San Francisco Edition -- August 19 -- 25, 2016

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Volume 15 - No. 34 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

NeW evidence collected by UC Berkeley police identifies a currently deceased man as the likely killer of Grace Asuncion, who was found murdered in the campus’s former office of the Pilipino American Alliance (PAA) 24 years ago. the 20-year-old filipina molecular biology student had been stabbed several times in the neck when a custodian discovered her body on february 7, 1992. she had not been raped or robbed, according to police.

Attorneys for the victim’s family had suggested a transient may have been the culprit, but recent evidence points to a former Alameda resident, according to a local foX station.

UC Berkeley Police spokesperson sabrina reich said officers were “confident we had found the right person,” in a statement released on tuesday, August 9.

John Iwed became a suspect early on in the

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PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte slammed the United Nations (UN) for backing a “stupid proposition” in criticizing the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, on monday, August 17. “here comes the UN, easily swayed and coming on a very stupid proposition,” Duterte said in his speech at the Philippines’ police headquarters, Camp Crame.

President Rodrigo Duterte

In a statement on Wednesday, August 3, UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNoDC) executive Director Yury fedotov joined UN secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in “condemning the apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings” in the Philippines.

UNoDC then made a proposition “to bring drug traffickers to justice with the appropriate legal safeguards in line with international standards and norms and promote prevention, treatment, reha-

SioSon AJPress

mALACAÑANG on Wednesday, August 17, said late and former President ferdinand marcos’ burial at heroes’ Cemetery will push through unless the supreme Court (sC) will issue a temporary restraining order (tro).

“It seems that everything is starting to move according to arrangements, so unless there is a tro (temporary restraining order) or anything like that, it will proceed as planned,” presidential spokesman ernesto Abella said in a news conference.

“If there are any motions and any cases filed, let it proceed and then president will respond as he sees fit. the president will abide by the rulings.”

Although september 18 is the date eyed for marcos’ burial, Abella however, clarified that no official burial date has been set yet. “the process is ongoing, nobody’s rushing anything,” he said.

SC to conduct oral argument on Wednesday, August 17, Philippine supreme Court (sC) Public Information office (PIo) chief Atty. theodore te announced that an oral argument on the petition against marcos’ burial will be conducted on Wednesday, August 24.

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by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Inquirer.net photo

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by Dana

With raised fist pump, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez (center), together with other signatories of a memorandum of agreement on national anti-environmental crime task force, shout “Philippines!” enthusiastically to kick off their work in investigating and apprehending the violators of environmental standards across the country. The National Anti-Environmental Crimes Task Force, also called as the “A-Team Kalikasakan,” is composed of (L-R, seated in front :) Br. Gen. Restituto Padilla of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Undersecretary Eduardo del Rosario of the Department of National Defense, Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transport, Secretary Ismael Sueño of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa of the Philippine National Police, and Rear Admiral William Melad of the Philippine Coast Guard. DENR photo

Trump: ‘Extreme vetting’ needed for immigrants to US

by ChriStina

VICe President Leni robredo on monday, August 15, asked the supreme Court (sC) to dismiss the electoral protest filed against her by the defeated former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. In her 536-page answer, robredo, through her lawyers romulo macalintal and ma. Bernadette sardillo, asked the sC — which also serves as the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet) — to dismiss the protest for the “utter lack of merit” and the “lack of jurisdiction of the Pet.” marcos’s election protest against robredo,

M. oriel

AJPress

Presidential nominee Donald Trump

Robredo seeks dismissal of Marcos election protest

Vice President Leni Robredo

bilitation, and reintegration approaches based in evidence, science, public health and human rights.” ‘’Why would the United Nations be so easy to be swayed into interfering in the affairs of this republic?” Duterte said.

As the one who ordered the campaign against drugs, the president said he claims “full and sole responsibility” on the recent deaths of suspected criminals but expressed that his government can-

Malacañang: Marcos burial will push through unless SC issues TRO

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New evidence points to old suspect in unsolved murder of Fil-Am UC Berkeley student

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY

Duterte slams UN for ‘stupid proposition’ against drug war

DATELINE Court guarantees hearings for detained immigrants with felonies ImmIGrAtIoN and Customs enforcement (ICe) in California can no longer detain undocumented immigrants convicted of felonies for extended periods without bond, thanks to a federal ruling issued tuesday, August 4. the U.s. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down the practice of mandatory detention for anyone found guilty of a felony. the policy permitted ICe agents to imprison some people for months without providing them with a bond hearing. the ruling delivered by Judge Jacqueline Nguyen will apply in California, where 20 percent of all immigration detentions occur, as well as eight other states and two territories within the court’s jurisdiction.

“A broad and incorrect interpretation of federal law...denied [detainees] the opportunity to challenge [their] detention,” representatives at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California said in

AUGUST 19-25, 2016

filed last June 29, pointed out that there should be an investigation regarding the accuracy of the election results and the reported irregularities to unveil the fraud that involved the Liberal Party, smartmatic Corporation and the Commission on elections (Comelec). macalintal and sardillo, however, said that it is just practically a complaint by marcos against the Comelec in the lease of the Vote Counting machines (VCms) from smartmatic. Allegedly, the machines have no record of prior use in other elections in other countries. “since there were no records as to how ‘successful’ the VCms worked in the past, the pro-

rePUBLICAN presidential nominee Donald trump on monday, August 15 proposed a “new screening test” for immigrants seeking to enter the United states.

Delivering a foreign policy address in Youngstown, ohio, trump echoed the call for strict-

er immigration — a cornerstone of his campaign — and reiterated his belief that “radical Islamic terrorism” is the biggest threat the world faces today. he went on to cite examples of terrorist attacks on U.s. soil — including the Boston marathon bombings and the san Bernardino and orlando mass shootings — and abroad.

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DOJ orders murder raps against Mamasapano massacre suspects

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the Philippine National Police’s elite special Action force (sAf) dead last year. on monday, August 15, the the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended DoJ released a 55-page resolumurder charges against the sus- tion that approved the formal pects involved in the mamasapa- indictment of five commanders no clash that left 44 members of u PAGE A2

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AUGUST 19-25, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

Duterte slams UN for ‘stupid proposition’…

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not be investigated for genocide over the killings. ‘’UN, you can only investigate [for] genocide when you kill without giving a hoot, if you are killing children, whole community.

But when you kill criminals who fight with you, and criminals who fight amongst themselves, that is [our] duty,’’ he said. ‘’But we will answer, for every incident that involves killing of human being, whether connected with police duty or not, have it investigated…that way, we can be transparent.”

Duterte also advised policemen

to ignore the statements from the UN and other critics.

As of Monday, August 15, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said 612 drug suspects have been killed in police operations.

On the other hand, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has recorded 646 from June 30 to August 15 in their “kill list.”

New ‘narcolist’ According to Senators Richard Gordon and JV Ejercito, the president has a new list of politicians suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trades and is likely to reveal the names soon.

“There are many names. There

are more this time,” Inquirer quoted Gordon.

Ejercito said that the names in the list “give protection” to drug traders.

He added that most of them were past and present officials, including members of the House of Representatives, mayors and councilors.

Last week Duterte named the 159 “narco officials” which includes incumbent and former local executives and lawmakers, judges, and police officers, while in July, Duterte named five “narco generals” as part of his campaign against illegal drugs. n

Trump: ‘Extreme vetting’ needed for…

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To defeat ISIS, Trump proposed a “new immigration policy” with “new screening procedures,” similar to the ideological screening test used during the Cold War era.

“A Trump Administration will establish a clear principle that will govern all decisions pertaining to immigration: we should only admit into this country those who share our values and respect our people,” he described.

The screening test would question how potential immigrants align with American values. It is intended to weed “all members or sympathizers of terrorist groups” as well as those who have “hostile attitudes towards our country

or its principles.”

“I call it extreme, extreme vetting. Our country has enough problems. We don’t need more.

And these are problems like we’ve never seen before,” he said.

According to Trump, immigrants who embrace American values and are expected to thrive in the country would be issued visas. However, those who “do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred” would be deported or denied from entering the country.

“Assimilation is not an act of hostility, but an expression of compassion. Our system of government, and our American culture, is the best in the world and

will produce the best outcomes for all who adopt it,” he said.

Yet again, he advocated for the temporary suspension of immigrants from “some of the most dangerous and volatile regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism,” without naming those areas specifically.

Under his administration, he said he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, continue drone strikes and pursue criminal charges against accused terrorists.

In a statement, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s senior policy advisor Jake Sullivan said Trump’s proposed policy “cannot be taken seriously.”

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DOJ orders murder raps against Mamasapano…

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and 83 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and private armed groups (PAG).

Forty-four members of the SAF, 18 MILF fighters, and five civilians were killed in the clash on January 25, 2015 in Maguindanao during the hunt for Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as “Marwan.”

Among the suspects charged were Commanders Abdulrahman Abdulrakman Upan, Rakman (118TH MILF), Refy Guiaman, Anife and Haumves, operation commander of the 105th MILF Base Command.

Twelve witness testimonies collected by the DOJ revealed that the suspects conspired to kill the

SAF members who were engaged in the “Oplan Exodus” counterterrorism operation ordered under the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino III. “The respondents acted in conspiracy, waited for each other, encircled the SAF, and shot them from all directions. Testimonial evidence shows the MILF, BIFF and PAGs knew they were engaging the PNP-SAF as early as 8 a.m.,” the resolution said.

It added that the SAF members were “assaulted and atrociously killed.”

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday, August 16, welcomed the DOJ’s order, calling it a “positive step towards finally attaining justice” for the police commandos who were killed during the botched operation.

“This marks the beginning of achieving justice for our police who had been mercilessly slain while performing a legitimate operation that shouldn’t have ended in a senseless tragedy and loss of lives,” Poe said, according to Inquirer.

She added that the charges were also consistent with the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Poe, however, said she hoped that the charges against the Mamasapano suspects would not affect the government’s efforts in attaining peace in Mindanao.

Following the DOJ’s recommendations, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) must take the next step to formally file charges against the accused. n

ALL-WEATHER COP. The mascot known as “PO1 Bato” represents the PNP chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, in the “Bike for Change” anti-drug campaign that toured four cities despite the rains on Saturday morning, August 13.

Inquirer.net/Lyn Rillon

Robredo seeks dismissal of Marcos…

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curement of the same was highly suspicious,” the petition read.

Robredo’s camp also argued that the ‘second part’ of the Marcos petition is “a mere series of wild accusations, guesses, and surmises which renders it miserably wanting in sufficiency both in form and substance.”

“In other words, the allegations of election fraud and irregularities are without specification and substantiation, of where and how these occurrences took

place,” Robredo said, as quoted

by Inquirer.

“The Supreme Court held in that ruling that it cannot allow an election protest based on such flimsy averments to prosper, otherwise, the whole election process will deteriorate into an endless stream of crabs pulling at each other, racing to disembark from the water.”

Robredo’s camp also argued that an election protest is a contest between two candidates and not between the Comelec

and Smartmatic, stating that the tribunal “has no jurisdiction to rule on his first cause of action.”

During the May 9 elections, it was a tight race between Marcos and Robredo for the vice presidential position, with the latter winning by just 263,473 votes, according to the final official tally of the National Board of Canvassers. Robredo won with 14,418,817 votes while Marcos placed second with 14,155,344 votes. n

Malacañang: Marcos burial will push through…

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The 30-page petition — led by former Bayan Muna party list Rep. Satur Ocampo and Neri Colmenares — urged the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation Memorandum dated Aug. 7, 2016, issued by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana.

The Memorandum states President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ricardo R. Visaya to start the preparations for the interment and the transfer of Marcos’ remains to Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“For how can such honesty and integrity be promoted and defended when a dishonest and disgraced public official, such as Ferdinand E. Marcos, after his removal from power, can snatch respect and thereby re-write not only history but his culpability via the back door of declaring and celebrating him a hero?” the petition read.

The SC also asked the respondents to comment regarding the plea within five days or until 10 a.m. on Monday, August 22.

Respondents of the petition were former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Rear Admiral Ernesto Enriquez, and AFP chief of staff General Ricardo Visaya.

Other petitioners include Trinidad Repuno, Bienvenido Lumbera, Bonifacio Ilagan, Maria

COURT ACTION. Martial law victims led by Rep. Neri Colmenares turn to the Supreme Court on Monday, Aug. 15, in their bid to scuttle a Duterte administration plan to bury the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Inquirer.net photo by Marinnae Bermudez

BURIAL PROTEST. Hundreds of rallyists gather at the Lapu-Lapu monument at Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday, Aug. 14 to protest the planned hero’s burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on September 18.Inset photos show Sen. Risa Hontiveros as she addresses the crowd and former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II meeting former senator Rene Saguisag.

ManilaTimes.net photos

Carolina Araulo, Samahan ng Ex- Cabillas, Carmencita Florentino, Detainees laban sa Detensyon at Rodolfo Del Rosario, Felix DaliAresto represented by Dionito say and Danilo Dela Fuente. n

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

From the Front Page

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2016

A

The complexity of the Asian American electorate

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

TORNADO DAMAGE. At least 300 homes and structures were damaged by a tornado that ripped through parts of Manila on Sunday, August 14, an official said. The tornado passed through Baseco Compound, Sampaloc, Intramuros and Lawton. Philstar.com/Edd Gumban

Filipino in Las Vegas arrested in death of estranged wife

had recently filed for LAS VEGAS divorce.

— Police arrested Lopez is reportedly a Filipino man on addicted to gambling Tuesday, August 9, and drugs and stole for allegedly killing property. He moved his estranged wife. to Arizona for a job The metropolibut often returned to tan Police CrimiLas Vegas, according nal Apprehension to an arrest report.

Team arrested He reportedly arArthur Lopez, 55, rived unannounced and took him to at Penaflor’s resithe Clark County Detention Center Arthur Lopez, 55, called Las dence and spent the where he faces Vegas Police and said, “I killed night there. The vica charge of mur- my wife.” LV Metropolitan Police tim asked a friend to stay with her and der with a deadly her roommates because she was weapon.

An arrest report stated that Lo- afraid of Lopez, who left Saturpez killed his wife, Erlinda Pena- day afternoon, August 6.

The roommate went to flor, 78, in a home where she had rented a room after separating church and when she returned from Lopez whom she had de- home she found Penaflor in the scribed as verbally abusive. She living room in a pool of blood.

New evidence points to old…

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case. His wife told police he had confessed the crime to her and said he had been under the influence of drugs when he went to campus and killed Asuncion.

However, police lacked corroborating evidence at the time and dropped Iwed as a suspect after interviewing him. He later died of an overdose in January 1993.

UC Berkeley police re-interviewed several witnesses in the decades-old case and what they learned shifted suspicion back onto Iwed. The Alameda County district attorney’s office told Reich police had built a strong enough case to prosecute Iwed if he were still alive.

A lawsuit filed by Asuncion’s parents on February 2, 1993 ac-

cused the UC Regents of failing to provide students with adequate security from transients known to take shelter in the building where their daughter was killed.

The victim’s family accepted a $750,000 settlement from the UC in March of 1998. The building where Asuncion’s body was found, Eshleman hall, has since been torn down and replaced.

Asuncion was active in her campus community and was a leader in the PAA. She had been working with other students until about 4 or 5 p.m. in the student organization’s former office the day before her body was found.

