of income you will lose by quitting is substantially more than the money you will owe in child or spousal support. Even if you

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are successful in dodging the support orders by quitting your job, your spouse can modify them back up the moment you go back to the work force.

If you have been served with divorce papers and are unsure how to react, seek professional help before you dig yourself deeper in the hole. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

***

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

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

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 2, 2016

LASA, Fil-Am chefs experiment Filipino flavors at Unit 120 in Chinatown

by Christina

M. Oriel /AJPress

Driving through Los Angeles’ Chinatown, Far East Plaza on Broadway is one of those complexes that is easy to gloss over.

But with curiosity awakened and judgments of its outdated exterior aside, the two-story shopping center encases a culinary haven with options so abundant that multiple trips may be necessary. inside, you can find roy Choi’s Chego, Andy ricker’s Pok Pok Phat Thai, ramen Champ, artisanal ice cream at Scoops and decades-old Ten ren’s Tea Time, to name a few.

Then there is newcomer Amboy, a takeout window serving up Filipino barbecued items that adds to the global foodie galore.

During a weekday lunch, it’s common to see individuals eating cuts of pork belly from banana leaves or a vegan lentil stew evoking the flavors of Kare-kare (traditionally an oxtail stew with

thick peanut sauce). next door sits Unit 120 with signage that resembles an oldschool theater, promoting the latest pop-up dinner to occupy the spot. if you’re hesitant to make reservations, you’ll miss a fleeting meal from local and visiting chefs, including Filipino Americans cooking in major cities.

These two aforementioned establishments are the latest productions of Fil-Am chef Alvin Cailan and his passionate pursuit to make Filipino cuisine more prominent and accessible.

Though a few miles away from Historic Filipinotown, there is perhaps no better place to continue the burgeoning Filipino Food Movement than in Chinatown, Calian argued, given the

area’s foot traffic.

“A lot of people are now looking at this place as a destination for really great food,” he said. “Serious people who care

about food are here, so people understand what we’re trying to do.”

An Amboy’s take on Filipino barbecue Keeping up with Cailan since he graced the MDWK Magazine cover late last summer has been an uphill race. With so many ideas that could become the next best food trend, his plate is always full.

For starters, the widely popular Eggslut (the food truck-turned breakfast sandwich counter at grand Central Market in Downtown which he founded) is slated to open locations in venice Beach and the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las vegas sometime this year.

He has since sold ramen Champ to new owners, only to occupy a space downstairs at Far East Plaza for Amboy and Unit 120. “i wanted to run something Filipino that i’ve been testing, which is Amboy,” Cailan told the Asian Journal on a recent afternoon after the takeout spot finished its service for the day.

Borrowing the nickname his grandmother bestowed on him, Amboy (“American boy”) is a befitting metaphor for what

Alvin Cailan inside Unit 120’s kitchen.

AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

Cailan’s lunchtime undertaking is all about: Filipino food guided by the culinary training and influences acquired as a second-generation Filipino American. “it’s not fusion, but it’s more like we grew up in Southern California and we like to grill,” he said. “We love to eat vegetables that are grown local. it’s California-style Filipino food.”

From 11 am to “whenever we run out” (usually around 3 pm), Cailan said, Amboy presents a straightforward menu with everything under $10.

“We’re keeping it a small price point because as much as i would love to charge hipster prices, i know how…Filipinos are and i want them to give the most bang for their buck,” he noted.

Meats like chicken (slow roasted with inasal glaze), pork shoulder, pork belly and steak and seasonal seafood are served inihaw (grilled), paired with white or brown rice and a tomatocucumber salad with patis (fish sauce) vinaigrette. One of the standouts is the pork belly — crunchy on the outside, yet soft without being too chewy — which undergoes a thorough multi-step process that includes brining, air drying and braising.

With all that effort, it’s a surprise that the end result only comes with a $8 cost.

