San Francisco Edition -- August 5 -- 11, 2016

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Volume 15 - No. 32 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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DATELINE Filipina in Harbor Gateway killed after car crashes into prayer meeting from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

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

Duterte: I’m destroying drug trade infra

by LeiLa

B. SaLaverria Inquirer.net

mANILA – As more prominent names were roped into the anti-drug war, President Duterte continued to justify his intensified focus on the issue. speaking at the malacañang palace, Duterte said that aside from the

chinese drug traffickers, the notorious mexican sinaloa cartel has infiltrated the illegal drug business in the Philippines.

“We are the transshipment point,” Duterte said before a crowd of volunteers from the Parish Pastoral council for responsible Voting, who paid him a courtesy call.

he said the cartel has turned to the Philippines because the united states has gone tough on drug smuggling. he said the government must deny the drug operators the market to stop the traffic of drugs. to do this, he has to exterminate the apparatus on the ground.

“If nobody would buy from them

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ON A MISSION. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte confirmed on Monday, Aug. 1, the “active” operation of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel in the Philippines.

The president said the notorious drug cartel has shifted its operation in the Philippines because of the United States’ strict policies on illegal drugs.

Photo by King Rodriguez/Presidential Photographers Division

anthony LicaS AJPress

Prosecutors charged a man with murder and attempted murder after allegedly killing one veteran police officer and wounding another during a gun battle in a san Diego neighborhood on thursday, July 28.

Jesse Gomez, 53, pleaded not guilty to charges filed Jonathan “JD” De Guzman Photo courtesy of the against him by the San Diego Police Department san Diego District Attorney’s office on tuesday, August 2 at uc san Diego medical center.

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Ombudsman asks Supreme Court to reconsider Arroyo’s acquittal

by Dana

SiSon

AJPress

mANILA – ombudsman conchita carpio-morales formally asked the supreme court (sc) on Wednesday, August 3, to reconsider its decision after acquitting former President and now Pampanga representative Gloria macapagal-Arroyo from her P366-million plunder case in connection with the disbursement of confidential funds from the Philippine charity sweepstakes office (Pcso). the sc granted Arroyo’s petition for de-

murrer to evidence on July 19, 2016. It was filed after the prosecution has finished its presentation of evidence, which was earlier junked by the sandiganbayan. the sc ruled that the sandiganbayan’s conclusion was “plainly conjectural and outrightly unfounded” and that “the [ombudsman] had no case for plunder against petitioners.” “the corpus delicti of plunder is the amassment, accumulation or acquisition of ill-gotten wealth valued at not less than P50,000,000. the failure to establish the

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Supreme Court orders Robredo to China warns trespassers respond to Marcos’s election protests on ‘claimed’ sea territories

test filed by defeated candidate

by Dana SiSon ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos AJPress Jr. within 10 days of receipt of mANILA – the Philippine su- summons. chINA warned foreigners Acting as the Presidential elec- who operate vessels not to trespreme court (sc) has ordered Vice President Leni robredo toral tribunal (Pet), the court on pass into its ‘claimed’ waters or to respond to the electoral prou PAGE A3 else face prosecution. the chinese supreme People’s court declared that trespassers caught despite past warnings or conviction could be jailed up to a year. this rule

by Dana

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by eric

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PresIDeNt Barack obama has called on the GoP to discontinue endorsing Donald trump for president, calling the republican nominee “unfit to serve” as commander-in-chief. “this isn’t a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. this is daily,” obama said on tuesday, August 2 at a joint press conference with Prime minister Lee hsien Loong of singapore at the White house. “there has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the united states, even if he purports to be a member of my party. the fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow.” the president’s comments come after trump received backlash for his criticism on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, two muslim Americans whose son died in Iraq in 2004 while fighting for the u.s. Army.

and nobody would receive [the drugs], if I kill the lieutenants, the business of shabu would no longer be viable,” he said. the president also stressed he has been focusing intently on the illegal drugs because he has seen what it had done to users and to the people

Suspect charged for fatally shooting Fil-Am officer in San Diego

A fILIPINo family mourns the loss of 72-year-old elsa De Belen who died after a car careened into a prayer meeting held inside a harbor Gateway, california home on Wednesday, July 27.

A red Buick sedan hopped the curb and crashed into a living room on the 14800 block of s. orchard Ave. just after 8 p.m., while a religious gathering was taking place, according to police reports.

De Belen was left trapped beneath the vehicle, while the driver fled the scene on foot.

Witness charry maduma told KtLA News the driver of the Buick was speeding before the accident. she said the driver was moving too quickly to make a turn and went airborne before smashing into the house.

“I ducked and saw...so much debris and someone afterward was screaming,” Angie

Obama urges Republicans to drop support for Trump

a u g u St 5 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

SiSon

AJPress

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo physically reported for work on Monday, July 25, as Pampanga representative for the opening of the 17th Congress after being in detention for four years. Inset photo shows Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. Philstar.com photos

was released on monday, August 1, and took effect on tuesday, August 2. the rule also applies to chinese citizens and foreigners declared guilty of “serious” illegal activities such as unlicensed fishing or wildlife poaching.

A statement released by the court on tuesday, August 2, said it issued two judicial in-

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ROBREDO IN THAILAND. Vice President Leni Robredo was in Thailand on Monday, August 1 to receive the “Honorary Outstanding Women of 2016” award by the Thai government.

Photo from the Office of the Vice President

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august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte: ‘I’m destroying drug trade... Ombudsman asks Supreme Court to...

PAGE A1 t

in the war against illegal drugs they had victimized, and he was through a Senate inquiry on the summary executions and other really angry at them, he said.

Duterte, in his remarks, also abuses committed in its name.

“I do not blame De Lima. went soft on his critic, Sen. Leila de Lima, who has vowed to in- That’s her job,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, the presvestigate the rising body count

ident’s spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Malacañang would not block the Senate probe on the issue.

“They are welcome to make the necessary investigation as they see fit,” Abella said.

DARK SIDE OF DRUG WAR. Stuck in a swamp of trash in the middle of an estero is the shanty of Michael Siaron and his wife, Jennilyn Olayres, at Barangay 145 in Santo Nino, Pasay City. Siaron, a suspected drug pusher who was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen, was the subject of a stirring Inquirer photograph that has sparked calls for a stop to summary executions amid a government campaign against illegal drugs.

Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma

PAGE A1 t

corpus delicti should lead to the dismissal of the criminal prosecution,” the SC decision read, according to ABS-CBN. “There was no evidence, testimonial or otherwise, presented by the [Ombudsman] showing even the remotest possibility that the [Confidential Intelligence Funds or CIF] of the PCSO had been diverted to either GMA or [former PCSO Budget and Accounts Manager Benigno] Aguas, or [former PCSO general manager Rosario] Uriarte.”

The Ombudsman’s 32-page motion for reconsideration said that the high court has committed “grave errors which amount to a violation or deprivation of the state’s fundamental right to

due process of law.”

“The evidence presented by the [Ombudsman] was not fully taken into account, including but not limited to the irregularities in the [CIF] disbursement process, questionable practice of co-mingling of funds and [Aguas’] reports to the Commission on Audit (COA) that bulk of the P365,997,915.00 withdrawn from the [PCSO’s] CIF were diverted to the Arroyo-headed Office of the President.”

The Ombudsman argued that Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence plea is not reviewable by appeal before the judgment of the case, stating that the court “committed grave errors which amount to a violation or deprivation of the state’s fundamental right to due

process of law.”

“The concept of actual personal gain, benefit or enrichment to the offender is immaterial as the important consideration in offenses involving the unlawful taking of property, as in plunder, is the intent to gain,” the motion read.

“Unlawful taking or apoderamiento is deemed complete from the moment the offender gains possession of the thing, even if he or she has no opportunity to dispose of the same.”

The Ombudsman also argued that Arroyo and co-accused Aguas conspired with their other co-accused “via a complex, illegal scheme which defrauded PCSO in hundreds of millions of pesos.”

China warns trespassers on ‘claimed...

Indonesia, Malaysia and PH to start joint maritime patrols PAGE A1 t

terpretations to clarify China’s jurisdiction and enforcement in their “controlled” waters which include the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), internal seas, continental shelves, territorial seas, and contiguous zones.

“Judicial power is an important component of national sovereignty,” Reuters quoted the court.

“People’s courts will actively exercise jurisdiction over China’s territorial waters, support administrative departments to legally perform maritime management duties ... and safeguard Chinese territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.”

However, Professor Fu Kuncheng, director of Xiamen University’s South China Sea Institute, told The Straits Times that it has “nothing to do with the tribunal ruling.”

The Hague ruled on July 12 that China’s historic claims over a large part of the South China Sea have no legal basis, favoring the Philippines.

China, however, refused to accept the ruling, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the issue.

Kuncheng said that the rule will serve largely to remove confusion among local governments by setting a national policy and standard.

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INDONESIA, Malaysia and the Philippines signed a document on standard operating procedures (SOP) for trilateral maritime cooperation to secure regional water areas.

The signing on Monday, August 1 marked the official start of coordinated joint sea patrols of the three countries.

The third trilateral defense meeting between the countries’ defense ministers and officials was held in Bali, Indonesia from August 1 to 2.

The implementation of the joint patrols was further pushed after the abduction of seven Indonesian crew members by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines last June and the kidnapping of three Indonesian sailors in Sabah waters off Malaysia in early July, marking the fourth maritime abduction this year.

Officials discussed follow-up measures related to the joint declaration on maritime security earlier signed by the three countries in Yogyakarta, Indonesia last May. The two-day meeting was attended by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and Philippine National Defense Minister Delfin N. Lorenzana.

They also discussed a system to allow naval vessels to enter another nation’s territory and deploying security personnel to guard commercial ships passing through Sulu waters in the Philippines.

They also deliberated in securing the release of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors held hostage by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.

“Our main duty and function is to prepare our personnel, Alutsista, and our strategic plans. We are now waiting for the command from [Indonesian Military] headquarters,” Indonesian Navy spokesman First Admiral Edi Sucipto said on Tuesday, quoted by the Jakarta Post.

Ryamizard also suggested to conduct joint navy and army exercises, and to establish a military post that would intensify coordination and intelligence sharing among the countries. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 5-11, 2016

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Honoring Joe Montano, our late mentor, friend, and fellow KAYA member: He who held our community together

ON THE FLOOR. A teacher holds classes in a corridor at the Manuel L. Quezon High School in Manila, one of the public schools in need of additional classrooms.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Supreme Court orders Robredo to respond...

PAGE A1 t Tuesday, August 2 also required Robredo to file her response by presenting her defense against Marcos’s allegations that the vice presidential race was rigged in her favor last May. The court has “issued a precautionary protection order for the Commission on Elections to preserve the integrity of all election materials effective immediately,” according to the Philippine Star.

Last June 29, Marcos filed an election protest against Robredo a day before she took her oath as the second highest government official of the country.

Marcos pointed out that there should be an investigation regarding the accuracy of the election results and the reported irregularities in the election to unveil the electoral fraud that involved the Liberal Party, Smartmatic Corporation and the Com-

mission on Elections (Comelec).

The petition — which questions 39,221 clustered precincts in 25 provinces and five cities — includes 20,000 pages of annexes that consist of affidavits and other files. He is calling for “manual recount, technical examination and judicial revisions,” the Philippine Star reported.

The senator also claimed that there were instances of vote buying and intimidation and that a fourth server was used, but was not disclosed to the public and not subjected to source code review.

However, Robredo’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Tuesday, July 26, that the existence of an additional server won’t nullify her victory in the vice presidential race.

Macalintal said that servers have nothing to do with the election results for any position since they cannot even alter the

Suspect charged for fatally...

PAGE A1 t Officers took the suspect to the hospital after he was found bleeding in the Chollas Creek ravine near the scene of a gunfight in Southcrest that left FilipinoAmerican police officer Jonathan “JD” De Guzman dead, and his partner, Wade Irwin, wounded.

Gomez allegedly “answered with gunfire” moments after Irwin stepped out of a police cruiser at about 11 p.m. and asked the suspect if he lived in the area, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon. He said Gomez then proceeded to shoot at De Guzman, striking the veteran police officer with five bullets as he sat in the squad car.

Neither prosecutors nor police have discussed a motive for the shooting.

Gomez’s family members maintain his innocence and told the San Diego Tribune they have received little information from law enforcement.

“No one in my family believes he did this,” said the suspect’s son, Daniel Gomez, 26. “I know he’s been in trouble, like when I was a baby, but after that nothing.”

The elder Gomez possesses a criminal record that goes as far back as 1983, which included several gun-related convictions.

