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W E E W K EE N EWD K EE ENKDE N D M I D W E E K
E D I T I OE ND I T I O NI T I O N ED
EOctober D I T 8-11, ION 2016
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Duterte’s first 100 days: a progress report on the economy, war on drugs
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DATELINE
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from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA
AAPI survey: Filipinos comprise the highest support for Trump Clinton beats Trump among all AAPI groups by 41 points With about a month before election Day, a new survey shows that Democratic presidential nominee hillary Clinton holds a staggering 41-point lead over republican nominee Donald trump with Asian American and Pacific islander (AAPi) voters. the national Asian American survey (nAAs) released the first half of their 2016 fall survey of AAPi called the “Asian American Voices in the 2016 election” on Wednesday, october 5. the survey explored AAPi voter identification, party preferences, civic engagement and ethnic media consumption. A significant takeaway was that 55 percent of AAPi registered voters are more likely to vote for Clinton compared to the 14 percent who plan to vote for trump. moreover, the survey found that 67 percent of the participants harbored “very unfavorable” or “unfavorable” opinions of trump while Clinton received 36 percent from the
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Fil-Am anchor Elaine Quijano gets high marks for moderating VP debate
sAn frAnCisCo, Calif. — many in the twittersphere gave elaine Quijano an ‘A’ for moderating the only u.s. vice presidential debate on tuesday, october 4. the filipino- Elaine Quijano Photo courtesy of CBS News American veteran journalist made history as the first Asian American, first digital anchor and youngest moderator in decades, of a national debate. twitter users are commending her moderation of the debate, citing that she asked substantive questions and held her own with the two VP candidates, Virginia sen. tim Kaine and indiana gov. mike Pence, specifically by effectively controlling the discussion and keeping it on track. many particularly lauded her stern reminder to the two when they constantly interrupted each other: “gentlemen, the people at
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by Dana
sioson AJPress
in the latest social Weather stations (sWs) survey released on Wednesday, october 5, President rodrigo Duterte garnered a “very good” satisfaction rating for his first three months of service as the country’s president. the survey, which was first published in BusinessWorld, showed that the president gained a +64 net satis-
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faction or “very good” rating in the first quarter. meanwhile, Communications secretary martin Andanar said Duterte’s high satisfaction rating was not surprising since he was overwhelmingly elected in the may 9 polls “on the strength of his platform of tunay na pagbabago (real change) anchored on a strong anti-drugs, anti-crime and anti-corruption agenda.” With a net rating of +64, it showed that 76 percent of filipinos were sat-
isfied with Duterte’s performance so far, while 11 percent were dissatisfied. the remaining 13 percent marked that they were undecided. Compared to former President Benigno Aquino iii’s +60 net rating, Duterte’s ranking was higher during the same period of his administration. According to Presidential spokesman ernesto Abella, this just showed that filipinos trust what the president is doing.
A former national security adviser went on to describe Duterte’s first 100 days in the office as ‘exceptional.’ former national security Adviser Jose Almonte recognized the president’s achievements in solving the country’s “internal war, broken politics and the business which is monopolized by few.” however, he suggested that Duterte should tone down his verbal attacks and insults, which may distract the
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EU, US dared to withdraw assistance from Philippines by Dana
sioson AJPress
Continuing his tirades against the international community, President rodrigo Duterte on thursday, october 6, boldly dared the european union (eu), the united states, and human rights advocates to pull out their assistance from the Philippines. “And if you think it’s high time for you guys to withdraw your assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it,” Duterte said in a speech delivered at Camp rafael rodriguez in Butuan City. the president expressed that even without their aid, the Philippines can stand on its own. “how do you look at us? mendicants? even if we face hardships, we will survive,” he continued. telling the filipinos not to worry, Duterte went on to say that he’ll be the first one to go hungry, promising to “never compromise our dignity as filipino.”
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HAIL TO THE CHIEF. President Rodrigo Duterte, along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., poses for photos with soldiers at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. Duterte claims joint military exercises with the US military have not yielded benefits. Malacañang photo
Marcos burial protest reaches 1 million signatures Edgar Matobato
surrenders to PNP
by Dana
sioson AJPress
more than one million supporters have signed the campaign to allow late and former President ferdinand marcos’s interment at the heroes’ Cemetery. With permission from President rodrigo Duterte, marcos’s burial was supposedly set in september, but the supreme Court (sC) initially issued a status quo ante order (sQA) at the request of petitioners who sought to stop the burial. the sQA, which originally should have expired on september 12, was extended until october 18. the signatures collected will be turned over to the sC. Before submission, organizers said a mass will be held first. “the signature campaign is
by Dana
sioson AJPress
Libingan ng mga Bayani or Heroes Cemetery located in Taguig City is a 142-hectare area established in 1947.
to reiterate that there’s massive public backing and support for President Duterte’s decision to give a hero’s burial to the former president and World War ii veteran,” said James Caesar
Ventura of the sirib ilokano Kabataan Association (siKA), one of the groups who launched the campaign. meanwhile, Lawyer hyacinth
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senAtor Antonio trillanes iV has turned over confessed hitman edgar matobato to Philippine national Police (PnP) Chief Dir. gen. ronald “Bato” dela rosa on friday, october 5, at Camp Crame, Quezon City. from Camp Crame, matobato was then transferred to the Criminal investigation and Detection group to undergo the booking process. “i’m giving my life to god; whatever happens to me, i’ll accept,” he told reporters. Judge silverio mandalupe of the regional trial Court Branch 3 earlier issued a warrant of arrest for matobato after failing to show up at the scheduled arraignment in connection with an illegal possession of firearms case filed against him two years ago. matobato was arrested in 2014 for carrying a .45caliber pistol without a license. “safety and security is a matter of perspective. But i respect general Dela rosa. he has given me his word so i don’t have any reason to doubt that,” trillanes
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Obama, Clinton hail Fil-Ams’ contributions to US history by Yuji
President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton
Vincent Gonzales
to each other,” as he lauded filipinos’ “integral role in shaping the life of our country.” u.s. President Barack obama “An unshakable faith in the has recognized the contribu- promise of America has guided tions of filipino Americans in his people to our shores since our country’s history, despite Presi- founding. When they arrived, dent rodrigo Duterte’s continu- many of those who first settled ous tirades against him. here suffered setbacks and faced in his message for the cele- challenges in their pursuit of the bration of the filipino-American American dream. But with rehistory month, obama said the lentless optimism, they held their two races “will always be bound heads high and laid down their Inquirer.net
roots—building our country into the beacon of hope it is today,” obama said in his message dated oct. 1. “they have been the artists who challenge us, the educators who keep us informed, and the laborers of our growing economy. And throughout our history, they have served as members of our Armed forces, helping safeguard our nation and the values upon which we stand,” he said.
obama also recognized the role of filipino-Americans in “fighting back the tide of tyranny” during the second World War, as he trumpeted his administration’s filipino World War ii Veterans Parole program “which enables certain filipino-American veterans to request that their family members join them in the us as they wait for their green cards.” “As we mark this special
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A OCTOBER 8-11, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Duterte’s first 100 days: a progress report on… PAGE A1 t
public from the real problems of the country. “The other concentration which distracts the nation is the colorful language of the president. To me, these are, trivial things; we can correct this,” Almonte said. Crime operations In his public speeches, Duterte has continuously lambasted
the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and international human rights groups who have criticized him for the alleged spate of summary killings in relation to his war against illegal drugs. “Even the president may not realize that is not good. I am hopeful he will change when the time comes,” Almonte said, adding that toning down the color-
ful statements would be a “big change.” Since taking office at the end of June, 1,390 drug suspects were killed, 22,791 arrested and 734,231 surrenderers, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s official record as of 6 a.m. on October 6. The deaths have garnered criticism from human rights groups and international community, including the U.S., EU and UN. Asked for an assessment regarding the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the administration is winning the battle so far. “One sentence. We are winning the war on drugs. We are winning,” he noted on Monday, October 3. The economy “We just like to say that the president is off to a very good start. Piggybacking on that is the World Bank report that Philippine economic growth is expect-
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TEACHER’S DAY. Students of Araullo High School in Manila give their teacher flowers to show their appreciation as the country celebrated Teachers’ Day on Wednesday, October 5 was proclaimed World Teachers’ Day by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
EU, US dared…
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The president also said that the international groups and other countries do not understand the extent of how Filipinos have suffered due to drug problems, telling them to “go away, bring your money to somewhere else. We will survive as a nation.” In the past few months, both the EU and U.S. have criticized the Philippine administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs, calling for the nation to put a stop to the alleged spate of summary killings. Duterte, describing their statements as an ‘interference,’ lashed back at his critics for their supposed hypocrisy and failure to end atrocities in their respective countries. Earlier, Vice President Leni Robredo expressed her concern that the president’s tirades against his critics could affect the Philippines’ receipt of the international aid. “I hope he improves for the better because we don’t live like an island,” Robredo said on Wednesday, October 5. “We are expecting a lot of help from them and any incident that
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From the Front page
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 8-11, 2016
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Marcos burial protest reaches 1 million… PAGE A1 t Rafael-Antonio, Marcos family legal counsel, expressed that the signatures gathered “signify that there are numerous Filipinos who are in favor of the burial of the late president at the LNMB (Libingan ng mga Bayani or Heroes’ Cemetery).” “Those who signed are also citizens of our country whose convictions must be considered for national unity and healing to become a reality,” Antonio said. “Nevertheless, we should keep in mind that the case has been submitted for the resolution of the SC. We should trust that the SC will rule in accordance with law.”
The campaign was also initiated by groups like the Buong Bayan Magkaisa (BBM) Youth Movement and Friends of Imelda R. Marcos (FIRM) 24k, the United Marcos Loyalists in the Philippines (UMLP), and Kilusang Kaisipang Diwang Pilipino (KKDP). BBM said they wanted to support the campaign so that the country could start its healing process. On the other hand, FIRM 24k member Hazel Kaye Mendoza said she signed the campaign as part of recognizing the late president’s good projects. Meanwhile, according to UMLP president Vince Avena, it is about time for the country to
move on. “This cannot happen as long we let the past dictate our life as a country today,” Avena continued. “Though we do not ask that the past be forgotten… who are we to withhold from him the kind of burial he deserves?” Although refusing to be called a “loyalist group,” Robert dela Cern of KKDP said they nonetheless believe in Marcos’ accomplishments. The campaign was first launched a month ago through the online website Change.org, “#ilibingNa si President Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.” n
Obama, Clinton hail Fil-Ams’ contributions…
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month, we celebrate the ways Filipino-Americans have lent their unique voices and talents to changing our country for the better. Their immeasurable contributions to our nation reaffirm that as Americans we will always be bound to each other in common purpose and by our shared hopes for the future,” Obama added. Obama’s anointed successor
and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, for her part, took to social media to share her message to Filipino-Americans. “It’s Filipino American History Month, so let’s honor their many contributions—from serving in WWII to strengthening our labor movement,” Clinton wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. In his latest anti-West sentiments, Duterte on Tuesday said he would cut ties with US during
his term and forge alliances with China and Russia amid criticisms against his bloody war on drugs. In a separate speech, he lashed out anew at Obama and the European Union, saying the former “can go to hell” while the latter “better choose purgatory.” Duterte earlier threatened to stop the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) and end war games between US and the Philippines. n
Duterte’s first 100 days: a progress report on… PAGE A1 t
ed to accelerate to 6.4 percent (this year),” Abella said. He also mentioned that the investment commitment in the country this year has so far soared 200 percent to P51 billion from P17 billion last year, citing a Board of Investments report. Within Duterte’s first 100 days of service, the Philippines Stock Exchange (PSE) index reached its second-highest close but eventually trimmed down as foreign investors sold some of their holdings in the stock market for 24 consecutive sessions starting August 23. At the same time, the Philippine peso has declined P1.225 from its 47.06 finish in 2015. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, however, said the peso’s decline should not cause any alarm as it would boost the value of dollar remittances instead. “The present government actually had a short honeymoon period with reference to the market,” Justino B. Calaycay, Jr., head of marketing and research at A&A Securities, Inc., told BusinessWorld through e-mail.
MUST LOVE PETS. Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez carries a dog after the blessing of pets at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City on Tuesday, Oct. 4 to mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan
Edgar Matobato surrenders to… PAGE A1 t
President Duterte
Some economic analysts said that the decline was attributed to Duterte’s threat to cut ties with the America. “From an investor’s point of view, there was only one clear message from the new administration and that was Mr. Duterte will be swift in making the Philippines globally competitiveness.” said Cristina S. Ulang, research head at First Metro Investment Corp., according to a BusinessWorld report. Meanwhile, amid Duterte’s verbal attacks, European Union
inquirer.net photo / Joan Bondoc
ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said European businessmen remain keen on investing in the Philippines, particularly in the area of energy. Jessen said part of his task “ is to understand changes, new ideas and views” of the Philippines as the host country. Transportation affairs Adding to the list of Duterte’s achievements, the Department of Transportation said there were lesser flight delays now. Bobby Lim, the undersecre-
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said. The senator had been providing Matobato with security after testifying before the Senate. Dela Rosa, in gratitude, responded to the senator’s confidence in the PNP. “We will make sure that the witness turned over by senator Trillanes is safe, and I have given him my word that we will protect Edgar Matobato,” he said. Security reasons Earlier, Trillanes told reporters that an urgent motion for reconsideration had been filed before the court. According to the senator, Matobato was unable to attend the arraignment because he had been scheduled to testify in the Senate hearing on extrajudicial executions. At another hearing in September, Matobato revealed that he was a member of the supposed “Davao Death Squad” (DDS) who killed people under the orders of
Edgar Matobato.
President Rodrigo Duterte when he was still the mayor of the city. Trillanes described the timing of the arraignment as “highly suspicious.” He noted that the case had been pending for two years but the arraignment was scheduled on a day when Matobato was to testify in the Senate.
