081917 - La Weekend Edition

August 19-22, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 67 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

PH economy grows 6.5% in 2nd quarter

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

MANILA - The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.5 percent in the second quarter of 2017, according to the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday, August 17.

While the figure is lower compared to the 7.1 percent growth in the same period last year, it is higher than the 6.4 percent growth in the first quarter of 2017.

In a news conference, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary

Ernesto Pernia said the Philippines is “well on track” to meet its full-year target growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent.

“Taking the last quarter’s GDP growth, where the government’s spending performance was lackluster but where the private sector stepped up, and then this quarter’s GDP growth, where government really stepped up but where private sector slackened, just think what could happen if both government and private sectors together exerted that extra effort,” he said.

With the latest economic data, he also pointed out that

USA

DATELINE Trump administration to temporarily fund Obamacare subsidies FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Uncertainty over the future of health care continues

AS a way to cool down the health care contention in Washington, the Trump administration on Wednesday, August 16 decided to continue to fund key health care subsidies to insurers through the month of August.

Previously, the president has threatened to end the reimbursements paid to insurers for subsidies in order to allow passage of bills that vow to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The subsidies in question reduce out-ofpocket health expenses for low- and middle-

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US Embassy: Aid not guaranteed for PH THE United States Embassy on Friday, August 18 said the Philippines was not yet eligible for a new Millennium Challenge Compact, clarifying a report that identified it as a candidate country.

US Embassy press attaché Molly “MCC (MillenKoscina finds her job cut out for nium Challenge her amid President Duterte’s Corp.) recently antagonistic stance toward the posted its annual Philippines’ longtime ally.

‘Candidate CounInquirer.net photo by Eloisa Lopez try Report’ for Fiscal Year 2018,” Press Attache Molly Koscina said.

“MCC defines a ‘candidate country’ as any country classified by the World Bank as lowor lower-middle income and who is not prohibited by US law from receiving assistance,” she added.

“The Philippines is a candidate country for FY 2018 given its income level.”

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the country remains “one of the best-performing economies in Asia,” overtaking Vietnam’s 6.2 percent growth and Indonesia’s 5.0 percent growth rate.

Malaysia and Thailand have yet to release their data but are expected to be lower than the performance of the Philippines for this quarter.

“This puts the country as either the second or third fastest growing major Asian economy, next only to China whose growth rate is 6.9 percent growth in the second quarter,” Pernia added.

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INSPECTION. President Rodrigo Duterte inspects the confiscated and surrendered loose firearms during his visit to the Ozamiz City Police headquarters in Misamis Occidental on Thursday, August 17. Joining the President are Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Ozamiz City Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, and Interior and Local Government Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy. PNA photo Karl Norman Alonzo

Amnesty Int’l: PH drug war reaches ‘new depths PH condemns Barcelona attack DFA: 4 Irish citizens of Filipino of barbarity’ after 32 killed in single day descent among injured

man rights group Amnesty International (AI) said on Thursday, August 17.

by DANA SIOSON Thirty-two alleged drug offenders were AJPress killed at the province-wide “one time, big THE Philippine government is “plumbing THE Philippine government on new depths of barbarity” after President Ro- time” simultaneous bloody raids in Bulacan drigo Duterte’s so-called “drug war” reached on Wednesday, August 16, bringing the high- Friday, August 18 condemned the its highest single-day death toll this week, huu PAGE A2 terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain that left at least 13 people dead and dozens injured.

“The Philippines condemns in the strongest terms this disturbing act of terror perpetrated by extremists against innocent men, women and children in BarceloChinese vessels near Pag- Maritime Transparency Ini- na,” Philippine Foreign Secretary

by AJPRESS asa Island in the West Phil- tiative (AMTI) of the Center Alan Peter Cayetano said.

SATELLITE images re- ippine Sea (South China for Strategic and InternaOn Thursday, August 17, a veleased by a Washington- Sea). tional Studies (CSIS) show hicle rammed through pedestrians based think tank confirm Images taken on Sun- that nine Chinese fishing in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas tourist the reported presence of day, August 13 by the Asia u PAGE A3 district in broad daylight, drawing condemnation from across the globe.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Catalonia and all of Spain and the rest of the world as we fight this common scourge,” Cayetano added.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said among the injured were four members of a Filipino-Irish family.

The names of the Filipino vicby DANA

SIOSON AJPress

US think tank photos confirm Chinese presence near Pag-asa in West PH Sea

Attendees at the press conference on Thursday, August 17 announcing the ASEAN People’s Association (ASEAN PAC) -- Los Angeles’ gala included (L-R) Freddy Bi, tour & travel sales manager at Pechanga Resort & Casino, Philippine Vice Consul Dyan Pastrana, Philippine Airlines Area Manager Michelle Narvaez, Singpoli Group CEO Kin Hui, Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz, ASEAN PAC Founder and President Nellson Young, Myanmar Consul General Soe Thu Rae, Philippine Department of Tourism-LA Director Richmond Jimenez, and Quyen C. Loong of Smith-Anderson Wine Group.

ASEAN’s 50th anniversary to be celebrated in Los Angeles

by AJPRESS

THIS year marks the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s 50th anniversary as well as the regional bloc’s 40th anniversary of its partnership with the United States.

ASEAN — which is comprised of the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia — seeks to promote regional peace and stability to accelerate

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Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Cruz AJPress photos by ding Carreon

Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano Philstar.com photo

tims were withheld, but Philippine Honorary Consul Jordi Puig Roches reported that the mother and her daughter have been released from the hospital, while the father and son are still under observation.

The deadly Barcelona attack was the latest in a series of Islamic State (IS)-claimed incidents in Europe, wherein a vehicle has been used to plow pedestrians. Similar attacks occurred in Berlin, Lon-

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From the Front Page

PH economy grows...

PAGE A1 t In a separate statement, National Statistician Lisa Grace Bersales said among the main drivers of the country’s growth for this quarter include manufacturing, trade, and real estate, renting and business activities.

Data showed that the indus-

try sector recorded the fastest growth rate at 7.3 percent. It was followed by the services sector at 6.1 percent growth, although it is lower than its 8.2 percent growth in the same quarter last year.

The agriculture sector, meanwhile, recovered with 6.3 percent growth from 2.0 percent

decline in the previous year.

“Net Primary Income from the Rest of the World (NPI) grew by 8.6 percent compared with the 6.1 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of the previous year. As a result, Gross National Income (GNI) posted a growth of 6.8 percent,” Bersales added.

Following the report, IHS Markit Asia Pacific Chief Economist Rajiv Biswas said he is expecting the Philippines to maintain its rapid economic growth towards the end of the year.

“Over the next 12 months, the GDP growth outlook will be supported by significant increases in infrastructure spending, with total infrastructure spending of PHP1.13 trillion targeted for

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia (left photo, with microphone) delivers his welcome and opening remarks during the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) press conference on the 2017 Second Quarter performance of the Philippine economy at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on Thursday, August 17. Pernia said Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 6.5 percent during the second quarter of 2017, slightly higher than the 6.4 percent growth in the first quarter of the year. Also in photo is NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon.

PNA photos

2018, with transport and social infrastructure being key priorities,” Biswas told Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He went on to say, “Improv-

ing infrastructure is very important for boosting the nation’s industrial and export competitiveness, as the Philippines is competing for foreign direct in-

Amnesty International: PH drug war reaches...

PAGE A1 t

est number of fatalities in a single day since Duterte launched his unrelentless anti-illegal drugs campaign last year.

James Gomez, Al’s director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said that the deaths proved that Duterte’s “lawless” drug war “continues unabated and actually appears to be plumbing new depths of barbarity.”

“No one is bearing the brunt of

this brutality more than the poorest communities in areas such as Bulacan province, a hotspot for extrajudicial executions since the president took power, and the scene of 21 of yesterday’s 32 killings,” he added.

AI also expressed concern over Duterte’s recent admission that the drug menace in the country cannot be fixed by a president in a single term.

The president initially vowed

to solve the drug problem in the country within the first three to six months of his term but later acknowledged the need for extension.

“Duterte‘s recent statement that he might not be able to solve the Philippines’ drug-related problems during his current term are very concerning. With the indefinite extension of this failed strategy there is seemingly no end in sight to these killings,” Gomez said.

He added that human rights in the Philippines appears to be in “more peril than at any point since the president’s bloody reign began,” citing Duterte’s threat abolish to country’s Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last month.

“This shows clearly that there should be no further delay in establishing an internationally led investigation into the ‘war on drugs’ and the carnage currently taking place in the Philippines on a daily basis,” Gomez said.

Malacañang earlier clarified that the CHR cannot be abolished as it is a constitutional commission, dismissing the president’s remark as a “joke.”

In a speech on Wednesday, Duterte, however, expressed his plans to investigate its officials instead for allegedly “conspiring” with criminals.

He added that security forces should shoot CHR personnels if they are committing “obstruction of justice.”

vestment with other [Southeast Asian] countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore which have invested heavily in high quality infrastructure.” n “One of these days, kayong human rights, kayong imbestigahan ko (I will investigate you CHR). [for] Conspiracy. If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them,” the president said during the 19th anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The president further showered praises at bloody raid in Bulacan that occurred earlier in the day, saying he is expecting human rights advocates to criticize the raid.

“Yung namatay daw sa Bulacan kanina, 32 (Thirty two people died in Bulacan earlier) in a massive raid. Maganda yun (That’s good). Pumatay tayo (Let’s kill) another 32 everyday, maybe we can reduce what ails this country,” Duterte remarked.

In a separate statement, NewYork based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Duterte should immediately withdraw his statement or he may face investigation for possibly instigating or inciting violence against Philippine human rights advocates.

“President Duterte’s threats against human rights activists is like painting a target on the backs of courageous people working to protect the rights and upholding the dignity of all Filipinos,” HRW Asia Deputy Director Phelim Kine said.

Kine continued, “Duterte should retract his reprehensible remarks immediately before there is more blood on his hands.” n

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE PAGE A1 t

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-22, 2017

US Embassy: Aid not guaranteed...

Koscina stressed that candidate countries are not necessarily eligible for MCC assistance.

“The MCC Board of Directors has not made a decision on the Philippines’ eligibility for a second compact,” she pointed out.

The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 sought to set up a new development assistance system, with countries to be selected based on several indicators. Eligible countries are able to pick their priorities and are allowed to manage the grants.

Factors considered include the

Trump administration...

DONATION. President Rodrigo Duterte witnesses the turnover of the deed of donation by actor Robin Padilla to Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, August 16. The PHP5-million donation is intended for the immediate psychosocial intervention for the children affected by the hostilities in Marawi City.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

US think tank photos confirm...

PAGE A1 t vessels and two Chinese Navy ships had been operating near Pag-asa island.

Also referred to as Tithu Island, Pag-asa Island is located 480 kilometers off the coast of Palawan. It is the largest Philippine-controlled island among the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the disputed Spratlys region.

AMTI said on Thursday, August 18 that it is impossible of any of the ships are affiliated with the Chinese maritime militia but two “appear to be actively fishing, with their nets visibly in the water.”

The fishing vessels are reportedly “all located between one and five nautical miles” from Pag-asa Island, while the nearest military or law enforcement ship is located 3.6 nautical miles from the island.

The think tank said Chinese authorities are likely aware of the operation, citing the presence of naval vessels.

“The number and rapid coordination of naval and coast

guard ships suggests that this was purposely organized in advance and was not just an ad hoc response by government vessels that happened to be in the area,” it added.

AMTI noted that “one possible explanation for the flotilla’s sudden and provocative appearance is that Beijing wanted to dissuade Manila from planned construction” on Pag-asa Island.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana previously announced that the government has allocated at least P1.6 billion ($31.08 million) for the repair and construction of facilities in the area.

“Those upgrades have been delayed, reportedly due to inclement weather, but Lorenzana has made clear that they remain in the pipeline. In light of this week’s events, Manila might feel that those upgrades are even more urgent,” AMTI added.

Earlier this week, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano released a timeline that

don, and Nice, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The DFA recently called on Filipinos outside the country to re-

PAGE A1 t income consumers that receive insurance through Obamacare.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly pressured the White House to continue the payments in fear that cutting them off would create disorder in insurance marketplaces.

The decision to continue the federal funding through August was announced one day after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) — the nonpartisan body of Congress that analyzes economic outcomes of various proposed bills — warned that Obamacare premiums would skyrocket by 20 percent if the federal government seized payments to these subsidies.

Increasing the premiums would, in turn, increase federal spending on other government subsidies, according to the CBO’s report.

An official from the White House announced that the administration’s payment would total about $600 million. As of press time, it is unconfirmed whether the administration will continue the cost-sharing reduction payments after August.

Uncertainty over the future of American health care from the federal level continues to worry many Americans as well as states

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acts of violence can happen anywhere and when we least expect main vigilant, following a series of them,” Cayetano said. terror attacks abroad.

The department likewise or“We want our kababayans wher- dered all Philippine embassies ever they are abroad to always abroad and consulates general to remain vigilant and to always be update their contingency plans to prepared because these senseless secure the safety of Filipinos.

“Our people all over the world are counting on us to lead them to safety in case worse comes to worst,” the foreign secretary added. “It is thus important to make sure that all our contingency plans are regularly reviewed and updated.” ■

PH condemns Barcelona...

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reveals the presence of several Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island, calling the incident “highly suspicious” and “a threat to our interest in the West Philippine Sea.” The lawmaker then called on Philippine government officials “to be transparent in what is happening in the West Philippine Sea” and “assert our rights in the midst of talks with China.”

But Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano downplayed Alejano’s fears, saying that the situation in the area remains stable.

“There is no situation there that is a cause of lowering mutual trust between all of the claimants at this point in time,” Cayetano affirmed in a press conference on Wednesday, August 16.

The foreign secretary neither confirmed nor denied Alejano’s claim but noted that the “presence of ships alone does not mean anything.”

A3

country’s commitment to civil liberties, political rights and the rule of law.

The Philippines was awarded a five-year, $434-million package in 2010. The so-called “compact” ended in May 2016 and the MCC board had announced the previous year that the country was eligible for a new package.

Last December, however, the MCC announced that its board of directors had “deferred a vote on the reselection of the Philippines for compact development,

subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.”

Funds provided during the first compact were used for tax collection reforms at the Bureau of Internal Revenue, 4,000 community development programs under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or KALAHI-CIDSS, and the construction of 137 miles of roads and 61 bridges in Samar. (Mayvelin U. Caraballo/ManilaTimes.net)

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Spectrum Internet Assist making broadband internet affordable to low-income families and seniors

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

CHARTER Communications, along with California State Senator Steven Bradford and the Museum of African American Art, presented a new low-cost, high-speed broadband service for low-income families and seniors on Thursday, August 17.

The event was held at the Museum of African American

Art in Los Angeles, to discuss the importance of digital literacy and bridging the broadband divide, and to introduce Charter Communication’s new Spectrum Internet Assist program.

Among the lineup of speakers were Senator Steven Bradford of the 35th district, Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) president and chief executive Nolan Rollins, and Dr. George McKenna who represented the Los

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Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is truly a digital divide in California and it crosses not only economic communities, but racial communities as well,â&#x20AC;? said Bradford who has been actively working towards internet accessibility. In 2013, he introduced a bill to bring broadband internet into public housing. He has also been involved with the California Advance Technology Fund in making sure Wi-Fi is provided in public communities like libraries and schools.

Students and children were priorities in the digital divide discussion. McKenna, who has been serving in the LAUSD for over 50 years (and was played

by Denzel Washington in a movie about his work), shared his thoughts on the importance of the internet for students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The willingness to give access to lower income people falls right into my world,â&#x20AC;? said McKenna who came to the neighborhood in 1965 and has been serving the LAUSD ever since.

The LAUSD is larger than all of the other nine districts combined, shared McKenna before stressing the importance of preparing students for the future through internet access. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world is changing so fast, â&#x20AC;&#x153;he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Technology is moving fast, and we need to prepare [children and students] for jobs that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even exist yet.â&#x20AC;?

Nolan Rollins, president and chief executive of LAUL, a nonprofit that has partnered with Charter Communications and its service, shared similar words. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to see the world should not be limited by their zip code,â&#x20AC;? said Rollins. He further asked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How are we going to change the trajectory our children are on, and be sure that they could be better than we ever thought we could be?â&#x20AC;&#x153; Two of the programs that determine qualification for the Spectrum Internet Assist program are the National School Lunch Program (NLSP), a federally assisted meal program, and its Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

A Place Called Home, a nonprofit in South Central Los Angeles that works with under-

Photos by Jhay Oh Otamias

PH tough cops bag medals in World Police and Fire Games

ATHLETES from the Philippine National Police (PNP) represented the country and brought home medals in the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in Los Angeles, California.

In taekwondo, PO1 Eva Claire Santiago from Cagayan assigned at the Regional Public Safety Batallion (RPSB) Camp Bagong Diwa, garnered two gold medals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so happy that Team Pilipinas in taekwondo are gold u PAGE A5 medalists,â&#x20AC;? Santiago said in

Filipino.

Under the taekwondoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poomsae team, the Philippine team led by SPO2 Dauphin Punzalan garnered a gold medal, while in the individual poomsae, Punzalan garnered silver and bronze medals Meanwhile in boxing, WPFG first-timer Jose Daryl Sobretado won a silver medal, after a split decision with his opponent, Alberto Tapia, a MexicanAmerican member of USC department boxing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy to fight for final

bouts and I do my best but I guess itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not enough but maybe next time if I have the opportunity,â&#x20AC;? Sobretado said.

The PNP plans to join the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughest cops games again in 2019, to be held in Chengdu, China.

More than 8,000 athletes, all active or retired police officers or firefighters, from over 70 countries competed in over 65 different sports and disciplines. The biennial athletic event drew approximately 50,000 spectators. n

San Antonio, Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; last WWII veteran, a Filipino, dies at 101 SAN ANTONIO, Texas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dominador Soriano, 101, the last World War II Filipino veteran of San Antonio, was buried on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. He died July 31 of a hemorrhagic stroke.

Soriano fought against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. He was with both the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army during World War II and was one of fewer than 7,000 such veterans living in the U.S. Filipino army troops were integrated into the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) just before Japan invaded in 1941 and were among the first US soldiers to see combat in WWII. Soriano commanded Echo Company of the 83rd Infantry Regiment, which served under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He and his men became coast watchers from an outpost on the eastern shore of Cebu Island, reporting on Japanese ships passing through the TaĂąon Strait in the early days of the war, according a report by Expressnews.com.

He was wounded in the leg by a Japanese machinegun, and when Japan won in April 1942, he told his men not to surrender but go home. Soriano organized a guerrilla force, but in July 1944, he was betrayed by collaborators, captured and tortured. After his release he kept working for the resistance until Japan surrendered Aug. 15, 1945.

