LA Weekend September 19 - 22, 2015

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September 19-22, 2015

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 25 - No. 73 • 4 Sections – 34 Pages

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GOP presidential hopefuls square Filipino youth sworn off on immigration in second debate in as US citizens DATELINE

USA

FroM tHe AJPreSS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMErIcA

on Citizenship Day

Garcetti joins in celebrating the US Constitution and young new citizens SePteMBer 17 marks an important day in American history--the Constitution of the United States was officially signed by delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, including Founding Fathers George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.

Constitution and

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Julia Aguirre

Obama under fire in United States Senate over sea row

WASHINGtoN – the obama administration came under fire in the US Senate for not asserting its right to operate within 12 miles of artificial islands created by China in the South China Sea. “this is a dangerous mistake that grants de facto recognition of China’s man-made sovereignty claims,” republican chairman Sen. John McCain said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on thursday, Sept. 17.

“And these restrictions have continued even after China sent its own naval vessels within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian islands as President obama concluded his recent visit to Alaska,” McCain said.

Pentagon officials said Chinese navy ships entered within 12 miles of the Alaska coastline under the maritime rule of innocent passage while President Barack obama was there on Sept. 2.

China has come under increasing criticism in the weeks leading to President Xi Jinping’s state visit here for its unrestrained reclama-

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by christinA

M. oriEl

AJPress

SIMI VALLeY, Calif. – Fifteen republican candidates took the podium on Wednesday, Sept. 16 in a two-segment debate at the ronald reagan Presidential Library’s Air Force one Pavilion. the afternoon kicked off with second-tier candidates South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, former Pennsylvania Senator rick Santorum and former New York Governor George Pataki, all of whom have been at the bottom of the polls at around 1 percent among primary voters. Issues covered ranged from immigration, ISIS, Planned Parenthood funding, Iran and religious freedom.

But, another topic dominated the debate early on: Donald trump. though trump was not onstage during the first segment, the four candidates tried to distance themselves from the republican frontrunner.

Republican presidential candidates stand on stage during the main debate last Wednesday, September 16, at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Jake tapper — CNN’s chief (L-R) US Sen. Rand Paul, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, US Sen. Marco Rubio, US Sen. Ted Cruz, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, businessman Donald Trump,

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former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Marcos: Other candidates should now decide Mar asks Leni to

by ErniE

EscondE Manilatimes.net

SUBIC BAY – Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed that the announcement of Sen. Grace Poe to run for the presidency did not surprise him.

“It was very well expected. Malinaw noon pang nakaraang mga linggo na tatakbo siya bilang Pangulo [As early as last week, it was clear that she’s running for President],” Marcos said.

He noted that the political terrain has become more clear. “[Poe’s] declaration will help other candidates decide what they will do. We will also be forced to decide,” the Ilocano lawmaker said.

When asked when he will announce his candidacy, Marcos said

Marcos said his decision to run and be paired with Vice President Jejomar Binay will not be based on percentage.

“Hindi by percent ang pagdedesisyon. Kung gusto tumakbo, tumakbo. Kapag maayos na mga imponderable variables at malinaw na, mas magiging maliwanag din ang dapat kong gawin [Making a decision should not be based on percentages. If you want to run, go run.If the imponderable variables are all right and clear, the clearer will be my decision],” he added.

Sen. Ferdinancd Marcos Jr. Marcos said the Nacionalista Party to which he belongs has not he has no date yet. yet decided on whom to support for “We will announce it once I have President. a date, a decision. I will make it “Without a doubt, kahit ano pa known not only to the media but the mangyari, the NP will be involved in whole country,” he added. u PAGE A2

Pacquiao ‘talking to people’ Fil-Am nominated to head Defense Health Agency for possible fight in PH

by Allyson

by bong lozAdA

EscobAr

AJPress

Inquirer.net

A MANNY Pacquiao fight could happen the Philippines as the eight-division World Champion seems to be in touch with people who can make it possible.

“I’m talking to people to schedule my next fight here in the Philippines, that would be great,” Pacquiao said in Filipino in an interview with reporters last Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Pacquiao, though, said there is still no definite date for a return to the ring as he’s more focused on the full recovery of his Manny Pacquiao thanks his supporters right shoulder which sustained after his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. an injury before his May 2 fight Mayweather won by unanimous decision.

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CNN photo

Photo by Rem Zamora/inquirer.net

PreSIDeNt Barack obama has nominated a Filipina for a high-ranking promotion in the United States Navy. rear Admiral raquel C. Bono, who was promoted in September 2014, was nominated by the president to the rank of Vice Admiral and for the position of Defense Health Agency (DHA) director. She currently serves as director of the DHA’s National Capital region Medical Directorate and the 11th chief of the Navy Medical Corps.

If Bono’s nomination is approved, she will become the highest-ranking Filipino-American naval officer in the US.

the news was announced by Defense Secretary Ash Carter on thursday, Sept. 17.

As DHA director, she will oversee an organization responsible for executing the military health program, including providing common health services for military hospitals and clinics, overseeing tricare, and managing the system’s information technology, education, training, research and facilities programs.

Vice Admiral Matthew L. Nathan, the Navy surgeon general, has described Bono as a “role model for others to emulate,” acknowledging the contributions of her veteran family.

Bono’s grandfather served as a Filipino obstetrician in the US

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SEAFOOD CITY 1

be his VP in 2016

by PAtriciA lourdEs Philstar.com

VirAy

MANILA – Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” roxas II has officially invited Camarines Sur rep. Leni robredo to run as his vice president in the 2016 national elections.

According to a report from ABS-CBN News Channel, robredo confirmed that roxas asked her to consider being his running mate.

However, the Camarines Sur lawmaker is yet to decide if she will accept the offer of the Liberal Party’s standard bearer. robredo said that she will consider the opinion of her children in deciding her plans for the 2016 polls. roxas is set to personally talk with robredo’s children regarding the upcoming elections.

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From the Front Page

GOP presidential hopefuls square off…

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Washington correspondent and moderator of the debate — asked Jindal to respond to remarks made against Trump, saying they violated Reagan’s ‘11th commandment’ of not criticizing fellow Republicans.

“Let’s stop treating Donald Trump like a Republican,” Jindal retorted. “He’s not a conservative.”

Santorum sought not to comment on Trump, but rather remind other candidates about the importance of this debate.

“I think personal attacks just please one person: Hillary Clinton. The focus of this debate should be on how we’re going to win this election and help improve the lives of American workers,” he said.

Pataki later chimed in to com-

plain that there were other issues to discuss -- given it’s an “important election with an enormous number of challenges facing the American people,” he said — yet, the opening questions were about the real-estate mogul.

“I will vote for the Republican nominee, but let me say this flat out, Donald Trump is unfit to be President of the United States or the Republican Party’s nominee,” he said.

The four candidates tackled the issue of deportation and what the United States should do with the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

Graham and Santorum agreed that a more rational immigration system should be implemented because of its declining workforce, yet diverged on exactly what needs to be done to achieve that.

“We’re not going to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants here illegally, but we’ll start with felons, and off they

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30th NEGROS TRADE FAIR. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (3rd from right) together with Senator Cynthia A. Villar, (2nd from left) lead the ringing of bells signifying the start of the five-day 30th Negros Trade Fair exhibit held at Glorietta 5 in Makati City on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The exhibit consists of over 80 selling booths showcasing the best of local products from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Negros Island. Also with Drilon and Villar in the ceremony were Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. (extreme left), Korina Sanchez-Roxas (2nd from right), wife of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Yna Gaston (extreme right), 30th Negros Trade Fair President.

Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

Marcos:…

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the 2016 elections. Kung walang presidential candidate sa loob ng partido, hahanap ito ng ibang susuportahan kapag maliwanag na sitwasyon [If the party has no candidate for President, it will look for somebody to support if the situation gets clearer],” he added.

Marcos said members of the NP recently met and saw many political alliances and developments as the date of filing of certificates of candidacy in October nears.

“The NP is still in consultation with different groups and will choose the best programs it will support,” he added. n

Mar asks…

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Robredo earlier said that she will only seek the vice presidency in 2016 if nobody else is up for the post.

The Interior secretary had asked Sen. Grace Poe to be his running mate but the senator recently announced that she will also seek the presidency in 2016. n

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From the Front page

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

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GOP presidential hopefuls square off…

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go. And, as to the rest, you can stay, but you got to learn our language,” Graham said.

He also added that “in my world Hispanics are Americans” (an answer that earned applauses), noting that Republican candidates could target Hispanic voters next year. “[I]mmigration without assimilation is invasion,” Jindal said.

“We need to insist the people who come here come here legally, learn English, adopt our values, roll up their sleeves and get to work. We do need to secure the border.”

Hours before the debate, immigration advocates bearing signs and oversized papier mache caricature heads of Trump, Rubio and Walker flocked to the entrance of the Reagan Library to protest the Republican candidates’ stances on not granting citizenship to illegal immigrants.

Candidates also shared their positions on minimum wage, with Santorum proposing a 50cent-per-hour increase throughout a three-year period.

“How are we gonna win if 90 percent of Americans don’t think we care about them and their chance to rise in America?” Santorum said.

However, Graham countered that a federal increase in the minimum wage would be detrimental to businesses.

Though the first-round was brushed off by many analysts, the four candidates attempted to prove themselves with hopes of joining top-tier candidates in the polls.

The other 11 candidates (former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris

Christie, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Fiorina, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Trump and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker) took to the stage at 5pm PST. Each candidate was positioned on stage based on their rankings in recent polls.

During the first debate hosted

by Fox News in August, Fiorina was considered a second-tier candidate, but her performance catapulted her in national polls and deemed her worthy enough to join the higher-ranking hopefuls.

Leading into the debate, a CBS/New York Times poll showed Trump and Carson at 27 percent and 23 percent, respectively; Bush, Huckabee and Rubio each trailed behind at 6 percent of support from Republican primary voters.

The prime-time debate kicked off with a question directed to Fiorina, as to whether Trump could be trusted “with his finger on the nuclear codes.”

“I think Mr. Trump is a wonderful entertainer, he’s been terrific at that business,” she responded, but said it’s “not for me to answer” whether Trump could be trusted with that power.

Later in the evening, Fiorina was asked another Trump-related question — his comment about her ‘face’ in a recent Rolling Stone article.

“I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said,” she said, to which Trump awkwardly retorted, “I think she has a very beautiful face, and she’s a beautiful woman.”

Pacquiao ‘talking to people’…

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against Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Though there’s still no definite date or month for my next fight, we will probably know by December.”

“Right now I’m more focused on the recovery of my shoulder.”

Pacquiao suffered a torn rotator cuff on his right shoulder during training for his fight against Mayweather in Las Vegas which he lost as Money boxed his way to a unanimous decision victory.

There have been names of possible future opponents floating

around, Pacquiao cleared that he hasn’t struck a deal to fight any opponent.

“Kahit sino naman. Willing ako. Ang concern ko yung mga fans palagi. [I could fight anyone.

I’m willing. My concern is always the fans],” Pacquiao said.

With the Elections season just around the corner, scheduling could be one concern for Pacquiao if he intends to fight early next year.

When ask his fight could happen just before 2016 presidential polls, Pacquiao answered, “It’s possible.” n

After a commercial break, Tapper moved the conversation to immigration, calling it a “combustible” topic during the campaign.

Trump tackled the issue first, saying that building a wall along the US-Mexico border is necessary and that if he gets elected, the “really bad dudes in this country from outside” would be gone starting on day one of his term.

The real-estate mogul has largely been seen as anti-immigration since he announced his plans to run for president.

“I took heat like nobody has taken heat in a long time. And, then they found out with the killing of Katie, from San Francisco, and so many other crimes, they found out that I was right,” he said. “And, most people, many people, apologized to me. I don’t think you’d even be talking about illegal immigration if it weren’t for me. So, we have a country of laws, they’re going to go out, and they’ll come back if they deserve to come back. If they’ve had a bad record, if they’ve been arrested, if they’ve been in jail, they’re never coming back. We’re going to have a country again. Right now, we don’t have a country, we don’t have a border, and we’re going to do something about it, and it can be done with proper management, and it can be done with heart.”

Christie rebutted Trump’s plans, going a step further by saying electronics, drones and more government agencies need to be deployed along the borders.

“We need to take the fingerprint of every person who comes into this country on a visa, and when they overstay their visa, we need to tap them on the shoulder, and say, ‘You have overstayed your welcome, you’re taking advantage of the American people.

It’s time for you to go,’” the New Jersey governor said.

Carson, who had been silent for a portion of the debate despite being second in the polls, said having a border simply isn’t enough. He cited Yuma County, Arizona, which has a “double fence with a road so that there [is] quick access by the enforcement people.”

“If we don’t seal the border, the rest of this stuff clearly doesn’t matter. It’s kind of ridiculous all the other things we talk about.

We have the ability to do it, we

US Rear Admiral Raquel C. Bono was nominated by Pres. Barack Obama to the rank of Vice Admiral and for the position of Defense Health Agency director.

Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense

Fil-Am nominated to head Defense…

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Army as a colonel during World War II, according to Inquirer.

Twenty years later, Bono’s parents migrated to the US and settled in Minnesota, where her father finished his surgical residency and joined the Navy Reserve, retiring as a captain.

Bono and her younger brother, retired Rear Admiral Anatolio B. “AB” Cruz III, made US Navy history in 2012 when they became the first and only Filipino siblings to hold flag-officer ranks simultaneously, the DHA reported.

Cruz served as deputy commander of the US Naval Forces Southern Command and deputy commander, US Fourth Fleet.

“These two Navy officers are u PAGE A4 serving as prime examples of the

diversity found within the Navy’s ranks,” said a press release from the US Department of Defense in 2012.

Service to others, service to country Commissioned in June 1979, Rear Admiral Raquel Bono received her baccalaureate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and attended medical school at Texas Tech University, according to her official biography.

As the eldest child, she initially wanted to go into nursing, but her father challenged her to go even further to become a doctor. “[Raquel] was the smart one and very disciplined at everything she did,” brother AB Cruz commented. “Dad set the bar and

she raised that bar. Quite frankly, she deserved to make flag before I did.”

Bono was well trained in the health professions; after completing a surgical internship, Trauma and Critical Care fellowship, and her general surgery residency at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. She was the first woman to graduate from the program.

“What I enjoyed about being in the Navy was that I always felt confident in my ability to be advanced was going to be based on my capabilities and my performance. I felt that I had an equitable opportunity to succeed,” Bono said in a 2012 interview with the Asian Journal.

Shortly after training, Bono

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From the Front page

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GOP presidential hopefuls square off…

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don’t have the will to do it,” he said.

The retired neurosurgeon went on to say that a guest worker program, especially for those in the agricultural field, should be considered.

Bush was asked to respond to Trump’s comment back in July about having “a soft spot for people from Mexico” because of his Mexican-born wife.

“We’re at a crossroads right now,” Bush said. “Are we going to take the Reagan approach, the hopeful optimistic approach, the approach that says that, you come to our country legally, you pursue your dreams with a vengeance, you create opportunities for all of us? Or the Donald Trump approach -- the approach that says that everything is bad, that everything is coming to an end?”

The former governor of Florida mentioned his book that laid out a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, one that requires securing the border but not tearing families apart.

“It would send a signal to the rest of the world that the United States values that are so important for our long-term success no longer matter in this country,” he said.

Though some candidates seemed to acknowledge that Trump reopened the conversation on immigration, Fiorina didn’t think so.

“Immigration did not come

up in 2016 because Mr. Trump brought it up. We talked about it in 2012, we talked about it in 2008. We talked about it in 2004,” she said.

Rubio, who is of Cuban ancestry, said the US has “three” immigration problems: people who are still coming to the the country illegally; an inoperable legal immigration system; and the 1112 million people who have been in the country for the years are still without status.

“Here’s the way forward: First, we must -- we must secure our border, the physical border, with -- with a wall, absolutely. But we also need to have an entry/exit tracking system. 40 percent of the people who come here illegally come legally, and then they overstay the visa. We also need a mandatory e-verify system. After we’ve done that, step two would be to modernize our legal immigration system so you come to America on the basis of what you can contribute economically, not whether or not simply you have a relative living here,” he proposed.

Birthright citizenship—citizenship granted to children born in the US to undocumented immigrants—was brought up, following some previous comments Trump and Bush, in particular, have made earlier this summer.

“Well, first of all, the 14th Amendment says very, very clearly to a lot of great legal scholars… that it is wrong…A woman gets pregnant. She’s nine

months, she walks across the border, she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don’t think so,” Trump said.

Toward the end of the night, more light-hearted questions were asked: what woman the candidates would put on the $10 and what their Secret Service code names would be. Some answers for the former question were Rosa Parks, Margaret Thatcher and Mother Theresa. However, Fiorina called changing the $10 bill a “gesture”; rather, “we out to recognize that women are not a special interest group,” she said.

As for the code names, some responses that drew in laughter and applause were from Bush, who said, “Ever Ready, it’s very high energy, Donald” and Trump who joked, “Humble.”

Wednesday night was the second debate for Republican candidates, with another expected next month in Colorado. The first debate among Democratic candidates is scheduled for next month in Las Vegas.

CNN confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 17 that the prime-time debate on Wednesday, which clocked in at over three hours, averaged 22.9 million views, making it the most-watched program in the network’s history.

The earlier “undercard” debate only raked in 6.3 million viewers.

Capturing the Asian American vote Asian Americans are now the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, while Asian immigrants have the highest naturalization rate, Pew Research Center and Migrant Policy Institute data have shown.

As the Asian Journal reported in May, a report from the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies projected that the Asian American electorate would double by 2040, reaching 12.2 million.

“Not only will Asian Americans be a politically influential voting bloc in select areas in the United States, they have the potential to be the margin of victory in critical swing votes during the next six presidential election cycles,” the study’s authors wrote.

A voter survey by Asian & Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC last year

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LA Mayor Eric Garcetti with the youngest new citizens of the United States.

Filipino youth sworn in as US citizens…

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Citizenship Day was established later by President Harry Truman to observe the landmark event and celebrate the achievements and naturalization of new Americans.

228 years later, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 79 young people were sworn in and given their official certificates of citizenship at the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony, presented by the library and by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was held in recognition of children and youth who obtained citizenship through their parents.

“This nation is a proud nation of immigrants,” said keynote speaker LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, speaking directly to the dozens of immigrant families, leaders, and advocates at the event. “This is a chance for us to celebrate; for those of us who were born citizens, a chance for us to reflect on what that means; and for those of us who have earned citizenship, a chance to cherish how special that is.”

Immigrant families from the Philippines, Iran, Armenia, Egypt, El Salvador, Japan, Nepal, China, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and a multitude of nations were represented at the ceremony. The Consulate General of Mexico, Carlos M. Sada, also graciously attended.

Some of the children present were adopted by US citizen parents, while others derived citizenship when their immigrant parents became naturalized citizens.

“Sometimes, we come to the US in times of duress, times of tragedy; sometimes for opportunities, for studies, for many different reasons. Some of you have crossed many borders, rivers, and oceans to be here,” Garcetti said.

“I always say Los Angeles is a city that reflects the world as it is today, and what the United States will be like tomorrow.”

Susan Curda, Los Angeles District Director for USCIS, also spoke to the kids about the historical importance of the Constitution and of the sacrifices their parents made for them to be here, as legal citizens. She also led the crowd in the official swearing-in Oath of Allegiance “Your parents signed many papers and took a big naturalization test for YOU,” she exclaimed.

