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

Volume 26 - No. 49 • 4 Sections – 34 Pages

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USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

DACA recipients can still enlist in military to expedite citizenship BeNefICIArIes of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy can still follow a path to citizenship by enlisting in the Us armed services.

A single vote prevented the house of representatives from passing an amendment to the annual defense spending bill that would have barred undocumented immigrants from enlisting in the military. house rep. Paul Gosar (r-Ariz.), who proposed the amendment, said he was attempting to close a “backdoor amnesty policy.” the military Accessions Vital to the Nation-

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Housing a top issue among AAPI seniors in LA Los ANGeLes — housing was a major concern among attendees at a public forum on senior citizens’ issues hosted by the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) on thursday, June 16 at the Celebration Chapel of the YNot Church.

NAPCA partnered with the White house Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WhIAAPI) for the community listening session, which included a panel of representatives from several local organizations and federal agencies who shared programs and services directed toward the needs, challenges and barriers of older Asian Ameri-

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Surrounded with security personnel, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte leaves the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday, June 15 after meeting his incoming Cabinet members for Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes the first time outside Davao City.

Duterte, Robredo to be inaugurated separately mANILA — the inauguration of President-elect rodrigo Duterte and Vice President-elect Leni robredo on June 30 will be the first in recent history where the two highest elected officials will be sworn in to office separately. special circumstances aside – such as when then vice president Gloria macapagal-Arroyo took her oath alone at eDsA shrine on Jan. 20, 2001 – the president and the vice president always took their oaths at the same venue.

Arroyo’s first vice president, teofisto Guingona Jr., took his oath following the congressional confirmation of his selection on feb. 9, 2001. on feb. 25, 1986, following the snap elections called by dictator ferdinand marcos sr., his challenger, former President Corazon Aquino, took her oath with Vice President salvador Laurel at Club filipino. on the same day, marcos – who also claimed victory in the said

election – took his oath at the rizal Ceremonial hall in malacañang without his vice president Arturo tolentino. reports cited conflicting reports for the latter’s absence.

It was Aquino and Laurel who served the full six-year term as marcos fled from the Palace during the 1986 People Power revolution.

Aquino’s successor, fidel ramos, took his oath of office with

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More Filipino nurses seen working overseas Duterte, advisors,

by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

mANILA — Labor recruiters expect more filipino nurses to seek employment abroad after President Aquino vetoed a bill that would have increased the salary of local nurses. recruitment officials said the junking of the consolidated bill that seeks a monthly basic pay of P26,000 for health workers would only force more nurses to work abroad.

“Demand for filipino nurses in the United Kingdom is rising as more UKbased hospitals and care homes have hired over 1,000 filipino nurses in the past 16 months with a minimum pay ranging from P80,000 to P110,000,”

communist groups initiate peace talks

recruitment leaders said. the Philippine overseas employment Administration (PoeA) has reported an increasing trend in the deployment of local nurses for the past years, from 15,655 in 2012 to 16,444 in 2013 and 19,815 in 2014.

A group of nurses rejected the claim of Aquino that the approval of the proposed measure would undermine the existing government salary structure and cause wage distortion not only among health workers but also among other professionals in the government service.

OFW benefits meanwhile, newly elected ofW party-list group rep. John Bertiz III urged

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by eriC

anthony liCas AJPress

PresIDeNt-elect rodrigo Duterte and rebel communist leaders will reinitiate formal peace talks in July in hopes of ending a decades-long insurgency, according to a joint statement signed in oslo, Norway on Wednesday, June 15. the development is the result of informal talks between Duterte and his advisors, and officials from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Demo-

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Rep. John Bertiz

Corruption not allowed in incoming Cabinet by alexis

roMero Philstar.com

DAVAo CItY — President-elect rodrigo Duterte has reminded his incoming Cabinet members to ensure that his administration would not be tainted with corruption or they would be answerable to him for their misdeeds.

Duterte gave the reminder during a Emmanuel Piñol, incoming three-hour meeting agriculture sectrary with his designated officials at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Wednesday night, June 15, incoming Agriculture secretary emmanuel Piñol said.

“We were told by the president that there should be no corruption, make sure there is no corruption. (he said) nobody from my family will interfere with your work, I’m giving you a free hand on the people you choose,” Piñol told reporters here on thursday, June 16.

“But you are answerable to me for your misdeeds and for the people you have chosen,” he quoted Duterte as saying.

“We are accountable for every misstep we make. It was a very clear statement,” Piñol added.

It remains unclear what Duterte would do in the event his officials are found to be involved in corruption. Piñol, however, believes that Duterte

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Kobe Bryant set to return to Manila two months after retirement Philippines: ‘fastestby Celest

Flores-Colina Inquirer.net

KOBE IN MANILA. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is escorted as he walks around an area to endorse products during his visit at a mall in Pasay City, three years ago.

BAsKetBALL superstar Kobe Bryant is set to visit the Philippines this June, two months after playing his last game in the NBA. the NBA great will be in manila on June 25 to 26 for the mamba mentality tour, where he will also personally train promising young filipino players through the Kobe Academy.

According to a statement from Nike, aspirants are invited to join the Kobe Academy Pre-Camp

from June 22-24 to qualify for the Kobe Academy. to be a part of the mamba mentality tour, details are available at http://go.nike.com/0kfpcr.

Aside from the camp, there will be a fan showcase dubbed the “mamba mentality Night” at smart Araneta Coliseum.

No final schedule has been announced.

Bryant, who suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers for the last time in April, has been to the country several times since his first visit in 1998. n

growing’ smartphone nation in Southeast Asia

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

the Philippines is the fastestgrowing market for smartphones in the Association of southeast Asian Nations (AseAN), according to a new report from market research company International Data Corporation (IDC). the report indicated that about 3.5 million smartphones were

shipped to the country during the first quarter of 2016.

Local vendors comprise more than half of the smartphone market, like popular local retailer myPhone, which lead the local vendors’ sector. however, the local sector’s share of the market dropped 4 percent in 2015 while sales from global vendors have increased by 4 percent in 2015

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A JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Duterte, Robredo to be inaugurated…

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then-Vice President Joseph Estrada at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park on June 30, 1992.

Estrada, meanwhile, took his oath with Vice President Arroyo at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan in honor of the centennial of Philippine Independence on June 30, 1998.

After winning her second term

in 2004, Arroyo took her oath with Vice President Noli De Castro in Cebu, also on June 30.

Outgoing President Aquino took his oath with Vice President Jejomar Binay also at Quirino Grandstand on June 30, 2010.

Binay congratulates Robredo Outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay has extended his

congratulations to his successor, Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.

In a letter dated May 31, a copy of which was posted by Robredo’s daughter Aika on her Twitter account on Thursday, June 16, Binay said he has instructed his chief of staff to coordinate with her team to discuss the transition at the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“I look forward to personally meeting you. For the past six years, and despite its modest budget, the OVP has extended assistance to thousands of poor and marginalized Filipinos, including our brothers and sisters working abroad,” Binay said in PERILOUS RIDE. Students ride a banca to reach their school in Malabon City (Metro Manila) on the first day of school on Monday, June the letter.

13. City residents are used to riding boats because the streets are constantly flooded.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene DIlan “I am confident that with you as the next vice president, the OVP will continue to be an instrument for social justice,” he added.

Robredo’s daughter thanked the outgoing Vice President for PAGE A1 t “The president would relieve mindset,” the incoming agriculwould not hesitate to remove the entire department and city ture chief said. “Nobody is indisthe support in the transition.

“Thank you very much for be- those who are guilty of wrong- hall if one commits a wrongdo- pensable. There are no (sacred) ing. I think that’s still the same cows.” u PAGE A4 doing.

Piñol said Duterte was serious but in a light mood when he presided over the meeting.

“We are upbeat. We are happy.

The president was very happy,” he said.

Last month, Duterte vowed to be harsh when it comes to corruption and has outlined bold measures to address the problem.

He is planning to reshuffle personnel at the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and Land Transportation Office, agencies that he described as the “most corrupt.”

The tough-talking Duterte will also prohibit military and police officers from bringing along with them their staff in their next assignments to prevent payoffs.

He has also warned judges against issuing temporary restraining orders for a fee, a practice that he said had delayed important government projects.

While he was criticized for naming his classmates to key posts and for supposedly “recycling” officials from previous administrations, Duterte said his administration would be filled with “men of integrity and honesty.”

Other issues Piñol said the meeting also

Corruption not allowed in incoming…

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From the Front page

PALACE TOUR. President Benigno Aquino III receives (from left) incoming executive assistant Christopher “Bong” Go, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. in his office. The three members of the Duterte Cabinet were given a tour of the Palace. With them was Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. Contributed photo by Bong Go

More Filipino nurses seen working…

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president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to rescind an order integrating the P550 airport terminal fee in the airline tickets for international passengers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“We appeal to incoming president Duterte and his transportation secretary Arthur Tugade to immediately revoke MIAA-MC No. 8 that reduces the exemptions granted by law to our fellow OFWs,” he said.

He noted that existing laws exempt OFWs from paying travel

tax, documentary stamp and airport terminal fee.

MIAA allows OFWs to refund integrated terminal fee upon showing of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) issued by the POEA. But he said many OFWs were unable to refund the payment since the new regulation was enforced last February.

“We hope that the next (MIAA) general manager would put into serious review and possibly rescind MC No. 8 because it blatantly disregards the exemptions

granted by a law for our OFWs,” he pointed out.

Betiz stressed that a mere circular could not supersede, much less amend, a law that has been in existence for the past 20 years.

Jobs at home Aquino is proud of what his six-year administration has done in turning the economy around so that Filipinos don’t have to leave their families to work abroad.

“We are glad that this country is able to afford you that dignified living whereas previously it

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Philippines: ‘fastest-growing’…

PAGE A1 t

compared to the previous year, according to the IDC report.

Affordable, low-end smartphones are a significant factor because it opened up the market to Filipinos who otherwise would not have access to smartphones, according to Mobile World Live.

Budget phones that are priced at PHP3,500 ($75) are becoming more popular among Filipinos.

Popular smartphone retailers like Samsung and Asus have also been tackling the sub-PHP6,000 ($129) sector, IDC Philippine market analyst Jerome Dominguez said in an interview with Rappler.

In the last three years, overall smartphone usage among Filipi-

nos in the Philippines more than doubled according to a report from statistics portal Statista.

Currently, about 30 percent of all Filipinos are smartphone users and that is projected to increase.

Dominguez said that this upsurge in smartphone demand will further innovate the smartphone market in the Philippines.

“As the Philippines smartphone market matures and shifts from being an acquisition game to a replacement one, consumers are expected to demand more from a smartphone in terms of specs and performance,” said Dominguez.

While the Philippines may be enjoying a more smartphonesavvy market, the IDC said that

network connectivity problems may ensue due to the increasing smartphone-using populace.

Moreover, consumer demand for smartphones with higher memory capacity will increase; the IDC report found that smartphones with less than one GB of random access memory (RAM) dropped from 44 percent to 38 percent.

Because mobile Internet is still “among the most expensive” in Southeast Asia, telecommunications companies should work on innovating and expanding their capabilities to serve budding smartphone markets, according to IDC Philippines Country Head Jubert Albert in an interview with Rappler. n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

A

From the Front page

A JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Duterte, Robredo to be inaugurated…

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ing so gracious, @VPJojoBinay!

Your team has been very helpful and accommodating,” she said in the tweet.

On Thursday, June 16, Robredo was the main guest at the Department of Education’s “Kariton Klasrum” culminating activity where she thanked outgoing Education Secretary Armin Luistro and outgoing Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman for their commitment and dedication to serve the youth.

Binay and Robredo’s transition teams met last week to discuss the smooth turnover of the functions of the OVP. A meeting between the two will also be set up prior to the inauguration of new government officials on June 30.

Binay ran an unsuccessful campaign for president under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Robredo, meanwhile, was the running mate of administration bet Manuel Roxas II, who also lost the race.

During the transition meeting, OVP chief of staff Benjamin Martinez said Robredo would inherit the bulk of the P500-million budget of the office for 2016.

Robredo’s chief of staff Boyet Dy expressed gratitude to the Binay camp for giving them the financial flexibility to pursue the programs that the new vice president would want to pursue.

“She wants to use it as a platform to engage as many stakeholders as possible around antipoverty programs, pushing for her key advocacy of women’s empowerment, making sure that development is not just in the urban areas but also in our provinces and regions and making sure that we win the fight against hunger,” he said.

VP loser better treated by Duterte Meanwhile, defeated Vice Presidential bet Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is allegedly receiving better treatment from Duterte than the vice president-elect, reelected Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said on Thursday.

He said Marcos, unlike Robredo, has already met with the incoming president in Davao City to discuss his concerns on the burial of his father and possibly serving in the Duterte administration in the future.

In the case of Robredo, he said she is getting snubbed by Duterte despite the latter’s call for unity and healing.

“Previous vice presidents served in the Cabinet. In the case of Leni, there is no offer of a Cabinet post. To add insult to injury, the incoming president has announced that he wants an inauguration that is separate from that of Leni. It’s as if they still consider us in the Liberal Party as political enemies. The trust is not there,” he said.

Baguilat suggested that Ro-

bredo should no longer expect any Cabinet post from Duterte and that she should instead lead the opposition.

“Our candidate for president lost to Mayor Duterte, so we should expect to be in the opposition,” he said.

Duterte said offering the vice president-elect a Cabinet job has not crossed his mind.

Besides, it might hurt Marcos, who is his friend, he said.

It might also hurt his supporters in Ilocos Norte, where he won, he said.

Duterte lamented that he “lost miserably” in Bicol, Robredo’s region.

On another issue, Baguilat said he is disappointed by the failure of Roxas and the Liberal Party to file their respective statements of contributions and expenses on time.

“I hope that we will not be affected,” he said, referring to speculations that such failure could prevent LP winners from assuming office.

But he said he is not ready to agree to rumors that some LP insiders were trying to sabotage Robredo.

Marcos has announced that he would file an election protest against the vice president-elect with the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on June 28. He lost by a slim margin of 263,473 votes.

(By Jess Diaz and Paolo Romero / Philstar.com)

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RELEASE THEM. Students hold a rally in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) building in Manila to urge President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to release political prisoners.

ManilaTImes.net photo by Russell Palma

Corruption not allowed in incoming…

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touched on the K-12 program, traffic problem, budget matters and food security.

He said incoming Education Secretary Leonor Briones informed the president that it is too late to shift gears on K-12 because of the law that institutionalized it.

“She (Briones) is open to improvement and modification but is steadfast in her position that there is no way we can amend

that because of the law,” Piñol said.

Piñol reported to Duterte his consultations with farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

He said he is eyeing a cashfor-work program for farmers and fishermen to earn additional income. The work may include preparing roads, cleaning bodies of water and planting mangroves, among other tasks.

Piñol said he is also working closely with seed growers to increase rice production to prepare for La Niña, which is expected to hit the country in November.

“We are talking to seed growers. We want to know how many seeds are available. By October, we have to harvest them. The planting should be done in July so we can have enough rice,” he said.

He added that incoming transportation secretary Arthur Tugade reported on the traffic problem in Metro Manila and proposed cracking down on unregistered or “colorum” vehicles.

As to the proposal to grant Duterte emergency powers to address traffic woes, Piñol said the matter “was referred to the legal minds.”

Incoming budget secretary Benjamin Diokno, meanwhile, informed Duterte that about P1.7 trillion remains unspent in this year’s budget.

Incoming Finance Secretary

Carlos Dominguez discussed his proposed meeting with the business sector from June 20 to 21 here. Duterte is expected to attend the second day of the meeting.

‘Meet-and-greet’ The first Cabinet meeting presided over by Duterte in Metro Manila on Wednesday, June 15 was an informal affair that involved a “meet-and-greet” among top government executives who would steer the country in the next six years, said incoming presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

“This evening was a simple meet and greet,” Abella said. “It was an informal meeting with the Cabinet. There was an introduction of the new Cabinet members and the new appointees.”

He and incoming Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar faced the media following the almost five-hour late night meeting.

Duterte, who flew from Davao City on Wednesday to visit the wake of Bataan vice governorelect Enrique Garcia Jr., arrived past 6 p.m. at PICC using a helicopter.

The meeting, which also included dinner, supposedly started around 7 p.m. and ended more than four hours later.

Around 28 people were in the room, including almost all of the designated Cabinet members,

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Housing a top issue among AAPI…

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AIR TRAINING. A United States (US) Navy aircraft arrived at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Wednesday, June 15 for the training with FA50 aircraft pilots of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The newly arrived EA-18G Growler aircraft is part of the first temporary detachment of the US Navy, according to a report from the US Pacific Fleet. The Growler aircraft will also perform routine operations to enhance regional maritime domain awareness and assure that there is access to air and maritime domains in accordance with international law. The detachment consists of four aircraft and 120 personnel assigned to the expeditionary squadron based at the Naval Air Station in Whidbey Island, Washington.

US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr.

can and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults.

An array of issues was introduced -- including health care and benefits, financial security and employment -- but affordable housing for senior citizens was the most talked-about issue among the attendees.

Vicki Cimmarusti, a NAPCA member, asked Tracy Badua, housing program specialist from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) whether the department is initiating the construction of more affordable housing. A critical concern was that most affordable housing for seniors, most of which are provided by HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, are located in “unsafe areas” frequented by vandals, according to Cimmarusti.

“One week a whole bunch of taggers come up and tag the place, and then the next week

landlords try to clean it up, but the taggers come back the next week and do it again,” said Cimmarusti. “It’s really bad and something to look into because you have to walk through a cesspool to get to the nearest [public transit]. It really is uncomfortable.”

More attendees chimed in by adding that some of these areas in which food stores, pharmacies and public transportation are not easily accessible. A group of caregivers urged that HUD should be more active in setting up housing in safer, more desirable areas as well as constructing larger units, many of which were described as “cramped.”

“Most of the houses are put into the low-income areas, and the more affluent areas don’t want low-income housing in [their neighborhoods],” said Gary Phillips, a caregiver. “Why can’t there be more low-income housing [more affluent] neighborhoods rather than those of undesirability?”

