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EDITION

February 18-21, 2017

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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 27 - No. 15 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

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Duterte orders AMLC to release his net worth

Also published in: • Orange County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas • New York/ New Jersey

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhILIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Anti-money Laundering Council (AmLC) to disclose information about his net worth.

“I have ordered AmLC and everybody to give information sa ano ang (on) what’s my worth in this, in terms of pesos in this planet so hindi ko kayo hiyain (i will not embarrass you),” Duterte said in a speech on friday, february 17 during a dinner with the Philippine military Academy (PmA) Class of 1967 in Baguio City.

Duterte made the statement in response to senator Antonio trillanes IV’s accusations that the president and his family have

DATELINE

“Kung talagang wala kang itinatagong nakaw na yaman, tanggapin mo na ang hamon ko at buksan mo na ung transaction history ng bank accounts mo (if you are not really hiding stolen riches, accept the challenge and reveal the transaction history of your bank accounts),” trillanes dared, addressing Duterte. trillane, whose senatorial term will end in 2019, said he would resign immediately if his allegations were proven wrong. he went to say, “sinabi niya na papatunayan niya. Wala naman, 9 months na (He said before that he would prove. Nine months had passed but nothing happened). so, mr President, panahon na at mamaya’t-mayain kita. hindi ko bibitiwan ang isyu na ito

billions of pesos in their bank accounts.

“Walang anak ko o ako mismo sa totoo lang (My children or myself, honestly), I have not signed any voucher even for myself. I only receive a salary and that’s it. I do not accept my allowances.

Wala po ako, I avoided it and it will be so until the end of my term,” Duterte added. he also hit trillanes’ allegations’ as “pure garbage.” earlier on thursday, trillanes revived his claims that Duterte had an almost two billion pesos worth of undeclared wealth in his three bank accounts from 2006 to 2015. trillanes made the same allegations last year during the campaign period for the may national elections.

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Pres. Trump to repeal and replace controversial travel ban

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Filipino named president of DePaul University A fILIPINo was appointed the president of DePaul University in Chicago, considered the largest Catholic university in the United states.

Dr. A Gabriel esteban, who is originally from the Philippines, will leave his current post as the head of seton hall University, a Catholic institution in south Dr. A Gabriel Esteban orange, Jersey.

When he assumes office at DePaul on July 1, he will become the first non-ordained leader in the institution’s 119-year history.

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ACCUSATION. Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV shows a document showing the alleged accumulated and unexplained wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte (inset) and his family amounting to P2.4 billion during a press conference at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City Thursday, February 16. Trillanes distributed a list bearing the alleged accounts of Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio and Sebastian Duterte.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

PET dismisses Robredo’s bid Malacañang to junk Marcos poll protest backs SolGen

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

DACA recipients remain unsure of the program’s future, while rumors circulate about increased immigration enforcement

After his widely criticized travel ban lost in multiple federal courts, President Donald trump announced that he will be introducing a replacement executive order.

At his first official press conference as president at the White house on thursday, february 16, the president did not elaborate on the details of the new plan, but he said that it would be narrowly “tailored” to the “bad” courts that successfully challenged the ban.

As the Asian Journal previously reported, a three-judge panel from the 9th U.s. Circuit Court of Appeals from san francisco unanimously voted in favor of upholding a halt on

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Vice President Leni Robredo

the supreme Court (sC), acting as the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet), denied the motion of Vice President Leni robredo to dismiss the poll protest filed against her by former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. In a resolution dated January 24 and released on thursday, february 16, the Pet rejected robredo’s counter that marcos’s protest lacks in form and substance because it failed to specify the “acts or omissions complained of showing the electoral frauds, anomalies and irregularities.”

“the protestee’s prayer to dismiss the protest for lack of jurisdiction and for being insufficient in form and substance is denied,” the Pet’s resolution read. “on the matter of sufficiency of the protest, the same is already beyond dispute.” the Pet also ruled that “the tribunal shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the President or Vice President of the Philippines,” rejecting robredo’s claims that sC has no jurisdiction regarding issues related to the execution of the Certificates of Canvass. “the phrase ‘election returns and quali-

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While assuring US, Palace calls Russia deal an ‘alliance’

by Camille

Diola Philstar.com

mANILA, Philippines — malacañang on friday, feb. 17 sought to assure the United states that it will remain the Philippines’ ally under the Duterte administration, but it also loosely described the upcoming security agreement with russia as a “new alliance.”

Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella said the “decision

to pivot with russia” is part of Duterte’s “independent foreign policy.” the term has been used by Duterte’s officials as a way to distinguish a policy direction that shifts away from the United states and closer to russia and China and regional neighbors. “this new alliance will not exclude other relationships. the United states will remain an ally,”

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Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella answers questions from reporters in this Feb. 9, 2017 photo.

PPD

on Napoles by alexiS

RomeRo Philstar.com

mANILA — the solicitor general is not acting as a lawyer for accused pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles when he sought her acquittal on the crime of serious illegal detention, malacañang said on thursday, feb. 16.

Presidential spokesman ernesto Abella said solicitor General Jose Calida believes there were no grounds for holding Napoles liable for serious illegal detention. “he’s not lawyering for Napoles, I think. he’s just simply trying to correct what he thinks, what he sees, what he perceives is something that needs to be rectified,” Abella said in a press briefing.

When reminded that the illegal detention case is related to Napoles’ plunder charge since she was convicted of detaining Benhur Luy to prevent him from exposing the Priority Development Assistance fund (PDAf) or pork barrel scam, Abella said, “I don’t know if they had a conversation regarding that, but the President trusts his alter ego’s decision.”

Napoles is currently detained at

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PH gov’t to have ‘simple, quiet’ People Power anniversary

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the upcoming 31st commemoration of the 1986 edsa People Power revolution on february 25 will be “simple and quiet,” according to malacañang.

In a press briefing on thursday, february 16, Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella said that this year’s theme for the celebration will shift from “just celebrating the past” to “moving the nation forward.”

“It’s time to move on from just celebrating the past, remembering the past, and to move on to the whole aspect of nationbuilding to give it a more positive outlook,

and give it a more positive understanding,” Abella said. this year’s theme is “A Day of reflection: Celebrating People Power for Nation Building.”

In 1986, the non-violent and bloodless revolution ended the regime of late and former President ferdinand marcos as the country’s dictator, who was then replaced by former President Corazon Aquino of the Liberal Party. “the emphasis has shifted. It is no longer a celebration of the past. It is now a reflection on what can happen in the future. It is a moving on from those things,”

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A FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Duterte orders AMLC to release his…

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(It’s now time. I will not drop this issue).”

Based on the new documents Trillanes provided, Duterte’s children, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, allegedly have an over P121 million and P104 million in their bank accounts respectively.

The documents also show that

Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, Duterte’s common-law wife, supposedly had over P187 million in her accounts from 2014 to 2016.

“Sinasabi nya deretso sya magsalita, matapang sya sa mga issue. Ilabas mo, ilabas mo yung tapang mo dito. Ipakita mo na mali ako, na hindi lang ako nagaakusa (He said he is bold. Reveal your boldness here. Show that

I’m wrong),” Trillanes added.

Malacañang, meanwhile, downplayed Trillanes’s claims and dismissed them as mere “political noise.”

“It’s a rehash of items that have already been discussed three days before elections. Basically, he’s bringing up old issues,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. “This is part of the noise of political landscape.”

Abella then suggested that the senator could submit the documents against Duterte to the proper authorities.

“Now, if he has truly something in mind, he could probably, he should go to proper authorities, in order to lay down something like this. It’s best to do this according to due process,” Abella said.

In a pre-video released by Malacañang on Thursday evening, Duterte said he would step down from his post if Trillanes was able to prove that he took part in corruption.

“If Trillanes can prove his allegation that I have amassed P2 billion illegally or if that bank account under my name has a total deposit at one time or even just half a billion, I will resign as President immediately,” Duterte said. n

CHAIN OF LOVE. Women leaders led by Karina David, former chief of the Civil Service Commission (left) and Imelda Nicolas, former chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, trooped to the Senate to express support for Senator Leila De Lima even as they condemned the alleged move to arrest her on trumped-up illegal drugs charges.

Senate photo by Joseph Vidal

PET dismisses Robredo’s bid…

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fications’ refers to all matters affecting the validity of the contestee’s title, which includes questions on the validity, authenticity and correctness of the COCs,” it added.

The PET, however, maintained that Marcos’s allegations have yet to be proven.

“While the Tribunal finds the protest sufficient in form and substance, it must be empha-

sized that, as to the veracity of the protestant’s allegations, nothing yet has been proved. The protest is only sufficient for the Tribunal to proceed and give the protestant the opportunity to prove his case in accordance with the 2010 PET Rules,” it said.

The PET also said that Robredo filed her counter-protest on time, even if it was filed three days after the original deadline.

“Considering that August 13, 2016 was a Saturday, the filing of the Verified Answer and Counter Protest on August 15, 2016, was timely because that was the next working day,” the PET pointed out.

In the May 2016 vice presidential election, Robredo won the position with only around 263,000 votes more than Marcos. Marcos accused Robredo of committing a massive electoral fraud and filed an electoral protest in June.

“We are hoping that with this resolution, there will be an end to all these delays and we can finally move forward. There is a need to ferret out the truth as to what really transpired during the vice presidential race last May,” Marcos’s lawyer and spokesman Victor Rodriguez said in a statement.

“We just want the truth to come out. It’s that simple,” Rodriguez added.

Robredo’s camp, meanwhile,

said that it is likely to file a Motion for Reconsideration (MR).

“A motion for reconsideration, that is our remedy. I am still thinking of filing because we just received this yesterday, and I have not yet talked to the entire legal team of Vice President Robredo,” Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer, said in a television interview.

Macalintal also took note that the SC has dismissed previous similar cases, citing the electoral protest filed by former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas against former Vice President Jejomar Binay after the vice presidential election in 2010.

“Similar election protests with similar allegations by Marcos have been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Why is it that in this particular case we allow a similar protest to proceed?” Macalintal said.

In his file protest, Roxas asked the SC to consider the three million null votes, which could have supposedly overrun Binay’s 727,084-vote margin. The SC junked Roxas’s protest in 2016.

“Nothing has been done in the said election protest filed

by Roxas. Not a single file has been examined. Hindi naman napatunayan yung mga allegations (were not proven) and that is precisely the argument before the Supreme Court,” Macalintal

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From the Front page

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017

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While assuring US, Palace calls Russia…

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Abella said in a statement.

Duterte has recently met with Russian security officials led

by Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev to discuss a cooperation agreement covering security, intelligence, terrorism, crime and law enforcement.

Abella said the meeting is a “concrete example of improving ties between the two nations.”

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said in a statement Friday that a memorandum of understanding with Russia is being drafted for signing during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Moscow.

A memorandum of understanding, however, does not constitute a formal alliance on the same level as the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the US signed in 1951. The longstanding accord dictates a com-

mitment that the two nations will come to each other’s defense if attacked by an external party. An MOU, on the other hand, is not legally binding.

Esperon said in another report that there are no discussions to have visiting Russian forces as of the moment.

Abella said in January when Russian navy ships visited Manila that the Memorandum of Understanding will provide the framework for future engagement between Filipino and Russian troops. “[That will include] military to military, visiting students, mutual exchanges, and joint military exercises,” Abella said then.

‘New partners, old allies not interchangeable’ Foreign policy analyst Angelica Mangahas of the think tank ADRI Institute said the country’s cooperation with Russia may be mu-

tually beneficial as Russia makes sales for the Armed Forces to have a ready source of arms.

She warned, however, that new partners like Russia are not easily interchangeable with old ones in the support they provide to the Philippines.

“We can’t say that any of these countries are not the Philippines’ protectors, nor can we assume that partnerships in one domain will translate into other areas.

Russia’s offer of arms does not mean that Russia is interested in or able to provide support toward the peace process in Mindanao,” Mangahas said, writing for Philstar.com.

“Rather than playing fast and loose with labels like ‘ally,’ it makes more sense to talk about how the countries involved either have mutual obligations, shared goals or individually benefit from cooperation,” she added. n

GREEN CLIMATE FUND. Senator Loren Legarda and Environment Secretary Gina Lopez hosted a dinner reception for Ambassador Howard Bamsey, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Executive Director, and Mr. Javier Manzanares, GCF Chief Financial Officer, at the National Museum of Anthropology on February 15, 2017. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Finance and Climate Change, said that the GCF will help the country overcome the threats of climate change and poverty by building sustainable and resilient environment through its financial aid and technical assistance. She urged concerned government agencies to work together in coming up with project proposals to access the GCF. Senate photo

PET dismisses Robredo’s bid… PH gov’t to have ‘simple, quiet’…

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said.

Macalintal also expressed confidence that “after all these processes, Vice President Robredo will still emerge as the winner.”

“Wala naman kami problema (We do not have a problem). We always trust the Supreme Court, the entire membership of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

We believe in their integrity, in their competence, in their fairness in deciding this case,” he said.

Marcos as DILG chief?

Earlier this week, Albay Representative Edcal Lagman said that the Marcos has to withdraw the poll protest he has filed against Robredo should Marcos get appointed as the new Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief.

Lagman made the remarks amid rumors suggesting that President Rodrigo Duterte was preparing to appoint Marcos as the new head of the department.

“He can accept but (if) he accepts, he is constrained to withdraw his petition. The court has several rulings on that. Tumanggap ka ng posisyon (You accepted a position) why are you still pursuing a case?” Lagman explained.

Robredo described that the possibility of Marcos becoming the new DILG secretary as “scary.”

“For me that’s scary, in the

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Abella added.

He also denied the speculations that the Duterte administration wants a simple celebration due to the event’s ties to the Liberal Party.

“No. We think holistically.

The whole nation is evolving.

We can’t get stuck in the past,” Abella took note.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte permitted the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery), which stirred up anger for the victims and families of martial law.

Asked if Duterte will attend the event, Abella replied: “Well, I suppose so. I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.”

Senator Bongbong Marcos

sense that he will be given another opportunity to do what they did before,” Robredo told ANC, referring to the Martial Law regime under late and former President Ferdinand Marcos. “My concern here is that the Marcoses have not paid for what they did to the country.”

Sought for comments, Malacañang said that it does not have any knowledge on the matter.

“May narinig ka na ganyan (Did you hear something like that)? Ako wala (I don’t),” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a briefing on Tuesday.

Abella then added, “Frankly, I don’t have knowledge of that. As far as I’m concerned, I have not received anything.”

Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno said that he is not offended by the rumors suggesting that he might soon be replaced as the head of DILG. “We serve at the pleasure of the president,” Sueno said. “With the information being floated about the change at the helm of the DILG, I take no offense whatsoever. It is business as usual for me as I dispense my duties and functions with the blessings of President Duterte.” n

Earlier on Wednesday, February 15, former President Fidel V. Ramos disclosed that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea told him that the People Power anniversary rites would be held inside Camp Aguinaldo, and not at the People Power Monument.

“They said they haven’t laid out a traffic proposal for Edsa because of lack of emergency powers. And so the celebration, which seems small, was moved inside Camp Aguinaldo so as not to worsen the traffic,” Ramos told reporters.

Ramos also urged the present administration to finish the construction of the long-delayed Edsa memorial center by 2018.

With regard to the simple commemoration this year, Ra-

mos commented that the Duterte administration should be given “a little leeway as long as they promise to do a better job next year by already having this longdelayed Edsa learning center or memorial center that will be a model for the whole world.”

“As long as this can be done during President Duterte’s term, he will get credit for it and the people will love him for it,” he added.

Ramos, who was then the Armed Forces Vice-Chief of Staff, was one of the key players during the 1986 revolution. Ramos withdrew his support from then-President Marcos and had his troops ready to defend the demonstrators against any possible armed attacks from troops. n

Malacañang backs SolGen on…

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the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City after being convicted of the serious illegal detention case filed by Luy, her nephew and former employee, who became the primary state witness in the pork barrel scam.

Abella also stressed Calida’s move does not change Duterte’s stance against corruption. He noted the plunder and illegal detention charges are “separate items.”

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo is confident

that Napoles’ acquittal on her illegal detention case would not affect the proceedings on her plunder charges.

Panelo also denied that the administration is going soft on Napoles but is just upholding the rule of law.

Abella likewise belied notions that Duterte’s ties with Napoles’ lawyers had prodded the solicitor general to seek her acquittal.

“I think that’s what exactly they are: speculations,” he said.

“I don’t have the imagination to go into that area – connec-

tions,” Abella said.

Lanee Cui-David, a former lawyer of Napoles, has been appointed deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

She and her husband Stephen are graduates of the San Beda College of Law, where Duterte also finished his law degree.

‘Government of criminals’ Sen. Leila de Lima assailed Calida’s move, saying the country might as well “dissolve its justice system” if the solicitor general would succeed in freeing

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A FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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Pres. Trump to repeal and replace‌ PAGE A1 t

the travel ban from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

Previously, a Seattle-based U.S. District Court judge ordered a restraining order on the travel ban, saying that the ban was unconstitutional.

The Department of Justice — working on behalf of the Trump Administration — submitted a brief to the appeals court arguing that the court’s decision to not reinstate the travel ban was wrong.

“We had a very smooth rollout...but we had a bad court,�

Trump said, adding that the updated Executive Order “will be very much tailored to what I consider a bad decision.�

The future of DREAMers Since signing the Executive Order, Trump had been relatively quiet on his plans for former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has provided benefits for more than 750,000 undocumented

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youth.

At Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s press conference, he did not announce any explicit plans to revoke the program, but said that he would address the issue â&#x20AC;&#x153;with heart.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me,â&#x20AC;? Trump said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the most difficult subjects I have because you have these incredible kids.â&#x20AC;?

On February 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a 23-yearold Daniel Ramirez Medina, a DACA recipient had moved to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 7 years old. The detention made headlines as it seemed to be a violation of DACA, which protects undocumented youth from deportation.

On the campaign trail, Trump had promised to end DACA on the first day of his presidency, calling the program an example of â&#x20AC;&#x153;unconstitutional executive amnesty.â&#x20AC;?

Since Obama first signed it into law in 2012, DACA has provided undocumented youth with protection from deportation, work authorization, driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licenses among other benefits.

Militarization of the border On Friday, February 17, the administration considered the order of 100,000 troops from the National Guard to conduct a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, according to a draft memo sent to the Associated Press by staffers at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

A DHS official said that the draft was still being considered on February 10, but has not been been brought to DHS Secretary John Kelly.

A section of the memo details an unheard of militarization of law enforcement at the four states bordering Mexico as well as surrounding states. The memo calls for increased immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon and as east as New Orleans, Louisiana.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer affirmed on Friday that the memo was â&#x20AC;&#x153;not a White House documentâ&#x20AC;? and that it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;100 percent not true.â&#x20AC;?

During the election, both Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan reiterated that the use of a deportation force was not true, despite Trump boasting about it all throughout the campaign. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

SUSPECTS. Three suspects in the killing of Korean business executive Jee Ick Joo face an investigation before the Department of Justice on Monday. Prosecutors gave authorities until Monday to submit evidence. In photo are Senior Police Officer 4 Ramon Yalung, Supt.

Raphael Dumlao and Jerry Omlang, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;volunteerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the National Bureau of Investigation.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Filipino named president of DePaulâ&#x20AC;Ś

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He succeeds the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., who stepped down in June of last year.

Esteban said it was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;great privilege and honorâ&#x20AC;? to have served as the president of Seton Hall since 2011 and that it was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;difficult decisionâ&#x20AC;? to leave. â&#x20AC;&#x153;DePaul University has an excellent academic reputation, and I am honored to have the opportunity to shape its future in partnership with the university community,â&#x20AC;? he said in a statement released on Thursday, February 16.

He added that the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission and values align with his â&#x20AC;&#x153;personal beliefs.â&#x20AC;?

During his tenure â&#x20AC;&#x201D; also as the first lay leader in its history â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Seton Hall created a new School of Medicine in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, a new health and medical sciences campus, and a new College of Communication and the Arts.

Additionally, fundraising reportedly reached â&#x20AC;&#x153;all-time highs,â&#x20AC;? with more than $40 million raised in the last year and a half alone.

