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EMarch D I T18-21, ION 2017
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T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r
Volume 27 - No. 23 • 4 Sections – 32 Pages
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Palace says impeachment complaint against Duterte part of ‘destabilization plot’ Also published in: • Orange County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas • New York/ New Jersey
Robredo denies involvement in latest move to unseat Duterte
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
the impeachment complaint recently filed against Philippine President rodrigo Duterte is part of an act to “discredit the administration,” malacañang said on thursday, march 16. earlier on the same day, magdalo representative Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte before the house of repre-
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sentatives, accusing the president of culpably violating the Constitution, engaging in bribery, betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and other high crimes. In a statement, Presidential spokesperson ernesto Abella maintained that the complaint has no basis, stressing that Duterte did not commit any impeachable offense. “No treason, betrayal of trust, bribery, graft, and corruption, high crime and culpable violation of the Consti-
tution has been committed,” Abella remarked. Abella then said that it “seems rather dramatic that everything seems to be so coordinated at this stage with acts of trying to discredit the administration and trying to throw doubt.” he also reaffirmed that the Duterte administration “upholds due process and is ready for the consequences of his actions, and takes into consideration above all the interest of the fili-
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European Parliament calls for De Lima’s ‘immediate’ release
by AJPress the camp of Philippine Vice President Leni robredo has dismissed allegations that she played a hand in the first impeachment complaint against President rodrigo Duterte. In a television interview, robredo’s spokesperson Georgina hernandez said that “VP Leni and the public know that this is not true.” this response comes after house of representatives speaker Pantaleon Alvarez claimed that robredo is “definitely” behind the case that was filed on thursday, march 16. Alvarez remarked that robredo had a “direct hand” in the impeachment complaint,
by Dana
SioSon AJPress
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DATELINE
USA
from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for end to immigration arrests at courthouses
the chief justice of California’s supreme Court is urging the administration of President Donald trump to cease arresting undocumented immigrations at the state’s courthouses. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Jeff sessions and homeland security secretary John Kelly on thursday, march 16, Chief Justice tani Cantil-sakauye wrote how “deeply concerned” she was following
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Orgies in Manila, lavish perks mark US Navy bribery scandal
A NeW indictment unsealed in san Diego, California on tuesday, march 14, added nine high-ranking U.s. Navy officials, including retired Admiral Bruce Loveless, in connection with the so-called “fat Leonard” bribery scandal. the latest federal indictment charged Loveless, four retired Navy captains, a marine colonel and three others of taking bribes – in the forms of sex parties with prostitutes, extravagant dinners, and luxury travel – in exchange for trading military secrets. “this is a fleecing and betrayal of the United states Navy in epic proportions, and it was allegedly carried out by the Navy’s highest-ranking officers,” Acting U.s. Attorney Alana robinson said in a statement.
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Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION. President Rodrigo Duterte meets Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on Friday, March 17. Also in the photo is Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. The leaders reaffirmed a peaceful settlement of the longstanding maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Inquirer.net photo by Ace Morandante
IN a joint resolution adopted on thursday, march 16, the european (eU) Parliament called for the “immediate” release of Philippine senator Leila De Lima, who was detained last month for drug-related charges. De Lima, who is also a fierce critic of Philippine President rodrigo Duterte, was arrested on february 24 for allegedly violating the republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Acknowledging Amnesty International’s (AI) claim that the De Lima is a “prisoner of conscience,” the eU noted that “there are serious concerns that the offences senator De Lima has been charged with are almost entirely fabricated.” the parliament also called on Philippine authorities “to ensure a fair trial, recalling the right to the presumption of innocence, to drop all politically motivated charges against her, and to end any further acts of ha-
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Environment Secretary Gina PH Foreign Affairs, Defense departments Lopez faces third graft complaint unaware of Benham Rise deal with China by Dana
SioSon AJPress
A NeW graft complaint against Philippine Department of environment and Natural resources by AJPress (DeNr) secretary Gina Lopez of the Philippine has been filed Both the Philippine before the office of the ombudsDepartment of foreign man on thursday, march 16. Affairs (DfA) and DepartLopez was accused of violatment of National Defense ing the republic Act 3019 or the (DND) admitted to hav- Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices ing no knowledge about Act for allegedly influencing the the supposed agreement Philippine Department of energy allowing China to con- (Doe) to award the $100-million duct research in the Ben- power plant service contract to a ham rise. private company she favored. earlier this week, PhilAccording to the complaint ippine President rodrigo filed by ecoglobal Incorporated Duterte said that Beijing u PAGE A3 sought his permission to let Chinese vessels surDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana vey the area for research purposes. “they (China) have no incursion because we have an by Catherine S. Valente agreement,” Duterte told reporters on monday, march ManilaTimes.net 13. “some people are just blowing it up. We previously mALACAÑANG on friday said agreed. It was a research ship. We were advised of it the Australian government had way ahead.” Duterte’s statement came after Philippine Defense committed to continue its develsecretary Delfin Lorenzana raised alarm earlier this opment assistance to the Philipmonth over the reported presence of Chinese surveil- pines, saying that $40 million in fresh aid would be specifically folance ships near Benham rise. DfA said last week that it has sent a note verbale cused on projects for mindanao. this came after Australian forto the Chinese embassy, seeking clarification over the u PAGE A3 eign minister Julie Bishop met
DENR Secretary Gina Lopez
Australia pledges $40-M for peace in Mindanao with President rodrigo Duterte in Davao City, where they talked about the mindanao peace process, terrorism, and responsible mining. In a statement, presidential spokesman ernesto Abella said Duterte and Bishop, during their “warm and cordial” meeting, expressed willingness to cooperate against terrorism, a security threat to both the Philippines and
Australia. “Both underscored that terrorism and violent extremism are serious threats, with both expressing readiness to identify areas of collaboration,” Abella said. the Islamic state (Is) has called on its fighters to conduct attacks in Australia and the Philippines. In mindanao, some terror groups have pledged alle-
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A MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Palace says impeachment complaint… PAGE A1 t
pino people.” Like Abella, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II agreed that Alejano’s complaint has “no factual and legal basis.” Sought for comments, Aguirre said that the allegations have no “concrete solid evidence that would support findings of any of the enumerated grounds for im-
peachment.” “This impeachment complaint was nothing but filed in aid of destabilization,” he added. Alejano denied the accusations that his impeachment bid is part of a destabilization scheme. While Duterte has immunity from suit as the country’s president, the Article 11, Sec. 2 of the 1987 Constitution state that he
“may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.” According to Alejano, Duterte is “not fit to serve as president” and “should be held liable for the crimes he committed.” In his 16-page complaint, Alejano cited Duterte’s alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), the massive killings in his war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million. “We reiterate that so called extrajudicial [killings] are not statesponsored and the President has made sure that he will not turn a blind eye to uniformed personnel who violate and abuse the law,” Confessed members of the DDS, Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, previously testified before separate Senate inquiries that Duterte ordered the killings of criminals and critics through the death squad during his term as Davao City mayor. “As testified to by Matobato and Lascañas and as will be affirmed by other witnesses against him, respondent Duterte offered and gave, by himself and through his subalterns, prize money, rewards and/or bounties
CONFIRMED. Education Secretary Leonor Brioner poses with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III shortly after her appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. When asked of her legacy, Briones boldly stated, “By 2022, our legacy will be a nation of young people who love their country and know their history; learners who not only memorize facts but are equipped to respond to the challenges and opportunities of a radically changing world in a positive manner; individuals who think critically, are innovative and happy.”
Robredo denies involvement in latest…
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saying, “Definitely yes. Who else would benefit?” Representative Gary Alejano — who filed the said impeachment complaint against the presu PAGE A4 ident — denied that Robredo was
involved in the case, describing Alvarez’ allegations as “preposterous.” “Even Magdalo Party-list Rep Gary Alejano himself said it was only the Magdalo group behind this impeachment and he clearly said VP Leni has nothing to do with it,” Hernandez added. Alejano’s complaint puts Duterte’s alleged links to the socalled Davao Death Squad (DDS), the killings in his war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million into question. When asked about the basis of his accusations, Alvarez cited Robredo’s latest video message to the United Nations (UN) condemning the present administration’s war against illegal drugs. “It was very clear. We can see that she even sent a tape to the United Nations regarding her complaints here in the Philippines,” the House speaker said. Alvarez warned that Robredo’s actions may amount to “betrayal of public trust,” which could be used as grounds for filing an impeachment case. Malacañang said that the UN video message lambasting the government’s war on drugs
and the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte “seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence.” “If it is not her personal intent, she may have played into the hands of those who wish to use her as a political animal. Either way, it is a pathetic state of affairs for her,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement on Friday, March 17. In a video message uploaded on Monday, March 13, Robredo pointed out that the thousands of killings and human rights abuses in the Philippine government’s brutal war against illegal drugs had left Filipinos feeling “hopeless” and “helpless.” “The body count due to the drug-related killings keeps growing,” the vice president said. “We are now looking at some very grim statistics…Our people need nothing less than a safe environment.” Since Duterte taking office last July, more than 8,000 people have been reportedly killed as a result of the drug war. “You cannot kill addicts and declare the problem solved… We must all demand greater trans-
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From the Front page
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
A
PH Foreign Affairs, Defense departments… PAGE A1 t
spotted vessels. Asked about the supposed permission given to Chinese vessels, Acting Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo responded: “I’m not aware of anything along the line you said.” “We have no policy on that,” Manalo added. “There are ships through the area exercising freedom of navigation. But the fact that this is within the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines any ship would have to get permission from the Philippines if they wish to undertake research.” Lorenzana also expressed surprised over Duterte’s statement: “Sinabi niya ‘yun?... Hindi ko alam ‘yan ([Duterte] said that?... I’m not informed about it).” Located along the Pacific Ocean 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Isabela, the Benham Rise
is believed to be rich in mineral and gas deposits. The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012 approved the submission of Manila in 2009, acknowledging that the Benham Rise is within the continental shelf of the Philippines. Also referred to as the Benham Plateau, the region is not part of China’s nine-dash claim. No other nation has claimed it apart from the Philippines, which is also the only country within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of the plateau. China earlier confirmed that Chinese vessels did sail across the region but only “for marine research” and “without conducting any other activities or operations” as part of exercising the principles of “freedom of naviga-
tion” and “right to innocent passage.” On the other hand, Malacañang stated that Duterte was “not in disagreement” with the DFA and DND. According to Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Manalo and Lorenzana were “simply referring to separate things.” “There was no exclusion, there was no conflict, it was just a question of referring to separate matters at the same time…they were both apprised. They were simply referring to different situations,” Abella said. Despite the supposed agreement with China, Duterte remarked that the Philippines will maintain its ownership over the Benham Rise region. “My order to my military, you go there and tell them straight that this is ours, but I say it in friendship,” Duterte said. n
European Parliament calls for De Lima’s… PAGE A1 t
rassment against her.” Reacting to the resolution, Malacañang said that the European lawmakers “misunderstand” De Lima’s situation. Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella clarified that De Lima is “being charged with crime, not political persuasions.” Abella then advised the EU to “respect” the senator’s detention. In a separate statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) remarked that the EU’s resolution on De Lima’s case “casts aspersion on Philippine legal processes, its judicial system and the guarantees enshrined in the Constitution to uphold and protect the rights of all individuals.” Acting Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that the information the EU must have gotten “may not be the most accurate and they get it from sources which they don’t really divulge.” He added, “So it’s important we give them the information which we think will help them, and of course it’s their final decision, but we hope that if they’re in possession of reliable information, it will help them make a good judgment and decision.” EU on drug war, death penalty In the same resolution, the EU stressed that it also “strongly
OBSERVING HYGIENE. With the construction of toilets in Baseco Compound, Senator Cynthia A. Villar said the problem of poor sanitation and spread of diseases among the residents, especially children in the area will be addressed. Villar led the groundbreaking of the communal septic tank for the construction of 5,000 toilet bowls. Initially, 100 toilet bowls will be constructed in Gasangan Street, Brgy. 649, near the mangrove area to prevent open defecation in Manila Bay. Together with the senator in the photo are Dir. Sonia Salguero (in pink blouse), OIC Director, Bureau of Solid Waste Management; Esperanza A. Mangoba (orange blouse), DSWD NCR Program Coordinator, Dr. Ariel Valencia (wearing vest) DOH Regional Director, DOH and Michael Brusola, PRRC Project Development Officer. Senate photo
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez…
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Senator Leila de Lima
condemns” the alleged spate of summary killings in connection with Duterte’s drug war. The EU called on the Philippine government to “immediately carry out impartial and meaningful investigations into these extrajudicial killings and to prosecute and bring all perpetrators to justice.” It also expressed “grave concern over credible reports to the effect that the Philippine police force is falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.” More than 8,000 individuals have been reportedly killed since the campaign was launched in
the Philippines last July. The Duterte administration has repeatedly denied that the killings were state-sanctioned. The EU added that it is also “deeply alarmed” by the decision of the House of Representatives to reintroduce the death penalty, describing the capital punishment as “cruel” and “inhumane.” On March 7, the House of Representatives approved House Bill (HB) Number 4727 during the and final reading, which seeks to punish perpetrators of drug-related crimes with either life imprisonment or death. n
(EI) business development officer Vienna Tañada, Lopez pressed Energy Secretary Director Mario Marasigan to grant the service contract for a power plant in Zamboanga City to EI. Tañada’s complaint showed a screenshot conversation of Lopez telling Marasigan to “to take care” of the EI’s application for the service contract. The complaint also cited a text message of Lopez to Marasigan questioning the delay of the awarding of the contract. Tañada added that EI Chief Executive Officer Jean-Philippe Henry supposedly issued a letter of guarantee last Sept. 29 to the French Embassy in Manila, pledging to shoulder the costs for Lopez’s “airfare, hotel accommodations, insurance coverage, and travel allowances for the entire duration of their business trip.” “I was instructed by Mr. Henry to assist Sec. Lopez and her party in their application for Schengen visas and for the booking of their flights and hotel accommodations,” Tañada said in the complaint. Lopez and five others went to Paris last October 2. The following day, DOE reportedly awarded the service contract to EI.
Continuing, Tañada remarked: “While this is beyond the scope of my duties as an Ecoglobal employee, I accepted the assignment since part of the trip would involve renewable energy projects that may be undertaken by Ecoglobal.” For her part, Lopez clarified that the trip to France was not paid by the EI. “Ecoglobal just coordinated. The trip was a work trip, it wasn’t at all a perk. The travel agency gave the tickets in the assurance that when the funds come for the Pasig River which the French government has already committed to, they would get paid,” Lopez explained.
A Rappler report said that Lopez confirmed she “did reach out to the DOE to award the project to EI, but only for the sake of the beneficiaries of the power plant in Zamboanga.” Last January, Air Board Company and the United Filipino Commuters and Consumers (UFCC) filed a complaint against Lopez for alleged inaction over the agency’s defective air quality monitoring machines. The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) also filed a graft complaint against Lopez earlier this month for her supposed undue process on the suspension and closure of several mining operations. n
Australia pledges $40-M for… PAGE A1 t
giance to the IS. To help bring about peace in Mindanao, Abella said Australia pledged $40 million over six years. “These are to go to affected areas in projects such as improved water facilities,” he said. Abella said Duterte and Bishop also agreed on the importance of securing freedom of navigation and safety at sea. Mining standards Duterte, who frequently cites
Australian mining standards as ideal for Philippine miners to follow, also brought up the topic of responsible mining. “[Duterte] expressed the Philippines’ interest in learning responsible mining from Australia, citing that country’s experience and expertise,” Abella said. Bishop responded by saying that the Australian government was “willing to cooperate in building capacities for responsi-
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A MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
From the Front page
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California’s Fil-Am chief justice calls for‌
PAGE A1 t
various reports in which federal agents would “appear to be stalking� undocumented immigrants at courthouses before detaining them. “Courthouses should not be used as bait in the necessary enforcement of our country’s immigration laws,� Cantil-Sakauye said, noting how courthouses are supposed to be safe spaces for individuals to seek justice. While she did not elaborate on specific cases, she said “the vast majority of [undocumented im-
migrants] pose no risk to public safety� and called the policies to wait at courthouses and make arrests “neither safe nor fair.� She suggested that these actions would have an “impact on public trust and confidence in our state court system if the public feels that our state institutions are being used to facilitate other goals and objectives, no matter how expedient they may be.� “They not only compromise our core value of fairness but they undermine the judiciary’s ability to provide equal access
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to justice,� the letter continued. “I respectfully request that you refrain from this sort of enforcement in California’s courthouses.� Apart from California, similar arrests at courthouses have been reportedly made in Oregon and Texas, as part of the crackdown on immigration since Trump took office in January. One of his early executive orders was to prioritize removing deportable immigrants who have been convicted of any criminal offense. In a report by the Sacramento Bee, Cathal Conneely, a public information officer for the Judicial Council of California, said the letter from California’s chief justice comes after other judges, private attorneys and Legal Aid lawyers shared some instances with her. “The chief justice is not in any way questioning the right or authority of the U.S. attorney general or the Department of Homeland Security to do what they’re doing, she’s just raising concern with the judicial branch of California that this is taking place within courthouses and courtrooms,� Conneely told the newspaper. ICE observes “sensitive locations,� wherein agents do not implement enforcement actions at places schools or churches. However, courthouses and courtrooms are not covered. “While ICE does arrest targets at courthouses, generally it’s only after investigating officers have exhausted other options,� Virginia Kice, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement. Earlier this week, the White House requested that Congress provide an additional $3 billion in 2017 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire more border patrol agents and ICE law enforcement personnel, increase detention and deportation forces, and plan the construction of the wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. Community organizations and immigration advocates are also ramping up their efforts to ensure that immigrant communities are aware of their rights should they be stopped by an ICE agent, whether at home, at the workplace or in public. Some of the protections include the rights to remain silent, demand a search warrant, and refusal to sign or show any documents without a lawyer. (Christina M. Oriel / AJPress)
SENIOR HIGH. Students apply for slots in senior high school in a fair at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Wednesday, Mach 15. Beginning this school year, high school students were required to go through two additional years of senior high school prior to taking up college. ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger RaĂąada
Palace says impeachment complaint‌ PAGE A2 t
for the killing of suspected drug lords, drug users and other crime suspects, as well as personal and political enemies,â€? the complaint read. The president recently confirmed the existence of DDS but only during the martial law period 1980s. Denying the the accusations of Matobato and LascaĂąas, Duterte explained that the group was formed to combat the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), also referred to as “sparrow unit,â€? which was the hit squad of the New People’s Army (NPA) in 1980s. According to Matobato’s lawyer, Attorney Jude Sabio, the two hitman’s testimonies show a pattern of similarities between the DDS killings and the deaths linked to Duterte’s controversial war against illegal drugs. He described Matobato and LascaĂąas as “vital witnessesâ€? who could prove that “the Davao death squad was used by Duterte as a template, or as a strategy or policy, for crime control through extrajudicial killings since he be-
came president.� More than 8,000 people have reportedly killed in the drug war since Duterte took office last July, according to latest estimates. The government has repeatedly insisted that the deaths were not statesanctioned, noting that majority of the killings were committed by unknown vigilante suspects. “We reiterate that so called extrajudicial [killings] are not statesponsored and the President has made sure that he will not turn a blind eye to uniformed personnel who violate and abuse the law,� Adella said. However, human rights group, such as Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), claimed that police themselves conduct extrajudicial executions disguised as unknown killers. Despite the warning that such killings “may amount to crimes against humanity,� Duterte maintained that his campaign against illegal drugs continues. “Contrary to his oath of office and to the Constitution and prevailing laws, Respondent Rodrigo Roa Duterte publicly adopted
a policy of promoting, encouraging, as well as aiding and abetting in the extrajudicial killing of persons suspected of being drug-pushers, drug-users and/or committing other crimes,� the complaint read. Alejano also cited in the complaint the allegations of Senator Antonio Trillanes that Duterte had an almost two billion pesos worth of undeclared wealth in his three bank accounts from 2006 to 2015. He also mentioned the supposed 11,000 “ghost employees� during Duterte’s mayor term in 2014 which cost the government of P708 million. “Having committed all of these acts, respondent Rodrigo Duterte has not only committed graft and corruption and other high crimes, which constitute specific grounds for his impeachment from office, he has also undermined the integrity of the Office of the President, has brought disrepute on the Presidency, and has acted in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice,� the complaint further read. n
Orgies in Manila, lavish perks mark US Navy‌ leaders of the Seventh Fleet – the largest fleet in the U.S. Navy – actively worked together as a team to trade secrets for sex, serving the interests of a greedy foreign defense contractor, and not those of their own country,â€? Robinson added. The indictment mentioned two Philippine hotels as the settings for the wild sex parties, citing Manila Hotel’s MacArthur Suite and Shangri-La hotel. It said that Francis hosted and paid for a lavish party and the services of prostitutes in the MacArthur Suite of the Manila Hotel, during a port call to the Philippines by the USS Blue Ridge in 2007. The Navy officers also allegedly even used historic MacArthur memorabilia in their sex acts. In 2008, it said Francis hosted a “raging multi-day party, with a rotating carousel of prostitutes PAGE A2 t parency in the government’s war in attendance, during which on drugs because this is a major, the conspirators drank all of the publicly-funded campaign,â€? Robredo remarked. Citing other human rights abuses in the drug war, Robredo pointed out that people were PAGE A3 t beaten up for requesting search bility in mineral and energy rewarrants. sources,â€? he said. “Some of those who have told Abella said Bishop also exus that when there’s crime, they pressed Australia’s support for normally go to the police. Now, the Philippines’ Asean chairmanthey don’t know where to turn,â€? ship and the country’s efforts to she added. further strengthen the regional According to her, poor people bloc. have been also “rounded up in Bishop also met acting Forplaces like basketball courts, eign Affairs Secretary Enrique women separated from men, Manalo, and the two said they those with tattoos asked to stand looked forward to convening the in the corner, their belongings 5th Philippines-Australia Minsearched.â€? n isterial Meeting possibly in De-
PAGE A1 t
The indictment claims that the defendants helped former Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) chief executive Leonard Glenn Francis, also nicknamed as “Fat Leonard,� to pull off a colossal fraud that cost the U.S. government tens of millions of dollars by overcharging food, water, fuel and other supplies. The Navy officers were facing cases of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud and obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators when confronted about their actions. “The alleged conduct amounts to a staggering degree of corruption by the most prominent
Robredo‌
Dom Perignon available� at the Shangri-La hotel in 2008. Following the release of the indictment, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to kick-out the U.S. troops out of the country. “U.S. troops are bad news for the Philippines. They have no qualms violating domestic laws. Duterte must act now and kick U.S. troops out of the Philippines,� Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes told Philstar. According to Reyes, the recent “debauchery and other foul acts� in the scandal should “raise alarm bells for the Philippine government.� Reyes said that the Philippines should also scrap its military agreements and war exercises with the United States, citing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). (Dana Sioson / AJPress)
Australia pledges $40-M for‌ cember 2017, and other bilateral mechanisms. Both acknowledged the longstanding relations between the two countries, which reached 70 years in 2016. Manalo said the visit of Bishop “is an affirmation of Australia’s strong commitment to the Philippines as a comprehensive partner.â€? Over 200,000 Filipinos live and work in various professional fields in Australia. (With Jaime R. Pilapil)
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USCIS will accept H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2018 beginning April 3
GIANT PEARL. National Bureau of Investigation spokesman Ferdinand Lavin shows journalists huge pearls confiscated from a group during an entrapment operation. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina
PH-US cooperation leads to arrest of 2 in cybersex ops by Kenneth
hernandez ManilaTimes.net
OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation-Anti-Human Trafficking Division (NBIAHTRAD) conducted an entrapment in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Thursday, March 17 to arrest two individuals for offering children for cybersex. The anti-cybersex operation was successfully conducted through close coordination between NBI-AHTRAD and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila, and HSI in Portland, Maine. The anti-trafficking operation against the sisters Arlene and Emelinda Aringo was carried out
after a formal referral from the United States Homeland Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSIICE) was sent to the NBI-AHTRAD. The information stated that a person was offering online shows of under-aged Filipino girls doing sexually-explicit acts in exchange for a certain fee. This operation was also supported by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 4-A and the International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization. A US Embassy official said that the Philippines ranks high in the list of countries that offer children for cybersex.
