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EAugust D I T20-23, ION 2016
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T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r
Volume 26 - No. 67 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
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Palace decries UN’s attribution of killings to PH gov’t
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the Philippine government. this is simply unfair, especially to the hardworking men and women mALACAÑANG has de- in uniform who risk their lives nounced the United Nations’ and limbs to win the war against (UN) recent statements that at- drugs,” Presidential spokestributed the drug-related extra- person ernesto Abella said in a judicial killings to the Philippine statement released on friday, August 12. government. UN special rapporteurs Agnes “the president, therefore, decries the attribution of killings to Callamard and Dainius Puras by Dana
siOsOn AJPress
STOP THE KILLINGS. Human rights activists light candles for the victims of extra-judicial killings around the country in the wake of “War on Drugs” campaign by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Monday, Aug. 15 in Quezon City. The “war on drugs” campaign, which saw hundreds of mostly poor victims, has been condemned by human rights groups including the United Nations Chief Ban Ki-moon. Philstar.com photo by Bullit Marquez
USA
DATELINE Court guarantees hearings for detained immigrants with felonies from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
ImmIGrAtIoN and Customs enforcement (ICe) in California can no longer detain undocumented immigrants convicted of felonies for extended periods without bond, thanks to a federal ruling issued tuesday, August 4. the U.s. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down the practice of mandatory detention for anyone found guilty of a felony. the policy permitted ICe agents to imprison some people for months without providing them with a bond hearing. the ruling delivered by Judge Jacqueline Nguyen will apply in California, where 20 percent of all immigration detentions occur, as well as eight other states and two territories within the court’s jurisdiction. “A broad and incorrect interpretation of federal law...denied [detainees] the oppor-
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Judge approves sale of abandoned ship in Georgia Stranded Filipino sailors may be home soon
fILIPINo sailors abandoned on a cargo ship off the coast of Georgia since April may be heading home soon thanks to a federal Court Decision delivered on monday, August 15 permitting the vessel’s sale. A legal dispute between creditors and the owners of the Newlead Castellano kept 15 crewmembers from returning to their home countries, according to the Associated Press. the boat was seized by federal marshals after unloading 20,000 tons of sugar in savanna and was eventually put up for auction when its owners defaulted on their debt. Visa restrictions prevent the 13 filipino sailors, one Greek engineer and one romanian electrician — who stayed behind to man the shipping vessel — from stepping foot on U.s. soil. they had been forced to say on-
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earlier described that President rodrigo Duterte’s order for law enforcers and the public to kill alleged drug traffickers “amount[s] to incitement to violence and killing, a crime under international law.” they called on the Philippine authorities “to adopt with immediate effect the necessary mea-
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De Lima on Duterte’s allegations: some were true, most were lies by Dana
siOsOn AJPress
seNAtor Leila de Lima admitted on friday, August 20, that there were “snippets of truth” within President rodrigo Duterte’s allegations against her but most were just “exaggerations” and “lies.” “this is what I can say at this point, may konting totoo dyan pero karamihan ho dyan (There were snippets of truth there but most of them were) exaggerations, distortions and lies,” De Lima said. however, she said she was not yet ready to reveal what those “snippets of truths” were, pointing out she’s still deciding whether to call a separate press conference next week to discuss the issue. earlier this week on Wednesday, August 17, Duterte tagged de Lima as an “immoral woman” for allegedly having an illicit affair with her married driver who purportedly collected money for her during the recent election campaigns. he also claimed her ‘lover’ is an illegal drug user.
Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Friday, August 12 at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Clinton was one of the speakers during the historic presidential forum — featuring representatives from four presidential campaigns — organized by APIAVote and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
Senator Leila de Lima
De Lima called Duterte’s accusation that linked her and her driver to illegal drugs an “absolute lie.” “that’s completely false. I will never do that because I’ve never betrayed my oath as a public servant and I don’t intend to ever betray my oath as a public servant,” she said. “so that’s what I can tell you right now kasi baka you know bakit completely silent ako (why i have been completely silent). It’s very difficult for me kasi (because) I don’t want to be public-
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AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal
Clinton, Trump campaigns court AAPI voters
an estimated crowd of 3,000. Watch parties were also organized in 20 states. In addition to the campaigns of the LAs VeGAs — the hillary Clinton and Democratic and republican presidential Donald trump campaigns were in this city nominees— represented by former Presilast week in an effort to make pitches to dent Bill Clinton and Utah Attorney GenAsian American and Pacific Islanders (AA- eral sean reyes, respectively—Libertarian PIs), a crucial electorate that has the poten- candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Dr. Jill stein appeared at the tial to be the swing vote this November. Co-hosted by APIAVote and the Asian beginning of the program in a Q&A format American Journalists Association (AAJA), hosted by msNBC’s richard Lui. It marked the first time presidential the 3 1/2-hour presidential forum held at Caesars Palace on friday, August 12 drew u PAGE A2 by Christina
M. Oriel
AJPress
DOT Sec. Teo asks Fil-Am community First Fil-Am elected to become ambassadors of PH tourism official passes away at 86 by MOMar
by Klarize
MeDenilla AJPress
G. Visaya
AJPress
DePArtmeNt of tourism (Dot) secretary Wanda Corazon tulfo teo attended this year’s fiesta in America in secaucus, New Jersey, as its featured guest speaker, both at the People’s Ball on the 12th and the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremonies the following day. tourism is one of the major drivers of the economic growth of the Philippines. In 2015, the country welcomed 5.3 million visitors and sec. teo said the country is poised to exceed this by the end of 2016. “this industry accounts for a big share of the country’s Gross Domestic Product but beyond these numbers, the growth of tourism continues to translate to more jobs and providing employment and livelihood to Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo aims to develop many filipinos. Last year, the industry employed apmore tourism destinations in the Philippines. proximately 5 million people, accounting for 12.7% AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
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G. moNtY manibog, the first filipinoAmerican elected into public office in the United states, passed away at the age of 86 on friday, August 12 after a long battle with lung disease. In 1972, he became one of the first filipino-Americans elected to a city council, serving the city of monterey Park. he later became mayor of that same city. the manibog family made many strides in the United states, with his father Gonzalo manibog becoming the first filipino-American to graduate with a law degree in 1917. manibog would follow in his father’s footsteps, opening up his own practice
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A AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
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sures to protect all persons from targeted killings and extrajudicial executions.” Reacting to the UN’s statement, Abella stressed out that summary executions are neither tolerated by the president nor are they part of the present administration’s policies. The spokesperson also deemed
the “seeming incomprehension” by local and international observers “alarming.” According to the UN, more than 850 people have been killed from the May 9 elections until August 11; 650 of those have been just in the last six weeks. Abella, however, expressed that the government’s approach
is to see illegal drugs as a national security issue, citing government reports stating that some of these killings were by vigilante groups and syndicates in the illegal drug trade. “In his pursuit to staunch the flood of drugs from nearby countries and entrenched manufacturers in key cities and locations, the President framed the menace in terms of war, which resulted in a number of deaths, but even more surprisingly, in the surrender of hundreds of thousands of users,” Abella said. “The president has said, that FETED. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, together with (L-R) Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, a number may have been ‘salLeila de Lima, Majority Leader Tito Sotto, Minority Leader Ralph Recto, Migz Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva, Senate vaged’ or killed by vigilantes, President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Manny Pacquiao, JV Ejercito and Bam Aquino present Senate Resolution No. 83 to Hidilyn Diaz or by mistake and therefore has (fifth from left) congratulating her for bringing home a silver medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Diaz tasked the (National Police Comtook the silver medal in the women’s weightlifting 53-kg division ending a 20-year medal drought,” the resolution said. Also in the photo mission) to investigate the ranks are her coach Alfonsito Aldanete and Zamboanga City councilors. Senate photo by Alex Nueva Espana of the national police. The nature of a number of deaths though [implies] internecine, or organizational killings within the drug trade.” one event. as alternatives to both Hillary PAGE A1 t In a recent statement, Duterte nominees from four political parThough Johnson and Stein Clinton and Donald Trump. If eistressed that the UN does not ties were represented and ad- have not received as much cover- ther Clinton or Trump is elected, u PAGE A3 dressed the AAPI community at age, they presented themselves Johnson said the country “will be more polarizing than ever.” “A wasted vote is voting for someone you don’t believe in,” the former New Mexico governor said. Meanwhile, Stein said she’s the “only candidate who doesn’t take money from corporations, lobbyists and super PACs” and has welcomed dissatisfied voters who supported Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. In May, nonpartisan groups APIAVote, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and AAPI Data released “Inclusion, Not Exclusion,” a voter survey examining the trends within the Asian American community. According to the findings, 31 percent of Filipinos reported a favorable view of the Republican Party, compared to 64 percent of Filipinos for the Democratic Party. Thirty-six percent of Filipinos responded that they are planning to vote for Clinton, while 11 percent for Trump. Clinton’s AAPI record Filipino-American civil leader Gloria Caoile, who was appointed by former President Clinton to the White House Advisory Commission on AAPIs in 2000, had the honor of introducing him on Friday. “When President Clinton took
Clinton, Trump campaigns court AAPI…
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From the Front page
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 20-23, 2016
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DOT Sec. Teo asks Fil-Am community…
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share in national employment,” Sec. Teo shared in her speech. Tourism is an industry that supports and promotes inclusive growth and the proceeds go to where it matters – putting food on the table for many families. Under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, the department is working hard to post a higher growth in tourism as a sector that is identified in the 10-point economic agenda of his administration. Sec. Teo said that she decided to accept the offer to attend the Fiesta in America in New Jersey to ask the Fil-Am community here to make this tourism aspiration a reality. “Your second home – the United States of America – is the second biggest visitor-generating market,” Sec. Teo announced. “In 2015 alone, it accounted for 15 per cent of the total arrivals, providing 779, 217 visitors. With your help, we hope to see this number balloon to hopefully reach the 1 million mark by the end of 2016.” The secretary also said that she is looking forward to count
on the millions of Filipino-Americans in the US to become Philippine tourism ambassadors themselves. “If you can entice even one among your numerous friends to visit the Philippines, we will see our arrivals soar and that will translate to more jobs for your kababayans back home and better economic growth for our Philippines,” Sec. Teo added. From small things like posting of vacation photos on social media to sharing stories during parties about new destinations in the country, the community members are living testimonials who can help drive more tourists to consider exploring the various places the Philippines had to offer. “For all of you who have not been home for sometime, the Philippines awaits you. Let’s take time to get to know our roots again, visit your old haunts and be surprised at how much they have changed for the better,” Sec. Teo said as she challenged the audience to pack their bags and enjoy a week or two in the homeland. Sec. Teo was in the news recently when she announced late
First Fil-Am elected official… PAGE A1 t at the Law Offices of G. Monty Manibog in Los Angeles after graduating from Loyola Law School. He practiced law for more than 50 years, representing individuals and families in personal injury lawsuits. He was also a professor at the School of Law at Van Norman University in Los Angeles from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. He also served in the U.S. Army just after the Korean War, serving as a leader in the FilipinoAmerican community. Manibog was a jack-of-alltrades, making his mark in many other enterprises. In the 1950s, the Ilocos-born
go-getter was a champion in wrestling and gymnastics in the Philippines, winning two gold medals at national championships. As a student at the University of the Philippines (UP), he was twice named “Athlete of the Year.” He took his athletic talents abroad, competing at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. His leadership skills and role in the sporting world converged in 1984 when he was ambassador to the Southeast Nations in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Even in his old age did he show athletic prowess. In the 1990s he won three consecutive gold med-
last month that the Philippines will be hosting the Miss Universe pageant in January 2017, with the hopes that the international event would drive more foreign visitors to the Philippines. This will be the third time that the country is hosting the international beauty pageant. The first was in 1974 when Amparo Munoz won, then twenty years later in 1994 when Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe. She is also a strong believer that the global Filipino market is a strong market that needs to get encouraged more to travel back to the homeland. Secretary Teo graduated with a degree in Business Administration from St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City. She is the owner and past president of Mt. Apo Travel and Tours in Davao City NEW PH PASSPORT. New passports with added security features would be available starting Monday, Aug. 22, the Presidential and an active tourism player in Communications Office (PCO) said. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the “all new high-security passport” would also Davao. She is also a member of contain designs that would promote the regions of the country. “Added security features have been placed such as upgraded security the Davao Travel Agencies Asfeature of microchip to capture the personal data of the applicant, invisible UV fluorescent ink and thread, and elaborate design when sociation (DTAA), the Davao subject to UV light,” Andanar said in a statement. Association of Tour Operators (DATO), the Davao Regional Tourism Council (DRTC), and the president of the National Association of Independent Travel distrust” because prominent na- a fact sheet detailing her vision PAGE A2 t Agencies (NAITAS). n office, he made good on his tional security experts, including for a “thriving AAPI community,” promise of making his adminis- Republicans, have endorsed her. focusing on what she would do Rep. Judy Chu of California on a host of issues, such as imals at the California Senior Olym- tration look like America,” she pics at the ages of 63, 64 and 65. said, adding that “Secretary Clin- said “it was a sign of respect” migration reform, college affordAs a student at UP, Manibog ton has spent her life fighting for that the Clinton campaign sent ability and health care. Clinton’s running mate, Virits highest-ranking surrogate. also proved ability in the arts, us.” In his speech, President Clin“What was so interesting was gina Sen. Tim Kaine, has also reserving as president and lead actor at the UP Dramatic Guild. ton covered a whole host of is- how much he wanted to engage portedly been helping woo AAPI Through the guild, Manibog sues from student debt to equal with the audience,” Chu told the voters. As the Asian Journal previousperformed leading roles in “Six pay. He even gave a shout out to Asian Journal, while phone bankCharacters in Search of an Au- Connie Mariano, a Filipina who ing for Clinton in this city on Sat- ly reported, Kaine has a visible track record pushing issues relthor” and “I Remember Mama” was the White House physician urday, August 13. during his administration. Fil-Am Jason Tengco, AAPI evant to the Fil-Am community, among others. “I will soon be known by ev- outreach director for Clinton’s namely the Congressional Gold Manibog’s family held a viewing on Thursday, August 18 at ery school child in the country campaign, told the Asian Journal Medal for Filipino World War II the Miraculous Medal Church in as Hillary Clinton’s husband,” he that it was a natural decision to veterans and the Filipino WWII have the former president speak Veterans Parole program that alMontebello, California. The fu- said. On immigration, he said Hill- because of his “career-long re- lows family members of veterans neral was held the following day at the same church followed by a ary Clinton would push for com- cord of defending the AAPI com- to come to the U.S. through immigration parole. burial at Resurrection Cemetery prehensive immigration reform munity’s best interests.” within the first 100 days of her Trump’s PH comments clari“President Clinton will continin Montebello. ue to play a key role in highlight- fied Manibog is survived by his five presidency. “If you wasted the money to ing Hillary’s plans to break down Reyes—a Trump surrogate children, 18 grandchildren and round up and deport every undoc- barriers and improve the lives of who is of Spanish, Filipino, his wife Jean of 62 years. n umented person in this country, AAPIs, and understands that as Japanese and Native Hawaiian you’d disrupt millions of families president, Hillary will focus on descent—shared his backstory, and, along with the heartbreak, the issues that are important to while sprinkling in points of it would drive this country into a the AAPI community — like help- how the Republican presidential when you kill criminals who fight recession,” he said, acknowledg- ing working families, supporting nominee would benefit the AAPI with you, and criminals who fight ing that 40 percent of API immi- small business, raising the mini- community. The attorney general, who was amongst themselves, that is [our] grants make up the visa backlog. mum wage, and investing in techThose from the Philippines are nology and innovation,” he said. named a ‘rising star’ of the GOP duty,’’ he said. Earlier this year, Hillary Clin- last year, is the highest-ranking This is not the first time the waiting more than 20 years. Answering a question regard- ton visited San Gabriel, Califor- Fil-Am law enforcement public president has criticized the UN. Back in June, he alleged that the ing Clinton’s email server con- nia to launch AAPIs for Hillary, official in the country and the first international body should stay troversy, the former president making her the only presidential ethnic minority to hold statewide out of Philippine affairs since it brushed it off as the “biggest candidate to hold an event spe- office in Utah. “I realize that I’m not a headlincannot even fix problems in the load of bull I’ve ever heard.” He cifically for the community. added that it is “not a cause for The campaign also released Middle East and Africa. n u PAGE A4
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have any business investigating the deaths allegedly committed by policemen. “United Nations does not have any business investigating human rights violations of the police. You don’t come here investigate the deaths of criminals and those suspected na sabi nila pinatay ng mga pulis (suspected to have
been killed by the police) when after all we have also lost a sizable amount of our security forces in govt,” the president said. Duterte expressed that his government cannot be investigated for genocide over the killings. ‘’UN, you can only investigate genocide when you kill without giving a hoot, if you are killing children, whole community. But
Clinton, Trump campaigns court AAPI…
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From the Front page
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Clinton, Trump campaigns court AAPI…
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er like others who have preceded me on the stage, but I think my being here says something important about Donald Trump and Governor Mike Pence,” he said. “That is that fact that they would allow an average person like me to be able to speak to a group as important as you.” After starting off his speech in a lighthearted manner, with the caveat to not “stereotype” the community, Reyes said the “sacrifices and efforts [of the AAPI community] have not gone unnoticed by Donald Trump or the Republican Party.” “You are such a critical strength to our nation,” he added, before touching upon issues such as health care, small business and affirmative action. Most recently, Trump angered many Filipinos and Filipino Americans for his remarks during a Portland, Maine rally that implied that the Philippines is a terrorist nation. Reyes came to Trump’s defense, saying “being Filipino, those issues are near and dear to my heart.” “What Mr. Trump was trying to communicate—and I have full
authority to make this clarification—is that he welcomes lawabiding Filipinos who want to come and have a better life and better opportunities, whether they want to live here or go back to the Philippines. Send money back to their families there. He welcomes them,” he said. He went on to clarify that terrorists “do exist in the Philippines, and there’s no one here from the Philippines who can dispute that. They know that that exists.” Though Reyes admitted that he does not agree entirely with Trump, he believes the Republican nominee represents a “new future, not the status quo.” “Mr. Trump believes in America first — no exceptions,” he said. For Ninio Fetalvo, Asian Pacific American press secretary and spokesman for the Republican National Committee (RNC), Reyes was a fitting surrogate because he “is the embodiment of the American Dream and represents the diversity of our Party and our country.” “AG Reyes highlighted both his personal story of why his heritage has an impact on why
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he champions Republican values, and Mr. Trump’s plans to grow the economy and keep our nation safe, two issues of major importance to the AAPI community. Mr. Trump offers the best platform for AAPIs to achieve the American Dream,” Fetalvo told the Asian Journal. However, some Fil-Ams present on Friday were not persuaded by Reyes’s speech. “I think the Filipinos for Trump need to get educated. I guess I don’t understand why they would agree with someone who is not about working families, is trying to build walls and deny immigrants their rights here. I just don’t get it. We’re a country of immigrants and they need to remember that,” SEIU Executive Vice President Luisa Blue told the Asian Journal. Gregory Cendana, executive director of Asian Pacific AmeriFOR PEACE. Peace advocates pin paper doves during a peace summit held at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. can Labor Alliance (APALA), 16. The participants pushed for the resumption of peace talks with the National Democratic FrontCommunist Party of the Philippines. tweeted, “And let me be CLEAR. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez @seanreyesag does not speak for me or many in the Filipino American community I know.” At an AAPI forum on the sidelines of the Republican National PAGE A1 t In addition, a local Cathopaid by the ship’s owners, Greek Committee in July, the Trump board the ship, currently docked firm Newlead Holdings, for over lic priest has been visiting the u PAGE A5 about 20 miles from Georgia off two months prior to the ship’s Newlead Castellano to adminisof Tybee Island, while the US arrival in America. The Daily ter Holy Mass and confessions. “We need to give them that District Court in Southern Geor- Caller reports that, since then, the creditors who requested hope that this is going to pass,” gia deliberated the case. “We are fortunate that this the ship’s seizure have footed Fr. Brett Brannen of Blessed happened here in the U.S.,” the the bill for the crew’s wages, Sacrament Parish told local CBS cargo vessel’s First Officer, Ci- supplies and weeks of back pay television station WBTV. “It’s cilio Calo Yting told the AP ear- supplied by a court appointed going to be a difficult expericustodian for the crew, National ence for them, but it will be a lier this month. great learning experience for He said the crew had not been Maritime Services (NMS). them as well.” On Monday, August 8, the Newlead Castellano was sold to Strategic Shipping Inc. for $7.4 million, according to the AP. A judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Southern Georgia approved the sale the following Monday, August 15. If all goes according to plan, the stranded sailors might be escorted into the U.S. and then fly home from Atlanta as soon as Friday, August 19. It is not uncommon for heavily indebted companies to abandon ships they cannot afford and their crews in foreign waters, according to NMS President Alan Swimmer. He said his company handles roughly 35 cases a year and is currently looking after two vessels under similar circumstances. “This happens,” Swimmer told the AP. “It’s not a rare occurence.” (Eric Anthony Licas/ AJPress)
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Filipino gay rights activist diagnosed with cancer Family sets up GoFundMe account to raise money
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WALKING TALL. Stilt walkers stroll along Shoe Avenue in Marikina City during the San Roque Fiesta 2016 parade. Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon
Senate budget proposal boosts environmental equity, advocates say Allocations under AB 32, SB 535 will boost underserved neighborhoods
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The state spending proposal just released by California Senate leaders provides critical funding to clean California’s air and bring jobs and opportunities to some of California’s most polluted and economically challenged communities, climate justice advocates from the SB 535 Coalition said on Wednesday, August 17. “In the midst of a crucial debate about the future of California climate policy, the Senate is taking a big step to fight both pollution and poverty using money paid by polluters,” said Greenlining Institute Environmental Equity Director Alvaro Sanchez. “This proposal means real help to lowincome families and their neighborhoods -- $1.2 billion worth.” “The Senate’s proposal helps
ensure that the state can implement critical programs and invest in innovative projects in communities overburdened by pollution and poverty” said SCOPE Research Director Laura Muraida. Projects to be funded under the Senate proposal include home energy saving and solar power for low-income families, tree planting in urban neighborhoods, and vouchers to help owners of older, gas-guzzling vehicles to replace their “clunker” with a clean electric or plug-in hybrid car or truck. Advocates applauded the proposed allocation of $175 million to Transformative Climate Communities, an innovative proposal to “connect the dots” and fund coordinated efforts in a variety of program areas (such as energy efficien-
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ly engaging na paisa-isa ko na I explain yan et cetera (explaining the issues one by one).” The senator also denied owning a house in Pangasinan that she allegedly built for her driver. “Hindi sa akin ‘yan (That’s not mine),” she said. Duterte on Thursday, August 18, however, claimed that he has evidence that will prove his allegations against the senator.