Badua answered that instituting more housing on a citywide level is best to be handled by local forces. Although HUD provides funding for state and city level agencies, the way in which those agencies allocate the funding is dependent on zoning laws and laws and issues specific to each state or city, said Badua.

While still on the subject of housing, Cimmarusti also probed about a “loop-hole” in the housing system wherein certain neighborhoods and building managers can avoid installing Section 8 housing by paying a fee to the department and suggested that the department “tighten up the rule” regarding the voidance of low-income housing.

Badua, once again, said that the department remains vigilant to all housing concerns and assured that the vouchers are safe and reliable, and any issue of malfeasance are to be investi-

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Duterte, advisors, communist groups… Corruption not allowed in incoming…

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cratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Duterte will not take office until June 30, so the recently concluded meetings in Oslo cannot yield binding commitments from the Philippine government.

Participants of the planned negotiations intend to broker amnesty and a ceasefire in a domestic conflict that has claimed 40,000 lives to date, according to sources for Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. A delegation of Filipino leftists, including CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, and a chief negotiator for the NDFP, Luis Jalandoni, will meet with Duterte and his advisors in the third week of July, according to ABS-CBN news.

Both sides had extended gestures of goodwill ahead of informal exploratory negotiations in June. Shortly after winning the presidency, Duterte announced that Sison, who was one of the President-elect’s professors at Manilla University before living

in exile in the Netherlands, would be welcome to return to the Philippines, according to Inquirer.

Rebel groups have released several policemen from their custody, and Duterte said he would include leftist (though not necessarily CPP or NDFP members) in his administration’s cabinet, according to the WSJ. Appointments would be in the departments of Labor, Environment, Agrarian Reform, and Social Welfare, according to Bloomberg.

In May, the incoming president had promised to free communist political prisoners if CPP and NDFP representatives agreed to convene for peace talks. Prior negotiations between rebels and the Filipino government ended when the administration of outgoing president Benigno Aquino III refused to meet demands for the unconditional release of communists, according to the Philippine Star.

The NDFP had claimed that rebels charged with criminal of-

More Filipino nurses seen…

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was always abroad where there was that promise. And this is just the stepping stone,” he told young cadet engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson on Friday, June 17 brought 125 young civil engineers to Malacañang as part of the reform program in the agency to hire new workers and weed out corruption.

Aquino called on the young public civil servants, who have been given plantilla positions in the DPWH, to continue working for the common good, where they have been trained by Singson’s leadership standards for the department long ridiculed for its countless anomalies.

“There will be even better and better opportunities down the line. And I am sure no good

deed will ever go unrewarded,” he said. “We improve our democracy. We make it valuable to everybody then we move on, advancing step-by-step.

“The more we are committed, the further the steps we can take,” Aquino stressed. “So, again, you have taken a very, very good first step. We have to make sure that the system works for everybody, that everybody has a stake in the system.”

In 2015, he took note of the number of OFWs who have decided to come home instead of working in other countries.

“I am really so pleased about the decrease in the number of OFWs. There is a study that says at least about 400,000 of our countrymen have come back home and have found meaningful jobs,” Aquino disclosed to journalists last December. (With Delon Porcalla)

fenses were acting as peace consultants, and therefore immune to prosecution. However, government officials from the prior administration said it would be impossible to verify the identity of communists and isolate them from non-political prisoners.

There were about 3,200 soldiers in the armed body of the CPP, the New People’s Army (NPA), according to the Philippine Star. In February, clashes between rebels and the Filipino military left three dead and seven injured. n

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incoming presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo told The Star on Thursday.

Panelo said not in attendance were incoming foreign affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. who is in the United States, and incoming presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and incoming labor secretary Silvestre Bello III who are in Norway for the preliminary talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Jose David Lapuz, who was ru-

mored to have been appointed to the Commission on Higher Education, was also not present.

Among those who attended were newly designated health secretary Paulyn Ubial, trade secretary Ramon Lopez and tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo. “(The Cabinet members were) very transparent with one another, very encouraging. The president is very informal but direct to the point,” Panelo said.

Policy talks While no discussions on spe-

cific policies were discussed, Abella said the meeting involved a free-flowing exchange of ideas among Cabinet secretaries to make sure that the incoming government is well coordinated.

“The whole meeting was basically just about… hearing from the various secretaries so that the incoming administration will be able to be more systematic and more coordinated and the departments will not act as silos,” he added. (With Janvic Mateo)

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Homeless rights prevail in LA City Council

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

THE Los Angeles City Council approved settlement fees for two cases involving homeless people, together totaling $950,000, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Deliberated in a closed meeting, lawmakers agreed to a payout of $822,000 in a case in which homeless people collectively sued the city for seizing and destroying their property, the Times reported. In April, U.S. District Court Judge S. James Otero ruled that the city needed to reform its handling of homeless individuals’ personal property, citing that the existing protocol was unconstitutional and violated protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Moreover, Otero said that the city must give proper notice be-

fore going forth with searches and confiscation.

“The city, in many instances, appears to be confiscating all property, without differentiating the types of property at issue or giving homeless people a meaningful opportunity to separate essential medication or medical equipment from their other property,” Otero said in his ruling in April.

The second case resulted in a settlement of $125,000 regarding an arrest made during a 2011 protest of the city’s monthly Skid Row walks in which city and local business leaders examine the 50-block neighborhood. The city council ruled that the arrest of Pete White, LA Community Action Network organizer and activist, was a “mistake.”

White, along with other activists, protested the Skid Row walk practice because they saw it “a vehicle for ejecting poor and

homeless residents and hastening gentrification,” according to the Times article.

According a 2015 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, LA has the highest amount of homeless people in the country with a homeless population of more than 12,000. Consequently, LA is no stranger legal battles over issues of homelessness.

Last year, the city approved a payout of $1.1 million in attorney fees in a case that sought to reform ordinances that prohibited homeless people from sleeping in their cars on city streets and lots, according to another LA Times report from last year.

Two years ago, civil rights attorneys prevailed in a case that challenged police sweeps of overnight homeless encampments on Skid Row – that case resulted in $725,000 in attorney fees. n

Washington exhibit honors Filipino suffragists WASHINGTON, D.C. — “It is worth noting that Philippine society has always been blessed with strong and powerful women who shape the course of our history.

Filipinas are active in diverse fields, pouring their talents, skill, and passion into many areas of human endeavor. It is therefore no wonder that the Philippine Suffrage Movement in the early 1900s was composed mainly of Filipinas who were able to carve an identity, and a mission, that were separate from those of the influential men in their lives.”

Thus remarked Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Philippine Embassy, as he formally opened the exhibit “The Washington Home of the Philippine Suffrage Movement” on June 16 at the Embassy’s Romulo Hall.

“The Washington Home of the Philippine Suffrage Movement” stems from the research of husband-and-wife team Erwin Tiongson and Titchie CarandangTiongson, who also spearheaded the ongoing project Philippines on the Potomac or POPDC. It was an initiative of Madam Ma-

ACESS. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will construct more bridges to connect peasant enclaves separated from municipal markets by rivers that are non-traversable during the rainy days. Engineer Don Loong, ARMM’s public works secretary, on Wednesday, June 15 said with durable bridges, farmers in the region’s five provinces will have an “all time access” to trading centers where they can sell their farm products straight from their fields.

Philstar.com photo by John Unson

DACA recipients can still enlist in military…

PAGE A1 t

US First Lady Florence Harding received a group of women from the Philippines led by Sofia de Veyra, wife of the Philippine Resident Commissioner at the South Lawn of the White House on 19 June 1922. These women are the wives and daughters of the delegation which came to Washington to lay before President Harding the plea for Philippine Independence.

ria Victoria Cuisia, wife of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. Another remarkable Filipina, Monique Bascon, lent her artistic talent as exhibit designer.

The exhibit focuses on the lives of Mercedes Tiongson Sandiko, Clemencia Lopez, Sofia de Veyra, Pura Villanueva Kalaw, Aurora Quezon, Ines Villa Gonzalez and Pilar Hidalgo Lim, who pursued their advocacy for the

extension of suffrage to Filipino women during their stay in the United States in the early part of the 20th century.

“The exhibit celebrates a group of extraordinary women and their ties to Washington.

And coming so soon after the last Philippine elections, this exhibit, we hope, serves to remind us that suffrage rights have been hard won through the struggles of many people who came before us. And by coincidence, that photo of the women from the Philippines at the White House, around which the exhibit is organized, was taken almost exactly 94 years ago today,” explained Erwin and Titchie Tiongson.

“The exhibit draws materials from our Philippines on the Potomac Project. Discovering all these fascinating women and their ties to our adopted DC home has been a deeply rewarding experience. And the process of discovery has been made so much easier thanks to the generosity of so many people who shared memorabilia, photos, and family stories,” the Tiongson couple added.

The Embassy is hosting the week-long exhibit in line with its Gender and Development (GAD) program and the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Philippines-US diplomatic relations.

“We must remember that while

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7/19/16

al Interest (MAVNI) program offers US legal residents an expedited naturalization process.

In 2014, the Pentagon expanded the MAVNI program to allow DACA beneficiaries to pursue those benefits, according to the Associated Press. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told the AP that a compromise recently approved by the House Armed Services Committee clarifies the Secretary of Defense’s authority to allow any immigrant to enlist.

Gosar said the expedited citizenship program was not intended “to be utilized for the benefit of illegal immigrants.” He went on to criticize President Barack Obama, whom the congressman believes “relentlessly amended immigration law by executive fiat and executive edict.”

Opponents of Gosar’s amendment say it was an extension of the anti-immigrant rhetoric espoused by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and would deprive the military of willing soldiers. A similar bill proposed by Rep. Steve King (RIowa), which sought to prevent the Pentagon from spending money to recruit DACA beneficiaries, also failed a vote in the House.

“Your patriotism is more important than your papers,” said Gallego in opposition to the immigration amendments.

So far, 141 DACA immigrants have enlisted in the military and taken part in the MAVNI program, according to sources for the AP. More than 100,000 service members have become naturalized citizens since 2002, according to data from the United

States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) represent 5.4 or all active service members. Filipinos have fought alongside American troops since as far back as the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812.

Following the defeat of Gosar and King’s proposals, the House proceeded to pass the $575.5 billion spending bill with a 282-138 vote.

However, the president said he would veto it if it reached his desk due to provisions related to Guantanamo Bay, according to the AP. Language in the bill bans relocating prisoners from the notorious detention center in Cuba to the US, and prevents spending on construction or modification of a US-based replacement. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

istration (SSA) and U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Wage and Hour Division and the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor were also present.

Local agencies and organizations included the City of LA’s Department of Aging, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, LA County Community and Senior Services and the Center for Health Care Rights, which shared their programs such as telephone hotlines for low-income seniors, legal assistance as well as helping seniors navigate through health care systems like MediCal. All panelists mentioned that their respective organizations offered extensive translation services for non-English speaking elders.

Language barriers often prevented English-impaired elders, especially AAPI elders, from receiving the services they need, said David Cohen, chair of NAP-

CA’s board of directors.

The session’s focus was combatting challenges that older people, caregivers and families face when dealing with elder care, but Wesley Lum, president of NAPCA, also made sure to highlight the positives about old age. To the audience, he fielded the question, “What’s the best thing about growing older?”

Attendees noted that having more freedom, spending time more time with family and being able to learn from the younger generation are positives of aging.

Filipino senior citizen Romeo Bejo, 75, proudly stated that the best thing about aging is being able to shed wisdom to younger people.

“When we age, we become wiser,” Bejo said. “The experiences that we have consumed over the past years can be related and transmitted to the next generation. Getting older means getting wiser!” (By Klarize Medenilla / AJPress)

Housing a top issue among AAPI…

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gated.

After the event, Cimmarusti said that the government should initiate more action to establish more affordable housing for older people in “better neighborhoods.” She thinks that there needs to be collaboration among “federal, state, county and city level” officials to launch more low-income housing for seniors.

She said that her old neighborhood, Westlake North near 4th Street and Union Street, is colloquially known as the “Third World Country” because of the poor, unsafe living conditions, which are particularly dangerous to senior citizens.

“We’ve all worked hard our whole lives, and we just want to live in safety,” Cimmarusti added.

Other federal agencies that were represented at the panel were the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Social Security Admin-

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A

US, PH launch guidelines to protect migrants Washington exhibit honors Filipino suffragists

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States (US) recently led the launch of the “Global Guidelines to Protect Migrants in Countries Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster.”

The project, initiated by the two countries, was under the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC), according to a statement from the US Department of State.

The Philippines and the US recognized that no country is immune to conflict or natural disaster which led to the conception of the guidelines.

The publication of the guidelines was a result of two years of consultations with governments across the world and among private sector employees, civil society, diaspora and migrant orga-

thiS Week in RevieW US Sanders winds down campaign, does not concede

IN a live-stream Thursday night, June 16, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders did not concede his campaign, but pledged to worked with Hillary Clinton “to make certain that [his supporters’] voices are heard.” In his speech, Sanders encouraged young people to become involved in government and spoke about income inequality, Wall Street, climate change, health care and college tuition. Sanders won 22 states, but received a bigger than expected defeat in California. Clinton’s victory in California allowed her to collect 2,383 delegates, enough to secure her the presumptive Democratic nomination. Where Sanders goes from here is not clear, but has said in the past that he will stay in the race until the Democratic National Convention, which is next month in Philadelphia.

Orlando massacre sparks donation controversy

MANY across the nation were eager to help after the attack on Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida last Sunday, June 12. An official GoFundMe account has since reached $5 million, making it the largest, fastest- growing campaign in the website’s history.

But now the question of who should receive the money arises.

Over 100 victims of past mass killings have signed a petition to give the money directly to the families of those affected, but some fear the money will be distributed to organizations looking to profit. Additionally, over 100 fake GoFundMe campaigns have emerged, which are currently being investigated, according to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

nizations.

The guidelines seek to promote saving lives and calls in migrants to get assistance in emergencies without discrimination. They also promote fostering respect for human rights of migrants regardless of their immigration status.

Earlier this week, the Philippines and the US formally launched the guidelines at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The guidelines will also be launched in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28. (By Patricia Lourdes Viray / Philstar.com)

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diplomatic relations between our two countries turn only 70 years old this year, the ties that bind our nations have existed for over a century. Moving forward entails being open to outside partnerships and at the same time harnessing the cooperation of your own people to be united in pursuit of common goals. The Philippine Suffrage Movement had its own allies and supporters here at the US capital and we similarly honor their role in the Movement’s eventual success,”

the Deputy Chief of Mission emphasized.

The Movement triumphed as the right of suffrage was extended to Filipino women on 30 April 1937. Almost eight months later, on December 14, 1937, the Philippines held the first general election in which Filipino women were allowed to vote and run for public office.

“It truly takes a village to put together an exhibit. We are grateful to the Philippine Embassy, the Public Diplomacy Office, the Gender and Development Pro-

gram and of course, Mrs. Cuisia, for the wonderful opportunity to share our discoveries with the Filipino- American community,” the Tiongsons concluded.

Ms. Mitzi Pickard, President of the Philippine Arts, Letters and Media Council (PALM), served as master of ceremonies at the exhibit launch.

Members of the public may view the “The Washington Home of the Philippine Suffrage Movement” at the Romulo Hall until 12:00 p.m. of Thursday, June 23, excluding Saturday and Sunday. n

A JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Back to capital punishment AS promised in his campaign, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte has begun mobilizing congressional support for the restoration of capital punishment. With his “super majority” in place in the House of Representatives and his new allies also in control in the Senate, any public opposition to the plan is likely to be set aside and the death penalty may soon be back, with the only question to be settled being the mode of execution.

Nations approve state-sponsored executions not just to eliminate threats to society but also as a crime deterrent. Predominantly Catholic Philippines abolished capital punishment, but the landslide victory of Duterte is just the latest indication of public support for extrajudicial methods of law enforcement.

This support can be attributed mainly to the weakness, corruption and inefficiency of the criminal justice system. This weakness will not be corrected by bringing back the death penalty. Restoring capital punishment must be backed by structural changes to strengthen the rule of law.

Law enforcement agencies must be purged of corruption and given more resources and skills training so that crimes are solved and impunity does not prevail. The same must be done with the prosecution service.

The judiciary must clean up its act. This is beyond the jurisdiction of the executive, but it is possible to inspire better performance from the judiciary by improving compensation for judges, for example,

and improving courtroom and prosecution facilities. The vetting process for magistrates must be as depoliticized as possible; the current system of appointments in the judiciary is easily and routinely undermined by politicians and religious groups.

A database can be set up to monitor the progress of court cases so that judges with the slowest adjudication rates or with the most number of temporary restraining orders can be easily identified.

Such measures lack the shock value of state executions, but it takes more than a fear of a double hanging to deter criminality.

In case capital punishment is restored, improving the efficiency of the judiciary is also crucial to avoid any miscarriage of justice that would send an innocent person to the gallows. There are valid observations that in the final years before capital punishment was abolished, only poor convicts who could not afford good legal advice were the ones executed. The judiciary has long cried out for reforms; this becomes more urgent with the planned revival of the death penalty. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Away from guns to a national culture of finding grace and peace within [Editor’s note: This column has been updated and re-published in light of the recent shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016] “IN watching the coverage of the murders that have taken place in Connecticut, the same arguments prevail from the last shootings we have witnessed: ‘the guy who did this was mentally deranged, mentally ill, evil’; this time the news reported the shooter had a mother who was ‘ridged’.

All give reasons for what happened; but, the end result makes the mentally disabled community take the brunt of an act by someone they never met, while at the same time, blaming a woman for her son’s violence. The answers/reasons for such acts are recycled and regurgitated…’guns are to blame — we need new legislation to ban weapons’ while gun proponents will say ‘guns don’t kill people, people do’. The debate will begin again and nothing will really happen, as there is no way to empirically ‘prove’ what causes someone to murder in a rampage. I have had some intense conversations of late with loved ones and based on these, what I intuitively know, have experienced, and understand, I come to the conclusion that we need to shift, to create a new language and to come up with a new paradigm about rampage murder because nothing explains what we are witnessing anymore. The way we currently think of the murders in Connecticut - ‘a gunman with mental illness does this horrible thing because he is evil’ is linear thinking. What if we thought of mental illness as being part of a list of characteristics that might contribute towards someone moving towards being violent, and realizing that mental illness is not necessarily the main cause of his violence?,” — Jamie Marie Watson, 2012.