After the war, Soriano became

Dominador Soriano, San Antonioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last WWII veteran, during his 101st birthday celebration last May.

a lawyer for local farmers. When he was 52 his family arrived in the U.S. in 1971, and he settled in San Antonio, where two of his children live. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds.

But in 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed the Rescission Act, which retroactively stripped Filipinos of service benefits that were promised them during World War II. His family says that the decision always both-

ered him.

Last year, Congress awarded all Filipinos who fought under the US flag of a single Congressional Gold Medal, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest civilian honor. The city of San Antonio honored Soriano last fall with its own citation.

Soriano spent his last days as a volunteer for the Catholic church next to his house, preparing food for poor families in his neighborhood. (Inquirer.net)

US think tank photos confirm...

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Cayetano also warned Alejano of portraying China as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;enemy.â&#x20AC;? He questioned why there is less concern when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the United States conducting freedom of navigation in Philippines-claimed area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasi theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re (Because Americans are) our allies so if we keep looking at China as the enemy, every time may movement sila, masyado tayo nagre-react (every time they have movement, we are exaggerating our reaction),â&#x20AC;? the foreign secretary remarked.

He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good we have people like Congressman Alejano who reminds us to mon-

itor the situation. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a thin line between informing us and stirring up the situation.â&#x20AC;?

Remaining firm on his stance, Alejano expressed disheartenment toward Cayetanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement. He insisted that the reported Chinese presence in the disputed waters â&#x20AC;&#x153;means something.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have we already adopted the strategy of silence, inaction, and subservience in the West Philippine Sea so as not to offend China?â&#x20AC;? the lawmaker asked.

He also stressed that Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations are â&#x20AC;&#x153;not even comparableâ&#x20AC;? to Beijing, pointing out that China â&#x20AC;&#x153;has the

history of grabbing islands and harassing our fishermen.â&#x20AC;?

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing halted its land reclamation in the waters. Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s massive territorial claim in the South China Sea has been partly disputed by its neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently working with China on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, aiming to prevent the escalation of maritime conflicts in the contested waters. n

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Trump makes false claim about Mindanao history Under fire for his racially charged remarks, President donald Trump set another round of Twitter firestorm on Thursday, Aug. 17, calling Moros in Mindanao during the American occupation “terrorists.”

“Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more radical Islamic Terror for 35 Years!” Trump tweeted, reviving a debunked legend about a United States Army Gen. John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing subduing Moro rebels a century ago in the aftermath of the Philippine-American War. Pershing, according to the historical myth, curbed the rebellion in the Philippines’ south by shooting the rebels with bullets dipped in pig blood.

Americans faced Filipino armed opposition from 1899 to 1902 as they tried to occupy the archipelago following centuries of Spanish rule.

Pershing was installed governor of Moro areas in the south, but his four-year tenure starting 1909 was beset by insurgencies as the general tried to disarm the Muslim locals. Around 1,200 American troops led by Pershing faced a fierce resistance of 800 Moros in Jolo in the Second Battle of Bud dajo.

This was not the first time that Trump referred to the urban legend about pig’s blood used to defeat the Muslim inhabitants of the islands.

In a speech in north Charleston in 2016, Trump claimed that Pershing and Americans in the south had a “tremendous problem with terrorism.” “(Pershing) took 50 bullets, and he dipped them in pig’s blood. And he had his men load his rifles and he lined up the 50 people, and they shot 49 of those people. And the 50th person, he said, ‘You go back to your people and you tell them what happened.’ And for 25 years, there wasn’t a problem,” he said.

Historians have long debunked the story, saying it was uncharacteristic of Pershing to do so and there has been no evidence to confirm it.

Trump’s latest historically inaccurate comment about the Philippines was a followup to another tweet condemning vio-

Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn

lence in Barcelona, where more than a dozen people were killed when a van peered onto a sidewalk and sped down a busy pedestrian zone in what authorities called a terror attack.

The tweet referring to the rebellion in Mindanao was among the string of comments Trump made defending Confederate figures, bemoaning rising efforts to remove them as an attack on America’s “history and culture.”

Trump has berated his critics who, with increasingly sharper language, have denounced his initially slow and then ultimately combative comments on the racial violence at a white supremacist rally last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Striking a chord The American leader’s latest remark drawing attention to the history of Moros in the Philippines’ south could bolster the President rodrigo duterte’s controversial views about the country’s former colonizer.

A decade after the Second World War, the United States became the Philippines’ mutual defense ally. Bilateral relations reached a new high under the watch of duterte’s successor, Benigno Aquino III, before losing momentum under the testy duterte, whose animosity toward the US is well known.

Often in delivering his public remarks, duterte would take a swipe at the US and remind of its historical atrocities. He would praise China as often in pursuing a foreign policy pivot that has affected geopolitical dynamics in the region.

In September last year, in an effort to appeal to nationalist sentiments, duterte showed a photo from The national Archive of the Bud dajo massacre in 1906 to lament the abusive American rule a century ago.

The image shows soldiers posing for the camera at a mass grave of among the 1,000 Moros killed by the force led by Major General Leonard Wood at Bud dajo, a dormant volcano in Jolo.

In showing the photo, duterte said he wanted U.S. forces out of his country’s restive south and blamed America for the restiveness of Muslim militants in the region.

Losing Republicans’ support?

Philstar.com photos

Pacquiao vs Horn rematch nearing finalization, says Arum

TOP rank Inc. boss Bob Arum said they are close to sealing the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn.

Veteran scribe Chris Mannix of Yahoo! Sports recently spoke to Arum, who said they are “pretty much there” regarding finalizing Pacquiao-Horn 2.

Horn stunned Pacquiao last July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia to crown himself the new WBO welterweight champion.

But there were questions about the unanimous decision awarded by the judges to Horn, and Pacquiao himself said he believes he did enough to win the bout.

Arum, for his part, said he now wants a thorough background check on the judges for the rematch.

The second meeting between Pacquiao and Horn is being targeted at the end of the year.

(Dino Maragay/Philstar.com)

US transfers custody of Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center U.S. embassy deputy Chief of Mission (dCM) Michael Klecheski transferred custody of a brand new Joint Maritime Law enforcement Training Center (JMLeTC) valued at over P65.4 million to the Government of the Philippines in a ceremony in Magarwak, Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, on August 4.

Philippine national Police (PnP) director General ronald de la rosa was the guest of honor and keynote speaker, and dCM Klecheski also delivered remarks during the turnover.

The JMLeTC, funded by the US defense Threat reduction Agency, is part of the larger national Coast Watch System and is designed to bolster the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities and to stop large-scale weapons from transiting through or near Philippine territorial waters. The facility will also be used to conduct maritime law enforcement training for the

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), navy (Pn), and PnP to enhance vessel boarding, use of force, evidence preservation, and case package preparation techniques.

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard will send a team of maritime law enforcement experts who will conduct a oneweek Maritime Law enforcement workshop with PCG, Pn, and PnP. This workshop will focus on sharing best practices and enhancing the interoperability among the three participating agencies in support of the national Coast Watch System 2017 Field Training exercises scheduled to take place in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu in mid-September.

As strong allies, the U.S. and Philippines share a wide range of interests, and we will continue to work in partnership to ensure our joint maritime security efforts and other lines of cooperation are robust and effective. (ManilaTimes.net)

Trump’s unpredictable, defiant and, critics claim, racially provocative behavior has clearly begun to wear on his republican allies.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, whom Trump considered for a Cabinet post, declared Thursday that “the president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to” in dealing with crises. And Sen. dan Sullivan of Alaska tweeted, “Anything less than complete & unambiguous condemnation of white supremacists, neo-nazis and the KKK by the @POTUS is unacceptable. Period.”

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said Trump’s “moral authority is compromised.”

Trump, who is known to try to change the focus of news coverage with an attentiongrabbing declaration, sought to shift Thursday from the white supremacists to the future of statues.

“You can’t change history, but you can learn from it,” he tweeted. “robert e. Lee. Stonewall Jackson — who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish. ...

“Also the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!”

“Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments,” he tweeted. (Camille Diola/Philstar.com with reports from the Associated Press)

GROUNDBREAKING. Senator Cynthia A. Villar leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two roads in Baseco Compound, Tondo, Manila, to provide more convenience and comfort to its residents. Villar, also chairman of the Senate environment committee, adopted Brgy. 649 in Baseco, where she has been planting mangrove trees and conducting clean-up activities on a monthly basis. Also in the photo with the senator are Sonia Salguero - Director III, Bureau of Soils and Water Management; Kag. Joy Campañera - Gasangan, Brgy. 649, Kag. Edith Castillo and volunteers and representatives from partners of Villar SIPAG from different government agencies led

by DPWH. Senate photo

Trump administration...

PAGE A3 t that fear the administration’s lack of direction.

Many states’ health care exchanges, like Covered California, are in disarray amid the administration’s lack of commitment to continuing funding of these subsidies.

The board of directors of Covered California blamed the federal government’s lack of a plan for interfering with their finalizations for premiums for 2018 and consumers’ preparation for open

enrollment on november 1.

“The lack of clarity and direction at the federal level continues to be a challenge,” said Covered California executive director Peter Lee. “While we are doing our best to manage a difficult situation, we hope Congress and the administration will provide clear guidance on how [they intend] to stabilize the individual insurance market.” earlier this month, Covered California announced statewiderate hikes of 12.5 percent and an

additional average surcharge of 12.4 percent on silver plans if the federal government discontinues the payments.

In order to avoid increasing the surcharge, the exchange pushed back the deadline from at the end of August to September 30.

“Our hope is that by changing the deadline to allow Congress to act, we will not have to deal with the surcharge,” Lee said.

As of 2017, there are more than 1.7 million Californians currently enrolled in Covered California.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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UN: Use of child soldiers persistent problem in PH

by Jose

KatigbaK Philstar.com

tion Front, New People’s Army, Moro National Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf and the BangsamWASHINGTON – The use of oro Islamic Freedom Fighters, child soldiers by armed groups continue to recruit and use chilis a persistent problem in the dren, at times through force, for Philippines, officials here said combat and noncombat roles.

The US State Department in its following revelations by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that recent Trafficking in Persons Rethese groups used child warriors port 2017 said protracted armed conflict and reports of recruitto behead hostages.

The UN reports armed groups ment and use of child soldiers by operating in the Philippines, in- armed groups in Mindanao were cluding the Moro Islamic Libera- continuing.

It described child soldiering as a grave human rights violation.

Lorenzana said lawless elements including the Abu Sayyaf group and the IS-linked Maute group in Mindanao had child soldiers in their ranks.

“In fact, those who are beheading their victims are just teenagers,” he said.

The TIP report said 178 children were disengaged from armed groups during the reporting period and the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported the rescue or surrender of 19 children from the New People’s Army.

A report by the United Nations on children and armed conflict issued in April 2016 said it had verified the recruitment and use of 15 children by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as human shields in one incident.

Based on unverified reports the Abu Sayyaf recruited about 30 children. n

NO EASY JOB. A worker feeds chickens at a poultry farm in Barangay San Roque, San Isidro town in Nueva Ecija, where cases of bird flu were confirmed on Friday, Aug. 18. « ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan

ASEAN’s 50th anniversary to be celebrated...

PAGE A1 t economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region.

To celebrate this milestone, the ASEAN Association of People’s Association of Los Angeles (ASEAN PAC) will hold a golden jubilee gala on Saturday, September 9.

All proceeds from the event will go toward a new cultural center in Los Angeles, Nellsen Young, founder and president of the ASEAN PAC said.

“It exemplifies the dedicated commitment in promoting the diverse and rich traditions, art and culture of the ASEAN community in the United States, particularly in Los Angeles,” Young told members of the media on Thursday, August 17.

The guest of honor on the Sept. 9 gala will be Amir Shah ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the crown prince of Selangor, Malaysia. Honorees include Nina Hachigian, former U.S. ambassador to ASEAN; Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, minister of Malaysia’s tourism and culture; Sonita Lontoh, Silicon Valley technology executive; and Dr. Connie Mariano, former White House physician.

The Philippines, which is the chair of ASEAN this year, will host the summit and re-

Michelle Narvaez, Los Angeles area manager of Philippine Airlines

lated meetings in November with the theme “partnering for change, engaging the world.”

“This [gala] is a private initiative but since the Philippine is the chairman of this year’s 50th anniversary of ASEAN, we have extended as much effort as possible for the event’s success,” Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz told the Asian Journal.

Leading up to November, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will be working toward informing local Filipino Americans about the “value and importance of ASEAN,” Cruz said.

Nellsen Young, founder and president of ASEAN People’s Association AJPress photos by ding Carreon (ASEAN PAC) – Los Angeles

The United States, which began a partnership with ASEAN in 1977, has spent over $4 billion on development programs to benefit member states throughout the past five years.

In California alone, there are 2.5 million ASEAN Americans, with the largest group being the Filipinos.

Despite brewing tension between the U.S. and North Korea and the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, Cruz added that events like this ASEAN gala show the “the strength that we can share with the country we’re in right now.”

Spectrum Internet Assist making...

PAGE A4 t served youth, was one of the many organizations present at the panel. Charter was a supporter at the organization’s annual back-to-school drive this year. The drive was a chance to provide Spectrum Internet Assist information to families interested.

Senior citizens were another point of discussion as attendees shared about new health care advances that many seniors are unable to keep up with.

Despite having grown up without internet access, a majority of seniors are omitted from new benefits and conveniences. One example given was that many were unable to access health portals used by their physicians and hospitals.

Because low-income is also evident in the senior community, having a household member as part of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program also qualifies for eligibility.

According to a 2016 AARP report entitled “A Community

of Contrasts: Asian Americans 50 and Older”, Asian Americans are the most likely racial group, among seniors, to rely on SSI and they do so at a higher rate than other racial groups. Over 28,000 Asian American seniors in Los Angeles County live in poverty and almost 74,000 have low-income. Furthermore, 46 percent of Asian American seniors living alone fall below the poverty line.

In May of 2016, Charter bought both Time Warner Cable and Bright House through a $65 billion merger, making it one of the biggest television providers in the United States. Other giant providers are AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon. Spectrum became Charter’s cable TV and broadband service.

Pushing the approval of the merger was Charter’s plan of providing high-speed Internet service to low-income families with a focus on students and seniors.

In a March 2016 Los Angeles Times article, president and chief executive of nonprofit Cal-

Thursday’s press conference was also attended by Richmond Jimenez, Philippine Department of Tourism Director in LA, and Michelle Narvaez, the area manager of Philippine Airlines, which is a sponsor of the gala.

The event on Sunday, Sept.

9 is co-organized by the Network of Myanmar American Association (NetMAA) in cooperation with the local consulate offices of the ASEAN member states, and will be held at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills from 6 to 10 p.m. Please visitwww.aseanpac.org for more information. n ifornia Emerging Technology Fund said, “Charter is not just buying a big new service area — they are buying the digital divide.”

The article reported that about one-third of the homes in Charter’s then-proposed California service area were considered low-income — nearly 2.3 million. It also added that nearly one-quarter of Los Angeles County residents had no internet access at home.

“We need to do more,” said Bradford in the panel when addressing the service as an important step towards bridging the digital divide.

“We need to work together — no matter what age you are, what gender you are, whatever you are,” shared McKenna, also emphasizing the importance of moving forward. “We’re all in this together.”

Charter Communication’s Spectrum Internet Assist program will deliver industry-leading 30/4 Mbps broadband speeds for $14.99/month for eligible families and seniors. Standard features include email, internet security software, and modem at no additional cost. n

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A

Supreme Court justice ready to testify against Sereno

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

anonymity so as not to preempt the expected proceedings before Congress, cited several allegaMANILA — A magistrate of tions in the impeachment comthe Supreme Court (SC) is willing plaint against Sereno that involve to testify on the impeachment internal matters of the high court charges against Chief Justice Ma. that only insiders would be able Lourdes Sereno should the trial to attest to.

“If summoned by the imagainst her proceed.

The justice, who requested peachment court, we will be

Residents queue for relief goods in Barangay 88 in Tacloban City a few days after the city was devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

Measure passed to remember ‘Yolanda’ victims, honor volunteers in rehab efforts

TACLOBAN CITY—The House of Representatives has approved a bill making Nov. 8 of every year a special nonworking holiday in Eastern Visayas region to remember the thousands of lives lost and the devastation when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), the world’s strongest typhoon to hit land, pummeled the region.

House Bill No. 4383, which the House committee on the revision of laws approved on Aug. 8, will be sent to the Senate for deliberation and approval before it is submitted to President Duterte for enactment into law.

Yolanda devastated a large part of Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, killing more than 6,000 people and displacing more than 2 million others.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, the bill’s sponsor, said Nov. 8 should always be remembered by the Filipino people, particularly the people of Eastern Visayas, for the “horrendous” effects it left behind.

“It is a day that we will always hold sacred in the collective

memory of our people and in the history of our region,” she said in her sponsorship message. “It is a time when we commemorate—not celebrate—a tragedy after which the lives of countless families and communities were never the same again.”

“But it is not just the tragedy of the supertyphoon that we will commemorate. Nov. 8 will also be a day to pay tribute and salute the selflessness of all volunteers and organizations that took part in and contributed to the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the communities affected by the typhoon,” said Romualdez, who is serving her first term.

She said the “overwhelming support” from various local and international groups and countries for Eastern Visayas at that time “gave us comfort and hope amid the … devastation.”

Communities under Romualdez’s congressional district, such as the the towns of Palo and Tanauan and Tacloban City, were the hardest-hit areas. Tacloban is considered the ground zero of Yolanda. (Joey A. Gabieta/Inquirer.net)

compelled to testify in the trial out of respect for the constitutional process,” the justice told The Star by phone.

The magistrate would not reveal if the testimony will support or negate the allegations raised against Sereno.

But the justice stressed that Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno

u PAGE A10

Philstar.com photo

A8 AUGUST 19-22, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Project of the century

FEATURES

AN official described it as the “project of the century.” People tired of waiting for even a few kilometers of railways to be finished are hoping it won’t take a century before the proposed subway in “mega Manila” is completed, and still another century before it becomes operational.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the 25-kilometer subway, to be financed with a $5-billion soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, would be approved next month by the board of the National Economic and Development Authority where he is the director general.

Public works officials in the previous administration had pushed for a subway to ease traffic and improve mass transportation in Metro Manila. The officials brushed aside fears that a subway system would be flooded and vulnerable to earthquakes. Japan has an extensive subway and train system, despite sitting like the Philippines along the Pacific Ring of Fire and suffering from frequent cataclysmic earthquakes and tsunamis.

Japan even operates railways built underwater.