“I won’t talk without any evidence, I’m not like her,” Duterte told reporters, referring to de Lima a day after he brought up the accusations. The president proceeded to challenge reporters to the Department of Justice and Commission on Human Rights to validate his claims. “You want to know the truth? If I was lying, you can charge me,” he said. n
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tunity to challenge [their] detention,” representatives at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California said in a statement released earlier this month. A felony conviction would have been grounds for mandatory detention regardless of how long ago it occurred, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs in the class action suit. In her ruling, Nguyen decried what she called “robotic detention procedures” and said mandatory imprisonment “smacks of injustice.” One of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, Ashok Ramani of the law firm Keker & Van Nest, told the Asian Journal that many of those held for months by immigration officials had moved on from their pasts and become productive members of their communities. “They all had jobs. They had families. Some were taking care
of elderly relatives,” said Ramani of the clients represented by his firm, the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “[Mandatory detention] disrupted all of that.” Ramani said at least two plaintiffs from California had been granted bond hearings and released prior to the court’s decision because a ruling from an earlier case in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals guarantees detainees a day in court within six months. Most other jurisdictions do not host similar provisions. According to Ramani, between 800 to 1,000 people will now have a chance to petition a judge for their freedom. “[The court’s] decision is a victory for fairness and due process of law,” said Michael Tan, a staff attorney at the ACLU’s IRP. “In America, everyone should get a chance to see a judge before their freedom is taken away.” (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)
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campaign announced that it would launch an Asian American advisory committee, the Asian Journal previously reported. Details of the committee are yet to be disclosed. A vote not to take for granted Leading up to November, the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as community leaders, know there is still more that needs to be done to convince AAPIs and capture their votes. AAPIs “have come from marginalized to the margin of victory,” Chu reiterated at the forum on Friday. “The political rhetoric has become so toxic this cycle that we in the AAPI community cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.” The survey by the three nonpartisan groups also found that 62 percent of respondents reported no outreach from the Democratic Party. On the Republican side, 72 percent said they were not contacted by the party. Another study by UCLA found that Asian American voters are expected to double and rise to 12.2 million by 2040 and “be the margin of victory in critical swing votes during the next six presidential election cycles.” “Now it is up to each of the candidates, as well as their campaigns, to reach out to AAPIs,” Chu told the Asian Journal.
The RNC has revamped its AAPI outreach strategy in the last three years; most notably with the launch of the Republican Leadership Initiative (RLI) in 2015 to train AAPI millennials to engage their communities on a grassroots level. “Republicans across the country are building relationships with AAPI voters,” Fetalvo said. “We’re going to continue to grow the bench of AAPIs in politics, and as more and more Asian Americans hear the Republican Party’s message of growth and opportunity for all, more will continue to get involved in our Party and come out and support our candidates.” Meanwhile, Tengco said the Clinton campaign will continue to engage AAPI voters in key states like Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania. “We will continue to conduct outreach in Asian languages, deploy a robust network of AAPI surrogates, and engage our vast ‘AAPI for Hillary’ volunteer groups,” he shared with the Asian Journal. “Many AAPI voters recognize how Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and bigoted policy proposals are dividing our nation, and are reminded each day that they simply cannot afford to stay at home and wake up to President-elect Trump on November 9.” n
cy, transportation, etc.) that will work together to bring real benefits to communities in need. “These climate investments will bring needed relief to California communities suffering from smog and a lack of clean transportation choices,” said Bill Magavern, Policy Director for Coalition for Clean Air. “We are hopeful about what the Senate has put forward and encourage the Assembly and governor to work with the Senate to make this happen,” said Asian
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MARCIA Bolina Cable, along with his husband of 25 years Ben Cable, made national headlines when they challenged California’s marriage laws in the early 1990s. Now living up north in Alameda, California, the couple has been overjoyed with the strides the LGBT community has made for equal rights. This year, however, their lives took a turn when Marcial was diagnosed with cancer. The signs were noticeable earlier this year when Ben started noticing that Marcial began acting differently. His movement became sluggish and his short term memory was slipping, so Ben decided it was time for a check-up on June 7. After a general check-up and MRI, the couple was sent to Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. After a “nerve-wracking” wait, the doctors admitted Marcial to the emergency room where he remained for four weeks. The doctors found several unidentifiable masses in his brain that had been causing Marcial’s slowness, walking problems, speech problems and memory issues. After preliminary diagnoses following a brain biopsy in Redwood City, the results were inconclusive; the doctors had determined he had cancer but were unsure of what kind. Through a series of tests—including biopsies and a spinal tap—the specialists determined that Marcial had Non-Hodgkin
lymphoma (NHL), a condition in which the body produces an abnormal amount of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Ben said that at the hospital, Marcial started to go “downhill”, and his memory had gotten so bad that he could not remember anything from the previous day. “Everyday I came in and I told him everything that had transpired up to the new day,” Ben told the Asian Journal. “I would have to start from the beginning which was very difficult to do. I just felt thankful that he remembered me. That would have been very hard if he didn’t know who I was.” Marcial Bolina Cable was born Marcial McCarthy in Cavite, Philippines in 1963. His mother and stepfather moved the family to the United States in 1966. Marcial worked for American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and the American Red Cross. He also served in the Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit of the U.S. Army where he worked in supplies. “He would have been the Radar of their unit,” Ben quipped, referencing the hit American television series M*A*S*H. “He’s kind of around that height, too, since he was only around 5’4”. He was like a Filipino Radar [laughs]. He’s like that. He’s funny and lively, and has an adorable personality.” Marcial first met Ben in 1990 in a nightclub in West Hollywood. Ben reminisced seeing “this handsome guy” when he first saw Marcial, describing that night as a “cat and mouse game.” They became friends, but the friendship soon blossomed into a relationship. They had been dating for a year before Ben proposed. The couple was married in 1991 in a church wedding in Glendale, California with over
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A AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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Time running out to convert some felonies into misdemeanors under Prop. 47 Advocacy group to provide free legal help, in language outreach by Eric
Anthony LicAs AJPress
PEOPLE found guilty of certain felonies in California have until November 2017 to reduce the severity of their convictions under Proposition 47, a state ballot measure that passed in 2014. The measure reclassifies many minor, non-violent felonies as misdemeanors, and reduces the prison sentences of thousands of state inmates. Some critics of Prop. 47 suggest its enactment discouraged arrests for some drug-related offenses and caused a rise in property crimes. However, it also improves employment, housing and immigration opportunities for many exconvicts, many of whom struggle to reintegrate into society. “The cultural stigma and shame are suddenly magnified…These individuals are disowned by their families or otherwise pressured to suppress their past,” said a former felon who reclassified his conviction, Duc Ta, in a press release issued by advocacy group Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA (Advancing Justice - LA) on Thursday, August 18. Ta, who
had been serving a life sentence for a crime committed as a juvenile, added that the earliest steps in rehabilitation involve “seeking help.” Many organizations host outreach events and legal clinics on Prop. 47 reclassification, including Advancing Justice LA. On Thursday, The advocacy group announced that it will also begin providing fact sheets translated into Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, Khmer, Samoan, Thai, Tongan and Vietnamese to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have been incarcerated have so few resources,” according to Hyepin Im, the president and CEO of Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD). She said she had seen “firsthand how valuable linguistically and culturally appropriate support is to the successful integration of our community members.” The convictions of about 18,000 AANHPIs may be affected by Prop. 47. Members of those communities are underrepresented
among reclassification applicants, and oftentimes are not aware of Prop. 47 or are hesitant to apply. Roughly 6,000 of those cases are in Los Angeles. “Formerly incarcerated AANHPI’s may be reluctant to seek help … because our cultures tend to suppress anything viewed as shameful,” according to Advancing Justice - LA Staff Attorney Paul Jung. The organization intends to inform people about how reclassification can benefit them by offering in language outreach materials and legal services at no cost. Advancing Justice - LA will partner with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA), KCCD and 3 other groups to host its next free legal clinic on Thursday, August 25 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at its office located at 1145 Wilshire Blvd in downtown Los Angeles. Fact sheets are available for download at the criminal justice reform section of Advancing Justice - LA’s website. More information can be found by dialing one of the advocacy group’s in-language legal help lines at 888-349-9695 for English or 855-300-2552 for Tagalog. n
Few Fil-Am families using Early Childhood Education help in LA by hiyAsmin
QuijAno Inquirer.net
LOS ANGELES — Experts agree that the first few years of a child’s life are a critical time and that when it comes to early childhood education (ECE), parents are the “first teachers.” But while there are a number of ECE programs and services in Los Angeles, few Filipinos are taking advantage of them. “Head Start is based upon the premise that providing an early education is a powerful way of lifting children out of poverty,” explains John Varga, an educa-
tion specialist with the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE). Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes school readiness for low-income children ages up to 5 years old. Head Start kids “Many of our teachers and even administrators once were Head Start children themselves and know the power of that experience in their own lives,” reports Varga. “This is a diverse region, and as a Head Start program we are designed to serve primarily those children and their families who
are in the lowest economic range in our society,” he adds. PACE, which works to promote the economic wellbeing of L.A.’s Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, operates 14 fully licensed Head Start child-care and development centers across L.A. County. “We offer activities designed to develop early language, math, science, social awareness, physical, and communication skills as well as helping children learn the all-important skill of how to take responsibility of their own learning,” states Varga. “Even at a young age, children can put to use their natural inquisitiveness and eagerness to understand the world around them,” he said further. Low Filipino participation But according to data from the organization, API families accounted for roughly one percent of the more than 1,300 families PACE worked with over the past year. The majority of families in PACE’s ECE program – 85 percent – were Hispanic, while African Americans accounted for about 10 percent. Los Angeles is home to the nation’s largest Filipino American community. Filipino Americans make up about 4 percent of the county’s 10 million residents, and many of them are naturalized citizens. One reason few Filipinos seem to be accessing Head Start programs, which are geared toward low-income households, is that poverty rates are relatively low
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7/26/16
HIV-AIDS INCIDENCE AMONG YOUTH. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros challenged young people to help overturn the HIV-AIDS epidemic. In an International Youth Day forum by Unilab Foundation’s Ideas Positive, the Senator expressed alarm over the rising incidence of HIV-AIDS, especially among young people. Senate photo
Filipino gay rights activist diagnosed with… PAGE A5 t
200 guests present. Of Marcial, Ben said that he is “soft-spoken, yet determined. He’s 5’4”, but tall. He’s a soldier, a lover, a wonderful husband and friend.” Pioneers for marriage equality Before the national conversation of marriage equality took off in the early 2000s, the Cables— who were very active in LGBT activism—were on the forefront of the contentious issue a decade earlier. At that time, the hot topics concerning the LGBT community were the AIDS epidemic and gay rights in the military, but gay marriage didn’t receive the attention that Marcial and Ben thought it deserved, Ben said. “We were wondering, ‘why don’t we look at marriage?’ We just wanted the same rights and responsibilities that were granted to other couples, so why not?” Ben said. Two years after their wedding, the couple went down to LA City Hall to submit an application for a marriage license with the city clerk. Ben said that since that was the day before taxes were due, the city clerk’s office was crowded with other couples, all of whom were heterosexual couples. “We were being looked at, I could feel my face getting red, and I know Marcial was nervous. He was real quiet and we were filling out these forms with our heads down, and we knew some people had noticed us,” Ben said. The city clerk then called a judge to receive the application, but Ben said that they never saw that application again. But Ben recalls one moment on this day that ignited a spark within the couple to continue fighting for marriage equality. One woman working behind the clerk’s desk had written on the back of her blotter, “Let ‘em get married.” Ben said knowing that they had at least one person supporting them lifted their spirits to continue the fight for marriage equality. “At that point, I go, ‘this isn’t right!’ and this is not just a stunt,” Ben said. “We knew we were going to be rejected, but we didn’t
Ben and Marcial in West Hollywood- 1993
think of what kind of impact it would have on us. So we didn’t let it drop.” They challenged state’s marriage laws in the case McCarthyCable vs. Los Angeles City Clerk. Civil rights groups, including the prominent American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), assisted the couple by writing amicus briefs for the case. The couple also got to meet civil rights figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson during national press events for the case in Washington, D.C. After the case was denied review at the city level, the couple flirted with the idea of taking the case up to the California Supreme Court. The ACLU advised against this because if their case got a negative ruling, it would negatively affect future rulings in the similar vein. “At that point, we had to make a hard decision not to pursue it, and I think it was a wise move because years later, it became the law of the land,” Ben said, referencing the legalization of same-sex marriage across the U.S. in 2015. “And it might not have been had we just proudly
gone forward with something that could have been reckless.” On the day that gay marriage was nationally legalized, Ben remembered them being overjoyed and proud that their efforts in 1993 had “helped do that.” Ben said that he felt that their efforts had come full circle. They had fought for the rights and privileges of marriage, including caring for a loved one in times of need. Marcial is currently undergoing his first few rounds of chemotherapy in Redwood City. The couple is hopeful that Marcial will have a speedy recovery, but they know it’s going to be an uphill battle. The family is currently taking donations by way of a GoFundMe account (www. gofundme.com/cable) that Ben set up to raise money to cover treatment costs and transportation expenses. “I asked him today (Monday, August 15), ‘What do you think about cancer?’ ‘What are you thinking about right now?” Ben said. Marcial bluntly answered, “Cancer sucks.” n
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July: hottest recorded month
a 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.11 by Klarize Medenilla degrees Celsius). The average AJPress global temperature in July was at REPORTS from the National 61.97 degrees Fahrenheit. Aeronautics and Space AdminisThe report continuous the tration (NASA) indicate that last monthly trend of record-breakJuly was the hottest month since ing temperatures. July 2016 berecord-keeping began 137 years comes the tenth month in a row ago. to experience warmer temperaIt’s estimated that July was tures than the previous month, 1.27 degrees Fahrenheit (0.84 according to data gathered from degrees Celsius) warmer than the National Oceanic and Atmothe 1950 to 1980 global aver- spheric Administration (NOAA). age. Moreover, July experienced Gavin Schmidt, director of
NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, posted on Twitter that there’s a 99 percent chance that 2016 will become the warmest recorded year. Schmidt also said that July will likely the last hottest month this year as the residual heat from the El Nino season will subside come the cooler months. This summer, California has issued two Flex Alerts, which urge Californians to conserve energy on days of extreme heat. n
Few Fil-Am families using Early‌
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for Filipino families, according to Census data, Cultural factor? But culture may be another factor. “Filipino parents highly value education – that includes early childhood education,� says Micah del Mundo, who teaches in the Family Life and Child Development Department at the University of the Philippines, Diliman and is the vice president of external affairs at the Philippine Research Association for Early Childhood Education (PRAECE). For parents in the Philippines seeking early education access for their children, she notes, many “turn to neighborhood ‘barangay’ services.� Each barangay – or district – has a neighborhood day care center that parents rely on for preschool needs. Filipino Americans, says del Mundo, may be using similar resources, which are more informal than Head Start programs or other preschools and offer a stronger sense of cultural connection. Del Mundo adds that like a lot of parents, Filipinos also make use of television and handheld technologies. That’s something that concerns Varga, who points to the “lower quality ‘edutainment’ [programs] that [are] saturating the airwaves.� Varga says that for the past two years PACE has been collaborating with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to help promote PBS programming to families it serves. “PBS has recently begun an online education push with many quality games and activities for children provided in different languages,� says Varga. Parents’ role At the end of the day, however, there is no replacing the role of
the parent. “Studies show that parents who are involved in the schooling of their child, especially in preschool, help children develop trust ‌ it promotes not just academic performance but emotional well-being, too,â€? says del Mundo. Varga agrees: “When their parents are excited about learning and demonstrate [that] in their own lives, the model they give to their children is empowering and helps them develop much stronger skills.â€? Especially for immigrant parents, Varga continues, involving
themselves in their child’s learning at an early age can help preserve ties to their culture while also helping their children navigate U.S. culture. Parent training offered PACE holds regular parent education trainings at each of its sites to help parents better understand how to support their child’s learning. Through Head Start (for 3 to 5-year-olds) and Early Head Start (birth to 3), it also offers “home-based� programs, where trained experts make weekly visits to families’ homes to train
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Senate budget proposal boosts‌
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Pacific Environmental Network Senior Strategist Parin Shah. “The next two weeks will tell us a lot about California’s climate future. Today’s move helps keep our on the path towards a cleaner, more equitable future for all our communities.â€? Under AB 32 (NuĂąez/Pavley), money raised by charging polluters for carbon permits under the state’s cap-and-trade system goes to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to pay for projects that further cut carbon emis-
and mentor parents to work with their children. “Then, once a month, the families bring their children to a ‘socialization’ experience, where their children can develop important social skills in the midst of other children their own age,� says Varga. “This is also a time when parents can learn more about child development in a group setting.� He adds, parents and children alike “learn that learning together can be fun and actually something that bonds their family together.� n
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sions. A second law, SB 535 (De LeĂłn) directs at least one quarter of these funds to projects benefitting highly polluted, economically disadvantaged communities, with at least 10 percent going to projects located directly within these communities. The coalition does see some sections of the current language that need work, and looks forward to working with legislators to address those concerns. “We are hopeful that the Senate, the Assembly, and the Gov-
ernor take this opportunity to improve our climate while helping low-income families participate in the clean economy,� said Chelsea Tu, Staff Attorney for Public Advocates. Last year, The Greenlining Institute collected 10 case studies that illustrate the impact of California’s climate investments. Stories of real Californians impacted by these clean energy policies, as well as background on the laws themselves, can be found at UpliftCA.org (English). n
A AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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OpiniOn
Features
Beyond the killings
THE police service celebrated its 115th anniversary the other day as the Senate prepared to launch an inquiry into the spate of killings of drug suspects since President Duterte assumed power. The official toll, according to Philippine National Police officials, was 1,564 as of yesterday, with 899 attributed not to PNP members but to vigilantes. Echoing the President, PNP officials have defended the mass killings, trotting out statistics to show that the crime rate has gone down. The homicide rate, of course, has soared and is sure to be the highest in this part of the world. Whether the victim was a drug dealer or law-abiding civilian, each killing must be probed and the perpetrator brought to justice. Catching murderers and helping crime victims get justice are among the tasks of the police. President Duterte rose to power on an anti-crime platform, promising to significantly curb criminality and the drug menace within three to six months. During the campaign, he made no secret of his planned method of bringing peace and order. The killings have been criticized even by the United Nations, which has called for compassion as World Humanitarian Day is observed today. But the President says he is merely fulfilling his campaign promise.