She had plans to go to medical school and was described as “fun-loving” by friends, according to The Daily Californian. (Eric Anthony Licas / AJ Press)

Court guarantees hearings for…

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a statement released earlier this month.

A felony conviction would have been grounds for mandatory detention regardless of how long ago it occurred, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs in the class action suit.

In her ruling, Nguyen decried what she called “robotic detention procedures” and said mandatory imprisonment “smacks of injustice.”

One of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, Ashok Ramani of the law firm Keker & Van Nest, told the Asian Journal that many of those held for months by immigration officials had moved on from their pasts and become productive members of their communities.

“They all had jobs. They had families. Some were taking care of elderly relatives,” said Ramani of the clients represented by his

firm, the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “[Mandatory detention] disrupted all of that.”

Ramani said at least two plaintiffs from California had been granted bond hearings and released prior to the court’s decision because a ruling from an earlier case in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals guarantees detainees a day in court within six months. Most other jurisdictions do not host similar provisions.

According to Ramani, between 800 to 1,000 people will now have a chance to petition a judge for their freedom. “[The court’s] decision is a victory for fairness and due process of law,” said Michael Tan, a staff attorney at the ACLU’s IRP. “In America, everyone should get a chance to see a judge before their freedom is taken away.”

(Eric Anthony Licas / AJPress)

Trump: ‘Extreme vetting’…

PAGE A2 t

“How can Trump put this forward with a straight face when he opposes marriage equality and selected as his running mate the man who signed an anti-LGBT law in Indiana? It’s a cynical ploy to escape scrutiny of his outrageous proposal to ban an entire religion from our country, and no one should fall for it,” he said.

The controversial immigration remarks are not new to Trump’s campaign. Following the San Bernardino attack last December, he suggested that Muslims be prohibited from entering the country. He has also called for a wall to be built between the U.S. and Mexico border.

Earlier this month, Trump was criticized by various Filipino and Filipino-American elected officials and community leaders for his comments that seemed to suggest a ban on immigration from “terrorist nations,” including the Philippines.

Other countries he had men-

tioned were Morocco, Uzbekistan, Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

The presidential hopeful listed instances wherein legal immigrants committed or were plotting acts of terrorism, including the case of Filipino citizen Ralph Deleon who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a plot to join Al Qaeda.

“An immigrant from Afghanistan, who later applied for and received U.S. citizenship, and a legal permanent resident from the Philippines were convicted for planning to join Al Qaeda and the Taliban in order to kill as many Americans as possible,” Trump said during a rally in Portland, Maine on August 4.

Following those remarks, Philippine congressman Joey Salceda introduced a bill proposing to ban the real estate mogul from the Philippines, while FilAm California Assemblymember Rob Bonta said Trump is “unfit to serve as president.” n

Penaflor died from blunt force trauma to the head, the arrest report said.

On Monday, August 8, afternoon police received a call from Lopez, who told the dispatcher, “I killed my wife,” gave an address and hung up the phone.

Anyone with any information about the homicide may contact Metro’s homicide section at 702828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. n

ASIAN Americans are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States.

In the last five years, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community increased by 19 percent, according to the United States Census Bureau.

And it’s not stopping there. A recent UCLA study reported that by 2040, the AAPI voter population in the U.S. is projected to double with an expected population of 12.2 million.

Current naturalization trends can explain this phenomenon as hordes of Asian immigrants are making their way to the U.S. Since 2012, approximately 60 percent of newly eligible AAPI individuals have gained the right to vote, meaning that the 2016 election will have the most diverse electorate by far, according to a 2016 report from Pew Research Center.

With the AAPI community growing exponentially, there’s no doubt that their presence at the polls later this year will be crucial.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties have announced efforts to further engage with the AAPI community, but their needs are still not adequately addressed.

The multicultural pool of the AAPI community is a major drawback. The Asian community is comprised of hundreds of cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and identities — it would be laborious to canvass to each individual group. Moreover, the

linguistic diversity of Asians is a significant limitation when navigating voting processes.

Another issue is the minimal studies on AAPI voters. The scarcity of these findings was described by George Gao, digital producer at Pew, who said that most studies on ethnic subgroups don’t yield significant AAPI data because the participant pool is usually too small.

In short, to simply tackle the “Asian American” vote is far too broad and replaces individual engagement with generalization, according to Gao. “Not only do they speak dozens of different languages they also hail from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and are only bound together because they claim racial/ethnic roots from the vast continent of Asia,” Gao said in the report.

Not enough resources are allocated to accommodating the vast diversity within the Asian American label and researching the unique characteristics and needs of each community.

But Cal State LA’s Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs (PBI) released a comprehensive study that looked into the voting behaviors and attitudes among four Asian American groups: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Korean.

The study comprised of a multidisciplinary study that gathered information from over 1,600 participants in the Los Angeles area and measured Asian American voter behaviors and attitudes.

The study found that Asian Americans are rather complex in their voter behavior, and it proved that tackling the Asian

American vote as a singular entity is misguided.

The study not only compared attitudes and behaviors among the four ethnic groups, but also yielded comparative results between young and old, foreign born and American born, native English speakers and foreign language speakers among other brackets.

Socially liberal It’s no surprise the PBI study found that younger Asian Americans tend to be more socially liberal than older generations, but numerous surveys from Pew, Gallup, the Washington Post and other pollsters have concluded that AAPIs as a whole are more liberal.

Asian Americans tend to lean politically left because of the policies introduced and supported

by Democratic leaders that address community concerns and noted a “strong contrast” between Democratic and Republican policies, said Shu-Yen Wei, northeast regional press secretary for the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The 2000 presidential election marked the first time a majority of Asian Americans voted Democrat, and that trend continued in 2004 when 56 percent of Asian Americans voted for thenDemocratic nominee John Kerry.

President Barack Obama’s 2008 election win and 2012 re-election garnered 62 percent and 68 percent of the AAPI vote, respectively, according to exit polls from National Election Pool.

“President Obama has made it a priority to get input from the

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Dateline USa

AUGUST 19-25, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Senate budget proposal boosts environmental equity, advocates say Allocations under AB 32, SB 535 will boost underserved neighborhoods

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The state spending proposal just released by California Senate leaders provides critical funding to clean California’s air and bring jobs and opportunities to some of California’s most polluted and economically challenged communities, climate justice advocates from the SB 535 Coalition said Wednesday, August 17.

“In the midst of a crucial debate about the future of California climate policy, the Senate is taking a big step to fight both pollution and poverty using money paid by polluters,” said Greenlining Institute Environmental Equity Director Alvaro Sanchez. “This proposal means real help to low-income families and their neighborhoods — $1.2 billion worth.”

“The Senate’s proposal helps ensure that the state can implement critical programs and invest in innovative projects in communities overburdened by pollution and poverty” said SCOPE Research Director Laura Muraida.

Projects to be funded under the Senate proposal include home energy saving and solar power for low-income families, tree planting in urban neighborhoods, and vouchers to

help owners of older, gas-guzzling vehicles to replace their “clunker” with a clean electric or plug-in hybrid car or truck.

Advocates applauded the proposed allocation of $175 million to Transformative Climate Communities, an innovative proposal to “connect the dots” and fund coordinated efforts in a variety of program areas (such as energy efficiency, transportation, etc.) that will work together to bring real benefits to communities in need.

“These climate investments will bring needed relief to California communities suffering from smog and a lack of clean transportation choices,” said Bill Magavern, Policy Director for Coalition for Clean Air. “We are hopeful about what the Senate has put forward and encourage the Assembly and governor to work with the Senate to make this happen,” said Asian Pacific Environmental Network Senior Strategist Parin Shah. “The next two weeks will tell us a lot about California’s climate future. Today’s move helps keep our on the path towards a cleaner, more equitable future for all our communities.”

Under AB 32 (Nuñez/Pavley), money raised by charging polluters for carbon permits un-

der the state’s cap-and-trade system goes to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to pay for projects that further cut carbon emissions. A second law, SB 535 (De León) directs at least one quarter of these funds to projects benefitting highly polluted, economically disadvantaged communities, with at least 10 percent going to projects located directly within these communities.

The coalition does see some sections of the current language that need work, and looks forward to working with legislators to address those concerns.

“We are hopeful that the Senate, the Assembly, and the Governor take this opportunity to improve our climate while helping low-income families participate in the clean economy,” said Chelsea Tu, Staff Attorney for Public Advocates.

Last year, The Greenlining Institute collected 10 case studies that illustrate the impact of California’s climate investments. Stories of real Californians impacted by these clean energy policies, as well as background on the laws themselves, can be found at UpliftCA.org (English) and es.UpLiftCA.org (Spanish). n

American facing child molestation charges caught in Davao the State Department.

“There will be no letup in our drive to flush out foreign fugiA MALE suspect wanted in the tives. We will not allow our counUnited States for allegedly mo- try to be used as a sanctuary for lesting a child was apprehended wanted criminals,” Morente said. by the Philippine Bureau of Im- “We will see to it that these fugimigration (BI) last Monday, Au- tives are caught and deported to gust 8 in Davao. answer for crimes they commitJeffrey Wayne Birge, 57, was ted in their homelands.” arrested at his house in WoAtty. Jose Carlitos Licas, Fugiodridge Subdivision, Wawa, tive Search Unit (FSU) Chief, said Davao City, according to the BI. the court issued a warrant for BI Commissioner Jaime Mor- Birge’s arrest on Oct. 30, 2014. ente said Birge is set to be deBirge is expected to stand trial ported back to the U.S. for be- before a magistrate court in Taring an undesirable alien and for rant County, Texas after his inbeing undocumented due to the dictment on charges of sexual cancellation of his passport by assault of a child.

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Due to medical reasons, Birge’s transportation from Davao to Manila was postponed upon the advice of a government doctor who examined his physical condition after his apprehension.

Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, a BI spokesperson, disclosed that Birge is currently confined at the DMSF Hospital in Davao City.

“We will eventually transfer him to our detention facility in Bicutan (Taguig) where he will stay until he is deported,” Mangrobang said.

According to Interaksyon, the BI has caught 99 foreign fugitives this year. n

BRAVE AND WILLING. Twenty-five men and women finished the first ever training course for Philippine Navy reservists held in northern Luzon held at the Philippine Military Academy complex last Saturday, August 13.

Philstar.com/Artemio Dumlao

Vallejo DMV field office reopens August 22 SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds local customers that the Vallejo field office, located at 200 Couch Street, will reopen for business on Monday, August 22, 2016, at 8:00 a.m.

The office closed for improvements on July 29, 2016.

The building had its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and acoustical ceiling tiles replaced. Security cameras and the electronic Queuing system were upgraded to include

new monitors and speakers. The public restrooms received fresh paint to offer visitors a more esthetically pleasing environment.

The DMV wants to remind customers that it offers many online services at www.dmv. ca.gov, which will save them a trip to a DMV field office. A few of the convenient options include renewing a vehicle registration and driver license, completing a change of address, requesting a driver record, and making an appointment.

During the renovations, customers can visit the following field offices: Napa: 2550 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, 10 miles away Fairfield: 160 Serrano Drive, 14 miles away El Cerrito: 6400 Manila Avenue, 18 miles away Concord: 2070 Diamond Boulevard, 19 miles away Vacaville: 621 Orange Drive, 26 miles away Pittsburg: 1399 Buchanan Road, 28 miles away n

The complexity of the Asian American…

PAGE A3 t

community and push legislation [that addresses AAPI] concerns,” Wei told the Asian Journal. “The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) was established by Obama to establish further engagement with the community, and [they’ve used] these interactions to draft policies that address AAPI concerns.”

The PBI study indicated that religiosity and economic change like minimum wage are important to Asian American voters.

Moreover, health care, immigration, commerce and education are issues of high salience to the AAPI community, and the Democratic Party’s positions on these issues tend to coincide with those of the typical Asian American voter, said Wei, who said that Democrats are more likely to enact laws that address AAPI concerns.

Immigration, in particular, is a keystone for AAPI voters, who are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which allows parents of American-born children to apply for naturalization, was authorized by Obama in 2014 and has been received positively among the AAPI community.

The U.S. Supreme Court could not come up with a consensus on Obama’s Executive Order to suspend mass deportations, grant undocumented immigrants with work permits and implement DAPA and expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Thursday, June 23.

Nonetheless, undocumented AAPIs have received these two proposals as a step forward, said Wei. “AAPI voters understand that Democrats support the path to citizenship and more comprehensive immigration reform,” said Wei, who noted the contrasting immigration stances between the two parties.

Wei added that the “strong antiimmigrant strain” from Republicans, particularly with Trump’s campaign, whose proposals — including his proposal to “end birthright citizenship” — leads to “an overwhelming rejection” of the Republican presidential nominee among the AAPI community. “[Asian Americans] have grown up with the ‘perpetual foreigner stereotype’ and I think that kind of language is something that really resonates with the Asian American community,” said Wei. A massive, collective study from APIAVote, Asians American Advancing Justice (AAJC) and AAPI Data reports that only 19 percent of Asian Americans hold a positive view of Trump, whose rating pales in comparison to Clinton who touts 62 percent favorability among Asian American voters.

Filipinos: part of the rule or the exception?

In terms of policy, the opinions expressed by Filipino-American voters tended to coincide with the rest of the AAPI electorate, who hold significant importance to policy related to education, immigration, social security and health care.

The “Inclusion, Not Exclusion” study reported that 54 percent of Filipinos are registered Democrat, 16 percent are Republicans and 27 percent did not identify.

Moreover, 60 percent of FilipinoAmerican voters chose Obama.

The study reported that Fil-Am voters hold a 59 percent approval rating of Clinton, beating Trump who only received a 23 percent favorability among Filipinos.

But although these studies provide a sound projection on how Filipinos will vote, there’s still widespread voter apathy among older Filipinos.

Arianna dela Rosa told her parents to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders during the California primary, and without knowing anything about the Democratic presidential hopeful, they said, “Okay.”

And they did, according to dela Rosa, who was disappointed in her parents’ quickness to make such an uninformed decision.

“Even though it was nice that they were able to vote for who I wanted, I really wanted them to understand the importance of the issues and the importance of why we should vote,” dela Rosa told the Asian Journal.

This raises a common phenomenon among older Filipino voters, especially those who are low-information voters and rely on information from the younger generation, as indicated by dela Rosa, a fourth-year business and economics student at UC Davis.

Dela Rosa also expressed the importance of educating Filipinos on the American political system to generate more engagement among all Filipino Americans.

Filipinos comprise the second largest Asian American demographic behind the Chinese community in LA with more than 300,000 Filipinos living in LA County, and dela Rosa said that Filipino engagement is essential to empowering the community.

“We have a lack of representation in a lot of different things whether it’s in politics or higher education, and those things really intertwine with each other,” said dela Rosa.

The PBI study concluded that older generations tend to lean more conservatively on social issues and younger Filipino Americans tend to be liberal-leaning.

Moreover, Filipino Americans born in the U.S. are more likely to participate in politics more than foreign-born Filipinos, who are more unfamiliar with the voting process.

But perhaps history is important to consider when understanding Filipino American voter attitudes.

The Marcos era, for example, left many Filipinos “unwilling and unwanting” to engage in the government because many felt they didn’t have a voice in Philippine democracy, remarked Stephanie Uy, field representative of California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez.