A trail of blood originating near the site of the shooting led police to the ravine where he was discovered.

Police also searched for a man who had been walking with Gomez just before Wednesday evening’s violent incident. A second person of interest was detained on unrelated warrants after evading police in two separate standoffs, but was eventually released.

De Guzman and Irwin had been equipped with body cameras, but they were not recording as they approached the suspect, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Irwin, a nine-year veteran of the police force, did manage to turn on his camera at some point after he was shot in the throat. He and his partner had been rushed to the hospital by other nearby officers.

Irwin, 32, is expected to survive his injuries. He has regained consciousness but “is looking at a long recovery,” according to a GoFundMe page raising money to help cover Irwin’s medical expenses.

De Guzman, 43, died on Friday, July 29 at Scripps Mercy Hospital as a result of wounds sustained while on duty. He fought to improve the lives of people around him throughout 16 years of service, according to San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who used to work with De Guzman before she was promoted.

“He came to work every single day wanting to just make a positive difference,” said Zimmerman during a press conference on Friday, and described De Guzman as a “loving, caring husband and father.”

The San Diego Police Officers Association is collecting donations on its website to help the fallen officer’s family pay for the funeral and other expenses.

On Friday, Aug. 5, Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon will host an open memorial service for De Guzman at 11 a.m., which California Governor Jerry Brown is scheduled to attend. Other public gatherings honoring De Guzman’s memory had been scheduled earlier in the week.

Filipina in Harbor Gateway killed...

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Villanueva, a prayer group attendee told a local ABC station.

“They were screaming for help.”

Eleven other people were hurt. People nearby rushed to help victims pinned against the car before fire crews arrived.

Neighbors and friends of De Belen described her as a devout Catholic who had hosted prayer groups at her home for years.

She worked as a teacher in the Philippines before managing a doctor’s office in Gardena for more than three decades. De Belen had moved into her most recent community about six or seven years ago and lived alone.

One of her nephews said, “her laugh was adored by all.”

“She had the most hysterical and contagious laugh you’ll ever hear … it was incredible,” Al De Belen told the Asian Journal, adding that “The whole family was devastated upon hearing the news, hoping that it was just a bad dream.”

Private memorial services for

De Belen will take place at Holy Cross Mortuary and Cemetery in Culver City. Her relatives have set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to cover funeral services.

The alleged driver, 34-yearold Rashanda Monique Norman, identified herself as a transient and told reporters for a local CBS station she had blacked out at the time of the accident. She turned herself in at the 77th street police station on Thursday, July 28. Norman is presently being held at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California on a $110,000 bail.

She faces one count of felony vehicular manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge for driving with a revoked or suspended driver’s license. Norman has pled not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, August 10. If convicted, she could serve as many as six years in a state prison. (Eric Anthony Licas/AJPress)

results.

Marcos initially requested the court to declare him as the rightfully elected vice president of the Philippines and to nullify the proclamation of Robredo.

During the May elections, it was a tight race between Marcos and Robredo for the vice presidential positions, with the latter winning by just 263,473 votes, according to the final official tally of the National Board of Canvassers.

Robredo won with 14,418,817 votes while Marcos placed second with 14,155,344 votes.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Filipino-American community has lost one of its fiercest champions and leaders, Joe Montano. As KAYA member, Joe fully embodied KAYA’s mission with his dedication, laughter and commitment: to mobilize the Filipino American and Asian American community in order to build partnerships to increase our electoral power, elect progressive candidates into office, and to foster and develop our community’s next generation of leaders.

He was many things to many of us: friend, colleague, activist, historian, critical thinker, strategist and bridge builder.

Wearing many hats, Joe always stood for progressive values.

“Joe and I came into service for the Filipino American community as the children of immigrants in the 1990s, at a time when national networks were starting to form and new technologies like email made national organizing possible in new ways,” says KAYA member Ben De Guzman.

Most importantly, Joe has touched many lives throughout the years, inspiring generations of people to believe that they had talents to contribute to our communities. He made the Filipino American community the backbone of his work

to serve the common good. As the Executive Director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), he bridged connections between generations, both immigrant, and American-born Filipinos, across the country.

On both a local and national scale, Joe leveraged his role as a Regional Political Director at the Democratic National Committee to further mobilize our communities nationwide. In addition to national politics, Joe also worked on behalf of local Filipino American candidates such as Kris Valderamma, a state delegate in Maryland, as well as his friend and mentor, Mark Pulido, two-term Mayor of Cerritos. “For my dear friend, brother, compadre, I rededicate my life to honoring his legacy of public service to which Joe committed his life,” said Mayor Pulido.

Many in the Asian American community were expecting his presence at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week, only to hear the sad news of his passing.

As a political operative for the Democratic Party and as the northern Virginia Regional Field Director for Senator and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine (D-VA), he was a voice at the table for Filipino-Americans and helped Senator Kaine

champion the Filipino veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. Joe’s leadership was recognized on a variety of levels, and the news of his passing has saddened many in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Joe was “a very good friend and wonderful human being,” said Bel Leong-Hong, DNC AAPI Caucus Chair on Wednesday during the DNC AAPI Caucus meeting. Democratic strategist Toby Chaudhuri, who worked with Joe to pull together a multi-platform AAPI media center at the convention said, “We must honor Joe by doing this work — bringing people together and building power with resources from within our communities.”

Joe’s legacy cannot be denied and will not be forgotten; it lives in our actions and voices as long we continue the hard work that he did for our community.

Joe’s family and friends have set up the Joe Montano Memorial Fund. To support, please consider donating to https:// www.youcaring.com/joe-montano-611355. #kayanatin @joe8track #BeLikeJoe #livelikejoe #StrongerTogether www.facebook.com/Live-LikeJoe-1025500774194249/

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august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

Dateline USa

China warns trespassers on ‘claimed...

PAGE A2 t

China also has maritime disputes with other countries including Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia.

PH hopes COC will be implemented The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, August 3 that the Philippines hopes a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea would soon be adopted by concerned parties.

“The Philippines wants to see the early adoption of the COC,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said, according to Inquirer.

“All parties need to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective code of conduct (COC), and undertake activities that are in good faith and consistent with international law with the aim of advancing, and not delaying, the process.”

Yasay’s speech was read by Undersecretary Enrique Manalo at the 2nd Manila Conference on the South China Sea. A Declaration of Conduct (DOC) signed by Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(Asean) members and China in 2002 was supposed to result in a COC that “would further promote peace and stability in the region and agree to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective.”

COC has long been stalled, however, as reports state it is difficult to get consensus among the diverse ASEAN nations.

US and Singapore joint statement United States President Barack Obama and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a joint statement on Tuesday, August 2, urging all concerned parties in the disputed South China Sea to avoid actions, like the militarization of outposts in the area, that would elevate tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. “Beyond bilateral cooperation, the two countries have worked as close partners to build a rules-based economic and security order for the AsiaPacific and to address challenges on the global stage, including economic prosperity, climate change, terrorism, transnation-

al crime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” the joint statement read.

With regard to the South China Sea, the two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability and upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.” “They emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” They also expressed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the expeditious conclusion of a COC in the area.

Lee made an official visit to the U.S. in celebration of the 50year diplomatic relationship and at the same time, to enhance the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries.

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Fil-Aussie Jason Day finishes 2nd in PGA Championship, remains #1 in the world DESPITE a stellar week and a now-iconic 2-iron shot on the closing hole, No. 1 in the world Jason Day narrowly missed repeating a win at the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey on Sunday, July 31.

The Filipino-Australian defending PGA champion lost to American Jimmy Walker, who had topped the leaderboard throughout the four-day affair.

Walker, 37, started off the final round with a one stroke lead ahead of Day. The No. 15 in the world played with ease and composure, making par throughout the front nine before making birdie on the 10th, 11th and 17th greens.

But come the tournament’s final hours, the 28-year-old Aussie did not go down without a fight.

During the par-5 final hole, Walker and Day were at 14 under par and 11 under par, respectively. Day used a 2-iron to tee off the 554-yard hole which brought him within 258 yards to the green.

For his second shot, he returned to the 2-iron for a near perfect second shot to the green. The ball landed squarely on the green and rolled to perch 14 feet from the cup.

The shot — which Day has called “probably one of the best 2-irons I’ve ever hit” — has been looped on highlight reels and cel-

Jason Day

ebrated on the Internet.

“As soon as I hit it, it felt perfect,” Day said. “It was cutting up against the wind. It was going to land soft. It was going to be really nice.”

After Day’s expected eagle, he had a chance to send the Championship to a playoff. Walker needed to make par to win the championship. He had missed right on his second shot, but managed to escape the rough on his third shot

and make two putts to clutch the championship.

Day told reporters after the tournament that he was unaware that he was a three shots behind Walker; he thought he was two shots behind.

Walker had led throughout the entire tournament, but he was not surprised by Day’s dramatic efforts to snatch the title.

“I was hoping to relax — I could have used it — but I wouldn’t have expected any less from Jason,” Walker said.

This season, Day went into all four majors — the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Champion — as the world No. 1 and the favorite to win.

Despite finishing as runner-up in each major this season, Day remains the top-ranked golfer in the world.

Day won the PGA Championship last year when he finished with a record 20 strokes under par. The Aussie first achieved the No. 1 ranking in September 2015.

Following the 98th PGA Championship, Day had finished with the lowest cumulative score of all competitors who made the cut in all four majors, according to Golf Digest. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

City of Berkeley enacts first of its kind Wage Theft Prevention ordinance BERKELEY — On Tuesday, July 19, the City of Berkeley approved a first-of-its-kind local ordinance aimed at preventing wage theft on local construction projects.

Authored by Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, co-sponsored by a majority of the Council and supported by construction industry trade associations and workers’ rights groups, the measure requires that developers and builders certify that all contractors performing work on large projects have complied with state wage and hour laws as a condition of winning a certificate of occupancy from the city.

“Enforcing wage laws is especially difficult in the construction industry, because unscrupulous contractors who cheat workers in order to win bids on large projects

find ways of disappearing after the work is done,” said Smart Cities Prevail Policy Director Scott Littlehale. “By expanding transparency and accountability BEFORE a project is complete, Berkeley has taken an important step towards preventing wage theft and leveling the playing field for honest construction businesses competing for this work.”

“This measure links our city’s responsibility for determining whether a construction project is completed with the principle of ensuring those who did the work are paid the wages they earned,” added Berkeley City Council Member Laurie Capitelli. “Whether as workers, businesses or taxpayers, we are all impacted by wage theft in some way. But we are not powerless to stop it, and that’s why I

hope that other communities will soon join Berkeley in taking action.”

Research shows that wage theft annually costs California taxpayers at least $8.5 billion in tax revenue, and costs workers billions more in lost income. Because state enforcement resources are limited, workers only file claims in a fraction of cases and less than 20 percent of adjudicated claims are ever paid. The problem is especially pervasive in lower wage occupations, including California’s construction industry.

Smart Cities Prevail is a leading construction industry research and advocacy organization. More information on us may be found at www.smartcitiesprevail.org.

StopWageTheftCA.org is a project of Smart Cities Prevail.

Obama urges Republicans to drop support...

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The Khan family were at last week’s Democratic National Convention, where only the father Khizr Khan spoke, taking issue with several of Trump’s proposed policies, including a temporary ban on Muslim immigration. Trump criticized Ghazala Khan for her silence, asking whether or not she was even allowed to speak.

“The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country...means that he’s woefully unprepared to do this job,” Obama said.

Obama added his thoughts on Trump run no different than those of mainstream Republicans, like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), who Trump had previously criticized for not being a war hero.

Throughout the election cycle, Republican legislators have expressed concern over Trump’s controversial comments, but none have withdrawn support. Obama said that he doesn’t “doubt that they were outraged” by Trump’s statements on the Khan family.

“The question I think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say, in

very strong terms, that what has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?” Obama said.

Obama added that although he has disagreed with Republican presidents in the past, he said that he “didn’t have a doubt that they could function as president.”

He added that had he lost to Mitt Romney in 2012 or McCain in 2008, he “would have been disappointed,” but would have had no doubt that they would “abide by certain norms and rules and common sense.”

The president said he does not see Trump as an accurate representation of a majority of the Republican Party, and that the party needs to discontinue validating his positions.

On the same day Obama made his comments, a Republican congressperson from New York declared support for Hillary Clinton over Trump, calling the latter “deeply flawed in endless ways.”

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) justified his choice in an op-ed released on Tuesday, August 2, saying that Trump will further “alienate” the Republican Party from historically ostracized groups and will push the party to its extremes.