Perhaps if Japan were to provide the financing and technological knowhow, a subway in Metro Manila would not be flooded regularly like the Quiapo underpass and Lagusnilad across the Manila City Hall, or be prone to breakdowns like the Metro Rail Transit 3. These facilities are among the reasons why Filipinos are skeptical

about the viability of operating a subway in Metro Manila.

There are also concerns about the long-term inconvenience that construction of the project might bring to already traffic-choked Metro Manila. Planners are proposing to build the subway from Quezon City to Taguig, with 13 stations, to accommodate an initial 350,000 passengers daily.

If implemented properly and the subway functions as efficiently as those commonly seen in many other countries, it could encourage people to leave their cars at home. This could reduce vehicle volume along traffic-clogged EDSA. But in this country, it’s a long way from the approval of a plan to actual operation.

Metro Manila is in dire need of better mass transportation facilities. A subway could be one of the answers. But the plan could be doomed even at the awarding of the contract.

The Duterte administration must see to it that no corruption scandal will derail this project.

If this subway becomes a real “project of the century,” it’s cause for rejoicing for the riding public. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Reactions to Trump’s statement that appeared to defend hate groups during the fatal violence in Charlottesville

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been in office for only 30 weeks but his self-inflicted wound coming from his statement that counter-protestors share the blame with the hate groups — the White supremacists, Neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and the “Alt-Right” — during their fatal clash on August 12, may be the worst in his already troubled presidency.

Though Trump called out the racist hate groups by name after pressure and criticism from both sides of the aisle, he proceeded to double-down on his original statement that both sides are to blame. He added that there were some really “fine people”, even among those marching with White supremacists, Neo-Nazis, the KKK, and the “Alt-Right”, who were caught in the violent altercation with counter-protesters that were rallying against these hate groups’ message of discrimination, bigotry, and antiSemitism.

The clash got heated and violent when these hate groups echoed Nazi chants, complete with tiki torches and Nazi sym-

bols, and even spewed racial and bigoted slurs directed to specific people on the other side, as they protested against the removal of a Confederate statue that glorifies slavery and oppression. The violent clash which included one White Supremacist plowing a car into counter-protesters killed 32year old Heather Heyer and injured dozens.

As the nation of immigrants mourns this tragedy and criticisms against Trump’s statements escalate, the president got praises and accolades from among the leaders of the hate groups for backing them up.

They thanked the president for speaking the “truth” on their behalf about what really happened in Charlottesville. They previously have said they support Trump because he “would bring their country back”. Trump did not disavow their support.

Embolden and deemed legitimized by no less than the president of the United States himself, these groups vow to stage more protests like the one they had in Charlottesville all over the country.

Trump even intensified his support for these hate groups’ cause — contending that Confed-

erate flags, statues and symbols all throughout the nation should not be removed because they are part of history. He accuses the counter-protesters, whom he called “very very violent,” to be rewriting history and changing the culture of America.

His supporters among the right-wing media are even floating the false and malicious narrative that the counter-protesters could even be “paid” actors and actresses just to protest in the city, which they say may not be for Charlottesville.

Among those who expressed public condemnation of Trump’s statement is the mother of the victim herself who the White House has been trying to call during Heather Heyer’s memorial service.

Mrs. Susan Bro said, “I’m not talking to the president now,” she said. “I’m sorry. After what he said about my child, and, it’s not that I saw somebody else’s tweets about him, I saw an actual clip of him at a press conference equating the protesters like Ms. Heyer with the KKK and the white supremacists.”

Trump’s statement has also compelled many leaders in the Republican Party and even offi-

Pres. Donald Trump

cers of the U.S. military to condemn these hate groups that promote racism, bigotry, discrimination and anti-Semitism in no uncertain terms.

More and more Republicans in Congress have openly called out Trump by name. The president’s business advisory councils disband as CEO members abandon Trump for his statement.

All 17 members of White House arts panel have also resigned to protest Trump’s response to the Charlottesville tragedy.

Two members of Congress — California Rep. Jackie Speier and Tennessee Rep. Steve Co-

White House photo

hen — have announced the filing of impeachment articles against Trump, stating that he had “failed the presidential test of moral leadership.”

A new CBS poll conducted before and immediately after Trump’s controversial unscripted press conference on August 14 (August 14-16) revealed that a majority — 55 percent of respondents — disapproved of Trump’s response to Charlottesville, with just over a third, 34 percent, approving.

The poll revealed a divide among party lines. Just a little over two-thirds, 67 percent of Re-

publicans approved of Trump’s response, with 22 percent disapproving.

Among the Democrats, an overwhelming 82 percent disapproved while only 10 percent approved. More independents shared the Democrats’ opinion: 53 percent disapproving and 32 percent approving.. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Depleted middle class depletes America’s economy

Rhizomes

PROSY ABARQUEZDELACRUZ, J.D. “SLAVERY was a violation of the Declaration’s “majestic interpretation of the economy of the Universe,” allowed by the founders because it was already among us, but placed by them in the course of ultimate extinction.

Although unfulfilled in the present, the Declaration’s promise of equality was a “beacon to guide” not only “the whole race of man then living” but “their children and their children’s children, and the countless myriads who should inhabit the earth in other ages.” Doris Kearns Goodwin, the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, 2005.

We have always believed that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

That all one has to do is by sheer effort and hard work, one succeeds in America.

It was not only an aspiration for migrating Irish, Germans, Italians, Jews, Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, but also Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalians, and later, Iraqis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Indians, but many more citizens of other nations who later became naturalized Americans, who believed in the American dream and helped in the building of infrastructures of America: railroads and highways by the Chinese, farm fields by the Japanese and Filipinos, canneries by Mexicans, information technology by Indians, Filipinos and Chinese, and many more immigrant stories that have yet to be told.

Yet, the ‘pursuit of happiness’ eluded the middle class for a decade now. We saw our financial resources depleted, as reserve funds were paid to federal income taxes.

For some families, it took a whole year to satisfy payment, until June 2013, when middle class families experienced breathing spaces. Spaces to resume building middle class lives.

Let me share some snippets of middle class lives and why it is

important to give them spaces to live, to regenerate, and to fuel the growth of the economy.

Cleaning ladies and nannies I get a glimpse of lives outside my own, engaged with folks in my church, in the bakery I visit, in community events and in one on one conversations with folks I meet.

One day, I sat to have coffee with a cleaning lady. During the day, her physical body is now betraying her, after cleaning homes for 2 decades now, but not her loving spirit to provide professional cleaning services.

An additional $2,000 extra federal taxes per year to her family budget depletes her resources for a weekly trip to take out her family to lunch, after Sunday Mass. A regular tab for three comes out to $25. Or a trip to a Chinese restaurant, where she sternly warns family members not to order any entrée above $9.99, on their restaurant tab.

Why that limited spending?

That is what her income can sustain, and wipe away her limited discretion, her family cannot go to McDonalds, nor can she afford a Chinese restaurant for the

week.

Week after week of that family cultural practice amounts to jobs at McDonalds or jobs at that Chinese restaurant.

Add another dimension, her husband is a welder. If there are not enough construction jobs he can have, the family is even more hard up and they have to limit the gas that they buy. With limited gas, he cannot go to enough construction projects to look for additional work.

It is a spiraling down trend that is felt by this working middle class family, increasing the emotional stress and tension.

He is also diabetic and additional stress on their family’s lifestyle creates a disturbance in his health, necessitating trips to the emergency room, to bring down his sugar level that has soared above 400. There is not much reserves they can speak of, and not much financial independence to be had when health care is reduced to a visit to emergency and not enough preventive care services to be had, until Obamacare was passed.

When a middle class family cuts back on their expenses,

cleaning ladies are the first to go, and for this cleaning lady, cleaning homes is her primary source of income. Without this paid-for services, she cannot pay her house payment, and three months in arrears will lead her family to foreclosure.

It is what we don’t need, nationally, wherein more homes will be foreclosed, leading to blighted neighborhoods and a tanking economy. *** Oil subsidies Does it make sense that Big Oil and Gas companies continue to receive tax subsidies, since 1916, to the tune of $4 billion a year, according to the estimates done by the White House?

At $3.65 per gallon of unleaded gas at the pump, where a one cent increase to $3.66, in the price of gasoline, yields $200 million profits a month, would you not feel like the Big Oil companies are profiting at the expense of the working family, like the one, I just described above?

William Browning, a research librarian, wrote: “The American Coalition for

Ethanol estimates that when combined with state and local government aid to large oil companies, subsidies amount to anywhere from $133.8 billion to $280.8 billion annually from all sources of taxpayer aid that goes to the oil and gas industry.

The Obama administration contends the oil industry no longer needs help. The three largest oil companies made $80 billion in profits combined in 2011, which amounts to $200 million per day. The White House also asserts America uses 20 percent of the world’s oil, but only has two percent of the world’s oil reserves. Oil drilling continues in all areas of the United States and oil rigs are plentiful in the Gulf of Mexico, the White House blog states.”

So, the compelling need for subsidies, which existed in 1916 no longer exists today in 2012. *** A small business owner In one neighborhood, a small business enterprise supports a family of 24. Their hired help consists of the owners’ daughter, nieces, nephews, brothers

u PAGE A9

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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OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ AUgUSt 19-22, 2017

A

NEW EQUIPMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana try out new binnoculars donated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in MalacaĂąang Palace on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

PNA photo by Robinson NiĂąal Jr.

Depleted middle class depletes...

PAGE A8 t

and sisters. This retinue of helpers mold the bread, prepare the bread for rising and then, for baking. It is the combined familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labor that creates a supply source for bread to prestigious hotels and restaurants in the area. It is also the source of income that supports a university student, pursuing her education in engineering, an investment in our future.

Would it not make sense that our federal subsidies instead go to support college students, so they are not incurring student loans, that by the time they come out of college, they have amassed loans of $125,000, more than enough down payment to support a house. If enough college graduates carry such a debtload, is it any surprise that they are not lining up to buy their real estate, their first home, their first condo, their first loft?

It is a rationalizing of our national priorities that is so needed.

It is what Lincoln did during his times. We can no longer say we are free, or that all men are created equal. For in reality, each day, we are not. Oil companies continue to bleed our federal budgets dry and we, the taxpayers, continue to be bled by the banking industries.

In 2008-2010, one small bank that I know of, whose resources are in the $8 billion and above,

West Coast

accumulated enough cash reserves of $5 billion from not lending to small businesses and consumers, and from selling their buildings. In their small billion dollar world, they profited by not lending, while still they lined up for federal stimulus funds. Now, they are reaching out to small businesses to improve their lending rates.

Why? Monies hoarded in a place do not create value, it is only when monies are circulated to pay for loans, like the hefty student loans at 6% interest, or the hefty home loans to a more reasonable 3 percent interest rates, or where labor makes bread in the bakery that I mentioned, that dollar currency acquires value. Billionaires do not make millions and billions by hoarding, it is labor applied to capital that gives them value.

Doris Kearns Goodwin cites Lincoln: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the same spirit that says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You work and toil and earn bread, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eat it.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruits of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.â&#x20AC;?

It was slavery then, it was even royal kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enslavement of its subjects, but today, it is institutionalized, legal-

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ized form of modern financial slavery, where superprofits are made by Big Oil Companies, at the rate of $200 million per day, or $80 billion in profits in 2011 by the big 3 oil companies, yet we continue to provide them tax subsidies via our federal government, at the rate of $4 billion a year. This subsidy, coupled with the tax cuts to the superrich have created more than a trillion deficit I the federal budget.

Enough already! We need to stop the hemorrhaging of federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasury deficit to modern day slaveowners, the big Oil companies and banking industry. It is time to focus on growing middle class families and educating our schoolchildren. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rhizomes.â&#x20AC;?

She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine.

Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kennedy School of Government.

She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

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Patricia Bautista under provisional witness protection due to death threats

by Jomar

Canlas ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has given security and protection to the estranged wife of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista due to alleged death threats.

In a press conference, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II told the media that his office

would accept Patricia Paz Bautista under provisional coverage of the WPP. “The provisional admission of Ms. Cruz-Bautista into the WPP was made in consideration of her safety and security as a potential witness,” Aguirre said.

At present, Aguirre said that the DOJ would have to evaluate if Patricia would be given full coverage of the WPP.

Patricia Bautista

Inquirer.net photo

“We wish to stress that before being provided with actual protection, security and/or benefit under the WPP, Ms. Cruz-Bautista must execute a Memorandum of Agreement. Ms. Cruz-Bautista came to the DOJ freely and voluntarily, with her lawyers, to seek her admission to the WPP,” the DOJ chief said.

Aguirre did not mention the details of the death threats against Patricia.

He even said that there was no prohibition if the children would also be placed under the WPP. Patricia refused to answer questions from the media regarding the death threats and on issues of morality involving a third party in their marriage and the Comelec chairman’s sexuality.

In a 10-page affidavit, Patricia accused her husband of acquiring P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth and of misdeclaring his 2016 statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) amounting to P176.3 million. She is pushing for the division of their assets following their separation.

Bautista is now being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which he formerly headed. He is also facing possible impeachment if the allegations against him were proven true.

Under the WPP protection, Patricia will be entitled to stay in a safe house, receive monthly allowance, afforded security, hospitalization and medicines, among other privileges. n

EMPOWERED WOMEN. The Bravo Awards is a nationwide search for unsung heroes, great achievers, and advocates of social change. Security Bank and Zonta Club of Makati & Environs present this year’s winners: (from left) Ramona T. Balingcos, for Sr. Mary Placid C. Abejo, Bravo Woman for Arts, Culture & Heritage; Zarah Jane D. Juan, Bravo Woman for Business; Susana P. Guerrero, Bravo Woman for Culinary Arts; Elsie Maria M. Romano, Bravo Woman for Education; Ms. Sunshine Lichauco De Leon, for Jessie Lichauco, Special Awardee; Sheila Buxani-Callao, for Sadhana Buxani, Bravo Woman for Media & Public Affairs; Mary Beth B. Maningas, Bravo Woman for Science & Technology; Susan V. Ople, Bravo Woman for Social Services; and Yvette K. Medalla, Bravo Woman for Sports held at JYD Hall of the Security Bank Centre in Makati City on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Lawmakers threaten to scrap P900-M drug fund by audrey

morallo Philstar.com

zen. The police claimed that the young Caloocan student fired a gun at them, but this is not what the barangay CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage shows,” Rep. Gary Alejano of party-list group Magdalo said.

Alejano said policemen continue to take the law into their own hands in the name of President Duterte’s drug war.

MANILA - Several congressmen on Friday, Aug. 18 expressed outrage over the death of more than 60 drug suspects in the past two days, including a Grade 11 student in Caloocan City.

They threatened to scrap the proposed P900-million antidrug war augmentation fund for “The President says that he the Philippine National Police (PNP) for next year, fearing it loves Filipinos, he loves the might be used to kill more drug country. Stop the hypocrisy, he is heartless,” Alejano said. suspects.

The former Marine captain “The killings have become bra-

urged policemen to defy any illegal order from Duterte, such as killing drug suspects.

“You serve and protect the Filipino people. That is your oath. You are not the private army of Duterte. He is not President for life. Please remember that you are not only killing the suspects, you are also killing our democracy in the process,” Alejano said.

He also called on the people “to denounce this inhumane policy of killing as much as we denounce illegal drugs and corruption in government.” n

They threatened to scrap the proposed P900-million anti-drug war augmentation fund for the Philippine National Police (PNP) for next year, fearing it might be used to kill more drug suspects.

Philstar.com photo

Supreme Court justice ready to testify...

PAGE A7 t any testimony would anyway undergo test of credibility during trial.

“I don’t have any ambition to replace her (Sereno) or any agenda,” the justice said.

Earlier this month, the SC allowed the release of court records and documents sought by groups seeking the ouster of Sereno to bolster the impeachment complaint against her before the House of Representatives.

All 14 other colleagues of Sereno in the high court voted unanimously to grant the request of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. (VPCI) for certified copies of several documents that will support their allegations against the Chief Justice.

Among the records ordered released to VACC and VPCI were the SC’s revocation of Sereno’s order in 2012 to reopen a regional constitutional administrative office (RCAO) in Cebu without the collegial approval of the Court.

The SC also granted the release of Sereno’s memorandum for appointment of lawyer Solomon Lumba as her staff head and the subsequent letter of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio withdrawing his signature from the appointment over an internal issue.

The VACC and VPCI alleged that Sereno violated the Constitution when she appointed Lumba, a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law, when the law provides that appointive government officials shall not hold another public post unless otherwise specified.

But the high court rejected the request of the groups for release of the Memorandum of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro questioning Sereno’s orders which lacked necessary approval of the collegial court as provided under the rules, including the appointment of a Philippine Judicial Academy (Philja) official.

The SC explained that such memorandum could not be released pending resolution from the Court.

De Castro’s internal memorandum, which was reported by The Star earlier, specifically assailed the appointment of lawyer Brenda Jay Mendoza as Philja chief of office for the Philippine Mediation Center, which she said violated their Administrative Order No. 33-2008 that required the appointment for the post to be approved by the SC collegially.

De Castro also assailed Sereno’s grant of foreign travel allowance to members of her staff without required approval from the full court.

She bared that the Chief Justice’s staff members were being given travel allowances even when their trips abroad were on “official time,” which should not involve expenditure of public funds.

De Castro also questioned the “long delay” in the appointment in vacant key positions in SC pending before Sereno’s office, “which is prejudicial to the best interest of service.”

In their complaint, the VACC and VPCI accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution by issuing an administrative order creating the new Judiciary Decentralized Office (JDO) and reopening the RCAO in Western Visayas in the absence of an authority from the Court.

They also raised the appointments of Lumba and Mendoza in the SC as basis.

The complaint also alleged that Sereno committed betrayal of public trust for sitting on the applications for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court.

The VACC, a supporter of President Duterte, reinforced the impeachment complaint it filed against Sereno by submitting a “substitute complaint” and certified true copies of the documents and court records which will support their allegations against the Chief Justice.

VACC president Dante Jimenez led the filing of the substitute

complaint. He was accompanied by lawyer Eligio Mallari of the VPCI and former congressman Jacinto Paras.

The new complaint was filed in the office of House Secretary General Cesar Pareja, who refused to give journalists a copy.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez bared that the leadership of the House of Representatives will deliberate and hold hearings on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.

“There will be a committee hearing on it, especially now that the Supreme Court issued certified true copies of documents related to the allegations in the complaint,” Alvarez said in an interview with Headstart aired over ANC. The House committee on justice handles the impeachment complaints.

Earlier, some parties reportedly found it hard to secure the documents from the SC and the Judicial and Bar Council.

House leaders, including Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, told lawyer Larry Gadon that if push comes to shove, lawmakers will subpoena the alleged concealed assets and the psychiatric report of Sereno where she reportedly failed.

