LA Midweek Edition -- November 16 -- 18 2016

LOS ANGELES

November 16-18, 2016 Volume 26 - No. 92 • 3 Sections - 20 Pages

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

PH-US firearms deal to push through

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippines’ purchase of 26,000 assault rifles from the United States will proceed, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday, November 14.

In a press briefing, Dela Rosa said that Sig Sauer, a firearms manufacturer based in the U.S., has informed the PNP that the processing of the documents related to the purchase is ‘going

on smoothly.’

According to the PNP chief, President Rodrigo Duterte has given the police the green light to proceed with the deal after Dela Rosa briefed him regarding the matter.

“Actually I talked to him (Duterte) personally during our trip to Malaysia tungkol diyan (about that). We reported to him that the processing of documents is going on smoothly according to Sig Sauer, wala silang nakitang harang doon, hindi po naharang (they have seen no attempt to block the sale),”

Dela Rosa said.

Duterte previously announced that he ordered the cancellation of the gun purchase after the U.S. reportedly halted the sale due to concerns over the human rights violations in the Philippines.

The Philippine president said the country would just have to look for another source and would not insist on buying expensive arms from the U.S. This came to light after U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his intention to oppose the U.S.’

transactions. Cardin cited the reported extrajudicial killings in the Philippines as grounds halt the transaction.

Since Duterte took office, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than 3,000 individuals killed, which include deaths committed both by legitimate police operations and vigilantes.

“When I explained that to him (Duterte), sabi niya (he said) OK you continue. Ipagpatuloy n’yo yan kasi wala naman palang hinarang (Get on with the deal since nothing is actually

blocked),” Dela Rosa added.

However, Dela Rosa said he’s sure that Duterte will tell the PNP to cancel the deal again if the U.S. State Department blocks it.

The PNP chief also said that the rifles will be paid by the Philippine government.

“Binabayaran namin ito, hindi naman namin ito hinihingi (We are paying for this, we did not asking for it for free) so we should get fair and equal treatment dahil (because) this is business,” he said. ■

PNP chief ready to face consequences over free trip to Pacquiao-Vargas match

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

PNP chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa

DATELINE

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is willing to be jailed if his free trip to Las Vegas earlier this month violates the Philippine Constitution.

“Kung talagang lalabas sa investigation na ako ay may kasalanan na nagawa, I’m willing to

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump prepares for the presidency Clarifies stances, staff appointments

DONALD Trump’s unexpected win after garnering more electoral votes than opponent Hillary Clinton shocked the world as his controversial campaign plans became closer to manifestation.

After meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House last week, President-elect Trump has begun laying out his plans for the presidency.

Trump went on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday, November 13 to discuss his plans with host Lesley Stahl and illuminated on a number of his stances from his campaign.

One of the more poignant moments of the conversation was when Stahl brought up the

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go to jail. Kung ikulong nila ako, okay lang sakin (If the investigation proves that I really broke the law, I’m willing to go to jail. If I get imprisoned, it’s okay for me),” he said on Monday, November 14.

Dela Rosa flew to Las Vegas in early November to watch boxing champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao’s match against Jessie Vargas. Pacquiao shouldered the

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De Lima admits to having an affair with ex-driver

by DANA

SIOSON

AJPress

AFTER months of silence, Senator Leila De Lima admitted that she had an affair with her former driver and bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan.

In an interview with Winnie Monsod on GMA news program “Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie,” De Lima confessed that her relationship with Dayan lasted for a “few years.”

However, De Lima clarified that they broke up before she even became a senator.

Asked why she fell in love with Dayan given their marital statuses, De Lima answered that it is because of “frailties of a woman.”

“We became so close. That’s it. I trusted him. Siyempre, naano po ang loob ko (of course my feelings were…),” De Lima said during the program aired on Monday, November 14.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously tagged De Lima as an “immoral woman” after claiming that the senator had an illicit affair with her driver, who is also married. Duterte went on to accuse Dayan of collecting drug money to help De Lima in her senatorial

STILL FRIENDS. President Rodrigo Duterte met with former president Fidel V. Ramos at Malacanang on Monday, Nov. 14, weeks after the latter resigned as the country’s special envoy to China. Duterte described his meeting with Ramos “pleasant,” saying they discussed climate change and peace process, among others.

Philippine DOT plans for global fanfare and sweeping changes in 2017

by ERIC

ANTHONY LICAS AJPress

A NUMBER of high profile events as well as improvements in the way Americans and other travelers experience the Philippines are in the works, according to representatives of the country’s Department of Tourism (DOT).

Philippine officials laid out the department’s strategy to accelerate growing American interest in the island nation during a media event in Los Angeles hosted by the DOT on Friday, November 11. Department representatives also responded to potential tourists’ security concerns regarding the Philippines’ war on drugs.

“We in the Philippines actually feel safer now,” said DOT Undersecretary Katherine De Castro during Friday’s press conference. “Despite what you hear, there’s more police trust.”

She added that most tourists who offer feedback report feeling secure while traveling in the Philippines. De Castro credited programs implemented by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte this year, like a nationwide 911 hotline, for enhancing security throughout the country.

Statements and suggestions from President Rodrigo Duterte’s signaling a diplomatic shift away from the United States had threatened to weaken the Philippines’ ties with its longtime ally

and depress tourism.

DOT representatives noted the president’s penchant for inflammatory off-the-cuff comments but encouraged people to examine Duterte’s statements in their real context instead of focusing on sound bites.

They went on to say that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump bodes well for relations between the Philippines and the United States.

Duterte said he shared many similarities with Trump and became one of the first world leaders to publicly congratulate the newly-elected American president on Wednesday, November 9 while visiting Malaysia.

u PAGE A2 u PAGE A2 Planned US deportations won’t affect Pinoys – DFA Lopez: PH-US economic relations to remain stable under Trump

UNITED States President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport illegal immigrants will not affect migrant Filipinos living and working in America, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

This reaction came after Trump threatened to deport or incarcerate up to three million illegal immigrants with criminal records in the US when he takes office in January.

There were 3.18 million Filipinos in the US as of December 2015, according to the DFA. About 271,000 Filipino workers in the US are irregular or undocumented, based on estimates by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas as of December 2013.

Charles Jose, DFA assistant secretary and

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by RICHMOND

S. MERCURIO

Philstar.com

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

MANILA, Philippines — Prospects of Philippine trade and investment relations with the US under the regime of Republican Donald Trump are still looking good so far amid the US president-elect’s protectionist stance.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez is optimistic the US will maintain its policies, a move which will be beneficial for the Philippines.

“What I believe in is he is a businessman who will be after the promotion and development of busi-

nesses in the US and if that’s the thinking then it will be something that will benefit the US businesses.

That includes also keeping the current liberalized environment wherein businesses there will have access to imported inputs as needed by the business,” Lopez said.

“So we expect a continuation of policies because it will be their economy that will be affected if they backtrack on many things. It’s so hard to backtrack on all these new economies where we are in already. It will make cost of doing business really high if they retract on some policies that they have

right now,” he said.

The trade chief, however, admitted that it is hard to see a clear picture yet as to where the Philippines and US trade relations will go as the government currently awaits for actual policies to be implemented by Trump.

“What we are seeing are what’s written in the papers and it is so hard to base it from all the pronouncements in the papers. We have to wait for actual policies, so too early to comment,” Lopez said.

Trump has promised a protectionist trade policy as well as opposed

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A NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

PNP chief ready to face…

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tickets, accommodations and travel expenses for Dela Rosa and his family, the PNP chief previously revealed.

Last week, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales initiated a probe to determine whether the PNP chief’s all-expense paid trip violated the Philippines’ Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Republic Act 6713 states that “public officials and employees shall not solicit or ac-

cept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

“Basta what is important, is that I am honest. Hindi ako nag sisinungaling (I didn’t lie). Sinabi ko lang yung katotohanan para transparent tayo (I only told the

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From the Front Page truth so we could be transparent),” Dela Rosa said, adding that he didn’t regret he did not have to shell out any money to spend quality time with his family abroad.

The PNP chief also thanked Pacquiao for defending him on the issue. The boxer-senator earlier said that it’s better to treat people than engage in illegal activities.

The boxing champion also reportedly shouldered the travel and accommodation expenses of some of his other supporters as well. n

De Lima admits to having…

lion reward will be granted to anyone who can give information PAGE A1 t I didn’t receive anything and I regarding Dayan’s location. campaign for the May election would not allow anyone to be“This P1 million is for informathis year. come my bagman, whoever he tion leading to the arrest of Mr. De Lima, however, maintained may be),” the senator said.

Ronnie Dayan Palisoc who is the her stance that she was not inDe Lima also admitted that she subject of a warrant of arrest volved in the alleged drug trade had helped Dayan financially, but from the House of Representawithin the National Bilibid Prison. denied the allegations that she tives for contempt on the Com“Siguro po ako sa sarili ko 100 financed the construction of his mittee on Justice for failing to percent na wala akong tinatang- home. appear despite proper service gap at wala akong papayagan na Early this week, the Volunteers of subpoena,” lawyer Ferdinand maging bag man ko, sino man Against Crime and Corruption Topacio of the VACC told reportsiya (I am 100 percent sure that (VACC) announced that a P1 mil- ers on Tuesday, November 15. n

Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Cruz, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Katherine De Castro, Binibining Pilipinas USA 2016 Nicole Ceniza, DOT Assistant Secretary Gwen Javier, and DOT-Los Angeles Director Richmond Jimenez.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

Philippine DOT plans for global…

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“[Duterte] said that henceforth, there will be no more negative comments about the United States,” said Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz during Wednesday’s conference.

“He said that, as of yesterday [Thursday, November 10],” De Castro followed up, subtly referring to the administration’s past backtracking on some of the president’s comments.

Moving forward, the DOT will ready preparations for events that officials hope will generate an influx of foreign travelers.

Following the crowning of Filipina contestant Pia Wurtzbach in the 2015 Miss Universe beauty pageant, plans had been announced for the Philippines to host the next competition on January 30, 2017.

In the past, Duterte said he was not interested in allocating government resources to putting on the competition. However,

private investors are expected to shoulder the $11-million dollar cost of the event, which should proceed as scheduled.

From April 20-24, 2017, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig will serve as the site for the World Street Food Conference (WSFC).

Next year will be the first time the event will be hosted outside of Singapore. Some of the finest chefs from the Philippines, India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and the U.S. will expose foodies from around the world to a wide variety of street food delicacies.

However, some have harbored doubts regarding the Philippines’ capacity to put on such large ticket spectacles.

“To those who wonder if we will be able to pull this off...we are ready,” Richmond Jimenez, the tourism director for the DOT’s office in Los Angeles, said during Friday’s meeting. He went on to note that “we in the Philippines

have hosted foreign dignitaries in the past.”

In the meantime, the department plans on seeking out new ways to invite tourists to explore the Philippines and clearing up issues that impact a visitor’s peace of mind.

Specifically, department officials are trying to work out an arrangement that will allow healthcare providers in the Philippines to accept American health insurance. Doing so would not only save money for people who require consistent treatment or become injured while traveling abroad, but open up medical tourism and clear up liability issues that limit colleges and other institutions from organizing trips to the Philippines.

At Friday’s meeting, Cruz, De Castro and DOT Assistant Secretary Gwen Javier said some of the people most interested in learning about and exploring the Phil-

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Lopez: PH-US economic relations to…

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the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which the Philippines hopes to join.

For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon said he believes the TPP would not be ratified by the US in the meantime.

The TPP is an economic bloc composed of Australia, Brunei,

Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Mexico, Malaysia, Japan, Peru, Singapore, US and Vietnam.

Joining the TPP is seen to provide more opportunities that will further strengthen the Philippines’ foothold in the global market with the country’s enterprises, workers, and consumers benefiting from bigger markets and increased foreign investments.

Barcelon also said the Philip-

pines’ relationship with US could turn out neutral or even better in hopes that Trump would not want to meddle with other countries’ affairs.

“If the new state department doesn’t criticize extrajudicial killings, it will be okay with President Duterte. Then IT-BPO serving US shouldn’t be affected and would grow as projected,” Barcelon said. n

From the Front Page

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LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016

ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. DENR Secretary Gina Lopez and her counterpart in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Forester Hadji Kahal Kedtag, show the written agreement binding their offices to develop mangrove and bamboo plantations in selected sites in ARMM. The ARMM, which has five component-provinces, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in mainland Mindanao and the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, covers 116 towns.

Philstar.com photo by John Unson

Trump prepares for the…

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reports of racial slurs, personal threats and harassment toward minorities by Trump supporters.

Muslim-Americans, in particular, have been a prevalent target of hate crimes in the U.S. Previously, Trump has suggested a temporary ban of Muslims into the U.S. and suggested that all Muslims in the country be labeled.

The FBI reported on Monday, November 14 that hate crimes toward Muslim-Americans rose last year, spiking the rate of all hate crimes to 7 percent.

Trump said he was “surprised to hear” about the harassment from his supporters and then looked into the camera and told them to “stop it.”

“I am so saddened to hear that,” he told Stahl. “And I say, ‘Stop it.’ If it-- if it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it.”

Health care reform Trump’s previous plan to fully “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act -- also known as Obamacare -- was a defining stance during Trump’s campaign which attracted many of his conservative supporters.

