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Volume 16 - No. 32 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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USA

DATELINE Pres. Trump bans transgender troops from serving in US military FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Pentagon takes no action pending guidance from the White House AMID controversies involving the Russia investigation and the health care bill outrage, President Donald Trump made a shocking announcement that he plans to bar transgender people from serving in the military.

The president announced on Twitter that military experts guided him on the decision, citing health care costs for transgender-related services. The ban comes nearly a year after former President Barack Obama allowed transgender people to serve.

In three tweets posted on Wednesday, July 26, the president wrote, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow..........Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S.

AUGUST 4-10, 2017

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Duterte ďŹ res back at Aquino over comments on drug war

by AUDREY

MORALLO Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, Aug. 2 blasted his predecessor Benigno Aquino III over remarks on the government’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to behead the former president if he gets involved in narcotics.

Duterte’s latest tirade, in which

he accused some of the former president’s aides of being connected to narcotics, came after Aquino questioned the effectiveness of the government’s war on drugs. “Sabi ni PNoy [Aquino] parang walang nangyari. Sige, pumasok ka sa droga, PNoy, kung hindi kita pinutulan ng ulo buwang ka.

Anong walang nangyari. Gago ka,� said the president who regularly uses colorful language when he or

his policies are criticized.

Duterte said that some of Aquino’s aides and generals were involved in the trade of illegal drugs in the country during his administration.

He also accused a former aide to former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas of being connected to illicit drugs.

Former Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III at the tomb of his parents, Duterte said at the anniversary former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino and Sen. Ninoy Aquino, on of the Bureau of Internal Revenue: the 8th death anniversary of his mother on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

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US conducting talks with PH gov’t to address ISIS threats

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

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It’s official: Los Angeles will host 2028 Olympics City promises economic upturn leading up to the games AFTER weeks of negotiations, the City of Los Angeles has finally locked in a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, a move that officials are confident will be financially advantageous.

The deal brings the Summer Games back to LA for the third time after the city hosted in 1984 and 1932. “This is a big win for Los Angeles,� Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA Olympic bid committee, told reporters at a news conference on Monday, July 31 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, which is slated to be one of the venues for the 2028 Games.

For the last few weeks, the city has been in talks with both the IOC and officials from Paris, a rival bid city about which city shall host the 2024 and 2028 games. Last month, the IOC complicated the competition for the 2024 Games when it named two winners in LA and Paris.

The latter city is slated to host the 2024

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BIR ANNIVERSARY. President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the 113th anniversary of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

The president defended the bloody police raid that killed Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife and 14 others, and called former President Benigno Aquino III a “fool� for saying the war on drugs is ineffective.

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

THE United States has been collaborating with the government of the Philippines and other countries within Asia-Pacific to address threats posed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in the region.

In a press briefing, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson noted that the terror group has gained a foothold in the Philippines, referring to the IS-linked rebels’ attack in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur in Mindanao. “We already see elements of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in the Philippines, as you’re aware, gaining a foothold. Some of these fighters have gone to the Philippines from Syria and Iraq,� Tillerson told reporters on Tuesday, August 1.

Apart from the Philippines, Tillerson said the U.S. is also conducting talks for coopera-

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Sen. Angara wants revision of tax rules on balikbayan box

by WINONA

SADIA

Inquirer.net

THE Department of Finance (DOF) should revise its implementing rules on duty- and tax-free balikbayan boxes to give due benefits to millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Senator Sonny Angara said on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Under the Customs Administrative Order No. 5-2016, which contains the

implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Customs Modernization Tariff Act (CMTA) as signed by the DOF and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in December last year, “all balikbayan boxes per sender in any calendar year shall not exceed P150,000.�

This rule, Angara said, was contrary to the intent of the CMTA, which allows OFWs to send up to three P150,000worth of duty- and tax-free balikbayan

boxes, or not exceeding the amount of P450,000 in a year, given that the goods are not in commercial quantities. “Ang intensyon ng CMTA ay gawing tax-free ang balikbayan boxes na may halagang P150,000 times three kada taon, at hindi P150,000 divided by three (The intention of CMTA is to make taxfree the balikbayan boxes amounting to P150,000 times three per year, and

Asian American voter potential eyed in 2018 and beyond

Rep. Judy Chu, Fil-Am actor/ activist Lou Diamond Phillips discuss importance of mobilizing the AAPI electorate

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

An ofďŹ cial of the Joint United States Military Assistance Group turns over crates of rockets and munitions to the Philippine Air Force.

Photo courtesy of AFP

BY now, many are seeing the significance of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)

US Navy lists 3 major threats to Asia-Pacific community

by DANA

Inquirer.net photo by Lyn Rillon

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concerns the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) is facing.

PACOM Chief Navy Adm. Harry THE North Korea’s missile tests, China’s aggressiveness in the Harris Jr. discussed these three isSouth China Sea, and the Islamic sues during the Japan-U.S. Military State (IS) threat in the Philippines Statesmen Forum in Washington, are among the three major regional u PAGE A2

electorate following the 2016 general election.

Particularly, the AAPI community won big during the Senate

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Senator Sonny Angara

Inquirer.net photo

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august 4-10, 2017 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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

From the Front Page US conducting talks with PH gov’t...

Duterte fires back at Aquino...

PAGE A1 t “Mga generals mo noon, yang aide mo, aide ni [Manuel] Roxas puro nasa droga konektado.”

The president particularly zeroed in on Vicente Loot, a former police official and now mayor of Daanbantayan in Cebu, whom he accused of threatening him.

“Number 1 diyan yung bata niyo si General Loot. Isa pa yang ulol na yan. I don’t know kung nandito si Loot. P****g ina mo, huwag mo ako takutin general ka,” he said.

In a report by The Freeman on Tuesday, Aug. 1, Loot said that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group regional office in the Central Visayas had “cleared him of alleged involvement in drugs and criminal activities, his alleged failure to implement the anti-drug and criminality programs of the Department of Interior and Lo-

cal Government, as well as his alleged unexplained wealth.”

“It’s also very clear during (the) Senate investigation that I am a victim of influence peddling by subordinates who want to take advantage of my name,” Loot said. “Anyway, I’m willing to submit myself again to any investigation if so required to clear my name.”

Aquino’s comments During the 8th death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino on Tuesday, her son said that during the first year of Duterte’s administration, the number of drug users was still at 1.8 million, unchanged from the figure reported when he left office June last year.

“Nung kami, 1.8 million at sa isang taon nitong all-out na kampanya laban sa drugs, 1.8 million pa rin ang sinasabi ng survey, at survey na nila yan,” Aquino told reporters.

Duterte and his subordinates have since said that the number of drug users in the Philippines is closer to 4 million, citing intelligence reports.

‘Cynicism borne of a history of political opportunism’ Ernesto Abella, presidential spokesperson, touted the government’s achievements in its drug campaign, saying that it resulted in the surrender of more than 1.3 million drug suspects.

“With all due respect to former President Aquino, the results of PRRD’s anti-illegal drug campaign speak for themselves,” Abella said in a statement. “Comments like the above from past leaders imply a jaded cynicism borne of a history of political opportunism.”

For Salvador Panelo, the chief presidential legal counsel, Aquino’s comments were “shamelessly cocky and an outrageous chutzpah.” n

PAGE A1 t tion with the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia to address the threats.

He pointed out that the next step to defeat the terrorist group is to recognize it as a global issue.

“We are in conversations with the Philippine government, with Indonesia, with Malaysia, with Singapore, with Australia, as partners to recognize this threat, try to get ahead of this threat, and help them with training — training their own law enforcement capabilities, sharing of intelligence, and provide them wherewithal to anticipate what may be coming their direction,” Tillerson said.

For its part, the Philippine government is also eyeing a “closer regional cooperation” with its neighboring countries.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spoke of “new” and “serious” terrorism threats in the Mindanao provinces during the latter’s meeting with Senate and House leaders on Tuesday.

“He briefed us on intelligence information of new threats posed by the ISIS in the south and he

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

is looking for a closer regional cooperation in the neighboring countries, particularly Indonesia,” Drilon disclosed to reporters the following day.

According to the senator, the threat discussed by Duterte is not just the threat posed by Maute rebels that attacked Marawi City.

He said the president “was referring to the ISIS.” Asked how serious it was, Drilon responded, “in the president’s briefing, it appears to be serious.

That’s what he said.”

“He informed us of that renewed threat because the secretary of national defense has requested for additional manpower, and, therefore, that would require budgetary allocation,” he added.

The attack in Marawi City on May 23 prompted Duterte to impose martial law in the entire Mindanao. With the local government’s fight to quell the extremists in the area still ongoing, the strict security measure has been extended until December 31 of this year. n

Sen. Angara wants revision of tax rules...

PAGE A1 t

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not P150,000 divided by three),” Angara said during an oversight committee hearing on the review of CMTA’s implementation.

“Ang bawat balikbayan box ay karaniwang naglalaman ng P80,000 worth of items. Talagang pinag-iipunan po ito ng ating mga magigiting na OFW. Kung kaya, para dagdag pakunswelo sa kanila, ginawa nating P150,000 ang tax-free kada kahon (Each balikbayan box usually contains around P80,000 worth of items.

This is our OFWs’ heard-earned money. That is why to provide additional comfort to them, we made it P150,000 the amount of each box that is tax free),” the lawmaker added.

But DOF Assistant Secretary Mark Joven explained during the hearing that there was an “ambiguity” in the language of the law which led to the Finance Department misinterpreting the said provision.

Ang Asosasyon sang Mangunguma nga Bisaya-Owa (AAMBIS-OWA) party-list Representative Sharon Garin, a member of the oversight committee and who was part of the CMTA bicameral committee, said the DOF should have reviewed the records of the bicameral hearing which could help them determine the intent of the law.

Angara then urged the BOC and the DOF to immediately resolve the issues on the IRR of the

balikbayan box law as Christmas season is nearing and this is the period when OFWs send their gifts to their loved ones in the country.

“Magbe-Ber months na naman po at sigurado akong nagsisimula nang mamili ng mga ipapadala ang ating mga kababayan abroad. Noong nakaraang taon pa namin naipasa ito. Sana ay mapakinabangan na ngayon ng ating mga OFW ang mga benepisyong hatid ng batas na ito (‘Ber’ months are coming and I’m sure our fellow Filipinos abroad are already buying stuff they intend to send here. We passed this since last year. I’m hoping our OFWs can benefit from this law),” he said. n

Asian American voter potential eyed...

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races and AAPI voter turnout was the largest in American history.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the Asian American electorate is the fastest-growing voter group in the United States — and political organizations are taking notice.

At this year’s Politicon, the annual nonpartisan political convention held in LA, Rep. Judy Chu (DCalif.) acknowledged the shift in the overall American electorate.

“Asian Pacific Islanders are on the rise in this nation and I see it with my own eyes,” said Chu, who became the first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 2009.

Chu was one of the panelists at the convention’s panel called “Asian American and PAcific Islanders: Crucial Vote in Swing States” which explored the potential impact of AAPIs in the American political system.

Chu, who also chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), sung the many achievements of Asian Americans in the last election alone: the number of AAPIs in Congress jumped from 13 to 18 (the most in U.S. history), the “unexpected” election of three Asian American women in the U.S. Senate and the highest voter turnout for AAPIs in U.S. history (35 percent, nationwide).

Notably, she discussed the impact of AAPI voters in swing states. For example, 9 percent of Nevada’s population are AAPIs,

but 69 percent of them voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for the 2016 presidential election; Clinton ended up winning the state.

In Virginia, another swing state, AAPIs are 5 percent of the population and 81 percent of AAPIs voted for Clinton; Clinton also ended up winning Virginia.

“The potential for the AAPIs to be the swing vote is enormous, and that’s what I mean when I say we can go from being marginalized to the margin of victory,” Chu said to massive applause.

The congresswoman emphasized the importance of the AAPI role in the 2018 midterm elections, which are “critical” and can give the Democratic Party (the party preference for a majority of AAPIs) a chance to win back the House.

During midterm elections, the opposing party of the current president historically wins more seats. But Chu discussed going further and tackling historically Republican districts that voted for Clinton, many of which are in California.

California’s 45th congressional district — which comprises of a heavy Republican votership from Orange to Mission Viejo — voted for Clinton and has an open congressional seat in 2018.

The state’s 48th district (centered in Huntington Beach) also has an open seat next year.

Both these districts have a strong AAPI votership that have

the power to shift the midterms.

“Can you imagine, if you mobilize those voters and get them to turn out and get them to be the swing vote, how we could turn those seats and win back the House? It would make a huge difference,” Chu said.

Also on the panel was FilipinoAmerican actor and activist Lou Diamond Phillips, who discussed the shift happening among younger AAPIs. “We’re seeing a generation that is starting to embrace their own and perhaps even break away from the more stained traditions of their immigrant parents.

They’re becoming more vocal which is exactly what we need,” the actor said.

Phillips is no stranger to social activism. Since the early 2000s, he has been an outspoken advocate for the Filipino Equity Act, which called for stronger recognition and benefits for Filipino World War II Veterans. He has also actively fought for rights of Native Americans One thing all the panelists agreed on was that prospective representatives — on local, statewide and national platforms — must address the issues of individual communities and avoid treating the AAPI community as a monolith.

“What I don’t want to see is a homogenization of Asian American experience. You cannot necessarily segment or subdivide

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Dateline USa

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 4-10, 2017

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Philippine team wins silver at Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

The Philippines Dragon Boat Alliance Team (Alliance) took silver in both the Men’s and Women’s 500-meter events and placed 6th overall in the Toyota Super Dragon Final during the annual 2017 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival.

The 2017 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival took place on July 29-30 at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California, where local and international dragon boat teams from various age groups came together to compete in the annual dragon boat races.

“Over 200 teams from different countries competed in 18 different divisions,” Dr. howard Chen, the festival’s founder and organizer, told the Asian Journal.

Included in the international lineup were teams from Taiwan, Canada, and Singapore, among others, added Chen. Representing the Philippines for the first time in the festival was Alliance. established in 2016, the team consists of Filipino paddlers from different parts of the world including the U.S., Qatar, Dubai, Singapore, Canada, and the Philippines. All were former members of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) teams, the governing body for dragon boating in the Philippines as recognized by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).

Although it was Alliance’s first time competing at the festival, which started in 2003, the team was welcomed with a lot of support from the Filipino-American community, including Filipino paddlers from other teams.

“Racing with Alliance is like you are part of [the] Justice League,” Benj Rodrigo, one of the team’s

rowers, shared with the Asian Journal. “We support each other and fight together.”

With members from all over the world, Alliance only trained together as a boat for a couple of days before the festival, but have been communicating regularly via group chat.

“We were competing with teams who trained together the whole year round,” Alliance Team Captain John Panuelos told theAsian Journal. Because Alliance consists of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the team was only able to squeeze in around two hours of practice together total. Rodrigo is based in Singapore, Panuelos in Abu Dhabi, their co-captain from Qatar, and their coach from the Philippines.

Nevertheless, they were able to pull through, bagging two silver medals and placing 6th overall in the Toyota Super Dragon. Among their competitors were national teams from the U.S. and Taiwan.

Rodrigo, who started rowing in 2014 back in the Philippines, was glad to be representing the country at the festival.

“It was my first time pacing in a big event while representing our country,” he shared. “I kept reminding myself that every stroke of my paddle was for my country.”

Dragon boat festivals, or Duanwu Jie, have many origin stories. One, which the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival refers to, goes back to Qu Yuan, an ancient poet who served as a top advisor to the Chu state’s king during the Warring States period of China. Slandered by jealous officials upon advice he gave to the king, he was sent into exile where he wrote poems.

