070817 - La Weekend Edition

July 8-11, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 55 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

DATELINE

USA

PH military studying martial law extension

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Congressional Gold Medal presentation to WWII Filipino veterans planned for October PLANS are underway for a national celebration honoring Filipino World War II veterans, whose service and sacrifice have been finally recognized by the U.S. with the passage last year of the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, which is now enshrined as Public Law 114-265.

The Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) is one of the highest civilian awards bestowed by the United States for persons or groups who have performed an achievement that have an impact on American history and cul-

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Immigrant minors entering US illegally entitled to bail hearings

Army troopers guard the Pumping Bridge at Barrio Fort in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Friday, July 7 against Maute terrorists incursion.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

before issuing recommendation to our commander in chief,” Padilla told reporters in a chance interview.

“The assessment is still underway. It could be submitted next week or before the 60-day period [of martial law in Mindanao] ends,” he added.

Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution states that the president of the Philippines may place the country under martial law for not exceeding than 60 days — unless deemed extended by the Congress by a certain

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SWS: Duterte trust rating hits record-high

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

A FEDERAL appeals court unanimously ruled on Wednesday, July 6 that minors who enter the United States illegally without their parents must not be detained or released without a court hearing.

The three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that immigration authorities must act in accordance to a 1997 lawsuit settlement that established standards for their detention, release and treatment.

The settlement — known as the Flores settlement — ruled that minors who enter the U.S. illegally without a legal guardian must be granted a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte achieved his new highest public satisfaction rating in the second quarter of this year, according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey released on Friday, July 7.

Duterte garnered a public satisfaction rating of +66, up by three points from his +63 score in the previous quarter. This also bested his +64 net satisfaction rating in September 2016.

Based on the latest survey, 78 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance, while 12 percent were dissatisfied.

The remaining 10 percent were undecided.

In a statement, Malacañang welcomed the positive result, which it said showed the public’s “growing confidence” in Duterte’s performance.

“The survey result 3 percent higher from March 2017 75 percent is a clear indication of the growing confidence in the chief executive and his performance as the country’s

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Appeals court rules in favor of 1997 lawsuit settlement

WITH President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216’s looming expiration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday, July 7, said the military is still assessing the situation in Marawi City.

According to AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr., the military may submit its recommendation whether to lift or expand the martial law proclamation in Mindanao as early as next week.

On May 23, Duterte imposed military rule in the entire Mindanao in the wake of Maute terrorists attack in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur under Proclamation No. 216 — which is set to expire this coming July 22.

Duterte repeatedly said that he would lift or seek the extension of the proclamation depending on the feedback of security officials.

“Regarding the recommendation on possible extension or lifting of implementation of martial law, the assessment is not yet done. There should be basis

SURPRISE VISIT. President Rodrigo Duterte made an unannounced visit to the headquarters of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade in Barangay Maria Cristina, Iligan City on Friday, July 7. The surprise visit of the President came amid rumors that he was going to fly to Marawi City — where 85 soldiers had already been killed as the fight between the military and the Maute Group continued for over a month now.

Malacañang photo

Imee Marcos urges House to release ‘Ilocos Six’ PNP chief firm on decision to send cops to Marawi as punishment

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos

Inquirer.net photo

ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos called on the Philippine House of Representatives to release six provincial government officials, also collectively referred to as the “Ilocos Six,” from detention.

In a statement issued through her lawyer, former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, Marcos urged the House leadership to com-

ply with the Court of Appeal’s (CA) order to immediately release the officials.

“I appeal, for humanitarian reasons, to

by JENNIFER SORIANO AJPress the House leadership to set free the Ilocos Six. They have suffered more than enough,” DESPITE the backlash for his Marcos said.

“Please allow them to go home. You have decision, Philippine National Pofamilies too, and you know the pain of being lice (PNP) Director General Ronseparated from them,” she added.

The officials have been detained since

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Ombudsman orders forfeiture case for WBO: No reversal of Purisima’s P29.2-M unexplained wealth controversial decision on Pacquiao-Horn match

by JENNIFER

SORIANO

AJPress

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the filing of a petition before the Sandiganbayan to initiate the forfeiture proceedings for the P29.2 million in unexplained wealth allegedly amassed by former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima and his family.

In this May 2016 file photo, former Philippine National Police Chief Alan The Ombudsman is urging Purisima is escorted by PNP-CIDG and graft court security officers Purisima, his wife Ramona Lydto the Sandiganbayan, which ordered his arrest for alleged graft in ia and children Rainier, Eumir,

DESPITE calls seeking a review on the recent world welterweight title bout between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) said it cannot reverse the controversial result of the match.

In a social media post, WBO explained that a reversal of match result is only possible if violation of rules occurred.

The organization, however, stated that it has found nothing fraudulent during the match.

“The discretion of a referee or judge cannot be re-

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a gun license courier deal the PNP entered into in 2011.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

ald Dela Rosa is standing by his decision to send two erring cops in the war-torn city of Marawi.

One Mandaluyong policeman

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From the Front Page

PH military studying martial law...

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period.

Asked about the probability of gaining approval from Congress should Duterte seek an extension, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III said there is a high possibility that the military rule would be confined only to Lanao del Sur and not the entire

Mindanao.

“It depends on what they will present and based on our assessment. Of course, we need more information to justify the necessity to extend it,” Sotto said in a media forum on Wednesday, July 5.

Sotto went on to say, “I’m looking at the possibility that, yes, we might extend but it probably

be limited to Lanao Sur… (But) if it is still be the entire Mindanao, we have to know why.”

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court (SC), in a majority vote, affirmed Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 as constitutional, dismissing several petitions that questioned the basis of his proclamation. n

SWS: Duterte trust rating...

PAGE A1 t leader,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

The survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents nationwide via face-to-face interview just a month after Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao in the wake of Marawi crisis. It has a sampling error margins of ±3.

RUNNING FOR COVER. Members of media covering the Marawi siege run for safety as government forces exchange fires with the terrorist group at the Pumping Bridge in Barrio Fort, Lanao del Sur, on Friday, July 7.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

“The data collection concluded on June 23 to 26, a month after [Duterte] placed the whole island of Mindanao under martial law and it shows tacit of public support to the president’s action following the rebellion in Marawi,” Abella added.

Duterte’s net satisfaction rating rose the highest in Visayas, going up by 11 points and one grade. It went up to “excellent” +73 (83 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied) this quarter from “very good” +62 (75 per-

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Imee Marcos urges House...

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May 29 for their “dismissive” answers during an investigation into the government’s alleged irregular purchase of P66.45 millionworth vehicles.

Marcos pointed out that the officials’ long detention has put an “immeasurable emotional and psychological anguish to them and their families.”

“They have already testified to the best of their knowledge,” she remarked.

She further said, “Forcing them, through prolonged detention, to give false testimony just to satisfy the Committee is tantamount to compelling them to commit perjury. Please, set them free,” The six officials are currently detained at the Batasan Pambansa complex.

They are provincial planning and development officer and bids and awards committee chair Pedro Agcaoili, provincial budget officer Evangeline Tabulog, provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate, accountant Eden Battulayan, and treasury office staff Genedine Jambaro and Encarnacion Gaor.

The CA previously attempted to serve the immediate release order of the six officials to the House leadership last month on the following dates: June 9, 10, and 14.

The House, however, repeatedly refused to comply with the order. n

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-11, 2017

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Congressional Gold Medal presentation...

PAGE A1 t ture. American citizenship is not a requirement. In particular, this award is a public expression of the U.S. Congress’ gratitude on behalf of the nation for the distinguished contributions of 260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrillas during World War II in the Philippines.

Traditionally, the CGM is formally presented to the awardees by the Speaker of the House.

This year, the national celebration coincides with the formal award presentation of the medal to Filipino World War II veterans

by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

The presentation has not been scheduled, but could be held as early as October or November of this year.

At the award ceremony, slated to be held on Capitol Hill, surviving Filipino and American veterans or their next-of-kin will receive bronze replicas of the CGM and a framed copy of Public Law 114-265. Expected to attend are Congressional sponsors, Philippine Government officials, Presidential Cabinet members, high ranking general officers from the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, veterans advocates, community leaders and supporters and other dignitaries.

The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), the proponent of the CGM legislation and the official national point of contact for all CGM activities, is working closely with the U.S. Mint and offices of Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) to accelerate completion of the CGM’s minting and production of at least 500 bronze replicas.

FilVetREP is led by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (U.S.A. Ret.) and his executive team composed of Marie Blanco, Erick Soriano, Jon Melegrito and Ben de Guzman.

National celebration plans “We secured the Congressional Gold Medal to honor our veterans and demonstrate our deepest gratitude for their supreme sacrifice,” said FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret). “We will ensure that our national celebration of this historic achievement is one that treats our veterans with the utmost dignity and respect. We are, therefore, calling on all our supporters to make this important event happen. It’s for our veterans and they deserve to have a memorable event.”

Taguba also notes that not all

FilVetREP leaders and community supporters joined Sen. Mazie Hirono (center) in a celebration photo shortly after the Senate approved the Congressional Gold Medal legislation on Nov. 30, 2016.

Photo courtesy of Sen. Hirono’s office

recipients of the medal may not be able to come to Washington due to their age and physical condition. Regional award ceremonies are being considered in the West Coast, Midwest and the South to accommodate veterans who are not able to travel to Washington.

There are also plans for Filipino veterans residing in the Philippines to receive their bronze replicas in Manila. It is anticipated that this will be handled by the Philippine Veterans Administration Office (PVAO) and Philippine Office of National Defense.

National registry Bronze replicas will be awarded only to surviving veterans or their next-of-kin whose eligibility for CGM has been vetted and whose names are included in FilVetREP’s national veterans registry.

“It is essential that veterans and their families register as soon as possible to make sure they are included in the award ceremony,” Taguba adds.

Applications and instructions for submission may be downloaded from FilVetREP’s website, www.filvetrep.org. Each of the FILVETREP regional directors are responsible for contacting the veterans and families to help them register. Bronze replicas are not funded by the U.S. government, but rather by donations from the public. Donations to support FilVetREP’s CGM activities are accepted through the FilVetREP website.

CGM Design and Approval Process. In the past several months, FilVetREP has been meeting with the U.S. Mint’s Office of Design Management in providing significant input and recommendations to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission on

Fine Arts (CFA).

The U.S. Mint is the nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, commemorative coins and congressional gold medals, and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the nation to conduct its trade and commerce.

CCAC is an advisory committee established in 2003 by Congress under Public Law 108-15 to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and designs of all U.S. coins and medals; CFA is an independent federal agency charged with giving expert advice on matters of design and aesthetics, as they affect the federal interest and preserve the dignity of the nation’s capital.

As Chairman of FilVetREP, Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (U.S. Army Ret) was designated as the official liaison to the U.S. Mint

by Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, co-sponsors of the CGM legislation.

On January 17, FilVetREP held its initial meeting with the U.S. Mint’s Office of Design Management. The team include FilVetREP executive officers Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, Marie Blanco, Ben de Guzman, Jon Melegrito and Erick Soriano, legal counsel.

At this meeting, the FilVetREP team presented possible themes, text, photos and graphics that would be useful to the assigned artists and illustrators.

On February 15, FilVetREP met with the CCAC. The presentation included screening of the documentary, “Duty to Country,” and a discussion of all the artistic, political and historical themes and elements that would inform the design process.

A kick-off meeting with the six

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FIGHTING FAKE NEWS. Members of Millennials Against Dictators hold copies of the complaint filed against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Wednesday, July 5. They alleged that Aguirre violated Section 4 of Republic Act 6713 “when he repeatedly made unsubstantiated public accusations and allegations thus failing to discharge his duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill.”

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Immigrant minors entering US illegally entitled...

PAGE A1 t

Since then, Congress passed two laws in 2002 and 2008 that repealed those stipulations in the Flores settlement and removed the right to court hearings, but the appeals court thought otherwise.

“Not a single word in either statute indicates that Congress intended to supersede, terminate, or take away any right enjoyed by unaccompanied minors at the time of the acts’ passage,” the judges wrote. “Thus, we hold that the statutes have not terminated the Flores settlement settlement’s bond-hearing requirement for unaccompanied minors.”

The court argued that the court hearing requirement for immigrant minors is necessary to set a standard for these children’s’ futures during the pending immigration process.

It wrote that the hearing pro-

vides minors with legal counsel to represent them. Hearings also give these minors “meaningful rights and practical benefits” to help them navigate the immigration system.

“Without such hearings, these children have no meaningful forum in which to challenge [the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services’] decisions regarding their detention or even to discover why those decisions have been made,” the judges argued.

“There are no procedures available to them that afford them the right to a hearing with counsel, an opportunity to examine adverse evidence, or a forum in which to refute the government’s claims regarding the need for their custody,” the judges continued. “In the absence of such hearings, these children are held in bureaucratic

SWS: Duterte trust rating...

PAGE A2 t cent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied) last quarter.

On the other hand, Duterte’s rating in Mindanao declined the most. Although it stayed “excellent,” his score dropped by 12 points; from +87 (87 percent satisfied, 3 percent dissatisfied) to +75 (83 percent satisfied, 8 per-

cent dissatisfied).

In Metro Manila, his ratings hardly moved from +64 (76 percent satisfied, 12 percent dissatisfied) down to +63 (77 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied), staying “very good.”

But in balance Luzon, his rating went up by 7 points; from +51 (68 percent satisfied, 17

limbo, left to rely upon the agency’s alleged benevolence and opaque decision making.”

The ruling is a win for undocumented minors, many of whom cross the border without their parents.

In recent years, tens of thousands of children have entered the U.S., fleeing from drug and gang violence from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Federal officials say that most of them attend school in the U.S. while being cared for by family members in the country.

In 2014, more than 68,000 were detained, many of them settling in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Since President Donald Trump took office, the number of illegal crossings has dwindled, but from February to May 2017, 5,445 minors were still being detained, according to federal records.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) percent dissatisfied) to +58 (73 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied), also staying in the “very good” scale.

“This positive acknowledgment of the Filipino people further motivates the administration to work for the restoration of [normalcy] in Marawi and to start its rehabilitation as well as to bring a comfortable life for all Filipinos including Muslim Filipinos,” Abella further remarked. ■

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US vows to stand by AFP vs terrorism

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

THE United States continues to stand by the Philippines in the latter’s fight against terrorism and in efforts to fully secure and rebuild the ravaged Marawi City, Ambassador Sung Kim said in remarks on Thursday, July 6 at the commemoration of the 241st anniversary of U.S. Independence. “We will continue to stand by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as they courageously fight

Amb. Sung Kim

terrorism to keep this country safe,� Kim told a gathering of diplomats and officials at the Makati

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Shangri-La Hotel Thursday night.

He noted the US and the Philippines share common core values. “And we are proud of the support and President Duterte’s determination to secure and rebuild Marawi,� he said.

In earlier remarks to the media, the ambassador said the U.S. would continue its assistance to Filipino troops, especially those fighting Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants in Marawi. “Our thoughts are with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the residents of Marawi,�

Kim said. “They are going through a very difficult time and I will now assure them that we will continue to support them in any way possible going forward,� he added. “This is a good time to think about and reflect on America and America’s friendship with the Philippines.�

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis assured the Philippines in his address at a regional security summit in Asia last month that the U.S. remained committed to helping a long-time ally under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

The U.S., he added, was unwavering in its commitment to help in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. n

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PAGE A1 t

was caught on camera hurting an arrested man with a stick for violating a barangay curfew, while another policeman watched the incident.

The video sparked outrage from netizens, prompting Dela Rosa to send the two cops to Marawi City as their punishment. The defense chief and martial law administrator Delfin Lorenzana and Provincial Crisis Management Committee spokesperson and regional assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong expressed their dismay over Dela Rosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision.

Dela Rosa fired back, saying this would work to the advantage of the two cops. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I challenge mga media, makipagpustahan kayo sa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kin.

Tingnan natin kung mangyayantok pa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan dito. Sigurado ako ma reform yan. One hundred percent, magiging magagaling na pulis â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yan (I challenge the media; letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bet on this. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see if

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Faith and community leaders came together on Thursday, July 6 to hold a prayer vigil at St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community in Walnut, California, amid the current federal policies that many deem anti-immigrant.

AJPress photos by Mark Xavier Bautista

Multiracial interfaith coalition calls for passage of California Values Act and protection of DACA program

WALNUT, CA - Diverse faith and community leaders held a prayer vigil at St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community on Thursday, July 6, in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley (SGV), to demonstrate strong support for immigrant communities.

In this current climate of antiimmigrant policies and attacks at the federal level, organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA), Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), and LA Voice brought together this multiracial, interfaith coalition to stand up for the humanity and dignity of all immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, and to uphold the proposition that all religions believe in justice.

Undocumented immigrants contribute to various facets of the United States and California, including in local regions such as the San Gabriel Valley, speakers on Thursday pointed out.

There are approximately one millionundocumentedimmigrants in Los Angeles County. One in 5 live in the SGV, which is home to about 200,000 undocumented immigrants of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Not only do undocumented immigrants contribute approximately $57 billion to the Los Angeles regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product (GDP), they enhance the moral fiber and quality of life of all of our communities.

The prayer vigil focused on the moral imperative to support immigrant communities by protecting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which is under attack with Texas and nine other states calling for an end to DACA, and by enacting the California Values Act (SB 54), state legislation that would strengthen public safety and community trust with law enforcement by ensuring that state and local resources are not used to participate in the Trump Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deportation machine.

Father Mike Gutierrez, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park who is

Anthony Ng, policy advocate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, spoke about the importance of immigrants.

Fr. Tony Astudillo of St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community in Walnut, CA led a prayer on Thursday, July 6.

a faith leader with CLUE and LA Voice, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our flock includes hardworking undocumented Americans from Mexico, Philippines, and other areas of the globe. It is essential for the safety of our community that immigrants be able to trust police and not see them as an arm of the deportation machine.â&#x20AC;?

According to Rabbi Jonathan Klein, Executive Director of CLUE, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We urge all people of faith and conscience to support immigrant communities by supporting meaningful policies such as the California Values Act (SB 54) and the DACA program.

Our moral compass must guide us in upholding values of inclusion, compassion, and equality.

It is more urgent now than ever to take a stand against anti-immigrant hate and xenophobia -- and instead to follow our faith traditions that call upon us to welcome and embrace immigrants and to love all people, regardless of any divisive categorization, as ourselves.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Immigrants are an integral part of our nation, our state, and local communities,â&#x20AC;? said Anthony Ng, Policy Advocate at Asian Americans Advancing JusticeLA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are our loved ones, relatives, co-workers, classmates, community members among many others. In California, we choose to embrace our immigrant community through policies and legislations that reflect our values as a state. Today, we stand

together with immigrant communities by supporting the California Values Act (SB54), which is the strongest pro-immigrant legislation in the nation. We also stand together in calling for the protection of the DACA program which has positively transformed the lives of over 800,000 young people in the last five years.â&#x20AC;?

Samantha Carmago, a student in the Walnut school district who also is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a lay leader with LA Voice, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look around at my friends who are working hard, doing everything right but could have all their dreams for their future torn from them if DACA gets revoked. We need to protect young folks so they can dream big and help our communities, not disappear into the shadows and despair.â&#x20AC;?

Other speakers at the vigil included: Father Tony Astudillo of St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Parish Community in Walnut, which hosted the vigil; Rev. Walter Contreras from Presbyterian Pasadena Hispanic Church; Pastor Bridie Roberts from First United Methodist Church of La Puente and First United Methodist Church of Alhambra; Emily Frias, a community member affiliated with LA Voice; Deacon Nori Ochi from Evergreen Baptist Church of LA, located in Rosemead; and Asmaa Ahmed, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)-LA. n

WBO: No reversal of controversial...

PAGE A1 t versed, except in a case of fraud or violation of laws which is not the case in Pac vs Horn,â&#x20AC;? the organization posted in its official Twitter account on Tuesday, July 4.

Pacquiao lost his WBO Welterweight title to Horn in a stunning unanimous decision on Sunday, July 2, creating one of the greatest upsets in the recent world boxing history.

The judges gave the final scores of 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, all in favor of Horn â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which received hostile responses from various boxing fans around the globe.

In a letter, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the

regulatory body for boxing in the Philippines, has asked WBO President Francisco Valcarce for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;thorough reviewâ&#x20AC;? for possible miscalls during the match. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we respect the decision, we are constrained to request for a thorough review by the WBO for possible miscalls of the referee where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions on their objectivity,â&#x20AC;? the letter read.

Pacquiao also backed the GABâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move, saying that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;WBO should take appropriate actionâ&#x20AC;Ś so as not to erode the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in boxing.â&#x20AC;?