On Sunday, however, when discussing his plans to replace the landmark health care law, he indicated there were key parts of Obamacare he planned to keep, a move which may worry

some conservatives.

One of the key features that will remain is a guarantee that those with pre-existing conditions will still be covered “because it happens to be one of the strongest assets,” Trump noted.

He also indicated he wants to keep the article in the law that states that children can be held on their parents’ health insurance until they’re 26 years old. “[We are] very much try and keep that. Adds cost, but it’s very much something we’re going to try and keep,” Trump assured.

Decisions on the court In a move that could worry conservatives, Trump announced that he was “fine” with the 2015 Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage. When asked about whether he supports marriage equality, he dodged the question and said that the case – Obergefell v. Hodges – was “settled”, even if he appoints a new justice that would look to overturn it.

“It-- it’s irrelevant because it was already settled. It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court.

I mean it’s done,” Trump said However, he confirmed that he was opened to challenging the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973. Moreover, he confirmed that he was vetting conservative-leaning justices to replace the two vacant seats in

the Supreme Court left by the death of Antonin Scalia and the upcoming retirement of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Affirming his campaign pledge, the president-elect said that if the court overturned the case, people would “have to go to another state” to get an abortion.

When Stahl pushed him on the issue, Trump said that there’s a lot of work to be done on the matter without further elaborating.

“Well we’ll see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a long way to go, just so you understand. That has a long, long way to go.

Draining the swamp Promising to eliminate corporate-driven Establishment politics in Washington -- or what he calls “draining the swamp” - Trump has begun appointing his staff. On Sunday, he chose Republican National Committee Chairman and staunch conservative Reince Priebus as his White House chief of staff.

Priebus, who also acted as a campaign consultant for Trump, has close ties to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who has previously criticized the presidentelect. The move is likely to ease tensions between Trump and Ryan and secure legislative support in Congress.

Trump also named rightwing media personality Stephen Bannon as his senior counselor

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PH-US anti-terror drills kick off in Palawan

by Fernan

Marasigan ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Army will start on Wednesday a monthlong joint exercise with Special Operations forces of the United States that will focus on antiterror operations, an Army official said Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, said 30 to 40 personnel from the Philippine Army’s Special Operations Command will participate in the drill called “Balance Piston 16-4” that will last until December 14.

“This is an annual training event to test the basic war fighting skills of our soldiers and improve the relationship of each Armed Forces, each group. We are doing this yearly and this time we will conduct it in Palawan City area together with our special forces and special forces

of the United States. However, I cannot tell you the exact number. What I can tell you is this is just a small force,” he said.

There will be no live fire exercises however.

“We already reduced the live firing. But there would still be marksmanship training inside camp because we have to improve the marksmanship skills,” Hao pointed out.

The drill will focus on tactical combat casualty care, marksmanship, small unit tactics in a riverine coastal environment, maritime interdiction, combat swimmer operations and air operations mission planning, among others.

Earlier, Arsenio Andolong, director of the Public Affairs Service of the Department of National Defense (DND), said security officials will discuss before the Mutual Defense Board-

Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) the “reduced” number of joint exercises between the Philippines and the US. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has recommended the reduction of war games to about less than 10.

Andolong said there used to be 28 exercises every year but the previous administration reduced it to about 13. Lorenzana wants to cut this number by half.

“So now with the new administration it will come down to about half of that, so it would be half a dozen. There is no definite figure yet because it is still being discussed,” he said.

The exercises that will be terminated are naval drills called Philippines Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) and Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). n

PROPOSED 2017 BUDGET. Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, delivers her sponsorship speech on the proposed FY 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) during the Senate’s session on Monday, November 14. Legarda said that the proposed budget worth P3.350 trillion will help deliver the change that Filipinos want.

Senate photo by Gil Nartea

Thousands march in LA to protest Trump

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

WHEN Filipino-American Catherine Garvey woke up on the morning after the historic presidential election, she knew the “status quo was over.”

“I couldn’t sit idly by and just accept that this was our new leader,” an impassioned Garvey, 24, told the Asian Journal. “We have to fight for progression.”

Garvey is a sociology student at UCLA and cites Presidentelect Donald Trump’s rhetoric as a driving factor in her political involvement during this election.

The Fil-Am was one of the nearly 8,000 protesters who took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday morning, November 12, to protest the win of the president-elect.

The rally started with a brief demonstration by protesters with loud speakers before leading the 3.1 mile-march from the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Little Tokyo to MacArthur Park. Several major streets were blocked off to serve the protest, which was, for the most part, peaceful.

Protesters of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations marched the streets demanding to have their voices heard.

Many held signs condemning the new president-elect. Those with speakerphones led chants like “Not my president!” which

echoed through streets.

“We can’t allow someone like Trump to do what he wants to do,” said Clare Weber, a sociologist and associate vice president of faculty affairs and development at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Weber said that the protests make her feel “really good” and that she hopes that they provide a safe space for those who feel “isolated.”

“There’s a lot of areas in the

country where hate won, but we didn’t allow that to happen in LA, and we didn’t allow that to happen in California. But we really got to let everyone across the country know we’re all in this together,” Weber remarked.

“I can’t stand and let the [president-elect] throw our country back a hundred years,” said Josh Castro, a teacher at Pathway Community School, a charter school in South LA.

Castro, 29, cites Trump’s plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, which affects “all races,” as a driving force to demonstrate with the protesters.

“I’m here to support women, immigrants, my students and their families, a lot of whom are undocumented. I’m here to stand in unity with them,” Castro said.

Saturday’s protest was the fourth day of anti-Trump protests in LA. The Los Angeles Police Department said that 187 arrests were made during the previous night’s protest in downtown LA. “The LAPD will continue to provide the necessary resources to ensure the safe and peaceful expression of opinions,” the LAPD said in a statement Saturday morning. “When demonstrators begin to violate the law and create unsafe conditions for the demonstrators, officers, and the public, Department personnel will continue to take appropriate enforcement action.”

The LA protests are a part of a global outcry over the president-elect occurring in at least 12 cities across the nation. Protests persist in New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, to name a few.

Protests have also transpired in Dublin, Ireland and Melbourne, Australia.

An issue of rhetoric A common theme surrounding the anti-Trump cause is the president-elect’s coarse language directed to women and ethnic minorities. Protesters’ messages have called for equal rights for women, Latinos, LGBTQ+, and Muslims other ethnic minorities.

“We can’t forget his words and what he’s said about people of color, women, Muslims, the gays and almost every minority out there,” Garvey remarked.

“His language is dangerous, and many of our sisters and brothers have already have had to pay for it.”

On CBS’ “60 Minutes,” host Lesley Stahl asked Trump about his thoughts on the demonstrations occurring worldwide in protest of his election and his rhetoric.

He responded: “I just don’t think they [the protesters] know me.”

“When they demonstrate against you, and there are signs out there, don’t you say to yourself — I guess you don’t — ‘Do I have to go out and assuage them? Do I tell them not to be afraid?’ because they’re afraid?”

Stahl asked.

To the protesters, he said, “Don’t be afraid. We are going to bring our country back. But certainly, don’t be afraid.”

He added: “If Hillary had won and if my people went out and protested, everybody would say, ‘Oh, that’s a terrible thing.’ And it would have been a much different attitude. There is a different attitude. You know, there is a double standard here.”

When asked if he would change his rhetoric during the presidency, Trump defended his language.

“Well, sometimes you need a certain rhetoric to get people motivated,” Trump said. “I don’t want to be just a little nice monotone character and in many cases I will be.” n

Philippine DOT plans for global…

PAGE A2 t ippines were second-generation Filipino Americans and those who emigrated to the U.S. at a young age The department also has plans to attract more millennials by significantly expanding ecotourism. At present, only a handful of regions in the Philippines specifically caters to those environmentally conscious travelers. In 2017, DOT officials intend to develop programs promoting natural wonders found throughout the country.

De Castro added that efforts involving digital media have delivered promising and cost-effective results. After relaunching their website earlier this year, the DOT has been developing an app.

They are also trying to attract more bloggers and internet personalities to visit the Philippines and share their experiences.

Although department representatives say are focusing on

Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Cruz, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Katherine De Castro and DOT Assistant Secretary Gwen Javier.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

implementing brand new strategies, say they are open to bringing back popular but discontinued promotions. They are also considering reopening their offices in Chicago, which had been the only source of department outreach in the country outside of the East and West coasts.

The department will move forward with their ambitious plans despite limited financial backing from the Philippine government.

Even though tourism represents roughly 10 percent of the Philippine GDP, the DOT is significantly underfunded compared to comparable agencies of other Southeast Asian countries, according to De Castro.

She said that, in light of that information, a number of lawmakers in Manila have begun to throw their support behind increasing the department’s budget in 2017. n

Trump prepares for the…

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and chief West Wing strategist, prompting backlash from Democrats and moderates alike.

Bannon is known for his white nationalist views and accusations of being an anti-Semite which critics say make him unfit to serve the President. Bannon is also the executive chairman of the alt-right wing Breitbart News Network, which has become a “cesspool” for white supremacy, as a former Breitbart News editor-at-large described it.

Several organizations oppose the appointment of Bannon to

such a key post in the White House, like the Anti-Defamation League, a watchdog for antiSemites and racists.

“It is a sad day when a man who presided over the premier website of the ‘alt-right’ — a looseknit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists — is slated to be a senior staff member in the ‘people’s house,’” the organization wrote on their website.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a renowned national advocacy organization dedicated to fighting bigotry, also announced

opposition to the appointment of Bannon, saying that it will further divide Americans.

Trump, however, expressed hope that his team will do their best to fulfill his campaign promise to “make America great again.”

“Steve and Reince are highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic victory,” Trump said in a press release. “Now I will have them both with me in the White House as we work to make America great again.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

Planned US deportations won’t affect Pinoys…

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spokesman, said Trump’s pronouncements should be put in context, as the US deportation policy had been implemented by previous administrations.

“For years, the US government has had in place a system where US authorities deport illegal immigrants in a timely and orderly fashion. These have occasionally included Filipinos arrested because of immigration irregularities and criminal violations,” Jose said.

For a majority of Filipinos, there will be no “calamitous impact” as a result of Trump’s agenda, he said.

“A vast majority of the three million Filipinos residing in the US have legal residency or citi-

zenship status, pay their taxes and generally obey American laws. As such, we presently do not expect President-elect Trump’s immigration pronouncements to have a calamitous impact on the Filipino community there,” Jose said.

During the election campaign, the real estate mogul-turnedpolitician promised to strictly enforce immigration laws at the border and the workplace, and even send 11 million illegal immigrants home.

In a Sunday television interview, the Republican presidentelect said he would aim to “get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers… out of our country” and “secure our border.”

He also stood by his pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border – although he said it could include some fencing.

Experts estimate there are as many as 11 million foreigners living illegally in the United States, many of them Central and Southern Americans long-established in the country.

Trump’s stance stood in opposition with comments by House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said Sunday the focus under a Trump administration would be on securing the border, not rounding up immigrants.

“We are not planning on erecting a deportation force. Donald Trump’s not planning on that,” Ryan told CNN. (Michael Joe T. Delizo / ManilaTimes.net)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

President Rodrigo Duterte called Russian President Vladimir Putin his “idol,” saying they have similarities.

File photo

Duterte wants to meet with ‘idol’ Putin in APEC

his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs. The US, a traditional ally and treaty partner of the MANILA, Philippines — Presi- Philippines, has been critical of dent Rodrigo Duterte is seeking Duterte’s anti-drug war, which a bilateral meeting with Russian has claimed the lives of more President Vladimir Putin on the than 3,000 suspected drug ofsidelines of the Asia-Pacific Eco- fenders. nomic Cooperation (APEC) in Duterte has called Putin his Peru to boost the ties between “idol,” saying he and the Russian Manila and Moscow. leader have similarities.

Duterte said he expressed his “He (Putin) has no illusions interest to meet with Putin during about himself. He knows that he a talk with Russian Ambassador was not trained for politics. Nor to to the Philippines Igor Khovaev be a statesman. He acts just like in Malacañang Tuesday night. a President. My characterization “It will push through. I was the of Putin is what I would describe one who asked for it. Earlier to- myself,” the president said in an night, I had a long talk with the interview with Al Jazeera interambassador of Russia. I reiter- view last month. ated my desire to meet Putin, biDuterte is flying for Peru on lateral,” the president said in an interview with reporters.

“I won’t ask for anything. I want to be friends with him. I just want to the two countries to be the best of friends. This is an economic world. If there are things we can sell them or export to them, it would be good,” he added.

Duterte has expressed his intention to strengthen ties with Russia and China following a rift with the United States over by alexiS

RomeRo Philstar.com

BATANG TRANSFORMERS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar acknowledges the significant role the youth or the “Batang Transformers” has been playing to transform the country to be a better place to live it. She stresses that the youth remains the hope of the nation. Villar was invited to address this year’s participants of “Batang Transformers,” a young leaders camp organized by Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance (PILG) led by former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel.

Senate photo

Senate fails to pass resolution declaring Marcos unfit for hero’s burial

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

A RESOLUTION opposing late President Ferdinand Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) has failed to pass the Senate.

