La midweek edition march 22 24, 2017

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Volume 27 - No. 24 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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PH House Speaker mulls impeachment case against Robredo

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

DUTERTE MEETS SUU KYI. President Rodrigo Duterte meets Myanmar’s de facto leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday, March 20. Speaking before the Filipino community in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Duterte said he was “okay” with Trump and was eyeing a better working relationship with his U.S. counterpart.

Malacañang photo

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Fil-Am tapped to head civil division of Justice Dept.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump is eyeing a Filipino-American attorney to lead the civil division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to various reports.

If confirmed by the Senate, George Conway — who is the husband of senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway — would be tasked with defending the administration in its legal battles, including the controversial travel ban, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The president’s revised travel ban against six predominantly Muslim nations has been blocked by federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland earlier this month. On Friday, March 17, the DOJ filed papers in federal court in Maryland in an effort to reinstate the freeze on immigrant and visitor arrivals from the countries in question. The Trump administration has argued that the executive order would help na-

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Sales tax hike to fund homeless services passes in LA County Measure H to help over 45,000 individuals

LOS ANGELES County has passed Measure H — a quarter-cent sales tax to fund antihomelessness programs — according to the final count released on Monday, March 20.

The latest tally from the County RegistrarRecorder/County Clerk shows the ballot initiative exceeded the two-thirds majority required for passage.

“The County of Angels lived up to its name,” County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. “Thanks to voters’ trust, generosity and compassion, we now have the means to implement proven strategies to end and prevent homelessness on a massive scale, and address the defining civic issue of our time.”

Board Chairman Ridley-Thomas was the driving force behind efforts to declare a state

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VICE President Leni Robredo could be removed from her post for allegedly undermining President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration before the international community, according to House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

In an interview with CNN, Alvarez revealed that he is studying the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against Robredo for possible “betrayal of public trust” after condemning the Duterte administration in a video she sent to the United Na-

tions (UN).

“In my opinion, there is a betrayal of trust. In my entire life, this is the first time I have seen a top government official smear the country’s reputation before the international community,” Alvarez said in mixed Filipino on Friday, March 17. “What would be the effect, economically?”

In a video message uploaded on Monday, March 13, Robredo emphasized that the thousands of killings and human rights abuses allegedly tied to the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs have left Filipinos feeling “hopeless” and

Duterte ready to ‘give all’ to Trump except PNP chief admits ‘palit ulo’ scheme military alliance but denies Robredo’s definition PH assures the US of friendship, cooperation

SIOSON AJPress

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his openness to enhance the country’s relationship with the United States amid the seemingly tense ties caused by human rights concerns in connection with his controversial war against drugs.

Duterte, who has been highly critical of former U.S. President Barack Obama, said that he is “okay” with his new counterpart, President Donald Trump.

“President Trump and I are okay and I can assure him also of our friendship and cooperation. We have no problem there,” Duterte told the Filipino community in Naypyidaw during his state visit to Myanmar on Sunday, March 19.

The Philippine leader, who took office in July last year, constantly lambasted Obama and his administration for condemning the government’s campaign

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SIOSON AJPress

PNP Chief General Ronald De La Rosa.

Ex-senator Letty Ramos-Shahani, 87

by JEFFERSON

ANTIPORDA ManilaTimes.net

LETICIA “Letty” Ramos-Shahani, a career diplomat and academic who became senator with the restoration of democracy after the 1986 “People Power” revolt, died early Monday, March 20 after a two-year battle with colon cancer. She was 87.

Daughter Lila said her mother passed away at 2:40 a.m. in the intensive care unit of St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“It’s difficult but you know all we want now is for my mom not to be in pain and that thought gives us a great deal of peace, that she is no longer in pain,” Lila said in a television interview.

Lila said her mother had stage four colon cancer and underwent chemotherapy and stem cell

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

by DANA

WHILE the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed the existence of the so-called “palit-ulo” (exchange of head) scheme in the government’s war against illegal drugs, Police Chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa insisted that it was far different from Vice President Leni Robredo’s definition.

During a press briefing on Monday, March 20, Dela Rosa clarified that PNP’s “exchange of head” refers to a practice wherein arrested drug pushers can reveal their supplier or higher drug lords in exchange of being charged with a lighter offense.

“Instead of Section 5, the suspect’s violation would be of

by DANA

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Leticia “Letty” Ramos-Shahani

therapy for two years.

The former senator was doing well but in November, she became too weak for chemotherapy and developed pneumonia.

Shahani was born on September 30, 1929 in Lingayen, Pangasinan to Foreign Affairs Secre-

tary Narciso Ramos and Angela Valdez, about a year apart from brother Fidel Ramos, the former president.

Wellesley alumna Shahani studied literature at Wellesley, the top women’s college in the United States whose alumnae include Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright. She later obtained her master’s and doctorate in comparative literature at Columbia University and the Sorbonne in Paris.

Well-respected in diplomatic circles here and abroad, Shahani became Philippine ambassador to Australia (1978-1980) and Romania (1975-1980), after working in the United Nations’ (UN) Division of Human Rights (196468) and the Commission on the Status of Women (1974).

She pushed for the empow-

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Edwin Bacasma / Inquirer.net file photo

Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino, Bill Gates world’s top billionaire

by AJPRESS SM Investments Corporation founder Henry Sy topped the 2017 ranking of American business magazine Forbes’ list of the wealthiest individuals in the Philippines.

Sy and his family had a net worth of $12.7 billion, ranking 94th worldwide in the magazine’s 2017 Billionaires List published on Monday, March 20.

Coming second in the Philippine ranking is JG Summit Holdings’ John Gokongwei Jr. with a net worth of $5.8 billion, followed by Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery’s taipan Lucio Tan ($3.7 billion), George Ty ($3.5 billion), and Enrique Razon Jr. ($3.4 billion).

Worldwide, Gokongwei ranked 250th, Tan 501st, Ty 544th, and Razon 564th.

Completing the list of Filipino billionaires were Tony Tan Caktiong ($3.4 billion), David Consunji ($3.1 billion), Andrew Tan ($2.5 billion), Robert

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A MARCH 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

PH House Speaker mulls impeachment…

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“helpless.”

According to her, Filipinos were beaten up for requesting search warrants, and poor people were “rounded up in places like basketball courts, women separated from men, those with tattoos asked to stand in the corner, their belongings searched.”

Robredo also mentioned the supposed “exchange of head” or “palit-ulo” scheme, in which she said “the wife, husband or relative in a so-called drug list will be taken if the person himself could not be found.”

Malacañang said that Robredo “gravely misunderstood” the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) so-called “exchange of head” scheme, later clarifying that it actually “refers to a commitment of a drug suspect to provide assistance in the arrest of a ‘bigger fish’ in the illegal drug syndicate, whether an up-line/ superior/supplier of the arrested suspect, in exchange for lighter charges.”

“I am studying it (the impeachment case against Robredo). If in my research, I can find sufficient evidence to prosecute, we have to see if it can stand trial before the Senate,” the House speaker said.

Alvarez also claimed that Robredo “definitely” played a “direct hand” in the recent impeachment bid against Duterte.

“It was very clear. We can see that she even sent a tape to the United Nations regarding her complaints here in the Philippines,” he said.

On March 16, Magdalo Partylist Rep Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte before the House of Representatives, accusing the president of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Malacañang said that the UN video message lambasting the government’s war on drugs and the filing of an impeach-

ment complaint against Duterte “seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence.”

On Monday, March 20, Atty.

Oliver Lozano and Melchor Chavez wrote a letter to Alvarez asking him to endorse their impeachment complaint against Robredo.

Lozano previously filed a series of impeachment complaints against former Presidents Gloria Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. Chavez is a member of Marcos’ political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.

Describing Robredo as a “termite of the government,” they said that the vice president “betrayed the people by shaming the nation with her dishonest message to the United Nations.”

“The respondent is duty bound to act within the framework of the Constitution but her acts of dishonesty and moral bankruptcy breached the bounds of the fundamental law,” the complaint

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APOLOGY NEEDED. Members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) led by founding chairman Dante Jimenez flash the thumbs down sign on Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo. Duterte had cleared the Vice President of links in the alleged destabilization plot being brewed against him. But on Sunday, the President said he would “not be surprised” if Robredo was involved in plots to oust him.

ManilTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

Duterte ready to ‘give all’ to Trump…

PAGE A1 t

against illegal drugs and the alleged human rights violations.

Since Duterte took office, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded nearly 8,000 deaths, which were committed by legitimate police operations and vigilante killings.

Washington, under the leadership of Obama, repeatedly urged the Philippine president to stop the killings.

In response, Duterte hit Washington for being a “hypocrite,” citing the supposed human rights violations in the United States.

Malacañang, likewise, repeatedly stressed that the extrajudicial killings are not state-sanctioned but rather, conducted by vigilante suspects trying to ride the drug war.

However, unlike Obama, Duterte noted that Trump, who took office in January this year, supports his anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“For the previous president, I was evil. The crazy man was planning to jail me. This other one, he says, ‘You’re right,’” Duterte said, referring to Obama and Trump, respectively.

The Philippine president also said that he is ready to “give all, whatever it is” under the Trump administration, with the exemption of military alliances.

“Short of, I said, the military alliances, I don’t like that. We can’t handle those,” Duterte remarked.

During a media interview in Burma, Duterte described Trump as a “realist.”

“He (Trump) is a guy who knows what is real, what is not, and he does not engage in theories. And even in the matter of

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PNP chief admits ‘palit ulo’ scheme but…

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Section 11, which is a lighter offense. But you have to name your source,” Dela Rosa explained, referring to the Republic Act no.

9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

R.A. 9165 Section 5 refers to the “Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals.”

Section 11, meanwhile, refers to “Possession of Dangerous

Drugs,” which is a lighter offense.

Last week, Robredo decried the killings and human rights abuses in the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs in recorded message to the United Nations (UN).

In the video uploaded on March 13, Robredo defined the alleged “exchange of head” as a police scheme in which “the wife, husband or relative in a socalled drug list will be taken if the person himself could not be found.”

But Dela Rosa, for his part, vehemently denied the vice president’s version.

He then challenged the vice president: “Show me that cop and I’ll punch his face in front of you. I will beat that cop. Show him to me if that scheme really happened. I won’t let them get away with such practices.”

Malacañang previously said in a statement that Robredo “gravely misunderstood” the PNP’s “exchange of head” scheme.

Presidential Spokesperson Er-

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Dateline USa

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REPEAL & REPLACE WATCH

GOP scraps individual mandate but sets up new penalty for those skipping coverage

by AnnA

GormAn And JordAn rAu Kaiser Health News

THE Affordable Care Act’s tax penalty for people who opt out of health insurance is one of the most loathed parts of the law, so it is no surprise that Republicans are keen to abolish it. But the penalty, called the individual mandate, plays a vital function: nudging healthy people into the insurance markets where their premiums help pay for the cost of care for the sick. That has required Republican lawmakers to come up with an alternative.

The GOP approach is called a “continuous coverage” penalty.

It increases premiums for people who buy insurance if they have gone 63 consecutive days without a policy during the past 12 months. Their premiums would rise by 30 percent and that surcharge would last for a year.

While the ACA assesses a fine for each year people don’t buy insurance, the GOP plan would punish those who decide to purchase it after not being in the market.

Much is at stake. If this approach fails to prod enough healthy people into buying insurance, rates for everyone else in the insurance pool will rise, destabilizing promises by President Donald Trump and GOP leaders to make their Obamacare replacement more affordable. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that millions fewer people will buy insurance if the individual mandate is repealed and replaced with a continuous coverage surcharge.

Why do people allow their insurance to lapse?

Some simply can’t afford the premiums, like Sheila Swartz.

She and her husband, Don, who has a heart condition, dropped their policy in December after learning monthly premiums were going to increase by about $140 to $530. “You can’t get blood out of a turnip,” said Swartz, who lives outside Nashville, Tenn., and works as a house cleaner. “If you can’t afford that premium, you can’t afford that premium.”

Others stop paying premiums when they lose a job or are hit with unexpected costs in other areas, such as major home or car repairs. “If you have to pay rent or health insurance, you are

probably not going to choose health insurance,” said Bruce Jugan, a health insurance broker in Montebello, Calif.

Some people try to game the system, taking the calculated risk of going without insurance until they get sick or know they need expensive medical care, such as for maternity or an elective surgery.

Both the Affordable Care Act and the GOP proposal include a deterrent by limiting people from enrolling anytime they want.

People must wait for annual enrollment periods, usually in the final weeks of the year, meaning that some people might have to wait months before getting coverage. (People still can get insurance during special enrollment periods if they lose a job, get divorced or have another specified major life change.)

How tough is the GOP penalty compared with the individual mandate?