But the WBO instead recommended to have the two boxers settle the issue inside the ring. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The contract for Pac vs Horn provides a rematch clause, which the WBO is in accordance if the promoters decide to move forward,â&#x20AC;? the WBO added.

Horn, for his part, said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willing to have a rematch if Pacquiao wanted to have one. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He (Pacquiao) said after the fight he was happy with the decision. He might be changing his mind. But I feel if he wants to do it again, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do it again. The rematch clause is there for a reason,â&#x20AC;? Horn told AAP. Pacquiao previously stated that he is open to having a rematch against Horn. n

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PH Navy’s elite receives 12 service trucks from US

Frederick Riker (right) hands over the ceremonial truck key to Philippine Navy Capt. Alfonspin P. Tumanda Jr. during the transfer of 12 Ford F-550 trucks to the Philippine Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite. Riker is the security cooperation manager for the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, and Capt. Tumanda is the Commander of NAVSOG. Photo courtesy of Armed Forces of the Philippines

THE United States government turned over 12 Ford-550 trucks to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) in a June 29

ceremony held at a naval base in Cavite.

“Representatives from the U.S. Military Assistance Group delivered the trucks to the officials of

the AFP NAVSOG in a turnover ceremony held at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point,” the U.S. Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Wednesday, July 5.

The NAVSOG is the Philippine Navy’s elite force trained in various special operations.

Captain Alfonspin Tumanda, Jr. and Commander Jim Razo, the commander and deputy commander of NAVSOG, respectively, received the trucks from the U.S. officials.

“The trucks will help in mobilizing NAVSOG units throughout the Philippines including those in Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga, and Davao as well as aiding the transport and deployment of rigidhulled inflatable boats also delivered by the U.S. to the AFP,” the embassy said.

The U.S. has already sent $200M worth of assistance grants to the Philippines over the past three years. (Daphne Galvez/Inquirer.net)

Ombudsman orders forfeiture case...

PAGE A1 t

Alan Junior and Jason to return their unexplained wealth to the government, as dictated by Republic Act 1379.

According to state investigators, Purisima only received P9.6 million worth of salaries, allowances, and benefits when he served his post as director general with the PNP from 2000 to 2014.

Purisima’s wife, meanwhile, earned P6.4 million as an employee of the AFP Mutual Benefits Association during the same period. The couple received a combined income of 16 million.

Furthermore, Purisima declared business interests and financial connections with RAS Construction from 2000-2006, I@Link Computer Center from 2002 to 2006, Aliakbar Hauling and Trucking Services from 2008 to 2014, and the family owned general merchandising firm EALRAJ Corporation from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, he had a net worth of P16.8 million, according to investigators.

Investigators reported, however, that Purisima failed to declare in his SALN several real estate properties in the towns of Palayan City and Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija; parcels of land in Talisay, Batangas, and San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; and other personal possessions such as firearms from 2010 to 2014.

The issue on the parcels of land in Palayan City were likewise referred to the Department of Agriculture since these were covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, a program for the redistribution of public and private agricultural lands to landless farmers and farmworkers.

The Ombudsman further noted that the Purisima family had made frequent travels abroad from 2001 to 2014. The former PNP chief had 19 foreign trips, seven of which were “financed from private funds.”

His wife also made 19 trips abroad, Rainier had 10, Jayson had seven trips, Alan Jr. had five, and Eumir had four.

The Ombudsman mentioned that the travels of the Purisima family “show that they lived a lavish lifestyle which is not commensurate with their declared earnings and financial resources.”

According to Morales, Purisima’s income tax return from 2014 to 2013 also revealed that “they are replete with badges of falsity and misdeclaration. The reported income from businesses is not supported by financial statements and taxes withheld and remitted by withholding agents.”

Purisima, however, claimed that the properties registered under his sons were acquired through their own capacity. Mo-

Congressional Gold Medal presentation...

PAGE A3 t U.S. Mint artists assigned to the project was held on March 22. A month later, the artists completed 43 candidate designs based on the instructions provided by the CCAC. FilVetREP then reviewed each obverse (front) and reverse (back) designs for historical/ technical accuracy and appropriateness. After several rounds of feedback and suggested modifications, the team narrowed down its selection to seven of the front and three of the back.

On May 22, a meeting with the U.S. Mint led to the selection of the top three designs, which were presented to the CFA on June 15. The CFA agreed with FilVetREP’s design preferences and modifications.

On June 21, the 11-member CCAC approved the recommendations of FilVetREP for the CGM design. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, who has the final approval, is expected to concur and give the U.S. Mint the official go ahead to have the medal minted this summer.

The minting process, which typically takes about three months, basically involves translating a 14-page legislation (i.e., Public Law 114-265) into a graphic design engraved on a 3inch medal minted in solid gold.

The CGM legislation provides that the Smithsonian Institution will be the repository for the CGM where it will be available for display and research. The CGM legislation also requires the Smithsonian Institution to make the CGM available for display elsewhere. Currently, the plan is for the CGM to be permanently housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History or another national museum of similar repute.

Digital Exhibition and Education Program. The next phase of the CGM project is to create a digital exhibition and education program that will be accessible to public schools and the public. It will include a complete history of the Filipino veterans’ role in World War II, timelines, testimonies, personal stories, photographs, videos and other artifacts.

“This American story of Filipino soldiers fighting under the U.S. flag in Bataan, Corregidor and other places, and helping liberate a U.S. sovereign territory only to be denied the benefits promised them, must be told widely and preserved for posterity for generations to come,” Taguba said.

“It is a story we all should be proud of.” (Jon Melegrito)

rales in return said “there is no sufficient proof that reasonably supports the financial or earning capacity of P/DG Purisima’s children.”

“The inevitable conclusion is that their acquisitions and investments were made possible through the funds of P/DG Puri-

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REINFORCING TROOPS IN MARAWI. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) convoy passes through a former combat zone to reinforce troops conducting operations in Barangay Banggulo, Marawi City on Wednesday, July 5.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

PNP chief firm on the decision...

PAGE A4 t

they’ll still hit people with sticks after this. I’m sure they will be reformed. One hundred percent, they will be good policemen),” said Dela Rosa, who himself spent most of his career in Mindanao.

In a press conference in Marawi City on Thursday, July 6, Lorenzana, who was with Dela Rosa, expressed his “personal” objection toward deploying the two cops to Mindanao as a punishment for their abusive acts.

“There was a time when I was the commander in Davao. Then I heard they’re going to send scalawags to Mindanao. Sabi ko,

hindi (I said no). We need the best people here. We need the best people to fight this war,” Lorenzana explained.

The retired military officer added, “We need some good people, volunteers to come here to help in the problem. So when you throw people here who are problematic, bibigyan lang natin ng problema ang commanders dito (they will just add to the problems of the commanders here).”

Adiong for his part tweeted, “Hindi po tayo dito basurahan para sa mga abusado at tiwaling pulis ng Metro Manila (We are not a dumping site for

abusive and corrupt police of Metro Manila).”

“It’s quite offensive to treat us like a trash bin for abusive cops.

And to use the Marawi Siege as a punishment shows insensitivity. Erring cops should be sued with administrative case. What they need is to face accountability, not temporary punishment,” he went on to say.

In February this year, the PNP deployed cops with pending administrative and criminal charges — ranging from recurring tardiness to alleged involvement in the drug trade — to Mindanao as a form of punishments for their misdeeds. The move was also criticized for making Mindanao a pit for rogue policemen. n

A JULY 8-11, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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Cool savings available to income-qualified customers

by SuSan Cox Southern California Edison

IN San Jacinto where Maria Gonzalez lives, the temperature can soar during the long summer months, making her air conditioner a seasonal necessity. However, running the air conditioner for hours in the desert community can be costly and put a strain on an electric bill.

“One summer I had a very high bill, and along with other utility bills, it was very difficult

to pay them all off,” said Gonzalez, a retiree on a fixed income.

Friends at church told her about the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program which provides Southern California Edison income-qualified customers a discount of about 30 percent on monthly electric bills.

Gonzalez applied and qualified. She now gets relief from the heat and her electricity bill.

“Being on the CARE program has been a real blessing and the discount makes the bills so much more manageable, especially during the hottest parts of the year,” she said. “This is also great for seniors.”

Another assistance program SCE provides to income-qualified customers, Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA), gives a 12 percent discount on monthly electric bills to qualified households of three or more.

Both CARE and FERA help eligible customers stretch their dollars to more effectively manage their utility costs with discount rates, particularly those on limited incomes or who participate in at least one of 10 government public assistance programs.

An estimated 1.2 million SCE customers are enrolled in the CARE and FERA programs. And recent changes in the income guidelines mean more SCE customers may qualify for the programs.

“SCE wants to assist customers and the CARE/FERA income-qualified programs are available to help eligible customers lower their electricity usage and monthly bill,” said Mark Wallenrod, director of Program Operations for SCE. “And the recent incomeeligibility guidelines will allow SCE to serve even more eligible customers who qualify for these programs.”

Beyond CARE, Gonzalez also practices energy conservation with the help of shaded trees in her yard. She also closes windows and blinds to keep the interior of her home cool, and uses fans to circulate cool air indoors, avoiding her air conditioner for extended periods of time.

However, as a CARE participant, Gonzalez doesn’t worry when she does turn on her air conditioner.

“The program really helps,” she said. “If I don’t run the air conditioner 24/7, it makes the bills smaller and so much easier to pay. It’s also more predictable so I don’t go over my budget.”

To learn more about CARE/ FERA and the new income guidelines, visit sce.com/billhelp or call 1-800-655-4555.

This summer, SCE also recommends customers proactively practice energy conservation: Reduce your energy use on hot summer days between 2-6 p.m. when demand reaches its peak.

Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees when it’s hot.

Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.

Use appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers during morning or evening hours.

To learn more ways to save energy and lower your bill this summer, visit sce.com/ coolsavings. n

FAREWELL. Dexter Carlos tearfully bids his final farewell to wife Estrella and their three children before they were laid to rest Wednesday, July 5 at the Citrus Public Cemetery in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

US warplanes fly over disputed South China Sea WASHINGTON—US warplanes have flown over the disputed South China Sea, the US Air Force said Friday, July 7, a move aimed at asserting freedom of navigation rights in the hotly-contested area.

The flights come as both US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the G-20 meeting in Hamburg.

A US B1-B bomber and two F15 fighters with the Japan Air SelfDefense Force departed Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base and flew over the neighboring East China Sea late on Thursday, the US Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs office said.

This is “the first time US Pacific Command-directed B-1B Lancers have conducted combined training with JASDF fighters at night,” the statement read.

When the bilateral operations concluded, “the B-1Bs proceeded to the South China Sea before returning to Andersen Air Force Base,” the statement read.

It was not immediately clear when or if a second US B1-B bomber joined for the South China Sea leg of the operation.

The mission “demonstrates how the US will continue to exercise the rights of freedom of navigation anywhere international law allows,” the US statement read.

“Flying and training at night with our allies in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the US and Japan,” said Major Ryan Simpson, Pacific Air Forces chief of bomber operations.

The joint military flight demonstrates US-Japanese “solidarity … to defend against provocative and destabilizing actions in the Pacific theater,” the statement added.

Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by Taiwan and Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

China has rapidly built reefs in the area into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

China also lays claim to tiny islands in the East China Sea between Japan and the Korean peninsula, and between Japan and Taiwan. (ManilaTimes.net with reports from AFP)

Ombudsman orders forfeiture case...

PAGE A5 t sima himself who failed to account for the sources of these,” Morales said.

“Their (sons’) acquisitions and investments may be added to the forfeitable assets by reason of unexplained wealth,” she added.

Aside from the forfeiture, Morales also wants nine counts of perjury to be charged against Purisima before the Sandiganbayan “for willfully and deliberately failing to disclose all of his properties in his Statement of

Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2006 to 2014.”

Purisima also faced controversies in 2014 over his official residence inside Camp Crame.

Initial reports reveal that the refurbishing of his official house amounted to P25 million. Later on, the PNP said it only cost P12 million, which were all donations from Purisima’s friends.

Purisima, a close friend of former President Benigno Aquino III, was tasked to take a lead role in the Mamasapano operation despite being suspended. n

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A

Dateline PAfterhiliPPines 10 years, ailing NDFP consultant freed from detention

6.5 quake hits Central Visayas

about granting amnesty and pardon to political prisoners in the country, especially the sick NATIONAL Democratic Front and the elderly, as evidenced in of the Philippines (NDFP) peace his previous speeches. consultant Emeterio Antalan is The pardon is part of the fulfillfree at last after being detained as ment of Duterte’s commitment to a political prisoner for 10 years. pursue the peace negotiations Antalan, 70, together with nine with the communist movement. other political prisoners were “This is good news for their freed on Thursrday, July 6, fol- families, friends and supporters lowing the release of President Rodrigo Duterte’s conditional pardon dated June 28.

The NDFP peace consultant was arrested in Nueva Ecija in 2007, with NDFP staff Edgardo Friginal, and has been detained collapsed portion of a grocery in Kananga, Leyte following a 6.5-magnitude earthquake that at the New Bilibid Prison since struck the province on Thursday, July 6.

October 2015 due to a trumpedup murder case, along with another NDFP consultant, Leopoldo Caluza.

During his stay at the prison, The post comes after rising most cutting edge techniques to combat terrorist content about pressure from government lead- Antalan faced bouts of hospital ISIS, Al Qaeda and their affiliates, ers around the world to “identify visits, including his recent admisand we expect to expand to other and prevent the spread of con- sion to the Intensive Care Unit terrorist organizations in due tent” from terror groups on the (ICU) after complaining of chest course,” the company said in its widely-used social network. (Jen- pains.

The president was vocal nifer Soriano/AJPress) post.

A POWERFUL earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 hit the center of the Philippines on Thursday, July 6, at 4:03 p.m., leaving at least four people dead, while dozens were injured, according to local officials.

The casualties included two in Ormoc City and two in the town of Kananga.

The center of the quake was at eight kilometers southwest of Jaro town on Leyte Island with a shallow depth of two kilometers according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and SeismolAn ABS-CBN News photo contributed by Edgar Muralla Jr. shows parked cars damaged by a ogy (PHIVOLCS).

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Gov’t takes down social media accounts supporting terrorism THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has taken down some 64 social media accounts spreading terrorism and terrorism-related content.

In an effort to contain internet-savvy terrorism supporters, the Philippine military has been recently monitoring about 300 social media accounts facilitating or supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) Maute group.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla acknowledged the support of the social media companies that helped them track some of these social accounts.

“So of the accounts that we’re monitoring, about almost 60 or 64 of that [have] been taken down.

And this was with the cooperation of the social media companies and we’re doing it continuously,” Padilla said in a news briefing.

Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) Secretary Rodolfo Salalima said that rebellion and sedition, done through any medium, including the internet, is punishable by law.

“Rebellion and sedition are crimes under the old revised penal code. You do sedition, you incite people via cyber or via internet…there is ‘cyber-rebellion,’ there is ‘cyber sedition,’” Salalima said.

Facebook, a top social media site with 2 billion active users monthly, said in its June 15 blog post that it is using artificial intelligence to help it combat the spread of terrorists on its platform.

“We are currently focusing our

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

who have witnessed how their loved ones have been wrongly convicted for trumped-up charges and have endured unimaginable injustices throughout their years in jail,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of human rights group Kaarapatan.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said, “this is a posi-

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OpiniOn

Features

Go ahead, eat them

President rodrigo duterte is in the mood for eating kilawin again. the President, in a meeting Wednesday, July 5 with local officials in davao del sur, showed a mobile phone with photos of two Vietnamese hostages decapitated by the Abu sayyaf. this was hours after the bodies of Hoang thong and Hoang Va Hai were found by villagers in the town of sumisip in Basilan.

“I will eat your liver if you want me to. Give me salt and vinegar and I will eat it in front of you,” Duterte said, addressing the Abu Sayyaf. “I eat everything. I am not picky. I eat even what cannot be swallowed.”

The president had issued a similar warning in April, saying he could be 50 times more vicious than the Abu Sayyaf, after the terrorists clashed with government forces in Bohol.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has seen dozens of its members decapitated by the Abu Sayyaf, does not have the appetite for ceviche a la Duterte. But the beheading of the two Vietnamese ship crewmembers is a reminder to the AFP about the continuing threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf in conflict zones outside Marawi.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling upholding the validity of the President’s Mindanao-wide martial law Proclamation 216, has linked Abu Sayyaf attacks together with depredations committed by other ter-

rorist groups to the rebellion that the SC deemed as sufficient justification for declaring martial law.

The response to the rebellion should not overlook the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu, where the group is still holding other hostages for ransom, most of them foreigners.

Security officials have admitted being surprised by the ferocity of the Maute fighters in Marawi. AFP resources are focused on the battle to rid Marawi of Maute terrorists and find the Abu Sayyaf’s Isnilon Hapilon, reportedly the Islamic State commander in the Philippines, who is believed holed up in the ruined city.

The beheading of the Vietnamese could be a diversion to reduce pressure on the terrorists still in Marawi. But it is also a reminder that government forces cannot ease up on the Abu Sayyaf in other parts of Mindanao. AFP members must make good on the threat of their commander-in-chief to eat the Abu Sayyaf alive. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Growing our internal souls: Freedom from internal gray waters

Rhizomes

Prosy AbArquezDelAcruz, J.D. “A REVOLUTION is not just for the purpose of correcting past injustices, a revolution involves a projection of man/woman into the future… It begins with projecting the notion of a more human human being, i.e. a human being who is more advanced in the specific qualities which only human beings have — creativity, consciousness and self-consciousness, a sense of political and social responsibility.” — Activist Grace Lee Boggs, a centenarian, June 2015.

Grace Lee Boggs is a ChineseAmerican humanist philosopher who has seen the ups and downs of America, from the time of Dr. Martin Luther King’s million man march in Washington to the ascent of President Barack Obama into office, including the decades-long plunge of the population in Detroit, a former bustling city with auto manufacturers.

She turned 100 years on June 28 and hundreds of Detroit citizens came out to pay tribute to her. Melissa Harris-Perry had this to say on a Facebook post: “On this day in 1915, a revolutionary was born. For seven decades, Grace Lee Boggs — philosopher, writer, and activist — has been engaged with some

of the most impactful US social movements of the last century.

Workers’ rights, civil rights, Black Power, women’s rights, environmental justice: where there is inequality, where there are people struggling to have their voices heard, you will find Grace Lee Boggs.”

Decades ago, Grace Lee Boggs re-imagined what Detroit would be, after seeing blocks of abandoned buildings, once industrial sites for manufacturing automobiles. She shared her vision of turning these abandoned plots of land into urban gardens, which mushroomed into the creation of artisan bakeries and publicly displayed murals on some of these buildings. Even as her vision gained traction, she encouraged citizens: “We can begin by doing small things at the local level, like planting community gardens or looking out for our neighbors. That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.”

Grace Lee Boggs passed away on Oct. 5, 2015, and would have celebrated her 101st birthday on June 27, 2016. Grace exhorted and reminded us often to grow our souls, to become aware of this time at another part of the world and what we can do to make ourselves grow. Perhaps because even as she grew in years, her young soul was kept

vibrant from engagement with causes and others’ plight.

Clogged with gray water May, my 93 1/2-year-old neighbor, had a plumbing problem. She whispered if I knew of a good plumber. Yes, I told her.

I called the plumber, Abel and spoke to him about May’s problem. I also gave my neighbor the plumber’s number. I requested him to take care of May. The problem took several pieces of equipment — a soil spreader to keep the ‘dug-up’ section from caving in, an excavator, a hose, and shovels. We gave the plumbers access to our outdoor electrical outlet and the manhole to remove the four feet of gray water that accumulated. It took a few men to clear the clogged area, only to discover an expanded white gunk, almost like a concrete white cork plug, from the use of disposable wipes.

For three days, these Latino plumbers persisted in the sweltering sun. I saw beads of sweat forming on their foreheads that twice, I offered them, pitchers of ice water, homemade oatmeal cookies and ginataan. To resolve the clogged plumbing, four neighbors looked into the problem, making sure it was reasonably resolved on time, as it involved pumping out the gray water, installing new valves for clean-out and restoring a portion of the front lawn that was excavated. Four neighbors

Time for Pacquiao to retire?

Street Talk GreG b. MAcAbentA THERE is no doubt in my mind that Manny Pacquiao won against Australian Jeff Horn. The CompuBox statistics showed Pacquiao landing 182 punches vs. Horn’s 92, with 123 power punches against the 73 of Horn, plus 59 jabs finding their mark vs. Horn’s 19. Horn was also on the verge of being KO’d in the 9th round and his face was a mess.

