102517 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

October 25-27, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 86 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Duterte urges troops to remain loyal DATELINE USA As NorCal fires near to Constitution amid martial law containment, Fil-Ams FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

tell their stories

Filipina caregiver who stayed with patient in Napa among those who perished

EVER since the massive wildfires began in Northern California on October 8, fire and police officials have been grappling with containing the ongoing devastation as well as searching for more information on the damage done and the more than 100,000 residents that have been affected.

Mainly affecting Wine Country, the devastating fires have burned more than 245,000 acres of land and have claimed the lives of at least 42 people, according to fire officials. Additionally, the fires have charred more than 8,400 structures, as of Monday, October 23.

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US defense chief hails PH victory in Marawi

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte called on the country’s security forces to remain loyal to the Constitution amid the implementation of martial law.

Duterte on Tuesday, October 24 hailed the military’s efforts in combating rebels in Marawi City but warned

Photo from Defense.gov

UNITED States Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday, October 23, commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for liberating Marawi City from the Islamic State-inspired Maute group.

Mattis remarked that the Philippines’ victory has sent a “very strong message” to terrorists.

“One of the first things I’m going to do when I get there is commend the Philippine military for liberating Marawi from the terrorists,” the U.S. defense chief told reporters on his way to Manila to attend the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defense Ministers’ Meeting.

“It was a very tough fight as you know in southern Mindanao, And I think the Philippine military sends a very strong message to

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nearly five months since the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked the city on May 23.

The attack prompted Duterte to impose martial law in the entire Mindanao, which is set to expire by the end of the year.

Duterte lauded the “valor and sacrifices” of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in Marawi as he reiter-

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FBI confirms DNA sample from Hapilon’s remains

by DEMPSEY

REYES ManilaTimes.net

THE United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed through DNA testing that the body retrieved from Marawi City believed to be Isnilon Hapilon’s is indeed Isnilon Hapilon ManilaTimes.net poto his remains.

“We have received an official report that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that the DNA sample taken from a body recovered by our operating units in Marawi matches that of Isnilon Hapilon,” Defense

u PAGE A2 US Defense Secretary James Mattis

as martial law remains in effect in Mindanao, and there are persisting threats of terrorism and insurgency,” he added.

Earlier this week, the Philippine government declared the Marawi siege over.

Considered as the longest conflict in the Philippines since World War II, more than 800 militants, 160 government troopers, and 40 civilians died

of terrorism and insurgency that continue to pose threats to public safety.

“We have made significant headway in ridding the country of the scourges of criminality, insurgency, terrorism and corruption because of your invaluable contributions and there could never be a task more ennobling than that,” the president said in a speech.

“I enjoin our troops to continue performing their duties well, especially

LAST RESPECTS. President Rodrigo Duterte kisses the coffin containing the remains of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Vidal, who was the country’s most senior Prince of the Church, died last week at the age of 86.

Malacañang photo

HELP FROM OTHER COUNTRIES COMING

Rejection of EU aid not a setback, exec says

by PHILIP

C. TUBEZA Inquirer.net

THE Duterte administration’s decision to reject aid from the European Union (EU), even for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, was not a setback for the city’s rebuilding, a government official said on Monday, Oct. 23.

Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima of the Office of Civil Defense said that other countries and international financial institutions pledged to support the city’s rehabilitation after government troops liberated it from Islamic State (IS)-inspired

terrorists.

“Of course… there are other donors.

There are possible— other possible donors,” Purisima said in a media briefing.

“And in fact, the finance and resource management subcommittee is meeting as we speak in the Department of Finance to discuss the options that we have in terms of donations, and in terms of accepting grants,” he said.

Purisima said Thailand, India and China had provided assistance for Marawi evacuees.

“We will, of course, exhaust all other pos-

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MOVING OUT. Soldiers load their belongings onto trucks as they start pulling out from the main battle area in Marawi City. Government troops have earlier cleared several villages occupied by the Islamic State-linked Maute group. These villages were Matampay, Tampilong, East Basak, Basak Malutlut, Moriatao, Loksadato, Marawi Poblacion, Datu Saber, Green and Panggao Saduc.

ManilaTimes.net photo

starts decryption, Palace: DOJ to study treason allegations against Trillanes Comelec printing of ballot images in

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

MALACAÑANG said it would be up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to probe allegations that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV committed treason when he discussed with United States officials the corruption and human rights situation in the Philippines.

In a radio interview on Sunday, October 22, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was asked to comment if Trillanes should be charged with treason.

Andanar said that the opposition senator should be investigat-

ed first before any conclusions can be made.

“Ah ‘yan ay pag-aaralan ng Department of Justice, pag-aaralan ‘yan ng mga abogado ng ating pangulo, sapagka’t ito rin po ay mga legal matters (That will be studied by the Department of Justice, that will be studied by the lawyers of our president because these are legal matters),” the communications secretary responded.

“We have to study this first. It’s hard to make hasty pronouncements,” he added.

Last week, U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a critic of Philippine President Rodrigo

Duterte’s drug war, confirmed in a Twitter post that he met with Trillanes.

“Senator @TrillanesSonny & I discussed U.S.-#Philippines alliance, combating corruption & protecting #humanrights amid their narcotics crisis,” Rubio said in a tweet.

Last year, Rubio expressed “grave concern about the campaign of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations” under the Duterte administration.

Trillanes, for his part, confirmed that his meeting with Rubio focused on “enhancing RPU.S. relations, corruption, and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV

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Inquirer.net photo

vice pres. electoral protest

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has begun to decrypt and print the ballot images from three pilot provinces former Philippine Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. identified in his poll protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The Comelec started the process in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental on Monday, October 23, after getting the go signal from

the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). It is expected to take at least seven months.

The son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand Marcos lost last year’s vice presidential election with around 263,000 fewer votes than Robredo. Marcos filed a case before the SC, accusing her of committing a massive electoral fraud.

In his poll protest, the former senator asked for the manual recount of votes in 25 provinces

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A OCTOBER 25-27, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

FBI confirms DNA sample...

PAGE A1 Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Saturday, Oct. 21.

“This process of verification is also being conducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered so far,” Lorenza added.

Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute were both killed in a predawn assault by the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers and Light Reaction on Monday, Oct. 16.

Their remains were retrieved by the same units.

Lorenzana had said that the location of the two were pinpointed by a female hostage, whose identity the Armed Forces of the Philippines refused to disclose.

The day after the operations, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from the hands of the terrorists amid ongoing clashes to crack down the remaining extremists in the main battle zone.

Three days after, Malaysia’s most wanted terrorist and former

academician Dr. Mahmud Ahmad was confirmed dead by the military following an overnight operation.

‘Not interested’ As for the remains of Maute, Lorenzana said the FBI “might not be interested” in running DNA tests.

“Maybe they (FBI) are not interested because they do not have a reward for Omar’s capture, only Hapilon,” Lorenzana told The Manila Times in a text message also on Saturday.

“Their requirement is to ensure that the cadaver retrieved is to the terrorist they (FBI) only have rewards for,” he added.

Hapilon has a bounty worth $5 million from the US government which shall be given to the person who identified the exact location of the self-proclaimed IS “emir” for southeast Asia.

Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año had said that the reward will be shared by two individuals.

Maute’s head has a bounty worth P10 million, which was offered by the Philippine government during the early days of the fighting.

Año and Lorenzana both clarified then that the rewards for the neutralization of the two prominent terrorist leaders will not go to military personnel who conducted the operations, but will be handed to the civilians who pointed to their locations.

According to Lorenzana, no Philippine agency at this point is conducting DNA tests on Maute’s remains.

“Our PNP (Philippine National Police) [Crime] Laboratory is not, to my knowledge, conducting DNA testing nor any local outfit that I know of,” Lorenzana said.

He also disclosed that he saw the body and said he was sure that it was Maute.

“Besides, his (Maute) face was intact and so was easy to identify.

I saw his body and I am sure it was him. And [these also]were the conclusion of the commanders. Even Isnilon was easily identifiable,” Lorenzana told The Manila Times. n

LARRY ITLIONG AWARDEE. Luisa Blue (middle), executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), is the 2017 Larry Itliong labor awardee. She received the award from Carson Councilmember Elito Santarina (right) and Johnny Itliong (left), son of Larry Itliong, at Veterans Park on Saturday, October 21, during the city’s 8th annual celebration of the late Filipino labor leader.

Photo courtesy of Fe Koons

Duterte urges troops...

PAGE A1 ated his vow to take care of their families.

“Rest assured that the Philippines is committed to promote the welfare of all PAF personnel and their loved ones,” the president said.

“That you have left your families and the comfort of your homes to serve the country is

truly praiseworthy. Indeed, the Philippines and our people are indebted to you because of the sacrifices you have made every single day,” he added.

In a separate statement, Malacañang admitted that the IS terrorist group remains a global threat despite its defeat in Marawi.

“While we have defeated the

Maute group here, it cannot be denied that IS remains a global threat,” Duterte’s spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

He further emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation with other countries in combating the threats posed by the terrorist groups.

“It is therefore necessary for us to continue our cooperation and alliance with our friends in the international community to halt the spread of IS menace,” Abella added. n

Rejection of EU aid not a setback...

PAGE A1 sibilities and we are being also assisted by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank regarding this,” he said.

President Duterte last week announced that the Philippines would no longer accept new grants from the European Union due to its continued criticism of the government’s bloody war against drugs.

Purisima said he had no information if individual European countries had offered help to re-

build Marawi.

“They might have gone directly to the agencies. I still have no information on that,” he said.

When asked if the government would accept pledges from European countries, Purisima said: “Well, the task force would have to make a decision on that in light of the pronouncement of our president.”

The government said that at least P50 billion was needed for the rehabilitation of Marawi. It had set aside P5 billion this year

and P10 billion next year.

“As of last count, we have 72,000 or so families, or 359,000 individuals spread out … in evacuation centers and [classified as] home-based. So, this is really a big requirement in terms of relief efforts that we continue to provide them,” Purisima said.

He said that the National Housing Authority planned to put up at least 1,100 transitional shelters for Marawi evacuees before the year ended. n

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Dateline USa

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Few days left to apply for HACLA’s Section 8 waiting list lottery LOS ANGELES — The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) announced on Monday, October 23 that it will start processing Section 8 Waiting List Lottery applications as early as this coming February.

The Section 8 program provides rental assistance to eligible individuals and families by paying a portion of rent directly to private landlords, however, people have until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 29 (Pacific Time) to apply for the program online or by phone. There is no cost to submit an application, and no one will ask an appli-

cant for any payment.

It can take less than 10 minutes to apply. At the end of the application period, HACLA will use a computer-randomized lottery to select up to 20,000 applicants for placement on the Section 8 Waiting List. A preference for assistance will be given to applicants who live, work or have been hired to work within the City of Los Angeles and to applicants who are veterans or have a household member who is a veteran, released from such military service under conditions other than dishonorable.

“There are just a few days

left before the deadline, so it’s important that all interested families take advantage of this opportunity and apply soon,” said Douglas Guthrie, HACLA President and CEO. “There are tens of thousands of Angelenos who need rental assistance and this program can bring financial relief to those families who are struggling to make their rent on a fixed budget.”

Applicants can apply at hacla. org any hour of the day or call 1-888-816-6955 (toll free), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time every day during the application period. n

Bello urges OFWs to invest in bank created for them

by Julie

M. Aurelio Inquirer.net

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has assured overseas workers that the soonto-open Overseas Filipino Bank (OFB) will offer low remittance fees and profitable investment plans.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said government bankers had determined that the bank could limit to 2.5 percent per year the interest rate for a soft loan.

“We got the consent of LandBank president Alex Buenaventura that the interest rate for loans will only be at 2.5 percent per annum. This will give our OFWs (or overseas Filipino workers) [a] venue for their investments,” he said.

Bello made the assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 44, creating the OFB which will offer financial plans and services to all Filipino overseas workers.

‘They own the bank’ The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) will acquire the Philippine Postal Savings Bank and convert it to the OFB.

RUSSIAN DESTROYER. Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev (left) and Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov (second from left) answer questions from the media during a news conference aboard the Admiral Panteleyev, a destroyer or large anti-submarine ship of the Russian Navy, docked at Pier 15 in Manila. Russia has no intention to build a dominant role in Asia but it wants to establish new trade ties and strengthen relations with Asian countries, Khovaev said.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

US spy drone crashes in Zamboanga

by Al JAcinto ManilaTimes.net

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

The OFB will be managed by a board of directors, headed by the LBP president as chair, and representatives from the Dole, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) and the private sector.