What if Jamie Watson’s thoughts on mental illness were part of a process of disassembling oneself? A fractured sense of self, enabled by the current American culture? A deconstruction away from one’s true gifts, precious talents and a Godgiven sublime self? A dying process to one’s humanity in America?

BBC News reports that America has 300 million guns in private hands, apart from the police and the military, enough to arm every man, woman and child in America. About 10 out of 100,000 people in America die from gun-inflicted wounds.

As of September 2015, 33,636 firearm deaths were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For suicides, it was a higher number at 41,149 making it 13 out of 100,000 in the population; 21,175 of those were

using firearms.

The Guardian reported 1,052 Rhizomes shootings in 1,066 days and called it, America’s gun crisis, from December 2012 to Dec. 2, 2015.

On Dec. 2, 2015, 14 perished at a Christmas party in San Ber- Prosy AbArqueznardino, California and 17 in- DelAcruz, J.D. jured at the hands of a Muslim married couple. It was just days before the third anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, when 20 children and six adults were killed by a white gunman in Dec. 2012.

President Barack Obama called it an unparalleled pattern that exists nowhere else in the world.

That statement is bolstered by the FBI, which has reported an increasing pattern of mass shootings since 2000.

Most recently, the United States experienced yet another attack on June 12, 2016, which is regarded as the worst mass shooting in the country’s history. That Sunday morning, the 29-yearold gunman — who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State — opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

President Obama, again, had to address the nation.

“We are also going to have to have to make sure that we think about the risks we are willing to take by being so lax in how we make very powerful firearms available to people in this country. And this is something that obviously I’ve talked about for a very long time,” he said the day after the shooting occurred.

He and Vice President Joe Biden also traveled to Orlando on Thursday, July 16. This marked the president’s 10th visit to the scene of a mass shooting.

“Today, once again, as has been true too many times before, I held and hugged grieving family members and friends and they asked why does this keep happening. They pleaded that we do more to stop the carnage,” Obama said in his remarks. “They don’t care about the politics. Neither do I. Neither does Joe.” Mother Jones has deconstructed the mass murders of 30 years, describing a mass murder, involving four or more. The author, Mark Follman, describes that seven occurred in 2012 alone, during the height of the election campaign between

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. These massacres occurred in usually safe places: schools, universities, shopping malls and theaters, totaling to 62 in the last 30 years in the US. Yet, the shooters viewed these safe places, as their center stage theaters to perform on and vent out their accumulated tsunami of negative emotions.

While we are not psychotherapists, nor policy makers, we are activists involved in four decades of organizing folks towards positive outcomes of whole spiritual selves and community empowerment, we believe we can advance our own view of multiple factors towards a ‘death process of an inner humanity in America.’

Dying to oneself In Asian American, African-American, Latino, Hawaiian and Native American cultures, this concept is celebrated as a selfless attitude of dying to one’s needs and to one’s self-centeredness, enabling one to care for the larger part of the community and family.

But taken to the extremes, one’s inability to focus on one’s inner needs is a recipe for building inner resentment, anger and bitterness. When that occurs, coupled with a death in the family, it translates to deep-seated rage that makes one mistakenly believe that one is alone to navigate the world and easily sets one up to explode, while externally manifesting their inner destruction and rage using drugs, alcohol, domestic violence toward their families, and a violence to the spirit to others, through emotional abuse, shunning, exclusion, and verbal abuse.

This dying to oneself is a disconnection from one’s humanity, no different from what we saw in Connecticut, easily enhanced by a process of homeschooling, making an autistic child unavailable for social interaction.

I have a cousin with an autistic daughter, Evan.

Evan is so smart that she looks at a piano and easily makes music. She likes watching animated movies. By channeling Evan’s autistic mind, which gets super-charged by any environment, her parents found a school that could channel her to be productive with other children. When she comes home from school, she immediately puts on her headphones and dances. She is normalized by her parents (whose jobs allow them to be at home to supervise her after school) through inclusion,

which exposed her to positive and productive activities like creating music, not using guns.

Access to weapons Guns are easier to buy than cars. Cars are leased and bought with proof of driving literacy (driver’s education, passing a practical exam and proof of insurance), while guns require only a license identifying who will own the weapon, not training, literacy nor insurance.

Yet, guns are weapons that irrevocably destroy beasts, animals and persons, and now innocent first graders, under seven years old, just barely starting with their lives.

In America, 300 million guns are in the hands of roughly 1 in 4 Americans; some own multiple guns and even have cabinets full of rifles and various guns, used for target practice and hunting desert cottontails and quails.

If the US now requires those who have guns to undergo weapons training to understand the irrevocable harm that their actions may cause, including a steep price for each bullet to raise revenues for safe gun usage (say $100 per bullet) and a liability insurance in the millions, would that lead gun owners to safely use their rifles and handguns?

Would a better framework perhaps be a ban on civilian access to handguns and assault weapons, similar to England and Australia? When the ban was passed on handguns and ammunition, mass murders stopped in Great Britain and Australia.

In Great Britain, 30 folks died last year, while in America, 200 folks die each week — equivalent to a Boeing plane crash every week. One television channel reported that 10,000 Americans die each year.

Assuming we succeed in banning handguns and rifles, what else can we remove in the death factory of inhumanity in America?

Self-control, self-restraint, and self-regulation In Hawaii, social harmony is a valued practice.

It is called the ‘Aloha Spirit.’ But aloha is more than social harmony, it is fueled by a deeper care and concern for another. In the Philippines and amongst Filipinos all over the world, it is called “Bayanihan,” where a Filipino will go out of his or her way to connect to another in need. You see how they save others during typhoons to their own self-detriment. In South Africa, it is called, “ubuntu”, I am because you are.

Amongst the Catholics, it is celebrating the God in you, the divine, sublime self, as Fr. Camilo Pa-

u PAGE A9

An eminent choice for DepEd Secretary PRESIDENT-elect Rody Duterte made a perfect decision in choosing to appoint Professor Emeritus Leonor Magtolis-Briones Secretary of Education once he becomes our President.

That important day, which will mark the beginning of an administration that, we pray, will succeed in fulfilling its promise to make government more efficient, effective, honest and responsive to the urgent and true needs of our people than what we have now, is only 14 days away.

Dr. Magtolis-Briones is professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance, Lead

Convenor of Social Watch Philippines (the most incisive observer of public governance in our country which, often under her byline, publishes its findings). She has been a columnist of The Manila Times.

She is also the chair of the Board of Trustees of Silliman University and the chairman designate of the Board of Regents of the Universidad de Manila.

She is a person who takes her belief in God seriously, a rare trait among government officials.

She has held important national government positions. She has been secretary to the Commission on Audit, vice president for Finance and Administra-

tion at the University of the Philippines, treasurer of the Republic of the Philippines and concurrently presidential adviser on social development.

She never applied for these positions.

She was invited on the basis of her track record and her sterling reputation.

Even in becoming president of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (which includes some of the most patriotic Filipinos who know in-depth the financial condition of our country and of the government) and lead convenor of Social Watch Philippines, she was invited by the founders and movers of these authoritative and vigilant civil society organizations.

The same is true of her forthcoming appointment as Secretary of Education. Though a native Bisayan speaker like President-elect Duterte, Dr. Leonor Magtolis-Briones and Mayor Duterte had not even met each other when the offer was made.

Some critics of Sec. Armin Luistro, and the government’s resolve to continue the implementation of the K-to-12 system of basic education, have objected to the appointment of Professor Emeritus Briones. They do so because she does not share their position against K-to-12. In fact, she has repeatedly suggested that Bro. Armin Luistro should be retained by the Duterte government

as Secretary of Education, “so he can shepherd the ongoing implementation of K-to-12 to its successful conclusion.”

Indeed, that “process has been going on for the past four years.”

This fact—that K-to-12 has been in place for four years—those opposed to Kto-12 seem not to know, or purposely ignore, when they speak and write against “the introduction” of K-to-12 because it lays more burdens on poor parents.

In another part of today’s OpEd Section, we publish part of Prof. MagtolisBriones’ statement about her incoming appointment to DepEd. That essay also offers an illumination on the whole matter of K-to-12. (Manilatimes.net)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Purisima, Napeñas to stand trial over SAF 44 fiasco IT’S final.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, June 16 said sacked Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napeñas would stand trial in the Sandiganbayan for their roles in the deaths of 44 police commandos in the hands of Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, last year.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales thumbed down the separate appeals filed by Purisima and Napeñas seeking to set aside the antigraft body’s earlier resolution that recommended their indictment for graft. “[The former] police officers’ motions for reconsideration deserve scant consideration,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.

Usurpation of authority Morales also approved the filing of a separate case for usurpation of authority against Purisima—a longtime aide and close friend of President Aquino—and Napeñas as spelled out under Article 177 of the Marcos-era edict Revised Penal Code.

For the second time, the Om-

Former PNP SAF Chief Supt. Getulio Napenas and former PNP chief Alan Purisima.

Inquirer file photo by Raffy Lerma

budsman imposed a lifetime ban on Purisima from serving in the government after he was found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

According to the Ombudsman, Purisima’s role in carrying out the counterterrorism mission, called Oplan Exodus, to capture notorious Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, “amounted to usurpation of

official functions.”

It noted that he was already serving his suspension for six months over the questionable P100-million courier service contract with Werfast Documentation Agency Inc. when the operation was conducted on Jan. 25, 2015.

In addition, the Ombudsman said that the then PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, issued a “cease

u PAGE A10

Away from guns to a national…

PAGE A8 t

canza made me aware of after Simbang Gabi.

I watched this assemblage of priests one morning discussing their week’s schedule of masses, readily giving up one’s ease and convenience, in favor of easing the responsibilities of another. It is looking after the other and his needs for selfcare, “go ahead and go sleep, I see you yawning.”

The other responds, “No, I still have to make the announcements at 11 am.” “It is okay, I will do it for you.”

Watch how they make room for one another, easing the workload of their duties, sharing themselves to connect to the humanity of one another.

That is a solid relationship of give and take — “Go, I will take care of the family for you, while you make a living for us.”

It seems to reveal what Adam Lanza’s (the Sandy Hook shooter) mother did for him: dedicating her life to homeschooling and taking care of him, until she died from his hands, after being unable to deflect him from his fractured sense of self as he disconnected 27 others from their human lives on earth.

America has to build a new culture of progressive humanizing of one’s inner-self — one that harvests the best humanizing practices of multi-

culturally-empowered communities, who have been practicing them for many generations.

America must now take the aloha spirit amongst Hawaiians and Native Americans in Hawaii, the Bayanihan amongst Filipinos and the ubuntu amongst Africans, and nationalize these humane practices as America’s cultural, psychological and social practices, anchored in empathy and humanity. While we’re at it, emulate the Aloha practices, shown to us by our First Family, steeped in Grace towards their own family and families all over America.

Grace must now be Americanized and Grace must now be an American brand to be exported to the rest of the world, not wars! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

Stress is a disease healed by human connection.

It’s true. Stress has a negative effect on your body’s healing process. But luckily, the remedy is all around you.

The simple idea of connecting with others can help you heal.

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/glendalememorial.

1420 South Central Ave., Glendale, CA 91204

A

A10 JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline PHiliPPineS

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PH Catholic bishops encourage support of LGBT community

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for Filipinos around the world to stand in solidarity with the LGBT community in the aftermath of the June 12 shooting in Orlando, Florida.

The shooting had occurred in prominent gay club Pulse, and the perpetrator had expressed anti-gay sentiments before the attack, according to media reports.

In response to the attack, the CBCP released a statement on Wednesday, June 15 in which it labeled the attack as a “hate crime” against the LGBT community.

“Bearing in the depth of his or her soul the image of the Creator, no human person should ever be the object of disgust,” the bishops said in the statement, which was penned by Socrates B. Villegas, archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and president of the CBCP. Because many Filipinos adhere to strict Christian beliefs – which include the condemnation of the gay community – the bishops note that despite the disapproval of an individual’s lifestyle and/or identity, cruelty and exclusion are unjustified.

“This is a project on which we, in the Philippines, must seriously embark for many are still forced to the peripheries because the

norms of ‘decent society’ forbid association with them,” the statement added, noting Pope Francis’ warnings that this behavior does not represent core Christian values.

Since the shooting occurred during the Roman Catholic Church’s observance of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, the bishops emphasized the world’s need for mercy after claiming “many” young people’s lives, adding that “it is far more important to be merciful” than to be “right.”

Moreover, the bishops emphasized tolerance toward people with differing lifestyles and encourage a “dialogue” rather than acting in violence, which should never be a course of action.

The bishops also encourage

schools, youth leaders and government officials to encourage people, particularly youths, to take a stand against bullying and harassment and not “outcast” LGBT individuals.

“We call on all Christians to show the world that our fidelity to Christ and our citizenship to his kingdom are of far more importance than whatever else may keep us in disagreement,” the bishops said.

The Vatican released a statement on June 13 that said that the pontiff reacted in “horror” upon learning about the Orlando shooting and offered prayer to the victims and their families.

The statement also described the attack as a part of a “new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred.” n

TOYCON 2016. Collectors, gamers and cosplayers converge at the 15th ToyCon held at the SMX Convention Center, in Pasay City, featuring TV and movie stars, a Voltes V exhibit, souvenir booths, an artist gallery, a gaming library, and a photo op and autograph booth among others.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Lorezno Antonio Mendoza

Abella replaces Panelo as incoming presidential spokesperson

presidential spokesperson. day, June 16.

Andanar explained that he will Replacing Panelo is an educator and former pastor, Ernesto “Er- serve as PCOO secretary while MANILA — Lawyer Salva- nie” Abella, initially named as the Abela will be the spokesperson.

He added that the reason why dor Panelo has confirmed that he deputy presidential spokesperson.

Abella and incoming Presiden- Duterte said Panelo was only a is no longer the incoming presidential spokesperson of Presi- tial Communications Operations “temporary” presidential spokesdent-elect Rodrigo Duterte as Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin person was because the incomhe is now assigned as the chief Andanar on Wednesday evening ing president plans to tap Abella also confirmed the assignment as his spokesman. presidential legal counsel.

“Well apparently it’s been the “I have just been named chief changes.

“Mr. Panelo will be his (Duterte) plan since day one,” Andanar presidential legal counsel. Actually, that has been my position all chief legal counsel,” Abella said said.

Abella faced the media for the along and my being presidential in a Facebook live interview by spokesman was temporary as he The STAR reporter Robertzon first time on Monday. He said announced and explained to the Ramirez. “As of this evening, I he seeks to “act as a conduit beErmita, Santa Ana, Jose Abad Cabinet tonight,” Panelo said in imagine,” he added when asked tween himself and the people Santos, Santa Mesa, Malate, Pana statement to media on Thurs- if Panelo is no longer the official through the media.” n dacan, and Meisic.

The Times tried to confirm from Manila Police District Director, Chief Supt. Rolando Nana if there was indeed a directive on the “kill 5 quota.”

“No new directives yet from Crame, our operation is continuby Catherine s. Valente ous,” he said in a text message.

ManilaTimes.net Meanwhile, two pushers were killed Wednesday, June 15 allegOUTGOING President Benigedly for failure to remit their col- no Aquino III has congratulated lections. his successor, President-elect They were identified as Gerry Rodrigo Duterte, offering him Damano and Francis Roque, both assistance in any manner even of Tondo. Their cases are still un- after the end of his term on June der investigation.

30 so the new government would Many believe that the aggres- not have to “reinvent the wheel” sive crackdown on illegal drugs during the transition. was meant to impress Duterte It was the first time that Aquino who vowed to drastically solve and Duterte spoke on the phone drug addiction in the country. n since the tough-talking Davao City mayor won the presidency by a landslide in the May 9 general elections.

In an interview with members of the Malacañang Press President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and President Benigno Aquino III Corps during a farewell lunch at transition team visited Malaca- in Manila for the first time since a restaurant in Manila, Aquino ñang on Thursday. his proclamation. described his conversation with Without the mayor, the Duterte Among those who met with Duterte as “pleasant.” him and Executive Secretary group visited Malacañang for a “I reiterated the offer to be Paquito Ochoa were incoming largely undisclosed agenda. of assistance, in any and every Executive Secretary Salvador But Aquino said both transimanner that they need it. And, Medialdea, executive assistant tion teams discussed preparamore or less, it was a pleasant Christopher “Bong” Go and in- tions for Duterte’s inauguration conversation, that’s how it end- coming secretary to the Cabinet at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall on ed,” he said, adding, Duterte did Leoncio Evasco Jr. June 30. not reject his offer of help.

“I don’t know if I can speak “Members of his staff went “Parang natuwa naman siya to the Executive Secretary [on [about] the preparations. I think [Duterte]. Hindi naman tinang- Thursday]. The Executive Sec- his spokespeople have been talkgihan at parang pinasalamatan retary brought them to me. We ing about their preparations,” he yung alok natin. Sabi ko ano ba shared some of our experiences added. matutulong namin sa inyo, sa in the past six years [with] them,” It would be the first presidentransition at sa pagkatapos para Aquino said. tial inauguration in the Palace hindi na kailangan yung parang “We went through Malaca- since the late President Carlos P. reinvent the wheel. (It seemed ñang to show them the physical Garcia’s 1957 oath-taking. he was happy with the offer. He layout and then we proceeded to Garcia was vice president did not turn it down. I asked him Malacañang Park, showed them to President Ramon Magsaywhat help we could give in the Bahay Pangarap and the vari- say and took over as president transition and beyond so that ous facilities within Malacañang when Magsaysay died in a plane he won’t have to reinvent the Park and that’s where they got crash. wheel),” he added, without elab- in touch with President-elect The country’s presidents usuorating further. ally take their oath at the QuiriDuterte,” he added.

The phone conversation took It was on the day after Duterte no Grandstand at Luneta (Rizal place when the President-elect’s met with his Cabinet appointees Park) in Manila. n by rosette

adel

Philstar.com

It’s open season on drug lords in Manila

by JaiMe

r. PilaPil ManilaTiames.net

EACH police station in Manila has to kill at least five drug lords a week starting July 1, the day President-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumes office, a strategy that will solve drug addiction in the city, a police source said.