For vegetarians/vegans or those who want non-meat dishes, choose among the vegetables sautéed adobo style (kabocha squash and spinach stir up pinakbet flavors) or the legumes

section of the menu (each $2) with kaldereta (Spanish-inspired chickpeas in roasted bell pepper tomato sauce), kare-kare (cannellini beans in a rich peanut sauce) and munggo (shiitake mushroom broth fortified with ginger), all traditionally meat-based stews that are presented in a relatively healthier manner. “[The menu] has a mix of how i vision Filipino food, but…on an everyday basis. A lot of Filipino food has bases that are pork fat, but to me, as much as i love it, it’s not sustainable,” Cailan explained. influenced by street food culture, all of the items, which are made to order, are wrapped in butcher paper (binalot style) and banana leaves to awaken the recognized Filipino flavors.

Despite the potential vulnerability to criticism (i.e. the usual ‘that’s not how lola cooks it’ comparison), the overall reception to Amboy has been positive among Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.

“We gave [a customer] a whole grilled pompano and he said he was transported to Boracay…that’s really our goal,” Cailan continued. “We want people to eat it and say that it’s just like Filipino food, but it doesn’t look like Filipino food. it’s not like your usual suspects…it’s something we’ve put a lot of effort into to look different, but still feels familiar.”

But beyond Amboy’s imprint in the movement, Cailan takes it a step further with Unit 120, a Continued on Page 3

LASA, Fil-Am chefs experiment...

From Page 2

creative culinary incubator that is a breeding ground and test kitchen for culinary talent.

LASA’s residency at Unit 120 Inside Unit 120, the minimalist decor, wooden furniture and waiting area that feels like a friend’s living room all contribute to the unpretentious, homey vibe — even if the chefs who use the kitchen are among the highly trained and most experienced in the industry.

“I also wanted to help incubate restaurants and concepts…because of the constant trend of chefs who are looking to open a restaurant [and] who have all the talent in the world, but don’t necessarily have the capital to. If I had that opportunity, I totally would’ve done it instead of partnering with other people,” Calian said. “This is a place where people can see if their business is even worth doing.”

For brothers Chase and Chad Valencia*, finding a permanent home for their LASA (’taste’ in Tagalog) concept is the endgame.

After meeting at a NextDayBetter event last year, Cailan approached the brothers with a proposal to operate LASA every weekend at his new incubator, without having to invest in their own brick and mortar.

“Chad and I are completely thankful for the opportunity Alvin has given us at Unit 120.

He could’ve picked any other concept, but he had a belief in us after one meal and one exchange. He provides us more than a space -- he provides mentorship and support,” Chase Valencia said.

Added Cailan, “I really want them to have their own restaurant, but I want them to do it

Tokneneng

Kinilaw

the right way because they’re a great representation of what the Filipino Food Movement is.

Chase and Chad are both very focused and yet, they are very aware of who they are and what they represent…They have so much pride in what they do and how they carry themselves. I want them to make all of the mistakes here without having to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a restaurant. And it’s translating [because] they’re busy every night.”

Since 2013, the Valencias have served dinners at Highland Cafe and the Elysian once a month, captivating diners with Filipino-inspired cuisine driven by the seasonality of Southern California’s farmers markets. The reservations were hard to score, often times, selling out within minutes of going live.

But with LASA’s residency at Unit 120, the dinners are now three days a week (Friday to Sunday), giving a fair chance to those who never got to savor in their meals previously.

“We’ve matured because we had to focus and tighten our business and execution from a creative standpoint…in order for it to work three nights a week and to sustain wages and the means to go on in our everyday lives. It’s a learning process and it’s been an incredible one,” Chase said.

Since January, LASA has welcomed on average 120 diners each weekend, with a fourcourse, pre-fixe menu (prepared

by Chad Valencia and sous chef Nico de Leon) that rotates every four weeks.

Recently, the menu included: beef tartare (marinated in calamansi kosho aioli atop a taro tostada, sprinkled with wood sorrel locally foraged); caramelized cauliflower with red onion and currant atchara paired with a vinegar yogurt; for the main course, a slow-roasted pork collar complemented with charred cabbage, fermented turnips, kumquat and bagoong butter; and finally, a take on champorado (chocolate rice pudding) topped with winter citrus pinipig (glutinous rice) and sesame granola and blood orange slices.

Kopiko

Lechon Baka

Previous versions presented items like crispy duck arroz caldo, pancit egg noodles and pear and kamote ginataan.

