LA Weekend Edition -- February 20 -- 23, 2016

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February 20-23, 2016

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

Volume 26 - No. 15 • 4 Sections – 32 Pages

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from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

for DAPA, DACA

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

WhILe the fate of President Barack obama’s executive actions on programs to expand deferred action for undocumented immigrants has yet to be decided by the Us supreme Court, individuals eligible for the programs are encouraged to continue preparing for their implementation.

“We believe that these programs are perfectly legal and will be of help, and so it’s important for people in the meantime to gather their documents that would demonstrate that they meet the requirements, that they are eligible for relief under these programs,” said hairo Cortes, program coordinator of orange County Immigrant Youth United.

Cortes was among six speakers who, during a media roundtable on Wednesday, feb.

17, addressed what immigrant families can do while waiting for the top court’s decision. the roundtable was hosted by ready California, a cross-sector collaborative effort of various organizations, consulates, and ethnic media. the supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments about the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs – which obama announced in Novem-

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Obama to announce measures to boost SE Asia economies WAshINGtoN — Us President Barack obama on tuesday, feb. 16, is to announce a package of measures designed to boost southeast Asian economies, betting that the fast-growing region can be an ever more important trade partner. the plan will establish three offices in Jakarta, Bangkok and singapore to boost the Us government’s “economic engagement with Asean institutions,” officials said. the White house sees the 10-member Association of southeast Asian Nations (AseAN) as an emerging regional counterweight to China’s regional dominance. obama and Asean leaders held a two-day summit in California.

Collectively, the countries are the fourthlargest trading partner for the United states. the White house said “two-way trade in goods and services has tripled since the 1990s, topping $254 billion in 2014,” supporting around half a million Us jobs.

“We have an increasingly deep and broad economic relationship with Asean,” said Us

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Los ANGeLes — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, feb.

17, met with the filipino community at the end of his working visit to the United states. more than 800 members of filipino community groups from the southwestern United states gathered inside

the hilton LAX ballroom on Wednesday evening, where Aquino spent more than an hour sharing stories that drew laughter from the audience, and updates on the status of the Philippines.

Among areas of progress Aquino highlighted included how 91 percent of filipinos in the Philippines are now covered through Philhealth, the nation’s universal health insurance, com-

pared to 51 percent in 2010; that the Philippines switched over to a 12-year education cycle; that the country is one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia with an average GDP growth of 6.2 percent per year; and that his administration has worked toward ending the cycle of constructing/reconstructing by using sturdier materials when building infrastructure.

“Lahat ng gawain po natin, naka

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Aquino receives honorary degree from LMU

by ChristinA

M. oriel

AJPress

Los ANGeLes — In an invitation-only ceremony attended by over 200 guests, including local elected officials and Philippine dignitaries, President Benigno s.

Aquino III received an honorary Doctor of humane Letters degree from Loyola marymount University (LmU) on Wednesday, feb. 17.

Aquino, who graduated from Ateneo de manila University, was chosen to receive the honorary degree because “he role models the values, character and purpose of what we live here at LmU as a Jesuit Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters of California’s 43rd district and Loyola Marymount University President Timothy Law Snyder join and marymount institution,” said LmU President Benigno S. Aquino III (center) as he receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

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AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

FVR: Greed, corruption remain Binay camp: Ombudsman by izA

gAbrielle iglesiAs ManilaTiames.net

‘GrEED, corruption brought down by EDSA People Power remain with us’ “the greed, corruption, cronyism and kleptocracy we brought down at eDsA are still with us today,” former President fidel V. ramos said on friday, feb. 19. ramos was speaking nearly 30 years after he and former National Defense minister and now senator Juan Ponce enrile, along with other civilian and Gone to waste. What he and others mounted on EDSA nearly 30 years military officers, led a “people power ago were all for naught as former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday revolution” against then-strongman laments that the same old evils continue to plague the country.

Photo by Ruy L. Martinez ferdinand marcos, his second cousin. the former leader, who earlier served same evils that toppled a perceived despotic in the Cabinet of post-People Power Presi- regime have not been eradicated after aldent Corazon Aquino first as chief-of-staff of most three decades. the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) the so-called revolution took place on and later as secretary of National Defense, eDsA (epifanio del los santos Avenue), a however, did not elaborate on why the very u PAGE A3

Nike dumps Pacquiao as endorser, brands distance from anti-LGBT sentiment

by MoMAr

g. VisAyA

AJPress

Manny Pacquiao AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

tutok sa kapwa (Everything we do is focused on togetherness),” Aquino said. the Philippine president also addressed the upcoming election and said the next president should be someone who is ready to sacrifice and put the country first, endorsing Liberal Party presidential and vice presidential candidates mar roxas and

the backlash has started.

Nike on Wednesday, feb. 17, announced that it has dropped manny Pacquiao as an endorser after the boxer remarked that people who engage in same-sex relationships are worse than animals.

“We find manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” Nike said in a statement, according to esPN. “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBt community.”

Pacquiao’s controversial interview with

tV5 became viral online on monday, feb.

15 and was immediately picked up by local and international press. on tuesday, feb. 16, Pacquiao took to social media and posted an apology on his Instagram account.

When filipino-American Aries de la Cruz saw the apology, he went online and started a petition asking Nike to drop Pacquiao as an endorser.

“I believe apologies mean nothing without actions and consequences, and a plan for addressing how the contrite person will make things right with those he hurt,” de

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part of LP’s ‘demolition by perception’

by MArC JAyson

CAyAbyAb

Inquirer.net

the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay lashed out at the ombudsman after it filed graft and falsification of public document charges against his son Junjun Binay before the sandiganbayan on friday, feb. 19.

In a statement, Binay’s spokesperson rico Quicho said the ombudsman had proven itself part of the “demolition by perception” waged by Liberal Party (LP) against the opposition standardbearer. “the filing of the case against mayor Junjun Binay before the

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A FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Aquino boasts PH’s progress during…

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Leni Robredo.

Prior to Aquino’s address to the community, he conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. in recognition of his “exemplary accomplishments in working for the advancement of the country’s national interests in its relations with the United

States.”

The order is one of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have conducted exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines; diplomats, officials and foreign nationals who have contributed to strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines; or upon Department of Foreign Affairs

personnel both stationed in the Philippines and abroad.

“Alam po n’yo, talagang karamihan ho ng mga in-appoint nating mga ambassador ay tinatawag na career diplomat.

Illan po ang masasabi nating political appointees. Si Joey Cuisia ay isa sa ating mga in-appoint.

Talagang ipinagmamalaki ko na in-appoint natin ang mga katulad ni Joey Cuisia (You know, many of the ambassadors we appoint are called career diplomats. We can only say a few are political appointees. Joey Cuisia is one of those we appointed. I’m very proud that we appoint people like Joey Cuisia),” Aquino said in his opening speech.

Cuisia, in his remarks, commended Filipino communities in America for their resilience and energy.

“Everywhere I go in this country, Americans and other foreigners would tell me their positive views about their Filipino colleagues, neighbors, friends and

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Before leading Los Angeles, Pres. Aquino addresses the Fil-Am community from the southwestern region of the United States on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

AJPress photo by Ding Carreon

Aquino receives honorary degree from…

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President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D. As the 15th president of the Philippines, Snyder remarked that Aquino is “a world leader who has reinvigorated the Filipinos’ passion to build a nation of justice, a nation of peace, and a nation of inclusiveness.”

Rep. Maxine Waters also delivered remarks at the ceremony, welcoming Aquino to the country and to California’s 43rd district.

“I am immensely proud of the fact that are estimated to be over 21,000 Filipino-Americans in my district. These Filipino-Americans are a significant part of the multicultural fabric that makes

the Los Angeles area a great place to live,” Waters said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti — whose accomplishments as a councilmember include the creation of Historic Filipinotown — went on to say that “Los Angeles [is] a great Filipino city.”

“In fact, if you took the population of all the Filipinos who live here, we would be a top 10 city in the Philippines by population,” he said.

Sharing the history of how Los Angeles came to be, Garcetti said, “it was Filipinos who helped in the founding moments of our pueblo and who’ve also come to find their unrealized destinies here.”

In his nearly 30-minute remarks, Aquino reflected on how a Jesuit education has shaped his path to the presidency.

“The be-all and end-all of our existence here is, how does it lead to the bettering of the condition of the other?” he said. “We were taught not just that this was the right thing to do, but also that it is a moral imperative.”

Touting some accomplishments under his term, Aquino shared that the backlog of classrooms from the previous administration was finished in 2014. By the time he steps down from office, 180,000 classrooms will be added, he said.

“I can go on and on with the list of things that I keep saying we have done,” he said. “I have not done all of these things. It is the people who elected me to office. It is the people who write me…all of the vested interests… it is the people who continuously

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From the Front page

VOTE COUNTING MACHINE. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Oscar Rodriguez, chairmen of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Elections System (JCOC-AES), look at a sample ballot during the demonstration of the vote counting machine on Tuesday, Feb 16. Pimentel is pushing for the “receipt” feature so voters can review how machines read their ballots but Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said the en banc voted unanimously against it.

Senate photo by Romeo Bugante

FVR: Greed, corruption remain…

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major highway in Metro Manila straddling Caloocan, Quezon, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Paranaque cities, from February 22 to February 25 in 1986.

Recalling the reputedly bloodless uprising, Ramos told the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, “We gathered at EDSA and made our stand against the dictatorship because we loved freedom, and were tired of the country we had become.”

“The spirit of EDSA emanates from the Filipinos’ act of unselfish caring and willing sacrifice… as Filipinos, we do believe that the best way to promote the spirit of EDSA is for concerned citizens to pull together,” he said.

According to the former president, a West Point graduate, the people-power revolution is a continuing process and electoral exercises less than three months from now can be summoned to keep the flames of change burning.

“With the coming [local and] national elections [on May 9], it is necessary to call attention to precious valuable lessons in our history,” Ramos told the media forum.

He noted that it is the people’s responsibility to elect leaders who can put the interests of many

above those of the few.

Ramos reiterated his challenge to the country’s leaders to reform themselves for the common good, for them as “public servants and fellow concerned citizens to perform their duties selflessly.”

Despite the greed, corruption, cronyism and kleptocracy that he said the government is still facing, he said he still sees a bright future for the country.

“Yes, this country will be better. [But] leaders must play the principal role, they must carry the ball,” he pointed out.

The forum served as an occasion for the former president to launch his new book “2030: One World, One Community, One Family,” a compilation of his select essays, articles and other writings.

The book was written in time for the coming 30th anniversary of the people power revolution and within the context of the coming local and national elections and the threat of international terrorism.

“As Filipinos, we do believe that the best way to promote the Spirit of EDSA is for everyone of us, as concerned citizens, to pull together, uplift the common life and raise our country to a position of dignity and admiration the Philippines deserves in the

community of nations.” Ramos said.

In the same forum, he reiterated his support for Rep. Leni Robredo, who is running for the vice presidency under the Liberal Party slate of standard-bearer Manuel Roxas 2nd.

Ramos said if Jesse Robredo were alive, he would have endorsed his candidacy for President.

“I was very close to him,” he added, referring to Jesse Robredo, Leni’s husband.

It was on the eve of the start of the campaign period for national candidates in February when Ramos officially endorsed the candidacy of Robredo’s widow.

Although the former leader has decided on who among the vice presidential candidates he will support, he said he has yet to pick his bet for the presidency and will give his endorsement two weeks before the elections.

His parting shot to Filipinos, and especially to the next President of the Philippines: “With all due respect to everybody, the best quality we should adopt is to have one competitive Philippine team. Otherwise, baka hanggang beauty contest lang tayo magaling. Di tayo aangat [we might end up being good only in beauty contests. We won’t get ahead with just that].” n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016

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A FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

From the Front page

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Nike dumps Pacquiao as…

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la Cruz told the Asian Journal.

“Everyone has the right to have religious, social and cultural beliefs, but if you are a political leader and decision maker that is different because you have a duty to represent all your constituents, not just the views of a select few.”

In a little over 24 hours, the petition has generated more than four thousand signatures. Online and mainstream news outlets have also picked up the news.

TMZ reported that Nike is “preparing to cut ties with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao after his last round of anti-gay comments.”

New York City-based LGBT activist and graphic designer Scott Wooledge has also launched an online campaign asking the brands who have Pacquiao as an endorser to drop him.

He posted a tweet on Tuesday saying that Pacquiao speaks for these brands -- Nike, Footlocker, Wonderful Pistachios and Nestle -- and earned $12 million in 2015 as the face of these companies.

“Wonderful Pistachios is not currently affiliated with Manny Pacquiao nor do his views align with ours,” Wonderful Company spokesman Steven Clark told The Daily Beast. “Wonderful Pistachios stands firmly for diversity and equality, and we proudly support marriage equality and inclusion around the world.”

Pacquiao appeared in Wonderful Pistachios’ “Get Crackin’”

commercials in 2012.

“I’m not surprised at all that the message of the petition that companies like Nike should not provide a platform for Cong.

Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay positions has resonated with so many Filipinos all over the world, gay and straight,” de la Cruz added.

Born in Manila and raised in Bacolod City, the 30-year-old de la Cruz is a graduate student of anthropology at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Like many Filipinos, de la Cruz was proud of Pacquiao’s achievements on the ring.

“In the past, his prowess in the ring and his many victories has made me proud to be a Filipino, but being a hero means nothing if one does not use that platform to unite the people he is supposed to represent,” he shared.

“As a Filipino with a large global platform, Pacquiao has a tremendous opportunity to heal with his words and not harm or hurt.”

But much more than that, de la Cruz says Pacquiao’s words “are not merely opinions but have material and legal consequences for the LGBT Filipinos who must face oppression each time they leave their homes.”

“His opinions are much more than opinions when he has chosen to sponsor legislation in the past that has restricted the rights of our gay and lesbian Filipino friends and neighbors,” dela Cruz continued. “That is why an apology is not enough.”

Businessman and former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson added that, “Fans of all walks of life including gay fans supported May/Pac fight putting $100M in his pocket. I guess to him their money is still green. I won’t be watching another one of Manny Pacquiao’s fights.”

Top Rank Chief Executive Bob Arum believes that Nike made the right decision to drop Pacquiao as its endorser. In an interview with TMZ Sports, Arum said that he agrees with the company, as the boxer’s remarks were offensive to many people, particularly those in the gay and lesbian community.

“Manny shouldn’t have said what he did, and Nike acted appropriately,” he added.

Arum has been promoting Pacquiao for many of his fights, and has helped him become a global superstar. Although he explained that the Filipino boxer was simply being true to the tenets of his faith as a born-again Christian, he, however, does not share his opinion.

He is also unsure if the ongoing controversy will affect the payper-view numbers of Pacquiao’s fight against Timothy Bradley, Jr. on April 9 — supposedly the boxer’s last fight of his career.

In Pacquiao’s defense Despite committing an apparent political suicide, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said that it will not drop Pacquiao from its Senate slate.

“Kayo naman. Humingi na nga ng tawad e. (Come on. He already asked for forgiveness),” Vice Pres. and UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay said on Friday, Feb. 19.

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile believes that Pacquiao may still salvage his Senate bid and win come elections in May. Enrile, who echoes Pacquiao’s views on same-sex marriage, suggested that those who disagree with the Sarangani congressman should go to Mars.

“I can never support it, that’s unnatural. For me, I will not make [a statement] that strong but it’s unnatural,” Enrile told GMA News.

For Filipino boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr., he believes that Pacquiao was just voicing out his beliefs, but unfortunately, did it in an improper manner.

“All in all I’m sure what was posted is just Pacquiao’s way of

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AIR ESCORT. After a decade, the Philippine Air Force is back to its role of escorting the president and other visiting heads of state while in the country’s airspace. The Philippine government acquired a squadron of FA-50 fighter jets from Korea Airspace Industries at P18.9 billion, the military’s biggest capability upgrade. The first two arrived in November while the rest are expected until 2016.

Photo from Philippine Air Force

Binay camp: Ombudsman part of LP’s...

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Sandiganbayan is simply a procedural consequence of the erroneous and biased resolutions of the Ombudsman,” Quicho said.

Quicho said the Ombudsman had spared allies of the administration from charges, citing the allegations of sacked Metro Rail Transit general manager Al Vitangcol that he had been indicted for graft over the train system’s maintenance contract while Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya was not.

Abaya is the acting LP president.

Vitangcol said the Ombudsman spared Abaya even though the latter signed the notice of award of contract.

‘Bias, partiality beyond dispute’ “The bias and partiality of the Ombudsman is beyond dispute. It has played loose with the law and the Constitution in persecuting the Vice President and his family and those in the opposition,” Quicho said.

“On the other hand, the revelations made by former MRT General Manager Vitangcol the other day exposes the Ombudsman’s predisposition to look the other way when administration and LP personalities, in this case no less than Mr. Mar Roxas, are involved,” he added.

Mar Roxas is the standardbearer of Liberal Party.

Quicho said the Ombudsman had timed the indictment against Binay during the election period.

He said the Ombudsman first indicted the Binays when the Vice President filed his certificate of candidacy for president in October last year.

It then denied their motions for reconsideration and affirmed the filing of charges when the Vice President retained the top spot

Junjun Binay

in the recent Social Weather Stations survey and days before the start of the campaign period.

“It is obvious by now that the release of the Ombudsman orders follows a pattern—from the time the Vice President filed his certificate of candidacy up until the release of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey where the Vice President retained the top slot in presidential preference,” Quicho said.

“These are politically calculated moves which are part of the demolition by perception efforts being waged by the Liberal Party against the Vice President,” he added.

Firm resolve to help poor Quicho said the Ombudsman had been biased from the start, but the graft indictment against the Binays and formal filing of charges against the son would not deter the Vice President’s resolve to continue his campaign promise of helping the poor.

“No amount of political persecution and harassment will stop the Vice President from pushing his propoor agenda. He is not new to political harassment.

The Vice President has stood up against oppression, tyranny, and poverty—from the time he was an activist and human rights lawyer during martial law and until today as presidential candidate of [Unit-

ed Nationalist Alliance]. The fight for the poor continues,” Quicho said.

On Friday, the Office of the Special prosecutor filed two counts of graft and six counts of falsification of public documents against the younger Binay for his involvement in the alleged rigging for the design and construction of the P2.2 billion Makati City Hall Building II, deemed the country’s priciest building.

The Ombudsman prosecution did not include in the charge sheet the Vice President, who was earlier indicted with his son.

Because of the Vice President’s immunity from suit, the Ombudsman said it would file the charges after the end of his term.

In indicting the Binays, the Ombudsman said the Vice President and his son approved the bids and awards committee resolutions, notices of awards, contracts and payments using unnumbered/undated disbursement vouchers and obligation requests despite the anomalies.

Rigged bidding The Binays awarded the procurement of the design to Mana Architectural and Interior Design (Mana) despite lack of public bidding, the Ombudsman said.

They also allegedly rigged the bidding to favor Mana and approved the release of P11.97 million payment to the firm despite the anomalies.

The bids and awards committee also completed the procurement process for the building with undue haste or in only 11 days.

The procurement for the construction, meanwhile, was awarded to Hilmarc’s Construction despite lack of invitations to bid.

Hilmarc’s was the lone bidder in four phases of the project.

The construction began despite the absence of approved design standards, contract plans, agency cost estimates, detailed engineering and programs of work.

The Ombudsman also noted collusion among city officials and Hilmarc’s to rig the public biddings.

The younger Binay had also been ordered dismissed and perpetually barred from public office over the administrative offenses of misconduct and dishonesty in connection with the anomalies surrounding the Makati car park building.

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Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016

A

South China Sea dispute, Philippines’ potential shared at LA World Affairs Council

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

ORDER OF SIKATUNA. President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the meeting with the Filipino Community and confers the Order of Sikatuna to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport during his working visit to Los Angeles, California.

Malacañang photo by Joseph Vidal

State effort urges immigrants to prepare for…

PAGE A1 t ber 2014 – in the spring.

Concerns have risen following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia on Saturday, Feb. 13, as Scalia was the leading conservative voice on the top court.

Joyce Noche, directing attorney of Orange County pro bono law firm Public Law Center, said the high court may choose to move forward and hear oral arguments scheduled in April and then issue a decision in June. If the outcome is favorable for the immigrant community, implementation of the programs would begin before the end of Obama’s term.

If the court comes to a 4-4 vote, the lower court’s ruling of an injunction will stand.

The court may also decide to hold off on making a decision until a new justice is appointed in place of Scalia.

“What I do want to stress and reiterate is that the DACA and DAPA programs are an extension of the president’s authority to exercise prosecutorial discretion.

Many legal experts and law professors believe that the president was within his power to do so,” Noche said during Wednesday’s roundtable.

Data from Ready California indicates that more than 1.5 million individuals in the state are eligible for DACA and DAPA. Members of Ready California also offered the reminder that the Supreme Court’s ruling is separate from the original DACA

program. Eligible individuals are encouraged to apply, while those who have received deferred action through DACA are urged to request for renewal.

