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Volume 15 - No. 24 • 3 Sections – 22 Pages

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JUNE 10-16, 2016

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

‘Most powerful PH leader since Marcos’

by Gil

President elect Rodrigo Duterte clenches his fist during the thanksgiving party held at Crocodile Park, Ma-a, Davao City, Saturday, June 4.

Inquirer photo by Edwin Bacasmas

DATELINE

C. CabaCunGan jr.

doesn’t even have to declare martial law, or form a revolutionary government, as he had roDrIGo Duterte is on course threatened to do during the to becoming the Philippines’ campaign period, Bello told the most powerful President since Inquirer. his idol, the late dictator ferdiBello said he was appalled nand marcos. by the emerging supermajority former Akbayan rep. Walden coalition in the next Congress Bello said that with a superma- even though Duterte’s Partido jority in the house of represen- Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng tatives and the senate in his first Bayan (PDP-Laban) had only year and the upcoming vacancies three members in the 290-strong on the supreme Court that have house—Pantaleon Alvarez of to be filled, Duterte would have Davao del Norte, erik martinez control of all three branches of of Valenzuela, and Jun Papangovernment. dayan of Lanao del sur—and the 71-year-old Duterte only sen. Aquilino Pimentel III in Inquirer.net

the 24-member senate.

“Due to the shameless turncoatism of Liberal Party members desperate to preserve chairmanships of committees, we are left with no viable opposition or minority in Congress. At the beginning of Aquino’s term in 2010, there were at least around 30 members of the minority. Now you’re down to probably less than five,” said Bello. speaker feliciano Belmonte Jr., LP vice chair, met with Duterte on tuesday, June 7, to signify the “daang matuwid” decision to join PDP-Laban’s Coali-

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Journalists told: Keep out, US, China officials discuss stay out of Davao Palace territorial disputes

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

US senators renew call for full benefits for WWII FilVets

by Edith

rEGalado Philstar.com

by EriC

DAVAo CItY – enemies at the gate?

President-elect rodrigo Duterte has barred media from entering the premises of the Department of Public Works and highways equipment depot where the malacañang of the south is located.

Duterte is temporarily holding office at the malacañang of the south until he flies to manila on thursday, June 30 for his inauguration as the 16th president. he announced monday, June 6, that he would no longer hold press conferences or grant media interviews. he even shooed journalists away during the thanksgiving and victory party held last weekend, dismantling the platform earlier constructed for media covering the event held in the city’s Crocodile Park.

Duterte met with speaker feliciano Belmonte Jr. and several other

USCIS Parole Program applications now accepted

hoNoLULU — Us senators Brian schatz (D-hawai‘i) and Lisa murkowski (r-Alaska), members of the senate Appropriations subcommittee on military Construction and Veterans Affairs, introduced the filipino Veterans fairness Act of 2016. this legislation would ensure that surviving filipino veterans are fully eligible for the benefits they earned while serving under the Us flag during the second World War. “We have failed filipino World War II veterans,” said senator schatz. “these veterans and their families have waited for decades to receive the compensation that they deserve, and it is simply wrong for our country to deny them the benefits they were promised. time is running out, and for some, it is already too late. We must act quickly to pass this legisla-

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has barred media from entering the premises of the Department of Public Works and Highways equipment deposit where the Malacanang of the South is located.

Philstar photo by Robinson Ninal, Jr.

to the compound and asked to stay in a garage turned holding area before they were allowed at the back of the malacañang of the south building where press conferences of Duterte were held last week. the other night, reporters were

Liberal Party congressmen tuesday night, June 7, but he did not allow journalists beyond the main gate of the DPWh depot, especially those coming from manila representing the giant television networks. this was a departure from past practice when reporters were let in

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anthony liCas AJPress

oBAmA administration officials voiced concerns over territorial disputes between China and five other countries, restrictions to foreign investment in Chinese industries and overproduction from that country’s industrial sector at the Us-China strategic and economic Dialogue in Beijing. on monday, June 6, Us treasury secretary Jacob Lew called on leaders in the People’s republic of China (PrC) to reduce its output of steel and other industrial goods. he said Chinese overcapacity is having a “distorting and damaging effect on global markets.” A glut of supply has weakened the market value of steel, according to CNBC. the Us Department of Commerce has instituted tariffs on steel in response to excess global supply. Chinese finance minister, Lou Jiwei, referred to concerns regarding China’s overcapacity as “hype” and said his country was “confronting the issue squarely,” the Wall street Journal reported.

Lew also pushed for progress on a poten-

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Bongbong Marcos camp alleges US backs anti-crime drive, but ‘within law’ Comelec use of secret server

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Clinton clinches Democratic presidential nomination

by MiChaEl joE

by ajPrEss

Claims victory in California primary

the camp of senator ferdinand “Bongbong” r. marcos, Jr. on tuesday, June 7 bared that it will file an election protest, alleging that the Commission on elections (Comelec) used a fourth server to manipulate the national elections held last may.

Atty. Jose Amor Amorado, head of the BBm legal team and Abakada rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz, political adviser of marcos, told reporters that there was a “fourth server,” kept secret from the public by smartmatic and Comelec. “this was never disclosed. this is the fourth server and therefore Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. it should have been subjected to source code review also and evde la Cruz said. erything else. But this was not disclosed to earlier on tuesday, there was a prelimithe public. this is in violation of the law,” u PAGE A3

hILLArY Clinton solidified early pronouncements of her triumph in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination with victories in four out of six primaries, including a decisive win in California, on tuesday, June 7. Clinton — former first lady, former Us senator and former secretary of state — has become the first woman to capture a major party nomination for president. “this campaign is about making sure there are no ceilings, no limits on any of us and this is our moment to come together,” she said on tuesday night after her victories in California and New Jersey, nodding to her 2008 concession speech, in which she said that campaign had put cracks in the “highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

Polls heading into California’s primaries

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t. dElizo

ManilaTimes.net

the United states cooperates with efforts by the Philippine government to fight crime and protect its citizens against such threats but the measures have to be carried out within the bounds of law, a Us embassy official in manila said. the official made the state-

ment when asked for comments on incoming President rodrigo Duterte’s anti-crime drive, including his call on the public to make citizen’s arrests when faced particularly with drug traffickers caught in the act and to shoot them if they fight back and resist arrest. earlier, the former crimecrushing mayor of Davao City

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JUNE 10-16, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

From the Front Page

‘Most powerful PH leader since…

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tion for Change.

Virtual dictatorship “I don’t blame people for regarding congressmen as rascals who are only out for themselves. And I won’t be surprised if Duterte treats these turncoats with the contempt they deserve,” said Bello.

A few hours after Alvarez declared that the PDP-Laban had clinched a supermajority in the next Congress, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said a supermajority was being formed in the Senate with Pimentel as Senate President, the LP’s Frank Drilon as president pro tempore and the Nationalist People’s Coalition’s Vicente Sotto III as majority leader.

“With Duterte appointing nine of retiring Supreme Court members by 2019, we are left with a very powerful President, the most powerful since Marcos,” said Bello.

He said that with check and balance among government institutions “on the verge of extinction,” he was counting on civil society to serve as opposition to Duterte.

But Bello said he did not expect too much resistance from civil society, which had been hit by divisions in its ranks.

Challenge “I think even Duterte is prob-

ably surprised at how easy has been his walk to a virtual dictatorship,” he said.

Duterte’s allies were quick to dismiss Bello’s fears of a virtual dictatorship as baseless because lawmakers would not agree to be a mere rubber stamp of the Chief Executive.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, who declined Duterte’s offer to be his environment secretary, said the drive toward getting a supermajority in Congress, which would ensure passage of administration bills and thwart any attempt at impeachment, has become sort of a tradition in the post-Edsa Congress.

“It’s not actually new that an incoming administration will attempt to marshal as many allies or form coalitions in both houses of Congress to push its priority legislative measures. Blame it on the current multiparty system where one can just easily jump from one party to another without any sanction at all,” Zarate said in an interview with the Inquirer.

“As it was before, it is a continuing challenge for both houses of Congress to keep their independence, not being docile or a rubber stamp of the administration, or being an obstructionist,” he said.

Zarate is a member of the Makabayan bloc, which could

leave its traditional role as House fiscalizers in the 17th Congress as it pondered on the offer of Alvarez to join the majority coalition.

“The Makabayan bloc, while maintaining its organizational independence, has already expressed its support to the propeople and pro-poor programs and agenda of the Duterte administration, as we continue to constructively engage it in other issues,” he said.

State of flux The majority coalition in the House may include the Makabayan bloc, but no definite terms have been agreed on yet, as the “situation remains in flux,” Zarate said.

Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, interim head of the partylist bloc, said that while his group might be part of the majority, it did not mean members would follow Duterte all the time.

“I don’t think it will happen since there will be issues that may require a conscience vote rather than toeing party lines. In the past, there were legislators who crossed party lines and supported or opposed measures based on their conscience or sentiments and needs of their constituents,” Batocabe told the Inquirer.

against journalists, when he justified the killing of media men who did “anything wrong.”

UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions Christof Heyns said Duterte’s recent remarks are “irresponsible in the extreme, and unbecoming of any leader.”

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression David Kaye said, “Justifying the killing of journalists on the basis of how they conduct their professional activities can be understood as a permissive signal to potential killers that the murder of journalists is acceptable in certain circumstances and would not be punished.”

A report from US-based Committee to Protect Journalists stated that the Philippines, where at least 75 journalists have been killed since 1992, is the seconddeadliest country for journalists.

In a separate statement, Kurt

Hoyer, spokesman for the US Embassy in Manila, said Washington will defend press freedom.

“The United States values an open and free press and we will continue to speak out regularly to defend the rights of the press.

Our position on the protection of journalists and the rule of law is very clear,” he added.

British Ambassador to Manila Asif Ahmad said the United Kingdom is “totally committed to the elimination and condemnation” of the killing of journalists.

“There is a huge responsibility for any office holder to show respect for the office that they hold and respect for the people that they have the privilege to govern for,” he added in an interview.

“As President Duterte, we expect (of him) a different tone because everything he says will be on behalf of the nation. This is not an issue where he is speaking personally,” Ahmad said. n

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US backs anti-crime drive, but…

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said in a nationally televised speech: “If he fights, and he fights to the death, you can kill him… Do it yourself if you have the gun…you have my support.”

In a text message to The Manila Times on Wednesday, June 8, Emma Nagy, press attaché of the US Embassy in Manila, said, “The rule of law is fundamental to the peace and prosperity of any country.”

“The United States cooperates with all Philippine law enforcement agencies to protect Philippine citizens against criminal threats, including drug smuggling, trafficking in persons, financial crimes and trademark violations,” she added.

Other embassies sought for comment gave no response.

The United Nations earlier slammed the tough-talking politician for supposedly instigating deadly violence, especially

LAST DAY. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, the Vice President-elect, talks to a colleague on the last day of session at the House of Representatives. The House leadership gave recognition to the lawmakers who will be bowing out on Thursday, June 30.

Manila Times photo by Ruy Martinez

Journalists told: Keep out, stay out…

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forced to stay at the side of the highway leading to the Agusan provinces.

Later, Duterte and his convoy whizzed by the group of reporters waiting outside the main gate of the DPWH compound.

The president-elect said he is unfazed by the threat of international media groups to boycott his press conferences following his controversial statement on media killings.

Instead, Duterte turned the tables on media by shutting out reporters assigned to cover him.

Duterte even told Manilabased media to pack up and go home, saying he could live with-

out them.

Media were also barred from attending the thanksgiving and victory party that supporters of Duterte organized in Cebu City on Wednesday, June 8.

Duterte’s executive assistant Chirstopher Go said that no media coverage was allowed since the party was “strictly by invitation.”

The Bisaya Na Pud group led by businessman Michael Diño organized the thanksgiving party held at 5 p.m. at the Cebu Country Club.

Duterte has appointed Diño as his presidential assistant for the Visayas.

Duterte garnered 1.4 million

votes in Cebu.

His trip to Cebu City was the first he took from Davao City since the May 9 polls. Duterte flew to Cebu on board a private jet.

The outgoing mayor did not even attend the joint session of the House and Senate that proclaimed him as the 16th president of the country last May 30.

Those who attended the Cebu City party were included in a list of 400 invited guests.

The President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) movement, whose members were said to have been the backbone of the Duterte campaign, is reportedly planning another victory party. n

US, China officials discuss territorial…

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tial bilateral investment treaty between China and America, something which both countries have recognized as a goal, according to WSJ. The deal is currently stalled on a “negative list,” which names Chinese industries that would remain barred to foreign investors.

There are currently 40 sectors identified on that list; American officials would like to see that number reduced.

US Secretary of State John Kerry restated the administration’s preference for a peaceful resolution of tensions in the South China Sea. The PRC has asserted sovereignty in the region and built artificial islands and military bases in areas claimed by the Philippines and four other southeast asian countries. Kerry urged officials in Beijing to avoid unilateral actions and submit to diplomacy and the rule of law on Monday at the S&ED, according

to USA today.

Chinese military development and naval patrols at Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands have pushed Filipinos off of fishing grounds, trade routes and untapped oil deposits. In 2013, the administration of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III filed complaint against China to the United Nations’ Permanent Court of Arbitration. The Philippine government cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in its arguments to the Hague.

The UNCLOS states that nations retain jurisdiction over open waters extending 12 nautical miles from their borders.

Chinese officials deny the Philippines’ legal standing to make a complaint, and did not submit arguments to the UN. They say the issue of territorial sovereignty is beyond the scope of the UNCLOS, and say the Philippines’ petition violates international

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law, according to China Daily.

Chinese leaders say they will not honor a verdict issued by the Hague that does not honor their claims, RT news reported.

In May, two Chinese fighter jets provided unrequested escort of a US patrol plane flying in the region. According to USA Today, that incident suggests that China might consider imposing an air defense zone over the South China Sea, a move John Kerry said would be a “provocative and destabilizing act.” The two countries are currently “developing rules of behavior,” with respect to ship to ship encounters in the sea, according to a statement from the US State Department.

At the close of the meeting Chinese and American officials had agreed to intensify dialogue on Asia-Pacific concerns and work to enhance cooperation at multilateral talks. Both sides said they would “promote international law, including the UN Charter,” according to the state department’s statement.

However, military leaders from the PRC have struck a defiant tone on the matter in the past. ““We do not make trouble, but we have no fear of trouble,” said PRC Admiral Sun Jianguo at a major security summit held in Singapore on Sunday. He added “China will not … allow any infringement on its sovereignty and security interest,” and accused other countries of causing “chaos” in the South China Sea, according to CNBC. Both the American and Chinese governments condemned nuclear weapons testing conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to a statement issued by the US Department of State. The two major powers reaffirmed their cooperative commitments to combat the proliferation of nuclear testing, terrorism and cybercrime.

With only a few months re-

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(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com

From the Front Page

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 10-16, 2016

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US senators renew call for full benefits…

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DANCE DRILL. Taking its cue from the viral success of the “running man challenge,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has released a dance video to drum up interest in the second metropolis-wide earthquake drill on Wednesday, June 22. Shown in photo are MMDA traffic enforcers practicing the “MM Shake.”

