062417 - La Weekend Edition

June 24-27, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 51 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

Palace: No need for ‘bigger’ US role in Marawi City siege

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The Philippine government on Friday, June 23, maintained that there is no need to increase the United States’ role in the antiterror operations in Marawi City.

While being grateful for the offer, Malacañang insisted that the Philippine government is “quite capable at this stage” to contain the pro-islamic State (iS) terrorists in the southern part of the country. earlier this week, the government of the United States expressed concern over the growing presence of jihadis in Southeast

DATELINE

Asia amid the ongoing battle between the Philippine troopers and iS-inspired rebels in Marawi City, Mindanao.

Citing fears that Marawi City could become a new hub for islamist militants in the region, some U.S. lawmakers are pushing Washington to have a “bigger role” in helping the Philippines contain extremists.

The U.S. has been providing support in Marawi but Malacañang clarified that it was only limited to “technical assistance” and “does not involve any boots on the ground,” pointing out that the Philippine Constitution prohibits foreign troops from engaging in di-

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PRAYERS FOR PEACE. Muslims offer prayers at the Golden Mosque in Manila’s Quiapo district, on the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which ends on Monday, June 26.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Malacañang: PH Death Squad, a ‘huge fantasy’ of Trillanes

USA

by AJPress

FROM The AJPReSS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

MAlACAñAng dismissed the fresh tirades from Senator Antonio Trillanes iV accusing President Rodrigo Duterte and some members of the Philippine national Police Academy (PnP) Batch ‘96 of organizing the “Philippine Death Squad.”

“You know, he seems to be reSenate photo

Senate announces secret health care bill, proposes major cuts to Medicaid Despite policy shifts, Aquino The controversial bill mirrors Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

House-passed AHCA

AFTeR facing criticism from their Democrat counterparts, a group of Republican senators on Thursday, June 22 released the first draft of a new health care bill that would focus on killing Medicaid while catering to Americans who may lose insurance gained from the Obamaera Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The bill — which mirrors the house-passed American health Care Act (AhCA) — proposes establishing a new system of federal tax credits that would assist Americans in choosing health insurance plans.

States would also be granted the ability to eliminate several benefits that were included in the ACA, including mental health treatment, maternity care and emergency services.

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by AJPress

Former Pres. Benigno Aquino III Inquirer.net photo

Asian American women often Robredo addresses LA Fil-Ams at gala fundraiser Protesters, critics rally outside venue face delays in treatment after

by AJP worrisome mammograms ress

Nearly 1 in 5 Filipina women experienced delays of one year or more ThRee years ago, Thu hong Tran’s mammogram showed dense and discolored areas that worried her doctor, who suggested doing a second test.

“My family said, ‘to be safe, let’s go to the hospital and get it checked one more time,”’ said Tran, 72, speaking in Vietnamese.

A biopsy revealed that Tran had breast cancer. Doctors detected it early, and it was still a small tumor, Tran recounted.

Throughout her treatment, Tran said, her children helped translate medical forms and made sure she ate well. And they helped her keep on top of all her medical appointments,

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Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo delivers a speech at the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s gala on Saturday, June 17 in Los Angeles.

Contributed photo by Rick Gavino

tration, purposely to facilitate extrajudicial killings in the country.

Trillanes revealed that his source of information are senior commanders from the PnP who are not involved in the alleged extrajudicial killings.

“Meron kaming mga impormasyon na itong grupo nila Superintendent (Marvin) Marcos

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DOT: PH will not host Miss Universe this year

hopes reforms to continue under Duterte admin

FORMeR Philippine President Benigno C. Aquino iii expressed high hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration will continue the reforms initiated under his era.

“And you’re hoping that the directions that we were into, will be continued. Whether it’s the PPP [public-private partnership], the improvement of government services like in PAgASA [Philippine Atmospheric geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration], and so on and so forth,” Aquino told Rappler in an interview. he attended the 60th birthday of Manila Archbishop luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Thursday, June 22.

When Aquino stepped down, only three out of 50 listed infrastructure projects under the PPP have been complet-

ally [giving in] to his huge fantasies,” Presidential Spokesperson ernesto Abella told reporters at a Palace briefing on Thursday, June 22.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, claimed before a weekly forum in Senate that the “Philippine Death Squad” is composed of active police members organized under the Duterte adminis-

PhiliPPine Vice President leni Robredo made a visit to los Angeles over the weekend to attend an invite-only fundraising event organized by a local Filipino-American nonprofit organization.

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) held its inaugural awards gala on Saturday, June 17 at the Mary Pickford estate and invited Robredo as its guest of honor. earlier in the afternoon, select attendees participated in a meet and greet with the vice president. During

the dinner, she addressed the crowd for nearly 15 minutes, in which she talked about the importance of the arts and progress on her office’s anti-poverty program. “i consider it a great honor to be given the chance to help, even in a very small way, in raising funds to sustain the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines,” she said in her speech. “Bringing music to every man, woman and child, especially for those who long the sounds of home, is a very important advocacy.”

Though she did not get

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ThiS year’s Miss Universe will not be held in the Philippines, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo announced on Thursday, June 22 at the sidelines of the international Conference on Sustainable Tourism for Development. “no Miss Universe this year.

Baka (Maybe) next year,” Teo confirmed. She said that it may also be too soon to host another edition of the Miss Universe

pageant in the country since it is scheduled for the last week of november.

Designer Rene Salud revealed in an interview with ABS-CBn that the country’s back-to-back hosting of the pageant would not push through considering the situation in Marawi City. he added that Solar entertainment President Wilson Tieng advised Teo to dismiss the proposal since the Philippines is undergoing some challenges.

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From the Front Page

Palace: No need for ‘bigger’...

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rect combat operations.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (RIowa), who chairs a Senate panel on emerging threats, suggested that the American military restart a higher-profile “named operation” helping the Philippines to contain extremists.

“I don’t know that ISIS (Islamic

State of Iraq and Syria) are directing operations there but they are certainly trying to get fighters into that region,” Ernst said. “We need to address the situation. It should not get out of control.”

Malacañang, however, said that it has not yet accepted the offer.

“There is no report on ac-

cepting that offer if it is,” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing in Davao City.

Malacañang also insisted that the Philippines will continue leading the anti-terror operations in Marawi City.

“Like the President (Duterte) said, we’re quite capable at this stage. We welcome any support, but at this stage, we take the lead along with the regional states around us,” Abella maintained.

At the same time, Abella noted that the Philippine forces have been successful in preventing the establishment of an IS-wilayat (province) in the country.

“Well, we do not go by ratings.

But we do say that we have actually preempted the establishment of a wilayat… And we have now entered into agreements and also with the neighboring countries so that this will not recur,” he added.

As of Thursday, June 22, the government has recorded 375 deaths in Marawi crisis. Of that number, 26 were civilians and 69 were government troopers, while 280 were from the terrorist group.

The conflict, which erupted on May 23, has prompted Duterte to declare martial law and suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the entire Mindanao region. n

MORALE BOOST. President Rodrigo Duterte checks the condition of the wounded soldiers confined at Camp Edilberto Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, June 20.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

Malacañang: PH Death Squad, a ‘huge fantasy’...

PAGE A1 t at ilang mga classmate nila ay ito nga ‘yung mga nag e-execute noong extrajudicial killings. So na-identify na ‘yung mga pangalan ng kaklase nila na involved dito sa death squad all over the

country. (We have this information that the group of Superintendent Marcos and some of their classmates are the ones executing extrajudicial killings.

We have identified the names of their classmates who are involved with the death squad in the country),” Trillanes said.

Meanwhile, Abella also dismissed another accusation that the president was behind the downplaying of the case of the PNP personnel involved in the

slay of former Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr. and a fellow inmate Raul Yap while inside a detention cell at the Baybay, Leyte Sub-Provincial jail in November last year. Espinosa was earlier jailed with charges for the possession of drugs and unlicensed firearms.

Recently, the DOJ lowered the cases against the police officers from murder to homicide, a move that Trillanes believes is part of the president’s doing. n

DOT: PH will not host...

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“Parang nag-advise si Wilson kay Sec [Teo] na huwag muna dahil sa success of the last Miss Universe last year is hard to... hard to get even with kung hindi man ma-even with hindi pwedeng ma-surpass, especially ngayon na there’s a Marawi incident baka marami ang maoffend. (Wilson advised the Secretary to not host the pageant yet because the sucess of the last Miss Universe last year is hard to get even with, or surpass, especially now that there is an ongoing Marawi situation and that may offend some peo-

ple),” Salud said.

Salud’s creations were featured in a Mindanao fashion show with selected Miss Universe delegates as part of last year’s pre-pageant activities.

The Philippines hosted the Miss Universe pageant thrice: in 1974, when Margie Moran turned over her title to Amparo Muñoz of Spain; in 1994, with India’s Sushmita Sen as the winner; and in January 2017 when Pia Wurtzbach crowned Iris Mittenaere of France. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/ AJPress)

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Senate announces secret health care bill...

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Just like the AHCA, the Senate plan vows to slowly phase out federal funding that the government provided to states that would have expanded eligibility for Medicaid, which provides health coverage for more than 70 million Americans as of 2017.

Last year, through the ACA, 85 percent of more than 9 million Americans who signed up for health coverage through federal and state programs were able to receive financial assistance, including tax credit subsidies.

The Senate plan lowers premium costs for some Americans, but many older Americans would have to pay higher premiums.

Americans who are 39 years old or younger would generally pay smaller percentages of their income than what they paid under the ACA. But Americans over 40 wouldn’t fare so well. The percentage of income that goes to health care premiums under the Senate plan would be more than 12.5 percent -- under the ACA, the over-40 percentage ranged between 2 to 8.9 percent.

However, the Republicans who crafted the bill are confident that it

has the potential to be the GOP’s answer to the ACA. “Obamacare is collapsing around us, and the American people are desperately searching for relief,” Senate Majority Leader and chief architect of the plan Mitch McConnell explained as the reason for the bill.

Bipartisan disapproval for Senate bill A small group of Senate Republicans led by McConnell released the bill on Thursday, but it didn’t get the reception they were expecting.

A vast majority of senators, Democrats and Republicans alike, believe that the bill adequately serves all Americans. Even four of the most conservative senators -- Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin -- released a joint statement saying they would oppose the bill if it didn’t include significant changes.

“It does not appear this draft, as written, will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs,” the statement read.

Many conservative senators

have expressed concern over the current draft of the bill, worrying that it may kick many of their constituents off health insurance.

Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) is the latest conservative senator who expressed “serious concerns” over the bill’s impact on Americans who rely on Medicaid for health care.

“Throughout the health care debate, I have made clear that I want to make sure the rug is not pulled out from under Nevada or the more than 200,000 Nevadans who received insurance for the first time under Medicaid expansion,” Heller wrote in a statement released Thursday. “As I have consistently stated, if this bill is good for Nevada, I’ll vote for it and if it’s not — I won’t.”

As expected, all Democrat senators have vowed to shut down the bill and have encouraged all senators to look past party lines to stop the bill from passing.

According to Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the GOP health care bill “makes draconian cuts to Medicaid that will impact our nation’s children, low-income Americans and seniors.”

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Despite policy shifts, Aquino hopes reforms...

PAGE A1 t ed due to preparation setbacks.

This March, the National Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee shifted the financing of three major infrastructure from the PPP to official development assistance (ODA), with China as the partner on most of the projects.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Pernia said China had shown strong interest in financing the capital requirements for the long haul line, while Japan, through its ODA arm Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), remains interested in financing the commuter line.

NEDA officials said the new financing scheme would enable the government to deliver the projects sooner and in a more cost-effective manner.

Earlier this month, a business forum that aimed to bridge the perceived rivalry between the PPPs and overseas development assistance loans as a way to finance infrastructure projects was held.

At the forum, Vaughn Montes, who aids the PPP Center on risk

management via a grant from the Asian Development Bank, said the scheme is “suboptimal and comes at a crucial time when big conglomerates are willing to make long-term bets on the Philippines.”

“I, thought we had a good momentum going on; so our hope was that this momentum could continue and this administration could reap the benefits that were sowed. But what’s happening is a lot of these PPP projects are being shoved aside,” AC Energy Holdings Inc. President John Eric T. Francia told Business Mirror.

“We haven’t seen a single PPP project bid out or carried out,” he added.

Last month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) terminated the 108-billion PPP deal — previously initiated under Aquino’s administration which attracted both local and foreign private sectors — to modernize and expand five regional airports.

The termination of the plan to auction, involving the Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Laguindingan, and New Bohol gateways, was announced by the Public-Private Partnership Center, which said

that the government would instead pursue the development of the airports “through other modes.”

Later, DOTr chief Arthur Tugade explained that the current administration prefers a hybrid mode of implementation where the government will develop or construct the infrastructure, then bid out the operations and maintenance of the project later on.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez questioned the DOTr’s decision, saying it would only be a disadvantage to the state.

The Filinvest Development Corporation executive vice-president and chief operating officer Eleuterio Coronel said his group was already disappointed when they learned of the administration’s decision. Filinvest was one of the prospective bidders of the said project.

“It is truly sad that they have now completely disregarded the PPP route for these projects. It is embarrassing to our foreign investors/partners that the government is changing its mode of implementation at this point of the game,” Coronel previously told Rappler. (With reports from Jennifer Soriano/AJPress)

70TH YEAR OF PH-FRANCE RELATIONS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right); Laurent Legodec, Deputy Head of Mission; and Christin Carole, Councilor for Political Affairs of the French Embassy, exchange views during the 70th anniversary of the Philippines-France bilateral relations with the launch of a special commemorative book on Thursday, June 22 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

PNA photo by Gil S. Calinga

Asian American women often...

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taking time off work to drive her to chemotherapy.

For Tran, who is now in remission, family played a vital role in ensuring she received timely care. But a new study by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco shows that many Asian women in the U.S. don’t have the same level of support.

The UCSF researchers analyzed 10 years of data on women living in Northern California and found that a higher percentage of Asians experienced delays in follow-up treatment after an abnormal mammogram than white women.

Over 40 percent of Asian American women had follow-up appointments a month or more after an abnormal test, compared to about a quarter of white women, according to the study.

And that disparity with whites persisted at 60 and 90 days for most Asian women.

On the extreme end of the spectrum, 15 percent of Asian women had delays of a year or more in getting follow-up care, compared with 10 percent of white women, the study showed.

Among Filipina women, nearly 1 in 5 experienced delays of one year or more.

“If there is a suspicious finding, an abnormal mammogram, it’s very important to get immediate follow-up,” said Kim Hanh

Nguyen, a researcher at UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies and the study’s lead author.

There is no medically specified time frame for receiving followup care, but research shows delays can be deadly, she said.

“Anything beyond three months, you have a lower survival rate, and not following up for a year — that’s cause for concern.”

California’s Every Woman Counts program, which provides breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured and underinsured women, requires that at least three-fourths of its patients get a definitive diagnosis from a doctor in its network within 60 days of an abnormal mammogram.

That requirement is based on clinical standards established by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Every Woman Counts, run by the California Department of Health Care Services, spent $21 million on breast cancer screening and other diagnostic services for nearly 156,000 women in fiscal year 2014-2015, the most recent period for which complete data are available.

Several factors explain the delayed post-mammogram care for many Asian women, including language barriers, health care access and financial resources, Nguyen said. The UCSF study

did not address the women’s health insurance status.

The analysis revealed disparities among different Asian national groups. Vietnamese and Filipina women had the longest average delays before following up — 32 days and 28 days, respectively — while Japanese women had the shortest, at 19 days. For white women, the average follow-up time was 15 days.

The findings are consistent with previous studies showing similar delays for Latino and African American women, compared to their white counterparts.

Nguyen also cited cultural and social factors, noting that some studies show “Asians report a lack of trust with their health care provider, low satisfaction in their health care, and perceived discrimination or disrespect by providers.”

Because of that, it’s important for doctors to think about communication with their patients, including translation, Nguyen said.

At Zuckerberg San Francisco General, the city’s public hospital, a breast cancer clinic offers support services to boost the follow-up rate among women with abnormal mammograms.

Most of the clinic’s patients are covered by Medi-Cal and a third are Chinese, said Barbara Cicerelli, director of cancer navigation services.

The clinic’s services help ensure that the women who go

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Filipino biotech worker shoots fellow Filipino in San Diego workplace

SAN DIEGO — A 54-year-old Filipino biotech worker was nabbed for allegedly shooting and severely wounding a co-worker, also a Filipino, at their Carmel Mountain Ranch workplace.

Julio Riel Narvaez III allegedly shot co-worker, reportedly named Mike Limbag, 37, in a warehouse at the offices of Phamatech Inc., a drug-testing and laboratory-services firm, about 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, according to San Diego police.

The victim suffered from a bullet wound to the head. He was conscious and able to speak. Narvaez, meanwhile, was held down on the floor by other

workers.

Medics took the victimto Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, where he was admitted in critical condition.

It was unclear exactly what prompted the violence between the two co- workers.

Following the shooting, Narvaez went to a different area of the building where co-workers held him down. Narvaez was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. He was being held without bail pending arraignment.

(Inquirer.net)

USCIS to resume +" ' % +' + H-1B premium processing for )+( ,,"(' % (+)(+ -"(' physicians % 0 ( " , (

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that starting Monday, June 26, the agency will resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions filed for medical doctors under the Conrad 30 Waiver program, as well as interested government agency waivers.

The Conrad 30 program allows certain medical doctors to stay in the United States on a temporary visa after completing their medical training to work in rural and urban areas that have a shortage of physicians. “This program improves health $&35*'*&% 41&$*"-*45 */ *..*(3"5*0/ "/% /"5*0/"-*5: -"8

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PALACE UPDATE. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella announces the attack of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato has no connection with the rebellion in Marawi City during the Mindanao Hour at the Lispher Inn in Davao City on Friday, June 23. Also in the photo (from left) are Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso; Eastern Mindanao Command Deputy Commander, BGen. Gilbert Gapay; and Mindanao Development Authority Chair Abul Khayr Alonto.

MalacaĂąang photo by Rene B. Lumawag

Robredo addresses LA Fil-Ams at gala...

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into the political situation in the Philippines, she vaguely touched upon “global and local challenges, many of which we cannot control.� “But the extraordinariness of ordinary people are giving us hope,� she said, citing examples she’s seen through Angat Buhay, which focuses on nutrition and

VP Leni Robredo (center) with FASO gala awardees Titus Verzosa, Maria Christina Navarro, Sylvia La Torre and Cecilia A. Coo-Cruz.

Contributed photo by Rick Gavino

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food security, universal healthcare, education, rural development and women empowerment.

She noted that the program is now in 127 areas of the country.

With the current situation in the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the Marawi crisis which is now in its fifth week â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Robredo denied requests to be interviewed by local media.

Since May 23, Philippine troops have been fighting the Islamic State(IS)-linked Maute group, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the Mindanao region.

This week, the government has recorded 375 deaths associated with the clash.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are many ways each of us can give our nation a push towards a brighter future,â&#x20AC;? the vice president concluded in her speech.

