101117 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

October 11-13, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 81 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

USA

DATELINE As 2020 Census approaches, minority groups risk undercount FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

LACK of preparation and appropriations have already put the upcoming decennial 2020 Census at risk of an inaccurate count. With less than three of years to go, advocates are making the public aware of the consequences.

While the census looks to find population changes and other information of who makes up the United States, it more importantly uses the derived data to address the nation’s needs, like determining representation of each area in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As previously reported, more than $600 billion is allocated through federal programs based on census data. Among the many programs dependent on the census are those regarding education, assistance for veterans, hospitals, and transportation.

With the census date set at April 1, 2020, the U.S Census Bureau has been hit hard with challenges — such as the resignation of its director and improper funding — which have initiated a detrimental domino effect on needed preparations and tests.

For example, the upcoming census will be the first to be taken online, but lack of testing makes the census vulnerable to an inaccu-

Palace: Duterte satisfaction, trust ratings decline but ‘love is still there’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

MANILA - The Filipinos’ love for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains despite a sharp drop in his satisfaction and trust ratings, the chief executive’s spokesman said on Monday, October 9.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that

the decline in Duterte’s rating was “expected” after more than one year in the office, as the administration’s so-called “honeymoon period” with the public has ended.

“These things usually happen. This is traditionally happening after a year, a year and a half, and you know, the love is still there,” Abella pointed out.

The latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that Duterte’s

net satisfaction rating has dropped 18 points from +66 or “very good” rating in June 2017 to +48 or “good” in September 2017.

Duterte’s net trust rating likewise suffered a 15-point drop from the previous +75 or “excellent” rating in June to +60 or “very good” in September.

According to Abella, the decline occurred as the public started to manage

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No Filipinos hurt in Calif. wildfires

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Gov. Brown signs multiple immigrants’ rights bills

State Senate bills aim to protect undocumented immigrants and uphold California as a sanctuary state IT has been a big week for immigrant rights advocates in California.

Acting on his promise to advocate for California’s undocumented community, Governor Jerry Brown last week signed a package of bills designed to protect the rights of undocumented individuals and their families.

As a part of his annual package of bills, the long-time governor signed bills that defied federal proposals on immigration advised by President Donald Trump and his administration.

“This action protects public safety and ensures hard-working people who contribute to our state are respected,” Brown said in a statement.

SB 29: The Dignity, Not Detention Bill One of the bills, SB 29, called to block the expansion of for-profit detention of undocumented immigrants in California.

The bill, called the Dignity Not Detention bill, prevents the city and county govern-

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MILITARY HONORS. President Rodrigo Duterte is accorded with military honors upon his arrival at the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) XI in Davao City following his attendance to the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah in Brunei Darussalam on Saturday, October 7. Accompanying the President is Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

THERE were no reports that Filipinos were among the casualties of the wildfires that swept through California’s wine county, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday, Oct. 9.

At least 10 people were killed in the wildfires that spread over north of San Francisco from Napa in the south to Redding in the north.

The Philippines has expressed its sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in the massive wildfires.

“We pray that our kababayans and other residents in the affected areas be kept safe and their homes spared from the fires,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

About 15 separate wildfires spread through and affected over 73,000 acres, destroyed 1,500 structures and caused the evacuation of 20,000 residents, according to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

Consul General Henry Bensurto said that the consulate is coordinating with local authorities to monitor the situ-

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PH gov’t to extradite Filipino suspect in foiled New York terror plot

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippine government is set to begin processing a request from the United States to extradite a Filipino suspect in a thwarted jihadist plot targeting New York’s subway system and Times Square in May 2016.

Thirty seven-year-old orthopedic surgeon Russell Salic has been charged for his alleged involvement in a plan to carry out attacks in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan last year.

Salic was accused of sending money to

fund the attacks. According to U.S. court documents released on Friday, October 6, he sent $423 to the other suspects for the operation.

U.S. authorities said the FBI agent posed as an IS supporter and communicated with Salic and two other alleged plotters: 19-yearold Canadian Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy and 19-year-old American citizen living in Pakistan Talha Haroon.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it has requested Salic’s extradition following his arrest in the Philippines in April of this Russell Salic, a Filipino doctor, is accused of sending money to help fund the planned attacks year.

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SC junks De Lima plea to nullify her arrest order SIOSON AJPress

WITH a vote of 9-6, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, October 10, dismissed Senator Leila De Lima’s petition that questioned the legality of the arrest warrant issued against her by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).

In an en banc session, the high court also ruled to reject the senator’s petition to nullify the illegal drug charges filed against In this file photo taken on June 30, 2017, Senator Leila de Lima gives her sentiments to the her.

De Lima, in her petition, insistmedia as she steps out of the Muntinlupa regional trial court room following the deferment Inquirer.net photo by Erma Edera

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in New York City locations, including concert venues, subway stations and Times Square in the summer of 2016.

Philstar.com photo

Business tycoon & philanthropist Washington SyCip dies at 96

by DANA

of a court proceeding for her second drug trade charge.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella

by VICTOR

Washington SyCip

SY, CPA MBA

SyCip was a philanthropist who was devoted to children’s educaWASHINGTON SyCip died tion. He went beyond advocacy on Saturday, October 7 aboard by spending energy and money a Philippine Airlines flight from to support more than 200,000 Manila to Vancouver/New York. children. He also founded a Zero Dropout Program to give elemenHe was 96 years old.

Washington SyCip, a Philippine tary children a chance to acquire national treasure, is the founder basic education. He explained of SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Co to this writer why some children (SGV), an accounting, tax and were failing: Yes, schooling was auditing firm. He also founded free but children could not learn Asian Institute of Management on empty stomach!

(AIM) to mold business leaders. u PAGE A4

A OCTOBER 11-13, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page SC junks De Lima plea to nullify her arrest order PAGE A1 ed that it was the Sandiganbayan which has jurisdiction over the drug cases against her. She argued that she falls under the jurisdiction of the anti-graft court because of her salary grade during her term as the Justice secretary when she allegedly committed the offense.

The senator also accused Judge Juanita Guerrero of committing grave abuse of discretion for ordering her on February 23 earlier this year without resolving her motion to quash. De Lima likewise pleaded the high court to stop Guerrero from conducting further proceedings on her drug case.

However, in a decision penned

by Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., the SC maintained that the RTC has jurisdiction over drug cases regardless of the official’s salary grade.

“It also noted that the exclusive original jurisdiction of the RTC over violations of (Republic Act) 9165 is not transferred to

the Sandiganbayan whenever the accused occupies a position classified as Grade 27 or higher, regardless of whether the violation is alleged to have been committed in relation to the office being occupied,” the decision read.

It pointed out that the Sandiganbayan is only “limited to violations of the anti-graft laws and do not extend to violations of the drugs law.”

The high court also ruled that Guerrero did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing an arrest warrant against the senator, saying that the judge was not required to resolve De Lima’s motion to quash it.

“The Court noted that respondent judge considered all the evidence presented at the preliminary investigation and not simply the report and the supporting evidence the prosecution proposed to present at the trial, which was based on the evidence presented during the preliminary investigation,” the

decision further read.

Among the justices who concurred in the main ruling were Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes, and Alexander Gesmundo.

The dissenters, meanwhile, are Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe, Francis Jardeleza, Marvic Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

In February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed three complaints against De Lima in relation to the alleged drug proliferation inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).

De Lima was accused of receiving bribes from drug lords in exchange of their protection when she was the Justice secretary. She was also accused of using the money from drug

BICAM ON PROPOSED GIFT CHECK ACT. Senator Migz Zubiri, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, preside over the bicameral conference committee hearing, Monday, October 9, on the disagreeing provisions of Senate and House versions of the proposed Gift Check Act. The measure removes the expiry dates on gift checks and cards. Once approved into law, all gift checks, certificates, and cards should be sold at a discount of five percent from its face value.

Senate photo by Romeo Bugante

Palace: Duterte satisfaction, trust...

PAGE A1

u PAGE A8 their expectations and wait for

Duterte to deliver “the full spectrum of public services” he promised during the last year’s campaign period.

“Some people during this particular honeymoon period, their expectations were high, and the actual wait for the implementation of these things may have led to the dip,” the Palace official explained.

He also referred the survey results as snapshots of the public’s sentiment on the government’s performance, pointing out as it was conducted between September 23 and 27 or just days after the National Day of Protest.

Duterte has declared September 21 as the National Day of Protest, allowing citizens“to freely vent their grievances about the excesses and shortcomings of the government.”

“Some sentiments may have spilled over,” Abella said.

In spite of the decline, Abella emphasized that the “people are still, in general, still satisfied.”

The Palace official likewise assured the public that the government would “continue to work harder to address the public’s urgent needs in order to bring a comfortable life for all.”

“We enjoin everyone to set aside self-interest and together build a nation worthy of the next

generation,” Abella added.

‘Filipinos beginning to see light’ In a statement, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV welcomed the decline in the chief executive’s ratings.

“It’s very encouraging to know that the Filipino people are beginning to see the light. They are now seeing Duterte for who he really is: a lying, rude, amoral, corrupt and oppressive former mayor who is totally incompetent about governance at the national level,” said Trillanes.

“Worse, his bloody war on drugs has killed thousands of his own people and created a climate of fear across the country,” added the senator, who has been among the president’s fiercest critics.

Trillanes said he expects the next survey results “to be worse” as it was conducted before the Ombudsman announced its investigation on the president’s supposed ill-gotten wealth.

For Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, the drop in Duterte’s ratings should serve as a “wake-up call.”

“Certainly this is a wake-up call... Sa akin self-inflicted ngunit ito’y isang survey lamang (To me, this is self-inflicted but this is just one survey). I will not pass judgment until the next one or two surveys because that will show the trend,” Drilon told reporters

in an interview.

He also added that the government “must better take a second look at their policies and the way they enforce their policies.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, downplayed the ratings decline.

Likening the survey results to a basketball match, Sotto said what’s more important would be the president’s ratings at the end of his term.

“Sa survey mismo, matagal na ako diyan, every week halos nagpapalit ang opinyon ng tao.

Gano’n talaga ‘yan. (I’ve been familiar with surveys for a long time. Almost every week, people’s opinions change. That’s how it is.)” he said.

Sotto went on to say, “Six years ang binigay sa kanyang mandate eh. Parang basketball ‘yan – ‘yung three points pinapalakpakan pero ‘pag naagawan malungkot. Gano’n din ‘yan.

Ang importante ‘yung last quarter [kung] ano’ng score. After 6 years saka maja-judge si President Duterte, hindi ngayon. (He was given a mandate of 6 years.

It’s just like basketball – when a player scores three points, we cheer, but when the ball is stolen, we get disappointed. That’s how it is. What’s important is his score in the last quarter. We can only judge President Duterte after 6 years, not now.)” n

NANDITO NA ANG UPDATE SA LONG BEACH GENERAL PLAN [pangkalahatang balak] Tignan ang draft [burador] ng Land Use and Urban Design Elements, ganapin ang isang maikling survey na 5ng-minuto, sumali sa talakayan sa online, at alamin ang mga susunod na mga hakbang sa: www.longbeach.gov/lueude2040.

MAGING KASANGKOT! Sumali sa iyong mga kapwang naninirahan at may-ari ng kaarian sa anumang dalawang na nalalapit na mga workshop sa buong lunsod. Mayroon mga tauhan ng City upang makitalakay sa inyo ukol sa munkahing Plan, at kunin ang inyong mga mahahalagang palagay. Dumalo kayo nang kahit kailanman sa dalawang-oras na mga workshop upang mapaliwangan, talakayin ang inyong mga pag-iisip, at magplano ng kinabukasan ng Long Beach.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

11 AM-1 PM @ Best Western Golden Sails Hotel 6285 Pacific Coast Highway

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18 6-8 PM @ Expo Arts Center 4321 Atlantic Ave

MAMALAGING NAKAKAALAM dalawin anag www.longbeach.gov/lueude2040 o sundan kami sa social media.

LongBeachBuilds

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PARA SA HIGIT PANG IMPORMASYON, makitungo kay Fern Nueno sa 562.245.3982 o fern.nueno@longbeach.gov

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 11-13, 2017

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A OCTOBER 11-13, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

PH gov’t to extradite Filipino suspect...

PAGE A1 In a statement, Palace Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Philippine government will initiate the extradition proceedings as requested by the U.S. According to him, the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) will continue its preliminary investigation on the local complaint against Salic while extradition proceedings are being processed.

In the Philippines, Salic is under investigation over the abduction of six and the murder of two sawmill workers in April in the province of Lanao del Sur, located at

the southern part of the country.

He is also accused of being connected with the Maute terrorists, the IS-pro group behind the attack in Marawi City, also in Lanao del Sur. “The Philippines shares information and extends full cooperation with partners on matters pertaining to terrorism,” the Palace official said.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Eduardo Año, Salic is currently in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Dateline USa

Año said Salic sent funds to other nations for the “IS terrorist network.”

“He is providing financial support to several extremists or suspicious terrorists in the Middle East, in the U.S., and Malaysia from 2014 up to 2016. (He) has been under watch and surveillance for his suspicious activities in coordination with allied foreign intel agencies,” Año told reporters.

“He was very active on social media, websites that groups related to ISIS have been using,” the AFP chief added. n

No Filipinos hurt in Calif...

PAGE A1 ation of the Filipinos in the affected areas.

“We continue to reach out to Filipino community organizations in the affected areas, particularly in the Napa and Sonoma counties, to ascertain their condition,” Bensurto said.

An estimated 13,500 Filipinos live in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties, which were the most affected by the wildfires. Anoth-

er 4,200 Filipinos live in Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties which were also affected.

According to Bensurto, the windy and hot conditions from late spring through autumn cause periodic wildfires in California.

Sonoma County said it has received more than 100 missing person reports as family and friends scramble to locate loved ones.

The reports have come via calls to a hotline the county set up for the missing, according to Scott Alonso, communications director for Sonoma County.

It’s possible that many or most of the missing are safe but simply can’t be reached because of the widespread loss of cell service and other communi cations. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com with reports from Associated Press)

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Business tycoon & philanthropist Washington...

PAGE A1 As his passing went viral, tributes poured from public, private, and civic groups: “Mr. Washington SyCip was a highly valued adviser to the Board of Directors of BDO Unibank. We will always remember him for his guidance over the years,” said Teresita Sy-Coson of Shoe Mart (SM) Group of companies.

“Mr. Wash SyCip was a true giant in the world of Philippine business. He was a leader, advisor, and guiding force behind many other Filipino businesses and philanthropic organizations.

Mr. SyCip was a legendary mentor who inspired us to strive for the highest measure of excellence and integrity in the conduct of our business, and in serving the Filipino public,” PAL of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies said in a statement.

“His passion for excellence and commitment to mold business leaders, combined with his unfaltering generosity, led to the foundation of the Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business at AIM. His legacy will live on in the AIM alumni who strive to be ethical and responsible business leaders, and live up to Mr SyCip’s call to lead, inspire, and transform,” Asian Institute of Management (AIM) wrote.

“SyCip was a respected voice in corporate governance and staunch believer in Filipino talent. He gave us all a sense of what Filipinos could be,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Added former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares, “With his demise, we lost one of the great minds ever produced by the Philippines.

