052417 - LA Midweek Edition

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LOS ANGELES

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

EDITION

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E May D I 24-26, T I O2017 N

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Volume 27 - No. 42 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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

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PH, Russia embark on ‘new chapter’ of partnership Duterte cuts Moscow trip short amid Marawi clash

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

MILITARY HONORS. President Rodrigo Duterte is given military honors upon his arrival in Moscow for his official visit to Russia on Tuesday, May 23. Duterte headed back to Manila on Wednesday, May 24, cutting his four-day official visit to Moscow short after declaring martial law in Mindanao in the wake of a confrontation between government troops and local militants in Marawi City.

Malacañang photo

USA

DATELINE Fugitive Filipino ex-car dealer gets 10 years, $30-M fine for huge 1980s bank fraud FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

LOS ANGELES - A Filipino who ran one of the largest automobile dealerships in the United States before fleeing the country 29 years ago was sentenced May 17 to 120 months in federal prison in a bank fraud scheme that caused more than $64 million in losses to banks, one of which col- Eminiano “Jun” Reodica Jr. once lapsed as a result ran the third largest car dealership of the losses suf- in the United States. fered in the scam.

United States District Judge S. James Otero sentenced , 72, saying the Reodica’s scheme

u PAGE A4

Tab for single-payer proposal in California could run $400-B A PROPOSED single-payer health system in California would cost about $400 billion annually, with up to half of that money coming from a new payroll tax on workers and employers, according to a state analysis.

The report by the state Senate Appropriations Committee, issued Monday, put a price tag for the first time on legislation that would make the state responsible for providing health coverage to all 39 million Californians. The state-run system would supplant existing employer health insurance in California, as well as coverage

u PAGE A4

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte headed back to Manila on Wednesday, May 24, cutting his four-day official visit to Moscow short after declaring martial law in Mindanao in the wake of a confrontation between government troops and local militants in Marawi City.

In a press conference on Tuesday night, May 23 in Moscow, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Russian officials understood the situation and Duterte’s need to oversee the government operations against the Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute group.

“I have spoken to my counterpart here in Moscow and have explained the situation and they understand that the security of the Filipino people, especially in Marawi and the whole of Mindanao is a priority,” Cayetano said.

Armored personnel carriers are deployed in a firefight with Maute and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday, May 23.

Photo by Mohammad Manshawi

Despite Duterte’s unexpected absence, Cayetano confirmed that bilateral agreements scheduled to be signed will still push through.

Cayetano said he will stay behind in Moscow to witness the signing of deals, most of which are related to defense, security,

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IPU members in PH to check detained De Lima Senate body junks

hit men’s testimonies

by AJPRESS MEMBERS of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) have arrived in the Philippines this week to examine the condition of Senator Leila De Lima, who is currently being detained over drug-related charges.

The IPU Committee on Human Rights met with Philippine Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday, May 22, and is scheduled to visit De Lima on Wednesday, May 24.

“We are here on behalf of the IPU, the Inter-Parliamentary Union human rights committee, to see and assess the situation of detention of Senator Leila de Members of the House of Representatives’ minority bloc dubbed as Lima,” Fawzia Koofi, president of IPU human rights, the “Magnificent 7” wave at reporters and cameramen after visiting

u PAGE A2

basis.

In a recent speech, Duterte recalled telling Xi during their meeting in Beijing: “We intend to drill oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours.”

“His response to me, ‘we’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship,

u PAGE A2

u PAGE A2

Senator Leila de Lima at the PNP Custodial Center.

Inquirer.net photo by Julliane Love De Jesus

by DANA

THE Duterte administration should immediately prepare for a so-called “dual response” to counter China’s supposed recent war threat, former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said on Monday, May 22.

Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte bared that Chinese President Xi Jinping had threatened war if Manila insists on its plan to conduct a Reed Bank oil exploration and “forces the issue” of last year’s arbitral

Former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario

ruling.

The Reed Bank, also called “Recto Bank,” is internationally recognized as part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is located in the South China Sea. China, however, claims it as part of its territory.

Last July, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, finding that China’s historic nine-dash line, which claimed almost all the South China Sea, has no historic and legal

O. AVENDAÑO

Inquirer.net

CONFESSED assassin Arturo Lascañas, a retired Davao City police officer, is not the person who can prove the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) because his testimony is inconsistent and lacks evidence.

So declared the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in a report that summed up its findings and recommendations on Lascañas’ confession that he and other Davao policemen were hired to kill on orders of former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

The committee came up with the report after holding just one hearing on March 6.

It invited Lascañas to testify on his allegation that Mayor Duterte was behind the DDS and that the latter had paid policemen and rebel returnees to kill not only criminals and drug suspects but also his political enemies.

Lascañas previously testified in a Senate inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration in which he dismissed as lies the testimony of Edgar Matobato, who claimed to be a hit man for Mr. Duterte who he said had formed the DDS. Lack of credibility “The lack of credibility of both witnesses results in the lack of evidentiary value of their testimonies.

Aside from the extrajudicial confession, no other piece of evidence was presented to prove the conspiracy. Therefore, their confession has no probative value,” the committee report said.

“One thing is for sure, Arturo Lascañas is not the person to prove [the DDS’s] actual existence and finally bring to justice the perpetrators of numerous unresolved crimes in Davao City or elsewhere if proven so,” it said.

Ex-DFA chief urges filing of protest, US joint patrols to counter China war threat SIOSON AJPress

by CHRISTINE

PNP seeks security coordination with Ariana Grande’s Manila concert organizers 22 killed, over 50 injured at pop singer’s show in Manchester, UK

by AJPRESS THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is urging “early coordination” with the organizers of the upcoming Manila concert of American singer-actress Ariana Grande in August.

The PNP’s call came in the

wake of a deadly explosion during Grande’s concert on Monday night, May 22 in Manchester, United Kingdom that reportedly killed 22 people, including children, and injured more than 50.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 23, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos

stressed the importance of coordination between the local police and event organizers to secure the safety of the event.

“The organizer/s of the Ariana Grande concert must involve the local PNP unit so that appropriate Ariana Grande performs during the Manila leg of “The Honeymoon Tour” security arrangements and assis- held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, August 23, 2015.

u PAGE A5

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV

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From the Front Page

PH, Russia embark...

PAGE A1

A suspected member of the Maute terror group places a black Islamic State-style flag on a police vehicle outside a hospital in Marawi City, where Maute and Abu Sayyaf bandits under Isnilon Hapilon clashed with government troops on Tuesday, May 23.

Photo by Chico Dimaro Usman

legal assistance, trade and investment, and peaceful use of nuclear energy and culture.

Duterte was originally scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, May 25. Before leaving for the Philippines, he had a short ren-

dezvous with his Russian counterpart at the Kremlin.

“Duterte offered friendship and assured the Russian President that the Philippines has gone beyond the ambit of western influence. that the Philippines has gone beyond the ambit of west-

ern influence. He asked for a soft loan as well, saying the United States had canceled the Philippines’ arms purchase from it. Putin, in turn, condoled with Duterte for the Marawi attack and hoped that it would be resolved with minimum losses,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

On Tuesday evening, the Philippine president placed the region of Mindanao under martial law, following the confrontation between the government forces and local terrorists.

The clash reportedly erupted around 2 p.m. on the same day when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted a joint operation in barangay Basak Malutlut to capture Isnilon Hapilon, who is believed to be the head of IS in Southeast Asia.

According to Malacañang, the martial law period will last for 60 days. “[Deputy Executive Sec. Menardo] Guevarra has clarified that this is possible on the grounds of existence of rebellion because of what is happening in Mindanao PAGE A7

DISTRACTING? An image of Jesus Christ hangs under the rear-view mirror of a taxi cab in Manila on Monday, May 22. Motorists are up in arms over new rules banning any object on the dashboard or windshield, such as religious icons. Some senators called on the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to temporarily suspend the enforcement of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act until its officials address the confusion among motorists.

ManilaTimes.net photo

IPU members in PH to check...

PAGE A1 told reporters after their meeting.

According to Koofi, the IPU committee members will also meet with Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and other “relevant” officials on Tuesday, May 23 to get “first-hand information” about De Lima’s case.

De Lima, who is notably among the fiercest critics of Philippine President Duterte, was arrested last February for allegedly violating the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 20. She was accused of profiting from the illegal drug trade at New Bilibid Prison (NBP) when she was the justice secretary.

“The IPU, as a body, expressed concern [on] human rights violation of a member of the Senate in the Philippines, which is Senator Leila de Lima, that’s why the assembly decided to have a mission to the Philippines,” Koofi added.

Earlier in April, the IPU adopt-

ed a resolution “calling for a mission to the Philippines where it is deeply concerned over the detention of Senator Leila de Lima and the accusations that she was involved in drug trafficking.”

The union took note that the senator led a series of investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings when Duterte was then the mayor of Davao City and again, as president, when he started to wage the war against illegal drugs last year.

Emphasizing that De Lima has been a vocal opponent of Duterte, the IPU also said that there is serious reason to believe the senator has been “targeted due to her outspoken criticism of the impact of the current government’s policies on human rights in the Philippines.”

Pimentel, who invited the IPU to visit the country during its 136th Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh last month, said the group only thanked him during their recent meeting for “inviting” them over.

Ex-DFA chief urges filing...

PAGE A1 but if you force the issue, we’ll go to war,” the president added.

Following Duterte’s statements, Del Rosario urged Manila to respond to Beijing’s alleged threat of war by heeding the advice of Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to file a protest before the United Nations (UN).

“We can expect that the responsible community of nations would be supportive of such a diplomatic action by the Philippine government,” Del Rosario said, stressing that that the use and threats of force are “serious violations” of the UN Charter and that the protest is in the Philippines’ “national interest.”

As part of the “dual response,” Del Rosario also urged the government to revisit the joint patrolling of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the United States and other allies.

The former top diplomat called on Manila to “pursue a defensive posture” by revisiting the joint patrol strategy of the West Philippine Sea. He also added that joint patrols with U.S. troops would “effectively posture” Manila’s “security guarantee agreement,” highlighting

the two countries’ treaty alliance.

“The joint patrol of our EEZ with the U.S. and possibly other partners would be a combined strategic and tactical move for the Philippine government in defending our national interest and territorial integrity,” Del Rosario said.

On the other hand, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Alan Peter Cayetano refused to confirm or deny reports of China’s alleged war threat.

“It is but natural when you talk about peace and when you talk about conflict the word war may come up, may or may not come up, so I’m not confirming or denying,” Cayetano said in a media briefing.

While refusing to provide more details about the exchange, he affirmed that there “there was no language or even tone that would lead any of the two presidents to believe that there was disrespect for them, or their country.”

The top diplomat also insisted that the word “war” should be put into context, remarking that the talk’s “focus is on avoiding war as opposed to conflict.”

Likewise, Cayetano affirmed Duterte’s commitment to asserting the country’s territory.

“He (Duterte) has told us many

Senate body junks hit...

PAGE A1 Signed by eight members Lacson said on Monday that he would report out on the floor on Tuesday Committee Report No. 97, which was signed by eight members.

Asked why he did not recommend perjury charges against Lascañas, the senator said he was leaving it up to the Department of Justice “to pick it up once the Senate adopts the report.”

Of the eight who signed the report, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he did not concur with the report and would interpellate Lacson on the floor.

Testimony abruptly ended In a statement, Trillanes said Lacson had “no basis to say that Lascañas’ testimony was not credible because he abruptly terminated the investigation after only

one hearing.”

“In fact, during the solitary hearing Lacson conducted, the Philippine National Police representative even corroborated some of Lascañas’ statements,” said Trillanes, who had helped in bringing out the alleged DDS hit man to the public.

Sen. Grace Poe said she agreed with the report’s recommendations, but had reservations about the committee findings.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he agreed with the report “in so far as the recommendations are concerned.”

Grand conspiracy In the 20-page report, the committee said Lascañas’ testimony was that of “a grand conspiracy involving the DDS” and that he had implicated fellow police officers, who included Sonny Bue-

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas

He said they discussed “nothing” about De Lima’s case.

“They are the ones concerned with Senator de lima...they are here for a fact-finding mission.

Let them do their job,” Pimentel added.

Established in 1889, IPU aims to “promote democracy, equality, human rights, development and peace.” The Philippines is among its 171 member parliament.

‘Thinner, paler’ De Lima Also on Monday, members of the House of Representatives minority bloc visited a seemingly “thinner” and “paler” De Lima in her detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center inside Camp Crame.

“Parang pumayat siya nang kaunti, medyo parang maputla siya ‘yun ang napansin ko (I noticed she lost weight and looked pale),” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice told reporters when asked about De Lima’s condition.

Other members of the group who visited De Lima include Minority leader Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Capiz Rep. Emmanuel PAGE A5 many times that he is committed to protecting our territorial integrity. He will protect every single inch of our territory but trust him on how he will do it, how he will approach it and the strategy,” Cayetano said.

Benham Rise renamed In an apparent bid to assert the country’s territorial claims, Duterte recently signed an executive order (EO) that officially renamed Benham Rise to “Philippine Rise.”

“All departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government shall henceforth use and employ the name ‘Philippine Rise’ in all official documents in referring to the undersea feature,” EO 25 read.

Last month, Duterte revealed his plans to rename the area amid reports that Chinese ships were spotted near it.

Located along the Pacific Ocean 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Isabela, the Philippine Rise is believed to be rich in mineral and gas deposits with Manila as its only claimant.

The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012 approved the submission of Manila in 2009, acknowledging that the region falls within the continental shelf of the Philippines. n naventura, a trusted Duterte aide, as well as Fulgencio Pavo, Jim Tan and Dick Cloribel.

But the report noted that under the rules of evidence, the “evidence other than the declaration of the coconspirator must be out forward.”

“Following said rules, Lascañas’ testimony could not be possibly considered evidence against the persons he was implicating, without first putting forward other evidence that could establish grand conspiracy he was claiming,” the report said.

It said Lascañas’ testimony could not be considered evidence against the President and other police officers without him offering evidence other than his testimony. Thus, he has the burden to prove his allegations before the committee.

The committee also said it found Lascañas’ affidavit and testimony to be self-serving, not worthy of belief and bereft of credibility.

For instance, it said Lascañas did not offer any corroborating evidence that for the price of P3 million, radio broadcaster Jun Pala was ordered killed by Mayor Duterte for criticizing him on his program.

“To impute a crime on another individual on the basis of motive alone will be a dangerous precedent,” the report said. n

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Roach handles Pacquiao’s training

by AbAc

cordero Philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao welcomed Freddie Roach with 12 good rounds of mitts session at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City as preparations for his title fight with australian Jeff Horn shifted to high gear on Tuesday, May 23.

Roach quietly slipped into town Sunday, May 21 when most members of Team Pacquiao thought he was arriving on Tuesday.

The american boxing mentor came in with australian strength and conditioning expert Justin Fortune.

Roach and Fortune showed up at the gym named after the late Filipino boxing legend Gabriel “Flash” Elorde even before Pacquiao arrived at around noontime.

Pacquiao trained earlier than usual so he could catch and join an afternoon session at the Senate.

Roach, according to Team Pacquiao mainstay Haplas Fernandez, was happy and satisfied with

Asian Law Caucus for Immigrants Rights staff attorney Kevin Lo graduated from UC Berkeley before he received a law degree from Stanford Law School.