Also during the event, four awardees were recognized: Filipina singer and actress Sylvia La Torre and soprano Maria Christina Navarro for Excellence in Music, and musician and teacher Cecilia A. Coo-Cruz and accountant and former FASO board member Titus Verzosa for Excellence in Service.

Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overseas trip was not without controversy, however. Nearly a dozen protestors held signs outside the gated

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July 1, 2017

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As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.

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‘White/Filipino’ pastor dies searching for treasure in New Mexico

many treasure hunters.

Two years ago, on CBS’ “Sunday Morning,” Fenn read a poem that he says holds clues to the location of a chest containing treasure — gold coins, precious metals and other artifacts. He warned that it wasn’t hidden in an abandoned mine, out of concern for searchers’ safety.

Police say Wallace told family members he was looking for a buried treasure nearly 50 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

His car was found near the Pastor Paris Wallace, described as “White/Filipino,” died while looking for treasure in Northern Taos Junction Bridge in New New Mexico.

Mexico. Police told “CBS This SAN FRANCISCO — Police in second person to die looking for Morning” they found receipts in northern New Mexico reported treasure that was buried by a his vehicle indicating he’d purfinding a Filipino American pas- millionaire in 2010. chased a rope and supplies at a The remains of 54-year-old local store. tor from Colorado, who disappeared last week while search- treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu A torn rope was located a short were found in July last year distance from his car. It had been ing for buried treasure.

Paris Wallace, of Grand Junc- along the Rio Grande. stretched across a tributary of the The fortune, hidden by million- Rio Grande. A body was recovtion, Colorado, described as “White/Filipino male” in miss- aire Forrest Fenn somewhere in ered five to seven miles downing person alerts, is possibly the the Rocky Mountains, has lured stream from Wallace’s car. n

UN council extends Callamard’s term as special rapporteur

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

In an academic visit to the country last month, Callamard stressed that world leaders have already recognized that President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called war on drugs is not effective.

Speaking before a drug policy

Viray

THe United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of Agnes Callamard as special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions for three more years.

The council adopted the resolution extending Callamard’s term of office during its 35th session in Geneva, Switzerland.

As special rapporteur, Callamard is mandated to “examine situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in all circumstances and for whatever

u PAGE A6 Agnes Callamard, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, has rebuked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly campaign against illegal drugs, saying world leaders have recognized it does not work.

Philstar.com photo Efigenio Toledo IV

reason, and to submit the findings on an annual basis, together with conclusions and recommendations.”

Asian American women often...

PAGE A3 t there do not face delays, Cicerelli said.

The breast clinic partners with community organizations to further support patients.

Cecile Ascalon, executive director of the Pilipino Senior Resource Center in San Francisco, said staff escort Filipina patients to follow-up appointments, help them talk to their doctor, and ease their fears about the process.

“Cancer is very difficult.

There’s a kind of stigma when you’re diagnosed with it,” As-

calon said. “Sometimes clients are scared.”

The UCSF study included nearly 50,000 white and AsianAmerican women whose medical histories were in the San Francisco Mammography Registry, which contains records from participating radiology centers in the area.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. (Ngoc Nguyen / California Healthline)

USCIS to resume H-1B premium...

PAGE A4 t care access for Americans living in underserved areas, and we are pleased to resume premium processing for these petitions,” said USCIS Acting Director James McCament.

Starting June 26, eligible petitioners for medical doctors seeking H-1B status under the Conrad 30 program, or through an interested government agency waiver, can file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.

Form I-907 can be filed together with an H-1B petition or separately for a pending H-1B petition.

USCIS plans to resume premium processing of other H-1B petitions as workloads permit.

The agency will make additional announcements with specific details related to when we will begin accepting premium processing for those petitions.

Until then, premium processing remains temporarily suspended for all other H-1B petitions. USCIS will reject any Form I-907 filed for those petitions, and if the petitioner submitted one check combining the Form I-907 and Form I-129 fees, USCIS will have to reject both forms.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Robredo addresses LA Fil-Ams...

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community where the event was being held. On the internet, various bloggers questioned where the proceeds of the gala would go to, alleging that they would benefit the vice president.

However, throughout the gala program, several of FASO’s board members reiterated that the funds would be put toward the orchestra and its music education programs.

As of this writing, the total amount raised on Saturday had

not yet been disclosed.

While in LA, Robredo met with members of the United Bicolandia Los Angeles, an association of individuals who immigrated to the U.S. from the Bicol region, where the vice president is also from.

Afterward, she made her way to Boston, where her eldest daughter, Aika, will be attending a master’s program at Harvard University. The vice president returned to the Philippines on Thursday, June 22. n

SONA PREPARATIONS. Members of the Manila Police District civil disturbance management unit participate in a drill in preparation for the annual CDMU competition and also for the second state-of-the-nation (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte in July. The drill was held at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila on Thursday, June 22.

PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan

Senate announces secret health care bill...

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So far, a majority of the Senate have expressed promises to vote ‘no’ on the bill; according to statements made by senators, 55 senators oppose the bill, 17 support it and 28 are unclear. Unless the bill’s authors make significant changes, the bill is likely to be shut down next week, which is when McConnell wants to put it up for a vote.

Former President Barack Obama spoke against political divide between Democrats and Republicans and urged lawmakers to blur party lines to act in

the interests of the American people. He added that the Senate bill will reverse the “significant step forward for America” that the ACA provided.

“Simply put, if there’s a chance you might get sick, get old, or start a family – this bill will do you harm. And small tweaks over the course of the next couple weeks, under the guise of making these bills easier to stomach, cannot change the fundamental meanness at the core of this legislation,” Obama wrote in a statement on Thursday.

“After eight years, the legisla-

tion rushed through the House and the Senate without public hearings or debate would do the opposite. It would raise costs, reduce coverage, roll back protections, and ruin Medicaid as we know it,” the former president added. “That’s not my opinion, but rather the conclusion of all objective analyses, from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which found that 23 million Americans would lose insurance, to America’s doctors, nurses, and hospitals on the front lines of our health care system.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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Horn camp hoping for overconfident Pacquiao

by Dino

maragay Philstar.com

THE camp of Jeff Horn prefers Manny Pacquiao to enter the ring on July 2 with a low opinion of his challenger.

They’re hoping Pacquiao will underestimate the 29-year-old Horn, which would lead to the Filipino icon eventually letting his guard down.

“We want Manny overconfident and dismissive of Jeff’s chances,” Horn’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, re-

cently told The Courier-Mail.

Pacquiao has all the reason in the world to brim with confidence, being an overwhelming favorite over the relatively unknown Horn, who will try to shock the world and take Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight strap.

But Rushton pointed out that time is no longer on the 38-yearold Pacquiao’s side, saying Horn’s got the fresher legs which would be critical in their 12-round bout.

“Jeff’s a heavy puncher but the legs are the key to this fight. His

legs are 29, Manny’s are 38. Jeff will be giving Manny all kinds of angles and controlling the distance between them,” the trainer added.

Indeed, Horn will likely use every inch of the ring to his advantage based on sparring videos of him against Filipino Czar Amonsot.

The Brisbane native has been finetuning his footwork and distance in hopes of outboxing the danger- A sea of humanity of Dub Nation Warriors fans and supporters trek to the Kaiser Convention center for the rally after the victory parade. ous Pacquiao when they meet at Suncorp Stadium next week.

Rushton, for his part, insists that at his age, Pacquiao will have trouble keeping up with the much younger Horn.

“Manny’s legs aren’t as fast as

by Jun nucum they were 10 years ago. If he’s cut Inquirer.net corners in his preparation Jeff will make him pay hard for every one OAKLAND — It was the turn of of those 38 years,” he said. n the Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors’ (GSW) fans to exemplify the Warriors’ slogan “Strength in Numbers” as a sea of humanity, mostly in yellow and blue, flooded the major streets of downtown Oakland PAGE A5 t at the team’s victory parade last forum at the University of the Phil- week.

The Warriors had conquered ippines, Callamard said that countering the global narcotics prob- their archrival, winning the 2017 lem requires effective approaches National Basketball of America (NBA) Championship in Oracle unlike the war on drugs.

“Let me be clear. In none of Arena.

In an impromptu picnic-style, the countries where the perverse consequences of ill thought out special family-bonding event drug policies were reported, in many eager fans, some coming none of these countries did the from as far south as Los Angedrug problem disappear. In fact, les, staked out spots along the the opposite happened,” the UN sidewalks downtown Oakland the night before the parade, bringing Lead Warriors ace player Steph Curry hoists the 2017 NBA Championship trophy. special rapporteur said.

Inquirer.net photos by Jun Nucum Following such remarks from along with them mats, blankets, or at the Oracle Arena, as qualexpected a good game from the pillows, food and water to ensure Callamard, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed a good vantage for the parade. Cavaliers as they were champi- ity bonding time with daughter, that Callamard is not an expert on The last parade was in 2015 when ons too. They are going to come Lexy. up fighting as what top athletes “Our guys have a lot of passion the Warriors won the crown. extrajudicial killings and drugs. and Durant brings even more of Also on hand were enterprising do,” dela Cruz said.

Contrary to Cayetano’s comYoung Fil-Am Jay Sen who it. It’s so transparent how much ments, Callamard previously led individuals selling merchandise human rights investigations in including T-shirts, pins, horns, came with friends from Vallejo he loves the game and he works more than 30 countries in Africa, shot glasses, caps, hotdogs, ba- confessed that they took a self- hard to achieve his goals. He fits Asia and the Middle East. She has con sandwich, even flowers while imposed day-off to attend the in with the team (and the Bay Area) seamlessly, it’s just so fun authored and directed volumes in some others promoted their parade.

“We are right here celebrat- to watch! I really hope he retires monitoring political killings, ex- products by giving away energy cessive use of force, torture and drinks, water and posters embla- ing the Dubs. We are staying with the Warriors, he’s an exwell with Kevin Durant. That is ceptional player,” noted. sexual violence in armed con- zoned with brands.

“It was just the cherry on top Under the searing heat of the the importance of having him,” flicts.

Before leaving the Philippines, sun on a glorious day, the esti- Sen exclaimed. “Even after the of an amazing season to win the the UN special rapporteur said mated crowd of about 500,000 to loss in the fourth game, I had no title on our home court. I was that she remains committed to 1 million men and women, from doubt. We believe…strength in there at Oracle that night and it was electric. Seeing my daughconducting an official visit to the as young as two months old to numbers.”

Sen’s friend Michael Escano ter with tears in her eyes when those in their 80s, in all forms and country.

“I am committed to continue shapes, races and colors packed believes that there will be a War- KD was announced as the MVP (who she’s been a fan of even my dialogue with the govern- the parade route and the rally riors dynasty in the NBA. “Do you see what we have in when he wasn’t on our team) ment and I am committed to venue at the Henry J. Kaiser Conundertake an official visit ei- vention Center. Children played our team? We have Kevin Du- was really special,” del Mundother by myself or with the spe- cards, people danced while oth- rant, Steph Curry, Klay Thomp- Ingco said further.

Gladys Salenga from Richcial rapporteur on the right to ers ate food and drank water as son, Draymond Green, Zsazsa health, because we both believe they waited for the parade to pass Pachulia, Javael McGee? We got mond, who works at an office in everybody,” Escano exclaimed. downtown Oakland, was somethat a visit together would be in front of them.

“Hey Lebron I am a big fan, what disappointed. Together Some of the celebrities spotmore helpful, more useful, more ted aside from Warriors players man. Come to the Bay Area and with co-workers, she had to be effective,” Callamard said. n and front office top officials were join the Warriors soon. We will contented with doing their celeMayors Ed Lee of San Francisco have ten straight championships, bration within their office looking and Libby Schaaf of Oakland and you know what I am saying. We down at the parade grounds.

“The 3-0 was a sign to bring lone Fil-Am State Assemblymem- will be unbelievable,” Escano teased. out the broom (sweep); howevber Rob Bonta.

Probably one of the oldest Fili- er, I loved the fact that the win “I am here to support the Warriors who have something special pinos in the parade, Sam Men- game was at home. Was that because they bring the commu- doza, 74 years old from Dagu- intentional? I don’t know but it nity together whether you are pan, Pangasinan and Alameda makes winning much sweeter from Oakland, San Jose or from City and who still walks five miles and special,” Salenga mused.

Speaking for his late daughter San Francisco as much as they a day to keep fit, came to the celKimberly Nuestro, a young basplay with teamwork in mind,” ebration with his grandsons.

“If players stay with the War- ketball player and an ardent fan stressed Fil-Am San Jose execuriors and do not transfer to other and follower of Steph Curry, dad tive Anthony Rivero.

“It is the one key things we can teams, we may stay champi- Ramir Nuestro intimated that learn from the Warriors. I want ons for a long time,” Mendoza Kimberly became more excited when Durant went to Warriors my kids here with me to learn opined.

Sybil Conde, a mother from and was sure that the Warriors that perseverance and teamwork Taguig City and Hillsborough, would be champions again. win in the end,” Rivero added.

“She told me before she died Rivero also hoped that the War- tagged along 21-month-old son, riors would win more champion- Reef, said Kevin Durant is a real that the Warriors would be 16-0 ships in the next years to be in contribution to the team because in the playoffs and the finals. She track for a basketball dynasty that Andrew Bogut and Harrison was also certain that Durant will Barnes are gone. be the finals MVP. I don’t know pundits observed as looming.

“Lebron James, on the other, if it is coincidence that Kimberly Eugene dela Cruz of Pleasant Hill, who also came with wife, hand, in a way helped the War- turned 16 on April 21 and after Cathy, and their two kids, be- riors start the dynasty mentality 16 days she died,” Ramir curilieves the addition of eventual Fi- when he got some key players to ously pointed out.

“And on this day of the Warnals Most Valuable Player (MVP) create his own ‘dream teams’ in Kevin Durant solidified Warriors’ Cleveland and also Miami in his riors victory parade that falls on desire to make his teams cham- Kimberly’s 40th day, our family claim to history.

“Kevin Durant had a huge im- pions. And in the same manner, thanks the Warriors for winning pact guarding Lebron James, the Warriors, in adding Kevin the championship. My daughter becoming the focal point of the Durant in its already deep bench, will be so happy right now in heaven. I just wish I could bring Warriors. He is the go-to-guy and did the same.”

South San Francisco War- her back to life to celebrate the also freed up Curry to do what he had to do. I did not think they riors diehard Maria del Mundo- championship with us. Again, would have a repeat loss of the Ingco always utilized watching thanks to Steph for signing my championship just like last year. I Warriors game, either on TV daughter’s shoes.” n

Filipinos join sea of humanity to hail Warriors in victory parade

UN council extends...

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Dateline PhiliPPines

A

PNP: No arrest warrant against photojournalist in Marawi

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

TOURISM CONFERENCE. UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai (4th from left); Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo (5th from left); and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III pose with other officials from other countries during the opening ceremony of the 6th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism Statistics at the Resorts World Manila on Wednesday, June 21. More than 200 delegates from across the globe are tackling policy initiatives on developing measurement and benchmarks for sustainable tourism from June 21-24.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Tourist arrivals increasing amid Marawi City crisis UNWTO head tells the world: ‘Experience PH’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

crisis is over, we will have peace and security in the region that will result with more tourists visiting The number of tourists visit- Southern Philippines,” he further ing the Philippines continues to said.

Meanwhile, UNWTO Secrerise despite the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, according to the country’s Department of Tourism (DOT).

The DOT reported that a monthly average of 600,000 tourists— mostly Koreans, Americans and Chinese — continue to visit major tourist destinations in the Philippines, particularly in Visayas, Palawan and the Ilocos region.

The DOT is also expecting an increase of seven million tourist arrivals this year compared to the 5.5 million tourists last year.

Speaking at the 6th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Conference on Tourism Statistics on Wednesday, June 21, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel II said he Philippines is experiencing a what he called “tourism renaissance.”

“The Philippines is experiencing a renaissance of sorts in our tourism industry,” Pimentel remarked.

“Notwithstanding the negative news of late about our country, more and more tourists are coming to experience for themselves our country’s beauty and culture,” he added.

At the same time, the senator expressed confidence that more tourists will start visiting Mindanao once the crisis in the area has been fully addressed.

“I am confident that once this

tary-General Taleb Rifai encouraged individuals across the globe to visit the Philippines.

“You haven’t lived if you have not experienced the Philippines,”

u PAGE A11

The Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified that no arrest warrant has been issued against a photojournalist accused of posting real-time footage of the Marawi operations.

During the Presidential Task Force on Media Security meeting on Thursday, June 22, police officials debunked rumors that there is a standing arrest order against Filipino photojournalist Jes Aznar.

Rumors about the warrant apparently started when blogger RJ Nieto of Thinking Pinoy recently condemned Aznar for supposedly posting a real-time video.

Nieto alleged that the video in question “revealed sniper positions” and “has likely compromised the safety and tactical advantage of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) snipers.”

Citing the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao, Nieto then warned Aznar that he “can be arrested anytime… for aiding and abetting the Maute rebels.”

For his part, Aznar — whose

work has been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other international media outlets — insisted that the video in question was posted long after it was taken.

u PAGE A11

A JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

Downgraded

THE Baybay City Regional Trial Court will have the final say on this issue. But the way the prosecution is going, the death of the late mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte might soon be attributed to suicide. And his accused killers led by police Superintendent Marvin Marcos could be cleared of all criminal charges and even receive a medal from Malacañang.

Such developments would be in keeping with President Duterte’s public pronouncements on Espinosa’s fatal shooting in his cell at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City last November. Espinosa was detained after being tagged as a narco politician by the administration.

The President, in so many words, said Espinosa had it coming and Marcos and his team simply did their job.

That position contrasted with the results of a probe conducted by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs headed by Panfilo Lacson, who should be knowledgeable about law enforcement, being a former chief of the Philippine National Police. Lacson and the panel concluded that Espinosa’s killing was premeditated. A fellow inmate, Raul Yap, was also shot dead by Marcos’ and his 10 team members, who claimed they were serving the mayor a warrant before dawn to search his cell for illegal drugs. The team claimed Espi-

nosa resisted and opened fire on the police.

As many quarters have pointed out, cops don’t need warrants to search jail cells. During the Senate probe, Marcos failed to satisfactorily explain who gave the green light for the operation. President Duterte cited the presumption of regularity in the police team’s conduct of his war on drugs.

Now Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre is saying he was carried away by the Senate findings and prosecutors failed to thoroughly study the case. While the Department of Justice rejected the petition of the accused to be cleared, downgrading the murder charge to homicide would make Marcos eligible for bail. This can open opportunities for him to take flight, like Peter Lim, tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as a top-tier drug trafficker, but who has reportedly managed to leave the country and avoid ing drugs from his jail cell and foolishly engaged the fate of other drug suspects. the police in a firefight. This, however, is best esEspinosa might have indeed continued traffick- tablished by the courts, with none of the accused

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

killers receiving what senators say is special treatment. The war on drugs cannot be won through shortcuts in law enforcement. (Philstar.com)

Sitting in the chair of privilege “LIFE is a battle – you must enter into it fully, and do what needs to be done. You cannot shrink from your duty. Life presents difficult, sometimes horrendous situations, unwelcome tasks, and obstacles of every sort. Despite this harsh reality, you must resolutely go forward.”– Pierro Ferrucci I have wrongly believed life is a battle, in which I have to face all the challenges every day by myself.