Manila has 11 police stations and drug addiction is rampant in many of its districts.

“It is a difficult task but we have to deliver,” a high-ranking police officer told The Manila Times.

Asked why it is difficult to comply with the quota, he said many top drug personalities have already left the city and what are left are the small-time poor pushers.

“Police, just to comply with

the directive, might just kill any pushers or even users,” the source said.

However, another informant told The Times that there are still big-time drug lords in Manila, particularly the Binondo area where shabu and other illegal drugs are allegedly being manufactured.

A check with the top most wanted persons in Manila showed that only one — Bernabe Dungo, alias Tikboy — is currently being hunted by the police for violation of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Dungo, who operates in the Santa Cruz district, is facing charges before the regional trial court of Manila branch 53.

The 11 Manila police stations are found in Moriones, Central Market Santa Cruz, Sampaloc,

Aquino offers Duterte help ‘in any way’ post handover

Purisima, Napeñas to stand trial…

PAGE A9 t

and desist” order in December 2014 against Purisima.

Breach of command chain “Purisima’s active participation and supervision of Oplan Exodus… violated the PNP chain of command,” the Ombudsman said.

Like Purisima, Napeñas was also slapped with permanent disqualification from public office and cancellation of retirement benefits and civil service eligibility.

Purisima, who was dismissed from the PNP in June last year in connection with the Werfast deal, and Napeñas, who bowed out of the service the following month, were also ordered to pay a fine amounting to their salary for one year.

The Ombudsman said the former SAF chief’s “constant reporting and official dealings with Purisima, notwithstanding the latter’s suspension, and sans the knowledge and approval of… Espina, made him liable as a cohort of Purisima in usurping official functions.”

“Napeñas’ plea of leniency on account of his 37 years of meritorious service in the government cannot be countenanced by this office considering that the penalty of dismissal from the service is an indivisible penalty,” the an-

tigraft body ruled.

Aquino’s role The Ombudsman investigation of the Mamasapano debacle did not cover the role of President Aquino in the police counterterrorism operation.

Sen. Sonny Angara on Thursday, June 16 said the Senate investigation of the tragedy found President Aquino politically responsible, but this did not mean it considered him criminally liable.

“What the Senate found was political responsibility and accountability resided in the President. This is not necessarily the same as saying he is legally liable,” Angara said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Angara was responding to the question whether Mr. Aquino could be charged after the end of his term, given that the Senate investigation led by Sen. Grace Poe found him ultimately responsible for the police mission.

Oplan Exodus Purisima and Napeñas briefed Mr. Aquino twice in Malacañang about Oplan Exodus, which they had kept a secret from Espina and the military.

The mission was to get Marwan, for whose capture dead or alive the US government had offered a bounty of $5 million.

A secondary target of the mis-

sion was Basit Usman, a Filipino aide of Marwan on whose head the US government had put a price of $3 million.

Two SAF units—the 84th Special Action Company (SAC) and the 55th SAC—were sent into Mamasapano to get Marwan and Usman.

The 84th SAC was the strike force and it successfully penetrated the village where Marwan’s hut was located. The PNP investigation said the commandos killed Marwan and cut off his right index finger for DNA testing, but got into a gun battle with Usman and other bodyguards of the Malaysian terrorist on their way out of the village.

The 55th SAC, the blocking force, failed to come to the assistance of the 84th SAC, as it had lost its way and got into a gun battle with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters rebels and armed residents of Mamasapano.

Of the 36 members of the 55th SAC, only one survived the daylong gun battle. The 38-strong 84th SAC lost nine men.

The MILF lost 17 fighters in the exchange of fire with the police commandos, and three civilians were killed in the crossfire. (With a report from Leila B. Salaverria / Inquirer.net)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 18-21, 2016

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal

Gary Valenciano excited Mariel Rodriguez rushed to hospital due to pregnancy worries to become a grandpa

She has received â&#x20AC;&#x153;negative her recent trip in Amsterdam The Kapamilya host said that commentsâ&#x20AC;? on her account after PAGE B4 she got â&#x20AC;&#x153;paranoidâ&#x20AC;? after readMArIEl rodriguez rushed ing negative comments on her herself to the hospital after feel- Instagram account. ing pain around her abdomen.

Mariel is now on the second trimester of her pregnancy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I rushed myself at the hospital thinking something was wrong because it was a feeling I have not felt before,â&#x20AC;? she related in her Facebook post on Wednesday, June 15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought it could be gas, UTI or worse contractions.â&#x20AC;?

However, she was told that â&#x20AC;&#x153;it was the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movements I was feeling!!!!â&#x20AC;? and felt relieved Gary Valenciano is excited to be a grandpa to Mariel Rodriguez rushed herself to the his first grandchild with son Paolo Valenciano. after hearing the heartbeat of hospital after feeling pain around her her baby.

Philstar.com photo abdomen.

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

GAry Valenciano is one excited and happy grandpa.

His eldest son Paolo is expecting a child with wife Samantha Godinez. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the chapter of my life that I look forward to it,â&#x20AC;? said Gary about being a grandfather, in an interview with the group of press on Thursday, June 16 at the launch of Cebu Pacific and UNICEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership.

The singer-actor, who wants to be called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Papiâ&#x20AC;? by his grandchild, said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happy that this happened in a time in his life when â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still young enough to run around with my grandchild.â&#x20AC;?

He even changed a bit the arrangement of their home, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be safe for the child to play around.

Mr. Pure Energy also thinks that through his grandchild, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to â&#x20AC;&#x153;practice on that child what I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to practice with my sons.â&#x20AC;?

He became a father at the age of 19, a time when heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still occupied with the things he wanted to do with his life, Gary said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were a lot of things I wanted to do,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are things like sitting down, talking more to the child, more meaningful moments with the child.â&#x20AC;?

Now that he sees how excited his son Paolo is about being a dad, Gary would rather not give him some advice now about fatherhood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we will cross the bridge when we get there,â&#x20AC;? he explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasi there might be challenges that he will face that I have never faced. So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just have to remember everything that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned as a young dad.â&#x20AC;?

Gary will soon work on an album, inspired by his works with UNICEF as its national ambassador. He also invited UNICEF celebrity advocate for children, Anne Curtis to participate in the said album.

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TRAVEL DIARIES:

Exploring Taipei

by Christina

T

M. Oriel

AJPress

raveling on an airline you haven’t been on before is an adventure

in itself.

During an overseas flight that spans more than 10 hours, you desire that level of comfort where you can extend your limbs and catch some sleep. in the hours you find yourself awake staring at the in-flight map and wondering ‘are we there yet?’, you seek options for entertainment, whether it’s onboard Wi-Fi or a wide selection of Tv shows and movies. On top of these amenities, a budget-friendly price tag for the ticket and no extra or exorbitant charges for check-in luggage are always major considerations.

For the modern day traveler, such requests aren’t that far reaching and it was a trip aboard eva air that brought these elements together. recently, i boarded eva air’s flight to Taipei out of los angeles international airport (laX). after a stopover in Taipei, i would then proceed to Cebu to experience the airline’s newly launched daily service from los angeles.

For the next 13 hours, a seat in the elite Class section of the aircraft — a happy medium between economy and business class — was my resting place where i could extend my legs and fully recline. When i settled in, an amenity kit, slippers, pillow and blanket were provided, making me feel at ease even before takeoff. in front of me was a personal interactive entertainment system that housed Tv shows, movies, and video games, complete with a power socket and USB port on the side, just in case any of my electronics needed charging midflight. There was on-board Wi-Fi, which was surprisingly fast, so i could catch up on my e-mails.

The flight attendants would periodically check in to see how passengers were faring and would deliver meals to our seats, even if we missed the scheduled service. Passengers in this section can choose either a Western or Chinese meal, which is served on chinaware and doesn’t seem like you are eating that stereotypically underwhelming and unappetizing airplane food.

Surely, these are all small but important details that assuage the length of air travel.

24 hours in Taipei along with the tour group i participated in, we landed at Taipei’s Taoyuan international airport at 5 am prepared for the full schedule ahead. Personally, i emerged from the plane well-rested and productive because i used the travel time to sleep and write, which is rare for me because my usual experiences on other long-haul flights have meant either not getting enough sleep or work done.

For those going on to Cebu, eva’s flight departs Taipei at 7:10 am, so there is not that much downtime in between the arriving flight from la. The airport has a few kiosks and eateries that open early in the morning in case travelers want to grab a bite or refreshment.

However, our tour group decided to stay another day to get a sampling of Taipei. This was my second time in Taipei, and i was excited to revisit a few monuments and destinations that the city has to offer and see the progress over the past two years.

The Taiwan Tourism Board organizes free half-day city tours — either in the morning (from 8 am to 1 pm) or afternoon (from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm) — for those who have a 7 to 24-hour layover.

Once travelers land at the airport, they can register for one of the tour slots at the Tourist Service Center located in the airport’s arrival lobby. For a minimal fee, luggage can be stored at the airport baggage service counter before boarding the tour bus. at 8 am, we loaded onto our bus and began the journey outside of the airport with a local guide named leslie, who would educate and entertain us with Taiwanese culture and history throughout the day.

Our first stop was Shou Xin Fang Creativity Wagashi and Cultural Center in the city’s Da’an District. it’s a famous confectionary that produces and sells Taiwanese desserts, like pineapple cake and various flavors of mochi and mooncakes, to name a few.

Most of us were still adjusting to the sunlight and time difference, so being interactive and using our hands to make red bean mochi was a good way to start off the day.

We got to take our flower-shaped creations with us — perfect for an afternoon snack in between tour stops. next, we walked around

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the facility and saw bakery items being made and sampled products at the store. For those thinking of souvenirs, you can’t go wrong with the pineapple cake and strawberry and chocolate mochi. next, we trekked to the Zushi Temple, a Taoist temple in the Sanxia district. as leslie explained, this temple dates back to the late-1700s and has been restored after it was in ruins from World War ii. Today, it is an artistic place of worship, made of carved stone with bronze columns and statues of gods, lions, and dragons, which bear stories of their own. (Have your tour guide explain the various worshipping rituals and gods.) even if you don’t practice Taoism, the temple is a must-visit destination. i spent an hour inside admiring the intricate details at every corner and observing individuals praying or lighting up incense.

Since we had more time to wander around before lunch, we walked through the Old Street of the district, which featured red brick hallways and Baroquestyle architecture from the Japanese occupation of the country. The tourist-friendly shops offer items such as handicrafts,

croissants shaped like a ‘bull horn’ and fresh fruits. if you are curious, taste one of the bull horn croissants, either plain or with filling, to see what the hype is about. it is not flaky like the traditional French pastry, but rather crunchy on the outside with a soft center. at lunch, we were treated to a multi-course meal at Dian Shui Lou (not part of the free tour), a fine-dining Chinese/Shanghainese restaurant that is considered one of Taiwan’s best. The table was adorned with plates of fresh fish, fried rice, pan-fried noodles, vegetables, and xiao long bao, thin-skinned soup dumplings stuffed with meat and crab. eating this type of dumpling involves a routine (though there is not only one way to follow): gently use chopsticks to pick one up at the top, dip it into a black vinegar and ginger concoction, place it on the spoon, and then poke a small hole to re l e a s e the

steam before silently slurping up the broth and chewing the meat. a trip to the country is definitely not complete without eating these dumplings, which are perhaps the most recognized symbol of Taiwanese cuisine. at the end of the meal, we had steamed buns filled with egg custard to give us that appropriate amount of sweetness to cleanse the palate.

With full stomachs, we began the afternoon tour at the Zhongzheng District, where the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is located. The national monument was erected in honor of Chiang Kai-shek, president of the republic of China from 1928 to 1975.

Before going up the white stairs (which has 89 steps to represent the leader’s age when he passed away, as leslie encouraged us to count one by one), we basked in the grandiose structure from afar. The blue octagonal roof and four white walls symbolize the lucky number 8. To the sides of the monument sit a lush park, the national Theater, and national Concert Hall. every hour from 9 am to 4 pm is the Changing of the guards Ceremony, an exhibition of utmost discipline and synchronization. We caught the 3 pm ceremony and for those 15 minutes, visitors swarmed into the hall. it was completely silent inside, except for the sounds the guards made when twirling their guns or stomping their shoes.

Our sightseeing excursion

ended at the Longshan Temple, a place of worship dedicated to guanyin, the bodhisattva of mercy. By the time we got there, clouds of smoke emitted from incense holders in the main and back halls as worshippers chanted and placed food offerings and flowers on the tables. Over 100 gods and goddesses are located inside; among them is Yue lao (translated to “Old Man Under the Moon”), also known as the god of matchmaking. leslie directed us to that god so we could witness young people, particularly women, praying to him. at the end of our daylong tour, we checked into Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, a sanctuary nestled in the middle of Taipei’s business district. When i entered my room, i was greeted by classical music, an introductory letter, a bowl of fruits, and a tray of delectable sweets that said “Welcome to Taipei” — all testaments to the five-star hotel’s hospitality.

The room itself, which the hotel describes as a modern version of historical Song dynasty décor, had a spacious mirrored hallway, walk-in closet, bathroom with glass shower and bathtub, queensized bed and sitting area by the window.

That night, it was an internal conflict between lounging around the luxurious room or using up the limited hours i had left in the city. if you’re curious to walk around the hotel, climb up to the 43rd floor and you’ll find a rooftop swimming pool and a panoramic view of the city, a marvelous glimpse to catch especially when JXdgc`e^ ki\Xkj Xk J_fl O`e =Xe^ the sun is setting. :i\Xk`m`kp NX^Xj_` Xe[ :lckliXc :\ek\i For food and drinks, the hotel offers nine restaurants and bars, ranging from Cantonese to Japanese to italian offerings.

The tour group had dinner at Shang Palace located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The indulgent, creative eight-course meal consisted of black fungus marinated with sweetened black vinegar, chilled sliced abalone with spicy sauce, shrimp and crab roe; double-boiled chicken soup with matsutake mushroom and conch; braised sea cucumber with bamboo and mushrooms; steamed crab pinchers in kaoliang wine; braised bird’s nest with shrimp, K_\ jn\\g`e^ m`\n f] KX`g\` ]ifd k_\ kfg Õffi f] k_\ J_Xe^i`$CX =Xi <Xjk\ie GcXqX% 8AGi\jj g_fkf Yp :_i`jk`eX D% Fi`\c milk, ham and white egg; fried rice with scallops and crab; herbal jelly served with honey sauce; and a fresh fruit platter. if you have one night in Taipei to spare, do not miss a visit to Taipei 101 — the tallest skyscraper in the city where you can ride a fast elevator to the top and admire a sweeping view of the metropolis — or one of the night markets (i.e. guangzhou night Market near longshan Temple) to try street food and exotic delicacies.

Our sightseeing itinerary over the past 24 hours was merely a I\Zc`eXYc\ j\Xkj Xe[ Xdgc\ c\^iffd `e <M8 8`iËj <c`k\ :cXjj GXjj\e^\ij ZXe Z_ffj\ ]ifd N\jk\ie fi :_`e\j\ `e$Õ`^_k d\Xcj teaser of what Taipei has to offer. j\Zk`fe i’ll be back to explore more of Taiwan’s destinations and write about them.

The next morning, i headed to Cebu via eva air, ready to begin the next leg of my travels.

EVA Air’s flight to Cebu & more sights from the southern Philippine city to be continued in the next issue…

Kfg g_fkf1 NXcb`e^ lg k_\ jk\gj Xk k_\ :_`Xe^ BX`$j_\b D\dfi`Xc ?Xcc2 9fkkfd g_fkf1 k_\ Acknowledgements :_Xe^`e^ f] k_\ >lXi[j Z\i\dfep 8AGi\jj G_fkfj Yp :_i`jk`eX D% Fi`\c A special thank you to EVA Air, Taiwan Tourism Board and Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan. More details on EVA’s inflight hospitality, services and schedule are available at www.evaair.com. To learn more about Taiwan Tourism Board’s half-day tour, please visit http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/tour/index.htm. Information regarding Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel can be found at http://www. shangri-la.com/taipei/fareastern<M8 8`i cfle^\ `e KX`g\` plazashangrila/. <M8 8`i Õ`\j [X`cp ]ifd C8 kf :\Yl n`k_ X jkfgfm\i `e KX`g\`% G_fkfj Zflik\jp f] <M8 8`i

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The Filharmonic

Features

‘The Fil-Am Collective Music Show’ takes place on July 24

Harana Men’s Chorus

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Photo by Rick Gavino

The Filharmonic and Harana Men’s Chorus part of Ford Theatres reopening season

A cAppellA sextet The Filharmonic and the all-male vocal ensemble The Harana Men’s chorus join together for a night of singing under the stars on Sunday, July 24.

The Filharmonic broke onto the scene with their groundbreaking performance of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” on NBc’s The Sing Off. Their flawless choreography and urbanesque beatboxing style was then featured in the movie pitch perfect 2, in which they played the a cappella group Manila envy.

Joining The Filharmonic in an evening exploring the versatility of the human voice and vocal harmony are The Harana Men’s chorus, who will also perform Original pilipino Music.

The Harana Men’s chorus is a well-known performing group in the Filipino American community, mainly for their authentic interpretation of harana, (traditional moonlight serenades performed by a suitor outside a young maiden’s window).

The The Fil-Am collective Mu-

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

sic Show will also feature guest vocalists Sharon Rose Orosco, cecile Rojas-Azaret and Annie Nepomuceno.

In celebration of its 25th year, Asian Journal is a proud media sponsor of “The Fil-Am collective Music Show,“ along with TFc The Filipino channel, KcSIlA18, The law Offices of chris Navarro, Mosquera Multimedia, and Tee Signature. The concert will benefit the Scholarship Fund of the University of the philippines Alumni Association of Greater los Angeles and philippine patrons of the Arts USA. Tickets prices start at $28; Reserved Seating. Tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323-GO-1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 10 or more, please visit FordTheatres.org.

The Ford Theatres Following extensive renovations to this historic facility, the Ford Theatres have reopened for the 2016 Summer Season.

The Ford is located just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway at 2580 cahuenga Blvd. east, Hollywood, cA 90068, between Hollywood and Universal Studios in the cahuenga pass. The grounds open two hours before show time for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site. patrons are also welcome to bring their own food and drink.