Seton Hall Board of Regents Chairman Patrick Murray noted how under Estebanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership, the university â&#x20AC;&#x153;made tremendous

progress and growth.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Working closely with Dr. Esteban for these past years has been a blessing,â&#x20AC;? Murray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His love for learning and his dedication to making higher education available to individuals from all walks of life is unparalleled.â&#x20AC;?

Previously, Esteban served as interim president for six months and had the roles of provost and chief academic officer, in which he oversaw eight colleges and schools, university libraries and enrollment services.

In a statement, DePaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Trustees chair William E. Bennett touted Estebanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;extensive experience in higher education and strategic planning.â&#x20AC;?

Added James T. Ryan, chair of the search committee and vicechair of the board, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the search for DePaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next president, our committee sought a proven academic leader and strategic thinker with a deep personal commitment to DePaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vincentian and Catholic identity. Dr. Esteban not only shares the values that reside at the heart of our community, he also has the vision and compassion to champion DePaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinct educational mission.â&#x20AC;?

The universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Trustees unanimously voted in favor of Estebanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment on February 6.

According to his biography, Esteban holds a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in mathematics and an MBA from the University of the Philippines.

He was the first Philippine recipient of the Fujitsu Scholarship, taking him to Chaminade University in Hawaii, where he earned a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Japanese business studies. He holds a doctorate in business administration from University of California, Irvine.

He has received multiple accolades, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Immigrantâ&#x20AC;? from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2015 and one of New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 most powerful state leaders by NJBIZ. Esteban is a board member and former vice chairman of the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, a national organization established to address issues affecting Asian American students, faculty and staff. He also serves as a commissioner on the Commission on Inclusion of the American Council on Education.

His past experience also includes senior-level leadership and faculty positions at high education institutions in Arkansas, Texas and the Philippines. He and his wife, Josephine, have one daughter who is a medical resident at the University of Chicago.

(Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)

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A

New California bill seeks to change staffing requirements at dialysis facilities

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

BURNED. Sen. Panfilo Lacson (center), Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin Remulla and Trece Martirez City Mayor Melan de Sagun witness the destruction through thermal decomposition of illegal drugs worth P473 million. The illegal drugs, including cocaine, shabu, marijuana and ecstasy, were seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Boy Josue

Yasay, Harris affirm stronger PH-US ties

by Pia lee-BragO Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and United States Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris Jr. have affirmed the strong relations between the Philippines and the U.S. even if President Duterte has been cool to Washington.

Duterte has slammed the U.S. for criticizing his bloody antidrug war due to reported human rights violations and expressed preference to work closely with Beijing rather than Washington during the time of former U.S. president Barack Obama.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the US would continue to work constructively and productively with the Philippines despite persistent human rights concerns under the

Duterte administration.

The DFA said Yasay met Harris at the USPACOM headquarters in Camp Smith in Hawaii on Friday.

The DFA also quoted Harris as saying they continue to work with the Philippine military in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, counter-terrorism and transnational crime operations.

Murray Hiebert, a senior advisor and deputy director of the Southeast Asia Program at the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), likewise noted Duterte’s “180-degree” turn as he suddenly stopped his anti-U.S. rhetoric since President Donald Trump assumed office.

Hiebert said the message could not be missed and it was “good.”

State Department deputy

Malacañang backs SolGen…

PAGE A3 t

Napoles.

De Lima, a critic of the Duterte administration and who was justice secretary when the PDAF scam broke out and Napoles was jailed, said it would be best to declare this “government a government of criminals where the innocent are imprisoned and the criminals liberated.”

In a statement, De Lima said the administration now appears to be bent on taking the side of every high-profile crook and scoundrel the past administration was able to jail.

“I cannot imagine what justification the OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) has come up with this time in order to sabotage the criminal conviction the DOJ (Department of Justice) has successfully secured in the past administration,” De Lima said.

“From the ‘tribune of the people’ to the ‘tribune of convicted criminals,’ this is probably the lowest point ever that the OSG has reached in its years of existence,” she added.

De Lima said it should be determined if the OSG consulted with the DOJ on the issue because if it did not, then this could be a very serious matter.

She aired her concern that the PDAF cases could be affected by this move by the OSG. “Of course this is a different case, this is serious illegal detention but the entire PDAF scam started with this illegal detention,” De Lima said.

With the move of the OSG, De Lima said that it would not be farfetched to think that the next persons to be set free would be the convicted drug lords who testified against her.

“Under these circumstances, it is indeed an honor to be imprisoned under this regime of criminal coddlers,” she said.

Manipulation But Calida sees manipulation in the serious illegal detention case filed against Napoles that sent her behind bars in April 2015.

“Even Benhur (Luy) is saying he was not detained. So what is the implication there? Somebody manipulated to jail Napoles.

Now, why did they do it?” Calida asked.

Luy was allegedly detained at a retreat house in Makati City so he could not testify on the anomalies involving the misuse of PDAF by funneling the money though bogus non-government organizations (NGOs).

Napoles supposedly masterminded the scheme in connivance with lawmakers and other government officials.

Luy later became a state witness in the PDAF cases filed against Napoles and many other personalities allegedly involved in the scam.

Calida pointed out someone wanted to put Napoles behind bars probably to stop her from spilling the beans on her allegedly anomalous transactions with high-ranking government officials.

“Because if you are in detention, your life is at risk,” Calida said.

Calida said his office would look into the motives of the people who made Napoles suffer in jail for a crime she did not commit.

He, however, could not say yet who these people are.

He said the DOJ first dismissed the case filed against Napoles but this was later reversed by De Lima.

The OSG filed a 10-page manifestation before the Court of Appeals (CA) after it was asked to review and assess the serious illegal detention case of Napoles.

In the manifestation, the OSG said there were instances that would show Luy was not illegally detained or deprived of his freedom.

But Calida said their manifestation does not mean to acquit Napoles, but only to inform the CA of their opinion on the case.

He also downplayed criticisms that Duterte ordered him to review the case of Napoles. “President Duterte does not instruct his Cabinet members and officers what to do,” he said.

He also said the government has no deal with the camp of Napoles. (With reports from Marvin Sy, Robertzon Ramirez, Elizabeth Marcelo/Philstar.com)

spokesman Mark Toner said ties with the Philippines were one of the US’s core relationships.

Human rights concerns, he said, could be discussed while moving forward the relationship between the two countries.

The U.S., Toner said, has a long and enduring security relationship with the Philippines and Washington is always seeking to improve it.

In October of last year, Duterte announced his “separation” from the US during a state visit to Beijing, but clarified later on Manila would not be severing ties with the U.S. n

A NEW bill introduced in the state Senate this week is looking to improve staffing at dialysis clinics throughout California.

The Dialysis Patient Safety Act (SB 349) — proposed by state Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) — would mandate annual inspections of dialysis clinics and safer staffing levels.

Currently, the law requires inspections of dialysis clinics every six years. Meanwhile, nursing homes in California must be inspected every year, and hospitals every two years. Further, it calls for adequate time (at least 45 minutes) for workers to properly clean equipment after each patient.

This legislation would apply to more than 550 dialysis clinics across the state, where a number of Filipino-American health care workers are employed, according to SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW).

For those with kidney failure, dialysis is an essential process of filtering a patient’s blood. It usually takes on average three hours and must be done three days a week for the rest of the patient’s life.

“Dialysis patients are grandparents, children and siblings not numbers on a balance sheet,” said Lara in a statement on Tuesday, February 14. “It’s time to fix the dialysis industry and improve patient care for the more than

63,000 Californians who rely on this life-saving treatment in clinics daily.”

Cass Gualvez, organizing director of SEIU-UHW, told the Asian Journal that the legislation was brought forth after dialysis workers wanted to form a union and disclosed their working conditions.

“Workers have an interest in reducing their workload and creating safety for themselves,” Gualvez said. “But honestly, patients have a much deeper and more vested interested in seeing their conditions change. When workers talk about understaffing…not only is their impact on them — whose licenses are on the line, who want to provide their best and see their work as a mission — but clearly, there’s a real effect on the patients, who without dialysis, will not live.”

Christine Lubos, a dialysis clinic registered nurse in Los Angeles County, said that the dialysis industry has “operated in the dark” allegedly at the risk of attention and service to patients.

“I’ve seen situations where one nurse has to assess and administer proper medication to 20 patients in two hours. That makes it difficult to provide the safest and highest quality care,” she said.

Another experience the union shared was an incident last year at a dialysis clinic in Anaheim, California, in which a patient collapsed in the parking lot. An employee of the clinic said it “could have been prevented if more staff

were onsite at the time,” according to a statement.

Since there is currently no set requirement as to how much staff various clinics should have, this bill suggests mandatory staffing ratios: one registered nurse to eight patients; one patient care technician to three patients; and one social worker to 75 patients.

These numbers, Gualvez said, were decided upon based on case studies from other states, research, and testimonies from workers in the field.

“The Filipino community should support fixing and regulating dialysis, not only because a lot of the workforce is Filipino, but because many of the patients who have to go through dialysis are also Filipinos,” she said.

“Both for the people who provide and undergo this live-saving treatment, this is definitely an issue that affects the community.”

She added that the legislation ultimately seeks to reduce the number of infections among patients.

Opposition to bill However, opponents of the bill argue that it is “a solution in search of a problem.”

“We’ve already heard that the dialysis industry is starting to talk to lawmakers in Sacramento and they’re already starting to talk to their workers about why this is bad legislation. That tells us we’re probably on the right path [and] that we’ve chosen the right issue and they’re worried about

u PAGE A6

Dateline USa

A FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Some immigrants, fearful of political climate, shy away from Medi-Cal

eligible “are not breaking the law in any way.”

The most recent statistically credible statewide enrollment SOME foreign-born Califordata from California’s Departnians are canceling their Mediment of Health Care Services Cal coverage or declining to en(DHCS) are about four months roll in the first place, citing fears old, so they don’t yet show any of a Trump administration crackpossible Trump effect on enrolldown on immigrants. ment.

Among those dropping coverDepartment spokesman Adam age are people in the country leWeintraub said the federal govgally but concerned about jeopernment hasn’t imposed any ardizing family members who significant changes on Medi-Cal lack permanent legal status, acsince Trump’s inauguration. cording to government officials, But, he said, “DHCS cannot immigration attorneys and health speculate as to any potential care advocates. changes to the Medicaid proOthers worry they will be pegram that may occur under a nalized in the future for using new administration.” public benefits such as Medi-Cal, Weintraub added that the dethe state’s version of the federal partment “takes its responsibility Medicaid program that provides to safeguard personal health inhealth coverage to low-income formation seriously” and shares residents. only details about an applicant’s “We’re hearing from a lot of immigration status with the counties that they’re getting calls federal Centers for Medicare & from immigrant families who Medicaid Services, and only “for are receiving benefits, or whose the purposes of administering children are citizens and may be the Medicaid program.” receiving benefits, asking to be Last weekend, Ale Ricardez, disenrolled,” said Cathy Senderprogram manager for San Diling-McDonald, deputy executive egans for Healthcare Coverage, director of the County Welfare spoke with a woman who had Directors Association of Califortaken the first steps to rescind nia in Sacramento, which repreher family’s Medi-Cal applicasents human services directors tion. from the state’s 58 counties.

Everyone in the family is a citiSenderling-McDonald stressed zen except the woman’s husband, that the reports are anecdotal but who has work authorization and are coming from across the state. is in the process of getting his “It’s not just one or two coungreen card, Ricardez said. ties,” she said.

“She was concerned that they Many immigrants are dropwould risk the immigration proping out even though they are cess for her husband if they conlegally entitled to and eligible tinued with the application,” she for the benefits they’re receiving, said. she said.

Ricardez told the woman that In reality, experts say, termiher family is legally entitled to the nating benefits might not help benefits as long as they qualify, since the immigrants’ names are but that didn’t change her mind, already in the system.

Ricardez said.

The Community Health InitiaWhile some immigrants are tive of Orange County, a nonprofcanceling their coverage, others it group that helps local residents aren’t even signing up. apply for health coverage, has Alice Ting, an enrollment workworked in the past month with er at Asian Pacific Health Care two immigrant families that have Venture, a group of clinics in Los withdrawn applications for MediAngeles and El Monte, received Cal coverage. two calls in the past two weeks In one case, a Santa Ana mothfrom nervous immigrants asking er had applied in January for full if they should cancel their MediMedi-Cal benefits for her daughCal. Ultimately, they decided to ter, an unauthorized immigrant, remain enrolled after she exsaid Aaron Reyes, the group’s diplained they qualified, she said. rector of programs and policy.

Another trend has grabbed her But the mother called back attention even more: She used to about a week later and told them get daily phone calls from Chito scrap the application, even nese immigrants inquiring about though California provides full how to apply for Medi-Cal. “I’ve noticed recently it’s decreased,” she said.

Jan Spencley, executive director of San Diegans for Healthcare Coverage, has witnessed a similar trend.

“We are seeing people who are not enrolling who are eligible, and people ending coverage who have it,” Spencley said.

“People are not enrolling unless they have to.”

Advocates and immigration experts warn that dropping health coverage — or not signing up — might compromise public health, let alone an individual or family’s health.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent heads out to apprehend an immigrant without “Letting fear lead to actual selegal status in Riverside, Calif.

Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images rious bodily harm, that’s really not the way to go,” Rodgers said.

“If people need health care, they should get it.”

At the same time, Rodgers and others aren’t making promises about the future, because they don’t know what it holds.

“We don’t want to say, ‘This isn’t going to happen, don’t worry,’ and then have something bad happen,” Reyes said. “For us, it’s important to be as accurate as possible, which is really challenging right now.” n (This story was reprinted from California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.)

by Emily Bazar California Healthline

Medi-Cal coverage to all low-income children, regardless of immigration status.

“She said she heard that Trump was going to deport people, and that they’re going to use the names of people who are getting services,” he said. “We told her there was currently nothing like that going on, but she didn’t want to take any chances.”

In the other case, a Buena Park mom submitted an application last month for Medi-Cal and food stamps for her daughter, a green-card holder. A few weeks later, she called back to cancel the application.

“The parent said she was afraid of Donald Trump and didn’t want any problems,” Reyes said.

President Trump has made cracking down on unlawful immigration a focal point of his presidency. In addition to fraying relations with Mexico over his plans to build a wall along the southern border, he has vowed to get tough on unauthorized immigrants already here. Last week, immigration authorities rounded up hundreds of people in deportation raids across the country, including in California.

Trump’s administration also has drafted an executive order that would, if implemented, exclude potential immigrants likely to need certain types of aid and deport those already in the United States who have used social services, according to a Washington Post analysis of the order. It also would require social service agencies to report immigrants receiving benefits to federal authorities.

“The overall climate has been terrifying for immigrant families,” said Tanya Broder, senior attorney at the Los Angelesbased National Immigration Law Center. “We have literally heard from people who don’t know whether to continue cancer treatment. I encourage them to continue getting the care they need while they can get it.”

Broder wants immigrants to know that “at this point, the rules have not changed. The executive order has not been filed.”

Melissa Rodgers, director of programs for the San Francisco-based Immigrant Legal Resource Center, emphasized that immigrants who are currently receiving health care and nutrition benefits for which they’re

Supporters of Dr. Allan Bergano demonstrating against the city government of Virginia Beach for unfairly treating the dentist in an eminent domain case.

Youtube

Fil-Am dentist in Virginia fights gov’t overreach, wins in federal court

by Emil

GuillErmo Inquirer.net

DR. Allan Bergano will seek damages this week after winning a significant eminent domain battle in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia.

Judge Henry Morgan ruled that the city of Virginia Beach violated Bergano’s Constitutional right to equal protection under the law and his right to due process when it unfairly rejected his claim for relocation benefits.

Bergano was told in 2014 that a city road-widening project would necessitate that he move his decades-old dental practice. Reluctantly, he began the process. But when he went back to Virginia Beach officials to apply for what other relocated dentists were getting (some more than $500,000), the city changed its mind.

“They said, I was no longer considered ‘displaced,’’ Bergano told me. “And then they said I couldn’t appeal their decision.”

“They were going to give the Filipino nothing,” Bergano said.

That’s all he needed to stand up to the city and sue.

Last week, before Judge Morgan read the verdict, Bergano said the judge talked about how Virginia Beach officials should be embarrassed for the way it treated Bergano, an exemplary citizen and a Filipino community leader.

And then when the judge rendered the verdict, it became clear: Bergano had fought the power, and won.

In the future, this Filipino’s story will help define who is displaced and entitled to relocation benefits when a government tries to pull a fast one.

At that point, Bergano said he started crying.

“It was like redemption for our ancestors,” he said, referring to the Filipinos like his dad and mine, who came to America in the 20s and faced horrible discrimination on the West Coast.

Dr. Allan Bergano in his clinic.

“I just couldn’t believe (the judge) was actually saying those things,” he said.

Like me, Bergano is the son of an immigrant who came to the United States during that time and suffered the indignities of voicelessness.

We both know what that feels like.

Bergano recalled how his father fought hard to get a college education in America, but despite his education found himself taking houseboy jobs in the Seattle area.

That lesson of humility was not lost on Bergano, who also paid for ten years of college and dental school education working as an Alaskero, what they called the migrant Filipinos who labored in the canneries of Wards Cove.

The money helped Bergano become the first Filipino American to graduate from the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

But living among the Alaskeros instilled in him a sense of the values common to the early Filipinos to America. We shared our resources. We stood up for one another.

“There was no way I was not going to fight,” Bergano told me about his lawsuit. “This was really not about me. This is about all the people who came before me.”

He mentioned his father in the 20s, and those who fought for civil rights and inclusion in the 60s like Fred Cordova and Bob

Santos. “ I represent those who fought for me in the past. I represent my mentors by fighting back,” he said.

Bergano admitted the legal journey was not easy. Along the way, his condo burned down, leaving him “homeless.”

When he began the moving process, he had to borrow money from his in-laws.

But whenever it became tough, there was the history. Oh, he admitted to going to church twice the Sunday before the trial. “I was on my knees and prayed,” Bergano said.

But it was the history that gave him his game face.

“Because of my strong sense of history and pride of being Filipino American, there was no way I was going down without a fight,” he said. “It’s never about me. It’s always about us.”

Bergano is now seeking damages that could go far beyond the $500,000 in relocation costs.

There’s also his time and considerable legal fees.

But he says what he wants the most is a written apology.

If he gets that, he knows what his Filipino American heroes of previous generations would say.

“If I can get a written apology, they would crack up,” Bergano said. “They’d say ‘Right on,’ there you go!”

It’s also a visual example for the next generation, that Filipinos can standup.

And win. n

New California bill seeks to change staffing…

PAGE A5 t

it,” Gualvez said, referring to some of the response the union has received.

In a statement, the California Dialysis Council outlined four reasons why the provisions of the bill would not improve the conditions for dialysis patients and workers: • Mandated ratios will harm dialysis patients, especially those reliant on Medi-Cal; • Mandated ratios will increase costs for the Medi-Cal program unnecessarily; • Dialysis facility operations are already tightly regulated; and • Mandated ratios would reduce patient access and flexibility of each specific facility.

Lara’s statement directly called out the two largest dialysis

corporations, DaVita and Fresenius, alleging that they “pocket the money rather than improve patient care or provide adequate staffing in their clinics.”

However, during an interview with the Asian Journal, representatives of DaVita rebutted those claims.

Fil-Am Anna Ocubillo, an administrator for a DaVita facility in Long Beach, California, said that the company provides “family-like” tailored service for each patient.

She said that she is quick to address concerns of fellow staff members immediately, saying “I’m here to serve those who serve our patients.”

Brian Stern, group vice president of operations for the dialysis company, said this piece of legislation is “unnecessary.”

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He questioned what the issue the legislation is specifically intending to address, given reports of that patients overall are receiving quality care and that their facilities have positive survey outcomes.

“The irony is that this proposed legislation is being billed as…good for patients. But in reality, we think that it puts patients at risk,” he said. “Any health care provider will tell you that they provide treatment based on a patient’s needs.”