Philstar photo by Edd Gumban

Bongbong Marcos camp alleges…

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nary investigation into the Marcos camp’s complaint alleging that Comelec and Smartmatic personnel violated the Cyber Crime Law. The Marcos camp now seeks to file the electoral protest just a few days before incoming President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo officially take office.

“The target date for the filing of the electoral protest is June 28— a day before the June 29 deadline. Yes, definitely we will file an election protest. The truth has to come out – one way or another,” Amorado said.

Amorado explained that the protest will seek a recount of the votes in some areas including the setting aside of the election results in areas where there are clear indications of election fraud and manipulation.

Dela Cruz asserted that they are filing the election protest because they owe it to those who voted for Marcos and to the entire Filipino people to find out what really happened in the May 2016 elections.

“We believe that we have enough evidence to show that there was massive rigging and manipulation of votes,” he said.

Amorado and Dela Cruz cited that the results of their initial findings indicated that between 9:00 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. on May 9, the transmitted election results showed that Marcos lost in 1,689 precincts, many of which are considered bailiwicks of the senator, mostly in the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Pangasinan and other areas in Region II. Amorado pointed out that instead of being transmitted directly to the Municipal Board of Canvassing servers, the Comelec server and the Transparency server, the results were instead coursed through a “4th Server or the so-called “Queue Server.”

This “4th server” was not divulged to the public and was

never subjected to a source code review as what transpired with the other servers used in the elections, according to Dela Cruz. Amorado added that there were no watchers allowed in the so-called “4th Servers.”

Amorado said they have already asked the Comelec to preserve and secure any and all servers, as well as other related IT equipment used in the elections.

Meanwhile, during the preliminary investigation, Smartmatic asked for ten more days to file their answer to the complaint filed.

Amorado explained that respondents charged for the violation of the Cybercrime Law now pending before the Manila Prosecutors’ Office face possible jail sentences of six to 12 years if found guilty.

Charged for the violation of Section 4(a) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or R.A. 10175 were Smartmatic personnel Marlon Garcia, a Venezuelan national and head of the technical support team; Elie Moreno, an Israeli national and project director; Neil Banigued and Mauricio Herrera both members of the Technical Support Team and Comelec IT experts led by Rouie Peñalba, Nelson Herrera and Frances Mae Gonzalez who are all assigned at the Information Technology Department (ITD).

“Our main allegation is that in the night of May 9, 2016 during the time when the transmission was already in progress, they opened the system and introduced the new script without permission from the owner of the system, which is Comelec,” said Amorado.

Earlier, the camp of Marcos said that shortly after the suspicious introduction of the new script the senator’s lead over his closest rival, Leni Robredo, in the vice presidential race began dropping until he was eventually overtaken.

‘Most powerful PH leader…

PAGE A2 t

Batocabe said strengthening the lobby system of interest groups and constituencies would enable them to be a major factor in the legislative process.

“With more aggressive lobby groups, our legislators will be compelled to vote based on the needs of their interest groups and their constituents rather than the dictates of their parties,” said Batocabe.

No rubber stamp Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo

Fariñas, who is expected to be elected majority leader, disputed Bello’s view that Congress would be a rubber stamp.

“It is a deliberative body where all its acts are open to public scrutiny. If Congress agrees with the legislative plan of the President, it will pass the necessary legislation, and when it does, it should not be considered a rubber stamp. Neither should it be considered a stumbling block if it chooses to disagree by not legislating,” he said. n

US, China officials discuss…

PAGE A2 t

maining in the current administration’s tenure, members of the president’s cabinet are expected to focus on foreign investment, the glut of industrial goods, climate change and other matters in which compromises will be easier to negotiate, according to CNBC. The thornier topics of Chi-

nese currency volatility and territorial claims in the South China Sea will likely be inherited by the next presidential administration.

US officials were in Beijing from June 5 until June 7 before traveling to a similar event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on June 8, and Jeddah Saudi Arabia on June 9. n

The Church-based election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) also urged the Comelec to look into the allegations of poll fraud.

“For the credibility of the elections, all protests and claims accompanied by evidence should be looked into seriously,” PPCRV Chairperson Henrietta de Villa said in a statement. “So Comelec must investigate. Claimants of cheating must have hard and strong evidence to back their claims. If proven guilty, cheaters must be punished heavily and swiftly. [The] PPCRV stands on the side of the truth and the law.” n

tion and fully honor the men and women who served so bravely in a time of war.”

“Filipino veterans put their lives on the line in the defense of US interests in the Pacific during World War II,” said Senator Murkowski. “It’s about time we treat the Filipino veterans of World War II with the respect their sacrifice entitles and eliminate the arbitrary distinctions in our veterans benefits laws.”

More than 250,000 Filipinos served under the US flag in the Pacific during the Second World War. As citizens of a US commonwealth during the war, they were promised full veterans benefits for serving in the US Armed Forces. However, because of the Rescission Act of 1946, most Filipino World War II veterans did not receive benefits they were promised. Instead, these veterans have lived on quietly, often

under-recognized and denied the basic veterans recognition they earned.

The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2016 fulfills the moral obligation of the United States to take care of its veterans and their families.

The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2016 eliminates the distinction between the Regular or “Old” Philippine Scouts and the other three groups of veterans — Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts. It also allows Filipino veterans’ spouses and children to qualify for the same Dependency and Indemnity Compensation that current US veterans receive.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the US House of Representatives with 37 co-sponsors and bipartisan support.

Filipino World War II Parole (FWVP) Program On Wednesday, June 8, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started accepting applications for the Filipino World War II Parole (FWVP) Program that allows certain eligible US citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to request parole for their eligible family members.

If approved, veterans will be able to reunite with family members, even before their immigrant visas become available and apply for work authorization. Having family members in the US with the aging veterans would also provide them with the necessary support and care.

Today, there are an estimated 17,000 living Filipino veterans of World War II, now in their 80s and 90s.

For more information about the program, visit https://www. uscis.gov/fwvp . n

Clinton clinches Democratic presidential…

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from the Public Policy Institute of America had predicted a close race between Clinton and her opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

However, 55.8 percent of participants in California’s Democratic primary voted for Clinton, versus 43.2 percent who sided with Sanders. The former secretary of state led the Vermont senator by more than 430,000 votes. Her success on the West Coast contributed 257 of the 372 pledge delegates she added to her tally.

Thirty-four candidates com-

peted for the position held by California Senator Barbara Boxer, who is set to retire. California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, captured 40 percent of the vote in the crowded contest to secure a slot on the November ballot.

Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, has the backing of California Governor Jerry Brown. She will face off against House Rep. Loretta Sanchez (DCA) of Orange County, which is home to a significant Asian American population. Sanchez, who earned 17 percent of the vote, could become the first Latina in the US Senate, according

to the Wall Street Journal.

Heading into Tuesday’s primary in California, Clinton downplayed pronouncements of her nomination and focused on the contest ahead.

“We are on the brink of a historic, historic, unprecedented moment. But we still have work to do … we’re going to fight hard for every vote,” said Clinton to supporters at a rally in Long Beach on Monday night, June 6.

Clinton’s likely victory at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in July has encouraged party members to publicly

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JUNE 10-16, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

Clinton clinches Democratic presidential…

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rally behind the former secretary of state. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced her endorsement of Clinton during an interview with “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, June 7, while President Barack Obama is expected to publicly back his former cabinet member sometime this week.

Political unity on the Democratic side may be an advantage against Republicans who have begrudgingly supported their party’s presumptive nominee,

real estate mogul Donald Trump.

The over-the-top nature of Trump’s campaign has strained his relationship with Republican leaders throughout his candidacy. Republican political strategist John Feary told National Public Radio (NPR) that the last thing his party needed was a “meltdown at the top of the ticket.”

Most recently, Trump has alleged that Gonzalo P. Curiel, the Latino judge scheduled to preside over a lawsuit regarding Trump University, was biased

against him and unfit to hear the case.

House Speaker Paul Ryan denounced Trump’s accusations against Curiel as “the textbook definition of a racist comment,” according to the New York Times.

Trump’s incendiary statements regarding minorities have driven many members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to endorse the likely Democratic presidential nominee. As the Asian Journal reported last week, the Asian American Action Fund (AAAF), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Leadership political action committee, and the AAPI Victory Fund (AAPIVF) had all endorsed Clinton before multiple sources declared her the presumptive Democratic nominee.

In a statement declaring their support for the former New York senator, representatives of the AAPIVF declared its “rejection of the xenophobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric embraced by the presumptive Republican nominee.”

Trump struck a more controlled and deliberate tone at a speech in light of Clinton’s expected nomination. The candidate, known for his unfiltered comments, read from teleprompters at a speech in New York on Tuesday. He acknowledged the “responsibility of carrying the mantle,” of the Republican nomination,” and promised a renewed offensive against Clinton’s campaign. He also encouraged Sanders supporters to realign with his campaign and vote against a “rigged system.”

As of press time, Sanders pledged to continue his bid for the presidency. He managed to win the states of North Dakota and Montana, and split the delegates of South Dakota with the former Clinton, 10-10 .

Speaking on Tuesday, he expressed optimism for America’s political future, and gratitude to younger Americans, many of whom were first-time voters. His camp has scheduled a rally in Washington D.C. on June 14.

Sanders is also scheduled to meet with Obama on Thursday, June 9.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement last Tuesday that the president thanked Sanders for “energizing millions of Americans” and raising issues of economic inequality and special interest of influence.

“The President looks forward

SOCIAL PENSION. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P2.6 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be used to implement the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program, P1.1 billion for the Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances program and P218 million for supplementary feeding.

Philstar file photo

Bill to aid seniors, families in danger of having homes forcibly sold to pay off debts to be considered by State Assembly SB 308 is supported by AARP, NAACP, California Labor Federation, Attorney General Harris, Treasurer Chiang and broad coalition

SACRAMENTO — The California State Assembly this Thursday, June 8, will consider a bill on the floor to modernize the state’s outdated bankruptcy laws to provide a fresh start for families in need and to better protect consumers – especially seniors, the blind and the disabled – from having their home forcibly sold to pay off an unsecured debt. The bill, SB 308, is strongly supported by senior groups, labor, legal rights advocates, public interest organizations, and state elected officials, including Attorney General Kamala Harris, State Treasurer John Chiang and Board of Equalization member Fiona Ma. “When you look at the list of people and organizations supporting SB 308 it is a `Who’s Who’ of Californians who have a long history of standing alongside working people, struggling families and our seniors,” said Senator Bob Wieckowski, the bill’s author and a member of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. “Supporters of this bill care

about reducing income inequality, standing up to special interests to fight for working families and the elderly, and for providing a path out of debt for individuals who are trying to stay in their homes while battling rising medical bills. When it comes to protecting people’s homes from creditors, other states have done much more than California, but SB 308 gives us a chance to close the gap and do what’s right.”

The bill will update the state’s homestead exemption law to better reflect current home values and housing market realities. It will allow consumers to retain more of their assets, and, in many cases, to keep their family home. The median price for a single-family California home is $509,100. SB 308 makes modest adjustments to the homestead exemption from $75,000 to $100,000 for single residents, from $100,000 to $150,000 for married couples, and from $175,000 to $300,000 for seniors, the blind and the disabled,

the most vulnerable.

The bill also eliminates an onerous requirement that any leftover money from the forced sale of a home must be reinvested into another home within six months. It restores the flexibility that existed in code prior to a 2012 court case.

If a home is forcibly sold, any taxes, liens and the mortgage would be paid before the consumer receives the exemption.

Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas have unlimited homestead exemptions, and Nevada and Ohio are just a few of the 14 states that have higher limits than California despite having much lower home prices.

“SB 308 will help prevent the forced sale of many Californians’ homes from an unsecured creditor,” wrote AARP in support of the bill. “Not requiring the sale of a house to pay off a debt promotes the correct public policy of encouraging Californians to invest in their homes, with the knowledge that that investment is safe.” n

to continuing the conversation ton’s victory is still a decisive with Senator Sanders,” Earnest one. Sanders would need to consaid and then added, “about how vince superdelegates to ignore to build on the extraordinary Clinton’s advantage in pledged work he has done to engage mil- delegates and individual votes lions of Democratic voters, and and side with him at the Demoto build on that enthusiasm in the cratic National Convention. weeks and months ahead.”

Still with these factors against However, even if superdel- him, Sanders is not showing egates were factored out, Clin- signs of slowing down or getting

out of the presidential race. In a report by CNN, Vice President Joe Biden said that the decision is up to the Vermont senator.

“I think that’s his call,” Biden said. “It’s clear we know who the nominee is going to be. I think we should be a little graceful and give him the opportunity to decide on his own.” (Eric Licas / AJPress)

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CBCP explains silence on Duterte’s bashing Aquino: Presidency changed me

AMID the continuous bashing it is getting from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, not a whimper has been heard from the Catholic Church for quite sometime. But not anymore.

In a pastoral letter entitled “Understanding Silence,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas explained that silence, amid the noise of violence and terror, should not always be interpreted as the fear of cowards.

According to Villegas, there is always a time for everything, as with silence and speech.

“There is nobility in silence like the silence of the lambs brought to slaughter in the temple to atone for sins.” he added. “Silence indeed is the language of God and only those who speak silence will be able to grasp Him.” Villegas did not name names, but he was obviously alluding to Duterte, who has incessantly lambasted the men of the cloth, at every opportune time since the campaign period until now that he is already President-elect.

Villegas said that “mine is the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of [Pontius] Pilate.” “….Mine is the silence of the vigilant waiting for destiny to

unfold. Mine is the silence of respect for those who consider us their enemies but whose good we truly pray for and whose happiness we want to see unfold,” he said.

“There is virtue in silence.

There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech,” Villegas added.”

“You can understand my speech if you speak the language of silence. You can understand my silence if you know how to love like Him who was born one silent night,” he further said.

The feud between the Church and Duterte started during the campaign period when the incoming President cursed Pope Francis for causing traffic during his visit to Manila in January last year.

Duterte, among others, had also claimed that he and several of his classmates were sexually abused by a priest when they were studying at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Davao University.

Duterte also threatened to reveal the names of Catholic bishops who have become fathers to include the names and addresses of their children.

The CBCP, through Villegas, responded that “vulgarity is corruption” and lamented that people become “beastly and barbar-

ic” when they still find it funny, alluding to Duterte without naming him.

“When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by a political candidate and the audience laugh, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame. My countrymen has gone to the dregs,” Villegas said.

A month before the May 9 election, Villegas, in an obvious reference to Duterte, also called on the faithful to be very careful in choosing their candidates to ensure that the next President and leaders of the country are truly excellent role models for the youth and to be the prime example for all public servants.

Villegas called on Catholics not to vote for an atheist or for someone who makes fun of the name of God, or for one who vows to wipe out religion from public life in reference to the First Commandment.