The Ford is disabled accessible. portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. parking at the Ford is stacked and costs $5-$10 per vehicle for evening performances. New offsite parking location: a FRee shuttle services the parking structure located at 1710 N. cherokee Avenue in Hollywood. parking is $10 for Ford patrons. Shuttle departures begin two hours before show time and reservations are required. Metro riders: a FRee shuttle picks up from the Universal city/Studio city Metro Station (3913 lankershim Blvd, Studio city 91604).

The shuttle, which cycles every 20 minutes, stops in the “kiss and ride” area.

This event is part of the Ford Theatres 2016 Summer Season, a multidisciplinary arts series presented by the los Angeles county Arts commission in cooperation with los Angeles county arts organizations. A complete season schedule, directions to the amphitheatre and parking information can be found at FordTheatres.org.

Photo by Hydee Abrahan

(Advertising Supplement)

PROVISIONAL WAIVER FOR CREWMEN DISPELS FEAR IN GOING BACK TO MANILA FOR VISA PROCESSING – ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY”! Cindy was a crewman who jumped ship and had been a TNT for more than 10 years. After seeing a “Citizen Pinoy” episode about another crewman who also jumped ship, Cindy and US citizen husband, Tom decided to consult with leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel about her chances of legalizing. Through Atty. Gurfinkel’s help, Cindy’s Provisional Waiver was approved.

She went back to the Philippines, was processed for her immigrant visa at the US Embassy in Manila, and returned to the US less than a month later as a legal permanent resident. Watch an encore episode on Provisional Waivers, which could benefit: (a) crewmen without 245(i): (b) those who entered the US without inspection(EWI) without 245(i); or (c) K-1 fiancees who did not marry their US petitioner, on “Citizen Pinoy” – this Sunday, June 19 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

B JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

MY father is the kind of man I’ve always dreamed of: kind to the weak, fierce to the arrogant, generous to those who loved him, ruthless to those who will order him around.

Today as a whole nation of sons and daughters pause to remember

Features

Honor thy father

their fathers, I thought of how little I really know about my own father.

You see, my first knowledge of the world came to me through my senses were directed by my mother. She was the first one I saw, the first thing I felt, the first person I depended for security the day I was born.

But my father, he was my first love, and long after interests and attachments may have faded and changed, I still retain the vivid

The Global Kababayan G. TönGi

Monday, June 20 - Attorney Rhoda Yabes Alvarez from Hawaii gives advice on gives advice on immigration and family law.

Young author and writer Titus Bonifacio comes to the show.

Tuesday, June 21 - Joanna Conception tells us details about the upcoming Filipino Migrant Center’s (FMC) 6th year anniverThe late Carlos Borromeo Ocampo Domingo, sary celebration.

We feature the work of Wedwhose father and whose father’s father were sacrosanct Guardians of the Law. lock Studios as we celebrate Bride Month this June. impression of that first love. In fact, Wednesday, June 22 - Midthat first love may have dictated the dimensions of the other loves I’ve come to know.

He was a guardian of the law who advocated respect for the laws of God and men, yet when I found myself (which was often) in conflict with the world, the lawyer in him will oppose the world to defend my own.

By Monet Lu Corollary to this if he should happen to be guilty of an error in IT would have been like any judgment his confusion is caused other Sunday morning on June 12 by love, as philosophers have -- one where I wake up knowing taught us, maybe blind. He was, that life is good and that everything nevertheless, almost the only is exactly how it should be. Only, dependable source of sympathy it wasn’t. and refuge.

Because that morning, evil took When I was very young, my over and life will never be the same father was the handsomest man again. in the world, a safe harbor in time I say this with a broken and of storms. Through my years of grieving heart, and I say it thinkgrowing (if at all, I did grow up), ing about the bereaved families of whenever trouble might come, victims of the worst mass shooting I realized the ability to solve the in American history. This pain will problems of the present and faced be in my heart forever. the future unafraid because I have That Saturday night at the Pulse known the tender security of a nightclub was supposed to be a father’s love. special night for Latinos in Orlando, He taught me that a man who Florida. It was their Latino-themed professes his love to you wouldn’t night. I heard Puerto Rican drag promise the moon — but will show queen Kenya Michaels was set to you the moon. Then, I didn’t notice be one of the guests (former Ru the difference. Only years later in Paul’s Drag Race contestant Yara my adult life was when I realized Sofia later reported that Michaels what he meant. What people made it out safely). called love between a man and a I’ve never been to this club but I woman is just a season, and if at know how exciting a themed night its flowering, this season is a feast is, especially the ones dedicated to of greenery and sweet blossoms Latinos, whose culture resembles at its waning, it is only a heap of mine. I am sure there were a lot of rotting leaves. dancing and fun times. Surrounded He did not point a shotgun at by families and friends in a place anyone who frightened me. He where they ‘believed’ they are free wasn’t a poet and didn’t know how of judging eyes and hatred. I bet to say lofty, lyrical and beautiful they felt safe just being themselves, things the way my mother quotbut they didn’t know. ed poetic splendor. Instead, he They didn’t know that was their echoed the profound and the bold last dance. epics of Homer. To “experience” Officials confirmed that 49 PAGE B7 people were dead and 53 wounded after gunman wielding an assaulttype rifle and a handgun opened fire inside Pulse. I was shocked beyond belief. How could this happen? How can such evil exist?

Days passed and it became evident that I am just one out of thousands of people asking the same questions. Then there were stories of survivors painfully recalling that fateful night. They describe every horrifying detail that, I can just assume, would haunt them for eternity.

“I look over, and he shoots the girl next to me. And I’m just there laying down and I’m thinking ‘I’m next, I’m dead.’ So I don’t know how, but by the glory of God, he shoots toward my head but it hits my hand, and then he shoots me again and it hits the side of my hip. I had no reaction. I was just prepared to just stay there laying down so he won’t know that I’m alive,” Angel Colon, one of the survivors told the press.

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Programming of Kababayan Today, June 20-24, 2016 week News Updates from the Asian Journal and Mia Mcleod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice.

Know History Know Self features ancient Filipino notions of time.

Charmaine Clamor tells us about the details for the Asian Jazz festival happenning this weekend!

Thursday, June 23 - Every wedding needs a wedding singer, and we are featuring a Kababayan that does just that! Get to know our kababayan Juan Paulo!

Friday, June 24 - Our Friday show is full of sponsors that al-

low us to run our program daily!

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

One last dance: My deepest sympathies to the victims of Orlando massacre

The victims of the Orlando massacre

Officials and public figures from across the world have expressed condemnation and shock over the tragedy. The outpouring of sympathies from all over the world was reassuring. Outside Los Angeles’ City Hall on Monday evening, June 13, Lady Gaga stood in solidarity alongside the grieving LGBT community she has long supported, delivering a tearful speech: “We mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people.

Let’s all today pledge an allegiance of love to them and to their families who are suffering so deeply. They are sons and daughters. They were fathers and mothers. They are all our brothers and our sisters. But tonight I will not allow my anger and outrage over this attack to overshadow our need to honor those who are grieving truly for their lost ones; lost members of the LGBT community,” Gaga said, then read aloud the names of each victim.

Nick Jonas was also one of the thousands to pay his respects to the Orlando, Florida shooting at a vigil in NYC on Monday, June 13. The singer opened up about attending and speaking at the tribute during a radio interview with Elvis Duran.

He said, “I am so humbled, and I think more than anything I just want to speak from the heart and say that I woke up yesterday to the news and like all of you, my heart broke.”

The vigil was held at the historic Stonewall Inn, a bar that helped launch the gay civil rights movement in 1969. Supporters flooded the streets and held rainbow flags in solidarity with the LGBT community.

Numerous reports and speculations kept pouring in regarding the motive of the suspect but I have but one thing to say: whether it is a terrorist attack or a hate crime against the LGBT community, I hope that we all remember that countless lives have been lost and ruined.

This is not the time to categorize people. They are humans just like everybody else and they deserve justice and respect that they have long been fighting for. I hope the government will do everything in their power to do the right thing.

I feel sorry for their families and friends. I can only wish that they will find peace through all of this.

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

Mariel Rodriguez rushed to hospital due to...

PAGE B1 to visit her husband Robin Padilla, who is there for a spiritual journey.

Mariel said she would no longer listen and respond to unsolicited advice from others.

“I’m not going to let comments affect me anymore. I am sensitive, hormonal and paranoid as it is what I need from people...their prayers not unsolicited advice,” she said.

Mariel also told everyone that

“I won’t do anything that would harm my baby.”

At the end of the post, she said she won’t be in the noontime show “It’s Showtime” for a while to have enough rest.

(Philstar.com)

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B JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

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Bhindi Jewelers celebrates grand re-opening in Artesia 17,000 sq. ft. store hosts impressive selection of jewelry and luxury timepieces

Bhindi Jewelers hosted their four day grand re-opening at their flagship location in Artesia, California this weekend.

After one year of comprehensive renovations to expand the store from 7000 sq. ft. to 17,000 sq. ft., Bhindi now hosts a greater selection of their already impressive collection of fine diamond and gold jewelry, along with an accumulating repertoire of luxury timepieces.

The multi-million-dollar showroom was designed by Sat Garg, founder and creative director of Santa Monica based architecture and design firm Akar Studios. Garg designed the previous flagship Bhindi store and is currently overseeing the $300 million Terminal 2 LAX renovation.

The time and investment poured into this endeavor reflects the Bhindi commitment to quality and attention to detail. The new showroom is designed to complement their exquisite collections, as well as cater to their discerning clientele while creating a destination shopping experience in the process.

The first floor is dedicated to diamond jewelry and luxury timepieces. The redesigned showroom is home to in-shop boutiques for Rolex, Cartier, Panerai, iWC, hublot and Tag heuer, alongside counter collections of nomos, Tudor and Chanel. in addition to housing over 400 Rolex timepieces, the Rolex shop-in-shop contains two private viewing rooms exclusively for their Rolex customers.

Bhindi also unveiled a brand new, specialty bridal room that displays its signature bridal jewelry collection and hundreds of engagement rings. The Bhindi bridal room was designed to make the engagement ring and wedding jewelry selection process special, memorable, and personalized for every bride and groom. Bhindi carries in its inventory a selection of .5 carat to 5 carat GiA certified diamonds and the diamonds are presented by a GiA graduate gemologist.

Bhindi takes pride in educating its customers about diamonds through a highly interactive process in which each potential diamond is examined by the customer under the guidance of the GiA gemologist. driven by their commitment to deliver the highest quality product possible, Bhindi selected the Switzerland-based Obrist interior AG to build the entire Rolex and diamond jewelry showroom.

Obrist, founded in 1895, has established itself as one of the finest builders in the world; its resume includes boutiques for Tiffany and Mikimoto. in order to ensure exceptional quality, the entire Rolex and diamond departments were built in Switzerland and transported to California for installation by a team of expert carpenters based in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The second floor displays Bhindi’s dazzling and extensive 22k gold and antique collection.

The renovation enabled Bhindi to expand the breadth of their already impressive, market-

leading selection by 150%. Bhindi Jewelers is extremely proud to announce the addition of two ViP viewing rooms dedicated to its gold clients.

The private viewing rooms will allow Bhindi customers to sit, relax and allow the jewelry to be brought to them for a private and customized shopping experience.

Bhindi offers over 50,000 items in its collection and has revolutionized the market in Little india by introducing luxury couture collections to a diverse clientele. in the newly-renovated showroom, Bhindi Jewelers clients can be assured of an experience that reflects their exquisite jewelry. The sales consultants are highly trained and their insight reflects their experience, enabling a tailored experience for their diverse clientele.

The completion of their latest showroom marks yet another step towards the company’s goal of

In celebration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day, the Filipino-American community in Southern California has hosted several events. On Saturday, June 4, the fourth annual Kalayaan parade around Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown was held, featuring over 30 vehicles and floats and hundreds of participants.

On Saturday, June 11, The Philippine Independence Day Foundation, Inc. (PIDF), in conjunction with the City of Carson, GMA Life TV, GMA Pinoy TV, and GMA News TV, led the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day at Carson Veterans Park. Thousands of people attended the non-stop, day-long event, which was attended by Miss World 2013 Megan Young and jam-packed with entertainment and activities that featured the rich, beautiful, and spirited Filipino heritage.

AJPress photos by Andy Tecson

maintaining the highest standards of excellence in order to continue being a leading presence in the industry.

(Advertising Supplement)

Features

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This summer, we’ve got you covered WhO doesn’t love long, summer days filled with pool time, backyard barbecues and nature hikes? At Dignity health– Glendale Memorial hospital and health Center, we want you to enjoy these moments with your family without the added worry of accidents and injuries.

Dr. Brigeli Westerband, M.D., Glendale Memorial’s emergency Medicine Division Chair shares, “By taking note of a few simple precautions, we can keep our loved ones safe and healthy.

Wherever your summer adventures take you, we’ve got you covered.”

The number one Asian-American supermarket chain, hMart (www.hmart.com) announces its Grand Opening at hMart Torrance, CA on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016. On the opening day, hMart is giving out free gifts (with over $30 purchase) and free Nail Clipper Set for new hMart Smart Card members as a Customer Appreciation event. Also many items will be on special sales prices.

Carrying over from hMart’s previous success in Diamond Bar, Irvine, Norwalk, Garden Grove, Buena Park, San Diego and LA Downtown, hMart Torrance is the 8th hMart store to be opened in California. hMart provides fresh products at reasonable prices with exceptional service and shopping experience. hMart Torrance will play a central role on creating “One-Stop Shopping” atmosphere. hMart introduces diverse spaces including food courts so that customers can not only grocery shop but also can experience variety of cultures and amusements. hMart Torrance store address is: 4340 Pacific Coast hwy., Torrance, CA 90505; Phone number is 310-974-6880.

(Advertising Supplement)

(Advertising Supplement)

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

ALDeN Richards and Maine Mendoza record the song for their upcoming film.

On Wednesday, June 15, the GMA corporate communication team posted on their Instagram account a photo of the two while recording the song.

According to reports, Maine

was the one who wrote the lyrics of the song, while Vic Sotto worked on the melody.

It was this week also when they both posted a teaser of their film, which reports said will be in cinemas on July 16, the anniversary of their “accidental” love team.

Their film was shot in Italy, under the helming of Mike Tuviera.

Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza join forces not only for their film, but also for its theme song!

Liza Soberano on real score with Enrique Gil: We’re getting there LIzA Soberano and enrique Gil don’t want to label their relationship, despite seeing each other as special.

“We’re getting there,” replied Liza when asked about her relationship status with enrique, in an interview aired in “TV Patrol” on Wednesday, June 15.

The Kapamilya actor added,

“Totoo lang po ang nararamdaman namin, ‘yon lang.”

Many of their fans got giddy after they both posted a sweet photo together, with a caption pertaining to “forever.”

Liza, enrique and the other cast of the primetime series “Dolce Amore” are in a world tour this month. (Joyce Jimenez/Philstar.com)

Honor thy father

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the best in human thought and behavior, their capabilities and foibles through the mirthful satires of Aristophanes, the poignant gripping dramas of Sophocles, euripides and Aeschylus. The all-encompassing philosophies of Plato and

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HMart Torrance Grand Opening on June 22

In the Pool: Remember to wear sunscreen and sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher at least 30 minutes before diving in and reapply after you swim.

At the Barbeque: Review grill safety to avoid harmful burns.

Prevent foodborne illnesses by washing your hands before preparing or serving any food, keeping raw meat away from other food and utensils, and cooking food at the correct temperature to eliminate any harmful bacteria.

On a hike: Try hiking before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are less strong. Don’t forget to wear long sleeves to protect skin from poison ivy/oak and use insect repellant to prevent harmful bug bites.

And no matter what, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.

Want to learn more from our professionals? For a free referral to a Glendale Memorial hospital-affiliated physician, call our Doctor Finder service at (818)502-2378.

Dr. Brigeli Westerband, M.D., Glendale Memorial’s Emergency Medicine Division Chair

Alden, Maine record theme song for upcoming film

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

Aristotle, the keen histories and self-criticism of herodotus. he believed and inculcated in me, that the Greeks said it first, and said it well.

In my studies of Philosophy and Journalism at UST’s Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, my in-

troduction to Socrates was how father established the nature of pure virtue, the desire for beautiful things and the ability to provide them without being chopped into fragments such as temperance, justice and piety. In the eyes of every father the child in us remain.

The world may one day know you as a self confident adult, a civic leader or a man of destiny, but no

matter how you change, no matter what time does to your face and soul; your father carries forever within his heart a clear picture of you as you were. When at one day old, lying in this arms, as you were at four — playing in the carefree sunshine of your childhood.

One sad Sunday, my father left me. he died.

B JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution AngelA K. Ho And nAncy Miller A NEW policy issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow family-members of Filipino WWII Veterans to come to the US now and remain here while they wait for their family-based petitions to become current. Starting June 8, 2016, eligible individuals under this policy are able to request parole into the United States on a case-by-case basis to join their families here. The Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) policy allows certain beneficiaries of WWII veterans’ familybased immigrant visa petitions to be “paroled” into the US before a visa is available in their category to wait out their time with their veteran family memberhere instead of outside the US. This policy is intended to recognize the “extraordinary contribution and sacrifices of Filipino veterans” who fought for our country during World War II and to enable these veterans to reunite with their family in their old age.This policy would be an invaluable benefit for eligible individuals, as it allowsfamily members tobypass the extremely long wait time that typically accompanies many family-sponsored petitions. Some family members, for example, have been waiting for over two decades for a visa to become available. This policy would provide, at the very least, the ability for veterans and their faraway family members to be together in the US sooner.

Of the 260,000 Filipino enlisted soldiers, an estimated 26,000 became US citizens. In turn, these veterans petitioned their family members to immigrate over to the US Currently, between 2,000 to 6,000 Filipino-American veterans remain living today in the United States, many with family members still outside the US waiting for a visa to become available for them. The new FWVP policy aims to remedy this

Filipino WWII Vets’ family members may be able to come to US now wait period and assist beneficiaries in reuniting with their families. USCIS will have discretion to approve parole requests for such relatives so that they may wait in the US until they are able to move forward with their permanent resident applications.