The auditing industry has a lot to thank him as he pioneered the growth of the industry not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of Asia. But more importantly, he trained and was a great influence to a lot of the captains of industries.”

“Mr. SyCip was a man who radiated intelligence and inspired respect. He was the Sage of our Age and was a person I greatly admired. I actively sought his counsel and learned from his wisdom,” reflected Senator Grace Poe. Former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said, “Today we mourn the profound loss of a

dear boss, friend, and mentor.

I owe much of who I am to the privilege of having been under his wing. Washington SyCip was a towering pillar of the Philippine economy. For decades, he stood as an exemplar of excellence and integrity while shining the light of his sage guidance on our business community.”

David Balangue, former SGV chairman, wrote, “He was a pillar in the local accounting industry.

He dedicated his entire life to excellence and was instrumental to improving business and society.

We will terribly miss him.”

Benjamin Punongbayan, former SGV senior partner and founder of accounting firm Punongbayan & Araullo, said, “SyCip was unique and one of a kind. He had a very strong passion for utmost excellence, not only for himself but also for the people around him. I learned much from Wash and for which I am truly grateful. He was my mentor and model. I will greatly miss him.”

Roman Felipe Reyes, former senior partner at SVG, and cofounder of Reyes Tacandong & Co, noted, “He is a big loss. He contributed a lot to the accounting industry. His death will create a big vacuum.”

Marivic Espano, managing partner and CEO of P & A Grant Thornton, said, “Mr. SyCip was one of the great pillars of the profession and played a key role in shaping it. He built a strong firm that is acknowledged as a good training ground for CPAs. He is [a] leader who believes in the goodness and talent of Filipinos.”

Business advisory firm Bower Group Asia also tweeted, “RIP Mr. Washington SyCip. This great patriot & leader of the Philippines, we learned so much from him.”

SyCip received numerous prestigious Awards including: Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding; Dr. Jose Rizal Award for Excellence (Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service); Philippine Legion of Honor, Degree of Commander conferred by the Philippine Government; Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Columbia Business School; Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government; The Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit by the Fed-

eral Republic of Germany; Officer First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by His Majesty the King of Sweden; Star of the Order of Merit conferred by the Republic of Austria; Accountancy Hall of Fame conferred by Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and Management Man of the Year conferred by the Management Association of the Philippines.

While his parents Don Albino and Helen SyCip could afford private schooling, they opted to send their children to public schools to assimilate with local children at Burgos Elementary School and Mapa High School.

They also walked to school.

After learning the imprisonment of his father in the Philippines by Japanese forces, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He joined the infantry but was found to have attained the highest IQ level ever recorded in his regiment. He studied Japanese in a language school in Colorado and cryptography in Virginia and was assigned to Intelligence Unit and deployed to Calcutta, British India as a codebreaker.

His father Don Albino SyCip was the first Chinese-speaking lawyer to top the bar exams. He founded China Bank and was acknowledged as the Dean of the Philippine Banking. He lived traditional virtues of frugality, quietness, hard work, patience, and integrity that he imparted to his children. He raised a family of achievers: David graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines and graduated with honors from the Colorado School of Mines. He headed Northern Motors and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation; Alexander headed the U.P. debating team for three years and founded the law firm of SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan; Washington graduated Summa Cum Laude at age 17 from UST and founded SGV and AIM; Elizabeth earned a Math degree magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines (U.P.) and another degree with honors from Columbia University; and Paz, the youngest child, was musically inclined.

Washington SyCip was the last survivor of the five siblings. He is survived by his wife Anna Yu, and his children Victoria, George, and Robert. n

nications, outreach, and partnership programs.

Most likely to feel the repercussions are minority groups and general populations living in hard-to-count areas, say advocates.

California, a state with many diverse communities has already seen groups go underrepresented in previous censuses, and advocates say the risk of them being missed in the next

one are still disproportionately high.

“In order for California to receive its fair share of federal funding and political representation, the census bureau must accurately count all of our state’s residences,” said Dr. John Dobard, manager of Political Voice, Advancement Project California.

Distrust and the digital divide

As 2020 Census approaches, minority groups...

PAGE A1 rate count.

The 2020 Census has already been listed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a “high risk” federal program in its 2017 High Risk Report.

The result? Derailments of important tests and resources, including the measurement element of the dress rehearsal (the only way of evaluation), and assessment strategies of commu-

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Gov. Brown signs multiple immigrants’...

PAGE A1 ments from entering or renewing contracts with for-profit companies and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrants.

The bill was introduced in the aftermath of widespread deaths and reports about the conditions at these for-profit facilities; at the Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino, there have been reports of death threats, suicide attempts and three deaths of undocumented immigrants this year, according to the people who were held there.

“California should not be siding with companies that profit from the detention of asylum seekers and the misery of divided families,” the bill’s author, state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), said in a statement.

“Senate Bill 29 will stop the runaway train of detention and shine a light on private companies so California can ensure the human rights and dignity of those immigrants detained in our state.”

In an effort to further regulate for-profit immigration detention facilities, SB 29 also subjects companies to adhere to the California Public Records Act before building or expanding; it requires companies 180 days of public notice and at least two public hearings before the city or county issues a permit to the company.

SB 54: The California Values Act Amid threats of reducing funding from the Trump administration, California lawmakers’ goal of establishing California as a sanctuary state finally becomes a reality with Gov. Brown’s landmark signing of SB 54.

The bill changes the way in which state and local law enforcement interact with ICE and other federal immigration agencies. They are legally prohibited from using any resources to share information about undocumented individuals with

federal immigration officials, unless they are convicted of violent crimes.

Additionally, public schools, libraries, health clinics, courthouses and other public facilities operated by the state are not to share any information about the undocumented with any federal agency.

The bill was designed to combat the strict, “xenophobic” immigration policies and rhetoric delivered by Trump, according to the bill’s author, CA State Senate pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles).

“The California Values Act won’t stop ICE from trolling our streets — it will not provide full sanctuary — but it will put a kink in Trump’s perverse and inhumane deportation machine,” de León said in his press release. “California is building a wall of justice against President Trump’s xenophobic, racist and ignorant immigration policies.”

SB 68: Expansion of AB 540 In-State Tuition for Non-traditional Students Lara also authored another pro-immigrant bill signed by Brown, SB 68, which expands existing legislation that makes undocumented community college students eligible for instate tuition and financial aid.

Signed in 2001, AB 540 was a landmark bill that expanded the benefits of in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented students who graduated from and spent a minimum of three years in a California high school.

Before, undocumented students — even those that were raised in the state — had to pay international student fees due to lack of legal residency.

SB 68 aims to continue AB 540’s legacy. It allows students to count years spent at California Community Colleges and adult education towards AB 540 eligibility. Additionally, students that have completed an Associate’s Degree (or made the minimum requirements) may transfer

those credits to any University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU); there, they may apply as in-state students and for financial aid.

“I am proud of our state’s role as an educational pioneer, and Senate Bill 68 expands our landmark in-state tuition law into so that more students can afford to pursue their educations,” said Lara. “Expanding in-state tuition to include community college and non-traditional students will make sure no students fall through the cracks.”

“Students’ will to succeed always amazes me, and as lawmakers, it is our job to clear the way for them to go as far as their talents and drive can take them,” Lara added.

SB 257: Protect Education of California Students Exiled by Forced Departure of a Parent Lara authored yet another immigration bill that Gov. Brown signed: SB 257 which protects education rights of undocumented youth.

This bill requires K-12 school districts to admit students whose parents departed the state either voluntarily or by deportation. Previously, students whose parents were forced out of the state fell behind in school and their education opportunities hindered.

The bill also protects children of inmates who may have had to relocate to stay closer to a parent that was transferred out of state.

“Our nation’s broken immigration laws are creating a lost generation of exiled children who left the country when their parents were deported and struggle with an unfamiliar culture and language,” said Lara.

“Many of these exiled students will return to the U.S. someday, years behind other students.

We owe it to their future and to our state to make sure they can continue their education in California schools if they are able.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte reiterates support to allies, warns North Korea amid nuclear threats

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

DEAR UN CHIEF. Children write letters to United Nations secretary general António Guterres during the National Day of Letter Writing held in Quezon City. The 5th National Letter-Writing Day program of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) was held on Monday, Oct. 9 to encourage Filipino children to practice the art of writing letters.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

‘Counterterror measures facing uphill battle’

by CeCille

Suerte Philstar.com

Felipe

MANILA — Counterterror measures such as the national ID system and registration of phone SIM cards are still facing an uphill battle, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa was reacting to a statement by surgeon Russel Salic of Cagayan de Oro City, who has been charged by the U.S. government for allegedly financing a plot of the Islamic State to bomb New York City’s Times Square and subway system.

“You are asking about a comparison between our country and other countries. The terrorists choose to operate here because they know they can move easily around here.

For one, the national ID system, which is deemed to be an important anti-terrorism measure, can hardly pass through legislation.

We have been clamoring for that, but it’s a very uphill battle,” Dela Rosa said.

He said the second possible measure to curb terrorism is the registration of prepaid SIM cards.

“Other countries do not have a prepaid system. They’re all postpaid that’s why all cellphone owners are identified. I don’t know if we are the ones regulating the telcos or it’s the other way around,” Dela Rosa said.

The U.S. justice department said Salic had told those involved in the foiled bomb plot that terror laws in the Philippines are ”not strict” compared to Australia and the United Kingdom.

Dela Rosa and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo Año signed the 2017 AFP-PNP Joint Peace Security Coordination Council agreement, aimed to strengthen their coordination in

addressing terrorism and other crimes.

“It is true because you know the country enjoys so much democratic space that is being exploited by terror and also criminal groups.

Unlike in other countries like Singapore, the U.S., Malaysia and Australia, they have a very strict internal security act,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the lax terrorism law in the Philippines.

Año said the inter-agency committee on legal offensive showed the country has a lot of threat groups starting with the Abu Sayyaf, Maute group, Ansar al Khalifa, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the New People’s Army.

“The link of these groups to international terrorists organizations is a serious threat to our national security. This inter-agency committee on legal offensive will be in charge of intelligence gathering and cooperation, investigation, prosecution and monitoring cases against leaders of these groups,” Año said.

The AFP said other countries allow authorities to detain an individual on mere suspicion of being involved in terrorism.

There is also a special court that hears the case and charges do not have to be filed immediately.

“Up to three years, they can detain an individual until they are able to determine that the person is really part of a terror group.

Here, we have the human security act, but we want to have it amended and the provisions expanded because we believe it’s not enough to address the threats brought by terrorism,” Año said.

Countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia with Muslim populations use linkages and blood relations to have easy access and support apparatus.

In China, Dela Rosa said terrorists could not find a way to attack, noting the Chinese people have no access to popular social media like Facebook.

“Cyberspace is regulated by the Chinese government, making it hard for the terrorists to operate.

We’ve been asked to make recommendations and theseCRA have been CBHQ-13659-01 Asian Ad hanging for a long time,” Dela Rosa said. n

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 10, called for unity against nuclear threats posed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, as he reiterated Manila’s full support to its allies.

Speaking aboard the HMAS Adelaide, Duterte warned the region would suffer if North Korea was allowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear capabilities.

“Any distraction using nuclear bombs, nuclear arms, would destroy Southeast Asia immediately. And the Philippines is no exception,” said the president in a speech during his tour at the Australian ship which is docked in Manila for a visit.

The HMAS Adelaide will be in the Philippines until Sunday, October 15, for a goodwill visit as part of the regional deployment by the Australian Defence Force to strengthen ties within the region.

Duterte then urged for a solidarity between the Philippines and its allies in bid to stop Kim from from playing with what he described as “dangerous weapons.”

“It’s good to raise our awareMM.pdf 1 6/22/17 10:14 AM ness actually now. And it would be also to our advantage if you

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

Philstar.com photo

just go around showing solidarity with the rest of the world. Not only because we face so many challenges and threats, but the small guy there in North Korea is playing with dangerous weapons,” he said.

Duterte further called on the North Korean leader to “stop threatening the world” as he “runs the risk of being destroyed first.”

“So I hope that in the coming days, we should stay together, especially the alliance between us, Philippines, America, and even China,” he said.

“And that is why we reiterate our full support with our Australian friends, Americans, and even Chinese, Malaysian, all, to show to this one guy that he has to stop threatening the world.

Because he runs the risk of being destroyed first,” the president added.

According to Duterte, China could be “the only monkey wrench” in the violent plans of North Korea.

“China appears to be the only monkey wrench in the violent plans of Kim Un… Un Jun… I can’t even pronounce the g*** stupid name. You have to keep watch over him. And it is always good to be prepared,” he remarked.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had repeatedly expressed concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests, as it further urged the nation to exercise “self-restraint” amid rising tensions in the region. n

PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Ang Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Awtoridad sa Transportasyon ng Metropolitan ng Los Angeles County) ay magsasagawa ng isang pampublikong pagdinig sa Nobyembre 13, 2017 upang tumanggap ng komento ng komunidad tungkol sa iminumungkahing mga pagbabago sa serbisyong bus ng Metro.

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OPINION

‘The love is still there’

FEATURES

THE honeymoon is over, but the love is still there. This was Malacañang’s response on Monday, October 9, to the biggest slide so far in President Rodrigo Duterte’s satisfaction and trust ratings. The president suffered double-digit drops in the third quarter survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations Inc. from Sept. 23 to 27.

It may be more accurate to say that the hope is still there, that the President will use his immense powers and popularity to focus on the many pressing matters requiring the attention of his administration. While surveys also show that Filipinos agree with the need to deal decisively with the drug menace, the unrest generated by the methods employed in waging the war is hogging the attention of the government.

Last week, two major business groups, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, called for less political bickering and more action on reforms and infrastructure projects. The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, representing nearly 3,000 companies and members of the private sector, have been pushing for reforms in several key areas to accelerate economic growth.

Recently, employers have also expressed concern over policies that are dampening invest-

ments, such as additional contributions to the Social Security System, new rules on private security guards and janitorial services, and an increase in wages when the rates are already the highest in Southeast Asia.

The principal consideration, the employers said, must be the creation of jobs by encouraging more investments.

Such sentiments of course must be weighed against the need to promote the welfare and increase the productivity of the workforce. These are matters that need careful consideration, without the distraction of political noise.

Malacañang officials and Duterte’s supporters said the slide in his survey ratings was not surprising, and that the numbers could still bounce back. The steepness of the fall, however, is noteworthy. While the presidency is not a popularity game, governance is easier with strong public support. Despite the ratings plunge, the numbers remain high. With proper focus, a downward spiral can be prevented. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

White House wants Fil-Am professor investigated after she delivered a lecture critical of Trump THE White House is calling on the Uni- The Fil-Am versity of Nevada-Las Vegas to investigate a Perspective Fil-Am history professor after she expressed an opinion critical of President Donald GEL SANTOS-RELOS Trump during one of her lectures.

This comes in the wake of the deadly massacre in Las Vegas that claimed the lives of 58 people and injured about 500 others after Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino during a country music concert on Sunday, October 1.

As FOX News reported, Prof. Tessa Winkelmann said, “Right when he got elected, I told my classes, three semesters ago, that some of us won’t be affected by this presidency, but others are going to die...Other people will die because of this. And we’ve seen this happen, right?”