In 278 BC, the capital of Chu was conquered by the Qin

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Times Square outside the U.S. Army Recruitment Center to protest President Donald Trump’s tweet banning transgender people in military.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Pres. Trump bans transgender...

PAGE A1 t

Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.........victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”

Trump’s tweets did not specify the details of the military ban and what would happen to the transgender people who are currently serving in the military.

According to a RAND Corporation study, the estimated cost to provide transgender troops with the necessary health care — which includes gender reassignment surgery and the medication needed to maintain gender transition — would only amount to 0.004-0.017 percent of the Defense Department’s total health care spending.

That would be $2.4 million - $8.4 million out of the roughly $49.3 billion that the Defense Department spends on health care.

That same RAND survey approximated that there may be between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender individuals of the 1.3 million active-duty members of the military. Meanwhile, A 2014 Williams Institute study had estimated that 15,500 trans people were currently serving in the U.S. military.

They reached that figure based on a 2011 survey of 6,546 transgender Americans.

According to an NBC report, there are as many as 250 service members in the process of transitioning to their preferred genders or who have been approved to formally change gender within the Pentagon’s personnel system, citing several defense officials.

Military blindsided by announcement Despite the president’s tweets, the nation’s senior military officer said on Thursday, July 27 that the Pentagon will not modify its policies.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, who serves as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote a memo to the senior leaders of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines that the military will continue to “respect” all enlisted personnel.

Dunford added that the military will not change its policies on transgender troops until the White house issues a formal directive to the Defense Department so Secretary of Defense James Mattis can issue guidance to service chiefs at the Pentagon.

“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,” Dunford wrote in the memo. “As importantly, given

the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions.”

The Navy assured that transgender sailors will not be discharged and they will still be provided the same “necessary medical care”, according to an email sent to USA TODAY. Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert P. Burke also acknowledged the confusion caused by the president’s tweets, saying that it caused “concern for some of our sailors and that they will likely have questions.”

Burke also indicated that despite the president’s claiming top military experts guided him in his announcement, the president’s tweets caught military personnel off guard. he noted that the office of Gen. Mattis is “working to quickly discern the President’s intent.”

The announcement was met with shock, especially after Trump made it a campaign promise to “protect” the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.

“As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful, foreign ideology,” Trump said at the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016.

It’s unsure how the supposed ban will affect transgender troops who are currently serving, according to deputy press secretary Sarah huckabee Sanders. But if implemented, the ban will abolish a 2016 landmark Obama-era achievement that allowed transgender troops to serve.

The president’s declaration, which came out of left field, drew criticism from veterans as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy groups — including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — who promised to challenge Trump in federal court if the ban were to come into effect.

Political backlash A few hours after Trump’s tweets, hundreds of protesters descended on Times Square in New York City in front of the U.S. Army Recruitment Center to protest the commander-in-chief’s latest pronouncements.

It also sparked outrage and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the ban is “fundamentally un-American and unconscionable.”

“The United States should be

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state. This lead Qu Yuan to commit suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Saddened by his death, locals began to row out searching for his body. This eventually became a festival commemorating his death spanning over 2,000 years throughout southern China. The water sport gradually gained popularity abroad including in the Philippines.

“Dragon boat racing has been popular in the Philippines for some time,” said Panuelos. The country holds many dragon boat festivals and regattas with the biggest being the Cherifer Premium-PDBF Dragon Boat Regatta in Manila Bay. Rodrigo’s Philippine home team, Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team, just recently held its first-ever Triton PCL Dragonboat Cup in July,

which he said was a success.

According to the PDBF, more than 30 teams have been organized in the Philippines, comprising of students, professionals, businessmen, and military personnel. Aside from the country’s National Team, which holds many world records, club teams have been active in dragon boat races across Asia, Australia, europe, the U.S., and Canada.

At the recent 2017 Taiwan International Dragon Boat Champion-

US Navy lists 3 major threats...

PAGE A1 t

D.C., on Friday, July 28.

During the forum, harris described North Korea as “a clear and present danger” to global peace and stability.

Last week, Pyongyang launched its 12th missile test this year, which is also its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in less than a month.

The PACOM chief said that the regime of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, is not only a threat to South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., but also “to the entire world

because North Korea’s missiles point in every direction.”

“It’s the reason why we call for all nations to implement far stronger economic sanctions against Pyongyang,” he added.

According to him, China plays a vital role in the issue, and should exert influence and help promote denuclearization in the region. harris, however, noted that China must also tone down its aggressive activities in the South China Sea, citing Beijing’s reported militarization and construction of artificial islands in the disputed area.

Contributed photo by Jhay Oh Otamias

ships held in July, the Philippines set a new world record, taking gold in the 20-seater men’s 200m along with three other gold medals, according to the Manila Bulletin.

The feeling of reaching the finish line together as a team is one of Rodrigo’s favorite things about racing.

“It’s a team sport,” he said, adding that Alliance felt like being with family. “You are not doing it for yourself, but you’re doing it for everybody and for the team.”

For Panuelos, the whole process is what he enjoys most. “From prep to the actual race, to getting results and seeing what we have accomplished...every race is different,” he added.

Prior to the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, Alliance participated in the 21st Annual Kaiser Permanente Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California last year, where they won four gold medals and one bronze. n

“Some might find it odd for me to advocate cooperation with China on one hand while criticizing Beijing on the other, but as I like to say, great powers can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he said.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, as its rival claimants.

Regarding IS, harris said the terror group is a clear threat that must be brought down.

While its main operating areas are in the Middle east and North Africa, the PACOM chief noted

that the terror group is trying to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, particularly in Marawi City, Philippines.

An IS-linked terror group laid siege of Marawi City on May 23, and the Philippine government’s operation to reclaim the area has since been ongoing. harris pointed out that the incident in Marawi should serve as a wake-up call for the Indo-Asia-Pacific nations.

“Only through multinational collaboration can we eradicate ISIS and other violent extremist organizations before they spread,” he stressed. n

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august 4-10, 2017 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

It’s official: Los Angeles will host..

PAGE A1 t Games.

“There is no other metaphor. It was a marathon,” LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said at the press conference. “A couple times, we were counted out altogether. But we never hit a wall. We never lost our focus, and today we are at the finish line.”

“We are here today to make history,” Garcetti said. “I’m proud to say the Olympics are coming back to the United States of America.”

According to Wasserman, the predicted contribution from the IOC to Paris in 2024 will be $1.7 billion. Significantly, the IOC contribution to LA in 2028 would be at least $2 billion because of the sponsorship money the city is predicted to receive.

Additionally, LA would also generate more savings and supplementary revenue in domestic sponsorship deals that would be unclaimed by international corporate partners of the IOC. Usually, the bulk of contributions from the IOC isn’t sent to the host cities until a couple years before the games, but the IOC has agreed to give LA an advance of

$180 million that will cover the organizing committee’s costs for the additional four years.

Notably, as much as $160 million of the advanced contribution will be funneled into public youth sports programs, which Garcetti promised could see increased funding as soon as within the next year.

Moreover, LA’s bid estimate includes a $487.6 million contingency, money set aside for cost overruns to avoid huge financial blows that have plagued host cities in the past. If the 2028 games finish at or are under budget, that contingency would be converted into a surplus; and, city officials have made a deal to keep most of that money.

“I can look people in the eye and say this is a much stronger deal financially,” Garcetti said. “I want something for the people of LA now. I want the excitement to build.”

Garcetti, who led the city’s campaign to bring the Olympics back, is positive that the terms of the agreement should “outweigh” any perceived uncertainties in hosting a massive global event 11

Dateline USa

years in advance.

Addressing the costs of infrastructure and transportation projects the city has lined up, Garcetti assured that upcoming city projects were not dependent on the bid, adding that the city is “modeling the Olympics around the city, and not modeling the city around the Olympics.”

Experts have said that rather than constructing new stadiums and arenas, LA could save billions by relying on existing venues such as the Staples Center, the Coliseum, and the StubHub Center. Additionally, rather than constructing a new Olympic Village, athletes and members of the media could be housed at the UCLA and USC campuses.

When asked whether he was upset the city lost the heavily-campaigned-for 2024 Olympic Games, Garcetti said that hosting 2028 is more beneficial to Angelenos.

“What we were able to negotiate — this deal was too good to pass up,” Garcetti said. “This legacy can inspire a whole new generation.” (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

Lawsuit says trafficking scheme lured Filipino workers to Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY — Owners of an Oklahoma hotel and other businesses engaged in a human trafficking scheme that lured workers from the Philippines promising good wages but instead paid them less than the minimum wage, according to a lawsuit.

Three Filipino workers brought to Clinton, Oklahoma, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) west of Oklahoma City, paid thousands of dollars in recruiting fees to cover visa-related costs that should be incurred by sponsoring U.S. employers, according to the complaint filed Wednesday, July 26 in federal court.

The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, says the immigrants were threatened with physical harm when they complained that their compensation didn’t meet contractual obligations. It also seeks class-action status.

Walter and Carolyn Schumacher, who are married and own a Holiday Inn Express, a steakhouse and a waterpark in Clinton, deny the allegations, their attorney said on Thursday, July 27. “Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher are heartsick about these allegations,” Kevin Fil-Ams weigh in on represen- Donelson said. tives to address our community’s Defendants’ lawyer denies altation, urge AAPIs to become needs, individually.” legations Also on the panel were MSNBC politically active He said he believes the allegaAsian Americans in the public journalist and anchor Richard Lui, political strategist Bill Wong eye are not the only ones noticing tions will be proven false once the and founder and president of the the impact of AAPI participation in Journal after the panel on SaturMillennial Action Project Steven the political system.

Helen Ronaldo of Buena Park, day.

Olikara.

The future political science maCalifornia became “more politically minded” during a high school jor at Cal Poly Pomona added that class government class where she although she advocates a more learned about the importance of diverse pool of lawmakers, she Asian American representation in notes that “it’s not about filling a quota”, but rather “it’s all about governing roles.

“I realized that up until recently, who is best fit for the job.”

“Historically, a lot of people the people governing our country were basically all white, straight weren’t elected because of their men who were ignorant of the is- race, ethnicity, religion or sexual sues facing many demographics. orientation,” Ronaldo remarked.

I’m happy to be alive at this time “There are a lot of qualified folks when we’re seeing a shift in our from the Asian community who government in term of diversity, can serve all Americans and shed but there’s still a lot of work to be a light on people who were once done,” Ronaldo, 18, told the Asian ignored by senators, Congress-

Asian American voter potential eyed...

PAGE A2 t

the Asian vote,” Phillips asserted.

“There are so many of us classified as Asian, and each of these individual communities must be addressed and not just washed over the same big brush. So it’s going to be incumbent upon representa-

Pres. Trump bans transgender...

PAGE A3 t leading the way on inclusivity and diversity, not running away from it,” de Blasio said. “The brave Americans who choose to dedicate themselves to serving this nation deserve dignity and respect, regardless of their gender identity.”

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.),

JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION (PAGWAWAKSI: ANG PAPEL NG PRESIDIO SA PAGKAKAKULONG NG MGA JAPANESE AMERICANS NOONG IKALAWANG DIGMAANG PANDAIGDIG)

LIBRENG ESPESYAL NA EKSIBISYON Bukas sa publiko hanggang Marso 2018 Martes hanggang Linggo, 10 am hanggang 6pm Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue

Inihahandog sa pakikipagtulungan sa National Japanese American Historical Society at ng Fred T. Korematsu Institute

Noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig, gumanap ang Presidio - ang Western Defense Command ng US Army - ng mahalagang papel sa hindi makatarungang pagkakakulong ng 120,000 Japanese Americans.

Inaanyayahan ng eksibisyong ito ang mga bisita na imbestigahan ang kanilang mga pasya – kapwa ang personal at ang politikal – na humantong sa madilim na kabanatang ito sa kasaysayan ng Amerika.

presidio.gov/exclusion

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chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump’s tweets, saying that the statement was “unclear” and citing it as an “example of why major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter”.

“Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving. There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train, and deploy to leave the military—regardless of their gender identity. We should all be guided by the principle that any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet the standards should have the opportunity to do so—and should be treated as the patriots they are,” McCain said.

According to McCain, the Department of Defense is currently conducting a study on the medical obligations it would incur, the impact on military readiness, and related questions associated with the accession of transgender individuals who are not currently serving in uniform and wish to join the military.

“I do not believe that any new policy decision is appropriate until that study is complete and thoroughly reviewed by the Secretary of Defense, our military leadership, and the Congress,” he added.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) also issued an immediate statement denouncing Trump’s announcement.

“These service members are willing to die for their country, and this is an insult to their brave and honorable service,” Gillibrand, who serves on the Armed Services

case is resolved.

An FBI spokeswoman and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman said they were not aware of the case, but would not be able to comment on whether an investigation is underway. A U.S. Department of Labor spokesman said he was not aware of an investigation into the case.

Donelson said neither he nor the Schumachers have been contacted by any federal agency or prosecutor about an investigation.

Nonprofit law firm the Equal Justice Center and employee rights group Legal Aid at Work joined the ACLU of Oklahoma in filing the lawsuit. It seeks an unspecified amount in punitive and compensatory damages for the workers because it alleges they were paid less than their contract allows and less than the federal minimum wage.

The lawsuit contends that from 2008-14, the Schumachers’ companies applied to the federal Department of Labor to employ more than 100 foreign workers.

Cheap labor It alleges that workers recruited for housekeeping jobs at the hotel were paid $4.25 per room cleaned. Servers at the steakhouse made $2 per hour plus tips, and housekeepers and servers at the waterpark made $1 to $2 per

hour less than promised. Low pay and short workweeks meant the immigrants couldn’t repay debts they incurred just to get to the U.S., the lawsuit says.

One plaintiff worked at the hotel, one at both the hotel and the steakhouse, and one at the waterpark, according to the lawsuit.

Threats The lawsuit says Walter Schumacher intimidated employees by saying he was carrying a gun when he picked them up from the airport. The filing also claims that although the Schumachers promised they would pay for roundtrip airfare to and from the Philippines, Walter Schumacher said the only way he would send anyone back was “in a box.”

Donelson said the Schumachers deny “the substance of the allegations and what took place.”

Brady Henderson, an ACLU lawyer, said the public often thinks of human trafficking in the form of sex work.

“It has a lot more elements of indentured servitude or slavery than they realize,” Henderson said. “Most people probably don’t realize how prevalent it is, potentially in their own communities.”

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in June there are 20 million victims of human trafficking around the world. (Inquirer.net)

men and other political leaders.

Representation is really important in all spheres, but especially in our government because our government is supposed to be a representation of all of America.”

Jun Uy also believes in the importance of representation to mobilize the AAPI community and praised Asian Americans currently serving in the government, notably CA Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) — who is the first and only Filipino American in the state Legislature — and Sens.

Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois).

“I rally behind them, not just

because of their ethnicity though, but because now I can rest easy and know that there’s someone who has my interests in mind and understands the Asian American experience,” Uy, a social worker living in Burbank, told the Asian Journal. “It’s like when you see videos of little girls who are excited about Wonder Woman: there’s finally a mainstream female superhero on the forefront. They’re excited that there’s someone who looks like them making waves, and that’s how I feel about seeing Asian faces in government, as well as entertainment and other places.” n

Committee, said. “This new directive is harmful, misguided, and weakens — not strengthens — our military.”

Organizations condemn ban Various organizations across the United States have expressed their sentiments, calling the president’s announcement discriminatory, mean-spirited and hateful.

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) issued a statement denouncing the ban and expressing its support to the transgender members of the military.

“President Trump’s latest order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military is a complete affront to America’s standing as a beacon of equality and inclusion,” said Brendan Flores, NaFFAA’s national chairman. “Individuals who love their country should be able to serve it proudly and honorably, regardless of how they identify.”

