San Francisco Edition -- March 04 -- 10, 2016

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Super Tuesday results show Clinton, Trump as 2016 frontrunners

by Allyson

escobAR

AJPress

tUesDAY, march 1 was a big day on the road to November’s presidential elections.

Unofficially nicknamed “super tuesday,” it is when a dozen states (and one Us territory) held nominating contests to narrow down party candidates during the primaries.

Also known as the “seC Primary,” 661 republican delegates and 865 Democratic delegates were allocated on super tuesday. It is the only day in which a single candidate has a bigger chance to declare certainty over his or her nomination, with that many delegates grouped at once, reported Politico. real estate billionaire Donald trump was

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

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11 Filipinos return to Forbes 2016 world billionaire list

USA

DATELINE Study: Undocumented Californians paid $3.2B in state and local taxes from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

CANCEL PACQUIAO FIGHT. Former party list Congressman and now senatorial candidate Walden Bello holds documents as he arrives at the Commission on Elections seeking to postpone the April 8, 2016 fight between Filipino boxer and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 in Manila. Bello claimed that Pacquiao will garner undue media mileage over other senatorial candidates if the fight will push through. The national elections will be held on May 9, 2016 to vote for twelve senators.

Photo by Bullit Marquez / Philstar.com

Comelec can’t stop PacquiaoTim Bradley fight – Bautista by sheilA

cRisostoMo Philstar.com

mANILA — Commission on elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista on Wednesday, march 3, conceded that the poll body could not stop senatorial bet sarangani rep. manny Pacquiao’s bout with American timothy Bradley on

April 9 in Las Vegas.

In a press briefing, Bautista said that in his personal opinion, it is beyond the Comelec’s jurisdiction to stop the fight.

“You have to distinguish the fight from the fact that it is being broadcast in the Philippines. Personally, I don’t think I can prohibit Pacquiao from boxing. that is his profession,” said Bautista.

mANILA — eleven filipinos are tagged anew on the recently released forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list. mall and real estate magnate henry sy, 91, and his family remain the richest in the Philippines. sy is the highest-ranking filipino in the forbes’ dollar billionaires club this year as he jumped from rank 73 to 71.

Although sy’s rank went higher globally, his net worth dropped from $14.8 billion last year to only $13.3 billion this year. sy was followed by JG summit holdings’ John Gokongwei Jr. ranking 270 in the world with wealth of $5.1 billion. on the other hand, Philippine Airlines and Asia Brewery’s Lucio tan and family were named the third on the 380th spot with their $4.4 billion. the forbes list singled out the wealthiest individuals from at least 67 countries. the 11 filipino billionaires who made it to the list were dominated by United states-based businessmen. topping the list are microsoft founder Bill Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said on Tuesday, March 2, the LAV deadline Gates with $75.8 billion and facebook’s mark Zuck- was extended to encourage more members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), teachers and media who erberg who placed sixth with his $46.7 billion.

AN updated study by the Institute on taxation and economic Policy (IteP) found that undocumented immigrants who reside in California collectively paid almost $3.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2013. the nationwide analysis released on Wednesday, feb. 24, entitled Undocumented Immigrants’ state and Local tax Contributions, concluded that the obama administration’s executive actions (including the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA) would increase state and local tax contributions in California by at least $184 million.

An even more substantial increase of $450 million is projected under comprehensive immigration reform granting all undocumented immigrants lawful permanent residence, reported IteP and the California #health4All Initiative. “regardless of the politically contentious

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will be working on Election Day to register and vote.

he, however, maintained that the Comelec could regulate the broadcast of the fight.

“I think we can do that because as you all know, we have some form of control, regulatory supervision over entities which have franchise during election period.

“But as to whether we can

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Deadline for absentee voting application extended by sheilA

cRisostoMo Philstar.com

mANILA — the Commission on elections (Comelec) has extended the deadline for the filing of applications for local absentee voting (LAV) to march 31, from the original deadline of march 7.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said tuesday, march 2, the LAV deadline was extended to encourage more members of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP), Philippine National Police (PNP), teachers and

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Philstar.com file photo

Candidates differ on US officials, diplomats fete outgoing DFA Chief del Rosario how to deal with China

by MichAel Joe

China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine sea. the administration’s presidenPresIDeNtIAL and vice pres- tial candidate, mar roxas, apidential candidates on Wednes- pealed for sobriety amid reports day, march 2, proposed differ- that Chinese vessels had anent approaches in dealing with u PAGE A2 by dJ

t. delizo

ManilaTimes.net

AmerICAN officials and filipino diplomats recently honored outgoing foreign Affairs secretary Albert del rosario for his years of dedication in championing the strong ties between the Us and Philippines.

Us and filipino diplomats gathered in Washington, DC to honor del rosario as he is set to step down his office on march 7. the farewell reception coincided with the inauguration of the newly-renovated Chancery Annex of the Philippines along massachusetts Avenue, a few blocks away from the White house.

Constructed in 1917, the brick

yAp And MARlon RAMos Inquirer.net

Secretary Albert del Rosario

building was the former four-story embassy building of the Philippines. It served as the office of the resident Commissioner of the Philippines to the United

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MARCH 4-10, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Super Tuesday results show Clinton…

PAGE A1 t

the clear winner for the Republican Party on Tuesday night, with 319 total delegate counts—the most of any candidate in the field. Trump won the votes in seven states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont.

New Jersey governor (and former candidate) Chris Christie also stunned the nation by endorsing Trump, standing awkwardly behind him during Trump’s Tuesday night address in Palm Beach, Florida.

“I am a unifier, I know people are going to find that a little bit hard to believe, but believe me that I am a unifier,” Trump told his supporters. “Once we get all of this finished, I am going to go after one person—that’s Hillary Clinton, on the assumption that she’s allowed to run.”

“When we unify, there’s nobody—nobody—that’s going to beat us,” he concluded, according to CNBC. Trump’s main rival Hillary Clinton, however, also had a good night. The former Secretary of State won overwhelmingly in all of the big, delegate-awarding states (Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), with 577 counts. According to Washington Post, Clinton also had major support (more than 80 percent in Georgia and Virginia) of the black vote.

“Instead of building walls, we’re going to break down barriers, and build ladders of opportunity and empowerment, so that every American live up to his or her potential,” Clinton said in her remarks. “Then, and only then, can America live up to its full potential too.”

“America never stopped being great,” she added, speaking directly to Trump. “We have to make America whole.”

The question that now remains is whether both strong candidates can get the rest of the delegate votes needed to win the party nomination.

For the Republicans, despite Trump’s dominance in the field, Texas Senator Ted Cruz took three states—Alaska, Oklahoma, and Texas—and won 226 delegates. Cruz is favored to be the alternative to Trump, given that a

loss in his home state would have effectively ended his campaign.

“Our campaign is the only campaign that has beaten and can beat Donald Trump,” the senator told his supporters on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio struggled behind, winning the vote in just one state (Minnesota) and 110 delegates. Trailing behind at the end of the night was Ohio Governor John Kasich (25 delegates) and Dr. Ben Carson (eight delegates).

The Republican candidates need a total 1,237 delegates to win the party nomination.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ultimately lost that night, with just four states (Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and his home state Vermont) and 386 delegates, out of the 2,383 needed to win for the Democrat nomination.

In his speech given at his home state, before the final results of Super Tuesday votes, Sanders said, “You know, we want to win in every part of the country, that goes without saying. But it does say something and means so much to me that the people who know me best, the people who knew me before I was elected, who knew me as mayor, knew me as congressman, and know me as senator, have voted so strongly to put us in the White House.”

“At the end of tonight, 15 states will have voted, 35 states remain.

And let me assure you that we are going to take our fight for economic justice, for social justice, for environmental sanity, for a world of peace to every one of those states,” Sanders vowed.

After Super Tuesday, the next crucial votes will take place on Saturday, March 5, with the Louisiana primaries and Kansas caucuses. Over the weekend, Republicans will also vote in Kentucky and Maine, while Democrats will vote in Nebraska, and in Maine on March 6.

Poll: Clinton and Sanders both top Trump According to a new CNN/ORC International poll, Trump is not leading among US voters after all.

The poll, which sampled at least 1,000 telephone interviews with American adults between February 24-27, and included at least 920 interviews among reg-

istered voters, concluded that both of the remaining Democratic candidates easily beat out Republican frontrunner Trump.

Although Clinton won by a landslide over the weekend in the South Carolina primary, putting her well ahead in the race for the Democratic nomination, she is likely to face stronger Republican opposition between Rubio or Cruz.

According to the poll’s hypothetical match-up scenario, which appears most likely to emerge from the looming primaries, Clinton tops Trump 52 percent to 44 percent among registered voters. The result has also slanted in Clinton’s favor, since the last CNN/ORC poll in January.

Against Rubio and Cruz, however, Clinton faces the same likability challenge in the polls. The former Secretary of State trails closely behind Rubio, 50 percent to 47 percent, and she holds 48 percent to Cruz’s 49 percent, narrowing the race match-up from 3 points to 1.

Sanders, who has the most positive favorable rating (60 percent of registered voters) of any presidential candidate in the whole field, beat out all three Republicans by wide margins: outnumbering Cruz 57 to 40 percent; crushing Trump 55 to 43 percent, and 53 to 45 percent against Rubio.

Sanders also fares better than Clinton in each match-up among men, young voters, and independents.

Overall, Clinton and Trump are still seen unfavorably by majorities of voters: almost 6-in-10 have a negative view of Trump, with 38 percent in favor; while 53 percent have a negative view of Clinton, 44 percent positive.

Cruz also has a net negative rating, while impressions of Carson, Rubio, and Kasich leaned positive.

According to the poll, 78 percent of US voters (including almost the same share among Democrats, Republicans and Independents) say that the nation is even “more deeply divided on major issues facing the country,” than it has been in the past.