Winkelmann was quoted based on a video reportedly obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal that showed her speaking to her class also saying:

“He’s [Trump] threatened to declare violence against North Korea and other places...And words, especially if they’re coming from someone who is the president, have consequences. . . I don’t know that these events would have inevitably happened whether or not he got elected, but he has rhetorical powers every president has to encourage or to discourage (violence). So far all he’s done is to encourage violence.”

One of the students was reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal to be “dumbfounded” and said the professor’s comments were “appalling,” in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal also wrote that a student told them that Winkelmann’s comments polarized the classroom and students began shouting at each other.

According to FOX News, Winkelmann’s commentary has since been

criticized by both the university and the White House.

“While we respect academic freedom in the classroom and the right to free speech, we believe the comments were insensitive, especially given the series of events this week and the healing process that has begun in the community,” UNLV spokesman Tony Allen said.

FOX News reported that White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants the University of Las Vegas to investigate Winkelmann, saying “She should be ashamed of herself, and the university should look into it. What a terrible example to set for students.”

“It is sad she is teaching students such divisive, inaccurate and irresponsible rhetoric,” Trump’s press secretary added.

Amid all these reactions to her comments, the Fil-Am professor apologized through a statement emailed to the Review-Journal: “This week has been very difficult for members of our community, and we have allowed students space in our classes to discuss how they have been affected and to openly convey their feel-

ings,” Winkelmann said. “I regret that my comments caused more pain during this difficult time. Emotions were running high and I wish I would have been more thoughtful in how I directed the conversation.”

While I respect Prof. Tessa Winkelmann for her humility and compassion for the people of Las Vegas as the nation is still in shock and pain over the tragedy, I am unsettled by the thought that this incident shows how in the United States of America under President Donald Trump, a history professor giving her own commentary and academic analysis about an issue in a university setting may be chastised by the same university and even be subject of an investigation as prodded by the White House only because her commentary was critical of the president.

What was false, malicious and inaccurate about her opinion? Was she attacking the president personally?

Wasn’t she talking about the power of the “words” uttered by the leader who holds the most powerful position in the nation, and perhaps in the whole world?

And why should she be criticized over comments that “polarized the classroom and students began shouting at each other”?

A university should give the students the platform and the training to express and take dissenting critical opinions, and learn through the process how to exchange differing opinions in a respectful and constructive manner. This should be the training ground for the responsible exercise of our constitutionally protected right to free speech.

This incident is but one example of how the response of the White House and the University of Nevada may have a chilling effect on the exercise of our First Amendment right.

Would, could, and should the citizens of the United States of America — the land of the free and the home of the brave — be silenced? *** 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

CIA conduit funding anti-Duterte media outfits

Commentary

RIGOBERTO TIGLAO THE National Endowment For Democracy (NED), accused of being a channel for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) propaganda and destabilization operations in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, has stepped up its funding for three local media outfits that have been publishing articles in the Internet very critical of President Duterte and his administration.

These media outfits getting substantial amounts from NED are the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), and Vera Files.

NED documents show that for 2015—the earliest year for which data is available—2016 and 2017, it gave the PCIJ $106,900; Vera Files $70,000, and CMFR, $278,000. (Another funder of Vera Files is Reporters without Borders, which is also recipient of NED funds.)

Even if NED wasn’t a CIA conduit, it is an institution funded by the U.S. government, and therefore advances U.S. interests.

Shouldn’t we be outraged that the US government is funding anti-Duterte media outfits here?

While these moneys may seem small, an NGO activist in Europe

pointed out this was the same pattern in Ukraine several years back. The NED initially extended modest funds to Ukrainian opposition groups, and increased them substantially as the political crisis in that country broke out that led to the overthrow in 2014 of pro-Russia Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, to be replaced by pro-US leaders.

NED president Carl Gershman, who has been openly rabidly anti-Russian would boast after Yanukovych’s fall: “Ukraine is the biggest prize“. (Another US outfit that has funded NGOs in Ukraine that helped topple Yanukovych is Omidyar Network, owned by tycoon Pierre Omdiyar. It is one of the two foreign financiers of another anti-Duterte media outfit, Rappler.)

Banned by Russia Convinced that it has been a CIA front, Russia banned NED in 2015, claiming that it “poses a threat to the constitutional order of the Russian Federation and the defensive capability and security of the government”.

An editorial in the Washington Times recently urged Trump to stop Congress’ funding of NED: “Killing the NED would have another big benefit to America and the world: It would end the meddlesome activities of the endowment’s longtime leader, Gershman, who as president of the organization since its founding, has acted as a kind of grand-scale global busybody,

dispensing some $100 million a year in behalf of efforts to undermine governments around the world.”

Among the many respected investigative journalists who have exposed the NED as a CIA conduit is Robert Perry, who broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for the Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. He was awarded the George Polk Award for National Reporting in 1984 and the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence

by Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism in 2015.

He explained in a 2014 article in consortiumnews.com, which he founded in 1995 as the first investigative news magazine in the Internet: “NED is a U.S. governmentfunded organization created in 1983 to do what the Central Intelligence Agency previously had done in financing organizations inside target countries to advance U.S. policy interests and, if needed, help in ‘regime change.’

It was founded at the initiative of Cold War hardliners in the Reagan administration, including then-CIA Director William J. Casey. Essentially, NED took over what had been the domain of the CIA, i.e. funneling money to support foreign political movements that would take the U.S. side against the Soviet Union.

Though the Reagan admin-

istration’s defenders insist that this “democracy” project didn’t “report” to Casey, documents that have been declassified from the Reagan years show Casey as a principal instigator of this operation, which also sought to harness funding from right-wing billionaires and foundations to augment these activities.

In one note to then-White House counselor Edwin Meese, Casey endorsed plans ‘for the appointment of a small Working Group to refine the proposal and make recommendations to the President on the merit of creating an Institute, Council or National Endowment in support of free institutions throughout the world.’

Casey’s note, written on CIA stationery, added, “Obviously we here should not get out front in the development of such an organization, nor do we wish to appear to be a sponsor or advocate. We would be pleased to make suggestions on the composition of the Working Group and Commission.’”

Trojan horse William Blum, a former State Department official and author of several books critical of US foreign policy called NED the “CIA’s Trojan horse”. He quoted NED co-founder Allen Weinstein as telling the Washington Post in 1991: “A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA.” The NED has telegraphed its

message that Duterte is now on its cross-hairs.

In an article in a journal last July, Christopher Walker, NED vice president for studies and analysis, claimed that the Philippines had caught the “authoritarian virus”. He lumped the Philippines with Tanzania, Bangladesh, South Africa and Hungary where “there has been a swift decline in democratic accountability”. In its website, NED declares: “The Duterte administration represents a sharp break from the Aquino administration and its emphasis on good governance.”

If you were media outfits relying on its funds, wouldn’t you toe NED’s anti-Duterte line and prove it through your articles?

I asked Vera Files president Ellen Tordesillas if she was aware of claims by respected researchers that the NED has been and is a conduit of the CIA. She replied: “I have not heard or read from any ‘respected researcher’ about NED and CIA.“ Tordesillas, a veteran columnist of the Malaya and Abante newspapers, has been known to be a shrill critic of Duterte, and has been active in social media posting anti-Duterte memes. Her favorite target has been blogger Mocha Uson, now an assistant secretary in the Malacañang communications group.

Hostile to CMFR I asked CMFR’s executive director Melinda Quintos-de Jesus

who are the funders of her outfit.

She gave me a list of 12 funders, 10 of which were foreign, including NED. When I asked her the same question on whether she was aware of NED’s alleged links to the CIA, she replied: “There is no point in further engaging in this conversation as you are clearly hostile to CMFR.” If government officials and other subjects of journalists behaved like de Jesus, newspapers would contain only press releases.

(De Jesus is the wife of Edilberto de Jesus who had been personally very close to the Cojuangco family and was President Cory Aquino’s adviser on rural development. He writes a very pro-Yellow column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. His most recent column gloated that the Philippines under Duterte is now No. 1 in the Global Impunity Index. He didn’t mention that the index was based on data for 2014, when his idol President Aquino was been president for four years.)

I posed the same questions through several emails to PCIJ executive director Malou Mangahas, an old friend and colleague in the outfit which I helped found in 1989, but which the center denies. (The PCIJ chairman is GMA7 media man Howie Severino.)

At the deadline for submitting this column, I had not received

u PAGE A7

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A

In draft report, Gordon pushes for lifestyle As 2020 Census approaches, minority groups... check on Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio PAGE A4

Distrust of the government with personal information, along with the evident digital divide, are key concerns of advocates from across minority groups.

Ofelia Medina, Director of State Civic Engagement Policy for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), found this especially true in the Latino community, which makes up 39 percent of the Californian population.

“It’s going to be really difficult to make sure that they do [participate in the census] when they might not have even dial-up at home,” said Medina, stating that many in California do not have access to internet service.

While libraries and internet cafes may provide internet access, Medina admits that the census might not be much of a priority that people would go out of their way to these places to fill out the census.

The increasing climate of fear incited by rhetoric on immigration enforcement has further been discouraging in communities of color when it comes to participating in programs involving government contact.

“It’s definitely been something we’ve been seeing in the last couple of months,” said Medina referring to recent issues like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

This is also true in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities where approximately 1.3 million are undocumented, according to Stewart Kwoh, Founding President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles (AAJC).

“They don’t want anybody, including their own family members, to know often times,” said Kwoh.

‘Statistical genocide’ According to the California Department of Finance, 20.5 percent of Californians live in

hard-to-count areas, or communities at high risks of not being fully counted as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. Ten of the 50 hard-to-count counties in the nation are in California, accounting for an estimated 8.4 million people.

Furthermore, one in three (34.3 percent) of Hispanics in California live in hard-to-count areas. For Asian Americans, it is one out of every five (19 percent).

Especially at risk of being undercounted are California’s more than 2.5 million children who would thus be beneficiaries of data derived allocations after the census.

“The greatest amount of children that will not be counted are the children that are being born right now, up until 2020,” said Medina.

Of the top 100 places with the highest percent of children living in hard-to-count areas, 16 are in California — Black and Hispanic children hold highest net undercounts.

Medina stressed that in California specifically, the last 2010 Census significantly undercounted Latino children.

“Nationwide, about 400,000 under the age of five were not counted in the census. About 113,000 of them were from California,” said Medina.

These undercounts come not only from Los Angeles County, but from counties of Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, and Alameda, added Medina.

For Native American communities, the issue of being undercounted is one of identity. During the 2000 Census, a number of tribes in the San Diego County were recorded at zero.

“That is statistical genocide,” said Dr. Joely Proudfit, Director of Californian Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center, and Professor at California State University, San Marcos.

Asian Americans and data dis-

aggregation Legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (AAJC) has been formally conducting census campaigns since the 1990s.

“This is probably the most important census,” said Kwoh.

A little over 15 percent of the Californian population, and six percent of the U.S. population, belong to the AAPI community.

The 2010 Census found that Filipino-Americans became the largest Asian American group in California, while Chinese Americans remained the largest in the U.S. In LA County, Filipino and Koreans were the two largest, and Thai Americans were seeing new growth as well.

“If you don’t have an accurate census, you won’t know any of this,” said Kwoh. “If you lump all Asians together, then you really don’t know us at all.”

Disaggregated data from the census is very important and is needed to ensure specific communities are served accordingly whether in education, health, or other needed programs.

Nevada for example, is one of the three states with the fastest growing Asian populations, said Kwoh. When looking at the data, Filipinos made up half of the overall Asian population.

“Let’s say there’s a disaster in Nevada. Wouldn’t you want to know that Filipinos are half the Asian population? And how you are going to outreach to them?,” Kwoh told Asian Journal.

“Culturally, in language, you need to have that disaggregated data. Otherwise the government agencies are almost blind to who they are serving. It’s crucial.”

While the current 2020 Census proposal provides checkbox options and a write-in option for more detailed ethnicity descriptions, making sure people are included at all in the census remains the biggest issue. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

any doubt that they are merely following the agenda of the Yellow Cult based on that worn-out EDSA playbook: To demonize Duterte so much for public outof their gang of oligarchs.

These three outfits—include rage to unseat him. That they Rappler, of course—all profess are funded by an alleged CIA to have as their goal the profes- conduit is huge slap on our nasionalism of journalism as a tool tion, and my profession.

Shouldn’t we do what the U.S. for democracy.

They claim to be objective, but does through its Foreign Agents any casual reading of the posts Registration Act, and require of these outfits will show beyond political and media enterprises

to first register their foreign funders? PCIJ, Vera, and CMFR appear to be 90 percent funded by foreign entities, while Rappler, about 50 percent..

But then that wouldn’t be fair, when we allow the country’s biggest media outfits to be controlled or funded by foreigners, namely Indonesian magnate Anthoni Salim in Philippine Star and TV5 and North Base Media and Omidyar in Rappler. Isn’t

this an outright violation of the Constitution?

Can somebody please explain to me: Why is it that foreignfunded media outfits, newspapers in the West, and those who have abandoned their country to enjoy life abroad are the most critical of Duterte, while Filipinos living here who are and will be affected by this president’s actions are mostly supportive of him? (ManilaTimes.net)

by Audrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — A lifestyle check should be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on the son and the son-in-law of President Rodrigo Duterte following allegations that they were involved in smuggling in the country, a draft report of a Senate panel recommended.

Paolo Duterte, the chief executive’s son, and Mans Carpio, the son-in-law of the president, should be held more accountable as part of the family of the country’s leader, according to a draft report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee headed by Sen. Richard Gordon.

“Personalities who, due to their close relationships to persons possessing high authority, are held to higher standards of accountability to the people precisely because of such close relationships,” he reasoned.

An administration ally, Gordon said this was the reason why the two were invited to one of the hearings on the entry of around P6.4 billion worth of methamphetamine or shabu into the country in May. “Therefore, the Committee decided to request the NBI to include both personalities in the lifestyle checks being conducted,” the senator concluded.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a fierce critic of the president, alleged that the younger Duterte, who is currently the Davao City vice mayor, and Carpio were part of the Davao Group which supposedly facilitated the release of shipments at the BOC. The two also own various local bank accounts which contain hundreds of millions of pesos, according to Trillanes.

For Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, the president’s daughter, it was still premature to discuss anything about the report

In this Sept. 17, 2017 photo, Paolo Duterte, left, and Mans Carpio, right, are talking with their lawyer, Rainier Madrid, during a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the entry of illegal drugs into the country.

Philstar.com photo by KJ Rosales

since it was still a draft.

She said that if a lifestyle check would be ordered in the final report it would be “unreasonable” since it was based on the gossip of Customs fixer Mark Taguba and the lies of Trillanes.

She also reiterated that they would welcome any probe by the ombudsman as this would allow them to answer the allegations against them and any lifestyle check on her husband.

Gordon, in the same draft report, did not recommend any charges to be filed against the two members of the president’s kin, saying that no evidence was given to establish their connection to the smuggling of drugs or any other contraband through the Bureau of Customs.

According to the draft report, issues regarding people close

to people of authority have surfaced even during past administrations, and this should be closely examined to guide legislation.

“In this administration, a similar pattern has emerged, with certain members of the First Family being linked to this sordid affair,” the report said.

Gordon said that the two presidential family members were invited to the panel’s hearing on Sept. 7, 2017 to show that there were no “holy cows” in its probe and to accommodate the “importuning” of Trillanes.