The benefit, in the government’s eyes, is twofold. In addition to honoring the sacrifice of Filipino WWII veterans by providing a faster means to family reunification in the US, this policy will also provide a significant public benefit in the form of substantive familial relief. Paroled family members will be able to provide their aging veterans and their spouses with much-needed substantive support—physical, financial, emotional—intheir twilight years.

So, who is eligible under the Filipino WWII Veteran Parole Policy?

In order to qualify for FWVP parole, individuals must first be beneficiaries of an approved family-based immigrant visa petition whose qualifying relationship existed on or before May 9, 2016.

Second, the petitioning relative must be residing in the US If the petitioner is deceased, then they must have been residing in the United States at the time of death. Third, the petitioning relative must be either a Filipino WWII veteran or the surviving spouse of the veteran, with the Department of Defense recognizing the veteran’s military service.

USCIS can verify this information with government records, but in cases where this information is not available, beneficiaries will have the burden of proving eligibility. If the family member has inadmissibility issues, such as criminal history, misrepresentations or prior deportation orders, it may be more difficult to obtain parole.

If the Filipino veteran is still living, the individuals eligible for parole consideration include all family-sponsored preferences, including brothers and sisters. If the Filipino veteran is deceased and the surviving spouse is the petitioner, parole consideration can only be given to the biological children of the surviving spouse and the Filipino veteran. If the petitioning relative is deceased, eligible individuals can also attempt to seek parole on their own behalf by seeking reinstatement of the family petition for humanitarian reasons. These would include qualifying children and brothers and sisters of the deceased Filipino WWII veteran.

This FWVP policy has been implemented by USCIS for the public benefit of Filipino WWII veterans. However, this policy is not a permanent benefit; it is set to expire five (5) years after June 8, 2016. Therefore, time is of the essence. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible.

Once parole is granted, indi-

u PAGE C4

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

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Community Journal

7!2.).' TO

(OMEOWNERS 3TOP STRESSING EVERY MONTH WITH PAYMENTS YOU CANNOT AFFORD ,OWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS BY OR MORE TYPICAL 2EDUCE INTEREST RATE WITHOUT REFINANCING 2EDUCE PRINCIPAL BALANCE IF QUALIFIED !PPLY EVEN IF YOU VE BEEN DENIED BEFORE OR APPROVED AND THEN DEFAULTED AGAIN

818-408-6717

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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon ARE you being harassed by your creditors day and night due to unpaid bills? If you are, you know that this is a pretty unpleasant experience. You may feel scared, angry or embarrassed about your situation. The prospect of debt relief through bankruptcy may sound appealing to you but you are not quite sure if this is really the way to go. Perhaps you have heard good things and bad things about bankruptcy and you need to learn more about it before making a decision.

But just how can you tell when it’s time to make that move and declare bankruptcy? Of course, situations vary and whether or not bankruptcy is your best alternative will depend on the facts and circumstances of your case. But generally, the answer has to do with your ability to pay, which means that you need to consider your income, expenses, your assets and the amount of your debt. You also need to look at the types of debt you have. For example, if you are dealing with nothing but IRS taxes and they type of taxes

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

• YOU may claim exemptions for yourself, your spouse and your dependents.

• Dependents must have a Social Security number (TIN is not good enough).

• Exemption amount is $4,000 for 2015 for each exemption.

• Exemptions reduce your taxable income and your income tax.

• It could also produce credits such as child care credit, earned income credit, child tax credit, additional child tax credit and other credits.

• Some of these credits are refundable (meaning that you can get a refund even if your tax is zero).

• True, your spouse may be dependent on you, but do not

Is bankruptcy my only option to get out of debt? you have cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy, you may have other options in solving your tax problems besides filing for bankruptcy.

Generally speaking, however, here are a few questions you should be asking yourself to help you assess whether it’s time for you to consider filing for bankruptcy: (1) Are you struggling to pay even the minimum payments on your credit cards?

(2) Have you started borrowing money just to be able to cover your basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, gas, etc? (3) Have you lost track of how much you owe? (4) Are bill collectors calling you because you have accounts in collection?

(5) Have creditors taken legal action against you such as filing a lawsuit, obtained a judgment and threatening to garnish your wages or levy your bank account?

If you said “yes” to any or most of the above, you could be in a financial danger zone and you need to take action as soon as possible before your financial problems get worse. It may be time to face your financial reality instead of pretending that everything is “OK”. Perhaps

you’ve been ignoring your pile of bills and the collection calls.

But you’re only going to be able to do this for so long. Sooner or later, you need to face your creditors and do something to change your situation.

I believe that bankruptcy should be a last resort and that you need to exhaust all debt relief options before resorting to it. But I also believe that a lot of people put off the decision to file bankruptcy for too long that they needlessly suffer in debt when they could have acted sooner to rebuild their finances and their life.

Since 1997, I have helped thousands of clients get out of debt. Let me help you determine if bankruptcy is right for your situation. Call Toll-Free at 1866-477-7772 to schedule a free office consultation. 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.

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10 tips on dependents and exemptions claim him/her as your dependent even if he/she does not have not any income. The rationale: you file a joint return with him/her as your spouse, not as dependent.

• If you are claimed as a dependent by another such as your parents, do not claim your exemption again as this will result in a duplication of deduction. It invites a notice from the IRS. Yes, they will catch it. IRS computers are programmed to identify duplication of exemptions for the same Social Security Number. Guaranteed.

• You may not claim a married person as your dependent if he/she files a joint return with spouse.

• Your dependent must be a US citizen, US resident alien, or US national or resident of Canada or Mexico for some part

of the year. Note: A US national is an individual who, although not a US citizen, owes his/her allegiance to the United States.

US nationals include American Samoans and Northern Mariana Islanders who chose to become US nationals instead of US citizens. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe sAyAs, Jr. FOR about 19 years, Maria Montoya worked as a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. In November 2011, while on vacation, she suffered a back injury. On Nov. 28, 2011, she sent her employer her doctor’s note, stating that she needed to be on leave for a few weeks to recover. A few days later, the Detective Commanding Officer (DCO) called Montoya to find out where she was. Montoya thought the DCO was upset. The DCO had not been notified that Montoya was on a doctor-ordered disability leave.

On Jan. 17, 2012, Montoya was cleared to return to work with light duty restrictions.

On Jan. 18, 2012, the DCO told Montoya that she was being moved to the Burglary and Theft section from the Sex and Juvenile Crimes section, which she had supervised since 2009.

Montoya complained to the union and the Area Commanding Officer about the move. On Jan. 19, 2012, Montoya was brought to the hospital for an apparent heart attack, later diagnosed as a severe panic attack. Montoya claimed this was a result of stress from the DCO’s actions. Montoya also claimed that the DCO made incorrect statements in Montoya’s paperwork, which delayed Montoya’s workers compensation benefits. On Jan. 26, 2012, Montoya made a formal complaint against the DCO to internal affairs, which launched an investigation.

Montoya then had to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and on Feb. 13, 2012, was deemed to

To Live With Faith reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAs “THUS says the Lord: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition…” Zechariah 12:10 Have you ever prayed hard to God, asking him to listen to your petition? Have you asked people to pray for you? I’m sure that you made these requests many times in your life. In times of desperation, we cling to our faith, and we ask people to intercede to God for us.

Prayer is an act of humility: a recognition of our limitations as human beings and an acknowledgment of the power that God

Community Journal

Being singled out - is it discrimination or retaliation?

Why non-discriminatory conduct can still be illegal retaliation

be temporarily completely disabled because of stress and was placed on 60-day leave. The next week, she was stripped of her peace officer powers. Her badge and weapon were taken from her. Montoya sued the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department, alleging disability discrimination and retaliation for reporting the DCO to internal affairs.

The employer countered that it had nondiscriminatory and nonretaliatory reasons for moving Montoya and for taking her off-duty. The transfer was necessary to address a crime trend, and without change in Montoya’s pay or benefit. Additionally, Montoya’s badge and weapon were taken away because a psychiatrist determined that Montoya was psychiatrically temporarily totally disabled.

After trial, the jury decided that although the employer is not liable for disability discrimination, it is liable for retaliation.

The jury then awarded Montoya $2,101,969.00 in loss of wages, emotional distress, and future economic loss.

Why did the employee win on retaliation but not on disability discrimination?

Disability discrimination exists if an employee is fired, demoted or disciplined based on the employee’s disability or medical condition. In Montoya’s case, the jury was not convinced that enough evidence was shown to indicate that the employer was targeting Montoya because of her disability.

In other words, the jury believed that Montoya was assigned to a different crime section because

she was needed in that section – a legitimate reason.

However, the jury concluded that Montoya suffered retaliation. Retaliation exists where an employee engaged in a “protected activity” and was then “punished” for that activity by a firing, a demotion, a reprimand, etc. A “protected activity” includes an employee’s act of opposing a practice which is forbidden by law (e.g. disability discrimination). It is enough that the employee “reasonably” and in “good faith” believes the practice to be unlawful, even if the conduct turns out to be lawful after all.

In the case of Montoya, her “protected activity” was her report to internal affairs that the DCO was discriminating against her because of her disability. The jury believed that by subjecting her to a psychiatric evaluation and then stripping her of her badge and weapon, the employer engaged in retaliatory conduct against her, even though a discriminatory intent could not be shown. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

(Advertising Supplement)

Prayer as an act of surrender can do for us. Hence, it is an act of faith.

When Jesus presented to his disciples the question, “Who do people say that I am?” he was testing their faith to see if they believed in his power to save humanity through his cross and resurrection. He wanted to see if people could seriously turn to him as the Christ, the Anointed One. Prayer then is a way of discipleship. It’s an emptying of ourselves so that God can have power over us. It’s a total submission of all our concerns, worries and fears to God, which, if we think honestly, is a difficult thing to do.

For we are weak—we can’t let go of our anxieties and our tendency to control our lives.

We have to learn to let go as Christ admonished his disciples: “If anyone wishes to come after

me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Mark 16:24) We must adhere to these words in every moment of prayer. Jesus promises that those who take up this cross daily—of praying humbly in an act of surrender—will find peace and freedom.

Meditation and contemplation are forms of prayer that would help us exercise this act of submission to God. Every morning or any time of the day we should spend a few quiet moments with God to meditate and contemplate on his healing graces.

God’s innermost desire is to liberate us from all anxieties.

But he’s asking us to do our part in allowing him to have power

u PAGE C4

New USCIS policy allows relatives of Filipino WW II vets to come to US UNDER the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) policy beginning June 8, 2016, USCIS will allow certain beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions to request a grant of parole so that they may come to the U.S. as they wait for their priority date to become current. The policy recognizes the contributions of Filipino veterans who served in World War II, and allows relatives of such elderly Filipino veterans and their spouses to come to the U.S. to provide care and support for them.

USCIS will consider requests for FWVP parole submitted for certain relatives who are the beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions filed by Filipino veterans or their surviving spouses. If the request for parole is approved, the beneficiary and his/her immediate family would be allowed to come to the U.S. and live in the U.S. while waiting for their priority date to become current, at which point they would be allowed to adjust to permanent resident status.

Those who may request parole under FWVP are persons 1) who are the beneficiaries of an approved I-130 Petition (including spouse and children); 2) whose petitioning relative is residing in the U.S. (or if deceased, was residing in the U.S. at the time of death); 3) who are waiting for their priority date to become current under the Department of State’s visa bulletin; and 4) whose petitioning relatives have established they are either Filipino World War II Veterans or are the surviving spouse.

Under FWVP, the Filipino World War II veteran must have served in World War II as a member of the Philippine Army, a recognized guerilla unit, the Philippines Scouts, or within any other component of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE). USCIS will review government records to verify the Filipino World War II veteran’s military service. The petitioner who requested parole for his relative beneficiary under FWVP will be provided an opportunity to establish the World War II service if it cannot be found in government records.

When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the Filipino World War II veteran, individuals who obtain parole under FWVP include beneficiaries under any family-sponsored preference category. When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the surviving spouse of a Filipino World War II veteran, only individuals who are the child, son, or daughter of the surviving spouse who is also the child, son, or daughter of the Filipino World War II veteran can seek parole under FWVP. In cases where the petitioning relative is deceased, a beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP but first must seek humanitarian reinstatement of the approved I-130 filed on the beneficiary’s behalf. Once the I-130 is reinstated, the beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP. It is important to note that the above requirements are preliminary requirements for eligibility under FWVP. The grant of parole by USCIS under FWVP is made on a discretionary, case-by-case basis. In addition, following the first 4 years of FWVP’s implementation, USCIS will evaluate whether FWVP should be phased out at the end of 5 years. It is accordingly recommended that you promptly seek the advice and assistance of an experienced attorney, who can confirm eligibility and present facts in support of the favorable exercise of discretion

by USCIS in granting the parole request. *** 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@ (Advertising Supplement) dtanlaw.com.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

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Do you need to be living in separate residences to be considered ‘Separated’ from your Spouse under the California family law?

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

FAMILY Code 760 provides tended children’s activities but residence that is “separate and that all property acquired by used separate cars. On June 1, apart from her husband” which the spouse during the marriage 2006 wife announced she was strongly suggests that the statute is community property. That “through” with the marriage. was directed at a situation where means each spouse has a half Wife believed couple were acting the spouses had physically sepainterest on any assets that are ac- simply as roommates after 2006. rated and the wife in fact had her quired during the marriage, with Wife increased her earnings af- own residence. The Supreme certain exceptions, since it is ter this date while husband left Court also relied on the holding generally characterized as com- his job. Parties continued to live in the Norviel case which held munity property. On the same to- in the marital home and went on that living apart physically is an ken, Family Code 771(a) provides vacation together. Wife filed for indispensable threshold requirethat earnings and accumulations divorce in 2008. Wife moves out ment to separation, whether or of a spouse while living “separate of the marital residence on July1, not it is sufficient, by itself to esand apart” from the other spouse, 2011. Wife alleges date of sepa- tablish separation. Although the are the separate property of the ration of June 1, 2006. Husband Davis case has adopted a bright spouse. How about the situa- alleges a date of separation of line test in determining date of tion where the couple continues July 1, 2011. The trial court and separation, it also acknowledge to live together due to economic the court of appeal found June1, that there may be “exceptional reasons like roommates. Is a cou- 2006 as the date of separation. circumstances” when a couple is ple living “separate and apart” The California Supreme Court under one roof but still separated. under family code 771(a) when reversed the decision holding This was noted in footnote 7 in they continue to live together in that living in separate residences Davis and the concurring opinion the same home even though they “is an indispensable threshold written by Justice Liu and joined no longer live their lives like mar- requirement for a finding that by Justice Werdergar. Davis has listed facts that ried couple?

The California Supreme Court looked do not qualify The California exceptional Supreme Court, into the wording and legislative intent of as circumstances. in a recent case In family code 771(a) by tracing it back to a The date of sepre Marriage of Dais one vis, 61 Cal 4th 4th 145 year old predecessor statute enacted aration of the most liti846 (2015), held in 1870 ‘An Act to Protect the Rights of gated issues in that the phrase a divorce case “living separate Married Women in Certain Cases.’ since it directly and apart” in the California family code refers to spouses are “living separate and affects the characterization and a situation in which spouses are apart” for purposes of section division of community property. living in separate residences and 771(a). The interpretation aligns This case changes that analysis at least one of them has the sub- with the common understanding and may create problems in its jective intent to end the marital of the words, the statutory his- practical application to the realirelationship, abrogating In re tory of the provision, and legiti- ties of contemporary families. *** Marriage of Johnson, 134 Cal. mate public policy concerns.

The In re Marriage of Davis de- Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified App.3d. 148. Prior to this decision, the date of “separation” oc- cision now requires the parties to Family Law Specialist. He was President of curs only when the parties have be living in separate residences the Philippine American Bar Association. He come to a parting of the ways as a prerequisite to a separation. is a member of both the Family law section and with no present intent to resume In IRMO Davis, the California Immigration law section of the Los Angeles their marriage and their conduct Supreme Court looked into the County Bar Association. He has extensive evidences a complete and final plain meaning of the statute, CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW break in the marital relationship. the legislative intent and history OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located The Court would consider all of of the statute, and the case law at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, the relevant evidence regard- in interpreting the term “sepa- CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail ing whether the parties’ conduct rate and apart.” The California kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at evidences a complete and final Supreme Court looked into the Kenreyeslaw.com. *** break in the marital relationship. wording and legislative intent Living in separate residences, al- of family code 771(a) by tracing Please note that this article is not legal advice though a factor to be considered, it back to a 145 year old prede- and is not intended as legal advice. The article was not required for a separa- cessor statute enacted in 1870 is intended to provide only general, non-specific “An Act to Protect the Rights legal information. This article is not intended tion.

In re Marriage of Davis in- of Married Women in Certain to cover all the issues related to the topic volved husband and wife mar- Cases.” Section 4 of the 1870 act discussed. The specific facts that apply to your ried in 1993. The couple had 2 provided a procedure for a wife matter may make the outcome different than children. Couple stopped hav- who was “living separate and would be anticipated by you. This article does ing sexual relationship in 1999. apart” from her husband to sell create any attorney client relationship between Wife moved to another bedroom her real property without joining you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. in the house either in 2001 or with her husband by stating in This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement) 2004. Husband and wife at- a declaration ”her own place of

“

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C JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 50. This is his financial picture: He has been working as a truck driver for a furniture company for 15 years. Before that, he worked in the warehouse of that company for 5 years. He is married with a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.

His wife is a licensed vocational nurse who has gross income of $4,800 a month. They rent a single-family house for $1,800, and pay $520 a month on new E350 Mercedes Benz car lease. Last year, he decided to stop working as a truck driver to become a business owner. The business opportunity presented itself by way of a turnkey franchise. It’s a retail outlet that provides a service to the public. Client also has credit card debt of $100K. From experience, I know that there has to be some connection between the business and credit card debt. I asked him if he used the credit cards for the business.

He said affirmatively that he was required to put a down payment of $50K on the business. What happened was that client used credit cards to pay the $50K down payment? How he was able to do this, escapes me. Apparently, the franchisor operated another company whose purpose is to use buyer’s credit cards to fund the $50K down payment.

That’s another story altogether.