From Miami to the Philippines. Spo kicked off the morning and Filipino Heritage Week on a video press conference with Filipino media. Photo from Miami Heat’s Twitter account
‘Proud Filipino’ Spoelstra thrilled to see heritage honored in NBA by MarK
GionGco Inquirer.net
FIL-AMERICAN Erik Spoelstra can still vividly remember one of his first trips to the Philippines seven years ago. Spoelstra, a two-time NBA champion as head coach of the Miami Heat, said back then, the league was just starting to make its presence in the Philippines felt through its NBA Fit and Jr. NBA programs. Times have changed and those small steps led to bigger events being held in the Philippines, where love for basketball is felt in every nook and cranny. This week, the NBA will be holding its first ever Filipino Heritage Week as a way to honor the Filipino culture and the Philippines’ unwavering love for hoops. Spoelstra, whose mother Elisa Celino hails from San Pablo, Laguna, couldn’t hide his excitement seeing how far the NBA has come in recognizing millions of Filipinos around the world. “It’s pretty amazing isn’t it. You think about how much ground and how many things have changed in the NBA but to be able to recognize a night like this is pretty special,” Spoelstra told a select group of Filipino media Tuesday night in a Cisco
telepresence conference call at SM Aura Office Tower at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. “I think about our first trip to the Philippines seven, eight years ago with the NBA. [I remember] even the NBA offices over there were smaller. The vision hadn’t been really put together yet about how it could grow over there with the camps and Jr. NBA and all the initiatives, and players hadn’t really gone over there that many times at that point,” he recalled. “But then now, I love looking at the list in the summer of which players are going over there, which guys are going over on tour and what camps are going on. It’s really cool to see and to be able to honor a night in the NBA.” The Heat and the Golden State Warriors will host Filipino Heritage Nights beginning on Thursday with the Heat taking on the New Orleans Pelicans. “At first, I thought it was just going to be with us. and then I found out Golden State was involved and then I found out it was going to be honored around the NBA, I had goosebumps thinking about it,” Spoelstra said. “Obviously, my heritage is really important to me and my family and I’m proud to be Filipino. But when it’s recognized in the
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Rescued were 13 minors, five of whom admitted that they were abused online and offline. The Aringo sisters were also found to be positive for yellow fluorescent smudges, an indication that they received the marked money from the agents. They will be charged with violation of the Trafficking in Persons Act, a non-bailable offense and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Child Pornography. The cases were filed before the Department of Justice on Friday. n
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected. The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering andinformation technology. Congress set a cap of 65,000 H-1B visas per fiscal year. An advanced degree exemption from the H-1B cap is available for 20,000 beneficiaries who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher. The agency will monitor
the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H1B cap has been met. USCIS recently announced a temporary suspension of premium processing for all H-1B petitions starting April 3 for up to six months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. While premium processing is suspended any Form I-907 filed with an H-1B petition will be rejected. If the petitioner submits one combined check for both the Form I-907 and Form I-129 H-1B fees, both formswill be rejected. H-1B petitioners must follow all statutory and regulatory requirements as they prepare petitions to avoid delays in processing and possible requests for evidence.
The filing fee for Form I-129 has increased to $460, and petitioners no longer have 14 days to correct a dishonored payment. If any fee payments are not honored by the bank or financial institution, USCIS will reject the entire H-1B petition without the option for the petitioner to correct it. Form M-735, Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings (PDF, 278 KB), provides detailed information on how to complete and submit an FY 2018 H-1B petition. For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit the H-1B FY 2018 Cap Season Web page or call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 or 800-767-1833 (TDD for the hearing impaired). To subscribe to the H-1B Cap Season email updates go to the H1B FY 2018 Cap Season Web page. n
US military renews commitment to PH defense Kim, also highlighted the inaugural Major General Albert Inquirer.net Jones Memorial Award, which THE US military on Wednes- was accorded to Defense Secday renewed its commitment retary Delfin Lorenzana for his to the Philippines to fortify its valuable support to the group bilateral and defense ties as it throughout his military and dipcelebrated seven decades of lomatic careers spanning four the Joint US Military Assistance decades. Group’s (Jusmag) security coopThe award is given to a US or eration mission in the country. Philippine government official The occasion, hosted by the who has made significant contriUS Ambassador to Manila Sung butions to the bilateral defense by Jocelyn
r. Uy
partnership. Jones, the first chief of Jusmag-Philippines, was the only general officer on the infamous Bataan death march who endured two years of torture and starvation alongside other soldiers. In a speech on Wednesday night, Jusmag chief Col. Ernest Lee said the group’s 70th year was a celebration of the “un-
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Dateline USa
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Overseas voter registration sets new record OVERSEAS voter registration that started on December 1 last year and will end on September 30, 2018, has set a new record for first quarter performance, the Overseas Voting Secretariat announced March 15. The drive has garnered a total of 67,497 new overseas voter registrants for purposes of the 2019 elections. It has surpassed the numbers of the first three months of 201415 registration (64,074) and the previous record of 64,917 that was set in 2009. The attainable target for this registration period is 1.1 million OV registrants, which would net a cumulative total of 2,130,000 active registered voters for the coming national elections. The overseas voter registration in preparation for the 2016 elections netted a cumulative total of 1,376,067 active registered overseas voters. The 826,881 new registrants for the 2016 elections, was more than a 100% increase over the 398,554 new registrants for the 2013 elections. Of the almost 1.4 million registered overseas voters, 590,440 were in the Middle East and Africa, 334,215 in the Asia Pacific, 263,316 in the Americas, 138,757 in Europe, and 49,339 were Seabased. (Inquirer.net)
Proud Filipino…
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NBA it’s such a special thing.” Heat guard Goran Dragic also expressed his delight with the NBA’s popularity in a global sense. “First of all, that’s awesome to have fans all over the world. I know in the Philippines basketball is the number one sport. I think it’s great to see different cultures. I know Spo is from [the Philippines], Clarkson, then of course, I know Manny Pacquiao like everybody,” said Dragic, who also spoke with the Filipino media in a video call. The 30-year-old guard, who is a big part of the Heat’s resurgence this season, has never been to the Philippines but said he would love to visit the country in the future. It’s been over four years since Spoelstra was in town but he said he has plans to return soon. “There’s definitely been talk about it for the last couple of years. It’s definitely something we want to do.” n
FRIENDLY PASSENGER. When your “friendly neighborhood” is not only your favorite superhero but is also your favorite pasahero! In a now viral Facebook post, Shang Itona shared this “marvelous” encounter with “Spider-Man” while she was riding a jeepney on her way to Las Piñas on Thursday, March 16. Inquirer.net contributed photo
REPEAL & REPLACE WATCH
Many Californians could be priced out of exchange coverage, analysis finds by AnA
B. IBArrA Kaiser Health News
THE average 40 percent drop in subsidies proposed under the GOP health care bill would put coverage out of reach for many Californians on the state exchange, according to a preliminary analysis released Tuesday, March 14. People living in pricey cities like San Francisco, as well as the elderly and those with low incomes, would be most seriously affected, the Covered California analysis shows. That’s because the Affordable Care Act takes into account income and location, whereas the Republican bill offers flat-rate tax credits based only on age (up to $75,000 in income for an individual). The Covered California analysis provides some stark comparisons: • Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, a 62-year-old living in San Francisco making $20,000 a year would pay $84 a month with a tax credit for silver plan coverage (the second-leastcostly plan). Under the GOP plan, that person would pay $668. • A San Francisco family of four earning $41,000 a year would pay $346 more in premiums per month under the GOP plan for coverage similar to an
Obamacare silver plan. • A 27-year-old making $30,000 a year in San Francisco would pay $9 per month less under the GOP plan than for Obamacare coverage. A 62-year-old would pay $460 more. In Los Angeles, many people would pay less under the GOP plan vs. Obamacare, especially young people and families, according to the analysis. That’s because health care there is much less expensive. All beneficiaries making at least $50,000 a year would pay much less in premiums under the GOP plan, because it offers tax credits to more affluent people who don’t qualify for them under Obamacare. The analysis came a day after the Congressional Budget Office released a report saying that the GOP’s plan, the American Health Care Act, would cut government subsidies for older and low-income consumers and cause an estimated 24 million Americans to lose their coverage by 2026. Covered California has approximately 1.5 million enrollees, who benefited from $4.2 billion in premium subsidies last year, said Peter V. Lee, Covered California’s executive director, at Tuesday’s monthly board meeting. Ninety percent of exchange enrollees receive subsidies to
Grace Hu with Fil-Am community leaders Felix B. Lopez, president of FilipinoAmerican Chambers of Southeast Corridor and Lino F. Caringal, Jr., president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA.
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help them cover the costs of their premiums. Covered California’s calculations show that in 2016 the average subsidy for an individual was worth $3,500. Meanwhile, households received an average of $5,300 per year in subsidies. Twelve percent of households got subsidies worth about $10,000. “That [$10,000] wasn’t a gift, it wasn’t extra money,” Lee said in a media call Tuesday. “It was given to them because without it they would have not been able to afford coverage.” Ignoring income and geography means poor people would be worse off, Lee said. Since 2014, the ACA has helped lower California’s uninsured rate from almost 17 percent to 7.1 percent, through both Covered California and an expansion of Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
US military…
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breakable bond” between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States. “Relationships that last this long are very special. They are not relationship of convenience but based on mutual respect, common values and shared destiny,” said Lee. The celebration showed how both countries continued to keep its relations warm despite earlier threats by President Duterte to diminish ties with American forces. “This award is just reaffirming that good relationship. But with or without the award, our relationship is good,” Lorenzana told the Inquirer. The Jusmag was created through the 1947 Military Assistance Agreement in the aftermath of World War II to advise and assist the AFP in training, equipment and organization. It helped the AFP modernize and build capabilities and interoperability that are mutually beneficial. In his remarks, Kim encouraged both the Jusmag and the AFP to continue the legacy of selfless dedication and commitment in defending its freedom and promoting peace and stability. “Jusmag-Philippines has carried on that tradition for the past 70 years and I am confident that it will continue to do so in the next 70 years and beyond,” he said. In his acceptance speech, Lorenzana said the award spoke of the “highest standard and higher value” of alliance between the Philippines and the United States. “I hope this award will inspire our efforts beyond the bounds of mutual defense and security engagements for the challenges that confront us today are far different from those that we had to deal with from the past decades and they continue to unravel in various ways with new technologies,” he said. n
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A
Arroyo ousted as deputy House speaker
said in a statement. Arroyo also said she has no ill-will against Speaker PantalREP. Gloria Arroyo of Pampan- eon Alvarez who made good his ga, one of the 24 lawmakers who threat to remove House leaders voted against the death penalty who did not support the death bill, has been ousted as deputy penalty measure. “I thank the President for his speaker of the House of Repreexpression of understanding sentatives. House Majority Leader Rodolfo late last year regarding my poFariñas of Ilocos Norte moved to sition on the issue. I also thank declare Arroyo’s post vacant before the Lower House adjourned for the Lenten break on Wednesday, March 15. Fariñas also filed a motion declaring the posts of the House Committee Chairmen who voted against the death penalty vacant. Fariñas’ motion was carried without objection. There were 239 lawmakers present during the plenary session on Wednesday. PIMENTEL CONGRATULATES QC MAYOR BAUTISTA. Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Chair of the Commission on Appointments Arroyo said she does not re(CA), together with CA Vice-Chairman and San Juan City Representative Ronaldo Zamora pose for a souvenir photo with Quezon City gret voting against the death Mayor Herbert Bautista after the CA’s plenary session, Wednesday, March 15. Bautista’s appointment to the rank of Colonel, Philippine penalty bill. Army (reservist) was approved by the Commission along with 43 other military officers. Senate photo by Joseph Vidal “The issue of the death penalty is unlike any other, in that it touches the core of each person’s fundamental view of human life. I believe that the issue required a vote based solely on conscience and the deepest of Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bor- congressional district of Cama- personal convictions. Thus, deby MeLissa BasMayor dado Jr., Naga City Vice Mayor rines Sur. Philstar.com spite my support for President Nelson Legacion, Councilors A majority of the attendees Duterte and Speaker Alvarez, NAGA CITY, Philippines (Bicol Nene de Asis, Elmer Baldemoro, were members of Lakas ng I voted against House Bill No. Standard) — Close to 2,000 sup- Miles Arroyo, Jun Lavadia, Lito u PAGE A11 4727 (Death penalty bill),” she porters trooped to Plaza Rizal on del Rosario, Vidal Castillo, Ray-an Thursday evening, March 16 to Rentoy, and Buddy del Castillo. attend a prayer rally to protest Also present were members of the latest online attack against civil society groups, several repVice President Leni Robredo and resentatives of private and public her husband Jesse. schools, and other organizations In attendance were Camarines within Naga City and the third by LLanesca
T. PanTi ManilaTimes.net
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THE LAW OFFICES OF NORIEL L. FLORES 2 5 YEARS OF LAW P RACT ICE IN CALIFORNIA NORIEL L. FLORES, ESQ. MELISSA J. HERBITO, ESQ.