Bello encouraged OFWs to invest in the bank and take advantage of its services and investment programs.

It will be wise for them to invest in the bank because they actually own the bank. As the secretary of labor and under the executive order, I can nominate

Comelec starts decryption...

PAGE A1 nationwide but noted that “major discrepancies” in the votes can be particularly seen in the ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 23, the camp of the former senator welcomed the de-

velopments.

Marcos’ spokesman, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, is positive that the decryption and printing of ballot images in the particular provinces would “facilitate and expedite” the resolution to their election protest.

“All these constant and spuri-

Malacañang photo

one to represent Dole, another one to Owwa, and the other one is for the overseas-based Filipinos,” he said.

Bello said that they would increase the representation of the OFWs by buying more shares that would entitle them to two or three board seats.

Branches of the OFB will be put up in all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices so the bank can reach more overseas Filipinos and provide them with quality and efficient foreign remittance services. n ous delaying tactics by the Robredo camp have been going on for more than a year now. What are they afraid of?” Rodriguez said.

“If they believe she won, they should be rushing to count the ballots so that this issue could finally be laid to rest, in her favor. Instead, they have adopted PAGE A5

A U.S. military unmanned aerial vehicle crashed Tuesday, Oct. 24 outside an air force base in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, reports said.

The drone was quickly retrieved

by American soldiers outside the Edwin Andrews Air Base in the village of Santa Maria, local residents who were in the area, said.

They said the spy drone was flying low when it hit a tree and crashed shortly before 5 a.m.

“It was really noisy, the engine sounded like that of a motorboat, but much louder than its usual sound and the noise from its engine even woke us up,” one

resident in a nearby village of Tetuan told The Manila Times after hearing radio reports of the crash.

Witnesses said the US soldiers came in trucks and retrieved the drone. U.S. spy planes regularly fly in low altitude in Zamboanga, especially at dawn.

The military did not issue any statement on the downed spy plane and U.S. forces were also silent on the crash. It was not immediately known what type of drone had crashed, but the U.S. military, which is aiding Filipino troops in fighting terrorism, operates a large number of spy drones from MQ-1 Predator, armed with Hellfire missiles, to the smaller, but long-endurance

ScanEagle which can fly in low altitude.

It was not the first time that a U.S. drone had crashed in Zamboanga City. In 2002, another drone crashed at sea off Zamboanga and was also retrieved by American forces; and another in 2006 and 2007 in the town of Indanan and Mount Tumatangis in Sulu province, and also in 2008 in North Cotabato’s Pikit town.

U.S. troops still operate in Zamboanga City and in Sulu, one of five provinces in the restive Muslim autonomous region.

It also assisted the Philippine military in defeating local IS in the besieged city of Marawi held by militants since May until their October downfall. n

As NorCal fires near containment...

PAGE A1 That makes the weeks-long fires the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s modern history.

“The numbers are going to continue to increase,” said Robert Foxworthy, a spokesman for Cal Fire. “The reason the numbers are increasing is because our damage assessment teams are getting into the areas and finally getting an accurate count.”

Among the fatalities was Filipino-American caregiver Teresa Santos, 50, who was caring for 90-year-old Sally Lewis of Napa.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Santos worked from Sunday through Friday and when the fires neared the home on Sunday, October 8, she refused to leave Lewis as the fires reached Lewis’ home in mid-October.

“She didn’t save herself, she stayed with my mother until the end,” Windermere Tirados, Lewis’s daughter, told the LA Times.

Santos lived with Lewis five days out of the week and has been working for her for about a year. Tirados described Santos as a very committed and “loyal” caregiver who was a “sweet quiet person and very loving.”

“She was an angel sent to us definitely, to take care of my mom,” Tirados added.

According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), approximately 13,500 Filipinos live in the affected areas of the Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

The 4,200 Filipinos that live in the nearby Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties were also affected by the fires, which are expected to be fully contained by Wednesday, October 25, fire officials told reporters on Monday.

The City of Santa Rosa was one of the most heavily impacted areas of the Tubbs fire, especially

residents of the ravaged Coffey Park. Vicious winds that formed little tornadoes completely incinerated more than 200 square miles of homes.

The Padilla family had lived in a single-story home in Coffey Park since 1989. Just two days before fire took over the neighborhood on October 9, Patricia and Jay Padilla and her two teenage daughters packed up their valuables (including their Australian shepherd named Pogi) and headed for San Francisco.

“We saw everyone on our street just hurrying to get the hell out so we decided that we probably should too,” daughter Ashley Padilla, 18, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview on Monday, October 23. “We were in the line of fire, literally. It was like night time when we packed all our cars, three of them, with stuff that we needed, like documents, family albums, heirlooms and our dog and drove to our tita’s house in Oakland.”

Padilla remembers seeing the view of the sky as she drove out of Santa Rosa. She recalls blood orange skies and hot gusts of wind that made her eyes water.

“It almost looked apocalyptic, like the rapture,” the recent high school graduate said. “I tried to remain calm because Pogi was driving with me and I didn’t want to freak him out.”

“Right now, we’re picking up the pieces. We’re all just glad we’re all okay and alive. It’s going to suck trying to like, arrange where we’re going to live, but as long as we’re all together it’s going to be okay,” Padilla said.

“That’s what we all kind of remind ourselves when one of us begins to get upset. We’re just sticking together and supporting each other and reminding each other that we’re all okay.”

Another Santa Rosa family, the De Castros, also found themselves in the line of fire in

US defense chief hails PH...

PAGE A1 the terrorists,” he added.

Earlier on the same day, the Philippine Department of Defense (DND) declared the Marawi siege is now over, nearly five months since the Maute group launched an attack on May 23.

“After 154 days of siege in Marawi with Daesh-inspired Maute-ISIS group, after a week the commander-in-chief declared the liberation of Marawi City, we now announce the termination of combat operations in Marawi City,” DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced.

“Daesh” is another acronym used to refer to the IS name in Arabic, but terrorists and their supporters considered its use an insult.

Lorenzana also lauded the killing of more than 800 Maute terrorists, including foreign fighters, and of its top leaders, which he said has prevented the spread

of extremism in Asia.

“In crushing thus far the most serious attempt to export violent extremism and radicalism in the Philippines and in the region, we have contributed to preventing its spread in Asia,” Lorenzana said.

“While we submit that these tactical and strategic gains will not annihilate the ideology completely, we declare that this achievement is clear manifestation of how our regional cooperation can lead to decisive advance against the proliferation of terrorism in this part of the world,” he added.

Last week on Monday, October 16, Lorenzana confirmed the deaths of Maute group leader Omar Maute, and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Hapilon was also the supposed anointed head of IS in Southeast Asia.

The following Tuesday, October 17, Philippine President Ro-

the early hours of Sunday, October 8 when they were alerted about the fire by a neighbor, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Dr. Marlon De Castro and his wife Ina quickly packed up some clothes, photo albums and documents in the car and drove their two sons and dog to a friend’s home in San Francisco.

The family could not visit their home due to mandatory limits enforced by the city, but found out their home was one of the few that remained in tact.

“While it will be a long time before their lives go back to normal, the De Castros are grateful they are safe, alive and that they can still go back to their home.

Other families have not been as fortunate,” Gel Santos-Relos wrote for the Asian Journal.

As of press time, 90 percent of the fire has been contained despite five large fires still raging in the Northern Bay Region.

Last week, Moody’s Analytics estimated that the Northern California fires “will be among the costliest wildfires on record for the U.S.” According to the California State Insurance Commission, the damage done will cost at least $1 billion, but officials say that the total cost of the damages is expected to rise in the coming weeks. Property and casualty insurers have already experienced record high catastrophe losses from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as the devastating earthquakes in Mexico.

The wildfires began on October 8 and, in addition to the 42 declared dead, there are still 21 people missing in Sonoma County as of Monday.

Officials are still probing the cause of the fires, but Foxworthy said that it could “be weeks” before the investigation is complete and details will be released.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) drigo Duterte personally went to Marawi to declare the city’s liberation from terrorists.

In a statement, Malacañang thanked the U.S. government for extending its help to the Philippines in combating terrorism. It likewise expressed appreciation to the U.S. Defense chief for recognizing the Philippine military’s efforts to end the Marawi siege.

“We appreciate the message of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, recognizing the valiant efforts of our troops in bringing to an end the Maute terrorist group’s siege of Marawi City,” Palace Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

He then added, “The government is grateful for the U.S. government for helping us defeat the ambition of the Islamic State-affiliated group to establish a caliphate in our country by providing us with technical expertise, men and equipment that bolstered the capability of our military in our campaign against the Maute group.” (AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Sereno formally asks House to let lawyers cross-examine impeachment witnesses

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

amination of complainant’s witnesses will be recognized.”

Citing the Rules of Criminal PHIlIPPINE Chief Justice Ma. Procedure, they further relourdes Sereno on Monday, Ocquested that Sereno be provided tober 23, asked the House Comwith “any evidence, testimonial, mittee on Justice to allow her documentary, or object, which lawyers to question the witnesses has been (or may be) submitted in the impeachment proceedings to the honorable committee in against her. support of the charges against In a motion, Sereno’s lawyers her.” sought confirmation that persons last month, the House justice testifying as “resource persons” committee found the impeachagainst her may be “cross-exment complaint filed by lorenzo amined by her counsel on her “larry” Gadon to be sufficient in behalf.” form and substance. He accused Sereno’s counsel also asked Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno Sereno of culpable violation of Inquirer.net photo the Constitution, corruption, the panel to “recognize her constitutionally guaranteed rights to declined to rule on her earlier other high crimes and betrayal of be represented by a legal coun- request to cross-examine the re- public trust. sel and to confront the witnesses source persons herself or by her Among the grounds in Gaagainst her through lawyers rep- own lawyer in letters dated Sept. don’s impeachment rap include resenting her.”

28 and Oct. 3.

Sereno’s “whimsical” and “ex“The confirmation was sought Justice committee chairman cessive” purchase of a Toyota in light of public pronouncements and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Rey- land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 by some members of this Honor- naldo Umali previously said the million, and misuse of judiciary able Committee, and in order to House could not act on the Chief funds when attending local and be clarified and assured that the Justice’s previous requests be- foreign conferences. procedure which the Committee cause they were in a form of letter He also accused Sereno of failwould adopt during the hearings and not in a form of a motion. ing to be truthful in declaring her would respect the basic rights of Apart from the request to statement of assets, liabilities, the Chief Justice as a respondent cross-examine witnesses, Sere- and net worth (SAlN), as well as in an impeachment proceeding,” no’s lawyers likewise asked the obstructing justice when she orSereno’s lawyers, led by Alex Po- congressmen to “confirm that dered Muntinlupa judges to not blador, stated in the motion. the Chief Justice’s right through to issue arrest warrants against The chief justice’s camp filed counsel to object to improper Senator leila De lima, among the motion after the committee questions during the direct ex- others. n

Morallo Philstar.com

MANIlA — The presidential palace on Monday, Oct. 23 announced that it had accepted the resignation of Commission on Election Chairperson Andres Bautista and said that this would be effective immediately.

Bautista showed reporters a letter from Malacañang stating its decision, just weeks after the Comelec chief submitted a letter of resignation to President Rodrigo Duterte which was supposed to take effect at the end of the year.

He said that his post-dated resignation was meant to provide the chief executive enough time to search for his suitable successor.

Palace: DOJ to study treason...

PAGE A1 the human rights situation in the country.”

The Filipino senator, however, denied reports claiming that he tried to convince officials to stop U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Manila scheduled next month. He further clarified that he only “presented only factual information” before the foreign officials, saying the U.S. governsaid that the Palace had accept- ment cannot “fooled” because ed Bautista’s resignation which “they know what’s happening” would take effect “immediately.” in the Philippines.

“We refer to your letter tenderReacting to Andanar’s stateing your resignation as Chairman ment, Trillanes disputed any of the Commission on Elections. possible treason charges against Upon the instruction of President him.

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, I wish to in“Nagtraydor daw ako sa bayan form you that your resignation is dahil nakipag usap ako kay (I was hereby accepted, effective immediately,” Medialdea told Bautista in his letter.

According to Bautista, the offiPAGE A4 cer in charge of the agency would be appointed by the COMElEC a strategy of delay and obfuscaen ban perhaps on Tuesday. He tion,” he added. however clarified that he would For their part, Robredo’s camp not attend this meeting anymore expressed confidence that the as his resignation was effective decryption results will be “nothMonday. ing spectacular.”