Gadon, an ally of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a Duterte supporter, was supposed to file a separate impeachment complaint, but opted to hold it after Fariñas advised him to make sure that the complaint complies with the “personal knowledge” requirement.

As a matter of procedure, an impeachment complaint needs to get an endorsement of a sitting congressman before it could be referred to the House committee on justice for hearing. If the signatories reach at least 97, it will be forwarded to the Senate for trial.

So far, only the VACC and VPCI have filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno but this cannot yet be considered valid as it still has no congressman-endorser yet. n

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ AUgUSt 19-22, 2017

A11

Robredo on drug deaths: People must express outrage

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo raises a clenched fist during a press conference after the rejection of her nomination by the Commission on Appointments at the Senate on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Philstar.com photo by Geremy Pintolo

Taguiwalo on rejection as DSWD Sec.: Why, CA? MANILA - Former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo wants the Commission on Appointments (CA) to give the reason for the rejection of her nomination.

In media interviews, Taguiwalo said she deserved â&#x20AC;&#x153;candor and franknessâ&#x20AC;? from the CA members who voted against her confirmation on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Taguiwalo said that given her one year of faithful service in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the least that the CA could do is be honest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did not get any reason for my rejection so I said, at least they give me a reason as a going away gift,â&#x20AC;? Taguiwalo said in Filipino on Friday, Aug. 18 over radio dzMM. The former DSWD chief pointed out that the CA took pains in explaining their reasons for rejecting then environment secretary Gina Lopez.

MalacaĂąang has yet to appoint an officer-in-charge or a replacement to take over the department.

Confidential appointees at the Office of the Secretary will be leaving with Taguiwalo but the five undersecretaries appointed

by President Duterte will remain at the DSWD since they are coterminus with their appointing authority.

Transparency The CA voting is done through secret balloting. Of the 25 CA members, 13 voted to reject Taguiwalo. Only those who voted to confirm her came out to explain why she deserved to be DSWD chief.

Vice President Leni Robredo underscored the need for transparency and citizen engagement in the decisions made by the CA. During the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freedom Cycleâ&#x20AC;? press conference in Naga City, Robredo said this would avoid frustrations among the appointees and the public who were fighting the same causes as the ones rejected.

She said it was important to â&#x20AC;&#x153;express outrageâ&#x20AC;? and call the attention of CA members so they would not abuse their mandate.

But while not all may agree with the decision, Robredo acknowledged the rejection of Cabinet appointments is part of the democratic process and it must bNot really pork Davao Oriental Joel Mayo Almario, chairman of the CA committee that rejected the appointment of Taguiwalo, said her stand against â&#x20AC;&#x153;porkâ&#x20AC;? had nothing to do with their decision.

But Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito blamed traditional and partisan politics for Taguiwaloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s removal from the DSWD. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pork barrel was never discussed in the CA deliberations for secretary Taguiwalo simply because there is no pork or PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) in the DSWD or any other agency,â&#x20AC;? Almario said.

Because of the ruling, the DBM and the lawmakers itemized what used to be pork barrel or lump sum funds allocated to congressional districts and distribute these among conduit agencies, including the DSWD, which handles

financial assistance for the House membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; indigent constituents.

However, Taguiwalo had treated such funds as part of the budget of her own department and subject to her and her underlingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; disposal. These were not â&#x20AC;&#x153;entitlementsâ&#x20AC;? of lawmakers and everyone who needed financial help had access to them, she said.

She had directed her field personnel to ignore endorsement letters from lawmakers, other politicians and members of the judiciary.

Almario heads the committee on social welfare and labor and employment that voted to reject Taguiwaloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment.

The CA, in plenary session on Wednesday, sustained the committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can only guess from the questions raised that maybe, some factors which led to the rejection of her appointment were her stand against tax reform and the national ID system,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Almario said he found Taguiwalo qualified for the job of DSWD secretary. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But as the committee chairman, even if my yes vote is different from the majority vote, I have to adhere, abide and announce the collective decision of the majority,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Members of his panel cast their votes through secret ballot â&#x20AC;&#x153;according to his/her conscience and not to external pressure,â&#x20AC;? Almario explained. (Rainier Allan Ronda and Jess Diaz/Philstar,com with reports from Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago)

MANILA - People should express outrage over the killing of dozens of drug suspects in Bulacan, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Friday, Aug. 18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not like that. We have been disgraced by this culture of impunity a long time agoâ&#x20AC;Ś it should not happen,â&#x20AC;? Robredo said.

She made the statement when asked to comment on the killing of 32 drug suspects in Bulacan overnight from Monday to Tuesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there are killings like that, it only shows that there are people who take the law into their own hands. They are not working under the law by denying due process and justice for everyone,â&#x20AC;?

Robredo told a forum in Naga City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there is someone who is at fault, he should be prosecuted, but he must be afforded due process,â&#x20AC;? she said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, Duterte said policemen should kill â&#x20AC;&#x153;another 32 every day, maybe we can reduce what ails this country,â&#x20AC;? referring to the 32 drug suspects killed in separate drug stings in Bulacan.

Duterte also warned he would shoot down human rights advocates obstructing his campaign against illegal drugs.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed alarm over Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supposed threats to shoot human rights advocates.

CHR Chairman Chito Gascon said the recent remarks made by Duterte further worsened the already deteriorating human rights situation in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The statements of the President that called for increasing the body count in police operations in the course of the drug war coupled with the off-the-cuff calls to shoot human rights monitors further exacerbate the climate of impunity that has characterized this administration,â&#x20AC;? he said.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said they are saddened by the threat against human rights advocates who are simply doing their job under a constitutional mandate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope that the government will recognize these and respect as well as protect human rights defenders in consonance with state policy enshrined in the Constitution,â&#x20AC;? De Guia said.

Despite the threat, Gascon said they would perform their mandate and continue to monitor possible

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

cases of human rights violations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We reiterate our call for law enforcement authorities to respect at all times both the human rights guarantees in our laws and their established operations procedures,â&#x20AC;? Gascon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perpetrators must be held to account,â&#x20AC;? he stressed.

Human Rights Watch said Duterte should immediately withdraw his statement or face investigation for inciting violence against rights advocates.â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s threats against human rights activists is like painting a target on the backs of courageous people working to protect the rights and upholding the dignity of all Filipinos. Duterte should retract his reprehensible remarks immediately before there is more blood on his hands,â&#x20AC;? said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.Human Rights Watch branded as false government claims that the deaths of suspected drug users and dealers were lawful.

The group said an analysis of police records exposed a pattern of unlawful police conduct.

The investigations revealed that police routinely execute drug suspects and then cover up their crimes by planting drugs and guns at the scene.Efforts to seek accountability for drug-war deaths have gone nowhere, the group said.

The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iron-fist approach against illegal drugs is bound to fail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unless he addresses the roots of the proliferation of illegal drugs, especially in depressed communities, he may just be accumulating statistics without actually solving anything,â&#x20AC;? Bayan said.

The group also slammed Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparent praise of policemen killing drug suspects, even encouraging them to kill

Philstar.com photo

more.

Duterte, a former prosecutor and mayor of Davao City where he built a reputation for tough anti-crime methods, won the presidential election last year on a promise to end criminality and corruption in the first three to six months of his presidency.

He encouraged police and even ordinary citizens to shoot suspected drug dealers if they resist arrest and promised cash rewards if they turn in drug lords.Death mentality Retired prelate Oscar Cruz said Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statements reflect the culture of death and growing â&#x20AC;&#x153;death mentalityâ&#x20AC;? in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether we like it or not, this mentality is creeping in, especially in the mind of the young people and that is worrisome,â&#x20AC;? said Cruz, retired archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan and former president of the Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of the Philippines.

Cruz attributed this mindset to the emergence of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;death mentalityâ&#x20AC;? inured to daily reports of summary killings in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is what we call infused value system since we can see it everyday. So it appears to be OK. Even among our youth, their perspective is that killing people is not a problem,â&#x20AC;? he added.

For his part, Sen. Franklin Drilon questioned the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies and offices for its lack of transparency on cases involving killings related to the war on drugs.

The Senate minority leader said the rising death toll from summary or arbitrary killings has placed the country under close scrutiny from the international community and the local legal community.

(With reports from Janvic Mateo, Marvin Sy, Ghio Ong, Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva)

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Fil-Am artist designs crown, judges Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World 2017

Richard Gutierrez

ABS-CBN photo

Richard Gutierrez charged with perjury, falsification

by JOMAR

CANLAS

ManilaTimes.net

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday, Aug. 17 filed criminal charges against actor Richard Gutierrez for allegedly submitting falsified tax documents and perjured affidavits to debunk the P38.57-million tax evasion case lodged against him in April 2017.

In the complaint filed at the Department of Justice, the BIR accused Gutierrez of knowingly using and submitting fake or falsified annual income tax return (ITR) for taxable year 2012. The actor was also charged with six counts of knowingly using/submitting fake or falsified quarterly value-added tax (VAT) returns for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarters of 2012; two counts of using/submitting perjured affidavits during the preliminary investigation of his tax case; and four counts of attempting to make it appear he or another has filed his annual ITR and quarterly VAT returns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The attached returns were deceptively made to appear to have been stamped received by Revenue

FILIPINO-AMERICAN artist JEFRĂ&#x2039; was commissioned to design the crown for Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World 2017.

The artist also judged the preliminary and final rounds of the pageant, which saw Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Clarissa Bowers take home the newly designed crown and the distinction as Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though there was a lot of pressure, it was an honor to make one girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream come true,â&#x20AC;? shared JEFRĂ&#x2039;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was surprised it was Clarissaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first pageant, but she was very poised, humorous, natural, and authentic. She will represent America proud!â&#x20AC;?

The 66th Annual Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World was held at the Linda Chaplin Theatre in Orlando, Florida and showcased 28 hopefuls. Taking inspiration from the pageantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motto, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beauty with a Purpose,â&#x20AC;? JEFRĂ&#x2039; conceptualized the crown to mimic Gore Strips, which are triangular paper segments used to create world globes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had an interest in maps and globes, how they are deconstructed and created. The Gore Strips have a point at the top and bottom that when placed on a sphere, forms the north and south poles,â&#x20AC;? JEFRĂ&#x2039; elaborated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When completed and assembled, the Gore Strips have true perspective and creates the image of the world as one.â&#x20AC;?

Along with Prerna Nanda of PAGE B3

District Office No. 42- San Juan City,â&#x20AC;? the BIR said in a statement.

Gutierrez was earlier charged with tax evasion in connection with Gutierrezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R Gutz Production, Inc., which engages in the production, processing and marketing of movies, telemovies, recordings, television shows, and other forms of entertainment and sports events and promotions.

The BIRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Revenue District Office (RDO) in San Juan City and the Document Processing Division of BIR Quezon City certified that R Gutz Productions Corp. had no VAT return filed for the said quarters.

The BIR said the documents submitted by Gutierrez appeared to be forged and â&#x20AC;&#x153;the rubber stamp marks were not among those being used by RDO No. 42-San Juan City.â&#x20AC;?

The bureau claimed that the actor had an underdeclared P39.51 million income for 2012.

It placed Gutierrezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s income tax liability at P27.45-million, and his VAT liabilities at P11.12-million, or The crownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design was inspired by globe strips. a total of P38.57 million.

Filipino-American artist JEFRĂ&#x2039; and the crown he conceptualized for Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World 2017.

Jefre Manuel (center) conceptualized the crown of new Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss World 2017 Clarissa Bowers.

Photos courtesy of Jefre Manuel

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B2 AUGUST 19-22, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano not affected by Erich Gonzales issue

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

MISUNDERSTANDINGS, according to married celebrity couple director Paul Soriano and actress Toni Gonzaga, are a part of a marriage. “ ‘ Yu n g t a m p u h a n ‘ d i n a man maiiwasan. It’s part of the marriage. I think that’s what makes the marriage work, so it’s a working progress,” Paul told Philstar.com in a recent interview.

Toni added: “When you’re not fighting, you’re not improving because when you fight that’s when you get to learn more with each other.”

Actually, said Toni and Paul, misunderstandings between them arise not from jealousy, such as a recent controversy linking Paul to actress Erich Gonzales, who worked with the director in his latest movie, “Siargao.”

Paul and Toni revealed that they have different styles on nurturing their son Seve, Paul being the playful dad while Toni is the disciplinarian mom that causes their mini “tampuhan.”

“Most of our tampuhan is about Seve kasi I’m very rough with him (Seve), while she (Toni) would say: ‘No, he might get hurt.’ I said, ‘We’re boys you have

Paul Soriano and Toni Gonzaga

to let us be’,’” said Paul. “She disciplines the boy. I’m more of a play, fun so she’s trying her best to calm us down. We’re just boys being boys so she gonna need to get used to that.”

“Nakakatakot kasi ‘pag iniiwan sila sa bahay eh. Kung anoanong picture ang nakikita ko. Nasa labas ‘yung isa, ‘yung isa nasa gutter. ‘Di ba?

Bat na sa gutter? Bat nandoon ang bata?,” Toni said that drew laughter from select members of the press.

In taking turns of taking care of Seve, Toni said they had a conscious effort to see to it that

Philstar.com photo

one of them should be there. “For instances naman na pareho kami (wala sa bahay), we make it a point na may family member sa bahay. Lagi s’yang may family member na kasama,” said Toni with husband Paul.

The versatile actress gives credit to her in-laws for taking care of them. “I’m very blessed to have a second set of parents na very hands on, very loving and very helpful to us.”

The couple clarified that they have no plans of having a second baby. “Hindi pa sa ngayon. Siguro gusto muna naming ibigPAGE B4

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LEELIN HOSTS PLANT TOUR FOR BINIBINING PILIPINAS USA 2017. Binibining Pilipinas USA 2017 candidates recently toured the manufacturing facility and corporate office of Leelin Bakery and Café in Santa Fe Springs, California where they learned the rudiments of baking Filipino breads, pastries and native desserts. Earlier in the week, Leelin Bakery and Café also hosted a Meet and Greet for the candidates and store customers at the company’s Eagle Rock location. Shown in photo are Menard Leelin (center), president of Goodness Corporation of California/Leelin Bakery and CafeÐ, with the Binibining Pilipinas candidates. The pageant finale is scheduled on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center where the winner will be crowned.

(Advertising Supplement)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 19-22, 2017

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Summer beauty tips

By Monet

Lu

DUe to insistent public demand, I finally had the time to put up a piece for summer beauty tips. today, I give you a special treat by answering some of the frequently asked questions regarding skin and hair care during the summer season.

Question #1: How do I keep my skin looking radiant despite the summer heat?

I’ve said this before and I say it again: It is very important, especially during summertime that you keep your skin hydrated. Look for beauty products that are great for hydrating the skin, and level up your usual hydration standards by using intensive masks at least once or twice a week. Use a toner for more refreshing moisturizer prep.

It helps even out the sponginess of the skin. I also suggest that you freshen up with some revitalizing toner spritz a couple of times during the day especially when the temperature is really hot.

If hydrating your skin stands as my top advice, exfoliating is closest to being equally important. exfoliation removes dulling skin debris and helps improve hydration from toners and moisturizers.

For a clearer and smoother skin, I urge you to exfoliate regularly. I know how much you love applying make-up in the morning but before you perform your usual “painting session,” make sure you exfoliate first. Do this prior to applying toner, moisturizer and sPF. Remember, your make-up will last longer on an exfoliated skin.

My last—but not the least tip—to maintain that youthful summer glow, is to apply sunblock. In my 30 years in the beauty industry, I couldn’t remember a time in which I never recommended the use of sunscreen. sunscreen soothes over-exposed skin. a burnt skin is never beautiful and is in fact, dangerous sometimes. so always be on the safe side– apply and reapply, as needed. I think every two hours would be a good interval.

Question # 2: What make-up regimen would you recommend

for summer? as I mentioned earlier, I know that make-up is one, if not the best, transforming agent ever invented.

I’ve been doing hair and make-up for as long as I can remember. It truly transforms a person’s face—if done right. and during this hot season, the right make-up means light make-up.

Los angeles makeup artist napoleon Perdis says, “skip thick foundations and save your cream lipsticks for fall.” While I a g re e that thick foundations would make your make-up look too heavy, I think some cream hydrating lipsticks may still work on some occasions. as for the face, aim for a lighter texture like tinted moisturizer, bronzing gel and cheek stain. they wear better in this crazy La summer. I still recommend the use of a prepping primer on any given day.

Going to the beach is just so inevitable during the summer. I suggest wearing waterproof eyeliner, shadow and mascara just in case you decided to take a sudden detour to santa Monica Pier. an undereye concealer is also a musthave. It would help prevent eye makeup from running or smearing in the heat.

I also recommend using an oilfree daily lotion that has a minimum sPF15. also, carry a compact that you can use for midday touch-ups but remember to keep on the “barely covered” tone. You would want your natural glow to stand out, not a “heavily covered” face.

Less is more when it comes to summer make-up but a little shimmer won’t hurt. You can use a shimmery bronzer to add a sexy, healthy sheen to your skin.

Question # 3: It is extra-difficult to keep my hair from drying out during summer. Any suggestions?

To prove that he loves his fans and is not appalled by them, Alden, together with SnowCaps, treated over 30 hardworking street sweepers and traffic enforcers to a spa.

Philstar.com photo

After running away from them, Alden Richards bonds with fans

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

I am actually saving the hair tips for a more concentrated article but I can give a word or two to help take care of your crown and glory.

I know this is hard for some but, try to avoid “overcleansing.” shampooing just once a week is enough.

On other days, applying conditioner alone is ok. You can also add a weekly clarifying shampoo and skip the conditioner (or just apply it to the hair ends). try and take a break from the blow dryer if you can and let your hair air-dry. Best advice: Visit Monet salon for more hair advice–and makeover!

I hope I have shed some summer beauty wisdom to you. stay tuned for more of our seasonal beauty tips. Or, just like my best advice: Monet salon in Canoga Park and Panorama City are open weekdays and weekends. Please call (818) 912-6835 and (818) 891-8949 or got to Monetsalon@aol.com. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Last July 30, actor alden Richards reportedly ran for his life after a meet and greet with his fans in a mall show. Videos of him running away and going out of the mall in a haste went viral.

When asked for comments on his viral video where he is shown as running away from fans, alden told the press: “the security got out of hand during that time. Medyo kailangang icontrol ‘yung situation.”

He clarified that he ran away not because he is “diring diri” or feeling disgusted with his fans, contrary to reports.

“I was running out from the crowd to prevent congesting even more. It’s the only way that came out of my mind kasi even the people are getting hurt, nasasaktan na sila, naiipit.