“I have long held the belief that the Republican Party is becoming less capable of nominating a person who is electable as president,” Hanna wrote. “The primary process is geared toward the party’s political base, which ignores the fact that we have largely alienated women, Hispanics, the LGBT community, young voters and many others in general.”

In response to Trump’s harsh criticism toward the Khan family, 17 Gold Star families—families of servicemembers who died fighting for the country—have demanded an apology from the business mogul.

They said that Trump’s comments attacking Ghazala Khan were “repugnant, and personally offensive.”

“When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us,” the letter read.

“When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.”

“You are minimizing the risk our service members make for all of us. This goes beyond politics.

It is about a sense of decency,” it added. (Klarize Medenilla/AJ Press)

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Duterte confirms US to give $32-M for military assistance

Human rights-related issues avoided during meeting with Kerry

by Joseph

Almer B. pedrAJAs AJPress

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed that the United States expressed commitment to offer $32-million in military assistance, as discussed with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to the Philippines last week.

Speaking before members of the Presidential Security Group at the Malacañang Park on Sunday, July 31, Duterte announced that the U.S. is willing to financially support the Philippines in its war against drugs, terrorism and crime, and its stand on issues such as of climate change and maritime security.

“The money? Oh, 32, ‘Ah, I give you, $32 million,’” Duterte said, quoting what Kerry said.

The $32-million financial aid (P1.5 billion) will help to enforce lawful “training and services” including the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Duterte, upon the juncture, consequently told Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to come up with a wish list for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“So I asked Delfin Lorenzana, ‘What’s your priority?’ We did a god job in Sulu; I’m impressed.

So buy more,” added Duterte, in reference to the military operations in Mindanao and the need to buy more weapons.

On the other hand, Kerry

CARINA’S WRATH. A fisherman pulls his boat to shore as rains spawned by storm Carina drenched Metro Manila Sunday, July 31. “Carina” intensified into a tropical storm early Sunday, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to raise signal No. 1 in the Batanes Group of Islands, Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte received a courtesy call from US Secretary of State John Kerry in Malacañang last week. The two also talked about important issues, including the Supreme Court’s decision on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (EDCA) agreement signed by the Philippines and the US and the arbitral tribunal’s ruling on the disputed West Philippine Sea. Malacañang photo

opened up the issue on human rights violations, which are being questioned as the killings of alleged drug suspects continue throughout the country.

However, Duterte abruptly told Kerry that he has “a job to do” and insisted to “go to another topic.”

As of press time, 3,213 individuals allegedly involved with drugs have been arrested, while 239 have been killed by the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to GMA News.

Last Wednesday, July 27, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella clarified that “there was no alarm” shown after Duterte

informed Kerry about “the way he has been handling the war against crime and especially the narcotics plague.”

Before meeting with the president, Kerry said, “I made it very clear that civil and human rights must be protected, even as we work together to keep our society safe.”

Aside from issues of drugs, terrorism, crime and maritime security, the two also discussed motorcycles and hunting.

“First, it was a courtesy call, it was a very interesting meeting because they share common interests,” the presidential spokesman commented.

PH launches 911 emergency hotline by dAnA

sison

AJPress

MANILA —The Philippine National Police (PNP) officially launched the Philippines’ 911 emergency response hotline on Monday, August 1.

Manned with 45 call center agents, 911 is a 24-hour nationwide hotline that dispatches emergency responses related to police, fire, and medical emergencies.

PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said that

as of now, the initial responders would be PNP personnel only.

Callers may expect a response in around 5-10 minutes.

As of 12:01pm on its launching day, the PNP received a total of 2,475 calls -- only 75 were legitimate while a total of 304 were pranks and the remaining 1,119 were dropped calls.

The following day, the emergency hotline received 70 calls requesting ambulance service, 63 reports on illegal drugs, 63 requests for police assistance

PNP chief: ‘We value lives’

really innocent, it pains us too if innocent lives were dragged into this, we’re humans too. We value PHILIPPINE National Police lives, we want to preserve lives),” (PNP) Director General Ronald Rappler quoted Dela Rosa.

“Bato” Dela Rosa admitted on He pointed out that the poMonday, August 1, that it is ‘pain- lice does not want people to get ful for police to be accused of killed and challenged the accuskilling innocent people,’ as they ers to prove that they’re really continue their campaign against innocent. illegal drugs.

“I-prove nila, kasi masakit naSince the present administra- man sa aming mga pulis na lagi tion has been cracking down on nalang ina-accuse ng ganoon. Eh illegal drugs, Inquirer has report- nagtratrabaho na nga yung pued 467 deaths nationwide. lis, inaaccuse pa ng ganoon. Eh “Kung inosente yan, masakit yung pulis na yan, may mga anak rin sa amin kung may madisgra- rin ‘yan eh. May mga pamilya rin sya na inosente, eh pareho tay- ‘yan (They should prove those along tao. We value lives, we want legations because it’s also painful to preserve lives… (If they were for police to be accused of killing

innocent people because they’re working hard. Police have children too. They have families too),” he added.

As of July 25, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has been investigating and reviewing 103 cases of extrajudicial killings related to the anti-illegal drugs campaign. There were 39 cases in NCR; 27 cases in Region I; 15 cases in Region II; 13 cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region; and nine cases in Region XII. It includes cases where suspects were killed in the middle of a police operation, or by an unidentified assailant, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

As the number of casualties continued to increase, Dela Rosa stressed that he does not condone vigilantism.

“Kung kayo tao, nasasaktan… ang pulis tao, nasasaktan. At kami’y nagmamahal sa aming kapwa. Ayaw talaga namin may masaktan unnecessarily (If you get hurt, police get hurt too. We care for our fellowmen. We don’t want them to get hurt unnecessarily),” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa claimed that policemen were professional enough not to mistake innocent people as suspects during operations against illegal drugs.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte denounced extrajudicial SEEING DOUBLE. Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa introduces“PO1 Bato,” the killings and said that it would be official mascot of the PNP. The mascot entertained policemen and other PNP personnel when put “under control.” by dAnA

sison

AJPress

and 59 reports of car accidents.

Other calls were categorized as nuisances.

Dela Rosa requested the public to refrain from ‘testing’ the hotline and sending prank calls, warning that those guilty will be apprehended.

“We are currently tracking the prank callers and we will make sure that you will be unmasked,” Dela Rosa told GMA News.

“I am also appealing to our people to refrain from making PAGE A7 he danced after the flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame Monday.

ManilaTimes.net photo

A

august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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Features

OpiniOn

Turnaround

AMID President Rodrigo Duterte’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police (PNP) proudly reported that the country has also seen a downward trend in crime in the first half of 2016.

“We are seeing the reduction of street crimes, particularly crimes against property metro-wide,” Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said.

Albayalde said that the significant decline in Metro Manila’s crime was due to the implementation of “Oplan Tokhang” and “Double Barrel,” the government’s drive against illegal drugs.

According to Inquirer.net, “Oplan Double Barrel” is the government’s blueprint for its drug war, which supposedly involves exposing the “upper barrel” to capture “high-value” and supply-side targets; and the “lower barrel” to eliminate “lowvalue” and demand-side targets.

“Tokhang,” which was first launched in Davao City in 2012, is a combination of “toktok” or knock and “hangyo” or to plead or request.

In the last month, authorities have reported a total of 402 drugs suspects killed, 5,418 suspects arrested and 565,806 others who have surrendered.

Albayalde said that the weekly crime trend data from July 1- 19, 2016 reflected the significant decrease of street crimes compared with the data recorded on the first semester of 2016. Other forms of index crimes against persons and properties correlated to illegal drugs have also been reduced.

Meanwhile, beginning this week, an emergency 911 hotline has been formally activated to immediately provide police assistance to the people. The

24 hour-hotline is also available for fire and medical emergencies.

Since its activation, various calls for emergencies were received by the emergency hotline, such as ambulance assistance, vehicular accidents, petty harassment and civil disturbances, drag racing, drinking in public places, and drug pushing, among others.

It seems that the PNP will help the president fulfill his promise of suppressing illegal drugs and criminality in the country within three to six months.

The agency also vowed to clean up its ranks.

Of the 16,000 police officers drug tested, 11 were found positive. They were relieved from their posts and now under investigation.

While these recent reports have been fairly positive, it would also be good for both the PNP and the government to look into the recent spike in killings of suspected drug dealers and users unidentified gunmen. This alleged vigilante killings incited fear among the citizenry.

Currently, the country has 160,000 policemen manning the streets for a population of 102.3 million or a ratio of one cop for every 640 people. For the PNP to further ensure the public’s safety and purging misfits from the streets, policemen must be reminded to perform their duties based on respect for the sanctity of life and human rights.

(AJPress)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

Could this be the beginning of the end of Trump’s sprint to the White House?

DONALD Trump’s millions of loyal ardent followers, many of whom are Filipinos in America, would even question the title of this piece as they believe in their hearts that he can indeed “make America great again.” There are kababayans who find it unfathomable how there are people who could not see beyond what they call lies the liberals are spewing against Trump. They say the real estate billionaire is the best candidate and best leader America could ever have, compared to Obama, Clinton, Sanders, and any other Democrat.

But the liberals and those who affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party are not the only ones speaking out against Trump these days, especially in light of his comments criticizing the parents of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed in the line of duty in Baghdad in 2004.

Many people from within the party he is supposed to represent have distanced themselves from his comments, while members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a group of Goldstar families (an organization founded by individuals who lost family members in the Iraq war) have demanded an apology.

The father Khizr Khan gave a speech at last week’s Democratic National Convention against Trump’s plan to ban Muslims in America. The elder Khan

Opinion

Marlen ronquillo THe flag was hoisted in 1946, yes, but we had 400 years under Spain and a half a century of Coke and Hollywood. Around 450 years of Old europe and North America, the two, true Great Powers after Rome. Our civilization, even with the relative newness of the Republic, is an ancient one.

In the ideal world, a civilization that old would have built itself up into a 21st century powerhouse with concerns more focused on R&D, innovation. developing the next life-changing app, or writing the next big idea that would change the planet for good. At this stage, the landscape shall have been littered with technology corridors, smart and selfsustaining cities, a pool of nerds just as capable of designing the next space voyager to Mars. In the ideal world, a president’s SONA should have focused on entirely and strictly 21st century

said the plan denigrates the ultimate The Fil-Am sacrifice their son and many other men in Perspective uniform made for the United States when they offered their own lives for this country Gel SantoS-reloS they love.

Khan claimed Trump “sacrificed nothing and no one,” and this prompted the Republican presidential nominee to retaliate and even speculate why Khan’s wife Ghazala did not even speak up during the convention to deliver her own remarks.

In an opinion article published by the Washington Post, Ms. Khan wrote, “All the world, all America, felt my pain.

I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart.”

“Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?” she added.

Ms. Khan further said Mr. Trump was “ignorant” of Islam and criticized him for offering his business career as evidence that he had sacrificed for his country. “Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices,” Ms. Khan said.

“He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means.”

The New York Times reported how Mr. and Ms. Khan stiffened their denunciation of Trump, saying on the TV show “Meet the Press” on NBC last

Sunday that Trump lacked the moral character and empathy to be president. Mr. Khan said Trump had shown disrespect to his wife, and he accused the Republican nominee of running a campaign “of hatred, of derision, of dividing us.”

Mr. Khan made his appeal on “Meet the Press” to the “patriotic Americans that would probably vote for Donald Trump,” saying “I appeal to them not to vote for hatred, not to vote for fearmongering. Vote for unity. Vote for the goodness of this country.”

Trump tweeted on Monday, Aug. 1 that Khan “viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same.”

He then continued the barrage of comments against Khan on Twitter and in interviews, arguing that he has done a lot of sacrifices as a businessman.

He and his surrogates contended that Khan’s remarks against him are just being exploited for political expediency.

But many leaders of the Republican Party do not agree with Trump and have been very public about their denouncement of Trump’s statements.

They condemned Trump’s treatment of the Khans and as the New York Times reported, these leaders have called “his

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

behavior outside the bounds of political discourse.”

In a statement released last Monday, Sen. John McCain accused Donald Trump of defaming Khizr Khan and argued the Republican presidential candidate does not represent the GOP. “While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us,” McCain said.

Military veterans in Congress even urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to drop his endorsement of Trump.

Recent polls reveal that Democratic

presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Trump after the Democratic National Convention, with an 8, even 9 percent margin. Is this ominous for Trump’s presidential ambitions?

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

Mr. Duterte is still grappling with 20th century problems concerns such as where to retire the shuttles we have used for our moon landings.

Or, what should be our positioning for the challenges – and opportunities — of the next century.