The House of Representatives In a message to Inquirer.net, decided to pursue the impeach- Robredo’s lawyer Romulo MaPAGE A7 calintal said, “nothing spectacu-

Palace accepts Comelec chairman’s resignation effective ‘immediately’ by auDrey

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel join the Pink Ribbon Day in celebration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Celebrated every October, the awareness campaign aims to promote regular checkups and early intervention to help fight breast cancer.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

accused of betraying my country because I met with) U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio kahit pa sinabi na nya mismo na (even Rubio himself said we only talked about) PH-U.S. alliance, corruption and human rights situation ang pinagusapan namin,” Trillanes said in a statement.

“Ano naman ngayon ang tawag sa mga protektor ng isang presidenteng pumatay at nagpapapatay ng mga Pilipino, mga bayani? Pwede ba, umayos kayo! (Now what do you call the protectors of a president who kills and orders the killings of Filipinos? Heroes? Stop joking around),” he added.

Libel case Also on Monday, the DOJ filed

Comelec starts decryption...

Former Comelec Chair Andres Bautist Philstar.com photo

“Yeah, that’s how I interpret the letter,” Bautista answered when asked if he was no longer the chief of the COMElEC. The letter, written by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea,

lar is expected from this decryption. For we are confident that the results will tally with the results in the election returns and no substantial recovery will be made by Mr. Marcos.”

“No protest has ever won in the recount of ballots especially now that the PET affirmed the integrity of the 2016 automated election

a libel case against Trillanes over media statements he made in 2015 against former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also a former Makati City mayor.

The case was filed before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and its information was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin S. Dayon on October 9.

The DOJ charged Trillanes of “defaming and maligning the reputation and causing the dishonor” of Binay when the senator was quoted as saying in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report that he would expose an alleged P100-million “racket” of the former vice president in Makati City. n system when it dismissed the first cause of action of Marcos’ protest,” Macalintal added.

In his first cause of action, Marcos called on the SC to declare all the certificates of canvass used to proclaim Robredo’s victory as “authentic.”

But in a resolution dated August 29, the high court affirmed the authenticity of the Automated Election System (AES) in the 2016 elections. n

A6 OCTOBER 25-27, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

FEATURES

Healing process

IS it really over?

On Monday, Oct. 23, the Philippine Department of Defense (DND) formally announced the termination of the government’s combat operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. This development comes a week after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of the besieged city from the influence of terrorist groups.

The government has allocated “about P5 billion ($100 million)” for the support of evacuees, reconstruction of infrastructure and repair of bridges. The budget will be spent until the end of the year. For next year, another P10 billion ($200 million) would be pulled by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from various government agencies for the city’s rehabilitation.

Since the expenses in the rehabilitation of Marawi was not anticipated, Lorenzana believes that P50 billion ($1 billion) is not enough to cover the complete restoration of Marawi City. He said that at least P100 billion ($2 billion) might be needed to rebuild the affected areas.

The extent of damage will only be determined once assessment teams deployed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) finish collating data on the damage and losses incurred in 24 barangays in Marawi City.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who visited Marawi City last week, said everything in the battle area has been rendered useless. bulldoze the entire area, the ground zero,” An“I was there in ground zero, talagang wala ka danar said. nqng mapapakinabangan eh (everything there Given the extent of the devastation and the can no longer be of use). “You really have to number of people affected, the national govern-

It has been five months since government forces clashed with members of the Maute rebel group and other Islamic State-Inspired terrorist groups in Marawi City.

The conflict claimed the lives of 847 terrorists, 163 government troopers and 47 civilians, as of Monday. The crisis has also displaced 78,466 families or 359,680 residents, who are now raring to go back home.

The local government of Marawi City has begun conducting clearing operations within the city to prepare for the return of the displaced residents. Among the phases of operations being made are the retrieval of properties, restoration of governance, barangay mapping, profiling, restoration of power system water and facilities or utilities.

Just by looking at the destruction, the rehabilitation of the war-torn city may take three years or longer, according to Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra.

“Talagang sa laki ng pinsala ho ‘yung destruction talagang pag nakita mo I dont think matatapos natin within three years but at least may timeline (With the extent of damage of the destruction, if you see it, I don’t think we can finish it within three years but at least there is a timeline), Gandamra told CNN Philippines.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

ment should now focus on rehabilitation and peace-building efforts. Operation “get Marawi City and its people get back on their feet” must now commence. (AJPress)

Trump to discuss human rights with Duterte: How will the Philippine president respond?

TRUMP and DUTERTE. They like The Fil-Am each other a lot. They only have accolades Perspective for each other, pretty much like Trump and Putin.

It’s a stark contrast with the tense GEL SANTOS-RELOS relationship Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he cursed because the 44th president of the United States openly said he wished to discuss human rights principles and issue with the then newly elected leader of the

Philippines.

Obama canceled the meeting realizing that nothing productive will come out of their face-to-face encounter. This was not an isolated experience by a foreign leader who dared to question or criticize Duterte’s war on drugs.

The leaders of the European Union, who had also been vocal about their concerns regarding human rights violations and alleged extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs,

had not been spared from the Philippine president’s toxic rhetoric. EU envoys had even been asked by Duterte to leave the country and that he does not need the aid coming from the EU. The Philippine government’s records show that more than 3,451 “drug personalities” have been killed as they resisted arrest or fought against police during raids and apprehensions. Human rights advocates, however, claim that more than 13,000 people have been killed since Duterte took office in June 2016, and that many of those killed were denied due process of law, with some victimized by the corruption and abuses of the police.

Despite these issues raised by human rights advocates around the world against Duterte’s “vigilante” approach to solving the drug menace in the Philippine, U.S. President Donald Trump not only defended the Philippine president, but even praised him in the way he has been governing the Philippines. Trump even invited his Philippine counterpart to the White House.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS now, with the White House announcement that a discussion about human rights is on Trump’s agenda when the two presidents meet for the first time in Manila this November during Trump’s up-

coming first trip to Asia as U.S. president?

Will Duterte cancel the meeting and curse Trump too? Or will he be open and accommodating to Trump who has defended and praised him when most of the leaders of the free world had been critical of him and his war on drugs?

ABANGAN! *** 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

Speaking ill of the country from a distance

Commentary

ANTONIO CONTRERAS OPPOSITION figures seem to have been bitten by the travel bug, from Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, to Raissa Robles, to activists from Akbayan, to a group of authors of a book critical of President Rodrigo Duterte.

They are everywhere, from a political meeting between Trillanes and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, to Robles’ talk at the University of California in Los Angeles, to an academic forum in Columbia University in New York, to a civil society forum at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

While on travel abroad, these Filipino nationals freely talk about their criticisms of President Duterte and his government.

Meanwhile, foreign journalists, politicians and civil society activists take advantage of our hospitality as they freely talk about their criticisms of the President right in our country, as if there is an exchange program.

Filipinos abroad and foreigners in the Philippines, all freely talking without fear of being arrested by a government and a President they paint as a tyrannical fascist who to their eyes is hell bent on controlling free speech.

And this is a luxury that is not enjoyed by nationals of many countries, including those from our immediate neighbors.

I know the story of a Singaporean academic who was on a scholarship in the U.S. and who wrote an academic paper which was critical of his government. He was stripped of his scholarship and was never allowed to return to the U.S. I remember this Malaysian who I sat with in a panel at a conference who was openly chastised by someone from the audience, who I learned was sent deliberately by the government to be its eyes and ears to ensure that Malaysian scholars always toe the line.

I also vividly remember my foreign students at UP who had to talk in whispers when they said something critical about their governments. This happened while they were in my class, in the Philippines, not in their countries. This is evidence of the imprint of censorship and the internalization of the repressive apparatus of the state that are already deeply embedded in their psyche.

Malaysia charges people speaking ill of the government with sedition. Singapore has its internal security act that it invokes to crack down on dissent.

Akbayan and the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) co-sponsored a public forum on the war on drugs and the human rights situation in the Philippines held in Bangkok on October 5, 2017 with speakers from the Philippines. But months before, a noted academic from Chiang Mai University, professor Chayan Vaddhanaputhi, to-

gether with four other students and faculty, were charged by the government as organizers of the 13th International Thai Studies Conference held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This was because it was reported that criticisms were raised during the conference about the presence of military officers in the venue.

It was indeed ironic that Filipinos freely spoke about human rights violations in the Philippines in Bangkok, even as Thai scholars in Chiang Mai were charged simply for running a conference where the Thai government was subjected to criticism.

Speaking ill of one’s country while abroad, or having a demeaning attitude towards the homeland, is a very elitist conduct that I have personally observed to be committed by some, not all, privileged graduate students studying abroad and white-collar immigrants. These are the people who look for every opportunity to renege on their contractual obligations of going back to the country, from getting an American spouse to obtaining post-graduate fellowships hoping they can get permanent resident status and eventually become citizens. These are people who see nothing good about the country, from our poor habits to our stinking airport toilets.

And then you juxtapose this with the OFWs who have every reason to feel abandoned and betrayed by their leaders who failed to provide them

Sen. Antonio Trillanes with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio after their meeting in Washington, DC last week.

with economic opportunities that they had to leave their children behind to take care of the children of other countries. However, what you see are people that rarely speak ill of the country. The OFW communities, in fact, provide a strong base of support for the President.

The people who label the President as a tyrant and a dictator in meetings, forums and conferences abroad freely do so without fear of retribution or arrest.

Raissa Robles painted a negative image not only of the President but of the country to her UCLA audience, which thankfully was only a handful, without the fear of a mole sent by the Philippine Consulate

to censor her. It took a Filipino graduate student, a proDuterte blogger who was there on her own volition, to challenge her misrepresentations.

The academics in the Columbia University forum freely articulated their analysis of the Duterte administration from their biased perspectives.

They do not face the risk of retribution from the government of having their passports cancelled, or of being asked to report to the authorities upon their return to the country.

Trillanes openly admitted talking to Senator Rubio with the purpose of attacking the President in the guise of telling his own version of the truth.

Armed with nothing, no official designation from the Senate,

or from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trillanes took it upon himself to provide Rubio, a defeated presidential candidate who is the head of the foreign relations committee in the U.S. Senate, a briefing about the state of affairs of our country. Rubio is the co-author of a bill to ban the sale of arms to the Philippine National Police in protest against the alleged extra-judicial killings in relation to the war on drugs.

And yet Senator Trillanes will never be punished for an act which, if we were in a state of war, would have already amounted to treason.

These people should be thankful that we are not what they paint us to be. (ManilaTimes.net)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 25-27, 2017

A7

Duterte: Let PDEA do its job

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has said he is giving the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the new lead agency in the government campaign against drugs, a free hand in doing its job.

“Do not give me reports. Let the PDEA do its job. I don’t know if it is really the right path, but that’s what I thought of. Leave it that way,” the President said at the wake of the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal last Sunday.

“Drugs, on the other hand, I already gave up everything to avoid issues. I already told the Bureau of Customs, police, Armed Forces to get out. Including myself,” he added.

Duterte, earlier this month, issued a memorandum designating PDEA as the lead agency in the socalled drug war, citing the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Duterte said all information obtained in the course of the enforcement of the anti-narcotics campaign must be “relayed, delivered, or brought to the attention of the PDEA for its appropriate action.”

Despite sidelining the police from the drug war, Duterte, nonetheless, directed the PNP to maintain its visibility “at all times” as a “deterrent to illegal drug activities.”

Caloocan killings Duterte ordered PDEA to handle the crackdown on illegal drugs after public clamor over two teenage suspects were killed by Caloocan police officers in August.

Police claim that Kian delos Santos, 17, was killed in a shootout with arresting officers but witnesses said he was begging for his life when he was shot. Forensics examination by the Public Attorney’s Office suggests he was on the ground when shot.

Carl Arnaiz, 19, was said to have been killed after robbing taxi driver Tomas Bagcal in Caloocan City. The taxi driver has, however, disowned the statements in the affidavits that were attributed to him and expressed belief that the kill-

PDEA-ARMM agents examine firearms and drugs seized in a raid in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao in May. Philstar.com photo by John Unson

ing of Arnaiz was “scripted.”

Last week, Duterte said he was unsure if the 2,000-strong PDEA can address the drug problem, which he claims has contaminated at least two million people. He had previously said there were as many as 4 million drug addicts in the Philippines despite the Dangerous Drugs Board having a much lower estimate.