Viva Tarroza-Taft, a member of NaFFAA’s Board of Governors and U.S. Army (Retired), added: “This is a major setback to the progress made on behalf of LGBT military personnel. There are thousands of transgender individuals already serving honorably and effectively in the military, and this action pushes them back into the shadows. When members of our brave military are forced to hide and are subject to discriminatory retaliation, it impairs military readiness.”

“Rather than deeming transgender individuals as a ‘disruption,’ we should work to educate each other about how heteronormative language and systems can allow for bigotry and intolerance to spread,” Jason Tengco, NaFFAA’s

first openly gay executive director, said. “NaFFAA looks forward to uplifting our global Filipino LGBT diaspora - everyone from Jake Zyrus to Geena Rocero - and advocating for our community’s diverse segments.”

Johanna Puno Hester, national president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) called Trump’s announcement “deeply disappointing.”

“Serving our country in this capacity should be open to all Americans, and this includes the diverse transgender community throughout the country,” Hester said. “Our AAPI community has and continues to face discrimination – from the barring of Japanese Americans from serving in the military during World War II to the current administration’s agenda to criminalize and deport millions of immigrants.”

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, joined community leaders in condemning Trump’s to ban transgender men and women from serving in the military.

“Mr. Trump had a golden chance to protect, honor, and recognize the sacrifices transgender men and women in the military make on behalf of this country and he blew it – big time,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director. “Instead, Trump’s ban endanger the lives and careers of an estimated 15,000 transgenders who are active-duty service members, national guardspeople, and reservists, as well as shuts down the dreams of many who wanted to join the armed forces in the future.” (Momar G. Visaya and Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 4-10, 2017

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

A5

HIV infection rate in PH Maute fighters in Marawi down to 40 fastest in Asia Pacific - UN

by MICHAEL

PUNONGBAYAN Philstar.com

by DANA

SIOSON

AJPress

THE Philippines has become the country with the fastestgrowing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Asia and the Pacific, according to a United Nations report.

A recent UNAIDS report on the global HIV epidemic states that the number of new infections in the Philippines increased by 140 percent in the past six years, from an estimated 4,300 in 2010 to an estimated 10,500 in 2016.

With new infections more than doubling over the past six years, the Philippines also becomes one of eight countries that account for more than 90 percent of new HIV infections in the region.

Figures show that 83 percent of newly reported HIV cases in the Philippines occurred among males who have sex with males (MSM) and transgender women who have sex with males (TGM), with the majority of the new infections occurring among 15- to 24-year-old MSM and TGW. The UN, however, noted that while the Philippines is the country with the fastest percentage increase, its “number of new infections is not as high as several countries in the region which are estimated to have tens of thousands of new infections annually.”

Eamonn Murphy, director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia-Pacific, said Manila “has a small window of opportunity to act now and stop a major HIV epidemic from taking hold.”

A UNAIDS report showed that the number of new HIV infections in the Philippines increased from 4,300 in 2010 to 10,500 in 2016.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

“If HIV programming is redirected to focus on the people most at risk and where they are located, I’m sure the country can not only return to a stable situation but even end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030,” Murphy added.

In a statement, Philippine Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said HIV is one of the top health priorities of the government.

“We have significantly increased the budget allocated to HIV in the past few years, and are now implementing programs which we expect to have a positive impact,” Ubial said.

With the new information on HIV cases, the Philippines “has retooled its program to expand HIV services for males who have sex with males and transgender women and has opened clinics that cater specifically to their needs in urban areas, where the risk of HIV is higher.”

The strategy targets “117 cities

where 80 percent of the new infections have been reported and to open in each such city at least one HIV clinic which has convenient evening hours for working people, and is a one-stop shop that provides prevention, counseling, laboratory work-up, and treatment services.”

The Philippine government has also “taken measures towards enabling rapid HIV screening and delivery of test results.”

To those who test positive, the Department of Health (DOH) said it gives up free antiretroviral (ARV) medicine every year and other outpatient services worth P30,000 ($U.S. 600) per person.

“The [DOH], together with the Philippine National AIDS Council, other government agencies, local government units, and partner civil society groups is determined and committed to halt the increase in the number of cases and start reversing the trend of the epidemic in five (5) years,” Ubial added. ■

“It’s been a year since we promised genuine and meaningful change. We have hurdled MANILA - President Rodrigo trials as a country and we were Duterte cited the role of the Fili- triumphant because we helped pino language in national unity each other,” the President said as he vowed to continue promot- in Filipino.

“The national language ing positive change and reforms played a big role in maintaining in government.

In his message for the Buwan this unity. We are being held tong Wikang Pambansa (National gether by the Filipino language Language Month), Duterte said as we work to achieve peace, unity has enabled Filipinos to development and prosperity in hurdle several challenges dur- our society.”

Duterte said the theme for this ing his first year in office.

year’s language month captured his administration’s aim of carrying out reforms that would strengthen the nation.

This year’s theme is “Filipino: Wikang Mapagbago” (Filipino: The language of change).

“We have traveled far and we are now seeing the fruits of our labor. We will not give up this fight,” Duterte said.

The President said language and culture would make Filipinos’ identity known around the world. ■

MANILA - The military is fighting some 30 to 40 remaining members of the Maute terror group in Marawi City, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

“I think there are 30 to 40 left but these are the good fighters. In fact, we are still sustaining casualties. Our latest three days ago was one killed and about nine wounded,” he said.

However, since these are the better fighters, government troops still have to be careful in dealing with the enemy.

On Sunday, July 30, Lorenzana disclosed that five soldiers were wounded in the fighting in Marawi.

Lorenzana said military forces are continuously clearing the areas still occupied by the Maute group, going house to house and room to room.

He said the operations are tough, noting that government troops believe the enemy is still holding at least 30 hostages who are being used as human shields.

“We are not sure if they will use civilians for suicide bombing, we

don’t know. That’s what our soldiers are concerned about, that they might release civilians but with bombs on them,” he added.

So far, the Marawi siege that forced President Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao has claimed the lives of 114 soldiers and policemen and 45 civilians, while 491 terrorists have been killed with 584 firearms recovered.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said soldiers also captured a key bridge leading to the main position of Islamic State group-linked Maute terrorists.

Government forces are now in control of Mapandi Bridge, which leads to Marawi’s interior business district, where about 40 remaining militants are believed to be holding 80 to 100 hostages, mostly in a large mosque, Padilla said. But a major assault wasn’t imminent, he said.

“We now have direct access to ground zero,” Padilla said at a news conference in Manila, referring to the bridge over Marawi’s Agus River that can now be used to transport troops and combat supplies. “Our main objective is to rescue the hostages.”

President Duterte has ordered troops to ensure the safety of the hostages and not launch a massive assault that could endanger the captives even if that prolongs the militant siege, which has already dragged on for more than two months.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also banned the loading and unloading of passengers in private seaports in Zamboaga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (Zambasulta) that might be used by supporters of the Maute group.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao District commander Captain Ronie Gil Gavan issued the directive that took effect last Sunday.

Ships and boats have to use the public seaports operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to load or unload their passengers.

“Passenger ships are no longer allowed by the District Commander Captain Gavan to load and unload passengers at the private ports in the entire area of Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

We have already notified the ships that they are not allowed to dock in these private ports,” said Balilo. ■

Duterte: Language key to national unity

by PAOLO

ROMERO Philstar.com

FOR MARAWI REHAB. Army engineers are now constructing two houses as models for reproduction to shelter conflict-stricken residents of Marawi City. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. of the Western Mindanao Command told The STAR on Monday that the model houses are now being built in Barangay Sagongsongan in Marawi City by personnel of the 54th Engineer Brigade. The construction of the model houses for residents from battle-torn villages is being assisted by engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 10 led

by Abdulracman Paunte. The first of the two models is a steel structure with a 26-square-meter floor area that can accommodate at least two to three small families.

Photo courtesy of AFP

A6

AUGUST 4-10, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

Law enforcement

FEATURES

DURING the early morning of Sunday, July 30, members of the Philippine National Police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), armed with search warrants, raided homes of alleged illegal drug personalities in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.

Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog Sr. and his wife died during the raid on their house, while 13 other people were left dead after the police operation.

Authorities claimed that the shootout ensued when the Parajinogs and their supporters fired at police officers.

Ironically, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed in and around the Parojinog residence. However, the CCTV cameras were “paralyzed” during the time of the incident.

Citing irregularities on how law enforcers conducted the raid, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is awaiting the official police report and is already initiating its own investigation on the incident.

“No conclusions yet at this time, but the purpose of the investigation is to determine if protocols were followed in the implementation of the search warrant and use of deadly force,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.

CHR commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana reminded the PNP to comply with the existing rules of engagement covering arrest and search warrants.

“There are set procedures on how to legally and validly serve warrants of arrest or search warrants,” Gana said.

Several lawmakers have assailed the credibility of the police operations and expressed doubt that due process was followed in the raid.

The slain mayor’s daughter, Nova, accused the policemen of planting drugs at the scene.

Meanwhile, Malacañang vowed that it would not meddle in the CHR’s investigation.

United Nations human rights experts urged the government to immediately act on the increasing reports of human rights violations, including murder, threats against indigenous peoples and the summary execution of children.

There are unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines that have become emblematic of persistent dangers that threaten everyone.

Unless the PNP clarifies what really transpired during that fateful morning, the Parojinogs’ case will just be added to the string of criminal incidents wherein police officers have instantly shot suspected drug peddlers and pushers upon encounter.

We live in a civilized society that is bound by laws, which required all people to live based on respect for the sanctity of life, democracy and human rights.

It is unpleasant to see officers you expect to uphold the law and apprehend criminals, as the

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE White House is in chaos, but let us look at the glimmer of hope in President Donald Trump’s appointment of General John Kelly as chief of staff, replacing Reince Priebus, who reportedly served for the shortest time in White House history — January 20 to July 27, 2017.

Kelly previously served as the secretary of Homeland Security until Priebus stepped down amid the controversies, legislative failures, and internal turmoil that continue to hound the Trump administration. Priebus was the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) since 2011 until Trump appointed him in January this year.

Kelly was a decorated retired

From A Distance CARMEN N. PEDROSA PRESIDENT Duterte’s demand for the return of the Balangiga bells has revived an issue when Americans took over the Philippines. The U.S. has not returned the bells after more than a century since the war. Both Americans and Filipinos claim these bells are trophies of war.

“Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage.” Duterte said in his second SONA. The U.S. Embassy replied “We are aware that the Bells of Balangiga have deep significance for a number of people, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We will continue to work with our Filipino partners to find a resolution.” The bells were used to signal the Filipino attack on American soldiers eating their breakfast.

There is a book entitled “The Ordeal of Samar,” by Joseph L. Schott. A review by Thomas Connell wrote that troops were sent there to civilize the natives because Samar was a hotbed of rebel activity.

“On Sunday morning, Sept.

28, 1901, some 500 Filipino rebels who had slowly gathered inside the church, some dressed in women’s clothing, waited for the

same people the citizenry should be afraid of. It is a betrayal of trust and a degradation of peace and security. They are, after all, in charge of ensuring the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Without proper enforcement, stringent national and international laws do little in promoting and protecting the right of every citizen. When this happens, the world succumbs to senseless violence. (AJPress)

Could the new chief of staff General John Kelly reign in on Trump?

Marine general whose service to the country includes three tours in Iraq. He has earned the respect of people he has worked with, with a kind of leadership that can withstand pressure, instill order and structure in the system. As a person, Kelly has been admired for his adherence to the truth, respect for people and the rule of law.

In the seven month-old Trump presidency, many Americans hope Kelly as chief-of-staff can reign in on what is wrong in how the Trump administration is being ran, be able to help weed out all the drama in the White House and help the president be on the right track in fulfilling his promises to the American people.

His first few days give us reasons to be optimistic — he fired the potty-mouth Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. He has started to implement the military discipline and chain-of-com-

mand, initially by making people in the White House like Steve Bannon, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Kellyanne Conaway, etc. report to him instead of going directly to Trump, as was the case during Priebus’ term.

BUT the big test here is how he can be effective in his job with the 71-year-old Donald Trump as the “boss”. Questions we need to follow up on: Will Kelly be able to reign in on Trump’s Twitter problem which has proven to be the source of many of the Trump’s presidency problems — his reckless, impulsive use of twitter to accuse President Obama and the British spies of wiretapping and surveilling him; to lambast government officials in co-equal branches of government like judges, legislators who disagree with him; to pick a fight against leaders of other countries (except Russia’s Putin) as well as international

organizations whose policies go against his own agenda; to announce policy changes like the banning of transgenders in the U.S. military which has blindsided even his own Defense Department secretary and Pentagon officials; and to use twitter aggrandize himself without regard for the truth?

WHICH brings me to the next point — could Kelly reign in on Trump to be honest, transparent and faithful to the truth? Could he convince him to cooperate with the Mueller investigation instead of demonizing the investigators and the investigations themselves and help get to the bottom of the allegations against him? Could he convince Trump that doing this would actually help remove the cloud of doubt hovering over his presidency if indeed he is not hiding anything?

Just last Monday, another expose came out from the Wash-

ington Post which alleged that Trump “dictated” the misleading statement Donald Jr. gave regarding his meeting with the Russian lawyers and other Russian players in the Trump Tower in June of 2016, during the U.S. presidential campaign season. This, after their repeated denials about Trump’s having no knowledge about the meeting and denials about having anything to do with Donald Jr.’s statement, which also came from no less than his personal lawyer. Could Kelly make Trump stop all the lies and be transparent and forthcoming from this day forward?

Could Kelly rub off on Trump the RESPECT he needs to accord to people he work with, people he does not agree with, people critical of him, and make him realize he is now representing the Office of the President of the United States of America? Could he make Trump understand that

the three branches of government are co-equal and he, as president, should therefore respect their authority and treat them as partners in making America great again?

Could he make him comprehend that he, as president, is not above the law, and should be leading with example on how to respect and follow the rule of law?

I sincerely hope Kelly succeeds, because if he does, Trump has a better chance of succeeding in fulfilling his promise of making America great again.

Otherwise, one of two things may happen: either Kelly resigns or Trump tells him, “YOU’RE FIRED!” *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABSCBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

It is not the bells, but the story of Balangiga that matters signal to attack. While the U.S. troopers were having breakfast, police chief Sanchez grabbed a sentry’s rifle and fired it, signaling the insurgents to begin their assault on the garrison. The bells rang and the church doors burst open, with screaming rebels brandishing bolos and other improvised weapons such as picks and shovels. It was combat at close quarters; bolos against Krag rifles. The only advantage held by the rebels was the element of surprise,” wrote Ramon Farolan in a column.

“Reprisal was swift in coming. First on the scene was Company “G,” also of the Ninth Infantry, stationed at Basey. The force entered Balangiga, firing away with Gatling machine guns and light cannon. Twenty natives captured at the edge of the town were brought to the plaza and executed. All houses were torched to the ground.

The brigade was headed by Brig. Gen. Jacob Smith. who commanded“I want no prisoners.

I wish you to kill and burn, the more you kill and burn the better you will please me. In his handwriting were the words “The interior of Samar must be made a howling wilderness.”

The Americans argued that the bells were part of the spoils of war, paid for with the blood of American soldiers. We, too, paid a terrible price for a war not of our own making. Theirs was a war of conquest; ours was a fight

for freedom. That is the story of the bells of Balangiga. Whether or not the US returns the bells has become moot. The event is about how the Philippines was colonized and how the poor townsfolk of Balangiga fought back. The bells are the symbol of one of the bloodiest events of America’s colonialism of the Philippines.

