091617 - LA Weekend Edition

September 16-19, 2017 Volume 27 - No. 75 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages

PH, US to hold joint counterterrorism drills

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE governments of the Philippines and United States are set to hold a bilateral, interagency counterterrorism drill next week, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced on Friday, September 15.

Dubbed as “Tempest Wind,” the drill will take place in the Philippines and Hawaii; and aims “to improve the ability of both nations to rapidly plan, coordinate, and conduct counterterrorism operations.”

The embassy further noted that the drill will be augmented by additional military assessments, national level engagement, and subject matter expert exchanges.

Apart from information exchanges, Tempest Wind is also recognized as “a way to test force readiness and exercise interoperability” that could help focus future bilateral training efforts to enhance the crisis response capabilities of both nations.

A decades-long ally of the Philippines, the

USA

DATELINE No deal yet for DREAMers, wall stands in way

U.S. has been providing technical assistance to Filipino troopers battling pro-Islamic State (IS) extremists in Marawi City, Mindanao.

Washington also recently donated P730 million ($15 million) in humanitarian aid for the ongoing relief operations and rehabilitation of the besieged city.

“The United States is a proud ally of the Philippines and will continue to provide support and assistance to Philippine counterterrorism efforts and work jointly to address shared threats to the peace and security of both countries,” the embassy said in a statement.

But Filipino activists expressed dissent over the American troops’ involvement in Marawi operations.

Also on Friday, hundreds of angry Filipinos rallied outside the U.S. embassy in Manila and clashed with police officers.

Video footage and photos captured by local news agencies show activists marching with banners that read, “US: Imperialist, # 1 terrorist.

Hands off Marawi! US troops out now!”

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Filipina appointed to Trump admin’s Community Development Advisory Board

by AJPRESS

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intent to appoint a Filipina community leader to a key administration post, the White House announced on Friday, Sept. 15.

Faith Bautista, the president and CEO of the National Diversity Coalition (NDC) and the National Asian Amer- Former Pres. Benigno Aquino III ican Coalition (NAAC), will be appointed as a member of the Community Development Advisory Board, which advises the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CFDI) Fund on policies and activities.

Bautista will serve a term of four years on the board.

The CDFI Fund was created to promote economic de-

A DECISION on the fate of DREAMers and immigrants remain muddled as lawmakers continue to contest over what should become of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but “specific priorities and principles” may come within the next seven to 10 days, according to the White House President Donald Trump said on Thursday, September 14 that a plan to protect many young undocumented immigrants from depor-

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LA formally announced as host of 2028 Olympics Critics continue efforts to stop the city from hosting the games

AFTER a years-long fight to bring the Olympics back to Southern California, the City of Los Angeles was officially confirmed to host the 2028 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted on Wednesday, September 13 in Lima, Peru to award Paris the 2024 summer Olympics and Los Angeles the following games.

“This is a win-win-win situation for Paris, Los Angeles and the entire Olympic Movement,” IOC President Thomas Bach said following the unusual announcement of two

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TRUMP EFFIGY. Leftist protesters parade an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump near the US Embassy on Friday, Sept. 15 to protest alleged American military interference in Mindanao. The effigy was later burned. Anti-riot police blocked members of militant groups Save Our Schools (SOS) and Kilusan ng Moro at Katutubong Mamamayan Para Sa Sariling Pagpapasya (Sandugo) on Kalaw Avenue and prevented them from crossing Roxas Boulevard.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

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Faith Bautista

Filipino veterans of WWII to be given highest honor by Congress in October

by RAE

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) Photo from House.gov

ANN VARONA AJPress

AROUND 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers fought Axis powers during World War II, helping bring the U.S. and Allied forces to victory. Now over seven decades later, Filipino veterans of World War II will officially be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal.

On Wednesday, October 25, Filipino veterans of World War II will be presented the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the U.S. can bestow, by leaders of the U.S. House and Senate in honor of their services and sacrifices during the war.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, only around 18,000 of the Filipino WWII veterans are still alive today. An estimated 2,000 to 6,000 are still living in the

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Duterte confers Gawad Mabini to LA Congen, 5 DFA officials

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

President Rodrigo Duterte confers the Gawad Mabini Dakilang Kamanong Award to Consul General Adelio Cruz during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, September 13.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the Gawad Mabini award to Philippine foreign service officials, including Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz, at the President’s Hall of Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, September 13.

Cruz was conferred the Gawad Mabini with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross).

Under Presidential Decree 490, Gawad Mabini is conferred on Filipinos who have rendered distinguished Foreign Service or helped promote the interests and prestige of the Philippines abroad.

Prior to his current post, Cruz served as

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Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales Inquirer.net photos

Ombudsman upholds Aquino indictment over Mamasapano tragedy

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

two years ago.

In a resolution approved Monday, September 11, Ombudsman THE Office of the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales rejected has affirmed the graft and usurpa- Aquino’s motion for partial recontion of authority indictment of for- sideration which cites his indictmer Philippine President Benigno ment a “misappreciation of facts “Noynoy” Aquino III in connec- and specious application of the tion with the botched Mamasa- law.” pano operation that led to the “While a President of the Redeaths of 44 police commandos u PAGE A4

A September 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

PH, US to hold joint...

PAGE A1 t

Protesters also burnt effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Manila visit Earlier this year, Duterte extended an invitation to Trump to attend the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(ASEAN) summit in Manila this November.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced in April that Trump would visit the Philippines, but when recently asked about the matter, Trump has yet to personally confirm his attendance to the summit.

“He (Duterte) invited us, so

we’re going to see,” the U.S. president told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, September 14.

He confirmed, however, that he’ll visit Japan, South Korea and China in November. He added that he might also fly to Vietnam later in the same month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference.

“We’ll probably all be going over (to Asia) in a group in November. And we’ll be doing Japan, South Korea, possibly Vietnam with the conference,” Trump said. n

Filipina appointed...

PAGE A1 t velopment and revitalization in America’s underserved and distressed low-income communities.

Through its programs and resources, the CDFI Fund supports real estate developments, businesses, health care facilities, workforce training centers, and jobs in urban and rural areas across the county.

NAAC is a HUD-approved homeowner, small business and consumer advocacy organization serving the country’s 18 million Asian Americans, and the NDC is an organization of community organizers, faith-based leaders, nonprofit directors, and business owners working collectively for greater financial equality and empowerment for underserved groups. The organization works with corporate and government leaders to advocate for opportunities in homeownership, small business, and financial literacy for all groups.

Under both NDC and NAAC, Bautista advocates in the halls of Congress, in the California legislature and in front of key federal legislators, such as the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, FHFA, FTC, FCC and SEC and among America’s Fortune 500 corporations, as a major voice for the Asian American community. She is a member of the Office of Thrift Supervision Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee and sits on the Low-Income Oversight Board for the California Public Utilities Commission. Faith is the host of “Owning a Piece of America,” a television program that focuses on financial and consumer education, lifestyle and health education, and community and government relations. n

COURTESY CALL. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon receives a delegation from the House of Councillors of Japan led by Mr. Masahiro Ishii on Thursday, September 14, 2017. The delegation is in Manila from September 14 to 19 to attend the 38th General Assembly of the ASEAN InterParliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Drilon is the President of the Philippines - Japan Parliamentary Association. Last year, Drilon was conferred upon the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his contributions to promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.

Senate photo by Joseph Vidal

Duterte confers Gawad Mabini...

PAGE A1 t Charge d’ Affaires from June 2014 to June 2016 at the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, Libya; and as Consul General from April 2011 to November 2013 in Xiamen, China.

Apart from Cruz, the Gawad Mabini with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross) was likewise conferred upon Undersecretary Enrique Manalo; Ambassador to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Elizabeth Buensuceso; and Ambassador Mario de Leon.

Duterte also conferred the

Gawad Mabini with the rank of Dakilang Kasugo (Commander) upon Vice Consul Theodore Andrei Bauzon and Director Ryan Francis Gener.

In a speech, the president lauded the recipients of Gawad Mabini awards for their “unwavering dedication” to achieve major foreign policy and national economic goals.

“Strengthening our foreign relations is not only a sign of goodwill, it also ensures that opportunities for trade and commerce, national security and

Filipino veterans of WWII...

PAGE A1 t U.S. “The United States is indebted to the service, bravery, and perseverance of Filipino veterans of World War II. Their sacrifices were left untold in the United States for decades, as they fought for recognition by the country they served,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who first introduced the bill to the chamber in

2015.

“I am proud that we can correct the record today, and finally honor the service and sacrifice of these heroes and their families, and ensure they are never forgotten.”

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (DHawaii), who also introduced the bill, called the medal presentation a “culmination of decades of work to honor these veterans for their service to our country.”

cooperation, will prosper among nations,” Duterte remarked.

He noted that their exemplary service has also “safeguarded and promoted the welfare and the rights of Filipinos residing abroad.”

“Thank you for upholding and promoting our country’s independent foreign policy, strongly founded on our national interest and carried out through the diversification of our international ties to secure our political, economic, and sociocultural objectives,” Duterte added. n “These veterans and their families overcame many challenges in their fight for compensation, family reunification, and verification of wartime service. I look forward to participating in the ceremony to provide this long overdue recognition next month,” said Hirono.

The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Medal Act of 2015, also known as S. 1555, was signed into law by former President Barack Obama on December 15, 2016.

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DATELINE USA

US execs still bullish on PH despite Pres. Duterte’s pivot to China

by ROY

STEPHEN C. CANIVEL Inquirer.net

AMERICAN senior executives polled in a recent survey expressed plans to expand their business operations in the Philippines this year as their “level of confidence” was considered among the highest in the ASEAN despite seeing a slight decline from a year ago.

According to the ASEAN 50th anniversary edition of the 2018 ASEAN Business Outlook survey, 70 percent of respondents in the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. (AmCham) were planning business expansions this year, a slight decline from 74 percent a year ago. This was higher than the average for the whole ASEAN of 62 percent.

“The survey results for the Philippines saw 70 percent of AmCham Philippines respondents planning to expand their operations in the Philippines. This level of confidence was among the highest in the 10 ASEAN economies and the same as Vietnam (72 percent) and Myanmar (71 percent),” AmCham Philippines Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe said.

Also, only a few U.S. senior executives based in the ASEAN think of the Philippines as an attractive bilateral FTA partner as the country was overshadowed by the potential of other countries in the region.

“With the U.S. placing less focus on multilateral trade agreements in favor of bilateral trade agreements, surveyed

2018 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey published by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and the US Chamber of Commerce showed 26 percent of American business executives polled in the country said the current administration is “very ineffective” in boosting business confidence and promoting investment, while another 26 percent said it is “slightly ineffective.”

Philstar.com photo

executives point to Vietnam (56 percent), Indonesia (50 percent) and Thailand (46 percent) as the most attractive potential bilateral FTA partners.

Executives also pointed to non-ASEAN countries such as Japan (41 percent) and India (40 percent) as desirable FTA options,” a copy of the report read.

The Philippines was third to the last on the list, with only 23 percent of respondents thinking of the country as an FTA partner of the US. New Zealand was behind the Philippines with 14 percent, while last place (10 percent) was attributed to “other” countries.

This comes as the Department of Trade and Industry assesses the costs and benefits of forging an FTA with the U.S., which, even without an FTA,

LA formally announced as host...

PAGE A1 t host cities at the same event.

“These are two great cities from two great countries with a great Olympic history,” Bach continued. “Both cities are very enthusiastic about the Games and are promoting the Olympic spirit in a fantastic way.”

Since a deal for LA to host the 2028 Games was reached and publicly announced in July, Wednesday’s announcement is essentially just a formality.

“This is the moment Angelenos have been waiting for,” Garcetti said, following the vote.

After the announcement,

Garcetti signed a “host city contract”, which would put the city responsible for paying off any debts if the games — which is estimated to cost $5.3 billion — run over budget.

But not everyone is thrilled about bringing the games back to LA, which has not hosted the games since 1984.

NOlympics LA, an activist group that has spoken out against bringing the games to LA, released a letter to the IOC denouncing the decision, criticizing Garcetti and the LA City Council for not allowing Angelenos to vote for whether

was the country’s third-largest trading partner in 2016.

With the U.S. leaving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), 48 of respondents across ASEAN expected their country of operation to deepen bilateral ties with China.

More so, 84 percent of ASEANbased respondents, the same as the Philippines, said that they were not affected by the “new directions of U.S. trade and tax policy,” a reference to Trump’s America first rhetoric.

Philippine-based respondents were least satisfied with the current tax structure among other aspects of the local business environment. After the tax structure, investors in the country were also least satisfied with the new incentives offered by the government and the state of corruption. ■ they want their city to host the games.

“Angelenos don’t know that the Olympics means the federal government will be in charge of securing the city, causing more deportation risk for our immigrant communities. They don’t know that, unlike 1984, you and the organizing committee have NO accountability and are requiring the city to sign an UNLIMITED liability clause which could bankrupt us. They don’t know that more Angelenos will be displaced from their homes and onto the streets to build more hotels, luxury housing, and to accommodate the new ‘global’ clien-

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2017

No deal yet for DREAMers...

PAGE A1 t

tation was in the works, but that no deal was made. Issues of border security and the U.S.-Mexico border wall played key factors in following discussions.

“We’re working on a plan for DACA,” said Trump to reporters Thursday morning, before leaving for Florida. “You have 800,000 young people brought here, no fault of their own.”

Trump further posted a series of tweets on the issue with one reading, “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!”

A continuation of the tweet read, “They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own - brought in by their parents at young age. Plus BIG border security.”

The short statements came the morning after Democratic leaders, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), met with the president and his cabinet to discuss issues regarding DACA program, as well as border security.

“We agreed that the president would support enshrining the DACA protections into law, in fact something he’s stated for a while needed to be done, and that the president would also encourage the House and Senate to act,” said Schumer about the dinner meeting.

Trump also said that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) agreed on the DACA discussions.

While both Trump and the Democratic leaders shared the same view on protecting DREAMers, Trump made clear that his tele that will be looking to cash in on this Olympic-sized investment opportunity,” the group’s letter said.

The group, which is headed by the LA chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, also assured that they will continue to campaign against the city hosting the Olympics.

“Despite the fact that the IOC has awarded L.A. the bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, the fight isn’t over,” the group said in a statement. “The notion that ‘L.A. is going to have the Olympics, one way or another’ isn’t necessarily true, as many opportunities still ex-

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intent to build the wall was still strong and would be pursued later — Schumer made clear he and Pelosi would continue to oppose it.

Back and forth comments “The wall is going to be built. It will be funded a little bit later,” said Trump in his first Thursday statement in Washington D.C. Trump stated that “92 percent of people agree on DACA”, but what he and his administration wanted was a “very powerful border security.”

Schumer voiced his opposition

A3

to the wall and said it would send a “terrible symbol to the world about the U.S., about who we are, about what kind of country we are.”

“We’ll never be for the wall. It’s expensive, it’s ineffective, and it involves a lot of difficult eminent domain - taking people’s property - and apparently, it’s not being paid for by Mexico,” he added.

Schumer further called the wall a “medieval solution for a modern problem — a Game of Thrones idea for a world that is a lot closer to Star Wars.”

He added that they were not

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A September 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

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

PH gov’t assistance reaches US Virgin Islands, embassy prepares for Aguilla deployment WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Government Response Team, composed of personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Overseas Labor and Welfare Office (POLO-OWWA) in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 14

landed on St.. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), with the emergency supplies for distribution to the Filipinos stranded on St. Thomas, USVI’s busiest and central island.

Minister Patrick Chuasoto, Charge d’Affaires of the Philip-

pine Embassy, reported to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano that the team was barred from traveling to St. Thomas by the authorities due to the peace and order situation there. The team endorsed the supplies to the Filipino community leaders on St. Croix who will arrange their delivery to the Filipino coordinator on St. Thomas.

It was also reported to Secretary Cayetano that a two-member response team will be deployed to Anguilla tomorrow, 15 September, to render assistance to the estimated 72 kababayans there. The team will bring emergency supplies and facilitate the repatriation of nine (9) Filipino nationals who requested to be evacuated from British-administered Anguilla.

Meanwhile, two (2) Embassy personnel was dispatched to augment the response team on the British Virgin Islands (BVI), where 103 individuals are prePhilippine Government Response Team endorses emergency supplies to Filipino community paring to be repatriated. leaders on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI) who will arrange for their delivery to Filipinos DFA Undersecretary for Mion St. Thomas, USVI. grant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola is in Washington, D.C. to oversee the Philippine Government’s post-Irma response, which currently covers the BVI, USVI, Anguilla, and Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten.

Those who want to share or find information about the condition of their family members and friends in the abovementioned places may reach the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. through the following contact information: • Emergency hotline: +1 (202) 368 2767 • Email addresses: consular@ phembassy-us.org / atn@phembassy-us.org • Facebook: www.facebook.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola meets with the Crisis Management Team at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Philippine com/philippinesusa Government’s post-Irma response in the Caribbean. • Twitter: @philippinesusa n

Ombudsman upholds Aquino...

PAGE A1 t

public is certainly possessed with broad discretionary powers, the exercise thereof must not, however, be done in violation of a law or laws, much less when such constitutes a crime,� the resolution read.

Aquino was indicted of violating the Section 3(a) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act (RA) No. 3019, and of usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code over his alleged role in the tragic operation dubbed as “Oplan Exodus� on January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Mindanao, where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) were slain in an ambush.

Section 3(a) of RA 3019 states that it is unlawful for any public officer to persuade, induce or influence another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent authority.

Usurpation of authority, on the other hand, is committed when a person falsely represents himself as a government official or performs any act pertaining to any

person in authority without being lawfully entitled to do so.

In his appeal, Aquino lamented that he was not given the opportunity “to adequately address and refute the charges‌ prior to the issuance of the Assailed Resolution.â€?

He further noted that the Assailed Resolution was “not only premised on highly inaccurate and flawed facts, but the legal conclusions drawn from these facts were patently erroneous and bereft of any merit.�

The Ombudsman, however, asserted that the former president was “accorded the opportunity to be heard during the conduct of (the) preliminary investigation.�

The indictment against Aquino’s co-accused—former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima and former PNPSAF head Getulio NapeĂąas—was also sustained. “President Aquino himself has repeatedly admitted and asserted in his counter-affidavit and in the instant motion that he utilized the services of Purisima for Oplan Exodus, albeit he is insisting that it was only for a limited role of a

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resource person,â&#x20AC;? the Ombudsman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To this Office, however, the evidence on record regarding the extent of Purisimaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actual participation in Oplan Exodusâ&#x20AC;Ś shows that he was certainly much more than being a resource person,â&#x20AC;? the Ombudsman added.

Oplan Exodus sought to neutralize terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, more known as Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman in the southern Philippines where various separatist rebel groups are based.

SAF troopers successfully killed Marwan during the raid but were ambushed by insurgent groups, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;leading to the death of 44 elite soldiers.

But the complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against Aquino, which were filed by SAF 44 familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lawyers from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), were junked again due to â&#x20AC;&#x153;lack of probable cause.â&#x20AC;?

Morales previously said that Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s negligence cannot be

RELIEF OPERATION. Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Lakia Matthews, from Johnson City, N.Y., assists a resident at a Federal Emergency Management Agency distribution center. The Department of Defense is supporting FEMA, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Irma to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Ruiz

California urged to ban cell phone use in crosswalks REDWOOD CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Distracted walking because of cell phone use must be banned from crosswalks, the San Mateo Board of Supervisors urged state legislators.

The board unanimously passed resolution urging state lawmakers to make the ban was introduced by Supervisor David J. Canepa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone loves their smartphones but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they can be downright dangerous. The state rightly banned texting and driving and now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to protect pedestrians,â&#x20AC;?

Canepa said.

Canepa is optimistic the state Legislature will pursue a law to ban the use of electronic devices in crosswalks, similar to treated as the proximate cause of the deaths of the troopers. The proximate cause, she noted, was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;intentional act of shooting by hostile forces that included members of the MILF, BIFF,and PAGs (Private Armed Groups).â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition to the absence of probable cause, counselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theory that 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide lie against respondents is clearly bereft of merit,â&#x20AC;? the resolution said.

Following the Ombudsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision, Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesperson Abi Valte said the former president will meet with his legal team â&#x20AC;&#x153;to determine his next course of action regarding this case.â&#x20AC;?

VACC chairman Dante Jimenez, meanwhile, lamented the Ombudsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;unfairâ&#x20AC;? resolution on the Mamasapano case. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Talagang halatang-halata na hindi nila isinama ang homicide sa kaso (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so obvious that the homicide charge was not included in the case),â&#x20AC;? Jimenez said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so unfair, I will ask now the family, they want the Ombudsman to be removed, so we are looking at that option. We will ask the SAFF 44 if they want to join,â&#x20AC;? he added. n

a law recently passed in Honolulu, Hawaii.

It is â&#x20AC;&#x153;just as important to walk cell free as it is to drive cell free,â&#x20AC;? because â&#x20AC;&#x153;pedestrians and drivers using cell phones are both impaired and too mentally distracted to fully focus on their surroundings,â&#x20AC;? according to the National Safety Council. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m confident lives will be saved with this effort,â&#x20AC;? Canepa said.

While traffic safety can often be a local concern that might be addressed on a street-by-street basis, the California Legislature has generally indicated that issues of traffic safety should be regulated statewide.

Supervisor Canepa joined Stanley Roberts of â&#x20AC;&#x153;People Be-

having Badlyâ&#x20AC;? to highlight the problem of distracted walking in Broadmoor Village on the first day of school for Jefferson Elementary School District students Wednesday, Aug. 23.

View the video here.