I think Horn’s victory was a hometown decision, which the judges figured they could rationalize based on the impression of more aggressiveness on the part of the Australian, and the flurries of blows he delivered, even if mostly on Pacquiao’s arms.

But even if Pacquiao had been declared the winner, I would still have the same opinion of him, which is that his glory days are over. It will be downhill from now on.

Pacquiao did not display the speed and the ferocity that he showed in pummeling Oscar de la Hoya, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. And he did not have

the power and the timing that flattened Eric Morales and Ricky Hatton.

Most of all, Pacquiao did not manifest the hunger for victory that he had when he upset Marco Antonio Barrera on his way to becoming the toast of the boxing world.

That was in November 2003 – almost 13 and a half years ago.

Pacquiao was a young warrior in his mid-twenties. Last Sunday, he was an ancient 38-year-old.

It was Horn who displayed the characteristics of a hungry fighter, willing to take risks in order to deliver a solid blow. In the 9th round, when Horn was obviously unsteady and hurt, Pacquiao did not even display the killer instinct that left Cotto, De la Hoya and Margarito looking like the victims of a back alley mugging. In Pacquiao’s prime, Horn would have been clobbered mercilessly. Not last Sunday. And so, Horn survived and won.

Maybe even trainer Freddie Roach had begun to take it easy too, perhaps underestimating the Australian. In Pacquiao’s bouts against Margarito and Cotto, Roach warned his ward about being caught against the ropes.

He instructed Pacquiao to move

to the center of the ring the moment he felt his back touching the ropes. In his bout with Brandon Rios, Pacquiao used remarkable footwork to evade Rios’ heavy artillery as Rios tried to corner him on the ropes. The MexicanAmerican was left confused and frustrated.

Against Horn, Pacquiao kept leaning against the ropes, allowing Horn to throw a flurry of punches. Although most of those blows landed on Pacquiao’s arms, they must have been impressive enough for the judges to rationalize their inexplicable scores.

But so much for Pacquiao as a boxer. Whether or not he has a return bout with Horn, his place in boxing’s pantheon of pugilistic immortals is assured. It will take a long time, if at all, for another boxer to claim eight division championships.

While his fans have echoed the advice that Pacquiao should retire, my social media comment took a different slant. I said that, Pacquiao the boxer, having once again suffered the pain of an unjust and unfair decision, will hopefully realize, as Pacquiao the senator, the pain experienced by the families of EJK victims who have been subjected to unjust

looked after the plumbers, out of care for May, but also because we wanted to lend a hand. It is after all in lending a hand that a neighborhood becomes livable and safe for everyone.

Pumping out internal gray waters and growing our internal souls I wondered for a moment how we take that plumbing issue and apply that to our own internal plumbing and grow our internal souls. What does it mean to grow our own souls?

One evening, I was watching Anand Giridharadas’s TED talk about a tale of Two Americas: A “Republic of Dreams” that believes in striving, generosity and giving second chances and a “Republic of Fears” that is stingier, a middle class that shrunk by 20 percent, and a grimmer reality. Anand postulates that we need a unified America and that America’s adopted sons and the Republic of Dreams be kept alive while the Republic of Fears be kept muted and examined by America’s native sons.

His book, “The True American,” according to the TED website, “documents an immigrant’s {Bangladeshi Rais Bhuiyan] struggle amid the ‘War on Terror’ to save his would-be killer [American native-born Mark Stroman] from death row, in the name of Islam.”

Rais Bhuiyan, a former Air Force officer in Bangladesh, had

dreams of a better life in America.

He took information technology (IT) classes and worked the cash register at a mini-mart in Dallas.

Ten days after 9/11, he was shot when a pale-tattooed man, Mark Anthony Stroman, kept asking, “Where are you from?” When he answered, Bhuiyan’s accent revealed where he was from and he was shot in the face.

Stroman thought he was exacting revenge for 9/11 when he shot Bhuiyan in the face.

Bhuiyan survived with no brain injuries but lost eyesight in one of his eyes. Stroman thought wrong, for he had shot a Bangladeshi native, an adopted son of America. Bhuiyan, said Giridharadas, looked to his Muslim faith, read the Koran, forgave Stroman, and campaigned to save the life of this native-born son of America from death-row execution.

Only love can unify the two Americas: one Republic bred by hatred towards those who are non-whites, who are as American as anyone, in pursuing their dreams with hard work, conviction, honest pursuit of moral ideals and good values; another Republic of dreams that is more generous and creates spaces for all to pursue their highest potentials.

What possibly breeds hatred that can make Stroman simply pull the trigger, intending to take a person’s life? What pos-

sibly breeds one’s heart to be generous and to be supportive to help others reach their goals?

How can we all be aligned as One Compassionate America?

Spirituality and absence of absolute certainty Check yourself when you are in a state of absolute certainty, do you feel superior? Do you feel like you have a built-in microscope that sees through their mistakes? Do you feel entitled to profile them, to talk about them through gossip and label them names, as if you know them and are reacting to what they are saying, instead of listening with respect?

I casually watched folks speak of “cultural hypocrisy.” It would have been laudable to hear them expound on what that means and how we conduct ourselves towards cultural integrity. Except, they were also heard saying to dissociate from “those people.” What they really seem to do is detach themselves from whom they truly are, to keep up with the Joneses — the hip and the trendy — that they had formulated a term for their own “state of absolute certainties.”

“Spiritual humility involves keeping an awareness that, as Paul Tillich said, ‘Doubt is not the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith.’ The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear.”–Jiddu Krishnamurti

and unfair decisions by him and his colleagues in the Senate.

And I added, for good measure: “I hope he tells Dick Gordon that.”

Why does a decent, humble, likeable, disciplined, principled, dedicated athlete like Pacquiao become a sycophantic and amoral politician? What is it about political power that makes a Mr. Hyde out of a Dr. Jekyll?

When Pacquiao decided to run for the House of Representatives and subsequently for the Senate, it was tempting to portray him as the epitome of the Peter Principle. A person promoted to his level of incompetence.

But Pacquiao possessed an admirable trait that defied the Peter Principle – a hunger for learning and an obsession to rise above his lowly beginnings, not just in the ring but academically and intellectually.

Unable to finish high school because of poverty, he resolved not only to finish high school but to earn a college degree, as well.

In 2007, he passed a high school equivalency exam and promptly took a course in business management at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University.

In TV interviews after his victories over Barreira and Morales, Pacquiao’s responses in English became the butt of good-natured

jokes. But he persevered. Today, he speaks passable English and has even managed to deliver privileged speeches in the Legislature..

To prepare himself for his career as a Congressman, Pacquiao took the Certificate Course in Development, Legislation and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Graduate School of Public and Development Management.

It probably is not an exaggeration to assume that Pacquiao has better prepared himself for his official government functions than President Donald Trump. Trump has been outdoing himself in intellectual shallowness to the embarrassment of right-thinking Americans.

It may be assumed that Pacquiao has no need for money, having been named the second highest paid athlete in the world in 2015. It may also be assumed that even his bout against Horn in Brisbane, without pay-per-view revenues, will net him a tidy sum above the legitimate, un-stolen earnings of fellow politicians.

In sum, Pacquiao has it made.

He has demonstrated an impressive capacity for achievement, well beyond the ability of many learned individuals. And he has achieved the honor and respect reserved only for bona

fide heroes.

Why then dissipate such a lofty stature by being a low-down, party-jumping, boot-licking, opportunistic politician?

This is not to say that Pacquiao the Senator has already become all of that. But he certainly sounds and acts the part.

His unprincipled, transactional loyalty to his political cabal and to those who have no respect for human rights and the value of human life is like rust eroding his reputation – he is fast being exposed as a hero with feet of clay.

Pacquiao’s admirers would like him to retire sooner, rather than later. That is entirely up to him. If he doesn’t want to suffer the fate of Muhammad Ali, he should quit while he still has full control of his faculties.

But where I hope Pacquiao will retire from is being a trapo – a traditional politician. He has no need to be so. And he has an opportunity to demonstrate true adherence to principles and even genuine nobility in his political career.

Pacquiao should learn a lesson from Mark Antony’s eulogy for Julius Caesar: “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.”

(Email: gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JULy 8-11, 2017

A

PH, EU reaffirm commitment to further strengthen cooperation

THE Philippines and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday, July 4, reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation on a broad range of issues.

This was after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly lambasted the EU following the blocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constant criticisms against some of his administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies, particularly his controversial campaign against illegal drugs.

Manila and the EU made the reaffirmation during the 9th PH-EU senior officials meeting (SOM) earlier this week, which was co-chaired by Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo and European External Action Service managing director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand.

In a joint statement, both sides â&#x20AC;&#x153;noted the importance of constructive engagement and meaningful cooperation on issues of mutual interest.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The meeting, conducted in an open and constructive manner, acknowledged the developments in PH-EU bilateral relations since the last SOM in June 2013 and reaffirmed their continued commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on a broad range of issues,â&#x20AC;? the statement read.

The two parties also said they â&#x20AC;&#x153;looked forward to the ratification and entry into force of the PH-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which was signed in July 2012.â&#x20AC;?

The Philippine Senate delegation meets with Mr. Jean-Jacques Hyest, a former senator and member of the French Constitutional Council. Senator Loren Legarda, President and Founding Member of the Philippines-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Association, said that they had an interesting discussion on the history and duties of the Constitutional Council and how laws are enacted in France.

Senate photo

The agreement, they noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;will serve as the framework for further enhancing bilateral relations.â&#x20AC;?

They also recognized that trade and investment relationships between the EU and the Philippines have been â&#x20AC;&#x153;flourishing and continue to have strong potential to expand in the future.â&#x20AC;?

The EU has been considered among Manilaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest trading partners. Since the last SOM, both sides have been conducting negotiations for a PhilippinesEU Free Trade Agreement. The EU also granted the Philippines duty-free export under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) in 2014.

During this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SOM, both parties also discussed terrorism and violent extremism, and how

to address such security issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The meeting reiterated its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and all its forms and emphasized the need for strengthened Philippines-EU cooperation in this area,â&#x20AC;? they said.

The EU, likewise, donated P49 million (850,000 euros) in humanitarian aid for the victims of the Marawi crisis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This grant from the EU will support the delivery of immediate life-saving assistance to those most in need, and contribute to increased protection of populations affected by the conflict,â&#x20AC;? said Pedro-Luis Rojo, head of the East, South East Asia and Pacific Regional Office for the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

(Dana Sioson/AJPress)

Growing our internal souls: Freedom from...

PAGE A8 t

(Spiritualityhealth.com, March/ April 2015).

Perhaps the next time we are quick in our mouths to judge, much like, let me call him Mr. Photographer, he made presumptions that the Latino plumbers were not competent.

He asked about the truck, he asked about their experiences, as if he was going to be paying them.

93 ½-year-old May, a Caucasian, asserted herself and said to Mr. Photographer, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I talked to Abel about what he is going to do. He knows.â&#x20AC;? May did not presume, she inquired.

When I see May to bring her my banana bread, I plant a kiss on her cheek and whisper, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love

West Coast

you May,â&#x20AC;? and she responds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pray for mazel (drip from above) be with you always!â&#x20AC;? The next day, a knock on the door, a plate of luscious red strawberries from May. I only know what is for certain: to love someone every day and to live for change, much like Grace Lee Boggs, a 100 year old, and the gracious example of May, a 93 ½ year old.

Happy July 4th, 2016, our American Independence Day! My wish, like Grace, is for all of us to grow our internal souls.

Footnote: This is a sentimental day for me as this would have been Asuncion Abarquezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 89th birthday, a teacher, a wife, a mother of five women, a grandmother of nine and a great-

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grandmother of four. Gone too soon, and you will be in our hearts forever, Mom! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rhizomes.â&#x20AC;?

She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

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A10 JUly 8-11, 2017 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAl

Dateline PhiliPPines

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DOJ, PNP to hold separate probe against alleged ‘resurgence’ of drug trade in Bilibid THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will facilitate separate investigations against the alleged “resurgence” of illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre signed an order on Tuesday, July 4, authorizing the NBI to conduct an investigation and case build-up over the matter.

On Monday, July 3, Aguirre admitted that he received reports regarding the resurgence of the trade.

“I have received reports that there (was) some reactivation; we are doing something about this. We are going to end this resurgence, some sort of resurgence by some inmates. I talked to the Director General last Saturday, and we know what we are

going to do,” Aguirre said.

“We wanted to get to the bottom of the reported resurgence of the drug trade in the NBP. We acted after verifying raw information provided by concerned individuals. I have said it before and i will say it again, we shall be relentless in fighting and eradicating the drug menace.” Aguirre said in a statement.

PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa stressed his trust to the SAF men, however, he reiterated the need for an objective stance in view of the allegations.

“Sana mali ang allegations (I hope the allegations are wrong), gentlemen. But then again, in order to be fair doon sa (to the) accuser at in order to be fair to the accused, you must conduct an in-depth investigation,” dela Rosa told reporters.

“Klaruhin natin ito kung talagang totoo yan. Mahirap yun, masira ang institusyon natin.

Bago man masira, kung talagang totoo, we have to weed out kung sino mang involved (Let’s clarify if that is true. That’s hard because it may defame our institution. Before it gets defamed, if really true, we have to weed out whoever is involved),” he added.

As early as June, the NBI chief admitted that there is a “creeping resurgence” of drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

That time, Aguirre announced his plan to remove the Special Action Force (SAF) troops deployed to guard inmates, including high profile ones and replace them with soldiers.

Dela Rosa explained SAF troopers were first deployed at the NBP last year as part of an “internal cleansing,” following the confiscation of illegal drugs, cellphone signal boosters, and other paraphernalia. On December, a new set of SAF officers were deployed to prevent corruption.

Considered as the police elite unit, the SAF is a special anticrime and anti-terrorism unit which could also be assigned other tasks.

Aguirre said that the rate of resurgence is 5-10 percent, a sharp decrease from the 75 percent illegal drug trade during then Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s leadership. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

SOLIDARITY FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN GROWTH. Secretary Roy Cimatu (center) leads a symbolic solidarity pose during a four-day congress organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for research and development experts from the 10 member countries of the ASEAN region, China, South Korea, and Australia to discuss strategies in protecting the ecosystem and biodiversity in urban areas. Joining Cimatu are from left: Sunwoo Bae, Program Officer of the UN Institute for Training and Research – International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders of Jeju, South Korea; Architect Felino Palafox Jr., principal architect of Urban Planner; Director Henry Adornado of the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB); Dr. Bharat Dahiya, an urbanist at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University; Atty. Roberto Oliva, Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversiy; and Dr. Simplicia Pasicolan of ERDB, Overall Coordinator of the congress.

Photo courtesy of DENR

One of Maute brothers killed, military says

by Audrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

MANILA — One of the Maute brothers leading the siege of Marawi may have been killed, the military said on Friday, July 7, as operations continued to target an appointed commander of the so-called ISIS whose foiled arrest triggered the most serious security crisis the one-year government of President Rodrigo Duterte has faced so far.

Speaking in a media conference, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, a military spokesperson, said that there were indications that one of the Maute brothers had died.

The military, however, could not give a categorical confirmation of his death until his final resting place was located, according to Padilla.

“As to the death of some of the Maute brothers, there is indication that one has died but until such time that the grave on where he was buried is located, we cannot categorically confirm,” he said.

Philippine security forces have been battling Islamist militants in Marawi since May 23 when an attempt by government troops to

capture Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon, an emir of the socalled ISIS, was foiled by fighters belonging to the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf.

The battle quickly turned into an intense urban, street-tostreet combat, and this resulted in Duterte’s declaration of army rule in Mindanao, the president’s home island of 22 million.

As the fighting escalated, most of Marawi’s 200,000 residents and others from neighboring towns in Lanao Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte fled for safety.

Padilla said that military ground commanders still assumed that Hapilon was still in Marawi as there was no confirmation of his escape from the city.

“On the status of Isnilon Hapilon, the assumption of our ground commanders based on the lack of confirmation regarding his escape or flight from the area of Marawi is that he is still in the area,” he said.

The military spokesperson said that security personnel’s operations were focused on possible areas where Hapilon was still hiding although he declined to disclose any specific location.

“Our operations are focused

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla

on the possible area where he is believed to be still in hiding. I could not disclose that exact location,” Padilla said.

Based on the latest government statistics, the fighting in Marawi has already killed 353 militants, 87 government troops and 39 civilians.

According to Padilla, around 200 to 300 civilians are still trapped in the conflict zone as the number of militant rebels continues to decline.

He said that only around 80 fighters remained entrenched in around four villages in the city. n

After 10 years, ailing NDFP consultant freed...

PAGE A7 t

tive gesture and bodes well for the continuation of the peace negotiations. We hope that the other political prisoners would also be freed soon.”

On a side note, Zarate criticized some Duterte administration officials, accusing them of obstructing the peace negotiations.

He advised that Duterte should “give primacy to the success of the peace process and not heed the pro-US militarists like Defense Sec. Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Esperon and AFP Chief Año, who are sabotaging the peace negotiations.”

“These militarists should instead be fired for bungling the situation in Marawi and for pushing for the declaration of Martial law in Mindanao,” Zarate added.

More political prisoners waiting Along with Antalan, the nine

other political prisoners released were: Joel Ramada, Apolonio Barado, Jose Navarro, Generoso Rolida, Arnulfo Boates, Manolito Patricio, Barigueco Calara, Sonny Marbella and Ricardo Solangon NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said there are still many political prisoners awaiting for their long-overdue freedom. ”It is just a fraction of the 409 political prisoners still in detention whose liberty was supposed to have been given through general amnesty as offered by PRRD on 16 May 2016 as part of the package to resume the peace negotiations with the NDFP,” said Agcaoili.

The fifth round of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) will resume on August said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello II, who is also the government peace panel chief

negotiator.

Duterte said the conditional pardon of the 10 prisoners is a “very positive gesture” prior to the fifth round of peace talks in August.

The government peace panel temporarily backed out due to a directive from the Communist Party of the Philippines for its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to strengthen its offensive operations following martial law declaration.

Prisoners given conditional pardon are released on certain conditions, such as they must report to their chief parole and probation officer at least once a month, allow visits from the Philippine National Police Provincial Director of their area of residence, and that they should not leave their residence during the period of parole without consent from authorities. n

6.5 quake hits Central...

PAGE A7 t

In an interview by dzBB earlier, Kananga Mayor Rowena Codilla said one body was retrieved from a fallen three-storey commercial building. The building accommodated a grocery store, hardware shop and a guest house.

Later, Freeman reported that a senior official at the Police Regional Office-8 confirmed that another body was retrieved from the building.

Meanwhile, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said the tremor caused a landslide, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old mother in the mountain village of Cabaon-an. Her five-month-old child was rescued. Over a hundred others were hospitalized including those who were “traumatized” and “hysterical.”

“Naisip ko, baka katapusan ko na. Malakas talaga; siguro tumagal din ng mga 15 seconds (I thought to myself, this might be my end. It was really strong; perhaps it lasted 15 seconds),” said Gomez in an interview by Manila Bulletin.

Gomez said that cracks were seen in three major highways, however, all roads in and out of the city remain passable.

The strong shaking caused cracks in some buildings and roads in the city and power was automatically shut off, Gomez added.

A report from Freeman also revealed that another person, only described as a “leg amputee,” died in Ormoc following a landslide triggered by the tremor.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), was able to complete the inspection of Ormoc Airport including its runway and passenger terminal building. The painting of displaced threshold markings to warn aircraft of the

damaged portions of the runway was also completed. After being temporarily closed, Ormoc Airport will become operational on July 8, after the issuance of a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) from CAAP. The Ormoc city health department reported 179 patients with most mildly injured, or suffered from hysteria and trauma. Some were given medications while some were hospitalized.

Department of Public Works and Highways reported that all main roads are passable and that clearing operations are ongoing for blocked roads. School buildings mostly have minor cracks on walls.

However, 20 schools have unsafe classrooms according to the Department of Education, and needed alternative learning rooms.

The engineering department estimated 3.6 million pesos for repair and reconstruction for damaged classrooms.

The city government said it would take a minimum of four days for power to be restored, citing reports from the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Leyte V Electric Cooperative Inc (Leyeco V).

Earthquake-hit Leyte, as well as the nearby Samar provinces and Bohol, also suffered power blackouts. In Cebu, power was restored 30 minutes after it was shut off.

The Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that the power supply in Bohol, Samar, and Southern Leyte will be fully restored within two to three weeks after the earthquake.

Work and classes were also suspended in several parts of the Visayas following the tremor while classes in all levels were

suspended in Ormoc and Tacloban until Friday.

According to PHIVOLCS, close to 300 aftershocks were recorded after the quake.