Remember that Singapore was a poor appendage of Malaysia at the time we were the 2nd fastest-growing economy in Asia after Japan.

We are not yet in the 21st century, unfortunately and tragically. Listening to the SONA of Mr. Duterte, one who truly loves our country would feel a sense of deep depression. What kind of governing context made the President deal with age-old problems in a SONA delivered in the 21st century? Why was he talking about the problems of the mid-20th century such us intractable poverty and small fishermen crowded out by fish pen operators at a dying lake?

Or, of miners still engaged in gouging the earth to despoil the environment? Or, traffic jams at the scale of Lagos or Karachi?

In a sense, you can only pity

Mr. Duterte as he spoke from his powerful perch? You wished the topics were different.

I wrote this after I washed the dung off pig pens at a nearbankrupt backyard hog farm — and with the neighboring farms tilled by men with hoes. The 21st century has not dawned on us – and much of the entire archipelago.

What factors and what personalities made him inherit this ghastly legacy of grief and underdevelopment?

Mr. Duterte is not inclined to look back and blame others.

What matters, he said, is the present and the future. He is man enough to man up to the problems not of his own making. That is a welcome change from the blameless leader we have had before him. But we can’t really move on without examining the systemic failures that made the SONA of Mr. Duterte more about correcting fast failures than hoping about the future.

We have to ask the question. Why are small fishermen

crowded out by fish pen operators in a dying lake still our narrative in the age of Twitter? And why is this deprivation still our story for the 21st century?

We all wish the narratives at his SONA would have been radically different. We wish for issues that truly belong to the 21st century: smart cities, massive R&D funding, modern urban rail networks for the cities, high-speed trains and modern buses for the provinces, the gentrification of the grimiest slum colonies and agricultural outputs that are triple the current yields. The problem is we can’t wish those deeply-rooted 20th century problems away.

I think you have also noticed that Mr. Duterte, through the process of induction, segued from the problems of dying communal fishing grounds and hollowed-out mining sites into the age-old problems of communist insurgency and the Muslim rebellion in the South.

And out of these problems came the most memorable line of his SONA. “I want the peace

of the living,” he said. It is both painful and depressing (and embarrassing) for the nation to hear a popularly elected president still tied up to the agenda of stilling guns and searching for the elusive lasting peace.

But what is his option if not to confront these 20th century realities that still hobble the country.

The good thing is Mr. Duterte acknowledges that these problems of great antiquity exists and he is ready to deal with these.

The good intentions of Mr. Duterte, impulsive as they may seem, are not apparently enough and there is little hope that the “peace of the living” that was the central theme of the president’s SONA will find fulfillment soon. The concessions to the Left, hopeful in the first few days of his presidency, are about to be deserted by their better angels. An unfortunate ambush of militias forced Mr. Duterte to call off the ceasefire with the Revolutionary Left, whose above ground leaders

are in his Cabinet.

Now, the search for the “peace of the living” is back to square one.

Now, Mr. Duterte is in between a rock and a hard place.

Will he continue the confidence-building measures and his genuine efforts to reach out to the Left? Or, will he succumb to the militarist urges and order and all-out offensive against the army of the Left?

The setback of the peace process will chain the Duterte administration into the bitter, long-drawn, bloody insurgency problem of the 20th century.

The dream to escape from the morass of strife and underdevelopment – and position the government for 21st century issues for once — will be buried once more in the graveyard of our own follies.

Against the incessant advice for an all-out war with the Left, we are praying that Mr. Duterte will be guided by his better angels and still pursue his dream of “peace of the living.” (ManilaTimes.net)

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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A

Bangladesh urges PH to return remaining $63-M

by Dana

SiSon

AJPress

MANILA – Officials from the Bangladesh central bank are slated to visit Manila this week to discuss ways to return the remaining $63 million stolen earlier this year by unknown hackers from an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The Bangladeshi delegation consists of Debaprosad Debnath and Abdul Rab from Bangladesh Bank’s financial intelligence unit, Bangladesh Bank lawyer Ajmalul Hossain and Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes.

They plan to meet the officials of Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in Manila, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the central bank and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC).

The Bangladesh government requested the Philippines on Monday, August 1, to reopen the Senate investigation regarding the $81-million money laundering case that involved funds stolen by hackers from its account in New York last February.

Senate President Aquilino Pi-

mentel III said Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes asked for the reopening during their 20-minute meeting at the Senate.

The investigation was previously conducted from March to May, during the 16th Congress, lead by Sen. Teofisto Guingona.

Pimentel said Gomes’s “one and only request’ was for the Senate to help Bangladesh recover the money stolen.

The hacking of the Bangladesh Bank happened sometime between Feb. 4 and 5 early this year when the bank’s offices were closed for the holiday.

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

They tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh Bank account and managed to transfer $81 million to four accounts at Rizal Commercial Banking Cor-

poration (RCBC) in Manila, which were credited to several accounts reportedly owned by casinos in the Philippines.

The complaint from the AMLC said that “among four fictitious bank accounts with RCBC on Jupiter Street, Makati City where the $81 million in stolen money was remitted, $30.5 million was transferred to the account of Philrem (Philippine Remittance Ltd.),” according to a report from Inquirer.

Sums of $18 million and $12.87 million (P600 M) were allegedly delivered to Chinese national Weikang Xu over a period of several days.

Previous reports said casino junket operator Kim Wong got P1 billion through his firm Eastern Hawaii Leisure Company and a personal Philippine National Bank (PNB) bank account.

Last March 31, Wong turned $4.6 million over to the Anti-Money Laundering Case (AMLC) and an additional P38 million on April 4. $18 million of the total $81 million stolen has been recovered so far. n

CHAMPIONS FOR EQUALITY. House Bill #51 was filed by Dinagat Islands Lone District Rep. Kaka Bag-ao in the House of Representatives.

A senate version was filed yesterday by Senator Risa Hontiveros. The said bill, penalizing discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, was first filed by Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales sixteen years ago. Although supported largely by human rights and LGBT groups, the bill remained at a standstill in the lower house during the past congresses. The meeting this morning was attended by old and new champions: (L-R): An Waray Rep. Binky Noel, Batanes Rep. Dina Abad, Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Toff De Venecia, Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Senate photo

Aquino pays tribute to Cory, leaves for Singapore

by Joanne

Rae RamiRez Philstar.com

MANILA - Former president Benigno Aquino III recently left for Singapore upon the invitation of the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) to talk about the prospects of investing in the Philippines.

After a thanksgiving mass to mark the seventh death anniversary of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, Aquino said that he would be accompanied on the trip by former finance secretary Cesar Purisima.

It will be his first foreign trip and COURTESY CALL. H.E. John Gomes, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines, paid a courtesy call on the new Senate President, Aquilino speaking engagement as private “Koko”Pimentel III, to discuss ways to further promote Philippines-Bangladesh bilateral relations, particularly the recovery of the balance citizen. of $81-million taken from the Bangladesh Central Bank and moved to the Philippines. The Senate President also assured the Ambassador that He expressed hope that his the Philippines will help in the recovery of the money. “The Philippines should help Bangladesh because it could also happen to us,” Pimentel administration’s anti-corruption said.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo stand and policies would continue to spur growth in the country. per call to the hotline.

“We hope that we developed The government also launched that fertile ground wherein we give the 8888 All-Citizen Complaint an opportunity for every Filipino to PAGE A5 gency hotline nationwide after its Center hotline, which is directed shine,” Aquino told The STAR. prank calls or test calls to our 911 success in Davao City where he to Duterte himself.

He said he was invited by DBS By using the 8888 number, to talk to top businessmen in the hotline because this will clog up served as mayor for seven terms.

Telecommunications provider citizens may report their con- Lion City about the prospects of the lines and prevent the people with real emergencies to reach PLDT and its subsidiaries Smart cerns and complaints regarding investing in the Philippines, which and ePLDT have promised to pro- corrupt or underperforming offi- saw sustained economic growth us.”

President Rodrigo Duterte or- vide free access to the emergency cials and unfinished government during his six years as president. dered the issuance of the emer- hotline while Globe will charge P5 projects. n “I’d like to tell you: I was in a

PH launches 911 emergency...

conversation a few days ago with some businessmen and well, we’re beginning to see the fruits of all of the hard work. They were quoting a Malaysian businessman who was talking about the whole of Southeast Asia. He basically said that it’s the Philippines that is the one with the highest growth potential and that every investment is coming here or is focused here,” the former president said.

He also paid homage to his parents, Cory and late senator Benigno Aquino Jr., for their selflessness and expressed hope their example would continue to inspire others.

“In this world, there are people who continue to give and those who are most blessed are those who don’t even know that they are giving and that they’re really making such a positive impact on others. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world. There are those who take that which is not theirs.

At the end of the day, I do believe that the good person will outlast and will thwart all of the efforts of those who take too much,” he said.

Aquino ended his short message by thanking all those who continued to remember his mother on her death anniversary, even if he

was no longer president.

He said his mother and himself would not have been able to serve the country steadfastly “without all of you standing by with us and helping us through the darkest periods.”

The mass was concelebrated by Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, Fr. Manoling Francisco and Fr. Manny Domingo.

Aquino’s youngest sister and showbiz personality Kris posted on Instagram a short video of the choir singing “The Impossible Dream,” their father’s favorite song, during the mass.

His cousin, Mikee CojuangcoJaworski, for her part, shared an old Time magazine with Cory on the cover.

“Remembering Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, a woman mightily used by the Lord in so many ways, on her 7th death anniversary,” the former actress wrote on her Instagram account.

“I never really understood when she would tell me, especially in very difficult situations, ‘Just pray.’

She would probably be relieved if she knew that I eventually got it, do it and ask others to do the same!

Thanks for that, Auntie Cory,” she said.

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Journal

Your Immigration Solution Devin Connolly & nanCy Miller In 2013 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) began allowing people to apply for a waiver of their unlawful presence before they departed the United States.

This waiver was limited, but it still changed so many lives for the better. The waiver has now been greatly expanded, and this change is sure to benefit even more families who are simply trying to pursue the American dream.

Before discussing the expansion of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, we should first discuss how the waiver works. As a general rule, in order to complete processing for a green card while in the United States, the applicant must be in status. That means s/he must have entered the United States with inspection (with papers) and their visa must still be valid. Two exceptions exist.

An intending immigrant who is the spouse, parent or child (under 21) of a United States citizen may complete processing in the United States if they entered with papers even if the visa has expired. And one who is grandfathered under Section 245(i) of the InA may complete processing in the United States as long as they pay the $1,000 penalty. All others, including those who entered as a fiancé of a United States citizen and did not marry their petitioner, must return to their home country and complete the processing for their green card at the U.S. Consulate. While this is obviously inconvenient, it is potentially much more than that. Because the foreign-born individual who has resided in the U.S. without lawful immigration status triggers an automatic unlawful presence 3-year or 10-year bar from returning

Expansion of the provisional unlawful presence waiver to the U.S. as soon as they depart the country. A person subject to this bar may only apply for a waiver if they have a U.S. citizen or green card holding parent or spouse who would suffer extreme hardship if the applicant cannot return in less than 10 years. historically, the non-citizen could only request a waiver of the unlawful presence bar after they left the U.S., thereby guaranteeing that they would be separated from their family, employment, and overall life in the U.S. for potentially a year or more. however, as stated above, in 2013 the USCIS took steps to alleviate these unnecessary break-up of families for such an extended period of time. The USCIS began to allow individuals to apply for a waiver of their unlawful presence before they ever left this country. They still ultimately had to leave the U.S. and apply for permanent residence status abroad, but the amount of time they were separated from their families was reduced from months or years into mere weeks, or sometimes even days.

While the enactment of the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver was great progress, it was not perfect. Unfortunately, it was limited to certain people, such as spouses of U.S. citizens or to those who had a parent that was a U.S. citizen.

But now, ALL beneficiaries of an approved Immigrant Visa Petition are eligible to apply for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver so long as they can demonstrate hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent. It does not matter if the petition was filed by a parent for a married son or daughter, by a child for their parent, or even by an employer, or any other category.

Applicants in these categories were not even eligible to apply before this expansion!

Remember, simply having an acceptable qualifying relative (U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent) is not sufficient. To be granted the waiver, the applicant must establish that their qualifying relative would suffer “extreme hardship” if the applicant was not granted the waiver and permanent resident status. As with all waivers, the burden is on the applicant to prove that he or she is eligible. And, USCIS assumes that family members love each other and will miss each other so that, in itself, is not enough. A strong argument persuasively documented is essential to a successful resolution of the waiver application process.

But, thankfully, so many more deserving people can now apply.