I opted to do something na mas ma-lessen ‘yung casualty,” he explained. to prove that he loves his fans and is not appalled by them, alden, together with snowCaps, treated over 30 hardworking street sweepers and traffic enforcers to a spa. alden said that these unsung heroes deserve more. to cap their special day, beneficiaries went home with generous amounts of glutathione supplements.

Glutathione is known to have positive impact on a wide range

Brenan Espartinez: The prodigy comes of age

by Tinnie

eSguerra Philstar.com

with King of R&B Jay-R and his HomeWorkZ Music label, Brenan BRenan espartinez has come has been getting his much-needed a long way since his early years push in getting his original music as a child prodigy. Under the tu- heard by a wider audience.

He says, “Creating new music telage of renowned composer and OPM stalwart Ryan Cayabyab, he is extremely important because was one of the mainstays of Kaya, I see it as one of the best ways a singing group comprised of to breathe new life to our local music industry. Putting out more equally prodigious youngsters. after winning first runner-up great quality original music would on GMa 7’s “Pinoy Pop superstar” really help revive the interest and season 1 last 2005, the Kapuso support for local music.”

Backed up by his current band, artist became a mainstay of the sunday variety noontime show, sub Projekt, Brenan has been acsOP, and has since appeared in tively touring with HomeWorkZ as virtually all of the network’s regu- part of its Original Music Only concert tours both here and abroad, lar programs. aside from his local awards, he and admits to being blown away also bagged the gold medal during by the massive support shown by the 10th annual World Champion- their Pinoy audiences wherever ship of Performing arts (WCOPa) in Hollywood, Usa in 2006.

With his extensive musical experience, Brenan has become more aware of his mission in the local entertainment landscape.

Despite having started off in the shadows of noted foreign R&B stalwarts, he acknowledges the importance of finding his unique identity and being one of the nextgeneration keepers of the OMO (Original Music Only) torch. thanks to his collaborations Breanan Espartinez

they perform.

HomeWorkZ artists,” he assures “I think it is a great way to his fans. showcase what our local artists/songwriters/musicians are made of. there are no boundaries since all styles and genres are welcome. every artist on the tour bring their own distinct sound and flavor. those who watch get to witness how rich and diverse this generation’s artistry is,” he exclaims.

With HomeWorkZ as their new musical playground, expect Brenan and his band to explore more fertile musical terrain in the coming months.

“Me and my band sub Projekt are aiming to record and release more songs. We are also looking forward to do collabs with other

Philstar.com photo

Fil-Am artist designs crown, judges...

PAGE B1 elementz by Prerna, JeFRË’s design was brought to life using • 2,367 diamonds and white sapphires • 97 pieces of hyro blue sapphires • 382 grams of silver and white gold. “seeing the concept come to fruition by a renowned jewelery designer and then placed on the american winner to represent Miss World was both inspiring and an honor!,” JeFRË said. “the shape that JeFRË created is powerful because it represents so many different parts of the world: unique yet united. this crown is a reminder to our titleholder, organization, and anyone who looks at the design that she is a representation of the world as a whole and all who

inhabit it,” says elizabeth safrit, co-national director of Miss World in the United states.

Jefre Manuel-Figueras, a Filipino-american artist established globally has a strong interest in connecting with his roots and making a difference in the skyline and landscape of his native community.

JeFRË studied at the art Institute of Chicago prior to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape architecture from Ohio state University. JeFRË was named one of seven “Faces of Design for 2007” by Florida Inside Out architecture magazine for his environmental art and couture landscapes. as a designer and public art initiator, his design solutions originate from a deep understanding of the historical, envi-

ronmental, social and contextual relationships influencing the site and the architecture. In 2008, JeFRË launched his own couture landscape and public art studio with a focus on environmental art, green roofs, boutique plazas and parks and public art master plans.

He was selected by the prestigious Marlborough Gallery in new York City as an “Up and Coming International Public artist” and chosen by the Lexus Corporation to be the sixth member of their eCO Hybrid Living national Design team to design environmental conscious carbon neutral environments.

JeFRË is passionate about sharing his public art initiative through his line of new interactive designs and upcoming public art projects. (Philstar.com)

Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano...

PAGE B2 a y a n g a t e n s y o n a t o ra s n a min kay seve and to really focus on him first para mas ma-manage naming yung oras namin,” toni stressed. the “the Voice” host admits being a mom is hard but very rewarding. “I think as a person now, I have more depth. everything has a new meaning now...now, ‘yung mga iyak ko parang ang lalim na

ng pinaghuhugutan. Kasi I’ve experienced what it is like to be a mom, to live and to live for someone, ‘yung hindi ka na nabubuh a y p a r a l a n g s a s a r i l i m o .

‘Yung may purpose na. there is finally a purpose.” toni said seve cemented her marriage to direct Paul. “I never truly understood how much I love Paul until I saw him love our baby. Nakita ko kung paa-

no nya minamahal si seve, alagaan si seve, mas nag-grow ‘yung admiration, respect and love ko sa kanya,” toni said. the actress, who has an upcoming film with Piolo Pascual, recalled that as a gift for their 4th anniversary, Paul enrolled her in a culinary school, and she can now use her skills in their home. toni revealed that Paul loves her cooking.

of illness and health conditions such as cancer, cataracts, asthma, liver problems, HIV and Parkinson’s Disease.

Giving back to society often takes different forms. In the case of alden, he chose to give unforgettable happy memories to those who need and deserve them the most. Few occupations are as difficult, constantly hazardous and unrewarding as those of street sweeper and traffic enforcer, that is why if only just in a small way, alden, the brand endorser, decided to honor these unsung everyday heroes of the metropolis in a unique, unex-

pected, and unforgettable way.

For a whole afternoon, selected hard working street sweepers and lady traffic enforcers were treated to lunch and some much needed and well-deserved pampering while catching a movie at the Blue Water Day spa in Greenhills.

“For the many fans of alden Richards, a few hours of quality time up close and personal is a dream come true. In our own small way, we wanted to be instrumental in making their dream come true,” erick armigos, President of Vida nutriscience, says in a statement.

FEATURES

B4 AUGUST 19-22, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Darren Espanto makes waves in Malaysia

by MARK

BONIFACIO ManilaTimes.net

AFTER touring Singapore and having released the CD of his album in Korea last year, singing sensation Darren Espanto next conquered Malaysia last week to promote his latest album, “Be With Me.” “The Voice Kids PH” is truly going international now with his collaboration with teen Malaysian singer Nik Qistina for his

song “My Baby and Me” and her song “Young Hearts.” Universal Music Malaysia released a special Malaysian version of Espanto’s album for his fans there.

The promo tour included appearances and interviews in Malaysia’s top radio stations like UFM, Im4U FM, Astro FM and Traxx FM. He also guested and performed on TV shows like “Bernama News,” “Bernama Today,” “TV Diva,” “H Live,” “Selamat Pagi Malaysia” and TV9’s

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Darren Espanto Photo from his Instagram account

“Nasi Lemak Kopi O.” Espanto also met with the Malaysian press for print and online interviews. The highlight of the tour though was a show and autograph-signing session with Qistina at Loud Speakers Setia Walk Puchong in Kuala Lumpur.

But it was not just all work for Espanto during his trip, Qistina also took time for him to show Kuala Lumpur’s sights like the Petronas Towers and had him try traditional Malaysian food especially durian (which was his first time to eat such fruit, though it’s abundant in Davao).

They also spent time with lucky fans at Berjaya Times Square Indoor Park where they enjoyed exciting rides.

“I am so thankful Universal Music Malaysia released my album and get to share my music in this part of the world. Having promoted my album in Malaysia is a dream-come-true for an artist like me and I hope they like my album,” Espanto said.

With a talent like that, hopefully, it’s gonna be the whole Asean region or even the whole Asian continent. Who knows, Espanto could even possibly conquer the whole world.

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WHILE terrorism is holding peace hostage around the world today, a more rampant but under the radar killer is on the loose and becoming more widespread, wiping out lives, as the medical community helplessly battles this pandemic situation of super bugs resistant to all drugs we currently have. Being at the mercy of these powerful and defiant microorganisms is a most scary situation. And they seem to be ahead of us.

Pneumonia and wound infections killed hundred of millions of people globally before penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, Professor of Bacteriology at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. Today, these conditions and hundreds of other infections respond well to penicillin and the other more sophisticated antibiotics, savings hundreds of million of lives every century... until now, with the explosion of super bugs!

Statistics At least two million Americans develop drug resistant infections a year and more than 23,000 of them die, 10 million deaths a year worldwide. This translates to $100 trillion sacrificed gross national products. Most of these scary infections occur in hospital settings, but they are also noted in the general community. These could be the commonly known conditions, like pneumonia or wound infection, but this time caused by drug-resistant bacteria, and hence, deadly. It is like retrotransporting us back to the early 1900, the pre-penicillin era.

Lessons from the past While two of the most devastating outbreaks of the Black Death (plague) that wiped out more than half of the population of Europe in the 14th Century killing about 75 million, leading to the final demise of the Roman Empire, was caused by two different strains of infectious agents from the black rats, one drug resistant infection today could kill much more around the globe.

Just like us, humans, bacteria are active living microorganisms, with survival “instinct,” and when exposed to the drugs that aim to kill them, have the capacity to adapt by mutation and replication

Superbug pandemic to become resistant to the drugs, When they become super bugs, they are untouchable killers, unless we develop new drugs effective against them.

Who to blame However, we cannot blame the bacteria, who simply want to survive just like all living things.

We, humans, healthcare providers and lay people, who abuse antibiotics, are to blame. Whether prescribed indiscriminately or purchased over the counter by self-medicating individuals, the widespread abuse of antibiotics make the bacteria mutate and grow resistance to them.

Currently, there are at least six common pathogens that are drug-resistant, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. Coli, and MRSA, and 3 global diseases: HIV, TB and malaria. There are many others.

Unless science discovers fast ways to fight and kill these resistant superbugs with new drugs or methodology and we, the people, do not abuse their use, any and all of them will continue to kill with impunity around the world.

Bacteria are on all surfaces These microorganisms are on our skin, on our entire body.

They are also all around us, in all surfaces, in our kitchen (which has more bacteria than our bathroom), all over our home, and in all public areas, like escalator hand rails, door knobs, cabinets, microwave oven door handle, countertops, tables, chairs, etc..

Paper money and coins are loaded with bacteria. If bacteria are on our skin and everywhere, why do we not always get infected?

The reasons are factors like our skin integrity. If our skin is intact, the bacteria cannot invade us, except though our mucus linings (in our eyes, nose, mouth, ears, anus). This is where personal hygiene is essential. And also the tempting habit of touching our face and contaminate it with bacteria. The other factor is the type and dose (number) of bacteria.

Even if we have a skin abrasion or cut, if we thoroughly wash the affected area right away, the dose of bacteria will be so reduced our immune system can handle them to prevent infection. If the dose is not reduced, then we get skin infection. This is why all wounds must be washed clean immediately after sustaining them.

Simple handwashing On the prophylactic side, the simple habit of washing our hands

religiously, at least eight times a day (after going to the bathroom, before and after eating or working around the house or outside) can prevent contamination and infections, eliminating the need for antibiotics. This practice can also prevent viral infections, like common cold, for which some misinformed or uninformed individuals might opt to take antibiotics. Viral infections do NOT respond to antibiotics. This is just a waste of money, and worse, it will “encourage” bacteria in our body to develop antibiotic resistance. When treated longer than necessary, even bacterial infections commonly sensitive to specific antibiotics will increase the risk of the bacteria developing resistance.

Skin sanitizers Skin sanitizers, preferably with skin moisturizer, in liquid, gel or foam, are helpful in minimizing infection. Those with sixty to 95 percent alcohol are most effective Their optional use, as an added measure, is medically acceptable, except for persons who cannot tolerate their use.

Dental health & heart attack Today, the association of dental health with our general health has been thoroughly researched and now very well-established.

Dental or oral infection, like teeth and gum diseases, increases the risk for cardiovascular illnesses, like heart attack, stroke, etc. To preclude the need for antibiotics, our routine medical check-up should also include dental evaluation every 6 months.

A caveat: never take antibiotic for any viral infection, like common cold or influenza, since viruses are not killed by antibiotics, and never take them without medical supervision. Your physician will tailor his treatment to your specific situation.

Let’s all help prevent a super bug pandemic that could wipe us out of this wonderful world. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

Close encounter with Mariel de Leon

by RICKY

CALDERON ManilaTimes.net

ALONG with Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters, Binibining Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon is one of the new endorsers of Pizza Hut, which opened its new flagship store at the ground floor of SM Mall of Asia on Tuesday.

It was Roving Eye’s first time to meet Mariel in person, but cell phone shots show she’s photogenic.

The daughter of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong has entered showbiz too as Coco Martin’s leading lady in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Ang Panday,” which the actor is also directing.

Mariel had already shot for one day and is looking forward to her next shooting day. She has yet to muster enough courage though to ask Coco why he chose her for the role.

She’s in the thick of preparing for the pageant as well, especially that the current Miss International is Filipina Kylie Verzosa.

“I am just cool about it. I am just keeping focused on my training for the pageant and I don’t want anything to distract me. I am looking forward to competing,” said Mariel.

It looks like it’s the people around her who are more pressured.

“I will do my best to represent the Philippines in the Miss International Pageant but I will also enjoy myself competing. I don’t want to put too much Binibining Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon pressure on myself,” she said.

Photo from her Instagram account

Grown-up Ariana Grande expected in Manila concert NOW 23, Ariana Grande is pushing a bolder direction in her “Dangerous Woman” tour that will have its Manila staging on August 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Touted as the artist of the moment after showing the world how exactly to bounce back following the horrific Manchester, UK tragedy when she did the tour there, Ariana will continue to spread love and music when she sets foot in Manila.

Her fans can only expect a grown-up “Queen Ari” musicand character-wise.

Those who have seen “Dangerous Woman” have been raving about her fast numbers, hits that come with the complete package Ariana is known for— power vocals and phenomenal choreography. Expected to happen when she strings “Side To Side,” “Break Free,” “Into You” and “Dangerous Woman.”

Pyrotechnics is a staple in Ariana concerts along with laser lights, confetti drops and rising platforms.

Another concert fixture for Queen Ari are spot-on fashion and costume changes. Local celebrities are expected to put on their best impressions of Ariana Grande. The artist’s previous

Ariana Grande

tours are always packed with Hollywood celebrities in the audience so the Manila stop wouldn’t be much different; it will have local “stars” in full attendance.

Girl power is also one of Grande’s strong suits. With what happened at her Manchester concert and how she was able to epitomize how to rise after such a tragedy with the “One Love” show and the way she

Photo from her Instagram account

has been getting in touch with the victims of that horrific act of terror, whether in person or via her social media, definitely adds more to her feminist causes.

The ultimate pop star isn’t just growing up in front of her fans these days. She’s showing up to be a role model, not a very common thing to find in celebrities of her caliber these days.

(ManilaTimes.net)

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Features

Philippine Madrigal Singers hold one-night only concert in LA on Aug. 19 After 6-year absence, world-famous choir performs in Northridge The Philippines’ reputation for producing excellent singers is largely because of the overseas success of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Its lone concert in the Los Angeles area is at the Plaza Del Sol Performance hall at the CSUN Campus, part of the Valley Performing Arts Center.

Nicknamed the “Madz”, the group has proven that music transcends language and culture many times over. The choir’s sound has been described by critics as “the most beautiful sound in the world” and it is continually honed by choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio, who inherited the reigns from Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion more than a decade ago.

A viral video of a spontaneous performance in the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel in France has been making the rounds on social media, and has gained the group new fans all over the world. Fans have posted dozens, if not hundreds, of videos on Youtube from all over the world: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Korea, and many more.

Known for its skill in interpreting competition pieces other choirs can only dream of, the Madz perform music spanning decades, from Madrigals of the 1500s Renaissance period, contemporary works by the likes of Morten Lauridsen and Z. Randall Stroope, to popular radio hits, especially arranged for the Madz by its in-house composer/arrangers such as Ily Matthew Maniano, who is currently touring with the

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 19-22, 2017

B

AFTER ENTERING THE US IN THE BACKSEAT OF A MINIVAN, PINA’S NEXT HURDLE WAS HOW TO LEGALIZE HER STATUS. Pina (center) entered the U.S. in 2001 through the Canadian border, while seated in the back seat of a minivan. Border patrol asked the driver a few questions, but never spoke with Pina, and let them pass through. Pina was petitioned by an employer, and eventually married her U.S. citizen husband, John (left), who also petitioned her. Both cases were denied based on the way she entered the U.S. Although she consulted with Attorney Gurfinkel several times, she retained other attorneys, and her case was denied. She finally retained Attorney Michael Gurfinkel, who was able to obtain her green card through “provisional waiver.” Watch how Attorney Gurfinkel came to the rescue, and help Pina achieve her American dream, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Randy Santiago mourns death of 24-year-old son

By IrIs

VIcente AJPress

group. Former members who have made a name in Los Angeles are classical singers Sal Malaki and Kit Viguilla, and ed and Annie Nepomuceno.

Qualifying for an unprecedented third time, the world-renown choir is competing at the european Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Spain. TheMadz.is the only Philippine Choir to have qualified and won the prestigious Grand Prix, and the first choir in the world to have won twice.

The Madz perform at 7pm on

Saturday, August 19, venue address is 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. Tickets are $70, $55, and $40 online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com. Special student pricing is available only in-person at the VPAC box office, call or visit (818) 677-3000 11am4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Tour information at www.musicartsevents.com is available for other stops such as Loma Linda (Aug. 20), San Diego (Aug. 25), Las Vegas (Aug. 27) and Austin (Sept. 3).

(Advertising Supplement)

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

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

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

SINGeR-ACTOR Randy Santiago and wife Marilou Coronel are grieving over the passing of their son Ryan Leonardo Santiago, who died on Sunday, Aug. 13.

After three years of battling with a strange form of brain disease and multiple sclerosis, Ryan, second son of Randy, died at the age of 24.

“Baka may purpose [ang Panginoon] kung bakit he had to leave and he had to go at an early age, dahil syempre hindi naman siguro patagalin pa ‘yung sickness niya.

(Maybe God has a purpose why he had to go at an early age because of course [God] would’ve never prolong his sickness),” Randy said in an interview with Pep.ph.

Randy said it was hard and painful for him as a parent but he had to accept his son’s early passing, and instead view it as a silver lining.

“Sabi rin ni Marilou, my wife, ‘Baka mas mahirap siguro kung mauna tayong mamatay sa kanya at walang mag-alaga sa kanya.’

Mas mahirap para sa amin ‘yun.

So minsan, kahit masakit sa amin, mas mabuting naalagaan namin siya hanggang sa huling hantungan. (My wife, Marilou, said it’s even harder [to accept] for us parents if we had died first and no one is taking care of him, so even if it hurts, it’s better that we were able to take care of him until his

last days),” he added.

