LA Weekend Edition -- September 3 -- 6, 2016

W W W M

Los AngeLes

W E E W K EE N EWD K EE ENKDE N D M I D W E E K

E D I T I OE ND I T I O NI T I O N ED

w w w . a s iwa w nw j o. ua w rs niwaaw nl .j. ca o osu m irannajlo.

EDITION

September 3-6, 2016

wwwww. .a aj ds w ujw n m w ii gawintwja.olae drd iw i iol.t.n ce o i tgaw i it ti ao ln aacj.l o d idgm

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

Volume 26 - No. 71 • 4 Sections – 32 Pages

www.ajdigitaledition.com

1210 S. Brand 1210 Blvd.,S. Glendale, CA Brand Blvd., Glendale 1210 S. 91204 Brand Blv

Tels: 818.502.0651Tels: • 213.250.9797 • Fax: 818.502.0858 • 213.481.0854 818.502.0651 • 818.502.0651 213.250.9797 Fax: 818.502.0858 Tels: •• 213.250.9797 • Fax:• 8 Also published in: • Orange County/Inland • Northern California •Empire Las Vegas • New York/ New•Jersey Also published in: published • OrangeEmpire County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas Jersey Also in: • Orange County/Inland • Northern California •New Las York/ VegasNew • New York/ New Jersey 1210 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204

14 dead, dozens wounded after Davao market blast

Also published in: • Orange County/Inland Empire • Northern California • Las Vegas • New York/ New Jersey

by eriC

anthony liCaS AJPress

WITNESSES heard a loud bang and saw smoke drift away from the site of an explosion that tore through a crowded market on Friday, September 2 in Davao, the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

At least 14 people died as a result of a blast that wounded about 67 others on Roxas Street near the Marco Polo, a hotel frequented by Duterte, according to GMA News and other

DATELINE

sources as of press time.

Some reports describe the tragedy as a bombing, but other explanations have not been entirely ruled out. Representatives from the Explosive Ordinance Division (EOD) of the Davao City Police have not yet issued an official statement.

“Rest assured the authorities are on top of this incident,” said Davao City Vice Mayor, and the president’s son, Paolo Duterte in a message to citizens on Friday. “Maybe tomorrow may answers na tayo from the EOD

and the bomb squad (Maybe tomorrow we will have answers from the EOD and the bomb squad).”

However, evidence gathered from the scene support the possibility that Friday’s carnage was caused by a bomb, according to Malacañang representatives.

“Initial investigations show they found shrapnel from a mortar-based improvised explosive device,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told DZMM radio on

u PAGE A2

Tels: 818.502.0651 • 213.250.9797 • Fax: 818.502.0858 • 213.481.0854

BLAST SITE. A photo from the Twitter account of Fr. Jboy Gonzales of Ateneo de Davao University shows a SWAT team securing Roxas market where the explosion occurred in Davao City. A powerful blast ripped through a crowded public market in this city before midnight on Friday, Sept. 2, killing 10 people instantly and leaving more than 60 others wounded.

Philippine police thwarts plot to assassinate president

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Fil-Am fugitive wanted for Tucson murder hiding in PH

A FILIPINO-AMERICAN accused of fatally shooting a man during a house party in Tucson, Arizona, 16 years ago remains at large after fleeing to the Philippines.

Police hope the public might have information leading to the capture of Anthony Burroughs, who was last seen at a strip club in Metro Manila, according to sources for CNN’s “The Hunt with John Walsh.” The 5’7”, 200 lb 37-year-old, who has his last name tattooed on his back, fled the U.S. after allegedly killing Ruben Rodriguez on April 29, 2000.

“I was told it was over a girl,” Rodriguez’s ex-girlfriend, Melinda Ochoa told CNN. Witnesses say the two men met for the first time that night and wound up trading blows. After the fistfight, Rodriguez had reportedly helped Burroughs get up from the ground and was then shot in the shoulder as he walked away from the suspect, according to Ochoa. The wound destroyed the victim’s carotid artery, according to Tucson Police

u PAGE A5

Fil-Am lawmaker urges criminal justice reform in CA

ONE of the issues most important to Assemblymember Rob Bonta is reforming California’s criminal justice system.

In July, Bonta — the first Filipino-American in the state’s Legislature — took action. As chair of the Select Committee on Boys and Men of Color, he gathered lawmakers, academics, community leaders and ex-convicts to discuss the shortcomings of the state’s criminal justi ce, paying particular attention to the state’s bail system.

“In my view, it’s not a question of if the system needs to be reformed, it’s a question of how,” Bonta said in a hearing on July 6.

When an individual is arrested, they may be required to pay the court a certain amount of money — called bail — in exchange for release. This relies on the grounds that the individual shows up to court for a trial.

The bail system was established to reduce court absences, but critics, including Bonta, say that bail puts a premium on poor people who can’t afford bail.

“If you are poor and can’t pay bail, you will sit in jail even if your violation is something as minor as a traffic ticket and you’re not a

u PAGE A5

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE August arrest of two suspected gun smugglers foiled an alleged plot to assassinate President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday, September 1.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had arrested the suspects identified as Bryan Ta-ala and Wilford Palma on Saturday, August 6 for reportedly smuggling about P4.5 million worth of gun components from the United States into Bacolod City, according to Inquirer.

Palma told reporters in Quezon City on Thursday that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivers an immigration speech on Wednesday night, August 31 in Phoenix, Arizona. Hours before the remarks, he met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Photo taken from Donald Trump’s official Instagram account

Fil-Ams sound off on Trump’s long-awaited immigration speech

by ChriStina

M. oriel

AJPress

BUILD a wall. Curb undocumented immigration. End sanctuary cities. Implement an extreme vetting process.

In his anticipated immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday night, August 31, these were some of the policies Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said

would help “take our country back.”

“When politicians talk about immigration reform, they usually mean the following: amnesty, open borders, and lower wages,” Trump said. “Immigration reform should mean something else entirely: it should mean improvements to our laws and policies to make life better for American citizens.”

The issue of immigration —

particularly undocumented immigration, which Trump said is “one of the greatest challenges” the country faces — has been a bedrock of the real estate billionaire’s campaign. In announcing his candidacy last year, he mentioned that Mexican immigrants were “rapists” and “bringing drugs” into the United States.

Following the attack in San

Donaire to fight on Pacquiao-Vargas card

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

TWO internationally-renowned Filipino boxing champions will be fighting at the same event on November 5 in Las Vegas.

In an ABS-CBN report, boxing promoter Bob Arum announced that Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will fight against Jessie Magdaleno at the co-main event of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s comeback fight.

“We are looking to do something really spectacular for all Filipino people,” Arum said.

Donaire will defend the crown against Magdaleno after reclaiming his WBO super bantamweight title last December, following a unanimous verdict over Cesar Juarez.

Earlier this April, he defended his belt after coming off a TKO win Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak in the third round.

u PAGE A5

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr.

u PAGE A3

u PAGE A3

Duterte ready to defend drug killings in Obama meeting Obama will not ‘pull any punches’

by Klarize

MeDenilla AJPress

DAYS before the widely anticipated meeting, both Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Barack Obama promise to hold each other accountable for their respective country’s faults.

The leaders are meeting privately at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Western leaders in Vientiane, Laos from Sept. 6-8. This will be the presidents’ first face-to-face meeting since

u PAGE A2

A SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

14 dead, dozens wounded after Davao…

PAGE A1 t

the morning of Saturday, September 3.

In addition, witnesses told the Straits Times they believe the explosion was too strong to have been caused by a liquid propane tank malfunction.

The vice mayor said that he had been alerted to the possibility of an upcoming bombing about two days before Friday’s

incident, according to Inquirer.

He had declined to alert the public to his latest intelligence after receiving criticism for circulating reports of a different unconfirmed threat.

Officials from the Department of National Defense suspect agents of the jihadist-inspired Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) are responsible for Friday’s death toll.

“While nobody has come up to

own the act, we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks,” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Saturday morning, as reported

by GMA News. “We have predicted this and had warned our troops accordingly” Duterte has mandated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to exterminate the terrorist group. The rebel organization is more typically known for extortion and kidnappings, but it has committed bombings in the past. ASG rebels executed the most lethal terrorist attack to occur at sea when they detonated a device that killed 116 people onboard the Superferry 14 in February of 2004.

On Saturday, August 27, eight prisoners who had been caught with a homemade bomb at a police checkpoint were freed by gunmen of another jihadist organization, the Maute group, according to the BBC and other

u PAGE A3

SEND OFF FOR THE PHILIPPINE TEAM. Senator Richard J. Gordon (in Barong Tagalog) posed with chess grandmaster Eugene Torre (on Gordon’s left) and the members of the Philippine Team before Tuesday’s session started. The team will compete in the World Chess Olympiad to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 1 to 14, 2016. Gordon wished them well and expressed hope that they will bring home the bacon.

Senate photo

Duterte…

PAGE A1 t

Duterte was elected.

“He can raise any topic at all. I’m ready to talk to him,” Duterte said in a news briefing on Wednesday, August 31.

The talking points will include the violent crackdown on illegal drugs that have resulted in more than 2,000 killings since Duterte’s inauguration on June 30. The killings have received international outrage and organizations — including the United Nations — have accused Duterte’s policies of violating human rights.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that Duterte will use the summit as a platform to explain his controversial anti-drug campaign.

“He wants to make the international community aware that he’s very sincere to evolve genuine change in the country and he wants them to understand where he’s coming from as far as, for instance, this issue on illicit drugs is concerned,” Helen Dela Vega, assistant secretary for the DFAOffice of ASEAN Affairs, said on Friday, Sept. 2.

Duterte hopes that his Ameri-

u PAGE A3

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

From the Front page

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

A

Fil-Ams sound off on Trump’s…

PAGE A1 t

Bernardino, California in December, Trump proposed banning Muslims from entering the country until lawmakers “can figure out what is going on.”

Last month, he even received backlash from many FilipinoAmericans when he suggested curbing immigration from “terrorist nations,” including the Philippines. He cited the case of a Philippine citizen living in California who was convicted of plotting to join Al Qaeda.

Prior to his speech, Trump went to Mexico earlier that day to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto, a conversation he said was “thoughtful and substantive.”

The Republican candidate said he and the Mexican president did not discuss the latter’s government footing the bill for the border separating the U.S. and Mexico. However, during his remarks, Trump suggested otherwise.

“We will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for the wall. One hundred percent,” he said. “They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to pay for it.”

Among other policies he proposed in his hour-long remarks included: end catch-and-release; “zero tolerance for criminal aliens”; “cancel unconstitutional executive orders and enforce all immigration laws”; suspend issuance of visas without proper

screening; and making sure countries take back deported individuals.

Though reports leading up to the long-awaited speech speculated that he would backtrack from his hard-line immigration stance in an attempt to garner broader appeal, he reiterated that those without papers would be deported.

“Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation. That is what it means to have laws and to have a country,” he said.

He went on to add that under his administration, a pathway to legal status would be impossible for undocumented immigrants because “those days are over.”

The only solution, he said, would be for them to return to their home countries.

“For those here illegally today, who are seeking legal status, they will have one route and one route only. To return home and apply for re-entry like everybody else, under the rules of the new legal immigration system that I have outlined above,” he said.

For some Fil-Am Republicans, Trump’s speech supported their beliefs that potential immigrants should wait in line to enter the U.S. Consuelo Almonte, founder and president of the Philippine Community Center Services for Aging in New York, applauded Trump’s speech and said he “expresses the failures of this ad-

ministration.”

“I am with Trump for zero tolerance for illegal aliens that [are] flooding our schools, our hospitals [and] social welfare. It is a burden for the citizens and taxpayers,” she said. “Furthermore, there should be extreme vetting for those who want to stay here.

Those who desire to stay here should assimilate and respect our laws and accept our norm of life. Otherwise, why would anyone wants to live in a place where they despise the way of life? Simple as that.”

Emmanuel Tipon, an 83-yearold immigration lawyer from Hawaii, said the core of the immigration debate is the “well-being of the American people.”

“Filipinos waiting for visa availability should be taken care of first before letting others in.

Immigration policy should be based on national interest [and] what is good for America,” Tipon said on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Lisa Noeth, a Fil-Am small business owner and grassroots Republican Party volunteer in Las Vegas, told the Asian Journal that “there is a misconception about Mr. Trump’s tough stance on immigration.”

“Illegal immigration in the United States should not be taken lightly, because if you are entering the United States illegally, it is a criminal act. Here is an example of why illegal immigration must be halted under Mr.

u PAGE A4

Duterte ready to defend drug killings…

PAGE A2 t

can counterpart will hear him out first.

“They must understand the problem first before we talk about human rights,” he said. “I would insist, ‘Listen to me. This is what the problem is.’ Then we can talk. No problem.”

Duterte added that Obama should examine the shortcomings of the U.S. before placing judgment on the Philippines’ handling of human rights. “[Washington is] threatening me because Obama wants to talk to me,” Duterte said at a gathering in Davao City also on Wednesday. “Then he will talk to me. What’s your problem?”

Addressing Obama, the Philippine president noted the increasing number of black people being killed by police, saying, “In your place, black people are

being shot even if they are lying down.”

Previously, Duterte has criticized the U.S. and the rest of the world for killings in Africa and the Middle East. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, he blamed the U.S. for the violence ensuing in Iraq and the Middle East.

The White House has also assured that Obama will not shy away from Duterte.

“The president is certainly not going to pull any punches in raising well-documented and relevant concerns when it comes to human rights,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a press briefing on Wednesday, August 31.

But the leaders are slated to discuss other interests like the South China Sea ruling. The U.S. has applauded the Philippines

for its handling of the territorial dispute.

Earnest commended the longtime alliance between the two countries, saying, “Another feature of our alliances is [President Obama’s] not just ability, but willingness to speak bluntly, even on issues where there might be some daylight between the United States and our allies.”

The U.S. has urged the Philippines to comply with human rights obligations and expressed concern over the escalating death toll.

“We believe in rule of law.

We believe in due process. We believe in respect for universal human rights. We believe, fundamentally, that those aspects ensure and promote long-term security,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told ABC News. n

6TH PHILIPPINE SOLAR SUMMIT AND EXHIBITION. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (2nd from left) points to a solar panel display at the 6th Philippine Solar Summit and Exhibition 2016, held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Pimentel is accompanied by Maria Theresa Capellan (left), president of Sun Asia Energy, Inc., and Dr. Gunther Matschuck (3rd from left) of Machinen & Technik Inc., distributors of renewable energy.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

14 dead, dozens wounded after Davao…

PAGE A2 t

sources. The militants have adopted IS symbolism and, like the ASG, pledged allegiance to their Middle Eastern counterparts.

Government officials had warned that terrorists from the southern Philippines might launch attacks in other parts of the country in order to distract ongoing military operations in Sulu province, according to the Strait Times.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters on Wednesday, August 31 that security and law enforcement agencies had been on high alert, according to a TV5 report.

Friday’s incident comes just a day after Philippine National Police (PNP) announced they had intercepted a wholesale transaction of firearms meant for use in an assassination attempt on

Duterte.

Criminal cartels have put a P50 million price tag on the heads of both De La Rosa and Duterte for waging what has become a bloody war on drugs. The current administration’s policy of publicly shaming alleged cartel bosses, as well as violent anticrime operations, have drawn the ire of drug syndicates, and condemnation from international human rights groups.

More than 1,900 alleged drug dealers and users have died at the hands of either police, vigilantes, or possibly other dealers, and over 60,000 have surrendered to police since Duterte was sworn into office on June 30.

The president had returned to Davao to prepare for an upcoming trip to Brunei on Sunday, September 5 and was in the city when the explosions happened, according to the Strait Times,

GMA and other sources.

He visited the location of the explosion and spoke with officials monitoring the situation on Saturday morning. Duterte declared a “state of lawless violence” following the briefing and told reporters he planned on instituting heightened security in the area.

“It’s not martial law but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications,” said the president. “So if you do not have anything to hide, I am suggesting that you be liberal enough to understand us because we are trying to cope up with a crisis now.”

Authorities are bolstering the police presence in Davao, establishing checkpoints, instructing citizens to return to their homes and have ordered the closure of

u PAGE A5

Philippine police thwarts plot to…

PAGE A1 t

the parts could be assembled into over 100 M-16 style rifles.

According to him, the customer who ordered the parts was planning to “use the gun parts to assassinate President Duterte.”

This confession would not have been made had he not been arrested, Palma admitted during the press conference.

“Most likely hindi siguro siya gun-for-hire (Most likely he’s not a “gun-for-hire),” said PNP National Director Ronald Dela Rosa on Thursday. Baka inutusan siya ng sindikato na bilhin para gami-

tin for that purpose (He might only be working for a syndicate to buy these for that purpose).”

Ta-ala, identified as Palma’s boss, was being treated in a hospital after the raid.

PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, however, clarified that Ta-ala and Palma were charged cases for gun smuggling but were not suspects of the alleged assassination plot.

They were charged cases for violating Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Dela Rosa said the two sus-

pects had expressed willingness to cooperate with the police investigation into the alleged assassination plot against Duterte.

Reacting to the report, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte was “concerned, but not worried” as the president “eats (death) threats for breakfast.”

According to Dela Rosa, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had tipped the Philippine Bureau of Customs about the gun parts shipped from the U.S. Customs relayed the information to CIDG that led to the arrest of the two suspects. n

A SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

From the Front page

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

US, India urge nations to respect South China Sea ruling by dana

SioSon AJPress

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND DANGEROUS DRUGS. Senator Panfilo Lacson (center), chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, presides over a hearing on proposals seeking to authorize wiretapping in cases involving violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. “Wiretapping has been an effective tool by our law enforcement agencies against criminal elements who have wreaked havoc, instability and lack of equanimity in our country to the detriment of many of our peace-loving citizens,” Lacson said. Also in photo are (from left) Senators Leila de Lima, Tito Sotto, Gringo Honasan and Nancy Binay. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

US has admitted 10,000 Syrian refugees so far in 2016

by Klarize

Medenilla

AJPress

AFTER President Barack Obama announced his resettlement program last fall, the United States has so far admitted 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016 as of Monday, August 29, a month ahead of schedule.

This marks the largest influx of Syrian refugees in a single year since the civil war in Syria began five years ago.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of employees across the federal government,” National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice said in a statement released on Monday, August 29. “Their commitment to meeting the President’s expectation that we both increase our refugee admissions and strengthen the integrity of the refugee program, including its stringent security screening protocols, has been essential to this effort.”

The program — called the U.S. Resettlement Program (USRP) — seeks to “uphold America’s humanitarian response to refugees” through three phases: security, placement and transition,

according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

After refugees are screened through a lengthy security process that includes comprehensive background checks, they are placed in particular areas of the countries within 30 to 90 days.

Once they’re settled, the government provides assistance to help them adjust to life in the U.S. by way of financial and medical aid, employment assistance and a variety of specialized programs.

“Today, they are refugees. Tomorrow, they can be students and professors, scientists and researchers, workers and caregivers,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in April.

In general, refugees are usually placed in cities in which they have family and/or friends, David Murphy, executive director for the International Rescue Committee in San Diego, told ABC News. If that’s not the case, they’re placed in areas with high concentrations of people of the same culture and/or ethnicity.

Data from the Census Bureau states that there are more than 150,000 Syrians living in the U.S.

Most Syrians have been sent to medium-sized cities with affordable housing situations and ample job opportunities, but some of the major cities — like Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, Chicago and Boston — have accepted a considerable amount of refugees.

California and Michigan have received the most Syrian refugees, according to an ABC News report. In addition to LA, cities in California that have accepted a large number of Syrian refugees include San Diego, Santa Ana, Sacramento, Oakland and cities all across the Southland, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

The U.S. is no stranger to welcoming refugees fleeing political turmoil. In 1979, the country welcomed 111,000 Vietnamese refugees and 207,000 more in 1980.