“This morning, when you came into this room, you were citizens of China, Mexico, Iraq, and Ethiopia…but now you are all citizens of a new country, the USA. Welcome to our family.”

The USCIS and Garcetti also thanked the Los Angeles Library, one of over 70 branch libraries across the county that offer free ‘Path to Citizenship’ programs,

which assist eligible immigrants with their applications, and help new citizens assimilate into American life.

Over 2,000 participants and dozens of trained librarians have taken part of this free public resource.

“The library has become a valuable center of citizenship,” Garcetti said.

“America offers you and your family many opportunities to succeed. So give something back to your fellow Americans--vote, stay engaged with the community, volunteer, make our streets safer. These things can strengthen the fabric of a city, and of your lives as well.”

He encouraged the roughly 800,000 Angelenos who qualify for citizenship to take advantage of these free opportunities, highlighting his Step Forward LA initiative, which will assist immigrants in applying for beneficial programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and possibly DAPA (Deferred Action for Parent Arrivals). The initiative--as well as a map of citywide “citizenship corners” hosting free workshops and events--can be found online at www.stepforward.lacity.org.

To conclude, Garcetti spoke about his hopes for America to be a more inclusive nation, with

in the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and attending surgeon at the Burn Trauma Unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Other prestigious duties/positions she held were director of Restorative Care, medical corps career planning officer, director for Medical-Surgical Services at the National Naval Medical Cen-

ter, and executive assistant to the 35th Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. She also held many top positions, such as commanding officer, chief of staff, deputy director of the Office of the assistant secretary of Defense, Health Affairs (OASD/HA), director of Medical Resources, Plans and Policy (N093), Chief of Naval Operations, and in 2011, the command surgeon of U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, as well as acting commander Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical (2013).

As of 2014, Bono currently serves as director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate of the Defense Health Agency, and as the 11th Chief, Navy Medical Corps.

Bono’s personal decorations and recognitions include Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit Medal (4), Meritorious Service Medal (2), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal (2). She was also awarded in 2009 as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US. “Service to others; service to country,” Bono said of her words to live by. “It was ingrained in us by our father and mother in gratitude to their adopted country, the United States.” n

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Fil-Am nominated to head Defense…

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saw duty in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as head, Casualty Receiving, Fleet Hospital Five in Saudi Arabia from August 1990 to March 1991.

Later, she was stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as a surgeon in the General Surgery department; surgical intensivist

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Dateline USa

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Filipino youth sworn in as US citizens…

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the people holding the power to govern, defining freedom and the American dream.

“I will never stand by and let anti-immigrant sentiment speak for the people of America, who understand that in a city like this, it is immigrants who work the hardest and who have made this country the greatest,” he said, before taking a large group photo with the newest young citizens.

“We are a place that has always been stronger when our arms are open, not when our borders are closed.”

Young, newly naturalized Filipinos express hopes and excitement For Ruby Apolinario, whose 11-year-old daughter Darlene was among a number of Filipinos HELLO TO A NEW DAWN. Sen. Grace Poe waves to supporters shortly after declaring her intention to seek the presidency in 2016. The much-anticipated but predictable announcement on Wednesday at Ang Bahay ng Alumni inside the UP Diliman campus capped months receiving their citizenship certifiof speculation about the senator’s plans. The ruling Liberal Party had been courting her as running mate for its presidential bet, former cates that day, the event was “a Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez blessing.”

“We’re very happy and feel very lucky,” Apolinario, from Carson, California, told the Asian Journal. “Because our children cific Command and David Shear, tion operations within 12 nauti- are now full-fledged citizens PAGE A1 t tion work in disputed areas of Assistant Secretary of Defense cal miles of China’s reclaimed with benefits and a naturalization the sea, including the West Phil- for Asian and Pacific Security Af- islands in the South China Sea. ippine Sea, and the militarization fairs, could offer no satisfactory Harris reaffirmed the United Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in of these areas. answer at the hearing.

States does not take sides on is- the South China Sea, through The White House said Xi’s visit However, Harris said this was sues of sovereignty with respect which $5 trillion in ship-borne on Sept. 25 will give both lead- an option he was ready to ex- to territorial disputes, “but we do trade passes every year. ers an opportunity to expand US- ecute whenever ordered.

All the speakers at the hearing insist that all maritime claims be China cooperation on a range of McCain in his opening state- derived from naturally-formed lauded the Philippines for bringglobal, regional and bilateral is- ment said China has reclaimed land features in accordance with ing its case against China before sues of mutual interest while also nearly 3,000 acres of land in the customary international law, as the UN arbitral tribunal in The enabling them to address areas South China Sea, more than all reflected in the Law of the Sea Hague. of disagreement constructively. other claimants combined and at Convention.”

Analysts here believe even At Thursday’s Senate hearing, an unprecedented pace.

China has overlapping claims though China has refused to Republican senators in particular “What’s more, China is rapidly with Vietnam, the Philippines, participate in the case, a ruling complained Washington’s South militarizing this reclaimed land, China Sea policy is confusing be- building garrisons, harbors, incause administration officials do telligence and surveillance infranot follow up on their resolve. structure and at least three airDefense Secretary Ashton strips that could support military Carter has said “turning under- aircraft,” he said. water rock into an airfield simply “There is a gap between our does not afford the rights of sov- words and our actions,” McCain ereignty or permit restrictions said. “The US must be more ason international air or maritime sertive.” transit,” yet the US military has He said the United States must not operated within 12 miles of uphold the principle of freedom these features. of the seas for commercial and Asked why the US has not military purposes, on, under and breached the 12-mile limit to below the water and the best send China a message, Adm. Har- sign of that commitment would ry Harris Jr., head of the US Pa- be to conduct freedom of naviga-

Obama under fire in United States…

The Apolinario family with their new certificates of citizenship. “We’re very blessed,” said Ruby Apolinario.

AJPress photo by Allyson Escobar

certificate, not just a passport.

Because now they will have so many opportunities.”

The parents of 13-year-old Julia Aguirre also expressed joy and excitement for their daughter. The Aguirres had emigrated from the Philippines to Long Beach, California in 2012, in search of “doing what’s best for our children.”

“I’m so happy and relieved against it by the tribunal would give Beijing the equivalent of a ‘black eye’ in the court of international opinion.

Shear in his statement said China’s large-scale land reclamation on disputed features in the South China Sea over the past two years has brought concerns about regional stability into sharper focus. (Jose Katigbak/ Pgilstar.com)

that everything, all of the paperwork we did, came out right,” said Mary, Julia’s mom. “[Julia] has a passion to travel, and she wants to go around the world.

Being a citizen, she can do all of that with a visa. She can work towards her priorities, like graduating from high school and college. I hope to see her pursue her goals in life.”

Julia, an 8th grader at John Muir Academy, talked about her interest in the health sciences.

She aspires to be a doctor and is interested in politics, particularly related to immigration.

“I am proud of being an American citizen,” Julia said. “I also want to thank my parents for sacrificing many things-money, time, and effort--in order for me to have certain abilities and to be here.” (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

Dateline USa

A SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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McCain: US Navy should ignore China’s claims in South China Sea

by Deb

Riechmann Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is pressing the Pentagon to sail Navy ships within 12 miles of artificial islands China is building in the South China Sea and claiming as sovereign territory.

Republican Sen. John McCain says the US needs to go within the 12-mile limit to underscore it does not recognize China’s claims that the islands are its territory.

Assistant defense secretary David Shear says US ships haven’t done that since 2012, but it’s one option being considered.

China has reclaimed about 3,000 acres in the South China

Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., US Navy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command walks past a photograph showing an island that China is building on the Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea, as the prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on maritime security strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

AP/Cliff Owen

Sea, triggering repeated objections from the US and allies.

Shear and Admiral Harry Harris Jr., commander of the US Pa-

cific Command, testified before the committee ahead of the Chinese president’s Sept. 25th visit to the US. n

Study: Air pollution kills 3.3 million worldwide

Lawmakers push initiative to end California death penalty by allyson

escobaR

AJPress

A BALLOT proposal that could completely abolish California’s death penalty is already on life support.

The initiative would strike death as a possible punishment from the state’s Penal Code, substituting life imprisonment without parole. California state law currently allows for the death penalty.

“The death penalty in America may be living on borrowed time,” USA Today reported.

The ballot’s proponent, actor Mike Farrell, would have 180 days from when the secretary of state’s office enters the measure into circulation to collect the needed 365,880 signatures.

California has not executed a death row inmate in nearly a decade, with the last one being in 2006, according to The Sacramento Bee. Farrell’s initiative also stresses in calling the death penalty an “empty promise” that

drains public resources.

“The state spends millions of taxpayer dollars providing lawyers for death row inmates, only to see the murderers it has sentenced to death by execution die of old age in prison,” the proposal reads.

In June, death penalty advocates who sued in Sacramento Superior Court in 2014 won a critical settlement when the state agreed to develop a new method for lethal injection executions, using just one drug.

Opponents of the death penalty argue that it will take more time and money drawing up a new procedure to restart executions in California, with many legal obstacles to face.

California currently houses the nation’s largest number of condemned inmates, nearly onequarter of the more than 3,000 nationwide. The list also includes 21 women housed at a state prison in Chowchilla.

Other opponents say they doubt any more prisoners will

VISIT FROM MAR. Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas is joined by students for a photo during his visit at the Balara Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Miguel De Guzman

by allyson

escobaR

AJPress

be executed at all, as more voters turn against the practice and they continue to challenge the state in court at every turn.

Currently in California, nearly 20 inmates on death row are believed to have exhausted all appeals and be eligible for execution. However, the state lacks a court-approved way to kill them.

“There seems to be a massive reassessment underway in this country in terms of capital punishment,” said Kathryn Kase, executive director of the Texas Defender Service, which provides legal aid for those facing death row. “Everywhere you look with the death penalty, there’s a problem.”

Farrell’s ballot also points to the “fatal mistakes” of innocent people being carelessly sentenced to death as a reason to end capital punishment in California.

“Wrongful convictions rob innocent people of decades of their lives, waste tax dollars, and retraumatize the victims’ families, while the real killers remain free to kill again,” the proposal said.

In 2012, California voters rejected a death penalty repeal-known as Proposition 34--by a 52 to 48 percent margin. Polls have consistently shown general public support for capital punishment.

A growing number of states– seven, since 2007–have already abolished the death penalty. Earlier this year, Nebraska, traditionally a conservative state, became the 19th state to ban capital punishment.

The federal government has not carried out an execution since 2003. An unofficial moratorium has been declared, pending the completion of a Justice Department review of the death penalty ordered by President Obama.

However, the average time spent on death row for those eventually executed continued to rise until 2011, with a peak of 16.5 years, before slightly dipping to 15.5 years in 2013. n

AIR pollution is killing 3.3 million people a year worldwide, according to a new study.

Scientists in Germany, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Harvard University calculated the most detailed estimates yet of the toll of air pollution, looking at what caused it. If trends don’t change, they said, the yearly death total will double to about 6.6 million a year by 2050.

The study, published September 16 in the journal Nature, used health statistics and computer models in its research.

“About three-quarters of the deaths are from strokes and heart attacks,” said lead author Jos Lelieveld at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany.

The report’s findings are similar to other less detailed pollution death estimates, outside experts said.

“About 6 percent of all global deaths each occur prematurely due to exposure to ambient air pollution. This number is higher than most experts would have expected, say, 10 years ago,” Jason West, a University of North Carolina environmental sciences professor, told the Associated Press.

“Air pollution kills more than HIV and malaria combined,” Lelieveld said.

With nearly 1.4 million deaths a year, China has the most air pollution deaths in the world, followed by India with 645,000 and Pakistan with 110,000.

The study also surprisingly added that farming plays a large role in smog and soot-related deaths in industrial nations.

The United States, with 54,905 deaths in 2010 from soot and smog, ranks seventh highest for air pollution deaths. What’s unusual is that the study says that agriculture caused 16,221 of those deaths, second only to 16,929 deaths blamed on power plants.

In the Northeast, all of Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea, agriculture is the top cause of the soot and smog deaths, according to the Nature study.

Around the world, agriculture is the No. 2 cause with 664,100 deaths, behind more than 1 million deaths from in-home heating and cooking done with wood and other biofuels.

“The problem with farms is ammonia from fertilizer and animal waste,” Lelieveld said.

“That ammonia then combines with sulfates from coal-fired power plants and nitrates from car exhaust to form the soot particles that are the big air pollution killers.”

Lelieveld cited the example of London, where the traffic pollution is converted into soot, “then it is mixed with ammonia and transported downwind to the

next city.”

“We were very surprised, but in the end it makes sense,” he said, adding that research scientists had assumed that traffic and power plants would be the biggest cause of deadly soot and smog.

“Agricultural emissions are becoming increasingly important but are not regulated,” said Allen Robinson, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, who was not a part of the study.

Ammonia air pollution from farms can be reduced “at relatively low costs,” Robinson continued. “Maybe this will help bring more attention to the issue.”

In the central US, the main cause of soot and smog premature deaths is power plants. In much of the West, traffic emissions are tragically breaking records.

Scientists and professors including West did dispute the study’s projections that deaths would double by 2050, based on no change in air pollution. West said it’s “more likely” that some places, such as China, will dramatically cut their air pollution by 2050.

Lelieveld said it will be a “winwin situation in both directions” if the world reduces carbon dioxide (considered the main gas causing global warming) because soot and smog levels would go down too. n

GOP presidential hopefuls square off…

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found that two-thirds of registered Asian American voters had not been contacted by Democrats, while three-quarters had not been contacted by Republicans.

Reports showed that the Republican Party won 50 percent of the Asian American vote in the last midterm election, compared to 49 percent for the Democrats.

However, some say the antiimmigrant rhetoric is enough to persuade Asian voters to ques-

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tion their political affiliation.

“They’re seeing which party seems like a welcoming party, which party seems like an exclusionary party,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, a public policy professor at the University of California, Riverside, told NPR and gave the example of Bush referring to Asians in his usage of the “anchor babies” term.

With the robust size of Asians who are eligible to vote — an estimated 9 million in 2014 according to Pew Research Center — the question of how to mobilize this segment persists for both parties, especially when a large percentage of voters label themselves as “independent” or don’t identify with a party at all.

In June, the RNC launched the Republican Leadership Initiative (RLI), a series of workshops to train Asian Pacific American grassroots leaders now to reach voters within their communities in the coming year.

“The Republican National Committee continues to lay the groundwork for our eventual nominee by engaging and having a strong presence with our Filipino communities across the country,” Ninio Fetalvo, APA press secretary of the RNC, said.

The RNC is planning to engage more Filipino-American communities in Nevada and other battleground states, as well.

“Unlike the [Democratic National Committee], the RNC has

staff and volunteers listening to the concerns of Filipinos and encouraging them to get involved with the Republican Leadership Initiative in an effort to take back the White House in 2016,” he added.

Genevieve Jopanda, state chair of the Filipino American Democratic Caucus of the California Democratic Party, said the group will continue to reach out to community-based organizations and special-interest groups, and look at areas in the state where new Democratic clubs can be formed.

“The other way we reach out to the community is working with churches and faith-based organizations — our culture is very religious historically and that’s where a lot of our community congregates,” she said.

As election season heightens, Jopanda noted that Filipino Americans will be looking into issues that can affect the quality of life, like fair wages, in addition to immigration and healthcare.

“Our organization and other Filipino and political organizations are always looking to register voters,” she said. “It’s great to have a turn out in presidential election, but it would be great if our community voted on a regular basis and not have to wait for a presidential or big election to come around.” (Agnes Constante/AJPress contributed to this report)

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Dateline USa

Where GOP candidates stand on foreign policy, Planned Parenthood & the economy

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

adviser, Gen. Joseph Dunford, said Russia poses the greatest threat to America’s national seIMMIGRATION was a hot curity, Cruz disagreed and said topic during the Republican de- the biggest security threat is a bate on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at nuclear Iran. the Ronald Reagan Library in He called America’s deal with Simi Valley, California, but the the Middle Eastern country, top 11 contenders for the GOP which would send more than presidential nomination also addressed other issues facing the United States, including foreign policy, Planned Parenthood and the economy.

The 11 Republican presidential hopefuls - former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, real estate entrepreneur Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker – took the stage for the prime-time debate at 5pm.

Foreign policy Among foreign policy issues raised during the three-hour forum were Russia’s providing of troops and tanks to Syria, the Iran nuclear deal, and the upcoming state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

When it came to the situation with Russia, Trump said he would get along with many world leaders America does not get along with.

“I will get along – I think – with Putin, and I will get along with others, and we will have a much more stable, stable world,” he said.

Fiorina, having met Putin, said America has talked to the Russian leader too much and wouldn’t talk to him at all.

Her approach would involve immediately rebuilding the Sixth Fleet, the missile defense program in Poland and conducting regular aggressive military exercises in the Baltic states.

“I’d probably send a few thousand more troops into Germany.

Vladimir Putin would get the message,” she said.

Fiorina said she would also provide Egypt with intelligence and that America could arm the Kurds.

While President Barack Obama’s incoming top military

$100 billion to the Ayatollah Khamenei, “nothing short of catastrophic.” The deal, he said, further abandons four American hostages in the country, speeds up Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. If elected president, Cruz said he would rip the deal

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Where GOP candidates stand…

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to shreds.

Trump took a position on Iran parallel to Cruz’s, calling the agreement “terrible” and “incompetent.” He then segued into comments on North Korea.

“And nobody ever mentions North Korea where you have this maniac sitting there and he actually has nuclear weapons and somebody better start thinking about North Korea and perhaps a couple of other places. But certainly North Korea.”

Few candidates touched on their stances regarding the upcoming Chinese state dinner at the White House on Sept. 25.

Walker has expressed favor toward canceling the dinner given the country’s currency manipulation and alleged cyberattacks against America, though Paul said, “I don’t think we need to be rash, I don’t think we need to be reckless, and I think we need to leave lines of communication open.”

“It doesn’t mean we give …

China a free pass, but, to be engaged, we need to continue to talk. We did throughout the Cold War, and it would be a big mistake not to do it here,” Paul added.

Planned Parenthood Candidates spoke in harmony about stripping federal funding from Planned Parenthood, citing pro-life values and graphic videos depicting the non-profit organization’s selling of fetal body parts.

Christie and Bush said they had defunded Planned Parent-

hood in their respective states; Cruz called the videos “horrifying” and encouraged all Americans to view them.

“Seeing your Planned Parenthood officials callously, heartlessly bartering and selling the body parts of human beings, and then ask yourself, ‘Are these my values?’” Cruz said.

Fiorina dared Clinton and Obama to watch the tapes.

“Watch a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone ways we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain. This is about the character of our nation, and we will not stand up in and force President Obama to veto this bill, shame on us,” Fiorina said.

Dozens of House Republicans have vowed to reject a government funding bill that includes money for Planned Parenthood.

On Friday, Sept. 18, in a nearly partisan 241-187 vote, advanced a bill that would halt federal funding to Planned Parenthood for one year. But the Senate has enough votes from Democrats to stop the measure, while the White House said Obama would veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.

During the debate, candidates expressed determination to defund the organization while averting a government shutdown.

Funding for the government expires at the end of September.

“We got to talk about what we would be willing to shut down for.

Why don’t we put tax reform on this president’s desk, and make him veto it if that’s what he wants

to do? Why haven’t we repealed and replaced Obamacare?” Kasich said.

