091317 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

September 13-15, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 73 • 3 Sections - 22 Pages

Callamard: P1,000 budget for CHR is ‘reprehensible and unconscionable’ GIVING the Philippine Commission on Human Rights a budget of P1,000 for 2018 was “reprehensible and unconscionable.”

That’s the reaction that Agnes Callamard, United Nations special rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, posted on Twitter on Tuesday, Sept. 12, shortly after the House of Representatives voted 119-32 in favor of giving UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard the measly amount to the CHR, Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta which has been critical of the

DATELINE

Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Following is the statement Callamard shared through Facebook: “The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines is a crucial institution for the Philippines: for human rights protection, the rule of law, accountability. It cannot deliver on its mandate without an appropriate budget, particularly at a time

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DUTERTE VISITS MARAWI AGAIN. President Rodrigo Duterte made his fourth visit to the besieged southern city of Marawi on Monday, Sept.

11 as military offensives against ISIS-inspired terrorists that overran the city enter the “final stage.” According to Malacañang, Duterte arrived in Marawi to visit the city’s Grand Mosque and the Mapandi Bridge, which had been recaptured by advancing soldiers from terrorists.

Malacañang photo

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

CA State Assembly hopefuls discuss AAPI issues at town hall Candidates for AD51 share proposals for immigrant rights, affordable health care, LA housing crisis

ON October 3, voters from several neighborhoods in Los Angeles will head to the polls to elect a new state representative in a special election for the vacant seat in the California State Assembly.

There are currently 13 individuals running who are looking to take over Assembly District 51 (AD 51), which has been vacant since June when former Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez was elected to the U.S. Congress.

With less than a month remaining, candidates are upping their efforts to attract vot-

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Philippine Coconut Roadshow comes to Los Angeles LEADERS and members of the Philippine coconut industry launched a coconut roadshow on Friday, September 8 at the San Gabriel Hilton Hotel in San Gabriel, Los Angeles.

The show was the first out of four being held throughout the United States meant to share the outlook of the Philippines’ booming coconut oil industry that was recently threatened by a report by the American Heart Association (AHA) report.

Sponsored by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP), and the Philippine government, around 20 coconut industry companies and organizations came together to promote coconut products for both food and non-food markets.

Key speakers at the lunch panel included Virgin Coconut Oil of the Philippines (VCOP) founding member Marco Reyes, and United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP)

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Sailors load cases of food and water into a Navy C-20 Gulfstream logistics aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla. The Sailors packed vacant seats aboard the aircraft with the supplies which will be flown to NAS Key West, Fla., to provide relief from the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. David Hecht

PH gov’t intensifies post-disaster response operations on Irma-hit Caribbean islands WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Embassy Response Team entered the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and met with the Filipino community there on Monday, September 11, Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto, Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy, reported to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano.

The primary mission of the Response Team is to alleviate the suffering of kababayans reeling from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma, which slammed into the BVI and other islands in the Caribbean last week. The Philippine government’s assistance is mainly in the form of providing ba-

sic supplies to and facilitating the repatriation of affected Filipino nationals in the British overseas territory.

To date, there are 135 kababayans in the BVI who have requested repatriation assistance from the Philippine government. The Philippine Embassy clarified that those who volunteer to be repatriated will be directly brought to the Philippines.

As directed by Secretary Cayetano, the Embassy also dispatched a second two-member Response Team to provide logistical and admin-

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Critics, supporters face off at SWS: Victims of crimes Marcos’ 100 birth anniversary fewer but fear remains

by DANA

SIOSON

AJPress

BOTH critics and supporters of late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos gathered outside Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig city on Monday, September 11, for the centennial birth commemoration of the former dictator.

Security personnel were deployed to maintain order in the area. The air was charged with tension, but there were no reported violent incidents between the two opposing groups, composing of around 200 each.

Imelda Marcos, the widow of the late president, has invited senators, House

members, and other political personalities to the celebration of her husband’s 100th birthday anniversary.

Among those who attended the event were former President and current Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Also seen in photos released by Ilocos Governor Imee Marcos, eldest daughter of the late president, were former Senator Francisco Tatad; former Prime Minister Cesar Virata; and former Central Bank Governor Jaime Laya.

President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend the commemoration. The Marcos family reportedly extended an invitation to him Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella

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Inquirer.net photo

by NESTOR

CORRALES Inquirer.net

THE number of Filipinos who became victims of crimes dropped to a record low during the second quarter of 2017, a recent Social Weather Stations Survey (SWS) revealed on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

The survey, first published in Business World, showed that 3.1 percent or an estimated 706,000 families said they have been victimized by robbery, burglary (break-ins) or car theft in the past

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Smart cities: Manila 148th of 180 by

HELEN FLORES Philstar.com

MANILA — Manila ranked 148th in the survey of most livable or “smartest” cities in the world published by Spain-based University of Navarra’s IESE Business School.

The 2017 Cities in Motion Index (CIMI) rated 180 cities in 80 countries based on these parameters: governance, urban planning, public management, technology, environment, international impact, social cohesion, transportation, human capital and economy.

Manila ranked 174th in transFormer Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee and their mother, Imelda Marcos, listen to the national anthem during a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument to former President Ferdinand Marcos during portation, 160th in governance, celebrations to mark his 100th birthday in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

ManilaTimes.net photo 147th in environment, 145th in

urban planning, 140th in social cohesion, 139th in human capital, 131st in economy and 103rd in technology.

The Philippines’ capital fared relatively better in the areas of public management (57th) and international impact (68th).

Manila lagged behind island city-state Singapore (22nd); Bangkok, Thailand (86th); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (92nd) and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (146th).

Seoul led the ranking in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei.

The top 10 most livable cities in

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From the Front Page

PH gov’t intensifies post-disaster response...

PAGE A1 istrative support from Puerto Rico.

Additional teams are on stand-by in case there is a need for additional deployment in Puerto Rico or other areas. The extent of the damage in the Caribbean region is gradually becoming clear as more areas become accessible to the outside world.

In the meantime, Dr. Henry B. Howard, the Philippine Honorary Consul in Florida, reported that “kababayan communities in Pensacola, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale have largely dodged the bullet known as ‘Hurricane Irma’”. Filipino leaders in Tampa also said that the storm caused less damage than what was anticipated. So far,

the Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Honorary Consulate in Florida has not received any report of Filipino casualty resulting from Irma’s crossing across the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean and the U.S. third largest state.

Downgraded to a tropical storm, Irma is making its way to Alabama after passing directly over the coast of southern Georgia. The latest projections indicate that Irma will weaken to the point of being a tropical depression by tomorrow, Tuesday, September 12. However, it is still expected to bring rains to central Georgia, eastern Alabama and southern South Carolina.

The Philippine Embassy reiterates its advice to the Filipinos in

the southeastern part of the United States to exercise extra precautions, heed the orders and warnings of state and local authorities, and monitor weather bulletins for updates.

Those who want to share or find information about the condition of their family members and friends in the abovementioned places may reach the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. through the following contact information: · Emergency hotline: +1 (202) 368 2767 · Email addresses: consular@ phembassy-us.org / atn@phembassy-us.org · Facebook: www.facebook. com/philippinesusa · Twitter: @philippinesusa n

Smart cities: Manila 148th of...

PAGE A1 the world are New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington in the U.S., London in the United Kingdom, Paris in France, Seoul in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan,

Berlin in Germany and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam ranked first in urban planning and is among the highest-ranking in almost all the indicators, the report said. Taipei,

ETHICS COMMITTEE. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III answers questions from the media after the Senate Ethics Committee, presided

by Senator Panfilo Lacson, on Monday, September 11, dismissed the complaint filed against him over his “na-ano” remark on former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Senate photo by Alex Nuevaespaña

meanwhile, ranked first in the area of technology.

The CIMI, now on its fourth year, enables the strengths and weaknesses of each city to be PAGE A1 identified. n when it is confronted with allegations of massive human rights violations throughout the country, and including, but not only, in the context of the ill-advised, destructive ‘war on drugs.’

The people of the Philippines deserves a strong independent human rights institution able to monitor, investigate, and report on human rights violations, protect victims and their families, and hold the powerful to account for their abuses of international human rights standards. Instead they are getting a “war on drugs” which, by the President’s own account, has failed to curtail addiction rates, while creating a climate of fear and insecurity, feeding impunity, and undermining the constitutional fabrics of the Country. If the Philippines Congress is looking for public money being wasted, damaging and hurting the Philippines society, this is it.”

The decision of the House to gut the CHR budget from the proposed P649.484 million (inclusive of retirement and life insurance program) down to P1,000 apparently was the result of House Speak Pantaleon Alvarez making good his word to give the commission, long critical of the administration’s war on drugs, a measly budget,

Callamard: P1,000 budget for CHR... which would render it ineffective in its operations next year.

During the plenary debate, 1Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta moved for the P1,000 budget due to the what he said was the failure of the CHR to investigate rights violations by terrorists.

He also added that the CHR was not a valid agency having been created by an executive order issued by President Cory Aquino in 1986 during the revolutionary government when there was no Congress.

But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Marcoleta was mistaken that CHR was not validly created, noting that Aquino was exercising both executive and legislative powers because the 8th Congress was not yet convened at the time.

Lagman added that it would be unconstitutional to give a practically zero budget to a constitutional body, because the 1987 Constitution gave the CHR fiscal autonomy.

He said the CHR has no jurisdiction over common crimes, such as those committed by terrorists. It has jurisdiction only over rights violations perpetrated by the state and its agents.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said giving a zero budget to make the CHR inutile would rid the country of a government agency

to protect people against rights abuses.

Alvarez, in a televised interview with CNN Philippines, said the CHR deserved the very low budget for being a “useless” agency and for defending the rights of criminal syndicates.

“Ngayon, kung gusto mong protektahan yung rights ng criminal, eh kumuha ka ng budget sa mga criminal. Ganun lang kasimple yun. Bakit ka kukuha ng budget sa gobyerno, eh hindi mo ginagawa yung (trabaho mo),” Alvarez said in the interview.

(Now, if you want to protect the rights of the criminals, get your budget from the criminals.

It’s that simple. Why should you get budget from the government and yet you are not doing your job.)

In reaction, CHR Chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon admitted being teary-eyed – not so much because of the amount but because 32 lawmakers showed their support for the the commission.

“I became teary-eyed because these were tears of joy, ” he said. “Not that we lost our budget. But because there were so many who stood up. Not the majority, but so many. In fact of those at the first stage who did PAGE A4

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CA State Assembly hopefuls discuss..

PAGE A1 ers from the large, urban district which boasts rich communities of color.

AD 51 encompasses northeastern Los Angeles, including Chinatown, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Edendale, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Montecito Heights, Silver Lake, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Monterey Hills.

Parts of East Los Angeles and City Terrace are also comprised in AD51.

Although AD 51 is a majority Latino (57.1 percent), the district comprises a strong Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community (11 percent), and candidates see the value in campaigning to the district’s AAPI voters.

On Tuesday, September 5, AD 51 candidates got a chance to meet the constituents and communicate their campaign promises in an AAPI forum at the Pilipino Workers Center in Historic Filipinotown.

The key issues discussed at the forum included those closest to the AAPI community: immigration, healthcare, housing and workers’ rights.

All candidates — most of whom are running for the Democratic Party — emphasized the importance of upholding immigrant rights and vowed to protect programs like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an initiative which grants benefits to undocumented youth.

Gabriel Sandoval, a MexicanAmerican civil rights and education attorney who worked in the Obama administration, promised

to support SB 54, a state Senate bill which would prohibit law enforcement from asking about a person’s immigration status, detaining people for their immigration status and acting as immigration agents.

“There’s a lot of fear in our community and there are a lot of concerns,” Sandoval told the crowd of more than 50 AAPI community leaders and members. “So any individual who represents this district needs to understand the policy, the law, the advocacy and the importance and power of the community. We also need to ensure that we have the resources necessary to ensure that students and others are not being discriminated against in the workplace, school or community.”

With the rising rents across the city, the housing crisis was a hot topic of debate, with candidates vowing to fight gentrification and implement more affordable housing units across the city.

LA Community College District trustee Mike Fong promised to ensure accountability for housing projects and voiced his support for SB 35, an upcoming bill that would ensure that cities follow through with their housing production goals.

“We need to hold cities and municipalities accountable on the number of housing units built when they submit their plans to the state, not the ones that are just planned,” Fong said, adding that, if elected, he would prioritize creating more affordable housing by instituting community development agen-

cies to build more multi-generational housing.

Amid the national health care crisis, all candidates vowed to fight for more affordable healthcare and promised support to retain the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Charitable foundation adviser Alex De Ocampo, the only Filipino-American in the race, shared his experience growing up with a mother who needed long-term care, a story that resonated with many of the Filipino constituents.

“I’m going to be a fierce advocate to make sure we expand in-home support services. I also plan to lobby to make sure Medicare covers more and more of these services, so I am going to be that voice because I’m living it as we speak,” De Ocampo said, adding he promises to ensure more funding into vocational health services to breed more doctors, nurses and health care professionals.

In terms of addressing AAPI concerns specifically, De Ocampo addressed the diversity of the AAPI electorate and promised to listen to all groups under the AAPI label.

“Sometimes with the AAPI community we all get clumped together but we have to understand issues in the Vietnamese community, in the Chinese community and the Filipino community can be vastly different,” De Ocampo noted. “I’m gonna make sure I’m reaching out to you, listening to your needs and delivering what each PAGE A5

BRAVERY REWARDED. President Rodrigo Duterte pins medals on soldiers injured in Marawi City on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Commander-in-Chief awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu medals to the 76 military personnel when he visited the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro . “Fight for the country. Our duty here is to protect the people and to preserve our country. It is a little chaotic, that’s why you are making sacrifices,” Duterte said.

ManilaTimes.net photo

SWS: Victims of crimes fewer but...

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six months.

SWS said the 3.1 percent result was 3.2 points below the 6.3 percent in March 2017 and is 1.4 points below the previous record-low of 4.5 percent in December 2016.

The survey was conducted from June 23 to 26, with 1,200 adult respondents (18 years old and above) nationwide.

Respondents who said that their family members suffered from physical violence in the past six months was at 0.6 percent or

an estimated 149,000 families, almost similar to the 0.7 percent in March 2017 and in December and September 2016. The survey showed a 3-point decrease in families victimized by street robbery during the past six months, which is now at 2.3 percent or an estimated 525,000 families in June 2017 from the 5.3 percent or an estimated 1.2 million in March.

The 2.3 percent result was 1 point below the previous recordlow at 3.3 percent or an estimated of 754,000 families in December last year.

The survey also showed that families victimized by break-ins were down to 0.8 points from the 1.9 percent in March or an estimated 435,000 families in March to 1.1 percent or an estimated 260,000 families in June 2017.