(213) 487-8500 • (909) 895-7004 NLFLAW@GMAIL.COM Vice President Leni Robredro joins her supporters in a prayer rally on Thursday at Plaza Rizal, Naga City. Facebook/Leni Robredo
21671 Gateway Center Drive, Suite 103 Diamond Bar, CA 91765
the Speaker for the honor of having served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. It meant much to me. As a plain Congresswoman I will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez,” Arroyo said. Also stripped of their House leadership posts were House
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A MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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OpiniOn
Features
The other war
WITH several presidential appointees implicated in questionable transactions, Malacañang has created a special unit that will look into graft cases reported to the Presidential Action Center. The anti-graft unit was created after employees of the Tourism Promotions Board lodged an administrative complaint against its chief operating officer, actor Cesar Montano. The complainants provided a detailed list of offenses attributed to Montano, who assumed the TPB post only four months ago. Among other things, Montano is accused of appointing his brother, other relatives, friends and even his gardener to the TPB even where there are no vacancies, and of charging expenses in his personal travels to the board. Asked about the accusations, President Duterte said he trusted Montano and urged the actor’s detractors to file a complaint – something they had already done days earlier, indicating that the Chief Executive had not been properly briefed on the controversy. To the President’s credit, he had acted quicker in other cases linking his appointees to corruption, including those known to be close to him. Without waiting for guilt to be established in court – which could take forever in this country – the President
fired his campaign spokesman Peter Laviña as chief of the National Irrigation Administration. The President also got rid of two of his Lex Talionis law fraternity brothers, deputy immigration commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who were implicated in the multimillion-peso bribery scandal in the bureau involving casino mogul Jack Lam. Malacañang officials have said another Duterte appointee, National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino, is also under investigation for unauthorized rice importations. Now comes the complaint against Montano, whose alleged offenses particularly involving nepotism and misuse of public funds can be easily verified. In numerous speeches, the President has promised that his government will be clean. He has also warned his friends and supporters that he would not hesitate to dump them and even have them indicted if they engage in corruption. In several cases the President has proven true to his word, and he must sustain his commitment. There can be no sacred cows in this war. (Philstar.com)
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Trump continues his unsubstantiated wiretapping accusations vs Obama, says British spies did it PRESIDENT Donald Trump just will not stop. Republicans and Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have said they have not seen any evidence to substantiate Trump’s accusations of wiretapping/surveillance against Pres. Barack Obama before, during and after the 2016 presidential election. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey has said it in private and will be public that such wiretapping/surveillance did not happen, and that Obama never ordered such wiretapping/surveillance as Trump alleges. The Department of Justice report issued on Friday, March 17, likewise did not confirm Trump’s wiretap claim. Both the Democrats and Republicans have been demanding the White House to come up with proof that such wiretapping happened. More than a week after Trump’s March 4 early morning twitter rant, no evidence was presented by the president, and his Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway began pivoting in their talking points to broaden the definition of the word he used in his tweet. They said the word in the president’s tweet did not really mean just “wiretapping” but should cover all different kinds of surveillance.
against Obama. The White House also said Then on Thursday, March 16 Trump was not saying the wire- The Fil-Am during the White House daily tapping accusation was directed press conference, Press Secto Obama personally, but to the Perspective retary Sean Spicer alleged that members of the Obama Administhe British spies did the surtration. veillance on behalf of Obama However, Trump’s four tweets to ensure there “no American clearly stipulated “wiretapping” fingerprints on it.” happened as a matter of “fact” Gel SantoS-ReloS Spicer pointed to Andrew and was ordered by “Obama” himself, even saying “How low can he get?” “Bad/ Napolitano, a New Jersey judge turned commentator as the source who said on the show “Fox& sick guy”, with reference to Obama personally. Trump never consulted his U.S. intelligence Friends” on March 14, “Three [unnamed] intelcommunity about the accusation, and never even ligence sources have informed Fox News that tried to order the FBI to release classified infor- President Obama went outside the chain of commation to back up his claims if there was real evi- mand. He didn’t use the NSA, he did not use the CIA, he didn’t use the FBI and he didn’t use the dence. In an interview with Fox News that aired on Department of Justice — he used GCHQ.” Britain spy agency GCHQ angrily stated that Wednesday, March 15 , Trump said he was sure he got wiretapped the information from a Fox such accusation was “utterly ridiculous and News segment the night before. He also previ- should be ignored.” The White House would not back down and reously said he got information from Fox’s Sean Hannity and also from Breitbart news. Trump fused to apologize about the unfounded claims added that he also read about wiretapping from against Obama and the British spy agencies. During the press conference on Friday, March the failing New York Times. The president teased that within a couple weeks, new “interesting” 17 with visiting Germany Prime Minister Angela information would come out to prove his claim Merkel, Trump was asked by a German reporter
about this accusation. Trump did not disavow the accusation but instead said “You should not be talking to me. You should be talking to Fox”, explaining that the White House just quoted the information they got from the “brilliant” lawyer Napolitano on Fox News. In a statement after the press conference, Fox news released a statement via Shepard Smith saying,“Fox News cannot confirm Andrew Napolitano’s report of Obama using the GCHQ to spy on Trump. Fox news knows of no evidence of any kind that the now President of the United States was surveilled at any time in any way, full stop.” Why would Donald Trump, the president of the United States, continue to fabricate and spread falsehoods? How would this affect the United States’ standing in the international community and our relationship with our allies? How would this affect our national security? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
PRESIDENTS UNDER SIEGE
Duterte’s impeachment challenge, Trump’s blocked travel ban First Word IT’S striking that Opinion the political opposition in America and the Philippines have gone in markedly different routes to challenge the incumbent Yen Makabenta Presidents. This is a reflection of the presidential system of government to which both countries subscribe. In the United States, the opposition has challenged in court Donald Trump’s executive order barring the entry into the country of immigrants from five Muslim-majority countries. In this effort, it has already won some partial victories in several states, where district judges have blocked the order. But now, the issue will go to the US Supreme Court where the Trump administration intends to fully argue the issue. In the Philippines, the opposition has filed an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte in the House of Representatives in a bid, not only to stop Duterte’s war on drugs, but to oust him from office. The contrasting approaches of each opposition group suggest the level of difficulty that each group will face in order to achieve its aims. In the US, the opposition has chosen a wholly legal route. It questions the constitutionality and legality of Trump’s travel ban, and victory will depend on whether the US Supreme Court will sustain the findings of some lower courts or completely overturn them. In the Philippines, the preferred route is impeachment of the President in the Congress, where the opposition must
contend with the superior numbers of the administration in both houses of Congress. Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate a case of impeachment against the President. The Senate has the sole power to try and decide a case of impeachment, in a trial where the Supreme Court Chief Justice will preside. An invidious comparison I am drawing what is called an “invidious comparison” between the two projects in bringing them together. This means the contrast will tend to arouse resentment or rejection because it is unfair or unpleasant. The Philippine project is strategically aimed at bringing down a constitutionally elected President. The hope is that by unseating him, his elected successor, the Vice President, can then take over. The American project is focused wholly on overturning a controversial policy in court. Its aim is simply to defeat Mr. Trump on a question of policy via the rule of law, and thereby delegitimize his presidency. It’s striking that both projects are taking place in a presidential system of government (the Philippine system is sprung from the US, having been installed when the Philippines was under US colonial rule). Had these moves happened under a parliamentary system as in the United Kingdom, a vote of confidence would be called in Parliament and the issue would have been quickly resolved by
the majority. Omnibus impeachment complaint It is intriguing that Filipino opposition leaders went straight to the impeachment solution, instead of lodging first a legal challenge against the drug war and drug policy. This suggests that a bigger initiative may be in the works, wherein many groups are involved, and multiple actions will then converge on a common objective. The impeachment complaint was filed Thursday by party-list lawmaker, Rep. Gary Alejano of the Magdalo party-list group of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes. Alejano is a former member of the Marines, who joined the failed 2003 Oakwood rebellion against the Arroyo administration led by Trillanes. In his impeachment complaint, Alejano accused Duterte of responsibility for 1) the alleged killing of some 7,000 drug suspects; 2) the alleged execution by a Davao Death Squad of some 1,400 individuals during Duterte’s stint as Davao City mayor; 3) hiding wealth of as much as P2.2 billion from his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth; and 4) hiring 11,000 ghost employees of the city government when he was Davao City mayor. The complaint drew an immediate riposte from the administration and its allies in Congress. Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panel dismissed the complaint as a mere list of general allegations that are totally without substance. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd declared that the President has committed no impeachable offense and would not be impeached. Rep. Karlo Nograles of Davao City
said the complaint “is based solely on conjectures, supposition, hearsay and wild imagination.” It cannot prosper in Congress. Under the Constitution, a verified impeachment complaint, meaning a complaint endorsed by a House member (in this case, Alejano) would have to be included in the House of Representatives’ order of business within 10 session days and referred to the proper committee. The impeachment complaint will not move until May 7, when Congress resumes sessions after a Lenten break. If Alejano’s complaint is referred to the House justice committee, the panel will determine if the complaint is sufficient in form and substance, by a majority vote of its members. If approved, the House justice panel will have to come up with a report to be submitted to House leaders within 60 session days. The complaint must reach the plenary within 10 session days after the House leaders receive the House justice panel’s report. At least one-third of the 292 House members, or 98 lawmakers, must vote in favor of the impeachment complaint for Duterte to face an impeachment trial in the Senate. Coordinated and converging actions Administration officials also contend that the impeachment effort is just part of a larger scenario to bring down President Duterte. They believe that the variant actions are not random happenings but are coordinated and are designed to converge at some point. Justice Secretary Aguirre believes that this is the case. Presidential spokesman
Ernesto Abella alluded to “dramatic” and “coordinated” efforts to destabilize the administration. They cited the following: 1.Vice President Leni Robredo’s taping of a video message that was scheduled to be played on Thursday before the 60th annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria. 2. The statement of the European Parliament calling on Duterte to stop the extra-judicial killings (EJKs) being committed in the drug war. The actions individually may come to nothing, but combined, in Panelo’s view, they create scenario for the opposition to propagandize against the government ad absurdum. The hope is that at some point many Filipinos will be agitated enough to rally in massive numbers against Duterte. What will happen to the scenario when Robredo predictably takes back her words and denies participation in any plot to destabilize the government? What happens when the successor shows no stomach for the sustained action which serious destabilization demands? The plot will collapse like a house of cards. Senator Trillanes will remain, ready to unveil new accusations against the President. Then perhaps, the nation will realize that their national treasury is funding so many public officials whose chief activity these days is solely to bad-mouth the President. They do not dare to take the drug war to court. The main point of the opposition is to keep on talking and issuing press releases. (yenmakabenta@yahoo.com)
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Dateline PhiliPPines
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
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Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary C. Alejano files an impeachment complaint against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte at the Office of the Secretary-General, House of Representatives on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
Duterte shares ‘intimate’ dinner, asks support from senators by Dana
SioSon AJPress
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte spent an “intimate” dinner with members of the Senate majority bloc on Tuesday evening, March 14 at Malacañang. A photo posted by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on his social media accounts reveals the senators who attended the event, which include Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. Apart from Ejercito, also present were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Manny Pacquiao, Richard Gordon, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri. “Intimate dinner between President Duterte and my colleagues in the Senate. We discussed the proposed tax reform,” the photo caption read. Meanwhile, the only three majority members who were not present in the picture were Senators Panfilo Lacson, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Gringo Honasan. Also notably missing in the photo were the six members of minority bloc: Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila De Lima. De Lima, a vocal critic of Duterte, has been detained at
Camp Crame since February 20 over drug charges. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella described the dinner as “private, lively, and productive.” According to Abella, Duterte and the senators exchanged views on “vital legislative agenda currently pending in the Senate,” citing the proposed emergency powers to solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila during the meeting. The officials also discussed the proposed comprehensive tax reform package, which “seeks to realign the revenue collection of the government, boost the available income of the taxpayers, while guaranteeing the healthy operation of the government and the country’s inclusive development programs.” “They likewise talked about the president’s war on drugs and the Senate concurrence to the Philippines’ accession to the Paris Agreement,” Abella added. “In all, it was a productive evening.” During the dinner, Duterte also sought the senators’ support, according to Zubiri. “He asked us to support him. I’d like to put that clear. I know the attitude of the president. He never asks for favors, help. In this particular dinner, he basically mentioned ‘give me some time to clean up the problem of peace and order and the economy, and basically the projects he’s trying to push,” Zubiri told reporters on Wednesday, March 15. Asked why Duterte was seek-
ing their support, Zubiri responded: “So many people are asking him to resign. So many people are asking him to stand down. So many people are asking to promote destabilization. What he’s saying is: let me do my job.” At the same time, Ejercito and Poe denied that the dinner was a form of a “loyalty check.” Sharing the same sentiments with Ejercito, Sotto said: “It was just a fellowship dinner, socials, nothing official, we did not talk about anything official.” “There were no serious discussions. We spoke about many issues in passing. No agreements were made. We joked around. It was very informal. My impression is it was all about camaraderie,” Recto told Inquirer. On the other hand, without specifying, Gatchalian told GMA News that they “discussed vital legislation that we need to pass once we get back from the Senate.” Presently, the bill, which seeks the reimposition of capital punishment in the country, is pending before the Senate. During the presidential campaign, Duterte vowed that the death penalty would be restored. While Ejercito denied that the death penalty was discussed during the meeting, Recto said the issue was brought up. “Yes, briefly. And we all know his position with or without (the dinner),” Recto replied when asked if capital was mentioned. “He (Duterte) did not even say it directly. He only expressed his position. n
POLICE ON BIKES. The police has started organizing teams of “scouts on motorcycles” to beef up its anti-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts in five security-challenged southern provinces. The Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM) trained from March 6 to 9 a pioneer batch of 76 officers on motorcycle patrol and tactical riding maneuvers to boost its domestic security initiatives. Philstar.com photo by John Unson
Arum prefers Broner, Crawford over Khan for Pacquiao by Dino
Maragay Philstar.com
BRITISH fighter Amir Khan is nowhere in Bob Arum’s radar as a future opponent for Manny Pacquiao. After a reported deal for a May fight between Pacquiao and Khan fell through, Arum had said the two could face each other in November instead. But now, the veteran promoter thinks there are other more marketable opponents than Khan. In a boxingscene.com report, Arum said he does not see a Pacquiao-Khan bout happening later this year, instead preferring the Filipino icon to take on either former champion Adrien Broner or rising star Terence Crawford. “No, not really [will the fight with Khan happen in the fall], because I think that when we come to November, I think that there are other candidates that would probably do a lot better, particularly on US pay-per-view, like either Adrien Broner or Terence Crawford,” Arum explained. Khan hasn’t fought since get-
Adrien Broner and Terence Crawford
ting knocked out by Saul Alvarez when the former challenged the latter in a middleweight title fight in May last year. In contrast, Broner (33-2, with 24 KOs) and Crawford (30-0, with 21 KOs) have been more active and are both coming off wins, which may have led Arum to conclude that the two are more marketable on pay-per-view. “Guys like that, who probably have more credibility at this
point, in this country, than Amir Khan does,” Arum added. Jeff Horn, whose representatives had earlier negotiated with Arum for a shot at Pacquiao, remains in the mix. “If the fight is going to be in Australia, then it probably will be Jeff Horn. If it’s somewhere else, then it may not be. We are probably targeting sometime in July now, when the Philippine Senate will be once again in recess,” Arum said. n
A10 MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline PHiliPPineS
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Conditions for UN special rapporteur visit remain by ChRistina
mendez
Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Five months after a formal invitation was sent to United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard, President Duterte is not backing out from the conditions he set for the visit and subsequent investigation on his administration’s war against illegal drugs. In a press briefing on Friday, March 17 at Malacañang, Foreign Affairs spokesman and assistant secretary Charles Jose revealed
that the bloody war against drugs and alleged summary executions are now subjects of discussions at the UN office in Geneva. While the invitation stays, he reiterated that Callamard must meet the conditions for her to push through with a visit to the Philippines. “I think the conditions set by the President are still standing. Until and unless she agrees to these conditions, I don’t think the visit will push through,” Jose said. In December, Duterte set three
conditions before allowing a UN probe: One, Callamard must consent to a public debate with Duterte before the media. Two, Duterte would be allowed to ask her three questions. Three, Callamard must take an oath. He has called the UN many names and even threatened to leave the group for criticizing his administration’s efforts at ridding the country of illegal drugs. “I think discussions are ongoing in Geneva and I think we reiterate the conditions set by the Philippine government,” Jose said. n
PH universities lagging behind in Asia by JanviC
mateo Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines lags behind some of its regional counterparts in the latest Asia university rankings released by London-based Time Higher Education magazine on Friday, March 17. The University of the Philippines was the only higher education institution in the country that made it to the list of the top 300 universities in Asia. It ranked
201 to 250, obtaining a weighted score of 18.2 to 21.3 out of possible 100 points. It was the first time that a Philippine university entered the said Asian university rankings, which expanded the coverage from 200 higher education institutions last year to 300 this year. The National University of Singapore topped the list for the second year in a row, followed by Peking University and Tsinghua University in China, Nanyang Technological University in
Singapore and the University of APPEAL TO INHIBIT. VACC chairman Dante Jimenez (third from left), Ferdinand Topacio (second, left) and members of other groups Hong Kong. gather in front of the Supreme Court to ask Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza to recuse himself from the case of Senator Leila Completing the top 10 are de Lima. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Tokyo in Japan, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul National Uniby Paolo RomeRo versity, and Pohang University of Philstar.com Science and Technology, all in South Korea. MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter CayetThe ranking is based on 13 ano branded on Friday, March 17 as “fake news” performance indicators grouped reports questioning his citizenship. into five areas: teaching (the A newspaper column (not in The STAR) opined u PAGE A11 that Cayetano could still be a US citizen or even stateless as it was unclear how he has handled his citizenship. The senator was born to a Filipino father, the late senator Renato Cayetano, and an American mother, Sandra Schramm. In a Facebook video, Cayetano said though he In a Facebook video, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said though he was was born with Filipino and US citizenships under born with Filipino and US citizenships under the law, “according to some court cases, that is not the fault of the child.” the law, “according to some court cases, that is not Philstar.com/File photo the fault of the child.” He said he wanted to renounce his US citizen- the House of Representatives in 1998. “Let me state categorically I’m not an American ship when he entered law school but his father only allowed him to do so when he ran for a seat in citizen,” Cayetano said. n
Cayetano slams report questioning his citizenship
Arroyo ousted as deputy House…
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Committee on Public Information Chairman Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list; House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list; House Committee on Poverty Alleviation Chairman Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela; House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation Chairman Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas; House Committee on People Participation Chairman Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands; House Committee on Muslim Affairs Chairman Sitti Hataman of Anak Mindanao party-list; House Special Committee on Land Use Chairman Kit Belmonte; House Committee on Basic Education
Chairman Evelina Escudero and House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman Michael Velarde of Buhay party-list. Escudero was replaced by Rep. Ramon Durano 6th of Cebu. Santos-Recto saw her ouster coming but clarified that the LP lawmakers allied with the Super Majority who voted against the death penalty will not become opposition lawmakers. “We’re prepared for it. We knew because it was announced. At the end of the day, it’s your conviction. Its what you believe in. That’s what’s important,” Santos-Recto said. “But I don’t have plans to join the Minority. We will still be having discussions in the LP. But we are not making any drastic