Bush suggested funding should be redirected from Planned Parenthood to the 13,000 community-based organizations throughout America that offer health services for women.

“There are ways to do it without having to shut the government down, but I’m sympathetic to the fact that we don’t want this organization to get funding, and the money ought to be reprogrammed for family planning in other organizations that don’t support this tactic,” Kasich said.

Economy: Back-and-forth between Fiorina and Trump The state of America’s economy and how to improve it was a topic that elicited candidates’ harping about their track records. Fiorina and Trump were spotlighted in the beginning of the discussion, given their business backgrounds.

The former Hewlett-Packard CEO offered her experience with the company, how she led it during “the worst technology recession in 25 years” when the NASDAQ stock index plummeted 80 percent and took 15 years before it recovered.

“Despite those difficult times, we doubled the size of the company, we quadrupled its topline growth rate, we quadrupled its cash flow, we tripled its rate of innovation,” she said.

Fiorina added that by making hard decisions, Hewlett-Packard managed to save 80,000 jobs, grew to 160,000 jobs; Now, the

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company employs nearly 300,000 people.

“We went from lagging behind to leading in every product category and every market segment,” she said.

Trump took to counter Fiorina’s resume by citing a recent paper by the head of Yale Business School who wrote that Fiorina’s time as head of Hewlett-Packard was one of the worst tenures he has ever seen.

He added that the company’s revenues increased because it acquired Compaq.

To Trump’s comment, Fiorina responded by saying Trump had filed for bankruptcy four times.

“Why should we trust you to manage the finances of this nation any differently than you managed the finances of your casinos?” she said.

The real-estate entrepreneur went on to talk about how he has made more than $10 billion.

While both businesspeople used their records as a basis for why they could be effective national leaders, Christie said the focus of the discussion should be on the middle class.

“You’re both successful people. Congratulations. You know who’s not successful? The middle class in this country who’s getting plowed over by Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. Let’s start talking about those issues tonight and stop this childish back-and-forth between the two of you,” Christie said, drawing applause from the audience.

Economy: improvements through tax cuts, minimum wage approaches A variety of tax proposals were

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thiS Week in RevieW US Autistic student found dead on school bus THE tragic death of 19-year-old Paul Lee, a special needs student of the Whittier School District, circulated the news after Lee’s body in the aisleway of a school bus in the parking lot on Friday, Sept. 11. Lee, who was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed almost 300 pounds, was one of only three other students on the bus ride home. He was apparently forgotten by the substitute bus driver, who under protocol was supposed to walk to the back of the bus and make sure all students are off. Lee’s mother, Younha, said her son could not speak and had no capacity to yell, nor knock on the window of the bus he was trapped on.

“He cannot ask for help,” she said. School district officials and Lee’s family are questioning how the tragedy happened, and an investigation is underway.

Clock invention mistaken for fake bomb; ends in no charges A FRESHMAN at a Texas high school was the center of controversy after authorities thought his clock invention was a bomb, suspending him and calling police on Sept. 14. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, took apart and re-created the clock and brought it to school to show his teacher, who mistook the invention for something suspicious. Police in Irving, Texas questioned and detained the teen and then let him go without charges, calling the incident “an abundance of caution.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations was outraged, saying this would not have happened if his name wasn’t Ahmed Mohamed, and he was simply trying to showcase his engineering talents. A social media storm erupted with the trending tag #IStandWithAhmed, and people from Hillary Clinton to Mark Zuckerberg tweeted their support. President Obama also tweeted, “Cool clock, Ahmed.

Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

US poverty rate and incomes stagnant in 2014 DESPITE steady job growth and a noticeable drop in unemployment, the nation’s poverty rate showed no improvement in 2014. A typical American household saw no real gain in come, according to the Census Bureau. Experts hoping for a second straight year of decline in the number of America’s poor and jobless were disappointed. According to the Bureau, 14.8 percent of people live in poverty, statistically unchanged from 2013 and well above the 12.3 percent in 2006, before the Great Recession.

California wildfires spread; bodies found

OFFICIALS confirmed several deaths this week in the Valley and Butte fires, both of which have burned over 70,000 acres of land. The Butte fire is 60 percent contained, with 365 homes and 261 outbuildings destroyed, and thousands of structures threatened. Two bodies were found as of Friday. The Valley fire is just 40 percent contained, with 13,000 people displaced and close to 7,500 homes threatened. Three bodies were found as of Friday. Fresno County’s Rough Fire made the top 15 largest wildfires in California history. The initial cause of the wildfires is still being determined, and evacuees are highly encouraged to follow authorities and leave the area.

New York Fashion Week MORE than 70 shows later, New York Fashion Week ended with an economic impact currently estimated to be $900 million, nearly $15 million more than last year, according to Fashion Week Online. Approximately 125,000 people were in attendance at shows in various locations throughout the city, from the Skylight at Moynihan Station and Skylight Clarkson Square.

Memorable shows included the opening ceremony, where models’ simultaneously fell in a staged performance, Jeremy Scott’s bold 60s-themed presentation, and Diane von Furstenberg’s collection featuring the industry’s top models, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss, and Kendall Jenner.

Facebook to soon add a ‘dislike’ button MARK Zuckerberg, the co-founder and chief executive of Facebook, said the company was “very close to shipping a test” of a dislike button. He suggested that the new button would probably be more nuanced than just a simple thumbs-down option, but his comments nevertheless raised the possibility that Facebook, now the world’s largest social network, could become a more negative place. There are now 1.5 billion Facebook users, and many have long requested a way to express negative emotions or empathy with something sad or tragic posted on the site, Zuckerberg said. “Not every moment is a good moment, and if you are sharing something sad…then it may not feel comfortable to like that post. So I do think it’s important to give people more options than just like.”

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Dateline USa

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

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Filipino caregiver wanted for alleged $193K theft in Maryland BETHESDA, Maryland – Police in Montgomery County believe that a Filipino caregiver, who was arrested for allegedly stealing $193,000 from an elderly couple and fled after posting bail bond, is now hiding in the Philippines.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department has issued an active arrest warrant for Alexander Manguiam, 46, who was already facing charges of theft scheme $100,000+, theft $100,000+ and stealing prop-

erty of a vulnerable adult, according to an August 25 WJLA (ABC7) report.

Manguiam was reportedly hired in February 2010 to care for a Bethesda couple then in their late 80s in declining health. The husband passed away in February 2013. His wife was confined to a bed and wheelchair but is still alive today.

In September 2013, Wells Fargo Bank’s financial crimes unit contacted Montgomery County Police after flagging a

Where GOP candidates…

PAGE A8 t

pitched by Republicans during the debate as solutions to further propel the US economy.

Paul, who has served in the Senate since 2010, proposed a single rate 14.5 percent tax for business, corporate and personal income. He also suggested eliminating the payroll tax, which would allow the working class to receive a tax break.

Huckabee suggested eliminating all taxes on those who produce.

“Why should we penalize productivity?” he said.

Walker, who has served as governor of Wisconsin since 2011, suggested a plan based on the Ronald Reagan tax cuts of 1986 and said he would repeal Obamacare on his first day in office if elected president. He also explained by he finds raising the federal minimum wage a “lame idea.” He said the best way people can attain higher wages is through acquiring the education and skills they need to secure careers that pay more than minimum wage.

“The real issue is about jobs,” he said.

Carson, who had nearly caught up to Trump in the polls a day before the debate, offered an approach to the minimum wage by proposing a two different types: a starter and sustaining minimum wage, “because how are young people ever going to get a job if you have such a high minimum wage that it makes it impractical to hire them?”

Trump addressed the middle class by proposing a “major reduction” in taxes.

“I know people that are making a tremendous amount of money and paying virtually no tax, and I think it’s unfair,” he said.

Another tax cut proposal came

from Kasich, Ohio’s 69th governor, who also laid out his resume for debate viewers.

“Well, look, people still have to get to know me, so I want to spend my time talking about my experience reforming welfare, balancing budgets, cutting taxes, providing economic growth when I was in Washington, turning Ohio around. Eight billion in the hole, $2 billion surplus, up over 300,000 jobs, big tax cuts, strengthening our credit,” he said.

“We’ve had the largest amount of tax cuts of any sitting governor.

We’ve grown well over 300,000 jobs. You see, I’ve done it in both places. I’m the only one here that has done it in both places,” the governor added.

Clinton’s post-debate comments Less than a day following the CNN debate, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the party’s frontrunner, warned Republicans about jeopardizing the economy by shutting down the federal government by blocking funding for Planned Parenthood.

“I would hope that the Republicans, and particularly the Republicans in the House led by Speaker Boehner, would not put our country and our economy in peril pursuing some kind of emotionally, politically charged partisan attack,” Clinton said in an interview with CNN the day before the House voted to freeze funding for Planned Parenthood for a year. “That would be a very, very unfortunate decision.”

In an earlier statement, she also said Republican presidential candidates’ pledge to defund Planned Parenthood propels a “race to the bottom” on women’s health and rights issues. n

forged check Manguiam had deposited in his personal account.

After an investigation, detectives found that Manguiam allegedly altered 44 of his paychecks, for instance, in one case he turned a check for $1,630 into $4,630.

In 21 other instances, Manguiam allegedly stole checks from the elderly couple’s dining room cupboard drawer and later made them out to himself.

The grand total stolen over

three years was $193,608.

Police arrested Manguiam in December 2014. He later posted bond and moved into a friend’s Silver Spring home while awaiting trial.

But Manguiam did not show up for his August 7, court date at Montgomery County Circuit Court. He had to surrender his Filipino passport prior to posting bond, but authorities fear Manguiam still managed to flee to the Philippines. (Inquirer. net)

Suspect Alexander Manguiam

A10 SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Features

No disruptions

WHEN President Aquino talks of continuity, he may want to focus on the short-term, which is ensuring that public services will not be disrupted by the departure en masse of executive officials who will seek elective posts next year. even before the departures, the public has already had a taste of the consequences of having executive officials distracted by political plans for 2016. Chairman francis tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, who is known to be eyeing a Senate seat, has received heavy flak for his provincial sorties while the region under his jurisdiction is paralyzed by monstrous traffic jams.

Manuel roxas II and francis Pangilinan have resigned to pursue their bids for positions in the general elections next year. More resignations are expected as the October deadline nears for filing certificates of candidacy. the secretary-general of the Liberal Party has been named to replace roxas, the LP’s standard bearer, as secretary of the interior and local government – a position that will play a key role in the elections.

Pangilinan, who was appointed to a position that was created amid reports that President Aquino was unhappy with the performance of his agriculture secretary, is expected to run again for the

Senate. the President has yet to disclose whether Pangilinan will be the first and only adviser on agriculture and food security and whether his functions will be given back to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Key agencies under Alcala’s department had been placed under the office created for Pangilinan.

Also likely to seek elective posts in 2016 are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and director Joel Villanueva of the technical education and Skills Development Authority. Gregory Domingo has resigned as secretary of trade and industry but has agreed to stay on until the annual Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in November. Domingo is reportedly burned out, but there is also speculation that he will again help roxas in the campaign for 2016. transport Secretary Joseph emilio Abaya may want to return to the House of representatives.

Investors are reportedly putting plans on hold be- agency heads. the President must fill vacancies cause of the election season. Government services, quickly and when needed, the Commission on Aphowever, cannot be disrupted by the departure of pointments must act just as speedily on the nomina-

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

tions. there are still nine months left in the Aquino administration, and public services cannot be put on hold for the elections. (Philstar.com)

Who will you now vote for: Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, or Jejomar Binay?

After all the anticipation, suspense, and cliffhangers of teleseryes that mirror her personal narrative, Senator Grace Poe has finally made it official: She is running for President. this makes the Presidential election in May 2016 a choice among the three candidates who have made their intent to run public and official: VP Jejomar Binay, Mar roxas and Grace Poe. While Poe has lorded over her political opponents in the polls, more recent independent surveys still have to reveal how her move to protect the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) over the rule of law could have affected her favorability rating. Her stand on the INC fiasco gave an impression to many that she is just as “trapo” as the old timers in politics, who would do everything to win the endorsement of big religious voting blocs.

But there is no denying that Poe, finally being in the race to Malacanang, has energized so many kababayans who have been looking for a candidate who can be an alternative to those who had been tried, tested, and somehow failed peoples’ expectations in governance.

“Ako po si Grace Poe. Pilipino. Anak, asawa at ina, at sa tulong ng Mahal na Diyos ay inaalay ko sa inyong lahat ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan bilang inyong Pangulo,” Poe declared before hundreds of supporters at the University of the Philippines (UP) Bahay ng Alumni Wednesday evening, September 16, as reported by ABS-CBN News.

“Sana po ay samahan ninyo ako sa pagpapanday ng maganda at makabuluhang hinaharap ng ating inang bayang Pilipinas,” said Poe, complete with all

the necessary elements of stagecraft for maximum intensity effect The Fil-Am among prospective voters.

Poe had an all-star cast that in- Perspective cluded her family and many other showbiz personalities from different generations who were all there to show their support for the daughter of the late King of fili- Gel SantoS-ReloS pino movies fernando Poe Jr. and the reyna—veteran actress, Susan roces. the stage design optics and sounds included fans and supporters who repeatedly chanted her name, holding banners in support of Poe. Boldly written on the banners inside the UP Bahay ng Alumni were: “Sama-sama Poe tayo,” “Tuloy na Poe,” “Eto na Poe,” and “Maasahan, matapang, tapat Poe.” And then this. As expected, she invoked the name of fPJ:”Nung ako po’y unang kumatok sa inyong mga puso, ang sabi ko gusto kong ipagpatuloy ang mga simulain ni fPJ. Simple lang ang prinsipyo ng aking ama na siya ring naging dahilan ng kanyang pagtakbo. Sinabi niya sa bulwagang ito mahigit 11 taon ang nakalipas: Importante sa isang leader ang katalinuhan pero mas importante na may tapat na pusong manilbihan upang tulungan ang mahihirap, labanan ang pang-aabuso, at pumanday ng isang lipunang masagana at makatarungan,” Poe said.

In her 25-minute speech Poe said that she draws inspiration from ordinary filipinos—farmers, fishermen, drivers, teachers, health workers, police, soldiers, those who brave the traffic everyday, overseas filipino workers (OfWs), and other people struggling to make their lives better.

“Kayong lahat ang pinaghuhugutan ko ng inspirasyon. Kayo ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas na ialay ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan sa bayan,” she said.

Poe’s promises ABS-CBN News reported about how Poe went on to present her platform: Pushing for inclusive growth, addressing the backlog in classrooms, creating a Standard Lunch Program in all public schools, crusading against crime and illegal drugs, and respecting the rights of everyone especially those in vulnerable sectors including senior citizens and members of the LGBt community.

She also highlighted the need of improving health services, pushing for the passage of the freedom of Information (fOI) bill, and fighting for the West Philippine Sea which is also being claimed by China.

“Walang maiiwang Pilipino at walang maiiwang lugar sa Pilipinas. Sabay-sabay tayong aangat at sama-sama tayong uunlad,” Poe said.

Poe also said that no one man or group holds a monopoly on “Tuwid na Daan,” and vowed to continue the Aquino administration’s fight against corruption.

She explained, “Malaki at malayo na ang nagawa ni Pangulong Aquino kaugnay sa pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali, at ako ay personal na nagpapasalamat sa kanya sapagkat nanumbalik muli ang kumpyansa natin sa isang lider na tapat.

“Dapat lang na ituloy at paigtingin ang pagsugpo

sa korapsyon. Papanagutin ko ang tiwali, kaibigan man o kaaway, subalit ‘di lamang isang tao o partido ang dapat nagsusulong nito kundi ang bawat isang Pilipino,” she added.

ABS-CBN News further reported that Poe included in her campaign promises that she will lower the tax rates and power costs in the country. She also advocates for faster Internet, quipping that “connecting should not take forever.”

Poe also stressed the need to build more roads and trains, to clean the drainage systems, and to remove colorum and illegally parked vehicles to improve the already worsening traffic situation in the country which she called “OA.” the senator also promised to pursue peace with all groups, particularly the Muslims, saying filipinos should no longer be fighting fellow filipinos.

“Sa mga kapatid nating Muslim, naging inspirasyon kayo sa maraming pelikula ni fPJ, ang inyong kultura at kagitingan. Panahon na para mabigyan kayo ng patas na pagkakataon at tunay na tulong,” she said.

How will Grace Poe’s running for President change the political campaign dynamics? Who between Binay and Mar roxas will benefit from her candidacy?

If the election is held today, who will you vote for?

VP Binay? Sec. Mar roxas? or Sen. Grace Poe? *** 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

Remembering Lean Alejandro: A short life well-spent

“IF you go to someone’s home Rhizomes and they offer you their food, they’re giving something of themselves.

Once people give, then their heart is involved. Giv- Prosy AbArquezing – making your DelAcruz, J.D. contribution – is what brings community alive.” — Cesar Chavez I have heard this quite a few times - it is valuable to honor a contribution, however small. It makes a difference in keeping a community together. I have observed this, like other Americans, when it was concretely done by the Obama presidential campaign. President Obama validated the smallest contribution, a $3.22 donation sent by a retired senior. Pres. Obama gave it such center stage importance. the campaign focused on small, as well as grand participations, and behind-the-scenes strategy-making. this practice of gratitude has built a culture of mutual caring and continues to sustain a community to stay together. And in staying together through the recognition of contributions, whatever the amount, the equalizing factor of a democracy is kept vibrant.

I believed this practice allowed the Obama campaign to thread together the hearts of the few initial supporters until they ballooned to 3,000,000 volunteers who participated through various commitments: hosting fundraisers, knocking on doors, organizing phone booths, writing blogs, street rallying,

and for op-ed writers, utilizing newspapers through their columns. All were acknowledged, through Obama’s website and with personal letters of thanks. these acts of appreciation by Pres.

Obama and Cesar Chavez bring another individual who practiced the same show of gratitude -- Lean Alejandro. *** Lean and lanky, he was often teased and likened to a bean stalk. Lean was married to Lidy, a good-looking woman who is known for remembering precise details, including analyzing patterns and behaviors of folks she meets. She is very observant of people and listens perceptively. She is also equally generous with sharing her own travels and interactions with different cultures.

Before Lean was murdered by unidentified men in the Philippines, the couple traveled abroad, courtesy of Lidy’s parents. they made trips to visit family in the summer. During these trips, we were usually their first or last stop. Being their first stop would mean picking them up at the airport and being their last stop would entail a trip to Lidy’s parents house -- a 60-mile journey from Los Angeles County to visit and bring them to the coast.

What I remember most were the laughs, the endless eating, and analysis of the political climate back home.

Oh, how he enjoyed life! On the way back from the airport, he would ea-

gerly recall the details of his last visit. He would remember everything, from the steamed crabs that we had at the pier to the spot where we went fishing which we showed him.

Lidy, usually would have a more precise recall. During that time, Santa Monica Pier was quite clean and fishing was allowed from the pier. We would catch barracuda and even some perch. But, after fishing, perhaps Lean remembered the coast so well -- the breeze, the languid waves lapping back and forth and he would associate our fishing with buying steamed, cooked crabs.

We (enrique, myself, Lean and Lidy) would drive to redondo Beach to buy steamed crabs to take them home and eat them with rice, vinegar and garlic. Kamayan lang, okay, Lean would say. We would laugh so hard as we pried open, with difficulty, the crab claws.

He made an analogy of the crabs with a person whom he encountered.