“A lot of apathy comes from internalized colonization because our country has been suppressed by so many governments and different authorities, so there was never a strong want to be involved,” Uy told the Asian Journal.

Moreover, Filipinos who immigrated after the Marcos era came to an unfamiliar country where the voting process was foreign to them. These two factors wouldn’t “leave for much desire for participation,” said Uy. But the younger, more politically-involved generation of Filipino Americans promise a more informed and engaged electorate, said Uy. Can the GOP compete?

Despite the reported Republican Party’s lackluster approval with the AAPI community, the Republican National Committee (RNC) remains active in AAPI engagement and support.

A main vehicle for this is recruiting AAPI leaders through the Republican Leadership Initiative, according to Ninio Fetalvo, APA press secretary for the RNC. The RNC designed the initiative to generate engagement

among AAPI Republicans and encourage them to be leaders within the party.

“Whether it is attending a local community event during AAPI Heritage Month, naturalization ceremonies, meeting with local AAPI community and civic engagement organizations, or meetings with AAPI faith leaders, the RNC continues having a strong presence and building meaningful relationships to ensure no voter is forgotten,” said Fetalvo.

Because of the studies and trends that show Asian Americans leaning left for the upcoming election in November, it’s projected that Clinton will be the choice for the Asian American electorate. However, there’s one crucial element that can reverse that: voter turnout.

During the 2014 midterm elections, which produced the lowest voter turnout since World War II, NEP exit polls showed that the Asian American vote was evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

According to a Washington Post report, the AAPI Republican vote in 2014 was twice the amount that supported Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, according to NEP exit polls. This prompted celebration among the Republican Party.

“This was a rejection of the failed Democrat policies of the Obama administration and the previously Democrat-controlled Senate,” said Fetalvo. “Our continued engagement efforts resonated with all communities and proved effective at the ballot box in 2014.”

Representation matters The PBI study indicated that Asian Americans tend to mismatch politically across age groups, place of birth, levels of religiosity, and the needs of the population are complex and varied.

However, among all four surveyed groups, Asian American representation in the elected positions was a universal concern as more Asian American elected officials are more likely to bring the community’s concerns to the table.

Janelle Wong, political scientist from the University of Maryland, told Voice of America that it’s important “just having faces that reflect the Asian-American population.”

“I think the more important aspect of political incorporation is having meaningful influence over public policy,” she added.

Across all federal, state and local government positions, Asian Americans account for 0.008 percent, according to data from UCLA and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, quantity-wise, the number of Asian Americans in public office has increased from 100 in 1976 to 4,000 in 2014, according to a 2014 report from UCLA. With the exponentially growing population of AAPIs in the US, that number is soon to increase.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) became the first Chinese-American woman elected to Congress in 2009. She said in an interview with NPR that as America becomes more ethnically diversified, Congress needs to accurately represent and accommodate the changing demographics.

“Asian Americans are finally seeing that it can be done,” she said. “We are finally bearing fruit,” “It is so important to have people at the seat of the table where the decisions are being made that look like America.” n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 19-25, 2016

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Solution to Metro Manila traffic?

Duterte to pursue subway projects

by Dana

M. SioSon

AJPress

President rodrigo duterte will pursue subway projects as part of the plan to ease Metro Manila traffic congestion, transportation Undersecretary for rails and toll roads noel Kintanar said on tuesday, August 16. “if we plan this well, the commuter will be given choice, and by that, we can distribute congestion rather than concentrate it on one or two lines,” Kintanar told “Gridlock: An AnC Forum on the transportation Crisis.”

According to Kintanar, the subway will be connected to Metro Manila’s other transportation systems, including Metro rail transit Line 3 on edsA, and Line 1 and 2 of the Light rail transit Line.

He added that the government is considering to build it under a public-private partnership. earlier on July, Kintanar submitted a plan to transportation secretary Arthur tugade, suggesting to have rail transport as as the alternative to cars. the plan includes building subterranean railways.

He said that the construction of elevated railways on-ground would bring the city to a stop, so they plan to use tunnel-boring machines so that “life goes on in the surface.” in Kintanar’s proposal, Line 4 that will run through the eastern side of Metro Manila while Line 5 subway will run through, Pasay, Makati, and taguig.

Line 6, on the other hand, will run up to dasmariñas, Cavite.

Line 7, which is now under construction, will run from Commonwealth in Quezon City to san Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Habagat death toll now at 13

by JaiMe LauDe Philstar.com

MAniLA — the death toll for the “habagat” or southwest monsoon onslaught has now climbed to 13, with nine missing and six injured. this was disclosed by the national disaster risk reduction and Management Council (ndrrMC) in its 8 a.m. Wednesday advisory. this can be broken down into one drowning in Barangay Canaullian, Janiuay, iloilo; another drowning in don Benito

st., sampaloc, Manila; two deaths due to a collapsed firewall in 866 Oroquieta st., sta. Cruz, Manila; another drowning death in Barangay Mariana, Quezon City; two deaths due to flashflood that hit the sumag river tunnel in Gen. nakar, Quezon; another drowning in Barangay Calasaguen, Brooke’s Point, Palawan; and another drowning in Barangay Upig, san idelfonso, Bulacan; another drowning in Barangay Castanos Cerca, Gen. e. Aguinaldo, Cavite and three electrocution deaths in sitio Kamalig, Barangay reparo,

nasugbu, Batangas.

A total of 55,963 families or 262,271 persons were affected by the “habagat” rains in region 1, iii, CALABArZOn, region Vi, national Capital region and Cordillera Autonomous region.

Out of this number, 4,487 families or 17,896 persons are still housed in 77 designation evacuation centers.

Heavy rains triggered by the southwest monsoon have been pouring over Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon since Aug. 8.

BUDGET FOR REAL CHANGE. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno hands over a copy of the proposed 2017 General Appropriations Act to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other lawmakers. The “Budget for Real Change” allocates resources to programs and projects on the Duterte administration’s 10- point socioeconomic development agenda.

Inquirer.net contributed photo

Senate to probe Chinese excavations in Zambales PH soil used for South China Sea reclamation?

MAniLA - the senate blue ribbon committee will conduct an inquiry into Chinese mining operations and illegal excavations in Zambales. sen. Panfilo Lacson sought the inquiry through senate resolution 92 to determine the extent of the excavations and identify the individuals who must be held accountable. “there is a need to account for personalities behind this highly anomalous, illegal and treacherous acts that tend not only to destroy our environment, but also make a mockery of our laws to the

prejudice of the Filipino people and constitute a possible breach of our national security,” Lacson said.

He said allegations that quarrying and smuggling in Zambales are part of China’s reclamation activities in the south China sea should be investigated.

He said an assessment of the areas affected by the mining firms’ “wanton act of destruction” should be undertaken.

Meanwhile, an environmental advocacy group and a private think tank have expressed support for the declaration of the spratlys

as a marine protected area. “there must be a conscious effort to protect the remaining coral reefs and preserve marine resources,” Ysan Castillo, secretary general of the Philippine Business environmental stewardship, said during a recent forum. dindo Manhit, stratbase Adr institute president, said a declaration by concerned countries to preserve marine resources and ban destructive fishing in disputed waters is a positive move for food security and peace in the region. (Paolo Romero, Pia LeeBrago/Philstar.com)

Govt-MILF peace talks end on positive note

by BenJie

Vergara Manilatimes.net

MeMBers of the government peace panel who met with their counterparts from the Moro islamic Liberation Front (MiLF) in Kuala Lumpur, MaTORNADO IN MANILA. A RARE tornado hit Manila and nearby areas on Sunday, which, according to a report by the Philippine Atmospheric, laysia, have returned to Manila, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, originated from land. The tornado was first spotted in the Port Area at around 4:30pm hopeful that a peace agreement between them will soon be imand was seen traveling toward Intramuros and Balic-Balic districts in Manila, and then to Galas and New Manila in Quezon City.

It toppled trees, electrical posts and destroyed property along its way.

Twitter photo by Karen Madrigal plemented.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus dureza on tuesday, Aug. 16 said the initial meeting of the two peace panels ended on a positive note.

Both parties, dureza added, vowed to cooperate in ensuring efficient enforcement of the agreement.

Among those who arrived with him aboard a Malaysia Airlines

flight at the ninoy Aquino international Airport was Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Martin Andanar.

A joint statement signed by panel chief irene santiago of the government and Mohagher iqbal of the MiLF showed the two parties agreeing on substantive aspects of a peace and development roadmap.

A

august 19-25, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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Features

OpiniOn

Silenced witness

IF the government wants charges to stick against public officials linked to the illegal drug trade, it should protect witnesses at least against highvalue suspects.

Last week, a Police Officer 2 Ryan Casiban was found dead at a firing range in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu with only his pants on. The rest of his uniform plus his service M-16 rifle and police motorcycle were found in another area of the city.

Investigators reportedly said Casiban was among those who identified police generals Marcelo Garbo and Vicente Loot as protectors of the illegal drug trade. The two are among the five police generals, three of them still in the active service, who were publicly identified by President Duterte as coddlers of drug trafficking. All five have denied the accusation.

The President has since identified over 150 other officials in the police and military as well as mayors, vice mayors, prosecutors and judges linked to drug deals. He has conceded that some of those on the list may be innocent, but he is also certain that many are guilty.

Investigations have been launched, with several of those identified presenting themselves to the

police to clear their names.

The government cannot secure all the witnesses against drug suspects. But the government must provide protection for those whose testimonies are needed against the most notorious drug dealers.

In major crimes in this country, witnesses are often prime targets for assassination. Several key witnesses in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre have been executed. There is suspicion that many of those killed in the ongoing war on drugs were silenced by their police handlers. Drug trafficking is big business, and dealers have all the means to permanently silence witnesses.

The murder of witnesses has been one of the major reasons for the failure to solve the killing of journalists, militant activists and legal professionals. The threat of assassination can also be a major stumbling block to the ongoing war on drugs. The administration must show that it can secure those who support its campaign against the drug menace. (Philstar.com)

Guest Editorial

Philstar.com photo

A majority of Filipinos in America agree with Marcos’s burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani MUST a Filipino be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani just because he was a president and/or a soldier? Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte believes so, contending that this is what the law of the land says and that he, as the president, is duty bound to execute what the law mandates.

This is the rationale behind his decision to allow the burial of deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, something the Marcos family has been advocating for years.

After 27 years, the remains of Marcos — unburied and displayed in a glass coffin in a refrigerated crypt in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte — will be buried on September 18.

Marcos’ widow Imelda Romualdez Marcos, children Imee, Bongbong and Irene, have all vowed to keep him there until the government gives in to their demands for a burial in the National Heroes’ Cemetery with full military honors.

After the tenure of Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, and Noynoy Aquino, they found an ally in Rodrigo Duterte.

The National Heroes’ Cemetery (Libingan ng mga Bayani) was created by virtue of Republic Act 289, also known as “An Act Providing for the Construction of a National Pantheon for Presidents of the

Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of The Fil-Am the Country.”

But Filipinos who Perspective lived through the Marcos administration — especially those who were victims of martial law or those who Gel SantoS-ReloS had been widowed, orphaned or lost all they worked so hard for because of the abuses and human rights violations — have intensified their protest against Duterte’s decision.

As ABS-CBN News reported, human rights victims during martial law and people’s organizations filed a petition with the high court on Monday, August 15, urging Malacañang’s order for Marcos’s burial to be set aside. Instead, the cemetery should continue to be dedicated for war heroes, soldiers, former presidents of the Philippines, and national artists.

Most of these petitioners are plaintiffs in a class suit filed in the 1990s in a Hawaii Court against Marcos’ estate seeking to recover compensation for the “human rights violations perpetrated during the Marcos dictatorship.”

According to the petitioners, Duterte’s order was “void” for being “patently illegal and was made with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess

JUST as he had apologized to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for using harsh words in a recent exchange with her, President Rodrigo Duterte could gain some goodwill if he were to apologize to US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, the US government and the LGBT community for referring to him as “gay…son of a bitch.” The imprecation (for that’s what it was) has no place in the language of governments, especially between two friendly governments; it is not just politically incorrect, it makes for “hate speech.” The remark was offensive not only to the ambassador and his government, but even to his LGBT supporters.

Assuming Goldberg is gay, and so many people around the world are proud to proclaim they are, his sexual orientation is of no concern to the Philippine government, especially after it has accredited and received him, for what and who he is, as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States. Not even the intrusive, not always responsible, tabloid press has poked its nose into it.

The Blair case In the ‘60s, at the beginning of the Vietnam war, I. P. Soliongco, the acknowledged dean of Filipino columnists, writing for the Manila

return of Marcos’ remains to the Philippines: a) That the body of Pres. Marcos will be immediately transported to Ilocos Norte upon arrival without fanfare; b) That the body of Pres. Marcos be buried in Ilocos Norte; and c) The ceremony for the burial was to be for military honors for the rank of major.

Duterte refused to join in the debate of whether Marcos was a hero or not. He said in a press conference, “Ang Pilipinas… is you need only to be a president and a solider. Nobody is debating about heroes here. Assuming it to be true na wala siyang medalya or not validated by an American record does not mean that he is not qualified to be buried there. So what’s the objection?”

Duterte further contended: “I would like to say forget about the medals. Just focus on whether he is a Filipino. He fought for his country, and he’s once upon a time a president. That’s the law!

We cannot go out of the law….Nobody is questioning about he’s a hero. I am not dwelling on his exploits.”

“Alam mo kasi, kung ginusto nila – and they were already in power at the time, itong mga yellow – dapat nagpasa sila ng batas na hindi puwedeng ilibing si Marcos when the guy was already in Guam in

exile. They should have passed a law prohibiting Marcos if ever he comes home dead to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. But nothing has been done. Bakit kinalimutan ang elementary procedure na ‘yan?” argued Duterte.

But it seems 30 years after Marcos has been overthrown by the Peoples’ Power Revolution in 1986, public opinion is now favorable to the Marcoses’ demand and Duterte’s decision — if the opinions of a majority of Filipinos in America are concerned.

In an online viewers’ poll of The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America, 55 percent of those who voted said Marcos should be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani because he was a president and a soldier. These Marcos supporters, and even those who were not really big fans of Marcos, argue that it is time for the nation to “move on,” and that Duterte’s move will help unify the country that has been divided especially after the 1986 People Power.

Do you agree? *** 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

Not too late to apologize to Goldberg and the US

Commentary

FRanciSco S. tatad

of jurisdiction,” and that allowing Marcos’s burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani would be a mockery of Philippine democracy.

The petition further stated the following, as reported by ABS-CBN News: “Apart from the human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship, the fact remains undisputed that Marcos and his family, during his term, acquired billions worth of ill-gotten wealth, some of which are still subjects of pending litigations while much remain hidden.”

The petition further stated, ”Moreover, the foreign debt his administration incurred ballooned and actually rendered future generations of Filipinos, even those still unborn, heavily indebted by the millions.”

Petitioners also raised the issue on a study conducted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) which states that Marcos’ claims of being a bemedalled World War II hero “failed to pass the test of historical verification.”

Petitioners also pointed out that an agreement between the Philippine government and the Marcos family in 1993 provided the following conditions for the

Chronicle, wrote a blistering column entitled, “The Androgynous William Blair,” referring to US Ambassador William McCormick Blair, Jr., a distinguished diplomat who belonged to the inner social set of Jack and Jacqueline Kennedy and traced his intellectual roots to that of Adlai Stevenson.