The Senate Resolution No. 86, filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, expresses the “sense of the Senate that the crimes of the former President Ferdinand Marcos to the Republic, and the human rights violations committed under his regime, render him unfit to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.”

With 20 senators present on Monday, November 14, a majority vote of 11 was needed to get the resolution approved. The resolution failed to pass after getting a plenary vote of eight in favor, six against, and another six abstaining.

The eight senators who voted to adopt the resolution include Senators Bam Aquino, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva, and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Meanwhile, those who voted

against the resolution were Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senators Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, and Cynthia Villar.

Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, on the other hand, voted abstain.

Last November 8, the Supreme Court ruled that Marcos can be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. According to the court, the burial does not violate the Philippine Constitution.

Following the court’s decision, several rallies were conducted in different parts of the country, mostly by martial law victims and their families.

“I am sad that the Senate missed the opportunity to defend the truth and our history from the Marcoses’ historical revisionism and negationism. It missed the chance to be on the side of real heroes,” Hontiveros, author of the resolution, said.

Since his death in 1989, Marcos’s remains have been frozen in a glass coffin for in his home-

town of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Marcos died of kidney, heart and lung ailments while in exile in Hawaii after being ousted during the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

“There is no law compelling President Duterte to give Marcos a hero’s burial. Even the Supreme Court’s decision does not command the Executive branch to do anything. Lest we forget, this all started with President (Rodrigo) Duterte. What he started, he can end,” Hontiveros said.

Last August, President Duterte gave the go-signal to bury the late dictator, which was among the current president’s campaign promises leading up to the May 2016 election. n

Thursday for the APEC summit, an event to be attended by 21 heads of state.

APEC is the Philippines’ second most important regional grouping after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The economic bloc consists of Peru, United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Philippines’ total trade volume with APEC economies is about $103 billion or more than 80 percent of Philippine trade. n

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OpiniOn

Features

When in Vegas

WHAT happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

For Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronal “Bato” Dela Rosa, his recent sojourn to Las Vegas, Nevada could have easily been a trip of a lifetime.

He was there last November 5, to witness Sen. Manny Pacquiao slug it out with Mexican-American boxer Jessie Vargas for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. Aside from the prime seat, the trip came with free airfare and hotel accommodations, courtesy of Sen. Pacquiao who won the match via a unanimous decision.

It was an unforgettable experience for Bato, one that might cost him his job.

The Office of the Ombudsman will look into the propriety of Bato’s free trip to Las Vegas, to determine if the PNP chief violated Republic Act 6713 or the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

Bato admitted that Pacquiao paid for everything—for him and his family to watch the bout— and that he did not spend personal or public funds to go to the U.S. The travel perk even included allowances.

According to the law, public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal ones.

Republic Act 6713 establishes a code of conduct and ethical standard for public officials and employees, to uphold the time-honored principle

of public office, to promote a high standard of public service.

It also states that public officials and employees are not allowed “to solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, favor entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

With such a tall order to uphold, it makes one wonder why anyone would even want to be in public office.

If proven guilty, Bato will face criminal and administrative liabilities.

“Bahala na ang propriety na iyan (I don’t care about propriety). All I know is it’s free so I grabbed the opportunity,” the PNP chief said on the current investigation by the Ombudsman. He said he was being transparent and that he is ready to face jail time over the controversial trip.

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte came to Bato’s defense saying that the PNP chief can afford the trip anyway and that the trip was commensurate to his wealth.

“The is no criminal liability,” Duterte said on Monday, Nov. 14 as he extended his congratulations to the Filipino people over Pacquiao’s recent victory.

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

For Pacquiao, RA 6713 needs to be clarified. The WBO welterweight champion insisted that there was no malice in his kind gesture.

“I think sometimes we’re not using our common sense. What if we just saw each other in a restaurant, and I tell him I’ll be the one to pay? What’s wrong with that? Besides, I’m also in government,” Pacquiao told reporters.

Pacquiao reportedly bought 2,000 tickets—valuing over a million dollars’ worth—and also flew in

some of his friends from the government to watch his fight.

Members of the Ombudsman’s investigation team must also look into every member of Pacquiao’s entourage in his Nov. 5 fight. And while they’re at it, the agency must conduct lifestyle checks to every government official to see whether they are spending beyond their means. Bato can’t be the only one who slipped through the cracks.

(AJPress)

What will the Trump administration’s Asia policy be like?

THE surprise election of Donald Trump has left many people uncertain as to what he will be like as the 45thpresident of the United States.

His victory speech was a pleasant contrast from his tone on the campaign trail. He actually called his opponent “Secretary Clinton” instead of “crooked Hillary” and said, “We owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.”

There are clearly two different Trumps, one from the campaign who was vindictive, petty, threatening. There is also a post-election Trump who is gentle, reasonable,magnanimous. The question is: Which Trump will actually govern?

In his first post-election interview, he was asked by the Wall Street Journal whether he thought his rhetoric had gone too far in the campaign. The response was revealing: “No, I won.” That is to say, all the lies, insults and rabble-rousing statements were justified because they had resulted in his election.

But since his victory, “It’s different now.” Now that he is president-elect, he can afford to be moderate, to make concessions.

The Trump who met with President Barack Obama last Thursday was radically different from the Trump who championed the birther movement, who insisted, falsely, that Obama was not born in the United States and hence was an illegitimate

SHEER impunity made it happen. The Demand Senate was uncovering a case of pre- and Supply meditated murder of a suspected drug lord inside a jail cell and it didn’t look good. Sen. Panfilo Boo ChanCo Lacson, who is no virgin in matters like that, had concluded it was a badly staged extra judicial killing.

Sen. Lacson said “nothing makes sense” in the police’s version that Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in a shootout while detained inside a provincial jail.

“Why would Mayor Espinosa even attempt to put up a fight while he was trapped inside a prison cell with nowhere to go, not to mention that he has surrendered and was fully cooperating, hoping to become a state witness?”

But when asked to comment on the case, President Duterte made it clear that “as the chief executive of the Executive branch: I believe in the version of the police.” He also said that if the policemen were found guilty and jailed, he would go to jail with them.

Duterte later on went on to warn that he may declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus if the state of lawless violence continues. It is as if the writ had been a deterrent to our police forces today.

Habeas corpus is the power of the court to require the state to produce the body of a person suspected to be under police custody. With the suspen-

president. Trump emerged from that meeting saying that Analysis he would seek counsel from Obama.

Subsequently, his stance on the Affordable Care Act changed. He is saying that he will keep parts of Obama’s healthcare law that he had Frank Ching vowed to repeal, such as those portions covering people with pre-existing conditions and children living at home under the age of 26.

So, Trump, after his victory, has shown himself as surprisingly flexible. The question is, will that also apply to his pronouncements on foreign policy during the campaign, such as threatening to label China a currency manipulator and slapping a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports?

During the campaign, Trump had displayed a cavalier attitude towards the proliferation of nuclear weapons, suggesting that American allies such as Japan and South Korea may have to develop those weapons to defend themselves because the US nuclear umbrella may not be there for them.

However, the Republican Party platform unveiled in Cleveland in July, which Trump is presumably obliged to uphold, refers to “treaty alliances with

Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand” in Asia, so Trump is unlikely to lightly shed these alliances. Since his electoral triumph, he has spoken by phone with Japan’s premier, Shinzo Abe, and South Korea’s president, Park Geun-hye, both of whom want to ensure a close relationship with the new Trump

administration.

Surprisingly, as of Sunday, Trump had not received a phone call from the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, who did send him a congratulatory message.

Aside from the Republican Platform, some light on Trump’s Asia policy was shed by two of his advisers, Alexander Gray and Peter Navarro, who wrote an article in Foreign Policy, published the day before the election.

In it, the two men, commenting on Japan and South Korea, said that, “It’s only fair–-and long past time–- for each country to step up to the full cost-sharing plate.” That is to say, the alliances will be maintained but the allies will have to pay more.

This, they indicated, would also be the Trump administration’s attitude toward European allies.

Of courses, alliances are a two-way street. They

benefit the US too and an Asia without American allies will offer a less hospitable environment for Washington. Take the Philippines. If Manila denies the US access to its military bases, it will severely impair the ability of the American navy to project force into the South China Sea. But then, that may suit the new Trump administration just fine.

As for declaring China a currency manipulator, the charge comes a little too late because in the last couple of years Beijing has been propping up its currency rather than keeping it low. Moreover, imposing a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods will no doubt invite retaliation on American exports, triggering off a trade war.

It is highly unlikely that this will happen. But China should be aware that the new Trump administration is going to be highly sensitive to anything that smacks of market manipulation and much more likely to respond in a confrontational manner than its predecessor.

Interestingly, Obama was swept into office eight years ago on a mantra of change. The same thing happened to Trump. Everyone wants change, it seems, but the world isn’t changing fast enough. *** Frank.ching@gmail.com Twitter: @FrankChing1

Lawlessness and impunity

sion of the writ of habeas corpus, military and police authorities can make warrantless arrest.

Columnist Ellen Tordesillas explains what this means, when they pick up a person and bring him or her to a place only they know where, they can torture the person and his or her family cannot go to the court to ask the government to produce him.

This is the Marcos martial law story all over again.

But as Ellen laments, there is an absence of public uproar because “the public has been desensitized by all these killings. Duterte knows the public won’t mind if he takes his violation of human rights a notch higher.”

Duterte could have taken the initial stance of PNP chief Director General Bato dela Rosa who promised no whitewash in the investigation of the Espinosa case. CIDG chief Gen. Benjie Magalong told the Senate there were clear violations of police protocol and instructions on the warrant by the police team that killed Espinosa.

But Duterte’s statement, made upon his return from a state visit to Malaysia, is not surprising. He did repeatedly say he would back up the police in the course of fighting the war on drugs. He also did say it would be bloody.

Duterte’s reluctance to make a distinction between what could be called extra judicial killings and legitimate police operations is reason enough why the world is making him responsible for the over

3,000 killings so far. Police claim a decline in the crime rate, but it is obvious there is a significant increase in unsolved murder cases. This is impunity.

Duterte thinks he has no choice but to stand by the police. Duterte said he is afraid that if he is seen as less than totally supportive of the police, they would not be as enthusiastic about his war on drugs.

Duterte’s way of thinking is understandable given he has anchored the success or failure of his administration almost totally on his ability to control the drug menace. He has also taken the position that anyone involved in drugs is less than human and may be killed at will by the police.

Indeed, that was the President’s other comment on the Espinosa slaying. He said the late Mayor was a criminal and had abused his office and in so many words, does not deserve to live.

Many of us agree about Espinosa being a lowlife and should be neutralized.

But the manner it was done is contrary to what our society stands for.

It is easy to understand where the President is coming from. He had lost faith in the country’s judicial system a long time ago. A former prosecutor, he knows how the system is gamed.

Duterte believes what happened to Espinosa saved government time and money.

The problem with the conduct of his drug war, thus far, is that too many of those being killed are mere pawns of the drug lords. Mayor Espinosa is the rare suspected high level drug lord who has been killed in this campaign.

But drug lord or not, what scandalizes people is the brazenness by which Espinosa was killed inside a jail cell. It didn’t help the cover story or what some senators called “the script” didn’t hold out to scrutiny.

Now, even some of President Duterte’s staunch supporters are getting antsy about how the police can be judge and executioner. Maybe, if the police was not itself infested with so called ninja cops who deal in drugs, it would be easier to give the PNP the benefit of the doubt.

Worse, the PNP does not seem to be doing anything about the ninja cops, nothing about cleaning up the police force of undesirables. It is easy to suspect many of the EJKs have been done by police officers eager to wipe out their trail of drug dealing by finishing off their low level drug couriers. Or, they could be killing competitors by using the cover of the anti drug war.

Bella Enriquez, one of President Duterte’s staunch supporters in social media, is starting to wonder what is going on. In a post on Facebook, Ms Enriquez asked the President for reassurance that he still has his moral compass intact.

“My faith in you is not transferable to law enforcers who may be killing to save themselves because they are already part of the drug trade you hate.

“I need assurance and answers that my President who, despite the challenges of his office and the responsibilities that pull him in a thousand directions at once, has at his center a moral compass that can be relied upon to guide this nation in a way that will never endanger us.”

Other voices are issuing warnings as well. In a seminar on the Rule of Law, lawyer Chel Diokno, son of the distinguished Jose W. Diokno, said we are witnessing today hundreds, if not thousands, of people taking the law into their own hands, dispensing justice from the barrels of their guns, deciding who are guilty and who are not, who deserves to die and who deserves to live, and using fear and violence to enforce the law.

The lack of public outrage is perhaps more alarming than the unfortunate position the President has taken on the Leyte policemen. On top of that, the President warns about suspending the writ of habeas corpus.

It is as if we have not learned from history. My generation may be unfortunate enough to experience the suspension of the writ and possibly the proclamation of martial law twice in our lifetimes… both for no real compelling reason.

Marcos claimed a heightened communist insurgency. Duterte is claiming lawless violence. In both cases, the lawless violence came more from the armed forces of the state. Maybe, if we lost our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms the second time, we truly deserve it because we allowed it to happen.

It will be downhill from then on… including for the business sector which holds the rule of law as paramount.