It was much later in life that I realized that my Universal Partner is always with me and that I have the capacity to create my own life of privilege.

I have often wondered what it is like to sit in “The Chair of Privilege,” wherein one’s checkbook is freely accessible towards a donation for a church project or a non-profit cause. Or perhaps where one’s circle already includes the ‘sifted and the centrifuged’ crème de la crème of society. They can be folks who have endured their own life’s challenges, embraced them, and now are at a point of coming to their privileged times of harvesting the fruits of their labor.

Or simply folks who are children of elites, who have no financial barriers, yet still, have interior challenges of living a life of purpose, fulfilling their own

goals using motivation and determination that we all must have to reach ours.

When I was going to the University of the Philippines’ College of Home Economics to pursue a science degree in food technology, I was part of a different universe. Some of my classmates were children of elites, chauffeured by their own drivers, in their own cars to the university campus. I was trained by my working parents and my elder sister to take the bus and to ride the “ikot jeepney” to reach one end of the campus, and back. It was a sheltered life: go to classes, go to mass, go to the cafeteria, do laboratory experiments and sleep in the dorm. Our weekends were spent at Ma Mon Luk for siopao and mami and the movies.

While I lived a sheltered campus life, I was not content. I compared myself to the children of elites, as if I had much less. My mindset was quite wrong. Somehow, I expected a rich person, an elite, to reorient my life to work for me. I did not educate myself to look at my parents as my role models. Not having that secure belief in my family and myself hindered me.

Could it have been my Christian education, then in the early 60s, wherein the nuns emphasized a

life centered on academics and Rhizomes prayers, but not service to country and its poor? Or was it my university education, ProsY abarquezwhich empha- Delacruz, J.D. sized having the skills to work abroad, but not harnessing my skills to improve the industries in the Philippines?

While my core education gave me skills, I did not have the inner fortitude to have a correct mindset.

It was not till much later when I was in the United States, that I came to realize how much my father, Eleazar, sacrificed to get his higher education in law. He was an orphan, and without financial means of support from his parents, he befriended hunger.

It was his daily companion. He walked barefoot several miles to go to school. He had water but no food. He believed that his higher education was his ticket out of poverty. And it was by divine providence that he got to eat.

His active imagination helped him visualize a better life for himself. Then, he met my mother, Asuncion, who had her own inner determination. She burned the midnight oil to get her mas-

ter’s degree in science, while teaching fulltime and raising five girls.

She showed me by example how to work hard to reach one’s goals.

While I had those life examples to learn from, I took them for granted. I incorrectly viewed myself as poor, when in fact, I am richly endowed with my parents’ life examples of patience, perseverance, true grit and imagination.

Because of what they showed me, I instinctively knew I could pursue higher education. Because of how my dad and my mom sacrificed, I knew I could achieve, with sacrifice and hard work.

But, my life did not turn around to be a life of privilege until I was grateful for what God has endowed me: my own skills, talents and knowledge. It did become a life of meaning, of purpose when I serve others, mentoring them to reach their own life’s goals.

I began to realize that my poverty of imagination and my poverty of spirit stopped me from having a life of privilege -- one that is connected to the Higher

Source of imagination and creativity. I stopped desiring what others have. I started cultivating my own gifts of imagination and creativity.

So here goes now, my life begins with an ambitious climb of 282 steps at the Baldwin Hills Overlook Trail. This overlook trail was created by the collective foresight of the community and good governance by the state government. It took over a decade for the community to gain this public victory. The Baldwin Hills’ African American community persisted and sustained their community efforts not to fall apart to dissension. They solidified their ranks, through their social ties, and with their own creative skills of coming together by holding coffee klatches, movie nights and dinner potlucks, they succeeded in stopping the development of 241 homes over 50 acres of private land. It was not till the land was bought, and state rangers appeared did the community truly recognized their own strength.

Now, this scenic overlook trail is populated by folks of different origins, of different ages, of families persisting to have their own lives rich in imagination, rich in creativity, but mostly, rich in connections with their Universal

Partner. Here is where I found a 78-year-old poet, running up these stairs and working through her own issues of poverty, unbeknownst to her, her own writing skills, stumped by her own grief, and expecting folks to like her.

Here is where I found close to a century-old couple whose formula for life is not about viewing challenges, but to take a step at a time, by loving one another for 64 years and smiling as they walk together. They appear to be living lives of privileges, connected to their Universal Partner, the source of all Goodness.

[Editor’s Note: This column was previously published in 2010.] *** 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.

Antonio Trillanes: 24-minute disaster on BBC Sein, who led BurI HAVE been watchma’s military junta ing BBC’s HARDtalk Commentary (“the interview made from way back when headlines around the Tim Sebastian was world”); and Presistill its host, and since dent Teodoro Obiang Stephen Sackur took of Equatorial Guinea, over the interview who “rarely gives inprogram in 2004. I terviews” and whom thought and still think Yen Macabenta Sackur subsequently it is far and away the toughest interview show on televi- described as “living in a parallel unision, daring to grill its titled subjects verse, a place where embarrassment with tough questioning and pulling no does not exist.”

Trillanes as substitute punches.

The HARDtalk team led by Stephen Over the years, I have idly hoped that HARDtalk would get around to in- Sackur probably thought that with terviewing Filipino Presidents, so we Trillanes, they would be getting a colcould see them squirm and bluff their orful and interesting substitute. They way through the ordeal. I deliciously got deceived by the two coup attempts imagined Noynoy Aquino on the hot that went nowhere, and Trillanes’ election to the Senate in spite of them. seat, melting like butter.

But what HARDtalk got instead may So, it was disappointing that for HARDtalk’s first interview of a Filipino be the dullest interview it has ever political figure, Stephen Sackur picked, done, with the interviewee repeatedly of all people, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, failing to understand the questions.

You can watch all 24 minutes of the the man who can’t be embarrassed by no matter how many pratfalls. If, as interview on Youtube, Showbiz govKonrad Adenauer said, “a thick skin is ernment, and Facebook, where nea gift from God,” Trillanes was given tizens are gleefully sharing the piece with friends the world over. two hides.

Readers, be warned, this is not BBC gave up, I surmise, on getting an interview with President Rodrigo just hard talk, this is excruciating to Duterte, who measures up better with watch.

No one does it like Duterte the program’s caliber of interviewees: The HARDtalk interview opens lowVenezuela’s Hugo Chavez (who rarely granted interviews to Western media), key with this introduction by Sackur: Pakistan’s President Pervez Mush- “When it comes to populist politics arraf, South African President Thabo delivered with menace and robust acMbeki, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin tion, no one does it quite like Rodrigo Gyatso, Burmese President Thein Duterte, elected President of the Phil-

ippines a year ago. Since he came to power, around 7,000 people have been killed in his war on drugs and crime.

Human rights groups are aghast, but a majority of Filipinos seem to admire his iron fist policy. Is President Duterte taking the Philippines and the region in a new direction?”

Trillanes did not understand the question. He looked bewildered from the start.

Throughout his public life, Trillanes has been seeking the spotlight, especially on the global stage. Yet here he was, handed a megaphone by the BBC, the premier broadcast news media today, and he had no clue how to use the platform to amplify his message and advance his political program in the Philippines.

Sackur prepared, Trillanes not As the conversation unfolded, it became plain that the conversation was uneven. Trillanes knew nothing about HARDtalk and Sackur. Sackur had taken time to do research on Trillanes and the Philippine situation.

Sackur is no mere broadcaster with a microphone. He knows his stuff. He was schooled at Cambridge and Harvard. He has been based in the Middle East and Washington, D. C. He was embedded with British forces in the Gulf War. And he has seen some of the toughest leaders rise and fall. He did his homework on Trillanes.

Describing Trillanes as one of the fiercest critics of DU30, Sackur remarked that now is a difficult time in the Philippines. He cited in some de-

tail the situation in Mindanao. He suggested that as the President has said, it is time for Filipinos to unify behind the government in order to resolve the crisis in Marawi successfully.

He then placed the senator on the spot by asking whether he supports the President in this situation.

Trillanes adamantly parried the question by claiming that the President has created his own crisis. He agrees that the Mautes have created a crisis in Marawi, but he contends that martial law is not the answer. The AFP can effectively handle this kind of crisis, and its action is what is needed now.

Sackur quoted Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to establish a link between the Maute rebellion and the drug war. He quoted PDEA on the drug situation. Trillanes sought to dispute this portrait of the drug situation by offering his own figures.

Sackur interrupted Trillanes’ spiel to ask: “Are you a democrat?” the senator did not understand the question.

He answered that he is a member of the Nacionalista party in the Philippines, which of course is no definition of democracy.

When Sackur described how DU30 during the election campaign spoke of crushing the drug trade through the drug war, Trillanes dismissed government figures as just campaign rhetoric.

The country’s real drug situation is far from what DU30 has described it.

The interview shifted to the subject of Arthur Lascañas and Trillanes’ efforts to get him to testify against

DU30.

Sackur asked the senator directly, “Do you believe Lascañas’ story?”

Trillanes readily said yes.

Sackur then observed how odd it is that the senator, with his experience, is placing so much faith in Lascañas, a confessed murderer.

This set up Sackur’s next point, as he turned the discussion to the subject of Trillanes’ role in two coup attempts, in 2003 and in2007, against the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He described the failed coups as “pathetic.”

Sackur questioned Trillanes’ democratic faith: “Do you consider a coup a legitimate response to your country’s political situation?” No, Trillanes declared, he does not. Terrorism must be stopped. But martial law is not the answer. The armed forces are the remedy.

Sackur wondered about the senator’s many-sided effort to remove Duterte from the presidency, including impeachment, and the filing of a case at the International Criminal Court.

Sackur dismissed the ICC plan as fruitless, saying the court may not even notice the complaint.

DU30 doing a decent job The interview ended with Sackur telling Trillanes: “In spite of all your fears, President Duterte is doing a decent job: 7 percent growth rate, which the World Bank says will continue.”

As it was, the HARDtalk interview with Trillanes was more positive for

u PAGE A11

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 24-27, 2017

A

Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia heighten cooperation against terrorism The governments of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia have agreed to boost their cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism that continues to threaten the region.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano met with his Indonesian and Malaysian counterparts on Thursday, June 22, amid the Philippine governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight against the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group in Marawi City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want that to happen in Southeast Asia nor anywhere else in the world. But the reality is while ISIS loses ground in Iraq and Syria, some of these jihadists, extremists will be looking for land bases outside Iraq and Syria,â&#x20AC;? Cayetano said. expressing concern over the recent terror activities in the region, the three countries have agreed for intensified trilateral efforts to repel extremists and prevent them from making any part of the area a base for their operations.

The three countries also agreed

PARTNERS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (second from left), Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Malaysia Foreign Minister Datoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sri Anifah Aman join hands with members of their respective delegations during the Trilateral Meeting on Security in Pasay City on Thursday, June 22.

ManilaTImes.net photo by Russell Palma

to enhance their intelligence and information sharing on â&#x20AC;&#x153;potential, imminent and real threats.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the past, terrorists maintain a sense of self-preservation unlike today. It is far more difficult to stop people who are willing to die. Now, secondly, tech-

nology has enabled terrorism to spread their message faster and more promptly than ever before,â&#x20AC;? Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said.

Marsudi stressed that it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;incumbentâ&#x20AC;? on the government

u PAGE A11

PH embassy: Missing Filipina in London fire now presumed dead

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

The Philippine embassy in the United Kingdom late Sunday, June 18 announced that the missing Filipina in the Grenfell Tower blaze is now presumed dead.

The embassy said that despite their diligent search made in coordination with the Metropolitan Police and the Filipino community in London, Ligaya Moore has not been found. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has now been included by the MetPolice as among those presumed to have perished in the Grenfell Tower tragedy,â&#x20AC;? the embassy said.

The embassy added that Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next of kin have been informed.

It also extended its sympathy to the family of Moore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones as we hope for the recovery of her mortal remains,â&#x20AC;? the embassy said in a statement.

Fire engulfed the 24-story Grenfell Tower early Wednesday

West Coast

Ligaya Moore

leaving an estimated 600 residents trapped. Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unit was on the 21st floor.

Aside from Moore, 57 other missing persons were also presumed dead.

During the blaze, the embassy previously reported that a number of Filipinos hurt were brought to emergency shelters at St. Clementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, the St.

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A10 JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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PH aims to improve bilateral, trade relations with Russia Philippines-Russia Business Council to strengthen business relations between the two countries

T

he Philippines and Russia signed strategic agreements on defense, tourism, trade and agriculture and got about half a billion dollars worth of investment, despite the fact that President Rodrigo Duterte cut short his official visit to address the Marawi siege.

Philippines-Russia Business Council (PRBC) chairman Roberto de Venecia, in a recent interview on ANC’s “Business Nightly” confirmed that the Philippines has signed deals worth about $500 million during this trip.

PRBC is a public organization that promotes the strengthening and development of business relations between the two countries and business contacts between Russian and Philippine organizations. It is among the business organizations that joined the delegation of some 200 Filipino businessmen to Russia that accompanied President Duterte’s official visit to Moscow last month.

The official visit to Russia was done to improve bilateral, diplomatic, trade, and tourism relations with the Russian Federation.

PRBC, along with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce

(PCCI) embarked in pioneering-related endeavors that are intended to create opportunities for businessmen and traders to benefit the Philippines in the long term.

“Only for Moscow, and I can speak only for those that were initiated by (PRBC), I would assume that it’s in the vicinity of $500 million on the first 18 months,” De Venecia said “There will be a substantial increase in the succeeding three years.”

“We will also be creating opportunities for Filipinos in Russia. We are just on the first stage. We cannot make announcements, we can’t preempt our partners at this time but we will make the announcements in due time,” he added.

De Venecia said that they signed landmark agreements that will signal pioneering efforts.

One of them is a tie up with Food City group, the largest wholesale food distribution in Russia, which will establish the first Philippine Trade House in Russia.

This is meant to cater for inbound and outbound business for goods coming from the Philippines and interesting prod-

ucts coming out of Russia. Subsequent plans will include the countries within the Confederation of Independent States and Central Asia.

“They are interested because the Philippines could be a staging point to other countries like the ASEAN market,” De Venecia explained.

“I also signed an agreement with VTB Bank, the second largest bank owned by the Ministry of Finance of Russia. This will help us tremendously in our efforts to consolidate our initiatives in working with Russian businessmen and other business establishments. There are other agreements signed but I think, by and large, this would be the most significant,” he added.

The agreement envisions providing the VTB Group with a wide range of financial products and services to companies accredited by the PRBC for the development of their business in Russia and the CIS. VTB Group is the leading Russian financial group that provides a wide range of financial and banking services in Russia, the CIS, Western Europe, North America, Asia and Africa “Within the framework of

partnership with the PRBC, VTB Group will provide a wide range of financial and investment services. We expect that the memorandum will also contribute to the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries,” said Riccardo Orchel, Senior Vice President of VTB Bank.

“VTB Group is a global financial institution, and we are pleased with new opportunities for further development of relations with international partners. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the strategic directions for the development of the company’s business abroad.”

The Memorandum of Understanding between VTB and PRBC is intended to establish a co-investment program, with a commitment of $1 billion wherein the two institutions would focus on investment opportunities in Russia and the Philippines.

“The deal with VTB Bank is one of the biggest accomplishments the council achieved from the visit,” De Venecia told The Philippine Star in an interview.

The projects will cover infrastructure, strategic ports development, commercial trade

contracts, sales and service contracts, supply contract for gas, forest products, animal products, agriculture-related contracts, and other viable business arrangements.

The agreement with VTB Bank is in response to the direction of President Duterte to improve bilateral and trade relations with the Russian Federation.

“The PRBC considers it as a pressing need to advance our almost dormant relations with the Russian Federation,” De Venecia said.

According to De Venecia, the delegation would have signed more business deals if President Duterte did not cut his trip short.

“To be very straightforward, so many business establishments and leaders of industry were disappointed,” he said. “It was certainly unexpected and there could’ve been a heavy turnout of leading business establishments but they are hopeful there will be a follow-up, there will be a next visit by our president.”

The Filipino business delegation was not deterred by the turn of events.

Some of them said that this is

just the initial stage and hopefully in the next visit of the president there will be more solid information that can be gathered so that we can turn it around and make it into a positive initiative for everyone.

It now depends on the Filipino business leaders that came to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“The initiative has to come from them, the Philippine businessmen. The Russians will follow depending on how promising the ventures will be. This is not going to be immediate,” De Venecia stated.

For Mindanao, there will be select products. Preliminarily, the industry that will be benefitting the most will be the agri-business sector.

The Philippines and Russia previously signed agreements on defense cooperation, nuclear energy, a 3-year joint action program on tourism agreements, and an exchange of information on transportation and culture.

For now, the eminent need to create windows of opportunity for the Philippines as well as rekindle and strengthen the country’s relations with Russia have been achieved with this recent trip.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

A11

De Lima seeks review of PH tax reform’s possible adverse effects

by Jennifer

Soriano

AJPress

FLASH FLOOD. Heavy rains flood C-5 extension in Las Pinas City on Thursday , June 22, resulting in a bumper-to-bumper vehicular traffic in this Metro Manila’s major road.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PNP: No arrest warrant against...

PAGE A7 t

Despite this, criticism against Aznar has not stopped.

Joe Torres of the National Press Club (NPC) said that Aznar “has been maliciously attacked by netizens and now fears for his safety.”

“What is happening to Aznar can have a chilling effect and can happen to other media workers. We don’t want that,” said Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Joel Sy Egco.

In a Facebook post, Aznar cautioned Nieto: “Let me remind the gentleman, that these kinds of attacks to the press are outright dangerous. Especially for us who are

covering this event and are actually inside the conflict zone.”

He added that members of the media understand the dangers of covering conflict zones and have “a sworn duty to keep the public informed.”

Other media groups also condemned the attacks against Aznar, expressing concern over the safety of other journalists covering the Marawi siege.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned Thinking Pinoy and Nieto for “endangering a journalist” based on “unfounded reasons.”

The NUJP also urged authorities “to protect Mr. Aznar from these threats and to assist him should he seek redress and accountability for those who seek to put him in danger.”

The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP), likewise, “denounced the repeated attacks on media practitioners who have been bravely doing their duty in the midst of dangerous situations.”

“We demand an end to the vicious attacks and the false information designed to tarnish the reputation of journalists,” it added. n

Rifai expressed.