Blair made many friends in the Philippines and had a successful career, which continued long after his posting here; he passed on in the US at the age of 98 on Aug. 25, 2015.

Soliongco’s rhetorical piece was framed within the raging Vietnam war debate, where I. P. and his formidable Chronicle colleagues (Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, Ernesto Granada, Ernesto del Rosario) took staunchly nationalist positions on the issues of the day; it was not merely a rude attempt to call the US ambassador names. Apparently Blair recognized the piece for what it was, and, as far as memory serves, took no offense at the editorial piece. It was not unusual in those days for the US ambassador to be burned in effigy in anti-war demonstrations in front of the embassy and other public places.

A different world The global environment has changed since. In the US, the Supreme Court has legalized “samesex marriage.” Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, is trying to bring down the level of his countrymen’s devotion to political correctness, but his chances of success seem rather limited. In Sweden in 2005, Protestant Pas-

tor Ake Green was jailed for one month for preaching a sermon on homosexuality two years earlier, based solely on passages from Scripture. He simply asked the question, “Is Homosexuality Genetic or an Evil Force that Plays Mind Games with People?” He did not call for any action against practicing homosexuals at all.

But he was prosecuted under a Swedish law, which prohibits expression of “disrespect toward favored minority groups.” He won his case on appeal, but the prosecution appealed the case further to the Supreme Court asking for a longer sentence. On my last visit to Europe not too long ago, I saw the pastor’s predicament: one senior minister I met in Germany was living and socializing openly with his partner of the same sex, with the full approval of his Cabinet colleagues, the diplomatic corps, the media and the public.

In Manila, US Ambassador Harry Thomas started hosting Gay Pride receptions and displaying LGBT banners within the US Embassy premises during his watch.

These appear to have become part of the Embassy’s regular diplomatic functions, and Goldberg may have hosted some of them.

The LGBT community as such has grown not only in civil society but also in government, including the armed forces and the police. The House of Representatives has its first transgender member sitting, and turning heads, in the present Congress. The LGBT presence is probably strongest in show busi-

ness, entertainment, social media and the mainstream press.

The phenomenon is worldwide.

And public reaction varies from place to place.

On June 12, this year, in Orlando, Florida, a 29-year-old security guard killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a terrorist attack at Pulse nightclub, a place frequented by the LGBT crowd. The attack prompted a worldwide outpouring of grief and condolences for the victims and condemnations for the terrorist and ISIS. American politicians of every color and creed tried to be heard on the carnage, but the strongest criticisms ran against those who, while condemning the terrorist attack, were not sufficiently outraged that the victims were killed because they were gays. A couple of days ago, a Protestant pastor in Orlando was brought to court for allegedly expressing relief (joy) that 49 “pedophiles” had been eliminated.

What DU30 and Yasay must grasp This is the kind of environment PDU30 has to contend with when he says he will not apologize for his unrepeatable remarks against Goldberg. This is also what Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. fails to appreciate. DU30 may dismiss it as a minor thing, which the State Department has decided to shove under the rug, but that could be a mistake. In politics, national or international, one can sometimes forgive everything else except the minor injuries. We saw this in the case of Marcos and Erap Estrada

in their last days in office.

Washington’s real problem with Marcos had to do with the bases.

The Americans wanted the term extended after the expiration of the bases agreement in 1991. But they could not get any indication that Marcos would agree to it, having caused the same agreement to be shortened in 1966 from the original 99 years to the next 25 years.

They could not openly attack him for this, since he was merely upholding a sovereign agreement, to which the US had earlier fully consented. They had to exploit other issues.

What happened to Marcos and Erap While casting around for other issues, certain rumors were heard about one senior US diplomat allegedly having an affair with a former international beauty queen.

These rumors were traced to chattering sources at the Palace.

Former Secretary of State George Shultz fails to mention these in his Memoir (Turmoil and Triumph: My Years as Secretary of State), which contains an interesting chapter on the last days of Marcos; but these obviously helped to hasten the erosion of the embassy’s support for the President.

Something else happened to Estrada. As a senator Estrada had voted against Cory Aquino’s treaty extending the bases agreement by another 10 years. When he ran for and became President he had a solid mass base that refused to recognize his inherent and most obvious defects as a candidate,

and as head of State. His personal excesses scandalized the diplomatic community, but because of his perceived popularity with the masses, none of them dared criticize him in public.

But the turning point came when US President Clinton sent Erap a written request, handcarried by Defense Secretary William Cohen, that he suspend his “all-out war” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, because an American had walked into the MILF camp and been taken hostage. Erap read the letter, but told Cohen it was too late—he had already issued the order and could no longer recall it.

Cohen asked if Erap could at least speak to Clinton on the phone and explain the situation to him in person. Erap said there was no point, since he could no longer do anything about it. This was something nobody ever did to the President of the most powerful nation on earth.

These “minor injuries” had unimaginable consequences. Marcos was eventually ousted by a civilian- and US-backed military coup, which installed Cory Aquino as revolutionary President; Estrada was similarly ousted in a judicially assisted coup after a botched Senate impeachment trial, which installed his Vice President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in his place. In the Goldberg incident, the injury may not be as small as DU30 and Yasay seem to think it is; it could precipitate unforeseen consequences.

PAGE A7

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 19-25, 2016

Pacquiao slams corruption, politicking in sports agencies

by Paolo

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA – Politicking and corruption in the country’s sports agencies hinder the Philippines from producing champion athletes, according to world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

Now a senator who chairs the Senate committee on sports, Pacquiao called for an end to the corruption and politicking as he presided over the first public hearing of his panel attended by officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and other sports governing bodies as well as those from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

During the hearing, Pacquiao asked PSC chief William Ramirez whether he was aware of the rampant corruption in his agency.

“There’s no perfect agency,” Ramirez responded.

Pacquiao warned the sports officials that the Duterte administration is serious in its anti-corrup-

Senator Manny Pacquiao warned the sports officials that the Duterte administration is serious in its anti-corruption campaign and “there must be change” in the way they run their agencies.

Philstar.com photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea

tion campaign and “there must be change” in the way they run their agencies.

“They must fix whatever needs to be fixed, stop whatever wrong that’s happening,” Pacquiao told reporters after suspending the hearing.

Pacquiao said he has been hearing stories of corruption in the sports bodies and he wants to unearth the truth about this in future hearings “because this is one of the hindrances to our programs that should produce great athletes.”

Not too late to apologize...

PAGE A6

Don’t mess with this diplomat Last week, the State Department summoned Patrick Chuasoto, Charge d’Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, to explain DU30’s “inappropriate” remarks. The Press Director of the State Department issued a press statement showing the US government’s concern about the whole incident. Goldberg, according to the spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau, “is a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior diplomats.”

What did the Charge say to the State Department? And what did the head of the Philippine Desk or someone higher say to the Charge?

Nothing about their conversation has so far been reported. But the Charge could not have done much better than the Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, when he was grilled by Al Jazeera’s news anchor Mehdi Hasan on PDU30’s “true intention” in saying the various things he has been saying to the press and the public.

Misreading the State Department I raised this matter with Yasay during a Roundtable conference at The Manila Times on Mon-

day morning, but he appeared confident that the Goldberg incident had been laid to rest by the Charge’s appearance at the State Department. Nothing more has been heard from the State Department, he said; no need to belabor the point. I do not share that confidence.

In Marcos’ time, I heard no complaints from the State Department against rumor-mongering from inside the Palace about the alleged womanizing by some senior US diplomats. (I had left the Cabinet by then, and had heard about the Palace rumors, but nothing about any reaction from the State Department.) Neither did I hear anything from the State Department or the Pentagon after Erap had refused to talk to Clinton on the telephone about his all-out war against the MILF. I was a senator then and was present in Malacanang when Cohen delivered Clinton’s letter and Erap read it. But the lack of official State reaction in either case failed to prove that all was well.

Quite the contrary.

DU30’s rude remark about Goldberg is now in the public domain, and will probably remain there for so long as it is not formally withdrawn or amended. Meanwhile,

Goldberg is scheduled to leave Manila soon for his next assignment. He will be succeeded by a professional Asian-American diplomat who is an old hand in North Korean affairs. DU30 should pray that Goldberg is not assigned in a post where he could make important decision calls on US policies or programs affecting the Manila government. He cannot possibly expect any favors from Goldberg.

Robredo has her own play, too While DU30 remains nonapologetic on this incident, Vice President Leni Robredo is getting a lot of wooing from the old Hyatt10 and BS Aquino 3rd crowd, and also from some outsiders trying to connect her to some interventionist governments. They clearly want to play the Vice President’s card, and despite her newfound relationship with the President, she may not be able to resist the temptation of being played. For now, these are mostly local players with limited capabilities. But powerful external actors could weigh in, if DU30 does not watch out. This is one reason why DU30 may find it in his self-interest to apologize to Goldberg, the US government and the LGBT community, even at this late stage. (ManilaTimes.net)

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august 19-25, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Your Immigration Solution GreGory J. Boult and nancy Miller APPLYING for naturalization (citizenship) is the final step in the immigration process for many immigrants. While the general requirements to establish eligibility for naturalization appear straightforward, they often are not. Many naturalization applicants are surprised when their applications are denied. The immigration laws and regulations which control eligibility for naturalization are littered with traps and pitfalls which the unsuspecting applicant may not recognize until it is too late.

All applicants for naturalization must establish that they are persons of good moral character during a prescribed period of time prior to submitting their applications (one, three or five years, depending on what grounds one is applying under). While the immigration laws itemize specific acts which preclude an applicant from establishing good moral character, this list is not exclusive – there are many other acts which may hinder or prevent a good moral character finding. In addition, while good moral character must be established for a prescribed period of time prior to submitting an application, acts outside of the prescribed period can be considered in determining an applicant’s good moral character.

Many acts that one might not think of as evidencing bad moral character may nevertheless be considered in making a good moral character determination.

One such act is the willful failure to pay support for dependents.

For instance, it is extremely difficult to establish good moral character when one is not complying with a child support order. Even the failure to support a dependent without an underlying court order can prove problematic. Another act, which is often a surprise to many applicants, is engaging in an extramarital affair which tended to destroy an existing

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2016

CJ

Journal Am I eligible to naturalize?

Avoiding the pitfalls to becoming a US Citizen

marriage. This issue often arises when an applicant had a child outside of a prior marriage. Other acts which may result in the delay or the denial of an application for naturalization include the submission of fraudulent or improperly prepared income tax returns. Tax returns often come under scrutiny because individuals file under the incorrect category, claim ineligible dependents, or fail to report all of their earnings. In some instances, even the receipt of public assistance can cause the delay or denial of an application for naturalization.

Criminal convictions are often an issue in establishing an applicant’s good moral character.

While a disqualifying criminal conviction in the prescribed period of good moral character will automatically render an individual ineligible for naturalization, a disqualifying criminal offense outside of the prescribed period can cause an application for naturalization to be denied. The government is afforded broad discretion to examine otherwise non-disqualifying criminal convictions outside the prescribed period to determine if the underlying facts warrant a favorable finding of good moral character.

Therefore, as a result, an analysis of good moral character extends far beyond the prescribed period.

These issues may not result in an automatic denial but they must be adequately explained.

Other pitfalls and traps also lurk for the unsuspecting applicant. One common example is the Selective Service requirement which directs all male citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States who are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six to register with the government. Unfortunately, many lawful permanent residents fail to register. As a result, many of these individuals are compelled to wait until five years after they turn

twenty-six before they are eligible to apply for naturalization. Others may face the daunting, although not impossible, task of legally justifying their failure to register.

While certain acts may automatically disqualify an individual from eligibility for naturalization, the government’s very broad discretion spans many acts which most applicants never realize could negatively affect their applications. In order to insure that no unnecessary delays, or a denial, are encountered, each prospective applicant should obtain a clear and thorough understanding of not only the process of applying for naturalization, but also the potential pitfalls and traps which must be avoided to insure the timely success of their application. An experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney will advise an individual of his or her eligibility for naturalization, identify the prospective pitfalls and traps in the applicant’s case, and determine how to effectively overcome these negative aspects of the case. Of course, the experienced attorney also represents the applicant through all stages of the naturalization process to ensure that his or her legal rights are protected and preserved. While the general requirements to establish eligibility for naturalization may appear straight-forward, prospective applicants must be aware that ‘the devil is in the detail.’ ***

Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 795-8009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

(Advertising Supplement)

by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Money sent home by Filipinos abroad expanded 4.8 percent to $2.33 billion in June, bringing the first half tally closer to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s forecast for the year.

The latest growth figure was the biggest since the 8.4 percent recorded in February. For the first semester, remittances hit $13.19 billion, up 3.2 percent year-on-year.

BSP projects a growth rate of four percent this year. Last year, money from overseas Filipinos, a key economic driver that boosts consumer purchasing power, increased 4.6 percent.

“The continued demand for skilled Filipino workers abroad supported the steady remittance inflows,” the central bank said in a statement.

Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration, BSP said the number of deployed new workers abroad hit 316,716 in the first half, adding to more than

Money sent home by Filipinos abroad expanded 4.8 percent to $2.33 billion in June.

Philstar.com file photo

10 million Filipinos abroad.

Broken down, land-based workers rose 0.9 percent, while their sea-based counterparts dropped 55.6 percent.

In terms of remittances sent, land-based workers also accounted for the bulk at $10.4 billion as against sea-based employees with $2.8 billion as of June.

Majority of remittances, accounting for 80 percent of the total, came from the US, Saudi

Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the UK, Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Germany.

“The steady stream of remittances was (also) supported by the efficient network of bank and non-bank remittance channels established worldwide to cater to the various needs of overseas Filipinos,” central bank said.

Data showed banks’ footprint

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Small startups may start getting gov’t funding

by Mayvelin

u. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

PEOPLE who have no bank accounts but want to start a small business venture can now obtain government funding for it.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Mae Fe Templa signed on Tuesday, August 16, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 10693 for providing needy people access to microfinance services and operations. The chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission,Teresita Herbosa, was also a signatory.

Streetfood vendor

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AUGUST 19-25, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq.

THE minor children of beneficiaries petitioned by their US citizen parents, siblings or employers may be able to immigrate with the principal beneficiaries once the priority dates of their immigrant petitions become current. However in a lot of situations, these principal beneficiaries are not ready to bring their minor children with them to the United States all at the same time. The minor children are thus left behind till the principal beneficiaries are able to adjust and establish a life for themselves in the United States.

A common mistake being made by these principal beneficiaries when they are ready to bring their minor children to the United States is that new and separate immigrant petitions are being filed by these principal beneficiaries for their minor children. This has resulted in unnecessary expenses and considerable delays in bringing the children to the United States due to long processing times and visa availabilities. Worse, some

Community Journal

Minor children may be able to immigrate faster as derivative beneficiaries

of them may have to wait longer because they would have aged out by the time the priority dates becomes current.

Instead of filing new and separate petitions for these minor children, a request for derivative beneficiary registration or following to join application should have been done with the appropriate consular office or National Visa Center. This would have saved the principal beneficiaries unnecessary expenses by doing away with the immigrant petition filing fees. More importantly, it allows the principal beneficiaries to be reunited with their minor children for a much shorter period of time.