More than 120,000 Cuban refugees were also welcomed during the Mariel boatlift in 1980.

Rice said that the U.S. is looking to welcome at least 85,000 refugees this year, including those from Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine and other countries. n

MORE than a month after the international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, the United States and India have called parties concerned to have the “utmost respect” for the international law.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, August 31, the two nations “stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce throughout the region, including in the South China Sea.” “They [India and the US] urged the utmost respect for international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the statement said.

“They reiterated that states should resolve disputes through peaceful means, and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability.”

The two nations released the statement during U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to India as part of their annual Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

Kerry also said that “there is no military solution” to the dispute, urging China and the Philippines to abide by the arbitration tribunal’s decision.

“The United States continues to call on China and the Philippines to abide by the tribunal’s recent decision which is final and legally binding on both parties,” Kerry told a gathering of students in New Delhi.

He added the United States supports diplomatic efforts to resolve these territorial disputes.

“We are also interested in not fanning the flames of conflict but rather trying to encourage the parties to resolve their disputes and claims through the legal process and through diplomacy,” Kerry said.

Last July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague sided in favor of the Philippines, ruling that China has no legal

basis over its territorial claims in the disputed water.

China, however, refused to recognize the ruling, stating it would take measures needed to protect its sovereignty over the South China Sea. China claims most of the South China Sea, with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam rivaling its claims.

Last August 23, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said bilateral talks with China may start within the year.

When asked by the date, he replied “Nearer than you think.

Within the year, maybe,” as reported by Rappler.

Duterte previously said he won’t bring up the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute in the upcoming Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit unless another country would mention it.

Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will also attend the summit, which will be held next week in Laos. n

proposed the vetting system, alleging that the U.S. government does not know exactly who is coming in.

On the other hand, the campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said it was Trump’s “darkest speech yet.”

“Donald Trump once again showed us that he will continue his decades-long record of divisiveness and campaign of hate by pledging to forcibly remove every single undocumented immigrant from our country,” the campaign said.

Similarly, Clinton supporters echoed the campaign’s reactions.

Meriam Reynosa, a member of Filipino Americans for Hillary, said, “If Trump were elected, he really would create a barbaric state of America because all of us would continuously have to look over our shoulders. Undocumented people would have to live in fear of being deported every day.”

“As the first Filipino American in the California Legislature and the son of an immigrant, I am disgusted by how casually Trump

speaks about deporting millions of people, including Filipinos.

He has demonstrated a willful ignorance about America’s history and our values, and is simply unfit to serve as president of our United States of America,” Assemblymember Rob Bonta told the Asian Journal in a statement.

“The only candidate with the vision to lead and a plan for comprehensive immigration reform is Secretary Clinton.”

Aries Dela Cruz, president of the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York, said listening to the speech “seemed like a nightmare.”

“In that America, Filipino immigrants like me and my family are not welcome. The Filipino community will not be fooled

by Trump’s hostility against our families and his desire to round us up. It’s clear now that he is not the leader of a party or a campaign, but a hate movement.

That’s why we will be out in full force in November to vote for Hillary, and why we are working every day to make sure our community’s vote and voice will be a decisive one,” he told the Asian Journal in an email. n

Fil-Ams sound off on Trump’s…

PAGE A3 t

Trump’s administration,” she said. “I’ve heard stories countless Filipinos, who’ve applied for their visas to come to the United States. Unfortunately, the immigration process takes them 10-15 years to have their visas approved to legally [come to] the United States.”

Shirlene Ostrov — a Fil-Am retired Air Force colonel who is running under the Republican ticket in the race for Hawaii’s 1st congressional district — said Trump’s policies show “his concern for safety” and are “good attempts to restore law and order” in the country.

“As the daughter of immigrants, I do believe in a vibrant immigration system that is enforced properly and takes into account the safety and security of American citizens,” Ostrov told the Asian Journal.

However, she noted that she disagrees with “the notion of ideological certifications,” a screening test that Trump said would ensure the U.S. was bringing in people who “share our values and love our people.” Earlier in August, the Republican nominee

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

Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

A

Lead suspect charged with murder in connection to missing Fil-Am woman

by Eric

LAUREATES. Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo (fourth from right) congratulates Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award on Wednesday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Other awardees were Dompet Dhuafa of Indonesia, Thodur Madabusi Krishna and Bezwada Wilson of India, and the groups Vientiane Rescue of Laos and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Fil-Am lawmaker urges criminal justice…

PAGE A1 t

risk to public safety or a flight risk,” Bonta said in a statement.

“If you have the money to pay your cash bail, you can get out, no matter how likely you are to flee or reoffend.”

Bonta refers to the system as “an issue of racial, social and economic injustice” that disproportionately singles out not only the poor, but also people of color.

More than 60 percent of those incarcerated in California are sitting in jail merely because they were not able to afford bail. In other words, more than 46,000 people that are locked up have not been convicted of a crime

and are legally innocent.

On average, it costs taxpayers each more than $100 a day to keep one person in jail, which translates to a statewide cost of $4.5 million.

Last year, a group of lawyers in San Francisco filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of two former inmates that accused the state’s bail system services wealthy suspects while disfavoring poor suspects. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit sought to eliminate the cash bail system in San Francisco and possibly California and the country.

However, those who oppose abolishing the system say that bail actually holds suspects ac-

14 dead, dozens wounded…

PAGE A3 t

bars in the city.

In addition, administrators at Ateneo de Davao University, which is located across the street from the scene of the blast, canceled Saturday classes and placed the campus on lockdown.

Photos taken in the wake of the explosion depict blood pooling around the bodies of victims strewn amongst the remnants of vendor

booths and plastic furniture. First responders carried the wounded on stretchers to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and other nearby hospitals.

“Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded,” said Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. “It’s a sad day for Davao and for the Philippines.” n

Donaire to fight on Pacquiao…

PAGE A1 t

On the other hand, Magdaleno has a 23-0 professional record with 17 of his wins coming by way of knockout. His fight with Donaire will be his first shot at a world title.

In his latest match, Magdaleno knocked out Pinoy boxer Rey Perez in the seventh round.

“When we made the fight, one of the reasons why we are in

Thomas and Mack, it sets up so that we can have more than 6000 seats that we are charging 50 dollars from, so that the Filipinos who come here who usually watch it on closed circuit can watch it for as low as 50 dollars,” Arum said.

“It’s gonna be packed with Filipino fans,” he added.

The Pacquiao-Vargas fight will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. n

Fil-Am fugitive wanted for…

PAGE A1 t

Detective, Tom Stewart.

Burroughs had also shot himself in the foot during the incident. With the help of his girlfriend and another accomplice, he sought medical attention in Mexico, supposedly to avoid alerting law enforcement of his whereabouts. American Customs officials stopped the fugitive’s car as he reentered the country, but eventually released him. He was then able to board a plane in Phoenix, Arizona and escape to the Philippines.

Police continued to work on the case, but Burroughs’s trail grew cold over the years.

“There were a lot of people giving misinformation,” Stewart told CNN. “At a certain point, over the years, you run out of people to talk to.”

Then, well over a decade after Rodriguez’s death, a confidential source in the Philippines gave investigators a critical lead. In 2014, police learned that Burroughs’s mother -- who is originally from Iloilo, Philippines -- had been sending money to her son overseas, and were able to obtain a warrant to search her home. Officers spent 14 hours looking for clues before finding a collection of letters sent by Burroughs from the Philippines.

“We very much believe that Anthony’s mother has tipped him off and drove him back underground,” Deputy U.S. Marshall Jen Rippey told CNN. “We also believe she is still financing him in some way, shape or form.”

She described the suspect as a “wannabe” who glamorized the gangster lifestyle. He had a criminal record for theft and assaulting his girlfriend, and was known to usually have a gun on his person. Tattoos decorate ¾ of both of his arms, in addition to his upper back and chest.

Rodriguez was 19 and had just landed a sales job in a jewelry store at the time of his death, according to his mother, Sandra Medina. He joined a gang during high school, and wound up in juvenile detention after being caught with a small amount of drugs, according to CNN. He was released after turning 18.

“That’s when he started changing,” Medina told CNN. “Ruben didn’t want to be involved with these people anymore.”

Since discovering Burroughs’s letters to his mother, deputy U.S. Marshals have been dispatched to the Philippines. They are working with local authorities to track the suspect, who was last seen in May of 2014. (By Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

countable.

Maggie Kreins, president of California’s Bail Agents Association, told KQED News that the damages from individuals skipping court are far more detrimental and more expensive.

“When these individuals don’t go to court, who’s going to look for them?” said Kreins, who also heads her own bail bond company Maggie’s Bail Bonds in Long Beach. “The taxpayers are going to have to pay two or three times to arrest the same person.”

“We’ve already seen in California [that] the crime rates have gone up. It’s getting scary out there, and they’re making it so nobody’s going to be held accountable for anything anymore.”

(By Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Anthony LicAs AJPress

ONE of the people arrested in July for kidnapping a Filipino-American woman in California – whose whereabouts remain unknown – could be eligible for execution after prosecutors added murder to the list of charges against him on Friday, September 2.

Prosecutors in Northern California accuse Emanuel D. Espinoza, 26, of causing the death of Fil-Am mother Elvira Babb. She has been missing since June 29, and was last seen by a coworker who dropped her off outside the Vallejo branch of Seafood City.

The missing woman’s neigh-

bor, Richard Fairchild, told NBC that Babb’s dog Rocky barked wildly the night she disappeared.

The next day, the victim’s son, John Babb, 36, received a text message from people threatening to harm his mother unless a $60,000 ransom was paid.

“I pray every day that I’ll see my mom again,” said John Babb during a press conference on Tuesday, July 12. “It Just doesn’t make any sense.”

He told reporters his mother had lived in poverty in the Philippines and continued to struggle financially in America, according to the Daily Republic. He said she had declared bankruptcy and could barely afford to pay her rent.

Police say Espinoza was “well acquainted” with the victim. He and three others were arrested in connection to Elvira Babb’s disappearance on Sunday, July 10.

Prosecutors dropped kidnapping charges against Jalon Brown, 32, and Larry Young, 23, but the two are still accused of acting as accessories to a felony.

The fourth suspect, Lovely M. Ruazol, 27, has been cleared of all charges.

Investigators say they are still working to find Babb. Anyone who might have information leading to her discovery should contact Detective Terry Poyser of the Vallejo Police Department at 707-648-4080. n

THE SIGHT OF CHRISTMAS. A worker arranges Christmas décor at a shop in Quezon City on the first day of September. With the start of the ‘ber months, Christmas carols are once again heard as Filipinos begin their ritual of preparing for the most wonderful time of the year.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan

A SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

Former De Lima staffer denies existence of P24 million in bank account

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

HUMAN RIGHTS MATRIX. Senator Leila De Lima shows the human rights matrix presented to her by concerned Filipino women during a show of support to the senator at the Senate on Thursday, September 1.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande

Robredo supports Comelec’s bid to dispose poll materials

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, August 31, expressed her support for the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) bid to dispose of election materials used in the general polls in late May, amid the pending electoral protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

In a letter submitted to PET last month, the Comelec said the stripping of vote counting machines (VCMs) and consolidation and canvass systems (CCS) were necessary to return the leased machines to Smartmatic.

Robredo, the respondent of Marcos’s poll protest, pointed out that conducting stripping activities for all the VCS and CCS, including the disposal of the VCM external batteries, would have no impact on the preliminary precaution order (PPO).

Earlier, PET issued a (PPO) covering all the ballot boxes and their contents.

Included were the ballots, voters’ receipts and election returns,

Vice President Leni Robredo

the lists of voters and voters registration records (VRRs), log files, and all other documents or paraphernalia used in the elections.

“The Comelec has given lawyers and poll watchers of each political party ample notice before closure and stripping of the machines where they would also be allowed to send representatives to observe,” Robredo said, according to reports from the Manila Bulletin.

Written entirely in Filipino in observance of the Buwan ng Wika, the vice president’s comment was submitted to the Supreme Court through Atty. Romulo Macalintal.

“I don’t see any anomaly with the closure or stripping of some VCMs, which the Comelec already started before it received the PPO from the PET,” the vice president continued.

She argued that in case of any anomalies in the ballots, including the alteration of contents, the secure digital cards may be reprinted anytime for verification of the truthful contents of a ballot.

Pointing out that Marcos “was the one who initiated the poll protest,” Robredo said he should shoulder the costs for additional expenses that the poll body could incur if the VCM would still be in Comelec’s possession by December 1.

“After December 1 and the machines are not returned, they are considered sold as revealed by the Comelec,” Robredo said.

Last June 29, Marcos filed an election protest against Robredo.

He pointed out that there should be an investigation regarding the accuracy of the election results and the reported irregularities to unveil the fraud that involved the Liberal Party, Smartmatic Corporation and the Comelec. n

PNP: No Abu Sayyaf threat in Metro Manila

where their camps are located.

“We assure the public that the inter-agency meets regularly to MANILA — The Philippine Na- do an assessment to the level of tional Police (PNP) on Wednes- threats in Metro Manila and in day, August 31 assured the pub- other parts of the country. Kung lic that there is no threat of Abu ‘yan ay nag-escalate ang threat Sayyaf in Metro Manila and other level, malalaman noong mga parts of the country. agencies involved in this council PNP spokesman Senior Super- o committee,” the PNP official intendent Dionardo Carlos said said. that an interagency assessment The assurance to the public monitoring regularly the activi- came following the relentless atties of Abu Sayyaf. tack of the government against Carlos said that the rebel group the rebel group after President has a low presence outside the Rodrigo Duterte’s ordered to provinces of Sulu and Basilan crush them. by aJ

BolanDo Philstar.com

In the recent encounter, 15 government troops were killed, while five were wounded in Patikul, Sulu on Monday. Two, meanwhile, died from the extremists.

Carlos also guaranteed the public of their safety as authorities’ “intelligence community” is ready.

“Kung ‘yung pangamba nila na tatakbo sila (Abu Sayyaf) rito to divert ‘yung ginagawang operation ng gobyerno sa down south ay nakahanda ang ating forces here in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country,” he said. n

tenure as the justice secretary of the previous administration.

The former justice secretary EDNA “Bogs” Obuyes, former also allegedly ordered Obuyes clerk at the Department of Justice and another staff member, Jona(DOJ), denied the allegations that than Caranto, to deposit the drug she had amassed P24 million in money into their bank accounts. her Banco De Oro (BDO) account “Laking gulat ko na ang iniwithin two months in 2014. hain sa harapan ko ay BDO bank Obuyes, through her Facebook receipt amounting P24 million account on Thursday, September for the month of March and 1, expressed her shock when her April 2014, kalakip ng mga picname was dragged into the accu- tures namin ni Senator De Lima sations against her former boss, (I was surprised when I was Sen. Leila De Lima. presented with a BDO bank rePresident Rodrigo Duterte ceipt amounting to P24 million recently accused De Lima of for the months of March and purportedly taking money from April 2014, along with pictures drug lords and allowing drug of Senator De Lima and me), “ trades to continue inside the Obuyes wrote.

New Bilibid Prison during her She noted that it was “impos-

sible” for her to use the name “Bogs” in the bank receipts since it was her nickname, adding that at the time the deposits were allegedly made, she was working with the Commission of Human Rights (CHR).

Obuyes also reportedly submitted affidavits against the senator on Thursday, September 1.

“Ang laman ng statement ko po ay puro pagtatanggi na walang katotohanan ang lahat.

Pero bakit ang lumalabas ay against Senator de Lima na ang statement ko? (My statement was all about denials against the allegations. But why does it come out like I was against Senator Leila De Lima?)” Obuyes said. n

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales among 2016 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

SIX ‘Heroes of Asia’ were awarded the 2016 Ramon Magsaysay Awards (RMA), the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.

Three individuals and three organizations who have excelled in government service, public service, and community leadership, were awarded on Wednesday, August 31, the birth anniversary of the late Philippine president after whom the leadership award was named.

Individuals honored were Conchita Carpio Morales, the Philippines’ Ombudsman; Bezwada Wilson, an advocate of the antimanual scavenging movement in India; and Thodur Madabusi Krishna, a Karnatik musician and activist.

Also granted with the award were organizations Dompet Duafa, an Indonesian organization; Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers; and Vientiane Rescue, a Laotian rescue organization.

The Magsaysay awards are given annually to individuals and organizations “who manifest the same selfless service and transformative influence that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.”

Since 1957, 312 laureates have been recognized by the Philippine-based prestigious award-giving body. India holds the largest number of awards totaling to 55, followed by the Philippines with 47 and Japan with 24.

“Clearly, they are creating bold solutions to deeply rooted social problems in their respective societies, problems which are most damaging to the lives of those trapped in poverty, ignorance, prejudice, and unjust systems,” said RMA Foundation President Carmencita Abella.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Morales, leading this year’s Magsaysay awards, was honored for her “moral courage and commitment to justice in taking head-on one of the most intractable problems of the Philippines; promoting by her example of incorruptibility, diligence, vision and leadership the highest ethical standards in public service.”

Known for being a staunch fighter against corruption in the government, she has sued politicians, even a president of the country, for graft.

“I hope that our shared crusade results in succeeding generations of Filipinos will not allow corruption to tear at the protective mantle of the rule of law, the anchor of democracy.

But is it up to us to stay safely anchored, or drift in the dangerous currents of anarchy,” the Ombudsman said in her acceptance speech.

Meanwhile, Thodur Madabusi Krishna received the award for his Emergent Leadership after introducing Karnatik music, a musical tradition prohibited to people who belong below the ruling class in the Indian caste system, to the Indian masses,

Inquirer.net photo by Gianna Francesca Catolico

children, and villagers, in the war-torn country of Sri Lanka.

Bezwada Wilson, also from India, was born into the Dalits, the lowest class of the Indian caste system. He pursued higher and education and launched the Safai Karmachari Andolan that provided scholarships for scavengers’ children and vocational training for female scavengers, promoting a total scrapping of manual scavenging.

On the other hand, Dompet Duafa was a charity group that began as a team of journalists.

The group, whose name means “Wallet of the Poor” in Indonesian, promoted transparency in the collection of zakat, an Islamic concept of mandatory alms for the poor.

Another group that won this year’s RMA was the Vientiane Rescue. It was founded by Bounmy Khamvongsa and French paramedic Sebastien Perret who assembled a pre-hospital emergency response to save lives in Laos, where six years ago, had one of the highest crime rates in Southeast Asia and neglected casualties left bleeding to death.

u PAGE A7

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

Dateline PHiliPPineS

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

A

DOJ wraps up Bangladesh heist preliminary investigation

ficials.

The hacking of the Bangladesh Bank happened sometime beTHE Philippine Department tween Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 earlier of Justice (DOJ) has finished its this year when the bank’s offices preliminary investigation of the were closed for the holiday. $81-million Bangladesh money Unknown hackers managed laundering case that involved to transfer $81 million to four funds stolen by hackers from a accounts at RCBC in Manila bank account in New York last — credited to several accounts February. reportedly owned by casinos in After four months of hearings, the Philippines — after trying to the findings of the preliminary investigation on three consolidated complaints would be out as early as this month of September, according to Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamarra.

The consolidated cases include complaints filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against former Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito and four others; casino junket operators Kam Sin Wong alias Kim Wong and Weikang Xu; and executives of remittance firm Philrem Service Corp.

All the respondents have denied the allegations of money laundering and have submitted their counter-affidavits.

On the other hand, the case of $15 million of the stolen funds was still pending at the DOJ. $63 million more from the stolen $81-million was still being pursued by Bangladeshi ofby Dana

SioSon AJPress

NOT A HERO. Militant groups gather at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on National Heroes Day to protest the planned burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

Lacson blocks P80-M project proposals of lawmakers

by JefferSon

antiporDa ManilaTimes.net

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday, Aug. 30 said he will work for the removal of the P80 million budgets of different government agencies inserted by some congressmen in their proposals.