move,” she added. House Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chair Emmeline Agligay of DIWA partylist and House Committee on Government Reorgnanization Chair Henedina Abad of Batanes were also ousted from her post since they were absent during the voting on the death penalty measure. Rep. Amado Espino of Pangasian was also absent during the vote on death penalty bill, but he wasn’t stripped of his post as the Chair of the House Committee on National Defense and Security. President Rodrigo Duterte initially tagged Espino as a politician involved in illegal drug operations but was later cleared by the President. n
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
A11
PH universities lagging behind in… PAGE A10 t
learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), citations (research influence), international outlook (staff, students and research) and industry income (knowledge transfer). UP scored 23 percent in teaching, 10.6 percent in research, 13.5 percent in citations, 42.1 percent in international outlook and 40.8 percent in industry income. Potential education powerhouse Despite the inclusion of UP in the list, the Philippines was not
included in the countries identified to have the potential to follow the footsteps of Asian higher education powerhouses such as China and South Korea. Among those mentioned were Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia. Thailand has 10 universities in the list, the most among Southeast Asian countries. It included Mahindol University, which ranked 97th. Indonesia has two universities in the list (Bandung Institute of Technology, 201 to 250; Univer-
sity of Indonesia, 251+), while Pakistan increased the number of institutions in the list from two to seven. “But of the emerging university nations in Asia, the rankings results suggest that Malaysia has the greatest potential. The country claims seven of the top 200 places, up from four last year, and features a total of nine institutions overall,” the magazine said. Its top university, the University of Malaya, ranked 59th overall in the Asian rankings. n
Robredo…
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Kababaihan, a group founded by the vice president and her late husband, and several members of the persons with disability (PWD) sector. Mayor John Bongat, however, Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary C. Alejano files an impeachment complaint against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte at the Office of the Secretarywas absent from the occasion. General, House of Representatives on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta It will be recalled that Bongat earlier announced that he will not attend the event until after his Apart from Bongat, City Councilors Jose Rañola, a relative of the by Karlos Manlupig mayor’s wife and Greg Abonal Inquirer.net did not attend the prayer rally. DAVAO CITY—Former PresiRobredo said the issues hurled dent Joseph Estrada on Thursagainst her are old, recycled isday, March 16 stood as “ninong” sues used against her family, (godfather) at the baptism of which people should not believe. President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Tubod kamo na imbuelto si newest grandson, Stonefish, the Jesse sa jueteng? Sa drugs? Na third child of Davao City Mayor may pinagadan si Jesse?” (Do Sara Duterte and her husband, you believe that [former Mayor] lawyer Manases Carpio. Jesse was involved in jueteng? Estrada, the first President of In drugs? That he had somebody the Philippines to be impeached, killed?”) she asked the crowd, to could not have known it in adwhich her supporters shouted vance, but he linked himself with “Dai” (No). the Dutertes just as a former milAccording to the vice presiitary mutineer was bringing an dent, the issues in NagaLeaks do impeachment complaint against not only concern her family but Mr. Duterte in the House of Repalso the City of Naga itself. resentatives. Robredo said that she’s hurt Portent of misfortune? since the city’s good name and If anyone saw it as a portent reputation are being tarnished of political misfortune for Mr. by the affronts on social media. Duterte, they decided it was best She added that the people reto leave it unsaid. sponsible for the NagaLeaks are After all, Estrada, now mayor hiding behind fake identities, of Manila, was just one of several BAPTISMAL GODFATHER President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and thus cannot easily be made men who stood as godfathers to carries her baby nicknamed Stonefish, after the baptismal rites. Former President Joseph accountable for their actions. Stonefish, and Mr. Duterte did Estrada, now Manila mayor,who stood as one of the godfathers, is shown in this photo posted “It would be good if those isnot make it to the baptism rites, by Sara on Instagram. sues are discussed here in Naga, The reception was attended because of Mayor Duterte’s fond- because you are all aware of held during Mass celebrated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles only by members of the Duterte ness for the sea. the situation, but since they are at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in and Carpio families and the godHer two other children are discussed nationwide, it is my parents. Maa village. nicknamed Sharky and Stingray. responsibility to confront the isStonefish, whose real name is Mr. Duterte, however, turned Mr. Duterte has nine other sues and react,” Robredo said. up at the reception, held at the Marko Digong Duterte Carpio, grandchildren — five of them Robredo pledged to make exclusive Matina Enclaves near was born on March 2. children of his son Paolo, the vice those involved in NagaLeaks anFondness for the sea the President’s house in Doña mayor of Davao City, and two kids swerable for their irresponsible He was nicknamed Stonefish of his other son, Sebastian. n Luisa Subdivision. actions. n
Erap is ‘ninong’ to Sara Duterte’s son
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 18-21, 2017
SHOWBIZ&STYLE
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Journal
KC Concepcion: ‘I’m not leaving showbiz’ How Robin Padilla accepted Kylie’s pregnancy WHAT grandfather-to-be Robin Padilla has to say about his pregnant daughter Kylie? KC Concepcion, known as one According to Kylie, she and of the prettiest faces in the counfiancĂŠ, Aljur Abrenica, did not try, has not been visible on telepublicly admit her pregnancy imvision for over a year, except for mediately because they wanted to movie reruns on cable television. tell their families first. Every now and then, she may be “Kasi ayaw naming nauunaseen hosting a few events. han. We want to be respectful. With fewer commitments for Ayaw namin na sa labas malalathe Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s man, so we went to my dad and eldest, showbiz observers have told him, ‘Pa, I’m pregnant,’ after wondered if the Paris-educated a few days n’ung date na lumabas and well-to-do “mega daughterâ€? (na positive sa pregnancy test). may be thinking of quitting the And then, I told my mom,â€? Kylie industry where she was born. narrated in an interview with But during a Women’s Month had long been recognizing as a Philstar.com. event organized by fabric condi“princessâ€? in the industry given How did Robin react? tioner Downy Parfum, Concepthe fact that her parents—dramat- Kylie Padilla learned the ropes of showbiz from her father and mentor, Robin Padilla (center, cion revealed why she has not PAGE B2 ic actor Gabby Concepcion and with her siblings). taken on a much-coveted telesCuneta—were one of the most erye project or a movie. famous, if not the most famous, “Actually I have many offers,â€? couples back in the ‘80s. she began. “And I’m very thankful Incidentally, the former husto ABS-CBN because they are still band and wife are said to be my family when it comes to the planning a reunion movie, and entertainment world. These days, while Cuneta and Concepcion’s I’ve just been really busy with my long-time fans are ecstatic over business, but more than that, I’m the news, it is their princess’ reac-/( *VU]LU[PVUHS waiting for the right project so tion that begs to be asked. 7\YJOHZL 9LMPUHUJL that people won’t say I just take “Of course it would be a treat on anything that comes my way,â€? to watch them together in a the 31-year-old actress said. movie but I think I will feel kind She further clarified, “It’s not of awkward to get to watch my true that there are no projects [for parents again,â€? she chuckled a me]. Like I said, the offers conlittle. “But whatever happens—if tinue to come, and I am glad that they have a movie or not—what producers don’t get tired to look is important to me is that they’re for me, so I’m really thinking of friends. I am sure they don’t have any bad blood with each other, and because I’m here, I hope their relationship will always be that of good friends.â€? What made her happier, according to Concepcion, is her mother’s amazing weightloss and TV comeback. 7YVNYHT Z\IQLJ[ [V JOHUNL ^P[OV\[ WYPVY UV[PJL “She puts in a lot of hard work in losing weight. She was really excited to return to television—with The Voice, and Your Face Sounds Familiar,â€? the doting :Y 3VHU *VUZ\S[HU[ daughter proudly said. “If she’s >HSS -PUHUJPHS 0UJ +)( happy, we’re all happy because >PU 7YPTL 3LUKPUN whenever she doesn’t have the 543: :V /HY]HYK )S mic, she doesn’t have the stage, she feels really sad. But when LTHPS! JHYVS T`^MP'NTHPS JVT 3VZ (UNLSLZ *( The showbiz princess is now prioritizing her humanitarian work as the country’s National PAGE B3 Ambassador against Hunger for the United Nations’ (UN) World Food Programme (WFP). by DenI
Rose M. afInIDaD-BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
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the best that I can offer them—the fans—when the time comes.� ‘KC’s Closet’ While in the process of deciding which showbiz projects to pursue, Concepcion opened an online shop in 2016 to support her advocacy as the country’s National Ambassador against Hunger for the United Nations’ (UN) World Food Programme (WFP). She sells her pre-loved luxury clothing, shoes, shoes, bags and accessories via kcscloset.com, the proceeds of which goes to feeding programs for children all over the Philippines. Just last Monday, March 13, the celebrity visited the organization’s projects in the town of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao where they launched a supplemental feeding program for over 300 elementary students and helped address the region’s malnutrition problem. “I’m not leaving showbiz,� she pronounced, “but now I’m just prioritizing my work with the UN because they only choose one person per country to be an ambassador. Right now, I’m happy that we were able to raise P1 million for school feeding in Mindanao. It just means that our hard work pay off.� Still a showbiz princess Concepcion has always been considered a showbiz royalty, and
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B march 18-21, 2017 • La WEEKEND aSIaN JOUrNaL
Features
Barbie Forteza, Ivan Dorschner: ‘We enjoy each other’s company’
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Moonlighting by MyLah de
Leon
by Lhar
Santiago ManilaTimes.net
RuMoRs persist about Barbie Forteza and Ivan Dorschner getting extra-ordinarily close. Even on the set of their GMA rom-com series “Meant to Be,” the two Kapuso stars are always spotted talking to each other. They have private jokes that only they understand. Barbie and Ivan, however, deny that there’s something special going on between them. “Yes, I admit I am very close to Ivan but I’m also close to Ken (Chan), Jak (Roberto) and Addy (Raj). If I’m seen always talking to Ivan, it shouldn’t be given any meaning. I am very comfortable with him just as I am also comfortable with the other guys. Walang malisya do’n,” the young star explained. “We enjoy each other’s company. We talk a lot because we share a lot of interests. We’re comfortable with each other,” added Ivan.
Barbie Forteza and Ivan Dorschner
As it turns out, Barbie and Ivan will be seen together more often because they’re due to promote Excess, the chain of salons owned by Freddie Moreno, son of the late Kuya Germs. The
pair just signed a contract to be the salon’s main endorsers, and because there are 32 branches in different parts of the country, they’ll be traveling together a lot.
Do we seriously think writing is all joy? one should realize it is also half pain, and sometimes it is pain that makes us write. Think about the atrocious solitude of a room that gradually becomes a prison, like a torture chamber. The fear of the blank page that stares at you mockingly, the torment of the word you didn’t find and if you did, it rhymes with the adjacent word. It is the martyrdom of a sentence that limps, of the metrics that fall apart, the structure that struggles of the page that bores, paragraphs that you must dismantle and re write, rewrite, until the words seem to you food that recedes from the famished mouth of Tantalus. Cooped inside and giving up on the outside world, the blue, the green, the pleasure watching the sky into an abyss of an invention expressed through words and committed to a papery essence; a creative work polluted by human inconsistencies and duplicities, whether written with a smile on the lips and a tear in the eyes. It is a monkish discipline, a hero’s sacrifice and Colette was right when she said it is also a form of masochism. A crime against ourselves, a felony, that should be punished by law like the other
The papery essence of writing felonies. Because of writing there are people who end up in psychiatric clinics if not cemetery - people who turn into alcoholics, drug addicts, lunatics, suicides that is where writing destroys, when it kills more than bombs. But to live to survive we must think — and to think we must produce ideas. Is there anyone better to produce ideas than writers? Away with phony humility, the writer is a sponge that absorbs life, to spit it out again in the form of ideas. The metaphor of the dowser who finds water in any desert, like the allegory of the eternally pregnant cow who deliver calves in the form of ideas. The gift of Merlin the wizard with the ability to see things others cannot see, to hear things that others cannot hear. To imagine things that others can not imagine, anticipate and convey ideas. Today, I wish to transfer my thoughts on paper. I navigate through the treacherous water of the longed: for that novel is my magnificent obsession and only the good Lord knows what port it will lead me. I’m aware that a novel doesn’t yield its many secrets immediately, it locks within itself a mine of hypothesis; a myriad good and bad surprises, so everything is possible, including the worsts. The characters are imaginary. They are so even when they are inspired by some model or alleged models. I listen, I spy, I
steal from reality, then I correct it to such a degree that often, I no longer remember who the original was. However, they represent only a part of the human samples the novel will offer. It will be full of life, not a silent or black and white show, but an inexhaustible rainbow of colors. An unending concerto of noises, a phantasmagorical chaos of voices and faces and creatures whose actions intertwine to weave the charms of events that determine the individual’s destinies. Do I exaggerate? or am I just succumbing to the rhetoric of enthusiasm, to the utopia’s of the neophyte? Column writing has always attracted me because it is a vessel in which one can simultaneously pour reality and fantasy, dialectics and poetry, ideas and feelings that provides a truth more true than real truth. Call it reinvented, universalized truth in which everybody can identify and recognize himself because, whatever story it recounts and what times or space a story unfolds. It’s about men, human beings. And no matter how a story (lived or invented) concludes, whether or not we’ve divined how it will conclude, there’s something disquieting in the curtain that recalls the precariousness of life, its unrepeatability…its inevitable and ineluctable goal. And lets not forget, the writer is always entitled to a certain amount of wrong.
How Robin Padilla accepted...
PAGE B1 “Ang sabi n’ya lang, ‘Alagaan n’yo ‘yung apo ko,’” the actress shared. Kylie said her stepmom, Mariel Rodriguez, has also been very happy for her. “she’s super supportive. Lahat ng gamit na hindi n’ya nagamit, ang sabi n’ya, ‘sige sa’yo na.’ okay! Thanks! Ayokong gumastos!” Kylie recalled with a laugh. Meanwhile, Aljur and Kylie admitted that after splitting and reuniting, they are not just expecting a baby; they actually became more in love with each other. “sobrang cute n’ya kasi he’s really making an effort! Nakikita ko na (sa kanya) ‘di lang ‘yung lover, pati father na. For a woman to see that in her partner, parang mas nakaka-in love!” Kylie told the press in an interview. Aljur, according to Kylie, was
#Team KylJur - Celebrity couple Aljur Abrenica and Kylie Padilla.
not shocked when he found out that his girlfriend is expecting. According to the actress, the actor simply said: “okay, nandyan na, kailangan na nating alagaan.” she admitted that their religious difference—she is a Muslim, while Aljur, a Catholic—makes it hard for them to tie the knot. Hence, they have no wedding plans yet. “We chose to wait for the baby
then we’ll think about the right thing to do,” said Kylie. “Ayaw na lang muna naming isipin yun. Gusto na lang muna naming lumabas ‘yung baby at ‘pag okay na s’ya, tsaka na naming iisipin ‘yun (wedding).” she and Aljur are taking one step at a time. “sa ngayon, AJ and I are thinking about the baby first. one by one!”
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Energy battle By Sean
Shono
WHEN a house’s entrance is directly facing another house’s entrance, an energy battle occurs. Because of the confronting energies, the energy of one of the two houses weakens. As a countermeasure, place lion plates and bagua concave mirror outside the entrance. For inside of the entrance, place a hang ra pan (Feng Shui compass). To further enhance the power of sekiganto, a bagua, a lion, a tiger, or a beetle is often carved on it. *All of our items have been purified by the authentic process of Feng Shui way. *** Feng Shui master Sean Shono owns Dragon God, a Feng Shui store in Gardena, California. He is the U.S. Chief of the International Feng
Shui Association. For more information, please call Sean Shono at (310) 787-1891.
Dragon God is located at 1580 W. Artesia SQ. Suite A, Gardena, CA 90248.
World’s sexiest math teacher falls in love with PH by Lhar
Santiago ManilaTimes.net
“HE’S perfect!” exclaimed one blogger upon seeing Pietro Boselli, dubbed the “World’s Sexiest Math Teacher” upon seeing the man in the flesh at the press conference tendered for the British-Italian model and school instructor by Bench. The hunk was in town to endorse the proudly Filipino brand, which had a series of fashion shows over the week. Dressed casually with in a gray round neck shirt, with the word Manila printed across the front chest, and a pair of black jogger’s, Pietro stole the show as he flashed his dreamy smile on stage. Some female members of the press, in fact, tried managed to let out muffled shrieks. Gorgeous is an understatement to describe Pietro’s looks. He is oozing with sex appeal, but
also looks so nice and pleasant. His body bulges with well-toned muscles in the right places, and his smile doesn’t leave his lips. Effortlessly charming, he is the kind of boy any girl would be proud to bring home to mama. Judging from how he answered questions, Pietro is a natural, and not the type who will try hard to impress. He made the press feel he was enjoying everything, and he doesn’t fake it. When he said he has fallen in love with the Philippines, one could feel he really meant it. “I already feel like this is my home. It’s the Pearl of The Orient as many people say. I’ve been to Asia only twice before—only China and India. It’s good to be in the Pearl of the Orient, it feels prestigious. I really want to stay longer here and explore. I want to see more of the country. I would
cess also happily talked about her relationship with boyfriend Aly Borromeo, former Philippine Azkals captain. Concepcion was previously linked with actor Paulo Avelino, with her last boyfriend and serious relationship with ABS-CBN star Piolo Pascual. She was also rumored to have stopped dating Borromeo, but later quelled
The Global Kababayan G. TönGi
Programming for Kababayan Today, March 20-24, 2017 Immigration Services (USCIS) District Director Susan Curda. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of
‘World’s Sexiest Math Teacher’ Pietro Boselli and Ben Chan.
like to see more of Manila, to begin with, and some of the islands. I’d like to see the beach, I’d like to see the nature, the different PAGE B4
KC Concepcion: ‘I’m not leaving...
PAGE B1 she’s performing, you’ll see she’s really in her element. We’re happy that she’s very excited every day to go to work. She’s very beautiful and I’m excited to share that I’ve also introduced her to several fashion designers who are my friends as well.” Love life Meanwhile, the showbiz prin-
WHAT TO DO WHEN IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) KNOCKS AT YOUR DOOR, ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Many people are terrified and uncertain about their future in the U.S. because of President Trump’s “enforcement priorities”, and whether they may be targeted for removal/deportation. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel ICHAEL provides useful tips and guidance on what you need to know and what to do when ICE comes to your home or work, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.
speculations by sharing photos of her and Borromeo bonding with her mother on social media. “He’s busy with football. Me, I’m busy with endorsements so it’s a very positive relationship because, of course, you want to be with someone who is really happy with your success,” she ended.
Monday, March 20 - Knowa Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features Lazarus, part of the rap duo group relevant topics for Filipinos living in America. Her Q-York, shares his album entitled aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between “Philippine Dream” to our kababayan viewers. Tuesday, March 21 - Camille Buenviaje, an intern at the Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, comes to the show to discuss how this disease is affecting members of our Filipino community. Watch out for details to an event, too! Wednesday, March 22 - The Asian Journal shares the latest headlines relevant to the Fil-Am community. Cindy J. Lee shares LA18’s latest web show called “Generation Now.” Mia McLeod shares her expertise on real estate and the loan programs available for home buyers. Thursday, March 23 - Attorney Welsh of Reeves, Miller, Zhang and Diza shares updates about the recent immigration policies. Forex, a global balikbayan box brand, expands to e-commerce. Friday, March 24 - Know about the pathway to legal naturalization with United States Citizenship and
America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.
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Welcoming the spring season — the Filipino way the Philippines to a place that has more than two seasons. This change also requires a change of wardrobe, food, scenery, and HAvING four seasons in a year pastimes. So how does the typical is an idea that is quite foreign to “Pinoy” deal with the changing of Filipinos who grew up in the Phil- the season? Food ippines. Back there, we only have Filipinos love to eat and foreignthe dry (summer) and wet (rainy) seasons. Then there are those, ers know that about us. One of like me, who migrated outside the running jokes about Filipinos By Monet
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is: “Wherever there’s food, that is where the Filipinos are.” Now that is good if they meant that we cook great food; otherwise, it could mean that we’re known as gluttons. Either way, food is a just at the core of every Filipino. And a food-loving Filipino has adapted the ability to adjust his or her palate according to the season. Spring season calls for a parade of spring rolls. And by that, I meant spring rolls of different varieties such as Lumpiang Shanghai (pork spring rolls), Lumpiang Sariwa or Lumpiang Ubod (bamboo shoots spring rolls) and Lumpiang Gulay or Lumpiang Toge (bean sprouts spring rolls) are the best sellers in a company potluck or spring banquet. And because we just love to dip everything in sauce, we even have the appropriate sauce for each of spring rolls. Sweet and sour chili sauce, peanut sauce, and of course, lumpiang toge’s faithful partner: sukang puti (white vinegar). Spring is also a great time to check out the newest Filipino restaurants or Asian fusion cafes that invaded Southern California. You can also venture further south to San Diego and I bet you will the aroma of inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly) would lead you to a Filipino restaurant or a park filled
by Ricky Lo Philstar.covm
ADMITTEDLY, there are bad cops but they are far outnumbered by the good cops. “Some of them are even ‘beautiful’,” said Loreto “Eton” Concepcion, one of the writers of PNP Journal (with PCSupt. Gilberto DC Cruz as editor-inchief). “They have been giving the police a positive image and a good reputation not only by fighting against lawlessness but also by winning in ‘beauty’ pageants for men.” They are actually called “Celeb Cops,” added Eton who named some of them in an article for the PNP mag, portions of which are reprinted with Eton’s permission. • PO2 Mariano P. Flormata Jr., Mister International 2014 PO2 Flormata, a.k.a. Neil Perez, became one of 2014’s
Beefing It Up with Healthy Tri-Tip
BY GRACE O
Mustard-Crusted Tri-Tip Serves 4–6 Ingredients 1 tri-tip (about 2-3lb.) grass-fed beef roast 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 3 Tbs. seasoned garlic salt 3 Tbs. sweet mesquite seasoning
1. Spread the Dijon mustard over the tri-tip and refrigerate overnight. 2. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Remove the tri-tip from refrigerator. Sprinkle with the garlic salt and mesquite seasoning. 3. Bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours. 4. Turn up the heat to broil. Broil the roast until top is browned and sizzling, about 10 minutes. 5. Remove the roast from oven and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before slicing.