He had many reflections, perhaps foreshadowing how he needed to make the most out of what turned out to be a very brief life. Lean died at the age of 27.

He had grand stories to tell -- stories of how he persuaded folks to change their perspectives, while organizing students and many others, to lift martial law, to restore democracy and hu-

man rights in the Philippines, during the Marcos’ dictatorship from 1972 to 1986.

And his story took us to the Lords of the rings. He loved it so much that J. Uy of the Philippine Inquirer, Sept. 19, 2007 wrote: “ I (Lidy) introduced him

to the ‘Lord of the rings.’ But he didn’t tell his friends that he got it from me. Macho kasi,” said the feminist firebrand, (Lidy) chuckling at the memory of her husband, Lean.

Lean spoke in layered volumes, disclosing at times his dilemma, using the Lord of the rings analogy: “Does the fellowship have what it takes to complete its task, or will the powers of evil overcome those of good leaving behind a world ravaged by the rage of Sauron, the Dark Lord?“ the Dark Lord of course, he was insinuating in the context of the Marcos dictatorship -- a regime that instilled fear among filipinos. former President Marcos was known for unreasonably sending the opposition in prison, stifling the media, and taking ownership of key industries.

Lean was then aspiring to run for Congress, at a young age of 27. As a student leader, he attracted legions and inspired crowds. He got along with everyone -- the poor, the middleclass and the wealthy elite. He was welcomed in the mansions of the rich, in churches, even in a humble slum dwelling. He inspired folks with simple words and with his abundant humor. He had a knack for creating slogans spontaneously: “ the struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free,”

u PAGE A11

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Dateline PhiliPPines

DFA: No Filipinos affected in Chile quake

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, Sept. 17, confirmed that there were no Filipinos affected in the 8.3 magnitude quake that hit central Chile.

“So far we have not received report of Filipinos affected by the earthquake in Chile,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message.

Jose said there are over 300 Filipinos working and residing in the Latin American state.

Reports said at least five people were killed and 1 million residents have been evacuated from coastal areas due to the quake.

The magnitude 8.3 tremor triggered waves of up to 15 feet

People evacuate a mall in Santiago after a powerful earthquake, in Santiago, Chile Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015.

Nadia Perez/agencia Uno via AP

along the coast of Coquimbo region.

Due to tsunami alarm, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology

and Seismology also raised tsunami alerts in 20 provinces in the country but clarified that there is no evacuation in effect. n

Remembering Lean Alejandro…

PAGE A10 t

or “ In The line of fire is a place of honor.”

In her August 2008 article, Marlu VillanuevaBalmaceda of Philstar.com, had this to say: “I liked Lean because he was oozing with confidence, he was so articulate, and he was totally charismatic.

He was like a magnet. Even if he was talking ideology, it all made sense to me.”

My most vivid memory of Lean was how he shook my hand and how he would hold my right hand with both his hands, how he would look into my eyes and smile. He would thank us profusely for the slightest thing -- from picking them up at the airport, even to taking them out for coffee. He was always generous with his gratitude. He was consciously living, moment by moment.

Lean understood the price of good, effective leadership. He knew his life would be on the line, and he was acutely aware that it could end prematurely. Yet, he never failed to thank folks that he encountered in his path. He was the first leader/ aspiring politician to campaign in his kamiseta and tsinelas, a way of honoring the folks he met: fish vendors, palengke workers, cooks, sidewalk vendors, working poor, teachers and many more. Today we revere the likes of Lean and recall some of his simple humble ways similar to that of Secretary Jesse Robredo, who too made himself accessible in Naga, wearing his kamiseta at tsinelas, giving a brand of tsinelas leadership -- accessible, truthful, accountable, progressive, just, fair, and peoplecentered, without unjustly enriching himself in office.

Twenty -eight years later, those who murdered Lean Alejandro have still not been brought to justice. Up to now, those who pulled the trigger on Lean and Ninoy Aquino are still unidentified.

Rumors abound that both Lean and Ninoy were assassinated by the radical arm of the military, the same people who made six coup attempts to depose the presidency of Cory Aquino.

We may never know who killed Lean. But what we do know is that his widow, Lidy Nacpil Alejandro, now remarried, is moving forward with her progressive vision. Lidy has traveled to more than 220 cities in the world, speaking on behalf of progressive causes. Her latest journey was made for the Freedom from Debt Coalition, and now, Bonn to negotiate for climate change, educating people about how climate change is integrated with income inequality.

Today, Lean’s legacy and the community he built lives on in our hearts, immortalized in a wing of Vinzon’s Hall in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, named after him. Photographs of his life as an activist are displayed in his memory. A Lean Musical was staged in his memory, during the 40 years’ anniversary of the declaration of martial law. A Lean anthology was commissioned by a major publisher in the Philippines and folks submitted essays on their experiences of organizing against the Marcos dictatorship and to restore human rights in the Philippines.

The price of democracy is not free, it is sometimes paid with blood and a selfless life’s journey of working to bring about a progressive vision.

Now, we know Sec. Jesse Robredo might be having a robust conversation with Lean Alejandro, somewhere up in heaven, challenged by my dad, Eleazar who was pro-Marcos. *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for Asian Journal Press for 8 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in the field of 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 and Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.

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Gloria Arroyo cites Enrile verdict in petition for house arrest

JOINT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON AUTOMATED ELECTIONS SYSTEM. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Cavite 4th District Representative Elpidio Barzaga are updated by officials of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on the agency’s preparations for the 2016 National and Local Elections during a joint congressional hearing on the automated election system on Thursday, Sept. 17. The panel was also given a progress report on voters’ registration and biometrics validation for the upcoming elections.

Senate photo by Alex Nuevaespaña

P1M bounty for wife of slain racer Enzo Pastor, alleged lover

by Julliane love

De Jesus

Inquirer.net

THE family of slain car racing champion Ferdinand “Enzo” Pastor has offered a P1-million reward to informants who could provide leads on the arrest of Pastor’s wife Dahlia Guerrero and her alleged lover Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman.

Pastor’s father Tom announced the bounty for Guerrero and De Guzman in a press conference on Friday at Hotel Rembrandt, Quezon City.

De Guzman and Guerrero are facing murder charges with no bail recommended for their alleged involvement in the June 12 killing of Pastor.

The older Pastor also urged the informants to contact him at 09285044931.

He also gave the contact details of the National Capital Region – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Superintendent Danilo Macerin and Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit’s Police Senior Inspector Rodel Marcelo.

Macerin and Marcelo could be reached through contact

Tom Pastor, father of slain car racing champion Enzo Pastor, offers P1-million reward for the capture of the suspects in his son’s killing, Dahlia Guerrero-Pastor and Domingo “Sandy” de Guzman.

Julliane Love De Jesus/Inquirer.net.

numbers 09178420992 and 09185315178.

The Interpol, of which the Philippine National Police is a member, recently issued a “red notice” for Dahlia after reports came out that the widow has fled the country after the incident.

A red notice is an international warrant against a fugitive of the law based on a request submit-

ted to Interpol by a member country.

Meanwhile, Pastor said De Guzman is still in the country.

The 32-year-old car racing champion was shot by a motorcycle-riding man, a Pasay policeman allegedly hired by De Guzman, while traveling along Congressional Avenue in Quezon City. n

WHAT’S sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Invoking the contentious Supreme Court decision which granted Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s bail plea last month, lawyers of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Thursday, Sept. 17, reiterated that she should be placed under house arrest.

In an eight-page reply to the prosecution’s opposition, Ar- Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. royo’s counsels told the Sandiganbayan First Division that Enrile and the former president are “similarly situated” as both are already sickly and are not considered flight risk.

The defense also cited the case of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, whose request to be held at his sprawling rest house in Tanay, Rizal, was granted by the antigraft court while he was being tried for plunder.

Arroyo, 68, had been in hospital detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City since October 2012 after she was indicted for plunder over the purported misuse of P366 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“If bail may be granted on grounds of unlikelihood of flight and/or poor health, then it stands to reason that [Arroyo’s] present custodial arrangement may be modified to transfer the place of her detention from the [VMMC] to her residence in Quezon City or Lubao, Pampanga,” Arroyo’s lawyers argued.

Fragile health “[Arroyo] and Senator Enrile are similarly situated,” the petition read. “Like Senator Enrile, [she] is also of fragile health and is a nonflight risk.”

Enrile, who is facing plunder and graft charges over the P10billion pork barrel racket, was purportedly known as “Tanda” (old) in the records of the scam’s alleged mastermind, Janet LimNapoles.

The 91-year-old senator was able to secure his provisional liberty on Aug. 18 after eight justices of the high tribunal voted to approve his bail petition on humanitarian grounds.

Arroyo’s lawyers told the court that government doctors had certified that she had yet to “fully recover” from a debilitating age-

related bone ailment and that she underwent three major spinal surgeries.

They said the government prosecutors’ claim that Arroyo’s petition for house arrest had no legal basis was “without merit.”

“But unlike Senator Enrile, [Arroyo] is not asking for bail … but simply that her current custodial arrangement be modified,” they said. (Marlon Ramos/ Inquirer.net)

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SHOWBIZ&STYLE Journal

Kim Chiu after doing mistress role: Woman na ako!

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

MANILA - Kim Chiu felt that she’s now a woman after doing her upcoming film “Etiquette for Mistresses.”

She didn’t deny that at first she hesitated doing the role since it’s different from the roles she usually portray. Her mind changed after reading the script and talking to Kris Aquino who is also part of the film.

The Kapamilya actress said Kris made her realize that “it’s time for me to mature, hindi na ako dapat pabebe na patawa, pa-jologs. Kailangan mo rin gumawa ng isang proyektong magsasabi na actress ako at woman na ako,” she said during the press gathering for the film on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

“So sa movie na ‘to ‘yon ang nasabi ko, ‘ay, woman na pala ako,” she added.

Kim also thanked their director

Chito Roño for teaching her the “movie drama.” “‘Yong teleserye acting ko ayaw ni direk,” she recalled, laughing.

“Nagda-drama lang kasi ako sa soap opera, e, paano ba ‘yong pelikulang drama? So medyo mahirap kasi may tamang paghinga, ganyan. So at least natutunan ko kung paano ang movie drama.”

Aside from changing her as an actress, Kim also mentioned how her role in the film as an entertainer made her respect people with that profession.

“Tumaas ang respeto ko sa mga entertainer, kasi parang mahirap pala ‘yong ginagawa nila, kasi minsan nabobosohan sila, hinahawakan sila pero wala silang magawa kasi nagta-trabaho sila,” she said.

“Etiquette for Mistresses” also stars Claudine Barretto, Iza Calzado and Cheena Crab. It’ll be in cinemas on September 30.

Kim Chiu admitted feeling hesitant at first to do “Etiquette for Mistresses,” but later realized she needed to do something new for her fans.

Philstar.com photo

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Rosemarie Bell Mejia on what success means Must try dishes next time you are in Manila Moonlighting

by Mylah de

leon

THE alpha lunch, the stage setting for our first gathering at the Kapistahan, which lasted two hours, was no big deal. “This is good,” she said. I felt an instant spark of connection.

Instinctively, I felt she would not stick to polite comments. It was my first glimpse into a wonderful and ruminating mind that takes perspectives seriously. She is a woman who is not afraid to admit that she was on a learning curve—not an intellectual know-itall—but someone who is willing to explore a topic other than her own.

Her openmindedness is one of her greatest gifts. It comes more than as an intellectual curiosity but as a deep charitable core in Rosemarie Belle Mejia.

In many ways, the first lunch set the tone of a friendship, which is based on vulnerability, trust and mutual understanding. It allows us to be ourselves without softening or embellishments, to swap strengths and weaknesses, to explore minds as well as our hearts. Her covenant with public service in the Fil-Am community is that instead of partying and hanging out with friends, she would rather spend time serving the community.

Crabs with Alavar: The Zamboanga Alavar sauce with fresh crabs from the seafood capital of the Philippines.

Rosemarie Belle Mejia with the Moonlighter

Rosemarie Belle Mejia, Lakambini Kalayaan Photos by Joy Marivic Macainan 2015

She talked about family, the business world, change and supportive echoes, that offered a thought or point of view often unexpected. We offered each other advice, came close to tears, laughed like crazy at some funny or forbidden memories. We felt invigorated and more than a little buzzed over a shared cherry wine.

Whatever hurt done to us by others, past or present, angered us.

Today, Rosemarie Belle Mejia is breathless—coping with work and family, and the business of

sharing her expertise with the Fil-Am community—especially to those who have the courage to try entrepreneurship. More sure than ever now, she guides little or big businesses, by counseling them in the best way she can.

What do we really know about her? She’s known among the Fil-Am community through acknowledged attributes: beauty with charm, warmth, the fundamental decency and refinement. Based on my research, her credentials, awards, recognitions, community leadership and organization involvement can only be truly appreciated or admired when synopsized in pen and paper. We already know she continued being a beauty queen, from her teens: Miss Earth and the Lakambini of Kalayaan 2015.

How alluring she looks when she evokes her children, her friends and their own accomplishments, in their family and chosen careers, all done with discipline and hard work.

Like most of the young women, after college back home, she mustered enough courage to start life here in US and went into great lengths to support her family here and folks back home.

I have yet to know and hear of any fine person who has done more than she has for the Fil-Am community here in Los Angeles.

People around her agree that her motives are beyond question; her word is gold. From the time Rosemarie settled here, she felt PAGE B5

White Marlin: This delectable fish comes all the way from Capiz and is even better than the Blue Marlin fish! Best simply grilled.

HAvE you tried the “White Marlin” fish? What about “Palabok Tisay,” “Kaldereta Lasagna” and “Shrimp with Alavar Sauce”?

These are original dishes served at Mabuhay Restop in Rizal Park, a social tourism enterprise that seeks to showcase the best of the Philippines and the beauty of the Filipino.

Mabuhay Restop is a perfect stop for Philippine visitors because they get to sample Philippine culture and enjoy exceptional Philippine experiences in one venue through local home-style FOOD, cultural SHOWS with a modern twist, eye-opening social TOURS, topnotch Filipino ARTWORKS, and community MERCHANDISE, while also contributing to nationbuilding through Gawad Kalinga & GKonomics.

The food at Mabuhay Restop are primarily family favorites of the owner Rose Isada Cabrera who belongs to a very large family, as well as original creations by their chefs which give a wonderful taste of the Philippine islands. As the Mabuhay Restop menu says, “meet a Filipino family of 14 through their favorite dishes.” Bestseller family favorites are “Rose’s Chicken Alexander”, “Gerry’s Callos” and “Daddy’s Lucban Hardinera.”

Nico’s Mango Delight: Never fails to elicit “awws” and “oohs”!

Kaldereta Lasagna: A Filipino twist on the usual lasagna dish.

“Palabok Tisay” and “Kaldereta Lasagna, “are original creations of Mabuhay Restop’s very own chef, chef Ed Garcia. “Palabok Tisay” is a sauceless noodle dish but is very tasty because of the combination of smoked Tinapa flakes, sesame oil, and ground chicharon.

Kaldereta is a beef stew dish family favorite of the owner, Rose Isada Cabrera, and Mabuhay Restop’s chef thought of creating a new complete dish that incorporates lasagna noodles and made it into a delicious pasta dish. The result is “Kaldereta Lasagna” and it has been receiving accolades from everyone who has tried it. In POPTALK, a lifestyle review show the dishes got a “Pop na Pop” rating which is a glowing approval by the team.

Another Mabuhay Restop original is the “White Marlin” which could be enjoyed either grilled or with coconut milk (“guinataan”) by special advanced order in special events booked at Mabuhay Restop.

The delectable fish comes all the way from Roxas City, Capiz and it is so delicious and is even better than the Blue Marlin!

Another Mabuhay Restop original is the “Sayote & Shrimp with Alavar Sauce” which uses the famous sauce from Zamboanga made from crab aligue. With ad-

Palabok Tisay: Sauceless tasty palabok.

vanced notice for event booking, the dish could be made using prawns from Capiz and Curacha crabs from Zamboanga.

Do not forget the desserts!

Original Mabuhay Restop desserts are “Nico’s Mango Delight” and “Mommy’s Tapioca Pudding” which are sure to satisfy discriminating palates.

The beauty of trying these dishes at Mabuhay Restop for your special events is that you may enjoy them with topnotch Filipino entertainment in an ambience of a refreshing variety of Filipino artwork, all while contributing to nation-building with Gawad Kalinga.

Mabuhay Restop is located in Rizal Park, near the corner of Roxas Blvd. and Kalaw St. heading towards the Quirino Grandstand and Manila Ocean Park.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Features

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

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McDonald’s to fully transition to cage-free eggs for all restaurants in the US and Canada McDonald’s USA and Canada to source 100 percent cage-free eggs within 10 years

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 parent-child 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 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

World’s largest baccarat tournament returns to The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas on October 2 with $10,000,000 Global Prize Pool Complimentary entry for Grazie members in first two tournaments of the Annual Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Championship

LAS VEGAS—The Annual Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Championship, with a total global prize pool worth over $10,000,000*, kicks off the Las Vegas leg of the competition on Oct. 2, 2015 at The Palazzo. The global championship spans Las Vegas Sands properties in Macao and Singapore.

The Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Championship provides baccarat enthusiasts the ultimate tournament experience. Las Vegas players can compete for a portion of a $1.6 million prize pool over three tournaments - the $280,000 Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament, the $350,000 Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament, and the invitation-only $1 Million Royal Dragon Baccarat Tournament – all culminating in the Global Final to be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in March 2016.

The $280,000 Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament takes place from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5 and Oct. 9 through Oct. 12. This tournament features a $35,000 daily cash prize pool. All Grazie members receive one complimentary tournament

entry per day. Unlimited rebuys can be made for $50. The top three daily winners in the Golden Dragon Baccarat Tournament will automatically advance to the SemiFinals of the Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament.

The Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament offers a $350,000 cash prize pool with daily prize pools of $75,000. Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament preliminaries take place Oct. 16 and Oct. 17. All Grazie members will receive one complimentary tournament entry per day, and unlimited rebuys can be made for $150. The top six daily winners in the Ruby Dragon Baccarat Tournament preliminaries will advance to the semi-final round on Oct. 18, where the top six finishers will receive one complimentary entry each to the semi-final round of the invite-only $1 Million Royal Dragon Baccarat Tournament on Nov. 7.

In addition to sharing in a $1,000,000 promotional chip prize pool, the top three finishers in the invitation only Royal Dragon Baccarat Tournament will advance to the Global Final at Marina Bay

Sands in Singapore in March 2016.

Each advancer to the Global Final will receive round-trip transportation to Singapore, accommodations at Marina Bay Sands, and a food and beverage allowance for the player and a guest. In addition, each advancer will receive one complimentary entry to the Semi-Finals of the Global Final Tournament.

The traditional table game of baccarat has taken on a new level of popularity with American audiences, so much so that The Venetian and The Palazzo have taken strides to make the game much more accessible to players with traditional tables available from only a $25 minimum bet, as well as the only Imperial Baccarat on the Strip – a live dealt $5 minimum baccarat played on an electronic betting terminal.

For more information, visit venetian.com/dragon or call 866898-8013. *Based on accumulated total prize amount from Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore.

(Advertising Supplement)

OAK BROOK, Ill—To meet consumers’ changing expectations and preferences, McDonald’s announced that it will fully transition to cage-free eggs for its nearly 16,000 restaurants in the US and Canada over the next 10 years.