Respondents who were robbed of any type of their motor vehicle was at 0.2 percent or 0.8 points lower than the 1 percent in March.

Families robbed of their personal property outside their homes in Metro Manila was at a record low in June 2017 with 4.3 or down by 7.7 points from 12 percent in March 2017.

Fear of unsafe streets, burglaries The survey showed that 62 percent of the respondents in Metro Manila said they fear of being victims to burglaries, which is 3 points lower than the 65 percent in March 2017.

In Mindanao, however, it rose by 11 points from 49 percent in March to 61 percent in June.

There was also an increase of 2 points in the Visayas, from 48 percent in March 2017 to 50% in June 2017.

In Balance Luzon, it rose 1 point from 60 percent in March 2017 to 61 percent in June 2017.

Meanwhile, the fear of unsafe streets was at 51 percent in Metro Manila, a 3 points decrease from the 54 percent in March

2017.

In Balance Luzon, it fell by 2 points from 54 percent in March 2017 to 52 percent in June.

In Mindanao, however, it rose by from 42 percent in March 2017 to 55 percent in June while a 1 point increase was seen in the Visayas, from 47 percent in March 2017 to 48 percent in June.

Drugs addicts, carnapping The same survey found out that 54 percent respondents in Metro Manila believed that there are drug addicts in their neighborhood. This was 11 points lower from the 65 percent in March 3017.

There was also a decrease of 9 points in Balance Luzon, which is now at 48 percent.

In Mindanao, however, it rose by 4 points, which is now at 48 percent, and the numbers in Visayas also rose by 3 points, which is now at 43 percent.

The survey also found out that vehicle-owning families who experienced carnapping fell by 1.4 points in Metro Manila, which is now at 2 percent.

The same survey showed that there were no cases of carnapping in the Visayas, Balance Luzon and Mindanao samples.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella welcomed the result, saying the government’s anti-crime efforts and war on illegal drugs were “yielding positive results.”

“The government’s campaign against crimes and illegal drugs has resulted in less robberies, less physical violence, less fear of being in public spaces,” Abella said.

“Efforts ensuring public safety in the first year of the Duterte administration are yielding positive results; however, more needs to be accomplished in making sure that our streets, neighborhoods and communities are kept permanently safe, not only within Metro Manila but also in the rest of the country,” he added. n

Critics, supporters face off...

PAGE A1 but a Malacañang source said Duterte was not invited to the event.

Duterte has declared September 11 a non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte, the home province of Marcos, upon the request of the late president’s family.

Justifying the decision, he noted that the people of Ilocos believe that criticism and cases of human rights abuses and corruption against Marcos were mere “hogwash” and “garbage.”

“He (Marcos) was a president. To the Ilocanos, he was the greatest president. Why do we have to debate on that? It’s one day where they can celebrate the anniversary of a great Ilocano. As far as the Ilocanos (are) concerned, Marcos is a hero,” Duterte said over the weekend.

In a statement, the Liberal Party (LP) condemned the celebration of a man “who has caused his country so much pain and suffering.”

“Today should not have been treated any differently. Today should not have been singled out as anything more than an ordinary Monday,” the party added.

In a separate statement, Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also the LP chair, criticized Malacañang’s declaration of Marcos’ birth anniversary as a holiday.

“What’s there to celebrate? As if we are trying to forget the sins they have committed against the Filipinos. As if we’re trying to revise the story, the history, which is not right,” Robredo said in an interview on Sunday, September 10.

For Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, there was no reason to celebrate the birth anniversary of the dictator, whose two-decade regime was marked by killings, abuses, and corruption.

“Justice not compromise, uphold our laws and punish the wrongdoers! Marcos centennial birthday is no cause for celebration but a national tragedy heaped upon us,” Villarin remarked.

He went on to say, “President Duterte’s glorification of the late dictator and his entombment in the Libingan ng mga Bayani reflects how the present administration has distorted our values and beliefs as Filipinos.” n

Callamard: P1,000 budget...

PAGE A2 not vote aye but had to stand up also approached me and said: That’s the politics of the majority.”

He said he would not resign from his post if that was the aim of slashing the CHR budget. That would only put the commission at the “mercy of politics.”

“We are supposed to be insulated from politics so we can perform our mandate in accordance to what the Constitution expects us to do,” Gascon said.

He added that he was over-

whelmed by the support the commission had received from the public.

“That solidarity, that empathy is what will carry us on,” he said.

“This is just a mere hump on the road. We will not be cowed.”

Gascon added that he would appeal the P1,000 budget before the Senate.

After session adjourned, which saw the second reading approval of the national budget, the lawmakers lined up for a photo opportunity, flashing the clenched fist sign of President

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DATELINE USA

Philippine Coconut Roadshow comes...

PAGE A1 President Dean Lao, Jr. Renowned Filipina chef Cecilia de Castro also made an appearance.

Booming coconut oil industry Coconuts have been picking up a lot of momentum in the West, most recognizably through coconut water, which has been flaunted by celebrities and influencers boasting its health benefits.

According to the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), coconut water exports from the Philippines almost doubled from 647,000 litres to 1.8 million litres between 2008 and 2010. In 2015, the numbers soared to 61 million litres.

As the popularity of coconut water increases, many have ventured into coconut’s other forms.

Coconut oil, specifically, has become increasingly popular and was the focus of the event.

“Coconut oil is the most versatile oil,” said Reyes, mentioning its use in food, health care, and personal care.

As the world’s largest producer of coconut oil, the Philippines has been seen a positive outlook on the trend with its biggest markets being the United States and Europe who have have seen coconut oil consumption in both food and non-food markets.

The UCAP and the VCOP predict Philippine coconut production to be at 2.244 million metric tons (MMT) in copra terms, or 1.29 MMT as coconut oil in 2017 — that would be a 9.3 percent increase from their 2016 estimate of 2.052 MMT. Key drivers for the coconut oil industry were its health ben-

Some products, including coconut water and coconut sugar, were displayed at the Philippine coconut roadshow on Friday, Sept. 8 at the San Gabriel Hilton Hotel. The event, sponsored by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP), and the Philippine government, featured around 20 coconut industry companies and organizations to promote coconut products.

AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona

efits and its ability to cater to the “green and wellness” movements.

Health benefits ranged from improving memory and brain function, improving digestion and reducing stomach problems, and boosting metabolism.

Lao gave the example of coconut oil use in personal care which has been fueled by the trend of using natural products free of synthetic ingredients.

The beverage market saw a move from sodas to fruit juices, but since the latter tend to be high in sugar, the market for different flavored waters has opened up,

he added.

“All health and wellness trends point to coconut,” said Lao. On the issue of fair trade, Reyes said, “Coconut oil allows more participation with farmers.”

Many coconut products from the Philippines are acquiring the Fair Trade logo which Reyes explained allowed portions of the product prices to go to farmers.

The internet and demographic shifts were also said to be key drivers. Google searches for coconut oil specifically have spiked up since 2010 as have the number of coconut health-related PAGE A9

CA State Assembly hopefuls discuss...

PAGE A4 community needs.”

If elected, De Ocampo would be the second state legislator of Filipino descent after state Assemblymember Rob Bonta (DAlameda), and the first from the Los Angeles area.

The other Democratic candidates at the forum included physician Dr. Ron Birnbaum, whose platform is centered around supporting single-payer health insurance; the only female candidate Mexican-American journalist and community advocate Wendy Carrillo who promises to improve education and empower communities of color; environmental and education commissioner Mark Vargas whose platform focuses

on improving public schools; and Mario Olmos, whose sole focus is fighting sexual assault against children.

The non-Democratic candidates include libertarian Andrew Aguero, a student and construction worker dedicated to lowering taxes; socialist John Prysner, a warehouse operations coordinator with a platform addressing racism and white supremacy; and Patrick Koppula, a non-party candidate looking to focus on technological innovation and gender politics.

The election will be held on Tuesday, October 3. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote that day, the two candidates with the most votes

will compete in a runoff election in December.

The impact of Filipino voters Fil-Am voters in AD 51 have a tremendous impact on the election and have notable power to sway the election. Fil-Ams comprise the largest AAPI voting group in the district with about 4.6 percent of the AAPI electorate (about 10,160 voters).

Moreover, they historically have a larger turnout at the polls with about 19 percent, whereas the largest ethnic group, Latinos, come out at about 12 percent. In turn, if the Fil-Am community can increase turnout, it can be a powerful force in this election, and in the city in general. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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OPINION

Impeachment, again

FEATURES

WILL Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno share the same fate as her predecessor? Sereno succeeded the late Renato Corona, the first Filipino magistrate to be impeached and convicted.

Beginning this week, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice will tackle impeachment complaints again Sereno. The committee will review whether the complaints are sufficient in form and substance.

Sereno is accused of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and corruption for purportedly bypassing the Supreme Court en banc in creating new offices, her “excessive” purchase of a P5.1-million sports utility vehicle, and her alleged failure to declare “exorbitant lawyer’s fees” allegedly amounting to $745,000 or P37 million.

Under the Constitution, the House acts as the prosecuting panel while the Senate acts as an impeachment court. If at least one-third of all the House members vote to endorse the impeachment, a trial will proceed in the Senate, which will sit as an impeachment court.

The Corona trial was the first of its kind to be concluded in Philippine history. He was the third Filipino official to be impeached by Congress after martial law. The first was former President Joseph Estrada, who was deposed while still under trial by the Senate. The second was former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned days before her Senate trial.

In December 2011, members of the House of Representatives moved swiftly to impeach then Chief Justice Corona for alleged betrayal of public trust, violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.

In May 2012, 20 senators declared Corona guilty of betraying public trust and committing a culpable violation of the Constitution, instantly removing him from his post and disqualified him from holding any public position.

Criminal charges including graft and corruption, and multiple counts of tax evasion cases before the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) were then filed against the former chief justice.

However, these charges were extinguished when the defendant succumbed to cardiac arrest last April 29, 2016. Corona died at the age of 67.

“It does not affect me at all,” Chief Justice Sereno said when asked about the two impeachment complaints lodged against her.

Sereno maintained that she has been living a life of modesty.

“I have been prudent in use of the court’s resources at the expenses for judicial reform. My travels, my security requirements are all regular and above board. Public documents and records will speak for itself and I have not objected in the public release of the same,” Sereno said in August during the Ulat sa Hudikatura forum held in Cebu.

“I have done nothing wrong. Nothing can be proven against me that will show that the Chief Justice has betrayed her oath of office. I have served the country with all faith and diligence. I will never waver from that pledge,” she stressed.

Editorial

This debacle portrays many forms of denigration that continuous to taint the country’s political and constitutional process. No matter which side who is on, the outcome of the trial will be difficult to predict and vagaries in the procedures will be inevitable. The seriousness of this challenge affects both parties involved, and every Filipino as it slowly but surely traces impacts on the independence of the Philippine

ManilaTimes.net photo

judiciary.

Rendering justice will strengthen the system. It will be present a strong statement in balancing all the interests of the Constitution, the law, public welfare, and due process in this impeachment trial. Whichever camp wins, the outcome will be a guiding principle saving the country from the usurpation of the Filipinos’ celebrated democracy. (AJPress)

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma send wake-up call to climate change deniers like Trump, EPA chief Scott Pruitt & Florida Gov. Rick Scott OUR hearts go out to people and communi- The Fil-Am ties in Texas, Florida, and other states in the Perspective southeast of the United States following the devastation left by Hurricanes Harvey and GEL SANTOS-RELOS Irma.

As of press time, at least 60 deaths have been caused

by Hurricane Harvey, the storm that dumped several feet of rain in southeast Texas in a matter of days. At least seven people in the United States have been killed as a result of Hurricane Irma, in addition to the 37 killed in the Caribbean, including 10 in Cuba.

These back-to-back natural calamities should now serve as a wake-up call to people, especially government offi-

cials like U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who continue to deny how we are now paying back to the abuses we have increasingly been committing against Mother Nature. We have now been reaping what we have been sowing through the effects of climate change and extreme temperatures.

Since Trump took office in January, he has already rolled back some of the environmental protection laws put in place under his predecessor, Barack Obama, and announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate

Accord.

I do not understand how despite proof after proof and hard evidence presented by science, there is still a debate about climate change. This just impedes how we all work together to address this problem that affects our planet and the future of living things in the world.

Even Pope Francis — who according to the Official Vatican Network, studied Chemical Technology and worked as a chemical technician before he chose the priesthood — has been weighing in on this issue, something that we have yet to see being proactively done by other religious leaders who seem to have challenges in acknowledging how faith and science are not diametrically apart from each other. The fact is: God has given man intelligence far greater than any other living things on the planet so

we can take care of Mother Nature.

As BBC News reported, “Pope Francis has warned history will judge world leaders who do not act as he blasted climate change skeptics in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.”

Pope Francis is concerned that the impact of climate change will be hardest on the people of the world’s poorest countries, calling on the moral responsibility of everybody, especially those in positions of power to do something about this problem.

“All of us have a responsibility. All of us. Some small, some big. A moral responsibility, to accept opinions, or make decisions. I think it is not something to joke about,” the Pope said.

“If we don’t go back we will go down,” he warned reporters on Monday, Sept.

11. “That is true. You can see the ef-

fects of climate change with your own eyes and scientists tell us clearly the way forward.

Pope Francis quoted a phrase from the Old Testament: “Man is stupid, a stubborn, blind man.”

“Those who deny it (climate change) should go to the scientists and ask them,” the Pope said. “They are very clear, very precise.”

Why do people, especially President Trump, continue to deny the truth about climate change? What is the true underlying motivation behind this? *** 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

The yellows are in a political quicksand

Commentary

ANTONIO CONTRERAS THE yellows still don’t get it.

The more they maneuver, the more they sink deeper into a political quicksand.

And it looks like despite their enormous intellectual arsenal firmly grounded in the top universities of the country where they have a lot of academic enablers, they fail to spin a narrative that is based on reality, and not just on the mythologies of hate that they thought would last forever since 1986.

Well, nothing lasts forever, more so if what you have is just based on socially constructed illusions that subsist on hate, hoping that the people will forever not have the resources to construct their own alternative truths.

The tragedy of the yellows is that their politics is one of hate, and is not based on any ideological grounding that defines the ideal in a positive way. It doesn’t even have to be a utopian paradise, but simply a statement of an aspiration for the Filipino people.

Their slogans tell it all. Never again. Block Marcos. Stop the killings.

But they never clearly articulate towards what end, one that is concrete and palpable, and

not just empty rhetoric.

And when they prescribe a political action, they betray a sense of messianic arrogance that extols their virtues by demeaning those of others. They infantilize the people by treating us as wards to be rescued from evil, or educated because we are ignorant, or converted and saved because we are lost.

Maria Ressa wanted to retake the Internet that she thinks is being polluted by ordinary netizens. Risa Hontiveros audaciously announced that they are out to take back democracy that was stolen, as if they own its franchise. Marites Vitug exhorted public intellectuals of the yellow kind to civilize the national conversation.