Manny Pacquiao and coach Freddie Roach during a training session.

what he saw.

“Masaya si coach (Roach) kasi kundisyon na si boss (Pacquiao),” said Fernandez, brother of assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Pacquiao staged his first sparring session with two Filipino boxers last Saturday, doing four rounds as his July 2 title bout with Horn moved just six weeks away.

Roach did not bring in any spar-

Tab for single-payer proposal...

PAGE A1 through public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

One of the chief obstacles to the legislation, Senate Bill 562, is the prospect of higher taxes. It also has exposed deep divisions among Democrats over whether now is the time to pursue singlepayer — just as the affordable Care act comes under attack from Republicans in Washington. at a hearing Monday, one Democratic legislator questioned whether the state can effectively manage a universal health care system.

The legislative analysis estimates a total annual cost of $400 billion to enact the Healthy California program for all residents, regardless of their immigration status.

To put that in perspective, about $367 billion was spent on health care last year statewide, including public and private spending by employers and consumers, according to the UCLa Center for Health Policy Research.

Legislative analysts said federal, state and local taxpayer funding of about $200 billion a year for existing programs could be available to offset the overall tab of $400 billion for universal coverage. But additional tax revenue would be

needed to foot the other half of the cost, according to the report, which raised the possibility of a 15 percent payroll tax on earned income.

Of course, the shift to a singlepayer system should reduce current spending on health insurance by employers and workers, so those savings could offset some of the new taxes, the analysts said.

The report estimated that employers and employees in California spend $100 billion to $150 billion a year now on health insurance and medical care.

“Total new spending required under the bill would be between $50 billion and $100 billion per year,” the report said.

The Senate analysis noted that all of its projections were “subject to enormous uncertainty” because the bill would mark “unprecedented change in a large health care market.” a single-payer system likely “would be more efficient in delivering health care,” said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. (California Healthline is produced by Kaiser Health news, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.)

But the proposal expands cov-

ring partner last Sunday although it is expected that one or two will arrive any day from now. according to Fernandez, Pacquiao will resume sparring today.

It was a normally busy day for Pacquiao who went out for a morning round around Forbes Park at six o’clock, then to the gym at noon and to the Senate floor in the afternoon. n erage to all and eliminates premiums, copayments and deductibles for enrollees, and that would cost more money, Levitt said. “you can bet that opponents will highlight the 15 percent tax, even though there are also big premium savings for employers and individuals,” he added.

State Sen. Ricardo Lara (DBell Gardens), a chief sponsor of the legislation, said the present system is unsustainable because health spending continues to grow faster than the overall economy, making coverage unaffordable for too many people.

Lara touted the potential savings from creating a public plan with greater bargaining power and cutting out the administrative overhead and profits of private health insurers acting as middlemen.

Overall, many of the details behind California’s single-payer proposal remain in flux. Under questioning from fellow lawmakers, Lara said the 15 percent payroll tax is “hypothetical” and “we don’t have a financing mechanism yet for this bill.”

Lara said he has sought a review from researchers at the University of Massachusetts-amherst into potential funding sources for the measure.

Lara also said there’s no guarPAGE A5

Duterte supporter Atty. Arnedo Valera says drug addicts who surrender are sent to rehabilitation centers for treatment and rehabilitation under the Duterte administration.

Vicente Rafael, professor of history in the University of Washington, offered testimony that helped two immigrants be spared from deportation.

Staunch Marcos and Duterte critic Atty. Ted Laguatan says the present Philippine government has developed a global reputation for engaging in state-sponsored extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

2 Filipinos spared from deportation due to PH war on drugs

by Jun

nucum Inquirer.net

San FRanCISCO — Two Filipino immigrants, who served jail terms for drug offenses but were apprehended by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and placed on deportation proceedings, were recently granted protection under the Convention against Torture (CaT) because they are potential targets of President Rodrigo Duterte’s lethal war on drugs.

One immigrant was immediately released after an immigration judge’s CaT ruling while the other remains in custody pending the written decision of the judge that could withstand an impending appeal of ICE against the still detained convict.

The two grateful Filipinos living in San Francisco chose to remain unidentified. Both men have families, are indigents and in their mid-30s. They are green card holders who were represented for free by legal advocacy group for asians in San Francisco.

Their lawyer, Kevin Lo, is a staff attorney in the Immigrant Rights Program of the asian Law Caucus. Lo chanced upon the two men when he visited the San Francisco immigration detention center and realized that the two Filipinos needed representation, as most people in immigration detention are usually not legally aided enough.

Claims for protection “In evaluating the cases of the two Filipinos clients, we learned about the situation in the Philippines with President Duterte’s drug war. and when we realized that they had claims for protection under the Convention against Torture, we decided to take their cases because we know the situation is pretty serious,” Lo shared.

“We decided to make the argument that drug addicts who are deported to the Philippines has a more then 50 percent chance to be added to government watch lists and subsequently killed,” Lo explained. asian Law Caucus sought the help of Vicente Rafael, professor of history in the University of Washington, specializing in Southeast asian history. “Rafael became our source for the condition in the Philippines particularly the drug war being waged

by President Duterte,” Lo said.

Rafael’s declaration together with another expert’s statement proved very helpful in securing the detainees’ protection from the judge.

“We [also] submitted a big stack of articles and pictures to show that in the Philippines drug convictions typically equal torture and death,” Lo explained. “If we haven’t been able to submit the country condition confirmation that intended to show that the government’s (drive against drug offenders) is true, the ruling may

not have been granted and they could have been deported.”

Scheduled to testify again Rafael is scheduled to testify by phone on another case, in Tacoma, Washington, largely along the same lines. nearby Seattle was where an earlier case employing the CaT appeal protection lost.

Lo wants to make clear though that the CaT is usually the last thing that people try for because it doesn’t lead to any legal status; one can still be deported when conditions change. It is also not granted very often.

“For our clients, the judge said he won’t be deporting our clients. But once Duterte is no longer in power and the drug war is no longer happening, they can be deported. So, CaT is an acknowledgement that you are deportable, but for human rights reason, you are not going to be for now,” disclosed Lo. He says its a form of relief that applies to other people in other countries with dangerous condition of human rights. “The Duterte situation is so extreme, so rare that the head of state will be so explicit and proud that he killed so many people that started back when he was mayor of Davao City.”

Unfair deportation system Lo also stressed that the U.S. deportation system is so unfair because even if immigrant convicts spent only a few months in a U.S. prison, they are being deported even for drug crimes that are not serious.

“Current U.S. immigration law punishes drug crimes very heavily. It is kind of funny that we are criticizing Duterte for his war on drugs, while the U.S. war on drugs, although not be as bad, is pretty extreme too,” Lo lamented.

In the deportation process, ICE will request for travel documents from the Philippines and also will turn over a copy of the deportee’s criminal record. What that means is that the U.S. is explicitly telling the Philippines that the deportee is a drug abuser or trafficker. Under Duterte, it is very likely that the deportee will be added to the drug list.

Duterte supporter atty. arnedo S Valera, a practicing immigration attorney, congratulated Lo and company for “creative legal representation” in finding a relief from deportation for these two Filipinos.

Legal aberration However, he contended that “this ruling is a legal aberration and not the prevailing case law in almost all immigration courts in 50 States. For the last decade, based on specific and unique removal issues faced by Filipino immigrants, I have been successful in obtaining asylum alleging fear of even torture under the aquino and arroyo regimes.”

Most likely, these liberal rulings will be appealed by the gov-

Fugitive Filipino ex-car dealer...

PAGE A1 to defraud “extremely serious” and caused “much disruption, much heartache” to “too many victims to count.”

In addition to being sentenced to 10 years in prison, Reodica was ordered to pay $29.7 million restitution.

Judge Otero said defendant preyed upon members of the Filipino community as well as numerous federally insured financial institutions in perpetrating the scam that resulted in total losses to both individuals and financial institutions of over $90 million.

Reodica, fled the United States in 1988, but he has been in federal custody ever since he was arrested in late 2012 at Los angeles International airport during a layover while traveling from australia to Canada.

On the day before he was set to go on trial in October 2015, Reodica pleaded guilty to 26 counts of bank fraud and making false statements to financial institutions. From 1984 through 1988, the fraud scheme victimized at least five banks – Union Bank, First Los angeles Bank, Manilabank, First Central Bank and Imperial Savings.

“The scale of the fraud is virtually unparalleled,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. “notably, Imperial sub-

sequently failed and went into receivership with the FDIC based on the losses sustained as the result of defendant’s fraud.”

Reodica was the president of the Glendora-based Grand Wilshire Group (GWG) of Companies, which operated about two dozen car dealerships, including Grand Chevrolet in Glendora.

“Over time, GWG became the second-largest Chevrolet dealership in the United States and the third largest car dealership in the United States,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.

“Due to the apparent success of GWG, [then-California] Governor [George] Deukmejian appointed defendant to the board of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and later ousted him from the board when his fraud was discovered.”

GWG had credit agreements with the victim financial institutions under which GWG pledged car contracts as collateral on lines of credit. The agreements required GWG to collect car loan payments from its customers and provide those funds to the financial institutions.

Reodica admitted that he would promise the same car contract as collateral to two different banks at the same time. In order to accomplish this part of his scheme, Reodica directed employees to forge customer signatures on car

ernment because the fact is, under the drug policy of the Duterte administration, drug addicts who surrender and are not engaged in selling drugs and other criminal activities are sent to rehabilitation centers for treatment and drug rehabilitation.”

Duterte critic and seasoned litigator Ted Laguatan says that the present Philippine government has developed a global reputation for being engaged in statesponsored extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. “numerous documented reports and graphic pictures of Filipinos brutally murdered by police elements and so called ‘vigilantes’ many of whom are also police elements dressed in civilians, have been published in international publications.

More than 8,000 killed since President Rodrigo Duterte sat in office,” reasoned Laguatan.

Laguatan says that while government apologists continue to deny that these killings are state-sponsored, there are so many recorded footages of President Rodrigo Duterte delivering speeches urging the police to continue with these killings and assuring them of his protection.

‘Duterte behind the killings’ “anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows that Duterte is behind these killings as the styles or modes of executions are the same as those used by the notorious Davao Death Squad reputedly headed by Duterte when he was Mayor of Davao City. Moreover, the more than 8,000 killings are self-evident. They would not have happened if Duterte were not President. as such, more Filipinos in removal proceedings in Immigration Court will be using the United nation’s Convention against Torture (CaT) to prevent their removal,” Laguatan opined. another eminent immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco noted that with the current social political environment in the Philippines, the view of the outside world on the controversial war of drugs has an impact on the fate of Filipinos abroad.

“I am not surprised that it had reached the immigration courts involving Filipinos who are facing removal. It would not be difficult to find sufficient evidence for protection under the Convention against Torture (CaT) act considering that substantial and factual information is available in regards to the increasing number of death of people involved in illegal drugs. The courts can rely on expert opinion or organizations like the Un Commission on Human Rights,” Tancinco said.

Tancinco noted that the challenge in employing CaT is proving whether the abuse is inflicted by, or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or any person acting in an official capacity. n contracts that were then promised to a second bank. as another part of his scheme, Reodica also repossessed and resold cars without telling the banks.

Reodica also admitted concealing from the banks that customers were delinquent on their car loans. In some cases, when the overall delinquency rate exceeded a level acceptable to a bank, Reodica used GWG funds to make car payments, which allowed him to continue using those delinquent contracts as collateral. Reodica also made his employees sign for car loans for cars that they were not really buying so that Reodica could increase the lines of credit he obtained from the banks. as a result of Reodica’s fraud scheme, the Grand Wilshire Group and Grand Chevrolet collapsed into bankruptcy in august 1988, which is when Reodica fled to his native Philippines.

When special agents with the FBI arrested him at LaX in november 2012, Reodica was traveling under an australian passport in the name of “Roberto Coscolluela.” While living in australia under the name of Coscolluela, he ran a tax preparation and insurance business. Reodica’s activities in these businesses have resulted in allegations of a $7 million fraud in australia causing him to be dubbed “Brisbane’s Bernie Madoff,” according to government sentencing papers.

(Inquirer.net)

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 24-26, 2017

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Anti-Distracted Driving Act suspended An information and education campaign will be conducted as soon as the new IRR is crafted, the DoTr said.

“In the meantime, we invite the public to continue the constructive discussion on this new law so as to contribute on how we could all better promote road safety, discipline, and responsible driving,” the DoTr said.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito has filed proposed Senate Resolution 386, which sought to temporarily suspend the enforcement of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. RA 10915 lapsed into law on July 2016 and its IRR was promulgated on April 4, 2017 by the DoTr. The law lists prohibited acts while driving a vehicle, including the use of mobile communication devices to make a call or write, send and read text messages.

It also prohibits the use of electronic entertainment or computing devices to play games, watch movies, surf the internet, compose messages, read e-books and other

similar acts.

But transport officials also prohibited any item on vehicle dashboards and windshields, such as rosaries and air fresheners.

At the House of Representatives, lawmakers called for a massive information campaign before the law’s implementation.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a statement, said the LTFRB has “no legal basis nor any authority in law to ban hanging rosaries and other religious images from car dashboards.”

“Rosaries and similar small religious items displayed on a car are not even mentioned or subject of Republic Act No. 10913, the AntiDistracted Driving Act. The law is merely directed to ‘the inimical consequences of the unrestrained use of electronic mobile devices on road safety as to cause its regulation (as) the State recognizes the vital roles of information and communications technology in nationbuilding’ as stated in its Section 2, declaration of policy,” he said.

(ManilaTimes.net)

PNP seeks security coordination...

suspended her tour indefinitely.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said authorities are now working on for a “fast-moving investigation” on the incident.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but this has not been verified. Hopkins, however, confirmed that the attacker — identified as 22-yearold Salman Abedi — died during the blast.

“We have been treating this as a terrorist incident and we believe, at this stage, the attack last night was conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network,” Hopkins said.

“The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity,” he added. n

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) has suspended the implementation of the AntiDistracted Driving Act following calls from Congress to review its implementing rules that banned even the hanging of rosaries under rear-view mirrors.

“To respond to the call of both Houses of Congress to defer the implementation of [the law], the Department of Transportation (DoTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) take heed to the Congress, being the authors of the law, to defer the enforcement of Republic Act (RA) 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act,” the Transportation department said in a statement.

The DoTr said it would revive its technical working group to conduct a review of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) in coordination with stakeholders.

PAGE A1 tance can be extended to ensure the safety of the concertgoers,” Carlos said.

The 23-year-old pop star’s “Dangerous Woman” tour is set this coming August 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“The PNP has the security templates in handling international events. Necessary adjustments may be taken based on current and existing condition or environment,” Carlos said.

“What is important is the early coordination of the event organizers with the PNP,” he added.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, confirmed that no Filipinos were hurt in the incident.

“We have not yet received reports of Filipinos who were injured

or who were among the casualties.

But we are closely monitoring the situation. Our prayers go to those who were affected,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar told CNN Philippines.

In a statement, Malacañang sent condolences to the victims of the incident.

“We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

For her part, Grande lamented the tragedy that occurred during her concert. In a Twitter post hours after the explosion, Grande, who was unharmed, said she is “broken” by the incident.

“From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry,” she wrote.

The pop singer has reportedly

IPU members in PH to check...

PAGE A2 Billones, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin.