Fighting criminality, however, also requires modern methods of law enforcement, which require proper training and equipment as well as forensic laboratory facilities for the police. Solving a crime does not stop at the arrest or execution of a suspect, who may be innocent. The suspect must be prosecuted, convicted, penalized and, where possible, rehabilitated. The case must stand in court, which requires arresting or raiding officers to know the legal requirements so that a defendant is not cleared on technicalities. As important as solving crimes and neutralizing threats to society is crime prevention. This does not need to entail extrajudicial methods. The police service, which is civilian in nature, must work with communities to help prevent crimes. Community cooperation is best achieved when law-abiding people trust rather than fear the police. And effective law enforcement cannot be anchored on extrajudicial methods. (Philstar.com)
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Fil-Am vets vs Marcos: ‘What makes a man a Hero?’ IN a recent The Filipino Channel “Balitang America” viewers’ poll, a majority (55 percent) of those who voted say they agree with President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to allow the interment of deposed Pres. Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Duterte says he is just executing the law, and claims the law grants Marcos a hero’s burial because he was a Filipino, a former president, and a soldier. But many Fil-Ams do not support this controversial decision. ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief Paul Henson ran an incisive story on “Balitang America” about the sentiments of those who vehemently oppose Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They are in solidarity with those who petitioned the Supreme Court to stop Duterte’s bold and contentious move. They all ask one question that they hope would make Duterte and the Supreme Court conscientiously and justly decision
this case: “What makes a man a hero?” The Fil-Am Henson talked to Honorio Mitra, a World War II veteran, who Perspective said the measure of a hero is simple. “Yung tapat sa kapwa at hindi humagawa ng kaalibasbasan sa Gel SantoS-ReloS kapwa,” Mitra said. This real war hero fought with others who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the country, and he believes Marcos did not measure up. Ago Pedalizo, a son of a late Air Force man and a tireless and relentless advocate of Filipino veterans, also disagrees with Duterte’s decision. “Hindi nagnakaw ang tatay ko. Walang cases of torture, walang rape. Hindi kami nagnakaw. So para itabi mo siya sa mga taong gumawa noon, maiinsulto siya ulit,” he told Henson on “Balitang
DNC Chronicles: patriotic virtues of Hillary Clinton’s presidential nomination (Part III of III)
“AMERICA is once again at a Rhizomes moment of reckoning. Powerful forces are threatening to pull us apart. Bonds of trust and respect are fraying. And just as with our founders, there are no guarantees. It truly is up to us. Prosy aBarquezWe have to decide whether we Delacruz, J.D. all will work together so we all can rise together. Our country’s motto is e pluribus unum: out of many, we are one. Will we stay true to that motto?” — Hillary Clinton on July 28, 2016. “Fifty-two countries have had a female head of state already and Clinton would join Britain’s second female prime minister, Theresa May, and German chancellor Angela Merkel at the top table of elected leaders were she to win the US general election in November.” – Dan Roberts and Lauren Gambino, The Guardian, July 28, 2016. Come Nov. 8, 2016, we have a choice. Will we choose Hillary Clinton, who is conversant about foreign policy, can be trusted not to lose her temper over a tweet and can sustain the strategic leading role of the United States of America? Or will we choose the media-known, unqualified candidate, who is perceived by most, unless his rabid followers, to be lacking in good manners and right conduct, as he scorns and marginalizes communities of color, starting with Mexicans being accused as rapists and criminals to Muslims, to women, to Asians, to gays, to Blacks, and now Filipinos whom he accused of as coming from a terrorist country? Would we still waste a vote on Trump, when he is clearly unfit in temperament and foreign policy know-how to be in the White House and has no clue about what domestic needs for increased minimum wage, jobs, child care, paid family leave, health care, good schools, affordable housing, tuition free-college, immigration reform to reunite our families, common sense gun safety laws? Other than that, he has filed bankruptcy five times and has been involved in 3,500 lawsuits. I vividly remember a loyal Filipino-American businessman, also a Republican, who told me he is ready to vote for Hillary Clinton as his party does not have a good candidate worthy of the White House, even if 16 candidates vied for that office before the primary. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said, “Donald is not making America great again,
Donald is making America hate again.” “It’s difficult to go forward if we’re always looking in the rearview mirror.” At a meeting in Pakistan with university students, Hillary Clinton fielded a lot of questions. As she wrote in “Hard Choices”: “Why are Pakistani exchange students in America stereotyped as terrorists? How can we trust America when you’ve let us down many times before?...I tried to provide full and respectful answers. It is difficult to go forward if we’re always looking in the rearview mirror,” I pointed out. The mood in the room was sullen and aggrieved, with little of the positive energy I had encountered in other university visits around the world.” I met a fellow lola, Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, from our Asian American community. It is Hillary for her, as she spoke of her admiration following her career as first lady of Arkansas, first lady of the United States, US senator and secretary of state to hopefully the next president in the White House. For Joselyn, it is an easy choice, brought about by due diligence and active participation in the political process, she has attended at least two other DNCs and has seen Hillary speak at UCLA when she was a student there. Joselyn articulated the forward growth of this former first lady, who advocated for child care very early in the 1960s, worked for 8 million children to have health care insurance and fought to desegregate schools in the South so black children can have access to these publicly-funded schools, as much as the white children. I was quite surprised with how much she knew, including the story of Dorothy, Hillary Clinton’s mom, who grew up in San Gabriel Valley. What lesson did I learn from her? That your excitement about the political process is internally generated: the more we research, the more we dig for accurate information, the more we become interested in the political process, thus the more invested we are! Our national democratic leaders are into our community’s and region’s interests Do you know that President Obama has done 11 visits now to Asia? The latest will be on Sept. 2-9, 2016 to China and Laos. I mention this because it was Hillary Clinton who asserted: “I step off the
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America.” Henson said in his report that the Philippine government itself recognizes the human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship. P10 billion had been allotted by the government that Duterte now heads for the reparations of the more than 75,000 victims who filed claims before the Human Rights Victims Board. This is personal for the widow of a former guerilla and Purple Heart awardee who told Henson that history will judge why Marcos should not be given a hero’s burial. “Unfair…. Oo naging presidente siya. Oo hindi ityinatanggi na marami siyang nagawa…pero nahaluan ng masyadong mabigat [na kasalanan] — paaano siya magiging bayani?” asked Flor delos Santos.
Ago Pedalizo, on behalf of the vetrans he has been fighting for challenged Pres. Duterte, “ Nandun ka sa tamang pagkilala kung sino ang bayani at sino ang hindi. Sa iyo hindi malinaw, sa amin malinaw. At dapat ang utang na loob sa aming bumoto sa iyo, hindi kung sino amg nagpondo sa iyo sa eleksyon.” The Supreme Court will soon be deliberating on the petition against the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Duterte said he will follow the ruling of the highest court of the land. Should the Supreme Court stop the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? Do you agree that Marcos was really a hero? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are 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
Duterte’s eulogy for Marcos WILL it be a test of will between President Rodrigo Duterte Street and those who protest the burial of the remains of President Ferdi- Talk nand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani? It will require an irresistible force to make a seemingly imGreG B. MacaBenta movable object budge. Do the protestors have the dogged determination to become that irresistible force? Duterte has given every indication that he is an immovable object. His says his decision is firm even while he will tolerate demonstrations and protests, and will refrain from using water hoses on the rallyists. Of course, he hasn’t said that the Philippine National Police will not use force, if given an excuse. Many of the old guards in the anti-Marcos protest movement have passed away. They were the people who braved the fire hoses and who dared to rush the gates of Malacañang headlong. Those who remain are aging and, while they may be active on social media, one wonders if they still have the zeal to bang heads and bodies against the PNP whose members have just begun to taste blood in their hunt for drug lords and pushers. There are pragmatists who suggest that Duterte should be left to have his way but, after his six-year term, the remains of Marcos can be dug out and moved elsewhere. But they are forgetting that the Marcos family is not exactly powerless. And, who knows, in the next election, Bongbong could win the presidency. The question, however, is whether Marcos deserves to be or can rightfully be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, according to regulations, the last of which was issued on April 9, 1986 by then Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos and approved by President Corazon Aquino. That regulation, entitled The Allocation of Cemetery Plots at the LNMB lists the following as being entitled to be interred in the cemetery: • Medal of Valor Awardees; • Presidents or Commanders-in-Chief, AFP; • Secretaries of National Defense; • AFP Chiefs of Staff, General/Flag Officers, active and retired military personnel, and former AFP members who laterally entered/joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); • Veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the First and Second World Wars, as well as recognized guerrillas; • Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and other deceased persons whose inter-
ment has been approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense, and • Former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense, widows of former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense and Chiefs of Staff. The regulation does not allow the internment in the LNMB of those “personnel who were dishonorably separated/ reverted/ discharged from the service and personnel who were convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral turpitude.” The disqualifying provision apparently applies to everyone listed, including former Presidents and military officers or guerillas, which Marcos was. Marcos was deposed in the People Power Revolution of 1896 and was, in effect, dishonorably discharged. That clearly disqualifies him from admission to the hallowed grounds. There are no bleeding heart provisions or exemptions allowed due to forgiveness and letting the past bury its past. Surprisingly, even a level headed person like Senator Dick Gordon, has used this rationale. And then, there are those who either do not understand plain English or are simply bullheaded. Duterte appears to be one of them. Thus, whatever the rules say and whether the protestors scream to high heavens or to hell, Marcos will be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani by presidential fiat. Perhaps Duterte can explain why he insists on honoring Marcos, the way Mark Antony honored the slain Julius Caesar after the Ides of March. I have, thus, taken the liberty of adapting Mark Antony’s eulogy for use by Duterte in a Eulogy for Ferdinand Marcos: Friends, kaigsuon, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Marcos, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones: So let it be with FM. The noble Senate President Koko hath told you, Marcos was a dictator and a plunderer: If it were so, it was a grievous fault; And grievously hath Marcos answer’d it. Here, under leave of Senator Cayetano and the rest,
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OpiniOn & Features
DNC Chronicles: patriotic virtues of…
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plane for the first time as Secretary of State in Tokyo, Japan, on Feb. 16, 2009. I broke with tradition to make my first trip to Asia, signifying our ‘pivot’ to the region.” With this pivot to Asia, she visited with students from the school President Obama attended as a child in Jakarta, Indonesia, in Feb. 2009. Indonesia, she says, “is an emerging regional power and home of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an important partner in our engagement in Asia.” And in a photo with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, she describes, “The rise of China is one of the most consequential strategic developments of our time. This isn’t a relationship, which fits neatly into categories like friend or rival, and it may never be. That is why I spent so much of my time working to create the right balance.” It took a million air miles to open doors of diplomacy, in 112 countries. As Hillary wrote in her book, “Over four years we spent a total of eighty-seven full days in the air!” We are just now seeing the fruits of her diplomacy, some seven years later, facilitating what Sec. of State John Kerry is now accomplishing. Do you also remember her personal visit to the Philippines, where she reaffirmed the United States’ ties with the Philippines on Nov. 16, 2011? Or that as senator, she spoke on the Senate floor to support our Filipino-American World War II veterans? Can you think of another presidential candidate surpassing Hillary Clinton, who is this connected and for our community’s interests? Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright said, “when I step out of the plane with the USA painted on it, I know my president should have a cool head, a big heart and that this is not a reality show.” Madeline Albright reminded us that a victory for Trump is a gift to Putin, and in the last few weeks, we came to know of how the Democratic Party’s database was reportedly hacked, per FBI reports, by hackers working for Putin. Hillary Clinton is also the presidential candidate who has appointed Jason Benjamin Alinea Tengco, a Filipino American, as her outreach director for Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). He represents us well.
President Barack Obama and Former Secretary of State and Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton AJPress photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D.
Hearing unfiltered messages through active engagement: moving the ball forward When I got to the DNC, the first thing I saw were young parents carrying their babies tucked in Gerry carriers, older folks in wheelchairs, some walking with canes, and many folks of different ages, nationalities, creed, religion and sexual orientations. “There was a movement of love and compassion which speaks to our hearts and consciences. Every senior in need of care is my parent. An attack of their race and religion is an attack on us. This movement fueled by love can never be stopped or defeated,” said Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii. Stand up and “do the most good,” kept getting repeated by speaker upon speaker. Hillary as first lady obtained help for a mother whose child had dwarfism syndrome. She supported the first trafficking law, making it a punishable felony, as trafficking had become the 3rd biggest crime in the world. Hillary believes that women must be in parity with men, that “when women are held back, democracies falter.” Ima Matul, a survivor of human trafficking, addressed the DNC to speak of her horrors which started when she was 17, a victim of human trafficking who found her home at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST). When Hillary became senator she became the best economic development officer for New York and when she spoke of women’s rights as human rights, she also believed that human rights are gay rights. According to President Bill Clinton, Hillary has done more at age 30 than many public officials
have done in their lifetimes. Even with such effective public service, she has been the most strictly scrutinized public official for the past 20 years, who is hyper-scrutinized for every mistake she makes such that the media have a caricature of the real Hillary. The real Hillary, the real one, according to Bill Clinton has drawn praises from Republicans. When she was secretary of state, she was a “real changemaker [that] represents a real threat. You nominated the real one! She’s still the best darn changemaker I have known,” Bill asserted. And President Obama drew the loudest applauses when he said, “You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office. You can read about it. You can study it. But until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis, or send young people to war. But Hillary has been in the room; she’s been part of those decisions. “She knows what’s at stake in the decisions our government makes—what’s at stake for the working family, for the senior citizen, or the small business owner, for the soldier, for the veteran. And even in the midst of crisis, she listens to people, and she keeps her cool, and she treats everybody with respect. And no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits. (Applause.) “That is the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman—not me, not Bill, nobody—more qual-
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Dateline PhiliPPines
PH school bans romantic relationships in response to surge in teen pregnancy by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
AMID the Philippines’ growing rate of teen pregnancy, one college in Mindanao has gone the extra mile to prevent teen pregnancy on its campus. Golden Heritage Polytechnic College in Cagayan de Oro City has enforced a “true love waits” policy that prevents students from engaging in romantic relationships with the opposite sex. The policy is in effect as long as the students are enrolled. To remind students of the rule, the college posted a large sign at the entrance of campus that reads: “Love affair will surely destroy the life of a young lady student / Therefore this institution prohibit intimate relationship between a male & female students. Golden Heritage Cagayan de Oro City.” ABS-CBN reported that the same declaration is printed on instructors’ uniforms. The school’s president Capt. Tito Dichosa told ABS-CBN that the policy was enacted to encourage students to finish their stud-
ies and graduate. He said that students who become pregnant often stop studying altogether. The Philippines has been experiencing an upsurge of teen pregnancy, defying global trends of declining teen pregnancy, according to a United Nations report released earlier this year. The report said that one in 10 Filipino women between the ages 15 and 19 years is either already a mother or going through pregnancy for the first time. Additionally, teen pregnancy, as well as high youth unemployment, are key factors that may stall countrywide economic growth. CSE is a keystone in the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Law), an all-encompassing reproductive rights law that guarantees universal access to sexual education, fertility control, contraceptive methods and maternal care. The law would particularly benefit low-income earners who otherwise wouldn’t have afforded such resources. Despite major lawmakers opposing the legislation, the RH Law was passed in 2012, but a Su-
preme Court temporary restraining order has stalled the law’s implementation. In other words, the conditions in the law are not currently a part of federal law. A recent report from the Department of Health (DOH) said that the Department of Education (DOE) has yet to develop and organize the minimum standards of CSE with which educational facilities should comply. “[The DOE] has already included CSE in its K-12 curriculum although it has not yet adopted the CSE standards developed by a panel of experts in consultation with teachers, parents, RH providers, and the adolescents themselves,” the report read. “Teachers have yet to be trained on how best to deliver age-specific CSE within the K-12 curriculum.” The UN recommends that comprehensive sexuality education—in which students are educated about sexuality and gain accurate information about reproduction, relationships, sexuality and puberty—be included in all levels of national curricula from primary education (elementary) to teacher training. n
Duterte won’t bring up territorial sea issues at ASEAN summit by dana
SioSon AJPress
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte disclosed on Wednesday, August 17, that he will not bring up the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territorial issues during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in September. The president expressed that he prefers to tackle the issues during a formal talk, adding that he would not want to antagonize China by making unnecessary “noises” and ruin the chances of having bilateral meetings. “I will only bring the issue when we are together face to face,” Duterte said, referring to China. “If you quarrel with them now and you claim sovereignty, make noise here and there, they might
ment.” he said. The president reiterated his stance that going to war with China is not an option. “What if (China) says, I do not want to quarrel or even speak with you’? Bahala kayo sa buhay ninyo (You go mind your own lives), can we do anything? Can we declare war? It is not an option,” he said. “I would not be stupid to do President Rodrigo Duterte that. It will only be a massacre not just even want to talk.” for all...still war is not an option Duterte also noted that his en- nowadays.” voy, former President Fidel RaThe ASEAN summit is the first mos, has been working to pave international summit Duterte will the way for formal talks between be participating in as president. the two countries. It will take place from September “We maintain good relations 6-8 in Laos. with China. Let us create an enviAlthough not an ASEAN memronment where we sit down and ber, China also has territorial distalk directly. That is the time we putes with other ASEAN counwould say we proceed from here. tries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, We proceed from this judge- and Brunei. n
THE BRAVE DIE YOUNG. President Rodrigo Duterte looks at the casket bearing the remains of Petty Officer 3 Darwin Espallardo of the Philippine Navy who was killed by a drug dealer in Midsayap, Cotabato. Espallardo and his team were about to serve a search warrant against Commander Madrox but the latter fired at the lawmen. The slain soldier was conferred the medal of valor. With the President were Espallardo’s widow Cleofe and son Dwyndyll. ManilaTimes.net photo by Benjie Vergara
PNP chief: Vigilantes, drug syndicates kill more narcos than cops by JoSeph
alMer B. pedraJaS AJPress
MANILA — Within the first 50 days of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war against drugs,” the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already recorded a greater number of summary executions allegedly perpetrated by vigilantes than by legitimate police officers during their operations. During the Senate committee hearing on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Thursday, August 18, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said that 899 cases of narco-related killings done by vigilantes have been recorded since June 30. However, dela Rosa does not just point the blame to vigilantes. He also believes that some syndicates are also responsible for killing their cohorts to preempt
being discovered. Compared to the 667 cases operated by police, dela Rosa concluded that “vigilantes or syndicates are more efficient at killing than the police.” Speaking before the senators, dela Rosa classified the killings as vigilante-perpetrated when such corpses were found floating in the bodies of water or lying on roadsides or other locations and when the killers were not identified. Although he considers the efficacy of the vigilantes’ deeds, the PNP chief finds the greater number an insult for policemen’s legitimate operations. “They are killing people without any consequences. It makes us appear to be ineffective. I abhor vigilantes. I really hate them,” he uttered. Dela Rosa admitted that the number of illegitimate killings is very disturbing.
He also said that these people’s deaths are still concerning as the PNP is still tasked to ensure peace and order in the country. From 899 cases, dela Rosa told Senator Grace Poe that only 29 cases have been filed so far. Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, stressed that the PNP should resolve the unjust killings as these all are already murders. “These vigilante killings must be solved because there are out and out. What else can you call these but murder cases,” said Lacson. In a response, the PNP assured the senators that they would comply with the law and assign a qualified civilian to head the International Affairs Service who will probe the increasing number of non-police-operated killings. n
Baby Dalupan, legendary coach and starmaker, dies at 92
Dalupan, who later in his career was called “The Maestro,” was a student-athlete at the MANILA, Philippines — Vir- Ateneo de Manila University durgilio “Baby” Dalupan, Philip- ing the post-war time. pine basketball’s most revered Under his belt are 52 basketbasketball coach who first reg- ball championships. istered PBA’s most wins record, News of the legendary coach’s died on Thursday. He was 92. demise first hit social media by deniSon
rey dalupang Philstar.com
Thursday morning. Philstar.com has reached out to Dalupan’s family, who declined to be interviewed for the meantime. The Philippine Basketball Association, where Dalupan left most of his imprints, confirmed the news through its Twitter ac-
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DNC Chronicles: patriotic virtues of…
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ified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America.” Will America become the 53rd country in the world with a female head of state come Nov. 8, 2016? That is up to you, my dear Asian Journal readers who are also registered American voters who will take the time to vote for the real one! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” 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
A partial view of the DNC attendees on July 28, 2016 AJPress photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D.
certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’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.