Three individuals who have benefited from the original DACA program shared their stories with media on Wednesday, including David Lee, a 22-year-old Korean who arrived in the United States when he was about 11 or 12 years old. Lee said his visa expired when he was 21, that he had been homeless and had engaged in illegal activities to make money. He majored in theater in college and said he would use his passport as identification to get into clubs.

Now, he has a work permit and is working toward getting a car.

“Thanks to DACA, I can have more fun, I feel more free, and I already have a couple of IMDB credits,” he said. “I got more opportunities to do the things that I wanted to do before I got DACA. And those of you who [are] in the situation like my past before DACA, I want to tell you that don’t be skeptical like I was. Take action. There are a lot of community services people [who] sacrifice their time and really help you out to [get] a job, get a car...”

Another issue discussed at Wednesday’s roundtable was what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrive at the residence of undocumented immigrants.

Carlos Perea, project manager

What are DAPA and DACA? DEFERRED Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) would permit eligible parents of US citizens and lawful permanent residents to request for deferred action and employment authorization for three years. The expanded version of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would build on the original DACA program Obama passed in 2012 by extending the work authorization from two to three years and allowing individuals of any age who entered the United States before the age of 16 and have continuously resided in the country since Jan. 1, 2010 to request for deferred action. n

at Resistencia, Autonomia, Igualdad, IideraZgo, also known as RAIZ, offered a three-step plan: 1) Have an emergency contact who can move easily if you were to be detained, 2) Have contact with a trusted attorney or advocacy community organization, 3) Have an emergency plan for your children and have a contact ready to take care of your child in the event of deportation. (Agnes Constante / AJPress)

LOS ANGELES — After his participation in the two-day USAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Rancho Mirage, California, President Benigno S. Aquino III made his way to this city on Tuesday, Feb. 16, to speak to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC).

In the forum entitled, “The Philippines and Security in East Asia,” Aquino covered topics such as: reforms during his presidency, the maritime dispute in the South China Sea and the outcomes of the US-ASEAN summit.

LAWAC President and CEO Terry McCarthy said that it was timely to have the president join the council’s dinner during his working visit.

“When we found out that the president was coming here for the summit with the other ASEAN leaders, we said, ‘could we invite the president?’” McCarthy told the Asian Journal. “The US has very close relations with the Philippines. It’s a good country for us to have programs on and we’re delighted to have the president.”

While introducing the president, McCarthy told the audience that two years before Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated, he gave a speech before the LAWAC. President Aquino said he has returned “to share how we are

harvesting the fruits of sacrifice — that of my parents, but more so, that of millions of Filipinos who stood for freedom during those dark days” of martial law.

One of his administration’s efforts has been the fight against corruption, he shared, citing examples of the arrests of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and notable senators involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

“Our administration has spared no one. Now, my predecessor in the presidency is under hospital arrest facing charges of plunder.

Senators once deemed untouchable are also facing cases after the alleged involvement in the scam of massive proportions,” he said.

In terms of the economy, Aquino said that 7.7 million Filipinos have risen above the poverty line and that the unemployment rate has significantly dropped.

“We have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in a decade.

We have experienced the fastest six-year average economic growth since the 1970s,” he remarked.

When asked about job opportunities, Aquino noted the abundance in the country, as indicated by the classified advertisement section of the Manila Bulletin.

“I don’t want to praise myself but that is a serious suggestion.

Look at it and see how many people are needed for not very me-

nial jobs or very heavy jobs and the demand is again, normally, as a ‘very urgent,’ ‘urgent,’ ‘immediate,’ etc. as an indicator of opportunities for you,” he said.

All of the accomplishments, he said, have transformed the country’s reputation as the “Sick Man of Asia” to “Asia’s Bright Spot.”

No arms for sea conflict Moreover, the Philippines is currently embroiled in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which was one of the topics covered during the US-ASEAN summit.

“We have zero ambitions in terms of arming ourselves with our own weapons of mass destruction,” Aquino told the LAWAC audience. “We have no plans of trying to come up with some sort of deterrents against the military might of that superpower.”

He added that “yet, like all nations, we have to defend our rights” in a legal and peaceful manner.

Challenging China’s nine-dash line claim over the sea, the Philippines in 2014 filed an arbitration case against Beijing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Philippines is expecting the court to issue a final ruling by May, and Aquino is hopeful that it will be in the country’s favor and that China will be pressured to abide.

“Given enough time and sen-

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Over 50 community leaders launch groundbreaking campaign to ‘Build Better LA’ LOS ANGELES — Over 50 community leaders attended the launch of Build Better LA, an initiative created by a first-of-itskind coalition of labor and affordable housing advocates, to ensure that affordable housing and good jobs are part of sustainable development in the city.

Build Better LA includes a local hire provision that ensures a living wage with good job standards and if a project has residential units, it must provide a percentage to low-income residents. The city currently aims to produce about 500 units of affordable housing annually. But the initiative proposes to increase the number of affordable housing units and job opportunities.

During the press conference, speakers highlighted that we must address the affordable housing and good jobs crisis through a bold plan that aligns the City’s land use policies and funding to build more housing and create more jobs.

“The initiative establishes favorable conditions for General Plan amendments that provide local jobs and affordable housing. It simply says, developers who build affordable housing will move quicker...as long as they hire local people,” said Rusty Hicks, executive secre-

tary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and convener of Build Better LA. “It is through this initiative that Los Angeles will be able to close the gap on the affordable housing and good-job shortage.”

“We know LA residents have a different vision for Los Angeles - one where the diverse communities that make this City strong are thriving, one where students can afford to live in the City and don’t have to sit in two hours of traffic to get to class, one where our children can breathe clean air and live in uncrowded homes.

This is the future we want to create with the voters of Los Angeles in November,” said Laura Raymond, campaign director for Alliance for Community TransitLos Angeles and a member of the Build Better LA Coalition.

“Without equity in City planning, transit investments deepen inequality. Without affordable housing and good jobs, workers in low-wage industries and their families-who are also often transit-dependent-are forced out of their homes and neighborhoods, while car use increases and climate change worsens.

Build Better LA charts a path forward for our City by uniting key parts of our labor and housing movements. Together, we

are bringing development in alignment with affordable housing and good jobs. As a worker center that is also deeply committed to housing justice, this is a very special moment for KIWA. We are joyful to be moving forward on this together with our partners in the Alliance for Community Transit (ACT-LA) and the LA County Federation of Labor,” said Alexandra Suh, Executive Director of the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance and member of the Build Better LA Coalition.

To accommodate the city’s rapid growth, this initiative will ensure that transit-oriented communities have access to development projects with quality jobs, livable wages, and affordable housing that residents can actually afford.

“This will greatly benefit the community. It will let everyone know that these opportunities are available for people like myself. It will create a better life style for middle-class people,” said Alton Wilkerson, journeyman with IBEW Local 11 and South LA resident.

Through one signature and one voter at a time, the coalition will begin partnering with housing advocates, neighborhood leaders, and business leaders. n

President Aquino’s visit to the US and to LMU is a reminder that despite the different cultures of the two nations, people of the world should have the goal to care and love one another, as he emphasized that it is simply the “right thing to do,” Heather Marie Domingo, a junior at LMU, said.

“It’s not every day that you get to see the President of the Philippines, so witnessing him receive an honorary degree, especially from your alma mater, was very surreal and cool,” added Kathleen Castillo, an alumna of the university. “The fact that it was held on campus just shows how the relationships between Jesuit

institutions are so strong, even from across the world.”

The ceremony was co-sponsored by the School of Education’s Teach for the Philippines program and the university’s World Policy Institute.

“I think it was an honor and opportunity to recognize both the partnerships with LMU in the Philippines, especially with the Teach for the Philippines program, and it was great for students and faculty to have a chance to hear from a respected world leader. When conferring honorary degrees from a university, especially awardees of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, it’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate those achievements,” said Aristotle Mosier, faculty member and director of Asian Pacific Student Services (APSS) at LMU. Aquino has also received several honorary degrees from institutions, such as Fordham University in New York and University of the Philippines, Diliman. (With reports from Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

Aquino receives honorary degree from…

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express their support.”

Edward James Asuncion, a senior at the university and president of Filipino student organization Isang Bansa, said it was a “very surreal experience” to present cords to Aquino.

Other Fil-Am students present at the ceremony commented that it was humbling to hear how Aquino has translated his Jesuit upbringing.

“His speech made me very thankful to attend a Jesuit university, and I am proud to say Loyola Marymount does such an incredible job of promoting the idea of service and justice to its students.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2016 ELECTIONS. Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel (left) and Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, chairmen of the joint congressional oversight committee on the Automated Elections System, listen to officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as they report on the preparations for the 2016 national and local elections. Pimentel expressed concern over reports of incompatibilities between the consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) in the source code and the election management system (EMS). “These issues are disappointing because these are all happening when we are already in the campaign period,” Pimentel said.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

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Nike dumps Pacquiao as…

saying what his belief was coming from was deep rooted in the Bible and it’s just communicated improperly,” Donaire said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Possible disqualification While Pacquiao continues to be the subject of a global flak, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it is looking into the call of a senatorial candidate to disqualify Pacquiao over his upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9.

“This globally and nationally televised fight a month before the elections would mean hours and hours of coverage before, during, and after the fight. This media attention, supplemented by national pay-per-view television coverage during the fight, would be massive free advertising,” Former Congressman and fellow senatorial candidate Walden Bello said.

Bello suggested that Pacquiao postpone the fight or risk violating Comelec Resolution 9615 on political advertisement. “[The fight] would give him a tremendous advantage against most of the other candidates in the race for the Senate,” he added.

On the other hand, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal refuted recent allegations on the Pacquiao-Bradley fight as grounds for Pacquiao’s disqualification.

“If there is any violation of election laws, a criminal complaint has to be filed and it is only after conviction of said offense that a

South China Sea dispute…

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sibilities to the Asian concept of ‘losing face’ perhaps we can get them to be more reasonable in their actions towards the smaller countries around the periphery of the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea,” Aquino said.

During the US-ASEAN summit earlier this week, countries agreed that territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully;

however, they did not reach a common stance on the conflict.

During what was perhaps his last visit to the United States as president, Aquino also met with business executives, received an honorary degree from Loyola Marymount University and spoke before the FilipinoAmerican community in Southern California before departing for Manila. n

candidate could be disqualified to seek public office either by election or appointment,” said in a statement.

“Our courts, under the doctrine of territoriality, have no jurisdiction over offenses committed by a person outside the territory of the Philippines, except if it involves national security of the country. For sure, the PacquiaoBradley fight is not covered by such exception,” Macalintal added. Because the fight will be held in Las Vegas, he said that no election offense case could be

filed against Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, who intends to retire after his April fight against Bradley to focus on politics, said that the hullabaloo over his controversial statements has not impacted his training or affected his morale.

“What I did wrong was just comparing the people to animals, but you know what I am telling is the truth. I mean I am just telling what the Bible says. We believe God and then we should honour the word of God,” he told the Associated Press on Friday. n

thiS Week in RevieW US US and Cuba sign historic deal THE United States and Cuba signed a deal to restore commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades. The significant deal will allow dozens of new daily commercial flights (as many as 110) between the nations, and will bring thousands of more American travelers a year, as early as this fall. President Obama, eager to make rapid progress on building trade and improving diplomacy with Cuba before the end of his term, also announced a diplomatic visit to the island’s capital of Havana in March, becoming the first sitting US president to visit Cuba in 88 years.

Porter Ranch leak permanently sealed STATE officials announced on Feb. 18 that the massive natural gas leak near Porter Ranch has been permanently sealed.

The four-month leak, a result of negligence from the Southern California Gas Company, released an estimated 80,000 metric tons of methane gas and other chemical compounds into the Los Angeles Basin, affecting hundreds of residents living in the Porter Ranch neighborhood. The gas company has been sued by South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the incident now ranks as the worst natural gas leak in US history

Possible 3rd militant in San Bernardino shootings OVER two months after the shootings by an extremist jihadi couple occurred at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., the FBI has still not ruled out the possibility of a third militant at the scene of the attacks. In the immediate hours after the Dec. 2, 2015 massacre killed 14, some witnesses told law enforcement officers and reporters that they saw three gunmen.

That day, the FBI issued a statement saying there were only two confirmed shooters, one of those shooters an employee of the regional center for disabilities. “What we have confirmed is evidence indicating that two weapons were fired…but in the absence of video it’s something you can’t entirely rule out until every question is answered. There’s still unanswered questions,” said FBI Los Angeles spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

Breakthrough for key cancer fighting drug A DRUG by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has been awarded “breakthrough therapy designation” from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treating patients with inoperable or metatastic (urothelial) bladder cancer. The immunotherapy drug Durvalumab uses the body’s own defense system to attack tumors and fight the disease. According to The Telegraph, is the third breakthrough therapy designation the company has won from the FDA in oncology, paving the way for the future of immune-oncology.

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acquaintances. These testimonials make me proud to be your ambassador and inspire the Philippine Embassy and consulates in the US to ensure that we represent our country effectively,” Cuisia said.

Aquino’s interaction with the Filipino community on Wednesday was largely received positively among attendees.

“I’m very glad about the accomplishment of the president and it is important that whoever would be elected [president] will

3/1/16

follow the footstep of the president. He has done a lot [of] outstanding accomplishments,” said Tony Cartagena, current councilmember and former mayor of Walnut, California.

Cartegena also lauded the president’s efforts in reducing corruption and improving the country’s economy.

Lakewood resident Raul Sambitan, 47, who has returned to the Philippines on multiple occasions in the 14 years he has lived in the United States, commended the

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Aquino boasts PH’s progress…

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delegation.

Cabinet members -- Secretary of Finance Cesar V. Purisima; PAGE A6 t Secretary of Defense Voltaire pines almost every other year.

“I thought it would be a great T. Gazmin; Secretary of the improvement in the country’s infrastructure since Aquino took office. opportunity to do so because it’s Cabinet Jose Rene D. Almen“I was really impressed be- not every day that you get to be dras; National Socio-Economic cause they’re not just building in a place where you get to meet Planning Secretary Emmanuel [roads], they’re widening [them]. not only the president but also F. Esguerra; Secretary of the Communications I believe [the roads are] not go- all of these community leaders Presidential ing to be vanished for awhile be- who have a similar purpose in a Operations Office Herminio B. cause [the concrete is] so thick,” sense where who has a great ap- Coloma, Jr.; Secretary Emmanusaid Sambitan, who noted that preciation for the Filipino culture el M. de Guzman of the Climate roads would previously be as well as the Filipino American Change Commission; and Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidenculture,” Castro said. washed out by heavy rain.

After Aquino’s remarks, at- tial Management Staff -- joined Sambitan added that he has spoken with other Philippine res- tendees also had a chance to Aquino during his visit to Southidents in Visayas and Mindanao, take a photo with Aquino and his ern California. n who say roads are also being improved in their respective areas.

“This administration was really good. I like it. [I don’t have a] political affiliation but … I would say I’m very pleased with what [the president] has done so far,” Sambitan said.

Wednesday’s event also drew a handful of young Filipino Americans, including Norwalk resident Erika Castro, 24, who was born in the United States but has traveled to the Philip-

Obama to…

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Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian.

ASEAN includes Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

While Southeast Asian economies are youthful and fast-growing, many sectors remain under the control of government special interests.

But countries like Indonesia are beginning to open up. Its president, Joko Widodo, recently announced steps to open the economy to foreign investment that were welcomed in Washington.

The new “US-ASEAN Connect” package will include technical advice on how countries, like Indonesia and the Philippines, can prepare to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a vast Pacific-wide trade deal that is in the process of being ratified.

Other measures will focus on improving trade ties in communications and infrastructure, among other sectors, streamlining current government programs.

The measures will also address the power sector, an area where China has been especially active, building dams along the upper Mekong. (Inquirer.net)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016

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OpiniOn

Features

Startling bigotry

AS bouts went, the knockout came pretty quick. Barely a week since he uttered his now-infamous remark on TV that gay people are “worse than animals” when they engage in same-sex relations (“mas masahol pa sa hayop” in more lacerating Filipino), the world as he knew it had come tumbling down on the world-famous boxer-congressman-preacher.

The blowback came swift and hard, with the country’s most prominent gay personalities, men and women alike, taking the lead to condemn Manny Pacquiao’s startling bigotry, joined by innumerable others, gay and straight, here and abroad, who found his comments appalling and a step too far. In the immediate aftermath, Pacquiao lost more than a million followers on Twitter and was dumped by global sportswear giant Nike, which called his remarks “abhorrent.” And the man was forced to apologize—awkwardly and obviously still missing the point—first on his Instagram account, then on radio.

The point, which many of his followers also fail to discern, or steadfastly refuse to, is not Pacquiao’s opposition per se to the idea of same-sex marriage. He has broached his disagreement with that prospect more than once, and he is not the first high-profile Filipino to do so. Politicians such as Lito Atienza and Tito Sotto, along with sundry bishops of the Catholic Church, have long railed against the possibility of such unions becoming a reality in the Philippines, especially in light of the bold strides made in the campaign for equality waged by gay people in other countries.

The United States was but the latest to recognize same-sex unions in 2015, following the progressive bent of other countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay,

France, Brazil, England, and even staunchly Catholic bastions such as Spain, Mexico and Ireland.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has not even budged on its ban on divorce, making it the sole country in the world today without a legal recourse for couples to disengage from a marriage gone bad. Obviously, legislating same-sex marriage is an even more long-shot prospect, and Pacquiao’s basic and well-known opposition to it wasn’t what got him in serious trouble.

The more insidious part of his remarks was the mentality that informed his world view. Here was a congressman aspiring to be a senator, with the eventual power, if he does win (he is eighth or ninth in the latest surveys), to shape public debate and craft laws and policies that would impact on the lives of millions of ordinary Filipinos. His dismal performance in the House of Representatives should indicate the man’s capacity for the legislative grind: He reported for work only four times in 2014—the worst absentee record in the House for that year. Number of laws he passed: zero.

The only notable instance he took to the House floor was to oppose the reproductive health bill, and not with any coherent empirical or sciencebased argument, but with liberal quotations from the Bible. Meanwhile, according to a 2015 World Food Programme report, his constituency of Sarangani is one of the 16 poorest provinces in the country, with more than half of its families—54

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

percent—saying that, on some months, they went hungry once a day.

Pacquiao as a politician is terrible enough; his newfound religiosity—credited for turning his life around from rakish excess to the prayerful, Biblebased countenance he now wears—appears to have further confused him on the basic need for those in government like himself to separate their private religious beliefs from the requirements of the law and secular polity. While apologizing for his words, he defended the core of his argument by repeatedly invoking the Bible, as though ignorant of the fact that not all Filipinos are believers of it, let alone the fundamental, literalist interpretation to which he subscribes.

But if Pacquiao is to be senator, all Filipinos are to be his constituents, including the millions of gay people who stand at increased risk of further prejudice, discrimination, even violence from other people on account of a mindset that views them as less than human, as less deserving of the rights that those who are straight and who have never been in the minority take for granted—the right to love whomever they choose, for instance, and the right to build a life with that person under the equal protection of the law.

Because of who he is and what he wants to be, Pacquiao’s reprehensible words, and the world view behind them, carry grave consequences. He deserves to be thus reminded. (Inquirer.net)

Readers react to: ‘Why you should apply for US citizenship now’

IN the Asian Journal’s Midweek edition on Wednesday, Feb. 17, I shared the advice of Atty.

Lou Tancinco, The Filipino Channel’s Pinoy Panawagan Legal Counsel, on why eligible kababayans should apply for naturalization to be US citizens.

Tancinco outlined the benefits: family unity, avoiding separation, vivic engagement, federal employment, ease of travel.

This topic has resonated well among Filipinos in America who are still delaying the application process from their end, even when they are already raising their own families in the United States. Many cited the cost of applying for naturalization as an issue, while others just can’t find the time or are satisfied for now to enjoy the ben-

efits of having their green card which allows them to live and The Fil-Am work in the US legally.

Some individuals expressed Perspective that they would apply for US citizenship if either Binay, Duterte, Roxas, Santiago or even Poe, end up winning the presidency in the Philippines, a sign of resigned Gel SantoS-ReloS helplessness for the Motherland if their candidate of choice does not win.

Others like Jacqui Conclara intimated very strong emotional reasons of turning their backs, officially, from their Filipino citizenship to embrace being new Americans. Concara said, “I still haven’t, too. I must admit there is still that pull

SucceSSor to Scalia

Why President obama should quickly nominate an asian american to the uS Supreme court Community Voice Faith Bautista PRESIDENT Obama, as a result of the unexpected death of US Supreme Court Justice Antonio Scalia, has an opportunity to appoint the first Asian American to the US Supreme Court in its more than 225 year history. As the late Justice Scalia has frequently stated, the court needs more diversity.