Under the ACA, the average individual mandate penalty in 2015 was $442, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The GOP penalty would vary based on cost of premiums but generally would be more expensive than paying the mandate’s penalty. A 40-year-old with annual premiums of $4,328 would pay an extra $1,298 because of the GOP surcharge.

“It’s got teeth,” said Cheryl Damberg, a Rand Corp. economist. “In some ways, it’s a more punishing penalty, and it’s going to hit people who are least capable of financially affording it.”

Seth Chandler, a law professor at the University of Houston Law Center who has been critical of the Affordable Care Act’s insurance markets, said he is skeptical the GOP surcharge is high enough to make people enroll. “I am concerned that the Republicans are succumbing to the same softness of heart as the Democrats succumbed too when they set the individual mandate [fine],” he said. “If you start to see insurance companies object or drop out of the markets, that’s a sign this thing is miscalculated.”

Two conservative economists at the American Enterprise Institute, Joseph Antos and James Capretta, argue the penalty is “far too small” to be effective.

“Healthy consumers are likely to

take their chances,” they wrote.

“With the repeal of the individual mandate, and the retention of the ACA’s insurance rules, the overall effect would be significant market turbulence, starting immediately in 2017.”

The CBO predicts that there would be a brief increase in the number of people holding insurance in 2018, as roughly 1 million people buy coverage to avoid the surcharge. In most years afterward, however, about 2 million fewer people would buy policies, either because of the surcharge or because of the requirement they provide documentation proving they had been insured.

The CBO said healthy people in particular would be more likely to avoid buying policies.

The plan has some parallels to Medicare’s late enrollment penalty, which is applied to premiums for people who did not sign up upon turning 65. But Christopher Koller, a former Rhode Island health insurance commissioner, doubts the GOP penalty would be as effective. “Medicare is an entitlement with the force of government behind it,” said Koller, now president of the Milbank Memorial Fund, a foundation in New York that focuses on healthy populations. “You get lots of notices about what your obligations are as you approach that age.”

What about people who can’t afford premiums?

The GOP surcharge contains no hardship exemptions, unlike the individual mandate, which allowed people to escape paying a penalty if premiums would have eaten up too much of their income (8.16 percent in 2017).

In 2015, 5.6 million people paid the individual mandate penalty, but another 11 million claimed a hardship exemption, according to the IRS. Lower-income people are going to have even more trouble buying — and keeping — coverage under the GOP plan, experts said. The ACA’s premium subsidies are based on income, and millions of people on the poorer end of the spectrum do not have to pay anything for premiums if they choose the cheapest plan.

The GOP plan would offer a flat tax credit that adjusts only for age. The penalties would make some even more reluctant to buy

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DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. Teenagers give hugs and balloons to the elderly to celebrate the International Day of Happiness on Monday, March 20, an event that is observed worldwide. A bit of cold isn’t keeping Norway from basking in the warmth of being the world’s happiest country revealed. The top four also included Nordic neighbors Denmark and Iceland as well as Switzerland.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

PH House Speaker mulls impeachment…

PAGE A2 t

read.

Robredo ready to face raps In response, the vice president’s camp said that Robredo is ready to face possible impeachment complaints against her.

Robredo’s Spokesperson Georgina Hernandez also maintained that Alvarez’s accusations have “no clear basis” and advised the House speaker to be “more re-

sponsible” in his statements.

Alejano described Alvarez’s allegations as “preposterous” and denied Robredo’s involvement in the case to unseat the president.

Likewise, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque said that the complainants need to show more solid evidence if they want the impeachment case against Robredo to proceed.

“The administration has the

numbers to impeach Vice President Robredo. But having said this, I would also like to point out that the words of the Vice President are insufficient by themselves to prove betrayal of public trust,” Roque said.

Roque added that Duterte’s impeachment case is “bound to fail,” as he believes “more case building is needed for it to prosper, particularly on extralegal killings.” n

“You know, you are trying to be a dictator. You dictate upon nations what, how, and what you believe in,” Duterte said. “That is why they worry about the human rights even if it is not a citizen of their country and dito, what is very sad is they believe in the propaganda.”

In a joint resolution adopted last week, the EU Parliament said it “strongly condemns” the alleged summary killings in con-

nection to Duterte’s drug war. It also expressed “grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.”

It called on the Philippine government to “immediately carry out impartial and meaningful investigations into these extrajudicial killings and to prosecute and bring all perpetrators to justice.” n

any response. So we didn’t know where to go and the people were asking our office for help and protection. We can’t stand by and not act on it,” she said.

In response, Dela Rosa claimed that he didn’t receive any letters from the vice president.

Robredo recently released a video message in which she emphasized how the government’s brutal war against illegal drugs had left Filipinos feeling “hopeless” and “helpless.”

Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched the campaign when he took office in July of last year, more than 8,000 people have reportedly been killed.

“You cannot kill addicts and declare the problem solved… We must all demand greater trans-

parency in the government’s war on drugs because this is a major, publicly-funded campaign,” the vice president remarked.

Robredo pointed out that people have been beaten up for requesting search warrants, while poor people were likewise “rounded up in places like basketball courts, women separated from men, those with tattoos asked to stand in the corner, their belongings searched.”

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez recently warned that Robredo’s video, which allegedly undermines the Duterte’s administration before the international community, may amount to the “betrayal of public trust” that could be used as grounds for filing an impeachment case against her. n

Duterte ready to ‘give all’ to Trump…

PAGE A2 t

human rights, he takes into account everything,” Duterte said.

He added, “I think we’re headed for something that is very... an understanding platform for both countries.”

Hitting his international critics anew, Duterte lambasted the United States and the European Union (EU) for “trying to be dictator(s)” by “imposing their culture and their beliefs.”

PNP chief admits ‘palit ulo’ scheme but…

PAGE A2 t

nesto Abella took note that while the vice president has the right to speak freely on matters of public concern, she also “has the responsibility to be careful with her statements especially avoiding unfounded allegations from questionable sources.”

Echoing Abella, Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo described Robredo’s online video message as “misleading and consists of bare assertions that are not based on evidence.”

But Robredo insisted that her statement is “very factual” and came from stories sent to the Office of the Vice President.

“In fact, we tried to ask data from the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and the PNP. But we didn’t get

Forbes: Henry Sy richest Filipino, Bill Gates…

PAGE A1 t

Coyiuto Jr. ($1.5 billion), former Sen. Manny Villar ($1.5 billion), Ramon Ang ($1.4 billion), Eduardo Cojuangco ($1.2 billion), Roberto Ongpin ($1.1 billion) and Edgar Sia ($1 billion).

On the other hand, Microsoft’s Bill Gates remained the world’s richest man for four consecutive years, dominating the list 18 times over the past 23 years.

According to Forbes, his fortune increased to $86 billion from $75 billion last year.

Claiming the second slot for the world’s top billionaire list is Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett ($75.6 billion). He was followed by Jeff Bezos ($72.8 billion) of Amazon.com.

Adding $27.6 billion to his fortune, Forbes said Bezos had “the best year of any person on the planet.” Bezos was included top three world ranking for the first

last year, the first time ever that Forbes has pinned down more than 2,000 ten-figure-fortunes,” the article read.

According to Forbes, the collective net worth of billionaires around the globe rose by 18 percent, amounting to $7.67 trillion, which it said is also a record.

“The change in the number of billionaires — up 233 since the 2016 list — was the biggest in the 31 years that Forbes has been tracking billionaires globHenry Sy ally. Gainers since last year’s list time, moving up from number outnumbered losers by more than five last year. three to one,” it further read.

Amancio Ortega of fashion Forbes said that Southeast chain Zara came in fourth $71.3 Asia was home to the most bilbillion. Facebook founder Mark lionaires, amounting to 720.

Zuckerberg ($56 billion) climbed The United States, meanwhile, to number five. had the most number of billion“It was a record year for the aires compared to other nations, richest people on earth, as the totaling 565. Next are China (319 number of billionaires jumped billionaires), Germany (114), and 13 percent to 2,043 from 1,810 India (101). n

Ex-senator Letty Ramos-Shahani, 87

PAGE A1 t

erment of women in the international arena as UN assistant secretary general for social development and humanitarian affairs (1981-1986) and secretary general of the UN Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985.

In 1987, she became head of the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women.

On June 30, 1987, Shahani began a political career in the Senate, where she served for two terms. She was elected by her colleagues as Senate president pro-tempore in 1993, a post she held until 1996.

Shahani authored landmark laws such as Republic Act 6725, Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace; RA 8353, the Anti-Rape Law of 1997; and RA 8505, the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998.

She also introduced the mandatory 5 percent government budget allocation for gender and development.

Shahani headed Senate com-

mittees on foreign affairs; agriculture; and education, culture and arts; and was a member of the Commission on Appointments.

In 2015, the Senate passed Resolution 1396 honoring her dedication as a public servant and contributions to the nation.

In August, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her to the board of directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.

‘Leading voice in foreign relations’ The Philippines lost a leading voice in foreign relations at a time the country needed it most, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd.

Senator Franklin Drilon said Shahani represented the very best of Filipina skill, intelligence and determination.

“Indeed, the late Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani remains a shining example of a public servant who our present and future leaders must strive to emulate.

While we are saddened by her passing, her legacy will continue

to inspire our nation and our people,” said Drilon, who had a chance to work with the former Senate president pro-tempore in 1995.

Sen. Loren Legarda expressed her condolences to the family of the former senator, noting that she was “one of the finest and most distinguished legislators we ever had.”

“Her dedication is unmatched, passionately advocating and campaigning for the advancement of her advocacies even after retiring from government service,” she said.

‘Profound humanist’ Senator Grace Poe, whose May 2016 presidential bid was endorsed by Shahani, said the late senator showed how public service should be – sincere, dynamic and exemplary.

“She is an inspiration to generations of women because of her steadfast principles and decisive actions,” said Poe in a statement.

Malacañang called Shahani a “profound humanist and exemplary public servant.” n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 22-24, 2017

A

Dateline PhiliPPines

Alvarez to still push civil union bill amid Duterte’s opposition to same-sex marriage

by AJPress

HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez reaffirmed on Tuesday, March 21, that he would still push for the legalization of samesex unions despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s rejection of same sex marriage.

Alvarez, however, clarified that the bill will only tackle “civil unions,” and not union through “marriage.”

While the date has yet been specified, Alvarez told Inquirer that the bill will be filed “as soon as we finish the draft.”

Earlier this week, Duterte said that Philippines — which is predominantly Catholic — cannot legalize same-sex marriage, unlike other Western countries.

“There’s no gender, because you can be or she... that’s their culture. That’s only for them.

That can’t be applied to us, we’re Catholics,” Duterte told the Filipino community in Naypyidaw during his state visit to Myanmar

on Sunday, March 19.

Duterte then added, “And there is the Civil Code, which is you can only marry a woman for men, and for woman to marry a man. That’s the law in the Philippines.”

While he stressed that a person has “to stick to where God placed you,” Duterte, however, claimed that he has nothing against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community.

He then took note that his cousin and two other brothersin-law are gay.

Duterte made the comment after lambasting the international critics of his administration’s war against illegal drugs, as well as the proposals to reinstate the death penalty and lowering criminal liability in the Philippines.

In his speech, he also slammed the United States and the European Union (EU) for “trying to be dictator(s)” by “imposing their culture and their beliefs” onto the Philippines.

Following Duterte’s remarks,

international watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that such pronouncement “jeopardizes the fundamental rights of LGBT partners and families.”

In a statement on Tuesday, March 21, HRW’s Carlos Conde said allowing same-sex marriage would enable gays and lesbians in the Philippines “to marry the person they love and would strengthen everyone’s rights.”

“From a human rights perspective, broadening civil marriage to couples of the same sex demonstrates respect for the fundamental rights of equality and nondiscrimination. It should be enshrined in Philippine law,” Conde added.

He then urged the Philippine government to consider to legalizing same-sex marriage, and join the United States, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Ireland in enshrining marriage equality. n

Committee on Human Rights to continue DDS probe pected criminals.

Lascañas said that the killings were ordered by former Davao THE Commission on Human mayor Rodrigo Duterte, now the Rights (CHR) will continue its president of the country. investigation of the Davao Death In a statement issued on MonSquad (DDS) following the claim day, March 20 CHR Commisof former police officer Arthur sioner Roberto Cadiz said that Lascañas that members of the the testimonies of Lascañas at group executed hundreds of sus- the Senate was “too compelling

by DemPsey

reyes ManilaTimes.net

and detailed” to be ignored by senators.

“Even if Lascañas’ motive for implicating the former mayor in the [DDS] has been put to question, especially by Senator [Manny] Pacquiao during the March 6 Senate inquiry, the testimony itself is too compelling and de-

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Fil-Am tapped to head civil division of…

PAGE A1 t

tional security, while opponents say it is anti-Muslim.