Lacson said he was able to obtain a copy of the pro-forma list of projects, programs and activities submitted by some congressmen to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) The senator said DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno admitted some projects requested by some lawmakers were embedded in the proposed budgets of different agencies.

Lacson said such “intervention” should not be allowed.

“That (intervention) is a longtime practice that is not necessarily legal,” he said in an interview after the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the proposed 2017 budget.

Diokno said legislators are not prohibited from proposing to the head of the agencies programs, activities, projects which his or her constituents brought to their attention to be financed by national government.

“What I’m saying is a congressman, if he is really hard working, can approach a secretary and

Ombudsman…

PAGE A6 t

Senator Panfilo Lacson

the secretary will really listen to them,” he said.

Among the priority programs of the Duterte Administration, presented during the DBCC briefing, are putting an end to insurgencies and organized crime, cutting poverty rate through investments that create quality jobs and disperse wealth.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said the “Budget for Real Change” that Malaca-

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers was launched to “restore the trust” of the international community through community-based efforts and volunteer excursions.

“It is not just Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Bezwada Wilson, Thodur Krishna nor the organizations Dompet Dhuafa JOCV or the Vientiane Rescue who are players in the games of humanity and inspirañang submitted for congressio- tion. We all are too. Find the ginal approval will flesh out the vi- ant and the hero in you and their sion of President Duterte. sacrifices and hard work will “The people elected President finally find root in the societies Duterte because they want real of the world,” Philippine Vice change and a break from the President Leni Robredo said in status quo. To achieve President her speech during the awarding Duterte’s promise to the people ceremony, as reported by the to deliver real change that the Manila Times. people can feel, we need to enHer husband, former Interior act big reforms that can steer the Secretary Jesse Robredo, recountry toward a better future,” ceived the RMA for Government he said. n Service in 2000. n

steal nearly $1 billion from the bank.

They used the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) credentials of Bangladesh Central Bank employees to send requests asking the bank to transfer millions of the Bangladesh Bank’s funds to bank accounts in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia. n

A SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Greatness of spirit

IN this season of violence, it’s good to focus on those who promote human dignity. The annual Ramon Magsaysay Awards was formally conferred this week, honoring those whose work is dedicated to doing what they can to inspire humanity and make lives better.

Musician Thobur Madabusi Krishna of India is the awardee for emergent leadership. Born to the privileged or Brahmin caste, Krishna is being recognized for breaking class barriers and bringing classical Indian music to the lowest castes in his country as he used his art to heal society.

Krishna’s compatriot Bezwada Wilson was born on the other side of the fence, to a class once condemned to a life of manually scavenging in public and private dry latrines. Wilson persuaded his relatives, fellow dalits and their government that cleaning latrines is not assigned by birth, and dry latrines must be converted into sanitary facilities.

Water-seal latrines have since replaced the dry types, scavengers have found decent jobs, and Wilson, supported by a mass base, continues to exert pressure for an end to what he described as an “inhuman practice.”

From the Philippines, there is Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. The Award Foundation cited Morales as an example of incorruptibility and highest ethical standards in public service – a rarity in this country.

This year’s awards include three groups. Indonesia’s Dompet Dhuafa transformed the country’s Islamic tradition of philanthropy from mere charity to empowerment, cleaning up a system that has suffered from corruption, inefficiency and abuse. With credibility came greater donor participation; Dompet Dhuafa has become Indonesia’s largest philanthropic organization.

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers was launched in 1965 by the Japanese government with just five volunteers. Today the program has grown to some 41,000 volunteers who have been sent to 88 countries including the Philippines where the Japan International Cooperation Agency provides assistance.

And then there’s Laos’ Vientiane Rescue, which was created as the country began enjoying a modicum of prosperity and vehicles started clogging roads. The anarchic traffic has given Laos one of the highest road fatality rates in Asia – with hardly any emergency rescue facilities to speak of, until Vientiane Rescue came along with a donated ambulance and first-aid service. Today the group

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

has eight ambulances, three more base stations fashioned out of shipping containers, a fire truck, a one-boat scuba rescue team and 200 volunteers on call around the clock.

Award Foundation president Carmencita Abella

said this year’s Magsaysay laureates share a common trait: “a greatness of spirit that infuses their crusade for change… all deeply anchored on a respect for human dignity, and a faith in the power of collective endeavor.” (Philstar.com)

US pinoy group to hold vigil in support of PH govt’s all-out war vs drugs AS the global debate continues about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out war against drugs, the newly organized advocacy group of Filipinos in America called “U.S. Pinoys for Real Change in the Philippines” (USPRCP) will hold a vigil rally in front of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on September 11 to declare full support for the Philippines’ controversial campaign to prevent it from becoming a narco-state.

USPRCP will also underscore its support for the rule of law and due process and respect for human rights.

“We will hold a prayer rally on that day and present our ‘Statement of Support for the Philippines’ Drug War, Justice and Multi-Sector Solutions,’ either to Foreign Affairs Secretary Jun Yasay when he comes here on September 16, or to Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto,” declared immigration and human rights lawyer Arnedo S. Valera, founder and chair of USPRCP’s Convenors, and the co-executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission.

According to Convenor and Co-Chair Elizabeth Babiera Valera, USPRCP is concerned that the drug menace in the Philippines “has damaged the future generation, ensnaring on a national scale

In a press statement, Atty. millions of young Filipinos as usValera announced: ers, and countless children used The Fil-Am “USPRCP is establishing the as drug pushers by criminal synPerspective ‘Fund Drive’ and will donate to dicates.” the Philippine government, for Beth Valera, a registered nurse the families of the members of who is Atty. Valera’s wife and a the Philippine National Police member of the Philippine Nurses who are killed in the line of duty Association in Metropolitan D.C. in the drug war.”

(PNAMDC), is also from Davao in Gel SantoS-ReloS He pointed out: “One cannot Mindanao (Southern Philippines).

She spearheads the move to have a Statement of overstate how extremely dangerous and thankless Support for President Duterte as well as a vigil task this total war against drugs in the Philippines is – because the enemies are many and include enrally.

In its Statement of Support relayed to this writer, emies within the government, not to mention the USPRCP described the drug problem as “a Global powerful international drug cartels which stand to Scourge in Our Time,” urging Duterte “to engage lose billions in illegal drug trade.”

Co-Convenor Mike Ocampo of Anchorage, all branches of government and others in the private sector, as well as the international commu- Alaska -- president of Boses ng Pinoy sa Amerika -- said, “Now is the time to show our full support nity, in attaining a worthy goal.”

USPRCP leaders encourage other kababayans for Philippine law enforcement authorities, and “to join us in expressing ‘constructive criticisms’ express that our prayers are with them.”

Atty. Valera said that today, the Philippines is with the end in view of proposing solutions, instead of simply engaging in political posturing and in the midst of a turning point, and stressed, “If not now, when? If not President Duterte, who? advancing a divisive agenda.”

Fund drive for families of police killed in drug We wish him success in his unprecedented, bold national leadership aimed at bringing hope, peace war

and a better life for all Filipinos that would last for many generations.”

As laudable as the cause is, Valera said, due process should be followed. The USPRCP’s statement underscored “Full support for transparency, accountability and full disclosure of the actual number of killings in the drug war and full support for the investigation of the death of innocent civilians and bystanders, as well as extra-judicial killings.”

Other members of the USPRCP are: Jun Teves of Carson, California; Dan Jimenez, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate, of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Tablang Jimenez, and Conrad Martinez of Silver Spring, Maryland; Pastor Guillermo Gucilatar, Senior Pastor of Seventh Day Adventist of Las Vegas; Dr. Butch Palmero, Country Director of ADRA in Yemen, Africa. As of September 1, the group has close to a hundred members.

Will you support this advocacy? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

The culture of ‘Sutokil’ under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Trump’s Statements about Filipinos show lack (Part II of II Series)

“HUMAN progress never rolls Rhizomes in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of [persons] willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of Prosy abarquezsocial stagnation. We must use Delacruz, J.D. time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” - Robert Kennedy What happens when Rodrigo Duterte, the elected president of the Philippines, calls for the elimination of drug lords, without an investigation, offering of evidence, or submitting of cases before a judge or jury?

He said, “drug users are also drug pushers.” He surmised that drug users will need to push drugs to support their habit.

Other countries with addiction In Thailand, 1.2 million people are involved in drug activities in 2014, according to Stanford Asia Health Policy program article, cited by Stanford Medicine. The study cites: “Adults in Thailand use drugs to relieve stress and counteract the effects of work. Adolescents use them for entertainment. Historically, farmers and laborers from rural areas of Thailand would use opium for pain relief. More recently, a consumable tablet known as yaba has become popular along with crystal methamphetamine and marijuana. Young people are increasingly using yaba and kratom.”

“Thailand is still a developing country, but it is industrializing quickly. Social and cultural norms have been shifting and people want an improved quality of life. A lot of young people are unemployed and lack social support and are therefore more likely to turn to drug trafficking for economic opportunity. The economic recession and politi-

cal strife in countries bordering Thailand have exacerbated the situation.”

Days ago, the burning of marijuana plants in Benguet was witnessed by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

With 650,000 users who have surrendered, will these former marijuana users now shift to a new addiction?

Stanford Medicine reports that politicians have resorted to the cut down of kratom trees in Thailand yet, deprived of kratom, addicts simply shift to alcohol, another addictive substance.

“According to a Columbia University study, ‘40 million Americans age 12 and over meet the clinical criteria for addiction involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.’”

With the U.S. population of 318,900,000, that’s 1.2 percent of its population.

Study upon study characterizes drug addiction as a health issue, yet in the Philippines, its new president has criminalized this addiction disease and recreated a culture of impunity, called ‘sutokil’ once wanton in the province of Davao, to now the entire country.

Dela Rosa testified at a Senate Hearing on August 22, 2016 that the police killed 756 who ‘resisted’ and 1,100 died, but not at the hands of the police in the so-called “drug wars.” Resisted was not derived by submitting facts or circumstances of shootings, but claims that these victims resisted and therefore were killed by the police. The PNP did not describe the threat to their persons, but simply with a cardboard sign, identified those killed as drug pushers. To date, mainstream media has reported 2,000 killings in 60 days. ABS-CBN keeps a tally and reports it to its constituents on a regular basis.

And why are citizens being killed by this president, who was sworn to protect them?

Does the president realize that his pulpit statements have resulted in proxy killings by ordinary citizens, also known as “vigilante death squads” or “sutokil” aka “shoot to kill?”

Locals in Davao conjured this term to symbol-

u PAGE A9

of respect, lack of knowledge of history, and total disregard for international relations

Trump has insulted and discountAS an American of Filipino descent living in the tradition- Commentary ed an entire nation of people who ally conservative state of Arkanhave been America’s loyal friends sas, I have a unique viewpoint and allies. that many of my fellow FilipinoFil-Ams need to realize that Americans on the West and East Trump is not on our side. Trump Coasts have not experienced. Joshua ang Price does not recognize our achieveI know what it feels like to look ments nor our contributions to different and be treated as an outsider, although American history and culture. Trump does not I was born and raised primarily in the South. My want our family back in the Philippines to join us mother is from Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines and nor even visit us here in America. If Trump had his was recruited to move to the United States in the way, Filipinos would be banished from American late 1970s due to a shortage of registered nurses. soil altogether.

She married my father, who is Caucasian, and had As with all Asian Americans, Filipinos greatly two biracial children, which was – and is still not value education. Trump himself does not educate – common in Arkansas, especially in the rural town himself on the issues facing America and has said in which I spent my early childhood. Throughout that he “loves uneducated people.” Trump loves my life, I have heard the backhanded compliments the uneducated because they blindly follow his like, “Wow, your English is really good. You don’t hate-mongering rhetoric and far-fetched “solueven sound like a foreigner.” tions” for “making America great again,” like At first, I was confused, then angry. Then, I building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and began to realize that the problem was not my fel- banning all immigration. Except for Native Amerilow Arkansans, but an innocent unfamiliarity, that cans, all current citizens of the United States began when left unchecked, can lead to a culture of ig- as immigrants. America’s melting pot of different norance and prejudice. This frightening ideology cultures and points of view is what makes our nathat seems to embrace hatred and bigotry is what tion so great. Trump has insulted and disrespected we are facing on a national scale if we allow GOP women, African-Americans, Hispanics, Muslimnominee Donald Trump to become president.

Americans, the LGBT community, and now FilipiTrump’s recent statements referring to Filipinos nos. For these reasons, along with Trump’s lack of as “no better than animals” and a “Trojan horse” for political experience and legal knowledge, I stand terrorist activity to enter the United States clearly with California Assemblymember Rob Bonta, comshows his lack of knowledge of Philippine history munity leader and philanthropist Loida Nicholas and complete disregard for international relations Lewis, and other leaders of the Fil-Am community in general. The Philippines has been a fiercely loyal when I say #BawalSiTrump! ally of the United States since World War II, when Growing up in Arkansas, I saw the good Hillary thousands of Filipinos answered General Douglas Clinton accomplished, first as the top attorney in McArthur’s call at Subic Bay to stand with America the state, then as First Lady of Arkansas, before against the Axis Powers in the Pacific theater. The she moved on to be Senator of New York and then Philippine government has been struggling with Secretary of State. A graduate of Wellesley ColIslamic terrorist groups in the southern island of lege and Yale Law School, Hillary is an American Mindanao for decades. Instead of offering to help success story and champion for women and other Filipinos combat this threat on the ground level, u PAGE A10

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

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Boulevard Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 Fax: (818) 502-0858 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th St., Cor 1st Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858

Northern California: New Jersey: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 449 Hoboken Avenue Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253 Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 Tel: (212) 655.5426 • Fax: (818) 502.0858 Las Vegas Sales Office: 3700 W. Desert Inn Road Las Vegas, NV 89102 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

BELLE M. SISON Executive Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

SHARON ANN SAN PEDRO Vice President - Sales Balikbayan Magazine

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor DANTE SAMBILAY Art Director

DING CARREON Videographer ANDY TECSON Photographer

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

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

OpiniOn & Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

No to Marcos burial because he is no hero

The Global Kababayan G. TönGi NINE local Filipino-American organizations have signed on to be part of the Kontra Libing Coalition that vehemently protests against the hero’s burial for the dictator Ferdinand Marcos next week on September 7, 2016. You can add my name to the coalition informally as I too support this cause!

With President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders to have Marcos’s remains transplanted to the Libingin ng Mga Bayani, I refuse to feel helpless that there is nothing I as an individual can do to stop this. As they say, there is strength in numbers, which is why I urge you all to join me this coming Wednesday.

According to the Kontra Libing Coalition: “A hero’s burial for Marcos erases the memory of the Filipino people’s hard-fought and heroic struggle for freedom from his tyranny. Many true heroes gave up their lives in brave defiance of his illegitimate authority, and in courageous struggle against corruption and injustice.

Throughout the dictator’s reign, there were activists who were not silenced, and in the end, over

2 million Filipinos spilled into the streets, stood in front of army tanks and forced the dictator, his family and minions to flee for their lives.

A hero’s burial for Marcos plays into the hands of Marcos loyalists, who are waging a political comeback, as with the recent vice-presidential electoral bid of the dictator’s son, Bongbong Marcos. Marcos Jr.’s brazen refusal to acknowledge his father’s human rights abuses and theft of billions of dollars, and his bald-faced glorification of his father’s rule, make him a threat to the country should he succeed in getting elected to the highest offices of the land.

A hero’s burial erases from memory the sins of the Marcos dictatorship, and removes another obstacle in the path of the Marcos loyalists’ political ambitions.

Most importantly, a hero’s burial for Marcos negates the hard and important lessons learned from his dictatorial regime’s negative example. The Filipino people deserve to move on – away from corruption, away from the old politics of patronage and people’s disempowerment, away from tyranny and abuse

of power, away from the sordid state of affairs that was the Marcos era, and into a new politics of principles, reform, social justice, human rights, genuine democracy, good government and accountability.”

On my show, “Kababayan Today,” I feature Bawat Bato, an organization in the Philippines that is also against the Marcos burial.

I urge Filipino Americans to come on September 7, 2016, at 12 p.m. at the Philippine Consulate General at 3435 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, California, 90010.

This is a part of the global protest on September 7 at all PH embassies and consulates worldwide. In the United States, we will rally in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC that day at noon.

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

The culture of ‘Sutokil’ under Pres. Rodrigo…

PAGE A8 t

ize their daily occurrences, decades ago, as Sugba (grilled fish), Tula (fish soup) and Kilawin (raw fish tossed with vinegar, tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices). They traded their consciences for a false sense of security, justifying as necessary: bodies which are charred and grilled at casual random fires in homes and buildings, akin to sugba or grilled fish. Or seeing bodies swimming in blood, like tula or fish soup, wantonly killed by vigilantes or death squads aka as Alsa Masa. Or suspects’ reputations tainted by associating their names with known drug lords, and much like “kilawin” mixed in with peppers resulting in pungent smells about their lives.

If we are to take the president’s statement that 3,500,000 are drug users/pushers in the Philippines in its population at 102,503,973, at face value, and therefore deserving of resources such that the president is increasing his budget, just for his presidential office alone, bloating it from P1.8 billion to P20 billion, how did it become about mostly rental car expenses, as reported by Rappler?

How did we jump from ridding drug users/ pushers to bloated expenses on rental cars? How wrongheaded are this policy and this presidential budget?

But what if the president’s right-headed actions are applied?

Would he focus his attention on how young folks resort to drugs, as for example, they are not

in school? Or that adults are not gainfully employed and are selling drugs and pushing them for quick sources of income?

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates after a survey covering 36 million aged 6 to 24 years, that 4 million are out of school children (ages 6 to 14) -- a national average of 10.6 percent or 1 in 10 children out of school.

“Out-of-school children and youth in ARMM comprised 14.4 percent, which is the highest across regions. Six regions have proportion of out-of-school children and youth higher than the national figure at 10.6 percent, namely, SOCCSKSARGEN, Davao, Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga and MIMAROPA (ranging from 11.2 to 12.3 percent). Meanwhile, the proportion of out-of-school children and youth was lowest in CAR at 7.1 percent.”

Had the right-headed actions of the president been applied, the bloated budget directed at rental cars for his presidential office would have been directed to hiring teachers, buying books and keeping children in school.

Had the right-headed actions of the president been applied, a province by province survey of jobs needed and intense urban planning and partnerships with private industries on creating those jobs would be done.

After all, the president has the charisma and the

u PAGE A10

Ang pinaka-magandang paraan para maghanap ng mahusay na trabaho?

CARE.COM, SIYEMPRE! Whether you’re a dog walker, senior care aide or nanny, there’s a busy family on Care.com that needs your help!

Join today and see how rewarding your career in caregiving can be.

A

A10 SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

OpiniOn & Features

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

The culture of ‘Sutokil’ under Pres. Rodrigo…

PAGE A9 t

personal power to unleash thousands to be killed, he must have the charisma and personal power to unleash a culture of life, a culture whose core is about preservation of life, investing in its children, rehabilitation and redemption and improving the quality of life.

Certainly, the president is so capable of this as he also said he is after the security and welfare of law-abiding citizens.

This president has the capacity to do the right thing, as he did with his appointment of Gina Lopez to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which has suspended mining licenses from firms who have denuded the environments, as for example, in Surigao del Sur. He certainly has the persuasive capacity to deploy families to send their children to school and keep them in school.

Yet, by his own words, the president has classified drug users as drug pushers and has unleashed the killings of the very population he is supposed to serve, much like a father becoming a predator to his own children.

He has wrongheadedly criminalized the drug addiction issue, widely regarded as public health issues in other countries, like Thailand and the United States, where citizens are reintegrated into the mainstream with rehabilitation programs.

The president declared that he is not concerned about human rights, nor is he concerned about due process. He even went on to say that bodies can be dumped in Manila Bay to fatten up the fish.