In America’s history 112 justices have been appointed and confirmed. But despite more than 20 million Asian Americans, and the projections of the Census Bureau that the Asian American population will at least double in the next generation, no Asian American appointees have ever been made.

We believe that this decision to appoint an Asian American should not be political since the very conservative Justice Scalia has always raised the issue of lack of Supreme Court diversity. Many of us, including the authors of this article, disagree on what elements are crucial in President Obama’s appointment process. Therefore, we have sent to the President on

February 16th, three names of Asian Americans who are 50 or under who cover the spectrum of political opinions from those probably approved by Senator Cruz to those probably approved by liberal governors such as Governor Brown. This includes California Supreme Court Justice Gordon Liu, who President Obama previously nominated to be a 9th Circuit Judge and is presently a brilliant scholarly progressive on the California Supreme Court.

Somewhere in the middle, we have mentioned Jacqueline Nguyen, a 9th Circuit (Western US) Justice. Farther to the right, we have mentioned a former associate of Senator Ted Cruz, Sri Srinavasan. We also believe there are at least a dozen other well qualified and scholarly Asian American judges in the mix.

The obvious political advantage to President Obama of nominating an Asian American is that it is likely to further unify the Asian American vote in favor of future presidential candidates. It also has the advantage of including the perspective of a community that potentially, within a generation, will have at least eight times the voting power of the entire Jewish community (Presently, three of the nine members of the US Supreme Court are Jewish.)

For Republicans, the advan-

tage of such an appointment should they agree to hold hearings and support the nominee is that they will prove to the Asian American community that the Asian Americans are a key element in America’s future progress. It is our hope and expectation that the Republican leadership will join with the President in supporting the late Justice Scalia’s commitment to and concerns about the lack of diversity throughout the 225 year history of the US Supreme Court.

Our letter to the President will be followed, if possible, by meetings with both the Republican leadership and the President when the National Asian American Coalition and its allies from the Black and Latino churches and chambers of commerce are in Washington D.C during the week of March 1st.

It is also our hope that the leading Republican and Democratic candidates, including Clinton, Sanders, Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Bush and Kasich will begin to speak out on the need for the prompt confirmation of a fully qualified Asian American justice. As many Asian American leaders have often said, the US Supreme Court is far stronger by having three women, an African American and a Latino among the nine justices. n

of nationalism in my heart. This year is decision year for me.”

Fil-Am community leader and immigration lawyer and activist Atty. Arnedo Valera echoed Atty. Lou Tancinco’s advice, and said kababayans like Conclara can apply for dual citizenship so as not to totally abandon being Filipino.

Valera also said: “A very important and pragmatic reason is that Green Card Holders are still deportable or can still be deported. We have several clients who have green cards for years and do not want to apply for personal reasons. And by mistake were falsely accused of committing

crimes and to buy peace enter a guilty plea, not knowing the immigration consequences of the plea are placed in removal or deportation proceedings. Aside from costly legal fees in removal representation, potentially you can be deported.

As I always say, ‘accidents in life happen.’ At the earliest opportunity, apply for [a] green card.

How many times [do] we hear the cliche ‘you have nothing to lose but everything to gain?’ Just do it.” *** 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

Who is really leading in the presidential race?

THE recent BusinessWorld (BW)-Social Weather Station Street (SWS) presidential preference survey, conducted from Febru- Talk ary 5 to 7, tells us that Vice President Jejomar Binay is ahead of the pack with a 29 percent rating. While this is lower than the 31 percent that he got in the Jan- GreG B. MacaBenta uary 8-10 BW-SWS reading, one could conjecture that Binay’s score has actually remained relatively stable because of the margin of error of +3 percent.

Binay is followed by Sen. Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who are tied with 24 percent. While Poe has maintained her rating in the last poll, Duterte has surged from 20 percent in January. On the other hand, Liberal Party standardbearer, Mar Roxas, appears to have lost ground, from 21 percent down to 18 percent. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has remained in last place with 4 percent, a slight improvement from 3 percent in the last SWS poll.

In stark contrast, the Pulse Asia survey of January 24-28 -- only a few days earlier than the BWSWS reading -- had Poe in the lead with 30 percent (up by 9 percent from 21 percent in the polling firm’s December reading) and Binay suffering a 10 percent drop to 23 percent from 33 percent in December.

Significantly, Roxas and Duterte, both rating 20 percent in Pulse Asia’s January survey, were said to be statistically tied with Binay because of the margin of error.

How do you explain the variance between the BW-SWS and the Pulse Asia surveys, which were conducted only a few days apart and ostensibly using a representative nationwide respondent base?

Well, if your head hasn’t stopped spinning yet from trying to figure out the variance, in the Standard-Laylo survey, conducted from January 27 to February 4 (almost overlapping the February 5-7 BW-SWS poll), it was Poe who was on top with 29 percent while Binay and Roxas both rated 22 percent. Duterte was close to 20 percent.

To further add to your confusion, in the Pulse Asia January 24-28 survey, Binay and Poe were virtually tied in Metro Manila (32 percent and 33

percent, respectively), but in the Standard-Laylo reading, Poe was way ahead with 35 percent vs. only 22 percent for Binay.

While I have occasionally been critical of SWS and Pulse Asia, mainly over the issue of methodology (I’ve only been recently exposed to Junie Laylo’s work), I’m not willing to go along with critics who have accused them, and other survey firms, of selling out to political interests.

Even that startling November SWS survey -which had Duterte enjoying a commanding lead of 38 percent, compared to 21 percent each for Poe and Binay, and Roxas’ 15 percent -- was explained away (albeit, awkwardly) as having been commissioned by a Duterte supporter who appears to have influenced the way the questionnaire was framed (allowing a leading question that created an obvious bias for Duterte).

SWS made no effort to deny who funded the survey. It could, of course, have protested the media exploitation of the results by the Duterte camp.

And it could also have more vigorously clarified that the methodology was not up to its high standards.

But, unless a specific condition prohibits a survey funder from using the results for certain purposes, all is fair in war and politics and surveys happen to be one of the weapons of choice.

How survey results are used for political advantage is obvious. Impressive results for a candidate are supposed to generate a bandwagon effect on voters, motivate bigtime contributors to loosen the purses, and cause the usual political carpetbaggers to jump in.

But the key to unleashing these dynamics is in the hands of media. This is where the astute political operators get to work. By motivating media to banner the results and give them a positive spin, the bandwagon is supposed to start rolling, the money bags are supposed to be loosened and the political ward leaders are supposed to be attracted like flies to food.

At ground level, this scenario does not necessarily unfold.

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A

US senators alarmed over Fil-Am appointed to DNC’s China’s missiles in disputed sea convention committee

by PAtriciA Lourdes Philstar.com

VirAy

MANILA — United States (US) senators have expressed concern over reports that China has deployed a surface-to-air missile system to one of the contested islands in the South China Sea. Fox News reported earlier this week that two batteries of eight missile launchers known as the HQ-9 air defense system have been spotted on Woody Island, a part of the Paracel Island chain in the disputed sea.

US Sen. Steve Daines said that the deployment of missiles in the island would have impacts on the stability of the region and on global commerce.

“With over 5 trillion dollars of global trade passing through the South China Sea, maintaining the integrity of international waters and airspace in the region is critically important,” Daines said in a statement.

Meanwhile, US Sen. John McCain said that Beijing’s recent action in the disputed sea shows its intent to militarize the region.

“Despite making claims months ago that China had halted its unprecedented reclamation and would not militarize features in the South China Sea, we now have a growing set of examples of the emptiness of Beijing’s

by AJPress

This image with notations provided by ImageSat International N.V., Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, shows satellite images of Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. A U.S. official confirmed that China has placed a surface-to-air missile system on Woody Island in the Paracel chain, but it is unclear whether this is a short-term deployment or something intended to be more long-lasting.

ImageSat International N.V. via AP

words,” McCain said.

McCain added that Chinese President Xi Jinping was deliberately disregarding his commitment to the US to halt the reclamation activities in the South China Sea. “While President Obama has rightly called for a halt to militarization, he has oddly left it to Beijing to interpret what constitutes militarization in the eyes of the United States,” McCain said.

McCain, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested that the US should consider additional options to raise the costs in Beijing’s behavior such as adopting policies with “a level of risk that we have been unwilling to consider up to this point.”

Obama, along with leaders of Southeast Asian countries recently issued a joint declaration expressing stronger commitment to keeping peace in the region. n

Marcos’ campaign headway explained element of the present. They can’t relate. Most of all there was no dramatic change. The ARE you wondering why the same problems during martial vice presidential campaign of law are still here. It appears that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos martial law is not totally bad. It Jr. is making significant head- appears that there is no martial way despite his being the son law narrative. You cannot paint of a former authoritarian Presi- black and white because the dent? same problems are here,” de This phenomenon, according Vera, a political analyst, said on to University of the Philippines Friday, Feb. 19.

(UP) professor Popoy de Vera, “It is difficult to demonize has an explanation. He said martial law because poverty is 70 percent of the voters are 34 still prevalent. People realized years old and below who were that [it] is not the root cause of born after martial law or toward all problems we are facing now,” the end in 1982. he said.

“These voters do not have the De Vera added that people

by JAime

PiLAPiL ManilaTimes.net

have separated Bongbong from his parents.

“He has +68 approval rating while Imelda [his mother] has -62. People have separated Bongbong from the atrocities of martial law.”

The professor said he witnessed this attitude of the millennials when he organized recently a forum at UP on the proposed Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL).

“Students were taking selfie photos with him. And the venue is UP,” he said with eyes wide.

The University of the Philippines has been known as a hot-

u PAGE A11

Who is really leading in the presidential…

PAGE A8 t

In the 2010 race for the vicepresidency, Mar Roxas was flying high throughout most of the survey periods. He enjoyed a rating of 47 percent and 39 percent in the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys, respectively, both conducted in December 2009. Loren Legarda was not far behind Roxas. In the same surveys, Jojo Binay was struggling with only 10 percent.

At a certain point in the campaign, Roxas even enjoyed higher poll ratings than Noynoy Aquino, such that some of Roxas’ supporters began making noises that he should not have given up his presidential candidacy in favor of Aquino.

However in the May 2-3 SWS survey, just a few days before the May 10 elections, Binay had overtaken Roxas with a razorthin margin of .2 percent (37.2 percent vs Roxas’ 37 percent).

Legarda was down to only 12 percent. The final results had Binay winning 41.65 percent of the votes against Roxas’ 39.58 percent.

The lesson is obvious to the wise political strategist. Don’t let the current survey results go to your head. The numbers have a way of going up or down and the margin of error may be larger than the statistical calculations of the research firms.

Back in my early ad agency days, we were constantly reminded: “Use research as a lamp to illuminate rather than as a lamp post to lean on.”

The best use of survey findings is as an indicator of strengths and weaknesses. In this regard, it makes no sense to argue that unflattering results may have been due to a biased methodology conducted by mercenaries in research scientists’ clothing.

“Keep running scared,” is a motto that I have heard from veteran politicians. “Never take anything for granted.”

If the ratings are down, the seasoned strategist will take that seriously and find out why.

If the ratings are up, he will find out why, too. It’s just as bad not knowing why your candidate is ahead as not knowing why he is behind.

There’s another factor aside from voter preference, as indicated by the surveys, And it could be the game-changer.

In the 2004 presidential elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo defeated Fernando Poe, Jr. by a narrow margin of 3.48 percent (equivalent to one million votes). Up to the time she had served her full term, Arroyo never lived down the accusation that she had schemed with Comelec officials, specifically Commissioner Virgilio Garcil-

lano, to pad the election results with the winning margin. The infamous “Hello Garci” phone call of Arroyo has forever tainted her legacy.

In other words, whatever Pulse Asia, BW-SWS and StandardLaylo say about who is leading in the polls, the usual skeptics believe that a “Garcified” electoral count will determine the final results.

Will someone make a crucial phone call to the Comelec the way Arroyo did to Garci?

Frankly, I don’t think that a phone call will be necessary. The way Noynoy Aquino has been using his presidential muscle to twist the arms of provincial officials and ward leaders, down to the barangay captains, he doesn’t need

to make that call. The message he has sent to everyone in his administration – especially those he has appointed to key positions - is that he wants Roxas elected president by hook or by crook.

Who’s really leading in the presidential race? The surveys will tell you from time to time, and the results will keep changing as election day nears. But the big question is: Who’s going to win in the counting?

Take it from one battle-scarred pundit: “If you thought getting Chief Justice Corona impeached was important enough for Aquino to bribe members of the Senate, imagine how important it is for him to see that his presidential candidate will win.” (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

VETERAN publicist Fritz Friedman was recently appointed to serve on the credentials committee for the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) upcoming convention.

As part of the committee, Friedman will help determine delegates’ credentials for the DNC’s convention this July in Philadelphia.

During a DNC Executive Committee meeting in January, 75 party leader and elected official members, as well as over 160 members that are elected from each state, were appointed to the three convention standing committees: credentials, rules and platform.

“I am extremely proud of the experienced group of individuals who are ready and dedicated to serving our Party on the Convention Committees,” DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. “This slate represents the great variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that make up our Party. We wanted to make sure that the diversity of our party was reflected to the highest levels in terms of race, gender, age, and geography and feel confident that these individuals will do a tremendous job in this capacity.”

Friedman said it was an “honor” to be named to the 25-member credentials committee.

“This appointment reflects a recognition of the growing importance of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the political process. Filipinos are a significant percentage of the AAPI demographic which is now the fast-growing racial group in The United States,” he told the Asian Journal. “So, I would encourage all Filipino Americans to become a part of the political process.

And the first step is to raise your voice through your vote and help create the future that you want for yourself, your family and your community.”

At the convention, Democratic candidates for president and vice president will be formally nominated, as well as the adoption of the party’s official platform.

Friedman, who was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Publicity for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures

Veteran publicist Fritz Friedman

Worldwide Acquisitions, executed some of its most successful publicity campaigns including those for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” the “Spider-Man” and “Men In Black” franchises, “The Social Network”, “22 Jump Street” and “The Equalizer” as well as such iconic television hits as the “Seinfeld” and “Breaking Bad” TV-on-DVD series.

In addition to his achievements in entertainment, Friedman serves as vice chair of

development for the California Commission on the Humanities and is currently on the faculty of the Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism of the University of Southern California.

He has also helped lobby for veterans benefits for more than 18,000 Filipinos veterans of World War II, for which he was given a Presidential Citation by the Philippine government during President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term. n

A10 FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Aquino issues executive order on state workers’ pay

by Joel

M. Sy egco ManilaTimes.net

UPON his arrival from a working visit to the United States, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday, Feb. 19 signed an executive order (EO) that grants a pay increase to more than a million government workers and additional benefits to civilian and uniformed military personnel.

Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who accompanied the President during his trip, made the announcement, explaining that the EO provides for the implementation of the first of the four tranches under the proposed 2015 Salary Standardization Law (SSL) Law or SSL 4 that Congress failed to enact.

“President Aquino has signed an executive order ‘Modifying the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing the Grant of Additional Benefits for both Civilian and Military and Uniformed Personnel’… Authority to implement the first tranche is given in RA [Republic Act] 10717 [or the 2016 General Appropriations Act or GAA] which provides a budget of P57.9 billion,” Coloma said.

“The President approved and signed the EO upon his arrival this morning from his participation in the Special Asean-US Summit and a working visit in Los Angeles, California,” he added.

In January, the proposed law hit a snag after the bicameral conference committee failed to iron out differences in the Senate and House versions of the measure.

In particular, both panels did not agree on the proposal to increase the monthly pension of about 1.53 million retired government personnel, which Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th sought.

Trillanes’ counterpart in the House, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, claimed that the inclusion of the retirees’ monthly pension will double the amount of the adjustment and give the people concerned false hopes

because the government simply lacks funds.

The senator maintained he was willing to compromise by putting on the line “subject to the availability of funds” in the indexation provision.

This way, Trillanes, pensioners will be entitled to a hike if and when funds are ready for dispensation.

The House version is fully funded under the approved P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016, while the Senate version would need additional funds because of the inclusion of the increase in the pensions.

The EO signed by Aquino has a retroactive effect because the GAA is already being implemented.

The President himself was adamant in including the pension hike for retired military and police personnel based on the “indexation” of salaries and wages of military personnel that started during the time of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Unlike in other agencies and the private sector that have a pension system, Aquino explained that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have none.

He said a military officer who retired in 1994, for example, has been receiving a monthly pension of P16,000.

Because of indexation, according to him, any increase in the salaries of active military personnel will automatically adjust the pension of retirees.

“His pension since April 1994 is P16,192.50. His pension in December 2015 because of indexation will reach P86,062.50.

So, from P16,000 it becomes P86,000. And this is for the Armed Forces alone,” he explained.

“For the police, one who retired in March 2004 receives a monthly pension of P28,758.11.

In December 2015, his pension will reach P77,631.42. The increase is P48,873.31 or 169.95 percent. From what I understand, when one entered the

service, it is promised that once he retired he will receive a percentage of his basic salary as pension,” the President said If the indexation would be followed, he added, pension payments will reach P43 billion while salary hikes will stand only at P39.5 billion.

“Of course, the active will ask, ‘Is that reasonable? We still the ones who dodge bullets and in danger but why do we receive lower pay?’” Aquino said.

“To ensure that the compensation structure of government personnel is comparable with the prevailing rates in the private sector, thereby attracting and retaining competent and committed civil servants, the existing Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) is hereby revised or updated to conform with the following: a) raise the minimum salary for Salary Grade I from the current rate of P9,000 to P11,068 to make it even more competitive with the market rates; b) bring the compensation of government personnel closer to their private counterparts to at least 70 percent of the median of the market for all salary grades; c) eliminate overlaps in between salary grade allocations of government personnel to recognize differences in duties and responsibilities of the position; d) maximize the net takehome pay of government personnel through the inclusion of additional benefits; and e) strengthen the performance-based incentive system in recognition of government personnel who play a greater role and carry a heavier responsibility in attaining performance targets and delivering results,” Coloma explained.

“For the military and uniformed personnel, the compensation adjustment strategy shall be aligned with the objective of mitigating the fiscal crisis building up in their pension system and pursuing the pension reform,” he said.n

WARM WELCOME. Thousands of Pasig City residents welcome vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and his Unity Caravan Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Senate photo

1 of 4 won’t vote for corrupt bets – poll

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — One out of four Filipino voters will support a presidential candidate who is not corrupt and has an untarnished reputation and character, according to the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

The survey, held on Jan. 24 to 28, showed that 28 percent of the 1,800 respondents would vote for a particular candidate based on his or her reputation of not being corrupt.

Only a small percentage of the respondents (0.4 percent) said they would vote for a candidate who is nationalistic or who has not left the country.

“For a little over one in every four Filipinos (28 percent), the most important reason why they are supporting a particular presidential candidate is because of said candidate’s having an untarnished reputation or a reputation for not being corrupt,” said the pollster.

The opinion was shared by a small to sizeable pluralities in all geographic locations and Class D and E, according to the survey firm.

The respondents were asked to choose from a list of considerations that they may have in voting for president.

Next to having an untarnished reputation, 14 percent of voters said they would vote for a candidate who has a clear program or platform of action.

Twelve percent said they would choose one who has extensive experience in governance, while nine percent would vote for a candidate who is knowledgeable in management of government.

Other considerations include being religious (six percent), helpful (six percent), pro-poor (five percent), approachable

The survey, held on Jan. 24 to 28, showed that 28 percent of the 1,800 respondents would vote for a particular candidate based on his or her reputation of not being corrupt.

(four percent), courageous (three percent), intelligent (three percent), industrious (two percent), winnable (two percent) and endorsed by a respected person (two percent).

Only one percent of the respondents said they would vote based on party affiliation, nonviolence and non-involvement in a political dynasty.

The survey has a plus or minus two margin of error at 95 percent confidence level.

Low wage, drug abuse In the same survey, respondents said that the low salary of workers and the continuing proliferation of illegal drugs are the most urgent national concerns that voters want the next president to address immediately upon assuming office.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they want the next president to immediately increase the salary of workers nationwide.

On the other hand, 36 percent said they want the next chief executive to curb the widespread sale and use of illegal drugs.

The respondents were asked

`

to select three national concerns that they think should be immediately addressed by the presidential candidate who would win the upcoming elections.

Following low wages and illegal drugs are inflation and graft and corruption, which were both identified by 30 percent of the respondents as among their urgent national concerns.

Twenty-nine percent want the next president to immediately address poverty, while 26 percent want creation of more jobs.

Other concerns include fighting criminality (24 percent), enforcement of the law (20 percent), increasing peace (12 percent), curbing illegal gambling (11 percent) and stopping the abuse of the environment (10 percent).