In most situations, derivative minor children can get their immigrant visas in about four to six months from the time the request for derivative beneficiary registration is filed with the US Embassy.

To illustrate this situation, we take the case of Maribel. Maribel was petitioned by her US citizen mother. At the time the petition became current, Maribel was still

single but she had three minor children ages 18, 15, 12. Maribel then decided to immigrate to the United States by herself as she would like to look for work first so that she could support her children and get a place of her own once her children follow her to the United States. A year and a half later, Maribel is ready to bring her children over to the United States.

She can now file a Request for Derivative Beneficiary Registration with the US Embassy in Manila so that her children could get their immigrant visas. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com.

The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic. (Advertising Supplement)

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Rewriting your own story “A useless life is an early death.”

—Goethe

Monette ADevA MAglAyA MOST memorable life stories that stand out and become etched in the human collective consciousness are products of oft-repeated re-writes and skilled editing.

If you’ve been given the chance to restart a new life after you’ve gone through some life-changing, miraculous experience, such as surviving a horrific accident when everyone else perished, or finding yourself inexplicably healed from a deadly disease, then you’ll know what it feels to be given a reprieve, a fresh slate, a clean paper.

This is what the Greeks call a tabula rasa, on which you can begin writing your new story. Or if you use a computer, click on a new blank document and chase the cursor as memories of things past come alive like a stream of gushing consciousness and take shape through the written word.

How does one use this new lease on life?

Most people lucky enough to be given a second chance, will quickly realize that this new lease can just be an extra few months or years, and in the most blessed scenarios, a decade or two. Each day beyond that critical turning point is a bonus, every single moment, a gift.

Sometimes, God mercifully knocks some sense into us through drastic means by throwing us a curve ball to bring us down on our knees so that we have no choice but to look above and beyond our own petty, selfish concerns and total self-involvement in order to grasp the concept of our own mortality and to know that we are here for just a little while for a purpose.

Human beings were not created to merely consume resources or take up space. Consider the fearsome dinosaurs. Grazing the earth for millions of years, that is essentially what they did — consumed resources and took up space. Not by intelligence but by sheer size and numbers, they had dominion over all other species for millions of years, until one day, as scientists try to explain

their extinction, a rogue asteroid about 7 miles long, possibly got unhinged off its orbit in the asteroid belt, hit the earth with such impact, setting off a series of volcanic eruptions that covered the atmosphere with ash far above the stratosphere, so that sunlight could not penetrate through the haze for years, killing off the plant life, upsetting and destroying the food chain balance and effectively starving and wiping the dinosaurs off the face of the earth 65 million years ago.

Here is earth’s tabula rasa story — starting on a clean slate, a new lease on life. When the reptiles died, mammals, of which we are classified under, began their ascent. Human beings with purpose came to be.

Yet each man’s purpose is nebulous and not always obvious. Purpose does not come as clear as the light of day. We have to seek it out. Either by choice or circumstance, some exceptional ones find their purpose early enough and proceed to fulfill it.

But the great majority of people on the bell curve don’t have the nose to sense their true north.

Most of us of the garden variety meander about our lives trying different things until we finally stumble upon it by trial and error. The annals of history are rife with such stories.

St. Paul, almost single handedly nourished the beginnings of the early Christian church through his numerous travels.

But he didn’t start out that way.

He was just as passionate about persecuting Christians before he was tapped from above to do a complete conversion.

Edwin Hubble, the great astronomer who lived in the nineteen twenties and for whom the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is named for his outstanding achievements in expanding our view of the universe, tried different things before finding out what he was meant to do.

In college, Hubble played championship basketball and even tried boxing. After fighting in World War I, he studied law,

tried lawyering for a year and obviously didn’t like it. Something must have happened because he went back to college to study astronomy and finally found his footing and his purpose in life.

That’s what most of us do. We try different lives, put on different hats, multitask like crazy, until one day, by God’s grace, we find the one true thing that matches heaven’s purpose. Here’s one caveat though: just don’t run out of time. No one wants to leave with unfinished business.

If our stations in life allow us the luxury of choice, then more than likely, we will be meandering too and trying different things before coming on board to the ship that will likely bring us to the port of our purpose.

We don’t really have to wait for something dramatic, traumatic or tragic to happen to get us on track to finding that purpose. But do go to the right source. Nix the harebrained ideas coming from most of the media about what that purpose might be.

When it comes to things that matter, most of the mainstream media has proven itself to be unworthy of trust. They lie like hell’s minions. Media is no longer just for profit. These days, media has morphed into a diabolical tool to push an agenda of evil intent particularly among the young, the naïve and the foolish.

Tune out of the external world and go deep within. If you pray hard enough and long enough and live in the silence for a little while, chances are, you’ll find it, whatever IT may be.

You can then begin rewriting your own story on a new document page. AND if the stars are in alignment when you were born, perhaps, conclude the last chapter of your life story with that much sought-after ending that says, “ AND (supply your name here) lived happily ever after……” *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Don’t get schooled — be prepared with Social Security YOUR summer job has ended, so there’s no better time than now to start planning for retirement. You can easily be ahead of the game and secure your future with a few simple steps. As a millennial, you are in the best position for planning, investing, and saving for your retirement, growing that nest egg as large as it can be. The sooner you start, the more money you will have.

There are two easy ways to prepare for retirement at a young age: Start a my Social Security account. Having a personal and secure account is easy, but better yet, it empowers you. You can access the services you need in the convenience of your own home without traveling to a local office and waiting in a long line. To view your social security statement, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

As you can see, many of our resources are available online and my Social Security is one of the best places to access vital in-

formation about your retirement.

We are constantly adding new features to make your experience with us faster and more convenient. You can even replace a lost or stolen Social Security card in certain states.

You should also start a myRA account. It’s never too early, and the more you save now, the

more you will have later. myRA is designed for people who don’t have a retirement savings plan through their employer, or are limited from other savings options. Check it out at www.myra. gov. If your employer provides a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k), learn more about that

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Small startups may start getting gov’t funding

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Also present at the signing were Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV and Rep. Pablo Nava III of the APPEND party list group, who were both instrumental in authoring their respective versions of the law in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Under RA 10693, aspiring small entrepreneurs who do not have access to financial products and services can team up with accredited microfinance non-government organizations (NGOs) that will provide them with convenient, flexible and low-interest credit.

A key feature of RA 10693’s IRR is the set of guidelines on the creation of a Microfinance NGO Regulatory Council, which is tasked to accredit non-government organizations that provide financial products and services to small entrepreneurs.

An accredited microfinance NGO is eligible for preferential tax treatment of 2 percent tax— in lieu of national taxes—based on the respective gross receipts from microfinance operations.

This new law is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10point socioeconomic agenda designed to sustain the economy’s high growth path and make its benefits felt by all Filipinos.

“By providing financial assistance to small entrepreneurs who would otherwise be turned away by financial institutions because of their perceived “unbankability,” the Duterte presidency would partly realize its electoral mandate of dispersing wealth and making growth inclusive,” Dominguez said.

Lopez said the law would “provide market access to small entrepreneurs and simplify the processes for them” in borrowing

Remittances grow at…

PAGE CJ1 t

abroad through tie-ups with remittance centers and overseas lenders actually declined 5.65 percent year-on-year to 5,228.

BSP did not provide a reason for the decline, but earlier, officials cited concerns on overseas de-risking attitudes toward Philippine banks seen with relaxed money laundering rules.

Remittances form part of the

country’s balance of payments (BOP), which is the sum of all credit inflows and outflows in an economy.

For this year, the BOP is projected to record a surplus of $2 billion, narrower than last year’s $2.616 billion.

A surplus indicates the country has more resources to settle its debt obligations and trade needs. n

funds for their businesses.

Aquino said that with this support given by the law, microfinance NGOS can do their job better and the microfinance industry can help bring families out of poverty in a sustainable way.

Nava pointed out that the tax relief given to microfinance NGOs “would free more resources that they would otherwise use to pay for the VAT and the other taxes that the Bureau of Internal Revenue had previously imposed on them, to help more poor families gain access to credit facilities.”

Herbosa, on the other hand, said the law would help microfinance NGOs “lend to people who would like to engage in small businesses” such as “sari-sari stores, small parlors and other similar enterprises.”

Templa said the new law would provide the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) “with additional support in its ongoing efforts of improving sustainable livelihood programs of the DSWD,” especially for the ongoing Pantawid ng Pamilya Pilipino Program, the government’s conditional cash transfer program for the country’s poorest of the poor.

RA 10693 was signed into law by former president, Benigno Aquino III on November 3, 2015. n

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USCIS clarifies certain naturalization eligibility requirements

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE USCIS recently updated its Policy Manual on when a lawful permanent resident (LPR) is eligible to file for naturalization.

The significant change is defining when the person is considered an LPR. The basic eligibility requirements include: • The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

• The applicant must establish he or she has been lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence.

• If the person’s LPR status was not lawfully obtained for any reason (fraud or was not in compliance with the immigration law), the person is not considered to have been lawfully admitted, and therefore not eligible for US citizenship.

• For example, if a person obtain a green card as “single”, but was secretly married, the person was not lawfully admitted, and would not be eligible for US citizenship.

• Another example is if a person obtained a green card through a fixed marriage. If that comes out during the naturalization interview, not only would his naturalization application be denied, but the USCIS could also revoke their

green card.

• This is true even if they are already LPRs. There should have been no fraud in connection with the way they obtained a green card.

• The person is considered to be an LPR (green card holder) at the time USCIS approves their adjustment of status application (Form I – 485) or when the person enters the US with an immigrant visa through American Embassy processing.

• It doesn’t matter how long, or how many years, USCIS may have taken to adjudicate the person’s adjustment of status; they become an LPR only on the date the case is finally approved.

• A person who is a conditional permanent resident (CPR), for example through marriage, is also eligible to file for naturalization after the removal of the conditional status and three years from the date he got his green card (CPR).

If a person committed certain crimes, or is still on probation, they may not be eligible to file for citizenship. In addition, some crimes can make a person deportable/removable. So, if a person goes ahead and files for citizenship, is fingerprinted, and the

crimes are uncovered, not only could their naturalization application be denied, but they could also face removal.

If you have any questions or issues about your eligibility to file for naturalization, you should first seek the advice of an attorney, who can analyze your situation. Don’t just file first, and see what happens. Your LPR status could be jeopardized and you could be deported. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

Business News

Housing backlog to hit 5.7M this year

by Catherine

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2016

talavera

ManilaTimes.net

THE country’s large housing backlog is worsening, which could lead to a bigger problem in the future, Vice President and housing chief Leni Robredo said.

At the Housing Solutions Congress organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Tuesday, August 16, Robredo, who also heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council (HUDCC), cited a study from the key shelter agency that projects the accumulated housing backlog from 2011 to 2016 to reach 5.7 million.

Robredo emphasized the urgency of addressing this demand, as it would take the construction of 2,602 housing units a day every day for the next six years to solve the backlog.

“If we divide the projected backlog of 5.7 million by the number of days in the six years that were given to us, you will find that we will need to build 2,602 homes per day in the next six years. And the clock is already ticking,” Robredo said.

The vice president noted that both the public and private sectors need to do their part and work together in order to meet the demand for housing.

“The housing crisis is indeed a ticking time bomb. The only way we can solve it is together,” Robredo said.

In addition, Robredo urged the creation of a comprehensive road map that will be based on accurate baseline data, global

Vice President and housing chief Leni Robredo

best practices, public and private financing solutions and stakeholder consultations.

“Without the right data to guide us, we will be running blind,” the vice president stressed.

For the public sector’s part, Robredo noted that the cooperation of local government units is critical in coming up with the roadmap.

“We need an inventory of all government properties available for housing. We will need the cooperation of all local government units for this. We will need to revisit the calculation of 5.7 million families. How many are in Metro Manila, how many are in the countryside,” the vice president explained.

Also, there is a need to find the right model that can address the county’s housing needs.

“We are looking at the approaches used by Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. There

are also innovations already in place in Quezon City, in San Juan, Valenzuela, that resulted from partnerships with the private sector and the local government,” Robredo said.

Robredo urged the private sector to adopt business models that addresses social needs, aside from profitability.

“For the private sector, now is the time to create business models that address social needs… you can create business models that make you rich, no longer at the expense of the poor but to help the poor,” the vice president said.

Moreover, in order to attract developers to venture into the socialized housing market, Robredo noted that the government aims to “shorten and sweeten” the processes involved in acquiring permits and licenses for these socialized housing projects.

“Very few developers find socialized housing attractive because the process is very long and very tedious. There are many things that can be simplified without reducing proper controls and setting aside guidelines,” Robredo noted.

Similarly, Robredo also noted the streamlining of processes in the key shelter agencies.

“We are looking at a one-stopshop concept where they can go where they need to go in one place and much of the paperwork will be done by the shelter agencies themselves,” “It is also imperative that we streamline the processes both in the demand and in the supply side,” Robredo added. n

NEDA focuses on 5 targets in development plan

by Czeriza

valenCia Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines would be incorporating in the next national development plan the attainment of five priority targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said over the weekend.

Among the 17 SDGs, the Philippines would prioritize goals such as poverty reduction and social inclusion, environmental sustainability, climate change and disaster risk management, accountable, responsive and participatory governance, fair and stable order based on international rule of law, and peace and security.

NEDA said the country’s post2015 development agenda based on these pillars aim to build a “rights-based, equitable and sustainable society.”

“There is an ongoing process of integrating SDGs simultaneously into the long-term vision and goals and the national, sectoral and subnational plans and frameworks,” said NEDA deputy

CREWMAN WENT HOME TO MANILA ON PROVISIONAL WAIVER AND CAME BACK TO THE U.S. WITH A GREEN CARD —ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel obtained a Provisional Waiver for Jerome, a crewman who jumped ship. Jerome had filed for Adjustment of Status on his own, but it was denied, because he was not eligible. With the approved Provisional Waiver of the 3\10 year bar, Jerome returned to the Philippines for visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. His wife and children wondered and prayed if Jerome could make it back to the U.S. Every crewman and their U.S. spouse should watch the outcome of this Provisional Waiver case on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, August 14 at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS AU G U ST 2 0

ANCOP Walk New Jersey The ANCOP Walk brings together hundreds of participants across the U.S. and North America, walking together to help the poor in the Philippines and third world countries.

ANCOP Foundation USA is a Christian based organization founded by the Couples for Christ which helps the very poor in the Philippines and other countries by providing support to select organizations that work for the poor. Current projects focus on child education sponsorship programs and values formation. Walkers’ participation and generosity in the ANCOP Walk will help provide quality education to children in poor communities. The organization serves the poor from all walks of life regardless of faith and denomination. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. To register, please visit www.ancopusawalk.org; the registration fee is $15. For more information, please contact Jon Teves at jteves92@yahoo.com or Fernando Silva at frsilva99@gmail.com.

AU G U ST 27

St. Margaret Mary Parish Luau The St. Margaret Mary Parish will celebrate their Annual Luau on August 27 at the SMM Parish Hall on 12686 Central Ave., Chino, California. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Duo. For more information, please call SMM Filipino Ministry President - (909) 315-9812, Adel Rellora.