Lara’s bill would place a “onesize-fits-all” approach, Stern said, citing a few examples of how the mandated staffing ratios would result in having to turn patients away if a particular worker is late or absent during a shift. Because of this, the patients may have to resort to waiting at a hospital emergency for treatment.

“We are intensely focused on treating our patients…The needs of patients differ by the need of each patient. What the SEIU is suggesting through this legislation is a one-size-fits-all approach for health care. The number of staff is whatever it takes to meet the individual needs of a patient,” he said.

Currently, dialysis facilities are accountable for 376 specific regulations by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are subject to additional surveys if needed.

“We’re proud of the outcomes our teammates, our caregivers, provide, and super proud that many [of them] are from the Filipino community,” Stern said.

“We don’t differentiate the service we provide, obviously, but we are proud to serve all communities, including the Filipino community.

Both Ocubillo and Stern further called on the Fil-Am community not to support the bill.

If SB 349 is approved, California would join seven other states with minimum staffing levels in dialysis clinics: Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Argosino gets grilled by Pacquiao, invokes right to silence

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

TO SAFETY. A woman clutches her cat as she flees her burning house in Quezon City. At least 120 families lost their homes to the fire that hit a compound in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Hontiveros to Pacquiao: Stop victim-blaming Solons exchange Bible lines over cross-dressing

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday, February 13, called for a stop to the culture of victim blaming and gender discrimination against the members of of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Hontiveros authored Senate Bill No. 1271, also referred to as the Anti-Discrimination Act, which seeks to penalize and stop discrimination and harm against any person based on his or her sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE).

During the bill’s second round of interpellations on Monday, Senator Manny Pacquiao questioned the bill by pointing out that cross-dressing can be used to “commit fraud.”

Pacquiao then cited the controversial death of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman who was killed by American Joseph Scott Pemberton in Subic in 2014.

“Ano ba gagawin natin diyan na nagdamit babae yung lalaki tapos nabigla yung lalaki na lalaki ka pala, eh pinatay (What should we do then when a guy dresses as a girl, then the other

guy was shocked of the crossdresser’s real identity and killed then crossdresser),” Pacquiao said. “Doon pa lang, makikita natin yung deception na naloko si Pemberton at sumama siya doon (Just by that we can see that Pemberton was being deceived).”

Pacquiao then took note that “there are only two types of persons—a man and a woman,” citing the Bible. “We can do everything but not everything is beneficial, especially doing wrong or sinning against God.” “Even in the Bible, we can read na ang babae, dapat magsuot na pambabae; at ang lalaki, magsuot ng panlalaki (that the female, should dress like a woman; and the male should dress like a man). That’s what I believe,” Pacquiao said.

But Hontiveros hit back at Pacquiao, saying that the victims should not be blamed for the crime.

“Siya na nga ang pinatay, siya pa ang may sala (The one who was killed was also blamed to be at fault). This is unacceptable. Let us not resort to victim-blaming in an attempt to excuse crimes on the grounds of someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” Hontiveros remarked.

Quoting a passage from the Bible, Hontiveros said that “there is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy but who are you to judge your neighbor.”

“Si Jennifer ay nanamit kasu-

u PAGE A9

FORMER Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Al Argosino invoked his right to remain silent after being bombarded by questions from Senator Manny Pacquiao over a multimillion peso bribery scandal.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, February 16, Argosino denied the accusation that he extorted P50 million from Jack Lam, the Chinese national who allegedly owns an illegal gambling business operation in Clark, Pampanga.

Jack Lam, through former police officer Wally Sombero, supposedly paid a P50 million bribe to Argosino and another BI deputy director, Michael Robles, in exchange for the release of undocumented Chinese workers arrested in November last year.

Pacquiao also accused Argosino of asking for another P50 million bribe, which the latter denied as well.

Argosino pointed out that it was Sombero who asked for an additional P50 million, noting that the affidavit of Alexander Yu, Lam’s interpreter, can sup-

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port his testimony.

Pacquiao, however, insisted that Argosino was lying and repeatedly demanded the latter to tell the truth.

“I wasn’t born yesterday para maniwala diyan sa sinasabi mo (to believe in what you’re

saying),” Pacquiao said.

During the hearing, Pacquiao, who is also known to be religious, asked Argosino if he believes in God. In response, Argosino told the senator: “I am a seminarian.”

u PAGE A9

A FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

The right connections

GOVERNMENT lawyers explained that the evidence against her for serious illegal detention is weak and Janet Lim Napoles might be used as a state witness against “bigger players” in the pork barrel scam. For now, however, it looks like the so-called pork barrel queen might yet walk out of prison mainly because of the right connections.

A report released by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism yesterday said Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Court of Appeals, in a manifestation filed last Jan. 20, to reverse Napoles’ conviction for the serious illegal detention of her second cousin, pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy. Calida admitted that this was the stand of his office, but clarified that the OSG merely submitted an opinion to the court. He did not address the second part of the PCIJ report, which noted that the law firm Napoles hired in her pork barrel and related tax evasion cases were supporters of President Duterte, with one of the founding partners appointed as revenue deputy commissioner.

Napoles is still undergoing trial on charges that she masterminded the multibillion-peso scam with the connivance of a horde of senators and congressmen, many of them still in office. But she has started serving a 40-year sentence at the Correctional Institution for Women for the separate offense of detaining Luy, reportedly to prevent

Guest Editorial

him from blowing the whistle on her pork barrel scheme. Napoles’ brother Reynaldo “Jojo” Lim is a fugitive facing the same

charges.

Following the PCIJ report, President Duterte’s chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo explained that the government is considering Napoles as a state witness against “bigger personalities” in the pork barrel scam – that is, if she can be considered the least guilty. Which she is not.

The nation has followed this scandal closely, and it is clear that Napoles was a principal player in diverting funds from the pork barrel allocations of senators and congressmen to personal bank accounts using bogus non-government organizations.

Napoles is as least guilty in the pork barrel scam as Jaybee Sebastian is in the drug trafficking operations at the national penitentiary. For a government whose head keeps reassuring the nation that his administration will be clean, the solicitor general is acting out of sync. (Philstar.com)

Philstar.com photo

Trump raids the undocumented: What to do to protect yourself and your family PRESIDENT Donald Trump has intensified his crackdown on The Fil-Am undocumented immigrants and many raids have already been Perspective conducted to apprehend those who have been living in the United States without legal status.

While Trump said he will priGel sAntos-relos oritize deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records as President Barack Obama did during his term, Trump’s executive order has a far wider scope in terms of its implementation primarily because its definition of “criminal records” is broader.

Included in the “criminal record” may not be limited to grave crimes like theft, murder, drug trading, etc.

In an interview on CNN, Texas Senator Joaquin

Castro said the mere record of illegally being in and overstaying in the United States may be deemed as a criminal record.

This “crime” of not obeying immigration laws may warrant an apprehension and may consequently lead to deportation after due process has been followed.

In my interview with immigration lawyer Atty. Lou Tancinco on The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America”, she said that kababayans who are undocumented must now consult with their trusted reputable immigration attorney to know their rights, and to be guided on what steps to make if they get apprehended.

Tancinco also said that if you get arrested in a raid, you have to calm down and cooperate, but

remember that you have the right to remain silent and seek representation from an attorney. You should also not sign nor admit to anything WITHOUT your attorney as you may be put in a compromising and aggravating situation if you say or sign something under fear and duress without understanding what you are agreeing to.

Remember, too, that under the law, there is due process even in immigration cases, and even possible remedies to avoid deportation.

Be proactive. Know your rights. Consult a reputable attorney. *** 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 President Donald Trump

Yosemite National Park: The site of the magical firefall “YOSEMITE Park is a place of rest, a Rhizomes refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, waiting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantage of Prosy AbArquezboth solitude and so- DelAcruz, J.D. ciety. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind. Your animal fellowbeings, so seldom regarded in civilization, and every rock-brow and mountain, stream, and lake, and every plant soon come to be regarded as brothers; even one learns to like the storms and clouds and tireless winds. This one noble park is big enough and rich enough for a whole life of study and aesthetic enjoyment. It is good for everybody, no matter how benumbed with care, encrusted with a mail of business habits like a tree with bark. None can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleanses and warms like fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree. Government protection should be thrown around every wild grove and forest on the mountains, as it is around every private orchard, as the trees in public parks. To say nothing of their value as fountains of timber, they are worth infinitely more than all the gardens and parks of towns.” – John Muir, “The Wilderness World of John Muir.”

“That first impression of the Valley— white water, azaleas, cool fir caverns, tall pines and stolid oaks, cliffs rising to undreamed-of heights, the poignant sounds and smells of the Sierra, the whirling flourish of the stage stop at Camp Curry [renamed to Half Dome Village as of March 1, 2016] with its bewildering activities of porters, tourists, desk clerks, and mountain jays, and the dark green-bright mood of our tent – was a culmination of experience so intense as to be almost painful.” — Ansel Adams on his first visit to Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park was established on October 1, 1890, a magnificent array of towering granite, waterfalls, meadows, rivers, creeks, redwood for-

ests, spanning 747, 956 acres. Once inside, one feels serenity instantly.

From the snow, covering road shoulders, to white snow understory surrounding the trees, snowflakes shimmering in pine tree leaves and branches, a morning circuitous drive of 33 miles to the inner rim of the national park allows you to breathe in God, with every breath you take.

There is no mistaking God in this magnificence.

Last year’s visit in 2016, marked by drought, gave my husband Enrique and I, a shy display of water in trickles. It took a trip up to Glacier Point, with a commanding view of Half Dome, Yosemite Village and the Sierras (greeting us with a magical surprise of double rainbows) after gray clouds had cleared a bit. With showers to cool us down, we did not mind it at all, as the rainbows beckoned us to capture God’s magic.

As you get into Yosemite Lodge, the Upper Yosemite Falls rises up to meet you, with its strong flows, as if not enough, a Middle Yosemite falls, and Lower Yosemite falls, with much stronger volumes, now flowing after several snow storms.

In February of 2016, a snow-dusted Half Dome greeted us with robust water flows at Bridal Veil Falls, causing folks to stop at a viewpoint by the tunnel. I wanted to write snowcapped, but as with each day of warmer weather, the snow had diminished to dusted Half Dome. Yet, its grandeur, and that of Bridal Veil Falls, which we got to hike and be with, up, close and personal, did not diminish.

John Muir’s apparent love for Yosemite is recalled, “No temple made with human hands can compare with Yosemite,“ and his famous quote,” I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown for going out, I found I was really going in, “ emblazoned on the storefront of Nature Shop in Yosemite’s Lodge.

Firefall and thousands of photographers “Firefall was an old Yosemite tradition,” National Geographic’s Kenneth Brower wrote, “Every night a bonfire of red-fir bark was built on Glacier Point.

From Camp Curry below came the cry, “Let the fire fall!” And down it poured, a slender cataract of lava splitting the dark cliff. It was a bad idea, probably – no current management plan calls for a rekindling of the firefall-but it certainly was spectacular. There have been no [man-made] firefalls since 1968, yet a pale scar still shows where the fire burned away the cliff’s lichens.”

Michael Frye, a photographer who took photos of Yosemite for 25 years, now 26 years in 2017, described firefall at Yosemite National Park, as a convergence of three: “The perfect Horsetail Fall photograph needs three things.

First, there has to be enough water.

Second, the sun has to be low in the sky when it’s still hitting the fall to give it that orange glow. Third, the cliff behind and to the left of Horsetail has to be in the shade when the water is on fire; the contrast between the backlit waterfall and the dark background is what makes this event so dramatic.”

This 2017, the magic is even more enchanting as the winter rains have created rip-roaring waterfalls, so robust that we can just imagine what sunset would bring, perhaps golden showers so magnificent that would induce tears in us, the photographers. Tears in awe of God’s magic!

We became part of this magical gathering of photographers in Feb. 2016, where Canon lovers stood next to Nikon enthusiasts, exchanging tips. Others had telephoto zoom lenses with a range of 650-1300 mm, while younger photographers with limited resources, applied their creativity instead, using binoculars with iPhones to produce decent enough shots.

Stan Moniz, in a red jacket, became the unofficial mentor to women who admitted their first adventure with Firefall.

“Ah a virgin,” and everyone laughed.

For four days, we waited for sunset

when the exact moment of God’s magical sun rays would hit the waterfalls, first as mist, then increasing in volume with sunset. By 5:37 to 5:48 pm, the sun would set and give us flashing colors and each day, sunset got later.

On Friday, a gilded vertical yellow water flow and framed by dark shadows, it assumed the shape of a heart or a teardrop. On Saturday, thousands showed up. Sunrays fell on the waterfalls, creating a distinct yellow and framed by orange on its sides. By Sunday, a light yellow on the waterfalls, with a hint of orange flashed and just in a snap, the sun disappeared.

I was ready to go home but Enrique requested one more night for Firefall watching, to which a photographer said, “Make him pay dear.” He took me to Ahwahnee Hotel’s buffet breakfast, now with a new name, The Majestic Yosemite Hotel.

That Monday, we were gifted with yellow, orange and even pink on Horsetail Falls, God’s magic manifested.

The conflict between right and wrong During the firefall watch, many photographers shared their indignation at the renaming of park’s icons: Ahwahnee Hotel to The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Curry Village to Half Dome Village and Wawona to Big Trees Lodge, “I care that my national parks are national treasures. They are America’s assets. I care that their Indian names are preserved.”

“The first tribe for which we know the name—the last to call the valley its own—was a band of Miwok who named it Ahwahnee, “the Place of the Big Mouth,” for its shape, and called themselves Ahwahneechee, the people of that place,” Kenneth Brower wrote.

Delaware North, once a concessionaire that run these facilities for years, had lost its concessionaire’s privilege.

In an effort to squeeze the federal government, it claimed compensation for its alleged trademarks and filed a lawsuit to claim monetary gains for these iconic names: The Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village and Wawona, which they

pegged the value at $51 million, while the National Park Service counters that the dollar value of the trademarks Yosemite names at $3.5 million.

How can they file trademarks for something that never belonged to them?

The Ahwahnee Hotel was commissioned by the National Park Service’s former first director, Stephen T. Mather, to be built by a private company, Yosemite Park and Curry Company for public use, even if priced to attract only those with money. For example, Bracebridge Christmas event is priced at $1,000 per ticket, while lunch buffet is affordable at under $50.

During World War II, this hotel hosted the US Navy, and in 1943, the Navy converted this into a hospital, “In twoand-half years, 90,000 service men and women relaxed in Yosemite National Park, while 6, 752 patients were treated.”

No written contracts will ever erase the fact that this magnificent acreage belongs to all of us, America. Ahwahnee Hotel might be fictionally regarded intellectual property by Delaware North, but this particular site never belonged to Delaware North, not its name, as it belongs to the Native Americans who lived in this place, regardless of Delaware’s erroneous filings of trademarks, and erroneously decided upon by US Patent and Trademark Office.

We hope these series of wrongs can be righted now by first, a withdrawal request of trademark privileges for Delaware, second, by an appropriate ruling of a judge to return these iconic names to the public and third, due diligence by National Park Service that these public treasures are #NeverforSale, much like in the tradition of National Park Service’s principles in 1896. “The battle we have fought, and are still fighting, for the forests is a part of the eternal conflict between right and wrong, and we cannot expect to see the end of it.

I trust, however, that our club [Sierra Club] will not weary in this forest welldoing. The fight for Yosemite Park and

u PAGE A9

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017

A

First transgender solon in PH to join the army by dana

SioSon AJPress

BATAAN Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first transgender member of the Philippine House of Representatives, expressed her interest in joining the military as a reserve officer.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 15, Roman commended the policy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which allows members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to join the military.

“I will be applying to become a military officer in the AFP Reserve Force to become the first transgender military officer of the Philippine Republic,” the lawmaker said.

“This will complement their appreciation for the LGBT community for they will see that we can exemplify the same sense of

discipline, the same military professionalism, and the same love of country that the current men and women in uniform embody,” she added.

Roman remarked that as a transgender, she would wear a military woman’s uniform and haircut.

At the same time, Roman showed her support for the proposed revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) for Grades 11 and 12 in both public and private schools nationwide.

She added that she would also encourage the youth “to join and promote our nation’s ROTC because this will prepare them for our country’s defense and for earthquake/typhoon rescue operations.”

The military, meanwhile, welcomed Roman’s intention to join the army.

“We highly value the patriotism of our citizens and will work to cultivate this. She will be a welcome addition to the Reservists Force,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo, however, reminded that anyone who wishes to train within the AFP must “maintain the dignity of the uniform; observe discipline, propriety and decorum; and measure up to the steep standards of the service.”

“In the process of training prospective members, the AFP inculcates on them that that they are entering an institution placed in high esteem,” Arevalo said.

Addressing the standards in wearing a military uniform, Arevalo said that the AFP must “have to go by the gender of the applicant as reflected in the certificate of live birth.” n

Yosemite National Park: The site…

PAGE A8 t other forest parks and reserves is by no means over; nor would the fighting cease, however much the boundaries were contracted. Every good thing, great and small, need defense. The smallest forest reserve, and the first I ever heard of, was in the Garden of Eden; and though its boundaries were drawn by the Lord, and embraced only one tree, yet even so moderate a reserve as this was attacked. And I doubt not, if only one of our grand trees in the Sierra were reserved as an example and type of all that is most noble and glorious in mountain trees, it would not be long before you find a lumberman and a lawyer at the foot of it, eagerly proving by every law terrestial and celestial that that tree must come down.

So we must count on watching and striving for these trees, and should always be glad to find anything so surely good and noble to strive for,” as written in Anne Rowthorn’s compilation of “The Wisdom of John Muir.”

What justifies a private company to claim these intangible names, as if their Garden of Eden or their God’s firefall, to profit from their alleged fictional sale of trademarks, when it is a public asset?

Much like God’s magic in firefall, so intensely beautiful, what Delaware is doing to treat Yosemite National Park’s iconic names, as if commodities on a

TEMPORARY STATION. Congressmen led by Rep. Vincent ‘Bingbong’ Crisologo of Quezon City (third from left) inspect the Roosevelt Avenue Station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1. Lawmakers are eyeing a temporary station that will connect LRT-1 and the Metro Rail Transit while awaiting the construction of the P2.8-billion ‘Grand Central Station.’ The temporary station is estimated to cost P250 million to P280 million.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan

Erap eyes another run

by Kenneth

hernandez ManilaTimes.net

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada may seek another term to be able to continue his projects and bring back the city’s “old glory.”

The 79-year-old mayor said he needs more time to continue his projects involving cleaning and beautifying the city.

“I may need to file for another candidacy so we can finish what we have started,” Estrada said in a statement. “Yes, I want to re-

store the old glory of Manila, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’. We don’t have much time.”

Three reclamation projects are lined up in the city — the Solar City urban center, expansion of the Manila Harbour Centre in Tondo and the New Manila Bay International Community, a residential and commercial hub.

“The city government will not spend a single centavo in these projects, so I thank President Duterte for approving all these

Mayor Joseph Estrada

three reclamation ventures,” Estrada said.

Estrada is currently on his second term as mayor of Manila and is eligible for a third and final term. n

Argosino gets grilled by Pacquiao…

PAGE A7 t

Four nights of bonding with Horse Tail Falls waiting for Nature’s converging cloudless sunset, snow on the mountains and warm sun’s rays gilding the waterfalls. Also known as the firefall.

AJPress photos by Prosy Delacruz

fire sale, is so painful to the rest holds a B.S. degree from the University of of us, including the 4,000,000 the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a visitors to this park.

Senator Manny Pacquiao

“Hindi ka ba natatakot sa Diyos na nagsisinungaling ka? Paano aasenso ang bansa kung ang namumuno ay katulad mo (Aren’t you afraid of God for lying? How could our nation rise if leaders were like you)?” Pacquiao went on saying.

Argosino then countered Pacquiao, saying that he has been

cooperative during the on-going investigations and the previous hearings.