“The Catholic voter cannot and should not lend his support to any candidate whose ideology binds him or her to make of the Philippines a secular state that has no tolerance for religion in its public life. Ang tunay na makabayan ay maka-Diyos [Those who are truly nationalistic are also godly],” Villegas added. (William Depasupil/ ManilaTimes.net)

by AureA

CAliCA Philstar.com

MANILA—After six years, President Aquino believes he is a changed man.

He said the six years of being leader of the country and the enormity of the job had changed him.

“I think I’ve grown as a person,” Aquino told Rappler in a live interview yesterday.

“My mother used to say that the one thing I lacked was my willingness to travel, (to be) exposed to a lot of different cultures... that was such a necessary skill to live with this new age where the world is getting smaller and smaller, but somehow I felt more content in the Philippines,” Aquino said.

“So here I am, I have to suddenly deal with a lot of leaders.

I have to understand where they are coming from in an effort to find common ground so we can move forward,” he added.

Aquino told Rappler’s Maria Ressa that other world leaders did not pay much attention to him in the beginning and would only talk to him because they had to.

One of them, according to Aquino, even gave him a soft key sermon when they first met. But after the transformation of the

country four or five years later, Aquino said this world leader, whom he refused to name, invited him to his country for a visit.

“Where I used to hear people say it’s such an honor to serve the people, now that I had to face so many challenges and all along... I can always count on the people to fully support what I had to do really make me feel in a very palpable manner what it means when you say it’s really an honor to serve,” he said.

Aquino also noted he was happy to have led a Philippines that had gained credibility, specifically in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Now we have ASEAN listening to us and trusting us that we will stand by our words on the issues that affect us,” he said.

In the same interview, Aquino said he still believes most Filipinos did not reject his Daang Matuwid slogan even as his anointed successor lost in the elections.

He trumpeted the gains his administration achieved in terms of the local economy, most especially in the fight against poverty.

“I think we are breaking that vicious cycle (poverty).”

There is also no place in the country where he is afraid to visit, for the simple reason that he

Pres. Benigno Aquino III

did not neglect them.

Aquino said he would bequeath the presidency to his successor proud of what he has achieved – that he exceeded people’s expectations and that it was more than enough.

“It’s more of how does this translate to individuals? I’d like to think that this is a stepping stone towards the next level, that there was a hindrance to everything we did. We eliminated the problems and it’s up to you to nurture it now,” he said.

Henares: Pacquiao’s tax arrears mounting

MANILA—The tax arrears of outgoing Sarangani congressman and incoming senator Manny Pacquiao are mounting, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said.

Henares told ABS-CBN News Channel that three years ago, the BIR assessed the Pacquiaos a tax deficiency of P3.2 billion, which included penalties, for income earned in 2008 and 2009.

“He sued us, we did not sue him. Since then, the penalties have been increasing,” she said.

She said Pacquiao’s resort to a court case did not freeze his tax liabilities.

She added that at some point, the boxing champion would have to settle those obligations.

Henares denied that Pacquiao negotiated for a compromise setSTART OF RAMADAN. A child looks out of the window of the Al Shati Mosque as children practice reading the Quran a day before the observance tlement. of the holy month of Ramadan.

Inquirer.net photo by Raffy Lerma “What he paid were taxes for

succeeding years,” she said.

Pacquiao is the only billionaire member of the House of Representatives. He was worth P1.6 billion in 2014. He reportedly earned $240 million from the $600-million gross income his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May last year had generated.

Henares also denied that she gave a special treatment to Dunkin Donuts owners.

“They talked to me because they were contesting our assessment. I asked them if they would agree to a second audit, and they agreed. I ordered a second audit by another team and a third audit by a different team. The second and third teams had the same findings, which were made the basis for the final assessment,” she said.

She said she gave the same treatment to Dunkin Donuts as

she would give to other taxpayers similarly situated.

“If you approach me to contest our assessment, I will ask you if you will accept another audit,” she added.

On the issue of increasing the 12-percent value added tax, Henares said what the incoming administration should probably do is to review VAT exemptions.

“Under the present law, there are numerous exemptions. The alphabet has not been enough for the enumeration of such exemptions. So they used AA, double B, double C, and so on,” she said.

She defended her boss, outgoing Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, against the statement of incoming finance chief Carlos Dominguez III that Purisima had six years to work for comprehensive tax reform but did not do it.

(Jess Diaz/Philstar.com)

A

june 10-16, 2016 • nORCAL ASIAn jOuRnAL

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Features

OpiniOn

Minor hiccup

SEVERAL emerging markets in the world have experienced exceptional economic strides. These nations are mostly highly export-driven with strong inflows of capital and investment and well-capitalized banking institutions.

Many emerging markets have already “emerged.” Now that it is no longer the “Sick Man of Asia,” it is high time for the Philippines to experience this and become an integral player in the world economy as well. The country is a good option for its low start-up costs for new businesses, desirable workforce, and geographical proximity to other Asian markets. Foreign investments are more than welcome in the country.

The Philippines’ standing in the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) for 2016 has seen a minor setback after falling to 42nd place from 41st last year. This drop comes despite being hailed as the one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The annual report measures four broad factors in measuring competitiveness—economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. It uses economic data from various international and national sources, as well as an opinion survey in generating over 300 criteria to assess and rank the competitiveness of nations.

The WCY also suggested that the incoming administration under President-elect Rodrigo Duterte

address these challenges to improve the country’s competitiveness landscape: Secure businesses and communities from conflicts and calamities; Sustain governance reforms at all levels and across administrations; Enhance infrastructure, human capital, and cooperation to reduce transaction costs; Develop a competitive business environment to benefit from ASEAN integration and Foster shared prosperity through entrepreneurship and decent employment.

Under a new management, with Pres.-elect Duterte at the helm, the Philippine economy is poised to emerge as an economic prospect and attractive business destination. His economic team is set to meet this month to assess current government forecasts.

Incoming Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the incoming government is considering lowering the economic growth targets for the country in the next three years.

“Public spending, especially for public infrastructure, does not affect economic growth instantaneously. There is usually a lag. “Second half growth rate will be slower...as the impact of election spending fades. Agricultural sector and exports would

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

continue to be weak,” Diokno revealed.

To avoid an economic regression, the incoming government should address issues such as weak institutions, poverty and corruption continue to dissuade investors and make exporting in the country challenging.

Breaking through to the next level is all about meeting and exceeding expectations. As auspicious as it is. The Philippine economy should no longer settle for minor improvements and find ways to being consistently good rather than great just once in a while. (AJPress)

The Church is now haunted by its many failings DONE mocking his opponents in the presidential race, The Digong is now using almost every forum to vent his ire on the Church. He has accused the Church of basically two things, hypocrisy and irrelevance, and, the Church, shocked by the audacity of The Digong, has come out with nothing but guarded, timid responses. Never in the history of the Church, dating back to the early years of the Spanish reign, has the institution found itself bombarded and helpless.

The minor reason is this. For the first time in the country’s modern history, the elected President is not someone the Church and its hierarchy knows.

The populist choice in 1998 was Erap Estrada. But despite Erap’s acting background and tough guy image, he was trained by the Jesuits, and the men he named to the Cabinet and important government posts were insiders webbed to the centers of political and economic power. And webbed to the power centers of the Church.

The Digong is a real tough guy whose rise to power was based on narratives he was unapologetic about—killing criminals, the summary execution of drug dealers and his zero tolerance (whatever means of containing them was OK) toward people involved in the business of crime. All Old Testament narratives of rage, death and fury. His favorite verb is “ kill.” His favorite expression is “galit ako.” The men he named to important posts, who will soon assume

MANY Filipinos genuinely want to see President-elect Rodrigo Duterte succeed, if only for the nation’s sake. But they are deeply and genuinely saddened. Many others are mortally afraid. The question they are asking is this: What’s happening to the person of our incoming President? Is he going to self-destruct even before he takes off? They aren’t even talking of his “program of government” yet.

First, he wanted to bring down the Roman Catholic Church; now he wants to bring down the media. Does he need either of these institutions to be his enemy?

Two recent incidents stand out.

These are but “small” incidents.

They involve a question of manners more than anything else. Nobody was killed, and nobody was raped. But from what’s appearing in the mainstream and social media, things could not have been much worse if there had been an actual murder or rape.

Murder of journalists The first incident revolves around the unsolved murder of journalists. The second raises the issue of sexual harassment. In both cases, Mr. Duterte is seen holding the shorter end of the stick.

Having promised to kill all

sectors below.

By refusing to take on the greatest evil of our time, Cardinal Tagle just collaborated with the efforts of the Aquino administration to paint “corruption” as the only and true evil, the root of the national malaise. With the Church and the so-called “civil society” behind Mr. Aquino, his administration used “corruption” as a wag-the-dog narrative to divert national attention from what Mr. Aquino was really doing—serving the top 1 percent and leaving the 99 percent to fend for themselves.

Mr. Aquino raised GDP growth, got credit upgrades and created a class of dollar billionaires that are now classified as “those-who-can-buy-a-smallcountry-rich.” The understated poverty level of 20plus percent never moved. In some dying areas of Mindanao, the poverty level was 84 percent, and the ARMM had worse literacy and poverty rates than Idi Amin-wrecked Uganda.

Through all these and the unapologetic service of Mr. Aquino to his true masters—the top 1 percent— the Church was a mute spectator, and, in a sense, an abettor.

So now, as The Digong mocks and taunts the Church for its hypocrisy and irrelevance, he finds no public rebuke and sanction. The Church failed to follow a timeless Church dictum—you reap what you sow—and its failings are now haunting the institution. (ManiaTimes.net)

‘PH can elevate case vs China before UN Security Council’

Commentary

Francisco s. TaTad

is another way forward, a Christian way, a civil one and a Godly one.

Because there is none.

When, really, was the last time the Church stood for the downtrodden? Reviewing the Church’s highprofile involvement in the public affairs, the most prominent image that comes to mind is this—Cardinal Tagle tearing up after reading the sordid affairs of the Napoles scam. The accompanying article said that Cardinal Tagle was shocked to see a scandal of that magnitude, at least P10 billion in a SARO-for-cash exchange.

The pork scam was pure and unalloyed evil. It was also unprecedented in the history of a historically compromised Congress. From the part of the cardinal, condemning the pork scam was a moral imperative. After that, many hoped that Cardinal Tagle would use his great and awesome moral authority to indict and condemn the greatest evil of our time—the control of 40 or so families of the nation’s wealth and our vastly unequal society.

Even Pope Francis has said that inequality “is the defining issue of our time.” In the Philippine context, it skews everything to favor the economic elite.

It sucks up GDP gains to further fatten the already immense wealth of these 40 or so families. It is at the root of all things that cripple the mobility of the

frontline and Cabinet-rank positions, have very tangential if not Opinion zero links to the Church.

His campaign manager and longtime aide was a former priest-turned-rebel, who, disgusted by the irrelevance of the official Church in addressing the plight of those identified in The Marlen ronquillo Sermon on the Mount, dropped his homilies, went underground and carried a gun.

There is nothing, virtually nothing, in the institutional memory of The Digong in which he collaborated with the official Church to tame the excesses of Davao City and govern it according to his dictum.

His colorful personal life and his openness with his many affairs were, in a sense, an open challenge on the basic teachings of the Church.

But, as I said, that is just the minor reason. There is a bigger one.

The Church and its intellectuals and theoreticians cannot counter the message of The Digong. Which is to basically serve the constituencies specified in The Sermon on the Mount: the weak, the humble, the afraid and the persecuted, though through methods decried in the Ten Commandments. The people (like my neighbors and I) who have nowhere to go and turn to during times of trouble, persecution and scarcity. The Church cannot even invoke that there

criminals, Mr. Duterte was asked in a news conference how he would stop the unsolved killing of mediamen, which had grown exponentially during B.S. Aquino 3rd’s six years in office. His answer knocked the living daylights out of his audience.

“Just because you’re a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination, if you are a son of a bitch,” he said.

The strongest message that screamed out of that statement was that the journalists who had been killed were all “sons of bitches” and deserved to be killed. Relatives and friends of victims were outraged by the remark, but the President-elect will not apologize. Salvador Panelo, his bejeweled spokesman, said he will apologize only if he did something wrong, but since he has done nothing wrong, the question does not arise.

Statement of support The Manila Times ran a strong editorial “in defense of the honor of slain journalists.” Journalists had been killed not necessarily because they were corrupt or abusive, the Times pointed out, but often “because they courageously reported the truth.” This column supports that statement.

At his Thursday news conference Duterte pressed his case against the alleged “sons of bitches.” He said he was ready to name journalists who had received bribes and favors from politicians, and had acted as their

mouthpieces.

“You know, guys, you think too much of yourselves… You want (to have) your cake and eat it too,” he said. “If worse comes to worse, we’ll expose each other.

I am ready to lose the presidency now. Or my honor, or my life. Just don’t f*** with me.”

Just drunk?

No drunk could have said anything like it without saying sorry after he sobered up. But this was no less than our President-elect who in a few days would take his solemn oath to “faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as President of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation, so help me God.” Endorsing assassination The statement did not simply “encourage impunity,” as the Center for International Law, Inc. put it. Much more than that, it endorsed “assassination” as a legitimate and legal means of settling grievances or neutralizing suspected criminals. Thus, in Cebu City, a P50,000 bounty per head is said to have been put up for the extra-judicial killing of suspected drug traffickers, while some police chiefs elsewhere are hunting down suspects with no other intent than to kill them and earn points from Malacañang.

If extra-judicial killing has become the norm, who will stand

against it unless prepared to become the objects of extra-judicial killing themselves? Who will dare speak out, after almost all the members of Aquino’s ruling party have migrated to Duterte’s PDPLaban like European refugees boarding the last boat to cross the Mediterranean? And after some murdered journalists had been called “sons of bitches” who deserved to die?

How did we ever get there?

After the last nitwit has ruined our lives for six years, we were hoping our next leader would lead us to a “sunnier upland,” where we could deal justly and humanely with everyone. Instead, he appears to have chosen to lead us back to the depth of the jungle, where the most brutal creature claims the right to rule.

Sexual harassment In his news conference, things got more complicated when Mr. Duterte interrupted a question from GMA-7 reporter Mariz Umali and suggested, rather playfully, that she was trying to catch his attention. He then let out a wolf whistle and broke into song. This elicited amused laughter from the conference.

It was completely out of place, and made the reporter completely uncomfortable. Had the offender been somebody else, GABRIELA and Mr. Duterte’s other rabidly feminist allies would have instantly denounced it as sexual harassment, which is punishable under the law and under a Davao City or-

dinance. But they have remained silent until now. Umali’s offended husband quickly denounced it on Facebook, but spokesman Panelo was quicker to absolve his boss of any censurable offense.

Panelo said his macho boss had paid the female TV reporter a “compliment” and she should have been honored and thankful for it. How ungrateful!

Taking on media The Philippine Star reported Duterte’s outburst under the banner headline, “Duterte takes on media.” Some individual journalists have since weighed in, and the issues are now joined. No headline will say, “The media takes on Duterte,” but we can be sure there will be no “honeymoon period” between Duterte and the press.