“Would there be enough resources for this agency to deal with the problem effectively?” I don’t know. I don’t know because I myself have distanced (myself),” the President said in a speech in Pasay last Wednesday.

“Some are insisting that there is no drug problem. Fine, I agree with you. So, the 2,000 members would be enough for the entire Philippines,” he added. The DDB has said it will help lobby for more funding and support for the PDEA. Although groups, including human rights watch dogs, have been critical of the way the campaign against illegal drugs has resulted in at least 3,900 killed in law enforcement operations, none have said there is no drug problem.

Palace welcomes Quezon City drug rehab deal As this developed, Malacañang welcomed the drug partnership agreement signed by the Diocese of Novaliches, the Quezon City government and the Philippine

Former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya

Philstar.com photo by Geremy Pintolo

Abaya, 10 others sued

by DOTr over MRT deal

by ELIZABETH

MARCELO Philstar.com

MANILA — Former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and 10 others are facing graft charges in connection with an allegedly anomalous P3.8-billion contract for the maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

In a 29-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), represented by Undersecretary for legal affairs and procurement Reinier Paul Yebra, charged Abaya along with 10 former transportation officials and 10 incorporators of Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The DOTr alleged that Abaya and the other officials conspired in awarding the maintenance deal to BURI on Dec. 23, 2015 despite the company’s failure to present a joint venture agreement (JVA) executed between parties in violation of the provisions of Republic Act 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act. The complainant said that instead of requiring the firm to submit the JVA, then Department of Transportation and Communications assistant secretary and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) head Camille Alcaraz wrote to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the same day the contract was awarded to BURI, requesting the SEC to facilitate the registration of a special purpose corporation consisting of the members of Busan for the implementation of the contract.

Based on the DOTr’s records, BURI was incorporated on Jan. 4, 2016 consisting of five companies: Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMI Corp.

Inc., Edison Development and Construction, Castan Corp. and Busan Corp.

Among the five companies, Busan held the smallest share or only 4.7 percent of the total shares of stocks of BURI. “At the time of the signing of the contract, there was no JVA as required by law and yet the respondents insisted on and entered into a deal that is being implemented

by a totally different entity,” the complaint read.

The DOTr said BURI also lacked at least 15 years of continuous experience to qualify as a railway maintenance service provider.

The complaint said BURI’s failure to carry out the project was apparent with the frequent MRT-3 service interruptions due to technical glitches supposedly caused by poor maintenance.

The three-year contract, which ends in January 2019, includes maintenance of MRT-3 systems, general overhaul of 43 light rail vehicles, total replacement of the signaling system and additional maintenance works.

In its complaint, the DOTr cited a Commission on Audit report showing that for the entire 2016, a total of 649 service interruptions and passenger unloading incidents occurred at MRT-3 “caused by rolling stocks failure, broken tracks and rails, system failure or other causes.”

The DOTr noted that from January to July this year, there were 284 recorded service interruptions and passenger unloading mainly due to “failure in the automatic train protection brake, train door failure, mechanical brake failure and, in several instances, smoke emission and burnt smell/spark.”

These were on top of seven incidents of train derailments that occurred from April to October, raising “a major concern on the safety of the MRT-3.”

The DOTr said BURI’s poor maintenance of the MRT-3 had caused the government undue injury in the amount of P921.208 million, equivalent to the net payment received by BURI to date.

Aside from Abaya and Alcaraz, named respondents were former undersecretary for operations Edwin Lopez, former undersecretary for planning and head of negotiating team Rene Limcaoco, former undersecretary for procurement and administration and vice head of the negotiating team Catherine Jennifer Gonzales, former MRT-3 general manager Roman Buenafe, former assistant secretary and BAC vice chair Ofelia Astrera and BAC members Charissa Eloisa Opulencia, Oscar Bongon, Jose Rodante Sabayle and Maria Cecilia Natividad. ■

National police.

Under the deal, the city government, the police and the diocese will work together to implement a community-based drug rehabilitation program.

“The drug rehabilitation partnership agreement signed by the Diocese of Novaliches, Quezon City government, and the Philippine National Police for a communitybased drug rehabilitation program in the Batasan area is a commendable move to pro-actively help the national government in the anti-illegal drug campaign,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“It is hoped that this kind of partnership can be replicated by the PNP and other offices involved in the comprehensive anti-illegal drugs campaign with other dioceses, as well as other churches and church groups in the country,” he added. ■

PH HOSTS WORLD’S BIGGEST WILDLIFE CONFAB. Delegates from 124 countries start discussions at the 12th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS-COP12) — more commonly abbreviated as Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) — at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Sunday, October 22. It is the first time the CMS conference is held in Asia since the international treaty was adopted in Bonn, Germany in 1979 and came into force in 1985.

PNA photo by Avito C.Dalan

Palace accepts Comelec...

PAGE A5 ment complaint against Bautista just hours after he sent his resignation letter to the president, basically rejecting the recommendation of its justice panel to throw out the complaint.

The accusations against Bautista stemmed from allegations of his estranged wife that he had at least P1 billion in unexplained wealth.

He is also accused of failing to protect the COMELEC from data breaches and inability to take adequate steps to probe into the incident when the personal information of millions of voters was

released just weeks before the 2016 national election.

Bautista refused to answer if this development had made the impeachment proceedings against him moot and academic, saying that the letter he received early this afternoon basically answered the question.

Bautista said that the next COMELEC chairman should start preparing for the village and youth council polls next year and the 2019 midterm elections.

Aside from this, the government agency should also work on amending the Omnibus Election which was enacted in

1985 as well as the construction of COMELEC offices and buildings in different parts of the country.

He said that he had “a mixture of feelings” upon receiving the decision of the Palace. He said that he would miss the personnel of COMELEC a lot and described them as kind and hardworking individuals.

Bautista was appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III in May 2015, just a year before the 2016 national elections.

Before his post in the agency, he became the head of the government office primarily tasked to run after the loot of the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. ■

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

B1

Delays in ecozone approvals derail P500B investments

by RICHMOND

MERCURIO Philstar.com

THE country risks losing some P500 billion worth of investments due to the persistent delays in the proclamation of new economic zones, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said.

PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said out of 58 economic zones pending presidential proclamation, only six have been released as of Oct. 10. These include one horizontal economic zone in Negros and five buildings that will house IT-business process management firms.

“We computed the initial investment of this delay. It amounts to P500 billion. This includes already the industries because these industries cannot put up their facilities if their site or building is not yet proclaimed,” Plaza said.

PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said out of 58 economic zones pending presidential proclamation, only six have been released as of Oct. 10. These include one horizontal economic zone in Negros and five buildings that will house ITbusiness process management firms.

Philstar file photo

“So if these investors will change their minds, we will be losing these opportunities because they are already here.

Some of these investors are telling me their principals are already telling them to look or

u PAGE B4

NIA eyes dams as tourist spots

by LOUISE

MAUREEN Philstar.com

SIMEON

ADB pledges $5.2M for Marawi

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net

A MULTIMILLION-dollar grant has been pledged by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help rebuild Marawi City, a senior Finance department official said.

“They (the ADB) pledged a $5.225-million grant for needs assessment of Marawi’s rehabilitation,” Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Tan told reporters.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier tagged the Manila-based

lender one of the lead foreign donors that would help rebuild Marawi after five months of conflict.

Tan said that besides the ADB, other international agencies such as the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank had also expressed interest to help the city.

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction offered additional emergency loans based on the post needs assessment that they have to conduct. From IFAD, it also

expressed interest to provide financial aid. The World Bank is offering consultancy or experts to help us out,” she said.

In addition to working with the government to rebuild Marawi, the World Bank has also offered to scale up support for peace-building efforts in Mindanao.

Increased investor confidence Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the end of the drawnout conflict in Marawi was expected to boost investor confidence as the govern-

u PAGE B4

Gov’t eyes incentives, funding for start-ups

by ANNA LEAH

E. GONZALES ManilaTimes.net

Bustos dam

THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is looking into diversifying governmentowned dams nationwide into tourist destinations in a bid to expand the agency’s revenue generation.

Photo from Bulacan.gov.ph

“We are collaborating with local government units to use our dams as a tourist destination. For one, Bustos Dam in Bulacan and Pantabangan Dam, the biggest in the Phil-

u PAGE B3

THE government is considering the grant of incentives for start-up investments and may even go into funding the sector, a Cabinet official said.

“Looking forward, we would like to study certain policy interventions and hopefully we can look into incentives that can probably be given to those who would be investing in these activities, either an annual tax holiday or including them in the Investments Priority Plan (IPP) or if not,

other forms of incentives to support startups,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters during the Slingshot Asean Summit.

The government could also invest in start-ups, Lopez added, as all are currently private sector-funded.

“Right now there’s none but we’ll think about that and our financial institutions can possibly consider this an area which can be supported. For us to accelerate the growth of startup businesses, especially encouraging innovative Filipino startup developers, then that would be a good

program to consider,” he said.

“I guess in the extent that the government budget can allow, this to me is the important sector to support.”

Incentives and funding proposes will be carefully studied, Lopez said, and another option could be adding start-ups to the mandate of state-owned National Development Corp. (NDC).

“I am thinking of having a fund under the NDC tasked to fund projects that will catalyze certain industries. I guess Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez Manilatimes.net photo providing funds might be the better way for now because u PAGE B4

B OCTOBER 25-27, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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

GDP data music to Filipinos’ ears, literally BOE member Jerome E. Horton honored at Assessors Association Conference

by Annelle

TAyAo-Juego Inquirer.net

THE Philippines is alive with the sound of progress—and it can be heard in the growth of our gross domestic product since the 1980s, thanks to a couple of local composers who made use of economic data to compose a new anthem for the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Making use of numbers, Allan Feliciano and Top Suzara recently created “Tunog ng Progreso” (Sound of Progress), a three-minute song that aims to make economic data such as the country’s GDP more accessible to Filipinos.

“As economic manager, Neda’s work tends to be highly technical. Most of the time it’s all about numbers and statistics. But how will we help people understand it?” says Nerrisa Esguerra, director of Neda’s development information staff, in a video on the agency’s website (www. neda.gov.ph/2017/09/20/nedatells-story-of-ph-economicgrowth-in-three-minute-song/), which provides a visual explanation of how GDP numbers were used to compose each verse.

The numbers can be “heard” in the song’s baseline notes, explain Feliciano and Suzara in the

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared.

If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $350,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is $300,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same

“Tunog ng Progreso” composers (from left) Top Suzara and Allan Feliciano with singer Thyro (center).

Inquirer.net photo

same video. Given graphs of the country’s GDP starting from the 1980s, the pair discovered that growth rates fell between the numbers 0 and 8, which correspond to eight notes on the major scale, or do re mi fa so la ti do.

“We realized that, hey, we can use those data points as notes,” Feliciano, film score composer, says. “For example, the first decade we looked at was the ‘80s.

We used those points as notes for the baseline of the verse.”

“Basically we were connecting the dots to make the music,” says Suzara, former vocalist of local R&B band Freestyle. “Contrary to what the general opinion about the economy is, that it is going down, it isn’t. The data

show we’re very progressive.”

Performed by Thyro Alfaro, the song can be downloaded from Neda’s website (www. neda.gov.ph/tunog-ng-progreso) or viewed with lyrics on Youtube (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=p49WUdUlblU). It is also available on music streaming site Spotify.

As the lyrics tell of how the Philippines’ economy is steadily improving – the chorus goes, “Ito ang tunog ng progreso/ Tayo na’t makisalo/ Pataas nang pataas, aakyat/ Kaya nating lahat umanagat” (This is the sound of progress/ Let’s all join in/ We’ll go higher and higher/ We can all soar)— the melody is indicative of that

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How important is it to have a living trust? is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states.

Commencing a probate case is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioner’s attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorney’s fees commencing with 4% of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well.

There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling

some of the assets to satisfy the estate’s obligations and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims.

The probate court file would be public record.

On the other hand if you have a living trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold. Basically, you and/or your spouse can be named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had

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BUENA PARK, CA – The California Assessors’ Association (CAA) honored Board of Equalization Member Jerome E. Horton during the welcome reception of the 2017 – 155th Annual CAA Annual Conference 2017 on Tuesday, October 17, at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park.

A certificate of appreciation to commemorate Member Hortons many contributions in public service and private enterprise was presented by Assessor Claude Parrish of Orange County, which hosted the conference.