He went on to say, “We are here to tell the world to come to the Philippines and make no mistake about it. Anybody who tries to present any other version of the story should come and see with your own eyes. All of the countries of the world that have experienced difficulties have come back and have shown their best and their beauty comes out.”

The opening ceremony, which was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila, was also attended by DOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, Tourism Ministers from Thailand, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Fiji, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles, and 721 international and local delegates.

Rifai described this year’s gathering as a “homecoming” and a milestone. The Philippines last

hosted the UNWTO conference in 1980.

“The world is lucky to have the Philippines. Culture, nature, upbeat people give the country so much life. The Philippines is a country to travel and respect, and its greatest gift is its people,” Rifai added.

In a statement, President Rodrigo Duterte also thanked the UNWTO for choosing the Philippines as the venue for the conference.

“More than just a proof that the Philippines remains a safe destination for meetings, conferences, and other tourism activities, it also affirms the Philippines’ effort to promote tourism as a vehicle for a nation’s sustainable and inclusive progress,” he said in a statement read by Teo. During the three-day conference, tourism ministers will develop a statistical framework to integrate sustainable tourism on a

PAGE A9 t

these different countries as well as providing assistance to the groups of jihadists in these areas,” Padilla said.

Apart from resolving terrorism issues, the joint patrols are also seen to boost business confidence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a statement, the Board of Investments (BOI) in the ARMM said the development would help in ensuring the security of traders in the ARMM and in Malaysia and Indonesia.

“This trilateral maritime patrol is an important development for the ARMM because people from our island provinces have been doing crossborder trade since time imme-

morial and even before there were borders to cross,” Ishak Mastura, chairperson of the BOI-ARMM, said.

While saying that insurgencies and banditry did not stop the traditional cross-border trade, Matsura admitted that the “international transshipment was affected by it.”

“By conducting trilateral border patrols we believe that transshipment, wherein bigger volumes of cargoes are safely moved among the three countries, can make a comeback,” he added.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman also welcomed the development in the region, saying it will “shore up trade and commerce” in this area. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

Antonio Trillanes: 24-minute disaster... boosting the President’s standing and tarnishing his own.

Post-HARD talk press conference Reviewing the interview, it’s hard not to conclude that Sackur was professional and focused throughout, while Trillanes appeared to be barking gibberish, not giving much thought to what he said.

Trillanes’ performance reeked of straining too hard to score, and missing his target altogether. There can be little doubt of where his project of unseating Duterte is tending.

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ready to withstand the economic shocks of the proposal, while taking into consideration other economic factors like rising unemployment,” the senator said.

She added that “Congress is duty-bound to ensure that [the] tax proposal abides by the Constitutional standard of uniform and equitable tax system, and that they have long-term positive effects for all stakeholders, including taxpayers, those who pay direct and indirect taxes alike, and the Government.”

According to the Department of Finance, TRAIN aims to benefit 99 percent of Filipino taxpayers and help sustain the government’s accelerated spending on infrastructure, education, health and social protection programs. n

Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia heighten...

“to embark on taking concrete actions” in beefing up its security measures.

Earlier this week, on Monday, June 19, the three countries launched joint maritime patrols on their respective borders as part of enhancing regional security to halt the movements of Islamic jihadists.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the joint patrols are also aimed to address piracy and lawlessness across the waters. global level.

“More than that is the moveSustainable tourism ment of personnel bound from Continuing to promote sustainable tourism on a global level, Teo one country to another who are urged leaders to support tourism- fugitives of their own laws and seeking haven in these parts of related policy making.

“We hope that the Manila Call for Action will be adopted at this forum to demonstrate our common resolve to create a better PAGE A8 t world for our children and future the President, than it was for the generations,” she said. senator. Had the Presidential Pimentel also showed his sup- Communications Operations Ofport for Teo’s call but maintained fice (PCOO) set up the interview, that such developments must not they could not have wished for be “at the expense of a polluted better. environment, denuded forests, or For Trillanes, this interview displaced indigenous groups.” was a disaster. For the opposi“Tourism is a priority develop- tion, it was a setback. ment area that deserves greater The event is over, but it is on attention. Focus now should not record. And it is on the Internet. be on how much money it can Here was an opportunity to contribute to government coffers publicly make the case against but rather on how it can improve Duterte on global TV, but the overall well-being of people,” Trillanes, the politician of ever the senator said. n uncertain loyalties, wound up

Tourist arrivals increasing amid Marawi...

PAGE A7 t

DETAINED Senator Leila De Lima filed a resolution calling for the review of possible adverse effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), which is now on its third and final reading in the Philippine House of Representatives.

The proposed TRAIN or House Bill No 5636 was approved via a 246-9 vote with one abstention last May 31 by the House before Congress went on sine die adjournment.

“There is an urgent need to investigate such impact, in aid of legislation, especially in light of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill in the Lower House,” De Lima noted in

Senate Resolution (SR) No. 407.

Critics argue that while the bill caters to Filipinos’ long clamor to lower personal income taxes, which is the highest in Asia with 32 percent, the public would still have to pay for the loss of revenue of the state through higher prices of fuel, automobiles and sweetened beverages.

De Lima also expressed her concerns over unemployed Filipinos, citing the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey in January this year that said 6.6 percent or around 4.6 million of the workforce population is unemployed and deemed to be the most affected by the increase in prices of commodities brought by the proposed tax reform program.

“The government must be

InQuicker should not be used for life-threatening emergencies or children under the age of three. Call 911 immediately for more serious conditions.

It’s an indication of how badly Trillanes fared in HARDtalk that he immediately scheduled a press conference for himself after the broadcast. He appeared at the Kapihan sa Senado, where he addressed members of the Senate press corps. He tried to shift the discussion away from what was asked and what he said on BBC, toward a discussion of the cases of police officials accused of killing Mayor Espinosa.

At the press con, he did not say a word about HARDtalk. He has had enough. (ManilaTimes. net)

A12 JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 24-27, 2017

SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal

Enrique Gil on two-piece Darna costume for Liza Soberano: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s super revealingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

by Clarizel

abanilla

Inquirer.net

While supportive of on-screen partner liza Sobernoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portrayal of Darna, enrique Gil feels a twopiece super heroine costume for her would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;super revealing.â&#x20AC;? in a recent interview by the Kapamilya network with the actor, as posted on instagram via the fan page @tataklizquenofficial, Gil gave his thoughts on the possible costume to be worn by Soberano, knowing fully well that Darna has always come to battle in a sexy two-piece costume. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two-piece nga super revealing, they might change it, a little bit maybe, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coz itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supposed to be armor, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really go into battle with your underwear,â&#x20AC;? Gil said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how Darna was, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of weird, i hope they change it a little bit.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, just as Soberano physically prepares for Darna, Gil shows extra encouragement by being her fitness buddy as well.

Nadine Lustre

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano

Philstar.com photo

he now works out with Soberano, hence, his noticeably more toned physique.

An instagram post of Soberano last June 13 showed her with Gil and a fitness instructor via a boomerang video. liza Soberano and enrique

Gil, also known as lizQuen, are among todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought-after love teams. They have top-billed the hit Kapamilya teleseryes â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forevermoreâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dolce Amoreâ&#x20AC;?. last February, they starred in Star Cinemasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; romantic Valentine movie, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My ex and Whysâ&#x20AC;?

Inquirer.net photo

B

Nadine Lustre laughs off pregnancy rumors KApAMilyA actress Nadine lustre has shrugged off rumors that she is pregnant.

The actress said she is unaware of where the issue might have come from. â&#x20AC;&#x153;hindi ko po alam. Baka pagkain lang po â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung nasa loob ng tiyan ko. (I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. My tummy just might be filled with food),â&#x20AC;? she said in an interview on Wednesday, June 21 as reported by her home network ABS-CBN. Being one of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest young stars, lustre attracts not only fans but also bashers. But the star knows when to keep her

cool and when to speak up, as she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Depende. May times na dedma. May times talaga na kailangan mag-speak up ka. (It depends. There are times when you have to let it go and there are times when you have to speak up.)â&#x20AC;?

Recently, lustre has been at the forefront of social media bashings for coming into the defense of boyfriend and on-screen partner James Reid and best friend Mika Tan, over a reported photo of the two depicting them in allegedly romantic poses. (Inquirer.net)

/64, 36(5 $IRECT ,ENDER

-/( *VU]LU[PVUHS 7\YJOHZL 9LMPUHUJL

Ken Chan on why he and Barbie Forteza are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Meant To Beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by

C. Mendez legaspi Philstar.com

Barbie Forteza and Ken Chan

iT is hard enough to be in a love triangle, but what more if you and three of your best friends are in love with the same girl?

The lucky girl, Billie (played by GMA teen queen Barbie Forteza),will finally pick her choice among her suitors yuan (Ken Chan), Jai (Addy Raj), ethan (ivan Dorschner) and Andoy (Jak Roberto) in the finale episode of the Kapuso primetime series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meant To Be.â&#x20AC;?

Up until the final shooting day, even the stars themselves were unaware who Billie will end up with. Andoy (Team pandesal) and Jai (Team Kape) ended their pursuit of Billie. Watchers will know who between ethan (Team Gatas) and yuan (Team Asukal) will win Billieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart.

The charming and multitalented Ken, 24, is hoping it will be his character, yuan, who will be chosen.

But among the four leading men, it was yuanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart Philstar.com photo PAGE B3

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Features

B JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

The fast food of literature Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

UNLiKE the novelist, the poet nor a playwright, columnists are not performing center ring. they must be contented with their self-imposed role of being second-class citizens in the world of literati.

With this undisciplined existence, a columnist is licensed to be cheeky, drawing from so many strands of inconsistencies in human behavior and getting away with a fair amount of authority. it is its personal intimacy, a chatter with pen in hand, in an urban conversational manner. the writer seems to speak directly into your ear, confiding everything — from wisdom to gossip in the usual see-saw of modesty and egotism, universality and touching eccentricity as it deals lightly and harmoniously (even struggling for honesty) with personal experiences, opinions, prejudices — all having to do with the varied aspects of life.

Others say column writing is the most profound work of the intellect in the face of life. it is notoriously flexible and adaptable.

For prose to move anywhere, in all the directions, it should be open to digression and the promiscuity of the mind. it is fragmentary and random, as the writer gives you spontaneous thoughts and lets you know, in addition, how she gets to the point — through the seashell soul of intimacy, candor and irony, taking a stand on just about everything.

From tragedies (which ennobles a man) to comedies (which cuts a man down to his size), even rich speculations about a man’s sexuality, morals or lack of it. they draw out parts through similes, metaphors, hyperboles, exaggerations in fleshing out ideas, with what it wants to discuss. it says what is at issue and then stops where it feels itself complete, not where nothing is left to see.

What joy indeed to write without playing the pedantic schoolmaster — void of all learning crammed out of books. A columnist is just a decent person looking at you or me, or anyone else, of what she thought about life with mock solemnity. You can take a stand on just about everything from political, to cultural, to per-

sonal life, in a blend of reportage, getting away with what borders on autobiographical. You’d want to strangle that columnist who does his or her craft with glee.

Column writing represents a mode of living. it parts a way for the self to function with relative freshness in this uncertain world. it doesn’t make excessive claims, nor compulsive sprinkling citations, to get a free ride or other men’s brains. in a field where objectivity is akin to the Holy Grail, newspaper columnists are free to express opinion. Unfettered by the need to be objective or fair, columnists can be scathing in their criticism, unabashed in their praise, funny or poignant, arrogant or intensely personal.

Political columnist George Will said, what distinguishes a valuable columnist is “an ability to see what everybody sees, but not in quite the way that everybody sees it.”

And according to Virginia Woolf, all columns are addressed to the ‘common reader’ she has defined as that “somewhat fussy figure who may or may not exist but has been solicited and invited to partake.”

And now gentle readers, how to give an old saw a new twist as i cobble a column.

Carla Abellana comforts boyfriend Tom Rodriguez in his time of grief

by Maridol

rañoa-BisMark Philstar.com

Ryan Cayabyab highlights Original Pilipino Music on June 25 at Alex Theatre OPM songs to be performed by the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and many more

Artists from the Philippines and Los Angeles converge at the Alex theatre this sunday in “Musikahan!” with Maestro ryan Cayabyab. reminiscent of the Maestro’s long-running musical tV show “ryan ryan Musikahan” which aired from 1988-1995, his music will be performed by exceptional singers, with a few behind-the-scenes stories.

Cayabyab’s work truly represents the Filipino psyche, and has been lauded as world class and top caliber, reaping many awards.

With 11 musicals, 3 operas, numerous works for orchestras and choir, his hit songs are just icing on the cake. the show explores the “eras” of his work, when most influential to Filipino culture, like his recordings with Basil Valdez, smokey Mountain and his musicals “Katy!” and opera “spoliarium.” the ample cast is headlined by the exceptional ryan Cayabyab singers and joined by veteran singer/actress Becca Godinez, tV host/theatre actor Giselle tongi, vocalist and producer Annie Nepomuceno, and Miss saigon veteran and theatre actor Miguel Vera.

Popular young singers in the FilAm community are also part of the show, namely Edsel sotiangco, Michael Keith, Louisa tampi and Josie Gonzalez.

Cayabyab will also do collaborative performances with handpicked young artists from the FilipinoAmerican community. Kayamanan ng Lahi Cultural Folk Dance, it’s musical ensemble “Dayao” with Camille and Jojo ramirez, and visual artists from the FilamArts Pilipino Artist network such as

MOMENts of grief are the acid tests of relationships. they tell you just how far a couple can stand together when one of them is in mourning. tom rodriguez and Carla Abellana’s relationship went through this test a few months back, when the actor’s American father, William Albert “Bill” Mott, passed away in the U.s.

Carla was miles away. But she was always with her boyfriend in spirit. “i would always ask him how he is,” Carla said after the presscon of “i Heart Davao,” hers and Sweethearts Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez topbill GMA’s new romcom series I Heart Davao, tom’s new romcom under the which premieres on June 26 Kapuso network (it premieres patriarch to rest. she knew he was tom and tried her best to cheer June 26).

Carla showed how much she stressed out, not only due to the him up. “i make him laugh when he’s cared for tom even more when tragedy, but because his luggage AJ arrived Ads 93 May 1 5/22/17 PM Page 1 got3:21 misplaced. quiet and all alone. i sit beside he in 2017_Layout the Philippines she wrapped her arms around after the rodriguezes put their Ryan Cayabyab Singers PAGE B3

age gracefully

Lovin’ Those Summertime Blues When Blueberries Rock!

Almond-Blueberry Gelatin Parfait

Serves 6 For blueberry gelatin:

2 cups blueberry juice 2 envelopes (1 oz. each) unflavored gelatin ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. lemon zest ½ cup chopped fresh blueberries

For almond gelatin: 2 cups almond milk 2 envelopes (1 oz. each) unflavored gelatin ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. almond extract Fresh blueberries as garnish

BY GRACE O

When it comes to a small but mighty summer fruit, it’s hard to beat blueberries. Is there anything more simple and delicious? You can eat them plain by the handful or add them into smoothies, yogurt, whole grain cereals, pancakes, desserts, you name it. Growing up in the Philippines, we had blueberries, but they were a rare treat, so I appreciate the abundance of fresh berries available here in California.

What can these little blue guys do?

They: • Are good brain food • Are antioxidant rich • Help maintain healthy bones • Can help lower blood pressure • Boost cardiac health • Help prevent cancer • Fight wrinkles

1. To make the blueberry gelatin, combine the blueberry juice and the gelatin in a double boiler and cook over medium-high heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

Remove from heat.

2. Add the sugar, the lemon zest, and the chopped blueberries and mix well until the sugar is dissolved. Cool at room temperature.

3. Pour or ladle the blueberry gelatin mixture into 6 parfait glasses. Chill for 1–2 hours.

4. To make the almond gelatin, combine the almond milk and the gelatin in a double boiler and cook over mediumhigh heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.

5. Add the sugar and the almond extract and mix well until the sugar is dissolved. Cool at room temperature.

6. To assemble, pour or ladle the almond gelatin over the chilled blueberry gelatin parfaits. Return parfait glasses to the refrigerator and chill for 3 hours or overnight. Garnish with fresh blueberries.

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

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

© 2017 by FoodTrients.com

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

Becca Godinez

Edsel Sotiangco

Eliseo Art silva, Lyn Pacificar, Hana ABCD and Nick Evangelista provide artistic support. the headlining ryan Cayabyab singers (rCs) is proudly celebrating the group’s 10th anniversary this July 7. Each member had to undergo a combination of vocal, dance, and improv auditions. Mr. C wanted professionals who already had some sort of performing experience, but he particularly was on the lookout for unique styles and qualities. rCs is comprised of Celine Fabie, Nica tupas, Kaye tiuseco, Poppert Bernadas, Anthony Castillo, VJ Caber and Erwin Lacsa.

Only 2 remain from the original group: Poppert Bernadas is currently a full-time theater actor and recording artist, having just released his first single in Manila with much success. Kaye tiuseco was a member of the UP Concert Chorus and is a speech-language pathologist and freelance writer.

Erwin Lacsa joined the group in 2009. Celine Fabie went into musical theater before joining the group in 2010. VJ Caber had previously been in popular boyband in Manila

before being invited to audition for the rCs. Before entering the group in 2015, Anthony was a member of the sLU Glee Club and formed Pinopela, one of the country’s premiere contemporary acapella groups.

Nica tupas was the vice president for music of teatro Ateneo, and an incoming 4th year voice major at the College of Music in UP Diliman.

“Musikahan! With Maestro ryan Cayabyab” is on June 25 at 6:30pm sunday, at the Alex theatre located at 216 North Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203. tickets can be purchased at the Alex theatre box office and www. alextheatre.org. Pricing is $40, $50, $60, $70 and $80. this tour’s major sponsors are Philippine Airlines, tFC the Filipino Channel, Asian Journal, the Law Offices of Chris Navarro, and Wealth Financial Life. tour promoter is Music Arts Events inc and is bringing the ryan Cayabyab singers to san Diego on July 2 an Las Vegas on July 7.

Visit www.musicartsevents.com for details.

Other sponsors are UP Alumni of Greater LA (UPAAGLA), FilamArts, Balikbayan Magazine, Kababayan today, island Pacific supermarket, PhilHouse, sotiangco Group of Companies, Organique UsA, Leelin Bakery and Café, Fiesta Fastfood, LA rose Café, Get Assured, Cypress residence, Maxx Promos, Waling-Waling by Edgardo, Wanderlust Creatives, Ginny Cosmetics, rick Gavino, Ding Carreon, LA synergy Lions Club, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, House of Grill, and JG Nipa Hut.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

B

Bedroom facing the bathroom

By Sean

Shono

In this week’s column, we take a look at why having your bedroom facing the bathroom is considered bad Feng Shui.

The toilet, especially without ventilation or which is being kept filthy, makes evil energy penetrate easier into the bedroom.

This, in turn, negatively influences your health.

If you have this kind of bedroom, consult Dragon God to find out how to remedy this. *All of our items have been purified by authentic process of Feng Shui way.