A partner in the litigation department of law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz since 1994, Conway has worked on numerous high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the United States.

In the 1990s, he was part of the team representing Paula Jones, an Arkansas state employee who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against then-President Bill Clinton, ABC News reported.

Conway helped write the Supreme Court brief that estab-

lished a legal precedent for a sitting president to be sued in civil court.

The Republican lawyer has also represented a handful of corporate clients, including Philip Morris and the National Football League.

He is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. In 1987 and 1988, he served as a law clerk to Circuit Judge Ralph K. Winter, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Conway was previously rumored to be the president’s

choice for solicitor general of the DOJ, however, Noel J. Francisco — who is also of Filipino descent — was picked instead.

Should Conway and Francisco be confirmed for their respective posts, they join several Fil-Ams serving in the Trump administration, including Joyce Yamat Meyer (deputy assistant to the president and House Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs), Kelly Ilagan (deputy associate director for presidential personnel), and Ninio Fetalvo (White House assistant press secretary), as the Asian Journal reported. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

TAKE A CRUISE. The 13-story SuperStar Virgo cruise ship arrives at Pier 15 in Manila over the weekend for a week-long visit to the country.

The cruise ship carries 2,400 passengers with 935 cabins with amenities that include the Parthenon Pool (an outdoor Greek-themed swimming pool) with the Mega Waterslide, 15 food and beverage outlets, a beauty salon, a library, a spa and health club, karaoke rooms, gym, a basketball court and a jogging track.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Sales tax hike to fund homeless services…

PAGE A1 t

of emergency on homelessness and to place an initiative on the March 7 ballot to raise funding for the County’s Homeless Initiative and community action plan.

According to the County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, records from as far back as 1902 show Measure H is the only revenue proposal ever attempted during a March election, when voter turnout is typically low and a two-thirds majority is needed for approval.

“With nearly 70 percent of voters supporting Measure H, it’s clear that our community will no longer accept homelessness as the status quo,” said Elise Buik, president and CEO of the nonprofit United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “We are proud to have been a part of such a broad coalition of civic and community leaders, all working towards a shared vision: a Los Angeles County without homelessness.”

Measure H would create a 1/4-cent sales tax over a decade to raise $355 million annually

for services to the homeless. It would cost the average taxpayer about $1 per month.

This unprecedented funding stream is expected to help 45,000 homeless men, women and children move into stable housing within the next five years, and provide them with the high-quality, multi-dimensional supportive services they need to succeed in the long run.

It is also expected to prevent an estimated 30,000 people from becoming homeless in the first place.

The services would be consistent with the county’s homeless initiative and community action plan, which developed 47 strategies for combatting homelessness after conducting 18 policy summits that brought together a broad and diverse group of community stakeholders.

To ensure accountability, the County Auditor Controller will have an independent auditor regularly report on Measure H spending, and a Citizen’s Oversight Advisory Board will publish

a complete accounting of all allocations and submit periodic evaluations. Furthermore, the funding recommendations will be discussed in public via a 50member allocations committee, and the county will continue to release quarterly progress reports in connection with the Homeless Initiative strategies.

The nonprofits that implement the strategies will be held to specific outcomes and standards, tracked and monitored by the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority, the County CEO, and several relevant County departments.

Reba Stevens, a formerly homeless person, expressed gratitude for the passage of Measure H. “I know first hand that this is going to change the lives of every single person who has experienced homelessness, and those who are currently homeless,” she said. “Measure H is going to change and save lives. I’m truly excited and thrilled. I don’t even know what to say, other than thank you, thank you so much.” n

GOP scraps individual mandate but sets…

PAGE A4 t

insurance — especially if they are relatively healthy.

“I think we would just end up with a lot more uninsured people, and they would clearly be the type of people who are less able to navigate and less able to afford insurance,” said Geoffrey Joyce, director of health policy

for the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

Republican lawmakers say their plan rightly places the responsibility on individuals. It is a view shared by some health insurance brokers like Helena Ruffin, a broker in Playa Vista, Calif.

She said that a continuous cov-

erage requirement would “limit those people who are not playing by the rules.”

“I am favor of the penalties,” she said. “Whether or not people are going to pay attention is another story.”

KHN’s coverage in California is funded in part by Blue Shield of California Foundation.

A MARCH 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Trading barbs

DESPITE a recent cordial encounter during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017 in Baguio City last March 12, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo find themselves at odds once again over the interests of the country.

On one side is the president who remains unshaken despite receiving a constant barrage of censure over his aggressive campaign against drugs and criminality.

While he continues to vehemently fight the drug crisis and criminality in the country, many still refuse to see its success. Duterte knows it—that waging a punitive war on drugs has consequences. He even warned that his war on drugs will be bloody.

For his critics, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed during police operations and through extrajudicial killings cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country.

It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives.

On the other side is the vice president, a former volunteer labor and human rights lawyer, who believes that the current war on drugs compromises human rights in the country. Robredo insists that the bigger war the government must face is against poverty.

During the annual meeting of the 60th United

Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs last March 16, a controversial six-minute video message

by Robredo was aired. Through the video, Robredo brought the world’s attention to the troubles in Duterte’s drug war, which she alleged has resulted in 7,000 people who died in summary executions, and flagrant human rights violations.

“We are heartened that the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines today is being discussed in an event such as this. To know that the international community’s eyes are on us and to feel that human rights advocates are watching over our country gives us comfort, courage and hope,” she said.

Coincidentally, an impeachment complaint against the president was filed on the same day that Robredo’s video message to the UN was released. Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed the complaint about Duterte’s alleged betrayal of public trust and corruption.

Duterte has ruled out the Robredo is involved in any destabilization attempt against his government. However, his allies believe that the vice

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

president is being used as a “political animal.”

“The release of her (Robredo’s) UN video message lambasting the administration’s war on drugs before an international audience and the filing of an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives which happened on the same day, seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Robredo might soon be facing impeachment of her own. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is planning an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying the public’s trust.

He accused the vice president that Robredo’s “inaccurate” video message to the UN has put the Philippines in a bad light and may result in serious economic consequences.

While political mudslinging may seem typical in a democratic setting, the constant bickering attracts scaremongers, ones who are pushing into this emotionally polarized atmosphere to convince people on their side rather than ignite political aspirations and ideals.

If this narrative continues, the ones who will lose are the Filipinos. (AJPress)

Pres. Trump lied to the American people and to the world Faces investigation on possible collusion with Russia

PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump lied. He lied to the American people. He lied to the world. And he is not owning up to it. He is not apologizing about it.

In four rants on Twitter in the early morning of March 4, Trump accused President Barack Obama of a grave impeachable offense, claiming his predecessor wiretapped him in Trump Towers during the 2016 presidential election.

Trump offered no evidence, pretty much like how he lied about his other “conspiracy theories” that Pres. Obama was not born in Hawaii but in Kenya and was therefore not eligible to be president of the United States.

He lied about the 3 million “illegal” voters whom he said made him lose the popular vote to his political opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

He lied about President Obama and his people being the ones orchestrating all the protest rallies against him and his policies, as well as leaks about his administration.

And the list of lies and conspiracy theories went on and on, with Trump labeling people, institutions, media organizations that do not support his narrative and are critical of him and his policies as “fake news.”

Pressed for evidence from the bipartisan intelligence committees in Congress, Trump then fabricated more lies on a global level, implicating one major ally. Trump alleged that the British spies surveilled him on behalf of Obama.

TWO of the most common expressions Street that I hear from the tricycle drivers in our Talk neighborhood in Parañaque are: “Lumilipas din ang kahihiyan!”

(Shame passes!) and, “Nakakain ba ang GreG B. MacaBenta dangal?” (Can you eat honor?).

These expressions reflect a very cynical attitude that is probably understandable if one were to consider the harsh lives that the drivers have to contend with — lives that they characterize as “Isang kahit, isang tuka!” (Literally: like a chicken scratching the ground and pecking at whatever food it finds).

Unfortunately, this attitude seems to be common among people who are well-to-do, especially those who are in positions of power; folks who ought to be role models of honor and integrity.

It makes you wonder if they care about how their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will feel about being told that their forebears were hustlers, liars or thieves. Or are they resigned to the fact that their descendants and successors will be as cynical or as unscrupulous as they?

Or, maybe, they think that people will forget. Lilipas din ang kahihiyan.

Recently, local and international media gave us a generous serving of news about two very prominent individuals who lost their high positions in government because they were careless with their honor and integrity: in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte’s

Trump’s administration alleged Pres. Obama bypassed the The Fil-Am U.S. intelligence agencies so that there would be no U.S. footprint Perspective in the scheming act.

This was an accusation that the British spy agency denied, saying this is against the law and the agreement among the allies Gel SantoS-reloS sharing intelligence information.

The United States is part of the “Five Eyes,” an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These are the allies that help us in our fight against terrorism and other threats to our democracy and the security of the Free World.

Trump held on to this false narrative until his own Department of Justice exposed his lies when FBI director James Comey, along with the officials of the National Security Agency, told the bipartisan intelligence committee in Congress that they found no evidence that Obama wiretapped and surveilled then President-elect Trump before, during and after the election. It never happened.

From the testimony of Comey, we also found out that since July 2016, the FBI has actually been investigating if the Trump campaign had been in collusion with Russia to meddle in the U.S. presidential election last year.

There had been numerous reports of Trump’s people’s secret meetings with the Russian envoy

and other officials, even visits to Russia. Trump’s national security adviser Mike Flynn was forced to resign after being exposed to have lied about his meetings with the Russian Ambassador.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who he later appointed to be senior adviser, was reportedly with Flynn.

Trump’s surrogate during election who he appointed to be his Justice secretary even lied under oath about his secret meetings with the Russian ambassador.

Questions begged to be answered: Did Russia meddle in our sacred U.S. election to help Trump win? Were there talks about Trump easing sanctions that Obama imposed on Russia for hacking into our computers to spread fake news and propaganda to destroy Hillary Clinton and help Trump win? Could there be other tit-for-tat relationships politically and financially between Trump and Putin?

Whatever your political color may be, this issue goes beyond partisan politics because Russia, an adversary of the United States and the free world, has been strategically taking all of these illegal acts to hack into the cyber accounts of the United States and European countries to interfere in their elections, cause destabilization in the free world – just as how Russian leader Vladimir Putin reportedly wanted to push his own agenda to re-estab-

lish the Russian Empire.

During the House Intelligence Committee hearing, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) expertly connected the dots between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Schiff clearly presented the timeline of events that linked Trump campaign officials, such as former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and former campaign manager Paul Manafort, to Russian government officials.

In his statement, Schiff made the conclusion that these webs of contact between Trump’s camp and Russian officials could be a coincidence — but he said that there’s enough smoke to demand a thorough investigation.

“Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated, and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence?

Yes, it is possible,” Schiff said. “But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated, and that the Russians used the same techniques to corrupt U.S. persons that they have employed in Europe and elsewhere. We simply don’t know, not yet, and we owe it to the country to find out.” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column 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

Do honor and integrity still count?

Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Perfecto Yasay, Jr., and in the United States, President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn (U.S. Army, Lt. Gen., retired).

Much can also be said about Duterte and Trump in terms of dealing with “alternative facts,” but that is a topic that we have already written about in the past.

The falls of Yasay and Flynn are ironic because they both had relatively honorable and impressive careers and they could have exited public service with their families flushed with well-deserved pride.

Sadly, both were exposed as having lied or played loosely with the truth and both had to suffer the consequences.

Yasay was rejected by the Commission on Appointments and has had to vacate his post as the Philippines’ top diplomat. Duterte, famous for standing by his people, right or wrong, could do nothing. Flynn was asked to resign

by Trump, serving only 24 days in his highly sensitive job.

Unfortunately for Yasay and Flynn, the saying “lumilipas din ang kahihiyan” may no longer apply in this digital age, where things printed or posted about a person can be unearthed and accessed through many generations.

In other words, if one’s great grandchild were to Google the background of Yasay or Flynn, for purposes of a school report on the family’s proud ancestry,

the poor kid would be disheartened and embarrassed by what the digital postings will reveal.

To give an example of what one can find out about a prominent individual through a digital search, the following was written on March 10, 2000 by the late Philippine Star columnist and former Press Secretary (under Pres. Cory Aquino), Teodoro “Teddy Man” Benigno. This was in connection with the celebrated BW Resources stock market scandal that triggered the impeachment of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada: “On the surface, it looks like a simple, even superficial personality feud between the president and Securities and Exchange commissioner Perfecto Yasay, Jr. The president wants his way with the SEC and since several weeks back has reportedly phoned Yasay five times to do him, Erap, a favor...Well, Yasay didn’t get the message, and — horror of horrors — denied to carry out the president’s ‘instructions...’