The changes to the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver are poised to help many people. Any person who thinks they may benefit from this change is encouraged to consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer about this wonderful path to legal status without significant separation from family. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila. For more Information please call (800) 795-8009 or visit www. rreeves.com.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

by Ben

Kritz Manilatimes.net

SIGnS of tightening credit in real estate lending and growing calls for greater focus on lowercost development may indicate that the industry is shifting toward more middle-income and rental housing, an analysis of recent trends and the views of several experts suggests.

As indicated by the results of a bank survey released last week by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

(BSP), overall real estate lending tightened to some extent in the second quarter of the year for both commercial (developers) and individual borrowers. Specific areas in which banks imposed stricter conditions on loans to would-be homeowners were in collateral requirements and loan covenants, while the overall size of credit lines approved increased slightly. For commercial borrowers, noteworthy changes included an increase in the use of interest rate floors and a reduction in the

size of credit lines.

Factors cited by banks for the change in their outlook on lending to commercial real estate borrowers were tighter financial system regulations, a reduced tolerance for risk, and a deterioration of borrowers’ profiles in terms of creditworthiness. For both commercial and individual real estate borrowers, about 10 percent of banks expect to tighten credit standards further in the next quarter, with the percentage slightly higher for

u PAGE CJ2

DOF: Widen scope of large taxpayers collections ‘Big industries must make up for low tax’

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III

The Department of Finance (DOF) is pushing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to widen the scope of its Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) Unit coverage to generate more revenue and make up for the drop expected from the government’s proposed lower tax rates.

Lowering the income tax rate is a part of the new administration’s 10-point economic agenda that seeks to make tax administration more progressive by updating the income tax brackets and indexing tax

collections to inflation. This should reduce the burden on ordinary workers.

“At the BIR, the largest loophole appears to be the Large Taxpayers Unit,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told an investment forum in Makati City on Tuesday, August 2.

Dominguez stressed in his keynote speech at the Financial Times-First Metro Philippines Investment Summit that the LST unit, which collects

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august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

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

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

Expanded provisional waiver of unlawful presence

The CTV Files

— Goethe

Monette AdeVA MAglAyA If you’ve been given the chance to restart a new life after you’ve gone through some life-changing, miraculous experience, such as surviving a horrific accident when everyone else perished, or finding yourself inexplicably healed from a deadly disease, then you’ll know what it feels to be given a reprieve, a fresh slate, a clean paper, what the Greeks call a tabula rasa, on which you can begin writing your new story.

Or if you use a computer, click on a new blank document and chase the cursor.

How does one use this new lease on life?

Most people lucky enough to be given a second chance, will quickly realize that this new lease can just be an extra few months or years, and in the most blessed scenarios, a decade or two. Each day beyond that critical turning point is a bonus, every single moment, a gift. Sometimes, God mercifully knocks some sense into us through drastic means by

Community Journal

AurorA VegA-Buzon, esq. throwing us a curve ball to bring us down on our knees so that we have no choice but to look above and beyond our own petty, selfish concerns and total self-involvement in order to grasp the concept of our own mortality and to know that we are here for a purpose.

We’re not here to merely consume resources or take up space.

Consider the fearsome dinosaurs.

Grazing the earth for millions of years, that is essentially what they did — consumed resources and took up space. Not by intelligence but by sheer size and numbers, they had dominion over all other species for millions of years, until one day, as scientists try to explain their extinction, a rogue asteroid about 7 miles long, possibly got unhinged off its orbit in the asteroid belt, hit the earth with such impact, setting off a series of volcanic eruptions that covered the atmosphere with ash far above the stratosphere, so that sunlight could not penetrate

through the haze for years, killing off the plant life, upsetting and destroying the food chain balance and effectively starving and wiping the dinosaurs off the face of the earth 65 million years ago.

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

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

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

Most of us of the garden variety meander about our lives trying different things until we finally stumble upon it by trial and er-

u PAGE CJ3

ON July 29, 2016, USCIS announced it is expanding the existing provisional waiver process to allow certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”), to apply for provisional waivers of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility. The expanded rule goes into effect on August 29, 2016.

Current rule on Provisional Waiver (2013) In March 2013, USCIS started accepting applications for provisional waivers of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility, from immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are physically present in the United States, based on the extreme hardship the U.S. citizen spouses or parents will suffer if the waivers were not granted.

Certain classes of “immediate relatives” of U.S. citizens - spouses, children and parents - physically present in the United States, are prohibited by law from adjusting status or getting green cards, if they (1) entered the United States without inspection or admission by the Customs and Border Protection (illegal border crossers); or (2) entered as fiancé/ es (including children of fiance/ es) but who did not marry their U.S. citizen fiancé/e petitioners; or (3) entered as crewmen. For these aliens, they must depart the United States and consular process - get their immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassies in their home countries. However, once these aliens depart the United States, they are barred from returning to the United States for either 3 or 10 years, due to their unlawful presence for more than 180 days or more than one (1) year, respectively. Thus, these classes of aliens are forced to endure years of separation from their U.S. citi-

zen spouses, children or parents while they wait out the 3/10 year bars before re-applying for their immigrant visas; and/or while processing their waivers of inadmissibility (I-601) after the U.S. Embassies conclude they are inadmissible.

The 2013 provisional unlawful presence waiver was aimed at giving relief to U.S. citizen spouses and parents who suffer years of separation from their immediate relatives who are stuck abroad and cannot secure immigrant visas. Immediate relatives who belong to any of the above classes must file and secure approval of their provisional unlawful presence waivers prior to departing the United States for consular processing at U.S. Embassies in their home countries.

The waivers are “provisional” because they only take effect upon the applicants’ departure from the United States, attend their immigrant visa interviews; and a U.S. Embassy consular officer makes a determination that there are no other grounds of inadmissibility. With the approved provisional waivers, successful applicants are entitled to get immigrant visas and return to the United States without having to wait out 3 or 10 years.

Who are currently covered (2013 rule) The current rule is limited to the “Immediate Relatives” of U.S. citizens (who must be at least 21 years old), namely: (1) Spouses; (2) Parents; and (3) Unmarried children under 21 years of age. Also included are specific classes of individuals like (4) certain Surviving spouses and Children of U. S. citizens; (5) Self petitioners; (6) Aliens entitled to conditional permanent resident status based on marriage of less than two years to a U.S. citizen.

These immediate relatives must have approved Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, or an ap-

proved Form I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant; and must have already paid the immigrant visa application fee to the National visa Center (NVC).

Expanded 2016 rule

By August 29, 2016, anyone eligible to file an unlawful presence waiver under Immigration and Nationality Act Sec. 212(A)(9)(B)(v) can now apply if they have approved family-based or employment-based immigrant petitions; or special immigrant petitions; or if they are beneficiaries of the diversity visa lottery.

And, legal permanent resident spouses or parents are now included as qualifying relatives for purposes of establishing extreme hardship.

Common requirement to 2013 and 2016 rules Provisional waiver applicants must have approved immigrant petitions with priority dates that are current; and must have paid the immigrant visa application fee to the National visa Center (NVC).

When to file USCIS will come out with an updated form for the expanded provisional waiver on August 29, 2016 and will announce a date when it will start accepting applications. Consult an experienced immigration attorney who does waivers to find out if you are covered by the new and expanded provisional waiver rules. *** Atty. Aurora Vega-Buzon is a partner in Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego 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) 495-8088; auvega@ ctvattys.com (Advertising Supplement)

Business News

PAL takes delivery of brand-new A321

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of a brand new Airbus A321 to be used for its domestic and international flights.

In a statement, PAL said the aircraft has arrived in the country from the Airbus manufacturing plant in Toulouse in France.

The 199-seater A321 is configured to accommodate 12 on business class, 18 on premium economy and 169 on regular economy.

With the arrival of the new A321, PAL now has a total of 78 aircraft in its fleet.

PAL is scheduled to take delivery of three more A321s and two B777s before the end of the year.

Earlier this year, PAL also signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for six A350-900 aircraft to be used for long-haul routes.

PAL’s first A350 is scheduled

The 199-seater A321 is configured to accommodate 12 on business class, 18 on premium economy and 169 on regular economy.

Philstar file photo

for delivery in 2018.

The national carrier is acquiring new aircraft to support its plan to expand to more destinations.

It is also looking to improve services to passengers in line with the goal of achieving a five-

PH residential property sector...

PAGE CJ1 t individuals; none of the remaining banks surveyed expect to ease their credit standards going forward.

The survey of bank lending conditions followed a report at the beginning of the month that bank loans for real estate topped P1.55 trillion as of the first quarter of 2016, a 22 percent increase yearon-year. As a comparison, overall loan growth (excluding real estate) advanced by about 12 percent.

Real estate loans now make up 20.7 percent of banks’ total loan portfolio, compared with 19.4 percent a year ago; loans to residential customers account for slightly less than 35 percent of the total, with the remainder being held by commercial borrowers.

Since the end of 2011, the total of commercial real estate loans has been consistently larger than the total of residential loans. In addition, commercial real estate lending has expanded at a faster pace than residential lending in all but four quarters (in the second half of 2012 and 2014, respectively) during the same time period.

Indication of oversupply?

Taken at face value, the faster pace of commercial real estate lending could indicate that more supply has been created in the past five years than is warranted by demand, although experts have until lately consistently denied this is the case. As recently as June debtwatcher Fitch Ratings concluded, “Rising incomes amid sustained economic growth should continue to drive robust real estate activity and loan growth for the Philippines banking sector through the

medium term.”

Similarly, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, commenting on an increase of 9.2 percent (versus 5.1 percent growth a quarter earlier) in the Residential Real Estate Price Index (RREPI) at about the same time the latest banks’ real estate exposure data was released, asserted that the price movement “represented a vibrant housing industry in the Philippines,” one that is being “driven by demand, not supply.”

Growing rental demand Circumstances on the ground, however, paint a somewhat different picture. The same day the latest real estate exposure data was released by the BSP, online property portal Lamudi Group revealed that searches for residential rental property on the two sites it manages, Lamudi Philippines and Myproperty.ph, are increasing at a faster rate than searches for property for sale.

Lamudi Philippines managing director Jacqueline Van den Ende attributed the shift in consumer interest towards renting instead of buying to two causes. First, the rapid growth of vacancies due to more new properties being completed, and second, the relatively lower income of the biggest part of the potential property-buying market, mainly consisting of business process outsourcing (BPO) workers.

“I think one of the key drivers here is the big inventory of unsold units. There’s a lot of inventory coming into the market, and that inventory is increasing vacancy rates,” Van den Ende said. With more than 11,000 more residential units, primarily condominiums,

star rating in five years.

The airline currently has a three-star ranking from Skytrax, an aviation consultancy based in the United Kingdom.

PAL operates flights to over 40 international destinations and 30 domestic points. expected to become available by the end of the year, developers are under some pressure to find residents for their new properties.

The second issue is that the fastest-growing segment of the market, while enjoying growing incomes from the booming BPO and services sectors, are still not earning enough to afford homes in the price range of most of the available new properties.

Van den Ende explained that, “Most BPO workers are renting.

The average salary is P23,000.

You can’t really spend P7,000 to P8,000 [a month] on amortization so you can’t really buy a house. So people rent.”

DMCI Holdings Chairman and President Isidro Consunji made the same observation in calling on the government to reconsider its calls for mass housing and instead look at concepts like moderately-priced rented shelter housing. Since many Filipino families earn P30,000 per month or less, they could not afford a typical monthly amortization of P10,000 to P15,000 a month, but instead “could actually pay only P5,000 to P6,000 as shelter fee… What we need is not necessarily ownership of real property, but something that is useable,” Consunji said.

For its part, the governmentowned Pag-IBIG Fund, which specializes in financing for low- to mid-cost housing, seems to see an opportunity in the demand shift towards lower-priced real estate.

The fund, which aims to finance at least 76,000 homes this year with at least P60 billion in affordable loans, recently cut its base loan rate by one percent to 5.5 percent, shaving nearly P1,300 per month off the amortization on a typical P2-million home loan.

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DHS finally publishes ‘final’ expanded provisional waiver rule for 3/10 year bar!

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ On July 29, 2016, the USCIS finally published their FInAL rule expanding eligibility for a provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar. The rule will go into effect on Aug. 29, 2016.

The expanded provisional waiver “expands eligibility for the provisional waiver process to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for the waiver of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility“. This could include people who have a spouse or parent who is a green card holder. (The original provisional waiver allowed only immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouse, parents, and child) to apply for a provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar, provided they demonstrate “extreme hardship” on a US citizen parent or spouse.). Upon approval of the waiver, they can depart for immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in their home country.