In addition to the gustatory factor, LASA has an educational component to it, as evidenced by the way the menu is written.

For instance, having the Tagalog names of the dishes becomes a point of conversation, especially among non-Filipino customers.

“Our goal is also to educate diners about our food and our cuisine,” Chase said. “It is something that I worked with our team on to know the ingredients…what do they mean and what is the influence from that.”

Even with LASA’s resounding success, the brothers still see room for growth and call on continued community support to help them eventually get to their own place.

“The next phase after this would be a brick and mortar…There’s definitely a level of confidence coming from us and even our diners too. Our diners have been so supportive…there’s a sense of [wondering] what’s going to happen next,” Chase said.

Twisted Filipino Aside from LASA, Unit 120 opened up to a series of Filipino chefs, kicking off with A’postrophe by Charles Olalia (former executive chef of Patina who opened Rice Bar, a Filipino rice bowl counter also in Downtown’s Jewelry District).

Carlo Lamagna, executive chef of Clyde Common in Portland, followed the week after with a two-night dinner.

“He really opened my eyes as far as the potential of what our generation is creating for Filipino food,” Cailan said.

At $75 a pop, Twisted Filipino presented a seven-course meal that didn’t skimp on the flavors.

Tokneneng (fried soft boiled duck egg paired with pickled shallots, garlic puree, chicken skin chicharron) started off the night — something with strong and with bang, Lamagna said, to really hit the richness of Filipino cuisine. The kinilaw (razor clams with calamansi and coconut custard) played on a sweet and sour duality and served as a palate cleanser. Sugpo, two grilled prawns with ground longanisa and Meyer lemon relish, was a take a land and sea dish. Next came the dinakdakan, head cheese served with pickled ramp aioli and mustard greens.

Though not for the faint-hearted, it was made like a crab cake to make it more digestible. For the last savory course, lechon baka (roasted beef short rib) was presented atop bagoong fried and mango herb relish.

Lamagna, who was born and

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The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 2, 2016

Slow Roasted Pork Collar

raised in the Philippines, crafted the menu that fuses the “many influences and obscure ideologies of Filipino food and [his] refined culinary training.”

What followed was a slice of Brazo de Mercedes (though cut more like a napoleon) made with a coconut meringue, candied cashew butter and vanilla anglaise.

Lastly, a chocolate truffle modeled after kopiko coffee candy to bring the meal to a close.

“If it brings back a memory for a diner, then I’m hitting my mark,” shared Lamagna. “This is a way to reconnect with Filipino culture. I love and always will love Filipino food.”

Even if guests missed the first two Filipino chefs, Unit 120 has two more opportunities.

Ria and Matt Wilson, who introduced lunch program Wild at Canelé in Atwater Village, are scheduled to have a one-night only dinner on Wednesday, March 2. Maynard Llera, sous chef of Bestia, is closing out the series with Filipino-inspired dishes from the restaurant on Tuesday, March 8.

“We’re ending with Maynard because he has put so much love

Beef Tartare

AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

Caramelized Cauliflower

Champorado

and effort into what he wants to do for this dinner. Next year, we’re going to do it again with a whole new round of chefs,” Cailan said.

Along with the flourishing pop-up dining scene is the growing popularity of Filipino cuisine among adventurous diners who are always looking for something different. Such experiences keep the Pinoy culinary traditions alive.

“When any race eats our food, we want them to say, ‘Hey, why…haven’t I been eating Filipino food before?’ Because we’re not reinventing the wheel or taking away anything from the first generation of Filipino-Ameri-

can restaurants,” Cailan said, adding “What we’re doing here is so vital to have our community represented…We want people to come out to Chinatown and really enjoy what we’re trying to do. We’re working hard to make it an experience.” *The Valencia brothers and LASA were on the MDWK Magazine cover in Dec. 2014. LASA is serving dinner every Friday to Sunday from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made at www. lasa-la.com. For more information about upcoming pop-up dinners at Unit 120, please visit www.unit120.com.

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 2, 2016

The Global Kababayan

Oscars & entertainment roundup

G. TönGi THE Oscars this weekend was a big disappointment to many Filipino Americans hoping that the Academy Awards would be able to recognize that #diversity is more than just a black or white issue, despite just the token Asian presenter.