That’s like going to a car dealer and using ten credit cards to pay for a $50K car. I know there’s some finessing going on because 20 years ago, I offered to use one credit card with a $20K credit line to make a $10K down payment on a car, and the dealer told me that they could only used a max of $2,500 using the card. So this tells me that if you can use credit cards to pay for a $50K car or to make a down payment of $50K to buy a franchise, there has to be a

Business owner seeks to discharge $100k credit cards used to buy business

over us.

May we exercise the habit of surrendering to God every day of our lives! *** 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.

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People and Events

Clinton beats trump to become first woman president of America

lot of back door finessing going on to actually get money from all the credit cards to total a $50K payment. Let’s just put it mildly as a “grey” area.

In any event, $50K was transferred from client’s credit cards to the franchisor pursuant to a purchase agreement between client, buyer, and franchisor, seller.

The total purchase price of the business was $100K. How was client going to pay for the other $50K? It was financed by a promissory note where client agreed to pay $2.5K a month until $50K was paid in full, interest at 12% p.a. Thinking that he had just acquired a very profitable business, client believed that he would have no problem paying himself a salary of $3K, the rent of another $3K, and the monthly payment to the franchisor of $2.5K, plus the $1.5K minimum monthly payments to keep the $50K credit cards current, until the business would be able to rake in profits by the truckloads to pay off the $50K of credit cards.

Eager to become a business tycoon, client opened his store at 7 a.m. and closed it at 7 p.m., seven days a week. In the first month, his gross receipts were a grand total of $3K. In the second month, his gross receipts were $2K. And on the third month, his gross receipts were $4K. After 12 months of hard work, his business was losing an average of $4 to $5K a month. He kept the business afloat by using credit cards to finance the monthly losses. So at the end of 12 months, he owed a total of $100K. But all good things come to an end. He has maxed out his credit cards and there’s nowhere else to borrow money.

So now the credit card dogs are

Prayer as an act of…

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Community Journal

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

barking at the door. They want their pound of flesh. Client then realizes how foolish he was in buying this stupid franchise.

Considering all these circumstances, does client qualify for Chapter 7 relief? Of course, he does. His intent was to pay every single cent of his credit cards from the truckload of profits from the business. Instead, he got truckload of losses. Blame that on his lack of experience in business, not on malice aforethought.

Why will Hillary beat Trump?

Yes, because Americans by and large, are inclusive. And by and large, Americans are a just and fair people. Americans are made up of different ethnicities from all over the world; who believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s why America can have a black president for two terms despite the fact that America’s majority is not black.

In America, we can talk freely about our ideas, which may differ from each other. I can say don’t vote for Trump because this man is a demagogue. Indeed, if he becomes president of our great nation, a civil war between different American ethnicities could ensue. This is not far fetched when it is the prospective president Trump himself who incites these feelings of hate towards others who look different. That is so fifties and sixties and has no place in America of the 21st century.

Even Pope Francis said that Trump was not Christian in spirit. Even though the Pope did not claim infallibility when he said that, that was a very big negative against Trump. I’m voting for Hillary, she’s my president.

“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”

— Psalm 33:20 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Filipino Community of Bakersfield & Vicinity Scholarship Awards Luncheon. Standing from left to right: President Jun Rivera, Carlos Naz, Jr. Carla Mae Naz, Keanu Quiton, Gera Mica Hasta, Luke Harmuth, Committee Chairwoman Merlyn Quintos. Seating from left to right: Allyanna Demafeliz, Clarice Eve Poblete, Abigael Rubio Esteban. Not in photo: Joshua Sison, Sarah Mortel.

Filipino WWI…

PAGE C1 t

viduals can apply for entry at the port of entry (including airports and land borders) to the United States. Department of State consular officers will interview all applicants to determine whether a favorable grant of discretion is appropriate.Individuals must continue to seek re-parole upon parole expiration.

Anyone whose Filipino WWII veteran family member filed a petition for them before May 9, 2016 should consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to see if they or their family member qualifies under this very exciting new and temporary policy. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Lauren Miel Anor-Lagdamen celebrated her 4th birthday on June 16, 2016, with proud parents, Rommel and Anabelle Lagdamen.

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

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C JUNE 18-21, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016

MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

Duterte economic team to present 10-point agenda before bizmen Team commits to continue sound economic policies of previous administrations

by Ben de

Vera Inquirer.net

THE economic team of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will flesh out before businessmen details of their 10-point socioeconomic agenda in the next six years, the topmost of which was a commitment to keep the sound fiscal, monetary and trade policies put in place by previous administrations.

In a statement Wednesday, June 15 the transition team of incoming Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez announced that Duterte’s economic development team will meet with more than 300 business leaders in Davao City on June 20 to 21 at a consultative workshop called “Sulong Pilipinas: Hakbang Tungo sa Kaunlaran.” The workshop was co-organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mindanao Business Council.

At the two-day consultative meeting, Dominguez will present the proposed 10-point economic agenda aimed at addressing the challenges to inclusive growth; while incoming Socioeconomic Planning Secretary as well as Na-

Incoming PH Finance Sec. Carlos G. Dominguez

tional Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director-General Ernesto M. Pernia will talk about the country’s current economic health. The “21st century-style town hall meeting” will be moderated by incoming Department of Finance spokesperson Paola Alvarez.

Duterte himself is expected to grace the dialogue, as he was scheduled to give a response on the recommendations to be generated PAGE D2

HSBC economist Joseph Incalcaterra

PH economy to remain ‘best performer’ in Asia, says HSBC Amid forecast slowdown in succeeding quarters

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA—Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) expects the Philippines to post a slower growth in the coming quarters.

“While the pace of growth will likely slow in the coming quarters after the election boost subsides and the base effect turns less supportive, the Philippine economy should nonetheless remain a regional outperformer given the domestically-driven nature of growth,” HSBC economist Joseph Incalcaterra said.

HSBC sees the economy ex-

panding 5.9 percent this year before slowing down to 5.8 percent next year.

The country’s GDP growth accelerated to 6.9 percent in the first quarter from the revised 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter due to election-related spending.

Incalcaterra said the growth was primarily driven by investment and private consumption on the back of sustained government infrastructure spending, election campaign activity, and strong remittances growth.

Economic managers penciled a GDP growth of between 6.8 and 7.8 percent this year.

More Filipinos gaining access to financial services, says BSP

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA—The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sees more Filipinos having access to financial services after President Benigno Aquino III issued an order pushing greater financial inclusion in the country.

The central bank said in a statement President Aquino signed EO 208 establishing the Financial Inclusion Steering Committee (FISC) that would serve as the governing body that provides strategic direction, guidance and oversight in the implementation of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI).

The FISC is tasked to align various financial inclusion related policies and programs and at the same time ensure effective monitoring of the progress of these initiatives.

It would also collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders on various agenda that fall under the NSFI areas of policy and regulation, financial education, consumer protection, data

and measurement, and financial inclusion advocacy.

“With the effective implementation of the NSFI through the oversight of the FISC, it is hoped that more people will benefit from having access to financial services and contribute to broad-based growth,” the BSP said.

Despite the sustained economic growth in the country, the BSP said access to financial services remains a challenge.

Latest data showed about 68 percent of adults who save keep their savings at home while 72 percent of those who borrow do so from informal sources. Furthermore, only 30.5 percent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have bank loans or formal lines of credit.

The BSP said around 12 percent of the 1,634 municipalities spread over the Philippine archipelago still have no access to a bank or other types of financial service providers.

Only one percent of the 2.5 billion retail payment transactions processed in the country per month is thru digital means.

Business Quote of the Week “Embrace what you don’t know, especially in the beginning, because what you don’t know can become your greatest asset. It ensures that you will absolutely be doing things different from everybody else.”

- Sara Blakely, founder of SPANX

& Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

FAMILY based petitions and some employment-based petitions (where a relative owns a 5% interest in the petitioning company) require the petitioner to submit an affidavit of support (Form I – 864) in order for the beneficiary to adjust status or obtain an immigrant visa.

The petitioner must be domiciled (or living) in the US to submit the affidavit of support.

If the petitioner is living outside the US (such as an elderly US citizen parent now retired to the Philippines), he cannot submit an affidavit of support, and the beneficiary will not be able to obtain a green card.

In some cases, the petitioner may have passed away after the petition was approved. In those cases, the beneficiary must seek humanitarian reinstatement.

If the beneficiary was in the US when the petitioner passed away, he can rely on the “Survivor Law” (Section 204(l)) in lieu of the more difficult and burdensome humanitarian rein-

D

Avoiding an affidavit of support (Form I – 864) by working 40 quarters (10 years)

statement.

However, the beneficiary would still be required to submit an affidavit of support by a “substitute sponsor”, who are certain US citizens or lawful permanent resident relatives, at least 18 years of age, and domiciled in the US. The substitute sponsors include spouse, parent, mother-in-law, fatherin-law, brother or sister, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or legal guardian. (A legal guardian is a court-appointed representative, where the beneficiary is a minor or mentally incompetent).

But what happens if a petitioner dies, and the beneficiary has none of the above relatives who can act as a substitute sponsor? In that case, the beneficiary may not be able to seek humanitarian reinstatement or benefit from the Survivor Law, since there is no qualified substitute sponsor who can submit an affidavit of support.

There is another provision

of the affidavit of support law that provides that an affidavit of support is not required if, at the time the beneficiary seeks permanent residence, the beneficiary can show he or she has already worked, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of earnings, based on certified earnings records from the Social Security Administration. In other words, if a person has worked for at least 40 quarters (10 years), he or she may not be required to submit an affidavit of support by a substitute sponsor. (A person could also get credited with quarters earned by his/her parent when he/she is under 18, and by his/ her spouse during the marriage (but only if still married to the same spouse or if the spouse is deceased).

If you are under petition, and you have issues/problems relating to the affidavit of support (i.e. your petitioner is not earning enough, the petitioner has died, you cannot locate a substitute sponsor, etc.), but you already have 40 qualifying

quarters of earnings/coverage, you may not need an affidavit of support. If this applies to you, consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, especially if the lack of an affidavit of support is the last hurdle to your obtaining a green card. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

D june 18-21, 2016 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL

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Incoming NEDA chief favors lower limit on foreign ownership by czeriza

VaLencia Philstar.com

Balesin’s colorful resort.

PH targeted as luxury travel destination

by Louise

Maureen Philstar.com

siMeon

MANILA—Aside from infrastructure and connectivity, the group said top agenda for incoming tourism secretary Wanda Corazon Teo should include the development of a national plan for sustainable and responsible tourism industry.

“This includes powers to regulate tourism activities severely impacting our natural resources, indigenous people and culture and ensure inclusive economic development in tourist attractions communities,” APTM spokesperson Edwin Villanueva said.

The APTM aims to join the ranks of other Asia-Pacific countries that actively promote luxury tourism including India, Austra-

lia, China, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

The premium market segment is said to be more inclined with art, design, entertainment, gadgets, fashion, food and local customs.

The Philippines is being targeted as the new luxury travel destination in Asia-Pacific as the region has become the latest hotspot for the premium tourism market.

According to executives from the luxury travel industry, there is increasing demand from social class A travellers as evidenced by the continued growth of luxury resorts and hotels in the country.

Although the Department of Tourism (DOT) has not segmented data between luxury

and budget travellers, the group expects total receipts to reach P7 billion and arrivals to 60,000 in the next three years from the high-yield luxury market.

Premium travellers spend over 50 percent more than average tourists and have the tendency to stay longer. The country’s top luxury markets include Germany, Canada and the UK. “There is a need for international connectivity to the Philippines for inbound traffic of key tourism markets. Promoting inbound traffic gathers more yield for the country’s economy,” Asia Premium Travel Mart (APTM) president Fe Abling-Yu said.

Yu noted that increase in market should be coupled with necessary infrastructure to provide better accessibility, safety and convenience to tourists.

MANILA—Incoming socioeconomic planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Ernesto Pernia is intent on pushing for relaxation of restrictions on foreign direct investments and attract more ventures in manufacturing and agriculture in the provinces.

Foreign business groups have been batting for the relaxation of foreign ownership cap of 40 percent, saying this is preventing the country’s foreign investment inflow from meeting its full potential. They argue that massive amounts of foreign investments is the best way to generate more jobs in the country. “(To strengthen the manufacturing industry we need to) lift constitutional restrictions on FDIs

and encourage investments in manufacturing and agriculture in the regions outside Metro Manila including Visayas and Mindanao,” Pernia said.

As investments in agriculture are in high on the priority list, Pernia said farmers should concentrate on high-value crops as the new administration would be veering way from the policy of attaining self-sufficiency in rice production.

“The right policy is food security, not self-sufficiency because we do not have comparative advantage in growing rice. Thailand and Vietnam have such advantage so it’s cheaper to import from them,” he said.

The government has gone to great lengths to protect the livelihood of rice farmers from competition as the country seeks self-sufficiency in the staple, even

Incoming socioeconomic planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia is intent on pushing for relaxation of restrictions on foreign direct investments and attract more ventures in manufacturing and agriculture in the provinces.

negotiating with the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the extension until next year of the special tax treatment on rice.

Remittances rise to $2.21 B in April

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA—Cash remittances from Filipinos abroad climbed 4.1 percent in April amid the sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said money sent home by overseas Filipinos amounted to $2.21 billion in April, $87 million higher from $2.13 billion in the same month last year.

“The sustained demand for

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said money sent home by overseas Filipinos amounted to $2.21 billion in April, $87 million higher from $2.13 billion in the same month last year.

overseas Filipino workers continued to provide support to the growth of remittance inflows,” Tetangco said.

The BSP has revised the remittance figures for March. Instead of a 1.5 percent growth, cash remittances contracted 1.2 percent to $2.36 billion instead of $2.42 billion in March from $2.39 billion in the same month last year.

For the first four months of the year, cash remittances grew 3.1 percent to $8.67 billion from $8.41 billion in the same period last year.

Tetangco reported remittances from land-based Filipino workers grew 3.8 percent to $6.8 billion from January to April, while those from sea-based workers rose 0.8 percent to $1.9 billion.

Data showed more than threefourths of cash remittances came from the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Qatar, Hong Kong, Kuwait, and Germany.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that a total of 777,887 contracts were processed from January to

April this year.

On the other hand, Tetangco said personal remittances went up 3.8 percent to $2.44 billion in April from $2.35 billion in the same month last year bringing the growth in the first four months of the year to three percent to $9.58 billion from $9.3 billion.

The BSP also revised the personal remittance figures to a decline of 1.3 percent instead of a growth of 1.4 percent.

Personal remittance is computed as the sum of gross earnings of overseas Filipino workers with work contracts of less than one year, including all sea-based workers, less taxes, social contributions, and transportation and travel expenditures in their host countries.

Last year, cash remittances went up 4.6 percent to a record $25.77 billion from $24.63 billion in 2014.

For this year, remittances are expected to increase four percent on account of the steady deployment of Filipino workers, greater diversification of country destinations, and shift to higher-skilled types of work.

Duterte economic team to present...

PAGE D1 from the consultation.

First on the list of the 10-point socioeconomic agenda was to “continue and maintain current macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary and trade policies,” the draft conference agenda provided to reporters showed.

Also part of the socioeconomic roadmap were: Instituting progressive tax reform and more effective tax collection while indexing taxes to inflation, in line with the plan to submit to Congress a tax reform package by September; Increasing competitiveness and the ease of doing business, drawing upon successful models used to attract business to local cities such as Davao, as well as pursuing the relaxation of the Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership, except with regards land ownership, in order to attract foreign direct investments; Accelerating annual infrastructure spending to account for 5 percent of the gross domestic product, with public-private partnerships playing a key role; Promoting rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism; Ensuring security of land tenure to encourage investments and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies; Investing in human capital development, including health and education systems, as well as matching skills and training to meet the demands of businesses and the private sector; Promoting science, technology and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining and inclusive development; Improving social protection programs, including the government’s conditional cash transfer program, in order to protect the poor against instability and economic shocks; and

Strengthening the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to enable, especially, poor couples to make informed choices on financial and family planning.

The Duterte administration’s 10point agenda “emphasizes the need to maintain accelerated economic growth while ensuring that gains are broadly shared by the Filipino people,” the statement read.

It was also “anchored on the long-term Filipino 2040 vision and the next medium-term Philippine Development Planning (PDP) cycle, both led by Neda,” it added, referring to the AmBisyon Natin 2040 vision.

Launched in March, AmBisyon Natin 2040 was aimed at tripling Filipinos’ per capita income to about $11,000 in 25 years’ time such that the country would become a high-income country in 2040 by implementing “right” policies as well as efficiency and productivity improvements.

A survey conducted early this year in line with the AmBisyon Natin 2040 visioning exercise showed that the majority of Filipinos aspire for a “simple and comfortable life,” which Neda had said reflected middle-class lifestyle—earning enough, educating all children until college, owning a car, owning a medium-sized house, finding time to relax with family and friends, owning a business, and being able to travel around the country.

When the next administration officially takes over by midyear, they will shepherd the drafting of the next six-year PDP to suit their development and economic goals.

The PDP for the 2017-2022 period is expected to be completed by yearend.

According to Dominguez’s transition team, the consultative meeting Sulong “is envisaged as a yearly event; the first of an annual series over the next six years, and perhaps beyond, in tandem with a civil society consultative conference.”

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016 D

Companies that neglect APA advancement risk losing out, according to new survey

Foreign investors keen about Clark Green City Investment potential pegged at billions of dollars

by Kristyn

niKa M. ManilaTimes.net

Lazo

MORE than 20 investors from Japan and Europe have either pledged to invest, or expressed interest to invest, in the Clark Green City of the Base Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Describing the investor response as “remarkable interest,” BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said on Tuesday that among the potential investors are Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Sojitz and other major Japanese companies.

They are interested particularly in utilities, land development and infrastructure. They are also considering industrial estate investments.

The industrial estate is identified in the first phase of development covering some 288 hectares.

“We are encouraging Japanese educational institutions and research institutes to set up shops in Clark to improve our technological capability,” Casanova said.

Investors from France and Germany are considering invest-

ing, given the large-scale projects in the city.

Some 20 Japanese companies have already visited the area for ocular inspection, while a French company is scheduled to visit this month.