Horton spoke to the Assessors and others in attendance during the morning session of the conference. He discussed declining employment, income, affordable housing, and homeownership in California and his recom-

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng

ACCUMULATING debt is the easiest thing you can do in America. Even your dog can get credit cards with a fake social security number.

If you are an immigrant and have just arrived, you will have no history of credit here. Chances are that in your country of origin, you probably had no credit card debt, or if you did, maybe you had an insignificant amount.

In other countries, most people are on a “cash” basis. In other words, you buy everything in cash, not credit. If you buy a house abroad, you either paid cash for it, or you put a substantial cash down payment and have a small mortgage on it. Outside of the U.S., the objective in life is to accumulate cash and assets but have no debt.

But here in America, MasterCard, Visa and other credit card companies, sell you the American lifestyle, which is to bury yourself in debt to get all the things you want. Want a brand new 80-inch flat and thin high definition TV, the one that curves on both ends of the screen to let you watch it clearly from almost any angle?

It’s only $3,000. Don’t have the $3,000? No problem. Just charge the $3,000 on your credit card.

Bring the TV home today for your whole family to enjoy! You don’t

mended legislative and policy actions to address these issues.

“When the time comes to create a job or a tax, I hope you choose to create a job,” Horton said.

The California Assessors Association has a mission to promote the cooperation of the assessing officers of California in matters of mutual interest and responsibility,

cooperation and communication among the various Assessors and their personnel within a regional group, improvement of assessment procedures and assessment laws of the State of California for the public good, and to liaison with the State Board of Equalization and the International Association of Assessing Officers. n

have to pay $3,000 up front. Next month, just set aside $90 to make a minimum monthly payment on the $3,000. Instant gratification!

This is the American way.

Want to bring the family to Hawaii for Christmas? Let’s see. It’s $1,500 for a week’s stay at one of the five-star resorts in Waikiki, including the round-trip plane fare and hotel per head. Since you are a family of four, that would be a grand total of $6,000 for a one-week Christmas and New Year vacation in paradise.

LA gets cold in winter even if it doesn’t snow but the climate in Hawaii is a comfortable and breezy 80 degrees. “Mele Kalikimaka” — that’s how they say “Merry Christmas” in Hawaii as you probably know. And the food, the luaus are terrific. The scenery is spectacular. Plan on riding a helicopter to look at the Big Island Volcano, which only adds another $1,000 to your vacation budget for your family of four. So, the one-week Christmas vacation will cost about $8,000, all expenses accounted for, with first-class accommodations. There’s only one problem.

You didn’t have $3,000 for the big screen TV that looks so good in your family room, so where will you get the $8,000 for your Christmas vacation?

No problem. In America, the credit cards keep on giving and

giving. They are perennial Santa Clauses. The wife wants to go. The kids want to go. You want to go.

So go. I mean, former President Obama spent a lot of his vacations in Oahu where he was born, so why can’t you bring your family to paradise this Christmas? By all means, go and give the family a great time this Christmas.

With the brand new TV at $3,000 and the Hawaii Christmas vacation at $8,000, you will owe $11,000 at the end of this year. So what? You got the TV and you’ll still have your Hawaii tan for a couple of weeks when you get back right after the New Year. Your co-workers will envy you when you say you just got back from paradise and you feel totally relaxed and ready to face the challenges of 2018 head-on.

Yes, that’s right, everything is still status quo but then, at the end of January 2018, you will have to take $330 out of your take-home pay and pay the minimum for the TV and Hawaii trip.

At the end of 2018, you will have paid your credit card masters $4,000, but you would still owe them the same $11,000.

But the reality of life here in America is that you will buy a lot more good stuff on credit. Maybe two brand new computers for the kids? A brand new leather sofa set? Maybe you need a new

Avoid the bondage of debt, especially seniors

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OIC Basic 1

What’s New ARLENE AL-OS, CPA, MBA BEGINNING on March 27, 2017, new offer in compromise (OIC) applications plus fee will be returned by IRS if all required income returns have not been filed unless there is a valid extension for the current year.

Is the OIC right for you? Here are some TIPS before choosing this option: • Financial hardship. OIC is a valid option if you cannot settle your income tax liabilities in full. It allows you to pay an agreed amount less than the total amount of debt if you qualify the requirements.

• Current financial considerations. If your answer to (a), (b), (c), is NO, you may be eligible for OIC if you meet the other requirements: (a) You are able to pay? (b) Is your income higher than your expenses? (c) Do you have equity on your assets?

• Filing requirements. You must have filed all the filing requirements to be eligible for OIC. This includes: (a) filing of required federal income tax returns; (b) payments of required estimated tax payments; (c) if you are self-employed, have filed and remitted all federal tax deposits; (d) must maintain and remain to be in current status all of (a), (b),

(c), while OIC is in process and upon approval.

• Bankruptcy. You do not qualify for OIC if you are currently in bankruptcy proceeding.

• OIC Pre-qualifier. It is highly recommended to utilize the OIC Pre-qualifier from the IRS website : https://irs.treasury.gov/oic_ pre_qualifier/ before choosing this option.

• Submission of offer. Completing and submitting your OIC offer is not a guarantee that IRS will accept your offer.

• Submit your offer using Form 656 • Form 433-A for individual or • Form 433-B for business, • all pertinent supporting documents as required in the form, • application fee, • nonrefundable initial payment • Options for non-refundable initial payment. You can either choose to do: (a) lump Sum cash, an initial payment of 20 percent of the total offer amount with your application and remaining balance due of the offer is paid in five or less payments upon acceptance of offer or 5 months or less of the date offer is accepted; or (b) periodic payment, an initial payment with your application continuously paying the remaining balance in monthly installments while the IRS considers the offer and upon acceptance continue to pay monthly until paid in full or within 6-24 months

BUSINESS NEWS

in accordance with the proposed offer terms.

• Understand the process. Understand that while the offer is under evaluation: • nonrefundable payments and fees will be applied to your tax liability, • notice of federal tax lien may be filed by the IRS, • suspension of other collection activities, • collection period is extended, • fulfill all required payments and filings related to offer, and • within two years of IRS receipt date if IRS does not make a determination, offer is presumed to be accepted.

Our next issue will discuss about what are your options if your offer is rejected and what are your compliance requirements if your offer is accepted.

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Continued from last week...)

TIGER’S spin doctors went on overdrive. He looked like a contrite man being led to the gallows. His apology seemed heartfelt. Cynical pundits begged to differ, however, arguing that the stunt is commercial in nature, a pathetic attempt to save a lucrative brand and image.

That was Tiger’s winter of discontent. After 7 years, it may be that he has learned something from his very public humiliation. If he truly learns from this, he will find redemption, even forgiveness, but it won’t be easy. He acknowledges that he has strayed from his core spiritual values and that his arrogance and pure sense of entitlement led him to believe that he was not subject to the same rules as ordinary mortals.

Some celebrities in the entertainment business and the sports world as well as powerful

PAGE B1 t

ippines, where we are renovating, these can serve as tourist destinations,” NIA administrator Ricardo Visaya told The STAR. Bustos Dam or Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam is the longest rubber dam in Asia and the second largest in the world that generates irrigation water, power supply and domestic water supply.

Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, meanwhile, is a multi-purpose dam that provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation while its reservoir, Pantabangan Lake, serves as flood control.

“I think these can be developed and we are including in our pipeline. Something that we can push during this term,” Visaya said.

The NIA chief, however, did not provide possible investments that will be needed for the development of these projects. .* * * “We can collaborate with inDisclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is vestors. Then part of the income neither intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties.

PAGE B1 t a trust. For revocable trusts, you *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy can later on, at any time during Corporation provides accounting and your lifetime, revoke the entire tax services to individuals, corporations, trust if you change your mind.

The assets held in your livLLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited ing trust will be managed by the by the IRS and other governmental trustee and distributed according to your directions without court agencies. supervision and involvement (Advertising Supplement) when you pass away. This can save your heirs time and money.

Since the trust would not be under the direct management of the probate court, your assets and their value and your beneficiaries’ identities would not become a public record. Your heirs and beneficiaries would still have to be notified about the living trust

fridge? Or, even a new roof because the roof leaks. There is a high probability that in 2018, you will add another $10,000 of credit cards because you don’t really feel the pain when you buy stuff on credit, isn’t this true?

It’s not like you have $10,000 of cash in the bank and you have to take $8,000 from it to pay for Hawaii, right? That would be painful. On the other hand, charging $8,000 on credit cards is practically painless. You just have to take the card out of your wallet and swipe it. It’s so easy to spend money that you don’t have here in America. One can easily get addicted to credit cards the same way that a person can get addicted to drugs. Just like cocaine and LSD, using credit cards gives the user a “high”.

Just like drugs, it’s addicting.

In a couple of short years, starting from a $3,000 for your TV, and $8,000 for your Hawaii Christmas vacation in 2017, you will owe $30,000! You would have added a trip to Europe, a trip to China, Japan, Thailand and Bali for the family. These trips do not even include the family trip back to your country of origin which requires a lot more money because as everyone knows, family back home expect to get a lot of expensive gifts from their now “rich” American relatives, not to mention paying the tab for all the restaurant food that you and your family back home will be enjoying.

If all of these scenarios took place 10 years ago, mark my words: you would now owe maybe $30,000 in credit card debt.

These now cost you $1,000 a month of minimum payments. For the next 12 months, you will pay $12,000 of minimum payments, but at the end of the 12 months, you will still owe $30,000. In 24 months, you will pay $24,000 of minimum payments, but you will still owe $30,000. Then, if you are objective enough to see you own financial situation, you will know that you are now in what is called “financial bondage.”

“

“...I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled...” — Tiger Woods (Part 2 of 2)

politicians and influence peddlers feel the same way. Fame, power and a fat bank account seem to make them feel that they are exempt from accountability and karma. They are in for a rude awakening. It is just a matter of time when they discover that they too have feet of clay and in time, will return to dust.

Tiger thought he was a god.

His handlers made sure he bought their paid spinmeister’s myth. I guess that is what being a celebrity does to you. He took liberties with what he felt were fringe benefits of a fabulously rich and famous life. Before him still lies a long and tortuous road. Is this epic lesson in humility doing its job? Only he knows for sure.

With no possibility for parole, Amy Bishop will live her life in

jail. There is still time for Tiger to find redemption. Both have caused their families extreme sorrow and indescribable collateral damage to everyone affected by their actions.

Both were egocentric. They believed the universe revolved around them. Tiger is the lucky one. He got a pass and a chance for a mid-course correction and perhaps, one chance to write a good sequel with a happy ending. It could be that he has some good karmic points stacked from a past life, that is, if the idea of karma and reincarnation holds true in human life.

You are now a debt slave. What’s worse than being a debt slave?

Being a senior debt slave is the worse. Let’s say that you are now 62 and you owe $30,000 in credit cards. Social security and retirement are just around the corner.

You’re looking at $1,800 of social security, which is not too bad. But you’re also on the hook for $1,000 of minimum monthly credit card payments. This is more than half of your social security benefits.

Imagine the hardship caused by having to fork over more than half of your social security to pay $1,000 to your credit card masters every month for the rest of your life during your golden years. It sucks! But as you have now learned, after paying your credit card masters $120,000 in

cis Ford Coppola, Kim Basinger and Mickey Rooney — these celebrities all filed for Chapter 7 to get a fresh start in life.

It’s easy to get into debt in America. But it’s really hard to get out of debt in America.

That’s why you need the full legal power of Chapter 7 to get out of debt and get a fresh start.

It’s a federal right given by law to the debtor who needs relief from accumulated debt. Why be embarrassed to exercise a right given by law?

Life after bankruptcy is great, you still keep everything you own as long as you qualify for applicable exemptions. You will be able to save money again every month. Anyway, the cards have enabled you to bring your family around the world already and you still have the big screen TV in your family room. Have your cake and eat it too and get a fresh start with no debt.

Only in America! Get back on solid financial footing, get rid of your accumulated debt with Chapter 7, and face your retirement years with peace of mind!

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

“FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH-AND THIS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.” EPHESIANS 2:8 *** Disclaimer: The foregoing is an expression of opinion and is not meant to be legal advice to any reader.

There is no attorney-client relationship established by this article with the reader. If you want to discuss your situation, you have to set an appointment to consult with the attorney. The first general consultation is free. *** 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 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

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

Let’s say that you are now 62 and you owe $30,000 in credit cards. Social security and retirement are just around the corner.

”

the last 10 years, you still owe your masters the same $30,000 of credit card debt!

Just like “Django Unchained,” it’s time to break free of credit card debt!