Inquirer.net file photo / Richard A. Reyes
“Still, we are asking for some understanding … that these are the circumstances. There was no intention to deliberately miss the hearing,” Trillanes said. The senator said he was prepared to put up bail for Matobato. Earlier, he stated that he would turn over Matobato “with or without” the arrest warrant. n
A OCTOBER 8-11, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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AAPI survey: Filipinos comprise the… PAGE A1 t
same categories. Both candidates have made efforts to reach out to AAPIs, considered a fast-growing electorate with the potential to swing elections. Last month, Trump formally announced his 30-member Asian Pacific American (APA) advisory committee. Five Fil-Ams were named to the group, which is tasked with advising the Republican nominee’s campaign on AAPI issues, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. Clinton has also held many events targeting the AAPI community through her “AAPI for Hillary” outreach program. Sev-
eral grassroots organizations have also dedicated themselves to garnering support for the Democratic presidential nominee. Among the registered Filipino voters surveyed, a majority said that Clinton was their “presidential vote choice” at 54 percent. But a quarter of Filipinos prefer Trump for the presidency, the highest Trump favorability rating among all surveyed ethnic groups. Although Filipinos generally support progressive issues, they were the ethnic group with the highest opposition rates to these issues. For example, although 62 percent of Filipinos support cli-
mate change initiatives, they had the highest opposition of the surveyed groups at 18 percent. Other issues in which Filipinos comprised the highest opposition ratings included accepting Syrian refugees into the U.S. (41 percent), climate change initiatives (18 percent) and equal rights for black Americans (22 percent). Previous surveys have indicated that AAPIs generally lean towards the Democratic Party, and this survey is no different. As the Asian Journal previously reported, in May, nonpartisan groups APIAVote, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and AAPI Data released “Inclu-
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Duterte’s first 100 days: a progress report on…
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tary for aviation, noted that the general aviation from the Ninoy Aquino Aquino International Airport helped the increase of ontime arrivals from 47 percent to 71 percent. No more incidents of the bullet-planting scheme have been recorded as well. Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Train Noel Kintanar said the waiting time between trains at the Metro Rail Transit was reduced to from five minutes to four-and-a-half minutes. The number of breakdowns was also lessened, according to him. The Manila traffic jam, however, was difficult to fix in 100 days, Transportation Secretary Arthur
Tugade said. Currently, Duterte is seeking emergency powers from Congress to ease the heavy traffic that results in an estimated P2.4 billion in economic losses daily. One-stop service center for OFWs Duterte, who said he “hated to see Filipinos lining up and waiting,” made several changes and new policies the affairs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). One of his promises during the election campaign was streamlining government processes, which he started to fulfill through the establishment of one-stop service centers. “I asked [Labor Secretary Syl-
vestre] Secretary Bello to rent a building that’s for overseas concerns only. Put everything there: BIR, police clearances...in the building with booths. The Filipino will only be going around that one building,” Duterte said during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). In its accomplishment report on the first 100 days, the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency said the centers have so far served a total of 88,351 OFWs, with the help of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), since its opening. By August 15, the government started issuing new passports with added security features, as announced by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) head Martin Andanar, which was also initiated by the previous administration, led by former President Benigno Aquino III. The issuance of these new passports will be faster by 35 percent will allow the delivery and printing of a passport within only five days. “While the Duterte administration’s performance in the past three months is exemplary, this is not the time for complacency. There is much work to be done not only in eliminating the scourge of illegal drugs and crime, but also in fighting poverty and improving the lives of the underprivileged and the powerless,” Andanar said in a statement. “More than ever, we ask for the full support of all Filipinos behind the president’s reform agenda so that we can achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the years ahead,” he added. n
BOXFULS OF PLEAS. Volunteers carry boxes containing petitions signed by 1.5 million Filipinos asking the Supreme Court to allow the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. The High Court, through a temporary restraining order, stopped the interment of Marcos’ remains at the heroes’ cemetery. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
EU, US dared to withdraw assistance…
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could strain relations is worrisome. It makes us anxious because we value our relations with the international community,” she said. Responding to the vice president, Duterte then said: “Choose. The crumbs of the favors of other nations, we will depend on their assistance, or we make a stand that this country has to survive, that this country must see to it that the next generation is protected?” He stressed that the problems of drugs must be resolved now to prevent the sufferings of future generations. ‘America has failed us’ Through a Facebook post, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay defended President Duterte’s move to realign the country’s foreign policy towards an independent track. “The America has failed us. This is at the core of the message of [Duterte] to the American people and the world,” Yasay said. He pointed out that the breaking away from the “shackling dependency” to address both internal and external security threats has become an imperative in putting an end to the nation’s subservience to the United State’s interests. Although the Philippines was proclaimed independent from America on July 4, 1946, Yasay said the U.S. still held onto the “invisible chains” that reined towards dependency and submission, with Filipinos not capable
of gaining true independence and freedom. The diplomat recognized there were many things to be grateful to America for, but he argued that the “stark reality” shows the Philippines’ defensive forces was “grossly incapable” in meeting the security threats that the nation faces from potential foes in relation to the disputed waters in the South China Sea. “Worse is that our only ally could not give us the assurance that in taking a hard line towards the enforcement of our sovereignty rights under international law, it will promptly come to our defense under our existing military treaty and agreements,” Yasay added. He said that Duterte was trying to liberate the Filipinos from the “carrot and stick” policy of the U.S. towards the Philippines, which has been “effectively used to force Filipinos into submission to American demands and interests.” Duterte earlier pronounced he would eventually “break up” with America and form closer ties with Russia and China instead. “I would be reconfiguring my foreign policy. Eventually, in my time I would break up with America. I would rather go to Russia or to China. Even though we don’t agree with the ideology, they have respect for the people,” Duterte said. No official moves have been issued yet, but the Malacañang noted that it is possible the president will ‘break up’ the alliance between the Philippines and the
1SFQBSJOH :PVS
U.S. in the future. “That in the future, he might make moves. In the present, there are no moves yet,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, adding that “it is not a definite yes or a definite no.” During his tirade earlier this week, Duterte had told U.S. President Barack Obama to “go to hell” amid the latter’s criticism of his war against illegal drugs. Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo later dismissed Duterte’s ‘go to hell’ remarks as a hyperbole. “It’s just a hyperbole. It means you should not interfere with our campaign against illegal drugs. You should mind your own country,” Panelo said. Turning the tables on the U.S., he then added,”they keep on saying na we’re violating human rights and yet they’re the one who violates the human rights of their countrymen. That’s the only point.” Sought for a comment, the U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Duterte’s statements were “at odds” with the two countries’ warm relationship and decades-long alliance. “We’ve already spoken to this sort of rhetoric,” Kirby said. “Frankly, it seems at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people and the record of important cooperation between our two governments, cooperation that has continued under the Duterte government.” n
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Filipina in Florida charged in professor’s killing by Klarize
Medenilla AJPress
HOUSE VISIT. Manila policemen enter a house as they conduct “Oplan Tokhang” in Binondo, Manila. Three brothers who opened fire on the policemen were shot dead during the operation. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
Fil-Am anchor Elaine Quijano gets high marks… PAGE A1 t
home cannot understand either one of you when you talk over each other.” Quijano is a New York-based, chicago native, the lead weekday anchor for cBSN (an internet TV news channel). She also anchors “cBS Weekend News” on Sundays and contributes across the network’s platforms. Prior to that, Quijano spent ten years covering politics for cNN Newsource and cNN. elaine’s cBS colleagues anchoring the network’s post-debate coverage, Scott Pelley and Bob Schieffer gave glowing marks for Quijano, with Schieffer saying: “She did a magnificent job. i’ve been there, done that, it’s not as easy as it looks.” A sampling of some early tweets and Facebook posts from many in the Filipino-American community showed great pride for her historic role, and how she moderated this oct. 4 debate, especially as the diaspora is celebrating october as FilipinoAmerican History Month. Praise also came from mainstream media and the entertainment world: “Balitang America” correspondent Don Tagala said, “Taray ni elaine!!! [elaine is fierce!]: ‘Governor, it’s Sen. Tim Kaine’s time :)’” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas said, “All hail @ elaine_Quijano, who survived and won the #VPDebate.” Dawn Bohulano Mabalon wrote, “No need to adjust your TV sets. Yes, that’s a #FilipinaAmeri-
can@elaine_Quijano moderating this debate! #pinay #VPDebate #VPdebate2016.” “That was the nicest way i’ve ever heard someone tell people to shut eff up. Way to go, @ elaine_Quijano! #VPDebate,” added W. Kamau Bell. Journalist Nicholas Kristof chimed in saying, “Good to see @elaine_Quijano asking the candidates in#VPDebate about the slaughter in Syria.” Meanwhile, Huffington Post wrote, “line of the night, from elaine Quijano: “i will remind you both that this question was about North Korea” #VPDebates” The Hollywood Reporter’s post-VP debate piece: “VP Debate Moderator elaine Quijano Praised by Twitter Users” highlighted this tweet: “An Asian American Woman telling two old white dudes when to talk..i loVe iT. #VPDebate,” Hari Kondabolu said. cBS News’s story right after the debate declared Quijano, one of its digital news anchors as “the early winner” of the VP matchup, highlighting admiration from many Twitter users including: Dan Rather who said, “Moderator @elaine_Quijano does well by pointing out @GovPenceiN didn’t answer the question about @realDonaldTrump and taxes.” The story also included some criticism, citing that “there were some who claimed Quijano let the two men talk over each other and her too.” Journalist Howard Kurtz noted, “elaine Quijano is losing control, plain and simple. The men just
AAPI survey: Filipinos…
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sion, Not exclusion,” a voter survey examining similar trends. According to the findings of that survey, 31 percent of Filipinos reported a favorable view of the Republican Party, compared to 64 percent of Filipinos for the Democratic Party. Thirty-six percent of Filipinos responded that they are planning to vote for clinton, while 11 percent for Trump. A significant finding from the NAAS survey involves engagement with the community by the political parties. The researchers found that the Democratic reaches out to their AAPi community more with 48 percent reported being contacted. in comparison, 16 percent of Republican voters said they’ve been contacted by their party. Both parties, however, do not engage enough with the AAPi community, according to the research. About 70 percent of the voters surveyed reported never having been contacted by any political parties. in other words, both parties fare poorly among all Asian ethnic groups in terms of electoral contact. “This amplifies the message that we have been telling all the politicians, which is that we matter. We’re not just a margin but a margin of victory and for an election that has been close this is really great news,” Bel leong-Hong, AAPi caucus chair for the Democratic National
committee, said in a community phone call hosted by AAPi for Hillary. The survey was directed by Karthick Ramakrishnan, professor and associate dean at University of california, Riverside, with three co-principal investigators: Janelle Wong of University of Maryland, Taeku lee of University of california, Berkeley and Jennifer lee of University of california, irvine. The NAAS survey was conducted from August 10 to September 29 using telephone interviews. The participant pool included 2,238 Asian Americans and 305 Native Hawaiian and Pacific islanders (NHPi). The data analyzed came from the following ethnic groups: Asian indian (274), chinese (281), Filipino (201), Korean (286), Japanese (147) and Vietnamese (295), Hmong (151), cambodian (59) and NHPis (291). The interviews were conducted in english along with nine Asian languages: cambodia, cantonese, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The survey also compared results among native born and foreign born AAPi, young (18-34) and older (35+) AAPi and men and women. The overall margin of error was +/- 3.5 percent. The survey is available online at www.naasurvey.com. The second half of the project will survey AAPi voters after the election. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
keep talking over each other.” Media Matters zeroed in on Quijano’s question on the national debt in their piece: “Debate Moderator elaine Quijano Falsely equates The impact of Trump And clinton’s economic Plans on The National Debt.” The web-based, progressive research and information center explained that Quijano presented a false equivalency when she said during the debate that the economic plans of both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary clinton “would add even more” to “the growing $19 trillion national debt” and asked whether such debt increases “could be disastrous for the country. (By Odette Keely / New America Media)
Police in Tallahassee, Florida have arrested a Filipina on Saturday, october 1 for her involvement in the murder of a Florida State University (FSU) law professor. The suspect is 31-year-old Katherine Magbanua who is the third to be arrested for the murder of Daniel Markel, who was shot and killed in his garage on July 18, 2014. He was shot in the head twice while sitting in his car. investigators believe that Magbanua was the only connection between the other two accused gunmen — Sigfredo Garcia and luis Rivera — and the family of Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife. Documents released by the police (and reported on by the Tallahassee Democrat) said that Magbanua lived with and has two children with Garcia, and she had romantic relations with Wendi Adelson’s brother charles Adelson. They added that weeks before the killing — and right after — several calls were exchanged between Magbanua and charles Adelson, and between Magbanua and Garcia. Garcia and Rivera were charged with capital murder in May. on Tuesday, october 4, Rivera pled guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, which will run concurrently with a previous sentence. This spares him a life sentence, but he will be required to testify against Magbanua and Garcia. Prosecutor Georgia cappleman said that Rivera has told investigators that Magbanua was involved in the murder plot. charles Adelson’s attorney David o. Markus suggested that the arrest of Magbanua was unfair since Willie Meggs, the Tallahassee state attorney, recently turned down a request from the police to arrest charles Adelson on the grounds of insufficient evidence. “it’s sad that the police have arrested [Magbanua] when just last week the prosecution said there was no basis to proceed. They are trying to pressure a single mom who has no priors by threatening to make her little kids orphans. That’s not how our criminal justice system is supposed to work. it smacks of utter desperation,” Markus said in an email to the Associated Press.
Katherine Magbanua
The victim, Daniel Markel
investigators theorize that Magbanua asked Garcia and Rivera to kill Markel at the request of the Adelson family. Markel and Wendi Adelson divorced in 2013, but before the divorce was finalized, the pair argued over where to move their children. Around the time of his death, Markel and his wife had been fighting over money. Records indicate that Wendi Adelson argued that Markel didn’t pay her the amount of money stated in their divorce agreement. on the morning of Markel’s death, both Garcia and Rivera turned off their cell phones before 10 a.m. before the killing. Surveillance videos showed a Toyota Prius, rented in Rivera’s name, following Markel’s car from Markel’s home, to the gym and waiting there and back to Markel’s home. A neighbor who’d heard the shots said they saw a car that looked like a Prius coming out of Markel’s driveway after the shooting. The two men then turned their phones back on at around 12:30 p.m. cell phone records indicate that Magbanua was the first person Garcia called as soon as he turned on his phone. Adding to the suspicion, documents said that the charles Adelson’s dental practice gave several checks of $407.58 to Magbanua from September 2014 to January 2016, despite Magbanua claiming that she never worked there. Additionally, she deposited $15,000 in cash months before the killing and deposited another $56,000 after the killing. As of Sunday, october 2, Magbanua was being held at the Broward county jail without bond awaiting transfer to Tallahassee. n
Dateline USa
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US tip led to cocaine bust by Cynthia
Balana Inquirer.net
of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency upon arriving at a Manila airport from A TIP from American authori- Dubai last Sunday. Filipino agents followed Vilties has led to the arrest of a suspected Filipino drug mule lamin as he went to the carousel attempting to smuggle in an es- to get his check-in baggage, after timated 4.4 kilos of cocaine, in which they accosted the suspect what the US Embassy in Manila and invited him for questioning said on Wednesday was a “great at the Customs office. Villamin denied knowing that example of cooperation.” The suspect, identified as 22- he had cocaine in his luggage, year-old student Jonjon Villamin saying it was given to him by a Jr. was arrested by agents of the Brazilian friend who promised Bureau of Immigration, Bureau to call and instruct him where to
bring the luggage upon his arrival in Manila. Drug trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment. “We are especially pleased that information from the US Embassy’s Drug Enforcement Administration Office was instrumental in making this arrest, a testament to our longstanding bilateral counternarcotics and law enforcement coordination,” the embassy said in a statement. Embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said the arrest was a “great example of cooperation.” At the 4th Asean-US Summit held in Laos last month, the Philippines assured the delegates that the trade in illicit and illegal drugs threatens to derail the advance of growing economies. “It tears the social fabric, breeds corruption in the highest levels of government and debases human dignity. It is a complex
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DRUG TRAFFICKERS. Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted at the country’s premier airport on Wednesday afternoon three foreigners allegedly trying to smuggle into the country some P135-million worth of suspected narcotics in their baggage. Russian Kirdyushkin Yuri (center) and Hong Kong nationals Chan Kawai and Pau Homanevan, were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, on Wednesday, Oct. 5 after P135 million worth of cocaine and shabu were found inside their luggge. Inquirer.net photo by Jeanette Andrade
US to provide $180-M aid to Philippines next year by Jose
KatigBaK Philstar.com
11/01/16
WASHINGTON – The United States is committed to providing $180 million in assistance to the Philippines in fiscal year 2017 and routinely vetting the military to ensure security units that violate human rights do not get any aid, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Fiscal year 2017 is from Oct. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017. President Duterte, in yet another jab at the US, dared it to end its assistance if it continues to criticize extrajudicial killings in his war against illegal drugs. Duterte’s rhetoric is at odds with the very close relationship between the two countries, Kirby said. “We continue to focus on our broad relationship with the Philippines and we’ll work together in the many areas of mutual interest,” he said. He said Washington is focused on ensuring that assistance efforts truly benefit the people and are compliant with US laws and regulations. To ensure assistance earmarked for law enforcement is not used in extrajudicial killings, the US government routinely and regularly vet security forces through a process known as “Leahy vetting,” Kirby said.
Under a US human rights law named after its principal sponsor Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Washington utilizes the International Vetting and Security Tracking (INVEST) system which tracks all units and individuals who are potential recipients of assistance. “It’s a law we strongly believe in. And whether it’s in the Philippines or anywhere around the world, that review process is near continuous and it will remain so,” Kirby said. Asked to comment on Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay’s statement that the United States has failed the Philippines, prompting Duterte to break the country’s “shackling dependency” on its long-time ally, Kirby said it was not useful to parse every bit of rhetoric that comes out of Manila. “What I can tell you is that in practicality, as you and I talk today, that cooperation continues. Those government contacts continue. The military-to-military relationship remains strong,” Kirby said. The US takes its treaty alliance with the Philippines seriously and “nothing that we’re seeing today tangibly would change our mind about that,” he added. Duterte, well known for a ruthless stand against crime from his years as mayor of Davao City, won election in May on a prom-
The United States is committed to providing $180 million in assistance to the Philippines in fiscal year 2017 and routinely vetting the military to ensure security units that violate human rights do not get any aid, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Philstar.com photo
ise to wipe out drugs and drug dealers. Some 3,600 people have so far been killed in his anti-drugs drive and he has been enraged by questions about human rights, from the US and others, that the bloodshed has raised. Duterte said on Thursday if the United States and European Union objected to his drug war and wished to withdraw aid, they should do so, and the Philippines would not beg. US aid ‘not that much’ In Manila, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday US-Philippines ties are going through “bumps on the road” and the military could manage if
the US were to withdraw aid. The Philippines intended to buy arms from China and Russia and there had been no adverse reaction from within the military to Duterte’s vows to scale back defense ties with the US, he said. Lorenzana’s remarks suggested he was following other top officials in Duterte’s administration in rallying behind the maverick president’s tough anti-US agenda after weeks of scrambling to manage the fallout from his outbursts and threats to downgrade the alliance. Lorenzana had on Wednesday set a conciliatory tone, saying Duterte may have been misin-
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A
Dateline PhiliPPines
Pacquiao: I fight for fans by Dana
SioSon AJPress
Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach doing mitt work.
Philstar.com photo
US to provide $180-M… PAGE A6 t
formed when he said US-Philippine military exercises were of no benefit to his country. But yesterday, Lorenzana said the value of US military aid to the Philippines was “not that much,” and the military could ask Congress to make up for a shortfall of some $50 million-$100 million a year in US military aid. “We can live without (that),” Lorenzana told a foreign correspondents’ forum. Lorenzana said he believed Duterte’s objective was to diversify the Philippines’ foreign ties and cut dependency on a former colonial ruler. “The President is trying to develop a relationship with the US that is not too dependent on one country,” he said. Duterte has caused a diplomatic storm by declaring that joint US-Philippines military exercises would cease, a defense agreement would be reviewed and, at an undisclosed time, he might “break up” with the US. On Monday, Duterte said US President Barack Obama should “go to hell.” Lorenzana said there had been no official directive to scrap a two-year-old Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. He said the uncertainty in the US-Philippines relationship was “just going through these bumps on the road.” “Maybe we should re-assess
(the relationship),” he said. “Are we benefiting, are we getting what we should be getting from the alliance? It is part of this growing up.” He said Duterte was sensitive to concerns about his drug war and it was likely the President would dial down his rhetoric if questions from the West about human rights stopped. Asked how changes in the security relationship could impact a strategic US “rebalance” to Asia, he said: “They are not lacking of any place to park their ships if they are no longer allowed to park their ships here.” He said there may be some issues of compatibility with defense procurements from Russia and China, which were willing to sell to the Philippines. A Philippine dispute with China over sovereignty in the South China Sea would not impede defense procurements, he said, adding there had been no discussion of the two countries working together militarily. “All we are thinking now is buying equipment,” he said. “No talks yet about military alliance. Just simple transaction of buying equipment.” Lorenzana’s show of accord with Duterte’s anti-US stand follows a similar tough line from Foreign Secretary Yasay, who said this week Duterte wanted to liberate the country from a “shackling dependency” on the US. n
US tip led to cocaine…
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problem whose main actors do not recognize borders,” read a Philippine statement during the summit. It said the Philippines welcomed continued drug interdiction cooperation with the United
States, and looked forward to intensifying efforts against drug syndicates and their distribution networks. News of the arrest comes amid President Duterte’s fresh warnings he would cut ties with the United States. n
ACCORDINg to Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, there’s one thing that differentiates him from Floyd Mayweather Jr.: the reason for fighting. He said that while he fights for fans, Mayweather only fights for money. “I know in his heart, he
doesn’t have the concern for the fans, his concern is only for money. My concern in not only for money [or] making money from the fans, from the people,” Pacquiao said, according to a Boxingscene.com report. The Filipino boxer went on to add, “My concern is how I entertain the people, how I entertain the fans.” In what seemed to be one
of the most lucrative events in boxing history, Mayweather was declared the winner by a unanimous decision during their match at the MgM grand in Las Vegas in May of last year. “Of course paying you money for the fight is good, but we have to remember as a fighter that you have a responsibility to make the people happy, make the fans happy,” Pac-
quiao said. Pacquiao said he hopes Mayweather will come out of retirement in 2017 and consider a rematch against him. The Filipino boxer earlier announced his retirement in April this year, while Mayweather retired from boxing September last year. On November 5, Pacquiao will fight World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title holder, Jessie Vargas, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. n
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OpiniOn
Features
100 days of Duterte
THE first 100 days of the Duterte administration can be measured against the 10-point socio-economic agenda that the President outlined at the start of his term. To refresh the people’s memory, the President committed to pursue the following: • Maintain the macroeconomic policies started in the previous administration, which the President has publicly acknowledged to be sound. So far this has been done, notably in trade, fiscal and monetary policies. • Improve tax collection and pursue progressive tax reforms. Congress is currently working on this. • Boost competitiveness and make doing business easier. National competitiveness slipped in the latest international survey as other countries received better ratings. The President has ordered red tape cut in all agencies; compliance with this directive has yet to be assessed. • Raise infrastructure spending to five percent of GDP, with public-private partnerships playing a significant role. This is still being worked out in the next national budget. • Promote rural development and enterprise by boosting agriculture and tourism. Opinion ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
•Address problems in land titling and management and ensure security of land tenure to promote investments. • Invest in health and education for human capital development, and match training with skills required by the nation. • Encourage innovation and creativity by supporting science, technology and the creative arts. • Enhance social protection programs such as the conditional cash transfer. • Fully implement the Reproductive Health Law. Most of these policies are being pursued, although all initiatives have been eclipsed by the war on drugs and the President’s fights with various personalities and foreign governments. On the eve of his first 100 days, a nationwide survey conducted by Social Weather Stations Inc. showed the President enjoying “very good” tained. But the President should also not overlook satisfaction ratings across all social classes. This his other promises and policy pronouncements. guarantees that the bloody drug war will be sus- Keeping the public safe is a worthy priority, but
Guest Editorial
Philstar.com photo
there are many other urgent issues that must be addressed. The next 100 days should show more improvements in these areas. (Philstar.com)
Filipinos in America in the middle of what could be a bitter breakup between the Philippines and the US AS the leaders of America celebrate the contributions of Filipinos to the United States during this month-long Filipino American History Month, kababayans in America cannot help but feel “lost,” lamenting what seems to be the beginning of the end of a long-time friendship and alliance between our Motherland and our adoptive country. This comes in the wake of President Barack Obama’s special message for kababayans in America, in celebration of the countless ways Filipino Americans have helped move our country forward. Pres. Obama wrote: “An unshakable faith in the promise of America has guided people to our shores since our founding. When they arrived, many of those who first settled here suffered setbacks and faced challenges in their pursuit of the American dream. But with relentless optimism, they held their heads high and laid down their roots—building our country into the beacon of hope it is today. “The earliest Filipinos arrived at Morro Bay, California in the 16th century, and Filipino Americans have long played an integral role in shaping the life of our country. They have been the artists who challenge us, the educators who keep us informed, and the laborers of our growing economy. And throughout our history, they have served as members of our Armed Forces, helping safeguard our Nation and the values upon which we stand.