“Our customers are increasingly interested in knowing more about their food and where it comes from,” said McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres. “Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reinforces the focus we’re placing on food quality and our menu to meet what consumers truly want.”

“We’re proud of the work we’re doing with farmers and suppliers to advance environmentally and socially conscious practices for the animals in our supply chain,” said Marion Gross, senior vice president and Chief Supply Chain Officer of McDonald’s North America. “This is a bold move and we’re confident in our ability to provide a quality, safe, and consistent supply.”

On an annual basis, McDonald’s USA purchases approximately two billion eggs and McDonald’s Canada purchases 120 million eggs to serve on its breakfast menus, which includes popular breakfast sandwiches, such as the Egg McMuffin and Egg White Delight. Since 2011, McDonald’s USA has been purchasing more than 13 million cage-free eggs annually.

“Animal welfare has always been important to us and our customers,” added Gross. “Today’s announcement is another big milestone building on our work with industry experts and suppliers to improve the treatment of animals.”

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, a family-owned and operated farm in Michigan, has worked with McDonald’s for decades to supply nutritious eggs. “Cage-free systems play an important role in our work to keep hens healthy and meet the growing consumer demand for responsibly-sourced food,” said Greg Herbruck, executive vice president of Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch. “We welcome McDonald’s actions to continue these efforts and are pleased to join them in sourcing cage-free eggs across their supply chain.

We continue embracing new technologies and strategies to ensure our hens are well-cared for.”

In 2000, McDonald’s USA was the first food service company to adopt a standard for hen housing systems, which provided more space per bird than the industry standard. In 2010, the company initiated research with the Coalition for a Sustainable Egg Supply to better understand the impact PAGE B5

B SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

The Global Kababayan

Features

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Djoanna Garcia- Kocher: On faith, fame and friendship

Programming of Kababayan Today, September 21-25, 2015

G. TönGi SEPTEMBER 21 - EMPLEOPINOY launch. EMPLEO-PINOY is a hotline (1-877-TULONG-1) that employers and employees can call if they have any inquiries concern- ers are also available. ing wages and labor questions. A Aquilina Soriano of the Pilipino trained volunteer will answer your Workers Center also comes to the calls confidentially. Tagalog speak- show with “Tita Boots,” a caregiver

who has experienced several wage and labor inequalities in the agencies she has dealt with. “Tita T,” another caregiver also shares her experience of almost being beaten to death by her patient.

September 22 - Our #TalkTuesdays Panel features a never before broadcast film about suicide called “Silent Sacrifices: Voices of the Filipino American Community.”

Spearheaded by Dr. Patricia Heras, “Silent Sacrifices: voices of the Filipino American Community” finally makes its public debut, 14 years after its completion. This is the first time this documentary will be available to audience. This is made possible by Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). For more info, visit: http://caamedia. org/films/silent-sacrifices-voicesof-the-filipino-american-family/ September 23 - Midweek News Updates from Asian Journal and real Estate Buzz with Mia McLeod.

Christine Sumiller talks about the importance of being insured as we mark Life Insurance Awareness Month this September.

September 24 - Now available at Mitsuwa, Hakubaku is a healthy barley grain that is easy to mix with rice. Check out the recipes we made at Mitsuwa Marketplace.

Hitmaker Nonoy Zuniga and Baladeer Julius Obregon share their latest collaboration to restage their wildly successful concert.

September 25 - Learn the ancient traditions of the Philippines with a manghihilot, Virgil Mayor Apostol, who is the Author of “Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions” and Shamanic healer Lyn Pacificar. Lyn Pacificar is descended from a long family line of shamanic healers. In her healing practice, she employs reiki, energy clearings and extractions, chakra aligning and activation, drumming and tribal singing. She is a certified Usui Holy Fire reiki practitioner and a certified Psychic Housewife for readings and mediumship. *** 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.

By Monet

Lu

A GrEAT Athenian playwright named Euripides wrote this about friends: “Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. “ I have not read Euripides’ work but is quote described exactly what I experienced with one of my dearest friends, Djoanna.

Djoanna Garcia-Kocher is one of the greatest individuals I know. I met Djoanna in the early 90s when things were less complicated and having “friends” was not based on getting a number of “likes.” There were no social media then; friends met face to face when they need a shoulder to cry on. Djoanna became my advisor when I was going through the worst times in my life.

She would always listen to me, and in all my troubles she would tell me one thing – “Monet, you have to seek God.” I had the privilege of writing her life story in my column and I hope that after reading this, you would have a different perspective on faith, fame and friendship.

Djoanna was a former singer-actress in the Philippines. She started out as a contestant in Tawag ng Tanghalan, a talent search show when she was 15 years old. Soon after, ABS-CBN gave her more projects, and one of them was a TV show named “Stop, look and listen,” which co-stars the late Jay Ilagan, Tirso Cruz, Eddie Mercado and Tina revilla, among others.

During her flourishing career, she had a relationship with former Caloocan Mayor Macario “Boy” Asistio. They have 2 daughters and now have 4 grandchildren.

In 2001, Djoanna moved to the US when she married her husband, Vincent Kocher. Vincent is a Filipino from Davao who is one of the reasons my dear friend Djoanna

is always blooming. Djoanna and her husband stayed in Monterey, CA for a while and then moved to San Diego. In 2007, Djoanna received a wonderful business opportunity from her friend that made her decide to move to LA. Djoanna is the owner and CEO of Helping Hands of Beverly Hills Home Care Services. They provide nursing and caregiving services to seniors.

They are looking to expand soon, as God wills.

Aside from being a successful wife and a hardworking business owner, Djoanna is a passionate singer. She still goes to singing engagements and gigs when she can.

She tries to find time to improve her craft, which she believes is her passion and her first love – after God and her husband. She says that singing really makes her really happy. In her own words: “You get a certain high when you sing in front of audiences who appreciate it.”

As Djoanna and I were talking, I asked her to talk about her faith.

She recounted everything with joy and pure conviction. She said she became a born again Christian in 1980. However, she thinks that during that time, her faith was not as deep as it should be. She would go through the motions but did not feel

that she has a real relationship with God. But now, by the grace of God, she dedicates more time to church and bible studies. And says that she prays every single day of her life.

Djoanna goes to The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, CA. When I asked her to describe her faith now, she said, “God steered me toward the right direction. Without God, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.

My faith is the most important thing in my life. It is non-negotiable. I will never give it up. It is The one thing that I will never compromise.”

I’ve known Djoanna as a very compassionate person. It is nice to see her having a far greater reason to be that way. And that is because of her faith in Christ. She said that they’ve never been so much happier. She and her husband live a very simple life. They try to live within their means and enjoy the blessings that come their way.

As I recall when I ran to her in times of trouble, I couldn’t help but appreciate how deeply rooted our friendship is, and how much impact her words brought to me. I remember her saying, “When you encounter these challenges, you have surrender to our Savior. It has to be His will, not our will that has to be done. Whatever happens, I will continue to pray for you.”

To my God-fearing friend Djoanna and her husband: Thank you for your prayers and for the gift of friendship. I hope that God will continue to bless all your endeavors. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Limited upgraded two-bedroom townhomes available for quick move-ins at new Canvas neighborhood LAKEWOOD—Homeownership is more attainable than ever for first-time buyers at William Lyon Homes’ brand-new Canvas neighborhood, with a limited selection of upgraded residence One townhomes available for quick move-ins.

These rare offerings showcase the attached-home collection’s row townhome-inspired architecture and spacious, three-level designs with approximately 1,647 square feet of living space that includes two bedrooms; two full baths and two half baths; a well-equipped kitchen leading to the dining and living areas; a versatile first-level bonus room; a direct-access two-car garage and valuable upgrades that include a large patio. Those eager to finally have a home of their own are encouraged to explore these select residence One upgrade opportunities, or learn more about Canvas’ other floorplan options by visiting the Canvas sales gallery today. For additional details, log on to www.

LyonCanvas.com.

“Offering a modern design, valuable upgrades and quick move-in convenience, our limited selection of residence One homes will definitely sell quickly,” said Lesley Pennington, Vice President of Sales for William Lyon Homes. “We advise interested buyers to take advantage of these incredible ownership opportunities.”

Canvas’ three attached-home designs span from approximately 1,647 to 1,801 square feet, with two to three bedrooms, two full baths and two powder baths, and directaccess two-car garages.

Buyers also value the confidence and quality that come with any new construction by William Lyon Homes.

The setting near Long Beach in commuter-friendly Lakewood puts Davenport Park, Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood Golf Course, Mayfair Park and Pool and other recreation all within reach.

Lakewood Center’s Costco, Best Buy, Macy’s, and Target are also nearby, as well as attractions at the Long Beach Towne Center.

Downtown Long Beach, The Pike at rainbow Harbor, Belmont Shores and the Aquarium of the Pacific are also convenient, while medical services are accessible at Lakewood regional Medical Center.

It matters who your builder is and William Lyon Homes is a company built upon a legacy of pride and integrity. A team of visionaries who are passionate about homebuilding and committed to providing a high quality homebuying and homeownership experience, William Lyon Homes has earned a solid track record for outstanding construction and customer service since 1956. The company continues to expand its well-respected brand beyond California, Arizona and Nevada and into other market areas across the Western region with the acquisition of Polygon Northwest Homes, its newest division in Washington and Oregon, and its Village Homes division in Colorado.

William Lyon Homes’ shares are publicly traded on NYSE under the symbol WLH. For updated information and to learn more, visit www. lyonhomes.com.

To visit Canvas, travel the 405 Freeway, exit Lakewood Blvd., and head east. Turn left on E. South St. and follow the signs to the Sales Gallery, which is located on the left hand side.

The sales gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please call 562.470.7404, or visit www.LyonCanvas.com and register your interest.

Prices are effective as of the date of publication. Pricing is approximate and is subject to change without prior notice. CalBrE Officer License: 00982816.

(Advertising Supplement)

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

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Wi Spa: an urban sanctuary in the heart of LA ThInK of a spa and the immediate perception is an air of pretense and privilege that only a select few can indulge in, given the exorbitant prices. however, if you live in Los Angeles, Korean spas have sprouted up, contributing to the idea that pampering oneself and affordability are not mutually exclusive.

Though the options are abundant, among the best is Wi Spa, known as the “Disneyland of Korean day spas.” While there are no shiny bells and whistles to it, the spa certainly lives up to its reputation as an urban sanctuary, and it’s family-friendly too.

Prior to venturing into a Korean spa, one must understand the significance it plays in Korean culture: a communal place for friends and families to gather, bathe and receive the therapeutic benefits rooted in ancient bathhouse traditions.

Conveniently located in between Koreatown and Downtown, Wi Spa itself is an expansive, multi-level facility (48,000 square feet, to be exact) that blends the bathhouse tradition with the modernity of marble and glass interiors. It is open 24/7, so you can go anytime,

even on a whim.

Enter Wi and the process of unwinding begins. For starters, valet parking is complimentary to relieve you of the stress of having to find parking, especially when there are a lot of guests checked in.

With the $25 admission fee, you gain full access to amenities like a fitness room, pools, showers, saunas, a restaurant, and the rooftop deck. A wristwatch is given as your locker key and form of identification during your stay.

The rush of cramming in the day spa experience and trying out all the rooms is practically gone, as you are welcome to stay for hours on end. There are spaces to lounge in between services and even designated “sleeping rooms” for those who want to doze off in peace.

Wi is divided into genderspecific floors, where the spa and other facilities are located, as well as locker rooms and changing areas. For Korean spa newbies, it’s best to take a shower once you get settled in to wash away the day’s grime (dirt and the tubs do not make a great combination) and to ensure you get the maximum

Rosemarie Bell Mejia...

PAGE B2 it was a place to learn where one could experience anything and evolve in it.

“The sense of being more than ourselves is our most precious possession. Achievements will reflect meaningfully, if you try to rise above others in small ways,” she said. “Life is best kept simple, pleasures simple and not measured through possessions.”

Rosemarie’s formula for success: “I am instinctively guided by the Golden Rule, the value of honesty and hard work, tenderness and fair play. I try to set an example

of guidance. Make a way out of no way! That is why I love numbers!”

This interview is about a remarkable lady who has found her niche in LA real estate through business counseling and entrepreneurship.

This is not praising, but simply acknowledging and sharing the pride of what it is to be a true human being in this turbulent economic times.

“We all have a place from where to begin. You will discover that your opportunity for personal success, real happiness and financial serenity is in your soul’s blue print for happiness,” she said.

McDonald’s to fully transition...

PAGE B3

of various hen housing systems on animal health and welfare, the environment, worker health, food safety and food affordability.

This research provided important insights into the trade-offs of various housing systems for the company to make informed sourcing decisions.

Today’s news follows other actions announced this year by McDonald’s USA to source only chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine by 2017 and to offer milk jugs of low-fat white milk and fat-free chocolate milk from cows that have not been treated with rbST, an artificial growth hormone.

In addition, McDonald’s USA introduced the Artisan Grilled Chicken patty, seasoned with simple, everyday ingredients and introduced a new contemporary salad blend of romaine, baby spinach and baby kale.

McDonald’s is also moving from liquid margarine to real butter on English muffins, biscuits and bagels on the breakfast menu and has introduced a new Buttermilk Crispy Chicken, which uses real buttermilk in the breading.

McDonald’s Canada introduced a salad leaf blend, including baby kale, in its three chef-inspired contemporary salads in May 2015.

(Advertising Supplement)

benefits of anything you decide to do, like sweating it out in the sauna. Outside the bathing areas, you’ll find changing rooms, complete with vanities and toiletries.

And take this as a fair warning to expect nudity from guests of the same gender, but any judgments and awkwardness should be left at the door.

If you want to treat yourself further, the spa offers a menu of body treatments at the fraction of the price tag you’d find at a spa elsewhere in the city. Better yet, if you purchase a treatment worth $110 or more, the entrance fee is waived. The usual spa treatments, like acupressure massages, facials, manicure/ pedicure, can be booked by reservation. But one must try the full-body scrub, perhaps Wi’s signature offering.

Based on the traditional Korean technique of buffing, the

scrub entails a procedure of sloughing off dead skin cells with an exfoliating towel, as you lie down on a table and get doused with water every so often. It may take a few minutes to get accustomed to the intensity, but the person (of the same gender) administering the service repeatedly asks you if you’re doing fine. The service can last 35 minutes ($30) or can be reserved as a $90 package complete with the scrub, aroma oil massage, a face mask and hair shampoo, which all lasts for 90 minutes. Depending on one’s pain tolerance, the impression afterward may vary, but you’ll feel cleaner after the dead skin is washed off to make way for the lasting effects of radiating, supple skin.

On the co-ed floor (called the Jimjilbang, which translates to “bathhouse”), guests are required to wear the yellow T-

shirt and khaki shorts received upon check-in. There you’ll find families and couples convening at one of the five specialty sauna rooms, noshing on Korean cuisine staples at the full-service restaurant, or taking in fresh air on the rooftop deck. The floor also features a kid’s area, a library and computer room.

It’s worth noting that the five sauna rooms—Bulgama, Salt, Clay, Jade and Ice—boast unique characteristics that contribute to the detoxification and healing powers. The Bulgama is set at 231 degrees, inviting guests to lie down somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes to sweat out toxins from the body; Salt features minerals to purify and strengthen the body; layers of clay improved from Korea are placed in the Clay sauna to aid in lymphatic stimulation and heavy metal detoxification; the Jade room is hot to relieve any tension

and stress; and the Ice sauna is recommended to end your visit to cool the body’s temperature, tighten the skin and improve circulation.

If you felt like you’ve detoxed enough from technology, free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the building to bring you back from your moment of zen, as are TVs in lounge areas.

Before you leave, don’t forget to take another shower and close out your tab. Whether you stay for an hour or the whole day, it’s nearly impossible to not feel rejuvenated and make you itch for another visit. Good thing, Wi won’t leave holes in your wallet. (AJPress) Wi Spa is located at 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057 (on the corner of Rampart). Visit http://www.wispausa. com/ for more details on spa services and specials.

(Advertising Supplement)

B SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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seafood city food service fpfc

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COMMUNITY

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

Journal

Early filing for green cards and EADs is here

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves ben LovemAn And nAncy miLLeR UNITED States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of State (DOS) have announced a significant modification to the visa bulletin system. The change is part of President Obama’s package of administrative actions aimed at improving the immigration system. The new system allows thousands of people to file their applications for adjustment of status (green cards) with USCIS in advance of the date that their application can be approved. Allowing early filing will provide huge benefits for potential applicants who will be eligible for employment authorization, advance parole, job portability, and other benefits based on the ability to file their adjustment of status applications early.

Effective October 1, 2015, the visa bulletin will include two separate charts for each employment and family-based visa categories.

The two charts will be posted in the visa bulletin and will be labeled as “Application Final Action Dates” (the date when DOS or USCIS may issue a visa or approve an adjustment of status application) and “Dates for Filing Applications” (the earliest date on which an applicant may submit a visa application with DOS or adjustment application with USCIS). In practice it appears that the date for filing chart will indicate dates well in advance of the final action dates chart. For instance, on October 1, 2015 the F-1 Family Preference for the Philippines (unmarried son or daughter of US citizen) date for filing will be September 1, 2005 whereas the final action date will be June 1, 2001. This means that eligible applicants with priority dates earlier than the filing date can submit their applications for adjustment of status (if in the US) beginning on October 1, 2015 but that the application will likely not approved for several years. The filing date is well in advance of

the action date for several other categories including the F2B, F2A and EB-3 categories.

The beneficial effects of the addition of this new earlier date for filing chart will primarily accrue to persons inside the United States who are either maintaining lawful status or are covered

by INA § 245(i) (because they are the principal or derivative beneficiary of a petition of labor certification filed earlier than January 14, 1998 or earlier than April 30, 2001 and they were physically present in the US on December 20, 2000). For applicants outside the United States the date for filing chart may correspond with the date that the National Visa sends out notice that they may submit their visa applications and pay visa fees. However, they will still need to wait until their priority date is earlier than the date listed in the final action date to be eligible to receive a visa.

For persons in the US, the change is extremely important and the benefit will be clear. Applicants in the US will be able to submit their adjustment applications based on the date for filing chart and then, on the basis of the pending application, they will be eligible for temporary and renewable work authorization and travel permission. Further, for employment based applicants, the ability to file an adjustment application early should lead to greater job flexibility and the ability for derivatives spouses and children to obtain employment authorization. While the new system is

extremely beneficial to numerous potential applicants it does not eliminate backlogs or necessarily even reduce current wait times.

What it does is provide benefits to a portion of the applicants, here in the US, who are waiting in those backlogs for the chance to become a resident.

The new two chart system raises issues which have not yet been addressed by USCIS or DOS in connection with this announcement. For instance, it remains to be seen which chart will be used to determine when the visa is considered to be available for the purposes of the Child Status Protection Act. Allowing applicants to use the date for filing chart for the CSPA would be a major benefit (to applicants abroad and in the US) because the earlier a visa is considered available, the earlier the applicant can lock in their children’s ages under the CSPA. For instance, an EB-3 applicant from the Philippines with a priority date earlier than January 1, 2015 could lock in their children’s age now whereas under the prior system they might have had to wait eight or more years in order to do so.