Aside from the lifestyle check on the younger Duterte and Carpio, the panel is also recommending an overhaul of the Bureau of Customs, perennially rated as one of the government’s most corrupt agencies. n

CIA conduit funding anti-Duterte...

Files, PCIJ, and CMFR because these have had that distinct Yelany response from Mangahas, low DNA: hypocrisy and a honot even an acknowledgement lier-than-thou attitude. Aquino, of the receipt of my emails, or the Liberal Party and their gang that reply I often get from people profess to be crusading for some who can’t be told the truth, “go noble cause—democracy, rule of to hell.” law, human rights—but in reality I have not been a fan of Vera have only advanced the interests

PAGE A6

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Solons pledge support to Morales amid Duterte’s threat

by Gaea

Katreena CabiCo

Philstar.com

MANILA — Twenty-six legislators have filed a resolution to show their support for the constitutional independence and integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman amid threats of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Resolution 1395 was filed following Duterte’s statement that he will file an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for being part of the “conspiracy” to oust him from office and for employing “selective justice.”

In a resolution filed Monday, Oct. 9, the lawmakers stressed

that the Office of the Ombudsman was created under the 1987 Constitution to act as an independent body to serve as protectors of the people against the “inept, abusive and corrupt in government.”

“The framers of the Constitution intended that these independent bodies be insulated from political pressure to the extent that the absence of independence would result in the impairment of their core functions to shield it from the pressures and influence of officialdom and partisan politics and from fear of external reprisal,” the resolution read.

Twenty-one of the signatories

were members of the Liberal Party.

Other signatories include Reps.

Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (Bukidnon), Tom Villarin (Akbayan), Strike Revilla (Cavite), Lawrence Fortune (Agusan del Norte) and Rav Rocamora (Siquijor).

Duterte also announced that he is planning to create a commission that would investigate alleged anomalies at the antigraft body.

The Office of the Ombudsman is looking into Duterte’s alleged hidden wealth.

Unfazed by the threats, the anti-corruption agency vowed that it would proceed with the probe. n

Esperon dismisses destabilization talks SENATE APPROVES DOLE BUDGET. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon (2nd from right) congratulates Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (2nd from left) after the Senate approved Tuesday, October 10, the proposed 2018 budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) amounting to P 10.841 billion. The proposed budget showed a decrease of 5.22 percent or P 596.7 million in next year’s budget as compared to the P 11.439 billion budget for 2017. Also in photo is Senator Sonny Angara (left).

Senate photo by Alex Nueva Espana

Duterte orders creation of special bank for OFWs by alexis

romero Philstar.com

MANILA — A financial institution dedicated to the needs of overseas Filipino workers will be established soon as President Duterte has approved the acquisition of the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB) by the Landbank of the Philippines.

The approval is contained in Executive Order No. 44 issued last Sept. 28.

The order cited the need to provide the financial needs of overseas-based Filipinos who contribute to the country’s foreign exchange income, currency stability, employment and overall economic growth through their remittances.

“There is a need to establish a policy bank dedicated to provide financial products and services tailored to the requirements of overseas Filipinos and focused on delivering quality and efficient foreign remittance services,” Duterte said in the EO. The president announced a plan to convert Postal Bank into a financial institution for Filipino migrant workers last year.

PostalBank assistant postmaster general for marketing Luis Carlos previously said the government needs to infuse P2- to P3-billion to carry out the plan.

Duterte said the PPSB, which was established to develop the

rural financial sector, is equipped to provide financial and remittance services to overseas-based Filipinos and their families.

The Landbank will acquire the PPSB through transfer of shares and its subsequent conversion into an Overseas Filipino Bank (OFB), subject to the approval or clearance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Philippine Competition Commission.

The Philippine Postal Corp., the mother company of the PPSB, and the Bureau of the Treasury were directed to transfer all their shares in PPSB to Land Bank at zero value.

The PPSB was instructed to cause the expeditious transfer of all assets, liabilities, records, systems and other related items to Landbank.

Duterte also ordered Landbank to infuse capital to the OFB to enable it to provide the financial and banking needs of overseas Filipinos.

Land Bank will implement a reorganization plan for the OFB, which will be managed by a nine-person board.

The Landbank president will serve as the board chairman of the OFB. The OFB president to be appointed by the Landbank will serve as vice chair of the board.

Other members of the board are four directors and officers designated by the Landbank and representatives of the labor department, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and overseas Filipinos.

The representatives of the labor department, OWWA and the overseas Filipinos will be appointed by the President.

All PPSB officers and employees who will retire or will be separated from the service will be given a retirement incentive in addition to retirement or separation benefits under existing laws.

Before the transfer of shares, the PPSB will return to the Treasury the P249.23 million balance from the P500 million released previously to fund Project DRIVE, a micro finance program for the families of drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles.

In a text message, Landbank president Alex Buenaventura said the government remains on track to open its first overseas Filipino bank by January next year.

After the President’s approval, Buenaventura said the Landbank now needs to secure the go-signal from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the acquisition of Postal Bank. He said the bank also needs to submit to the Philippine Competition Commission the notification requirements for the transaction. n

MANILA — The rumored destabilization attempts against the 15-month-old administration of President Rodrigo Duterte are nothing but political noise reaching decibel 3 level at best.

Militarily, such purported plots are almost non-existent.

That is how national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. sees the situation on the ground as far as the security and stability of the government is concerned.

With 10 as the highest, he ranked as “three” the level of threat posed by the alleged destabilization plots.

“It is almost nonexistent as far as we see from the military ranks,” Esperon told The Star.

A retired four star general who served as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff during the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he dismissed fears that President Duterte is losing mass support with the 18-point dip in his approval rating from the latest opinion survey of the Social Weather Stations.

“His approval rating remains high at 67 percent. So how can there be withdrawal of support?” he argued. (Philstar.com)

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Philstar.com photo

SC junks De Lima plea to nullify her arrest order PAGE A2 trade to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II welcomed the high court’s move.

“I think that’s a correct decision. It’s the decision we have been fighting for. Tama lang (It’s just right) that our position that the RTC has jurisdiction has been vindicated,” Aguirre said.

With the SC’s ruling, the Justice secretary noted that De Lima’s trial and arraignment scheduled on Friday, October 13 could proceed, “assuming that there would be no motion to make amendment to the information.”

‘Saddening, unfortunate’ Following the high court’s decision, several minority senators expressed support for the detained senator.

In a statement, Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon expressed his disappointment

but added that he respects the SC’s decision.

“Nakakalungkot. Ang aking paniwala ay dapat Ombudsman ang mag-hear nito. (It’s saddening. My belief is that the Ombudsman should hear the case.)

But I respect the decision of the Supreme Court. I’m a lawyer and former justice secretary, I disagree but I will respect the SC decision,” Drilon told reporters.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, on the other hand, said that the SC’s decision proved President Rodrigo Duterte’s “total control and manipulation of the three branches of government.”

“The SC ruling is quite unfortunate as it virtually puts a stamp of legitimacy on the political persecution and injustice being done to Sen. Leila De lima.

It also highlighted Duterte’s total control and manipulation of the three branches of govern-

ment for his evil political ends.

Dapat tindigan natin ito (We should stand up against this),” he added.

For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the fight to free De Lima remains, as she urged people to support the detained senator.

“Nakakalungkot ang desisyon.

Ganun pa man, tuloy ang laban para palayain si Senator Leila De Lima sa pagkakapiit gamit ang mga peke at walang basehang kaso (The decision is saddening but the fight for Senator Leila de Lima’s release from jail using fake and baseless case is on),” Hontiveros said.

A staunch critic of Duterte, De Lima and other critics of the administration has considered herself as the president’s “political prisoner.” She is being detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. n

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Mr. SyCip goes to Washington

Articles and photos from Balikbayan Magazine April-May 2011 issue

by Lito ocampo cRuz Louie Jon a. Sanchez and Jamie maRie eLona Balikbayan Magazine

Owls and turtles abound on all sides—figurines, paintings, and stuffed toys. When asked about the seemingly symbolic preponderance, he told us that he is not really collecting them.

According to him, “they were more of gifts to me in different occasions.” One write-up spoke of this particular painting on his wall about a man who seems to be communing with a turtle. In the article, SyCip explains that the turtle is telling the man to take it easy. What profound wisdom!

Perhaps, after living a full life, he has not only come home to stay, but has also come full circle, circumspect and wise. At 90, SyCip spends his time reading newspapers everyday, and at certain moments like our interview, remembers his many adventures. The figures around him presaged for us not only a life celebrated, but a legacy well kept.

This was how it seemed to appear that morning as we went on to meet the man who, five decades ago, brought together two other accounting greats to form the country’s most respected firm, the SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Co.. (SGV). We arrived on time to see him at his posh penthouse office at the SGV Headquarters along Ayala Avenue, and the man’s aura was easily recognizable in the mementoes he keep that we have seen as we arrived in the floor where he usually spends his time when in office.

From the beginning, it appeared that SyCip was living in hybridity. Aside from his name, both his parents came from different Chinese lineages.

He recalled: “My mother was from Shanghai and my father was from Fu Tsen. They spoke different languages.” His father went to the University of Michigan Law School and later cofounded Chinabank. Meanwhile, his mother, whose family operated the Chinese Commercial Press, studied music in Oberlin College in Ohio.

And he also enjoyed the best of both worlds in education. At 18, he finished B.S. Accountancy, summa cum laude in 1939 at the University of Santo Tomas, some ten years after it transferred to the España campus. After graduating, he took the board for Certified Public Accountants and passed the exams at age 19. As one of the youngest in history, he wasn’t able to practice immediately because he was underage.

The next option for him was to take up further studies. He went to Columbia University in New York to study at its graduate business school. A former professor convinced him to study there where he could get to meet and learn from another accounting education giant, Roy Kester.

“That teacher even asked me to get a copy of his dissertation at

Columbia, which I did,” he said.

“I went there precisely because of Kester who is known for the books he wrote on accounting.”

When World War II broke out, SyCip was working on his dissertation. “I was never able to finish it. I joined the Philippine regiment.” The war for him was a compelling reason to serve, a bigger reason to find meaning in a time when the world is in utter misery. “I wanted to be part of something that will eventually be helpful to the Philippines.”

He recalled being trained for three months before landing a position in Intelligence. “Before you join the military, you would be asked to take an IQ test. I garnered the highest score. Because of that I was sent to Denver to study Japanese. After that, I was also sent to Virginia to learn cryptography.” Being a mas-

pany with eight offices across the country with a stable of almost 2000 professionals in accounting, law, economics, engineering, finance, and human resource development. In 2002, it became an affiliate of Ernst & Young International.

SyCip today quietly enjoys life.

As founder of SGV, he still spends his time there and admits that he still does not have “leisure time.”

In a week he still attends board meetings of the different companies he holds, and every night, he is usually attending dinners and receptions. “I usually eat home twice a month,” he said.

But nevertheless, what is important probably is his continuous work to further improve the lives of his countrymen, something his father insisted on when he was convincing him to stay. A notable project he supports is Synergeia, which helps in educating the young. “To improve the Philippine situation, fix basic education first,” he said, in a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

His legacy in business is still very much felt with the constant presence of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), which he founded in 1968. Its roster of graduates includes some of the major policy makers—both in public and private sectors—not only in the country, but also in Asia.

AIM continues to place the Philippines in the international business school map. It is the first best Full-Time MBA Program in the 2009 The Economist Asia-Australia rankings. It has also received accolades from the Beyond Grey Pinstripes Awards, the QS Global Business Schools Report, the QS Top MBA List of Top Business Schools, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. In 1995, AIM won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for its work in promoting international understanding.

If only to become an embodiment of wisdom and experience, SyCip’s presence in the SGV inspires the many who continues his work. And it seems there is no stopping him. He is basically at home—both in his country, and his lifework—and he seems to persevere out of passion and love.

“I wanted to be part of something that will eventually be helpful to the Philippines.” ter of numbers, he was surely the fittest for the job. His talent was put to use in Calcutta, India, where he encrypted intercepted information from the Japanese Imperial Army for two years.

After the war, he had intended to come back home, perhaps longing for the homeland after the treacherous years of the war. “But I was told that I had to return to New York, because that was where I enlisted for the service. So I did.” He took the ship back, not knowing that he was actually at a crossroads.

“When I was able to go back to Manila, I had the option to take a job or go back to the States..”

His father’s advice, however, led him to the decision to stay in the Philippines. “My father told me there’s a lot of work to be done here,” he shared.

And so he stayed and worked his way and eventually founded SGV, just as the country was rising up from the ruins, in 1946.

Along with Ramon Gorres and Alfredo Velayo, his boyhood friend, he founded the firm, which has now grown into what Wikipedia describes as a “multidisciplinary professional services.”

SyCip single-handedly managed the firm and has made it grow from being a small accounting firm for start-up businesses to a com-

Meeting the man and the legend

The Asian Journal Publication’s CEO and Publisher, Roger Lagmay Oriel, with Washington SyCip back in 2011.

by

RogeR Lagmay oRieL

Asian Journal CEO & Publisher

I have finally met the man and the legend, Washington SyCip. At 90, Wash, as he is fondly called, is still very much in good shape, and he carries with him an aura of wisdom and humility.

I myself am indebted to him as he once shaped my early life.

In the late ‘70s, the SyCip, Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV) firm, the first and only company I worked with in the Philippines, took me in as a junior auditor.

I learned a lot from my baptism of fire at the SGV, considered today as a legendary accounting and auditing firm in the country. To say the least, it seemed to be a continuation of my Thomasian education.

Mr. SyCip is also a proud Thomasian, and we were able to talk about his many amazing experiences. But what I cherished most deeply about the encounter was his stories while living in the States, and the various challenges he had to face as a Filipino studying in a foreign land at a time when war was about to break out. He knew he was at the threshold of history.

Leaving his graduate studies at Columbia, he served as cryptographer in India during the war.

He came back to the Philippines after the war and could have easily continued to live his life the way he used to.

Fate however had its own way.

Upon the prodding of his father, he was convinced that indeed, there is much to do in this country. In 1964, with the two other accounting greats Ramon Gorres and Alfredo Velayo, he formed what is now known today as the SGV, which services national and multinational companies around the country.

The work of accountancy has been the lifelong calling of Mr. SyCip, and he continues to fulfill it by means of his legacy at the SGV. He may not be as active as before in the management, but what he has sown in the beginning are already being reaped by the present generation of SGV associates. We remain inspired by the great example of Mr. S yCip, who lands on our cover this issue. His life and work will really inspire many outstanding Filipinos, worldwide to continue persevering and giving back to our country.

Speaking of Filipinos worldwide, let me also take this opportunity to further spread the inspiration. We have known them by their many names: the literary ladinos, or the translator crossing the borders of language, the ilustrado of the affluent Spanish times, the pensionados of the American period, the Balikbayan in contemporary times, the Overseas Contract Worker of the diasporic boom, and much lately, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

The abbreviation “OFW” has

been the identity of the Filipino for a long while, though much had been said about it. While many argue that not all are literally Filipino workers overseas and are also more comfortable with the term “Balikbayan,” OFW the name has rendered not only the selflessness and the sacrifice of the Filipino who leaves home to provide a better future for his family; it has also set him apart from the rest of the working world as coming from a culture where honor is valued over personal interests. When we talk of the OFW, or an OFW, we are certainly not only talking about any professional, scholar, nurse, or skilled worker. We are talking about a man (or woman) raised in the highest tenets of cultural values, spiritual firmament and love of country. The OFW has always been the man of the hour—hospitable, flexible, and persevering..