The earthquake was felt in the following areas: Intensity VI: Jaro and Kananga and Capoocan, Leyte Intensity V: Tacloban City; Palo, Leyte; Cebu City; Mandaue City; Ormoc City Intensity IV: Catbalogan City; Cabucgayan and Naval, Biliran; Tolosa and Bato, Leyte Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; Sagay City, Negros Occidental; Burgos, Surigao del Norte; Biliran, Leyte Intensity III: Bogo City and Talisay, Cebu; Roxas City; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Inopacan and Baybay, Leyte; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Calatrava, Negros Occidental; Tagbilaran City; Jagna, Bohol; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Guihulngan City and Tayasan, Negros Oriental; Cadiz City and Toboso, Escalante, Negros Occidental Intensity II: Libjo, San Jose, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; Sorsogon City; Lapu-lapu City; San Juan, Southern Leyte; Javier, Leyte; Tansay and Sibulan, Negros Oriental; Sorsogon City Intensity I: La Carlota City, Negros Occidental; Catarman, Northern Samar The quake hit the same region that was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which caused big waves that left more than 7,300 people dead or missing, as well as toppling entire villages and displaced more than 5 million residents.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. In 1990, a magnitude 7.7 quake killed almost 2,000 people in the northern part of the country. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 8-11, 2017

A11

Senators Sotto, Ejercito: Trillanes must apologize for negative Senate remarks

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo attend the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Wednesday, July 5. The two exchanged handshakes.

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

Duterte, Robredo share brief encounter at PAF 70th anniversary

The top two officials of the Philippine government met for the first time in over three months, albeit for a very short time.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo were seated together as guests during the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The president acknowledged Robredo before he delivered his speech.

“The Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, Ma’am, may I look at you for the third time?” the president told Robredo. The vice president just smiled in return.

According to the vice president’s close aide, the two did not have a conversation and just shook hands.

The two leaders had partisan clashes and opposing stance on issues which put their relationship on a sour note.

Last March, Duterte invited Robredo and her family to a dinner but the president has not yet followed up on the invitation.

The vice president has said she accepted the invitation for their dinner, saying she would like to take the opportunity to talk about her views on various issues affecting the country.

Robredo resigned from Duterte’s cabinet last December after she was ordered to desist from attending meetings.

She further stated in her resignation letter that remaining in the cabinet had become “untenable.”

Air Force modernization Meanwhile, Duterte vowed to modernize the PAF, saying he will continue previous accomplishments to further improve the country’s aerial warfare service branch.

“I assure you that we will build on our past gains to further strengthen the Philippine Air Force,” Duterte said his speech.

The president emphasized the important role of the PAF in protecting the country and its efforts to stabilize the war-stricken Marawi City from the Islamic State-linked Maute Group.

“We have also tapped PAF to augment our internal security operations by providing air support to our ground forces and assisting our law enforcement agencies in the surveillance and intelligence gathering operations,” he added.

Aside from terror threats, the president also expressed his concerns on the the country’s maritime security, exerting the Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights and territorial claims over Benham Rise and the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“The Philippine Air Force plays a crucial role in preserving our national integrity in the face of challenges from within and from outside our borders.”

“PAF’s intensified aerial reconnaissance missions and the maritime patrols [over] the West Philippine Sea and the Benham Rise are testament to our dedication to

protect our waters from external threats, ” the president went on.

As a manifestation of the president’s vow to continue to modernize the Air Force, he further reiterated the need to procure advanced military apparatus to enhance the operation of the existing assets.

“We will continue the ongoing modernization program by procuring additional attack and combat utility vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to complement our already existing air assets,” he added.

The South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) also presented the certificate of complete delivery of the 12 FA-50Ph ‘Fighting eagle’ Fighter/Surface Attack/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SA/LIFT) aircraft.

PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. edgar Fallorina, said the acquisition manifests the symbolic return of the PAF to its supersonic age “which greatly bolstered PAF’s airstrike capability.”

The president looks forward to purchasing another 12 FA-50Ph within his six-year term.

Also present at the event were executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. eduardo Año, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. edgar Fallorina, Armed Force chief chaplain Brig.

Gen. Tirso Dolina, and South Korean Ambassador to the Philipines Kim Jae-shin. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

TWo senators from the majority bloc said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV must apologize for saying that the Senate acted like lapdogs instead of being the last bastion of democracy.

During the Kapihan press conference, Senate Majority Floor leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator JV ejercito shared the same sentiments urging Trillanes to apologize for his negative remarks to the Senate on Monday, July 3.

“Medyo mali siguro ‘yung mga terms na ginagamit kaya nagiging offensive kasi pag sinabi mong ‘puppet,’ ang ibig sabihin nun ang Malacañang ang nagdidikta kung ano ‘yung mangyayari (The terms he’s using are wrong, which makes it offensive, because if you say ‘puppet,’ it means the Malacañang dictates what happens). For example the declaration of martial law, and you agree with the declaration of martial law, puppet ka na no’n (that would immediately makes you a puppet)? hindi naman siguro (Not really),” Sotto said.

“Instead of saying it’s the easy way out, it’s the honorable way out,” he added.

For his part, ejercito reminded Trillanes to address differences in a democratic way.

“I find the recent statements of Senator Trillanes disrespectful and unparliamentary. he should be reminded that as a democratic institution, we in the Senate debate issues instead of hurling

Senators JV Ejercito and Vicente Sotto III

insults; we vote instead of calling each other names when we disagree,” ejercito said.

“We have 23 independent minds duly elected in the Senate. But even when we disagree on a number of issues, we maintain our respect for one another.

I hope Senator Trillanes would do the same. I hope he will stop destroying this institution simply because he is rabidly against this administration,” he added.

Further, ejercito recommended that Trillanes issue an apology to the senate.

“An apology would be good for the institution. Not for me, it’s for the institution. We have to maintain decency. We have to maintain parliamentary ethics in the Senate,” ejercito said in the forum.

“Kaya nga meron mga rules ang Senado (that is why there are rules in the senate), there

Senate photos

are rules of the senate to maintain proper decorum, maintain proper behavior,” he added.

In response, Trillanes stands firm to his earlier remark, further challenging ejercito’s views on the president’s rape jokes.

“If Sen. ejercito believes that my statement that the senate is becoming a lapdog of the Duterte administration is highly offensive yet sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s rape comments to the soldiers, then we really have a problem,” he said. earlier, Trillanes and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano sent a supplemental complaint against Duterte to the International Criminal Court, which says, “State is unwilling to even investigate the extrajudicial killings in the country and, because of the president’s immunity, unable to prosecute President Duterte.” n

Comelec starts preparations for 2019 polls

by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

MANILA - The Commission on elections (Comelec) has begun preparing for the midterm elections in 2019.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the poll body has started the process of selecting the appropriate technology to be used in the 2019 elections. “one thing I have learned is you really need to have time to prepare for the elections,” Bautista said. he noted that the poll body has already met with the Comelec

Advisory Council, which is authorized by law to recommend the appropriate technology to be used in the elections.

The Comelec, Bautista said, is also set to hold a technology fair this month to enable the poll body to look at different technologies available.

“We are open to all options.

The Comelec is not tied to any technology,” Bautista stressed.

Aside from the possibility of re-using the precinct count optical scan and vote counting machines, the Comelec is also open to the idea of using locally made and assembled election

technology.

According to Bautista, the commission will study all factors before making a decision on what technology to use.

Among the factors to be considered is the cost of the technology as well as possible risks associated with it.

The Comelec chief said the commission would also undertake extensive consultation with all stakeholders starting August.

Bautista assured the people that the Comelec continues to improve the credibility of elections and enhance voters’ experience. n

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Mapupunta ka sa isang landing page na nasa wikang Ingles. ®2017 Southern California Gas Company. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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VIC SOTTO ON BECOMING A FATHER AGAIN AFTER 26 YEARS

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole new experience for meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

by Lhar

Santiago ManilaTimes.net

There is sheer excitement in Vic Sottoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice whenever he talks about his coming baby with wife Pauleen Luna. The 64-yearold veteran comedian has been by the side of the 28-year-old actress-host every step of the way since finding out she is on the way. From her regular check-up to ultra-sounds and her â&#x20AC;&#x153;pag-lilihi,â&#x20AC;?

Vic and Pauleen are in it together, a beautiful picture of a happy expecting couple. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole new experience for me because the last time I became a father was 26 years ago when my daughter Paulina was born. So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been quite sometime now, experiencing the feeling all over again and getting excited to finally see the baby. Ngayon kasi,

Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna

What Sarah Geronimo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;finally foundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in John Lloyd Cruz IF Lea Salonga is Aga Muhlachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;the one that got away,â&#x20AC;? John Lloyd Cruz will always be Sarah Geronimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special â&#x20AC;&#x153;someone.â&#x20AC;?

In a recent interview with Philstar.com, Sarah divulged why she always returns to John Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;yempre, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always fun doing a film with John Lloyd at saka iba rin â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung quality ng pelikula â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pag alam mong isang magaling na aktor ang kasama mo sa pelikula. Alam mo na talagang magiging maganda talaga â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung pelikula,â&#x20AC;? the pop star explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finally Found Someone,â&#x20AC;? the latest film of Team #AshLloyd, as Sarah and John Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love team is fondly called, will be showing in theaters nationwide on July 26. The filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial working title was â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dear Future husband.â&#x20AC;?

Sarah promised that their latest Star Cinemahelmed film is not anything like their fans have ever seen before.

PAGE B4

Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz in their latest film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finally Found Someoneâ&#x20AC;?

Star Cinema photo

Photo from Pauleen Lunaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instagram account

makikita mo na ang hitsura niya for an exclusive interview with with the modern ultra-sound so Showbuzz. [Paulina Sotto is the the more I get excited,â&#x20AC;? the show- comedianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter by former biz luminary said as he sat down PAGE B3

Pia Wurtzbach to star in a superhero movie

by Larizza de AJPress

Vera

MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will star in a superhero movie directed by the multi-awarded Joyce e. Bernal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The revengersâ&#x20AC;? cast and crew recently a story conference at the Manila hotel last Thursday, June 29. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As of now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still working on the details of the characters but definitely itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a superhero movie,â&#x20AC;?

Wurtzbach told ABS-CBN. The former Miss Universe will debut her return to acting with comedian Vice Ganda and â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Luna Sangreâ&#x20AC;? star Daniel Padilla for the Star Cinema film. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so excited about that.

This is going to be the first time Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m acting in a movie after many years but Vice assured me that he will take care of me and guide me so I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in safe hands,â&#x20AC;? the beauty queen said.

Wurtzbach started as one of the talents of Star Magic and cast

PIa Wurtzbach

Inquirer.net photo

members of the teen-oriented program â&#x20AC;&#x153;K2BUâ&#x20AC;? in 2002. She starred in films like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kung Ako na Lang

Sana (2003)â&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;All My Life (2004)â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;All About Love (2006).â&#x20AC;?

She worked with the big names in the industry like Aga Muhlach, Kristine hermosa, Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, etc.

Wurtzbach was one of the recurring judges in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next Top Modelâ&#x20AC;? cycle 5 in which FilipinaGerman Maureen Wroblewitz took home the crown.

One of her most recent projects is in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maalala Mo Kayaâ&#x20AC;? wherein the episode showcased the hardship she went through before she finally won the title of Miss Universe 2015. her new film, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The revengersâ&#x20AC;? is one of the entries for the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

The stakes and expectations from the fans are high because Bernal held the Best Director title for the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2013 and also directed the highest grossing film in the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Super Parental Guardians.â&#x20AC;?

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Vogue: Liza Soberano, a style star to watch

By Nathalie

Robles

“Liza’s looks are always youthful, fresh, and with an understatOne of the Philippines’ most ed elegance, to give [her outfits] sought-after actresses Liza Sothat unique quality we always berano gained yet another intertry to mix aesthetics.” tabora national recognition as she was told Vogue. featured in the American fashion tabora also revealed some of and lifestyle magazine website, the 19-year-old celebrity’s style Vogue on Friday, June 30. favorites. the Filipino-American acthe fashion pair collaboratress, who will soon play the role tively combines Filipino labels of comic heroine Darna, was and signature items from Gucci, deemed as a “style star to watch” tom Ford, chanel and Dior. Dein the Vogue article by Janelle spite the actress’ fascination with Okwodu due to the thousands of the brand Dior, supporting local likes she gets on every Instagram designers particularly Martin post.

Bautista and Michael cinco re“Soberano sports a carefully mains her priority. curated wardrobe that is a mix of With the anticipation of “Dartomboy and cool girl,” Okwodu na,” directed by erik Matti, to COFFEE DATE? Erich Gonzales says she finds young businessman Xian Gaza’s billboard message cute. wrote. cross the television screens; fans Photo from Erich Gonzales’ Instagram account Okwodu also mentioned that could expect more from SoberaSoberano, along with celebrity no’s chic style in her promotional stylist Perry tabora, figured out tours and fan meets. the concept of switching gears Liza Soberano As of this posting, Soberano Inquirer.net photo with fashion choices in order to has a total of 5.9 million followers make a vital sense of personal carpet events,” the article said. on Instagram alone.

As Soberano’s profile rose, style.

Other celebrities featured “She’ll move from ripped tabora was there to guide her by Vogue were “It’s Showtime” people are blinded by your materialize. the 2,000 t-shirts

By Nathalie Robles denim and ribbon chokers worn fashion sensibility, and over the host and actress Anne curtis schemes) pero ako I know you that were produced for the AJPress for a casual outing to princess- past four years they’ve developed and South Korean star Sandara and what you’re up to so please charity were not sold, and inworthy couture for major red a winning formula.

Park.

A recent billboard in Mo- lang don’t me. Kakadiri ka! (You stead distributed to different rayta drew the attention of many disgust me)” catapang said. charities. and became this week’s ‘talk of ryan Salcedo tanada, a Doha“Wala akong kinita maski ni the town’ when businessman based realtor, also revealed his isang kusing (I did not earn a sinchristian “Xian” Gaza, suppos- transactions with Gaza in a Face- gle cent) and even lost P300,000 By iRis ViceNte edly the ceO and president of a book post showing screenshots on that project, plus the burden AJPress mistress, clarisma Sison, is still certain Guanxigian group, asked of their conversations. of paying P10,000 every month SunSHIne Dizon said she’s in progressing. actress erich Gonzales for a “cof“It’s not wrong to dream big until now to the company I part“Ang huling sabi ng lawyer ko, a better place as she celebrated her fee date.” last Monday, June 3. and to want the best things in nered with, to produced [sic] 34th birthday on Monday, July 3—a parang they’ll come up with a deci“I can’t even espresso how life as long as you’ll work for it the 2000 Haiyan Shirts in Davao year after her unfortunate split with sion na. Parang pinapa-dismiss ng much I like you a latte. Will you... in an honest way and wala kang city,” he wrote. kabilang side, I don’t know kung husband timothy tan. drink coffee with me? erika nilolokong tao (you are not foolregarding tanada’s allegaBut the actress also admitted anong ground nila! Malalaman chryselle ‘erIcH GOnZALeS’ ing anyone). Man, just stop this tion, Gaza said that he received that the collapse of their marriage, natin kung madi-dismiss or go on #coffeeWitherich #PleaseSayYe- shit once and for all as more a P200,000 down payment from which also resulted to court battles, with a pre-trial na. I’m still hoping serich,” the sign said. victims of yours are coming out.” the former in november 2016, an hasn’t been easy for her and the for the best. (My lawyer said they’ll Gaza posted a photo on In- tanada said in his post. amount which was then diverted come up with a decision. It looks scab that it left in her heart. stagram with him looking at In a report by PeP.ph, Jesica to the operating expense back“Life will never be the same like the other side wants the case the said billboard wherein the cruz, mother of dance icon and logs of Gazera Media. again, it’s hard, and yet I’m still to be dismissed and I don’t know caption said, “they say it’s first actress ella cruz, stepped for“I was financially bleeding to thankful. I choose to stand up and on what grounds! We will find out time in Philippine history. I say: ward to share their experience Gazera Media/Filipino Vines for be okay and push through and go whether it’s going to be dismissed that’s how special you are to me when Gaza bought a Fortuner 8 months with no returns at all… on with my life.” Dizon said in an or we go on with the pre-trial. I’m @erichgg, will you drink coffee from her husband, who runs a I stopped shelling funds to the still hoping for the best),” she interview with Pep.ph. with me?” buy-and-sell business for cars. company to stop my bleeding the Kapuso star revealed that added.

Since its appearance on InsGaza had reportedly given dahil wala na ‘kong nakikitang Despite calling it quits with her she still cries at nights when her tagram, the post garnered more them postdated checks, but kalalabasan na maganda (bekids would ask questions that she estranged husband, she still keeps than 7,000 likes and has been repeatedly asked to hold the cause I no longer saw a good could not answer. However, she a close relationship with his family shared multiple times on differ- checks because he’d be paying outcome) on the aspect of profit still choose to go on and push specifically with his father whom ent social media platforms. in cash instead. generation,” he said, adding that she still calls “Daddy”. She dethrough. the actress, who is currently “After new Year, nag-ask ulit he declared bankruptcy to De “I don’t want to dwell and wallow scribes how nothing has changed out of the country, told ABS-cBn kami kung may fund na yung Vera in December 2016. in my sorrows, it’s such a waste of at all and that not once did Daddy writer and host Darla Sauler her check. Ginagawan daw niya ng On the other hand, Gaza time, ayoko rin sayangin ang araw chong intervened with anything. response to Gaza’s proposal via paraan kasi he’s having financial confirmed the transaction with ko. (I don’t want to waste my day),” In fact, Dizon and her kids even text message. problems, at andoon nga daw cruz’s husband, saying that they spent Father’s Day with her former the actress added.

“Hi Darls!!! How are you? siya sa dad niya para umutang agreed on a price of P650,000, “Ano rin naman, I’m still hoping father-in-law.

Hahaha!!! Ang cute ng effort ni (After New Year, we asked if the to be paid in two installments.

On her Instagram account, and praying... meron pa rin naman Kuya. It’s fine. Let’s see when I check had funds. He said he was Gaza claimed that he pressured po akong kaso, yung civil case (I Dizon said: “Life must go on.” She get back. there’s nothing wrong figuring it out because he was himself to take the deal to imstill have an ongoing civil case).” now spends her days with family, naman if we talk over coffee, having financial problems and press the cruz family, despite friends that matAJ Ads 94adding May 2017_Layout 1 she 5/22/17 12:18and AM the Pagepeople 1 Dizon said that the case pero dapat kasama ka. Hahaha!!! he was at his dad’s to borrow not having an immediate need Sunshine Dizon Philstar.com photo See you soon Darls!” filed against her husband’s alleged ter. money),” cruz said. for the vehicle.

Gaza draws flak online Gaza returned the Fortuner He said that he decided to Although some saw Gaza’s the next day. back out of the deal when he effort as sweet, there also those Gaza addresses his critics learned that the unit was valued who criticized him. Many of In a report by rappler, Gaza at a lower price than he agreed those criticisms came from defended himself on catapang’s to pay. people he allegedly scammed claim of a false project, he stood Amid all the flak he received, with his false promises, celeb- by his statement that the project he stood by his initial interest of rity-user-friendly tendencies and was legitimate. getting that coffee date. pseudo-projects.

“It didn’t pushed through “Ang tanging hangad ko lang Dewanie catapang, a social because the funding that was po ay kape with erich with no media personality from Davao promised to me ay hindi po du- hidden personal agenda at all exposed Gaza’s scheme through mating at napako (didn’t come),” (all I want is coffee with Erich)…

Avocado-Cucumber a series of tweets with relevance Gaza explained.

I just wanna show her how much Dip and Dressing to her personal experience with He said that he funneled I like her and using this billboard the businessman.

P300,000 from his own funds effort to possibly create an initial Yield: 2 cups “Marami pa nabubulag sa towards the project, losing the friendship with her over coffee,” ½ cup raw pine nuts mga paandar mo ha, (A lot of amount when the project didn’t he said.

AJPress

Businessman asks Erich Gonzales on a ‘coffee date’ via billboard

Sunshine Dizon still hurting over failed marriage

age gracefully

Avocados: One of the Healthiest Foods You Can Eat ½ cup peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber ¼ cup chopped celery ½ cup avocado ¼ cup chopped onion 1–2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice ½ tsp. roasted garlic ½ tsp. sea salt

Nico Bolzico is his own social media star by chRistiNa

alpad ManilaTimes.net

1. Soak the pine nuts in enough warm water to cover for 1 hour. Drain, set aside.

2. In a blender or food processor, whirl the cucumber, and celery 1–2 minutes until liquefied.

3. Add the pine nuts and blend 1–2 minutes.

4. Add the remaining ingredients and blend 1–2 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

BY GRACE O

© 2017 by FoodTrients.com

It’s summer and avocados are at their best. Who • Avocados contain more potassium than doesn’t love this buttery-rich fruit that’s full of bananas. Potassium is important for nutrients and good fats? I’m just happy to take a regulating blood pressure, which can help ripe avocado and spread it on whole grain toast, prevent strokes and heart attacks. but the chef in me can’t resist coming up with • You also get good doses of folate, vitamin new ideas for avocados, too.