The yellow narrative is deeply mired in victimization, effectively robbing citizens of their human agency. Their narratives explode in anger about victims of martial law, human rights abuses and maldevelopment, but without a blueprint of an alternative. In fact, they may not be interested in an alternative.

After all, the lifeblood of their narratives is about the victims and their victimization, and not about solutions and moving forward.

Thus, their politics is all about cultivating the pain and the hatred to keep their narratives relevant. This is the reason why they would like that people should never forget, even if it

means not being able to move forward because moving forward would deny their political enablers the stories that they would tell during political rallies. Their placards would be bereft of the convenient slogans that they have long painted. They have to develop new scripts for their political performances.

And the yellow politicians will have to devise new strategies, and begin to think that their role is not to just expose corruption, but to offer viable political alternatives in the form of public policy.

But it seems that they are so used to the negative, naysaying, investigating type of politics epitomized by Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th that the real meaning of public policy is lost in their minds.

It is one thing for yellow bloggers who insist that they are objective journos or of theater artists acting out their political biases to be confused about what public policy entails. But when a senator like Risa Hontiveros insists that public policy is simply what the President says, then the political opposition really has a problem. No wonder Hontiveros and her cohorts are trying so hard to corrupt well-established political science concepts and paint the President as a tyrant and a fascist. This is the only way they can justify their notion that

whatever the President says now automatically becomes state policy.

The yellows have demonized the Marcoses, and if they have their way they would keep on doing this precisely because it keeps their narratives afloat.

The yellows would like to paint the Marcoses as evil, yet a closer perusal of the discursive narratives and practices of the Marcos children, particularly in the acts and speeches of Bongbong and Imee Marcos, what one can discern is a welldefined focus on ideals, visions and concrete alternatives on how to move forward.

The yellows treat President Duterte as the devil incarnate, as the alleged architect of statesanctioned murder even of children. Yet, a closer examination of the President’s actions reveal a person who, while flawed, is sincerely working to deliver to people concrete relief from their poverty and fears.

The Marcoses and President Duterte offer the people a vision and a way to learn from the lessons of history, pick up the pieces and imagine the nation as we move forward.

On the other hand, the yellows continue to paint a narrative of hate and victimization, using memes, placards and political theatrics without offering concrete political programs.

The yellow political opposition and their enablers in media, the

Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV are mong the six senators who comprise the senate minority bloc.

Philstar.com photo

arts, civil society and academe simply want the people to never forget Martial Law, stop the killings and block Marcos, even as they would like to retake the Internet, take back democracy and civilize the national conversation because the people do not know better.

In 1986, they had the monopoly of the manufacturing of narratives. Aided by their enablers who fell victim to the excesses of martial law, they freely sequestered not only the wealth of Marcos and his cronies, but also the processes of storytelling and myth-making.

But times have changed. The

age of social media has enabled the emergence of counter-narratives that challenge this one-sided myth-making. What the yellows derisively call as historical revisionism, others would call as simply making efforts to make our narratives honest, balanced and fair. And if the yellows keep on infantilizing and patronizing the people with whom they disagree as ignorant, or worse, complicit, they will certainly keep on losing and alienating these people.

They would end up sinking further in the political quicksand where they are now. (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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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEMbER 13-15, 2017

A

DAteline PhiliPPines

Trillanes: I trust in the ‘wisdom, UN rights chief ‘gravely concerned’ over PH killings good judgment of my colleagues

by AJPress

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

MANILA - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV maintained that he has not done anything unparliamentary during the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, saying that he trusts in the “wisdom and good judgment” of his colleagues who will decide on the ethics complaint filed against him.

In a radio interview, Trillanes insisted that it was Senator Richard Gordon who does not know which actions were considered parliamentary and which were not.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has filed an ethics case against Trillanes over the latter’s alleged “repeated display of unparliamentary conduct and disorderly behavior.”

This was after Trillanes called Gordon’s panel “committee de absuwelto” (committee of exoneration) and accused the latter of “lawyering” for President Rodrigo Duterte and his family during a hearing on August 31 into the smuggling of P6.4 billion shabu from China.

Trillanes’ actions, according to Gordon, were “causing damage to the Senate and to the people.”

But Trillanes insisted that he “did not do anything unparliamentary” during that hearing.

FAKED? Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV shows evidence his alleged offshore bank accounts were nonexistent.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

“Even in the previous hearings, I am very conscious on what is parliamentary and what is not,” Trillanes told DZBB on Sunday, September 10.

“I trust in the wisdom and good judgment of my fellow senators so my fate is in their hands,” he added.

On Monday, September 11, the Senate Committee on Ethics found Gordon’s complaint against Trillanes sufficient in form and substance.

“The complaint is sufficient form and substance except for issue number 5. With no objection, motion is approved,” said Majority Leader Vicente Sotto

III, who is also the ethics committee chairman.

Sotto said Trillanes has 10 working days to submit a counter-affidavit.

Earlier, Trillanes expressed intention to file back an ethics complaint against Gordon.

He accused Gordon of violating the Senate rules for refusing “the right of the minority to be heard,” as well as committing dishonesty for insisting that the phrase “committee de absuwelto” was made on the record.

Likewise, he threatened to expose the Gordon’s supposed “corrupt acts” as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). n

Minority senators back call for Aguirre resignation

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

MANILA - The Senate Minority bloc on Tuesday, September 12 backed Senator Risa Hontiveros’ call for Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to resign after he was “caught red-handed plotting” against her.

Hontiveros, also a member of the Senate minority, earlier released a photo showing Aguirre urging a certain “Cong. Jing” in a text message to expedite a case against her.

“We reiterate our call for Vitaliano Aguirre to resign from his post as Secretary of Justice. This recent development once more

highlights his unethical actions as a public official,” the Minority bloc said in a statement.

Other Senate minority bloc members include Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV of Nacionalista Party (NP); and Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Benigno Paulo “Bam” Aquino IV, and Leila De Lima who were all members of the Liberal Party (LP).

Earlier this week, Hontiveros released a photo of Aguirre which was “inadvertently” taken by a photojournalist during a Senate probe into the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos last September 5.

In a photo, the Justice secretary

can be seen texting “Cong. Jing,” who, according to Hontiveros, is Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) member and former Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto “Jing” Paras.

“Naturuan na ni Hontiveros yung testigo (Hontiveros already coached the witnesses). Her questions are leading questions,” Paras’s message to Aguirre read.

Aguirre was seen typing a reply on his phone: “’Yon nga sinasabi ko kanina dito. Very obvious.

Kaya expedite natin ang cases ninyo vs her. (That’s what I’m saying. Very obvious. So let’s expedite your cases against her.)”

The minority senators said PAGE A9

THE United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday, September 12, said he is “gravely concerned” about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “open support for a shoot-to-kill policy” against crime suspects.

In his opening speech before the 36th Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein emphasized the “lack of respect for due process rights” in the Philippines.

“In the Philippines, I continue to be gravely concerned by the president’s open support for a shoot-to-kill policy regarding suspects, as well as by the apparent absence of credible investigations into reports of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and the failure to prosecute any perpetrator,” Al Hussein said.

He cited the killing of 17-yearold Kian delos Santos, which Philippine Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II described as an “isolated case.”

Delos Santos was killed during an anti-drug operation on August 16 in Caloocan City after allegedly resisting arrest, but witnesses claim the police dragged the boy into an alley, gave him a gun, and told him to run for his life.

“Two days after hundreds of people turned out for the teenager’s funeral, the president again told police they would not be punished for killing suspects who resist arrest. This lack of respect for the due process rights of all Filipinos is appalling,” the commissioner added.

He then urged the government of to protect human rights defenders, voicing concern over the case of Philippine Senator Leila De Lima, who has been detained since February over her alleged involvement in a drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was the justice secretary.

De Lima, who is among the fiercest critics of the Duterte administration, has decried her case as political persecution.

“Many human rights defenders who are the honor of their country face a growing number of death threats, and I call on the government to ensure they are accorded full protection and the

right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without reprisals,” Al Hussein said.

He also expressed shock over Duterte’s threat to “bomb schools for indigenous children in the southern Philippines.”

Last July, Duterte threatened to bomb Lumad-run community schools for allegedly teaching students to rebel against the government.

No factual basis In a statement, Malacañang refuted the UN official’s criticism against Duterte.

“We are deeply concerned with the UNHCR Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s sweeping statements during the UNHR Council’s 36th session, citing instances bereft of factual basis,” Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Abella said Al Hussein’s claims run counter to what Duterte has ordered, stressing that Duterte “has categorically and repeatedly said that there is no shootto-kill order.”

He further noted that “all drug killings are subject to investigations.”

Malacañang maintained that the objective of the anti-illegal drugs campaign is “to preserve the lives of the Filipino people, to prevent the destruction of Filipino families, and to protect

the Philippines from becoming a narco-state.”

Regarding the case of De Lima, Abella clarified that the incarceration of the senator is due to “criminal, not political, issues.”

He also took note that it is a court independent from the executive which ordered her arrest for drug trafficking charges.

“On the issue of human rights workers who are part of the drug trade or human rights workers who obstruct justice, the President is referring to human rights activists who aid or abet acts of violence during legitimate police operations where authorities have the right of self-defense,” Abella added.

Malacañang, likewise, said that the UN official “miss the context” of Duterte’s remarks concerning the Lumad schools.

Abella then told the commissioner to “focus on the Duterte administration’s efforts to educate the indigenous people (IP).”

“At present, there are 2,929,456 IP learners in the public school system. For next year, the IP education program will receive P130.43M, which is largely for capacity building, program support fund for implementation of IP education at the regional and division level,” he said. n

A september 13-15, 2017 • LA mIDWeeK AsIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Sen. Richard Gordon (left) fails to convince former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Faeldon instead went straight to a detention room at the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Senate panel detains Faeldon ‘indefinitely’

by Jefferson

AntipordA ManilaTimes.net

THE Senate on Monday, Sept.

11 placed former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon under “indefinite” detention for refusing to attend the inquiry of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the P6.4-billion “shabu” shipment from China that slipped past the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

Faeldon voluntarily turned himself over to the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms before noon Monday but instead of proceeding to the session hall where the hearing was being conducted, he went straight to a detention room at the ground floor of the Senate building.

The committee, led by Sen. Richard Gordon, last week cited Faeldon in contempt for failing to respond to the panel’s subpoena.

Upon learning of Faeldon’s arrival, Gordon temporarily suspended the proceedings to convince the former Customs commissioner to attend the hearing.

Gordon later told reporters Faeldon wanted to be detained rather than face the panel.

“He was humble and courteous and he told me that that is his decision,” Gordon said.

According to Gordon, Faeldon felt he would not be given a fair treatment by the committee particularly by Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes 4th, who had accused him of being involved in the corruption at the bureau.

“He just wasn’t willing to go to

the Senate because of the two,” said Gordon referring to Lacson and Trillanes.

Lacson in a privilege speech on August 23 accused Faeldon of receiving “tara” (payoffs) during his stint at the bureau.

Trillanes in a recent statement said Faeldon was at the heart of the “shabu” smuggling controversy.

Gordon said Faeldon could only be released if he agreed to appear in the hearing or if senators decided to release him.

Enough evidence Gordon also said the committee already had enough evidence against “Tita Nani,” Jack and Jojo Bacud, who were earlier named by Customs fixer Mark Taguba as his contacts in the bureau who helped release his shipment without being flagged.

That shipment, released in May through the green or express lane, allegedly contained the P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China.

The committee has yet to locate the three but an order has been issued for the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest and bring them to the Senate in the next hearing.

“Tita Nani” was mentioned by Taguba as having contacts with different groups operating at Customs, including the so-called “Davao group.”

Taguba could only describe Tita Nani as a well-dressed woman in her 60s who could speak English well. He claimed he didn’t know her full name

and address.

Tita Nani was said to have introduced Taguba to Jack, who supposedly had links to Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Dutete and Jojo Bacud.

Bacud, in turn had connections with retired colonel Allen Capuyan or the so-called “big brother” at Customs.

Taguba earlier told the committee that he approached the group of Capuyan after his deal with the so-called Davao group ended.

Capuyan, during the hearing, denied being part of any group engaged in smuggling at the bureau, but admitted to having met Taguba in April.

In his statement, Capuyan, the assistant general manager for security and emergency service of the Manila International Airport Authority, told the committee it was Bacud who introduced him to Tita Nani and Taguba.

“Obviously I was of no help because I’m not familiar with Customs operations and it’s not my official capacity to do so,” Capuyan told the committee.

It was learned during the hearing that Bacud and Jack were former cadets at the Philippine Military Academy but did not graduate.

Gordon told reporters after the hearing that he was not buying Capuyan’s claims, noting that the ex-colonel’s decision to meet with people asking for his assistance in Customs was outside his authority and could “mean other things.” n

A september 13-15, 2017 • LA mIDWeeK AsIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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Duterte won’t negotiate with Maute terrorists

by LLanesca

Panti ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will not negotiate with the terrorist Maute Group even in exchange for the release of the group’s hostages in Marawi City.

The president made the decision in connection with a renewed offer of former Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario to help in negotiating the release of the hostages of the Maute Group even if the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAAP) already ruled out shielding Solitario from prosecution.

Solitario is on the president’s list of politicians involved in the illegal drug trade but still managed to initially secure protection from the OPAPP last August 20.

The concession was quickly revoked upon recommendation by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, also martial law administrator in Mindanao.

“They [members of the Maute Group]will be treated as criminals. If they surrender, they will

be prosecuted. If they choose to fight, then the state has the right to kill them. Simply, they are rebelling,” Duterte said when asked if he remains open to negotiating with the Maute Group.

Earlier, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla declared Solitario as a terrorist and warned that protecting him will just prolong the Marawi conflict.

According to Padilla, the former mayor should be arrested for the deaths caused by the Maute Group.

“Solitario should not be taken seriously because he is a longtime supporter of the bandits in Marawi. In fact, he should be arrested for instigating the violence there,” he said last Friday.

“We stand by the policy of no negotiation with whatever terrorist groups there are. Solitario is just looking for ways to escape liabilities for the crimes that he has committed. How could he say that the Maute-IS group is not the problem? That would be an insult to the Armed Forces and our heroes. There are 145

lives who have been sacrificed, who have given their all,” Padilla added.

IS or ISIS refers to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The president assured the Maute terrorists of due process if they surrender to the government.

“We will give them due process, provide them with a lawyer. There will be no oppression, harassment… no violence will be inflicted upon them if they surrender,” Duterte said. “‘That is my guarantee. We won’t make them [members of Maute Group] hungry. I will not allow it. That is not how we treat people,” he added.

Duterte declared martial law and allowed warrantless arrests in Mindanao last May 23 to suppress a rebellion in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, led by the Maute Group.