The new visa bulletin system represents a fundamental change to the way visa and adjustment of status applicants will be treated under the law. The change may impact many aspects of a potential applicant’s case. If you or a loved one believe this new system will impact your case you should contact an experienced immi-

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Community Journal

C SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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

The ‘secret’ fear that comes with being in debt

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon I KNOW we’ve never met. But there’s a common fear everyone shares when they’re in drowning in debt. As a debt relief attorney, I hear it from people who consult with me every day. It is this: The possibility of losing what they’ve worked hard for all their lives… their homes, their savings, their retirement money, their business, etc. Why is this fear so common?

Personally, I think the fear comes from a feeling of losing control. As a debt relief attorney, I deal with a lot of clients who are feeling very vulnerable because of the financial situation that they’re in. They could be facing a financial crisis for the first time in their lives and they don’t know what to do.

If you are facing serious debt problems, a foreclosure, a lawsuit, judgment or a pending wage garnishment, it’s not the

end of the world and chances are that you have options that you didn’t even know existed. It may be possible to settle your debts out of court or as a last resort, file bankruptcy to either wipe out or reorganize your debts.

Recently, a couple came to my office for debt help. They’ve just been assessed huge taxes by the IRS and they had to enter into a payment plan for that reason.

But they were already behind on their mortgage payments, not to mention the credit card debts that were piling up. One car just broke down and needed replacement. Over the last few years, they’ve been borrowing money from all sources just to keep their heads above water, including their 401K plans. The 401K loan payment deductions from their paycheck are not helping. If you were in this situation, what would you do? The tremendous debt burden has put a strain on their marriage and has caused a lot of grief at home.

VictoR Sy, cPA, mBA And ARlene Al-oS, cPA, mBA (Part 2 of 2)

THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by providing: • Offer in Compromise (OIC) - more flexible guidelines for collection potential.

• Payment plans - more taxpayers can apply without financial statements.

We discussed OIC in a prior article. Let’s now discuss payment plans.

Installment Agreements (Payment Plans): • An installment agreement is an option if you cannot pay all of your tax debts at their due dates.

• Fresh Start provisions allow you to use streamlined installment agreements to catch up on back taxes.

• The threshold for using an installment agreement without having to supply the IRS with a financial statement has been raised from $25,000 to $50,000.

As you know, the preparation of

financials is a major chore that discourages taxpayers from applying. It involves a lot of work and a lot of costs.

• Taxpayers who owe up to $50,000 in back taxes will now be able to enter into a streamlined agreement with the IRS that stretches the payment out over a series of years.

• The maximum term for streamlined installment agreements has been raised from 60 to 72 months.

• Individuals seeking installment agreements exceeding $50,000 will still need to supply Collection Information Statement Form 433-A (Form 433-B for businesses).

• TIP: If you owe more than $50,000, pay it down to $50,000 to take advantage of this payment option.

• Penalties are reduced (but interest continues to accrue on the outstanding balance).

• You must agree to monthly direct debit payments.

• You can go to the On-line Payment Agreement (OPA) page on IRS.gov to set up a payment plan.

As you can see, this initiative is designed to help individuals and

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CJ America, Inc.

Entertainment

Media Company of the Year

Wong Fu Productions ABA Chairperson Award

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U.S. Bank

Advocate of the Year

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Maker Empire

None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

IRS announces ‘fresh start’ initiative for payment plans

Tax Tips

James Kyson Mei Melançon

I helped this couple reorganize their debts under Chapter 13. We came up with a payment plan that combined all their debts into one low payment every month- a payment that they could afford. This has allowed them to sleep better at night knowing that they are paying their creditors the best they can. More importantly, they now have peace of mind knowing that they will not lose their home and everything they’ve worked so hard for.

If you need help figuring out your options, I’d like to help you.

Call us for a free consultation at Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. We have offices in Los Angeles, Cerritos, Pasadena & Valencia. ***

Richard Chacon

abala.org ǀ @ABALosAngeles ǀ #ABAAwards Celebrating the success of Asian owned businesses.

businesses pay back taxes with less burden. IRS also promised to issue fewer tax liens. These changes supplement a number of efforts to help struggling taxpayers. Former IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman stated that the goal is to help people meet their obligations and get back on their feet financially.

TIPS - Here are my personal observations from decades of processing OICs and Payment Plans: • If you are young, healthy, and have good earning potential, IRS will probably reject your offer.

• On the other hand, if you are retired, have a serious medical condition, do not have enough assets, or are merely surviving now and in the foreseeable future, you have a better shot at an OIC. • If in doubt, give it a try, even if you feel that your offer may be rejected.

• And when you give it try, take a dual approach - apply for both Offer in Compromise and Installment Agreement. If your OIC fails, move to plan B for an Installment agreement.

• There’s another advantage to this dual approach: you are shooting two birds with one stone. You

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

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I TRAVEL several times a month as part of my job duties using my own car. I also make several business-related calls on my personal cell phone. My work duties sometimes require me to stay out of town overnight and I incur further expenses. My employer pays me a fixed amount of money, included in my taxable wages. My higher wages is supposed to account for all my business-related expenses, but this does not seem to be enough.

What are my rights in this situation?

A: Under California law, an employer shall reimburse an employee for all necessary expenditures incurred in direct consequence of the discharge of the employee’s duties. These include costs spent complying with the employer’s instructions. If your travel expenses and cell phone use were necessary for you to be able to do your job, then your employer should pay for these.

Other expenses reimbursable to employees include: (1) transportation, living, and other travel expenses; (2) purchasing, laundering or repairing uniforms or special clothing required by the employer; (3) purchasing supplies, tools, materials, or equipment; (4) for “supper money” to cover the cost of supper when an employee is requested to work during the evening hours; and (5) excess home-to-work travel expenses incurred by the employee due to extraordinary circumstances.

Is the employer allowed to fulfill its reimbursement obligation by paying employees increased

Family Law Atty.

EthElEnE F. SAlAS A JUDGMENT of nullity is when the Court deems a voidable marriage or a void marriage as never having taken place for reasons such as a defect in age, unsound mind, fraud, force, physical incapacity, bigamous, or incestuous marriage.

A judgment of nullity should be considered only where the validity of the marriage is in doubt.

Community Journal

Are you correctly reimbursed by your employer for business expenses? wages instead of separately reimbursing them for their actual expenses? This is the question that employees had in the case of Gattuso v. Harte-Hanks Shopper, Inc. Frank Gattuso is an outside sales representative in HarteHanks’s Southern California unit.

Harte-Hanks distributes advertising materials in California. To sell advertising space in its publications, Harte-Hanks employs outside sales representatives to meet customers in person at their places of business. Outside sales reps must drive their own vehicles to contact customers.

Harte-Hanks does not separately reimburse outside sales reps for their automobile expenses.

Gattuso and other employees sued Harte-Hanks in a class action seeking reimbursement for expenses incurred in using their own vehicles to do their work. In response, the employer claimed that that it had complied with the reimbursement law by paying its outside sales reps higher base salaries and higher commission rates than its inside sales reps.

The case went all the way to the California Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled that an employer may fulfill its legal reimbursement obligation by paying employees enhanced compensation in the form of increases in base salary or increases in commission rates, or both. However, there must be a means or method to apportion the enhanced compensation to distinguish what amount is being paid for labor performed and what amount is reimbursement for business expenses.

The court emphasized that wages and expense reimbursement are not the same thing. An

employer should not combine the payments for both if doing so would violate any law. This means the employer must provide some method or formula to identify which of the combined amount is intended as wages (payment for work performed) and which is intended as expense reimbursement.

An employer is allowed to pay employees a lump-sum amount sufficient to provide full reimbursement for actual expenses necessarily incurred. However, if an employee shows that the reimbursement amount is less than the actual expenses incurred, the employer must pay the difference. Lastly, employers may not take any deductions from the reimbursement amount, e.g., expense reimbursement is not taxable.

There are other methods allowed by law for employers to reimburse employees for business expenses. If employees have questions regarding this issue, they would be smart to consult with an experienced employment attorney.

*** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. Atty. Sayas’ Law Office is located at 500 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 980, Glendale, CA 91203. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. *** C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is trial attorney who has obtained several million dollar recoveries for his clients against employers and insurance companies. He has been selected as a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements, and is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum.

(Advertising Supplement)

Nullity of marriage A nullity is maintained on the theory that, for reasons existing at the time of the marriage, no valid marriage ever occurred.

This means that the marriage, from its inception or start, is either void or voidable. Whereas a dissolution of marriage seeks to terminate a valid marriage, a nullity action seeks to inquire whether any such marriage ever existed.

There are many reasons why a nullity would be better in certain circumstances. In terms of procedure, the mandatory six months waiting period does not

apply in a nullity proceeding.

The marital status can be terminated immediately, thus freeing the parties to remarry sooner.

On the contrary, in a dissolution proceeding, there is a mandatory six months waiting period before a marital status is terminated. This means that even though parties are anxious in freeing themselves, they must wait six months before their marital status is changed to a “single” status.

One advantage in a nullity proceeding is the effect on property

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USCIS allows beneficiaries of approved immigrant petitions to file green card application and obtain work Authorization Earlier BEGINNING October 2015, the USCIS will allow persons who have an approved family-based or employment-based immigrant petition, but who are waiting for their priority date to become current, to file their adjustment of status (green card) application even though their priority date is not yet current. The benefit of this new USCIS policy is that you and your immediate family can apply for work authorization and be able to work until your priority date becomes current.

Under the new Visa Bulletin, 2 charts per visa preference category will be posted: 1) Application Final Action Dates (dates when green cards may finally be issued) 2) Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when the green card application can be filed) Example applying the above chart: an unmarried son who is the beneficiary of an approved I-130 petition filed on August 20, 2005 by his US Citizen parent can file his adjustment of status application since it was filed before the cut-off date (“Date of Filing Applications”) of September 1, 2005 for F1 preference category. With the filing of the adjustment application, he can also apply for work authorization. When the “Application Final Action Date” changes to a date later than his August 20, 2005 filing date, the USCIS can proceed with approving his application, and issue him a green card.

The October 2015 Visa Bulletin for the Philippines is summarized below: Family-Sponsored Preference Category (Philippines)

Date for Filing Applications

Application Final Action Dates

F1 - Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens F2A - Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

September 1, 2005

June 1, 2001

March 1, 2015

April 15, 2014

January 1, 2005

October 1, 2004

F3 - Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

August 1, 1995

October 1, 1993

F4 - Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

January 1, 1993

May 1, 1992

F2B - Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents

Employment-Sponsored Preference Category (Philippines)

Date for Filing Applications

Application Final Action Dates

3rd - Skilled Workers, Professional, and Other Workers

January 1, 2015

January 1, 2007

**1st, 2nd, and 4th employment-sponsored preference categories are current, which means that the USCIS is presently accepting all green card applications for filing in these categories, and may immediately approve applications submitted.

Another example: A beneficiary of an approved I-140 petition in the 3rd employment-sponsored preference category with a priority date of December 20, 2014 can file his adjustment of status application since it was filed before the cut-off date (“Date of Filing Applications”) of January 1, 2015 for 3rd preference category. With the filing of the adjustment application, he can also apply for work authorization. When the “Application Final Action Date” changes to a date later than his December 20, 2014 filing date, the USCIS can proceed with approving his application, and issue him a green card. *** 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 Philippine American Bar Association.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

C

Policy on ‘Sanctuary Cities’

LAST September 11, 2015, the ing federal detention requests incumbent mayors of Los Anfor undocumented aliens. That geles, San Francisco, San Jose, bill is now with the Senate Long Beach, and Oakland issued for approval. This move from a joint letter addressed to Calithe House of Representative fornia Senators and Represenprompted the issuance of said tatives entitled “Opposition to letter from the CA mayors.

Proposed Federal Funding Cuts Whatever your position is on for Cities with Sanctuary Ordithe issue, it should be pointed nances”. They expressed their out that the Secretary of Homeopposition to “recent proposals land Security which oversees in Congress that would withhold ICE issued a memorandum funding from cities with so-called dated Nov. 20 addressed to the sanctuary ordinances” and emActing Director of ICE entitled phasized that as mayors of some “Policies for the Apprehenof California’s largest cities, they Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos sion, Detention and Removal of rely on federal homeland secuUndocumented Immigrants”. rity and public safety funds for the safety of their In this memorandum, the Secretary instructed respective cities. that enforcement and removal policies should As you may be aware, the U.S. Immigration and prioritize undocumented aliens who are threats Customs Enforcement (ICE), the enforcement arm to national security, public safety, and border seof the USCIS, usually request cities and counties, curity. Three civil immigration enforcement prithrough the issuance of an immigration detainers, orities were identified under the memo: Priority to keep undocumented aliens in their local jails un- 1 - threats to national security, border security, til ICE officials can take them into custody, even and public safety, Priority 2 - misdemeanants and after they are already eligible for release. Around new immigration violators; and Priority 3 – other 300 cities and counties in the US no longer honor immigration violations or those who have been these requests for immigration detainers. Fur- issued final orders of removal. Thus, while there ther, some cities have issued ordinances meant is no guarantee, an undocumented alien not beto “shelter” undocumented aliens. San Francisco, longing to these 3 enforcement priorities will not for instance, has the “Due Process for All” ordi- be considered a priority for ICE enforcement and/ nance which prohibits the further detention of an or detention. undocumented alien after he has been eligible for If you are contemplating filing any other immirelease for custody, unless the alien has a prior vi- grant or non-immigration application, it is advisolent felony conviction or there is a court warrant. able to seek the counsel of an immigration lawyer While not a new issue, “sanctuary cities” or cit- to guide you on the intricacies of filing for such a ies with sanctuary ordinances have been the focus petition. of recent debates again lately. The fatal shooting *** of a 32-year-old lady on July 1, while strolling at Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of the Embarcadero, one of San Francisco’s popular California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule tourist spots, by an undocumented Mexican na- for a free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) tional, brought once again this issue in the fore- 284-5984 or (626) 329-8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 front of national news. The victim was strolling Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, CA 90010. with her father when the assailant, with 7 prior *** felony convictions and deported five times, shot Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes her on the back. legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client In response to the public outcry, the House relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of Representatives passed on July 1, a bill to cut regarding the outcome of your legal matter. federal funding for cities and towns that refuse We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the to comply with federal immigration laws, includ- Bankruptcy Code.

(Advertising Supplement)

Problem Solved

File your green card application now!

15 days each month. In September 2015, the priority date for his F-3 preference category for EDWARD, a 45 year-old mar- the Philippines was only current ried man from Manila came to to September 15, 1993. At this the United States in 1999. His rate, Edward would have to wait mom and dad are U.S. citizens at least another year or perhaps and filed a petition for him in De- much longer.

On September 9, the October cember 1994. He has been waiting 20 years for his priority date 2015 visa bulletin was issued. to become current so that he The priority date for the F-3 could adjust status in the United preference category only moved States. Edward has been check- about 15 days to October 1993. ing the visa bulletin every month However, a significant change only to see it move about 10 to occurred in the October visa bul-

Atty. KElly O’REilly

letin which proved to be very beneficiary to Edward. The U.S. State Department announced that starting from October 2015, the State Department will not issue two separate priority date charts. The first chart of priority dates is the original chart which shows if a visa is available.

However, a second chart which is titled “DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS” indicates advanced priority dates to allow individuals that have prior-

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C SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Debt Relief atty. lawRence yanG SOMETIMES companies get into financial trouble. They have leadership issues, they have failures by suppliers, and they have cash flow problems. Companies have a lot of problems, often every day. Most of the time, companies get past their problems and move on, they continue to make money, pay their employees and the owners take home some money.

Sometimes the problems are just too big to fix without serious legal assistance. That is where Chapter 11 reorganization can allow a company to rebuild. Her are some examples of what Chapter 11 reorganization can do: – Creditors cannot demand payment of past due debts. The threatening letters and phone calls stop.

– Most creditors cannot be paid without permission of a United States bankruptcy judge.

– Creditors have to wait while the company reorganizes itself, takes care of its problems and then announces a financial plan to pay creditors money.

– Unprofitable contracts and leases (including building leases) can be rejected.

– A company can rebuild itself and can bring in new employees, new products, new ideas and new vendors.

– In some instances, a company can sell its assets free and clear of creditors to third parties who take over the company’s business.

The third parties can be the owners of the companies. With disclosure of this fact, and a fair price for the circumstances, a federal can approve the sale.

– While there are things about Chapter 11 that are not good,

Chapter 11 business re-organization Signs of a company headed toward failure and important ways to fix the problems

e.g., the reorganization may fail, a Chapter 11 gives a chance to a struggling company to rise from failure to the road to success.

Here are some signs of a business headed toward either failure and shutting down or toward reorganization, a second chance: • Product/service quality declines; customer complaints rise.

• Over expansion leads to working capital shortage.

• Stale inventory.

• Sales stagnate.

• Profit margin erodes.

• Aging of receivables increases.

• Payables paid with difficulty.

• Advertising and sales budgets cut.

• Payment of payroll taxes deferred.

• Cash balance declines; float played.

• Credit difficult to obtain.

• Creditor lawsuits begin.

• Lender turns matter over to problem loan department.

• Employee morale low; key employees seek new jobs.

• Layoffs begin.

• Business failure imminent.

• Company leaders do not want to go to work, they not want to hear about the problems and it hurts to go to work. Their families are nervous or scared. They are having their own financial problems.

Chapter 11 is serious business.

To win, that is to reorganize the company under an order of a United States bankruptcy judge, certain things must happen: • A plan must be confirmed.

Creditors may be paid in part or in full at one time or in payments over time.

• A careful strategy must be put into place before the Chapter

IRS announces ‘fresh start’…

PAGE C2 t

prepare documents and forms only once for both OIC and payment plan. It saves time, energy, money, and aggravation as well as tax representation fees.

• Finally, convince the IRS that they are better off getting something from you now, rather than gambling for nothing when you go upstairs, high upstairs. *** Sy Al-os Accountancy Corporation provides

Community Journal

accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities.

The Firm has a niche in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS and other governmental agencies. The firm celebrates its 38th anniversary in 2015. *** 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 704 Mira Monte

11 case begins. Some of the issues are: • How does the company go into the Chapter 11?

• Who are the important creditors and vendors?

• How much money does the company need to have in the bank?

• With whom does the company ally?

• Who will the problem creditors be? And • How does the company get out of Chapter 11? In other words, before going into Chapter 11, the company and its legal team Develop what they believe is the company’s best exit strategy?

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

– Isaiah 9:6 *** Lawrence Bautista Yang and Steven R. Fox are experienced attorneys with deep bankruptcy experience.

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, OR at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789.

Steven R. Fox has represented companies and individuals in Chapter 11 for over 25 years both locally and nationally, representing businesses and business creditors. He is a well-known writer and speaker on bankruptcy issues. His office is located at 17835 Ventura Blvd., Suite 306, Encino, CA 91316. Tel (818) 774-3545 Fax (818) 774-3707. His website is www.foxlaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement) Place, Pasadena, CA 91101. He has 50 years of experience in accounting, consulting, and tax work. *** The Firm proudly welcomes Arlene Al-os in 2015. She obtained her bachelors of Science in Accountancy from Mindanao State University and MBA from Ateneo de Manila University. She teaches intermediate accounting at UCLA and was a professor of Economics at Asia Pacific College. She has over 15 years of experience including member firms of KPMG and BDO Seidman accounting firms. *** Our readers may call (626) 744-0200 or email tax questions to info@victorsycpa.com. Please visit our website for about 300 tax tips at www.

(Advertising Supplement) victorsycpa.com.