When political power emanates from the barrel of a gun, the climate for doing business or indeed, living in such a society becomes unbearably iffy. *** Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is bchanco@gmail.com.

Follow him on Twitter @boochanco

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

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Richard Gomez probed for drugs

PINOY PADDLERS. The Philippine dragon boat team snatched two more gold medals on Sunday as it continues to paddle its way to the overall title in the 2016 Asian Dragon Boat championships held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The Filipinos capped the successful campaign with victories in the 20-seater men’s 200 meters and 10-seater men’s 200m races that hiked their collection to five gold medals.

Law dean named UP president

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines College of Law dean Danilo Concepcion will be the next president of the country’s national university, succeeding Alfredo Pascual who will end his six-year term in February 2017.

The 58-year-old Concepcion edged out five other nominees during a vote by the 11-member UP Board of Regents (BOR), the highest policy-making body of the university.

“We have a huge challenge ahead of us,” Concepcion told reporters following his selection on Monday, Nov. 14. “We have to consult. That’s the cornerstone of my management style.

(It) must be consultative.”

The law dean, topnotcher in the 1983 Bar examinations, got the majority of votes after a single-round of secret balloting among members of the board.

The breakdown of the votes was not released.

Concepcion won against former UP vice president for public affairs and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commissioner J. Prospero de Vera, who was reportedly touted as the candidate supported by the Duterte administration.

Other nominees include UP vice president for academic affairs Gisela Concepcion, former UP Diliman College of Engineer-

University of the Philippines College of Law dean Danilo Concepcion edged out five other nominees during a vote by the 11-member UP Board of Regents (BOR), the highest policymaking body of the university.

UP Diliman/Released

ing dean and Department of Science and Technology undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara, UP Diliman vice chancellor for academic affairs Benito Pacheco and former UP Diliman chancellor Caesar Saloma.

Asked about the deliberations, CHED chair Patricia Licuanan – who co-chairs the BOR with outgoing president Pascual – said the vote was “easier than expected” and that the deliberations were very friendly.

“We expect him to continue a lot of the initiatives of the past presidents,” she said of Concepcion. “He’s an excellent manager. He troubleshoots well (and) he’s a brilliant lawyer... His track record in the College of Law, he was really able to lift the perfor-

mance of UP.” For his part, Pascual said he expects the transition to be smooth and expressed confidence that the incoming president will build upon the programs that he introduced in the past six years.

“I’m confident about continuity. The next president will continue and build upon what we have started,” he said.

Consultative leadership Asked about his plans upon assuming office, Concepcion pledged to work with all sectors through a consultative management style.

He vowed to address red tape and other bureaucratic issues, including the procurement processes of the university.

“We have to make all the pro-

FORMER actor now Ormoc briefing in Manila.

City Mayor Richard Gomez is beHe said five PDEA officials, all ing investigated by the police for with the rank of director, have his alleged involvement in illegal been placed on floating status on drugs, an official of the Philipsuspicion that they are also codpine Drug Enforcement Agency dling drug dealers. He did not (PDEA) said Tuesday. name the officials but said they Gomez, husband of Leyte Rep. are under investigation and may Lucy Torres-Gomez, was includbe charged anytime. ed in the drug list submitted by “That is part of our internal slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Escleansing. We have five directors pinosa to the police. now under probe and they were The Gomez couple had denied Richard Gomez placed on floating status pending any involvement in the illegal But they are still under investi- the results of the fact-finding indrugs trade. gation,” Carreon said in a news vestigation.” (ManilaTimes.net) PDEA director Derrick Arnold Carreon said the agency is investigating several politicians suspected to be involved in illegal drugs.

“For sure, there are politicians acting as drug trade protectors. I was Region 2 head and I can say there are politicians involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

GET

cesses in the university efficient and effective,” he said.

Concepcion, the executive director of the UP Bonifacio Global City campus and a former vice president for legal affairs of the university, said he has no problem working with the Duterte administration.

“We work in an academic institution and we need the support of government, while the government needs the support of the academics,” he added.

Student regent Raoul Manuel said Concepcion was the most open to the student agenda that they presented, including the call to not hike tuition and other fees during his term.

“The student body will be there to remain vigilant and always challenge the new president to always side with the students, faculty and staff whose welfare and interests have long been pushed and forwarded,” he said.

Concepcion graduated summa cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from the De La Salle University-Araneta in 1979.

He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from UP Diliman in 1983 and topped the Bar that year. He finished Master of Laws as a Chevening Scholar at the University of London, Queen Mary College in 1986.

He previously served as president of De La Salle UniversityAraneta (2000 to 2002), head of the UP Law Center (2002 to 2006) and associate commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1996 to 2000). n

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BUSINESS& COMMUNITY Journal

PSEi now lower than end-2015 level, erasing all gains made in early 2016 calated aversion to most emerging markets.

The Philippine Stock ExInquirer.net change index (PSEi) shed 103.61 THE peso on Monday, Nov. 14 points or 1.49 percent to close at slid to an eight-year low, a level 6,871.48 Monday as foreign inof weakness previously achieved vestors trimmed their exposure at the height of the global finan- to emerging markets. cial crisis in 2008. The close of The PSEi has now fallen below 49.20 to $1 at the start of the the 6,952.08 level in end-2015. It week was the weakest since the has likewise slid by 15.3 percent local currency ended at 49.37 on from the stock barometer’s peak Dec. 4, 2008. of 8,118.44 last July.

The local stock barometer has Foreign investors were heavy also wiped out all gains made sellers in the locals stock marearlier this year 2016, sliding to ket, resulting in a net outflow of the 6,800 level as US policy risk P1.69 billion for the day. arising from Donald Trump’s At the Philippine Dealing election as the new president es- System, the domestic currency and

by Ben O. de Vera dOris dumlaO-aBadilla

reached an intraday low of 49.20 to $1 and a high of 49 after opening at 49.01. The total volume traded slid to $661.85 million from $707.5 million last Friday.

“The other regional currencies also showed weakness today because the expectation of the market is the policies that are going to be adopted by the US government [under Donald Trump] will likely lead to higher interest rates, particularly treasury rates, and as a result of that, capital flows are being moved to the US. That’s regional, emerging markets-wide,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M.

u PAGE B2

Trump’s policy on immigration is a credit negative for PH In its latest Global Sovereign Outlook 2017 titled “Negative outlook as low growth, high debt MANILA, Philippines — limit policy options,” Moody’s Moody’s Investors Service said said the policy shift under the political risks including the cam- Trump administration would be paign policies involving immigra- credit negative for the Philiption of US president-elect Donald pines.

Trump is credit negative for the “A policy shift that would Philippines. u PAGE B2 by lawrence

agcaOili Philstar.com

US president-elect Donald Trump

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016

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B NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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PLDT announces new appointments

by LoueLLa

D. DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Inc. has announced leadership changes and appointments in management as part of its new digital thrust.

“We disclose the leadership changes and appointments at PLDT in line with the company’s new mission of leading, inspiring and empowering Filipinos with customer-focused digital innovations, in creating a more aligned, cohesive and collaborative organization, as well as strengthen-

PAGE B1 t

ing the management team and reinforcing it with global talent that will help propel its digital transformation pivot,” PLDT said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday.

Leading the list of new appointments is Eric Alberto who has been named chief revenue officer (CRO) to report to the president or CEO effective Dec.1.

Alberto, who serves as head of enterprise, international and carrier business of PLDT and Smart Communications Inc., will have an expanded role as CRO which encompasses and integrates the

home, wireless, enterprise, international and information communications technology businesses across PLDT and Smart.

Alex Caeg, who heads PLDT Global Corp., meanwhile, has been named head of WCD (wireless consumer division) sales and distribution of Smart starting Dec.1, to help drive sales and revenues for PLDT’s wireless unit.

Ray Espinosa, who is head of regulatory affairs and policies at PLDT, is appointed chief corporate services officer starting Dec.1, to provide more focus on managing, organizing and syn-

as Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections might impact on remittance flows as well as trade.

“The Philippines is connected to the world economy and the repercussions of an ‘America for America’ would find its way to our shores. Trade, of course, is the most obvious link as the US is our second-largest trading partner,” Mapa said.

“Remittances, an integral part of our growth engine, may also be vulnerable but I suspect remittances will continue to find their way back home, as they always do,” he added.

In a separate report titled “Will uncertainty Trump Asia?” Oxford Economics lead Asia economist Priyanka Kishore said that “overall, we think that [Trump’s expected] protectionist measures would weigh down Asia’s growth, but inward-looking economies like India and the Philippines are likely to weather this better as compared to the more open economies like [South] Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.”

“Clearly we know little about actual Trump administration policies which will be pursued— this in itself will create uncertainty. From the election campaign, one can surmise that Mr. Trump is not exactly trade-friendly and would like to renegotiate certain security agreements. Increased tariffs toward goods made in EM (emerging markets) would have an impact on liquidity and profits within EM. Neither of these two outcomes are a positive for EM,” Citigroup said in a research note Monday.

“Until the market has greater clarity, the risk premium for risk assets will remain high. This will hurt EM,” it said.

Monday, India underperformed

other Asian markets as its main index slid by 2.69 percent. The main stock barometers in Indonesia, Hong Kong and Thailand were likewise down by more than 1 percent while stock indices in Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan also slipped. On the other hand, China’s main stock barometer rose by 0.45 percent.

“I expect volatility to continue as markets try to decipher potential policies from Trump. Having said that, there is downside risk to the market from foreign funds outflow as investors price in a Federal Reserve rate hike in December and a more aggressive fiscal expansion in the US,” said BPI Securities president Michaelangelo Oyson.

“So far, the results season has provided additional reason to be more excited by the market.

While I don’t think the BPO sector is in the line of fire of Trump’s policies of bringing back jobs back to the US, investors may continue to price in such risk as we have seen in the recent share price movements of ALI, RLC and Megaworld,” he said.

But as the market continued to correct, Oyson said the stock market was close to entering “buy” territory.

Also contributing to the PSEi’s decline apart from US policy risk was the sell-off on telecom stocks, with PLDT sliding by 4.2 percent after announcing disappointing third-quarter results.

This dragged the services counter, which fell by 2.83 percent.

The financial, holding firm and property counters were likewise heavily battered, all declining by more than 1 percent. Value turnover for the day amounted to P7.34 billion. There were nearly three times as many decliners (140) as advancers (48). n

Peso breaches 49 to…

Tetangco Jr. explained.

Bank of the Philippine Islands associate economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said the weaker peso was still due to the result of the election in the US, referring to Trump’s unexpected win as president, which pundits said was making markets jittery amid policy uncertainty.

“The US dollar-peso [pair] jumped higher as the dollar continued to pummel regional currencies on soaring US treasury yields. Chances for a Fed rate hike were also bumped up in reaction to comments from Fed Vice Chair Fischer, lending more strength to the dollar.

Heavy foreign selling in the local equity market, which fell 1.49 percent, also forced the peso to see its weakest level since Dec. 4, 2008,” Mapa said. “But I believe this is temporary and the peso will recover. I don’t think the peso will go beyond 50 to a greenback and we maintain our forecast of 49.02 versus the dollar by yearend.”

Despite the weaker peso and external shocks, economists were optimistic that the Philippines would continue to sustain strong economic growth amid solid fundamentals.

“In terms of financial flows, the Philippines is currently buffeted by the ‘Trumpest’ as the PSEi craters below 7,000 and bond markets finally reprice. The peso has also been under siege but with more than $85 billion tucked away in Tetangco’s piggy bank, we are seen to ride out the storm better than we had in 1997,” Mapa said in a separate report Monday, referring to the country’s robust dollar reserves.

For Mapa, the Philippines would “weather the storm” even

(L-R) Alberto, Caeg, Espinosa, and Brunner

chronizing functions including corporate affairs and legal services, regulatory affairs and policies, supply chain management, property and facilities management, asset protection and risk management, business continuity and resilience, data privacy, and corporate communications and public affairs.

Appointed as chief customer experience and data analytics advisor effective Jan.1, 2017 is Ralph Brunner, who formerly served as senior vice president, global marketing strategy, advanced data analytics and chief marketing officer for Asia of New York-based Metropolitan Life Insurance. He will be responsible for leading the business analytics functions across PLDT. Liza Sichon, a seasoned global human resources practitioner with previous posts as vice president for human resources, human resources transformation, communications and operations for Hewlett Packard, and vice president international: mergers and acquisitions human resources for Avaya Inc., will serve as chief people and culture officer beginning Dec.1.

Named as enterprise, interna-

tional and carrier business digital marketing strategy head starting Dec.1 is Carlo Ople, the founder and editor-in-chief of technology and gadget website Unbox.ph.

Other appointments, meanwhile, took effect earlier.

The appointment of Keith Walter, who has over 30 years of management and technical experience with leading telecoms, high tech and retail companies, as information technology (IT) transformation advisor of the business transformation office of PLDT took effect last Oct.23.

Jerry Brace was appointed chief information advisor responsible for the design, development and implementation of PLDT’s IT strategies effective Sept.12.

John Nelson Ladaban’s appointment as PLDT Group corporate-wide chief credit, collection and churn management officer took effect Sept. 1.

Winston Damarillo heads PLDT Capital, which serves as the holding company of PLDT’s investments in internet or overthe-top companies.

PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said earlier he expects next year to be annus mirabilis or a wonderful year, as the

company hopes to achieve better financial results through higher core earnings and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), with the changes in management.

He has described this year as annus horribilis or a horrible year as the company faced challenges given intense price competition and the continuing shift of customers from voice/SMS services to data.

PLDT’s consolidated core income declined 20 percent yearon-year to P21.7 billion in the January to September period, while normalized core income, which removes exceptionals such as asset sales and impact of subsidies, reached P16 billion as of end-September this year, down 33 percent from the same period in 2015.

Pangilinan said PLDT expects to start the search for a new CEO who will lead the company in its new thrust of putting more focus on digital services for customers, by next year.

Pangilinan assumed the position of president and CEO of PLDT following the retirement of Napoleon Nazareno on Dec.31 last year. n

Trump’s policy on immigration is a credit…

PAGE B1 t

disrupt immigration into the US would be credit negative for countries more highly dependent on remittance flows including El Salvador, Philippines and Vietnam,” Moody’s said.

Cash remittances account for about 10 percent of the country’s domestic output as measured by the gross domestic product.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects remittances to grow four percent this year. The amount of money sent home by Filipinos abroad rose 4.6 percent to $17.64 billion from January to August versus the $16.87 billion recorded in the same period last year.

There are about 10 million Filipinos working and living abroad

who are sending cash to their loved ones in the Philippines.

The debt watcher pointed out that political risks are rising in many countries and regions.

“In general, political developments become relevant to ratings if they threaten to undermine a country’s economic resilience or a government’s fiscal strength, or if they undermine policy effectiveness, i.e., the ability to develop and implement credit-positive policies,” it said.

According to Moody’s, the election of Trump as the 45th president of the US exemplifies the potential of unpredictable political outcome.

It said the election’s outcome would rest in part on future US trade, immigration and security.

For the Philippines, Moody’s tagged the focus on political issues as the most likely source of geo-political risk as this would hamper growth.

It added the Duterte administration would be less effective in policy making due to political risks.

President Duterte launched tirades against US President Barack Obama, UN secretary general Ban Kimoon and the European Union for allegedly meddling in the government’s war against illegal drugs that already claimed the lives of more than 3,000 suspected drug pushers and addicts.

Moody’s said fiscal stimulus could prop up growth but carries risks for sovereign ratings. n

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Community Journal

What is new: Federal penalties for late W2s and 1099s

What’s New ARlene Al-os, CPA, MBA JANUARY 31, 2017 is the new deadline for filing 2016 Forms W-2 and W-3 both in paper forms and electronic. If you need 30-day extension complete Form 8809.

There are penalties for the late filing of W2s for employee compensation payments and Form1099 Misc for non-employee compensation payments in box 7.These penalties are based on the length of time that the returns are filed late.

The categories of information return penalties are: late filing with the IRS and late furnishing to employees or independent contractors.

1. These penalties apply for the late filing of per return of W-2s and 1099s, due by January 31: A. $50 if filed within 30 days from due date.

B. $100 if filed by August 1.

C. $260 if filed after August 1 or never filed.

2. The maximum penalties for A, B, C mentioned in 1. above are $532,000, $1,596,500, and $3,193,000 per year, respectively. These maximum penalties are lowered for small businesses to $186,000, $532,000, and $1,064,000 per year. You are considered a small business if your annual gross receipts is $5M or less for the last three years or since the business began if less than three years.

3. You could be subject to penalties for furnishing W-2s and 1099s late to your employees or independent contractors by the required date January 31 for W-2s and 1099s. And the penalty amount is based on when you furnish the correct payee statement under code section 6722. This is an additional penalty and is applied in the same manner, and with the same amounts, as in failure to file correct information returns under code section 6721 by the due date.

4. The penalties increases to at least $530 per form W-2 if the failure to provide W-2s and 1099s to workers is due to intentional disregard of rules. There is no maximum penalty for this.

5. These penalties also apply if the returns are incomplete or incorrect.

6. There are exceptions for

having these penalties abated.

Penalty exceptions for failure to file correct information returns: • The penalty will not apply to any failure that you can show was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Generally, you must be able to show that your failure was due to an event beyond your control or due to significant mitigating factors.

In addition, you must be able to show that you acted in a responsible manner and took steps to avoid the failure.

2. An inconsequential error or omission is not considered a failure to include correct information. An inconsequential error or omission does not prevent or hinder the SSA/IRS from processing the Form W-2, from correlating the information required to be shown on the form with the information shown on the payee’s tax return, or from otherwise putting the form to its intended use. Errors and omissions that are never inconsequential are those relating to: • A TIN, • A payee’s surname, and • Any money amounts.

3. De minimis rule for corrections. Even though you cannot show reasonable cause, the penalty for failure to file correct Forms W-2 will not apply to a certain number of returns if you: • Filed those Forms W-2 on or before the required filing date, • Either failed to include all of the information required on the form or included incorrect information, and • Filed corrections of these forms by August 1.

If you meet all of the de minimis rule conditions, the penalty for filing incorrect information returns (including Form W-2) will not apply to the greater of 10 information returns (including Form W-2) or one-half of 1% of the total number of information returns (including Form W-2) that you are required to file for the calendar year.

4. Forms W-2 with incorrect dollar amounts may fall under a safe harbor for certain de minimis errors. The safe harbor applies if no single amount in error differs from the correct amount by more than $100 and no single amount reported for tax withheld

differs from the correct amount by more than $25.

If the safe harbor applies, you will not have to correct the Form W-2 and it will be treated as having been filed with all of the correct required information. However, the safe harbor does not apply if the payee elects to have you issue a corrected return.

5. Exceptions to the failure to furnish correct payee statements.

An inconsequential error or omission is not considered a failure to include correct information. An inconsequential error or omission cannot reasonably be expected to prevent or hinder the payee from timely receiving correct information and reporting it on his or her income tax return or from otherwise putting the statement to its intended use.

Errors and omissions that are never inconsequential are those relating to: • A dollar amount, • A significant item in a payee’s address, and • The appropriate form for the information provided, such as whether the form is an acceptable substitute for the official IRS form.

7.File Extension Form 8809 to get you 30 days extension from the original filing date of January 31. Complete Form 8809 using FIRE system at https:fire.irs. gov or if completed on paper: 1) fax to 1-877-477-0572 or 2) send to Internal Revenue Service, Attention: Extension of Time Coordinator, 240 Murall Drive, Mail Stop 4360, Kearneyville, WV 25430.

9.You may request for one additional extension for 30 days or less by submitting second Form 8809 before the end of the first extension.

In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication is not to be considered a “covered opinion” or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for IRS audit, tax dispute, or any other purpose. ***

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

MY husband and I and my sister Olga were having breakfast after mass at the Holy Family Church and school fundraiser in Glendale California two years ago one beautiful fall morning when a statuesque, well groomed lady holding her breakfast tray asked if she could join us. We said yes of course. There weren’t enough tables and chairs in the auditorium at the time.

After a few pleasantries and the frost among strangers had thawed, the woman indicated that she was from the East Coast and she was visiting her son who lived in the city. She was staying in a hotel for a few days and had checked online for the nearest church where she could attend mass. She remarked that the church with Spanish architecture built in the 1920’s was beautiful.

The conversation around the table was light at first, meandering around innocuous, safe topics. Out of nowhere, she asked us to pray for her son. Startled at first, I asked what her son’s name was and we all must have made a mental note of it. It seems that her 36-year old son who is an engineer, with so much going for him, had a major relapse in his bid to overcome his alcoholic addiction — yet again.

His poison of choice – vodka.

She was in town to check him in to a rehab facility and taking a chance on a new drug that would have adverse, irreversible ramifications if there is recidivism or if he ever went back to the bottle.

In short, it was a last ditch attempt to end his addiction.

Over breakfast we had a glimpse of the turmoil the woman was going through in seeing a loved one going through the repeated cycles of addiction and rehabilitation, only to go through it over and over again– a seemingly hopeless struggle that many battle with these days.

It is like Sisyphus of Greek mythology who was punished by the gods for chronic deceitfulness and wickedness. He was Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation cursed for eternity to roll a rock provides accounting and tax services uphill only to have fate roll it to individuals, corporations, LLCs and back downhill just when success business entities. The Firm has a niche in at lodging it safely on top of a defending taxpayers audited by the IRS steep hill was a sure thing.

She let slip that another son and other governmental agencies. had died in the last year, the (Advertising Supplement) reason for which, she didn’t mention. And she would have to come again and visit in December because her alcoholic son has an ex-girlfriend who is pregnant and is due by then. You can’t make this stuff up. Life is just so tough that her face was etched in pain. Yet there was also a brief glimpse of hope for the baby about to be born. Grief, just like joy, has way of welling up within and spilling over.

We listened to her over breakfast aware that she just wanted to ease up some of the heavy burden that was troubling her. A lot of us are like this woman. We each have problems that seem too much to bear until we reach

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Prayer: The most powerful force in the universe “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

out and ask others to pray for us, even strangers we will never ever see again. We ask others to knock and bang on the doors of heaven with a battering ram, if need be, to beg for help on our behalf.

In many ways, each one of us can be a prayer warrior. Often, we come to church just to be with others who are a bit like us, seeking one another’s company in seeking God’s help in many ways, big and small. Because we know deep down, by ourselves we can do nothing.

Just as gravity holds the physical universe together, prayer draws the spirit universe together among kindred souls. The power of prayer is unimaginable among those whose faith is built on solid rock.

If you can, please pray for this anonymous woman Mrs. B and her son G. Mother and son both need prayers so badly; for the son to break the bonds of addiction once and for all and for the mother or the strength and the fortitude to endure her trials and finally, for both mother and son to find the peace, serenity and just maybe, hope and joy even in a season of darkness.

And while we’re at it, we might as well decide to make time for prayer ourselves. We need to grit our teeth and cut off the electronic leash that is so much a part of our lives these days.

We know we are in deep trouble when we have to post the latest “selfies” on FB even while we are in the restroom. Isn’t it time we weaned ourselves from having to spend too much time tethered to our gadgets? Our obsession with our tech toys may very well be another form of addiction.

Dwell in the silence for that is where God is. How can God speak to us if our ears are stuffed up, our hearts are not right and our minds are cluttered with non-essentials all the time? Modern life is much too full of inane, sometimes insane, distractions assailing all our senses during our waking hours to make time for God. Perhaps we can even pray for complete strangers and those in our immediate orbit who we know are in dire straits but are either too timid or too proud to ask for help. There are people who feel diminished if they ask for help. They label themselves as proudly independent. The truth is that they are poor, unfortunate fools severely afflicted with hubris. Hubris, that extreme form of pride, the same brand that brought down the fallen angels, always prevents humans from seeking help.

When we pray, we need to learn how to delete specifics.

God knows specifics — our blood type, our DNA, even the

number of hair on our heads.

God knows what we are asking for. The how, what, why, when and where of answers to prayers will have to be his call and his alone.

God’s love for us is beyond all telling. It will be between God and each one of us alone in the silence of our hearts. It will be that space and time where there is no FB, no Instagram, no Snapchat, no Twitter — none of the things that tend to make pompous asses of ourselves demanding attention and approval from others.

The answer to prayers is God’s call alone. We ask for help but end our prayers in humble supplication saying as Jesus said in agony as he prayed to the Father, “ … yet not my will, but yours be done.” We are simply conduits, pipelines of the flow of good that comes from God. But there is a residual effect when we suit up and become prayer warriors.

The prayers we pray build layer upon layer an intangible aura of light and goodness that soak us, permeate and envelop us. And just like in the physical universe, what goes around always comes around. The laws of cause and effect also govern the spiritual universe.

It is uncanny but most of us who try our best to nurture a spiritual life even as we take care of our bodies, have that instinctive gift for detecting which among us emanate this invisible shield of energy and light.

They are usually the ones with the quiet or sometimes effusive, contagious joy about them.

Strangely, we tend to gravitate towards such people.

After all, as humans, we are all in this together, from one generation to the next. As the Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once so astutely said of humanity: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

I have the strangest feeling that with faith and unceasing prayer, both mother and son and his new family will be just fine in the end. There is no doubt it will be a long tough slog but they won’t be alone. The woman has faith. She reaches out and asks for prayers and the ripple of powerful heartfelt prayers builds up like a tsunami wave that will burst open heaven’s door for the graces they need.

Will we ever know for certain of the outcome? Perhaps not, but that is what faith does. We do not need to know. We simply trust in God’s ways. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Atty. RAyMond BulAon

How you can get your family out of debt — safely and legally

AS we prepare to wrap up another year, I still see a lot of families who are at the end of their financial rope with no place to turn for help with all types of debt problems. Some of them are paralyzed and feel stuck in their situation, unable to move forward and afraid that they might make the wrong decision. So they continue to live in fear not knowing what creditors might do next. This is a scary situation to be in, I understand, but let me tell you that things don’t have to be this way.

If you have ever been in debt, you know what I mean. Have you ever received that dreaded collection letter that says you need to pay now or else something really bad is going to happen to you? That could mean that you’re being sued by a creditor or if there’s already been a judgment, that your wages will now be garnished. And then there’s also the bank levy- every bill collector’s sneaky way of freezing your bank account without warning.