He eventually secured congressional approval in seeking extension of martial law in the whole of Mindanao until the end of the year. n

Mindanao needs new security plan THE Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police need to draw up a whole new security strategy for Mindanao to prevent a repeat of the Marawi City siege elsewhere, according to a lawmaker.

“We cannot afford to expose another city or large municipality in Mindanao to a crisis akin to Marawi, or to the Zamboanga City siege in 2013,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said in a statement.

Pimentel is supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to enlist up to 20,000 new soldiers to build up the Armed Forces.

“Actually, compared to our peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we really have fewer active military personnel to begin with,” he said.

At present, the lawmaker said, the Armed Forces have a total active troop strength of only 125,259 —with 85,825 in the Army; 22,771 in the Navy; and 16,663 in the Air Force—excluding 2,693 soldiers deployed to service support units.

“We still have pockets of insurgency in other parts of the country, so we cannot just pull out large forces from Luzon or Visayas and transfer them to Mindanao,” he noted.

“The peril of opportunistic elements taking advantage of fewer troops stationed elsewhere due to redeployments is always there, so we really need the additional soldiers,” Pimentel said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd earlier said that Malacañang may ask Congress to pass a supplemental appropriations law for the rehabilitation

of Marawi, the replenishment of the military’s weapons store and the recruitment and training of up to 20,000 new soldiers.

“We are not overly concerned now, because Mindanao is still under martial law. But in the long term, we have to increase our investment in Mindanao’s security, mainly to protect population centers and vital installations,” Pimentel said.

“Besides, we are developing high-value infrastructure projects in Mindanao that will require extra security for deterrence,” he added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is investing P36 billion from 2018 to 2022 to construct and complete Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project—the 102-kilometer line linking the cities of Tagum, Davao and Digos, according to Pimentel.

The lawmaker said the DOTr is also investing P1.14 billion in 2018 alone to modernize 13 airports in Mindanao.

The DOTr is spending P425 million for the Don Carlos Airport in Bukidnon; P221 million for the Zamboanga City Airport; P200 million for the Surigao City Airport; P192.2 million for the Ozamiz City Airport; P184 million for the Butuan City Airport; P182 million for the Dipolog City Airport; and P161 million for the Cotabato City Airport.

The department also is spending P100 million for the SangaSanga Island Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; P84.2 million for the Pagadian City Airport; P38 million for the M’lang Airport in North Cotabato; P30 million for the Jolo Airport in Sulu; P18.3 million for the Ipil Airport in Zamboanga Sibugay; and P9.5

Philippine Coconut Roadshow comes...

PAGE A5 searches. According to Reyes, the trends coincided exactly with export shipments.

Countering AHA claims Amidst the current industry boom, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a report in June on the linkage between saturated-fat consumption and heart disease based on the analysis of data and studies over many years.

The study startled many who saw coconut oil as being healthy.

Touching on coconut oil’s health reputation, the study mentioned that 72 percent of the American public rated coconut oil as a “healthy food”, while only 37 percent of nutritionists did.

The study stated that coconut oil is 82 percent saturated fat, a percentage much higher than fats and oils like butter, lard, and beef.

It also reported that multiple studies found that coconut oil increased LDL, a cholesterol known to be a cause of heart disease.

At the end of the paragraph on coconut oil read, “We advise against the use of coconut oil.”

This startled many coconut devotees, and advocates immediately began defending coconut oil with counter studies. Reyes said the AHA report was very selective and missed out on a lot of important information.

For example, while saturated fats do tend to raise LDL cholesterol, many studies point out that variations in their chemical structures can create different cardiovascular effects. They further point out that coconut oil contains lauric acid which also raises HDL, a “good” cholesterol.

It’s also been noted that the AHA has been recommending a reduction in dietary saturated fat to reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases, yet heart disease continues to be America’s number one leading cause of death.

This isn’t the first time the coconut industry has experienced the backlash. In the 1980s, a media campaign targeted coconut oils

and other tropical oils as being responsible for heart attacks due to their saturated fat content.

“It’s actually a rehash of that same advisory,” said Reyes to the Asian Journal.

The anti-tropical oil campaign encouraged food companies to consequently begin replacing tropical oils with partially hydrogenated oils which contain trans fats, something that is widely avoided today. As trans fats were found to be bad, they were removed from processed foods and food companies went back to using tropical oils.

“The main difference today, is that we have more information now,” said Reyes, mentioning AHA’s relationship with Big Pharma.

The AHA has been outed before for connections with big pharmaceutical companies, including those that make and market statins which are drugs prescribed to help lower cholesterol.

According to a report by the Huffington Post, AHA received $21,570 from statin maker AstraZeneca in 2010 to run a course on “emerging strategies with statins.”

Reyes also stated the fact that coconut oil has long been used throughout history as a food ingredient in many countries around the Pacific. His presentation dated coconut usage all the way back to the Ayurvedic period in 5000 B.C. Coconut consuming countries have had very little incidences of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease prior to the introduction of the Western diet, he said.

“We’re as passionate now as we were before on our coconuts,” said Reyes. “But we understand that this is something still new to non-coconut producing countries like America and Europe.”

The roadshow will continue until September 22, and will visit Florida, Colorado, and Baltimore.

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

million for the Bislig City Airport.

Pimentel said the airports in Ozamiz, Dipolog, Cotabato and Pagadian are being night-rated to enable them to handle evening flights.

Congress in July granted the President’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year. (ManilaTimes. net)

ASEAN INFORMATION MINISTERS TACKLE FAKE NEWS. Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the current chair of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), recently led a roundtable discussion with the Information Ministers of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Joining Andanar in the Roundtable Discussion were the Information Ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Malacañang photo

Minority senators back call for Aguirre...

PAGE A7 Aguirre’s actions “signify a lack of competence for a man who holds the highest office on justice” and “clearly violate the norms of conduct for public officials under the law.”

“The Filipinos deserve better than a Cabinet official who resorts to spreading lies, sowing intrigue and to name-calling. We need a Secretary of Justice who will uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and justice. Secretary Aguirre clearly does not fulfill these requirements,” they added.

The LP senators previously called on Aguirre to resign over his “repeated issuances of erroneous claims,” particularly when he claimed that they attempted to bribe the parents of Delos Santos.

“Last August 30, we called for

his resignation due to his propensity for spreading fake information on those he tagged as ‘dilawan’ — for which he had to publicly apologize more than once,” the minority senators recalled.

They went on to say, “Now, he has been caught red-handed plotting against a sitting Senator during a hearing where he is supposed to be paying his utmost attention.”

In turn, a sad and enraged Aguirre said he is studying the possibility of filing a case against Hontiveros and the photographer who took the picture.

Cited Article III Section 3(1) of the 1987 Constitution, the justice secretary stressed that text messages are “private communications” and “any unauthorized intrusion into such exchanges is

illegal and betrays the Constitution.”

“I am saddened, enraged, and more importantly, afraid of how our rights to the privacy of our communication can easily be disregarded and trampled upon… and the people who subsequently trumpeted it, did so in the very hallowed halls of the Senate itself,” the justice secretary said.

He described the released of his controversial photo as a “shameless violation of a citizen’s right to the privacy of communications.”

Aguirre went on to say, “I am saddened by the thought that while I gave my time, cooperation and humble efforts to the Senate during the hearing, unknown to me, I will be victimized and my rights disregarded and my privacy intruded upon.” n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEMbER 13-15, 2017

sefood city fpfc

A10

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

B1

Consumer confidence dips in latest BSP poll

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net

OPTIMISM among Filipino households moderated in the third quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday, September 8, with sentiment weighed down by factors such as price fears and the country’s peace and order situation.

Based on the BSP’s latest Consumer Expectations Survey (CES), the confidence index for the current period fell to 10.2 percent from the second quarter’s record high of 13.1 percent.

“Despite the decline in the CI, consumer confidence remained high, registering the second highest reading since the start of the nationwide survey in Q1 2007. The lower but positive CI indicates that the number of optimists declined but continued to outnumber the pessimists,” the central bank said in a statement.

It said the less favorable outlook was due to anticipated

higher commodity prices that could lead to higher household expenditures, peace and order problems particularly the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, low or no increase in income, and an expected increase in the number of unemployed.

“Respondents also cited other concerns on occurrence of calamities during the third quarter and poor health,” the BSP said.

Sentiment for the following quarter, however, improved with the CI rising to 17.8 percent from 13.6 percent in the previous survey.

The respondents’ more optimistic outlook for the next

u PAGE B3

Peso to weaken next year – DBS

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILI Philstar.com

DBS Bank Ltd. of Singapore sees the peso weakening further to a range of 52.50 to 53.30 to $1 next year as the Philippines is set to book its first current account (CA) deficit in 15 years this year.

In its Economics Markets Strategy for the fourth quarter, DBS said the peso would depreciate gradually to settle at an average of 51.20 to $1 in the fourth quarter, 51.60 to $1 in the first quarter of next year, 52 to $1 in the second quarter, and 52.40 to $1 in the third quarter.

DBS sees the peso ranging between 50.30 and 52.10 in the fourth quarter, 50.70 to 52.50 in the first quarter of next year,

51.10 to 52.90 in the second quarter, and 51.50 to 53.30 in the third quarter.

“Investor focus is generally on the weak peso which has performed differently from the past few years,” it said.

The investment bank said the peso is the worst performing currency in Asia so far this year, depreciating by 2.9 percent year-to-date while Asian currencies gained 5.2 percent versus the greenback.

u PAGE B2

Gov’t to start selling Pagcor casinos next year

by MAYVELIN

U. CARABALLO ManilaTimes.net

GOVERNMENT plans to sell casinos being operated by Philippine Amusement and Gaming. Corp. (Pacgor) could be implemented starting next year a bid to make the state-owned firm a purely regulatory body, a cabinet official said.

“Those casinos being operated directly

by Pagcor I think should be privatized first.

Maybe 17 of them,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters during the weekend.

He said the Finance department was planning to complete studies this year, figure out the privatization method, and begin selling the casinos next year. Officials ear-

lier said that bids could be solicited before the end of this year. “[The casinos] should be [assessed] one by one because everything is very different from the others,” Dominguez said.

“I think there is no way they can compete [against privately owned casinos]if we don’t privatize. They might actually lose their customers,” he added.

“We might as well do it now… That is why we have to analyze how much revenues come from their winnings as against how much of the revenues come from the fees that are being paid.”

Dominguez also admitted that the privatization of Pagcor-operated casinos would take several years.

“Its not going to happen overnight, and the deals are quite complex so we have to piece it out and see what is the best deal for the government,” he said.

Pagcor has said that it would support the Finance department’s plan to privatize all government-owned casinos, which total 46 at present.

Pagcor netted P1.31 billion in the first quarter after paying P6.47 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury and remitting P1.55 billion in taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

As a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC), Pacgor is required to remit at least half of its net profit to the national government pursuant to Republic Act 7656 or the GOCC Dividend Law.

More OFW households using remittances for investments – survey

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILI Philstar.com

MORE households are investing the money sent home by Filipinos working abroad as global financial markets stabilized, results of a quarterly survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

BSP officer-in-charge Diwa Guinigundo said the percentage of OFW households using

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

( Mt Carmel, Mt Beatitude, Mt.Tabor, Cana, Capernum, Nazareth, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem Qumran, Masada, Jericho )

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

remittances to invest as of the third quarter of the year almost doubled to 8.5 percent from 4.4 percent in the second quarter.

Guinigundo pointed out the level of OFW households using remittances for investments was almost four times the 2.3 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2007 when the Consumer Expectation Survey (CES) was launched.

Investors are returning to the

financial markets with the clearer picture on the normalization path taken by the US Federal Reserve after two rate hikes undertaken last March and June.

The results of the CES survey for the third quarter showed the percentage of OFW households saving remittances slipped to 42.1 percent from 45.9 percent in the second quarter of the year.

The percentage of OFW house-

u PAGE B4

BSP officer-in-charge Diwa Guinigundo

Havan�, Cub� May 22 to 29, 2018

May 22, 2018 (Tuesday - Day 1) Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba Depart from LAX to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival in Havana, meet our guide and transfer to the hotel for dinner.

May 23, 2018 (Wednesday - Day 2) Havana, Cuba Our day will begin with mass at the Cathedral of Havana located in the center of Old Havana. After On board meals are served mass, proceed for a city tour of Old Havana with an experienced local tour guide. The tour will take 4 DEC-Day 2 - (Mon) - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport Tel-Aviv/Tiberias place on foot and you will visit all the squares of Old Havana. Take in the astonishing beauty of the After you have finished Immigration, collect Luggage then Meet our guide and driver. Transfer to Tiberias , Dinner /overnight Gai Beach Hotel historical buildings, sculptures, and monuments. After lunch you will have free time to bargain at the 5 DEC-Day 3 - (Tues) Cesarea /Haifa San Jose Craft Market. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 3 DEC-Day 1 - (Sun) LAX/TLV

There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D)

May 24, 2018 (Thursday – Day 3) Havana, Cuba This morning, we will visit the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. This religious complex is the most extensive of those surviving in Old Havana. Here you will attend mass. After mass, you will meet with the 6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your nuns and assist with projects of the day. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the evening you will assist word” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll a Cuban cultural demonstration. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

07 Dec-Day 5 - (Thurs) Mt Tabor/Mt Beatitude/Capernum/ Sea of Galilee/Tabgha

We drive to Mount Tabor, celebrate Holy Eucharist at the church of Transfiguration, Visit Mt. of Beatitudes the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

May 25, 2018 (Friday – Day 4) Havana, Cuba You will have mass at the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. After mass, you will continue to assist the nuns. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. This evening in Havana, we will plan an exciting tour of the historical complex of Castillo del and La Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana. If the timing and weather conditions permitted, you will witness the special nightly cannon at the fortress. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

08 DEC-Day 6 - (FRI)-Jordan valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

May 26, 2018 (Saturday – Day 5) Havana, Cuba Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Havana. After, you will visit the Abel Santamaria School for the blind, located on the grounds of an old military base. The school aims to integrate the children into mainstream schools as soon as the child is ready through an outreach program which continues to support children at their secondary schools. You will spend time meeting the students 09 DEC-Day 7 - (Sat) - Jerusalem (old City) - Via Dolorosa and teachers. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Cintio Vitier Community Project Center, where arts Holy Sepulcher Church “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place of a skull, which was called in Hebrew Golgotha” Enter the old city of Jerusalem, Sing a hymn in the Church of St Anne and view the pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Programs of all types including painting, ceramic and dance hosted. You will learn about this community project and hear from Lithostrotos, where the soldiers played the Game of Kings, and Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the the director of the program, Pedro Pulido. End your day with a panoramic drive through Modern Havana riding in old classic cars holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the tomb of Our Lord. This afternoon drive to Mount Zion, from the 1950’s. Be sure to have your camera ready for this unique experience. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Drive the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. View the Mount of temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Visit the ancient ruins of the wall. Drive through Wadi Welt to view St George’s Monastery. Continue to Bethany celebrate Holy Eucharist, and then visit the tomb of Lazarus. Arrive in Mount Scopus; enjoy the first view of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Notre DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

to visit the upper room, revered as the site of the last supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey’s, St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME Vatican Hotel (BB.D)

10 DEC-Day 8 - (SUN) - Mount of Olives/Gethesemane/Bethlehem/New City

Holy Eucharist celebration at the Church of all nations Main altar Arrive at the Mount of Olives and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit Church”God wept “& walk the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethesemane and the Church of all Nations. This Afternoon drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name the whole world recognizes ,visit the Church of Nativity, the manger, Church of St Catherine, The Grotto of St Jerome, and the shepherds fields. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB ,D).

