092017 - Los Angeles Midweek Edition

September 20-22, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 74 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

Trillanes tells Duterte: ‘You’re checkmate’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

MANILA - With his alleged Singapore bank accounts proven to be non-

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV Inquirer.net photo

DATELINE

existent, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said it’s now checkmate for his accuser, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Mr. Duterte, pusoy ka na.

Checkmate ka na. Wag ka na magpalusot (Mr. Duterte it’s checkmate. Stop making excuses),” said Trillanes, who has been highly critical of the president.

On Monday, September 18, Trillanes flew to Singapore to personally disprove the chief executive’s allegations that the senator has millions of undeclared wealth in several foreign accounts.

Duterte earlier claimed that the op-

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US postpones delivery of rifles to PH THE United States has put on hold the delivery of thousands of rifles to the Philippines due to concerns over the drug war killings and alleged human rights violations in the country.

This was according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday, September 19, during the Senate hearing on the proposed budget for 2018 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP. “The recent predicament that we have [is that we have] 27,000 [rifles] supposedly ready for delivery to the PNP – Sig Sauer basic assault rifles, 5.56,” Gamboa said. Sig Sauer is a firearms manufacturer based in the U.S. “The U.S. State Department has put on hold the delivery of thousands of basic assault rifles

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position senator owns a bank account at the branch of DBS Bank in Alexandra Retail Center in Singapore, containing “193,000.” The president did not specify the currency of the said amount.

According to Duterte, the senator’s alleged account with the DBS in Singapore is numbered 178000296012 and is under the name “Antonio F. Trillanes.”

The president also accused the senator of having several accounts in Shanghai, China; Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland; the Cayman Islands; and the British Virgin Islands.

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PUBLIC ATTORNEYS CONVENTION. President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a photo with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Dr. Persida Rueda-Acosta and the attendees of the 6th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Tent City in Manila Hotel on Monday, September 18.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

GOP makes last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare New bill gives states more autonomy over health care funding, slashes Medicaid funding

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

THIS year, congressional Republicans have been looking to act on its years-long party pledge of repealing the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka Obamacare) by implementing the party’s own health care bill.

In March, the House proposed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would have repealed major parts of Obamacare and would have left 23 million Americans uninsured, failed to garner majority support and was viewed as too restricting.

Republicans then amended the AHCA and reintroduced it in June as the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. In July, the Senate rejected the bill, along with its scaled-back “skinny repeal” version.

Despite failure to garner support for each incarnation of the bill, Republicans are not giving up just yet.

The latest edition of the GOP health bill comes from Republican senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dean Heller (R-N.V.) and Ron Johnson (R-W.I.) who on Wednesday, September 13, released a new draft that is looking for a vote

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Peace activists laud Senate approval of P33.4-billion ARMM budget

Carmina and Horacio Tomas Castillo Jr. weep at a funeral parlor where the body of their son, Horacio Tomas III, was taken on Monday, Sept. 18. Their son, a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, allegedly died because of injuries he sustained in the “welcome rites” of a fraternity.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

Amid criticisms of failing to protect victims, CHR to probe death of UST law student

by AUDREY

MORALLO Philstar.com

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MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday, Sept.

19 announced that it was probing the death of a freshman law school student of the University of Santo Tomas allegedly because of injuries he sustained in the “welcome rites” of a fraternity.

Horacio Tomas Castillo III, 22, was found unconscious on a sidewalk in Balut, Tondo on Sunday, Sept. 17. He was later declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital.

UST, a Catholic university, has

DAVAO CITY — If there’s one thing the military can claim about the gains of implementing martial law in Mindanao, it’s preventing the violence in Marawi City from spilling to other areas.

With the intensified security operations, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) “was able to carry out People line up early Monday morning, Sept. 18, at a police checkpoint before entering Iligan City, where security has been tightened following its mission,” Brig. Gen. Gilbert the siege of nearby Marawi City by the Maute terrorist group and its allies Gapay, assistant regional milifrom the Abu Sayyaf.

Inquirer.net photo by Barry Ohaylan tary commander, said in a state-

ment.

“Business remains vibrant in the region through the security arrangements and the active interagency operations of the military and the police,” said Gapay, who is also the spokesperson for the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

Marawi crisis President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under military rule following the attack of Islamic State-inspired

by JOHN

UNSON Philstar.com

Photo courtesy of Kaiser Health News

within the next two weeks.

The bill, which has been nicknamed “Graham-Cassidy,” would repeal “the structure and architecture of Obamacare and replaces it with a block grant given annually to states,” according to a statement released by Graham.

That essentially means that states are given more control over the allocation of funds to “best take care of the unique health care needs of the patients in each state.”

It would also eliminate Obamacare’s individual insurance mandate and drasti-

COTABATO CITY — Senate’s approval on Monday, Sept. 18 of the P33.4 billion proposed 2018 budget for five Moro provinces will boost Malacañang’s current diplomatic overture with southern Muslim communities, peace activists said Tuesday, Sept. 19.

The Bureau of Public Information-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said in a press communiqué that among the senators who tacitly gave the proposal imprimatur during deliberations Monday, Sept. 18, were

Panfilo Lacson Sr. and Miguel Zubiri, who hails from Bukidnon province in Mindanao.

The two lawmakers were involved in the review and interpellation of the proposed ARMM 2018 budget that regional officials presented to the finance committee of Senate.

A Lumad chieftain, Mayor Ramon Piang Sr. of North Upi town in Maguindanao, said that he and his constituent-leaders were elated with the committee’s approval of the proposal.

already condemned the death and vowed that the perpetrators would be held accountable.

The CHR said it was probing Castillo’s death because he belonged to a vulnerable sector.

“Yes, the Commission has already commenced an investigation into the hazing of the UST student especially considering that he belongs to the youth sector, a vulnerable group we should protect,” Jacqueline De Guia, spokesperson of the CHR, told Philstar.

According to Castillo’s parents, their son told them that he would

California drug price bill sweeping in scope, lacking in muscle Duterte’s martial law: Mission accomplished, says military

A CALIFORNIA bill headed to the governor’s desk may be the most sweeping effort in the nation to shine a light on drug pricing, but it lacks the muscle being applied in other states to directly hold those prices down.

The idea behind the law is that if everyone knows when and why prices are rising, political leaders eventually will be more empowered to challenge those increases.

“Transparency is a longer-term play. It’s about building political will, getting more information and helping build the case for the changes that we need” in order to have more sustainable

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terrorists on Marawi City on May 23.

The fighting for control of the city has left more than 800 people dead and displaced more than 400,000 people.

Gapay said the security situation in areas under Eastmincom, particularly Davao, Caraga and parts of Northern Mindanao and Cotabato regions had remained relatively stable.

“The Kadayawan Festival of

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From the Front Page

Amid criticisms of failing...

PAGE A1 attend the welcome ceremony of the Aegis Juris, a fraternity based in the UST Faculty of Civil Law. However, a lifeless Castillo was the one who returned to his family.

The victim’s father and namesake said it was painful for him to imagine the final moments of his son in the hands of his so-called “brothers” in the fraternity.

“My God! They killed my son!”

Horacio cried out.

Carmina, the mother of the victim, was equally inconsolable and asked the perpetrators to face her and tell her how her son died.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the hazing-related killing.

Aguirre, a member of the San Beda-based Lex Talionis Fraternitas, said that those responsible for this “senseless death” should be brought to justice.

The Central Student Council of UST also slammed the death

of the freshman law student who aspired to become a senator and chief justice.

“We call on the university administration and the students to condemn this violent act against a fellow Thomasian,” UST CSC said in a statement.

“The UST CSC demand for a rigorous investigation on the people and the fraternity involved in the death of Horacio Tomas Castillo III. May he get the justice he deserves.”

According to Nilo Divina, the dean of the university’s law school, the welcome ceremony of Aegis Juris was not coordinated with the school, in direct contravention of the country’s Anti-Hazing Law. School authorities must be informed in writing of any hazing or initiation rites at least seven days before the activity, according to this statute.

Divina is an alumnus of Aegis Juris which is not recognized by the UST Office of Student Affairs, according to an officer of the uni-

versity’s student council.

“All we can say for now is that the fraternities and sororities are strictly prohibited by our [Student Welfare and Development Board] in recruiting UST Law freshmen unless recognized by the OSA,” Jonathan Santos, president of the UST Civil Law Student Council, said.

Members of this fraternity, founded in 1979, were involved in a melee with those from Gamma Delta Epsilon Fraternity at the campus of UST last year.

De Guia said that their investigation is still in its initial stages, adding that they are still waiting for reports from probers.

The CHR, which was recently given a budget of P1,000 by the House of Representatives, has been criticized for allegedly failing to protect the rights of victims of crimes, a charge that it denies, saying that its main mandate is to monitor abuses by the state and its agents.

De Guia said in the past that the CHR could step in if members of minority groups such as women and the youth were victimized. n

BE COUNTED. Senators Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Pangilinan join members of various groups during the launch of Tindig Pilipinas. A newly-formed movement on Monday, Sept. 18 called on President Rodrigo Duterte to end extra-judicial killings and stop the Philippine National Police (PNP) from implementing its war on illegal drugs under Oplan Double Barrel. #Tindig Pilipinas aims to convince individuals and organizations from different walks of life to speak up on pressing issues and denounce the government’s ‘anti-people policies.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

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Trillanes tells Duterte...

But in a statement on Tuesday, September 19, Trillanes said the bank teller of DBS Bank in Alexandra Retail Center, Singapore, confirmed that “no such accounts exist” when he inquired about the bank accounts mentioned by Duterte.

The senator added that he also inquired if there was an account, either existing or closed, under the names “Antonio F. Trillanes IV” or “Antonio F. Trillanes.”

“Ang sagot muli ng teller ay (The teller responded), ‘No such accounts exist.’ Ito ay narinig at nasaksihan ng ilang media reporters na kasama ko sa pagtatanong ko sa bank teller (This was heard and witnessed by media reporters who accompanied me in inquiring the bank teller ),” Trillanes said.

The senator also tried to go to a branch of Hongkong Shanghai Bank Raffles but said such bank office does not exists.

Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and broadcaster Erwin Tulfo previously shared a post from media site “Davao Breaking News” say-

ing Trillanes opened an account with “Hongkong Shanghai Bank” in its Raffles Branch in Singapore on July 2013.

“Pinuntahan naman namin ang HSBC sa Raffles Blvd. pero ATM lang ang meron doon (We then checked the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation at Raffles Blvd. but there’s only an ATM machine there). A quick check at the HSBC Singapore website showed that there is no HSBC Raffles Branch,” Trillanes added.

He then claimed that unfounded accusations against him were just a way to divert attention from the allegations that the president’s son, Paolo Duterte, and son-in-law, Manases Carpio, were involved in drug smuggling.

“Maliwanag na nagsisinungaling si Duterte at gawa gawa lang nila ang mga paratang niya na meron akong mga foreign bank accounts (It’s clear that Duterte is lying about his accusations that I own foreign bank accounts),” he said.

‘I made it up’ But hours after the senator

debunked the president’s claim, Duterte admitted that he intentionally announced the wrong account number to “fool” Trillanes.

In a live interview on staterun PTV-4, Duterte said that the 178000296012 he previously mentioned was was merely a “product of his mind.”

“Trillanes, ganito ‘yan: Ang actual account number from Mocha and Erwin is 1178000281602.

Binasa ko. Binawasan ko ng number. Wala ito imbento lang (Trillanes, this is how it goes: The actual account number from Mocha and Erwin is 1178000281602.

I read it. I cut a number. I made it up),” the president said.

He then laughed at the senator for going to Singapore “out of desperate attempt” to disprove his claims.

“Kita mo siya ngayon (Look at him). He’s desperate. Pumunta ng Singapore, mag-gastos lang para propaganda lang (He went to Singapore and spend for a propaganda),” Duterte added.