*** Feng Shui master Sean Shono owns Dragon God, a Feng Shui store in Gardena, California.

He is the U.S. Chief of the International Feng

Shui Association. For more information, please call Sean Shono at (310) 787-1891.

Dragon God is located at 1580 W. Artesia SQ. Suite A, Gardena, CA 90248.

Edgar Allan Guzman: Back to where his heart belongs MISTER Pogi winner Edgar Allan Guzman is now a Kapuso, cast as one of Heart Evangelista’s leading men in the forthcoming primetime series “My Korean Jagiya.” He will play the role of Ryan Alba, Heart’s boyfriend in the series, figuring in a love triangle with a Korean actor yet to be cast.

EA, as Edgar Allan is called, is excited to be returning to the Kapuso fold after starring in the top-rating afternoon drama “Doble-Kara” which he did for ABS-CBn. “Since Doble Kara ended four months ago, I have been waiting for a new acting assignment. Sir noel (Ferrer, his manager) said we should be open for projects from other networks. What is important is that I do my job well,” said the fourth runner-up in the first season of the reality show “Your Face Sounds Familiar.”

He was offered a follow-up role in a Kapamilya teleserye but since it’s not starting soon due to schedule concerns, his manager thought it wise to accept GMA’s offer.

In the movie front, he is currently doing “Deadma Walking” opposite Joross Gamboa, which is intended for the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Ken Chan on why he and Barbie Forteza are ....

PAGE B1 who was the slowest to warm up to Billie’s charisma.

Here is Ken’s experience essaying Yuan’s journey: How similar or different is your character to your personality?

“Yuan Lee and I are similar in such a way that we follow what we want and what our hearts dictate.

We both give importance to what we truly feel. Yuan Lee is stiff and sometimes arrogant but if you’ll get to know him you will find out that there’s more to him than his bad-boy image.”

What do you think of your character’s evolution throughout the series?

“I love the evolution of my char-

acter in the show; my intimidating personality lessens as the show progresses. You’ll see the soft side of Yuan Lee.” How will you maintain your friendship with Addy, Jak and Ivan after tapings are over?

“People you have worked with will be difficult to forget, they will always be a part of you. We know each other’s mobile numbers. We’ll make sure to schedule meet-ups or bond and converse over a cup of coffee.”

What will you miss most about working or hanging out with Barbie?

“Barbie is not just a work mate or a co-actor in the industry. I consider her as a special friend.

I will definitely miss her bubbly personality. She makes sure that the vibe on the set is happy and positive.”

What will be your next projects after MTB? “I always believe that there are projects intended for me. I’m sure that the network will surprise me with challenging roles and nice programs. Whatever will it be, I am ready and beyond grateful.”

Why should Billie choose Yuan?

“She should choose Yuan Lee because I made her my top priority. When you love someone, make her feel she is your number one, and I guess I made her feel that way.”

CREWMAN WENT HOME TO MANILA ON PROVISIONAL WAVER AND CAME BACK TO THE U.S. WITH A GREEN CARD — A SPECIAL EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel obtained a Provisional Waiver for Jerome, a crewman who jumped ship. Jerome had filed for Adjustment of Status on his own, but it was denied, because he was not eligible. Gurfinkel got an approved Provisional Waiver of the 3\10 year bar, and Jerome returned to the Philippines for visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. His wife and children wondered and prayed if Jerome could make it back to the US. Every crewman and their US spouse should watch the outcome of this Provisional Waiver case on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, June 25 at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement)

Carla Abellana comforts Tom Rodriguez...

PAGE B2 him. Kinukulit ko siya.”

It’s in times like this that Tom realizes how lucky he is.

“It’s great to have this partnership. You can face things together,” he said, not taking his eyes off Carla’s face.

Seeing the Tom’s family draw strength from each other made Carla admire her boyfriend’s family even more.

“I learned more about them.

I admire their closeness, their beautiful family dynamics. Each member has a role to play. They help each other,” observed Carla.

Thanks to his family, Tom found the strength to move on and set an example in facing trials with courage. Yes, there came a time when all he wanted was to lock himself up in a room. But he pulled himself together for his family.

“It was such a heavy feeling.

But my family needs me. We have to be there for each other.”

Tom was there for his U.S.based cousins who took comfort in his words of advice about dealing with a family member who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Tom played an Alzheimer’s patient in the

recently-concluded “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and grabbed the chance to share what he learned from the role.

Little did Tom know that he’ll come face to face with the illness when he renewed ties with his U.S.-based paternal aunt, who is suffering from the disease.

Today, Tom describes his work as “pieces of a puzzle” helping him feel whole again.

Carla, of course, plays a big role in making Tom feel complete.

In his eyes, Carla can do no wrong.

“I have to learn how to be organized from her. I’m trying my best to emulate her. Watching her organize everything — her scripts, her notes — is a joy,” gushed Tom. Carla protested that she’s an OC (obsessive-compulsive), but Tom shushed her.

She returned the compliment.

“His thirst for knowledge is one of Tom’s best traits. He wants to learn so many things in science, math, the arts. He’s forever a student. It’s good to know that he’s getting even smarter as he matures.”

So what’s keeping them from getting married?

Carla spoke up for herself and Tom. “Work and obligations.”

Tom, she added, wants to explore a lot of non-showbiz related fields — visual effects, robotics even.

“I want to work for fun, not survival,” Tom piped in.

His girlfriend doesn’t mind waiting for Tom to be ready before settling down. She knows he’s been nurturing those dreams for years, and she’ll be the last to burst his bubble.

This early, however, the 30year-old Tom (Carla is a year older) assures his girlfriend he need not fulfill all his dreams before popping the question.

He’ll go down on his knees and propose as soon as he feels the time is right.

Besides, their respective families are letting them think many times over before taking the plunge.

Meanwhile, TomCar fans can go on dreaming of a romantic wedding — on a chapel by the hill, the shore of a sun-kissed beach, anywhere — until their idols decide it’s time to take that plunge into a world they’ll share forever.

B JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

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

A fresh baby wave in showbiz

David Tupaz: Making waves in Las Vegas

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

COMEDIENNE-actress Marietta “Pokwang” Subong, who happily shared news of her pregnancy the previous week, seems to have set off a new baby boom what with two more showbiz personalities sharing baby news to date.

On Monday, June 19, Alyanna Martinez—eldest daughter of actor Albert Martinez and the late actress Liezl Martinez—posted on her Instagram account, @alyannamartinez, her Father’s Day gift to her dad: A baby announcement.

Alyanna, who married photographer Roy Macam in 2016, took her followers inside an announcement box she sent to Martinez. In it were two bibs, a pacifier, two baby shoes—in blue and pink— and a baby ultrasound photo.

The two bibs each bore special dedications. The first for Martinez said, “We don’t know if it’s a he or a she. All we know is that you’re a lolo to be;” and the second, in remembrance of Alyanna’s mother who died of breast cancer in 2015, “Handpicked for Earth by my grandma in heaven.”

In his own Instagram account, @albertmartinez_, the new lolo shared the news by posting a photo of him holding the ultrasound and writing, “The best Father’s Day gift!”

“I’ve been waiting for the longest time,” Martinez told DZMM in a separate interview after the announcement.

“It doesn’t really matter [if it will be a boy or a girl], What’s important is healthy lumabas ‘yung bata, and walang problema. Yun

By Monet

Lee O’Brien and Pokwang

na ang happiness naming lahat,” he said.

Meanwhile, two days later, actor Patrick Garcia and non-showbiz wife Nikka also announced on social media they are expecting their third child.

Nikka first shared the news on her Instagram account @nikkamgarcia by posting a photo of their daughters Michelle and Patrice holding a onesie printed with “Baby Garcia” at the back.

Mom anew, she wrote, “Unexpected but whole heartedly wanted. They say that a baby that comes after a miscarriage is called a rainbow baby. We are beyond blessed to be given another beautiful miracle. A privilege to be parents the third time around.

See you later this year our rainbow

Albert Martinez will soon be a grandfather with daughter Alyanna’s soon to be eldest.

Photo from Pokwang’s Instagram account

baby!”

The same day, Patrick shared the same photo and captioned it, “Excited for our new blessing!

Can’t wait to see you in December my baby!”

Patrick married Nikka in March 2015. The actor is also a father to former girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado’s son, Alex Jazz.

Now back to Pokwang, her partner Lee O’Brien revealed that the actress has withdrawn from all showbiz commitments to adhere to her doctor’s order of full bed rest.

In an interview with “Tonight With Boy Abunda,” the actor shared, “It’s difficult in the sense that it’s very delicate. Every precaution has to be taken and bed rest.”

It will be remembered that entertainment host and talent manager Ogie Diaz revealed Pokwang’s pregnancy in a Facebook post on Thursday. Four days later, the comedienne herself confirmed the news by posting on her Instagram account, @itspokwang27, a picture of her, boyfriend O’Brien and their seven-week old offspring’s first sonogram.

“Hello baby O’Brien. First picture nya. Thank you sa lahat ng mga dasal nyo para matupad ito, at sa patuloy nyo pang dasal para ligtas si Baby O’Brian at tuluyan na sya mangulit sa February dito sa Earth,” the 44-year-old wrote.

Pokwang and O’Brian first confirmed their relationship in January 2015. In August of the same year, the comedienne revealed she suffered a miscarriage.

Lu

“Fashion is the extension of our personalities. it dignifies our humanity just like art and music. i believe in capturing elegance; Fashion is the extension of our personalities. it dignifies our humanity just like art and music. i believe in capturing elegance; an allure of romantic feminism with a tailored twist. it speaks of a modern dignified grace.” – David Tupaz If you have not heard of this hotshot Filipino designer causing ooohs and aaahs amongst A-listers on the red carpet, you are either living under the rock or you need to go to Vegas because that’s where he’s making waves now!

David Tupaz moved to Las Vegas in 2010 but before that, he lived in New York for a long time, then moved to California to design for different TV shows like “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Boston Legal.” Among those he dressed in Hollywood include Lucy Liu, Natalie Cole, Kris Kardashian-Jenner, Bruce Jenner, Lisa Rinna, William and Elizabeth Shatner, Allan and Tonya Thicke, David Foster, Tracie Kristin Chenoweth, Mariel Hemingway, Martin Sheen, Sofia Milos of “CSI Miami” and Mitzi Kapture of “Baywatch,” Bai Ling, Billy Zane, David Foster, Tracie and Scott Hamilton. Seems like the fashionistas of Los Angeles have David on speed dial when they are in need couturier.

In an online write-up, David was asked how he gets inspiration for his work and he replied: ”You get inspired from events, occasions, music, movie, TV show, friends… all of us can get inspiration because the universe by itself is one big art. I think the universe, as we see the stars and the planets and the comets… I mean that’s art right there. And I think being artists, a lot of us are sometimes not understood, a lot of artists are denied being understood… why, because most of us are kinda weird. Being artists and creative people, we see things differently than the ordinary person.”

Vegas, make way for David!

You would think that with all the frills that come with rubbing elbows with famous celebrities, leaving California was not an option for David. Wrong! In fact, what made him leave for Vegas is what

kept many designers in fashionable cities such LA or New York: competition. Not that he would shy away from that, but because as much as there’s a lucrative business (not to mention, fame) in such cities, there’s also complacency to tap potential market in some cities.

And that’s what David saw potential in the city the never sleeps. He saw potential and he just made a move for it. Now he has his own design studio, was hailed as 2015 International Designer of the Year, and has a holiday named after his name, called “David Tupaz Day.” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed June 3rd as David’s day to recognize his great contribution to the city’s fashion industry.

In 2011, David established a non-profit organization called the Las Vegas Design Council to help the creative growth of the local designers to build an industry in the city.

“I came to Vegas. I realized that Las Vegas is a city by itself.

It has so many districts and so many places. It is not only where the casinos are or where the hotels are. There are so many people living in this city that there’s a lot of potential. I found out they don’t have a fashion industry which I said well, why can’t I pioneer that.

So that’s the reason why I moved,” he said.

As a magazine editor-in-chief, he recently launched the fashion in-

dustry in Las Vegas through its first fashion magazine called L’VEGUE, a quarterly magazine highlighting all the talented creative people who live in the city. He was on the front page of the Review Journal’s Business section (their version of the L.A. Times), then again in the Las Vegas Business magazine, and was interviewed on Channel 13 TV News, as well as the TV show ‘Morning Blend’ and Channel 5 Morning News. As for his future projects, David has an upcoming fashion show in New York and Portland, Oregon.

David is unstoppable and there’s plenty more we haven’t seen. Because, just like he said, “The future Calvin Klein can come from here knowing how glamorous the city is.” And frankly, my friends, he is well on his way of making that happen very very soon.

Good luck to you David and may you continue to make a name in Vegas! Your Kababayans are proud of you. *** 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

Goodfellas Pawn Shop promises customer-first business approach PAYING the bills is hard, and for the 75 million individuals who don’t have a bank account, credit card or any other mainstream form of finance, it’s all the more difficult.

For easier access to quick cash to pay the rent, repair a car or pay a bill, many individuals turn to collateral loan providers, also known as pawn shops, which offer shortterm loans for collateral.

But finding a pawn shop that will truly cater to the customers’ needs is difficult, until now.

For 20 years, Goodfellas Pawn Shop in West Covina has been operating as one of the most trustworthy pawn shops in Southern California with a clientele that goes beyond the West Covina area. Folks travel hours to Goodfellas, skipping over dozens of pawn shops along the way...but why?

Founded and still managed by brothers Armen and Artur Galstian, Goodfellas stands out from the homogenous slew of pawn

shops because of its customer-first approach. Rather than offering the standard four-month loan, Goodfellas offers a generous five-month loan to give customers flexibility when repaying each loan.

Goodfellas also offers a gracious 0 percent interest for the first 30 days for loans up to $1,000.

Enjoy affordable interest rates at 3.99 percent for loans of $2,500 to $10,000, and 2.99 percent a month for loans from $10,001 to $50,000.

In addition to the unprecedented patron-centric mission, Goodfellas presents one of the highest quality establishments in the pawn shop game. Customers who walk into the easily accessible shop will be greeted by a clean, well-organized store managed by a friendly, professional staff.

The items available for purchase are also among the highest quality brand name products. Store items include Rolex

watches, jewelry, bicycles, power tools, designer handbags, musical instruments, digital cameras, and laptops to name only a few.

“Here, we care about the customers and we put them first,” Armen Galstian, co-founder of Goodfellas Pawn Shop, told the asian Journal. “We have catered to all kinds of customers, from businessmen to construction workers, by giving them the same excellent customer service based on their unique financial needs.”

And that customer-first mission is represented by its customer return rate and a high satisfaction rate. Goodfellas promises a pleasant and quick experience to meet your financial needs.

Goodfellas Pawn Shop is located at 1203 S. Glendora Avenue in West Covina and is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To receive more information, the number to their store is 626-918-2323.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS oNE of the most popular and very useful medications today worldwide is Metformin (Glucophage). this drug, whose molecular formula, C4H11N5, was first synthesized in 1929 and clinically introduced in the late 1950s by Jean sterne, a French physician, who named it Glucophage, meaning glucose eater. in the United states, this drug was approved for type 2 diabetes by the FDa in 1994 and was marketed as Glucophage on March 3, 1995.

Evidence based clinical practice of today uses Metformin as the first-line oral drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially those who are overweight, according to the american Diabetes association and the american College of physicians. in spite of its widespread global use and hundreds of millions benefiting from it, there are misleading and egregious assertions by some manufacturers of alternative herbal preparations for diabetes that Metformin is useless and dangerous. these are irresponsible claims in order for the uninformed and the gullible individuals to buy and use their products instead. these products, which have not been studied by the food and drug administration of the United states, the philippines, or other countries, could be untested, unrefined, adulterated, contaminated, and are unsafe and possibly toxic in the long run.

How does Metformin work?

Contrary to some understanding, Metformin does not directly lower blood sugar like insulin does. Metformin acts to reduce the insulin resistance of the body cells to allow our own natural insulin to enter the cells to enable normal sugar metabolism. a significant number of type 2 diabetes suffer from insulin resistance that prevents insulin from entering the cells and doing its normal job, so the blood sugar goes up. Metformin reduces the resistance and improves the sensitivity of our body tissues in order for insulin to work more effectively. it also lowers the production of blood sugar in the liver. again, on its own, Metformin does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Are ampalaya preparations as effective?

No. ampalaya (bitter melon), a vegetable-fruit dish commonly prepared in asian countries, has been found to lower blood sugar levels a little,but not significantly enough to be effective in controlling the blood sugar levels among diabetics. in spite of this limitation and lack of efficacy, ampalaya preparations (pills, potions, lotions, teas) are on the shelves of many stores, claiming to lower blood sugar level, aimed at scamming the ignorant and gullible public. this is fraudulent because there have been reports of diabetics who stopped their prescribed medications and took these ampalaya preparations instead and have gone into diabetic comma. While

Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

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Metformin: The truth What to expect when the unexpected happens

eating ampalaya, a succulent dish, is a good idea for everyone, especially for diabetics, the use of the ampalaya preparations on the market as a substitute for (instead of) the prescription medication for diabetes is very dangerous and could be fatal.

What are the other uses of Metformin? an amazing versatile drug, Metformin is also used for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome, and there are some limited suggestions that it may prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer complications of diabetes. More clinical studies are needed to confirm these. its use is not linked to weight gain and higher risk of low blood sugar in contrast to the use of sulfonylureas for diabetes. Metformin also modestly reduces lDl (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. among obese non-diabetics, Metformin has been observed to be induce some weight loss. there is also a study that suggests Metformin be used as a second-line drug if clomifene treatment fails in the management of infertility among women.

Can Metformin prevent diabetes? among those with pre-diabetes, who are at risk of developing fullblown type 2 diabetes, treatment with Metformin has been found to reduce the chances of developing this metabolic disease. the same may be achieved with intensive regimented physical exercise done religiously, at least 20 minutes 5 days a week, as shown by the Us Diabetes prevention program of lifestyle modification. this non-medication, exercise strategy, could lower the incidence of diabetes by 58 percent. Medical research on this continues to confirm these findings.

Does Metformin improve longevity? this wonderful drug appears to increase longevity, at least in mice in the experimental laboratory, by a mean life span of 37.8 percent.

Findings like this are extrapolated to be applicable among humans. there is scientific evidence that hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels) are significant factors both in aging and development of cancer. the life prolonging effects of dieting (caloric restriction) has been attributed to decreasing iGF1 (insulin growth factor-1), so eating less than maximal will reduce the need for the body to secrete more insulin and its level would go down, including body weight, and eventually in the long run slowing down aging and cancer risk. as my late teacher, Dr. Fe del Mundo, an internationally renowned pediatrician-scientist who lived to almost 100, still treating patients at age 94, stated, her secret to longevity was to push herself “away from the dining table less than full.”

What are the side effects of Metformin?