Duterte has reportedly been “During World War II, Filipino provoked by criticism from the Americans stepped forward to join The Fil-Am U.S. government and the inour military and fight back the tide ternational community of his of tyranny. Many of these indi- Perspective war on drugs, which has allegviduals have since petitioned for edly taken the life of more than family members to join them here 3,000 people with very little rethrough our legal immigration sysgard for the rule of law and due tem but have waited years to be process — laws that are stipureunited, even after their petitions Gel SantoS-ReloS lated in the Universal Declarawere approved. This year, my Administration launched the Filipino World War II tion of Human Rights of which the Philippines is Veterans Parole program, which enables certain a signatory. When warned that such alleged violations of Filipino-American veterans to request that their family members join them in the United States human rights might affect the aid and assistance as they wait for their green cards. For many, this the Philippines receives from the United States, policy will allow loved ones to provide support and Duterte said he does not need help from America. The Duterte administration downplayed all the care for elderly veterans and their spouses. This program is an important reminder that we must assistance and aid the United States has been givsupport those who serve our Nation not just in ing to the Philippines especially during times of disaster — financial assistance that comes from times of war, but throughout their lives.” However, President Rodrigo Duterte recipro- the hard-earned money of Americans, including cated with another provocative message to Pres. Filipinos paying taxes in the United States. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay conObama, saying the U.S. president should “Go to hell”, and signaled an end to joint war games. He textualized Duterte’s statement, asserting that the also issued an ominous statement that declares United States has “failed” the Philippines, and that that during his term, the Philippines will “break is why Duterte has made it his mission to liberate up” with America, and announces that he would the country’s “shackling dependency” on its longtime ally. rather bond with China and Russia. In a report by ABS-CBN News, Yasay said that These remarks have been casting doubts on the despite winning independence from the U.S. in future of the two countries’ military alliance.
1946, Americans still regarded Filipinos as “little brown brothers not capable of true independence and freedom.” “Breaking away from the shackling dependency of the Philippines to effectively address both internal and external security threats has become imperative in putting an end to our nation’s subservience to United States’ interests,” Yasay said. “We will never allow China or any other nation to bully us or deal with Philippine interests under another carrot and stick policy,” he added. President Obama said in his message, “As we mark this special month, we celebrate the ways Filipino Americans have lent their unique voices and talents to changing our country for the better. Their immeasurable contributions to our Nation reaffirm that as Americans we will always be bound to each other in common purpose and by our shared hopes for the future.” Filipinos in Americas wonder how we can move forward under the shift in foreign policy of the Duterte presidency and the growing animosity the Philippine government is creating against the United States. *** 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
Wildfire jazz at its best: democracy in music “AND the thing about jazz, through Rhizomes all the business involved in practicing and improvement, it’s always sweet: the improvement that you notice in Prosy AbArquezthe ability to ex- DelAcruz, J.D. press yourself, the feeling of playing, pushing yourself out into an open space through a sound, man. That’s an unbelievable feeling, an uplifting feeling of joy to be able to express the range of what you feel and see, have felt and have seen. A lot of this has nothing to do with you. It comes from another time, another space. To be able to channel those things and then project them though an instrument, that’s something that brings unbelievable joy.” — Wynton Marsalis, To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road I write about democracy in music, hoping we may be inspired on what it takes to be hearts at peace, with joy to share, for everyone. I first heard Charito at the 5th LA PhilJazz in Dec. 2009 at the Catalina Bar and Jazz in Los Angeles, CA. Dubbed as “ #1 Filipina jazz singer in Japan, she has numerous albums launched to outstanding critical praise,” LA Phil-Jazz wrote then. She had just finished recording w ith the legendary Frenchman Michel LeGrand, an Academy award winning composer of “Yentl” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.” I was impressed, as she stood out levels above the artists she collaborated with. Charito’s distinctive style is soulful, sultry and expressive. She has a broad vocal range. Her lyrics were sung with a depth of feelings, that it moved the audience, including me. She was “at home”
on stage and “owned” her audience, respecting them, as well as respecting her craft. The second time we met was in 2014 in Tokyo, Japan — a bold move to seek out her company, a kababayan in a foreign country, whom I have only seen onstage. Expecting to just exchange pleasantries over coffee, Charito instead welcomed me with open arms, as if family, and included a tour of her Tokyo studio. A stop at the Apple store near a Tokyo subway station became lunch over Italian food, a visit to a nearby Catholic Church, urban gardens, a mall, capped by an Easter vigil mass, preceded by an entire parish holding lit candles in abject darkness. The church overflowed with Japanese, Caucasians and Filipinos families in their best Sunday’s attire. Charito sang with the church choir. And then her solo. She sang “Go Down Moses (Let My People Go),” getting us to recall the African American spirituals of an era, which sang of desiring their freedom. One could feel her embodying both Louis Armstrong and Paul Robeson in her mighty, commanding voice. It captured both the solemn and the triumphant moments of having new Catholics baptized. Who would have expected a meet and greet of a jazz artist can turn into sacred? The Voice in Tokyo, Japan “The Voice” is a two decades-old firm, which gives voice lessons to Tokyo students. The founder/CEO is Suyama Rosario Vergara, whose stage name is Charito. Like Wynton Marsalis, she offers critical feedback to her students and conveys the joy of being
bows in your hair, little a jazz musician at various sunflower.” world stages. Mon sang, “Kapag As we approach the buildikaw ay nanlalambot, ing’s directory, “The Voice” kumain ka ng balot. (If struck me as I have been you are getting weak, watching the Philippine vereat some balut.) As the sion of “The Voice” on TFC. audience loosened up, It got me thinking that a very he then belts out, “Godedicated artist must have ing along, life is the stuck to her craft, no matter song,” and he shares the highs and lows. his wisdom, “the learnBuildings and landscapes ing brings you pain.” in the cities remind you of Charito joined in, Japanese design, artistry after a generous introand creativity. A big picture duction from Mon Dawindow greets you inside vid, “an international Charito’s studio. It beckrecording star with a ons you to sit at the rosewood bench nearby, and as David Anderson (drums), Ner de Leon (sax), Tateng Katindig (piano), Charito, David Levray unique style,” and one you look down, you catch a (bass) and Mon David. AJPress photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz: that has certainly made glimpse of the tourists hurand designed her own riedly walking and crossing busy Tokyo in the countryside, with greenery, flow- place in the sun. One senses a high ers, rivers and oceans. streets. level of respect towards her. For love of jazz in California Inside, the CDs are on display on the Charito responded with grace and The evening’s tone was set by Tateng generosity, “I am happiest to see my book shelves: Charito with Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, Non-Stop to Brazil Katindig, when he played his original brothers, my music family.” - Charito meets with Ivan Lins, Charito composition, She shared her life, that for so many Lullaby for Ella, that he composed for years, she has recorded CDs, and her Heal the World, Watch What Happens his daughter, Ella. The piece was com- LA days of recording with the legendary - Charito meets Michel Legrand. The computer and the keyboard plex, layers of ascending sounds and Harvey Mason, a very precise, masterwere on the west wall, and posters of lamenting, in other verses. It captured a ful drummer, hired by A-list musicians: past gigs hang on the wall: Tokyo-Ma- father’s sentiment of a deep love for his Barbra Streisand, Herbie Hancock, nila Jazz and Arts Festival - 2013, 2015; daughter, and one that at times leaves a John Legend. Charito with Al Molina Quartet in Bris- parent breathless, much like complexiShe has been to Siberia, France, Gerbane; A Christmas Gift 2014 in Tokyo ties of the keys he played. many, Switzerland, USA and of course, Mon David sang “Little Sunflower,” Manila and Tokyo where she has orgawith Christmas Gift Jazz Band; Autumn written by great trumpet musician, nized Manila-Tokyo Jazz Festival since in Paris: a jazz evening with Charito; Jazz with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunt- Freddie Hubbard with words by Leon 2012 to today. Thomas, and with some of his addiers’ 2005. “We kinda feel it,” she said of the muOne immediately gets a sense that tional words, “...may your fathers and sical chords and gave a tribute to Mishe creates momentum, she gets invit- mothers, your guardians guide you as chael Jackson. ed to various locales around the world you evolve and grow to be caring and Music became wildfire jazz compassionate citizens of the world...” and she makes things happen. When she spoke of music being in her Warm, gregarious and joyful, Charito and from his song rendition , one could body, in her heart, the music of Charito shared about life in Tokyo: fast, always feel a father’s deep love for his daugh- and Mon became wildfire jazz. on the go, but with balance from being ters: “beauty beyond compare, of rainu PAGE A9
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OpiniOn & Features
Wildfire jazz at its best…
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“ I can’t help it, “ she said, and a witty comeback of phrases, “Key ko or Key mo?” referring to her key or his key in music? Taking advantage of a talented French bassist, David Lefrey who stole the limelight with his prowess, they sang My one and Only Love. It captured your heart, taking you back to that moment in your past, when you fell in love with your “forever” love. I wrote my exclamatory notes, while listening to both masterful artists: “Soulful Singing at its Best!” while listening to screams of bravos. And then, Charito said, “We gotta leave them with a bang!” They sang The Caravan and one gets the sense that the mark of masterful music is that B flat is not Flat at all! I got to chat with Monchat Almario (a jazz aficionado since the 1970s of Kalesa Bar and Tavern on the Green), and who is a big fan of Tateng Katindig and Ner de Leon. He gave them both a perfect 10 out of 10! Ner de Leon took us to new heights of his sax playing and he too gave us inspiring music. But to me, the duet of Mon David and Charito, took me to new heights of appreciating what jazz can be, a freedom space, but also a creative space for improvisation and when it works, it becomes wildfire jazz! A very capable emcee for that evening, Gabriel Mijares, gave us enriching breathers to appreciate all the A-list band members: Tateng Katindig on the pianos, David Anderson on the drums, Ner de Leon on the saxophone, and David Le vray on the
bass. I realized at night’s end, that the best of best jazz talents were offered to us. Jazz that night became an unbelievable and unspeakable joy! These musicians teach us many lessons about democracy. That democracy is about making spaces for all to be, for all to sing their own songs, unmuted voices and aligned souls which compose and design their own lives, respecting all. When we do that, we arrive at unspeakable joy in our lives, as Charito sang, but perhaps as Mon David sang, we must first live our lives and by living it, we come across pain, go through it, and that experience makes us democratic and kind, not just to ourselves, but to others! Thank you Wynton Marsalis, but also my profound gratitude to “4 the Love of Jazz” organizers for giving us the best of jazz talents that evening! May we become democratic and kind this coming Nov. 8, 2016!
*** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
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Israel accepts Duterte’s apology for Hitler remarks by Dana
SioSon AJPress
THROUGH its top diplomat in the Philippines, Israel has accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s apology for his recent remarks that paralleled Adolf Hitler’s Holocaust with his administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs. Last week, Duterte said he would be happy to slaughter drug pushers, similar to how Hitler massacred three million Jews during the Holocaust. The Philippine president’s controversial remarks later brought condemnation from the Israeli government and other international bodies, including the Pentagon officials and the United Nations. “He is the president. He said it was never intentional so we accept his apology... from the start we knew his personality already, and we know it is not intentional,” Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau told reporters on Tuesday evening, October 4, after Duterte’s speech at the Beit Yaacov Synagogue in Makati. He said Duterte’s visit to the Jewish synagogue symbolizes soul searching, forgiveness and atonement. In a Facebook post, Matityau pointed out that Duterte did not intend to disrespect the Jewish people. “He expressed his respect and
affinity to the Jewish people and Israel, paying homage to Prime Minister Netanyahu and his desire to strengthen ties with Israel,” the Israeli ambassador noted. The post continued, “On the other end, I made it clear that the president’s words speak for themselves and they are genuine coming from his heart. We believe that any reference to Nazi Germany that is not in the context of the most evil empire is not going to achieve anything and will be counterproductive.” The special relationship between the Philippines and Israel dates back to World War II, when former President Manuel Quezon had an open-door policy and granted refuge to more than 1,000 Jews who fled persecution from Nazi Germany. Seven years later, under former President Manuel Roxas, the Philippines also voted on a tie-breaker for a United Nations resolution to separate Israel from Palestine and make Israel an independent nation in 1940s. Reciprocating the Philippines’ gestures, Israel allowed Filipinos to have visa-free access and working opportunities in its country. Last year, the Israeli Embassy also launched a year-long campaign “Thank you, Philippines” to show gratitude to Filipinos. Apology for Hitler remarks In his speech at the synagogue
on Tuesday, Duterte apologized anew to the Jewish community. “Please accept my apology, it will never happen again. We will always be friends. Even if we don’t have the same structure of government, we share a common denominator—we only believe in one God,” Duterte said. The president went on to say that his unfiltered way of speaking was part of his “character” but assured that he is “not one of the racist members of the Republic.” Duterte initially apologized on Sunday, October 2, when he expressed that there was never an intention on his part “to derogate the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Germans.” Last September 30, Duterte stated he was willing to get rid of criminals, similar to what Hitler did to Jewish people. “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there are three million drug addicts... I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte related upon his arrival in Davao City after his official visit from Vietnam. The Philippine president went on to add, “At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…You know my victims, I would like to be, all criminals, to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition.”
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ELDERLY FILIPINO WEEK. Senior citizens pose for a photograph during the Elderly Filipino Week celebration held at the Bulwagan Hall, Quezon City Hall on Thursday, October 6. Inquirer.net photo by Nino Jesus Orbeta
Three suspects in Davao City bombing arrested by Dana
SioSon AJPress
THE Philippine military has captured three suspects in the Davao City night market bombing, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced on Friday, October 7. The Davao blast killed 15 people and injured 69 last September 2, which later prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a “state of lawlessness” that permits the government to use the military in helping to counter terror threats. The suspects, identified as TJ
Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha, were caught while trying to evade a military checkpoint on Tuesday, October 4 in Southern Cotabato City. “We have recovered solid pieces of evidence showing that they are indeed the terrorists who bombed Davao City on Sept. 2,” Lorenzana said. Confiscated from the suspects were improvised explosive devices, a sub-machine gun, a cal .45 pistol, their motorcycle, and cellular phones. According to Lorenzana, one of the suspects planted the bomb, one of them triggered the blast through a cellphone, and the other one took the video. Videos and photos from the incident were recovered on the mobile phones confiscated from the suspects. A clip showing Facturan and a photo showing a bomb manual were also found. Lorenzana said the suspects belong to the Maute Group, a
small and relatively new Muslim militant group based in the southern Lanao del Sur province that has aligned itself with the Islamic State movement. Earlier this year, Philippine forces launched an offensive against the group. The bombing was one of a series of planned attacks intended to disrupt the government’s massive military operations in Sulu and in Central Mindanao, the defense secretary said. The remaining suspects are still being hunted down by the military. Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte commended the reported arrest. “The arrest of the suspected perpetrator of the September 2 bombing in Davao City is a welcome development to the operations of our law enforcers for their immediate capture,” the mayor said in a statement, adding that it will bring justice to the victims who were killed and wounded. n
De Lima on sex video: It is not me by KriStian Javier Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima on Thursday denied appearing in the alleged sex videos that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II offered to present at the House of Representatives’ panel hearing. “It is not me, as far as I’m concerned,” De Lima said in an interview on ANC. De Lima said she has refused to see the videos, dismissing them as “nonsense.” Aguirre earlier offered to show the sex videos at the hearing of the House committee on justice looking into De Lima’s alleged links to the drug trade inside national penitentiary Bilbid. Aguirre’s camp said De Lima’s driver, Ronnie Dayan, would collect drug money from inmates to fund his boss’ election campaign. While Aguirre and President Rodrigo Duterte claimed De Lima had an illicit affair with Dayan, De Lima said she only has a friendly relationship with
him, but refused to elaborate on the matter. Aguirre, meanwhile, claimed that De Lima’s relationship with Dayan can be seen in three sex videos, but he also admitted not having a copy of the clips. Denying allegations on her links to the drug trade, De Lima on Wednesday decried what she called as disrespect for women after Aguirre and the House leadership expressed willingness to show the alleged video at the probe into the drug trade. “It is a violation. A gross violation of my rights and my dignity as a woman,” De Lima said in the ANC interview, a day after she made the impassioned plea to government officials to respect women. She said people accusing her of having sex videos are doing everything to destroy her. Women’s groups and female lawmakers blocked attempts to have the video shown. The House justice committee afterward announced that it will instead
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Dateline PHiliPPineS
NO COAL. Anti-coal mining advocates have launched a campaign against “coaligarchs” who are allegedly behind massive coal-mining expansions in the Philippines. They kicked off the campaign, part of the global Reclaim Power initiative, during a news conference in Quezon City on Tuesday, Oct. 4. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
Israel accepts Duterte’s apology… PAGE A10 t
Adama Dieng, a UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, said Duterte’s Hitler remarks were “deeply disrespectful of the right to life of all human beings.” “[The] Holocaust was one of the darkest periods of the history of humankind and that any glorification of the cruel and criminal acts committed by those respon-
sible was unacceptable and offensive,” said a statement sent by the UN in Manila on October 3. He called on the Philippine president “to exercise restraint in the use of language that could exacerbate discrimination, hostility and violence and encourage the commission of criminal acts which, if widespread or systematic, could amount to crimes against humanity.”
Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish group based in the United States, said, “the comparison of drug users and dealers to Holocaust victims is inappropriate and deeply offensive.” “It is baffling why any leader would want to model himself after such a monster,” Todd Gutnick, the group’s director of communications, expressed. n
De Lima on sex video: It is not…
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present other witnesses without showing the controversial clips. No viewing, but details heard Joenel Sanchez, a former security aide of De Lima, appeared at the House panel hearing on Thursday, describing the close relationship between De Lima and Dayan. Sanchez said he worked for De Lima from 2010 to 2015 during her stint as chief of the Justice department. Reading his affidavit before the House panel, Sanchez said he accompanied De Lima and Dayan in several in out-of-town trips where the two would be staying in one room. “Every time we would go to the grocery store, (Secretary of Justice) De Lima would purchase Fundador and Marlboro, Ronnie Dayan’s favorites,” Sanchez said. He also claimed having seen a copy of at least two sex videos
In this Aug. 22, 2016 photo, Sen. Leila de Lima, then as chair of the Senate justice committee, presides over an inquiry into drug-related extrajudicial killings. Senate PRIB/Cesar Tomambo
shown to him by a certain Bantam, another former driver of De Lima, on Dayan’s cellphone. “While watching, I felt awkward, so I stopped watching,” Sanchez said. In hearing Sanchez’s testimony, the House justice com-
mittee led by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali is trying to establish the De Lima’s ties with drug operators at the Bilibid prison. De Lima last month called the allegations of her involvement in the illegal market as “all lies.” n
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 8-11, 2016
SHOWBIZ&STYLE
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Journal
Alden Richards to host Asian TV Awards in Singapore Rachelle Ann Go to fly to Broadway next year Top male celebrity Alden Richards has been chosen as one of four hosts of the 21st Asian Television Awards slated at the Lion City’s Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Center on December 2. He will share his duties as emcee with Singaporean personalities Adrian pang, Stephanie Carrington and Baki Zainal. The annual gathering is considered Asian TV industry’s most significant and celebrated event, which recognizes excellence in programming, production and performance.
“It is truly an honor to be hosting this year’s Asian Television Awards and celebrate the best television content that Asia has to offer,� said the famed other half of the phenomenal AlDub love team. Richards was just in Singapore in July where he held a successful concert for the Filipino community at Kallang Theatre. Meanwhile in support of their prized talent, GMA Network will air a delayed telecast of the 21st Asian TV Awards on December 11 on GMA News TV. (ManilaTimes.net)
Giji Kocher challenges her vocal skills, moves fans to tears, dancing By Eric
Anthony LicAs AJPress
FoR a moment, technical difficulties threatened to deprive the audience at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles of a rare performance by Filipino entrepreneur and headliner, Giji Kocher. Giji, who rose to fame under the name Djoanna Garcia in the 70s, quickly dispelled anxieties with an emotive exhibition. Her voice inspired both new and longtime fans to crowd the stage, bobbing and swaying between their tables for want of a dance floor on the evening of Sunday, october 2. Giji captured the attention and played the heartstrings of concert goers with a personal, narrative and inclusive show. The evening’s set list challenged the range of the classically trained vocalist’s talent with songs from disparate styles of music like Adele’s “Hello�, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven�, p!nk’s “Get the party Started,� among others. “At first there were some songs where I thought ‘Will I be able to sing this? This is not my genre,’� said Giji. “But the most important thing is that when you sing, you Filipina vocalist Giji Kocher shared her contagious smile, vivacious energy, and mesmerizing PAGE B2
voice with concertgoers at the Wilshire Country Club on Sunday, October 2. AJPress photos by Eric Anthony Licas
by Kristy
so
Philstar.com
IT was just a wishful thinking early this year for Rachelle Ann Go to star in the Broadway musical of “Miss Saigon.� Now, it’s a reality. Rachelle will star in next year’s Broadway staging of “Miss Saigon,� where she’ll portray the role of Gigi. This is the same role she did in the West-End staging of the Cameron McKintosh musical. “Wala po akong masasabi kung hindi I’m very, very grateful and it’s a dream come true,� she said about bagging the role, in an interview with MYX. “Being here in London, sa West End ay isang pangarap na ito, tapos ngayon sa Broadway naman,� she added.
She also thanked the people who supported and believed in her talent since the beginning. According to Rachel, those people gave her courage to pursue her dreams. She’ll be flying to Broadway in January next year for the rehearsals of the musical. Before she reached her Broadway dreams, Rachelle’s stepping stone to the international theater scene is the West-End musical “Miss Saigon,â€? which she bagged after the production had an audition in the philippines for the 2014 staging of the musical in London. This was followed by “Les MisĂŠrables,â€? which had a staging in Manila early this year. Rachelle Ann Go
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Features
B october 8-11, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
Sanctuaries at twilight Dingdong Dantes riding high
Moonlighting
on ‘Alyas Robinhood’ success
by Mylah de
http://www.asianjournal.com • (213) 250-9797
leon
by lhar
Santiago ManilaTimes.net
Adult care centers are important fixtures in the FilipinoAmerican community. this little piece takes us not just to a place, but into the minds and hearts, the courage, the wisdom and humor of those in the twilight of their years -- a society that glorified youth. At the Culver City Senior Center, the atmosphere was bustling and of contentment. the big room was filled with light from the tall windows, so you could see the older people clearly. there were about 70, most them sitting at the tables. Most men were just sitting and looking, while some groups of them played cards. A table full of women chatted. the social director of the center took me around, as the old faces were raised in interest and a number nodded and smiled. I had confessed that I had not expected to find happiness here. I had come to this place, recoiling in apprehension from the smell of age, the apparition of infirmity, apathy and resignation. Most of us, I think, are weighed down with a sense of guilt about the old. they are not as cherished as our parents did; we seem to have little room for them in our hearts or lives. Mistakenly, we have come to believe that they need us more than we need them. then came the revelation of old people finding their place together, their own, where they belonged . the old people who came to the center, can not be so different from the tens of thousands who live in this city. Many of them, especially the men, (we’d be told) live in furnished rooms, alone, on old age relief. After working all of their lives, they have nothing to do. degeneration of the spirit and the tissues takes its relentless interacting course as they either sit their hours out in chronic depression or haunt clinics and hospitals, not so much to cure their ailments as to have attention, to be able to speak to somebody. At all of these community centers for the aged, there are many old people who still live with their relatives in comparative security, but to read their histories is to know that
A SMIlIng dingdong dantes welcomed Showbuzz to the set of his ongoing primetime series Alyas Robinhood this week. While still jet lagged soon after arriving from a working-cum-mini family vacation to the uS, he was raring to resume taping for the show. “I’m so inspired by the high ratings that Alyas Robinhood is getting. Before I left for the States, I was told that we were rating high and beating the competition. When I got back, I was met with the good news that our ratings are getting even higher.” dingdong had to do complicated routines for his fight scenes that particular taping day. As they watched the actor’s smooth and very natural movements, everyone watching on set were very impressed. It was evident too that dingdong was really enjoying his physically demanding role. “As I said before, I have been really wanting to do this kind of project for a long time now. It’s not really that hard since the fight scenes are somewhat choreo-
Silver Lake Adult Day Health Care Center at Historic Filipinotown
Dingdong Dantes
graphed. My being a dancer helps me a lot,” he humbly shared. Another thing that dingdong likes in the series is the infusion of a little comedy to lighten the heavy action scenes. “We want viewers to have fun while watching the show; it should’t be heavy going. We really do everything to give them very good episodes each night. that’s our way of saying thank you to them for the big support they’re giving us,” the primetime
king averred. Besides the success of “Alyas Robinhood,” dingdong is also happy these days with his enviable family life. He shared with Showbuzz that he, his wife Marian Rivera and their baby daughter Zia had a great time in the uS even if they were only there for a few days, while doing a couple of shows in northern and southern California. “It was too short, but we went there really for the shows [for the Filipino community]. We only had a day to go around then we had to fly back home already. Still, we had fun. It’s good that my mom was with us. She was the one who took care of Zia while we did our shows,” dingdong enthused. It was Zia’s first out-of-thecountry trip, and the proud dad could not hide his excitement to share how his daughter behaved. “She was very cooperative. Even during the flight, considering it was a 12-hour flight, Zia really behaved. She seemed to understand that our destination was far. She didn’t cry much, no tantrums. She just slept during most of the long flight,” the doting dad related.
Giji Kocher challenges her vocal... Seniors from their own groups at day care centers
there is hardly one who does not feel a burden: unwanted, useless and dependent. When I think about it, there is hardly one person who is not aware of the tensions this feeling produces. Younger people keep them, out of duty or pity, even if love is present. Could this be why they become difficult to others? the elders strain for that sense of importance and worth they each feel they have earned and have been denied to the point of giving up and waiting until they can die. these centers provided leisure time activities for the older person. In Culver City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Silver lake, they have a membership of 200300. About 150 come in a day; some every day, while others, a few times a week. they range from 60-94 years old, with most of them in their 70s. Some are foreign-born, but in Beverly Hills,
Jewish dominate. It is significant that most of the older people came to this center not immediately after retirement, abut after many years of living alone. It is open every day from 9 to 5. to most of the men, this span is a substitute for their business day, and who knows for some others, the club. Even those who have families find that they cherish this freedom to be themselves. For the women, the center means family, gossip, and companionship. For both sexes, we’re told, this is the audience they crave. these elderly, when they first come to the center, are timid, withdrawn and insecure. then gradually through cards, music class, dramatics or a committee (there are lots of committees) they begin to emerge, make contact, stir old skills and dream. At the start, some were tense, PAGE B4
PAGE B1 sing from the heart.” despite her apprehensions, giji made every song her own. Whether it was pop, jazz, rock or disco, each rendition was infused with the vocal powerhouse’s personal flair. they became portions of a story that unfolded throughout the course of the night, song by song. numbers like Judy Collins’s “Both Sides now” and louis Jordan’s “Is You or is You Ain’t my Baby?” during the first half of her set seemed to reference her tumultuous past love life. In her youth, giji had made a name for herself in Philippine show business after performing as a contestant on the popular television program, “tawag ng tanghalan,” but gave up her career after marrying her first husband, former Caloocan City Mayor, Boy Asistio. However, she never stopped singing, even after their relationship came to an end. Since gathering herself and relocating to the u.S., the former
Internationally recognized Filipino singer, Mon David, and Filipina vocal powerhouse Giji Kocher enjoy the moment while performing Tom Spinosa and Mike Velarde, Jr.’s “Dahil sa Iyo”.
Filipina starlet has maintained her vocal skills while running Helping Hands, a company that provides in-home care to patients in Beverly Hills. She is also active in her local religious ministry at the Church on the Way in Van nuys and is an avid supporter of animal rescue efforts, according to fans and friends present at Sunday evening’s concert.
“I try to better myself,” said giji, who recalled countless hours of practice and experimentation in preparation for Sunday’s concert. “As a performer, you’re only as good as your last show.” topping Sunday evening’s set might be a challenge for giji, judging from the crowd’s reaction. Impassioned renditions of songs
Weekends Now–Oct. 30
Dress the kids up in costume and enjoy unforgettable animals, silly characters, trick-or-treating and Halloween inspired shows. Plus, new this year visit a themed realm celebrating Dia de los Muertos. Connect with the sea at SeaWorld® where you will enjoy a one-of-a-kind family experience with awe-inspiring animal encounters, thrilling rides and amazing shows. Experience first-hand how we continue our mission to care for the environment and the animals beyond the park’s borders. For more than 52 years — SeaWorld Cares.
SeaWorldSanDiego.com
SeaWorldCares.com
© 2016 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Features
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 8-11, 2016
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If a house has a stairway facing the entrance By Sean
Shono
If the entrance hall has stairways, fortune energy is dispersed and makes it hard to save money. This is because that the good energy from the entrance cannot be circulated enough in the first floor, and is sent away up to the second floor. A “Ba Gua flat Mirror” should be placed on the wall facing the top step of the stairways. A “Treasure Agate” or a “Amethyst Dome” should be set at either side of the first step in order to capture the good energy at the first floor. be purified by the TAOIST way. To enhance this effect, hang ••• a “Natural Multifaceted Crystal Feng Shui master Sean Shono owns Ball” Dragon God, a Feng Shui store in Gardena, **ALL Feng Shui items must 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.
Tim Yap tested negative on drugs IN line with the government’s anti-drug campaign, ALV Talent Circuit, headed by Arnold Vegafria, has encouraged its celebrity talents to undergo voluntary drug testing. Jumpstarting the talent management company’s initiative was club owner/events organizer Tim Yap who submitted himself to two separate drug tests (Aug. 19 and sept. 26) at a medical laboratory licensed by the Department of Health (DoH) and duly accredited with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). Based on the negative results of these tests, ALV hopes to finally put to rest all speculations and reaffirm Tim’s untarnished reputation and good moral standing. Moreover, Tim has reiterated his full support for the government’s intensive anti-drug campaign, and encourages his fellow celebrities to do the same. (Philstar.com)
UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association Announces the Awardees for its 2016 Benefit
Philstar.com photo
Giji Kocher challenges her vocal...
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like “Losing My Mind” from the Broadway musical “follies” and sandi Patty’s “Light of a Million Mornings” brought some fans to tears. Meanwhile, Giji’s energetic delivery of upbeat tracks like Gloria Gaynor’s “free Again/I Will survive” roused audience members to get out of their seats and move with the music. “I was dancing!” said Aesthetic Director of the southMain Rejuvenation institute, Louella eischen after her first time seeing Giji perform. “I wish the place was a little bigger so the audience could get more of a chance to interact.” Multifaceted filipino vocalist Mon David -- who has won international jazz competitions -- helped Giji keep the audience wrapped up in the moment by adding his talents to tender, heartwarming
duets. He also graced music fans with a brief set brimming with charm and confidence featuring songs like Jessie Cavanaugh’s and Jon Hendricks’s “No More Blues,” ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso.” “I felt them really connected with what we were doing and what we were expressing through song,” said David, who handpicked the tracks for his set that evening. “That’s special for us performers because that means we’re making sense.” Despite the larger than life qualities of Giji’s voice, those who know and work with her describe her as warm, funny, easy to relate to and anything but a diva. “she’s very open to suggestions,” said one of Giji’s backup vocalists, Tina Cruz. “she values our opinion and for an artist like her that’s special.” After weeks of collaboration and
FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES “A TO A”, AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD– ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “Non-Appearance” Visas for $2500. He entered the US in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban. Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake tourist visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the US. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – this Sunday, October 9 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
planning, minor technical issues briefly raised tensions backstage early on in the show. However, the talents of Giji and Mon David, along with their backup singers and instrumentalists, drew “standing ovation after standing ovation,” making all of their hard work worthwhile, according to the production’s director, Geo sargent. He and edwin Raquel — the filipino philanthropist and patron of the arts responsible for producing the show — added that they looked forward to putting together more concerts together in the future during a small celebration following sunday’s event. Plans were announced for an upcoming show featuring David as the headliner. “Praise God everything went well,” Giji told the Asian Journal following her set. “I felt the love from the audience.”
Los ANGeLes, CA – The UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association (UCLA PAA) will hold its 2016 benefit themed, “oURsToRY: Celebrating our Past, Creating our future” on saturday, october 15, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Covel Commons on the campus of UCLA. This event celebrates UCLA PAA’s 25th anniversary, samahang Pilipino’s 45th Anniversary, and the introduction of UCLA Residential Life’s Pilipin@ Living Learning Community. The early evening starts with a VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by a filipino-style dinner and program where the annual traditional awards and scholarships will presented. Guests will enjoy an evening of community awards and scholarship presentations, silent auction, entertainment, music, dancing, and fun! UCLA PAA proudly announces the awardees for the 2016 PAA Benefit which include: - Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: Van Gerard Dichoso ’91, CPA and executive Producer - Royal Morales Community Achievement Award: Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal ’68, Psychotherapist - Royal Morales Community Achievement Award: Don T. Na-
kanishi, Ph.D. (posthumous), Director emeritus, UCLA Asian American studies Center and Professor emeritus, UCLA Department of Asian American studies Ticket prices for the benefit event are as follows: $100 regular
price, includes the dinner, desert, entertainment, dancing, great networking opportunities, and the awards. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://giving. ucla.edu/standard/NetDonate. aspx?siteNum=1420
B october 8-11, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JoUrNAL
The Global Kababayan
Features
Programming of Kababayan Today, October 3-7, 2016 in the FHAM-LA showcase which will be held on October 23.