The California Office of Traffic Safety proclaims September â&#x20AC;&#x153;California Pedestrian Safety Month.â&#x20AC;? It began last year in response to the rising number of pedestrians being killed and injured on California roadways.

September draws attention to the 892 pedestrians who were killed on California roadways in 2016 alone, accounting for over 24 percent of all roadways deaths in the state, up from 17 percent 10 years ago. (Inquirer. net)

LA formally announced as host...

PAGE A3 t ist to intervene and stop them entirely.â&#x20AC;?

Addressing concerns over potential costs to preparing the city for the games, Garcetti assured that the infrastructure and transportation projects lined up â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the new Purple Line extension that will stretch to the Westside â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were not dependent on the bid, adding that the city is â&#x20AC;&#x153;modeling the Olympics around the city and not modeling the city around the Olympics.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can look people in the eye and say this is a much stronger deal financially,â&#x20AC;? Garcetti said in July when the deal was reached. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want something for the people of LA now. I want the excitement to build.â&#x20AC;?

LA officials originally campaigned to host the 2024 Olympics, but a strong case was built for Paris; the last time Paris hosted the games was in 1924, making the 2024 Games in Paris appealing for a centennial celebration.

In early July, the IOC made an

unusual move when it awarded both Paris and LA the 2024 and 2028 Games and allowed the two cities to negotiate a deal with the help of IOC officials.

Going for the 2028 games offers a host of benefits for LA, including not having to pay tens of millions in IOC fees. Moreover, as previously reported in the Asian Journal, Garcetti assured that the Olympics will provide the city with benefits, including a $180 million advanced contribution that will go towards public youth sports programs.

The LA Olympic committee will also receive a larger portion of IOC revenues and will not have to forfeit the standard 20 percent of its surplus back to the IOC if the games run under budget, leaving the city with a considerable surplus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, LA 2028 is taking the final step in our bid, and preparing to begin our 11-year journey as an Olympic host city,â&#x20AC;?

Garcetti said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am thrilled to begin the next chapter of this process.â&#x20AC;? (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017

A

Callamard: Kian slay a turning point in Duterte’s drug war

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

THE killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos was a new turning point for President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called war on drugs, United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard said.

Callamard said that all evidence — the position of the body, bullets in the back, in the neck, shot at point blank range, witnesses and cameras — point to the involvement of the police.

“We must investigate not only Kian’s case, but all the murders.

All this demonstrates the importance of the independent investigation,” Callamard said in an interview with French newspaper Libération.

The UN rapporteur noted that the first turning point in the administration’s anti-illegal drugs

campaign would be the kidnapping and slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo. Jee was murdered inside the headquarters of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame, which sparked outrage in civil society and prompted the police to revamp its war on drugs after a brief suspension.

“Law offices have seized individual cases, have asked that families be protected. All this took place in a climate of fear, direct threats, physical or virtual, with trolls very present and aggressive,” Callamard said.

“I have experienced it: the Web is formidable,” she added.

Callamard warned that the “full powers” that Duterte granted to the police destroy the rule of law and place the Philippines in “great danger.”

She stressed that reactions from non-governmental organi-

zations, media, courts and lawyers are fundamental as it helps maintain confidence.

“I am not accustomed to depicting reality in black, but the impact of this war is felt at all levels, internationally and nationally. The whole political system is poisoned by this climate of fear and at the level of the communities, it is simply the horror with families destroyed forever,” Callamard said.

Callamard was supposed to conduct an investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country.

Duterte, however, demanded to hold a public debate with Callamard, which is not the appropriate forum to discuss such matters.

“It is out of the question that I enter this communication policy.

I do not want to be exploited by Mr. Duterte,” she said. n

VILLANUEVA TAKES OATH AS SET MEMBER. Senator Joel Villanueva takes his oath as member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal before Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday, Sept. 14 in Manila.

Senate photo

Wesley So finally defeats Jobava, enters quarterfinals in World Chess Cup

by Joey

WESLEY So downed local hero Baadur Jobava in their rapid twogame playoffs to seal a 2.5-1.5 victory and a quarterfinal berth in the FIDE World Chess Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia on Thursday, September 14.

After their standard fourth round play ended up in two quiet draws, So, now the highest seeded player at No. 2 following the early exit of top seed and reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen, this time lit up fireworks by winning the first game by displaying superb endgame technique and drawing the second when he could have won it.

The win thus sent So in the Last Eight where he was playing Russian Vladimir Fedoseev, who booted out Israeli Maxim Rodshtein, 3-1.

Fedoseev is ranked 26th here Philstar.com photo with a rating of 2731 against So’s

ViLLar Philstar.com

Wesley So

Filipino veterans of WWII...

PAGE A2 t The bill secured the complete approval from Congress on Nov. 30, 2016, after it was passed by the United States House of Representatives where it received 312 co-sponsors. Pushing for the bill in the House were Gabbard, Rep. Judy Chu (D-California), and former Rep. Mike Honda (D-California).

Gabbard said on the Congress floor prior to the House voting, “These loyal and courageous soldiers suffered, sacrificed, fought, and gave their lives alongside their American counterparts throughout the war.”

“We’ve waited far too long to recognize these heroes who deserve this honor.”

The Senate first made a unanimous vote to approve the bill on July 13, 2016 — sponsors included Hirono, Dean Heller (R-Nevada), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and former Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada).

Upon the success of the Senate’s vote, Minister and Consul Patrick Chuasoto of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washing-

ton, D.C, called it a “significant step forward in the long battle for due recognition of our veterans who courageously fought side by side with the Americans in the defense of freedom and democracy.”

Among other ethnic military groups that have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal are the Tuskegee airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers, and the Women Air Service Pilots among others, according to Cecilia Gaerlan, founder and executive director of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society, as previously stated by the Asian Journal.

Taking part in the October 25 bipartisan and bicameral ceremony are House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California). The ceremony will take place in the Emancipation Hall in Washington D.C. at 11:00 a.m. EST and will be live streamed on speaker. gov/live. n

No deal yet for DREAMers...

PAGE A3 t

opposed to border security, but called for “sensible” border security through modern solutions. Examples he gave were drones, great sensory equipment, and the rebuilding of roads along the border. A bipartisan McCaul-Thompson bill was also mentioned.

“Every one of these ideas would provide better, more effective border security, than a medieval wall.”

Upon arriving in Hurricane Irma-stricken Fort Myers, Florida, Trump responded to reporters’ questions on the wall and DACA, saying that in order to move forward with a deal, an agreement on the wall’s funding would have to be made.

“We have to have an understanding that the wall will be funded,” said Trump. “Otherwise we’re not doing any deal.”

“If we don’t have the wall, we’re doing nothing.”

When asked again about DACA, Trump said he was not looking at citizenship or amnesty, but was “looking at allowing people to stay here.”

Immigration priorities in seven to 10 days White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders echoed Trump’s stance on the issues in a press briefing on Friday, September 15 and said that they would lay out “specific priorities and principles” over the next seven to 10 days.

She confirmed that no deal was made but that Trump was “focused on making sure that in the efforts of these ongoing conversations between both Democrats and Republicans that we deliver on responsible immigration re-

form.”

She further confirmed that “massive border security” and “interior enforcements” would need to be included in the potential DACA agreement.

“The president continues to push for those things,” said Sanders. “He is still 100 percent committed to the wall, and we’re going to be laying out what our specific priorities and principles are in that front over the next seven to 10 days.”

When asked about Trump’s comment on amnesty, Sanders suggested that permanent residency would not be included if Trump was to sign a bill that kept DACA grantees in the U.S. “The whole definition says deferred, so that takes away the idea of the permanent piece, when the idea of DACA, the definition of it, is it’s deferred action, meaning it’s not a permanent process,” said Sanders in a press briefing.

Sanders did hint to what would be focused on within the next coming days and said, “Some of the things that we would probably like to see, end to sanctuary cities, expedited removal, more immigration judges, supporting things like the RAISE Act.” As for Trump, the president posted a number of tweets on Friday covering events like the recent London bomb attack that left 22 injured, and his current issue with ESPN. In regards to immigration, he tweeted, “CHAIN MIGRATION cannot be allowed to be part of any legislation on Immigration.” The term typically refers to when U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents sponsor close family members to come to the U.S. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

2810. But the former should be a tough player to handle after being sending No. 7 Hikaru Nakamura — So’s United States Olympiad teammate — home with a 1.5-.5 win in their third round showdown a few days back.

In the first one, So reverted to his old opening repertoire by employing the King’s Indian attack, sacrificed a pawn to seize an initiative and create a strong

counter play. This resulted in the Cavite-born, Minnetonka, Minnesota native winning a piece and eventually securing the victory.

Playing black the next game, So gave Jobava a dose of his own medicine by employing the same Petroff Degense — known among top-class Grandmasters as a defense to get draws — the latter utilized in the first game of their standard duel that likewise

wound up in a standoff to seal the match win.

In the same game, So won the exchange but decided to gain material and space advantages.

He also opted to play it safe, allowing Jobava, who caught two big fishes in No. 15 Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and No. 18 Yu Yangyi of China, to force a draw via perpetual check.

The other quarters pairings pit No. 8 Maxime Vachier-La-

grave of France and No. 16 Peter Svidler of Russia, No. 5 Levon Aronian of Armenia and No 29 Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and No. 11 Ding Liren and No. 51 Richard Rapport of Hungary.

So is eyeing not just the top purse worth US$120,000 but also one of the two slots in the Candidates Match where he will get a chance to book a world title match with Carlsen. n

A September 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

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Filipinos among world’s top volunteers Sen. Bernie Sanders, Senate Dems introduce ‘Medicare for All’ bill

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

Filipinos are among the top 10 nationalities worldwide who volunteer for charity work, according to a new report published by United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

The philippines ranked 7th out of 139 countries with the highest number of people volunteering their time based on the CAF World Giving index 2017. The report said 25 million Filipinos volunteered in 2016. india ranked first, followed by the U.s., indonesia, China, Brazil, nigeria, philippines, Japan, Myanmar and France. “of the top 10, only the Us, the philippines and Myanmar record fewer people volunteering in 2016 than in the previous year, with the remaining seven having seen increases,” the report said.

The index, published annually since 2010, is based on a survey of more than 146,000 people in 139 countries. it measures numbers giving cash, participating in volunteering, and helping a stranger.

The proposed bill proposes to transform American health care into a ‘simplified’ universal health care system

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

The Philippines ranked 7th out of 139 countries with the highest number of people volunteering their time based on the CAF World Giving Index 2017. The report said 25 million Filipinos volunteered in 2016.

Philstar.com photo

Meanwhile, the philippines placed 54th in the list of most generous nations in the world.

Myanmar was in the top spot, a position it has held for four years, the CAF said. it is followed by indonesia, Kenya, new Zealand, Us (second in 2016) and Australia sixth (previously third), Canada, ireland, United Arab Emirates, the netherlands, United Kingdom, sierra leone, Malta, liberia, iceland, Thailand, iran, Zambia,

Germany and norway.

CAF is a leading international charity registered in the United Kingdom. its mission is to motivate society to give ever more effectively and help transform lives and communities around the world.

The CAF said there has been a global decrease in giving since the last report. The proportion of people across the world who reported donating money in 2016 is the lowest for three years. n

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in an effort to move the country toward a universal single-payer health care system, Wednesday, september 13, senate Democrats introduced a new ‘Medicare for All’ bill that would transform into a universal health insurance program.

Authored by sen. Bernie sanders (i-VT), the Medicare for All Act of 2017, would be revolutionary and would replace the current healthcare system with one completely run by the federal government.

“Today we begin the long and difficult struggle to end the international disgrace of the United states, our great nation, being the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all,” sanders declared on Wednesday at a rally where he introduced the bill.

The bill would surpass the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) in its list of covered services including emergency surgery, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, dental, vision among many others. people would no longer have to pay monthly premiums or out-ofpocket expenses like copayments. private insurers would still be around and primarily be dedicated to elective treatments like cosmetic surgery.

Currently, Medicare is primarily for American seniors aged 65 and older, younger people with certain disabilities and people with Endstage Renal Disease. per sanders’ bill, Americans who are currently ineligible for Medicare would be phased into the program within four years. Moreover, Americans under the age of 18 would also immediately receive “universal Medicare cards.”

Health care provided by employers would also be replaced, which would guarantee coverage for all employees, but employers would be left to pay higher taxes.

“This is where the country has got to go,” sanders said in an interview with the Washington post. “Right now, if we want to move away from a dysfunctional, wasteful, bureaucratic system into a rational health-care system that guarantees coverage to everyone in a cost-effective way, the only way to do it is Medicare for All.” The Republican-majority Congress is unlikely to pass the bill, but the bill has garnered the support of at least 16 senate Democrats (a third of all senate Democrats), a record number of co-sponsors for a Medicare expansion bill.

Though the bill’s proposals would be costly, it has been embraced by liberals who are looking to unite the Democratic party and use health care reform as a unifying issue. some of the bill’s co-sponsors include high-value senators who have been scouted as likely 2020 presidential candidates including sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-nY). sanders’ plan is a strong effort in the movement to guarantee health care for all Americans, but it isn’t going without a criticism from conservatives. in a two-part tweet, president Donald Trump on Thursday, september 14, “Bernie sanders is pushing hard for a single payer healthcare plan - a curse on the U.s. & its people......i told Republicans to approve healthcare fast or this would happen. But don’t worry, i will veto because i love our country & its people.”

White House spokeswoman sarah Huckabee sanders also denounced the proposal, calling it

“a horrible idea” during a White House press briefing. “i can’t think of anything worse than having government being more involved in your health care instead of less involved,” she said.

Congressional Republicans, who have spent the better half of 2017 trying to repeal and replace the ACA, denounced the proposal on the basis of the financial strain it would put on taxpayers.

“Bernie sanders’s home state had … a similar plan,” sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said, referencing sanders’ failed plan in 2014 to bring universal health care to Vermont. “They realized they would have to double the taxes collected on the people of that state to pay for it because it was so financially expensive.”

However, sanders emphasized the bill’s simplicity, implying that Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes if it meant undergoing a far less convoluted process with health insurers. The current proposal doesn’t detail the tax increase, but it would be introduced in a separate bill, he said. in 2016, he introduced a version of a ‘Medicare for All’ bill that was estimated to cost a whopping $1.4 trillion annually.

He acknowledged the high rise in taxes his proposal would bring, but cited other industrialized countries, like Canada, that have successfully guaranteed health insurance for all through higher taxes. “i think the American people are sick and tired of filling out forms,” sanders said. “Your income went up — you can’t get this. Your income went down — you can’t get that. You’ve got to argue with insurance companies about what you thought you were getting. Doctors are spending an enormous amount of time arguing with insurers.” n

Sacramento pilot convicted of traveling to PH to rape kids sACRAMEnTo — A local resident who worked as a pilot was convicted september 5 in U.s. District Court here of traveling to the philippines to engage in sex with minors and to buy children for sex and pornography.

Michael Carey Clemans, 57, also pleaded guilty on three additional charges of conspiracy to produce child pornography and making and receiving child pornography.

Evidence showed that Clemans conspired with a woman in the philippines to make child pornography while he was living in Bangkok, Thailand and working as an airline pilot.

Clemans returned to his sacramento residence in April 2015 and maintained online contact with the Filipino woman. Clem-

ans hatched strategies to acquire female children that he could rape.

Clemans told the Filipino woman to look for orphans, victims of typhoons and other vulnerable children and gave her $6,000 to buy photographic equipment and find private places to take sexually explicit photos of the children who were as young as seven.

He also instructed the Filipina how to photograph the naked children so he could choose which ones he would come to the philippines to rape, especially very young virgins.

Clemans also traveled from the United states to Manila in november 2013, to have sex with minors, including an 11year-old girl. He often paid a co-conspirator to obtain tempo-

Michael Carey Clemans

rary custody of Filipino children to make child pornography for him. sentencing by U.s. District Judge John A. Mendez is set for December 12, 2017. Clemans is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison for the “buying children” charge, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. (Inquirer.net)

Gov. Brown signs bill to help psychologists prevent suicide sACRAMEnTo – on Friday, september 1, day one of national suicide prevention Awareness Month, Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 89 (levine), which was co-sponsored by the California Board of psychology.

The bill takes effect January 1, 2020, and requires all licensed psychologists to receive education and training in suicide risk assessment and intervention. psychologists will need to complete a one-time, minimum of six hours of coursework or supervised applied experience.

in its sponsorship letter supporting the bill, the board stated, “suicide is a critical public health issue in the state of California, where on average, one person dies of suicide every two hours and twice as many people die of suicide than by homicide.”

The board also cited statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention that suicide is the third leading cause of death for Californians ages 15 to 34, and the tenth leading cause of death for Californians of all ages.

With the passage of this bill, all

psychologists will be exposed to a baseline of basic education and training regarding the identification and assistance required for a patient or client with suicidal ideation. Although psychologists are among the best trained clinicians in addressing suicidality, the board wants to ensure that all psychologists have received a minimum of basic training.

To find a licensed psychologist in your area or to check the license of your current psychologist, visit the website of the California state Board of psychology psychology.ca.gov. n

GOODBYE, KULOT. The white coffin of the remains said to be that of 14-year-old Reynaldo ‘Kulot’ de Guzman is interred in the Pasig Public Cemetery. De Guzman was said to be the last person seen with Carl Angelo Arnaiz, the 19-year-old former student of the University of the Philippines killed by Caloocan police in an alleged shootout on August 18.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

$7-B Mega Manila Subway to Marcos camp hits Robredo for ‘fake news’ on poll protest begin construction next year ence of marked ballots indicated vote-buying.

ManilaTimes.net “With these admissions, protThe camp of former senator estant Marcos has abandoned Ferdinand “Bongbong” Mar- his allegations of terrorism, cos Jr. on Thursday, September violence, force, threats and in14, dismissed as “fake news” timidation in his second cause the claim by the camp of Vice of action for the judicial recount President Maria Leonor “Leni” and revision of ballots,” Robredo Robredo that he has abandoned said in her September 14 manihis election protest by foregoing of witnesses to prove fraud in the May 2016 elections.

“Leni (Robredo) and her legal team are the epitome of fake news. We have not abandoned [the protest]and we are not abandoning anything,” Marcos spokesman Vic Rodriguez said in an interview.

Robredo made the argument on Thursday in a manifestation filed before the Supreme Court sitting as Presidential electoral Tribunal (PeT), following the tribunal’s August 29 ruling that dismissed Marcos’ bid to invalidate the 2016 poll results and deferred action on Marcos’ motion for the annulment of election results in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan because of the absence of witnesses.

Robredo cited Marcos’ September 5 manifestation, which stated that “Protestant Marcos will no longer present any testimonial evidence to prove the material allegations in so far as 36,465 protested clustered precincts which functioned in the areas of Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Bohol, Quezon, Batangas, Western Samar, Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, Second District of Northern Samar, Palawan, Albay, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Pangasinan, Isabela, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Zamboanga City are concerned.”

Marcos’ September 5 manifestation also stated that “the massive presence of vote buying during the last elections may be proven by other means aside from testimonial evidence such as the presence of marked ballots.” he defined marked ballots as those that contained unnecessary marks or writings, deliberately or purposely placed on the ballots by voters for future identification. Marcos claimed the presby JefferSon

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

The National economic and Development Authority (NeDA) on Tuesday, September 12, has approved the implementation of Mega Manila Subway Project (MMSP) — the Philippines’ first subway and the soon-to-be longest mass railway transit.

The estimated $7-billion (P358.25-billion) subway will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to FTI complex in Taguig City. With the new transportation, the trip from Quezon City to Taguig can be reduced to half an hour from two hours.

It will also have an additional line extending towards the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals in Pasay City, as NeDA approved the recommendation of the Investment Coordination Cabinet Committee (ICC-Cabcom).

The project will be funded by an official development assistance (loan) the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The loan will have an interest of 0.10% per annum payable in 40 years, with a grace period of 12 years.

Its construction is scheduled to begin next year, with partial operations slated in 2022 and and full operations by 2025. It is expected to accommodate a daily 350,000 passengers, according

In a statement issued by his office on Wednesday, Sept. 13, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the first phase of MMSP would not only ease congestion in the metro, but would also cut the P2.4 billion worth of economic loss that the country experiences due to daily traffic.

Inquirer.net photo

to the government.

“The approval and eventual completion of these projects will pave the way for us to achieve our mid-term and long-term goals as a country and a nation,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia said that the project will boost mass transport and ease the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

“The MMSP’s first phase will significantly improve Metro Manila’s transportation system, air quality, and productivity, thereby reducing the 2.4 billion economic loss the country incurs daily due to heavy traffic,” he added.

The Mega Manila Subway is part of the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s 8.2 trillion “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

Apart from the MMPS, NeDA also approved this week four new “flagship” projects.

These include the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project; BinondoIntramuros and estrella-Pantaleon Bridges Construction Project; Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project; and Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility of the Department of Finance (DOF).

u PAGE A10

Lorenzana: Nationwide martial law ‘very remote’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhILIPPiNe Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday, September 15 said that President Rodrigo Duterte is unlikely to declare a nationwide martial law in response to possible violent demonstrations by leftists across the country.

Last week, Duterte threatened that he may place the entire country under martial law if communist rebels “commit the mistake of staging a rebellion.”

“Do not commit the mistake of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana staging a rebellion. ‘Yung sabiInquirer.net photo hin mo na there’s a fighting on

the streets. I will not hesitate to impose martial law all throughout the country and order the arrest of everybody,” the president said in a media conference over the weekend.