Meanwhile, Randy’s brother, Reily Santiago also expressed his grief on social media through the Facebook page called #healRyanSantiago, which was created in support of the young man back in 2015 when he was hospitalized due to “fungal virus.”

“Our family and friends will terribly miss his infectious smile, funny jokes and his great fashion style,” Reily said describing his nephew’s death as peaceful and painless.

Other celebrities have also showed support and offered prayers to the Santiago family.

“My heart broke over the passing of Randy and Marilou Santiago’s son Ryan. Gone way too soon.

Couldn’t stop crying when Gary & I prayed,” Angeli Valenciano posted.

Ryan was sustained by his parents and two brothers Raiko and Raphael.

The urn viewing was held in La Salle Greenhills Chapel from August 14-16 2017.

Randy Santiago with son Ryan Leonardo and wife Marilou Coronel Photo from Randy Santiago’s Instagram account

Havan�, Cub� May 22 to 29, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B august 19-22, 2017 • La WEEKEND asIaN JOuRNaL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution Michael Bhotiwihok and nancy Miller THE U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ new policy indicates that a grant of Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) is considered an admission for INA Section 245(a) purposes for adjustment of status applicants residing in the Sixth and Ninth Circuits. TPS recipients do not have to leave the United States and consular process through a United States Embassy or Consulate.

Instead, families are kept together and lives continue in the United States. The new USCIS position came from Flores v. USCIS in the Sixth Circuit and Ramirez v. Brown in the Ninth Circuit; both courts held that a TPS grantee is considered “inspected and admitted” under INA Section 245(a).

The USCIS’ willingness to recognize TPS as an admission is significant because residents in the Sixth and Ninth Circuits who were granted TPS now may apply for a green card in the United States. The Sixth and Ninth Circuit’s large geographic reach includes a large number TPS grantees.

The Ninth Circuit encompasses California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii. The Sixth Circuit includes Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.

In Ramirez v. Brown, the Ninth Circuit held that a TPS recipient is eligible to adjust to legal permanent resident status in the United Status. The Ninth Circuit reasoned that receiving TPS deems an individual to be in lawful status and satisfies the nonimmigrant requirements, such as inspection and admission, for adjustment of status purposes.

In Ramirez, a dispute arose over whether being a TPS designee provided a pathway to obtaining lawful permanent residence status under the adjustment statute. The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (“USCIS”) found Ramirez ineligible to adjust to lawful permanent

New USCIS policy on TPS as a pathway to a green card

resident status on that ground that he last entered the country without inspection therefore he had not inspected, admitted or paroled as required by Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) Section 245(a). The Ninth Circuit held that TPS designation provides a pathway to a green card.

INA Section 245(a) requires that an applicant prove that he or she has been inspected and admitted (or paroled) before being eligible to adjust status to lawful permanent residency. Because of the Ramirez decision, TPS recipients who entered the United States without inspection are now considered admitted and qualify for adjustment of status under INA Section 245(a) provided they have an independent means of immigrating.

Prior to the Flores and Ramirez decisions, only those with proof of a legal entry, an exception under INA 245(i), advance parole, or parole based on a family member in the United States Armed Forces could complete their lawful permanent residency process without leaving the United States.

TPS may be granted by the USCIS to foreign nationals due to conditions in their country, such as a natural disaster or civil war, which prevent the foreign nationals who are living in the United States from returning safely to their country. The Department of Homeland Security has currently designated the following countries for TPS: El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

TPS status allows foreign nationals to live and work in the United States without the fear of being removed/deported. TPS is a temporary benefit that does not directly lead to a green card.

However, registration for TPS does not prevent one from applying for nonimmigrant status, adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition, or any other immigration benefit or protection.

For TPS grantees outside of the Sixth and Ninth Circuits, at-

tention must be directed to monitoring current pending cases in their respective jurisdictions.

For example this year, in Bonilla v. Johnson, the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, held that a grant of TPS satisfies the threshold requirement of admission for purposes of becoming eligible for adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.

In addition, TPS grantees should consider alternative routes to obtaining a green card.

The Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver (“Provisional Waiver”) allows beneficiaries of immigrant visa petitions who were not inspected and admitted to the United States to apply for a waiver of the ten-year bar that will be triggered by departing the country to apply for an immigrant visa abroad. The Provisional Waiver allows applicants to know whether their waiver is approved or not before departing the United States. Thus, the uncertainty and risks of leaving the United States to consular process are alleviated. The Provisional Waiver decreases the time that families are separated and keeps families together during the consular processing of an immigrant visa.

Any TPS grantee should seek the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to discuss his or her immigration options and eligibility to obtain a green card in the United States. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-22, 2017

C

C AUGUST 19-22, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Want an E-2 visa?

Look at these issues

Estate Corner

Atty. BriAn Lerner QUESTION: I want to open up my own company. Can you let me know some specifics? For example, I have a friend from Iran. Can he get an E-1 or E-2?

A: As for E-2s, Iranians can apply for that type of visa anywhere.

Question: Are there any restrictions where the money comes from for the investment?

Answer: Normally, not. However, keep in mind that there are two Russian Banks under U.S. sanctions. Thus, make sure the money does not come from these banks.

Question: What percentage of ownership do I need to have in the company?

Answer: Make sure there is at least a 50 percent ownership by treaty countries. It is even better if there is a 51 percent ownership.

Question: What if I renounce my nationality?

Answer: If the principal owner renounces nationality, then the E-2 is gone.

To Live With Faith

Question: What if there is a merger or acquisition?

Answer: Sometimes mergers and acquisitions change the 50 percent ownership. If this is the case, then there will no longer be an E-2 qualification.

Question: What about employees I need from my home country?

Answer: For employees coming over, you need to still make sure that the main investor gets an E-2. The E-2 specialized knowledge employee will differ with the particular Consulate.

Some require two years actual experience. The consular officer might say that he or she will give just two years and that an American is needed afterward.

Question: What about my spouse and children in my home country?

Answer: An E-2 change of status for you which is approved, will NOT allow E-2 derivatives to get a visa at the consulate.

Rather, you need the Consulate process with your E-2.

Question: How long will I get?

Answer: E-2s always are now

given for two years in the U.S., even if the visa is issued for five years. However, you can go out one week before the expiration of the visa, and come back with a two-year stamp.

Question: Will the amount of the investment differ?

Answer: For normal business, you will need to look as to where is the normality of investment (i.e. California needs more than West Virginia). Consulates love franchises. This is because the business plan is done, it works and the market prices are set.

Thus, if you’re unsure what to invest in, look to a franchise. n *** Atty. B r i a n D. Le r n e r h a s b e e n a n Immigration Attorney for nearly a quarter of a century. He is married to a Filipina and has helped thousands of Filipino families all over the country. In addition to his offices in Southern California in Long Beach and Carson, he has an office in Quezon City.

He is a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Legal Board of Specialization, California State Bar. The initial consultation is free. Call (562) 4950554 and/or send an e-mail to blerner@ californiaimmigration.us.

(Advertising Supplement

The world, the nation A house of prayer for all peoples

ReVeRend Rodel G. BAlAGtAS TO refer to someone as a “dog” during the time of Jesus was the most abominable thing that one could do to a person. This was true in the life of the Jews during the times of Jesus who considered themselves as the “chosen people”, who felt the pride, the privilege, and the haughtiness of being the “race” that only deserved salvation from the coming Messiah. To be called a “dog” meant that you were not a “member” of their club. You were an outsider, an alien that did not have any rights to the messianic redemption. Even Jesus knew this thinking. This was why he told the woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But this bold and stubborn Canaanite woman did not mind being called a “dog”; she’d take any insult and belittlement as long as Jesus would heal her

daughter. “Please Lord,” she told Jesus, “for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall form the table of their masters.”

Jesus saw the stubbornness and persistence of her faith. He also realized that despite her befallen identity, she acknowledged Jesus’ divinity right at the beginning of their encounter when she shouted, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” she shouted.

Jesus recognized this faith and so he acclaimed the woman by saying, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Would it be that during these modern times of racial upheavals, we can be like Jesus who affirm one another’s strength, recognize each other’s needs, and totally reject any form of hatred against another human race? Would it be that we “stubbornly” keep the legacy of the fathers of our nation who worked hard to fight against segregation and exclusion in the society? Can

we stop the resurgences of racial arrogance, especially those that come from current political leaders?

The Gospel tells us that Jesus stepped in the region of Tyre and Sidon, the inhabitance of those who they called “dogs.” By coming into their territories he implied to the people there that he wanted to be part of their lives, that they too can be part of the “house of Israel.” Like him, we too can step into the lives of other people, especially those who feel alienated and invite them to become healthy and contributing members of our nation.

In the Second Reading (Rom 11:13-15, 29-32), Paul, also expressed this desire to include everyone in the house of God. “Brothers,” he said, “In as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconcili-

u PAGE C3

Town mates and Friends:

Please join us in celebration of our

508/ '*&45" TU '06/%*/( "//*7&34"3: 0' #"4$ JO -"4 7&("4 /&7"%" When: Saturday, October 7, 2017 Where: Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, 400 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 Prepaid Dinner Buffet ticket only: $65 per person Please make check payable to: Aludiya Lagmay-Ganzon 8119 Mary E Ellen Avenue, North Hollywood, California 91605 - or Priscilla Castaneto-Ruedas 6851 Dale Street Apartment # 16, Buena Park, California 90621

Nazario Perlas: Precy Castaneto- Ruedas: Lito Tambo: Ludy Lagmay-Ganzon: Mila Tadina: Josie Dolor Etrata: Mary Ann Arichea–Caunan:

nazario.perlas@yahoo.com pcruedas@yahoo.com lito.tambo@sbcglobal.net lganzon@gmail.com mrtadina@yahoo.com wilpenn@yahoo.com macaunan@ha.ucla.edu

*Discounted Room rates available at Gold Coast Hotel & Casino until September 3, 2017: Code: ABA2017

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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon DO you want to simplify your life, reduce stress and regain control over your financial future?

If you are one of the millions of people in this country who are drowning in debt, maybe you are feeling a sense of urgency and desperation about your situation but don’t know what to do. A lot of people who come to my office for help tell me that their lives would be much happier if they could just get rid of the heavy baggage that they carry around.

What might this “baggage” be?

One author said that we are living in a society afflicted with “affluenza”- defined as a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the relentless pursuit for more. Perhaps you recognize the symptoms. Today, our worth is defined by the financial success we achieve and the material possessions we accumulate. Our pursuit of the “American Dream” has caused an epidemic of stress, overwork and excessive indebtedness, in my opinion. We want big houses, expensive cars, big screen TV’s and all the latest toys and gadgets, hoping that having all these things will make us happier. The media, of course, constantly bombards us 24/7 with advertising messages reinforcing this idea.

Simplifying your life can

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

AFTER losing an IRS audit, you can either pay or fight. If you choose peace and quiet—pay. If you choose to fight—go to appeals. Here are 10 tips on how to prepare for the appeals conference: 1. Research the issues at hand.

Read the most current cases to counter older cases that the agent may have cited against your side of an issue.

2. Cite code sections, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, and court cases to bolster your position. These citations not only prove technical aspects but also impress the Appeals Officer that you know what you are doing (assuming of course that you use the right citations).

3. Prepare a persuasive written protest. Draft the protest to maximize issues that are favorable to you and minimize issues that are unfavorable to you.

4. Be organized in gathering and grouping records. An organized approach to gathering, filing and presenting documents makes it easier on you and the

Simplify your life by getting out of debt be a simple process but it will take some discipline. First, you need to stop living beyond your means. Cut up your credit cards and don’t sign up for new ones no matter how tempting it may be. Next, you need to learn how to distinguish between “needs” and “wants”. You may want a big house but maybe it’s not what you need because you can’t afford the mortgage payments.

Not because “everyone’s doing it” means that you also need to jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone is doing.

Did you know that 95% of the population will never achieve financial independence? That’s right! According to statistics, only 5% of the population will make it so if you are doing what 95% of the people are doing, you will end up exactly where they will end up. So being financially free requires that you have a different mindset and that you go against the so-called “crowd mentality”.

If you find yourself working harder and harder, earning more money but falling further behind, you are probably frustrated and wondering what you’re doing wrong. What you need to do is to stop and examine your lifestyle.

If you let your lifestyle control you, you will never get ahead no matter how much you make.

I am speaking from experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Over the last 20 years, in counseling thousands and thousands of peo-

ple seriously in debt, I have seen how the lack of self-discipline has destroyed people’s lives.

In Proverbs 13:7, the Bible says: “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” Remember that the only things that you truly own are the things that you have already paid for, not the things that you have purchased on credit. You can fool yourself and pretend to be rich but true wealth is what you have in your savings account, not the money you are forced to borrow just to sustain a lifestyle you can’t afford. If the above speaks to you, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

If you are in debt and feel like there is no way out, I would like to help you get rid of the financial stress that you don’t need in your life. Bankruptcy may or may not be the answer. If there are other solutions that make more sense, I will help you explore those options. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-4777772 so I can carefully evaluate your case. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. n

Appeals Officer. I have so many cases where the Appeals Officers are so impressed by my documentation that the whole complexion of the conference changes from a chore to a relaxed atmosphere-an ideal atmosphere to negotiate.

5. Request access to your case files. Take a look at any dossier they have on you. If the Appeals Officer resists, file a request through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

6. Your files contain a statement of facts from the agent who previously examined you.

Counter the agent’s statements.

Provide a different perspective to erode the agent’s credibility to help sway the Appeals Officer in your favor.

7. Ask around regarding the Appeals Officer in charge of your case. Ask CPAs, enrolled agents, or tax lawyers about how the particular officer approaches and resolves a case.

8. If you decide to represent yourself, discuss your strategy and approach with a coach (CPA or lawyer). Present your documents for a trial run to see how persuasive you can be.

9 Instruct your CPA or tax preparer to be available in case you need help. And you probably will.

Bring your cell phone and ask your coach to be available for consultation during the conference.

10. If discussions get technical and things don’t look too good, respectfully admit to the officer that you are, er, kind of overmatched and that you need a representative—a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax lawyer take over your case. You have done your best. Let the pros take over. n

***

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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How to prepare for IRS appeals

*** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies.

He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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Senior with $60K credit cards wants debt relief Chapter 7 trustee stipulates to dismiss adversary against client before trial

CLIENT is 70. She is a widow, her beloved husband having passed away 5 years ago at 65.

She owns a house with a reverse mortgage of half a million.

She took the reverse mortgage 5 years ago when her husband died. The mortgage accumulates at the rate of $2K a month or $24K a year. You can keep the balance from increasing if you pay the interest portion only every month. Client did not pay any mortgage payment for the last 5 years so the reverse mortgage balance has ballooned to $500K. Client can live in the house until she dies even if she hasn’t paid any mortgage from the time she took the reverse mortgage until death. So it lets you live in the house until you are gone without having to pay anything but the mortgage balance goes up every month by the amount of mortgage payment due. Of course, it can eat up even a large equity by the passage of time. This works for many seniors since you can’t bring anything with you to heaven when you die, right. You don’t need a house in heaven because Jesus has prepared a mansion for each one of us there. Jesus has said that He will prepare a place for us when we go to heaven.

John 14:2-3 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come back & take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” So there, that’s pretty nice of Jesus to prepare a place for us when

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwRence yAnG

we go to heaven, right? That’s a free house in heaven for us after we die, that’s a great deal!

However, client is still alive and kicking and beset with credit card problems of $60K. She pays at least $1500 a month to keep these cards current. What is her income now at 70? Social security gives her $1900. And she has a pension of $200 from a previous employer. Her total income is $2100. She doesn’t have to pay rent or mortgage since she is on a reverse mortgage. Her total living expenses is $1600. So if you add $1500 a month for minimum credit card payments to living expenses without rent or mortgage of $1600, total income needed to meet credit card payments and living expenses is $3100. But her income is only $2100. So she is upside down by $1000. If she discharges the $60K of credit cards, she will free herself of $1500 a month and her $2100 income can easily pay her $1600 of living expenses. Without credit card debt she would still be saving $500 a month!

It’s clearly to her benefit to get a Chapter 7 discharge of the $60K credit cards now. However, if the current fair market value of her house is such that her equity is a lot more than $175K, even if

she is on a reverse mortgage, she would be better off with a Chapter 13 so as to eliminate any risk of having a problem with a Chapter 7 trustee that would be wanting to sell her house even if her house is on a reverse mortgage.

Client’s case needs a novel approach but definitely she needs immediate debt relief from $60K of credit card debt.

Client no. 2 is a foreign company that has been supplying a CA Company with merchandise for 8 years on open account. Client gave CA Company a line of credit of $2.0 M for the purchase of their product. CA Company lost a major lawsuit and forced to file for bankruptcy leaving client holding the bag for $300K. Chapter 7 trustee filed an adversary complaint against client for $80K representing a preferential payment by CA Company to client 90 days before CA company filed for bk. Under bankruptcy law, the trustee can get the $80K back from client; unless client can prove that ‘new or contemporaneous value,’ was given by client, for the $80K. This adversary case against client adds insult to injury. Client is already owed $300K by CA Company and here comes the trustee who wants to get the $80K that was paid to client 90 days before CA company filed for BK. It’s like a horror story. This would definitely push N. Korea to let their missiles with miniature nuclear bombs fly off over the Pacific Ocean into the office of the Chapter 7 trustee, wouldn’t it?

u PAGE C4

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Community Journal

Victoria’s Secret agrees to pay employees for “call-in” reporting time MAYRA Casas and Julio Fernandez worked as sales clerks for Victoria’s Secret in California. Victoria’s Secret required them to follow two shift schedules: 1) the traditional shift which required them to show up at the store at the scheduled time; 2) the Call-In shift, where they were required to first call their manager two hours before the shift to find out if they should come in to the store. If they were not needed that day, then they did not have to come in.

Calling in during the Call-In shifts was mandatory, and employees were disciplined if they did not call, or if they were late getting to the store after being told to come in, or if they did not come in at all. The employees claim that the call-in scheduling practice did not allow them to plan any other activities during that time, such as work at another job, attend classes, or make plans with friends and family.

The employees argued that there was no difference between the two scheduling practice. They still had to set aside the time to work, even if they were told not to work after all.

Because of this, the employees claimed they should receive “reporting time” pay. The employees sued Victoria’s Secret in a class action, claiming that the company owed them and their fellow employees additional wages for its failure to pay reporting time on these “call-in” shifts.

Under California law, if an employee is required to report

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. to work, but is not put to work, or does not work half of the employee’s scheduled day’s work, the employee is paid a half-shift reporting wage of at least two hours but not to exceed four hours. Generally, if an employee is required to show up a second time in any one workday and is furnished less than two hours of work on the second reporting, he or she must be paid for two hours at his or her regular rate of pay. These hours must be paid at the employee’s regular rate of pay, and in addition to the hours the employee actually worked. This is called “reporting time” or “show up” pay.