© 2017 by FoodTrients.com
Mustard is a highly popular and widely used condiment that has sparked interest among nutritionists. Its selenium and magnesium have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce blood pressure. Its phytonutrients seem to inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells. Mustard also stimulates the saliva glands, aiding in digestion. I like to use Dijon mustard for the crust on this tri-tip, but you can use any flavorful prepared mustard. As with all red meat, the lysine in the beef repairs tissue and helps skin build new collagen. I use grass-fed beef for its Omega-3s and other healthful fats.
flowers and fruit trees. This is also one of the things about spring that we, Filipinos, can relate to. And it’s not because we have the spring season but because planting and harvesting is a way of life to us. We harvest vegetables and fruits, and plant more tropical plants that our gardens could handle. This season means a picnic at the park, checking out a botanical garden and Knott’s Berry Farm, you know, the stuff that you do while you bond over food and wear your flowery and light cotton shirts. Forget about hibernating in your pajamas or walking around your house wearing thermal socks -- that is so last winter! Go out there and watch the cherry blossoms and tulips, open the windows and enjoy the warm sun. As this new season unfolds, we should make the most of it by welcoming spring in all its glory. I do that by thinking of spring as the
snow finally melting, trees blooming, and the streets looking lively and green again! For most people, spring is a time of change. Thoughts of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and hope come to us when we wake up from a cold winter night to a warm spring morning. Oh, Spring, you bring so many beautiful things. And as Filipinos fondly say – and let me say it with cheers to a spring season full of hope: “Mabuhay!” *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
No, not all Pinoy cops are bad
age gracefully
Beef is a nutrient dense food, which means you don’t have to eat much of it to receive plenty of benefits. Just 3 ounces of beef delivers 30% of your daily need for zinc, which helps fight infections. According to William Boisvert, PhD, an expert in nutrition and immunity at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, “Zinc in your diet is very important for the development of white blood cells, the immune system cells that recognize and destroy invading bacteria, viruses, and assorted other challenges to your health.” Oysters, pork, poultry, yogurt and milk are also good sources of zinc. My recipe for MustardCrusted Tri-Tip is a great main course for company or to have on hand for sandwiches all week.
with Filipinos with picnic baskets filled with Filipino delicacies. Filipino food is just everywhere and I credit that to the talented cooks and chefs who make Los Angeles such a delicious place to live. Fashion Spring is the second season of the year. And second to adjusting this season’s menu is switching clothes. This is the time where thermal jackets and winter boots are stored away. Unless you have a perfectly good reason for wearing that fur coat, it should be in the closet. The “petite” pinays like to don flowery sundresses, spring colored jumpsuits, or some cute separates like a good statement skirt with comfortable and flattering cotton top. Pair this look with an accent pump and minimal accessories, and they swing their way to spring! For the men, skinny jeans are not as cool as they were before but still is a known staple in any man’s wardrobe. It’s the season to loosen up a bit, so straight cut cool print chino pants is a great alternative to tight and dark jeans. Pair these up with a lightweight cardigan and a statement eyewear and you’re off to great spring. Places One of the best things about this season is the blooming of
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
newsmakers when he won Mr. International Philippines and Mr. International in Korea the same year. The dashing cop from Tondo, Manila, appeared in local Tv shows and in commercials, and was invited to sit as judge in male contests across the country. He was recently appointed as ambassador of the R U Tough Enough “RUTE” 2016 search for the Toughest Pinoy. “Now that the people know who I am and look up to me,” said Flormata, “I get the chance to inspire and promote fitness and healthy living for the PNP as RUTE ambassador. I am also happy that other cops have begun pursuing modeling careers and have joined in male pageants.” • PO2 Don Mcgyver Cochico, 2016 Manhunt International Philippines Presently assigned at PNP Crime Laboratory-Polygraph Division, PO2 Cochico was named winner of the 2016 Manhunt International Philippines and finished among the Top 16 semifinalists in the Manhunt International pageant held in China the same year. He has been featured in Tv shows and entertainment magazines, and has sat as judge in the Gwapulis search and the Slimmer’s World Great Bodies Preliminaries. • Police Inspector Sofia Loren Deliu, Junior Aide-de-camp of the President Police Inspector Deliu competed in the 2015 Miss Philippines-Earth, the first policewoman to do so. The half-Filipina/half Romanian model left the world of a fashion and glamor to devote full time to police service. A member of the Philippine National Police Academy Mandilaab Class of 2014, Deliu worked as chief supply officer of the PNP Regional Public Safety Battalion, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). With the election of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Deliu became one of the select members of the elite Presidential Security Group (PSG), one of the Junior Aide de Camps that attend to DU30’s needs during his provincial activities. “I am truly honored to serve the President,” she said. “I know a lot of people are wondering how I was able to get into this and I am also aware that this job entails criticisms and judgements but I am not here for them. I am here to serve God and our country. I had to do my best to cope up with the standards of being a member of the PSG.” • Police Inspector Christopher Comicho Dulagan, 2016 Man of the World Philippines Police Dulagan, a 23-yearold native of Sagada, Mountain Province, Cordillera, was encour-
PAGE B3
PINSP Sofia Loren Deliu; PINSP Jester Calis (2016 Toughest Pinoy winner); PO1 Willy Quinto (2016 Gwapulis winner); PINSP Chri stopher Dulagan (2016 Man of the World Philippines); PO3 Mariano Flormata Jr. (a.k.a. Neil Perez, 2014 Mister International); and PO2 Don Mcgyver Cochico (2016 Manhunt International Philippines).
aged to join this year’s Misters of Filipinas pageant. Dulagan, an alumna of PNPA Masundayaw Class of 2016, presently acts as officer in charge of the Plaza Miranda PCP-MPD “Friday Feeding Program” for the less fortunate which is related to his personal advocacy to help the vulnerable members of society, including children, old citizens and LGBT members. Dulagan struggled as a child growing up in Sagada. He helped his mother plant vegetables to earn a living after the early death of his father. In Grade 5, he worked in construction sites carrying bags of gravel and sand. He completed a course in Criminology at Mt. Province State College and transferred to Silang, Cavite, after passing the PNPA entrance test in 2011. Dulagan was hyped as the best specimen of the modern Igorot — bright, brave, patient, industrious and friendly with a good sense of humor and blessed with an exceptional fine physique. With the backing of the Igorot community, conveying their messages in social media, Dulagan gained massive following which boosted his self-confidence. Now assigned at the Police Community Relations Division of the Manila Police District, Dulagan was declared one of the Top 3 Best in National Costume and the 2016 Misters of Filipinas Man of the World 2016. He will compete in the inaugural Man of the World to be held in Manila this year. • Police Inspector Jester “The Enforcer” Calis, R U Tough Enough 2016’s ‘Toughest Pinoy” Police Inspector Calis topped the second season of KIX Asia’s R U Tough Enough (RUTE) search for the Toughest Pinoy, held at the Block, SM North Edsa in October last year. The 25-year-old farmer-turned policeman bested nine other finalists after vari-
ous physical challenges testing the limits of physical strength, mental endurance and emotional resilience. Calis, who hails from the Cordillera province, drew his strength and mental toughness from growing as a child in the mountains and working in the farm to help his parents. He left his Igorot folks to pursue his education and attend to a bigger calling, the cause to serve the nation as a police officer. “I joined R U Tough Enough to help preserve the image of the PNP and to show how tough a policeman can be,” said Calis who was presented with his “Toughest Pinoy” title by RUTE 2016 appointed ambassador, Neil Perez. • PO1 Willy Quinto, 2016 Gwapulis grand winner Dubbed the dancing policeman of valenzuela City, PO1 Quinto beat five other grand finalists to become the first grand winner of ABS-CBN’s Gwapulis search at the grand finals held at the PNP Camp Crame headquarters in October last year. A vendor and tricycle driver’s son, Quinto won a brand-new house, a P10,000/month gift certificates from Shopwise (good for one year) and other prizes. PO1 Mark Christian Sioco, the Hottie Officer of Caloocan City, placed first runner-up, while PO1 Norman Wileman III, the Singing Police of Camp Bagong Diwa, won the Best in Talent special award. “I encourage my men to show the people that you are not only good-looking and talented but more importantly, you can be good role models worthy of emulation,” PNP Chief Director-General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, himself a “celeb cop,” said in a message. “Let us show everyone that good side of the police in service and help strengthen the positive image of the police.”
World’s sexiest math teacher falls...
culture of the country,” Pietro related. He also said that one of the reasons why he fell in love with the Philippines is because of the people. From the very moment he set foot in the country, he started experiencing the incomparable hospitality of Filipinos that makes any guest feel important. “Filipinos are so warm. Everywhere I go, all the people I meet
are so welcoming, I feel like I’ve been staying here for 20 years! They have a way of making you feel comfortable as if they’ve known you for a very long time,” After obtaining his Ph.D on Biomedical engineering in 2017, the brains and brawn decided to spend more time traveling. As such, it was the right time when the endorsement offer from Bench came. Because he is not under any agency or manager for his mod-
eling career, it didn’t take long before his deal with the Filipino clothing brand was sealed. “I am so thankful to Bench for bringing me to the Philippines. I really enjoy it here as much as I enjoy wearing Bench because it really fits my style. I am also very comfortable with Bench Body. I love it. I mean, obviously, I work hard on my body. I love showing it, so, you know, Bench Body fits me pretty well,” he averred.
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85°C Bakery lands in Glendale, CA by AJPress Brioche, marble taro bread, iced sea salt coffee & dozens of other fresh treats have made their way to Brand Boulevard in Glendale, california. Taiwanese chain 85°c Bakery café is the latest addition to the street that is gradually becoming a prominent food destination in Southern california. 85° c’s do ors offi c i ally opened on Friday, March 10 with a ribbon-cutting cer-
emony led by local officials and store managers. A line of eager customers started forming over an hour beforehand; throughout the day, over 2,000 individuals were served. in the span of the weekend, more than 6,000 customers visited the new location. entering 85°c is a very handson experience. You start by taking a cafeteria tray, set of plastic tongs and weave around the aisles to determine which baked goods (all made in-house) Jeffrey Chang, 85°C Glendale General Manager
catch your eye. Despite the lines, which go by quickly and efficiently, the choices as well as the unbeatable prices for the highquality and freshness of them are why this Taiwanese bakery has made its global mark. To keep things moving, there is a separate line for beverages, such as coffee (the iced sea salt drink is a classic and must-have), teas, and boba. For those wondering how the bakery got its name: 85°c is supposedly the best temperature for coffee. “everyone knows we are famous for our marble taro and brioche, but besides that, we offer hundreds of other products, such as over 50 types of bread and specialized cakes,” Jeffrey chang, general manager of 85°c in Glendale, said. “We are a Taiwanese bakery but we have a lot of different cultures represented in the products, such as european and Japanese.” Glendale marks 85°c Bakery cafe’s 27th store in the United States. A location in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los
RIBBON CUTTING. Raul Garcia, 85°C LA Area Manager; Jeffrey Chang, 85°C Glendale General Manager; Gustavo Spoliansky, Glendale Property Manager; Damon Ferrara, LA Chamber of Commerce; Andrea Armenta; 85°C LA Area Trainer; and Ashley Figueroa, 85°C LA Area Trainer. AJPress photos by Noel Ty
85°C Glendale’s attentive team
Angeles is slated to open sometime this spring. The popular Taiwanese chain has over 900 locations worldwide. 85°c Bakery café is located
at 201 N. Brand Blvd, Suite 100, Glendale, cA 91203. hours are Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight,
and Sunday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please call (818) 550-0885 or visit www.85cbakerycafe.com. (Advertising Supplement)
Authentic sushi dining experience at Fuji Buffet & Grill
L Fuji Buffet & Grill is conveniently located near the 134 freeway in Glendale and offers ample parking.
Assorted sushi rolls
Stir fry station
Crab legs
Sashimi
Fruit and dessert section
Shrimp dish
ocated off the Harvey Drive exit of the 134 freeway in Glendale, California is Fuji Buffet & Grill, an all you can eat fare that gives you a taste of different Asian regions — without a steep price tag. Enter the restaurant and you’ll be greeted by sleek, modern interiors. The dining area itself is expansive, so you’ll surely be seated promptly without having to wait too long. The space is also ideal for any large occasions, which can be booked in advance. Navigating the buffet can be overwhelming at first, with multiple directions appealing to one’s eye. Fuji boasts that it serves more than 158 fresh items every day. On one side of the restaurant is the stir fry noodle station, where you can select ingredients — from noodles, vegetables, eggs, and meats like rib eye or New York steak — and have one of the cooks fry them for you within minutes. The soup and dim sum stations (chicken’s feet, shrimp hargow, and xiao long bao are among the offerings) are nearby, which are the perfect starters for your meal. One of the attractions is the sushi bar, which is worth the trip to Fuji itself. There, you’ll find an array of options, from the classic California to Tempura rolls to tuna and salmon sushi. Everything is made in house with the freshest ingredients. The seafood display is also another reason why many customers come to Fuji: jumbo shrimp, crab legs, oysters, and more await them. Some seafood are seasonal and served only at dinner, however. The aforementioned food already sounds filling, but wait, there’s more! Don’t forget the entire hot food section, which is mostly comprised of Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian and BBQ dishes. For those who want lighter, healthier options, there is a station where you can make your own salads. If you have room, head to the fruit and dessert section. Enjoy a colorful spread of sliced juicy fruits or some sweet cakes and soft serve ice cream. FuJi also serves draft beer, wine and sake. From the time you enter the door to when you exit, the service is impeccable, with attentive staff readily bussing empty dishes to making sure cups are always filled. Whether you want to indulge in a full meal for dinner, celebrate a special occasion or pop in for a quick lunch, Fuji does not disappoint and is certainly worth every penny. It’ll leave you and the entire family satisfied and ready to plan the next trip there! (Advertising Supplement)
Dim sum pots
Fresh sushi rolls
Fuji Buffet & Grill is located at 300 Harvey Drive, Glendale, CA 91206. Price: Weekday lunch buffet is $12.99 (Monday - Friday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.); dinner buffet is $18.99 (Monday - Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m); Friday dinner, Saturday & Sunday all day buffet is $21.99 (Friday 4 - 10 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.). Senior citizens over 65 years old must show ID to get 10% off. Kids under 2 years old are free; kids 3 to 10 years of age are priced as follows: starting at $0.95 per year (lunch) and $1.30 per year for Monday - Thursday dinner or $1.60 per year Friday - Saturday. Kids over 10 years old are full price. Drinks are not included. Hours: Open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) Contact: (818) 553-1688 for more information or to make a reservation for any occasion. AJPress photos by Noel Ty
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Care1st Health Plan is an HMO and an HMO SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the California State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in Care1st Health Plan depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. *Calling this number will direct you to a license insurance agent. To request this information for free in other languages, call 1-800-544-0088 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8p.m., seven days a week. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Part D premium may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. This information is available for free in other languages. Please contact Member Services: 1-800-544-0088 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Esta información está disponible gratuitamente en otros idiomas. Comuníquese con Servicios para los Miembros: 1-800-544-0088 (TTY 711), de 8:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m., los 7 días de la semana. 忁枭屣屯妲ẍ℞⬫婆妨㍸ὃˤㅯ婳倗䴉㚫⒉㚵⊁嗽烉屣䅙 䶂 1-800-544-0088 ĩ倥晄⍲婆晄Ṣ⢓⮰䶂711) 㭷忙ᶫ⣑彎℔炻㖑ᶲ8:00ġ溆军㘂ᶲ8:00 溆ˤCare1st Health Plan complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Care1st Health Plan cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. Care1st Health Plan 思⬰怑䓐䘬倗恎㮹㪲㱽⼳夷⭂炻ᶵ⚈䧖㕷ˣ兂刚ˣ㮹㕷埨䴙ˣ⸜漉ˣ㭀晄ㆾ⿏⇍侴㬏夾ảỽṢˤ Care1st is an independent licensee of the Blue Shield Association.
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COMMUNITY
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
Journal
Don’t become a victim: The rise of immigration scams during periods of uncertainty in immigration policy
Your Immigration Solution Brittany Milliasseau IN this time of rapidly changing immigration directives and uncertainty regarding the immigration policies of the Trump Administration, noncitizens and their family members are desperately seeking answers and looking for solutions to their immigration issues. Unfortunately, fear and worry regarding the Trump Administration’s stance on immigration has caused individuals to look for help in all the wrong places. Many of these individuals are exploited by unqualified immigration consultants, or “notarios” who are only seeking to make money at the expense of desperate victims. Don’t become a victim! Be wary of individuals providing immigration advice and charging for legal services they are not qualified to perform. Only obtain legal advice from a competent and qualified attorney and never retain help from someone who fails to provide you with a written contract explaining the nature of the work to be performed and the fees to be charged. It is important to keep in mind that obtaining the wrong legal advice and receiving assistance from ill-equipped sources can have dire consequences. Even seemingly minor mistakes can place one’s immigration case in serious jeopardy, ultimately causing one to be denied an immigration benefit he or she may be clearly qualified for or may even cause an individual to end up in removal proceedings or be physically removed from the country. While fraudulent immigration consultants have been around for years, it is more important than ever to be cautious of fraudulent immigration practitioners who have been taking advantage of the recent changes in immigration policy. If you have questions regarding your immigration situation, be sure to seek experienced immigration counsel who can provide sound advice and zealously represent
your case. Further, in the wake of the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the country in February, there were reports of fake immigration officials wrongfully apprehending immigrants. Recently, a man was approached by several men dressed as ICE agents who threatened to arrest and deport him unless he provided the fake agents with money. Be sure to keep yourself informed of these incidents and remember that ICE agents should never solicit money from you. If you or a loved one is questioned or detained, quickly seek the advice of experienced immigration counsel. Additionally, numerous officials have warned of an increase in general immigration scams in light of the changes in immigration policy. Common immigration scams include email notifications regarding selection in the Diversity Visa Lottery, suspicious job offers via email, and the creation of fraudulent government websites providing immigration “assistance.” There have also been reports of phone calls and emails from individuals pretending to be immigration agents who ask for personal information and request payment. Beware of any individuals that ask for sensitive personal information or payment. If you have questions regarding the legitimacy of a request, be sure to reach out to competent immigration counsel and allow them to respond on your behalf if necessary. In response to these immigration scams, advocacy groups and various government agencies have made efforts aimed at preventing immigrants from falling prey to these various scams. Specifically, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has released several fact sheets with useful tips. A few of those tips include: USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services) does not charge for blank forms.