The new rule expands eligibility for the provisional waiver in several ways: • not only are immediate relatives of US citizens eligible for a provisional waiver, but also all other family and employment based categories/petitions, provided the person has an approved petition with a current priority date (whether a family or employment petition) and a spouse or parent who is a US citizen or green card holder.

• A person can now demonstrate “extreme hardship” not only on a US citizen parent or spouse, but also on an immigrant (LPR) spouse or parent.

A provisional waiver could benefit people who are ineligible to adjust status in the US, such as: • Crewman (or jump ships), who do not have the benefit of Section 245(i); • People who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), but do not have the benefit of Section 245(i) or a close family member who is on active duty or US veteran; • People who entered the U.S. on a K-1 fiancée visa, but did not marry the US citizen who petitioned them, but instead married a different US citizen, or have another avenue for a green card, such as an approved employment based petition; and\or • People who are out of status, do not have the benefit of Section 245(i), and no “immediate relative” spouse or parent. Instead, they may have a spouse or parent who is a green card holder.

In all these cases, the person is ordinarily not eligible to receive a green card (adjust status) in the U.S., but instead must go back to the Philippines for an immigrant visa, which could trigger the 3/10 year bar. The purpose of this regulation is to shorten the amount of time these people are separated from their fam-

ily members, while they process their immigrant visas overseas at the Embassy.

However, before you jump on a plane for Manila, here are some FAQ’s about this regulation: 1. What is the 3/10 year bar?

The 3/10 year bar is a law, which basically states that anyone who is out of status in the U.S. for more than 180 days, but less than a year, and then departs the U.S., is barred from returning to the US for 3 years. Anyone who had been out of status for more than one year, and then departs is barred from returning for 10 years. This 3/10 year bar is triggered only when the alien departs the U.S. 2. Who was eligible under the original\existing “provisional waiver” process?

The only family members eligible for the original provisional waiver were immediate relatives (spouse, parent, or minor child) of a U.S. citizen, and only where a U.S. citizen parent or spouse would suffer extreme hardship.

3. Who is eligible under the new expanded provisional waiver process?

In addition to “immediate relatives”, a petition by an LPR (green card holder) relative or even an employer would also qualify, where the “qualifying relative” is a US citizen OR LPR spouse or parent. For example, if you have a USC child and an LPR spouse or parent, you could be petitioned by your USC child (which is faster), and qualify for an expanded provisional waiver by demonstrating extreme hardship on your LPR spouse or parent.

Similarly, if you were petitioned by an employer and have an LPR parent, you could also qualify for the provisional waiver, by obtaining your immigrant visa through your employer’s petition and by demonstrating extreme hardship on your LPR parent.

4. What are the benefits of the “provisional waiver” program?

This procedure would allow qualified aliens, with a U.S. citizen or LPR parent or spouse, to apply for a waiver of the 3/10 year bar, while still in the U.S., and before they depart the U.S. for immigrant visa processing overseas. If the waiver is granted, they would then depart the U.S. (with the approved waiver in hand), to be processed for their immigrant visa and return to the US as a green card holder!

5. Would this provisional waiver process apply to other immigration violations or grounds of inadmissibility? no. This provisional waiver applies only to violations of the 3/10 year bar. If a person has other immigration violations, such as fraud (assumed name entry), criminal convictions, and the like, he is not eligible for a provisional waiver and would have to apply

for all such waivers outside the U.S. 6. If I’m being petitioned as an immediate relative, do I really need to depart the U.S.?

In many cases, people being petitioned as an “immediate relative” can still adjust status (obtain their green card), in the U.S. even if they are out of status, worked without authorization, or do not have the benefit of Section 245(i).

If a person is eligible to adjust status in the U.S., they should not even think of departing the U.S., and, therefore, trigger the 3/10 year bar. See an attorney, who can determine if you even need to depart the US to obtain your green card. Maybe you don’t need to.

7. Are there any people who could benefit from the new expanded “provisional waiver” process?

There are several categories of aliens who are not eligible to adjust status in the U.S., even if petitioned by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative. These include: (a) crewman (jump ship) without Section 245(i); (b) someone who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), such as snuck across the border, and does not have the benefit of Section 245(i); (c) a person who entered the U.S. on a K-1 fiancée visa, but did not marry the US citizen who filed the K-1 petition, but married a different UIS citizen instead or was petitioned by an employer, and the like. So this regulation could possibly benefit them, if they have no other immigration violations, such as fraud, misrepresentation, etc.

In conclusion, if you think this new expanded provisional waiver could benefit you, you should definitely seek the advice of a reputable attorney, who can evaluate your circumstances and status, and determine your eligibility for a provisional waiver, and assist in preparing and processing this provisional waiver application. As you can see, only certain people would be eligible for this provisional waiver. ***

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)

Palawan eyes 3-M tourist arrivals in next 5 years

by Mary

Grace Padini Philstar.com

ror.

The annals of history are rife with such stories. St. Paul, almost single handedly nourished the beginnings of the early Christian church through his numerous travels. But he didn’t start out that way. He was just as passionate about persecuting Christians before he was tapped from above to do a complete conversion.

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

ernie D. Delfin

My dear Sister Letty, Reading your letter several times challenges and stimulates my mind to ponder and dig into the innermost reservoir of my life’s storage of accumulated knowledge and experiences of the last six decades, just to attempt to pen some answers to your very valid questions, same questions that I also ask myself many times. I can only answer your questions in the only terms I know, in what I have learned in my short life through personal experience and observations.

You are right when you said that the family unit has changed so much from the years we were young children in the unpolluted farming village in Pangasinan. With such changes, society’s sense of values and priorities also changed. A

Making sense of the changing values in the 21st century generation ago, life seemed so simple in our barrio or barangay. Working diligently in the farms, our people found selfsufficiency and contentment.

Peoples’ needs then were few and our basic necessities were very simple and very easy to fulfill. People may be poorer then, but ironically they were happier and contented human beings.

Without a doubt, the world was safer then, but Letty, it was not as exciting as it is now. Today, we enjoy so many opportunities and have so many choices that our own parents never had imagined nor experienced. I am sure you can still remember, for instance, that some marriages in the barrio were even arranged by the parents and elders of the bride and groom, a practice that we used to laugh and make fun of. now, that tradition is just a part of history.

Considered very revolutionary, you decided to become a Dominican nun after obtaining your college degree from the University of Santo Tomas, despite the initial disapproval of our parents, especially our mother, simply because the older sisters and brother were “expected” to help out the family financially after college. But it’s very pleasant to remember now that after a few years, they were the proudest and happiest parents in town because they have a daughter who became a nun.

I also became a CPA but then decided to leave that accounting field to be a businessman-entrepreneur, a path that is less traveled for any one in our town, as there was no security of a weekly or monthly paycheck. Living outside the norms of our farming culture, I also pursued writing as a regular activity since college that provided priceless non-mon-

Calendar of Events across

Coron, Palawan

the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“The first strategic direction is to create, develop and market new tourism products,” Buni said.

Palawan Tourism Council president Debbie Q. Tan said

Rewriting your own...

PAGE CJ1 t

The Metamorphosis

(Part 1 of 2) “IT was the best of times, it was the worst of times” Charles Dickens Dear Kuya, Thanks for all the columns you are sending me. They are wonderful and will serve as an eye opener for our people. But my question is: how can we elevate our values if the family itself is degrading? Even in our Dominican School, teachers go on strike to force unreasonable demands higher salaries and better benefits that our school much as it wants to, cannot afford to grant. What values are we inculcating to the minds of the children in their formative years? What kind of society do we have now? What can we do?

What is the solution?.. I am just Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active hoping against hope that better member of the State Bar of California and New changes or answers will come!

York. All immigration services are provided by, Sister Leticia, O.P. or under the supervision of, an active member Manila, Philippines of the State Bar of California. Each case is

Business News MAnILA—The local government of Palawan is targeting to increase tourist arrivals in the province to three million in the next five years, a local tourism officer said over the weekend.

Maribel C. Buni, chief tourism operations officer of the government of Palawan, told The Star in a phone interview the province aims to triple its tourist arrivals from the one million recorded in 2015.

“We presently have one million tourist arrivals, so what Governor (Jose Alvarez) said is we should reach three million in the next five years,” she said.

The strategies and programs set by the government to hit this target is laid out in the province’s tourism roadmap, patterned after the national Tourism Development Plan of

ENCORE EPISODE: A REAL-LIFE TELESERYE FOR CHRISTOPHER AND SANDY, TO REUNITE THEIR SICK SON WITH HIS CHILD, ON A SPECIAL EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Philippine showbiz icons Christopher De Leon & Sandy Andolong put their careers on hold to care for their cancer-stricken son, Miguel. Apart from this heartbreaking ordeal, Christopher and Sandy were able to bring Miguel’s child from the Philippines to the U.S., as a green card holder, to be with his ailing father, through the help of their immigration lawyer, Atty. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on August 7 Sunday at 6:15 pm PST/EST on TFC.

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

That’s what most of us do. We try different lives until we find the one that matches heaven’s purpose. Just don’t run out of time. no one wants to leave with unfinished business.

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

We don’t really have to wait for something dramatic, traumatic or tragic to happen to get us on track

in a separate interview the province, for one, is currently developing tours focused on its culture, history and heritage.

“Palawan is very climate change sensitive, so we don’t like to depend on the sands,

u PAGE CJ4 to finding that purpose. But do go to the right source. nix the harebrained ideas coming from most of the dishonest, agenda-driven media, both the entrenched tradional media and social media about what that purpose might be.

When it comes to things that matter, most of media these days have proven themselves to be unworthy of trust.

Tune out of the external world and go deep within. If you pray hard enough and long enough and live in the silence for a little while, chances are, you’ll find it. You can then begin rewriting your own story on a new document page. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

etary compensation where my mind can soar without limits!

Just look at what you and I have done like many people around us who came from parallel circumstances and you will be convinced that our forefathers’ dreams and fantasies have become a part of our own reality now!

But this broadening of opportunities entails trade-offs. We pay for everything in this life and in so doing we often surrender the simple pleasures in order to discover the unknown that also brings excitement in our lives. Unfortunately, in this metamorphosis of our cultural values and traditions, many get lost even as only a few of us succeed in reaching our optimum potential. We often ask ourselves: “Is it worth the work and sacrifice?”

We reminisce the past and evaluate and discern the purpose and meaning of our earthly life, especially when newspapers and TV news bring us more bad news of chaos, war, hate and killings around the world. But if we are grounded by the principles of a good life, we can always draw strength from our past to overcome the seemingly bleak future of our planet.

Every day, we write some lines in each chapter of our Book of Life while our faculties are intact. Along that unchartered path, however, like you, I also become impatient to get on the business of living to accomplish all that I dream to do. I am somewhat scared and flummoxed that at the twilight years of my life, there are still many boxes of talents given by God that remained unopened or unutilized!

(To be continued next week) Email writer: ernie.delfin@ gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.com n

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS SEPtEMBER 5-9

2016 PICPA International (US-RP Global Convention The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) International proudly presents the “2016 PICPA International (US-RP) MRA Global Convention” on Sept. 5-9 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino (located at 4500 West Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103). All Philippine accountants are invited! For more information, please contact Danilo Abuan (President): (702) 401-5118 or Chito Lopez (Vice Pres. Las Vegas Chapter): (702) 767-1099.

S E P t E M B E R 8 -1 7

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

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

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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PeoPle & events

august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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Construction on John Daly Boulevard begins this August THe John Daly Boulevard Streetscape Improvements Project is a “Complete Streets” project that will improve the accessibility and connectivity between the Daly City BART Station at Delong Street and the SamTrans bus hub at the Top of the Hill (Mission Street).

The project will narrow the median island, install bicycle lanes, and construct new pedestrian facilities, bio-swales and landscaping. The project will utilize recycled water to irrigate the new trees and plants. The project also includes the installation of pedestrian scale lighting

DOF: Widen scope of large...

PAGE CJ1 t

from the biggest industries, can increase the efficiency of its collection.

“It should be possible to raise enough revenues at least to compensate for the lower tax rates,” even though it covers only about 2,800 companies, Dominguez said.

The latest data showed that collections from LTS for the first five months of the year reached P402.45 billion, up by P40.44 billion or 11.17 percent from a year earlier.

For full-year 2015, the BIR collected P881 billion through

the LTS, a 6.97 percent increase from the P824 billion netted in 2014.

“We are going to put more effort in tax collections and the biggest yields you get are in the relatively large taxpayers. I cannot see why there are only 2,800.