“But regardless of what happens to Mr. Perfecto Yasay (suspension, bootout, sabotage charges), there’s no way they can sweep up the PSE and BW Resources debris and log them down river. Know what? Things are beginning to look like the start-up of a Philippine version of Watergate, threatening to bring down Erap and all the president’s men. They can call Yasay anything they want but the SEC chairman is the smoking gun or has the smoking gun.

“Mr. Yasay did what no one in the present administration has ever done — stare the president eyeball to eyeball. He blew the whistle on the presi-

dent….”

And here’s what Wikipedia says about Yasay’s courageous act: “Yasay was among those who testified in the impeachment trial against President Joseph Estrada on charges of corruption. The probe led to the ouster of Estrada, known as EDSA People Power II in 2001.”

Yasay was so lionized in the wake of Estrada’s impeachment and subsequent ejection from the presidency that the former SEC chairman was considered fit for higher office. Yasay ran for senator in the 2001 elections and for vicepresident in 2010. He lost in both polls, but one cannot belittle the high regard that his party mates had for him.

Yasay could have chosen to ride into the sunset, enjoying his glory, but he preferred, instead, to accept the position of secretary of foreign affairs. In the process, he opted to lie under oath on the matter of his former U.S. citizenship.

He could simply have told the truth: Yes, I was a U.S. citizen but I renounced that citizenship before my appointment as secretary of foreign affairs. But Yasay chose to lie and by lying, other questionable acts were also unearthed.

Did he accept the chairmanship of the Securities and Exchange Commission and did he run for public office even while he was a U.S. citizen? Worse yet, did he fail to recover his Philippine citizenship before he accepted the appointment to the Department of Foreign Affairs? If not, does that make him stateless?

The former National Security Adviser

of Trump found himself in the same sticky situation as Yasay. He had served in the U.S. army intelligence service for years, moving up in rank to Lieutenant General, and serving as commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, chairman of the Military Intelligence Board, Assistant Director of National Intelligence and Senior Intelligence Officer for the Joint Operations Command.

He had problems with managerial competence and had a tendency to play loosely with facts (behind his back, subordinates derisively described them as Flynn Facts), but he was, otherwise, a highly-regarded military man. And after his retirement, he became one of Trump’s closest confidants and a dependable aide during the presidential campaign.

But Flynn was caught telling a lie — to Vice President Mike Pence, no less — and he compounded his lies with other lies. He denied having spoken to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kisiyak in December 2016, but was forced to take back his denial after U.S. intelligence officials showed him evidence that he had, in fact, had a discussion with Kisiyak.

Flynn’s consultancy firm also had the government of Turkey as a client, making him a “foreign agent,” but he did not officially register that fact — a requirement of U.S. law — even while he had accepted his appointment as National Security Adviser (he only complied with the law, after he had been fired).

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 22-24, 2017

A

PH expands cooperation with Myanmar, Thailand by aJPreSS

EARLIER this week, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Myanmar and Thailand in an effort to enhance the Philippines’ relationships with the two Southeast Asian nations.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles said that Duterte’s official visits to Myanmar and Thailand were part of his ‘introductory’ trips to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

On Monday, March 20, Myanmar President Htin Kyaw welcomed Duterte at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw, where they had a bilateral discussion together with their respective officials.

After the meeting, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which aims to strengthen both countries’ food security and agriculture cooperation.

The MOU was signed by Philippine Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and his counterpart Myanmar Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Aung Thu, with Duterte and Htin Kyaw as witnesses.

In his toast remarks at the official dinner, Duterte said that the Philippines and Myanmar should use its “friendship as a solid base for our fulcrum of collaboration that transformed challenges into opportunities.”

“As developing countries, we face similar and complex problems. We must not be afraid to confront them head on,” he added.

He noted that Philippine companies will “remain keenly interested in the development potentials of Myanmar.”

Likewise, in terms of defense

and security, Duterte said that both countries “must work closer to address the threats of terrorism and violent extremism that undermine the economic progress we have so far achieved.”

He then thanked Myanmar for its timely assistance when the Philippines was hit by natural disasters, citing typhoon “Pablo,” super typhoon “Yolanda,” and the earthquake in Bohol.

On the other hand, Htin Kyaw said that Myanmar “has always attached great importance” to its relations with the Philippines.

Htin Kyaw also affirmed that Myanmar will “support and fully cooperate with the Philippines’ efforts towards the successful stewardship of ASEAN this year.”

“Myanmar looks forward to working closely with the Philippines and other member states to accelerate our efforts in the ASEAN community building process and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN in 2017 with innovative and forward-looking initiatives,” he added.

On the same day, Duterte also met with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and presented her a symbolic check of $300,000 (P15 million) for humanitarian assistance to the marginalized Rohingya Muslim people along Burma’s Rakhine region.

For her part, Suu Kyi thanked the Philippines for its donation.

“The thoughtful gesture of the government of the Republic of the Philippines reflects the ASEAN solidarity and family spirit as well as the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” she said through a letter of appreciation.

PH, Thailand forge three deals After his visit to Myanmar, Duterte flew to Thailand and arrived in Bangkok on Monday evening.

On Tuesday, March 21, Philippine and Thai officials signed three agreements in the fields of science and technology, tourism, and agriculture – with Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as witnesses.

Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanannavrangkul signed a deal wherein the the two countries agreed “to explore ways to further enhance tourism cooperation, including identifying specific activities to pursue this such as the promotion of joint tourist destinations.”

Secretary of Science and Technology Fortunato de la Peña and Thailand’s Science and Technology Minister Atchaka Sibunruang also signed a document which aims to “promote exchanges of joint academic research and development, scientists and specialists, technical documentation and information, and the arrangement of bilateral conferences among other activities.”

Another agreement was signed

by Philippine Carabao Center Executive Director Arnel Del Barrio and Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dir. Gen. Apai Suttisunk.

Through the deal, both the Philippines and Thailand “agreed to further promote cooperation and exchange of best practices in irrigation, artificial rain, livestock and fisheries and the application of technology for sustainable soil and water conservation.” n

Committee on Human Rights to continue DDS probe

the Laud quarry in Davao in 2009, when the tailed to ignore,” Cadiz said. commission first conducted its He added that the testimonies of Lascañas and Edgar Matobato investigation.

Several witnesses had said that are “sufficient basis” to continue the quarry was one of the “dumpthe commission’s investigation.

In 2015, CHR Chairman Chito ing grounds” of the DDS victims.

The CHR in 2012 asked the Gascon had declared that the commission will continue its Ombudsman to look into the posprobe on the DDS to “ultimately sible administrative and criminal hold to account all perpetrators.” liability of Duterte for his “failThe CHR will take as evidence ure” to look into the killings atthe human bones gathered from tributed to the DDS.

PAGE A5 t

But in its report issued in 2012, the CHR made no reference to the human bones gathered from the Laud quarry because of a case filed by the quarry owner questioning the warrant’s validity that was used in collecting the evidences.

In 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the questioned warrant and also paved the presentation of human bones recovered from the quarry. n

WIND POWER. A couple looks at a wind energy farm in the town of Pililla in Rizal. The Philippines is the largest producer of wind energy in Southeast Asia, with at least 400 megawatts of capacity. Wind capacity expected to quadruple in two to three years.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Graphic health warnings, taxes make over 1-M Pinoys quit smoking

by Tina

SanToS Inquirer.net

MORE than 1 million Filipinos have kicked the smoking habit, according to the latest Philippines’ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), the global standard protocol in monitoring adult tobacco use.

In a press briefing on Monday, March 20 Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said a number of tobacco control interventions, particularly taxation, has led to a significant drop in current smokers from 17 million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015.

“This figure represents a relative reduction of close to 20 percent of smokers. Or in simpler terms, 1 million Filipinos have quit tobacco use—the biggest decline we have seen in Philip-

pine history, and we can do more to stop the suffering caused by this epidemic,” Ubial said.

She said other measures that had contributed to the decline in smoking were graphic health warnings, local ordinances and advocacy of the health sector in strong partnership with civil society.

“The decrease in the number of smokers as well as exposures to secondhand smoke was due to increase in the prices of tobacco products brought about by the Sin Tax Reform Law of 2012, among other things. Cigarette products have become more inaccessible to the public, especially to the poor and the youth,” Ubial said.

“We look forward to more positive outcomes from Republic Act 10351 in the long run,” she said.

She noted that the reduction in tobacco use translated to a mil-

lion Filipinos at lower risk for cancer, heart disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A total of 11,644 were interviewed for GATS 2015, with a response rate of 92 percent.

Citing the results of the survey, Ubial said that currently, only 15.9 Filipino adults smoked tobacco— 40.3 percent among men, 5.1 percent among women.

“Smoking among women declined by close to 50 percent—also a sign that measures to counteract smoking among women are working,” Ubial said.

Aside from the number of smokers, victims of second-hand smoke have also gone down significantly in homes, from 54 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2015; and in the workplaces, from 32 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2015. n

Do honor and integrity still…

PAGE A6 t

Questions remain unanswered about the relations of the camp of Trump with the Russians.

Flynn’s firing may only be the tip of what the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein feels is a coverup. Bernstein is familiar with White House coverups. He and fellow Post reporter Bob Woodward exposed the Watergate scandal that forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

The difference between Michael Flynn and Perfect Yasay, Jr. is this: Flynn may not end up like the old soldier who just fades away, but like the

old fisherman who “just stinks that way.” That is the cruel fate of American public figures who are disgraced.

But not so in the Philippines. Yasay can still recover and pursue his public service or political career. Because in our town, kung ang kahihiyan hindi man lumipas (if shame doesn’t pass), folks tend to be immune to it, anyway — and maybe, the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, too.

Indeed, maybe, honor and integrity no longer count. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

A MARCH 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

B

Closure, redevelopment of NAIA pushed by miguel

R. camus

Inquirer.net

THE Philippines could realize massive investments to the tune of P5.4 trillion by closing and redeveloping Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Philippines’s main air gateway.

This was according to conglomerate San Miguel Corp., which made an unsolicited offer to build a subsidy-free P700 billion international airport and

city complex in Bulakan, Bulacan within six years.

A document, prepared by SMC’s infrastructure arm, also detailed the heavy cost associated with capacity limitations at Naia, which was surrounded by dense residential and commercial areas, thus limiting expansion options.

SMC said delays had been costing airlines P1.1 billion yearly, and this would increase to P3.8 billion by 2020 if the situation would not change. For passengers, productivity losses also carry a hefty price tag: P2.8 billion today and P11 billion by 2020.

SMC, a food and beverage giant that is continuing its diversification into infrastructure, said the solution was to build an entirely new airport, in this case, on a 2,500-hectare property along Manila Bay in Bula-

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ABS-CBN 2016 profit hits record P3.5B, up 39% ABS-CBN Corp., the country’s leading media and entertainment network, reported a record net income of P3.5 billion in 2016 on higher revenues boosted by election-related spending.

The company said net income last year was 39 percent higher than the P2.5 billion recorded in 2015. Consolidated revenues reached P41.6 billion in 2016.

“We are very pleased to have exceeded our earnings guidance for 2016,” said ABS-CBN Chief Financial Officer Aldrin

Cerrado. “Full-year growth in advertising revenues, boosted by election-related spending, was about 11 percent,” he said.

ABS-CBN adopted the cost per individual rating point pricing (CPIRP) scheme in 2015, which rewards the company for an increase in ratings. 2016 was its first full year of implementation.

“We have also been able to manage our costs and expenses efficiently,” Cerrado added,

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Focus on Philippine economy, not politics, says ECCP

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is urging new investors from Europe to focus on Philippine economic aspects rather than political developments as disagreement over human rights issues between the Philippine government and the European Union (EU) continues to escalate.

Last week, chief presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo advised the European Parliament to mind its own business, while

Congress slammed the group for interfering even on issues like the reorganization of committee chairmanships.

The statements from the Philippine side was in reaction to a joint resolution issued by the European Parliament last Thursday calling for support from EU member-nations in the establishment of a probe at the UN Human Rights Council into the “unlawful killings and other violations” in the Philippines.

“We are working with current member companies, and advise incoming potential investors on the economic side, not the polit-

ical aspects,” ECCP president Guenter Taus told The STAR. “To start with, reading the full EU joint motion for resolution, it becomes clear that these are matter of fact issues on current affairs in the Philippines. There is no mention nor threats for removal of any privileges nor ceasing of any negotiation,” he added.

The ECCP has reported in previous months about a number of European investors having second thoughts in the country given President Duterte’s unsettling rhetoric and the alleged cases of extrajudicial cases

China: PH ‘irreplaceable’ in economic partnership

partment of Finance (DoF) said.