SEPTEMBER 1

Startup Business Expo Tour (with Tagalog translation) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to the 2016 Startup Business Expo Tour. The series of events is intended to help startups, small businesses, entertainment and production companies, food services, event planners, home-based businesses, entrepreneurs, fashion & beauty businesses, e-commerce, accounting services, cleaning services, consultants, childcare and more! Topics include: starting a business in LA, predicting your financial future, choosing a legal entity & access to capital. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6313 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Ste. 2140, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. The event is FREE & open to the public. There will also be free food & refreshments for participants. To RSVP, please visit www.startuptourla.com.

SEPTEMBER 3

Filipino Association of Leisure World Annual “Luau” The Filipino Association of Leisure World will hold its Annual Hawaiian Luau at the LW Hall (1232 Golden Rain Rd. Seal Beach, California) on Saturday, Sept. 3. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. Please call the president of the association, Ren Villanueva at (323) 854-6209 for other related questions.

S E P T E M B E R 9 -1 7

42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) invites everyone, Bicolanos, devotees and friends to come and celebrate the 42nd annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of the Bicol Region. The festivities will start on Sept. 9, with the translacion at 5pm at the Immaculate of Mary Church (4954 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. A nightly novena Mass follows from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 at 6 PM except on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 PM and Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2;30 PM and culminates on Saturday, Sept.

17, with the ninth day novena at 8am, foot & fluvial procession at 9 AM, and a Concelebrated Mass at 10 am at Lincoln Park, 3501 Valley Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90031. Main celebrant will be HE Most Rev Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon. For details, please call Lanie Berrei (818) 281-3169 or Gene Leano (818) 439-6896.

SEPTEMBER 10

17th annual Asian Small Business Expo

work. These would also be further elaborated in the various sub-national and sectoral development plans.

The SDGs is a set of 17 aspirations spearheaded by the United Nations and agreed upon by various states to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and address the effects of climate change by 2030.

In brief, the goals are as follows: No poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and adequate sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, promotion of industry and infrastructure, reability benefits. To learn more duced income inequality among PAGE CJ2 t plan’s potential matching contri- about disability and to apply, go countries, sustainable cities and butions or other benefits. to www.socialsecurity.gov/dis- communities, responsible consumption and production, proDid you know that a 20-year- abilityssi/apply.html. old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of Remember, that summer job viding action against climate becoming disabled before reach- might be behind you, but you change, protection of marine life, ing full retirement age? Social have a bright future ahead. Social sustainability of land resources, Security will be there for you if Security is there, helping you ev- keeping of peace and forging you become disabled and can- ery step of the way, securing today strong institutions, and maintenot work. Accessing your online and tomorrow. (By Anne Parker / nance of close global collaboraaccount can also help you deter- Social Security Public Affairs Spe- tion for the attainment of these goals. n mine your estimated future dis- cialist in Sacramento, CA) director general Rosemarie Edillon.

“Having known the collective aspirations of Filipinos through the long-term vision, the next step is to identify strategies to achieve them. We will be guided by the quality of life characteristics indicated in the 2030 Agenda and the principle that no one should be left behind,” she added.

The strategies for attaining these goals would be mainstreamed in the next mediumtern development plan, the Public-Investment Program, and the yearly Budget Priorities Frame-

Don’t get schooled — be…

The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. Admission to the expo is FREE! It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Almansor Court Banquet & Conference Center, 700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, CA 91801. To register, please visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-asiansmall-business-expo-tickets-23824155691. Walk-ins are also welcome on the day of the expo. For more information, please visit www.apisbp.org.

S E P T E M B E R 23

AAPA’s leadership symposium Join the Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) for an all-day event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with exceptional and diverse keynote speakers and panelists, as well as multiple workshops on diversity and leadership topics. The symposium is open to everyone, and will be held at the Pacific Palms Hotel, 1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744. For more information, please visit http://aapamentoring.com/.

S E P T E M B E R 24

8th Regional Celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region invites everyone to the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint. Festivities will be on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at this year’s host parish, Holy Family Church - Glendale (209 East Lomita Avenue, Glendale CA 91205). Procession starts at 4:30 PM , then Mass at 5:30 PM with Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, as Principal Celebrant. Reception , fellowship and program will immediately follow at the Holy Family Grade School Auditorium across the church. For more information, please contact Ping Bayani at(913) 558-4332 or bayani0950@yahoo.com.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

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AUGUST 19-25, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Philippine economy could grow faster this year – Dominguez

by PRinz

P. MagtuliS Philstar.com

Tourism operators see bright prospects

by Raadee

S. SauSa ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) is confident that the Duterte administration will give the country’s tourism business a much-needed boost with its tourism infrastructure and transportation development program.

Citing the revitalized efforts of the Duterte administration to speed up infrastructure projects, PHILTOA president, Cesar Cruz said the new National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for the period 2016-2022 would accomplish what the previous administration did not accomplishwhich is basically infrastructure.

He further added “there is a

difference between the last government from this government. It might not always be the right one but I think the objective is there and it has always been done with speed. So that is what we are hoping for.”

Cruz is also optimistic of Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo’s plan to shape the industry.

“She said the NTDP is not the DOT’s plan alone, but should also be sustained by the tourism sector as well,” he pointed out.

He said that, Teo, the former president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) was part of the group that drafted the tourism agenda for the new administration, said Cruz.

“A huge part of the NTDP 20162022 is dominated by the requirements to meet the needed program of improving transportation networks, primarily through the expansion of airports, seaports, and roads,” according to DOT’s assistant secretary, Malou Japson.

However, the NTDP could work only with the private sector support in place, Japson stressed.

“Our plan is to attract more tourism investments from the private sector, primarily in modernizing and expanding our existing air fleets and building accommodation supply across all categories,” Japson added, in reference to the NTDP’s strategic direction toward improving tourism competitiveness and sustainable growth. n

PH on digital spotlight at Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX Asia) THE Philippines is on the digital spotlight as it won the bid to host to the 2016 Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX Asia) to be held on October 13 - 16, 2016 at the Philippines International Convention Center, Manila, Philippines.

TBEX is the largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators, social media savvy and other industry professionals, drawing over

EMPLOYMENT

a thousand participants from North America, Europe and Asia.

The conference is expected to draw about 1,000 delegates worldwide enabling travel and tour-related companies and organizations, marketing/PR firms and their clients to connect with the top digital travel influencers and experts.

The three-day event will include various seminars, meetings and presentations with the

participation of distinguished international experts, social media influencers and celebrities.

TBEX Asia 2016 will also conduct various activities, tours, and events featuring the Philippines’ unique offerings, as well as provide a platform for a business networking with local industry members. This undertaking is expected to generate media mileage and further promote the country. n

EMPLOYMENT

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy could grow faster than the official target for this year and would likely sustain that level under the Duterte administration, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.

“Our economy is expected to grow between 6.5 and 7.5 percent this year. This rate of growth (is) likely to continue into the medium term,” Dominguez said in a speech last week.

He delivered the speech before more than 500 guests at a business conference in Davao City. Copies of the speech were sent to the media over the weekend.

The Finance chief’s forecast is higher than the official six to seven-percent growth target this year, but matches the 2017 goals. Thee original target for the year was 6.8 to 7.8 percent.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier said the Duterte government would like to be “conservative.”

From 2018 to 2022, growth, as measured by gross domestic prod-

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez

uct (GDP), is targeted between seven and eight-percent. Secondquarter GDP figures will be reported on Thursday, August 11.

Dominguez said the local economy stands out amid external uncertainties and that increased infrastructure spending, to five percent of GDP from last year’s 3.3 percent, would boost that.

“This should immensely improve the logistics backbone of our economy as well as create jobs in the area that are less progressive,” he said.

“Gains in the efficiency of moving people and goods through the archipelago will bring down

costs for consumers and enhance the productivity of our farmers, as well as the manufacturing of the country,” he said.

He also reiterated focus that would be given to the countryside, particularly in Mindanao, as an economic driver through the “dispersal’ of economic activity.

Airports and powerplants would be built and improved, Dominguez said, while roads would be expanded to support tourism and encourage businesses to set their sights on the island.

“Government policy, however, constitutes only half the equation,” he said.

“The other half is private enterprise. As business opportunities present themselves, it is for you the entrepreneurs to seize them. Otherwise the business opportunities will simply pass...,” Dominguez said.

Investment opportunities he outlined for Mindanao include building new schools as well as business process outsourcing.

“These projects will draw in billions (of) investments. Tens of thousands of jobs will be created,” he said. n

HRSA awards $14,778,805 to grow California’s health workforce and expand health professions training THE Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced $14,778,805 in new awards to 38 organizations in California. The awards were part of $149 million given nationally through 12 workforce programs to prepare the next generation of skilled, diverse primary care providers to serve communities in need across the country.

“These awards will help increase access to quality health care for all Americans by educating and training culturally competent providers who are prepared to practice in high-need areas,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae. “By encouraging partnerships among academic institutions, clinicians, health care sites and public health entities, we can improve health outcomes in underserved communities.”

HRSA’s education and training grants support the development of a workforce that can meet 21st century needs through

an emphasis on diversity, distribution of clinicians, and quality services that encourage innovative team-based and interprofessional approaches.

“Our vision is to positively impact every aspect of the health professional’s career, from education and training to service,” said Macrae. “These awards will increase the number of health professionals providing quality care to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.”

The new grants were awarded through the following programs: • Primary Care Training and Enhancement ($14.5 million) funds 33 grants to hospitals, medical schools, academically affiliated physician assistant training programs and other entities to improve the quality, quantity, distribution, and diversity of the primary care workforce through curriculum enhancement and training program expansion.

• Advance Education Nursing Traineeship ($22.9 million) provides grants to 69 advanced

nursing programs that support the training of advanced practice nurses, emphasizing the critically important role nurses play in delivering primary health care services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

• Advanced Nursing Education ($11.3 million) funds 19 projects that develop and test innovative academic-practice partnership models for clinical training and prepare primary care advanced practice nursing students to provide safe, quality care.

• Graduate Psychology Education ($7.7 million) supports 31 grants to prepare psychologists to use an integrated and interprofessional approach to specifically address the behavioral health needs of underserved and/or rural populations, and to integrate behavioral health into primary care practice.

• Academic Units for Primary Care Training and Enhancement ($4.4 million) provides 6 grants to improve clinical teaching and

FOSTER HOMECARE

REAL ESTATE

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Faith communities gather for peace in Oakland, CA

Sant’Egidio, other international leaders taking part in event on Sept. 6

EVA, Avianca initiate code-share Adds greater convenience, more connections to Central and South America

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Star Alliance members EVA Air and Avianca began code-sharing on August 17, 2016, making travel between Asia and Central America more convenient and extending services for both airlines’ passengers. Under the code-share, Avianca passengers can take EVA-operated flights to Taipei from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Inbound from Asia, EVA passengers can connect through Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to fly Avianca to San Salvador.

Avianca is the primary Star Alliance operator of flights in Central and South America. The new code-sharing agreement enables EVA to offer passengers multiple itinerary choices for flying to the region. Passengers can connect onward aboard Avianca to San Salvador on nearly 20 flights a week. Travel time from Taipei to San Salvador via the United States is approximately 20 hours, including transit. EVA will continue to evaluate the feasibility of flying to other major cities in Central and South America through code-share relationships, pursuing opportunities to give passengers even more convenience and flexibility in the future.

El Salvador and Taiwan have close diplomatic ties. “Lonely Planet,” a leading travel guide publisher, describes El Salvador as one of the world’s best tourist destinations. The country offers a beautiful natural environment and rich tourism resources with rolling hills and a magnificent volcano. Lake Coatepeque is a scenic setting for travelers who enjoy diving, canoeing and water sports. The capital city of San

Salvador is a political, cultural and financial center with modern shopping and charming streets lined with historic buildings. The grand Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace are major attractions.

Since joining Star Alliance in June 2013, EVA has steadily increased passenger benefits and conveniences through cooperation with member airlines, offering services to more than 190 countries and more than 1300 destinations. In addition to Avianca, EVA has code-share relationships with Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines and 10 more airlines, extending routes and increasing frequency to give passengers seamless services to every corner of the world.

About EVA Air EVA Air was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 70 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to close to 70 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America. With just one easy stop in Taipei, travelers can connect onward to most major cities throughout Asia, including 30 destinations in China. Travelers can learn more about EVA and book, buy and reserve seats at www.evaair.com.

About Avianca Avianca is the commercial brand that represents the Latin American airlines integrated in Avianca Holdings S.A. Its workforce of over 21,000 employees is recognized for providing an

Peninsula Clean Energy starts enrollment for Millbrae residents

THIS month, Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) started sending out notices to Millbrae residents notifying them of their automatic enrollment in the program.

Through this first phase, 20 percent of residents in Millbrae will receive details on the benefits and options available to them, and have their PCE power delivered in October of this year.

“Millbrae residents are now going to get cleaner energy at lower prices,” said Millbrae Mayor Anne Oliva. “We are the owners of PCE. For every dollar we spend on PCE power, PCE reinvests that money back into energy sources and competitive pricing that only benefits us.”

Millbrae residents who receive notices will be automatically enrolled in the PCE’s ECOplus program, which is cleaner (50 percent renewable and 75 percent greenhouse gas free) and offers lower rates than electricity currently supplied by PG&E. Cus-

tomers will also have the option to buy up to 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources.

“PCE is the right choice for Millbrae. This is why we decided to opt-up to 100 percent renewable energy for all City facilities,” said Mayor Oliva. “We joined the PCE because we wanted to give Millbrae residents cleaner and cheaper energy options that support our economy and environment.”

As a joint power organization, residents and businesses in every city throughout San Mateo County will start receiving power from the PCE this year, with a full rollout in April 2017. PCE will use PG&E’s infrastructure to deliver power to homes and businesses throughout the county. Customers will continue to receive billing by PG&E. To learn more about Peninsula Clean Energy, please visit their website at www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/, or call them at 1-866-966-0110. n

HRSA awards $14,778,805 to…

PAGE CJ4 t

research in primary care training in order to strengthen the primary care workforce.

• Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship ($2.3 million) funds 80 nurse anesthetist education programs to provide traineeships to licensed registered nurses enrolled as full-time students in a master’s or doctoral nurse anesthesia program.

• Nurse Education Practice Quality and Retention - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Practicums in Community Settings ($3.1 million) provides 9 grants to increase experiential training opportunities for seniorlevel BSN students in primary care community-based settings by establishing and expanding upon academic-practice partnerships between schools of nursing and community-based clinical sites and providing students with training in medically underserved and rural communities.

• Nurse Education Practice Quality and Retention - Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Behavioral Health Integration ($4.3 million) provides 9 grants to integrate interprofessional and collaborative models of behavioral health services into routine nurse-led primary care delivered

to vulnerable and underserved populations.

• Nurse Faculty Loan Program ($24.4 million) provides grants to 89 nursing schools to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty in the United States. Support from this program allows nursing schools to offer eligible students partial loan forgiveness when they graduate and serve as full-time nursing faculty.

• Nursing Workforce Diversity ($4.5 million) provides 13 grants to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses, by providing student scholarships or stipends for various levels of nursing degree programs.

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award ($7.4 million) provides 20 grants to train postdoctoral health care professionals in primary care research.

• Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students ($42.3 million) enables 78 health professions schools to provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need in order to increases diversity in the health workforce. n

excellent world class service.