It should be more than that. The BIR should expand that number,” Dominguez said.

The Finance chief said the government will be aggressive with this agenda.

“We expect more compliance.

And we will be very happy if they just cough up the money that they owe us,” he said.

along the walking path and new street lights on the north and south medians, as well as traffic signal modifications at Santa Barbara Avenue. Lastly, the project will repave the street and install curb access ramps and stamped crosswalks.

The City received over $2.2 million in grant funding from the Federal OneBayArea Grant (OBAG) program and San Mateo County (Measure A). Sanitation Funds will fund the recycled water pump system and the installation of bio-swales. The remainder of the project will be funded with local Gas Tax and Measure A funds.

Construction is expected to last approximately six months.

Traffic delays will be minimized to the extent possible but some traffic delays, noise, and inconvenience will be unavoidable. For questions or concerns related to the project, please call Public Works – engineering Division at (650) 991-8064.

Dominguez previously said the changes in the tax system would reduce the “tax bite” on ordinary workers.

“These tax tables were made years ago when P500,000 was worth more than what P500,000 is now. So now, if you earn P500,000, automatically you are taxed 32 percent.

And if you spend, say, 80 percent of the remainder, you are taxed another 12 percent from VAT [valued-added tax],” he said.

“The tax bite should be lower for those earning P500,000 today because that is less in real value to what the value was when the tax tables were made,” Dominguez explained.

Palawan eyes 3-M tourist arrivals...

PAGE CJ3 t

the city’s international airport is expected to become operasea and all that. So we’re devel- tional by the first quarter of oping now our museums and 2017. sites that showcase our cultural He said the airport can hold heritage,” Tan explained.

51 flights a day, tallying to a toTourists can also expect sig- tal tourist capacity of two milnificant improvements in Pal- lion annually. awan’s infrastructure, which Tan said travelers could also will make the island more ac- anticipate the opening of San cessible to them by water or air Vicente Airport and the imtravel. provement of the Busuanga Puerto Princesa tourism offi- Airport in Coron, Palawan. cer Toto Alvior told The STAR When it comes to port de-

velopment, Buni said the local government is working with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in increasing and improving cruise and roll-on/rolloff (RoRo) ports in the island.

“Palawan is identified as one of the areas for cruise tourism in the National Cruise Tourism Strategy. PPA is currently working on the improvement of Puerto Princesa port. Governor Alvarez also wants more RORO ports,” she said n

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

PASIG CATHOLIC COLLEGE MINI REUNION. Fun, food, friendship, and family were celebrated during a mini reunion amongst classmates from batch ’88 of Pasig Catholic College. The reunion was held last July 22-23, at Lupine Court, Daly City and the Crocker-Amazon Park, San Francisco. One of the attendees, Reycarlo Rivera, summed everything up as having “a slice of home for two days.”

Prevent the biting and breeding of mosquitoes IT wouldn’t be summer without mosquitoes.

Usually, the mildly annoying bite creates a tiny bump and a couple days of scratching. But, they can also carry West Nile Virus, which can be found in dead birds, squirrels, and other small animals. While these cases are rare in San Mateo and throughout the Bay Area, it’s important to know what you can do to prevent mosquitoes from biting and breeding around your home.

Follow the “Three D’s” as outlined by the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District (SMCMVCD).

DRAIN – Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flower pots, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls.

DAWN & DUSK – Mosquitoes bite in the early morning and evening. It is important to wear proper clothing and repellent if outside during these times. Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep mosquitoes out.

DeeT – Apply insect repellent containing DeeT, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 according to label instructions.

Repellents keep the mosquitoes from biting you. DeeT can be used safely on infants and children two months of age and older.

A word about spraying No cases of West Nile Virus have been detected in San Mateo this summer, but they have oc-

curred in the past. If one should occur this summer, the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District (SMCMVCD) uses a truck mounted control treatment within a half-mile radius of the detection site from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active. This ground spray is conducted between the hours of 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. According to the SMCMVCD, the chemical currently being used to treat an area is Zenivex e4. It is an oil based formula that is ePA approved to be safe for use in an urban environment. There are no precautionary measures that need to be taken by residents

REAL ESTATE

SERVICES

FOSTER HOMECARE

within the treatment area.

Help control mosquitoes If you should notice the carcass of a bird or squirrel, please report it to the West Nile virus hotline either online at www. westnile.ca.gov or by calling 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473).

The City of San Mateo and the County Mosquito and Vector District encourage residents to help control mosquitoes and the spread of the West Nile virus.

Taking the time to report these instances is a proactive preventative measure to take. And, it will help to ensure that the San Mateo community can safely enjoy their summer! n

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUgUSt 5-11, 2016

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august 5-11, 2016 • NORCaL asIaN JOuRNaL

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Friday, August 5, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 5, 2016

JoE AquIlIZAN, FOunder, BAyAnI ArT: Telling The rich hisTory of The PhiliPPines by

O

ne can tell a country’s history in many ways.

Apart from books and films; another approach can be through the arts. Still, an illustration on canvas board or paper is somewhat limited.

In this generation where younger people seem to forget history, Bayani Art has tapped another way by putting art on apparel and accessories. Founded in 2010, the goal of Bayani Art is to strengthen the unity within the Filipino community by telling its rich history. Its concept started as a way to promote their artists’ creative skills, and to bring their artwork and crafts to the public.

The brain behind Bayani Art is Joe Aquilizan. Born in Tondo, Manila in 1971, Aquilizan and his family’s journey to America is the same as many Filipino immigrants. His father — who is from Tondo — was a mechanical engineer and applied for a professional visa. In 1983, his family

Malou liwanag-bledsoe / AJPress

relocated to Oakland, California.

Aquilizan shared that he has always been fascinated with art and history since he was a little boy. “My travels and communicating with our kababayans

around the globe and especially in the Philippines really inspired me to create Bayani Art to regain what was taken from us,” he said.

“It is] also a tool to collaborate and give back to the commu-

nity.”

More than just fashion Bayani Art sells shirts and accessories like caps, pendants, beanies, stickers and pins; but though hip and in style, they’re more than just fashion. Aquilizan made sure that the designs reflect and tell about the Philippines. designs include the Baybayin (the ancient Filipino script), tribal and indigenous designs, histori-

cal references such as the edSA revolution, and Filipinos who have made their mark in history like Manny Pacquiao, Jose rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Bayani Art also makes designs to remind Filipinos about the injustices going on in the country, like Kidapawan Massacre, which is represented by their “Bigas, Hindi Bala” shirt.

When asked why it is important for him to include the Filipino heritage in their art and

products, Aquilizan quoted Philippine national hero Jose rizal: “To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open the book that tells of her past,” he said. “It gives us identity to who we are as [a] people and to inspire the next generation. And to also help break the cycle of the colonial mentality that has divided our people for hundred of years.”

Continued on Page SF5

entertainment SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – August 5, 2016

Newsflash: Miss Universe 2017 to be held in the Philippines

By Monet

Lu

IF you’ve been reading my columns or following my posts on Facebook, you’d probably notice that I have three things that hold a special place in my heart: passion, pleasure and beauty pageants – particularly the Miss Universe pageant.

And what could be more awesome but to have my favorite event of all time hosted in my motherland! Yes, you read that right! After two decades, it’s finally happening!

The Miss Universe pageant will be held in the Philippines.

According to Rappler, the announcement was made on Thursday, July 28, at a press conference in Makati City by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. It was also stressed that funding will come from the private sector. DOT Secretary Wanda Teo also confirmed that among the sponsors are Henry Sy and Japanese casino mogul Kazuo Okada.

“I would like to inform everybody that the Miss Universe pageant will be on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines. The government is not going to spend any single centavo. It will be the private sector who would shoulder the expenses.” said Teo. It was reported earlier this month that President Rodrigo Duterte said he would not spend government funds on hosting the Miss Universe pageant. Which explains the transparency on where the funds will come from.

Teo said she assured the President that the government will not shoulder any of the expenses, which will amount to $11 million.

Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro said President Duterte never said he didn’t like the idea; he was just concerned about the expenses. De Castro said her department got in touch with Shawn McClain, the vice president of business development and marketing at the Miss Universe Organization, to clear the issue.

Reports confirmed that President Duterte have met with

The Filipina Misses Universe: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran-Floirendo (1973) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015)

officials of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated led by Okada, executive assistant to the chairman Sumire Kamura, and chief operating officer Takahiro Usui at the Music Room in Malacañang Palace on July 18.

As I recall, there have been talks about hosting the pageant but nothing was confirmed until now. I agree with de Castro when she said in an interview that hosting the pageant can bring many opportunities to the country such as creating jobs and increasing revenue.

In addition, de Castro said that hosting the pageant will give the country a good image.

“We know that the Miss Universe is one of the prestigious pageants that we have right now in the entire world. Kumbaga kapag kaya natin gawin natin dito sa (In other words, if we can hold it here in the) Philippines, it would show a very good image of the country para sa ibang mga bayan na yung mga ganyang prestihiyosong pageant ay kaya na natin gawin (to the international community that we can hold such a prestigious pageant),” she said.

It would be surreal to watch the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to crown her successor in the Philippines. In a previous interview, Wurtzbach said, “I am actively campaigning and we all want the pageant to happen here. We want to happen. It

hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

This will be the third time that the Philippines will host the pageant. The country hosted Miss Universe in 1974 where Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran passed her crown to Spain’s Amparo Muñoz. In 1994, the country hosted the pageant for the second time, where India’s Sushmita Sen was crowned by 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico.

To say that “I wouldn’t miss this for the world” is an understatement. I’d definitely want to see everything unfold. Plus, I’ve pledged my full support to our candidate Maxine Medina. It is my wish that we (Filipinos) show the world – the universe rather – that the Philippines is truly amazing and the Pinoys are one of the most wonderful people they will ever encounter in their lifetime.

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

Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual: Just waiting for the right time IT’S been a while since the public last saw former onscreen partners Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual together in one event. When they finally did for a joint endorsement, you can imagine the excitement that filled the air.

The stars of the 2006 blockbuster film “Don’t Give Up On Us” were reunited at the launch of insurance company Sun Life Financial’s “Money for Life” campaign, which was held on neutral ground at the two artists’ home network in ABS-CBN. In separate interviews, Santos and Pascual likewise expressed their excitement on seeing each other again.

“It’s great. Both of us were laughing just like the old times.

Nothing has changed. Juday and I have been friends more than half our lives so whenever we see each other it’s just like before,” Piolo related.

“We’re OK…She’s been busy with family but I’m excited Sunlife got her to be part of the team so at least we get to work together again. Maybe the next time, we’ll get to do a movie as well,” the 39-year-old actor added.

Pascual also patiently addressed a persistent issue that he and Santos have had an ongoing rift. He clarified that there was no bad blood between them.

“We’ve always been ok. If ever there was a problem before, we were able to address and talk about it because of course, it’s not good to just forget all of the things you’ve done together. But Juday and I have always been OK,” he insisted.

Giving her side of the story, Santos said in a separate interview that her relationship with Pascual is fine.

“Piolo and I are OK, we greet whenever we bump into each other. It was just funny because people sort of felt that we quarreled. No we didn’t. We greet each other, we’re older now and we’re more mature,” Santos explained.

“Maybe the time that we

Let’s grow, right now.

Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual

weren’t able to work together is a big factor and it so it’s like a big event for them when they see us together,” she added.

The two also expressed their willingness to do an acting project again soon.

“Movies maybe, but not a teleserye [because it’s hard schedulewise]. I actually pitched [a concept] to her through Direk Joyce (Bernal)— I heard she liked it so we’ll wait for the right timing,’” Pascual shared.

For Santos’ part, she added, “I always say that nothing is impossible. Every time I have a press con, Piolo’s name will always be included in the questions, so yes in time we will work together again. Nothing is impossible as long as we will be given the opportunity, the right story, and everything will work out smoothly.”

Pascual admitted and acknowledged as he has always done that Santos helped him get to where his career is today.

“She’s a big part of my career and we did a lot of movies and TV shows together so the debt of gratitude is there for Juday, and seeing her today is great because she’s still active in the business and so am I,” he elaborated.

On the other hand, Santos who was away from the spotlight

after having another child with husband Ryan Agoncillo said there she still gets jitters whenever she faces the media after a long tme.

“Of course, it’s always good to be back. It’s always a good feeling to be back. I miss this but at the same time I’m nervous to face the press again. This is me not being confident with my physical appearance, but then again I’m just happy to see familiar faces,” she opened up.

On the other hand, Pascual also came to the event from a two-month vacation from showbiz. He shared took up a shortterm course on Apologetics in Oxford University in England.