They are free and can be downloaded at www.uscis.gov/forms. Don’t trust anyone who claims to be able to speed up the process and guarantee immigration benefits because of a special relationship with immigration officials. Don’t trust someone who promises immigration benefits by applying through them instead of directly with USCIS. USCIS will never ask for payment over the phone. They will not call and request personal information (social security number, passport number, A-number) or identify false problems with your immigration record and ask for payment to correct it. INS (Immigration & Naturalization Service) no longer exists. Any reference to INS is coming from a fraudulent source. Do not sign any forms, applications or petitions containing false or missing information. Always get a copy of your documents and a receipt of filing If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. With all the uncertainty created by the recent changes in immigration policy, save yourself some worry by making sure you have qualified and experienced immigration counsel handle your case. If you have specific questions regarding your immigration situation or current immigration scams, do not delay in contacting knowledgeable immigration counsel. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)
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C MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon MOST people don’t talk about their credit card debt because they find it embarrassing. They can talk to their friends and family about everything else but when it comes to the subject of how much debt they are carrying, most people would not divulge any information. It makes them very uncomfortable. So what happens is that most people struggle silently on their own, sometimes for years, until one day their situation becomes a financial emergency. And even then, a lot of these people continue to live in denial as they pretend that their debt problems don’t exist. They hesitate to even see an attorney to get help. Don’t let this happen to you or someone you love. The other day, a lady came to my office crying about her situation. For the last 5 years, her debts have spiraled out of control as she continued to charge more on her credit cards than she paid off every month. By now, her debts have skyrocketed to more
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS DOMESTIC violence is abuse perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, the mother or father of your child, your child. Family Code Section 6211. Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault. Family Code, § 6203(b). A court may issue an order enjoining specific acts of “abuse” (§ 6218, subd. (a)), which are defined as, among other things, behavior that could be enjoined under section 6320. (§ 6203, subd. (d).) Section 6320, in turn, permits a court to enjoin a party from engaging in various types of behavior, including “disturbing the peace of the other party.” (§ 6320, subd. (a).) “[T]he plain meaning of the phrase ‘disturbing the peace of the other party’ in section 6320 may be properly understood as conduct that destroys the mental or emotional calm of the other
Community Journal
Are you in denial about your credit card debt? than $60,000. She told me that at first, she was able to at least make minimum payments on her credit cards by taking money from other credit cards. So for a short while, she was in denial that her debt problem was getting worse although she could see her credit card balances going up every time she received her credit card statements. Of course, it didn’t take very long before her credit cards were maxed out and she couldn’t take any more money out of them to pay her other credit cards. So from there she started falling behind on some of her debt payments. Her breaking point came recently when she got served a lawsuit by one of her creditors. So she panicked and called our office to get help. If you are reading this article and you can relate to the story I shared above, let me ask you these questions: What about you? Are you in denial or in control of your credit card spending? Sometimes when I ask people how much they owe, they can’t
even tell me because they say that they have lost track of the amounts. If this is you, this may be a danger sign of debt trouble. A lot of people wonder why no matter how hard they work, they are always broke every payday. The reason is that they don’t even know or realize how much of their paycheck goes to just paying debts every month. They have “black holes” in their monthly budget that they can’t explain because they just can’t see where their money is being wasted. If you would like to explore your legal options in getting out of debt, we may be able to help you. For a free office consultation, please call Toll-Free 1-866477-7772. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and Facebook info of a spouse or significant other may constitute domestic violence party.” (In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723 (Nadkarni ).) The phrase includes “destroying the mental or emotional calm of [a former spouse] by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails.” (Id. at p. 1498, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723.) The expansion of the term “disturbing the peace” to cover accessing, reading, and publicly disclosing electronic communication has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. In Nadkarni, a former wife alleged that her ex-husband had accessed her private e-mail account while she was away on a business trip, then attached copies of the e-mails to documents filed in proceedings regarding custody of their teenaged children. In re Marriage of Nadkarni (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1483,
1497, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 723. She sought a permanent restraining order, but the trial court denied it without a hearing after finding that the DVPA did not cover situations in which there was no physical harm alleged. The appellate court reversed and remanded the matter to the trial court for a hearing. It held that the definition of abuse under the DVPA is not limited to the infliction of physical injury or assault. Id. at pp. 1498, 1501, 93 Cal. Rptr.3d 723. In Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney, husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416
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Life cycle of an audit
Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
(Part 3 of 3)
11. Your case is referred to an Automated Collection System (ACS). The ACS is a nameless, faceless computerized collection system that utilizes telephones. IRS personnel at various “call sites” have little authority to help you by way of compromise or installment but have great authority to harm you. If I may suggest, do not be rude to them of as they could easily levy your bank accounts by simply pushing buttons in their computer terminals. 12. If ACS fails, your case is then assigned for collection to a Revenue officer who contacts and visits you at your residence or place of business. It is at this time that you really have to be represented by a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax lawyer. This is serious, folks. I do not appreciate Revenue Officers visiting my clients at their homes in a pricey neighborhood where they can spot a Lexus or Mercedes in your driveway in periods when you reported losses year after
Immigration Corner Atty. BRiAn leRneR QUESTION: I’m so afraid to open my door now. I’ve heard ICE agents are doing round-ups and just deporting people left and rights. What can I do? Answer: All people living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have certain U.S. Constitutional rights. If you are undocumented and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knock on your door, know that you have the following rights: • You do not have to open the door. You do not have to open the door or let the officers into your home unless they have a valid search warrant signed by a judge. • An ICE deportation warrant is not the same as a search warrant. If this is the only document they have, they cannot legally
year. The Revenue Officer interviews and asks you to complete a detailed collection information statement that gives him/her a road map to what you own. The Revenue Officer then proceeds to collect by using several avenues: file a lien on your properties, levy your bank accounts, garnish your wages, sell your assets, or allow you to enter into an offer in compromise or installment arrangement. 13. Your collection case is closed when delinquent taxes are paid or an offer in compromise or installment agreement is in place. If collection efforts fail, your liabilities are entered into your very own individual master file where it will remain for the next 10 years. Future refunds will be seized to offset your outstanding liabilities. 14. You may go to the Appellate Division of the IRS just after your return is examined (pre- assessment case) or after you are referred to the Collection Division (post-assessment case). About 10% of examined returns are brought to Appeals with only less than 2% unresolved requiring litigation. Invocation of Appeals Division jurisdiction to hear contested issues before a petition is filed in Tax Court is a non-dock-
eted case. On the other hand, it becomes a docketed case after a petition is filed in Tax Court. As you can see, going through an audit and subsequent collection can be intimidating. It can be an exciting lesson if you seek adventure. But this is not one adventure that you want to take. In the end, your win or loss will depend on the condition of your records, the auditor, and the expertise of your representative. One final thought: You may save funds by defending yourself but do not represent yourself when issues get tough. Do not save on representation fees and end up with a horrifying experience and a bunch of taxes, penalties and interests. *** 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)
Know your rights against pushy ICE Agents come inside unless you verbally agree to let them in. • If the officers say they have a search warrant signed by a judge, ask them to slide it under the door or hold it up to a window so you can see it. • If the warrant does not have your correct name and address on it and is not signed by a judge you do not have to open the door or let them inside. • If at any point you decide to speak with the officers, you do not need to open the door to do so. You can speak to them through the door or step outside and close the door. • You have the right to remain silent. You do not need to speak to the immigration officers or answer any questions. • If you are asked where you were born or how you entered the United States, you may refuse to answer or remain silent. • If you choose to remain si-
lent, say so out loud. • You may show a know-yourrights card to the officer that explains that you will remain silent and wish to speak to a lawyer. • You may refuse to show identity documents that say what country you are from. • Do not show any false documents and do not lie. • You have the right to speak to a lawyer. If you are detained or taken into custody, you have the right to immediately contact a lawyer. • Even if you do not have a lawyer, you may tell the immigration officers that you want to speak to one. • If you have a lawyer, you have the right to talk to them. If you have a signed Form G-28, which shows you have a lawyer, give it to an officer. • If you do not have a lawyer, ask an immigration officer for a
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Community Journal
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
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Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr.
Should commission AC 21: Changing the employer of your employees be paid employment-based green card application separately for rest breaks?
RICARDO Vaquero and Robert Schaefer worked as Sales Associates for Stoneledge Furniture, a retail furniture company. Stoneledge paid sales associates on a commission basis, based on the company’s Commission Compensation Pay Agreement. If a sales associate did not earn “Minimum Pay” of at least $12.01 per hour in commissions in any pay period, Stoneledge paid the associate a “draw” against “future Advanced Commissions.” This meant that the amount of the draw will be deducted from future Advanced Commissions. The employees are assured they will always receive at least $12.01 per hour for every hour worked. The commission agreement did not say how non-selling time is to be paid. Examples of nonselling time were time spent in meetings, training, and during rest breaks. However, employees recorded their non-selling time by clocking into the employer’s electronic timekeeping system at the start of each shift, clocked out and back in for meal breaks, and clocked out again when their shifts ended. Employees were authorized to take rest breaks of at least 10 minutes for every four hours worked, though they did not clock out for this. The employer contends that under its compensation plan all the employee’s time was recorded and paid identically and that employees are paid at least $12 per hour even if they make no sales at all. The employer in-
sisted that although it deducted from employees’ paychecks any previously paid draw on commissions, the repayment was not taken if it would result in payment of less than $12.01 per hour for all hours worked in a week. Vaquero and Schaefer filed a class action complaint alleging that Stoneledge’s commission pay plan did not comply with California law, specifically, that by taking back hourly rates it already paid after employees earn commissions, the employer failed to pay for rest breaks. The case reached the Court of Appeal, which had to answer the following question: Are employees paid on commission entitled to separate pay for rest breaks if the commission agreement has a “claw back” provision? The appellate court says yes. The court noted that the employer’s formula for computing commissions did not address how employees are to be paid for rest breaks (which is time spent not earning commissions). Commissions were computed by multiplying the employee’s weekly delivered sales with the agreed commission rate and the employer paid the resulting amount if it was more than guaranteed minimum contractual rate. When employees’ commissions did not exceed their weekly minimum rate, the employer deducted from future paid commissions (“claw back”) the wages advanced to employees to pay for their hours worked, including rest breaks.
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights
To Live With Faith reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS “IF today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” These were words that came out from my former pastor’s lips many years ago as he began his homily one Sunday mass. He kept repeating these words and expounding on them. They were words from Psalm 95; words that, I thought then, were an appeal for repentance and conversion of hearts. Today, these words have a different meaning for me. They are words that ask us to listen to God’s voice, telling us that we matter a lot to our Father in heaven; that he loves us unconditionally more than we can imagine. They are words of affirmation rather than words of condemnation. Listening to “his voice” means to trust the One who says that we are His beloved; that our worth to Him is more than our good deeds, our successes, our titles, or our accomplishments. He loves us even before any of our achievements; He loves us despite our weaknesses and limitations.
Such a system of payment results in employees not being paid for non-productive (or non-selling) time – a practice which courts have found illegal. The court concluded that “the advances or draws against future commissions were not compensation for rest periods because they were not compensation at all. At best they were interest-free loans… To the contrary, taking back money paid to the employee effectively reduces either rest period compensation or the contractual commission rate, both of which violate California law.” In other words, when the employer paid an employee on an hourly basis, which included their rest breaks, the company took back that compensation in later pay periods when the employee supposedly earned a commission. Since the commission computation did not account for rest breaks, the employee should have been separately paid for rest breaks. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently Aselected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advo(Advertising Supplement) cates Forum.
God’s voice It’s the voice that the Samaritan woman heard from Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel (John 4:542): “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” It’s the voice that showed concern for a person’s salvation and well-being -- that responds to the thirst and hunger for real love. In a society that often tells us that looks, accomplishments, prestige, human perceptions, work, sex, alcohol, and other worldly pleasures are what would satisfy God’s voice would never deceive or disappoint us. In our relationship with Him, we find comfort and peace. He takes away our restlessness and anxieties by whispering to us His assurance of forgiveness and salvation. Last week, during a Lenten day of recollection in a parish, a man asked me what it means to be “justified” before God. Immediately I responded: “It’s to be in right relationship with God when we try to follow his will; when we are humble to say that we would despair without his love, forgiveness, and mercy.” St. Paul tells us in this Sunday’s Second Reading (Romans 5:1-2; 5-8): “Since we have been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. And hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Indeed, God’s voice is full of promises of hope and love. So let’s not harden our hearts to listen to his voice. Let’s soften our hearts with absolute trust and humility. Let our minds not trick us to hear the voices of despair and lies about our true worth as human brings. May this Lenten season bring peace into our hearts and confidence in God’s eternal love! *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
Dear Attorney Tan, I HAVE an approved I-140 immigrant petition which was filed by Company A on my behalf. Company A would like to employ me as a bookkeeper. Based on that approved I-140 petition, I filed an application for green card (I-485 adjustment of status) in August 2014. Since that time, my green card application has been pending, as USCIS has requested additional documents in support of my application. Recently, another company, Company B, has expressed interest in hiring me for a payroll clerk position. Company B is a more established company based in the Midwest and pays $10,000.00 less but offers much better benefits. Is there a way I can substitute Company B as the employer in my green card application? — P.T. Dear P.T. Under INA Section 204(j), commonly referred to as AC 21, an approved I-140 employment-based immigrant petition filed by one employer can be used by or “ported” to another employer providing certain requirements are met. First, a green card (I485 adjustment of status) application must have been filed and must be pending for at least 180 days. Second, the “new” job offered by the second employer must be in the same or similar occupational classification as the job for which the first employer filed the I-140 petition. In your situation, you meet the first requirement in that your application for green card (I-485) was filed in August 2014. Your application has been pending for over 1 year, which is more than the required 180 days under AC 21. In depth analysis in your case is needed as to whether Company B’s job of “payroll clerk” is considered a “similar occupational classification” to Company A’s job of “bookkeeper,” for which Company A petitioned you. In determining whether one job is similar enough to another job for AC 21 purposes, the USCIS takes into account the totality of the circumstances, including the job duties of both positions, the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) from the approved I-140 and the SOC code for the job offered by the new prospective employer, as well as the offered wages for each position. In your case, analysis would begin with the job duties of each position. The more similarity in job duties between bookkeeper and payroll clerk, the greater the likelihood that USCIS would consider them similar. Also, the SOC code for the 2 jobs would be taken into account. In addition, the wages offered by each employer would be considered. The existence of a big disparity in wages offered by each employer is not by itself a reason to conclude that the jobs are not similar. In your case, the fact that Company B is offering $10,000 less than Company A has to take into account the fact that the Midwest has a lower cost of living, as well as the fact that better benefits are being offered by Company B. If it is considered a “similar occupational classification,” Company B may be substituted in as the employer in your pending green card application, and Company B will not have to start the process from the beginning by filing a labor certification application and by obtaining an approved I-140 petition. The analysis of whether you can use or “port” your approved I-140 requires additional analysis, and consulting with an experienced attorney is recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the 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)
Know your rights against pushy ICE… PAGE C2 t
list of pro bono lawyers. • You also have the right to contact your consulate. The consulate may be able to assist you in locating a lawyer. • You can refuse to sign any/ all paperwork until you have had the opportunity to speak to a lawyer. • If you choose to sign some-
thing without speaking to a lawyer, be sure you understand exactly what the document says and means before you sign it. In fact, your immigration attorney should give you a ‘know your rights card’ which you can show the officer. *** 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. (Advertising Supplement)
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C MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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Senior scammed out of alendar of Events C across $100K by internet boyfriend, needs Chapter 7 relief
Debt Relief Atty. LAwrence yAng CLIENT is 65 and a widow. Wanting some male attention, I guess, she posted her picture on the Internet. She looks much younger in the posted picture. She showed me the picture. She looked like she was 48. But she said that the picture was taken only last year. If her purpose was to get some male attention to her picture, she certainly got it. Ah, the wonders of the Internet where romance can bloom without people actually physically meeting each other. I asked her if she ever met the guy. She said she could not believe how stupid she was. I asked her if the guy was American. She said she doesn’t even know if the picture he sent was really he. It started with him asking her for money for legal expenses, then money for this, and money for that. So, I asked her how long has it been going on? It started about 9 months ago. Then I asked her how much she had given him. She said she had given him $100K in 9 months. I said, “Are you serious, you must be kidding!” She said she was not kidding. She admitted that her children told her not to do it, as did her friends and other relatives. So I said, “so, why did you do it? How can you give a guy that you have never met, $100K?” And her explanation was “I was crazy, I was insane…” It really looks like she went nuts for a while there. Then I asked her where she got the $100K. She said I borrowed from credit cards, banks and relatives for a grand total of $100K. So now she wants to have the guy arrested. Even if she files a police report, it’s next to impossible to find who the guy really is, much less arrest him. This guy could be anyone in the world who he lives in Timbuktu but pretends that he is a good-looking American guy. I asked her how come she never met the guy in person. She said
Client filed for Chapter 7 without lawyer in 2008 did not get discharge
that he was working, as a seaman so he would be in port for a short time, then would be out at sea for a long time. I asked her for a picture of the guy. She showed it to me. I said, “I think I’ve seen that guy somewhere before. Wait, that’s the most interesting guy in the world, the guy who is the spokesman for some European whiskey brand. Well, obviously, that’s not his real picture. The real guy could be some-
“
But as soon as the money runs out, good-bye my one and only love…it’s time to look for another sugar mommy with unused credit cards. Fortunately, client victim can discharge her $100K debts with a Chapter 7 petition to have a fresh start. By next year, her credit score will start going up. If she handles the new credit cards in a timely manner, she can be up and running around with another boyfriend all over the world with her new credit cards. But this time around, I hope she can at least meet Mr. Romeo in person and spend a romantic year with a real guy while her new credit cards are not maxed out. Next client is 56. She says she filed for Chapter 7 in 2008 but never got a discharge. I asked her how she knew that no discharge was given to her. She showed me a notice that her case was closed without discharge. Since then, she obtained new credit cards of $30K. She was just disabled and can’t pay the cards anymore. I asked her who her lawyer was. She said she had no lawyer and filed it herself. She said now she wants to re-file with a lawyer so she can get a discharge. Can she file another Chapter 7 now? Yes, because it’s at least 8 years from the first filing date even if she did not get a discharge. “The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! Let God be exalted, the rock of my salvation!” — 2 Samuel 22:47
Lifestyles of the rich and famous for as long as there are credit cards to use. But as soon as the money runs out, good-bye my one and only love…it’s time to look for another sugar mommy with unused credit cards. where in Nigeria laughing his way all the way to bank. I asked her if she’s ever heard of the Nigerian scams where you get a call telling you that he is some kind of royalty from Nigeria whose assets have been frozen by the bank. If you wire him $1K, he will be able to unfreeze his bank accounts and send you $1.0 M immediately. It’s so unfortunate that senior women fall for the oldest trick in the gigolo book. I had another client who was 50 but she actually had a real boyfriend who asked her to bring him around the world. The guy treated her as a ‘sugar mommy’. You know how that works, right? The woman being older, the man is younger. He professes that he loves her but that love has to be “sugared” with cash and exotic trips around the world. Well, the easiest way to sugar this love is to use credit cards. My other client maxed out her credit cards at $180K for so many trips around the world. Cruises galore! Lifestyles of the rich and famous for as long as there are credit cards to use.
”
*** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in bankruptcy, business, real estate and civil litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 1000 S. Fremont Ave, Mailstop 58, Building A-1 Suite 1125, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
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M A R C H 1 8 -1 9
Consular outreach mission in Dallas, TX A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will conduct a Consular Outreach Mission in Dallas, Texas on March 18 and 19. It will be held at Dallas Events Center (4343 Sigma Rd., Suite #600, Farmers Branch, TX 75244) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Please email outreach.dallas@gmail.com (attn: Dallas, TX Outreach) with submissions and applications; incomplete forms will not be processed. All applications must be received no later than March 10. No walk-in applicants will be accepted. The following consular services will be rendered: renewal and/or first-time applications for electronic passport ($60 processing fee + $24 mailing fee). New passports will be released to the applicant by mail twelve (12) weeks from March 22, 2017. No lost passport applications will be accepted; Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to the Dual Citizenship Law ($50 processing fee). Oath taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants. Applicants are advised to wear appropriate clothing for the occasion; Applications for report of marriage & birth ($25 processing fee + $7 mailing fee); and registration for overseas voting for the 2019 national elections for senators and party list representatives. Fees must be paid in person at the scheduled appointment. Only cash, postal money order or cashier’s checks are accepted. Personal checks will not be accepted. For more information, please visit http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/. A final list of all applicants will confirmed appointment schedules will be posted on the website by March 15.