About the industrial estates included in the plan, Casanova said: “It’s a strategic partnership because once we do industrial estate development in Clark, you create expansion growth area in Clark for Japanese manufacturing firms to also come in.”

Japanese companies, he noted, are looking for alternative sites of manufacturing facilities, and they look at the Philippines as “one of their priorities in investments.”

“The Japanese have been very, very optimistic about the Philippines. They don’t have much [issues]. They’re optimistic about Clark Green City. They look at the scale of the project, and it is something that they’re really interested in. If they’re going to spend time and resources, they wanted it to be on a scale that would create value for them. Small contracts they’d rather leave to domestic players,” Casanova said.

Ramon S. Ang and Manny V. Pangilinan

RSA, MVP in talks for joint infra ventures Rival conglomerates may start with $10-B airport project

by Doris

DuMLao-abaDiLLa Inquirer.net

TWO of the country’s stiffest corporate rivals are in talks to join forces to build crucial infrastructure for the country under the incoming Duterte administration, beginning with a brand-new international gateway for the metropolis.

San Miguel Corp. and the group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan have entered into discussions for the $10-billion international airport project along the Cyberbay reclamation area that seeks to match world-glass gateways within the region, but this didn’t gain ground then.

San Miguel president Ramon S. Ang told reporters after the company’s stockholders meeting Tuesday that since the airport

project was a big undertaking, his group was willing to bring in partners.

Ang said he had spoken with Pangilinan and agreed to work together. He said they were now in “advanced” discussions for mutual cooperation for infrastructure projects, beginning with this airport project.

“Instead of us doing projects on our own, we decided to find areas of cooperation,” Ang said.

The cooperation with the group of Pangilinan—who heads Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd. which has 80 percent of its assets invested in the Philippines—could extend beyond the airport to other infrastructure projects like tollroads and even PAGE D5

Bank deposits grow to P9.4-T

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA—More Filipinos continue to entrust their money in banks as deposits went up 10.8 percent in the first quarter amid the money laundering scandal that rocked the country’s financial system last February.

Data from the state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

(PDIC) showed bank deposits reached P9.39 trillion from January to March, P916 billion higher versus the P8.48 trillion recorded in the same period last year.

PDIC said peso deposits increased 10.9 percent to P7.79 trillion from P7.03 trillion, while foreign currency deposits owned by residents grew 9.9 percent to P1.59 trillion from P1.45 trillion.

Statistics showed the number of peso and foreign currency deposit accounts increased 7.5 percent to 51.85 million in the first quarter from 48.23 million in the same quarter last year.

Earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported the total resources of Philippine banks went up 10.1 percent to P12.52 trillion in the first quarter from a year-ago level of P11.37 million.

The total resources of big banks or universal and commercial banks increased 9.8 percent to P11.25 trillion from P10.24 billion, while that of mid-sized banks or thrift banks surged 16.7 percent to P1.05 trillion from P899.3 billion.

On the other hand, total assets of small banks or rural banks fell 9.7 percent to P213 billion in the first quarter from P236 billion in the same quarter of last year with the exit of more weak players in the industry.

Last year, total resources of the Philippine financial system increased 7.4 percent to P12.4 trillion from P11.5 trillion in 2014.

As a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the country’s banking resources stood at 93.4 percent.

BCDA had signed an agreement with the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. or JOIN in February to form a joint venture company that will support and encourage Japanese firms to invest in Clark Green City.

This joint venture is owned 55 percent by JOIN and 45 percent

by BCDA. BCDA is now considering crafting the necessary legal framework that would help foreign investors and businesses.

According to Casanova, the potential foreign investment can easily be pegged at “billions of dollars” given the sizable scale of projects within the 9,450-hectare project area which will be fully developed in about 30-40 years.

NEW YORK—A significant number of Asian Pacific American (APA) and Asian employees believe that they are not part of strategic conversations at their company and that APAs are not rewarded for their individual talents, according to a survey of more than 3,300 employees at Fortune 500 and other large employers published today by Asia Society.

Ninety-seven percent of APA employees care about their company’s success and 94 percent would recommend their company to other APAs as a good place to work, according to the 2016 Asian Pacific Americans Corporate Survey. A significant number of respondents, however, feel that APAs are not rewarded for their individual talents. Roughly one in ten APA employees believe recognition is based on stereotypes and the same number do not believe promotions are awarded based on performance and merit, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.

The survey also finds that APAs are not fully brought into strategic conversations. Sixteen percent of respondents indicate their employer does not encourage the participation of APA employees in market and business development activities, and the same number say their employer does not provide opportunities for high-performing APA employees to gain profit and loss (P&L) experience. Lack of engagement of APA leaders also manifests itself in the executive leadership ranks. Thirty-seven percent of companies report no representation of APA or Asian individuals at the C-Suite level.

When asked which drivers influence their overall satisfaction at work, the most frequent factors cited by APA employees are: 1) work-life balance; 2) company commitment to diversity; and 3) professional growth opportunities.

There is room for companies to better engage APA employees in that last category, the survey finds. Forty-one percent of respondents

say that sponsorship—formal or informal programs in which a more senior or experienced professional takes an active role in the growth and development of a more junior employee—is not available at their company.

There also seems to be a disconnect between existing career development programs and what APA employees are looking for. Forty-five percent of respondents do not participate in mentorship. Additionally, of those respondents who said sponsorship is available at their company, 80 percent do not participate in those activities.

The survey also provides a snapshot of today’s APA workforce. It finds that among APA employees at Fortune 500-level companies: • 39 percent identify as East Asian; 38 percent South Asian; 17 percent Southeast Asian; 5 percent as being from Multiple Regions; 1 percent as Pacific Islanders • 17 percent are aged 18-29; 32 percent are aged 30-39; 32 percent are aged 40-49; 17 percent are aged 50-69 • 59 percent have been with their current employer 5 or more years • 72 percent were born abroad; 20 percent were the first generation in their family born in the U.S. • 61 percent of those born abroad arrived in the U.S. at age 21 or older The Asian Pacific Americans Corporate Survey is developed in close consultation with Asia Society’s Global Talent and Diversity Council, which is comprised of more than 20 diversity leaders from Fortune 500 companies.

It includes direct responses from Diversity & Inclusion/HR departments as well as perceptions and opinions from APA employees.

For more findings, including a “roadmap” with actionable recommendations for corporate executive leaders, managers, and APA employees, read the full executive summary.

D june 18-21, 2016 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL

Showroom

Longo Toyota delivers world class experience A-Car offices on its premBeing the premiere ises. One is located adjaToyota retailer in the nacent to the Service Drive tion, Longo Toyota aims to in the Pre-Owned Vehicle deliver a truly world-class Showroom, and the other experience to our guests is in the Collision Repair on every transaction, everyday.

Center. Customers are it all starts with our welcome to utilize the enfriendly and welcoming terprise rental services, restaff, a clean and modgardless of whether or not ern environment, and a they leave their vehicle in wide range of services to IXpdfe[ G\i\q Longo for any car service.

D\c :Xjk\cf make your visit pleasant Complimentary Vehicle and convenient. Here are Delivery Service some of our key amenities Longo Toyota also offer at Longo Toyota: complimentary vehicle deAuto Club of Southern livery service. Our delivery California (AAA) service is available 6 days in november 1999, a week, Monday thru SatLongo Toyota became the urday, anywhere within a first automotive dealer60-mile radius of Longo ship in the US to have the Toyota.

Auto Club on its premLongo Toyota Parts and 9lkZ_ >XYlk`eX ises. For 14 long years, :\jXi DXZXc`ef Accessories Department our Auto Club branch has K?8EB PFL =FI D8B@E> LJ ELD9<I FE< =fi k_\ cfe^\jk You can also shop at the served countless satisfied k`d\# Cfe^f KfpfkX _Xj Y\\e gi`[`e^ `kj\c] Xj k_\ ( KfpfkX Longo Toyota Parts and Longo customers with its mfcld\ [\Xc\i `e k_\ Le`k\[ JkXk\j% 8cjf Zfej`[\i\[ Xj k_\ ( Accessories Department, wide array of services which carries a wide seGi`lj Xe[ ?pYi`[ [\Xc\i `e 8d\i`ZX# Cfe^f KfpfkX `j ^iXk\]lc Today, our on-site lection of genuine Toyota branch offers DMV servic- ]fi k_\ Zfek`elflj jlggfik f] `kj Zc`\ekj k_Xk _Xm\ kiljk\[ parts and accessories for es, airline, car and hotel k_\d n`k_ hlXc`kp YiXe[ e\n Xe[ lj\[ ZXij% ?Xm`e^ j\im\[ your vehicle. With thoureservations, discounted Zljkfd\ij ]fi +, p\Xij# k_\i\ dljk Y\ X i\Xjfe n_p Cfe^f sands of parts and accesmovie and local attraction KfpfkX `j jk`cc Zfej`[\i\[ eldY\i fe\% :Xcc ($/''$-(.$+,(- sories in stock, we defitickets, membership pro- kf[Xp kf Ôe[ flk% nitely have whatever it is cessing, OnBoard Teen you’re looking for. Our Safe Driver Program, and more. Sign up at our boutique also carries a selection of Ray-Ban and Longo Toyota branch and get $13 off the origi- Oakley sunglasses, women’s and men’s apparel, nal membership application price. Located in and so much more. our new car showroom, our AAA branch is open Shuttle Service Mondays thru Saturdays, from 11am to 7pm.

For your convenience, Longo Toyota offers Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer complimentary shuttle service while your veLongo Lexus is the first car dealership in the hicles are being serviced. Our shuttles can take US to provide Verizon Wireless and Verizon you to virtually anywhere within a 15-mile raWireless neighborhood services on-site. Our dius of Longo Toyota – be it your home, work, Verizon branch offers the latest in telecommu- the mall, or even the parlor! Anywhere! nications, mobile devices, accessories and serAn engaging stay vices. We also offer complimentary cellphone While we understand that our customer’s charging stations for our customers. Our Ve- time is precious, we realize that many of them rizon retailer is located inside our parts retail may need internet connectivity at all times. As center. Our Wireless Playground is open Mon- such we are more than happy to provide FRee day-Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, 7am-5:30pm; WiFi throughout our facility, and FRee use of and Sunday, 8-4pm. Please call (888) 623-2133 our great business center. in our business cenfor more information. ter, we provide a quiet setting where our guests Starbucks and Subway can work on our computers or on their own lapWhile waiting for your car to come out of our tops. car-care service lines, you can enjoy a quick We also provide free use of an iPad for Longo bite at Subway or a nice refreshing drink at guests who are waiting for their vehicles. Our Starbucks. We offer healthy dining options with guest Check-in representative will be more than Subway’s wide variety of sandwiches, salads, happy to arrange this for you. and wraps. if you decide to bring the kids to the dealerif you’re thirsty and you’re looking for that ship, boredom will never be a problem. We also quick coffee fix, you can grab a refreshing Ha- offer a variety of video games and DVDs just zelnut Macchiato or a smooth Caramel Frappuc- for kids so that they can also enjoy their visit to cino at Starbucks. Offering only the finest cof- Longo Toyota. fee specialties, teas, juices, and assortment of For more information on our Longo Toyota pastries, there’s something for everybody at our guest Services, please log on to http://www.lonon-site Starbucks branch. gotoyota.com/dealership/amenities.htm.

Both our Subway and Starbucks branches are Longo Toyota is located at 3534 north Peck available for catering services.

Road, el Monte, CA 91731. Call (800) 617-4516 Enterprise Rent-A-Car to set up your appointment.

Longo Toyota also has two enterprise Rent 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek

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Longo Lexus offers the ultimate conveniences in customer amenities

We all know that the process of buying a car is not just as simple as buying a new pair of shoes at the mall. It is a long process that involves careful comparison between vehicle models, reviewing the car’s specifications with regards to the needs of the buyer, and of course, the negotiations for the financing packages and promos.

As such, it is very important for Longo Lexus that its customers are supremely comfortable and well-pampered if they are going to make that important decision of which Lexus they will drive home.

As a car dealership, there are many reasons why Longo Lexus has been an elite of Lexus dealer since 1992. One of those reasons includes the ultimate conveniences that they offer in customer amenities. As one of the leading Lexus car dealerships, Longo Lexus provides not only pre-sales conveniences, but also noteworthy post-sales services.

Longo Lexus is known for the unique amenities that they offer to dealership customers.

One of those unique amenities include an on-site Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) center. The AAA branch offers DMV services, airline, car, and hotel reservations, discounted movie and local attraction tickets, AAA membership application processing, OnBoard Teen Safe Driver Program, auto and home insurance, and more. Sign up at our AAA branch in Longo, and you’ll receive a special $13 discount off the original membership price.

Aside from from the on-site AAA branch, Longo is also the first dealership in the US to offer Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireless Neighborhood services on-site. Offering the latest technologies in telecommunications, mobile accessories, and services, Longo’s on-site Verizon branch makes it even more convenient for customers to stay connected with the world. Our Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer is open from Monday to Friday, 7am-7pm; Saturday, from 7am to 5:30pm; and Sunday, from 8am to 4pm. Please call (888) 8115201.

While waiting for your car to come out of our premium carcare service lines or while you’re going through our wide inventory of luxurious Lexus vehicles, you can enjoy a quick bite at Sub-

way or a nice refreshing drink at Starbucks.

If you want to pamper your car, you can also shop at the Longo Lexus Parts Boutique, which carries a wide selection of genuine Lexus parts and accessories for your vehicle. M`Zkfi I\p\j With over 31,000 parts and accessories in stock, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

The after-sales services of a dealership is just as important as the pre-sales amenities. And it these after-sales services that make buying a vehicle at Longo Lexus a truly rewarding experience.

We offer complimentary loaner vehicles for your use while your car is in our service center. For inquiries, on our loaners, please call our coordinators at 1-800-5970813.

For your convenience, we also offer complimentary shuttle service to take you to your office, home, or even the mall—basically anywhere within a 15-mile radius—while your vehicle is being serviced.

If you don’t have time to make the drive to our dealership, our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck can provide routine maintenance services, such as oil changes and tire rotations, right at your home or office. Appointments can be made up to 6 months in advance.

Similarly, if your service requirements need the car to be physically present at our Longo service center, we offer complimentary flatbed truck pick-up and delivery of your vehicle to and from our dealership. Our Longo Lexus Mobile Service Van and Truck, and our complimentary flatbed truch pick-up and delivery service are exclusively for cars that are purchased from Longo Lexus, and are located within 60mile radius from Longo.

Please call 1-800-597-0813 to schedule your appointment.

Also, for every service appointment, each vehicle receives a complimentary car wash in our Longo Lexus Car Spa. For our clients who wish to use other cars, aside from those among our fleet of loaner Lexus cars, they can avail of the services of our enterprise Rent-A-Car offices.

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With two branches on the Longo Premises, enterprise is ready to address all your car rental needs.

Please call (800) 969-6519 for more information.

We understand that life’s daily grind requires our customers to be always on top of everything while keeping up with an onthe-go lifestyle. Which is they are more than welcome to work at our Longo Business Center where they can work on our computer terminals, free of charge.

We also offer complimentary Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) to our customers throughout the facility. This is particularly useful for our customers with mobile devices, laptops, and tablets.

While you wait for your car to come out of our service center, your kids can enjoy and have a good time at our Children Play Area, where we offer video games and other activities for the young ones.

Longo Lexus customers will also be offered complimentary use of our iPads while they are waiting for their vehicle.

For more information on our Longo Lexus Guest Services, please log on to www.longolexus.com/GuestAmenities or call (626) 539-2956.

Longo Lexus is located at 3530 North Peck Road, el Monte, CA 91731.

8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek

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Marketplace & ShowrooM

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 18-21, 2016 D

World’s favorite pickup truck records global sales of 18-M units FiRST released in 1968, the legendary Toyota Hilux has been a dominant player in the global pick-up market for nearly 50 years.

To date, the world’s favorite pick-up has recorded cumulative global sales of over 18 million units.

Renowned for its Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR), the unstoppable Hilux continues to amaze as it conquers the North Pole, icelandic volcanos and the Antarctic continent, and also achieves podium finishes in the Dakar Rally Raid.

Available in Single Cab, fourseat Extra Cab and five-seat

Double Cab body styles, the new, eighth-generation Hilux builds on this legendary reputation and invincible QDR, redefining toughness for business users with a new and stronger ladder chassis, a reinforced deck structure, enhanced 4×4 capabilities, and improved towing capacity.

At the same time, the new Hilux responds to a growth in pick-up leisure usage in recent years with a new, contemporary design, greater comfort, advanced equipment and improved safety, making it more stylish and stress-free to drive than ever.

Fulfilling user requirements

for both a durable business workhorse and a stylish, comfortable leisure 4×4, the new Hilux has been designed to offer all its customers significant improvements in six key areas namely: design; comfort; safety; QDR; commercial vehicle capabilities; and total cost of ownership.

Tougher, stronger and more capable off-road than ever before, the all-new Toyota pick-up remains every inch a Hilux. Yet it also heralds a new era for the pick-up, with the style, comfort, safety and advanced technology to satisfy even the most discerning leisure users. (ManilaTimes. net)

RSA, MVP in talks for joint infra...

PAGE D3 mass railway transits, Ang said.

On the proposed airport project, Ang said: “We will sit down and give him a presentation. We will decide from there what area of cooperation we can pursue like in Parañaque and Las Piñas.”

San Miguel is proposing a new airport to be built along CyberBay Corp.’s disrupted waterfront reclamation project along the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road, covering the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas. The proposal was to

make use of the 157 hectares of reclaimed land already finished

by Cyberbay near the Entertainment City of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. However, the entire project needs 1,600 hectares, thus requiring more reclamation based on the original master plan.

But Ang said it would be up to the new administration to determine the most suitable location.

He said San Miguel and Pangilinan would still work together— for instance, bid for a contract under the public-private partner-

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ship (PPP) framework—wherever the government’s preferred site would be. However, he said Clark Freeport may be too far to be an alternative option.

Ang said it’s also possible for the new airport to be built in phases. The first phase could be worth $2 billion which would be good enough to accommodate 50 million passengers and become as good as the existing airport in Hong Kong.

The proposed airport will take about five years to build, he said.

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