Duterte’s eulogy for…
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For Cayetano is an honourable man; So are they all, all honorable men,-Come I to speak of Marcos’ burial spot. A campaign promise did I in Ilocos make To Bongbong, Imee, Irene and Imeldific. My word of honor solemnly I gave; A vow to grant the President a hero’s grave.
The plague of freedom and democracy When Leftists did their dark agenda bare, Marcos was forced to martial law declare. Yet while he could have been a President-forLife, Over the vain objections of his kids and wife, A snap election he agreed to call, Which thus began his inadvertent fall.
In truth, what is a grave but mud and soil Where bones are laid which time and worms despoil? What honor can a man pretend to claim When history consigns him to his shame?
Did that in Marcos seem ambitious? Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Koko says Marcos was a dictator and a plunderer; And Koko is an honourable man.
You say that Marcos, a dictator was; Then let his sins be pardoned, let them pass. Marcos, a soldier and a President, Deserves to go where men like him are sent.
You all did see that when rebels dug in, Marcos refused to send the tanks and planes, He could have ordered troops to shoot and kill, But he refused and thus his troops stood still; And yet protestors say thousands were slain During his over two decades of reign
You can protest and march till shoes should rot; But my decision stays and yours will not. The bottom line is that I’ll have my way Although you may hold rallies night and day. He brought back Yamashita’s treasures from the wars That made his family the wealthiest by far; Did that make Ferdinand a plunderer? You say that Marcos stole the country blind, Yet those who shared the booty did not mind. And tell me why the son did almost win And could have been next to the president. We must acknowledge our hypocrisy;
I speak not to disprove what Marcos haters say, But here I am to speak what I do know. If Marcos was a killer, so am I; And if you say Marcos’ dictatorship was dirty, You still don’t know enough about Duterte. O loud protestors, thou art fled to brutish beasts, And though you may have reasons – so have I; But since I am the President and you are not, Ferdinand Marcos will still have a hero’s plot. (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
THE DAY AFTER. A man repairs his house damaged by the tornado that whipped Baseco compound in Manila. The tornado also tore roofs off homes in Quezon City on Sunday, Aug. 14. Manil Times.net photo by Rene Dilan
Smuggled firearms discovered inside balikbayan box from US by Joseph
Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress
MANILA — The seizure of illegally-contained shipments led to the discovery of smuggled firearms stuffed inside a balikbayan box. Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon disclosed in an interview on Thursday, August 18 that the agency seized high-caliber firearms stuffed inside a balikbayan box at the warehouse of Atlas Shippers International Incorporated (ASSI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “We were able to seize these high-powered firearms late last month, of course, in coordination with the Philippine National Police,” Faeldon said. The commissioner said that they were able to preempt the
distribution of the smuggled materials after they got a tip on July 19. According to a press release, the balikbayan box contained the following: 35 trigger housing assemblies, 60 upper receivers, 15 batter spring locks, 10 barrel assembly M16s, one rail without a barrel, one rail with M16 barrel and suppressor, 15 butt assemblies, 15 buffer spring guides, and five quick-detach scope mounts. The BOC learned that the contraband items were reportedly shipped by a certain Maiko Claridad from Anaheim, California. In light of the details of the shipping, authorities monitored the said box from Manila until it arrived in Bacolod City, its intended destination, on August 4. Led by the elements of the Criminal Investigation and De-
Baby Dalupan, legendary… PAGE A10 t
count: Dalupan coached the University of the East Red Warriors, mentoring a young Robert “Sonny” Jaworski. He won 20 titles in the collegiate arena, 12 of which he delivered for the Recto-based squad. The son of UE’s founder Dr. Francisco Dalupan Sr., The Mae-
stro helmed the Crispa to its fabled dynastic rule. He snared nine championships with the Redmanizers and led Great Taste (Presto) to five. He also commandeered Purefoods to a title. Named into the PBA’s Hall of Fame in 2005, Dalupan was the most emulated coach in Asia’s first pay-for-play league. An equally stellar coach in Tim
tection Group (CIDG), the authorities were able to confiscate the illegal materials on August 6 and arrest a certain Leo Mendieta, who was then verified as Brian Ta-Ala. Brian Ta-Ala, along with his aide Wilford Palma, was already under the custody of the CIDG for further investigation. The two will also face violation of Republic Act No. 10591 (the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) once the case is filed. Commissioner Faeldon warned smugglers, “I am warning you, do not do that, because we’re going to get you.” The government recently made balikbayan boxes duty- and taxfree. However, Faeldon said that taxes may be imposed again if the privilege would just prompt smuggling. n Cone, who broke his record of 15 titles in 2014, drew much of his coaching inspiration from him. In 1995, the league’s “Coach of the Year” made Dalupan its namesake. In 1970, he led the Philippine national basketball team. They won top honors in the Pesta Sukan tournament in Singapore. Dalupan closed his arc as a tactician in 1993, with the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. n
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SHOWBIZ&STYLE
B
Journal
The price of Heart’s art Alden Richards reminds bashers: Words can hurt by Lhar
by ricky Lo
Santiago
Philstar.com
ManilaTimes.net
Bag painting for Heart Evangelista-Escudero began as an accident. She was once eating fries with a very expensive Hermès bag hanging on her forearm. Before she knew it, the excess oil from her food started dripping on her precious bag. “I was so shocked,â€? Heart told Showbuzz during a visit at the taping of her rom-com series “Juan Happy Love Storyâ€? with Dennis Trillo. “I quickly tried to remove the oil with a tissue but it only got worse. When I got home, I tried other means but the oil could not be removed. It was a big problem for me because it’s a Hermès and it’s very expensive,â€? she added. That was when the idea of painting on her bag came to Heart. after doing so, she used the bag again and the wonderful artwork didn’t go unnoticed to her friends. They all loved it so much so that one of them requested Heart to also paint on her bag. Other friends then followed suit. “as of now, there are 50 bags on waiting line,â€? she beamed. “I’m very glad because now, it’s not only my friends who ask me to paint on their bags. I already have clients from Macau and I get inquiries from Dubai. I am thrilled whenever there are inquiries from other countries.â€? But, of course, Heart loves doing the paintings even more for her Filipina friends, including Jinky Pacquiao. “Jinky is so sweet. When I heard that she wants to have her bag painted on, I was so happy and I was so surprised when she sent two Hermès bags for me to paint on. When she got her bags back already painted, she posted them on social media, promoting my work! I was so touched.â€? Heart insists that she only paints on Hermès bags and she has a good reason for this. “When it comes to this certain
COnTrary to our previous subhead (Why is Maine not in the book?) of the Funfare story about alden richards’ book (“In My Own Wordsâ€?), Maine Mendoza is, indeed, in the book, with one chapter (4) titled Meet #Maiden devoted to her. But unlike the JaDine book Team real co-authored by James reid and nadine Lustre, Maine didn’t co-write alden’s book because, according to alden, Summit Books made the offer early last Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards year, a few months before alDub her now that she is on the way aldenrichards02 is Epic. I can’t Sweet sya.â€? was born. home.â€? wait for everyone to see the anyway, asked how he felt Maybe Maine can also write From Mike: “Traveling around documentary. PS: Very atten- about social-media bashers, her book solo, to be called Morocco with @mainedcm and @ tive ni alden to Maine’s needs. PAGE B2 “Maine Mendoza: (also) in My Own Words‌â€?and devote one chapter to alden? Why not? When alden graced the book launching last Sunday at the robinsons galleria’s activity Center, he was still recovering from jetlag after traveling with -/( *VU]LU[PVUHS Maine to Morocco for an exclusive pictorial for Megamagazine 7\YJOHZL 9LMPUHUJL supervised by One Mega group CEO Sari yap and directed by Mike Carandang. alden’s manager gigi Santiago-Lara, one of the heads of gMa’s artist Center, showed me alden and Maine’s pictures taken in Morocco but so sorry, they couldn’t be published yet. “We spent two days traveling to and from Morocco, and three days for the pictorial,â€? recalled alden, home ahead of Maine who decided to stay for a few days to see more of Morocco. (Trivia: Is it true that Maine’s next destination is new york where she’s going to 7YVNYHT Z\IQLJ[ [V JOHUNL ^P[OV\[ WYPVY UV[PJL meet up with the “Mysterious Mâ€? in her life?) In her social-media account, Sari posted this: “What I really think after three days of work:Y 3VHU *VUZ\S[HU[ >HSS -PUHUJPHS 0UJ +)( ing with her? The girl is a riot a minute. She is quiet for a while >PU 7YPTL 3LUKPUN until she gets to know you. She 543: :V /HY]HYK )S is oblivious to fame, which is why fame hounds her. The @ LTHPS! JHYVS T`^MP'NTHPS JVT 3VZ (UNLSLZ *( mega_magazine team is missing
/64, 36(5 $IRECT ,ENDER
Aside from her friends and countrymen, Evangelista-Escudero now has international clients for her painted Hermès bags.
level of art and keeping its value, it’s best that I do my painting on Hermès bags. Technically, it’s the only bag that can be auctioned in auction houses, even in Europe,� Heart said. Heart’s painting on Hermès has indeed become very in demand that even two of the most popular brands of cars—Volkswagen and Ford—have taken notice of it. On September 3, they will hold an exhibit featuring Heart’s painted bags. aside from that, we are also coming up with a coffee table book featuring all my Hermès painted bags alongside different beauty and fashion icons like PAGE B2
*HYVS 4HUHSHUN
*LSS!
Features
B AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Moonlighting by Mylah de
leon
I AM one of those who freely and ungrudgingly takes great interest in my friends’ pleasures, in what they relish and what they become anxious about in the world of Western mass culture (and borrowings). We reveal ourselves (like any westerner), with our grasp of the latest fashion and catch phrases, or the hottest dances. We happily watched our own Beatles-inspired Filipino group, the REO Brothers Band, perform in a concert for the benefit of the Yolanda typhoon victims. I watched my friends prance and paddle about with glee in the aisles of a church in Glendale, in an evening of sweetness and affability. Listening to the Beatles’ music brings chants, laughter, ceaseless humming and chatter; cures the pain of a fevered soul amid life’s trifles. There is nostalgia and a walk through memory lane, as the four evangelists of beat sing “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” They had us on our toes. Wearing shags, uncut and uncombed, they proved that being clean-cut, neat and refined are not pre-requisites to making a million bucks -- but becoming idols and being
NOSTALGIA
Beatles: let it be
decorated by a Queen can get you that. Now, the Beatles’ place in pop culture is secure. Some of their so-called “noises” include “Yesterday,” “If I Fall,” “Let It Be” and “I Love Her.” These songs will outlive and outlast a number of symphonies or sonatas. The language of these evangelists of beat is current and instant. In the 60s, negotiations to bring the Beatles to the Philippines took over a year. They were originally intended to perform at the Araneta Coliseum, but the Aranetas sensibly balked at the promoters plan, to charge a top price of fifty pesos. At the “people’s coliseum,”
no seat was to cost more than ten pesos, according to Don Amado Araneta. So it was booked at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, which was not a suited place for a show. Everybody lost out, the Beatles flopped, the audience fumed and everyone was unhappy. I remember the press conference called by the promoter, which has become a joke among newsmen -- the hoopla was titillating. The Beatles were insured for a million pesos. More than a thousand guests of honor were invited to attend the show. The Beatles planed into a squealing crowd of vociferous welcomers -- young women clad in mini-skirts and boots on a sultry July day. The Beatles locks were shaggy and the newshen quickly noted the quartet’s exuberant physical aroma. When the Beatles sat down at the table, all the photographers jumped up and went wild! John Lennon yelped “woof-woof;” Ringo pranced about. Order was restored after 15 minutes. The late Jose Quirino beat me in asking the inevitable inquiry: “Do you have haircuts?” John Lennon cooed: “Many times.” “When was the last time?, “ I shrieked. “1933,” giggled the smug Lennon. The crazy questions flew fast and quick: What was their favorite song? God Save the Queen? The second favorite was God Save The King. What did their wives do when PAGE B3
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Shamcey Supsup-Lee: Life after the crown by Ching
M. alano
Philstar.com
IF it wasn’t in the news, who’d think that Bb. Pilipinas and 3rd runner-up in Miss Universe 2011 Shamcey Supsup (now Mrs. Lloyd Lee), looking enviably slim and trim, and every inch a beauty queen, gave birth seven months ago to a baby girl? Fact is, this new mom couldn’t stop talking about her new title and the challenges of breastfeeding her little Nyla Kelcey (nicknamed Nyke) in a recent heart-to-heart, mom-to-mom talk with newshens at the launch of Pigeon’s Only Moms breastfeeding advocacy to coincide with National Breastfeeding Month this August. When she found out she was pregnant, Shamcey didn’t really buy maternity clothes. “So, I was wearing an old dress that didn’t fit and my husband noticed that it was open at the back,” she relates. “I said, ‘Mahal, style talaga ’yan. Just close it with a safety pin.’” When her mother-in-law asked her if they needed to buy bottles, sterilizers, etc., she confidently (with passion) said, “No need! Breastfeeding! Kaya ko ’yan! I really didn’t shop for anything. Maybe the only thing I had was a hand-me-down stroller from my husband’s uncle because he had a three-year-old.” When they found out she was expecting, her excited — and expectant, too — in-laws plied her with Chinese herbal drinks to take. She got hold of every book you’d expect expectant moms would read. She took breathing classes, got herself some pampering massage, watched videos on Lamaze, how to give a bath to a baby, and breastfeeding. Having done all that and more, this anxious mom-to-be thought she was well-equipped for the job, she had it all figured out. But as she found out later, much to her frustration, nothing could really prepare one for motherhood and babies don’t really come with a manual. “I had a birth plan, I wanted everything to be natural,” she discloses. “But I didn’t expect I would end up giving birth by Cesarean Section. Because the anesthesia didn’t work, I could feel the pain and I was so tired that I gave up and told Lloyd I was not gonna push anymore. I was so disappointed in myself — others could do it even if they labored for 24 hours. As for me, I entered the
Happy, healthy family: Shamcey with husband Lloyd Lee and daughter Nyke.
Shamcey with Nyke: “When my parents asked, ‘Why did you name your first child Nyke? Are you going to name the second one Adidas?’ So we named our daughter Nyla Kelcey, to justify the nickname Nyke.”
hospital at 11 p.m. and gave birth at 7 a.m., mabilis lang, it was like only six hours of labor. But with all the pain I was going through, when my obstetrician said they had to do a CS, I exclaimed with much relief, ‘CS!’ When I woke up, it was over. When Lloyd came to me, I was crying: Why did I have a CS? I was so disappointed because I planned the birth of my baby and everything didn’t go as planned. But my father-in-law was consoling me, ‘Wag ka na umiyak, healthy si baby, OK si baby.’” Shamcey heaved a long sigh of relief now that it was over — or so she thought. “When I saw the baby, she was made to latch (to attach to mother’s breast to nurse) as soon as possible, which was also part of the birth plan,” she shares. “At first, it was okay, the baby latched. If giving birth is the hardest, this is the second hardest. It was so, so hard. I gave birth in the morning and the baby already stayed in my room in the evening. I thought if you put the baby on your tummy,
okay na. Not so, ’coz everytime I would breastfeed, I would cry, I couldn’t explain the pain. Maybe because that time, I was still a bit depressed about my CS experience. I remember one time I told my yaya, who is my cousin, to please take the baby, I couldn’t take it anymore, I didn’t like to see the baby because I felt she kept on crying no matter what I did. And how would I know if she was getting something from my breast? I was so frustrated. There was even a time the nurse had to hand express my milk. I said, ‘Sige na, bahala ka na dyan.’Because I didn’t know what to do anymore.” Shamcey didn’t know if her baby was getting enough colostrum (the perfect baby food found only in breast milk, it’s low in fat and high in antibodies to keep baby healthy). “I saw my colostrum, it was so little. So I asked the nurse if the baby was getting enough colostrum. The nurse explained it was really only that much that was needed for the PAGE B3
Mariel to give birth (to baby girl) in US by RiCky lo Philstar.com
AFTER two miscarriages, Mariel Rodriguez will finally give birth to a girl (name confidential) in the US sometime in November. It will be her and husband Robin Padilla’s first child, and Robin’s sixth (one with ex-girlfriend Lea Orosa and four with ex-wife Liezl Sicangco). The baby’s gender was revealed last Saturday, Aug. 13, during a triple celebration for the couple’s sixth wedding anniversary (Aug. 19), Mariel’s 32nd birthday and revelation of the baby’s gender (done with a golden box which contained an Aprica pink stroller). The event was hosted by Japanese Stroller brand Aprica, the same company that also sponsored the baby shower for James Yap and girlfriend Michela Cazzola who gave birth to a boy named Michael James last Aug. 8. Among the guests were expectant moms Toni Gonzaga (giving birth to her and husband Paul Soriano’s first child in a few weeks’ time), Rufa Mae Quinto (who is said to be in “an interesting stage” courtesy of her Fil-Am boyfriend), and Shalani Soledad with husband former Congressman Roman Romulo who should have a child by now, four years after they got married. The Padillas were accounted for, led by the matriarch Eva Cariño (who joined the party even if she was on “chair arrest”) and including Robin’s daughter Kylie, Robin’s cousin Bela with
Expectant parents Robin Padilla and wife Mariel Rodriguez seal it with a kiss during the recent triple celebration.
boyfriend Neil Arce, and Robin’s brother Rommel with son RJ. Also present were Mariel’s mom and grandparents, Grace Lee and Camille Villar. “It was the first time for Mariel’s mom to meet the Padillas,” said Jenna Sy who helped entertain the guests for Aprica. When the doctor told the couple that their baby would be a boy, Robin didn’t believe it, until the doctor later confirmed that the baby would be a girl. “At first,” Mariel was heard telling guests, “I wanted a boy kasi marami nang girls si Robin. But when I learned that it’s a girl, I realized that the baby is really for me. God knows na girl naman talaga ang gusto ko.” There were games during the event, such as cake slicing (like in
the price of heart’s... PAGE B1 Gretchen Barretto and other socialites. That’s what I’m working on now,” Heart excitedly said. Now, how much does it cost to have Heart’s art in one’s Hermès bag? “In the store, the bag itself costs around P500,000. Out-
side, some people would spend P800,000 to a million pesos. The bag would be around P90,000 for me to paint on. And it will take a few months because I have a wait list,” the actress revealed. Heart, however, is planning to take a break from doing so
Alden on bashers... PAGE B1 Alden said, “At first, it hurt. But I have learned how to block them emotionally. Social media is free kaya hindi naman bawal mag-post. But social-media users should be careful with the words that they use. Words can hurt people. Words can affect people. If you continue on defending other people without looking at
yourself,parang unfair naman yata ‘yan.” And here are excerpts from the chapter on Maine: “Sabi nila, si Alden mabait ‘yan, gentleman, at maalaga sa babae, so ‘yun ‘yung first impression ko sa kanya. Hindi naman ako na-disapppoint.” — Maine “Maine is the perfect definition of F-U-N.” — Alden
a wedding reception), guessing game (what’s in Mariel’s purse?) and baby-bottle drinking contest (with the Padillas joining to finish a baby-bottleful of iced tea). The “Mariel or Robin” Q&A portion was fun. • Who wakes up first? Answer: Mariel (because she wakes up Robin to pray). • Who cooks? Answer: Mariel (who learned how to cook after they got married). • Who says “I love you” first? Answer: Mariel. Because Robin doesn’t take alcohol, guests sipped mocktails during the champagne toast. Next month, Mariel will be given a baby shower before she flies to the US for her date with the stork. once she finish all the bags on her wait list, “I want to keep the exclusivity that’s why I will stop for a while,” she explained. And while she will not be busy painting on those bags, Heart will have all the time to give her 100-percent concentration on the very important project she will work on with her husband Senator Chiz Escudero: their first baby. “When we’re alone together, we talk about things we don’t get to talk about during shoots. It’s nice because we really get to know each other. Happy ako na nakilala talaga namin and isa’tisa.” — Maine “I don’t pretend to be something I’m not whenever I’m with Maine.” — Alden So what’s the real score between them? Read between the lines.