M A R C H 25
Gathering of Fil-Am women authors in San Pedro, CA Philippine Expressions Bookshop cordially invites the public to “Pinay Gathering 2017,” a celebration of Women’s History Month honoring Filipino-American women authors of Southern California. It will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25. From 2 to 3 p.m., there will be networking and a Filipino merienda / high tea buffet. Afterward, there will be book talks and book signings with the various Filipina authors. The Pinay authors present will be: Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko — author, “Forty Years of Writing in America”; Myrna J. de la Paz — author, “Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella”; Cecilia Manguerra Brainard — author, “Magdalena: A Novel”; Carina Monica Montoya — author, “Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown”; Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier — author, “Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles”; Carmen F. Davino — author, “Of Love and Virtue. A Young Adult Novel”; Roselyn Estepa Ibáñez — author, “Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay”; Herminia Meñez-Coben — author, “Explorations in Philippine Folklore”; Leslie V. Ryan — author, “I am Flippish: A Juvenile Book”; and Lucy Urgello Miller — author, “Glimpses of Old Cebu”. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 514-9139 or email linda@philbooks.us. There will be limited seating and the deadline for ticket purchase is March 20. This literary soirée is also open to male guests. Philippine Expressions Bookshop is located at 479 West Sixth Street, Suite 105, San Pedro, CA 90731. Street parking or public parking on 7th street are available.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 10 Empowerment Conference in San Diego, CA You are cordially invited to the “RISE UP” Regional Empowerment Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities on Saturday, March 25. Registration is $40 per person, which can be done online or at the door. The conference will be held at Clarion Hotel National City, 700 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. To register online, please visit http://www.NaFFAASDEmpowermentconference.eventbrite.com.
Golf tournament for a cause in Escondido, CA St. Joseph College (Olongapo City)’s High School Class of 1987 will be holding a golf tournament for a cause at the Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club on Saturday, March 25. It is $109/person to register, which includes rounds of golf and a BBQ buffet. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with shotgun at 1 p.m. and dinner and prizes at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949) 861-1732 or Miguel Uson at (760) 7158216. The Vineyard at Escondido Golf Club is located at 925 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA 92025.
The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups’ Lenten retreat in Pomona, CA Please join the The Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups for its Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 25 at St. Joseph Church Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a liturgy at 5 p.m. The theme is “Growing in Faith,” as it is a time to renew and energize one’s faith. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. St. Joseph Church is located at 1700 Holt Avenue, Pomona, CA. For more information, please contact Tess Domingo at (909) 855-2208 or Carol Evangelista at (909) 969-3316.
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M A R C H 26
Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in Woodland Hills, CA The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, March 26. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mel’s Parish Center, 20870 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91364. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
MARCH 30
Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Tri-County ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ in Covina, CA The Officers and Board Directors of the newly-established Chamber of Commerce, interacting with Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, invite the community to a ‘General Assembly and Mixer’ on Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., at RE/MAX MASTERS REALTY office at 475 E. Badillo, Covina, CA 91723. Meet Merwynn Montenegro, President, and the Officers and Board Directors, along with their advisers Noel S.V. Omega, guest speaker, and Mary Ann Omega, both officers of the FilAm Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles. You will have the opportunity to make business connections and build relationships. Special guest is West Covina Councilmember and former Mayor James Toma. Atty. Abraham Lim will deliver the opening remarks and PNB Remittance Center Inc. President and CEO Ricky Villacisneros will close the Assembly, but not before guests have scored winsome door prizes. For information, contact Secretary Ed Cansino (909) 263-7297 or Email edcansino53@gmail.com; Asst. Sec. Grace Vaughn (951) 261-0601; or 1st VP Elen Yuhico (909) 636-6271.
APRIL 8
Filipino Cursillos’ Kalbaryo show in San Diego, CA
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.
The Filipino Cursillos in Christianity of Los Angeles, CA (FCIC-LA) will present a Kalbaryo (Lenten) show about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus on Saturday, April 8. It will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Pala Mission Church, San Juan Diego Center at 3015 Pala Mission Rd., Pala, CA 92059. For further information, please contact any of the following: Tess Tan Torres at (213) 249-1507; Agnes Golingay at (818) 599-8401; Len Balino at (310) 203-3639; Genie Bagsic at (858) 472-9338; or Oddie Sabas at (760) 670-5868.
APRIL 14
Greenlining Institute Economic Summit in Oakland, CA On Friday, April 14, the Greenlining Institute’s 24th annual Economic Summit will boldly tackle local and national controversies as it focuses on the theme, “Racial Justice on the Frontlines.” With Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza moderating the opening discussion, community activists, political and business leaders will take on such challenging issues as gentrification, tech diversity (or the lack thereof), possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the impending arrival of Uber in downtown Oakland. It will be held at Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. Registration opens 8 a.m., program starts at 8:30 and runs to 5:45 p.m. For more information, please visit www. greenlining.org.
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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People and Events
‘A Musical Odyssey’ in Cerritos, CA PANGASINAN BrotherhoodUSA, Inc. and DreamAgeGroup presents Rudolf Paleaz Golez, an internationally acclaimed Filipino virtuoso pianist in “A Musical Odyssey” on Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other local singing talents will be present at the concert, such as recording artist Sean Collado, aspiring actress and singer Sheila Tejada, Sabrina Oxciano and Samantha Murray.
Ticket prices are $35, $65 and $100. Proceeds of this performance will go toward the Pangansian Brotherhood-USA’s scholarship funds, which helps academically successful seniors who are college-bound in both the greater Los Angeles area and the Philippines. The performance will be at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ Sierra Room at 12700 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, California 90703.
Interested parties may contact project managers Dan E. Nino at (562) 921-5116 or denino1951@gmail.com; E. Mendoza at (623) 341-6247 or thedreamagegroup@gmail.com; Lino F. Caringal, Jr. at (714) 808-2642 or linojr.caringal@gmail.com; Bong Soriano at (909) 851-1493 or believe1156@gmail.com; Neil Estrada at (562) 301-9972 or bluezero2sixty@yahoo.com; or Feliz Lopez at (562) 572-2301 or fblopezinsurance@msn.com. n
CAUSE’s annual gala in Los Angeles
JOIN Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) for its annual gala on Thursday, April 20. It will be held at LA Hotel’s California Ballroom at 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA
90071. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact kim@causeusa.org or visit www.causeusa.org. n
Disclosure of text messages, e-mails, and… PAGE C2 t
[189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Phrase “disturbing the peace of the other party” in injunction provision of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA) includes destroying the mental or emotional calm of a former spouse by accessing, reading and publicly disclosing her confidential e-mails. Cal. Fam. Code § 6320. In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal. Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) Husband’s actions in releasing and threatening to release personal data downloaded from wife’s cell phone constituted “disturbing the peace of the other party” and thus “abuse” which warranted restraining order under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA). Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6218(a), 6300, 6320(a). In re Marriage of Evilsizor and Sweeney (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1416 [189 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], reh’g denied (June 24, 2015), review denied (Sept. 9, 2015) In Evilsizor, Ms. Evilsizor testified that it had been “incredibly incredibly difficult to deal with” the dissemination of her personal information, stating, “I have sleepless nights. I’m sick to my stomach. My friends are mad at me, embarrassed as if I let him. I didn’t know he was even doing any of this. My parents are upset,
you know. Why did I marry him? I didn’t know that things were going—I didn’t know. Yeah. It’s been incredibly challenging to live with.” She further testified that she had suffered shock and embarrassment and feared for her safety because of the disclosure. Evilsizor also was concerned about Sweeney’s threats to reveal information to the Internal Revenue Service about “things [she] didn’t do.” The court concluded in the Evilsizor case that even if Sweeney legally obtained Evilsizor’s information, an issue left unresolved, it was authorized under the DVPA to enjoin the disclosure or threats of disclosure of the information to protect Evilsizor’s peace of mind. The court ordered Sweeney be “prohibited from using, delivering, copying, printing or disclosing the messages or content of [Evilsizor’s] text messages or e-mail messages or notes, or anything else downloaded from her phone or from what has been called the family computer except as otherwise authorized by the court.” Sweeney also was prohibited from trying to access or otherwise interfere with Evilsizor’s internet-service provider accounts or social-media accounts. Text messages, E-mails, Social media, and other electronic communication has become a common and inseparable part of today’s lifestyle. Accessing, read-
ing, and publicly disclosing electronic communication of an ex, spouse, or sgnificant other has profound effect in every divorce and family law case. A finding of domestic violence against a party can affect the rulings on custody and spousal support issues. If your divorce or family law matter involves your ex, spouse, or significant other downloading and disclosing confidential electronic communication, one has to consider taking appropriate action in the case to be protected from conduct which is regarded as abuse under the California domestic violence statute. *** 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 (Advertising Supplement) is not a solicitation.
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-21, 2017
C
C MARCH 18-21, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM
& Immigration Corner
The April 2017 priority dates
The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:
Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
Philippine Cabinet officials meet with their Chinese counterparts in Davao City on Friday, March 17. The Philippines and China have signed a new six-year development cooperation plan.
18 Chinese firms to buy $1.7-B worth of PH goods by Roy
Stephen C. Canivel Inquirer.net
CHInESE investors have made a purchasing order for $1.7 billion worth of Philippine products, a much bigger order from earlier estimates in light of a surge in business interest. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said on Friday, March 17 that their government encouraged Chinese firms to buy Philippine products following warmer ties between both countries under the Duterte administration. The amount, which will cover
agricultural, mineral and chemical products, has ballooned since last week when it was reported to be $1 billion for agricultural products alone. “Just a few days ago, I was told that the signing ceremony would [involve] about 1 billion US dollars. But in five days, the total number has gone up to $1.7 billion,” he said during the signing ceremony. “I can assure [Trade] Secretary [Ramon] Lopez that this is the first time that the Chinese side has encouraged businessmen to place a PAGE D2
Antimoney laundering rules tightened in PH by Ben
o. de veRa Inquirer.net
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has further tightened its antimoney laundering rules while still providing flexibility for the unbanked who wanted to open bank accounts. In a statement, the BSP on Friday, March 17 said the Monetary Board, its highest policymaking body, had approved amendments to regulations governing antimoney laundering and antiterrorist financing efforts. “This is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the financial system’s safeguards against money laundering and terrorist financing balanced against the objective of also promoting financial inclusion of the unbanked.” According to the BSP, the Monetary Board-approved amendments include “refinements in the conduct of customer due diligence, more pragmatic definition of ‘official document’ and the use of other reliable, independent source documents, data or information for customer identification and verification.” “The new rules likewise introduced the concept of a ‘restricted account’ to cater to targeted unbanked sector, wherein minimal customer information are required subject to certain conditions, such as constraints in terms of activity. These will provide much greater
flexibility in on-boarding unbanked customers, especially in rural areas where official IDs are not prevalent,” the BSP added. Given strides in technology even in the financial and banking system, the amended rules “recognize and allow the use of information and communication technology in the conduct of customer identification subject to implementation of appropriate measures to manage attendant risks,” the BSP said. As such, the BSP said the new rules allowed escalated supervisory enforcement action when there were heightened concerns in terms of risks from money laundering as well as terrorism financing, as reflected in the overall antimoney laundering risk rating of a covered person. As a whole, the revised regulations “emphasize the importance of a sound money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment, the foundation of a proportionate, risk-based approach, to appropriately focus greater efforts and resources on areas posing higher risks, while reducing these for low-risk transactions,” according to the BSP. “Requirements for group-wide antimoney laundering compliance function and monitoring systems are incorporated for a holistic management and prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing risks,” it said.
Ayala enters co-working office space by
doRiS dumlao-aBadilla Inquirer.net
PROPERTy giant Ayala Land Inc. has debuted into the co-working office space business—a flexible office leasing scheme suitable for millennial entrepreneurs and freelancers who need to operate under an asset-light business model—under a new brand “Clock In.” For the first location of Clock In, ALI transformed part of the penthouse of its Makati Stock Exchange (MSE) building in Ayala Avenue into a 400-square meter fullyequipped and furnished serviced office space now being pitched as a hub for start-up ventures, small to medium enterprises, groups working on a per-project basis, digital nomads and online professionals, freelancers, road warriors and swing space users. “Ayala Land Offices has always serviced traditional office requirements for corporates and BPO (business process outsourcing) operations, but we also want to offer office solutions to start-up companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and independent professionals,” said Carol Mills, vice president and
Ayala Land president Bobby Dy at launch of Clock In
head of Ayala Land Offices. “They are a fundamental part of the business community and should not be located in less prime spaces. We view Clock In as an amenity to our existing office buildings.” Immediate availability, low overhead cost, flexible lease duration and rates, office staff efficiency, information technology and administrative support are PAGE D5
Business Quote of the Week ““If you want to build a successful business, make sure you have three things— a big market opportunity, great people, and more than enough capital.” - Richard Harroch, venture capitalist, author, and entrepreneur
EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eli-
D
Application Filing Date
Visa Issuance Date
May 1, 2006
January 15, 2006
First Preference
Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)
Second Preference
(2A) Spouse and minor children November 22, 2015 (below 21 years old) of green card holder
June 8, 2015
(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder
February 1, 2007
June 15, 2006
Third Preference
married sons and daughters of US citizens.
January 1, 1995
September 15, 1994
Fourth Preference
Brothers and sisters of US citizens.
April 1, 1994
September 8, 1993
Second Preference
Advanced Degree (masters)
Current
Current
Third Preference
Professional/Skilled Workers
September 1, 2013
September 15, 2012
Other Workers
Non-Skilled Workers
September 1, 2013
September 15, 2012
LABOR CERTIFICATION:
gible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card.
Application Filing Date Visa Issuance Date
*** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a
prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
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US Royal Caribbean seals deal to build Boracay homeport January remittances up 8.5% on-yr by reiCelene Joy ignaCio ManilaTimes.net
MIAMI-BASED cruise company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) will build a homeport in either Caticlan or Boracay, the Department of Tourism (DoT) announced on Thursday, March 16. DoT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. signed an agreement with Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores and RCCL vice president for New Commercial Development John Tercek, stipulating that the cruise company will provide “all the necessary technical and financial support towards the building of a purpose-built terminal either in Caticlan or Boracay,” the DoT said. However, it is still under negotia-
tion if the homeport will be open to other commercial vessels too, the DoT noted. “The Philippines is the future Caribbean of Asia,” Tercek said. Bengzon is currently in Fort Lauderdale in Florida in the US as head of a Philippine delegation to the Seatrade Cruise Conference in that city. SCC is the leading annual global business-to-business event in the cruise industry, which provides a platform to discuss topics and issues in cruising led by top executives, industry experts and thoughtleaders. The Philippines’ ninth year at SCC features a mixture of old and the latest cruise destinations in the country, such as the Hundred Is-
lands in Pangasinan, Kalanggaman in Leyte, Coron in Northern Palawan, Romblon, and the Bicol Region for expedition cruises that carry less than 300 passengers, the DoT said. “We are seeing a major shift in the major cruise market. There will be more ships to be deployed in Southeast Asia, and we are hoping that the Philippines will get more than its fair share of the market,” according to Bengzon. “The big news for us this week is that we will finally have the major cruise ship, the Superstar Virgo of Singapore’s Star Cruises, homeporting in the Philippines. And we are hoping this will be the start of other homeporting of cruise vessels in the region,” Bengzon added.
18 Chinese firms to buy $1.7-B worth... PAGE D1
purchasing order for such a great amount. This is the first time among Asean members,” he added. Eighteen Chinese firms signed the purchase agreement, a copy of the list showed, a development which Lopez described as a “concrete harvest for both sides with the private sector taking the lead role.” According to the list, the purchase covers a range of products including coconut oil, banana, pineapple, mango, nickel and copper. The purchase agreement comes more than a week after the 28th Philippines-China Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC) meeting, the first after a five-year hiatus as tensions escalated over the West Philippine
Sea territorial dispute. The Chinese envoy said the purchase agreement was part of their government’s efforts to balance trade between both countries, noting the trade surplus in favor of China. “We want to balance it so the Chinese market is wide open for Philippine products and the demand is insatiable so produce more and export more to China,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the event. He said that this would be first among many similar agreements in the future. When asked for the schedule of the $1.7-billion payment, he said he expected some to be done by the second half this year, then completing the purchase largely next year.
Apart from this agreement, he said that China had already bought $100 million worth of Philippine fruits since President Duterte’s visit to the once estranged ally in late October. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the Philippines imported more Chinese products last year as opposed to its exports to the mainland. For the whole of 2016, China was the Philippines’ top import source amounting to $14.99 billion, up by 30.7 percent from $11.47 billion a year ago. On the other hand, China ranked as the country’s fourth top export destination, with merchandise deliveries in 2016 ending nearly flat at $6.19 billion from $6.17 billion a year earlier.
Decline just ‘seasonal,’ but full-yr 2017 seen better than 2016 by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
MONEY sent home monthly by overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in January grew sharply year-onyear, marked by notable annual increases in remittances by landbased workers with longer contracts, central bank data showed on Wednesday, March 15. However, remittances in January fell from the December level. The central bank did not give an explanation for the month-onmonth decline but an analyst said it was due to seasonal factors. Personal remittances rose 8.5 percent to $2.39 billion in January 2017 from $2.20 billion in January 2016. The rate of annual increase in January more than doubled the 3.6 percent annual increase in December, but on a month-onmonth comparison, remittances in January at $2.39 billion were lower than the $2.82 billion generated in December. Focusing on the year-on-year increase in January alone, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the sustained rise was driven mainly by the 13.5 percent growth in transfers from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more (which summed up to $1.9 billion), more than offsetting the 8.3 percent decline in remittances from sea-based and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year (at $400 million). An IHS Markit economist said the month-on-month decline in the value of remittances may be
traced to seasonal factors. “Although the value of remittances did show some moderation in January compared to the December level, this is a normal seasonal pattern as remittances for the month of December are usually the highest monthly remittance inflow each year due to the Christmas and New Year holiday season,” IHS Markit senior economist Rajiv Biswas said. Personal remittances are transfers in cash or in kind, as well as capital transfers between households. Analysts said that despite an expected slowdown in remittances this year, their nominal value will still be higher than in 2016. Cash remittances Cash remittances coursed through banks totaled $2.16 billion in January, up 8.6 percent from $1.99 billion in January 2016. In December, cash remittances totaled $2.55 billion. “Remittances of land-based workers amounted to $1.8 billion, 13.5 percent higher compared [with]the level posted in the same month a year ago. Meanwhile, sea-based workers’ remittances declined by 8.3 percent year-onyear due to the stiffer competition in the supply of seafarers,” the BSP explained. By country source, it said the bulk of cash remittances came from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, Kuwait and Australia. “The combined remittances from these countries accounted for more than 79 percent of the total cash remittances,” it added. The BSP also said the United States, Singapore, Qatar and Japan were the major contributors to growth in cash remittances in January. “Remittances from the United States grew by 9.2 percent, con-
tributing 3.0 percentage points to the 8.6 percent overall growth. Those from Singapore, Qatar and Japan rose by 19.7 percent, 57.8 percent, and 16.0 percent, respectively, with a combined 3.8 percentage-point contribution to total growth in cash remittances,” it added. Sustained growth seen in 2017 IHS Markit’s Biswas sees the early 2017 data on remittances showing quite a strong upturn compared with the 4.9 percent annual growth rate for remittances in 2016. “The buoyant growth of remittances is a very positive sign for the overall economic outlook for the Philippines in 2017 as remittances provide a key source of financing for private consumption expenditure in the Philippine economy” he said. Given that overseas worker remittances are one of the two main growth engines of the Philippine economy, the other one being the information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry, the early data is a positive signal for sustained strong growth in Philippine GDP growth in 2017, Biswas added. IHS Markit expects the Philippine economy to grow by 6.3 percent in 2017, supported by continued strong growth in private consumption, as well as investment. “Strong growth of foreign worker remittances will also help boost the current account position of the Philippines,” he said. Another economist also forecast that OFW remittances this year will exceed the level in 2016. “Remittance growth [is expected]to remain subdued in 2017, but still slightly better than in 2016, and supportive in the near term,” Chidu Narayanan from Standard Chartered Bank said.