A and beta-carotene from avocados.

• Eating avocados is very satisfying, which Here are some facts about avocados that makes them helpful for weight watching. make them one of the healthiest foods you can eat: I use roasted garlic in this recipe because raw garlic is too harsh. If you don’t have • They’re high in monounsaturated fat, roasted garlic on hand, you can use garlic specifically oleic acid, an omega-9 fat that powder or bottled chopped garlic. can help lower cholesterol.

• The monounsaturated fat in avocados is also Both avocados and nuts contain associated with reduced risk of cancer and monounsaturated fats, which help lower diabetes. bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart • Avocados are high in lutein, which is a natural attack and stroke. Cucumbers are a good antioxidant related to carotenoid that’s great source of vitamin K, which contributes to for your eyes and skin. strong bones. They are also great natural hydrators, helping skin to stay fresh and • Avocados are a good source of fiber, youthful looking. delivering between 11 and 17 grams per fruit.

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

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

WHILe nico Bolzico’s 470,000 followers on Instagram runs far behind his wife Solenn Heussaff’s 3.5-million followers, there is no denying that the Argentinean businessman is a social media star in his own right.

In fact, while his more popularly known extended family and friends—which include the likes of It Girls Anne curtis, Georgina Wilson and Isabelle Daza, among others—also count followers in the millions, it is interesting to note that Bolzico’s posts reflect a higher average engagement from the public than those in his A-List circle. case in point, in writing this story, The Manila Times found the last five images on Bolzico’s Instagram account averaging 55,300 likes while wife Heussaff—who has three-million more followers—garnered 32,000 likes.

Publishing these numbers, however, has the farthest intention from putting the couple in loggerheads, but simply something Bolzico can perhaps tease his cool and gorgeous famous wife with. those who know the couple in fact will be the last people bothered by such comparisons, especially since their most popular posts are about each other after all.

‘Wifezilla’ At least in the Philippines, Bolzico can lay claim to popularizing the term “wifezilla”—a play on the words wife and the fictitious monster “Godzilla”—based on the results that a Google search on his name pulls up.

On Instagram, Bolzico opens their home to followers and shares their funniest behind the scene scenarios. Once he caught Heussaff stiffly dancing, battling a fly, and struggling with pineapple—all filed under his “wifezilla series.” netizens, of course, are always more than happy to see Bolzico’s

Not just Solenn Heussaff’s husband, Nico Bolzico now has a following of his own.

beautiful and glamorous wife in her unguarded moments, making his posts a hit.

“I guess people also like to see the non-showbiz side. Of course when I attend events, I’m like prim and proper but when I’m at home I do whatever I want and he always catches that so maybe it’s refreshing for people to see that I am tao pala and kalog,” Heussaff told the Manila times when asked about her take on Bolzico’s wifezilla series. that day, she was sharing the spotlight with her husband at their launch as brand ambassadors of PhilAm Life Insurance, and was genuinely happy to do so.

Heussaff admitted she was unaware of the wifezilla series’ popularity until a month and a half ago.

“I wasn’t aware of it until it came to a point that every time I go outside I get random statement like, ‘I love your husband!’ they always tell me that nico is so funny. even [singer]regine Velasquez once told me, ‘Solenn, I follow your husband on Instagram, he’s so funny,” the actress said while Bolzico, who was sitting by her side during this interview, flashed

sheepish smiles. taking a more logical—and humbler—approach in explaining his online popularity, Bolzico said, “I think all this just happened because I read and like my followers’ comments. She doesn’t do that but I do… Kidding!” he playfully added.

Bolzico also highlighted the nature of his posts as a come-on because “nothing is planned.”

“It’s like, there’s one shoot and whatever comes out, we post it. there’s no editing. What you see is what you get.”

Natural comic Beyond his wifezilla series, Bolzico on his own, is adored by newfound fans because of his funny antics.

Most recently, the model-businessman had netizens in stitches with a photo of himself and brother-in-law erwan tenderly holding hands, with the latter’s fiancée Anne curtis and Solenn looking on.

His caption upped the ante as he wrote, “Always fun to travel with these human beings! Sometimes I am not sure if I married the right Heussaff! @erwan understands me PAGE B4

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Building covered with glass

By Sean

Shono

According to Feng Shui, it is not desirable if a nearby building reflects strong sunshine, if the image of your building or house is mirrored on that building.

if you live in this kind of environment and are suffering from any kind of trouble, consult dragon god to find out how to remedy this. *All of our items have been purified by authentic process of Feng Shui way.

*** Feng Shui master Sean Shono owns Dragon God, a Feng Shui store in Gardena, California. He is the U.S. Chief of the International Feng Shui Association. For more information, please call Sean Shono at (310) 787-1891. Dragon God is located at 1580 W. Artesia SQ. Suite A, Gardena, CA 90248.

Mocha Uson in a different light

by GeorGe

KabriSante ManilaTimes.net

SPecuLATionS went wild when Mocha uson moved out of her post as member of the Movie and Television review and classification Board (MTrcB). Some have alleged that when she sneezed on an issue at her home ground she would turn the table upside down and the whole dispute would be reduced to a mere trifle showbiz fodder.

At the MTrcB, Mocha was in a way going against the boxed-in mindset of the remaining board members from the past administration who refuse to know the meaning of the word “co-terminus.” call it a distasteful clinging act in the midst of President duterte’s call for delicadeza and “noblesse oblige” to jumpstart the notion of public service on a clean slate. did she walk out on the MTrcB to become assistant to Presidential communications operations office (Pcoo) Secretary Martin Andanar?

From caveat’s knowledge of Management 101, Mocha was merely “kicked up” all to the good of the present dispensation. Her metier as social media maven makes for a dramatic communicative face to address in sincere terms general and nebulous issues

of governance easily digestible to the laymen. invoking public service above all through social media, she describes her present position as draining, tough, challenging, and nonetheless rewarding on all counts. it’s far different as she gets to face-off with constituents from different government agencies and ordinary people to help them with their concerns.

To date she has listened up to the pressing concerns of oFWs in russia the last time she was in the entourage of Pres. duterte. in the war-torn Marawi she discovered the value of entertainment as therapy in helping inhabitants and soldiers recover from trauma caused by the war.

The downside of her present position as she relates is getting less rest and sleep, but does not mind it at all. Her intent to measure up to the challenge makes up for the sacrifices acting up on her much like uppers of endorphin or adrenalin on a daily basis.

About the bashing she gets on different media platforms, the outspoken erstwhile sexy stardancer thinks that the bashed and the bashers, detractors and the subject of ridicule co-exist with a purpose and intent to be heard as well, however trifling ruinous they

ABANDONED BY HER BIRTH PARENTS, WILL NIKKA BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN WHEN USCIS CHALLENGED HER ADOPTIVE PARENT’S ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION HER? Lilia (right) and her husband Peter filed a petition to adopt Nikka (left) when the child was 12 years old. The adoption decree was issued six (6) days before Nikka turned 16 years old, and the certificate of finality came out two (2) months after Nikka’s 16th birthday.

When Lilia and Peter filed an Immediate Relative Petition for Nikka, the USCIS served a Request for Evidence (RFE), challenging them eligibility to adopt Nikka. Lilia and Peter were devastated, depressed, and in despair. Would this mean losing the chance to be reunited with their adopted child - whom they loved and considered their own? Watch how leading US immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL came to the rescue and secured approval of their petition in a mere two months, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

‘It’s a whole new experience...

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Mocha Uson

Philstar.com photo

can get at times. depending on how their contentions are filtered, they can be taken on their own terms as highly opinionated vanguards or kibitzers of murky social and political issues, thus adding to the stature of one “hitik sa bunga kaya pinupukol” but keeps one on guard all the time.

Mocha discloses that the level of her detractors at the moment has evolved from just showbiz to those who profess to be working in the same direction to communicate liberating, unbiased information to the public. Who should define fake news then?

model Angela Luz].

The expectant dad is happy to report that Pauleen is doing A-oK in pregnancy. He is thankful that she hasn’t been having a hard time–no morning sickness, no dizzy spells.

“She’s not the type na mahirap magbuntis. She doesn’t ask for so many things like when it comes to food. one thing i noticed though, there were dishes that she really liked before pero ayaw na niya ngayon. Parang she became choosy when it comes to food.

But that’s about it. Aside from that, everything’s come easy,” the caring husband related.

Pauleen’s due date is in early december still but early as now, the couple is already busy preparing for the arrival of their baby girl. one thing that they haven’t decided on, however, is her name.

“Wala pang napipili. We have a ‘working title’,” he chuckled.

“Jessica—Jessica Sotto. But we

actually have a list of names and we haven’t really chosen one for sure. We are inclined to give her a biblical name though.”

Vic had just signed with cherry Mobile as it’s new endorser when we spoke with him, and switching topics to work, he said the endorsement came at the right time. “i use phone a lot these days.

Alam mo na, when i’m out of the house i always call Pauleen to check on her. And of course, the phone now is not only for calling and texting but for picture-taking and uploading to social media.

So magagamit namin ang cherry Mobile,” he explained.

Between Vic and Pauleen, it is of course the latter who is more into social media. “i am pretty sure sulit kay Pauleen itong bagong labas na model sa mga i-po-post niya sa bagong page ng aming buhay. She loves sharing with people significant development sa kanya, sa amin, so eto ang tamang pagkakataon,”

Vic enthused.

“Passively involved” is how Vic describes himself when it comes to social media. “i’m not really into it. i mean, i don’t post anything but i see the posts of other people because Pauleen is a very active social media user, and she shows me a lot of things posted by different people. i’m so updated. Like you! You’re updated sa showbuz happenings,” he joked with Showbuzz.

While waiting for their coming baby, Vic will busy himself shooting for his movie which is an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

“The script that we submitted was chosen to be one of the first four entries in the festival. “it’s entitled ‘#Familygoals’, and as the title suggests, it’s a famuly everyone can relate to. it tackles relationships among family members.”

The cast is not complete but dawn Zulueta will be Vic’s leading lady.

Features

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Nico Bolzico is his own social...

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better!” The photo has garnered 144,000 likes as of press time.

“I just love viewing your post everyday @nicobolzico! You really are so funny!” user naneen.davis commented on Bolzico’s account.

“Amazing humor,” his follower @beijbabeij followed in another.

“Your caption is the best comedy story I have ever read in my entire life (plus the picture). It made my day. Thank you @nicobolzico!” user @enashinn commented.

Besides his witty captions and creative hashtags, Bolzico is not afraid to make fun of himself, which makes him even more a hit.

Oftentimes, he captions his selfies with hashtags #horseface. He is neither the kind of person to shy away from posting his awkward photos or his “failure” videos where he slips and stumbles.

Perhaps one of his funniest snaps on the photo-sharing site was of him and his Filipino tutor.

In it, Bolzico faked a nosebleed—a

popular Pinoy comedic reaction when one tries to study a language not familiar to him or her.

But to be sure, the businessman is serious about learning Tagalog.

And before his fans get their hopes up that he is doing so to for an impending showbiz career, Bolzico gave an answer that was rather touching.

“I am learning Tagalog because I want to be respectful with the country that has given me so much. I am very bad at languages, I can barely speak English, so I need to make an effort to learn Tagalog because this is my home now.”

What Sarah Geronimo ‘finally...

PAGE B1 “ To t a l l y d i f f e r e n t s t o ry na po ito. Totally different characters, hindi na ‘to si Laid a a t s i M i g g y, s o a t t h e same time, gusto rin namin hulihin ‘yung Sarah-John Lloyd na tandem,” the actress declared.

Sarah was especially proud of the movie’s script, which she said was “lalong pinaganda” to give justice to Aprilyn and Raffy, her and John Lloyd’s characters in the film.

Even the theme song, though having the same title as a Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams hit, has different lyrics and has been rendered uniquely by Sarah.

From “A Very Special Love” in 2008” to “You Changed My Life” in 2009, “It Takes a Man and a Woman” in 2013 and “Finally Found Someone” this year, Sarah has found out only one thing about John Lloyd: that he is always inspiring.

As she expounded: “Sa lahat naman kasi na nakatrabaho ni John Lloyd na leading ladies lahat nagwo-work, ‘di ba?

Kasi si John Lloyd believable talaga na actor at saka ‘pag gumaganap s’ya ng role, papaniwalaan mo na talaga na s’ya talaga ‘yung character na ‘yun. Minsan parang nadadala din kami sa galing n’ya!”

Besides Cruz, Daniel Padilla reportedly also wishes to team up with Sarah. Is she also open to #AshNiel?

“Ako okay naman ako basta pagisipan lang ng mabuti ‘yung proyekto!” Sarah gushed.

(Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com)

Six ways to get your body #SummerReady

By Monet

Lu

SUMMER is here! Everybody’s heading to the beach and we all know the ‘scenery’ during beach season, don’t we? Now don’t you go bailing on some summer fun just because you don’t feel confident wearing a swimsuit.

Besides, after your #BalikAlindog project failed (for the nth time this year), this is the best moment to get your groove back again and achieve your ultimate ‘summerbod’ goals! I’ve rounded up six ‘realistically-achievable’ ways to help you start: 1. If you don’t have time to work out – MAKE TIME I know this is easier said than done but you have to start if you want to have a bikini body this summer. My tip is to try working out in the morning to get your metabolism revved up for the rest of the day. Commit to a workout routine that you’re comfortable with and stick to it! Once you’ve built the habit, perform exercises that use more than one muscle group such as squats, pushups, rows, and lunges in a circuit to make your workouts most efficient.

Again: make time for exercise, no excuses!

2. Manage your appetite for unhealthy foods by using an app This is one of the many benefits of modern technology, and I am not just talking about dyosa-transforming filters that you use when posting your selfies or Snapshot that make you look cuter when you’re a bunny or a fairy. You can now make use of your brand new iPhone7 to download a mobile app that keeps your diet on track. A recent study in the journal Obesity found that dieters who track their progress using mobile apps drop more pounds than those who keep paper logs. The Weight Watchers mobile app (free with membership; iTunes.com) also lets you download recipes, including faves from spokeswoman Jennifer Hudson.

3. Replace unlimited-rice with more green and leafy food options I know “rice is life” but girl,

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS MANY patients with coronary heart disease have no chest pains or other symptoms indicative of ischemia (diminished blood flow and oxygen to the coronary arteries that supply the muscles of the heart). As such, this silent (asymptomatic) type of ischemia is treacherous and increases the risk of sudden and unexpected death and other cardiac events.

Symptoms, in any illness, are the body’s defense alert system, a good warning sign that allows the affected individual time to do something pre-emptive to protect itself and prevent serious complications, like in seeking prompt medical help. Silent ischemia could strike an individual surreptitiously, causing heart attack or even cardiac arrest. These are the sudden deaths we all hear about every now and then, where the victims do not even know or realize the dangerous situation they are in.

The mechanism The muscles of the heart require oxygen and nutrition to function properly. These vital ingredients are in the blood which is supplied to these structures by the coronary arteries. If the blood supply is diminished because the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries that reduces the luminal diameter of these arteries), the muscles are deprived of vital oxygen and nutrition. As a result, theoretically, angina pectoris (heart pains) ensues. But a significant number of heart patients, even with their coronary arteries narrowed, some of them blocked severely, somehow do not develop chest pains. These are the asymptomatic or silent ischemia patients who could be a walking time bomb.

Why “silent”?

When there is myocardial ischemia, it is logically expected that the individual will have chest pains, much like lack of blood to the leg will cause “Charlie Horse”-type pains, medically termed claudication (pain and spasm of leg muscles) and even gangrene. The explanation for silent ischemia of the heart muscles (asymptomatic patients) is not fully understood.

Some of the theories include: the patient may have a high threshold for pains; the size of the affected muscles in the heart may be small; there may be some collateral circulation to the ischemic area; the ischemia may be of short duration; some persons may have self-denial; the person may have

you’re gonna have to make the compromise if you want to rock that tank top. Start by cutting back on processed, starchy carbohydrates such as bagels, cookies, breads, pastas, and crackers. Most of these foods are loaded with extra sodium and preservatives that can contribute to water retention and bloating. Instead, opt for more fresh fruits and veggies, as well as lean protein to keep you satisfied.

4. Lay low on alcohol It’s always a good idea to reduce your alcohol intake especially during summer. Not only is it advisable (for a better sober you), you will also reduce your total calorie intake and set yourself up for a better night’s sleep to energize you for your workout the next day (note: read tip no. 1 repeatedly). If you’re used to having a glass of wine or a bottle of beer every night, try cutting back to two or three nights a week. When you do indulge, always sandwich your drink with a glass of water before and after to avoid alcohol’s dehydrating effects.

5. Keep yourself hydrated – with H2O Since we are on the subject of drinking, I might as well remind you that while drinking too much alcohol is a no-no, drinking more water is a yes-yes-yes! The best way to rid yourself of excess water weight is to flush your body with water. Skimping on water can reduce the effectiveness of your workouts because

even mild dehydration can affect your performance and fat-burning potential. You should drink at least half your body weight in ounces each day (e.g., a 150pound woman should drink 75 oz. or the equivalent of about four and a half 16.9 oz. bottled waters a day).

6. Get more snooze time.

Research says that sleep deprivation is one of the major causes of obesity. That in mind, you should reconsider the time you put into putting yourself to sleep – the longer the better. Getting a good night’s sleep is an important part of shedding those extra pounds, so be sure you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep.

Summer is such an exciting season. And with such a highenergy season, comes (an even) higher demand to make sure our bodies are summer-ready and in tip-top shape. I hope these six steps would help flaunt your body confidently in front of your friends and family. It’s never too late to get fit and fab! *** 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

Silent heart attack

a defective “warning system,” related to some past brain injury, past heart attack (known or unknown), diabetes, past heart bypass or transplantation.

Etiology The etiology or cause of narrowing of the arteries is multi-factorial.

While heredity plays a role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, lifestyle appears to be the major culprit. This includes a highcholesterol, high-fat, high-carbohydrate, low-fiber diet of red meat, eggs, dairy products, bread, potato, rice, pasta, cakes, and sweets, instead of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains. The other important factors are smoking, the lack of daily regimented physical exercises, excess body mass index (weight), and poor stress management. Alcohol abuse, inadequate treatment of existing or undiagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes mellitus are aggravating conditions that hasten the build-up of cholesterol plaques in the inner walls of the arteries that lead to blockages and resultant ischemia.

The minimum test Obviously, the early detection of myocardial ischemia, especially among those asymptomatic (silent) cases, is essential. This can prevent sudden cardiac death. Since many of these persons have no indication whatsoever about the state of their coronary arteries and they all may be feeling “100 percent healthy,” the only prudent strategy is to do prophylactic (preventive) investigation. Based on medical statistics, the minimum test recommended is a stress electrocardiogram (Stress EKG) for those with chest pains or other symptoms suspicious of coronary heart disease. Those with a strong family history of coronary heart disease or heart attack and/or hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, regardless of age, should also have Stress EKG every 2 to 5 years, depending on the severity of their hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. For those with none of these illnesses and with no familial history of coronary heart disease, Stress EKG is nonetheless advisable when they are 45 and older, especially for those who smoke, and a mandatory test for pilots and some giant corporate executives. There are other more sophisticated tests available.

The supreme court of heart tests To arrive at the final confirmatory diagnosis, a cardiac cath is performed. This is the “court of last resort,” the “supreme court” of heart tests, that will tell us, once and for all, with 100% accuracy, if there are stenoses (blockages) in the coronary arteries or not, how

powerful or weak the ventricular contraction is, the integrity of the heart muscles, in segments and as a whole, and if there are any other cardiac abnormalities present, like heart valve disease, etc. If there are coronary artery stenoses present, this angiogram, which is recorded in a video film (movie of the heart in action), will also show which arteries are blocked, how many percent obstruction there is (are) and the exact location of the blockage(s). The findings will also help the cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon make a final decision if heart surgery is needed or not, and if it is, what procedure to do, which arteries to bypass, blocked arteries) will be, the percentage of risk of the surgery, and the prognosis.