Leftists demonstrations are expected on Thursday, September 21—the 45th anniversary of the martial law declaration of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

But Lorenzana described the possibility of a nationwide martial law next week as “very remote,” saying that the communist forces in the country have

u PAGE A11

antiporDa

festation.

Romulo Macalintal, counsel for Robredo, said Marcos’ admissions only proved that the former senator’s protest was fraudulent.

“Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was clearly lying about his claims in his protest and was simply fish-

u PAGE A9

A september 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

P1,000 for the CHR

THE funding will still have to undergo bicameral deliberations, and senators have vowed to restore to a reasonable level the 2018 appropriation for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). So the allotment of just P1,000 for the CHR by the House of Representatives can be seen as a mere expression of congressional pique.

This, however, does not make the move any less dismaying. The house leadership said the chamber would approve a normal budget for the ChR only if its chairman, Chito Gascon, would resign. Not surprisingly, Gascon refused.

This is just the latest development reinforcing perceptions that the house is a mere rubberstamp of Malacañang. The drastic budget cut, from the P1.7 billion sought by the ChR for 2018, came on the heels of President Duterte’s recent declaration that “when the time comes, the ChR (is) better abolished.” The house had given the same appropriation to two other agencies that congressmen want abolished: the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Commission on indigenous Peoples.

A budget of P1,000 could indeed shut down the ChR, unless it is allowed to secure funding from outside sources. All is not lost, however, for the commission that has been consistently critical of the conduct of the war on illegal drugs. The senate has

its own version of the proposed General Appropriations Act, which allocates P678 million to the ChR. The amount is lower than this year’s P749.3 million appropriation, but it is still significantly higher than the token P1,000 under the house version. senators have warned of a possible deadlock if congressmen insist on the P1,000 funding. Critics have also warned that abolishing the ChR would give the international Criminal Court reason to act on a complaint filed against President Duterte for crimes against humanity in connection with the bloody war on drugs. The iCC can step in only if a state is unable or unwilling to stop the systematic violation of human rights, when legal avenues for addressing rights violations in a country have failed.

What the ChR needs is strengthening rather than abolition. Malacañang and its rubberstamp have sent their message to the ChR. Reason can prevail when the budget proposal undergoes bicameral deliberations. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Did Trump reverse course? New hope for DREAMers

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS PREsiDENT DONALD TRUMP is predictably unpredictable, and his recent move may come as a pleasant surprise to his political detractors as much it has been a shock to his loyal conservative base.

First, he reached an agreement with Democratic leaders in Congress to raise the debt ceiling in order to avert another government crippling shutdown.

As the New York Times (NYT) reported, this deal will finance the government until mid-December, blindsiding his own

Republican allies as he reached across the aisle to resolve a major dispute for the first time since taking office.

And then an even bigger surprise one day after Trump hosted senator Chuck schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi for dinner at the White house. As the NYT reported, the president said he could support legislation to protect the young immigrants known as “DREAMers” from deportation if it were accompanied by a “massive” border security upgrade. Giving in to a key Democratic demand, Trump said such a package did not need to have the funding for a border wall. speaking to reporters, the president seemed upbeat when

he announced, “We’re working on a plan for DACA,” referring to protections for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that he just rescinded and has asked Congress to come up with a bill to protect these DREAMers. he added, “The wall will come later.”

The president said this is not amnesty. “People want to see that happen. You have 800,000 young people brought here - no fault of their own. so we are working on a plan. We’ll see how it works out, but we are going to get massive border security as part of that.”

This angered his conservative base who supported him in the election because of his campaign promise to end DACA and

deport undocumented immigrants, including the “DREAMErs” — young people brought into the country illegally as kids without fault of their own.

There are Republicans in Congress, however, who see this as part of Trump’s “art of the deal” to reach across the aisle and score victory in his legislative agenda, which include not only border security, but the tax code, health care, infrastructure, among others.

“We’re not going to bring a solution to the floor that does not have the support of President Trump,” speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was quoted in the NYT report.

“But if Mr. Trump does support an immigration package

that includes “security and enforcement,” he said, so will “a majority of our members, because our members support President Trump.”

But the speaker made it clear, “The president understands he has to work with the congressional majorities to get any kind of legislative solution,” Ryan said.

This development has been welcomed as good news among Philippine officials and Filipinos in America. in a report on The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America”, Consul General henry Bensurto along with FilAm political and legal groups at a DACA forum last Wednesday, sept. 13, all hope that plan comes to fruition. More than

5,000 undocumented Filipino DREAMers will benefit from this deal.

“Always have hope because for as long as you have hope, things will change for the better,” Bensurto said.

ALL FiLiPiNO AMERiCANs — regardless of political affiliation — should let their voices be heard.

Call your senators and representatives. Call the White house. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column 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

Have the courts been displaced Daring greatly to have Fil-Am representation in the state Assembly by the Senate and social media?

Rhizomes

PRoSy abaRquezDelacRuz, J.D. “When we treat people as objects, we dehumanize them. We do something terrible to their souls and to our own. Martin Buber, an Austrian-born philosopher, wrote about the differences between an I-it relationship and an I-you relationship. An I-it relationship is basically what we create when we are in transactions with people whom we treat like objects – people who are simply there to serve us or complete a task. I-you relationships are characterized by human connection and empathy. Buber wrote, “When two people relate to each other authentically and humanly, God is the electricity that surges between them. After spending a decade studying belonging, authenticity and shame, I can say for certain that we are hardwired for connection – emotionally, physically and spiritually.” – Brene Brown, Ph.D., LMSW., “Daring Greatly,” 2012 WhEN i met then-California state Assembly speaker Antonio Villaraigosa decades ago, he was making a bid to become the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles. his handler called me at work and asked if i could endorse him. i said no. his handler was puzzled — why not? i had a specific experience to share: he went to the memorial for Joseph santos ileto and he basically showed up for a hot minute and then left. he was accused

of disrespecting the community

by Joseph’s brother, ishmael. i relayed that example to his handler. his handler asked me to convene a house meeting and Antonio would show up. i asked — “When?” he said, “tomorrow,” like “tomorrow in 24 hours,” i asked? he confirmed that he would show up in 24 hours. i told the handler that i was a working mother and wife and would have no time to put together dinner for folks. he said Antonio would eat whatever folks would have for that night. he did. he showed up.

We all had Chinese takeout food.

We asked him what he stood for. We were prepared. After all, we had just done a community planning strategy meeting where two dozen of the who’s who in the community showed up. i asked them basically one question – “if funds were not an issue and you had unlimited resources, what programs would you like to see in our community done?”

We had a bunch of post-its in yellows and the philosophers, community organizers and professional social workers categorized our community’s agenda into four pillars of community building: leadership development, curriculum reform, civil rights and discrimination prevention, and building non-profits.

When he sat down with us, we were synergized, all 24 of us, that we gave him the four pillars of community building, including the sub-components plus the rationale for each pillar. i felt we came out so solid and so strong, that Antonio at the end of the evening relayed back to us what he heard. We became part of his campaign volunteers: doorknocking and phone-banking.

The end-result – he won and became the Mayor of Los Angeles.

Fast forward to sept. 14, 2017, 19 days before the special election on October 3 for the state Assembly’s 51 District, and we are all gathered at a hosted dinner. This time, it is not Chinese takeout — it is hot dinner of four entrees and desserts. Times have changed for our community. in this circle of 20, more than a quarter are medium to large businesses and the rest are community members.

We are listening to Alex de Ocampo who just did a candidates’ forum in El sereno. he looked energized. Around the table are registered voters from both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. i was impressed by how candid and accessible Alex was that evening. he answered all our questions as to electoral tactics in reaching the community, but mostly he knew the community by heart. he knew where the clusters are. he knew that we have a chance, a very rare chance to have an assemblymember elected coming from the 51st Assembly District in southern California. he believed in himself and his community.

But more than anything, he knows how he was supported by a hardworking mother who worked 80 hours a week to support a family who shared housing, all 11 to 12 of them in a small apartment. Can you imagine sharing the restroom with 11 or 12 folks, rushing to get ready in the morning? Can you imagine how breakfast must have been with pan de sal and surplus cheese from the UsDA? he believed he is here now but only because his

Street Talk GReG b. Macabenta

WhENEVER a major corruption scandal or a heinous crime exploded in the public sphere, oldtimers like myself followed the developments in the courts of law, as reported by the newspapers. While the wheels of justice moved excruciatingly slowly, they did manage to move. Eventually, decisions would be reached, appealed to higher courts, and finally decided on by the supreme Court. Whether or not real justice was meted out depended on the perspective of the protagonists.

But some kind of resolution was arrived at for each major scandal or crime.

Those were the years when the Philippines Free Press, with columnists like Teodoro M. Locsin and Leon O. Ty, commented sagely on the burning issues of the day. Of course, those burning issues, such as the gold-plated arinola (bedpan) and the expensive bed of the Malacanang resident, would be equivalent to a lighted matchstick, compared to the multi-billion peso conflagrations of today. But the citizens were appropriately horrified or scandalized back then, and the culprits became pariahs in the eyes of the public.

When senate President Jose Avelino made the classic quotable, “What are we in power for?” his words literally hounded him to the end of his days and u PAGE A9 well past his demise. And when

President Ramon Magsaysay declared that that “those who had less in life would have more in law,” people believed him – as he himself believed in his dictum, no matter that it seemed questionable in the context of “equal justice for all.”

What about the present?

These days, a major corruption scandal or a heinous crime is “tried” in the senate by some committee or other, chaired by the incarnation of three monkeys who see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil. Of course, such inquiries are also sometimes chaired by the incarnation of the boy who cried wolf and his associate, sheer-luck holmes, mistaking suspicion and hunches for facts and circumstantial evidence.

These senate “trials” have also not been known to result in a resolution, such as those arrived at by the courts of law — not even remedial legislation. instead, they have been replaced by a new set of scandals or heinous crimes, for the entertainment of a curious and confused public. it may be a small comfort (or consuelo de bobo) that the current senate “trials” involve truly massive scandals and truly horrific crimes. The 6.4 million peso smuggling caper, involving drugs, does qualify as historic, and the killing of teenagers by the police on mere suspicion, does deserve a place in the annals of heinous crimes. in recent years, the senate has been known to conduct “serious” inquiries on sex videos featuring popular personalities.

And only a few months ago, the house of Representatives conducted a hearing at which the

sexual activities of a lady senator were the prime focus. The questions asked by the lascivious congressmen had nothing to do with the allegations of criminal conduct of which the lady senator was accused.

There appears to be no sense of shame — or at least embarrassment — among the members of the legislature for their dishonorable actuations. it can only be hoped that their descendants will at least suffer the shame and embarrassment that should have caused these legislators to commit hara kiri (if they were Japanese).

But then, what can we expect from an officialdom that flaunts immorality and rationalizes killings based on mere suspicion?

The President of the Philippines and the speaker of the house of Representatives have shamelessly admitted — nay, even boasted about — having mistresses and multiple wives and girlfriends. The President has also publicly offered protection for police officers accused of cold-bloodedly killing suspects already in custody. And the quotable quotes of the day no longer resonate with nobility (“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”) but are laced with vulgarity and drip with gutter language.

Against this environment, the monumental scandals and crimes are no longer argued in the courts of law but in social media, aside from the parodies pretending to be senate inquiries.

And what about the courts? it appears that even the magistrates in the Court of Appeals

u PAGE A10

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OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017

A

Daring greatly to have Fil-Am representation...

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family got the community support who gave them rations and “take home food” while they were growing up.

Alex walked us through their hardships and the crowd listening to him was moved to tears. I too was in tears. I remember the days when seven of our family members shared a two-bedroom apartment and only one bathroom.

Yet, here is Alex sharing his story, unfazed, appreciating the value of his childhood, even his journey and how he started as a janitor and worked his way to being an assistant to the managing director of the Saban Family Foundation and overseeing their foundation projects with $400 million budget, which included Children’s Hospital Los Angeles that utilized unionized labor.

It was an impressive rise, from being so poor to now in an enviable position of humbly offering himself to be of service to the community.

He remembers those days of pan de sal and queso as his breakfast and first getting an internship position in the entertainment industry, just as clearly as he does now, hobnobbing with the leaders and members of our community. He told us he could simply stay put but as a foster parent who has been caring for an infant since three days old, he feels compelled that the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have not had any Southern Californian representative elected to the California State Assembly.

When Rob Bonta became the first Filipino American elected in the state Assembly, he was quick to say, “Yes , I am the first, but I will not be the last.” After all, when Rob Bonta assumed office, he was the first Fil-Am in the 165 years of history of the Assembly.

He held out hope for all of us to work hard to elect our very first

Fil-Am assemblymember from Los Angeles.

Here in Los Angeles, founded as a city by 44 pobladores, it is now known that a Filipino was one of the founders of this city, as Los Angeles Almanac described as “A twelfth settler, Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, a 50-year-old Filipino, and his 11-year-old daughter were also slated to settle in the new pueblo.

They set out with the rest of the pobladores in early 1781 on the journey to their new home. While in Baja California, however, they were among those who fell ill to smallpox and remained there for an extended time to recuperate.

When they finally arrived in Alta California (the present-day State of California), it was discovered that Miranda Rodriguez was a skilled gunsmith. He was subsequently reassigned to the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1782 to be an armorer.”

In 236 years of the city of Los Angeles’ existence, we now have to dare greatly, dare to dream that we can elect this meritorious Filipino-American representative to the state Assembly, the seat of power and the source of legislative bills that become state laws that we must live with in as residents of California.

Should we not grab this opportunity for the 51st Assembly District that will hold its special election this October 3?

Should we care that the person we elect is a Filipino American in a district that is populated by 10,000 registered Fil-Am voters?

Imagine that in 236 years of history of Los Angeles City, this is now our rare chance and opportunity to be represented by one of our own, community homegrown and community-supported, Alex De Ocampo?

Should we care that an Angeleno represent us in the state Assembly? Yes, as resources are allocated according to advocacies

done by the representation that we have.

Can we honestly believe that we must continue to be underrepresented historically and geographically as Filipino and Filipino Americans when now, we have a meritorious candidate in Alex De Ocampo? Should we not stop that disparity as citizen voters?

Just as former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa dared to become the first Latino Mayor of Los Angeles, Alex De Ocampo is humbly asking for those of you who can, who live in the 51st Assembly District, which includes Eagle Rock, Silver Lake, Highland Park and Historic Filipinotown, to vote for him to represent the area.

We must dare greatly to come out and vote on October 3, and even before then by using the absentee ballots.

I do not live in the district, so I cannot cast a vote for him, but I sincerely hope that my column can influence some of you to vote early and come out on Oct. 3 to vote.

After all — it is an I-you relationship and he certainly knows us!

Should we not extend ourselves to reach out to friends in this October 3rd election and make sure all the 10,000 registered Filipino voters come out and vote? *** 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.

Marcos camp hits Robredo for ‘fake news’...

PAGE A7 t

ing for evidence,” Macalintal said in a statement.

Forensic exam Marcos’ September 5 manifestation said the substitution of voters could be proven by a technical examination and forensic investigation of the Election Day Computerized Voter’s List (EDCVL), voters registration records (VRR), books of voters and other election documents used in the

elections to determine the identities of the registered voters.

Also, unaccounted votes for the position of vice president can be verified through the judicial and manual recount and revision of the paper ballots, ballot images and voter’s receipts in each of the 36,465 clustered precincts covered by the protest, the Marcos camp said.

Rodriguez said the Marcos camp would present witnesses

from the regional election director down to the provincial election supervisor.

“Even the provincial commander in the areas of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan.

So it’s all lies, tigilan na nila ang panloloko sa tao (they should stop deceiving the people),” Rodriguez said.

He added that Robredo, being a lawyer herself, should be more scrupulous in her statements. n

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Sereno denies hidden wealth, open to lifestyle check

by Edu

Punay and JEss diaz Philstar.com

MANILA — If requested, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will allow herself to undergo a lifestyle check to refute allegations raised against her in an impeachment complaint declared “sufficient in form and substance” by a congressional panel, her spokesman said on Friday, September 15.

In a text message, spokesman Carlo Cruz also stressed the allegations raised against Sereno were not an impeachable offense.

She has no plans of resigning, Cruz added, as she is ready to face the impeachment case against her filed by another lawyer.

“It’s not being considered by the Chief Justice even as an option at this point,” he said, referring to calls for Sereno to resign.

The House committee on justice on Wednesday voted to declare the impeachment case filed by Lorenzo Gadon against the chief magistrate sufficient in form and substance, but rejected another submitted by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

In an interview yesterday, Cruz said the SC chief did not hide her earnings from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III expropriation case in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as alleged in the impeachment case against her.

He stressed that the legal service fee earned by the Supreme Court chief in the arbitration case involving Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) was a

“matter of government record” and “never concealed.”

“She never hid it. The taxes for that earning was paid and during the time that she earned it up to the time she entered the Supreme Court, she has invested in some properties like a rest house,” he explained.

Sereno worked in the legal team led by retired SC justice Florentino Feliciano in the arbitration case involving the NAIA III expropriation.

Records from a case involving the payment of attorney’s fees in the case, which reached the Court of Appeals, showed that Sereno earned at least $336,287.66 or more than P16 million for her legal service.

Non-inclusion of assets in his SALN was the same ground for the historic impeachment of chief justice Renato Corona by congressional allies of the previous Aquino administration.

Cruz argued Sereno need not even declare her Piatco earning in her SALN. “These fees were earned four or five years before she stepped into the Supreme Court. I don’t think it’s reasonable to declare all your earnings prior to becoming a public official,” he stressed.

Cruz said Sereno’s lawyers have documentation of her earnings prior to her stint in the high court and these would be delivered to Congress.

He declined to discuss details of Sereno’s defense before lawmakers.

“We will answer the allegations at the proper time,” he said.

Cruz bared that a legal team

likely headed by Alexander Poblador, founding partner of the Poblador Bautista & Reyes law firm and former lawyer of Sens. Panfilo Lacson and Grace Poe, will defend Sereno in the impeachment proceedings in Congress.

“This is detrimental to the independence of the judiciary upon whom all citizens rely to defend their rights and to check any abuse,” he pointed out.

He reiterated the Chief Justice’s earlier pronouncement that she “has always lived a modest, Godfearing lifestyle” and has not violated any law.

Sereno is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over alleged undisclosed assets in her SALN. She has also been accused of extravagant spending of judicial funds, especially with her purchasing a P5-million Toyota Land Cruiser and traveling first-class in her foreign trips. The Land Cruiser is the transportation of choice of many congressmen, senators and government officials. President Duterte himself is often seen on TV in a bulletproof white Land Cruiser.

The complainants also cited as basis Sereno’s order in 2012 to reopen a regional constitutional administrative office (RCAO) in Cebu without the collegial approval of the Court. The SC later revoked the order.

Colleagues of Sereno in the high tribunal earlier granted the request of the complainants for the release of court documents and records to support their charges against her. n

Mega Manila Subway construction to...

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“The approval and eventual completion of these projects will pave the way for us to achieve our mid-term and long-term goals as a country and a nation,” Pernia added.

The Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involves the upgrading of seven roads and the widening of a 40-km road segment with slope protection.

The P21.19 billion project will be funded through a load from Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), with construction slated to begin late this year and end by 2020.

Also a DPWH project, the Bi-

nondo-Intramuros and EstrellaPantaleon Bridges Construction is set to begin fourth quarter this year and end in the fourth quarter of 2020. Its total cost of P5.97 billion will be financed by grants from the Government of China.

The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge involves the construction of a new 4-lane bridge and viaduct, while the EstrellaPantaleon Bridge involves the replacement of the existing 2lane bridge with a 4-lane bridge and widening of the approach roads.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA)’s Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project involves the development of a 12,650 ha service

area that will benefit 10,372 farmers in 7 municipalities in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.

The project, worth P3.5 billion, will be financed by the national government and will be implemented from January 2018 to December 2021.

The P7.91 billion Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility will also be funded through a loan from ADB. It will directly support the DPWH and Department of Transportation (DOTr) in delivering more effective and innovative infrastructure projects by accelerating the approval process and ensuring the timely, high-quality procurement and implementation of projects. n

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ORCHIDS IN BLOOM. Senator Cynthia A. Villar enjoys touring the Flower Area at the Quezon City Memorial Circle while enjoying the beauty of the country’s very own waling waling and other orchids in bloom during the 71st Midyear Orchid Show. The senator, chair of the Senate committees on agriculture and food and environment, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the event sponsored by the Philippine Orchid Society in cooperation with Quezon City government, Quezon City Memorial Administration with special participation of Villar SIPAG, Del Monte Philippines and other plant society. Aside from the orchids, also on display were bonsai and succelents plants, garden accessories and fertilizers. The event which included a trade fair, landscape exhibits, plant and orchid competitions, and daily lectures, ran until September 16.

Senate photo

Have the courts been displaced by the...

PAGE A8 t

and the Supreme Court have been forced to hold their tongue lest they be threatened with impeachment by a power-mad legislature. Only recently, the Speaker of the House actually threatened to “abolish” the Court of Appeals, because of imagined resistance to the Speaker’s distorted perception of right and wrong.

The distorted perception of right and wrong is also clearly manifested in the exchanges in social media. Self-righteous defenders of one side or other of an issue have no qualms about concocting creative insults in bold and colored types on Facebook.

And they do not do this once or twice but in unrelenting fashion, every day.

Of course, the same can be said about the other side of the social media skirmishes. Truth has very little place in the attacks and counter-attacks. It’s much like listening to the likes of Eddie Murphy and the foul-mouthed stand-up comedians in American improv salons.

But the most alarming aspect of all is how those in the social media gallery cheer on the protagonists while contributing their own clever innuendoes.

Is justice ever served?