In a statement on Monday, March 20, the DoF noted a visitTHE Philippines has an “irre- ing high-level Chinese delegation placeable” role in the China-led led by Vice Premier Wang Yang Regional Comprehensive Eco- has underscored the crucial role nomic Partnership (RCEP) agree- that the Philippines will play in ment, especially since Manila RCEP agreement. holds the chairmanship of the In his meeting with Cabinet ofAssociation of Southeast Asian ficials led by Finance Secretary Nations (Asean) this year, the De- Carlos Dominguez 3rd in Davao by mayvelin

u. caRaballo ManilaTimes.net

City over the weekend, Wang cited “the Philippines’ irreplaceable role in the discussions of RCEP and highlighted that ‘Asean centrality’ will be crucial to the conclusion of the agreement,” the DoF said.

Wang also expressed China’s support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Asean, which is commemorating its 50th anniversary this year.

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Wang emphasized at the meeting that China considers the Asean as a “diplomatic priority” and that the Philippines, as chair of the regional bloc this year, will “make a big contribution in the regional cooperation,” According to the DoF. “Secretary Dominguez responded that together with Chi-

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B MARCH 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (2nd of 3 parts)

… I AM certain there are countless other pointers hundreds of thousands can add to the growing pool of knowledge that hopefully, translates to wisdom in this continuing saga of human life. In the interest of brevity I’ll cull out only 15 bite-size pointers. The first 5 tips came out in last week’s issue. Here’s the second installment of 5 more tips.

6. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.

Know the difference between needs and wants. Use the Pareto principle in pinpointing the vital few (20%) and trivial many (80%). When you let your wants overrule your life, you will end up trading your time and therefore,

Community Journal

How to build a house of bricks

your life away to get those material things you thought will make you happy. For those of us with big egos who cannot resist the urge to impress others with the latest gizmos, this can be a serious problem. Stuff is just stuff. If we don’t watch it, we can clutter up our lives with junk. Browsing leads to buying. There is a back end to each item we acquire as personal property. After its use, we MUST CHOOSE ANY OF THESE OPTIONS: THROW, DONATE, SELL, DESTROY or KEEP them. Keeping a great chunk of stuff we acquire over a lifetime can make pack rats out of us and deprive us of breathing space.

Empty space can be beautiful because it presents possibilities. The truth is, life’s journey is easier when we travel light.

7. GO LEGIT. Refuse to live in the shadows. Now more than ever before, take heed of this tip.

If you’re illegal, exhaust every available avenue open to you to go legit. The gates have cracked open and were kept open to serve the liberal agenda of flooding the country with potential voters.

Life is tough enough without you having to look over your shoulders and feeling edgy all the time fearing you’ll be put on the next plane back to the home country.

Surely you didn’t go through all that trouble just to live a short, harried, hapless life. After 9/11 and the dangers of soulless terrorism, whether we accept it or not, a new world order patently intolerant of immigration as a concept and way of life, is now

can. It rivals another offer from Belle Corp. and the Solar Group to reclaim 2,500 hectares of land in offshore Sangley, Cavite to be redeveloped into an airport, seaport and industrial zone.

SMC said Naia covered about 625 hectares, or two and half times larger than Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The conglomerate estimated the land value at P325 billion, but it noted the multiplier effect in terms of investments could see this figure balloon to P5.4 trillion.

In line with its proposal, SMC will operate the existing Naia “within” 12 months before the new airport comes online. SMC also asked the government to “decommission” Naia 12 months after the new international air-

port starts operations. It added that the government would still control air traffic of the new air gateway.

The existing Naia has a pair of intersecting runways while SMC’s new airport would have four parallel runways (pairs of 3.5 kilometers and 2.6 km), with provisions for two more. It said each new runway could handle 60 aircraft takeoff and landing events per hour, versus the current 40 at Naia. Capacity would also increase to 100 million passengers a year, with the possibility of doubling this to 200 million passengers yearly.

Naia handled about 39.5 million passengers last year, against its 31 million annual passenger design capacity.

SMC’s airport proposal like-

China: PH ‘irreplaceable...

PAGE B1 t

na, the Asean can lead growth in the regional economic front that is not only a rapid one but inclusive to all members of society,” the DoF said.

“We look forward to continue the discussions on the promotion of free trade partnership via the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership where China is also taking the lead. We are very much optimistic for its early conclusion which would help us further diversify our export mar-

kets,” Dominguez was quoted as saying at the meeting.

The RCEP negotiations were launched by leaders from the 10 Asean member-states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam) and six Asean free trade partners (Australia, People’s Republic of China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and New Zealand) during the 21st Asean Summit and Related Summits in Phnom Penh,

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child. Family Code Section 6211. Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218, subd. (a)), which are defined as, among other things, behavior that could be enjoined under section 6320. (§ 6203, subd. (d).) Section 6320, in turn, permits a court to enjoin a party from engaging in various types of behavior, inu PAGE B3 cluding “disturbing the peace of the other party.” (§ 6320, subd. (a).) “[T]he plain meaning of the phrase ‘disturbing the peace of the other party’ in section 6320 may be properly understood as wise comes with new road inconduct that destroys the mental frastructure links, including or emotional calm of the other an “airport expressway” that party.” (In re Marriage of Nadwould link to North Luzon karni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th Expressway and a “shoreline expressway” that would run alongside Manila Bay linking to the Naia Expressway, which SMC also operates.

This would connect the new airport to the southern part of PAGE B1 t noting that cost and expenses Metro Manila in under 45 minwere up only 6 percent last year. utes, the conglomerate said.

Based on Kantar Media naThe DOTr said last week it tional TV ratings covering both was reviewing all airport prourban and rural homes, the top posals. This included offers 10 programs for 2016 for free-tofor Clark International Airport air television were all produced in Pampanga made by the JG

by ABS-CBN, with “FPJ’s Ang Summit Holdings and Filinvest Probinsyano” consistently topDevelopment Corp. consortium ping all programs. and the group of Megawide The company’s roll-out of its Construction Corp. and GMR Digital Terrestrial Television or Infrastructure of India. n DTT helped boost audience share with over 2.3 million boxes sold as of the end of December 2016.

Total assets rose to P72.7 billion compared to P69.9 billion Cambodia in November 2012.

Its membership of 16 Asian countries account for almost half of the world’s population, almost 30 percent of global gross domestic product and over a quar- PAGE B1 t ter of world exports. in the country.

It covers trade in goods and Two potential investors in the services, investment, economic manufacturing and information and technical cooperation, intel- technology sectors, in particular, lectual property rights, competi- have reportedly canceled expantion policy, and dispute settle- sion plans in the country, dashing ment, among other issues. It does hopes for the creation of 4,000 to not cover labor, environment and 5,000 more jobs for Filipinos. state-owned enterprises. n “While it is surely not easy to

Closure, redevelopment...

PAGE B1 t

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Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723 (Nadkarni ).) The phrase includes “destroying the mental or emotional calm of [a former spouse] by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails.” (Id. at p. 1498, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723.) The expansion of the term “disturbing the peace” to cover accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication has profound effect in every divorce and family law case.

In Nadkarni, a former wife alleged that her ex-husband had accessed her private e-mail account while she was away on a business trip, then attached copies of the e-mails to documents filed in proceedings regarding custody of their teenaged children. In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723. She sought a permanent restraining order, but the trial court denied it without a hearing after find-

ing that the DVPA did not cover situations in which there was no physical harm alleged. The appellate court reversed and remanded the matter to the trial court for a hearing. It held that the definition of abuse under the DVPA is not limited to the infliction of physical injury or assault.

Id. at pp. 1498, 1501, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723.

In Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney, husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Phrase “disturbing the peace of the other party” in injunction provision of the Domestic Violence Prevention

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ABS-CBN 2016 profit hits record... in 2015. The company’s equity base increased to P31.7 billion at end-2016.

ABS-CBN Group CFO Ron Valdueza said, “We are also extremely happy with the performance of our subsidiaries last year. The healthy growth in our advertising revenues coupled with the accomplishments of our different business units enabled us to deliver record earnings performance for ABS-CBN.” Star Cinema generated over P2.9 billion in ticket sales both here and abroad, while SkyCable saw an 8 percent growth in revenues, driven by the introduction

of SkyDirect, its newly launched Direct-to-Home Pay TV offering. By year-end, the company had over 112,000 SkyDirect subscribers and more than 200,000 broadband subscribers, bringing Sky’s total subscriber base to over one million.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Channel (TFC) is now being watched by over three million Filipinos abroad, while Kidzania, the company’s educational theme park, has attracted over 360,000 visitors for 2016. The network’s TV shopping channel O Shopping generated over P820 million in sales. (ManilaTimes.net)

Focus on Philippine economy... circumnavigate political aspects all together, companies established here do understand and can segregate business from politics. This is of course more difficult to verbalize toward new potential investors, but this is our mandate and reason for being here, so we will just continue doing what we have been doing for

40 years, namely service and advise our member and investors,” Taus said.

Taus said ECCP, as a bilateral chamber focus on business, has worked with all Philippine governments for four decades and will continue to do so under the current and future administrations. n

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

Community Journal

How to build a house of…

PAGE B2 t

firmly in place and “the times” — to quote Bob Dylan — “they are a-changin.” The political axis has shifted and the times call for affluent countries to build walls and constrain the movement of people in the face of perceived real or conjured imminent threat.

Economic migrants will be hit the hardest. Terrorism has reared its ugly head and the first casualty is the fluidity and movement of people. Get legal and go the whole nine yards towards American citizenship. Shop, ask around and get the best legal representation you can get if you have to.

Not all immigration lawyers are cut from the same cloth. Choose wisely. Inspect track records.

8. Get physical. Make diet and exercise a regular part of your life. We maintain our cars and use high-grade fuel to get great performance from a machine to get us from Point A to Point B. Our magnificent bodies, the crowning glory of God’s Creation, de-

serve no less. If we expect to run the full course set before us and barring unforeseen twists of fate, like being run over by a truck, struck by lightning or hit by a meteorite, we can look forward to a long stretch of happy, productive, relatively healthy years ahead.

9. Admit you’re no superhero.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. American life is demanding. We are all required to multitask at work and at home — to do too many things all at once —it’s enough to drive us to the edge of insanity. One technique to help us maintain our mental health and take off the pressure when we feel overwhelmed is to say NO. Know your strengths and respect your limits and know when you’re spreading yourself too thinly.

10. A fool and his money are soon parted. Have this truism tattooed on the hand that keeps wielding the plastic, aka credit/debit cards, until it hits home — just until you learn fiscal responsibility and mind your

financial health. The great financial industry that runs and oils America has your number and gauges the kind of risk you are based on your track record of fiscal responsibility reflected in that all too important number called the FICO score. This is the metric reflective of how you deal with money and your financial obligations. The gold standard is 850 and above. Cash remains king but a good credit history is queen. Mess with this metric and you will pay a painful price that hits your pocketbook even more when you have to buy big ticket items. Take care that in the first few years and for the rest of your life, you guard your credit history with the tenacity of a pit bull.

(Next week: The third and final installment of 15 Tips: How to Build a House of Bricks) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

live with.” She further testified that she had suffered shock and embarrassment and feared for her safety because of the disclosure. Evilsizor also was concerned about Sweeney’s threats to reveal information to the Internal Revenue Service about “things [she] didn’t do.” The court concluded in the Evilsizor case that even if Sweeney legally obtained Evilsizor’s information, an issue left unresolved, it was authorized under the DVPA to enjoin the disclosure or threats of disclosure of the information to protect Evilsizor’s peace of mind. The court ordered Sweeney be “prohibited from using, delivering, copying, printing or disclosing the messages or content of [Evilsizor’s] text messages or e-mail messages or notes, or anything else downloaded from her phone or from what has been called the family computer except as otherwise authorized by the court.” Sweeney also was prohibited from trying to access or otherwise interfere with Evilsizor’s internet-service provider accounts or social-media accounts.

Text messages, E-mails, Social media, and other electronic communication has become a common and inseparable part of today’s lifestyle. Accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication of an ex,

spouse, or sgnificant other has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. A finding of domestic violence against a party can affect the rulings on custody and spousal support issues. If your divorce or family law matter involves your ex, spouse, or significant other downloading and disclosing confidential electronic communication, one has to consider taking appropriate action in the case to be protected from conduct which is regarded as abuse under the California domestic violence statute.

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 22-24, 2017

B

Senior scammed out of $100K by Internet boyfriend, needs Chapter 7 relief

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 65 and a widow.

Wanting some male attention, I guess, she posted her picture on the Internet. She looks much younger in the posted picture.