Clinical highlights Various investigative studies have been done to address this particular issue on silent ischemia, its diagnosis and treatment. To of these trials are the ACIP (Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot) and the ASIST (Atenolol Silent Ischemia Study). The findings are as follows: (1) Silent cardiac ischemia could lead to sudden cardiac death; (2) In the ACIP trial, it has been shown that revascularization, using coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery provided more effective relief of the ischemia than medical (pill) therapy alone; (3) In the ASIST study, those treated with Atenolol showed great reduction of ischemia and the risk of future events compared to those who were given placebo (“sugar” pills, in the controlled group); (4) the prevalence and risk of cardiac events have been much less where ischemia has been treated with revascularization; (5) that risk factor modification (lifestyle and behavioral changes: cessation of smoking, abstinence from red meat and eggs, a diet of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains, daily exercises), together with aggressive treatment as in numbers 2 and 3 above, reduces or eliminates myocardial ischemia, left ventricular dysfunction, and the incidence of sudden cardiac death.

It is obvious that a pre-emptive strike, a prophylactic strategy, on everyone’s part is the only way to beat sudden cardiac death. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Features

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A path to fortune: The Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament

Mayor Richard Gomez, daughter Juliana, and wife Lucy Torres-Gomez celebrate Ormoc City’s first Piña Festival.

Philstar.com photos by Robbi Pangilinan

Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres celebrate Ormoc’s first Piña Festival

by Robbie

Pangilinan Philstar.com

SAy “ormoc City” and instantly, the image of pineapples comes to mind.

In this city known as “Beauty by the Bay,” the Queen Pineapple has become the unofficial city icon, known for its sweetness unlike any other.

“Pinya is ormoc’s pride. We are known for our Queen Table Pineapple and we want to celebrate that,” said ormoc City Mayor richard Gomez.

The city held its first Piña Festival on June 25 with a jovial event that featured a street dancing competition, a ritual/showdown, and the crowning of the festival queen. “richard thought that the pineapple is the star product of the city.

It’s good to be known for many things but to have a star product is an identity. For us it’s the pineapple, so we dedicated a fiesta for t. It’s a very Filipino thing to do, to give fruits,” said ormoc City representative Lucy Torres-Gomez.

STI College ormoc was the grand winner, bagging first place in the street dancing competition and the ritual/showdown. It also won Best in Choreography, while its bet, Cherry Mae Duterte, was hailed the Festival Queen.

Western Leyte College was second place in the ritual/showdown and third in the street dance category. Eastern Visayas State University-ormoc campus was third at the ritual/showdown while

For fans of the ancient and beloved game of baccarat, few events create as much excitement as the Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament. For two weeks this summer, The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas hosts one of the most exciting gaming events in Las Vegas: the sixth annual Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Tournament Championship, with its Las Vegas prize pool totaling more than $1,000,000. on July 21-24 and 28-31, a simple turn of the cards could give lucky players a piece of $25,000 daily prize pools featured in the Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament.

The stakes are high, and every moment of the tournament is an opportunity to win, pushing winners on toward an even greater tournament, especially since

they’ll receive a complimentary daily entry, as well. Each day, the top finisher automatically advances to the ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament that will

be held october 6-8, offering a substantial prize pool of $250,000. Players of course, the fabled hospitality of The Venetian and The Palazzo is as much a part of the fun as the tournament proper. our spacious suites, roughly twice the size of the average Las Vegas hotel room, welcome each guest to a home away from home. Fine dining from chefs like Mario Batali and Lorena Garcia make every meal a symphony. And even the parking is complimentary, something to be appreciated on the Las Vegas Strip.

Participation is open to all, so don’t miss your chance to take part in this one-of-a-kind event.

Street dancing marked Ormoc City’s first Piña Festival.

Ipil National High School was second place in the street-dancing category. It also won Best in Costume.

The festival is Mayor Gomez’s brainchild. He conceptualized it himself and was hands-on in all preparations. Different organizations, including the rotary Club, worked together to make the festival successful.

“I’m very happy that we were able to execute this. The public’s reception of it is fantastic, the

people enjoyed it. I think this is something to look forward to every year. And we promise that every year will be better and better,” added Mayor Gomez. His wife agreed, saying that it will only get better through time.

Tourism Assistant Secretary reynaldo Ching, the guest of honor, said he was impressed by the pioneering festival.

Cebu Pacific Air offers direct, four-times-a-week flights from Cebu to ormoc in Leyte.

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COMMUNITY Journal

Supreme Court tightens requirements to revoke citizenship

SINCE Independence Day on July 4, 1776, our nation has seen remarkable progress in the arts, science and technology, and society. Much of this progress has been possible thanks to immigrants—including those who have naturalized to become U.S. citizens. The United States has set standards for the naturalization process. Generally, one must be a permanent resident for at least five years, be over the age of 18, be a person of good moral character; have continuous residency for at least half of the previous five years; meet physical presence requirements; be able to read, write, and speak basic English; have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government; and demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution. For those who meet the requirements and are approved, the Oath Ceremony is one of the proudest moments of their lives.

Rarely discussed, however, is just how many people have been stripped of citizenship. The truth is that denaturalization is not common, but may occur in limited circumstances. On June 22, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that made it more difficult to strip someone of citizenship through the criminal proceedings.

In Maslenjak v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the Government must establish that a defendant’s illegal act played some role in the acquisition of citizenship in order to convict under the federal statute which makes it a crime to “knowingly procure, contrary to law, the naturalization of any person.” In this case, the criminal defendant told an American immigration official that her family feared persecution in Bosnia from both parties of the civil war. More specifically, she stated that Muslims would mistreat the family because of their ethnicity, and the Serbs would abuse them because her

Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller aNd aMaNda KwoNg spouse had evaded serving in the Bosnian Serb Army by hiding for five years. In 2000, after being granted refugee status, the family immigrated to the United States.

In 2006, the defendant applied for citizenship, swearing under Oath that she had never given false or misleading information while applying for an immigration benefit. The U.S. government subsequently confronted her husband with records showing that he had in fact served as an officer in the Bosnian Serb Army during a brigade that participated in the Srebrenica massacre. When the defendant attempted to prevent her husband’s deportation, she admitted that she knew the truth all along.

Because she gave a false statement, the Government attempted to convict and denaturalize her.

Although both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals found in favor of the Government, the Supreme Court clarified that in order to be convicted under this particular statute, the Government must establish that the illegal act played a role in the acquisition of citizenship. As an example, the Court analogized that if a painting was obtained illegally, one might imagine the wrong things done to obtain it illegally, such stealing it or paying for it with a fraudulent check. The Court contrasted that “if no illegal act contributed at all to getting the painting, then the painting would not have been gotten illegally.” As it pertains to naturalization, an example would be how one requirement to be eligible for citizenship is to be physically present in the

United States for at least half of five years. If the lie was about the amount of time spent inside and outside the country, and the citizenship was granted based on that lie, then it would be appropriate to convict someone under this statute. To a further extent, a jury would have to decide if a false statement sufficiently influenced how a reasonable government official would grant citizenship.

The impact of this decision is that a misrepresentation must be material to the grant of citizenship. It means that those who misspoke on a naturalization application or at the interview may still be able to keep their citizenship. It also means that those who misspoke during the process of obtaining asylum or permanent residency or other benefits may still be able to become citizens.

In many instances, our immigration laws favor giving a second chance to one who has made a mistake. This decision strengthens those values. Anyone who has been afraid to seek naturalization, or who, having obtained it, lives in fear of losing it, because of a past misrepresentation should consult with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer to see if this decision frees the way for them to obtain or keep their U.S. citizenship.n *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 795-8009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

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

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Community Journal

Is bankruptcy your only realistic chance to get out of debt?

WHEN your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, it is one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the decision should not be taken lightly and it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to see if it is best for your situation.

The truth is that filing bankruptcy is no longer the taboo that it used to be when people were less informed about the legal process. Now with information readily available on the internet, people are able to educate themselves much faster and can do their own “research” to get some general ideas about bankruptcy before they even see an attorney.

In our current economy, I’m sure you know someone in your family or perhaps at work who had no choice but to file bankruptcy in order to save their home, reorganize their finances or simply

To Live With Faith ReveRend Rodel g. BAlAgtAs THERE is a restlessness in many of us, one that makes us think about life and questions the varied facets of human existence.

It’s a divine restlessness because it urges us to contemplate on one’s purpose and meaning of life and the happenings of this world in different periods of its history. It’s what Tom Wrights posits in the opening chapter of his book, “Simply Christian,” when he writes about the echoes of a voice within us. He says: “It is as though we can hear, not perhaps a voice itself, but the echo of a voice: speaking with calm, healing authority, speaking about justice, about things being put to rights, about peace and hope and prosperity for all. The voice continues to echo in our imagination, our subconscious.

We want to go back and listen to it again, but having woken up, we can’t get back into the dream.

Other people sometimes tell us it was just fantasy…But the voice goes on, calling us, beckoning us, luring us to think that maybe there might be such thing as justice,

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon to wipe out their debts and start all over again. Did you know that every year, close to 1 million people in the United States file bankruptcy in order to take advantage of the fresh financial start that the law provides to those who are eligible for relief? Contrary to what creditors may lead you to believe, these are honest, hardworking every day people just like you who simply got buried in debt with no other way out.

Bankruptcy is never a fun thing to do or just an easy way out for people who simply want to run away from their obligations. The fact is that most people want to

do the right thing and pay their creditors but their situation has gotten so bad that without bankruptcy, they would simply be trapped in debt forever. Thus, with no means to pay their debt, it may be their only chance of ever recovering financially.

Can you just imagine what would happen if someone was hopelessly buried in debt with no way out and creditors were just breathing down on this person’s neck every single day? If he works, creditors can garnish his wages. If he puts what little money he has in the bank, creditors can levy his bank accounts. If he decides to purchase a home, they can put a lien on the home. He can’t even answer his phone and is always afraid to open his mailbox. Every time someone knocks on the door, he cringes in fear thinking that he’s being served a lawsuit. If you were in this situation, you would almost feel like a

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Divine restlessness

as the world being put to rights, even though we find it elusive.”

This restlessness resulting from the echoes of a voice within us is something positive then.

And all we need to do is listen to it and respond to it with love, interest, and trust.

St. Paul recognizes these echoes of a voice as the Spirit of God dwelling in us. He says that we are not in the flesh; on the contrary we are in the spirit. He argues that if we live according to the flesh, we will die, but if we live by the Spirit we will live (Rom 8:9, 11-13) And so, despite all the pleasures and allurements of this world; despite all the progress in infrastructures, technology, science and engineering; indeed, despite the human genius, we cannot forget that we have restlessness that urges us to seek the Divine, the Creator of all. We are made to live in the Spirit and abide by its truth.

It’s only with a humility of a child that we can submit to this truth. That’ why Jesus Christ prayed these words: “I give praise to you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little

ones.” (Matthew 11:25) This truth seeks not only justice but also beauty and depth in in relationship with God and other people. It’s a constant longing for the well-being of others, for peace and harmony in the world.

May we respond with love to these echoes of a voice—the voice of Jesus Christ that tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) Have a beautiful, relaxing, peaceful, and contemplative summer! ***

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 (19911993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1991-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

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

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwRence yAng

HOW do you answer this question? Let’s check what the Bible has to say about debt.

The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or borrower. It does not seem to recommend the assumption of debt. Otherwise, it should say, it’s OK to be a borrower, but not a lender or viceversa. This statement is clear. It does not sound like fake news. It’s straightforward. It doesn’t sound like a mysterious early morning tweet from the president. On the contrary, the Bible is specific.

Don’t be a lender or a borrower.

Why not a lender? Because you might end up losing your money.

Why not a borrower? Because debt service will end up destroying your life. The debt will literally enslave you with minimum payments to keep them current that will cost you a fortune in the long run. You will eventually lose a fortune that should be in your bank account. You will need this fortune for your retirement but if you have too much debt, instead of having this fortune available for your use to augment your social security when you retire, you will have nothing but debt that keeps on asking for more money from you every month.

For those of you who don’t have debt, read on, so you won’t decide to plunge into a sea of debt.

So how much debt is too much? I posed this question here exactly 20 years ago. If you were 45 then, you would now be ready to retire at 65. Were they 20 long years? No, in fact, they were 20 very short years. Your 5-year-old son is now 25, done with college and working. Your toddler then is now an adult. Your 3-yearold daughter then is now 23, also an adult. She is now a registered nurse. Your son is now a mechanical engineer working for an international construction firm based in Hong Kong.

Your parents who were then 69 are now 89. They have good genes but they have all kinds of aches and pains and both need caregivers to help them along.

So what happened? Twenty years just passed by so fast like a speeding train that you didn’t notice. Let’s just say that 20 years ago, you and your spouse had a net combined income of $4K. I already said you were 45 years old then. You had a house mortgage to pay, maybe a second

How much debt is too much?

trust deed, one of those home improvement loans, had one or two car payments. Your son and daughter were still in grade school. You examined your debt level then when you read my article 20 years ago. You were in fact at a major crossroad in your life. You had about $30K of credit cards, which needed 25 percent of your net household income, or close to $1K to make minimum payments on your credit cards.

It felt like a wage garnishment and your heart was being ripped out through your wallet, right?

What was left was $3K, which you allocated for the house, the cars, food, electricity, insurances and other living expenses. After all these expenses, probably, your household had nothing left.

If you had nothing left, where would you have gotten $1K a month to make minimum payments? By borrowing more. So, in one year you would have had to borrow $12K. So in one year, you owe, not $30K, but $42K, and instead of needing only $1K for debt service, you needed $1300, and so on and so forth. During year three, at 48, you would have owed $66K, instead of $30K, needing almost $2K minimum payments, instead of $1K. You would have dug a hole so deep for yourself that you couldn’t get out of it. You might as well have MC and Visa tattooed on your forehead because they own you and you work for them.

Let’s say that you did get a promotion that gave you an additional $1K of net income.

Should that have gone to debt service of credit cards of $30K? Think about it. $1K of debt service means $12K a year of money that should go to your savings and investments for your future — should it not? If you actually paid $12K a year to service $30K of credit cards, after using all of your additional income to keep your credit card masters happy, you would have paid them $60K in five years, and worst of all, you still owe them the same $30K! Shouldn’t you use the $60K to save and invest for your family’s future instead? Aren’t you sacrificing your family’s financial future and opportunities in favor of servicing your credit cards that are taking 25 percent of your monthly net income? Although you may not admit what you are doing, you are actually killing the ability of your family to save for the future by keeping these

cards current over the years.

If you read my article then and chose not to wipe out the $30K of credit cards 20 years ago, how much money would you have paid your credit card masters?

A lot. You would have paid them $240K in 20 years. You would have paid them a quarter of a million dollars. And how much would you still owe them today?

The same $30K. You are making them rich, while keeping yourself poor. That’s the simple truth.

If you took my advice 20 years ago and wiped the $30K out with a Chapter 7 petition then, how much would you have now that you are 65? You probably would have $500K if you invested the savings of $1K a month for 20 years wisely. Not with Bernie Madoff of course. If you bought Apple shares 20 years ago, you would now be extremely wealthy.

Because $10K invested in Apple only 10 years ago would be worth how much today? That $10K, which was 10 months of minimum monthly payments for you then, would be worth $677,000 today! If you invested three years of minimum payments on credit cards ten years ago, you would have a cool $2.0-M today! What a small change in your life direction would have meant in benefits for you and your family! Our God is so great, indeed!

Because he blesses those who rely on Him with abundance!

You want to be a millionaire when you retire? Get rid of your credit cards now and invest your savings in equities. Twenty years from now, when you check your million dollar portfolio, you will be so glad that you read my article today and made the wise decision of your life. And how would your credit score be 20 years from now if you wiped out your cards now? It would be perfect at 830.

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

“THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US, AND WE ARE FILLED WITH JOY.” — PSALM 126:3.

*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803 or at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 (Advertising Supplement)

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

Community Journal

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 8-11, 2017

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Pregnancy is a temporary disability Can I get a green card if I had a previous requiring employer accommodation marriage petition denied based on fraud?

Protecting women’s rights at work

CRYSTAL Losorelli worked as a correctional officer at a men’s prison in Chino, California.

She became pregnant and requested light duty assignment.

Crystal had asked for a similar accommodation in a prior pregnancy, which was granted by the employer. But this time, in response to her request, the employer reclassified her as a part-time employee, and not entitled to pregnancy accommodations. She went on leave for a few weeks and went back to work on light duty. However, when she was five months pregnant, the employer transferred her back to her regular duties where she was required to wear heavy gear and subdue inmates. She had a panic attack and went on stress leave.

Crystal sued her employer for pregnancy discrimination, failure to accommodate, and failure to engage in the interactive process, among others.

She claimed emotional distress damages as a result of the employer’s treatment. The employer argued that Crystal was granted accommodation and was offered an assignment to guard entry gates, which she refused.

Under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (the pregnancy law), pregnancy – and all its related medical conditions such as severe morning sickness, doctor-ordered bed rest, childbirth, recovery from childbirth – is considered a temporary disability.

Thus, similar to temporarilydisabled employees, a pregnant

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. employee is entitled to reasonable accommodation. In order to find out what reasonable accommodation can be extended to the employee, the employer must enter into a good-faith, interactive process to determine if there is a reasonable accommodation that would allow the employee to keep working.

How should the parties engage in the “interactive process”? The employer may request accommodation, and the employer may consult with the employee to find out what the employee’s limitations are that prevent her from doing the job, finding out how the employee could do her job with a reasonable accommodation, and identifying potential accommodations and assessing their effectiveness.

The employer must enter into the interactive process in “good faith.” This means that both employer and employee must communicate directly with each other and provide important information related to the disability. Neither party can delay or interfere with the process. To demonstrate good-faith in the interactive process, the employer should show cooperation by identifying and carrying out an appropriate accommodation for the disabled

employee. An employer’s failure to engage in the interactive process in good faith is itself a violation of California law.

In Crystal’s case, there were facts to show that the employer failed to engage in interactive process with pregnant employee to find out her medical restrictions. Worse, the employer ignored the pregnant employee’s request for accommodation to be put on light duty.

As reported by the Daily Journal, the parties agreed to settle the case upon payment of $925,000 to Crystal for her damages.

Despite abundant information available regarding pregnancy and disability discrimination laws, some employers continue to flout the law. Pregnant employees should not hesitate to explore legal remedies if they find themselves victimized by errant employers. *** 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 or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

(Advertising Supplement)

How to handle field audit at your place of business FIELD audits are more challenging than office audits. They are conducted at your place of business. Audits are performed

by Revenue Agents who have many years of experience. They may hold advanced degrees.

Many are CPAs and attorneys.

Revenue Agents are the elite of the crop. They undergo intensive audit training to act as detectives looking for clues.

Field audits are conducted right at your place of business— office, store, shop, or warehouse.

You have to be more careful because you have employees and possibly customers in your premises. It gives the agent a chance to see and feel how you operate your business.

Let me give you 10 tips on how to handle field audits.

1. Plan the engagement with your representative—CPA, Enrolled Agent, or Attorney.

2. Don’t attempt to handle field audits yourself. It is far too complicated for you. You are no match for a Revenue Agent.

3. Designate a contact person to act as a liaison between you, your rep, and the auditor to assemble and regulate the flow of information with the IRS. The contact

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrSUA reyeS IN the absence of a premarital agreement, the general community property presumption under California family code section 760 controls which provides “ ….all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.”

Family Code §760. This becomes a problem if you are the spouse that has the substantially higher income or the one who accumulates the majority of the assets during the marriage. You are called in family law lingo “the in spouse.” The other spouse (or in our lingo also called the “out spouse” gets a half interest on everything accumulated during the marriage even if the asset is under your name alone or it was accumulated solely due to your sweat and hard work. The out spouse, who stayed at home most of the marriage, gets a one half interest on all the accumulations during the marriage under California community property law. For example, if you opened a savings account during the marriage under your name alone for which you religiously and diligently stash away 25% of your earnings during the marriage while your spouse blows away his/her salary during the marriage, your spouse still gets a half interest in the money you saved in your savings account.

place the agent far from sensitive areas. Tell workers not to discuss business issues within hearing distance of the agent.

Instruct workers to remind each other of the agent’s presence.

8. If you think of placing the agent with the contact person ViCtor Sy, for convenience and monitorCPA, MBA ing, don’t. This will create an atperson should review all informa- mosphere for talking. And when tion before it is turned over to the they talk, you could have probIRS and be present during tours lemas mas grande.

9. Provide only data that are and interviews of employees.

4. The agent should deal requested. No mas.

10. Make sure that the cononly with this one person. The agent should not be allowed to tact person understands his/her chat with employees or request role as a contact person with no any document from anybody. authority to talk with the agent.