By tradition, the mass media and the public try to ignore a new administration’s most obvious booboos during its first few months in office. But because of Duterte’s much-resented remarks, this period may be considered to have already lapsed.

Of course Duterte could take his case to a higher level by putting the media under authoritarian control. The lure of non-accountable power could prove irresistible, and unless we are misreading the signs, he could already be heading in that direction. But the fate of those who ever rode the tiger has been constant and unchanging; they never survive the tiger.

A costly delusion Just as it is a serious mistake for the incoming President to try to take on the 2,000-year-old Roman Catholic Church, without any provocation, it would be a grave mistake for him to try to take on the mass media in the hope of bringing down the institution, also without provocation. That would be an extremely costly delusion.

I write from experience.

As press secretary, information minister, presidential spokesman and speechwriter all rolled into one, I ran the information sector of the Marcos government for 10 years. Martial law, which Marcos had declared to turn back the communist insurgency, which appears to have won four Cabinet posts under Mr. Duterte, had temporarily disabled the freewheeling Philippine press owned by the old oligarchy. But led by The New York Times, The Times of London, and all the major US, British and European TV networks, the international media came in to fill the void and hold the government accountable to a much more politically demanding international public.

The role of the world press I dealt with hundreds of correspondents from all over the world on a daily basis, and saw the kind of pressure exerted by high-powered media deputations, individual newspapers, radio and television networks PAGE A7

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNe 10-16, 2016

Aquino Cabinet execs job hunting

by Jess

Diaz Philstar.com

MANILA—Several members of President Aquino’s Cabinet who are stepping down with him on June 30 are not retiring yet and are on a job hunt, according to outgoing Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

“I for one will go back to the private sector. I am still interested in the water business. I have told headhunters to look for a job for me,” the 68-year-old Singson said.

He said he learned that other Cabinet members, including Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, would like to resume working in the private sector.

He said he has not been offered any job by the incoming Duterte administration.

He added that even if there was an offer, his wife no longer wants him to continue working in government.

Singson pointed out that in the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH)’s entire history,

only he and former secretary Gregorio Vigilar served a full term of six years.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said Singson “is one of the best performers, if not the top performer, in the Aquino Cabinet.”

“He has erased the reputation of his agency as one of the most corrupt government offices and has accelerated the implementation of infrastructure projects in the provinces,” he said.

In a television interview, Singson said Aquino is “underrated in terms of his accomplishments.”

He said his agency has been able to shed its image as one of the most corrupt government offices and build a lot of roads, bridges and classrooms because it had Aquino’s trust.

“He never meddled with us. He wanted us to take over all government infrastructure projects, but it was impossible for us to do it,” he said.

Singson pointed out that upon Aquino’s instruction, his agency was able to help the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Agriculture build class-

rooms and farm-to-market roads.

He recalled that when the President asked him to assist DepEd, there was a construction backlog of 66,000 classrooms.

“We had to undertake it through the public-private partnership program to catch up with DepEd’s requirements,” he said.

He admitted that his agency is still constructing school buildings that the K-12 education program requires.

Singson said in some areas, funding for classrooms is bigger than the amount allocated for roads and bridges.

Due to his its huge infrastructure load, his agency awarded P341 billion worth of contracts last year, he said.

He revealed that because he has been awarding huge contracts, he has required contractors to upgrade their equipment.

Singson said under the Aquino administration, his agency the DPWH, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation and Communications have launched a “convergence” project.

PH, US troops kick off naval drills MANILA—Units from the Philippine Navy and the US Navy formally started on Monday the annual bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).

CARAT Philippines 2016 aims to conduct combined naval operations to enhance militaries’ interoperability. It also seeks to strengthen navies’ combined capabilities in surface and modern naval warfare, amphibious operations, diving and salvage, special operations; and enhance situational awareness and information sharing.

“CARAT strengthens the strong and enduring relationships between the US and Philippine navies,” Philippine Fleet commander Rear Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado said.

“We’re looking forward to working along-side our US Navy partners during CARAT 2016,” he added.

The Philippines is among the US Navy’s nine partner nations with whom it conducts CARAT. The exercise will involve atsea and in-port events designed for subject matter exchange, individual and unit training, and engagement with the local community.

The Philippine and US navies will exchange best practices and

PAGE A6

The forward-deployed Whidbey Island Class dock landing ship USS Ashland cruises the Sulu Sea on June 5, 2016 while conducting a formation exercise with the USS Strethem and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.

US Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr.

share information during multiple professional exchanges and seminars ashore.

They will also conduct civic action projects, community service events and joint band concerts to allow our forces to interact with the local community.

In-port activities will take place in different areas of Olongapo City and Zambales while at-sea events will be in the waters and airspace of the Sulu and Luzon Sea. It will last until June 10. (Philstar.com)

A

SO WHO AMONG THEM ARE CORRUPT? Amid allegations by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that three high-ranking police officials are corrupt, policemen attend Monday’s flag ceremony at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Inquirer.net photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

‘PH can elevate case vs China...

not even known to most Filipinos. It was this unrelenting pressure, more than that which was coming from official diplomatic sources, that ultimately led Marcos to call for a special snap presidential election in Feb. 1986—which would ultimately lead to his ouster by the US- and civilian-backed military mutiny called the EDSA revolt.

Read all about it, from an official American perspective, in Turmoil and Triumph: My Years as Secretary of State by George Shultz.

Despite his undiminished close personal friendship with US President Reagan, who supported him to the very end, Marcos had become, at this time, an “unpredictable ally” as far as the State Department and the Pentagon were concerned, mainly because of the hardening of his position on the military bases.

Although he had fought side by side with the Americans against the Japanese in the last war, and was America’s staunchest ally throughout his presidency, Marcos had followed a consistently pro-Philippines and pro-Asia line with respect to the bases at Clark and Subic.

The role of the bases A year after his first election in 1965, he sought to cut short the term of the 1947 US-Philippine Military Bases Agreement from 99 years ending in 2046, to the next 25 years ending in 1991.

While seeking the return of base lands which the US forces no longer needed, Marcos insisted that the bases be called no longer “US military bases” but “Philippine bases,” under the command of a Filipino military commander, with the Philippine flag flying singly over them, except for the buildings where the US forces were quartered.

Finally, Marcos proposed that the agreement’s “rent-free” provision be reinterpreted, to allow for some form of rent. The US agreed to provide an Economic Support Fund, but recriminations eventually arose when Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, in talks with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, asked for a substantial rent increase. As the 1991 termination date approached, the US felt a need to negotiate an extension, but Marcos gave no indication he was prepared for it.

Unpredictable ally He had become so “unpredict-

able,” complained Ambassador Stephen Bosworth in private, “that if he had but one dark suit to his name inside his closet and he was invited to a strictly ‘dark suit’ dinner, you could not be sure he would wear his one dark suit.”

That was a very serious problem to the US. Meanwhile, the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. on Aug. 21, 1983 had put his widow, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, in the active ranks of the opposition. Although she had become part of the group of Sen. Lorenzo Tanada, Jose Wright Diokno, Chino Roces, and Jimmy Ongpin, which publicly demanded the immediate removal of the bases, she had privately intimated that she was prepared to change her anti-bases stance at the proper time.

But how to persuade Marcos to agree to a transition was the real problem. Despite the shuttle of high-level US emissaries between Washington and Malacañang, neither State nor the Pentagon seemed to be breaking through.

It was ultimately the media that did.

How the media did it In Nov. 1985, Marcos appeared on “This Week with David Brin-

kley” on ABC. Taunted about his allegedly declining popularity, Marcos responded by challenging the opposition to a snap presidential election in which he would run against anybody. This was five years after I had left the Cabinet, and joined the opposition; the National Unification Committee, of which I was a member, picked Cory Aquino as our candidate. She lost as expected, but the EDSA uprising ousted Marcos, and installed Cory as revolutionary President.

Contrary to the well-propagated myth, Marcos did not fall because of corruption. He became corrupt because—and after—he fell. Much of this was the work of media. Once he was out of power, the international media had no let up accusing him of corruption.

Anti-Marcos books rolled out of the assembly line from foreigners who knew nothing about Marcos or the Philippines.

Then as now, the media claimed the right to judge. But never did they hear the President call anyone of them a son of a bitch who deserved to get killed, or subject any female reporter to any ordeal on the excuse that he was but paying her a very high “compliment.” (ManilaTimes.net)

A

june 10-16, 2016 • nORCAL ASIAn jOuRnAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

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COMMUNITY

(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Your Immigration Solution Ben Loveman and nancy miLLer THE Ninth Circuit will soon hear oral arguments in two cases which could dramatically alter the ability of persons granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to apply for lawful permanent residency. The two cases concern whether a person granted TPS is considered inspected and admitted. The question is crucial because many TPS beneficiaries entered the country without inspection and are not eligible for adjustment lawful permanent resident status under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The result is that they must complete their green card processing at US Consulate in their home country. When they leave the US, they invoke the unlawful presence bar and must either obtain a waiver – assuming they have a USC or LPR parent or spouse – or wait for ten years before they can return.

Section 245(a) governs the majority of applications for adjustment of status and requires that the applicant prove they have been inspected and admitted (or paroled). Without proof of admission or parole the applicant is not eligible for adjustment of status unless they are covered by a special exception contained in section 245(i). The details of 245(i) eligibility are beyond the scope of this article but to qualify a person must be the beneficiary of a petition filed on or before January 14, 1998 or prior to April 30, 2001 provided they were also physically present in the United States on December 20, 2000.

For many thousands of TPS beneficiaries living in the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska) who are not covered by 245(i), the outcome of the two cases will determine whether they can apply for green cards inside the United

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 10-16, 2016

CJ

Journal Temporary Protected Status may serve as pathway to permanent residency States or will be required to apply for immigrant visas abroad. The stakes for TPS beneficiaries are high as applying for an immigrant visa abroad requires departing the U.S., triggering waivable tenyear bar to reentry, and uncertain prospects about when and if they can return to the U.S. Departing the U.S. means separation from loved ones, interruption in work or loss of jobs and many myriad of other potential problems. Applying from within the U.S. allows the applicant to avoid the risks of departure and maintain employment while in the process of obtaining their green card.

The Ninth Circuit is not the first court of appeals to face the question posed in these cases. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals already ruled that being granted TPS status constitutes an admission for adjustment of status purposes while the Eleventh Circuit has deferred to USCIS’s policy to the contrary. The circuit split means that people living in different parts of the country are living under different rules despite the fact that immigration law is Federal and should, in theory, be uniform across the country. Generally, when Circuit splits involve significant issues such as the one discussed here, either USCIS adjusts its policy to conform to the most immigrant friendly ruling nationwide or the issue ends up before the Supreme Court which then decides the issue on a nationwide basis.

Even if the Ninth Circuit does not rule that TPS approval equals a lawful admission for purposes of adjustment of status, there are other routes for TPS beneficiaries to obtain permanent residency which have been made available by relatively recent changes to immigration law policy. Amongst these is the provisional waiver and advance parole. The provisional waiver process allows beneficiaries of immigrant visa petitions

who were not inspected and admitted to the United States to apply for pre-approval for a waiver of the ten-year bar they will trigger upon departing the U.S. to apply for an immigrant visa abroad.

This process significantly reduces the risks and uncertainties for those wishing to apply for permanent resident status but who have to apply abroad. With the appropriate, sufficient and properly presented evidence, the provisional waiver can be approved but the process still involves uncertainty and the need to depart the U.S. Advance parole is the name USCIS gives to temporary travel documents that TPS and other persons are eligible to apply for under certain circumstances.

Those who obtain advance parole and use the permission to travel out of the U.S. and then return will be able to apply for adjustment of status inside the U.S. upon return to the U.S. A grant of advance parole is no guarantee of being allowed to enter the U.S. and carries its own potential problems; thus, one no one should apply for advance parole before consulting an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney.

Anyone with TPS should consult an experienced immigration attorney to discuss how recent and forthcoming changes in law may affect their ability to obtain permanent resident status. ***

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) 7958009 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.

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BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo Guinigundo said real property price movements in the National Capital Region and areas outside NCR relatively follow the same pattern from the first quarter to the third quarter in 2015 with growth rates in AONCR at the lowest.

Philstar file photo

Lecture Series the RREPI increased 9.2 percent in the first Philstar.com quarter from 5.1 percent in the MACTAN, Cebu — The coun- fourth quarter of last year. try’s property sector remained The RREPI in the National vibrant in the first quarter, ac- Capital Region (NCR) went up cording to the Residential Real to 9.7 percent from 6.3 percent, Estate Price Index (RREPI). while that of areas outside NCR Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (AONCR) increased to 9.4 per(BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa cent from 5.9 percent.

Guinigundo told participants in “This represents a vibrant the central bank’s 12th Media housing industry in the Philipby Lawrence

agcaoiLi

pines and the robustness of this conclusion is confirmed by the trends in consumer prices as well as the recent result of the Consumer Expectation Survey,” he said.

The Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) for the first quarter showed the overall confidence index rising to -5.7 percent from -8.1 percent in the fourth quarter

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PCC Chair Balisacan: ‘Competition law not a burden to businesses’

by Kristyn

niKa M. ManilaTimes.net

Arsenio Balisacan

Lazo

PHILIPPINE Competition Commission (PCC) Chairman Arsenio Balisacan has defended the Philippine Competition Act, debunking claims that the new competition law will be a burden to companies and enterprises due to additional requirements by the commission.

Responding to concerns from some business groups that the new law would add ‘red tape’ to the process of investing, Balisacan explained, “Clearly, the intention of the law is to make the business environment as conducive to investments as possible,

providing a level playing field for all participants regardless of their size, and for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be able to thrive and grow to become big players.”

“So it’s not in the intention of the law to add more burden to enterprises. There are consequences [such as the reporting requirements], but we were mindful of them in drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR),” the PCC chairman added. “Our mandate is to improve investment climate as we give a better fair outcomes for the consumers.”

The competition law under

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JUNE 10-16, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files AurorA VegA-Buzon, esq.

CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his US citizen father. His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available. Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a tourist visa so he can visit his father but his application was denied. His family wonders if there is a way for Carlos to see his ailing father.

Foreign nationals or aliens who have urgent medical and family needs like Carlos —but cannot obtain visas from embassies abroad — can try to apply for a Humanitarian Parole.

Humanitarian Parole is highly discretionary and is not an immigration benefit. It is considered as an “extraordinary measure, sparingly used only in urgent or emergency circumstances, by which the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security may permit an inadmissible

Community Journal

Humanitarian Parole for urgent medical and family cases alien temporarily to enter or remain in the United States.”

It is “not intended to bypass immigration procedures or avoid visa processing procedures and timelines” and is granted only upon clear evidence that the “parole applicant has exhausted visa processes, including any waivers to grounds of inadmissibility.”

Section 212(d)(s)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to “in his discretion, parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-bycase basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit any alien applying for admission into the United States,.. .” In practice, the Secretary’s parole authority is delegated to the 3 bureaus of the Homeland Security — the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — who all exercise parole authority concurrently.