During a what he described as a “very light” conversation, Erice disclosed that they talked about

De Lima’s bid to attend Senate sessions when they visited her.

Stressing that the senator has not been convicted yet and is still presumed innocent, Erice said the court should at least allow her to occasionally attend sessions whenever there are votings

or discussions on important issues.

“Kasi mahalaga din na mairepresent ni Senator De Lima ‘yung constituency niya, being a duly elected senator (Because it is important for Senator De Lima to represent her constituency as a duly elected senator),” Erice explained.

Alejano also said they dis-

PEACE MURALS. An employee walks on a corridor where peace murals are displayed at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The murals that depict the agenda for change were installed at the DAR in support of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Tab for single-payer proposal...

PAGE A4

said. “How can you say this will be fiscally prudent for the state? The state has never gotten anything right in health care.”

State Sen. Steven Bradford (DGardena) also preached caution, questioning whether state agencies are up to the task. “I don’t want California to move toward a program that is not sustainable and one that we can’t manage,” Bradford said.

Other states have taken a close look at single-payer and balked.

Colorado voters rejected a ballot measure last year that would have used payroll taxes to fund a nearuniversal coverage system. (Chad Terhunes/Kaiser Health News) ***

antee the Trump administration would grant the federal waivers necessary for California to shift Medicare and Medicaid funding into a single pot for universal health care.

With so many unknowns, the Senate Appropriations Committee didn’t vote on the measure Monday. Backers of the legislation are hopeful for a vote in the full Senate next month and then lawmakers could continue to work on the financial aspects during the summer.

At Monday’s hearing, many consumers pointed to Medicare as a model for how single-payer works now and urged lawmakers to make California the proving ground for how it can succeed at

the state level.

Business groups and health insurers spoke out in opposition, saying it would lead to massive disruption and escalating costs.

Even if it passes the legislature, California Gov. Jerry Brown hasn’t endorsed the idea and new taxes may require a statewide ballot measure, which are always hardfought campaigns.

The California Chamber of Commerce said the costs would likely be far higher than what was projected and the taxes imposed on employers would trigger major job losses.

State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), a member of the ApproThis story was produced by Kaiser Health priations panel, expressed similar News, which publishes California Healthline, an concerns. “The impact on employ- editorially independent service of the California ers will be astounding,” Nielsen Health Care Foundation.

cussed “current issues” with De Lima, citing in particular Duterte’s seemingly soft stance against China’s reportedly war threat and his administration’s rejection of aid from European Union (EU).

Earlier, Duterte claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping warned him about the possibility of war if the Philippines con-

ducted an oil exploration in the disputed South China Sea. The Duterte administration also recently announced that it stopped accepting EU grants “with conditions” that affects the “autonomy of the country.”

De Lima, for her part, thanked the House opposition bloc for visiting and supporting her.

“These lawmakers are the

genuine and functioning minority in the House of Representatives,” De Lima said in a handwritten letter.

She went on to say, “In this time of darkness and flagrant violations of human rights that besiege our nation today, it is really an honor to be fighting with them for truth, justice, and democracy.” n

A6 MAY 24-26, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

FEATURES

High alert

THE Philippines extends its condolences to the victims’ families and voiced solidarity with Britain in the fight against extremism following the deadly terror attack in Manchester, United Kingdom that left 22 people—including children—dead and 50 injured.

“We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Philippine Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

A suicide bomber reportedly carried out the attack as fans were streaming out of Manchester Arena after American pop singer Ariana Grande’s concert on Monday, May 22.

In Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is closely coordinating with organizers of the concert tour of Grande set on August 21 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

While there is no specific terror threat for the pop star’s Manila stop, the PNP is initiating involvement in the event’s security so that appropriate security arrangements and assistance can be extended to ensure the safety of concertgoers.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, May 23, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, who’s in Moscow for a four-day state visit to Russia, cut his trip short after declaring martial law in Mindanao. The decision came amidst attacks perpetrated by Islamic State (IS)-backed Maute group in Marawi City.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported that government forces clashed with Maute fighters in Marawi City. The fighting left two policemen and a soldier dead and injured several others, ac-

cording to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The siege reportedly began hen police and troops raided a house where Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the subject of a U.S. State Department bounty of $5 million, was believed to be hiding.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano will stay behind in Russia to sign several agreements.

The Philippine government has valiantly dealt with armed conflicts since the 1960s. While it succeeded in diminishing the numbers of these groups, coercion continues to this day. Major fronts have long fought for communist insurgency in the Mindanao region, leaving national reconciliation as still an ultimate goal for its government.

The prevailing discord in Mindanao stems from what Moros believe as historical and continuing injustice committed against them, resulting in a majority-minority relationship that manifests itself in underdevelopment and dispossession in Muslim areas.

While there is a lack of a comprehensive data on the total number of people affected and resources lost or destroyed as a result of these conflicts, reported estimates have been disturbing. Aside from being saddled with armed internal security threats,

Editorial

restoring peace in the country—especially in Mindanao—is also hampered by apparent economic and social problems.

In this ever-changing and turbulent world, it’s easier for some people to aggregate power, to instigate war than to commit to peace and compromise. People behind such terror attacks must be reminded that it took millions of lives, thousands of years and

Philstar.com photo

hundreds of wars to achieve global order.

Peace may be attained when there is cultural integrity, respect for differences, protection of human rights, good governance, sustainable development and delivery of basic social services. The list may still go on, and these measures will require more than just valiant efforts from the government and its people. (AJPress)

Rediscovering and strengthening our faith through the Marian Shrine Pilgrimage Tour I WAS out of the country for close to a month The Fil-Am to join my husband as he fulfilled a promise: Perspective to take his parents to the faith-based Marian Pilgrimage Tour in Europe. This was my husGEL SANTOS-RELOS band’s way of honoring his parents who are celebrating their birthdays this May as octogenarians. They have devoted their lives to serving the church back in the Philippines since their retirement. The pilgrimage tour would be the perfect gift to his parents.

Through the help of my dear friend Mr. Johnny Francisco of Mango Tours, we joined the pilgrimage tour. This pilgrimage has been very significant this year as the Catholic Christians celebrate the 100th year of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition in Fatima, Portugal.

Being part of the tour group has eased up all the concerns and stresses that go with preparing for all the details of our trip’s itinerary, especially when you are traveling with seniors.

There were about 45 of us in the group that met up in Lisbon, Portugal. Lo, and behold! More than a third of the group were Filipinos — and as our tour director said, indeed, Filipinos are among the top travelers on faith-based tours. In fact, many Filipinos would choose to go to

Rome, the Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, etc if they could only travel abroad once in their life — a testament to the commitment of our kababayans to grow in faith and devotion to God. Aboard an air-conditioned coach with picture windows, WiFi and USB charger in every seat, our 12-day sojourn took us to Portugal, France and Spain where we visited Marian shrines, places of worship, churches, pilgrimage destinations and had good city and cultural tours of the places we visited. My husband and I extended our trip to take my in-laws visit the Vatican and see Pope Francis in person in Rome.

After visits to churches in Lisbon, we headed north and made a quick stop to Santarem, Portugal to visit the Church of the Eucharistic Holy Miracle.

In the evening, we arrived in Fatima, where we stayed for two nights. We visited the shrine made famous by the Virgin Mary’s appearance in 1917 to three shepherd children, which culminated in the revelation of the Three Secrets of Fatima. We joined pilgrims from different parts of the world for Rosary and candlelight procession at the Our Lady of Fatima Basilica.

After Fatima, we had a short stop in Braga, described as one of the oldest Christian cities in the world, and nicknamed “Portuguese Rome.” We visited the Bom Jesus Do Monte Sanctuary, an important pilgrimage site where many devout Catholics have reportedly walked the “Stations of the Cross” for purposes of reflection and penance since 1811.

From Braga, we headed North to Santiago de Compostela, which we learned to be one of the top pilgrimage destinations since the Middle Ages. Pilgrims come from different parts of the world and take different routes starting from France, Madrid, Portugal, etc., doing the Camino walk, which may take up to three weeks, with all routes leading to St. James Cathedral.

We attended the Pilgrims Mass in the Cathedral, which houses the remains of the apostle St. James beneath the High Altar. The highlight for me was the famous Botafumeiro — the giant swinging metal thurible that burns incense to bless the pilgrims.

After our two-night stop in Santiago de Compostela and having watched “The Way” on the bus—the movie was written and directed by Emilio Esteves, starring his father Martin Sheen about a father’s pilgrimage in the “Camino de Santiago— I vowed to walk this pilgrimage with my husband in the near future.

We made a one night stop in Burgos,

the historic capital of Old Castille. We visited, prayed, and had mass at the magnificent Burgos Cathedral.

En route to Lourdes, France we passed by the beautiful landscape of Northern Spain, including the alps of the south— the Pyrenees Mountains.

We stopped in Cabreira, a medieval town on top of a mountain and it snowed in April! The old church and the quaint town was like frozen in time.

Thereafter we visited the 17th-century Sanctuary of Loyola, built in honor of San Ignacio de Loyola, founder of the Jesuit religious order. St. Ignatius was born to a rich and noble family and was a knight himself. His near-death experience made him give up his knight’s sword and lavish lifestyle, and embarked on a pilgrimage himself and offered his life in service to God. Our next stop was Lourdes in France where we stayed for two nights. Lourdes is another popular pilgrimage site for Catholics because this was where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette.

We went to mass, joined the nightly Rosary and procession, and prayed in the famous Grotto, where the holy water springs from the mountain. It was a very touching and uplifting experience. We also visited the birthplace and home of St. Bernadette.

En route back to Spain, we made a stop in Carcassonne, near the France-Spain

border. The Fortified Citadel brought us back to the Middle Ages with all the ramparts, castle walls and drawbridges. Oh, how we enjoyed traditional French food for lunch al fresco in the courtyard!

The last leg of the tour was Barcelona, Spain where we stayed for three nights.

We enjoyed the city tour, visited Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, and went up to the pilgrimage site of Montserrat, situated more than 4000 feet above sea level in a picturesque mountain range, said to be composed of striking pink conglomerate sedimentary rocks.

Montserrat is the site of the Benedictine Abbey that hosts the Black Virgin.

This place is a beautiful serene place where pilgrims walk to, pray, hear mass, reflect. (Montserrat was St. Ignatius’ pilgrimage destination) After our Marian Shrine Pilgrimage tour and the side trip to Rome, I thought we gave a gift to my in-laws. It turned out that in doing so, we also gave a gift to ourselves because of how we have grown in faith, love and dedication to God. I pray you will be blessed with the same experience too. God be with us all. *** 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

After the US and Europe, who’s DU30’s next target?

Opinion

FRANCISCO TATAD AFTER President Rodrigo Duterte named former Senator Edgardo Angara special envoy to the European Union, apparently to strengthen our diplomatic presence in Brussels and in most of the 28 member countries, one thought the EU had suddenly become very important to the DU30 government. Then DU30 dropped a small bomb: He said he had decided to renounce all grants and aids from the EU, which had allowed its officials to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Philippine government. In an age of growing interdependence, DU30 seems determined to minimize our dealings with our once strongest historic allies as he seeks to expand economic and military ties with Beijing and Moscow.

This seems to be our foreign policy conundrum as PDU30 prepares to visit Russia, following his just concluded One Belt, One Road summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders in Beijing.

A major partner The EU is a major trading, investments, economic and diplo-

matic partner of the Philippines.

It is said to be the eighth largest source of aid for the country, which receives 250 million euros, or $278.7 million (P14 billion) each year. In spite of what we hear from some of DU30’s congressional allies, it isn’t easy to throw away P14 billion, except in defense of some inviolable principles, and expect that our new Chinese uncle would replenish it.

Aside from our country’s relations with the bloc, we have excellent bilateral ties with its 28 membercountries, which include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which recently opted to exit the Union.

All these are affected by DU30’s move.

No two more contradictory moves could have come from DU30. Thus, the contradictory reactions too. On the one hand, supporters welcomed DU30’s statement as a “declaration of independence from Europe,” on whom we have never been dependent, a sequel to his October 2016 declaration in Beijing of

“economic and military “separation” from the United States, and alignment with China and Russia “against the world.” On the other hand, some observers seem to believe DU30 had simply cut his nose to spite his face. One question they ask is, will “special relations” with China and Russia replace those with the US, or will there eventually follow a similar declaration of “independence” from these new patrons?

Correct principle, but…

One cannot dispute the principle invoked by DU30; but its application is open to question. Aid to the poor should never be used to promote programs and policies that harm the recipient. Yet donor governments customarily, if not canonically, interfere in the private lives of their intended beneficiaries, to the point of violating their inherent rights and inviolable liberties. The big powers normally share the same practice against human life, the family and marriage, which President Donald Trump to his credit is now trying to correct on behalf of the US. They generally impose population control on the poor, which our Constitution forbids, but which the writer of the Supreme Court ruling on the Reproductive Health Law says is quite “all right.”

The global war on population

continues. The central proposition is that the poor must not be allowed to dominate the earth; thus Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been quoted as saying he would like to be reborn as a virus to finish the job that all the population control measures have failed to do. The constantly expanding LGBT agenda offers the full course—contraception, sterilization, abortion, divorce, “samesex marriage,” etc. Motherhood, fatherhood, child-bearing, and the permanent and exclusive union of one man and one woman for life, which defines the institution of marriage, as the foundation of the family, must all be abolished.

These are now the First World’s exports to the Third World. And they have gained substantial support from UN bureaucrats and high magistrates in the US and other parts of the world.

I don’t believe DU30 was referring to any of these, though, when he spoke of EU interference in the internal affairs of our government.

He was apparently more clearly focused on the EU’s blunt criticisms of the summary killings in his drug war, his proposed imposition of the death penalty despite our treaty commitment to abolish the penalty under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights, and the lowering of the age of criminal liability for children from 15 to nine.

Legalizing abortion and drug use Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano says DU30 was reacting to pressure from the EU that we legalize abortion and decriminalize drug abuse. If this statement is true, a big “NO” from the President would have sufficed to remind the least literate EU official that the Philippine Constitution, which speaks of the sanctity of human life, bans abortion absolutely, and there’s no way of getting around it.

At the UN headquarters in New York, certain bureaucrats in some treaty bodies try periodically to suggest to Filipino diplomats to change their anti-abortion laws, as if they could. Always, a blank stare suffices to put them in their place. Should the EU refuse to take DU30’s “NO”, they could pull out their grants and aids, and DU30 could simply say, “good riddance.” But for him to be the one to tell them to get out with their grants and aids is not so easy to understand.

Foreign-funded programs aimed at abolishing the biological functions conferred by nature on the two sexes, and making women infertile and marriage child-

less, constitute gross interference in the right and duty of citizens to fulfill their God-given mandate.

Many would have lined up behind DU30 had he announced that because of the tendency of the foreign elite to interfere in the intimate lives of Filipinos, no foreign government or non-governmental organization would henceforth be allowed to run any program or project anywhere in the country, without the prior approval of the national government, which has to make sure that such programs or projects do not undermine our laws or moral values. This would have been a formidable initiative.

Despite Cayetano’s belated explanation, the suspicion lingers that DU30 was simply reacting to the EU’s statements on the extrajudicial killings, the death penalty and the criminalization of young offenders with baby teeth. However unpleasant and unwelcome these statements may be, they do not, in my view, constitute interference in our internal affairs.