That is why we would like to create a new meaning, and consequently, a new dimension to the word OFW—for when we say this, we also mean Outstanding Filipinos Worldwide. The Filipino succeeds wherever he goes, and the pages of all Asian Journal publications are testaments to their untiring courage and heroism across all fields of endeavor.

Like the original balikbayan himself, the great Washington SyCip, may their continuing chronicle inspire.

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sefood city fpfc

A10

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

B1

Banks warned on non-compliance to online authentication measures

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILLI Philstar.com

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered banks that failed to adopt stricter authentication measures for online transactions to deactivate certain transactions to mitigate the risk of fraud and to protect cardholders.

BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier issued Memorandum 2017 – 031 reminding all BSPsupervised financial institutions (BFIs) to comply with Circular 958 on the adoption of multifactor authentication techniques for sensitive communications and high risk transactions.

Fonacier said non or partially compliant banks should disable functionalities used to facilitate sensitive communications and

high risk transactions.

She added banks that failed to adopt the multi-factor authentication techniques should implement acceptable interim or compensating controls to mitigate the risk of fraud and protect cardholders.

In particular, multi-factor authentication is mandatory for those transactions considered as sensitive communications and/or high-risk such as enrollment in transactional eservices, payments and fund transfers to third parties, online remittance, account mainte-

u PAGE B3

Biz group bucks easier entry for foreign retailers

by ANNA LEAH

E. GONZALES ManilaTimes.net

GOVERNMENT plans to lower the paid-up capital requirement for foreign retailers — to $200,000 from $2.5 million — have been criticized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

“The best is we stick to that [$ 2.5 million]. We need a baseline. The baseline is in both Europe and America. For small, it’s $ 2.5 million and that is small already for them,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said during a press conference for the upcoming 43rd Philippine Business Conference. “[W]e do want to attract investments but let’s be prudent in the sense that we need to attract legitimate companies with substantial capital to come in,”

he added.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Penia earlier this week said that that lowering the minimum capital for foreign retailers would attract investors and force domestic companies to become more competitive.

This would be done via changes to the Foreign Investment Negative List, which identifies economic activities that are closed to foreign investors or where restrictions have been set on foreign ownership by the 1987 Constitution or other laws.

A review of current list, which was released in 2015 by the previous administration, was implemented in May. Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President and

u PAGE B3

PH still an attractive place for expats

by DORIS

DUMLAO-ABADILLA Inquirer.net

THE Philippines remains an attractive place for expatriates, majority of whom find themselves happier and see their children enjoying better quality of life since relocating to this part of the world, based on the latest Expat Explorer survey commissioned

by British banking giant HSBC. Based on the research, 52 percent of expats globally said becoming an expat had improved their quality of life.

For expats based in the Philippines, 54 percent said they were happier since moving to this country while 56 percent said their children’s overall quality of life was better. Furthermore, 58 percent said that

quality of childcare was better in the Philippines compared to their home country.

Another 48 percent of expat respondents from the Philippines said they had a more positive outlook in life after their relocation while 41 percent said work-life balance was better than in their home country.

“Expat life entails adjustment and can sometimes be stressful, but over here in the Philippines, more and more expats enjoy immersing themselves in the local culture (54 percent) and are integrating well with the local people and Filipino way of life (73 percent),” Kris Werner, HSBC head of retail banking and wealth management for the Philippines, said in a press statement Friday, October 6.

“More than half (61 percent), in fact, say

that the Philippines is more welcoming than their home country regardless of an expat’s background. This is not surprising given the general happy disposition, strong family ties, work ethic and innate hospitality of the Filipino people that make more expats agree that working in the Philippines offers a good place to improve one’s well-being, bring you closer to your partner, provide quality of life for children and have a more positive outlook of life,” Werner added.

For expats here in the Philippines, more than half (55 percent) said that moving to this country had brought them closer to their partner.

HSBC’s Expat Explorer survey, the world’s biggest and longest running study of expat

u PAGE B4

DOF confident Congress will pass TRAIN

and the infrastructure,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told reporters in the interview.

According to Dominguez, the THE Department of Finance (DOF) is still confident the Con- DOF is assisting the Senate in gress would be able to come up revising its own version of the with a final tax reform bill that Tax Reform for Acceleration and would generate enough rev- Inclusion Act to improve its revenues to help fund the Duterte enue gains than originally estiadministration’s massive invest- mated.

“The debates were concluded ment program.

“We have every confidence that (last Wednesday) and we are just the legislature will come up with helping the Senate on doing calrevenues that will be sufficient culations on their proposals,” he to fund all the various projects said.

“They had some new ideas of the President, including the social side, the educational side and we’ll see what comes out,”

by MARY

GRACE Philstar.com

PADIN

he added.

Initial estimates from the DOF showed that Senate Bill 1592 may only yield P59.9 billion in additional revenues in the first year of its implementation.

This is below the P133.8 billion original estimate for the House of Representatives version, which was already programmed in the 2018 budget. This is also lower than the P157.2 billion projected net gains from the original DOF version of the TRAIN. It also corresponds to 0.3 percent of the country’s projected

u PAGE B4

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez

B OCTOBER 11-13, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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Forex reserves narrow to $81.35 B BMI keeps positive view on PH bank

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

THE country’s foreign exchange reserves narrowed to $81.35 billion as of end-September, $380 million lower than the revised $81.73 billion as of end-August due to the continued weakening of the peso against the dollar, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Friday, October 6.

BSP officer-in-charge Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador attributed the month-on-month decline to outflows arising from the revaluation adjustments on the central bank’s gold holdings resulting from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market.

Data showed the BSP’s gold holdings declined 4.3 percent to $8.06 billion in September from $8.43 billion in August.

Tuaño-Amador also cited the payment made by the national government for its maturing foreign exchange obligations as well as the central bank’s foreign exchange operations.

The peso has emerged as the worst performing currency in Asia, depreciating by more than two percent against the dollar due to rising geopolitical tension between the US and North Korea, the normalization path taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA PENALTY could still be relived even if you fail to file your tax returns and pay taxes owed if you have reasonable cause.

How to establish reasonable cause • Facts. Provide facts, situations, circumstances that have not allowed you to file your tax return timely and pay taxes owed.

• Ability. How the facts, situations, circumstance did affect you to do your daily activities.

• Actions. What did you do to file your tax return and pay taxes owed despite the facts, situations, circumstance?

• You have sole authority. Is the filing of the tax return and payment of taxes owed cannot

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

THE dynamics of Philippine banks remain healthy according to BMI Research, prompting the Fitch Group unit to keep a positive outlook on the industry.

Bank lending could grow by 15 percent every year until 2019, BMI said, as the Philippine economy was likely to maintain its robust growth.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to hit 6.2 percent per year, thanks to strong demographic trends that will support savings, increased productivity because of continued business and tax reforms, and strong government initiatives to invest in infrastructure.

The Philippine economy grew country’s expected current ac- in case of external shocks. by 6.5 percent in the second If it deems necessary, the BSP quarter, picking up from the count deficit arising from strong buys dollars from the foreign ex- 6.4 percent recorded in the first imports, among others.

However, Tuaño-Amador change market to prevent sharp three months of the year but pointed out the decline was depreciation of the peso. It can down from 7.1 a year earlier. cushioned by net foreign cur- also sell to avoid sharp appreciaYear to date growth, at 6.4 perrency deposits by the national tion of the local currency. cent, remains below the official Tuaño-Amador said the end- 2017 goal of 6.5 percent and 7.5 government as well as the BSP’s September GIR level could cover percent. For 2018 until 2022, the investments abroad.

The GIR is the sum of all for- 8.5 months’ worth of imports of target is 7 percent to 8 percent. eign exchange flowing into the goods and payments of services “Deepening economic coopercountry. The reserves serve as and income.

The buffer, she said, is equivabuffer to ensure that the Philippines would not run out of for- lent to 5.5 times the country’s eign exchange that it could use short-term external debt based to pay for imported goods and on original maturity and 3.6 times services, or maturing obligations based on residual maturity.n

Penalty relief: How to establish reasonable cause be delegated to someone else but you as the only authority?

Common situations for reasonable cause • Taxpayer: death, serious illness, inevitable absence • Inability to obtain records • Casualty: fire, natural disaster • Execution of ordinary business care and prudence to meet obligation.

What are considered valid supporting documents for reasonable cause?

• Hospital records and physician letter to establish illness • Court records • Specify dates: start and end, if ongoing • Natural disasters records:

police report, fire certificate, declaration of disaster area • Death certificate if there is death. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid taxrelated penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

(Advertising Supplement)

Source: BMI-BSP

ation with China and Japan due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s pragmatic foreign policy will also provide a tailwind for investment and trade,” the Fitch unit added.

Despite rapid loan growth, meanwhile, gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratios among Philippine banks have been on a broad downtrend since 2013 and appear to have stabilized at around 2 percent.

“With the economy on a solid footing, we expect this to be sup-

portive of corporate profitability which will in turn have a positive effect on asset quality and profitability of banks over the coming quarters,” BMI said.

Philippine banks are also generally well-funded with the overall capital adequacy ratio standing at 15.5 percent as of end-June, above the regulatory requirement of 10 percent under Basel III standards.

Although systemic domestic

u PAGE B4

When exactly am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case?

THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest commences in a marriage. All property acquired by a married person while domiciled in the State of California is community property. Family Code Section 760. That means any property acquired by either spouse regardless of who’s name it is on is community and each spouse has a half interest on the asset. That characterization continues until the date of separation. Any property acquired after the date of separation is that spouse’s separate property.

If you are the spouse that is not in control of the asset, it would be in your interest to stretch the marriage as long as possible and postpone the date of separation as late as can be so you can characterize more assets as community and also obtain spousal support for a longer duration. If you are the spouse that has control of the money, it would be in your

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes interest to shorten the marriage as much as possible and to establish a sooner date of separation to minimize the community interest of your soon to be ex-spouse.

So how does the Court determine the date of separation? In the case of Marriage of Davis, the California Supreme Court held that the couple needs to be living separate and apart in order to be separated. The Court looked into the legislative intent of the original statute that was over 100 years old. However, this case holding was abrogated by the state legislature when it enacted Family Code Section 70 effective January 1, 2017 by defining “Date of Separation” in the California Family Code.

Effective January 1, 2017, the “date of separation” is statutorily defined to mean the date a “complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred,” as evidenced by (i) a spouse having “expressed to the other spouse his or her intent to end the marriage” and (ii) conduct that is “consistent with his or her intent to end the marriage.” New Fam.C. § 70.

Fam.C. § 70 abrogates prior case law that made living in separate residences an additional, indispensable prerequisite to establishing the date of separation.

[Fam.C. § 70(c)] ) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to abrogate the decisions in In re Marriage of Davis (2015) 61 Cal.4th 846 and In re Marriage of Norviel (2002) 102 Cal. App.4th 1152.

So not only do you have to express to your spouse that you are now separated but you have to act accordingly. You cannot be telling your spouse that you are separated but still going out on

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Continued from last week’s issue...)

LET’S do a reality check. So okay, your partner is the consummate slob and you have to pick up after him. He thinks he has a maid living with him for free. He has this maddening habit of not putting the toothpaste cap back on. That’s easy. Get one with a cap that snaps back on. The point is to find a way to work around an annoyance or when all else fails, accept the tiny irritations.

With time and patience, things get easier. As you get older and hopefully, wiser, your eyes dim and your hearing goes for a reason. You become less critical as you see the bigger picture more clearly and the end game is within sight. You become aware of your own mortality.

The point is that you can choose to look through the lens of kindness and forgiveness and instead see if he still has those itty bitty, wonderful things about him that attracted you to him in the first place. His sense of humor maybe or the way he still makes you laugh…

Love is a two-way street. Note how you behave towards him.

How do you look to him? Do you take the time and the effort to look va-va-voom and give him that look that can make his heartbeat race just a tad? Or did you let yourself go, letting gravity and the ravages of time run rough shod over your physical appearance? Put up a fight.

There’s help out there. Or do you nag him to death for every little thing? Do you make him feel small with your smartass barbs?

Or does he feel he can soar like an eagle when you are around him?

Don’t buy into the modern concept of the throwaway or trade-up society that seems to imply you can change partners every five years or so. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. It may work for cars and appliances but falls flat for human relationships. Fix what can yet be fixed. Nurture what can grow into something beautiful.

Eat humble pie, if you have to.

There is no shame if you truly love. Ask a Higher Power to help

BUSINESS NEWS

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart” — Jean Baptiste Massieu

nance and use of payment cards in e-commerce websites, among others.

The process makes use of a combination of two or more authentication factors such as knowledge or something the user knows such as password, PIN; possession or something the user has in his/her possession such as payment card, one-time password generated through a security token or sent via SMS;

PAGE B1 t

and probably even borrow their “What can you expect from PCCI Honorary Chairman Sergio money here and crowd out our these micro and medium enterR. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the move SMEs,” Ortiz-Luis said. prises in terms of technology and would particularly affect the “You [should instead]try to atsmall and medium enterprises. tract investors because of the in- capital?…It’s difficult enough (Conclusion - 2 parts) “The $ 200,000 entry from vestments they are bringing, the that our SMEs have problems is more like the Theater of the Ab- abroad … [will see]micro and technology they are bringing,” in their credit, have problems in you keep things whole.

When you value your partner surd. The honest truth: there is small retailers … coming here he added. their location.” ■ and are mindful of him or her, little glamour or fun in single parit shows that you are grateful enthood – in far too many cases, alendar of Events for his part in your life and that just an endless, harrowing tale of you are interested in going the one struggle after the next.

There are exceptions of distance and making the relationship work maybe even till life course. Unless you made a foolish or tragic fatal choice or fate beyond death.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! Taking your husband, wife or played a dirty trick on you and partner for granted is the biggest you ended up meeting and marPRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT cause of so many divorces these rying the partner from hell. He GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. days. If alarming numbers are to or she could be a sociopath, a be believed, half the population psychopath, a criminal, a user, a CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 liar, a pervert, a druggie, a muralready live in Splitsville.

DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES There is a disproportionate derer, a serial philanderer or just number of single moms and sin- unfit to live in this planet with anFOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS gle dads worldwide struggling other human being.

Perhaps, the best way to hapwith severely diminished finances and dealing with court-appointed piness would be to love, appreO C TO B E R 9 -1 3 visits. They juggle schedules, ciate and say “thank you” to the shuttling children in two loca- one you’re with every single day Glendale Tech Week tions and in cases of bitter, ac- of your life together. And while Glendale Tech Week offers the best of tech from within Glendale and the Greater LA rimonious divorces, compete for you’re at it, blow a kiss to the area. Attendees will have access to talent, networking, and business opportunities. Passes, their children’s affections while heavens for making you a winner schedule of events, and list of speakers available at Glendaletechweek.com. complicating things further by in the love lottery stakes sendstarting up new relationships. All ing you someone you love or can O C TO B E R 1 3 these are piled on top of broken, learn to love AND (THE BLESSING of all blessings) who loves disappointed, cynical lives.