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

Pope Francis: A courageous ambassador of faith and advocate for the poor and the weak

To Live With Faith ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas THIS coming Tuesday, Sept.

22, Pope Francis will start his journey to the United States of America. He will be arriving in Washington DC from Cuba at 4pm and will be welcomed at the White House by President Barack Obama and his staff.

His weeklong visit is packed with parades, processions, meetings, visits, Masses, and speeches in Washington DC, New York and Philadelphia.

He will address the United Congress and the United Nations and will hold a multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center. And as he has always done in his visit to other countries, like the Philippines, his journey will not be complete without being with the poor and the weak members of the society. He will visit the poor children of Our Lady of Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, New York and the prisoners in Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.

The Holy Father will conclude his visit on Sunday by meeting with US bishops and by celebrating Mass at the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families.

Thereafter, he will meet with the organizers, volunteers, and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families and then will depart to Rome.

At 78 years old, Pope Francis has been tirelessly reaching out to the whole world through his homilies, speeches, visits and personal encounters with people from all walks of life.

But beyond his charisma and popularity, Pope Francis projects a profound prayer life and an intimate connection to God. In his personal interview in August 19,

2013 by Father Antonio Spadaro, S.J., editor-in-chief of La Civilta Cattolica -- on behalf of America and several other major Jesuit journals around the world -- he spoke about his difficulty in giving interviews. He said that he prefers to think carefully rather than give quick responses to on-the-spot interviews. This approach shows how he would like to put all his thoughts in prayer and would connect first with Jesus, our Lord, to discern the Father’s will at every moment of any difficult question regarding Catholic faith, teachings, and practice.

One would say without a doubt that the words and phrases that come from his mouth are products of his profound prayer life and his intimate relationship with Jesus of the Poor and the Weak.

“I can see clearly that what the Church needs today is the ability to heal wounds and warm hearts of faithful, it needs to be by their side. I see the Church as a field hospital after a battle,” he said during his interview with Jesuit priest, Fr. Spadaro.

“The ministers of the Gospel must be people who can warm the hearts of the people, who walk throughout the dark night with them, who know how to dialogue and to descend themselves into their people’s night, into the darkness, but without getting lost. The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials. The bishops, particularly, must be able to support the movements of God among their people with patience, so that no one is left behind. But they must also be able to accompany the flock that has a flair for finding new paths,” the Holy Father remarked.

It is no wonder that he brave-

File your green card…

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ity dates current on the second chart to file for adjustment of status while waiting for the actual priority date to become current.

An application for adjustment of status will afford the applicant an employment authorization and advanced parole for travel.

For example, the second priority chart indicates that the F-3 preference category for the Philippines is August 1, 1995, which is almost 2 years further than the actual priority date. In Edward’s situation, he would be eligible to file for adjustment of status in October 2015 as opposed to waiting for another year or more. During this time, he would be eligible for a work permit and advanced parole to travel.

These changes affect not only family-based petitions, but also employment-based petitions.

Therefore, for those people who

are waiting for an employment based petition to become current in the U.S., may be eligible to file for adjustment of status earlier so that they do not have to worry about the limitations of their nonimmigrant visas. The U.S. Department hopes to relieve some of the agony of waiting for prolonged priority dates with this new policy.

This significant change will benefit all immigrants in the U.S. with a petition from a family member or employer. However, one must still be admissible and otherwise eligible for adjustment of status. Therefore, it is important to note that the visa bulletin change does not affect an individual’s eligibility for adjustment of status. Rather, it only changes WHEN the application may be submitted. Premature or incorrect filing could lead to denials, wasted filing fees or perhaps even removal proceedings.

Nullity of marriage…

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rights. A spouse to a voidable marriage who wants to defeat community property claims by the other spouse may be more successful in a nullity proceeding. In other words, the issue of community assets and community debts may become a non-issue if a nullity of judgment is pursued. Since the marriage is not valid, community property laws

will not necessarily apply.

For example, let’s say I bought a house that I purchased before I was married. The mortgage payments on that house would last me twenty years before it was actually mine, free and clear. Two years after I bought the house, I got married and the “community” contributed to the payments of the house mortgage. In other words, our earnings during mar-

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ly decries the crisis in Iraq and Syria as “one of the most overwhelming human tragedies of recent decades.” He calls it an “ocean of pain” that hit the poor, women, children and the elderly the hardest. “In Syria and Iraq evil destroys buildings and infrastructures, but especially the conscience of man,” the Pope told his morning audience with participants of a symposium organized by the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” on the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq, according to Vatican Insider.

At the international symposium on the pastoral care of street people, Pope Francis also mentioned that street women and children are not “packets” to be traded; they are human beings, each with his or her own name and face, each with Godgiven identity.

As we welcome Pope Francis here in the US, let us see a man of God who truly represents the truth of the Gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ. Let us see him as an ambassador of faith who advocates for the poorest and weakest members of our society. And let us respond to him with great respect and willingness to work together for the dignity of every human person.

Amen! *** 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 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.

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riage were used to pay the mortgage.

After one year of marriage, I initiated a nullity proceeding because I found out that my husband was previously married and did not obtain a divorce from that marriage. He was married to someone else at the time when we got married. Therefore, I have a nullity action because my marriage was considered void from the start.

Because of the nullity proceeding, my husband’s potential claim of a community property interest in the house can be defeated. He will argue that community earnings were used to pay for the mortgage of one year.

He will claim that during that one year, he is entitled to 50 percent of the equity created within that time span.

However, I will argue that community property laws do not apply because the marriage never took place from its inception since he was previously married.

He knew about the previous marriage, yet he intentionally entered into a bigamous marriage with me. In all likelihood, the house would be mine free and clear from my husband’s community property claim.

If I had filed for a common divorce because I did not know about nullity proceedings, my husband’s claim of a community property interest would succeed.

He would have been entitled to 50 percent of the community interest during our marriage. Because I filed for a nullity – what was mine remained mine. *** Ethelene F. Salas, Esq. is a practicing family law attorney. Ms. Salas is a Filipino-American born in the Philippines, raised in the United States, and speaks Tagalog fluently. The Law Offices of Ethelene F. Salas is located at two locations – the main office at 100 N. Barranca St., Suite 700, West Covina, CA 91791 and affiliated offices at 18000 Studebaker Road, Suite 700, Cerritos, CA 90703. To schedule an appointment with her, please call (626) 858-4646 or visit www.EFS-Law.com.

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Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes Family Code 760 provides that all property acquired by the spouse during the marriage is community property. That means each spouse has a half interest on any assets that are acquired during the marriage, with certain exceptions, since it is generally characterized as community property. On the same token, Family Code 771(a) provides that earnings and accumulations of a spouse while living “separate and apart” from the other spouse, are the separate property of the spouse. How about the situation where the couple continues to live together due to economic reasons like roommates. Is a couple living “separate and apart” under family code 771(a) when they continue to live together in the same home even though they no longer live their lives like married couple?

The California Supreme Court, in a recent case In re Marriage of Davis, 61 Cal 4th 4th 846 (2015), held that the phrase “living sepa-

Community Journal

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015

C

Do you need to be living in separate residences to be considered ‘separated’ from your spouse under the California family law? rate and apart” in the California family code refers to a situation in which spouses are living in separate residences and at least one of them has the subjective intent to end the marital relationship, abrogating In re Marriage of Johnson, 134 Cal. App.3d. 148.

Prior to this decision, the date of “separation” occurs only when the parties have come to a parting of the ways with no present intent to resume their marriage and their conduct evidences a complete and final break in the marital relationship. The Court would consider all of the relevant evidence regarding whether the parties’ conduct evidences a complete and final break in the marital relationship. Living in separate residences, although a factor to be considered, was not required for a separation.

In re Marriage of Davis involved husband and wife married in 1993. The couple had 2 children. Couple stopped having sexual relationship in 1999.

Wife moved to another bedroom in the house either in 2001 or 2004. Husband and wife at-

tended children’s activities but used separate cars. On June 1, 2006 wife announced she was “through” with the marriage.

Wife believed couple were acting simply as roommates after 2006.

Wife increased her earnings after this date while husband left his job. Parties continued to live in the marital home and went on vacation together. Wife filed for divorce in 2008. Wife moves out of the marital residence on July1, 2011. Wife alleges date of separation of June 1, 2006. Husband alleges a date of separation of July 1, 2011. The trial court and the court of appeal found June1, 2006 as the date of separation.

The California Supreme Court reversed the decision holding that living in separate residences “is an indispensable threshold requirement for a finding that spouses are “living separate and apart” for purposes of section 771(a). The interpretation aligns with the common understanding of the words, the statutory history of the provision, and legitimate public policy concerns.

The In re Marriage of Davis de-

cision now requires the parties to be living in separate residences as a prerequisite to a separation.

In IRMO Davis, the California Supreme Court looked into the plain meaning of the statute, the legislative intent and history of the statute, and the case law in interpreting the term “separate and apart.” The California Supreme Court looked into the wording and legislative intent of family code 771(a) by tracing it back to a 145 year old predecessor statute enacted in 1870 “ An Act to Protect the Rights of Married Women in Certain Cases.”

Section 4 of the 1870 act provided a procedure for a wife who was “living separate and apart” from her husband to sell her real property without joining with her husband by stating in a declaration ”her own place of residence that is “separate and apart from her husband” which strongly suggests that the statute was directed at a situation where the spouses had physically separated and the wife in fact had her own residence. The Supreme Court also relied on the holding in the

Norviel case which held that living apart physically is an indispensable threshold requirement to separation, whether or not it is sufficient, by itself to establish separation. The date of separation is one of the most litigated issues in a divorce case since it directly affects the characterization and division of community property. This case changes that analysis and may create problems in its practical application to the realities of contemporary families. *** 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.

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Early filing for green cards…

PAGE C1 t

and Makati City.

Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas

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 (Advertising Supplement) to every case.

gration attorney immediately to Telephone: (800) 795-8009 discuss the potential benefits to E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. your case. *** ***

C SEPTEMBER 19-22, 2015 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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October 2015 visa bulletin allows early filing of adjustment applications and work authorizations

Immigration Corner

(earliest date when a person may file for adjustment of status or for an immigrant visa) • Application “final action Atty. MichAel dates” (dates when visas may fiGurfinkel, eSQ nally be issued.)

STARTING in October 2015, The “final action dates” are the Department of State (DOS) simply the old “priority dates” and the USCIS will utilize a new that have been listed on the Visa format for priority dates. (I post- Bulletin for decades. When the ed those priority dates already dates in the “final action dates” on my website).There will be two chart are current, a person’s visa separate charts (or priority dates) can be issued (if he is outside of for people to follow or monitor: the US) or adjustment application • Dates for filing applications approved (if he is in the US), and

Sen. Grace Poe, former Interior Sec. Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

What investors look for in presidential bets

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

AS THE 2016 presidential race heats up, foreign investors look forward to Filipinos electing a president with “integrity and a clear-cut economic agenda,” the country chief of European banking giant ING said.

“We would want to have a leader with integrity. I think that kind of covers a lot of things that you would want to see in a leader,” ING country manager Consuelo Garcia said in a recent briefing, when asked about a wish list for the next president.

Integrity is something that Garcia said anyone would want to look for not just in the president but in

any leader.

In the last five years, the good governance agenda of President Aquino has helped rekindle investor confidence in the Philippines.

In every country holding national elections, Garcia said there would always be a period of uncertainty and “pause” for investors.

“But at the end of the day, what they (investors) look for is a frontrunner and if that front-runner has clear economic policies, then the uncertainty is reduced.”

“The market or the investors just don’t want to be surprised,” she said.

ING, which has been operating in the Philippines for 25 years, has PAGE D2

The APEC Women’s Business and Smart Technology Seminar was one of the side events of the APEC Women and the Economy 2015 Fora happening from September 15-18, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center. In the photo during the conferment ceremony are (L-R): Yong Ja Kim, Vice President, GWIN; Hon. Nora K. Terrado, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry; and Myonghee Kim, Director, APWINC. APEC photo

Women’s economic participation crucial in boosting APEC region

by Kristine

angeli Inquirer.net

D

sabillo

TRADE and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo on Friday, Sept.

18 stressed the importance of women’s participation in the economy, as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s role in eliminating barriers.

Domingo, one of the speakers at the High Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy (HLPD on WE), said APEC is focusing on helping women reach their full economic potential.

“In 2010 the United Nations estimated that the APEC region stand losses up to $47 billion in output

each year due to lack of women’s participation in labor markets,” he told heads of delegations attending the HLDP on WE. “In 2012, it estimated that up to 89 billion (dollars) a year could be added to the regional economy when barriers to women’s economic participation are eliminated,” he added.

The Philippines is this year’s host of the APEC. Various events, including the ongoing Women and the Economy 2015 Fora at the Philippine International Convention Center, are being held in the country.

PAGE D2

Palace: Aquino may not change mind in rejecting income tax cuts MANILA—President Benigno Aquino III is unlikely to reconsider his rejection of proposals to lower income tax rates, Malacañang hinted on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

“The President prefers to stay the course for the remainder of his term in order to preserve and consolidate the gains achieved through sound management of macroeconomic fundamentals,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

On Monday, Sept. 14, Aquino disagreed with the proposed income tax cuts, saying he is not convinced that these will benefit Filipinos and the economy.

Aquino argued that lower income tax rates will lead to fewer government revenues and may affect the country’s credit ratings.

In a press briefing on Friday, Sept. 18, Presidential Spokes-

person Edwin Lacierda said the administration is batting for a “comprehensive discussion on the tax system.”

“We are looking not just at the income tax system, but we are looking at the entire comprehensive taxation reform that we want to happen,” Lacierda said.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima also said there must be a holistic review of the tax structure so as not to put the country’s fiscal gains and fiscal health at risk.

“We cannot put our fiscal sustainability and credit rating at risk by doing piecemeal revenue reducing legislation,” he said, referring to the proposed income tax cuts.

He said Congress should strive to make the country’s tax structure more “buoyant, equitable, progressive and competitive.” (Louis Bacani/Philstar.com)

they receive their green card.

The new chart shows the “dates for filing,” but it is really not a new concept. The State Department has been following this practice for years for people applying for their immigrant visas abroad. Months before the priority date is actually “current,” applicants were able to submit forms and documentation to the NVC, so that by the time the priority date was current, the case is “ready to go” for visa issuance.

That same concept will now be applied to the filing of an adjustment of status application (Form I-485). People will be able to file for adjustment of status (and work authorization) months (or sometimes years) before their priority date (or final action date) is actually current. Once the adjustment application and work authorization are filed, the person could be issued the work authorization and renew it each year, until the final action date is current and the adjustment of status is granted.

Allowing the “early” filing of adjustment applications could have tremendous advantages.

For example, the priority date for “filing applications” for employment-based third preference (EB-3) and other workers (OW)

is January 1, 2015. However, the “visa issuance” date for the same two categories is January 1, 2007. This apparently means that workers in the EB-3 and OW categories may file for adjustment of status and work authorization, if the “filing date” (or the old priority date) on their case is earlier than January 1, 2015. However, no visa will be issued (or adjustment of status will not be granted) until the January 1, 2007 “visa issuance” priority date is current.

Under this example, a person may file for adjustment of status if they have a priority date earlier than January 1, 2015, and renew work authorizations for approximately 8 years until the “visa issuance” date is reached, and adjustment of status is granted.

There are other advantages as well. The law allows a person to change jobs or employers if their adjustment of status application has been pending for over 180 days, as long as it is a similar job, and the new employer is willing to continue the case. Some people may, under certain circumstances, obtain “advance parole” to travel outside the US while their adjustment application is pending. This may give them the chance to visit their family years earlier than if they had to wait for

the “visa issuance date” to become current.

However, in November 2015, the filing dates may dramatically change, and in some cases could only be a few months ahead of the visa issuance date, rather than years. Therefore, you may want to take advantage of the October 2015 dates. In addition, if you are out of status, you may not be eligible to file for adjustment of status unless you have the benefit of Section 245(i).

If the priority date (on your employment or family based petition) is now “current” in the application filing date chart, you should seek the advice and guidance of an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, and determine if you can file for adjustment of status (and work authorization) years before your “visa

issuance” priority date becomes current. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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Business Quote of the Week “Don’t pick a job. Pick a Boss.

Your first boss is the biggest factor in your career success.

A boss who doesn’t trust you won’t give you opportunities to grow.”

- William Raduchel, Independent director and angel investor

D september 19-22, 2015 • LA WeeKeND AsIAN JOUrNAL

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PH eyes to increase trade, Metro Manila’s worst chokepoints up close and personal investments from China

by Botchi

SantoS Inquirer.net

THE Philippine government hopes to bring in more investments from China, as well as increase trade activities between the two countries, a Department of Trade and Industry official said.

“We wish that we would be able to increase Chinese investments into the country (Philippines)… as China, by far, is our second biggest trading partner in the world,” Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo said in a meeting on the sidelines of the 12th China-Asean Expo (CAExpo).

China was the Philippines’ largest source of imports in 2014 with shipments amounting to $9.57 billion.

At the same time, China was the Philippines’ third largest export market in 2014 following Japan and the US. The Philippines shipped $8.03 billion worth of commodities to China in 2014, up 14 percent over 2013 levels.

“I believe there are many opportunities for us to work together, for China to utilize some of our labor which has already been very, very strong performers in Asia,” he continued.

The Philippines is among the participating countries in the annual China-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo.

Manalo said the government has always been supportive of local businesses joining the expo, which is aimed at increasing trade between the participating countries.

“This has been a very important expo for us, the Philippines. We’ve been here for all the 12 years and the Philippine government makes

it a very important part of its yearly planning activity to be present and to provide a delegation to the exposition,” Manalo said.

“We’re very glad to know that you have a very strong focus on Asean as part of the activities for the CAExpo. The Philippines is a very big supporter of Asean integration and the China-Asean free trade agreement (CAFTA) we have right now is certainly something that we’re looking up to,” he added.

He further said China should consider the Philippines as its gateway to other Asean member countries given the location of the latter.

Speaking with officials from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Guangxi Committee, Manalo said given the Philippines’ shared similarities with the province of Guangxi, China, the two may work on further growing their ties and cooperation.

Liu Zhiyong, vice chairman of the CPPCC Guangxi Committee, told Manalo he hopes the Philippines may be able to strengthen maritime relations with China, increase agricultural cooperation, and also grow the number of sister cities between the two countries.

Manalo expressed support on the Chinese official’s suggestions and also hoped for the success of China’s aim to create a “Maritime Silk Road” in the region to boost trade and investments.

The 12th China-Asean Expo and 12th China-AseanBusiness and Investment Summit opened yesterday here in Nanning. (Kathleen A. Martin/Philstar.com)

FoR months, EDSA has been under intense scrutiny due to the massive traffic jams that it has created.

Due to our resilience, the Filipino motorist who plies EDSA has been accustomed to three-hour traffic jams—which I think is bad.

We deserve a far better managed national highway system, free from colorum buses, illegal PUV terminals, illegal sidewalk stalls and corrupt traffic enforcers.

But clearing up EDSA is just one part of the equation. There are other major roads that need massive fixing to help free up traffic.

Here’s a short list of some of the roads that I consider to be the worst-managed stretches and their corresponding intersections in Metro Manila. I’ll be doing a follow-up story, hopefully with the help of eagle-eyed, pro-active readers who are just as fed up encountering massive traffic jams in what should ultimately be a 1530-minute drive.