Monday, October 3 - Get to meet Angela Grey, a Filipina Hawaiian beauty queen and former Miss America. Tuesday, October 4 - On Saturday, October 15, explore the cultural gems of Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) by joining the 2nd HiFi Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser! Wednesday, October 5 - Mid-
week News Updates from the Asian Journal and Mia McLeod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice. Dr. O of “All things FilAm” shares why this month—Filipino American History Month—is so important. Thursday, October 6 - Kat Iniba shares with us the specials from Goldilocks in Southern California. Friday, October 7 - Get to know the performers that will be
Health@Heart
Stress tests save lives
G. TönGi
PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS ALMOST 4 million people in the United States alone have undiagnosed heart disease. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 735,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, killing 370,000 a year, or about 1,014 per day. When it comes to a disease as serious as a heart attack, prevention is key, and detecting its presence before it happens is obviously the wisest. Today’s sophisticated cardiac stress testing is one easy and simple diagnostic aid that is most valuable. What is a stress test? A stress test, also called an exercise test or treadmill test, is a medical examination performed to detect any signs of coronary heart disease, blockages in the coronary arteries and/or heart irregularity, or even impending heart attack. This could be combined with an echocardiogram, radioactive imaging thallium or sestamibi, and even positive emission tomography (PET), depending on each individual need. How is this test done? The stress test is done with the patient walking on a treadmill
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while s/he is wired and hooked up to the electrocardiogram machine to monitor his heart rate, its rhythm and the shape or configuration of the EKG tracings. Changes in the shape of the EKG complexes will show if the heart is suffering from a lack of blood supply due to blocked coronary arteries. The treadmill speed could be increased and the level could be adjusted to provide a simulated uphill walk (more stress for the heart). What is a stress echo? Stress echocardiography, or stress echo for short, is a treadmill exercise test that shows how well your heart pumps when made to beat faster and harder. A transducer (a small hand-held device that produces sound waves) is placed on the chest before and immediately after the treadmill exercise. The sound waves bounced off the heart and changed into actual pumping heart images on a video screen. The doctor compares the two images to detect any changes in the manner the heart responds to stress, which also shows whether the heart is getting enough blood (oxygen) to meet its increased demand for (blood) oxygen during the exercise or exertion. Can a regular EKG not detect this heart problem? Regular resting electrocardiogram alone (with the patient at rest) is only useful if it is positive,
*** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.
if the patient just suffered an acute heart attack, or when an actual heart attack is in progress. If the resting EKG is reported as “normal” or negative, it does not mean much. Many patients with a “normal” EKG have been found to have severe blockages in their coronary arteries. The heart must be put under stress in order for the heart to really “complain.” An analogy is a car engine that sounds fine while idling, but knocks when is running. How accurate is the stress test? Treadmill or stress test has about 70 to 78 percent sensitivity. When done with Thallium (known as Thallium Stress Test), which is the preferred technique to do it, the sensitivity increases to a range of 85 percent to 95 percent. An alternative to the treadmill test is the use or coronary artery dilators (arterial channel openers), Dipyridamole (commonly known as Persantine) given intravenously, for those who cannot walk on the treadmill because of obesity or arthritis. This drug increases flow to the normal coronary arteries but not to the coronary arteries that are blocked, hence the Imaging taken about three to five minutes after the dipyridamole is injected will show areas of the heart that are not receiving adequate blood supply, indicating blocked coronary arteries. The imaging is done using SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). The sensitivity of this radionuclide imaging is 80-85 percent, and specificity greater than 90 percent for coronary artery disease. Who should have a stress test? As a general rule, persons who are over 40 years old (especially cigarette smokers), with or without symptoms, those with a strong family history of coronary heart disease, those whose work entails a lot of stress and tension, and those with chest pains are candidates for a yearly Thallium Stress Test. This test is so useful it has saved countless lives, which could have been lost, were it not for the availability of this valuable technology. It is so simple and yet so effective. What if the stress test is positive? If the stress test is positive, some cardiologists might do a stress echocardiogram/isotopic imaging, or proceed to recommend a cardiac catheterization to find out which coronary arteries are blocked and how severe the blockages are. This will also show how much damage, if any, the heart muscles have suffered due to these blockages. Cardiac catheterization is the “Supreme Court” of diagnostic tests for coronary heart disease. It will tell us if there is any significant blockages or not. Other tests will only give some clues, but heart catheterization is absolutely revealing and decisive. PAGE B3
By Monet
Lu
MANy say that age is just a number. Adding another year to your life means adding another chance at opportunities, meeting new people and making a difference – and the cycle continues. I, for a fact, agree with that sentiment but not because I deny the reality of getting older, but because I know that I have a reason to celebrate the years that are being added to my existence. We call that reason: FRIENDS. The real ones – those who make the years worth living and give us a reason to be grateful. Such is the day when my good friend Sonia Bermejo celebrated her birthday on Saturday, October 1 at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Los Angeles. It was hosted by a good friend of ours, Camille Agbayani, who was the Beautiful Life Celebration’s 2015 Queen of the Philippines – Universe. Camille and Sonia have been friends for quite some time, after meeting in the Philippines in 2008. Camille is the founder and owner of L’Aura Wellness in Artesia. It is a one-stop shop for body and facial contouring. She is a kind-hearted businesswoman, and is very amiable. Camille loves to be around pleasant people. It has always been her goal to help others gain self-confidence. She is an advocate of unleashing one’s inner beauty and letting it shine. She has set her mind on finding more ways and means to stay healthy and youthful.
Sonia Bermejo’s birthday celebration: A gathering of real people and true friends
It was nice to see both Camille and Sonia. Due to our busy schedules, I seldom see Camille. She really went out her way to make Sonia’s day special. I was actually touched by the gesture. It’s very sweet of her to host the event and invite friends and families to wish our dear celebrant a happy birthday. As for the birthday girl – a dear friend of mine – her relentless faith and determination made it very easy for me to appoint her as executive director of The Beautiful Life Celebration in 2015, a Filipino-American commemorative program that I’ve been running for five years. Sonia’s drive for excellence is so contagious,
which I love about her. But what I love the most is her warm personality and love for people. She is one of the most accommodating individuals I’ve known. Watching her entertain her guests at her party reminded me how worthwhile it is to have true friends stand by you all these years. I am lucky to be one of the people to wish her more blessings in life. I say blessings as I allude to what Sonia always tells people regarding the successes that she achieves. “It’s really all because of God’s grace and His wonderful plan. All these blessings wouldn’t be PAGE B5
Richard Yap relishes every opportunity that comes his way By Boy
ABundA Philstar.com
RICHARD yap still grapples with stage fright. This, despite the fact that he’s been performing on concert stages here and abroad. “I still get cold hands and butterflies in my stomach,” he admits. “Maybe because I still haven’t gotten used to being in front of a live audience. Sometimes I get nervous before the concert starts. But once I start singing, I become comfortable with what I’m doing.”
Richard: Becoming a singer is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. But I think I have to work within my range. Right now, I’m a better actor.
Richard has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of his favorite singers Lionel Richie and Michael Bublé. But he still has miles to go before he can even dream of catching up with his idols. “Becoming a singer is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. But I think I have to work within my range. Right now, I’m a better actor.” Richard is also taking steps to improve his vocal ability. He prefers to sing live when making public appearances. Recently, he co-headlined a concert at The Theatre at Solaire with Richard Poon. As an actor, Richard is best known for his roles in the teleseryes “My Binondo Girl” and “Be Careful With My Heart.” Both shows played to his strengths as a charmer. He may be good in the rom-com genre, but Richard relishes every opportunity he gets to step out of that box. He enjoyed his stint in FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano,” which is grittier than any of his previous teleseryes. However, he admits to finding it difficult to sustain the intense emotions gritty roles require, so he will always be open to doing rom-coms. “Playing dark and gritty roles is always a challenge. Not a lot of actors can do it. But it can also be
Sanctuaries at twilight
exhausting because you always have to be intense emotionally and you really have to be in character. So if your character is someone very ruthless, you have to act that way, and it will creep into your system. That is why rom-coms are still easier to do.” Richard is also highly supportive of the efforts to stop piracy. It is one endeavor he hopes everyone should rally behind. His latest movie outing, a romantic comedy helmed by “On The Wings of Love” director Antoinette Jadaone titled “The Achy Breaky Hearts,” was camcorded by film pirates. A copy of it became available on the Internet within its first week in theaters. Richard suggests that cooperation between different sectors of showbiz may be what’s needed to effectively combat piracy. “I think everybody needs to work together and be more proactive about finding and shutting down websites that host copies of pirated movies.” He has many ideas about how to handle situations like these, but Richard says he doesn’t want to go into politics because he considers it to be a more ruthless arena than showbiz. Besides, he’s happy with his career and he couldn’t ask for more.
school education; one who is annoyed because an art instructor spends more time with another; PAGE B2 not assume, because of the many and for those who are not habitual rigid, and extremely reserved -- happy responses, that sweetness card players, they’re looked down even aloof when they came to the and light are the order of each day. upon because they don’t do anycenter, then they started to relate Competitiveness, jealousy, pique, thing for the center, as related with each other by reading poetry, hurt feelings, obsessions of inferi- to us. singing, dancing and applauding ority can explode periodically. Of course, some of the exThere’s the “show off” who plosions are more comic than each other during sessions. But the director said one can- throws her Switzerland finishing tragic.
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Nilalang: a must see at LAPIFF 2016 “NilalaNg (Entity),” directed by Pedring lopez, should not be missed by fans of action thrillers at the upcoming los angeles Philippine independent Film Festival (laPiFF), beginning on Friday, October 7. “Entity,” which stars Cesar Montano and Japanese actress Maria Ozawa, stands out because of its outstanding visual effects and stunts. Sonny Sioson, stunt director of the film and who is based in los angeles attended the film showing on Oct. 7. Cesar Montano is the NBi agent Tony Cuevas who want to solve the case of the killings in Manila. He runs into the Yakuza underworld but he finds a more
challenging enemy. Montano displays his awesome talent in action and fight scenes. Montano is known for his portrayal in the biopic “Jose Rizal,” for which he earned a best actor award at the Metro Manila Film Festival. “Jose Rizal” will also have a special screening in the laPiFF on Saturday, Oct. 8. Montano was cast opposite Benjamin Bratt in the Hollywood film, The great Raid (2005). in 2004, he produced, starred, and directed the film “Panaghoy sa Sugba (The Call of the River)” was also invited for exhibition in the Cannes Film Festival in 2005. The musical score of the film is just as exciting as the editing and
breathtaking gore. The film stands out with the Cg visuals. “Entity” is a milestone in the independent film industry in its efforts to go beyond its borders, finding an audience in the U.S. and globally in the arena of horror and suspense genre. Ten feature films and 10 short films will be in competition at the film festival to be shown October 7, 8 and 9 at Cinemark Carson. The gMa produced film “The Road” starring alden Richards will be shown at 6 pm, followed by the thriller “Nilalang” (Entity) directed by Pedring lopez, starring Cesar Montano and Maria Ozawa. For more info, check out website at www.lapiff.org. (By Fe P. Koons)
Sonia Bermejo’s birthday celebration...
PAGE B4 possible without god’s plan. i can only do so much…Fulfill my duties, follow my passion…But none of that is possible if god did not lay it out for me. i am so thankful to Him,” she says. Sonia is currently the publisher and executive director of a magazine called, “Manila UP!” it was recently launched in Manila and was hosted by ilocos Sur ex-governor and current Narvacan councilor Chavit Singson. Sonia is also one of the board members of the FaPCCa (Fil-am Press Club of Ca) and the vice president and a board member of the RSg Foundation. She also runs her own property management business. Even before coming to the U.S., she’s been in the media and entertainment industry in the Philippines. Supplied with talent and ambition, she climbed the corporate ladder as a public re-
lations director for a well-known gourmet restaurant as well and was an account executive-turnedaccount manager for a major network in the Philippines. “all of blessings that i’ve been receiving and has received are from god. i believe He gave me amazing opportunities so i can also give back by helping other people, which i love doing. i am so happy and honored to have this party. Camille knows that i am not into the whole big birthday bash thing but she is just a darling and insisted that it’s a great time to spend wit friends and family,” Sonia added. Well, it was indeed a wonderful gathering and i’m glad that Sonia did not refuse such a generous and well-deserved offer from a very thoughtful friend. To two of the most generous and loving people i know, i wish you both good health and more success. and once again, happy
Stress tests save...
PAGE B4
How can stress test prevent a heart attack? a stress test is a tool, one of a few, that can facilitate the early diagnosis of probable blockages in the coronary arteries. Early detection of his treacherous cardiac disease could obviously lead to prompt medical care, thus minimizing the chances of an actual heart attack. Countless live have been save by early diagnosis. Remember, it’s the only heart we’ve got. let’s take good care of it.
*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
birthday my dear Sonia, may you continue to bless other people. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern
California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com
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COMMUNITY Journal
Relief for immigrants with old misdemeanor convictions
Your Immigration Solution
period incarceration, it made a world of difference under U.S. immigration laws. For immigration purposes ON September 28, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill-1242 many minor crimes coupled with to little fanfare. The new law a sentence or possible sentence amends California Penal Code of 365 days are considered agSection 18.5 which had lowered gravated felonies regardless of the maximum penalty under Cal- actual time served or whether the ifornia law for a misdemeanor, person was released on probation unless otherwise specified, from without serving time. Aggravat365 to 364 days. The amendment ed felonies are absolute bars to makes this section retroactive becoming a United States citizen meaning that those persons who and to applying for relief from were sentenced prior to the en- deportation through cancellation actment of Section 18.5 can now of removal and in many cases benefit. This seemingly small change will make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of persons seeking immigration benefits or hoping to avoid deportation. For some, it will mean the difference between a lifetime ban on becoming a United States citizen and now bar applications for adjustment being able to apply for natu- of status to lawful permanent ralization. For others, it could resident status. Furthermore, provide a post-deportation route certain relatively minor crimes back to the United States or an will be considered grounds for avenue to reopen a final order deportation as crimes involving of removal. To understand the moral turpitude if a sentence of impact of this law we should first 365 days is imposable regardreview the legislative purpose less of the actual sentence imbehind the original Penal Code posed. Thus an unsuspecting person might plead guilty to a Section 18.5. Section 18.5, which passed misdemeanor, receive probain 2014 and became effective tion, and a 365-day suspended January 1, 2015, was introduced sentence and think they are getas a means to stop convictions ting a great deal as they do not for relatively minor violations of spend a single day in jail. The California law from serving as a same person could learn the next basis for deportation or as a bar day that the agreement they ento naturalization or permanent residence. The law sought to fix this problem by aligning the punishment for misdemeanors under California law with the punishment for misdemeanors under Federal law. Prior to the change, misdemeanors in California such as shoplifting could be punished by up to 365 days. Federal law only allowed for punishment of up to 364 days. While this oneday difference is obviously not a big deal in terms of the actual
Ben Loveman and nancy miLLer
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tered into has forever foreclosed naturalization, has led to removal proceedings and left them with no defense from deportation. Penal Code Section 18.5’s cap on misdemeanor sentences at 364 days ensures that low-level and mostly non-violent offenses will not be used to deport longtime residents or preclude citizenship or adjustment of status. However, the new law, in its original form, only helped those convicted after January 1, 2015 The amendment passed this month rectifies this oversight and will give new hope to thousands of non-citizens with misdemeanor convictions under California law. The amended version of the law provides that any conviction for misdemeanor whether before or after January of 2015 is punishable by a maximum of up to 364 days. For those who were actually sentenced to a term of 365 days, regardless of time spent in custody or whether the sentence was suspended, the person must make an application to the Superior Court where they were convicted for a modification of their sentence from 365 to 364 days. The new law has the power to impact countless families with loved ones whose California convictions have served as a barrier to legal status or as a basis for deportation proceedings or in-
For immigration purposes many minor crimes coupled with a sentence or possible sentence of 365 days are considered aggravated felonies regardless of actual time served or whether the person was released on probation without serving time.
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Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon ONE common misconception people have is that if they file bankruptcy, they will lose everything that they’ve worked hard for. For this reason, a lot of people continue to suffer needlessly in debt when the law provides a solution to their debt problems. Not good. Don’t get me wrong. Bankruptcy is certainly not the answer to all debt problems. But after having represented more than 5,000 bankruptcy clients over the years, I’ve seen the benefits it provides to people who are no longer in a position to help themselves. In bankruptcy, there are exemptions allowed that can help you protect your assets. For example, if you own a home, state homestead exemption laws allow you to protect anywhere from $75,000 to $175,000 of your equity depending on your marital status and your age at the time of filing. If the amount of your home equity falls within the allowable exemption amount, your house is not at risk in any
Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA
• FILE Electronically - Consider filing electronically instead of using paper tax forms. If you file electronically and choose direct deposit, you will receive your refund faster. 2. Check social security numbers - Make sure that SS numbers are correct for you, your spouse, and children. If you efile, names used for your returns must match exact names that appear in your SS cards. Errors can delay or reduce your earned income credits and your tax refunds. • Double-Check Your Figures - If you are filing the old style paper return, you should doublecheck that you have correctly figured the refund or balance due. • Check Tax Tables - If you
How to file bankruptcy and keep everything way. Thus, even if you file for bankruptcy, you can keep your home as long as you are making your payments. Most bankruptcy cases are considered “no asset cases”. That means that the debtor literally has nothing of value or the assets are considered protected under the exemption laws. So don’t ever believe it when creditors or other people tell you that filing bankruptcy means that you automatically have to lose your home, vehicles or other assets. Your bankruptcy lawyer should be able to do a thorough review of everything you own and advise you what is exempt and what is not. For example, in almost 100% of the cases my office handles, clients lose nothing and keep everything. But of course, every situation is different and that is why you need a good and knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney. If you are filing for Chapter 13 to consolidate your debts, none of your assets are at risk of being taken. This is due to the fact that Chapter 13 is simply a repayment plan. In Chapter 13, you are committing your income to pay creditors the best you
could over a 3-5 year period. No assets are sold to pay your debts although it may be possible for you to sell assets voluntarily to pay off your plan earlier. I am trying to simplify here but the point is that in Chapter 13, you can keep everything you have and you can pay creditors based only on what you can afford. This allows you to live within your means- by making your debt payments more affordable. If you are in debt and are considering filing bankruptcy but are not sure if this is right for you, I can help you make the right decision by explaining to you how the process works. Just call my office at 866-477-7772 and ask for a free initial consultation. As this year comes to a close, make it a goal to be the last year you will remain in debt. It’s not too late to start over. Rebuild your finances and your life. *** 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)
10 tips for late filers are filing a paper return, you should double-check that you have used the right figure from the tax table. • Sign your form - Taxpayers must sign and date paper-filed returns. Both spouses must sign a joint return, even if only one had income. Anyone paid to prepare a return must also sign it. • Use the coded envelope included with your tax package to mail your return. If you did not receive an envelope, check the section called “Where Do You File?” in the tax instruction booklet. • Make your check payable to “United States Treasury.” Enclose Payment Voucher Form 1040-V. • Write year and form (20XX 1040) in the memo section of your check. • Write your SS number at the top of your check, preferable with a red pen. • File an extension through 10/15, the last and only exten-
sion (the 8/15 extension is gone) if you cannot file by the 4/15 deadline. • Don’t miss next year’s estimated tax payments - If you file in October, you would have missed estimated tax vouchers for 4/15, 6/15, and 9/15. This means penalties for late payment. In other words, start paying estimates for the current year in April, June, or September, even if you have not filed your return. *** 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)
FILIPINO PROGRAMMING
ONLYON LA18 All New “LolaBasyang.com” begins Sept.13th
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Lola Basyang.com
Boots Anson-Roa comes to LA18 via TV5’s LolaBasyang.com , playing Lola Basyang , who shares classic stories
Keeping You Connected
na may modern-day twist for our viewers! In this modern-day version, Lola B is a tech-savvy grandma, and she shares her stories with children via blogs and a webcam.