“I studied Apologetics abroad. It’s all about defending your faith, knowing where you stand as you walk in your faith. I think it’s important that you know the answers to all the questions around us. I am glad because I was able to learn more and acquire more knowledge about Christianity,” Pascual related.

“I became a regular person during that leave so it’s a little hard to get back to the old grind like this. In two months I was able to at least get a lot of rest and spend time with my family and relax,” he concluded.

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SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 5, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar Surely, Filipinos back home — and all over the world — are dancing with pride and joy now that it has been confirmed that the Miss universe 2016 pageant will be held in the Philippines.

The prestigious beauty event is scheduled on January 30, 2017. This was officially announced by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo last week.

The event is expected to be memorable to our kababayans, as the reigning Miss universe is our very own Pia Wurtzbach and is the third Miss universe from the Philippines. last month, Wurtzbach paid a courtesy call on President rodrigo Duterte to persuade him to agree on the DOT’s plan to host the pageant in the Philippines.

It would also be the third time for the country to host the

Miss universe pageant. The first time was in 1974, when Miss universe 1973 Margarita Moran crowned Amparo Munoz of Spain. The last time when the Philippines hosted the pageant was in 1994, when Sushmita Sen from India was crowned as Miss universe. *** Talking about beauty pageants, this year’s Binibining Pilipinas uSA crown went to Nicole Ceniza, 23, of Pasadena, California last Saturday, July 23 at eh redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

The evening also saw the crowning of the inaugural Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA 2016, 17-year-old CheyAnne ladiero Knight of Menifee, California.

Here’s the full list of winners: Binibining Pilipinas uSA 2016

The next Miss Universe pageant will be in the Philippines

Nicole Ceniza, Binibining Pilipinas uSA 2016, Pasadena, CA Jacqueline Aluning, Binibining Pilipinas uSA – Tourism, Diamond Bar, CA Kassius lanzarotta, Binibining Pilipinas uSA – 1st runner up, elk Grove, CA Krystal Fernandez, Binibining Pilipinas uSA – 2nd runner up, Anaheim, CA Shekinah Paguirigan, Binibining Pilipinas uSA – 3rd runner up, Garden Grove, CA Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA 2016 CheyAnne ladiero Knight, Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA 2016, Menifee, CA Carly Peeters, Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA - 1st runner up, Porter ranch, CA Aira lei Maigue, Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA - 2nd runner up, las Vegas, NV Alexandria Palma Boreman, Binibining Pilipinas Teen uSA - 3rd runner up, Oceanside, CA

Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran Florendo was the honored guest during the finals and coronation of Binibining Pilipinas Teen USA 2016 held in Los Angeles last Saturday, July 23.

Photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas USA/Ramie Dador

Actor Richard Gomez, who won as Mayor of the City of Ormoc in Leyte last May, is shown with former Mrs. RP-USA International Marilen Bernardo, who just arrived from her short vacation in the Philippines.

Reigning Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach takes a selfie with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during her courtesy call last month. Wurtzbach went to Malacanang to also convince the president to let the country host the next Miss Universe pageant.

Handsome actor Gerald Anderson is the lead actor in Starmedia’s latest offering, “How to Be Yours,” opposite actress Bea Alonzo. “How to Be Yours” will be shown at selected US theaters starting this week.

Twenty-three-year-old Nicole Ceniza of Pasadena, California was crowned Binibining Pilipinas USA 2016 last Saturday, July 23, in Los Angeles.

CheyAnne Ladiero Knight was crowned as 2016 Binibining Pilipinas Teen USA last Saturday, July 23 in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas USA

On Friday, July 22, Health Professionals, Inc. hosted a double birthday celebration for Planning Commissioner Ray Satorre and his wife Rachel. Family and friends were present to celebrate the special day.

Selena Gomez ‘revives’ crowd with bold, unrestricted performance

by AlixAndrA

CAole Philstar.com

VilA

AMerICAN Pop Singer Selena Gomez might have been miles away from her home, but the crowd at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena made her feel as if she has not left home at all.

“I am far away from home, but I feel like I am home with you,” Selena told the Filipino fans during her “revival Tour” in Manila on Sunday, July 31.

Thousands of fans flocked to MOA Arena as early as 4 p.m. to catch the first-ever concert of the American singer in the Philippines. The stadium was filled to the rafters, with fans wearing Selena merchandise and waving glowing sticks.

The enthusiastic crowd did not go unnoticed.

The 24-year-old singer lauded the Filipino fans, saying their cheers might have been the loudest she has ever heard so far.

Before ending the hour-long concert, Selena also managed to squeeze in some Tagalog words to connect to her Filipino fans.

“Please don’t be mad at me if I get this wrong.

Mahal Kita… I guarantee you, we will be back,” she said.

Selena Gomez to fans: Mahal Kita.

From the Disney Channel child actress that she once was, Selena transformed herself to a grownup woman with her bold songs that reflect her big ambitions. For the Manila leg, Selena performed almost twenty songs, completing the hour long show.

Billy Crawford ready to marry Coleen Garcia

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

TOGETHER for two years now, Billy Crawford and girlfriend Coleen Garcia have been very open about their relationship, and have talked publicly about plans to tie the knot.

According to Crawford, however, in a small roundtable interview, which included The Manila Times, he and Garcia are simply finding the right timing.

“We both talk about our future. Of course that’s inevitable because we’ve been together for two years and I’m very close to her family, and she’s close to mine. So it will all lead there [to marriage]. “[But for now] I just want her to continue to grow as an actress.

I want her to fulfill her dreams first,” Crawford, who is promoting his upcoming film with Regal Entertainment That Thing Called Tanga Na, added.

“If ever I get married, I want to give everything I have when it comes to being a husband. I would ra-ther stop [everything I’m doing],, and just focus on that.

But of course Coleen wants to do the same, which is why we have to be sure when we should go for it.”

Crawford clarified all the same that he will not demand his future wife to stop acting, especially since he is aware that Garcia has

He also believes that colonial mentality is “one of the biggest challenges of our people.”

“As long as the colonial mentality is ingrain[ed] within us, it is impossible for us to achieve true freedom,” he said and added, “To help break the cycle, we have to know our kasaysayan (history).”

Aquilizan and Bayani Art also collaborate, join and organize workshops and events to continue promoting their vision and goal in promoting Filipino culture, heritage and history.

Clearly, Bayani Art is far more than making sales — although selling more of their products not only benefit the company, but also the artists. Furthermore,

SF5

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 5, 2016

McDonald’s USA announces big changes to its food Latest efforts further company’s journey to build a better McDonald’s

OAK BROOK, Ill. – On Monday, August 1, McDonald’s USA announced a number of moves across its menu as the company continues to evolve.

This includes: Despite their 10-year age gap, these love birds are removing artificial preservadoing just fine. tives from several items which just started her climb to fame. also don’t have artificial colors “It’s all up to her if she wants or flavors, including its iconic to stop showbiz or not. Those are Chicken McNuggets. Across its her opportunities, so we shouldn’t breakfast menu, the pork sauclose any doors if they open for sage patties and omelet-style her.” eggs served on McGriddles, Both practically and realistical- Bagel and Biscuit breakfast ly, Crawford related,” I have been sandwiches, along with the in this industry for 30 years now scrambled eggs on its breakso I’ve had my time. Coleen’s just fast platters, also now have no starting. But at least for me, when artificial preservatives.

I get married, I want to focus on rolling out new buns this family.” month that no longer contain “What we have now, I’m cher- high fructose corn syrup, includishing. Everyday I have new things ing the buns used on Big Macs, to learn about Coleen, and vice Quarter Pounders, hamburgers versa. So we want to take it slow; and cheeseburgers, Filet-O-Fish we’re take our time because she’s and McChicken sandwiches. still young. I’m 10 years older than The Artisan roll introduced in Coleen—I’m 34 years old, and 2015 never contained high she’s turning 24. So there’s a big fructose corn syrup. age gap, so I’m still making sure completing a major commitshe’s comfortable with what we ment to only serve chicken not have.” treated with antibiotics important to human medicine* nearly a year ahead of schedule.

In total, these changes touch ingredients in nearly half of the a portion of the proceeds from food on McDonald’s menu. their online sales help support “More than ever, people nonprofit organizations for Filicare about their food – where pino youth. it comes from, what goes into Knowing that he and Bayani Art are just one small part in a big it and how it’s prepared,” said Mike Andres, president, universe, Aquilizan believes that being united is the key to making McDonald’s USA. “We’re making changes to ensure the sure our history will never be forgotten. food we’re proud of is food our “Because history tells us that customers love and feel good when Filipino people are united, eating, and we remain comwe create not just Philippine hismitted to our continuing food tory but world history,” he said. journey at McDonald’s.”

“The time is now for us to regain McDonald’s originally set control of our destiny. Mabuhay!” out to achieve its antibiotics To order or know more about chicken commitment by March Bayani Art log on to their website 2017.Through a collaborative at www.bayaniart.com, or add effort with its suppliers and them on Facebook: ]www.facebook.com/bayaniart1?fref=ts. farmers on a large scale, the

Joe Aquilizan, Founder...

From Page SF2

features

company was able to make this change a reality and bring it to its customers nearly a year ahead of schedule. Now every chicken item McDonald’s serves is made from chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine, including its new Chicken McNuggets.

“I applaud efforts such as those undertaken by McDonald’s in close collaboration with its suppliers and poultry farmers, to greatly reduce the use of medically important antibiotics in its animal agricultural food supply chain,” said Dr. H Morgan Scott, professor of epidemiology in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University.

“McDonald’s and its suppliers have worked to identify appropriate alternatives for sustaining broiler flock health while implementing protocols to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised. Sourcing decisions by industry leaders such as McDonald’s have great potential to positively influence appropriate antibiotic stewardship in food animal sectors around the world.”

These changes are the latest in a series of actions McDonald’s has taken across its restaurants and kitchens, such as: • making an industry leading commitment in September 2015 to source 100% cagefree eggs by 2025 in the U.S and Canada. According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than 100 companies have since announced their commitments to do the same, showing positive impact across the industry.

• refreshing McDonald’s premium salad blend in June 2015 by replacing iceberg lettuce with fresh romaine, baby spinach and baby kale, and making further enhancements in

June 2016 with the addition of Tuscan red leaf lettuce and ribbon-cut carrot curls. The freshly prepared Premium Salads offer at least 2.5 cups of vegetables.

• revitalizing its classic Egg McMuffin, moving from margarine to 100% real butter*, and continuing to serve a fresh cracked Grade A egg at the center of it all.

• sourcing milk in its low fat milk jugs and Go-GURT® low fat yogurt from cows not treated with rbST*, an artificial growth hormone.

• introducing Buttermilk Crispy Chicken in August 2015, made with 100% chicken breast filet, real buttermilk and a blend of spices including black pepper, garlic and onion powder.

This followed the introduction of Artisan Grilled Chicken in March 2015.

McDonald’s continues to innovate its menu to include new tastes and ingredients that customers are looking for, such as turkey sausage, guacamole made with real Hass avocados, Sriracha and freshly prepared pico de gallo as part of local tests and regional introductions.

“From our test kitchens to what we serve in our restaurants, we’re zeroing in on how to bring new flavors and choices some never seen before on our menu to customers across the country,” said Chef Jessica Foust, RDN, director of culinary innovation, McDonald’s Corporation. “Our focus on culinary innovation at McDonald’s is essential as we continue to evolve.”

McDonald’s is appealing to local tastes with innovations and new ingredients relevant in certain regions of the country: Gilroy Garlic Fries in the San Francisco Bay area, where McDonald’s world famous fries are hand tossed in stainless steel

bowls with a purée mix including garlic from Gilroy, California, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley and a pinch of salt Old Bay Filet-O-Fish sandwich across the Mid-Atlantic, made with 100% sustainably sourced, Marine Stewardship Council certified wild caught Alaskan Pollock Lobster Rolls in New England, the birthplace of the dish, made with 100% North Atlantic lobster As a restaurant company, McDonald’s prepares quality food in its kitchens and has served iconic recipes for more than 60 years. Today, that same focus and care for its food matters more than ever. For more information, visit news.mcdonalds.com/us.

McDonald’s USA McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds. com, or follow us on Twitter @ McDonalds and Facebook www. facebook.com/mcdonalds. *Farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy. *Applies to all breakfast sandwiches * No significant difference shown between milk from rbSTtreated and non-rbST treated cows.

Trademarks and/or registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies. *Advertising Supplement

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The As ian Jour na l SF M A G A Z I NE - Augus t 5 , 2 0 1 6