NCC private sector co-chairman Guillermo Luz told The STAR the decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to close 23 mine sites and suspend five others may affect the country’s standing in some global reports, particularly those that include rule of law, contracts and formation of public policy as indicators.
Mining issues cloud PH competitiveness by riChMond
MerCUrio Philstar.com
MANILA - The Philippines may soon feel the backlash of the ongoing issues surrounding the closure and suspension of mining companies in its global competitiveness rankings, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) said. NCC private sector co-chairman Guillermo Luz told The Star the decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to close 23 mine sites and suspend five others may affect the country’s standing in some global reports, particularly those that include rule of law, contracts and formation of public policy as indicators. “Any area which affects investor interest is obviously an area of concern for us. Definitely, you can see the impact on the mining sector. Obviously, they are very concerned,” Luz said. “People are watching. On the mining issue, that caused people to ask questions about has there been proper due process in the way the closures have been announced. You have to remember, in that particular industry, all those approvals are approvals by the government and contracts with the government,” he added. The NCC monitors 12 international competitiveness surveys that ranks countries globally in terms of various measures. According to Luz, some reports due to come out late in the year are usually starting to gather data from each country as early as the start of the year. This means the recent action of the DENR to shut down mines and cancel permits will be included in these reports’ data gathering and considerations. “Mining is basically a concession. Without government approval, you cannot move. So what I find difficulty in understanding, and I told DENR this, is that from the beginning, DENR approved the contracts and they were moni-
toring these permits all the time. Or they should have been. So why all of a sudden they are cancelled. There must be a process to give a report and go over the report to address the issues before getting all the way to a cancellation stage,” Luz said. “But the good thing is what we see in the mining issue is that so far the issue is limited to the mining sector. We haven’t’ seen it get outside. It affects right now only the mining sector and we don’t see it affecting the other sectors. Now that will be a different story if other sectors are affected that way. Then we have a big problem,” he added. As such, Luz remains optimistic the country would still be able to climb in most of the upcoming global competitiveness rankings amid the ongoing mining issues. “I work a lot with government agencies and I can see they are working hard in introducing improvements,” he said. After the Philippines dropped 10 notches in last year’s World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, the NCC called for further reforms in the country’s bureaucracy, infrastructure, technology and innovation. “At the end of the day, investors look for predictability and underlying sort of rule of law picture before they make a decision. So long as they see those two items addressed, then I think the country will continue to be an attractive place to invest. And I think so far when we take a look at least to at end 2016, the numbers are good,” Luz said. “I think it is important for us to make sure that we continue to keep those qualities as far as our public policy is concerned. If we keep those two qualities, I think investors will continue to come in. There’s a risk when you begin to change those qualities, then you cost hesitation. They hesitate and that is not necessarily a good sign. We have to be careful about keeping those two attributes about our economy,” he added.
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Filipino company plucks prestigious international beauty awards in Paris and London Philippines’s Human Nature bests European Brands, Weleda and Givaudan
Human nature has proven that “made in the Philippines” is a seal of excellence. Human nature has won a Sustainable Beauty award for its social entrepreneurship work in asia from Paris-based Ecovia Intelligence (formerly Organic monitor), a globally-recognized specialist research and consulting company for organic products and related industries. Categories include Sustainability Pioneer, Sustainability Leadership, Sustainable Ingredient, Green Formulations and Sustainable Packaging. Human nature took home the Sustainability Pioneer plum for its social entrepreneurship work in asia, besting industry leaders like Éminence Organic Skin Care and Givaudan, a 250 year old French company producing scents and flavors. amarjit Sahota, Founder and President, Ecovia Intelligence shared that Human nature’s emphasis on creating certified natural cosmetics from locally sourced ingredients and employment for impoverished communities in the Philippines was key to its Sustainability Pioneer award. “We We applaud the activities of this pioneering company.” Weleda, a German company that has been producing natural products since 1921, was a runner up for the category. Past recipients of the Sustainability Pioneer award include Cruelty Free International and L’Oreal uSa – Garnier. “We didn’t realize that our small company, which is just 8 years old, would come this far. We just wanted to do something good, something right, and this award is an affirmation of what we are doing,” stated Human nature marketing Head amalia meloto-Gonzalez during the awards reception. Cosmetics Design, a Londonbased beauty industry publication, has named Human nature Co-Founder and President anna meloto-Wilk as the asia Pacific winner of the Beauty Industry Woman of the Year award. Theselection puts meloto-Wilk in the running for the Global Beauty Industry Woman of the Year award. The Beauty Industry Woman of the Year award puts
Amalia Meloto Gonzalez, Human Nature’s head of marketing
a spotlight on beauty industry pioneers: Sarah Chapman of Sarah Chapman Skinesis is representing Europe while nanette De Gaspé of nanette De Gaspé Beaté will be representing the americas. Global winners will be unveiled at the In-Cosmetics Global Exhibition in London on april 4-6, 2017. Human nature is also the first Filipino cosmetic brand certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of animals (PETa) and the first and only Southeast asian brand on the roster of the uS natural Products association (nPa). meloto-Wilk emphasized that all the accolades are rooted in the company’s vision for the Philippines. “Our dream is to unlock the potent qualities of the best of the Philippines natural flora and turn them into world class sustainable products.” Refreshed concept store unveiled Human nature is celebrating its twin beauty feats with the unveiling of its refreshed concept store in Quezon City. at the new concept store, a more relaxing shopping experience awaits -- the airy and wellappointed space is clearly a place where Human nature’s pro-environment advocacy takes center stage: customers can enjoy a whole spectrum of nature’s green goodness at the new store. “We wanted to enhance the in store brand experience of Human nature starting with the
flagship store. There is so much of our company vision, values and advocacy that our customers don’t know about and we really wanted to align the design and the experience of the store to those important values,” explains meloto-Wilk. It features a Wellness Experience Bar where one can explore pure and potent remedies for everyday ills. It also has a bespoke skin analysis system that even non-beauty junkies will love. a team of Beauty Experience Specialists will also be a mainstay at the new concept store to provide a guided skin care and makeup experience. “The beauty experience personnel were especially trained as well to cater to the specific needs and questions of the customers and provide them with tailormade solutions to their beauty needs.” Switch to goodness This year, Human nature is making it even easier for consumers to make greener choices with the launch of “Switch to Goodness”. The initiative helps users choose a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle: from a series of 21-day green challenges to offering big discounts when you switch from a synthetic brand. To enjoy the Switch to Goodness discount, surrender a clean and empty container of a synthetic counterpart of the featured product at any Human nature branch. Log on to www.humanheartnature.com/switchtogoodness for more details.
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Cool down with AC service from Air Care Saver As the cold season slowly departs, each day starts to get warmer. Because of this, ensuring the comfort of your home becomes central to you and your family’s health. To relieve yourself from the discomfort of the rising temperatures, what you need is a dependable heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and a provider that will help it adapt as the season changes. Filipino-owned Air Care saver offers high quality and energy saving air conditioning systems installation, with units of cooling systems all guaranteed for its durability, reliability, and energy efficiency. To ensure and protect each client’s property, the company’s clean-cut technicians go through an intensive background check. With a team of highly-trained professionals, Air Care saver also provides installation services of quality duct work, ventilation, indoor air improvement, air handlers, ductless mini splits, zoning system, WiFi digital thermostats, hospital grade filtration, and UV germicidal lights. “We treat your home like our home,” said Ralph Ayers, one of Air Care saver’s co-owners. “We offer service that cares.” Estimates for system services are offered for free with full benefits. schedules are always met and Air Care saver makes sure
Patrick Bagat and Ralph Ayers
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World Bank lends $64.6-M for Manila bus rapid transit by Czeriza
ValenCia Philstar.com
MANILA - The World Bank (WB) has approved a $64.6 million loan for the development of the first bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Metro Manila along España Blvd. and Quezon Ave. set to be operational by 2020. The $64.6 million funding from the World Bank and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) will provide bulk of the total $109.4 million cost for the Metro Manila BRT Line 1 Project. The remaining $44.8 million will be provided by the Philippine government as counterpart funding. The WB-managed CTF provides developing countries with resources for scaling up clean technologies that have strong potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Metro Manila BRT, which will run on dedicated lanes like trains, will service an estimated 300,000 passengers daily along the busy thoroughfares of España and Quezon Ave. The project will be implemented by the Department of Transporta-
that they arrive at an appointment on time. Repairs on any type of heating or air conditioning system, fixing of furnaces, and ductwork are also included in many of their versatile services. Additionally, professionals can check freon and gas leaks, take care of airflow problems, and rectify odors in the ductwork of your home. Air Care saver also participates in government financing programs that can help homeowners afford a wide variety of home improvement repairs. The company provides HVAC system repair, maintenance, and installation throughout the West Covina, san Gabriel Valley, Orange County, Inland Empire and Los Angeles areas. For questions or to schedule an inspection or other service, you can call (800) 847-0877 or visit http://www.aircaresaver. com/. Assistance is available in English, Tagalog, spanish, and Chinese.
tion (DOTr) in coordination with the local governments of Manila and Quezon City. “By providing an affordable and convenient public transport option, this project will help make job and education opportunities more accessible, especially for the poor residing around the BRT route,” said World Bank country director Mara Warwick noting 55 percent of public transportation users in Metro Manila are women. “High-capacity transport systems like BRT help reduce greenhouse gases, boosting the country’s contribution to the global fight against climate change,” she added. The loan will provide for the development of support infrastructure along the BRT route which include terminals and stations, segregation barriers, sidewalks, warning and direction signs and pedestrian crossing facilities. Other components of the projects include the development of the IT and marketing system for the BRT, traffic engineering and management measures along the project corridor, as well as
enhancements of surrounding areas to promote accessibility to terminals. “Bus systems like BRT are costeffective options for reducing emissions of harmful gases that cause climate change,” said Zhihong Zhang, senior program coordinator of the Clean Technology Fund. “Implementation of this project alone will prevent the release of around 2.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere in the next 20 years. Transport is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions globally and projects like this show the road to a cleaner future,” he added. Pioneered in Curitiba, Brazil in 1974, BRT systems are growing in popularity throughout the world for efficiency and affordability. Around 150 cities worldwide are now operating or developing BRT systems. These include Bogotá, Boston, Cleveland, Curitiba, Hartford, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Porto Alegre, são Paulo, sydney, Ahmedabadn and Jakarta, among others.
AmCham supports Duterte’s stand vs smuggling, tax evasion
THE American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham) supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent initiative against goods bearing counterfeit tax stamps. since late last year, the media has been publishing reports of tobacco products with fake tax stamps in country, the chamber said. The tax stamps may be used in various products abroad and smuggled into the Philippines without paying correct import duties and excise taxes. Alternatively, they could be applied by domestic manufacturers in disregard of Philippine internal revenue regulations. The country has a history of such tax avoidance schemes, the chamber noted. Earlier this month, Philippine authorities raided warehouses and discovered large quantities of cigarettes with fake tax stamps. According to the Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of Customs (Advertising Supplement) (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor
Faeldon reported over P2 billion ($$40-million) worth of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products were seized in Pampanga, General santos and Zamboanga. Using Mobile Verification Devices, agents of the Bureau of Internal Revenue found the tax stamps on cigarette packs were faked. Raids in Cebu and Tacloban also yielder cigarettes with bogus tax stamps. “If the evidence warrants, I urge the BIR and the BOC to file the appropriate charges in court as soon as possible,” Dominguez said early this month. President Duterte raised the possibility of settling the tax liability of cigarette maker Mighty Corp. But Dominguez clarified that a case will be filed against the company. “As soon as we get all the evidence, of course, we will file a case . . . It’s our duty to do so.” According to the Tax Code, “Any manufacturer, owner or person in charge of any article subject to
excise tax who removes or allows or causes the unlawful removal of any such articles from the place of production or bonded warehouse, upon which the excise tax has not been paid at the time and in the manner required, and any person who knowingly aids or abets in the removal of such articles as aforesaid, or conceals the same after illegal removal shall, for the first offense, be punished with a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of excise tax due on the articles but not less than P1,000 and suffer imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than two years.” The AmCham encourages the government to proceed vigorously to investigate the case against the company, as the recent seizures may be the tip of the iceberg of tax evasion going back several years. “Based on the investigation, we call upon the government to prosecute the case for tax evasion and attempted bribery,” it said. (ManilaTimes.net)
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Tetangco prefers insider as successor P326-B infra projects to stimulate economy by lawrenCe
agCaoili Philstar.com
MANILA - Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. tagged the global financial crisis as the most challenging event during his 12-year tenure as central bank governor. Tetangco said during the panel discussion at the 2017 Convention of the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 would stand out as one of the most challenging as its scope and magnitude was wider than the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998. “There have always been challenges but I think the global financial crisis would stand out as one of the most challenging because of the scope as well as the magnitude of the crisis. It affected not only the advanced economies but also emerging markets. Including emerging markets in this part of the world,” he said. The BSP chief who is set to step down on July 2 after serving the central bank for 43 years said the Philippines survived the shocks of the crisis with the adoption of the inflation-targeting framework
of monetary policy in 2002 and a flexible exchange rate. “We target inflation and we make sure the actual inflation rate is within the target range. We don’t target exchange rate but we also are mindful of the potential inflationary impact particularly to possibly change in expectations of exchange rate movements on inflation,” he said. Tetangco, now 64, was appointed by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the BSP chief in July 2005 and became the first BSP governor to be reappointed to another six-year term by former president Benigno Aquino III in July 2011. he declined the third term offer by President Duterte due to health reasons as he underwent a heart bypass in 2010. Potential candidates include BSP Deputy Governors Nestor Espenilla Jr. and Diwa Guinigundo as well as East West Banking Corp. president and CEO Antonio Moncupa Jr. and former Trade Secretary and Monetary Board Member Peter Favila. Tetangco said his successor should have a good understanding of what he is supposed to do as
mandated by the BSP charter. “As head of the BSP, you have to be familiar with primary objectives which would be maintenance of price and financial stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy,” he said. he added the next BSP governor should also be patient as there would be many challenges. Tetangco said he preferred an insider as his replacement to ensure a seamless transition as the BSP is a solid institution that is now ready for a leadership change. “If you want a seamless transition in the BSP, the next governor should be one with central banking experience, an insider. If you look at those competencies, an underlying factor there would be familiarity with the mandate and how to deliver on it, as well as the culture of the organization,” he said. Meanwhile, President Duterte said he will gather views from his allies on who should succeed Tetangco at the BSP. Duterte, however, could not say whether he prefers and insider or an outsider for the BSP post.
Ayala enters co- working... PAGE D1 some of the incentives offered by Clock In to users. With this model, entrepreneurs can immediately use an office for as low as P550 per person per day. ALI has teamed up with Acceler8—an existing player in the burgeoning co-working space business with more than 2,000 members around Asia—to operate, market and provide technology services for Clock In. This new brand is intended to be developed into a chain of plug-and-play office space located in ALI’s office buildings and even shopping malls. The inaugural Clock In site at the MSE penthouse has a reception lobby and lounge that lead to a sprawling floor plan of shared work spaces, a meeting room, 15 private offices enclosed in glass, a breakout area, and pantry. The serviced office has a seating capacity of 107 people. For as low as P2,000 a month, a start-up entrepreneur can get a virtual address to register his or her business at Clock In and get access to co-working space, Acceler8 cofounder Mikko Barranda said.
Clock In at MSE building penthouse
The facility is seen most suitable to small businesses with a headcount of five to 10 people. Since these ventures can not predict the pace of growth, they would not want to commit to long-term lease agreements. The rise of millennials as a demographic force and the booming appetite for entrepreneurship for these digital natives are among the key trends driving the co-working space business, Barranda said. Given the unique set-up of a coworking space, Clock In’s clients
can also look forward to collaborations, mentoring, and even social gatherings to strengthen community ties, Barranda said. “Co-working spaces provide value beyond just real estate.. There are intangible opportunities such as networking that help entrepreneurs test out their ideas and learn from other community members,” he added. While Clock In, targets mostly millennials, it also welcomes “parennials”—parents of millennials or the perennial entrepreneurs.
by Mayvelin
U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net
ThE Department of Finance (DoF) said greater Asian integration and some P326 billion worth of infrastructure projects that have already begun construction, or will be built this year and the next, will stimulate the Philippine economy. In a statement issued by the DoF on Thursday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said businesses should expect themselves to be busy starting this year as the Duterte administration rolls out its big-ticket infrastructure projects. These projects will, in turn, boost the economy, create jobs and generate more financing opportunities for the country’s banking and insurance sectors, the statement said. “Over the next few years, we anticipate substantial investments inflows. This is helped, to a significant extent, by commitments made both by Japan and China to assist us especially in large infra projects. Expect a palpable uptick in business activity over the next few months,” Dominguez was quoted as saying in his remarks at the recently concluded general membership meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at the Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City. This year, he said, the government expects to start big railway projects such as the Clark-Subic Rail, Tutuban-Clark Rail, the 581kilometer South Line of the North South Railway Project connecting Tutuban, Calamba, Batangas and Bicol. We already began construction of the Panguil Bay Bridge this year. The groundbreaking of the Clark International Airport, the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit, and three bridges across Pasig River, two of which will be built under Chinese grants are also expected. The DoF chief noted the government is closely working with Chinese partners to finally start the construction of the Kaliwa Dam and Chico River Dam this year. “All these projects mentioned have a total cost of around P326 billion,” he added. After 2017, Dominguez said the current administration will start the construction of long span bridges between Bicol and Samar and between Leyte and Surigao
and make land travel across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao possible. The construction and rehabilitation of key regional airports will also ease regional travel, while projects like the Mindanao Rail, an almost 2000-km railway that will connect key Mindanao cities, will be a big boost to the economy of regions that need it the most. “While we plan to invest more outside Mega Manila, we will address the congestion here through projects such as the Mega Manila Subway, almost a dozen more bridges across Pasig River, and the development of Clark Green City to attract businesses and people out of the Mega Manila area,” Dominguez said. It is not only the large businesses that will benefit from the multifold opportunities that will open up in the near future, the Cabinet official noted. “Our closer relationship with China, Japan, South Korea and the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] will translate into rapid tourism growth and bountiful export markets. This will mean stronger demand for processed food, in-person service enterprises, household items and consumer electronics,” Dominguez said. he said “the stronger linkages we now forge with our development partners and regional neighbors will provide new drivers for the growth of our domestic economy.” Regional airports will be rehabilitated, or new ones built, to
ease travel across the country’s three island groups, while a 2,000-kilometer railway that will connect key cities and boost the economies of the country’s poor regions in Mindanao is also in the pipeline, he said. “I am well aware that the congestion at the ports imposed heavy costs on our manufacturers, especially those whose competitiveness depends on just-in-time deliveries of both raw materials and finished products. The congestion is both an infrastructure and administrative problem. As we upgrade our port infrastructure, we should also remove unnecessary procedural hindrances to the flow of goods,” Dominguez said at the PCCI forum. The Duterte administration is also committed to address other factors that have made the Philippine economy unattractive to investments, such as its high energy costs, restrictive economic policies, corruption and uncertainty over contracts, the Cabinet official noted. “In a word, increasing investments in our economy requires an all-rounded strategy. It requires both adept and far-sighted governance as well as a dynamic private sector that is always ready to seize opportunities offered by the market,” Dominguez said. “As we improve on those factors that made our economy unattractive to investments—namely costly energy, poor infra, restrictive economic policies, corruption – and we expect investments to play the driving role in our economic expansion,” he added.
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