When the rights of citizens of a particular country are violated by their own government, they have a right to turn to their fellow humans in more hospitable places.

Members of the human race have the duty to defend, with their lives if necessary, the intrinsic dignity

u PAGE A7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAy 24-26, 2017

A

Trial of Jinggoy, others starts Sept.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division will start trying in September graft cases filed against former senator Jose “Jinggoy” estrada and several other individuals in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.

Pretrial of the cases was terminated on Monday, May 22 as the prosecution and the defense finished marking evidence that they intend to present during trial.

The court set the trial on September 4 and every other Monday thereafter.

It ordered issuance of the pretrial order, which will be signed by the parties and their lawyers.

A pretrial order lists the number of hearing dates, as well as the witnesses to be presented and the issues to be resolved during the trial.

Meanwhile, the pretrial of the related plunder case was

terminated last month and the court will begin trying this case on June 19. estrada was charged with plunder along with his former aide Pauline Labayen (at large) as well as Janet Lim-Napoles and John Raymund de Asis.

The former senator was charged with graft along with Labayen; Napoles; de Asis; former Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos as well as Marilou Bare, Lalaine Paule and Rosario Nuñez, who were DBM employees at the time material to the cases; former National Agribusiness Corp. President Allan Javellana and former Nabcor employees Maria Julie Villaralvo-Johnson, Rhodora Mendoza, Victor Cacal, Maria Ninez Guañizo and Romulo Relevo; former Technology Resource Center Directors General Antonio Ortiz and Dennis Cunanan as

PH, Russia embark...

PAGE A2 based on Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution. This is good for 60 days,” Spokesperson ernesto Abella said.

The Maute group reportedly occupied several establishments in Marawi City, including a hospital and a city jail. Several other facilities, such as St. Mary’s Church, the Ninoy Aquino School, and the Dansalan College, were also reportedly burned.

Abella, however, affirmed that the government is “in full control of the situation.”

“New chapter” of PH-Russia ties Pointing out that “there are opportunities that cannot be ig-

nored,” Duterte said that Russia is a country that the Philippines “must” work with.

“There is much room to develop mutually beneficial cooperation.

There are many opportunities that need to be explored. Now we can work together to open those doors even wider,” he said.

In his pre-departure speech in Davao City on Monday, May 22, Duterte stressed that Russia “must cease to be at the margins of Philippine diplomacy.”

“Over-dependence on traditional partners has limited our room to maneuver in a very dynamic international arena. This is a strategic oversight that has led to many missed opportunities for

After the US and Europe...

PAGE A6 of their fellows, even if the Universal Declaration of human Rights did not exist. But it does exist. This is one idea DU30 must learn to accept and live with.

Combating interference Because rich and powerful governments habitually interfere even in our moral lives, I tried as a member of the interim Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1984 to make it not so easy for them to run programs and projects in the countryside or interfere in our policymaking and legislation, without

submitting to a legal process. Together with then Defense Minister Juan Ponce enrile, I authored the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1979. This was one of the first laws enacted by the Batasan; it provides that any individual whose activity is funded wholly or partly by a foreign principal is a “foreign agent” and cannot be allowed to operate in the country without first registering with the Department of Justice, which is mandated to provide the rules and regulations governing the statute.

This, in my view, is one of the

well as former TRC employees Francisco Figura, Marivic Jover, Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana and Consuelo Lilian espiritu; and former National Livelihood and Development Corp. President Gondelina Amata as well as former NLDC employees emmanuel Alexis Sevidal, Chita Jalandoni, Sofia Cruz, evelyn Sucgang and Gregoria Buenaventura. estrada is one of three former senators, including Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce enrile, who were charged in 2014 along with alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and several other individuals in connection with the PDAF scam.

Both estrada and Revilla are detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center, while enrile is out on bail after the Supreme Court (SC) granted his bail petition on humanitarian grounds. (Reina Tolentino/ManilaTimes.net) our country. I am determined to correct this,” he said.

Duterte also added that he is bringing with him a “high-level” Philippine delegation that befits the level of importance his administration “places on the writing of a new chapter of Philippines–Russia relationship.”

As part of asserting the Philippines’ independent foreign policy, the president last year announced the Philippines’ “separation” with the United States, its decadeslong ally, in favor of a closer shift toward Russia and China.

According to Duterte, the “landmark trip” not only underscores the independence of the Philippines’ foreign policy but also underscores the Philippines’ “firm resolve” to “broaden the horizons of friendship and cooperation with other nations.” n most important laws we ever enacted for the protection of our national security and other interests. But it is today as “dead as a door nail,” to borrow Ambassador Teddyboy Locsin’s tweet to Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on summary killings, in relation to lawyer Jude Josue Sabaio’s 77-page complaint against DU30 before the International Criminal Court at The hague. The sheer number of foreign-funded NGOs going around the countryside to tell our rural women how their Canadian, American, Australian, and european counterparts expect them to live their lives is

FIGHT FOR PEACE. Top military officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) vowed to work together to fight terrorism that threatens the region’s peace and security, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Sunday, May 21. The move also seeks to beef up efforts to formalize the Asean Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting which was first agreed upon during the 12th ACDFIM held in Malaysia in 2015 to become a mechanism to combat the prevalence of violent ideologies and create a coordinated response to non-traditional threats like disasters.

PNA photo

EU defends grants, seeks Philippines’ clarification on aid rejection The european Union’s (eU) ambassador to the Philippines said he will seek clarification from the Duterte administration regarding its recent decision to reject assistance from the eU. Last week, the Philippine government announced that it has stopped accepting aid “with conditions” from the eU as part of affirming its foreign independence policy.

According to Malacañang, the government will refuse new eU grants that have the potential of affecting the “internal policies” of the country, as recommended by the Department of Finance (DOF) and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Spokesperson ernesto Abella disclosed that the DOF made the recommendation after the eU “recently” offered a conditional grant that seemingly meddles in the country’s internal affairs.

In defense, Ambassador Franz

Jessen maintained that the eU grants are not meant to change the system of the recipient countries but, rather, to promote their development.

“It’s not a question of trying to change the system but trying to work hand-in-hand with governments around the world to make sure that the countries in need develop in the best possible way,” Jessen said on Tuesday, May 23.

Next week, the top diplomat he will meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and seek clarifications from him regarding the matter.

“We have to get clarification on what exactly it is that they’re referring to,” Jessen said, adding “We have to listen to what he (Cayetano) has to say, this is a dialogue and we talking and take issues step by step.”

Presently, Jessen confirmed that the eU is “not withdrawing any amount” and remains “in contact with the government on how best to work on our development assistance.”

While admitting that the eU has a “standard set of conditions” on all of its development assistance, Jessen said those are meant to prevent any form of anomaly or corruption.

“In every project, you have specifications, if we support the health sector then the money should go to the health sector, not to another department,” Jessen explained.

Last year, Duterte dared the eU, along with the United States and other critics, to pull out their assistance from the Philippines amid their criticisms against his administration’s drug war, and the alleged human rights violations and summary killings related to the campaign.

The ambassador, however, said that that the human rights issues are unrelated to the development assistance that the eU gives.

Jessen went on to say, “We have a political dialogue with the Philippines and there, we raise all sorts of issues and that’s not directly related to our development cooperation.” n

one sordid proof of this interference.

This is the kind of meddling we should immediately get rid of. And this is where DU30—with the help of Cayetano, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd and perhaps Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo—could make such an impact. DU30 should have the courage and candor to tell leaders of the First World, in appropriate language, what Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta told former US President Barack Obama in

Nairobi during the latter’s last presidential visit to Africa, that socalled “gay rights” are a “non-issue” to the African race. The same for us, Filipinos, despite the huge number of “foreign agents” trying to hype in our media the LGBT’s vulgar and venal gospel to the world.

DU30’s forthcoming meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has a clearheaded policy on demographic and family issues, should be most helpful and instructive in this re-

spect.

DU30’s only real problem with the rest of the world is his brutal drug war, which has produced so many undocumented deaths. he must come up with an acceptable defense, not just a completely boring and useless statement, like that of Cayetano before the 47-nation UN human Rights Council in Geneva, which dismisses the entire thing as “fake news,” and threatens his human rights critics with the same fate as drug suspects. (ManilaTimes.net)

by AJPress

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 24-26, 2017

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

B

Stocks, real estate still top areas for PH investments

by RainieR

allan Philstar.com

Ronda

MANILA, Philippines - The local stock market and the real estate sector are still the best investments for Filipinos wanting to build their personal wealth in a short period of time, according to Singapore’s top life coach Adam Khoo.

“There’s a lot of potential because the Philippine population is growing and the economy is improving,” Khoo told the STAR in an interview, adding “the Philippine stock market is showing tremendous potential.’’

Khoo said Filipinos should learn how to invest in the stock market amid the local equities market’sstronggrowthpotential.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for people to become more successful and prosperous. But they need strategies, they need the right mindset,” Khoo said.

Khoo recently held a seminar in the country titled “The Millionaire Code: Mastering the Insider Secrets of Wealth Creation, Investing and Everlasting Happiness.”

Despite the seminar falling on the first day of the year’s longest weekend, several hundred Filipinos, all keen to build their personal wealth, bought tickets to hear and learn wealth creation secrets from Khoo himself.

Khoo said he had decided to bring his seminars to the Philippines after seeing an increasing number of Filipinos going to Singapore just to attend his talks or different programs or courses. “We have been training people for 15 years,” Khoo said.

“Increasingly, there have been more people from the Philippines coming to our courses in Singapore,” he said.

Khoo said that among the audience in the Millionaire Code seminar are wealthy businessmen who still want to continue learning wealth creation strategies. “People may not realize that successful people are successful because they want to keep learning, they want to keep growing. And no matter how successful, they want to keep learning to maintain their success, and become better,” Khoo said. n

PLDT starts search for CEO by louella

desideRio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - PLDT Inc. has started a market scan of individuals who can serve as the telco and digital services provider’s new chief executive officer (CEO) as it looks to name a new head of the company by next year.

“I don’t think it will be this year.

Maybe next year,” PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said when asked when the company could make an announcement on the new CEO. He said the company has started to scan the market for possible candidates for the position. PLDT is considering

individuals within and outside the company for the CEO post, including the telco’s chief revenue officer Eric Alberto.

Pangilinan said the market scan is encouraging as the pool to choose from is not as small as he expected it would be.

This, as there are quite a number of Filipinos working in senior positions in companies overseas who could be potential candidates “So, in terms of prospects, be it the president of PLDT or a senior position within PLDT or in the group of companies of First Pacific, I think there is a good chance we could and should hire these people.

u PAGE B4

PH an ‘underachiever‘ in health care

by Ben KRitz ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines was described as an “underachiever” in Asia in terms of access to and quality of health care for the treatment of preventable diseases, ranking 120th out of 195 countries reviewed, a study published on Friday said.

The Healthcare Access and Quality Index, based on death rates for 32 diseases that can be avoided or effectively treated with proper medical care, also

tracked progress in each nation compared to the benchmark year of 1990.

A consortium of several hundred doctors around the world conducted the study, which was an extension of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 published by the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet. The study results were published online on Friday, and made available to the public through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 32 diseases for which death rates were tracked included tuberculosis and other respiratory infections; illnesses that

can be prevented with vaccines (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles); several forms of treatable cancer and heart disease; and maternal or neonatal disorders.

Access to health care and quality of treatment for each disease in a country was scored on a scale of 0 to 100, with the average score determining the country’s ranking. The Philippines scored 52 out of 100.

Diseases for which the Philippines received particularly low scores – i.e., for which there are higher than expected death rates – included chronic kidney disease (18 out of

u PAGE B4

MVP Group seeks potential Russia deals by iRis

Gonzales Philstar.com

MOSCOW – The group of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan will scout for possible partnerships in Russia to further grow its various businesses, a ranking group official said.MVP Group spokesperson Michael Toledo, who is part of the Philippine business delegation to Rus-

sia joining President Duterte in his official visit here, said he is tasked to look for possible partners for their different businesses.

The conglomerate’s different businesses include mining through Philex Mining Corp; infrastructure and tollways through Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; telecommunications through PLDT; water through Maynilad Water Services Inc.; and media

through MediaQuest Holdings.

“I’m representing the group to see where we can participate in President Duterte’s visit. Russia has a lot of oil and gas so we’d like to see how we can take part,” Toledo told The STAR. He said the group is open to exploring partnerships with Russian companies, especially those in oil and gas, mining and infrastructure.

He added the group wants to support the Duterte administration’s moves to strengthen ties with countries not among the Philippines’ traditional trading partners.

“There was a warming up with relations with China so this could be similar,” Toledo added, expressing optimism on the positive outcome of President

u PAGE B2

Business news

B MAY 24-26, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Yahoo updates users on $4.8 - B deal with Verizon

by Ma. Lisbet

esMaeL ManilaTimes.net

YAHOO’S plan to sell its operating business to Verizon for $4.83 billion fired up the business world nearly a year ago. The deal is set to finally conclude in June, Yahoo told users via email on May 12.

The message informs Yahoo users of the plan, the possible date of completion, and the changes it did to the Terms of Service (TOS) reflecting the Yahoo Holdings, Inc. name. In section 28 of the TOS, Yahoo added: “Yahoo may freely assign the TOS and all of the policies and other documents incorporated or referenced in it (including all rights, licenses, and obligations under it or them), in whole or in part and without notice.”

Users can simply access it the same way as before, Yahoo said, adding however that the changes in the TOS will give way for a swift change in business operations with Verizon “and they lead to the issue that your legal responsibilities to Yahoo! Inc. will become responsibilities to Yahoo Holdings Inc.” The updates have already been implemented for any new user registrations while for existing accounts, it will take effect on June 8 if users do not cancel their accounts before then, Yahoo said.

Although there is no information yet that Verizon will remove Yahoo’s existing users, the tech-

nology company said consumers must be vigilant and should continually update and back-up the important files they have on their Yahoo accounts as these became vulnerable from a massive hacking incident in 2013, compromising one billion accounts.

Carlos Bazan-Canabal, Yahoo!

Mexico co-founder, explained in his Quora profile: “Verizon would most likely keep the email service with little or no change at all. It’s to their advantage given the monetizable traffic it gets. It would be a failed move to terminate the service.”

“Legally, you are bound by what Yahoo! has called the UTOS (Universal Terms of Service), and so will any acquiring company. A notice should be given to you in case of service termination,” he added.

Aside from the TOS changes, users should expect that a new

name would soon emerge after the said venture. With Verizon’s thought of merging Yahoo and AOL, it has decided to name the new ensemble as “Oath”, receiving both sarcastic and humorous comments from netizens.

Verizon seems positive and pleased with its brave investment, saying both acquisitions from AOL and Yahoo will help the company to top the media competition globally.

Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO, said, “Just over a year ago we acquired AOL to enhance our strategy of providing a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers. The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising.”n

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Philippines internet is Asia Pacific’s slowest at 4.5 mbps

by HeLen

FLores Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is lagging behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of average internet speed, according to the latest report released by a US-based global content delivery network company. Based on Akamai’s fourth quarter 2016 report “State of the Internet,” the Philippines had the lowest average connection speed among surveyed Asia-Pacific countries at 4.5 megabits per second (Mbps).

Other Asian countries with internet speeds below 10 Mbps were India (5.6 mbps), China (6.3), Indonesia (6.7), Sri Lanka (7.3), Malaysia (8.2) and Vietnam (8.3).