In response, Trillanes said: “Buti naman umamin siya na sinungaling siya (Good thing he admitted that he’s a liar).” n

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEMbER 20-22, 2017

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California drug price bill sweeping...

PAGE A1 drug prices, said Ted Lee, a senior fellow at Yale University’s Global Health Justice Partnership, which recently released a report on steps states can take to reduce drug prices.

Some experts have said transparency alone is not enough to bring down drug prices, and more extensive changes are needed.

“We need really far-reaching reforms that say ‘sorry, pharma, we’ve had enough. We’re not going to do it your way. We’re going to do it our way,’” said Peter Maybarduk, director of the Global Access to Medicines Program at Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog group. The group wants sweeping changes at the federal level that would reduce spending on drugs, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies and limiting market exclusivity on certain pharmaceuticals.

The California measure would put a spotlight on drug prices from different angles, imposing reporting obligations on both insurers and drug manufacturers.

The campaign for the bill brought together some unlikely political allies in the California State Capitol this year: Consumer advocates, insurers, employer groups, labor unions and even a prominent billionaire environmentalist shared the same platforms at press conferences, urging legislators to force drug manufacturers to disclose and justify their high prices.

Gov. Jerry Brown has about a month to decide whether to sign the bill. Brown rarely comments publicly about legislation before he takes action, but a spokesman, Brian Ferguson, said the governor’s office had worked closely with legislative staff on the bill.

The pharmaceutical industry remains fiercely opposed to the legislation and has vowed to lobby the governor against it.

The measure “will not improve the accessibility or affordability of medicines for patients,” Priscilla VanderVeer, deputy vice president of public affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufac-

turers of America (PhRMA), said in an email.

Under the proposed law, pharmaceutical companies would be required to give state agencies and insurers 60 days’ notice if they planned a price increase of more than 16 percent over two years on drugs with a wholesale cost of $40 or higher. And they would have to explain the reasons for the increase.

Manufacturers would also have to report the introduction of certain high-priced drugs to market, explain their marketing plans for the product and say if it is an improvement on drugs that are already available.

Health plans would be obliged to report to state regulators on the drugs with the highest annual cost increases and document how much drug spending factored into their premiums.

Yale’s Lee said both price control and transparency laws play important roles in regulating prescription drug costs. Ellen Albritton, a senior policy analyst at Families USA, said transparency measures such as California’s bill are a “key part” of what is needed for the U.S. to get drug prices under control.

She said various actions by states, taken together, build the case for federal action.

This year, at least two states have passed laws that tackle high drug prices head-on and may have a more immediate effect on consumer costs than the California measure, Lee said.

Maryland and New York, for example, passed laws this year that use a variety of legal levers to impose financial penalties or require discounts if prices are too high.

Maryland’s law empowers the state’s attorney general to take legal action if it determines drugmakers are “price gouging” on generic drugs. A violation by the company could trigger refunds to consumers and a fine for the manufacturer.

The New York law introduces a drug price cap in the state’s Medicaid program and would require rebates on drugs that exceed their

From the Front Page

limits, according to a Yale University analysis.

The California bill’s author, Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Covina), said he didn’t believe price controls were the right approach. “I still believe in the basic tenet of free enterprise,” he said. “The market should play itself out.”

But California’s bill is more comprehensive in some ways than other states’ laws. It requires new reporting in the private and public insurance markets and encompasses generic, brand-name and specialty pharmaceuticals. Other state laws affect only one payer, as in New York, or one subset of drugs, as in Maryland.

Vermont has a transparency measure, passed last year, that mandates reporting on a narrower subset of drugs than California’s proposal.

Nevada’s recently passed drug price law requires disclosures from insulin makers.

Hernandez, who chairs the state Senate’s health committee, said the California bill could be a national model for drug price policy because transparency works to bring costs down. Consumers across state lines will benefit from California’s law, he said.

“I encourage the federal government, especially California’s representatives in the U.S. House and Senate, to consider similar legislation as we continue this discussion at a national level,” Hernandez said.

He said industry opposition to his bill has been fierce, with “legions” of lobbyists clogging Capitol hallways and full-page ads in local newspapers during the final days of the legislative session, which ended Friday.

Despite the industry’s resistance, Hernandez said, the effort to address high drug costs had bipartisan support and rallied players who are usually at odds on other matters.

“It has become a huge coalition because it’s impacting everybody,” he said.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. n

Peace activists laud Senate approval...

PAGE A1 “Besides the Moro and Christian communities, the non-Islamic Teduray people stand to benefit from the proposed budget because fractions of it are for basic services and infrastructure projects in ARMM’s more than 100 municipalities, our hometown among them,” Piang said.

Piang was a former government negotiator who helped craft Malacañang’s peace compact with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

His office has domestic peace programs propagating camaraderie among the Muslim, Christian and ethnic Teduray communities in North Upi. Piang said he is certain that the

approval by Senate of the ARMM budget for 2018 was hastened by the markedly efficient handling of the region’s coffer in the past five years by present regional leaders.

“In my town alone, we’ve had many infrastructure projects implemented by the ARMM during the period, designed to boost the local economy and provide our

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US postpones delivery of rifles...

PAGE A1

to the Philippine National Police (PNP) because of alleged human rights violations linked to the war on drugs in the country,” the PNP official added.

According to Gamboa, the Philippine government had not yet paid the purchase. He noted, however, that the police may have to conduct a new bidding process to purchase weapons as it already obligated the funds.

Last year, Washington reportedly halted its firearms transaction

with Manila after U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his intention to oppose it.

Cardin cited the supposed thousands of extrajudicial killings linked with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial campaign against illegal drugs as grounds to halt the deal.

Hitting back at Washington, Duterte, who has been critical of the U.S., then called the country officials behind the decision “fools” and “monkeys.”

GOP makes last-ditch effort...

Earlier in May, Cardin and another U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio, filed a bill seeking to restrict the export of arms from Washington to Manila, citing Duterte’s “deeply alarming” war on drugs “that has horrified the international community.”

Their proposed Philippines Human Rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act of 2017 aims to “restrict the exportation of certain defense articles to the [PNP],” and to “work with the Philippines to support civil society and a public health approach to substance abuse,” among others. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

PAGE A1 cally scale back its expansion on Medicaid.

Graham-Cassidy represents a last minute effort to propose a GOP answer to Obamacare as the party’s power to pass a health care bill through a party-line vote expires on September 30.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with fellow congressional GOP leaders, haven’t made a decision on the bill, but he indicated that if the bill gains the support of 50 of the 52 Republican senators, he will bring the bill to the floor for consideration.

The announcement comes just days after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 16 Senate Democrats introduced a Medicare for All bill that proposes to expand the federal government’s role in the American health care system, as the Asian Journal previously reported.

Obamacare advocates acknowledged the program’s pitfalls but spoke of its potential if given the chance to refine the current system.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization for Americans 50 and older, criticized Graham-Cassidy for eliminating tax credits that help all consumers, especially older ones, afford insurance premiums.

Nearly 6.1 million Americans

aged 50-64 get their coverage through states’ health insurance exchanges, and 3.2 million of those consumers are now eligible receive tax credits for health insurance coverage, which reduce premium and out-of-pocket expenses.

The AARP released a statement on Tuesday, September 19, that said that Graham-Cassidy would “undermine the consumer protections which millions of Americans have benefitted from and rely on today,” also denouncing its proposal to cut Medicaid, which covers more than 17.4 million Americans.

According to the AARP’s Public Policy Institute, Graham-Cassidy would slash between $1.2 trillion and $3.2 trillion in Medicaid spending over the next two decades, which could force states to cut back on home and communitybased services or reduce eligibility for coverage.

“Changing Medicaid into a per capita cap financing or block grant structure would endanger the health, safety, and care of millions of individuals who depend on the essential services provided through Medicaid,” the AARP said. “We urge to vote NO on [Graham-Cassidy] and instead ask the Senate to continue its work through the bipartisan market stabilization efforts.”

Before the election, Americans

were almost evenly divided on the ACA — 46 percent approved of the ACA while 51 percent disapproved, according to an October 2016 poll from Pew Research.

However, according to an ABC/ Washington Post poll released in 2017, 61 percent of Americans said they’d prefer if lawmakers kept Obamacare intact and work on improving the program. Moreover, 79 percent said that President Donald Trump — who has made it a priority to repeal and replace Obamacare — should try to make Obamacare work instead of letting it fail.

Anthony Wright, executive director of consumer health advocacy coalition Health Access, said that improving the current healthcare system offers a host of benefits for different communities, including immigrants and lowerincome families that depend on programs like Medicaid, which was expanded in 2016 through Obamacare.

“We’re not looking just to maintain [Obamacare], but to make improvements,” Wright said in a press call in August. “We need improvements in the way of extended care to immigrant children, approval to extend Medicaid to young adults regardless of citizenship status, getting better transparency over prescription drug process…if we could maintain that, and not have these egregious cuts, we can focus on steps moving forward and ways to improve on the current system.” n

people with livelihood opportunities,” he said Another supporter of the Mindanao peace process, Vice Mayor Roderick Furigay of Lamitan City, said Tuesday that the ARMM government shall have ample funds next year for humanitarian and socio-economic activities in its five component provinces.

“We in Lamitan City are direct beneficiaries of the services and

infrastructure projects of ARMM. We are being served by the regional government very nicely since 2013. We ought to thank the Senate for approving the region’s 2018 budget,” Furigay said.

Lamitan City is the capital of Basilan, a component province of the autonomous region, which also covers Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, both in central Mindanao, and the islands of Sulu and

Tawi-Tawi.

Many of the infrastructure projects to be funded out in the ARMM’s 2018 budget are to be implemented in areas affected by armed conflicts in years past.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said he is thankful to both the House of Representatives and the Senate for approving the autonomous region’s proposed 2018 budget. n

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Dateline USa

Why Southern California needs California WaterFix

RemembeR those multiple choice questions with the option to choose “All of the Above” as an answer?

Turns out, it’s not only a good choice on most tests, but also is the best way to prepare for Southern California’s water future.

The metropolitan Water District, one of the nation’s largest and most progressive water agencies, is working to meet our water needs by protecting existing water resources, increasing conservation and developing new local supplies.

A big part of metropolitan’s long-term water plan is imported water. Southern California needs reliable deliveries from Northern California and the Colorado River to supply clean, reliable water to homes, communities and businesses. When there is extra water available in wet years, the region needs to store it in reservoirs and groundwater basins for droughts and emergencies. but the system that brings water from northern California needs to be modernized and made more environmentally friendly.

State and federal agencies plan to improve the state’s water system through the proposed California WaterFix. A modern, twotunnel pipeline system would be built to more reliably and safely move water and withstand natural disasters. more natural water flows would be restored in the rivers, which will help ecosystems and native fish. The plan is better for the Delta environment and essential for many California communities and our state’s thriving economy.

When it comes to an “All of the Above” strategy, California WaterFix provides the best option for our water future. ***

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from

the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEMbER 20-22, 2017

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OPINION

Martial law madness

FEATURES

FORTY-FIVE years and five presidents later, Filipinos are once again expected to appreciate the genuine meaning of democracy as they commemorate the day when former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972.

However, this year’s celebrations may be different from what Filipinos are used to.

Only work and classes in public offices and schools throughout the Philippines are suspended on Thursday, September 21. It is not a holiday—President Rodrigo Duterte clarified—but a “day of protest.”

The president made this declaration on Tuesday, September 19, after hearing that his critics bared plans to hold rallies to condemn the killings tied to the government’s war on drugs and and his declaration of martial law in Mindanao..

For Duterte, he said that he will protest because many “yellows” (officials aligned with the opposition Liberal Party), in various government agencies are “very corrupt.”

On Monday, September 18, several senators, members of the Cabinet during former Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s administration, and the Magdalo party-list group convened to launch a new multisectoral organization, #TindingPilipinas, to protest “draconian policies of the Duterte administration.”