“In the mean time some of the liberal left wing extremist newspapers back home started a series of anti-military articles stating that the military was out of control and was randomly executing peaceful Filipino citizens.”

Many careers were ruined as a result of this political lynch mob spurred on by the Democrats back home. There is a lot of action taking place in this book and one would recognize many of the players like; Presidents Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft, Army Generals Chaffee and Smith and USMC Captains Bears and Porter and many others. The political intrigue reminds one of today’s political arena even though this story took place over one hundred years ago. The reader might also find it interesting that “water boarding” was used by the U.S. Army in this story. “ according to an American review.

The author writes about the ordeal of the American soldiers trying to clean Samar of insurrectos.

Because the author was an American the purpose of the

This May 2001 photo shows the two bells of Balangiga at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, that signaled an attack

by Filipino insurgents on occupying American troops in 1901.

Inquirer.net photo

story was to impart the experiences of the American soldiers.

I do not know if a book has been written by a Filipino. “I mean, this is about Samar, would it perfectly make sense if a Filipino would write about it? Anyway, the book was based on the courtmartial records and after reading it, it was fair and objective enough,” the review continues.

“The Ordeal of Samar” talked more of the hardships of the American soldiers who had to go through in order to clear Samar of the members of the Katipunan. It also exposed the horrors, torture and deaths of the Filipi-

no insurrectos in the hands of the Americans.

In short, some of the American officers during that time did go beyond and had taken advantage of their position. They viewed Filipinos as a group of people to be subdued and they thought that all means were applicable.

But in fairness to Major Waller who led the troops, he only acted in line of what he has ordered or in accordance of his duty. He was not involved in any torture.

He lost a few of his men in the Samar campaign. I think the failure and controversy surrounding the Samar campaign, the execution of 11 natives by firing squad,

the torture and other indiscretions by the American soldiers to eventually give the Philippines its independence.”

To me, Americans committed a propaganda blunder by not returning the bells. They could have done so earlier and be done with it but keeping it only reminds Filipinos of American infamy. It is the story that has become historical with a worldwide audience. The Americans might have taken over Balangiga and taken the bells but it is not something to be proud about. To Filipinos this is a story of courage and bravery against all odds.

(Philstar.com)

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

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 4-10, 2017

Sleep In But Don’t Miss Out COLOR RUN. Thousands of participants to the Color Manila Challenge get a dusting of colored powder after crossing the finish line at McKinley West in Taguig City on Sunday, July 30. The fun run was held in the city to promote a healthy lifestyle.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Ozamiz City mayor, 14 others killed in drug raid

by DANA

M. SIOSON

AJPress

OZAMIZ City Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog, Sr. and 14 others were killed in simultaneous pre-dawn drug raids conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday, July 30.

At least six search warrants were reportedly served by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and operatives of the Ozamiz City police at several of the family’s properties in Barangays Baybay San Roque and Baybay Santa Cruz around 2:30 a.m.

Among those killed in the raid include Parojinog’s wife, Susan; his brother, Misamis Occidental Board Member Octavio Parojinog Jr.; and his sister Mona.

Meanwhile, his daughter, Nova and his son, Reynaldo Jr., were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs and for possessing loose firearms.

Parojinog and his daughter Nova, who sits as the city’s vice mayor, were included in the list of alleged drug lords and narco politicians announced by President Rodrigo Duterte last year.

The Ozamiz City mayor was also tagged as the leader of the Kuratong Baleleng crime syndicate that gained national attention for its robbery, smuggling, kidnapping, murder, and extortion, among other crimes.

In a statement, Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb, director of the Northern Mindanao regional police, said the cops who were trying to serve the warrant were met with gunfire while approaching the mayor’s residence.

“The PNP personnel serving the search warrants were met with volley of fire from their security, prompting our law enforcers to retaliate,” the regional commander said.

Authorities said they were able to recover more than one kilogram of shabu from the houses of the Parojinogs. Firearms were also reportedly recovered, including an M16 rifle, two hand grenades, and a .45 pistol.

Denying the allegations police intended to wipe out the Parojinog family, Pacleb assured that the raid is a “very legitimate operation.”

Several senators, however, questioned the raid, particularly the disabling of CCTV cameras prior to the incident and the time of serving the warrant.

“All 15 suspected drug lords at the scene of the crime and their ‘armed to the teeth’ bodyguards are killed. No injuries or casualties on the side of the PNP. Unrealistic. This can be done to anyone,” said Liberal Party President Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, also asked, “Why are search warrants, served before dawn as in the cases of Mayor Espinosa and now, Mayor Parojinog, result in the deaths of the persons being searched? Both are tagged as drug lords. Too much of a coincidence?”

Drilon was referring to the late Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera who was killed in an alleged “shoot out” during a raid conducted by the police last year.

But Senator Panfilo Lacson said there is presently no reason

for the Senate conduct a probe on the Ozamiz City raid.

“At this point, I don’t see any reason why the Senate should investigate because that was a police operation,” Lacson told reporters.

Lacson, also former PNP chief, chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

He then added, “Unless something develops later showing that (the Parojinogs) were summarily executed... it’s not good that the Senate investigate every police operation.”

In a statement, PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa maintained that the Ozamiz raid is not a rubout incident.

“They were meant to be operated upon, not liquidated. It depends. If they fight back, then there will be an encounter. We won’t have control over that,” the PNP Chief said in a media briefing.

He went on to say, “I want him (Parojinog) alive but since he fought back, then... I want my men alive more than him. After the smoke has cleared it should be a good man standing.”

He also pointed out that “any time is a legal time to serve a search warrant.”

For the PNP Chief, however, the disabling of CCTV prior the operation was wrong. He claimed that he is unaware that the enforcers tinkered the security cameras.

“If you were to ask me it’s right to disable it, it’s wrong. CCTV forms a part of transparency, so why must it be disabled?” Dela Rosa asked.

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AUGUST 4-10, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 4-10, 2017

CJ1

BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

Your Immigration Solution LORELLA T. HESS AND NANCY MILLER ICE raids are in the news frequently as the agency ramps up enforcement efforts against aliens who may be removable from the4 United States. Although official publicity emphasizes efforts to round up non-citizens with criminal records, ICE also makes “collateral arrests” of many otherwise law-abiding residents without proper immigration status. A raid that originally targeted one person could result in the arrests of many others who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The new enforcement priorities emphasize arrest and removal of anyone not legally authorized to remain in the United States, rather than focusing on people who pose a threat to public safety.

The Trump administration plans to dramatically increase the numbers of people held in ICE detention and ultimately deported, over and above the record high levels reached for both categories during the Obama years.

This has led to grave concern among non-citizens and their loved ones throughout the country. Anyone who is out-of-status for any reason (or whose continued status is endangered—for example, by a criminal charge), is vulnerable to arrest and deportation. Those who have already been ordered removed by an immigration judge, and those who have been in the U.S. for less than two years, are likely to go into expedited removal proceedings that could have them deported within days or even hours of their arrest. For most people, however, the legal process takes much longer. In these cases, whether a non-citizen is held in ICE detention or released on bond can make a big difference in their family’s life for months or even years.

While some non-citizens are subject to mandatory detention, a knowledgeable immigration

Ins and outs of immigration detention

attorney will analyze whether one is entitled to a bond hearing and, if so, pursue that relief to help non-citizens either avoid detention or get released as soon as possible. The goal will be to prove that they do not pose a danger to society and will appear in court for their future hearings.

These are the same issues an Immigration Judge will consider at a formal bond hearing on whether to release an alien who is already detained. Even if your loved one is already in custody, an experienced immigration attorney may be able to help secure their release.

The alternatives to detention for which non-citizens may qualify will vary with their current immigration status and the reasons why they are deportable. In almost every case, avoiding detention has important advantages: it keeps the non-citizen’s family together while awaiting their day in court, protects the non-citizen from the physical and psychological hazards of ICE detention, and enables the non-citizen to more effectively help with their defense against removal from the United States.

Most non-citizens held by ICE in California are entitled to a bond hearing after six months in detention. However, if someone is transferred outside the Ninth Federal Judicial Circuit, that protection could be lost. Regularly visiting a detainee may help to keep the person held locally, because it shows ICE that the noncitizen has friends or family in the area. State lawmakers have acted to ensure that, whatever happens with construction and expansion of detention centers at the federal level—and big spending increases for that purpose are planned––California’s ICE detention capacity will not be allowed to grow. This could lead to more Californians being detained out of state. However, the state’s goal is to encourage alternatives to detention for more California residents.

For some detainees, unfortunately, there is no alternative to detention. Federal law requires that non-citizens whose criminal histories meet certain criteria must be detained by ICE pending the outcome of their removal proceedings. These detainees, who may include green card holders as well as other non-citizens, are simply not eligible for release until the final resolution of their case. The courts try to expedite hearing schedules for an alien who is detained, but someone— even someone who has already won a decision in court—could still be held in ICE detention for months or even years without any hope of release until all appeals are exhausted.

People subject to mandatory detention are those who: • Committed certain crimes; and Were taken into ICE custody when they were released from criminal custody.

• Not all crimes which can make an alien deportable also require mandatory detention. It is best to consult a knowledgeable immigration attorney as soon as possible if your loved one is taken into ICE custody, even if you are told there can be no bond because they are subject to mandatory detention.■ ***

by ANGELICA

BALLESTEROS ManilaTimes.net

LISTED gaming firm Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) said on Friday, July 28 it is targeting to put up 10 more bingo outlets this year in line with its commitment to put up 20 branches annually.

The company has so far put up 11 branches since the third quarter last year up to the first quarter of 2017.

“For this year, I guess the target is about 20 per year, so maybe another 10, either [by] acquisition or new services,” LRWC Investor Relations head Alfredo Reyes told reporters following the company’s stockholders’ meeting.

“We’re on the lookout for

good areas where we can set up good retail operations. So that’s the countryside, for instance, there’s still a good market for the retail of electronic bingo.”

Details have yet to be finalized as the company is still in the process of locating potential sites.

Meanwhile, the company said it remains positive on its business outlook for the rest of the year.

LRWC chairman and President Reynaldo Bantug said the company is slowly regaining lost ground in terms of the number of operating sites.

“Year 2016 was a stable year until towards the end. When 2017 started, it was chaotic. So of course that has an effect on your revenue side, but slowly we’re regaining the previous levels,” Ban-

Remittances, BPO revenues seen to shield peso

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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)

tug said in the same interview.

“But we’re now following strictly, of course, all the government requirements. The new requirements that Pagcor has are strictly being followed,” he added.

LRWC is engaged in retail gaming through its bingo and eCasino outlets (AB Leisure Exponent and Total game Zone Extreme), online gaming based in Cagayan (First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corp., First Cagayan Converge Data Center Inc. and LR Land Developers Inc.), casino operations in Midas Hotel and Casino (Prime Investment Korean Inc. and Hotel Enterprises Philippines Inc.) and property and investments in City of Dreams via leasing payments from Belle Corp. (AB Leisure Global Inc.).■

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILI Philstar.com

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sees remittances hitting a new all-time high of $28 billion this year, four percent higher than last year’s $26.9 billion aided by the strong demand for skilled Philstar file photo Filipino workers.

MANILA - The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU) said steady remittances and revenues from the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector would continue to stabilize the peso amid the volatile global financial markets.

Japan’s largest bank said remittances from Filipinos abroad as well as BPO revenues have contributed steadily to the country’s growth.

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Community Journal

AUGUST 4-10, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

California divorce FAQs

The CTV Files Atty. LiLLi B. BAcuLi I JUST moved to California last month, and I’d like to file for divorce. Can I file now?

To file for divorce in the State of California, the person filing (called the “Petitioner”) must first meet the jurisdictional requirements: (i) residence in the state of California for the past six (6) months; and (ii) residence in the county where that person is filing (e.g., San Diego County) for the past three (3) months.

Residence – put simply, where the Petitioner lives – also determines which courthouse the petition for divorce should be filed.

“What if my husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce?” or “My husband/wife does not want to sign the divorce papers, what can I do?” California is a no-fault divorce state. A party filing for divorce does not need the consent of the other in order to file a Petition for Dissolution (divorce) or, in some instances, to get a judgment of divorce.

What is “Service of Process?”

Can I just mail the divorce papers to my ex-spouse? Service of Process is a crucial procedural step in the divorce proceedings, because the law reserves for the ex-spouse (called the “Respondent”) the right to respond and appear in court, if s/he wants to.

In proceeding in an action for divorce, there are procedural requirements dictated by law that must be followed to ensure that the other party has notice of the action (that is, that s/he is being brought to court for an action of divorce) and that s/he is given time to respond. However, there is no requirement for the other party to respond. There is no requirement that s/he sign any document at all. All that needs to happen is that s/he is properly served with process according to the rules. Note that “proper service” is defined in the Family Code and must be followed, and the validity of any Judgment for Divorce rests on the proper service of the Respondent.

“I don’t want to pay for child support, or I want my child support to be as low as possible.”

Child support is your obligation

to pay for your child’s needs. The State of California will see to it that you, as a parent, will provide for your child’s education, health care, and overall best interests. Factors that are considered in the order of child support include – parenting time (the actual time you spend with your children), income, whether you are supporting other children from a different marriage, etc.

Note that skipping out on child support has very serious consequences, including not being able to renew a U.S. Passport.

“I don’t want to pay spousal support.” Whether you like it or not, spousal support will be ordered if the other party makes a request, and the court deems that the circumstances call for it.

Some of the factors that the Court will look at to determine whether there is basis for support, and if so, in what amount, are – length of marriage, age of parties, if there are minor children in the marriage, income of both parties.

“Why do I need an attorney?”

You don’t need an attorney.

There is no requirement that you must have an attorney. However,

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette ADevA MAgLAyA DURING the 2010 Super Bowl, a 30-second pro-life ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, got some precious air time before a captive audience of over a hundred million. It’s theme: Celebrate Life.

It was a simple ad in a white backdrop that has Tim’s mother telling a short narrative that when she was pregnant with Tim while she and her husband were doing missionary work in the Philippines more than 20 years ago, she contracted a life-threatening disease, which had her doctor advising her to abort her baby. She decided against aborting her baby.

The ad closes with the result of that decision, the young Heisman Trophy winner — Tim Tebow, her football playing son who takes time to do Christian missionary work in the Philippines and elsewhere, playfully tackling her mother and asking, “Are you still worried about me, Mom?” Pro-abortion groups, NOW and NARAL, worked hard to prevent CBS from airing this ad. As it turns out, the ad was so benign that many, on both sides of the issue, had their heads scratching about why there was so much banshee-wailing and offensive counter-positioning from women pro-abortion groups whose intolerance of viewpoints other than their own, has become more and more strident and desperate.

Edmund Burke, once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The issue of ABORTION stares us in the face. That is why true blue dyed-in-the-wool Christians and Catholics who voted for Clinton in the last election despite knowing full well she stood for abortion even at near full term must deal with cognitive dissonance so strong and unrelenting, their conscience should make it difficult to sleep most nights.

All God-fearing and /or Godloving citizens everywhere across the nation should fully engage in this issue. As a dyedin-the-wool Catholic conservative in agreement with millions of Christian evangelicals in many parts of the county, I staunchly

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PhiLiP S. chuA, MD, FAcS, FPcS WHAT is “sore eyes”?

Sore eyes, medically known as conjunctivitis, is a highly contagious infection of the eyes, commonly cause by an adenovirus.

There are several serotypes of adenoviruses. The incubation period (from time of exposure to appearance of symptoms) is 5 to 12 days. The conjunctiva (thin lining of upper and lowers eyelids that extends to the rim of eyeballs) becomes irritated, inflamed, red, stinging, with watery discharge, and the eyelids could get stuck to each other following sleep. This usually starts with one eye and spreads to the other eye by eye-to-hand-to-eye contamination. The lymph glands (body’s defense filter) behind the ears could be sore and enlarged in many cases.