South Korea has the fastest average internet speed both in Asia-Pacific and in the world, at 26.1 Mbps.

Akamai said that despite leading the world in average speeds, South Korea still recorded a 0.7percent decline compared with that recorded in the third quarter.

South Korea was followed by Norway at 23.6 Mbps, Sweden (22.8), Hong Kong (21.9), Switzerland (21.2), Denmark (20.7), Finland (20.6), Singapore (20.2), Japan (19.6) and the Netherlands (17.6).

The US did not make it to the top 10, as it ranked 14th globally, with an average internet speed of 17.2 Mbps.

All 15 Asia-Pacific countries had an average connection speed above 4 mbps similar to the third quarter, according to Akamai.

The internet monitoring firm added that all surveyed countries posted improvements in the fourth quarter, except for Hong Kong, which had a negligible 0.1-percent decline.

Despite the slow internet speed

in the Philippines, Akamai noted “there is reason for optimism,” citing government efforts to improve the state of connectivity.

In March, President Duterte approved plans to build a national broadband network, which will be used to run online government services and connect rural areas to the internet.

The Senate also passed on final reading the bill seeking to provide free access to public internet services and target faster internet connectivity at an average of 10 Mbps.

Department of Information and Communications Technology officials said the government plans to deploy fiber optic cables and wireless technology across the country.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, is set to start the plenary debate on the measure mandating free wi-fi in public places today. n

MVP Group seeks potential...

PAGE B1 t

Duterte’s trip here.

The MVP Group has always been open to partnering with foreign companies, especially technical experts, on its various projects in the Philippines.

It has also been wanting to move forward with its oil and gas business.

Pangilinan said in a forum last Friday the Philippines could have a fourth engine, which is gas from South China Sea. “It is imperative we start looking for sources of alternative gas now. We simply cannot leave with the three plants we have.

We don’t know if there are resources in South China Sea and if we can enter,” Pangilinan said.

Toledo said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano has clar-

ified “the Philippines is a friend to all and an enemy of none.”

This means because of improved ties with Russia, companies here may be looking at better investment opportunities and new partners in the Philippines.

While there are no specific Russian companies in mind, Toledo said the MVP Group is always on the lookout for business opportunities and possible partners.

Duterte will be in this country this week for an official visit to usher in a new chapter in Philippines-Russia ties.

Government officials hope to be able to discuss deals on security, military cooperation, trade and investments, science and technology and tourism, among others.

Aside from the MVP Group, over 200 local businessmen are

joining the delegation.

Among those in the business delegation list released by the Department of Trade and Industry are Sabin Aboitiz, executive vice president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures; Walter Brown, chairman emeritus of A Brown Co. Inc.; Jose Leviste Jr., chairman of AG & P; Bernard Dy, president and CEO of Ayala Land Inc; Jorge Consunji, president and CEO of D.M. Consunji Inc.; Fernando Martinez, chairman and CEO of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies; Jose Concepcion III, president and CEO of RFM Corp. and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship; Manuel V. Villar, chairman of the Villar Group and Michael Tan, president of LT The Philippines is lagging behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of average internet speed, according to the latest report released by a US-based global content delivery network company.

Philstar file photo Group Inc. n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 24-26, 2017

B

Is real estate property purchased Calendar of Events across America prior to marriage considered community propery in a divorce?

GENERALLY, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under family code section 760. How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or funds during the marriage?

The community in this situation acquires a pro tanto interest in the ratio that the payments on the purchase price made with community funds bear to the total payments on the purchase price and any appreciation should be apportioned accordingly. Marriage of Moore (1980) 28 C3d 366, 371, 373, 168 CR 662, 664, 665. Other expenses associated with the property are not considered in the calculation such as mortgage interest, taxes, and insurance. In essence, the real property would accumulate both a separate property and a community property component by the date of separation. The appropriate remedy in this situation where separate property is subsequently paid with community funds is “apportionment.”

The process of apportioning between the separate and community property component is laid out in the Marriage of Madsen. In that case, the court determined the ratio or percentage in which the mortgage loan principal was reduced during the marriage and applied that percentage to the appreciation of the real property during the marriage.

The community property component would then consist of the reduction in the mortgage loan principal during the marriage plus the portion of appreciation during the marriage applying the ratio discussed above.

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes In the Marriage of Madsen, the real property was purchased by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage. The original mortgage was $30,000.

By the time the husband got married, the house was now worth $65,000 while the mortgage has gone down by $7,000. Both the appreciation of $26,700 and the mortgage reduction of $7,000 would be separate property since it occurred prior to marriage.

Marriage of Madsen (1982) 130 CA3d 426, 181 CR 910.

During the marriage until the time of trial, the property has appreciated another $117,500 (property now valued at $182,500) while the mortgage has further declined by $9,200 up to the date of separation. The ratio at which community funds paid down the mortgage ($9,200) during the marriage to the original purchase price ($38,300) amounts to 24.02%. This percentage of the property appreciation during the marriage of $117,500 ($28,223.50) plus the reduction in mortgage balance during the marriage ($9,200) would constitute the community component of the real property.

The rest was the husband’s separate property. The husband in that case was awarded his separate property component of the real property plus one half of the community property component.

The Madsen apportionment method is also applicable to situations where a community real property is later transmuted into

one spouse’s separate property through execution of a quit claim by the other spouse but is subsequently paid using community funds. Marriage of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d 489, 257 CR 397.

Since California case law allows the creation of a community interest in real property acquired prior to marriage, one has to consider vehicles to protect themselves if you own property and you are contemplating of getting married. There are several ways of avoiding the creation of a community interest on your separate real property. One, you can sign a prenuptial agreement. Two, the parties can execute a postnuptial agreement if the parties are already married. Three, the parties can execute a transmutation agreement with a waiver of any family code section 2640 reimbursement claim. If your divorce case involves complex issues of asset distribution, it is best to retain the representation of competent counsel. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

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Abandoned wife, Uber driver seek Chapter 7 for credit card debt

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng FIRST client is 48 and married in the last 4 years. Husband was a foreigner who professed his love for her in so many ways. Unfortunately, his love for her was actually for her U.S. citizenship.

Client, who had never been married before, fell head over heels for her newfound Romeo whom she met in a party in her hometown. He looked handsome and dashing in his own peculiar way.

Never mind that he was height challenged at 4 feet 4 in and had web fingers and toes. He was an athlete and was the fastest swimmer in their town. His nickname was ‘Aqua-Man.’ All of these traits did not bother client; in fact, it was these traits that endeared him to her. She called him my “BB” for baby “beluga”.

She reasoned that he would have no problem getting a job in California.

Sea World in San Diego would certainly offer him a job to swim with the dolphins and whales.

Well you know how the K-1 fiancée visa works. You have to prove to the INS that you met your loved one at least two years before the petition date with evidence consisting of pictures with dates on them, cards, letters, emails, the works. It’s just too bad that there is no camera that can take a picture of the real intent of the human heart. Client petitioned husband for his green card as soon as they were married. It wasn’t a $15M wedding like Kanye and Kim’s in 2014. Client’s reception was held in a popular restaurant a block from Trump Towers. All of client’s family, her brothers and sisters attended her wedding, all of them trying to convince her not to marry the guy.

“Why him?” “You’re better off being single than marrying that human milkfish!” said her older brother. Her guest of honor, FBI director Comey said, “It just makes me nauseous to see you marry this guy, he looks fishy to me!” But despite all of the wellintentioned objections of family, friends and the FBI, client tied the knot. She charged their honeymoon, a 2-week cruise in the Mediterranean, to MasterCard.

That was followed by a romantic river cruise at St. Petersburg in Russia and a 3-week Asian tour of China, Japan, Korea and all the

Southeast Asian countries. The honeymoon set her back $50K but thanks to MasterCard and visa, she was given the opportunity to make minimum payments of $1500 a month for the $50K of credit cards. Money she thought was well spent. It was her dream come true, to see the world with her prince charming.

She was a certified nursing assistant who grossed $3K a month. Her take home pay is $2400. 62.5% of her take home pay or $1500 is for monthly minimum payments on her $50K credit cards. So she has $900 left before rent. They rent a room for $600 so she has $300 left for food. What about her husband? Well, he did not want to work because he said that as head of family, she should be

“

now of sound mind and body, client decided to forget her fake husband and start fresh without accumulated debt. She decided to discharge the $50K of credit cards with a Chapter 7 petition.

Finally, she’s making the right decision for herself.

Second client is 45. He owes $20K of credit cards. He pays $750 a month for minimum card payments. He is self-employed because he makes his living by driving full time for UBER. By full time, I mean 5 days a week.

He has a late model SUV, which he pays $400 a month. His gas expense is $125 a week or $500 a month. So, if you are wondering how much you can make driving UBER 5 days a week, you will gross $3500, less $500 for gas. You can net about $3K without considering car insurance and car payments.

In client’s case, he has family abroad and needs to send them money every month.

So he decides to discharge his $20K of credit cards with Chapter 7, so he can send $750 back to his family monthly.

I have another client who drives UBER part time. He has a full time job. He makes about $800 a month gross from UBER. If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged. Better now than later when you are about to retire. But if you have not yet gotten rid of your debts yet and you are now a senior, believe me, you need to get rid of your debts now that your income is less than half of what it was when you were younger.

If you need bankruptcy relief, please call my office for an appointment and I will analyze your case personally.

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” PHILIPPIANS 4:13H

If you are saddled with debt, now is the time to get them discharged. Better now than later when you are about to retire

”

the one working. He decided he would just stay in the room and watch Disney movies the whole day. So, client decided to get a second job to pay for monthly necessities and the immigration lawyer fees for husband’s green card. Since the petition was filed before the Trump era, husband beneficiary was not fully vetted.

He obtained FBI clearance despite Mr. Comey’s objections, and soon enough he became a legal permanent resident of our country which at that time was not “great again.” Our country, at that time, was just “so-so”.

As it turned out, beloved husband was actually secretly married in his country of origin. So again, the FBI did not uncover this anomaly so the INS allowed a criminal bigamist to become a legal permanent resident. “Bigly Bad!” “That’s a no-no!”

As soon as he got legalized, he disappeared. Client hired the best private investigator that money, or credit cards could buy. It was finally determined that he had gone to another state. He filed for divorce from client since he already got legalized and client had maxed out her credit cards.

No more honeymoons for free around the world. Thus, being

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

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

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

M AY 26

AMBOY presents lechon festival in LA AMBOY presents a Lechon festival on Friday, May 26 where six different chefs will compete and be given the chance to show their version of our beloved lechon. All attendees and judges will get the chance to taste each chef’s representation and get to vote for the best version of lechon in Los Angeles based on flavor, originality, plating and crunchiness.

VIP guests and judges will have additional courses made by each chef competing for the grand prizes. It is $75 for VIP (entrance at 6 p.m.) and $50 for GA (entrance at 7 p.m.). It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012). To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboylechonfestival or email eatatamboy@ gmail.com for any inquiries.

M AY 28

Global gathering of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School in Rosemead, CA Graduates of Bulacan High School and Marcelo H. del Pilar High School of Malolos, Bulacan will hold their first ever global gathering on Sunday, May 28 at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Rosemead, California. Please call up any of the following for more details: Rosario “Charito” Aldaba Gabriel (Class ‘66), Tel. No. (818)-982-1165; Lourdes Ople Smith (Class ’64) Tel. No. (310)-662-1948; Gerry “German” Torres, Jr. (Class ’66) Tel. No. (818)-646-3286.

You can also visit the website at www.mhpnhs-maa.com.

Filipino Medical Program hosts community health screening in Jersey City, NJ Holy Name Medical Center’s Filipino Medical Program will have a health screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 28 at the Santacruzan Festival at St. Mary’s Church on 254 2nd St, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. For more information, please call the FMP at (201) 833-3355 or email lavarro@holyname.org.

JUNE 3

5th annual Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown The 5th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown will be held on Saturday, June 3, beginning at 9 a.m. to celebrate the 119th Philippine Independence Day. LA Councilmember Mitch O’ Farrell of District 13 will be the guest speaker of the program. The assembly area is in front of the Silverlake Medical Center (SLMC) at Temple Street at 8:00 a.m. The parade starts at 9:00 a.m. and will end at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) compound. For more information please call Art at (213) 318-9065 or visit www.jfavusa.org.

Kalayaan Incorporated’s Philippine Independence Gala Night in Garden Grove, CA Kalayaan Incorporated Southern California, with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, invites you to its Gala Night in commemoration of the 119th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Saturday, June 3. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (11999 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, California 92840). Doors open at 5 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

It is $75 / per ticket (pre-paid). Attire is formal/barong/Filipinana. For more information, please visit https://www.kalayaanincorporatedsocal.com/.

Pista sa Nayon in Vallejo, CA Come and experience the celebration of Philippine Independence Day in Vallejo, California on Saturday, June 3. It will be held at the Vallejo Waterfront from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festivities will kick-off with a grand parade beginning at the corner of Marin Street and Capitol Street in Vallejo. Then they will continue with non-stop entertainment and ending on two stages at the renowned Vallejo Waterfront. This annual event is one of Vallejo’s largest FREE outdoor festivals that draws crowds wanting to sample Philippine cuisine, soak up Filipino hospitality and enjoy entertainment that crosses all ages, cultures and ethnicities. This year’s entertainment — presented by GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV — will be Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and Kuh Ledesma, among others. Come and experience the Philippine culture firsthand & bring the whole family! Pista sa Nayon is the highlight of the City of Vallejo’s Philippine Cultural Month celebrated throughout the month of June. Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon will be held at 301 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, California 94590. For more information, please visit http://www.vallejopistasanayon.com/.

Walk for Mom in Teaneck, NJ The Filipino Medical Program invites members of the Filipino-American community to Holy Name Medical Center’s Walk for Mom, a breast cancer awareness walkathon on Saturday, June 3. Participate in a fun-filled celebration including music, snacks, prizes, FREE T-shirts and other exciting events. It will be held at 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ (south parking lot), with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. and is 1.5 miles. Suggested donation is $10. Proceeds fund free mammogram screenings for up to 100 women. For more information, please call (201) 833-3336 or email walkformom@ holyname.org.

JUNE 10

119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day in Carson, CA The Philippine Independence Day Foundation, Inc. (PIDF), in conjunction with the City of Carson, GMA Life TV, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV, and Tesoro, will celebrate the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day at the Carson Veterans Park (22400 Moneta Street, Carson, CA 90745) on Saturday, June 10. Thousands of people are expected to enjoy the non-stop, day-long event that will be jam-packed with entertainment and activities featuring the rich, beautiful, and spirited Filipino heritage. The eventful day kicks off with a flag raising ceremony at 7:30 a.m., followed by an ecumenical service and a community mass. The parade — to be headed by 119th Philippine Independence Grand Marshal, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles, and to be participated in by a multitude of community organizations and associations from all across Southern California — will be at about 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by the daylong program featuring talented performers from across the South Bay, Southern California, and beyond! The program will be headlined by none other than GMA Network Kapuso’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera and Primetime King Dingdong Dantes! In addition to the live entertainment, cultural center, food booths, exhibits, vendors, PWC’s Jeepney, chess tournament, and children’s area, there will also be a bone marrow drive for Fil-Am LAPD Officer Matthew Medina. This event would not possible without the leadership of Councilmember Elito M. Santarina, the hard work of our dedicated PIDF Trustees and volunteers, and of course the generosity of our sponsors; Tesoro Refining and Marketing LLC, Waste Management, Carson Companies, KL Fenix, Watson Land, Community Dynamics, IBEW Local 11 &NECA Los Angeles, Nationwide Environmental Services, Brea Canon Oil Co., Inc., Leelin Bakery & Cafe, and Kellogg Garden Products.