Everything should be coursed *** through this contact person. Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude 5. The agent should not be from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State allowed to conduct a tour of University with an MBA. Vic worked with the facilities without your CPA, SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen enrolled agent, or lawyer. This Consulting) and Ernst & Young before should be done at the begin- establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation ning of the audit with your rep. in Pasadena, California. *** 6. Designate a room for the agent. Clean up all files before- He has 50 years of experience in defending hand. Keep the door closed so taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. the agent cannot overhear busi- He is publishing a book on his expertise ness discussions. This room - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” therefore should be as far as Our readers may inquire about the book or possible from financial areas. email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

(Advertising Supplement) 7. If no room is available,

Tax Tips

Do I need a premarital agreement before getting married?

Another example would be if you purchase a piece of real property during the marriage under “your name alone” and have your spouse sign a “quit claim” deed, your spouse may still have a claim for a half interest in your real property. Another example would be if you owned a business prior to marriage, but due to your hard work, long hours of labor, and efforts, the business grew exponentially during the marriage, your spouse may still have a claim for an interest in the business.

Signing a premarital agreement may serve as added protection to the future “in spouse” and a hurdle for the future “out spouse” by avoiding or altering the applicability of California community property law to assets 1) already owned by each and 2) to property and income to be acquired or earned during their marriage. Marriage of Dawley (1976) 17 C3d 342, 349, 131 CR 3, 7; Marriage of Grinius (1985) 166 CA3d 1179, 1186, 212 CR 803, 807 Premarital agreements may validly provide that the earnings and accumulations of each party during marriage will remain that party’s separate property, free of any claims, community property or otherwise, of the other party.Marriage of Dawley, supra, 17 C3d at 350, 131 CR at 8; Cheney v. City & County of San Francisco Employees Retire-

ment System (1936) 7 C2d 565, 569, 61 P2d 754, 756. Premarital agreements may also serve to preserve a person’s estate for his or her heirs, free of the other party’s inheritance claims. Estate of Wamack (1955) 137 CA2d 112, 115, 289 P2d 871, 872.

Pursuant to Family Code §1612(c ),“ Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located. (2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property.(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event.(4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement.(5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy.(6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement.(7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty.

However, the right of a child to

u PAGE C4

DEAR Attorney Tan, I recently married a US Citizen, who is my second husband. He has filed an immigrant visa petition and green card application for me. My husband recently received from USCIS a Notice of Intent to Deny the petition that he filed on my behalf. The Notice indicated that the immigrant visa petition could not be approved since the USCIS had determined that I previously entered into a fraudulent marriage to get a green card several years ago. My ex-husband previously filed an immigrant petition on my behalf several years ago, which was denied since USCIS determined that I only married him to get a green card. My second husband and I truly love each other. What are my options? -- In Love but Out of Status Dear In Love but Out of Status, Under INA Section 204(c), a person who “attempted or conspired to enter into a marriage” in order to receive permanent resident status in the US is prohibited from obtaining USCIS approval of an immigrant visa petition. Simply stated, Section 204(c) prohibits approval of any immigrant visa petition if there has been a finding of “marriage fraud” in a prior marriage-based petition.

Based on the above law, your case seems at first glance like an “open-and-shut” case in favor of denial. However, you still have hope of getting a green card—a person can apply for and get his immigrant petition approved despite the prior finding of “marriage fraud” under certain circumstances.

You may ask, how is this possible? Isn’t Section 204(c) straightforward? Not quite. The answer lies in the fact that USCIS must independently examine the prior finding of “marriage fraud” in considering the subsequently filed immigrant visa petition. Before invoking the Sec. 204(c) bar to approval of a subsequent visa petition, USCIS must make an independent determination of fraud based upon the record, including but not limited to any evidence gathered during adjudication of the prior visa petition, but may not parrot or rely on the conclusions made by other adjudicators. USCIS must have “substantial and probative” evidence of “marriage fraud.” Matter of Tawfik, 20 I. & N. Dec. 166, 168.

The determination is to be made by the USCIS district director while adjudicating the subsequent visa petition. Matter of Samsen, 15 I. & N. Dec. 28, 1974 WL 29995 (B.I.A. 1974). The district director should not give conclusive effect to the determinations made in the prior proceedings, but should reach his own independent conclusion based on the evidence actually before him. Matter of F-, 9 I. & N. Dec. 684 (BIA 1962).

Therefore, in cases such as yours in which the USCIS has indicated it intends to deny the subsequent immigrant visa petition due to the prior finding of “marriage fraud,” new evidence can be submitted that demonstrates that the prior finding of “marriage fraud” was incorrect—i.e., evidence that shows that the prior marriage petition was based on a bona fide marriage, or that explains that the prior denial was based on an incomplete or inaccurate assessment of the facts. In cases in which the subsequent immigrant visa petition has already been denied, this new evidence should be submitted as part of a motion to reconsider. I recommend that you seek an experienced attorney to assist you in properly presenting the law and facts to the USCIS adjudicator to address the Section 204(c) bar.

*** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Is bankruptcy your...

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criminal with no chance of ever rebuilding your life and learning from your mistakes.

So a long time ago, Congress decided that there had to be away for people in this situation to be able to get back on their feet financially when no other options exist. So, that’s how the bankruptcy laws started, you see. Of course, they’ve changed over the years to keep up with the changing times but the concept remains the same: The honest debtor who got in too deep in debt is given a fresh financial start free from the burden of debt so he can be a free person again! Wow! Thank

God we have laws like that in this country. What a blessing, don’t you agree?

Again, bankruptcy is NOT for everyone and people who can pay their bills should do so. But if you’ve tried everything and your best is just not good enough, remember that you may be eligible for relief under our bankruptcy laws. It may not seem like it but the legal process does work and it can work for you if you want it to! Starting over after bankruptcy is not as bad as most people think so there is no reason to lose hope! As a matter of fact, from experience I have seen clients file bankruptcy and regain

their good credit standing in only about three years. You can turn bankruptcy to your advantage, especially if you’ve done everything on your own and nothing has worked up to this point.

For a free consultation, call Toll-Free at 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. ***

None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

C4 JULY 8-11, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

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merica

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

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People and Events

20th Anniversary of Ordination of Fr. Geoffrey Fontelera Baraan

FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U LY 2 0

LEAP’s 35th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is proud to celebrate 35 years of ”Growing Leaders” on Thursday, July 20 and the leadership of individuals that exemplify LEAP’s mission to achieve full participation and equality for Asian and Pacific Islanders through leadership, empowerment, and policy. Proceeds from the event will be used to develop LEAP’s innovative leadership programs, cutting-edge public policy research, and nationwide community building. This year’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be like no other gala that LEAP has had in the past. LEAP’s 35th Anniversary Celebration will be an eventful evening that will be both interactive and experiential. With an abundance of food and friends, LEAP will celebrate those who have shaped the organization, those who have been impacted by the organization, and those who continue to grow as Asian and Pacific Islander leaders and dream big. Honores for the individual leadership award include Fatima Bustos-Choy, Phd, founder of Gaia Flow Consulting and CEO And owner of Body & Brain Holistic Wellness Center; Kenneth Kasamatsu, advisor to the CEO, E-Central Credit Union / The Pacific Bridge Companies, and founder of Pacific Commerce Bank ; Geri Mannion, program director, U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund at Carnegie Corporation of New York; and Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at UCLA. The David R. Barclay Alumni Leadership Award will be presented to Scott Chan, program director for the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement and Patricia A. Neilson, director of Asian American Student Success at University of Massachusetts Boston. The VIP & general reception will begin at 5 p.m., while the program is from 7 to 10 p.m. It will be held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012). Attire is business. To RSVP, visit www.leap.org/celebration_tickets. For more information about registration, contact Mayta Lor at (213) 485-1422 x 4105 or mlor@leap.org.

J U LY 2 1 -23

Filipino Caucus Family Retreat in Lake Hughes, CA The Filipino Caucus of the California Pacific Annual Conference (CALPAC) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is inviting its members to a family retreat to be held from July 21 to 23. The venue will be the scenic Oak Camps and Conference Center (18651 Pine Canyon Road, Lake Hughes, California). The Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, Associate General Secretary of the UMC Board of Discipleship Ministry will be the resource person and guest speaker during the three- day gathering to be marked with group discussions and fellowship. “Rekindling the Flame” will be the theme of this retreat. According to Rev. Nelson Castorillo, the Filipino Caucus president, the goal of the retreat is re-igniting and rekindling the symbolic flame representing the spirit and unity of this growing group of Filipino-American Methodists and hoping this type of gathering will reenergize and revitalize the Church.

The Rosewood UMC, headed by Ding Lapus, is coordinating the event. He is assisted

by Noribel Taguba, Vicky Ignacio, Dennis Mañacop, Auring Garcia, John Umaguing, Revs.

Manny Predas and Lisa Santiago. Food and lodging for three days is $148 and $103 for children 7-12 years old. Check is payable to the Filipino Caucus, PO Box 10435, Glendale, CA 91209. For more information please call Rev. Nelson (909) 538-7606 or email at nelsonpreacher@gmail.com.

Fr. Geoffrey with his mother, Imelda

J U LY 29

The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. hosts annual picnic in Hercules, CA The Filipino-Americans of Contra Costa County, Inc. (FACCC, Inc.) invites you to its annual potluck picnic on Saturday, July 29 at Foxboro Park in Hercules, CA. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your favorite dish to share. FACCC, Inc. will provide barbecued beef, chicken, hot dogs and water. For any inquiries, call Chairperson Roy de Leon at (510) 5655465 or Vice Chair Joe Medrano at (510) 417-0585.

AU G U ST 1 3

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) induction ball in Whittier, CA The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) will hold its induction ball on Sunday, August 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Whittier (7320 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602). Mutch Carino will be inducted a president of UPAAGLA for 2017-2019, together with the newly-elected officers composed of Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer). The 2017-2019 UPAAGLA Board of Directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Luisa Lansigan, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Tina Escueta Martin and Angie Alvarez. The advisers of UPAAGLA are Dr. Arnel Joaquin, Vicky Gancayco, Jazmin Gaite, Alma Onrubia, Frank Mamaril, Doris Maligalig, and Sonja Menor. Red carpet arrivals and no-host cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. The program and dinner will start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, sponsorships and souvenir program advertisements, please call Mutch Carino at (626) 716-5442.

SEPTEMBER 1-4

Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School international reunion in Las Vegas Come and celebrate with RMCHS alumni and guests for the third biannual international homecoming. Sing, dance, party, share precious memories and join the fun from Friday, September 1 to Monday, September 4 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Join the golf tournament in the morning of Saturday, Sept.

2 and then wear your best (black and white) for a dinner dance later that evening. Make this event an opportunity to reunite with your own batchmates, watch a show, visit tourist spots, and stroll along the Las Vegas Strip. For more information, visit the RMCHS 2017 INTL REUNION Facebook page.

O C TO B E R 1 4

26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

D EC E M B E R 27-29

Ateneo de Naga High School Class ’67 celebrates 50th anniversary in Naga City The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) High School Class 1967 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 from December 27 to 29 with various activities lined up for its 153 alumni members. (ADNU is a leading Jesuit university in the Bicol region located in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines). The activities include the publication of its 50th Anniversary Yearbook, a coffee table book which features the individual life stories of the class members after high school, tributes to their mentors, and various articles about school life in the 1960s. Also scheduled for the middle of the year is a golf tournament which — aside from fostering camaraderie — will essentially be a fund-raising activity for planned alumni projects such as a medical mission to a remote provincial town, scholarships, and donations for other worthy causes. This year’s reunion will be at the ADNU main campus in Naga City with various fun and commemorative activities lined up for the occasion. All batch members, wherever they are domiciled, including those residing in foreign countries, especially those in the USA and Canada, are enjoined to contribute their life story articles for the anniversary book as soon as possible, to participate in the various identified activities and outreach projects, and attend the grand homecoming in December. For coordination and for details about the events and activities, please email or call up any of the following batch members: Jojo de Jesus (email: jvdejesus6@yahoo.com; cell: 09772114750); Nilo Ezequiel (email: nilo. ezequiel0977@gmail.com; cell: 09257200926; Antonio Sibulo, MD (email: assjrmd@gmail. com).

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

Fr. Geoffrey Fontelera Baraan, parish priest and pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Pinole, recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination. The celebration was attended by about 900 friends and family from all over the U.S., including from Chicago, Houston, San Diego, Bakersfield and Las Vegas. The reception and entertainment were held at the school gym.

Do I need a premarital...

PAGE C3 t

support may not be adversely affected. Family Code §1612(b).

Premarital agreements that are entered into voluntarily by parties who are each represented by independent counsel and aware of the effect of the agreement, a post 1985 premarital waiver of post dissolution support does not offend contemporary public policy and is not per se unenforceable. Fam.C. § 1612(c); Marriage of Pendleton & Fireman (2000) 24 C4th 39, 53–54, 99 CR2d 278, 288–289; Marriage of Facter (2013) 212 CA4th 967, 981, 152 CR3d 79, 90.

Under both the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and prior law, the spouse claiming the agreement is invalid or not enforceable bears the burden of proof on that allegation. Family Code. § 1615(a); Marriage of Bonds, supra, 24 C4th at 27, 99 CR2d at 269; Marriage of Iverson (1992) 11 CA4th 1495, 1502, 15 CR2d 70, 74–75; However, the UPAA (as amended effective 1/1/02) deems that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court makes five prescribed findings provided for under Family Code. § 1615(c) (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. (2) The party against whom enforcement

is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations he or she was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that he or she received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs(1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement.(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. In addition, the parties are required to provide each other with full disclosure of all material financial information.

A premarital agreement may be unenforceable if found to be unconscionable when it was

executed and the requisite disclosures were lacking and not waived Additionally, a spousal support provision in a premarital agreement executed under the UPAA, whether before or after January 1, 2002 , is not enforceable if found to be unconscionable at the time of enforcement. Family Code § 1612(c). If you are the higher earning spouse and have assets to protect, it is important to seek the representation of experienced counsel in drafting a premarital agreement to make sure that all statutory requirement are met which increases the likelihood that your premarital agreement will be deemed enforceable when attacked in court in case of a divorce.

*** 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. *** 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. (Advertising Supplement)

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People and Events Team Philippines participates in WCOPA 2017 Photos by ANDY AJ Press

TECSON

Members of Team Philippines 2017 wear their national costumes at the opening ceremonies and parade of nations from 50 countries for the annual World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) at the Long Beach Center for Performing Arts in Long Beach, California. They competed in the Olympics of Performing Arts from July 2 to 8, 2017.

Team Philippines won its ďŹ rst gold medal in the best of production newbie category in the group of 50 countries competition during the WCOPA opening ceremonies on July 2.

Team Philippines National Director Gerry Mercado was awarded the gold and superior national director out of 50 countries at the opening ceremonies of WCOPA in Long Beach, California.

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Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ I want to warn Filipinos about fake news reports that Pres. trump had signed an executive order allowing Filipinos to travel to the United States without visas for 30 days. this is false. there have been no changes in U.S. policy concerning eligibility for visitor visas. Filipinos must obtain a visitor’s visa to come to the U.S., and are not eligible for “visa-free” travel.

I had been receiving numerous inquiries about an article appearing on the Internet, that looks like legitimate news, claiming this bogus executive order was a change in visa policy for Filipinos traveling to U.S., and would permit them to stay in the U.S. for up to 30 days for tourism or business, to strengthen trade between the U.S. and Philippines. this is not true, and if anyone goes to naIa to board a flight to

&

Fake news: There is no ‘visa-free’ travel to the US for Filipinos

the U.S. without a visa, they will be turned away. the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines has confirmed no such visa-free policy exists, and has posted a warning that the Embassy “is aware of the fraudulent article reporting changes to U.S. visa policy in the Philippines. Please note that U.S. visa policy in the Philippines has not changed.” therefore, don’t be fooled if anyone claims they can help you travel to the U.S. visa-free. You must apply for and be issued a tourist visa. But before applying, make sure you are qualified or eligible. Eligibility for a visitor visa is based on you proving you have strong ties to your home country (such as family, job, social, economic, etc.), such that you have strong incentives and reasons to return, and not overstay and become a tnt in the U.S. the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate to the consul they have such

PEZA director general Charito Plaza said this has been the case since January, when potential American IT-BPO locators decided to defer their investments as they await for clearer policies from Trump.

Philstar.com photo

US firms hold off investments in Philippines

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

ManILa - the Philippine Economic Zone authority (PEZa) said many american information technology and business process outsourcing (It-BPO) companies continue to put their expansion plans in the country on hold as they wait for clearer policies from President Donald trump.

PEZa director general Charito Plaza said this has been the case since January, when potential american It-BPO locators decided to defer their investments as they await for clearer policies from trump.

Plaza, however, said one BPO

firm has decided to push through with its planned investment in the country, putting up the first BPO in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. “we thank Sitel for not giving it up, not giving up the Philippines because all other american It companies are on hold because they are not yet clear on trump’s policy. they feel the policies are still volatile,” she said.

Sitel’s Puerto Princesa facility is their 13th branch in the country and will add another 1,000 seats to its local operations.

Plaza said Sitel has already created 25,000 jobs in their 13 branches in the country.

Credit rater Moody’s Investors Service maintained its stable outlook for Philippine banks in line with its view that the economy will continue to be robust.

Inquirer.net photo

Moody’s: PH banks stable as economy remains robust by mayvelin

u. caRaballo ManilaTimes.net

CrEDIt rater Moody’s Investors Service maintained its stable outlook for Philippine banks in line with its view that the economy will continue to be robust. however, the ratings agency flagged merging risk for the banking industry brought about by its widening exposure to retail and small and medium enterprises (SME).

“For the Philippines, we continue to have a stable view on the banking system. this stable view has been around for a very long time and we are not changing [that],” Simon Chen, vice president and senior analyst for Moody’s Financial Institutions Group, said in a media roundtable themed “Sovereign and Banking:

D

how manageable are the challenges?” held at Shangri La hotel in Makati City on wednesday, July 5.

Chen said the operating conditions of Philippine banks continue to be robust on the back of a very healthy flow of domestic consumption that drives opportunities for business growth for lenders.

PH growth outlook intact the vice president and senior credit officer for Moody’s Sovereign risk Group, Christian de Guzman, meanwhile, said the outlook for the Philippine economy remains intact. “we do expect the Philippines to continue to grow at an elevated pace of 6.5 percent over the next couple of years,” he said.

PAGE D2

Business Quote of the Week “The real source of wealth and capital in this new era is not material things...it is the human mind, the human spirit, the human imagination, and our faith in the future.”

– Steve Forbes, Forbes Business Magazine

strong ties to their home country and they have a reason to return. a strong reason to return is the primary focus of eligibility, and not necessarily the purpose of your visit. that is why some people applying for a visitor’s visa to attend a parent’s funeral or to be at the bedside of an ailing family member are refused a visa, but someone wanting to go to Disneyland is issued a visa. that does not make sense to many people: how can the consul turn down a person wanting to attend a funeral or be at the deathbed of a parent, but let someone else visit Disneyland? the answer might be that the person seeking a visitor’s visa to attend a funeral is unemployed, a jeepney driver, is under petition, is last family member left behind in the Philippines, or is working at a lowpaying job, earning a few pesos a month. the applicant wanting to go to Disneyland, on the other hand, lives in Forbes Park with 15 or more yaya’s.

In the above examples, the person wanting to attend a funeral really does not appear to have strong ties to the Philippines, such that they would want

to return. the person wanting to go to Disneyland obviously has a good life in the Philippines and most likely would want to return. the bottom line is there are lots of scams going on and fake news concerning immigration and benefits available. Before you fall victim to the scams, check with a reputable immigration attorney, to make sure the benefit is true and you are eligible. *** 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)

The Philippine peso weakens further against the US dollar.

Inquirer.net file photo

Peso sinks to 50.600 vs US dollar

thE peso weakened further against the US dollar on wednesday, July 5, closing at 50.600 in another almost 11-year low. hitting an intraday low at the same value against $1 and a high at 50.470, the local currency opened at 50.540, slightly weaker than the close of 50.520 on tuesday, July 4. the total volume traded dipped slightly to $507 million from the $540 million.

First Metro Investment Corporation, the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, maintained its peso-dollar forecast of an average of P51 against

the U.S. dollar on the back of the strengthening U.S. economy. we’re seeing that the U.S. economy—and surprisingly, EU and Japan, are doing better. that means that the [U.S.] dollar is expected to be stronger, even [it temporarily] shows some weakness,” economics professor Victor a. abola from the University of asia & the Pacific.

“But with the ten year bonds in the U.S. rising already by less than 20 basis points, that’s a clear sign of being able to attract more funds to the U.S.,” abola added.