Humanitarian Parole is categorized based on which agency will receive and adjudicate the application. The following cases must be submitted to the USCIS: 1. Urgent medical, family, and related needs; and 2. Aliens who will participate in civil proceedings where all parties are private litigants.

On the other hand, ICE will be the adjudicating authority for the following cases: 1. Aliens who will participate in administrative, judicial, or legislative proceedings, and/or investigations, whether at the federal, state, local, or tribal level of government; 2. Aliens in removal proceedings or who have final orders, as well as aliens granted deferred action by ICE at any point after the commencement of removal proceedings, regardless of whether the alien is within or outside of the US; 3. Aliens who

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdeVA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2)

HALF a lifetime later and half a world away, I have forgotten much about the murdered American soldier. Buried in the mists of time, his story would have remained shelved, tucked away in my memory banks and promptly forgotten until I came across an account of that incident long ago on the internet.

Written by Virgilio Lacaba, I read a long, detailed article, perhaps a reprint, on “Strange Occurrences at the UP” and like a flood, everything came rushing back as though it happened yesterday. Weeks after the session, I remember being interviewed for an article in a then popular weekly magazine, Mr. & Ms., by Neni Santa Romana Cruz, a wellknown Filipino writer who also happened to be the elder sister of a good friend from St. Scholastica’s College, the kind and gentle Chona Santa Romana, who incidentally and sadly, I learned much later, was herself a tragic victim of murder and domestic foul play, sometime in the late eighties. I had left the country for America by then and lost touch.

I do remember that during the interview for the article I have had to be careful in how the story is presented because I was living, working and studying in an academic environment, which by default should place reason and scientific explanation on everything that happens in the world.

Paranormal phenomenon is an entirely different ball of wax that supposedly rational beings do not normally subscribe to, something that would raise skeptical brows.

Yet I have found that life is not entirely rational, a lot of things don’t make sense and we have only begun to chip away at the great mysteries of life that lay before us. I am thus convinced that quite possibly, I am just one of the multitudes the world over who believe that there are things in the universe that are far beyond the scope of reason and known science to explain and things that are far beyond human intelligence to comprehend fully.

Quite plainly, there are things in this world that cannot be defined, completely understood and pegged in a nice, neat box.

The curious case of this murdered American soldier reaching

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

The curious case of Stephen C. Davis: A ghost story “…he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moonless night. …” out from the grave is probably one of them.

As a postcript decades later, Lacaba updated the account by verifying the information about Stephen Davies with the American Battle Monuments Commission (http: //www.abmc. gov/search/detailwwnew.php).

Something may have been lost in the spelling and translation during the sessions, for there were two entries for Stephen Davis (there was no e though in the Davis) — one was Stephen E. Davis, a US Air Force officer who was killed in Hawaii and whose remains were never recovered and a Stephen C. Davis. The latter was listed as Seaman, First Class, U.S. Navy, with Service # 3759920 and that he had entered the service in California. The approximate date of death was December 15, 1945 in Manila, Philippines.

Davis earned a Purple Heart Award posthumously. Just like the other Davis in Hawaii, there were no remains recovered. The name of Stephen C. Davis is inscribed in one of the hemicycles on the west side in the American Cemetery near Forbes Park and what used to be Fort Bonifacio, a military camp sold to private real estate developers during the nineteen nineties and now known as The Fort in Global City.

There is absolutely no way to verify every minute detail of this cold murder case unless one is a tenacious private investigator with the mixed pedigree of a bloodhound and a bulldog. One thing that comes across clearly, at least to me, is that the ghost of Stephen C. Davis, whether real or conjured by hypnotic suggestion, didn’t seem to be obsessed with vengeance or justice although he did seem knowledgeable about his killer’s whereabouts. Underneath the bone-chilling poltergeist tactics his restless soul employed to reach out from beyond the grave, he was no more than a lonely soul whose young life was cut down so suddenly and so tragically one dark moonless night. Stuck in a nebulous,

nether world between the living and the world beyond, nothing seemed to be as important to this murdered American soldier as being remembered. It didn’t matter even if the remembrance is by a motley crew of curious, total strangers.

With a sigh of relief over the realization that the spirit was neither malevolent nor malicious, Stephen C. Davis would probably have to deal with an incensed group of total strangers who would gladly take turns putting their hands around his poltergeist neck and choking him, if they could, for scaring them half to death while using the rest rooms.

The ghost simply wanted to call attention to his plight, to being stuck in limbo or trapped in a dimension that defies time and space. Scaring mortals was one heck of a way to do it.

If you remember the movie “Ghost” there was one such paranormal being who was practically forced into mentoring Patrick Swayze’s character in the ways of poltergeists. The movie character is a disembodied soul trapped in one dimension. He inhabited a New York subway because he was pushed on the path of a train and died. He was stuck and could not cross over to the other side because his time had not yet come. So he spends his time morosely bent on mischief scaring the living daylights out of subway commuters.

Because his approximate death anniversary is supposedly December 15, Stephen C. Davis is again reaching out from the grave one more time from another century, so that he may be remembered and included in prayers just once more until he reaches final closure and eternal rest. Do pray for him if you can.

If Stephen Davis’s story holds up, it is clear that to be forgotten as though one’s life didn’t matter is indeed tragic. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Business News BSP eyeing regulation of virtual currencies

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

THE central bank said it is considering regulating the use of virtual currencies to prevent cybercriminals from making this technological innovation a tool for money-laundering activities.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said virtual currencies are a form of unregulated digital money, which allows the purchase of both virtual and real goods and services; they are not backed by any commodity but are merely valued subjectively according to one’s ability to exchange them for goods.

The most common example is Bitcoin, a type of digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.

“Bitcoin is the first one that has been able to gain broader market attention,” Espenilla said.

He said that currently, Bitcoin has a P3.6-billion market capitalization, equivalent to about 19 percent of the total market capitalization of the top 10 virtual

currencies.

“A lot of money in this case.

Bitcoin itself is growing in the Philippines,” he added.

Citing statistics, the BSP official said the Philippines is apparently third in the world in terms of Bitcoin applications, with a growth rate of over 100 percent as of the first half of 2015.

In the Philippines, bitcoin exchanges or estimated transactions passing through the registered companies range between $2 million to $3 million per month, he said.

“So it is not a small amount of transactions. We do recognize

that this is an area that has become significant, and that normally brings BSP attention,” he said.

Espenilla stressed that the central bank recognized that virtual currencies could improve the efficiency of remittance transactions and lower the cost of the remittance business.

“That is one good reason to not close our minds to it right away.

But we also accept that there are risks to it,” he said.

The BSP deputy governor said some of the risks were money laundering activities and con-

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No asset bubble: Philippine property…

PAGE CJ1 t

of last year, matching the all-time high of -5.7 percent recorded in the second quarter of 2013.

The robust confidence of Filipino consumers was attributed to the higher election-related spending.

Guinigundo said real property price movements in NCR and AONCR relatively follow the same pattern from the first quarter to the third quarter in 2015 with growth rates in AONCR at the lowest.

He pointed out year-on-year growth of real property prices in AONCR increased at a faster rate starting in the third quarter of last year due to higher growth rates in prices of townhouses and condominium units.

He said condominium units posted the highest year-on-year growth in prices at 12.9 percent followed by townhouses at 8.5 percent.

Furthermore, about seven out

of 10 residential real estate loans granted were for the purchase of new housing units.

“Condominium units were the most common house purchases in NCR, while in AONCR, single detached houses were the most popular,” he said.

Data showed NCR accounted for half or 50.4 percent of the residential real estate loans granted in the first quarter followed by Calabarzon with 28.4 percent, Central Luzon with 7.6 percent, Western Visayas with 3.8 percent, and Central Visayas with 3.3 percent.

“Because of the vibrant nature of the housing industry, asset price inflation is quite remote because it is driven by robust demand, not oversupply,” Guinigundo said.

The BSP started collecting data from banks last November through the issuance of a circular requiring all universal and commercial banks as well as

thrift banks to submit quarterly reports on Residential Real Estate Loans granted to help detect macro-prudential risks stemming from the real estate market.

The construction of RREPI based on banks’ approved housing loan applications is a first in the Philippines and is expected to provide a valuable tool in assessing the real estate and credit market conditions in the country.

The availability of data on property prices is one of the information gaps identified in the Group of Twenty (G-20) report following the Global Financial Crisis, and is also included in the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) Plus categories under Financial Soundness Indicators that member countries of the International Monetary Fund should adhere to within five years from the time the country signifies its intent to participate in this global undertaking. n

Community Journal

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Immigration Corner

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month).

This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for

The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

September 1, 2005

February 1, 2005

First Preference

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children (below October 15, 21 years old) of green 2015 card holder

November 15, 2014

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

January 1, 2006

June 1, 2005

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

August 1, 1995

March 1, 1994

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

April 1, 1993

January 1, 1993

LABOR CERTIFICATION: Third Preference

Application Filing Date Professional/ Skilled Workers

Visa Issuance Date

January 1, 2010

February 15, 2009

CITIZEN PINOY “LIVE”: “The instant feedback from viewers is the ultimate interactive show” – Atty. Gurfinkel Kapamilya will get to experience once more the special telecast of “Citizen Pinoy” when it went LIVE last Sunday, June 5. The encore presentation will be seen this Sunday, and viewers will see how leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel went all-out in providing answers to those who sent in their questions via phone, skype and Facebook, on the very first live telecast from TFC. It was truly an ultimate expression public service, and because of the overwhelming viewer response, we can expect more innovations for the show in the future, including more opportunities for similar LIVE telecasts. “Follow and like” us on www.Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw for more updates. Atty. Gurfinkel hopes “viewers enjoyed TFC’s first LIVE show as much as I did.” The encore presentation of “Citizen Pinoy Live” – will be seen this Sunday, JUNE 12, at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Citizen Pinoy ‘Live’ was such a huge success, so we’re bringing you an encore telecast this Sunday!

“IT was really rewarding to be able to answer viewers’ questions live!” This summarizes how leading US immigration attorney Midoes not constitute a prediction, warranty, chael J. Gurfinkel felt after doing a green card. guarantee or legal advice regarding the two back-to-back live shows for *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an outcome of your legal matter. No attorney- ‘Citizen Pinoy’ on Sunday, June active member of the State Bar of California client relationship is, or shall be, established 5, 2016. The first live telecast and New York. All immigration services are with any reader. was at 3:15 PM (seen live at 6:15 WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com provided by, or under the supervision of, an pm in the East Coast). The second Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for live telecast was at 6:15 PM for active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information anywhere in the US: the West Coast audiences. The (866)—GURFINKEL contained herein including testimonials, studios at the TFC headquarters Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES in Redwood City, CA was abuzz “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES with activity, as viewer questions (Advertising Supplement) intended to apply to any particular case, and came in via phone, Skype and through Facebook messages and Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

January 1, 2010

February 15, 2009

Medium-term growth targets up for review, may be lowered — Diokno

comments.

This was the first time TFC has ever broadcast a “live” show, and was in keeping with Citizen Pinoy’s goal of public service, by providing instantaneous, or “real time” responses to viewer questions.

Atty. Gurfinkel had a great time, seeing the outpouring of appreciation from the viewers.

He was able to see their comments and receive their feedback in real time via Facebook.

And he was randomly picking questions to answer on the live telecast.

According to him,

Calendar of Events across

by Prinz

P. Magtulis Philstar.com

MANILA — Despite promising higher government spending, the Duterte administration is contemplating on lowering economic growth targets this year until 2019 during a review before it takes over this month.

“Public spending, especially for public infrastructure, does not affect economic growth instantaneously. There is usually a lag,” said incoming Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Monday, June 6. “(President-elect Rodrigo) Duterte’s economic team will have a chance to re-assess current government forecasts when we meet before the end of June,” he said in a text message. Under the medium-term economic program, gross domestic product (GDP) growth is targeted to rise between 6.8 and 7.8 percent this year.

It is expected to slow down to 6.6 and 7.6 percent next year, before bouncing back to seven to eight percent in 2018 and 6.9 to 7.9 percent in 2019.

Echoing incoming finance chief Carlos Dominguez, Diokno said this year’s goal is “on the high side” despite a 6.9 percent uptick in the first quarter.

GDP expansion in the first three months was the fastest in three years.

“Second half growth rate will be slower...as the impact of election spending fades. Agricultural sector and exports would continue to be weak,” he said.

This, in turn, may spill over to the next years as Diokno said

CJ

The July 2016 priority dates FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 10-16, 2016

“The instant feedback from viewers is the ultimate interactive show.”

We look forward to bring more live telecasts in the future.

Atty. Gurfinkel’s parting words are “I hope viewers enjoyed TFC’s first live show as much as I did.”

You may follow and like their page on Facebook for more updates. www.facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw Be sure to catch us the encore presentation of ‘Citizen Pinoy’ Live this Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) — on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

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 JUNE 11

Philippine Independence Day celebration The Philippine Independence Day Foundation in conjunction with the City of Carson and GMA Pinoy TV will hold the 118th Philippine Independence Day celebration at Veterans Park and Sports Complex, 22400 Moneta Avenue, Carson, CA 90745. The event is celebrated yearly in the City of Carson and is attended by thousands of Carson residents, as well as people from different parts of Southern California. The celebration will take place from 8am to 6pm. For more information, call (310) 549-3111.

Under the medium-term economic program, GDP growth is targeted to rise between 6.8 and 7.8 percent this year.

Philstar.com file photo

Kalayaan Incorporated celebrates the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence

temper expectations. “ They want to be conservative.

We do expect some slowdown in the second half, but I think with higher outlays, they should be able to boost growth to seven percent on their second year,” Neri said in a phone interview.

Businessmen, meanwhile, said growth outcomes will highly depend on the quality of infrastructure to be built.

“Spending for infrastructure will be good for the country.

However, these must be the right projects at the right places, at the right time and at the right prices,” said Peter Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club.

John Forbes, senior adviser at American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the next government should spend on mass transit, airports, and irrigation, among others.

Public-private partnership (PPP) projects, of which 12 have already been awarded, should also be accelerated.

“They can fast track the PPPs which covers non-bank financial PAGE CJ2 t sumer protection issues. and that should also help in eninstitutions.

“As you know, bitcoin prices Amendments to the circular suring that they remain within may vary and customers might will clearly define the regulatory their deficit targets since that will get the wrong idea and invest environment of virtual currencies cost less for the government,” with it and think that it has the in the Philippines, he said.

Forbes said in a separate text same value,” he added.

“We are putting it to that message.

Going forward, Espenilla said space, along with traditional re“Better infrastructure makes the BSP would be issuing regu- mittance companies and money the economy more efficient,” he lations that amend Circular 471, changers,” he said. n added. n

The Los Angeles County Filipino-American Employees Association is all set to celebrate the 118th Philippine Independence Day on June 11 at the Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101. Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For more information, please call Rosalinda Vangie Cruz (661) 406-5136; Edwin Martinez (818) 438-6517 or Tony Millonado at (818) 515-2147.