In a recent instance, the barrage of social media attacks and lascivious legislative questioning resulted in the arrest and incarceration of a lady senator. One wonders if the courts will eventually have a say in the fate of Sen. Leila de Lima.

Will the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court risk impeachment and look into her case?

Or will she worry that she might suffer the same fate as Chief Justice Renato Corona?

It seems to me that the only recourse that De Lima has is to wait out the term of President Rodrigo Duterte and hope that her political allies wrest back power.

Of course, even if this were to happen, we cannot reasonably expect an improvement in the poisoned environment characterized by a thirst for vengeance (Sen. Gringo Honasan referred to it as the vicious culture of “resbak”, which he vowed to change if he were elected vicepresident, which did not happen).

Cory Aquino sought vengeance against the Marcoses. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had Erap Estrada kept under “hospital arrest” – a fate that she herself suffered when Noynoy Aquino assumed

the presidency. And now, Aquino also faces a similar fate depending on the whim of Duterte.

If an opposition candidate wins the next presidency, perhaps he or she will “make resbak” against Duterte. And on.

And on. And on. In the tradition of lex talionis.

In all of these, we have not heard from the courts. A sword of Damocles continues to hang over the head of the Chief Justice and the magistrates in the Court of Appeals. And the lower courts continue to adjudicate the less sensational, less entertaining cases, in order to earn their pay.

The Senate inquiries will continue for as long as streaming video and live television compete with TV soap operas and noontime shows for viewership. The senators conducting the inquiries know that they are gaining TV exposure worth millions, even if they, at times, look like a bunch of bad comedians.

At least, they gain promotional mileage and a measure of satisfaction.

One wonders: do the vicious purveyors of social media slander really find spiritual or even intellectual satisfaction in what they do? (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017

A11

Manila named 10th most stressful city in the world Palace: Congress may restore CHR budget

MANILA — A recent study named the City of Manila as one of the most stressful cities in the world.

UK-based dry-cleaning and laundry service Zipjet recently conducted a study on 500 locations based on data relating to 17 categories covering infrastructure, pollution levels, finance and citizens’ wellbeing.

Manila placed tenth on the roster of most stressful cities in the world with a score of 8.92.

Baghdad, Iraq ranked first place with a total score of 10.

In its methodology, Zipjet said it analyzed various criteria including traffic, security and mental health issue in ranking 150 cities. The study also provided a standard score based on

their ranking after selecting the cities.

“A low score indicates a low level of stress, with each increasing number indicating a higher level of stress for this factor. A score of 1 represents the least amount of stress possible and 10 indicates the most,” the firm said on its website.

Below appears the top 10 most stressful cities in the world, according to Zipjet: 1. Baghdad, Iraq 2.Kabul, Afghanistan 3. Lagos, Nigeria 4. Dakar, Senegal 5. Cairo, Egypt 6. Tehran, Iran 7. Dhaka, Bangladesh 8. Karachi, Pakistan 9. New Delhi, India

10. Manila, Philippines Zipjet also determined the least stressful cities in the study.

Four cities of Germany placed in the ranking where Stuttgart topped the list.

Here are the ten least stressful cities in the world: 1. Stuttgart, Germany 2. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 3. Hanover, Germany 4. Bern, Switzerland 5. Munich, Germany 6. Bordeaux, France 7. Edinburgh, UK 8. Sydney, Australia 9. Graz, Austria 10. Hamburg, Germany Graz and Hamburg are tied in their score. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)

Lorenzana: Nationwide martial law ‘very remote’ PAGE A7 t

significantly weakened.

“Sa aking pananaw naman, estimate ko, very remote naman mangyari (In my view, by my estimate, chances are remote)” Lorenzana said in a press briefing at Malacañang.

He noted that the president was only “concerned that it (rebellion) might get out of hand.”

“I don’t think the possibility that the Left will be able to conduct a massive demonstration across the country, disrupting the civil government or the lives of the people. Hindi naman siguro mangyari ‘yun (It’s not

likely to happen),” Lorenzana added.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also downplayed the possibility of a nationwide martial law, saying no discussions about the matter have been made.

“Wala, wala. Nabanggit lang siguro ni Presidente ‘yon. Alam niyo naman si Presidente madaming sinasabi. Wala naman dinidiscuss na ganoon (Nothing.

The president might have just simply mentioned it. You know him, he talks a lit. We haven’t discussed anything),” Alvarez said.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that Duterte was becoming “increasingly desperate amid broad rising calls for his ouster” and “seeks to prop himself up as a fascist dictator in his despair to cling to power.”

The CPP further added that the president “deserves the strongest condemnation” for “threatening to make full use of the military and police to carry out armed repression against mass demonstrations by conjuring a scenario of ‘rebels taking to the streets’ and ‘fighting on the streets.’” n

LOSING BATTLE. A resident helps a firefighter douse the blaze that hit a business area in Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City on Thursday, Sept. 14.

The fire destroyed a bakery and a store but no casualties were reported.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

by Christina

Mendez and Paolo roMero Philstar.com

MANILA — It’s early days yet.

Amid the furor over the P1,000 budget granted by the House of Representatives to the Commission on Human Rights, Malacañang said on Thursday, September 14, the CHR might still get Congress approval for a funding allocation of over P600 million for next year.

“Just to put things in perspective, the reduction is only at the earlier stages of our budget process,” Communications Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan said.

He emphasized that the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management have proposed a CHR budget of more than P600 million to Congress.

President Duterte and his allies have been assailing the CHR for criticizing the administration’s vicious war on drugs. They insisted the CHR — chaired by Chito Gascon — has not been doing its job, as its investigations don’t cover common crimes or those committed by terror groups.

Under the Constitution, CHR’s mandate only covers abuses by state forces against ordinary citizens.

Ablan also assuaged concerns over CHR’s getting only P1,000 budget, saying the House’s decision was just “an exercise of the check and balance power” of the legislative branch.

Explaining the budget process, Ablan said a budget program originates from the House of Representatives and is deliberated at the Senate before a final version is consolidated during a bicameral conference.

“So we still have a long way to go. In fact, since the version of the Senate and the House may not always be the same, there will still be bicameral conference committee,” he said.

“And the reduction of the budget of the CHR to P1,000 — we don’t speak for Congress but as a lawyer and a student of public policy — as I mentioned earlier, is an exercise of the legislative branch of its checks and balances,” Ablan said.

He also chided the “uninformed,” reminding them there are only few times that the legislative can actually check on other branches, specifically the executive — and one such occasion is during investigations in aid of legislation.

“That’s how they can pursue

Communications Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan

their check and balance power.

The other is to actually review the budget. The House of Representatives has the power of the purse.

It originates from them and the PCOO, actually like any other government agency, has to appear before congressmen,” he said.

PCOO stands for Presidential Communications Operations Office, where Ablan is an assistant secretary.

“And this is the only opportunity for Congress really to hold us accountable, you know they asked us, ‘What did you do for the past year? This is what happened’,” he said.

“It will still go to the Senate and you’ve already heard comments from our senators that they will restore the budget of the CHR. It’s a totally legislative matter that the Palace will respect. As far as we know, we submitted a budget for CHR,” he added.

At the House, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said senators “are dreaming” if they think they can fully restore CHR’s budget.

He stressed he is open to giving the agency a funding bigger than the P1,000 “but we will discuss how much we can give them based on their programs, but they are not doing their job.”

Restored As senators have promised, the chamber’s sub-committees have restored the budgets of the CHR, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had warned that reducing the budgets of the three agencies would be tantamount to abolishing them as they could not function with only P1,000.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he expects the issue to come to a head at the bicameral conference committee deliberations to resolve the disagreeing provisions of the proposed P3.7-trillion national bud-

Philstar.com photo

get for 2018.

He stressed senators are not “imposing on our House counterparts” but would “listen to their arguments for slashing the budgets of the three agencies, with the CHR being the most contentious.”

“We expect that our contingent will also be listened to in the most civil and rational manner and act like statesmen in this regard,” Lacson said.

The bicameral conference committee, sometimes dubbed as the “third chamber of Congress,” is the body composed of representatives from the Senate and the House formed whenever the two chambers need to reconcile conflicting provisions they have respectively passed.

Senators explained the proposed national budget is approved as a whole or Congress cannot pass it with some provisions left hanging. So if both chambers would not be able to resolve the deadlock before the end of year, the government would be operating on a so-called “reenacted budget.”

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said both chambers should strive to break the looming impasse “by understanding the rationale” as to why the appropriations were originally proposed for the CHR, ERC and NCIP. “I’m sure there is light at the end of the tunnel and both Houses will come up with a compromise at the bicam level,” Sen. Sonny Angara said.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, however, said before his colleagues worry about the possible deadlock, those supporting the restoration of the budgets should make sure they would be supported in the Senate plenary.

Aquino apparently suspects that some senators are in favor of the House move allocating P1,000 budgets to the CHR, ERC and NCIP. n

A12 september 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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Journal What Nick Spark learned from Jessica Cox by

nAthAlie toMADA Philstar.com

Cut! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wrap. Atom in Baguio on the set of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Citizen Jake,â&#x20AC;? the comeback film (after 17 years) of director Mike de Leon.  Philstar.com photo by Cesar Hernando

Atom Araullo explains why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaving ABS-CBN â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;[Atom] will always be a Kapamilya,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; says the network

by Deni

Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com

News reporter Atom Araullo is leaving the â&#x20AC;&#x153;kapamilyaâ&#x20AC;? network and moving to its its rival, GMA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;working with ABs-CBN for over a decade has been an amazing adventure,â&#x20AC;? Atom said in a statement released by ABs-CBN on Friday, sept. 15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, the time has come to explore emerging opportunities and challenges beyond the organization.â&#x20AC;? even as he is leaving the television giant, Atom is thankful for the opportunity he was given. He served as a reporter and show host as a kapamilya. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although I am taking a new path, I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the company that helped me become the journalist I am today,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He only has one message for his network of origin: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To all the hardworking men and women of

ABs-CBN, maraming maraming salamat.â&#x20AC;?

He also posted his statement in his Instagram account.

Last year, it has been reported that Atom allegedly resigned from his â&#x20AC;&#x153;reportorial dutiesâ&#x20AC;? in the network but remained a talent of the network.

In a separate statement, ABsCBN said it has allowed the journalist â&#x20AC;&#x153;to explore new interests in film, broadcast, and digital media outside of the company.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Atom says the training and exposure he got from the network as reporter and TV host have equipped him to try out other opportunities in the media industry here and abroad,â&#x20AC;? the statement read. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ABs-CBN wishes Atom all the best in his future endeavors.

He will always remain a Kapamilya.â&#x20AC;?

AMerICAN filmmaker Nick spark starts The star interview on the right foot.

He slightly lifts his right foot to â&#x20AC;&#x153;high fiveâ&#x20AC;? my right foot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is how Jessica Cox greets people,â&#x20AC;? the writer-director explains why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s giving me a foot bump instead of the usual handshake. spark is doing what Jessica Cox â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the subject of his award-winning 2015 documentary â&#x20AC;&#x153;right Footedâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; does when greeting friends, newfound and old.

Jessica is the 34-year-old Filipino-American who has embraced her â&#x20AC;&#x153;difference and disabilityâ&#x20AC;? of being born without arms, to become a licensed pilot, a black belt martial artist and a successful motivational speaker. In the film, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be amazed by what Jessica could do with her right foot, from the everyday to the extraordinary, from opening a soda can, putting on make-up to driving a car and yes, flying a plane! â&#x20AC;&#x153;I challenge you to think what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted to do,â&#x20AC;? Jessica tells her audience in Addis Ababa, ethiopia in a scene from â&#x20AC;&#x153;right Footed,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;but even more importantly, what is it thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stopping you?â&#x20AC;?

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no stopping Jessica, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no stopping the spread of the docu-filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspiring, transformative message either. â&#x20AC;&#x153;right Footedâ&#x20AC;? has since won more than a dozen awards and has been shown in over 80 countries. recently, spark screened his movie in the Philippines as part of the American Film showcase, a cultural exchange program of the U.s. Department of state, where film experts, directors and producers are sent overseas to hold workshops and showcase their works.

It was a homecoming of sorts for the director as â&#x20AC;&#x153;right Footedâ&#x20AC;? was partly filmed in Tacloban in the heartbreaking aftermath of supertyphoon Yolanda in

2013.

In an exclusive chat with The Star, spark talks about the impact right Footed has made (on others and himself), and what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like bringing his film to Tacloban nearly four years after their first visit.

How was the screening of Right Footed in Tacloban? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a very emotional experience because the subject of the film, Jessica Cox, her family is from Visayas. Guiuan (in eastern samar, where Yolanda made its first landfall), thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where her mom (Inez Macabare) grew up and where her ancestral house is. Jessica would fly to Tacloban

almost every other year to visit. so, she has strong roots there.

That was the reason she came to the Philippines after the typhoon. she was working for Handicap International, an NGO primarily doing work with people with disabilities in the aftermath of a disaster. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jessica always believed that the reason sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to overcome her challenges has something to do with the fact that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Visayan. They say that Visayan women are very tough, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re warriors, they overcome the odds. sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always had a belief about that. In the film, she speaks The viral photo of Jessica hugging a toddler who was also born without arms.

PAGE B2 Â

Photo by Nick Spark

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B september 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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Former drug dependent Dinky What Nick Spark learned from...

Doo Jr. wages war against drugs PAGE B1

by Maridol

ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com

Comedian-director dinky doo Jr. is not ashamed to admit he used to be a drug dependent.

He was so hooked on the vice, he almost lost his life because of it.

He even became bedridden.

Tha i’s why his advocacy film “durugin ang droga (dad)” is dinky’s way of saying thank you for a new lease in life. “i realized that i have a chance to give back, especially to young people hooked on drugs,” he says. dinky visited drug addicts and realized that physical rehabilitation is not enough.

“Spiritual help is more important (in rehabilitating a drug addict),” he observes. “i brought a Bible as i went to different rehabilitation centers.”

He took a step further by expressing his views in a medium he knows well: film. “durugin ang droga” (now showing in theaters nationwide) depicts how a group of well-todo students led by L.a. Santos’s

Comedian-director Dinky Doo Jr. Philstar.com photo by Maridol Ranoa-Bismark

character ruin themselves for various reasons.L.a.’s problem is a dysfunctional family whose head (allen dizon) and second-in-command (Jackie aquino as the mom) are so troubled, they are poor role models for their son and daughter. it is a miracle the daughter was able to escape from the clutches of illegal drugs.

But the presence of narco politicians douses fire into this one bright flame. one sin leads to another until you do not know if there is any hope left. one of these sins involves lust and leads

to a surprise twist toward the end of the movie. allen is convincing as the wayward father whose weakness is his so-called friends from way back.

L.a., who makes his debut as a film actor, could use more depth of emotion as a troubled student and eldest son. The guy is still a newbie in the acting world. music is his comfort zone, so let us give him a chance. on a brighter note, dinky has received invites to show “durugin ang droga” in schools nationwide a few months before the movie hits local screens. it will also be shown in parts of europe and the U.S. illegal drugs and its destructive effects, after all, is not just a concern of President Rodrigo duterte, however controversial it has turned out to be. it is also a concern of parents, teachers, students and government officials all over the world.

The movie, therefore, is not just a reformed drug addict’s movie. it is also a movie for those who care for the young generation’s future.

Devon Seron still can’t believe it! by ricky lo Philstar.com

even now that You With me is in the can, showing nationwide starting Sept. 27, devon Seron still has to pinch herself to realize that it isn’t all a dream — you know, being the leading lady of two Korean drama actors, Hyun (who rose to fame via the KBS show “The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu” “Tailor Shop”) and Jin Ju-Hyung (of the KBS2 show “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth”). “i’m not so much into Korean dramas,” admitted devon (remembered as James Reid’s first girlfriend), “and i haven’t seen the shows of my Korean leading men.” in the movie co-produced by Gitana Film Productions and RR Films/entertainment, devon plays rich girl Kim Soriano over-protected by people around her and aching to stand on her own two feet. it’s her biggest break after seven years of doing supporting roles following her graduation from the “Pinoy BigBrother (PBB) Teen edition.” “i actually gate-crashed into the

Lucky Girl Devon Seron in You With Me with Korean leading men Hyun Woo and Jin Ju-Hyung.

Philstar.com photos

exclusive audition for the movie,” recalled devon who is from Cebu. “i thought it was for an indie. i really wanted to do an indie kasi. i wasn’t on the list of the auditoneers so i nagged my friend to let me in. i told him, ‘Uy, ipasok mo lang ako sa audition, okey na ako.’ That was what happened.”

By coincidence, devon said that she and a friend had been planning to visit Korea.

“Bakasyon lang,” she said.

“That was last June. i never thought that it would be vacation and work for me at the same time. oh my gosh, i told myself, ‘This is hitting two birds with one

stone.’” it was also a learning experience.

“The Koreans are punctual,” shared devon. “if the call time was 8 a.m., they expected everybody to be there earlier than that. and also, they treated everybody equally; walang star-star sa kanila.”

The two Korean actors are expected to come as part of the movie’s promo. asked where he would take them, devon said, “of course, Cebu. it’s my place and i know what places to bring them to, kung anu-ano ang dapat kong ipakita sa kanila.”

Town mates and Friends:

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directly about that to people in Tacloban and so it was amazing to be able to show the film there, especially because our audiences were typhoon survivors. To remind them of the spirit of indomitability, that they’re tough people, that they’re survivors despite the tragic circumstances.”

Can you recall your first visit to Tacloban? “it was such a heartbreaking situation the first time we were there. There was devastation all around us. everyone we met had lost family members, houses, everything. We were working with people who had become disabled because of storm, or PWds who’d lost their wheelchairs, they were swept away, so every day was heartbreaking. at the same time, Jessica was able to give people some hope and to talk about overcoming adversity, and it was also uplifting to be with her as a result of that. So, coming back and seeing how transformed the landscape is, and that the city is rebuilt — i personally could only see one or two buildings where i could recognize that there was typhoon damage. i know that there are psychological scars that take longer time to heal but it was really impressive to see the recovery.”

How did you meet Jessica? “i actually first met her by watching a short video about her. i was really interested in her because of this story of her wanting to fly a plane when she had no arms... So, i sent her an e-mail saying, ‘i would love to meet you.’ i don’t know if (she’d) ever come to Los angeles, as she was over a thousand miles away from me, but she quickly e-mailed back and said, ‘i’m actually going to get married in Pasadena,’ which is not far from my house, ‘i’m scouting for a location for my wedding, would you come meet me?’ and i went and met her.

“The one thing we talked about when i met her was her wedding. i thought she would talk to me about the guest list, dress, venue, honeymoon and all those things. instead, Jessica was very emphatic that all she wanted to talk about was that she was inviting three little girls she’d been mentoring.

They were all born without arms or with partial limbs. She’d been working with them to improve their self-esteem and invited them to the wedding. She wanted them to see her get married so that they

In his docu-film Right Footed, Nick profiles Jessica, who is born without arms yet lives life to the fullest as a pilot, martial artist and motivational speaker.

Philstar.com photo

would see for themselves in her a future.

“She felt that was important because she herself never had a role model when she was growing up. She never could believe she could have a boyfriend, get married or have a family. She felt it would be life-changing for them to be there. When i heard that was what she was planning to do, i told her, ‘You’ve got to let me film your wedding’ and she agreed to let me do it.”

What made you decide on doing a docu on Jessica? “i was really taken by her story.

She has an obvious difference from the rest of us, having no arms, and i could only imagine how insecure that must have made her feel as a child. i suspected she felt ugly about herself, felt she was an outsider. i could imagine she would have been bullied. and when i talked to her and saw what a strong person she is, how comfortable she is with herself today, i learned that indeed my suspicions were correct that she endured a lot in her childhood and overcame all those things. “i felt that it could be a really inspirational story because i know that many children have hidden challenges... When you’re a teenager, there’s so much doubt about yourself and (discomfort). i felt that if Jessica has this very obvious difference from everybody else and she overcame her challenges, making a film about her would help those children with their own problems. That was no. 1. “no. 2, i knew that (having a) disability in many countries, it’s overwhelming what happens to you... There are a billion of people around the world with disabil-

ity. To be able to communicate to them Jessica’s story just by herself would be impossible so a film could make a difference. i think people with disabilities are the most neglected people in the world. They are the ones who in many countries are hidden away.

Such as in ethiopia, they believe if you have a child with a disability, you must have done something very wrong. To me, the idea that we could champion someone with disability and change people’s attitudes through a film — that’s the most powerful thing you can do as a documentary filmmaker.

So, i’m extremely happy how the movie has turned out and with its wide distribution.”

Did you expect the film to receive so many awards? “one doesn’t really make films to win awards; it’s nice when it happens. The special highlight of this film was that we sent Jessica to Rome to our very first film festival (mirabile dictu). We premiered this film at the vatican and it won Best documentary award.

But to me, the real goal of this film was getting it seen around the world and we’ve been able to do that. i’m very happy.

“There have been so many great moments in the release of the movie. What i keep on pointing to was in the Cleveland international Film Festival where we showed the film, we were approached by a young woman after the screening who said, ‘i’ve been living with an eating disorder and this movie has given me a lot of hope that i can overcome it because it’s about your attitude and the force of your will.’ “another special moment with this movie, which you can find PAGE B4

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Features

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Rene Dalandan to perform at Hollywood Piano in Burbank, CA

Rene Dalandan is one of the most outstanding and multiawarded musicians from the Philippines.

At a very young age, he won first place at the Philippine national Artist Competition for Young Artists. However, it was in 1984 when he first received international recognition when he won the Artist International Competition that enabled him to debut as a pianist at the Carnegie Hall in new York City.