Former Civil Service Commission Chair Karina Constantino-David described #TindingPilipinas as

“a coalition of coalitions of different groups seeking to expand nationwide and reach the grassroots.”

“We lay the wrongdoings we see around us on the doorstep of the President. We also recognize that he is not doing this alone and that there are many others helping him along on this destructive path for whatever motives. But the end result is the same: national degradation,” #TindigPilipinas said in a statement of unity.

“We must overcome fear and apathy. We must summon our heritage of courage. We must speak out and unite in protest over the wrongs being committed,” the group added.

While some leaders and their loyal followers refuse to take a breather from political quagmire to remember the September 21 martial law anniversary, there are still those who will mark this day to remember the wretched moments of the martial law era, especially for the people who have to endure it.

As painful as it is, remembering lessons from the martial law inspires Filipinos to never let it happen again. To do so, Filipinos must see this day as neither a political rally nor a spiritual event.

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

They must see it as a day of unity through reflective observance to move past differences and iniquities and help move the nation into the right direction.

Through these reflections, let’s hope Filipinos realize their collective goals as a nation and how every one plays a crucial role in making them come true. (AJPress)

Narcissistic personality disorder: what we need to know NARCISSISTIC. We hear this word in our The Fil-Am everyday life lately.

We hear this as an Perspective adjective describing today’s generation — the “I,” “me,” and “myself.”

We also hear this in GEL SANTOS-RELOS reference to certain stages of a person’s life — when one’s consciousness and priorities revolve around him/herself more than anything else for developmental reasons.

As a toddler at the age of two, the child begins to find out that he/she is a person separate from his mother, and asserts that by testing how much he/she can push people around to get what he/she wants.

This is again pronounced during adolescence when teens begin to define who they are as individuals, oftentimes going against the norm or authorities to do just that.

These are normal, age-appropriate phases in one’s development, but does not mean all people end up having narcissistic personality disorder.

We also hear the word “narcissistic” in the news lately, used to define somebody whose thoughts, words, motivations and actions are all about him and him alone as the center of the universe.

But what really is a narcissistic personality disorder as doctors and scientists define it? What are the symptoms

and causes of this disorder? How does it affect the person’s day to day relationships, his job, how he operates in his world?

Let me share with you these facts that I got from Mayo Clinic.

Do you know of anybody exhibiting these symptoms?

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.

A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. You may be generally unhappy and disappointed when you’re not given the special favors or admiration you believe you deserve.

Others may not enjoy being around you, and you may find your relationships unfulfilling.

Although the cause of narcissistic personality disorder isn’t known, some researchers think that in biologically vulnerable children, parenting styles that overemphasize the child’s specialness and criticize fears and failures may be partially responsible. The child may hide low self-esteem by develop-

ing a superficial sense of perfection and behavior that shows a need for constant admiration.

Symptoms Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and other areas of their life, such as work or school.

If you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may come across as conceited, boastful or pretentious. You often monopolize conversations. You may belittle or look down on people you perceive as inferior. You may feel a sense of entitlement — and when you don’t receive special treatment, you may become impatient or angry.

You may insist on having “the best” of everything — for instance, the best car, athletic club or medical care.

At the same time, you have trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. You may have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation. To feel better, you may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make yourself appear superior.

Or you may feel depressed and moody because you fall short of perfection.

Many experts use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published

by the American Psychiatric Association, to diagnose mental conditions.

This manual is also used by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.

DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features: • Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance • Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it • Exaggerating your achievements and talents • Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate • Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people • Requiring constant admiration • Having a sense of entitlement • Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations • Taking advantage of others to get what you want • Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others • Being envious of others and believing others envy you • Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it’s not the same. The disorder crosses the border

of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.

When to see a doctor When you have narcissistic personality disorder, you may not want to think that anything could be wrong — doing so wouldn’t fit with your self-image of power and perfection. People with narcissistic personality disorder are most likely to seek treatment when they develop symptoms of depression — often because of perceived criticisms or rejections.

If you recognize aspects of your personality that are common to narcissistic personality disorder or you’re feeling overwhelmed by sadness, consider reaching out to a trusted doctor or mental health provider. Getting the right treatment can help make your life more rewarding and enjoyable.

Complications of narcissistic personality disorder, if left untreated, can include: • Relationship difficulties • Problems at work or school • Depression • Drug or alcohol abuse • Suicidal thoughts or behavior *** 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 politics of vicious name-calling and the civility of the Marcoses

Commentary

ANTONIO CONTRERAS THIS is now the season for name-calling.

But lest we believe that this is a new phenomenon, we should remind ourselves that politics in the Philippines has always been divisive, passionate, partisan and personal. Thus, the deployment of ad hominem attacks on the political adversary has always been a convenient political strategy. The age of social media has only enabled a more realtime, widespread and intense exchange of insults and personal attacks. Whereas before only the name-calling committed by political personalities gets coverage by traditional media, nowadays even the vicious exchanges among supporters explode in cyberspace.

It is safe to hypothesize that the reason why it is easier to unleash insulting remarks in social media is not only due to the herd mentality of viral trolling and joining the bandwagon, but also in the ease by which people

can take anonymous social media identities. And even when account identities are revealed, the absence of immediate response when insults are thrown in a face-to-face encounter encourages audacity, boldness and even recklessness in people’s political discourse. After all, calling someone an idiot or a murderer, when said face to face, can lead to an episode of physical violence with blows being exchanged, eyes getting blackened and faces getting slapped, something that does not happen in social media.

Many blame President Rodrigo Duterte for the further institutionalization of vitriol in our political landscape. The ease by which he cursed and used indecent language during the campaign, and even when he was already in office, has been appropriated both by his critics and his supporters as templates for their political discourse.

Many supporters use it as a form of idol celebration, akin to a symbolic marker of pride in emulating the president. Supporters, with ease, unleash epithets towards critics as a political celebration and affirmation

of President Duterte’s brand of politics.

On the other hand, some of his critics use vitriol to mock the president and his supporters, as a way of dramatizing their blaming Digong as being the one responsible for the degradation of civility in political discourse.

And the result is a toxic political environment that can easily cause the uninitiated, but even those who are already familiar, to cringe.

And the vitriolic verbal exchanges both in social media and in real time continue. Critics of the president call him as serial murderer, a child killer, an insane tyrant and a megalomaniac fascist and consider this as their moment to get back at a President who easily uses cuss words to diminish his critics, and give him a dose of his own medicine.

Recently, the president alluded to Commission on Human Rights Chair Chito Gascon as being a pedophile and the Digong supporters wildly cheered.

Earlier, Senator Trillanes unleashed the most disrespectful litany of ad hominem attacks on the president, and critics of the president erupted in jubilation,

including those who ordinarily would not relish being allied with the senator.

The vitriol and the name-calling have breached boundaries beyond traditional politicians, to now infect ordinary cybercitizens, creative artists and academics and the perfumed elites living in gated communities.

Recently, a Filipino writer based in New Zealand issued a hate list that marked other Filipino writers for targeting just because they are perceived to be pro-Duterte. And a wellknown Filipino historian in the diaspora chimed in to justify the list by suggesting that it can be a counter-narrative to the tokhang list that also brands people for targeting.

I have been at the receiving end of untold calumnies and personal attacks that I have become a veteran recipient of hatred. I used to eat trolls for breakfast, but now I just simply ignore them. I must admit that I sometimes engage in a tamer version of ad hominem attacks, though I am always careful not to launch it directly at a named person, but only at a cohort or category of persons. It is just too

easy to get lost in this divided, polarized and toxic environment of name-calling.

It is precisely because of this that we must commend the enormous arsenal of civility of the Marcoses, as an epitome of restraint in an otherwise blighted discursive landscape.

As a family that has been severely demonized in social media memes, rally placards, history textbooks including those written by journos pretending to be historians, classroom lectures, speeches, training workshops for history teachers, creative works and artistic performances, and even homilies of priests during masses, the Marcoses provide us a powerful lesson on civility in political discourse.

The Marcos political dynasty, from President Ferdinand Marcos, to his wife Rep. Imelda Marcos, to their more politically engaged children, former senator Bongbong Marcos and Gov. Imee Marcos, is a shining example of civility in political discourse. The third child, Irene-Marcos Araneta, has always been a model of dignity in silence.

I have personally interacted

with and heard Bongbong and Imee during moments that they articulate their views, in prepared speeches and in informal conversations. What they offer is not hate, not rancor, not bitterness, but the ability to be civil even to people who are their most vicious critics.

Imee Marcos is always restrained in talking about their political enemies, and has not launched a vitriolic counter-offensive even against Rep. Rudy Fariñas. In my personal conversation with her, she never said any demeaning word against their political enemies and critics. In the election controversy surrounding the 2016 vice-presidential elections, there is no single instance that Bongbong Marcos has directly accused Vice President Leni Robredo of being a cheat and a fraud.

In saying these, I am not even exculpating the Marcoses for their alleged crimes against the people. This is something that the courts will have to settle, and for history to eventually decide.

I am simply stating what is evident and cannot be distorted even by their worst critics. (ManilaTimes.net)

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A

Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte not backing down from drug war despite criticisms over teenagers’ slay

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PHIlIPPInE President Rodrigo Duterte maintained that the government’s crackdown on drugs will continue despite heavy criticism against it in connection with the recent killing of teenagers.

Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs came under fire following the deaths of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos and 19-yearold Carl Arnaiz, who were both killed by Caloocan City police in separate incidents of alleged shootouts last month.

In a speech in Davao City, the president insisted that the campaign is targeting organized crime and not “teenagers without a sin.” “let me be very clear on this.

When I was campaigning, I said that I would kill anybody who would destroy my country and would kill you if you kill the youth of the land. I am referring not to teenagers without a sin. I’m referring to organized crime,” he said on Saturday, September 16.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential election in a landslide victory, and the crackdown on narcotics was among his campaign promises.

But despite condemnation from both local and international groups over alleged human rights violations and summary killings, the president maintained that there would be “no letup” and “no compromise” in the government’s effort to free the country

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang photo

from illegal drugs.

“I will fulfill my promises to the Filipinos. Just because there are some people who died there, and even teenagers, it doesn’t mean to say you have to stop. We cannot stop. Otherwise, I will throw this country to the dogs,” Duterte said.

He added, “Either you accept it as a fact of your life now, today or you will die of exasperation, or you can kill me if you want.

Feel free to do it but I won’t hold back.. I will not be remembered as the President in whose time the Philippines went to the dogs because of drugs. I can’t accept that.”

He also apologized anew for the death of civilians, express-

ing support for national Capital Regional Police Office (nCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde’s order to relieve the around 1,200 members of the Caloocan City police.

Albayalde’s order came following the controversial death of delos Santos and Arnaiz, and a recent incident where police officers caught on a CCTV camera entering and ransacking the house of a civilian without a warrant.

“With regard to the deaths, I’m sorry. But it had to happen. I’m sorry that there are policemen who are deaf and maybe taking shabu or involved in shabu trade because the entire Caloocan police was relieved,” Duterte said.

In a separate statement, Duterte said he will invite the United nations Commission on Human Rights (UnCHR) to monitor police operations for any abuses should Congress end up giving the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a measly P1,000 budget for 2018.

“I will personally through an official channel, invite the Human Rights Commission of the United nations to set up a satellite office here,” he told reporters on Monday, September 18. “lahat ng operation ng pulis, they will embed an investigator, magpasok sila ng kasama sa pulis, wala ako problema diyan (All police operations, they will embed an investigator, they’ll assign someone to go with police, I have no problem with that),” he added. n

ace,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Citing Section 11, Article VI of the Constitution, Fariñas said senators and members of the House have parliamentary immunity.

“A senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while Congress is in session. no member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in Congress or in any committee thereof,” Fariñas told the Metropolitan

Duterte’s martial law...

PAGE A1 Davao City, Higala-ay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City and other events held in the region were concluded peacefully,” Gapay said.