How are you going to pay your bills if one day you find out that whatever little money in your bank account has been wiped out to pay a judgment? That will not be a good day, I guarantee you that.

Fact: You’re NOT Alone, And It’s Not Necessarily Your Fault!

The truth is that we are living in extremely difficult times. Over the last several years, I have seen a lot of people lose their homes, savings, retirement plans and everything that they’ve worked hard for in their struggle for fi-

nancial survival. More and more people are finding it difficult or impossible to pay their credit card bills, mortgage, personal loans, medical bills and all other debts they’ve incurred for living expenses.

Contrary to what some people may think, these people are your everyday, honest, hard-working individuals just like you and me who just want the best for themselves and their families- but for mostly reasons beyond their control, they have found themselves in a very tight financial spot. You may be currently having trouble paying your bills for any number of reasons: – You lost your job.

– Your business failed.

– You separated or got divorced – You suffered an illness or injury that left you with uncovered medical bills.

– You have maxed out your credit cards because you’ve been using credit out of necessity to pay even for basic necessities like food, clothing, rent, mortgage or property taxes.

– You cannot get a home equity loan like you used to because your house has no equity.

The interest rate on your mortgage has reset from the initial rate and your mortgage payments have become unaffordable.

Whatever the reasons might be, you need a solution to get out of the financial mess that you’re in- the sooner the better. Marriages and families often break up during a financial crisis because it puts an enormous amount of

Minding Your Finances

stress on relationships. And if you have children who are depending on you for support, the family’s security and financial future are at risk.

If your family’s welfare is at risk due to pending collection actions against you, you need to act quickly before it’s too late.

Sadly, most people don’t get the right information that they need to get help because they are fed all kinds of misinformation- some of it from the bill collectors themselves. For example, they may tell you that bankruptcy is the ‘worst thing you can ever do’ or that you will probably not qualify anyway so what’s the point.

These are typical lies that bill collectors often tell you because they don’t want you to know your legal rights. Don’t fall for this.

Seek the advice of a competent bankruptcy attorney who can help you review your options.

I offer a free one-hour consultation to everyone who needs help in getting out of debt, whatever debt problems they may have (credit cards, personal loans, judgments, student loans, medical bills, IRS taxes, just to name a few). For a free CONFIDENTIAL consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866-4777772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation.

Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt.

For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

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B NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes QUESTION: I contributed money which I saved before the marriage into purchasing a property during the marriage which I acquired with my spouse in joint name. During the marriage we cashed out most of the equity in that house to purchase several properties. The first house we purchased no longer has a lot of equity due to the cash out refi but the subsequent houses we purchased has a lot of equity.

My spouse just filed for divorce.

Can I seek reimbursement for my separate money that I contributed from all the subsequent houses we purchased during the marriage?

Answer: Family Code Section 2640, subdivision (b), provides, “In the division of the community estate under this division, unless a party has made a written waiver of the right to reimbursement or has signed a writing that has the effect of a waiver, the party shall be reimbursed for the

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Can I get reimbursed for my separate property contribution from all subsequent community properties purchased during marriage? party’s contributions to the acquisition of the property to the extent the party traces the contributions to a separate property source. The amount reimbursed shall be without interest or adjustment for change in monetary values and shall not exceed the net value of the property at the time of the division.” Section 2640, subdivision (a), provides, “ ‘Contributions to the acquisition of the property,’ as used in this section, include downpayments, payments for improvements, and payments that reduce the principal of a loan used to finance the purchase or improvement of the property but do not include payments of interest on the loan or payments made for maintenance, insurance, or taxation of the property.” Under Family Code Section 2640, the separate property contribution is reimbursed prior to the division of community property. In re Marriage of Witt (1987) 197 Cal.App.3d 103, 105, 108–109, 242 Cal.Rptr. 646; In re Marriage of Tallman (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 1697, 1698–1700,

28 Cal.Rptr.2d 323; Hogoboom & King, Cal. Practice Guide: Family Law 2 (The Rutter Group 1997) ¶ 8:466, p. 8–118.1 In other words “A reimbursement award comes off the top of the community property item in question ***859 **1127 before the [community property] interest in that property is divided.” (Italics omitted.) ].) If there is insufficient equity at the time of dissolution in the property to which the contribution was made to fully reimburse the contribution, the entire asset is awarded to the contributing spouse. In re Marriage of Witt, supra, 197 Cal.App.3d at pp. 105, 108–109, 242 Cal.Rptr. 646.

The right of reimbursement under family code section 2640 goes further than the initial property purchased during the marriage. In Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998), the California Supreme Court held that a spouse’s reimbursement right upon dissolution for a separate property contribution to a community property acquisition carries through to other community

EMPLOYMENT

property subsequently acquired with proceeds from original acquisition. Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998). In other words, you can seek reimbursement for the separate money you contributed, not only from the initial property purchased jointly during the marriage but also from any subsequent properties you were able to purchase during the marriage by refinancing the initial property provided you can trace the separate funds through the various purchase transactions.

However, your right to reimbursement is limited to the separate money you actually contributed. You do not get to share in any of the of appreciation of the community property houses. Any appreciation above your separate contribution gets credited to the community.

Where spouse contributes separate property to an acquisition of community property, and proceeds from original acquisition are later used to acquire other community property, spouse’s

recovery of proceeds from subsequently acquired property is limited in dissolution proceeding to the amount of spouse’s original contribution that can be traced to that subsequently acquired asset; community is entitled to any appreciation in that asset above the amount necessary to reimburse spouse for original separate property contribution.

Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998).

In Walrath, Husband contributed $146,000 of his separate property into a house purchased jointly in California during the marriage while Wife contributed $20,000 of her separate property into that house. During the marriage, the couple refinanced and took out $180,000 which was used to purchase a house in Utah and a house in Nevada. Due to the refi and due to a decrease in real estate prices, the California property only had $1,000 in equity which was clearly insufficient to reimburse husband and wife during their divorce of each one’s separate property contri-

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FOR RENT

bution. However, the couple was able to get reimbursement from the subsequently purchased Utah and Nevada property by tracing their respective separate property contributions to the subsequently purchased property. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 58. He is not divorced but separated for 20 years. His income is good. He nets about $7K to $8K a month.

He lives by himself and does not even own a car. He goes carpooling with a relative to go to work.

His rent is $800 a month. So, he doesn’t really have too much monthly expenses of necessities for himself, except his food expense is about $1K a month with 3 meals a day; spends at least $30 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner eating out. His problem is $84K of credit cards.

He needs $2,800 a month for minimum credit card payments.

He appears to be able to afford making that payment because his disposable income, based on net income of $7K to $8K and actual monthly necessities, excluding credit card debt payment of $2,800 is about $3,000.

In other words, every month, he has $3,000 available to pay $2,800 of credit card debt, which he has been paying for 15 years.

He therefore has paid $504,000 in the last 15 years for minimum monthly credit card payments but still owes the same $84K of credit cards! Well, half a million dollars is a fortune by most standards, unless you’re a billionaire who can afford to pay half a million dollars for 3 or 4 Ferraris without flinching. I’m sure that many people would rather have half a million dollars sitting in their retirement account, instead of $84K of credit cards!

But $84K of credit cards is what client still has even after paying $504,000 to master card and visa in the last 15 years. If he had wiped out these credit cards in 2001, client probably would have about $1M of equities in his portfolio by now.

But instead of being a millionaire at 58, he has a lot of problems. He lives by himself, has chronic back pain and has received a lawsuit from one of the credit card companies.

Now, where is his $3K monthly disposable income going into?

Because I can see clearly that based on his current income and expense, he is able to float out $3K of disposable income every month. So I ask him if he has relatives who don’t live with him that he sends money to. His

Community Journal

LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016

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Client with good income seeks USCIS policy allows waiting beneficiaries Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 relief of approved I-130 filed by Filipino World for $84K credit card debt War II veteran father or surviving spouse to come to US ahead of their priority date face lighted up as he informs me that he sends about $1K to his son abroad, and $1K each to his brother and sister who also live abroad. His son has just started college abroad and client pays for all his college tuition and living expenses abroad. He sends $2K abroad, which is split 50/50 between his brother and sister who have their own families abroad. Apparently, both his brother and sister do not make enough to make ends meet so client takes care of both of them.

His remits to his son, brother and sister more than $3K a month. This eats up all of his current monthly disposable income. It’s either he pays $2,800 a month to credit cards, or sends $3K a month to his son, brother and sister who need the money to survive. It’s not a hard choice to make.

It appears that client was making a lot more than $7K to $8K a month before when he was younger. When he was younger he was making a net of $120K a year, or $10K a month.

But his back has been giving him problems starting last year when he could not work at all because of chronic back pain.

In his line of work, he has to do a lot of physical work, which has taken a toll on his back. He was on disability for the last 12 months until August he has been off disability. But when I saw him today, he was still contorting and grimacing due to back pain.

I’ve had back pain too and believe me, as you get older, it does not take too much physical activity to trigger back pain.

I used to be able to do my gardening for 3 or 4 hours straight without any back problem. But nowadays, the most I can garden is one hour straight. If I do more than one hour of gardening, my back begins to act up and the pain from the pelvis starts to rear its ugly head. So, I have no doubt that since client has gone back to physical work, I don’t really know how long he can continue working with that kind of back pain.

Faced with the foregoing circumstances, what client needs is bankruptcy relief to get rid of $84K of credit cards. But will client qualify for Chapter

7 relief where all of the $84K will just be wiped out without a single payment from client, or is his case really a Chapter 13?

Well, this could be a nail biter just like the 2016 presidential elections. I was for Hillary, who, according to all the polls and pundits in the last 12 months was a sure winner, but in the end, she lost. Well, it must be God’s will for Trump to be our president. God’s ways are truly mysterious and unfathomable by us mere mortals. I’m really concerned for all the 11M immigrants who appear now have no path to be legalized under Trump. Let’s wait and see what happens. Let’s pray that our God, the one and only true God, the God of Moses and Israel, my God as well, will speak to Trump and guide him on the immigration matter. I am praying for a miracle on this matter for God’s greater glory.

If we file this as a Chapter 7, there could be objections from the US trustee on the $2K that he sends to his brother and sister since he is not really required by law to make these payments. In other words, Chapter 13 would be a safer bet.

Maybe the court will accept a $400 a month plan payment for 60 months. This means he pays $24K out of the $84K credit cards, and the court discharges $64K. That’s a 30% payment.

It’s not too bad. But let’s see, I still have to crunch out the means test to see what is possible and not. This remains to be seen but certainly he needs bankruptcy relief and will go for it. He doesn’t want a 25% garnishment of his wages from the lawsuit he just received. Can’t blame him, nobody wants to lose 25% of one’s gross wages to a garnishment.

“This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” — Psalm 48:14

*** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

UNDER the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) policy, USCIS will allow certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions to request a grant of parole so that they may come to the U.S. as they wait for their priority date to become current. The policy recognizes the contributions of Filipino veterans who served in World War II, and allows relatives of such elderly Filipino veterans and their spouses to come to the U.S. to provide care and support for them.

USCIS will consider requests for FWVP parole submitted for certain relatives who are the beneficiaries of approved familybased immigrant visa petitions filed by Filipino veterans or their surviving spouses. If the request for parole is approved, the beneficiary and his/her immediate family would be allowed to come to the U.S. and live in the U.S. while waiting for their priority date to become current, at which point they would be allowed to adjust to permanent resident status.

Those who may request parole under FWVP are persons 1) who are the beneficiaries of an approved I-130 Petition (including spouse and children); 2) whose petitioning relative is residing in the U.S. (or if deceased, was residing in the U.S. at the time of death); 3) who are waiting for their priority date to become current under the Department of State’s visa bulletin; and 4) whose petitioning relatives have established they are either Filipino World War II Veterans or are the surviving spouse.

Under FWVP, the Filipino World War II veteran must have served in World War II as a member of the Philippine Army, a recognized guerilla unit, the Philippines Scouts, or within any other component of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE). USCIS will review government records to verify the Filipino World War II veteran’s military service. The petitioner who requested parole for his relative beneficiary under FWVP will be provided an opportunity to establish the World War II service if it cannot be found in government records.

When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the Filipino World War II veteran, individuals who obtain parole under FWVP include beneficiaries under any family-sponsored preference category. When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the surviving spouse of a Filipino World War II veteran, only individuals who are the child, son, or daughter of the surviving spouse who is also the child, son, or daughter of the Filipino World War II veteran can seek parole under FWVP. In cases where the petitioning relative is deceased, a beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP but first must seek humanitarian reinstatement of the approved I-130 filed on the beneficiary’s behalf.

Once the I-130 is reinstated, the beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP. It is important to note that the above requirements are preliminary requirements for eligibility under FWVP. The grant of parole by USCIS under FWVP is made on a discretionary, case-by-case basis.

In addition, following the first 4 years of FWVP’s implementation, USCIS will evaluate whether FWVP should be phased out at the end of 5 years. It is accordingly recommended that you promptly seek the advice and assistance of an experienced attorney, who can confirm eligibility and present facts in support of the favorable exercise of discretion by USCIS in granting the parole request. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association.

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw. com.