He goes on to say that he is not culpable as he did not shoot the girl. He was referring to “Among the DUIs is that of a 5-year-old girl named Danica May who got hit in the head by a stray bullet on August 23 when a gunman shot and wounded her grandfather in Pangasinan. Her being the youngest fatality in the brutal drug war merited news headlines, yet no widespread public uproar was ignited,” according to Former Senator Attorney Joey D. Lina, Jr. on August 29, 2016, as written in Manila Bulletin.

The president’s unsound policy places him as the Messiah, and leaves no room for mercy and the rehabilitation work of the Divine within that person. It simply keeps intact the dark souls of 3,500,000 drug addicts, without shining a light on

how they can be and what they can be as productive, non-addicted citizens of the Philippines.

I cry for these many dark souls, presided by the wrongheaded actions of this current president.

I pray for the collective bright souls of the Philippines to prevail, to influence this presidency, for the bright souls of 3,500,000 addicts he identified be restored, for the 4 million out of school children’s inner light be guided towards education, and the bright lights within the unemployed and underemployed and the rest of the Philippine population be directed productively.

In her piece, “Cardboard Justice and the Failure of the Filipino Imagination,” Tracy Llanera asked: “What is at stake in engaging it is the analysis of social paradoxes that are deeply ingrained in the Filipino psyche. One common paradox is this: how can so many Filipinos valorize religiosity, go to Sunday mass and recite their Thou Shalt Not’s, and at the same time support the death penalty and the murder of alleged criminals without due process?

How can their religious and political beliefs accommodate these glaring inconsistencies?”

As reported by Manila Bulletin, former Senator Atty. Joey D. Lina Jr. said, “Summary executions, whether by lawmen or lawless elements, are no different from murders and assassinations which are heinous crimes. If government is indeed bent on curbing criminality and the disastrous effects of the drug menace, law enforcers ought to exert the same zealousness used against drug pushers and users in going after those responsible for extrajudicial killings. Otherwise, pronouncements on adherence to rule of law will be viewed as mere lip service.” *** 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.

Trump’s Statements about Filipinos show…

PAGE A8 t

minority groups. Hillary highly values education, personal development, and achievement based on merit, and has devoted her life to shattering the glass ceiling, which still holds people back from fulfilling their full potential because of their gender, skin color, or cultural beliefs.

I charge all Fil-Ams – both Democrat and Republican alike – to remember the sacrifices made by the Filipino soldiers who proudly fought alongside Americans in WWII and the sacrifices made by our grandparents and parents in coming to the United States to ensure that their children grew up as free Americans with every opportunity for success. I strongly urge the Fil-Am community to stay true to its core values of loyalty, education, and hard work by saying “no” to Trump in November and voting for Hillary Clinton as president of the United States!

About Joshua Ang Price Joshua Ang Price lives in Little Rock, Arkansas

where he works as a public relations and digital communications manager for an agency that strives to improve economic opportunity, workforce training, education, infrastructure development, and health and wellness in rural, underserved communities in the South. Joshua’s mother is a registered nurse from Roxas City, Capiz, and his father is Caucasian. Joshua speaks Ilonggo fluently and was the only 2016 DNC Delegate from Arkansas of Filipino-American descent. Josh is active in Arkansas politics as well as the philanthropic community, serving on the boards and committees of several local nonprofit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. In his spare time, Joshua also writes a monthly men’s fashion blog for a regional magazine and is a brand ambassador for three international men’s accessory companies through his popular Instagram account @the.hybrid.gent, which currently has over 30,000 followers. n

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

A11

A12 SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

SHOWBIZ&STYLE

B

Journal Duterte doesn’t want Steve Harvey to host Miss U

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Fil-Am actor Nico Santos plays a gay Fil-Am employee of the NBC sitcom ‘Superstore.’ Photos from the official Facebook page of ‘Superstore’

NBC sitcom features undocumented Filipino immigrant character

by Klarize

MeDenilla AJPress

AS the conversation on immigration continues during this contentious election season, the writers of the nBC sitcom “Superstore� have included a Filipino perspective to the immigrant narrative. “Superstore� is about the antics of a diverse pool of employees in an American, Wal-Mart-esque big box superstore called Cloud 9.

In the season 2 premiere called “Olympics�, Mateo — a gay Fil-Am employee played by Filipino actor nico Santos — hilariously finds out that he is not a U.S. citizen.

In a scene, he argues with his lola on the phone in Tagalog and finds out his green card was actually counterfeited. he reveals this to his supervisor who dismisses the comment.

The characterization has been compared to the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and undocumented immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas, who also discovered his undocumented status by accident when applying for a driver’s license at 16 years old. Vargas praised the show on his Facebook page for “breaking ground� with Mateo’s storyline.

10.9 million viewers in the

U.S. tuned into the show’s season premiere.

For Santos, landing the part of Mateo was a huge break. “When I read the pilot, there was really something about Mateo that I sort of just really related to,�

Santos told ABS-CBn in December. “I was born and raised in the Philippines and it seems like from the pilot’s perspective, it’s like him having the same story and trajectory so I was like, I could totally play the part.’� “I guess people will just relate to how hungry he is for the American Dream, and how he’ll stop at nothing to get his way. There’s definitely a lot of similarities between me and Mateo.� “Superstore� returns on Thursday, September 22 on nBC after a month-long hiatus.

When informed that Steve harvey will be hosting the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte raised his disapproval, according Department of Tourism Secretary (DOT) Wanda Teo. The tourism secretary said the president has reacted negatively after being told that harvey will host the event. “he (Duterte) said ‘That cannot be.’ That was what he said. And he said ‘I’m going to talk to the Miss Universe (organizers) that he should not be (the emcee).’ So that’s my problem,â€? Teo pointed out in a press briefing in MalacaĂąang on Thursday, September 1, as reported by Philstar.

When asked if the president was being serious about the statement, she replied, “I don’t know if he was serious. But when he told me, he was not laughing.�

During the previous Miss Universe pageant, harvey wrongly announced Colombia’s candidate, Ariadna Gutierrez, as the winner last December 2015 and Philippines’ candidate Pia Wurtzbach as the 1st runner-up.

After apologizing for his mistake, harvey infamously retracted the announcement minutes later and declared Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, as the real Miss Universe winner.

Since harvey reportedly had a five-year contract with the Miss Universe, Teo said he would definitely host the pageant again but added she would inform the Miss Universe Organization about the president’s concern. “I’ll suggest that we will have somebody from here, probably a media woman to host,� the tourism chief said.

According to Teo, the beauty contestants would start arriving in the country on January 13. To prevent traffic jam, pre-pageant events will be held in Davao, Cebu, Iloilo and Vigan City, while

the coronation night would be held on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. “I’m sure that after the Miss Universe, the Philippines will be in the world map. everybody will be looking at us because during the Miss Universe contest, all the beautiful places, the destinations, will be featured,� she said.

Teo earlier announced that the government would not spend a single centavo on the event. The $11 million funds needed to finance the pageant will come from the private sector.

In coordination with a group led by former Ilocos Sur Governor and now narvacan town Councilor Luis “Chavit� Singson, half of the

In the promotional clip released by Harvey’s YouTube channel, Wurtzbach is seen giving advice to the 58-year-old host, saying that everyone should move forward already.

amount as down payment has ment of the Miss Universe Orgabeen so far raised as a require- nization, she added.

/64, 36(5 $IRECT ,ENDER

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

7YVNYHT Z\IQLJ[ [V JOHUNL ^P[OV\[ WYPVY UV[PJL

*HYVS 4HUHSHUN

:Y 3VHU *VUZ\S[HU[

*LSS!

543:

LTHPS! JHYVS T`^MP'NTHPS JVT

>HSS -PUHUJPHS 0UJ +)( >PU 7YPTL 3LUKPUN :V /HY]HYK )S 3VZ (UNLSLZ *(

B SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

HOW strange, this demented feeling gives me when I realize that I have spent agonizing days before a pen and a notebook, with nothing better to do but jot down notes at random. I rap out sentences and it does not help me think, but only eases my crabbed heart. I wish a notebook could laugh.

Every writer scrounges for inspiration in different places when the gods of creativity aren’t there. I poached from current events and embellished to suit my reportage. I felt no shame in raiding the headlines.

Like in the last two weeks when the whole world was young, strong and fearless, sporting the peaceful and clean. It was the Olympic myth and the well spring of the games’ enduring appeal.

The games are like a patriotic day for the globe, a day when flags wave and people march. Grim realities are forgotten on a worldwide surge of pride and unity - Olympic dreams that really did come true.

You move on and try writing humor. It is necessary, I’ve been taught, when attempting contemporary satire, sharp-eyed humor relies on topical reference points.

True enough, some facts cannot be improved on, and cannot be delicately twisted and surreal, or too tame to be good.

So you try fictional writing, but you’ll need a sanctuary where you

Features

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

Behind Pokwang’s fun and endearing personality

The agonizing malady of a writer’s block can escape, create!

Writing fiction is a weird procedure of telling artful lies, this peculiar habit of inventing imaginary people who talk and sleep, dream and make up, kick and kiss another; which is bizarre itself. That is why writers find ways to make it possible, from lent literary to variations on the hypothesis that a writer’s style may resemble her person as well as her nature.

What of the possibility that a writer’s style reflects her preoccupation as well? What is learning how to write as naturally as could be?

How do you make out something publishable or worthy of your editor’s respect? Charged with dreams and glory, artists tend to be more cheerful than writers and somewhat more eccentric, the prose is inexhaustible. You try to cobble out riveting portraits of these eccentrics on rage, repose and off guard, and amply supplied with dimples and warts.

How far can you broaden the boundary that is permissible in terms of language for we are always puritanical on that; once we have the idea.

In my efforts to give a clean copy, I become complicated, as I stubbornly pay small heed to my faults and vulnerability, because they are stronger than I am — they are me.

The deadline flashes and the pressure is wicked. Susceptible and confusing sometimes when it threatens my sanity, I wished I had listened to my mother and did

something practical by becoming a doctor or lawyer, or a simple housewife.

It is said that to come up with a copy during a writer’s block is like pushing the waves. One needs a cool, calm credible intelligence and unending lesson in tenacity and perseverance and a lot of vision and imagination.

The strangeness of life and the world are stories worth recounting. You’re watching a circus of human behavior, marvelous movements and curious minds, passing your village.

Sometimes, what they call creative breakthrough, especially when worked out metaphors have been milked to the limits, as you work on more tales than the Arabian Nights, is just a pipe dream.

Sometimes and with reason, writing can be a prolonged and disenchanting misery: imprisoned in that darkness of the unconscious, no matter how much you scream for the muses, it is only a sound above the groan, so you just keep on going, amassing thousands of words and find credence.

But as a contented inmate of this singular institution of pen pushers, that makes you congenitally unemployable.

I will try to cram the paragraphs full of facts and give them weight and shape, even if they are no greater than that of blue butterflies, then I’ll worry about my editor who has a marvelous sensitivity to verbal phrasing and structure — and patience.

bar. “Sa comedy bar kasi, comedian ako doon, pumasok sila [Pokwang] at gumimik sila as guests...

Aba, pumanhik ito, nakainom na, nandoon din ‘yung mga may-ari tapos banter, banter, ayaw magpatalo. So bumaba ako, sabi ko, ‘Boss, okay ito wala tayong babae, pwede nating ipasok.’ Noong time na ‘yon, wala siyang (Pokwang) trabaho,” he said.

Nicolas was also the one who encouraged Pokwang to join ABSCBN’s search for a new comedian, “Clown In A Million.” She won the contest, and the rest is history.

Success stories: past, present and future Marietta Subong, or better known by her stage name Pokwang, was born August 27, 1970, in Iloilo City, Philippines. She is comedian, actress, TV host, singer, impersonator and salon co-owner.

In an interview, she recalls how she and her siblings had to watch TV by the window of their neighbor’s house because they didn’t have their own. She has come a long way from doing that

to having her own TV – and actually watching herself on it.

“I still remember when I was a kid. Me and my sisters (sic) used to watch TV like this. And when my neighbor closes their windows, no more TV for us so we will go home and imagine what was the end of the show that we are currently watching. Ha-ha, now it is very different, I have my own TV inside my room. Thank you Lord!

I feel so blessed!”

After winning in a reality talent show, Pokwang subsequently appeared in dramas and sitcoms.

She also received a number of awards such as Best Comedy Actress award from the Philippine Movie Press Club for her portrayal in the sitcom “Aalog-Alog” and the Best Female Comedian award from People’s Choice Awards.

She gained recognition as well as a movie actress and won Bert Marcelo Lifetime Achievement Award twice.

She was also nominated for Best female TV host (“Wowowee”), Best Comedy Actress (“That’s My Doc), 60th FAMAS Awards – Best Actress (“A Mother’s Story”) and Golden Screen TV Awards – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Program.

She currently stars in the newest JaDine TV series as Agnes Nicolas, mother of Ali (played by newbie JC Santos and JaDine’s newest love triangle).

Pokwang’s career soars as her love life blossoms. She is currently in a very happy relationship with her American boyfriend of over PAGE B3

fondly called, recently bagged the Grand Prize in the prestigious choral competition in Arezzo, Italy and is now the only choir in the world eligible to compete for a 3rd time for the championship of champions, the European Grand Prix in 2017. cause of their diverse styles and Cayabyab, who is known for genres, but masterfully blended, his hits like “Kay Ganda Ng even doing a capella.

Ating Musika” and “Tuwing The Asian Journal will be presUmuulan,” continues to nurture ent at both concerts, connecting young talents, much in the tra- with the audience, and distributing dition of the highly successful free copies of this publication and Smokey Mountain, the teen vo- its travel and lifestyle magazine, cal group the Maestro mentored Balikbayan Magazine. Since 2010, in the 1990s. RCS is a group the Asian Journal has been supLosvocalists Angeles;Airwho Carewere Saver;C32320;5.69x10.56-4c (16Fa-B1) of specially porting Music Arts Events and handpicked by the Maestro be- Philippine Patrons of the Arts

USA, who actively sought the for the biggest and most widely distributed Filipino-American publication to be part of their endeavors, and in their mission to present high caliber artists in appropriate venues.

For tour inquiries and ticket reservations for the Los Angeles dates, please email info@musicartsevents.com or text/call (818) 587-6123.

By Monet

Lu

ROBIN Williams (rest his soul) once said, “Comedy can be a cathartic way to deal with personal trauma.”

Some people second that notion with quotes like ‘happy people are truly the saddest people.’ I don’t necessarily equate my jovial personality to my frustrations (or depressing moments) but it makes sense to say that the happiest people I know and admire are usually the ones who had the toughest lives – and most of them can truly make people laugh.

Case in point, and one of my favorite comediennes of all time: Pokwang. I’ve been seeing a lot of her lately in movies, TV shows and newspapers. Pokwang is one of the finest comedy performers of her generation. I know how hard she works as a single mother to her daughter Mae. Although we never had the chance to talk personally, it is my pleasure to write about the stories that lie behind this amazing woman.

A story about discovery As most discovered talents, Pokwang did not expect anyone to take notice of her wit and banter on that fateful night at a comedy bar in Cubao. But she is grateful up to this day that comedian and “Your Face Sounds Familiar” contestant Eric Nicolas recognized her talent.

According to Nicolas, he discovered Pokwang when she came in as a guest at the said comedy

Pokwang

Ryan Cayabyab and the Philippine Madrigal Singers to tour major US cities Asian Journal announces partnership with world-class artists IN celebration of its 25th year in business, the Asian Journal continues to support events that benefit the community. This last quarter of 2016, audiences can expect the

Philippine Madrigal Singers

best artists in the Filipino music industry in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New Jersey.

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab brings his Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS)

on tour this October. The Philippine Madrigal Singers follow suit in a bicoastal tour from October to early December.

In Los Angeles, Maestro Ryan’s show with RCS will be on Sunday, October 23 at the Plaza Del Sol of the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. Other dates are October 7 in New Jersey’s St Peter’s University, October 14 at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, and October 28 in New Life Theatre in Honolulu.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers will perform at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles on December 11 at 6:30pm. The Madz, as they are

WE’RE JUST AS RELIABLE, WITHOUT THE DROOL. In the face of a heating and cooling emergency, consider us your new best friend. We’ll go to great lengths to make you comfortable and happy.

— RECEIVE UP TO —

1,600 IN REBATES

$

WITH 9.99% FINANCING*

with the purchase of a qualifying Lennox® home comfort system.

OR

UP TO 60 MONTHS NO INTEREST FINANCING** Tune up special for $79.00 only (Regular price $169.00)

www.aircaresaver.com

800-847-0877 963 Fairway Drive, Walnut, CA 91789 Service that Cares!

Lic# 994100 Offer expires 11/25/2016. *On a qualifying system purchase. Lennox system rebate offers range from $275 to $1,600. Some restrictions apply. One offer available per qualifying purchase. See your local Lennox Dealer or www.lennox.com for details. **See your local Lennox Dealer or www.lennox.com for details. Some restrictions apply. ©2016 Lennox Industries Inc. Lennox Dealers include independently owned and operated businesses.

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

Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

B

Celebrate Harvest Moon Festival at Pechanga Resort & Casino with a share of $100,000 in EasyPlay!

In celebration of the Harvest Moon Festival, Pechanga pushes out two thrilling promotions in September. Join us on Saturday, September 17, 2016 for the $100,000 Harvest Moon Drawing.

Pechanga club members must either play slot or table games from 12am to 9pm to earn entries for the drawing. One entry can be received for every point earned on slots or table. Winners will be drawn ever hour and each winner can win multiple times.

10 lucky winners will win $1,000 in EasyPlay! In addition to the Harvest Moon Drawing, Pechanga promotes their Lucky Lantern “Swipe & Win”. Every Tuesdays in September, Pechanga Club Members just simply swipe their Club Card at the Kiosks located across the box office from 1pm

to 9pm for a chance to win up to $1,000 in EasyPlay. Don’t get left behind, the more you play, the more you win. It’s September to remember! Don’t miss out on all the fun and excitement.

For more details about this

promotion, please call 1-877711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga. com All of us at Pechanga Resort & Casino wish everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

(Advertising Supplement)

THREE PETITIONS BY TWO MOTHERS AND A “SISTER/MOTHER” CREATE VISA CONFUSION — ON A SPECIAL ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY.” A teenage pregnancy forced Armi (middle) to keep the birth of her son, Kevin (right), a secret. Kevin’s birth certificate listed his grandmother (Armi’s mother) as his mother. Years later, Armi became a US citizen. She petitioned her mother immediately. When Armi’s mother arrived in the US as an immigrant, she petitioned all of Armi’s brothers, including Kevin, who is actually her grandchild (Armi’s son). Armi also filed a sibling petition for Kevin. After much guilt and reflection, Armi decided to come out with the truth to set things straight and admitted to Kevin that she is his biological mother. After that major revelation, Armi filed a petition for Kevin (now as parentchild petition). This resulted in three distinctive petitions filed for Kevin (as a grandchild, Armi’s brother, and son) which caused a major confusion for the National Visa Center. Watch this inspiring story and find out how Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel helped Armi and Kevin on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” — on Sunday, September 4 at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC.

‘Arts & Craft’ – a food and beer event that brings the Filipino community together

On Saturday, Sept. 10, FilAm Arts (FAA) will be hosting ‘Arts & Craft’ – a food and beer event that will bring the Los Angeles Filipino community together, and highlight local Pinoy talents in the culinary arts arena.

According to FAA officials, the event is also a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC).

FPAC is the annual arts and culture festival for all things Filipino in Los Angeles, and is the longest-running cultural festival in LA. Supporters of the movement have dubbed it the ‘Official Filipino Party of Los Angeles.’