Chris Rock’s Asian jokes about the three Asian children, representing the accounting firm plays into the Model Minority Myth that perpetuates the stereotype that all Asians are smart and good at math. What Rock perhaps does not know is that stereotype also feeds the notion that Black people are lazy and hoodlums. Now the race issue is more divided than ever. People expecting Rock to advocate for Asians, however, is feeding into the slavery mentality that Rock needs to lift up the Asian community’s burden of underrepresentation as well as his own people, which should not be the case. Let’s make sure we understand that representation of a race requires solidarity within our own community beforehand.

Coming from an archipelago of islands -- where we are so divided by regions, different dialects and culture -- makes it hard for us to band together but we must for the sake of our visibility in media here in America. Watch our Oscar Panel series on Kababayan Today’s YouTube page to see Filipino Americans in the entertainment industry on the discussion of #OscarsSOWhite and how that affects us Fil-Ams. Journalist Yong Chavez of Balitang America, Francis Cullado, the Executive Director of Visual Communications, Film Professor David Maquiling and Media Strategist Winston Emano make for a very informative and lively discussion.

The Philippines for best foreign film?

Hungary also won the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Film! Laszlo Nemes, director of “Son of Saul”, thanked the Hungarian government for funding the film, estimated at $1.6 million dollars. The film centers around a member of the Sonderkommando at Auschwitz-Birkenau

Direk Wenn Deramas

who was forced to murder other fellow Jews in the gas chambers.

So as the elections come around, ask your candidates running for office in the Philippines what they plan to do to raise the Philippine entertainment industry so the country can compete on a world platform like the Academy Awards. Maybe it should start with looking after the interests of the people who work in the industry so these artists are not taken advantage of by profit-hungry producers and are protected from working inhumane conditions.

Wenn Deramas gone too soon Star Cinema blockbuster director Wenn Deramas -- responsible for the commercially lucrative comedy films such as the “Ang Tanging Ina” series, “Petrang Kabayo,” “Sisterakas” “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin,” “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy,” “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” and the “Beauty and the Bestie” -- succumbed to a heart attack and has died way before his time.

June Rufino of VIVA Entertainment said that two years prior, the director also suffered from an “almost heart attack” and had an angioplasty last year.

Many friends in the industry are talking under their breath about the cause of his degrading health due to the “segue tapings” and back-to-back schedules. With the lack of sleep and no insurance or medical benefits from an industry that “works you to the bone”, his death should be a big wake-up call to the

entire show business industry that it is time to demand working conditions that won’t lead you to the grave. Talents and managers need a collective voice to be able to draft agreements between the networks and film studios that require 12-hour turnarounds (You cannot work again on set until after 12 hours of your last release from any set). Unfortunately, better treatment is only given to star talents and not for the staff, extras and other bit talents. That kind of discrimination is simply unfair and unjust!

Catholicism & the Best Picture this year The Best Picture of the Year, went to “Spotlight”, which I admittedly overlooked this year.

The story of “Spotlight” is about four journalists and a news organization that worked tirelessly to expose the Catholic Church’s cover-up of priests’ sexual abuses in the Boston area.

Hopefully, this film will shed the much-needed light in our own backyard. Did you know that in 2002, The BBC News organization published an article titled “Philippine Church apologizes for sex abuse” of hundreds of priests in the last 20 years. 200 of the Philippines’ 7,000 priests have committed “sexual misconduct”. In 2003 at least 34 priests were suspended in a sexual abuse scandal involving sexual harassment of women. Twenty men were from a single diocese according to CWnews.com. In 2011, a priest accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old female minor was sheltered by his Bishop in Butuan, despite calls for his surrender to civil authorities.

The power and platform of film to elicit and spark discussions like this may perhaps be the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences way of bringing this scandal to the mainstream consciousness.. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.

Oscar Night: Asian American onstage presence, reactions to racist joke ‘Inside Out’ Filipino director takes home prize

By Allyson

EscobAr AJPress

AMID the glitz and glamor of the much-awaited Academy Awards, the 88th annual awards show was criticized after the show’s host, comedian Chris Rock, made race the butt of his jokes.