(Advertising Supplement)

FASO’s Christmas Concert in Glendale, CA THE Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, as it presents “A Christmas Concert” on Saturday, December 3, 6:00 p.m. at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center in Glendale,

California. FASO will play Christmas carols, accompanied by the voices of various choir groups.

John Wayne Performing Arts Center is located at 1440 E. Broadway, Glendale, California 91205. For tickets, call Andy Tecson (323) 467-5096; Bob Shroder

(818) 395-8936; and Arlene Ferrolino (213) 248-9850.

Tickets are also available athttp://fasochristmas.eventbrite. com/.

Tickets are at $25, $45 and $75. More information at www. fasofoundation.org. n

B NOVEMBER 16-18, 2016 • LA MIDWEEK ASIAN JOURNAL

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cover story The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 16, 2016

The history of Thanksgiving: Celebrating past the turkey

by AJPRESS

THANKSGIVING is a particularly American holiday. The word evokes images of football, family reunions, roasted turkey with stuffing, pumpkin pie and, of course, shopping. However, the holiday is much more than that.

In 1609, a group of Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England moved to Holland.

They lived in Holland for a number of years until a group of English investors — the Merchant Adventurers — financed a trip for more than 100 passengers to the New World.

The set sail on Sept. 6, 1820 via the ship Mayflower from England, On Sept. 6, 1620. They arrived in the New World after 65 days and settled in a town called Plymouth in what is now called Massachusetts. The Pilgrims’ first winter was so harsh that fewer than 50 of the group survived the season. Most of the colonists remained on board the ship during that brutal winter, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy, and outbreaks of contagious disease.

In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English.

Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had

been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition.

Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years and tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. It is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For over two centuries, Thanksgiving was celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1939 a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each every fourth Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving has always been viewed as an example of the possibility of great respect

and cooperation between two different cultures. However, others see it as a symbol of the colonists’ eventual persecution of the American Indians. Sadly, the friendly spirit of the first Thanksgiving and the 50-year period of peace that followed is one exception in a long history of bloodshed between Native American tribes and European settlers.

In 1970, some American Indians began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day to remember the violence and discrimination suffered by their ancestors.

The Day of Mourning is observed by gathering at the top of “Coles Hill,” which overlooks Plymouth Rock.

Today, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost a lot of its original historical significance. The holiday now centers mostly on cooking, feasting with family and friends, entertainment and shopping. In fact, many Americans know little about the history, as well as its true meaning.

In essence, Thanksgiving should be considered as an expression of gratitude — for survival, the recognition of a flourishing community and life; and unity. With these in mind, we humbly reflect upon all the gifts (family, friends, health) that saturate our lives. By “giving-thanks” we choose to extend ourselves and share or give to others our time, resources and care.

What’s on the table for Thanksgiving?

AS its name suggests, Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on giving thanks for the numerous blessings in our lives. During the meal — whether held at lunch or dinnertime — it is tradition to go around and answer the question, “What are you grateful for?”

But beyond the significance of the holiday, it is known as a day for indulging and filling your stomach alongside loved ones and friends. What a Thanksgiving meal comprises of may vary from family to family but there are some dishes that are typically found at the dining table:

TURKEY This bird, whether roasted, baked or deep-fried, is undoubtedly the star of this holiday. On Thanksgiving Day, nearly 90 percent of Americans gather together to carve and feast on a turkey, which is why this holiday is casually called “Turkey Day.” Though several historians have argued that this particular bird was absent from the first Thanksgiving feast, it is said that it became a staple after the Civil War. The size of the turkey is perhaps why the tradition began in the first place: it is enough to feed an entire family.

Though the preparation of the turkey takes several hours on average, it is well worth the

wait once you start digging in and even better, there is usually enough leftover meat for subsequent meals!

STUFFING The table spread is also not complete without stuffing, which is made from bread, herbs and other ingredients you wish to include. It has been translated into different versions over the years; some opt to use sausage, oysters or vegetables. It can be prepared by stuffing it inside the turkey, while others make it separately to serve as a side dish, which is called dressing.

CRANBERRY SAUCE In addition to gravy, cranberry sauce is a sweet

condiment that surprisingly pairs well with the turkey and the other savory sides. The simplest way to create it is by boiling and mixing fresh cranberries with sugar. Though some may argue against having canned cranberry jelly present at the meal, it has become part of an iconic Thanksgiving meal because of its convenience and cheaper cost.

MASHED POTATOES Whether you use Idaho Russets or sweet potatoes, the spuds in mashed form continuously prove to be a perfect side to the main dishes.

PUMPKIN PIE A Thanksgiving feast usually caps off with a warm

pumpkin pie. A symbol of fall, pumpkin was not widely used to make pie for Thanksgiving dinner until the 19th century.

It is commonly served a la mode with a scoop of vanilla

ice cream or with a dollop of whipped cream on top. In addition to pumpkin, other pies popularly baked are pecan, apple and sweet potato.

(AJPress)

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For Ogie, every song is a love song counter with Ocampo was more emotional. “i was still in high school then and i had just broOgie Alcasid heartily agrees ken up with my girlfriend. One afternoon, i was grocery shopwith the belief of fellow songping at the South Supermarket writers Rey Valera and Louie when i heard this song. ‘Sa Ocampo that the best driving bawat pag-ikot ng ating buhay, power for composing songs is alam ko kailangan na maghilove. “Lagi namang love,” he walay….’” it was Joey Albert says. “it is the strongest emosinging Louie’s song ikaw Lang tion. As far as i can remember, Ang Mamahalin and every note sa bawat kanta ko ay in love was hitting him in the gut. “i was ako. Well, there are times when going ouch! while pushing the i have to do commissioned grocery cart across the aisles. works already with a plot but even then, my personal feelings, But i liked the song so much that i went and bought the 45 most often love, also enter the RPM record.” picture.”

Ogie was a teenager in Thrown together for the college at La Salle when he got concert “Kanta Ko,” “Panahon into singing with the Kundirana N’yo” which will be held at the group. This was followed by Kia Theatre in Araneta Center writing songs. Soon armed with on Dec. 2, Ogie is happy to be his first composition, “Peks able to work closely with his idols. “Rey Valera was one of my Man,” he went into recording.

The song was very well-received inspirations when i was starting and despite the availability of out,” recalls Ogie. “i think it is stable options awaiting him in the same with most other new songwriters. There is something the family business after graduation, Ogie went full-time into so easy about his songs, which singing and writing songs. i tried to emulate noon. Very Some 30 years later, he is simple but very powerful. i idolized Rey so much that when still at it and very successful, not only as a singer and composer they asked me for anything i but also as a comedian in the wanted for my movies and television. Ogie first concert, laments the fact that a lot of i would ask people, even those close to for Rey. him like his children, see him He was more as a comedian than a my guest singer and songwriter. “it must at the Folk be because of television. i do Arts Thenot really mind. i enjoy doing ater.” both and i am very grateful for Ogie’s the success.” But while he first engives equal dedication to everything he does, the one that Ogie gets most personally involved with is the music.

He remembers that time when he composed “Pangarap Ko Ang ibigin Ka” for fellow singer Regine Velasquez. “Reg had a movie coming up and i was asked to write the theme song. Viva had no title yet for the movie so i titled the song “Pangarap Ko Ang ibigin Ka,” because that was how i felt about Regine although i couldn’t tell Ogie Alcasid: Lagi namang love. It is the strongest emotion. her. “=Pangarap ko talaAs far as I can remember, sa bawat kanta ko ay in love ako.

by BaBy

a. Gil

Philstar.com

gang ibigin siya.” Ogie then was still married to Australian beauty queen Michelle van eimeren and therefore had to keep his feelings for Regine secret.

The incident makes one wonder. Was “Kailangan Ko’y ikaw” also about his hidden feelings for Regine? What about “Hanggang Ngayon?” Then the songs “Magpakailanman,” “ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap” and “Kailangan Kita” were probably the joyous results of that time when Ogie’s painful love triangle was sorted out and he and Regine were able to get married.

This does not mean though that because he has settled down he has also stopped relying on love for his songwriting subject. “Tahimik na ang buhay but the love is always there although i have noticed that i have become more spiritual lately. i sing and i listen to a lot of praise songs these days. Ang gaganda ng mga kanta.”

His latest release, “ikaw Ang Buhay Ko,” combines his love for god and for Regine. Dedicated to his wife on their fifth anniversary, the album “celebrates the joys and the challenges of marriage with a human being who is kind, giving, funny and most of all, god-fearing. it is indeed a blessing to be married to someone who loves the Lord as much as i do as He has prepared us for the hills and valleys of our married life.”

To put these sentiments in songs, Ogie has chosen 10 compositions, some of them his own and the rest by other songwriters. “ikaw Ang Buhay Ko, Habang Buhay” (“Saranghaeyo”), “i Love You” and “The Lord is Our Savior” are the new works

by Ogie. “ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap” is his version of a song he wrote for Martin Nievera to sing as a teleserye theme. The other cuts are covers of popular tunes.

“Tanging Yaman” by Manoling Francisco; “Hawak Kamay” by Yeng Constantino; “Hanggang”

by Ronnie Cordero and gigie Cordero; “iingatan Ka” by Marizen Yaneza; and “Pag-ibig” by Danny Javier, all of them expressions of love, holy, enduring and true.

Will Camille quit career and live in the US after wedding?

by Ricky lo Philstar.com

FiVe years after her husband, Anthony Linsangan, died in 2011, Camille Prats is marrying again, this time to US-based businessman VJ Yambao whom Camille has known since they were in grade Three. They reconnected in 2012.

The question is: Will Camille quit her career and settle down with VJ in the US? “i am ready,” Camille, 31, admitted during a bridal shower last week at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Pasig City, organized by her family and friends, with goody Hair Products as co-host. “i’m not afraid of change; it’s something that i actually look forward to. Parang feeling ko kasi, if it’s going to be us, at feeling ko naman na magwo-work, maybe i’d consider it. i never said, ‘Ayoko talaga.’ Somehow, i’m excited about the idea that if we do live in the US, it’s going to be an entirely new world for me. My life here is different, masarap talaga, and life in the US will be normal since i’ve always lived in the limelight.”

Camille and VJ’s first plan is for VJ to move back to the

Camille Prats

Philippines but…and that’s the Big But…their option is to live here first. “i’ve become used to leading a very public life here,” added Camille. “Like when i go out, people recognize me and i just have to always smile and be accommodating kasi it’s part of who i am. i must confess that i’m curious about how life in the US is like, so living there really crosses my mind.”

The sweethearts are getting married in Catholic rites in

Sarah G. bags int’l award in Tokyo POP royalty and Viva artist Sarah geronimo was declared Best Asian Performer at the 2016 “Classic Rock Awards” in Tokyo. The awards were held at the Japanese capital’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium on Friday.

The 12th annual rock awards is mounted by Classic Rock Magazine, a leading rock journal and online media source for music fans worldwide. Moreover, the award ceremony ranks among the most prestigious in the world of rock, and was first held in London in 2005. (ManilaTimes.net)

January 2017 when Camille’s son Nathan (by Anthony) turns nine years old. it will be a quiet affair with only family members and close friends invited (a maximum of 300 guests), to be officiated by Fr. Armand Tangi (a family friend for 20 years), at the Nayomi Sanctuary Resort in Balete, Batangas.

Camille will wear a gown by Patricia Santos and VJ a suit by Carina Canlas. The venue will be “styled” by gideon Hermosa.

“Nathan will be an important part of the wedding,” said Camille. (VJ is close to Nathan whom he treats like his own son.)

The princess-themed bridal shower was hosted by Camille’s sister-in-law isabel Oli (wife of John Prats) and Camille’s good friend Sherilyn Reyes who were also hosts of the event. Aside from Camille’s mom Alma and Camille’s sisters, also present were Yayo Aguila, Nikki Valdez, Pauleen Luna, and Rochelle Pangilinan and Kaye Abad who are set to march down the aisle (Rochelle to boyfriend Arthur Solinap and Kaye to Paul Jake Castillo).

Camille revealed that she already has a ring but she and VJ are still shopping for VJ’s ring.

January will be chilly and Camille said that the venue is perfect for the wedding.

“Medyo malamig na,” shared Camille, “so i cannot wear ‘explosive’ colors, only blush and grey because they are neutral colors,” adding that VJ, who arrived a few days ago, is very much a part of the wedding preparations. “i left other important details for him to attend to.”

She won’t be a “bridezilla,” assured Camille. “i’m very easy to work with. i just want our wedding to be simple and for everybody to enjoy it. We are inviting only those i am close to. it’s nothing big, nothing fancy. i just want it to be personal, the kind of wedding that i will enjoy with everybody’s company.“ They will spend their honeymoon in europe, their dream destination. After the honeymoon, the newlyweds will decide where they will settle down --- here or there?

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 16, 2016

Kris Aquino on Duterte skipping interview: An epic snub

by Rosette

adel

Philstar.com

ACTReSS-host Kris Aquino chose to remain positive after failing to interview President Rodrigo Duterte but admitted that his absence was an “epic snub.”

The Queen of All Media vented on instagram after her scheduled sit-down with Duterte—staged as her television hosting comeback after a seven-month hiatus—was called off on Friday, Nov. 11 while the show was already on air.