“In celebration of our 25th anniversary, ‘Arts & Craft’ will showcase the last 25 years of FPAC,” said FAA Board of Directors Co-Chair Jennifer Santos in a statement. The event will

be held at the Pico House in El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Monument. Doors open at 5pm, with a cover charge of $40 which gives patrons access to all food and beverage vendors. (Cash tips are welcome at the bar.) Music is provided by Gingee.

“What better way to celebrate than through food and drinks.

Which is why we’re partnering with both well-known and up and coming chefs to show their craft,” Santos added.

‘Arts & Craft’ features three chefs offering their own unique food creations, as well as other beverage partners who will contribute to the event. The three chefs represent three iconic Filipino restaurateurs in LA – Stoked BBQ, The Park’s Finest BBQ (of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives fame), and the widely popular Salo Series.

Behind Pokwang’s fun...

PAGE B2 a year. Looks like the future is looking good for this funny and charming lady.

A love told Lee O’ Brien and Pokwang first met when they worked on the TFC movie “Edsa Woolworth,” which

was released in January 2014. The two admitted they’re in a relationship in February.

In an interview on “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” Pokwang admitted that she is ready to tie the knot with O’Brien. The smitten man returned to the Philippines and decided to

Aside from the gastronomic offerings, an intimate art exhibit will also showcase the last 25 years of FPAC. FAA Interim Executive Director Tina Salonga-Bulchand said that FPAC artworks and posters from years past will headline the art exhibit, underscoring the rich history of the festival. And because the ‘Arts & Craft’ is a kickoff event for FPAC, one of the key moments of the night will include the unveiling of the poster for FPAC 25.

The Asian Journal, the leading Filipino newspaper in America, has signed on to be the official media partner of ‘Arts & Craft’ and FPAC. Salonga-Bulchand said that the partnership with Asian Journal will enable FAA to reach a wider audience and will help in spreading the word about the upcoming occasions.

Team Food vs. Team Beer

For most people food and beer are just two things that are consumed to replenish lost energy.

Food provides nourishment for the body, while beer – some may argue – provides nourishment for the soul. To quote the Bible: “Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.” (Proverbs 31:6-7) However, for people like Santos, food and beer are more than just things that hungry humans gobble up and gulp down.

They’re an art form.

Santos, in particular, believes that brewing beer is a craft like no other.

“I’ve been a huge fan of craft beer and it has become very popular here in LA. It’s its own form of art, since there are so

stay there for good – and of course, for the ‘love of his life.’

Such a funny and inspiring person this woman is. I had fun knowing and telling what is behind her innate ability to entertain and draw laughter in many ways. I hope that she continues to be as delightful as she has always been. ***

celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning

many different flavor variations you can make from brewing beer!” Santos says.

Meanwhile, food, through the numerous delicacies across different cultures, has the power to bring together people from all walks of life.

Food and beer. On their own,

they’re equally important elements of a healthy diet. But whether you’re on Team Food or Team Beer, we can all agree that together, they’re pretty amazing.

Which is why ‘Arts & Craft’ is the food and beer event that we didn’t know we needed.

PAGE B3

Features

B SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

99 Ranch gears up for the Harvest Moon Festival NIGHTS grow longer as the summer ends, which means it’s time to start getting ready for the Harvest Moon Festival taking place on Thursday, September 15.

People around the world will celebrate the Chinese and Vietnamese holiday of family and food by reuniting with friends and family and sharing seasonal dishes.

“Moon festival is all about

getting back together with family and having a nice dinner,” said 99 Ranch Marketing Associate Christina Wang.

Mooncakes — the most iconic dish of the festival — are ornately designed, thin-crusted pastries stuffed with a variety of fillings. The sweet delicacies are commonly exchanged between loved ones, especially during the Harvest Moon Festival.

Shoppers can find gift boxes

AJPress photos by Eric Anthony Licas

from well-known brands featuring traditional or contemporary style mooncakes for sale at 99 Ranch markets.

Tao Tao Ju mooncakes are ideal for people that want to give a healthier gift. The mooncakes in their gift boxes are stuffed with yolk and lotus seeds mixed with trehalose, and use no artificial sweeteners.

All Lily mooncakes are made

with premium ingredients. They come in red bean, mixed nut, and yolk varieties.

Mooncakes inside I Mei gift boxes feature some of the most intricately designed, and are some of the most popularly exchanged during the festival.

99 Ranch Markets are also the exclusive U.S. distributors of Sangju dried persimmons, a sweet and healthy treat from

Korea. The soft and chewy palm-sized fruits are said to be good for digestion, and make for a unique gift.

Festival celebrants can also find great deals on all the meats, produce, seasonings, and other ingredients they will need to prepare a Harvest Festival feast.

For after dinner celebrations, 99 Ranch Markets will also of-

fer specials on a wide selection of wines and spirits including Johnnie Walker, Remy Martin and Chivas.

99 Ranch Markets’ value and wide selection of specialty items help make it easier to put together a Moon Festival celebration to remember. Visit www.99ranch.com for store locations or more information.

(Advertising Supplement)

‘Arts & Craft’ Programming of Kababayan – a food...

Today, September 5-9, 2016 PAGE B3

Get your tickets now! Available exclusively through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/ e/arts-craft-a-food-and-beerevent-tickets-27360749739.

FPAC25 -- the 25th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture and the City of Los Angeles’ Official Filipino Event -- is a program of, and is produced

by FilAm ARTS (Association for the Advancement of Philippine Arts and Culture), a multi-award winning 501c3 non-profit community organization based in Los Angeles, California. (Mico Letargo)

The Global Kababayan G. TönGi Monday, September 5 - Atty.

Rhoda Legal Pinoy visits the show.

This Labor Day, we discuss with community activists why they are against Former Pres.

Ferdinand Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (Heroes’

Cemetery).

Tuesday, September 6 - We are having our first LIVE Call In Show with immigration specialists from Aquino & Loew.

Wednesday, September 7 Midweek News Updates from the Asian Journal and Mia McLeod of McLeod and Associates gives real estate advice.

Thursday, September 8 - Kat Iniba shares with us the specials from Goldilocks in Southern California.

Get to know Fil-Am talent Isa Briones, daughter of well-respected Broadway star Jon Jon Briones.

Friday, September 9 - Since kids are back to school, Professor Carolina San Juan shares advice on how Fil-Am parents can help their children excel in academics. *** Giselle “G” Töngi is the host and producer of Kababayan Today, a daily talk show that features relevant topics for Filipino’s living in America. Her aim is to bridge not only the cultural gap between America & the Philippines but to help with the generational gap between our own people. She is married with two children and is based in Southern California and makes frequent trips in the Pacific Rim to Hawaii and Manila to feature fellow kababayans who are empowering the FilAm community.

Horizon Family Dental Group: Family-owned, community-trusted, service-oriented

AS a unique, family-owned and operated dentistry, Horizon Family Dental Group understands the importance of full health. With over 60 years of dental knowledge combined, our dentists are welltrained, experienced, and sensitive to the needs of families, providing

comprehensive, patient-centered care from head to toe--not just their teeth.

Dental treatment can be costly-we provide in-house interest free payment plans, and accept all types of PPO insurance. We also do home visits! We understand that there is a person attached to every tooth, and that our patients are people, not dollar signs. At our office, we are committed to providing the best care for each and every one of our patients, as though they were our own family members.

According to the American Dental Association, roughly 50% of children ages 5 to 9 years old have at least one cavity or filling.

Is your child one of them?

Poor oral health can negatively affect a child’s self-esteem, lead to absences from school, impact the ability to eat, and cause unwanted shifting of permanent teeth. If left untreated, oral cavity infections can be life-threatening. Visiting the dentist regularly is the quickest way to prevent these issues! We recommend seeing our patients at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings.

Don’t be afraid to visit your family dentist, who can recognize these issues! At Horizon Family Dental, we offer general family and esthetic dentistry: diagnostic, preventative, periodontics (deep cleaning), restorative (fillings, crowns, bridges), root canals, prosthodontics (partial and full dentures), oral surgery (tooth extractions including wisdom teeth), and smile designs (including but not limited to veneers, crowns, inoffice and take home whitening).

We also have holiday specials for Zoom whitening, $100 off

Zoom in-office and take home whitening, with added incentive for referrals.

Visit your family dentist today!

Parents, bring your kids in today for a FREE consultation with Dr. Myoli Landig at one of our convenient locations in Diamond Bar (909-396-5161) and Panorama City (818-920-3959).

Service with a smile Dr. Myoli Landig received her extensive training and graduated from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, and recently joined the family business to help her parents, Dr. Hector Z. Landig, and Dr. Yolanda Herrero-Landig.

“What I love most about my job is being able to help people and make meaningful connections.

Whether it be a patient in pain, suffering from low self-esteem, inability to eat, etcetera, as a dentist I have the distinct opportunity to help people. Taking the time to chat and getting to know our patients can create bonds beyond the dental chair,” said Dr. Myoli, inspired by her family’s work ethic, and who hopes to open her own solo practice in the future.

Along with helping patients, the Landigs often make medical mission trips to the Philippines, helping to serve the great dental needs of their own community.

This past September to early October, Dr. Myoli traveled to Bulacan province, visiting patients in Malolos City and Pulilan, with Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) of the Philippines and the Christian Medical Dental Association (CMDA) of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, her alma mater.

“The main goal of the trip was to glorify God through acts of service in the form of limited dental care to the communities in the Philippines. Through these missions, I hope to first and foremost use my gifts that God has so graciously given me to serve His people,” Dr. Myoli shared of the life-changing experience.

“After those weeks, I promised myself that I would always keep the underserved population in my mind and my heart,” she said. “I have been given a gift--the gift of service with a smile--and that gift was meant to be shared.”

(Advertising Supplement)

(Seated, L-R) Sheila Paguio, Malou Florendo, Ryan Inacay, Marjorie Paguio, Charisse Ong / (Standing, L-R) Diana Arenas, Ella Espanol, Raul Garces, Paul Duterte, Rey Perez, Johnny Postrero

Malou Florendo, former Secretary to President Joseph Estrada celebrating her 66th Birthday with friends and co-workers in Glendale, California.

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

Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

B

A look inside Wi Spa’s sauna rooms

A

T Wi Spa in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, it’s impossible to ever be bored or feel unrelaxed.

For a $25 fee, guests gain entrance to the multi-level, state-of-the-art facility, which houses pools, a fitness room, a restaurant, sleeping rooms and various saunas.

Once you enter, you are given a wrist watch as a locker key and a yellow t-shirt and shorts, which are to be worn on the communal co-ed floor.

On the gender-specific floors, however, clothing is not allowed for most amenities. (It’s important to note that Korean spas aren’t exactly the place for modesty.)

There are many options to unwind at Wi — from getting one of the spa treatments to indulging in a hearty Korean meal — but a trip is not complete without spending time inside the five sauna rooms located on the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which means “bathhouse” in Korean). Saunas have long been touted for their health and wellness benefits, including stress relief, detoxification, clearer skin and weight loss.

The five-themed rooms — Bulgama, Salt, Clay, Jade

and Ice — each have their own healing powers. Spending a few minutes making the rounds at each of them can do wonders for your body. (You can ask the front desk for more information about the numerous benefits.)

Resembling a ceramic brick oven, the Bulgama is the hottest among them, as it is set to 231 degrees. This you’ll notice immediately because you’ll be dripping sweat upon entering.

It’s recommended to spend between 10 to 15 minutes inside to

K_\ 9lc^XdX

K_\ JXck JXleX

K_\ @Z\ JXleX

K_\ :cXp JXleX

K_\ AX[\ JXleX

K_\ Aa`da`cYXe^

let the toxins sweat out the body and to loosen the muscles. Don’t forget to come in equipped with a towel because lying down on the wooden floor can get unbearable without some sort of protection.

Once you leave, it’s essential to rehydrate before moving on to the next room.

In the Salt room, the minerals are said to help blood circulation and toxin excretion within the body. Those who use this room regularly boast about having more radiant skin, more energy

and a stronger immune system.

Inside the Clay sauna, it is like jumping into a heated ball pit. To get the maximum benefits, such as anti-aging and a faster metabolism, you can bury yourself in the clay balls and close your eyes for a brief meditation. The longer you stay, the more you’ll feel the heat.

The Jade sauna — which is named that because the walls are lined with the stone — is said to increase brain activity, relieve any tension and balance hormones.

Lastly, many Wi Spa-goers like to end the sauna tour with the Ice room. Though it is not overly freezing inside, it helps to cool down the body’s temperature and improve circulation.

Even if you intend to stay for an hour or the entire day or want to go in during at middle of the night, Wi Spa is open 24 hours, ready to take you in for your personal wellness journey. (AJPress) Wi Spa is located at 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057 (on the corner of Rampart Blvd). Visit http://www. wispausa.com/ for more details on spa services and specials.

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

B SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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

COMMUNITY Journal

Your Immigration Solution NaNcy Miller COMMITTING a crime can get you into a lot of trouble.

But entering into a plea agreement in criminal court may get you into even more trouble. If you don’t know the immigration consequences of the guilty or no-contest plea you enter, your troubles may just be beginning.

That great deal that kept you out of jail may also get you removed from the United States. That is why the United States Supreme Court has held that criminal defense attorneys must inform their non-citizen clients of whether the plea they are considering entering into carries a risk of deportation.

The Court recognized that deportation is sometimes the most important part of the penalty that may be imposed on noncitizen defendants who plead guilty to specific crimes. For that reason, a defendant is entitled to the effective assistance of competent counsel before deciding to enter into a plea agreement.

Criminal defense attorneys are not required to become experts in the area of immigration law.

Courts have acknowledged that immigration law can be complex and that there will be numerous situations in which the deportation consequences of a particular plea may be unclear or uncertain.

In those circumstances, the criminal defense attorney’s obligation is to advise the noncitizen that the pending criminal charges may carry a risk of adverse immigration consequences.

This limited obligation may, however, raise more problems than it solves. As Justice Alito said in his concurring decision in Padilla v. Kentucky, “nothing is ever simple with immigration law”. Terms such as “conviction”, “moral turpitude”, “single scheme of criminal misconduct” are terms of art and have different meanings in immigration law than in state law. Other concepts in the Immigration & Nationality

Why you need an immigration attorney when you have been charged with a crime Act are ambiguous or confusing to attorneys not versed in the intricacies of immigration law. Is someone an alien (or are they a citizen without knowing it)?

What is the difference between being inadmissible, removable or ineligible for naturalization?

The criminal defense attorney does not need to know the answers to these questions. But the alien trying to avoid deportation does.

The question then for the noncitizen accused of a crime is, how can he best protect himself from a “good” plea bargain that results in his deportation? The immigrant quite plainly must consult an immigration attorney experienced and knowledgeable in the immigration consequences of criminal offenses and convictions and he must do so before he enters into any plea agreement.

Ideally, his criminal defense attorney and his immigration attorney should work together to obtain a “deal” that is beneficial from both a criminal defense and an immigration standpoint.

This “good deal” can take several forms. It may involve convincing the prosecutor to agree to an amended charge that does not render the alien either inadmissible or removable. A noncitizen who is removable may be in the United States in lawful status but be subject to removal because of the conviction. A noncitizen who is not in lawful status may be inadmissible as a result

of a criminal conviction, even if they are the beneficiary of an approved, immediately available petition. And a non-citizen who is in lawful status (and whose specific conviction does not render him removable) who leaves the United States for a temporary purpose may be charged with being inadmissible upon their return. Each of these instances can end the non-citizen’s ability to remain in the United States. So it is best if the charge to which the non-citizen pleads does not result in his being either inadmissible or removable.

Unfortunately, many prosecutors take the position that the immigration ramification of the plea is not their concern and will not agree to a charge amendment that will keep the alien safe from all negative immigration consequences. However, the criminal conviction with immigration consequences may be subject to a waiver that would allow the alien to either obtain status, if she is otherwise eligible, or keep her green card and, potentially, apply for U.S. citizenship at a later time.

And “crimmigration” (the interaction of criminal and immigration law) changes all the time. Last year, Governor Brown signed a bill that lowered all sentences for misdemeanors to no more than 364 days. A recent court ruling held that a greencard-holder who adjusted status

u PAGE C2

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

C

C SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon HAVE your credit card debts become larger than you have ever expected? Are you struggling to even keep up with the minimum payments required every month? If you are in this situation, maybe you’ve wondered about what the legal repercussions might be once you get to the point where you can no longer continue paying your creditors. Can credit card companies sue you for what you owe? And when they do, what happens when they get a judgment against you? These are the questions I’m often asked by people who seek legal advice regarding their credit card debts.

Of course, credit card companies don’t make it easy for you to catch up once you fall behind.

They are quick to add on additional fees and demand that you bring your account up to date immediately by paying the current amount due, all past due payments as well as late fees.

And if allowed by the agreement that you signed when you first applied for the credit card, your interest rate can also go sky-high upon default. Before you know it, your debt problems have become a financial nightmare and your phone starts ringing off the hook with bill collectors harassing you at

Community Journal

Have your credit card debts become a financial nightmare? home and at work. What do you do at this point?

If your credit card debts have escalated beyond your control, perhaps you are getting nervous about what your creditors will do next. Can you be sued?

Yes, you can be sued once your creditors are convinced that they have exhausted all other options to force you to pay. Of course, the benefit to be gained by suing you must outweigh the costs so the creditor will take that into consideration as well.

But most delinquent accounts are turned over to collection agencies in high volumes which significantly reduce the creditors’ litigation costs. Smaller companies like credit unions will also sometimes sue you in small claims court and they don’t even need an attorney to file the lawsuit.

I often see people who ignore their debts for a long time until one day they receive a summons at home or at work and only then do they realize the seriousness and urgency of their situation. If you are sued by a creditor, it is very important that you do not ignore the lawsuit or you will definitely regret the consequences once the creditor takes the next step of garnishing your wages, seizing funds out of your bank account, filing a lien against your real property or a combination of the above.

If filing bankruptcy is your

best and only option, it is best to seek legal help right away before your debt problems get worse. Spare yourself the suffering and the agony caused by debt if at all possible. In choosing a bankruptcy lawyer, remember that not all bankruptcy lawyers are created equal and may have different ideas on how to help you. It is important to choose a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who has your best interests at heart.

Most debt problems are solvable but often they get worse if ignored. Don’t make this fatal mistake. If bankruptcy is not your best option, sometimes debt settlement can also be a way to avoid bankruptcy as long as you can come up with a realistic payment plan that your creditors will accept.

If you are in debt and have not figured out a way to get out, constant worrying will not get you anywhere unless you act to change your situation for the better. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1866-477-7772 and we will help you step by step in finding a solution that’s right for you. ***

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

Tax Tips VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA

SHOULD you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or LLP? Which entity is most beneficial for you?

Choosing the wrong form could cause unnecessary taxes, increased liability, and unnecessary exposure to lawsuits. What you should not do is listen to your neighbor or friend because each one has a different set of circumstances calling for a different set of strategies, a different form of entity. What you should do is seek professional advice to help you understand the attributes of each form and evaluate a whole multitude of confusing tax, legal and personal issues. The objective here is to set you up with a form that is tailored to your particular needs, your particular industry, and your particular business. Let me describe for you the nature, advantages, and disadvantages of each form of entity. We start with sole proprietorships in the article and move to corporations, partnerships, and LLCs in succeeding articles.

Sole Proprietorship is the None of the information herein is in- simplest form of doing business. tended to give legal advice for any specific The business is your own alter situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has success- ego. It does not require any fully helped thousands of clients in getting legal filing with the California out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation and most other states... It does of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon not file a separate return. You Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772. merely include form Schedule C (Advertising Supplement) with your individual income tax

Should you run your business as a sole proprietorship? return. This is often referred as a DBA (Doing Business As) that is rather inaccurate because a partnership or corporation can also have a DBA. The need for a DBA occurs when you decide not to use your name and instead opt to use a fictitious name to hold your business out to the public. For example, John Smith decides to run his auto parts retail business as Acme Auto Parts. This name has to be registered in the county where the business is located. Caveat: The most common error of sole proprietors that I have encountered over 23 years of practice is the commingling of personal and business assets, income, and expenses. You need to open a business checking account to which all business revenues are deposited and from which all business expenses are paid.