The issues that were least selected were defending Philippine territory (eight percent), preparedness for disasters (eight percent), protecting overseas Filipino workers (seven percent), speed in disaster response (six percent) and preparation for threats of terrorism (four percent). n

Marwan killed for money by his aide, group claims by nikko

Dizon Inquirer.net

MALAYSIAN terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (also known as “Marwan”) lies dead in his hut, his possessions in disarray after a surprise raid by members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) on Sunday morning. Caught unaware in his hideout, the bomb expert with a $6-million reward on his head shot it out with the raiding team and was killed. But the gunfire alerted Marwan’s security and other Moro rebels in the area who ended up killing 44 members of the PNP-SAF in an 11-hour firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed by his aide and not by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) as claimed by President Aquino, a Mindanao-based party-list group said on Friday, Feb. 19.

Marwan’s aide was identified as Datukan Sanggagao, according to Jesus “Peping” Agdumag of the Anti-War Anti-Terror (Awat) Mindanao party-list.

Another Inquirer source who has investigated the Jan. 25, 2015, Mamasapano clash said this was the same information his team had gathered, and it was also the name of Sanggagao that surfaced during the investigation.

But the Inquirer source said Sanggagao was alive and in hiding.

The story about Marwan’s aide killing the terrorist in exchange for money circulated in Central Mindanao soon after the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, that left 44 SAF commandos, 17 Moro rebels and three civilians dead.

MILF findings The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also said in its re-

marwan dead lite

port on the Mamasapano clash that Marwan was killed by his aide, but stopped short of naming Sanggagao.

The SAF claimed that its 84th Special Action Company (SAC) killed Marwan in an exchange of fire, but the MILF report pointed to findings that were inconsistent with the SAF version.

The MILF reported that Marwan appeared to have been shot from close range and that his hut and its surroundings showed no signs of a gun battle.

“This is the ultimate truth,” Agdumag told the Inquirer by phone on Wednesday, referring to his group’s report.

Awat is a little known political group but its members are Mindanao residents and it has a vast network in the region.

The group sent its investigation report, shown to the Inquirer, to the offices of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Grace Poe before the Senate reopened its Mamasapano investigation on Jan. 27.

“I don’t know why the senators did not use our report, but we couldn’t sleep not saying the truth,” Agdumag said.

Yearlong investigation He said Awat’s report was based on a yearlong investigation of the Mamasapano bloodbath.

Through various other assets, according to Awat’s findings, Sanggagao was recruited for the operation to take down Marwan being planned by Director General Alan Purisima, then the PNP chief, and Director Charles Calima, then head of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence.

The assets, including Sanggagao, were assured of a P50million reward for their help in getting Marwan.

Sanggagao was given money to build a hut some 500 meters away from Marwan’s hut in Pembalkan village in Mamasapano and to buy gadgets for monitoring the terrorist’s movements.

In the early hours of Jan. 25, 2015, Sanggagao shot Marwan dead, cut off his right index finger and handed it to the SAF. (There was a photo that showed a SAF commando cutting off Marwan’s left index finger.)

But Sanggagao was surprised to hear gunfire from the SAF and feared that he would be liquidated.

A frantic Sanggagao called up another asset to find out what was going on.

The other asset recalled Sanggagao’s last words: “Why are they shooting me?”

Then the line went dead. n

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A11

Marcos’ campaign headway explained PAGE A9 t

SEIZED. Some 250 pieces of illegal election campaign tarpaulin streamers and posters that were removed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were handed over Thursday to the enviromental group Ecowaste Coalition to be reused as tents and bags. MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez and MMDA Metro Parkway Clearing Group Francis Martinez turned over the tarpaulins to the environmental watchdog group, which is working with the government to promote “Basura-Free Elections.”

Philstar.com photo

GMA asks SC to stop plunder trial over PCSO

by Mike

Frialde Philstar.com

MANILA — Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is asking the Supreme Court to stop the Sandiganbayan from proceeding with the hearings on her alleged involvement in the P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund anomaly.

Her lawyer Estelito Mendoza told reporters he filed the motion last Feb. 4.

Last Nov. 25, the SC extended its status quo ante order stopping the plunder trial of the Pampanga lawmaker before the Sandiganbayan’s First Division.

The new order extended for 90 days the original 30-day stay issued last Oct. 20 and which had lapsed on Nov. 20 last year.

The extended order lapsed on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The SC decided to extend the halt order to allow the justices to decide on the merits of the case without the Sandiganbayan proceeding further with the trial.

Mendoza said the motion asking the SC to issue a TRO or to have the status quo ante order again extended for 60 days or until April 19, after its lapse yesterday, would enable Arroyo to receive evidence for her defense.

Arroyo has been detained at

Arroyo has been detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center while standing trial in the non-bailable plunder charge due to her cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones and cartilage of the neck.

AP photo

the Veterans Memorial Medical Center while standing trial in the non-bailable plunder charge due to her cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones

and cartilage of the neck.

Prosecutors have alleged conspiracy, but almost all of Arroyo’s co-accused are either out on bail or had been acquitted. n

bed of activism.

While the young Marcos is etching his own identity, old folks see in him the image of his father, one with charisma to a point that they embrace him and cry in his arms like what happened last Thursday in a poor community in Malabon City (Metro Manila).

“Your father was the one who reclaimed our sitio,” Thelma Arias, 67, said.

Martial law was declared by the elder Marcos 1972.

Retired military colonel Alex Noble echoed de Vera’s observation, saying people then were disciplined.

“Thirty-years after [the] EDSA people power [revolution],nothing has changed. In the early years of the presidency of[Corazon] Aquino we realized that ‘kamaganak’ [relatives] incorporated was in place. We were so frustrated,” said Noble, one of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) coup plotters which staged eight uprisings against the late President.

He is now campaigning for

the party-list RAM, which he renamed Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (Revolutionary Nationalist Alliance).

“We are supporting Bongbong because we see in him the sincerity to serve this country,” Noble said.

When asked about the atrocities committed during martial law, he replied that it was necessary to arrest the Left and “to clean the society.”

“The only problem was those who handled them were not properly trained that’s why they ended up torturing them. The Reds were in the brink of taking over the country. We were then intelligence officers,” Noble said.

Meanwhile, Marcos also on Friday continued his sorties in Pangasinan, attending the event of 2,000-strong Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in Alaminos City where he was accompanied by former congressman Mark Cojuangco, who is running for governor, Mayor Arthur Celeste, and First District Rep. Jesus Celeste.

He went to Bolinao town to

meet the 200 barangay (village) chairmen to whom he explained his pet law on establishing a retirement pension for barangay officials and volunteers.

In a morning radio interview over dzRH, Marcos explained that once elected Vice President his first job is to “report for work” to the elected President.

And one of his first acts is to consult traders on a program he calls “Business Directed Infrastructure” wherein he will ask the investors of their immediate plans for the next five to six years, in such a way the government may know exactly what roads to build.

“This will have a positive domino effect. Their business will improve, their operations will expand, more investments will come in, they will need to hire more people, we will have more jobs for our countrymen and this will alleviate our unemployment problem,” Marcos said.

This way, he added, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will have an option to return home since there will be jobs waiting for them. n

A12 FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal

Review

Criers for Hire: A hilarious, heartwarming cultural triumph

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

The east West Players’ premiered “Criers for hire” at the David henry hwang Theater on a rainy night on Wednesday, February 17. Starring Broadway veteran Joan Almedilla, Nicole Barredo, Samantha Cutaran, Rudy Martinez, and LA18 “Kababayan Today” host Giselle “G” Tongi, the play warmly celebrates Filipino and Filipino-American culture, generation, and the excitement and challenges of finding home in a new place.

Set in California’s predominantly Asian neighborhood of Monterey Park in the 90s, the play centers on mother Aurora/“Baby” (played by Almedilla), Remedios/ “Meding” (played by Tongi) and eugenia/“henny” (played by

(L-R) Joan Almedilla as Baby, Giselle “G” Töngi as Meding, and Samantha Cutaran as Henny in East West Players’ world premiere production of Giovanni Ortega’s “Criers for Hire.” (Photo

by Michael Lamont)

Cutaran), three struggling Filipina women who work as professional funeral criers to make ends meet.

Baby has petitioned her 14-yearold daughter, Ligaya/“Gaya” (Bar-

redo), to study and live with her in the US from the Philippines, and the funeral criers are eager to teach Gaya their somber line of PAGE B2

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Filipino develops app to simply fitness and health Criers for Hire: A hilarious, heartwarming...

by Christina

M. Oriel

AJ Press

IT’S well into the second month of the year — how many individuals have ditched their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy and shed some pounds?

But if you’ve stuck to your word or are looking for another way to stay active, there’s a new app for that.

Nikko Mendoza, a 30-year-old Filipino from Fairfield, California,

Screenshot of Fit in 15 app

recently launched “Fit in 15,” a fitness and health app that combines workouts with nutritious meal plans.

The inspiration for the app came from Mendoza’s own experience when he gained several pounds to the point where he couldn’t tie his shoes without losing his breath.

“When I got married, I stopped caring and I blew up. It wasn’t huge, but it got to a point where I would tie my shoes and I lost my

breath…I would see my [stomach] in the way and I asked, ‘how did I get here?’” Mendoza shared.

“So from there, I got back into working out, I read thousands of articles and it just kind of stuck with me.”

“Fit in 15” is essentially a portable trainer that was created to eliminate the various excuses people have for not getting in a daily workout: affordability (the app is free for a trial period but is only $2.99 a month), no time (workouts span just 15 to 25 minutes) or stuck in a fitness rut (workouts options are abundant).

With options for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio acceleration or a fit test, users can perform the workouts anywhere, and can select whether they want to use equipment or just their own body weight.

During a six-month development process, Mendoza looked at other fitness apps, but noticed that most of them didn’t have a nutrition component.

“If you don’t teach people the other half, I feel like you’re cheating them,” he said. “If you’re first starting out, you need to have the basics and this common foundation of knowledge if you really want to lose weight.”

Users can enter their basal metabolic rate and the app generates a customizable plan for up to every meal for a week.

Since the app was launched in the Apple store in late January, Mendoza shared that some users have reported losing an average of two pounds a week. Some reviews of the app praise it for being “easy to navigate” and a “personal trainer and nutritionist all rolled into one.”

Mendoza said the app is his way of making a difference in the lives of others.

“The benefits of being healthy are unbelievable — confidence goes up, the pride you have, and it’s a snowball effect,” he said.

He added, “to me, it’s really easy to be healthy. 15 minutes a day, that’s all you need. You can eat rice, Kare Kare and lumpia — you can eat all this food because I do — and still look decent.”

More updates are planned for the app, such as progress tracking, incentives for completing achievements and different languages.

Fit in 15 is currently available for iOS, and a version for Android is expected to be released soon.

For more information, visit http:// www.fitin15.training/.

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work. However, upon arrival and enrollment in high school, young, heavily-accented Gaya is more concerned with immersing herself in American life and culture.

Criers for Hire, written by Giovanni Ortega and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, is hilarious, heartwarming, and filled with cultural references that Filipinos and Fil-Ams alike will enjoy. For nonTagalog speakers in the audience, the show’s program provides a helpful glossary of “Taglish” (Tagalog-English) words, and uniquely projects English translations onto the stage. “...I’ve never played a Filipino before--it’s such a great opportunity. I could also relate to Ligaya as far as her culture shock, because I was 14 when I moved here from the Philippines as well,” actress Nicole Barredo shared. “It is also amazing that I get to work in East West Players, the longest-running professional theater of color in the US, bringing our culture out to Los Angeles.”

Inspired by the immigrant experience in the United States, “Criers for Hire” reveals important challenges and themes: culture shock, assimilation, conflict, coming-of-age, and sacrificial love. It brilliantly explores Filipino values (education, strict parenting, close-knit family ties) and Chinese traditions (burning of Joss paper in funerals), and focuses on the distinctive ways in which people express emotion. Almedilla, Tongi, and Cutaran have hilarious chemistry, while Barredo and Martinez (playing the charming classmate, Narcisco) add depth to their quirky, flirting scenes.

Rudy Martinez as Narcisco Triste and Nicole Barredo as Gaya (�hoto by Michael Lamont)

(L-R) Joan Almedilla as Baby, Giselle “G” Töngi as Meding, Nicole Barredo as Gaya, and Samantha Cutaran as Henny in East West �layers’ world premiere production of Giovanni Ortega’s “Criers for Hire.” (�hoto by Michael Lamont)

The complex relationship between mother and daughter is moving and reminiscent of any child with a hard-working parent.

“We wanted it to be an all-out comedy, but we realized there was an emotional connection, especially with the relationship between the mother and her

daughter,” said Tim Dang, producing artistic director of East West Players. “People in the audience were saying that it reminds them of their own relationship with their mother, how they did not appreciate all the things she had sacrificed for them. We added PAGE B3

(L-R) Giselle “G” Töngi as Meding, Joan Almedilla as Baby, Nicole Barredo as Gaya, Samantha Cutaran as Henny, and Rudy Martinez as Narcisco Triste (�hoto by Michael Lamont)

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An evening of nostalgia with The Cascades

by Dan

ENCORE EPISODE ON “CITIZEN PINOY”: “MY PARENTS ARE GREEN CARD HOLDERS, AND HAVE BEEN IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR OVER TWO YEARS. CAN THEY STILL RETURN TO THE US ON THEIR EXISTING GREEN CARDS?” This Sunday, leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel answers questions from Kapamilya in Rosemont, Illinois. Hear about the latest updates regarding Humanitarian Revalidation. Find out if a crewman can use his visa to visit his child in the US. Answers to all of these and more on an encore episode of the information-packed, award-winning public service program — “Citizen Pinoy,” this Sunday, February 21 at 6:15pm PST/EST (9:15pm EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

Heart & Soul: Jim Brickman and Kuh Ledesma at the Grove of Anaheim

ON March 20, 2016, watch two icons of smooth, inspiring pop--Jim Brickman and Kuh Ledesma--in “Heart & Soul,” a concert at City National Grove of Anaheim.

Brickman is known for his solo piano compositions, popstyle instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with Martina McBride (“Valentine”), Michael W. Smith (“Love of My Life”), Lady Antebellum (“Never Alone”), Johnny Mathis, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John, and many others.

He has earned six Gold and Platinum albums, plus two Grammy nominations for his albums Peace (2003) for Best Instrumental, and Faith (2009) for Best New Age Album. He has released five PBS specials, hosts an annual

fan cruise, and since 1997, has hosted the nationally syndicated radio show, “Your Weekend with Jim Brickman.”

Ledesma is one of Asia’s most successful pop singers. Her 35-year career includes 1,000 concerts all over the world, 20 albums and countless accolades, including the Salem Music Awards in London. Her songs, “Dito Ba,” “I Think I’m in Love,” “One More Try,” “Bulaklak,” and “Ako ay Pilipino” are considered pop classics.

She is also a respected industry maven. Kuh founded two concert venues--Music Museum and Malate Republic--and a recording studio, Bravo Records.

She has produced TV specials and concert tours featuring top entertainers, and hosted

an award-winning TV show, “Akuhstic Cafe.” Her multiple careers include painter, fashion designer, model-product endorser and actor who appeared in significant films like “Oro, Plata, Mata” and “The Year of Living Dangerously” (alongside Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver), “Heart & Soul” also features a special participation by Elmer Armstrong and The Platters, and Tanya Varona.

Showtime is at 5pm. City National Grove of Anaheim is located at 2200 E Katella Ave Anaheim CA 92806. For more information, please call (818) 458-9258 for tickets or log on to www.ventertainment.biz.

Tickets are at $VIP 98, $78, $68 general admission at $58.

E. nino

GARDEN GROVE, Calif.—At 77, John Claude Gummoe, the original lead vocalist of the Cascades of the 1960s, can still hack it up mesmerizing his audience with classic love songs at the Elks Club of this city.

Dubbed “An Evening of Nostalgia held recently,” Mr. Gummoe still elicited rave reviews from the audience mostly Pangasinenses and fellow Filipino-Americans.

They still marveled at his mellifluous voice. A concert goer commented, he still knows the lyrics of the songs and his voice has not diminished a bit considering his age. Mr. Gummoe sang the band’s love songs that were popularized from 1962 to 1966 albeit some songs might not ring a bell from the millennial generation. The only noticeable change that was obvious was his vanishing hairline.

Before he crooned, Mr. Gummoe made a disclosure that The Cascades did not die in a plane crash as rumored.

I became familiar with the Cascades’ genre during the waning days of my elementary grades and into my high school years.

Because most of his bandmates have already passed away or incapacitated, the surviving Cascade member was backed up by The Classic Harmony, a trio composed of two Filipino-Americans and one Caucasian American namely Fenny Pangan, Edgar Papas and Bob Crowther. The Classic Harmony opened the concert with songs of their generation like the Happy Together popularized by the Turtles, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, Going Out Of My Head (Lettermen)

John Claude Gummoe, 77, the original lead vocalist and urviving member of the Cascades performing with a Filipino band.m

Another Filipino aspiring singer, Sean Irwin (his stage name) enlivened the evening before the main event with his beautiful rendition of Michael Buble’, Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra songs.

Some of the Cascades songs that still thrilled the audience were Rhythm of the Rain, I Wanna Be Your Lover, There’s A Reason, Shy Girl, Was I Dreamin’, The Last Leaf, Angel On My Shoulder, Lucky Guy, and many more.

He was backed by a seven-man band led by bass player Jun Caberte who also was the concert’s musical director.

To spice up the his repertoire, the surviving Cascade member also a sang a medley of popular music of his time like Just The Two Of Us by the Herman’s Hermits, and an English song “Beautiful Girl recorded by his Filipino friend Jose Marie Chan.

As a side show, a bevy of Queen of Asia-Pacific beauties also graced the event. They were serenaded by balladeer Sean Erwin.

The Cascades Concert was

Matteo Guidicelli: I had the best Valentine’s Day of my life

Matteo Guidicelli said he has the “best Valentine’s” with his girlfriend Sarah Geronimo. ‘ Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

Jim Brickman

Kuh Ledesma

How do Nadine, James want to end ‘On the Wings of Love’?

MANILA—Nadine Lustre and James Reid didn’t agree on how they want to end the story of Leah and Clark in “On the Wings of Love.”

The show is down to its last two weeks, and up to now the viewers are wondering if their characters will eventually end up together or will totally drift apart.

Given a chance, Nadine would like Leah and Clark to end up together.

“Gusto ko po happily together,” said the Kapamilya actress, during the finale presscon of “On the Wings of Love” on Tuesday.

“Kasi na-in love ako sa kanila, sa story nila Clark at Leah. So even me as Nadine, invested ako doon sa love story nila,” she explained.

“Gusto ko rin na mag-end up sila together. Pero ang gulo-gulo na po kasi ngayon, e, so tingnan natin.”

However, James would like to

Nadine Lustre and James Reid would like to end the story of Leah and Clark in different ways.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

end their story in “tragedy.”

“Honestly, I’m a fan of tragedy,” he said. “The tragic ending makes you want to watch the

beginning again, which makes you appreciate the love story at the middle. It makes you want for them to be together, it’s an endless cycle.”

“On the Wings of Love” will air its final episode on February 26.

Aside from the finale of their show, Nadine and James are busy rehearsing for their concert “JaDine In Love.”

Some of their guests in the concert are Vice Ganda, Elmo Magalona, Yassi Pressman and Myrtle Sarrossa.

Asked why Paulo, who plays the role of Simon in their show, won’t be there in the concert James replied: “This is JaDine concert, not ‘On the Wings of Love’ concert,’” which elicited cheers from their fans present at the press conference.

“JaDine In Love” concert is happening on February 20 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Criers for Hire: A hilarious, heartwarming...

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these poignant moments that will have an impact and touch the heart.”

The unique set design also plays an important role in the show, which utilizes sliding panels to change scenes and reveal different locations around the city. The climax also includes a gorgeous, originally-written musical number--though is not a musical--involving the main cast of characters.

“When we found out our cast has musical talent and background [including lead actress Joan Almedilla], Jon [Lawrence Rivera] thought it would be great to have Joan sing. The characters humming the song’s melody during the scene changes also builds up the show’s music, so it’s not completely random,” said Dang.

“Our cast has contributed so much to this production; we had so many suggestions on where this plot and its characters could go,

and changes were made to script every day. The show is not set until the day before opening.”

Dang also noted the importance of diversity in arts and culture, which is key for the East West Players, celebrating 50 years of Asian American theater.

“People want to see themselves, their stories, on stage.

Doing a play for the Filipino community is one of the great things we have to offer. We also give Filipino actors a chance to play Filipino,” he said. “There is a lot of support for these kinds of plays, and we always keep in mind why certain Asian American communities support the arts.”

“It’s mind-blowing, especially to work with this cast,” Barredo added. “There’s not a lot of opportunities for Filipino plays, so when something comes up like this, you jump on it. Bringing Filipino culture out in the creative space is something we need to do more in our community.”

Latino actor Rudy Martinez commented, “The best part is being around these four women.

As an actor in LA, I’m so committed to doing really diverse theater. I’ve learned so much about Filipino culture by being a part of this. People need to know the hardships of women who work.

Recognize what the women in our families have struggled with and gone through, in order to help us be where we are today.”

“I guess I’d say the main message of ‘Criers for Hire’ is to call your mom,” Martinez laughed.