Rene’s performances inc lu d e a two-p i an o c on c er t with Marites Fernandez, with the works of Rachmaninoff, Bernstein and Brubeck; and in 2011, in Manila, he performed an evening of three piano concertos with conductor Gerard Salonga and the FILharmoniKA orchestra. As a chamber musician and vocal accompanist,

Multi-awarded performer Rene Dalandan

he has played numerous recitals and concerts throughout the U.S. Rene participated as conductor and music director of the 2015 new York debut of

the opera “Spoliarium” by Ryan Cayabyab and as the assistant artistic director of the 2013 new York debut of the opera “noli Me Tangere” by Felipe de Leon.

Having a doctorate in Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, Rene shares his talent through performing, teaching and directing musical ministries in new York, where he is currently based.

On October 7, 2017 at 6 p.m., Rene Dalandan will be performing at the Hollywood Piano - Burbank Auditorium located at 323 S. Front Street, Burbank, CA 91502. The proceeds from the event will benefit the JIR Foundation. For tickets, please call or text Monica (818)726-3333 or Henry (818) 612-4500. (Loulette Cabalde-Macasa)

END OF DACA. Get Answers and Information on the Rescission of DACA on this Sunday’s “Citizen Pinoy”! Attorney General Jeff Sessions just announced that the Executive Order implemented by former President Obama in June 2012 on Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is being rescinded. This immediately resulted in strong reactions and many questions.

This Sunday, leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel gives the latest update, and answers questions to provide a better understanding on this new development on DACA. Atty. Gurfinkel also provides options for people who fall under DACA. Tune in for important guidance and discussion on a special episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Ellen Adarna defends John Lloyd Cruz over viral videos JBK Boyband is composed of (from left) Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Lawrenz

In line with the issue surrounding John Lloyd Cruz’s viral videos on social media, his rumored girlfriend ellen Adarna seemed to have defended the actor in an Instagram comment.

In a comment on the Instagram Elysa V. ManilaTimes.net photos post of FM radio disk jock Rico Robles or Rico Chismoso, ellen said that what she and John Lloyd did in Cebu was not a yoga retreat.

After Simon Cowell said, “Four In the post, Rico wrote: “For yeses!”, the boys were ecstatic as those asking about this.. these they exited the stage. people work hard, they had time Another X Factor UK hopeful, Filipino-Australian, elysa V., performed Fleur east’s “Sax” and impressed Scherzinger in particular. She said, “For you, your mom, dad, everyone back home in Australia, it’s a yes.”

Both acts are moving to the next level of the show, where they will join fellow Filipino Gaga Lord, who made it last week.

(ManilaTimes.net)

Two more Filipino acts impress ‘X-Factor UK’ JBK, a boyband from the Philippines, and Filipina-Australian singer elysa V., took a shot at making it into “The X Factor UK” and raised the Filipino spirit and flag yet again.

JBK performed Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down,” which was a hit with the judges. Their 24-hour flight paid off as they got four yeses on the show’s fourth episode on Monday, Sept. 11.

JBK is comprised of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio, and is

officially the first Filipino boyband who made it to the show.

Fans are hopeful that they go as far as the Filipino girl group 4th Impact who joined “X Factor” in 2015.

After their performance, judge Louis Walsh praised the group and said, “I love your dedication flying from the Philippines, it was good!”

Judge nicole Scherzinger, who also has Filipino blood added, “You are making the Filipinos so proud right now.”

Jake Zyrus plays the name game by lhAR

sAntiAgo

ManilaTimes.net

“THeY may be disappointed because they will not see Charice,” was Jake Zyrus’ warning to fans when they come to the eponymous concert on October 6 at Music Museum.

During Jake’s one-on-one interview with The Times, the transman said that while the former songs Charice used to sing will be part of the repertoire, the performance will be made “Jake Zyrus style.”

The artist admits that Charice’s pitch has been affected by the hormones Jake has been taking.

“Kasi part po ‘yun ng transition.

Naka-apekto, pero hindi naman nasira. It’s like pag nagbibinata, your voice gets lower. I still sing ballads but the style is different now.”

For Jake, Charice is now part of the past. But does the 25-year-old miss Charice?

“Honestly, no. no because I

international stardom.

David Foster. “Of course I miss him. But si Sir David kasi is so reachable. One email to him and he’s there answering. I can really feel he cares even if sometimes we don’t get to talk for a year, but when we communicate, we really do catch-up. Walang tampuhan.

He is very supportive.”

Oprah. “’Yun talaga, we have not seen each other for, I think, three years. It was to her that I first came-out as trans. I was scared to tell her at first but when I finally did, she said she’s very proud of me. Mabait naman po yun, sobrang bait. Pag magkita kami, I just hope I already have Jake Zyrus ManilaTimes.net photo a song that she can release. I’m had let go of her. What I’m happy just so excited pag nagkita kami about is I have taken from her the kung ano na alam niya tungkol character of lakas ng loob. That’s sa akin. She’s like that, whenever what I admire in her. She had we see each other, I am always been through a lot of pain but she surprised that she knows a lot of things about me. I always wonder survived all of them.”

Playing the name game, The how she gets all her information Times asked Jake to react to a even on my personal life. I just few who had pushed Charice to love her.”

The Chainsmokers to Filipino fans: We owe you a lot

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

SHOWInG some love to Filipino fans, American duo The Chainsmokers reiterated that they owe a lot to them.

During their concert at the SM Mall of Asia on Wednesday, Sept. 13, the Grammy-nominated producers and artists composed of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall recalled how Filipino fans took part at the beginning of their career.

“To be honest, the Philippines is the very first country in Asia

that ever gave a sh*t about The Chainsmokers,” Drew said as he greeted the Manila crowd.

“We get nothing but respect from you guys and we look forward to it every time we come by,” he added.

In their August 2016 concert, The Chainsmokers said Filipinos believed in them when “everyone thought they we’re a one-hit wonder.”

Grateful Alex and Drew took to Twitter on Thursday to stress their love for Filipino fans.

“Manila you guys are originals!

We owe you a lot! Thank you for last nights sell out show! Forever in our hearts!,” The Chainsmokers’ tweet read.

The Chainsmokers’ “Memories Asia Tour 2017” is their third performance in the Philippines.

They first held a #SeLFIe tour at Resorts World Manila in 2014 and also had another concert last year.

For this tour, The Chainsmokers played their hits from latest album “Memories… Do not Open” as well as their chart-topping singles in eP “Bouquet.”

“To be honest, the Philippines is the very first country in Asia that ever gave a sh*t about The Chainsmokers,” Drew Taggard said as he greeted the Manila crowd.

Photo from Twitter/@TheChainsmokers

In an Instagram comment, Ellen Adarna seemed to have defended John Lloyd Cruz.

Philstar.com photo

off, they all took a vacation, had fun and had a few drinks... C Mon guys it’s 2017! #vacay #RandR #theydeserveit press like if you feel the same.”

After ellen’s comment, netizens flooded the post with other

reactions. Many of them dared the actress to spill the beans on the real score between her and John Lloyd, but the actress has not responded as of the moment.

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

B september 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at Pechanga Resort & Casino with a 2017 Mercedes giveaway and a share of $100,000 in EasyPlay!

Join us at Pechanga Resort & Casino in celebrating the MidAutumn Festival with our exciting $100,000 Harvest Moon Drawings on Sunday, october 1st. Prizes include a 2017 Mercedes Benz and $100,000 in EasyPlay.

Pechanga Club members can earn entries to the drawing by playing slots and table games from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Multiple entries can be earned depending on your membership/tier level: Red Card members can earn up to 8x entries; Platinum Card members can earn up to 5x entries; Gold Card members can earn up to 2x entries, and Silver Card members can earn 1x entry. Entries will be drawn at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. A total of 200 lucky winners will share $100,000 in EasyPlay, while one grand prize winner will drive away in a 2017 Mercedes Benz. Play more to win multiple times. Winners will be posted throughout the casino floor. For more information, please call 1-877-711-2946 or visit Pechanga.com.

All of us at Pechanga Resort & Casino wish everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

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offering more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by

the Pechanga Band of Luiseño indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHAnGA or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino. Pechanga Resort & Casino is open 24-hours.

Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Apo’s Danny Javier almost died APo Hiking Society’s Danny Javier almost died in 2011 when he was attacked by multiple illnesses — pneumonia, kidney failure, liver collapse, hepatitis A, emphysema, congestive heart failure and sepsis. He was given a 10 percent chance of survival within 24 hours.

“But i’m alive!” exclaims the singer-composer who plays golf three times a week. on June 11, 2011, Danny had pneumonia for the nth time. He knew the symptoms, he had pain and he could not breathe, so he checked himself into the hospital.

He needed to curl and assume the fetal position just to be able to breathe. He was not able to

sleep the whole night.

“The doctor said, the bad news is you have a 10-percent chance of survival. The good news is you still have 24 hours to live so we’ll do something, maybe put you in the iCU. But i said, if i’m going, then let me go this way. They allowed me to check out on July 22,” shared Danny.

Then he recovered. it took a year and a half, but he lived.

“The next problem was maintaining my health. i still wanted to do things, i wasn’t looking for any big thing, nothing like the magnitude of Apo. i just wanted a simple life, a better quality of life,” recalled Danny. (Philstar. com) Danny Javier

Philstar.com photo

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John Lloyd Cruz and his ‘greatest nemesis’ – social media

By Monet

Lu

BEinG a famous celebrity has its perks. And then there’s social media.

But this is now the world we live in. We post photos of ourselves even in our most vulnerable moments, we share our thoughts regardless of its tendency to be misread or misinterpreted and in doing so, we forget the most important thing – our life becomes another person’s problem, another person’s entertainment. i am not saying that social media is the culprit. But for famous people — case in point: John Lloyd Cruz, social media can be, at best, his greatest nemesis; at worst, his downfall.

A series of videos of his trip with rumored new girlfriend Ellen Adarna surfaced online. And once again, John Lloyd Cruz became the subject of netizens. Some have speculated that he was highly intoxicated and couldn’t handle himself. it doesn’t take a genius or a behaviorist to know that the guy was clearly not his usual jolly self or the goody-two-shoes person he usually portrays in his movies.

We’ve seen it all over the internet. And mixed reactions flooded the comments. Some say that it is just normal for anyone to have fun on vacation, get drunk and do embarrassing things — off or in front the camera phone.

Philippine Star columnist Ricky Lo wrote: “So what’s wrong with John Lloyd Cruz having a good time with friends at a resort in Cebu? So what if JLC is shown in those videos apparently inebriated, flashing the middle finger while swinging his head, holding a knife aloft and then dropping it to the table, and sitting beside a row of LPG tanks? JLC was just like any normal person making fun of himself and his companions (including his rumored girlfriend Ellen Adarna) while having fun.

You and i would do the same things (if not something more “shocking”) during an outing, wouldn’t we? JLC was doing it in private, as a private person, and not in front of cameras as a public property. He has been working very hard and he deserved to enjoy himself (away from the camera and far, far from the mad-

John Lloyd Cruz

dening crowd) any way he wants to. Really now, JLC has nothing to apologize for. Whoever uploaded those videos is the one who owes especially JLC an apology, and he should do it pronto!”

As for his mother-station, ABSCBn issued the statement, “JLC works hard as an actor…18-hour days at a stretch. He was just letting off some steam. in this age of an all-pervasive social media, what is ok and innocent in private becomes worthlessly controversial in public. He will have learned his lesson to be more careful in the future.”

While for others, the drunken videos and the “finger” left nothing to be desired and felt that the actor should have known better than to let himself be exposed in that state.

This wasn’t the first time that John Lloyd was involved in an alcohol-related controversy. i remember the rumors circulating about him not being able to handle his alcohol. i’m pretty sure that in every rumor there’s some truth to it. i am not going to say he never drinks or he’s always wasted. i do not know him personally but i have hung out with him and some friends once at a club. i’ve seen him sober and i’ve seen him drunk. But in both times, he just keeps forgetting the most important thing –he is a public figure and that cameras are everywhere.

Celebrity faux pas and social media just don’t mix. no matter

what celebrities do, people would have opinions on how they should act, dress, who they should or shouldn’t be with or basically how to live their lives. That’s just the cost of being famous. And this is something JLC keeps learning (usually) the hard way.

He recently posted an apology on his instagram page saying, “diz iz mi lerning. very humbling but i do apologize to the little boys & girls. no regrets babies just life revealing its raw beauty.” i think it is big of him to issue an apology but i am really hoping that first, he learns how to handle the demands of being a public figure. Secondly, whether or not he drinks too much, he has to be responsible to know the difference and try his best to handle it.

My message for him — and to everyone who can relate to him is that i realize as i end this piece that social media is not your greatest nemesis, it is yourself. it is when you’re at your worst that you (should) start to fight ‘yourself’ before it takes over the good version of you. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS NothiNg to date can dissolve kidney stones, in spite of various marketed herbal substances or “natural and home” remedy potion or pills that claim to be able to do so. Don’t be fooled by false advertisements which are only after your hard earned money. if you are prone to develop kidney stones, drink lemonade. it cannot dissolve kidney stone crystals, but it can slow down the development of stones. it is a delicious way to control your stone formation.

“When treating patients in our kidney stone center, we put everyone on lemonade therapy,” says Steven Y. Nakada, chair and

Lemonade for kidney stones professor of urology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.at a previous annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Atlanta.

Potassium citrate is usually prescribed for patients with kidney stones. Citrate is a kidney stone preventing substance, and lemonade (lemon juice) is full of citrate. the pill is more potent but the citrate in lemonade has been found to also slow down kidney stone formation. An alternative to “another pill” to take.

Liquid biopsy? the term biopsy conventionally means cutting a piece of solid tissue for microscopic analysis to make a diagnosis. Liquid “biopsy” is a new promising procedure for detecting early-stage cancers by blood test, which replaces cutting a “solid tumor,” hence termed “liquid biopsy.” the article about

Jessica and husband Patrick Chamberlain visit Tacloban in the aftermath of supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013.

What Nick Spark learned from...

PAGE B2 online, is when we premiered this in the U.S., a family showed up in our screening unannounced. they had driven over four hours to be there (with) the daughter, who had no arms just like Jessica, in hopes of meeting Jessica and seeing the movie... Jessica actually interrupted her duties as hostess for the premiere to sit with this little girl and show her how she puts on her shoes. that was just an amazing moment. Period.

But then Jessica gave her a hug and then this armless embrace photograph that i shot went viral and was seen all over the world. that was a really amazing moment, too.”

As a filmmaker, how did the making of Right Footed impact you? “i gained a new respect for myself because it was a very difficult film to make. Since i made it independently, there were many moments when i felt i wouldn’t finish it because it was a very expensive project. We traveled to three continents (and) filmed it for two years. And i learned that like what Jessica says, just don’t say ‘i can’t!’ that’s what we did, we just kept on making the film. Somehow, we were able to achieve it.”

What’s your earliest memory of filmmaking that you think led to this career path? And, how would you advise those who’d

Features

want to give it a try?

“When i was in high school, something amazing happened which was my father, a physician, was asked to participate in a documentary about physicians. Being a very curious child, i went in and met the entire crew of documentary filmmakers and watched my father interviewed. it fascinated me. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction. Real stories about real people are some of the most dramatic stories we will ever hear and in a way, they are much more meaningful because they are about real problems. So, that was my focus when i went to film school — to make documentary films. “(tips?) i will say that, everyone of us are carrying a phone that’s pretty much capable of making a film. You can teach yourself through a process of trial and error. i just encourage people to start filming because you have more powerful tools in your hands now than when i went to a very expensive film school (University of Arizona). We didn’t have equipment capable of doing what your cellphone can do now. But the No. 1 thing is, people should make films about what (they’re) passionate about... because documentary filmmaking is a tremendous amount of work, very labor intensive. You’d only want to start on something that you know you’ll be able to stay with and is important to you.”

this future much less invasive way of finding cancer at its early stage, edited by William E. Chavey, MD, MS, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Science translational Medicine. the report says, “the technique allows assessment of sequence changes in circulating cell-free DNA.” Researchers used the method to look for alterations in nearly 60 cancer-related genes in blood samples from 44 healthy individuals and 200 patients with colorectal, breast, lung, or ovarian cancer. None of the healthy patients showed genetic changes related to solid cancers, while the test detected genetic alterations in 60–70 percent of those with stage i or ii cancer. the researchers say the approach could “in principle” be implemented for cancer screening, pending validation studies. Early detection and intervention are likely to be the most effective means for reducing morbidity and mortality of human cancer. When it is validated and accepted as a standard diagnostic procedure, “Liquid Biopsy” could save hundreds of millions around the globe.

Your mouth and diabetes Most people do not know or realize that poor dental/oral health increases our risk for diabetes t2 and, in turn, this metabolic disease adversely affects our teeth. it is a vicious cycle of cause and effect highlighted by the American Dental Association. the ADA clarification: “Blood sugars fueling the acidity that leads to tooth and root decay and gum disease, and dental disease

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017

that leads to infection and boosts blood glucose when the body’s immune system responds. the 2017 publication recognizes the close association of dental disease and diabetes, even though ADA acknowledges that causes and effects aren’t yet universally understood.”

Also, dental/oral infection, and infection (inflammation) in any other parts of the body increase our risks for cardiovascular diseases and cancer too. this is why dental hygiene and regular visit to the dentist is paramount.

Sleep and diabetes impairment in sleep raises our risk for metabolic disease, like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular illnesses, like heart attack, stroke, and even cancer. Yes, lack of restful sleep leads to increased proneness to all these major ailments, including deadly cancers. indeed, sleep is that important to our health and well being.

More and more, physicians today are far more vigilant about obstructive Sleep Apnea (oSA) as a most common cause of impairment of sleep and its association and role to the development of (and as a worsening factor) for the major illnesses listed above About 3-7 percent (roughly about 10 to 16 million) of the U.S. population have sleep apnea, more among men. there are countless undiagnosed oSA cases. Almost 25 percent of individuals with diabetes t2 also have oSA, in oSA, there is frequent (could be hundred times a night) breath holding, severely reduced oxygen level, and the person wakes up gasping for breath. Some do not even wake up at all, suffer-

ing anoxia and heart attack or fatal heart-rhythm problem. the constant reduction in oxygen due to oSA every night also leads to fatigue, sleepiness during the daytime, lack of concentration, poorer decision-making, and inferior performance. Depriving the body oxygen and rest also increase the risk for those major diseases mentioned above, including cancer.

Among diabetics, Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB), oSA, and all other stresses, impair the metabolism of our body in general and, among those with diabetes, the body’s ability to allow the medications to work fully.

Metformin, the most popular drug for diabetes t2, which acts to reduce the glucose production in the liver and reduce the cell insulin resistance, acts less than 100 percent when the patient has an untreated sleep disorder. this makes the treatment less optimal. And the same thing is true among those patients with high blood pressure or other major ailments on treatment. A good restful sleep every day is essential for all of us.

After a sleep study has confirmed the diagnosis of obstructive Sleep Apnea, the best treatment is the use of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) whenever going to sleep. CPAP has saved and improved countless lives.

Undermining global health the pernicious and criminal modus operandi of tobacco companies, particularly Philip Morris international (PMi) and British American tobacco (BAt), of running secret campaigns to block or undermine the implementation of the Who Framework Convention

B

on tobacco Control (FCtC) and governmental negotiations at the FCtC Conference of Parties (CoP), according to the investigative reports by Reuters and the guardian in Bangkok July 14, 2017. these companies are undermining, not only health governance but the health of the people around the world, all in the name of income and profits as they act as the purveyors of diseases, family disruption, misery, and deaths. the report says “the investigations reveal multiple tobacco industry offensives across at least 14 countries in Africa, America, and Asia, including Vietnam, and how they subvert the treaty on multiple levels. tobacco kills more than half a million annually in the ASEAN region, creates poverty among the users, and burdens the national economy with more than ten billion U.S. dollars in healthcare costs each year because of tobacco-related diseases and premature deaths. these unconscionable criminal companies and their principals ought to be prosecuted and held accountable for their crime against humanity. *** 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

B september 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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COMMUNITY

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2017

C

Journal

Is DACA truly gone? What now?

AS we all know, President Donald Trump has announced that he will end the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (commonly known as “DACA”) program in six-months. He has told Congress that he wants them to enact and send him legislation that will address the immigration status of those currently in the DACA program. If Congress does decide to act, this will give them an opportunity to address the immigration issues of both the DACA recipients, their parents and others similarly situated.

Within the past few days, President Trump reached out to the leaders of the Democratic party to resolve (albeit temporarily) the looming budget and debt-ceiling concerns. This action may empower the moderate Republicans and Democrats to work together toward a reasonable and fair resolution to the problem of the Dreamers and their families.

In the meantime, to review, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Memo with some guidelines as to what will happen in the immediate future: • Previously issued EADs and DACA grants will remain valid for their full validity period.

• Pending (those already filed

by September 5, 2017) initial requests for DACA and related EADs will be adjudicated.

• Initial applications not filed by today will not be accepted after today.

• Pending DACA renewals will be adjudicated.

• Not-yet-filed DACA renewals will be accepted for filing until October 5, 2017. • Renewals can only be filed for those whose DACA grant will expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018. No one knows how long the renewals will be granted for.

• No new DACA-based advance parole applications will be approved. All pending advance parole applications will be administratively closed and the filing fees will be refunded.

• Previously approved advance paroles will be generally honored though DHS retains the authority to deny admission and/ or revoke or terminate parole

Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller where it deems appropriate.