Take a periodic draw. Deposit a check from the business account to your personal account from which you pay mortgage, grocery and other personal expenses. Read on to review the pluses and minuses of being a sole proprietor.

A. Advantages: 1. It’s simple. Administration and organizational needs are less complicated.

2. It’s less expensive to organize because there are no legal papers except minimal DBA filing costs.

3. Federal and state taxes are usually lower (no double taxation

for regular corporations).

4. You save on FICA (Social Security tax) on the wages of your children under 18 years old.

5. You save on FUTA (unemployment tax) on the wages of your children under 21 years old.

B. Disadvantages: 1. You are exposed to personal liabilities from business-related lawsuits. So is your business from personal-related lawsuits.

A successful plaintiff against the business can come after your personal assets; so can a plaintiff against you go after your business assets.

2. You have a high risk of being audited by the IRS. Schedule Cs are a prime target for audits.

3. You have to pay self-employment tax (social security tax) of about 15%.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Grounds for annulling a marriage Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRSuA ReyeS MOST couples that want out of a marriage in California usually file for Divorce. There are circumstances though that allow a couple to have their marriage “voided” rather than “dissolved.”

There is a big difference between the two concepts. With a voided marriage, it restores the couple to status of unmarried person as if they have never been married before. In a divorce, the couple would always be regarded to as married during the period of the marriage.

Unlike Divorce which can be obtained regardless of the reason. Voiding a marriage may only be obtained based on certain grounds. It is void in cases of incest and bigamy. It is voidable in cases of minority, Unsound Mind, Fraud, Force, or Physical Incapacity. Marriages between parents, children, ancestors and descendants, brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, and aunts and nephews are incestuous and are void from the beginning. So are bigamist marriages where either party was still married to another person when they entered the marriage. Nevertheless, it is best to obtain a Nullity Judgment to clarify the legal status of the parties under these circumstances.

Certain situations does not necessarily make a marriage void but

makes it voidable on the parties option. One such circumstance is when the petitioner was under 18 years old when the petitioner married and the parents did not provide their consent. The Nullity petition based on this ground has to be filed within four years after the party turns 18. The parent of the minor may also file the Petition provided it is filed prior to the minor turning 18. Another situation is a bigamist marriage where the first spouse has been absent and not known to be living for 5 years prior to the second marriage or if the party believed the spouse to be dead at the time of the second marriage.

A Nullity based on this ground may be filed during the life of the other party.

A marriage may be voided if either party was of unsound mind at the time of the marriage.

Unsound Mind means a person is incapable of understanding the nature of the marriage contract and the duties and responsibilities it creates which depends on the degree of mental capacity of the party. This may not be a ground if the party later on came to reason yet continued to freely cohabitate with the spouse.

Fraud is another ground for voiding a marriage. The false representation or concealment must relate to a substantive matter and directly affect the purpose of the party deceived in entering the marriage. The fraud must go to the very essence of the marital relation before it is sufficient for an annulment. It is not sufficient simply to contend that your spouse turned out to be a lazy, drunken disappointment. Nul-

u PAGE C3

Why you need an immigration…

PAGE C1 t

may still be eligible for a waiver of an aggravated felony conviction. Other court rulings have addressed immigration consequences of burglary and crime of violence convictions.

To the alien who says “why do I need two attorneys to deal with one criminal problem?” the answer is “because you have two problems and you want to be able to legally stay in the United States.” ***

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) 795-8009 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)

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

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I AM a salaried employee exempt from overtime. I often work more than 40 hours per week. However, there are days when I work less than 8 hours per day. For example, last week, due to a personal emergency, I was able to work for 6 hours only.

When I work less than 8 hours in a day, my employer deducts from my salary an amount equivalent to the number of hours that I was out. Is this right?

A: If you are a true exempt employee, and paid on a salary basis, then your employer should not dock your salary if you miss a partial day of work. Such docking policy is contrary to the salary basis rules. True exempt employees are paid for the value of their services, not their time.

As we have previously discussed in this column, for an employee to be truly exempt from overtime, they must be employed in an executive, administrative, or professional capacity. The law strictly applies the “executive,” “managerial,” and “professional” exemptions to the overtime provisions. True exempt status is determined primarily by an employee’s duties.

For example, executives or managers must perform managerial, not merely ministerial, duties.

These duties include managing the business, hiring, firing, and disciplining employees, deciding

Community Journal

What are the rights of a true salaried employee?

on employee salaries and wages, and creating work policies and procedures. These duties must take up more than 50% of their work time. If, for example, managers work 8-hour days, they must spend more than 4 hours per day on managerial work.

True exempt employees must also be paid at least twice the state’s minimum wage for full-time employment. The salary basis requirement allows an employer to break an exempt employee’s salary down into an hourly rate for payroll purposes.

The employer may also ask a salaried employee to use a time clock to record his time, as long as his compensation is not actually calculated based on the hours on the time card.

Generally, with some exceptions, exempt employees must receive their full salary for any week in which they perform any work, without regard to the number of days or hours worked.

Because salaried employees are paid for the general value of their services rather than the precise amount of time spent on the job, employers may not dock their pay for partial days missed or for unsatisfactory performance.

Additionally, deductions may not be made for absences caused by the employer or the operating requirements of its business where the employee is ready, willing and able to work. Similarly, deductions generally may not be made for absences dur-

ing part of a workweek resulting from jury duty, attendance as a witness, or temporary military leave. An employer may offset any amount received by an employee as jury fees, witness fees, or military pay against the salary and still keep the employee’s exempt status.

However, an employer may reduce a salaried employee’s salary if the employee missed one full day or more of work for personal reasons, sickness, or disability as defined by law.

An employer who makes improper deductions from a salary will lose the exemption status if the facts demonstrate that the employer engaged in an actual practice of making improper deductions, which shows that the employer did not intend to pay employees on a salary basis. If the exemption status is lost, the employee may become entitled to additional wages. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant recoveries for thousands of employees and consumers. He is named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

(Advertising Supplement)

World War II Veterans Parole Program: Frequently asked questions

thorization document (EAD).

AS you may be aware, the • Will I be interviewed by an USCIS has started implementaimmigration officer? tion last June 2016 the Filipino • Yes. If the beneficiary is World War II Veterans Parole outside of the US, he will be Program (“FWVP”). The program interviewed by Department of allows certain family members State consular officer in a US of Filipino World War II veterans Embassy or consulate abroad. (“FWV”) who are beneficiaries If he is in the US, he will be inof an approved I-130 Petition to terviewed by a USCIS officer. apply for parole with the USCIS A medical examination and a so they can come to the US while background check are likewise waiting for their immigrant visa to required for all applicants. become available (or to become • I am a derivative beneficiacurrent). Information and eligibil- Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos ry. When should I apply under ity regarding the program were the FWVP? discussed in my earlier articles.

• The petitioner who will file for the parole appliBelow are some of the frequently asked questions cations must file for all family members associated about the program: • Can I obtain a green card through the FWVP? with the same underlying approved I-130 Petition • No. The parole program merely allows the at the same time.

If you are contemplating of filing any application beneficiaries to remain in the US during the period granted. To obtain a green card, you have to apply based on this FWV parole program or any immiand meet the eligibility requirements of a lawful gration petition for that matter, it is advisable to permanent resident (LPR). The beneficiary can ap- seek the counsel of an immigration lawyer to guide ply for adjustment of status once his priority date you on the intricacies of filing for such a petition. becomes current. *** • How long can I stay in the US under the Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of FWVP? California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule • The initial period of time allowed under the for a free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) parole program is three (3) years. However, the 284-5984 or (626) 329-8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 beneficiary can apply for re-parole at least ninety Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

(90) days before the initial period expires. Since it *** may take years before the visas of the beneficiaries Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes become current, they are responsible in making legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client sure they apply for re-parole when and as needed. relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or • Can I work in the US while under the FWVP? prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

• Yes. Once the parole application is approved, We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the beneficiary can apply for an employment au- the Bankruptcy Code.

(Advertising Supplement)

SKT Immigration

eliot Krieger UNDER the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, foreign investors can apply for a green card if they 1) invest in a company in the United States and 2) plan to create ten permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. There are two options for an EB-5 investment: 1) direct investment or 2) regional center investment.

While both methods provide access to permanent residence, the EB-5 investor should be familiar with the differences between the two options before investing.

Direct Investment A direct investment is best suited for an investor who wants to own and be directly involved in the day-to-day operation of the company. The investor should be well-versed in business practices, since this option requires more time and effort. The investor should also formulate a business plan that will project the creation of ten jobs for qualified

PAGE C2 t

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program – direct investment vs. regional center investment

U.S. workers within two years after becoming a conditional lawful permanent resident. A qualified U.S. worker is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other immigrant lawfully authorized to be employed in the United States.

Regional Center Investment EB-5 requirements for an investor who has invested in a Regional Center project are essentially the same as a direct investment. The only difference is that these investments are affiliated with an economic unit known as a “Regional Center.”

A Regional Center is a business entity that coordinates foreign EB-5 investment within an area in compliance with EB-5 statutory, regulatory, and precedent decision framework.

A regional center investment is best suited for an investor who would rather participate in the policy-making activities of the business, instead of managing the day-to-day activities of the

business. Limited partnerships and limited liability companies have generally been recognized as appropriate investment vehicles under the EB-5 program.

The benefit of a regional center investment is that regional centers are permitted to use reasonable job creation methodologies to calculate direct, indirect, and induced jobs. Thus, regional centers are able to solicit several to hundreds of EB-5 investors for their EB-5 projects, since indirect and induced jobs can be counted towards the total job creation count.

Conclusion It’s important to note that both types of investments provide access to a green card for the investor and his/her family. Also, both types of investments have the same processing timeline.

There is currently no wait time for EB-5s for Filipino nationals, and through an EB-5 investment, the investor can apply for green

u PAGE C5

Grounds for annulling a…

lity based on fraud has to be filed within four years of discovering the fraud.

Certain marriages that are entered into by force are voidable. Circumstances that meet these standards requires that the forced party’s free will to have been overcome by the spouse such as through the use of threats. These type of Nullity must be filed within four years from the date of marriage. A marriage where the spouse was found to be incapable of physically engaging in copulation may

be voided. It can only be filed by the spouse that does not have the physical incapacity and must be filed within four years of the marriage. Before deciding weather a divorce is the appropriate avenue to end your marriage, parties should evaluate if a Nullity is a viable alternative and weather it serves their best interest. ***

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive

CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kureyeslaw@gmail.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

(Advertising Supplement)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

Mightier than the sword

A Dash of Salt and Pepper (A simple thought of inspiration with biblical encouragement)

by Henjie Pimenta

AS you may recall in my very first “A Dash of Salt and Pepper” column, I sold homecooked food in the strip of Ermita, Manila when I was a young boy. This eventually led to an upgrade by operating an art gallery and handicrafts business in Pistang Pilipino located at the very corner of Padre Faura and A. Mabini.

One of the many souvenir prod- Henjie Pimenta ucts that we used to sell was the coat of arms with the Weapons of the Moroland.

Different kinds of bolo knives, bows and arrows, shield and axes were replicated to smaller scales.

This coat of arms comes in different sizes and is usually displayed or hung on the wall. Many tourists from around the world like to buy them as a reminder of their visit in the Philippines.

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines influenced the culture greatly but did not penetrate much in the Southern-most part of the country.

Solidarity and bravery are some of the key factors in maintaining their stronghold.

On the other hand, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” are the books written by Dr. Jose Rizal in his time that angered the Spaniards and aroused the nationalistic pride that led to the revolt. The familiar phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword” was indeed true in the case of Dr. Jose Rizal, as it moved the hearts of the Filipino people to defend their freedom.

For us believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is also a charge in the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 6:10-17: “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” All the battle gear and weapons described the readiness to fight the devil’s scheme, as highlighted in the beginning of the verse particularly in verse 12 of Ephesians 6.

This passage is rich in spiritual nourishment and is known as the Full Armor of God, but for the sake of our topic in this issue allow us to concentrate in the latter part of verse 17: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. God-willing, we can talk about the other armors in full detail some other time.”

Now, in Hebrews 4:12 of the Holy Bible states that: “For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and

C

marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

First, the Word of God develops our character — that when we dive into the Word of the Lord, we will be able to see ourselves as to how we act, speak and think; IF we are congruent to the will of God. The Holy Spirit gives us a conviction to realign us to our God, as we say in our prayers: your will be done, Lord. The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God will cut off unnecessary attitudes and characters in us. It may not be pleasant at the time of pruning but it will definitely be for God’s glory and Christ’s likeness. It is the result of trimming or chopping off some areas that need cleaning.

Secondly, the Word of God is used for equipping the believers. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scriptures are God-breathed and are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

All these are for God’s glory so that we can be effective followers of the Lord.

Third, the Word of God is our spiritual nourishment.

Matthew 4:4: “Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Joshua 1:8: ”Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful” You see that when we meditate on the Word of the Lord, we are actually digesting it for spiritual consumption. Prosperous and successful mean that like a good soldier who carries the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, you overcome battles and obstacles in life for you rely on Him. The Word is God Himself John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.

The Word is Jesus Christ himself John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In conclusion, the sword of the Spirit is The Word of God, which is sharper than any double-edged sword, alive and active. The Word is mightier than the sword. It is also responsible for the creation of the world because He is God Himself, His name is Jesus Christ—giving glory to the Father.

And all who agree, say amen!

If you need prayers, please do not hesitate to call or visit us on any Sunday at: Praise Christian Fellowship of the Valley, 9051 Woodman Avenue, Arleta, CA 91331, (inside Helping Hands ADHC, behind the CVS drugstore and Vallarta Supermarket at the back alley) on 4:30 p.m. or call Pastor Emmanuel Madeja at (818) 813-3971; or at Praise Christian Fellowship, Los Angeles on 2235 Beverly Blvd. (corner Roselake and Rosemont), Los Angeles, CA 90057 at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m, or 6 p.m. or call Pastor Courtney Hall at (213) 484-8294. n

C SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Community Journal

Client files adversary against debtor for $370K

Debt Relief atty. lawRence yanG CLIENT is a foreign company doing business with a California company since 2012. Client is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of a certain kind of equipment, which CA Company sells and distributes in the United States. Business was good reaching low million dollar figures until CA Company was sued by a person whose relationship to the CA company is am not clear on.

But this plaintiff was able to get a judgment against the CA Company for $1.0M and proceeded to levy the bank accounts of the CA Company. The company appealed the judgment saying that the state court judgment was based on fake documents then filed a Chapter 11 case to shield itself from the judgment levy on its bank accounts so that it could continue operating. Client’s interest in the case is that client gave CA Company a credit line of $3.0M for trade financing of it’s shipments to the CA company. When CA Company filed for Chapter 11, it owed client about $400K unpaid.

Client continued to do business with CA Company despite it’s being on Chapter 11 and continued shipping it merchandise.

The CA Company continued paying client until the trustee forced the conversion of the Chapter 11 case to Chapter 7. When the case was converted to Chapter 7, client was still owed $250K, and CA Company had not yet executed the transfer documents for a trademark that client had bought and paid for in the amount of $120K. So, we filed two claims against the Chapter 7 trustee. One claim was for $250K of unpaid merchandise, which we claimed was secured because there was a title retention agreement for unpaid merchandise, and a claim for ownership of the trademark, or $120K. A lot of litigation ensued between client and the Chapter 7 trustee, and the plaintiff who had a $1.0M judgment against the debtor.

The Court eventually ruled in favor of client on the issue of

“

Senior files Chapter 7 to discharge $40K credit cards

the trademark ruling that since client had bought and paid for it, client owned the trademark.

Trustee agreed to not challenge this, and considered it as a final disposition of that matter.

So, the trustee transferred the trademark to client. However, the unpaid inventory is still at issue and the trial is next month.

There are specific steps that a creditor can take to protect itself in bankruptcy. The first is to make sure that your claim is secured because secured creditors are treated differently from unsecured creditors. Secured creditors have priority over unsecured creditors in bankruptcy.

If there is money left in the bank-

allow the creditor with State law foreclosure remedies.

Next client is a 62. He still works as a radiology technician and makes about $70K a year.

He is single and doesn’t own a house. He has several dependents; his sister and two nieces.

He also sends money abroad to another sister who has a large family because his brother in law does not work. In other words, client has a good heart and all his income is spent to care for his family. The choice now is there is a conflict between money that has to be sent to his sister abroad, or to pay for minimum payments on his $40K credit cards. He sends $1,200 a month to his sister abroad, while he also needs $1,200 a month to keep his $40K credit cards current. It’s hardly a choice is it? The right choice is to continue sending $1,200 a month to his sister with the large family because they have to continue having a roof over their heads and food to eat. Some of the money sent goes to the college education of his nieces and nephews, which is also good. On the other hand, $1,200 a month to keep $40K credit cards current is a luxury that client can no longer afford. He has paid it for at least ten years, which is a grand total of $144,000. $144K is more than enough to pay off $40K of credit cards, isn’t it? But that’s not how it works. After paying $144K for ten years, clients still owes the very same $40K of credit cards! It’s totally unfair.

But who ever said that the world has to be fair? Instead of paying for credit cards, client could have bought a house instead, here or abroad so that the house can be used as a family home for his relatives. Client wants to continue working until forever. I can understand that. As long as one is healthy, one will feel the same even in the sixties, one still feels young. It’s all in the mind.

I started counting backwards

To live for eternity in paradise, we have to believe in Jesus Christ who said that “I am the way, the truth and the light; No one gets to the Father, except through me.” That’s pretty simple and clear, isn’t it?

”

ruptcy estate, secured creditors get paid in full first; then, if there is money left, unsecured creditors share equally proportionately. The legal problem that normally surfaces a secured creditor is whether or not its claim is actually secured in the legal sense of the word. For instance, a mortgage that is signed by both parties but not recorded is not a secured debt. It is an unsecured debt. But if the mortgage is recorded, the mortgage becomes a secured debt. Even if there is a bankruptcy, the mortgage holder can ask permission from the Court to proceed with foreclosure on the property if the post-petition mortgage payments are not being made. So, in Chapter 13 if the post petition mortgage payment has not been made, the creditor can file a motion for relief from the automatic stay. This motion is normally heard in 30 days. If debtor does not pay the post petition default on or before the hearing date with certified funds, the Court will grant the relief motion and

u PAGE C5

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

Celebrating the sainthood of Mother Teresa

To Live With Faith ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas I REMEMBER standing next to her at the Luneta Park in Manila when Pope John Paul II beatified Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and his companions. I was a young college student then at San Carlos Seminary, contemplating becoming a priest.

She was a diminutive nun wearing a sari and sandals, exuding holiness, kindness, compassion, and simplicity. I read about her then: her love for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India.

I’ve seen pictures of her feeding the homeless and the sick, carrying malnourished babies, and traveling to the United States to tell Americans of many of their fellow citizens’ poverty—not in material things, but in love, joy and faith.

I already knew her then as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the founder of Missionaries of Charity, which serves the most destitute and vulnerable members of the society and is comprised of individuals who live in poverty themselves.

In Mother Teresa’s words, its mission was to care for “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout the society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”

Today, I’m thrilled to realize that I already met a canonized saint in person. Even then people called her a “living saint” because of her heroic deeds of charity and radical life of poverty and holiness.

This Sunday, September 4, the whole Church rejoices in Mother Teresa’s canonization as a saint.

Pope Francis will finally make her a saint only 19 years after her death, and after he recognized a second miracle attributed to her involving the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors.

Mother Teresa revolutionized the world with her intense love for the poorest of the poor.

Even non-Christians admired her and her religious order for their work in hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis; soup kitchens;

orphanages and schools. Consequently, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979.