3:30 PM Kababayan Today with G Töngi 4:00 PM Aksyon News (Produced by TV5)
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Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. THERE are valid overtime or meal break claims that may be too small to require a lawsuit. The litigation may cost too much and the payoff for one employee may not be worth the problem. However, an employer’s wage violations should be stopped, especially if it affects other employees. Hence, employees who experience the same labor violations may assert their rights as a group by filing a class action in court. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common for employers to require newly hired employees to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of employment. By signing such agreements, the employee gives up the right to be heard by a judge or a jury in court. Instead, the employee’s claims is heard by an arbitrator, who makes a decision. The parties are bound by the arbitrator’s decision and the losing party cannot appeal. Arbitration is most commonly used in commercial disputes, where the disputing parties are all business entities and have equal bargaining powers. The use of mandatory arbitration in employment disputes may be problematic because the agreement is practically imposed on the employee who needs the job. Often, the arbitration company is pre-selected by the employer in the agreement. And this arbitration company may have a continuing business relationship with the defense attorneys who represent employers. When employees sign arbitration agreements, part of what they signed may include a “class action waiver.” A class action waiver prevents an employee from banding together with fellow aggrieved employees to file a
Community Journal
Strength in numbers: court sides with employees, strikes class action waivers
class action to assert their rights. This means that should the employee wish to assert a claim, the employee can do so only as an individual and only by arbitration. Many courts have upheld these class action waivers as valid. Thus, employees who could have benefitted from the class action mechanism in court were left with little recourse. But the tide may now be turning in their favor. Recently, the federal appellate court for California decided that class action waivers may violate employee rights. Consider below: Stephen Morris and Kelly McDaniel worked for the accounting firm Ernst & Young. As a condition of employment, Morris and McDaniel were required to sign agreements not to join with other employees in bringing legal claims against the company. This “concerted action waiver” required employees to (1) pursue legal claims against Ernst & Young exclusively through arbitration and (2) arbitrate only as individuals and in “separate proceedings.” The effect of the two provisions is that employees could not initiate concerted legal claims against the company in any forum – not in court, in arbitration proceedings, or elsewhere. However, the employees brought a class and collective action against Ernst & Young in federal court alleging that the employer misclassified them and other employees and denied them overtime wages in violation of federal and California labor laws. The employer moved to compel arbitration pursuant to the agreements signed by Morris and McDaniel. The court ordered individual arbitration and dismissed the case. The employees appealed.
The employees argued that their class action waiver agreements with the company violated federal labor laws and cannot be enforced. Specifically, they claim that the “separate proceedings” clause is contrary to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which enforces the NLRA has previously determined that concerted action waivers violate the NLRA. The appellate court agreed with the employees, stating that employees have the right to pursue work-related legal claims together. Concerted activity—the right of employees to act together—is the essential, substantive right established by the NLRA. Ernst & Young interfered with that right by requiring its employees to resolve all of their legal claims in “separate proceedings.” Accordingly, the concerted action waiver violates the NLRA and cannot be enforced. Thus, the employees may have their day in court after all. The law in this area is continually changing. Employees are advised to consult with experienced counsel on questions relating to their ability to pursue wage claims in a class action.
*** 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-Advocates Forum. (Advertising Supplement)
Fanny Serrano talks about life after a stroke A Dash of Salt and Pepper (A simple thought of inspiration with biblical encouragement) by Henjie Pimenta
[Columnist’s note: For this week’s article, Fanny Serrano gives a testimony on the chance at another life.] SEPTEMBER was a restful month for me. The first few days were spent in preparation for my departure for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to receive the “ASEAN Industry Lifetime Most Influential Award” given by HAIRlah, a Malaysian group of hairdressers and make-up artists. During my stay there, I suffered from headaches and chest congestion. It even came to a point Fanny Serrano that the night before the awarding ceremonies, I was hesitant to go because I was not feeling well. But after praying, I felt better so I still pushed through with attending the awarding ceremonies. On Monday, September 19, I texted my secretary at 2 a.m. and requested for prayers because I had palpitations due to a terrible headache. Later that day, my secretary was able to speak with my cardiologist, Dr. Marlou I. Mendoza of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), and I was scheduled for a check-up that Wednesday. Dr. Mendoza was also the one who did my angioplasty two years ago. On Tuesday, I had a make-up appointment in the morning. I was so excited about the fact that my client wanted a Great Gatsby-esque makeover. After that, I had a client at my boutique for a design for a wedding in LA for December this year. We finished around 4 p.m. On the same day was the Bible study session at my salon so I wanted to give myself some pampering time. I had my manicure, pedicure and foot massage. Shortly after, I fell asleep. I woke up around 5:30 p.m. and did our regular “chit-chats” with my secretary about the Senate hearing. I was just listening to the story of my secretary about the plight of Senator Leila De Lima when she was surprised that she cannot understand what I was saying. I was slowly deteriorating which I also felt. She called my “yaya” who immediately gave me Catapres, a medicine prescribed to my mom for emergency hypertension. She immediately put it under my tongue while my secretary was already calling my cardiologist, Dr. Mendoza. I asked for a prayer from my salon staff and right after, I was rushed to PHC where my cardiologist holds his clinic. Upon arrival at the emergency room of the hospital, I saw a lot of patients piled up in front of the receiving area, so it took a while before attention was given to me. My secretary approached the nurse on duty and requested assistance after recounting what happened. She gave my real name so they didn’t recognize me immediately. A doctor finally attended to me and asked me few questions to check on my consciousness and awareness. I still recall her asking me, “Sir, nasaan ka? (Sir, where are you at?) Anong kulay ng damit ko? (What’s the color of my clothes?) Sino kasama mo? (Who is accompanying you?).” Then, she checked what specific parts of my body had been affected by the stroke. My left arm and left leg were numb and had no strength at all. They coordinated with Dr. Mendoza also and they were given some instructions. My secretary and personal yaya were advised that I have to be admitted for confinement and confirmed it was really stroke that hit me. But because there were many patients waiting in line, I remained seated in my wheelchair, waiting for the availability of a room for my confinement. I was about to pray to God to give me a room when I realized it was so selfish of me. I was the last to arrive and I was praying that I be given a room ahead of them. Not did I know that my secretary has been calling already one of my closest friends, Amy Austria, to let them know what happened to me. My secretary was able to speak with Duke, Amy’s husband. Amy was in a taping so her phone was turned off. Duke said he would go to the hospital to look into my condition. While waiting at the emergency room, I asked
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Writ of mandamus relief for unreasonable delay in pending immigration filings A COMMON question that is asked by a person who has a pending immigration petition or application is “how much longer until USCIS makes a decision?” The question is understandable, in that an unreasonable delay in the USCIS’ adjudication of a petition or application can have adverse effects, including loss of employment and employment opportunities, possible termination of employment, and difficulties in obtaining student and credit loans. While an immigration filing is pending, the typical response by USCIS upon inquiry is that further time (usually 90 or 180 days) is needed to make a decision. However, often that 90 or 180 days that USCIS needs to make a decision turns into months and sometimes years. What option does a petitioner or applicant have to compel the USCIS to act on his or her case? Pursuant to the Mandamus and Venue Act of 1962, a Writ of Mandamus action can be filed in the US District Courts to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the USCIS, DHS’s bureau, to act on a petition or application for which adjudication has been unreasonably delayed. The statute allows for an “action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty.” The legal duty for USCIS to promptly act on a pending petition or application can be found in the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”), 8 USC Sec. 1571, and 5 USC Sec. 555(b). These statutes form the basis of Writ of Mandamus relief. The APA gives the court authority to “compel agency action unlawfully held and unreasonable delayed.” The policy for processing immigration applications is set forth under 8 USC Sec. 1571, which states that “the processing of an immigration benefit application should be completed no later than 180 days after the initial filing of the application.” Further, 5 USC Sec. 555(b) states that “within a reasonable time, each agency shall proceed to conclude a matter presented to it.” A typical case in which Writ of Mandamus relief is a viable option is in a green card application based on marriage. I have had several inquiries in recent months concerning delays in processing of these cases. Typically, the green card applicant along with his or her US Citizen spouse is interviewed by a USCIS officer and at the end of the interview, the green card applicant is advised that additional time is needed by USCIS to make a decision. The timeframe given to make a decision is 180 days; however, more than 180 days pass and no decision is made. The applicant then seeks to get updated status of the application via an Infopass appointment, and is advised that the case is still under consideration and more time is needed. In such a case, a writ of mandamus can be filed in Federal Court to compel the USCIS to act on the application. Often, a decision is made on the case after the Writ of Mandamus is filed in that the unreasonable delay is brought to the attention of the USCIS. A prompt decision is often made by USCIS after filing to avoid the use of government resources in having to defend the meritorious action. It is important to keep in mind that Writ of Mandamus relief is available to a variety of pending petitions and applications, not just green card applications based on marriage. To determine whether Writ of Mandamus relief is a good option in your pending immigration case, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an experienced attorney. *** 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)
Relief for immigrants with old misdemeanor…
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eligibility for relief from removal. Many persons who can be for a piece of paper and pen from my helped under the new law have secretary because my speech was still probably been told many times slurring. I wrote a note and requested over the years that their crimifor prayers from everyone. An hour nal history cannot be overcome after, I was transferred near the nurse and may have given up hope for station at the middle of the ER to give their case. That is why we urge some space for newer patients. From you to bring this important dethere, I had a full view of the whole area velopment to the attention of and saw many more patients in bed who your family and friends or anywere suffering from pain, as their rela- one you know who you believe it might help. It is critical that tives had sad, worried faces. I laid my hands and said a prayer for a fresh look be taken at these all the patients there. Funny as it may have seemed at that time, as I raised my hand and prayed, one of my assistants thought I was in pain so he got my hand and massaged it. I could not speak clearly at that time to tell him I was praying so I just bowed my head and prayed. I prayed in silence for all of them. Then I prayed for myself. I told the Lord to forgive me for all of my sins and undertakings, for being stubborn, and for all of my shortcomings. But I prayed that Thy will be done. If God will still use my life for a purpose, please spare me and let me live. But I was also thinking, on the other hand, this is it! I thought I was about to go. As I was patiently waiting for a room to be available, a stroke patient passed in front of me. They were trying to revive him and I saw how his body moved as currents were released through the defibrillator to make him breathe again. I said a prayer for him. I asked God to speak to Him in ways beyond human understanding and if it wasn’t his time yet, spare his life. Shortly after, the monitor had heartbeats registered. He breathed again. Praise God! After undergoing an MRI, I was brought back to the mini surgery room, where I was temporarily placed while waiting for a regular room. I took a nap and rested. The nurse gave me medicine thru an IV as Dr. Mendoza instructed. Suddenly, I felt thirsty and asked for water. “Nauuhaw ako, pahinging tubig,” I uttered. The people inside the mini room stood up and were so amazed that my speech has become cleared. Praise God! My arms and legs were feeling a little stronger. The left part of my face had sensation already and my left eye was no longer drooping. I knew God had worked on me! Amy arrived, and we cried hard as we prayed. The medicines that were given to me helped my sickness. It was so relieving. Dr. Mendoza eventually returned and saw how my slurring speech had normalized and that I was able to move my arms and legs. According to him, my case was very rare. It was a transient ischemic attack, meaning the stroke came and went quickly. For some patients, the effect/damage of stroke may last for months or years. I was so lucky that mine was only transient. The doctor said that I’m too close to God that God heard my prayers and answered it right away. We said our prayer of thanks until finally, there was an available room for me. So they brought me up to the 4th floor. The next day, on September 21, I underwent laboratory examinations and the 2D Echo to check my heart. According to Dr. Mendoza, there was a blood clot in my right atrium (right part of the heart). As the blood was being pumped from my heart and being distributed to the veins and arteries, a part of the clot was transmitted and carried all the way up to my brain, triggering the stroke. That blood clot, on the other hand, was not permanent, as it can be dissolved with medication. My heart was irregularly beating and was so weak that time. My blood pressure became normal. The only culprit was my blood sugar level, which was fluctuating. It went up and down. Though I have diabetes, it is controlled and I was given medications to control my blood sugar. My doctor advised me to rest and stay at the hospital for five days for observation. I also give credit to my neurologist, Dr. Abadias Aquino, who looked after me and monitored my brain function. He didn’t expect that I would be feeling great when he visited me. He might have been expecting a distorted face, drooping face, or slurring speech, but what he saw was something that amazed him because I looked like
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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 8-11, 2016
cases to determine if a person is now eligible to seek citizenship, apply for a green card, apply for relief from removal, or even reopen an old removal or deportation order based on this change in law. If you or a loved one might benefit from this change please contact a reputable and experienced immigration attorney immediately to discuss the potential benefits of this new law to your case. ***
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)
C OCTOBER 8-11, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
Debt Relief
Community Journal
Seniors file chapter 13 to rescue house and handle tax liens
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797
To Live With Faith
Client files chapter 7 for $40K credit cards
atty. lawRence yanG CLIENTS are seniors. Husband is 72. Wife is 71. Both are retired and receiving combined social security and pension total of $4,015/mo. Husband is still in good spirits although he is not in good health. He has been on dialysis for three years. He had hypertension when he was still working and left that condition untreated for years. He was ignorant of the fact that untreated hypertension destroys the kidneys because too much blood flows through the kidneys for too long. Damage to the kidneys by untreated hypertension is irreversible, unlike damage caused by overdose of medication, which is reversible. By the time that client was educated on the cause and effect of hypertension on the kidneys, it was too late; his kidney function had been reduced to 10%, requiring dialysis, 3 X a week. But what about a kidney transplant? His doctors say that because of his age, he may not survive a kidney transplant. So he has resigned himself to being tied up to a dialysis machine to live. Wife is healthy, and they both seem happy. Their problem now is two-fold: 1) Their loan modification request was rejected two weeks ago, and they
Barrister’s Corner atty. Kenneth URsUa Reyes ON January 2, 2013, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States commonly referred to as provisional waiver. The final rule establishes a process that allows certain individuals to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver before they depart the United States to attend immigrant visa interviews in their countries of origin. The process will be effective on March
are now 8 months in arrears in their mortgage 2) IRS has placed a tax lien on their house for $15K for back taxes from 2005 to last year, 3) Credit cards of $30K. They said that they wanted to keep their house because it had $150K of equity. They bought the house for $40K, forty years ago. Now its fair market value is $450K. They refinanced five years ago and owe $300K on the mortgage. Their default on the mortgage is $17K, the IRS is hounding them to pay the tax lien and threatening to sell their house if they don’t pay up, and they can’t pay the $1K monthly to keep the $30K of credit cards current. Can a chapter 7 help clients in their situation? NO. Chapter 7 will not give them the opportunity to cure their default on the house, and Chapter 7 will not resolve the tax lien problem. It will discharge the $30K of credit cards, but the two main problems will remain unsolved. However, Chapter 13 will allow clients to “freeze” the default on the mortgage and give them 5 years to pay that off without any interest, and Chapter 13 will “freeze” the IRS tax lien and allow clients to pay that off over 5 years without interest. And in Chapter 13, in clients’ case, nothing has to be paid to the $30K
credit cards, those will just be discharged in full. How much will they pay on their Chapter 13 plan of reorganization? On the mortgage default of $17K, that will be $283 a month for 60 months. On the tax lien of $15K, that will be $250 a month for 60 months. They don’t have to pay any portion of the $30K credit cards because their home exemption of $175K covers their entire equity in the house of $150K. Together with court administrative expenses, their plan payment will be $586 a month, more or less. Can they afford $586 a month of plan payment to cure their mortgage default and to pay off the tax lien? Their household income of $4,015 monthly is good enough to provide them a disposable income that is more than $586 a month because in Chapter 13, they don’t have to pay $1K a month to keep their $30K of credit cards current. Under their reorganization plan, the pay credit cards nothing. If they complete plan payments in 60 months, they will be back on current status on the mortgage, will owe IRS nothing and IRS will have to remove the tax lien on their house, and they will owe nothing on credit cards. So, Chapter 13 is perfect for senior clients. It’s too bad
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Provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar from inside the US
4, 2013. The regulations will allow certain immediate immigrant visa beneficiaries, that are subject to the 3/10 year bar, to apply for a waiver inside the US rather than outside the US at the consulate overseas. The benefit of this new regulation is 1) it reduces the time for which the Petitioner and beneficiary will be separated while going through the consulate process and 2) Beneficiary can get a provisional approval on the waiver of the 3/10 year bar before beneficiary departs the US therefore reducing the risk of uncertainty and being stuck outside the US for up to 10 years. The rule allows these individuals to file for a provisional unlawful presence waiver while inside
the U.S. If approved, they can then depart the US to undergo consulate visa processing knowing that they have a provisionally approved waiver of the 3/10 year bar. You may be eligible for a provisional unlawful presence waiver if: 1. You are physically present in the United States; 2. You are at least 17 years of age at the time of filing; 3. You are the beneficiary of an approved immigrant visa petition. This has recently been expanded to cover all categories. 4. You have an immigrant visa case pending with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), for which you have already paid the immigrant
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ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas “AS they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.” — (Luke 17:16) I tell my students to examine the way they preach. Is it a result of prayer, study, and personal reflection? Is it grounded on understanding the context of their listeners—their joys and hopes, their sorrows and angsts? Does it show a preacher’s love for the Scriptures? Is their preaching filled with passion and conviction? Or does it reflect some insecurity, tentativeness, and hesitation? Would their words compel them and their hearers “to fall at the feet of Jesus to glorify him and give thanks” while continuing to celebrate the Mass? I tell my students “to put themselves out there with the people” when they preach: to testify to their faith in Jesus Christ; to share the Good News—the finest pearl—that they have found; to use even their emotions in expressing the joy of discovering
The power of full engagement the Good News. I tell them that amazing things happen when they bring out their selves entirely to the worship and works of God. Not only would they bring out the effects of God’s graces through their presence, preaching, and celebration of the Sacraments, but they would also become continually and personally healed and integrated as persons in their relationship with God and other people. I also hear about this healing and saving experience when seminarians come from field education assignments like ministry to the sick in convalescent hospitals or visits to people in jail. They often say, “I find myself also being ministered to as I reach out to these people.” The lesson in this Sunday’s Gospel is not only gratitude but also the saving power of a full engagement in the life of faith. Often, some people ask why they’re not getting a lot out of their “religion” or the practice of their faith. The question is: are they also giving their hearts and minds fully to the practice of their faith? We live in a consumeristic society, and we bring into our faith this kind of mentality. We’re in Church to receive but not to give, to be attended to but not to serve, to be passive recipients of the
Word and Sacrament rather than to be active receivers. It’s also our full and conscious disposition and participation in the life of the Church that would give us graces of joy, peace, faith and wisdom. Of the ten lepers that Jesus healed from leprosy, as written in this Sunday’s Gospel, only one person, a Samaritan, came back to Jesus to give thanks to him and glorify him. He fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him, and because of this, he received a greater grace: his faith had saved him. The Samaritan realized that he needed to engage himself wholly in the person of Jesus Christ. He must come back to him to give him thanks and to glorify him. His grateful heart compelled him to come to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of Christ and his power. The words of St. Paul in his Letter to Timothy speak of this grace: “If we have died with him we shall live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.” St. Paul’s words presuppose an active or engaging faith. Would not our faith burn inside of us if we fully engage our minds and hearts into our worship of God and His works in the Church and the world? Can we take the attitude of the Samaritan man in today’s
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Atty. Mosqueda named 2017 Super Lawyer ON August 31, 2016, Super Lawyers announced the selection of Roman P. Mosqueda to the 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers list. Because Mr. Mosqueda has demonstrated excellence in the practice of law, he is receiving an honor that is limited to no more than five percent of the attorneys within California. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. It’s patented selection process is rigorous and results in thirdparty validation of professional accomplishments. Mr. Mosqueda was admitted to the Philippines Bar in 1969, the New York Bar in 1980, and the California Bar 1984. He has law offices in Los Angeles: 3460 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 407, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Panorama City: 14420 ½ Chase Street, Panorama City, CA 91402; and Long Beach: 1045 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA 90813. He holds the following degrees:
Atty. Roman P. Mosqueda
Bachelor of Science in Economics, Magna Cum Laude , Ateneo de Manila University; Bachelor of Laws, Cum Laude, University of the Philippines College of Law; and Master of Laws and Doctor of the Science of Law, The University of Michigan Law School. He has published two law bo0ks: Marriage and Its Dissolution Handbook and Law and Jurisprudence On Product Liability: A Comparative Study; and
numerous legal articles. He is a recognized expert on Philippine law and U.S. products liability. He is also a Proctor In Admiralty, and a licensed Real Estate Broker in California His practice is concentrated on Immigration Law, Estate Planning & Living Trust, Criminal Law, Family Law, Civil Law Suits, Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law and Serious Personal Injury Law. Aside from being Immigration Super Lawyer, he has been awarded: Best Attorney in America, National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers In America, 10 Best Family Law Attorney, Trial Masters Lifetime Members, Top 10% U.S. Attorney of Distinction, and Million Dollar Advocate Forum. He is currently President of Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles, and Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers (APCTC). He can be reached at (213) 252-9481 and/or Mosquedalaw@ gmail.com. n
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com
Original Medicare and completing the Medicare puzzle
Insurance Matters Joseph Doratan, MBa,
CFp®
(Part 2 in series of seniors)
THE Original Medicare has Part A and Part B. Part A covers inpatient services like hospitalization. Part B covers outpatient services. In 2006, prescription drug coverage (Part D) was added to the program. Not all 65 and older are eligible. The senior has to be in the U.S. for at least 5 years of continuous stay and with legal presence. People who are not yet 65 but have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months can also receive Medicare benefits. People who have ESRD can also get it with any age. A senior may apply for Parts A and B 3 months before turning 65, up to 3 months after the birthday month, total of 7 months. The government may penalize him for not getting Part B or Part D as soon as he is first eligible to have them. A senior who still has affordable group health insurance may delay getting Part B up to 8 months after he lost his group health, still deemed first eligible and not penalized. However, the same senior only has 2 months after losing his group health to get his Part D to avoid penalty. To avoid confusion, penalty and insurance gap, the best advice would be to apply for the Part B in the last month with the group health and Part A, if not yet applied for when he turned 65. Then add Part D immediately as a stand-alone policy or as a bundled benefit of Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage. Having just the Original Medicare card is not enough. It does not cover the cost-sharing like deductibles, co-pays and 20% co-insurances. It does not cover prescription drug. It does not have worldwide coverage. One way to complete the Medicare puzzle is to add a Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) from work or private insurance to defray these cost-sharing AND to add a Prescription Drug coverage (Part D). This means 2 more cards, total of 3 cards. These 2 additional cards have monthly premiums. Medigap comes in several plans: Plan A, C, N, K, F, etc. Dif-
ferent insurance companies offer different plans. But all plans are standardized. For example, Plan F from different companies have uniform benefits. Most plans offer 365 more hospital days than Original Medicare. All these plans differ fundamentally in how much cost-sharing they cover and if worldwide coverage is included. In general, the more expensive plan covers more. Among the plans, Plan F covers the most. People who use plan F typically does not have any copay. People who use Medigap can see any provider accepting Medicare without referrals. If this kind of plan is desired, one can get it any time of year. However, it’s better to apply when there’s a Guaranteed Issue condition that allows one to have it without having to pass the medical questions. For example, the first time when one is eligible to have Medicare, he will not have to go through the medical questions. Part D plans vary according to premiums and formularies. To find out the most cost-effective plan, the list of medications has to be matched up with the Part D plans. Another way to complete the puzzle is to have Medicare Advantage (Part C), formalized in 1997, serving all the benefits of Parts A and B, helping cover the cost-sharing, offering worldwide coverage and in most cases including the Part D, all-in-one card to show the providers and pharmacies. This 1 card may have $0 or more monthly premium. Different Part C plans offer different benefits. They may include worldwide coverage, dental, vision, transportation services, etc. Part C can be PPO or HMO. But either way, people can only use doctors within the plan’s network. For HMOs, primary care doctors (PCPs) serve like the hub giving referrals to specialists and other providers. Deciding on which Part C to use normally begins with checking if one’s PCP is within the network, the hospital list and if one’s drugs are covered. People can get the Part C or Part D only when there’s an enrollment period that allows enrollment. When one is newly eli-
Provisional waiver of…
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Community Journal
visa processing fee; and 5. You believe you are, or will be at the time of the immigrant visa interview, inadmissible based on having accrued a certain period of unlawful presence in the United States. 6. You meet all other requirements of the provisional unlawful presence waiver as listed in the regulations including a showing that a lengthy bar from the U.S. would cause their U.S. citizen spouse or parent“extreme hardship.” You are not eligible for a provisional unlawful presence waiver and your application will be rejected or denied if: 1. You do not meet one or more of the requirements listed above; 2. You have a pending Form I485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, with USCIS; 3. You are in removal proceedings unless your removal proceedings are administratively closed and have not been re-calendared as of the date of filing of the I601A; 4. You have been ordered removed, excluded, or deported from the United States unless you have an conditionally approved I212. 5. You are subject to reinstatement of a prior removal order; 6. DOS acted to schedule your immigrant visa interview prior to January 3, 2013, even if you failed to appear or you or DOS cancelled or rescheduled the interview on or after January 3, 2013. 7. You do not establish that the refusal of your admission to the United States would result in extreme hardship to your U.S. citizen spouse or parent, or that your application should be approved as a matter of discretion; The regulations would benefit certain immigrants who are unable to adjust their status to green card holder inside the US such as immigrants that entered the US without inspection (EWI), immigrants that entered the US without a visa, immigrants that entered the US as a crew men or sea men (C1 or D-1) and jump ship, immigrants that entered on a K-1 fiancé visa but failed to marry their US citizen fiancé. If these immigrants are not grandfathered by INA section 245(i), typically, they cannot get their green card inside the US. These immigrants would have to leave the US and get their immigrant visa from the US consulate in their home country. This situation becomes a Catch-22 situation in that when the immigrants leave
the US to get their immigrant visa overseas, then the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar kicks in to bar them from returning to the US assuming they accumulated over 180 days of unlawful presence. Once there is a determination that the unlawful presence bar applies to the immigrant at the Consulate overseas, the immigrant under the old procedure would have to apply for the waiver at the consulate overseas which in turn will forward the waiver to the DHS for approval. The entire process can take months or even years while at the meantime the immigrant is waiting outside the US. Meanwhile, families are separated, and the spouses and children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are forced to endure potentially dangerous situations in the home country until the waiver is granted and they can return to the U.S. The new provisional waiver procedure will allow certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens apply for waivers of the unlawful presence bars while remaining in the U.S. If the individual is found eligible, USCIS will grant a provisional waiver. He or she will still have to depart the U.S. and visit a U.S. consulate abroad to apply for an immigrant visa. During the immigrant visa interview, the consular officer will make the finding of inadmissibility based on unlawful presence and apply the provisional waiver. If other grounds of inadmissibility are found, the individual would need to submit another waiver application, if eligible, while abroad. The provisional waiver will reduce the wait period abroad and the separation from the applicant’s family by several months or years. In addition, the applicant will know whether the waiver was granted prior to departing the US. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. (Advertising Supplement)
gible to Medicare, he can get it. Or when he is coming out of the group health insurance. There are 2 groups of people though that may enroll and change Medicare plans anytime of the year: 1) they are people with certain chronic illness like cardiovascular disease, pulmonary problems, diabetes, mental illness, etc; 2) or they are people who are limited in resource qualified for the Social Security Extra Help or Medi-Cal. For most people who don’t belong to the 2 groups of people mentioned above, they can enroll or switch every Oct 15 to Dec 7 of the year. This period is called Open Enrollment Enrollment. They may change because they are after better benefits than what their current plan offers. Call 855-955-1800 for questions or go to a FREE seminar on related topic on Wed, Oct 12, 2016 10am - 12pm at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Central Library located at 318 S. Ramona Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Another FREE seminar is available on Tue, Oct 18, 2016 1pm - 3pm at the Walnut Library located at 21155 La Puente Road, Walnut, CA 91789. ***
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 8-11, 2016
Seniors file chapter 13 to rescue house… PAGE C4 t
there is no Chapter 13 to cure his kidneys. For that, he has to ask our God, Yahweh, or His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, for a cure. Jesus resurrected his friend Lazarus who had been dead for 3 days. Jesus healed the blind and performed numerous miracles of healing the sick and resurrecting the dead, to prove that He is the Son of God. So, healing his kidneys, this is something between client and Jesus but it is certainly possible. He needs to ask and it will be given. Chapter 7 Client is 50 and sin-
gle. He has a good job that pays him $55K a year. He doesn’t own a house and has just bought a new car. He doesn’t want to continue payments on his old car where he pays $258 a month for a title loan at 22% interest. He wants to give up the old car and he wants to get rid of $40K of credit cards. Chapter 7 is perfect for client. He can keep his new car, surrender his old car and not owe any return deficiency, and discharge $40K of credit cards. With Chapter 7, he can become productive again and start saving money again. Without credit card payments and the
Fanny Serrano talks about…
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I didn’t have a stroke. I thank and praise God for this miracle! Truly, He is my Jehovah Rapha, our Great Physician, our Healer. I was discharged from the hospital on Monday, September 26 for being confined at the hospital for almost a week. As my secretary was still arranging my discharge documents that morning, I asked her if she could check on the patient who was revived the night
I saw him at the ER. I wanted to know if he recovered and what happened to him. We found out that he died the following day after 7 a.m. It was sad to know that the other patients on the same floor as me also expired (died). I cannot fathom and understand the purpose of this second chance. God spared me my life because I believe He still wants me to live on a purpose and a mission. At first, I don’t feel like I don’t de-
The power of full…
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(1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker,
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
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.
Gospel? Can we throw ourselves Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served If you have more questions regarding the completely at the feet of Jesus? as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann enrollment periods or other insurance *** in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as questions, feel free to ask the author for answers. A good telephone number to reach him is 855-955-1800. You can also check out www.GlobalWealthInsuranceServices.com. (Advertising Supplement)
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old car payment, client is looking forward to beef up his retirement account at least by $800 a month. “Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7 *** 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)
serve this because as a child, I was so stubborn and didn’t want to take my medicine. I ate food which was not good for me. But one lesson this circumstance has taught me, that is, to take care of my health. Take care of my health so I may be able to carry on with the mission that God will be giving me. I had a stroke and my life was spared because our God is a God of second chances. As I am about to step on my new journey, I am about to start another life. After the stroke, I have another chance, another life and another hope. The blessings of faith come to the obedient. A faith that obeys is a faith that receives. That’s why the Bible says in Hebrews 11:7-8 “It was by faith that Noah…obeyed God. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.” To God be all the glory! n
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Saving documents is ABA’s 40th annual awards banquet critical to your case honors Asian American business leaders
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
FOR almost all immigration benefits, you should save and preserve documents to establish eligibility for that particular benefit. Many people state that, for one reason or another, they no longer have documents relating to their immigration history. They have moved several times and lost track of the documents; they got angry because their case was denied and tore up the paperwork burned it and threw the ashes into the Pasig River; lost or destroyed due to natural calamities (e.g. flood, lahar), or termites ate the paperwork, etc. Had they kept track of the documents or put them in a safe place, their chances of success would have been greater. But now the case could be more difficult and expensive. Among the documents you should keep are: • Documents showing how you entered the US. This would include the passport you entered the US on, even if under an assumed name, I – 94, other documents proving you were “inspected” at your port of entry. • Documents showing your marriage(s) were bona fide and in good faith. If a person has ever been petitioned by a US citizen spouse, the bona fides of that marriage may come up and be questioned at any later interview. This is because the law states that if a person has ever been in a fixed marriage, all future petitions will not be approved. Even if you get divorced from your spouse, you should continue to save the pictures, love letters, and other joint documents, just in case that issue arises in the future. • Documents showing you work for the employer. If you obtained a green card through an employer’s sponsorship (PERM/ labor certification) you will need to prove you worked for the employer after being granted your
Eric Dy
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green card. In some cases, a person quits before their adjustment is granted, or they never bothered working for the sponsoring employer. Years later, when they apply for citizenship, one of the first questions asked is whether they worked for the employer after getting the green card and proof of employment, such as paystubs. • Documents relating to all filings with USCIS, including petitions, applications, approvals, and denials Some people apply for various immigration benefits, whether they were eligible for them or not. Some may not have even realized what they were filing for. But those previous filings will come up with any future application for immigration benefits. Therefore, if your case got denied, don’t just rip up the denial and throw it in the fire. Save it. If you can no longer locate your documents, there are ways to obtain your file from the US government. • Documents showing your continuous residence in the US. Although there is no “amnesty”, we are still hoping and praying for comprehensive immigration reform. Almost all of these programs require that a person continuously resided in the US for a certain number of years. For example, DACA required young people to demonstrate continuous residence since 2007. Other program benefits require proof of continuous residence since 2010. Therefore, in case any kind of immigration reform is passed and requires your demonstrating continuous residence, save documents proving that, such as tax returns, Dr. bills, rental agreements, phone bills, etc. Save them now, so that when comprehensive immigration reform is passed, you already have them available and organized, versus scrambling around trying to locate documents, which you may have lost or thrown out. These are just a few examples
Sachi Hamai, CEO LA County
Gina Alexander
AAPA symposium features Fil-Am speakers MORE than 340 executives, managers, and professionals came together on Friday, September 23 at the AAPA Leadership Symposium and Awards Gala, themed “Embracing Our Differences. A Future Worth Imagining.” Guests came from various industries (53 percent executives and managers, 13 percent entrepreneurs) and age groups (55 percent Generation X and 32 percent Millennials). Twenty-two inspiring speakers shared insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion. Two of them are extraordinary Asian American entrepreneurs who took
the risk of starting up their own businesses despite the odds and the risks. Here they are… Eric Dy Eric Dy is co-founder and CEO of Bloom Technologies located in the San Francisco Bay area. In February of this year, Richard Branson awarded Bloom Technologies as the 2016 winner of the Extreme Tech Challenge. Over 2,000startups applied for this elite competition but Bloom’s revolutionary pregnancy monitor and a winning presentation by Eric earned them the top spot! Building upon five years of PAGE D2
Business Quote of the Week “Many bought into the idea that America could go from a technology-based, export-oriented powerhouse to a servicesled, consumption-based economy - and somehow still expect to prosper. That idea was flat wrong. Our economy tilted instead toward the quicker profits of financial services.” - Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of General Electric
of the type of documents you should be keeping in connection with your immigration case. Don’t just throw out things or lose track of them, as it may be critical to obtaining certain immigration benefits. And to be sure of the type of documents needed for a particular immigration benefit, you should seek the advice of an attorney who can assist you. ***
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)
by AJPress
THE Globe Theatre at Universal Studios Hollywood was packed on Wednesday, September 28 to celebrate the Asian Business Association (ABA)’s awards banquet — an annual event that honors Asian Americans who have made impressive strides in various industries from technology to food. 2016 marked the ABA’s 40th year as an organization that has helped Asian American business owners in Southern California network and get resources. “ABA’s founding in 1976 was prompted by the fact that small business owners of Asian ancestry were left out of procurement assistance programs available to other minority businesses,” Lynne Choy Uyeda, ABA co-founder and former president, said in her remarks. Today, Asian Americans comprise the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the country, tremendously impacting the nation’s economy with a buying power potential of $1 trillion. The Technology Company of PAGE D5
Current board members of the Asian Business Association (ABA). AJPress photos by Ding Carreon
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Market decline not due to Duterte ‘s comments, says PSE PH economic managers to US business, Fil-Am communities: Govt to focus on reducing poverty, inequality by Kristyn
niKa M. ManilaTimes.net
Lazo
THE negative trend that ruled the stock market in the first 100 days in office of President Rodrigo Duterte was caused by a number of factors but not mainly by the president’s colorful remarks. Philippine Stock Exchange President Hans Sicat told reporters the losses incurred by the main PSEi was solely attributable to Duterte’s spicy comments about foreign heads of state. “Well, since June when he took office —June to today—I think we’re good. We know that the index was up double digits since the beginning of the year. Again, I think there’s too much over analysis,” Sicat said at the sidelines of a business conference early this week. Asked if the outflows were caused by the President’s rhetoric, Sicat said: “Probably none. I’m not defending the comments or whatsoever. I think the real answer has to do with the nervousness of various funds because of the US interest rate hike that was expected. “But it’s not just the Philippines, but all of the emerging markets, including developed markets. Generally, the people are coming out of the markets,” he added. The PSEi ended at 7,796.25 points on June 30, the day of the inauguration of the new president. Since then, the market is on an uptrend leading to the year’s high at 8,102.30 on July 21.
But in August, or the Ghost Month, investors were sidelined. Volumes grew thin in a pall of pessimism as fears of a potential US interest rate hike overwhelmed the market. By September, the main PSEi slipped between the 7,500 7,600 levels. Since Duterte’s talked about breaking ties with the United States and made colorful remarks at the European Union and human rights advocates, concerns arose whether foreign funds were pulling out of the market due to Duterte’s statements. Duterte also said he intends to strike new partnership with China and Russia. “The fund managers, maybe even the guys I talk to, I asked them a straightforward question: ‘Did you pull out of the market because of the President’s comments?’ The answer was ‘No’. In other words, they were realizing gains but they were saying ‘I’ll probably stay on the sidelines until I see some volatility going down’,” Sicat said. But for Justino Calaycay Jr., head of research and marketing at A&A Securities Inc., Duterte’s rhetoric sent signals of political risks. “Another round of an incendiary rhetoric from the President advising President Obama to ‘Go to hell’ and thinking aloud before a forum that we might eventually pivot away from the US and towards China and Russia lay even more uncertainties to an already nervous market,” Calaycay told The Manila Times in an email interview. “It is not the invectives, mind
you, but what the underlying messages imply. What will a break with the US mean for their investments here, both capital and portfolio?” he said. Sicat believes the market is “very much positive” moving forward as the administration carries out its 10-point socioeconomic agenda. “If you take out all the noise, nothing has changed with what they said in June. Yes, there’s a little bit of noise, but I think those of us who are in the finance and economic sectors will probably get the noise past us and focus more on maybe the developments, quite positive developments,” the PSE president said. “Also, the fact that in two and a half months, they submitted packages [tax packages]to Congress, that’s very positive. The previous administration wasn’t able to do it. So, that’s a positive thing,” he added. The Duterte administration intends to spend more on infrastructure, up to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Philippine shares are currently trading at 20 times price-toearnings (PE) ratio, indicating that market is expensive than its regional peers. “I think the mere fact that the market is still up—if you believe in the stock market as an indicator not just of the trend but even of how the economy is going to behave—the mere fact that it’s still up even at a volatile time, it probably says that on a relative basis, investors believe in the Philippine story, both local and foreign,” said Sicat.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Secretaries of Finance, Budget and Management, and Socioeconomic Planning discussed the Duterte Administration’s plan of action to reduce poverty and inequality during engagements with the business and Filipino-American communities on Wednesday, October 5. In a special edition of the Talakayan sa Pasuguan, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority DirectorGeneral Ernesto Pernia expressed the need for innovative statistics that will accurately track how economic growth is distributed across geographic regions and income classes. “Poverty- and inequality-reducing economic growth requires a rebalancing of the economy,” said Secretary Pernia in reference to programs aimed at expanding development from the National Capital Region to rural areas in other parts of the country. “Our policies and our plans are certainly aimed at reducing the differentials between the growths in the regions,” added Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. Secretary Dominguez noted how the concentration of investments and infrastructure in Metro Manila has resulted in two-thirds of gross domestic product being produced in this area. He likewise cited the huge gap in the gross national income per capita between
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno (center) and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia (right) participated in a “Coffee Meet and Greet with US business community” held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on Wednesday, October 5.