May 27, 2018 (Sunday – Day 6) Havana – Las Terrazas – Vinales Valley Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Havana. Then you will be transferred to Las Terrazas for a tour of the community. Visit the neighborhoods, their schools, artists and community projects in the area. You will then continue to Vinales. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for check in and rest. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

May 28, 2018 (Monday – Day 7) Vinales Valley Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Vinales. Then you will have a sightseeing Visit the Western Wall , the only part of the Herodian temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. We drive to Dead tour. There is an opportunity to visit a Tobacco Farm and learn how to expertly roll a cigar. You will Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s also have the chance to visit an interesting site called the Prehistoric Wall and to take a Boat Ride fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to Jerusalem Overnight Notre Dame Vatican Hotel (BB,D) through underground caves known as The Indian Caves. Then visit Finca Agroecolgica El Paraiso 12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City where you will have lunch. After you will visit the gardens with the breath-taking views. Return to the hotel where you will have Return to the new City, Including the Temple Model to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus. Here we will have a dinner. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 11 DEC-Day 9 - ( MON) - Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Qumran/Masada

better understanding between old and New Jerusalem. Next to Ein Karem, birthplace of St John the Baptist, visit the Visitation church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat Overnight NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

13 Dec-Day 11 - (WED) Jerusalem/TLV/LAX

Breakfast rest of the morning Free time early PM dinner has to check out from the hotel, around 8:30 PM flight from TLV/ LAX in the 13 Dec flight depart TLV at 1:00 Am Dec 14,2017 ( end of Service )

May 29, 2018 (Tuesday – Day 8) Vinales – Havana – Los Angeles Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home as your trip comes to an end. (Meal: Breakfast)

B SEPTEMBER13-15 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

US IT giant puts up new facility in Taguig

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

CALIFORNIA-based IT giant Ingram Micro is expanding its presence in the Philippines as it continues to beef up its presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Ingram Micro recently inaugurated a new facility at the Two World Square, Upper McKinley, Taguig City to house its diverse and brilliant Filipino talents supporting various processes, from global IT operations to sales and fulfillment.

The Fortune 100 and wholesale technology distribution world leader Ingram Micro continues its aggressive expansion in the global IT market by bringing its continued growth on Philippine shore as its Glob-

al Shared Services in Manila.

Established in 2009, the Ingram Micro Global Shared Services-Manila is part of a 30,000 strong workforce that supports more than 1,700 vendors and 200,000 customers.

Ingram Micro managing director Junar Amador said the company continues to dominate in the IT distribution space.

He pointed out Filipinos have become one of the most soughtafter talents to support the increasing demands for its global operations.

“It just proves how ubiquitous the Filipino workforce is in the success of the global IT-BPM industry. Philippines is not just a social media capital, we have also become the IT-BPM capital of the world, thanks to the globally

competitive Filipino talents. As a global IT brand, we believe that this is where the future is going and the Filipino workforce will continue to be at the forefront in elevating the IT-BPM industry to greater heights,” Amador said.

He said Ingram Micro will continue to invest in the Philippines as well as Filipino talents.

“That’s why we put tons of our efforts in our People agenda, such as shaping our culture according to the values that our talents can deeply relate to, and creating a great employee experience that is life enriching and truly rewarding,” he added.

Aside from remittances from overseas Filipinos, the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry continues to be a major source of foreign exchange.

Angels among us

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

— From Frank Capra’s film, “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Continued from last week...)

ANGELS were strong proactive characters when the story of humanity unfolded during biblical times. And while today, cynics, atheists and those on the dark side might argue that angels are figments of the human imagination, there are countless people who will brave the scorn of scoffers, fight back vehemently and attest to the very real presence of angels in their lives.

Trawl the internet and social media and read about how angels, though unseen in many instances, can be felt by many who believe in them. There are many instances when the presence and oftentimes the direct interventions of one’s personal guardian angel are a part of the twists and turns of the unraveling story of many people’s lives.

Many have written about their encounters with angels, documenting how their guardian angels are a real part of their lives guarding, guiding and protecting them from harm and on many occasions, even from death, because their time had not yet come.

I am sure many others have their

own personal stories to tell about this unseen entity that can be ascribed to the presence of God himself – an ever-present help to aid us in navigating life on earth.

The common image of an angel is a beautiful heavenly being with piercing eyes, big white pair of wings and long cascading golden hair, robed in androgynous white gown and who is neither male nor female but to which we ascribe the word “he” just for convenience.

An angel, who is an eternal celestial being, is not subject to the constraints of gravity, time, space or language problems. Communication between protector and protectee is often wordless and automatic. Some are messengers and some bring punishment and death but each has a definite purpose, most of which are beneficial to humans.

Some claim to have seen their angels appearing differently from the common image we believe of winged beings. Some morph into human form to lend a hand, to protect from danger or avert disaster then disappear quickly.

They appear specially when the humans they are protecting find themselves in dire straits and

need help. As one might imagine, angels are extremely busy considering the weakness of humans and their predilection to stray from the straight and narrow.

In Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Clarence, a portly, bumbling character aspiring to become an angel must earn his wings by doing something good for a human being in desperate need and contemplating suicide. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings,” is a memorable line in this classic film that is intended never to get old and aptly becomes new again for a new generation around the Christmas season.

On the other hand, in the warped imagination of liberal film makers, “Michael” supposedly about Michael, the Archangel, the highest seraphim who fought Satan and flung him to the burning sulfurous depths of hell and believed to be the protector of the nation of Israel, is portrayed as somewhat of a sleaze who is more human than angelic.

In this film, Archangel Michael can charm females because he smells of cookies and who is a bit of a Lothario to boot. It may be

u PAGE B4

Town mates and Friends:

Please join us in celebration of our

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Nazario Perlas: Precy Castaneto- Ruedas:

nazario.perlas@yahoo.com pcruedas@yahoo.com

Lito Tambo: Ludy Lagmay-Ganzon: Mila Tadina: Josie Dolor Etrata:

lito.tambo@sbcglobal.net lganzon@gmail.com mrtadina@yahoo.com wilpenn@yahoo.com

Mary Ann Arichea–Caunan: macaunan@ha.ucla.edu *Discounted Room rates available at Gold Coast Hotel & Casino until September 3, 2017: Code: ABA2017

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

What’s New Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA WHAT you need to do when you received a call or notice from the IRS? Below are some tips that you should be aware of: • Revenue Officer (RO) observes fair tax collection practices and taxpayer rights.

• You have Right to Representation under Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 5.1.10.7.2.

• You will be advised first if there are possible third party contacts.

• Letter 3164 will be either mailed or hand delivered if the RO cannot verify if you have received Publication 1 Your Right as a Taxpayer, and Notice 1219 A or B: Notice of Potential Third Party Contact.

• Letter 3164 in #4, may not need to be provided to you if other advance notice has already been provided, for Third Party Contact Letter.

• Single Member LLC. Different procedures will apply if: 1) LLC is a single member LLC, a disregarded entity and not treated as an entity separate from its single member owner IRM 5.1.21.12.3; and 2) LLC is identified as the liable taxpayer IRM 5.1.21.12.2.

• If paid after January 1, 2009, employment tax liabilities incurred on wages must be reported and paid using the name and EIN of the LLC and not

What to do when the IRS contacts you the single member owner IRM 5.1.21.12.2(4). The liable taxpayer is the LLC for administrative collection actions and trust fund recovery penalty investigation IRM 5.1.21.5.

• Only the name of the taxpayer liable to collection action will be included. It should not include both the name of the LLC and of the single member unless exception applies.

• If the installment agreement is combined, both the name of the LLC and the name of the single member could be included on a single Form 433-D Installment Agreement.

• At initial contact of the RO, LLC documents will be gathered to establish the right liable taxpayer. This may include: articles of organization, operating agreement, minutes of meetings, and affidavit from the members signed under penalties of perjury, etc.

• Prior to issuance of Final Notice, Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing or Letter 1058, RO should have identified the liable taxpayer.

• The collection due process (CDP) will be issued under the name of the LLC when the LLC is the taxpayer otherwise to single member. The LLC has the right to a CDP hearing.

• It is important that RO issued Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of a Right to a CDP Hearing to the liable taxpayer and at the

correct address.

• A notice of intent to levy and notice of a right to a CDP hearing must be issued to the taxpayer prior to levy with correct name, address, and EIN or SSN of the liable taxpayer.

• Invalid CDP Notices and Rescinding the CDP Notice. If the prior CDP notice was not properly issued to the liable taxpayer, the original notice will be reversed and a new CDP notice with correct name, address, and EIN or SSN of the liable taxpayer EIN IRM 5.12.6.3.16.

• Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Your Right to a Hearing under IRC 6320. Letter 3172 is issued to the taxpayer, to advise the taxpayer of their right to a CDP hearing, at the correct name, address, and EIN or SSN of the liable taxpayer to ensure proper issuance of the notice and protection of the taxpayer’s rights of appeal concerning the filing of the lien. *** Disclaimer: Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication is neither intended as a thorough, indepth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. *** Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies.

(Advertising Supplement)

Peso to weaken next year...

PAGE B1 t

It pointed out the Philippines already booked a current account shortfall of $319 million in the first quarter and the deficit is expected to increase to $600 million or 0.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year due to strong import growth while foreign inflows are not as strong as before.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. earlier said a CA deficit of less than one percent of GDP is manageable for the current development phase of the economy.

DBS said the possible rate hikes and the reverse quantitative easing by the US Federal Reserve as well as the strengthening of the dollar would add to the pressure.

“The peso will continue to be under pressure if these trends

persist,” it said.

The investment bank said there are no reasons to be worried about the peso’s weakness as investors would realize the strength in import growth especially capital goods for investments needs.

It also cited the strong inflow of remittances and robust gross international reserves that could bode well for growth later on.

Multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as debt watchers Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have raised concerns over the country’s record trade deficit, rapid credit expansion, robust private investment, fiscal expansion, and material capacity constraints.

However, the country’s inflation averaged 3.1 percent in the first eight months, well within the two to four percent target set by the BSP.

“The BSP did not share these overheating concerns but has signaled its readiness to raise rats should such signs emerge,” DBS said.

Despite the weakening of the peso, the investment bank said a currency crisis in the Philippines is quite unlikely as it is still being supported by strong remittances while foreign holdings of bonds are not high.

DBS retained its GDP growth forecast at 6.4 percent for this year and 6.7 percent next year but slashed its inflation forecasts to 2.9 percent from the original target of 3.2 percent for 2017 and 2018.

It expects the BSP to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in the fourth quarter and by another 25 basis points in the first quarter of next year.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Senior wants Chapter 13 to stop foreclosure by 2nd mortgagee for $50K and annul judgment lien of $60K Company receives $200K lawsuit by landlord & files for Chapter 7 THE client is 72 and appears to be a widow. She previously operated a business, which closed down in 2006. She borrowed $50,000 from her friend in 2004 secured by a second mortgage on her residence for the business.

Unfortunately, the business failed in 2006 and it stopped operating. The client did not pay the monthly payment of $500 monthly plus interest on the $50,000. Her friend did not collect the monthly installments for several years.

This month, the client received a recorded notice of default to foreclose her residence, if the $50,000 was not paid in full in the next 90 days. The notice of default (NOD) is the first step to foreclose the house. It gives homeowners 90 days to pay the default before the foreclosure sale date can be set. The foreclosure sale date cannot be set earlier than 21 days from the expiration of the 90 days from the date of recording of the NOD. The client shows me the NOD and I verify that there is a recording date. The recording date means that this notice has been recorded with the recorder of deeds, and thus the 90 days pre-foreclosure has commenced.

Without this date of recording, the foreclosure does not begin. So any other document that you receive that says you are in default on your mortgage and giving you a computation of what you owe is not the formal recorded document required to start the foreclosure process. For instance, you are three months in arrears on your mortgage. You receive a letter from the bank entitled default with intent to foreclose.

The letter does not have a recording date. Four months from your date of receipt of that letter, can the bank foreclose your house? NO, because the official recorded NOD does not exist.

The client says she wants to save her house from foreclosure by the second trust deed holder, and her friend who is no longer her friend. Or, let’s just say, her friend wants her house because she did not pay her back the $50,000. The problem is that her house is worth $600,000. It doesn’t seem fair. Further, the client says that there is also a judgment lien of $60,000 on her house. I ask her, which came first, the $50,000 second, or the $60,000 judgment lien. According to her, the judgment lien came later. Therefore, the judgment lien is the third lien on her house. She wants to prevent the foreclosure by the second trust

Debt Relief

ATTY. LAWRENCE YANG

deed, and she wants to get rid of and invalidate the judgment lien of $60,000. Can she do this?

My first impression was that paying off the $50,000 while at the same time avoiding the judgment lien of $60,000 was going to be impossible given the fact that residential values today are sky high. But lo and behold, after determining the current fair market value of the house and what is owed by client on the first mortgage even though she was on loan modified mortgage where $200,000 was deferred but nevertheless owed, plus the second mortgage of $50,000, there was zero equity left to support the judgment lien, meaning on Chapter 13, a motion to avoid the third lien of $60,000 while paying off the second of $50,000 through the Chapter 13 plan would be successful indeed. She would not have to pay any part of the $60K judgment lien that would just be invalidated because her plan would be a zero percent plan to unsecured creditors. Upon granting of the motion to avoid the judgment lien, the $60,000 becomes unsecured, thus it does not have to be paid a single cent.

The only problem is that client’s social security is only $1,000 a month. However, she says that her son is a doctor and he will help her pay the first mortgage and the plan. So that takes care of the shortage of funds because son can participate as a family contributor to make the plan feasible. Her son takes care of her. That’s good.

The next client is a California company doing business out of state. It was in the import distribution business, which was good until last year. The company leased a large warehouse out of state. Business became so bad that it could not pay the lease of the warehouse. The company closed its doors recently and stopped doing business. However, it still owed the landlord two years of the future lease at $100,000 a year. So it owed the landlord $200,000 for next two years lease. Is this correct? The company still owes the future rent of $200,000 even though it has stopped operating and has moved out of the leased premises. Yes, it

is correct because client-company signed a lease contract that is still valid for two more years. The landlord has the right to demand that the future lease of $200K be paid. Nonpayment of the lease is a breach of the lease contract; therefore, the landlord can sue the client-company for $200,000 of future lease payments.