The East West Players’ performance of Criers for Hire, in community partnership with Asia Society and FilAm ARTS, will be at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts (120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) from Wednesday through Sunday until March 13.

Tickets, discounts, and detailed information may be found online at www.eastwestplayers.org.

produced by Sappire Films & Concerts led by its CEO and impresario Lino Caringal, Jr., a native of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and now the new president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA (2016-2017).

It looked like the Pangasinenses threw their all out support to Mr. Caringal, also the mistah of Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and former PNP Police Chief Arturo Lomibao of Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

Other Pangasinenses involved were immediate past PB-USA President Eddie Caguia Ferrer (2012-2015), a bronze sponsor of the concert.

Another Pangasinense stalwarts in Greater Los Angeles who lent their presence felt were columnist/writer Ernie Delfin of Laoac, Pangasinan with his fellow Gawad Kalinga Rotarians from Orange County and Philippine Honorary Commodore Felix B. Lopez with his fellow Fraternal Order of Utopia from the Ateneo College of Law. Mr. Lopez, who operates an insurance brokerage company comes from Dagupan City.

MANILA – Matteo Guidicelli had the “best Valentine’s” Day of his life with Sarah Geronimo.

Last February 14, the couple was spotted in a restaurant of a hotel in Makati, and later joined Matteo’s brother Paolo in Circuit Makati.

“I had the best Valentine’s of my life because I was with the love of my life and it was sweet love,” said Matteo in an interview aired on ABS-CBN’s late night talk show “Tonight with Boy Abunda” on Thursday.

The Kapamilya actor admitted that they tried to “keep it private,” but then realized that “you can’t keep love private.”

“So love is love. Everyone should be loved. Love is a universal language and it makes us equal,” he added.

Matteo is currently busy with his TV series “Dolce Amore” which stars Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano. He’s also promoting his self-titled album. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

B february 20-23, 2016 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

The Global Kababayan

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Programming of Kababayan Today, February 22-26, 2016

G. TönGi

Filipino food destinations in LA you should check out

By Monet

Monday, Feb. 22 - Join us on a love song sing-along for Music Monday OPM. Three talented FilAm singers will serenade the viewers. Make sure to watch the show and sing along in your homes!

Tuesday, Feb. 23 - Fil-Am Hollywood insiders, Yong Chavez,

Francis Cullado, David Maquiling and Winston Emano, will join us for our #OscarsoWhite panel.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 - Midweek News Updates from the Asian Journal and Mia Mcleod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice.

UCLA’s Pilipino American Alumni Association drops by to invite alumni to a networking event.

Professor Brandon Reilly will discuss the history of the EDSA Revolution.

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Ramon Fuertes and Alyson Granaderos, a hair stylist and makeup artist respectively will give viewers tips on how to look Oscar ready just in time for the Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 28.

Friday, Feb. 26 - For Film Fridays, we re-air our episode with Fil-Am Oscar winner, Gigi Dement.

Make sure to catch the Academy Awards this weekend. ***

Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.

Lu

AS I mentioned in my column last week, I am currently enjoying my vacation in the Philippines. I just realized how much I missed being “home,” enjoying the company of my Filipino friends and most of all, stuffing my mouth with authentic Filipino food.

And like anything too-good-tolast-forever, I know the day will come when I have to bid farewell to these pleasures (that time being three weeks from now – sad). My pending separation to momentary gastronomical bliss has led me to write this article. I figured, if I ever miss these Filipino delicacies, I need to have a plan. I need to know where to go – and I need to know now!

I am pretty sure that I am not the only one with the same predicament. I know for a fact that many of my Kababayans miss the taste of home-cooked adobo, lechon kawali, and meryendas like bilobilo, maha blanca, and so much more. And some, like me who are on vacation, would love to know where to go if the sudden craving for Filipino food kicks in.

Armed with a burning desire to recreate my soon-ending Filipino-food trip, I listed some of the most talked about Filipino Food Destinations in LA that I will definitely frequent when I come back.

RiceBar Lodged between a bread shop and a convenience store is a different kind of bar – one that your whole family can go to and have fun, the Filipino way. And what makes Filipino stomachs happy is good ol’ heirloom rice from ‘Pinas, which is what RiceBar is all about. It is a Filipino restaurant located in Downtown, LA and is managed by chef and owner, Charles Olalia and business partner Santos Uy. This tiny but quaint pinoycarinderia-style food joint opened last summer, and has since been earning praises for their pork longanisa, dilis frito, and their special, pancit luglog. Chef Olalia, who is originally from Manila, was the executive chef of Patina, a fine dining restaurant also located in LA. I have great expectations for chefs who did not grew up in the states, mainly because they have a different palate or style in

cooking Filipino food. For sure I’ll be hitting this (rice) bar in a few weeks.

The Park’s Finest I remember seeing an episode in one of Food Network’s TV series which featured The Park’s Finest. Their famous Filipino Tri-Tip is to die for. It is paired with horseradish sauce and vinegar-garlic-based “sawsawan.”

They also serve the most flavorful ginataang baka which the episode described as “coconut beef over rice”. They also have their own take on cornbread, which is made with rice flour and baked on a banana leaf for flavor.

I see this restaurant is a fusion, but with more Filipino taste.

One article wrote, “The folks at Park’s Finest don’t like to market themselves as a Filipino barbecue joint, but prefer the term Filipinoinspired instead.” I agree! dollar Hits Every country has their own version of street food. But our version, which is composed of chicken intestines, quail eggs and other skewered goodness, is what I love most. There’s just something cultural about poking fishballs or eating chicken insides off a stick. Good thing, I don’t have to miss this experience when I go back to LA. We have Dollar Hits over there! This food truck parks at the historic Filipinotown in Temple St. and has been serving traditional Filipino street food for just over a year. And the best part of it is that everything, mostly skewers only costs a dollar (Beat that, Manong Fishball!) I can’t wait to be back – NOT.

LaSa LASA. Who can go wrong with a restaurant name like that? LASA which means taste is what this Filipino fine dining stand by. Everything, from their pork rillettes paired with sugar cane vinegar pickles to their duck longanisa is so good. One yelp reviewer says, “This is very high end food, served in a stylish but totally unpretentious environment, using fresh market ingredients and combining them into innovative dishes with very unique and well-considered flavor combinations. The use of Southeast Asian and Fiipino flavors and ingredients was entirely original - calamansi, kumquat, peppercorns - and I was particularly impressed by the subtle, imaginative sauces incorporating garlic, shrimp paste and soy sauce, in ways that were intensely flavorful but not overpowering.”

As I end this piece with a salivating mouth, ready to embark on a food-trip like no other, I leave my readers with this encouraging thought: Our food is really one of a kind. Aside from being a melting of cuisines, it reflects my best Filipino trait which is, “sweet and sour, with a hint of spice.” *** 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

Yeng Constantino says not all Christians agree with Manny Pacquiao MANILA—Yeng Constantino apologized to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual (LGBT) community who was hurt by Manny Pacquiao’s statement.

Pacquiao’s statement regarding same sex marriage elicited negative reaction from the LGBT community after he compared homosexuality to animals.

In an interview, he was quoted saying: “Common sense lang, makakakita ka ban g any animals

na lalaki sa lalaki o babae sa babae? Mas mabuti pa ‘yong hayop, marunong kumilala, kung lalaki sa lalaki, babae sa babae, mas masahol pa sa hayop ang tao.”

The boxer, a senatorial aspirant in the upcoming presidential elections, is a self-confessed born again Christian.

“On behalf po ng LGBT community, hindi po ako si Manny Pacquiao, pero believe me or not, hindi po lahat ng Kristiyano

Yeng Constantino says that despite being a Christian, she is not agreeing with Manny Pacquiao’s statement regarding the LGBT community.

gano’n ang tingin sa inyo,” Yeng said on the video she posted on Facebook on Thursday.

“Marami lang po dyan ang tahimik dahil takot dahil baka sila naman ang tirahin ng kapwa nila Kristiyano at maniwala ho kayong marami-rami rin po kami,” she added.

The Kapamilya singer didn’t plan to give her reaction regarding the issue, but got irate with a tweet that was encouraging her to “take a stand against homosexuality bilang Kristiyano.”

“Sa totoo lang po, hindi ako natuwa. Nagalit ako. Pakatotoo lang po ako ha, nagalit po ako,” she said, pointing out that she has a brother who is gay.

“Mahal po namin kayo,” she said, addressing the LGBT community. “Huwag n’yong hayaan i-define kayo ng sinasabing condemnation ng mga tao about you. God believes in you, and God loves you.”

“Sorry po, in behalf of those Christians na who are still growing in compassion, na maging katulad kami ni Jesus Christ,” she added.

In the end, she addressed those who are encouraging her to take a stand against homosexuality by saying, “Hindi ko po pupuntahan ang route na ‘yon.”

Watch Yeng’s full statement on the video below that she posted on Facebook. (Philstar.com)

Fish n’ Veggies Fridays at LEELIN BAKERY AND CAFE ENJOY great-tasting, healthy meal alternatives this Lenten season.

Every Friday, Leelin Bakery and Café is pleased to offer fish/ seafood and vegetable dishes to accommodate Lenten culinary practices and traditions.

Indulge in delicious fish and seafood entrees such as Fried, Grilled or Sinigang na Bangus (boneless), Tilapia (Fillet, Pinaputok or Sarciado), Pusit (Inihaw or Adobo), Seafood Kare Kare, Pinakbet, Chopsuey, Ginisang Ampalaya or Sayote or Steamed Vegetables available at LEELIN Cerritos, Eagle Rock, Panorama and North Hills (items may vary per location and Leelin’s signature Fresh Lumpia (offered at all Leelin stores).

Tel. no. (562) 924-5990 Over on the bakery side, Leelin’s Baked Tuna Empanada 2700 Colorado Blvd. Ste.110 is a great and convenient choice for a healthy treat at home, at (inside Eagle Rock Plaza) Los Angeles, CA 90041 school or at work. Filled with Tel. no. (323) 543-2676 appetizingly rich fish flakes in a golden crust, Leelin’s Baked Panorama City, CA 91402 Tuna Empanada fills you up and Tel. No. (818) 891-5253 satisfies even the biggest hunger pangs any time of the day.

16130 Nordhoff St. Leelin Bakery and Café’s North Hills, CA 91343 Baked Tuna Empanada is availTel. no. (818) 895-9100 able only during the Lenten season, at ALL store locations.

2429 So. Azusa Avenue To get the best deals and the West Covina, CA 91792 most scrumptious dishes and Tel. no. (626) 964-1811 bakery products this Lenten season, visit or call the following 207 So. Vermont Ave. LEELIN BAKERY AND CAFÉ loLos Angeles, CA 90004 cations in Los Angeles County: Tel. no, (213) 382-2351 11489 South St. Cerritos, CA 90703 �Advertising Supplement�

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Nurses with old priority dates Wi Spa: An urban sanctuary in the heart of LA

by Carl

THINK of a spa and the immediate perception is an air of pretense and privilege that only a select few can indulge in, given the exorbitant prices.

However, if you live in Los Angeles, Korean spas have sprouted up, contributing to the idea that pampering oneself and affordability are not mutually exclusive.

Though the options are abundant, among the best is Wi Spa, known as the “Disneyland of Korean day spas.” While there are no shiny bells and whistles to it, the spa certainly lives up to its reputation as an urban sanctuary, and it’s family-friendly too.

Prior to venturing into a Korean spa, one must understand the significance it plays in Korean culture: a communal place for friends and families to gather, bathe and receive the therapeutic benefits rooted in ancient bathhouse traditions.

Conveniently located in between Koreatown and Downtown, Wi Spa itself is an expansive, multi-level facility (48,000 square feet, to be exact) that blends the bathhouse tradition with the modernity of marble and glass interiors. It is open 24/7, so you can go anytime, even on a whim.

Enter Wi and the process of unwinding begins. For starters, valet parking is complimentary to relieve you of the stress of having to find parking, especially when there are a lot of guests checked in.

With the $25 admission fee, you gain full access to amenities like a fitness room, pools, showers, saunas, a restaurant, and the rooftop deck. A wristwatch is given

as your locker key and form of identification during your stay.

The rush of cramming in the day spa experience and trying out all the rooms is practically gone, as you are welcome to stay for hours on end. There are spaces to lounge in between services and even designated “sleeping rooms” for those who want to doze off in peace.

Wi is divided into gender-specific floors, where the spa and other facilities are located, as well as locker rooms and changing areas. For Korean spa newbies, it’s best to take a shower once you get settled in to wash away the day’s grime (dirt and the tubs do not make a great combination) and to ensure you get the maximum benefits of anything you decide to do, like sweating it out in the sauna.

Outside the bathing areas, you’ll find changing rooms, complete with vanities and toiletries.

And take this as a fair warning

to expect nudity from guests of the same gender, but any judgments and awkwardness should be left at the door.

If you want to treat yourself further, the spa offers a menu of body treatments at the fraction of the price tag you’d find at a spa elsewhere in the city. Better yet, if you purchase a treatment worth $110 or more, the entrance fee is waived. The usual spa treatments, like acupressure massages, facials, manicure/ pedicure, can be booked by reservation. But one must try the full-body scrub, perhaps Wi’s signature offering.

Based on the traditional Korean technique of buffing, the scrub entails a procedure of sloughing off dead skin cells with an exfoliating towel, as you lie down on a table and get doused with water every so often. It may take a few minutes to get accustomed to the intensity, but the person (of the same gender) administering the service repeatedly asks you if you’re doing fine. The service can last 35 minutes ($30) or can be reserved as a $90 package complete with the scrub, aroma oil massage, a face mask and hair shampoo, which all lasts for 90 minutes. Depending on one’s pain tolerance, the impression afterward may vary, but you’ll feel cleaner after the dead skin is washed off to make way for the lasting effects of radiating, supple skin.

On the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which translates to “bathhouse”), guests are required to wear the yellow T-shirt and khaki shorts received upon checkin. There you’ll find families and couples convening at one of the

ShuSterman

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Carl has been named as one of the top 15 corporate immigration attorneys in the U.S. by Human Resource Executive magazine. His hard work and dedication to immigration law have earned him the highest rating (“AV”) in legal ability and ethics from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. He has also served as a member of the Immigration and Nationality Law Advisory Commission for the State Bar. Carl is also listed in The International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers and the Chamber’s USA Guide for Leading Business Lawyers.

Additionally, he has testified as an expert witness before the Senate Immigration Subcommittee in Washington, D.C. Carl Shusterman Attorney at Law Certified Specialist in Immigration & Naturalization Law LAW OFFICES OF CARL SHUSTERMAN 600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1550 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone:(213)623-4592 Fax:(213)623-3720 E-mail: carl@shusterman.com Website: http://www.shusterman.com/

B february 20-23, 2016 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016

COMMUNITY Journal

Green card marriages are not a realistic option

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves Devin Connolly AnD shAm DESPERATE times call for desperate measures! We have all heard this phrase many times in our lives. But the reality is that these desperate measures often produce disastrous results. In the context of immigration law, the desperate act of marrying someone solely for a green card almost always ends very badly.

Marrying a person solely for a green card is often called a “green card marriage,” but the more official term used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) is “sham marriage.” It has been a plotline in multiple Hollywood movies and television shows over the years, including most recently in the primetime drama “On The Wings of Love.”

“On The Wings of Love” is a fictional story about a young Filipina who dreams of coming to the US for a noble reason – to visit her mother’s gravesite.

After entering the US she is advised to get married to a US citizen so that she can be granted lawful permanent resident status (“green card”). Before long there is a payment of $7,500 to a person willing to marry the Filipina. The newlyweds are subsequently coached to stage fake photographs, pretend they are a couple, and even to memorize personal information about their spouse so that they can pass the required interview.

Though “On The Wings of Love” is a fictional television show, this scenario too often is played out in real life because many people mistakenly believe that marrying a US citizen is an easy way to obtain a green card. The USCIS is well aware that many people are willing to

“

of the parties, e.g., is the couple residing together, how long have they known each other, are they conducting themselves as husband and wife, etc. The USCIS will also consider whether the parties have a sufficient amount of documentation proving the bonafides of their marriage.

The USCIS will also commonly want to ask the immigrant and their US citizen spouse personal questions about their relationship. The potential questions a person may be asked are nearly limitless, as the USCIS may ask just about anything they believe a person should know about their spouse. While you can try and learn as much as possible about your spouse, it is virtually impossible to learn This is not an easy task because enough about another person the USCIS officers are highly if you are not really married to trained to detect sham marriag- them. Sure you can learn your es. And remember, the USCIS spouse’s date-of-birth or name does not have to prove that the of their employer, but how do you expect to know about your marriage is a sham.

The immigrant and their US spouse’s eating habits unless citizen spouse must show that you actually live together? How they “intended to establish a life are you going to know about together” at the time they en- your significant other’s daily tered into their marriage. Oral routine unless you are marstatements of the immigrant and ried?

Another issue that sometimes their US citizen spouse are not sufficient, and neither are writ- comes up is what happens if the ten statements of friends and US citizen spouse dies or physifamily members. On the con- cally or emotionally harms the trary, the USCIS will also want immigrant. Despite the breaku PAGE C3 to closely examine the conduct marry a person for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card.

For this reason, they dedicate a substantial amount of resources towards detecting these “sham marriages.” Because of the USCIS’ efforts, it is crucial that a person applying for a green card on the basis of their marriage understand what the USCIS considers to be a valid marriage for immigration purposes.

First, the immigrant and their US citizen spouse must prove that their marriage is “bonafide.”

Marrying a person solely for a green card is often called a “green card marriage,” but the more official term used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) is “sham marriage.”

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Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS FAMILY Code 760 provides that all property acquired by the spouse during the marriage is community property. That means each spouse has a half interest on any assets that are acquired during the marriage, with certain exceptions, since it is generally characterized as community property. On the same token, Family Code 771(a) provides that earnings and accumulations of a spouse while living “separate and apart” from the other spouse, are the separate property of the spouse. How about the situation where the couple continues to live together due to economic reasons like roommates. Is a couple living “separate and apart” under family code 771(a) when they continue to live together in the same home even though they

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon IRS problems have a way of ruining all aspects of your life. They can take a toll on you financially, emotionally and physically.

When you owe the IRS, you’re always wondering if today might be the day when the IRS shows up at work, your home or your business; or if today might be the day the IRS decides to levy your bank account or garnish your paycheck.

This is a heavy load to bear every day! So what should you do if you are in this situation?

The only way to solve your IRS problems is to face them head-on and to have a plan of action. And that’s exactly what people lack- a plan. Unfortunately, instead of taking action, people bury their heads in the sand, pretending that their IRS problems don’t exist. This is the wrong approach and your tax problems will only continue to get worse!

Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous companies out there who are more interested in taking your hard-earned dollars instead of offering you the solution that you need. Without

Community Journal

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Do you need to be living in separate residences to be considered ‘separated’ from your spouse under the California family law? no longer live their lives like married couple?

The California Supreme Court, in a recent case In re Marriage of Davis, 61 Cal 4th 4th 846 (2015), held that the phrase “living separate and apart” in the California family code refers to a situation in which spouses are living in separate residences and at least one of them has the subjective intent to end the marital relationship, abrogating In re Marriage of Johnson, 134 Cal. App.3d. 148.

Prior to this decision, the date of “separation” occurs only when the parties have come to a parting of the ways with no present intent to resume their marriage and their conduct evidences a complete and final break in the marital relationship. The Court would consider all of the relevant evidence regarding whether the parties’ conduct evidences a complete and final break in the

marital relationship. Living in separate residences, although a factor to be considered, was not required for a separation.

In re Marriage of Davis involved husband and wife married in 1993. The couple had 2 children. Couple stopped having sexual relationship in 1999.

Wife moved to another bedroom in the house either in 2001 or 2004. Husband and wife attended children’s activities but used separate cars. On June 1, 2006 wife announced she was “through” with the marriage.

Wife believed couple were acting simply as roommates after 2006.

Wife increased her earnings after this date while husband left his job. Parties continued to live in the marital home and went on vacation together. Wife filed for divorce in 2008. Wife moves out of the marital residence on July1, 2011. Wife alleges date of sepa-

Worried about IRS tax problems? knowing anything about your situation, they tell you that you can settle your IRS debt “for pennies on the dollar”. While the IRS has such a program that allows forgiveness of tax debt, it is not for everyone. The IRS uses a specific formula to determine the least amount it will accept based on your income and assets.

Remember that the IRS leaves no stone unturned in trying to collect everything that you owe.

I always tell my clients that the IRS is one of the worst creditors that you can have because the government has a lot of weapons in its arsenal to make sure that they get paid.

Some people tend to think that if they just ignore the IRS long enough, at some point the IRS will just somehow forget. Trust me, the IRS never forgets. And they will keep adding penalties and interest to what you owe until they find you, your money or your money source. Then it’s payday for the IRS! Believe it or not, even when you retire, the IRS can attack your pension, retirement and social security check!