Book talk with Merlinda Bobis at Philippine Expressions Bookshop in They are left to deal with what you back!

San Pedro, CA Love is not a 50-50 proposiI call the BIG D’s – the doldrums of doubt, darkness, disease, de- tion. It’s not even giving 110% Merlinda Bobis is a multi-awarded literary artist from Bicol and has taught in universities pression, desperation, dejection, of yourself to the other. It sounds in the Philippines before she left in 1991 on a study grant to Australia. She has three novels, disappointment, discouragement sentimental, sappy and old fashfive poetry books, seven dramatic works (stage and radio), a collection of short stories, a and disillusionment. You just ioned but whether you like it or monograph on writing and researching fiction and more than 80 poems plus scholarly artiwish you can DELETE all these not, it is giving of yourself withcles in literary anthologies, journals and magazines. Her scholarly research covers transnaugly D’s from your life. Some out counting the cost. It is the tionalism, postcoloniality and crossing cultures, migration and creative-critical intersections. go to the deep end. Sadly, tragi- pure, intrinsic nature of life’s She will doing a book talk on Friday, October 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. Philippine Expressions cally some of these cases end in greatest mystery - LOVE. Bookshop (479 West 6th St., Suite 105, San Pedro, CA 90731). A light dinner will be served Those couples buried six feet death. from 6 to 7 p.m. and the talk begins promptly at 7. RSVP is required by October 12 to Love has died. Nothing mat- deep, side by side at Forest Lawn linda@philbooks.us or call (310) 548-8148 or (310) 514-9139. ters. Yet love, according to the probably understood what love “Desiderata” is as perennial as and devotion meant. Their souls O C TO B E R 1 4 the grass. While there is life, may have fused. Their hearts in hope springs eternal. Those who the life beyond beat as one. That 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park are not put off by a disastrous is one story you can believe in.

The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement (Or if you’re in for a laugh and relationship think that the “right of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, one” is just around the corner. have a sly, dry, wicked sense of CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Perhaps. But if they do not learn humor, you might say those savFil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, from their previous mistakes, vy couples probably got a twofer please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/. they are doomed to repeat them. from the cemetery plot sales rep!

There’s that D again. They will LOL ;) 18th annual Asian Small Business Expo in Alhambra, CA How to find THE ONE if you’re cycle in and out of one disastrous On Saturday, Oct. 14, the 18th annual Asian Small Business Expo will be held at the Alon the hunt? Or how can you relationship after the other. mansor Court Conference Center (700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801), featuring free Single parenthood is no cake- make THE ONE realize that workshops, exhibitors, networking opportunities, and more! Jonny Hwang, founder of 626 walk in most cases. Ask around. you’re THE ONE for him or her Night Market, is the featured guest speaker with special guest, Jerome Horton, chairman of Do not believe the distortion of without beating him or her over the California Board of Equalization. It is FREE to attend! The Asian Small Business Expo is truth in movies spun by Holly- the head? the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings That is one story for yet anwood or this trend of celebrities this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company adopting babies and the media other day. and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your *** glamorizing the lives of single organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizaparents. That is one tall tale of Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya tions, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. For more information, an ego on overdrive. There is no is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, please visit http://www.apisbp.org/expo.html. romantic or comedic element in Inc. To send comments, e-mail going it alone. Single parenthood monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

C

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG

your credit cards in one explosion. Wipe out all your dischargeable debts; keep all of your assets including your house, cars, furniture and retirement accounts, and start fresh in life without accumulated debt. Kill the Godzilla in your house, or it will destroy your life.

If you owe $30,000 of credit card debt now, next year, that debt will become $40,000, then $50,000. You need at least $1,000 of net income to make minimum payments on $30,000 of credit cards every month. For $40,000 of credit cards, you will need $1,200 of net income for minimum monthly payments. If you don’t have the $1,000 or $1,200 of net income, you will have to borrow $12,000 a year to make the $1,000 of monthly payments.

This means that your $30,000 debt will become $42,000 in twelve months. If you gross $3,000 monthly, 40 percent of your net income of $2,400 will be used to service your $30,000 of credit card debt.. You are being eaten alive by Godzilla even if you don’t know it.

The client is 72. She has been a widow for three years. She used to be a caregiver until last year. Last year her patient, a 400pound woman who is 6 feet tall, threw her to the floor. The patient had mental problems. The client thought she was going to die on the floor since she is only 5 feet and 130 pounds. She became unconscious and was brought to the hospital. Although she survived the fall, she now has a lot of back pain, which makes her eligible to receive disability. She

and inherence or something that is inherent to the user such as fingerprint and retinal pattern.

Fonacier said non-compliance to the circular is classified as a ‘serious offense’ under the Manual of Regulations for Banks and Manual of Regulations for NonBank Financial Institutions.

Violators, she added, face monetary sanctions.

Last April, the BSP issued the circular due to the increasing propensity and sophistication

across

America

O C TO B E R 1 4 -1 5

Award-winning journalist Raissa Robles holds speaking tour in Los Angeles

owes $40K of credit card debt.

Her disability pay is $1,400 and her social security is $1,000. So, she gets monthly $2,400 from disability and social security.

Her rent is $600. Her $40,000 of credit card debt requires 50 percent of her income for minimum payments. She has two sons who have offered to pay the minimum of $1,200 for her $40,000 of credit cards. But what is the logic in keeping these cards? Sons will pay $15,000 this year. Next year, they will pay another $15,000 and the year after next, another $15,000. In 3 years, sons will be $45,000 but client will still owe the same $40,000 of credit card debt after her sons aid $45,000 of minimum payments for three years!

The client decides that she needs the full legal power of Chapter 7 to get rid of all of her $40,000 of credit cards now and to start a new and productive life again at 72! Chapter 7 is the “fresh start” law. You start life again without the burden of accumulated debt whether your are 72, 62, 52, 42 or 32, it doesn’t matter. You can start fresh again in life at any age! The sooner the better for you and your family, otherwise you will have a Godzilla living in your house.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

“A FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE RESTING ON THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH GOD, WHO DOES NOT LIE, PROMISED BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.” TITUS 1:2

As part of a six-city U.S. tour, Raissa Robles, a Manila-based award-winning investigative journalist, will share her insights into the significance of the rise of the Marcoses and the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Robles is the author of “Marcos Martial Law: Never Again, a brief history of torture and atrocity under the new society,” nearing her the International Award for Excellence in Journalism by the Geneva-based International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM). The community special events will take place followed by a Q&A. These events are free and open to the public: Saturday, October 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pilipino Workers Center (153 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026) and Sunday, October 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church (6657 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028). For more information, call (323) 606-1322 or email mrjaimeg@ hotmail.com.

*** 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.

O C TO B E R 27

Banks warned on non-compliance...

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B3

Two magical words Biz group bucks easier entry for...

Does Godzilla live in your house?

THE Japanese created Godzilla a long time ago. It’s a gigantic T-Rex on steroids that destroys Tokyo and the rest of Japan until someone comes to the rescue and kills it with nukes. Mr. Honda, the author, created the concept of Godzilla as a metaphor for the atomic bombs in 1954 when Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which were the recipients of two atomic bombs from the United States, were still fresh in the minds of the Japanese. Now, of course, Kim Jung Un of North Korea has recently threatened to wipe Japan from the face of the earth with his nuclear bombs. So, I am sure that the spectre of Godzilla is now making the rounds again in Japan.

No way that Godzilla can be living in your house, right? Well check again. Maybe you got your first credit card 10 years ago and that was Godzilla’s egg. Now, you have 10 credit cards and you have a mountain of credit card statements that you receive every month, each one of them requiring a minimum payment from you to keep them happy. What happens if you don’t make the minimum payment every month? Well, they will turn nasty and create a lot of trouble for you. This is the problem of having Godzilla in your house.

It’s very hard to kill Godzilla because it is a gigantic monster!

You can’t kill it with a 50caliber machine gun. That’s not strong enough. Those 50-caliber bullets just slide off Godzilla’s tougher-than-steel skin. Five hundred-pound bunker buster bombs have been proven ineffective against this monster. He just shrugs them off like mosquito bites. The only way you can kill Godzilla in your house is to put a nuclear smart bomb through its navel and detonate it.

Only a Chapter 7 petition has enough legal power to kill all

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 11-13, 2017

of cyber-attacks involving fund transfers, payments, and other transactions via online channels.

With the ongoing migration to EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) technology, the BSP said cyber-attackers face reduced fraud opportunities in traditional schemes which require customers to physically present their payment cards or the so-called “card present transactions” in ATM and/or POS terminals.■

O C TO B E R 2 1

City of Carson’s 8th annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration Join the City of Carson for its 8th annual celebration of Larry Itliong Day on Saturday, Oct. 21 with a parade and program. Assembly time begins at 8 a.m., with the parade from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The program will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will be held at Veterans Park at 22400 Moneta Avenue, Carson, CA 90745. Admission is FREE. For more information, please call (310) 952-1743.

NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.org.

Mutya ng Lahi in Santa Clarita, CA To celebrate Filipino-American History Month, the Fil-Am Association of SCV, Inc. proudly presents Mutya ng Lahi (Jewel of Ancestry) on Saturday, Oct. 21. It will be held at the Centre at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 from 6 to 10 p.m. The program will showcase traditional folk dances, songs, national costumes and an exhibition of Philippine Centennial. Tickets for the dinner and show are $35 for adults, $20 for children (4-12), and free for under 3 years. For ticket sales, please contact the following no later than Oct. 13: Emie R. Carrillo at (661) 877-2699, Zeny Justiniano at (661) 294-0181, or Zony Gordon at (661) 312-3422.

FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA FACC-GLA’s Halloween Dance Party in Canoga Park, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - Greater Los Angeles (FACC - GLA) invites members and guests to its Halloween Dance Party on Friday, October 27 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Best Western Canoga Park Hotel. Come in with your scariest attire as there will be special gifts for the best costume attire. Food & drinks will be included. Tickets are limited and entry will only be allowed for those who paid online or through check on or before Tuesday, October 24. Payment can be made through the website www.filamchambergla.org. Strictly NO payment will be accepted at the door.

O C TO B E R 28

3rd annual Larry Itliong Day parade & festival in Los Angeles Join the Larry Itliong Day Committee (LIDC) in honoring the legacy of Filipino American Labor Leader Larry Itliong on Saturday, October 28. There will be a parade followed by a festival with cultural music, dance performances, food vendors, art exhibits, health screenings and various vendors. Parade starts at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, opening ceremony and line-up at 8 a.m. at Unidad Park (1648 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026). The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Columban Church at 125 Loma Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90026. There will be film screenings of “Delano Manongs” by Marissa Aroy at the church at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on sponsorships, parade registration, exhibitor opportunities, and volunteering, please email larryitliongdayLA@gmail.com.

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

B OCTOBER 11-13, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

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When exactly am I considered... DOF confident Congress will...

PAGE B2 t

“date night” or going on “cruise vacation” as a couple. Your conduct has to reflect your expression of a separation from your spouse. The flip side of the coin is under the new statute, you can be separated even if you are still living together if you have communicated to your spouse that you are separated and you conduct yourself in the house not like a spouse but more like a roommate including sleeping in separate rooms, not having intimacy, and not going out as a

*** 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.

*** 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) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

PAGE B1 t

percent of common equity tier 1 capital over the current 6 percent, but we do not expect this to limit the ability of banks to meet credit demand over the coming quarters,” it said.

BMI added that the banking sector’s liquidity level remained ample despite loan growth outpacing deposit growth, resulting in the loan-to-deposit ratio hovering above 72 percent since October 2016 — a level last seen in 2013.

“This indicates that Philippine

banks have financed loans largely by using deposits rather than through international wholesale funding,” it said.

As such, even if global liquidity conditions tighten in the coming quarters due to a rise in global interest rates, BMI said this would not pose much of a constraint for Philippine lenders.

“Furthermore, this suggests low risk of asset-liability mismatch arising from currency fluctuations,” it said. n

PH still an attractive place for...

couple.

BMI keeps positive view on...

PAGE B2 t

banks or D-SIBs will face higher capital adequacy requirements over the coming quarters with the phasing-in of higher loss absorbency requirements, BMI said it believed that most of Philippines’ big banks would be able to comply.

Full implementation is expected by January 2019 following a January 2017 start.

“Depending on the classifications of each bank, D-SIBs will need additional 1.5 to 2.5

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

gross domestic product in 2018, and is seen to widen the fiscal deficit to 3.4 percent of GDP from the ceiling of three percent.

An official from the DOF had said the revenue impact of the Senate bill was lower than expected as it did not repeal many of the value-added tax exemptions, and provided a more protracted scheme on the P6 per liter increase in fuel excise tax--P1.75 per liter in the first year, P2 in the second and P2.25 in the third.

For his part, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the public needs to look at the revenue impact of the tax reform bill over the medium term.

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life, found out that the desire for a better quality of life was the second most common reason people move abroad and expat life usually didn’t disappoint.

Despite the challenges of moving abroad, just 23 percent of expats said life abroad had made them feel more stressed.

Moving to a sunny climate seems to have a particularly

“I think you should look at it over a period of five years. For example is the fuel tax –that’s staggered,” Diokno said in a separate interview.

The budget secretary also said the DBM is ready to make adjustments in case the first-year revenue gains from the Congress’ final tax reform bill does not reach the P133.8 billion projected in the 2018 national budget.

“That question was raised yesterday about what we will do.

Maybe 50:50, we’ll increase our (budget) deficit by 50 percent. For example, if the gap is P50 billion, we will increase the deficit by another P25 billion, and then the P25 billion we will cut from less

prioritized agencies,” he said.

“It’s just like that, knowing that by year two we may recover,” he added.

Last May 31, the House of Representatives passed its own version of the TRAIN, as contained in House Bill 5636. The Senate version, Senate Bill 1592, is undergoing Dominguez III earlier said he expects the bill to be passed by the Senate by mid-October. He also hopes for the bicameral committee to pass the bill by November, so the President can sign it into law by Dec. 15, 2017.

This will allow the government to implement the tax reform on Jan. 1, 2018.n

positive effect as expats in Portugal (62 percent), Thailand (62 percent), Spain (60 percent) and Mexico (59 percent) were the most likely to feel happier.

Children are also seen to benefit from the expat experience. Fifty-nine percent of expat parents globally said their children’s overall quality of life had improved. The Netherlands stood out in this metric, with 76

percent of expat parents saying their children were healthier and happier and 72 percent saw an improvement in their children’s quality of life.

Apart from 56 percent of expat parents in the Philippines saying their children’s quality of life had improved, 42 percent said making friends for their children was also better in the Philippines.n

EMPLOYMENT

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B5 OCTOBER 11-13, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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People and Events

Philippine-American Society of Certified Public Accountants (PASCPA) elects new president and officers

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Philippine American Society of Certified Public Accountants of Los Angeles (PASCPA-LA) conducted its annual election on May 20, 2017, at the beautiful residence of Victor and Marissa Sy in Arcadia.

The newly-elected officers and board members will be honored and installed on October 21, 2017 at the Hilton in Glendale, California. The event will feature professional networking, dinner, and dance.

For further details, visit www.pascpa.org.