What you need now is the full legal power of a Chapter 7 petition to give you a fresh start without the $30,000 in credit card debt. Break free from your credit card masters and live with freedom and joy and be productive again and start fresh again without accumulated debt. Turn you back on the $30,000 and nuke them with a bankruptcy discharge. You won’t regret it.. It’s the right thing to do. Even Pres.

Trump has said that Puerto Rico’s $70-billion debt must be discharged. Well, he should know, the Trump companies filed for bankruptcy four times, discharging hundreds of millions of debt.

Even Walt Disney filed for Chapter 7 twice before he became successful. Milton Hershey of Hershey chocolates, now a global multibillion dollar business, filed for Chapter 7 before he became successful. M.C. Hammer, Fran-

would go to NIA since it is a government property. Then a portion will also go to the LGUs,” Visaya said.

He added that the Caliraya Dam, an embankment dam, can serve as an example for the plan.

Located in Lumban in Laguna, the reservoir created by the dam, Lake Caliraya, initially supplied one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in the country, and later became a popular recreational area for numerous water sports and fishing activities.

Now, the Caliraya Lake serves as a windsurfing haven for tourists especially from Manila. It also made way for the establishments of resorts and country clubs within area.

Furthermore, NIA continues to embark on the development and construction of hydropower projects in its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects nationwide.

Studies showed that there

are about 387 potential irrigation sites for hydropower.

“Our dams should be optimized. That is another additional revenues. We can earn billions from that,” Visaya said.

“Those companies who want to go into hydropower, they can just use our facilities and they do not need to build dams, and that would mean lesser costs for them,” he added.

“If they are accredited by the Department of Energy, we can come up with a memorandum of agreement and they just pay six percent of their total gross,” Visaya said.

The development and construction of hydropower projects is aligned with Presidential Decree No. 552 which gives NIA the directive to achieve the optimum utilization and control of water resources primarily for irrigation purposes, secondarily for hydraulic power development and for domestic water supply. ■

and advised, among other things, of their right to obtain a copy of the trust.

If you are contemplating setting up a trust or have an existing trust that needs to be updated because your family circumstances have changed over the years, you should set an appointment with an experienced attorney that understands and can competently advise you in the law.

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.

How important is it to have...

Avoid the bondage of debt...

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B3

NIA eyes dams as tourist...

Tales of entitlement

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 25-27, 2017

*** 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

Calendar of Events across

*** 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)

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS O C TO B E R 26 -29

2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival in Carson, CA You are invited to the 2nd annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) from October 26 to 29 at the SouthBay Pavilion Cinemark Theatre in Carson, CA. LAPIFF is an organization devoted to the advancement, development and showcase of Filipino filmmakers/artists around the world through film, providing the global community of entertainment professionals and film goers with consistent annual screening events and workshops. LAPIFF provides charitable scholarships and a forum where Filipino filmmakers/ artists can be recognized for their gifts, have open discussions about their movies and connect with industry professionals for understanding on production, distribution, representation and acquirement. Cinemark is located at 20700 South Avalon Boulevard #285, Carson, CA 90746. For more information and schedule, please visit http://www.lapiff.org/.

O C TO B E R 27

Filipino-American celebration in Las Vegas, NV To commemorate the month of October being Filipino-American History Month, the Filipino-American Chamber of Greater Nevada (FACCGN) invites you to a tandem event with a business/social networking mixer with a musical performance of Philippine music on Friday, October 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aldo Endiquez and the Swing Band takes center stage at the Event Mixer with a rendition of nostalgic Filipino songs to start the night with.

A dance event happens right after with HOT MANILA NIGHTS top-billed by the 360 Band sizzling with more Filipino music to enjoy and dance with. Please come and celebrate with us! The event will be held at Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino at 300 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89102. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/filipino-americanheritage-celebration-tickets-39131964760.

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.

PHII presents Tribute 2017: Recognition ceremony and dinner dance The Philippine Heritage Institute International celebrates its 28th anniversary with its annual recognition ceremony and dinner dance on Saturday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 -- 19th Tribute to Outstanding Filipino American Nurses and 11th President’s Award: ‘Profiles in Services, Pillars of Community.’ Cost is $65; attire, formal. PHII’s annual tribute is in answer to the White House Millennium Council Initiative from then Pres. Bill Clinton, who came with his wife Hillary to Los Angeles in January 1998. They created the Council in August 1997, with the theme ‘Honor the Past, Imagine the Future’ and traveled across the United States to promote its objectives -- an agenda with 21 ‘Ways to Commemorate the Millennium.’ “Mrs. Clinton gave a speech, stirring and inspirational,” said the late Mrs. Armada. In 1999, PHII became a partner to the White House Millennium Council selecting the ‘Millennium Recognition Awards’ to pay tribute to outstanding individuals whose contributions have enhanced the quality of life in the community. PHII seeks to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education and recognition with the youth as its main focus. The foundation sponsors a youth congress annually with featured speakers. For more information, contact President Josie E. De Jesus (714) 272-0300; or Executive Director Anna A. Chickey, M.D. (562) 900-0379 (payments can be mailed to Dr. Chickey, daughter of Mrs. Armada, at 2032 Redfield St., Fullerton, CA 92833); or Email Lydia V. Solis at lvsolis@ aol.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 25-27, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Delays in ecozone approvals...

PAGE B1 t transfer in Vietnam,” she added.

Plaza earlier aired her frustration over the delays on the proclamation of new economic zones that have resulted in applications piling up at the Office of the President.

She said out of 46 proposed economic zones pending presidential proclamation then, six were from the time of former president Benigno Aquino III and the rest during the current administration.

After going public about the issue, Plaza said Special Assistant to the President Bong Go has initiated a meeting with the legal teams of the Office of the Execu-

tive Secretary, Presidential Management Staff and PEZA to trace the reasons for the delay.

“They discussed how to hasten the presidential proclamation.

What the Office of the President demanded is for the land to be included for the proclamation for the vertical ecozones, as compared to the current practice in which it’s only the building that we proclaim. PEZA board immediately approved it,” Plaza said.

Plaza said she is hoping there would be a drastic improvement in the proclamations in the coming months.

“PEZA wishes that all those pending ecozones be proclaimed so investors can start building,

because they have waited very long already,” she said.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, has also urged the government to fasttrack the presidential proclamation of economic zone applications already approved by PEZA as these has caused some investors to hold back on their planned investments.

The PCCI included the resolution on the economic zone proclamation in the 10 recommendations the group submitted to President Duterte at the close of the 43rd Philippine Business Conference last Thursday, October 19.n

Gov’t eyes incentives, funding...

PAGE B1 t

when we talk of incentives, we run the risk also of that incentive being abused,” he said.

“A lot of them might be using that (incentives) to increase the tax deductibles so that’s the concern…providing a more proactive fund that may support startup activities is to me the better

EMPLOYMENT

way to do it.”

The two-day Slingshot summit, which ended yesterday, brought together start-ups, investors, representatives from the academe and other institutions to discuss the state of the industry in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“With the outpouring support

from the private sector and the increasing awareness in the government on how to further support and enable startups and entrepreneurs, we are confident that the Philippines will continue to unfold the potentials of the growing startup community and influence more Filipino businesses to scale up,” Lopez said.n

EMPLOYMENT

PAGE B1 t

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

ADB pledges $5.2M for...

ment would be focusing on a comprehensive reconstruction plan and economic opportunities for returning residents.

Dominguez said the stock market’s record performance following the announcement of the liberation of Marawi City was a sign of investor optimism.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 49.80 points or 0.59 percent to end at a new all-time high of 8,497.74 on Tuesday, October 17. That day’s rally also saw the bourse break the 8,500 level for the first time to hit a record intraday peak of 8,586.73.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi as liberated after government troops killed Islamist militants Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute, who led an attempt to take over the

city on May 23.

Dominguez also noted that businesses remained bullish throughout the five months that government troops tried to retake Marawi and despite Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

“We expect investor confidence to strengthen further and the economy to grow even faster now that the conflict has been virtually resolved and the government has started raising spending on infrastructure and human capital development, which will supercharge growth and create more jobs for our people,” he said.

The Finance department said the government still had to assess the extent of the damage in Marawi so that it could come up with a detailed recovery, re-

construction and rehabilitation program.

Efforts are now underway, however, to provide immediate assistance to displaced residents and open up economic opportunities that would enable them to get back on their feet.

An interagency task force chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was created in July to spearhead the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation program for Marawi City.

The Finance department is not a member of the task force but is involved in the fund-raising aspect.

Dominguez, who last August announced the planned offering of “patriotic” bonds for the rehabilitation effort, last week said the so-called “Marawi bonds” could be issued in January next year. n

vision for a stable, comfortable and secure life for every Filipino,” says Esguerra.

She says the song was created to help more people understand Neda’s work and the economic progress the country

has achieved. “It’s not enough to see economic progress; we need to hear it, too,” Esguerra says.

“Filipinos love music, so it’s easy to give a message through a song because people will latch onto it,” Feliciano adds. n

GDP data music to Filipinos’...

PAGE B2 t progress: high, upbeat, catchy.

“The song is in line with Neda’s Philippine Development Plan, which is geared toward AmBisyon Natin (Our Vision) 2040, the country’s long-term

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

PSYCHIC

B5 OCTOBER 25-27, 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

People and Events

Historic Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Filipino veterans & lesson plans for WWII in the Philippines in US history curriculum framework AFTER more than 75 years, WWII Filipino veterans will be honored for their sacrifices by House Speaker Paul Ryan with the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) at 11AM on Wednesday, October 25 at the Capitol. Several surviving WWII Filipino veterans and families will be attending the ceremony. At the same time, Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS) is unveiling its Lesson Plans for WWII in the Philippines to help implement part of Chapter 16 of the U.S. history curriculum framework for Grade 11 in California which was approved on July 14, 2016.

These two seminal events coin-

cide with Filipino American History month of October. California leads the rest of the country in making WWII in the Philippines an integral part of the U.S. history curriculum framework for high school.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) sponsored the CGM bill and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP), under the leadership of Maj. General (Ret.) Antonio Taguba spearheaded its passage. Bronze replicas of the CGM will be given to surviving Filipino and American veterans or their next of kin during a public ceremony at the

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tysons Corner, McLean, VA at 4PM on October 25.

The WWII in the Philippines lesson plans were created for BLHS by Bay Area high school history teachers during two teachers’ workshops in San Francisco. The lesson plans, primary documents, materials and other resources will be made available through the BLHS Lesson Plan website for Free to all teachers.

BLHS is also collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) and the San Francisco Asian Art Museum (AAMSF) to create lesson plans on WWII in the Philippines during the NPS High

Monrovia Unified Students recognized during village program Lights On celebration

NEARLY 300 students from Santa Fe Computer Science School, and Monroe and Plymouth elementary schools moonwalked their way through a Michael Jackson tribute on Oct. 11 during a Lights On Afterschool celebration honoring their scholastic achievement.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino, whose district includes Monrovia, thanked Monroe Elementary fourth-grader Lanayah Gholar and Clifton Middle School sixthgrader Chloe Errickson, who accompanied him to Sacramento in May to advocate for Senate Bill 78, a measure designed to increase funding for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program.

“Many parents have full-time jobs, so having an after-school program is a big help to them and their children,” Errickson said.

Gholar and Errickson presented Portantino with a painting of a tree in appreciation for his work as Budget Subcommittee chairman in pushing for the funding increase, which was included in the state budget signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in June.

“TheVillageProgramisimportantbecauseit gives us time to do our homework,” Gholer said.

Monrovia Unified’s Village Extended School Program is supported by an ASES grant and serves more than 600 students before and after school at Bradoaks, Monroe, Plymouth and Wild Rose elementary schools, and Clifton and Santa Fe middle schools. Village fosters student academic, physical, social and emotional develop-

ment, and is recognized by the California Department of Education as a Distinguished After School Health (DASH) program.

“We are so proud of Lanayah and Chloe for their advocacy in supporting our afterschool programs,” Board of Education Vice President Terrence Williams said. “They are examples of our many Monrovia Unified students who recognize the importance of the opportunities we provide, and are brave to lend their voices to a cause that will strengthen their academic future on behalf of others.”

Portantino visited Monroe Elementary in May as part of a Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) effort to boost funding for the ASES program. It was then that Portantino recruited Gholar and Errickson to assist him in advocating in front of the state legislature.