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 20-23, 2016
B
–Relaxed Country Lifestyle While some parts of the cool crisp city of Tagaytay is now bustling with medium and high-rise condominiums, Alta Montebello offers you a different and unique experience by providing the ideal countryside living that flaunts the rustic charm of the province. Just a few minutes drive south from Metro Manila, you can easily reach your dream home within Alfonso Ridge. With its sharp interior and stylish design, modern-countryside living is now within reach.
CREWMAN WENT HOME TO MANILA ON PROVISIONAL WAIVER AND CAME BACK TO THE U.S. WITH A GREEN CARD —ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel obtained a Provisional Waiver for Jerome, a crewman who jumped ship. Jerome had filed for Adjustment of Status on his own, but it was denied, because he was not eligible. With the approved Provisional Waiver of the 3\10 year bar, Jerome returned to the Philippines for visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. His wife and children wondered and prayed if Jerome could make it back to the U.S. Every crewman and their U.S. spouse should watch the outcome of this Provisional Waiver case on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, August 14 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
Kris Aquino: Ask me no questions by Ricky Lo Philstar.com
EvEn if she was suffering from a pinched nerve on her left shoulder, Kris Aquino said she had to cut short her bed rest to be among those who cut the ribbon at the inauguration of Anthony Taberna and his wife Rossel’s Ka Tunying restaurant on Timog Avenue, right across from GMA. “I love the couple,” said Kris. “They are true friends.” Then, she begged the media guys around, “Please don’t ask me about anything because I might say anything that I can’t remem-
ber at hindi ko naman madi-deny. You see, I’ve been taking several kinds of medicines at baka kung ano pa ang masabi ko.” She must have been referring to her ex-husband James Yap whose girlfriend Michela Cazzola gave birth to a baby boy (named Michael James) Monday last week. Everybody is curious about how Kris felt about it but, so sorry, she’d rather keep mum for now. Michael James is James’ third child, coming after another boy with his non-showbiz girlfriend and Bimby, with Kris. “It happened Tuesday night after I went home from an uncle’s
82nd birthday,” recalled Kris how the pain started. “Tiniis ko lang until it became migraine. I began throwing up on the way home. My blood pressure went up to 171/108, so I had to call my neurologist.” Incidentally, Ka Tunying’s location being located nearer GMA than ABS-CBn must have spawned the rumor that Kapamilya Anthony is turning Kapuso. “I am not,” said Anthony who noted that yesterday’s inauguration was graced by guests from all networks. “All Kapamilya, Kapuso, Kapatid, Kasama are welcome,” added Anthony.
Kris Aquino with Anthony Taberna and wife Rossel during the inauguration of the couple’s restaurant “Ka Tunying” located right across GMA along Timog Avenue, Quezon City, spawning rumors that Anthony is transferring from ABS-CBN to GMA. Right photo shows Kris and the Taberna couple during the ribbon-cutting ceremony with (from left) Amy Perez, Ricardo Castañeda (chairman and CEO of Royale Business Club), Alice Eduardo, Karen Davila and Mike Enriquez.
Andi Eigenmann, Jake Ejercito lose cool on Twitter MISSED the #Jelena drama? We got our very own #Jandi drama right here. From #SelenaEndedJustinPa rty, social media trend quickly shifted to #AndiEndedJakeParty. Apparently, ex-couple Jake Ejercito and Andi Eigenmann had a heated Twitter exchange on Tuesday, Aug. 16. So how did the fire again ignite? It all started when Jake made a “Justin-like” remark toward Andi, saying the actress is using him to promote her upcoming movie “Camp Sawi,” a film about girls trying to mend their broken hearts in a camp. “Can’t you promote your film by only entertaining questions about the film or perhaps your career? As much as I’ve tried my best to ignore it, I can’t stay silent when I am conveniently and effortlessly being maligned out of nowhere. Stay positive and real, everyone. And for those who aren’t, try it. Life is too awesome,” Jake said.
PAGE B2
Feeling insulted, Andi quickly fired back by posting a series of tweets slamming Jake’s comments. She said she was just sharing her own experience, recognizing that there is nothing wrong with with staying true to your feelings. Andi’s tweets went on. At one point she called Jake a narcissist and compared him to Talyor
TRANQUIL VILLAGE OF GREENS Montebello, literally means “beautiful mountain,” is one of Don Tim Development Corporation’s newest project in Alfonso, Metro Tagaytay. Village features include multi-purpose clubhouse with balcony, view deck and other facilities, water fountain, kiddie pool, children’s playground, gazebos, basketball court, and amphitheater. Montebello also caters after sales management of property and maintenance, as well as assures the safety and security of the residents within.
of the Rolling Stones, The Beatles said: “They are nice, we will warn them!” They spoke wisely, not knowing what awaited them at the airport. And by the way, also decorat-
Swift for being too “mayabang” or arrogant. But what really sent down Jake reeling was Andi’s response, to which Jake retorted: “no thanks. I’d rather be real than be a relevant sham any day.” It was in 2014 when Andi confirmed that she and Jake ended their relationship. (Alixandra Caole Vila/Philstar.com) ing the occasion were PC troops, motorcycle cops in rowdy red cowboy hats, armored cars, fire trucks, riot squad jeeps and police prowl cars. Their first glimpse of our country prompted one of The Beatles to ask: “Is there a war in the Philippines? Why is everybody armed?”
Shamcey Supsup-Lee: Life after... PAGE B2 baby’s small stomach.” She adds, “I remember on the second day of feeding, I was asking what I could do because it was so painful. And they were telling me to buy a nipple cream.” Then came the sleepless, restless nights. “I thought as an Architecture student, I was used to not sleeping when we would work on projects. But breastfeeding was worse; for a whole week, the longest I slept was three hours. Because I was sleeping with my baby, her slightest movement would wake me up. It was really tough. So, after one
Lilac twins is a one-story unit, making it a senior citizen and PWD (Person with Disabilities)-friendly home. Car can be easily parked on the carport and wheelchairs can be easily rolled in. In just less than P3 million, one can revel the warm and sophisticated lifestyle Lilac Twins has to offer.
It was in 2014 when Andi Eigenmann confirmed that she and Jake Ejercito ended their relationship.
Beatles: Let it be
they were away? Have a holiday. What would they be doing 10 years from now? We don’t even know if we’ll be around tomorrow! When asked what they thought
MEDLEY OF PRIVACY AND FAMILY Lilac Twins is a bungalow duplex--thoughtfully and meticulously designed to have the sophisticated touch of relaxing haven. Surrounded by a lush greenery and verdant landscape, one can freely enjoy the most picturesque and magnificent view of Mt. Batulao. Sitting on a property size of 105 sqm in terms of land area, each half of the ‘twin’ covers a gross floor area of 72.05 sqm. It consists two bedrooms, one bathroom, service or drying area, a veranda, foyer entrance, garden, and a carport. The meticulously designed duplex is built with soundproof common wall, where one doesn’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbor on the other side. Soaked in a calming ambiance of green scenery, Lilac Twins is an ideal retirement haven. Its warm features also make it a perfect place for people looking for a second home.
month, I told my husband, ‘I think I need a pump.’ My ninang told me I have to let the baby latch most of the time to stimulate the milk, so I did that. And I was following on Instagram these pumping moms who were able to exclusively pump even without directly breastfeeding and they were able to maintain their milk supply. I said why don’t I do that? I would ask other moms how long do their babies latch. My friends would say 15 minutes and their babies already feel full. What about my baby, she’d latch for 30 minutes and then cry, then latch again. I couldn’t do anything.
There was a time I was just in bed, they’d bring me breakfast, lunch, dinner.” Breast milk is inarguably the best for babies. From the beginning, Shamcey was really set on breastfeeding her baby and she knew she could do it because she wasn’t tied down to an 8-to-5 office work. This beauty-and-brains magna cum laude Architecture graduate of UP Diliman who topped the national exam for architects with a rating of 86.6 % now runs an architecture firm with her husband. The hardworking young couple also owns a chain of Filipino restaurants.
“We can’t thank everyone at Don Tim enough for taking our plans and dreams from paper to reality in such short space of time - 7 months (May - Dec. 2015)--from the down-payment until the handover of the keys. The quality of the house has been complemented by all who came to our house warming. Any small teething problems were attended to immediately. The marketing team are excellent and couldn’t be more helpful. We would recommend Don Tim to everyone.” -Susan Villasana Trinidad, OFW Healthcare Practitioner from UK and Lilac Twins investor
For more information, visit www.dontim.com.ph, or like them on Facebook at Don Tim Development Corp. For Inquiries, call +632 8439471 | +63 917 8258435 or email dontimco@gmail.com.
B AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Features
The perks of being Liza Soberano By Monet
Lu
SOME people just have it all—beauty, brains and personality—plus the fame and fortune that come with having all three. But if the bearer of “all things beautiful” is as lovely and kind as this lady, I guess the ‘perks’ are thrown at the right person.
Liza Soberano is one of the most sought-after stars of her generation. Even as a total standout among her peers, she is very amiable and her simplicity just makes her even more attractive. I admire her beauty and style; and apparently, I am not the only one. Soberano placed 6th in the 26th annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces 2015. The half-American, half-Fili-
Liza Soberano
pina actress was born in Santa Clara, California to Filipino father John Castillo Soberano and American mother Jacquelyn Elizabeth Hanley. She moved to the Philippines at the age of 10 to be with her father and relatives. She started as a print ad model at age 12 and was discovered by a talent scout when she was 13. Soberano received her first leading role in the romantic comedy television series “Forevermore” in 2014 alongside Enrique Gil. The “Serena Marquesa” of Dolce Amore After the success of “Forevermore,” which birthed the loveteam, “LizQuen” (Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil), Soberano graces the TV screens again as she plays the role of Serena Marquesa in the top-rated primetime series, “Dolce Amore.” Soberano plays the Filipina who was adopted by a rich Italian man as an infant. Despite being raised as a ‘princess,’ she longs for a simple life, which her adopted mother disapproves. In an attempt to escape her arranged marriage to her best friend, she travels to the Philippines to search for a young billionaire who can save her family’s company. While staying in the Philippines, she meets Tenten (played by Enrique Gil) by accident. He soon reveals that he was her childhood pen-pal. The plot of “Dolce Amore” is the opposite of what “Forevermore” had. In “Forevermore,”
their roles were reversed: Gil played the son of rich hoteliers, while Soberano came from a strawberry-farming family. “Dolce Amore” is now on its third season and is set to end in three weeks. “LIZ” in the LizQuen loveteam Not only is LizQuen one of the most popular love teams today, they also have the chemistry every tandem dream of. Soberano and Gil were already friends before they got paired up by their TV network. Incidentally, they have the same handler at Star Magic, which brought them even closer. As their friendship got “deeper and better,” according to Gil, their chemistry became more real on and off screen. While Gil has openly admitted his intentions of courting Soberano, they both agree that being friends for now is better for them professionally and personally. Their “status” may have been interpreted as an ‘open door’ by Soberano’s admirers. Just recently, Grammy-nominated performer Charlie Puth admitted to having a crush on Soberano, as he talks about her during his concert. Puth invited Soberano to his concert but the latter wasn’t able to make it. Last January, British pop band The Vamps lead guitarist James McVey gave a special shoutout to the Filipino actress. McVey told ABS-CBN News in an interview, “Liza, if you’re watching, I’ll sing to you tomorrow at the show.” PAGE B5
The Global Kababayan G. TönGi Monday, August 22 - We recently launched the Filipino Food Series, where we feature Filipino cuisine around the Los Angeles metro area. Our next feature is on Café 86, located in downtown Pasadena. Tuesday, August 23 - Let’s meet the Chaaste family market and know more about the restaurant, Lala’s Kitchen. Wednesday, August 24 - Midweek News Updates from the
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Monet Salon’s bridal beauty advice BEING a bride is one of the most important moments in a woman’s life. Whether simple or grand, a wedding always takes a huge amount of work, with planning and preparation. Most of the time the couple is overwhelmed with stress and worry. I dedicate this to the future brides, so that all of you can have a pleasant wedding experience through my bridal beauty tips. Allow me to count the reasons. One, who needs the added stress? On your special day, do you really want to deal with blending colors and uncooperative hair when there are family and friends who need entertaining? Two, hiring a stylist comes with all the special effects. If you have chosen wisely, the stylist will come with all the cutting edge tools to glam you up. I always come overprepared with an entire suitcase containing all the materials I will need for a makeover. As professional makeup artists, we make sure to stock up on brands and colors that are in vogue as well as classic shades that never go out of style. Three, a professional stylist can execute a glamorous look you want. But I have to say that this will depend highly on how clearly you have communicated your vision to the stylist. This is why I always recommend a consultation session before the special day. There are clients whose minds are set on a certain look without taking into consideration what the stylist has to work with. I believe achieving the best look is always a collaboration between the client and the stylist. Most of the time, the heavy weight rests on the stylist because, after all, we are the professionals and we know what works based on experience. My advice to clients, don’t be afraid to express your vision. It’s your big moment! Be bold, be clear, but don’t forget to be kind as well. A pleasant rapport with your stylist will make things run smoother and faster. Convenience is a major reason to hire a stylist. I always offer my clients the option to either go on location (to do the style service where the event is going to be) or it can also be at the salon. There’s a surcharge for on-location service but for the convenience of our busy clients, the price is very reasonable. Confidence is another important reason to hire a professional stylist for your special occasion.
We can recommend make-up and hairstyles that will best suit your face shape, your skin tone and your personality. I’ve personally been applying the Velvet make-up brush paint on my latest clients and have received rave reviews! This is a brush paint on high-definition make-up that provides impressive coverage and flawless results. The Velvet technique also has staying power, more than regular makeup. The price for this make-up application is more than regular make-up but also quite reasonable for the quality you get. In terms of choosing a makeup style, the trends vary. Our “Perfect Glow” is the naturallooking make-up. This doesn’t mean “everyday” or “washed out” make-up, however. I define natural-looking make-up as a look that emphasizes natural features and skin glow. When done properly, the facial complexion radiates with the clever use of neutral tones. It’s ethereal, elegant and pure. The “Dazzling Diva” is the version of smokey eyes make-up a for more dramatic look. As for the hairdo, there’s a variety of choices depending on the wedding theme, gown, body and face shape. The “Glam 40s” is half up, half down with very big and soft waves. For a more relaxed look, the Messy Bun is great or the Regal Up-do are some of the options brides can choose from. It’s advisable to plan ahead when booking a stylist. You can talk to the stylist about your vision and that the stylist, in turn, has the range and experience to pull it off. At Monet Salon, we reward clients who plan ahead. If you book us for bridal make-up service three months in advance, we offer a special discount. Call us at 213-216-4923 or go to www. monetsalon.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Programming of Kababayan Today, August 22- 26, 2016 Asian Journal and Mia Mcleod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice. UCLA filmmaker Shawn Semana gives us details about his show film, “Got It Maid.” Details of the short film by UCLA Film maker Shawn Semana Thursday, August 25 - Kat Iniba shares with us the specials from Goldilocks in Southern California. We will also feature LA Rose Café as part of our Filipino Food Series. Friday, August 26 - Get to
know the Mama Bares and learn more details on their show at the East West Players in downtown Los Angeles. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.
Charina Vergara recognized globally as a Filipina of Distinction Filipina Leadership Global Summit and Gala Awards Ceremony August 21-24 in Cebu, Philippines at Shangri-La Mactan Resort WALNUT — Charina Vergara, Marketing Manager of Island Pacific Supermarket was selected Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World (Global FWN100) by the Filipina Women’s Network. The Global FWN100 Award recognizes 100 women of Philippine ancestry who are changing the face of leadership in the global workplace, having reached status for outstanding work in their respective fields and are recognized for their achievement and contributions to society, femtorship and legacy. Charina was selected from an outstanding field of nominees from around the world. Charina is being honored with the BUILDER AWARD CATEGORY. Builders have demonstrated exceptional business impact at a large workplace environment; displaying deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with other corporations and non profit organizations on behalf of her own organization; demonstrates high potential and skill with measurable results at a government agency, or organization in the public and private sectors. “Buildership” is about building better organizations, leading broken organizations to adjust , repair, and re-align. “The Global FWN100 women are dynamic entrepreneurs, practitioners, behind-the-scene lead-
ers, community, government and corporate managers and executives who have moved through the ranks in large organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies. They are inspiring examples of women doing extraordinary work who will motivate our youth and future leaders,” said Josephine Romero, Chair of the Global FWN100 Worldwide Search and Selection Committee. “They were selected based on the size and scope of their positions, influence in their industries and their communities, board affiliations and other leadership roles.” The Global FWN100 Award is a working recognition award with a meaningful purpose and FWN’s 2020 Vision: a Filipina woman leader in every sector of the global economy by 2020. The awardees are asked to re-invent themselves by paying forward, femtoring a young Filipina woman and bring her to the Filipina Leadership Global Summit on August 21-24, 2016 in Cebu, Philippines at the Shangri-La Mactan. Charina is now a partner in helping FWN develop the Filipina community’s pipeline of qualified leaders to increase the odds that some will rise to the “president” position in all sectors of the global economy, “ added Marily Mondejar, FWN’s Founder & CEO. “We gather all these amazing women
Island Pacific Supermarket’s Charina Vergara
at the Filipina Summit to inspire each other and create synergy. We interview each awardee so that their collective stories of how they disrupted their professional and personal lives will be part the largest recorded diaspora in PAGE B5
Features
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 20-23, 2016
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A look inside Wi Spa’s sauna rooms
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T Wi Spa in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, it’s impossible to ever be bored or feel unrelaxed.
For a $25 fee, guests gain entrance to the multi-level, state-of-the-art facility, which houses pools, a fitness room, a restaurant, sleeping rooms and various saunas. Once you enter, you are given a wrist watch as a locker key and a yellow t-shirt and shorts, which are to be worn on the communal co-ed floor. On the gender-specific floors, however, clothing is not allowed for most amenities. (It’s important to note that Korean spas aren’t exactly the place for modesty.) There are many options to unwind at Wi — from getting one of the spa treatments to indulging in a hearty Korean meal — but a trip is not complete without spending time inside the five sauna rooms located on the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which means “bathhouse” in Korean). Saunas have long been touted for their health and wellness benefits, including stress relief, detoxification, clearer skin and weight loss. The five-themed rooms — Bulgama, Salt, Clay, Jade
and Ice — each have their own healing powers. Spending a few minutes making the rounds at each of them can do wonders for your body. (You can ask the front desk for more information about the numerous benefits.) Resembling a ceramic brick oven, the Bulgama is the hottest among them, as it is set to 231 degrees. This you’ll notice immediately because you’ll be dripping sweat upon entering. It’s recommended to spend between 10 to 15 minutes inside to
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let the toxins sweat out the body and to loosen the muscles. Don’t forget to come in equipped with a towel because lying down on the wooden floor can get unbearable without some sort of protection. Once you leave, it’s essential to rehydrate before moving on to the next room. In the Salt room, the minerals are said to help blood circulation and toxin excretion within the body. Those who use this room regularly boast about having more radiant skin, more energy
and a stronger immune system. Inside the Clay sauna, it is like jumping into a heated ball pit. To get the maximum benefits, such as anti-aging and a faster metabolism, you can bury yourself in the clay balls and close your eyes for a brief meditation. The longer you stay, the more you’ll feel the heat. The Jade sauna — which is named that because the walls are lined with the stone — is said to increase brain activity, relieve any tension and balance hormones. Lastly, many Wi Spa-goers like to end the sauna tour with the Ice room. Though it is not overly freezing inside, it helps to cool down the body’s temperature and improve circulation. Even if you intend to stay for an hour or the entire day or want to go in during at middle of the night, Wi Spa is open 24 hours, ready to take you in for your personal wellness journey. (AJPress) Wi Spa is located at 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057 (on the corner of Rampart Blvd). Visit http://www. wispausa.com/ for more details on spa services and specials.