He said troops under Eastmincom had conducted 50,979 checkpoint operations and carried out 36,169 security patrols “to protect areas of convergence, worship areas and other public events.”

Eastmincom has the operational jurisdiction over troops under the Compostela Valleybased 10th Infantry Division and the 4th ID based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Gapay said the troops had succeeded in shielding the region from terrorists while protecting human rights and observing the Manila Development Authority rule of law. on Monday, Sept. 18.

Terror suspects captured Abella, however, stressed that Eastmincom has set up a congressmen are not above traf- multisectoral advisory council, fic rules. drawing representatives from “law is law... and it should be different sectors, to check on blind to all,” Abella said. rights abuses by security forces, Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party- he said. list Rep. Carlos Zarate said that Several terror suspects, inlawmakers should be examples cluding Cayamora Maute, the of following the law. patriarch of the ringleaders beZarate noted that employees hind the Marawi terror attack, and staff of lawmakers and other have been captured by security government officials are also af- forces in the region. fected by the traffic situation in Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Metro Manila. (Patricia Lourdes commander of Joint Task Group Viray/Philstar.com) Sulu, said declaration of martial

Live modestly, Palace tells lawmakers MAnIlA — Members of the House of Representatives are encouraged to live a modest lifestyle without special treatment like President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

This comment was made following the suggestion of House Majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas and other Congress leaders to exempt congressmen whenever they violate minor traffic laws.

“The president himself continues to observe a modest lifestyle and he seeks no special treatment whether inside or outside the Pal-

BELLS RINGING. A bell ringer looks out from the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan on Thursday, September 14, as he rings the bells of the church. Churches in Metro Manila rang their bells last week, marking the beginning of the 40-night ritual to remember the thousands killed in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. The Catholic Church said bells would ring for five minutes at 8 p.m. following the appeal of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle last September 8.

Philstar.com photo

law allowed the military to enhance its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups in the island province.

He said checkpoints were set up in strategic areas, while a curfew was imposed on the entire province.

“We strictly enforce the ID system here. Everyone is required to bring their ID. With these measures, we have arrested a number of Abu Sayyaf and recovered firearms. [The] crime rate also went down, that is according to [the] assessment of the police,” Sobejana said.

Ruth Guerrero, who teaches at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, agrees with the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

Good for business “For me, as far as Mindanao is concerned, it has imposed the message that we are mindful of our security, and that both the military and police are also on their toes to ascertain that the strategies of these radical extremists are quelled or intercepted,” Guerrero said. local officials have also expressed support for the implementation of martial law and its extension up to the end of the year, saying the stable peace and order is good for business.

Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu said his province had “become peaceful [with the

implementation of] martial law because many lawless elements were arrested, including those who have connections with [the] Maute and [the] Abu Sayyaf [groups].”

Davao del norte Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario said the extension of martial law “would allow the government to solve the problem of insurgency and terrorism for good.”

Trade Secretary Ramon lopez said martial rule had not dampened business in the region, citing what he described as the successful holding of the Davao Investment Conference in July, with hundreds of local and foreign traders attending.

While the military maintains it has ensured respect for human rights in conducting its duties, rights groups have accused security forces of committing rampant abuses against civilians.

In Southern Mindanao alone, at least 46 cases of alleged summary killings perpetrated by military agents have been documented since the imposition of martial law, according to Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general.

These political killings, Karapatan said, have victimized peasants, activists and even lumad youth, as in the case of 18-year-old Ata-Manobo Obillo Bay-ao, who was shot dead by suspected progovernment militiamen in Talaingod town, Davao del norte over a week ago. n

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

B

Lower BPO revenue poses risk to growth

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

DECLINING growth revenue in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector could drag down the country’s economic growth over the next two years, according to Credit Suisse.

Michael Wan, economist at Credit Suisse, said the decelerating revenue growth could subtract up to 0.3 percentage point from the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) next year.

Wan said the BPO slowdown would have a negative impact on the GDP, current account and the peso.

This prompted Wan to slash the country’s GDP growth forecast to 5.9 percent from the original target of 6.2 percent next year.

He added the slowdown also puts at risk the bank’s 6.1 percent GDP growth forecast for this year.

“Lower BPO exports would cut the current account cumulatively over the next two years equal to 0.2 to 0.4 percentage points of GDP, with negative consequences for the peso,”

Wan said.

Credit Suisse said the country’s BPO industry is facing a combination of cyclical and structural headwinds.

It pointed out political issues related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s economic nationalism, concerns over extra judicial killings under the Duterte administration, delays in the issuance of ecozone permits, and personal security worries are already weighing down on BPO investments by the U.S. and European companies.

The investment bank said the worsening shortage of skilled workers, proposed cuts to tax incentives, rapidly rising wages, and automation pose risks to competitiveness, revenue growth, and staffing needs.

Based on the type of work done in the country, Credit Suisse said that from 50 to 55 per-

u PAGE B3

Culinary tours to boost tourism by catherine

taLavera Philstar.com

THE Philippines needs to create tour packages centered on culinary tourism in order to further promote the sector, a tourism official said.

In a statement, Department of Tourism (DOT) director and MFM project director Verna Buensuceso said there is a need to come up with tour packages for the country’s culinary tourism sector as it is set to hold another edition of the Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM) in 2018.

Last Friday, September 15, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, along with DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon

Jr., signed the agreement for the MFM 2018 with Lourdes Plana of Foro de Debate, Iñigo Iribarnegaray of Vocento, organizers of the event.

The MFM is the first and only Asian edition of Madrid Fusión, the most important gastronomy event in the world, celebrated annually in Madrid, Spain since 2003.

With the event slated to run on its fourth year in 2018, Buensuceso emphasized that the previous editions of the MFM focused on establishing the Philippines as a center of gastronomy.

Foreign travel and tour operators met with Filipino counterparts during the Culinary Tourism Travel Exchange, an added feature of MFM 2017, to discuss collaborations and partnerships on culinary tour programs.

“We want to have more buyers and tour operators abroad coming for the promotion of Philippine culinary and farm tourism next year,” Buensuceso explained. n

Diversification needed for stronger peso – DoF’s Beltran

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines needs to limit its reliance on remittances and outsourcing revenues to prevent the peso from depreciating too much whenever uncertainties arise abroad, the Finance department said.

In an economic bulletin, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said the peso — again back in P51 per dollar territory — was among the Asian currencies that had strengthened prior to the 2008 financial crisis.

The currencies of 12 Asian economies had appreciated by 9.3 percent from December 2000 to December 2007, Beltran said, citing data from Bloomberg and Asian Development Bank.

The Korean won gained the most, by 26 percent, followed by the Thai baht (22.1 percent), Singapore dollar (16.9 percent), the peso (16.8 percent), the Indian rupee (15.7 percent) and the Malaysian ringgit (12.9 percent).

This was halted by the crisis and Beltran noted that nine years after, Asian currencies had depreciated by 14.6 percent.

With the Singapore dollar and the baht being the exception, he pointed out that rupee had fallen by 62.1 percent; the rupiah, 35.4 percent; Malaysian dollar, 27.2 percent; the peso 21.9 percent; and the won, 20.7 percent.

“Currency movements in Asia are a complex product of external and internal economic factors. But in the case of movements from 2008 to 2017, these are mostly accounted for by external factors, mainly the Fed QE (quantitative easing) policy,”

Beltran said.

He said that said regression results showed that the US Federal Reserve policy actions were mostly to blame for currency movements from 2008 to 2013, with inflation accounting for less than 10 percent.

Compared to other Asian currencies, the Hong Kong dollar depreciated by just 0.1 percent from 2007 to September 2017.

The Taiwan dollar, meanwhile, appreciated by 7.4 percent over the same period.

Beltran noted that Taiwan and Hong Kong had benefited from economic diversification, which limited the influence of external factors.

“This is what the Philippine economy aims to achieve in the medium term,” he said.

Remittances and business process outsourcing receipts account for inflows of around $50 billion annually, boosting the Philippines’ external payments position.

Last year’s $26 billion in remittances alone accounted for 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Economic managers have downplayed the impact of a weaker peso and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has said the government would not intervene in the foreign exchange market. n

PH foreign debt down to $72.5B as of end-June Source: BSP

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo

ManilaTimes.net

THE country’s foreign debt stock fell to $72.5 billion in the second quarter of 2017, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday, September 15, down $5.2 billion from a year earlier.

Compared to the previous quarter, outstanding external debt was $1.3 billion less, largely due to $1.2 billion in net repayments – mostly by the private sector – and a $110-

million increase in residents’ investments in Philippine debt papers issued offshore.

The year-on-year drop, meanwhile, was traced net principal repayments totaling $2.7 billion, audit adjustments for previous periods that amounted to a negative $1.4 billion due to late reporting, and negative foreign exchange revaluation adjustments worth $1.2 billion arising from the strengthening of the US dollar.

Key indicators Key external debt indicators remained at

comfortable levels during the second quarter of 2017, the Bangko Sentral said, noting that the country’s gross international reserves stood at $81.3 billion as of endJune, enough for 5.6 times short-term (ST) debt under the original maturity concept.

The external debt ratio—or the total outstanding debt expressed as a percentage of the annual aggregate output—stood at 19.5 percent, improving from 21.7 percent a year earlier.

u PAGE B3

B SEPTEMBER 20-22 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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US firms mull expansion, relocation PH-US trade unhurt by Duterte outbursts of manufacturing to Philippines

by Charissa

Mae neMis ManilaTimes.net

TRADE relations between the Philippines and the United States remain healthy despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s outbursts against Washington, economists told The Manila Times.

“If the foreign relations are leaning towards China—away from the U.S.—in trade, I don’t think that’s happening,” said Ramon Clarete, a University of the Philippines professor specializing in multilateral trade policy and international economics During a visit to Beijing in October last year, Duterte announced the Philippines’ “realignment” with China, and a “separation” from the United States.

The announcement, coupled with tirades against criticisms of Duterte’s war on drugs, raised concerns that it would cost the Philippines a major trading partner.

But after U.S. President Bar-

Why do you need to file your past due return?

What’s New File photo: Philstar.com

by Catherine

talavera

Philstar.com

Several U.S.-based companies are looking to relocate and expand their manufacturing facilities in the country as the trade department continues to strengthen business collaboration with investors and multinational corporations.

In a statement, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said they recently had a roundtable meeting with members of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) to discuss potential relocation and expansion in the Philippines.

Lopez encouraged AAFA member companies to take advantage of the extended duty-free treatment to imports of travel goods (including luggage, handbags, backpacks, tote bags) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

Among the AAFA member companies are Tellas Ltd. (formerly Luenthai USA), Under Armour Inc., Michael Kors (USA) Inc., Ralph Lauren Corp., Coach

Inc. and the Ascena Retail Group Inc. (makers of Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant, Dressbarn and Catherines).

According to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York, AAFA members and the brands they carry have increased their presence in the Philippines due to the huge domestic market, rapid economic growth and expanding middle class.

“Secretary Lopez also met with the officials of a research-centric organization, the U.S.-Philippines Society, for a collaborative project to streamline the country’s revenue-generating operations, to respond to internal and external security concerns, and to mitigate the impact of global warming on vulnerable sectors,“ the DTI said.

Meanwhile, the trade chief also met with Shearwater chief finance officer and chief operating officer Tom Kendrot, who confirmed the company’s expansion in the Philippines, particularly with its third operation center in the country.

Shearwater is a U.S. clinical

solutions provider, which has clinical process outsourcing operations in Taguig City and Cebu City.

Its latest operation center is set to open in Iloilo City in 2018.

“Such expansion is expected to bring in $7 million worth of investments and increase the company’s labor footprint in the country to 3,000,” the trade department said.

Lopez was recently in New York to spearhead the Philippine Investment Forum.

The trade chief highlighted the sound macroeconomic fundamentals of the country, as it aims a seven percent to eight percent economic growth annually and reduce the poverty rate from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022.