“I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” Rock said to an audience during his opening monologue. “Hey, if you want black nominees every year, you need to just have black categories. That’s what you need. You need to have black categories.”

“Hollywood is sorority racist,” he continued.

Another tense moment occurred when Rock brought out three young Asian Americans for a joke that perpetuates racial stereotypes. “The results of tonight’s Academy Awards have been tabulated by the accounting firm of Pricewaterhouse Ronnie & Tess del Carmen at the 2016 Oscars both in Oliver Tolentino Photo by Sthanlee B Mirador Coopers. They sent us their most dedicated, accurate, and hardworking representatives,” Rock said, before three Asian AmeriFIL-AM Oscar winner Ronnie worked on “Up,” chose a midcan kids wearing professional night blue Oliver Tolentino piña del Carmen, who co-directed attire came out onstage, named tuxedo to wear to the awards. and co-wrote “Inside Out,” “Ming Zhu, Bao Ling, and David His wife, Tess del Carmen, also wore a piña tuxedo by HolMoskowitz.” chose a Tolentino creation, optlywood Filipino designer Oliver “If anybody’s upset about ing for an emerald green lace Tolentino at the 88th Academy that joke, just tweet about it mermaid gown.

Awards on Sunday, Feb. 28. on your phone, which was also Tolentino is known for “Inside Out” won the Oscar for made by these three kids,” promoting Philippine eco Best Animated Feature Film.

Rock continued, as the audience fabrics, especially in Hollywood.

Co-director Pete Docter and laughed at the Asian kids-Del Carmen is the first Oscar producer Jonas Rivera collected dressed as accountants/bankers-nominee to wear piña to the the award. standing onstage.

Academy Awards. Nominee Del Carmen personally The award joke upset many Matthew Libatique wore an was nominated for Best Origipeople and minority groups abaca tie with his Tolentino nal Screenplay for the same alike, many of whom took to sotuxedo in 2011 when he was film, along with four others. cial media to express their views. nominated for cinematography The script was based on a “Seriously though, when is story del Carmen created with for Black Swan. Celebrities this going to change?!? Tired of to wear Oliver’s piña outfits in Docter. it being ‘cool’ and ‘ok’ to bash Going into the awards night, Hollywood have included Carrie Asians [shaking my head] #OsUnderwood, Emmy Rossum, “Inside Out” was favored to cars,” tweeted basketball star Jessica Alba, Maria Menounos, win best animated film, but Jeremy Lin. Sophia Bush, Tara Lipinski, and it was a different story in the “Umm, no @chrisrock. Using Maggie Grace. original screenplay category, as little Asian kids to joke about Tolentino’s creations are “Inside Out” was competing math stereotypes and child labor lucky for animated films (and with “Straight Outta Compisn’t funny,” said Grace Hwang for himself). At the 86th Acadton,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Ex Lynch (@HapaMamaGrace). emy Awards, the designer Machina,” and “Spotlight,” “Did that appalling joke became the first Filipino in 53 which won. While it’s often a about Asian kids actually hapyears to dress an Oscar winner cliché, it really was a win for del pen?” asked Justin Chang (@ when Jennifer Lee won for Carmen just to be nominated in JustinCChang).

Frozenwhile wearing his black this category with all of the live Even politicians got involved. gown. For more info: www. action films.

CA Rep. Judy Chu of District OliverTolentino.com.

Del Carmen, who previously Continued on Page 5

Oscar winner wears piña by Oliver Tolentino

Joyce Bernal

Philstar.com photo

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

I went through the grinder back in the Philippines as a crime reporter of a tabloid, (People’s tonight) that started off by exploiting shame and facilitated rage to work up issues in finding justice and truth. no one is spared from crime, however, at the center of the hurricane of crime, is a brotherhood of hard men, who fight for whatever justice is possible in this deadly world.

How I miss crime reporting, it was plucked out of me. even the Malacanang beat was not as exciting, as I yearned for the wailing sounds of the police siren in the night.