She showed me the picture. She looked like she was 48. But she said that the picture was taken only last year. If her purpose was to get some male attention to her picture, she certainly got it. Ah, the wonders of the Internet where romance can bloom without people actually physically meeting each other. I asked her if she ever met the guy. She said she could not believe how stupid she was. I asked her if the guy was American. She said she

Client filed for Chapter 7 without lawyer in 2008 did not get discharge

doesn’t even know if the picture he sent was really he.

It started with him asking her for money for legal expenses, then money for this, and money for that. So, I asked her how long has it been going on? It started about 9 months ago.

Then I asked her how much she had given him. She said she had given him $100K in 9 months. I said, “Are you serious, you must be kidding!” She said she was not kidding. She admitted that her children told her not to do it, as did her friends and other

relatives. So I said, “so, why did you do it? How can you give a guy that you have never met, $100K?” And her explanation was “I was crazy, I was insane…”

It really looks like she went nuts for a while there. Then I asked her where she got the $100K. She said I borrowed from credit cards, banks and relatives for a grand total of $100K. So now she wants to have the guy arrested. Even if she files a police report, it’s next to impossible to find who the guy really

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alendar of Events C across America Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and…

PAGE B2 t

Act (DVPA) includes destroying the mental or emotional calm of a former spouse by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails. Cal. Fam. Code § 6320. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal. Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept.

9, 2015) Husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA). Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6218(a), 6300, 6320(a).

In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) In Evilsizor, Ms. Evilsizor testified that it had been “incredibly incredibly difficult to deal with” the dissemination of her personal information, stating, “I have sleepless nights. I’m sick to my stomach. My friends are mad at me, embarrassed as if I let him.

I didn’t know he was even doing any of this. My parents are upset, you know. Why did I marry him?

I didn’t know that things were going—I didn’t know. Yeah. It’s been incredibly challenging to

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

***

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

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

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M A R C H 25

Gathering of Fil-Am women authors in San Pedro, CA Philippine Expressions Bookshop cordially invites the public to “Pinay Gathering 2017,” a celebration of Women’s History Month honoring Filipino-American women authors of Southern California. It will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25. From 2 to 3 p.m., there will be networking and a Filipino merienda / high tea buffet. Afterward, there will be book talks and book signings with the various Filipina authors. The Pinay authors present will be: Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko — author, “Forty Years of Writing in America”; Myrna J. de la Paz — author, “Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella”; Cecilia Manguerra Brainard — author, “Magdalena: A Novel”; Carina Monica Montoya — author, “Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown”; Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier — author, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles”; Carmen F. Davino — author, “Of Love and Virtue. A Young Adult Novel”; Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez — author, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay”; Herminia Meñez-Coben — author, “Explorations in Philippine Folklore”; Leslie V. Ryan — author, “I am Flippish: A Juvenile Book”; and Lucy Urgello Miller — author, “Glimpses of Old Cebu”. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 514-9139 or email linda@philbooks.us. There will be limited seating and the deadline for ticket purchase is March 20. This literary soirée is also open to male guests. Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 West Sixth Street, Suite 105, San Pedro, CA 90731. Street parking or public parking on 7th street are available.

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA You are cordially invited to the “RISE UP” Regional Empowerment Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities on Saturday, March 25. Registration is $40 per person, which can be done online or at the door. The conference will be held at Clarion Hotel National City, 700 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. To register online, please visit http://www.NaFFAASDEmpowermentconference.eventbrite.com.

Golf tournament for a cause in Escondido, CA St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)’s High School Class of 1987 will be holding a golf tournament for a cause at the Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. It is $109/person to register, which includes rounds of golf and a BBQ buffet. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with shotgun at 1 p.m. and dinner and prizes at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949) 861-1732 or Miguel Uson at (760) 715-8216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.

The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups’ Lenten retreat in Pomona, CA Please join the The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups for its Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 25 at St. Joseph Church Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a liturgy at 5 p.m. The theme is “Growing in Faith,” as it is a time to renew and energize one’s faith.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. St. Joseph Church is located at 1700 Holt Avenue, Pomona, CA. For more information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 8552208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.

M A R C H 26

Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in Woodland Hills, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, March 26.

It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mel’s Parish Center, 20870 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91364. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.

MARCH 30

Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Tri-County ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ in Covina, CA The Officers and Board Directors of the newly-established Chamber of Commerce, interacting with Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, invite the community to a ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ on Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., at RE/MAX MASTERS REALTY office at 475 E. Badillo, Covina, CA 91723. Meet Merwynn Montenegro, President, and the Officers and Board Directors, along with their advisers Noel S.V. Omega, guest speaker, and Mary Ann Omega, both officers of the FilAm Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles. You will have the opportunity to make business connections and build relationships. Special guest is West Covina Councilmember and former Mayor James Toma. Atty. Abraham Lim will deliver the opening remarks and PNB Remittance Center Inc. President and CEO Ricky Villacisneros will close the Assembly, but not before guests have scored winsome door prizes. For information, contact Secretary Ed Cansino (909) 263-7297 or Email edcansino53@gmail.com; Asst. Sec. Grace Vaughn (951) 261-0601; or 1st VP Elen Yuhico (909) 636-6271.

APRIL 8

Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in San Diego, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Saturday, April 8. It will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pala Mission Church, San Juan Diego Center at 3015 Pala Mission Rd., Pala, CA 92059. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.

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 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA It is not a good business practice to pay cash for wages.

Issues when paying employees cash 1. You are exposed to income tax audits of both agencies federal and state for not reporting the wages.

2. You have the legal obligation to withhold payroll taxes and report wages.

3. There are no check stubs, no payroll and income tax withholdings, no issuance of Form W-2, or records to substantiate earnings.

4. It is illegal to pay cash wages “under the table to evade payroll taxes” and could be subject to criminal prosecution.

5. Benefits like state disability insurance could be denied when filed.

6. If your employees are injured on the job, they have the right to file a claim for Worker’s Compensation or State Disability Insurance benefits. If your employees’ wages have not been reported, an examination by EDD

EMPLOYMENT

Community Journal

Should you pay wages in cash?

will follow.

7. The injured employee may also collaborate with personal injury lawyers.

Why do businesses pay cash wages “under the table”?

1. To avoid payroll taxes, income tax withholdings, and insurance expenses associated with payroll.

2. An accommodation of an employees’ request who want to receive all of their gross earnings.

3. To avoid bookkeeping burden and cost associated in maintaining the books.

4. To gain an unfair competitive advantage.

5. To go with the trend of industry practice.

Underground economy operation (UEO) IRS, EDD, and DOL formed a Joint Enforcement Strike Force (JESF) to fight the Underground Economy for unfair competitive advantage. If audited, an employer may have to pay penalty, interest, and audit defense costs. This liability could grow substantially if the data is shared with IRS for federal payroll taxes and DOL for overtime and workers’ compensation insurance. Dealings in cash could also be referred to the IRS Criminal Investigation Divi-

sion for aiding and abetting employees to avoid paying taxes.

Unreported wages If EDD finds unreported wages, you will be required to reconstruct payroll for many years, a time-consuming task. If fraud or intent to evade the law is found, there is no statute of limitations to protect you and the audit could go back to the start date of your business. It could end up costing far more for reconstructing records from time cards, cancelled checks, and other records that may have already been discarded, than if you had correctly reported wages from the beginning. Your business may not be able to survive for this costly audit.

Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties.

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

Senior scammed out of $100K by…

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is, much less arrest him. This guy could be anyone in the world who he lives in Timbuktu but pretends that he is a good-looking American guy. I asked her how come she never met the guy in person.

She said that he was working, as a seaman so he would be in port for a short time, then would be out at sea for a long time. I asked her for a picture of the guy. She showed it to me. I said, “I think I’ve seen that guy somewhere before. Wait, that’s the most interesting guy in the world, the guy who is the spokesman for some European whiskey brand. Well, obviously, that’s not his real picture.

The real guy could be somewhere in Nigeria laughing his way all the way to bank. I asked her if she’s ever heard of the Nigerian scams where you get a call telling you that he is some kind of royalty from Nigeria whose assets have been frozen by the bank. If you wire him $1K, *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation he will be able to unfreeze his provides accounting and tax services to bank accounts and send you $1.0 individuals, corporations, LLCs and business M immediately.

It’s so unfortunate that senior entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other women fall for the oldest trick in the gigolo book. I had another governmental agencies.

(Advertising Supplement) client who was 50 but she actu-

ally had a real boyfriend who asked her to bring him around the world. The guy treated her as a ‘sugar mommy’. You know how that works, right? The woman being older, the man is younger. He professes that he loves her but that love has to be “sugared” with cash and exotic trips around the world. Well, the easiest way to sugar this love is to use credit cards. My other client maxed out her credit cards at $180K for so many trips around the world. Cruises galore! Lifestyles of the rich and famous for as long as there are credit cards to use. But as soon as the money runs out, good-bye my one and only love…it’s time to look for another sugar mommy with unused credit cards.

Fortunately, client victim can discharge her $100K debts with a Chapter 7 petition to have a fresh start. By next year, her credit score will start going up. If she handles the new credit cards in a timely manner, she can be up and running around with another boyfriend all over the world with her new credit cards. But this time around, I hope she can at least meet Mr. Romeo in person and spend a romantic year with

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a real guy while her new credit cards are not maxed out.

Next client is 56. She says she filed for Chapter 7 in 2008 but never got a discharge. I asked her how she knew that no discharge was given to her. She showed me a notice that her case was closed without discharge. Since then, she obtained new credit cards of $30K. She was just disabled and can’t pay the cards anymore. I asked her who her lawyer was.

She said she had no lawyer and filed it herself. She said now she wants to re-file with a lawyer so she can get a discharge. Can she file another Chapter 7 now? Yes, because it’s at least 8 years from the first filing date even if she did not get a discharge.

“The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! Let God be exalted, the rock of my salvation!” — 2 Samuel 22:47 *** 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)

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

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 22-24, 2017

B

People and Events

2017 Coron Medical Mission Team spearheaded by Dr. Ed Banez (left 2nd row) and Mayor Ajerico Barracoso of Coron (middle row) with Miss Universe 2nd Runner-up Ms. Venus Raj (2nd row, center)

Medical, dental and surgical mission to Coron, Palawan

LOS ANGELES, CA — Coron, Palawan is now one of the best travel destinations in the world.

However, with all its beauty and elegance, there are ordinary people still struggling for basic health care. The natives (Tagbanuas) are proud and humble but are also poor and still caught in the slow progress of development. However, hope is rising and real progress is just around the corner.

From January 29 to January 31, 2017, 70 dedicated volunteers from all over the United States and the Philippines joined hands and provided free medical, surgical and dental care to about 2,000 underserved residents of all ages in Coron. Organizations like University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Alumni Association of Southern California (UERM MAASC) and

its national association, Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) and Auxiliary, Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and Auxiliary, Arellano University School of Nursing Association, and Healthcare Service International all joined together.

The mission brought forth successful results. Dr. Hedy Windsor, APPA President, Dr. Warren Gabrillo, PMASC Vice President and Dr.Joselito Babaran, UERM MAASC President, led the group that was invited by Coron Mayor Ajerico Barracoso.

Overall Mission Coordinator, Dr. Edgar Banez, past president of UERM MAASC and PMASC, announced that a feeding program and gift giving was also a part of this noble endeavor. 600 indigent kids were given school bags loaded with supplies, free

meals of chicken and spaghetti and drinks which made them very happy.

“We have to make it perfectly clear that the main objective of our medical mission is to help our countrymen, who are in dire need of medical care especially those that cannot afford to seek medical attention,” said Dr. Banez.

Special thanks to Kokosnuss Resort, Balinsasayaw Resort, Mayor Barracoso, local volunteers JoAnna Fe, Rose and Emily Porras for their hospitality and invaluable support for without them, this mission would not have been possible.

We thank our Lord for this unforgettable experience and the opportunity to help improve the lives of our countrymen one barangay, one community at a time. n

Greenlining Institute Economic Summit in Oakland, CA

On Friday, April 14, the Greenlining Institute’s 24th annual Economic Summit will boldly tackle local and national controversies as it focuses on the theme, “Racial Justice on the Frontlines.”

With Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza moderating the opening discussion, community activists, political and business leaders will take on such challenging issues as gentrification,

tech diversity (or the lack thereof), possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impending arrival of Uber in downtown Oakland.

It will be held at Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California.

Registration opens 8 a.m., program starts at 8:30 and runs to 5:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www.greenlining.org. n

Filipino Americans and other Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) participate in a phone bank on Sunday, March 19 for California Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, who is running for the 34th congressional district.

Filipinos for Jimmy Gomez are organizing a volunteer day in Historic Filipinotown on Sunday, March 26 at 12 p.m. For more information, please call (213) 808-9156. The special election will be on Tuesday, April 4.