Metformin is well tolerated by most. Mild diarrhea is the usual initial side effect that is transient, which stops after a day or so. Nausea, abdominal pains, flatulence have been reported but they are mild and temporary. if taken in overly large doses, it causes high

blood lactic acid level. this drug is contraindicated among those with kidney or liver disease. long term use of Metformin leads to vitamin B-12 deficiency, and increase in the homocysteine level, which increases the risk for hardening of the arteries. Vitamin B-6, B-12, and Folic acid might be considered by the attending physician for these. among pregnant women with gestational diabetes, insulin is the preferred treatment, although there is no clear evidence that Metformin causes harm among these patients. if the side effects continue for days, which is not common, medical consultation is advised.

Is it safe to self-medicate with Metformin? as a rule, it is never safe to self-medicate or share medications with anyone, even with over-thecounter drug, unless prescribed by a physician. allergy and unexpected untoward reactions, side effects, and unforeseen complication, sometimes fatal, can occur in some individuals. Metformin and all other medications must be taken under the guidance of a physician, who knows your personal circumstances and health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Hospitals can be busy, highpressure places. often, just the stress associated with being in the Emergency Department can hinder the healing process. that’s why at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital, we believe in delivering excellent clinical care in an environment that cares for the whole person. if you are ever admitted to a hospital for an emergency, here’s what you can ask for and expect. Hospital staff should always make the effort to know you as a person and not just as a patient. this means doctors and nurses should work together with you to discuss your plan of care. additionally, your experience should leave you feeling empowered by

staff members who educate you on what to expect for upcoming procedures and medications. No matter what, safety and comfort is always a priority. staff should be attentive to your needs and respond quickly to your requests for managing pain.

“From triage to discharge, patients and families of Glendale Memorial are truly an integral part of their own care plan,” says Brigeli Westerband, MD, Glendale Memorial Vice Chief of staff. again, no one anticipates a trip to the emergency room, but if you arrive at Glendale Memorial Hospital, you can expect to be in Brigeli Westerband, MD, Glendale Memorial Vice Chief of Staff good hands. For a free referral to a Glendale Memorial Hospital-af- Finder service at (818)502-2378. filiated physician, call our Doctor (Advertising Supplement)

Stars of ‘Everything, Everything’ invite Filipinos to watch teen romance

aMaNDla stenberg and Nick Robinson, the lead stars of the new romantic drama “Everything, Everything” have released a video inviting Filipino fans and audiences to watch their film.

Directed by stella Meghie, the film is based on the bestselling book of the same name by Nicola Yoon.

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face…or kiss the boy next door?

“Everything, Everything” tells the unlikely love story of Maddy, a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house; and olly, the boy next door who would not let Maddy’s condition stop them.

Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world, and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she and olly form

Nick Robinson and Amandla Stenberg

a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together…even if it means losing everything.

(Philstar.com)

B JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY Journal

What happens when you accept voluntary departure ALIENS in removal proceedings are faced with the very real possibility of being deported from the United States. While in proceedings, the non-citizen may request various forms of relief that will allow them to remain here. Sometimes, the alien is not eligible for any relief that will let them stay. The alien may be asked, at that point, whether they wish to accept voluntary departure in order to avoid a deportation order. Many issues must be considered in order to make an informed decision in this matter.

The maximum amount of time that an immigration judge can give an alien to voluntarily depart the United States is 120 days. This amount is only available at the beginning of proceedings (with very few exceptions). In addition, the granting of that amount of time requires that the alien waive all rights to appeal. If the alien accepts this form of voluntary departure, s/he should be ready to leave the United States in no more than 119 days from the date of the order.

If the alien chooses to seek other relief in court and that relief is denied, the maximum amount of voluntary departure time the immigration judge can give is 60 days. The alien may pursue an appeal of the denial of the other relief and is entitled to remain in the United States during the pendency of that appeal.

While the matter is on appeal before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the 60 day clock is stopped. However, it begins to run the day the BIA dismisses the appeal. At that point, if the alien elects to file a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals, he must also file a motion to stay removal. However, the act of filing the petition for review vacates the voluntary departure grant and the alien then has a deportation order just as if he had never accepted voluntary

Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller departure in the first place.

If the alien fails to depart the United States during the period of voluntary departure, the order automatically becomes an order of removal (deportation). The judge does not need to issue any additional order. This is important for several reasons. An alien with a removal order is ineligible

removal order carries. He may be able to obtain a waiver of that bar and return to the United States in less than ten years if he can show sufficient hardship. It is a difficult standard to meet.

Whether he leaves on time or after the expiration of the voluntary departure time period, he faces serious problems that will affect his ability to return to the United States. If he has been in unlawful status in the United States for a period of one year or more, once he leaves the United States, he incurs a ten year bar from returning. In order to apply for a waiver of that bar, he must show that his U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent or spouse would suffer extreme hardship if he were not permitted to return.

Children are not qualifying relatives for purposes of this waiver. (If he has been in unlawful status for more than six months but less than one year and leaves under court-ordered voluntary departure, he does not incur the three year bar.)

The strengths and weaknesses of cases and the effect of pursuing or accepting various forms of relief are matters that should be discussed in depth with a knowledgeable and experienced immigration attorney before making a decision or taking any action.

As in most things, knowledge is power. *** 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.

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“The maximum amount of time that an immigration judge can give an alien to voluntarily depart the United States is 120 days.” to apply for adjustment of status, change of status, suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal for five years for deportation cases or ten years under removal cases. Additionally, an alien who was granted voluntary departure and failed to leave during the requisite time is barred from relief for a period of ten years. These periods run concurrently (together).

If the alien acquires a new basis for a green card after the judge makes a decision on the case, the alien must file a motion to reopen the removal proceedings in order to apply for that relief. Filing such a motion vacates the voluntary departure grant. Therefore, if the motion is denied, the alien no longer has the ability to leave under voluntary departure.

If the alien leaves on his own after the period of voluntary departure has run, he is considered to have self-deported. He does not escape the negative consequences of failing to leave on time. He still incurs the ten year bar that a

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

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C JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Can bankruptcy end all your financial worries?

ARE you in debt and in a constant state of worrying about your financial situation? Perhaps like most people you live paycheck to paycheck and are barely surviving but you’ve made the mistake of borrowing more money than you can pay back. You’re not alone.

This happens to a lot of people.

But worrying and not doing anything about your situation does not get you anywhere.

Some people worry for months or years until they cannot take it anymore or something bad happens, like being sued or being served a wage garnishment at work. If you have old debts that you have ignored, keep in mind that creditors can still sue you if the debt is within the period allowed by law (called “statute of limitations”). So not hearing from bill collectors may be good news for now but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the debt has gone away. You should at least check your credit report and see which debts are still being actively reported as collection accounts.

If you are thinking of filing bankruptcy to end your debt problems once and for all, you may be hesitant to do so for fear that it may not be the right solution for you. And to a certain extent, you are correct. Filing bankruptcy is a decision that must be made only after you’ve had a chance to fully understand your options. While it is not for everyone, when done correctly and under the right circumstances,

Debt Relief

Atty. lAwRence yAng

CLIENT is 50, divorced and used to own a business that had a commercial lease for retail space.

He operated the business for 10 years. On the 11th year, sales started to plunge for unknown reason such that debtor could no longer pay the commercial lease of his retail space. He still had 2 years of lease to go at $4k per month. So for 24 months, he owed close to $100K of commercial lease. But since his business was not even able to generate enough sales to cover rent, he

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon however, it could be the best decision you’ll ever make in your life.

Unfortunately, fear quickly paralyzes most people so instead of doing something right away, they tend to procrastinate. This can make things worse because ignoring your debt problems can only cause things to escalate.

And if you have assets that are at risk (for example, a pending foreclosure or auto repo), creditors may be able to take your property away and you can lose your legal rights by default. Things can easily go from bad to worse by failing to act when you can.

This is not what you want, is it?

How about putting the law to work for you? Filing bankruptcy can provide immediate debt relief, whether you’re eliminating debts you can no longer pay or simply reorganizing your finances so that you can pay your creditors slowly as you’re able. The law says that once you file, creditors must leave you alone immediately. This gives you some breathing room, allowing you think more clearly while trying to get back on your feet. Bankruptcy is nothing more than a tool that you

can use for financial recovery.

Consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can explain to you how bankruptcy may possibly work to your advantage.

And if you come to the conclusion that it is in fact your only way out of debt, don’t drag your feet in implementing the solution. Keep in mind that the sooner you act to know your options, the sooner you will also find out if non-bankruptcy alternatives exist. Inaction can only worsen your problems, and you may find yourself having no choice but to file bankruptcy at the last minute in order to deal with lawsuits, garnishments, bank account seizures or liens against your property. Plan ahead of time so you’re not caught unprepared.

For the last 19 years, I’ve been helping people and business owners get out of debt. If you are in debt and have no clue what you should do next in order to change your situation for the better, I offer a free consultation. Call my office at 866-477-7772 for more information. I have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.

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Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

There are three basic types of IRS audits: correspondence, office, and field examinations.

A. Correspondence audits are generally used for specific questions that can easily be verified.

B. Office audits are conducted at the various offices of the IRS and tend to be structured.

C. Field audits are geared toward businesses whose books and records have to be verified.

Let’s discuss 10 issues that generally come up during office audits: 1. Unreported Income – Did you report all W2s and 1099s? Do you have other income from any sources that were not reported?

Did you move from an old address where employers and customers may have mailed W2 and 1099 to?

2. Itemized Deductions – Can you support mortgages, property taxes, contributions, and other employment-related deductions.

Do you have checks and thank you letters to support, say, donations of $6,000 when the national average is only $3,000?

3. Miscellaneous Deductions *** – Did you claim excessive emNone of the information herein is ployee business expenses? Does intended to give legal advice for any it make sense for you to spend specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has $10,000 of auto expenses, dues, successfully helped thousands of clients subscriptions, uniforms and in getting out of debt. For a free attorney small tools when your W2 from evaluation of your situation, please call such employment grossed you Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 only $18,000? Of course not.

(866) 477-7772.

You invite an audit when you (Advertising Supplement) get too aggressive on deducting

10 general issues covered at IRS office audits phantom expenses. Be careful.

4. Dependency Exemptions – Are you entitled to dependents that you claimed? Do they have social security or individual tax identification numbers? Did you provide more than half of their support?

5. Head of Household – Are you entitled to claim this status? Did you provide more than half the support of a child if you are married (but living apart) or of another dependent if you are unmarried? If you are divorced, was the final decree issued by the end of that year?

6. Bad Debts – Are you entitled to a bad debt deduction for a worthless receivable? Is the borrower related or a close friend (or used to)? Is the gift more of a loan? Can you produce a cancelled check or promissory note?

Did you take enough effort to collect? Were those steps oral or written? (Write at least three letters—a nice first letter, a demanding second letter, and a warning third letter). Use certified mail especially if your ex-close friend has moved out or simply vanished with no forwarding address. That letter stamped “return to sender” could come handy.

7. Income from Business or Profession – Did you report all your collections? (I have represented clients who hid some of their income by depositing collections to their personal accounts that are routinely verified by au-

ditors!) Did you deduct 100% of a car that is used mostly for commuting (home to office and office to home)? Did you deduct personal as business expenses?

8. Rental Income – Did you report all rentals from tenants? Is any tenant your relative? If so, did you charge the going rate for the rental unit?

9. Partnerships, LLCs and S Corporations – Did you properly report K-1s from pass-through entities?

10. Capital Expenditures – Did you deduct as current expenses items that should have been capitalized and depreciated over a period of time?

TIP: Auditors can raise additional questions. It is therefore advantageous for you and your rep to work with the agent in a respectful and professional manner to contain the issues (rather than fight, antagonize the auditor, and expand the issues beyond the pre-selected items). Good luck.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Ex-businessman with commercial lease judgment of $100K seeks Chapter 7 relief Senior seeks Chapter 7 for discharge of $50K credit card debt had to close shop and get his stuff out of the building. He cleaned out the space, thinking that if the landlord could easily rent it out, he would not sue him for unpaid rent of two years.

Unfortunately, landlord sued client for unpaid rent of $100K. Eventually, landlord got a judgment for $100K against client. But client now is an ordinary employee making $4K a month of salary.

There is a notice of bank levy on his bank accounts for $100K, and a notice of wage garnishment on

his salary for $100K! In addition to this significant liability, client owes $20K of credit card debt.

With a bank levy on his accounts and the prospect of losing 25% of his salary to wage garnishment for unpaid commercial lease of his old business that no longer exists, client decides to seek Chapter 7 relief. What will Chapter 7 do for him?

With Chapter 7, he can keep all of his assets, and he can discharge or get rid of the $100K judgment, dissolve the bank levy

and dissolve the wage garnishment. He can also wipe out the $20K of credit card debt. In other words, he can get a fresh start in life and be productive again. He can leave his old life behind him and forget about the $100K he owes his landlord as well as his $20K of credit cards.

His credit score will improve yearly. At the end of this year, he will be close to 600. In year two, he will score 640, in year 3, 680, and on year 7, he will cross 730. In year ten, there will be no

record of his Chapter 7 and his credit score will be over 800.

Best of all, he can look forward to retiring by having the ability to start saving money now and not having to worry about paying a $100K judgment of $20K of credit cards. He will be able to get new credit cards in year one because there are credit card companies that specialize in giving credit to people who have just filed bankruptcy. They are indeed good credit risks because they cannot file another Chapter 7 for

8 years.

Next client is 66. He stopped working last year and now gets social security of $1,200 and a pension of $800. His wife is 68 and collects social security of $900. So they have $2900 a month of social security and pension. They don’t own a house so they rent for $800. Medicare standard and part D gets a portion of their income but they don’t have to pay for prescription drugs anymore as part D cov-

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Community Journal

Employees blowing the whistle on employer misconduct

Reporting kickbacks and irregularities are protected activities

STEVEN Babyak worked as a regional sales manager for Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. Throughout his three years at the company, he was consistently rated a top sales manager. Babyak complained to upper management, human resources and corporate legal counsel that the company may be violating several laws, including illegal kickbacks to doctors, irregularities in its financial reporting (Sarbanes Oxley Act violations), promotion of their medical devices for uses or procedures not approved

by FDA, and patient safety.

Babyak claimed that his complaints upset his superiors and he was told to stop complaining. Thereafter, his sales territory was reduced, though his quota was increased by nearly half of his old quota. These affected his sales, compensation and bonuses. After complaining once more to management, he was fired on June 1, 2015. He sued the employer for Whistleblower Retaliation and Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy.

The California Whistleblower Protection Act protects employees from being retaliated against after reporting to a government agency that their employer has violated a state or federal law.

This law also protects employ-

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. ees who report of a suspected violation internally (for instance, to a supervisor within the organization) or externally to “any public body” conducting a hearing or investigation. Employees are protected if they truly believed the conduct they complained about was unlawful, even if it was not.

The employer is also prohibited from retaliating against an employee who refuses to participate in activities that violate the law.

How does an employee prove to the court that the employer has engaged in illegal retaliation?

First, it must be shown that the employee engaged in a protected activity, such as report to management or a government agency about suspected violations.

Second, it must be shown that the employer subjected the employee to an adverse employment action, such as a demotion or termination.

Finally, it must be shown that there is a ‘causal link’ between the conduct of employee and the employer. A causal link may be established if the employer knew that the employee engaged in

protected activity, and immediately after fired the employee.

During trial, the employer defended Babyak’s firing as due to a legitimate business reason. Babyak was purportedly fired because he verbally attacked his supervisor during a meeting, and that the company could no longer work with him.

The 12 jurors who heard the case decided in favor of the employee and awarded him $2.7 million in compensatory damages for lost earnings and other non-economic damages. After a second day of deliberation, the jury awarded an additional $22.4 million in punitive damages against the employer, after finding that the employer’s conduct was “reprehensible.” *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com or our Facebook page Joe Sayas Law. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is the recipient of PABA’s Community Champion Award for 2016.]

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Should I apply for an E-2 or an L-1 business visa?

QUESTION: I have a business and want to either purchase or buy a business in the U.S. but do not know which one of the visas would be better. The choices that I have been given are the E-2 and the L-1. Can you clarify and/or help me make the decision?

Answer: Each visa has its advantages and disadvantages.

Sometimes the E-2 will be better for somebody, while for another person, the L-1 might be better. First, you must determine if you are from a country, which has a treaty with the United States. Without a treaty, you cannot get the E-2. This would mean that for sure you are required and can only get the L-1.

Next, we need to determine if you have a business in your foreign country and whether you have been running the business for at least one year. Without a business, you cannot apply for the L-1 as that is a basic requirement for this visa.

Question: How much do I have to invest for each one?

Answer: The E-2 generally requires around $75,000 to $100,000 worth of investment in the U.S. The L-1 actually requires much less money. Many L-1s can do an investment with only $20,000. Thus, if you do not have the necessary amount of money to invest in the business,

Estate Corner

Atty. BriAn Lerner then it would be the L-1 that you would apply for and not the E-2.

Question: Can I just transfer money to my U.S. bank account and will that be considered an investment?

Answer: No. That is just a transfer of money. You can get that money out anytime you want. An investment actually puts the money at risk where you cannot simply withdraw it anytime you like. Thus, if the business you want to begin in the U.S. is one that requires very little investment, or requires only a computer and online work, then the E-2 will not work.

It would be better to do the L-1.

Question: Speaking of computer work, can I just use a room in my house I will rent there or the garage for the work?

Answer: No. You must have a real ‘brick & mortar’ office.

You can certainly rent an inexpensive office that shares the conference room, waiting area, and kitchen will other tenants, but you must have a real office

in order to have any hope of getting the E-2 or L-1 approved.

Question: Where do I file the E-2 or L-1?

Answer: The E-2 can be filed directly at the U.S. Consulate.

You do not need prior U.S. immigration approval. Thus, the filing fees, time for approval and review are generally less than with an L-1. The L-1 must get prior U.S. immigration approval at USCIS. You could file by premium processing with will take much less time, but still it must be filed in the U.S. Once approved, it will be transferred to the Consulate upon which you are going to apply for the actual visa. Of course, you could also do a change of status to E-2 or L-1 inside the U.S. However, once you leave, you will still need consular approval to re-enter the U.S. *** Atty. Brian D. Lerner has been an Immigration Attorney for nearly a quarter of a century. He is married to a Filipina and has helped thousands of Filipino families all over the country.

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

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Disclosure and characterization of overseas assets in divorce

IN a divorce proceeding, people sometimes have a mis- Barrister’s conception that the only assets or properties that have to dis- Corner close assets and properties situated in California. Even worst, sometimes parties even think that since an asset or property is Atty. Kenneth situated in a different country or UrSUA reyeS state, that property is not community property and not subject to division in California family court. One has to understand the general community property presumption in California. Property acquired before marriage is the acquiring spouse’s separate property, as is property obtained during marriage that can be traced to a premarital acquisition. Family.Code. § 770(a). Rents, issues and profits” of separate property are separate property. All property acquired during marriage and before separation, other than by gift or inheritance, is presumptively community property. Family Code §§ 760, 771(a), 772; Marriage of Bonds (2000) 24 C4th 1, 12, 99 CR2d 252, 258; Marriage of Lehman (1998) 18 C4th 169, 177, 74 CR2d 825, 828.