As police reporters we were allowed unlimited opportunities

The thrill of crime reporting

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 2, 2016

“No one is spared from crime, however, at the center of Superintendent (who eventually the job, but certainly nobody the hurricane of crime, is a brotherhood of hard men, who stood as a wedding sponsor to takes a degrading salary just fight for whatever justice is possible in this deadly world.” one of the girls) would invite to die. Because even among Homicide detectives cut through boredom by drinking (as most of us did), complaining, teasing and pulling practical jokes. Some were cruel and nearly all are crude. One of them keeps a grizzly photo of a murdered rape victim in an advanced state of decomposition. As a neophyte police reporter then, at least five homicide detectives asked me, “tita Mylah, do you know this woman?,” as he whipped the photo out of his shirt pocket. My piercing wail could wake the dead. now and then, when police brutality is exposed, no kind words could diffuse their rage. there were many times I wasn’t even sure whether their Chief

me to dinner and not challenge me to a fistfight.

Cops are there to quell the threats to peace and public safety – plus the control and reduction of criminality. their pay checks come from the national budget, but darn it if, after six beers, every cop is pretty much convinced he worked for the Lord, Himself.

Gunned down cops are overlooked in many slighting and painful ways. Some people don’t feel sorry for cops who get killed. “You took the job, it’s part of the job to get killed.” But it’s not! Cops take the job to protect people and help them. they go out there even when they know they could get shot, stabbed, or beaten. those may come with

Americans appeared onstage to present, including South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, Priyanka Chopra, and Dev Patel. Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an award for her short subject documentary, “A Girl in the River.”

Disney/Pixar’s ‘Inside Out,’ a colorful story about emotions and the wide complexities of the human brain, took home the prize for Best Animated Feature.

It was the eighth Pixar film to win in the category, according to USA today.

“Regardless of whether we get a gold man or not, we get to make stuff,” said the film’s director, Pete Docter. “this film was really born from watching our kids grow up, which is not easy.

Anyone out there who is in junior high, high school, working it out, suffering, there are days you’re going to feel sad. You’re going to feel angry, you’re going to be scared. that’s nothing you can Photo by Sthanlee B Mirador choose, but you can make stuff.” the movie’s co-director, Ronlywood breakdown” of actors, nie del Carmen (from Cavite City writers, and directors nominated and alumnus of the University of for an award.

Santo tomas), is the first Filipino “How unnecessary to make to codirect a film at Pixar, as well fun of Asians on the Oscars, as the first Filipino to earn an Oswhen Hollywood isn’t even car nomination for best original evolved enough to give Asians screenplay.

Asian-specific roles yet,” tweeted “Ronnie should be up here, Jen Chae (@fromheadtotoe). too,” said producer Jonas Rivera Several familiar Asian in the backstage press room

at the Oscars. “Ronnie is an essential part of the movie. He contributed so much to the emotion, the heart of the movie, and we are incredibly lucky to work with him.”

“I am so grateful to be a part of this movie, working with Pete Docter and being part of Pixar! this movie would not be made if our champion, John Lasseter, did not push for it and support it all the way,” Del Carmen told Inquirer. “As an immigrant from the Philippines, I kept my goals modest and stayed realistic. Because of where I come from, we worked so hard for so little back then. So this means so much to our family for our story.”

At Sunday night’s show, Del Carmen and his wife theresa wore Philippine-made creations

by Hollywood red carpet designer, Oliver tolentino. “this is for my parents who worked so hard to save us; my country where so many are like me wishing for what seems impossible,” he continued. “For my people in the Philippines, I can tell you—dreams keep you going. Awards or no awards, let this be a point of reference that anyone can dream the impossible. Do the work, be as good as you can be, fail and learn as you go and you’ll get to a grand place where you’ve become the dream.”

to follow lawmen as they travel from interrogation to autopsies, and from crime scenes to hospital emergency rooms. neither heat nor rain, not even the gloom of the night could hold these men from their rendezvous with destiny. I would learn that a criminal talking to a cop or running from one, is almost always certain to get a beating at best — gunfire at worst!

Much later, even as we grew calluses on our hearts, we thrived on coffee and adrenalin, and drink ourselves into distilleries, that if anyone lighted a match, we will explode inside the morgues, funeral parlors, emergency rooms and police precincts.

Oscar Night: Asian American...