The nationwide survey asked voters to choose which of all the remaining top candidates,

MOMMY DIONISIA VS BIR. The mother of boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao Dionisia Pacquiao or popularly known as Mommy D leaves the Court of Tax Appeals after testifying in a case she filed against the BIR Wednesday, March 3. The Pacquiao matriarch is questioning the tax assessment of BIR Revenue Region No. 18 amounting to P1.6 million, which she supposedly failed to pay in 2010.

Photo by Michael Varcas / Philstar.com

Comelec can’t stop Pacquiao-Tim Bradley…

PAGE A1 t

stop Pacquaio from fighting, that’s different,” he added.

The full commission discussed Pacquiao’s case in a meeting yesterday and it decided to uphold the recommendation of the law department to give him five days to comment on two letters that they received concerning the match.

“The Comelec en banc approved the recommendation of the law department that Rep. Pacquiao be directed to submit his comment to the letters of Rep. Bello and Saguisag within five days from receipt of the notice,” he said, referring to former Akbayan party-list congressman Walden Bello and former senator Rene Saguisag.

The two have sought clarification whether or not the upcoming boxing match will give Pacquiao “unfair advantage,” thus violating the Fair Elections Act. According to Bautista, the law department had provided several “options” on how the commission could look into the case.

One of these is Pacquiao’s boxing match with Mexican Jorge Solis in Las Vegas before the 2007 elections when he was then running for congressman of u PAGE A4 South Cotabato.

The Comelec had resolved to allow the airing of only the prefight sparring sessions and disallowed the broadcast of the actual

bout in South Cotabato. For the rest of the country, full-broadcast was authorized.

“But again, there is a difference because at that time, Cong.

Pacquiao was running for congress as opposed to now that he’s running for national office.

That’s why we thought that the best recourse is to ask him to comment,” Bautista added.

The law department also took note that the upcoming fight is not a title match, unlike the one in 2007.

Saguisag asked the Comelec in his letter to “advise him (Pacquaio) to reset the fight.”

“Candidate Pacquiao had or must have known our elections will be on May 9, 2016. Therefore, for him to agree to fight in April meant he surely must have realized the value of free publicity for his first bid for national office,” he said.

Saguisag added the Comelec should “make sure that Manny does not enjoy unfair advantage by circumvention.”

Malacañang prefers to let the Comelec decide if Pacquiao could be disqualified as a senatorial bet if his bout with Bradley pushes through.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. pointed out the poll body has the sole mandate to decide on such cases, especially in light of concerns that the Fili-

pino boxing champion will have undue advantage over other candidates.

“We recognize the Comelec’s duty to regulate the candidate’s activities during the election period, and this includes Rep. Pacquiao’s scheduled fight,” he told Malacañang reporters.

Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon and former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. warned that the airing of Pacquaio’s fight, which will be on pay-per-view worldwide and not just on a national scale, puts the other senatorial candidates in a disadvantageous position.

Brillantes, a veteran election lawyer, advised the people’s champ to postpone the fight.

Pacquiao is running for senator under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body might have to modify its May 2007 ruling where it restricted the showing of Pacquiao’s fight with Solis, but that this was only in South Cotabato.

The commissioners are now in the process of discussing whether the ruling may still be applicable.

“In 2007, we also had the same incident and definitely, the commission is studying if it can apply in the coming boxing match,” Jimenez told reporters. (With Delon Porcalla)

Candidates differ on how to deal…

PAGE A1 t chored near a Philippine-claimed atoll in the disputed sea.

“For me, it’s important for us to stay calm because if we start violence, we don’t know how this would end,” Roxas told reporters in an interview after visiting loom weavers in Tubigon, Bohol province.

11 Filipinos…

PAGE A1 t

Nineteen-year-old Alexandra Andersen from Oslo, Norway was named the youngest world billionaire with $1.2 billion from her investments while 100-year-old David Rockefeller Sr. is the oldest billionaire in the link ranked 569 with $3 billion from assets in the oil and banking industry.

The Filipino billionaires have a combined fortune of $42.75 billion or P2,021.65 trillion—a trillion short of the Philippine government’s P3.002 trillion national budget for 2016. n

Accompanied by his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Roxas embarked on a four-town swing in Bohol.

Roxas reiterated that bringing the territorial dispute before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration was still the best option for the government to prevent the problem from escalating.

Like ordinary Filipinos who seek settlement of their legal concerns before the courts, he said the country should bring the territorial dispute with China “to the international court of the United Nations.”

“That’s what our government did. Our actions were just and according to the legal process.

That’s what we should pursue,” he said.

Chinese Coast Guard ships had reportedly taken over Quirino Atoll, which is sandwiched between the Philippine-occupied Lawak Island and the Chineseoccupied Panganiban (Mischief) Reef. The atoll, reef and island lie

in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese vessels reportedly left two weeks ago, according to officials in Manila and Beijing.

Bilateral talks Vice President Jejomar Binay, standard-bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), has said he would rather have bilateral, or country-to-country, talks with China.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a presidential candidate, said he was open to talks with China to ease the escalation of insurance premiums in the cargo shipping industry, but he added China should first honor the ruling of the UN arbitration court.

“I am open to bilateral talks with China about the disputed territories to ease the increasing fees of shipping insurance of vessels that have to pass through these areas, which is hurting the industry,” Duterte told the Inquirer.

“But first if the ruling of the ar-

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Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 4-10, 2016

A

Obama bans US imports of slave-produced goods

by Allyson

EscobAr

AJPress

GOODWILL VISIT. The Japanese Navy’s Minesweeper Division 51 docks at South Harbor in Manila. The vessel is on a goodwill visit to the Philippines.

Photo by Czeasar Dancel / Manilatimes.net

Asian Americans across nation call for leniency for convicted former NYPD cop

by AgnEs

constAntE AJPress

A LITTLE over a week after a Chinese American former NYPD officer was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter and official misconduct in a November 2014 death of an unarmed black man, Asian Americans across the country rallied to protest his conviction.

Thousands of protesters on Saturday, Feb. 20, demonstrated in more than 30 cities to support Peter Liang. The 28-year-old former officer was convicted of the charges on Feb. 11 for the death of Akai Gurley, 28, who died from a bullet that ricocheted off a wall in the stairwell of a housing project in Brooklyn.

In Los Angeles, a predominantly Chinese American crowd demonstrated in Downtown chanting and carrying signs in Chinese and English that read “Save Peter Liang,” “Accident not crime” and “All lives matter.” In New York, a mostly Asian American crowd of nearly 15,000 rallied in Brooklyn, claiming Liang was prosecuted because he is a minority.

Many Asian Americans believe Liang, who had been with the NYPD for 18 months, was used as a scapegoat due to a lack of indictments of other police officers involved in fatal incidents, such as the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner.

“There are two white police officers who didn’t even have a trial, in Ferguson and Staten Island,” said Tim Wu, 24, a Brooklyn protestor and student who came from China six months ago, according to the New York Post. “That makes Chinese people very nervous. It is obvious it was an accident.”

Xiayi Shirley Zhang, a 27-yearold who lives in Downtown Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday she wondered why the NYPD assigned the rookie officer in a high-crime neighborhood.

During the 2014 incident, Liang was patrolling the Louis Pink Houses in East New York with his partner Shaun Landau. Vertical patrols require that officers first check the roof, where criminal activity often occurs, then descend the stairs floor by floor, according to testimony reported

by NBC News. The duo started on the eighth floor.

Liang said he had his Glock 9 mm gun in his left hand and a flashlight in his right on Nov. 20, 2014, adding it is officers’ discretion when to draw their weapon. He said he tried to turn the stairway door knob with his right hand, but it wouldn’t open so he pushed it with his right shoulder.

He said he then heard a “quick sound” to his left, which startled him, and that his gun subse-

Deadline for absentee voting…

PAGE A1 t

media who will be working on Election Day to register and vote.

Bautista said voting will be from April 27 to 29 and covers only national posts such as president, vice president, senators and party-list groups.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon posted in her Twitter account @commrguanzon that the “Comelec en banc moved the deadline.”

She said as of March 1, a total of 6,613 voters have applied for LAV but none so far came from the media.

The AFP accounted for 5,522 applicants – 4,433 and 911 from the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force, respectively.

There were 967 applicants from the PNP. A total of 96 applicants were from the Comelec, 19 from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; seven from the Department of Education, and one each from the Bureau of Fire Protection and House of Repre-

sentatives Electoral Tribunal.

Bautista, meanwhile, noted that the training of teachers who would comprise the three-man Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) has started.

The BEI is tasked to administer voting and counting at the clustered polling precincts.

“The teachers seemed happy with the hands-on training on new machines as they are easier to operate. They also said that the training video and website are helpful as well,” Guanzon said.

Before this, the Comelec had subjected to training the provincial election supervisor and regional election directors on the use of the vote counting machines (VCMs).

VCMs are the upgraded version of the precinct count optical scan machines used in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

The Comelec will need about 300,000 teachers to comprise the BEI that will administer the voting and counting at clustered precincts. n

US officials, diplomats fete…

PAGE A1 t

States in 1943, then as Chancery of the Embassy of the Philippines following the country’s independence and establishment of diplomatic relations with the US in 1946. It was abandoned in 1995 when the diplomatic mission moved to a new office across the street.

“While the inauguration of this historic building is already a compelling reason to celebrate, our gathering tonight is made even more special as we pay tribute to a man for whom we hold the highest respect and admiration— the man that the Filipino people are privileged and proud to have as Secretary of Foreign Affairs,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. said.

Del Rosario was the Philippine Ambassador to the US from 2001 to 2006 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He quit his post due to policy differences with the Arroyo government.

In 2011, President Benigno Aquino 3rd swore in del Rosario as secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Former US Ambassador to the Philippines and newly-appointed State Department Counselor Kristie Kenney said it was through del Rosario that she “first came to know and love the warmth, the charm, the grace and the dignity of the Filipino people.”