“Humble and realistic enough to admit it was an epic snub but learning so much from @beyonce,” Kris wrote. She captioned the image with a quote, “if life gives you lemon, make lemonade.”

Duterte backed out from the supposed townhall interview during a business summit in Davao

Kris Aquino appears on stage with Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion where she was supposed to do a sit-in interview with President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 in Davao City. Duterte did not show up.

City at the last minute, saying he was suffering from migraine.

Kris instead tried to interview the entrepreneurs present at the event after seeking advice from her brother, former President

Benigno Aquino iii.

Upon learnng that Duterte would be a no-show, Kris said in jest that she will prepare for her next interview with the president by dieting.

Vhong on Kepweng: Big shoes to fill

by Ricky lo Philstar.com

iN his lifetime, Chiquito created some of local screen’s most memorable komiks characters such as Barok, Asiong Aksaya and, yes, Mang Kepweng whom he portrayed three times (in 1977, 1979 and 1981).

When Vhong Navarro was tapped to be the new Mang Kepweng, he said that he was humbled and grateful.

“Big shoes to fill,” Vhong admitted, “and all of us involved in the production are doing our best so the movie wouldn’t pale in comparison to the original.”

Written by Volta delos Santos for the new outfit Cineko Production, “Mang Kepweng Returns” is directed by gB Sampedro (who helmed the indie film “Astig” which won for Arnold Reyes an acting award at the Cinemalaya). in the movie, Vhong plays Kiefer, a normal guy who leads a quiet life until he starts seeing ghosts and evil spirits, later told by his

Vhong Navarro as the titular role in Mang Kepweng Returns, with Kim Domingo as his leading lady.

mother that he’s the son of the late traditional healer Mang Kepweng.

“We updated the story,” said gB. “We did a thorough research; we reviewed Chiquito’s Mang Kepweng movies.”

Since the movie is intended for this December’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), “Mang Kepweng Returns” features child actors led by Balang.

The complete cast includes Jaclyn Jose, Pen Medina, Lotlot

de Leon, Sunshine Cruz, James Blanco, Juancho Trivino, Ahron Villena, Jackie Rice, Valeen Montenegro, Louise delos Reyes, Matet de Leon and Kim Domingo.

“A perfect Christmas treat for the family,” assured Vhong while keeping his fingers crossed that the movie will land in the Magic 8 official MMFF entries (to be announced on Friday, Nov. 18), selected from almost 30 submitted films.

features Alden captures memories via selfies 4

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 16, 2016

by Phoebe

Marquez Philstar.com

Here in the self-proclaimed selfie capital of the world, even celebrities like Alden richards are not immune to the selfie bug.

“Tayong mga Pinoy, we really like taking selfies wherever

we go,” affirmed Alden during his launch as product ambassador for Oppo F1s Limited at the Mall of Asia Atrium last Nov. 8.

But more than a call for vanity, Alden believes that selfies are a way of capturing life’s most unforgettable memories spontaneously.

Alden Richards

And for Alden, such precious memories include his recent five-day trip to europe with the AlDub love team partner Maine Mendoza.

“Sobrang relaxing yung five days na yun,” he recalled. “(I got to) reflect on anything that is happening, thank the Lord for the blessings,” he said of his visit to the Pink Sisters in Germany. Alden and Maine were also spotted watching “Lés Miserables” in London.

The Kapuso heartthrob, meanwhile, is currently busy in shows “eat, Bulaga!” and “Sunday PinaSaya,” and will next be seen in a cameo role in the Vic Sotto-starrer “enteng Kabisote 10” and the “Abangers.”

Alden is also looking forward to spending quality time with his family for the holidays, which he said they will spend in the country. Another occasion that the Pambansang Bae is excited for is the opening of his second restaurant in Quezon City.

During the event, Alden serenaded the cheering crowd with his songs Say It Again and rescue Me from his recent album under GMA records. He also happily took selfies with some members of the media before proceeding to his contract signing as brand ambassador for the mobile technology brand.

Also present at the event was Gilas Pilipinas coach and TV5 president and CeO Chot reyes, who expressed gratitude for Oppo’s support for the Philippine Basketball Association.

Phil. Dept. of Agriculture’s key officials visit Island Pacific Seafood Market

Key officials from the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines visited Island Pacific Seafood Market in rancho Cucamonga, CA last November 3, 2016. The team was warmly welcomed by the top executives of Island Pacific’s marketing and purchasing departments as they participated in the store visit. representatives from the Phil. Department of Agriculture include Ms. evelyn G. Laviña, Undersecretary for Agribusiness and High Value Crops, Ms. Josyline Javelosa, Agriculture Attaché at the Philippine embassy in Washington DC, Mr. Jose Ma Dinsay, Trade representative and Director of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center of (Los Angeles), Mr. Lorenzo Carungulan, Agriculture Director for the Cordillera Administrative region (DA), Mr.

pines and has not been given much priority, thus, resulting in a lack of Philippine products being exported to other countries.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture now seeks to promote Philippine products to the U.S. and to boost the volume of Filipino products being exported overseas.

Through Island Pacific Seafood Market, they aim to introduce the Filipino-Americans to products with main ingredients that are not only manufactured in the Philippines, but are also grown and harvested

by Filipino farmers. Such products include brown rice from Kalinga, black rice from Mt. Province, premium chocolate from Davao, toasted coconut chips, coco butter, virgin coconut oil and coco jam from Quezon province. *Advertising Supplement

Pedro Mayama-o, Governor of the Province of Ifugao (DA), Mr. rufino Panagan, Consultant of North Luzon Cluster (DA), Mr. ruben Dulagan, Senior Agriculturist at the Cordillera Administrative region (DA), Mr. ronaldo Caddarao, Market Specialist, Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, Mr. Domingo Duerme, President and CeO, Planters Products Inc. and Mr. Jimmy Lingayo, Manager, rice Terraces Farmers’ Cooperative.

One of the main objectives of the store tour was for the Philippine Department of Agriculture to study the local US market as well as the variety of products currently available for Filipino-Americans. Over the past few years, the agricultural business has taken a backseat to other industries in the Philip-

And now comes MarNella by

boy abunda Philstar.com

Marlo Mortel and Janella Salvador

FANS of Marlo Mortel’s onscreen partnership with Janella Salvador — known by the couple name MarNella — went wild when a photo of them together surfaced online and made the rounds on social media.

Actor-singer Marlo admits that he and Janella are currently filming their big-screen reunion in “Mano Po 7.”

Set to hit theaters later this year, the regal Films production is the latest in a long line of hit movies Mother Lily Monteverde has made about the FilipinoContinued on Page 5

MOONLIGHTING

features

War is a filthy tragedy

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 16, 2016

And now comes...

by MYLAH

years young back then, strong and resolute, bonded in that kind of relationships war forges with fire and steel. They now sat on wheelchairs or walked WAR is a filthy tragedy — aided by a cane. Some can no but it has always been like that. longer walk, some were unable The violent age that was the to speak to us about the death Renaissance, then the Roman defying and war time sacrifices Empire, while the golden age they survived in what seems oh was in Greece. When reporters so long ago. describe people dying in war, Veterans in their uniforms are you helping abolish war? and garrison caps bedecked What is the magic attracwith medals of valor; stomachs tion to war, and the risk and in, shoulders back, their lined defiance of death? No one is faces adamant in their manliinsensitive to heroism, whose ness, beautiful in their frailty. natural habitat is war. Nowhere These sprinkling remnants of does heroism burst out as in World War II continue to evoke those in war, when it has the a powerful sense of something unique price of death. definitive in our past — of that It was time once more to most found tragedy that can honor the men and women and ever be remembered. what they died for, in a moment Time has shrunk them. of celebration, despite the Snapped bones, unfatigueable bloody cost. microbes, exhausted hearts It was always a proud day that continue to deplete. It has for Filipinos celebrating Araw creased their skin and hobbled ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). organs. Every day is lived on a The people’s applause were razor’s edge of will. special. There was no cue, as World War II veterans are they simply put their hands withdrawn into a mere abtogether in long sustained stractions as we go on with a ovations for the bemedalled generalizing, romanticizing and veterans of a world war, who trivializing their war and those came perhaps for the last time who endured it. These gentle to pay tribute to the few left and noble survivors, who will among them, and their unalways think of themselves as tucked memories. former soldiers. The eyes of the It wasn’t just the colors or entire nation, as well as the enthe uniform, never mind if its tire world, were fixed on them just a few moments to show off as the young men ready to live their medals and remember, at close quotes with death, in but it was bittersweet. As they the name of freedom. pass, people stood in quiet reIt was always a day of respect and eulogy from whispers tracing the steps of years ago, of the past. revving the bloody sacrifices Many of those who left for as they honor fallen comrades. war were fresh, muscular 20-21 As honor guards paced slowly DE

LEON

Pro People youth lead families and survivors of WW II Veterans led by JFAV founder - Pres., Art Garcia.

From Page 4

Kabataang maka Bayan, KMB, Pro People Youth, endorsing organization the JFAV Justice League working committee with comrades and allies march the streets of Hollywood Bowl for a WWII Fil- American veteran.

through the crowd, followed by the men in uniform, some now fitting tightly across the stomach, the Fil-Am community began to clap and stomp their feet, while some began to cry.

What is disturbing today are the WW II fighters still waging a battle. Almost certainly the last major struggle in a sprinkling number of what is left of them, in their more than half century quiet to be recognized as American veterans, is still a struggle.

These men and women, Filipino soldiers and guerillas, whose own service of the United States, should have entitled them to the same benefits as millions of other GI’s from Normandy to Iwo Jima, lost out to the Supplemental Surplus Recession Act of 1946, when they’ve fought side by side in the Bataan Peninsula, at Leyte Gulf and in the mountains of Luzon.

It makes you think even deeper, nowhere else in Asia

WW II veterans at the City Council Hall

5

did they subject people support and defend the colonial master. Didn’t the Indochine turn on the French? The Indonesian on the Dutch and Malaysian and Burma against British? Only the Filipinos remained loyal.

In a day of tribute about war time sacrifices nobody stands taller in remembrance than a World War II veteran.

Feeling proud but forgotten, battled scarred and fighting old, old age and infirmity, he embodies poignant messages of duty, honor and undying love, heroism and sacrifice.. ***

E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@ aol.com

Interviewed my last WWII veteran - oldest Filipino, Franco Arcibal

Chinese experience. It’s also the second movie Marlo and Janella are featured in after the box-office success of “Haunted Mansion,” Regal Films’ entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Marlo and Janella won the New Movie Actor of the Year and New Movie Actress of the Year awards, respectively, at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies for Haunted Mansion. It was their first movie after two very successful teleseryes as a love team — the first being “Be Careful With My Heart” (which stayed on the air for two years), the second being “Oh My G.” Both were produced by ABSCBN’s GMO production unit.

Months after “Oh My G” aired its finale, ABS-CBN announced that Janella would start working on a new teleserye, this time under another ABS-CBN production unit, Dreamscape.

Since the MarNella tandem has proven its bankability, people assumed that Janella’s new project would be a MarNella vehicle. But MarNella fans were disappointed when they discovered that Janella would be paired with newly-minted Kapamilya Elmo Magalona, not Marlo, in “Born For You.” Months after “Oh My G” aired its finale, ABS-CBN announced that Janella would start working on a new teleserye, this time under another ABS-CBN production unit, Dreamscape.

Since the MarNella tandem has proven its bankability, people assumed that Janella’s new project would be a MarNella vehicle. But MarNella fans were disappointed when they discovered that Janella would be paired with newly-minted Kapamilya Elmo Magalona, not Marlo, in “Born For You.” Marlo admits that he was also saddened when he heard the news, but he bounced back by focusing on what it meant for Janella’s career. Part of Marlo wished he could take Elmo’s place, but eventually Marlo realized that as a longtime colleague

and friend of Janella’s, it was his duty to be happy for her. So he learned to live without her for a while. Marlo admits to finding it hard at first, but somehow he found it in himself to be supportive of her, her new partner and their teleserye.

“I felt sad when I found out that Janella would be paired with someone else in a teleserye, but I wasn’t hurt as I knew it was a management decision.

I’m happy for them and especially for Janella because ‘Born For You’ is her biggest break to date,” he explains.

Now that he and Janella are working with each other again, Marlo can hardly contain his excitement and joy.

“I’m happy we are working again together. Honestly, working with Janella again kind of feels like a homecoming.

After all, I started my career with her as her onscreen partner.

For “Mano Po 7,” we picked up exactly where we left off. It was easy for us to get back into the swing of things because we constantly communicate. I didn’t change and neither did Janella.

Our friendship and working relationship stayed the same.”

While Janella was off working with Elmo in “Born For You,” Marlo threw himself into other things, like his accessories business Ornstal.

Marlo also redoubled his focus on his music career. He released a cover of Nina’s “Jealous,” made a music video for it (which he filmed using a cell phone) and uploaded it to YouTube. The video has since racked up over 40,000 views. He’s still part of the boyband Harana, but he admits he has thought about a solo career. Music producer and songwriter Kiko Salazar, who arranged Jealous for Marlo, has expressed an interest in continuing to produce material for him.

“I want to have a solo career in music someday. That’s the reason I decided to join showbiz in the first place. But it is not yet the right time. I’ll wait for my time.”

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 16, 2016