Contributed by Filipinos for Jimmy Gomez

B MARCH 22-24, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

The Asian Journal

MDWK

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

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2

cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 22, 2017

Bishop oscar solis of

salt lake city catholic Diocese:

Bringing the church to the people

by Christina M. Oriel/AJPress

o

N a recent morning in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bishop oscar Azarcon Solis reflected on the change of weather. The sun was out as temperatures rose to the mid-70s — a stark contrast to the week prior when he was welcomed into his new home with inches of snow.

“That’s what makes Utah very interesting for people to come: you keep on guessing,” Solis remarked during an interview with the Asian Journal.

The 63-year-old native of Nueva ecija, Philippines made history on March 7 when he was formally installed as the 10th Roman Catholic bishop of the Salt Lake City diocese.

With this position — to which he was appointed to by Pope Francis in January — Solis is the first Filipino to lead such a large congregation of Catholics in the United States.

The ceremony earlier this month followed ancient rites, including a formal reception and knocking of the doors, and the celebration of the Solemn Mass and Rite of Canonical Possession. Both were held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in the Utah capital and were witnessed by nearly a thousand individuals, including a whole host of special guests like Archbishop José Palma of

Cebu and Hon. Salvador Medialdea, executive secretary of the president of the Philippines.

“Firsthand, I experienced the warm hospitality of the people of Utah…So embracing, so warm, so welcoming, very hospitable. I have so many adjectives that I can use to describe it,” Solis shared. despite this momentous role that Filipino and FilipinoAmerican Catholics — hundreds of them from across the country and overseas traveled to Salt Lake City to witness the bishop’s installment — have hailed, Solis said being a Filipino immigrant is simply a sidebar to his ministry work.

“I really don’t dwell on that, being Filipino and the historical element of being appointed as bishop here in Salt Lake City,” he said. “I consider myself as a priest and a bishop for everyone. It just so happens that I am a Filipino by birth and a Filipino American by citizenship.”

“But in essence, I am just a regular, ordinary priest and Catholic bishop,” he continued.

“I represent the universal Catholic Church that serves not only the Filipinos, but everybody.”

The Catholic diocese of Salt Lake City, which covers the entire state of Utah, is home to over 300,000 Catholics, 48 parishes, 19 missions and 16 Catholic schools. (About 15,000 of those Catholics identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander, a majority of whom are Filipino, the diocese said.)

In his homily during the installa-

Photo courtesy of Fr. Albert Avenido

Bishop Oscar A. Solis presents the apostolic mandate naming him Salt Lake City’s bishop during his installation Mass March 7 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. Bishop Solis, 63, a native of San Jose City, Philippines, had been an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles since 2004 when he was named to head the statewide Utah diocese Jan. 10.

tion Mass, he laid out his mission “to teach, to govern and to sanctify.”

“Working to build an inclusive community of faith in a rich multicultural setting like Utah is both a challenge and an opportunity. The attitude and perspective with which we approach our reality colors the outcome of our ministry,” he told the audience.

He added that during his time in Utah, he would continue the agenda of his predecessors to “bring the Church to the people.”

“As I have told my brother bishops, it is quite frightening to follow these ‘big dogs.’ And as I look up to them, I could not help but think of myself as a little puppy. And the sad part about it, I said, is that I am a little puppy and a mixed breed,” he mused during his message. “These men, my predecessors, were all dedicated leaders of our faith, who carried out their episcopal ministry with great zeal and enthusiasm, and who worked collaboratively with leaders of other faith denominations.”

The deseret State is known for having a population that predominately belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. However, even with the relatively small number of Catholics in comparison to the over 2 million Mormons in the

state, Solis said he is looking forward to engaging with other faiths.

“The Catholic Church in Utah has a longstanding, wonderful partnership between the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as other interfaith and interreligious groups. We have an ecumenical group here in Salt Lake City and I heard they meet regularly,” he said.

Becoming Bishop Solis — who was born in San Jose, Nueva ecija — attended the Christ the King Seminary of the Society of the divine Word, Tagaytay City, to study philosophy and the Pontifical Royal Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in Manila for his theological studies.

He was ordained a priest in 1979 for the diocese of Cabanatuan and served as chaplain to a number of organizations, as Prefect of Seminary Studies and as diocesan Vocations director, according to the Catholic Church.

He emigrated to the United States in 1984 and was a Parochial Vicar in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey until 1988.

He then moved to the diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, in 1992, where he served in four different parishes.

Pope John Paul II appointed Solis as the auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Arch-

Bishop Oscar A. Solis, taking in the cathedra at the Cathedral of the Madeleine March 7, becomes the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Fellow bishops congratulate him as he becomes the first Filipino to lead a U.S. diocese.

Salt Lake City Bishop Oscar A. Solis greets Elder Russell Ballard and Elder Quentin Christofferson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his installation Mass on March 7 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Photos by J.D. Long-Garcia/Angelus News

diocese of Los Angeles in late 2003, and it was made official during a ceremony at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in downtown LA the following year. It was a historic moment as well, for he became the first Filipino to be installed as a bishop in the U.S. He was later promoted to auxiliary bishop of the San Pedro Pastoral district in 2009. For the past seven years, Solis has been responsible for overseeing 67 parishes and eight Catholic high schools in Los Angeles and Long Beach. He has also been the episcopal advisor for the National Association of Filipino Priests since 2011.

Beloved and embraced by the greater LA Catholic community for his quick wit and humor, Solis said his personality stems from the “joy of sharing [his] faith with others.” This charisma is what he will continue to grace his new environment with.

“I want them to feel excited about it because it is exciting for me to have this opportunity and share the presence of Christ in my life and the love that I have experienced and the love that God has bestowed upon me all my life. It’s a simple message that God is love, God is good and he loves us all,” he said.

“Joy is contagious — that’s why I always smile and bring the joy of the Gospel to everyone…

When you have God in your life, you don’t need all of those [material] things…That’s what the Gospel of God is all about.”

As previously written in the Asian Journal during a MdWK Magazine feature in 2011, Solis shared that he questioned if he was truly meant to dedicate

his life to being a priest. But he eventually knew it was his destined path and is committed to helping others consider ministry work.

While stationed in Utah, one of the demands he will be addressing is how to encourage more individuals to become priests or nuns. “…As the population grows, that means the Catholic population is growing as well. We need more ministers in order to make themselves available to give service to people, to bring the Church to the people. That’s our main goal, really, trying to bring the Church where the people are, instead of waiting for the people to come to the Church,” he said.

Given the political climate and divisiveness in the country right now, Solis said the Church “sets the example of inclusivity” and can be a safe space for individuals.

“In fact, we welcome...all, even the strangers among us,” he reflected. “That is the basic principle of what the church stands for: it is open, inclusive, hospitable and welcoming, especially to those who are in need.”

“That is why it’s not surprising that the Church stands in support of refugees, people living in poverty, the homeless, people suffering from addictions [of] drugs. It’s a normal thing for the Church to stand in support and on behalf of those people who need our love and compassion so they may be able to uphold their innate human dignity as human beings, as members of our faith community and as members of God’s family.”

Ai Ai delas Alas wins international The Javier-Walchers: A happy bunch best actress award for role in ‘Area’

by RIcky lo Philstar.com

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

CoMedy Concert Queen Ai Ai delas Alas was named Best Female Actor at the conclusion of 7th Queens World Film Festival in Astor, Queens, New york on Sunday, March 19 for the independent film “Area.” delas Alas bested three other nominees, including the daughter of legendary actor Robert Redford.

The 52-year-old actress won for her dramatic portrayal of aging prostitute in Angeles City, Pampanga. other nominees for the Best Female Actor Narrative Feature category were Germany’s Karin Hanczewsk in “Lotte,” dorothea Hagena in “Mann Im Spagat: Pace, Cowboy, Pace” and American actress Amy Redford—daughter of the popular actor and founder of the equally famous Sundance International Film

IN the long run, there’s really no place like home. To paraphrase the oft-quoted saying, pagkahaba-haba man daw ng paglalakbay, sa home sweet home din ang tuloy.

Ask Patricia Javier and her husband, dr. Rob Walcher III, now one of the 34 known chiropractors in the Philippines (although not all may be practicing), and she will nod, “It’s true!”

When Patricia got married more than a decade ago, she turned her back on a flourishAi Ai delas Alas won Best Female Actor at the conclusion of 7th Queens World Film Festival in Astor, ing career and relocated to San Queens, New York for her dramatic portrayal of aging prostitute in Angeles City, Pampanga. diego, California, where she and Aladdin” and Mars Roberge for Rob raised their children, Robert Festival—in the movie “Hate “Scumbag.”

Crime.”

IV, 10, and James, five years In her Instagram account, Meanwhile, her director old. And Patricia (using her real delas Alas thanked her director name Genesis) couldn’t resist Louie Ignacio, was nominated for accepting the award for her. the call of showbiz so she would for Best director Narrative “Good morning to all of Feature alongside Joseph accept offers for shows while you. I just woke up to this Matarrese for “Searching for Rob minded his own business news. Thank you very much Fortune,” Julius Schultheiß for of relieving people of aches and Queens World International “Lotte,” Pedro oswald Padilha pains.

Festival Awards for the award for “Tarde en el Abismo (AfA few years ago, the you have given me. When ternoon at the Abyss),” Adam Walchers sold their San diego Continued on Page 4 bungalow (complete with a Green for “Adam Green’s

A family that plays together: Patricia Javier and husband, Dr. Rob Walcher III, and their sons Rob IV and James.

swimming pool and a welltrimmed lawn in front), packed their things and resettled back home…for good. No regrets, according to Patricia who is picking up where she had left off, starting with TV guestings (in the just-concluded ABS-CBN soap “doble Kara” and the Jack en Poy segment of “eat, Bulaga!”) while completing her new album titled Patricia Rein-

vented. She has just been hired as the celebrity endorser of Girlactik, a US brand of beauty cosmetics now available in the Philippines.

Like Andy Smith, the Australian husband of diana Zubiri, who is a guest star in the GMA action-adventure “encantadia,” Rob part-times as an actor (he played the American father of Continued on Page 4

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 22, 2017

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 22, 2017

Piolo Pascual’s new film hits close to home

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

a FatheR tries to connect with his son whom he’s meeting for the first time. that’s the gist of the story of “northern Lights: a Journey to Love,” with Piolo Pascual cast as the father and child actor Raikko Mateo as the son. Directed by Dondon Santos, the movie was mostly shot in new Zealand and partly in alaska to catch the aurora Borealis (northern Lights, the one in new Zealand is called Southern Lights or aurora australis). It also stars newcomer Yen Santos as the girl with whom Piolo’s character embarks on a journey to love.

Was watching the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) part of your bucket list?

“It has always been on my bucket list and I tried a couple of times but unfortunately I’ve not seen it. But it’s still there and I’m planning to go whenever I get the chance but definitely it’s a must-see for every individual because of the whole experience you can have.”

Any other memorable experience during the shoot in New Zealand? “the whole experience is memorable. First, everything is standardized, you have a crew of international standards, the number of shooting hours is limited, the sequences we had to shoot, and the places that we were able to shoot at. “nakakatuwa because these are locations na hindi pa natin nagamit dito; these are the locations that were used for narnia, Lord of the Rings and Wolverine, to name a few. So we went to Queenstown. It was my first time there and the whole experience was just memorable and a delight to be able to see that on a big screen.”

Your leading ladies, this time Yen Santos, are getting younger. How do you deal with it?

“I guess the more important thing there is to be able to relate to a younger audience and be able to identify with a certain

With Yen Santos and Raikko Mateo, who plays Pascual’s estranged son in the movie.

99 Ranch Market launches Tawa Culinary Adventures character that you are portraying whether you are paired with an older or a younger leading lady.

“But, of course, it’s a responsibility to also look the part and not feel uncomfortable, especially for the audience, so that there’s no disconnection. I just do what I do and it’s always my best foot forward para naman, you know, hindi awkward for the cast, for the team-up and for the film in general.”

How were you and Yen on the set? I bet she learned a lot from you.

“Yen kasi is very young, she’s bubbly. It’s her first time to do a film so iba pa ‘yung discipline nya. But what’s good about the whole experience was that she worked with my director on a tV show, “all Of Me,” before we did the film. So when direk Dondon said na he had Yen in mind for the role, I didn’t think twice. he knew better because it was his concept, it was his idea and it was a story of his dad.

“So ‘yun, so sabi ko di ako nagdalawang isip because when he decided to cast Yen as the leading lady, I saw her before in all Of Me and in Pure Love, so nakita ko talaga na may potential, ang ganda pa ng mukha nya and di naman nagkamali.”

It’s your first time to be directed by Dondon. How was it?

“What is good about working with direk Dondon is that we were able to meet at a level wherein we could talk as parents because he is also a father.