(Frances Josephine Espeso/Inquirer.net)

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Filipinos still prefer tellers to online banking PH gov’t provides cash grant for jeepney upgrade

by AngelicA

BAllesteros ManilaTimes.net

FILIPINOS still prefer faceto-face transactions over online banking despite the strong penetration of mobile technology in the Philippines, a regional survey by information technology firm Unisys has found.

The survey results came amid growing concern over cybercrimes, as well as technical glitches that recently hounded a few banks.

Unisys said that among AsiaPacific survey respondents, Filipino customers were most likely to make transactions in a bank branch, even as 54 percent of them said they were annoyed by long bank queues.

Also, 51 percent of Filipino customers felt safe but frustrated when their credit cards were frozen due to suspected fraud, 30 percent felt safer, and 5 percent felt annoyed.

The survey had a thousand Asia-Pacific respondents aged 18 years old and above.

Unisys said banks should improve digital technology by taking note of customers’ banking experiences.

“Maybe banks need to do something about those queues.

That means better queue management techniques,” said Ian Selbie, Unisys Asia-Pacific financial services solutions director, in a presentation.

“That probably means making the digital channel more streamlined and easier to use,” he added.

For example, banks should adapt responsive design technol-

Unisys Financial Services Solutions Director Ian Selbie answers questions during a press conference on Unisys research, which revealed that Filipino consumers prefer to bank at branches rather than online but show strong readiness for mobile channels.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo

ogy on their websites, to allow web pages to adjust to the size of a mobile screen.

“Another major area that hasn’t improved customers’ experience is the area of security. Typically, as we saw from the research of a bank account, customers want to be protected but they don’t want their experience to be impaired,” Selbie said.

“The fraud detection system that banks use can be improved to do a better job. For example, detecting fraud on real time, so you block the bad transaction and let the good transactions through, rather than having to block the entire account,” he added.

Unisys enumerated five steps to a “quality banking experience.”

First, designing offerings from the customers’ point of view, addressing their concerns and providing solutions to inconveniences. Second, understanding what drives the personal focus of some transactions.

Third, using of analytics to decrease security and fraud risks. Fourth, staying relevant by personalizing experiences.

Fifth, adapting digital technology “without forgetting the branch.”

“Self-learning analytic technologies help banks to actively monitor all transactions at all times,” Unisys said.

THE Philippine government has allocated a P2.26 billion subsidy for jeepney drivers and operators to aid the public utility vehicle modernization program.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board spokesperson Aileen Lizada announced on Monday, July 3 that a P80,000 subsidy would be given to each driver plying the routes of Senate-Philippine International Convention Center, Taguig-Pasig, and Patero-Fort Bonifacio, payable within seven years at 6 percent interest rate.

The Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Finance assured that the given subsidy is enough to cover the 5 percent equity loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) worth 1.2 million to 1.6 million loan package.

The loan package is under the special program for environmentfriendly and efficiently-driven (SPPED) that helps can help drivers avail either air-conditioned electric, hybrid or Euro-4 jeepney.

Additionally, the P20 million will cover all the 250 replacement unit own by the jeepney cooperative who were able to comply the Land Bank of the Philippines’ requirement for the financial aid package.

“They are existing cooperatives whose members have been issued individual Certificates of Public Convenience (franchise).

The (subsidy) will grant directly to the members,” Lizada explained.

Specifically, the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative Inc., the Taguig Transport Service Cooperative, and the Pateros-Fort Bonifacio Transport Service Mul-

tipurpose Cooperative.

Lizada declared that the government will subsidize another batch of 28,347 drivers nationwide by 2018.

“Priority will be given for the first local government unites who will complete their route rationalization plan. Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao are also priority areas,” LTFRB member said.

Luzon Development Bank (LDB) fueled the modernization program last May by establishing a P1-billion credit facility that would cover around 650 replacement units.

The PUV modernization program is expected to modernize a majority of the 180,000 running jeepney units in the country. The government has yet to discuss the details for 2019 subsidy.

(With reports from Klarizza de Vera/AJPress)

Jollibee loses trademark case vs Jolliville Holdings

by AngelicA

BAllesteros ManilaTimes.net

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. has lost a long-running trademark case against listed realty firm Jolliville Holdings Inc. Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director-General Josephine Santiago reversed the decision of its Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) and granted Jolliville’s appeal to register its corporate name, a move that Jollibee tried to block.

“The appellant’s mark is not confusingly similar to appellee’s marks,” IPOPHL said in its decision on June 8.

“In the absence of the likelihood

of confusion between the Jolliville and the appellee’s registered trademarks, there is no ground to prohibit the registration of Jolliville in the name of the appellant,” it added.

In January 2013, Jollibee opposed Jolliville’s application for a logo and corporate name.

IPOPHL-BLA Director Nathaniel Arevalo ruled in favor of Jollibee in September 2014 and compelled Jollivile to file for an appeal.

Jolliville said the use of “Jolli” in its corporate name is a tribute to its founder Jolly Ting and that Jollibee cannot claim exclusive and immediate association of “Jolli” or “Jolly.”

It said that there were several other registered corporations and trademarks which use the same name.

Jolliville argued that its name was not confusing and similar to Jollibee and its other registered marks.

It uses the prefix ‘Jolli’ and appends it to ‘ville’ for its real estate affairs and realty leasing services.

The realty company presented its certificates of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showing that Jolly Ting started using the ‘Jolli’ prefix in the mid-1980s.

“The appellant has proven its ownership and continuous use of Jolliville since 1986. It has secured

trademark registration for Jolliville as early as 2004,” IPOPHL said.

“While appellee was making it big in the food service business, so was Mr. Jolly Ting in the night entertainment business. As the owner of a string of night entertainment establishments such as Pegasus, Discovery, Mega Heartbeat, Lexus, he earned the moniker king of night entertainment,” it added.

Ting later announced the company is diversifying into real estate, property management, and development.

IPOPHL also said Jollibee did not present any proof that its interests have been damaged or are likely to be damaged by the registration of Jolliville.

“The registration of Jolliville in favor of the appellant is not contrary to the provisions of the IP Code but is consistent with the very essence of granting trademark registration,” IPOPHL said.

Ting started in the night club business, then branched out into real estate with Jolliville Realty and Development Co. Inc. in September 1986. The SEC approved the change in name of Jolliville Realty to Jolliville Holdings Corp. in April 1999.

As of press time, JFC has not replied to The Manila Times regarding the decision.

PH eyes creation of World Food Bank by louise

MAureen Philstar.com

siMeon

MANILA - The Philippines is proposing the establishment of a World Food Bank which will receive agricultural products as “deposits” and will in turn be loaned out to other countries which are in need of specific commodities.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who chairs the ongoing 40th United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 40th Biennial Conference in Rome, presented the idea to member countries following the challenges of achieving global food security.

“Any country producing food commodity in excess, like wheat, corn, cassava or rice, could submit

their excess product inventory to the World Food Bank which could loan these out to countries where people are suffering from hunger or famine,” Piñol said.

“The World Food Bank will not only ensure that commodities produced in excess by a country would not go to waste thus ensuring that the farmer will make money from his endeavor, it will also contribute to the FAO’s vision of Zero Hunger,” he added.

The agri chief emphasized that through the World Food Bank, farmers in various countries would be assured of a ready market for their excess produce.

“Countries suffering from food shortage would then be relieved of their problem of feeding their population,” Piñol said.

BPO tax perks stay, says DOF

by MAry

grAce Philstar.com

PAdin

MANILA - The Department of Finance (DOF) has assured the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector that it will be able to sustain its competitiveness in the export market as it will not be impacted by the first package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

In a statement, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said House Bill 5636 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) seeks the removal of tax perks enjoyed by suppliers of export-oriented firms, or those referred to as “indirect exporters.”

Chua explained to exporters, including BPO firms, that they would

still retain their VAT exemptions and zero-rated status.

“The fear that the Philippine BPO industry will lose its competitiveness because of the proposed tax reform has no basis,” Chua said.

“Certain industry stakeholders are likely misinterpreting the provisions of the bill. There is no change in tax policy here for exporters,” he added.

According to Chua, BPO firms in special economic zones (SEZs) would continue to enjoy valueadded tax (VAT) exemption, while those outside SEZs, including those registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) would retain their zero-rated status under PAGE D5

Moody’s: PH banks stable...

PAGE D1

Moody’s also sees continued improvement in the fiscal situation in the country, notwithstanding the government’s target of a wider deficit of 3 percent because of its infrastructure spending plan, which should push up the budget deficit, de Guzman said.

The government plans to boost infrastructure spending from 5.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 to 7.4 percent of GDP by 2022, with total spending of P8.4 trillion on infrastructure planned for the 2017 to 2022 period.

“Also underpinning the stable outlook for the Philippine banks is how strong the buffers are. There are high capital ratios and very stable liquidity profiles that the banks have,” Chen added.

“We do expect the bank’s assets quality to remain stable over the next 12 to 18 months,” he said.

However, he stressed that

Moody’s predicts the gross nonperforming loans (NPL) ratio of banks “might move up quite a bit over the next 12 to 18 months” as lenders focus their loans growth on the retail and the SME sectors.

“These sectors are where delinquencies were higher, and when they focus their growth opportunities in the retail and SME and slowly performing in the corporates, then that is when we see that the overall NPL ratios could start to go up over the net 12 to 18 months,” he explained.

The latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed that as of end-April this year, the banking system’s gross NPL ratio stood at 2.03 percent, lower than 2.21 percent a year earlier.

Last week, Moody’s affirmed the Philippines’ “Baa2” investment grade rating and stable outlook, but warned of political risks and cited indications of overheating in the economy.

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Marketplace

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 8-11, 2017 D

New homes of Park Place at Ontario Ranch feature lightning-fast gigabit fiber-optic Internet!

OntariO, Ca —the future is now at Park Place in Ontario ranch thanks to the cuttingedge fiber-optic technology built into every new home bringing up to a gigabit internet speed and making buffering a thing of the past. at this new home master-planned community by Lewis Community Developers and Stratham Communities, residents will enjoy ultra-highbandwidth data services no matter how many devices are connected, making it possible to stream multiple HD movies simultaneously while still enjoying quick uploads and downloads. new homeowners will take advantage of this blazingly fast internet service at the envy of others in the area. Park Place presents five distinctive new home neighborhoods: Haldeigh and Margate by KB Home, St. James by tri Pointe Homes and Canopy Creek and Waterford by Woodside Homes. Extending from approximately 1,656 to 3,984 square feet, this dynamic collection of residential designs offers three to six bedrooms and two-and-one-half to five-and-onehalf bathrooms plus spacious two- and three-car garages,

making them ideal for growing or multigenerational families. Prices begin in the low $400,000s.

Besides lightning-fast internet speeds that are ten to twenty times faster than regular highspeed internet, Park Place offers many other top-tier amenities. all residents will enjoy the Parkhouse, a world-class 14,500square-foot central community clubhouse that features a resortcaliber swimming pool, fully equipped fitness and business centers, Wi-Fi, multiple game rooms, a library and a stateof-the-art movie theater with club seating. and a masterfully appointed catering kitchen and adjoining multipurpose room are ideal for hosting special celebrations in style. three acres of beautiful grounds surround the Parkhouse and are home to tennis courts, a creative play area and a dog park. Picnics with friends, family and neighbors are a delight at the adjoining Celebration Park, where kids and adults alike will enjoy outdoor play, relaxation and socializing.

Plans at Park Place include a future elementary school within walking distance of each neighborhood. not only is Park Place

served by an award-winning school district, but it is located near many universities and higher-education institutions, including azusa Pacific University, Cal Poly Pomona, Chaffey College, Mt. San antonio College, Platt College, riverside Community College, the art institute of California, University of California, riverside, Western University of Health Sciences, Westwood College and the highly acclaimed Claremont Colleges, one of which is among the nation’s top ten.

Park Place is located within the greater community of Ontario ranch, which will span 8,200 acres and is planned to offer modern amenities and abundant recreation, including the sprawling Chaffey Park. Proposed plans include retail and business space, along with nearly 1,000 acres dedicated to public open space, parks and schools.

Directions to Park Place: if traveling the 15 freeway, exit on Limonite avenue and head west. Proceed on Limonite avenue for approximately 2.5 miles and turn right at archibald avenue. travel approximately 0.5 miles and turn right at Merrill avenue. Continue for approximately

0.25 miles and the Parkhouse sales center is on the left. if traveling the 60 freeway, exit on archibald avenue and head south. Proceed on archibald avenue for approximately 3.25 miles and turn left at Merrill avenue. Continue for approximately 0.25 miles and the Parkhouse

sales center is on the left.

Call (888) 855-6249 for more information or visit www.parkplaceontario.com.

Park Place at Ontario ranch reflects the vision and experience of Lewis Community Developers and Stratham Communities. Park Place is a true collaborative effort

between award-winning homebuilders KB Home, tri Pointe Homes and Woodside Homes.

We understand the wants and needs of today’s families because we have families of our own. We designed and built a community that we would live in.

(Advertising Supplement)

PH franchise industry sets sights 7% breakout GDP growth seen on becoming top dollar earner

by PhiliP

c. Tubeza Inquirer.net

by Richmond

meRcuRio

Philstar.com

ManiLa - the franchise industry is expected to grow faster in the next two years on the back of the sustained expansion of the local economy, fueling hopes it would rise to become the country’s next top dollar earner.

Philippine Franchise association (PFa) chairman emeritus Samie Lim on thursday, July 6 said the industry is seen growing at least 30 percent this year and next. in 2016, the industry accelerated 20 percent from P16 billion in total sales registered in 2015. “the next two years will be a phenomenal growth of at least 30 percent,” Lim said. “in more advanced and developed countries, franchising is about 50 percent of total retail sales. in the Philippines, we are only about 25 percent so we still have room to double that so that every other store will become a franchise,” he added.

With some 1.2 million jobs gen-

tHE economic strategy of President Duterte is bearing fruit, with GDP (gross domestic product) growing 6.68 percent during his first three quarters, or “faster than [those of] all other administrations,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on thursday, July 6.

“We expect to grow close to the targeted 7 percent throughout the year,” he said.

Dominguez noted that the average inflation rate for the first 11 months of the administration is 2.64 percent.

Moreover, he said, the national government debt as a percentage of GDP declined from 43 percent as of the end of June 2016 to 41.9 percent by the end of March.

Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) chairman emeritus Samie Lim on Thursday, July 6 said “the reduced debt load allows the industry is seen growing at least 30 percent this year and next. us enough flexibility to pump-prime erated by the industry at present, prises (MSMEs). You can start a our economy,” he said.

“With the passage of the ComLim said additional employment of franchise for as low as P100,000 to 1.5 million are also being eyed in a high of P20 million if you want,” prehensive tax reform Program, we can guarantee a breakout he said. the next two years.

Lim, however, said challenges growth of above 7 percent and “Franchising is where you can start a business with very small continue to impede the sector’s sustain this into the medium term,” amount because it is meant for the growth, among which are the lack the finance chief said.

Dominguez said the faster ecomicro, small and medium enterPAGE D5

nomic growth would enable the government to bring down the poverty rate from 21.6 percent today to 14 percent in 2022.

‘Fiscally secure’ the country, he said, was “fiscally secure” as the government collected P2.09 trillion in revenue from July 2016 to May this year. “that is 7 percent higher than the same period the previous year,” he said.

Dominguez said the Bureau of Customs confiscated P8.4 billion in smuggled goods from august 2016 to June, or seven and a half times more than the P1.2 billion seized in smuggled goods registered in 2015.

Learning from the previous administration’s experience, Malacañang has opted not to use public-private partnerships (PPPs) in funding major infrastructure projects so that these could at least get started on time.

Dominguez said a review of the PPPs showed that it took three years for a PPP-financed project to get off the ground. “that’s why the last administration was only able to do four

projects, right? Because the PPP process is very long,” he said.

“We cannot wait to negotiate for three years, then after three years, ‘OK, this is only when we start.’ We can’t do that. We have to start now,” he added.

P3.6-T infra program the Duterte administration is embarking on a P3.6-trillion infrastructure program that will be funded through a tax reform program and new loans.

“We know that we don’t have to go through the long negotiations for the PPP, OK. now, we have a large capacity to borrow. and our interest rate that we pay is lower than the interest rate that the private sector pays,” Dominguez said.

He pointed out that the government retained the option of turning existing projects into PPPs. “Once the project started, or… even in the middle of the project, we can turn it over and make it PPP. We can sell the project and we can use the funds to repay our loan,” he said.

Dominguez said this could be done in operation and maintenance (O&M) projects.

D july 8-11, 2017 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAl

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Marketplace & ShowrooM

World debut of 10th-generation Honda Accord set for July 14 Honda last week released a concept sketch highlighting the aggressive stance and proportion of the all-new 2018 Honda accord that will make its global debut in detroit and via YouTube Livestream on July 14 (July 15 in Manila), at 11 a.m. EdT. The all-new accord – the most fun-todrive, premium and dramatically styled accord ever – is the 10th generation of america’s bestselling mid-sized sedan, the no.

1choice of individual american car buyers cumulatively since 2010.

Earlier this month, the company announced plans for a new accord that will feature three powerful and fuel-efficient powertrains, including two new direct-injected and turbocharged engines paired with either a new Honda-developed 10speed automatic transmission, CVT or a 6-speed manual transmission depending on the engine, as well as the next-generation of Honda’s two-motor hybrid powertrain technology. Honda will share additional details of its powertrain performance, along with the new design and technology at the event. a perennial bestseller with american car buyers, the accord has been the US retail sales leader in the mid-sized sedan segment for

four straight years (2013-2016).

For the first five months of 2017, based on retail sales to individual buyers, accord is the top selling mid-sized sedan in america and the second best-selling passenger car overall, surpassed only by the new Honda Civic. accord also is an unprecedented 31-time recipient of Car and driver magazine’s coveted 10 Best award.

Since its launch in 1976, american car buyers have purchased more than 13 million accords.

It was the first vehicle from a Japanese automaker to be made in america and has been in continuous production at Honda’s Marysville, ohio auto plant since november 1982. Cumulative US production of accord now exceed 11 million units over 35 years of

BPO tax perks stay...

PAGE D2 House Bill 5636 or TRaIn. “Receipts from foreign services within the SEZs of the Philippine Economic Zone authority will remain VaT-exempt, as is the case now, because they are outside customs territory by legal fiction, or zero-rated if the exporters are outside the special economic zone, including those that are BoI-registered,” Chua said. “as for exporters outside SEZs, they are zero-rated on VaT payments and are entitled to get back their VaT payments once they apply for such refunds under the proposed 90-day refund system, while all other taxpayers, including suppliers to exporters will have to pay the VaT,” he added.

However, Chua assured that the zero-rated VaT privilege of indirect exporters would be removed only if and when a credible and enhanced system VaT refund system is in place.

The system, he said, would allow companies to claim cash refunds for their VaT payments within 90 days after the filing

of VaT refund applications with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“The concerns raised by the BPo sector against tax reform appear to be misplaced. They will remain competitive as demand for their services are driven by the high quality of service and talent they offer. The tax policy in the BPo sector will remain the same even after TRaIn,” Chua said.

HB 5636, which contains the first package of the CTRP, aims to simplify the country’s tax system by lowering personal income tax rates and unifying estate taxes, while adjusting excise taxes on fuel, automobiles and sugar sweetened beverages.

It also proposes to broaden the tax base by removing VaT exemptions, including those enjoyed by local suppliers of exporters.

However, PEZa director general Charito Plaza earlier warned that an annual loss of P250 billion could be incurred by local suppliers of export-oriented firmsonce their tax perks are removed.

US manufacturing.

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent US Honda dealers.

The Honda line-up includes the Fit, Civic, accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pick-up and the odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in america for 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in north america. In 2016, more than 95 percent of all Honda and acura vehicles sold in the US were made in north america, using domestic and globally sourced parts. (ManilaTimes.net)

Franchise industry sets...

PAGE D3 of financing for budding entrepreneurs in the country and high rental costs in malls.

“Filipinos, we are people with great talent but we lack financing,” he said.

“The mall rental is definitely a problem but many people are moving out of the malls also. and that’s where franchising will grow because franchising is supposed to be serving the community. as traffic becomes more of a problem, people will have difficulty going to the malls, so people now want to shop in the vicinity or right in the front of their residences,” Lim added.

With so much potential for growth, the franchise industry is seen capable of becoming the country’s next top dollar earner. at present, Lim said the industry is in the middle of the top 10 dollar earners of the country, led by oFW remittances and the business process outsourcing sector.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 8-11, 2017 D

D july 8-11, 2017 • lA WEEKEND ASIAN jOuRNAl

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