“California’s ASES program received its first increase in funding in over 10 years, largely through the efforts of Lanayah and Chloe, who were representing not just Monrovia and the Village Program, but over 400,000 students throughout the state who depend on the funding for their afterschool programs,” Portantino said. “They are tremendous students who really made a difference.”

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event held in October to celebrate afterschool programs and their role in keeping students safe, inspiring them to learn and helping working families. The Village Program will hold Lights On celebrations for Bradoaks and Wild Rose elementary

School Teachers’ Workshop Dissonant Voices on October 28, 2017, at the Asian Art Museum.

These sample lesson plans will also be available through the BLHS, NPS and AAMSF websites.

Approximately 260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrillas fought during WWII in the Philippines.

Filipinos made up majority of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and thousands made the ultimate sacrifice, most notably during the Bataan Death March in 1942.

For more information, please visit www.bataanlegacy.org and www.filvetrep.org.■

Monroe Elementary School fourth-grader Lanayah Gholer and Clifton Middle School sixth-grader Chloe Errickson present a gift to State Sen. Anthony Portantino (far left) for his efforts to increase California state subsidies for afterschool programs during the Village Program’s Lights On Afterschool celebration on Oct. 11.

A Monrovia elementary school student exchanges high-fives with Board of Education Vice President Terrence Williams during the Village Extended Learning Program Lights On Afterschool celebration held at Santa Fe Middle School on Oct. 11.

schools at Clifton Middle School on Oct. 25.

“The Village Program supports Monrovia families by providing students a safe place to concentrate on their studies, socialize with friends and engage in healthy activities,” Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said.

“I am so proud of Lanayah and Chloe for representing Monrovia Unified. Addressing our elected officials for a cause they believe in – especially in a public setting – would be difficult for most of us, but they did so in an articulate and effective manner.”■

What your teen driver needs to know to survive GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA – Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence. To shed light on this epidemic and reduce the number of lives lost, the Glendale Department wants drew the public’s attention to National Teen Driver Safety Week, last October 15-21.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide in 2015, 1,972 drivers, age 15-18, were involved in fatal collisions. In 2015, in California, 283 teens were behind the wheel at the time of fatal collisions, and 63 percent of those young drivers were at fault.

Teen Driver Safety Week helped parents focus attention on setting rules for their teen driver before allowing them to get behind the wheel. Parents and guardians must set firm driving rules to impact their teen’s driving behavior. They can be the difference between life and death.

Inexperience is one of the leading causes of teen collisions.

The most important thing a parent can do for a new teen driver is to stay involved in their driving life. Take frequent drives with your newly licensed teens to monitor their progress. Parents can reduce the dangerous and sometimes deadly behaviors, such as alcohol consumption, driving without seat belts, speeding, carrying extra passengers, and driving distracted.

“Cell phone use continues to be a serious and often deadly distraction for all drivers, but it’s a significant problem among young, inexperienced drivers,” said Rhonda Craft, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.

“If you’re a parent, guardian, or mentor to a teen driver, lead by example and encourage them to put the phone down and focus on the road. No text message or social media post is more valuable than their lives or the lives of others around them.”

As part of its commitment to educating the motoring public, there are programs for teen drivers and their families: • Start Smart conducted by

law enforcement personnel is a driver safety education class that targets new and future licensed drivers between the ages of 1519 and their parents/guardians.

• The CHP has released a mobile application (app) for Start Smart, designed to assist young people through the process of obtaining their California driver license. The app includes a step-by-step guide covering everything from the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Handbook and the final steps for obtaining a provisional license, to ultimately achieving an unrestricted California driver license.

• Every 15 Minutes focuses on high school juniors and seniors, challenging them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions, and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others.

• Impact Teen Drivers, a nonprofit organization parented with CHP is dedicated to saving lives through evidence-based educational programs that support good decision-making strategies behind the wheel.

• California Friday Night Live Partnership, working with high schools and middle schools to educate teens about traffic safety and impaired driving awareness including Town Hall meetings, prom related campaigns, and parent awareness programming.

• The Power to Youth and the Power of Parents, MADD’s multisensory high school assembly education program highlighting the dangers of teen impaired driver.

• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), educating and bring awareness to California communities of the human toll caused by alcohol related crashes to high school and middle school programs.

The Glendale PD is aware of the importance of role models in a youth’s development. Parents and other setting the example and education of new drivers and their families is regarded as a critical function to help keep everyone safe while driving.■

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

Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 25-27, 2017

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Cover photos by Ding Carreon and Peter Dumaual

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 25, 2017

Filipino boxer romero Duno:

From underdog to Golden Boy prospect

by Rae ann VaRona with RepoRts fRom VictoR sy / aJpRess DeSPITe being nicknamed “ruthless”, there’s nothing heartless nor callous about romero Duno.

At first impression, Duno comes off as shy and rather humble despite gaining new attention in the professional boxing world — that itself is noteworthy in a sport full of strong-egoed athletes.

But, as the adage says, “actions speak louder than words”, and Duno’s recent moves in the ring have many people all ears and eyes to see what he can do.

Just having turned 22 this month, Duno has already been described as a knockout artist with an impressive record of 13-1, 12 KOs. Only three of his professional bouts have been outside of the Philippines, with two wins in the United States.

Duno, which his friends call him, hails from Tagum City, the capital of the Philippines’ Davao del Norte province.

When home, he lives with his parents Nephtalie and Victoria, and is the sixth out of seven kids.

Like most parents, basic hopes for their children are that they stay out of fights, and

stay in school. Duno — by no means a bad kid — did the opposite of both.

“It was just over a paper,” confessed Duno to the Asian Journal about his first ever fist fight win as a high school freshman.

His opponent so happened to be a local boxer and a son of a boxing trainer who eventually took Duno as his trainee.

That marked Duno’s beginning as a boxer.

A few years later as a student at the University of Mindanao, Duno, like many other college students, decided to skip school. But, he didn’t just skip class, or one day to hang out with friends at the mall or beach. Duno instead moved four hours away to pursue his boxing career in General Santos City at the invitation of engelbert Moralde, another known filipino boxer.

“My mom didn’t know,” said Duno.

Duno’s mom Victoria, had plans to support both him and his sister in finishing their post-secondary education at the time.

“I told myself that if we study together, my mom and

dad may have a hard time — maybe neither of us may finish school due to shortness of budget,” said Duno. “So I just told myself that I should just go straight to Gen San.” Just as all mothers eventually find out if they’ve been disobeyed, Victoria found out that he indeed was not studying. But it wasn’t until after two fights.

“She was mad — she wanted me to stop,” said Duno quietly laughing.

“I said that I had already started — I had already signed the contract,” he added.

Many boxers enter the professional field with a lot of amateur experience. Duno, on the other hand, did not have many tournament fights under his belt as they required the process of defeating other boxers in order to move up — a classic game of elimination.

The majority of Duno’s fights were in local barangays or villages.

As a result, not much training focus was initially put on the powerful, but limited amateur experienced Duno.

In his first-ever fight outside

the Philippines last May, where he experienced his first and only loss in an eight-round decision to Mikhail Alexeev in russia — only his manager accompanied him.

“They were not sure with Duno,” said rodel Mayol, the filipino former World Boxing Council (WBC) Light flyweight World Champion who now trains and houses Duno in Los Angeles.

But it didn’t take long before Duno began to prove himself as what Mayol described as an “A-plus boxer”.

Duno, the new ‘golden boy’ At his U.S debut fight in March, Duno took victory over the then-undefeated prospect Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez in less than a minute into the second of what was supposed to be eight rounds.

Crowd favorite Gonzalez, who had entered the arena to the sounds of enthusiastically chanting fans, was later carried out of the ring to a more silent and stunned crowd.

“We saw romero’s power in the ring — he is the real deal,” said former professional boxer and ten world title winner Oscar De La Hoya, in a statement on signing Duno to his Golden Boy Promotions firm.

“He has the exceptional power, along with the talent and desire to be a great fighter.

He could be the next big boxing star from the Philippines as time is on his side, and I’m pleased he chose Golden Boy to introduce him to a wider audience in the U.S.” Gonzalez (also with Golden Boy Promotions) has himself amassed a strong following with many from Mexico where he spent his early pro boxing years, and from his hometown of Buena Park, California. He is also the youngest brother of former WBC featherweight World Champion, Alejandro “La Duno won in an eight-round lightweight match against Mexican Juan Pablo Sanchez at The Forum in Los Angeles last September.

Cobrita” Gonzalez.

“Chimpa was 16-0, with 14 knockouts, so they were really building him up,” said Mayol.

Upon entering the venue, Duno recalled hearing taunts and chants from the pro-Chimpa crowd attempting to get into this head.

“I told him, ‘let’s just focus — don’t think about their shouting. Think instead that they’re shouting for you.

They’re shouting to distract you’,” said Mayol, adding that filipinos were very underrepresented in the venue.

Out of maybe 200 to 300 people, less than 15 were filipino, said Mayol. ecstatic, Duno’s accompanying team rushed on stage while security attempted to hold them back.

The shocking win resulted in a multi-year promotional Duno with cutman Dr. Ed dela Vega Photos by Peter Dumaual deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s

Duno signing boxing gloves

Golden Boy Promotions, a “Hero’s Welcome” in General Santos City, and a push into the spotlight among boxing fans.

“I was surprised because I didn’t even know that was a thing,” said Duno on his General Santos City welcome and meeting with the mayor.

“His mom wasn’t there.

She’s upset. But I know that she is also proud,” said Mayol.

In late September, Duno went on to take another 78-74 win over Juan Pablo Sanchez (30-14, 14 KOs) at The forum in Los Angeles through a unanimous decision.

Once again, Duno’s team rushed on stage. This time, Mayol received a fine but said it was worth it.

“It was okay because it was a happy moment,” shared Mayol.

Duno now trains at Los Angeles’ Wild Card Boxing Club, which has been the training grounds for numerous world champions like filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, and even Mayol. The gym is owned by well-respected boxing trainer and former professional boxer freddie roach. “freddie is always supporting us at the gym,” Mayol said. roach often helps find Duno good sparring partners.

Considered as one of best boxing trainers of all time, roach’s lineup of famed boxers include former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr., five-time and four-division world champion

AJPress photos by Ding Carreon

Miguel Cotto, and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao whom many on the internet are likening Duno to.

During Duno’s U.S. debut win over Gonzalez, commentator Steve Kim compared the victory to Pacquiao’s shocking defeat over Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 which thrust him into the spotlight.

“Much like tonight to a certain degree, he just blitzed Lehlo Ledwaba, and really at that point, arrived,” said Kim of Pacquiao’s 2001 fight.

“I’m happy when they say that, but in my opinion, you can’t compare with Manny — there’s only one Manny,” said Duno.

“All I want is to make my own name in boxing,” he added. “I don’t want to imitate him. I want to be different, so that there will be something different.”

On October 9, Duno went back to the Philippines for a quick two-week vacation before continuing training for an upcoming U.S fight on December 18 in Southern California.

In the Philippines, he got to spend his 22nd birthday doing one of the things he loves to do the most: hanging out with his family, who he sees as his biggest inspiration.

“I just want to prove to the people who look down on my family that we can make it without them,” said Duno.

As for his December fight, his opponent has yet to be announced. But one thing for sure is that people will be watching.

Kris Aquino: ‘I’m not that rich’ What it is like to be single for Piolo Pascual?

by Deni

by tessa

mauRicioa-aRRiola ManilaTimes.net

Rose BeRnaRDo

Philstar.com

BefOre the year ends, multimedia star Kris Aquino will be opening new branches of her fast food chain franchise. for the first time, she will also spend Christmas in her new mansion in Quezon City, the latest addition to her many properties that include some of the country’s most expensive condo units in Makati City.

The new modern minimalist house comes with a high-tech pool, two grand pianos, arcade games for Kris’s sons Josh and Bimby, gym equipment and furniture by world-renowned filipino interior designer Kenneth Cobonpue. Outside, several of Kris’s multi-million suburban utility vehicles (SUVs) were parked.

In spite all this, Kris does not consider herself a “crazy rich Asian,” as the title of her new Hollywood flick goes.

“I’m not that rich,” Kris told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview with select media at her new home.

“Wala ako sa stratosphere na ‘yan!”

According to her, many people have been asking her why she still has to work when she already has businesses enough to cover her kids’ needs throughout their lifetime. She explained that after about 20 years of working non-stop for ABS-CBN, her body misses the

NO matter how many handsome and talented faces have come and gone into the spotlight, actor-singer-producer Piolo Pascual has carved a place in show business that is all his own.