The following officers were elected: Marissa Bueno as President; Jerry Hermogino

as Executive Vice President; Rusten O’Neil as VP for Membership; April Misa as VP for Youth Membership; Lynn Soliven as VP of Community Affairs; Adeline Barnuevo as VP for Continuing Education; John Domingo as Treasurer; Fernando Austria as Secretary; Jason Malabute as Press Relations Officer; and Vee Cristobal as Auditor The following additional board members wereelected:MarieDomingo,NanieEnriquez, Monette Rivera, Diana Soriano, and Victor Sy PASCPA-LA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the account-

ing profession and to foster cordial and harmonious relationships among the members and the community. It offers low-cost high quality continuing education, scholarship, mentoring and community services. It runs on the principle of unity by fostering cordial and harmonious relationships among members of the Society and the community. The organization has over three hundred members. For questions or more information, please email info.pascpa@gmail. com. (Contributed by Jason Malabute). ■

FABG, Glendale Library and ALQ presents Philippine Heritage-Arts and Culture celebration on Oct. 28

COME join us on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library located at 222 E. Harvard St., when the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG), Glendale Library-Arts and Culture and Alexis Louise Quiza Foundation (ALQ) co-host the “Philippine Heritage Arts and Culture Celebration.”

This event is OPEN TO ALL and FREE admission.

It will be a wonderful evening showcasing folk dances by Malaya Fil-Am Dance Arts, Filipinianainspired creations fashion show by designer Carl

Andrada, music and songs by Holy Family Filipino Chorale, Ethel and Clarita Alejo, Jennifer Kumiyama and of course, the Introvoys, and more. Meet & Greet and food sampling will take place from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., after which an exciting program will start until 8:30 p.m.

Bring your family and friends! The Office of the Philippine Consulate, legislative and city officials, GCC Board, GUSD Board and other organizations have also been invited. You don’t want to miss this one! Save the date now and be there!

For further info, please contact Marlene Cagatao (818) 450-9704 or Edith Fuentes (818) 736-1911. ■

Los Angeles County legal-services office presents Sen. Mitchell with 2017 Leadership Award

NEIGHBORHOOD Legal Services of Los Angeles County, one of the largest and most prominent public interest law offices in the nation, has conferred Sen. Holly J. Mitchell with its 2017 Leadership Award for legislation and advocacy championing rights for struggling families.

NLSLA, as the group calls itself, specializes in areas of law that disproportionally impact the poor, including housing, healthcare and public benefits.

“Senator Mitchell has spent her career fighting to improve the lives of people living in poverty—refusing to make the kind of political compromises that often leave low-income Californians without access to opportunity and justice,” said former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, who presented Mitchell with the award at a recent event ath the Skirball Cultural Center in L.A. “She is also a staunch, longtime supporter of legal services, and knows that the laws that protect people living in poverty are meaningless unless there is someone there to ensure they are enforced.”

More than 100 policymakers, lawyers, community advocates and families who have made use of NSLA’s services attended the event.

Sen. Mitchell is chair of the Senate Budget Committee. A member of the Legislature for more than six years, she represents nearly 1 million residents of Senate District 30, which includes Culver City Senator Holly J. Mitchell and much of Los Angeles. ■

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

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FPAC heAdliners in FoCus:

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 11, 2017

26 years of festival of PhiliPPine arts and Culture (fPaC):

LA’s largest and longest-running Fil-Am celebration crosses generations, showcases best in Filipino culture

by AJPress

W

ith FilipinoAmerican history Month underway, communities across the United States have planned events throughout October, such as parades, literary fairs and food fests, to showcase Fil-Am influence in the country. in Los Angeles, one of the most-anticipated celebrations is the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) organized by the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARtS) on Saturday, October 14 at Echo Park Lake in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

FPAC was first conceptualized in 1990 as part of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department’s Festivals Program, an arts program designed to address the multicultural constituency of the city.

Organized by about 100 artists and community leaders, the first festival took place at Los Angeles City College on Mother’s Day, May 14, 1992, where 3,000 participants braved the aftermath of the LA riots that occurred the week before. FPAC has only grown stronger and bigger, moving to Cabrillo Beach in 1994, then to Pt. Fermin Park in 2001. Since 2014, FPAC has taken place at the official birthplace of the City of Los Angeles where FilAms can trace their heritage in the city to its founding.

FPAC found a home at Echo Park Lake in 2016, strategically located near historic Filipinotown and other LA neighborhoods where many Fil-Ams call home. this coming Saturday, the day-long affair returns.

Now on its 26th year, FPAC is considered the largest and longest-running Fil-Am festival in the country. What makes FPAC a treasured gathering each year is the mix of art, cultural performances, mainstream Fil-Am talent, culinary delights, and multi-generation attendees that come together for one day. “twenty-six years later, we are still that authentic cultural festival that bridges generations,” shared FilAm ARtS interim executive director tina Salonga-Bulchand. “the festival is inclusive, bringing those layers of multiple generations and levels of immigration to one place. it’s something that lolas, second-generation Fil-Ams, and even non-Pinoys, can enjoy.”

Far East Movement

FPAC official photos by Baltazar Jonnel Dasalla

Apl.de.ap & Jessica reynoso With the FPAC only days away, the excitement is reaching fever pitch. in the lead-up to the event, organizers FilAm ARtS have announced the lineup of performers and guests slated to make an appearance at the festival.

Among the marquee headliners are Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, and Jessica Reynoso, a Fil-Am vocal virtuoso from “the Voice of the Philippines” Season One. Apl.de.ap is a Pampangaborn Filipino-American musician, rapper, record producer, entrepreneur & philanthropist, best known as a co-founder and member of the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas (BEP). BEP has sold an estimated 76 million records (35 million albums and 41 million singles), making them one of the world’s best-selling groups of all time.

Jessica, whose musical inspirations include Whitney houston, Barbara Streisand, and Aretha Franklin, found her singing voice at age 5 when she belted out “Greatest Love of All” at home to her stunned family. Since then, she has made appearances as a young performer on various tV shows. in 2013, she auditioned for the Voice of the Philippines. the rest, as they say, is history.

Jessica’s singing prowess and authenticity landed her an artist development and brand marketing contract with BMBX, Apl.de.ap’s talent management, and promotion label. Apl is not only helping promote Jessica, but is also involved in the production of her music as well. he appears in her new “Not Sorry” music video, due to be released soon which also includes a cameo from Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson of the LA Lakers.

Apl and Jessica met when she was among the last six artists of team Apl on “the Voice of the Philippines.”

Apl instantly made a connection with Jessica because of her amazing talent, and their

Anatalia Villaranda

Cultural, mainstream talent and appearances this year’s theme is SalinLahi (“Bridging Generations”), which can be reflected in every facet of the festival, from the food to performances.

“With well-thought-out curated events throughout the day, the traditional aspects of Filipino culture merge with the modern Fil-Am experience.

FPAC is also authentically LA, creating a type of culture of its own. For Fil-Ams who grew up in the city, this festival connects them to their Filipino roots,” Bulchand continued.

Among the headliners of FPAC are Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.Ap, who has appeared at the festival throughout the years, and Jordan Clarkson, the point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers.

FPAC will be Clarkson’s first public appearance at a FilAm event in LA, reflecting his commitment to connect with his roots and the community at large. R&B singer Jessica Reynoso, who was part of Apl. de.Ap’s team of vocalists in “the Voice of the Philippines” Season One, will

Jordan Clarkson, LA Lakers Point Guard

also perform on the FPAC stage on Saturday.

FPAC will also feature other headliners like DJ Virman of the Far East Movement, Kronika of Soulection, Anatalia Villaranda from the Voice Season 12, Bella Fiasco, and Joel Quizon (Disco Manila). the talent ranges from traditional and modern dance, classical and contemporary music, martial arts, and other art forms like stand-up comedy and practical magic. Festival goers can also expect musical genres like funky Manila Disco, hip-hop, R&B, Pop, Electronic, Reggae, Funk, and OPM, according to FPAC’s programming director, Richie Menchavez of tRAKtiViSt. Other acts slated to perform include: Ryan Africa, Gingee, Katipunan Poetry Slam, Kayamanan Ng Lahi, NAK, Alfa, Buhay Cali, Samantha Mendoza, Rocky Sandoval, Ranella Ferrer, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, Erwin & Jake (harana Men’s Chorus) Culture Shock LA, Erik Escobar, DreMagix, Shekinah Paguirigan, BiBAK Dance Ensemble, Rocksteady Rondalla, PaaMano Eskrima, Lyda harlan, Nicco, Fea-

Jessica Reynoso Bella Fiasco

tured FPAC DJ Achilles Aurelius.

A special Community Arts Block will also feature the likes of Jeserey Sanchez of iSAtv, Karen Joyce of tuesday Night Project, Matt Almodiel of Kollaboration, Jeremy Crooks of Our Mic, and Sunday Jump.

Distinguished awardees FilAm ARtS continues to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses who have made an impact in the Fil-Am and greater Southern California communities. this year, there will be five awardees: LA County Supervisor hilda Solis (Public Service Award), Pilipino Workers’ Center (Community Service Award), Philippine Expressions Bookshop (Literary Award), Martial Arts Guru Richard Bustillo (Excellence in Arts Award), and actor Reggie Lee (Excellence in Arts Award).

Pavilions Since FPAC takes place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, there will be programming throughout the day to entertain and engage attendees of all ages.

From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the festival will have its first-ever Wellness Pavilion, featuring fitness and wellness-related activities, like a walk/run around the lake, yoga hour, and a talk by herbalaria.

Other areas of the park include a Seniors Pavilion, Youth Pavilion for young attendees, Continued on Page 5

Apl.de.ap

shared heritage of both being adopted and of Filipino and African-American descent. the two forged a strong bond throughout the show’s duration in the Philippines, and during their 2015 performance at the White house for the FilipinoAmerican history Month.

Apl at FPAC According to FPAC organizers, Apl has been a longtime supporter of the festival. FilAm ARtS interim executive director tina Salonga-Bulchand said that Apl brings in an unparalleled level of energy and enthusiasm to the festival. “his performances at FPAC has always been exciting and he knows how to get the audience going,” said SalongaBulchand. “his support really means so much for us.”

Apl has been a long supporter of FPAC, not only as a headliner in 2016 but in the prior years. Onstage during his FPAC 25 performance, Apl said that he always feels at home at FPAC, especially in his backyard of Echo Park where the Black Eyed Peas began their career performing at local Filipino house parties.

Similar to their recent performances at MtV Asia, Apl and Jessica will do a combined set of her music alongside his own. Jessica’s voice and stage presence is powerful and will be something that people will be left speaking about, similar to her performance with Apl at the White house where she sang in both English and tagalog, stunning the crowd. in all of his performances, Apl’s positive vibe and energy brings together generations of fans in a hospitable, charismatic way that will make you feel like you’re watching your humble ‘kuya’ on stage. it’s like watching a family member who just happens to be a global superstar that has sold over 76 million records and as part of one of the biggest pop selling groups of all time.

Form the lolos and lolas, titos and titas, to the anaks and the pamangkins, Apl will have the FPAC festival goers dancing and singing along to his timeless hits.

entertainment 3 Regine comes to terms with changes beyond her control The coming of age of Aga Muhlach The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 11, 2017

by ALLAN

POLICARPIO Inquirer.net

BECAUSE she felt like making things harder for herself, Regine Velasquez jested she has decided to prepare two vastly different repertoires for “R3.0,” her coming two-night concert to commemorate her 30th anniversary.

But kidding aside, it’s just that narrowing down 30 years’ worth of material into a 20song set list was almost impossible for the songstress to do.

“I have recorded and performed a lot of songs

throughout the years, which include originals and covers, as well as themes for movies and television series. We had to choose the songs carefully,” Regine told the Inquirer in a recent interview. “We even did online polls so we could get the fans’ pulse, to know what they like.”

Only the opening and the middle segments will be the same for both nights. But rest assured, Regine stressed, the fans can expect their dose of her signature birit songs on both dates—“On the Wings of Love,” “What Kind of Fool Am I?” and more. There will be a smattering of sweet, easy-listening tunes, too.

“I will be doing about 20 numbers. And if we include the medleys, that would bring the number to 30 songs,” related the acclaimed recording artist, who will be joined onstage by an extensive roster of special guests, including husband Ogie Alcasid, Sarah Geronimo, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, Jona and Angeline Quinto.

“In effect, I will be pulling off two different concerts,” Regine said of “R3.0,” which will be held on Oct. 21 and 22 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

She described the show’s concept as “exciting,” “challenging,” but definitely “a lot of work.” That’s why she has been doing intensive rehearsals— and, “for the first time in her career”—undergoing formal voice training.

“I have been getting lessons from teacher Annie (Quintos, of The CompanY), mostly to help strengthen and improve my vocal stamina. Our body changes as we get older—so does our vocal cords. Of course, I have to do promotional work, too, which involves using my voice,” she related.

But, perhaps the best kind of preparation she could have, Regine surmised, is to take things easy. Looking back at her 2012 “Silver” concert—which she had to cancel and restage the next year because of a viral infection that affected her voice—Regine realized that she had been consumed by her anxiousness to deliver.

“The pressure I put on myself really weakened my immune system. I was bent on proving to my audience that I still had it when, in fact, what they just wanted was to celebrate with me,” said Regine, who’s dedicating the show to her parents and God, whom she thanked for her prodigious musical gifts.

“Kung mag-crack ang boses ko, so be it. I don’t want to stress myself,” she said. “This time around, I will enjoy myself and savor every minute I spend onstage.”

by PABLO

A. TARIMAN Philstar.com

Aga Muhlach

growing up.

He considers maturing as the long process of coming to terms with one’s strong and weak points and being resolute with what he has.

To be sure, nothing came easy for him even if he came from a showbiz family. His sister

Arlene is also active in showbiz, his father is a younger brother of movie queen Amalia Fuentes and his cousin Niño Muhlach is an awarded child star.

But through all his colorful life, he considers himself very much grounded.

Continued on Page 4

Philstar.com photo

MANILA — A child actor at age seven, a matinee idol at age 15 (“Bagets”), an unwed father at age 17, a full-fledged husband at 34 and now father of three in his mid-40s, Aga Muhlach likes to think of himself as one living between generations.

In the film “Seven Sundays,” directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, he plays the elder son with younger brothers Dingdong Dantes and Enrique Gil with a patriarch played by Ronaldo Valdez, whose character has only a few weeks left to enjoy his family life.

Aga says: “I feel good in this role because I didn’t have to lose weight which is always a struggle. Sometime in the last six years, I live happily with my family with no fix plan about the kind of films I should do. I just felt I am not prepared for a comeback movie. I resisted suggestions of a romantic film because I didn’t have the body conceived for the role although I’ve been working hard to shed extra weight. But I am getting there. I don’t look that chubby now.”

With acting awards to his credit, it comes as a surprise to him that he is treated like a movie icon perfect as a role model. For one, he admits, he didn’t live a perfect life. He had his share of rebellious phases during his younger years and now he treats them as part of

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Filipina-Italian model sexually Iza Calzado now engaged to assaulted by Harvey Weinstein in 2015 The film producer’s sexual advances caught on audio Fil-Brit business partner The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 11, 2017

by KlaRize

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

MANILA — Finally, Iza Calzado can call Ben Wintle her fiancé.

Early this year, actress Iza Calzado asked Philstar.com to correct the word “fiancé” in an article, and instead, refer to the guy she has been dating for five years, Ben Wintle, as simply “boyfriend” since she felt calling him her “fiancé” could be too assuming.