For more information or any questions, please email pidf.info@gmail.com.

Los Angeles County Filipino American Employees’ Association hosts Philippine Independence Day celebration in Pasadena, CA The Los Angeles County Filipino American Employees’ Association (LACFAEA) will spearhead the celebration of the 119th Anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 10, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight at Hilton Pasadena International Ballroom located at 168 South Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101.

LACFAEA represents approximately 10,000 Filipino-American employees in the classified service of the Los Angeles County who belong to more or less than 300,000 working families in various Filipino communities. Everyone is cordially invited to the celebration of this historic occasion. This event will showcase the cultural heritage and rich customs and traditions of the Philippines through its native songs and dances. A renowned and recording artist singer Christine Love will provide the music. If you need more information, please call President Tony Mendoza at (323) 257-4521 or (323) 618-5401 or email at ireneqmendoza@ yahoo.com or to Mr. Rene I. Galano, first vice president at (213) 922-8113 and Mr. Edwin Martinez, second vice president at (818) 438-6517.

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

Community Journal

B MAY 24-26, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

IRS consumer alert tips - identity theft

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA Someone uses your social security number to file a fraudulent tax return to claim a refund or get a job. An employer’s tax identification is stolen to create a false Forms W-2 to support fraudulent refunds.

When To Know Your Identity Has Been Stolen - The IRS Send You A Notice: • You filed more than one tax return using your social security number.

• You received wages from an unfamiliar employer.

• Your refund was offset with a balance due for a year you did not file or have not filed a return yet.

• You failed to report all your income.

• You owe taxes for a year when you did not file.

• You return is accepted as an amended return but you have not filed a return for that year.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft: • Respond to the IRS notice immediately and maybe di-

rected to IDVerify.IRS.gov to authenticate your identity.

• Complete IRS Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit to allow the IRS to put an indicator for suspicious activities.

• You should continue to file your income tax return on paper and pay taxes owed while your case is being researched.

• Call the IRS identity protection specialized unit assistance at 1-800-908-4490: 1) report the fraud; 2) send a copy of police report or copy of the completed Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit and proof of your identify.

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three credit reporting companies. The company you’re called must notify the other two companies about your alert. Fraud alert is free.

The three credit reporting companies contact information is as follows: 1) Equifax 1-800525-6285 www.equifax.com; 2) Experian 1-888-397-3742 www. experian.com; 3) TransUnion 1800-680-7289 www.transunion. com • Keep track of the dates you made calls and keep copies of

letters you sent.

• Visit the following websites for more information: IdentityTheft.gov; ftc.gov/idtheft Some Tips and Steps on How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure: • Beware of Impersonators.

Do not give your personal information on the phone, over the internet unless you know who you are dealing with.

• The decision to share your social security number is yours.

Ask questions before deciding to share.

• Avoid phishing e-mails. Do not open attachment or download programs unfamiliar to you.

• Before your throw prescription bottles, make sure to destroy the labels.

• Visit the office and request a vacation on hold for your mails if you know you will not be home for several days.

• Put your financial documents and personal records in a safe place. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities.

The Firm has a niche in defending.

PLDT starts search for...

PAGE B1 t I thought it would be difficult.

I thought the potential field of candidates would be narrow. It’s not big, but it is there. It’s very encouraging,” Pangilinan said.

While nothing has been decided in terms of the new CEO, he said the focus of the telco for now is to address issues faced by the company.

“I think it is important we settle down and fix the continuing issues that we face,” he said.

Earlier, he said PLDT would want to begin the selection process for a new CEO this year so, he could let go of the post by either the end of the year or no later than early next year.

He said PLDT’s new CEO needs to be ready to die for the job, give up his family and focus on leading the company’s new digital thrust.

PLDT has set the recurring core income guidance at P21.5 billion for this year as the new baseline from which the company could build upon and grow in the coming years.

To achieve the guidance, PLDT is looking to stem the decline in revenues from the wireless business and to sustain the growth in the home and enterprise businesses.

Asked if PLDT would still be implementing other manpower reduction programs as part of cut-

ting costs, Pangilinan said such program if implemented, would be voluntary and not mandatory.

PLDT’s recurring core income amounted to P5.3 billion in the first quarter this year, down 26 percent from P7.2 billion in the same period last year amid lower service revenues. n

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

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Log off and enjoy your hot chocolate

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA ONCE more with feeling ……

I am doubling down and taking my own piece of advice. Unless absolutely necessary, I intend to be logged off for longer periods of time. How else can I SAVOR THE MOMENT except by living real life in real time with as fewer hours as possible spent on the internet? Plus my eyes are getting fried with too much screen time.

Communication has become efficient, almost done by rote, and sometimes borders on the cold and impersonal. I still don’t enjoy being part of a global network to be used for someone’s purpose or agenda.

I REFUSE TO BE A PRODUCT TRADED ON WALL STREET. Yes, I am kicking and screaming. There’s a stubborn part of me that rebels and chafes at becoming part of a statistic. I resent being used for the purpose of advancing some corporate agenda.

There are companies who mine data from social networking sites and the gigantic hoard of public information mega databases.

These are then sold to interested parties as valuable psychographic information.

Companies package, repackage and sell personal information with the sole purpose of manipulating the mass behavior of citizens in a free society. It stinks to high heaven when the powers that be use information for social engineering and political purposes such as skewing election results.

With blatant, unlawful NSA snooping on anything electronic by any citizen these days, can the Gestapo thought police be far behind?

I doubt if my opinions on a twitter account holds any gravitas to twitterverse users. Saying something by tweeting on anything can and will be held against you. A screen grab of your comment makes it permanent. Why give anyone any ammo? The number of users following you is supposed to be an indication of your fan base. Few things on the net, particularly regarding the ego, are real however. I heard some enterprising company lets you claim thousands of fake twitter followers who purportedly follow your tweets. That goes for a fee, of course. The internet has become the de facto hothouse for growing gigantic egos.

We’ve all become easy targets for privacy intruders. Nothing seems sacred or private anymore. There’s more than enough out there in the public records to fill a dossier on anyone with an SSN or a pulse. We are living in the throes of the Information Age and the currencies being traded are bits and bytes of information.

It’s like living in glass houses these days. There’s too much naked transparency.

As an ordinary, private individ-

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything... They just make the best of everything that they have.”

-Author unknown

ual, I am downright resentful. Celebrity is now a curse rather than a blessing. Witness the public meltdown of Hollywood celebrities whose lives more often than not, serve as cautionary tales.

Because obscurity is becoming rare these days, it has become all the more precious.

No wonder our sense of mystery and awe at anything in this life is fast eroding. I regard social networking with a bit of trepidation and suspicion. And frankly, who’s got the time? I am probably one of a vanishing breed, always itching to get out of the virtual world and into the real world of doing things in private, without fanfare: creating, fixing, cooking, gardening, mak-

“

be amplified. So simple, it hits you right between the eyes. I searched for the author’s name but like many other pieces flung by anonymous, creative beings in Cyberville, authorship is largely unknown and unclaimed. To the originator of this metaphor then, whoever you are and wherever you may be, please accept a profound THANK YOU, from the rest of us. Here it is.

THE HOT CHOCOLATE STORY A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups-porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: ‘Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything… They just make the best of everything that they have.

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

But first, LOG OFF.

Saying something by tweeting on anything can and will be held against you. A screen grab of your comment makes it permanent.

”

ing memories and connecting personally and laughing until my sides are nearly split. By choice, I am generally offline and often unwired on the weekends these days. My personal motto: LOG OFF AND LIVE. There’s so much living yet to do: so many recipes to try, seeds to plant, topiaries to shape, weeds to pull, walls and blank canvasses to paint, places to see, photos to shoot, plays to watch, games to play, puzzles to solve and mysteries to unravel, books to read, people to meet, goals to achieve, skills to learn and courses to take, stuff to give away, stories to write, naps to take and a thousand and one more things to feel, see, touch, taste, hear and soak in before the end game.

With all that’s in the past, life still feels like a tabula rasa —lots of living to do, so little time. Sigh.

I am picking and choosing from the constant flow of messages in my inbox, only this one below. Some of these forwarded messages are for laughs, others inform while some can make you think harder or even move you to take action. Pet peeves are those that are pure drivel and chain emails with a punitive clause, like a curse of bad luck, if you fail to forward. For malevolent messages and all the rest of the junk from scammers promising riches, simplify your cyberlife and hit DELETE. DO NOT ENGAGE. Better yet, mark them as SPAM. Sometimes a golden nugget comes through that deserves to

*** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

PH an ‘underachiever’ in...

PAGE B1 t

100), leukemia (24 out of 100), and tuberculosis and peptic ulcer disease (32 out of 100 for both).

By contrast, the Philippines was given good scores in the treatment of diphtheria (99 out of 100), whooping cough (97 out of 100), and epilepsy (82 out of 100).

Underachiever The study concluded that healthcare improved in virtually all countries over the 25year period, but many fell further behind others in providing basic care for their citizens.

“Despite improvements in healthcare quality and access over 25 years, inequality between the best and worst performing countries has grown,” Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and leader of the study consortium said in a statement.

He added that the standard of primary care was lower in many nations than would be expected given their level of wealth and development, describing these nations as “underachievers.”

Murray named the Philippines as one of the biggest underachievers in Asia, along with Indonesia, India, and Brunei.

The “underachievement” was due to either low scores – i.e., higher than expected death rates for some diseases – despite an adequate amount of funding for health care, or as in the case of the Philippines, less funding than required for the size of the population and economy, or other

administrative circumstances.

Other countries or regions described as underachievers included Botswana, South Africa, and Lesotho in Africa, and Oceania, the Caribbean, and Central Asia.

The study indicated the gap between the actual and expected ratings widened over the study period in 62 of the 195 nations examined, including the Philippines.

“Overall, our results are a warning sign that heightened healthcare access and quality is not an inevitable product of increased development,” Murray said.

DOH addressing issues In a statement reacting to the study’s findings sent to The Manila Times on Monday, the Department of Health said that it concurred with Murray’s conclusion that the “standard for primary care is lower than expected” in the Philippines.

The DOH pointed out that health indicators had improved over the 25-year study period, as the study also concluded. For example, World Bank data showed that under-5 mortality per 1,000 live births had been reduced from 58.2 in 1990 to 28 in 2015.

“But inequity and large performance disparities for primary care exists across many provinces and municipalities. For example, under-5 mortality per 1,000 live births in Region 4B (Mimaropa) is at 43, while in Region 4A (Calabarzon) it is at 23,” the DOH said.

In the DOH’s view, “The reason for this may be the fragmentation of the health system due to

a large and difficult to regulate private sector, multiplicity of accountable managers for service delivery in the government, and inefficiencies and overlaps in the existence of multiple funds financing health services,” such as through the DOH, PhilHealth, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and others.

“The Philippine Health Agenda aims to address these challenges through three guarantees,” the DOH said. “Providing a list of essential health services for Filipinos that will receive priority funding from health managers; establishing access to service delivery networks of health care providers that will group together to improve care coordination for identified catchment areas of people; and simplifying financing of health care and harmonization of funding sources,” are all measures the health department is pursuing to improve health care access and breadth of services.

Except Australia, which ranked 6th, all of the top 10 nations in the ranking were in Western Europe, led by the tiny principality of Andorra. Japan at number 11 was the highest-ranked nation in Asia, while China, ranked 32nd, had one of the biggest improvements over the study period, and ranked ahead of the US, which finished a disappointing 35th.

Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Central African Republic were the worst performing countries in the ranking. n

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Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 24-26, 2017

People and Events

Filipino Cultural School opens up registration for summer 2017 FILIPINO Cultural School’s student registration is now open!

Filipino Cultural School (FCS), based in Cerritos, California and other neighboring cities, is a nonprofit organization that educates the community at large specifically the youth about the Filipino and FilipinoAmerican culture.

One of its main programs for the year is the summer program geared to the preservation and promotion of the Philippine heritage and culture. FCS has and continues to be open to all.

Filipinos and non-Filipinos who are interested in the Philippine culture are invited to attend.

EMPLOYMENT

With the growing influence of American culture in our everyday lives, it is easy to forget where we came from and our origins. This growing impact, without a doubt, affects the youth and can easily create a disparity between the American and Filipino cultures.

FCS has encompassed and

taught the youth the many different aspects of Filipino culture, such as dance, music, history, lifestyle, and language.

The school has been running a summer educational program that teaches the youth about their Filipino culture.

Furthermore, FCS strives to show the different sides of Filipino culture in hopes of preserving the culture for future generations.

For information please visit FCS’ website at http://filipinoculturalschool.org. For any inquiries, feel free to contact at filipinoculturalschool@gmail.com.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

B

B MAY 24-26, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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The Asian Journal

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 24, 2017

Shanna Mendiola: NBC4’s Emmy Award-winning meteorologist on hard work and success

by CHRISTINA M. ORIEL / AJPRESS WHILE most individuals are deep in their slumber at 2 a.m., Shanna Mendiola’s day is already beginning.

By 2:30 a.m., like clockwork, she arrives at NBC4 Southern California, where she has been the meteorologist for the weekday morning newscast, “Today in LA,” since March.

And for the next five hours, it’s nonstop as she prepares then goes on air from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

“It’s the adrenaline because I really love what I do,” Mendiola remarked in a recent interview with the Asian Journal, also joking about the power of coffee to keep her energized.

“I think that helps me get

through the show.”

Growing up, the Emmy Award-winning meteorologist recalls watching Al Roker on the “Today” show daily during her social studies class. Little did she know that she would later pursue meteorology as well — and even fill in for Roker during the 2016 Christmas season.

“I watched him every day as a kid. I got to work for him.

How exciting is that? I feel very, very blessed to have done it, and to be the first Asian American to have done it as well — that’s history,” she remarked.

Similar to many Filipino Americans, her mother pushed her toward a career in nursing,

as “she thought that was a really good way…to make a living one day and to follow in her footsteps.”

“It really wasn’t something I wanted to do because I knew that I didn’t like blood and I didn’t like needles, but I really did like science,” Mendiola added.

When she was 12, her mother brought her to a ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day’ to further convince her into becoming a nurse. The keynote speaker, who was a news anchor, showed a video of the newsroom that she worked in and the various positions available, including a meteorologist.

“Back in the day, I really didn’t think about it but I looked at my mom and said, ‘Is that something I can do?’ She was like, ‘Well, I’d really want you to be a nurse, but if it’s something you want to do, then it’s science. I think you could be OK,’” Mendiola said.

She continued “being really good at science” and went on to San Francisco State University, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in radio and television. She subsequently completed a meteorology certificate at Mississippi State

Shanna Mendiola in the NBC4 Weather Center

Mendiola talks to students about meteorology as part of the “NBC4 Weather Day” at Angelʼs Stadium in Anaheim

University.

Before moving to NBC4 in 2014, she worked for TV stations in Denver, San Francisco, and Oregon.