In a letter addressed to del Rosario and read by Kenney during the event, US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed pride in calling him a “trusted colleague and a personal friend.”

“There’s simply no doubt that today’s close US-Philippines relationship is thanks in large part to your sound judgment and strong commitment to diplomacy. Your steady leadership not only ensured the vitality of our countries’ friendship, it has also helped steer the course of events in the Philippines and around the world in the right direction,” Kerry wrote.

“As we live in an increasingly uncertain and complex world, the international community will need more statesmen like you,” he added.

Senator Mazie Hirono also expressed appreciation for del Rosario’s leadership.

Del Rosario said the two countries should not stop working to enhance their ties.

“Even if it is our belief that Philippines-US relations have never been better, we must still persist in working together to further strengthen our alliance so that we can proactively, effectively, and strategically address our shared formidable challenges in the Asia Pacific region,” he added. n

quently went off.

Gurley had entered a stairwell from the seventh floor with his girlfriend Melissa Butler when the bullet fired from Liang’s gun bounced off the wall and hit Gurley, who made it to the fifth floor with Butler where he collapsed and died, according to testimony reported by NBC. NYPD Police Commissioner William Bratton at the time of the shooting said the fatal shot

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UNDER new provisions of a law signed by President Barack Obama this week, federal officials will enforce an 86-yearold ban on importing goods that were produced by children or slaves.

“This law slams shut an unconscionable and archaic loophole that forced America to accept products made by children or slave labor,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), who worked on the legislation.

The Tariff Act of 1930, which gave Customs and Border Protection the authority to seize shipments where forced labor was suspected and block further imports, was last used in 2000, reported The Associated Press.

The Act has been used only 39 times altogether largely because of “consumptive demand,” which denotes that if there was not sufficient trade supply to meet the domestic demand, imports were allowed, regardless of how they were produced.

The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act signed

by Obama on Wednesday, Feb. 24 eliminated that clause and allows stiffer enforcement. US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske and federal agency leaders are planning a briefing to explain how they will implement the new law.

President Barack Obama

The provisions were linked to cases of US imports of fish caught by slaves in Southeast Asia, gold mined by children in Africa, and clothing garments sewn by abused women in Bangladesh.

“If the US government works to really keep out goods made with forced labor, this change will have a profound ripple effect on supply chains worldwide,” said David Abramowitz, who advocated for the change as vice president for Humanity United.

To start an official investigation, Customs and Border Protection needs to receive a petition from anyone—business, agency, even a non-citizen—showing “reasonably but not conclusively” that imports were made at least in part with forced labor.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio),

who offered the amendment eliminating the “consumptive demand” clause, said that his office is already asking Customs and Border Protection to ensure that they begin enforcing the new rules.

“It’s embarrassing that for 85 years, the United States let products made with forced labor into this country, and closing this loophole gives the US an important tool to fight global slavery,” Brown said.

A Labor Department list of more than 350 goods produced by child labor or forced labor provides a detailed breakdown that human rights groups plan to use as they petition the government to take further action.

The list includes peanuts from Turkey, gold from Ghana, carpets from India, and seafood imports from Thailand.

An expose by The Associated Press in 2015 found Thai companies ship seafood to the US that was caught and processed by trapped and enslaved workers. As a result of the reports, more than 2,000 trapped fishermen have been rescued from illegal fishing islands, while more than a dozen alleged traffickers were arrested and millions of dollars’ worth of their fishing vessels seized.

A month after the investigation, Pres. Obama promised to repeal the consumptive demand

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MARCH 4-10, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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

Apple, FBI testify at congressional hearing about hacking iPhone of San Bernardino shooter

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

TECH giant Apple and the FBI faced off Tuesday, March 1, in front of the House Judiciary Committee, arguing whether the agency should have the right to compel technology companies to assist the government in accessing encrypted devices.

Apple and the FBI are engaged in a legal battle about if the company should be forced to hack an iPhone used by Syed Farook, one of two shooters who killed 14 people in a shooting rampage last December in San Bernardino, California.

The agency wants Apple to create software that would bypass the iPhone security feature that erases data on the device after 10 incorrect passcode entries.

Legislators accused the Justice Department of overreaching its authority, and undermining privacy and cybersecurity, The Guardian reported. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California) also called the department’s attempt to coerce Apple into unlocking Farook’s phone a “fool’s errand.”

“We are asking to ensure that we can continue to obtain electronic information and evidence pursuant to the legal authority that Congress has provided us to keep America safe,” said FBI Director James Comey.

On Thursday, Feb. 25, Comey told a different house panel that the code Apple was directed to write would work only on Farook’s phone and would not leave the company. “[So] the idea of it getting out in the wild and it working on my phone or your phone … is not a real thing. [In addition] the code will be at Apple, which I think has done a pretty darn good job of protecting its code,” he said.

Apple, however, has said the case would set a significant precedent that could amount to creating a master key for its devices.

Tim Cook, the company’s CEO, has called such a software the “equivalent to cancer.”

“The FBI has asked a court to order us to give them something we don’t have, to create an operating system that does not exist because it would be too dangerous,” Bruce Sewell, Apple’s general counsel, said during Tuesday’s hearing. “They are asking for a backdoor into the iPhone – specifically to build a software

tool that can break the encryption system which protects personal information on every iPhone.”

Sewell also said that writing a new operating system “will weaken our safety and security, but it will not affect the terrorists in the least.”

During his testimony, Sewell added that the company believes Congress should strike the balance on the security issue. However, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin), warned, “I can tell you you’re not going to like what comes out of Congress.”

Other tech companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter, support Apple’s stance.

Former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul has also called on the public to stand by Apple.

“The government spying on us has not prevented one terrorist attack,” he said.

Paul also said it would be a “precedent-setting case” if Apple cooperates with the FBI in this particular instance.

“We have a fundamental right to go about our daily life without the threat of government surveillance of our activities,” he said.

Critics of Apple include New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who said at a press conference last week: “This has become the Wild West in technology. Apple and Google are their own sheriffs and there are no rules.”

Tuesday’s hearing comes one day after a federal judge in New York ruled that Apple does not need to help investigators unlock an iPhone in a separate drug-related case.

“There’s already a door on that phone. We’re asking Apple to take the guard dog away and

let us pick the lock,” Comey said, according to CNN. A federal magistrate previously ordered Apple to cooperate with the FBI and unlock the phone.

Federal agents believe the device could contain information about whether or not Farook and his wife, Malik Tashfeen, worked with others to plan the attack.

Furthermore, Comey on Thursday, Feb. 25, told a congressional panel that the iPhone could have “locator services” that would help the FBI fill in a gap in the whereabouts of Farook and Tashfeen when they fled police after the San Bernardino shooting rampage last December.

“We’ve looked at every gas station camera, every intersection camera, we have the whole route, but we’re missing 19 minutes before they were finally killed by law enforcement. The answer to that might be on the device,” Comey said.

Those who testified agreed that Congress needs to approve legislation that clarifies when technology companies must turn over consumers’ encrypted data.

In Congress, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael Michael McCaul (RTexas) and Senate Intelligence Committee member Mark Warner (D-Virginia), have introduced a measure that would establish a National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges. The entity would consist of 16 “experts representing all of the interests at stake so we can evaluate and improve America’s security posture as technology – and our adversaries – evolve.”

Attorneys are scheduled to respond to Apple’s appeal regarding the San Bernardino iPhone

by March 10. A court hearing is slated on March 22. n

Obama bans US imports…

PAGE A3 t

exception’s loophole, and ensured “swift, strong and effective enforcement.”

Gavin Gibbons, a spokesman for National Fisheries Institute (which represents about 75 percent of the US seafood industry), said their members want to see the ban implemented and enforced.

“We support the closing of this anachronistic loophole and look forward to fair and judi-

cious implementation,” he said.

According to a study by the WWF, over 85 percent of the world’s fish stocks are at significant risk of unreported, illegal fishing tactics, associated with slave labor, drugs, and arms smuggling.

Obama also signed the Port State Measures Agreement earlier this month, which bars foreign vessels from accessing ports if suspected of illegal fishing, reported The Independent. n

BIG IS SMALL FLOWER. The “Rafflesia consueloae,” recently discovered on two sites in Nueva Ecija province, could be the world’s smallest species of the giant Rafflesia flower.

Photo by Edwino S. Fernando / Inquirer.net

Asian Americans across nation call for…

PAGE A3 t

“appears to be an accidental discharge” of Liang’s gun.

Prosecutors, however, argued that the shooting wasn’t an accident beyond Liang’s control and that he should be held accountable for his actions. They also said neither Liang nor Landau called their supervisors after the shot was fired, despite the fact they both had functioning radios and cellphones, and that Liang’s failure to perform CPR on Gurley demonstrated “callousness.”

Defense attorneys Robert Brown and Rae Koshetz argued during the trial that Liang was in a “state of shock” after his gun accidentally went off, that he did not know his bullet hit anyone and that he attempted to make several radio transmissions about the shooting that were incomplete or did not go through, NBC News reported.

In court, Liang testified that he felt unqualified to perform CPR on Gurley because he was given answers to the exam and never had the opportunity to practice on a mannequin at the Police Academy.

An important factor in the

jury’s decision to convict Liang came after each of the jurors was able to pull the trigger on his service weapon. They all reached the consensus that there was no way the gun could have gone off the way Liang testified it did.

“It was very hard to pull the trigger,” juror Carlton Screen, a retired candy-store owner from Flatbush, Brooklyn, told the Post.

“They had another safety that’s on the trigger itself, so you have to pull it hard enough to release that safety in order for it to fire.”

Liang is the first NYPD officer to be convicted in the last decade. In 2005, Bryan Conroy, who is white, killed an African immigrant during a police raid.

Conroy was sentenced to probation and 500 hours of community service.