In other words, you can run but you can’t hide as far as the IRS is concerned.

The good news is that there

is a better way to live your life other than hiding from the IRS if you owe them money. You don’t need to be always looking over your shoulder for the IRS, wondering what the government will do to you next. You don’t need to get up every morning with this incredible large problem on your shoulders.

The laws have changed over the years and there are laws to protect taxpayers. If you have not filed tax returns in years, remember that the IRS will not even talk to you unless you file those returns first in order to show good faith. So if that’s your case, this is a good first step in resolving your IRS tax liabilities.

If you need help with your IRS problems, I can help. Call my office at 866-477-7772 to schedule a free consultation and I will review your case and help you come up with a realistic plan to get the IRS out of your life once and for all. ***

exceptional circumstances. The date of separation is one of the most litigated issues in a divorce case since it directly affects the characterization and division of community property. This case changes that analysis and may create problems in its practical application to the realities of contemporary families. ***

ration of June 1, 2006. Husband alleges a date of separation of July 1, 2011. The trial court and the court of appeal found June1, 2006 as the date of separation.

The California Supreme Court reversed the decision holding that living in separate residences “is an indispensable threshold requirement for a finding that spouses are “living separate and apart” for purposes of section 771(a). The interpretation aligns with the common understanding of the words, the statutory history of the provision, and legitimate public policy concerns.

The In re Marriage of Davis decision now requires the parties to be living in separate residences as a prerequisite to a separation.

In IRMO Davis, the California Supreme Court looked into the plain meaning of the statute, the legislative intent and history of the statute, and the case law in interpreting the term “separate and apart.” The California Supreme Court looked into the wording and legislative intent of family code 771(a) by tracing it back to a 145 year old predecessor statute enacted in 1870 “ An Act to Protect

the Rights of Married Women in Certain Cases.” Section 4 of the 1870 act provided a procedure for a wife who was “living separate and apart” from her husband to sell her real property without joining with her husband by stating in a declaration ”her own place of residence that is “separate and apart from her husband” which strongly suggests that the statute was directed at a situation where the spouses had physically separated and the wife in fact had her own residence. The Supreme Court also relied on the holding in the Norviel case which held that living apart physically is an indispensable threshold requirement to separation, whether or not it is sufficient, by itself to establish separation. Although the Davis case has adopted a bright line test in determining date of separation, it also acknowledge that there may be “exceptional circumstances” when a couple is under one roof but still separated.

This was noted in footnote 7 in Davis and the concurring opinion written by Justice Liu and joined

by Justice Werdergar. Davis has listed facts that do not qualify as

Tax Tips

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HERE are the top 10 things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit: 1. EITC not only reduces the federal tax you owe, but could result in a refund.

2. The amount of your EITC is based on the amount of your earned income and whether or not there are qualifying children in your household. New EITC provisions mean more money for larger families.

3. If you qualify, you must file a federal income tax return and specifically claim the credit in orNone of the information herein is in- der to get it – even if you are not tended to give legal advice for any specific otherwise required to file. situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has success4. Your filing status cannot be fully helped thousands of clients in getting Married Filing Separately. out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation 5. You must have a valid Soof your situation, please call Ray Bulaon cial Security Number. You, your Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. spouse – if filing a joint return – (Advertising Supplement) and any qualifying child listed on

Schedule EIC must have a valid SSN issued by the Social Security Administration.

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7. Married couples and single people without kids may qualify. If you do not have qualifying children, you must also meet the age and residency requirements as well as dependency rules.

8. Special rules apply to members of the U.S. Armed Forces in combat zones. Members of the military can elect to include their nontaxable combat pay in earned income for the EITC. If you make this election, the combat pay remains nontaxable.

9. Just because you didn’t qualify last year, doesn’t mean you won’t this year. As your financial, marital or parental situ-

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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ations change from year-to-year, you may qualify this year.

10. Free help is available at volunteer assistance sites and IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers to help you prepare and claim your EITC. If you are preparing your taxes electronically, the software program you use will figure the credit for you. If you qualify for the credit you may also be eligible for Free File. You can access Free File at IRS.gov. *** 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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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. ZELMA Brawner worked for Bank of America (BOA) for about 28 years, occupying the positions of “Dedicated Service Director” later renamed “Treasury Services Consultant,” and “Treasury Services Senior Advisor” for the last 13 years of her tenure. Brawner claimed that throughout her work as a “director,” “consultant” and “advisor,” her employer classified her and about 100 other employees as exempt from California overtime laws. This meant that they were not paid for work beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.

Brawmer sued BOA in a class action, claiming that she and her fellow employees where misclassified, and should be entitled to back wages.

The employer countered that Brawmer and other employees were employed “in an administrative capacity.” They provided account services to major corporate accounts, and regularly exercised discretion and independent judgment. The employer insisted that these employees were correctly classified as administrative employees, and were exempt from overtime. Brawner claimed that their work duties were little more than that of customer-service representatives, even though they had high-sounding titles.

After years of litigation, the parties decided to settle the case rather than proceed to litigation. Under the terms of the settlement, BOA will pay a total amount of $2,250,000 to the employees.

Community Journal

When should employees challenge their ‘salaried’ and no-overtime status?

California employees are exempt from overtime pay only if they fall within very specific exemptions. One of these is the Administrative Exemption. For employees to fall under this exemption, they must be paid the monthly salary equivalent to no less than twice the state minimum wage. More importantly, their primary duties must involve administrative work. What does “administrative work” mean?

Courts have ruled that work is ‘administrative’ when it is ‘directly related’ to management policies or general business operations. ‘Directly related’ means being ‘primarily engaged’ in such work, and that the work is “qualitatively administrative.”

“Qualitatively administrative” means the employee’s work duties relate to the administrative operations of a business as distinguished from ‘production’ or ‘sales’ work. Production, sales, and customer service are duties that are not necessarily performed at the level of policy or general operations, and may merely be the day-to-day carrying out of the business’ affairs.

If an employee’s primary duties involve day-to-day tasks that are not directly related to management policies or general business operations, then these employees may simply be engaged in production work, not administrative work. If so, then they should be entitled to overtime pay for work beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.

“Salaried” employees who work a lot of unpaid overtime

hours, and who have doubts that they are really doing management or administrative tasks, should ask themselves the following questions: Is my main duty the management of the business or a department of that business?

Do I customarily and regularly direct the work of two or more employees?

Do I have authority to hire or fire other employees?

Do I customarily and regularly exercises discretion and independent judgment?

Do I earn a monthly salary equivalent to at least twice the state minimum wage for full-time employment?

If there is at least one “no” answer to the above questions, the employee would be smart to consult with a knowledgeable employment attorney to see if she or he is entitled to additional wages and other remedies. Misclassification results in loss of significant wages to the employees. It should not be tolerated. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

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U Visa for victims of criminal activity THE U Visa is a non-immigrant visa intended for certain people who have been victims of one or more of specific crimes or similar activities punishable under federal, state, or local criminal laws and who are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. These crimes include rape, torture, trafficking, incest, domestic violence, sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, prostitution, murder, false imprisonment, witness Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos

tampering, slave trade, involuntary servitude, and , among others.

To qualify for this visa, the victim of the criminal activity must show that: (1) he suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of the crime, (2) he possess information regarding the criminal activity, (3) a federal, state, or local official investigating or prosecuting the qualifying crime certifies that the victim was helpful, is helpful, or is likely to be helpful to law enforcement in

u PAGE C5

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016

C

Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation A PERSON who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a US citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years.

In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the conditional permanent resident and his/her US citizen spouse must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before the expiration of the green card. 8 CFR 216.4(a)(1) But what if things don’t work out with the US citizen spouse after getting married, and the conditional permanent resident can no longer get the participation of his/her US citizen spouse in filing the I-751 petition? In such a case, the conditional permanent resident may seek an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement. In order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage upon which his/her status was based was: 1) entered into in good faith, and 2) terminated. 8 CFR 216.5(a)(1)(ii) With respect to the required showing that the marriage was entered into in good faith, the conditional permanent resident must show that his/her marriage was not a “sham.” A marriage is considered a “sham” if, when they married, the couple did not intend to establish a life together. An intent to obtain something other than or in addition to love and companionship (such as a green card) from that life does not make a marriage a sham. Matter of Soltan, A76 888 125 (BIA 2001). Documents such as joint bank and credit card statements, and photos that demonstrate that the marriage was entered in good faith should be presented.

Also, in order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage was terminated. By “terminated,” the USCIS requires a valid, formal divorce judgment. An I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement cannot be approved in cases where the conditional permanent resident is legally separated or in divorce proceedings that are still pending.

It is worth noting that if the conditional permanent resident and his/her US Citizen spouse live in California, a valid divorce judgment must be obtained in the California courts. I have had numerous California-resident clients in the past who have obtained a “quick” divorce judgment in Nevada only to face USCIS scrutiny after presenting the Nevada divorce judgment in support of an I-751 waiver request (since one must be a Nevada resident to obtain a divorce in Nevada). The assistance of an experienced attorney in handling the divorce as well as the I-751 waiver request is accordingly recommended. *** 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 Philippine 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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Green card marriages are not a…

PAGE C1 t

down of the marriage, the immigrant may still be eligible to apply for their green card.

However, they will still have to prove that the relationship was bonafide at the time of the inception of the marriage.

The risks of entering into a “sham marriage” are substantial. Fines, jail time, but no green card. In fact, the person being petitioned will be barred from ever being petitioned

again as an immigrant, even if the subsequent relationship is bonafide. We all understand that sometimes you may think a “green card marriage” is the only option, but an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney will advise you against following this illegal, and almost sure-to-fail path, despite what you may see on television or in the movies. *** Atty. Reeves has represented clients in

numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

C FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng Business owner files chapter 7 as losses mount CLIENTS are spouses who own and run a business together.

They own an S-corporation that has been in business for 20 years.

They have 10 employees. An Scorporation, as distinguished from a C-corporation, is one where the profits of the business “flows through” to the 1040 of the individuals, unlike a C-corporation that pays its own income tax based on corporate profits.

For instance, if the S-corporation business makes a net profit of $100K for 2015, that net profit is added to the gross income of the stockholders of the S-corporation. If you own 20% of that Scorporation, you will have to add $20K to your gross income for 2015 in addition to your income

To Live With Faith reverend rodeL g. BALAgtAs I STILL remember an incident when a parishioner confronted me after Mass to tell me how delighted she was to see me change. “Father, you’ve grown so much, you’ve changed,” she told me.

Upon hearing her words, two things flashed in my mind: something that was wrong with me needed to change, and something that was remarkable about my personality had shined. Honestly, it was baffling to hear this person’s comment. It was also humbling because I had to accept that the fact that I also have shortcomings as a priest.

We’re all called to change in the ways that we live our lives, conduct ourselves and relate with others, especially during this season of Lent. This may be hard to digest, but it’s the truth that we need to hear. In the seminary, this admonition comes in our need for fraternal correction. We’re reflecting on how to correct one another in fraternal charity and respect.

It takes a great deal of humility

Community Journal

Business owner files chapter 7 as losses mount Young client seeks chapter 7 relief for $$70K credit card debt

from all other sources. Whereas if that were a C-corporation, the corporation would pay income tax by itself on the $100K profit for 2015, and either keep the net profit after tax in the coffers of the corporation as retained earnings, or distribute the net profit to the stockholders, in which case, the profit distribution becomes a dividend to the stockholder which the stockholders declares as dividend income in his individual tax return. Other than this differentiation in the treatment of corporate profit, both S and C-corporations have all the same benefits that a corporation provides.

Both S and C corporations are legally separate entities from their stockholders. Liabilities of the S and C corporations and deemed liabilities of the

corporations themselves and do not transfer to the individual stockholders. This is called the “corporate shield” given to stockholders. For all intents and purposes by law, the corporation is treated as a separate and distinct “legal person” from the individual stockholders. For example, Volkswagen was recently found cheating on emissions.

The company programmed the computers in their diesel cars to act in a way that it appeared that emission standards were being complied with. In fact, they were not. In other words, Volkswagen, the corporation told a bold face lie. When it was found out, there was a big scandal and its stock tanked. Massive penalties for fraud soon followed levied by the

u PAGE C5

Lent and the call to change to change. It means that we need to look at ourselves seriously and to reflect on the aspects of our lives that need to change. Do we take the time to pray and to go to Church? Are we generous to others? Do we share our time, talents and treasures? Are we taking care of our health? Are we self-righteous and judgmental?

Do we have the habit of saying foul languages? Do we treat others with respect? These are just a few of the questions that we can reflect on as we heed the call of Lent to change.

Oftentimes, there is a lack of connection between our beliefs and the way we put them into practice. It’s one thing to praise God and to quote bible passages, and it’s another thing to treat a neighbor with understanding, mercy and compassion. It’s one thing to finish college at a Catholic university, and it’s another thing to put into practice the Catholic values that a person learned at this university in his or her profession.

To change one’s life according to the truth of Gospel is difficult. First, it involves genuine remorse for one’s failures; second, it involves the willingness to change; and third, it calls for the reparation of one’s wrong-

doings. Hence, changing one’s life is not just speaking words of promises. It’s about actions and setting concrete goals and strategies to make radical changes in one’s life and behaviors.

In this Sunday’s Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent, we hear the words, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” Are we really listening to the voice of God within our hearts that calls us to change our ways?

Or are we listening to the competing values of the world that make us selfish, greedy, selfrighteous, complacent, cold and indifferent?

Let’s be serious about our desire for change. Let’s take away our pride and put into practice the faith that we profess! Amen. *** 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 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

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Calendar of Events across

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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 2 0

PCCHS/ PUPLHS 1996 Golden Jubilee The Philippine College of Commerce High School Laboratory Batch 1966 (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee from February 20-21 in Manila, Philippines. According to the President of the PCCHS Batch ‘66 Alumni Association, ROLAND ATIENZA, about 55 batchmates from Australia, Canada and USA have confirmed attendance to the Homecoming and 50 from Manila local chapter. Activities lined up for the Golden Jubilee Celebration are as follows: February 20, 2016 -- 6:00-12:00 pm. Formal Program/Dinner at the Banahaw Ballroom, The Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City, Philippines February 21, 2016 -- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm - Visit the ANAWIM Home for the Abandoned Elderly, Montalban, Rizal Province (Fellowship/Lunch/Donate basic needs of the elderly) - Tour of Manila (Former PCCHS in Lepanto, Intramuros Tour (old churches and Cathedral, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago) - Dinner/Cultural Show, at Barbara’s, Intramuros February 22, 2016 - BREAKUP GROUP (To Palawan, Laguna and respective hometown provinces of the guests) For inquiries, please contact the following members of the CORE group: Agnes T. Sule #09165567000 suleagnes@yahoo.com, Roland Atienza #09062947156 atienza8@yahoo.com, Rebecca T. Sayed 09064032624 rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com, Lourdes T. Flores lulutflores@yahoo.com, Rebecca Sayed rebecca.sayed@yahoo.com.

Take the ‘Journey to Success’ at Cal State LA WHAT: Asian American and Pacific Islander students and families are invited to California State University, Los Angeles for “Journey to Success,” a college exposition open to high school and community college students who are interested in Cal State LA. “Journey to Success” will feature workshops on how to prepare and pay for college, information on CSU requirements for admission and application processes, and representatives from Cal State LA and other CSU campuses to answer questions. The outreach event will include free parking, breakfast, special giveaways, college resources and student panels. The college expo is sponsored by the California State University’s (CSU) Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm WHERE: The Golden Eagle Ballrooms at Cal State LA. (5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA) For more information and details, please go to calstate.edu/journeytosuccess or call the Office of Outreach and Recruitment at Cal State LA, (323) 343-3839.

MARCH 4-6

GK USA National Summit 2016 There is no better time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) to present the Philippines as the new land of opportunity, with a steadily rising economy--the fastest growing in the world next to China, according to Bloomberg--and alleviating poverty. GK continues to evolve as a movement, starting with philanthropy expanding to sustainability, and creating hybrid, innovative systems to end poverty. The Summit will provide an opportunity for Filipinos, GK volunteers, partners, and millennials to reconnect with their homeland, contribute to their country and social entrepreneurship, and help to build bridges for a thriving nation. Asian Americans will have a taste of the emerging market of world-class, affordable Philippinemade products, such as Bayani Brew, First Harvest Peanut Spreads, Human Nature beauty products, and Theo Philo chocolates. Support GK’s humanitarian efforts to provide home and livelihood to the poorest of the poor, and learn about GK, GK USA, and GK Enchanted Farm programs. The Summit will take place from March 4-6, 2016, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). To register, please visit gk-usa.org.

MARCH 5

“An Enchanted Evening” Dinner-Dance for Gawad Kalinga As part of the GK USA National Summit, you are cordially invited to a dinner-dance, themed “An Enchanged Evening,” to benefit programs of Gawad Kalinga and GK Enchanted Farm. The Dance will take place on Saturday, March 5, 7:00pm, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). The cost is $100, with formal attire. The all-night program will include dinner, induction of the GK-USA Board of Directors, remarks from the Chairman of the Board, and all-night dancing. For more details on sponsorship packages for Gawad Kalinga builders and feeding programs, as well as GKEF programs and scholarships, please visit gk-usa.org. For tickets, please visit gk-usa.org/dinnerdance.

M A R C H 1 1 -A p R I L 1

Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours Eagle Rock High School invites the community to International Baccalaureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on March 11; and Friday, April 1.

Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 7-12, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short question-and-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd.net for more information. We look forward to your visit!

MARCH 12

Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. Grand Marshals Gala The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) will launch the commemoration of the 118th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on Saturday, March 12 with the Grand Marshals Gala at the Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, New York 11102). The gala will take place from 7:00pm until 12:30am, honoring Dr. Leonidas “Ned” Pulido and wife Carmencita “Menchie” Pulido, who were chosen as the Grand Marshals of the 2016 Philippine Independence Day Parade in June.

Gala tickets are $100 per person, with formal or Filipinana attire. Please contact the Chairwomen of the Grand Marshals Selection and Gala Committee, Ollie David (732-499-7995) and Helen LaBarbera (516-581-8830), ir OUDCU President Dr. Prospero Lim (347-248-5106) for gala invitations and more information. Interested parties may also call any of the Committee Co-chairs: Drs. Emilio and Fely Quines (347-254-2945), Drs. Rod and Elma Castillo (201-869-4044), Dr. Ely Parico (908-265-1293), Dulce Barangan (516-343-8592), Lauren Martinez (347-284-9886), Thelma Cabralda (631-331-5891), Zita Lapena (917-454-9344), Nida Cortez (646-649-5531), or Angie Molina (917-478-6754) or any of the PIDCI Board of Directors.

FACC-SLAA Induction Gala The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce for South Bay Los Angeles Area (FACCSLAA) presents the annual fundraising gala and induction of its board members, to be held on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Gateway-Torrance (19800 S Vermont Ave. Torrance, CA 90502). Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera-Lim will be the inducting officer, with guest speakers Assemblymember Rob Bonta and former Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Attire for the dinner is Filipiniana/formal. The gala dinner is also a fundraiser for the FACC-SLAA Scholarship project of the chamber raising funds for deserving, eligible Filipino American students who are business (or related) majors in colleges and universities in the South Bay area. Four scholars who will each receive a $500 scholarship award. Fil-Am students applying for the scholarship should have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, low income/financial need, have no criminal record, must submit a one page essay on why the student is applying, and must be willing to volunteer or intern at FACC-SLAA for 80 hours. The deadline to apply is on Feb 15 to apply. Interested students, please email facc.slaa@gmail.com or fekoons@aol.com. Tickets for the FACC-SLAA Induction and Fundraising Gala are $60 each. Please email facc.slaa@gmail.com for more information, or contact President Cynthia Tan (310) 748-9688 or Fred Docdocil, VP Programs (310) 619-8101.

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 & events

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FREE citizenship workshop in North Hollywood ‘Love to Nippon 2016’ pays tribute to the L.A. immigrant rights organizations provide free legal assistance 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — On Saturday, February 27, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles and Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) will help local green card holders take the first step towards becoming citizens through two free events as part of the New Americans Campaign.

These workshops will provide lawful permanent residents with free naturalization application assistance by professional and trained volunteers. Individuals will also receive legal counsel by probono attorneys and legal experts. Services are available in multiple languages.

The New Americans Campaign is an innovative nonpartisan partnership with organizations like the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles and Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) that seeks to help aspiring Americans overcome barriers to becoming citizens and achieve citizenship. Workshops like these show the local community that there is assistance available and that the New Americans Campaign is

there to lend a helping hand through its network of partners and service providers.

WHAT: Free Citizenship Workshop WHERE/WHEN: Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles workshop Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 9:00 am 1145 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) workshop Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 12:00 pm Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 5250 Central Ave, Riverside California, 92504 : Registration for the Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles workshop is required.

For more information, call 213-977-7500. Services are available in English, Khmer, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Spanish.