Recipients of DACA have varied immigration histories and issues. Some had previously had no contact with Department of Homeland Security or Immigration Court. Others were in the middle of removal proceedings which are now administratively closed (NOT terminated – just asleep). Others have existing removal orders. As DACA comes to a close, the effect on each of these groups will be different.

Even before DACA is completely ended, these different situations may impact how the recipients may be treated if they leave the U.S. on advance parole. DACA recipients and all other non-citizens should remember that advance parole does not guarantee that they will be permitted to re-enter the United States. Prior misrepresentations, criminal convictions, or even arrests may affect the reception they receive from CBP at the border. For this reason, anyone with potential problems should always consult an experienced immigration attorney before they make plans to go out of the United States.

Many people did not apply for DACA because they believed they were not qualified due to prior criminal history and they did not want to bring themselves to the attention of DHS. However, had they consulted with an immigration lawyer who is knowledgeable in “crimmigration”, they might have discovered that they were a good candidate for postconviction relief. They might also have learned that changes in California law had a positive effect on their immigration situation. As DACA closes (or morphs into legislation), it is more important than ever to find out whether those with past criminal indiscretions are eligible for some form

of relief.

When/if Congress turns its attention to immigration, many different factions are likely to speak up. Those who wish to bring permanent relief to those who are out of status will be one voice.

Those who wish to dramatically change and restrict legal immigration will be another voice.

A final result may include compromises on both sides. Those compromises may include the elimination of some categories of family immigration. Brothers and sisters of United States citizens and married sons and daughters of United States citizens have long been considered to be on the “chopping block”.

United States citizens who have been considering filing petitions for family members in these categories should stop considering and actually file. If Congress votes to end these categories, the chance will be gone.

Because immigration (and criminal) law is constantly changing, those who were previously told that they have no hope should contact a knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer to find out if that is still true. What was not possible before may be possible now. Consult with a lawyer an immigration lawyer and find out. After all, President Trump reached out to the Democrats and they reached an agreement. Who knows what can happen next? *** 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)

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

( Mt Carmel, Mt Beatitude, Mt.Tabor, Cana, Capernum, Nazareth, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem Qumran, Masada, Jericho )

Dec 3 to 14, 2017

Spiritual Director: Rev. Fr. Alvin Cachola

Havan�, Cub� May 22 to 29, 2018

May 22, 2018 (Tuesday - Day 1) Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba Depart from LAX to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival in Havana, meet our guide and transfer to the hotel for dinner.

May 23, 2018 (Wednesday - Day 2) Havana, Cuba Our day will begin with mass at the Cathedral of Havana located in the center of Old Havana. After On board meals are served mass, proceed for a city tour of Old Havana with an experienced local tour guide. The tour will take 4 DEC-Day 2 - (Mon) - Arrive at Ben Gurion airport Tel-Aviv/Tiberias place on foot and you will visit all the squares of Old Havana. Take in the astonishing beauty of the After you have finished Immigration, collect Luggage then Meet our guide and driver. Transfer to Tiberias , Dinner /overnight Gai Beach Hotel historical buildings, sculptures, and monuments. After lunch you will have free time to bargain at the 5 DEC-Day 3 - (Tues) Cesarea /Haifa San Jose Craft Market. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 3 DEC-Day 1 - (Sun) LAX/TLV

There was a certain man in Caesarea” Drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, viewing Caesarea en route, the city built by Herod. In Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, Visit the Stella Maris Church celebrate Holy Mass in the main Altar, after enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean, continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. Gai Beach Hotel (BB,D)

May 24, 2018 (Thursday – Day 3) Havana, Cuba This morning, we will visit the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. This religious complex is the most extensive of those surviving in Old Havana. Here you will attend mass. After mass, you will meet with the 6 DEC-Day 4 - (Wed) - Tiberias/ Cana/ Nazareth Holy Eucharist at the Church of annunciation “And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your nuns and assist with projects of the day. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the evening you will assist word” We head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll a Cuban cultural demonstration. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Continue to Nazareth, Celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of Annunciation, visit St Joseph workshop. We return to Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

07 Dec-Day 5 - (Thurs) Mt Tabor/Mt Beatitude/Capernum/ Sea of Galilee/Tabgha

We drive to Mount Tabor, celebrate Holy Eucharist at the church of Transfiguration, Visit Mt. of Beatitudes the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Gai Beach Hotel for our dinner and overnight. (BB/D)

May 25, 2018 (Friday – Day 4) Havana, Cuba You will have mass at the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. After mass, you will continue to assist the nuns. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. This evening in Havana, we will plan an exciting tour of the historical complex of Castillo del and La Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana. If the timing and weather conditions permitted, you will witness the special nightly cannon at the fortress. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

08 DEC-Day 6 - (FRI)-Jordan valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

May 26, 2018 (Saturday – Day 5) Havana, Cuba Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Havana. After, you will visit the Abel Santamaria School for the blind, located on the grounds of an old military base. The school aims to integrate the children into mainstream schools as soon as the child is ready through an outreach program which continues to support children at their secondary schools. You will spend time meeting the students 09 DEC-Day 7 - (Sat) - Jerusalem (old City) - Via Dolorosa and teachers. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Cintio Vitier Community Project Center, where arts Holy Sepulcher Church “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place of a skull, which was called in Hebrew Golgotha” Enter the old city of Jerusalem, Sing a hymn in the Church of St Anne and view the pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Programs of all types including painting, ceramic and dance hosted. You will learn about this community project and hear from Lithostrotos, where the soldiers played the Game of Kings, and Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the the director of the program, Pedro Pulido. End your day with a panoramic drive through Modern Havana riding in old classic cars holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the tomb of Our Lord. This afternoon drive to Mount Zion, from the 1950’s. Be sure to have your camera ready for this unique experience. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Drive the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. View the Mount of temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Visit the ancient ruins of the wall. Drive through Wadi Welt to view St George’s Monastery. Continue to Bethany celebrate Holy Eucharist, and then visit the tomb of Lazarus. Arrive in Mount Scopus; enjoy the first view of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Notre DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

to visit the upper room, revered as the site of the last supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey’s, St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME Vatican Hotel (BB.D)

10 DEC-Day 8 - (SUN) - Mount of Olives/Gethesemane/Bethlehem/New City

Holy Eucharist celebration at the Church of all nations Main altar Arrive at the Mount of Olives and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit Church”God wept “& walk the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethesemane and the Church of all Nations. This Afternoon drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name the whole world recognizes ,visit the Church of Nativity, the manger, Church of St Catherine, The Grotto of St Jerome, and the shepherds fields. Dinner and overnight at NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB ,D).

May 27, 2018 (Sunday – Day 6) Havana – Las Terrazas – Vinales Valley Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Havana. Then you will be transferred to Las Terrazas for a tour of the community. Visit the neighborhoods, their schools, artists and community projects in the area. You will then continue to Vinales. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for check in and rest. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

May 28, 2018 (Monday – Day 7) Vinales Valley Start the morning off with mass at a local church in Vinales. Then you will have a sightseeing Visit the Western Wall , the only part of the Herodian temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. We drive to Dead tour. There is an opportunity to visit a Tobacco Farm and learn how to expertly roll a cigar. You will Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s also have the chance to visit an interesting site called the Prehistoric Wall and to take a Boat Ride fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to Jerusalem Overnight Notre Dame Vatican Hotel (BB,D) through underground caves known as The Indian Caves. Then visit Finca Agroecolgica El Paraiso 12 DEC-Day10 - (TUE) Jerusalem New City where you will have lunch. After you will visit the gardens with the breath-taking views. Return to the hotel where you will have Return to the new City, Including the Temple Model to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus. Here we will have a dinner. (Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 11 DEC-Day 9 - ( MON) - Jerusalem/Dead Sea/Qumran/Masada

better understanding between old and New Jerusalem. Next to Ein Karem, birthplace of St John the Baptist, visit the Visitation church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat Overnight NOTRE DAME VATICAN HOTEL (BB,D)

13 Dec-Day 11 - (WED) Jerusalem/TLV/LAX

Breakfast rest of the morning Free time early PM dinner has to check out from the hotel, around 8:30 PM flight from TLV/ LAX in the 13 Dec flight depart TLV at 1:00 Am Dec 14,2017 ( end of Service )

May 29, 2018 (Tuesday – Day 8) Vinales – Havana – Los Angeles Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home as your trip comes to an end. (Meal: Breakfast)

C SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Estate Corner Atty. BriAn Lerner QUESTION: I know DACA has ended. What can I do?

Answer: There are actually different categories as the current policy stands. It is important at the present time to know which category you are under so that you can take the appropriate action. On September 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will be ending. This impacts almost 800,000 young people who entered the U.S. before the age of 16 and had temporary protection from deportation and work authorization.

Category “A”: You do not have DACA or a DACA application pending.

You cannot apply. The program has been terminated and new applications are no longer being accepted by USCIS. However, there might be other options for you such as a Request for Prosecutorial Discretion.

Category “B”: You Have DACA that expires on or Before March 5, 2018. If you have DACA and a work permit that expires on or before March 5, 2018, you can apply for a two-year renewal,

Tax Tips victoR sy, cPa, mBa

INDIVIDUALS and businesses in all 50 states pay federal income tax. Residents in 41 states also pay state income tax while nine states have no state income taxes. Here are list of states with lowest and highest state income tax, sales tax, combination of both, as well as county, city, and school district taxes.

States with No Income Tax: • Alaska • Florida • Nevada • South Dakota • Texas • Washington • Wy 10 States with Highest Income Tax:

Community Journal

DACA has ended – now what?

but your application must be received on or before October 5, 2017. This is a very strict deadline and if you do not get the renewal in by that time, you will have lost the two-year extension.

Category “C”: You Have DACA that expires after March 5, 2018.

If your DACA and work permit expire after March 5, 2018, you are not eligible for an extension and your DACA, work authorization, and protection from deportation will expire on the date shown on your DACA approval notice and work permit.

You should use this time to speak with an immigration attorney in order to determine other types of relief under immigration law that you can apply.

Category “D”: You have a DACA application pending, but it is not yet approved. If you have a DACA application that was received by USCIS on or before September 5, 2017, your application will continue to be processed. Hopefully, it was properly prepared and submitted. If not, then you might want to have it supplemented with the proper evidence and documents.

Category “E”: You have DACA and a valid advance parole travel document. If you have DACA and have a currently valid advance parole document, you may still use the document to travel and return to the U.S. as long as you return BEFORE the document

expires. However, even with a valid travel document, the CBP can still refuse to let you in. Before you travel, speak to a qualified immigration lawyer. Trump can snap his fingers and end all if he wants, so it is a bit risky.

Category “F”: You have an advance parole travel document application pending. USCIS will no longer process or approve applications for advance parole for DACA recipients. If you have an application for DACA-based advance parole pending as of September 5, 2017, USCIS will close the application and return the filing fees to you.

Thus, there are several categories, so be sure you follow-up accordingly. Also, be sure you find other types of relief you might qualify for under the law. *** Atty. Brian D. Lerner has been an Immigration Attorney for nearly a quarter of a century. He is married to a Filipina and has helped thousands of Filipino families all over the country.

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

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States with the lowest and highest income and sales tax rates

• California 13.3% • Hawaii 11.0% • Oregon 9.9% • Minnesota 9.85% • Iowa 8.98% • New Jersey 8.97% • Vermont 8.95% • District of Columbia 8.95% • New York 8.82% • Maine 7.95% Five States with Highes Sales Tax: • Tennessee 9.45% • Arkansas 9.19% • Louisiana 8.89% •Washington 8.88% • Oklahoma 8.72% Five States with Lowest Sales Tax: • Alaska 1.69% • Oregon 0%

• Delaware 0% • Montana 0% • New Hampshire 0%

*** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California. *** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies.

He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live. com.

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When does it make sense to file bankruptcy if you’re feeling hopeless about your finances?

LIKE most people, you’ve probably heard that filing for bankruptcy when you are in debt will ruin your credit forever and that you will never be able to buy a car or a home again.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Is it actually possible to improve your credit rating by filing for bankruptcy? Or does filing always make your credit worse? Keep reading.

First of all, most people (not all) who are considering bankruptcy already have a tarnished credit rating — unpaid bills, lawsuits, judgments, tax liens, etc. If you have any of these items on your credit report, the credit bureaus can retain this type of information for seven years under federal law. When you are in debt and can’t pay, your creditors continue to report your accounts to the credit bureaus so long as you remain delinquent. Filing for bankruptcy automatically stops this reporting of negative information. While the bankruptcy itself will be reported for 10 years, in the long run, you will be better off because now you have the opportunity to be debtfree and rebuild your credit.

Let me give you two possible scenarios: Let’s say you owe $30,000 in credit card debts and are paying a total of $600 per month in minimum payments. You and I know that with the outrageously high interest that the credit card companies are charging you, you will never get out of debt by just making the minimum monthly payments. But since the minimum payments are all you can afford to pay with the income you have, this is all you are paying. Paying $600 a month is costing you $7,200 per year and most of this is going to interest alone. In the next five years, you would be paying a total of $36,000! And how much do you think you are going to owe in five

To Live With Faith ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas THE message of this Sunday’s Gospel is straightforward. It’s about forgiveness. When Peter asked Jesus how often he must forgive, Jesus answered, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

To expound on this lesson on forgiveness, Jesus shared with his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

When he began the accounting a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.

Since he had no way of paying him back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.”

One would think that the servant would leave happily, rejoice with his friends, and be inspired to do as his master showed him.

But no, the parable went to say that the forgiven servant went to his fellow servant to demand him a full payment of his debt.

“Be patient with me, and I will

Barrister’s Corner atty. Kenneth uRsua Reyes IN previous editions of this article, the process of obtaining permanent residence through marriage was explored. Discussion of that procedure began with the supposition that the couple was married, and continued with the various steps to ultimately gain permanent residence. In many cases, however, a problem exists in even getting to the point at which a couple is married. Often, a foreign national is in his/her home country and, for one reason or another, the U.S. citizen cannot travel to that country to marry him/her. A solution in such a scenario can be found with the K-1 Fiance(e) Visa.

A K-1 visa allows a foreign national to come to the United States to marry a United States citizen. The K-1 visa is valid for ninety (90) days after entry to the United States, during which time the marriage must take place.

Once the foreign national is issued a K-1 visa, any of his/her unmarried children under the age of 21 may be issued K-1 visas. Upon arrival in the United

Minding Your Finances atty. Raymond Bulaon years? I guarantee you that it will be about the same amount that you owe now, perhaps a little bit less. Do you see where I am going with this?

Now let’s say you decided to file bankruptcy now because you realized that it’s your only way to start fresh. Your landlord (or mortgage company) is harassing you because your payments are always late. Your relatives have stopped answering their phone because they know it’s you borrowing money again. You’re afraid to come out to your car in the morning because it may not be there anymore. Your life is miserable because your income is not even enough to pay for food, rent, clothing, car payments, let alone pay your credit card and other bills. Well, you decided to do something about it. You said “Enough is enough. I will file for bankruptcy because I see no other way out. I will start fresh and rebuild my credit. Someday I want to buy a home and start saving for retirement.” So you decided to file after finding out that bankruptcy can only make your situation better, not worse.

You started saving the $600 that you used to throw in the “bottomless pit” when you were in debt. In one year, you could potentially save $7,200. In three years, you could have $21,600, enough for a down payment on a house! Five years from now, your bankruptcy will be five years old. And if you make an effort to rebuild your credit right after bankruptcy, there is a good chance that you would qualify for

a home loan in just a few years if other credit factors are appropriate (a stable job, money for a down payment, etc.). See, filing for bankruptcy should be a beginning for most people, not the end of the world.

Now if you were the bank three years from now, who would you loan money to? The person who owes too much money, has no money for a down payment, and has delinquencies on their credit report? Or the other person who has a three-year-old bankruptcy, has zero debts and can afford to put $21,600 as a down payment on the home they are buying? I think you already know the answer.

The point is this: In a lot of cases, believe it or not, filing for bankruptcy can actually improve your credit. But to realize this, you need look at the bigger picture and not let your current situation limit your vision. Don’t look at how things are now, but how they could be in the future! What you do about “now” determines what your “future” is going to be.

Now is nothing more than the future in the making.

Bankruptcy laws can help you start over financially if filing is your only chance to get out of debt. Of course, it’s not for everyone. Take a good hard look at your finances and see where your current situation is leading you. If you need to know more about bankruptcy as an option to solve your debt problems, call my office at (866) 477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

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To forgive as he did pay you back,” his fellow servant pleaded. But he refused and had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.

This is a disturbing attitude for a person who just experienced forgiveness himself. The most gracious effect of being forgiven is also to forgive someone who has wronged us. It’s no wonder that the master in the Gospel got angry when he found out what his servant did. So he handed the servant over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.

In telling the parable to his disciples, Jesus wanted his disciples to become like him: to be merciful and forgiving as he was.

They could only do this if they admired Jesus in his heroic examples of forgiveness and if they, themselves, experienced God’s bountiful mercy.

“You become like what you worship,” Tom Wright states in his book, “Simply Christian.”

“When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of worship,” he added.

Indeed, we hope that we become like Jesus every time we hear his Gospel proclaimed and preached and then respond to it with awe in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It’s hypocritical to worship him and admire his words and not put them into practice.

The greatest scandal of a Christian Church or a Christian nation is not to uphold and live by the words of Jesus Christ.

We’ve seen it in the history of the world: the experiences of genocide, slavery, racism, discrimination, corruption, injustice, extrajudicial killings, and poverty. We think that we’ve come a long way in our progress of transforming society with the values of Jesus Christ, particularly those of mercy and forgiveness, but we haven’t. In fact, there are times when we think that we have instead regressed in translating our faith into action.

Let’s pray for the authenticity of faith among us Christians.

Let’s pray for a different experience of a scandal: the scandal of Jesus on the Cross who forgave the good thief and promised him the rewards of eternal life in heaven. *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1991-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

K-1 Visa: Fiancé visa to marry a US citizen

States, the foreign national may immediately apply for permission to work. A two-step process is involved to obtain a K-1 visa.

First, the United States citizen (the petitioner) must file Petition for Alien Fiance(e) along with supporting documents with the USCIS. Through the filed petition and documents, the petitioner must demonstrate three things.

To begin, it must be shown that the foreign national has a bona fide intent to marry within ninety (90) days after arrival. This is often accomplished by producing evidence that a marriage is going to take place—i.e. wedding announcements, catering contracts, etc. In addition, it must be shown that both parties are unmarried and of legal age. Birth certificates, and if one has been previously married, evidence that the prior marriage has been legally terminated are usually satisfactory to accomplish this. Finally, evidence must be provided to show that the parties have physically met each other within the past two (2) years. The petitioner may submit photos of the couple, plane tickets, hotel receipts, etc. as proof that the couple has met.

Exceptions to this third requirement apply in certain circumstances that cannot be explored here due to space limitations of this article. The USCIS may also schedule an interview of the petitioner wherein inquiry will be made on the foregoing issues.

Once approved, notice is sent to the petitioner and the file is forwarded to the appropriate consulate abroad.

Second, after the petition is approved, the foreign national can apply for a K-1 visa in his/ her home country. An interview is scheduled where the foreign national must provide certain documents for issuance of the visa. An affidavit of support from the petitioner, proving that the foreign national will not be relying on public assistance upon arrival, in addition to originals of documents mentioned hereinabove, must be presented. Other documents may also be requested by a particular consulate. If all requirements are met, visa issuance will follow. After arrival in the United States and marriage, the foreign national may thereafter begin the process to

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Community Journal

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2017

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Does your compensation plan AC 21: Changing the employer of your employment-based green card application pay for all hours worked?

RICHARD Brown and Charles Ridgeway worked for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as truck drivers in California. Wal-Mart paid them per miles driven and per activity (drivers had to input pay codes for certain activities) rather than hours worked. The drivers sued Wal-Mart in a class action claiming that Wal-Mart’s compensation plan violated California law because drivers ended up not being paid for all hours worked because several tasks they routinely performed had no associated activity code.

The drivers claimed that they were not paid for non-driving activities such as pre- and post-trip inspections, layovers, fueling, completing paperwork, washing trucks, weighing the trucks’ load, waiting at vendor and store locations, and performing adjustments.

Wal-Mart argued that the drivers were not entitled to wages for the above activities as these were included work for which the drivers were paid at least minimum wage.

During the proceedings, the trial court judge ruled in favor of the drivers stating that Wal-Mart violated California law by not paying its truck drivers at least the minimum wage for all work performed. Employers are not allowed to “build in” time spent on non-driving activities into a piece-rate compensation system. Instead, they must pay employees for each hour worked.

The court also held that WalMart was required to pay the drivers the minimum wage for time spent on layovers. WalMart had argued that the driv-

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. ers were not subject to their control during their layovers.

However, drivers presented evidence that Wal-Mart prohibited its employees from spending the layovers at home, and limited the places where drivers can do layovers. The court reasoned that because Wal-Mart drivers were required to stay with their trucks and could not simply spend the layover wherever they wanted, they remained under Wal-Mart’s control during layovers, and therefore had to be paid the minimum wage for each hour they spent on a layover.

The court then turned over to the jury the decision of how much damages should be awarded to the drivers. The jury found that Wal-Mart paid drivers less than the minimum wage for performing 4 out of 11 tasks which included: performing pre- and post-trip inspections, taking 10minute rest breaks and taking 10-hour layovers. It awarded over $54 million in damages.

The jury did not find that activities such as washing trucks, fueling, weighing the trucks’ load, waiting at vendor and store locations, performing adjustments, or complying with U.S. Department of Transportation inspections should be separately compensated.