Since this is a father-son story, we were able to relate our own experiences and inject them in the story. We’re also the same age, and I guess we share the same interests in terms of traveling, in terms of being a parent and all.

“I believe in his craft. I’ve seen some of his works, he’s a visionary in his own writings and I could see that there’s so much potential in him for film because ang dami niyang gustong gawin, e, andami n’yang nakikita so ang sarap ng ganun, na you we’re able to work with someone that has that kind of energy and ex-

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citement kasi nadadala ka.”

You have worked with ALister Lav Diaz and walked the red carpet in Berlin. Has directing a movie ever crossed your mind? If it did, what kind of movie do you want to direct?

“In all honesty, directing has never crossed my mind. I never thought of directing, but yeah, occasionally I do think about it. I think it would be nice to call the shots and, you know, manipulate and maneuver your actors or even your set. But I know that I’m not called to be a director. I can be a producer, I can be an actor, but directing is not in the horizon.”

So far, what would you consider your three best performances? (Is Dekada ’70 for which you won a Best Supporting Actor grand slam one of them?) Any of the three films that you feel could have won an award?

“Dekada would always top the list because I was noticed because of that. never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get all the trophies. I know it sounds lame but holding all those trophies and having them in my house parang wow! You know, tinitingnan ko lang ‘yan nung bata ako. having all those trophies and working for Dekada gave me that certain sense of confidence and belongingness.

“Starting Over again holds so much meaning in my career, and siguro Lagarista, my first starring role. It gave me the headstart being in this business.

I was 21 or 22 back then. It gave me that sense of purpose knowing that I have this craft that I can play around. those are what I consider milestones in my life and in my career, but all the rest are all memorable for me.”

Any dream role? “every role for me as always is a dream role. every role that I’m tasked to play I make sure to make it different from my previous ones. I don’t have any specific roles in mind that I want to play but it will be really interesting to do something that’s out of the box.

“With northern Lights, I’m so excited because it’s close to home, being a single father, I was able to also play around the story because I was able to relate to it. I was able to give it a different dimension knowing that I lived that kind of life. If you really ask me, there are no specific roles I wanna play. I just wanna keep on challenging myself in every role that I do.”

At your age, what other goals do you have, personally and professionally?

“Professionally, I want to Continued on Page 5

99 Ranch MaRket has introduced tawa culinary adventures presented by UniStar kids Magazine at various locations in Southern california.

99 Ranch Market launched this opportunity with the intent to be more involved with the community while building a more engaging relationship with its future shoppers. this program strives to teach children beneficial skills such as food preparation and food safety, as well as a bonding experience for families. tawa culinary adventures is a biweekly opportunity rotating on Saturdays between four stores: alhambra, Rowland heights, Irvine, and Rancho cucamonga. More locations may

be added at a later time.

For each course, instructor(s) will demonstrate and guide all participants through each step. Parents are required to attend with their children and encouraged to help their children during the course. Participation is free of charge.

In order to participate, every entrant must register in-person at location of hosted class or selected stores in the surrounding area. Registration will occur two weeks ahead of

each scheduled class. Registration is crucial, for only 12 children will be able to participate for each class. the first class was held on Saturday, March 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the alhambra location.

For more information, please visit www.99ranch.com and follow @99ranchmarket on Facebook. Feel free to contact the customer service hotline: 1800-600-8292 or email customerservice@tawa.com also.

(Advertising Supplement)

AJPress photos by Mark Xavier Bautista

Ai Ai delas Alas wins international...

From Page 2

Gerald told me about it I was dazed, I knelt and I cried because of my gratefulness. I am thrilled (good thing I am not in nYc, I might pass out and not receive the award),” she posted.

“I want to share this award to our producer BG productions, tita Baby Salamat, Ferdy Lapuz, Dennis evangelista, and to all the staff and crew of BG Productions. to my kind director Louie Ignacio, thank you direk for the patience during that first scene. If you did not do that, the scene will not be possible,” she said.

“I also want to share this to my co-nominated actress

in other countries. I want to dedicate this award to my children – Sancho, Shaun, Sophia, andrei and to Gerald. You are my inspiration,” she continued in her post. the Queens World Film

Festival is Delas alas’ first award in an international film festival and her first for a dramatic role. area won the Special Jury Prize at eurasia International Film Festival in almaty, kazakhstan in 2016.

The Javier-Walchers: A happy...

From Page 2

andre Paras in the GMa soap amboy) while running his Dr. Rob chiropractic Wellness clinic which has relocated from Scout Rallos Street to the corner of

tomas Morato avenue and Scout Madrinan, also in Quezon city (at the back of the Belo Medical clinic), due to his growing number of patients (among them Derek Ramsay and Martin

nievera). “actually,” said Patricia, “Rob started treating patients at our home, until the line of patients reached the street. So we decided to put up a clinic.”

Initially, when they came home, Patricia and Rob conducted a wellness mission around Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

“Rob explained the benefits of chiropractic treatment to residents free of charge,” added Patricia who acts as their clinic’s operations manager.

“We want to create a good environment,” explained Rob who has just signed up as official chiropractor of the Blackwater elite basketball team. “It’s a good experience. People come to our clinic not just because of pain but also for prevention and good health.”

Rob has just launched his own line of pillows which he calls Doc Rob’s chiropractic Wellness Pillow exclusively available at his clinic for P3,500 each.

Rob has adjusted to life in the Philippines. “he’s secure with himself,” shared Patricia, “kasi he’s successful in his own profession. he understands the demands of showbiz and he supports my showbiz career. he even allows me to go on out-of-town shows.

I feel so lucky.”

features

Heaven’s silence for the ‘Children of a lesser God’ old alike, in a row of surging testosterones, was something I’ve never seen in any of my past visits. A young woman

by Mylah whose blonde ringlets were de leon bouncing wanted to grab the microphone form the emcee, her adrenalin shot up!

One felt like an amateur SANTA CLARA – It was a watching the participants flash unique dance party that interfancy foot routines to pulmingled all the facility residents sating rhythms. I saw a lad, and their caregivers together short, slender and tense; pluck into one big family — and a flower from the vase and dancing gaiety. handed it to a giggling lady, The center’s low building then swung her to the dance and windy street looked like floor. A couple in matching a college campus. It is vast Hawaiian attire (which was the and sheltering, increasingly evening’s motif) broke ranks heartwarming. One did not to boogie together from the expect a special party to ber center of the formation. Two warm and squishy, even for men wearing sports coat, held the special people. But the each other arm and arm, toe to welcome Spring Dance at the toe, then moved onto spinning Seniors Recreational Center each other in gay abandon, to here was just that. the delight of the spectators.

More than a hundred guests The ladies each did their own exchanged hugs and kisses in unmindful digs and unfazed by between sips of orange juice this un-macho display of male and sparkling sodas. Hair coiffed, togetherness, as they live and nails polished, party frocks let live in rhythm. What was pressed, shoes and cufflinks unique was some of the dancshined, and health teams bright. ers were strapped to wheel Then it was off to the Saturday chairs, some were supported dance night for fun and frivolby the walkers while some ity when anything can happen were literally hanging on their at least for a couple of hours. dancing partners for supports.

Dancing, dining, and chatting un- Some simply sat it up, others der a nearly full moon, illuminat- blankly stared, but it was a wild ing the surrounding area with its happy bunch. whiteness.

Dance is human, sensuThe classy club was crowdous, and soulful. It’s rhythm, it ed that evening with astonishis timing, it is sweat. You must ingly experts dancers who took be nimble, determined and command of the floor to strut focused. That Saturday, it was their stuff. The men, young and all there on display. A fanciful

Moonlighting

mixture of special people that is now and the pathetically bruising referred to us “children of a lesser God.” There was more roaring at the center that night than at a football game, each time the music lulled. The participants flood your heart with pure joy you can only feel in the company of people with hearts of gold and pure souls. What appear to be birds and the height of bad manners turn out to be in intricate punk rock head bangers disarmingly funny — amusing even in repose. In those flickers of confusion and delight, they exude a melancholy comedy but saw happiness twinkle in their eyes in every movement as they danced. It was an expression of words of joy unsaid. Some were strapped to wheelchairs, bodies that refused to work for their owners, unable to cloth themselves, some could never walk again, but on the dance floor, little pockets of happiness was theirs for the taking. They chanted, they gasped, they whined, then dance again...it gets beautiful, absolutely exquisite, like eternal adolescence.

The merrymaking looked like a memory. Different views bunched up together, like roads to different directions of the room. It looked like slices of heaven!

If only photos were allowed! ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

Why Piolo Pascual’s new film hits close...

From Page 4

work with people from the region, maybe other countries, because I wanna champion Filipino filmmaking…put it out there and not just be limited in the Philippine market. It’s been bugging me after my few exposures outside the Philippines and upon seeing other countries that have a showbiz industry or film industry. It gives me that sense of excitement to present our films and probably collaborate or with some other film outfit from other region.

“I don’t have time for anything personal. I signed up with ABS-CBN for another two years and, as I always say whenever I sign a contract, I’m married to my job, I’m married to my contract. Personally, I don’t have anything else that I wanna deal with for the next two years. I just wanna keep on doing what I’m doing as an actor, as a producer, as a singer, as a host or whatever I can put my hands on and my personal life will have to take a back seat for now.”

What else is in your bucket

list?

“A lot. I just found out that Antarctica opened up for commercial flights so I’m targeting Antarctica probably after my contract expires. Of course, the Northern Lights. And I’ve not gone to Egypt. I’m a wanderlust. I wanna travel the world; there are so many places I still have yet to see. I wanna be in South America for at least a month or two. I just wanna keep on traveling and, you know, explore places like Tibet, India… andami pa, andami pa!”

Hmart presents the 1st Annual Children Art Contest Build dreams for your children with our 2017 Art Contest!

HMART & LA18 presents The 1st Annual Children Art Contest on May 6th, 2017 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The event will be held at Mile Square Regional Park, located at 16801 Euclid Ave. Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

Hmart & LA18 will be hosting this event to express their appreciation to the customers and they are in preparation of many fun events for every family member.

After the event, each drawing will go through a judging process. The Grand Prize winner (1 winner) will receive $1,000 scholarship plus special trophy and award certificate.

The first place winners (3 winners; 1 from each age group) will each receive $300 scholarship plus trophy and award certificate. The second place winners (6 winners; 2 from each age group) will each receive $200 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate. The third place winners (9 winners; 3 from each age group) will each receive $100 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate.

The forth place winners (Total 50 winners from three groups) will receive $30 Hmart Gift Certificate plus trophy and award certificate. Total of 69 winners will be awarded in this event.

In order to participate, visit any Hmart stores in California; fill out an application. Applica-

tion period is from March 24 to April 30 (Free application).

The theme of the drawing contest will be announced on the event day. The drawing pad will be distributed on the event day. Students may bring their own drawing tools and art supplies.

Hmart official states, “The contest was created in 2014 by the Hmart in New York.

Beginning in 2015, the Hmart starts to partner with the local organization to expand this event to NJ, VA, MD, IL, GA, TX and CA . We have had over 15,000 people from upwards of 7 states participated in recent years. We received unique, inspirational and beautiful kids’ artwork pieces

every year. Hmart Children Art Contest has been becoming one of the largest family event in the Asian Community. We are already receiving many inquiries about the event.

We’re in preparation of many fun events and many free gifts.

We are excited to present unforgettable memories to many children and their families.”

Winners will be announced on June 2nd to the email address provided at the time of the application submission.

Winners will be also announced on www.hmart.com and also on newspaper and radio.

Inquiries: Hmart Customer Service, 877-427-7386

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FREE GIFT PLEASE PRESENT THIS OFFER TO THE WELCOME CENTER AT TIME OF REDEMPTION. OFFER VALID FOR NEW PLAYER REWARD SIGNUPS ONLY. THE BICYCLE HOTEL & CASINO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR CANCEL THIS PROMOTION AT ANY TIME. OFFER VALID WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. OFFER EXPIRES APRIL 9, 2017.

PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. PROBLEMGAMBLING.CA.GOV. 1-800-GAMBLER. GEGA-003963.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 22, 2017

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TO QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE JACKPOTS, HANDS MUST BE PLAYED THE LOGICAL WAY. IF ANY OF THE HANDS INVOLVED IN THE JACKPOT ARE EXPOSED, DISCUSSED, OR RESET; THE POSTED AMOUNT WILL NOT BE HONORED. THE BICYCLE HOTEL & CASINO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THIS PROMOTION AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION. ALL PROMOTIONS AND JACKPOTS: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SPECIFIC RULES APPLY. SEE A CASINO SHIFT MANAGER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. 1-800-GAMBLER. PROBLEMGAMBLING.CA.GOV. GEGA-001233.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 22, 2017