How is “sore eyes” transmitted?

Acute viral conjunctivitis spreads very fast, from one eye to the other of the same person, and to other persons the patient comes near to. It is transferred from one person to another by droplet (air environment in the same room or house), fomites (items touched by the patient’s contaminated hands), and by direct hand-to-eye inoculation.

Indeed, this is a very contagious disease. This condition can also be due to allergies or to irritants like dust, wind, smoke, fumes, intense sunlight, ultraviolet light of sunlamps, electric arcs, etc. Obviously this type of conjunctivitis is not contagious like the adenoviral ones.

Does this cause photophobia?

Yes, temporary photophobia (“fear,” oversensitivity to light) is present in many patients with acute viral conjunctivitis, together with the feeling that there is a foreign body in the affected eye.

There could also be some residual corneal scarring following the conjunctivitis, which could even last up to a couple of years. Occasionally, this scarring might even affect visual acuity and result in glaring. Fortunately, this does not happen too often, but, nonetheless, care should be taken to avoid exposure to persons with conjunctivitis.

How about secondary bacterial infection?

Secondary bacterial contamination, which is very rare, can also happen to those with viral

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

The fight for dear life

“America your very future as a nation depends on your willingness to protect the right to life of the most defenseless in your society.” - Pope John Paul II believe that the gift of life is from God and that life begins at the moment of conception.

There can be no equivocation on this issue. Abortion is nothing less than the murder of innocents — a most grievous offense against the Holy Spirit from whom all life emanates. It is the duty of all who hold human life sacred to fight for it and uphold moral laws that guarantee the life of future generations.

It’s not easy to stick your neck out these days particularly with the so-called intellectual pundits of the liberal media spewing ridicule, bile and sarcasm over those who believe differently, relying on their Ivy League credentials for their authoritative take on social mores.

It takes courage that comes from deep down to confront the issue of immorality that is becoming so pervasive and ingrained in popular culture, we can drown in it just by switching on the television or watching the movies. The scripts of sitcoms and the stories on TV are skewed towards political correctness, rather than what is true, good and moral, while most pander to the least common denominator in order to serve the largest demographics and the biggest markets.

Our scandal-plagued churches and political figures seem to have lost the moral high ground and the voice that once seemed so sure and resonant in matters affecting life, is lost in the din and cacophony of so much chatter.

That is why the family which was once a strong unit of society has to be revived and energized to take charge of a child’s upbringing — not society, not government, and certainly not the treacherous, lying media.

A moral grounding that starts from childhood, nurtured in the teen years and blossoming in adult life is basic in order to see through the twisted logic of political correctness and immorality and confront it head on.

The moral issue of abortion far transcends any earthly concerns.

The battered economy, the war on terror, national security, taxes, energy independence — all these are important issues of our time but as history will attest, all these will be overcome in due time and will eventually come to pass. But the crux of all these problems hinge on how we handle the critical issue of abortion.

Western Europe is taking what looks like a dangerous turn.

Once the bastion of Christianity and of Western civilization, it seems headed towards nihilism with its ultra liberal, globalist policies. This is the third time in a hundred years that Germany, as head of the EU, is undermining Europe. World War I, World War II and now via the EU and its suicidal policies, Germany might just succeed without firing a single shot. Just consider for instance, that most of its leaders are childless and seems incapable of thinking ahead for the benefit of future generations. If Western Europe doesn not wake up from its self-induced stupor, the time will come it will be beyond help, even from above.

Its churches are empty and its populations seem bereft of the passions that a solid belief in the defense of the Christian faith requires in fighting the inroads of an antithetical faith that seek to overpower it. Alas and alack, political correctness may have already killed Europe’s soul.

With God’s blessings through a change of leadership brought on by what seems like the silent majority making its voice heard so resoundingly in November last year, America still has one chance to correct the moral depravity it has fallen into in the last 50 years.

It is fundamental to our humanity and our connection to divinity to fight the evil that abortion brings to our world. Our decision to take abortion down or uphold it, will reverberate for centuries beyond our time.

Abortion strikes at the root of our essence as human beings.

This is a call to fight for the un-

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Beware of ‘sore eyes’ conjunctivitis. In this contaminated case, the eyes will have purulent (pus) discharge and bacterial cultures can be done to identify the bacteria and the antibiotic most effective for it. This is viral infection with superimposed bacteria infection.

Can sex transmit conjunctivitis?

Yes, if one of the partners has conjunctivitis. But another type of conjunctivitis, known as Adult Gonorrheal Conjunctivitis, which is not very common, is caused by contamination (by finger-to-eye contamination) from a person with the venereal disease called Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted illness. As a rule, only one eye is involved here, but the condition is very severe. Both sexual partners must be treated without delay.

Can conjunctivitis be caused by bacteria also?

Yes, this is called nongonococcal bacterial conjunctivitis, meaning the bacteria causing it is not of the gonorrhea variety.

These bacteria are usually staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumoniae and hemophilus influenzae. To prevent further transmission of any type of conjunctivitis, the examining physician must wash his/her hands well, and so with the patient.

Touching the infected eye, or the area around it, or the secretion from it, contaminates that hand, and this can spread the disease to other persons. Family members in the same household as the patient should all wash their hands very well, several times a day, and should stay away from the one with conjunctivitis, in order to minimize catching the disease.

Does one catch “sore eyes” from peeping?

Peeping toms have been scared by a myth that they will catch stye (kuliti), not conjunctivitis. However, if a person with viral conjunctivitis had looked through the same hole, the subsequent peeping tom could be inoculated with the virus also and get the disease.

What is seasonal conjunctivitis?

Seasonal conjunctivitis is also known as hay fever conjunctivitis, usually due to allergy to airborne pollens, and the peak season is spring, late summer and early fall. Besides the itchy red eyes, the person also has rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa---inner lining of the nose) with tendency to sneeze a lot and have clear watery nasal discharge (sipon). Another form

that is due to allergy is called perennial allergic conjunctivitis or atopic conjunctivitis, where the irritants are dust mite dander or animal dander. This is a chronic form, with symptoms round the year, and usually these persons also have eczema, asthma and other allergic conditions.

Can the condition be prevented?

Yes, most definitely, in majority of cases. Careful avoidance of the known modes of transmission discussed above is the best way to prevent catching the disease, even some of those secondary to allergies. Eliminating dust, dust mite and dander at home of office by good housecleaning, abstinence from food or items one is allergic to, good personal hygiene (washing hands often, especially if someone with conjunctivitis is in the same room), care in handling items touched by the patient) and the usual common sense approach to a contagious disease.

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are real, and not just a metaphor. They are scary-looking, live, crawling, beetle-like micro “insect” with fangs and spiky legs. They are the components in dust that cause allergic reactions when inhaled, causing red, itchy eyes, stuffy, runny nose, and nasal discharge. Daily vacuum cleaning and dusting (furniture, etc) is the best way to eliminate dust and dust mites.

What is the treatment for “sore eyes”?

Since the cause of conjunctivitis varies, the prudent action is to consult your physician right away for prompt diagnosis and treatment. This medical evaluation is vital because conjunctivitis could be as trivial as those due to allergies, or as serious and those caused by a venereal disease or other eye condition that could lead to blindness. There is no substitute for early diagnosis and prompt treatment, just like in any other medical conditions.

Obviously, even better than this is prevention! n *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac

Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Green card holders and non-citizens: What to do when you receive a jury summons DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I just received a jury summon from the County Courthouse, but I am in illegal status (TNT). How did they get my name and address? Do I have to serve on a jury? Will Immigration be able to track me down? Will I be reported to Immigration? How can I get out of serving on a jury?

Should I just ignore or throw away the jury summons?

I am really worried about this and have not been able to sleep since I received the jury summons in the mail.

Very truly yours, A.S. Dear A.S.: County Courthouses (or the County Office of Jury Commissioner) typically select potential jurors from voter registration lists or DMV records. Since you have not registered to vote (and cannot vote since you are not a U.S. Citizen, and this includes green card holders), it is likely that your name was selected from DMV records. Therefore, as long as a person has driver’s license, his name will be listed on DMV records, and his name could come up for jury selection.

In order to be eligible to serve as a juror, a person must be at least 18 years of age or older, and a U.S. citizen. Non-citizens (including green card holders, non-immigrants, and TNTs) would therefore not be eligible to serve as a juror.

Typically, the jury summons has a number of questions about a person’s eligibility to serve as

Immigration Corner ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL, ESQ a juror. One of the questions is, “Are you a U.S. citizen?” Obviously, you would have to answer that question as “No.” Once the Jury Commissioner’s office sees that response, they typically would not pursue the matter further.

Some of the questionnaires also ask that if the person is not a U.S. citizen, that the person provide his “alien number.” If the person is a non-immigrant or is in illegal status, that person may not have an alien number. So, you should probably write “not applicable” or “none.”

I have seen some situations where the Jury Commissioner’s Office wants even more “proof” that a person truly is not a citizen (i.e. they want to make sure that a citizen is not trying to get out of jury duty, by claiming that he is not a citizen). So, even if the “No” box is checked (that the person is not a citizen), the clerk still wants more proof. In that situation, you may want to include the picture-page of your Philippine passport, which would indicate that you are still a Philippine citizen.

Furthermore, the Office of Jury Commissioner does not report anyone to the Department of

Homeland Security. The Office of Jury Commissioner is a county office, not a “federal” agency, and all they’re interested in is getting enough U.S. citizens to sit on juries. They are not in the business of enforcing immigration laws.

Under no circumstance should you ignore a jury summons, because if you do, you could face possible fines and penalties through the county court system.

But, the bottom line is if you are in illegal status, you should really think about doing something so that you could get in legal status, get a green card, eventually become a US citizen, and then you could possibly serve on a jury.■ *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

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Calendar of Events across

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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 5

2017 St. Joseph College of Olongapo City “grand alumni reunion gala night” in Alpine, CA The St. Joseph College of Olongapo City Class of 1987 is hosting a grand alumni reunion gala night on Saturday, August 5. The fundraiser will benefit the high school library project. It will be held at Viejas Casino and Resort at 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA 91901 from 5 to 11 p.m. It is $87 / person and the attire is formal. Please contact Gemma Gutierrez Hornilla at (949)861-1732 or Maridy Salle Curry at (818)730-4490. For registration and for further details about the upcoming event, you may also visit http://sjs2017grandreunion. com.

17th Annual St. Francis Children’s Fund fundraising dinner dance silent auction in Burbank, CA Join us for a night of great food, dancing, fellowship, and answering to God’s call of helping our poor children in the Philippines. This special fundraising dinner dance and silent auction will take place on Saturday, August 5 at Burbank Legion Hall Post 150 (940 W. Olive Avenue Burbank, CA 91506) from 6 to 11 p.m. For reservations, please call Emie at (818) 748-7361 or Ramon (818) 297-6618.

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Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California’s annual picnic in El Monte, CA The Silliman University Alumni Association of Southern California invites alumni, their family and friends, to its annual picnic and membership meeting on Saturday, August 12, at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Picnic Area D #9 ((near Legg Lake area with free parking for the early birds). The address: 750 S. Santa Anita Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733, 10 a.m. to sundown. For more information call: Jessie Mario Duran 626.715.2525, Joji Amparo 909.991.8919, and Zeny Duran Bennett 626.824.3595.

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University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) Induction Ball in Whittier, CA The Univeristy of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) will hold its Induction Ball on August 13, 2017 Sunday at the Double Tree by Hilton - Whittier on 7320 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz will swear in Mutch Carino as President of UPAAGLA for 2017-2019, together with the newly elected officers composed of Ethel Rubio (President-Elect), Nati Matitu Mercado (1st VP), Evelyn Andamo (2nd VP), Joy Angeles (Recording Secretary), Yvee Tadeo-Guevara (Corresponding Secretary), Gil Guinto (Treasurer), Melette Lampino (Assistant Treasurer), Dick Cu (Auditor), Benny Uy (PRO) and Bobby Canseco (IT Officer). The 2017-2019 UPAAGLA Board of Directors are Ivy Manalang, Atty. Mary Lyn Sanga, Ellery Atienza, Mary Trinidad, Sonny Gancayco, Annie Nepomuceno, Mary Drees, Jess Espanola, Bob Shroder, Carina Slepian, Ivy Cosio-Bautista, Ellen Gomez, Relson Banas, and Angie Alvarez. The advisers of UPAAGLA are Dr. Arnel Joaquin, Vicky Gancayco, Jazmin Gaite, Alma Onrubia, Frank Mamaril, Doris Maligalig, and Sonja Menor. Red carpet arrivals and No Host Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m.

Program and dinner start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, sponsorships and souvenir program advertisements, please call Dick Cu (562) 547-0560.

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24th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival in San Francisco, CA FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES “A TO A”, AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD — ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “Non-Appearance” Visas for $2500. He entered the U.S. in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban.

Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake tourist visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the U.S. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement)

Business News

PAL ready to invest $400 M for NAIA 2 expansion

by IRIS

GONZALES

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Philippine Madrigal Singers to perform in Northridge, CA Philippine Madrigal Singers in Concert on Saturday, August 19 is the long-awaited return to Los Angeles of the world-renowned prize-winning choir. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall at the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC) located at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. The theatre is part of CSUN, and tickets are $70, $55, and $40 online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com. Special student pricing is available only in-person at the VPAC box office, call or visit (818) 677-3000 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tour information at www.musicartsevents.com.

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Philippine Madrigal Singers in Loma Linda, CA

Philstar.com

MANILA - Philippine Airlines has proposed to invest $400 million to expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, citing the need for new capacity given the worsening congestion in the country’s main gateway.

However, PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista said if the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) proceeds with a plan to reshuffle airline operations, PAL may no longer proceed with its proposal to expand T2.

“We proposed to expand NAIA 2 because we need a new airport.

But there are new developments now,” Bautista told The Star recently.

The government wants to move the local operations of PAL and Cebu Pacific to T2, currently PAL’s hub for local and international flights.

PAL’s international operations will move to NAIA T1 while other international airlines in NAIA 1 will then move to NAIA T3.

Bautista said PAL has no problem with the proposed reshuffling of terminal operations, which would be easier to implement compared to expanding T2.

“That is easier to do rather than propose a new international terminal, but it is really important to have a new international terminal. We are open to both possibilities for the good of the country,” Bautista said.

He said if PAL does not proceed with the expansion of T2, the government could still proceed with the project or even convert it into a low cost domestic terminal, similar to other airports, which have separate terminals for budget airlines, he said.

“They can convert it into a low

The Pistahan Parade and Festival is an international celebration of Filipino community, culture and cuisine. Experience the best of Filipino art, dance, music and cuisine at the Yerba Buena Gardens. On Saturday, August 12, the Pistahan Parade will feature elaborate floats, marching bands and colorful contingents as it marches down Market from Civic Center to 4th St. The festival will include live entertainment, popular balut eating contest, delectable Filipino cuisine, cultural exhibits, hands-on workshops for kids and adults. It will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. Admission is free. For more information, please call 415. 625. 3976 or visit http://www.pistahan.net.

An Evening with the MADZ on Sunday, August 20 is an opportunity to hear the awardwinning first-ever two-time European Grand Prix winning choir, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, at Campus Hill Church, 11057 Hill Dr Loma Linda CA 92354. The performance is at 7 p.m. $40 General Admission, $20 Child/Student. For tickets, call Ephraim Dela Cruz at (909) 831-4225, Marjorie Ann Reyno-Huynh at (909) 965-6936 or Nemuel Enriquez at (323) 2290506.

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Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School international reunion in Las Vegas

cost domestic terminal like other airports, for example, Singapore, which has a budget terminal. That is easier to do,” Bautista said.