From Page 3 27, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, released the statement: ““It is not right to protest the exclusion of one group by making jokes at the expense of another. I am so disappointed that the Academy and ABC would rely on such offensive characterizations, especially given the controversy over the lack of diversity.” “while much attention was paid to the way African Americans have been ignored by Hollywood, true diversity must include other minorities as well.

It is outrageous that the only role that Asian Americans had at last night’s Oscars was to appear as the butt of a joke. Young children stood up on stage as the audience was made to laugh at Asian and Jewish names,” Chu continued. “Reinforcing stereotypes of Asians as good at math or child laborers runs counter to multicultural understanding and inclusion. It’s time for Hollywood to see Asians as more than just punchlines.” the historic lack of Asian and Asian American representation and recognition at the Oscars was also called out by viewers.

According to the economist and nBC news, Asians make up less than 5 percent of the “Hol-

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cops, inevitably, bodies fall, and careers get derailed. But they will ride out with the same stubborn reason and unyielding belief that if they did their jobs, they won’t just survive. they will endure.

As you watch them on attention, on their pigeon breast

thrust, as they stood ramrod straight, let us not forget that they are tasked to clean up the world’s garbage — getting what everyone, including the family, the church and the school had failed. thank heaven there are cops on this God’s green earth! *** E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 2, 2016

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SAVINGS

$1.99 25%

Century Tuna Asstd Flavors 180g

SAVINGS

$0.89 25%

$11.99 33%

for

2

$

WAS

SAVINGS

Turo-Turo Gourmet Ukoy 18oz

SAVINGS

$1.19 37%

Suntropics Coconut Juice 1L

SAVINGS

3

$

WAS

SAVINGS

7.99

$

Orient Gourmet Ginisang Monggo 14oz

4

4

for

$3.29 24%

$6.49 46%

for

5

$

WAS

Knorr Liquid Seasoning 130ml

for

Orient Gourmet Ginataang Laing/ Langka 14oz

for

3

$

$2.49 40%

$5.39 26%

Caravelle Salted Duck Egg 6pc

SAVINGS

Cantaloupe

for

$

SAVINGS

1

$

$0.79 37%

3.99

$

$2.99 16%

$3.29 24%

$2.59 23%

99¢

WAS

SAVINGS

SAVINGS

lbs for WAS

SAVINGS

2

5

for

5

2

Pantry Favorites!

$

$

1

$

Red Apple

$1.09 54%

for

SAVINGS

$0.69 52%

$0.99 49%

Beermatch Ribbed Oishi Prawn Cracker/ Crackling/Pototo Fries 60g Kirei Yummy Flakes 60g

$

99¢

syong Sulit!

Pre

Green Cabbage

WAS

SAVINGS

syong Sulit!

Pre

$0.50 60%

1

lbs for WAS

syong Sulit!

Pre

SAVINGS

$

1

3

$

Navel Orange

$0.50 50%

2

syong Sulit!

Pre

Baby Bokchoy

2

SAVINGS

Sarangani Baby Marinated Milkfish

$1.29 61%

lbs for WAS

/lb

$4.49 33%

Chinese Eggplant

for WAS

for

WAS

Sarangani Large Marinated Milkfish

lbs for WAS

pcs $

1

SAVINGS

$5.99 33%

2

99¢

5

$

/lb

WAS

syong Sulit!

Pre

$1.99 83%

Cucumber

2

$ 99

Fresh Produce!

lbs for WAS

$0.50 50%

syong Sulit!

Pre

SAVINGS

Cooked Dungenese Crab

3

SAVINGS

3

/lb

syong Sulit!

Pre

pcs $

syong Sulit!

Pre

$ 99

$9.99 11%

Pike Mackerel

syong Sulit!

Pre

lbs for WAS

WAS

$1.99 50%

$2.99 50%

Red Pampano

4

8

/lb

WAS

SAVINGS

syong Sulit!

Pre

$ 88

99

¢

/lb

for WAS

syong Sulit!

Pre

syong Sulit!

Pre

$ 49

4

Jumbo White Shrimp

Meat & Seafood!

syong Sulit!

Pre

WAS

SAVINGS

Mogu-Mogu Drink Asstd Flavors 320ml

4

for WAS

5

$

SAVINGS

$1.79 30%

San Marino Corned (reg/with Chili) 180g