PCC Chair Balisacan: ‘Competition law…

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

even a bigger infrastructure outlay may not be enough to meet present targets.

He had earlier said that under Duterte, capital outlays will rise to between five and seven percent of GDP from 3.3 percent last year, which was the highest since at least 1991.

This, in effect, will bring the budget deficit to three percent of GDP from 0.9 percent last year.

“There is usually a lag. The lagged effects depend on the scale of the (infrastructure) project,” the upcoming budget chief said.

“Small-scale projects have short lags, (while) large scale projects have long lags,” he added.

On the conservative side Sought for comment, Emilio Neri Jr., lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, said the next government is trying to

BSP eyeing regulation of…

PAGE CJ1 t

Republic Act 10667 mandates that transactions of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), as well as joint ventures (JVs) exceeding P1 billion in value should be evaluated by the PCC for anti-competitive practices and abuse of dominant market share.

According to the final and approved IRR of the law, transactions valued more than P1 billion must be reported to the PCC, along with other documents and information requested by the commission for the assessment and investigation, if needed.

The IRR further states that companies engaging in M&As and JVs are prohibited from consummating the covered deals while the PCC conducts its evaluation.

Some businessmen have expressed worries about the competition act, fearing that the law might be another bureaucratic layer or a form of “red tape” that is misaligned with the general

drive of the government to reduce the number steps in starting a business venture in the country.

“Before the enactment of this law, the Philippines was the only major country in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) that did not have a comprehensive competition law. So if other countries have thrived better when it comes to creating better opportunities with this kind of law, why it should be a hindrance [to the Philippines]?” Balisacan said.

Created in February, the PCC is a quasi-judicial body formed by the Philippine Competition Act, and which is tasked to ensure efficient market competition among businesses engaged in trade, industry, and all commercial economic activities; to protect consumer welfare; and to advance both domestic and international trade and economic development.

Sought for comment, Moody’s

Investors Service Associate Economist Jack Chambers said the law would not be a roadblock for foreign firms wanting to do business or investments in the thriving Philippine economy.

“Overall this policy should not be overly burdensome for foreign firms seeking to invest in the Philippines. Oversight of foreign investment activity is common in many countries, both emerging and developed,” Chambers said.

“Therefore, as long as the PCC conducts its assessments in a timely and consistent manner, we would not expect this announcement to have a negative effect on FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows to the Philippines,” he added.

Moreover, Chambers said that the FDI inflows of the country are seen to improve over the next few years due to the statements of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte signaling a willingness to ease restrictions on foreign ownership as part of his economic plan. n

On June 11, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at the Concourse Hotel, a Hyatt Affiliated Hotel, Los Angeles International Airport, Kalayaan Incorporated will stage its annual gala dinner ball with Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim as the guest speaker. Attendees will hear his farewell words of wisdom as he ends his term in Los Angeles on June 30. At the helm of the freedom day commemoration are President Josie E. de Jesus, event chair, and Vice President Jose Relson Banas, co-chair. Emcees are Lydia V. Solis and Noel S.V. Omega.

Program Director Ted Benito and Program Committee Chair Zeny Sabocor will have a highspirited presentation from endearing singers Manny Evaldez, Sam Santiago, and Christine Love. PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company, the Filipino-American Musical Ensemble, a rondalla group, and the Fil-Am Choir of St. Pius V of Buena Park, Calif., promise an enchanting evening for attendees. And be carried away with the music from Bits N’ Pieces Band. For more information, contact Gil Mislang (562) 417-6772 or Lydia V. Solis lvsolis@aol.com.

LACFAEA to celebrate 118th Philippine Independence Day

JUNE 16

Know Your Rights A working entitled “Know Your Rights” will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2016 from 6 to 8pm at the Union City Kids Zone (former Barnard White Campus) at 725 Whipple Road in Union City sponsored by the Filipino Advocates for Justice, Our Lady of the Rosary, Union City Kids Zone and Congregations Organizing for Renewal. The overall goal of the Know Your Rights Workshop is to provide the community with the knowledge and tools they need to exercise their rights during Immigration Customs and Enforcements (ICE) raids. The workshop includes information on what to do when ICE and law enforcement knocks on your door, stops you on the street, searches you on the street, approaches you at school or arrests you. There will also be a presentation by the National Lawyers Guild.

Spanish and Tagalog translation is available, and there will be light food provided to attendees. For questions and inquiries, contact Abigail Andrade at (510) 476-2770. (Resources will be provided but we will not be able to assist individual cases during the workshop.)

Humanitarian Parole for urgent…

PAGE CJ2 t

will participate in events hosted by an international organization located within the US (e.g., UN, OAS); 4. Section 7 parole (50 USC 403[h]); and 5. Intelligence.

Aliens who are registered sources of a member of the US Intelligence Community and whose parole furthers the National Intelligence mission, or aliens whose parole is sought by the Department of State Cooperative Threat Reduction Program or by the Intelligence Community.

The above list is non-exhaustive and USCIS will adjudicate all other parole applications that are not otherwise assigned to ICE and/or the CBP. Only a foreign national or alien who is outside the United States can apply for Humanitarian Parole. Anyone may file the application - the parole applicant

himself, a sponsoring relative, an attorney, or any other interested individual or organization. The application must be accompanied by supporting documentation of the emergency or urgent nature of the applicant’s circumstances, and proof that applicant has tried to secure a visa and/or applied for waiver of inadmissibility but was denied. In cases of medical emergencies, there must be an accompanying medical certificate regarding the diagnosis; lack of appropriate treatment in the home country or neighboring country; duration and cost of treatment in the United States; ability to pay for the treatment; and evidence of strong ties to the home country to guarantee applicant’s return to his/her home country.

An initial grant of parole is only for a set period of time that

corresponds with the length of the emergency or humanitarian situation, but not to exceed one (1) year. However, an extension may be requested. Humanitarian Parole does not give a parolee any permanent immigration status and does not authorize a parolee to work in the United States. *** 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 inperson or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; auvega@ctvattys.com (Advertising Supplement)

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JUNE 10-16, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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People & Events Opportunity remains for thousands to enroll in health coverage through Covered California

Learn about your ancestors now Sign up for Ancestry Day by the Bay on June 18

THE largest genealogy company in the world, Ancestry.com, has partnered with AIISF to show us how to use their resources to find out about our personal histories!

Come for a fun, information packed day to learn how to research your family’s history on Saturday, June 18, from 8 am to 4pm at the South San Francisco Conference Center.

Learn from the experts! Ancestry will bring their top researchers to show us how easy it is to locate our ancestors and trace our family genealogies.

Seats are limited!

All proceeds from this event go to our Immigrant Voices Initiative There will be a full day of presentations from Ancestry staff plus representatives from

several genealogical organizations and libraries. Classes will include: • Beginner’s basics session starts the program • How to get the most out of Ancestry.com’s website • Using AncestryDNA to further your family research • Sharing your family story • Door prizes, and much more.

Optional luncheon speaker: Paula Williams Madison, former NBC Universal executive and author/producer of a riveting book and film, “Finding Samuel Lowe,” about the search for her Hakka Chinese grandfather’s story.

AIISF community relations director Grant Din notes, “Ancestry has a lot of great resources when researching immigrants

from all over the world, and their descendants, including Chinese Exclusion Act files, Japanese American incarceration records during World War II, directories, ship manifests, newspaper articles, yearbook photos, and much more that we have used in our research to help people tell their family stories.”

At the event, Ancestry plans to announce new resources on its site that will especially help Angel Island researchers.

To register, go to https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ancestry-day-by-the-bay-tickets-23491912944?o_xid= 70987&o_lid=70987&o_sch=Email++Campaign&utm_source=Ju ne+Ancestry+Day+Reminder &utm_campaign=June+6+An cestry+Day+reminder&utm_ medium=email. n

Mario Reyes Vierneza September 25, 1948-May 28, 2016

IT is with great sadness that Mario Reyes Vierneza, husband, father, son, brother and dedicated servant of God, passed away suddenly at the age of 67 on Saturday, May 28, 2016.

Mario will be forever remembered by his wife of 43 years, Tessie and their children, Mark, Maritess, Angel, and Matthew; his mother Nanay Nieves, and his eight grandchildren (Marielle, Brandon, Marcus, Elizabeth, Noah, Caitlyn, Adam and Jacob).

His dedication to bring Christ to the youth, and youth to Christ in conjunction by sharing his faith in different ministries throughout the Bay Area will forever be remembered.

Mario was born in San Pedro, Laguna Philippines on September 25, 1948 to Inocencio and Nieves Vierneza. He graduated from Villamor

EMPLOYMENT

High School and attended the Philippine College of Commerce and worked at Philippine Insular Life.

Mario and his wife immigrated to the United States in 1975 and chose Detroit, Michigan as their original final destination. With no friends or family in Detroit, they decided to stay with friends in San Francisco, and have not left since. He worked for the United States Postal Service (USPS) for 25 years and retired in 2012.

He was able to relax, travel, and enjoy life while continuing to live, share and exemplify his Faith in Jesus Christ through the ministries he helped pioneer and lead through the grace of God; including the light of God, Agnus Dei, Junior Apostolates for Christ, and most recently Servant Coordinator of the Northern Charismatic Renewal Coalition. n

ALTHOUGH Covered California’s third open-enrollment period ended Jan. 31, the door is not closed to uninsured Californians who have experienced life-changing events like having a baby, losing health insurance that had been provided by their job or moving a long distance.

It’s called Covered California’s special-enrollment option where eligible consumers can sign up for coverage outside of open enrollment as long as they do so within 60 days of the qualifying life event. Some of the more common events that can make someone eligible are: • Loss of health coverage provided by an employer • Get married or enter a domestic partnership.

• Have a baby, adopt a child • Move to California • Become a citizen, national or

lawfully present individual.

In June of 2015, Covered California reported 22.9 percent of its 1.3 million members were Asian-Americans- well ahead of projections.

During the third open enrollment period, another 58,290 Asian-Americans signed up for health coverage in 2016, with

Social Security benefits US citizens outside the United States

OVER half a million people who live outside the United States receive some kind of Social Security benefit, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children.

If you’re a US citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible. When we say you are “outside the United States,” we mean you’re not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. Once you’ve been outside the United States for at least 30 days in a row, we consider you to be outside the country.

IF you are traveling outside the US for an extended amount of time, it’s important that you tell Social Security the date you plan to leave and the date you plan to come back, no matter how long you expect your travel to last.

Then we can let you know whether your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be affected.

You can use this online tool to find out if you can continue to receive your Social Security benefits if you are outside the United

States or are planning to go outside the United States at www. socialsecurity.gov/international/ payments_outsideUS.html.

This tool will help you find out if your retirement, disability, or survivor’s payments will continue as long as you are eligible, stop after six consecutive calendar months, or if certain country specific restrictions apply.

When you live outside the United States, periodically we’ll send you a questionnaire. Your answers will help us figure out if you still are eligible for benefits.

Return the questionnaire to the

EMPLOYMENT

PERSONAL

FOSTER HOMECARE

REAL ESTATE

NOTICE

nearly 9 out of 10 being eligible for financial assistance to help pay for coverage. Over 32 percent of Asian-Americans who signed up for coverage for 2016 are Chinese, over 17 percent are Filipino, another 17 percent are Korean and 12 percent are Vietnamese.

There are still thousands of Asian Americans who remain uninsured. Those who experience any of the qualifying life events listed above can enroll in coverage immediately.

For special enrollment after a qualifying life event, consumers can enroll online at CoveredCA. com or call Covered California at (800) 300-1506 for enrollment help. Covered California’s Certified Enrollment Counselors, Certified Insurance Agents, Certified Plan Based Enrollers or County Eligibility Workers also can help with special enrollment. n

SERVICES

office that sent it as soon as possible. If you don’t, your payments will stop. In addition to responding to the questionnaire, notify us promptly about changes that could affect your payments.

You can also read the publication titled Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs.

Social Security is with you through life’s journey, even if that journey takes you outside the United States. (By Anne Parker / Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sacramento, CA)

(650) 616-4150 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 10-16, 2016

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JUNE 10-16, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 616-4150

Friday, June 10, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 10, 2016

PhiliPPine indePendence as history tells it On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippines’ independence from Spanish colonial rule and established a provincial government that he eventually headed. However, prior to his proclamation, Aguinaldo was in exile and only made arrangements with United States authorities to return to his country and assist them with their fight against Spain.

Spain colonized the Philippines in the 16th century and was opposed by Filipino priests, as Spaniards dominated the Roman Catholic churches in the islands. By the late 19th century, many Filipinos — not just the plain folk but middle-class citizens as well — began calling for independence.

The Katipunan and Aguinaldo’s exile A secret revolutionary society was formed in Manila in 1892 called “Katipunan.” Many immediately joined in, and when the Spanish discovered the group’s plans for rebellion in 1896, the Katipunan was forced to fight them prematurely. In 1897, Aguinaldo became leader of the rebellion.

Many Filipinos see Aguinaldo as an important figure in Philippine history. However, some see him as a sell out when he went into exile in Hong Kong. With

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo led the fight against the Spanish.

Manuel L. Quezon became the Philippines’ first President in 1935.

the Katipunan rebels unprepared for its battle against the Spanish, Aguinaldo negotiated an agreement with the colonizers in exchange for financial compensation and a promise of reform in the Philippines. When he and his generals departed, the Philippine Revolution temporarily ended.

The Spanish-American War Spain was also trying to take over Cuba that time and in April 1898, the Spanish-American War started. The US won a series of

Commodore George Dewey led the annihilation of the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay.

A painting depicting the Battle of Manila Bay.

victories against Spain, including when Commodore George Dewey led the annihilation of the Spanish Pacific fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898.

When Aguinaldo came out of exile, he rallied his revolutionaries and began liberating towns. Thinking that the country has achieved its complete freedom from colonizers, he proclaimed Philippine indepenPhoto from the Library of Congress dence on June 12.

Infographics by:

Also, the Spanish commander who was surrounded in Manila by both the Filipino rebels and Dewey’s squadron, demanded two conditions for his surrender: First, the US will advance into the capital and make it look like a battle, and second, under no conditions were the Filipino rebels be allowed into the city.

So, the mock Battle of Manila was stage, and the Americans kept their promise to keep

the rebels out of the city.

From one colonizer to another So while the Americans occupied Manila and discussed peace negotiations with Spain, Aguinaldo organized the Malolos revolutionary assembly in September. In January 1899, The first democratic constitution in Asia was drew up and a government was formed wherein Aguinaldo was President.

The Philippine Insurrection

began in February 4, when Filipino rebels and US troops fought inside American lines in Manila. Two days later, after 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, the Philippines became a US territory — in exchange for $20 million as compensation to the Spanish.

The war against the US There was a new war afoot — this time with the US. Aguinaldo formally launched a new Continued on Page SF5

Pop and classical artists headline KalayaanSF celebration SAN FRANCISCO—KalayaanSF, a San Francisco Bay Area organization that includes the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, non-profits, and community groups, once again has prepared exciting events for the whole community to enjoy in celebration of the 118th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

The first event will be held on Union Square on Sunday, June 12, which falls right on the independence day itself. Highlights oft this outdoor event are pop diva and Las Vegas singing star, Lani Misalucha and heartthrob Martin Nievera.