“I have been cross-examined for the last 4 hearings already regarding this incidents and it seems to me that I am now being branded as someone who is at fault... I am now invoking my right to remain silent,” Argosino said. n

Hontiveros to Pacquiao: Stop victim…

PAGE A7 t

nod ng kanyang (Jennifer wore certificate on 21st Century Leadership from clothes based on her) sexual *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. orientation at (and) gender idencolumn for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been a participant in NVM Writing tity at gender expression. Siya She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for ay naging totoo sa kanyang pagyears now. She contributes to Balikbayan 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has katao. Ang nagka-krimen diyan Magazine. Her training and experiences travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, ay si Pemberton (She was true are in science, food technology, law and Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in to herself. The one who committed the crime is Pemberton),” community volunteerism for 4 decades. She pursuit of her love for arts.

Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros also took note that the Bible tells people to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” which should also include those who have who have different sexual orientation.

“We need to pass this law in order for people to be more gender sensitive and better under-

stand the different dimensions of gender identity and sexual orientation,” she added.

Senator Leila De Lima, meanwhile, later corrected that the Pemberton case was not downgraded because of deception on Laude’s side but rather, because of the absence of aggravating circumstances. n

A10 FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

Filipino beauty queens modeled for New York Fashion Week by rosette

Adel

in separate fashion shows.

Tugonon, who is now a proTwo Filipina pageant title fessional model, joined the holders joined the list of beauty Fall-winter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 fashion shows queens who walked the runway of Malan Breton and Denibi. at New York Fashion week on the other hand, weigmann was showcased in Ane Amourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2017.

Former Miss Universe first â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daughters of Artemisâ&#x20AC;? show.

After her stint, weigmann was runner-up Janine Tugonon and Miss world Philippines 2013 seen touring New York with her Valerie weigmann were featured friend and fellow pageant title Philstar.com

holder, Miss world Philippines 2016 Catriona Gray.

Besides Tugonon and weigmann, other beauty queens such as Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere, Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber, and Miss Universe 2015 first runner-up Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez were also part of New York Fashion week.

Dingdong Dantes as a crime buster

by Bot

Glorioso Philstar.covm

HIS being part of show business, Dingdong says, is one perfect avenue to help people become more informed on what is happening in our society today and what everyone can do through the roles he has been portraying on the small screen.

Proof of that is his GMA 7 topbiller â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alyas Robinhoodâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; now on its last few episodes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where his character displays the ability of an ordinary citizen to curb crime.

Dingdong Dantes believes that one need not be a superhero to help maintain a safe and crimefree community. Everyone can do his share, he stresses, by gaining knowledge on safeguarding our loved ones and crime prevention.

His being part of show business, Dingdong says, is one perfect avenue to help people become more informed on what is happening in our society today and what everyone can do through the roles he has been portraying on the small screen.

Proof of that is his GMA 7 topbiller â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alyas Robinhoodâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; now on its last few episodes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where his character displays the capability of an ordinary citizen to curb crime.

Beginning Feb. 18 after â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eat, Bulaga!,â&#x20AC;? televiewers will also Dingdong Dantes is frontliner of GMA 7â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crime docu-drama Case Solved set to air every Saturday beginning Feb. 18.

PAGE B2

Former Miss Universe first runner-up Janine Tugonon and Miss World Philippines 2013 Valerie Weigmann were featured in separate fashion shows at the New York Fashion Week.

Photos from the Instagram accounts of Janine Tugonon and Valerie Weigmann

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Features

B february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

The literary life of good reading Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

It’s been said that those to whom reading is important, gets started on books early.

This specific human act of word-making and word-reading, the scanning of small black markers on plain surfaces (just like the movement of a camera), when it catches, becomes a kind disease — a fascination proliferating cancer of the mind.

When you’ve read James Joyce (who is not easy to read nor understand) at 17, you’ll embrace his “stream of consciousness.” It has a germ of truth, which he intertwined with arrogance and humility, regardless of literary censorship.

For 12 years, U.S. Customs refused the entry of the book, “Ulysses.” But finally, on Dec. 6, 1933, the ban was lifted via a decision of the United States District Court through the Honorable John M. Woolsey’s last paragraph: “But my considered opinion, after long reflection, is that whilst in many places, effect of ‘Ulysses’ on the readers undoubtedly is somewhat

emetic, nowhere does it tend to be aphrodisiac. ‘Ulysses’ may, therefore, be admitted in the United States.”

The controversial book was about persons of the lower middle close living in Dublin in 1904. It describes what they did on a certain early day in June,as they went about the city with their usual pre-occupation — what they thought through its ever-shifting kaleidoscope impressions, observation and behaviors affecting their lives.

Joyce’s sincerity and honest efforts were so misunderstood and misrepresented as too poignant and pre-occupied with sex in the thoughts of his characters.

In our younger years, good taste reached its peak when we encountered Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (written in old-fashioned English) — a book about events that happened a long time ago.

“Alice in Wonderland” is still an overwhelming favorite, not because it’s so funny but because it is so strange, wonderful. It is a gorgeous puzzle, seen from a child’s heart , which delights as much in its ambiguity as it does in its clarity.

“Little Women” was not written for little women or little men or little anybodies — it is the expression of a passionate memory.

Critics say these books were

Dingdong Dantes as a...

PAGE B1 way public service na rin ‘yun so get to see the Kapuso actor as I can see the similarities (of the frontliner of “Case Solved,” a two shows). The only difference crime docu-drama that looks back is “Alyas Robinhood” is fiction at famous cases from the past. while Case Solved is based on They are real stories of various true stories.” offenses and crimes that have The show teaser gives one an already been solved and justice idea that “Case Solved” is rich had been served. in detail and totally compelling.

“One of the objectives of my It never loses sight of the fact shows is to let people know that that at the center of a crime is a we have this inner power wait- violent act that strikes at the heart ing to be unleashed to be able of viewers. to help others,” said Dingdong The fact that everyone is vulwhen asked about his goals about nerable to any threat, whether accepting projects that is in line inside or outside the house, all with public service. “We do not the more makes it important for need to be a superhero to help, everyone to be better equipped in especially now that we are all preventing any terrifying incident concerned to what is happening from taking place. “All of us want a around us.” peaceful community and through He continued, “With regards the show, one can learn what to to the show (“Case Solved”), the do if ever we are put into the kind fact that it’s informing people of situation that we are going to AJ Ads 85 Februarythem 2017_Layout PM Page 1 and entertaining (is) in 1a 1/30/17 feature5:27 in the show. Importanteng

not products of knowledge or wisdom, but a kind of dream — like reminiscing childhood memories.

They are skillfully constructed, highly educational, and carefully suited to age. They are morally sanitary and psychologically impeccable for children, which includes “David Copperfield,” “Treasure Island,” Mother Goose Rhymes and “Robinson Crusoe.”

And of the Greek Classic? Plato, Homer and all the simple, beautiful Greek myths that are read with pleasure by each generation.

The great books list would be incomplete without the Stendhal, Homer, Plato, plays of Shakespeare, “Moby Dick,” “Gulliver’s Travels,” Prouse and Skindahl, Homer’s Plato mouthpiece; Aristotle and his first-rate mind: the dreamed up sentences of Bacon, Horace and Coleridge and that grizzled Spanish veteran, who in 1605 came out with a tale called, “Don Quixote de la Mancha.”

The “pleasure” of memory in a certain school of thought.

The Brothers Karamazov, which I read ten times and each time gave up in rage directed at Dostoevsky and myself because I’m almost sure it required the reader to be of a certain age.

Until now, in old age, I am too young for it. It’s dull and farfetched.

PAGE B6

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Film review: ‘The GreaT wall’

Matt Damon saves China, but can’t save China’s biggest film production

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

THE Great Wall of China was built to protect Chinese states and empires and prevent raids and invasions. The original conception of the wall took place from 259-210 B.C.E., but then went through a few millennia of on and off construction.

The Great Wall we know today was built in between the 14th and 17th century and became a lasting symbol of the country’s resilience and strength.

Its latest portrayal comes in the year’s first blockbuster film, the unmemorable “The Great Wall,” a grand, CGI-heavy spectacle in which Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting”, the “Bourne” saga) and a massive infantry of Chinese warriors seek to defeat an equally massive army of extraterrestrial monsters.

The story is based on a socalled legend that could have only been conceived in Hollywood: a wily European mercenary William Garin (Damon), along with his silver-tongued Spanish sidekick Pero Tovar (comedically played by Pedro Pascal of “Game of Thrones”), is taken captive by a secret fortressprotecting warrior army known as The Nameless Order, led by strong-willed Lin Mae (breakout actress Jing Tian) and an adviser named Wang (Andy Lau, “House of Flying Daggers,” “Internal Affairs”). Willem Dafoe (“Platoon,” “Spider-Man”) co-stars as a Westmalaman natin na may ganung ern prisoner, held captive by The klase palang pangyayari for us to Nameless Order for 25 years. be more vigilant in our everyday As the two Europeans are taken life,” the actor pointed out. captive, the army is preparing for an Curious minds are wondering about his seemingly sudden shift to shows that are aligned with public service and Dingdong has the answer.

“I think entertainment business is, in a way, closely related to public service and as I mature, the opportunities that I’m getting are becoming more serious. For me, the show is a big step to be able to enter into a more serious field and hardcore line of public service considering the nature of the show.”

For him, the fact that he accepted the hosting chores in “Case Solved” also means that he has now become more open to projects that tackle serious issues affecting the society. “Iba na rin Filipina singer Joy Ng, 17, is the youngest semifinalist in “The Voice Israel.”

PAGE B6

invasion like no other: a mythological species of savage, extraterrestrial monsters, the Tao Tei, which run from the mountains from the North every 60 years to wreak havoc upon the Chinese.

The extremely skilled Chinese warriors prove to be no match for these creatures...until Garin and Tovar show them how it’s done in the film’s first of many outrageous battle scenes. The Order then sees the value in these two mercenaries and they join forces to try to defeat the Tao Tei once and for all.

Amid the film boycotts due to the controversy of casting Damon — whose unconvincing Irish accent wavers throughout the film — as the lead in a predominantly Chinese cast, he doesn’t do well in justifying the casting choice. The incredible notion that the entire country of China could not have been saved if not for the inclusion of an Irish mercenary plays with the industry’s tired obsession with white bodies coming to the rescue; it can be seen as, quite literally, a white savior film.

What’s not to be dismissed, however, was Tian’s performance, which provided a refreshing female power character who takes Damon under her wing, and the two embody the advantages of bilateralism.

She assumes the role of the Order’s

commander after the Order’s patriarch General Shao (played by veteran actor Hanyu Zhang, “Assembly” and “The Taking of Tiger Mountain”) is killed (in a quick scene which probably should not have been abruptly cut).

One of the film’s greatest strengths were the spectacular stunts, which are nothing new to the regular viewer of the ‘wuxia’ film genre. Director Zhang Yimou (“House of Flying Daggers”, “Hero”) brings to the mainstream audience dazzling martial arts and impressive stunt choreography really only seen in Chinese film.

“The Great Wall” embodies Hollywood’s shortcomings when it comes to storytelling and casting, but if you can look past that, it’s an amusing two-hour spectacle. But you probably won’t remember it the next day.

“The Great Wall” opens nationwide on Friday, February 17.

Pinay claims semifinals slot in ‘The Voice Israel’ A FILIPINO singer garnered the highest number of online votes on “The Voice Israel,” securing a spot in the singing competition’s semifinals.

Ezra Liz Joy Ng recently paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, according to a release from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The 17-year-old Filipina singer is the youngest semifinalist in the competition.

Ng is fully supported by the Filipino community in Israel as she has been performing in front of the community since she was a kid. She

had previously performed in many of the embassy’s activities.

“My friends encouraged me to join ‘The Voice Israel’,” Ng said.

Imperial commended Ng for making Filipinos in Israel proud and for sharing her talent. The ambassador called on the Filipino community to continue supporting her in taking home the title of “The Voice Israel” this year.

A Filipino had also won a television singing competition in Israel a few years ago.

In 2014, Filipina caregiver Rose Fontanes bagged the title in XFactor Israel. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

age gracefully

Chicken Soup Gives Immune System a Boost

Asian-Style Chicken Soup Serves 2 Ingredients 2-3 Tbs. olive or vegetable oil 2 Tbs. fresh ginger, cut into fine strips 1 Tbs. fresh garlic, diced ½ onion, diced 2 lb. whole chicken, skin removed and cut into 10-12 pieces ¼ tsp. white pepper 1 Tbs. sea salt 8 cups water 4 cups chopped spinach, kale or bok choy, or moringa leaves

Nine Seafood in Cerritos offers scrumptious lunch and dinner eats for the whole family

1. In an enamel casserole dish, heat oil and sauté ginger, garlic and onion over medium heat until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the 8 cups of water, cover and simmer about 25 to 30 minutes.

4. Add green leafy vegetables as desired— spinach, bok choy, kale (chopped), or moringa leaves 5. Check broth and season with more salt and pepper if desired.

BY GRACE O

This winter everyone knows someone who’s had the flu or a bad cold. Even my doctor called to cancel an appointment because he was so ill! I am just too busy to get sick, so I pay special attention to what I eat. My father was a doctor in Southeast Asia and he always said that if you are in general good health, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water and wash your hands frequently, you’re doing a lot to prevent a nasty case of the flu.

One of my favorite flu-busters is chicken soup. Known to Jewish mothers for generations as a cure for common colds and flu, there is solid science that makes it work.

University of Nebraska researchers tested a

© 2017 by FoodTrients.com

2. Add chicken pieces, white pepper and sea salt to season. Cook chicken in the casserole dish (uncovered) until it is half cooked, about 10 to 15 minutes.

dozen brands of chicken soup and found that practically all of them blocked the migration of inflammatory white cells.

Congestion is a response to the cells’ accumulation in the bronchial tubes. Cooked chicken releases an amino acid called cysteine, which is chemically similar to the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine. The salty broth thins mucus and the steam helps open nasal passages. When you add spices such as garlic, turmeric and onions, you not only make the soup delicious, but increase its immuneboosting power as well. For a hearty chicken soup, with Asian flair, check out the recipe below.

GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients®, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of two award-winning cookbooks – The Age Gracefully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, which recently won the National award for Innovation from the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 20 years in the healthcare industry.

Visit FoodTrients.com to learn more. Email us at info@FoodTrients.com

USUALLY, quality Cajunstyle seafood is hard to come by west of the Mississippi, but Nine Seafood in Cerritos, California does it right and will make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Walking into the spacious restaurant, you will be greeted by a friendly staff and a dining room with a charismatic nautical aesthetic. Boil-inbag restaurants have a unique way of ordering, and Nine Seafood makes it simple and customizable to each person’s desired taste.

First, you pick your seafood by the pound: shrimp, New Zealand Mussel, crawfish, clams, King Crab Leg (seasonal), Snow Crab Leg (seasonal), Dungeness Crab (seasonal) and lobster (seasonal).

Next, you choose a seasoning to add bursts of flavor with every bite. The flavors available include lemon pepper, garlic butter, original cajun, lemon grass or a wellsynchronized mix of all four.

You also get your desired spiciness level: very mild, mild, medium, spicy and for the daring eater, Bangkok spicy.

Customers may opt to include additional items to be mixed in their bags, including corn on the cob, red potatoes,

sausage or an extra smattering of cajun sauce.

If you brought the whole family, not to worry; Nine Seafood also offers combos with select options for larger parties.

Combo #1 ($39.99) has a little taste of everything on the menu: 1 piece of King Crab Leg, 1 piece of Snow Crab Clusters, and half-pound each of shrimp, craw sh, clams and New Zealand Mussel.

Combo #2 ($42.99) — one of the restaurant’s most popular choices — offers a more select group with 1 lb of Snow Crab Cluster, 1 lb of shrimp, 1 lb or New Zealand Mussel or crawfish.

Combo #3 ($46.99) includes 1 lbs each of King Crab Leg, shrimp and clams or crawfish.

Then finally, guests who order the most sumptuous of all the combos.

Combo #4 ($51.99), will receive 1 lobster (1.3-1.5 lbs) and 2 lbs of shrimp.

All combo sets are served with 10 pieces of red potatoes, 10 pieces of sausage and two corn on the cobs. Nine Seafood makes sure to serve its patrons with the freshest seafood that tastes like it was caught that morning.

A fixture within the Filipino community in the CerritosNorwalk area, Nine Seafood’s offerings don’t stop at Cajun-

style boil-in-bag seafood: they also offer Thai food options available for lunchtime. Some of the Thai classics to expect include pad thai noodles, pad see ew, tom kha soup, tom yum soup, a wide array of curries among others.

They also offer appetizers like cajun fries, garlic bread, sweet potatoes as well as a variety of fried foods, like oyster, shrimp, calamari, catfish, chicken wing or a combo of all of them. Filipinos may also revel in the deep fried fish options in fried pompano and fried tilapia. They also offer other options like crab fried rice, clam chowder, seafood soup.

You can also take the fun home with you. Nine Seafood accepts take-out orders and even offers catering for your next big party. You can call them at (562)-865-8990 or order online at www.eat24.com or www.grubhub.com.

The unique dining experience at Nine Seafood promises a wide range of Cajun and Thai flavors that will satisfy any customer.

Nine Seafood is located at 11818 South Street, Ste. 108, Cerritos, CA 90703. It is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, visit their website at www. nineseafoodrestaurant.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 18-21, 2017

B

RaPan (Feng Shui compass) To prevent evil energy, promotes good luck shows good or bad directions, it also stabilizes the flow of energy WHEN placed at the entrance by controlling the energy in its surhall or in the room, RaPan not only rounding area.

By Sean

Shono

It also maintains peace and balance of the mind and body, minimizing illness and accident.

It is the most essential item for a Feng Shui master who plans to visit different places.

The similar size of RaPan can be carried anywhere in a pocket. *All of our items have been purified by the authentic process of Feng Shui way. *** Feng Shui master Sean Shono owns Dragon God, a Feng Shui store in Gardena, California. He is the U.S. Chief of the International Feng Shui Association. For more information, please call Sean Shono at (310) 787-1891. Dragon God is located at 1580 W. Artesia SQ. Suite A, Gardena, CA 90248.

The Global Kababayan G. TönGi FIL-Am actor Darren Criss cast as Andrew Cunanan!

Possibly the biggest casting news this year from Hollywood relating to our Filipino-American community was announced this week! As you know, hardly do you find Filipino Americans represented on screen and even more so given parts they can shine in! There are a lot of factors that the entertainment industry has yet to recognize and give opportunities to Fil-Ams, but perhaps the most glaring reason our stories aren’t told is because you hardly have any Filipinos writing our stories, or producers pushing our projects. Even Lea Salonga, who is friends with Darren Criss, thinks that his casting is perfect!

We have Ryan Murphy to thank, as he continues the third installation of “American Crime Story” by

Filipino Americans leading exciting projects in Hollywood! casting Criss, who he has worked with on the hit musical comedy “Glee.”

The first installation that is currently available on Netflix is the “OJ Simpson Story.”It was a riveting series that kept me binge watching and glued to the sofa. The second installation will center on “Hurricane Katrina.” And third is the “Versace” story, the iconic designer who was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

Records indicate that no one has been able to solve the motives for Andrew Cunanan’s murders, which of course makes for great drama for television. The series does depict the storyline from the book, “Vulgar Favors” by Maureen

Filipino-American Andrew Cunanan (inset), who murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, will be played by actor Darren Criss (top) in the upcoming “Versace: American Crime Story.”

Programming for Kababayan Today, February 20-24, 2017 Monday, February 20 - FilAm singer and songwriter Michael Barnum comes to the show to perform some exclusive tracks from his album “Track.”

Tuesday, February 21 - We are joined by a panel of diverse Filipinas to discuss the different types of relationships as part of our love month.

Wednesday, February 22 - Annie Nepomuceno joins us

as the Asian Journal shares the latest headlines relevant to the Fil-Am community.

The cast from the stage play “Fugu” give us details on how and where to catch their performances at the Pico Playhouse.

Mia McLeod shares her expertise on Real Estate and the loan programs available for home buyers.

Thursday, February 23 - The Law Office of Reeves, Miller,

Zhang and Diza talks about “Criminigration” in today’s turbulent Immigration atmosphere.

Our producer Nicanor Evangelista shows us the historical artifacts available for viewing at the Field Museum.

Friday, February 24 - Joey Guila is in town in Los Angeles.

He prepares some stand up for the viewers and invites people to the gig this weekend.