Landau, Liang’s partner, was not criminally charged in the case and received immunity for his testimony. However, both were terminated from the NYPD. Liang is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

While many Asian Ameri-

cans are calling for leniency for Liang, others say he and his partner did not execute their responsibilities as NYPD officers that evening, and must be held accountable.

“All the evidence presented before the jury demonstrates that Officer Liang is in fact guilty,” Cathy Dang, executive director of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, a group that addresses police hate and violence toward Asian immigrants and one that supported Liang’s indictment, said in a statement. “Now, what we have left is to hold the entire system accountable.”

Asian American writer Jay Caspian Kang expressed a similar viewpoint in an article he wrote for the New York Times Magazine.

“Even if you believe, as I do, that Liang should be in jail, the inevitable follow-up question – why only Liang? - suggests that the unjust protections routinely afforded to white officers should be extended either to everyone or to nobody at all. To ignore this suggestion is intellectually dishonest,” Kang wrote. (Agnes Constante / AJ Press)

Study: Undocumented Californians paid $3.2B…

PAGE A1 t

nature of immigration reform, the data show undocumented immigrants greatly contribute to our nation’s economy, not just in labor but also with tax dollars,” said ITEP State Tax Policy Director Meg Wiehe in a statement.

Nationwide, undocumented immigrants contribute more than $11.6 billion to state and local coffers each year, and pay an average of 8 percent of their total incomes in state and local taxes. (The top 1 percent of taxpayers nationwide pay an average effective tax rate of just 5.4 percent.)

The analysis also found that combined state and local tax contributions of the nation’s total undocumented immigrant popu-

lation (around 11 million) would increase by more than $800 million, under full implementation of President Barack Obama’s 2012 and 2014 executive actions to grant temporary protection for up to 5 million (1.52 million in California) eligible undocumented immigrants living in the US. Under comprehensive immigration reform, these contributions are estimated to rise to over $2.1 billion.

“With immigration policy playing a key role in state and national debates, and President Obama’s 2014 executive action [on immigration] facing review by the Supreme Court, accurate information about the tax contributions of undocumented immigrants is needed now more than

ever,” Wiehe added.

While the report focuses on the financial and economic consequences of immigration reform on state and local-level taxes, ITEP reported, the results mirror those at the federal level.

According to a 2010 report from the Congressional Budget Office, full immigration reform at the federal level would decrease the deficit and generate more than $450 billion in additional federal revenue over the next decade.

Obama’s executive actions are also estimated to have overall positive effects on labor market growth, productivity, wages, and economic growth, said the Council of Economic Advisers and the Center of American Progress.

(Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

Super Tuesday results show Clinton…

PAGE A2 t

regardless of party, they trust most to handle seven key issues. According to CNN, Trump tops the list on the economy, terrorism and immigration, while Clinton is the top choice when it comes to health care, race relations and foreign policy. Voters are about evenly split between Trump and Clinton on gun policy.

Though the share of leaned Republican voters choosing Clinton on any of the tested issues

tops out at 8 percent on health care, Trump is the most trusted for 15 percent of leaned Democrats on terrorism, 14 percent on the economy and 13 percent on immigration.

Republicans generally have the edge on the economy, terrorism, immigration and gun policy, while more voters choose either Sanders or Clinton on race relations and health care. Foreign policy has about an even split between the two parties.

The margin of sampling error

for the results, based on the total sample, is plus or minus three percentage points.

The poll also determined that if Michael Bloomberg, an independent and former mayor of New York City, decide to run as an independent candidate, his candidacy would harm Clinton’s bid to beat Trump, more than it would defeat Sanders’ campaign. However, few polled said they would consider backing Bloomberg, should he decide to run. n

Candidates differ on how to deal…

PAGE A2 t

bitration court is favorable to us they should honor it. I am open to it, but I will not initiate it,” the mayor said Manila initiated arbitration proceedings in January 2013 after Beijing refused to withdraw its ships from the disputed Panatag Shoal, internationally called Scarborough Shoal.

A ruling by the UN tribunal is expected later this year, even while China has refused to participate in the arbitration process.

The Asian giant has been militarizing the resource-rich waters of the South China Sea, including Philippine-claimed atolls and reefs in the West Philippine Sea. Bullying Robredo does not share the position of two of her rivals on the need to hold talks with China, saying these may lead to Beijing “bullying” the country.

Robredo stood squarely on the side of the government in filing a case in the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“I do not agree that we become an aggressor in this because we have no capability, but having said that, we need to take all steps to protect our sovereignty,” she told students of a university in Las Piñas City on Tuesday.

Marcos, Honasan Senators Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. and Gregorio Honasan II, both vice presidential candidates, favor talks with China to ease the tension over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. Advising the government not to pin its hopes on resolving the dispute through the UN tribunal, Marcos said dialogue with China could be by way of trade, culture or even sports.

In a statement, Marcos said: “(W)e should talk to China and tell them what we want and that we are not in favor of what they are doing and start from there.

What is important is we start a dialogue.”

He pointed out that the signing of the Philippine-Indonesia maritime baseline agreement after 20 years of negotiations could be used as a template for the talks.

Honasan said the country should continue to talk to China in a multilateral arrangement, including considering joint exploration of disputed areas.

“If our bilateral agreements with other countries do not serve our own interests, then let’s continue to talk to China in a multilateral arrangement,’’ the UNA vice presidential candidate said in a statement.

Too complacent In the House of Representatives, lawmakers criticized the

Aquino administration for reportedly allowing another atoll to fall into the hands of China.

Magdalo Rep. Ashley Acedillo said that five years ago, China had already targeted Quirino Atoll off the coast of Palawan province, which should have sent alarm bells ringing for the government to increase its presence in the area.

Senatorial candidate Walden Bello said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Defense should have made 24/7 surveillance of the area much earlier.

“We have good air surveillance capabilities and access to international satellite monitoring systems. We should have a preemptive strategy from now on, keeping the world informed of China’s possible next moves,” said Bello, a former Akbayan representative.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, a senatorial candidate, said: “It seems that China’s strategy now is to take as much territory as it can in the West Philippine Sea before the ruling of The Hague Arbitral Court comes out, so other claimants would be hard put to evict the rising superpower from their claimed areas.”

(With reports from Jeannette I. Andrade and Christine O. Avendaño)

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 4-10, 2016

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

75% of Aquino reforms completed Comelec: Too late to drop Poe from ballot ippines.

Meanwhile, foreign business groups appeared unimpressed by MANILA—Agribusiness, inthe business platforms presented frastructure, creative industries, by representatives of presidential telecommunications and mining aspirants at yesterday’s Arangshould be given greater attention kada Philippines forum. The canby the government as part of its didates did not show up and only continuing reform activities, forsent their representatives. eign business groups in the PhilipFormer finance secretary Gary pines said.

Teves represented Jejomar Binay, The Joint Foreign Chambers vice presidential candidate Sen. (JFC), the largest coalition of forAlan Peter Cayetano showed up eign investors in the Philippines, for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Valenmade the assessment based on zuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian came recommendations from local and for Sen. Grace Poe and Marikina foreign groups originally pubRep. Romero Quimbo represented lished in 2010 in Arangkada PhilManuel Roxas II. Sen. Miriam Deippines. fensor-Santiago had no represenThe JFC said it was happy to Pres. Benigno Aquino III tative. report that nearly three fourths of 2015 showed 74.50 percent or 333 “I was not satisfied with the the reforms pushed by business of the 462 recommendations are answers the candidates gave as and investors groups in 2010 have active and moving, an overall im- to addressing the vast array of been addressed by the govern- provement from the 51.44 percent the protectionist restrictions and in the first assessment in 2011. ment as of last year. regulations in the government and It was a slight improvement other regulatory agencies,” Cana“The public sector is the enabler of job growth, while the pri- from the 74.22 percent posted in dian Chamber of Commerce of the vate sector is the engine. The two last year’s assessment.

Philippines president Julian Payne “There has been great progress, said. must work in parallel for inclusive growth and job creation,” the JFC not enough, but great progress.

“We’ve heard what we wanted Philippine economy is doing very to hear. The issues have never said.

“The private sector is doing its well but it can do better,” Ameri- changed, they remain the same. share and is ready to do more to can Chamber of Commerce of the What I want to hear is how do we improve inclusive growth through Philippines senior advisor John get there,” said Ryan evangelista, investing. Various firms generous- Forbes said. executive director of the AustraliaThe Arangkada assessment New Zealand Chamber of Comly support a wide range of socially responsible and economically ori- 2015 identified the sectors of busi- merce in the Philippines. ented activities, especially in edu- ness process outsourcing, infraThe issues brought up by the cation, health, housing and disas- structure, manufacturing and tour- candidates include pursuing ecoism as having benefited much from nomic growth, addressing corrupter relief and recovery,” it added.

The JFC lauded the national policy and economic reforms. tion in the government, improving Arangkada Philippines is a ma- infrastructure and tax reforms. government for major improvements in the Philippine economy jor advocacy launched in 2010 by The foreign chambers of comover the past five years but said a the JFC. It is funded by a $1-mil- merce in the country are urging number of binding constraints still lion grant from the US Agency for the next administration to initiate remain which prevent the country International Development and bolder measures to steer the Philis administered by the American ippine economy to greater progfrom achieving inclusive growth.

The Arangkada assessment for Chamber of Commerce of the Phil- ress over the next decade.

by Richmond

meRcuRio Philstar.com

CBCP to OFWs: Vote based on 4Ps by edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA—An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) laid down guidelines for overseas Filipino voters in choosing the country’s next leaders.

Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCPepiscopal commission on the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant people, urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will cast their votes during absentee voting

period starting in April to choose candidates based on the four Ps – program, protection, promotion and prosecution.

“Choose government officials who have programs to create jobs at home, and not just be a laborsending country, and will not resort to contractualization,” Santos said in an interview.

He said OFWs must also choose leaders who can give them protection.