Moreover, Lopez also shared the government’s focus on infrastructure development with $160 billion worth of projects to directly address investors’ concerns on power supply, affordable telecommunications and efficient transport of goods and services. n

rack Obama stepped down and Donald Trump took over as the elected head of state, relations between the Philippines and U.S. have somewhat improved as Duterte displayed more affable view of Trump, Clarete said.

Emmanuel Lopez, who heads the University of Sto. Tomas’ economics department, agreed, saying: “[Duterte and Trump], more or less, agree on certain President Rodrigo Duterte things.”

Data from the Philippine Sta- U.S, down 5.46 percent from tistics Authority showed that the $4.19 billion.

U.S. increased imports from the The U.S. accounted for 10.9 Philippines by 4.65 percent to percent of total trade in January $5.38 billion in the first half of to June, a 0.9-percentage point the year, from $5.14 billion in decline from the 11.8 percent in the same period last year. The same period last year and making Philippines, on the other hand, it the Philippine’s second largest imported $3.97 billion from the export market. n

Arlene Al-os, CPA, MBA FILE your past due returns even if you cannot pay in full your . And file the returns the same way you file if you file on-time.

Let me tell you why you should file your past due returns now?

• Substitute return. If you do not file voluntarily the IRS will file a substitute return for you and you could lose credits, exemptions, and deductions available to you. You will receive in the mail Notice of Deficiency CP3219N, a 90-day letter, proposing a tax assessment.

• Collection. The IRS can send you a tax bill to start the collection process. And may levy wages, bank account, worst you could be subject to enforcement measures like criminal prosecution.

• Penalties and interest. If you file your past due returns now and pay taxes owed it will limit your interest and penalties from late payment.

• You don’t file you lose your refund. You need to file your return within three years from due date to claim for refund, earned income credit, overpayment from estimated taxes and overpayment from income tax withholdings or you lose it.

• Social Security Benefits. Nonfiling your return would mean any self-employment income you earned will not be reported to the Social Security Benefits Administration and therefore no credits toward your disability benefits and social security retirement.

• Issues in Obtaining Loans.

Banks and mortgage lenders require that you submit copies of income tax returns when you want to refinance your home, buy a new property, personal or business loans, and apply for federal aid for higher education.

• You owe taxes and cannot pay in full. You learned or you know you have taxes owed you cannot pay in full. Request for installment agreement or if you qualify request for offer in com-

promise. Call 1-800-829-1040 if you need assistance to utilize the IRS online payment agreement tool. If none works and you are stressed, seek assistance from your tax professional.

Complete Form 4506-T to request for transcript of tax returns if filing your past due returns and you need wage and income information for the preparation of the returns. And call 1-800-829-1040 or 1-800-829-4059 for filing help or seek help from your tax processional. *** 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.

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Seniors need relief from big HELOC 2nd trust deed and $40K credit cards Senior loses job, needs chapter 7 debt relief

THE clients are 63 and 64.

They are young seniors. Up to 65, you are a young senior in my book.

You can get senior discounts at Golden Corral for a satisfying buffet. Last time I went there, half of the patrons looked like they were over 65. A lot of them looked like they were pushing 75.

I know the manager there, Terry.

I’ve known him for 30 years. He was the manager at Home Buffet before it closed. That guy is probably the best restaurant manager in LA because his idea of service comes from the heart. In addition, I get free dinners if you bring this article with you! Younger or older, bring the whole family with you to the Golden Corral at the City of Industry. You won’t regret it. Price is cheap and they have a great selection of all kinds of meat.

Let’s get back to our young seniors.

They own a house that’s currently worth $500,000.

All their children have grown up and they are now empty nesters like a lot of us baby boomers.

They owe a first mortgage with a balance of $165,000.

They also owe a HELOC second mortgage with a balance of $200,000. Yes, the second is bigger than the first. They’ve been reading about getting rid of the second mortgage since five years ago.

Unfortunately, it’s now too late to get rid of the second mortgage in Chapter 13 because there is equity supporting the second.

Sorry, you can’t avoid the second lien. Maybe five years ago, it was still possible, but now with house values reaching the sky, it’s not possible to strip the junior lien.

I did a lien strip last month for a client who lived in Rialto. His house was appraised at $258,000 whereas the balance of his first was $264,000. He had a second of $77,000. We were able to strip the second mortgage of $77,000 in Riverside bankruptcy court, just barely. Citibank called me three days before the hearing date and informed me that they would stipulate to a judgment granting the motion. So that’s done but this client practically won the lottery on this issue.

But for most cases now, there is some equity supporting the

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwrenCe yAng

second mortgage, so it cannot be stripped just like the case of my young senior clients. The husband had a major stroke two years ago but recovered almost completely with no slurred speech, and he walks normally except for a slight limp. He can still drive but can’t work anymore. So the household income has gone down so it’s now hard for them to pay the second which is still on interest only, once it becomes interest and principal at the start of the new year. A lot of people who got an interest-only mortgage are destabilized when

day with all the other seniors living there. They have children who have invited them to live with them, but they don’t want to burden their children with caring for them. Husband jokingly says that if they can’t sell the house, he will just hang himself. I said that he doesn’t have to do that, just go sell the house first, and then let’s dissolve the $40,000 of credit cards after the sale of the house. He says he needs to go to the bathroom.

The second client is 68, married, and he has just lost his job.

He says Trump eliminated his job. I thought the president was a job creator? He says he can’t pay for the new car that he just bought and about $15,000 of credit cards. I said just return the car and the voluntary return deficiency of about $10,000 and the $15,000 of credit cards will be wiped out with Chapter 7. He is much relieved so he says he has to take a month vacation first abroad with his wife. I said sure go ahead, and let’s file your case when you get back to LA. He said just the minimum payments on the $15,000 of credit cards is about $500 a month. He said he’s paid it for the last 20 years, just the minimum. So, he has paid $120,000 to keep $15,000 of credit cards current for the last 20 years. Was that a smart thing to do? I don’t think so. I think when you are 68 you would rather have $120,000 of cash invested in a portfolio giving you $1,000 a month of extra income in addition to social security rather than owing the same $15,000 of credit cards that should have disappeared a long time ago when you were a lot younger.

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

“YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART” – JEREMIAH 29:13

“When it rains, it pours just like Irma in Florida.

Everything gets damaged.” the payment converts to interest and principal. In this case, for interest only, they only pay $550.

But with interest and principal, they have to pay $1,600. When it rains, it pours just like Irma in Florida. Everything gets destroyed.

The husband also owes $40,000 of credit cards. That’s another problem. Step one is trying to refinance the second with a fixed 30-year loan, maybe interest and principal will just be about $1,000 a month; still a lot less than $1,600. If no one will give them a 30 year fixed to refinance the second, then take step two: Sell the house and get their net cash of $160K. At least, they will have some cash, which they can invest. If they invest $160,000 with Bernie Madoff, he can print them returns of 20 percent or $32,000 a year; too bad, Bernie’s already in jail. They can probably get a decent return of 6 percent or $9,600 a year. That’s not bad. $800 a month of income will certainly help pay for the senior housing they can move into.

Senior housing, I understand is about $1,000 a month for rent and you get to play the whole

*** 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.

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

Business news

Consequences of failing to disclose materials assets, income, facts and information in a divorce case THERE is a natural tendency among divorcing parties to hide their assets from their spouse and understate income. This is a common problem that I have observed from practicing law for many years. A common question I hear from clients is “my spouse doesn’t know I have an account in this bank, do I have to let him/ her know of this account?”

Parties to a divorce proceeding have a duty to disclose financial information to each other. This duty arose based on California’s policy (1) to marshal, preserve, and protect community and quasi-community assets and liabilities that exist at the date of separation so as to avoid dissipation of the community estate before distribution, (2) to ensure fair and sufficient child and spousal support awards, and (3) to achieve a division of community and quasi-community assets and liabilities on the dissolution or nullity of marriage or legal separation of the parties as provided under California law. To promote the above public policy, the family code requires a full and accurate disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which the parties have or may have an interest be made in a divorce or a legal separation, regardless of the alleged characterization of the property as either community or separate.

Parties are also required to disclose all income and expenses of the parties.

The parties also have a continuing duty to update and augment that disclosure to the extent that there has been a material change to their financial position. The purpose of the duty to augment and update the disclosures is so that at the time the parties enter into a settlement agreement, stipulated divorce judgment, or trial, each party will do so with full and complete knowledge of all relevant underlying facts of the case.

The disclosures are made by the parties by serving each other with a preliminary declaration of disclosure and a final declaration of disclosure. The preliminary declaration of disclosure should

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes be served within 60 days of serving the divorce, separation, or nullity petition. The commission of perjury on the preliminary declaration of disclosure may be grounds for setting aside the judgment in addition to other remedies available under the law. The preliminary declaration of disclosure is not filed with the court but only exchanged by each party. The preliminary declaration of disclosure shall set forth 1) the identity of all assets and liabilities which the declarant may

obligations that are contended to be community obligations or for which it is contended the community has liability.(4) All material facts and information regarding the earnings, accumulations, and expenses of each party that have been set forth in the income and expense declaration. The parties may agree to mutually waive the final declaration of disclosure requirement but not the preliminary declaration of disclosure.

A party who fails to comply with the disclosure requirements under the family code may be held in breach of the party’s fiduciary obligation to the other spouse under family code section 721, 1100, and Marriage of Feldman. The party that failed to disclose material assets, income, facts, and information may be sanctioned by the court by awarding attorney’s fees and sanctions to the other spouse under family code section 271. When hiring an attorney to represent you in a high asset divorce case with complex property issues, it is important to hire an attorney that understands the disclosure obligation under the family code. *** 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) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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“Parties to a divorce proceeding have a duty to disclose financial information to each other.”

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Continued from last week...)

TRUST your own instincts.

Your own personal experience will color the lens with which you view and relate with your personal guardian angel. God so loved the world, He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may gain eternal life — not unlike His angels.

Then He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and enlighten us. But on the micro, day-by-day level, God sent us our personal guardian angels from conception, birth, throughout our life and our passage from death to eternal life as a constant presence.

Come to think of it, every time an unborn life is cut down, the murder deprives an angel of his purpose. There must be some cosmic angst and turmoil in the heavens. There must be anguish and pain, a disturbance, not only on earth but also in the celes-

have an interest regardless of the characterization of community, quasi-community, or separate property; 2)The declarant’s percentage in the asset or liability; 3) the declarant’s characterization of the asset or liability. In addition, the declarant shall also provide the other party with a completed income and expense declaration. The declarations may be amended without permission from the court.

The parties shall serve each other with a final declaration of disclosure at the time the parties enter into a settlement agreement, stipulated divorce judgment, or if the case goes to trial, at least 45 days prior to the first assigned trial date. The final declaration of disclosure shall include (1) All material facts and information regarding the characterization of all assets and liabilities(2) All material facts and information regarding the valuation of all assets that are contended to be community property or in which it is contended the community has an interest. (3) All material facts and information regarding the amounts of all

Angels among us

“I think we all do have a guardian angel. I believe they work through us all the time, when we are thoughtful and good and kind to each other.” — Roma Downey (3rd of 4 parts) tial realm. Some say God created so many angels, one cannot count the number of angels that can stand on the head of a pin.

But there is a caveat to this gift from the Almighty. One must accept the gift and use the gift of the presence of angels in one’s life for good and only good. One must be humble of heart to know that by ourselves we can do nothing of real value to ourselves or our loved ones and ultimately find God in our lives without asking in earnest for help from the spiritual, unseen realm of angels.

Yes, the key is to ask for help for one to receive it.

Also, one must never take the gift of a personal guardian angel for granted.

An angel is an invisible presence that must be acknowledged

to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free will in humans.

You can acknowledge the presence of angels or deny it.

It is your choice ultimately. The more angels are acknowledged and become a conduit to heaven, they become a hovering, guiding reality in one’s life growing ever stronger in their influence to shape every thought, word and deed in one’s life.