But starting last Sunday, October 8, Iza can now confidently call Ben as her fiancé as the Filipino-British businessman has already asked for her hand in marriage in front of their celebrity friends in Sonya’s Garden, Tagaytay.

In Instagram posts by fashion designer Rajo Laurel, Ben is shown down on one knee as he asked Iza to be his wife.

Iza sheds tears as she jokingly check out the ring, even biting it to see if it was real, before saying “Yes!” “Congratulations to my friends @missizacalzado & @ benmwintle on their engage-

MeDenilla AJPress

ment! What a blessing to witness this special moment in your lives. So happy for you both!,” Laurel said in a post.

Likewise, actress-TV host Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon, the couple’s friend and business partner, shared how she has bear witness how Ben has been there for Iza through ups and downs. This includes Ben asking Iza’s dad, the late director and choreographer Lito Calzado, for permission to date Iza, when Lito was already in the hospital.

“I first met @benmwintle and his payong in almon marina...then we watched the #blackeyedpeas later that night. Eventually, we became partners in his @bookyapp, traveled to KL, LA, shared stories about,” Karylle said.

“I’ve watched him as a pole on the dance floor and i watched him gently stay at iza’s side during the bad times. I made sure to get Tito Lito’s approval which of course Ben Tumbling got at the hospital. Si @missizacalzado, you know how much we love each other naman na. Love u both and congratulations,”

AFTER the New York Times published a bombshell investigative story about the sexual misconduct committed by renowned Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein, more details are beginning to emerge with more victims sharing their own stories.

Since the story broke last Thursday, October 5, it became publicly known for the first time Iza Calzado that for three decades, WeinKarylle added. stein — who has since been fired Celebrity stylist Kat Cruz, from his company, The Weinwho also witnessed the engagement, shared on Instagram stein Company — reportedly a close up of the diamond spar- had multiple sexual harassment and assault allegations against kler Ben gave Iza as engagehim from a slew of actresses and ment ring. colleagues; he had reached at In a recent interview least eight settlements. with Philstar.com contributor Among the stories surfacMaridol Ranoa-Bismark, Iza said that even after getting married, ing this week includes one from Filipina-Italian model Ambra she would still continue acting.

Battilana Gutierrez who accused “After all, Ben, her boyWeinstein of sexual assault, a friend, has always been supportive of her career ever since story that broke on the morning of Tuesday, October 10 by The they started their relationship five years ago. He was with her New Yorker.

Gutierrez, 24, was a finalin Osaka. He lets Iza watch teleseryes even if he cannot under- ist in the Miss Italy contest in stand the dialogue,” Ranoa-Bis- 2015 when she met Weinstein at a reception for “New York mark wrote.

Spring Spectacular”, a show he was producing at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

After the event, Weinstein emailed Gutierrez’s agent to set up a business meeting at his office in Tribeca. She sat with him in his office and, while reviewing her modeling portfolio, Weinstein reportedly stared at her breasts and asked if they were real. He then “lunged” at the young model and groped her breasts and attempted to put his hand up her skirt as she protested.

He backed off and invited her to see the Broadway musical he was producing, “Finding Neverland” with him. Instead of going to the show, Gutierrez visited the New York Police Department to report the assault.

While sitting with investigators Instagram/Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon, Rajo Laurel, Kat Cruz from the Special Victims Division, Weinstein called her and demanded to know why she didn’t come to the show.

With the help of investigators, she agreed to meet with Weinstein the next day at the bar of the Tribeca Grand Hotel where she would wear a wire and be guided by undercover officers.

After meeting with him at the bar, Gutierrez was invited to join Weinstein in his hotel room and watch him shower. She repeatedly refused, but Weinstein persisted. When they reach the hallway outside his room, a tense exchange ensues which was recorded.

Engaged couple Ben Wintle and Iza Calzado

Look Maganda

Filipina-Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez

Photo from Instagram/@Ambrabgutierrez

She repeatedly said, “I don’t want to,” “I want to leave” and “I want to go downstairs,” before asking him directly why he had groped her the previous day.

“Oh, please, I’m sorry just come on in,” Weinstein replied, as heard in the audio recording.

“I’m used to that.”

“You’re used to that?” Gutierrez asked, sounding horrified.

“Yes,” he replied. “I won’t do it again.”

If Weinstein would have been charged, the producer would have faced a count of sexual abuse in the third degree, an offense punishable by three months in jail.

But the police investigation was hindered as details of Gutierrez’s life began to surface in tabloids, including associations with controversial former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his notorious “bunga bunga” sex parties, according to The New Yorker report. She also made an allegation of sexual assault against an Italian businessman as a teenager, but refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Two sources involved in the 2015 police investigation on Weinstein told The New Yorker that there was no reason to doubt the young model’s account, and that there was enough evidence to prosecute the high-profile film producer.

But the tabloid stories of Gutierrez’s life complicated the case for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, who later dropped the criminal charges.

Since then, Gutierrez has been

prohibited from discussing the incident with reporters due to a tightly-written nondisclosure agreement she signed with Weinstein’s lawyers, including an affidavit that stated that the events recorded on audio never happened. She also received an undisclosed payment.

Days after the Times’ initial report, the Manhattan DA defended their decision not to prosecute Weinstein. Chief Assistant DA Karen FriedmanAgnifilo told the NY Post that the recorded meeting between Gutierrez and Weinstein was done so “without our knowledge or input.”

“The seasoned prosecutors in our Sex Crimes Unit were not afforded the opportunity before the meeting to counsel investigators on what was necessary to capture in order to prove a misdemeanor sex crime,” she said. “While the recording is horrifying to listen to, what emerged from the audio was insufficient to prove a crime under New York law, which requires prosecutors to establish criminal intent.”

“Mr. Weinstein’s pattern of mistreating women, as recounted in recent reports, is disgraceful and shocks the conscience,” she continued, adding that she urges all victims of sexual assault and misconduct to contact their local DA’s sex crimes hotline.

Other actresses that have come forward with their own stories include Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan, among many others.

The coming of age of Aga...

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From Page 3 Every film offers he treats as an opportunity to learn more from people he is working with for the first time. He likes being directed by Cathy.

“She is one of a kind,” says Aga. “She comes to the set ready for work but she has a way of letting us know that everything is not going to be easy.

She has her own ideas. We, the actors, have our own. We exchange perceptions, which is good. Sometimes she says one approach should be good and often, she is right. When I have my doubts, I usually give my full trust to the director. After all, she is the main storyteller and she has an overall view of how the film should look and feel like. And that came easy for me because she is one who will not settle for the easy way. She will try many other things to make scenes natural and real. That she

motivates very well is a gift as a director. She doesn’t tell you that in this scene you should do this and that. Instead, she tells you how best you can approach the scene and from there, she trusts his actors to the fullest.”

Direk Cathy has her own share of little butterflies in her stomach, so to speak, when she learned she would work with the actor. “Of course, he is the Aga Muhlach and he has the experience and achievements that I don’t have. What I like about him is the full trust he gives to the director. You can feel that in every scene you do with him. In that sense, it was pure joy working with him.”

Co-actor Dingdong speaks of Aga as his idol even in his younger years. “I like the way he approaches his roles and for that I only have admiration for him. But after working with him in ‘Seven Sundays,’ I have

admiration for him not just as an actor but also as a person. He inspires and he makes everyone feel good on the set. There is more to him not just as an actor.

He is the kind you will admire even after the cameras had stopped rolling.”

Looking back, Aga admits marriage and fatherhood taught him a lot about being an actor.

“Acting is not just something you do after reading a script.

Most of the time, acting doesn’t come easy. From my experience, acting becomes a natural tool if you absorb the craft from life itself. You learn acting not just from your happy times but from those phases you undergo trials. Yes, indeed, marriage and fatherhood made me a better actor and a better person.”

“Seven Sundays” — also starring Cristine Reyes — opened on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in cinemas.

Priced from $55-$199.

626•918-2020

909•628-5581 Aga with co-actors Dingdong Dantes and Enrique Gil. The actor is admired not just as an actor but also as a person.

Philstar.com photo

LA’s largest and longest-running Fil-Am gathering bridges...

features

5

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 11, 2017

From Page 2

Tinikling Battle, Literary Pavilion, and the Pilipino Artists Network (PAN) Pavilion showcasing the visual art of local Filipino artists.

Curated by Sunday Jump, the Literary Pavilion (from 11 a.m. to 6:20 p.m.) will feature events such as: a two-hour block of imaginative performances and readings, a poetry wall to write a collective poem, an interactive area to meet and greet with artists, and the annual poetry slam. Continuing the work of those who have paved the way before us, from Jose Rizal to Jessica Hagedorn, the Literary Arts Pavilion provides a platform for us to showcase the variety of voices and points of view amongst Filipinos and Fil-Ams today.

Featured artists at the pavilion include Phylizia Carrillo, Janelle Paule, Andres Paul Ramacho, Zosimo Quibilian, Jr., Navor, Jensen, Cherisse Yanit Nadal, F. Douglas Brown, Abigail Adriano Aseo, Gio, and Miranda Tsang.

Culinary feast Of course, it’s not a Filipino party without food. With the array of options available at

FPAC will feature martial art demonstrations.

FPAC, festival goers will surely not leave hungry.

The vendors have been thoughtfully organized to show the best in Fil-Am entrepreneurship and cuisine. Confirmed food vendors include Neri’s restaurant, Benaddictz, Grublife, Kapamilya Restaurant, Baboys of Carson, Ensaymada Project, Crepe Life, Stoked!

BBQ, The Parks Finest, Ramar Foods, Rice and Shine, Baked Dessert Bar, Drizzle Food Truck, Tasty Block Food Truck, Lobos Food Truck. Achara Food Truck, and White Rabbit Food Truck.

“We are really excited to showcase the creative side of

From desserts to savory dishes, you wonʼt leave FPAC hungry.

these Fil-Am culinary entrepreneurs,” Salonga-Bulchand said. “With the way they create these beautiful foods, they are as much of artists as they are entrepreneurs.”

Benaddictz – a wordplay on “eggs benedict” and “addict” – is known for its uniquely Pinoy take on brunch. Its Chicken Adobo Eggs Benedict recipe is one of the most sought-after items at its brunch pop-ups all over town.

“FPAC engagement is important because it brings so many years of a cultural following. In my generation, it’s the original Filipino festival in Los Angeles,” Justin Foronda, founder of the Fil-Am brunch favorite, said.

On Saturday, Benaddictz will be serving Sarap’y Joe (a Filipino Spaghettistyle Chilli served on Garlic Buttered Pan de Sal) and Elote Waffles (corninfused batter with lime cream and salsa powder).

Festival goers can also expect treats such as Ube and Thai tea crepes from Crepe Life or an array of ensaymada flavors — like queso de bola, dulce de leche or Ensaymatcha™ chocolate — from Ensaymada Project.

The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture is a free event from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No admission fee is needed for entry.

It will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Echo Park Lake in Echo Park, Los Angeles.

For more information, please visithttp://www.filamarts.org.

Marian Rivera makes a teleserye comeback via GMA-7ʼs new primetime series “Super Maʼam.”

GMA photos

Upbeat start for Marian’s new ‘fantaserye’

desultorily pat and predictable.

So, her stellar contribution Inquirer.net to the new show was merely LAST month, Marian nominal.

Rivera’s new fantaserye, “Super Still, Marian worked so Ma’am,” had a big, blithe start feistily on her action scenes on GMA 7, assuring the success that she kept the series’ openof its leading lady’s comeback ing gambit bright and sprightbid after becoming a mom. ly—and we looked forward to The new show had an upthe show’s next installments. beat opening because it wisely Unfortunately, subsequent began its storytelling more telecasts of “Super Ma’am” or less in the present tense, didn’t live up to expectations— without first fielding its “explibecause, what do you know? catory” backstory, as many local The show did go into “backTV series are wont to do. story” mode, showing how Instead of first showing unhappy Marian’s character Marian’s character as a kid, was as a child, how she got the she was already a teacher who drive to help others by fightsaved her student and other ing against all evil forces, both people from the onslaughts of natural and elemental, etc. nasty super-elemental, TamaWe hope that the series will wos, called by unleashing her go back to “present-tense” own superpowers as “Super storytelling as soon as possible, Ma’am” to foil their dastardly so Marian’s dynamic vivacity, schemes. which is one of the series’ main Right off the bat, therefore, viewing factors, will kick in she was fighting with an evil again. super-opponent portrayed by In addition, we trust that guest star, Ai-Ai delas Alas, who Marian’s costars will strive graced the series’ buena mano harder to add to the show’s dytelecast to hype up its “star namism, instead of just relying value.” on her to do much of the heavy Unfortunately, Ai-Ai turned lifting and audience-pleasing. out to be a merely perfuncFact is, “Super Ma’am” tory super-nemesis, with her or has a relatively strong stellar her action double’s “amazing” and character complement, displays of superpower looking including Dina Bonnevie, Kim

by NESTOR

U. TORRE

Domingo, Jackie Lou Blanco, Jerald Napoles, Meg Imperial, Jillian Ward, Helen Gamboa and newcomer Matthias Rhodes.

But, some of them have not (yet) been effectively utilized, or have been underperforming, so they need to boost their moxie and mojo level.

In Jerald’s case, it isn’t a lack of talent, but focus that’s keeping him from strutting his stuff.

He’s supposed to be Marian’s “sort of” leading man, but has generally been lumped together with the other stellar players as of this writing—so, he needs to be given more and better scripted opportunities to shine.

Thus far, the stellar cast member who’s making the strongest impression, aside from Marian, is Jackie Lou, who’s edgily effective as the Tamawo queen who disguises herself as a human to conquer mankind and force it to do her bidding.

Marian needs more proactive costars like her, so underperforming cast members should break into a sweat, and lift their share of the load.

After all, it’s their show, too, right?

FPAC26 salin-lahi FESTIVAL OF PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURE PRESENTED BY

bridging Generations OCTOBER 14, 2017 @ ECHO PARK LAKE

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 8:00AM TO 10:00AM WELLNESS MORNING

WALKATHON (OPEN TO ALL AGES, NON-COMPETITIVE, SELF-PACED) YOGA SESSION COURTESY OF SALAMAT YOGA WELLNESS TALK COURTESY OF HERBALARIA

10:00AM TO 6:00PM

1ST ANNUAL LOS ANGELES FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (A WEKAF-SANCTIONED EVENT)

9:45AM TO 6:30PM

ARTS AND CRAFTS VISUAL ARTS DISPLAYS TRADITIONAL FILIPINO GAMES PERFORMANCES BY TRADITIONAL & CONTEMPORARY FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTISTS

FEATURING JORDAN CLARKSON (LOS ANGELES LAKERS), APL.DE.AP (OF THE BLACK EYED PEAS), JOEL QUIZON (DISCO MANILA) ...

6:30PM TO 8:00PM FPAC @ NITE

FEATURING DJ VIRMAN, KRONIKA (SOULECTION), BELLA FIASCO

@FILAMARTS @FILAMARTSLA

@FILAMARTSLA @FPACOFFICIAL #FPAC2017 #FILAMARTS #FPAC26 #FILAMARTSLA

SEE YOU THERE! SPONSORS:

DESIGN & LAYOUT BY BALTAZAR JONNEL DASALLA