In post-trial proceedings, the court also awarded the drivers additional damages of $5,861,147.00 for “restitution” under California’s unfair competition law. Wal-Mart has since abolished the compensation plan which caused the lawsuit.

Employees may be paid on various compensation plans, such as by piece-rate, by commission, by mileage, etc. However, such plans must ensure that employees are paid no less than the minimum wage and, when necessary, overtime pay, for all hours worked.

If an employee spends time doing other work-related activities not covered by the plan (such as pick-up or clean-up activities, or attending compulsory work meetings), the time spent doing this are considered hours worked, and must be paid at least the minimum wage (or an agreed hourly rate, if any). *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

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

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Seniors need relief from big HELOC 2nd trust deed and $40K credit cards Senior loses job, needs chapter 7 debt relief

THE clients are 63 and 64.

They are young seniors. Up to 65, you are a young senior in my book.

You can get senior discounts at Golden Corral for a satisfying buffet. Last time I went there, half of the patrons looked like they were over 65. A lot of them looked like they were pushing 75.

I know the manager there, Terry.

I’ve known him for 30 years. He was the manager at Home Buffet before it closed. That guy is probably the best restaurant manager in LA because his idea of service comes from the heart. In addition, I get free dinners if you bring this article with you! Younger or older, bring the whole family with you to the Golden Corral at the City of Industry. You won’t regret it. Price is cheap and they have a great selection of all kinds of meat.

Let’s get back to our young seniors.

They own a house that’s currently worth $500,000.

All their children have grown up and they are now empty nesters like a lot of us baby boomers.

They owe a first mortgage with a balance of $165,000.

They also owe a HELOC second mortgage with a balance of $200,000. Yes, the second is bigger than the first. They’ve been reading about getting rid of the second mortgage since five years ago.

Unfortunately, it’s now too late to get rid of the second mortgage in Chapter 13 because there is equity supporting the second.

Sorry, you can’t avoid the second lien. Maybe five years ago, it was still possible, but now with house values reaching the sky, it’s not possible to strip the junior lien.

I did a lien strip last month for a client who lived in Rialto. His house was appraised at $258,000 whereas the balance of his first was $264,000. He had a second of $77,000. We were able to strip the second mortgage of $77,000 in Riverside bankruptcy court, just barely. Citibank called me three days before the hearing date and informed me that they would stipulate to a judgment granting the motion. So that’s done but this client practically won the lottery on this issue.

But for most cases now, there is some equity supporting the

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrenCe yAng

second mortgage, so it cannot be stripped just like the case of my young senior clients. The husband had a major stroke two years ago but recovered almost completely with no slurred speech, and he walks normally except for a slight limp. He can still drive but can’t work anymore. So the household income has gone down so it’s now hard for them to pay the second which is still on interest only, once it becomes interest and principal at the start of the new year. A lot of people who got an interest-only mortgage are destabilized when

day with all the other seniors living there. They have children who have invited them to live with them, but they don’t want to burden their children with caring for them. Husband jokingly says that if they can’t sell the house, he will just hang himself. I said that he doesn’t have to do that, just go sell the house first, and then let’s dissolve the $40,000 of credit cards after the sale of the house. He says he needs to go to the bathroom.

The second client is 68, married, and he has just lost his job.

He says Trump eliminated his job. I thought the president was a job creator? He says he can’t pay for the new car that he just bought and about $15,000 of credit cards. I said just return the car and the voluntary return deficiency of about $10,000 and the $15,000 of credit cards will be wiped out with Chapter 7. He is much relieved so he says he has to take a month vacation first abroad with his wife. I said sure go ahead, and let’s file your case when you get back to LA. He said just the minimum payments on the $15,000 of credit cards is about $500 a month. He said he’s paid it for the last 20 years, just the minimum. So, he has paid $120,000 to keep $15,000 of credit cards current for the last 20 years. Was that a smart thing to do? I don’t think so. I think when you are 68 you would rather have $120,000 of cash invested in a portfolio giving you $1,000 a month of extra income in addition to social security rather than owing the same $15,000 of credit cards that should have disappeared a long time ago when you were a lot younger.

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

“YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART” – JEREMIAH 29:13

“When it rains, it pours just like Irma in Florida.

Everything gets damaged.” the payment converts to interest and principal. In this case, for interest only, they only pay $550.

But with interest and principal, they have to pay $1,600. When it rains, it pours just like Irma in Florida. Everything gets destroyed.

The husband also owes $40,000 of credit cards. That’s another problem. Step one is trying to refinance the second with a fixed 30-year loan, maybe interest and principal will just be about $1,000 a month; still a lot less than $1,600. If no one will give them a 30 year fixed to refinance the second, then take step two: Sell the house and get their net cash of $160K. At least, they will have some cash, which they can invest. If they invest $160,000 with Bernie Madoff, he can print them returns of 20 percent or $32,000 a year; too bad, Bernie’s already in jail. They can probably get a decent return of 6 percent or $9,600 a year. That’s not bad. $800 a month of income will certainly help pay for the senior housing they can move into.

Senior housing, I understand is about $1,000 a month for rent and you get to play the whole

*** 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.

K-1 Visa: Fiancé visa...

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obtain permanent residence. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may

make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both

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

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DEAR Attorney Tan, I have an approved I-140 immigrant petition which was filed by Company A on my behalf. Company A would like to employ me as a bookkeeper. Based on that approved I-140 petition, I filed an application for green card (I-485 adjustment of status) in August 2014. Since that time, my green card application has been pending, as USCIS has requested additional documents in support of my application. Recently, another company, Company B, has expressed interest in hiring me for a payroll clerk position. Company B is a more established company based in the Midwest and pays $10,000.00 less but offers much better benefits. Is there a way I can substitute Company B as the employer in my green card application?

--P.T. Dear P.T. Under INA Section 204(j), commonly referred to as AC 21, an approved I-140 employment-based immigrant petition filed by one employer can be used by or “ported” to another employer providing certain requirements are met. First, a green card (I-485 adjustment of status) application must have been filed and must be pending for at least 180 days. Second, the “new” job offered by the second employer must be in the same or similar occupational classification as the job for which the first employer filed the I-140 petition.

In your situation, you meet the first requirement in that your application for green card (I-485) was filed in August 2014. Your application has been pending for over 1 year, which is more than the required 180 days under AC 21.

In depth analysis in your case is needed as to whether Company B’s job of “payroll clerk” is considered a “similar occupational classification” to Company A’s job of “bookkeeper,” for which Company A petitioned you.

In determining whether one job is similar enough to another job for AC 21 purposes, the USCIS takes into account the totality of the circumstances, including the job duties of both positions, the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) from the approved I-140 and the SOC code for the job offered by the new prospective employer, as well as the offered wages for each position.

In your case, analysis would begin with the job duties of each position. The more similarity in job duties between bookkeeper and payroll clerk, the greater the likelihood that USCIS would consider them similar. Also, the SOC code for the 2 jobs would be taken into account. In addition, the wages offered by each employer would be considered. The existence of a big disparity in wages offered by each employer is not by itself a reason to conclude that the jobs are not similar. In your case, the fact that Company B is offering $10,000 less than Company A has to take into account the fact that the Midwest has a lower cost of living, as well as the fact that better benefits are being offered by Company B. If it is considered a “similar occupational classification,” Company B may be substituted in as the employer in your pending green card application, and Company B will not have to start the process from the beginning by filing a labor certification application and by obtaining an approved I-140 petition.

The analysis of whether you can use or “port” your approved I-140 requires additional analysis, and consulting with an experienced attorney is recommended.

“The analysis of whether you can use or port your approved I-140 requires additional analysis and consulting with an experienced attorney is recommended.”

*** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association. *** LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com.

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C4 SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2017 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

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People and Events Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy: Means test The launching of a dream: St. Lorenzo SOME debtors contemplating filing bankruptcy have expressed their personal preference of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, instead of Chapter 13, for various reasons such as a shorter time frame to get a discharge under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. While a majority of bankruptcy filings may qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, some might not. One needs to pass the means test to be eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), enacted in October 2005, introduced the concept of the “means test” which is meant to determine whether debtor filers are eligible to file a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy or whether they should instead file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan. Debtors whose debts are not primarily consumer debts or who is a disabled veteran and incurred debt primarily during active duty or performing a homeland defense activity are exempt from the means test.

The first part of the means test is to determine the debtor’s current average monthly income for the last six (6) months prior to filing bankruptcy. [The current average monthly income refers

Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos

to all taxable and non-taxable income from all sources, unless otherwise exempted, including those of the non-filing spouse (if married)]. If the debtor’s monthly income is less than the applicable median income based on the family size for his state, he can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If his monthly income is more, he has to pass the second part of the means test. For instance, in CA, the current state median income for a three (3) person household is $ 75,160 per year. If you belong to a family of three (3) and your combined yearly income does not exceed $75,160, you are eligible to file Chapter 7. You do not have to finish the rest of the means test.

On the other hand, if your monthly income exceeds this

“The first part of the means test is to determine the debtor’s current average monthly income for the last six (6) months prior tofiling bankruptcy. The current average monthly income refers to all taxable and non-taxable income from all sources.”

EMPLOYMENT

amount, you have to finish the means test (Form 122A-2) and the computations can be complex and confusing. In the second part of the means test, you need to determine if you have enough disposable income after deducting the allowable monthly expenses (based on IRS guidelines) to pay in full or in part the unsecured debts (such as credit card debts or medical bills). Allowable monthly expenses may include basic living expenses such as food, clothing and shelter, transportation, telecommunication expenses, child care, future payments for secured debts and others. You are not qualified to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy if your disposable income adds up to more than a certain amount.

If so, you have to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

If a Chapter 7 petition is filed and later there is a determination that the debtor filer is not qualified, the court can either dismiss the petition or convert it into a Chapter 13 petition, upon finding that the relief sought under Chapter 7 would be “abuse” under the appropriate provisions of the bankruptcy law.

If you are contemplating of filing bankruptcy or other alternatives, it is advisable to seek the counsel of a bankruptcy lawyer to guide you on the intricacies of filing for such a petition.

Ruiz Church, a diocesan shrine Take part in this historic moment

*** Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

To schedule for a free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) 284-5984 or (626) 329-8215.

Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90010. ***

by ROMY

BAYLON

Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

Yet, against all odds, the dream of building a magnificent church became a reality.

Last year, SLRC celebrated two significant events: its Silver Jubilee, and being declared the site of the Door of Mercy that welcomed and embraced the faithful in Deanery 12 and beyond, where pilgrims “experienced the Mercy of the Father in its fullness.”

So, where do we go from here?

On Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10:00 a.m., as part of SLRC’s Founda-

EMPLOYMENT

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WALNUT, CA — The vibrant community of the St. Lorenzo Ruiz Church (SLRC), in the City of Walnut, is truly blessed, many times over. In its first 20 years of becoming a parish, the community nestled in the San Gabriel Valley accomplished what many considered to be impossible: to build a permanent house of worship, where faithful from differ(Advertising Supplement) ent background are welcomed.

tion Day celebration, the community is again launching a dream: to elevate its parish to a Diocesan Shrine.

And so, once more, the parish asks the faithful to be a part of this historic moment, the journey of becoming and being a Church, to celebrate and lift its prayers to bringing this new dream to fruition of sharing the community to the entire Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Come join us!

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Immigration Corner

&

The October 2017 priority dates PAL takes delivery of new planes

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. *** 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,

Application Filing Date

mercurio Philstar.com

MANILA, — The Philippines can easily attract at least $10 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) annually once existing restrictions and improvement on its overall competitiveness are addressed, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines said.

JFC officials said on Thursday, September 14, while the country may be considered the “rock star of Southeast Asia” as far as economic expansion is concerned, it remains a laggard in terms of FDI due to several factors affecting its business environment.

“The Philippines should receive $10 billion a year. But what is preventing the country’s economy from running on all cylinders?

Growth of business processing, manufacturing, and tourism have been high, but the growth of agri-

Visa Issuance Date

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children (below November 1, 21 years old) of green 2016 card holder

October 22, 2015

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

September 1, 2007

January 1, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

June 15, 1995

February 22, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

March 1, 1995

June 1, 1994

October 1, 2007

Application Filing Date

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

January 1, 2007

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

August 1, 2016 December 1, 2015

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

August 1, 2016 December 1, 2015

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

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

At least $10-B yearly FDI possible with reforms – JFC by richmonD

by LoueLLa

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

D1

culture has been weak and mining has moved backward despite its high potential,” Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines president Hiroshi Shiraishi said.

“The really relevant criteria is how we are doing compared with our leading ASEAN neighbors such as Vietnam, Thailand and so on. Our target should be to have at least the ASEAN average in FDI. And we still have a long way to go,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Julian Payne said separately.

The country’s net FDI last year zoomed 40 percent to a new record level of $7.9 billion, surpassing the full-year target of $6.7 billion.

“The key point is how quickly the new administration can proceed with its stated intention to remove restrictions of FDIs. There PAGE D2

The peso fell back into P51:$1 territory on Thursday, September 14 on the likelihood of a fresh U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike.

Inquirer.net photo

Peso slips back to P51:$1 level

Guian Angelo Dumalagan said.

“Developments about the U.S. tax reform also weakened the THE peso fell back into P51:$1 peso,” he added. territory on Thursday, September The currency closed at P51.16 14 on the likelihood of a fresh against the dollar, its weakest in U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike. two weeks and down 19 centavos “The peso depreciated today from Wednesday, September as an upbeat U.S. report on 13. producer prices keeps open the The peso first touched P51 to possibility of another U.S. rate the dollar on August 11 by a war hike this year,” Land Bank of the of words between the United Philippines market economist States and North Korea. by mayveLin

u. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

Business Quote of the Week “I don’t look at business as a zero-sum game. I don’t. I’ve never seen it play out that way in our industry, and I think you innovate and you add value, deliver value back to customers, and you get value back from the world.”

- Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce

Current

Current

DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its second bi-class next generation Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

In a statement, PAL said the second Bombardier Q400 brings the total number of aircraft on its fleet to 83.

The new 86-seater plane would be utilized for select domestic airports.

During the Paris Air Show held The new Q400 aircraft at the terminal last June, PAL placed an order for before the turnover rites. an additional seven Q400 new generation aircraft with Bom- to 12 the total number of PAL’s 10 units of Q400 to be delivered bardier.

Q400 orders. within this year until 2019.

The additional order brought PAL expects the remaining The carrier is modernizing its flight and expanding route network as part of its aim to achieve a five-star rating.

At present, PAL has a three-star rating from Skytrax which is an aviation consultancy based in the United Kingdom.

Earlier, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the carrier is hopeful it would be given a four-star rating within the year.

Amid increasing competition PAL President and COO Jaime Bautista (2nd from right), together with Philippine-born in the airline industry, PAL is also Canadian Sen. Tobias Enverga Jr. and wife, join Filipino workers in Bombardier in the working on improving its offering celebration of the turnover at the Canadian company’s facility in Toronto where the to become the preferred carrier of aircraft is manufactured.

Inquirer.net photos by Abel Ulanday passengers.

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Pala Casino Spa & Resort announces plans SM opens ‘resort-style’ mall for $170-million expansion and renovation in Puerto Princesa, Palawan 400 construction jobs to be created PALA, CA – Officials of Pala Casino Spa & Resort recently announced plans for an expansion and complete renovation of its AAA Four Diamond award winning property. Construction of the $170 million project will begin in October 2017 and be completed in May 2019.

The renovation and expansion will include: the addition of a new 349 room hotel tower; the conversion of the existing resort pool into a multi-pool and entertainment resort complex; the construction of an inventory of unique hotel suites that will overlook the Starlight Theater event lawn and the new pool and entertainment complex; expanded gaming and casino bar space; a parking garage expansion; a completely remodeled restaurant promenade; a complete refresh of the entire casino interior; a complete refresh of the entire existing hotel tower.

“Our ability to exponentially expand and refresh Pala Casino Spa & Resort is a true testament to, not only the growth of Pala, but also to the thriving economy and the continued strength of the gaming industry in California,” said Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. “This is a significant milestone for our Tribe and we look forward to continuing to

exceed the expectations of our loyal patrons.”

Once completed, Pala’s hotel will offer 854 deluxe rooms and suites, beautifully appointed with the finest amenities. The hotel suites that will be added will overlook the new multi-pool and entertainment complex and the Starlight Theater, Pala’s custom built outdoor entertainment venue, which offers outstanding headliner acts and state-of-theart sound and lighting.

The project will increase Pala’s casino from its current 90,000 square feet to over 102,000 square feet of gaming space. The expansion will allow Pala Casino to increase its offering of slot and video machines to 2,500 and its offering of table games to 88.

“We are very excited to engage in our third major expansion since our introduction to the Southern California gaming and hospitality market more than 16 years ago. As in the past, we expect elements of this expansion and upgrade to be unique to our property and to set new resort standards,” said Bill Bembenek, Chief Executive Officer of Pala Casino Spa & Resort. “This significant expansion project will complement our already luxurious resort offerings while providing our patrons with new world-class amenities.”

Pala’s renovation and expansion project will create 400 construction jobs and, once complete, add over 200 new employment opportunities to Pala’s current team of 2,000 team members.

The construction company selected for the renovation and expansion is Level 10 Construction with headquarters in San Francisco, CA, and offices in Sunnyvale and San Diego, CA. The architect is Klai Juba Wald of Las Vegas, NV. The contributing architect is Marks Architects of San Diego, CA. For more information on Pala Casino Spa & Resort, please visit: www.palacasino.com.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with 2,000 slot machines, 80 table games and 15 poker tables; a 507-room hotel; a 10,000square-foot, full-service spa and salon that features 14 treatment rooms; a state-of-the-art fitness center; swimming pool with 12 private poolside cabanas, and dual-temperature outdoor whirlpool hot tub. Pala also offers 11 restaurants and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 12 consecutive years.

The new Pala RV Resort opened May 23, 2016, and offers 100 parking sites for RVs and trail-

ers from 55 to 70 feet and fullservice amenities for RVers.

Pala RV Resort is rated a perfect 10/10*/10 by Good Sam, the national RV Resort rating publication. Trailer Life and Motorhome magazines awarded Pala RV Resort its Gold Awards for 2016 as Best RV Resort Casino and Best Campground Resort. Its stateof-the-art Pala Spa was named the number three spa in North America and the number one spa in the State of California and the entire casino industry for 2016. The ranking marked the eleventh consecutive year that Pala Spa has been ranked in the Top 100 and Top 10. Pala Casino Spa & Resort was voted Best Casino in San Diego by the public in the 10News.com annual A-List poll sponsored by KGTV-TV 10 News in San Diego. For more information, visit http://www.palacasino.com. *** The Pala Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe whose reservation is located along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The majority of the over 900 tribal members live on the 12,000acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people - Pala.

SM City Puerto Princesa features around 180 food and retail shops, three 158-seater digital cinemas and two 48-seater Director’s Club cinemas, and a traveler’s lounge.

by Charissa Mae NeMis 64th mall of SM Prime in one ManilaTimes.net

LISTED property company SM Prime Holdings Inc. opened its first premier mall in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Friday, September 15, as part of its expansion to areas outside of Metro Manila.

SM City Puerto Princesa, a three-storey “resort-style complex,” will open with 80 percent of its space leased.

The mall features around 180 food and retail shops, three 158seater digital cinemas and two 48seater Director’s Club cinemas, and a traveler’s lounge.

“Designed to complement the tropical vibe of the island, SM City Puerto Princesa is set to be a cost-efficient and energy saving building, in line with SM Prime’s commitment to sustainable future and disaster risk reduction,” SM Prime said in a statement.

“We take pride in opening the

of the most sought-after island destinations in the world. We expect SM City Puerto Princesa to add new dynamics and opportunities to the thriving province of Palawan highlighted by SM’s pursuit of new and unique malling experience,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said in a statement.

The opening of SM City Puerto Princesa, which has a gross floor area of 54,000 square meters, brings the Sy-led property developer’s retail space in the country to 7.9 million square meters.

So far this year, the company has launched SM CDO Downtown Premier in Cagayan de Oro, S Maison at Conrad Manila in Pasay City and SM Cherry Antipolo in Rizal; and is set to launch SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown in Cagayan Valley within the year as well.

(Advertising Supplement)

AYALA CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

Zobel named UN sustainability champion

by Doris

DuMlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

A UNITED Nations-backed sustainability coalition has named Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chair and chief executive officer of storied conglomerate Ayala Corp., as a corporate champion of UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Zobel was handpicked by the UN Global Compact as one of the 10 “United Nations SDG Pioneers” for 2017, the first from the Philippines to receive this distinction.

Each year, the UN Global Compact celebrates a group of SDG Pioneers — leaders doing an exceptional job of taking action to advance the UN-initiated 17 sustainable development goals or SDGs. Hundreds of nominations were received from diverse regions of the world, from which 10 finalists were selected, exemplifying how business can be a force for good in addressing the challenges we face as a global society.

Zobel and other SDG Pioneers will be recognized during the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2017 this Sept. 21 in New York.

“Each of the 2017 SDG Pioneers is exhibiting how companies and pioneering individuals can be a force for positive change in addressing the issues we all face today,” said Lise Kingo, UN Global Compact CEO and Executive Director.

“Mr. Zobel has been impactful in reaching a wider segment of the business market through innovation and diversification. He has been a pioneer in the inclusion of long-term sustainability in business strategy and operations.”

Under Zobel’s leadership, Ayala has embraced shared value creation, to better integrate the developmental challenges that society faces into Ayala’s strategies and core business models.

Apart from reinventing its business models to meet the needs of a wider segment of the population, Zobel is also credited for leading Ayala’s foray into sectors critical to national development and inclusive progress: power, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

Sustainability has been integrated into various Ayala businesses.