Karylle lands role in upcoming Singapore TV series KARYLLE is taking her career to new heights as she takes on a daring role as a pole dancer in Singapore TV Series “Private Investigator.” Karylle’s manager Arnold Vegafria posted some photos on Instagram to give Karylle’s fans a sneak peek of her part in the crime thriller series. Early this August, Karylle formally left the show “It’s Showtime,” which she co-hosted alongside Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis. “Mami-miss ko ang ‘It’s Showtime’ family kasi dito ako natuto to dream big. Tulad nga nung sabi nila, dito talaga ako nagumpisa mangarap para sa sarili ko. Ang Filipino, world- Karylle all dolled up for her “pole dance” role in the upcoming Singapore TV series. class athletes, world-class talThis was not the first time Musical,” an international musients, so kailangan natin i-de- Karylle worked on a project cal TV series drama aired in over velop iyan,” she said as she bade outside the Philippines. In 2011, 12 countries in Asia. (Alixandra goodbye to her fans. Karylle starred in “The Kitchen Caole Vila/Philstar.com)
Charina Vergara recognized... PAGE B4 modern times.” “The summit’s theme this year is Influence. Accelerate. Action. Seeing all the Awardees on stage during the gala awards ceremony assures me that the future of our young Pinay sisters is solid,” said Susie Quesada, President of Ramar Foods and FWN President. “Awardees often share this inspiring evening with their mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sons, spouses, partners, young women and men,
mentors and bosses from their organizations.” The Filipina Summit’s aspirational sessions include “Smart. Young. Unintimidated.Next Generation Leaders.Yes.We.Are., Make Me A Filipina Millionaire, Make Me A Filipina CEO. The popular ‘Pinay Speed Femtoring’ with selected 100 young Filipina professionals who will meet and learn from the Global FWN100 awardees is much awaited. Topic sessions include: STEM, Economic Empowerment, Health
and Well Being, Violence Against Women, Entrepreneurship Breakthroughs. Sponsors who have partnered to-date with FWN are Wells Fargo, AT&T, Seven Seven Corporate Group, Ramar Foods International, and 5M. To sponsor the Filipina Leadership Summit or attend the gala awards ceremony, go to http://www.filipinasummit. org/register More info: http://www.filipinasummit.org (Advertising Supplement)
The perks of being Liza...
PAGE B4 The newest Maybelline girl Bold, empowered, and confident – this is what Maybelline New York is all about. Qualities you can certainly find in Liza Soberano which makes her the perfect fit for Maybelline. On August 3, Maybelline New York officially announced their newest endorser. This marks Soberano’s first global beauty label endorsement. She officially joins the ranks of Gigi Hadid, Jourdan Dunn, Emily Didonato, and more. “I believe that girls should be confident innately, and makeup
helps because it gives them the extra boost that they need,” shares Liza, who reveals that confidence is her ultimate beauty secret. Through the years, Liza has risen to become one of the most iconic teen stars in the Philippine industry with contracts and starring roles she can barely count. As the perks of being Liza Soberano continues to pile up, she never stops showing her gratitude and love to her fans and supporters. And while being a “Serena,” “Liz” and Maybelline Girl comes with great responsibility, it certainly comes with so much fun that
she ought to enjoy more than anyone. To Liza, more blessings to you. Keep up the good work, you make us all proud! *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning 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
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B AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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COMMUNITY Journal
Your Immigration Solution GreGory J. Boult and nancy Miller APPLYING for naturalization (citizenship) is the final step in the immigration process for many immigrants. While the general requirements to establish eligibility for naturalization appear straightforward, they often are not. Many naturalization applicants are surprised when their applications are denied. The immigration laws and regulations which control eligibility for naturalization are littered with traps and pitfalls which the unsuspecting applicant may not recognize until it is too late. All applicants for naturalization must establish that they are persons of good moral character during a prescribed period of time prior to submitting their applications (one, three or five years, depending on what grounds one is applying under). While the immigration laws itemize specific acts which preclude an applicant from establishing good moral character, this list is not exclusive – there are many other acts which may hinder or prevent a good moral character finding. In addition, while good moral character must be established for a prescribed period of time prior to submitting an application, acts outside of the prescribed period can be considered in determining an applicant’s good moral character. Many acts that one might not think of as evidencing bad moral character may nevertheless be considered in making a good moral character determination. One such act is the willful failure to pay support for dependents. For instance, it is extremely difficult to establish good moral character when one is not complying with a child support order. Even the failure to support a dependent without an underlying court order can prove problematic. Another act, which is often a surprise to many applicants, is engaging in an extramarital af-
Am I eligible to naturalize? Avoiding the pitfalls to becoming a US citizen fair which tended to destroy an existing marriage. This issue often arises when an applicant had a child outside of a prior marriage. Other acts which may result in the delay or the denial of an application for naturalization include the submission of fraudulent or improperly prepared income tax returns. Tax returns often come under scrutiny because individuals file under the incorrect category, claim ineligible dependents, or fail to report all of their earnings. In some instances, even the receipt of public assistance can cause the delay or denial of an application for naturalization. Criminal convictions are often an issue in establishing an applicant’s good moral character. While a disqualifying criminal conviction in the prescribed period of good moral character will automatically render an individual ineligible for naturalization, a disqualifying criminal offense outside of the prescribed period can cause an application for naturalization to be denied. The government is afforded broad discretion to examine otherwise non-disqualifying criminal convictions outside the prescribed period to determine if the underlying facts warrant a favorable finding of good moral character. Therefore, as a result, an analysis of good moral character extends far beyond the prescribed period. These issues may not result in an au-
tomatic denial but they must be adequately explained. Other pitfalls and traps also lurk for the unsuspecting applicant. One common example is the Selective Service requirement which directs all male citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States who are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six to register with the government. Unfortunately, many lawful permanent residents fail to register. As a result, many of these individuals are compelled to wait until five years after they turn twenty-six before they are eligible to apply for naturalization. Others may face the daunting, although not impossible, task of legally justifying their failure to register. While certain acts may automatically disqualify an individual from eligibility for naturalization, the government’s very broad discretion spans many acts which most applicants never realize could negatively affect their applications. In order to insure that no unnecessary delays, or a denial, are encountered, each prospective applicant should obtain a clear and thorough understanding of not only the process of applying for naturalization, but also the potential pitfalls and traps which must be avoided to insure the timely success of their application. An experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney will advise
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Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS THE USCIS announced the final rule expanding the existing provisional waiver to allow certain family members of US Citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for the provisional waiver of unlawful presence. 8 CFR Parts 103 and 212. The final rule goes on effect on August 29, 2016. Prior to this expanded rule, only immediate relatives of US Citizens were eligible to request provisional waiver of unlawful presence before departing the United States for the processing of their immigrant visas. This was a limited to only a subset of all individuals statutorily qualified to request a waiver of unlawful presence. The final rule expanding the provisional waiver of unlawful presence makes eligibility for the provisional waiver available to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for a waiver of the unlawful presence grounds of inadmissibility. 8 CFR Parts 103 and 212. These individuals are the parents, spouse, and son or daughter of US Citizens and spouse, sons or daughters of lawful permanent residents. The provisional waiver will also extend to the spouses and children who accompany or follow to join principal immigrants. To qualify for a provisional waiver, applicants must estab-
Community Journal
Provisional waiver of unlawful presence expanded to cover more immigrants
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Minding Your Finances
Atty. RAymond BulAon obtain their visa through the US lish that their US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses or parents would experience “extreme hardship” if the applicants are not allowed to return to the United States due to the unlawful presence bar. Applicants must also establish that his or her case warrants a favorable exercise of discretion and meet all other regulatory requirement. Obtaining a conditional approval of a provisional unlawful presence waiver of inadmissibility is particularly helpful for individuals present in the United States without having been inspected and admitted or having been inspected or paroled since they are ineligible to adjust status inside the United States. The provisional waiver would also be helpful to individuals who entered the US under certain non-immigrant visa that has restrictions to adjusting to lawful permanent resident inside the US such as crew men who entered on a C-1/D visa. In addition, this is also helpful to spouse, sons or daughters of lawful permanent residents who overstayed their status while waiting for their visa priority dates to become current. An individual who entered the US on a fiancé k1 visa based on a different US citizen fiancé/spouse will also benefit from the provisional waiver. These individuals would have to
consulate overseas but without an approved provisional waiver, would run the risk of not being able to return to the United States due to the unlawful presence bar. INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(i); 8 USC 1182(a)(9)(B)(i); In addition, the expanded final rules provided for the following: 1) All individuals seeking provisional waivers, including those in removal proceedings before the EOIR must file applications for provisional waivers with USCIS. 2) Individuals are allowed to apply for provisional waivers even if USCIS has reason to believe that the individual may be subject to other grounds of inadmissibility. 3) Eliminated the proposal for temporal limitations that would have restricted eligibility for provisional waivers based on DOS visa interview scheduling. 4) Allows individuals with final orders of removal, exclusion, or deportation to be eligible for provisional waivers provided that the individual have already applied for, and USCIS has approved, an Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal, Form I-212. However, an individual will be ineligible for a provisional waiver if ICE or CBP, after service of notice under 8 CFR 241.8, has reinstated the removal, deportation, or exclusion order prior to the individual filing the provisional waiver or while the provisional waiver application is pending. ***
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, nonspecific 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)
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Be aware, however, that your income and expenses have a lot to do with which chapter you will be able to file because the courts do consider your ability to pay when you’re applying for debt relief. For starters, below are some of the basic things you need to know. Under Chapter 7, you receive a fresh start by having most debts wiped out (“discharged”). This includes most unsecured debt except student loans, alimony, child support, most taxes and debts incurred by fraud. If you have non-exempt assets, you may possibly have to sell them in order to pay creditors. However, most filers do not. For example, almost 100% of my clients keep everything and lose nothing at all by filing Chapter 7. Under Chapter 13, you must
Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
THE IRS issued new guidance requiring individuals with an interest in a “specified foreign financial asset” to attach a disclosure statement to your income tax return for any year in which the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds $50,000. Use new form Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) starting in 2011. Q. What is a financial account? A. A “financial account” includes: 1. Bank, securities, securities derivatives or other financial instruments accounts. 2. Savings, demand, checking, deposit or any other account maintained with a financial institution. 3. Accounts in which the assets are held in a commingled fund including mutual funds Q. Is an FBAR required for ac-
Bankruptcy: Should you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? still pay off all or some of your debts over a 3-5 year period. Priority debts must be paid in full while unsecured debts are paid either a percentage or in full, depending on how much you can afford. The discharge of debt under Chapter 7 usually occurs within 5 months, as opposed to the 3-5 year repayment plan under Chapter 13. Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years while Chapter 13 stays on it for 7 yearsboth from the date of filing. Most people are able to rebuild their credit, however, much sooner than 7-10 years from their bankruptcy case filing date by timely paying debts that are reported to the major credit bureaus. There is no limit on the amount of debt you may have if you are filing Chapter 7. However, Chapter 13 does have limits for both secured and unsecured debts. The important thing to remember is that not because you want to file Chapter 7 necessarily means that you can do so. Not everyone is eligible. If the court thinks that your income is suf-
ficient to fund a Chapter 13 repayment plan, then your Chapter 7 petition will be denied. Under current law, you can only file a Chapter 7 once every 8 years so if you’ve had a recent bankruptcy and you find yourself in debt again, you may not have a choice but to file a Chapter 13. Your bankruptcy attorney can review all relevant dates and advise you what is possible and best for your situation. If you need help in getting your finances back on track, call my office at 866-477-7772 to schedule a free confidential consultation. Since 1998, I have represented more than 5,000 clients in bankruptcy. Let me help you get out of debt once and for all. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) #2: Financial accounts counts maintained with financial institutions located in a foreign country if the accounts hold noncash assets, such as gold or silver? A. Yes. An account with a financial institution that is located in a foreign country is a financial account for FBAR purposes whether the account holds cash or non-monetary assets. Q. If you own three foreign financial accounts with maximum account balances of $100, $12,000 and $3,000. Do you have to file an FBAR? Do you have to report all three accounts? A. Yes, because the aggregate value of foreign financial accounts X, Y and Z is $15,100. You must report all three X, Y and Z even though two accounts have values below $10,000. Q. If you own two foreign financial accounts with account balances of $3,000 and $8,000, do you have to file an FBAR? Which accounts must be reported? A. All three accounts, even
though no single account is over $10,000, because the aggregate value of accounts A, B and C is over $10,000. Q. Is an FBAR required if the account does not generate interest or dividend income? A. Yes, you must file FBAR whether or not the foreign account generates any income. Q. Does the term “other authority over a financial account” mean that a person, who has the power to direct how an account is invested but who cannot make disbursements to the accounts, has to file an FBAR? A. No, an FBAR is not required because the person has no power of disposition of money in the account. Q. What are the exceptions to the FBAR filing requirement? A. Accounts in U.S. military banking facilities and an officer or employee of a bank if the officer or employee has no personal financial interest in the account.
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Community Journal
How to obtain waiver for immigration fraud and misrepresentation
Further, to be eligible to file IF you are an applicant for an for this type of waiver, the folimmigration visa, K visa, or V lowing are required: non-immigrant visa, your appli(1) the qualifying U.S. citizen cation may be denied if you are or permanent resident relative found inadmissible under cer(spouse or parent only) or the tain circumstances. In this case, K-1 visa petitioner would expeyou may file an application for rience extreme hardship if the waiver for pacific grounds, such alien applicant is denied admisas health-related grounds of insion, or admissibility, certain criminal (2) The alien applicant is a grounds of inadmissibility, or imVAWA self-petitioner and his migrant fraud and misrepresenUS citizen, lawful permanent tation. resident, or qualified parent or A waiver is a request by the child would experience hardalien applicant to the US govship if the alien applicant is deernment, through the USCIS, Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos nied admission. for “forgiveness” for the ground Remember, as stated above, there are different that the alien applicant has been found inadmissible so he can be granted the visa or green card grounds of inadmissibility, and the waiver that is despite of that ground. For instance, X, an alien granted will only apply to the ground/s of inadmarried Y, a US citizen. During his adjustment of missibility stated in the application. It is therefore status interview (or visa interview at a US Embassy important to apply for all the grounds of inadmisor Consulate abroad), X was found to be inadmis- sibility that pertain to you. Just make sure you are sible because he previously used a passport under eligible for the other grounds of inadmissibility as a different name upon entry in the US. In this case, well. In succeeding articles, I will discuss the other the only way he can be issued a green card is by types of waiver. If you are contemplating of filing any waiver apgetting an approved waiver application for fraud or plication or any immigration petition for that matmisrepresentation. Under Section 212(a) (6) (C) (i) of the Immigra- ter, it is advisable to seek the counsel of an imtion and Naturalization Act, “(a)ny alien who, by migration lawyer to guide you on the intricacies of fraud or willfully misrepresenting a material fact, filing for such a petition. seeks to procure (or has sought to procure or has *** procured) a visa, other documentation, or admis- Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of sion into the United States or other benefit provid- California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule ed under this Act is inadmissible.” Please note that for a free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) there must be a finding that: (1) the alien applicant 284-5984 or (626) 329-8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 must have committed fraud or misrepresentation, Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, CA 90010. (2) the misrepresentation must have been done *** willfully, (3) the fact was material, and (4) that act Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes was done to procure a visa, other documentation legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client or admission to the US or any other benefit. The relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or requirements under the provision seem straight- prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. forward enough but this specific ground of inad- We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under missibility is very complicated at times. (Advertising Supplement) the Bankruptcy Code.
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ANCOP Walk New Jersey The ANCOP Walk brings together hundreds of participants across the U.S. and North America, walking together to help the poor in the Philippines and third world countries. ANCOP Foundation USA is a Christian based organization founded by the Couples for Christ which helps the very poor in the Philippines and other countries by providing support to select organizations that work for the poor. Current projects focus on child education sponsorship programs and values formation. Walkers’ participation and generosity in the ANCOP Walk will help provide quality education to children in poor communities. The organization serves the poor from all walks of life regardless of faith and denomination. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. To register, please visit www.ancopusawalk.org; the registration fee is $15. For more information, please contact Jon Teves at jteves92@yahoo.com or Fernando Silva at frsilva99@gmail.com.
AU G U ST 27
St. Margaret Mary Parish Luau The St. Margaret Mary Parish will celebrate their Annual Luau on August 27 at the SMM Parish Hall on 12686 Central Ave., Chino, California. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Duo. For more information, please call SMM Filipino Ministry President - (909) 315-9812, Adel Rellora.
SEPTEMBER 1
Startup Business Expo Tour (with Tagalog translation) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to the 2016 Startup Business Expo Tour. The series of events is intended to help startups, small businesses, entertainment and production companies, food services, event planners, home-based businesses, entrepreneurs, fashion & beauty businesses, e-commerce, accounting services, cleaning services, consultants, childcare and more! Topics include: starting a business in LA, predicting your financial future, choosing a legal entity & access to capital. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6313 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Ste. 2140, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The event is FREE & open to the public. There will also be free food & refreshments for participants. To RSVP, please visit www.startuptourla.com.
SEPTEMBER 3
Filipino Association of Leisure World Annual “Luau” The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold its Annual Hawaiian Luau at the LW Hall (1232 Golden Rain Rd. Seal Beach, California) on Saturday, Sept. 3. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. Please call the president of the association, Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209 for other related questions.
S E P T E M B E R 9 -1 7
42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept. 17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.
SEPTEMBER 10
17th annual Asian Small Business Expo The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. Admission to the expo is FREE! It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Almansor Court Banquet & Conference Center, 700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801. To register, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-asiansmall-business-expo-tickets-23824155691. Walk-ins are also welcome on the day of the expo. For more information, please visit www.apisbp.org.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 20-23, 2016
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I WORK as a nurse at a hospital that has a strict policy of no unapproved overtime, and no going on breaks unless we are relieved by another nurse. We are forced to skip our breaks if there is no reliever (which happens a lot because we are often understaffed). As for overtime, we don’t even ask for approval anymore since we risk being written up for “too much overtime.” We just clock out and go back to work to finish our charts. I recently complained to our supervisor but was told that if I “voluntarily” skip breaks or work off the clock, this is not the hospital’s problem. This seems unfair. Do we have remedies? A: Yes. You should be paid for the extra hours you worked even if they are “off the clock.” If these extra hours go beyond 8 hours per day, then you are entitled to the overtime rate of 1½ times your regular rate for any work in excess of 8 hours per day or two times your regular rate for any work beyond 12 hours per day. Also, you should be paid a onehour premium for any missed lunch break, and another one hour-premium for any missed rest break. A disturbing fact in your inquiry is that the employer considered your missed breaks and off-the-clock work “voluntary.” In California, there are clear laws for volunteers and what constitutes “voluntary work.” First of all, where there is an employment relationship between a worker and a company, that worker cannot be treated as an unpaid volunteer when performing her/his regular work for the employer during the employee’s work period.