But if the reshuffling of terminal operations does not happen, Bautista said PAL would pursue its proposal to expand T2.

PAL has already submitted its unsolicited proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

If there are no problems, the company may complete the project by 2020.

The cost of the project, Bautista said, is $400 million.

Under the expansion plan, PAL wants to lease some of the government-owned idle lands that are adjacent to the existing T2. This includes the areas occupied by Nayong Pilipino where the Philippine Village Hotel is and another area of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

PAL will need a total of 33 hectares for the expansion but at present it only has a lease contract covering 18 hectares, Bautista said.

The MIAA would need to get an opinion from the Office

of the Government Corporate Counsel if PAL can lease the additional properties, he added.

According to PAL’s preliminary studies, there will be a new terminal building with a total floor space of approximately 90,000 square meters for T2 Annex designed with 11 to 12 wide-body aircraft gates.

The proposed annex is intended to handle approximately 14 million passengers yearly, according to PAL’s letter to MIAA dated May 10, 2017, as cited by Star columnist Boo Chanco.

At present, T2 has the capacity to handle 7.5 million passengers per annum. Last year, it handled 13.2 million passengers through the three terminals as T2 was unable to handle some of the volume. This was an increase from 11.9 million in 2015.

At the end of the day, what is important is for the country to have another major gateway as soon as possible, which it can do by expanding Clark, Bautista said.

“It’s really good to have another airport aside from NAIA but Clark (International Airport) should be developed,” he said. ■

Come and celebrate with RMCHS alumni and guests for the third biannual international homecoming. Sing, dance, party, share precious memories and join the fun from Friday, September 1 to Monday, September 4 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89103. Join the golf tournament in the morning of Saturday, Sept.

2 and then wear your best (black and white) for a dinner dance later that evening. Make this event an opportunity to reunite with your own batchmates, watch a show, visit tourist spots, and stroll along the Las Vegas Strip. For more information, visit the RMCHS 2017 INTL REUNION Facebook page.

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26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in Echo Park Save the date! The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) hosted by Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS) is back at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 14. Expect a whole day filled with art exhibits, entertainment, and Fil-Am vendors. More details and special guests to be announced. For more information, please visit: http://www.filamarts.org/.

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NaFFAA to celebrate 20th anniversary in Washington, DC The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) turns 20 years old this year. This October, several events are being planned to celebrate this milestone, which coincides with the national observance of Filipino American History Month. They will culminate with NaFFAA’s 20th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 21. With its theme “NaFFAA 2.0: One Voice, Four Million Strong,” NaFFAA will recognize the legacy and accomplishments of the organization over the past 20 years, and highlight its comprehensive vision to unite and amplify the voices of the four million Filipinos living in the United States. “NaFFAA 2.0” represents how NaFFAA is honoring its past while forging a new forward-thinking and balanced approach in uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse Filipino American individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and advocacy. To learn more about NaFFAA or to purchase tickets for the 20th Anniversary Gala, please visit www. naffaa.org.

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 4-10, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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FTA with PH not a priority for US

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA - Negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the U.S. may not be happening anytime soon, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said.

“Currently, it seems unlikely the Philippines could begin bilateral negotiations with the US anytime soon because other countries may be a higher priority,” AmCham senior advisor John Forbes told The STAR. Forbes said several American officials have stated recommendations for the U.S. to negotiate bilateral trade agreement with its largest export market countries and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) economies with which the U.S. does not have bilateral trade agreement, such as Malaysia and Vietnam.

Forbes pointed out, however, that the trade policy under the Trump administration is still evolving.

“Nevertheless, the Philippines, in our view, should make a decision that it is interested in exploring a FTA and then make its decision known in diplomatic channels to Washington. With a new Philippine ambassador to the U.S. soon to depart

for Washington, this could be one of his priorities,” he said.

Forbes said the upcoming meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S. President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to Manila in November should be another opportunity for the Philippines to express its interest to explore a free trade deal.

He said AmCham has long supported a FTA between the U.S. and the Philippines, whether bilaterally or multilaterally, such as in the TPP. “Opportunities to achieve this were missed when the government of the Philippines declined a US invitation to discuss a bilateral in the early 2000s and when the Philippines did not join the TPP 12, now reduced to the TPP 11,” Forbes said.

“The Philippines should also follow the progress of the TPP 11 in implementing the TPP treaty. If they move forward, the Philippines may wish to join to keep open the possibility that, were the U.S. to join the TPP in several years, it could thereby enjoy FTA benefits to access the US market,” he said.

During a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting between the Philippines and the U.S. early this month, the Philippine government put forward its intent to take its bilateral relations with the U.S. a notch higher through a comprehensive bilateral FTA.

The fight for dear...

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born — the most defenseless of all creatures, a call to preserve the life of thinking, feeling, spiritual beings in human form.

Estimates of the number of abortions in this country alone have reached the 48 million mark, the population of a country. Worldwide, the figures could be staggering. China is beginning to pay the price for its draconian one-child policy that has brought on a serious and detrimental societal imbalance in its male-to-female ratio, in a culture that puts a higher stock on sons.

While we may think we can choose to play God and decimate our own humanity in the name of a woman’s right to choose, God alone gives the gift of life and He chooses when and how to take it away. That must have been the deal from the beginning of time.

How special is man in the scheme of creation? Consider the big picture. Some wise person once said that if the beginning of time till now can be thought of as a 24 -hour day, civilization came to exist about 11:55 PM and the spark of life that is man only came to be in the last 2 seconds before the stroke of midnight.

As best as our most brilliant scientific minds through the centuries can figure out, the universe is about 15 billion years old and our sun which was born

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in the last 4.5 billion years with yet another 5 billion years or so left before it dies, is a common yellow star that makes it possible for man, the highest form of life as we know it, in the solar system, to live on planet earth.

We seem to take it for granted that it took a really long time, about 100,000 years or so before man, in his present form, became the crowning glory of creation, although this can sometimes be debatable when we come to realize our collective stupidities throughout history.

Man is a thinking, feeling, spiritual being in physical form, capable of so much good or of so much evil. In between these two extremes are the multitudes, who in their lifetimes, come to learn, appreciate, enjoy and fight for that gift of life to continue for generations yet to come. Of course, along with that gift of life comes the gift of free will and therefore, the opposite can also be true.

We can choose to do nothing and allow the terrifying prospect of abortion, death and decay to overcome and overwhelm us.

Sometimes, we feel that by ourselves alone, we are powerless to stop this horror from being indelibly imprinted into the fabric of modern life. But together as one voice, countless silent prayers sent heavenward by millions, maybe even bil-

lions, among us who believe in the power of prayer, are heard and miracles rain down upon us in our time of need. When we assault heaven with our prayer arrows, the Spirit comes and moves the chosen ones to action, those special human beings, a bit larger than life, who can lead and make the world turn on its axis for humanity to do God’s will.

And indeed on the issue of abortion in America, the miracle came to pass on November 08, 2016. Still, no one should become complacent. For a nation can only be as good as the people who live in it. Pray without ceasing.

The consequences of doing nothing and allowing the horrible evil of abortion to continue unchallenged, are dire. Choose life. Along with free will, nothing in the physical world of the entire universe can be greater.

If God himself in His infinite love, so valued human life that he sent His only Son in human form, for the ultimate sacrifice to save us, where do we get the gall and the temerity to think any less of it? Who do we think we are to even think that we can choose to take it? n *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, who co-chaired the TIFA meeting with Assistant US Trade Representative Barbara Weisel, earlier said the US welcomed the country’s proposal, saying it would further study the possibility of working toward a FTA with the Philippines.

Rodolfo also said the U.S. government confirmed its current trade policy would be toward bilateral rather than multilateral or regional arrangements.

Forbes said a potential bilateral FTA would benefit both countries.

For the Philippines, he said it would give the country access to the U.S. market, especially for garments and footwear, and for current General

System of Preferences benefited exports when the Philippines eventually loses its GSP privileges as a result of becoming a higher income economy.

The advantage for the U.S., meanwhile, is improved access to the Philippine market for exports and investments and higher standards of protection for intellectual property and other services, Forbes said..n

Remittances, BPO revenues...

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The 2022 IT-Business Processing Association of the Philippines roadmap sees the IT-business process management sector booking $39 billion worth of revenues and creating 7.6 million additional jobs.

BTMU stressed the need to monitor the impact of the policies of US President Donald Trump on the industry but said it was unlikely to derail the trajectory of the positive momentum in the sector.

It pointed out BPO revenues offer better support to the peso as its growth pace is at least twice the projected four percent growth in cash remittances this year.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sees remittances hitting a new all-time high of $28 billion this year, four percent higher than last year’s $26.9 billion aided by the strong demand

for skilled Filipino workers.

Latest data from the central bank showed personal remittances grew 5.2 percent to $12.61 billion in the first five months while cash remittances rose 4.5 percent to $11.35 billion.

BTMU said the projected growth in remittances is premised on no disruptions to deployment to the Middle East, especially Qatar, which has seen the government rescind its earlier ban of Filipino workers there.

The Trump administration has also been implementing stricter immigration rules that could affect remittances since about 33.2 percent of the total overseas Filipinos are deployed in the US. “These should continue to be stabilizing forces for the Philippine peso this year,” the Japanese bank said.

The peso has been an under-

performer in the region depreciating by 2.1 percent since the start of the year. The peso flirted with the 51 to $1 level this month amid the country’s ballooning trade deficit.

“This has more to do with the Philippines’ current account balance turning into a deficit on stronger economic growth as seen in Q416 and Q117, and in particular on an investment-led growth strategy that was set in place by the prior Aquino government, and continued under the current Duterte administration,” the bank said.

The BSP expects the Philippines to book a current account deficit of $600 million instead of a surplus of $800 million this year. The country last booked a shortfall in its current account was 14 years ago.n

California divorce...

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in cases involving issues such as domestic violence, custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and division of community property assets it would be wise to seek advice from a licensed and experienced attorney so as not to waste your time and money, not to mention the court’s time and resources, especially when you have to keep going back to court because of incomplete or missing documents that could have been addressed from the very beginning by a compe-

tent and knowledgeable attorney.

Not all divorce cases are the same. It is important to be properly informed about your rights and responsibilities under California law in divorce proceedings. The wrong advice or information can and will hurt you, and waste your time and money. Consult a licensed and experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your divorce. n

full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Philippines. 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 (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; (916) 449-3923; lbaculi@ctvattys. *** com. For general information visit www.

Atty. Lilli Berbano Baculi is an associate chuatinsayvega.com. attorney with Chua Tinsay & Vega, A (Advertising Supplement) Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a

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People & Events

Residents can leave a lasting mark on Concord’s history IN celebration of Concord’s Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary next year, businesses and residents have a unique opportunity to become part of Concord’s history by purchasing their own custom-engraved brick that will be built into a patio surrounding the new, life-size bronze statue of one of the city’s founding fathers, Don Salvio Pacheco, in Todos Santos Plaza.

The statue will be designed by a Northern California artist, fabricated here in the Bay Area, and officially unveiled during the July 4th Celebration in 2018.

Don Salvio Pacheco will stand proudly just inside the Grant Street corner entrance of Todos Santos Plaza for generations to come.

“Whether you order a brick as a tribute to your family, as a memorial for a lost loved one, or as an homage to your hero, your name and sentiment will become an integral part of our historical celebration of Concord,” says Lisa Fulmer, President of the Concord Art Association and a member of the Concord Sesquicentennial Committee.

An engraved brick costs $150 – one dollar for each year since Concord’s

founding. Visit the Concord Historical Society website, www.concordhistorical.org for details and to place an order online. The deadline for ordering bricks is Dec. 31, 2017.

A limited number of Sesquicentennial sponsorship packages that include additional benefits are also available for local organizations, small to medium businesses, and large corporations. Information about those opportunities is also available on the Concord Historical Society website.

The Concord Sesquicentennial Committee, sponsor of this historical public art project, is led by the Concord Historical Society and includes representatives from the City of Concord, Concord Art Association, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, Todos Santos Business Association, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, as well as many individual volunteers. Email questions to the committee at concord150@concordhistorical.org. A portion of brick sales proceeds will be donated to the Concord Historical Society. ■

SF Mayor Lee, city departments celebrate anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Edwin M. Lee and City Departments recently recognized the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law that bars discrimination against any SF Mayor Edwin M. Lee individual based on disability.

“San Francisco has a long history of fighting for equity and justice, so we are proud to recognize the anniversary of this civil rights milestone,” said Mayor Lee. “The Americans with Disabilities Act provided long overdue access, resources and support for the disability community. We are grateful to the many tireless advocates who fought for this legislation and continue to support equal rights for people with disabilities. In this City, we will always strive to go above and beyond what is required for our residents with disabilities.”

Mayor Lee has long prioritized measures to make services and facilities more equitable for per-

sons with disabilities. Along with the Board of Supervisors, he supported the creation of the Dignity Fund, which was approved by voters last November. The Dignity Fund provides protected funding for programs serving San Francisco seniors and adults with disabilities. The Fund established a protected baseline of $38 million and it is projected to grow by $33 million over the next 10 years.

“The City and County of San Francisco has and always will be a strong advocate of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said City Administrator Naomi Kelly. “As Chair of the Capital Planning Committee I’m proud of the commitments we have made and are continuing to make by improving accessibility for everyone.”

“It is core to the mission of the department to support adults with disabilities,” said Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services. “Each year, we serve one in three of the city’s 90,000 adults with disabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Mayor Lee and the disability community to further develop programs that promote living in the most independent setting and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement.”

Under Mayor Lee’s leadership, approximately 400 apartment units have been upgraded to include features for residents with disabilities as part of the City’s Rental Assistance Demonstra-

Second Sundays August Back to School Fest

SAN FRANCISCO — Ocean Avenue Association (OAA), Sunday Streets and City College of San Francisco are joining forces for a special Back to School Fest at Unity Plaza during Second Sundays Ocean Avenue on August 13th from 12:00 – 5 p.m.

There will be live music, a popup arts and crafts fair, and City College staff to help residents register for free classes starting this upcoming fall semester.

Second Sundays Ocean Av-

enue was started by OAA in 2015 as a way to promote the corridor as a destination for retail, dining and fun. Every month, businesses and organizations host music, entertainment and food/ drink specials. OAA is excited to partner with Sunday Streets, a program of the nonprofit Livable City, and City College of San Francisco to make a big splash at Unity Plaza to commemorate the first semester of Free City College. “Free City College is

an incredible resource for the city and we want the teachers, staff, and students at the flagship Ocean Campus to know that the Ocean Avenue Corridor is also a resource for them,” said Neil Ballard, OAA Associate Director.

More information on programming and schedule will be available later in the month.

Follow the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ events/1525677077454926 for the latest updates on the event. ■

tion (RAD) program. During his tenure, Mayor Lee has also championed the Community Living Fund, which has provided $36 million to help support people living with disabilities stay within their neighborhood instead of moving to institutional settings.

Additionally, more than 600 small businesses have received Certified Access Specialist assessments to help businesses determine if their sites of operation are access-compliant. Businesses received customized action plans identifying the changes needed for their sites to become compliant and resources towards removing barriers to access. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development has awarded $200,000 towards improving entryways, bathrooms, tables and chairs, shelves, signage, and path of travel to access small business products and services.

“I am proud to be part of a City that takes such positives steps and shows such commitment to promoting accessibility for people with disabilities,” said Nicole Bohn, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Disability.

To make pedestrian crossings safe and accessible for all, the City has installed more than 25,000 curb ramps on city streets. The curb ramps allow for the shortest distances and the safest pedestrian crossings at the City’s busiest intersections.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to mak-

ing San Francisco more accessible for all,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “As part of that mission we have been installing more than 1,300 ADA-accessible curb ramps a year throughout our neighborhoods.”