Now 40 years old, the mere mention of his name still causes a commotion especially among female admirers. As an actor and singer, he has proven himself to the public with box office hits and chart toppers, and he is highly regarded by colleagues from different generations. And lately, as a producer of quality movies, the most recent of which is the phenomenally successful “Kita Kita,” Pascual has found a way to continue his relevance in Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino the industry, if and when the time comes he chooses to stay daily grind, so she will not give behind the camera. up being on the limelight just Behind all the glamour and yet. fame, however, the Ultimate “Hinahanap-hanap ng Heartthrob tells The Manila katawan ko ‘yung ganitong Times he actually prefers a trabaho,” she said. laidback life in private.

In her 20 years with the “I’ve learnt to not take my Kapamilya network, she said Continued on Page 4 work home. Iniiwan ko sa set.

Piolo Pascual

Pagkatapos magtrabaho, uuwi ako sa bahay. Wala akong stress because I choose not to get stressed,” said the very eligible bachelor.

His idea, he says of a perfect end to a long day is quiet time and comfort food.

Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

“Ang paborito kong lutuin corned beef,” he chuckled.

“Gisa-gisa na may konting sibuyas,” he added.

Asked whether he is conscious of the food he eats, especially with the need to Continued on Page 4

Elmer Padilla impresses Mark Ruffalo with his tsinelas creation

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

TOp Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo—famous for playing the Hulk in “The Avengers” films— praised Filipino toy artist Elmer padilla over the weekend for his version of his character’s action figure, calling it “inventively creative.”

“Believe it or not, this #Hulk doll is made out of recycled tsinelas (that’s Tagalog for flipflops). @elmerboytsinelas made this for me so I just wanted to give a nice shoutout. Not only is this inventively creative, but it’s sustainable and just pure awesome! Thank you Elmer!” Ruffalo posted on his Instagram and Twitter page.

Ruffalo—an environmentalist and co-founder of the Solutions project advocacy that focuses on clean, renewable energy for the world—was naturally excited by the artist’s choice of material.

In an ABS-CBN television report, padilla meanwhile said he grew with hardly any toys, an experience that taught him to make his own out of trash.

All the same superhero stories inspired him to be ”extraordinary.“ padilla, a budding action figure artist now based in Cavite province, used to be a construction worker and pedicab driver.

He thanked Ruffalo for giving

entertainment 3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 25, 2017

Alisah Bonaobra ends her ‘The X Factor UK’ journey

FILIpINA singer Alisah Bonaobra, the last Filipino contestant on “The X Factor UK,” was sent home by judge and mentor Sharon Osbourne at the judges’ house round on the show’s episode on Sunday, Oct. 22.

She sang her version of Sam Smith’s hit song “Lay Me Down” in front of Sharon and her children Jack and Kelly. After her performance, the Osbourne children were both very impressed.

“She can sing!” expressed

by Kelly Osbourne, to which her brother Jack agreed: “That’s the cleanest performance we’ve seen.”

“Every time we’ll hear her sing, she’s been consistent, the only reason I didn’t put her through at six chairs—‘coz she was out—she was in, was because every song she sang was like Whitney Houston, or a Disney song which you can’t do week after week because it becomes

cheese fest,” Sharon said after Alisah’s performance.

Alisah was then asked by host Dermot O’Leary if she thinks she has done enough and she gave an optimistic response.

“Hopefully I’ve done enough Alisah Bonaobra, the last Filipino contestant on “The X Factor UK,” was because I just gave just sent home by judge Sharon Osbourne.

ManilaTimes.net photo [it] my all.”

When the decision was made, and even though that’s fantastic, I wanna see other sides of you,” Sharon brought the news to all the contestants through a one-on- Sharon first told Alisah.

“This is a very, very hard one conversation. While talking decision for me. A very, very hard to Alisah, Sharon made sure to acknowledge the talent and hard decision and I didn’t come to it lightly,” Sharon added. “I’m so work she had been putting. sorry but I’m gonna be sending “You have the most amazing voice, I know that you really need you home.”

Alisah just burst out in tears as this and you really want it. But I host Dermot gave her a tight hug. feel that you’re kind of very onedimensional, your power ballads, (ManilaTimes.net)

Mark Ruffalo (above) describes Filipino-made ‘tsinelas’ Hulk doll, by Elmer Padilla (insert), as ‘inventively creative’.

Photos from Instagram/@markruffalo

him a shout out and appreciating his art.

“Thank you so much Sir @ markruffalo for the shoutout. I can’t explain how happy I am today because one of my idols had it now and holding my creation.

Hope to meet you someday in person,” padilla posted on his Instagram account along with the picture of Ruffalo holding his work.

Apparently, it is not only Ruffalo who received a rubber slippers action figure. Chris Hemsworth who plays Thor in “The Avengers” also received his character as executed by padilla.

“That is fantastic. It looks better than me,” Hemsworth said in an interview with ABSCBN’s Marie Lozano.

Besides superheroes, padilla also creates toys modeled after characters from comics, popular films and animated features such as Wolverine, predator, Voltes V and Gundam.

On October 20, the local government of Imus recognized padilla for for setting an example to save the environment through recycling. He also had his first exhibit at the Warner TV pop Expo 2017 in Taguig last week with his super tsinelas collection.

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entertainment

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 25, 2017

DIVA 2 DIVA

The Pop Diva and Divine Diva reunite AFTER more than a decade the Divas are back in one show to share their timeless love songs that fans have grown to love. The Philippines’ Pop Diva, Kuh Ledesma, and the Divine Diva, Zsa Zsa Padilla, will restage DIVA 2 DIVA! This time, adding fun and laughter to their repertoire as they are joined with equally talented comediennes Nanette Inventor and Mitch Valdez.

The first and last time these 2 Divas shared a stage was back in 2002. The success of their show was outstanding, leading them to bring the show in different countries.

Fifteen years later, they’re back to give us that same show that was hailed as the best concert of 2002.

Through the years, the Divine Diva and the Philippine Pop Diva’s contributions to the Philippine music industry are immeasurable. Hence, earning their respective titles and niche in the industry. They have made countless hits — such as Ledesma with “Till I met you,” “Dito ba?,” “Ako ay Pilipino,” “I think I’m in love” and Padilla with “Minsan Pa,” “Ikaw lamang,” “Kahit na,” and “Mambobola” to name a few.

People expected a rivalry, a contest or a concert that would show who is the real Diva from their concert then. However, what they witnessed was more of a collaboration of two equally brilliant artists sharing one stage doing what they both love. This year’s show will be even better because they have more stories to share and more songs to sing.

Their repertoire includes a medley of their hits, songs from Broadway, and duets with new twists.

As Ledesma is known for her spiritual advocacy, especially in helping missionaries all around the world, the restaging of this concert is made

Kuh Ledesma

Coco eyeballs with Apo Whang-Od

by Edgar

O. Cruz

Philstar.com

“Hi Coco Martin. I want to see you in person. Love, Whang-Od,” says the fan sign that Maria Fang-od Oggay, lovingly referred to as Apo Whang-Od, posted on Facebook two years past.

Now grappling with the post-production of his official submission to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival as lead actor/producer/director of Ang Panday, Apo Whang-Od arrived in Manila last Oct. 18, as fetched by ABS-CBN reporter Jefferson Fernando by helicopter from Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga in satisfaction of her wish to eyeball with the FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano star.

Selected to receive the National Living Treasure Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Coco met Apo Whang-Od in a function room of B Hotel in Quezon City with a warm hug and bouquet of flowers. She also graced the 66th edition of Manila FAME recently at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine International Trade Center Exhibit Hall.

“Masaya ako para makita ang inirerespeto at hinahangaan, hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas, maging sa buong mundo,” he raved about the calm, cool and collected mambabatok (Igorot tattoo artist). It is unknown if Coco will get a hand-poked tattoo of a centipede on his arm, her tribe’s icon for protection.

Considered the Mona Lisa

Apo Whang-Od invites Coco Martin to eyeball and during their first meeting at the B Hotel recently.

Philstar.com photos

of Millennials, Apo Whang-Od does not share the enigmatic beauty and smile of Leonardo da Vinci’s muse. Her nose without a bridge, breasts sagging, frail appendages adorned with chunky multi-colored beads with tattoos of geometric designs making her look exquisitely elegant.

Millennials measure being marked by the centenarian master inker like acquiring an artwork by National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera at rock-bottom price.

All roads to Buscalan has been quivering with road machines ever since anthropologist Lars Krutak did the documentary, Tattoo Hunter, in 2009. Recently, the prestigious The New York Times and CNN did features.

In a video message, the pop culture-friendly granny wants Coco to be her “boyfriend.” “Pag mag-aasawa ka Coco, dapat maghanap ka ng maganda gaya ng iyong kagandahan. Tingnan mo rin ‘yung

mabait na aalagaan ka niya para hindi ka kawawa sa huli,” she adviced.

Aware of his love for lolas having been raised by his own, Apo Whang-Od has deep admiration for him and wants to meet him. He sent her his standee and memorabilia to add to her collection. Coco posted these on his Instagram account and responded with a promise to visit.

Her mystique grabs tourists effortlessly to her sky-high haven including celebrities Rhian Ramos, National Youth Commission chair Aiza Seguerra, Film Development Council chair Liza Diño-Seguerra and Drew Arellano who had themselves marked by her.

An adored subject of Filipino visual artists, digital artist Jaime Torres and oil painter Michael Montanez collaborated on her 36” x 40” oil on boxed canvas portrait titled Apo Whang-Od to generate awareness to honor the National Living Treasure awardee.

Kris Aquino: ‘I’m not that...

From Page 2

Zsa Zsa Padilla

possible by the Holy Bible Giver Foundation together with the JIR Foundation and the Living Rock Church. The benefits of this concert will go to missionaries around the globe and the renovation of a church in Coron, Palawan, Philippines.

Join us for an evening of beautiful music, fun and laugh-

ter as these Divas reunite once again on November 11, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the “PazNaz” First Church of the Nazarene (3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, California). For tickets, you may purchase them online at diva2diva2.eventbrite.com or you may call Henry at (818) 612 4500 for more details. *Advertising Supplement

among her most unforgettable projects were “Game KNB” because to this day every game show has the word “game” on it; “The Buzz,” where she originated the expression “Love, love, love;” and “Kris TV,” because it brought her all over the Philippines.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is also important to her “because it is career-defining.”

“Ang ganda talaga. Iba ‘yung set, production design, ilaw, tapos kalmado silang lahat.

Walang sumisigaw. Ang class!” she said of the film being directed by Jon M. Chu and based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan.

Kris said Kwan praised her performance in the film. “Naiyak ako! Kevin told me, ‘I’m so proud of you, my dear!’”

She said Kevin read and learned about her because he loves politics.

“He’s so smart but humble and appreciative and he does not want to stop learning,” Kris said of the author.

When asked about her love life, Kris said she plans to have someone “When Bimb is 12.”

Bimby, her youngest son, is now 10.

She said she is putting love on hold as she is still saving for her new venture as an online star. “Nakaka-distract eh (love life). ‘Pag nag-away kayo, the

What it is like to be single...

From Page 2 maintain his buffed body, he replies happily, “Walang bawal sa akin. I can eat anything. Malakas akong kumain, sobra. Kaya malakas akong mag-workout.

Ayokong i-deprive ang sarili ko.

For me, eating is a reward.”

Sounding more and more like the guy next door even

if he is a superstar, Pascual’s down-to-earth ways make him a rarity in the industry like everyone says.

What you see is what you get when it comes to Piolo Pascual so that whenever he can, he tries to show the public how simple makes him happy via his

next day pangit ka, ‘di mo matago!”

Does this new guy also have to be a “crazy rich Asian”? “’Di realistic kung ka-tax bracket ko,” she said, affirming that she does not mind marrying a “poorer” guy.

“Basta ayaw ko lang ng tamad. Dapat meron s’yang dependability, trustworthiness and intelligence,” she enumerated.

She is also open to a Christian, as long as the guy’s religion is Bible-based.

Above all, the man must go along well with her sons.

“Dapat may Bimby seal of approval kasi si Josh mabait sa lahat, lahat gusto because he’s laking lola!” social media pots.

“What you put out there, it’s you, yourself. It’s private and personal but I still want people to identify with me that’s why I choose to share parts of my life like this.”

And with that, the bachelor digs into his plate of homecooked food, but not without offering a spoonful, unpretentiously asking, “Gusto n’yo?”

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 25, 2017

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - October 25, 2017