1. Shaw east- and westbound lanes. The Shaw eastbound lane is terrible. I get onto this stretch of road everyday from my home in Mandaluyong to my office in ortigas CBD. on a Sunday, it takes me all of seven minutes to get from my home to my parents’ house. on a weekday, especially payday Friday, it can take me an hour to clear Shaw Boulevard.

The major holdup is the intersection of Shaw Boulevard and San Miguel Avenue. on this side, I feel the Pasig City Police are not as effective in managing the flow

of traffic compared to their Mandaluyong counterparts.

But Mandaluyong traffic police don’t get off cleanly. The intersection of Shaw Boulevard, Lee Street and Wack Wack Road is a mess as well on the westbound side.

I beg Mayors Maria Belen Eusebio of Pasig and Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. of Mandaluyong to please pay special attention to these two intersections, which clog up the entire length of Shaw for kilometers on end. of special mention is S&R Shaw; this one single establishment really messes up the flow of traffic.

I suggest that the entrance to S&R Shaw facing Laurel Street be used only for exits. Vehicles should enter the second entrance along Shaw Boulevard to help prevent the buildup of traffic as vehicles coming from the westbound lane of Shaw need to loop around Lee Street and exit Laurel Street to swerve in and enter S&R. 2. ortigas Avenue. There are two critical chokepoints on ortigas Avenue: the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) side, which ultimately constricts the five lanes of ortigas Avenue to a single moving lane, and at the intersection of ortigas Avenue and Boni Serrano (formerly Santolan) Road.

LSGH is one of Metro Manila’s premier private schools. But it is a paradigm of viciousness, stupidity, crab mentality and indifference, if you see how motorists behave when picking up their charges from school upon dismissal.

It is ultimately impossible for the LSGH management to fix this because a lot depends on the motorists who pick up the school kids.

EDSA-Shaw Boulevard southbound is one of the six major chokepoints on EDSA. Inquirer.net photo by Eloisa Lopes

How to fix it? I don’t know at this point, but suffice to say, it needs fixing.

The second chokepoint is the ortigas-Boni Serrano crossing.

From five lanes, the majority of vehicles turn into two-lane roads, going further westward onto New Manila, or turning left to San Juan.

The commercial establishments just past this intersection are the major causes of traffic as vehicles double-park and wait for parking.

The LGU should monitor this situation to help speed up and improve traffic flow.

Dear establishments (Chinese food establishments, need I say more?), please bear in mind that your patrons are causing traffic.

3. C-5 Road/CP Garcia. C-5 is another oddly traffic-riddled stretch of road. on the southbound lane, the major chokepoint is the PasigKalayaan flyover, where five lanes try to squeeze themselves into two lanes as they enter the flyover.

This chokepoint pushes traffic all the way Eastwood where motorists can crawl through this stretch for as much as two hours on a very bad day. once past this chokepoint, traffic flows freely until it hits the bridge over the Commando Link Road, just past McKinley Hills in Bonifacio Global City, due to the sheer number of vehicles taking the service road and turning left to Taguig or making a U-turn.

If the Taguig city government fixed the roads and cleared up all the illegally parked vehicles and illegal stalls on this very tight but crucial road, traffic would flow much more freely. As it is, of the five southbound lanes of C-5 passing here, only two become passable during the rush hour as the other three lanes are stacked with motorists trying to squeeze their

way to the leftmost to enter the service road. We need the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group here as well.

Coming back into Pasig City, the chokepoint is caused by the PasigKalayaan flyover, where vehicles can take the service road to get to Pasig City proper, or go further down before exiting the flyover and onto Bagong Ilog, Valle Verde and Eastwood, Quezon City.

4. McKinley Road. Even Manila’s elite aren’t spared from traffic. Robert Coyiuto III, managing director of Porsche Philippines and Lamborghini Philippines, says that McKinley Road, once a quiet thoroughfare, isn’t spared from intense traffic during rush hour as it has become a major artery to and from EDSA to BGC. The major chokepoint is the entrance to BGC. The BGC security needs to reassess the flow of traffic, giving perhaps triple the time for incoming cars to get into BGC to help speed up traffic along McKinley Road.

5. Estrella Street. Edbert Tiu, big boss at Waido, distributors for Blaupunkt, Sonax, PIAA and CTEK car chargers, had two suggestions: Estrella Street, entering from EDSA and going back to Barangka in Mandaluyong, is a crucial artery that can truly help decongest EDSA. Unfortunately, it’s narrow, and once down the bridge, it’s a tight four-way intersection.

While the Mandaluyong side is managed as well as it can be (I pass there often enough), it’s the Estrella stretch along Rockwell that needs sorting out. The private security force of Rockwell needs the support of the Makati City Mapsa traffic enforcers and the PNP to help keep this stretch of road moving freely.

6. Makati Avenue. This is anPAGE D6

What investors look for in...

PAGE D1

arranged a number of merger and acquisition and corporate financing deals in the country, including big-ticket deals that brought in foreign investors.

“If you look at the ones that may be running, they seem to be saying the same things,” Garcia said.

“The market wants to see a front-runner. If it’s a close fight, uncertainty comes in,” she said.

Three aspirants have so far officially announced their bid for the presidency in the 2016 elections: President Aquino’s anointed one, Mar Roxas; popular neophyte Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay, a long-time mayor of Makati before beating Roxas for the vice presidential race in the 2010 elections, is now facing graft and corruption charges but remains a popular candidate.

Roxas and Binay have yet to pick their running mates while Poe has announced her choice, Sen. Chiz Escudero.

“As long as there are no negative surprises and there’s a clear direction, investor confidence will be there,” said ING global head of commercial banking Willian Connelly said.

Garcia said it had been easy to

sell the Philippines to foreign investors. But as to why the country has been getting a much smaller share of foreign direct investments (FDI), she said this could partly be attributed to restrictions in certain sectors.

“There are still a number of industries where foreign ownership is limited compared to other countries that are a lot more open to foreigners,” she said.

ING, however, expects the privatization thrust in the Philippines to attract more foreign investors. “It will happen but it’ll just be a little bit slower,” she said.

Asked whether she would wish the next president to amend the Constitution to liberalize the economy, Garcia said investors were generally fine with taking “measured” steps.

“Changing the Constitution may be a big step but there are a number of economic provisions that they feel could be done with executive decrees. Those will be good enough for a lot more foreign investors or technical investors to come in,” she said.

Among the sectors where foreign ownership is restricted are: land holding, mass media and advertising, educational institutions, utilities and natural resources.

Women’s economic participation...

PAGE D1 The secretary said an earlier APEC meeting held in Boracay already identified ways to help address issues affecting women entrepreneurs. These include using gender disaggregated data in measuring economic and social impacts of businesses and promoting “an understanding of the divergent constraints faced by male- and female-led businesses.”

“APEC ministers and leaders have agreed to work together to focus on eliminating barriers that curtail gender equality and women’s economy empowerment and facilitate their access to markets, skills and capacity building, health, leadership, innovation and technology,” he said.

Domingo emphasized that the APEC region, composed of 21 member economies, could gain up to $89 billion per year “if women across the region will realize their full economic potential.”

Irene Sim, Chief of Staff of the APEC Secretariat, said APEC leaders have long recognized the “crucial role of women in the development and prosperity of the Asia Pacific.”

She said women are “prime

movers of inclusive growth.”

The heads of delegations of the 21 economies are expected to adopt a Women and the Economy statement, which aims to specify actionable, measurable and concrete policy recommendations for the APEC Economic Leaders meeting in November.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora Terrado said the annual gatherings of APEC delegates is an “invaluable opportunity to deliberate and reason together on the many possibilities for cooperation and collaboration in policy directions, programs and strategies to advance [the] common objectives for Women and the Economy.”

Fumiko Hayashi, the mayor of Yokohama City, said during her keynote speech that efforts to empower women in Japan have “grown at a faster pace” under the term of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “We were quick to focus on the number on barrier to social advancement: availability of child care,” she said, adding that various measures such as increasing the number of child care facilities have been put in place.

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Showroom

Asia Pacific still largest aviation market

by Louise

Maureen Inquirer.net

siMeon

ManILa—The asia-Pacific region remains the largest aviation market worldwide with over 40 percent of international traffic for 2014, latest statistics from the International air Transport association (IaTa) showed.

International traffic to, from and within asia-Pacific represented 42 percent of total international revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs). airlines in the region once again carried the largest number of passengers with 33.3 percent market share or a total 1.1 billion passengers, an increase of eight percent from a year ago.

The top five international and regional passenger airport-pairs were all within the asia-Pacific region namely,

Hong Kong-Taipei (5.1 million), Jakarta-Singapore (3.5 million), Hong Kong-Singapore (2.8 million), Hong Kong-Shanghai (2.7 million), and Hong Kong-Seoul (2.5 million).

In the recently released 59th Edition of the World air Transport Statistics (WaTS), the yearbook of the airline industry’s annual performance, it said commercial aviation is a remarkable engine for economic activity and a billion more people boarded aircraft last year than a decade ago.

“Much of that growth has been in the asia-Pacific region where expanding connectivity has gone hand-in-hand with economic opportunity. The industry’s 2014 performance shows aviation connectivity as a driving force in emerging economies

and a critical component in the developed world,” IaTa said.

Last year, airlines operated around 100,000 flights per day and transported 51.3 million tons of cargo, equivalent to around 35 percent of the total value of all goods traded internationally. airlines globally carried 3.3 billion passengers on scheduled services, an increase of 5.8 percent from 2013.

Meanwhile, Europe ranked second with 26.3 percent market share or 873.4 million passengers followed by north america with 25.3 percent market share or 841.8 million passengers.

Latin america and the Caribbean which shared 7.7 percent or 255.9 million and Middle East with 5.2 percent market share or 173 million, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Civic Sedan is the first in a series of new 10th-generation Civic models that will include a sedan, coupe, high-performance Si models, a 5-door hatchback and the first-ever Civic Type-R model for the US market, comprising the most diverse and innovative lineup in Civic’s 43-year history.

Honda launches all-new Civic sedan

Honda took to YouTube to unveil an all-new, dynamically styled 10th-generation 2016 Civic Sedan, slated for sale in the US this fall. With a more athletic stance and sportier driving position, the 2016 Civic Sedan is a new-from-the-ground-up design intended to recapture the sporty character of Civic while creating the world’s best compact car – setting a new benchmark in the mainstream compact class for fun-to-drive performance, safety performance and fuel efficiency, together with a new level of refinement.

The Civic Sedan is the first in a series of new 10th-generation Civic models that will include a sedan, coupe, high-performance Si models, a 5-door hatchback

and the first-ever Civic Type-R model for the US market, comprising the most diverse and innovative lineup in Civic’s 43year history.

Backing up the new Civic’s dramatic and sporty design with new power and efficiency, for the first time the 2016 Civic will feature two all-new engines – including the first-ever application of Honda turbo engine technology in the US. These powerful and fuel-efficient new engines combine with a sophisticated new body and chassis design to deliver incredibly responsive and sporty performance with a higher level of ride refinement and class-leading fuel efficiency.

The 2016 Civic Sedan will be

available with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, including Collision Mitigation Braking, Road departure Mitigation and, for the first time in a Honda, adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow – bringing new value to the compact segment.

Further, the 2016 Civic lineup joins the freshened 2016 accord in offering advanced smartphone integration with a new, 7-inch high-definition display audio touchscreen, offering tech-savvy customers a more advanced and intuitive connectedcar experience. The Civic will feature smartphone integration via apple CarPlay and android auto. (Inquirer.net)

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Rosedale excited for dedication ceremony Bring FREE solar energy to your home! of new Metro Gold Line stations in Azusa AZUSA—Rosedale, the San Gabriel Valley’s finest master-planned community, offers homebuyers a fulfilling lifestyle close to everything they need, yet surrounded by nature. Not only can homeowners at Rosedale enjoy countless opportunities for picnics, play dates and pick-up games at the assortment of neighborhood parks, but residents will also appreciate the convenience of a new Metro Gold Line station located within walking distance of home. Rosedale is excited for the new Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa, which is on time for construction to be finished in late September.

The public is invited to join the City of Azusa, elected officials, the Construction Authority and Metro for a dedication ceremony at Azusa’s downtown station on Saturday, September 19 at 9:30am to celebrate the upcoming completion. The project includes the future Metro Gold Line boarding station at Citrus Avenue and Palm Drive, which is scheduled to open in March 2016. Rosedale residents who want a simple, cost-efficient alternative to driving for both work and leisure will enjoy the close proximity to this new station. For more information and additional updates on the Metro Gold Line’s progress, visit www. foothillextension.org. Homebuyers are also invited to visit the master-planned community to learn how they can call Rosedale home or join the interest list online at www.LiveRosedale.com to receive important information and updates on the community.

“We are thrilled for the addition of the future Metro Gold Line station at Citrus Avenue and Palm rive, as it will provide a great alternative to travel for residents at Rosedale when it opens early next year,” said Mercedes Meserve, Vice President of Marketing for Rosedale Land Partners, LLC, the developer of Rosedale. “Exciting new happenings also continue to evolve within the community with the addition of new parks and amenities coming soon. Buyers are encouraged to visit this thriving master-plan and explore the vibrant lifestyle that awaits.”

With a variety of parks and an array of resort-inspired amenities for buyers to enjoy just moments from home, Rosedale

continues to expand with the addition of new opportunities for leisure and recreation coming soon. These include Arroyo Park, which will feature a walking loop trail perfect for a leisurely stroll or morning run and picnic tables to enjoy lunch outdoors with neighbors. in addition, Sierra Madre Park will introduce a new open-turf play area and a full basketball court to enjoy a pickup game with friends. in addition to the new parks and amenities coming soon, Rosedale residents have access to The Resort and central arroyo.

A 4,500 square-foot private clubhouse and two-acre recreation center, The Resort is the social centerpiece of the community.

The facility features a Junior olympic swimming pool and children’s wading pool, an openturf play area with Adventure play structure, turf volleyball, a private state-of-the-art fitness center that will soon introduce new exercise equipment and yoga classes and much more.

The Resort will also soon start offering English educational classes for residents. The central arroyo features 13.5 acres of beautiful open space that runs through the community with miles of trails for residents to enjoy an afternoon hike, walk or bike ride.

There are three neighborhoods currently selling within the Rosedale community. Whether homebuyers are looking for a convenient attached home design or a spacious new luxury residence, Rosedale has something for everyone. The new home opportunities include the

single-family luxury homes at Aster Heights by Brookfield Residential, the single-family luxury homes at Azalea by Christopher Homes and the single-family luxury homes at Camellia by Brookfield Residential.

Rosedale residents are conveniently located within close proximity of the i-10 and 210 corridors, making downtown Los Angeles, orange and San Bernardino counties within easy reach for commuters.

Great shopping, dining and entertainment destinations are also nearby including old Town Pasadena, Westfield Santa Anita Fashion Square, Westfield West Covina, Home Depot, Target, Trader Joe’s and Costco. Azusa Pacific University and Citrus Community College are also within a short walk of the community.

To visit the master-planned community of Rosedale from Pasadena, take the i-210 traveling east and exit Grand Avenue. ownership and development management of the 518-acre master-planned community of Rosedale in the city of Azusa, CA is a new partnership between Brookfield Homes, Christopher Development Group (CDG) and Starwood Capital Group. As Rosedale Land Partners, these companies bring together the necessary depth of large-scale community planning, development and financing experience required for the successful implementation of communitybased master planning and development.

(Advertising Supplement)

GoiNG solar is easier than you think, with SouthWest Sun Solar. our well-trained, solar specialist team will evaluate your home free of charge to assess for potential savings, and generate your custom SouthWest Sun Solar proposal and a low-rate agreement bringing clean power and energy to your home. our in-house engineers and specialists will design and install a solar system meeting all of your energy needs. We specialize in rooftop solar panels, converting natural energy from the sun to produce a clean, solar electricity system—while saving you from piles of local utility bills.

“This is relatively new, innovative, and best of all affordable technology. our business model is we aim save people money,” says executive director Hugh (Hieu) Nguyen. “And we are going green too, green in your homes and in your pockets.”

We always ensure that your home’s new solar system will always meet our solar standards, producing efficient, clean, “green” energy. The system is also netmetered, allowing excess power production to flow back into the grid.

Keep more money in your pocket. With SouthWest Sun Solar systems, your family can cut the electricity bill between as much as 20-60% after installation, and you can raise the value of your home by 15-25%.

We have a zero down, no cash required agreement, and no installation fee. With our innova-

tive Power Purchase Agreement, you just pay us back in the future, at a much lower price. in addition, every customer who signs up with SouthWest Sun Solar receives $500 back. Customers who refer us and to their friends and family also get a $500 referral! our in-house team has installed solar panels in over 100 homes across California. We also offer 25-year warranty, a $500,000 roof insurance policy, system routine maintenance and rooftop damage repair, and we guarantee quality performance that will lower your electricity bill. With fast installation and customer service, we truly care about our customers. We also speak English, Tagalog, Spanish, and Korean, to better serve the larger California community.

To our kababayans, please ask for our Filipino sales team, Jun Pereyra (415-350-4631) and Mon Caleon (714-369-4490), and they

will be happy to assist you! our new Filipino office is located at 2610 orangethorpe Ave. #101 Fullerton, CA 92833.

Go solar now, with more confidence in the future. With our main offices in Fullerton (Filipino office), Westminster, La Mirada, Laguna Hills, and San Jose, we are happy to serve customers throughout Northern and Southern California.

With a 5-star rating on Yelp, we are dedicated to providing affordable, quality professional service and promoting clean, green energy.

Give us a call and find out if your home is eligible today!

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(Advertising Supplement)

Metro Manila’s worst chokepoints up...

PAGE D2 other stretch of road Tiu mentioned that needs far better policing. The chokepoint on the northbound lane is the entry to the bridge, which is at the intersection of JP Rizal and Makati Avenue. once past the bridge that crosses Pasig River, the next major chokepoint is the Mandaluyong Circle itself, which used to be a major throughfare but is now nearly impassable—and completely impassable once the moderate rain starts falling, as the areas becomes knee-deep in flood.

7. Commerce Avenue. From the south, Danny isla, president of Lexus Manila inc., states that Commerce Avenue is still heavily congested. The opening of the MCX Toll Road helped alleviate the traffic along Commerce Av-

enue, but during rush hour, the traffic rivals that of downtown Manila.

While this area is private and utilizes its own security force, the private sector needs to work closely with the local government and the PNP to help improve traffic along this stretch of road.

8. Southbound EDSA-ortigas flyover. Special mention is the southbound lane of EDSA-ortigas entering ortigas CBD. This particular lane gets clogged up due to vehicles coming down the flyover and turning to F. ortigas Road to go to Robinson’s Galleria, San Miguel Avenue and the elite private school St. Pedro Poveda College.

The four lanes of the eastbound lane of ortigas Avenue get clogged up, and only a single lane becomes passable as vehicles squeeze and

merge all the way from the leftmost lane to the rightmost lane.

Perhaps we should lengthen dividers from the flyover to cover the stretch all the way until the Shell station, beside the old ortigas Building, to prevent this chokepoint. once this is clogged up, traffic can get backed up all the way to Cubao. PNP-HPG, please take note of this.

These are just eight chokepoints i’ve identified. i would very much like to hear from you readers out there, so we can elaborate on these major chokepoints aside from EDSA. Remember, if we can help unclog the secondary but equally important arteries of Metro Manila, we also help unclog traffic as a whole, and free up EDSA.

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