Along with celebrating the 27th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, the City and County of San Francisco is also recognizing the 40th anniversary year of the 26-day occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building by people with disabilities. Those advocates helped push for implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which was the ADA’s precursor.

To mark the 40th anniversary of that occupation, the San Francisco Public Library is currently hosting an exhibit called “Patient No More: People with Disabilities Secure Civil Rights.” The exhibit is on display at the Main Library through September 3. It is free and open to the public during library hours.

“We’re excited to showcase and celebrate these hard-fought civil rights,” said City Librarian Luis Herrera. “The exhibit at the Main Library is particularly powerful, as it not only shares the incredible story of the 504 sit-in by disability rights activists, but does it via displays that are accessible to all.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. ■

Milpitas Office of Emergency Services summer safety tips HEAT related illness • Heat stroke: extremely high temperature, red hot, dry skin with no sweating, rapid strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and/or unconsciousness.

How to treat heat stroke: Get the person to a shady area, cool down by pouring water on the victim, monitor body temperature, make sure the airway is clear from vomit, DO NOT LET

VICTIM DRINK, AND CALL 9-11.

• Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting.

How to treat heat exhaustion: Drink water, rest in air conditioning, take shower, and wear light clothing.

• Heat cramps: Cramps affect people who sweat a lot during de-

manding activity. They can also be a sign of heat exhaustion.

How to treat heat cramps: Drink sports juices or water, rest in a cool area —further activity could lead to a more serious problem, seek medical attention if cramps last longer than an hour.

When in doubt, call 9-1-1. The Milpitas Recreation Facilities provide cooling centers during excessive heat warnings during normal business hours.■

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

CJ

AUGUST 4-10, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, August 4, 2017

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 4, 2017

“Hamog”

“Pagdating sa Dulo”

“Mercury is Mine”

“Seklusyon”

“Jesus is Dead”

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS NEW FILIPINO CINEMA A showcase of world-class independent films from the Philippines

BY

MALOU LIWANAG-BLEDSOE / AJPRESS

THIS August, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) presents the sixth annual showcase of independent films from the Philippines with New Filipino Cinema 2017, co-curated by YBCA film/video curator Joel Shepard and Philbert Dy, a professional film critic based in the Philippines who has written for some of the country’s top newspapers and magazines.

Like the country itself — which is made up of thousands of little islands, each with its own culture, dialect, and people — New Filipino Cinema 2017 provides a snapshot of a huge range of artistic achievement.

With the current situation in the Philippine today, New Filipino Cinema has put a special focus on films with social, historical, political and human rights themes.

“It can be difficult to talk about Filipino cinema nowadays. There are still plenty of exciting things going on. The scene is still growing and evolving in surprising ways, with the entire structure of the industry having become the subject of serious conversation following a major shakeup of the country’s biggest festival. But there are other things going on here,” said Dy in a statement and then added, “Faced with the very real horrors brought about by the current administration, it can seem irresponsible to get caught up in the comparatively abstract concerns of the state of our cinema.”

Dy also said that regardless of what’s happening in the country, Filipino cinema has always been a fertile ground for dissent.

“In the time of Martial Law, the likes of Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal sowed their outrage into their melodramas.

Their stories of love and loss found potent context in the looming tyrannies of the Marcos age. And as the indelible specter of one dictator continues to cast a shadow on the nation, filmmakers continue to tell stories that bring to light, in ways both overt and hidden, the injustices that Filipinos face every day.

“One must acknowledge, however, that the escapist abstractions of cinema cannot truly capture the horrors of this last year. It is in this spirit that we have invited photojournalist Raffy Lerma, whose photos of the victims of extrajudicial killings have shown the world the plain, inescapable reality of what the country is going through.

In our own admittedly small way, we hope to honor those that resist, and those that still deserve justice.”

Complete line up and showing schedule “Sunday Beauty Queen”

by Baby Ruth Villarama (2016,

94 min) Thursday, August 17, 7:30 p.m. / Sunday, August 27, 2 p.m.

Beneath Hong Kong’s glittering facade, nearly two hundred thousand Filipinas are domestic workers living in relative anonymity. Living with their employers, they work 24 hours a day, six days a week, with only Sunday off. In a beauty pageant like no other, five women give themselves makeovers for a day and gleefully reclaim their dignity. The film documents the lives of these hardworking Filipinas as they escape once a week from their foreign employers.

“Forbidden Memory” by Gutierrez Mangansakan II (2016, 77 min) Friday, August 18, 4 p.m. / Saturday, August 26, 2 p.m.

In 1974, two years after the declaration of martial law in the Philippines, the Philippine army marched into the town of Malisbong, detained all the residents, and eventually killed around 1,500 of them.

This documentary talks to the survivors of this little-known massacre, letting them put into simple words what they went through.

“Apocalypse Child” by Mario Cornejo (2016, 95 min Friday, August 18, 7 p.m. / Friday, August 25, 5:30 p.m.

It is said that the production of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” brought surfing to the shores of Baler, where much of the film was shot. But this is just one of the many stories told about Baler, a place on the east coast of the country prone to myth and invention. “Apocalypse Child” explores the town’s relationship with its stories through the eyes of an outsider who has fallen in love with a surfing instructor said to have a (hint hint) very famous father.

“Seclusion” by Erik Matti (2016, 88 min) Friday, August 18, 9 p.m. / Thursday, August 31, 7:30 p.m.

The director of the acclaimed films “On the Job” and “Honor Thy Father” offers this parable set in a monastery in 1947. A group of deacons are undergoing their final trial before ordination: a week isolated from the rest of the world, confronted by the demons that still haunt them. This horror movie builds itself around the kind of religious imagery familiar to anyone who’s been to the Philippines, subverting those aesthetics in service of an exploration of how corruption clings to even the most repentant souls.

“Bliss” by Jerrold Tarog (2017, 100 min) Saturday, August 19, 8 p.m. / Thursday, August 24, 7:30 p.m.

“Apocalyse Child”

“A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery”

“Bliss”

“Lily”

Iza Calzado plays Jane Ciego, an actress looking to be taken seriously. She produces and stars in a film meant to propel her into the international festival scene, but she ends up getting severely injured.

She recuperates in a house under the care of her useless husband and a weirdly anti-social nurse. This intricately structured tale blurs the boundaries between dreams and reality, using genre elements to bring to life the monstrous nature of people in an image-obsessed society.

“Inside the War on Drugs with photojournalist Raffy Lerma” Sunday, August 20, 1 p.m.

Raffy Lerma is a photojournalist based in Manila. For twelve years, Lerma worked as a staff photographer for the Philippine Daily Inquirer covering the daily news beat in Metro Manila. He has recently shifted into working independently to focus on his documentation of the government’s “war on drugs,” which he has covered since the beginning of the Duterte presidency. Lerma shot the photo that came to be known as “The Pieta,” which went viral; and was featured in The 2017 New York Times documentary “When a President Says, ‘I’ll Kill You.’” “Hamog (Haze)” by Ralson G. Jover (2015, 100 min) Sunday, August 20, 3 p.m. / Sunday, August 27, 7 p.m.

All over the Philippines you will find homeless street children. They are known as “batang hamog,” which trans-

“Sunday Beauty Queen”

lates as “children of the dew.”

With amazing performances by its young cast, “Hamog’s” unique blend of gritty drama and magical realism explores the lives of a group of these children.

“Lily” by Keith Deligero (2016, 110 min) Sunday, August 20, 5 p.m. / Friday, September 1, 5:30 p.m.

“Lily” takes its cue from a popular urban legend in Cebu about a shape-shifting witch that supposedly roams the streets at night. The film imagines a backstory for this witch, casting her as a woman betrayed by the man she loves, left to die while he flees for a better life in Manila. This story unravels the various imbalances in Filipino society, whether it be between man and woman, rich and poor, Christian and not.

“Ma’Rosa” by Brillante Mendoza (2016, 110 min) Friday August 25, 7:30 p.m.

An ordinary family tries to make ends meet by selling small amounts of “ice” (crystal meth). They get set up by a drug user, and the parents are arrested. Thus begins a harrowing downward spiral, as their children race to find the money to pay off the corrupt police. The film unfolds in what feels like real time, in a gritty social realist style.

“Patay na si Hesus (Jesus is Dead)” by Victor Villanueva (2016, 90 min) Saturday, August 26, 4 p.m.

Jaclyn Jose stars as a moth-

RODEROS AJPRESS

MULTI-AWARD winning actress and a mother of five, Janice De Belen, is a proud mom of her two recent graduates, Yuan Estrada, 18, and Kaila, 21.

Kaila finished Arts Management, while Yuan graduated from high school.

Her other children, Luigi Muhlach, with Aga Muhlach, has his own family, Inah, 25, and Moira, 24, with his ex-husband John Estrada are also done with their studies.

When it comes to the courses her children want to take, Janice says that they are free to choose whatever they want.

“I mean it’s not my accomplishment. It’s their accomplishment.

Kasi kahit naman ipilit ko sa kanila na magtapos, kung hindi sila makakatapos, wala akong magagawa.

(Eventhough, I push them to finish their studies, if they can’t, I can do nothing about it),” an interview with Janice by PEP stated.

“Ako, (For me) [the] most important [thing] is to allow your children to do what they want...to study the course that they want.

“Hindi mo puwedeng pangunahan kasi hindi naman ikaw yung nag-aaral eh kundi sila (You should not rush them to it, because you’re not the one studying but them).

“Plus if you keep on forcing the course you want on your

children, hindi sila mag-e-enjoy.

Kailangan ‘yung gusto nila. (They will not enjoy it. It should be what they really love.)”

When her children were younger, Janice used to impose her daughters a 1 a.m. curfew.

“Kunwari lalabas kami, night out. Kailangan sa ganitong oras naka-uwi na kami, kapag lumagpas kami kahit kaunti, hindi na kami p’wedeng lumabas (For an instance, we’re going on a night out. We need to go home at exactly this time, if we exceed even in a slightest minute, we are not allowed to go out anymore),” Kaila said in an interview on “Magandang Buhay.”

exploration of the toxicity of show business, Bernal reveals the greater tyrannies of a society on the verge of Martial Law. “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery) by Lav Diaz Saturday, September 2 / Sunday, September 3, 12 p.m. / (2016, 485 min) Master filmmaker Lav Diaz turns his eye on revolutionary times with a movie that seamlessly blends real history with some of the country’s seminal tales and legends. Simoun and Isagani (Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz), characters from national hero Jose Rizal’s “El Filibusterismo,” escape into the wilderness following the events of the novel. Meanwhile, Gregoria de Jesus (Hazel Orencio), wife of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio, goes in search of her husband’s corpse, only to be waylaid by mischievous forest creatures. In this nexus of reality and fiction emerges a mournful wail for the state of our sad Republic, and a defiant cry of hope for future generations of Filipinos.

Presented with a one-hour intermission at 4 p.m.

New Filipino Cinema 2017 runs August 17 through September 3, with a free opening reception on August 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Arts Lounge at YBCA. All films are shown digitally, in their original languages with English subtitles.

For tickets, please visit: https://ybca.org/whats-on/ new-filipino-cinema-2017.

Andre Paras on balancing basketball and acting

Janice De Belen on parenting:‘Allow your kids to do what they want’

By ELIJAH

er taking her children on a road trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to attend the funeral of their father, who they barely knew.

This sharp, at times wacky road comedy takes odd turns through the personal lives of its characters, all of whom fall outside the bounds of the traditional portrait of the godfearing Filipino family.

“Mercury is Mine” by Jason Paul Laxamana (2016, 97 min) Saturday, August 26, 7 p.m. / Friday, September 1, 7:30 p.m.

The superb comic actress Pokwang stars as a grouchy cook who is about to close down her restaurant at the foot of Mt. Arayat, due to lack of customers. When a mysterious American teenager named Mercury appears out of nowhere and begs for work, a strange relationship develops.

“Pagdating sa Dulo (At the Top)” - Restored version

by Ishmael Bernal Sunday, August 27, 4 p.m. / (1971, 117 min) “Pagdating sa Dulo (At the Top)” was the debut commercial feature of Ishmael Bernal (1938 - 1996), considered one of the greatest filmmakers the Philippines has ever produced.

Rita Gomez plays a stripper fed up with her lot in life. Luckily, or so it seems at first, she is discovered by a movie director (Eddie Garcia) and put on the path of becoming a star.

Bernal always had a rebellious, subversive streak that would add fascinating nuance to his films. Within the context of this

By ELIJAH

RODEROS AJPRESS

Janice De Belen

SON of the Philippine basketball legend, Benjie Paras and actress Jackie Forster, Andre Paras is making names both inside the court and in the showbiz industry.

It can be told that Andre’s first love is basketball. He debuted as a part of La Salle Greenhills in high school and continued to play in college for the University of the Philippines (UP) and San Beda College.

On the other side, the 6’4 basketball rookie has also pursued acting when he starred in hit Wattpad films “Diary Ng Panget” and “Girlfriend For Hire.” He started Andre Paras GMA photo Photo from his Instagram account Continued on Page SF3

entertainment SF3

‘La Luna Sangre’ saga soars high on national TV Jona Soquite wins ‘The Voice Teens’ The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – August 4, 2017

San FranciSco

By Monet

Lu

We all know that aside from cheesy and a la cinderellaturned-princess movie plots, Filipinos love horror, fantasy and folklores. it doesn’t come as a surprise then when a TV series with such themes drive us crazy to the point of drooling in front of the television. However, it takes a certain mastery in direction and casting the perfect characters to achieve a rating of 33.9 percent in its first week, a feat that “la luna sangre” — ABs-cBn’s newest serye — has gained without a doubt.

According to data from Kantar Media, “la luna sangre” hit a national TV rating of 33.9 percent from combined urban and rural homes, more than double the rating of its rival program — a local adaptation of a Korean series — which only got 13.8 percent. “la luna sangre” revolves around the prophecy that happened during the ‘blood moon,’ which predicted that the offspring of the most powerful vampire and the chosen wolf will end the wickedness of the vampire imprinted with the cursed ink. This child is believed to be Malia (Kathryn Bernardo).

Malia survived an attack and was orphaned, which caused her to be raised under the care of other vampires and werewolves. They took them under their wing with hopes of her being the chosen one who is to

save them from the impending doom. But then they begin to doubt Malia when she fails to show her powers upon turning 21 years old.

Out of shame, Malia chooses to leave her responsibility and bravely faces the world of mortals. There, she meets Tristan (Daniel padilla), a young man who is hunting the vampire who killed his father.

As their bond grows closer, it would seem like Malia could be the key to the justice that Tristan been searching for all these years. The plot thickens as the dilemma of Malia’s decision of whether to return to her world (which she left behind) and re-embrace her destiny or continue her quest to be on her own and with the company of someone she might be starting to have feelings for. “la luna sangre” is the third installation to the internationallyacclaimed “she Wolf: The last sentinel” (“lobo”) and its sequel “imortal.” This epic saga about werewolves and vampires premiered last June 19 and instantly soared high on national TV ratings and topped the trending topics on Twitter worldwide.

Top-billed by the philippines’ premiere actors John lloyd cruz, Richard Gutierrez, Angel locsin (who was nominated for Best Actress in the international emmy Awards), and sought-after young actors Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel padilla, the show is an amalgamation of folklore, love story, suspense featuring modern special effects and wellcoordinated action scenes.

in a recent episode, Malia was caught in the middle of the jungle as she was confronted by a group of vampires. she had no choice but to fight these blood-sucking creatures using her instincts and speed.