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

Lower BPO revenue poses risk...

PAGE B1 t

cent of the local BPO workforce can be automated.

The bank expects a slower growth of 3.7 percent in full-time employment in the industry between 2017 and 2022 from the 12.4 percent compounded annual growth rate recorded over the past five years.

“Since automation will reduce

the labor component of the total costs, it also could reduce incentives for offshoring to low labor cost economies like the Philippines,” it said.

Credit Suisse said the BPO sector is entering a period of slower growth with a rapid decline in absorption of new workers.

It said the total office demand from information technology/

business processing management companies would contract to 1.46 million square meters in gross leasable area between 2017 and 2022 compared to the 2016 base.

Credit Suisse said the declining growth in the revenue of the business process outsourcing(BPO) sector could drag down the economic growth of the Philippines over the next two years.

PH foreign debtdown to...

PAGE B1 t “The same trend was observed using GDP (gross domestic product) as denominator, with the Philippine economy growing by 6.5 percent in the second quarter of 2017,” the Bangko Sentral said.

The country’s debt service ratio (DSR) also improved to 6.6 percent from 7.5 percent. It also decreased from 8.8 percent as of end-March and was well below the international benchmark range of 20 percent to 25 percent.

The debt service ratio is a measure of the country’s adequacy to meet its obligations, based on foreign exchange earnings, by

relating principal and interest payments to merchandise exports and receipts from services and primary income.

About 79.9 percent of the Philippines’ external debt is medium to long-term in nature with maturities of more than one year. This means that foreign exchange requirements for debt payments are well spread out and more manageable, the central bank said.

Gov’t debt vs private debt Of the $72.5-billion in foreign debt as of the second quarter, 51.7 percent or $37.5 billion, was owed by the public sector.

The remainder was contracted by banks and companies.

Loans from multilateral and bilateral creditors, and foreign banks and other financial institutions comprised the largest shares of total outstanding debt at 32.7 percent each.

Borrowings in the form of bonds/notes held by non-residents accounted for 28.1 percent, while the rest was mostly owed to foreign suppliers/ exporters.

By currency, 62.8 percent of the foreign debt was US dollardenominated, 12.8 percent was in Japanese yen, 13.9 percent in multi-currency loans the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and 10.5 percent were obligations in 17 other currencies.

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 20-22, 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.

SEPTEMBER 17

Bayanihan Community Service Fair at Saint Aedans Church (800 Bergen Ave., Jersey City) from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Migrante New Jersey in partnership with Saint Aedans and partner organizations will be providing free and safe services to our immigrant community such as health screenings (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, etc.), immigration and legal consultation and know your rights workshop.

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.

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

B SEPTEMBER 20-22 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

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

People and Events September is National Preparedness Month Public encouraged to sign-up for emergency alert system

BURBANK – Since its inception in 2004, September has been recognized as National Preparedness Month. Originally sponsored by FEMA to increase public education about preparedness following the tragedies of 9-11, National Preparedness Month has become a platform to recognize and spotlight the “Ready” campaign. Ready Burbank is the official preparedness program of the City of Burbank and preparedness information can be found at www.ReadyBurbank.org.

Burbank residents and workers are highly encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the Burbank Emergency Alert System. In the event of

EMPLOYMENT

an emergency, enrollees will receive time sensitive information designed to keep them safe via email, phone and/or text.

“We only use this when necessary,” said Eric Baumgardner, the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator. “Someone signing-up for this type of system isn’t going to get bombarded with emails, or texts. We’re very conscious of them opting in for their security and public safety.”

For more information, and to sign up for the Burbank Emergency Alert System, please visit: www.

ReadyBurbank.org. n

EMPLOYMENT

Remigio Abulencia Natividad September 8, 1935 - September 8, 2017

Born Sept. 8, 1935, in Baliwag, Bulacan, Philippines, passed away Sept. 8, 2017 at the age of 82 in Los Angeles. He will be remembered as a talented builder, a gifted dancer, an understanding and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Avelina, his son Remy, his daughter Ruby, his grandchildren, Vanessa, Roman and Nicole, and his great-grandchildren, Angelo, Avelina, and Cain. An all-day viewing will be held on Thursday, September 21 at Forest Lawn Glendale with the funeral on the following day at 10 am at Holy Trinity Church in Atwater Village.

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FOR RENT

B SEPTEMBER 20-22 2017 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Adobo Festival sails to Los Angeles on its 12th year

“WE still can’t believe we’ve already gone this far” said producer Joey Camins when asked about his Adobo Festival. Once again, the most soughtafter Filipino dish, the ADOBO, is coming your way.

J. S. Camins Productions in is whipping-up a feast for your senses. The 12th Annual ADOBO FESTIVAL is coming up on October 7 & 8, 2017 at Silver Lake Medical Center in 1711 W Temple St. in Los Angeles. The festival start from 10am to 6pm, and admission is FREE! The past eleven years of the Adobo Festival, we witnessed the crowd’s enthusiastic reception to the sight and sound treats of the festivities. It is the only Filipino Festival that goes around Northern and Southern California. Its main purpose is to celebrate Filipino Food and Music and Culture.

Creating solidarity among Filipinos in the US, the festival has reached as far as Daly City, Newark, San Jose, Stockton, Sacramento and Martinez, Vallejo, Milpitas, Carson, etc.

A line-up of activities has been meticulously planned so as to give you another awesome experience and complete satisfaction.

Food is central to the festivities. One of its offers is the ADOBO dish, which has moved well beyond the bounds of its regional status. Be a part and experience the fun and excitement in savoring this vibrant culinary commodity at the on the spot Adobo Cook-Off Contest.

Expect the heat soaring up high. Not to forget is the Kiddie Pop Star Contest (open for ages 4-10) for all our lovable tykes showcasing their singing prowess.

Non-stop live entertainment from our local bands and talents will liven up the festivities.

Also, we can’t forget, there would be lots of games and freebies. Numerous booths with exciting products to giveaway and an array of mouthwatering foods await one and all. Get a chance to win a round trip ticket to the Philippines.

And as a tradition, Joey Camins, the producer of Adobo Festival will showcase the customized Vinta he shipped from the Philippines to the Bay Area so that everyone can actually see what a real Vinta looks like. A Vinta is a vessel of ancient heritage closely associated with the people of Western Mindanao. It was used for travelling from one island to another. It’s sail is vivid which represents the colorful history of the province. Every year on October 10 during the Fiesta del Seniora Virgen del Pilar the Patron Saint of the City. The Local Government sponsors the “Regatta de Zamboanga”. It is a Vinta sailing contest where different Vintas sail to the sea, whoever is the fastest and finishes the race., wins. What is special about this unique Vinta you are going to see in the festival is that this is the original Vinta that won on the Regatta contest on 2014. So this Vinta is not just an ordinary one, it also has full of history.

Joey chose this as a symbol of his festival because first, of course, it came from his province.

Second, it mostly represents the festival because Adobo Festival used to sail to different cities in the past eleven years it exists.

For some of you who didn’t know, Adobo Festival started in Daly City, then we went to Newark, San Jose, Vallejo, Union City, Martinez, Sacramento, Stockton and just last year, we sailed to Carson California and will be back in Los Angeles on September 8 & 9 this year. We always go where the Filipinos are, which is all over the bay.

This festival, on its 12th Year, is definitely going to be bigger and better. So, to all folks out there working extra hard, this is the time to perk-up your senses.

Let’s all welcome the 12th Annual Adobo Festival. Truly Filipino!

For details regarding how to join the Adobo Cook-Off Contest, Kiddie Popstar and for booth vendors, call us at 650.290.0542 or 650.290.4457 or log on to www.adobofestivalusa.com. n

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

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 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 crosswalks 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. n

Trash your toxics at EDCO in Signal Hill EDCO has just made it twice as easy for residents to dispose of their hazardous and e-waste items. Now, every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Lakewood residents can take their hazardous and e-waste to EDCO’s large transfer facility at 2755 California Avenue (between Spring Street and Willow Street) in Signal Hill. The facility is just a few miles from the Lakewood Civic Center. The next free event is on Saturday, September 23.

Check out the video to see how quick and easy it is to drop off household toxics like paints, insecticides, chemicals, e-waste, sharps and used cooking and motor oil.

Along with being a free op-

tion for hazardous and e-waste, the 68,000-sqare-foot facility is a traditional dump transfer station and, for a fee, takes large and oversized amounts of brick, used

lumber and other material that can’t be put in residential trash carts, recycling carts or green waste cans. The facility can be phoned at (562) 997-1122. n

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

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2017

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

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Cover illustration by Jillian Peñalosa/aJPress

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cover story

How ‘green’ is your car?

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 20, 2017

Car Care 101

by IrIs

VIcente /AJPress

JuSt like people who need to go to see their doctors for regular check ups, the same thing goes for cars that require basic routine care.

However, many car owners think that just because their vehicle is new, they don’t need to bring it for its regular tune up yet. that mentality is wrong.

You paid a lot of money for your car and you want to get your money’s worth by keeping it in good running condition for as long as you can. But just like any kind of property, you have to take care of it because it is not immune to harsh environmental elements. Whether you own a brand new luxury car or a second-hand one, the secret to its longevity is maintenance.

Here are some essential tips on how to take care of your car: Regular oil change Regularly check fluids.

Nothing will destroy an engine faster than neglecting oil-level checks or fresh oil changes. Oil

is the lifeblood that keeps key engine components in good working condition by reducing friction and wear.

Change your oil about every three months, or check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals. It’s also important to invest in good quality fluids that goes with the type of vehicle you have.

Check brakes Listen to your car. Observe if there are any high-pitched squeals or harsh grinding sounds. It’s important to be mindful of these things because something might be wrong, especially with the most vital function of your car: its ability to stop. Have your brakes checked annually and especially if there are delayed responses when pushing your brake pedal.

Maintain tire pressure Having the right amount of pressure in your tires can prevent poor mileage, blowouts or uneven wear. Because

You must beathe clean and fresh air in your car.

Inquirer.net photos

by JennIfer sorIano / AJPress

tHe united States environmental Protection Agency (ePA) describes “green vehicles” as more efficient and less polluting compared to standard vehicles. these vehicles have lesser emissions and help save fuel, which, in return, help save the environment and your money.

In the u.S., vehicles that burn gasoline and diesel fuel are still the main form of transportation for most people, according to the ePA. this is in spite of the fact that “green” cars are available in the market. Now, for those who already own a car or two, can you tell how green your car is?

Here are factors to consider: Greenhouse gas emissions Fuel-powered cars produce mainly carbon dioxide on top of nitrous oxide and methane gas. these are all harmful gases that cause the deterioration of both the environment and our health due to pollution.

Curious about your car’s emission? You can look up for a particular car model’s carbon dioxide emission atwww.fueleconomy.gov. this site is maintained by the ePA and Department of energy. the ePA also gives recognition to cars with low emissions and high fuel economy that has gained good remarks in the Air Pollution and Greenhouse scoring categories. You can also look at the ePA’s handy Green Vehicle Guide for emission statistics, and vehicles that have earned ePA’s “SmartWay” and for a more exclusive recognition, the “SmartWay elite.”

Fuel economy the fuel economy of an automobile is the relationship between the distance traveled and the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle. the union of Concerned Scientists explained that, “For every gallon of gasoline that is consumed, approximately 24 pounds of global warming pollution are released into the air. Drilling, refining, and distributing gasoline account for about five pounds of global warming pollution per gallon of gasoline, and burning gasoline during vehicle operation produces another 19 pounds of global warming pollution per gallon.”