Specialized in air cargo and passenger transport, Avianca serves 105 destinations in 28 countries throughout America and Europe with its modern fleet of 177 aircrafts. As a member of Star Alliance, Avianca offers the possibility of connecting to an additional 1,330 airports in 192 countries around the world. Through its frequent flyer program, LifeMiles, the airline offers a wide range of benefits and travel options to its more than 6 million registered members. In 2015, Avianca Holdings subsidiaries transported over 28 million passengers. For more information please visit Avianca.com. n

OAKLAND — Faith leaders from five major religious traditions will gather to promote peace through an event hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Oakland with the Community of Sant’Egidio USA. Mercy: The Heart of Peace — an Interfaith Meeting of Prayer for Peace will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland on September 6, beginning at 5:45 p.m. This meeting continues the 30-year, international tradition of encouraging peace begun in 1986 in Assisi by Pope John Paul II. “There is something positive you and I can do to promote peace: by coming together to pray and give common witness to our desire for peace,” stated Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ. By providing a space for prayer and dialogue among the major religions represented in the Bay Area, local religious leaders will pledge to make peace a priority within their individual communities and make an appeal for peace to the larger community of the East Bay. The Sept. 6 program is as follows: 5:45 p.m. – prayer groups representing Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism meet in different spaces throughout the cathedral complex.

6:30 p.m. — panel dialogue.

Speakers include Dr. Professor

Musdah Mulia, president of the Indonesian Conference on Religions for Peace; Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber, former chair of Zionist Religious Education at the Ministry of Education in Israel; and Bishop Ioan Casian of Vicina, auxiliary bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas. In addition, Bishop Michael Barber of the Oakland Diocese will be present.

8 p.m. — procession and appeal for peace with local religious leaders.

The evening of prayer for peace comes a few days ahead of a national day of prayer for peace that was announced by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops following months of incidents of violence and racial tension in the United States. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the

USCCB, has declared Sept. 9, the feast of St. Peter Claver, a “Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities.”

The Sant’Egidio community is a movement of lay people who dedicate themselves to prayer, solidarity with the poor and service to peace. Begun in Rome in 1968 by high school students, it has spread to 70 other countries.

Individuals do not live together, but share prayer and volunteer to serve the poor. Those interested are invited to join the Sant’Egidio community at their next meeting on Sept. 8, 7 p.m., at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Berkeley.

For more information, contact santegidiousa@gmail.com.

Additional information can be found at JubileeOfMercy-EB.org or oakdiocese.org/InterfaithMeeting. n

CJ

AUGUST 19-25, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Friday, August 16, 2016

SF2

cover story

Filipino American Demographics

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 16, 2016

The culture of health in Filipinos

14% 51%

27% of ever being told to have hypertension

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/AJPress

When it comes to health, Filipinos in the United States tend to have a different view of sickness, health and wellness than that of Americans. According to “Culture and health of Among Filipinos (2007),” it all depends on which generation one belongs to, and how much of the traditions and culture are retained about health and health care.

One example is that FilipinoAmericans who have assimilated into U. S. culture see health through the lens of an American. Therefore, most of their health problems are clinically diagnosed and knowledge is obtained through medical sciences.

On the other hand, Filipinos (majority are first generation immigrants) still embrace traditional cultural views of health and medicine. They are also considered the least acculturated and of low socioeconomic status, and thus rely on a traditional healer

(referred to as a “hilot”) for selected illnesses or injuries; and would rely on natural remedies — such as herbs and oils — before going to a licensed doctor.

Current health problems: High blood pressure and obesity One major health problem prevalent among Fil-Ams is high blood pressure. In 2012, 60 percent of Fil-Am men and approximately 65 percent of women over the age of 50 had high blood pressure. even with these high numbers, controlling the disease is particularly poor and increases the risk for heart disease and death.

Many factors have been associated with the cause of hypertension among Fil-Ams, which include immigration-related stress, diet, and cultural beliefs. Of course, the lack of exercise, smoking and lifestyle — elements that are common with other Americans — are also contributing factors.

Obesity/being overweight is

Obesity/being overweight is another health problem affecting the Filipinos, and it persists because of overeating, unbalanced meals, irregular meals, unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise.

Population in California

1,098,321

$ 26,971

1,474,707

6% 17%

34%

87%

11%

According to “Filipino Heart Disease” which was published in 2012, cardiovascular disease is the first leading cause of death for Fil-Ams. Philstar.com photos

another health problem affecting the Filipinos, and it persists because of overeating, unbalanced meals, irregular meals, unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise. This is where culture comes in, as Filipinos love food and celebration. Also, many traditional Filipino dishes are high in fat and sodium. Along with food from other cultures, such as American fast food, Filipinos are at risk for heart disease. however, just like many Americans, financial and time constraints prevent Filipinos from changing their diets and having some form of exercise or physical activity.

“For me, it’s not being able to eat my meals on time,” said Marian (not her real name), a 43-year-old Filipina registered nurse in Vallejo, who was diagnosed with high blood pressure two years ago.

She is also a diabetic and about 30 pounds overweight. “My job schedule is erratic, so I tend to eat whenever I can.”

With her work schedule, Marian added that she’s either too tired or too lazy to exercise. “Sometimes I try to exercise at times and eat healthy, but I know that both

should be a regular thing.”

Also, smoking is a big problem for the younger Filipino population, as it is seen as a socially acceptable behavior. This increases the risk for chronic respiratory conditions, as well as risk for heart disease, stroke and cancer — which are the leading causes of death for Asian Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control (2013).

All about the heart According to “Filipino heart Disease” which was published in 2012, cardiovascular disease is the first leading cause of death for Fil-Ams. “Among Asian Americans, Filipinos have the second highest risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) after Asian Indians,” the study said.

Several classic risk factors for CVD include blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes.

As mentioned above, hypertension rates are higher in Filipinos compared to other Asian American groups and smoking is high in the Filipino male population.

Another risk factor for CVD that is prevalent in Filipinos is Type 2 diabetes.

The second leading cause of

26%

27%

26%

9%

Infographics by American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

death in Filipinos is cancer and the mortality rate of breast cancer is higher in Fil-Am women (including the elderly) compared to other Asian American groups. Also, according to “Patterns of health Risk (2013),” Filam men have the highest incidence and death rate from prostate cancer and lung cancer among Asian American groups.

The third major cause of death in Filipinos is stroke and is associated with same factors of obesity, smoking and hypertension.

Prevention and lifestyle change Regardless of which generation they belong, all Fil-Ams — whether acculturated or not — struggle with the health problems mentioned above. With the advances in medicine and technology, better access to health care and information; these issues can be

avoided and improve Filipinos’ health condition.

Today, Filipino chefs and foodies have continued to develop healthier versions of traditional dishes to give them alternative food choices. Adapting to these dishes include less salt and fatty ingredients. Dietary monitoring and portion intake are also important factors to consider.

A change in lifestyle is also essential aside from dietary factors. Staying active and having a regular exercise routine/program is highly recommended. Taking a 30-minute to an hour brisk walk at least 3-4 times a week not only builds stamina, but also helps better one’s circulation.

Lastly, it is important know the dangers of smoking and know that it will beneficial if one quits the habit.

On living well: Fit Chef for Life Katrina Palana-Soledad

By Christina

GrOund turKey with POtatO-beLL PePPer OmeLette tOPPed with GriLLed OrGaniC eGGPLant (Pork giniling & tortang talong inspired) Ingredients: GROUnD TURKeY BASe 1/2 cup Onions, diced 1 Tbsp, Garlic, minced 1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil 16oz extra Lean Ground Turkey 16oz Lean Ground Turkey 1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos 1/2 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper 1/2 tsp Pink himalayan Salt 1.5 cups water 2 cups Organic Potatoes, peeled and diced 1 cup Organic Yellow Bell Peppers, diced GRILLeD eGGPLAnT 1 large organic eggplant (slice lengthwise, 1/3 inch thick) OMeLeTTe 1 cup of Ground Turkey Base 1 large organic brown egg + 1 large egg whites only, well beaten Directions: • Pre-heat non stick pan to medium heat.

• Add grapeseed oil when pan is hot. Add diced potatoes immediately. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Remove from pan then set aside.

• Spray Canola spray on the pan, add onions then sauté a bit. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute…do not brown!

• Add the lean ground turkey, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and water. Cover pan with lid and cook

for 8-10 minutes until meat is not longer pink.

• Add bell peppers, black pepper and potatoes. Cover pan with lid and cook for another 5 minutes until bell peppers are soft.

Set aside.

GRILLeD eGGPLAnT • Pre-heat stove top grill to medium-high heat. Spray canola spray on the grill.

• Lay eggplant on the grill and cook each side for 3-5 minutes until you see the grill marks. Set aside.

OMeLeTTe • heat a non-stick pan to medium.

• Add canola spray when pan is hot. Add 1 cup of the ground turkey base, sauteé a bit then add beaten eggs. Cook each side for 3-5 minutes.

• Remove from pan and top with grilled eggplant.

M. oriel / AJPress

FOR Katrina Palana-Soledad, living well has been a journey — one 12 years in the making.

“Growing up in the Philippines, there’s no such thing as dieting,” she shared.

When she came to the United States, that’s when she began to explore ways to change up her routine by eating more balanced meals and making exercise a daily habit.

In 2011, she launched her website, Fit Chef for Life, and released an eCookbook under the same name. On both, she shares how her food choices have helped her reach her fitness goals and maintain her current lifestyle.

“This lifestyle is basically: when you reach your goal, it’s not over. When I started the website, I wanted to look good and feel good. But after, I just worked on myself and thinking on a longterm basis because I want to be fit for life — not just with the way I look, but with my health and overall wellness. I want to age gracefully — not live forever but to make sure I don’t have diseases,” she said. now, she’s a certified fitness nutrition coach, bodybuilder, triathlete and advocate for health, wellness & body positivity.

She also has plans to release a cookbook next year tailored for a Filipino audience.

“To me, wellness doesn’t just mean being physically fit. It has to be something that is physical and spiritual — mind, body and spirit.

You cannot excel just in one.”

She shared with the Asian Journal some of her tips: Small changes Implementing small changes like talking a daily walk or

swapping soda with water will go a long way, said Palana-Soledad.

When taking on a new workout schedule or trying to eat healthier by eliminating refined carbs or sugar, it’s important not too shock the body too quickly or else it will seem too difficult to keep up with this new routine. She added that a simple swap for Filipinos especially would be to opt for brown rice instead of white.

“Little changes have added up and slowly, but surely, became my lifestyle. It took a while because from eating whatever you want to suddenly changing it stepby-step…is the way to go. When people usually try to be healthy it’s abrupt, so they give up easily because their bodies get shocked and their routines are messed up,” she said.

Set goals Whether it’s to build muscle or run a 5K, Trina says it’s important to set your intentions and goals. “I try everything in a matter of six months to a year and I try to figure out if that works with my lifestyle and how my body responds to it. I tweak it according to my needs.”

Stay hydrated Though there are different opinions on what one’s daily water intake should be, the common notion is at least eight 8ounce glasses a day. It’s important to drink water throughout the day to avoid getting dehydrated.

One indicator is the color of your urine — the more yellow it is, it’s a tell-tale sign that you should be drinking more water.

For those who think water is too boring, Palana-Soledad recommends adding lemon, mint or berries.

Crazy FOr COCOnut PrOtein PanCaKeS (Bibingka inspired)

Minutes to Prepare: 10 Minutes to Cook: 5 Number of Servings: 4 Ingredients

*Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour, .5 cup *Organic Brown egg, 1 Large *Baking Powder – Aluminum

Keep moving even if you don’t want to join a gym or think you don’t have time to do a workout, PalanaSoledad says to start by walking during breaks or after work. If you want to kick it up a notch, she recommends using free resources like workout tutorials on YouTube.

For healthy recipes and ideas,

please visit her website at www. fitchefforlife.com.

“LIKe” her page on FB to get daily fitness and nutrition tips: www.facebook.com/ FITCheFFORLIFe Follow her on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/fitchefforlife/ and and IG: @glamfitcheftrina, or e-mail her at fitforlifechef@gmail. com.

Free, 1 tsp *Light Coconut Milk (canned) .75 cup or Light Coconut Milk Unsweetened (carton) *Coconut Palm Sugar, Sweet Tree, 3 tsp *no Salt Sodium-Free Salt Alternative, 0.25 tsp *whey-soy-vegan protein powder (unflavored or vanilla), 1 scoop (30g) *Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 1 tbsp *Canola Cooking Spray for pan grease {Optional: Organic Shredded Coconut, Reduced-Fat for Topping} Directions 1. heat a non-stick pan to medium-low.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat egg well.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

4. Batter will be a bit thick but soft.

Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4 Amount Per Serving Calories: 167.5 Total Fat: 8.6 g Cholesterol: 17.5 mg Sodium: 118.0 mg Total Carbs: 15.0 g Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g Sugars: 3.0g Protein: 8.8 g For more health recipes and ideas, please visit www.fitchefforlife.com, on Facebook at Fit Chef for Life or Instagram @ glamfitcheftrina.

Photos courtesy of Katrina Palana-Soledad / Fit Chef for Life

5. Add a little coconut oil and canola spray on the pan, then add 1/3 of the batter and spread well using a silicone spatula.

6. Cook 2-3 minutes for each side.{Optional: Add Organic Shredded Coconut, Reduced-Fat for Topping}

features SF3

Healthy alternatives to your favorite Filipino dishes

By Christina

M. Oriel / AJPress

Meet Michelle Ibarrientos, a Fil-Am based in Southern California, who whips up healthy versions inspired by Filipino favorites.

Before she was a selfproclaimed “health enthusiast,” Ibarrientos would feel bloated and get sick often — that’s when she knew it was time for a change.

When starting a health journey, she said it’s important to identify your “why.”

“It’s all about prevention now.

My kids are growing fast and I want to be there for them,” she said, noting how conditions like diabetes and hypertension run in her family, similar to many Filipino families.

Making minor adjustments, such as lessening the intake of white rice and noodles gradually

PanCit ZiHon Ingredients • 4 zucchinis, spiraled or sliced into thin, long strips • 1 carrot, spiraled or thin, long strips • 1/2 medium onion, julienned (thin) • 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned (thin) • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 3 cloves of garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp annatto seed powder • ¾ tsp fish sauce • 2 tsp coconut aminos • Freshly ground black pepper to taste • 2 sprigs of green onion, chopped (optional topping) • 2 boiled eggs (optional topping) • 1 lemon, cut into wedges (optional topping) Directions 1. Preheat the pan to medium low.

2. Add the oil, annatto seed powder, garlic, and onions. When the garlic and onions have softened, add the carrots and sauté until slightly tender.

3. Add the bell pepper and zucchini and mix it around.

4. Add the fish sauce and coconut aminos (to create a

goes a long way too. But that doesn’t mean cutting them out altogether; if you are used to having a cup of rice a day, you can cut it down to a quarter a day.

“Life is short but I don’t want it shorter,” she said, adding that it’s okay to have small indulgences every so often, but to keep in mind your goals and to not quit if you have one meal that strays away.

Ibarrientos also shares her Filipino recipes on Community Cooking, a cooking show aired on CitiCable 3 in torrance.