She was unstoppable on her mission to reach out to the poor around the world. In 1982, she rescued 37 children who were trapped in a front line hospital in Beirut by brokering a temporary cease-fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas. At that period she also expanded her efforts to Communist countries. She traveled to Europe to assist victims of earthquake and hunger. By 1996, she was running 517 missions in more than 100 countries.

Mother Teresa, however, would be the first one to renounce any worldly and ecclesiastical recognition. All her works belonged to God and the poor. As she said: “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, A Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”

Referring to the treasures of the Church, Mother Teresa would say that the poor are her riches.

“They are our treasures. They

u PAGE C5

Accidental disinheritance

by Andrew

PArAnAl, eSQ

ASK any parent whom they would want to inherit their estate and the overwhelming majority would answer the same thing, “My kids.” Unfortunately, many Filipino parents are unintentionally disinheriting their children that they love and adore.

Here is how it usually happens: A man marries, has children, works hard and accumulates an estate, i.e., generally their home and savings. Then, his wife dies.

After a few years, he meets a woman who brings meaning back into his life. They both fall in love. He remarries. Then, a few years later, the man dies.

Suddenly, the children discover that his second wife has acquired everything their father worked and saved for all his life.

But, even worse, a few years later the second wife dies. Now, the father’s children learn that her children, strangers to all of them, have inherited everything.

The man’s children are disinherited by default.

What does your will say? I

Andrew Paranal, ESQ

know, you have a simple estate. Essentially, your will states that when one spouse dies, the other spouse will inherit everything. When the second spouse dies, the estate will then go to the children - right? This is all well and good as long as neither spouse remarries after the firsts spouse dies.

Now, in an ideal world, you would marry the “love of your lifetime” and nobody would get divorced or die too early, i.e.,

there would be no second (or third) marriages. Unfortunately, there will be some 800,000 new widows/widowers in the U.S. this year (National Mental Health Association - 2002) and another 1 million divorces in the U.S. (National Vital Statistics Reports released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 2009).

Second and third marriages are becoming more and more common. Many parents will remarry and draft new wills leaving everything to their new spouse.

This creates a major problem. In this second will, children from the first marriage are left out in the cold. When the second parent dies, the entire estate is passed on to the second spouse and not to the children.

At that point, it is entirely up to the second spouse as to whether or not your children will see any of your money. It is not enough that your spouse says he or she will take care of them. Realize that if you have not made correct provisions for your children, then

u PAGE C5

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

Community Journal

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016

C

New USCIS policy allows waiting beneficiaries Client files adversary against debtor… of approved I-130 filed by Filipino World War II veteran father or surviving spouse to come to US ahead of their priority date PAGE C4 t

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

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

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

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

When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the Filipino World War II veteran, individuals who obtain parole under FWVP include beneficiaries under any family-sponsored preference category.

When the petitioning relative in the U.S. is the surviving spouse of a Filipino World War II veteran, only individuals who are the child, son, or daughter of the surviving spouse who is also the child, son, or daughter of the Filipino World War II veteran can seek parole under FWVP. In cases where the petitioning relative is deceased, a beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP but first must seek humanitarian reinstatement of the approved I-130 filed on the beneficiary’s behalf. Once the I-130 is reinstated, the beneficiary may seek parole under FWVP. It is important to note that the above requirements are preliminary requirements for eligibility under FWVP. The grant of parole by USCIS under FWVP is made on a discretionary, case-by-case basis. In addition, following the first 4 years of FWVP’s implementation, USCIS will evaluate whether FWVP should be phased out at the end of 5 years. It is accordingly recommended that you promptly seek the advice and assistance of an experienced attorney, who can confirm eligibility and present facts in support of the favorable exercise of discretion by USCIS in granting the parole request. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philipp ine American Bar Association.

a long time ago. Truth be told, I don’t feel a day over 28 but that was a long time ago, yet it feels like that was only yesterday. So this is life. We are only here temporarily and only for a short period of time. To live for eternity in paradise, we have to believe in Jesus Christ who said that “I am the way, the truth and the light; No one gets to the Father, except through me.” That’s pretty simple and clear, isn’t it?

If you don’t believe that the Bible is the word of God, consider this: It was written by 11 apostle of Jesus Christ who witnessed his death and resurrection from

the dead.” Jesus said He would die for us, then He would resurrect on the third day, and that’s exactly what He did 2000 years ago as written by the 11 witnesses and their account of what happened is in the Bible!

I mean, it’s just totally awesome and amazing. When Jesus resurrected He walked again among the living in Jerusalem and hundreds and thousands of people saw him again walking among them, when He already died!

I mean, just think about it. It’s mind-boggling.

Client decides to get a Chapter 7 discharge, then buy a house here after two years when his

credit score is about 650. He’s still paying for a new car, so as long as he pays the car loan on time, his credit score should be over 600 by the second year.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John:14:6h

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Celebrating the sainthood of Mother…

PAGE C4 t

are Jesus. Each one is Jesus distressing disguise,” she would tell everyone who visited her mission in Calcutta.

How appropriate it is to celebrate the canonization of Mother Teresa this Sunday when the Gospel talks about giving up everything to follow Christ.

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple,” Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Luke.

Mother Teresa absolutely lived the words of Jesus until the end of his life.

Mother Teresa, however,

PAGE C4 t

never advised all people to leave their homes and families to serve the poor. For her, this is a special calling, “a calling within a call.”

In fact, she told people that “love begins by taking care of the closest one—the ones at home.” She said that “the way to help heal the world is to start with your own family.”

As we celebrate Mother Teresa’s sainthood, let her words ring in our hearts: “Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor...Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expres-

sion of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting!” *** From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

Accidental disinheritance

you may be disinheriting them unintentionally.

If you are a widow or a widower in a second marriage, will your children (from your first marriage) be left out in the cold if your current spouse outlives you and decides to favor his or her own children in their will? Quite possibly “Yes,” if you have an LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: (323) 639-0277. Email: info@ overly simplistic will that leaves dtanlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement) “everything to my spouse.”

What if your children are listed Eliot Krieger is a Partner at Sullivan, Krieger, as beneficiaries of your will? If Truong, Spagnola, and Klausner, LLP. He is a you have re-titled all of your asCatharine Yen manages the former Assistant United States Attorney with sets in joint ownership with your PAGE C3 t cards for himself, his spouse, and immigration department at the United States Department of Justice. He new spouse, you may have still unmarried children under the Sullivan, Krieger, Truong, Sp- has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and unintentionally disinherited your children (if you die first) no matage of 21. As a green card hold- agnola, and Klausner. She has a J.D. from Harvard Law School. ter what your will says. er, you are considered a lawful a 100% approval rate for filed Website: www.sullivankrieger.com If you want to make sure that permanent resident of the U.S., EB-5 petitions. She has spoken Contact us at any of our offices: your children are designated which allows you to lawfully re- at national conferences and Long Beach + 1 (562) 597-7070 to receive your inheritance and side in the U.S., work in the U.S., co-authored several articles on Irvine + 1 (949) 390-5270 still allow your spouse access to and travel internationally with various EB-5 topics.

Philippines + 63-2-788-5196 *** your green card.

(Advertising Supplement) family assets so that he or she

EB-5 Immigrant Investor…

maintain their standard of living, a typical “will” is usually not the best estate planning vehicle to use - a Living Trust is the most common solution.

A Living Trust will keep your family out of probate saving tens of thousands of dollars (perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars). Also, a Living Trust can provide for your surviving spouse while he or she is living; then, upon your second spouse’s death, the remaining assets will go to your children.

Living trusts are very common for blended families because you can guarantee that your children from a prior marriage will receive your inheritance while allowing your current spouse access to the inheritance amount. The amount of access your spouse has to the inheritance amount is largely up to you.

Exactly how this is resolved for

you will depend on your situation and the size of your estate.

It takes careful planning with an experienced attorney who can be objective and look at your situation from all kinds of angles and possibilities. But you must make sure you seek a qualified estate planning attorney - especially if you have a blended family. *** Elder Law Services of California is proud to announce that attorney Andrew Paranal has joined its trust department. Mr. Paranal began his career in estate planning in 2013 and has since expanded into asset protection and Medi-Cal planning. He became interested in Elder Law after helping care for a family member who experienced a debilitating event. Mr. Paranal is excited to join an established law firm and hopes to educate his Filipino community about the tremendous benefits of proper estate planning.

For more information, please visit elderlawcalifornia.com or call 1-800-411-0546 (Advertising Supplement)

FILIPINO PROGRAMMING

ONLYON LA18 All New “LolaBasyang.com” begins Sept.13th

3:00 PM

Lola Basyang.com

Boots Anson-Roa comes to LA18 via TV5’s LolaBasyang.com , playing Lola Basyang , who shares classic stories

Keeping You Connected

na may modern-day twist for our viewers! In this modern-day version, Lola B is a tech-savvy grandma, and she shares her stories with children via blogs and a webcam.

3:30 PM Kababayan Today with G Töngi 4:00 PM Aksyon News (Produced by TV5)

NEW ON LA18 !

G Töngi

C SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2016 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

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

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 3-6, 2016

MARKETPLACE SHOWROOM

& Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

A CORNERSTONE of Donald Trump’s “solution” to our immigration issues is to deport the approximate 11 million undocumented immigrants, “and let the good come back in.”

I’m not quite sure if he’s talking about some form of “provisional waiver,” which is currently in effect, where certain people Congresswoman Judy Chu, Ron Fong (Executive Director, Asian Pacific Islander Small Business have to leave the US and apply Program), Victor Parker (District Director, U.S. SBA L.A. District Office) and Lan Ong (Managing for their immigrant visas abroad.

Member, Wing Hop Fung) They first apply for a waiver of the 3\10 year bar, and if granted, leave the US, and then return (come back) after obtaining their immigrant visa.

But putting aside exactly how Trump plans to identify, gather up, and deport 11 million people, there are also the LEGAL aspects by aJPress Asian Pacific Islander Small Busi- on deporting/removing people: • The government cannot GOVERNMENT officials, busi- ness Program (API SBP), the ness leaders and community expo on Saturday, September simply knock on a person’s door members gathered in Arcadia, 10 bears the theme, “Recipes or come to their place of work, California on Wednesday, August for Growth.” Activities that day grab and handcuff them, and 31 to announce the upcoming include a women’s entrepreneur take them to the nearest train 17th Annual Asian Small Busi- panel and workshops to guide station or airport and send them business owners and aspiring out. ness Expo.

• Instead, each person is entiOrganized annually by the PAGE D2

17th Annual Asian Small Business Expo features resources to help Asian businesses grow

Filipinos ‘happiest’ employees in SE Asia, report says

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

IN its 2016 Happiness Index Report, online employment marketplace Jobstreet.com reported that Pinoys are the happiest workers in Southeast Asia with 73 percent of Filipinos happy with their jobs.

Behind Filipinos were Indonesians (71 percent), Thai workers (61 percent), Vietnamese (60 percent) and Hong Kong (57 percent). On the other end, Malaysians and Singaporeans were rated the least satisfied with their jobs at 47 percent and 48 percent, respectively.

The report comes at a prosperous economic period. Economists said that the Philippine economy increased by 7 percent between April and June, and they attribute that to an overall positive performance from multiple industries.

Filipinos were asked to rate their satisfaction rate on a 10scale, and they comprised of the highest average score of 6.25.

The survey collected results from 12,796 Filipino workers, with more than half of them coming from Metro Manila.

When divided by industry, state employees were the happiest with an average rating of 6.7.

Employees in the education and oil sectors scored 6.53 and 6.49, respectively. On the other side of the spectrum, retail, banking and finance and call center employees scored the lowest.

When measuring by specialization, Filipinos specializing in hospitality-related jobs comprised of the highest happiness index.

According to the report, Pinoys from Bicol are the happiest, and workers from the Negros Island region ranked the least happy.

PAGE D2

Pinoys are the happiest workers in Southeast Asia with 73 percent of Filipinos happy with their jobs.

Philstar.com photo

DOT: 6-M tourist target on track

by Mary

Grace Philstar.com

Padin

MANILA - The Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed confidence on Thursday, Sept. 1, the country would reach its target of six million international tourist arrivals for the year as the sector continued to exhibit sustained growth in the first half.

Rolando Canizal, tourism assistant secretary for development planning, based his assumption on the latest data from the DOT which showed that international tourist arrivals reached 2.98 million as of the end of June this year, up 13.7 percent year on year.

“We’re already halfway the target (as of June) and we’re very optimistic that we are going to hit that target by the end of this year,” Canizal told The STAR. Data from the DOT also showed that visitor receipts rose 14.7 per-

cent to P127.37 billion.

Korea continued to be the country’s top market during the first half, constituting 23.04 percent or 686,118 of the total visitor count.

It was followed by the US, with total arrivals of 454,170 and China with 340,958 visitors.

A total of 260,656 visitors came from Japan, while 126,209 were from Australia.

Canizal attributed the growth to growing confidence in the Philippines as a safe destination, as well as the effective marketing and promotions campaign of the DOT. “We had a peaceful election, which was highly regarded within the international community.

That’s why people have the confidence to go to the Philippines because they know it’s a safe destination,” he said.

Tourists line up at the immigration counters at the NAIA.

PAGE D4

Philstar.com photo

D

The ‘logistics’ of deporting 11 million people

tled to his or her “day in court.”

They must be served with a Notice to Appear (NTA), which sets forth the charges or reasons they are deportable.

• The person then has the right to appear in court, and apply for various forms of relief, if eligible, which must be heard and ruled on by the immigration judge in a trial-like setting.

• Some forms of relief, which exist under current laws, could include cancellation of removal, adjustment of status if they were petitioned by a relative and their priority date is current, waiversif they are in removal/deportation because of some previous immigration violation such as fraud or crimes, to name a few.

• Court proceedings could involve several appearances. If their case is denied by the immigration judge, they can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), which could take several more years.

• Where is Mr. Trump going to find enough courtrooms and judges to handle the approximate 11 million new removal proceedings? It will cost billions of dollars to build new courtrooms and hire and pay new judges (and their staff) to handle

all of these removal proceedings and appeals.

• Last year, approximately 60,000 children from Central America came across our southern border, and were put in removal proceedings at the front of the line. Existing cases that already had hearing dates, were pushed back, some as far back as November 2019. How long will the backlog be if we now add 11 million new removal cases? A person might get a hearing date sometime in 3016, or thousand years from now.

Moreover, there are already at least 500,000 existing cases in backlogs in our immigration courts.

The bottom line is it is just not feasible to gather up and deport/remove 11 million people, especially with 11 million removal proceedings. Instead, the

answer is comprehensive immigration reform. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

Business Quote of the Week “I feel sorry for the person who can’t get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile” - Walter Chrysler, Founder of the Chrysler Corporation

D September 3-6, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

Marketplace

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

BPO workers driving demand for bedspace BSP to take different path from US Fed by catherine

taLavera

Manilatimes.net

THE gap between an average worker’s salary and the price of properties in the major central business districts is driving demand for bedspace, according to a property listing portal.

Bedspace provides the average Filipino worker, employed in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, a cheaper alternative place of dwelling, Lamudi Philippines Managing Director Jacqueline van den Ende told the Manila Times in a recent interview.

“People need to live closer to work. At the same time, it’s also about the affordability gap. You’re average call center worker who works in Makati, BGC, Ortigas, cannot afford to buy or even rent a condo in those places,” Van den Ende said.

Employees who received the lower end of the salary range under P20,000 find it quite difficult

to rent an apartment.

The bedspace is the “next best option” for BPO workers who prefer to live near the place of work, she said.

The country’s Information Technology- Business Process Management(IT-BPM) industry is expected to further grow this year and yield more employment.

Data from the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) projected $25 billion in revenue and 1.3 million in direct employment this year, prompting developers to take a closer look at a potential market.

“It’s definitely an opportunity.

We see a lot of serious developers actually looking into that space,” Van den Ende said.

Colliers International director for research and advisory Julius Guevara echoed Van den Ende’s sentiments.

“Yes, especially for workforce housing. BPO workers . . . usually

live in the fringe areas and their cost for commuting is very high. So it’s almost equivalent to the rent.

So rather than commuting all the way, spending two hours on their way to their homes, they would now choose to live in affordable housing. But it is of high-quality . . . parang mga condo standard,” Guevara said.

“Actually what we’re seeing right now would be worker housing, which is for rent—especially in the fringes. So that is a need that is found not only in Metro Manila but in all cities where you find BPO,” Guevara said.

A developer that is quite interested in the trending demand for bedspace is Anchor Land Holdings Inc., with its recently announced plans to cater to the mobile employees and students by building an urban dwelling project.

Another is local dormitory builder My Town, which estimated a bedspace inventory of 6,000 by 2018.

Filipinos ‘happiest’ employees in SE Asia...

PAGE D1

Philip A. Gioca, country manager for Jobstreet.com, said in a media briefing that employees just starting in their respective industries (especially recent college graduates) and those in higher-up positions are the happiest. He added that Filipinos are “genetically” happy workers who “see their future brighter than the rest.”

“When output is growing, productivity is there, targets are met, [and] you can see happier people,” Gioca said. “It’s actually [a] virtu-

ous circle. When you have happy people, you have more productive people. And then the companies grow, and they want to invest more in their people.”

Additionally, the report indicated that a driving factor in Filipinos’ satisfaction is the camaraderie they have with their coworkers and colleagues. Other variables that contribute to job satisfaction include a convenient work location, company reputation and good salary.

Likewise, factors that contrib-

ute to job dissatisfaction include poor salary and lack of benefits and training. Gioca said that the country’s 32 percent tax rate — the second highest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — played no significant role in happiness rating.

“Across all ASEAN countries, we are the only progressing in terms of the country’s output in the first quarter [of 2016],” Gioca said. “All in all, I can see a very positive trend that will continue in the long run.”

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is not expected to move in synch with the US Federal Reserve when it hikes policy rates anew as early as next month as part of its normalization path.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message to reporters the Philippine central bank would not necessarily match a possible interest rate increase by the US Fed as early as September.

“The BSP will not necessarily have to move in sync with the Fed should they indeed hike either in September or December as the Fed chair’s comments indicate that they are getting closer to their next move,” he said.

Tetangco attended the economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where US Fed chair Janet Yellen announced the US is getting closer to raising interest rates again.

“The Fed chair’s statement is more or less as expected, well balanced and nuanced,” the BSP chief said.

He explained inflation in the Philippines remained manageable amid the strong economic growth.

The gross domestic product (GDP) growth accelerated to seven percent in the second quarter from 6.8 percent in the first quarter amid the boost from election related spending.

The country’s inflation was steady at 1.9 percent in July, bringing the average inflation to 1.4 percent in the first seven months of the year. The BSP has set an

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. and Fed chair Janet Yellen.

inflation target of between two and four percent for 2016 to 2018.

“Our current inflation outlook continues to be manageable. We are however mindful that there could be some near term financial market volatility as markets react to the Fed statement and rebalance dollar holdings,” he said.

Tetangco said, monetary authorities have enough tools to deal with volatility arising from another round of interest rate increase by the US. “Nevertheless the BSP has tools to keep market volatility in check. We will continue to monitor developments including changes in tax levies and weather-related disturbances, that could impact on domestic price and demand dynamics, and make adjustments to our monetary policy stance as appropriate,” he said BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said interest rate differential is not the only factor driving capital flows.

Other factors include the macro economy, stable inflation, good external payments position, and sound banking system.

“Of course, it has been demonstrated in the past that herd

behavior is very strong. I think by this time, investors can also take hint that a safe haven economy may not necessarily produce growth in the process,” Guinigundo said.

Robust domestic demand and the benign inflation environment allowed the BSP to keep interest rates unchanged since September 2014. Last June 3, the BSP implemented an operational adjustment reducing the overnight lending rate to 3.5 percent from six percent as well as the overnight reverse repurchase rate to three percent from four percent as it shifted to the interest rate corridor (IRC) system.