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL WILL DISCUSS U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S CONTROVERSIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS. With the election of Donald Trump as President, millions of people now live in uncertain times. President Trump declared to deport all 11 million illegal aliens during his campaign. Atty. Gurfinkel will discuss and explain some of the recent executive orders, leaked memos, and proposals being circulated, and what people may come to expect (and fear) in the upcoming months. Watch this enlightening encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.

Orth. I know what I am reading next! Congratulations, Darren! We can’t wait to see you in this role!

Dante Basco launches Kickstarter for Bangarang: The Origin Story of Rufio The other news in Hollywood is that Dante Basco, one of the most prolific actors of our generation, announced he is crowd funding for the short film called “Bangarang: The origin Story of Rufio”, which is a prequel of his iconic character, Rufio in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook.”

Basco is teaming up with Jonah Feingold, a USC film student.

Dante has garnered quite a cult among the younger generation because of his “rebel rousing Rufio” character that he portrayed over 25 years ago. He is part of the casting process to find the young Rufio and says, “I love bringing Rufio to a new generation, not just because he’s a character I played in the past, also bringing a Filipino hero to today’s kids is important to me. It’s essentially a fanfic, crazy because I’m involved.”

Dante Basco

Their goal is to raise $30,000 and as of this writing, surprisingly has raised almost half of the amount needed to make this project a reality. Should they all exceed expectations and raise $200,000, they will be making the feature length version.

Let’s make it happen, kababayans! Go to their kickstarter and donate now: https://www.kickstarter. com/projects/bangarangthemovie/ bangarang-a-short-film-about-ru-

fio-before-hook.

***

Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipinos 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.

AJ_BishopSoleilFarewell2016_FINAL_Layout 1 2/16/17 2:32 PM Page 1 B4 FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Thanksgiving Celebration H

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His Holiness Pope Francis Names Bishop Solis as 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah

Bishop Oscar Solis enters Our Savior Church for Mass

Bishop Solis cuts anniversary cake

Bishop Solis’ nieces and nephews from left: Carla Pacubas, Iz Santos, Peaches Santos, Justin Santos, Matthew Pacubas

Bishop Solis prepares for Communion

The Bishop’s Special Menu TRAY-SERVED APPETIZERS

by Arko Foods International: Mini fresh Chinese Lumpia Deep Fried Chinese Egg Rolls Tuna Sisig on Endives SALAD BAR STATION

by Nanet Sicat, Partyworks Etc.: Potato Salad • Macaroni Crabmeat Salad Romaine Lettuce tossed with Crouton & Shaved Parmesan Spring Mixed Greens tossed with grape tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese crumbles Dressings: Lemon Agave Dressing, Herb Dijon, Caesar CARVING STATION

by Jean-Paul Dellosa, Foodtrients and Nanet Sicat, Partyworks Etc.: Porchetta with Cebucheon ”pork belly lecheon” served with lecheon sauce and atchara Prime Rib Roast with drippings au jus and horse radish cream

PASTA STATION

by Nanet Sicat, Partyworks Etc.: Cavapati Pasta Bolognese Pappardelle Pasta Chicken Alfredo Linguine Pasta Seafood Marinara FILIPINO STATION

by Arko Foods International: Kilawing Puso ng Saging (pickled banana hearts) Beef Caldereta (Filipino Beef Stew) Shrimp Salpicao (Sauted Garlic Shrimps) Steamed White Rice SUSHI STATION

by James Garcia, Sushikoto: Spicy Tuna • Imitation Crab California Roll • Rainbow Roll Salmon Roll • Tuna Roll Yellow Tail Roll • Hawaiian Mango Roll Vegetable Roll • Soy Paper Imitation Crab & Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls Nigiri • Sashimi Additional Items: Seaweed Salad • Cucumber Salad Edamame • Tuna Seviche DESSERTS

by Arko Foods International: Assorted Kakanin (sweet rice desserts) Leche Flan with Raspberries Buko Pandan (Coconut and pandan jelly parfait)

Left to right: Joseph Rojas, Fr. Richard Sunwoo, Fr. Albert Avenido, Deacon Paul Pesqueria, Deacon Bob Mi

Above: Bishop Solis’ sister, Angie Pacubas (left), with Grace Ouano.

Right: The Philippines Chamber Singers performed at the Mass and at the reception.

Mass and Anniversary Honors Bishop Oscar A. Solis

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 18

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zzy

Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Oscar Azarcon Solis was just named on January 10, 2017 by His Holiness, Pope Francis, to be installed as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bishop’s appointment was celebrated by his family members, close friends, and parishioners on Saturday, February 11. The celebrations began with an 11:00 am Thanksgiving Mass at Our Savior Church, officiated by Bishop Solis with Father Albert Avenido and Father Richard Sunwoo concelebrating and assisted by Deacon Bob Miller and Deacon Paul Pesqueria. During the Mass, the Bishop thanked Joe Guarrasi, Grace O, and Trinity Foliente for organizing such a memorable celebration. The Mass was followed by a reception emceed by Randy Trinidad from 12:00 until 3:00 pm at the USC Caruso Catholic Center Hall and Complex, which good friends Joe and Elaine Guarrasi recommended as the perfect location for honoring the Bishop and his many years of service to the Los Angeles community. The Mass and the reception were attended by over 200 guests, who were proud and delighted by his new appointment, but very sorry to see him leave for Utah.

Bishop Solis was shocked to receive the call from the Apostolic Nuncio advising him of his new assignment, but as he expressed during the Mass, “As I celebrate my new assignment today, I have mixed emotions. I feel I am ready for the Salt Lake City mission, but my heart says I am also wailing, because every one of you has been such a close part of my life. It is painful to leave the ones I love, but God has other plans for all of us. So I thank God for everything he has provided in my life. And I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” After meeting Bishop Solis for the first time, Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, Administrator of the Salt Lake City Diocese, stated that “The 20-month wait for a new Bishop has been worth it. Bishop Solis is joyful, experienced, and multi-talented.”

Bishop Solis was installed as auxiliary bishop of the Los Angeles Diocese on February 10. In addition to celebrating his 13th anniversary as Bishop, it was also the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. February 11 was therefore the perfect day for the guests to give thanks and celebrate the blessings that Bishop Solis has brought to the L.A. community. The reception began on the beautiful outdoor patio, where very delicious appetizers and special drinks including a coconut juice drink and Sago’t Gulaman (Pearl Balls and Jelly sweet drink) were served. The French doors to the Center Hall were then opened and everyone was

BISHOP OSCAR SOLIS:

A Life in Service To God

Oscar Azarcon Solis was born October 13, 1953 in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He attended the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytag City and was ordained on April 28, 1979. Bishop Solis is the first Filipino-American bishop ordained in the United States. After serving in both the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, and the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, Louisiana, Father Solis was ordained as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2004. He was the Vicar to the Ethnic Ministry from 2004 to 2009 as well as Director, Offic of Justice and Peace from 2006 to 2009 and the Archdiocesan Liaison to Justice for Immigrants Campaign from 2005 to 2009. In 2009 he was named Episcopal Vicar for the San Pedro Pastoral Region.

He is further honored to have been named by His Holiness, Pope Francis, as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah.

invited inside to enjoy a wide array of foods prepared

by Jean-Paul Dellosa and caterers specially chosen for the occasion. Some of the Bishop’s favorite recipes from Grace O’s Foodtrients cookbooks, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook and The Age Beautifully Cookbook, were prepared by Dellosa. The various food stations included a Filipino foods station, carving station, salad station, pasta station, and a dessert station. For the entire menu, please see the sidebar below left. The Center Hall was beautifully decorated with flowers from Heavenly Gardens, Glendale specially chosen for the occasion.

During the reception Bishop Solis spoke to the assembled guests and also sang with the Philippines Chamber Singers Choir, which performed under the direction of Conductor Gelo Francisco at both the Mass and the reception. A 13th anniversary cake prepared by Karina’s Cake House, Glendale was brought into the Center Hall. Bishop Solis cut the first slice of cake and thanked everyone present for their many kindnesses to him over the last 13 years. The

Bishop also mentioned that he had chosen as his Episcopal motto, Fiat Voluntas Tua—Your will be do from the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10). This phrase e the Virgin Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation, reflectin her response to God’s call that she be the Mother of the Savior.

All of Bishop Solis’ favorite foods, flowers, and entertainment were coordinated and underwritten b Grace O of Foodtrients, including arranging for the Philippines Chamber Singers Choir and musicians to perform at both the Mass and at the reception. Every detail of Bishop Solis’ last anniversary celebration in Los Angeles were lovingly chosen by Grace O and g appreciated by all of his many friends and supporter

Bishop Solis’ official installation as the tenth Bishop Salt Lake City Diocese will occur on March 7, 2017, i Cathedral of the Madeleine at 2:00 pm. Tickets will b required for the installation. Solemn Vespers will be in the Cathedral on the evening of March 6 at 7:00 pm A public celebration of Bishop Solis’ installation will held on the evening of March 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Salt Lake Marriott Downtown Hotel at City Creek.

From left: Kevin Tapia, Peaches Santos, Izzy Santos, Bishop Solis, Lovell Santos, Justin Santos

iller, Del Magpantay, Johnny Pahati.

From left (seated): Bishop Solis, Grace Ouano, and Trinity Foliente. From left (standing) Gerry Garcia, Ron Tantoy, Lea Tantoy, and Diana Ouano

Above, from left: Viktor Rzeteljski, Elaine Guarrasi, Bishop Oscar, Marybeth Rjeteljski, Joe Guarrasi. At right, from left (seated): Grace Ouano, Trinity Foliente, and Cora Oriel.

From left (standing): Bishop Solis, Angie Pacubas, Hailie Matarazzo, and Sandy Matarazzo.

From left (seated): Julia Torres, Marilyn Walberg, and Bish From left (standing): Bert Pasiliao, May Castillo, and Beth

B february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

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President Trump’s first 28 days: A poll survey

By Monet

Lu

IT was said to be one of the most ambitious agendas ever laid out by a president in years.

During President Donald Trump’s first few days at the White House, he took several actions: from motioning to repeal

Obama’s signature health care law to renegotiating trade deals to suspending immigration from terror-prone regions.

As far-reaching as his agenda may be, Trump did come through with some of his goals, among them: an executive order to advance the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, an Inauguration Day proclamation and a waiver that allowed his nominee for defense secretary to serve. And while all of this is

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happening, the women’s March was also ongoing.

For my column this week, I put together survey on what people, specifically the immigrants feel or think about the president’s first month as leader of this nation.

(Note: I changed the names for anonymity).

“For me, he is doing so great!

He is a wonderful leader who is just fulfilling what he promised during the campaign. Even with all the oppositions of the prideful liberals, he still manages to work so well every single day. His direct communication with the people via social media is really one great way of communicating to the people. I love how focused he is in reaching the goals of his movement - to make America great again! Significantly, I love that he is working so intensively on the border wall that includes the areas both illegal immigration issues and business coming back in the country by setting the tax lower for the businesses here and making the tax higher for importing products in the USA. I strongly believe that if we buy American products, it should be made here in America. It is unfair for Americans to spend money while their economy is going down and many are losing jobs.

On the issues of illegal immigration, aside from security in the US, it is also fair that people respect the law and order of the country under the Constitution.

I myself, as legal immigrant believes that we are to respect im-

migration policies.

On the refugees, I believe we are to help them in their country.

Well, it would have been ok to help them coming in here if they are not causing trouble but very clearly, that is not the situation with these refugees. They are demanding and making troubles. Making it not safe for the citizens to live in their own country. What we can see from Europe are enough evidence.”

- Grace (Chicago) “It’s a little chaotic. But I voted for him … so I’ll stick with my vote.

Some have asked why I did and I’d tell them America needs change.

Plus, I support the republican ideologies. Regarding the travel ban. I myself know firsthand how it was to be an undocumented worker, which is why I made sure I didn’t stay that way for long.

Those countries are real hot on the list… And immigrants should do the right thing by going to the right process to be a documented immigrant.”

- Mario (Delaware) “He’s ok I think. I mean even if he is notorious for strictly implementing the laws and making sure the government officials adhere to such laws; including police officers’ proper enforcement ng authority, then he cannot be faulted for that because that breeds stability more than anything. Unlike what’s happening to my home country (Philippines). The US government now may seem unstable because of the opposition against Trump, but not to the point that it

The literary life...

PAGE B2 But all these books have suffered no diminution of popularity, being unmoved by the winds of literary and are not likely to suffer any.

Some books are so subtle and multi-leveled that we’ve read them five times and yet still have not finished them.

Certain clean and precise ideas that are as haunting as Heathcliff: the soliloquies of Ahab, Descartes’ systems of analytical geometry.

My favorite, W. Somerset Maugham, is said to have no immortal qualities and sets no bells ringing in one’s mind. But he is so admirably composed in his exact expressions of a particular attitude towards life

(“Of Human Bondage,” “Princess September”) that his works leave a rare and special pleasure to readers.

Interesting commentaries that accompanied these personalities are the lunacies of S.J. Perelman, the lucidities of Bertrand Russel, the elegant frippery of Alexander Woollcott, the profound seriousness of Thomas Mann and the jeweled suavity of Santayer’s sinuous thoughts.

In the end, the best book survives — but the best of the best does not necessarily survive longest.

We cling to what we admire but more fiercely, we cling limpet-like to books we love, perhaps above all else — The Holy Bible,

affects the people directly. What I see instead is that the people are the ones who are causing political unrest.”

- Daniel (California) “I didn’t like him as president before because of his “morals”, but because of his plan to “make America great again, I voted Republican, mainly because of Pence. But I believe Trump’s keeping his promise and I like what’s happening with the ban and other things. I don’t believe in the media news anymore. I listen to Jay Sekulow more and Fox news.

In a time, such as this, where differing opinions don’t necessarily divide a nation, but makes them accept the differences and make

PAGE B2 kasi yung circumstances ngayon na magulang na rin ako. I am now exposed to a lot of things and for that, I want to be involved in whatever help or knowledge the show can give to the viewers.”

He believes in the importance of every Filipino’s contribution to nation-building regardless of its magnitude.

Is he interested in entering politics in the future?

“For me, my being an actor and host of this kind of program is part of what I will do in the future. But wherever this leads me to later on, I still do not know. Basta ako, nandito yung dedication ko in this line of service. ‘Di pa siya case solved (laughs),” replied Dingdong.

But if he will become a crime buster, Dingdong is certain that

AT MONTEMARIA ESTATES, BATANGAS CITY, PHILIPPINES

A PROJECT OF

*** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Dingdong Dantes as a...

A UNQUE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

WINDING ITS WAY SOON

compromises, I want to keep a positive outlook. I want to believe that there is hope for America and that as our new president says, “[we] can make America great again.”

- Lucia (Los Angeles)

he will be part of a group that will protect children from abuse. His heart bled when he learned about one of the Case Solved features where a nine-year-old girl was mercilessly raped and killed by the perpetrator. “Bilang tatay na rin, nadurog talaga ang puso ko sa ganung kwento na may ganung klaseng tao na kayang gawin ‘yun.

And you’ll be surprised when you learn why the criminal did that so for me, there is no place for him in this world. It is really our duty to protect our loved ones by knowing what to do in case we encounter that kind of situation.”

As a dad to his and wife Marian Rivera’s daughter Zia, Dingdong promises to do whatever he can to shield her from harm, saying, “Pati buhay ko ibibigay ko to protect her.”

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 18-21, 2017

B

McDonald’s creates re-engineered Amy Perez’s maid jailed for theft straws for Shamrock season

by Francis

Earl cuEto ManilaTimes.net

Limited-edition and utterly frivolous reinvention lets guests enjoy both flavors of the new Chocolate Shamrock Shake (and yes, we truly had engineers design these)

OAK BROOK, IL-– McDonald’s USA changed the world (of shakedrinking) with a limited-edition straw designed by a team of aerospace and robotic engineers.

The Chocolate Shamrock Shake, one of four new seasonal McCafé beverages, has dual layers of delicious chocolate shake below Shamrock Shake. The new recipe presented McDonald’s a unique challenge to reinvent the shake experience. To deliver the ideal flavor ratio of 50% chocolate and 50% mint in each sip, versus enjoying each flavor separately with a traditional straw, McDonald’s turned to highly-qualified engineering firms. JACE and NK Labs created the probablymore-revolutionary-than-actuallyneeded Suction Tube for Reverse Axial Withdrawal (the STRAW).

The STRAW’s j-shape provides optimal flavor flow dynamics.

“It was a puzzling assignment but one with an ambitious goal,” said Seth Newburg, principal engineer and managing partner at NK Labs. “From a physics perspective, it’s actually quite difficult to deliver a proportional amount of both chocolate and mint flavors with each sip. But that’s exactly what we did. It’s a marvel of fluid dynamics. Thanks Fibonacci sequence.”

McDonald’s has been raising the bar in a number of ways, from how it operates (now serving All Day Breakfast), what it serves (updated Chicken McNuggets® free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors) and what it offers (changing the Big Mac by offering new Mac sandwich sizes).The release of the Chocolate Shamrock Shake and the STRAW marks the latest example of how McDonald’s is putting its guests at the center of all that it does.

“We’re always listening to what our customers want and reinventing our menu in response,” said Darci Forrest, senior director of menu innovation at McDonald’s.

“And though it might sound silly to some, putting our guests first sometimes means re-thinking even the humble straw. We reached out to some of the brightest engineers in the country and asked for their help to create the

ultimate shake-drinking experience.

Due to the STRAW’s unique design, only 2,000 were produced in time for Shamrock season. The STRAW will be available in select participating restaurants with the purchase of a Chocolate Shamrock Shake. Visit McDonald’s Trending Now to learn where and when the lucky few will be distributed.

And, like the seasonal offering of the McCafé Shamrock Chocolate offerings, the STRAW is also available for a limited time.

The Chocolate Shamrock Shake is one of four new mint and chocolate flavored McCafé beverages now available at McDonald’s locations nationwide for a limited time. Those beverages include: • Chocolate Shamrock Shake: Vanilla soft serve and chocolate flavored syrup under the original mint flavored Shamrock Shake.

Top it off with green sprinkles, whipped topping, and a cherry and it’s a match made in Shamrock heaven.

• Shamrock Chocolate Chip Frappé: Made with an indulgent blend of chocolate chips and a hint of coffee, topped with green sprinkles, whipped topping, and tantalizing chocolaty drizzle.

• Shamrock Mocha: Our classic Hot Mocha just got minty. Made with sustainably sourced espresso beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, steamed whole or nonfat milk, mint and mocha flavored syrup, and topped with whipped topping and delicious chocolaty drizzle.

• Shamrock Hot Chocolate: Our delicious Hot Chocolate now with cool mint flavor. Made with steamed whole or nonfat milk, mint and mocha flavored syrup,

and topped with whipped topping and chocolaty drizzle.

As part of Shamrock season, McDonald’s will donate $.25 from each McCafé Shamrock Chocolate beverage purchased to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) during the week of March 11-17.The iconic Shamrock Shake has been a key part of fundraising for RMHC since 1974 when the first Ronald McDonald House was opened.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds. com, or follow us on Twitter @ McDonalds and Facebook www. facebook.com/mcdonalds.

(Advertising Supplement)

TELEVISION host and actress Amy Perez’s maid was jailed, after she was caught in an entrapment operation with P250,000 worth of accessories, money, groceries and clothes from the celebrity and her family.

Perez, Maria Armida Parale Sarte Perez-Castillo in real life, narrated the incident in her ABS-CBN morning show on Friday, Feb. 17.

She identified the maid, who had worked for her for four years, as Melrose Besano, who also goes by the names Mel Besano and Rose Bulibuli.

Perez said Besano, 40, had sought permission to go on an 11day vacation as she was about to get married.

Thrilled over her maid’s forthcoming wedding, Perez said she gave Besano a half-month’s salary in advance.

Shortly after the maid left, they found out that Besano took P12,000 in village association dues entrusted to her. With the revelation, Perez said their neighbors’ maids came forward and said Besano owed them money. She also reportedly

Melrose Besano

Amy Perez

owed money to the village laundry shop.