“Protect them from illegal recruitment, human traffickers, and

syndicated scam such as tanimbala (bullet-planting),” he added.

The prelate suggested that the next leaders must also “promote their rights and dignities as human persons, including having respect for their balikbayan boxes, and put an end to the charging of P550 terminal fee.”

Santos also urged absentee voters abroad to “prosecute all those who abused, falsely accused and extorted our overseas Filipino voters.”

PAGE A7

by

Tina G. SanToS Inquirer.net

THe name of Sen. Grace Poe can no longer be removed from the official ballot even if the Supreme Court decides to uphold the Commission on elections’ (Comelec) two rulings disqualifying her from running for President in the May elections.

“If we start printing from scratch [without her name], we might not be able to meet the deadline,” said Comelec Chair Andres Bautista.

The deadline for completing the printing of the ballots is April 25. “The printing continues; we have so far printed 10.5 million [ballots],” Bautista said.

He said “delisting” Poe from the official list of presidential can-

didates was not discussed during en banc meetings. “There were no such discussions,” he said.

“At this point, everyone is included,” he added, referring to a total of six names, including Poe and the late OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres, whose name was retained on the ballot after conflicting requests from his family and his political party.

Bautista said votes for Señeres would be counted, then declared stray. It would be the same should the Supreme Court disqualify Poe. “If a person dies or is disqualified, then the vote will be physically counted, but will be declared stray,” Bautista said.

Aside from the 54.36 million

Sen. Grace Poe

official ballots, some 2.4 million additional final testing and sealing and demo ballots are also being printed at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.

LP senatorial campaign wracked by infighting, sources say

by Paolo

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA—The senatorial campaign of the Liberal Partyled Daang Matuwid coalition appears to be floundering and wracked by bickering among the candidates themselves.

Some senatorial candidates and insiders in the campaign have been complaining of erratic schedules and have reduced their sorties to woo voters.

While senatorial candidates of other slates, like those of Sen. Grace Poe, are able to stomp through five towns and cities in a day, the LP ticket so far has managed, on average, to campaign in two cities or municipalities in one trip, they said.

They cited the Nueva ecija sortie of the LP coalition last week where the senatorial candidates visited only two areas, including San Jose City where President Aquino was present.

“If this lack of stops continues, we’ll get nowhere,” a campaign insider said.

Since the campaign period started last Feb. 9, it was also evident that some senatorial candidates were not on good terms with some of their colleagues, like former senator Panfilo Lacson and former justice secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima had tried to prosecute Lacson in 2011 over the DacerCorbito murder case.

The two, however, said earlier this month that they have patched up their differences.

There was also talk that Aquino was not exactly happy with re-electionist Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, who had also missed some campaign sorties.

Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo, campaign manager for the administration senatorial ticket, however downplayed the grumblings, which he attributed to “birth pains of a large and major national campaign.”

“These are nothing new. I’m sure other campaigns are experiencing the same issues but we’ve resolved them. And most importantly, we’ve resolved them quickly,” Quimbo said in a telephone interview.

The big difference between the LP sorties and those of others is that the administration has a complete slate, he said.

On Monday, Feb. 29, The Star reported that the Liberal Party-led Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid is wracked by infighting among its senatorial candidates.

A

march 4-10, 2016 • NOrcaL aSIaN JOUrNaL

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

OpiniOn

Features

Pessimistic

FOR a country infamous for its “dirty politics,” conducting a peaceful and clean conduct of elections will be a challenge for the Philippine government. While the country’s polls have been automated since 2010, some Filipino voters still express concern over possible cheating in the general elections in May. About four in every 10 Filipinos believe that there will be cheating in the May elections, according to the latest poll by Pulse Asia. The survey, conducted from Jan. 24 to 28, showed that an alarming 39 percent of the respondents are sure that candidates will cheat, while only 29 percent believed otherwise. 32 percent of those polled were ambivalent on the issue.

The same poll also revealed that seven out of 10 Filipinos or 65 percent said there will be massive vote-buying, 37 percent believe that there will be tampering of votecounting machines. Others believe that there will be changing the actual vote count (32 percent) and the deployment of flying voters (31 percent) as forms of cheating.

Voters hoarding, replacing ballots inserted in machines, threatening other voters and election officers, machines being stolen and brownouts were also among the forms of cheating schemes that the respondents believe may occur.

For the May 9 elections to have a satisfactory conclusion, senatorial candidate Richard Gordon on Monday, Feb. 29, urged the Supreme Court to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue receipts to voters after casting their votes.

In his 24-page petition for mandamus, Gordon cited the Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election Law, which states that the Voter Verification Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT is one of the minimum systems capabilities of the automated election system and a

major security feature of the vote counting machine.

He explained that VVPAT allows every voter to confirm whether or not the machine cast the vote correctly based on the choice of the voter, thereby ensuring the integrity of the elections.

“The right to suffrage is a powerful tool placed in the hands of every Filipino giving them the ability to change the course of our country’s future. Therefore, it is essential that the sanctity and credibility of our election system be continuously protected from threats putting its results in question. In order for the system to be protected, it is essential that implementation of various security systems must be complied with,” Gordon said.

The Comelec voted 7-0 “not to enable the feature of printing a receipt,” deciding against using the VVPAT because it could be used as a tool for votebuying and would also extend the voting period by seven hours.

Despite some doubts on the accuracy of the automated polls, the Comelec allayed fears of possible tampering of the May 9 elections with voters not getting a print out of their votes. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista assured that there is no reason to worry because safeguards are in place even in the absence of printed record of votes.

Last week, the Comelec conducted mock polls to identify the possible problems that the Comelec may encounter during the actual transmission of votes in

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

May. Bautista reported that the mock election would enable the Comelec to improve the system long before the scheduled May 9 elections.

Political reform in the Philippines is hounded by higher a public expectation. The growing cynicism in Philippine politics is like a cancer where a cure remains elusive. The stakes are higher in May, this makes it imperative to have empowered citizens who appreciate and are responsible for the votes

they will cast.

To discourage people who will rely on cheating to win, Filipino voters must exercise the right of suffrage with tenacity and good cheer. They must realize the power that belongs to them, which is to choose the leaders they think are adequate to hold an office.

It will strengthen their participation in this democratic process and trust in the system after this election.

(AJPress)

The nomination race to the White House must go beyond Super Tuesday WHO won on “Super Tuesday”? As I write this on March 1, primaries and caucuses were held in a dozen states (and one US territory) to select a presidential candidate in both the Republican and Democratic Party nominating contests this year. In the most recent polls leading up to Super Tuesday, news organizations have projected that GOP front-runner Donald Trump and Democratic Party front-runner Hillary Clinton are on the verge of being coronated as the winners, but let the actual figures after the elections tell the story.

What exactly is “Super Tuesday”?

Politico explained that “Super Tuesday” is the unofficial name for a Tuesday during the presidential primary election when the largest number of

states hold their nominating contests.

The Fil-Am The results of these contests will account Perspective for about half of all delegates that will determine who will be each party’s nomigel SantoS-ReloS nee.

The states choosing their nominee this day were Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia will hold contests for both Republicans and Democrats. Republicans in Alaska will hold caucuses. Democrats in Colorado will hold their caucuses as well. Finally, Democrats in American Samoa also

held their nominating contest this Super Tuesday.

Politico explained the significance of Super Tuesday: “No other primary day has as many delegates grouped at once, and thus no other day gives a single candidate as much of a chance to declare a sense of certainty about his or her position.”

The results of Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses will certainly give so much momentum to whomever may win decisively in more states for both parties. Sometimes, many candidates concede and suspend their candidacy,

making the frontrunner the apparent nominee until formally coronated during their respective party’s convention.

This puts an end to the primaries and caucuses scheduled in other states after Super Tuesday.

But there are times, like in 2008 between candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, when the race was been tight, pushing the scheduled primaries and caucuses to continue in all states to determine the nominee.

No matter what the results of Super Tuesday might be, I hope we have a repeat of the 2008 election process.

Citizens in all states must have their voices heard in choosing whom they want to be their party’s nominee. This

also gives the voters the opportunity to present their views and aspirations on different issues that may have an impact on how the next president of the United States may stir the country moving forward. This will also energize and motivate citizens from all states to exercise their right of suffrage in the general election in November, after being heavily invested during the primary season. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

With Aquino gov’t the most inept, Marcos regime looks like the ‘golden age’ Commentary

RigobeRto tiglao YES, “golden age” was the phrase used by a New York Times article on the EDSA I celebration, with the second paragraph reading, in the manon-the street-quote style of American journalism: “I think Marcos was our best President,” said a Manila resident who was born two years after the dictator was overthrown. “That was when the Philippines was the leader of Asia. We were respected.”

Another interviewee was quoted: “Apple 26, an employee of a Manila aluminum siding company, said the fate of Imelda Marcos’ jewels was not a priority for her in the next election.

She spends hours each day battling traffic to get to work and is frustrated by the current government. She said she has heard stories of how orderly the country was during the Marcos years.”

“During the time of martial law, the Philippines was disciplined,” she said as she gestured toward a group of jaywalkers dodging vehicles and blocking traffic. “People don’t even know how to cross the street now.”

How many Filipinos would have read the New York Times?

But it is this bungling, onionskinned President who drew everyone’s attention to it by re-

porting such a perception now in his speech at the EDSA celebration, and lamely retorting that it was rather “a golden age only for Marcos.” It is, indeed, strange that after nearly six years in power, and with Marcos having been toppled from power three decades ago, Aquino would dedicate his last EDSA celebration speech as President to portraying how bad the dictatorship was.

What if it’s Jinggoy?

The plain fact, though, is that rather than whether the Marcos years were golden or iron, Aquino’s six years in office have been so bad that the strongman is now perceived as one of the best Presidents ever.