The client just received an out of state lawsuit for $200,000 for unpaid commercial lease.

It decides to file for Chapter 7.

What happens to the lawsuit for $200,000? The lawsuit stops and the plaintiff can file a claim in the Chapter 7 case. The Chapter 7 trustee administers the case. If there are assets, the trustee liquidates those assets into cash and the cash is distributed to all creditors of the bankrupt company pro rata. If there are no assets, creditors collect nothing and an order of NO ASSET is entered. With the bankruptcy filing, the out of state lawsuit stops and the landlord is required to file its claim in the bankruptcy. The company bankruptcy does not affect the officers or stockholders in any way.

Fortunately for the president of the company, he only signed the commercial lease as an officer of the company. He did not execute any personal guaranty of the lease. The best news for him: the landlord cannot sue the president for the $200,000 as an individual guarantor, therefore, he has no liability whatsoever for the lease. As I said many times before, do not personally guarantee commercial leases or promissory notes of the company, just sign as an officer of the company. This is very important for your financial well being in the future in case your company fails. Your company’s business failure should not affect your personal assets in any way. Follow this principle and never forget it.

Otherwise, you will have to see me twice, once for the company bankruptcy and a second time, for the personal bankruptcy.

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

“HUMBLE YOURSELVES, THEREFORE, UNDER GOD’S MIGHTY HAND, THAT HE MAY LIFT YOU UP IN DUE TIME.” 1 PETER 5:6

*** 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.

K-1 Visa: Fiancé visa to marry a US citizen

IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which a couple is married. Often, a foreign national is in his/her home country and, for one reason or another, the U.S. citizen cannot travel to that country to marry him/her. A solution in such a scenario can be found with the K-1 Fiance(e) Visa.

A K-1 visa allows a foreign national to come to the United States to marry a United States citizen. The K-1 visa is valid for ninety (90) days after entry to the United States, during which time the marriage must take place.

Once the foreign national is issued a K-1 visa, any of his/her unmarried children under the age of 21 may be issued K-1 visas. Upon arrival in the United States, the foreign national may immediately apply for permission to work. A two-step process is involved to obtain a K-1 visa.

First, the United States citizen (the petitioner) must file Petition for Alien Fiance(e) along with supporting documents with the USCIS. Through the filed petition and documents, the petitioner must demonstrate three things.

To begin, it must be shown that the foreign national has a bona fide intent to marry within ninety (90) days after arrival. This is of-

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES ten accomplished by producing evidence that a marriage is going to take place—i.e. wedding announcements, catering contracts, etc. In addition, it must be shown that both parties are unmarried and of legal age. Birth certificates, and if one has been previously married, evidence that the prior marriage has been legally terminated are usually satisfactory to accomplish this. Finally, evidence must be provided to show that the parties have physically met each other within the past two (2) years. The petitioner may submit photos of the couple, plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc. as proof that the couple has met.

Exceptions to this third requirement apply in certain circumstances that cannot be explored here due to space limitations of this article. The USCIS may also schedule an interview of the petitioner wherein inquiry will be made on the foregoing issues.

Once approved, notice is sent to the petitioner and the file is forwarded to the appropriate consulate abroad.

Second, after the petition is approved, the foreign national can apply for a K-1 visa in his/ her home country. An interview is scheduled where the foreign

national must provide certain documents for issuance of the visa. An affidavit of support from the petitioner, proving that the foreign national will not be relying on public assistance upon arrival, in addition to originals of documents mentioned hereinabove, must be presented. Other documents may also be requested by a particular consulate. If all requirements are met, visa issuance will follow. After arrival in the United States and marriage, the foreign national may thereafter begin the process to obtain permanent residence. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association.

He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 3881611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Consumer confidence dips in...

hold finances and overall ecoquarter stemmed from expec- nomic condition. A positive CI tations of additional income indicates a favorable view regardand salary increases, improve- ing a given indicator, except for ment in peace and order, and inflation, unemployment, interest the availability of more jobs. rates and change in prices. A negThe CI measures the average ative CI indicates the opposite.

The CI is computed as the direction of shifts in three indicators: household income, house- percentage of those who an-

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swered in the affirmative minus the percentage of those who answered otherwise.

The nationwide survey was conducted from July 1 to 15 and covered 5, 597 households, 2,763 or 49.4 percent from the National Capital Region (NCR) and 2,834 or 50.6 percent from areas outside the NCR.

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2017

Calendar of Events across

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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 SEPTEMBER 15

Kayamanan Ng Lahi performs at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles “Tao Po!” – We Are Here! is a multi-disciplinary production that will cover the breadth of Philippine folk-based dance, music and song, juxtaposed with contemporary dance forms and musical stylings with underlying positive social messages. The show declares that Filipinos are here, there and everywhere, adding to the richly diverse cultural landscape of America. The evening will feature guest stars Deedee Magno Hall and Jennifer Paz of singing group Mama Bares and voice actors of Steven Universe, original music by Anthony Fedorov of American Idol, and the Glendale College Concert Singers with their musical director Dr. Peter Green. The performance will also include appearances from the following guests: Rondalla Club of Los Angeles – Philippine rondalla music; Giovanni Ortega – actor, playwright, director; Annie Nepomuceno – singer, T.V. personality, producer; Marc Macalintal – musical director; Guro Alvin Catacutan – Kali master; Beatriz Eugenia Vasquez – dancer/ choreographer; Kumu Keali’i Ceballos – choreographer for hula piece; Faith Santilla and Alison de la Cruz – spoken word; Vince Reyes – musician; and Culture Shock Los Angeles – street/urban dance. To purchase tickets, please visit https://secure.ticketsage.net/websales. aspx?u=fordtheatres&pid=320003.

S E P T E M B E R 1 5 -1 7

Liliwenos reunion in Las Vegas, NV Calling all Liliwenos living all around the world! There will be a three-day reunion in Las Vegas, NV starting with a picnic on Friday, Sept. 15 at Silverado Ranch Park. On Saturday, Sept. 16, it is a dinner/dance party at the Palace Station (2411 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102) at 5 p.m. The attire is semi-formal and costs $50 / person. Souvenir t-shirts cost $10 regardless of size. Deadline of payment for both the reunion and t-shirt cost is August 31 to be sent to Ms. Nerri Monteagudo at 9252 Bronze River, Las Vegas, Nevada 89149. On Sept.

17, participants are free to explore the Strip and other Vegas activities. For more information, please contact Bob and Nerri Monteagudo at (702) 339-3838; Carmen P. Manguin (702) 526-8005; Loida Borgonos at (201) 654-5482; or Fred Polistico at (818) 527-3476.

SEPTEMBER 16

43rd Bicol fiesta in Los Angeles The big Lincoln Park at 3529 N. Mission Road (cross st. Valley Blvd.), Los Angeles, CA 90031, will again be hosting an overflow of thousands of Bicolanos and their guests during the 43d “kafiestahan” (feast day) in LA in honor of their patroness, Our Lady of Penafrancia, on Sunday, Sept. 16. The festivity is held yearly under the auspices of the United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA), a local association of Bicolanos who originally hailed from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, designated as Region V, in the Philippines. The day begins at 8 a.m. with the recitation of the 9th day novena, the last-day continuation of the previous eight days of novena prayers; at 9 a.m., a fluvial parade, a mass at 10 a.m., and a lunch at 12 p.m. After lunch, a “velada” of cultural and entertainment presentations will follow.

S E P T E M B E R 23

Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in North Hills, CA Come celebrate with us! The Archdiocese of Los Angeles Filipino Ministry San Fernando Region invites all to the 9th regional celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Our Lady of Peace Parish (15444 Nordhoff St., North Hills, CA).

It starts with a procession at 4:15 p.m. and mass at 530 p.m. The Principal Celebrant is Most Rev. Gerald Wilkerson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus. A reception and program follows right after mass at Schneider Hall. For a schedule of the nine-day novena masses prior to the event, please call Christine Hart at (818) 612-5060 or Patty Santiago at (818) 472-4288 or email Betty Defensor at bettydefensor@yahoo.com.

S E P T E M B E R 24

3rd annual Kultura: Filipino-American food & arts festival in Chicago Kultura Festival is a contemporary Filipino-American food and arts festival taking place at Logan Square’s Emporium Arcade Bar (2363 N. Milwaukee Avenue) on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carefully curated to appeal to those who personally identify with Filipino culture and the merely curious or uninitiated, Kultura Festival aims to highlight the best in Filipino-American food and arts in Chicago and around the Midwest. Kultura Festival signals the start of Filipino-American History Month, a nationally commemorated holiday every October since November 2009, with the passage of U.S. House Resolution 780 and Senate Resolution 298. Kultura Festival will showcase Chicago and Midwest-based FilipinoAmerican chefs such as Hapa Chicago (Chicago),Meat on the Street (Milwaukee), and Sarap Detroit (Detroit), Guerrilla Street Food and Skip To Malou (both from St. Louis), as well as Chef Sharwin Tee of Lifestyle TV’s Curiosity Got The Chef (Manila, Philippines). Additional chefs and the full festival menu will be soon announced. The curated menu promises to tantalize festival-goers with a wide variety of chef-prepared Filipino and Filipino-inspired dishes between $5 and $7 each.

Filipino American artist-entrepreneurs will offer their unique wares for purchase at the festival: custom tailored barong Tagalog (traditional formal wear) from New York Citybased Pineapple Industries; artwork, books and apparel based on the prePhilippine script, baybayin, from San Francisco-based expert Kristian Kabuay; and clothing, jewelry and accessories centered around indigenous symbols and spirituality from Los Angeles-based Ginto Seeds.

This year, Kultura Festival patrons can learn about the connections between Filipino cuisine and culture. Admission to the Lechon Lectures, hosted in adjacent The Upside Down pop-up bar, is included with Kultura Festival ticket. Two time Hugo award winning editor of Uncanny Magazine Michi Trota leads a panel discussion on the role of food in science fiction and fantasy storytelling and how Filipinx creators in these genres integrate food and cultural identity into their own work. Descriptions of the full Lechon Lectures lineup and schedule will soon be announced. As in previous years, Filipino American DJs will provide the soundtrack for the festivities (schedule TBA). Kultura festival general admission tickets are available for $20 ($15 ticket plus 5 Kultura dollars) online at https://ti.to/filipino-kitchen/ kultura-2017. Discounted general admission tickets are available for students with ID, senior citizens with ID, and children under 13 years of age. More information can be found at http://filipino.kitchen/kultura-festival/.

SEPTEMBER 30

PeDRO celebrates its 13th anniversary with a fundraising dinner dance The Philippine Disaster Relief Organization, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation invites everyone to “A Dinner to Remember” with surprise guests on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Crystal Ballroom, Quiet Cannon, 909 N. Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. Free parking; $55 cost and formal attire. Maricar and the 4700 Band will provide musical entertainment with DJ George Cunanan. For more information, contact President Archerie Calunod (714) 655-4285 or PRO Bettie Francisco (323) 828-7648.

SF Assessor Carmen Chu’s free Family Wealth Forum Free one-on-one counseling with experts. Multi-lingual workshops. Exhibitors hall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at City College (Ocean Campus), 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112. To register: http://sfassessor.org/familywealthforum or call (415) 554-7434.

O C TO B E R 7

A3M Starnight 2017 annual gala in Long Beach, CA In the past 25 years, A3M has given hope and a second chance of life to many patients.

Their journeys have inspired and motivated the organization to continue its mission of increasing and diversifying the Be the Match Registry. A3M is committed to supporting patients from the communities that are underrepresented in the Be the Match Registry. To continue its life-saving work, you are invited to support A3M at its Annual Gala Dinner held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach (200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802) from 5 to 9 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit https://www.flipcause. com/secure/event_step2/MTk3NjI=/13381.

City of Carson’s Filipino-American History Month Kick-Off The City of Carson will kick off this year’s Filipino-American History Month on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the CJMM Community Center at Carson (801 E. Carson St., Carson, CA 980745).

From 8 to 9 a.m., there will be refreshments at the Community Center East Parking Lot. It will be followed by a wreath laying at Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s monument from 9 to 9:15 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. there will be a program at the Carson Dominguez Room. For more information, please call (310) 952-1743.

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

B4 SEPTEMBER13-15 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

People and Events

No secret bank accounts to pay your bills ANOTHER day, another scam.

Case in point: the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that scammers are telling people they can pay their bills using so-called “secret accounts” or “Social Security trust accounts” and routing numbers at Federal Reserve Banks. In exchange for personal information, like Social Security numbers, people get what they think is a bank account number at a Federal Reserve Bank. But this really is just a way to get your personal information, which scammers can then sell or use to commit fraud, like identity

theft.

It’s good to keep in mind that people do not have accounts at Federal Reserve Banks. Only banks can bank at the Federal Reserve. But what happens if you try to use this “secret” account?

Well, the Federal Reserve Bank will deny the payment, since you don’t really have an account there. Once the payment is rejected, you’ll be notified that you still owe the money – which is about when you might figure out that this was a scam. At that point, you may owe a late fee or penalty to the company you thought you

were paying. You also may owe fees to your bank for returned or rejected payments.

If you see a video, text, email, phone call, flyer, or website that describes how you can pay bills using a Federal Reserve Bank routing number or account, report it to the FTC. It’s a scam.

And remember: never give your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number to anyone who calls or emails and asks for it – no matter who they say they are. (Colleen Tressler/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

More OFW households...

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holds using remittances to save as of the third quarter of the year was almost six times the 7.2 percent recorded when the CES was launched 10 years ago.

Guinigundo explained some of the expenditures of households have shifted to investments.

Latest data showed personal remittances climbed 5.5 percent to $15.36 billion while cash remittances grew 4.7 percent to $13.81 billion in the first half of the year.

He said the percentage of Filipino families using remittances for medical expenses dropped to 52.5 percent in the third quarter from 60.8 percent in the second quarter as well as that for debt payments to 40.2 percent from 43.1 percent.

Guinigundo noted that OFW households have also put on hold major purchases.

The BSP official explained the

percentage of households using remittances for the purchase of appliances or consumer durables slipped to 24.5 percent from 25.3 percent and for the purchase of house declined to 14.5 percent from 16.4 percent.

He said the percentage using remittances for the purchase of cars went down to 6.2 percent from 7.4 percent but is expected to increase with the impending increase in excise tax slapped to motor vehicles under the comprehensive tax reform program being pushed by the Department of Finance.

Majority at 98.1 percent allocate remittances for food and other household needs while 70.3 percent utilize the amount of money sent home by OFWs for education.