Perez and her husband, TV reporter Carlo Castillo, searched their house and found out that three of their watches worth P260,000 were missing.

An entrapment was set where Besano would meet with another maid to borrow money. Besano was said to have later admitted to the theft under police custody.

Perez said her maid’s fiancé was a jeepney driver. Besano also had three foreign “special friends,” she said.

Besano, for her part, said she did not benefit entirely from the things she had stolen.

“I have a boyfriend and I gave him P4,000 a month. They didn’t know. I was afraid they’d get mad at me. I didn’t tell them,” she was quoted as saying in Filipino.

Besano asked forgiveness from the Perez-Castillo family. “I admit it. I ask forgiveness from them and I regret what I did. I will accept any punishment,” she said.

Besano is facing a charge for qualified theft, a non-bailable offense.

B february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution Brittany Milliasseau and nancy Miller EXACTLY one week after his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order which banned entry of noncitizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, halted U.S. refugee admissions, and suspended the nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program. Signed on January 27, 2017, the executive order seeks to protect the nation from entry of foreign terrorists, but consequently led to a series of nationwide protests, Constitutional challenges, and agency confusion at ports of entry and with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

One week later, a District Court judge issued a nationwide temporary restraining order which halted enforcement of certain provisions of the executive order, namely parts related to the travel ban on refugees and noncitizens from Muslim-majority countries. Subsequently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the District Court judge’s ruling and allowed the temporary restraining order to remain in place.

While no immediate next steps have been confirmed, President Trump has expressed plans to challenge the ruling, potentially at the Supreme Court level, and has also not ruled out the possibility of issuing an entirely new executive order.

Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began enforcement raids in several states across the nation aimed at apprehending undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records. ICE has reported that 680 people were taken into custody nationwide. 161 people were taken into custody in Southern California.

As legal challenges ensue, expanded enforcement begins, and uncertainty continues to loom, it is now more important than ever to consult with an immigration attorney if you have questions about how to obtain legal immi-

Trump, the executive orders and you gration status.

Frequently Asked Questions I am from one of the seven restricted countries. Is it safe for me to travel outside of the U.S.?

If you are a citizen or national of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen and are not a U.S. citizen, you will not be permitted to enter the U.S. if the temporary restraining order is lifted.

If the travel ban resumes, lawful permanent residents, as well as dual nationals from one of the restricted countries possessing a valid U.S. visa in a passport of an unrestricted country, should be permitted to enter the U.S., but should still carefully consider the risks of travel.

I am not from a restricted country. Is it safe for me to travel outside of the U.S.?

Due to the fluidity and changes taking place without much advance warning, you may want to limit non-essential travel outside of the U.S., especially if you are from an area that may be of particular concern to U.S. national security. If you do travel abroad, please be cautious when returning to the U.S. as there have been unconfirmed reports of individuals being asked to sign documents to relinquish their green cards.

I have a pending case with USCIS. Will the Executive Order impact my case?

USCIS has confirmed that the executive order does not affect adjudication of applications and

petitions filed for or on behalf of individuals in the U.S., regardless of their country of nationality. It is important however to consider that there could be delays in processing times due to the change in directives. It is recommended that you seek a licensed attorney for assistance with preparation of any application submitted to USCIS not only to ensure that a proper legal analysis is performed, but also to ensure that the application is prepared accurately in order to minimize additional requests from immigration that could result in further delays in processing.

I think I may be eligible for a certain immigration benefit such as a green card or citizenship. What should I do?

Due to the numerous anticipated changes to the immigration program as a whole, if you believe that you may be eligible for a certain immigration benefit, you should consult with an immigration attorney as quickly as possible. Changes may happen without much advance notice and a benefit you may currently be eligible for may no longer be available.

What should I do if I am stopped by an Immigration Officer?

If you are stopped by an officer and questioned, you may politely let the officer know that you do not wish you speak with him or answer any questions until you have spoken with a lawyer. You

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017

C

C FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon MAYBE you’ve experienced this before: You’re driving down the road one cold, chilly day and before you know it, you find yourself surrounded by a thick white wall of dense fog. How did you react? If you’re like most people, perhaps you felt momentarily lost and confused or perhaps even panicked, not knowing what was in front of you or the direction you were going.

People who are facing serious debt problems can feel the same way as in the situation above.

They feel lost in a “money fog”.

What exactly is a “money fog”?

Money fog means that you’re in a state of being disconnected from your money. Here are some of the symptoms: (a) Having no idea about your real bank balance (2) Always broke at the end of the month no matter how hard you work (3) You’ve lost track of how much you owe (4) Chronic debt that just cannot be paid off, and (5) Zero savings- and yet, having a lot of expenses that cannot be accounted for or explained.

You may be shocked to know that being in a money fog can happen to people of all income levels. A person who makes $50 an hour can be just as broke financially as another person who makes $10 an hour if both of them have lost control over their money. Thus, when you’re in a money fog, it doesn’t matter much what your income is.

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void.

These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud and misrepresentation in entering into a marriage, etc. The legal consequences of having your marriage annulled by your spouse is

Community Journal

Feeling lost: Do you need direction with your financial life?

At the end of the day, it’s not what you make that really matters- it’s what you get to keep.

I meet with a lot of people who are in denial about their situation and will try to rationalize by saying things like: “Well, it’s not really that bad”, “It’s only money” or (here’s one that I always hear) “Maybe, I’ll win the lottery.”

Often, it takes an eye-opening event to wake them up. This could be a nasty collection letter they get in the mail, a threat of a lawsuit, foreclosure, wage garnishment or a notice of bank levy. Or it could be a sudden realization one day that their bank account has been consistently overdrawn month after month, they are drowning in debt, and they have nothing to show for all the money they’ve borrowed.

This is when reality hits them like a ton of bricks and they find themselves totally unprepared for the financial crisis that they are now facing.

Clearing the fog can sometimes be an uncomfortable process because it involves looking honestly at the financial behaviors that contributed to our present financial crisis. But unless we become aware of what we may be doing wrong, we may never get out of the fog. The two initial steps you can take would be tracking your monthly expenses and creating a monthly budget that is within your means. Create an itemized list of your debts, bal-

ances and interest rates. Learn to distinguish between “needs” and “wants” and avoid buying things on credit as much as possible unless you can pay the bill in full at the end of the month.

Financial recovery cannot begin while your finances are cluttered, messy and disorganized. Spend some time working through an accurate picture of your total income after tax, your realistic expenses and current debt repayments. Then work through some ways of eliminating expenses that you can live without and use the money you’re able to save towards debt repayment. If filing bankruptcy is your only solution to get out of debt, consult with an experienced attorney who can help you understand the pros and cons of such a solution. Whatever you do, have a clear goal and a defined purpose in order to maintain the level of motivation that you need to become debt-free.

For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866477-7772 and we will help you step by step in finding a solution that’s right for you. *** 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)

Putative spouse status as a defense to a petition for nullity of marriage that it results to you not having any community property interest on property acquired by your spouse during the marriage. A nullity may also cut off your claim for spousal support.

What options do you have if your spouse files a nullity against you? You may still have a claim to community property and support as a putative spouse. A party to a void or voidable marriage has “putative spouse” status only if he or she believed in good faith the marriage was valid. Family.

Code. § 225; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1493, 112 CR3d 906, 908; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 721, 248 CR 807, 813. A party who has the requisite objectively reasonable “good faith” belief may be a putative spouse where any legal infirmity in formation of the marriage renders the marriage invalid. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga (2008) 162 CA4th 1000, 1005, 76 CR3d 401, 404; Estate of De-

u PAGE C3

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

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

THIS is the second of three articles on how the IRS selects tax returns for audit. Our first article discussed how tax returns are received, verified, and reviewed.

This article deals with how your tax returns are stored into master files. The next and last article will discuss how the IRS scores your tax returns for audit.

After receiving your tax return, the IRS enters your tax data into an IRS master file. The master file is separated into Individual Master File, Business Master File, and Non-Master Files.

1. Individual Master File is a magnetic tape record of all individual income tax filers in social security number sequence. All tax data and related information pertaining to each individual income tax filer are posted to this file. It’s continuously updated as a current record of each taxpayer’s account.

2. Business Master File is a magnetic tape record of all business taxpayers with employer identification numbers. Taxes processed include corporate,

Immigration Corner Atty. BRiAn leRneR QUESTION: What has happened with this Muslim ban per the executive order?

Answer: Just a few days ago, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that it was unconstitutional and would cause irreparable injury and ordered a nationwide injunction on the execution of the the ban. In essence, this Judge gutted the executive order and all locations in the entire U.S. cannot abide by its terms.

This is a ‘preliminary’ or ‘temporary’ injunction. This means that while the actual case is going forward for final decision (or until it becauses final after all of the appeals) that it cannot be put into effect. Today, all sides or legally briefing the issue so that a decision can be made on this matter.

How the IRS stores your income tax returns for future audits partnership, LLC, employment, excise, fiduciary, estate, gift, and tax-exempt organizations with investment income.

Each taxpayer’s account is divided into tax modules (tax years) reflecting current status, balance, and transactions applicable to each tax year. This information includes tax return data, assessments, and changes made to return as filed. A transcript of taxpayer’s account is a printout of tax module information.

3. Non-Master File is a smaller database that controls returns not processed on the master files. This includes assessments, adjustments, and refunds that are performed manually at the Service Centers. Master files are not efficient because of manual processing required to obtain accurate balances from other files.

The IRS hopes this problem to disappear with the introduction of a modern data engine called CADE (see below).

4. There’s a new kid in town— CADE that stands for Customer Account Data Engine. It’s replacing the aging Master File System. This is a modern data stor-

age management and accessing system that is designed to provide real-time access to taxpayer accounts, up-to-the-minute data, and easy access by authorized IRS personnel. CADE handles returns with Schedules C, E, and F and those claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Dependent Care Credit. A newer version called CADE 2 updates taxpayer account information on a daily basis. This speeds up responses to taxpayer inquiries, reduce the number of out-of-date notices, and allow a shorter refund cycling time. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Muslim ban ordered unconstitutional In a stunning rebuke, a federal judge in Seattle has ordered a national halt to enforcement of President Trump’s controversial travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled Friday afternoon in favor of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who sued this week to invalidate key provisions of Trump’s executive order.

Robart granted Ferguson’s request for a temporary restraining order “on a nationwide basis,” prohibiting federal employees from enforcing Trump’s order.

The judge rejected arguments from Justice Department attorneys who said the travel ban fell well within the president’s national-security powers.

Question: Did Trump appeal this?

Answer: Yes, the Department of Homeland Security appealed

the order and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the U.S. District Court order. Now, it is up for final briefing. Note that there are 97 big companies such as Microsoft and Apple which states that the ban hurts their business and does not allow them to petition to qualified and talented persons to work at their companies.

Question: Is Trump tweeting against this judge who ruled against him?

Answer: Yes, he wrote the following: “The opinion of this socalled judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!”

Thus, it would seem that Trump will try to attack this Judge as he has done other Judges who do not rule in his favor. However, the checks and balances on the

u PAGE C3

C FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon MAYBE you’ve experienced this before: You’re driving down the road one cold, chilly day and before you know it, you find yourself surrounded by a thick white wall of dense fog. How did you react? If you’re like most people, perhaps you felt momentarily lost and confused or perhaps even panicked, not knowing what was in front of you or the direction you were going.

People who are facing serious debt problems can feel the same way as in the situation above.

They feel lost in a “money fog”.

What exactly is a “money fog”?

Money fog means that you’re in a state of being disconnected from your money. Here are some of the symptoms: (a) Having no idea about your real bank balance (2) Always broke at the end of the month no matter how hard you work (3) You’ve lost track of how much you owe (4) Chronic debt that just cannot be paid off, and (5) Zero savings- and yet, having a lot of expenses that cannot be accounted for or explained.

You may be shocked to know that being in a money fog can happen to people of all income levels. A person who makes $50 an hour can be just as broke financially as another person who makes $10 an hour if both of them have lost control over their money. Thus, when you’re in a money fog, it doesn’t matter much what your income is.

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void.

These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud and misrepresentation in entering into a marriage, etc. The legal consequences of having your marriage annulled by your spouse is

Community Journal

Feeling lost: Do you need direction with your financial life?

At the end of the day, it’s not what you make that really matters- it’s what you get to keep.

I meet with a lot of people who are in denial about their situation and will try to rationalize by saying things like: “Well, it’s not really that bad”, “It’s only money” or (here’s one that I always hear) “Maybe, I’ll win the lottery.”

Often, it takes an eye-opening event to wake them up. This could be a nasty collection letter they get in the mail, a threat of a lawsuit, foreclosure, wage garnishment or a notice of bank levy. Or it could be a sudden realization one day that their bank account has been consistently overdrawn month after month, they are drowning in debt, and they have nothing to show for all the money they’ve borrowed.

This is when reality hits them like a ton of bricks and they find themselves totally unprepared for the financial crisis that they are now facing.

Clearing the fog can sometimes be an uncomfortable process because it involves looking honestly at the financial behaviors that contributed to our present financial crisis. But unless we become aware of what we may be doing wrong, we may never get out of the fog. The two initial steps you can take would be tracking your monthly expenses and creating a monthly budget that is within your means. Create an itemized list of your debts, bal-

ances and interest rates. Learn to distinguish between “needs” and “wants” and avoid buying things on credit as much as possible unless you can pay the bill in full at the end of the month.

Financial recovery cannot begin while your finances are cluttered, messy and disorganized. Spend some time working through an accurate picture of your total income after tax, your realistic expenses and current debt repayments. Then work through some ways of eliminating expenses that you can live without and use the money you’re able to save towards debt repayment. If filing bankruptcy is your only solution to get out of debt, consult with an experienced attorney who can help you understand the pros and cons of such a solution. Whatever you do, have a clear goal and a defined purpose in order to maintain the level of motivation that you need to become debt-free.

For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866477-7772 and we will help you step by step in finding a solution that’s right for you. *** 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)

Putative spouse status as a defense to a petition for nullity of marriage that it results to you not having any community property interest on property acquired by your spouse during the marriage. A nullity may also cut off your claim for spousal support.

What options do you have if your spouse files a nullity against you? You may still have a claim to community property and support as a putative spouse. A party to a void or voidable marriage has “putative spouse” status only if he or she believed in good faith the marriage was valid. Family.

Code. § 225; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1493, 112 CR3d 906, 908; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 721, 248 CR 807, 813. A party who has the requisite objectively reasonable “good faith” belief may be a putative spouse where any legal infirmity in formation of the marriage renders the marriage invalid. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga (2008) 162 CA4th 1000, 1005, 76 CR3d 401, 404; Estate of De-

u PAGE C3

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

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

THIS is the second of three articles on how the IRS selects tax returns for audit. Our first article discussed how tax returns are received, verified, and reviewed.

This article deals with how your tax returns are stored into master files. The next and last article will discuss how the IRS scores your tax returns for audit.

After receiving your tax return, the IRS enters your tax data into an IRS master file. The master file is separated into Individual Master File, Business Master File, and Non-Master Files.

1. Individual Master File is a magnetic tape record of all individual income tax filers in social security number sequence. All tax data and related information pertaining to each individual income tax filer are posted to this file. It’s continuously updated as a current record of each taxpayer’s account.

2. Business Master File is a magnetic tape record of all business taxpayers with employer identification numbers. Taxes processed include corporate,

Immigration Corner Atty. BRiAn leRneR QUESTION: What has happened with this Muslim ban per the executive order?

Answer: Just a few days ago, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that it was unconstitutional and would cause irreparable injury and ordered a nationwide injunction on the execution of the the ban. In essence, this Judge gutted the executive order and all locations in the entire U.S. cannot abide by its terms.

This is a ‘preliminary’ or ‘temporary’ injunction. This means that while the actual case is going forward for final decision (or until it becauses final after all of the appeals) that it cannot be put into effect. Today, all sides or legally briefing the issue so that a decision can be made on this matter.

How the IRS stores your income tax returns for future audits partnership, LLC, employment, excise, fiduciary, estate, gift, and tax-exempt organizations with investment income.

Each taxpayer’s account is divided into tax modules (tax years) reflecting current status, balance, and transactions applicable to each tax year. This information includes tax return data, assessments, and changes made to return as filed. A transcript of taxpayer’s account is a printout of tax module information.

3. Non-Master File is a smaller database that controls returns not processed on the master files. This includes assessments, adjustments, and refunds that are performed manually at the Service Centers. Master files are not efficient because of manual processing required to obtain accurate balances from other files.

The IRS hopes this problem to disappear with the introduction of a modern data engine called CADE (see below).

4. There’s a new kid in town— CADE that stands for Customer Account Data Engine. It’s replacing the aging Master File System. This is a modern data stor-

age management and accessing system that is designed to provide real-time access to taxpayer accounts, up-to-the-minute data, and easy access by authorized IRS personnel. CADE handles returns with Schedules C, E, and F and those claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Dependent Care Credit. A newer version called CADE 2 updates taxpayer account information on a daily basis. This speeds up responses to taxpayer inquiries, reduce the number of out-of-date notices, and allow a shorter refund cycling time. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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Muslim ban ordered unconstitutional In a stunning rebuke, a federal judge in Seattle has ordered a national halt to enforcement of President Trump’s controversial travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled Friday afternoon in favor of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who sued this week to invalidate key provisions of Trump’s executive order.

Robart granted Ferguson’s request for a temporary restraining order “on a nationwide basis,” prohibiting federal employees from enforcing Trump’s order.

The judge rejected arguments from Justice Department attorneys who said the travel ban fell well within the president’s national-security powers.

Question: Did Trump appeal this?

Answer: Yes, the Department of Homeland Security appealed

the order and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the U.S. District Court order. Now, it is up for final briefing. Note that there are 97 big companies such as Microsoft and Apple which states that the ban hurts their business and does not allow them to petition to qualified and talented persons to work at their companies.

Question: Is Trump tweeting against this judge who ruled against him?

Answer: Yes, he wrote the following: “The opinion of this socalled judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!”

Thus, it would seem that Trump will try to attack this Judge as he has done other Judges who do not rule in his favor. However, the checks and balances on the

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Community Journal

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

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I WAS severely injured in a recent car accident while returning to work on an errand. I had to undergo multiple surgeries.

I missed several weeks of work and will need more time off for treatments. I am afraid to tell my employer about my need for more time off because I might be fired. What can I do?

A: You need to notify the employer immediately about the need for more treatments related to your injuries or medical condition. In this way, you are protected from any adverse action that may be taken against you at work.

Once notified of your medical condition or the need for more treatments related to a medical condition, the employer is obligated by law to engage you in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made.

There are several instances where an employee’s personal injuries (whether these injuries happened at work or outside work) lead to violations of the employee’s rights. Consider the following situations: The employer denied the employee’s request to take time off to undergo treatments. Employers with 5 or more employees are prohibited from denying the right to use medical leave, or for disciplining, discharging, demoting,

reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS “YOU shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart…Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus: 17-18) More and more, we seem to live in a polarized world as we experience wide differences in views on politics and religion among people. This situation has caused so much anger, bitterness, dissatisfaction, and quandary in individuals.

And in this milieu, the questions that we grapple with are: How can we respect one another despite our differences? How can we live harmoniously and still hope together for a better world? How do we build bridges to resolve conflicts?

Going deeper in the light of this Sunday’s Gospel, Ronald Rolheiser presents the same moral and human challenges by asking these related questions: “How do I not let a bitter word ruin my day? How do I not demonize others when they oppose me?

How do I remain sympathetic when I’m misunderstood? How do I remain warm in the face of bitterness? How do I not give in paranoia when I feel threatened?

How do I forgive someone who

suspending, or discriminating against an employee for using such leave for themselves (or to attend to an ill family member).

The employer denied the employee’s request for reasonable accommodation. The employer must engage in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made for a disabled employee to accommodate restrictions. Sometimes, granting an additional short-term extension of an approved leave may constitute reasonable accommodation.

After filing a request for family or medical leave (or after filing a worker’s compensation claim), the employee experiences an adverse employment action, such as demotion, decrease in pay, decrease of work hours, loss of benefits, assignment to unfavorable tasks, suspension, or termination. Such actions contradict California law.