The employer’s legal obligation to pay reporting time pay stems from California’s objective to encourage employers to properly schedule employees, and not waste employee’s time with haphazard scheduling.

Some employers may find it convenient to schedule employees only when there is a need for them, thus, keeping employees “on-call” and scheduling them to work with maybe a few hours’ notice. If these employees set aside hours for work, but then were not put to work, should they be paid for showing up?

The case against Victoria’s Secret is certainly telling. Rather than proceed to trial, the parties agreed to settle the case, with Victoria’s Secret paying $12 million to settle the claims of its employees. The settlement will benefit approximately 40,000 former and current employees who had call-in shifts.

“On-call” scheduling may happen not only in the retail industry but other industries as well, where the demand for workers may fluctuate, such as in healthcare, manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, or sales.

Employees who are “on-call,” on unpaid “stand-by” or “per diem,” who find their scheduled work canceled after they show up, and who do not get paid for the cancellation, would be smart to speak with a knowledgeable employment attorney to find out if they’re entitled to additional wages. n *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

You can contact the office at (818) 2910088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Disclosure of text messages, e-mails and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child. Family Code Section 6211. Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218, subd. (a)), which are defined as, among other things, behavior that could be enjoined under section 6320. (§ 6203, subd. (d).) Section 6320, in turn, permits a court to enjoin a party from engaging in various types of behavior, including “disturbing the peace of the other party.” (§ 6320, subd. (a).) “[T]he plain meaning of the phrase ‘disturbing the peace of the other party’ in section 6320 may be properly understood as conduct that destroys the mental or emotional calm of the other party.” (In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723 (Nadkarni ).) The phrase includes “destroying the mental or emotional calm of [a former spouse] by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails.” (Id. at p. 1498, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723.) The expansion of

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS the term “disturbing the peace” to cover accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication has profound effect in every divorce and family law case.

In Nadkarni, a former wife alleged that her ex-husband had accessed her private e-mail account while she was away on a business trip, then attached copies of the e-mails to documents filed in proceedings regarding custody of their teenaged children. In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723. She sought a permanent restraining order, but the trial court denied it without a hearing after finding that the DVPA did not cover situations in which there was no physical harm alleged. The appellate court reversed and remanded the matter to the trial court for a hearing. It held that the definition of abuse under the DVPA is not limited to

the infliction of physical injury or assault. Id. at pp. 1498, 1501, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723.

In Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney, husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Phrase “disturbing the peace of the other party” in injunction provision of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) includes destroying the mental or emotional calm of a former spouse by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails. Cal. Fam. Code § 6320. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal. Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept.

9, 2015) Husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining

u PAGE C4

President Trump’s “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment” (RAISE) Act

LAST August 2, 2017, the Trump Administration endorsed new legislation called “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act” that would change the system of granting legal permanent residency. The act was introduced

by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Perdue (R-GA). (This is not a law yet. The bill must be approved by both the Senate and House of Representative and signed by the President for it to become the law of the land.)

Whether one agrees with the RAISE Act or not, it is best to know and understand the changes that are being proposed due to its far-reaching implications with regards to the immigration system in the U.S. Among other things, the RAISE Act: • It limits family-based immigration only to spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Minor children are defined those 18 years old.

• At present, U.S. citizens can petition their parents, adult children, and their siblings while permanent residents can petition their spouses, minor children and unmarried adult children.

• Currently, the minor child for immigration purposes is 21 years old or below.

• It replaces the employmentbased immigration categories with an immigration-points system. The points-based immigration visa shall not exceed more

ing any immigration petition for that matter, it is advisable to seek the counsel of an immigration lawyer to guide you on the intricacies of filing for such a petition.

Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule for a free initial consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) 284-5984 or (626) 329.8215.

Atty. Santos’ office is located at Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200than 140,000 per fiscal year. 105, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

Information contained in this Points assigned to an applicant shall be based on English lan- article does not, nor is it intendguage proficiency; educational ed to, constitutes legal advice attainment; age of the applicant; for any specific situation and extraordinary achievement; job does not create a lawyer-client offer; and investment in, or active relationship. It likewise does not management of a new enterprise. constitute a guarantee, warranty, • It eliminates the Diversity or prediction regarding the outVisa Program. Under the cur- come of your legal matter. n *** rent system pursuant to Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a Nationality Act (INA), a limited member of the State Bar of California number of diversity visas per and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

To schedule for a free initial in-person year are distributed among coun- consultation, please call tries with historically low rates Tel. Nos. (213) 284-5984 or (626) 329of immigration to the United 8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 States. A limited number of vi- Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, sas are available each fiscal year. CA 90010. *** • It reduces the number of refugees who may be admitted to Information contained in this article does the US to a maximum of 50,000 not, nor is it intended to, constitutes legal advice for any specific situation and does not per fiscal year. create a lawyer-client relationship. It likewise If, when, how, and to what does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, form the RAISE Act becomes a or prediction regarding the outcome of your law is something everyone in- legal matter. terested in US immigration must We are a debt relief agency. We help people watch out for. file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy If you are contemplating of fil- Code.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-22, 2017

C

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases UNDER Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions (2011) 52 C.4th 541, the California Supreme Court ruled that persons who are injured and who are pursuing a personal injury claim cannot recover the full amount of medical bills incurred if an insurer paid a smaller, negotiated amount to the medical provider. The Court’s ruling further limited an injured person’s right to recover for past medical expenses.

In light of the Howell decision, it is even more important for a person who suffered injury to develop his/her claim for other economic damages. The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/ her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay

PAGE C2t

during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim.

Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns.

The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim. n *** 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)

The world, the...

ation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Like Jesus, Paul acknowledged and affirmed the faith of the Gentiles in Jesus Christ.

Our First Reading (Is 56:1,67) beautifully conveys this welcoming and inclusive sentiment: “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants—all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my cov-

enant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

We cannot go back to the savageness of our past—we’ve learned a lot from them. As much as we take pride of our respective races, culture, and religious affiliation, we must fight against all forms hatred, exclusiveness, arrogance, and superiority complex. n

***

From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1991-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

C4 AUGUST 19-22, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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People & Events

UPAAGLA holds gala and induction ball

Philippine Consul General Angelito Adelio Cruz, UPAAGLA President Mutch Carino, City of Carson Councilman Elito Santarina, and former Carson Mayor Jim Dear

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) gala and induction ball was held on Sunday, August 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Whittier.

Mutch Carino was sworn in as president of UPAAGLA by Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz, together with the newly-elected officers and

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA)’s newly-elected officers and board of directors with Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Angelito Adelio Cruz Photos by Rudy Autor

board of directors.

The well-attended event was sold-out with guests who included elected officials, heads of organizations, chambers of commerce, business and community leaders, among others dressed to the nines.

The newly-elected officers who were inducted

Disclosure of text messages, e-mails...

PAGE C3 t order under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA).

Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6218(a), 6300, 6320(a). In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal. App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) In Evilsizor, Ms. Evilsizor testified that it had been “incredibly incredibly difficult to deal with” the dissemination of her personal information, stating, “I have sleepless nights. I’m sick to my stomach. My friends are mad at me, embarrassed as if I let him.

I didn’t know he was even doing any of this. My parents are upset, you know. Why did I marry him?

I didn’t know that things were going—I didn’t know. Yeah. It’s been incredibly challenging to live with.” She further testified that she had suffered shock and embarrassment and feared for her safety because of the disclosure. Evilsizor also was concerned about Sweeney’s threats to reveal information to the Internal Revenue Service about “things [she] didn’t do.” The court concluded in the Evilsizor case that even if Sweeney legally obtained Evilsizor’s information, an issue left unresolved, it was authorized

under the DVPA to enjoin the disclosure or threats of disclosure of the information to protect Evilsizor’s peace of mind. The court ordered Sweeney be “prohibited from using, delivering, copying, printing or disclosing the messages or content of [Evilsizor’s] text messages or e-mail messages or notes, or anything else downloaded from her phone or from what has been called the family computer except as otherwise authorized by the court.”

Sweeney also was prohibited from trying to access or otherwise interfere with Evilsizor’s internet-service provider accounts or social-media accounts. Text messages, E-mails, Social media, and other electronic communication has become a common and inseparable part of today’s lifestyle. Accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication of an ex, spouse, or sgnificant other has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. A finding of domestic violence against a party can affect the rulings on custody and spousal support issues. If your divorce or family law matter involves your ex, spouse, or significant other downloading and disclosing confidential elec-

ANNOUNCEMENT

EMPLOYMENT

tronic communication, one has to consider taking appropriate action in the case to be protected from conduct which is regarded as abuse under the California domestic violence statute.■ *** 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)

EMPLOYMENT

are Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer).

The board of directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty.

Mary Lyn Sanga, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Relson Banas, and Angie Alvarez.

All the inductees received Certificates of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles through Board of Public Works Commissioner Joel Jacinto, Assemblymember Mike Gipson and City of Carson Councilman Elito Santarina.

In his inaugural address, Carino said that “together with his dynamic team of officers and board of directors, they will organize and create special projects that will help increase the membership of UPAAGLA, generate greater community involvement and set higher fundraising goals towards its scholarship program.”

He looks forward to working cohesively with his team that will combine youth and good old experience. They will share with each other creative, innovative and dynamic ideas towards the continued

success of UPAAGLA as started by its previous leaderships.

Carino is a 35-year event professional, who has produced and promoted some of the biggest FilAm events in Los Angeles.

This includes Fiesta Filipiniana sa Knott’s Berry Farm that drew the 5th largest attendance in the oldest theme park in the world, Paskong Pilipino sa Universal Studios that was telecast live via satellite, and Fil-Am Funfest at Magic Mountain featuring American Idol’s Jasmine Trias and nearly 100 U.S.-based Fil-Am artists.

He currently produces several annual events that include Spotlight Awards, Woman of Worth or WOW Awards, TOP-LA, Children’s Day and the Filipino-American History Month celebration.

The U.P. Madrigal Singers alumni led the entertainment fare that featured top-rate performers, including the two-time Aliw Awardee Christine Love, Grammy Awards nominee Louise Marie Cornillez, and Spotlight Award’s Best Young Artist, Michael Keith.

Dance music was provided by The AMFM Band along with DJ Aljess Bernardo, who supplied the special up lights of the evening.

The Asian Journal, CalStar Motors, The Filipino Channel and RJB Law Offices were sponsors of UPAAGLA’s event. ■

Senior with $60K credit...

PAGE C2t

I was all prepared for the trial this month after giving all client’s evidence to the lawyer of the trustee to prove that client did indeed supply “new or contemporaneous value” to CA Company 90 days before the CA Company filed for BK. But I just received counsel’s advise that trustee was now willing to stipulate to dismiss the adversary complaint

against client. That’s good news for client and myself. I certainly hope that the N. Korea situation ends up favorably like my client’s case. I pray cooler heads prevail and the dogs of war are not let loose.

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

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM, TO ALL

EMPLOYMENT

WHO CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH.” PSALM 145:1 ■ *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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

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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM The September 2017 priority dates

&

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows:

Immigration Corner

Application Filing Date

FAMILY CATEGORY:

ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children (below April 8, 2016 21 years old) of green card holder

October 01, 2015

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

July 22, 2007

January 01, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

March 01, 1995 January 15, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

February 8, 1995

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

GONZALES Philstar.com

MANILA - The MVP Group is in talks with potential partners to expand its bulk water business in the ASEAN region, tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

“There is a push to get (the business) outside the franchise area of Maynilad and even outside the country,” he told reporters.

Manuel V. Pangilinan

Philstar.com photo

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Pangilinan said the group is actively looking at a number of opportunities in the ASEAN and expects to close a partnership in Indonesia within the year.

“We are talking to them…possible (we can close) in the next two years but the one in Indonesia, we’re trying to work it out (this year),” Pangilinan said.

Specifically, the group is on the lookout for bulk water projects in Indonesia such as Bali and Jakarta.

Here at home, Pangilinan said MetroPac Water Investments Corp. (MPW) is also looking for opportunities outside Metro Manila.

MPW yesterday signed a joint venture agreement with the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) for the formation of a joint venture company to undertake the supply of bulk treated water to address the requirements of Cagayan de Oro City.

The 30-year project will have a term of 30 years — renewable for another 20 years — and involves the supply of up to 100 million liters per day of treated bulk water PAGE D2

Peso weakens to fresh near 11-year low of 51.49:$1

by BEN

O. DE VERA Inquirer.net

At the Philippine Dealing System, the peso reached an THE peso on Friday, Aug. intraday low of 51.63:$1 and a 18 further weakened to close high of 51.39:$1 after opening at 51.49:$1 from 51.355:$1 last at 51.45:$1.

Thursday.

The total volume tradIt was a fresh almost 11-year ed jumped to $1.006 billion low, the weakest since Aug. 24, from the $688 million on Thurs2006’s 51.6:$1. day, Aug. 17.

Inquirer.net photo

Business Quote of the Week “We have always believed that it’s possible to make money without being evil.”

- Larry Page, Google co-founder

September 8, January 01, 2007 2007

Application Filing Date

MVP Group eyes expansion of water business in ASEAN

by IRIS

Visa Issuance Date

June 01, 1994

Visa Issuance Date

Current

January 01, 2016

January 1, 2016

November 01, 2015

January 1, 2016

November 01, 2015

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Uber Philippines resumes operations until motion for reconsideration resolved

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA — After filing a motion for reconsideration against its one-month suspension, ridesharing company, Uber Systems Inc., on Tuesday, Aug. 15 said it will resume operations until the motion is resolved.

“We’ve filed a motion for reconsideration with the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board) and will be resuming and continuing operations until the motion is resolved,” Uber said on its Twitter account.

The transport network company filed the motion for reconsideration to stop the implementation of its one-month suspension.

“USI hereby moves for reconsideration and stay of the implementation of the Assailed Order based on the blatant violation of USI’s right to due process and the absence of any cogent or convincing proof that USI willfully violated the ordered dated July 26 2016 issued by this honorable board,” the motion for reconsideration read.

On Monday, Aug. 14, the LTFRB ordered the suspension of Uber’s accreditation for a month. The

Transport network company Uber said the directive of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will have a massive impact on millions of public riders.

Philstar.com file photo

board also directed suspension of its online booking application on the same period.

LTFRB also said Uber shall be hold responsible “for all its accredited ‘colorum’ TNVS apprehended during the period of suspension should it be discovered that they are accepting passengers using their mobile application.”

After receiving the order on Monday evening, Uber on Tuesday morning announced that it is temporarily suspending its

operations. Uber said this is in compliance with the LTFRB’s August 14 order.

Netizens have posted screenshots of Uber mobile app showing the ride-sharing service is no longer available. However, after the TNC filed its motion for reconsideration, it resumed its service to the public.

According to the LTFRB’s 2011 revised rules of practice and procedures, resolutions on the motion PAGE D2

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Project of the century: Metro Manila subway approval seen in September

by CzeRizA

vAlenCiA Philstar.com

MANILA - The Japan-funded Mega Manila Subway Project, which will link major business districts and government offices in Metro Manila, is expected to be approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in September.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the feasibility study for the project has already been completed, but the project scope and financing requirements are still being deliberated upon by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), both at the technical and Cabinet levels.

Pernia said the construction of

the subway is among the priority infrastructure projects of the government.

“The subway is going to be the project of the century for the Philippines and Metro Manila,” he said yesterday. “In the next NEDA Board meeting it will be taken up.”

The first phase of the project alignment comprises 13 stations from Quezon City to Taguig and is expected to serve 350,000 passengers daily.

The Department of Transportation has said the extension of the subway project to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is being considered because of expected growth in passenger volume.

It will cost some $5 billion to build the 25-kilometer underground mass transport system, funding will come from official development assistance (ODA) from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Pernia said the ODA loan would carry a less than one percent interest with a term of 20 years.

A grace period of 15 years would also be provided before payment of the loan.

The NEDA Board is targeting to approve the project in time for the scheduled signing of the loan agreement in November when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.

Finance chief: PH building own ‘Silk Road’

by MAyvelin

U. CARAbAllo ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines is building its own “Silk Road” by modernizing its infrastructure, harmonizing business policies with its neighbors and streamlining intraregional investment flows, the Finance department said.

“Let me urge you to explore the rising opportunities for business collaboration in our new setting,” the department quoted Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd as saying on Tuesday at the Singapore Regional Business Forum.

“We have been building our own ‘Silk Road’ in the region as we modernize our infrastructure, bring our

information channels to speed and harmonize our policies with those of our neighbors,” he added.

“I should likewise invite you to explore investment opportunities in the rapidly growing Philippine economy. We are making it easier for intra-regional investment flows to happen. The spending program to increase our pace of economic growth opens many opportunities for your enterprises.”

Dominguez also told business leaders and key government officials that the Philippines was looking forward to strengthening and forging more business partnerships as it grows within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian

Nations Economic Community.

“The Philippines is more than ready to be a partner in the robust growth of this region,” he said.

He said the Philippines’ ambitious infrastructure plans, which will be supported partly by a proposed tax reform program, would not disrupt the fiscal discipline that has led to the economy’s high growth.

“The tax reform package and infrastructure program combined will spur economic activity without causing an inflationary spike,” with the rate expected to be within the range of 3 to 4 percent over the medium term even without changes in monetary policy.

EMPTY STALLS. Stalls of poultry vendors at the San Luis Public Market in Pampanga stand empty on Monday, Aug. 14 following an outbreak of avian flu in the town. Inset shows students of San Luis Elementary School as they walk past a poultry farm where chickens are supposed to be culled.

Philstar.com photos by Michael Varcas

Fast food chains not affected by bird flu

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MANILA — A number of fast food chains have assured the public that their products are not affected by the first bird flu outbreak in the country.

“Jollibee Foods Corporation - the parent company of Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King Philippines

- is not affected by the reported avian flu incident in Pampanga and assures the public that all its poultry products across its brands undergo strict quality standards and are safe for consumption,” JFC said in a released statement.

McDonald’s Philippines also said its chickens are free from the avian flu.

“Customers can continue to enjoy safe and quality chicken and egg products from all our stores nationwide,” McDonald’s said.

JFC said all of its poultry suppliers have confirmed that they are not affected by the avian flu. It added that its sources are outside the biosecurity kilometer range within the seven kilometer radius of the ground zero or affected area.

“JFC sources its local poultry product requirements only from accredited and reputable suppliers in the Philippines that employ fastest food practices in sourcing manufacturing preparation and delivery,” JFC said.