“Part of the job is moving around the country from little markets and working your way up. I had to leave home in order to do that and it was hard on the family because being Filipino American, everyone wants to be together…” she said. “It was difficult for me to do that for a while because I’d Mendiola in studio reporting with the Augmented Reality tool be away from my family and I couldn’t see them as much.”

Each market has nurtured her skills as a weather forecaster and has given her a host of experiences covering extreme conditions, from floods to hurricanes.

“I remember one time I was able to see the development of a tornado [in Colorado]…It was scary and my mom was like, ‘Don’t do that again.’ I think seeing that helped me with what I’m doing now here in LA,” she recalled.

A big misconception about meteorologists is that they simply have to “talk, smile, and be pretty,” she said. However, their work requires analyzing weather patterns and utilizing technology in order to narrate a story for the newscast.

NBC4 Today in LA Team including Meteorologist Mendiola; Co-Anchor Whit Johnson, Co-Anchor Daniella Guzman; Traffic Anchor Holly Hannula “My day starts the day bePhotos courtesy of NBC4 Southern California

fore with planning and getting a good night’s rest, but before that, studying all the computer models,” she shared. “Meteorologists do a lot of work. I studied in school to learn how to read these computer models to tell us the weather patterns and what’s going to happen, and then keep up to date with the news because that relates to weather and telling people what to be prepared for as well.”

Given that information for the upcoming day, she mentally forms a script about how to tell the weather story.

At her current station, Mendiola takes her segment a step further and gets to integrate tools, such as the NBC4x4Caster (a high-tech Jeep that allows them to produce stationary and mobile weather reporters), the StormRanger 4 (a mobile Doppler weather radar truck that can gather in real-time weather and meteorological information), and augmented reality to enhance the weather stories.

These investments are what set NBC4’s broadcast apart from others and help her “tell the story differently,” she said, as the team can go live from any neighborhood and track the rain directly, for instance.

“I like to be at the fore-

Pictured with Dylan Dreyer (left) and Al Roker (right), Mendiola filled in for Roker on the TODAY Show during the Christmas holiday in 2016.

Photo courtesy of Mendiolaʼs instagram page

front of things and being able to tell people about it, so it’s really awesome that I’m part of this team at NBC4,” she said. “We’re the first to let you know about your weather, even though there’s this [notion] that Southern California doesn’t have a lot of weather going on.”

With summer approaching in the coming weeks, Mendiola emphasized the importance of making sure homes are not at fire risk, as well as staying cool, drinking water, and of course, watching the daily forecast.

As for those who want to pursue a career in media, she has this to share: “Filipino or not, I hope that me being on this platform, it shows that you can do anything you really put your mind to. It takes a lot of work but if you continue to work hard for it, you’ll get there.”

“I think no matter what you want to do, whether or not it’s television or news, something important — and something I apply every day — is to stay humble because it really puts you in the right mindset for what you’re doing in life. You don’t let your ego get to you and it helps to be grounded and keeps you focused on what’s important.”

Dennis Trillo ready to soar in ‘Mulawin vs Ravena’

by MARBBIE

TAGABUCBA Philstar.com

THE third lead is not to be underestimated. In an industry still ruled by matinee idols and love teams—even for actors finding a second wind at love well into their thirties and forties—the token third lead is the true catalyst in a story, often led by two people who can’t make up their minds about each other. The third lead heats things up, gives a story tension, texture, takes it places.

Clocking in 17 years, Dennis Trillo is as prolific as they come but the third lead role has been typecast upon him and his most notable works. In his breakthrough role in Mulawin In 2005 as Gabriel, he was the third lead to Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. But that launched him into mainstream stardom.

He changed the course of his career when he took on the role of a transgender woman in World War II Philippines in Joel Lamangan’s “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita,” which not only earned him an award so early and so young as an actor but changed the way his home network regarded him as one of their leading talents.

Still, he was third lead to Raymart Santiago and Judy Ann Santos.

In 2015, he got the break he deserved when he portrayed Iglesia ni Cristo founder Felix Manalo in a namesake biopic, for which he won big at the 64th FAMAS. There’s no denying the commercial and critical success of GMA’s “My Husband’s Lover.” He is the third lead to Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana, but it was with this role that he became the

Dennis Trillo

first Filipino actor to be honoured with the Asian Star Prize at the Seoul International Awards 2016.

In Dennis’ home network, however, it is incomparable to the greatness of scale of its fantaseryes, influencing Pinoy pop culture in their own way and distinguishing the network from its competitors, notably “Encantadia” and “Mulawin.” This time, as Gabriel picks up where things left off in “Mulawin vs Ravena,” Dennis’ story moves forward; his time has come. Supreme caught up with Dennis, this time without Gabriel’s feathers and wings, for a look into his career so far in bird’s eye view.

Philstar.com: How does it feel revisiting Mulawin, from being the third lead on your TV breakthrough role and now as the lead?

I feel so honored and proud to be a part of it again. I was in my twenties when I first did Mulawin and I didn’t expect na ganun magiging kalakas yung magnitude ng show sa television ng time na yun. I was in a love triangle. Now, I’m the king of the

villains. It’s a huge transformation.

Dati totoy pa yung character but even then he has always been multi-faceted, very grey. After 13 years, he evolved into a king of Halconia, lair of the Ravenas, mga kalaban ng Mulawin. Ganon parin siya hanggang ngayon pero ruler na. Nag mature ako kasama niya.

How did you prepare for Gabriel’s return?

Kinailangan ibahin yung look.

But I see to it that every character I do, I do a makeover. I transform myself physically. My hairstyle, my figure. For Mulawin nagsisipag ako mag gym ng kaunti because I am portraying a warrior.

Acting-wise, I research and read the script over and over, find something between the lines. I am the observant type. Madami ako nakukuka na aralin para sa character just by observing different people. Very helpful yun.

Binabagay ko sa iba kasi minsan malayo yung character sa kung sino ako. Dahil doon, makakabuo ako ng character kasi mas nagiging totoo siya.

As GMA’s “Drama King,” the heavier dramas have been your domain but it’s really the fantasy dramas like Mulawin that get the most fanfare in the network.

Everyone is saying that your time has come.

I just feel so proud nakasali ako dito sa project. Sobrang laki ng project na ito. Kailangan alagaan yung reputation. Pressure din kasi pinapanood eto ng mga bata. Tingin nila sa characters ay role models.

With the range of your acting and awards to prove it, for a while, you were a third lead and you received acclaim for them, Continued on Page 4

Star Magicʼs six pillars: Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, John Lloyd Cruz, Jodi Sta. Maria, Angelica Panganiban, and Bea Alonzo.

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, and Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson—each pairing comes with fan bases full of heart and passion—a level of celebrity that needs to be seen to be believed.

Star Magic celebrates silver anniversary

by GABBIE

TATAD

Philstar.com

AS Star Magic celebrates its 25th milestone year, Supreme looks forward to how much more it’s sure to accomplish in the next decade or two or three.

“4:30 na, Ang TV na!”

Children of the nineties know this statement well, as the opening for one of ABS-CBN’s most famous youth-centered shows, “Ang TV.” It was the first time kids were seen at the front and center of local sketch comedy, and popularized several expressions like “Esmyuskee” and punctuating everything with “Nge!” It was where many of the long-standing stars we revere as lovers of local entertainment began –people like Jolina Magdangal, Patrick Garcia, John Prats, Claudine Barretto, Shaina Magdayao, and Angelica Panganiban, to name a few.

What many of us didn’t know was that the series was

what would give birth to a much greater and incredibly important force. “Ang TV” was the anchor project of what was then known, in its inception back in 1992, as the ABS-CBN Talent Center. Using the show as a vehicle, the Talent Center picked a handful from auditions of thousands to cultivate as homegrown network talents.

Three years later, it would launch Star Circle, which would then give birth to likes of the much-beloved and missed Rico Yan (batch one); Diether Ocampo, Marvin Agustin, and Mylene Dizon (batch two); Piolo Pascual (batch three); Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa (batch four); John Lloyd Cruz (batch five); and Jodi Sta. Maria and Alessandra De Rosi (batch seven).

Fame, repute, and longevity Under the tutelage and direction of former ABS-CBN Executive Vice President Freddie M. Garcia and then program director Johnny Manahan, the

Talent Center proved not only to have the eye for individuals with the makings of a star, but the means to help them achieve a level of fame and repute that other network talent stables would try to emulate. When asked about what makes the Star Magic touch different, Manahan says that it is simply that: magic. He adds, “I had a lot of help from good people. We just learned on the job.”

And learn they did. Now appropriately known as Star Magic, the Talent Center has propelled more than several stars whose careers have lasted about the same length as Star Magic’s existence. Manahan says that most of the time, spotting rising talent begins with a good hunch. “Good looks and the right attitude help, but [most of the time it starts with] just a hunch. A good work ethic is the base of everything. It gives them a compass and a goal. Confidence, humilContinued on Page 5

Fil-Am female chefs host Filipino dessert night in LA

by Christina

M. Oriel

Fabro brought vegan halo halo to Coachella last year and it became one of the most photoCOUNTLESS articles have graphed items during those two been written in the past year or weekends. so about Filipino food taking This May, the Los Angecenter stage.

Case in point, just last week- les Times held its inaugural LA Food Bowl, a month-long end, famed restaurant critic festival featuring night markets, Jonathan Gold continued his pop-ups, exhibits, speakers, and glowing praise with a piece declaring that the cuisine is having more.

Given Filipino food’s “moits moment in Los Angeles. ment,” of course, it was fitting That’s thanks to chefs who are now national names, such as to have it showcased.

Cailan, Fabro and their team Alvin Cailan of Eggslut and AMat culinary incubator Unit 120 BOY, Chase and Chad Valencia collaborated with fellow Filipinoof LASA, and Ricebar’s Charles American chefs for a ‘Filipino Olalia, among many others.

While the focus has primarily Food Fridays’ series: a street been on the savory side, there’s food night, a dessert tasting, and a multi-course dinner to also a lot to be said about the lead up to the preview screenFilipino dessert scene. ing of director Allie Cuerdo’s For starters, ube (purple “ULAM,” a documentary on Filiyam) is an ingredient sparking wonder; these days, you’ll see it pino food in the U.S. Each night, creatively integrated into various which had three seatings each, forms, from donuts to cupcakes was sold out and drew in diverse to artisanal ice cream. There are crowds. The last one, a lechon fest, will be held on May 26. bakeshops inspired by Filipino Last year, Fabro — whose flavors catering to mainstream experience includes serving audiences (e.g. Créme Caramel as pastry chef at fine-dining LA, B Sweet and Cafe 86). And establishments across LA — belet’s not forget when Chef Isa gan offering desserts, such as the isamada (a cross between ensaymadas and a kouignamann cake) at Unit 120. (The incubator’s space has since been taken over full-time by LASA this spring, while a new one is being constructed.)

So when it came to organizing the program for Filipino Food Fridays, they knew they had to include a dessert night.

“It was a great idea to showcase that specific type of food because it is such a big part of Filipino cuisine,” Fabro told the Chef Barb Batiste of B Sweet’s dessert trio: ube Asian Journal. “The Philippines hot bread pudding, cassava bibingka, and cashew has a longstanding baking and

dessert tradition that is centuries old. People just don’t know about it [and] are more familiar with baking traditions of Europe.

The desserts we are making now draw from those [Filipino] traditions while combining our unique experiences as cooks and chefs.”

In addition to Fabro, the event — held on Friday, May 12 — featured Kristine de la Cruz of Créme Caramel LA, Barb Batiste of B Sweet, Wanderlust Creamery’s Adrienne Borlongan, and Sally Camacho, a pastry chef whose extensive background includes working with Wolfgang Puck and a runner-up for season 2 of “Top Chef: Just Desserts.”

“Sometimes with a Filipino pantry, how many different desserts are there? We wanted the guests to have a variety and not necessarily taste the same flavors,” Fabro said.

The approximately hourlong presentation began with Batiste’s dessert trio of ube hot bread pudding, cassava bibingka, and cashew butter sans rival. Her store, B Sweet, works a lot with ube, so naturally, she knew she would work that ingredient into her offering that evening. As for the latter two creations, she paid homage to the desserts her mom made growing up.

“I did a trio of desserts because I couldn’t decide on what exactly I wanted to do. I knew I had to include those three flavors. The beautiful purple color ofube catches the eye, and I think people are always amazed by how good it tastes because it’s a hard flavor to describe,” Batiste said.

Next came Camacho’s

Adrienne Borlongan of Wanderlust presented four scoops of ice cream: puto bumbong, kapampangan halo halo, brown butter pili nut sans rival, and kalamansi yogurt sherbert.

Camacho’s pasalubong — chocolate tablets and a cookie, inspired by her recent trip to the Philippines

AJPress

butter sans rival.

Creme Caramel’s Kristine de la Cruz concocted a trio of halo halo-inspired pavlova — mini meringue bites with sugared beans, fruit, custard and pinipig.

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Pastry chef Sally Camacho’s mais con tsokolate

mais con tsokolate (corn with chocolate), white corn cremeux, passion fruit gelee, macadamia moulleux and milk chocolate moose, and two pieces of chocolate tablets with a butter cookie, inspired by her recent travels back to the Philippines.

“I love corn in desserts and it’s in season, so I wanted to utilize it. Also, I had some great pasalubong from the Philippines that I also wanted to share and use. I had homemade tablia from my aunt’s house in Iloilo and mango flour that I wanted to utilize as well. My main flavor profile was set to be corn and chocolate,” she described her petit gateau-style dessert.

Borlongan then brought out a flight of ice cream served on a shell platter: puto bumbong (purple sticky rice cake) in a bamboo cup, Kapampangan halo halo, brown butter pili nut sans rival, and kalamansi yogurt sherbert. Those familiar with her shop, Wanderlust Creamery, know how present Filipino flavors are in the offerings, from ube to mango sticky rice, so it was fascinating to see her present even more experimental flavors with these four scoops. The sherbert, in particular, was simple, but stood out for how refreshing and tangy it was.

For the fourth course, de la Cruz had three halo halo-influenced pavlova, which are mini meringue bites with sugared beans, fruit, custard and pinipig.

These were light and soft, yet were packed with bursts of sweetness and different textures from the various toppings.

Lastly, Fabro ended the service by offering each guest a choice of her three tarts — ube pilinut, mango royale (champagne magno and graham streusel), or banana latik (coco-

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 24, 2017

Ube pili nut and mango royale tarts by Chef Isa Fabro.

nut caramel and malt chocolate). The tarts were smaller offshoots of the holiday pies she did last year.

“It was a matter of whether you were a fruit person, a chocolate person, or someone who likes sweet potato pie or something like that, you could choose one of the three, so everyone was happy,” she said.

With how popular the dessert night went, Camacho believes that getting more people to taste Filipino desserts will make all the difference.

“I feel that for the Filipino food movement, people are more inclined to [try] our style of dessert that other cultures have paved the way for, such as Thai sticky rice, we have suman. Japanese mochi, we have sapin sapin. Boba, we have sago. People are more now familiar and open to these style desserts. Ube has become mainstream. There are still more grounds to cover with Filipino desserts, but, I feel that it is positively moving forward and gaining popularity with the rest of the country and hopefully the world,” she said.

She went on to say that Filipino desserts can inspire certain requests, such as diary-free and gluten-free, and that we can expect more Philippine-based products making their way to the United States.