But if it were President Estrada’s son Jinggoy Estrada running and now ahead of the pack – instead of the strongman’s son, Ferdinand (“Bongbong”) 2nd – I’m quite sure Aquino would be devoting much of his speech not on EDSA I, but on EDSA II, and narrating in sordid details the corruption during Erap’s Administration.

And in that comparison, I’m sure most Filipinos would say that Aquino’s years were so bad, that Estrada’s shortened three years in office were the golden age.

And why are Aquino’s years so bad? Well, in the first place, only die-hard Coryistas would believe that her intervention from a heaven somewhere could make a good President out of this brat who never really worked a day in his life, and did nothing much in his years as congressman and senator.

Here are some of the reasons why he’s been so bad, which even if summarized would take longer than five times the length of this column: Aquino has not initiated any real program to reform the economy, with the much-ballyhooed gross domestic product (GDP) growth since 2010 due almost entirely to overseas workers’ remittances. In contrast, among others, former President Gloria Arroyo instituted the VAT reform program, which if controversial, stabilized government revenues, undertook the RO-RO infrastructure program, and developed the BPOs sector as a major industry.

What has Aquino done?

Aquino has damaged our institutions to the extent that it would take us years to repair.

The Congress was bribed to remove the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, something that has never happened before, and even seemed inconceivable. The Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit have been transformed into weapons against the opposition, and the next Administration, I’m sure, will unravel that other than Aquino, the biggest beneficiaries of this has been the Ombudsman’s staff.

Aquino would be known in history as the President who utilized the “rule of law” – through the Ombudsman and the plunder law – so well to put his enemies in prison.

With his pork-barrel and DAP, Aquino had made, and continues to make Congress a den of political prostitutes, that they nearly passed a bill – on the Bangsamoro Basic Law – that would have

dismembered our Republic.

The most corrupt This Administration will be known as one of the most corrupt, yet so skilled in hiding it.

Who or what group has been getting the lion’s share in jueteng, which has been estimated to amount to P10 billion yearly? Illegal drugs have proliferated so much in the country, which could be explained only by the fact that government and police officials have been their protectors.

How can we, as a nation, have such a shameful episode as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head accusing a Navy official of protecting a drug laboratory with stocks of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of illegal drugs?

The MRT-3 that has become a ride-in-hell for millions of Filipinos in the metropolis has served as Exhibit A of this Administration’s ineptitude and corruption.

It has made a mess of what was before considered as the international showpiece of the Japanese firms that built it. Why or how did that happen? Because rather than focusing on making it efficient, Aquino’s people in the DOTC had been busy plotting the most efficient means of milking it. This is really one of the costs of corruption: Officials have to spend time and brain power away from work to think of creative ways of executing their corrupt deals.

Smuggling has become so rampant that smuggled goods now don’t even have to be the high-value type of merchandise, as in the past, but for chrissake,

Who did it better? Former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and outgoing President Benigno Aquino III.

even garlic and onions! Trade data indisputably shows that this has gone out of control, and I had estimated the value of smuggled goods in a column I wrote on Aug. 15, 2015: $94.4 billion from 2010 to 2014, or a mammoth P4 trillion, resulting in foregone duties and VAT payment of P760 billion. Has Aquino done anything to stop the drug and smuggling syndicates?

Nada.

His mother Cory in 1986 gave new life to the Moro and communist rebellions after Marcos nearly brought them to their knees, reportedly with 80 percent of the armed forces clashing in battle with these insurgents. She herself went to Sulu to meet with MNLF chairman Nur Misuari, while she sent her brother-in-law, Agapito Aquino, to pay his respects to the MILF, boosting both organizations’ prestige among their ethnic groups to the extent they stirred back to life, after having been

practically routed by the Marcos army.

Her son BS outdid her, however, when he went to a Tokyo airport hotel to meet with the MILF chairman and vice-chairman for peace talks. One can’t imagine how the MILF’s prestige had zoomed up after that, with even Muslim politicians and young would-be mujahideen’s rallying around the MILF flag.

Under Aquino, the MILF has expanded, and is even manufacturing now the dreaded Barrett M82 sniper rifle, the weapon used with deadly results by the Islamic insurgents in the Mamasapano massacre.

And lastly, BS Aquino has been such a divisive President, with his Yellow Cult opening up the deep wounds between those who supported the EDSA revolution and those that did not, mainly from North Luzon.

And some people want another six years of this? (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 4-10, 2016

Malacañang cites huge disappointment over non-passage of Bangsamoro Law

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA—The government admitted there was a “huge disappointment” over Congress’ failure to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) amid ongoing clashes between security forces and armed men apparently dismayed by the bypassing of the measure.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles nevertheless said the ceasefire mechanisms are still working and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not standing in the way of the military operations in Lanao del Sur. “Certainly, the huge disappointment over the non-passage of the BBL provides more enticing, fertile ground for recruitment to radical, extremist thought and action,” Deles said in a statement forwarded to re-

porters by Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma.

“Thankfully, our ceasefire mechanisms particularly, the GPH (government) – MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, with the International Monitoring Team are working closely and robustly with the security sector to maintain peace and order on the ground, including curbing the spread of extremism,” she added.

Reports have quoted MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar as saying that the armed men presently clashing with military forces in Butig, Lanao del Sur are not terrorists but Moros disappointed with the way the government handled the peace process.

The Armed Forces Western

Mindanao Command (Westmincom) previously said security forces are launching offensives against local terrorists led by brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute. The Maute brothers are believed to have ties with the Southeast Asian regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Deles said the ceasefire mechanisms have repositioned MILF troops to allow law enforcement operations to proceed. She said the MILF has also provided sanctuary to displaced civilians.

The proposed BBL aims to form a new Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy.

It will also implement the peace agreement signed by the MILF and the government in 2014.

Congress adjourned session early this month without passing the BBL, one of the priority measures of the Aquino administration.

MALAYSIAN Foreign Minister Wisma Putra has summoned a senior Philippine diplomat over published remarks by Vice President Jejomar Binay that he would pursue his country’s territorial claim to Sabah, according to reports from the Asian News Network.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it had called in the Philippine Embassy’s charge d’ affaires, Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, over Binay’s remarks.

“The Malaysian government reiterates its position that it does not recognize and will not enter-

tain any claims by any party on Sabah,” Wisma Putra said.

It said that Sabah has been recognized by the United Nations and the international community as being part of Malaysia since the formation of the federation on Sept. 16, 1963.

Sought for comment, Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson, said, “We do not understand the reason for summoning the charge d’ affaires. The statement of the Vice President is consistent with the official position taken by the Philippine government on the matter.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, is verify-

ing the report.

Binay, who is running for President under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), told reporters during a campaign sortie in Quezon he would revive the Sabah claim if he wins the presidency.

“Ipagpapatuloy natin ang claim natin diyan, atin naman ‘yan [We will pursue our claim there, that is ours],” Binay had told reporters in Candelaria town.

One of UNA’s senatorial candidates is Sulu Sultanate Princess Jacel Kiram, whose family claims historic ownership of Sabah.

(ANN, with a report from Niña Calleja/Inquirer.net)

A

VICTORY. A soldier waves a small flag to show that the military had taken control of an area in Butig, Lanao del Sur where state troops clashed with rebels believed trained by foreign terrorists. The firefight displaced hundreds of families.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Duterte tells China: Build us a railway PH envoy summoned over Binay’s Sabah remarks and let’s set aside differences for a while

CBCP to OFWs: Vote based...

PAGE A5 The absentee voting will be held from April 9 to May 9. Absentee voters will only be voting for national positions—president, vice president, senators and party-list group.

Environment-friendly leader Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday said the next president must make climate and disaster resilience a priority of the government, especially because the Philippines is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and natural hazards.

“Our media forums have been

discussing these issues but still not as extensively as they should be.

Super Typhoon Yolanda was an eye-opener on the devastating effects of climate change,” Legarda, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction global champion for resilience, said in a statement.

She added that disaster and climate resilience should be at the core of development.

“Disasters like Yolanda can undo years of economic growth, while climate change impacts like stronger episodes of El Niño can slow down development programs. Un-

less we address the risks posed by disasters and climate change, extreme weather events will continue to destroy our farms and crops, decrease fish yield, increase poverty incidence, threaten public health and security, and cause loss of lives and biodiversity, among other impacts,” she said.

She said presidential candidates must incorporate in their plans of action the measurable targets under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

SAN FRANCISCO

muna iyan, gusto mo (let’s set that aside, you might want) trade exploration,” he said, referring to China.

“I will just ask you to build a rail, just like what you did for Africa,” said Duterte, referring to the Chinese-funded high-speed railway line project of the Kenya Railways Corporation, which has cut travel time from Nairobi to Mombasa from 13 to three hours.

But Duterte, in his trademark sense of humor, said he would not waste a Filipino soldier’s life if things came to worst with China but would personally present himself to the Chinese authorities.

“This, I will commit and pledge to you,” he said, addressing his women audience.

“If worse comes to worst, I will not waste the lives of Filipino soldiers, I will go to the boundary line, myself; maybe have someone take me there, and I will go there on my own with a jetski, bringing along with me a flag and a pole and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, ‘Kill me,’” Duterte said. “Huwag na ang sundalo (Don’t kill the soldiers),” he said.

“I’ll tell (the Chinese authorities)’kill me,’ because I also want to be a hero,” Duterte said, which sent his audience laughing.

DAVAO CITY—“Build us a railway just like the one you built in Africa and let’s set aside disagreements for a while,” presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told China.

“Build us a rail for Mindanao, build us a railway from Manila to Bicol, I will be happy, let us not fight. Build us a railway because no nation on earth ever progressed without a railway,” he told a gathering of the women’s group called Forum of Women for Action with Rody Duterte (Forward Women) who endorsed his candidacy for the top post of the land.

Duterte vowed to ask China to set aside its claim over the contested islands for a while, so that China and the Philippines could explore trade.