Registration for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) workshop is required. For more information, call 213-3857800 X 152. Services are available in English and Spanish. n

Features Honorable Norman Y. Mineta as keynote speaker

“LOVE to Nippon 2016” is the four year’s memorial event. pm at LAPD Headquarters, Ronfifth-anniversary memorial event The formal program includes: ald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium, to the 2011 Great East Japan prayers by Shinto sector and the 100 West First Street, Los AngeEarthquake and Tsunami. Love leaders of the Nikkei Interfaith les, California 90012. to Nippon (“Love to Japan”) is a Group including Los Angeles From 1 – 4 pm: outdoor booths community-wide tribute to those Buddhist Temple Federation, from Fukushima, Miyagi and lost and survivors of the March Centenary United Methodist Iwate Prefectural Organizations 11, 2011 catastrophe. It supports Church, Union Church of Los of SoCal, musical tributes, interthe recovery and rebuilding ef- Angeles and N’vay Shalom Syn- faith service, various presentaforts in the devastated regions, agogue; musical tributes from tions (1:30 pm: LACFD Battalion and helps prepare and train Nishiyamato Elementary/Ju- Chief & First Responder in Japan Southern Californians for future nior High School, and Holiness Larry Collins; 2:00 pm Interfaith natural disasters through shar- Youth Choir; keynote speech by Service with various local reliing information and education, Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, gious organizations); From 3 and designating “3.11” (March former Secretary of Transporta- 5:30 pm: indoor program featur11th) as the official statewide tion; panel discussion with Hon. ing: video by Miyagi Prefecture, natural disaster preparedness Norman Mineta, LACFD Chief invocation by various religious training day.

Daryl L. Osby, LACFD Battalion leaders, musical tribute by loThis fifth annual event will be Chief Larry Collins, Masako Un- cal schools and choir, keynote a peaceful commemoration with oura-Tanaka, Founder of Love to speech by Norman Mineta (4:05interfaith prayers, incense-burn- Nippon Project, Ofunato Fire De- 4:35 pm), and panel discussion ing, musical tributes, and outdoor partment of Iwate, Japan; closing (4:35-5:05 pm) information booths hosted by remarks by Consul General of The event is free. To regisried. He also dabbled into busi- the American Red Cross, Home Japan and Honorary Committee ter (limited auditorium seating ness, using his credit cards to Depot, LA County Fire Dept, US Chair of Love to Nippon 2016, available), visit www.lovetonipfund the business. The business Coast Guard, and three affected Hidehisa Horinouchi. pon.com. For more information, never turned a profit. He maxed prefectures of Japan. Over 1600 The event takes place on Sun- please call 310.484.1800 / lovetout his credit cards at $70K. One participants gathered for last day, March 6, 2016, 1 pm – 5:30 onippon2016@gmail.com. n credit card sued him to collect $14K of credit card debt. At that time, he was still optimistic that his business would turn around and become profitable. But that PAGE C3 t tification of the law enforcement officer (as diswas not to be. He entered into the investigation or prosecution of said crime; and cussed above) a stipulated judgment agreeing (4) the crime occurred in the United States or vioIt should be noted that there are other forms of to pay $200 a month until the lated US laws. relief for victims of crimes such as the T visa (for $14K was fully paid off. He just Certain qualifying family members of the U visa victims of severe forms of trafficking), VAWA (ungot married and wants a fresh applicant may be eligible to apply as a derivative der the Violence Against Women Act) for victims start without debt, and opts for beneficiary. If the principal U visa applicant is less of domestic violence, and Deferred Action which Chapter 7 relief. This will wipe than 21 years old, his spouse, children, parents allows the USCIS to determine on a discretionary out the $70K of credit card debt and unmarried siblings under age 18 can apply to- basis which cases merit deferring action, among including the $14K stipulated gether with him or on a later date. If the principal others. judgment. Without debilitating applicant is over 21 years old, he can petition on If you are contemplating of filing any other imdebt, client can look forward to behalf of his spouse and children. migrant or non-immigration application, it is ada fresh, new and productive life, The U visa is valid for four (4) years and can be visable to seek the counsel of an immigration lawand can even start another busi- extended under certain circumstances such as re- yer to guide you on the intricacies of filing for such ness that has a better chance quest by the enforcement officers, exceptional cir- a petition. of being successful from all the cumstances, and delays in consular processing. If *** mistakes he learned from his an application for adjustment of status is filed and Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of failed business. This is what is pending, the U visa is automatically extended.

California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule for a happened to Mr. Walt Disney A U visa holder can apply for permanent resident free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) 284-5984 who also sought Chapter 7 re- status (green card) if he has been physically present or (626) 329-8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 Wilshire Blvd., lief twice before his Disneyland in the US for a continuous period of at least three (3) Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, CA 90010. business became successful. years under said visa status and he has not unrea*** From two bankruptcies, Disney sonably refused to provide assistance to law enforce- Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes is now a global multi-billion dol- ment after the approval of the U visa application. legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client lar business with the new $6.0 The U visa application can be initiated by the relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction billion theme park opening in victim himself or by the law enforcement agency. regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

Shanghai this June. Who knows, Regardless as to who initiates the application, said We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the my young client may be another application will not be approved without the cer- Bankruptcy Code.

(Advertising Supplement) Disney in the making, learning from his previous mistakes. litigation and has successfully represented Maybe 10 years from now, client self. His new wife is totally not God (Adonai/Yahweh), who does more than five thousand clients in California. not lie, promised before, the beaffected even if she has her own may become a business tycoon.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284Further, client’s decision to seek assets. Those are her sole and ginning of time.” — Titus 1:2 1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, * * * separate assets. chapter 7 relief is completely “A faith and knowledge resting Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, confidential. Nobody needs to CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement) know unless he discloses it him- on the hope of eternal life, which bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil

Business owner files chapter 7 as losses…

PAGE B4 t

Feds in the billions. There were multiple lawsuits filed against Volkswagen. Buyers wanted to return what they bought. If you were a stockholder of Volkswagen, can you be sued for this corporate fraud with millions of victims worldwide? If you were a stockholder of Volkswagen, do you have to worry about being sued by the victims because you own shares in Volkswagen, certainly not. Because the fact that Volkswagen is a corporation means that the company is legally a separate and distinct entity from you as a shareholder.

Therefore, you cannot be sued as a stockholder of Volkswagen for the corporate wrongdoing of the company. This is called ‘corporate legal fiction’ which is actually quite a brilliant idea that allows free enterprise to prosper.

Without this ‘corporate shield and legal fiction’ people will be afraid to invest in businesses for fear of having their individual assets exposed to liability for anything that goes wrong with the corporation that causes damage to anyone.

In clients’ case, their business was doing well for 17 years. But the last 3 years was bad. Clients had to refinance their house to put in another $80K in the corporation to finance the loss of the last 3 years. Refinancing their house was actually making a bad situation worse. Why suck out the equity in your house causing you to pay a higher mortgage to keep a business that is hemor-

rhaging to keep it afloat? You’re letting the business loss drag your house down too. The corporation is supposed to be separate from your personal assets, but by refinancing your house, you combine the two together.

In other words, if the business is sinking, why let your house sink with it too? You business can sink and die, that happens many, many times in the world of business. But to link your house to the business, that’s the same as getting a gun and shooting yourself in the leg.

Clients’ S-corporation owes $120K of bank loans and suppliers credit, which it can no longer pay. Clients decided to discontinue the business because of mounting losses. I ask them if they want to continue the business with a Chapter 11 and perhaps get away without paying any of the $120K. They decide for a Chapter 7 because too much competition has made the future of the business very bleak.

Will the S-corporation Chapter 7 affect the stockholders as individuals, of course it will not. The stockholders keep their good credit and everything else. They are not affected by the bankruptcy of the S-corporation, because after all, even an S-corporation is a legally separate and distinct entity under the law, therefore, it can file a bankruptcy by itself without affecting the individual stockholders.

Young client seeks chapter 7 relief for $70K credit cards Client is 33, and recently mar-

U Visa for victims of criminal activity

C FEBRUARY 20-23, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Things that can mess up your child’s CSPA eligibility Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

ELIGIBILITY for benefits under Section 3 of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is based on a mathematical formula, where you subtract President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Walt Disney International chairman from the child’s age the length Andy Bird and vice president for Global Public Policy Jim Filippatos at the Grand Chateau of of time it took USCIS to process and approve the petition. the Intercontinental Hotel during his working visit to Los Angeles.

Malacañang photo by Benhur Arcayan You take the date the petition is filed, and the date it was approved. How long did it take USCIS to approve the petition?

Three months? Six months?

One year?

Next, you wait (sometimes many years) until the priority

by Patricia Lourdes Viray meeting with US President Barack date is current (or visa is availPhilstar.com Obama and other Southeast Asian able). How old is the “child” when the priority date finally MANILA—President Benigno leaders.

All three global companies becomes current? You subtract Aquino III on Friday, Feb. 19 confirmed that the chairman of Walt have signified their preference from the child’s age the length Disney International is set to visit for the Philippines as an invest- of time it took the USCIS to process and approve the petithe Philippines this year as the ment venue.

“Nagpahayag din po ng inten- tion. If the child’s age is calcucompany expressed its interest in syong magpalawak ng operasyon lated to still be under 21, your doing business in the country.

“Bilang sagisag ng interes ng sa bansa ang kumpanyang West- child could possibly qualify unmga kumpanya, nakaplano pong ern Digital. Kinapanayam din po bumisita sa Pilipinas ang chair- natin ang AECOM, na inaasahan man ng Walt Disney ngayong nating magiging katuwang sa taon, at nagpahayag din po sila capacity-building ng ating mga ng kagustuhang tumulong sa lalo kababayan pagdating sa impang pagpapalakas ng ating cre- prastruktura,” the president said.

The president also spoke beative industry,” Aquino said in his arrival statement after visiting Cal- fore the Los Angeles World Afifornia for the ASEAN-US Leaders fairs Council and met with the Filipino community in the area Summit earlier this week.

Communications Secretary before ending his working visit Herminio Coloma Jr. earlier said in California.

Aquino, Obama and their counthat Walt Disney chairperson Andy Bird told Aquino that the terparts in Southeast Asia released company is open to tapping into a joint declaration following their meeting at Sunnylands in Rancho the talent pool of Filipinos.

Aquino met with the execu- Morage, California.

The leaders expressed their tives of Walt Disney International, Western Digital Corp. and Archi- commitment to keeping peace in tecture, Engineering, Consulting, the disputed South China Sea and Operations and Maintenance protecting freedom of navigation (AECOM) in Los Angeles after his and overflight in the region.

Walt Disney top exec to visit PH this year

IMF trims PH GDP growth to 6%

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA—Multilateral lender International Monetary Fund (IMF) further slashed its economic growth projection for the Philippines but still expects the country to weather external shocks brought about by volatile global

financial markets.

Chikahisa Sumi, assistant director for Asia and Pacific Department at IMF, said the agency expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to settle at six percent this year and 6.2 percent next year.

This was lower compared to PAGE D2

Chikahisa Sumi, assistant director for Asia and Pacific Department at IMF, said the agency expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to settle at six percent this year and 6.2 percent next year.

Philstar.com file photo

Binay vows to sack Henares as soon as he becomes president

by Marc Jayson

cayabyab

Inquirer.net

VICE PRESIDENT Jejomar Binay on Friday, Feb. 19 said he would install a new Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner once he is elected president.

Speaking at a convention of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Binay said he would replace BIR Commissioner Kim Henares within 30 minutes after taking his oath as president.

“After taking my oath as President, in 30 minutes, you’ll have a new BIR commissioner,” Binay said, rousing laughter and short applause from the audience.

Binay also introduced United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) President Toby Tiangco as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He likewise reiterated his campaign promise to scrap the income

tax for those earning P30,000 and below per month, and plug in the revenue hole by cracking down on smuggling.

Binay added his promise to lower the 30 percent corporate income tax, earning him an applause from the audience of Filipino-Chinese businessmen.

He also said he would support amending the 1987 Constitution to ease foreign restrictions and to liberalize the charter to allow more foreign direct investments.

The Vice President said he wants to encourage the spread of small medium enterprises, which are currently concentrated in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Regions III, VI and VII. Binay reiterated that he would do in the country what he had done in Makati, which has become a prime financial district in the two PAGE D2

Business Quote of the Week “Everyone has an idea, but it’s really about executing the idea and attracting other people to help you with the idea.”

— Jack Dorsey, Entrepreneur, co-founder of Twitter

der the CSPA. • Don’t ask USCIS to “expedite” the approval of the petition! Under the mathematical calculation, the longer USCIS takes to approve a petition, the more time you can subtract from the child’s age when the priority date becomes current.

The faster the USCIS approves a petition, the less time you can subtract from the child’s age.

If USCIS took three months to approve the petition, you can only subtract three months from the child’s age. If USCIS took two years to approve the petition, you can subtract two years from the child’s age.

Therefore it is always better, for CSPA purposes, for the USCIS to take longer to approve the petition.

• Your child must “seek to acquire a visa” within one year of when the priority date is current. Not only does a child’s age have to be under 21, but the child must also “seek to acquire” a visa within one year of availability. This is done by filing certain forms with either USCIS or NVC. In other words, CSPA eligibility is a two – step process. There

have been many cases where the child’s age was calculated to be under 21 years of age, but the parents messed up by failing to satisfy the second step of “seeking to acquire” the visa for the child within one year of visa availability.

• Don’t naturalize after your child’s 21st birthday if he or she is CSPA eligible. If your child’s age is calculated to be under 21 and the child seeks to acquire a visa within one year, but the parent naturalizes after the child’s 21st birthday, the child’s CSPA eligibility is destroyed. I know of several cases where the child qualified under the CSPA: the age was locked in, and the only thing left was the visa interview.

But the parent went out and naturalized, which destroyed CSPA eligibility. There have been published court decisions specifically holding that if the parent naturalizes after the child’s 21st birthday, the child is no longer eligible under the CSPA. My point is that the CSPA can sometimes be a confusing and complex law. What may seem to make sense (such as

rushing the approval of a petition) can actually be harmful to a case. Before you act as your own attorney, giving yourself advice, and making up your own laws and rules, you should, instead, consult with an attorney to make sure you’re doing it correctly and are properly strategizing the case. *** 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)

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Internet speed satisfaction in PH falls, says Deloitte survey

by Doris

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday, Feb. 19 attends the ninth biennial convention of the Chinese Filipino Business Club. Binay promised the FilipinoChinese businessmen that if elected as President, he will lower the 30 percent corporate income tax.

Inquirer.net photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab

Binay vows to sack Henares as soon as...

PAGE D1 decades that he was mayor.

Meanwhile, he vowed to stamp out graft and corruption to ease poverty.

“Malaki ang nawawala sa graft and corruption (The government loses a lot from graft and corruption). As Makati mayor, we’re able to minimize graft and corruption and raise standard of living,” Binay said.

Binay was indicted by the Ombudsman for malversation, graft

and falsification of public documents for the alleged rigging of the procurement for the design and construction of the P2.2 billion Makati car park building while he was still mayor.

Also indicted was his son, dismissed Makati mayor Junjun, who on Friday was formally charged before the Sandiganbayan for graft and falsification of public documents.

The Ombudsman said it would file the charges against Binay

after the end of his term, owing to Binay’s immunity from suit as vice president.

Binay was also recommended to be charged for plunder by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee after a probe on graft-ridden infrastructure projects under his term as Makati mayor..

Binay has claimed that his critics are just hurling cases against him to derail his presidential bid.

He called the Senate investigation a political inquisition.

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

NEARLY eight out of 10 Filipinos check their mobile phones within 15 minutes after waking up, displaying a higher propensity of usage compared to Southeast Asian neighbors.

Yet, there was a drop in Filipino respondents who are satisfied with their Internet speeds—to 39 percent in 2015 from 49 percent in 2014 amid reports that the country has the second slowest Internet speed in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Deloitte’s Global Mobile Consumer Survey.

The research, which was released by Navarro Amper & Co., the local member firm of Deloitte Southeast Asia Ltd. on Friday, also noted that only 38 percent of Filipino consumers were satisfied with their data volumes, albeit this was an increase from last year’s 31.2 percent.

When it comes to Internet speeds, consumers elsewhere across Southeast Asia are generally satisfied with their service providers but they want greater data volumes in their plans.

The Deloitte study showed that more than half of mobile phone users in Southeast Asia check their phones within 15 minutes after waking up but among Filipinos, the percentage is higher at 79 percent.

Filipinos also glance at their mobile screens repeatedly, using their phones most frequently

when commuting on public transport, the research said.

It was also noted that compared to other SEA countries, in the Philippines there’s a significant proportion of users—31 percent—who listen to online radio via their smartphones.

The research also showed that in Southeast Asia, Instant Messaging (IM) has emerged as the most popular messaging tool, with IM usage increasing and SMS (short messaging system) decreasing across the board – except in the Philippines.

Filipinos still prefer to use SMS (73 percent), but those who use IM (33 percent) turn to Facebook Messenger instead of pure Over-The-Top (OTT) IM services to communicate, the research said.

In the Philippines, IM users mostly use Facebook Messenger, an app that has been downloaded three times more than Skype and 10 times more than WhatsApp. The popularity of IM is seen gaining ground in the region, with Filipinos finding it a convenient option for chatting with friends and family overseas.

“Telecommunication operators can take advantage of this situation to increase revenues from data usage,” said Greg Navarro, managing partner and chief executive officer of Navarro Amper & Co. “They can, for example, tailor chat packages to specific IM applications that are widely used in their respective local markets.”

The survey also revealed that Internet network reliability is the top consideration for Filipinos when choosing a mobile operator, followed by price package and 4G/LTE network availability.

Even consumers who are satisfied with their internet connection may change operators for either of these factors, which makes sense considering how reliant consumers are on their phones.

Respondents were also asked how they connect to the internet based on their location. Eightytwo percent of Filipino respon-

dents said they use Wi-Fi at home, in the workplace, or their place of study; only 25 percent of Filipino respondents use Wi-Fi in public places.

“Again, there’s an opportunity here for telecom operators to monetize Wi-Fi for consumers on public transport facilities,” said Navarro. “And with the government’s project to provide free Wi-Fi in underserved areas of the country, it will be interesting to see how these statistics and behaviors change over the next few years.”

Another capability seen worth exploring for telcos is mobile payment. Across the Southeast Asian countries polled, majority of respondents are willing to use mobile-based, in-store payment solutions. In the Philippines, the study showed that 62 percent of respondents are willing to give it a try—but these respondents said there is a lack of availability of such solutions, and when it is available, it entails slower processing times compared to cash or credit card transactions.

“Telecom operators that want to take advantage of this functionality need to offer solutions that enable simple and quick transactions. They also need to improve payment security, so that consumers can be comfortable using mobile payments even for big ticket transactions, and expand the number of pointof-sale terminals that accept mobile payments,” said Navarro.

The Deloitte survey was conducted in the third quarter of 2015, covering 49,500 consumers across 31 countries to reveal some of the trending attitudes and behaviors of today’s mobile consumer. In Southeast Asia, 6,000 respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines (1,000 respondents), Singapore, and Thailand were polled.

UK-based Deloitte provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, tax and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. It has a global network across more than 150 countries and territories.

According to a research conducted by Navarro Amper & Co., the local member firm of Deloitte Southeast Asia Ltd. only 38 percent of Filipino consumers are satisfied with their data volumes.

Inquirer.net photo

IMF trims PH GDP growth...

PAGE D1

the projections in IMF’s January 2016 World Economic Outlook (WEO) that slashed the country’s GDP growth to 6.2 percent instead of 6.3 percent for this year but retained the 6.5 percent forecast for next year.

“Real GDP growth is projected at six percent in 2016 and 6.2 in 2017, driven by continued strong domestic demand offsetting weak net exports,” he said.

Sumi led an IMF mission that visited the country from Feb. 11 to Feb. 17 and met with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. and other economic managers. The 2016 Article IV consultation mission of the IMF is scheduled in June or July this year.

The economy slowed down to 5.8 percent last year from 6.1 percent in 2014 due to weak global demand and weak government spending. The expansion accelerated to 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter last year from the revised 6.1 percent in the third quarter.

The IMF official said the economy has performed remarkably well in the face of a weaker external environment and global financial turbulence in 2015.

The multilateral lender cited unemployment rate has fallen to a decade’s low of 5.3 percent, but significant under-employment remains.

Amid the robust growth, inflation eased to a 20-year low of 1.4 percent last year from 4.1 percent in 2014 due to stable food prices and cheaper utility rates brought

about by the continued softening of oil prices in the world market.

Despite a sizable decline in the fuel import bill and continued strong business process outsourcing (BPO) inflows, the current account surplus is estimated to fall to three percent of GDP last year from 3.8 percent in 2014 due to sluggish exports and remittances.

Sumi said the country’s current account surplus is likely to narrow further this year. He added the peso depreciated against the dollar in 2015, but by less than other regional currencies.