Pursuant to Family.Code. § 760, community personal or real property is consistently defined no matter where situated. Family Code §760 defines “Community property” as “Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.” As such, out-of-state community property is community property for all purposes, including in-

traspousal management and control fiduciary obligations. It does not matter if the property is located in another state or another country.

For the same reason, the parties to a divorce case is required to disclose all property, separate and community, including those outside the state. During the marriage, the parties’ fiduciary duties require full and accurate disclosure of true and full information affecting community property transactions. FamilyCode. §§ 721(b), 1100(e).

In addition, disclosure duties arise upon separation in anticipation of dissolution, nullity or legal separation. The post-separation disclosure duties extend to all assets and liabilities in which either party has or may have an interest or obligation, regardless of community or separate property characterization, and to current earnings, accumulations and expenses. These duties “arise without reference to any wrongdoing.” Family.

Code. §§ 721(b), 2100(c), 2102(a)(1); Marriage of Feldman (2007) 153 CA4th 1470, 1475–1476, 64 CR3d 29, 33; Marriage of Brewer & Federici (2001) 93 CA4th 1334, 1342–1344, 113 CR2d 849, 854–855. Parties to a divorce case has a duty to provide full and accurate disclosure of all assets and debts including those in other states and other countries. Failure to disclose could result to certain legal consequences to the nondisclosing parties including sanctions and attor-

u PAGE C4

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

C

Preventing abandonment of your green card due to travel abroad A GREEN card holder can travel outside the US and return with some limitations. If a green card holder is outside the US for an extended period of time, he may be considered to have abandoned his permanent resident status. Brief travel (such as for a vacation) normally will not affect permanent resident status. However, abandonment of permanent resident status is a potential issue for green card holders who have to leave the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year) for one reason or another, such as to finish studies or work abroad.

In such situations, how can a person avoid losing his green card?

If a person plans to be outside the US for an extended period of time (over 1 year), an application for a reentry permit must be filed. A reentry permit establishes that one did not intend to abandon his green card, and it allows one to apply for admission to the US after being outside the US for up to 2 years without having to obtain a returning resident visa. Reentry permits are normally valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. A permanent resident can re-apply for subsequent reentry permits. Each subsequent reentry permit would be valid for 2 years.

As aforementioned, if one is outside the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, he may be considered to have abandoned his green card. If a permanent resident has been outside the US for more than 1 year and attempts to re-enter the US, he may be referred to an Immigration Judge to determine whether he has abandoned his permanent resident status.

An application for reentry permit should be filed at least 60 days prior to the contemplated extended trip outside the US. While a person does not have to be present in the US at the time his reentry permit application is approved, it is important to file it with sufficient time prior to the trip to allow time to receive the biometrics notice after the application is filed, and have biometrics taken. An applicant must provide his biometrics while in the US. If an applicant leaves the US before biometrics are taken, the USCIS may deny the application.

What if a permanent resident has already left the US and either has 1) been outside the US for over 1 year or 2) been outside the US for over 2 years with an expired reentry permit? The Department of State on its website advises to apply for a Returning Resident Visa. To qualify for a Returning Resident Visa, you must show a valid reason why your stay abroad was extended, and that the reason for the extended stay was beyond your control or for which you were not responsible.

Another (perhaps better) option would be to re-enter the US--if US customs denies admission due to abandonment of your green card, you will have an opportunity to argue before an Immigration Judge here in the US that you did not abandon permanent resident status.

Obtaining a green card often is a difficult process. For some, it takes many years. It is accordingly important to take all steps necessary to maintain permanent resident status once attained. If you plan to be away from the US for an extended period of time, or have been away from the US for an extended period of time without a reentry permit, or a reentry permit that has expired, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney.

“If a person plans to be outside the US for an extended period of time over 1 year, an application for a reentry permit must be filed. .”

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

C4 JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

People and Events Bugasong Pag-ulikid Foundation USA Inc. will celebrate its 28th anniversary celebration in Long Beach, California ON Saturday, August 26, 2017, the non- profit organization Bugasong Pag-ulikid Foundation USA Inc. will hold its 28th Dinner Dance Anniversary Ball. It will be at the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport, at 2640 N. Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90815, (562) 597-4401. Nohost cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. and a sit-down dinner with a choice of beef or chicken will be served at 7 p.m. Dinner will not be served after 8:30 p.m.

Dance the night away to the music of The Hill Tops Band.

This year’s theme is Hawaiian; therefore, we would love to see you on your Hawaiian attire.

Tickets are $55 prepaid and $60 at the door.

Bugasong is one of the towns in Antique, Philippines. In 1989, Fr. Joaquin A. Dioso came to the United States to create a foundation that participates in projects and activities for the betterment and progression of the people of Bugasong. Its members largely reside in the United States. The current and previous projects of the Foundation include a Dental

Calendar of Events across

Mission, Medical Mission, Annual Gift Giving, Scholarship Awards, School Feeding program and Tig-Ang contest.

If you are interested in celebrating with us or donating to this foundation, please contact Emily Dioso at (310) 549-6321 or at emilydioso76@hotmail.com.

Or Esong Pactao-in at (714) 8786769 at isong@hotmail.com.

On the next day, Sunday, August 27, there will be a get together at Carriage Crest Park at 23800 Figueroa St Carson, CA 90745.

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U N E 25

Fiesta ng Calamba in Carson, CA The Calamba Association of Southern California invites everyone to the Fiesta ng Calamba (St. John the Baptist Feast Day) on Sunday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be held at the Veterans Sports Complex at 22400 Moneta Ave., Carson, CA 90745. For more information, please contact Teresita Pinuela Hermosura at (626) 335-1008.

“Musikahan! with Maestro Ryan Cayabyab” in Glendale, CA Come to the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 25 for an unforgettable performance! The Ryan Cayabyab Singers will be joined by local Fil-Am artists, including Giselle Tongi, Annie Nepomuceno, Miguel Vera, The Harana Men’s Chorus, Edsel Sotiangco, Michael Keith, the Los Angeles Young Ambassadors (LAYA), Josie Gonzalez, Louisa Tampi and more from the Pilipino Artist Network. Presented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA in cooperation with FilamARTS, tickets are available at the Alex Theatre box office and online links are posted on www.musicartsevents.com. Venue address is 216 North Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203.

J U N E 29

APALA’s fundraising awards dinner in San Francisco The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)’s San Francisco Chapter will hold a “fundraising awards dinner” on June 29 at 5:30-10 p.m. at Fort McKinley Restaurant (101 Brentwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080). APALA will honor individuals who have dedicated their lives to advocating and defending worker and immigrant rights and promoting economic justice. For more information, please call Celia Rivera of APALA-SF at (650) 296-9623.

J U LY 7

Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in concert in Las Vegas Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) will hold a concert at the Flamingo Theatre of the Clark County Library at 7 p.m., with touring guest Annie Nepomuceno and special guest tenor Edward Granadosin. Front acts are Michael Perez and Esmeralda Padilla. Please call Dr. Mike Santa Juana at (516) 669-5834, Art Jerus (702) 738-8029 or Randolph Umali (702) 985-5724 for inquiries.

J U LY 8

United Batanguenos of Southern California Induction in Los Angeles The United Batanguenos of Southern California will hold its induction of officers on Saturday, July 8 at Casa Italiana in Los Angeles. Millie Moncada will be inducted as new governor. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions please call Millie at (818) 322-9429; Cely Anuran (805) 630-3377 or Willie Manacsa at (818) 400-7391. Casa Italiana is located at 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

J U LY 2 1 -23

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

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

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

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

J U LY 29

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

AU G U ST 1 3

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

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

Ex-businessman with...

PAGE C2 t

ers all of their medication. They are both in good health so that’s pretty good. The only problem is that they both owe a total of $50K of credit cards. They need $1500 a month of minimum payments to keep these cards current, and all of the cards are still current.

Their son helps them pay for the cards. What a waste of money!

Credit card minimum payments eat up more than 50% of their retirement income! “BAD” as Pres.

Trump would tweet. In fact, “Bigly-Bad!!” What can Chapter 7 do for them?

Chapter 7 will wipe out all of their $50K of credit card debt, thus saving them the headache of paying out $1500 a month to keep these cards current. This saves

them $18K a year. In 3 years they save almost $60K. What can they do with $60K of savings? Well, they can invest it in equities and maybe get a decent return of 6% a year. That’s income of $3,600 a year, or $300 a month of extra money to spend. That’s not too bad considering they are just starting to save money now. If they filed for Chapter 7 ten years ago, they would have at least $200K now saved up and giving them $1K a month of income. Or, they can travel the world with their savings and additional income.

No matter what your age is right now, if you have accumulated debt that has become burdensome for you and your family, seriously consider wiping out your debt now than waiting for 5 more

or 10 more years when you retire.

You will save a lot of money by getting rid of your accumulated now than later.

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

“TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, O PEOPLE; POUR OUT YOUR HEARTS TO HIM, FOR GOD IS OUR REFUGE.”PSALM 62:8 *** 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) 2841142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Disclosure and characterization...

PAGE C3 t

ney’s fees. If you are contemplating a divorce and you own assets and properties outside the state or country, its best to retain the representation of an experience family law attorney. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar

Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

***

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a (Advertising Supplement) solicitation.

(818) 502-0651 â&#x20AC;˘ (213) 250-9797 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 24-27, 2017

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Avelino Bautista Angelo November 10, 1919 - June 7, 2017 Ninety-seven-year-old Avelino Bautista Angelo (11/10/1919 06/07/2017), or better known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Papa,â&#x20AC;? was a simple, yet extraordinary man who lived a long, successful life.

From serving the U.S-Philippine Army as a WW2 veteran to being a Physics teacher at Pacifican College (Asingan, Pangasinan) and a faculty member at Boys Town (Marikina, Rizal), his life was clearly long-lived.

He earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Far Eastern University (Manila) and later traveled to the United States, where he worked as a Building Engineer for the Cigna Medical Center.

Although he was busy, Avelino made time to be a loving family man. With his wife of 70 years, Magdalena Marzan Angelo, he produced a huge family. He had three beautiful daughters: Elna Angelo De Los Santos (married to Isaias De Los Santos), Reolinda Angelo Agsalud (married to Rafael Ramos Agsalud), and Lorna Angelo Surendranath (married to Andrew Surendranath).

All three daughters eventually gave him eight grandchildren: Ryan, Rochelle, Dexter, Daryl, Diane, Dustin, Natasha, and Jonathan.

Four of them married (Ryan to Genevieve, Rochelle to Oliver, Daryl to Charmaine, and Diane to Donn) and three of them (Ryan, Rochelle, and Daryl) produced a total of seven children (Riyanna, Reaganne, Raina, Jaidyn, Jordan, Ian, and Dominic), who knew Papa as their great grandfather.

Throughout these multiple generations, Avelino never failed to spend quality time with each and every descendant of his large family. His life was clearly very busy, yet his unconditional love for his family always came first.

As he continued to age, he still contiued to live life happily. Through long walks, gambling adventures at Morongo, and watching his favorite sports teams (the LA Dodgers and Lakers), he found joy.

Yet, through his family, he found complete love and happiness.

Ä&#x;Â?ÄŻĹ?Ă­Äž Ă&#x20AC;Ă°ÄąĂ&#x192;̾įPçįÂ&#x152;Ĺ&#x2030;Â&#x152;ÌIJįĹĂ&#x20AC;Â? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;Ä&#x2030;Ă&#x192;ĂŚĂŽĂ&#x201A; Ă&#x;Â&#x152;Ä&#x;Ă&#x192;qPç qĂ­Ă&#x;Ă&#x;ĽÌĂ&#x192;ÄąĹ&#x17D;įĤĂ&#x20AC;Ă­Ä˝Ă&#x2DC;Â&#x192; Ă&#x2022;ĂŚĂ­Ĺ&#x160;ÄŻPdíĽIJÄ&#x2022; If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

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

Aug 26 (Sat ) Day 1, Angeles, California/Krakow, Poland Our pilgrimage begins with a transatlantic journey from Los Angeles International $LUSRUW WR .UDNRZ 3RODQG 0HDOV VHUYHG LQ Ă&#x20AC; LJKW

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Sept 5 (Tues) Day 11, Zagreb / Medjugorje $IWHU EUHDNIDVW FHOHEUDWH KRO\ (XFKDULVW DQG WKHQ OHDYH IRU 0HGMXJRUMH 8SRQ DUULYDO LQ 0HGMXJRUMH ZLOO HPEDUN RQ DQ RULHQWDWLRQ WRXU RI 6W -DPHV &KXUFK DQG LWV VXUURXQGLQJ 'LQQHU DQG RYHUQLJKW 0HGMXJRUMH Sept 6,7,8 ( Wed,Thurs,Fri) Day 12 to 14, Medjugorje :H ZLOO KDYH GDLO\ EUHDNIDVW DQG GLQQHUV DW RXU +RWHO (YHU\ PRUQLQJ DW DP ZH ZLOO DVVHPEOH DW 6W -DPHV &KXUFK WR DWWHQG +RO\ (XFKDULVW FHOHEUDWHG LQ (QJOLVK :H ZLOO FOLPE WKH $SSDULWLRQV +LOO 0W 3RGEUGR WR VHH WKH SODFHV PDUNHG E\ WKH FURVVHV ZKHUH LQ -XQH 2XU /DG\ ZDV Âż UVW UHSRUWHG WR DSSHDU WR WKH FKLOGUHQ 7KH QH[W PRUQLQJ ZH ZLOO FOLPE WKH VWHHS +RO\ &URVV 0RXQWDLQ 0W .UL]HYDF

for devotions and take in the Panorama of Medjugorje EHORZ

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C JUNE 24-27, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017

MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ RECENTLY, a person came to my office for consultation after her adjustment of status application (based on marriage to a U.S. citizen) was denied due to fraud. She had entered the U.S. on a transit visa (C-1), but was not a crewman.

Therefore, she was otherwise eligible to adjust status.

The problem is she went to a consultant for legal assistance in filling out her paperwork. The consultant filled out her forms, stating she had entered the U.S. as a “visitor” on a B-2 visa, rather than as a transit. He included a doctored\altered I-94 (arrival/departure record), also indicating she entered the US as a visitor.

The consultant probably did this because ordinarily, crewman on C-1 visas cannot adjust status in the U.S. unless they have the benefit of Section 245(i). So, the consultant sought to cover-up, or alter her manner of entry. But the “lie” was unnecessary, and caused unnecessary problems.

At her adjustment interview, the immigration officer already had records of her having entered the U.S. on a C-1 visa, not as a B-2 visitor. When the officer saw that her forms and paperwork indicated she entered as a visitor, he considered this to be fraud, making her ineligible to adjust status.

However, she was completely unaware that the consultant had filled out the paperwork this way, and was unaware that the consultant had put down incorrect information on her forms. But still, she was held responsible for the consultant’s misrepresentations.

(The law states a person is responsible for the misrepresentations of

&

Consultant’s unnecessary PEZA: Middle East crisis beneficial to PH lies result in UNNECESSARY denial and fraud waiver by richmond

mercurio Philstar.com

his or her “agent”).

My point is some people will go to consultants for assistance (because they believe the consultant is “cheaper,” or the person feels more comfortable with a consultant rather than an attorney). But the person is completely unaware of what the consultant is doing, the information and documents the consultant is submitting, and the like. They trust the consultant, and sign the papers without reading or understanding them.

In this woman’s case, there was no reason to put down incorrect information. But because the consultant did not know the law, he thought it would “help” her case by lying. The consultant probably was completely unaware that the immigration officers have access to a vast amount of information about people, including how and when they entered the U.S., any previous immigration filings, denials, removal proceedings, crimes, and the like. There are questions on the forms requiring a “yes” or “no” answer about various subjects, and just because a person checks the “no” box, does not mean that the USCIS will believe them, and move on.

The USCIS will investigate, check their database, and will discover the truth, and your lies.

What makes matters worse is this person paid the consultant just about the same amount she would have paid an attorney.

But now, she will have the extra expense of having to hire an attorney to undo the damage caused by the consultant. That is why it is important that if you have any immigration problem, go to an

Peso weakens anew

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

The local currency closed at 50.345 to $1 on Friday, June 23 MANILA - The peso extended its from the 50.29 to $1. The peso losing streak to nine days shedding has been weakening against the another 5.5 centavos to the dollar greenback since June 9 and closed amid the hawkish stance of the US at its lowest level in more than three Federal Reserve. months since it closed at 50.36 to $1 last March 14.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged amid a lower path of future inflation as well as firm domestic economic activity.

After presiding over his last policy rate-setting meeting as chairman of the Monetary Board, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. The local currency closed at 50.345 to $1 on said the board decided to maintain Friday, June 23 from June 21’s 50.29 to $1.

Philstar.com photo

PAGE D2

DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua

Inquirer.net photo

Overseas remittances not covered by PH tax reform by ronneL

w. domingo

Inquirer.net

REMITTANCES sent by Filipinos abroad to their families in the Philippines will not be taxed under the tax reform package being pushed by the government, the Department of Finance (DOF) clarified on Wednesday, June 21 during the Senate panel hearing on the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

DOF Undersecretary Karl Kend-

D

rick Chua said that the Philippines does not have the right to impose tax money sent by Filipinos from other countries since the government has no legal jurisdiction over these remittances. The undersecretary said he made this clarification since there were erroneous reports claiming overseas remittances would be taxed under the first package of the government’s tax reform program contained in PAGE D2

Business Quote of the Week “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.”

– David Ogilvy, co-founder of Ogilvy & Mather

attorney, rather than a consultant.

An attorney is licensed to practice law, can offer legal advice, and appear with you at your interview or hearing, to deal with any issues that may arise. A consultant cannot practice law, give legal advice, or represent you at interviews or hearings. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

MANILA - The Philippines stands to benefit from an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Middle East as more trade and investments are seen going toward the country, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza said.

“The Qatar crisis is to our advantage because while they have an embargo with their neighboring countries, they are now telling us the more they will invest in the Philippines. So this will be one area where they will be getting their food supply and others they need. It opens more doors for investments,” she said.

Early this month, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Maldives cut ties with Qatar in what is regarded as one of the biggest political crisis to hit the Middle East in recent years.

The decision came after suspicion that Qatar has been hosting terrorist groups.

“The question is, will it affect the investors that have already signed with us? No, the more they become more aggressive to invest in the Philippines because

The Philippines stands to benefit from an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Middle East as more trade and investments are seen going toward the country, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza said.

Philstar.com photo

of the crisis that is going on in their country,” Plaza said.

“Remember we had an LOI (letter of intent) signing during the state visit of President Duterte in the Middle East and we got almost $1 billion in investment pledges. Four of them already came to look for locations,” she added.