Just like you, your car needs basic routine care. to simply put it, the better the miles per gallon (MPG), the car’s engine. a change in temperature can lesser impact it has on the environment. the websitewww.fuConsider safety features dramatically impact tire preseleconomy.gov is a good source for mileage information on cars Familiarize yourself with sure, it is essential to check tire and trucks. you car’s safety features pressure with extreme weather Green manufacturing things like tail and brake changes, or to be on the safe Apart from sustainability and innovation that focuses on a car’s lights, seat belts, airbags, and side, every couple months.. efficiency, manufacturers are also including green manufacturing anti-lock brakes are just some Choose a good air freshinitiatives. In the quest to go lean, clean and green, some manufacof the most important features turers have embraced a plant-wide waste reduction initiative, where ener You must breathe clean and that you need to familiarize cars are made with minimal amount of waste, if not totally zero. fresh air in your car. In choosing with and regularly check in your there are manufacturers who are reusing and recycling auto parts. car. Safety features should be an air freshener, avoid those the good news is that they are saving themselves a good amount the first thing in consideration that are oil-based as it later of money while saving the environment. and should not be overlooked on clogs your air filters which Sharon Basel, a sustainability spokeswoman at General Moprevents airborne contaminants as this carries you and your tors, said in an interview with the New York times that, “Reducing family’s lives. from being pulled into your waste, not creating it in the first place, is the desired end game. I’d actually like to see our revenue from recycling go down. Reducing the waste streams that are created is a neverending cycle.”

Read about the brand and model of your car and see if the company strikes a good balance between business and environmental needs.

Car brand Manufacturers know that consumers are intelligent and can distinguish which offer genuine green efforts that produce actual results. Different car brands have their own way of being environmental-friendly. Some companies put out an annual environmental report, while others have been making headway with efforts to reduce the transport cost of its cars.

Others offer dealerships with a guarantee on end-of-life vehicles to ensure that these are properly disposed of, while others recycle industrial water, install solar panels at all their plants. these are some of the initiatives that the car manufacturers have Before deciding between a new or used car, you must consider your needs, budget and appetite for developed. In the near future, there will be more green initiatives risk.

Inquirer.net photo through constant research and development.

What were mentioned above are some external factors that even though the interest is a bit financing rates on new cars contribute to a vehicle’s “green-ness.” While these contribute to higher. because they cost more and the “green” factor of the car, it does not end there. the effort to Anticipate potential have not yet hit depreciation. “greening” your car extends to you as a driver/owner. Whether problems. You can have preBut keep in mind, lower interest dicted reliable information avail- your car passed the factors mentioned above, it pays to keep up on rate still applies to larger sum or able to compare cars, unlike new its maintenance with regular air filter and oil changes to boost your payment. If you plan to finance, car’s MPG significantly. models that are out for just a check your deals first before there are other ways to amp up your car to become environcouple of years. By checking the buying. research and rankings of the car ment-friendly. Between finding the right green vehicle, owning one Advantages of a used car you are considering, you’ll know and using your it responsibly, you can surely help minimize your Lower price and the potential problems and how car’s environmental impact. depreciation. Cars lose value to avoid them. each passing month and mile.

When deciding to buy a new Some models, according to Car or second hand car, you have to and Driver, can lose up to 40 arm yourself with information to percent or more of their value get you the best deals and secure in the first year. When the costly your money now and down the depreciation hits, the first owner road. It is also wise to always will be the one likely to absorb it. check the ranking of new cars A used car is less expensive stacking up with their peers, and and by that, it can allow you compare used vehicle rankings in to step up to a nicer model. different years against each other.

Purchasing used cars will also You can also use some online save you from sales taxes and car payment and affordability insurance premiums since the value of the vehicle will be lower. calculator to plan your car buyIn the U.S., vehicles that burn gasoline and diesel fuel are still the main form of transportation for ing budget on trusted sites.

You’ll have save money more most people, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Inquirer.net photo

New vs used: Which one is right for you? by

Elijah RodERos / AJPress

WHeN you finally get the chance to buy or replace your current car, a lot of thoughts go through your head. Probably one of the simplest but most important of them all: Should I buy new or used car?

On average, Americans spend more than $33,500 on new vehicles, as stated by the Kelley Blue Book in 2015.

Meanwhile, in an article by the New York Daily News, J.D. Power said that a 2015 report showed that a standard used vehicle just costs over an average of $20,000.

You have to take into consideration your wants, needs, budget and appetite for risk. We have listed the advantages of both choosing a new and used car to help you decide which taste will fit you the best..

Advantages of new cars Latest gizmos and advanced safety features. One of the many and given benefits of buying a new vehicle is you can get your hands on the latest technology, including things like Apple Carplay, and Android Auto. the multimedia and navigation interfaces are updated to cater the needs of its owners.

Vehicle safety laws are stringent more than ever, thus automakers comply by equipping cars with safety systems. tire pressure

monitoring is mandatory in the u.S. since 2012, and so is stability control, too. Other technologies that not mandated are blind-spot monitoring systems, side curtain airbags, adaptive cruise control, and brake assist are also available on less expensive vehicles.

Full efficiency and lower emissions. Fuel costs are the major component of car’s ownership and every new model introduced is becoming more fuel efficient while simultaneously getting more powerful. there are also new crops of diesel vehicles that are cleaner, and growing hybrid segments, if that’s your choice.

No wear and tear. You’ll know that your new ride comes along with a clean history, has never been in accident, has no wear and tear, and has a lesser chance for any uncorrected recalls. Plus, purchasing a new car comes off with warranty coverage for the first three years or 36,000 miles, or whichever comes first. this will give you predictable cost of ownership without any risk of huge repair bill. You can also have your car made-to-order, or the way you want it. With so many versions to choose from, you’ll likely find a car in a lot, or have your local dealer search for the exact model, option list, trim level, and color you are looking for.

Financing. Banks offer lower

Bang for your buck: Tips for buying a new car by

Elijah RodERos / AJPress

WHetHeR it is your first time or you are replacing an old one, buying a car is a daunting task. Aside from the fact that cars are getting more expensive, the process also gets more confusing and complicated with new models and features that come out.

It also can sometimes be frustrating haggling with salesmen or a dealer. Of course, as the buyer, you want to get the best value for your money. So whether you are deciding to have a new car or are resorting to a used vehicle, you need to be aware of how the buying process works.

We’ve listed the best carbuying tips that will help you get the best deal, and hopefully reduce the anxiety with purchasing a vehicle: 1. Do extensive research Next to buying a house, purchasing a car is probably one of the most important investments you will make in your life.

You will be paying it in the next four, five or six years so make sure you will be getting the most

out of your cash. You can start of by searching online. Auto trader, Consumer Reports, the Kelley Blue Book, and Yahoo!

Autos section are great places to start researching cars in your price range, as Money Crashers suggested.

Also, if you are going to purchase a new car, make sure to get the “invoice” price of the vehicle and not the Manufacturer Sample Retail Price (MSRP). this way, you can have your research handy, in case negotiations take place.

On the other hand, if you are choosing to buy a second-hand car, research on recent resale prices for the specific model. this data will give you a heads-up and major bargaining power. If you plan to trade in your current car, look into the market values of your vehicle, and reserve it for arsenal on later bargaining.

2. Determine your budget Of course, you should buy a car that you can afford and within your budget. A good rule of the thumb, mentioned by Bankrate,

As a buyer, you want to get the best value for your money.

is to spend no more than 25 percent of your household monthly income for all of the cars in your household. this is not only applicable to the monthly car loan payments, but you should also take into account other vehicle costs, including fuel and car insurance.

3. Shop around It is best to visit at least one dealership before you buy to know the rock-bottom prices and compare it with other dealers.

You may also explore out-oftown car dealerships as the prices differ depending on the location.

Always bear in mind that

financing in the dealership isn’t always the best deal. Still, you have to find the best interest rate, and it is better obtain your own financing at your bank or union than taking an automaker’s cash rebate.

4. Don’t mention your trade-in According to Money Cashers, you should play your cards close to you, and in all aspects of car buying, especially when it comes to mentioning your trade in. Do not mention your trade-in not until the end of the buying process because the information maybe likely used against you.

For example:

Let’s say you’re looking at a $22,000 car and the dealer’s rock-bottom price for the car you’re considering is $18,000 (although he won’t share this information with you). If you have a trade-in worth $2,000, the dealer might offer to give you the car for $20,000 plus the additional $2,000 for the trade-in, for a total purchase price of $18,000.

If you hadn’t mentioned your trade-in, you could have negotiated the price down to $18,000 and then told the dealer about the trade-in, resulting in a final purchase price of $16,000.

Negotiate these two aspects of the car-buying process separately. First, negotiate the best possible deal you can get for the car you want to buy, then go to work on getting the most for your trade-in.

5. Buy based on “purchase price” not on “monthly payments” Car dealers will always offer attractive monthly payments to potential buyers, but it is important not to be swayed by these “alluring” payments. Be sure to always negotiate in a “full” payment, and not the monthly price.

Also, make sure that there are no extra or hidden costs, including

various taxes, car preparation and delivery fees, and dealership costs that you won’t know about unless you ask.

6. Always test drive the car Spend time test driving the car, asa you will be driving it for the next three or five years.

Make sure that you really love it, and you’re comfortable with its every feature. Don’t hesitate to ask for more time to spend behind the wheel to ensure your driving experience. experiment with the controls, and determine if the passengers will be comfortable and regular cargo will fit as well.

7. Use smart negotiating strategies Lastly, when you are ready to make a purchase and start negotiating with the price, keep in mind the discounts and deals you have researched. For a moment, forget about trading your car and focus on the value of your new car itself. In this way, you can negotiate more freely and better if you negotiate it separately. Make sure you already checked the current value of your trade-in car to determine whether you are offered a fair amount in case trade-in comes into discussion.

Matthias Rhoads is Marian Rivera’s leading man in new GMA show

by Tessa

Mauricioa-arriola

ManilaTimes.net

RemembeR back in February when netizens went gaga over a hunky groom in a local fast food chain’s viral ad? Well, if they couldn’t get enough of him then, all they need to do is tune in to prime time TV starting tonight for a daily dose of matthias Rhoads.

The Fil-American model, who was quickly snapped up by GmA Network in the summer, is finally getting his moment on television as marian Rivera’s leading man, no less. He will play an archeologist in the fantasy series “Super ma’am.”

At the program’s press launch, Rhoads was both excited and extremely grateful for his career’s biggest break so far.

This, even as he had already experienced the other side of his online popularity even before the show’s premiere.

Here’s what happened: The new actor posted his promo shot locked in a tender embrace with Rivera on his Instagram account, and captioned it with glowing words for the network Primetime Queen. “Sobrang saya at suwerte ko to be the leading man of this super sweet lady. Hindi lang super ganda, super talented actress pa siya at magaling na chef!”

He ended the post playfully with, “be wary of our powerful combination. We are both August 12 Leo signs.”

And thus began the bashing of matthias Rhoads.

‘User’ “There were bashers who accused me of using her [for my own popularity],” the 23-yearold former model related.

At first, he was incredulous over such rabid reactions on what was only meant to be an upbeat and innocent remark.

According to Rhoads, when he thought it through, he simply tried to understand that there can be fans who take their loyalty and admiration to the extreme, and as such, reacted that way to his post. “maybe they’re a big fan

entertainment 3

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 20, 2017

Sunshine Dizon talks about boyfriend, hints on daughters’ estranged relationship with father Cesar Montano by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net

Matthias Rhoads

of her husband’s [Dingdong Dantes], or they can’t believe someone new like me got the part,” he said good naturedly.

“I guess, that’s just something I have to understand.”

He was grateful, nonetheless, for the support Rivera extended him over the unexpected issue. As an old-timer in showbiz even at 33, the popular actress advised him there will always be positive and negative feedback in show business.

Rivera assured him too that to be talked about in any way is a good sign that his career is moving along.

A receptive person, Rhoads has decided to take everything in stride from hereon, certain he will neither please everyone once his acting gets the spotlight on primetime.

He knows the only thing he can do is to keep sharpening his skills in front of the camera, and of, course, like his leading lady always reminds him, “Keep improving my Filipino,” Rhoads laughed.