The second event will be a full-length piano concert by world-renowned classical pianist Cecile Licad, to be held on Friday, June, 24 in the evening at Herbst Theater at the War Memorial & Performing Arts Center in San Francisco.

Kalayaan Festival On June 12, from 12 noon to 8 pm, as in the past years, the public will be entertained by signature “street” performances on all corners of the Square and the main stage. There will be folk dances representing

the different Philippine regions, martial arts, visual artsand musical performances.

A “MarketPlace” pavilion will be set up where attendees can browse and purchase Philippine products and sample authentic Filipino cuisine. Corporate booths will also be present where major sponsors can reach out directly to the members of the community.

Part of the festivities is a time to honor both known and unheralded heroes in the community. Each year, Kalayaan Hero Awardees are introduced to the public in a formal ceremony.

KalayaanSF seeks to provide inspiration by honoring and presenting the accomplishments of these select individuals who have exemplified the highest ideals in the fields of sports, politics, arts, business, and community service. Last year’s dozen awardees included tech pioneer Dado Banatao, Golden State Warriors CFO Jennifer Cabalquinto and Emmy-winning broadcaster Lloyd LaCuesta.

The Festival will close with a free, full-length concert produced by ABS-CBN/TFC (The Filipino Channel), at the Union

Square main stage. The concert will be headlined by the popular Martin Nievera and Las Vegas songbird Lani Misalucha.

“Spark, Connect, Empower” guide KalayaanSF Independence celebration This year’s theme is “Spark.

Connect. Empower.” According to Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr., “These are the thrusts that guide the KalayaanSF Team. We wish to provide a platform for the Filipino-American and Bay Area Community to appreciate the

unique culture and diverse traditions of the Philippines. We hope to empower the generations of Filipinos abroad by igniting a deeper interest in their culture and history, fostering a deeper sense of identity, and strengthening and expanding connections with one another and with the homeland.”

Conrad “Radi” Calalang, chairman of KalayaanSF remarked, “This year’s celebration is especially significant following a very spirited Philippine elecContinued on Page SF5

features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – June 10, 2016

Flags of the Philippine Revolution

PRIOR to the making of the official Filipino flag in Hong Kong by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo, there were other flags used by the Katipunan secret society and its various factions. After the Katipunan was dissolved, the Philippine army and its civil government also had their own flags to represent their groups -- some of which were for personal use.

During the Philippine Centennial celebration in 1998, a list of official flags was released. These should not be confused as the “evolution of the Philippine flag,” but instead are properly called as the “Flags of the Revolution.”

Lastly, though many of the flags have symbols and layouts that may seem to inspire the official Philippine flag today, history states that there is no direct relationship between them whatsoever.

Katipunan flags Andres Bonifacio asked his wife, Gregoria de Jesus, to create a flag for the Katipunan. What came out was a simple red flag bearing the society’s acronym, KKK, and became the group’s first flag.

The “K” in the middle of the sun stood for “Kalayaan” or “Freedom.”

Member of the group also used other variations of the Continued on Page SF6

Alameda to celebrate Philippine Independence Day on June 11 ALAMEDA—Alamedans will be celebrating Philippine Independence Day (PIDA) on

the steps of Alameda City Hall on Saturday, June 11, 10 am - 2 pm with cultural performances,

Dumaguete city officials celebrate 2015 Philippine Independence Day festivities at Alameda City Hall.

(L-R) (back row) Atty. Neil Ray Lagahit, Woodrow Maquiling, Jr., Edward Du, Dan Leon; (middle) Mayor Manuel T. Sagarbarria, Maria Isabel Sagarbarria, Elsie Lee, Ed Lee; (front row) Alameda Sister City Dumaguete Committee members Virgina Savella Harper and Flor Ventanilla.

Filipino food, information tables, and speeches. Organized

by Alameda Sister City Association (ASCA) vice president Cynthia Arnaldo Bonta, this celebration marks the date in 1898 when Filipino revolutionaries declared independence from Spain after 300 years of colonial rule.

The program will include Polynesian dancers and martial arts performances and the Araw Ng Kalayaan Flag Ceremony. Celebrants will be greeted by Alameda Mayor Trish Hererra Spencer and Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. will deliver an Independence Day message.

This year’s celebration — the fourth for Alameda — has a special significance since it will also mark the one

year anniversary since Alameda and her newest sister city of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (province), Philippines signed their memorandum of understanding. Since that time, the two cities have exchanged delegations beginning with a visit to Alameda led by Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Teves Sagarbarria in June 2015 and followed by a 17-member Alameda delegation led by Mayor Trish Spencer to Dumaguete in late November to participate in that city’s charter day festivities and to sign a memorandum of agreement.

• In January, ASCA partnered with Dumaguete business and civic leaders to launch an InstaScram Mobile App contest to encourage, support, and increase the number of app Continued on Page SF6

The first Katipunan flag used by Andres Bonifacio, done by his wife, Gregoria de Jesus. Other Katipunan members used other variations of this flag.

Andres Bonifacio’s personal flag.

Gen. Mariano Llanera’s personal flag, which Bonifacio referred to as “Bungo ni Llanera” or “Llanera’s Skull.”

Gen. Gregorio del Pilar’s personal flag, which was patterned after that of Cuba’s, which was also in revolt against Spain.

The first official Philippine flag in 1897 but was only used less than year because of the truce between Filipino leaders and Spanish authorities.

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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 10, 2016

Claudine Baretto’s celebrity world ‘mysterious’ illness revealed by her nephew

By Ferdie Villar

MOST artists don’t want the public to know if they are undergoing a medical procedure, especially those have serious health conditions. But since they live under the public eye, it’s hard to keep something out of the news.

For Claudine Barretto, she actually posted a photo of herself on Instagram. However in the photo, she looked big — more specifically swollen — that many of her fans were alarmed about the true condition of her health.

Also, Claudine has been in and out of the hospital for the last month, and has never shared the real cause of her illness. The only information that they gave was that the actress’ leg is getting operated on. Many speculated that she had cancer, but that never got confirmed either.

Finally, her nephew Cholo Barretto shared with ABS-CBN News about Claudine’s condition, explaining that her auntie’s blood is ‘prone to infection.”

“Her white blood cells are very high and her red blood cells are extremely low. Which is why she is vulnerable and prone to infection,” Cholo said.

Claudine’s nephew also thanked the public for respecting their privacy. For now, he is asking for more prayers.

“We would like to thank everyone for respecting our family’s privacy and for the love, most especially to her Claudinians and Palanggas. We would appreciate your continued prayers for her full recovery.

Maraming salamat po.” *** There’s a new loveteam brewing, but half of the team is not entirely in showbiz. In fact, for many years, he has been on the background of his daughter’s career.

Enter the blooming love between actress and TV host Karla Estrada (and Queen Mother of young actor, King of Hearts Daniel Padilla), and Jose Garcia, father of sexy actress Coleen Garcia. Nowadays, the pair is called “KarJo.” KarJo started when Jose made a guest appearance with Coleen and her boyfriend, “It’s Showtime” host Billy Crawford on Karla’s morning talk show (with Jolina Magdangal and Melai Cantiveros), “Magandang Buhay.” During that episode, the two were teased about be-

The newest loveteam to come out is “KarJo,” comprising of actress/TV host Karla Estrada and Jose Garcia, father of actress Coleen Garcia.

Fans of Claudine Barretto were worried about the actress’ health when she recently posted on her Instagram account that she was in the hospital again.

In her Instagram post, actress Claudine Barretto is shown with her nephew, Cholo Barretto. The actress’ nephew explained in an interview that her auntie is having her leg operated due to a blood infection.

(Photo from Instagram @claubarretto)

Deshauna Barber, Miss District of Columbia was crowned Miss USA 2016 last Sunday, June 5 in Las Vegas.

(Photo from MissUSA.com)

Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015 passes the crown to Deshauna Barber, Miss District of Columbia.

The new Miss USA will be joining reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach in New York. (Photo from MissUSA.com)

ing a good match.

After that episode, KarJo was seen together during the red carpet premiere of Coleen’s movie, “Love Me Tomorrow.”

The public seem to agree that they look good together.

Coleen has no objections about the possibility of her dad being in a relationship. During a recent blogger’s conference, the actress said, “My dad has been single since I was 9 and I’m already turning 24 this year, so it’s about time.”

To add, the sexy actress actually approves of Karla.

“Oo naman. I just want my dad to be happy and Tita Karla also deserves to be happy,” she said.

Another question though: Is she ready to the be a stepsister with Daniel, if ever?

Actress and TV host Karla Estrada, also known as the “Queen Mother” to popular young actor Daniel Padilla, is being linked to Jose Garcia, father of sexy actress Coleen Garcia.

Actress Coleen Garcia said in a recent interview that she has no objections about his father being in a relationship.

“It’s so weird, it’s so strange pero okay naman. Tanggap ko naman if ever,” she added.

For Jose, he is the perfect gentleman when asked about whether or not he is courting the Queen Mother. He, however, shared how he sees Karla.

“When I see her, it’s like I’m looking into a mirror. Ito pala ang babae na version ko,” he said then added, “Sabi ko, ‘Baliw rin pala ito.’”

Will love be the final destination for KarJo? We’ll wait and see what happens next. *** Congratulations to Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber, Miss District of Columbia.

Deshauna was crowned last Sunday, June 5 in Las Vegas.

The 26-year-old beauty was

born in Columbus, Georgia and due to her father’s military career has relocated many times to other states including North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, Virginia and finally to Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Virginia State University with a degree in Business Management and currently working as an IT analyst for the US Department of Commerce.

Deshauna also joined the army and was commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer in 2011 and presently a Logistics Commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Passing her crown to Deshauna was Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015 and 2nd runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant.

Meet Xian Lim, the pianist

by Marinel

r. Cruz

with the Inquirer, adding that he hoped for Star Records to XIAN Lim is set to wow release a live recording of the his fans when he plays a baby show. grand piano at his coming On his screen partner Kim July 9 solo concert at the Kia Chiu, who also had a successTheatre in Quezon City. ful concert in the same venue “It’s something I’ve long in April, Xian said he hoped dreamed of doing,” he disthey could work on something closed at his recent launch as together for their supporters endorser of the Swiss luxury soon. watch brand Technomarine.

Their TV series, “The Story “I will be playing a grand of Us,” recently began its Book piano, and a Philharmonic or2, with Cathy Garcia-Molina at chestra will [possibly] join me,” the helm. he added. “People will hear Xian, who has only started classical music and ballads. The working with Direk Cathy for [repertoire] is a collaboration a week, said he felt overbetween me and Star Records whelmed by how good a direc(the music distribution arm of tor she is.

ABS-CBN).”

“She has a different apThe 26-year-old actor said proach to work. She will attack he used to do recitals in small and shred to pieces your charvenues when he was younger. acter’s personality, to get a par“On that day, I’ll get to do it ticular emotion out of you,” Xian for more people—that’s where recalled. “With Direk Cathy on the excitement is coming from. board, viewers will see changes I’m thrilled by the fact that I in the series. I’m hoping viewers can touch other people’s lives will embrace them. ” with my performance and Expect the series to return choice of songs,” he shared to El Nido in Palawan where Inquirer.net

“Makoy (his character) and Tin’s love story began,” said Xian. “You’ll get to see fishermen’s way of life there.”

When asked why his and Kim’s characters were apart in much of Book 1, Xian explained: “This is because Book 2 tells about how you always find your way back to the person you love. It tells us that life isn’t a fairy tale; that it has ups and downs.

“The series wants to show that even when problems almost crush you to the ground, you mustn’t give up. You have to keep fighting.”

Sharon Cuneta loses 50 lbs.

by JoyCe JiMenez Philstar.com

SHARON Cuneta shows off her smaller figure.

On Monday, June 6, Sharon posted a photo of her on Facebook after losing 50 lbs.

“I feel I’ve lost about 50 lbs. now but am still not satisfied,” she said on the caption. “A little bit more to lose and I’ll be back to my preMiel shape!”

When the Megstar was introduced as the new “The Voice Kids” coach in April, she announced that she’s working on her weight as preparation for her upcoming film which will be shot in August. (Philstar. com)

Photo from Sharon Cuneta’s Facebook account

Meeting world- renowned fashion designer, Francis Libiran

Lu

I had the pleasure of meeting this fashion guru at the Golden Globe awards two years ago. he and Business Manager arsi Baltazar were there. and Ibeing-me, I wouldn’t pass up the rare chance of meeting them.

Thanks to my friends, Janet and Ruben Nepales who invited me to the event that such an opportunity was made possible.

It was a brief but memorable chat. arsi and Francis were both very nice and casual. Francis is as jovial and accommodating as I perceived him to be. It would have been great to hang out much longer and bond with them, but we all didn’t have the luxury of time to talk all night.

It’s been two years but I will not forget meeting this very talented person. I hear a lot of wonderful things about Francis. he is truly one of Philippine’s pride glory—and guess what, he’s just getting started. after his ascension to prominence from becoming a featured designer on “america’s Next Top Model British Invasion,” Francis continues to awe the both local and international followers. his fabulous hello Kitty Couture Collection was featured in the april 2012 episode of “aNTM” and caught the eyes of Tyra Banks herself, bringing the latter to wear Francis’ creations.

Because of his international success, clients from high society and even the biggest stars of showbiz are a fan of his creations. he designed Megan Young’s gown when he competed for Miss World in 2013, as well as Pauline Luna’s wedding gown. his latest project I heard is with GMa Fantaserye, “Encantadia” where he designed the “fairy-tale-worthy” gowns of the female lead characters. a fusion of classic fabrics, dazzling beads, and textured accents are Francis’ trademark. he infuses a distinct and exceptional character to every

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 10, 2016

Why Charice is hesitant to judge a singing contest again ChaRICE Pempengco would have to think twice before saying yes again in judging a singing contest.

The international singer first judged in aBS-CBN’s “X Factor Philippines” in 2012, where her talent KZ won the competition.

“It stressed me out,” she confessed during a press conference. “So sabi ko, kung halimbawa lang na magkaro’n ulit ng gano’n malaking singing competition, maybe [I’ll accept], but I’m not sure kasi it really affected me.”

She explained noting how Charice “rejecting a lot of them, emoalso before, ang sakit.” tional talaga ako, e. Coming She joined the singing from a person who got reject

San FranciSco

By Monet

entertainment

competition “Little Big Star” in 2005 where she lost against Sam Concepcion. as for acting, which she first did when she appeared in american series “Glee” in 2010, she admitted that it’s not her turf.

“Hindi ko kaya yung ganun brutal na halos 24 hours, if not more than that,” she explained.

“Sabi ko, if I’m going to do acting again, I’ll rest sa music, kasi ‘yon lang talaga. Sa akin music lang talaga.”

“Singing lang talaga ako.

Music is my love,” she added. however, if she’ll accept an acting project, she would like to do a horror film. (Philstar.com)

Philippines independence as...