Under Zobel’s leadership, Ayala shifted to the integrated reporting framework, which captures in detail the group’s positive impact on society through its contribution to the SDGs. The 183-year-old conglomerate is the first company in the Philippines to produce such as an integrated report.

Furthermore, Ayala is moving to include long-term sustainability targets for its businesses, which will form part of the companies’ and management’s key result areas.

A Pioneers selection group, comprised of experts from the UN, academia, civil society and the private sector, ranked this year’s nominees based on a set of criteria, resulting in the 10 2017 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers.

“I believe that now, more than ever, a deeper engagement with society is indispensable to the survival and success of private enterprises. From both a practical and moral standpoint, businesses cannot thrive in an environment rife with economic inequity,” Zobel said in a press statement on Thursday.

PAGE D3

At least $10 B yearly FDI...

PAGE D1

have already been a number of initiatives,” Payne said.

In a new Arangkada Project publication released on Thursday, the JFC outlined various recommendations on reducing cost of doing business and increasing competitiveness and ease of doing business in the Philippines.

“There was a lot of concern about the reputation impact of the extrajudicial killings. But most companies have realized that in most sectors, it hasn’t changed the day-to-day operating environment and most companies are pushing ahead,” Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Tom Grealy said.

“The underlying economic management is good, and there is fundamental reform coming which will potentially set the Philippines up for the next 20 years, particularly the tax reform so it’s quite actually an exciting time,”

he added.

With regard to tax reform, the JFC said concerns have been raised by its members over proposed provisions in the first TRAIN that could have negative effects on business process management, ROHQ, automotive, and beverage firms.

The group said some of these concerns were ameliorated in the House version of the new law, while others may be resolved in the Senate and the bicameral reconciliation process.

“JFC members support taxes that are more progressive than regressive, that incentivize individuals and corporations to work hard to produce income, save, and invest, that impose a significant burden of taxation on consumption, support investment and job creation, support needed physical and social infrastructure programs, and are collected fairly, fully, efficiently, and without corruption,” the group said.

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Remittances sustain strong growth in July CEOs told to target China, Asian markets

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA — Personal and cash remittances from Filipinos abroad continued to book stronger-than-expected growth in July with the steady deployment of skilled Filipino workers, the Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas (BsP) reported.

BsP officer-in-charge Diwa Guinigundo said personal remittances rose 8.7 percent to $2.56 billion in July from $2.35 billion in the same month last year.

For the first seven months, personal remittances went up 5.9 percent to $17.92 billion from $16.92 billion in the same period last year.

“The steady growth in personal remittances drew support from the remittance inflows from land-based overseas Filipino workers with work contracts of one year or more, amounting to $13.8 billion, and compensation of sea-based workers and landbased with short-term contracts which reached $3.6 billion,” Guinigundo said.

Personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers, and capital transfers between households. It measures the total amount of remittance flows into the country, including cash and non-cash items that flow through both formal or via electronic wire and informal channels such as money or goods carried across borders.

Cash remittances coursed through banks grew 7.1 percent to $2.28 billion in July from $2.13 billion in the same month last year as remittances from landbased workers increased 6.8

AseAN business leaders should take advantage of the region’s proximity to China and the rest of Asia to survive in the changing global landscape.

This is what experts told participants of the 15th Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) International CeO Conference 2017, which had the theme “Asean in Business: Building Partnerships in a Growth Network,” on Tuesday, september 12.

“Globalization is dead. However, it doesn’t mean that integration is stopping,” TAC economics BSP officer-in-charge Diwa Guinigundo said personal remittances rose 8.7 percent to $2.56 Chairman and Chief economist billion in July from $2.35 billion in the same month last year.

Philstar.com photo Thierry Apoteker said in a keynote speech.

Global trade in goods is rapidly percent while that of sea-based overseas Filipino remittances workers rose 8.4 percent, accord- was supported by stable de- changing and growth will not be mand for skilled Filipino workers what it was way back in 1990s, ing to BsP data. he said.

Guinigundo said the major abroad,” Guinigundo said.

“Global value chain investments The BsP has pegged the prosources of cash remittances in July were the U.s., the United Arab jected growth in personal and have been declining since 2011. cash remittances at four percent That means that companies are emirates, singapore and Japan. moving less at this integrated and Cash remittances expanded this year.

Cash remittances from about very large value chain. I think this five percent to $16.09 billion from January to July compared to 12 million Filipinos living and is the major change today,” Apo$15.32 billion in the same period working abroad account for teker said. about 10 percent of the country’s last year.

Data showed the bulk or 80 domestic output as measured percent of the cash remittances by the gross domestic product in the first seven months of the (GDP).

Remittances together with year came from the Us, saudi Arabia, UAe, singapore, Japan, business process outsourcing the United Kingdom, Qatar, Ku- (BPO) and tourism receipts

by Lawrence agcaoiLi wait, Germany, and Hong Kong. serve as a major source of forPhilstar.com Data from the Philippine Over- eign exchange buffer or gross MANILA — Moody’s Investor seas employment Administration international reserves that help (POeA) showed a total of 1.22 shield the Philippines from ex- service cited the sound economic and fiscal fundamentals of the million Filipino workers were de- ternal shocks.

“We are seeing both remit- Philippines but raised concerns ployed in the first seven months of the year or about 58 percent tances and BPO receipts will over structural challenges to comof the 2.11 million workers de- continue to grow. They have petitiveness as well as rising politibeen resilient all these years,” cal risks. ployed in 2016.

In its latest annual credit analy“The sustained increase in Guinigundo said. sis, the debt watcher said its assessment of the country’s economic strength is ‘high’ reflecting the capacity of the Philippines to absorb cil. He chairs the Harvard Business shocks amid rapid growth, large since 2016.

The UN Global Compact Lead- school Asia-Pacific Advisory Board scale, and economic diversificaers summit 2017 is a two-day and the sMU Advisory Council in tion.

Moody’s earlier affirmed the gathering of the private sector, the Philippines. He also works with UN, government and civil society the Harvard Global Advisory Coun- country’s Baa2 rating — a notch to jump-start action to achieve cil, the University of Tokyo Global above minimum investment grade the UN sustainable Development Advisory Board and the endeavor — on a stable outlook.

The rating agency has pegged Goals by 2030. Together, over 800 Philippines board of trustees. He leaders from around the world are represented the Philippines on the the 2017 gross domestic product gathered in New York to identify Asia Pacific economic Cooperation (GDP) growth forecast for the how to unleash the business ac- (APeC) Business Advisory Council Philippines at 6.5 percent and 6.8 percent for next year. tivities, thinking and innovation from 2010 to 2015. economic managers through the Zobel has received multiple required for a new era of sustainrecognitions for his public service Development Budget Coordination ability.

Zobel is a member of various and support of economic develop- Committee (DBCC) have set a GDP business and socio-civic organiza- ment in the Philippines, including growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for tions, including the JP Morgan In- the Presidential Medal of Merit, the 2017 and seven to eight percent ternational Council and Mitsubishi Philippine Legion of Honor and the for 2018.

Moody’s said risks to economic Corp. International Advisory Coun- Order of Mabini.

Zobel named UN sustainability...

PAGE D3 “Ignoring these issues threatens our ability to create long-term value and jeopardizes the sustainability of the enterprise and markets.”

The world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact calls on companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals. In the Philippines, over 20 companies and non-business organization have joined the initiative, and the Global Compact Network Philippines has supported their efforts to advance sustainable business practices

service exports, however, are not as affected and that is where businesses, especially those in Asean region, could focus. “[Of] every $100 worth of goods exported worldwide, almost 40 percent of this value is in fact services that are incorporated in this process. so it means that this is very important because that kind of breaking up of value chain creates an opportunity,” he said.

“It is important for Asean businesses to move further to services,” he added.

One way that a company can boost trade in services is if it makes a beeline for the Chinese market.

“To put it in another word … It is very dificult not to be pulled by this kind of gravity force which is exerted by a very large country that is also rapidly growing,” Apoteker said.

Anson Bailey, partner and head of the consumer markets practice at KMPG Hong Kong, said businesses should be prepared to learn new things and take advantage of regional market opportunities.

Asia’s household consumption spending is projected to reach $33 trillion by 2030, he said, far outpac-

ing the $18 trillion and $16 trillion estimated for the United states and europe, respectively.

“This will be driven by new middle classes and growing millennial population in the region. It is really staring to ramp up,” Baily said.

He also noted opportunities from mobile device use and the increasing role of social media in e-commerce.

Bailey noted that there are 602 million smartphones in China alone while Internet usage is increasing day by day in southeast Asia. similarly in Philippines, Internet usage rates are climbing and will continue to climb, he added.

“Today’s Asian consumers are actively connected to everything. some CeOs did not know the importance of social media and I need you to think the importance of these technologies to businesses,” he stressed.

Lastly, Bailey highlighted that 58 percent of the global millennial population is in Asia.

Given this, he said millennials were an important demographic as they are the ones who are willing to pay for participating in an “experience economy”.

Moody’s: PH economic fundamentals sound, political risks raises concerns growth include the continued uncertainties regarding the proposed comprehensive tax reform program as well as the worsening Islamist insurgency in Mindanao that could lead to the expansion of martial law.

“We expect robust economic growth to be sustained over the next few years, aided by the government’s focus on infrastructure development, buoyant private sector investment, and the recovery in external demand.

The re-emergence of conflict in the southern Philippines, and the administration’s focus on the eradication of illegal drugs, represents a rising but unlikely risk to economic performance and institutional strength,” it said.

According to the debt watcher, the risks could undermine both foreign and domestic business confidence and at the same time disrupt economic activity in other parts of the country.

It noted the business climate and infrastructure quality of the Philippines remain weak after it fell 10 notches in the 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report of the World economic Forum due

to inefficient government bureaucracy and inadequate supply of infrastructure.

The Philippines received a moderate score from Moody’s for institutional strength, reflecting its ranking on cross-country surveys such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators and a track record of policy effectiveness as suggested by its low and stable inflation.

The rating agency cited the strong record of the Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas (BsP) in maintaining monetary and financial stability as inflation remained well anchored while liquidity is being proactively managed amid volatile capital flows.

Moody’s cited the CTRP being pushed by the Department of Finance (DOF) that could address the country’s revenue weakness.

Moody’s said the stable outlook on the Philippines’ rating indicates that upside and downside risks are balanced. “strong GDP growth could accelerate even further, especially if the government achieves higher investment spending. In turn, fiscal strength is likely to improve, potentially significantly,” it said.

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NEDA pushes maximum easing Angara: Senate to revise govt of foreign ownership limits tax reform proposals

by Czeriza

ValenCia Philstar.com

The National economic and Development Authority (NeDA) will push for an aggressive liberalization of the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), particularly in the areas of retail trade, practice of professions, public utilities and infrastructure contractors, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ernesto Pernia said.

“I want a more aggressive liberalization (of the FINL),” he said.

“We have to be at par with other ASeAN countries.”

The FINL is undergoing revisions, the new draft of which will be taken up during the next meeting of the NeDA Board chaired by President Duterte.

The negative list determines investment areas where foreign participation is prohibited or limited. The FINL was last updated in 2015. This year’s list has been promised to be among the most liberal so far.

Restrictions on foreign ownership cannot be all lifted administratively as several prohibitions need legislative action.

Pernia said, however, that NeDA is pushing for the “highest possible or approvable” easing of foreign control in the above-mentioned industries to improve the quality of services and implement public infrastructure faster.

The economic planning chief earlier said steps are underway to ease restrictions imposed on foreign contractors to allow them

by MayVelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will push for an aggressive liberalization of the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), particularly in the areas of retail trade, practice of professions, public utilities and infrastructure contractors, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV

to fully participate in big-ticket projects under the government’s ambitious infrastructure development program.

Restrictions will also be eased for investment houses and financial investors under the new FINL in line with the liberalization of the banking sector.

On the practice of professions, Pernia is particularly keen on lifting restrictions on highly-skilled academic workers such as university professors as high-caliber faculty is needed in higher educational institutions, especially those specializing in science and technology.

“The reason why our universities are not highly rated is because we don’t allow foreign professors

to work, which is already standard in other countries,” he said.

On public utilities like telecommunications and water, President Duterte has expressed interest in the imposition of a 70 percent foreign ownership cap, according to Pernia.

Raising the foreign ownership limit for public utilities, however, would require the amendment of the Public Service Act which prohibits majority ownership by foreign entities in public utilities.

A bill is already pending in the house of Representatives seeking to amend the statutory definitions of public utility to open industries like telecommunications, transport, power and water to increased foreign ownership.

The Senate is unlikely to adopt the entirety of the government’s first comprehensive tax reform package, a legislator said on Wednesday, September 13.

“There’s some changes … But more or less it’s maybe 50 percent to 60 percent or 70 percent of what the DoF (Department of Finance) proposed,” ways and means committee chairman Sen. Juan edgardo Angara told reporters at the sidelines of a Senate hearing.

The first package, also known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (Train), calls for lower personal income tax rates in exchange for a wider value-added tax (VAT) base and higher excise taxes on fuel and cars, among others.

The house of Representatives approved its version of the Train—house Bill 5636—in May 31 via an overwhelming vote of 246-9 with one abstention.

The Senate is currently tackling its version, Senate Bill 1408, and reconciling this with hB 5636.

Angara said some changes would involve lowering the proposed sugar sweetened beverage tax to P5 per liter from P10 per liter, staggering the implementation of the fuel tax hike and the retaining VAT exemptions for housing and renewable energy.

The potential revenue from the Senate version, he claimed, would be about P130 billion or

Valente

ManilaTimes.net

NANNING, China—China supports the growth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) and is resolute in boosting friendly cooperation with the 10member regional bloc, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has said.

In a speech during the opening ceremony of 14th China-Asean expo and 14th China-ASeAN Business and Investment Summit here on Tuesday, Zhang said China has always regarded Asean “as a priority in our neighborhood diplomacy as well as a focal point in our effort to Belt and Road development together.”

“Over half a century of develop-

ment of Asean has made this organization a very strong representative force in safeguarding regional peace and stability and promoting world multipolar development of the world. China is heartened to see development of Asean and also we hope to see a more united, stronger and prosperous Asean in the future,” Zhang said in Mandarin.

“China will continue to uphold the spirit of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and the inclusiveness in our neighborhood diplomacy, join hands with Asean to build a closer China-ASeAN community of shared future,” he added.

Zhang said China and Asean should deepen political mutual trust for stronger synergy in both sides’ development strategies.

“Political mutual trust is the

guarantee and the basis of friendly cooperation,” he said.

‘Buy Chinese machines’ The Chinese vice premier said China and Asean should also deepen international industrial capacity cooperation.

“China’s equipment is cost-efficient, and it has advantages in technology, training and financing, enabling China and ASeAN countries to nurture new comparative advantages and create new room for economic growth,” he said.

“China is ready to work with Asean countries to implement the Joint Declarations on Industrial Capacity Cooperation between China and ASeAN…We’re ready to work with Asean countries to synergize our development strategies and demands in industries so as to

about the same as the P133.8 billion estimated by the Finance department.

For his part, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the government remained hopeful that the Senate would adopt the DoF’s original proposal.

“The potential revenue had been already incorporated in the 2018 national budget. So if

ManilaTimes.net photo

the Senate cut something, they have to find some alternative,” he said.

Chua added that the government also needed the additional revenues to fund the free tuition law and the rebuilding of Marawi City.

“As much as possible we want them also to consider the bigger picture,” he said.

Sagada organic coffee wins award in Paris by leander

C. doMingo ManilaTimes.net

SINCe time immemorial, Sagada, a town famous for its hanging coffins in Mountain Province, has been a producer of coffee and is now emerging as the country’s Arabica coffee capital. But one promote the mutual development thing that is also worth noticing in and carry out our cooperation in this place is their produce called industrial capacity,” he added.

“Bana’s Coffee.”

Zhang said the two sides should Very recently, this Cordillera also deepen economic and trade organic coffee won a medal and cooperation for upgraded free trade gained international recognition in area between ASeAN and China. europe. This was during the third “China is ready to work with edition of the International Contest Asean to implement our coopera- of Coffees Roasted in the Countries tion initiative for trade facilitation of Origin organized by the Parisunder the Belt and Road initiative based Valorization of Agricultural and sign more agreements for Products (AVPA). currency exchange, for investment A non-government, non-profit promotion and protection agree- organization, AVPA is composed ment,’” he said. mainly of coffee industry experts In addition, China will actively and taste enthusiasts. engage in cooperation with ASeAN “Our goal is promoting the value in environmental protection, eco- of agricultural products around the logical restoration and the circular world and give recognition to the economy, in a bid to “build a green excellence of producers,” Philippe Silk Road,” Zhang added.

Juglar, AVPA president, stated.

Bana’s Coffee was first presented PAGE D5

China vows support for ASEAN growth

by Catherine

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara

to AVPA by a team of three people namely Goad Sibayan, Butch Acop and Rich Watanabe.

Running Bana’s Coffee is Sibayan, who himself is a coffee farmer and roaster. Foreign and local tourists can find Sibayan in Sagada where he grows only Arabica coffee trees.

Sibayan said Bana’s Coffee’s win in Paris helped boost the country’s reputation of having among the best coffee in the world. he said it was Juglar who gave the award to Consul Rapunzel Acop of the Philippine embassy in Paris on behalf of the team that counts him, Acop and Watanabe, during the awarding ceremony that took place at the embassy of Peru in Paris on June 28.

Some 60 coffee entries from 21 countries also received various awards from AVPA. Watanabe said the entry of Bana’s Coffee into AVPA was a collaborative effort between the team and the Coffee heritage Project (ChP), a non-profit private initiaPAGE D5

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Marketplace

PH gov’t to return MRT trains to China

by Jefferson

AntipordA ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) will return all 48 new light rail coaches procured by the previous administration from Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stocks Co. for P3.8 billion if a third party qualifier will conclude that the trains are unusable, according to Undersecretary Cesar Chavez.

The coaches were procured under former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya as part of the MRT3 capacity expansion project. Although Dalian delivered the coaches in 2016, not one has been used because of issues on the signaling system and compatibility.

Chavez said the option for the department is to return the coaches to China and have the supplier fix all the issues.

“They have to fix them. The contract states that coaches that would be delivered should be compatible with the existing depot facilities,” he added.

Senator Grace Poe welcomed the department’s decision to get an independent audit of the China-made trains.

“An independent auditor should come in,” she said, pointing out that should the government

The 48 new light rail trains for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 acquired by the Philippine government in 2013 may be returned to China due to several technical problems.

Philstar.com photo

returns the light rail vehicles to China, “the Philippines will not be faulted without legitimate reasons behind it.”

Poe said it was very clear that the previous administration bought trains that were not compatible with the MRT facility.

The MRT-3 rails can carry a maximum of 48,000 kilograms (kgs), but the Dalian trains weigh heavier at 49,000 kgs per coach, which may put a strain on the rails.

Chavez said out of the P3.8billion contract cost, only P800 million have so far been paid by the Philippine government.

DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said they are reviewing documents and currently building up cases against those involved in the fiasco.

“We should learn a lesson from this. This is about who should be accountable. We should file cases against those people,” said Poe, who heads the Senate committee on public services.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, vice chair of the public services committee, said the riding public still have to wait for months before they could get relief from the glitches that have been bugging the rail system.

Sagada organic coffee... China vows support for...

PAGE D4

tive dedicated to help farmers grow quality-focused coffee.

“We hope that with this recognition, we are able to highlight Philippine coffee and the great work of Filipino coffee farmers like Goad [Sibayan], growing one of the finest coffees in the world to be the true artisans of the Philippines’ coffee industry,” Watanabe said.

PhilMech contributions The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in collaboration with farmers’ cooperative, the local government unit and the Sagada Arabica Coffee Council (SACC) have contributed a lot to the growing coffee industry in Sagada.

In 2014, PhilMech started deploying its technology that was adopted by the Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors Organization (SACGPO), which then initially maintained at least seven units of coffee depulper.

Assisted by PhilMech and the local government of Sagada in adopting postharvest technologies for coffee, SACGPO markets the “Sagada Gold” brand.

According to Helen Martinez, Muñoz-based PhilMech’s supervising science research specialist, the technologies they introduced in Sagada covered collecting, pulping, hauling and sorting.

PhilMech’s coffee depulper, which is undergoing improvement, has a capacity of 40 to 50 kilograms of coffee berries an hour and is operated by only one person.

The technology has greatly helped coffee farmers in Sagada and has been making known the municipality for its organic Arabica coffee,” Martinez said.

She said the technology is far better than the traditional mortar and pestle where a farmer can only depulp and dehull 40 to 50 kilograms of coffee berries in one working day.

“Using the coffee depulper, postharvest losses are reduced to less then 6 percent from as much as 16 percent using the mortar and pestle method,” Martinez said.

Also, she said, the quality of the processed coffee beans is greatly improved with the use of the coffee depulper, which in turn can make farmers demand better prices for their beans.

PAGE D4 Free-trade deals Zhang said China was also willing to, along with ASEAN, push the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Trade negotiations were launched in 2012 He also stressed the need for full implementation of a protocol signed in 2015 on upgrading China-Asean Free Trade.

China has been ASEAN countries’ biggest trading partner in the past eight years, while Asean has been China’s third largest trading partner for six years.

From 1991 to 2016, bilateral trade volume grew nearly 56-fold while two-way cumulative investment volume rose nearly 355-fold, according to Zhang.

China-ASEAN trade volume increased 14.5 percent year-on-year from January to July, higher than China’s overall trade growth rate.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, and the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism Cooperation.

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 16-19, 2017 D

D September 16-19, 2017 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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