“Why should we follow the US Fed? We don’t necessarily need to be in step with the US Fed. The US Fed has a lot of catching up to do. The BSP is in an appropriate level of policy rates which have contributed to high-growth and low, stable inflation,” he said.

Likewise, the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) stood at a record $85.49 billion in July enough to cover 10.5 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income.

The Annual Asian Small Business Expo is organized by the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program Team (L to R): John Swing, Nancy Feng, Kerry Situ, Ron Fong (Executive Director, API SBP), Alice Kim, Yoko Kawaguchi, Supranee May, Colleen Seto, Justin Saka.

Bonnie Tseng, V.P., Government Relations and Community Development (U.S. Bank-Asian Small Business Expo Title Sponsor), Congresswoman Judy Chu.

17th Annual Asian Small...

PAGE D1

entrepreneurs on how to succeed in their respective fields.

“This program has been so terrific in giving resources to Asian Pacific Islander small businesses, including this incredible expo, which was going on for 17 years,” Rep. Judy Chu, who represents California’s 27th congressional district, said on Wednesday during the kick-off reception for the expo.

On the women’s entrepreneur panel, speakers are: Annie Choi, owner of Found Coffee; Khiow Hui Lim, founder of iDigBrand Inc.; and Ginger Lim Dimapasok, owner of Café 86.

Featured workshops include: recipes for funding; finding your target market; changes in the minimum wage & labor law; networking for success; and new opportunities in financing.

“If you’re interested in learning how to start a business or how to expand your small business, our expo is a great place is learn about financing and marketing,” API SBP Executive Director Ron Fong said.

“We’ve got a number of clients we’ve helped, such as The Park’s Finest in Historic Filipinotown that I think has really benefitted from how they’ve been able to expand and grow their business.”

Jerome Horton, a member of the California Board of Equalization, will also be a special guest speaker at the expo.

“In addition to the great work the API SBP does in a variety of areas, it’s really important that you get that technical assistance and that’s what Ron and his team do each and every day…because

if you’re not bank ready, you can’t get the loan,” Victor Parker, the district director of the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Los Angeles district office.

APIs constitute 39 percent of the minority entrepreneur population in Los Angeles County and own 24 percent of all retail stores in the county, according to a U.S. Census survey of Asian-owned businesses.

API SBP is a 501(c)(3) organization that works as a collaboration of Chinatown Service Center, Little Tokyo Service Center CDC, Koreatown Youth and Community Center, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans and Thai Community Development Center.

The organization is also funded in part by the SBA as a Women’s Business Center.

The 17th Annual Small Business Expo will held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Almansor Court Conference Center in Alhambra, California.

Event sponsors included US Bank (Title Sponsor), Wells Fargo, Cathay Bank, Pacific Premier Bank, Union Bank, UPS, Bank of Hope, Bank of America, Boston Private, First General Bank, City National Bank, Comerica, The Port of Los Angeles, HSBC, California Bank & Trust, Southern California Edison, Wing Hop Fung, CTBC Bank, Chase and Hanmi Bank.

Media sponsors include LA-18 and The Korea Daily. The Asian Journal is the exclusive FilipinoAmerican print media sponsor of the expo.

To register, please visit www. apisbp.org/expo.

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

Marketplace & ShowrooM

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 3-6, 2016 D

Longo Lexus offers the ultimate Get heating and AC service that conveniences in customer amenities cares from Air Care Savers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

way or a nice refreshing drink at Starbucks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=iXeZ`j DXiX^Xp

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ivy spent weeks planning her mother-in-law’s 75th birthday and invited friends and relatives from all over the world. But as guests began to arrive at their home on a sweltering day in late July, a suddenly malfunctioning Air Conditioning system threatened to ruin the family’s best laid plans.

In a pinch, her family settled for a quick fix from the first HvAC technicians they could find. The contractors managed to have their unit fixed before the party got too crowded, but the rushed deal wound up costing her family in the long run. The work performed was poorly concealed and many outdated components were left untouched.

“We could tell there was something off about the unit they replaced our AC with,” adds Ivy. “It was so small.”

As time passed, her family noticed that the newly installed system struggled to do its job.

During the summer, temperatures would climb into the 80’s in their home with the system on full blast. They took the matter in stride for years before they finally got fed up and called Air Care Savers for an inspection.

A thorough and comprehensive inspection confirmed what Ivy had suspected all along: the unit installed earlier did not have the capacity to properly cool a building the size of her home.

An Air Care Savers crew replaced her AC with a state of the art unit, installed new ducting, insulation, and hypoallergenic

GXki`Zb 9X^Xk Xe[ IXcg_ 8p\ij

air filters all in a single day. They also incorporated a Nest smart home system, which allows residents to control a variety of settings remotely from their mobile devices via the cloud.

The work done by Air Care Savers was extensive and carefully executed. Ivy said their specialists were courteous, considerate and keen on maintaining cleanliness.

“We treat your home like our home,” said Ralph Ayers, one of Air Care Savers co-owners. “We

offer service that cares.”

He said his staff is considerate of every client’s needs, questions and budget.

Air Care Savers participates in government financing programs that can help homeowners afford a wide variety of home improvement repairs.

For questions, or to schedule an inspection in or service dial (800)-847-0877. Assistance available in English, Tagalog, Spanish, and Chinese.

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

D September 3-6, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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

Plan to boost exports studied 40% of PH labor force lack high school diploma

by Raadee

by llaneSca

t. Panti ManilaTimes.net

S. SauSa

Manilatimes.net

THE Export Development Council (EDC) aims to improve local exporters’ ability to deal with non-tariff measures (NTMs), including sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS), fumigation testing, and labeling requirements.

The technical working group (TWG) on non-tariff measures has met to discuss ways to boost the export competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) stymied by the burdensome measures.

NTMs are policy measures other than customs tariffs that can potentially have an economic effect on international trade in goods, including price changes and volume of traded.

On the difficulty of exporters to comply with SPS because of high fumigation costs, the group pointed to the scarcity of fumigation firms in the Philippines as one of the reasons. In one region, for instance, a lone fumigation company serves the whole area’s needs, and the lack of competition

allows it to monopolize business and impose high prices.

The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, which regulates fumigation operations, will be tasked to map all fumigation establishments, identify gaps and spread out their presence in the countryside.

The team intends to ask the government to fast-track negotiations on Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) such as the

ongoing talks on food, cosmetics, and drugs within the Asean and ensure their effective implementation.

The TWG also called for more training and coaching sessions for MSMEs on product quality and certification requirements including on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food.

DOT: 6-M tourist target on...

PAGE D1 “The marketing and promotions effort in our source markets, such as Korea, Japan, US, Australia and Canada, were also well-received,” he added.

The official is confident the sector will maintain its growth momentum in the second half as the peak season usually starts

in July.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, for her part, said the DOT was focused on developing an inclusive and highly competitive tourism industry to sustain its growth.

“The DOT and the tourism industry stakeholders will collectively work to increase revenues from P2.8 trillion in 2015 to P3.9

trillion by 2022. From the current 8.2 percent share of the country’s GDP, we’ll raise it to 10 percent by 2022,” Teo said.

The agency is also targeting to increase international visitors from 5.4 million in 2015 to 12 million by 2022, as well as boost domestic tourists to 89 million in 2022.

AT least 16 million Filipinos or 40 percent of the country’s labor force did not finish high school, according to Secretary Leonor Briones of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Briones on Friday, Sept. 2 said the shortcoming is one of the challenges that the DepEd seeks to overcome, starting with implementation of the K-to-12 program, during presentation of the department’s proposed P543billion budget for 2017 before the House appropriations panel.

The K-to-12 program implements additional two years in high school (Grade 11 and Grade 12) and allows the students to choose from five contextualized subject tracks: academic, technical-vocational, livelihood, arts/design and sports.

The program aims to make the senior high school graduates employable.

“This 16 million is two-fifths of our labor force. This is our responsibility, and all of us who are committed to achieving development have to address this challenge,”

Briones said.

She added that she even encountered a 45 year-old woman from a province in southern Philippines who cannot read and write.

The woman’s husband, a drug addict, was killed by her brother.

The couple had four children, but three of them died of dengue while one died of diarrhea.

“This shows that we have to reach out to them [out-of-school] children or adults. Not only because they deserve it [education], but it is our constitutional mandate to uphold education for all,” Briones, a former National Treasurer, said.

She, however, sees a bright spot because at least 1,517,610 million students are enroled in Grade 11 of the Senior High School under the K-to-12 program, which was implemented this year.

Of the 1.5 million, 1.4 million completed Grade 10 while the rest were previous dropouts who went back to school thru the Balik-Aral program.

“This is good news because we are just anticipating one half [of that figure to enrol]. We thought if we had 700,000 enrollees, we would already have reached our

goals,” Briones said.

“Another good news is that 60 percent of these enrolees [in Senior High School]chose the academic track. We see a strong academic pool, and that means it is very clear that the students and the parents are looking forward to sending their children to college,” the Education secretary added.

Briones said the DepEd is pleasantly surprised that the predicted massive displacement of college teachers as a result of the K-to-12 implementation did not happen.

She added that the K-to-12 program was even able to create 36,461 teaching items in Senior High Schools.

In addition, 3,950 higher education teachers were hired to teach in Senior High Schools while 928 others were also hired in Senior High Schools thru the Priority Lane Program.

The government has projected that at least 22,000 to 25,000 college teachers will be displaced by K-to-12 program.

“So far, at least 2,965 were displaced and the government has allocated P500 million for the compensation of those who will be replaced,” Briones said.

Purisima joins US-based think tank as Asian fellow institution said.

“His addition is key to our strategic expansion in Asia,” MANILA - Former finance sec- said Laura Deal Lacey, direcretary Cesar Purisima has joined tor for Asia of the institute, in a think tank Milken Institute as a statement. fellow in Asia with focus on bring“With his successful experience ing in more knowledge about the in bold and innovative reform as Philippines, the California-based one of the most respected finance ministers in Asia, we look forward to advancing our mission into the region,” she added.

Purisima, who served as finance secretary during the Arroyo and Aquino administrations, will become part of Milken’s office in Singapore, where the think tank has been based since 2013.

According to the statement, the research institution focuses its work on the region on issues such as capital market reform in emerging economies, aging population and financing gaps on infrastructure.

In hiring Purisima, Milken cited the former finance chief being awarded Finance Minister of the Year for five years in a row under the previous administration.

He was also credited for his “successful stewardship” of the Philippine economy, which grew 6.9 percent at the end of Purisima’s term in the first semester.

“Purisima is recognized for his... leadership in steering economic policy that led to greater investor confidence and the country’s fastest growth streak in 40 years,” Milken said.

For his part, Purisima welcomed

by PRinz

MagtuliS Philstar.com

Former finance secretary Cesar Purisima, who served as finance secretary during the Arroyo and Aquino administrations, will become part of Milken Institute’s office in Singapore, where the think tank has been based since 2013.

his new job two months after stepping down from the government.

“With the growing influence of Asia on the global stage, it has never been a more exciting time to join the Milken Institute,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Purisima will join the ranks of other Milken fellows in the region, including Curtis Chin, former US ambassador to the Asian Development Bank and Kotaro Tamura, previously Japan senator.

He will also be the second fellow in Asia from the Southeast Asian region after Dino Patti Djalal, former Indonesian envoy to the US.

PH ranks 13th out of 20 countries in new trade sustainability index

by Raadee

S. SauSa Manilatimes.net

THE Philippines ranked 13th out of 20 countries in a new index that gauges the long-term trade sustainability of Asian economies, performing best in environmental sustainability and doing fair in the economic category but underachieving in the social aspect.

While the Philippines ranked relatively high on the trade and environmental pillars, its low score in the social pillar pulled down its overall ranking to13th, with the report highlighting the relative lack of a manufacturing sector in the country to boost job creation.

The inaugural Hinrich Foundation Sustainable Trade Index 2016 measures 19 Asian nations plus the United States across three recognized pillars of sustainability— economic (profit), social (people) and environmental (planet).

At the top of the trade index were Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and the US, followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan. Malaysia was in the seventh spot, followed

by Thailand, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, the Philippines (13th), Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar.

The Philippines was sixth on the environment aspect. The report said countries that score best on the environmental pillar avoid over-reliance on natural resource exports, limit pollution and have low carbon emissions in trade, and pursue high-environmental standards in international and regional agreements.

“China and India are both in the bottom quartile of this pillar, scoring poorly on water and air pollution, in particular,” it said.

On the economic pillar the Philippines ranked ninth. Countries scoring best on the economic pillar have low barriers to trade, a diversified export mix, open current accounts, and invest in technology, among other traits.

Asian Tigers Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan scored highest here, with Malaysia as the best performer from emerging Asia, tying with Japan for sixth in this category.

Highlighted in the economic pillar is the importance of low trade costs, and for this indicator the Philippines was in 14th place while for technological innovation it came in at 16th.

PH ‘skipped’ manufacturing step On the social pillar the Philippines did poorly, taking the 19th spot just above Myanmar. South Korea and the US ranked at the top.

Those with high scores in this category are countries that have lower inequality, high levels of educational attainment, strong labor standards, and are politically stable, the report said.

The report noted that the Philippines is “somewhat unique in its relative lack of a manufacturing sector,” the mainstay of most Asian economies climbing up the development ladder.

Instead of going the traditional path of moving from agriculture-based to manufacturing to services, the Philippines “skipped the manufacturing step, which means there’s still a lot of low-productivity agriculture and a lot of poverty,” said the report.

“The service sector is productive, but as a percent of total employment it’s low. There are not a lot of options in rural areas-[workers there]can’t work in [business process outsourcing]or anything like that,” said the paper.

The report added that trade cannot be sustainably pursued without responsible environmental stewardship and a commitment to fully developing social capital.

The index was produced by The Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by The Hinrich Foundation, a Hong Kong-based philan- thropic institution.

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

Marketplace & ShowrooM

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 3-6, 2016 D

The House Next Door: A remodeling and construction company trusted by many for over 30 years Thinking of home improvement?

There’s a company called The house next Door that has worked consistently over the years to earn your trust. its unforgettable name sounds like the title of a blockbuster novel. its track record may very well be a blockbuster too. if you are thinking of redoing your kitchen, the company is offering FREE APPLiAnCES. Those who need a roofing job, can avail of the FREE gUTTERS offer. And for those who would love to remodel their bathrooms, the company is giving away a FREE ShOWER DOOR and FREE VAniTY. it is the company’s way of saying “Maraming Salamat po sa inyong Pagtangkilik.”

Thank you for the trust and the business you have given us over the years. in the Filipino American community, many homeowners think long and hard before they entrust the renovation of their homes to a contractor. But essentially, the choice boils down to who they can trust to let into their homes to knock down their old kitchens and transform it to something beautiful, rebuild their bathrooms or any other part of their home. They look for value and quality of workmanship in relation to costs.

Most FilAm homeowners take pride of ownership.

They don’t mind working longer, harder hours to buy a home, even if it is older and needs work. And it is true for most of those who live close to where they work, near the hub or center of the city. Most homes are 20, 30, 80 years old and even older. They typically save for renovation costs, refinance on their homes if they have equity or take on loans just to improve the places where they live.

Over the years, many FilAms have developed fine

Fi\e# fe\ f] k_\ dXeX^\ij f] K_\ ?flj\ E\ok ;ffi# `j ]Xd`c`Xi n`k_ k_\ =`c`g`ef `dd`^iXek Zlckli\% 8 ]i`\e[cp Xe[ X]]XYc\ ^lp# _\ _Xj Y\\e dXii`\[ ]fi (' p\Xij kf DXi`X K\i\jX# X cfm\cp =`c`g`eX% Kf^\k_\i# k_\p _Xm\ X jfe# 8ek_fep# X^\ )% Fi\e [\c`^_kj `e k_\ n`[\$iXe^`e^ gfj`k`m\ \og\i`\eZ\j _\ _Xj _X[ n`k_ k_\ _fg\j# [i\Xdj Xe[ gi\]\i\eZ\j f] =`c`g`ef 8d\i`ZXe Zc`\ekj n_\e `k Zfd\j kf i\df[\c`e^ k_\`i _fd\j% DXep ]Xd`c`\j _Xm\ gifm\e kf Y\ cfpXc Zljkfd\ij fm\i k_\ p\Xij%

@] pfl Xi\ k_`eb`e^ f] i\[f`e^ pfli b`kZ_\e# k_\ K_\ ?flj\ E\ok ;ffi `j f]]\i`e^ =I<< 8GGC@8E:<J% K_fj\ n_f e\\[ X iffÔe^ afY# ZXe XmX`c f] k_\ =I<< >LKK<IJ f]]\i% 8e[ ]fi k_fj\ n_f nflc[ cfm\ kf i\df[\c k_\`i YXk_iffdj# k_\ ZfdgXep `j ^`m`e^ XnXp X =I<< J?FN<I ;FFI Xe[ =I<< M8E@KP% @k `j k_\ ZfdgXepËj nXp f] jXp`e^ ÈDXiXd`e^ JXcXdXk gf jX `epfe^ GX^kXe^b`c`b%É K_Xeb pfl ]fi k_\ kiljk Xe[ k_\ Ylj`e\jj pfl _Xm\ ^`m\e lj fm\i k_\ p\Xij%

nesting instincts as they watch hgTV, check out the houses of friends and neighbors, visit model homes, hang out at home Depot, browse through the pages of fancy magazines and dream of a better, more modern kitchen or to replace a well-worn bath. Buying a new home elsewhere in the new bedroom communities 60 miles away and involves a long commute to and from work has become a less attractive option. instead, most would choose to love the home they live in and spend time and money on a do-over.

Fortunately for many members of the Filipino American community in the Southland, The house next Door has become a friend to those who would like to improve their homes, typically, at great savings. The north hollywoodbased company has built a reputation among many families over the years for being

a trusted contractor for practically everything involving home improvement.

The company knows that kitchens and bathrooms are the places in the home that needs improvement because of frequency of use and just because there are so many ideas, materials and designs that can let the imagination fly.

One of the managers who is familiar with the Filipino immigrant culture is a friendly and affable guy named Oren who has been married for 10 years to Maria Teresa, a lovely Filipina. Together, they have a son, Anthony, age 2. Oren has wide-ranging positive experiences with the hopes, dreams and preferences of FilAm clients when it comes to remodeling their homes.

Many families have proven to be loyal customers over the years.

This is one remodeling and construction company that is

K_\ ?flj\ E\ok ;ffi `j c`jk\[ `e 8e^`\Ëj C`jk Xe[ `j i\m`\n\[ fe P\cg% K_\p f]]\i \Xjp gXpd\ek gcXej n`k_ ' 8GI ÔeXeZ`e^% K_\p Xcjf f]]\i M\k\iXeËj ;`jZflek Xe[ J\e`fi :`k`q\eËj ;`jZflek% =fi dfi\ [\kX`cj# m`j`k k_\`i n\Yj`k\ Xk nnn%_e[i\df[\c`e^%Zfd fi :8CC ( /// //0 0()*% Pfl n`cc Y\ ^cX[ pfl [`[%

reaching out to the Filipino American community members who are thinking of improving a kitchen or transforming a bathroom worthy to be featured in hgTV. This company understands the culture of the community.

They can do practically ev-

erything including room additions, painting, doors and windows, fences, patio covers and enclosures, dry wall, solar panels, re-piping, marble and granite, flooring of all kinds and many more. it is listed in Angie’s List and is reviewed on Yelp. They

offer easy payment plans with 0% APR financing. They also offer Veteran’s Discount and Senior Citizen’s Discount. For more details, visit their website at www.hndremodeling. com or CALL 1 888 889 9123.

You will be glad you did.

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

D September 3-6, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

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

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 3-6, 2016 D

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

D September 3-6, 2016 • LA WeeKeND ASIAN JOUrNAL

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