The survey for the third quarter was conducted between July 1 and 15, covering 5,430 respondents. Close to 10 percent of the

total respondents or 504 households received remittances from abroad.

Rosabel Guerrero, director of the BSP’s Department of Economic Statistics (DES), said the percentage of all households with savings went up to 35.6 percent in the third quarter from 34.4 percent the previous quarter.

She said households save money for emergencies, education, retirement, health and hospitalization, business capital and investment as well as for the purchase of real estate.

Guerrero pointed out almost two-thirds or 65.8 percent of household savers had bank deposit accounts while 42.4 percent kept their savings at home.

On the other hand, 28.7 percent of the household savers put their money in cooperatives, ‘paluwagan,’ other credit or loan associations as well as investments in stocks and insurance.

Angels among us...

Trust your own instincts. Your own personal experience will somewhat funny to color outside color the lens with which you the lines in portraying angels view and relate with your personbut don’t be fooled by the liberal al guardian angel. God so loved yarn on angels. Hollywood, in the world, He sent His only son my opinion, has no gravitas on to redeem us from sin and death angelic matters. so we may gain eternal life — not

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unlike His angels.

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

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

B5 SEPTEMBER13-15 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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

People and Events

September is California pedestrian safety month THE California Office of Traffic Safety is again announcing that September is “California Pedestrian Safety Month” which began last year in response to the rising number of pedestrians being killed and injured on California roadways.

The Glendale Police Department will be joining with other law enforcement agencies, city and state transportation agencies, pedestrian advocates and walking clubs to promote public awareness aimed at both drivers and pedestrians alike to always be aware of each other and share the road responsibly.

This month draws attention to the 892 pedestrians who were killed on California roadways in 2016 alone, accounting for over 24 percent of all roadways deaths in the state, up from 17 percent just a decade ago. In the past six months, Glendale PD investigated 2 pedestrian fatal collisions and another 54 major injury

EMPLOYMENT

collisions. Most injuries are life changing and permanent. Officers will join the effort by conducting nine (9) traffic enforcement operations throughout the month of September to include bicycle/pedestrian enforcement, speed and primary cause violations such as red lights and left turns.

The department has mapped out locations over the past several years where pedestrian collisions have occurred along with the violations that led to those collisions.

Traffic Officers working overtime and others on routine patrol will be focusing enforcement both on drivers as well as pedestrian who violate traffic laws.

Both drivers and walkers are cautioned to put down the cell phones, since electronic distractions are seen in increasing numbers of pedestrian crashes.

Other factors for drivers include unsafe speed and failure to see and yield to pedestrians in cross-

walks and intersections. For pedestrians, the major dangers are jaywalking and thinking that they can be seen at night, especially while wearing dark clothing. To learn about the dangers of being a pedestrian, who is at risk and safety tips visit Pedestrian Safety at www.ots.ca.gov/Media_and_ Research/Campaigns/Ped_Safety/default.asp.

The California Office of Traffic Safety continues to remind motorist that “Pedestrians Don’t Have Armor.” This public service announcement highlights the importance of pedestrian safety awareness, regardless of whether one is on foot or behind the wheel.

Funding for this enforcement campaign is provided to the Glendale Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

EMPLOYMENT

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And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

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

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 13, 2017

Anthony CAilAn: Fil-Am sommelier in los Angeles Interview by Christina

oN a recent afternoon toward the tail end of summer, Anthony Cailan is beaming, ready to talk about new wines he has tasted that are locally sourced not too distant from Los Angeles.

For him, wine lists at restaurants shouldn’t be bound to the usual reds or whites, nor should they be intimidating to the typical diner.

“Wine is not something that should be put on a pedestal,” he says. “It is something that should be viewed as a cocktail or a beer. It shouldn’t be read as, ‘oh, you’re fancy. You drink wine.’”

The last name Cailan may sound familiar, as his older brother is Alvin Cailan, who has been behind Eggslut, Amboy, and Unit 120, among other projects.

In addition to helping Alvin open Eggslut and reinvigorating Los Angeles’ breakfast culture after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, the younger Cailan is making his own imprint on the food and wine scene, from working at famed wine shop Domaine LA to some of the best restaurants, including Bestia as a runner, server and eventually wine steward, and Animal as a line cook.

His entry into the culinary landscape began with influences from his babysitter growing up named Auntie Cita, whom he says “used to cook me the most amazing meals of my entire life,” and watching the Food Network.

“I was probably the only 10-year-old who would be like, ‘Mario Batali’s so cool.’ Like I would watch him and I would watch ‘Too Hot Tamales.’ I grew up watching Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken on television and eventually go to their restaurants and fall in love with the world of food. I was never really good at school. I was bad at it because I was not a book smart person…But food always made sense,” Cailan shares.

As a teenager, he got his first job at Tony’s Pizza in San Marino, California, where he says that “if you work at a really busy pizzeria on a Football Friday and you

have a line out the door…and if you can survive that people yelling at you, you’ll strive in the business.”

Currently, he is the beverage director at Hayden — a restaurant and wine bar by chef/partner Ari Kolender inside the Platform development in Culver City — bearing the distinction as one of the youngest sommeliers to oversee a wine program in LA. Hayden itself gives the casual California atmosphere without the fussiness and pretense that could be presumably found at places that boast curated beverages from all over the world.

“Hayden to me is this place of deliciousness and really good wine,” he says. “Everyone from our dishwashers to cooks — everybody who works at this restaurant is on an equal playing field. We all work together so well and we just wanted people to come in here, try and drink something different.”

Cailan recently spoke to the Asian Journal about his start in the food industry, lessons from his older brother, the best wines to pair with Filipino cuisine, and what it takes to become a sommelier.

AJ: Your brother Alvin has widely shared his side of the Eggslut story. What was your view of working with him and having a hand in building this LA favorite?

AC: It was like going from throwing out the idea and name Eggslut out there to having a physical shop in a matter of three weeks. It was one of the most insane experiences of my life. We were working grueling hours inside a very hot truck with a bunch of dudes and it was not my favorite thing in the world but you could feel that there was something special happening.

But after a while, working with your family puts a strain on your relationships so it’s like we had to not do that anymore.

AJ: But you and Alvin continue to work on projects together.

AC: We’ve done a few collaboration dinners at the old Unit 120 space. It was fun to collaborate and not think about business. It’s like getting people

M. Oriel /AJPress

drunk and feeding them. That was it.

AJ: What are lessons that you learned from him?

AC: There was a drunken night at Unit 120 after we got done through service where we sat down and we were both talking about how hard it is to continually work. He kept on reminding me that ‘You are a Filipino American.’ I’ve always just associated myself as being an Angeleno, but in reality, I am also a Filipino American representing [my] people in that industry. In LA, there are only four of us, not a lot of us. And so, Alvin told me, ‘You are going to have to work harder than everybody else. It is not gonna be easier for you and you have to just remember to keep your head down.’ And I have already been working hard — I’ve always had that work ethic since I was a student — but like to have the weight of an ethnicity on your shoulder is a little bit more intimidating and stressful. For me, it was a was a weird, brutally honest experience that we had. I still think about that.

AJ: What has it been like working at top restaurants in LA like Bestia and Animal?

AC: It’s a lot of fun. I think that’s the most important part.

People are like, ‘oh, you work in a restaurant, that must be so hard, you have no social life.’

You do have a social life! It just happens to be with each other, like the best part about working at those places is that the people who work there have the exact same mentality of striving for something greater, something bigger than themselves.

Like when I worked at Animal, I was the line cook. I was not getting paid a lot of money but I still wanted to be there because the food was delicious and Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo were fairly rising up in the scene.

To be able to put that on my resume was like an honor. The amount of people I still talk to from those restaurants — that I consider family to this day — that’s the best thing to come out of working at these places.

If you ever have a question or need a dishwasher or front of

Anthony with Hayden’s chef/partner Ari Kolender, a James Beard semifinalist.

Hayden boasts a fresh oyster selection and has daily specials from 6 to 7 p.m. for wine and oysters. Cailan recommends them with a bottle of 2016 Methode Sauvage San Benito Chenin Blanc, saying that “Chad Hind’s delicious and zippy California Chenin is meant to be drunk Hayden’s Jambon de Bayonne & burrata sandwich — green olive and consumed with most things but oysters sing with briny flavors of my favorite shellfish.” tapenade, ‘tutti frutti’ heirloom tomato on Focaccia bread.

the house help, the community is the best part.

AJ: Fast forward to here at Hayden, how did you land running the beverage program here?

AC: Chef Ari Kolender and myself have a mutual friend named Gloria. She reached out to me about Ari opening a restaurant around February. I had just started my hiatus and was taking a mini vacation. I had a conversation with her about what this project is and I told her that I had already been burned twice for other possible job offers so I was a bit skeptical. But then she’s like, ‘This one’s real. I promise you…’ And when I got the image of the chef, it honestly was like chemistry. He and I get along very, very well and we understand each other. our philosophies, when it comes to the food and wine programs, is source the best quality product as possible.

That’s what we’re doing and at prices that are not unattainable to the average person.

AJ: What are some features of the wine program that you want to share?

AC: The wine program that I am focusing on is everything in small production. I work with small producers in California and small amounts from Italy and Germany. The goal for me is to highlight wine producers and farmers who work hard on their wonderful products and grapes that are not the most known. If you look around town, wine lists end up all looking kind of the same — you have your Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. But the world of wine is so huge. The diversity of grapes in this world is thousands upon thousands.

My goal is to create something different where you can have a different glass or bottle of wine — something that you wouldn’t have at a normal place.

I get people to try something new, which I think is the most satisfying thing in the world and then you’d see their face saying, ‘oh, I’d never tasted anything like it.’ It’s the best feeling.

AJ: As a sommelier, how do you keep searching for and expanding your knowledge on the different type of options there are all over the world?

AC: The best part of being a wine buyer is that the owners of wineries come to visit you and give you a taste of what they have coming. I’ve been working with wine reps and importers for five years and these are people I’ve developed relationships with. We hang out outside of our workplaces and drink. These are people who I trust, so I get to taste things that wouldn’t normally be in most places.

AJ: What do you see as an upcoming trend in wine?

AC: The current trend is ‘all pink and everything.’ Everyone seems to love rosé. But I think the next trend is realizing that you can chill red wine. There are red wines lower in alcohol that are very refreshing. If you serve it with a chill, it’s like you could have red wine in the summer of Los Angeles. You can drink lots and lots of chilled red wine.

AJ: For people who don’t really know wine, what would you say for them to get started in tasting and exploring wines?

AC: Find a wine shop in your neighborhood that has a very curated selection, not a liquor store, not a grocery store. There

Filipino-American Anthony Cailan runs the beverage program at Hayden, an all-day restaurant/wine bar in Culver City, California. He is considered one of the youngest sommeliers in Los Angeles.

Photos by Katie Gibbs are so many shops now in the city where you can tell them, ‘I want to learn about Pinot Noir.’

They’ll give you three options: one that’s $15, one that’s $25, one that’s $100. If you want to buy them all and open them, you can experience that.

But I think the best way to really learn wine is to keep drinking wine with food every single day. At 21 when I first got my job at Domaine LA, I was very lucky where we had a video conference with Eric Asimov, the wine writer for the New York Times...My question was ‘Where do I begin?’ He told me, ‘Every day, with your meal, with your family, with your friends, have a bottle of wine…Always have some wine wherever you go.’

AJ: Where are some of your favorite regions in the world for wine?

AC: My favorite region is the Loire Valley. There is so much diversity of the grapes in that region of France where you could literally hop from one part of the valley to another and the wine’s going to be different.

All the wines that I wanna drink copious amounts of and are doing the interesting work at the same time are from this region. There are light-bodied red wines, full-bodied red wines, wines that age for a long time, sweet white wines…the whole thing is crazy. If you did like a full year of tasting the Loire Valley wines every day, you would learn something new every single day.

The amount of interesting wine that’s happening in California is blowing my mind. There is so much deliciousness that’s coming out of [the state]. It’s the new California wine movement.

I think that because this is California and Los Angeles, I find a moral obligation to also support them. You may root for different baseball teams but that’s fine.

The wines are delicious and it brings us all together.

AJ: What are some wines that could be paired with Filipino food?

AC: In my experience with Filipino food specifically, it’s hard to generalize the wine or like a couple wines that would boost the flavor’s range so wisely because of all the influences, such as Chinese, Japanese, American, that make their own flavor profiles. But honestly, high acid white wine. If there’s a rich, fatty dish,

that wine will refresh your palette.

Something like krispy pata would be good with really light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling — stuff that’s just happy.

AJ: Where do you see yourself in the next few years in terms of your career?

AC: The end goal for myself is to have my own restaurant/ wine bar. I don’t know where.

Historic Filipinotown would be cool or Chinatown. But I’m an Eastside Angeleno, born and raised, so I feel like it’d be my obligation. I could open a wine bar in the San Gabriel Valley.

I wanna like do something interesting because it’s home.

Comfort food doesn’t necessarily mean Filipino food, so when I crave comfort, I crave like soup dumplings and classic Chinese food, and with wine, oh my, it’s pure, pure joy.

AJ: Being one the of the youngest people in the wine industry, what’s your advice for people who want to get started in it as well?

AC: Work hard. Don’t have a huge ego. Wine tends to do that to people, but work really hard and honestly, have humility. If someone has a different palette than you, that’s normal.

Be someone who’s always openminded and always be willing to try something new or even try something you have already written off. Try again.

Find a place where someone will give you a shot. I was lucky that when I was in Domaine LA at 21 years old, I got a shot to work there one day a week. All you gotta do is persist. or if you want a restaurant, be 21 years old and be a busser. Don’t be afraid to work somewhere that has a very good reputation, has really delicious food, has an amazing wine program.

Just don’t be afraid to let your intentions be known to those in charge and tell them that you want to learn more about the wine. And eventually, there will be a moment after your shift where someone says, ‘Hey, would you like to taste some of this wine?’ Wine people love to share — it doesn’t matter who you are and what spectrum of wine you know. I’m very lucky to have had opportunities fall in front of me and I grabbed them as fast as I could.

[This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.]

Angel Locsin admits real score with rumored boyfriend

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

“No labels.”

After struggling to explain the kind of relationship she and film producer Neil Arce share, actress Angel Locsin finally found the phrase she considers to best describe them.

“Parang kayo pero hindi kayo (it’s like you’re together but you are not officially together). It’s difficult to explain but what I can say is, we do not hide from anyone when we go out. We also don’t date anyone else. So I think, label na lang [yung kulang],” the actress said at a press conference announcing her return to TV series “La Luna Sangre.”

The original lead of fan-

tasy series “Lobo” from which “La Luna” became a spin-off, Locsin appeared during the pilot week of the latterbut was eventually killed in the series.

She portrayed Malia’s mother in the Daniel Padilla-Kathryn Bernardo-starrer, but returned to the show on Monday, Sept.