Following her face-off with the vampires, she decided to change her appearance by cutting her hair short to deceive supremo, the leader of the vampires played by Richard Gutierrez. Malia is on a mission to penetrate the vampire camp to avenge her family.

The show is heaping praises for the story and how the characters fit their roles so seamlessly. As one of the biggest Filipino series to air this 2017, “la luna sangre” did not disappoint in bringing us entertainment at its finest. everything in this series screams world-class and the Twitter-world stands by it. i wouldn’t be surprised if the show gains praises internationally just like its successor. But until then, i’ll be on standby for the upcoming episodes that are getting more exciting by the minute. ***

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

Andre paras on balancing basketball...

From Page SF2 in showbiz in 2011.

Andre was last seen in “encantadia.” currently, he is on the cast of “sunday pinasaya” (sps), which recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary last July 9.

“Of course, super-happy po ako kasi nakasali po ako dito kasama yung ibang mga bagong ipinasok last year lang.

(I am happy because I’m in [SPS] and I got to join other people who are already here [in

this show] just last year.) “so, kumbaga ako one year pa lang.

(As for me, I just joined [SPS] a year ago.) “pero feeling ko rin naman two years na rin ako dito, of course sa pagwe-welcome nila, pagiging close namin,” (But I felt like I’ve been here for two years already, of course [it is because of] their welcoming presence, our closeness…) Andre told pep in an interview.

Andre believed that “sps” will

go on a long way.

“Talagang confident po ako, kahit nung hindi pa ako kasama.

(I am really confident, long before I joined [SPS]) “Yung cast pa lang, yung mga original—sila Kuya Wally, sila Kuya Jose—sobrang... you know, natutuwa ako kapag pinapanood ko sila every sunday pag wala po akong ginagawa.

(With only the cast, the originals—Kuya Wally, Kuya Jose, is Continued on Page SF5

By Elijah

rodEroS AJPress

“Discipline and humility are the traits of a true champion. And i believe you possess these traits.”

These were the words uttered by coach sarah Geronimo on Jona soquite’s journey before the big reveal on “The Voice Teens” winner.

Jona was hailed as the Grand champion of “The Voice Teens” philippines last sunday, July 30.

Under the wings of coach sarah, Jona soared high on the grand finals’ performance with her rendition of “i Believe i can Fly” by R. Kelly.

Voted as the first ever winner of the teens’ edition, Jona got 44.78 percent total of viewers’ vote cast via text and various online sites.

The 14-year-old diva was followed by isabella Vinzon from Bamboo’s team, Mica Becerro from lea salonga’s team and Jeremy Glinoga from Megastar sharon cuneta with 22.42, 17.79 and 15.01 percent, respectively. she took home a brand new house and lot, p1 million pesos trust fund, p2 million life insurance plan, a recording and management contract, along with fashion, business, and dental packages.

Jona who’s dubbed as the “Tabing ilog sweetheart of Davao,” also sang lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and “Better Days” with Geronimo during the first part of the finale on saturday, July 29. “it’s always magic when you sing,” sarah proudly says. she proved her doubters wrong when she performed George Bensons’ “The Greatest love of All” during the semifinals.

“Talagang nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga sumuporta sa akin. Maraming salamat po. sobrang saya po na noon sinasabi nila na parang ayaw nila ako, pero sa nakikita ko na halos kalahati yung naniwala sa akin.

Jona Soquite

Ang saya ko po na napakita ko yung totoong Jona,” she said in an interview on ABs-cBn news.

(I am very thankful for those who supported me. Thank you so much. I was so happy when they used to say that they didn’t like me, but I saw

ABS-CBN

that half of the public believed in me. It was a great feeling knowing that I showed them who the real Jona is.)

Jona was a 4-chair turner with her version of the OpM classic “Anak ng pasig” during the blind auditions of “The Voice Teens.”

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 4, 2017

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar The showbiz industry is mourning now due to the passing of veteran talent manager and entertainment columnist Alfie Lorenzo. he was 78 years old.

According to Philippine entertainment Portal (PeP.ph), Alfie suffered a heart attack while he was at Solaire Resort & Casino in Pasay City last Tuesday morning, August 1. he was immediately brought to San Juan De Dios hospital but doctors were unable to revive him.

Alfie’s former talent (who he also considered in the past as his daughter) actress Judy Ann Santos has taken over coordinating and organizing the wake.

This is in spite of the fact that the two did not separate amicably when Judy Ann decided to leave her talent manager’s care after 28 years.

It was last year in August when the actress formally cut the strings with Alfie, but there were news that their relationship as

talent and manager have been going downhill years ago.

Other artists that Alfie managed were Ruffa Gutierrez, Sunshine Cruz, Karla estrada, Jackie Forster, edgar Mande, Lito Pimentel, Rey “PJ” Abellana and Judy Ann’s brother, Jeffrey Santos.

As an entertainment columnist he wrote for the tabloid Abante, and was known as part of the Troika along with the late Oskee Salazar and Billy Balbastro.

Our condolences to the family and friends of Alfie. *** The ring is on her finger!

After years of being together and a son, Zion, actress Sarah Lahbati is now finally engaged to actor Richard Gutierrez.

The announcement of their engagement was via Sarah’s social media where she posted, “The star aligned in the universe and this happened. I’m marrying my best friend.”

Veteran talent manager, columnist Alfie Lorenzo passes away at 78

San Jose community leader Susan Pacifico celebrated her birthday with a luncheon party held at her residence last weekend. Shown in photo are (L-R) the celebrant, San Jose businessman Marvin Charisma and Fil-Am Democratic Club of San Mateo County president Dorie Paniza. Seated is beauty impresario Ferdie Villar.

Veteran talent manager and entertainment columnist Alfie Lorenzo passed away last Tuesday, August 1 at the age of 78.

Handsome actor Benjamin Alves of GMA 7 is the star of “I Love Davao,” with Carla Abellana as his leading lady.

Actress Sarah Lahbati posted this photo of Richard Gutierrez proposing to her in Switzerland. She wrote, “The stars aligned in the universe and this happened. I’m marrying my best friend.”

(Photo from Instagram @sarahlahbati)

RK Bagatsing is the newest actor on television today.

His acting skills are on point in the primetime teleserye, “Wildflower” on The Filipino Channel.

Actor and recording artist JD Charisma is shown in photo with Hollywood actor Kevin Sorbo (well-known as “Hercules”) and his wife Sam Sorbo (Princess Serena). Kevin was the lead star of the blockbuster movie “God’s Not Dead” and has a new movie, “Let There Be Light” coming out this fall.

This Instagram photo shows actor Richard Gutierrez after proposing to now fiancee Sarah Lahbati in Switzerland. The actor wrote, “I love you and I can’t wait to start this new chapter of our lives together.”

(Photo from Instagram @richardgutz)

The couple engagement photos showed that Richard proposed at the Swiss Alps in Sarah’s other home country, Switzerland. It was also where the young actress stayed while she was pregnant with their son, Zion, who is now four years old.

In the past, the couple has been clear about not rushing to get married so as to maximize the opportunities they have in showbiz. The two met on the set of a soap opera they were doing for GMA, but now are working on projects with ABS-CBN.

Joshua Garcia assures he and Julia remain humble

By Joanna

EstorquE AJPress

ACTOR Joshua Garcia refuted the allegation hurled by netizens that he and rumored girlfriend Julia Barretto are “feeling famous” after a picture of them wearing masks while malling went viral.

“The people know how down-to-earth we are,” the young actor said in an interview with Philippine entertainment Portal (PeP.ph) and Cinema News last July 26, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport

(NAIA) Terminal 3.

Garcia joined the Sunday noontime show “ASAP” tour in Toronto, Canada.

The actor said they wore masks because they do not want to lose their endorsements while shopping.

“When we went to the mall, we buy at stores that we should not visit because we endorse products,” the actor stressed.

Garcia assured that they were not hiding and they just wanted peace.

“We work too much and we

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto

just both want to watch ‘Spider Man,’” he said. he also added that he and Julia do not want to reject people who want to take pictures with them while they were malling.

Netizens bashed them for wearing masks and said they were assuming that people would crowd over them in a public place.

The rumored couple would soon finish their next movie together. Joshua said they are halfway done and the teaser is already out.

ABS-CBN photo

Jak Roberto on molding his ‘hunk’ image

by Krissy aguilar AJPress

ACTOR Jak Roberto’s management, GMA Artist Center,

Jak Roberto Photo from Jak Roberto’s Instagram account

avoids assigning gay roles to him to continue his leading manhunk career path.

Asked if he wanted a wholesome look or to carry on with the “Abs ng Bayan” image for his next project, the actor responded: “Open po ako sa kahit anong role! Actually kahit gay nga, e (I am open to accept any role. Actually, even a gay role).”

Since GMA Artist Center rejects the idea, Roberto explained to Philippine entertainment Portal (PeP) “Kasi minomold ako na Abs ng Bayan, tapos gay role (They’re molding my image as Abs ng Bayan and a gay role doesn’t fit that).”

After the successful run of his primetime show “Meant To Be,” the 23 year-old actor and model returned to the GMA comedy anthology, “Dear Uge.”

It was in this show where he garnered the tag “Abs ng Bayan” because his character was always topless.

“Pagkapasok ko ng tindahan, topless na ‘yan, kabitan na ng lapel (When I enter the store, I’m already topless and ready to wear the lapel),” he said. however, his character Berto has evolved from being a water boy to a professional. The actor said that he now wears leather shoes, black pants and polo shirt.

Nonetheless, it didn’t mean he won’t be topless anymore in the show because “Nagagawan ng paraan, e (They make a way for me to be topless)!”

Roberto is one of the semiregular hosts of “Sunday Pinasaya.” he’s also a member of the trio boyband, 3LOGY.

features SF5 Pistahan Parade and Festival celebrates 24 years The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 4, 2017

SAn FrAnCISCO — On its 24th year, Pistahan Parade and Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco continues to deliver excitement and entertainment, create memorable experiences and bonds among communities, expand horizons, and above all, inspire pride across the generations of Filipinos in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pistahan is expected to draw tens of thousands of people throughout the weekend of August 12 and 13, 2017.

This year’s theme is Pride and Progress in SOMA Pilipinas.

To that, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee comments— “The Pistahan Parade and Festival is particularly special, as it will take place in the heart of SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s newest designated cultural district.” – It is indeed a fitting theme since Pistahan, organized by Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE), is one of the key events in the neighborhood and as the community celebrates one year of the historic official designation of SOMA Pilipinas as a Filipino heritage district.

A key component of the festival is the Pistahan Parade, taking place on Saturday, August

12, 2017. Catch the opening at 10:00 AM with the ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the San Francisco Civic Center and which will then proceed and continue along Market Street towards 4th Street. Ever-growing through the years, it has now become one of San Francisco’s traditions. It promises to awaken your senses with the sounds of music from marching bands and visual feasts from diverse Filipino dances and the many colorful and fun floats to parade through Market Street.

Among those featured at the parade will be an authentic jeepney from Washington state, a brigade of Star Wars stormtroopers, and a Human Philippine Flag contingent consisting of Filipino American college students representing the next generation of cultural torchbearers and community leaders. On the sports side, SF Giants Super Fans gather to form another contingent with Lou Seal as mascot. This year’s Pistahan Parade’s Community Grand Marshall is Judge Ben reyes, recently appointed by Governor Brown and is the first Filipino American named to the Contra Costa County Superior Court.

There will be a stage on Market Street at 5th Street, where parade contingents will do a short performance in front of distinguished judges for an opportunity to win, among others, Best Choreography, Best Spirit, Best Overall Contingent.

The Pistahan Parade is a great way to kickoff the Pistahan weekend and to showcase the diversity of the Filipino American community in the SF Bay Area.

Yerba Buena Gardens will offer festival goers a variety of fun and interesting activities, from enjoying world-class performances at the Main Stage, including performances of contemporary and traditional Filipino dances, delighting in the voices of talented singers, sampling Filipino cuisine, to being tempted by the many exciting and interesting products the many festival vendors will bring. “Philippine Caravan” includes exhibitors coming all the way from the Philippines to showcase a variety of uniquely Pinoy food items, snacks and goodies.

In addition, the festival has organized seven interactive pavilions which are sure to attract the diverse tastes and interests of the public: Art, Culinary, Dance, Health, Innovation, Leadership, Sports .

Al Perez, FAAE President: “I am so proud to be a part of the Pistahan because it is a true embodiment of the

Filipino bayanihan spirit. The whole event is organized by an all-volunteer group of amazing, dedicated individuals who are passionate about preserving and sharing our heritage and traditions. I would like to invite everyone to come out and check out the Pistahan Parade along Market Street and celebrate our Pinoy Pride!”

Open call for participation The Filipino American Arts Exposition would like to invite the public to participate in the Festival. Here are ways to get involved: ( 1 ) Be a vendor / have a booth: Pistahan is currently looking for Philippine-inspired arts & crafts vendors and community booth exhibitors.

For booth applications click to our website at www. pistahan.net. For more info, contact: Al Perez, President, Filipino American Arts Exposition, PistahanSF@gmail.com, 415-

Andre Paras on balancing basketball...

From Page SF2 so—you know, I am very happy when I watch them [the cast of SPS] every Sunday when have nothing else to do.)

“Then just to be part of it, of course… of course I want to contribute din, di ba?”

Basketball comeback He took a break from basketball after his hectic schedule in showbiz until his recent debut on the first season of PBA-D League.

After two-year hiatus from basketball, Andre admits that he still has a lot to learn before

going to pros.

“I still need to work on a lot of things,” he said as the AMA Education Online’s win left far off from its first game on 2017 Foundation Cup on Thursday, July 27.

Paras is averaging 8.67 points,

13.33 rebounds, and 1.56 assists this conference in a promising showing with the Titans.

The 21-year-old said that he’s willing to take the long route to step up his game while trying to help the Titans on a better bet next season.

625-EXPO (3976) ( 2 ) Perform at the pistahan: Musicians, vocalists, choirs, dance groups, martial artists, spoken word artists, hosts, comedians, and other entertainers are encouraged to apply. Please go to our website at www.pistahan.net, click on PErFOrM AT PISTAHAn, and compete the short questionnaire. ( 3 ) Sponsor the festival: Support THE premiere Bay Area Filipino event and connect with the largest Asian ethnic group in California! Take advantage of our many branding and marketing opportunities.

For details contact: Al Perez, pistahansf@gmail.com, 415625-EXPO (3976). ( 4 ) Walk in the parade: Get your contingent together and show your Pinoy Pride! Prizes will be awarded to the best contingent, best costume, best choreography, best spirit and more! Individuals and

couples can come dressed in their best ethnic Filipino attire to be a part of the Lead Banner Contingent and for a chance to win the “best dressed” award. To participate, fill out the form online: www.pistahan. net > Get Involved > Join the Parade. ( 5 ) Volunteer: Volunteers are needed in the weeks leading up to the event, and on the day of. Join the dynamic Pistahan Volunteer Crew, share your unique talent and skills, give something back to the community and meet lots of cool people who are passionate about promoting the best of Filipino culture. Fill out the short Volunteer Survey at www.pistahan.net > Get Involved > Volunteer.

For more information: www.pistahan.net Facebook.com/Pistahan Email: PistahanSF@gmail. com Call: 415-625-EXPO (3976)

“I’m not hiding anything. We need to work on a lot of things especially on offense and defense,” he said. “For those out there who understands basketball, we’ve had so many lapses, and as a player and as someone who loves the game, we really lack execution and defense. We need to develop our individual skills

too, so that when you combine all of those, it will look fluid in the game,” he said in an article

by Inquirer.

“It’s growing pains. The chemistry is there, but I think in the court, we need to mature as players. When it comes to the game, everyone should have one mindset,” Andre asserted.

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