The employer retaliates against the employee for filing a worker compensation claim or some other claim by withholding the payment of all the employee’s wages due on the last day of employment. The employer must immediately pay all compensation due, and ensure that the employee receives the payment.

After the employee requests intermittent leave or comes back from leave, the employee experiences an adverse employment action such as being assigned to

unfavorable assignments, given difficult-to-achieve deadlines, being written up, demoted, stripped of supervisory responsibilities, laid-off, or fired.

The employee was fired for “excessive absences” even though the employee provided doctor’s notes for these absences.

Employees who have been seriously injured face difficult challenges, including having to miss work in order to get treatments. These efforts to get the employees’ health back in order to rejoin the workforce is protected by law. If the employee was let go based on a disability or medical condition, the employee can sue for wrongful termination. The employee may be entitled to the following: reinstatement, back pay, loss of earnings, damages for emotional distress, attorneys’ fees and costs, and punitive damages in certain instances.

*** 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 Aselected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

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doesn’t want my forgiveness?

How do I stop myself from slamming the door of my heart in the face of coldness and rejection?

How do I forgive others when my own heart is bitter in self-pity?

How do I really love and forgive as Jesus did?”

As always, Jesus asks us to be radical in our response to these challenges. We hear this admonition in this Sunday’s Gospel.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to relate with people beyond our families and friends, even those that we dislike. He tells us to be perfect as his Father, who makes the sun rise on the bad and the good.

If there one thing to console us who try to live this radical call of the Gospel, this is what “holiness” means: It’s more than praying on our knees or coming to church. It’s more than speaking a pious language and biblical verses. It’s more than giving our weekly church donations.

It’s more than being good people and citizens by faithfully following the rules of the church and the government. It’s to be “distinct” or “separate” from this world by living out the extreme mandate of the Gospel: to offer no resistance to one who is evil”; “to hand over your cloak as well” to “anyone who wants to go to law with you over your tunic,” to turn the other cheek if “someone

strikes you on your right cheek,” and “to go for two miles if “anyone press you into service for one mile.”

Reginald H. Fuller makes this matter clear in his exegesis on this Sunday’s First Reading from the Book of Leviticus (LV 19:1-2, 17-18). He explains: “Holiness means separateness, distinctiveness, from the world. It was first of all the quality of YHWH. Then, by making Israel his people, YHWH made them holy too.

This is not expressed here but is presupposed by the context of the Old Testament Law, given as it is after the exodus; it is however made clear, as far as Christian Church is concerned, in the second reading: ‘God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.’”

Indeed, radical Christianity is the mark of true holiness. If we cannot reach this perfection, may we at least try our best! *** 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.

Putative spouse status as a defense…

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Passe (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107, 118 CR2d 143, 155; see Marriage of Vryonis, supra, 202 CA3d at 718–719, 248 CR at 811–812.

A party’s “good faith” belief in the validity of the marriage is not tested by whether he or she believed a “marriage” lawfully occurred under some private, secular or spiritual set of standards.

A putative spouse must have had a good faith belief in the existence of a lawful California marriage. Estate of DePasse (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107–108, 118 CR2d 143, 156; Welch v. State of Calif.

(2000) 83 CA4th 1374, 1378– 1379, 100 CR2d 430, 432–433; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 723, 248 CR 807, 814–815 “Good faith” belief is tested by an objective standard based on facts that would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to harbor a good faith belief in the existence of a valid California marriage. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga, supra, 162 CA4th at 1005, 76 CR3d at 404; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1497, 112 CR3d 906, 911; Marriage of Ramirez & Llamas (2008) 165 CA4th 751, 756, 81 CR3d 180, 183. Whether a party had an ob-

jectively reasonable “good faith” belief is a question of fact to be determined in light of all the circumstances.

Successfully proving putative spouse status or putative marriage status in court gives rise to certain property, support and attorney fees/costs rights, as well as certain other rights that ordinarily attach only between lawfully married persons. Property that would have been community or quasi-community property had the marriage been valid is deemed “quasi-marital property” and, in a proceeding to terminate the invalid marriage, “shall” be divided between the parties as if it were community. Family.

Code. § 2251(a)(2); Marriage of Tejeda (2009) 179 CA4th 973, 983, 102 CR3d 361, 368; Quasimarital property divided pursuant to § 2251 is also liable for the parties’ debts to the same extent as if it had been community or quasi-community property. Family.Code. § 2252.

In addition, “temporary” and “permanent” spousal support may also be awarded in a nullity proceeding in favor of a putative spouse “in the same manner as if the marriage had not been void or voidable” Family Code Section 2254. The court may also award

attorney’s fees pursuant to family code section 2030 in favor of a party found to be “innocent of fraud or wrongdoing in inducing or entering into the marriage, and free from knowledge of the then existence of any prior marriage or other impediment to the contracting of the marriage for which a judgment of nullity is sought.” Family Code Section 2255. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

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Muslim ban ordered…

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balance of power is working. A President cannot issue orders that are unconstitutional and in violation of the First Amendment and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States. A District Court Judge who was appointed

by President Bush and is Republican himself ruled against Trump.

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How your personal injuries Rescinding removal/deportation affect your rights at work order to allow for adjustment of status

On living the radical call of the Gospel in a polarized world

To Live With Faith

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017

Hopefully, we will see that the checks and balances of power continue to provide a sufficient basis where one part of government (i.e. the executive branch) does not violate its power and try to issue orders in violation of the U.S. Constitution. *** Atty. Brian D. Lerner has been an Immigration Attorney for nearly a quarter of a century.

He is married to a Filipina and has helped thousands of Filipino families all over the country. In addition to his offices in Southern California in Long Beach and Carson, he has an office in Quezon City. He is a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Legal Board of Specialization, California State Bar. The initial consultation is free. Call (562) 495-0554 and/or send an e-mail to blerner@californiaimmigration.us.

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WE have all heard the popular saying, “Timing is everything.”

Unfortunately, this saying often adversely applies to those persons who have found an avenue from which to obtain a green card, only to be prohibited from doing so because he/she has a prior removal/ deportation order. A typical scenario involves a person who entered the US years ago on a B-2 tourist visa, overstayed, and was ordered removed by the Immigration Court. Fast forward to today, that person who was ordered removed finds true love and marries a US Citizen. Seemingly close to finally obtaining permanent resident status, he/she is precluded from doing so because of the prior removal/deportation order. What options does one have in such a case?

A motion to reopen the removal/deportation proceedings and rescind the removal/deportation order can be filed in Immigration Court. If the motion to reopen the proceedings and rescind the removal/deportation order is successful, the alien can pursue whatever relief from removal/deportation that is available to him/her. For the scenario cited in the first paragraph, the relief would be adjustment of status to permanent resident via marriage to a US citizen spouse. The relief would be presented in Immigration Court, with the Immigration Judge to decide the merits of the adjustment of status application. Alternatively, if an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can be obtained to terminate the proceedings, a decision on the adjustment of status application can be made outside Immigration Court, by the USCIS. Generally, a motion to reopen removal/deportation proceedings must be filed within 90 days of the date of entry of the removal/deportation order. However, several bases upon which a motion to reopen may be filed past 90 days exist, and are discussed below.

Under 8 CFR § 1003.23(b)(4), a motion to reopen can be filed at any time if notice of the proceedings was not received by the person subject to the removal/deportation order, and a removal/deportation order was entered in his absence. Written notice of the time and place of removal proceedings must be given in person to the alien, or shall be given by certified mail to the alien or to the alien’s counsel of record. INA §242B(a)(2)(A). Further, written notice of the proceedings, if provided by certified mail, must be provided at the most recent address reported by the alien. Matter of Grijalva, Interim Decision 3246 (BIA 1995). The requirements for notice of removal/deportation proceedings are strict, and careful analysis of a person’s immigration court file often results in finding evidence that DHS did not comply with required procedure, which can be the basis for reopening the removal/ deportation proceeding.

Further, the Immigration Judge has discretionary authority to reopen or reconsider cases on his or her own motion (“sua sponte”) at any time providing a valid basis can be shown. 8 CFR § 1003.23(b)(1). Careful analysis of not only the immigration court file, but also the specific facts and circumstances of the case is necessary to put forward a valid basis on which the Immigration Judge can rely to reopen the proceedings. Some bases upon which cases I have been able to reopen cases include improper section cited by the DHS attorney in the charging document, insufficient evidence presented by the DHS attorney in proving up the case against the alien, and hardship and humanitarian concerns.

If you have a prior removal/deportation order which is preventing you from adjusting status, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney to ascertain the bases upon which a motion to reopen can be filed. *** 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.

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Trump, the executive orders and…

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may also let the officer know that you do not consent to a search of your person or property.

How can I find out if my family member has been arrested in an immigration raid?

If the individual is over 18 years old, you may search the ICE Online Detainee Locator Sys-

tem. If your family member has been detained, you should consult with an immigration attorney immediately. ***

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) 795-

8009 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.

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Community Journal

C FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Using Chapter 13 Calendar of Events across America to stop foreclosure

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 61. Her husband is 60. In my book, they are young seniors. They bought their house in 2006 just before the crash of the housing market. They used a zero down 10 years interest only mortgage for the first 10 years. Thereafter, they have to start paying interest and principal. They paid $2,400 a month for the purchase date up to early last year, which is interest only.

As you well know, interest rates have been very low for the last 10 years. The Feds have been keeping rates at rock bottom so as not to derail the slow but steady improvement in the performance of our economy. With the expiration of the 10 years, mortgage payments doubled to $4,400. It appears that they have $250K of equity in the house.

Since they could not pay $4,400, they asked the bank for a loan modification last year. Bank placed them on a 3-month trial period that they complied with.

However, nothing happened after the trial period. Bank started to send them statements demanding $4,400 after the trial period ended.

Clients received the recorded notice of default last October.

Foreclosure sale is now scheduled for February 15. Their arrears on the mortgage is $60K. A third party continues helping them to get the loan modification but they have now decided to try to sell the house. But one week is not enough time to sell the house. If the house is foreclosed next week, the auction sale may wipe out more than half or all of their equity if there are no serious buyers that show up for the auction sale. If no serious buyers show up, then bank will bid the balance of the loan for the house and that will wipe out the entire $250K of equity. The house is worth $800K while the balance of the mortgage owed to bank is $550K leaving equity of $250K. But if there are no buyers at auction, bank will bid $550K, the balance of the mortgage then debtors get nothing. If a serious

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Senior needs Chapter 13 to stop sale of $1.0M house by judgment lien of $30K

buyer shows up and bids $700K, then bank gets paid $550K, and clients realize an amount over the balance owed to bank or equity of $150K. The higher the purchase price, the higher the equity realized by clients. It is certainly to their advantage to prevent the foreclosure, so they can have enough time to get a serious buyer for the right price.

Clients decide to get Chapter 13 relief. What will Chapter 13 do for them? First, it will immediately stop the foreclosure next week, so it creates time for them to sell the house for the right price. Second, if they can find the right buyer, a mo-

really know what that exactly means. I surmise that the divorce judgment required him to pay alimony and to buy out his ex wife’s 50 percent share in the house. As some famous actor said, two divorces wiped him out. Each divorce felt like his heart was being ripped through his wallet. I can’t remember his name right now but the description of the financial agony that client went through with his divorce is appropriate. Oh, yeah, it was Robin Williams who said this. His first divorce wiped out half his assets and the second divorce wiped out the other half of his assets.

Client has social security of $1,400 and makes $2,600 driving UBER full time. A judgment creditor had a judgment lien of $15K on the house 15 years ago.

That lien has now ballooned to $34K. And judgment creditor has just filed a motion to sell client’s house to pay the lien. Is this even possible that the enforcement of a judgment lien can result in the involuntary sale of the debtor’s house? Sadly, it is true. The CA code of civil procedure allows the judgment creditor, by motion, to request court permission to force the sale of the house to satisfy the lien! Surprised? As POTUS Trump will tweet “NOT NICE AND NOT FAIR!!” “ THAT JUDGMENT LIEN CREDITOR IS A TERRORIST AND MUST NOT BE GIVEN A VISA!” Well, the only way to stop the forced sale of the house is to file a Chapter 13. Even a missile from Iran will not stop a foreclosure but a Chapter 13 stops it dead on its track. Yes, a Chapter 13 is more powerful than a missile from Iran. In a Chapter 13, client will be allowed to pay the $34,000 over 60 months without interest, that’s about $570 a month.

I am wondering why client waited until the last minute to take care of this problem that it

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Credit card debt must be wiped out now

by Chapter 7 or 13. Otherwise, these debts will become lawsuits that become judgment liens that will put your house at risk. If you wipe them out now, they are wiped out, nipped at the bud. tion seeking court permission to sell the house can be filed in the Chapter 13 case. The court protects the house by preventing the foreclosure while the court gives them permission to sell the house. Third, it makes their loan modification request stronger because the filing of the bankruptcy proves financial hardship, which is a sine quo non-element of a loan modification request. If they decide not to sell the house if the LM is approved, or for some reason, they are now able to afford to pay interest and principal as well as the plan payment, then they can just stay on the 13 for five years.

But of course, a serious buyer for $800K would do the trick because clients walk away with at least $200K of equity. They can use the cash to buy a more affordable house with a smaller mortgage payment.

Next client is 66. He owns a house with a small mortgage balance of $140K. His house is now worth $1.0M. So he has over $850K of equity. The problem is that his divorce 15 years ago “wiped him out”. I don’t

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ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS F E B R UA RY 1 8

Free parenting class in Eagle Rock, CA Come to a free parenting class in Eagle Rock on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Eagle Rock Lutheran Church at 5032 Maywood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90041.

To RSVP, please call (323) 304-9898.

Small Business Saturday workshop in Stevenson Ranch, CA

Want to open a business in Los Angeles County but don’t know where to start? Small Business Saturday is for you! The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) will show you: how to become an entrepreneur; steps to opening a business; where to seek financing for your business; latest information about business taxes; how to obtain a business license; library resources for small businesses and more! Join the DCBA for a workshop on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Stevenson Ranch Library at 25950 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381. The workshop is presented in partnership with Supervisor Kathyrn Barger of the Fifth District. The event is free but space is limited. Registration is requested at http://lacountyptac.ecenterdirect. com/events.

F E B R UA RY 2 1

Civil Liberties under Trump forum in Eagle Rock, CA Hear how the American Civil Liberties Union and allied organizations are fighting back against the administration of President Donald Trump on Tuesday, February 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Eagle Rock, CA. Speakers include Tanzila “Taz” Ahmed of 18MillionRising; Betty Hung of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA; Sharon Kyle, ACLU SoCal National Board Rep; and Aiha Nguyen, board member of the ACLU-SoCal Pasadena/Foothills Chapter. The event will be held at LA Filipino United Church of Christ at 5080 N. Maywood Ave., Eagle Rock, CA. The event is free and open to the public. Please contact joana.amador@gmail. com or (213) 434-4643.

MARCH 6

Talk and book signing with Susan Quimpo, author of “Subversive Lives” in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey Come see Susan Quimpo, one of the authors of “Subversive Lives” on Monday, March 6 at the Free Public Library of Hasbrouck Heights from 6 to 8 p.m. “Subversive Lives” is a memoir by eight siblings (plus one by marriage) who dedicated themselves to the anti-Marcos resistance in the Philippines. Quimpo will talk about her personal experience during the Marcos years. Books will be available for sale. A book signing will follow after the talk. The Free Public Library of Hasbrouck Heights is located at 320 Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604.

MARCH 9

Talk and book signing with Susan Quimpo, author of “Subversive Lives” in New York Come see Susan Quimpo, one of the authors of “Subversive Lives” on Thursday, March 9 at the 67th Street New York Public Library from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. “Subversive Lives” is a memoir by eight siblings (plus one by marriage) who dedicated themselves to the anti-Marcos resistance in the Philippines. Quimpo will talk about her personal experience during the Marcos years. A book signing will follow after the talk. The New York Public Library is located at 328 E 67th St. (between 1st and 2nd Ave.), New York, NY 10065.

M A R C H 9 -1 8

CAAMFEST35 in San Francisco & Oakland Come to the 35th anniversary of CAAMFest from March 9-19 and immerse yourself in expansive and diverse programs celebrating the best in Asian American film, music and food. The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. The annual CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films. It presents approximately 125 works in San Francisco and Oakland over the course of 11 days. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. For more information, please visit http://caamfest.com.

MARCH 11 JA N UA RY 24

CSFLU to hold dinner-dance in Brea, CA The City of San Fernando La Union Association (CSFLU) will hold its annual dinnerdance at the Embassy Suites in Brea, CA on March 11. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For more information, please call Vangie So, president of the association at (626) 485-3110.

MARCH 18

FASO’s “Swing the Night Away” in Glendale, CA Swing the night away with Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) on Saturday, March 18 at the Glendale Hilton! Bring your dancing shoes for an evening of swing, two-step, rumba, cha-cha, tango and waltz! Dance Instructors will be available on the floor. You can feel free to sit back, relax and enjoy the music! No host cocktails at 6:00 p.m, with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Tickets (dinner included) are $125. You can also contact Arlene Ferrolino (213) 248-9850, Bob Shroder (818) 395-8936 or JL Garcia (310) 936-2988 for tickets and sponsorship opportunities information. FASO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Proceeds will be used to sustain the orchestra, and to fund its education and outreach programs. More information is available on the FASO website at http://www.fasofoundation.org.

M A R C H 25

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA You are cordially invited to the “RISE UP” Regional Empowerment Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities on Saturday, March 25. Registration is $40 per person, which can be done online or at the door. The conference will be held at Clarion Hotel National City, 700 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. To register online, please visit http://www.NaFFAASDEmpowermentconference.eventbrite.com.

Golf tournament for a cause in Escondido, CA St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)’s High School Class of 1987 will be holding a golf tournament for a cause at the Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. It is $109/person to register, which includes rounds of golf and a BBQ buffet. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with shotgun at 1 p.m. and dinner and prizes at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949) 861-1732 or Miguel Uson at (760) 7158216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.

APRIL 20

CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles Join Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.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

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People and Events

Announcement from Kalayaan Incorporated ‘Our 119th Commemoration of Our Declaration of Independence from Spain and Respect to Our Fore-Fathers in their Fight for Our Freedom from 1898 to 1946’ FOR over 118 years, the Filipino American community around the World celebrates the June 14th date as this was the day in 1898 that Filipinos declared independence from Spain. In the hearts of all Filipinos, this day brings out historical pride and makes the Filipino proud of the sacrifices made by our forefathers to make us independent from Spanish rule.

In Southern California many Filipino American organizations band together to celebrate this historic date to showcase pride, heritage and culture through the Kalayaan event. For over 16 years, Southern California’s Kalayaan celebration events were done with the cooperation and guidance of the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles. With the arrival of Honorable Consul

General Adelio Angelito Cruz, a raised sense of honor, pride and respect has come to the Community and with the Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles in support of the 119th Kalayaan, it will surely showcase the broad range of Filipino culture, heritage and honor for our Freedom.

Leading the charge this year for Kalayaan Inc.’s projects are Overall Chairman Jose Relson

Banas and Overall Vice-Chair Susan Dilkes. Chair Banas has announced that in this year’s signature celebration, the Kalayaan Gala Ball, their pride for Kalayaan will be showcased through Southern Philippine Visayan culture and heritage. Also, throughout the year Kalayaan Inc. will perform projects that will benefit the community and with this year being the 75th Anniversary of World War II in the Philippines, the organization will work closely with the community to honor World War II Filipino and American Soldiers for sacrificing their youthful years to defend the Philippines from an invading country. In an upcoming event on Sunday, February 19, KI is having a “Dance for Freedom” fundraiser to be able to host World War II Veterans in a “Thank You and Recognition”

Seniors face…

PAGE C4 t

The 2017 Kalayaan Inc. Board and Executive Officers

should come down to this. After all, he had 15 years to take care of it. Court judgments accrue interest at 10 percent p.a. until they are paid in full based on diminishing balance. Client said he wasn’t able to think right after the divorce. I guess it’s a traumatic event that has devastating financial implications.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Credit card debt must be wiped out now by Chapter 7 or 13. Otherwise, these debts will become lawsuits that become judgment liens that will put your house at risk. If you wipe them out now, they are wiped out, nipped at the bud. Peace of mind and security is what you get by getting rid of your debts now.