“Filipino chocolate is making a buzz in the world. This could be an answer to the declining cocoa plantations, and the rapidly increasing prices of cacao. Companies are now buying cocoa beans from the Philippines and making their own chocolate and its amazing,” she said, citing Filipino brands like Malagos and Auro Chocolate. “I am hoping to see more Filipino products shared

As part of the month-long LA Times Food Bowl, Unit 120 presented Filipino Dessert Night on Friday, May 12, featuring five Filipina American chefs who specialize in pastries and sweets.

AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

as well as the different types of our cuisine.”

Fabro added that events like this and having more Filipino items on menus is an educational process.

“In the course of a year, there are people who now know what pili nut is or what pandan is. It’s not just ube anymore.

People are curious because they’re realizing that it’s delicious food,” she said.

Even with the current attention on Filipino cuisine, it’s not a fad that will disappear anytime soon, the chef said.

“It’s not kitschy or a trend.

This is a livelihood and calling for many Fil-Am chefs. If anything, the momentum is picking up even more. We’ve been working at this for a long time.”

The Filipino Food Fridays series caps off on May 26 with a Lechon Festival, where six chefs will compete and show their version of the suckling pig. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.unit120.com/.

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features

Liza Soberano to play Pia Wurtzbach in MMK episode

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 24, 2017

Matteo Guidicelli is well prepared for the future by tessA

MAuRicioA-ARRiolA ManilaTimes.net

LUCKY for Sarah Geronimo— whose parents’ strict ways have always been legendary—current boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli is made of the stuff a girl can proudly bring home to mom and dad. and it isn’t just because of his good looks. [although he gets way over top marks for that too… Read: swoon].

Just like preparing for a triathlon, Matteo is aggressively building his foundation today to ensure he can breeze through the finish line come his five-, 10-, and even 20-year goals in life. “i’ve got a clear picture of where i want to be in five years, in 10, in 20. i want to be sure that i’m ready for those phases in my life,” he reiterated.

The 27-year-old celebrity revealed he has a financial advisor in the same way he has a triathlon coach to help him make sound investments with his hard earned money in showbiz.

“My advisor came up with a formula for me, which goes something like ‘single guy income, minus investment, equals expenses,’ which means the money i can spend now,” Matteo continued. “in the same way, i also know that when the time comes that i want to spend for a property, i’ll be able to do it.”

“How about a wedding?” shouted someone from the crowd.

“Yes, that too!” the gorgeous boy acknowledged with a smile that can melt ice caps in the antarctic. “Kaya may mutual funds nga po ako, Sir!” he added laughing.

Matteo further has this ability to talk about finances without sounding the least bit arrogant, making him an ideal advocate of financial freedom. He says he is passionate about his work for the asset management company because he would like to see more young people experience a constantly improving lifestyle as a reward for their own hard work.

“Even as little as P5,000 is a good start in going into mutual funds,” he said reassuringly. “So

if you want to be able to get a head start on your own and making something out of what you earn, this is the way to go. i’m really blessed to be endorsing something that i believe in.” as he rounded up sharing financial tips that have worked for him, the T-zone finally asked Matteo if he has always been a planner. Especially since his initial foray into showbiz pictured him as this carefree rich kid from Cebu, who literally lived life on the fast lane as a champion karting driver. “i really don’t know where that happy-go-lucky image came from really,” he chuckled. “i guess that’s showbiz for you. But, to be honest, i’ve always been a planner for as long as i can remember. Even in high school, my friends would tell you that among all of us, i’d be the one who’d have plans for when i turn a certain age. i even wanted to be married by 27!” he laughed again. “i guess it comes from my italian side,” he mused. “i grew up with a very meticulous dad [Gianluca Guidicelli]. i needed to be up from bed by this time, home by that time, so i’ve always had to plan my life.” and that’s a good thing right? an attitude that any mom and dad would want for their precious daughter.

Filipino designer’s dress saved Nicki Minaj from Billboard wardrobe malfunction

LaS VEGaS — after an explosive opening performance for Billboard Music awards 2017 Monday, Nicki Minaj’sall-black, studded latex costume ripped off, exposing her private parts but unknown to the public, the rapper revealed in a Twitter post.

Good thing, the pop star had a backup: an all-black, feathery outfit courtesy of Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco.

Nicki’s Michael Cinco dress, which she paired with knee-high gladiator Rapper Nicki Minaj wearing a boots, took center stage as she acMichael Cinco creation at the companied her good friend, Drake, pick Billboard Music Awards 2017. up his Top artist award, making him win

a record 13 awards and beating adele with the most Billboard Music award trophies. apart from Minaj, Michael has dressed up other a-list stars like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Christina aguilera, Nicole Scherzinger, Fergie Ferguson, Ellie Goulding, Dita Von Teese, Chris Brown, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Brandy and ashanti. British pop star Paloma Faith wore Michael’s couture dress at the Metropolitan Museum Gala in New York. (Philstar.com)

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

Liza Soberano will play the lead role in a “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK) episode featuring Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s life. a source from aBS-CBN confirmed to Philstar.com on Tuesday, May 23 that Liza will portray the life of the former beauty queen.

Liza’s co-actors also took to instagram to confirm the episode featuring “Queen P.” in her instagram account, singer and actress zsa zsa Padilla posted photos of her and co-actors Liza and Lee O’Brian during their shoot for the MMK episode.

One post was dedicated to Liza.

“My first time to act with this pretty lady! i must admit, it was hard focusing on my lines while looking at her beautiful face.

Who knew such beauty could be distracting? But she’s such an amazing actor and pretty soon, i

Liza Soberano will portray the life of the Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

felt like i was talking to my very own daughter. Please watch out for MMK featuring the life story of Pia Wurtzbach,” zsa zsa wrote. actors Lee and Fifth Solomon Pagotan also shared a photo during their shoot.

News about Liza’s role came after a Facebook fan page

posted a photo of the actress similar to Pia’s shoot. The same post said the MMK episode on Pia will be shown in June.

On Tuesday, a report from The Star’s Ricky Lo reported that Liza will also play the role of “Darna.”

Pia previously said Liza has the making of a beauty queen.

Dennis Trillo ready to soar...

From Page 3 too. Did you find yourself thinking you deserved better? it was never an issue with me sino bida, ano ang pwesto ng billing sa movie poster. Never naging issue sa akin. importante sa akin essence ng character, ano role na ginagampanan ko at gaano siya ka essential sa pagbuo ng story.

You always go for the challenging roles. Was that a deliberate choice?

Yes. Pero eto tatawag lang sasabihin na may remake ang Mulawin the casting mo is Gabriel ulit. Kaya minsan naiisip ko mas maganda mag produce to fulfill your needs as an artist. Gustong gusto ko ang ginagawa ko pero minsan hindi mo makukuha ang project na gusto mo. Nilalagyan ko nalang ng depth para maiba naman. i make it an effort na ibahin lahat ng roles ko para hindi masasawa ang nanonood sa lagi nila nakikita na boy next door, matinee idol. Kailangan bigyan ng depth ang bawat character.

Do you think mainstream media needs a wider representation in the kinds of characters it puts out?

Yes, kasi iba-iba ang tao. Sa Mulawin, na fulfill yung isa sa gusto ko kasi he’s a villain, pero gusto ko sana mas masama pa.

Yung kaiinisan ng mga tao. Not sure kung magagawa ko dito sa GMa. Gabriel, even though siya yung evil king ng Ravena, he has a soft spot. He has a heart because he’s a reluctant king. He doesn’t want to be evil. Mapagmahal siya na tao bago siya nag transform maging Ravena king.

Gusto yung may darkness, pero may depth. Kaya kailangan ko mag produce.

May script ako na binabasa ngayon title niya Hubog ng Langit. indie siya. Kwento niya priest na may dark secret – hindi siya bading. His secret is really dark which makes the role interesting.

Pero hindi ko pa tapos. Mulawin consumes my schedule and i don’t want to disrupt my tapings.

Is producing the next step for you? What kind of films do you want to produce? in the coming years, para makita ng mga tao ang iniisip ko.

Madami ako gusto pero kailangan ko pa ng time para buohin siya. i personally like experimental films like Trainspotting and

Requiem of a Dream by Darren aronofsky and the works of Mark Romanek. i like things a bit dark.

What came first, your maturity as an actor or being a father?

Nakatulong sa akin being a father. Naisip ko na mas may importanteng bagay na kailangan unahin. Noong nangyari yun nagkaroon ako ng new set of principles and priorities. Nakatulong sa akin sa career at personality ko.

Does the thought of your son Calix—whose name you have tattooed on your left wrist—watching your work affect how you pick and portray roles?

Of course, namimili na ako ng projects kasi alam ko magtatanong siya. Kinabahan ako sa My Husbands Lover. He saw teaser and he asked what is it like to do those kinds of scenes? i tell him it’s a bit of awkward but because it’s my job and that i have to deal with it.

How are you feeling about where you are now in your personal life and career? at peace. i enjoy the blessings more. Mas masaya pag may kasama ka.

MOONLIGHTING

by MYLAH DE

LEON

THIRTY three years ago, my husband left me. He died. Leaving a house filled of daughters, young and adorable, innocent, with the world on their side.

In the face of adversity, we were not permitted to ask, “Why me?” You can ask, but you won’t get an answer.

Through the years, I’ve learned the hard way.

Why some poems don’t rhyme, why some stories don’t even have a clear beginning, middle and end.

That life is a delicious, ambiguity about not knowing, having to change, just taking the moment, making the most of it, without knowing what is going to happen next.

Through years of hair-raising fears and loneliness, joy and pride that tumbled in every widow’s brain, I’ve tried to create a vision of life for them in my mind.

It could be four lawyers,

The girls he left behind four doctors or beauty parlors and boutiques, four writers… and God forbid, four spinsters!

You see, your children are either the center of your life or not. The rest is commentary.

Having helped make them mine, I remember their arrival that still produced grave guilt in in one’s motherhood, because we have ached for sons, instead.

I have hatched them, till they’ve flown. Watched them grow from babies whose moves toward independence were baby steps excruciatingly slow — to little children, into young adults.

From diapers to cap and gown for that law degree, Milkah, the eldest who taught everyone kindness, modeled respect and always looked rich and clean.

Through the scrapes, and scratches, indomitable one had a MassCom and Economics degrees, but my fondest hopes was a pool of writers that would out scoop me, abundantly an improvement on their mother.

Raisha stumbles out of

the door line one of the three tenors, singing Neopolitan love songs, upbeat, positive and polite.

But somehow, ancestral calls would delegate them as assistants to the most prominent lawyers here in Southern California and the nightingale married a hot shot lawyer in Nevada, but that’s another story.

Years back, they were little women that I caught falling into the fierce tentacles of first love when 10-year-old hearts we’re breaking, sending convulsions that shook the house, weeping like Victorian heroines in immeasurable anguish and despair.

I remember walking them to the front door, instead of their father long gone, to shake the hands of their first dates, young men crippled with shyness.

Soon, I was walking them into the wedding altar, and stepped aside.

Like a gypsy reads tea leaves, I saw them merged into an unmanageable ceaseless demands. Always bouncing

on my bed when I was inside.

Bouncing on my bed, when I was sleeping.

There was Natasha, the Christmas baby, her fathers legacy — pleasant, thoughtful and generous.

Veruschka, the source my joy and numerous excesses, always interrupting when I phoned in my stories. The holy terror, in whose shoes, my life shined and set.

They could occupy themselves with times end with friends, computers, malls, plays and concerts, husbands and work. And just when I’m feeling grateful for some peace, that indeed there’s some mysterious depths in my fatherless daughters that I need not fathom, someone erupts with “Mother!

Their memories of their father, is perched on his laps and a kiss that cures broken legs and bruised egos. He had the uncanny way saying just the right word and to whom. His expectations, hope and commitment to us we were high.

Mr. de Leon gave us love, taught us reason and

Star Magic celebrates silver...

From Page 2 ity, hard work, and lots of humor [are also important.]” Manahan also stresses that part of success is creating a work-life balance.

“You burn at both ends of your candle, you burn out! Strive to develop for craft and quality of work. The race is a marathon, not a sprint.”

As the institution turns a quarter of a century old, it boasts of what it calls its six pillars, iconic actors whose talent and star power prove exactly what can be achieved with the kind of dedication exclusive to Star Magic: the always handsome Piolo Pascual, the eternally charming Jericho Rosales, the incredibly versatile John Lloyd Cruz, the timeless Jodi Sta. Maria, the multi-talented Angelica Panganiban, and the much-admired Bea Alonzo. These are stars who have stepped out of the simple boxes of heartthrob,

media darling, vixen, or villain, and have shown that they not only have the dynamic talent to compel every screen big and small, but come with personalities that make it difficult not to love them.

Iconic love teams Star Magic also brings to the forefront one of their greatest specialties, the conceptualization of iconic love teams, a skill unmatched since the institution’s conception. Just as quintessential as the likes of Jericho and Kristine were in the early years, the pairings dominating screens and hearts nationwide are of Star Magic’s kin, namely Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona, and Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. These are pairings with fan bases full of heart and passion, whose fol-

lowing has compounded the status of these individual actors as storytellers with a level of celebrity that needs to be seen to be believed.

Equally impressive is Star Magic’s dedication to bringing the talents closer to the people, not only with the manner in which they promote or keep their talents accessible to fans via social networking, but with actual international tours, so that fans across the globe may experience being in the presence of their beloved celebrities. Last April, a slew of Star Magic’s superstars toured the United States, to be followed by more tours around Singapore and Europe later this year. And to further celebrate its 25th milestone year, Star Magic presented its own sky full of stars at The Big Dome on Sunday, May 21, which will air on ASAP as a two-part episode.

It showed its current stable of talents, but also rare appearances by some of the biggest names in Star Magic history.

Throughout its existence, Star Magic’s talent base and the creative versatility of its personalities have dictated many changes in the manner of storytelling seen in local entertainment. It has lent itself to innovation in programming, from its revolutionizing television dramas to the changing dynamic of filmic story lines.

What Star Magic has accomplished in a quarter of a century is nothing short of stunning, in both building up its talents and in being a jumping off point for content that consistently dominates. What remains to be seen is just how much more it can accomplish given another decade or two or three, but we’re willing to bet it’ll be just as magical.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 24, 2017

intelligence, made us feel certain we will succeed in any endeavor.

Today it is the girls turn to give memories, not to take them away: their father’s 33rd death anniversary was a day of appreciation and respect. I can’t think of no other daughters who deserve it more.

They are the instruments

who were left behind to perpetuate the life that was lost and appreciate the time they had with it.

I’ve watched all my daughters grow up, now they are watching me grow old.

So, why am I crying? ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

/ 08 0 1 & / 21822 Main St. Carson, CA (beside St. Phelomina)

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750

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1 Lechon 4 full trays and 1 half tray na Ulam 4 na half trays na Matamis

also Available:

• Kilawing Kambing • Papaitang Kambing • Kalderetang Kambing • Adobong Kambing • Sinampalukang Kambing

21822 Main St. Carson, CA

10125 Rosecrans Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706

17206 Norwalk Blvd., Cerritos, CA 90703

Inside Island Pacific-Cerritos

(beside St. Phelomina)

(inside Eriel Cafe Cerritos)

(Weekend and Holiday)

Tumawag na para sa catering sa inyong mga handaan!

(562) 405-1946 (562) 866-5570

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - May 24, 2017