11 with a new role as Jacintha Magsaysay.

Meanwhile, rumors that Arce [who was formerly in a relationship with actress Bela Padilla] and Locsin [whose last boyfriend was Luis Manzano] are dating began circulating in April when the former was spotted celebrating with the latter during her birthday, constantly posting their romantic photos and sweet nothings online thereafter.

“Yes, we exchange I love you’s, many times. Yes, napaguusapan naman namin pero mas oK muna ang ganito, no labels,” Locsin further noted.

While it’s easy for naysayers to comment that the actress was just playing along the classic show business answers when celebrities are confronted about relationship status, Locsin raised a valid point.

“Di ba kasi, when you are officially together, one should ask and then the other should say yes. With that, may anniversary date. Wala kasing ganun sa amin so I can’t claim naman [that we are boyfriendgirlfriend],” she related.

But while she finds difficulty in labeling their relationship, Locsin was quick to point out

Arce’s effect on her.

“I’m happy. When you have someone very honest and smart who supports you, who gives good life pieces of advice, whom you know will always be with you, you feel comfortable and relaxed. And that’s where I am right now,” Locsin shared smiling.

The actress admitted that they are both taking extra care in their current relationship because they don’t want to ruin their eight long years of friendship before falling in love.

“Iniingatan namin ang isa’t isa kasi nga pag nag-away kami, wala na kaming ibang makakausap,” Locsin said, adding that in their previous heartaches they would console each other.

Angel Locsin and Neil Arce

Photo from Instagram/@neil_arce

How Gerald Anderson copes with a busy schedule With his active lifestyle, constant travels and late nights on the set, Gerald Anderson needs to keep himself healthy and strong in order to be the best at what he does. the actor is busy with various projects, most recent of which was his starring role in the film “AWOL,” the only action film entry in the first Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino spearheaded by the Film Development Council Of the Philippines. his soft spot for soldiers prodded him to organize a special screening of AWOL for the wounded soldiers of Marawi —his way of giving honor and tribute to those who sacrificed their lives and limbs in the service of the Filipino people. he also stars in the ABSCBN top-rating daily series “ikaw Lang Ang iibigin” reuniting him with Kim Chiu and Jake Cuenca, who were his co-stars in the mega hit series “tayong Dalawa” in 2009.

An exciting, new actionthemed project is also in the works for this very energetic actor, advocate, and athlete.

One of his passion projects is the Gerald Anderson Foundation, which provides assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard K-9 Search and Rescue Unit, which recently celebrated its first year anniversary.

Besides this, he is also actively helping the Cottolengo Filipino, inc. — an institution for children with special needs. this foundation became very close to his heart after working on his hit tV series “Budoy.” he likewise spends his birthdays with the cancer patients of Cancer Warriors Foundation, spreading joy to the afflicted.

Anderson is also known as a spirited triathlete for over a year now. he trains four hours every day every time he prepares for meets and competitions all over the world. in the recently concluded ironman in Cebu where he participated in the bike relay, his group “team DeRosa” placed

entertainment 3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 13, 2017

‘Hamilton’ star Rachelle Ann Go gets engaged, show moved to December thiNK Christmas, not thanksgiving, for the London opening of the hit musical “hamilton.”

Promoters said that the official opening night will be Dec. 21 following previews that begin on Dec. 6. the show had been expected to open in late November but has been delayed by the pace of renovation works at the Victoria Palace theatre. theater owner and “hamilton” co-producer Cameron Mackintosh said restoring the historic building has taken more time than expected. he said he is “sorry” to change the performance schedule.

Producer Jeffrey Seller said

Gerald Anderson

fourth overall. Among his many other athletic endeavors, the actor has also participated in the Los Angeles 42K marathon in March. he is also an avid basketball fan and played in the Star Magic All-Star Game for the Blue team, against Daniel Padilla’s “Red team,” scoring an impressive 42 points, leading his team to victory.

One can only wonder how one man is able to do all these and excel at the same time. “i think the key here is balance. Balance your time, balance your diet, and balance your exercise. that’s why i am so thankful to Bargn Pharmaceuticals, because CosmoCee is really helping me maintain overall wellness and health so that i can do all the things i love,” he said. taking the recommended dose of twice daily, Anderson evokes great physique, youthful glow coupled with disarming smile. this of course, is on top of leading healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.

“Gerald is the perfect per-

ABS-CBN photos

sonification of the brand’s ideals — youthfulness, health, and vigor, the perfect embodiment of the brand. i think, among the roster of great young actors in the industry today, Gerald is one of the few who really value total, holistic health and wellness. it’s very evident in the way he makes time for fitness even with his busy schedule,” Bargn co-founder Niño Bautista said on the renewal of the actor’s contract as brand ambassador. “it’s non-acidic, which makes it safer for everyone, and as i have experienced the longest time, it boosts the immune system, provides extra energy, vitality and even helps maintain good skin elasticity,” Anderson guaranteed.

Besides keeping healthy, Anderson said that discipline also taught him about the allimportant ability of time-management.

“When you’ve got the energy, you’ll have time for everything—even love,” he teased in ending. (ManilaTimes.net)

Rachellen Ann Go with fiancé Martin Spies Photos from Instagram/@gorachelleann

patrons with tickets to shows that have been cancelled will be accommodated on other dates as quickly as possible. the play about Alexander hamilton, one of the founders of the United States, has drawn

wide acclaim in America. the announcement of the delay coincides with the engagement of “hamilton” star Rachelle Ann Go to New York-based businessman Martin Spies. (Philstar.com)

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features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 13, 2017

FPAC 2017: Pavilions and programs Artists and craftspeople to be featured at annual fest

LOS ANGELES – The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is back. The annual arts and culture festival will be held on Oct. 14, 2017, Sunday, at the Echo Park Lake in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

The popular festival is the largest and longest-running Fili-

pino cultural celebration in Los Angeles. Festivalgoers will see the best of traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, performances, arts, and crafts.

FPAC was first conceptualized in 1990 as part of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department’s Festivals Program.

The first FPAC was organized by about 100 artists and community leaders, and attended by about 3,000 Angelenos.

This year, FPAC will feature a diverse lineup of talented musicians, vocalists, dancers, visual artists and more. Nico Nava, FPAC’s Co-Director for Programming, said in a statement that the festival is divided up into various pavilions and program segments, each highlighting a specific community advocacy, art form, or Fil-Am personality.

The pavilions are: Pilipino Artist Network (PAN) Pavilion, Youth Pavilion, Senior Pavilion, Culinary Pavilion, Filipino Martial Arts Pavilion, and Wellness Pavilion.

PAN Pavilion The PAN Pavilion brings together Fil-Am artists, highlighting fashion designers and crafts artisans. Among them are Francis Gum, a fashion photographer; Kristine Amarillo, Creator and owner of Tale for Esther fashion brand; Veejay Floresca, fashion designer, finalist from Project Runway Philippines, and owner and creator of Madore. Other prominent FPAC artists who will also be at the PAN pavilion include Eliseo Art Silva, painter, and muralist; Alfie Ebojo, painter and graphic designer; and many more. Nava said that traditional Filipiniana attire and barong Tagalog pieces will be on display, courtesy of Alex Guzman from LA Fashion Market.

Additional artists and designers include: Ohderobe, Vave Collections, Eza Cheeza, Edmund Art, and The Art of Jov. FPAC officials are still in talks for other artists to join the event.

“We are highlighting fashion this year because it is also another form of art where there is a growing number of Filipino fashion professionals including designers, photographers, and artists in our community,” Nava said.

The PAN pavilion will be curated with the theme of “Bridging Generations: SalinLahi.” It will emphasize the importance of arts and culture as a bridge between the older and younger generations. Josh Lawrence of JLMillworks will help build and design the actual pavilion for

PAN. “Some artworks and crafts are up for sale. Make sure to support the artist community!”

Nava pointed out.

Youth and Senior Pavilions The Youth and Senior Pavilions are two separate sections of the festival that go hand-inhand in the sense that they will highlight Salin-Lahi.

The Filipino Cultural School will take the lead at the Youth Pavilion. They seek to educate the young Fil-Ams about their Filipino heritage through dance, music, language, history, and lifestyle classes. This year, they will feature games, including coloring activities and a Filipino traditional paper boat race. The pavilion will also include traditional Filipino activities that older Pinoys may recall from their time in the Philippines, like a tinikling workshop, and pabitin.

“This year, we are also partnering up with Paamano Eskrima to do some Filipino Martial Workshops for the youth, and also the Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble to do Kulintang workshops,” Filipino Cultural School President Paolo J. Roca said.

The Senior Pavilion will feature an FPAC staple – the vegetable showcase. This activity has been done at FPAC for almost as long as the festival itself. Because Filipino seniors value their health, the activity is a great venue for lolos and lolas to discover healthy fare. Other Senior Pavilion activities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Culinary and Wellness Pavilions The Culinary Pavilion – supported by corporate sponsor Island Pacific – will include games and presentations that ties in with the ongoing Filipino food movement that is sweeping America. In hopes of further promoting Filipino food to the mainstream, a panel discussion will be held at the Pavilion, featuring Fil-Am chefs who have made their mark on the industry.

“It will be exciting to hear the insights, and stories directly from the chefs who has taken the Filipino food into the next level,” Nava said.

The Wellness Pavilion will feature various speakers that

will talk about modern and traditional Filipino practices that promote health and wellbeing.

Lyn Pacificar of Herbalaria will be one of the speakers at the Wellness Pavilion. Pacificar said that she will talk about plant and energetic medicine, and how it is something that our Filipino ancestors have always turned to for healing.

“We can harness these very same energies and incorporate them into our everyday lives, as well as rebuilding a relationship with the earth, just like our ancestors before us,” Pacificar said. She will be focusing on certain plants used in ancient practices, such as the guava tree and the moringa tree.

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) A Filipino Martial Arts tournament will be hosted by Filipino Martial Arts Group, Los Angeles Doce Pares. Doce Pares will showcase t traditional and nontraditional methods of Filipino fighting arts. Organizers said that they show how the

founding Filipino masters practiced their indigenous fighting arts and the improvements that today’s generation of practitioners have contributed to the current FMA scene.

The tournament is actually a Frienship game between practitioners of the different forms of FMA, and will follow the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation rule book. There will also be performances featuring group routines from the Philippine team fighters and different FMA groups in attendance. Nava calls the Filipino Martial Arts a “hidden gem” that needs to be seen to be appreciated.

FPAC is a free event. No admission fee is needed for entry. It will be held on October 14, 2017, Sunday, at Echo Park Lake in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles. For more information, please visit http://bit. ly/FPAC2017 or call (213) 380-3722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org. (By Mico Letargo)

Painting skin discoloration in a different light

by IMEE

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AS a skincare specialist, I’ve heard the most common misconceptions anybody can say about skin discoloration: ‘Only older people get it,’ ‘Sunblock is the solution’, ‘fair-skinned people won’t ever have to worry,’ ‘there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to this problem.’

Sadly, these are what most people think and some actually fall prey to false promises from treatments that don’t really address the problem.

I take it upon myself to educate my clients to help them see skin problems in a different light – especially those who warrant a more ‘expert’ opinion.

Skin discoloration is defined as any change in the natural color of the skin and can occur for a variety of reasons. Normally, it is a result of the skin’s natural pigmentation, called melanin and the overproducing of it in any given area. This discoloration affects the topmost layer of skin, leaving you with brown patches.

Contrary to popular belief, the main culprit in melanin overproduction is not just excess sun exposure but also melasma, liver or age spots, dark patches, poor diet, liver problems and indigestion. Some of the more common causes for changes in skin color are illness, injury, and inflammatory problems.

Melasma (also called chloasma), on the other hand, is a condition where tan or brown patches appear on the body, typically on the face. They can often be triggered by hormonal changes, and frequently occur in pregnant women. For this reason, people refer to it “the mask of pregnancy.” Melasma can also be caused by contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and excessive sun exposure. While it’s

Imee Ong-Maghanoy

more common in women, men can still suffer from melasma.

Although this condition doesn’t do any physical harm, you may feel self-conscious about the way it looks and can undoubtedly detract your quality of life.

Most people think that skin discoloration only occurs with age and that only older people are prone to it than younger ones.

Truth is, it can appear at any age and on any part of the body.

While pigmentary changes occur in the skin as we age, causing it to become more avascular and pale, the same problem can also occur in younger adults.

But — there’s good news and bad news! The bad news is that skin discoloration is the hardest to treat, as well as the most common; the good news is that it is treatable.

At our facility, our first order of the day is to prep client’s skin – it’s very important.

When I say prepping the skin, this means we need to hydrate, do some light peels to see how the client’s skin responds, and then we do intensive treatment followed by maintenance.

Since skin discoloration is one of the most challenging conditions to treat, it takes time, patience, and cooperation from clients. We do not guarantee the result; it depends on how the skin responds to the treatment.

Aside from that, there are so many treatments available, like laser technology, chemical peels and other active ingredients. Because melanin is part of our skin, you cannot just get rid of it, however, we can suppress the

melanin pigment with the help of active ingredients like Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, Vitamin C and many more and laser technology and glutathione – all of which are available at our facility.

Having skin discoloration is a long-term maintenance but with good treatment, follow-up and home maintenance treatment, it will help lighten the skin or better yet – it may no longer show in the long run. But remember, there is always a risk of it coming back knowing that we have melanin pigments in our body and it will continue to produce. It is always best to consult your physician to rule out any underlying medical causes before you start starting any home or natural treatments In conclusion, I recommend that in order to combat this problem, you need to first, protect your skin from the sun.

Secondly, choose the right products depending on your skin type. Every individual must have basic cleansing: toner, moisturizer and SPF. And third, clarify the potential side effects of medications. Some drugs can increase melanin production and bring about hyperpigmentation.

Our skin is very important and is very prominent even from a distance. Treating any type of skin problem is worth every dollar.

I always tell my clients that their skin is their best accessory.

Luckily, there are treatments for this problem. But since each individual is different and would have different possible causes, we at Image Body Spa and Image Spa MD customize every treatment.

You can get a free consultation at our spa; Image Body Spa is located at 8709 West Hollywood.

Image Spa MD is located at 9227 Haven Ave. suite 120 Rancho Cucamonga, and at 499 N El Camino Real, C-20 in San Diego.

Truth be known, it is always best to keep ourselves informed before we jump into conclusions.

Such can be said about skincare. I hope I gave you a fresh perspective on this topic. Until next time!

Thank you all for reading.

Imee is an established aesthetician, a business owner and a managing partner for Image Spa MD and CEO of Image Body SPA. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. Image Spa is now one of the most reputable medical spa facilities in LA and has branches in Rancho Cucamonga and Encinitas for Image SPA MD and Image Body SPA-West Hollywood. Imee has been in the aesthetics

industry for over 20 years.

(Advertising Supplement)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 13, 2017

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 13, 2017