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Should employees who ‘volunteer’ to work off-the-clock be paid? In order to qualify as “volunteers” the persons must perform services for a civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation. Moreover, they must offer their services freely and without direct or indirect pressure or coercion. Finally, to qualify for volunteer services, the services must not be the same type of services the employee is employed to perform for the employer, and such volunteer work must take place outside the employee’s normal working hours. California’s Court of Appeal clarified this issue about employees who “voluntarily” skip breaks or work off-the-clock: Valerie Alberts and her fellow nursing staff at two acute care psychiatric hospitals owned and operated by Aurora Behavioral Health Care (the employer), filed a class action against their employer claiming unpaid wages. The employees claimed that the employer intentionally understaffed its hospitals but nevertheless required its nursing staff to remain at their posts and monitor patients unless relieved, resulting in employees being denied meal and rest breaks, which the employer failed to pay for as required by California law. The employer also required employees to complete assignments before leaving at the end of a shift, but discouraged or denied requests for overtime compensation and instructed employees to finish outstanding tasks off-the-clock. The employer asked the court not to grant class action status to the case, citing one of its reasons as being that the employees “voluntarily” skipped their breaks or “voluntarily” worked off-the-
clock. The Court of Appeal rejected the employer’s position, stating that a “voluntary” act is an act being “unconstrained by interference; not impelled by outside influence.” The employer has instituted policies that limit its employees’ freedom to take breaks, such as chronic understaffing, making patient safety the “number one priority,” having “zero tolerance” for staff who take a break without first being relieved, and the nurses’ code of ethics, which requires that a nurse’s “primary commitment” be to the patient. These policies exploit a reasonable nurse’s ethical obligations, making missed breaks mandatory, not voluntary. The court further noted that even if there is evidence that some employees voluntarily worked uncompensated overtime, such a “choice” is not permitted under California law. A nonexempt employee (like the nursing staff in this case) may not lawfully volunteer to work off-the-clock without compensation. The law requires payment for “all hours worked,” and overtime pay for “all hours worked” in excess of a 40-hour workweek. *** 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) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum. (Advertising Supplement)
Am I eligible to naturalize? Avoiding the… PAGE C1 t
an individual of his or her eligibility for naturalization, identify the prospective pitfalls and traps in the applicant’s case, and determine how to effectively overcome these negative aspects of the case. Of course, the experienced attorney also represents the applicant through all stages of the naturalization process to ensure that his or her legal rights
are protected and preserved. While the general requirements to establish eligibility for naturalization may appear straightforward, prospective applicants must be aware that ‘the devil is in the detail.’ *** 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)
C AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 55 and single. He appears to have no problems to worry about. He is self-employed and makes about $5K monthly teaching people a special skill. He has no dependents. He owns a house that has no equity. The house is worth $400K but he owes $420K on it. He has not paid the mortgage for at least 3 years and has massive arrears on his mortgage of $88K. He has applied several times for loan modification. Unfortunately, all attempts to modify were denied by the bank. I would surmise that his income is not easily verifiable. He filed another loan modification package three months ago (looks like he won’t take no for an answer) and the bank has yet to respond. Despite his pending loan modification request, the bank proceeded with a notice of default to start the foreclosure
To Live With Faith reverend rodeL g. BALAgtAs MY favorite time of the day is the early morning after I arise from bed and take a shower. I would quietly sit by the window of my living room, take some deep breaths, and feel God’s presence. I would do this exercise for 20 to 30 minutes and then proceed to the prayer hall to say Morning Prayer with seminarians and fellow priests. I find this routine to be a calming experience as I begin the day. I do this exercise not merely to experience peace but to create a space where God and I can enjoy each other’s company. I would imagine him sitting next to me or embracing me with tenderness and love. I also find this form of prayer to be a healing encounter with our merciful God. I share this experience to keep in mind that God calls each one of us to develop a profound friendship with him through prayer. Our daily lives should include intimate moments with him. St. John Eudes, the priest who founded congregations dedicat-
Community Journal
Client seeks Chapter 13 relief for massive default on mortgage Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $19K credit cards
process. As you probably know, the bank is not supposed to proceed with foreclosure if there is a loan modification pending. However, the reality is that most banks don’t follow this law. Why should they? All you have to do is keep on resubmitting a loan modification package after each denial. As a result, the bank will never be able to foreclose on the house and you get to stay in your house without paying the mortgage forever. They’re not that dumb. So, with a week before the foreclosure sale date, he comes to see me because he says he wants to stop the foreclosure. Well, the only sure way to stop the foreclosure is with a Chapter 13. Foreclosure stops upon filing
of the Chapter 13 petition. The default amount gets frozen and client is given 60 months to pay the default in equal monthly installments without interest. However, the current mortgage payment must be resumed a month after the case is filed. I said, “Are you sure? Because your default is $88K and this means that your monthly plan payment to cure the default will be at least $1,466, and you have to resume your regular mortgage payment.” This means that in addition to your regular mortgage payment, you have to produce another $1,466 to save your house from foreclosure. Considering that the house has no equity isn’t it more productive to just abandon the house
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We belong to Him ed to improving priestly formation, reminds us of this intimacy with God in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote these poetic words: “I ask you to consider that our Lord Jesus Christ is your true head and that you are a member of his body. He belongs to you as the head belongs to the body. All that is his is yours: breath, heart, body, soul and all his faculties… He belongs to you, but more than that, he longs to be in you, living and ruling in you, as the head lives and rules in the body. He desires that whatever is in him may live and rule in you: his breath in your breath, his heart in your heart, all the faculties of his soul in the faculties of your soul, so that these words may be fulfilled in you: Glorify God and bear him in your body, that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in you… You must, then, have one breath with him, one soul, one life, one will, one mind, one heart. And he must be your breath, heart, love, life, your all.” As we go through life making a living, fulfilling our responsibilities, and planning our future, let’s be conscious of this calling to be
in intimate relationship with God. After all, our ultimate destiny is to be eternally with him. God’s joy is to experience his love and to feel his presence every day of our lives. For it’s what would free us from anxiety, anguish, and desolation. God’s joy is that we remain in his love and peace. It would always be our constant challenge to keep prayerful moments with God and feel his presence. But if we can do it even for just a few minutes at the beginning of the day, our hearts would continue to long for these times of union with God when he affirms us and assure us of his love, mercy, strength and protection. *** 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 (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate 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.
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Will my divorce reduce my wait time for a green card? Dear Attorney Tan, I AM a Filipino living in Los Angeles. I am a US Citizen who filed an immigrant petition for my adult son in June 2005. At the time when the petition was filed, my son was unmarried and 25 years old. In 2010, my son became married. Due to difficulties in his marriage, his wife is presently in the process of obtaining a divorce in Nevada. Is my son eligible for a green card? — C.P. Answer: Dear C.P., When you filed the immigrant petition in June 2005, your son was classified under the “First Preference” category, as an unmarried adult son of a US citizen. As a preference category relative, your son has to wait for a visa number to become available before he could obtain an immigrant visa or adjust status to permanent residence. The wait time for visa number availability varies, depending on preference category. If an unmarried adult son or daughter beneficiary is married before an immigrant visa or green card is issued (i.e. while waiting for a visa number to become available), the beneficiary’s petition automatically converts from a “First Preference” petition to a “Third Preference” petition--a petition for a married son or daughter of a US Citizen. In your case, when your son married in 2010, the petition that you filed for your son automatically converted to a “Third Preference” petition. As a “Third Preference” beneficiary, your son became subject to a longer wait time to obtain an immigrant visa or green card, compared to when he was classified under the “First Preference” category prior to marriage. If a “Third Preference” beneficiary (married son or daughter of US Citizen) becomes widowed or divorced, the petition filed on his behalf automatically converts to the “First Preference” category. In your case, once your son gets divorced, the Petition that you filed in June 2005 automatically converts back to “First Preference” category. With the automatic conversion, the wait time for a beneficiary is significantly lesser. Under the September 2016 visa bulletin, immigrant visa and green card applications are being processed for “First Preference” petitions that were filed July 1, 2005 or earlier. For “Third Preference” petitions, visa and green card applications are being processed for petitions that were filed on or before June 15, 1994. Your son would be eligible to apply for a green card immediately upon divorce since USCIS is presently processing green card applications based on petitions filed July 1, 2005 or earlier for those in the “First Preference” category. Until he gets a divorce, as a “Third Preference” beneficiary, your son is subject to an approximate wait time of 11 years before he can get his green card. He would have to wait until USCIS advances the date for the Third Preference category from June 15, 1994 to the date on which you filed the petition for your son (June 2005). P.S. I warn against getting a “quick divorce” in Nevada if neither your son nor daughter-in-law is a resident there. There are certain residency requirements for a valid divorce decree in Nevada. Your son will have to present a valid divorce decree to USCIS to show that he is unmarried, and properly classified under the “First Preference.” *** 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)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) #2… PAGE C2 t
Q. Does more than one FBAR form need to be filed for a husband and wife owning a joint account? A. No, one is enough provided that the names and Social Security numbers of the joint owners are fully disclosed. Q. How long should account
holders retain records of the for- Corporation in Pasadena, California. eign accounts? *** A. Retain your records for a He has 50 years of experience in defending period of five years. taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE *** 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
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. (Advertising Supplement)
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Community Journal
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 20-23, 2016
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Ms. Pinky de Leon shares her testimony
A Dash of Salt and Pepper (A simple thought of inspiration with biblical encouragement) by Henjie Pimenta
Mangatarem Association to hold its 33rd anniversary & induction DANNY P. Tejada, will be formally sworn-in as president of Association of Mangatarem Overseas Residents (AMOR) of Southern California at the Holiday Inn-La Mirada on Sept. 24. The induction coincides with the association’s 33rd anniversary celebration , grand reunion and coronation of Miss AMOR of Southern California, Alyssa Lauren Veloria Soto. Miss Soto is also the current Miss Pangasinan BrotherhoodUSA. She succeeds Sheila Tejada, an aspiring movie and stage actress. The festivities will take place from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tejada, a registered nurse with the Los Angeles County, will succeed Carlos Sebastian who was the president from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014. AMOR was established on Jan. 29, 1983 in the City of Cerritos with this author as its founding president. Other presidents who followed him include Tommy Cruz, Aurora Sadorra, Camilo M. Escano, Gil B. Mislang, Minda E. Papilla, Caesar S. Natividad, Esq., Mel Oxciano, Esq., Leoncio D. Dumlao and Carlos Sebastian. In my inaugural theme and address, which will be reprised during this event, I exhorted my kabaleyans then, “Let’s not forget our roots. We cannot just uproot to roots that bind us together no matter how well-off or comfortable we are in our adopted country that welcomed, embraced and nurtured us.” Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA Lino F. Caringal, Jr. will be the inducting officer while immediate past President Eddie C. Ferrer will be the guest speaker. Proceeds of this gala night are
earmarked for the organization’s scholarship fund and other projects benefiting the town of Mangatarem. Its current scholar in partnership with Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA is Noemi V. Balleser, a daughter of a farmer and plain housewife, is now pursuing an electronic communications engineering degree at the University of Pangasinan. Other projects that were implemented by AMOR of Southern California were the construction of a male and female restrooms at the town’s plaza auditorium, putting up of a children’s playground, rehabilitation of a crumbling classroom ceiling of the town’s central school, supplementary scholarship grants to college-bound students from both Mangatarem National High School and Mangatarem Catholic School. Officers to be sworn-in include Mercury E. Dela Fuente (executive vice president), Milton Seril (vice president-Los Angeles County); Benjie Gamboa (vice president, Orange County), Roger Santos (vice president, Ventura County), Nora Tejada (secretary), Martina C. Lindl (assistant secretary), Nanie D. Martinez (treasurer), Benny E. Aquino (assistant treasurer), Araceli F. Gamboa and Mila H. Seril (auditors), Prudencio Cagampan and Flor Zordilla (marshalls), Uranos M. Estrada (business manager), lawyers Romben E. Aquino and Mel G. Oxciano (legal counsels); Leoncio D. Dumlao (board chairman), Bernie Martinez (board vice chairman), Romy Aquino, Dedima D. Aranas, Jun Asperin, Teresa Asperin, Wilma Cagampan, Noemi V. Dumlao, Virginia M. Eriguel, Eugenia M. Estrada and Roger Felix. (board mem-
25th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) THE Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is proud to announce the date & venue for the anticipated Silver Anniversary edition of its annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. FPAC 25, the 25th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), will take place Saturday, October 8 at the beautiful Echo Park Lake. Admission is FREE. The popular festival, the City of Los Angeles’ Filipino American Event, is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. Audiences can expect to enjoy
traditional and contemporary Filipino food, music, dance, crafts and culture. This year’s theme, “Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the FilAm Community,” lends its meaning to the Tagalog phrase which loosely translates to “diversity.” While certainly a hot topic in today’s society, FilAm Arts focuses on the vast contributions of Filipino American artists to the creative tapestry of the City. For more information, please visit www.filamarts.org or call 2133803722. For sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please email info@filamarts.org. n
Client seeks Chapter 13… PAGE C4 t
and rent somewhere since client is still single with no dependents. I mean, he lives by himself, so he can actually go buy a mobile home and live in it for less than $600 a month, plus rent of the space. That’s even less than the estimated plan payment. Or, he can just rent a room and pay $300 a month. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Client is headstrong and really wants to keep his house, I guess for sentimental reasons. He still believes that his pending loan modification might turn out ok. So he is willing to pay through his nose to save his house. Maybe it’s a matter of pride? Whatever the reason is, and I’m no psychiatrist, he is willing suffer a pyrrhic victory to save his house. A pyrrhic victory is one where the victor suffers a devastating loss to achieve victory. Of course, if the loan modification comes through, then the mortgage will become current again as the $88K default will just be added to the principal. There’s another problem that has just reared it’s ugly head. He has an adjustable rate mortgage that will reset next month by adding $500 to the monthly mortgage payment because of higher interest. When it rains it pours. On the other hand, client has no credit card debt, but he does pay for two new cars, total of about $900. Why not just abandon the house and live in the brand new van? That’s something to think about. The van has all the amenities of a house except a toilet and a kitchen. He doesn’t cook anyway. Maybe he can just buy
one of those tiny houses? You can buy one for $20K. It has everything that a normal sized house has, except it’s smaller, like 200 sq. ft. We just came back from the first hearing. Client paid the plan payment plus the first mortgage payment. I guess he could be hoarding a lot of cash since he hasn’t paid the house for two years. Next client is 80. Finally, someone older than I. Would you believe, my oldest client for Chapter 7 was 92 years old! He did his first Chapter 7 case when he was 60. He had four wives and outlived all of them. He just retired last month. His social security benefit is $1,000. His wife’s social security is $400. They migrated here just ten years ago. He had to work for ten years to qualify for social security. Rent is $900. He owes credit cards of $19K requiring minimum monthly payments of $700, which is 70% of his social security. Obviously, it’s high time to get rid of the $19K with a Chapter 7 petition. Client agrees and decides to file for Chapter 7 immediately. That’s the right decision of course. “We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
bers) and Julius E. Sinlao (webmaster). The Mission Statement of AMOR of Southern California is to foster a harmonious relationship among its members; promote a cohesive and unified organization; enhance mutual benefit among townmates now residing abroad; to create projects to benefit its native town of Mangatarem; and to uplift the members and promote its cultural heritage and safeguard its patrimony. Music and entertainment will be provided by Purple Hearts Band, a popular and well soughtafter band in the southland and exhibition dance by the ladies of AMOR. (Dan E. Nino – denino1951@gmail.com)
IT is indeed a joy and a blessing to feature in this issue a true sister of Christ and a good friend of my wife and mine. Ms. Pinky de Leon, a multi-talented and award-winning actress in the Philippine entertainment industry, shares a love for the Lord that is worth emulating. Here is her testimony. As you read along, some of you may find similarities Henjie Pimenta in her story. The intention of ‘A Dash of Salt & Pepper’ is to usher the readers into the throne of grace of Jesus Christ. Be blessed by her testimony. Faith and forgiveness But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11: 6). For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Mathew 6:14-15 What does a mother do when she gave her all to get justice for her son? I remember the struggles I went through in coping with my son’s imprisonment. I had done everything I could to get the justice my son deserved. I remember the anguish I went through to pay bills that were piling up. I remember the many nights when I could not sleep thinking if Pinky de Leon
my son was safe inside those prison walls. Holidays were even worse because it became even clearer -- that time was slipping by and that he may never be a free man, away from the walls of the National Bilibid Prison, the place I call “ hell.” Yes, it is hell on earth. Even worse, I not only struggled with the reality of it all, but I was full of hate and bitterness. There was not a day I did not cry myself to sleep. I saw my life unraveling before me. I asked God over and over again: Why, why did you allow this to happen to my son? Without me realizing that in His silence, He was drawing me closer to Him. In His silence, He was molding me to become the woman He created me to be. He was teaching me through the power of His Holy Spirit that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I immersed myself in His word. Slowly but surely, I learned to forgive, I learned to have faith, I learned to fight the good fight of faith. He taught me to trust Him in every area of my life. My son was acquitted after 15 years and what is even more remarkable is that he came out of that prison whole, with no bitterness in his heart. He too fought the good fight of faith. Today he is happily married and is ready to start a family. I also have met the love of my life and have remarried. Together my husband and I are both serving the Lord. I give back all the glory and honor to my one and only savior Jesus Christ. For without you, my Lord, I am nothing. If you need prayers, please do not hesitate to call us at (213) 484-8294 or (818) 813-3971 or visit us on any Sunday at Praise Christian Fellowship LA (2235 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 90057 or Praise Christian Fellowship of the Valley (9051 Woodman Avenue Arleta 91331), located behind CVS Drugstore and Vallarta Supermart, inside Helping Hands ADHC. n
C AUGUST 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 20-23, 2016
MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM
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USCIS clarifies certain naturalization eligibility requirements Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
The Duterte administration targets the GDP to grow by a “conservative” 6-7 percent in 2016, as economic managers had downscaled the Aquino administration’s target of 6.8-7.8 percent growth for this year, citing adjustments to be made in the next few months as the new administration settles down. PSA by Ben De Vera
PH economy grows 7% in second quarter by Dana
M. SioSon
AJPress
THE Philippines economy grew nearly 7 percent in the second quarter of 2016—the last three months of Aquino administrations—the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced Thursday, August 18. According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, this made the Philippines the fastest-growing economy in the region, with a 6.8 percent growth rate during the first three months of 2016, beating the market consensus of a 6.7 percent growth. “Among the major Asian emerging economies, the Philippines likely remains the fastest or second fastest-growing economy in the second quarter of 2016, followed by China, which grew by 6.7 percent, Vietnam by 5.6 percent, Indonesia by 5.2 percent, Malaysia by 4.0 percent, and Thailand by 3.5 percent,” Pernia said. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 6.9 percent for the first six months of 2016, faster than a 5.5 percent growth in
the same period last year. Pernia also said the latest figures provides “an upbeat start” for the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, as it targets the GDP to grow by a “conservative” 6-7 percent in 2016. Pernia, however, said the economy may slow down for the rest of this year. “While it is normal to see a slowdown in the second semester during election years, and it could possibly be 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points lower than in the first half, the smooth transition of power and assurance of macroeconomic policy consistency and continuity by the new administration will likely keep business and consumer confidence strong to meet the full-year target,” he noted. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) projects that the economy is set to meet its growth year target of 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent. The average GDP during the Aquino administration was the fastest growth rate recorded since the late 1970s.
PH economy grows, but many Filipinos don’t feel the gains by Ben
o. De Vera Inquirer.net
SUSTAINED strong domestic demand coupled with robust election-related spending boosted economic growth in the second quarter to its fastest in over two years, but many Filipinos said they did not feel the benefits of the expansion. The Philippine economy as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) the total value of goods produced and services rendered in a given period grew 7 percent in the last three months of the Aquino administration, said national statistician Lisa Grace S. Bersales. “Among the major Asian emerg-
ing economies, the Philippines likely remains the fastest, or second-fastest-growing, economy in the second quarter of 2016, followed by China, which grew by 6.7 percent, Vietnam by 5.6 percent, Indonesia by 5.2 percent, Malaysia by 4.0 percent and Thailand by 3.5 percent,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said at a press conference. Economists cheered the country’s better-than-expected second quarter GDP growth rate of 7 percent but braced for slower growth for the remainder of the year without the extraordinary boost from election spending. PAGE D2
Sustained strong domestic demand coupled with robust election-related spending boosted economic growth in the second quarter to its fastest in over two years, but many Filipinos said they did not feel the benefits of the expansion. Philstar.com photo
Foreign businesses urged to invest in PH by alexiS
roMero Philstar.com
MANILA - President Duterte is encouraging other countries to invest in the Philippines assuring them they will not be victimized by corruption and other unacceptable practices. Duterte said he was serious in his campaign to curb corruption, which he once described as “endemic” in the country. “Do not be afraid to invest in Philippines, whether by assistance or business investment. Come here. There will be no hany panky, no asking for tips,” the President said during the 115th anniversary of the police service
in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Duterte said investors who have concerns can call him and he would to personally attend to their issues. “I’ll do the processing myself for you. I’ll give you the paper with you just sitting down,” he added. Duterte also issued a stern warning against those who would try to lobby or influence him. “Even a whisper, do not think about it. Because even that will get you into trouble. That is how serious I am,” Duterte said. The chief executive also thanked donors that have provided assistance to the Philippines like China, Japan, Thailand, Taipei and Canada.