“I try to give people a sense that if they’re afraid of trying Filipino food because of certain restrictions, here are some alternatives. they are recipes my mom has made but with certain

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – August 19, 2016

Halo-Halo CHia Pudding

twists and changes,” she said. “It inspires people to eat healthier, but nothing drastic. trying to make a difference means a lot.”

For more recipes or to get in contact with Michelle, please visit her Instagram page @ goleanandgreen.

Base: • 3t chia seeds, organic (trader Joe’s) • 1 can organic light coconut milk (Whole Foods) • 4 packets of Stevia in the Raw* Added: Half of a cooked organic purple sweet potato, cut into small cubes (could be subbed with cooked ube, sweet potato, or taro) 1/4 cup cooked organic sweet corn kernels, non-gmo (Whole Foods) Feel free to add other toppings, such as jackfruit,

banana, and/or small red beans. *or use any sweetener of your choice but adjust the amount based on how sweet you want it to be Mix the base ingredients very thoroughly with a whisk, making sure that the seeds won’t clump together. Soak for at least 2hrs or overnight in the fridge (which is what I usually do).

Mix in the sweet potato and corn. to make it purplish, let the sweet potato sit in the base for a few minutes and then stir. enjoy!

Health tip: Instead of using glutinous rice balls and tapioca

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ibarrientos / @ goleanandgreen

balls, opt for chia seeds. these tiny seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and has numerous health benefits.

When soaked in liquid, the outer layer of the seeds start to soften and become gelatinous.

aga Muhlach back as a Kapamilya by eriC JOhn

salut ManilaTimes.net

NOW ready for his much awaited return to the Kapamilya network, Aga Muhlach is finally back in ABS-CBN after a threeyear stint in another network.

Aga was last seen in the sitcom “That’s My Doc” before moving to TV5. The multiawarded actor admitted he was looking forward to getting back to doing more quality projects with his return to his original home network.

Aga will be one of the judges along with Vice Ganda, Yeng Constantino and Sandara Park in the new ABS-CBN reality show, “Pinoy Boyband Superstar.”

Aga recently had a meeting with the people behind the upcoming new talent show and was accompanied by his manager Ethel Ramos. He was quick to accept the offer to be part of the show although there were apprehensions because of his

Photo courtesy of Michelle Ibarrientos / @goleanandgreen weight gain. So his only request was that he be given enough noodles (aka “zoodles”) is steam and help cook the vegtime to lose weight. etables faster). NOTE: To make a great, low carb option And guess what? The Voice instead of using rice/starch it low-sodium, start by using ¼ Kids mentor Lea Salonga was instrumental in convincing Aga noodles. tsp of fish sauce, and adjust if to take on the job.

Health tip #2: For those necessary.

“Lea called Aga and conwanting a low sodium, soy-free 5. Once the zucchini has vinced him to accept the offer,” option, use coconut aminos broken down and softened to says our source. Aga and Lea instead. It’s a healthier option your liking, add freshly ground have been friends for more than with flavor that is light and black pepper all around. two decades now. slightly sweet. It is made from Optional: Garnish with Being one of the ultimate the coconut sap and an abungreen onion, eggs, and lemon matinee idols during the ’80s, dant source of 17 amino acids, wedges.

Aga has continually proven to minerals, and other nutrients.

Health tip #1: Zucchini be a consistent box-office ac-

tor and his career has spanned more than three decades in showbiz already. With more than 60 movies under his belt, we can certainly expect Aga to focus on working hard on his road to a leaner physique. Lately, the talented actor has been sharing photos of him and wife Charlene jogging together and working out hard.

If plans push through, the 46-year-old actor’s contract signing which marks his return to ABS-CBN will happen this Aga Muhlach week.

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 19, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar SAM Milby is sporting a new smile these days and it’s because of a girl. The handsome actor’s newfound love is Japanese-British model-blogger Mari Jasmine. He met her through the social media, Instagram.

Ako ang nauna [na nag-follow sa social media], but it’s funny ‘coz matagal na siya sa Pilipinas, pero never kaming nagkita, sa event or anything, wala.”

It’s been awhile since he was in a relationship, and a lot of people were wondering

why the Kapamilya actor has avoided any kind of romantic attachments. He did, however, dated a few girls, but nothing came out of it. So this time, Sam was asked what he saw in Mari Jasmine that made him decide that she’s the girl for him?

“It just feels right, we have a lot in common also,” the actor replied in an interview with PEP.ph last Tuesday, August 16, at the presscon of his latest movie, “Camp Sawi.”. “But, yeah, it was just as simple...it just feels right.”

Club Royale president Gil G. Navarro and his wife, Jett Viray Navarro are hosting a merienda-cena party on Saturday, August 20, at Bahay na Puti in Santa Avenue in San Francisco for the presentation of the organization’s board of directors for 2016 at 5 p.m.

Sam Milby finds new love through social media

Sam added that they also had many things in common— beliefs and hobbies—that made them right for each other.

“She’s very health-conscious, and I’m the same way.

She’s very much into sports and I’m outgoing,” he said.

“Hindi talaga siya maarte at all, she’s just very simple, and I love that, her simplicity.

“No makeup at all, she goes out, she’s herself and I love that, her genuineness.”

So now he is crossing his fingers that this relationship could be “forever.”

“I’m not getting any younger, yeah, sana naman,” Sam shared and then added, ‘Like, what I’ve said, it’s so early, but sana. I wouldn’t get into a relationship kung wala akong nakikitang future.” *** The Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera recently celebrated her 32nd birthday at Balesin Island with hubby Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and their adorable daughter, Zia. Of course, their fans were not disappointed as the actress shared on Instagram photos of her and her family enjoying their vacation.

Marian also gave her loyal fans and viewers with a special treat on the final episode of her morning show, “Yan Ang Morning.”

Doubled as a birthday special for the actress, husband Dingdong was the guest.

During one of the segments, the couple sat down for a meal and Dingdong took the moment to ask his wife about her thoughts on turning 32.

“One year older ka ngayon,

Actor Sam Milby’s lovelife is blooming and it shows in his smile. The Kapamilya actor is now in a relationship with Japanese-British model-blogger Mari Jasmine.

Japanese-British blogger and model Mari Jasmine is the new love in actor Sam Milby’s life.

(Photo from marijasmine.com)

Shown in photo is Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera with husband Dingdong Dantes during her birthday celebration at Balesin Island.

(Photo from Instagram @therealmarian)

Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera recently celebrated her 32nd birthday with husband Dingdong Dantes and lovable daughter, Zia at Balesin Island.

(Photo from Instagram @dongdantes)

today mismo birthday mo.

Doon sa loob ng one year na ‘yon, ano ba yung mga natutunan mo? Anong masasabi mong ibang-iba nung 31 years old ka?,” he asked.

With a pause, Marian replied, “Siyempre may anak na ako ‘tapos married na ako.

‘Tapos, siguro, nag-iiba na mga pananaw ko sa buhay, alam mo iyan.

‘More on family at focus sa pag-aalaga sa anak natin.”

Marian also wished for their love and marriage to be stronger, and yes, to be blessed with more kids.

“Kasi isa yun sa pangarap nating dalawa.”

With an arm around her husband’s arm, she quickly added, “Tatlo pa.”

San Jose fashionable Filipino community leader Susan Pacifico celebrated her birthday last weekend at her new residence.

The celebrant is shown in photo with her daughter, Cristine Paul.

Beauty queens Marilen Bernardo, Leilani Venegas and their friend Miriam Abrigo met the Fil-Am pilot with no arms, Jessica Cox, after the exclusive premiere of the documentary on her life entitled, “Left-Footed” in San Francisco recently. Cox was born with no arms due to a rare birth defect, but it hasn’t stopped her from inspiring others. She is a licensed pilot, does taekwondo, has a double black belt in karate, drives and plays the piano -- all with her feet.

SECOND MOM. Singapore’s Olympic gold medalist, swimmer Joseph Schooling, shows his appreciation for the support of Filipino Yolanda Pascual, his family’s domestic helper for 19 years.

SINGTEL Youtube videograb

The Filipina nanny who helped raise Singapore’s Olympic gold medalist

by Joseph

Almer B. pedrAJAs

from being Schooling’s nanny, she has also been his “waterboy” every time the swimmer THE world watched in dipped in the pool. awe as Joseph Schooling of “I’ve always believed in Singapore defeated American him. I was watching and shoutswimmer Michael Phelps and won the first gold medal for his ing for him. I cannot express how happy I am…I was jumpcountry during the 2016 Rio ing and crying after he won,” Olympics.

Pascual said in the interview.

As the first Singaporean In a YouTube video made man to participate in an Olymby Singtel in 2015, the 21-yearpic swimming final, Schooling old Schooling showed appretriumphed against seven other swimmers and ranked 1st in the ciation for his nanny’s support men’s 100m butterfly division of and called her a “second swimming on Friday, August 12. mum.”

The 56-year-old nanny recMeanwhile, behind Schoolognized the esteem and also ing’s victory and abrupt promicommented that Schooling is nence are his coaches, teammates, family, and of course, his like her “own son.” She even recounted that, “when I miss Filipina nanny. him, I read our messages.”

In a phone interview with Pascual also narrated that the Sunday Times, Yolanda Pascual—or “Auntie Yolly” as she’s since 1997, she has been employed by the Schooling referred to—shared that aside AJPress

family. She boasted that the gold medalist “[has] been loving and caring and a very good boy. He never shouts at me or anybody.”

Nostalgic, the nanny recounted that Schooling “will always say ‘I want to be No. 1. I remember once we were watching (Michael) Phelps on TV, he told me he wanted to be there and be like him, and I knew he could do it. He has a very strong will; if he wants something, he’ll get it.”

“When friends asked [Schooling] to go out, he usually couldn’t because he had practice early the next day,” she added.

Schooling had met Phelps—now the most decorated Olympian of all time—in 2008 before the Beijing Olympics.

Charina Vergara recognized features SF5 globally as a Filipina of Distinction ‘DanRich’ loveteam charms San Francisco Filipina Leadership Global Summit and Gala Awards The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 19, 2016

Ceremony August 21-24 in Cebu, Philippines at Shangri-La Mactan Resort wALNUT, CALiFORNiA — Charina Vergara, Marketing Manager of island Pacific Supermarket was selected Most influential Filipina woman in the world (Global FwN100) by the Filipina women’s Network.

The Global FwN100 Award recognizes 100 women of Philippine ancestry who are changing the face of leadership in the global workplace, having reached status for outstanding work in their respective fields and are recognized for their achievement and contributions to society, femtorship and legacy. Charina was selected from an outstanding field of nominees from around the world.

Charina is being honored with the BUiLDER AwARD CATEGORY. Builders have demonstrated exceptional business impact at a large workplace environment; displaying deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with other corporations and non profit organizations on behalf of her own organization; demonstrates high potential and skill with measurable results at a government agency, or organization in the public and private sectors. “Buildership” is about building better organizations, leading broken organizations to adjust , repair, and re-align.

“The Global FwN100 women are dynamic entrepreneurs, practitioners, behindthe-scene leaders, community, government and corporate managers and executives who have moved through the ranks in large organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies.

They are inspiring examples of women doing extraordinary work who will motivate our youth and future leaders,” said Josephine Romero, Chair of the Global FwN100 worldwide Search and Selection Commit-

Island Pacific Supermarket’s Charina Vergara

tee. “They were selected based on the size and scope of their positions, influence in their industries and their communities, board affiliations and other leadership roles.”

The Global FwN100 Award is a working recognition award with a meaningful purpose and FwN’s 2020 Vision: a Filipina woman leader in every sector of the global economy by 2020. The awardees are asked to re-invent themselves by paying forward, femtoring a young Filipina woman and bring her to the Filipina Leadership Global Summit on August 21-24, 2016 in Cebu, Philippines at the Shangri-La Mactan.

Charina is now a partner in helping FwN develop the Filipina community’s pipeline of qualified leaders to increase the odds that some will rise to the “president” position in all sec-

tors of the global economy, “ added Marily Mondejar, FwN’s Founder & CEO. “we gather all these amazing women at the Filipina Summit to inspire each other and create synergy. we interview each awardee so that their collective stories of how they disrupted their professional and personal lives will be part the largest recorded diaspora in modern times.”

“The summit’s theme this year is influence. Accelerate.

Action. Seeing all the Awardees on stage during the gala awards ceremony assures me that the future of our young Pinay sisters is solid,” said Susie Quesada, President of Ramar Foods and FwN President.

“Awardees often share this inspiring evening with their mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sons, spouses, partners, young women and men, mentors and bosses from their organizations.”

The Filipina Summit’s aspirational sessions include “Smart.Young. Unintimidated.

Next Generation Leaders.Yes. we.Are., Make Me A Filipina Millionaire, Make Me A Filipina CEO. The popular ‘Pinay Speed Femtoring’ with selected 100 young Filipina professionals who will meet and learn from the Global FwN100 awardees is much awaited. Topic sessions include: STEM, Economic Empowerment, Health and well Being, Violence Against women, Entrepreneurship Breakthroughs.

Sponsors who have partnered to-date with FwN are wells Fargo, AT&T, Seven Seven Corporate Group, Ramar Foods international, and 5M. To sponsor the Filipina Leadership Summit or attend the gala awards ceremony, go to http:// www.filipinasummit.org/register More info: http://www. filipinasummit.org (Advertising Supplement)

crowd at 23rd Pistahan Parade & Festival TFC joins hands anew with FAAE to celebrate “Journey to the Heart of SoMa Pilipinas”

SAN FRANCSCO—Now on its 23rd year, the annual two-day Pistahan Parade & Festival in Yerba Buena Gardens remains one of the largest Filipino cultural celebrations in the U.S. This year, it celebrated the theme of “Journey to the Heart of SoMA Pilipinas” as in April, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors officially designated a Filipino Cultural Heri-

tage District in the city’s South of Market neighborhood. The designated area was named SoMA Pilipinas – bounded by Second, 11th, Market and Brannan streets.

ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) underscored its longstanding partnership with organizer Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) by participating in full force at the parade on

Saturday and bringing the TFC Hour live on Sunday, headlined by the loveteam of Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales (DanRich) from the very popular TFC teleserye, “Be My Lady”.

The real and reel life couple thoroughly charmed the crowd with their down-to-earth ways, high energy and eagerness to interact with the thousands of fans who came to watch them.

Here are some scenes from the two-day event captured by Neil Enriquez, Franz Bonifacio, Maile Llaneza, Mimilanie Dayo, Roger Ramirez and Nerissa Fernandez.

(Advertising Supplement)

Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales on the TFC float at the Pistahan Parade on Saturday that went from Civic Center Plaza to Market and Mission Streets of San Francisco.

TFC Executive Producer Eric Pugeda livens up the TFC parade contingent.

he DanRich loveteam with Gel Santos Relos and Henni Espinosa of Balitang America and Austin Castro, Katrina Jayne Dimaranan and Hannah Nicole Tolentino of Adobo Nation.

he crowd that attended the TFC Hour at Pistahan

ABS-CBN North America Head of Ad Sales, Trade Marketing & Events Ricky Resurreccion proudly plays the role of Philippine flag bearer for the Golden Gate Garrison of 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, the world’s largest Star Wars Costuming Group which also does charity work.

Beside him is Jay Valera, flag bearer for the GGG 501st Legion.

SF6

The As ian Jour na l SF M A G A Z I NE - Augus t 1 9 , 2 0 1 6

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