For this year, IMF said the country’s economic outlook remains favorable and is likely to survive external shocks brought about by the volatile global financial markets and the economic slowdown in China.

“The economic outlook is favorable but subject to increased downside risks, including lower growth in China and the region, higher global financial volatility and capital outflows, and weather related disruptions,” Sumi said.

According to Sumi, the Philippines has enough buffer to weather the crisis. “The Philippines’ capacity to respond if these risks materialize is substantial given its ample reserves and policy space, both monetary and fiscal,” Sumi said.

Sumi explained the 13.1 percent credit growth last year is supportive of financial stability and sustainable growth as private credit to construction and real estate has moderated.

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Showroom

WIN Hyundai and WIN Chevrolet: Three giant locations to serve you There’s no better place for kababayans to shop for hyundai vehicles than WIN hyundai in Carson, Calif. established in 2011, the young dealership started with the goal of becoming the premiere hyundai dealership. since then, it has lived up to its aim by consistently ranked among the top five dealers in the district.

In 2012, the dealership, which is also equus Certified, was also ranked No. 1 in district sales.

WIN is proud to carry hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates ranked the automaker No. 2 among nonpremium automakers in the 2015 Automotive Performance, execution and Layout (APeAL) study.

“Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power, the APeAL study shows hyundai takes design, technology, features, and performance seriously across the entire lineup. having the bestselling sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a remarkable accomplishment and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at hyundai.

WIN hyundai offers a wide selection of quality hyundai vehicles and extends its offerings across the Los Angeles area with its two locations: one in Carson and another in el Monte. On both sites, customers can find new and certified pre-owned vehicles – including the santa Fe, sonata, elantra and Genesis Coupe – to meet a variety of budgets and preferences.

Because the Carson and el Monte locations serve just about anyone and everyone in southern California, its experienced sales representatives are prepared and eager to help customers find the cars that best fit their preferences and needs.

When it comes to purchasing a hyundai, WIN specializes in working with all types of credit, good or bad, and has the ability to refinance current loans.

Additionally, although it sells hyundai cars, the dealership services vehicles of all makes and models and currently has an oil change special of $19.95 For Chevrolet owners and

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shoppers in Los Angeles, you may check out WIN’s third location at WIN Chevrolet, which will make sure to handle everything from helping you purchase a new or used Chevy. schedule an appointment or just stop on by to take any of our 2015 Chevrolet models for a test drive including the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, 2015 Chevrolet Impala, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Beyond the highly-praised brand WIN offers southern California residents, it has departments dedicated diverse groups found throughout the Los Angeles region, including Chinese, Korean, hispanic and Filipino communities. “ We w a n t t o m a k e t h e buying process as easy as possible, so we understand communicating in your native language can be important to completely understanding the purchasing and financing of your vehicle,” said Munir Younis, general sales manager of the dealership.

Younis, who is of Middle eastern descent, grew up in the Philippines and can speak Tagalog fluently, just as the Filipino sales representatives at the dealership.

“We have a dedicated team that serves the largest Filipino community in the U.s. We believe in giving back to the community and have participated in multiple sponsorship opportunities with multiple Filipino groups and organizations, including the Philippine Independence Day Foundation,” he said.

Among Filipino members of the WIN hyundai Carson team include long-time car industry veterans Jun Milan and Jay Trinidad.

“WIN is a great dealership and customer service is the best it can be,” Milan said.

Also on the Filipino team is Franklin Magarro, the dealership’s internet sales manager.

In addition to its on-location offerings, those shopping for hyundai cars can browse WIN’s inventory online with userfriendly filters. Whether you know specifically what make and model you’re looking for, are trying to shop based on a budget, or simply want to browse through what is available, the dealership website makes it easy to shop around from home. Live chat is also available and sales representatives are happy to assist customers via phone.

WIN Hyundai Carson 2205 e 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (877) 354-4253 Monday through saturday: 9am to 9pm sunday: 10am to 8pm WIN Hyundai El Monte 3462 N Peck road el Monte, CA 91731 (877) 290-2164 Monday through sunday: 9am to 9pm www.winhyundai.com Win Chevrolet 2201 e. 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (818) 639-1216 www.winchevrolet.com 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek

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D february 20-23, 2016 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

Marketplace & ShowrooM

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Cebu airport adds Los Angeles, other international flight services

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA—The country’s second largest international gateway Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is set to have four new international flight services by An Airbus A350 XWB sits on the ramp at the Singapore Airshow 2016 on Wednesday, Feb. 17. PAL announced that it had ordered six of these long-range next month to promote greater aircraft to allow it to fly the Manila-New York non-stop, along with new European routes it plans to launch.

Inquirer.net photo by Daxim Lucas connectivity.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), the consortium which bagged the MCIA Passenger Terminal deal, said four new international flight services would commence operations by March.

The new international flights our decision, enabling us to offer are: Philippine Airlines’ Cebu SINGAPORE—European plane- at the Singapore Airshow.

Philippine Airlines president nonstop service on all our pre- to Los Angeles, EVA Air’s Cebu maker Airbus said on Wednesday, Feb. 17 it had won a $1.85 bil- Jaime Bautista said the planes mium long-haul routes,” Bautista to Taipei, XiamenAir’s Cebu to lion deal for the purchase of six would be used for PAL’s nonstop, said.

Xiamen, and Emirates’ Cebu to The order is worth $1.85 billion Dubai.

A350-900s by Philippine Airlines long-haul flights from Manila to the United States, Canada and at list prices, although airlines (PAL).

PAL is set to launch its flight usually get discounts on their purPAL also has the option to pur- Europe.

“The A350s range capability chases. (Inquirer.net with reports chase an additional six of the aircraft, the two companies announced has been an important factor in from AFP)

Airbus wins $1.85 billion order from Philippine Airlines

services from Cebu to Los Angeles on March 15. The service will be available three times per week.

EVA Air’s maiden flight to Cebu from Taipei meanwhile, will commence on March 27, with the service to be offered daily.

XiamenAir’s flight to Cebu from Xiamen which will be offered thrice weekly, will begin operations by March 28.

As for Emirates’ flight on the Cebu-Clark-Dubai route, the service will be available daily starting March 30.

The new flights are in line with GMCAC’s efforts to increase Cebu’s connectivity to international destinations.

“Providing airline and route innovations for the travelling public are keystones of MCIA’s transformation. Many of these flights are

a first for Cebu, which will draw inbound tourism and give strong support for export services,” GMCAC president Louie Ferrer said.

Ferrer said GMCAC wants to attract more visitors to Cebu.

“Growth in passenger volume opens greater opportunities in commerce and tourism,” he said.

GMCAC, which took over operations of MCIA in November 2014, has a 25-year concession agreement for the renovation of the Terminal 1 of the airport, as well as the design, financing, construction and operation of a second terminal to accommodate the rising passenger traffic.

GMCAC has so far spent a total of $15 million or about P700 million on Terminal 1 renovations.

Duterte, Cayetano push for P1-B regional credit access for micro and small businesses

by JuDy

Quiros Inquirer.net

DAVAO CITY—Micro and small entrepreneurs will have the chance to expand their small businesses with a P1-billion regional credit access being pushed by presidential candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano unveiled the DuterteCayetano proposal during the recent Ronda Serye, a community consultation event..

Cayetano said under the presidency of Duterte, micro and small enterprises would be able to borrow capital from the government to expand their business.

He said the idea would be better than the 4Ps program, where the financial assistance was limited and fixed. Cayetano clarified though that the 4Ps programs would not be automatically scrapped under the Duterte administration.

However, he said that more programs that could uplift the conditions of the people should be crafted.

Cayetano said small businessmen have had nobody to turn to but loan sharks while “rich businessmen can get capital from their family, bank, or by selling their

Davao City mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano.

properties.”

“The poor business like vulcanizing shop, sari-sari stores, carinderia or parlor can only get capital by borrowing from loan sharks,” he said, adding that instead of earning for themselves, small businessmen were actually sustaining loan sharks.

Cayetano said he and Duterte had agreed that it would be much better to give P1 billion per region through local government units so micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) could apply for a loan to start or sustain their existing small businesses.

He said if government was capable of providing P62 billion for

4Ps, it could provide P1 billion per region for the MSMEs. He said unlike the dole-out system for 4Ps where a beneficiary would get a fixed amount of P1,200, MSMEs’ businesses would have the chance to grow if they were provided capital by government.

“If we want real progress, we should help everyone, not just the big businesses,” he said.

Cayetano clarified though that the fund would be provided to associations of MSMEs and not individuals. He said examples would include tricycle associations, vendors associations or cooperatives.

COMING SOON. MANILA’S tricycles will soon have an electronic version as the city government announced over the weekend that it is set to roll out “e-trikes,” the more eco-friendly version of the fuel-powered vehicle. The e-trikes would initially be fielded in the Ermita and Malate areas where there is a larger concentration of tourists.

Photo courtesy of the Manila City Hall

First in Southeast Asia: ZipMatch makes home buying a virtual reality

by LoueLLa

D. DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA—Online real estate marketplace ZipMatch has launched its 360 Virtual Reality service aimed at making the home buying process easier for property seekers and sellers.

As property viewing is an integral step in the home buying process and the use of the Internet and mobile devices is on the rise, ZipMatch decided to launch the 360 Virtual Reality service to give real estate sellers the ability to conduct on-demand viewing of residential projects or model units for interested buyers without having to visit the actual location of the property.

The new technology makes it easier for home buyers to check out real estate projects they are interested in, through the use of a computer or mobile device, as well as a pair of 360 Virtual Reality goggles.

The service is being made avail-

able by the startup as a subscription feature under ZipMatch Pro, a fullservice technology-based toolbox for brokers, sales agents, developers and real estate sellers.

Using the subscription feature, ZipMatch Pro subscribers can browse, select, and showcase the clear, video-quality moving images of properties in 360 degrees, using a desktop or mobile device by accessing the company’s website ZipMatch.com or mobile app ZipMatch Pro. To enhance the viewing experience and make home buyers feel as if they are inside the property for sale, brokers can set up the virtual reality access by making use of the ZipMatch 360 Virtual Reality goggles.

ZipMatch co-founder Chow Paredes said during the launch of the virtual reality service the technology not only helps home buyers in their selection of the property, but also caters to real estate professionals seeking to improve their service to customers.

“The mission of ZipMatch is to empower home buyers, right?

In the same way, we also aim to empower the seller side of the real estate industry, more specifically our real estate professionals.

We believe that our real estate professionals play a pivotal role in creating a healthy, open, sustainable marketplace of well-informed, savvy home seekers. If we raise the bar in terms of service, knowledge, and education, I believe we will be indirectly helping the home buyers by connecting them with well-rounded, real estate sellers who will address their needs and wants,” she said.

ZipMatch is the first company in Southeast Asia to offer virtual reality images of real estate projects for sale.

Following the launch of the new service in the Philippines, ZipMatch is looking to bring the technology to Indonesia within the year.

Among the startup’s clients are Ayala Land, Anchor Land and Crown Asia Properties.

The 360 Virtual Reality goggle is made for brokers and developers looking to wow their clients in sales events, exhibits or trade shows. It is designed to give homebuyers an immersive experience of 300-plus properties around the Philippines.

Remittances hit a record $28.5-B in 2015

by Prinz

MagtuLis Philstar.com

MANILA—Proving resiliency, money sent home by Filipinos abroad hit a record high in December, growing faster than target last year amid concerns of potential lay-offs in the Middle East because of low oil prices.

Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos amounted to $2.7 billion in December 2015, a 4.9 percent growth year-on-year and the highest monthly level recorded thus far.

Consequently, full-year personal remittances reached $28.5 billion, 4.4 percent higher than the previous year’s level and exceeding the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ projection of four percent for 2015.

Personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees (i.e., gross earnings of OFWs with work contracts of less than one year, including all seabased workers, less taxes, social contributions, and transportation and travel expenditures in their

host countries), personal transfers (i.e., all current transfers in cash or in kind with work contracts of one year or more as well as other household-to-household transfers between Filipinos who have migrated abroad and their families in the Philippines), and capital transfers between households (i.e., the provision of resources for capital purposes, such as for construction of residential houses, between resident and non-resident households without anything of economic value being supplied in return).

Cash remittances coursed through banks totalled $2.47 billion in December, up 4.9 percent from last year’s $2.35 billion, the BSP added.

This brought last year’s total tally to $25.77 billion, an increase of 4.6 percent which was also faster than the central bank’s revised forecast of four percent.

A total of 1.8 million overseas Filipino workers were deployed last year, the central bank said, cit-

ing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Additionally, there were 835,247 job orders which POEA approved last year, 45 percent of which were already processed and are steps away for deployment.

Interestingly, three of the five countries with most job orders were from the Middle East namely Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait. Taiwan and Hong Kong were the other two.The Aquino administration is readying mitigation and response measures to potential labor retrenchments in the oil-rich Middle East amid plunging prices of oil.

To an extent, the “protracted” decline in oil prices is “somewhat unique” when compared with previous threats to OFWs such as the global financial crisis and geopolitical concerns.

Around two million Filipinos are living and working in the Middle East, according to data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

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Showroom

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 20-23, 2016 D

Longo Toyota delivers world class experience

The Department of Transportation and Communications and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Thursday launched its first persons with disability-friendly premium point-to-point bus.

Philstar.com photo

First PWD-friendly bus launched in PH

by Rosette

Adel

with ramp and wheelchair slots for easy accessibility especially for MANILA—The Department PWDs. It added that the bus can accomof Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Land modate eight wheelchairs inside Transportation Franchising and and is equipped with nine closedRegulatory Board (LTFRB) on circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

The PWD-friendly P2P bus will Thursday, Feb. 18 launched the first premium point-to-point (P2P) operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with bus accessible for persons with a regular fare of P55 from Trinoma, Quezon City to Makati. Students disabilities (PWDs).

The LTFRB said the premium and PWDs will get a 20-percent P2P low-decker bus was designed discount or pay P41 if they ride

the bus.

Only one bus will operate as the transport agency is still planning to increase the number of PWDfriendly buses.

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, the transport agencies also launched a premium bus service for airports.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the DOTC is seeking to modernize buses so that they can provide service to PWDs.

HONDA unveiled the all-new 2017 Ridgeline truck at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), once again challenging conventional thinking in the pick-up truck market with Honda-exclusive features, design and technology that help Ridgeline set new benchmarks for versatility, capability and comfort in a midsize pickup.

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the new Ridgeline will launch in the first half of 2016 with a combination of features and capabilities including superior on-road performance, class-leading space, innovative and class-exclusive features, including an in-bed trunk, dual-action tailgate and the industry’s first in-bed audio system, top-in-class acceleration, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) fuel economy ratings and third-party collision safety ratings, leading edge connectivity with eight-inch Display Audio featuring Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility.

The new Ridgeline is based on Honda’s Global Light Truck platform with its rigid yet lightweight unibody construction, next-generation ACE body structure and

the ultimate versatility for peopleand cargo-hauling utility. With the seats folded down, the Ridgeline will comfortably carry up to five people.

Featuring Honda’s next-generation ACE body structure, advanced airbag systems and available Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, the new Ridgeline will target the highest available collision safety ratings—an New Car Assessment Program five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (ManilaTimes.net)

Philstar.com

All-new Honda Ridgeline makes world debut

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the new Honda Ridgeline will launch in the first half of 2016 with a combination of features and capabilities.

sophisticated, fully independent suspension, delivering a higher level of ride and handling refinement than conventional body-onframe designs.

Inside, the Ridgeline boasts the largest, most versatile and sophisticated cabin in a midsized four-door pickup, featuring high-grade materials and finishes, available leather trim and all the latest technologies that Honda has to offer, including tri-zone climate control, push button start, a full-color TFT center meter and available eight-inch Display Audio touchscreen.

The Ridgeline’s 60/40-split and folding second-row seat provides

A-Car offices on its premBeing the premiere ises. One is located adjaToyota retailer in the nacent to the Service Drive tion, Longo Toyota aims to in the Pre-Owned Vehicle deliver a truly world-class Showroom, and the other experience to our guests is in the Collision Repair on every transaction, everyday.

Center. Customers are it all starts with our welcome to utilize the enfriendly and welcoming terprise rental services, restaff, a clean and modgardless of whether or not ern environment, and a they leave their vehicle in wide range of services to IXpdfe[ G\i\q Longo for any car service.

D\c :Xjk\cf make your visit pleasant Complimentary Vehicle and convenient. Here are Delivery Service some of our key amenities Longo Toyota also offer at Longo Toyota: complimentary vehicle deAuto Club of Southern livery service. Our delivery California (AAA) service is available 6 days in november 1999, a week, Monday thru SatLongo Toyota became the urday, anywhere within a first automotive dealer60-mile radius of Longo ship in the US to have the Toyota.

Auto Club on its premLongo Toyota Parts and 9lkZ_ >XYlk`eX ises. For 14 long years, :\jXi DXZXc`ef Accessories Department our Auto Club branch has K?8EB PFL =FI D8B@E> LJ ELD9<I FE< =fi k_\ cfe^\jk You can also shop at the served countless satisfied k`d\# Cfe^f KfpfkX _Xj Y\\e gi`[`e^ `kj\c] Xj k_\ ( KfpfkX Longo Toyota Parts and Longo customers with its mfcld\ [\Xc\i `e k_\ Le`k\[ JkXk\j% 8cjf Zfej`[\i\[ Xj k_\ ( Accessories Department, wide array of services which carries a wide seGi`lj Xe[ ?pYi`[ [\Xc\i `e 8d\i`ZX# Cfe^f KfpfkX `j ^iXk\]lc Today, our on-site lection of genuine Toyota branch offers DMV servic- ]fi k_\ Zfek`elflj jlggfik f] `kj Zc`\ekj k_Xk _Xm\ kiljk\[ parts and accessories for es, airline, car and hotel k_\d n`k_ hlXc`kp YiXe[ e\n Xe[ lj\[ ZXij% ?Xm`e^ j\im\[ your vehicle. With thoureservations, discounted Zljkfd\ij ]fi +, p\Xij# k_\i\ dljk Y\ X i\Xjfe n_p Cfe^f sands of parts and accesmovie and local attraction KfpfkX `j jk`cc Zfej`[\i\[ eldY\i fe\% :Xcc ($/''$-(.$+,(- sories in stock, we defitickets, membership pro- kf[Xp kf Ôe[ flk% nitely have whatever it is cessing, OnBoard Teen you’re looking for. Our Safe Driver Program, and more. Sign up at our boutique also carries a selection of Ray-Ban and Longo Toyota branch and get $13 off the origi- Oakley sunglasses, women’s and men’s apparel, nal membership application price. Located in and so much more. our new car showroom, our AAA branch is open Shuttle Service Mondays thru Saturdays, from 11am to 7pm.

For your convenience, Longo Toyota offers Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer complimentary shuttle service while your veLongo Lexus is the first car dealership in the hicles are being serviced. Our shuttles can take US to provide Verizon Wireless and Verizon you to virtually anywhere within a 15-mile raWireless neighborhood services on-site. Our dius of Longo Toyota – be it your home, work, Verizon branch offers the latest in telecommu- the mall, or even the parlor! Anywhere! nications, mobile devices, accessories and serAn engaging stay vices. We also offer complimentary cellphone While we understand that our customer’s charging stations for our customers. Our Ve- time is precious, we realize that many of them rizon retailer is located inside our parts retail may need internet connectivity at all times. As center. Our Wireless Playground is open Mon- such we are more than happy to provide FRee day-Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, 7am-5:30pm; WiFi throughout our facility, and FRee use of and Sunday, 8-4pm. Please call (888) 623-2133 our great business center. in our business cenfor more information. ter, we provide a quiet setting where our guests Starbucks and Subway can work on our computers or on their own lapWhile waiting for your car to come out of our tops. car-care service lines, you can enjoy a quick We also provide free use of an iPad for Longo bite at Subway or a nice refreshing drink at guests who are waiting for their vehicles. Our Starbucks. We offer healthy dining options with guest Check-in representative will be more than Subway’s wide variety of sandwiches, salads, happy to arrange this for you. and wraps. if you decide to bring the kids to the dealerif you’re thirsty and you’re looking for that ship, boredom will never be a problem. We also quick coffee fix, you can grab a refreshing Ha- offer a variety of video games and DVDs just zelnut Macchiato or a smooth Caramel Frappuc- for kids so that they can also enjoy their visit to cino at Starbucks. Offering only the finest cof- Longo Toyota. fee specialties, teas, juices, and assortment of For more information on our Longo Toyota pastries, there’s something for everybody at our guest Services, please log on to http://www.lonon-site Starbucks branch. gotoyota.com/dealership/amenities.htm.

Both our Subway and Starbucks branches are Longo Toyota is located at 3534 north Peck available for catering services.

Road, el Monte, CA 91731. Call (800) 617-4516 Enterprise Rent-A-Car to set up your appointment.

Longo Toyota also has two enterprise Rent 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek

D february 20-23, 2016 • La WeeKeND aSIaN JOurNaL

EMPLOYMENT

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