Trivia As matthias Rhoads’ star begins its rise, here are ex-

tionship. To be honest, before my children first met their Tito macky, they’ve already friends through text and Instagram.

Now, his children and my kids are hanging out. We didn’t expect that everything will jive that easily,” she elaborated.

Prior to dating the grandson of the late QC mayor mel mathay, it will be remembered that Cruz filed an annulment case against estranged husband Cesar montano in 2014.

The two parted ways in 2013 amid controversies of another woman.

Asked whether their three daughters still see their father, Cruz replied, “Hindi naman nila hinahanap eh. It’s not that I am keeping them away [from him].

They can always call their father and hang out with him, but I just hope that there will also be an effort from the father [to reach out to them]. That’s my only wish.

“Sino ba naman ang nanay na ayaw may relasyon ang tatay sa mga anak niya? That’s why I only hope make that part [of their lives]better because what more can I ask for? I’m happy with my life—I have a great teleserye, ‘Wildflower’ [on AbS-CbN]. It’s so popular that wherever I go, people call me by my character Camia.

“I am now with ALV and I have more endorsements coming in too, so I’m just overwhelmed. but I know he [mon-

IT was in October 2017 when macky mathay, son of former Quezon City Congressman Chuck mathay and half-brother of actress Ara mina, confirmed in an interview with showbiz portal Pep.PH that he and Sunshine Cruz had been dating. mathay, who is separated from his wife Camille Fariñas— daughter of Ilocos Norte Representative Rudy Fariñas—revealed he started courting Cruz after the actress replied to his Instagram message in September the same year. He further shared that between the two of them, he was first to admit he had already fallen in love.

Since then, the good looking couple have been looking very happy based on their social GMA photo media posts. And almost a year since getting together, Cruz said cerpts from a GmANetwork. they are still going as she sat com fun fact feature on the down with members of media small screen’s newest leading after signing a management man. contract with Arnold Vegafria’s “He’s an artist. One of the ALV Talent Circuit. jobs Rhoads got into when he “It’s still a less than year-old was in New York was being a relationship, and it’s not perfect graphic designer. He’s a selfbut I am very happy now. I also confessed lover of the arts and he grew up excelling in drawing feel blessed that there’s a person who loves not only me but and painting.

“He’s an adventurous eater. also my kids and treats them like balut is like cake to him. ‘People his own,” Cruz said.

“We’re at a stage of enjoyask, ‘Have you tried it?’ and I say, ‘Don’t use the word try.’ Do ing each other’s company.

We also support each other’s I love it? The answer is yes,’ he dreams and work. That’s what I shared.

“He used to work in finance. love about being in this relaHe worked in the insurance industry for three years before he decided to move to the Philippines to pursue his dreams of being in showbiz.

“He’s proud to be Pinoy.

The half-American, half-Pinoy is in love with Filipino culture and the overall positivity of its people. ‘We know how to live…

We can make something beautiful with the scraps that we’re given and I think that’s amazing,’ he said.

“He’s single.” Well, least as of this feature back in march.

Sunshine with daughters Samantha Angeline, Angel Francheska and Angelina Isabelle

Macky Mathay and Sunshine Cruz Photos from Instagram/@sunshinecruz718

tano] is also happy. I just hope he’ll make more of an effort when it comes to his children,” she said again.

Now 40 years old, Cruz basked in compliments that she is looking more beautiful than ever, besides happy in love and fulfilled in her career. Like most people say, she looks more like a sister to her daughters rather than their mom.

Asked if she is worried that her three daughters, Angelina Isabelle, Angel Francheska and Samantha Angeline, will have suitors soon, Cruz replied, “I know that it will come, but they know they should be focused on their studies. There’s no problem if they have suitors. After all, they’re all good looking.”

The open-minded mom added, “Our only deal is that we talk about everything with each other—whether they have a crush or admirers–so I can give them advice. We’re like friends, I can be a spoiler but if I need to be a mother, I am strict with them. I talk to them and they know how to listen. I tell them it’s not easy to be a mother and a father at the same time, and what I am doing is not for me but for their future,” she ended.

The Manila Times reached out to montano for comment but he was held up at a closed-door meeting as of press time.

4

features

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 20, 2017

FPAC 2017: Come for the festival, stay for the Instagram-worthy food LOS ANGELES – The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is back. The annual arts and culture festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, at the Echo Park Lake in Echo Park, Los Angeles.

The popular festival is the largest and longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Los Angeles. Festivalgoers will see the best of traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, performances, arts, and crafts.

With all the artists and performers coming together at the festival, FPAC is truly a Instagram-worthy gathering.

All the vibrant art and exciting performances make for excellent content for social media.

And the food is no exception. FPAC organizers made sure that the flavorful fare offered at the festival grounds is also perfect for your Instagram feed.

Vendors like Benaddictz, Crepe Life, Drizzle Dessert Truck, and Ensaymada Project have all been confirmed to participate at FPAC in October.

“We are really excited to showcase the creative side of these Fil-Am culinary entrepreneurs,” Fil-Am Arts interim executive director Tina SalongaBulchand said. She added that these vendors have grown a cult following on social media because of the extraordinary presentation of their food.

“With the way they create these beautiful foods, they are as much of artists as they are entrepreneurs,” Bulchand pointed out.

Benaddictz Justin Foronda, founder of brunch favorite Benaddictz, said

in an interview that he looks forward to being at FPAC this year because of his history with the festival itself. He grew up going to FPAC. His brother is a founding member of Asian American improvisational troupe, Room to Improv.

“FPAC engagement is important because it brings so many years of a cultural following. In my generation, it’s the original Filipino Festival in Los Angeles,” Foronda said. As an Echo Park resident, Foronda also wants to serve and represent his neighborhood with a purpose.

Benaddictz – a wordplay on “eggs benedict” and “addict” – is known for its uniquely Pinoy take on brunch. Its Chicken Adobo Eggs Benedict recipe is one of the most sought-after items at its brunch pop-ups all over town.. Foronda said that he uses brunch as a vehicle to introduce ethinc flavors.

“Benaddictz aims to celebrate similarities in cultural diversity,” Foronda said. At FPAC this year, Benaddictz will be serving Sarap’y Joe (a Filipino Spaghettistyle Chilli served on Garlic Buttered Pan de Sal) and Elote Waffles (corn-infused batter with lime crema and salsa powder).

Crepe Life Chance Chavez, founder of Crepe Life, is also looking forward to FPAC because of his ties to the community. He has been involved with FilAm Arts and another Filipino nonprofit – Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) – since he was in elementary school.

“It’s about giving back to the community and spreading

Benaddictz

Drizzle Dessert Truck

Ensaymada Project

the Filipino entrepreneurship,” Chavez said. Crepe Life aims to change the dessert game by injecting a bit of Asian culture into a decidedly European dessert.

Good examples of that are the Ube and Thai tea crepes, which will be served at FPAC. Festival goers can also enjoy Crepe Life’s refreshments – Mangodanadas and Horchata Caramel Smoothies.

Drizzle Dessert Truck Jenny Diaz, founder of Drizzle Inc., said that her “eureka” moment started with an intense craving. “Where can we get funnel cake right now?” Diaz recalls.

And thus, Drizzle Dessert Truck was born. She said that with the truck’s handcrafted funnel cake and homemade ice cream, she wants to put a new twist to an old classic.

Drizzle is definitely a brand new taste for FPAC foodies, as the company is only two months old. But that doesn’t seem to deter Diaz and her multicultural team. Through FPAC, they hope to gain the loyalty of Fil-Am customers in Los Angeles.

On festival day, keep an eye out for Drizzle’s homemade Ube Ice Cream served with their signature funnel cake. They do run out fast.

Ensaymada Project Chari Heredia Reyes, founder of the Ensaymada Project, said that she is honored to take part in FPAC this year.

“It is an ideal venue to promote Ensaymada Project’s passion to bring the authen-

Xian Lim on fitness: ‘Pain is weakness leaving the body’

by Mylene

Mendoza-dayrit Philstar.com

XIAN Lim’s star continues to shine. He has honed his hosting skills, bagged acting nominations and awards, and has a steady stream of endorsements, movies, concerts, and teleseryes.

His patience, dedication, and effort in everything he is interested in are clearly paying off not only in his career but also his physique. He gamely answered several questions before a photo shoot for the cover of Muscle & Fitness Philippines.

The Philippine Star: Is it true that you were fat as a kid? tic Filipino ensaymada to the Xian Lim: Yes, especially when world,” Reyes said. She said I was in Grade 7 and Grade 8. that she wants to showcase Before I started playing basketthe ensaymada’s versatility and ball, I had always been a fat couch foster its evolution through a potato kid. I was fat and constantrange of variants of this brioche ly called pear-shaped. I wasn’t bread. active at all. Do you know that I Ensaymada is a brioche couldn’t even do 20 push-ups? bread pastry that traces its oriNormally, guys can do that, but gins to Mallorca, Spain, and was I found myself getting tired after brought to the Philippines during just five reps. Back then, I didn’t the Spanish Colonial Period. The like playing any sports. I didn’t Filipino version of the recipe is like feeling tired or hinihingal. At richer than the Mallorca original, 13, I weighed roughly 180 lbs. as it uses butter (instead of lard and I wasn’t even six feet tall. The in the original Spanish recipe) doctor told me that I really had and is topped with grated to lose weight as there were a lot cheese and sugar. One loyal of health risks involved. I started customer describes Ensaymada playing basketball in freshman Project as “what a Filipino ensay- year. I began doing laps and I mada truly should be.” started asking coaches for help.

Come FPAC day, festival During your rise to stardom goers can look forward to ensay- in show business, was there madas in the following flavors: ever a time when you doubted queso de bola, ube, mango, yourself?

Ensaymatcha™ chocolate, dulce Of course. I had so many de leche and classic cheese. doubts. In this industry, you reFPAC is a free event. No ad- ally have to be strong because mission fee is needed for entry. It you’re the only one who can really will be held on Sunday, October believe in yourself, especially 14, 2017, at Echo Park Lake in if you’re a newcomer. But like Echo Park, Los Angeles. For more I said, you have to hold on to information, please visit http:// the people who believe in you. bit.ly/FPAC2017 or call ‪(213) They’re the ones who matter.

380-3722‪. For sponsorship and So, special thanks to my director vendor opportunities, please Joyce Bernal and Mae Cruz-Alviar. email info@filamarts.org.

Their friendship is something I will Catch FilAm Arts on Facealways value. book (https://www.facebook.

How long is your usual com/FilAmArtsLA/), Instagram workout, if you have the luxury (@filamartsla), and Twitter (@ of time?

FilAmArts).

I read that workouts have #FPAC26 #FPAC2017, to last for just about an hour. If #filamartsLA, #filamarts. (By Mico you’re in the gym for two hours Letargo) or more, it probably means that

Xian Lim

Philstar.com photo

you’re spending too much time doing other unnecessary things, such as sharing stories or texting and stuff. All the fitness articles I’ve read tell me that one hour is the perfect duration for a workout.

What is your current fitness goal and how are you planning to achieve it?

If I wasn’t preparing for drama or romance shows or movies, I would love to look like The Rock. Kung pwede lang, but of course that’s not allowed. At least not yet. In my genre, the big, buffed-up look is not the norm. If I start surpassing my normal build, people might not be able to relate as much. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the ultimate physique; that’s the ultimate goal, but people wouldn’t understand.

Only gym buffs will understand the value of looking like a truck.

People have to be able to see and relate to you. My primary goal is to reach out to as many people as I can. However, for me, a more realistic goal would be attaining the physique of Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum.

Any advice to people who want to be like you — a celebrity and fitness enthusiast at the same time?

Only one thing will keep you from changing and becoming the person you want to be. It’s not the devil, it’s not other people, it’s not circumstances — it’s procrastination. Let’s keep it simple. If you have any plans in life — be it in fitness, your dreams, or the person you want to be — do it now. Start it now, even with just baby steps.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 20, 2017

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