From Page SF3

Francis Libiran

garment he creates – whether for couture gowns, weddings, suits, or corporate wear – making “Francis Libiran” brand a top choice among a-listers. a futuristic-themed fashion show was also held at the Century Mall in 2014 which featured a visual spectacle of models in geometric pieces that are almost architectural in structure.

The show was titled, “Fashion of the Century,” which showcased Francis Libiran’s captivating designs. The writer wrote and I quote, “a play of electronic and projected lights added even more panache to the fashion creations, which were presented with an incredible symphony of music and light and water fountain show that matched the models’ runway choreography.”

In an article written about him by Rachelle Cruz, she wrote: “This architect-turned-fashion designer presented his 50-piece collection at the CPFW Fashion Ball at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on June 14, during a beautiful charity gala dinner for

The Kol hope Foundation for Children.”

Francis also stunned the fashion world when he made use of purely Filipino fibers such as pineapple, banana and embellishments such as mother of pearl when he launched his ‘100 Collection’ he was also the highlight in the very first Canada Philippine Fashion Week in Toronto, Canada in June 2013 held at the Roy Thomson hall.

There is no stopping this creative genius in bringing pride to our country.

In his online bio, a number of accomplishments were listed as well, such as: being voted

by Metro Magazine, as their ’Metrowear Icon’ for 2013, he was also the lone representative of the Philippines in the annual fashion show in Tokyo, Japan, the Sakura Collection held at the Tokyo Tower where he perfectly executed his own rendition of Japan’s National dress, the Kimono, infused with the Philippines’ Maria Clara Continued on Page SF7

revolt, but americans proved to be a strong opponent that the rebels were consistently defeated. Many of the rebels turned into guerillas, and in spite of many anti-imperialists in US like William Jennings, who was opposed to the annexation of the Philippines, the war continued.

In 1901, aguinaldo was captured by Gen. Frederick Funston and his group. The Filipino rebel leader took an oath of

allegiance to the US and called for an end to the rebellion, but many still fought on.

In 1902, the Philippines was taken over by an american civil government, ending the Philippine Insurrection. at the end, there were more americans who died trying to suppress the Philippines, more than that the number killed in the Spanishamerican War. This is incomparable of course to the Filipinos who died in both wars — over 20,000 rebels and an unknown number of civilians.

The most striking fact about the Philippines’ fight for complete independence was it was never fully achieved until 1946.

In 1935, Manuel L. Quezon was elected the country’s first president and the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established (with US approval, of course). Full independence was granted to the Republic of the Philippines by the US on July 4, 1946 — which is also known in the country as Philippine-american Friendship day.

(AJPress)

Pop and classical artists headline...

From Page SF3 tion season. We saw an unprecedented number of Filipinos and Filipino americans participate in the national conversation and we saw a renewed interest in themes of nationalism and patriotism, regardless of the many differences in approach.” he continued, “Looking ahead, it’s now time to build and foster unity among our kababayans, and a joyous community celebration of our national holiday is the perfect place to come together as one.”

Philippine Independence Day Concert & Gala

On Friday, June 24, KalayaanSF proudly presents a piano concert by world-renowned Filipino classical pianist Cecile Licad. It will be held at the historic and newly refurbished herbst Theater at the War Memorial & Performing arts Center in San Francisco.

This black-tie gala will bring together concert aficionados, City and State officials, consular representatives from various nations and guests from the Bay area Filipino american community. a formal reception will follow at the elegant Green Room.

aside from featuring gourmet food, guests will be entertained by top Filipino artists including classical/pop phenom, Matthew John Ignacio. The traditional formal dance, Rigodon de honor, will be performed by community leaders and dignitaries.

For more information on these and other KalayaanSF events in the month of June, or for inquiries on sponsorship, volunteer and vendor opportunities, please visit www.

KalayaanSF.com, Facebook. com/KalayaanSF, or email info@ KalayaanSF.com

SF6

features

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - June 10, 2016

‘Town & Country US’ features Fil-Am family in their annual Philanthropy issue Loida Nicolas Lewis and daughters recognized among top US families supporting the arts, education, communities and other charities New York, NY—In their June / July 2016 Family Philanthropy Issue, “Town & Country,” the oldest continually published lifestyle and general interest magazine in the United States – recently featured men and women who grew up and continue to share wealth and influence to make the world a better place.

Alongside other American families who have been giving for generations like the rockefellers, the kennedys and the Lauders, the Lewis family was recognized for continuing

reginald F. Lewis’ legacy of generosity.

Loida Nicolas Lewis, Leslie Lewis and Christina Lewis Halpern are shown in their Fifth Avenue New York apartment, together with an article that mentioned reginald’s rise to become the first African-American to own a billion-dollar business, when he took over TLC Beatrice International in 1994, and sold it in 2000 for a 35 percent return on investment (Irr).

The article also cited his record multi-million dollar donations to Harvard Law and Virginia State,

Alameda to celebrate...

From Page SF3 developers in Dumaguete.

• In March, the Bay Areabased Philippine Medical Society of Northern California selected Dumaguete to be the location of their 2017 medical mission which will bring much needed American health care professionals and resources to the underserved populations in the area.

• A partnership between Alameda’s Tucker Ice Cream and Dumaguete will be launching a brand new ice cream flavor to commemorate the sister city relationship is near launch — Sister City Mango Buko (young coconut) in the near future.

• Most recently, ASCA has begun a collaborative

relationship with a program in Dumaguete that works with homeless and at risk youth including providing a shelter — gampanan— for young girls who have been rescued from human trafficking. The United Church of Christ in the Philippines sponsors this program which also has a performing arts program for youth called Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts (YATTA) that seeks to develop the creative potentials of young people and produce socially-relevant artistic products to raise people’s awareness and challenge them towards action). over 440,000 Filipinos live in the greater Bay Area with 82,000 in Alameda County. In 2010, 5,419 Filipinos called Alameda home. Close to half

his alma mater.

Christina, who calls her father “the greatest entrepreneur of all time,” is certain that if her father were alive today, he would be invested in the fastest-growing tech industry. In honor of her father’s legacy, she started All Star Code – a nonprofit initiative to help young, intelligent, and driven men of color gain access to this exciting and dynamic field.

An excerpt from the article describes how the Lewis women continue in reginald’s steps: “Inspired by his example, his

family foundation, led by his wife Loida Lewis and his daughters Leslie Lewis and Christina Lewis Halpern, continues to provide

of all the students enrolled in Alameda public schools are of Asian ancestry, and Filipinos represent over 10% of the total student population. In the past 16 years, three Alameda city council members have been of Filipino ancestry -- Tony Daysog, rob Bonta, and Stewart Chen. Mr. Bonta left the council in 2010 after he won election to serve in the state assembly where he became the first Filipino American to serve in the Legislature.

Filipino-American communities in San Francisco, Sacramento, and throughout the US will be celebrating Philippine Independence Day. PIDC organizing Committee is sponsoring the event; co-sponsors are Filipino Advocates for Justice, American Center for Philippine Arts, and Alameda Sister City Association

Community Partners: Bayanihan Youth Group of encinal HS, Pilipino American Cultural Club of encinal HS, Filipino women’s Club of the east Bay, Bohol Circle, Inc. Alameda Sister City Association is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to global friendship, multicultural understanding, and economic growth by developing lasting relationships between the Alameda area and Sister Cities around the world. ASCA’s mission is to build our community as an international citizen diplomacy network by establishing peopleto-people connections between our citizens and sister cities. website: http://alamedasistercity.weebly.com/ Facebook Page: https:// www.facebook.com/Alameda-Sister-City-Association1640170049589165/

Loida Nicolas Lewis with daughters Leslie Lewis and Christina Lewis Halpern during a dinner with US President Barack Obama at their Manhattan home in May 2015.

Photo by Beatrice Moritz Photography

Meeting world- renowned...

From Page SF5 which became the most-applauded collection during the festival.

The online profile also stated that a TV Special dedicated to him was aired on national television via the Lifestyle Network. Francis Libiran drew inspiration from his trip to Bangalore, India where he was captivated by the design details

of the famous Bangalore Palace and the vibrant colors of its interior design.

I could go on and on about how amazing Francis Libiran is and still the adjectives would be an understatement of his fashion authority, as well as his dedication. I wish I could still get another chance to know him and learn from him, most of all. For now, I am just as

honored to have met him. I was also happy to learn that he is in a very happy relationship with a lucky man named, Christian Mark. I sincerely wish for their happiness.

And in behalf of the Beauty & Fashion industry in this side of the world, I thank you, Francis Libiran for sharing your talent, making us proud to be Filipinos. ***

Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning 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

support for those schools and other leading organizations such as the Smithsonian, Teach for America in Baltimore, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as other groups that promote economic and social justice.”

“For the past three years a particular focus has been All Star Code, which provides young men of color an introduc-

tion to coding and the subtler tools required to navigate tech culture. “In 1965 my father got into a summer program that led him to Harvard Law School,” says Christina, founder and Ceo of All Star Code. “So we tried to see where he’d be heading today, areas of opportunity where young black and brown boys were underrepresented.”

Flags of the Philippine...

From Page SF3 flag. As the revolution heated up, the Magdiwang faction of the katipunan under Mariano Alvarez adopted a red flag with a white sun with the baybayin (the ancient Tagalog script) letter “ka” (for k) at the center.

Another faction, Magdalo, under Gen. emilio Aguinaldo, used a similar flag to what the Magdiwang faction had. It featured a white sun with the same baybayin letter “ka.“ The final standard design was a sun with eight rays, representing the eight provinces place under martial law by the Spaniards (Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Nueva ecija), which was later used in the national flag of the Philippines Personal flags Among those who had personal flags during the revolution was Bonifacio, who was the katipunan’s Supremo.

Similar to the katipunan’s, this flag was first unveiled on August 23, 1896 during the Cry of Pugadlawin. It was then later used during the Battle of San Juan del Monte on August 30, 1896, the first major battle

of the Philippine revolution.

General Mariano Llanera, who fought in the provinces of Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva ecija; stepped away from the color red for his personal flag. He instead used a black flag with a white k and skull. Bonifacio called that flag as “Bungo ni Llanera” or “Llanera’s Skull.

General Pio del Pilar also has personal flag called “Bandila ng Matagumpay,” or “Flag of the Triumphants,” was also red with a white triangle. and mountain with a rising sun behind it. The flag was first used on July 11, 1895.

Another general who used a flag was Gregorio del Pilar.

His flag was patterned after Cuba, which was also in revolt against Spain.

The first official Filipino flag was adopted by katipunan military leaders on March 17, 1897 at the Naic Assembly.

It was a red banner, with an eighth-rayed sun and a face.

It was only used for less than a year because there was truce signed between Filipino leaders and Spanish authorities on December 14-15, 1897.

(AJPress)

features SF7

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – June 10, 2016

My forever friends and relatives made my 79th birthday celebration a memorable chapter of my life It was a significant day in my life celebrating my 79th birthday last Memorial Day in my house in South San Francisco. My relatives and forever friends here in Northern California were present at this memorable event in my life. the celebration started with a Holy Sacrifice Mass officiated

by Rev. Fr. Abraham alonzo of St. Catherine Church in Alameda.

After the mass, a buffet luncheon, which was prepared by my niece Vangie and Anthony Perez, took place featuring cuisine from the different Filipino restaurants in the Bay Area.

California Commissioner Ray Satorre and his wife Rachelle headed the list of distinguished guests who joined in the celebration. Other well-wish-

ers were Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa, Club Royale president Gil Navarro and his wife Jett, beauty queen Claire Viray, Marilyn Bernardo, Shirley Ardoveza, tess Gregorio, Susan Pacifico, Marvin & Meriam Charisma with their son J.D., Lolita Hipolito, Michael Nitro, Edwina Aniag, Dorie Paniza, Gloria Junio, Manny and Joseph Cabrera, Manny de los Reyes, Joselito Cabrera, Vic and Amor Barba, Rey Reyes, Edward and Myrna Cabera with their son Michael, Louie Rubio, Lilly Smith, Gloria Vicas, Cristina Caseres, Malou Hajian, Elaine Estabrooks, Cyndy Cabrera, Jimmy and Mattie Velasco, Mon Petros, Nerissa Fernandez, Elvie Yabut, Nena Sarasola, Brenda Padilla, Efren Padilla, Edsel Padilla and Frank Sityar.

Michael Nitro (extreme left), office manager of Asian Journal, is shown with (from left) beauty queen Marilen Bernardo, Asian Journal Celebrity World columnist Ferdie Villar and beauty queen Lei Vinegas.

Beauty impresario Ferdie Syquia de Villar is shown in front of his birthday cake.

Manny de los Reyes (extreme right), Grand Knight of Saint Mary’s Cathedral Council 15583 of the Knights of Columbus, was among the well-wishers who attended Ferdie Villar’s recent birthday celebration. He is shown with (from left) Dorie Paniza, Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa and Ferdie Villar.

United Airlines employee Edward Cabrera, his wife Myrna and their son Michael are shown in photo with their uncle Ferdie Villar.

Ramon Petros (seated, right), owner of a Farmers Insurance Agency and old-time friend of the celebrant, is shown with Ferdie Villar (seated, left). Others in photo are (standing, from left) Gil and Jett Navarro, Lolit Hipolito, Tess Gregorio, Louie Rubio, Lilly Smith, J.D. Charisma, Cristina Caseres and Rey Reyes.

California State Commissioner Ray Satorre (extreme right) is shown in photo above with celebrant Ferdie Villar, and beauty queens Marilen Bernardo and Lei Vinegas.

Rev. Fr. Abraham Alonzo (extreme left), who officiated the Thanksgiving Mass, is shown in photo with Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa (5th from right) before the celebrant blew the candles on his birthday cake. Others in photo are celebrant Ferdie Villar and his relatives.

Los Altos bandleader and businessman Frank Sityar (4th from left) is shown in photo above with (from left) Edwina Aniag, Lilly Smith, Beauty Impresario Ferdie Villar and Michael Nitro.

California Commissioner (standing, 5th from left) heads the forever friends of Beauty Impresario Ferdie Villar (seated, center). Others in photo are (standing) Club Royale president Gil Navarro and his wife Jett, Fr. Abraham Alonzo, beauty queens Lei Vinegas & Marilen Bernardo, Asian Journal office manager Michael Nitro, Cristina Caseres and Claire Viray; (seated) Lilly Smith and Susan Pacifico.

Daly City community leader Brenda Padilla is shown in photo with birthday celebrant Ferdie Villar.

Fashion model and singer Malou Hajian (2nd from left) is shown with (from left) singer J.D. Charisma, Daly City Vice Mayor David Canepa, birthday celebrant Ferdie Villar and bandleader Lolit Hipolito.

Retired Army Sergeant Jimmy Velasco and his wife Matilda are among the old-time friends of birthday celebrant Ferdie Villar. Also in photo is Vangie Perez, niece of the celebrant.

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T he Asian Jo ur nal SF M A G A Z I NE - J une 10, 2 0 1 6

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