“You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory.” — Psalm 73:24 *** 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.

KI with Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

luncheon in April. The public is invited to join (with cost).

Kalayaan Inc. Executive Officers for 2017: Jose Relson Banas (Chairman), Susan Dilkes (Vice Chairman), Gil Mislang (Board Secretary), Lanie Berrei

(Treasurer), Lynda Joco (Asst.

Secretary), Marilou Perez (Asst.

Treasurer), Erlinda GranadaSabah (Auditor), Carmelita Paule (Asst. Auditor), Mary Lyn Sanga (P.R.O.), and Ed Anciano (P.R.O.) n

C FEBRUARY 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

Linda McMahon confirmed by Senate as SBA Administrator WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate confirmed on Tuesday, February 14, President Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda E. McMahon as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Small businesses are the engine of our national economy,” McMahon said upon her confirmation. “I will work to revitalize a spirit of entrepreneurship in America. Small businesses want to feel they can take a risk on an expansion or a new hire without fearing onerous new regulations or unexpected taxes, fees and fines that will make such growth unaffordable. We want to renew optimism in our economy.”

“I want to thank President Trump for this opportunity to join his Administration and to advocate for our nation’s small business owners and entrepreneurs,” McMahon said. “I would also like to express my appreciation to Joe Loddo for his leadership as Acting Administrator during this transition, along with everyone at the SBA for the hard work they are doing to support America’s small businesses.”

In testimony on January 24 before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, McMahon discussed her hands-on experience managing and helping to grow small businesses.

“As an entrepreneur myself, I have shared the experiences of our nation’s small business owners. My husband and I built our business from scratch. We started out sharing a desk. Over

&

Linda McMahon

decades of hard work and strategic growth, we built it into a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees. I am proud of our success – I know every bit of the hard work it took to create that success.”

“I believe in leadership by example. As a CEO, I never expect employees to do anything I am not willing to do myself. I believe in setting expectations and holding people accountable, but trusting them to do the job for which they were hired. I look forward to working with the SBA staff. I am eager to learn from their experience and expertise.

I will listen, and their ideas, concerns and recommendations will be taken seriously.”

As Administrator of the SBA, McMahon will direct a federal agency with more than 2,000 full-time employees, with a leading role in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs secure PAGE D2

Peso closes at P50 to $1, hits lowest in 10 years

by AudRey

moRAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — The pesos closed at P50 to a dollar on Friday, Feb. 17 dipping to its lowest level in a decade due to strong corporate demand for the greenback and market uncertainties about the interest hike of the Federal Reserve and tax plan of the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The local currency plunged by 3 centavos to P50:$1 from P49.970 on Thursday, Feb. 16.

According to Diwa Guinigundo, a deputy governor of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the

decline is due to external market uncertainty and high corporate demand for the dollar.

“It’s still the same story of external market uncertainty. And despite market uncertainty about a March US Fed interest rate hike, there was higher demand from corporates today,” Guinigundo said in a text message.

He said that despite strong Philippine market fundamentals, negative market sentiment still dominates.

Friday’s P50:$1 is the lowest since the P50.09:$1 seen on Nov. 15, 2006.

Guinigundo said that the cenPAGE D3

Foreign businessmen urged to support PH government

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA - Foreign businessmen who have nothing good to say about the country should just help the government instead of magnifying local issues, a local business leader said.

“I always believe that let the Filipinos talks about the country.

Foreigners don’t have to make the issues bigger,” International Chamber of Commerce Philippines chairman Francis Chua told The Star.

“We welcome foreigners when they try to help our country. Those who do not believe too much in our country, it will be better if they just leave it to our government and our President to do their job. Mahirap yun e, hindi naman tayo nakikialam sa kanila, bakit sila makikialam sa atin? (It’s hard because we are not meddling with their affairs, so why should they meddle with ours?),” he added.

Last week, members of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines expressed concern over reports high-ranking police

International Chamber of Commerce Philippines chairman Francis Chua

were behind the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo at police headquarters in Camp Crame last October.

For the JFC, the incident has made them start to doubt the ability of local authorities in ensuring their safety, as well as those of local businessmen and residents at large in the Philippines.

With their peace and order and safety guaranteed by the authorities, the group said the “kidnapping and brutal killing of Jee Ick-joo puts these expected guarantees in question.”

While local businessmen also condemn the killing, Chua said it should not lead the business community to lose faith in the government.

“We should not worry too much about it. We should worry if the government does not do anything and tolerate it. The main fact that the government is doing something about it, that means to say our government is working,” he said.

“If the government closes an eye and turn away, then we should be very worried. The main fact the government is solving the issue that means to say we should believe in the government because they are not lying,” Chua added.

Outside of the recent Department of Environment and Natural Resources order for the closure of nearly two dozen mining firms in the country which spooked some international firms, Chua said the Philippine business environment has been generally getting positive feedbacks from foreign investors.

“Actually, we have so many positive feedbacks,” he said, noting that a group of Chinese investors are bound to visit the country later this month to explore business opportunities in the Philippines.

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have taken into custody a 23-year-old man brought to the US as a young child, but had applied for, and was GRANTED, Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA), with his work permit valid until 2018!

This was one of the first times a DACA applicant has been taken into custody, and it is creating anxiety among the over 700,000 young people who had applied for DACA and their families. This is especially true after other reports of ICE raids throughout the country.

According to ICE, they went to this young man’s home to arrest his father. While there, ICE agents questioned this young man, whom ICE described as a “self – admitted gang member.” As a result of being a gang member, he was an enforcement priority, and should not have the protection of DACA. According to this young man’s lawyers, he “unequivocally denies” he has been in a gang.

Instead, he was repeatedly pres-

D

DACA recipient taken into ICE custody sured by ICE agents to falsely admit he was a gang member. He has no criminal record and had twice filed for and was approved for DACA It is unclear if the Trump administration will now target DACA recipients as enforcement priorities. President Trump has stated that, “They [DACA applicants] are here illegally. They shouldn’t be very worried. I do have a big heart. We’re going to take care of everybody. We’re going to have a very strong border.” However, there are no details yet of how the Trump administration is going to “take care” of DACA recipients.

Let’s hope Congress will pass the DREAM Act, which would be a law providing a pathway to legalization. DACA was merely a program or executive action brought

by Pres. Obama when Congress failed to pass the Dream Act. Still, it is worrisome that ICE agents are targeting DACA applicants, because when this program was rolled out (or introduced), the federal government more or less promised DACA recipients would not be targeted for deportation, nor would they be considered an enforcement priority. After all, to be eligible for DACA, you have to be fingerprinted and be

crime – free. Moreover, a person would be an enforcement priority for gang activity only if they were convicted of an offense in connection with gang related activities, not for merely being affiliated with a gang.

Let’s just hope this is merely a fluke, and this DACA recipient will soon be released, and allowed to remain in the US under his grant of deferred action until 2018. Let’s further hope President Trump and Congress will finally address the issue of young people by passing the DREAM Act. *** 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 re-enactments) 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 attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

Business Quote of the Week “Would you like me to give you a formula for success?

It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure.

You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success.

But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can.

Because remember that’s where you will find success.”

- Thomas J. Watson, former CEO of International Business Machines (IBM)

D february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

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Pg&e creates new California external Affairs AT&T ranks #1 in telecom globally in Fortune’s organization as part of broader realignment of the Most Admired Companies for third year in a row company’s strategy, policy and outreach efforts AT&T also ranked among world’s Top 50 Most SAN FRANCISCO— Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced the restructuring of its state external affairs functions in order to more effectively engage with stakeholders to meet the needs of customers and the state.

Effective March 1, Vice President Travis Kiyota will lead the newly formed California External Affairs organization, which will consolidate the existing functions of state government relations, state agency relations, local public affairs and community relations as well as a new functional area responsible for external affairs and strategic initiatives.

Kiyota will report to Steve Malnight, senior vice president of the newly constituted Strategy and Policy organization. As previously announced, Malnight’s new organization comprises strategy,

policy, grid integration and innovation, energy procurement, local, state and federal affairs and communityrelations. This organizational structure is intended to ensure that stakeholder outreach and engagement are fully integrated with strategy and policy.

“In his expanded position, Travis will play a key role in ensuring that we are collaborating effectively with policymakers and our partners as we work together to meet California’s clean energy goals,” Malnight said.

“At PG&E, ‘Together, Building a Better California’ isn’t just a tagline. It’s a guiding principle and we are honored to have the opportunity to work in partnership with California stakeholders and policymakers to help build and sustain a state that leads the country in energy technology,

innovation and policy,” Kiyota said.

Reporting to Kiyota will be: • Senior Director Brandon Hernandez, who will lead External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, with responsibility for supporting PG&E’s advocacy and education efforts within the state capitol, state agencies, and statewide organizations.

• Senior Director Kent Kauss, who will lead state legislative policy development, tracking and analysis.

• Senior Director Ananda Baron, who leads community relations and the PG&E Foundation.

• Directors Mary Ellen Ittner and Papia Gambelin, who will lead local public affairs throughout the service territory.

(Advertising Supplement)

Linda McMahon confirmed by Senate as...

PAGE D1 financing, technical assistance and training, and federal contracts. SBA also plays a leading role in disaster recovery by making low interest loans.

McMahon is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Women’s Leadership LIVE, as well as the co-founder and former CEO of WWE. She was the Republican nominee to represent Connecticut in the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012. McMahon is

an advocate for small business and continues to promote entrepreneurship, particularly among women.

McMahon is a graduate of East Carolina University. She and her husband, Vince, have two adult children and six grandchildren.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect

the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Admired Companies

DALLAS—AT&T* was recognized by Fortune magazine as the Most Admired Telecommunications Company in the world in 2017 for the third year in a row.

“Our industry has never been more dynamic than it is right now. And that makes this recognition particularly meaningful,” said AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. “It’s really a tribute to the hard work and customer commitment of each and every employee in the AT&T family.”

The publication also placed AT&T at #37 among the Top 50 Most Admired companies in the world. This is our fourth year on the Global Top 50 list. AT&T is also the only communications company on the list. We ranked first in all 9 attributes again, including innovation, financial soundness and quality of products/services.

Fortune’s Most Admired Companies lists are among the most highly respected indicators of corporate performance and reputation.

Fortune and its partner, the Hay Group, survey top executives and directors from Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies and financial analysts to identify the Most Admired Companies.

They seek companies with the strongest reputations, both

in their own industry and overall. Then, they rate companies on various attributes. This includes ability to attract and retain talented people, quality of products and services, quality of management, innovation, social responsibility, and use of corporate assets and long-term investment value. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. AT&T Inc. helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed internet and voice services. We offer entertainment your way on the nation’s best data network.* We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries.

And we offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.** We also help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att. com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www. youtube.com/att.

2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. *Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score.

Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q2+Q3 2016 across 121 markets. **Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.

From Fortune Magazine, March 1, 2017. 2017 Time Inc. Fortune and The World’s Most Admired Companies are registered trademarks of Time Inc. and are used under License.

Fortune and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, AT&T.

(Advertising Supplement)

DTI urges Filipino businesses: Diversify your market, go global

by Raadee

SauSa ManilaTimes.net

DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) advised Filipino businessmen to diversify their markets by engaging the global stage and taking advantage of growth opportunities with the country’s longtime trade partners like Japan.

“Japan is consistently one of the strongest trade partners of the Philippines, with a total amount of exports of $10.7 billion from January to November 2016 alone,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Tuesday, February 14 during the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) Business Forum.

He also said that Japan is one of the country’s biggest sources of imports, accounting for $8.6 billion worth of imports from January to November 2016.

Japanese investment in the Philippines continues to go up from $394 million in 2015, to $923 million from January to October 2016.

“The days wherein developing countries like the Philippines were primarily the recipient of foreign direct investments [FDIs] are in the past, and a country like ours can now become an investor to both developed and developing countries,” Lopez said, adding that in view of today’s economic integration, trade and investment flows should now

work both ways.

He cited that a number of top Japanese companies have already invested and set up shops in the Philippines including Toshiba, Canon, Epson and Toyota.

Japanese companies related to electronics, manufacturing and shipbuilding industries have also established presence in the country, he said. He noted that out of the country’s 348 economic zones, 30 percent of the companies operating in these areas are Japanese.

Meanwhile, Lopez identified some Philippine companies that have established commercial presence in Japan.

In the banking sector, these include the Philippine National Bank, Metrobank, LandBank and Banco de Oro while in the technology sector these include Imperium Technology, Ayala Systems Technology, Advanced World Systems, Alliance Software, WeServ Systems, and Integrated Micro-electronics Inc.-Japan.

Lopez also cited conglomerates such as Philippine Air Lines, ABS-CBN, and Ayala Land, as well as remittance companies that render service to Filipinos living in Japan.

“There are a number of business opportunities available to future local companies who want to invest in Japan in the future,” he said.

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OFW remittances hit record high in 2016

by Ben

O. de Vera Inquirer.net

Cash sent home through banks by Filipinos living and working abroad hit a new record high of $2.56 billion in December last year on the back of an improving global economy such that the end-2016 growth rate exceeded the government’s target.

The latest Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas data released Wednesday, Feb. 15 showed that the cash remittances last December were the highest monthly inflow to date and were up 3.6 percent from the $2.47 billion during the same month of 2015.

BsP Deputy Governor and officer-in-charge Diwa C. Guinigundo said the bulk of remittances that came in during the peak of the Christmas season were from Japan, Qatar and the United states.

For the entire 2016, cash remittances reached a record $26.9 billion, up 5 percent from $25.61

billion in 2015.

Guinigundo noted that that the increase in the amount cash sent home by overseas Filipinos last year surpassed the 4-percent growth target to $26.6 billion.

The “solid” growth in remittance flows “continues to be a major driver of domestic demand,” according to Guinigundo, citing that personal remittances, which included nonbank transfers, accounted for 9.8 percent of the gross domestic product in 2016.

The GDP grew by a robust 6.8 percent last year. according to Guinigundo, remittances from land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose 7.6 percent year-on-year to $21.3 billion last year. On the other hand, cash sent home by sea-based OFWs slid 3.8 percent to $5.6 billion in 2016. “This may have been due partly to stiffer competition in the supply of seafarers, particularly from East asia and Eastern Europe,” Guinigundo explained.

Guinigundo said cash remittances from the Middle East jumped 12.7 percent last year due to higher amounts coming from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United arab Emirates. Remittances from asian countries grew 7.4 percent mainly due to higher transfers from China, Japan, singapore and Taiwan.

From the americas, cash remittances posted 3.8-percent increase, buoyed by the 6.2-percent growth coming from the Us. however, remittances from Europe fell 8.4 percent in 2016 “owing to the decline in cash transfers from the United Kingdom (partly due to the depreciation of the pound sterling vis-à-vis the Us dollar), Italy and the Netherlands,” Guinigundo said.

The top 10 sources of cash remittances last year, which accounted for more than four-fifths of the total, were Germany, hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, saudi arabia, singapore, the UaE, the UK and the Us.

The peso closed at P50:$1 on Friday, the lowest in 10 years.

Peso closes at P50 to $1, hits lowest...

PAGE D1 tral bank expected “the market to react to the news that overseas Filipino workers’ remittances remain resilient and growth prospects remain very positive at the back of strong consumption, investment and public expenditures.” he said that in real terms the peso was still competitive.

“We continue to monitor pressure from weak exchange rate

even as the exchange rate pass through to domestic inflation has gone down in recent years,” he added.

The peso reached an intraday low of P50:$1 at the Philippine Dealing system and a high of P49.94:$1.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled this week a faster tightening pace, with the markets expecting three hikes this year

instead of two. higher interest rates in the Us means that money could channel out of emerging markets such as the Philippines, driving demand for the dollar.

Trump also promised early this month to unveil a major tax cut to ease the burden on businesses.

The peso weakened due to the expectations of an announcement next week.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 18-21, 2017 D

D february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

ANNOUNCEMENT

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Ph leaps 12 places in 2017 economic freedom index WASHINGTON, D.C.— “Despite the challenging global economic environment, the Philippines has achieved notable economic expansion, driven by the economy’s strong export performance and inflows of remittances that have bolstered private consumption,” noted the Heritage Foundation in its 2017 Index of Economic Freedom released this week in Washington, D.C. The Philippines improved to 58th place in 2017 from 70th in 2016 in the annual survey of 180 countries published since 1995 by the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank. The 2017 Index graded economies based on 12 independent factors called Economic Freedoms, with the addition of Judicial Effectiveness and Fiscal Health this year. The Philippines showed improvements in property rights (+19.2); monetary freedom

(+2.9); and labor freedom (+.1).

While noting the problems posed by absent entrepreneurial dynamism, still needed institutional reforms, and a weak judicial system in the Philippines, the Heritage Foundation also highlighted positive developments. It recognized that the Government is pursuing a series of legislative reforms to enhance the overall entrepreneurial environment and develop a stronger private sector in order to generate broader-based job growth. It also said that some fiscal reforms have been accomplished.

The Philippines achieved an Economic Freedom Score of 65.6 out of a possible 100, which is significantly better than the global and regional averages. The Philippines ranked 14th among the countries in the Asia-Pacific that were surveyed.

This improvement in the ranking brings the Philippines into the first-third of the countries evaluated by the index. Since 2010, the Philippine rank has increased fifty-one (51) spots from its rank at 109 and when the country was identified as “Mostly Unfree” in its economic competitiveness.

Today, the Philippines firmly registers as a “Moderately Free” country. “The Philippines welcomes the release of the 2017 Index of Economic Freedom. It clearly indicates the sustainability of the robust and excellent Philippine economic performance of the last few years. We hope that this underpins continued business and investor confidence in one of Asia’s most dynamic economies,” said Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto, Charge d’Affaires, a.i. of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

3 important questions when building a startup A brIllIANT idea has come to you and you jump to your feet to start working on it immediately. Such eureka moment is priceless for innovators and entrepreneurs. but don’t get too excited. You need to make a solid plan first and iron out a lot of important details.

You also have to make several decisions as you take off in this venture.

You can start working on your startup by answering these important questions: 1. Who are your competitors?

Who are you going to be up against? Can you keep up with the competition? What kind of game plan should you draft? To find out the answers to these questions, you’ll need to explore the industry and know your competitors.

There are many ways to discover what the other players are like. You can personally visit their stores to see their marketing gimmicks and what kind of experience they’re giving their customers. Conferences are also a great venue to meet other entrepreneurs who are in the same industry you’re pursuing. You can also fish some information from your suppliers.

This way, you can leverage your overall business strategy and product development. You can also come up with great ideas on how you can be different from your competitors.The insights that this study will give you can help you establish your company’s value in the market.

EMPLOYMENT

You can start working on your startup by answering these important questions.

2. Who are your customers?

One of the first things you need to settle before actually setting out in a business is your target market.

The key is to make it as specific as possible. Otherwise, your strategies won’t work to meet your business goals.

To define your market, you can start with the demographics—age, place of residence, gender, education, income, civil status, occupation, and the like. Then you can proceed with the psychographics or aspects in your prospective customers’ profile that pertain to their values, interests, personality, behavior, lifestyle and affinity.

You can also get customer insights through your competitors.

Once you’re done defining your target market, it’ll be easier to craft your branding and marketing strategies, and develop your products or services.

3. Are you ready?

A flourishing business starts with a big idea. And it’s thrilling to

get the work started once that big idea strikes you. but first, reality check: Entrepreneurship requires hard work. Are you ready?

When starting a business, dedication, diligence, patience and perseverance are some of the important attitudes you need to put on. Otherwise, you will never be prepared to face failures, which, by the way, are very normal in the initial stages of venturing into a business.

You know you’re ready to run your own startup when passion is what drives you. You are also willing to take big risks and understand the pros and cons of your plans. You have a realistic vision for your business and possess solid experience in your chosen market. but if you think your experience and skills might not yet suffice until you get more training and exposure in the industry, make sure you have people around you now who have the relevant know-how.

(Philstar.com)

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D february 18-21, 2017 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

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