Business Quote of the Week “If you want to build a successful business, make sure you have three things—a big market opportunity, great people, and more than enough capital.” - Richard Harroch, venture capitalist, author, and entrepreneur
THE USCIS recently updated its Policy Manual on when a lawful permanent resident (LPR) is eligible to file for naturalization. The significant change is defining when the person is considered an LPR. The basic eligibility requirements include: • The applicant must be at least 18 years old. • The applicant must establish he or she has been lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence. • If the person’s LPR status was not lawfully obtained for any reason (fraud or was not in compliance with the immigration law), the person is not considered to have been lawfully admitted, and therefore not eligible for US citizenship. • For example, if a person obtain a green card as “single”, but was secretly married, the person was not lawfully admitted, and would not be eligible
for US citizenship. • Another example is if a person obtained a green card through a fixed marriage. If that comes out during the naturalization interview, not only would his naturalization application be denied, but the USCIS could also revoke their green card. • This is true even if they are already LPRs. There should have been no fraud in connection with the way they obtained a green card. • The person is considered to be an LPR (green card holder) at the time USCIS approves their adjustment of status application (Form I – 485) or when the person enters the US with an immigrant visa through American Embassy processing. • It doesn’t matter how long, or how many years, USCIS may have taken to adjudicate the person’s adjustment of status; they become an LPR only on the date the case is finally approved. • A person who is a conditional permanent resident (CPR), for example through marriage, is also eligible to file for naturalization after the removal of the conditional status and three
If a person committed certain crimes, or is still on probation, they may not be eligible to file for citizenship. In addition, some crimes can make a person deportable/removable. So, if a person goes ahead and files for citizenship, is fingerprinted, and the crimes are uncovered, not only could their naturalization application be denied, but they could also face removal. years from the date he got his green card (CPR). If a person committed certain crimes, or is still on probation, they may not be eligible to file for citizenship. In addition, some crimes can make a person deportable/removable. So, if a person goes ahead and files for citizenship, is fingerprinted, and the crimes are uncovered, not only could their naturalization application be denied, but they could also face removal. If you have any questions or issues about your eligibility to file for naturalization, you should first seek the advice of an attorney, who can analyze your situation. Don’t just file first, and see what happens. Your LPR status could be jeopardized and you could be deported.
*** 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. 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 · PHILIPPINE (Advertising Supplement)
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Foreign contractors decry PH improves global ranking in digital, financial inclusion tight regulations in PH by LawRence
agcaoiLi Philstar.com
by Richmond
meRcuRio
Philstar.com
MANILA – The Philippines is missing out on a lot of opportunities in foreign investment and technology in the construction industry given existing restrictions on international contractors, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said. ECCP president Guenter Taus said there is currently huge interest among European companies to participate and invest in the country’s construction industry but are being held back by existing equity limitations. “There is a lot of interest from Europe coming in provided we can straighten out the issues we have in licensing, especially with PCAB (Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board). Once those obstacles are overcome there should certainly be a big boon for European companies to come and work on these,” Taus said. “We have limitations in the engineering part of what foreign firms can do in the Philippines. There’s a 60-40 rule and in order to get it done you need to get a PCAB license in order to legally operate and that’s a challenge for multinational companies,” he added. Taus said any investment in the construction industry is easily in the billion-peso range which is why the Philippines is missing a lot due to such restrictions. Aside from foregone investments, foreign contractors and construction companies are also capable of introducing new tech-
MANILA – The global ranking of the Philippines in providing digital and financial inclusion improved to sixth place this year from 15th last year amid the reforms being pursued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), according to a report by Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution. Based on the 2016 Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report titled Advancing Equitable Financial Ecosystems, Brookings said the Philippines got a score of 76 percent for sixth place this year from a score of 68 percent or 15th ECCP president Guenter Taus said there is place last year. currently huge interest among European “The biggest improvement in companies to participate and invest in the scores between 2015 and 2016 country’s construction industry but are being was made by the Philippines, held back by existing equity limitations. which increased its overall score by eight percentage points,” the nologies to the country. report said. “We hope under this administraBrookings said the increase was tion we will finally get this issues driven in part by the launch of the straightened out,” Taus said. National Strategy for Financial InThe ECCP has long been lamentclusion (NSFI) by the BSP as well as ing the lack of full involvement of the strong performance in terms of international contractors in the mobile capacity as the Philippines country as it is considered as one of has the highest rates of smartphone the factors hindering infrastructure penetration. development. The report noted mobile money “If the Philippines wants to interoperability arrangement becontinue growing the economy, the lack of infrastructure needs to be addressed. This can only be done with the involvement of international contractors that will bring latest technologies to the country. But you cannot expect these comby daxim L. Lucas Inquirer.net panies to bring the technology, bring the money, carry the risks and then control only 40 percent of the DOLLARS sent home by overventure,” ECCP vice president for seas Filipinos continued to rise at external affairs Henry Schumacher the end of June—the third straight has said. month of growth—due mainly to
tween PayMaya Philippines and GCash would further promote increased adoption of digital financial services in the country. However, the report noted there remains a significant untapped opportunity for increased take up of digital and financial services in the Philippines. The Philippines garnered a perfect score of 100 in country commitment and regulatory environment. It also received a score of 94 percent in mobile capacity and 42 percent in adoption. Kenya topped this year’s list with 84 percent followed by Columbia with 79 percent, Brazil with 78 percent, and South Africa with 78 percent. Completing the top 10 were Rwanda with 76 percent, Chile with 74 percent, Mexico with 74 percent, and Nigeria with 72 percent. The 2016 report acknowledged the work of the BSP in shepherding implementation of the Philippine NSFI and advancing the formalization of the high-level inter-agency Financial Inclusion Steering Committee (FISC). It also recognized BSP’s past leadership role in the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) as well as its commitment to the AFI Maya Declaration to deepen financial
The 2016 report by Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution acknowledged the work of the BSP in shepherding implementation of the Philippine NSFI and advancing the formalization of the high-level inter-agency Financial Inclusion Steering Committee (FISC). Philstar.com photo
inclusion in the Philippines. Brookings also cited the BSP as a front-runner among central banks in establishing a dedicated financial inclusion unit for its work on financial inclusion data and reporting; and for the issuance of enabling and proportionate regulations. The think tank said the National Retail Payments System (NRPS) launched by the regulators and the private stakeholders would provide a more efficient, safe, affordable and inclusive retail payment infrastruc-
ture that allows digital transfers from any account to any account in any type of institution, through the use of any digital device. By 2020, NRPS targets to digitize 20 percent of retail transactions from the current level of only one percent of the 2.5 billion payment transactions made in the Philippines. Brookings increased its sample to 26 geographically, economically and politically diverse countries this year from just 21 in 2015.
Remittances up 3.1% to $14.6B in 6 months More than 300,000 workers deployed abroad in first half the steady stream of workers being deployed to other countries, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday, Aug. 15. In a statement, the BSP said that personal remittances from expatriate workers grew by 4.8 percent to
$2.6 billion in June 2016 compared to the same period last year. This brought personal remittances for the first six months of the year to $14.6 billion, up 3.1 percent from the first semester of 2015, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said. “The continued demand for skilled Filipino workers abroad supported the steady remittance inflows,” he said, adding that preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that the number of workers deployed in the first half of the year reached a total of 223,116 for land-based new hires and 93,600 for sea-based workers. Personal remittances from landbased workers with work contracts of a year or more reached $11.3 billion, while inflows from sea- and land-based workers with shortterm contracts amounted to $3.1 billion.
Meanwhile, cash remittances from overseas Filipinos coursed through banks amounted to $2.3 billion in June 2016, posting a 4.8percent growth from a year ago. For the first six months, cash remittances totaled $13.2 billion, higher by 3.2 percent than the $12.8 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2015. In particular, cash remittances from land- and sea-based workers totaled $10.4 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively. About 80 percent of cash remittances came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Germany. According to the BSP, the number of deployed land-based, newly hired workers increased by 0.9 percent during the period, while that of sea-based workers declined by 55.6 percent compared to the PAGE D3
PH economy grows...
PAGE D1 Lucy Nicdao, a suman (rice cake) vendor, of Guagua town in Pampanga, reacted with disbelief when told that government recorded a 7-percent economic growth. The 43-year-old mother of two said the P300 daily earning she and her husband was making had not increased in the last three years and was just enough to get them by. “I don’t feel that the economy has improved. Perhaps that’s because disasters like floods often hit us,” said Nicdao, who on Thursday lined up for food packs from the provincial government. Ronnie Fernandez, 41, an ambulant vendor in Lucena City, said that for someone who is in the streets every day to find a way to provide for his family, “news that the country’s economy has improved is a lie.” “I do not know about GDP growth rate, but ask me how much the price of rice, of dried fish has increased. That’s what I know because I need to struggle hard for my family every day,” he said. Bersales said government and household expenditures related to the national elections in May boosted the industry and services sectors, specifically printing and publishing, land, motor and air transport, communications, wholesale and retail trade, as well as hotels and restaurants. ING economist Joey Cuyegkeng said the government and the private sectors were likely to continue to expand the absorptive capacity of the economy. “The forthcoming tax reform package hopefully contributes to a net increase in disposable income which would be quite positive for the economy,” he said. Pernia said the government was on track to attain the 6- to 7-percent growth target of the administration for 2016, as the first semester average stood at 6.9 percent. “The previous administration gave us a strong and stable economy that we can build on further by maintaining the sound macroeconomic, fiscal, and monetary policies already in place. It is also encouraging to note that the growth has been investment-driven,” he said. Still, “the challenge is to make this growth inclusive so that more people contribute to, and benefit from it,” he said. Pernia said the Duterte administration was particularly concerned about the farming and fisheries sector, which accounted for about 10 million workers and their families. “Knowing that the majority of poor Filipinos rely on this sector for their livelihood, this administration will prioritize agricultural development,” he said. The sector declined 2.1 percent
from April to June, the fifth consecutive quarter of declines. Anong Manalo, 65, of Dagupan City, said farmers like him did not feel the economic growth. “We are at the very bottom [of society]. Government does not give us any importance,” he said. In Baguio City, an events organizer said his business had not benefited from the announced economic growth. Gregory Rugay, who is in his 50s, said he did not see his profits rise. “Prices of basic goods and services and electricity have not gone down. I could not even visit my family in Mindanao because it is very expensive to travel now compared to the past years,” Rugay said. Leslie Ann Alvarez, 18, a former factory worker from Los Baños town in Laguna province, said she did not feel any impact of the growing economy although she was hoping Mr. Duterte could do something about poverty. “Life is becoming more difficult instead,” for Armando Dayrit, director of Mangyan Kalakbay Mission in Baco town, Oriental Mindoro province. For 40-year-old job recruiter Rolly dela Peña of Koronadal City, life has not improved because the cost of living remains high. “The series of oil price rollback has no impact on the prices of food products. We are yet to recover from the impact of the dry spell, we are yet to recover from rice farming failures in previous cropping,” he said. A few attested to seeing their incomes grow because of the economic expansion. Gabriel Colacion, 38, a taxi driver in Iloilo City, said his income improved because there were more passengers. “More businessmen are coming here and new subdivisions have opened.” Life is better these days for Hazel Panlita, 35, a broker in Tagbilaran City. “For the economy, yes, more investors are coming in.” Miraflor Lawangon, 41, operator of Wow Bohol Travel and Tours, Tagbilaran City, said her income from tourism had increased as a result of the increase in the number of tour bookings. (With reports from Doris Dumlao-Abadilla in Manila; Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Gabriel Cardinoza and Kimberlie Quitasol, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Maricar Cinco, Fernan Gianan, Michael Jaucian, Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Madonna T. Virola, Mayda Lagran, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Carmel Loise Matus and Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas; Jigger Jerusalem, Orlando Dinoy and Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao; Ana Roa, Inquirer Research; and AFP)
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New technology could make traffic lights obsolete by Alfred
BAyle Inquirer.net
CAR manufacturer Audi recently announced a feature of their upcoming cars that informs drivers when a traffic light is about to turn red or green. According to a report on MIT Technology Review, the new technology developed by Audi will allow cars to communicate with traffic lights to determine when a light change is about to occur. The onboard system will then display a countdown counter to prepare drivers for breaking. The technology is seen as more of a step toward completely doing away with traffic lights altogether than a gimmick. The current system of traffic lights on roadways and intersec-
tions is quite inefficient because it causes vehicles to stop and pile up at a stop as they wait their turn to cross. This causes congestion and pollution buildup from the idle vehicles. team from MIT and ETH Zurich suggests a slot-based system wherein a scheduling computer will be stationed on intersections in place of traffic lights. A car’s onboard computer will then communicate with the scheduler to prepare a slot for it in the crossing before it even reaches the turn. Selfdriving cars can then adjust their speed to match the timing of the slot that the scheduling computer has prepared, negating the need to go on a standstill. A similar system has been used in airports for years to
guide airplanes as they take off and land. The systems allow for continued movement for all elements and as such no time is wasted by being idle. While the idea is sound, the human element makes it difficult because it would take nerves of steel to zip through an intersection while narrowly missing another car making a turn or going in a perpendicular direction like a well-coordinated ballet. For the time being, having cars that talk to traffic lights and tell drivers precisely when to stop is a step forward toward building a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication system. When the roads are eventually ruled by self-driving vehicles, the slot system could then be implemented for a more efficient commute for everyone.
According to a report on MIT Technology Review, the new technology developed by Audi will allow cars to communicate with traffic lights to determine when a light change is about to occur. The onboard system will then display a countdown counter to prepare drivers for breaking.
Remittances up 3.1%...
PAGE D2 previous year. Reports further showed that for the period January-July 2016, processed contracts for land-based workers were largely for services and sales; “elementary occupations” such as those working in the agriculture, forestry, fishing,
mining, construction, manufacturing and transport sectors, and craft and related trades. The top country destinations were Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Taiwan and Hong Kong. “The steady stream of remittances was supported by the efficient network of bank and nonbank
remittance channels established worldwide to cater to the various needs of overseas Filipinos,” the BSP said. “As of end-June 2016, commercial banks’ established tie-ups, remittance centers, correspondent banks and branches or representative offices abroad reached 5,228.”
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Longo Lexus offers the ultimate conveniences in customer amenities
We all know that the process of buying a car is not just as simple as buying a new pair of shoes at the mall. It is a long process that involves careful comparison between vehicle models, reviewing the car’s specifications with regards to the needs of the buyer, and of course, the negotiations for the financing packages and promos. As such, it is very important for Longo Lexus that its customers are supremely comfortable and well-pampered if they are going to make that important decision of which Lexus they will drive home. As a car dealership, there are many reasons why Longo Lexus has been an elite of Lexus dealer since 1992. One of those reasons includes the ultimate conveniences that they offer in customer amenities. As one of the leading Lexus car dealerships, Longo Lexus provides not only pre-sales conveniences, but also noteworthy post-sales services. Longo Lexus is known for the unique amenities that they offer to dealership customers. One of those unique amenities include an on-site Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) center. The AAA branch offers DMV services, airline, car, and hotel reservations, discounted movie and local attraction tickets, AAA membership application processing, OnBoard Teen Safe Driver Program, auto and home insurance, and more. Sign up at our AAA branch in Longo, and you’ll receive a special $13 discount off the original membership price. Aside from from the on-site AAA branch, Longo is also the first dealership in the US to offer Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireless Neighborhood services on-site. Offering the latest technologies in telecommunications, mobile accessories, and services, Longo’s on-site Verizon branch makes it even more convenient for customers to stay connected with the world. Our Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer is open from Monday to Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, from 7am to 5:30pm; and Sunday, from 8am to 4pm. Please call (888) 8115201. While waiting for your car to come out of our premium carcare service lines or while you’re going through our wide inventory of luxurious Lexus vehicles, you can enjoy a quick bite at Sub-
way or a nice refreshing drink at Starbucks. If you want to pamper your car, you can also shop at the Longo Lexus Parts Boutique, which carries a wide selection of genuine Lexus parts and accessories for your vehicle. M`Zkfi I\p\j With over 31,000 parts and accessories in stock, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. The after-sales services of a dealership is just as important as the pre-sales amenities. And it these after-sales services that make buying a vehicle at Longo Lexus a truly rewarding experience. We offer complimentary loaner vehicles for your use while your car is in our service center. For inquiries, on our loaners, please call our coordinators at 1-800-5970813. For your convenience, we also offer complimentary shuttle service to take you to your office, home, or even the mall—basically anywhere within a 15-mile radius—while your vehicle is being serviced. If you don’t have time to make the drive to our dealership, our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck can provide routine maintenance services, such as oil changes and tire rotations, right at your home or office. Appointments can be made up to 6 months in advance. Similarly, if your service requirements need the car to be physically present at our Longo service center, we offer complimentary flatbed truck pick-up and delivery of your vehicle to and from our dealership. Our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck, and our complimentary flatbed truch pick-up and delivery service are exclusively for cars that are purchased from Longo Lexus, and are located within 60mile radius from Longo. Please call 1-800-597-0813 to schedule your appointment. Also, for every service appointment, each vehicle receives a complimentary car wash in our Longo Lexus Car Spa. For our clients who wish to use other cars, aside from those among our fleet of loaner Lexus cars, they can avail of the services of our enterprise Rent-A-Car offices.
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With two branches on the Longo Premises, enterprise is ready to address all your car rental needs. Please call (800) 969-6519 for more information. We understand that life’s daily grind requires our customers to be always on top of everything while keeping up with an onthe-go lifestyle. Which is they are more than welcome to work at our Longo Business Center where they can work on our computer terminals, free of charge. We also offer complimentary Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) to our customers throughout the facility. This is particularly useful for our customers with mobile devices, laptops, and tablets. While you wait for your car to come out of our service center, your kids can enjoy and have a good time at our Children Play Area, where we offer video games and other activities for the young ones. Longo Lexus customers will also be offered complimentary use of our iPads while they are waiting for their vehicle. For more information on our Longo Lexus Guest Services, please log on to www.longolexus.com/GuestAmenities or call (626) 539-2956. Longo Lexus is located at 3530 North Peck Road, el Monte, CA 91731. 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
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New Homes at Five Knolls in Santa Clarita Now Open
Santa Clarita, Calif. – It’s time you discovered a place that has everything. Welcome to Five Knolls by Brookfield Residential, Santa Clarita’s newest community that rises above the ordinary. Visit today to tour the new model homes at six stylish neighborhoods, including the community’s three most distinctive new collections at the Heights, the exclusive gated enclave at the top of Five Knolls. this is your chance to experience a scenically inspiring small world designed around a refreshing new lifestyle. With miles of trails, a resort-style club, community park and five signature knolls, Five Knolls lets you live life where you belong. Five Knolls brings a great range of new home options and opportunities to the Santa Clarita Valley, offering homes that are well built, well priced and in demand. Home shoppers can enjoy a location that caters to a lifestyle of both recreation and convenience with a new home that delivers style, innovation and function. Five Knolls is simply one of those rare opportunities to have it all. along tree-lined streets, the six new home collections at Five Knolls provide a host of choices from an all-star lineup of homebuilders. Highglen by Brookfield Residential, Mon-
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terra by Christopher Homes and Brighton by Brookfield Residential welcome two-story detached residences behind private gates, while Everett by Meritage Homes, Grayson by tRI Pointe Homes and Haywood by KB Home introduce two-story detached residences that offer up to five bedrooms. Pricing ranges from the $500,000s to the $700,000s. at Five Knolls, the great outdoors is just outside your door, from the array of walking and biking trails to the five signature knolls the community is named for. Golden Valley Park brings a mixture of open spaces and gathering places as well as picnic enclaves, a shaded playground, basketball half-court and big and small dog park. and the Club is a haven for all things fun, where residents can splash around in the pool, relax in the spa or meet up with friends for wine tastings, get-togethers or celebrations. Plus, Five Knolls in Santa Clarita is close to everything. With a convenient location between the I-5 and SR-14 freeways, you can enjoy the easygoing world of the community and everything beyond it with equal ease and satisfaction. Enjoy being less than 30 miles from Burbank and Glendale and 37 miles from downtown La.
Models are open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more details on Five Knolls, please visit FiveKnolls.com. Brookfield Residential Southern California (Los angeles and San Diego), a division of Brookfield Residential, is committed to being more than a homebuilder. We strive to create the best places to call home. the Brookfield Residential Southern California (Los angeles and San Diego) team has the passion, the expertise and the local knowledge to craft homes and neighborhoods that speak to homebuyers at every stage of life. We are an award-winning homebuilder and industry leader with an exceptional reputation for quality, design and customer service. Please visit BrookfieldSoCal.com for more information. Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. is a leading land developer and homebuilder in north america. We entitle and develop land to create masterplanned communities, sell lots to third-party builders and operate our own homebuilding division. We also participate in select strategic real estate opportunities, including infill projects, mixeduse developments and joint ventures. Further information is available at BrookfieldResidential.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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