Plaza said the four firms, which are from Qatar and the UAE, are GBS Blackleaf, FQR Consortium, Chitilian Group and NFCA. GBS Blackleaf, FQR Consor-

tium and Chitilian Group are planning to put up retirement villages in the country with investments worth $90 million, $60 million and $6 million, respectively.

NFCA, meanwhile, is investing $10 million for a nanocarbon technology project.

Aside from these firms, Plaza said two companies have earlier signed memoranda of understanding with local entities for the construction of an agroindustrial economic zone in Quezon province.

“The Middle East crisis did not affect the interest of these investors coming from Qatar, Saudi and UAE,” Plaza said.

“More are coming because after the Middle East visit, we continued to follow it up to them that they immediately register with us and look for their respective locations,” she added.

President Duterte’s visit to the Middle East last April yielded total investment pledges worth $925 million. The projects are expected to generate 26,000 new jobs for Filipinos.

Of these pledges, a total of 13 projects were signed with Qatar firms for a total amount of $206 million.

D june 24-27, 2017 • LA WeeKenD ASIAn jOuRnAL

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Emperador buys back P3.8-M shares by odeLinne Jan Lina Inquirer.net

CLEAN AIR. Engineer Jean Rosete, Chief, Air Quality Management Section, Environmental Management Bureau, DENR stresses efforts to bring down levels of air pollution, especially in urban centers in her power point presentation during the 1st day of 9th Annual Clean Air Forum held at Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, June 22.

PNA photos by Ben Briones

Credit Suisse cuts PH GDP forecast to 6%

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA - Credit Suisse has lowered its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to six percent instead of 6.4 percent this year amid the projected weak private consumption and slower exports.

Michael Wan, economist at Credit Suisse, said in the bank’s latest fixed income research titled “Philippines – consumer pains: Turning negative on GDP” that private consumption will moderate further due to an unusually weak labor market.

“We now expect the Philippines’ GDP to surprise on the downside in 2017, which contrasts with our previous positive view on growth,” he said.

Weak private consumption

pulled down the GDP growth to 6.4 percent in the first quarter of the year from 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

Despite the slowdown, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee decided to retain the GDP growth target at 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent this year.

Wan said employment growth has declined sharply over the past two quarters as a significant number of workers dropped out of the labor force amid the uncertainty in the lead-up to “endo,” weak government spending year-to-date and the K-to-12 education reform.

He said growth in private consumption is expected to moderate further to 5.7 percent instead of 6.5 percent for this year amid the negative impact of a weaker labor market.

Likewise, he added, exports are likely to moderate in the second half while fixed investment is unlikely to accelerate as the implementation of big-ticket public infrastructure projects would remain disappointing.

Wan said government spending slowed significantly to 1.9 percent in the first quarter of the year from 15 percent in the fourth quarter last year due to base effects from election related front-loading.

Credit Suisse sees investments growing 10.5 percent this year from a high base of 25 percent last year as it remained quite robust at 12 percent in the first quarter from 19 percent in the fourth quarter.

“We do not expect other items in GDP to offset weaker private consumption,” Wan said.

Due to the lower GDP growth projection, the economist said

Credit Suisse now expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep interest rates steady for the rest of the year.

“With GDP likely slowing further from here and private consumption looking less robust, we now expect the central bank to keep rates on hold in 2017 from our previous forecast of one hike in the second half of 2017,” he added.

The BSP’s Monetary Board has managed to keep an accommodative policy stance on the back of robust domestic demand and the benign inflation environment. It last raised interest rates by 25 basis points in September 2014 despite external shocks such as the decision of United Kingdom to leave the European Union and the normalization of interest rates by the US.

GLOBAL liquor-maker Emperador Inc. (EMP) recently bought P3.85 million worth of its own shares as part of the company’s buyback program to improve share value.

A disclosure posted in the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, June 21 showed that Emperador had picked up 550,000 of its own shares from the open market at an average price of P7.0094 per share.

It can be recalled that Emperador had appropriated in May a total amount of P5 billion for its two-year share buyback program.

The shares bought by Emperador now form part of its treasuryheld shares.

Kingson Sian, director at Emperador and president of its parent company Alliance Global Group Inc., earlier said that the share buyback program was launched because the company’s shares were undervalued.

Sian considered the buyback program as an indication of Emperador’s confidence that the

company was “one of the better investments.

In his previous statement, he added that the buyback could create shareholders value and bring the value to “where it has to be.”

Currently, Emperador has a market value of P113 billion. The company manufactures, bottles and distributes distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages in the Philippines and in Europe. It sells a wide variety of products through its subsidiaries with an international reach of over 100 countries.

EMP has made its mark through Emperador Distillers Inc. in the Philippines, through Whyte and Mackay Group Ltd. in the United Kingdom, and through Bodegas Fundador S.L.U. in Spain. It is part of tycoon Andrew Tan-led conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. For the first quarter of 2017, the company’s net profit was at P1.5-billion, a 7 percent increase from the previous year. This was achieved due to higher gross margins on total revenues of P9 billion.

Air Asia eyes ASEAN holding firm

by MigueL

r. caMus

of owning 49 percent (or less) need to be looked at,” he said PARIS, France—Malaysian in a briefing. tycoon Tony Fernandes said the Fernandes said the broad Air Asia Group would pursue intention was for flagship the creation of a sinAirAsia Berhad, Philgle, publicly traded ippines AirAsia, holding company Thai AirAsia for its major and Indonebusiness units sia AirAsia in Southeast to be placed Asia, inunder a cluding the holding Philippines, company, saying this w h i c h would spur would also investments be listed in and help bring “all the big down the price Asean marof air travel. kets.”

Fernandes, He made clear group CEO of Air Asia this was separate Bhd., outlined certain details from a plan to list Philipof this initiative and a major pines Air Asia and Indonesia challenge it would need to Air Asia in their home markets. surmount: convincing Asean He said earlier Philippines Air leaders to ease outdated airline Asia could raise at least $200 foreign ownership limits as long million by selling shares to the as said investors were also from public this year. the region.

Fernandes did not say how “We are pushing Asean gov- much the group could raise ernments to say that we want from the multiple listing of its to invest more in the Asean, proposed Asean holding comand these old-fashioned rules PAGE D3 Inquirer.net

Peso weakens...

PAGE D1 policy rates at 3.5 percent for the overnight lending facility, three percent for the overnight reverse repurchase facility, and 2.5 percent for the overnight deposit facility.

The outgoing BSP chief added the central bank also left the reserve requirement ratios unchanged at 20 percent.

Tetangco, who is scheduled to end his unprecedented two six-year terms on July 2, said the decision was based on assessment the inflation environment remain manageable.

“Inflation expectations also continue to be firmly anchored to the target over the policy horizon,” he said.

He added the assessment of risks to the inflation outlook remains tilted toward the upside.

“While there may be potential transitory impact of the proposed tax reform program, the social safety nets are expected to mitigate the resulting inflationary pressures.

The long-run effects on productivity will improve overall supply and further dampen inflation,” he said.

Inflation eased to 3.1 percent in May from 3.4 percent in April, bringing the average at 3.1 percent in the first five months of the year, within the two to four percent target set by the central bank.

Tetangco said risks to external demand remain tilted to the downside despite the fact prospects for the global economy has improved.

While global economic conditions remain challenging, he said prospects for domestic economic activity continue to be firm owing

to buoyant consumer and business sentiment, ample liquidity and sustained credit growth.

“In addition, the Monetary Board has considered the potential impact on global financial market conditions of the ongoing monetary policy adjustment in the US, noting that maintaining monetary policy settings at this time would allow the BSP to continue to assess evolving economic developments and calibrate its policy tools as appropriate,” he said.

For his part, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the Monetary Board has slashed its inflation forecast for this year at 3.1 percent instead of 3.4 percent and three percent for 2018 and 2019.

He pointed out the forecast for this year was lowered as inflation outlook showed the future path of inflation is lower and expectations continue to be in line with the inflation target.

He also cited the robust economic growth despite the slowdown in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 6.4 percent in the first quarter from 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter.

Guinigundo added liquidity growth of 11.1 percent and credit expansion of 19.2 percent in April.

The BSP also sees a lower oil price projection of $49.49 per barrel instead of $51.32 this year, $48.17 instead of $50.03 for next year and $49.54 per barrel for 2019.

Likewise, he said the proposed comprehensive tax reform program would have an impact of less than one percent on inflation in 2018 and 2019.

Overseas remittances...

PAGE D1 House Bill 5636.

“We have to distinguish between the foreign and the domestic remittances. Those coming from abroad are not within our tax regime, so that is not [covered],” Chua told the Senate panel.

The DOF undersecretary added that the CTRP would only have jurisdiction over local remittances.

However, Chua said that the tax on money sent by Filipinos abroad would depend on the existing local laws of the country of origin.

In February this year, a proposal to increase the value-added tax (VAT) on the service fee of money remittance centers was strongly opposed by overseas Filipinos

workers (OFWs) and some partylist lawmakers.

In a statement, DOF spokesperson Asec. Paola Alvarez clarified the service of remittance centers will only be taxed and not the actual amount remitted by the sender.

“The VAT is on service, not the remittance amount. For instance, if sending 4,000 pesos, the money transfer center charges 100 pesos, and the VAT is 12 pesos, or only 0.3% of the remittance amount,” Alvarez explained.

The current administration is pushing for a reform of the country’s tax system to finance the series of infrastructure projects planned in the next few years.

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LBC gets $50-M investment from private equity firm

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla

Inquirer.net

SINGAPORE-BASED private equity group Crescent Point is investing $50 million in logistics service provider LBC Express Holdings with a deal to buy debt notes secured by a majority stake in the Araneta family-led company.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, LBC said its board had approved the issuance of convertible notes worth $50 million in favor of CP Briks Pte. Ltd. CP Briks is a special purpose vehicle managed by Crescent Point, a private equity and special situations investment firm focused on China, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Proceeds from the transaction will be used to fund its capital expenditures and working capital, LBC said.

The convertible instrument to be bought by CP Briks could be exchanged for LBC shares to be issued out of the unissued portion of its authorized capital stock. The terms of conversion were not disclosed.

LBC also pledged all of its

Star Alliance takes Best Alliance Title at Skytrax World Airline Awards 13 member carriers claim a total of 26 awards experience Star Alliance carriers by winning a million miles*

shares in flagship operating unit LBC Express Inc. in favor of CP Briks to secure its obligations under this transaction, subject to approval of the company’s shareholders in a meeting called for this purpose.

Pending shareholders’ approval of the creation of such pledge, the obligations to CP Briks will be secured by a third party pledge by LBC’s parent company LBC Development Corp. over 51 percent of its

Air Asia eyes ASEAN...

PAGE D2 pany.

Paris, France—Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes said the Air Asia Group would pursue the creation of a single, publicly traded holding company for its major business units in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, saying this would spur investments and help bring down the price of air travel.

Fernandes, group CEO of Air Asia Bhd., outlined certain details of this initiative and a major challenge it would need to surmount: convincing Asean leaders to ease outdated airline foreign ownership limits as long as said investors were also from the region.

“We are pushing Asean governments to say that we want to invest more in the Asean, and these old-fashioned rules of owning 49 percent (or less) need to be looked at,” he said in a briefing.

Fernandes said the broad intention was for flagship AirAsia Berhad, Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-27, 2017 D

AirAsia to be placed under a holding company, which would also be listed in “all the big Asean markets.”

He made clear this was separate from a plan to list Philippines Air Asia and Indonesia Air Asia in their home markets.

He said earlier Philippines Air Asia could raise at least $200 million by selling shares to the public this year.

Fernandes did not say how much the group could raise from the multiple listing of its proposed Asean holding company.

The businessman held a press conference after AirAsia was named the world’s best lowcost airline in the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, its ninth such recognition in a row.

Fernandes said the award would serve as a “springboard to build something better,” apparently referring to the Asean airline that AirAsia was establishing.

A key part of the creation of an AirAsia holding company, which Fernandes pitched as

outstanding shares owned and held in the listed firm.

To date, the convertible instrument has not yet been issued by LBC. Additional disclosures will be made once the transaction is consummated, the company said.

This fund-raising comes on the heels of the rejection by both the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission of a follow-on offering planned by LBC.

Asean’s first “community airline,” would require laws on airline foreign ownership to change.

It is not unusual for big multinationals to seek relaxed foreign ownership restrictions. But AirAsia’s proposal is different since it takes a narrower scope in asking that governments in the region to “consider Asean investors as equivalent to local investors.”

Fernandes said he had taken steps to move that discussion forward, noting he had met with President Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

“We have to see how the political system works, but I’m optimistic,” Fernandes said. The Philippines airline industry is covered by a 40-percent foreign ownership cap.

The interest comes as Fernandes said the opportunity in Asean remained large. AirAsia is one of the biggest airlines in the region. But it has a relatively smaller presence in the Philippines as it competes against bigger domestic players Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air.

PARIS, FRANCE – In its 20th Anniversary year, Star Alliance has claimed the Best Airline Alliance title at the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the second year running. The Alliance’s prestigious Los Angeles Lounge also received the Best Airline Alliance Lounge Award for the third year in row.

Accepting the award at the Paris – Le Bourget Air Show, Jeffrey Goh, CEO Star Alliance said: “This is an important accolade to receive in our 20th Anniversary year. It once again shows that our investment into a modern IT infrastructure is paying off, enabling the more than 440,000 member airline employees to provide customers with an even better Alliance travel experience. Our IT hubs are the foundation which will allow us to use digital technology to offer a more individual and a better Alliance travel experience going forward.”

Star Alliance was the first airline alliance to receive the Best Alliance Award from Skytrax when the category was first introduced in 2005 and has since held the award eight times.

World Airline Awards are managed by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax Research of London, UK. The latest survey was conducted between August 2016 and May 2017, attracting 19.87 million eligible entries with participants from 105 nationalities. The survey covered over 325 airlines, from largest international airlines to smaller domestic carriers, measuring quality standards for 41 Key Performance Indicators across front-line product and service factors in the airport and onboard environments.

Complementing the Alliance awards, 13 Star Alliance member carriers received distinctions in 26 individual categories, with four achieving top 10 rankings in the Top Airline Category: Singapore Airlines (2), ANA (3), EVA (6) and Lufthansa (7).

Your chance to become a mileage millionaire!

For those looking to expe-

Jeffrey Goh, CEO Star Alliance

rience our Skytrax awarded airlines and Alliance, here is your chance. As part of its 20th Anniversary activities, Star Alliance is currently running a global competition, inspired Aegean Airlines

by the theme of “Connecting People and Cultures”. The prize is one million frequent flyer miles* and each of the Alliance’s 21 Frequent Flyer Programmes are participating.

Best Regional Airline in Europe

Air Canada

Best Airline in North America

ANA

World’s Best Airport Services Best Airline Staff in Asia

Austrian Airlines Avianca COPA Airlines Ethiopian Airlines EVA Air Lufthansa

Singapore Airlines

South African Airways THAI

Turkish Airlines

Best Airline Staff in Europe Best Airline in South America Best Regional Airline in South America Best Airline in Central America / Caribbean Best Airline Staff in Central America Best Airline in Africa Best Business Class Comfort Amenities World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness Best Airline in Europe Best Airline in Western Europe Best First Class Lounge Dining Best Airline in Asia Best Business Class Airline Seat Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering Best Airline Staff in Africa Best Economy Onboard Catering World’s Best Economy Class Best Airline Lounge Spa Facilities Best Airline in Southern Europe Best Business Class Onboard Catering World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge Best Business Class Lounge Dining

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Eco-friendly vehicle to replace jeepneys

The Board of Investments (BOI) is targeting to have ready before the end of the year the concept vehicle for the CARS-like manufacturing program for eco-friendly public utility vehicles (PUVs), playing a key role in supplying new transport units under the government’s PUV modernization scheme, a top official said.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, who is also BOI chair, said that deliberations were currently being made on the design of the main vehicle for the PUV manufacturing program, describing it as a “modern solution and a modern design for PUVs that are more efficient and safer.”

This is part of a bigger initiative under the PUV Modernization Program, a scheme headed by the Deparment of Transporation (DOTr) that aims to replace more than 200,000 jeepneys across the country.

At the same time, the ban on the issuance of new franchises for public utility vehicles has also been effectively lifted by the DOTr after it signed the omnibus franchising guidelines (OFG) that would set in motion the three-year rollout of the agency’s modernization program. however, new franchises can only be released to transport operators once the local governments have submitted to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) their respective local transport route plan. The OFG was signed

by Transport Secretary Arthur

Inquirer.net photo

Tugade and Interior officer in charge Catalino Cuy in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo.

Under the OFG, which lifts the 14-year moratorium on public utility franchises, applicants would be required to have vehicles that are at least euro-4 compliant, accessible to both senior citizens and persons with disability and are equipped with safety and convenience features such as CCTV cameras, GPS, automatic fare collection system, Wi-Fi, speed limiters and dashboard cameras.

Martin Delgra III, the chair of the LTFRB, said that they would be working closely with local governments for the route plans to ensure that these would be based on current and projected travel patterns and would take into consideration intermodality and interconnection.

According to DOTr, the modern PUVs will replace transport units that have been operating for 15 years or more. Among its features, the modernization program will

also treat jeepney drivers as employees, providing them regular salaries and benefits instead of the status quo wherein drivers compete over passengers because of the prevailing boundary system.

For now, only a general overview of the manufacturing scheme has been provided, with BOI Managing head Ceferino Rodolfo previously saying that it would involve Filipino firms that would be selected to locally produce the standardized vehicle units although some components might have to be imported.

Since opening applications more than a year ago, the CARS program has so far qualified only two carmakers—Toyota Motors Philippines and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines—the two best-selling carmakers in the country.

Lopez said that the P9-billion budget for the unused third slot might be used for the manufacturing scheme of eco-friendly PUVs. (Jovic Yee, Roy Stephen C. Canivel/Inquirer.net)

DOTr eyes revival of law vs distracted driving in July The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to resume as early as the first week of July the implementation of Anti-Distracted Driving Act (Adda), which restricts the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving.

Assistant Transport Secretary Leah Quiambao said the DOTr was set to publish within the week the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law, also known as Republic Act No. 10913.

The law goes into effect 15 days after the publication.

Addressing one of the contentious issues concerning navigational devices, the new IRR allow motorists to mount such gadgets on the dashboard as long as they don’t exceed the four-inch height limit.

Quiambao added that the revised IRR allows the driver to

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A man drives while using his cellphone to check the traffic on Taft Avenue, Manila.

Inquirer.net Richard Reyes

use the hands-free functions of a device and as long as it does not obstruct his line of sight.

Among the prohibited acts under Adda are: holding the device to make or receive calls; composing, sending, and reading text messages; performing calculations;

playing games; watching videos and browsing the internet.

Confusion marked the first implementation of Adda in May, although more than 240 motorists were cited for violations by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. (Jovic Yee/Inquirer.net)

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