(L-R) Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez answered questions from the Filipino-American community of Metro DC in a special edition of the Talakayan sa Pasuguan held at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on Thursday, October 6.
Metro Manila (Php 100,000/year) and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Php 26,000/ year). “This is what we are addressing. This is what the electorate is asking us. This is why they elected the three top officials of our country from Mindanao,” the Finance Secretary stated, referring to the President, the Senate President and Speaker of the House. Critical to the Administration’s socioeconomic agenda is improving infrastructure, to which more resources will be committed, according to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “From 2017 to 2022, we’re spending around Php 8.2 trillion for public infrastructure,” Secretary Diokno said. This is to be achieved, he said, by “changing the way we budget,” in that only projects that are shovel-ready will be included in the budget; doing projects in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao on a non-stop basis; and using technology, such as drones and Google Maps, to boost monitoring capability. “There will be no ghost projects under the Duterte Administration,” the Budget Secretary stressed.
He also explained that a large part of the budget will be invested in education, health and nutrition, and social services, in order to develop the Filipino youth into a competent, healthy and agile workforce. In a separate briefing for the business community, Secretaries Diokno and Pernia discussed how reforms in government procurement and cutting bureaucratic red tape can enhance the competitiveness of the Philippine economy and boost its attractiveness to foreign investments, as well as will result in more affordable services for individual citizens and businesses. The economic managers gave the assurance that previous initiatives that have yielded positive results for the economy will be carried on by the present Administration. They cited the strong macroeconomic fundamentals and drivers for growth that continue to attract foreign investments into the Philippines. Secretaries Dominguez, Pernia and Diokno are in the US capital to attend the 2016 World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (WBG-IMF) Annual Meetings from 05 to 08 October 2016.
Filipino-American community of Metro DC attended and participated in the Talakayan sa Pasuguan featuring Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on 06 October 2016.
AAPA symposium features... PAGE D1 strategic planning and business development experience, Eric sets the overall strategy and product direction for Bloom. Eric brings a unique perspective on the needs, opportunities, and challenges in emerging healthcare technologies and delivery models informed by multi-disciplinary technical expertise and insight gained through business development in consumer and medical markets. Prior to co-founding Bloom, Eric served as senior business development manager at IMEC leading sales and partnership activities in North America. In his 3 years leading sales activities in North America, Eric built 17 new partnerships in various markets including next gen sequencing, remote patient monitoring, specialty imagers, and mixed signal chip design. In all Eric’s work contributed to $25M+ in revenue, including high profile deals with Pacific Biosciences, Biotelemetry and Bayspec. Eric earned his BSc in Bioengineering from Cornell and later his MSc and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UCLA. He is the recipient of many prestigious scholarship awards including the Chancellor’s Fellowship, Graduate Research Mentorship Fellowship, and Belgian American Education Foundation Fellowship. He has numerous scientific publications including contributions to two book chapters. Eric is a high energy, pro-active problem solver who values relationship building, connecting individuals and developing products that have meaningful impact on people’s lives. Eric’s father, Victor Dy, MD, was born and educated in Manila and worked at Easton Hospital, PA for 42 years until recently, as Medical Director and Head of Surgery. Gina Alexander “My best training was from
my parents, Cesar and Imelda Lopez – they were the first Filipino couple to own a Denny’s franchise in the U.S. in California.” Gina Alexander – recently honored during Filipino History Month as one of five Filipino leaders by Mayor Eric Garcetti, and City Commissioner Joel Jacinto – is an LA-based designer who has created a line of handbags and other kinds of accessories that allow the customer to design these unique pieces with their personal photos, mementos that travel with you each day, reminding you of the people, places, and things you love! A Gina Alexander Photo Bag is a lot of fun and an absolutely necessary accessory. With Christmas coming, the options are endless! Gina runs her business with the help of her husband Richard who oversees the various lines available through the company: Handbags, Men’s, Baby, and more. Most recently via a licensing with Janie Hendrix (sister of Jimi Hendrix), Gina has created a line of Jimi Hendrix photo bags (both leather and fabric) and limitededition, numbered leather jackets with rare images of the musician taken onstage at concerts like Winterland in 1968, Waikiki in 1969, and Arco –Sacramento in 1970 by well-known rock photographer Robert M. Knight. This new collection, just recently introduced has already garnered the attention of fine stores such as Incognito- Michigan, Polite Society-Seattle and Gerard Marti Galleries-Maui, which will carry these distinctive accessories. Every Gina Alexander Photo Bag and all her accessories, is made from the finest materials, handcrafted, beautiful and lasting. Gorgeous on their own, the bags are even more dear, when PAGE D4
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WIN Hyundai and WIN Chevrolet: Three giant locations to serve you There’s no better place for kababayans to shop for hyundai vehicles than WIN hyundai in Carson, Calif. established in 2011, the young dealership started with the goal of becoming the premiere hyundai dealership. since then, it has lived up to its aim by consistently ranked among the top five dealers in the district. In 2012, the dealership, which is also equus Certified, was also ranked No. 1 in district sales. WIN is proud to carry hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates ranked the automaker No. 2 among nonpremium automakers in the 2015 Automotive Performance, execution and Layout (APeAL) study. “Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power, the APeAL study shows hyundai takes design, technology, features, and performance seriously across the entire lineup. having the best-selling sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a remarkable accomplishment and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at hyundai. WIN hyundai offers a wide selection of quality hyundai vehicles and extends its offerings across the Los Angeles area with its two locations: one in Carson and another in el Monte. On both sites,
customers can find new and certified pre-owned vehicles – including the santa Fe, sonata, elantra and Genesis Coupe – to meet a variety of budgets and preferences. Because the Carson and el Monte locations serve just about anyone and everyone in southern California, its experienced s a l e s re p re s e n t a t i v e s a re prepared and eager to help customers find the cars that best fit their preferences and needs. When it comes to purchasing a hyundai, WIN specializes in working with all types of credit, good or bad, and has the ability to refinance current loans. Additionally, although it sells hyundai cars, the dealership services vehicles of all makes and models and currently has an oil change special of $19.95 For Chevrolet owners and shoppers in Los Angeles, you may check out WIN’s third location at WIN Chevrolet, which will make sure to handle everything from helping you purchase a new or used Chevy. schedule an appointment or just stop on by to take any of our 2015 Chevrolet models for a test drive including the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, 2015 Chevrolet Impala, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. Beyond the highly-praised brand WIN offers southern California residents, it has departments dedicated diverse groups found throughout the Los Angeles region, including Chinese, Korean, hispanic and Filipino communities.
Among Filipino members of the WIN hyundai Carson team include long-time car industry veterans Jun Milan and Jay Trinidad. “WIN is a great dealership and customer service is the best it can be,” Milan said. Also on the Filipino team i s Fra n k l i n M a g a r ro , t h e dealership’s internet sales manager. In addition to its on-location offerings, those shopping for hyundai cars can browse WIN’s inventory online with userfriendly filters. Whether you know specifically what make and model you’re looking for, are trying to shop based on a budget, or simply want to browse through what is available, the dealership website makes it easy to shop around from home. Live chat is also available and sales representatives are happy to assist customers via phone. WIN Hyundai Carson 2205 e 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (877) 354-4253 Monday through saturday: 9am to 9pm sunday: 10am to 8pm WIN Hyundai El Monte 3462 N Peck road el Monte, CA 91731 (877) 290-2164 Monday through sunday: 9am to 9pm www.winhyundai.com Win Chevrolet 2201 e. 223rd street Carson, CA 90810 (818) 639-1216 www.winchevrolet.com 8[m\ik`j`e^ Jlggc\d\ek
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Ongpin sells PhilWeb stake to Gregorio Araneta for P2-B by Kristyn
niKa M. ManilaTimes.net
Lazo
BUSINESSMAN Roberto V. Ongpin is selling his entire 53.76percent controlling stake in embattled PhilWeb Corp. to Gregorio Ma. Araneta III for P2 billion as a part of his plan to save the company from closure. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, PhilWeb said Ongpin through his financial advisor KPMG (R.G. Manabat & Co.) concluded the sale of Ongpin’s 771.651 million PhilWeb shares to Gregorio Araneta Inc. at P2.60 per share. Under the share purchase agreement, the transaction will be done in two tranches, the first of which will cover 653.151 million shares through a special block sale subject to the approval of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). The second tranche will cover 118.5 million shares to be listed on the PSE. “This second tranche is scheduled as soon as the registration of these shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange is completed and will be transacted at the same price as the special block sale for the first tranche,” PhilWeb said. The deal signals Ongpin’s divestment from PhilWeb after he resigned as chairman in early August after President Rodrigo
Dennis Valdes
Duterte tagged the businessman as an oligarch that needed to be destroyed. His resignation and a number of attempts to distance himself from PhilWeb supposedly reflected his resolve to save the company from closure after the company failed to renew a licensing agreement with Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor), until the last minutes of August 10 when the license expired. “Ongpin will have no further involvement with PhilWeb. Mr. Gregorio Ma. Araneta 3rd has been elected as chairman, and Mr. Dennis O. Valdes will remain as president,” PhilWeb said. “With the divestment of Ongpin, the new management of PhilWeb will now reapply for the continuation of its license with Pagcor for its nationwide
network of eGames cafes,” the firm added. Since President Duterte’s pronouncements that oligarchs like Ongpin must be destroyed and any form of online gaming must be shut down, Pagcor has refused to renew PhilWeb’s license as technology service provider to Pagcor’s 286 e-Games outlets. Ongpin resigned as PhilWeb chairman, and tried to auction off his PhilWeb shareholdings, but ended up proposing a drug rehabilitation program from the proceeds of his shares in support of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. But Pagcor declined, compelling PhilWeb to propose a mobile lottery venture which the gaming regulator also gave the thumbs down. Ongpin said in one of his letters to Pagcor that the P1 billion from the proceeds of the share sale would be turned over to the government to complement its drug rehabilitation program. Through the e-Games outlets, PhilWeb employs 700 personnel and 5,000 others who are eGames operators. In its 14 years of operations, PhilWeb has remitted over P14 billion to Pagcor. In 2015, PhilWeb remitted more than P2.1 billion to the gaming regulator and paid over P280 million in corporate income tax, value-added and other taxes.
AAPA symposium features... PAGE D2
decorated with your own personal touch, your MIP (Most-ImportantPhoto). Gina Alexander is a fashion veteran, having studied in Europe, apprenticing with LA-based fashion houses, and finally opening her own kiosk stores at the Hollywood and Highland Retail complex and The Grove. Now, with a growing company, ALEXANDER’s Photo Bags have been sold through Nordstrom, ICE Accessories, and SAKs, Inc. department stores and can be found on partnered retail locations, such as ebags.com, 40+ boutiques nationwide and over 600 professional photography studios worldwide. Gina’s handbags have appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, and the designer was interviewed numerous times by Oprah! Magazine and US
Magazine, to name a few. Gina Alexander works consistently with many celebrities creating their dream Photo bags, including Faith Hill, Kelly Ripa, The Black Eyed Peas, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, Ashanti, Alicia Keys, Usher, Slash, Joss Stone, Queen Latifah and more. She has also worked with the late Elizabeth Taylor. Gina was also honored in 2015 as one of the 100 most influential Filipina women in the United Sates at the Filipina Women’s Network Fifth Annual Filipina Summit. AAPA is dedicated to inspire, develop and promote the professional community to maximize their career and leadership potential. Our vision is to foster a national network of diverse professionals in management
and executive pipelines who will become future leaders and inspire others in their community. For 15 years, over 60 passionate AAPA volunteer Mentors provided the award winning AAPA Mentoring Program to over 850 Mentees in Southern California. The AAPA Mentoring Program is a year-long program providing an opportunity to build trusting mentoring relationship and leadership skills throughout the year. Its oneon-one mentoring, led by dedicated and qualified executives and managers, has produced highly-motivated and confident career-minded professionals. Proceeds from the Achievement Awards gala goes directly help to support the AAPA mentees in the program.www.aapamentoring.com
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ABA’s 40th annual awards banquet...
PAGE D1 the Year award was given to Spokeo CEO and co-founder Harrison Tang. From what started with only six employees, Spokeo — a people search engine — is considered one of the fastest-growing tech companies to date, now with a staff of over 200. “Without the amazing, vibrant community that we have, Spokeo cannot get its talent, ideas, its support to make sure we can flourish,” Young Lee of The Flame Broiler, recipient of John Hong, Chef of the Year Tang said, adding that the business Franchise of the Year climate in LA has helped the company grow to where it is today. During the program, Odyssey Awards were given to AEG, Southern California Edison, Toyota, Union Bank and U.S. Bank, companies that continuously support the programming and mission of the ABA. Young Lee of The Flame Broiler, Inc. won the Franchise of the Year. Founded in 1995, the healthy fast food chain now has 180 locations in five states. Dennis Huang, executive director and Chef John Hong, The Restau-
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Lopez assures job waiting for displaced mine workers by louise
Maureen Philstar.com
siMeon
MANILA – With 75 percent of the country’s metallic mines on the brink of suspension, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez assured that displaced workers would be given alternative jobs. Lopez said workers of suspended mining firms would not end up unemployed as they would be used in the rehabilitation of mine sites. She issued this statement following increasing concerns of massive unemployment in the industry. About 30 mining firms may face suspension of their operations following the recently-concluced audit by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “No, they (workers) won’t be unemployed. A part of the directive, should there be suspension, is that they (firms) must hire those people to rehabilitate the mining sites,” Lopez said. CEO of ABA Lopez said displaced workClayton Kodama, ABA Member of the Year rant at Meadowood, a Michelin ers could also join the National Guide 3-star restaurant in Napa Valley that specializes in local, Greening Program (NGP), which is part of the DENR’s efforts to sustainable California cuisine. “What the ABA has done for shift focus from being a regulathis community as well as count- tory arm to a more developmentless others around the country is driven agency that would utilize nothing short of amazing and I am its resources to pave the way for proud to be part of this community sustainable development. NGP, the government’s masand look forward to contributing in any way that I can,” Hong said, thanking his parents for moving to the U.S. and supporting his Lynne Choy Uyeda Banquet co-chairs Amanda Ma and Jay Chung decision to drop out of college to by Prinz Magtulis pursue his culinary career. Philstar.com He added, “Through our hearts and our bellies [are] where I will MANILA – The Philippines will attempt to have a positive impact name a finance attaché to China to on this community.” help resolve discrepancies in trade Vicky Harper-Hall of Northrop data between the two countries Grumman was awarded with which resulted in billions of pesos Advocate of the Year and Clayton in revenue losses. Kodama of Gibo/Kodama Chairs “I will appoint a finance attaché was named ABA Member of the to China to talk and go over the Year. exporters there so we can solve Frontier Communications West Region To end the night, a few lucky this,” Finance Secretary Carlos President Melinda White gives Technology NBC4 Southern California reporter Hetty attendees won raffle items, such Dominguez told a budget hearing Company of the Year award to Harrison Tang Chang served as the night’s emcee a Herman Miller chair and a at the Senate on Tuesday, Oct. 4. of Spokeo AJPress photos by Ding Carreon roundtrip EVA Air ticket. “We would like our attaché in
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez
sive forest rehabilitation initiative that doubles as an anti-poverty measure due to its cash-for-work component, is seen to cover 1.6 million hectares with trees by the end of the year. The DENR is eyeing other revenue streams including developing ecotourism spots throughout the country. Lopez said the agency was looking at the potential of biochar as a tool for mine rehabilitation, a type of charcoal produced by burning only a small amount of oxygen that enables the carbon to be absorbed by the plants and preventing it from accumulating in the atmosphere. Last month, the DENR allowed two mining companies to use activated biochar, a soil amendment technology, to develop agro-for-
estry in their host communities. The DENR has authorized Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. in Surigao del Sur and Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc. in Zambales to convert agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security, increase soil biodiversity and discourage deforestation. Marcventures has been recommended for suspension while Benguet Corp. was among the 10 companies already suspended prior to the audit result announcement. Lopez emphasized that the capital-intensive extractive industry is not labor-intensive as only 250,000 Filipinos are employed in the industry or just 0.6 percent of the total employment in the country.
Dominguez to appoint finance attaché to China
Corporations get recognized for their support of the ABA
China to work very closely with our BOC (Bureau of Customs) here and the BOC in China,” he said. According to Finance data, there exists an “alarming” discrepancy worth P1.8 trillion in trade data between the Philippines and its trading partners in 2014. As a result, the government lost P231 billion in revenues that year, equivalent to two percent of gross domestic product. Dominguez said around 30
percent of the P1.8 trillion came from China, which is the country’s fourth biggest export destination and top source of imports in July, latest figures showed. Specifically, China cornered 11.3 percent of exports and 11.2 percent of imports during the period. “The differential is about 50 percent (from what is reported here and there) so with that, we hope the attaché can assist the BOC to correct them,” Dominguez said. Appointing a finance attaché is consistent with Department of Finance Order 105-2015 issued during the previous administration that mandated a two-year stint for every person deployed overseas. They are appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Finance Secretary. It was not clear if an attaché was deployed under the previous government, which recommended placing some in the US and Japan.
“The attaché in China will also have a job of starting up our membership in the AIIB. We are proposing to the Senate to ratify our membership with them,” Dominguez said. He was pertaining to the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral institution tasked at lending to member-countries for infrastructure development. National Treasurer Roberto Tan, who just came last week from an AIIB meeting, told the same hearing the agreement was already forwarded by the Office of the President to Senate for approval. The Philippines has until the end of the year to ratify the agreement, of which only 10 of the 51 signatories have not done so. “We believe we would be able to avail of financing here at almost concessional terms for our program that is heavily on infrastructure,” Dominguez said.
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