“I will tell China to set aside its claim for a while so that I will not bring up the issue of (Philippine) national patrimony,” Duterte said.

“But if (China) insists, I will tell them, that is our fishing ground and why are you building an infrastructure that my country does not need?” Duterte said.

However, he reiterated his earlier stand that the country would not want to make war with China.

“We have to talk,” he said.

“I will tell China, do not claim ownership and I will not mention patrimony, hayaan natin

TAIPEI

“May ambsiyon akong maging hero, ito na ang pagkakataon ko (I have an ambition to be a hero and this would be my chance),” Duterte said, as chuckles were heard from his audience.

He said he’d rather die blasted by a (Chinese) missile rather than die peacefully in his sleep because right now, with the top leadership accused of numerous forms of graft and corruption, the country lacked heroes. “Look at what they’ve done to Lapu-lapu, the first Malay to fight an imperialist invader, ginawa nilang isda (they turned him into a fish),” Duterte said.

“He’s not even mentioned in the textbooks and there’s no socalled Lapu-lapu Day among our lists of holidays,” he said. “Instead, ginawa nilang isda, piniprito, ginawang escabeche arawaraw.” (Instead, they turned him into a fish that is usually fried and made into escabeche everyday.)

“If I become president, I will honor Lapu-Lapu as a hero, and if I’ll be a hero after I’m blasted by a missile from China, kayo na’ng bahala. Magiging mas masaya ang mga bata dahil Duterte day, walang klase (…it’s now up to you. Kids will be happy because on Duterte day, there will be no classes),” Duterte said, eliciting laughter from his audience. (Inquirer.net)

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CJ

Journal

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves Devin M. Connolly AnD nAnCy e. MilleR THE US Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) will being accepting H-1B petitions for Fiscal Year 2017 on April 1, 2016.

It is vitally important to file the petition exactly on April 1st. If not, as discussed below, you risk the H-1B cap being met before you even submit your petition. A well-prepared, approvable petition takes time to prepare. Therefore, now is the time to begin preparing your H-1B petition.

The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign workers to work in “specialty occupations.” A “specialty occupation” is an occupation that requires the theoretical or practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. More commonly, a “specialty occupation” is an occupation that typically requires a Bachelor’s degree for entry into the field. Examples of “specialty occupations” include teachers, engineers, accountants, computer programmers and scientists. Occupations that qualify for an H-1B visa require a significant amount of education and training.

The H-1B petitioner is the employer. Though an employee will benefit greatly from an approved petition by being granted the opportunity work in the US, they are not permitted to formally make the request before CIS. As part of the petition, the employer must demonstrate not only that the position qualifies as a “specialty occupation” as discussed above, but that the foreign national is qualified to perform the occupation. This requires the employer to show that the prospective worker has the required education. The foreign national must have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. It is acceptable for the Bachelor’s degree to have been acquired in a foreign country, as long as the

Working in the US with an H-1B visa employer can demonstrate that it is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree awarded by a college or university in the US. That determination must be made by a qualified evaluator.

In addition, the employer must show that the Bachelor’s degree is in a subject that is related to the H1-B occupation. For example, a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy would not qualify one for a job as a computer programmer.

While a computer programmer is likely a qualified “specialty occupation,” a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy does not provide the education and training needed to perform that job. Therefore, it does not meet the sufficientlyrelated requirement.

If the foreign national has not yet earned a Bachelor’s degree, it is possible for them to qualify through their long-term employment experience in the occupation. Three years of professional experience is considered equivalent to one year of college of university education.

Assuming we have a “specialty occupation” and a qualified foreign national, we must be concerned with the H-1B cap. The H-1B program is limited to 65,000 new H-1B visas per year. There are also an additional 20,000 visas available for foreign nationals who have earned a Master’s degree or higher from a university in the US These limits have been set

by Congress. Recent past history has shown that there are far more than 65,000 petitions being filed each year. In fact, in 2015 there were approximately 233,000 petitions filed for the 65,000 visas available for Fiscal Year 2016.

Due to this high demand of H-1B visas, it is crucial that the petition is filed on April 1, 2016.

Submitting it after that date may cause your petition to be rejected

entirely simply because the cap may have already been met.

Unfortunately submitting your petition on April 1st does not guarantee that it will be accepted. If CIS receives more petitions than there are available H1-B visas (as is most probable), it will conduct what is referred to as the “H-1B lottery.” Under this system, CIS selects a sufficient number of petitions to be reviewed and rejects the others.

The rejected petitions are returned – unread – to the petitioner. If the cap is reached on the first day of filing (as has been the case for the past several years), all petitions received by CIS after that date are rejected and returned to the petitioner. Therefore, in order to have a chance at having CIS review and adjudicate the petition, it must be received

by CIS on April 1.

It is time to start preparing H1B petitions. The first (and maybe only) day to file will be here very soon. Failure to timely file can doom your chances of being granted the opportunity to lawfully work in the US. Do not let that happen to you – contact an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who is dedicated solely to the practice of immigration law to prepare your H1-B petition and increase your opportunity for success. *** Atty. Reeves has represented clients in numerous landmark immigration cases that have set new policies regarding INS action and immigrants’ rights. His offices are located in Pasadena, Irvine, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Makati City.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

UP Bonifacio Global City to open soon Facade of the UP BGC campus.

THE University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City (UP BGC) campus will soon open its doors for enrolment.

With the turnover of the UP BGC’s nine-level building by donor, SM Investments Corporation, the University will be making the final preparations for the operation of the new campus.

Comprising a total floor area of 12,000 square meters, the campus building will house 29 classrooms, 3 computer laboratories, libraries, faculty lounges, an auditorium, a moot court, multipurpose hall, several discussion rooms, conference rooms and office spaces.

Intended for professionals eager to enhance their skills and desiring advanced educational opportunities, the new campus will host classes of the College of Law, College of Engineering, Virata School of Business, College of Architecture, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, School of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Statistics and the UP Open University. These units will offer graduate level courses, continuing education programs, seminars, workshops, and training courses.

According to UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, “The UP BGC will bring UP’s brand of quality education to those SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Hans Sy gives the UP working and living in the southern Metro Manila areas, in- BGC ceremonial key to UP President Alfredo Pascual

u PAGE CJ2

Photos by Misael Bacani, UPSIO

Call for nominations for AARP’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards WASHINGTON, DC — AARP is pleased to announce its new Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards to acknowledge hard-working staff and volunteers of non-profit organizations. The call for nominations is open now until March 31, 2016 at AARP’s AAPI Com-

u PAGE CJ3

CJ

Community Journal

MARCH 4-10, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq.

The English language exception in US citizenship applications

A LEGAL permanent resident is eligible to apply for citizenship if he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five (5) years and meets all the eligibility requirements. The legal permanent resident may file early if he or she has been a resident for at least three (3) years and has been married to a US citizen for those three (3) years.

Part of the application process is to test the legal permanent resident’s ability to read and write in English. The citizenship applicant will also have to undergo the civics test. However, a legal permanent resident may be exempt from the English language requirement if he or she meets the following requirements: • The applicant is fifty (50) years or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as a permanent resident in the United State for twenty (20) years or • The applicant is fifty five (55)

years or older at the time of filing for naturalization and has lived as a permanent resident in the United States for fifteen (15) years.

If the applicant meets any of these two requirements, then the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer test the legal permanent resident’s ability to read and write in English. The applicant must still take the civics test. Since the applicant is exempt from the English language requirement, he or she will be permitted to take the test in his or her native language.

If the applicant decides to take the civics test in his or her native language, the applicant must bring an interpreter during the interview.

An applicant will be given special consideration regarding the civics test requirement if the applicant is 65 years or older and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of the filing of the naturalization application.

The CTV Files

With the coming elections and the anti-immigrant positions taken by a number of presidential candidates, it is important that legal permanent residents who have been here in the United States for quite a substantial period of time and are eligible to file for citizenship must now file their citizenship application so that their voices may be heard once they become citizens of the United States.

***

Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an inperson or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com. The CTV Attorneys will be at Max’s Restaurant in Vallejo on October 19, 2009 from 5pm to 7pm to hold a FREE legal clinic.

(Advertising Supplement)

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

Family business in the Year of the Fire Red Monkey

The Kite Runner Prof. enrique M. soriAno I HAVE decided to prioritize this timely article related to the Year of the Fire Red Monkey hoping our dear readers can use the information as a good reference point in dealing with family members and business owners in the areas of relationships and growth.

At the start of any new year everyone is filled with anticipation and bated breath, eagerly wanting to know what will happen and what will be the trends that will drive the direction of activities in the upcoming year. It’s always useful to read some forecasts from a wide range of industry pros for the information can help validate or adjust one’s direction in his career or business.

2015 has been an interesting year. We have seen businesses experience both success and failure but struggle at times to understand why. This article will present interesting predictions for 2016 from the perspective of Feng Shui experts, the Philippine government, Asian Development Bank and business consultants, both local and foreign.

Feng Shui predictions While we have officially welcomed 2016, the Chinese Zodiac New Year ushered in the Year of the Fire Monkey only last February 8, 2016. Cheerful and energetic by nature, monkeys represent flexibility, intelligence and confidence.

The Year of the Fire Monkey, being propitious for regular money supply, is also the right time in 2016 for families and couples to reconsider their daily relationships and break the routine.

Partnerships and new projects According to an online article, the combination of Fire with the sign of the Monkey brings vitality and innovation to both business

and personal relationships. If you start a new project, make sure you get associated with the right business partners, as new sparkling energies also mean heavier risks in case of failure. At work, provided you stay quick, focused and surrounded by the right people, your business might become mature enough for takeoff in 2016.

Although the monkey may bring instability because it is an animal that’s crafty and restless, open to volatility and change, it could also herald major innovation, says Hong Kong-based soothsayer Thierry Chow, as technology falls into the “fire” category.