“As part of our overall sup-

ply risk management against typhoons and diseases such as this, we spread out the sourcing of our poultry requirements across different areas of the country and maintain a roster of reputable suppliers to ensure continuous secure and safe supply,” it added.

Both JFC and McDonald’s said they follow strict standards for their products.

“McDonald’s Philippines is compliant with international and local food safety standards and handling procedures,” McDo said.

JFC said it complies with quality assurance procedures and supplier accreditation process.

The company added that its stores and commisaries has its own strict quality standards on food service cleanliness and condition.

The Agriculture secretary last Sunday ordered a ban on shipment of poultry from Luzon to other points in the country. He also confirmed the country’s first outbreak of bird flu in San Luis, Pampanga last Friday.

‘Build, Build, Build’ success tied to tax reform approval

by MAyvelin

U. CARAbAllo ManilaTimes.net

THE government may have to drastically scale down its “Build Build Build” ambitions, a Cabinet official warned, if Congress fails to pass tax reforms that are expected to fund infrastructure projects nationwide.

“It is very important, without it we will probably not be able to fund less than half (of the infrastructure program),” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said during a Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing on Wednesday for the Senate Finance Committee.

Asked about the importance of the Finance department-proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), Dominguez replied: “More or less it will fund half of the BBB. Not only that, we [also]do not want to breach a deficit of 3 percent of GDP [gross domestic product].”

The government plans to spend P847 billion for infrastructure development this year. In the

six years to 2022, spending is expected to hit a total of P8-9 trillion.

Particular focus has been set on 75 flagship projects, 18 of which — valued at P462.74 billion — have been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board.

The House of Representatives earlier this year approved the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN measure, which is expected to generate P1.16 trillion in revenues by 2022.

The Senate is considering its own version, Senate Bill 1408 that is basically the Finance department-proposed CTRP. Potential revenues from this are expected to total P998 billion over 2018 to 2022.

Along with complementary measures, total revenues have been estimated to hit P1.34 trillion.

Some senators oppose provisions in SB 1408, which among others calls for tax hikes on prodPAGE D4

Uber Philippines resumes...

PAGE D1 will only be released upon termination of the proceedings, deliberation and consultation of the Board en banc. The regional director shall render or issue resolution.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said the board has yet to decide whether Uber’s motion for reconsideration is denied or approved.

Lizada also warned that if Uber remains to be online, they will be apprehended by the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police.

In July, the LTFRB ordered ridesharing companies Uber and Grab to stop the operations of transport network vehicle services drivers, who do not have the required certificates of public convenience or provisional authorities that grant them franchises to operate.

The board said the directive would be effective on July 26.

However, this directive earned negative criticisms from both drivers and the riding public.

Both Uber and Grab earlier admitted they continued accepting drivers into their platforms despite the LTFRB’s directives.

MVP Group eyes expansion of...

PAGE D1 to COWD. It will start with 60 MLD and ramp it up to 100 MLD in two years or after the company has put in place some water transmission facilities, said MPW president Laurence Rogero.

He said the project involves the construction of new water transmission lines and rehabilitation of the Camaman-an Reservoir, and will also eventually involve the delivery of bulk treated water to service the requirements of Cagayan de Oro’s western sector, which currently relies on deep wells for its water supply.

At present, COWD serves a population of more than 700,000 residents and has approximately 85,000 service connections.

MPW bagged the project in 2017 after undergoing a comparative challenge as required by the 2013 Revised Joint Venture Guidelines of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Aside from the Cagayan project, MWIC supplies bulk water in Iloilo and Laguna.

To date, MWIC’s operating water projects collectively provide 152 MLD of water and will increase to 390 MLD when fully developed – equivalent to 28 percent of the current billed volume of Maynilad of 1,370 MLD.

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Longo Lexus 5000: Great Dealership with a heart for service at Longo Toyota deals for vehicle dreamers

WITH its goal to set a record of 5,000 vehicle sales until September 4, Longo Lexus, the largest Lexus dealership in Western United States, is having its largest sale.

To maximize its business facets, Longo Lexus has been up to the challenge to sell 5,000 vehicles for a limited time while continuously providing its customers with excellent service.

The sales include L/Certified Lexus, a collection of hand-selected, pre-owned vehicles with a six-year, unlimited mileage warranty, special financing, and lease deals.

The over 1,000 huge selection of new Lexus vehicles are lined up and displayed in a temperature-cooled underground showroom.

Longo Lexus started leading the industry with its excellence in sales, service, guest experience, and satisfaction in 1989.

Its performance has been recognized, making it a recipient of the award “Elite of Lexus,” the most prestigious honor given to Lexus dealers for their excellence, three years after it was launched.

The dealership claims to provide customers with a luxury

Francis Maragay

Victor Reyes

brand experience and fabulous quality cars.

The company also strategically designed a first-class environment to take care of its guests’ needs, making buying vehicles a very easy experience for them.

It claims to provide guests with sparkling facility and luxurious amenities and further equates waiting in the Longo Lexus as “waiting in a captain’s club” with its comfortable chairs.

Aiming to build a family of loyal guests, Longo showers its customers with hospitality and good customer services and pays attention to every detail of their demands.

One of the demands answered by the dealership is the various financial services and options for the buyers that provide them presales conveniences and noteworthy post-sales services.

In addition, Longo Lexus claims to offer “low, no haggle prices” despite its financial success, which makes it a Lexus Circle of Excellence Awardee.

Beyond its objective to provide good sales and services, the preeminent role of the company lies on its progressive leadership and triumph in highlighting the con-

cern of its team.

The company established Penske College, an in-house training and development center to learn meaningful skills for its team members’ career advancement.

Longo’s investment and benefits for its human capital are extended to their members’ health and well-being. An on-site Fitness Center, a full-time Wellness Coach and a comprehensive Wellness Program are made available for them.

The efforts of the company to promote the wellness of its employees were recognized by the American Heart Association. It then awarded Longo Lexus as a National, Platinum Status, FitFriendly company.

Aside from this, the dealership was named by Automotive News, the auto industry’s leading news and information source, and Best Companies Group as “Automotive News’ Best Dealerships To Work For in 2012” for providing quality workspaces for its employees.

Sharing its success to people in need, Longo Lexus has not forgotten its commitment to offer event for the local communities of El Monte and Los Angeles.

The company offers use of its dealership to local and nonprofit organizations to host events, sponsor charity runs, walks and triathlons.

Among the activities it hosted are the City of Hope Blood Drive, February- Wear Red Fridays for Healthy Heart Month, Earth Day Celebration, and Children’s Hospital L.A. (CHLA) Beanie Drive.

For more information, you may call (626) 539-2956 or visit them at 3530 North Peck Road, El Monte CA, 91731 US, or its website at www.longolexus.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Cesar Macalino

Butch Gabutina

Raymond Perez

LONGO 5000 is back. Longo Toyota, the world’s largest dealership, is having the world’s largest sale for new and used cars until September 4.

Recognized for its drive to constantly set the bar high in every aspect of its business, Longo Toyota is set to sell 5,000 vehicles and continue to make history.

In addition to its primary work selling and servicing cars, a large part of Longo’s success is fueled by its commitment to community involvement and quality customer service.

For 50 years, Longo Toyota has been actively involved in local communities surrounding El Monte and Los Angeles areas, offering programs on education, human services and wellness.

“Ninety-nine percent of what we do flies under the radar, but we think it’s important to give back to the community as it gives to us,” Brendan Harrington, Longo’s president and general manager told Edmunds.com.

They host on and off-site events and sponsor charity runs, walks, triathlons, food, clothing and blood drives.

A blood drive was conducted last May to benefit City of Hope, a cancer treatment and research center in Southern

California. 50 blood donors were able to give hope to 162 families.

During the summer, Longo hosts movie series at the dealership on select Friday nights at sunset, and invites local schools and charities to sell concessions for fundraisers at the events.

Longo Toyota has also been creating opportunities for local high schools and civic groups that build better futures and bring progress to the community.

Established in March 2012, Longo Toyota Saturday Fundraiser helps high schools and the Fire Department Explorer programs raise funds to sustain their academic and athletic programs and community activities, while gaining hands-on work experience and earning money.

Aside from giving back, great customer service along with a pleasant buying experience are always present as Longo Toyota goes several steps beyond what customers expect.

Team Longo’s workforce consisting of various culture, races and languages provides comfort to its customers through sales process in their preferred language.

With its 700 plus employees, closing the language barrier through representatives

from 21 countries who speak 40 languages and dialects is the reason for their exceptional guest experience.

“It’s about creating an easy and memorable shopping experience that makes our guests want to come back to us again and again,” says Harrington.

Longo has earned the Toyota President’s award for outstanding performance every year since 1986. In 2016, they also won their 15th consecutive Toyota President’s Cabinet award, an honor that recognizes excellent operations, high volume sales, and most importantly, outstanding guest satisfaction performance.

And to make car-buying even more convenient, Longo offers a complimentary delivery service from Monday through Saturday within a 50mile radius of Longo Toyota without charge.

Consumers looking to buy or lease a new vehicle may just want to look to Longo Toyota, not only to become a part of history, but to find a car buying experience at values that are beyond compare.

The 50-acre Longo Toyota Campus is located at 3534 North Peck Road in El Monte.

For more information, call (626) 539-2584 or visit www. longotoyota.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

New 2017 Camry SE

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Remittances hit 3-month high

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA - Remittances from overseas Filipinos reached their highest level in three months last June amid the sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers abroad, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said personal remittances climbed 6.8 percent to $2.75 billion in June from $2.57 billion in the same month last year, the highest since the record $2.91 billion last March.

For the first half, personal remittances grew 5.5 percent to $15.36 billion from $14.57 billion in the same period last year.

Personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers and capital transfers between households. It measures the total amount of remittance flows into the country, including cash and non-cash items that flow through both formal or via electronic wire and informal channels such as money or goods carried across

borders.

Espenilla said cash remittances went up 5.7 percent to $2.47 billion in June from $2.33 billion in the same month last year, the highest since cash remittances reached a monthly record of $2.61 billion last March.

During the month, the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates contributed 1.9 percentage points to the 5.7 percent overall growth, while Hong Kong and Singapore contributed a combined 1.1 percentage points.

Cash remittances coursed through banks grew 4.7 percent to $13.81 billion in the first half of the year from $13.19 billion in the same period last year.

The BSP chief said bulk or 80 percent of cash remittances from January to June came from the US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany and Hong Kong.

“The sustained increase in remittances was supported by stable demand for skilled Filipinos abroad,” Espenilla said.

Data from the Philippine Over-

QEV Philippines unveils the “green” jeepney.

Aboitiz takes jeepney in a new direction BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. Philstar.com photo

seas Employment Administration (POEA) showed 1.14 million more Filipino workers were deployed abroad in the first half of the year.

The BSP has set a four percent growth target for both personal and cash remittances this year.

Cash remittances from about 12 million Filipinos living and working abroad contribute about 10 percent to the country’s output as measured by gross domestic product (GDP).

‘Build, Build, Build’ success tied to tax...

Under the Constitution, tax measures should originate from ucts such as cars and fuel to make the House. The Senate can proup for revenue losses from hefty pose its own measure or concur with the House’s proposals. personal income tax cuts.

PAGE D2

Inquirer.net photo

Dominguez has said that the Finance department was willing to forego a planned P10 excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages if the Senate approves SB 1408.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III stresses a point during a briefing of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee on the proposed 2018 National Expenditure Program at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, August 16.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dila

A NEWLY formed startup is betting big that more Filipinos will shift to electric vehicles in the coming decade.

And it is starting with the humble jeepney.

So goes the underlying mission of QEV Philippines Electromobility Solutions and Consulting Group Inc., a young company backed by next-generation sustainable technology and deep pockets.

QEV Philippines, a unit of Singapore’s QEV Capital Pte. Ltd., recently launched its proposed “green” jeepney.

It will serve as a pilot for a business model it hopes will transform some 50,000 jeepneys over a fiveyear period, and possibly other types of vehicles.

QEV Philippines is backed by one of the country’s wealthiest individuals, Endika Aboitiz, whose family runs power, banking and property conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. It is a personal investment of Aboitiz, who partnered with Spanish businessman Enrique Bañuelos for this venture.

QEV Philippines is also the main vehicle for Aboitiz’s goal to reinvent the iconic jeepney into a cleaner, quieter and more productive means of public transportation.

Physical charm The jeepney even gets to keep its physical charm.

The jeepney’s utilitarian, metallic aesthetic will remain largely untouched, since most of the transformation happens under the hood: QEV Philippines will swap diesel engines and fuel tanks with powerful lithium ion batteries and e-motors.

It will take around 15 minutes to fully charge QEV’s green jeepney, giving it a range of about 150 kilometers.

“Our jeepney, as we know, is an icon. It’s as Filipino as it gets,” Aboitiz said at their launch event in Bonifacio Global City to guests that included Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Public Works and

Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“We can preserve the jeepney and modernize it without taking away its charm,” he said.

The government is expected to play a key role in making the transformation a success.

The conversion, pegged at a minimum of P500,000 per unit, is far less than acquiring a brand new electric jeepney.

Still, it is too large an amount for the average jeepney driver to shoulder, Aboitiz said.

Aboitiz said it would be a form of conditional cash transfer (CCT) that would have environmental and economic benefits for passengers and drivers, since their earnings will go up as maintenance costs go down.

He explained further: “This could be a powerful economic multiplier that’s maybe more powerful than some of the CCT money that we are spending peso per peso.”

Aboitiz made it clear during the launch that time was of the essence.

He said the initiative was first revealed to the Duterte administration six months ago.

Immediate benefits According to QEV Philippines, there are immediate benefits with this shift. It said the converted jeepneys would sequester some 540 tonne of carbon dioxide emissions, which would earn about $35 million in UN carbon credits.

For QEV Philippines, ensuring clean transportation—a sector responsible for about half of all carbon emissions in urban areas—will help improve air quality.

Figures shared by the company showed that it takes 700 fully grown trees to neutralize carbon emissions from a single jeepney. It added that the Philippines has about 300,000 running jeepneys to date.

Furthermore, the company estimated that jeepney drivers would save about P40,000 per year on energy and maintenance costs.

Aboitiz said they were urging the DOE to allow them to buy power

at a lower cost, savings of which would be passed on to the drivers, and eventually, the commuters themselves.

For QEV Philippines, breathing new, electricity-powered life into the jeepney industry was not the original plan.

Its initial intention was to introduce the charging infrastructure with a complementary market of e-vehicles.

That changed when QEV’s principal investor first laid eyes on the jeepney, and saw its potential.

As the story goes, a jeepney by manufacturer Sarao Motors was then shipped to Spain for engineers there to figure out the mechanics of converting it to run on electricity.

The process took months, culminating in the first public demonstration of the green jeepney last July, when government cabinet members took the vehicle for a short spin around a hotel driveway.

QEV Philippines plans to install about 300 charging stations around Metro Manila.

On the installation of charging stations, QEV Philippines has secured partners such as Pilipinas Shell Petroleum as well as Ayala Corp. and SM Investments Corp., which have a significant retail and shopping mall presence in the capital district and the rest of the country.

The charging stations will be powered by Aboitiz Power’s clean and renewable energy brand Cleanergy via a connection to be provided by distributor Manila Electric Co. Switzerland-based ABB (Asea Brown Boveri), which makes the charging stations, is the technology partner of QEV Philippines.

The jeepneys, meanwhile, will be converted with the help of Sarao.

Audrey Peñaranda, general manager of QEV Philippines, said the company had big ambitions, adding that an initial public offering was in the cards.

Indeed, the best for the iconic jeepney is still to come. (Miguel R. Camus/Inquirer.net)

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Driving joy to people the Browning Mazda way MAZDA builds cars that inspire, excite, and most of all, bring joy to people. This is the philosophy that guides people behind Browning Mazda, from the manufacturing of cars down to the service it gives to its customers.

At Browning Mazda in Cerritos, California, customers can get the key to unlock their dream car that will usher them toward their journey of a thousand miles — and more!

Whatever suits your taste or lifestyle, the customer service and sales team at Browning Mazda will guide you through your journey to find the perfect car. Not only does this dealership specialize in new Mazda models, but it has a fantastic and huge selection of used cars for sale.

Mazda vehicles are recognized for their safety features. As Mazda drivers, customers get maximum confidence and enjoyment out of their drive knowing that these available systems are constantly working to alert them from potential hazards, avert collisions, or reduce their severity when one is unavoidable. It is another example of Mazda’s Jinba Ittai philosophy of creating oneness between car and driver. It is an experience drivers won’t find at any other brand.

Mazda is well-known for its affordable, quality-performance vehicles. Browning Mazda employees believe that a car should stir the emotions, it should

Jun Paguinto cell: (213) 321-6728

make your heart race before you even get behind the wheel.

This is why Browning Mazda’s mantra is “make cars that make driving matter.” No wonder the employees don’t feel competition at all when it comes to their brand. Mazda considers “a car as an art” which makes it a cut above the rest. As a company commitment, Browning Mazda will continue to defy convention in everything it does in order to achieve the best possible results.

Browning Mazda takes pride in its loyal customers from whom it draws strength. Here are a few examples of how Browning Mazda drives joy to its customers’ lives: “The family still comes back for great deals even on accessories.”

(Maurice Varela, a customer since 1998) “Excellent attention and courtesy, a treatment that makes you feel comfortable.”(David Colmenares) “I’ve bought two vehicles here.

Service has been good.” (Erick Montoya) “I’ve purchased two new cars here and have always taken them back to be serviced at Browning Mazda. The service is always always prompt and reliable.”

(Deidra Toney) An essential part of driving joy to the people is giving back to the community. A core value of The Browning Automotive Group is to partner with the communities where

our associates and clients live.

Through the Browning Family Foundation and other sources, they support a wide-range of organizations, primarily focusing on the next generation and those with special needs. They believe that strong, vibrant communities are mutually beneficial to all.

Browning Mazda sponsors an annual “Drive For Good” where Mazda donates to several charities such as; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, American Red Cross and American Heart Association, to date Mazda has raised $15,564,550. They also sponsor local blood drives, health fairs and recently we were sponsors in ABC Education and Foundation- Into the Summer Fun Run. Browning Mazda is always running specials from sales to service and parts. Customers may approach Browning Mazda’s very own Filipino salesperson, Jun Paguinto, who boasts a 13-year career in sales.

To learn more about how Browning Mazda dealership in Cerritos, you may call Tofan Hans at (562) 881-5295 or Jun Paguinto at (213) 3216728. Or take a trip and swing by the dealership at 18827 Studebaker Road, Cerritos, CA 90703.

Make that first step toward your amazing journey of a thousand miles at Browning Mazda!

(Advertising Supplement)

Tofan Hans cell: (562) 881-5295

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