In an article written by George Sison, consciousness guru and founder of the Temple of Prayer, Peace and Prosperity (TOPPP), wrote that the Fire Monkey is particularly good in ventures that are speculative and is an expert in its evaluation of risks to be taken. The key words for this year are achievable, workable and feasible including what many may consider impossible.

Everywhere, new inventions and improvisations will arise.

The year is described as highly “competitive” and has also been compared to a big bluff game similar to poker. This will be played in all sectors including politics, big business and even diplomacy – and everyone will be given a chance to join.

The key is to fix all family feuds and misunderstandings Business will prosper in expected and unexpected ways as a result of new and unconventional ways of doing things. On the other hand, according to Feng Shui expert Marites Allen, future success is likely for anything associated with the water element as well as industries like spa, tourism, banking and shipping.

Lucky colors for this year include blue, black and grey. (No wonder Miss Universe 2016 Pia Alonzo was extra lucky in her stunning royal blue gown by designer Albert Andrada.) As things go, the coming Year of the Fire Monkey is ripe with possibilities, fraught with obstructions and challenges, with people (not necessarily politicians) looking for opportunities and advantages—much like the monkey, who is known for his “scheming tactics.” Of course, one need not be a feng shui expert to know this as the national elections is on May 9.

Change is inevitable “Everybody will be looking out for themselves, especially financially. The elections will be largely peaceful but marred by conflict, and the next president, whoever that may be, will naturally have to deal with a lot of politicking and challenges,” Allen says. She refuses to predict who will win the polls without a thorough look at the candidates’ charts. She did say most of the candidates were born in the Year of the Rooster (so expect a cockfight, figuratively, when elections come). Allen also warns against air, shipping or land disasters during the year.

Traffic will continue to become a major problem.

On a positive note, those born in the years of the Sheep and Monkey will be financially blessed this year. “The number 8 [Wealth Star] flies to the Southwest this year. This is the corner of the Sheep and the Monkey, so they will enjoy the benefits of the wealth star throughout the year. What’s more there will be two months during the year that the number 8 doubles up. So, you might win in the lotto”, she advises, not totally in jest. Other lucky signs of the year include the

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Andrew Tan seals Fundador takeover

by Doris

Dumlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

TYCOON Andrew Tan-led beverage arm Emperador Inc. has completed the acquisition of Spain’s most iconic, largest and oldest brandy-maker Bodegas Fundador.

In a press statement from Jerez, Spain, Emperador’s offshore unit Group Emperador Spain SA announced the completion of the deal to buy the 286-year old Bodegas Fundador and other assets in Spain from Beam Suntory.

Grupo Emperador Spain S.A. managing director Jorge Domeq said the turnover of this brandy production facility to Emperador was a major milestone for the company.

“With the combined brandy production facilities of Emperador and Fundador, the world’s largest brandy company is born. We now have almost 1,500 hectares of vineyard land in Spain, around 1,000,000 sqm of cellar and bottling facilities, and four distilleries here in Spain,” Domecq said.

Speaking during the ceremony, Emperador chair Andrew Tan said there’s huge opportunity for innovation and creativity in Spain’s brandy and sherry industry.

“A new era begins not just for Fundador, but the whole brandy and sherry industry in Spain. This is an era that will bring in more innovation and new ideas,” Tan said.

Tan’s goal is to create the world’s best brandy.

Andrew Tan

“If the world’s best whiskies are aged in sherry casks in Jerez, then many of the brandy products now aged in sherry casks in Jerez should become the best brandy in the world. In Bodegas Fundador, we have a sizable inventory of brandy that has been aged for more than 50 years. Once they are bottled, they should become one of the most valuable brandies in the world,” he added. n

SM Prime Holdings Inc. Vice President for Engineering Hans Sy Jr.; Engr. Dennis Abcede, president of DA Abcede and Associates; Arch. Gary Coscolluela, partner at WD Coscolluela and Associates; UP President Alfredo Pascual; Senator Edgardo Angara; SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Hans Sy; and Arch. Willy Coscolluela, principal architect at WD Coscolluela and Associates Photo by Misael Bacani, UPSIO

UP Bonifacio Global City to open…

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cluding those living in the nearby cities and provinces, desiring to partake in the knowledge generated by the country’s leading educators, scientists, artists, and public intellectuals.”

The UP BGC is the latest addition to the constituent units of UP, the country’s lone national university. These units include UP Diliman, with its extension programs in Pampanga and Subic; UP Los Baños; UP Manila, with its Schools of Health Sciences in Baler, Palo and Koronadal; UP Visayas, with its campuses in Miagao, Iloilo City and Tacloban; UP Open University; UP Mindanao in Davao City; UP Baguio; and UP Cebu, with campuses in Lahug and South Road Properties.

All in all, UP now has a total of 17

campus locations spread across the country.

The establishment of the UP BGC is another manifestation of UP’s commitment to broadening its academic reach and fulfilling its mandate to serve and lead as a graduate university, a research university, and a public service university under Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008.

SM, the building’s donor, is a long-time partner of UP in the nationwide college scholarship program under SM Foundation, Inc. Through this program, SM provides free college education to thousands of deserving children coming from financiallychallenged families. The program is also rooted in empowering the youth, giving them hope and honing their true potential while

investing both in their future and that of the whole country.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. President Hans T. Sy said, “It is with great pride that we turn over today the Henry Sy Sr. Hall to the highly esteemed University of the Philippines here at BGC. The building carries no less than my father’s name whose prime advocacy is education.”

The UP BGC campus is the product of years of conceptualization and planning, which ultimately bore fruit when UP and SM signed a memorandum of agreement in 2014, which paved the way for the construction of the UP BGC building – an investment that will yield immeasurable dividends in terms of shaping the minds that shape the nation. (up. edu.ph)

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MANY people, desiring to save money, try to handle their immigration matters on their own, rather than hiring an attorney. They may have a relative in the Philippines being processed for an immigrant visa, and when they have any questions, they call or email the National Visa Center (NVC) for advice and guidance on what to do and how to do it.

While the NVC can be very helpful in processing immigrant visa cases, they are not your “attorney,” who can offer legal advice and/or represent you.

Often, the public deals with the NVC’s “contractors” (similar to people at a call center who can answer routine questions, but it is really not their role or function to offer legal advice or represent you).

I know of many people who relied on the NVC for their immigration matter, but later on, their visa was refused at the Embassy. In one case, the family e-mailed the NVC, pointing out that one of their children was “aging out,” and sought assistance or guidance from the NVC in connection with the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The

Community Journal

NVC e-mailed back, acknowledging the inquiry, and advising the case was “currently under review for applicability of the Child Status Protection Act.” Thinking the NVC was acting on the case, the family sat back and waited for further word.

Unfortunately, the CSPA requires that if a child is eligible, the child must “seek to acquire” a visa within one year. That is accomplished by filing certain documents within one year of visa availability. But because the family was relying on, or waiting for, the NVC’s further action, they did nothing else, and that year went by. The child was ultimately refused a visa at the Embassy because the child did not “seek to acquire” the visa within one year. The State Department upheld the denial, stating that emailing the NVC for assistance was not enough to satisfy the requirement.

My point is that if you want legal advice, it is always best to consult an attorney. The various governmental agencies are not there to provide legal advice and/or represent you. If you sit back and wait for a government agency’s advice, deadlines may

be missed, and the government may not recognize your reliance on its advice as excusing you from compliance with the law.

For the people trying to “save money” by seeking “free” advice from the NVC, how do they now explain to their children who were left behind that they really got their money’s worth? If you have a legal problem, seek legal advice from an attorney. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

mental, labor, philanthropic and civic leaders.

“Our wetlands are integral to our way of life in the Bay Area. If we want to keep this a desirable place to live and work, we need to eliminate the trash and pollution that has built up from years of neglect and restore the natural environment. It will not only enhance the bay, but also help protect us from the risks associated with climate change,” said Dave Cortese, President, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

“Wetland restoration pencils out,” said Jim Wunderman, President & CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Not only do wetlands provide vital habitat for the fish, birds and other wildlife the Bay needs to thrive, but they also act as a natural sponge, absorbing storm surges and adapting to rising sea levels. This is especially important given recent estimates from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute that the region could suffer more than $10 billion in economic damages during a 150-year extreme storm event.

I applaud PG&E and Tony Earley for exhibiting the corporate leadership necessary to keep our Bay clean, healthy and safe.”

Protecting and restoring San Francisco Bay will benefit the community for generations by reducing trash and pollution and restoring habitat for fish, birds and wildlife along the Bay and its shoreline. Brigid McCormack, executive director of Audubon California, said, “A healthy San Francisco Bay is vital for the millions of birds that rely upon this ecosystem. But it is also a prerequisite for Bay Area communities and businesses to thrive, as well.

I am pleased PG&E understands the connection that we all have to the Bay and am grateful for their contribution to the Measure AA campaign.”

Studies have shown that should an extreme storm hit and trigger flooding, much of the Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, is at risk of suffering significant damage. This includes potential impacts to homes and businesses, as well as critical infrastructure, such as ports, airports, water, sewer, transportation and energy facilities. San Mateo County Economic Development Association President and CEO Rosanne Foust said, “If the Bay Area gets hit with an extreme storm and we experience severe flooding, the damages associated with it would reach into the billions, greatly impacting the business community. Supporting ‘Yes on Measure AA’ is a critical step in reducing that risk.”

Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO Carl Guardino said, “It’s rare to see such a diverse group of business, environmental, corporate and civic leaders unite for the same cause. It’s happening today because this initiative impacts each and every one of us who lives and works in the area. And because of the important innovation that happens here, its effects are far reaching.”

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said, “The Bay is the lifeblood of our region. Wetlands on its shoreline are critical for climate resilience in the decades ahead, and our future vitality as a region requires robust investment in their restoration.”

“Measure AA will provide funds for an integrated response to climate change that protects habitat around the Bay and enhances flood protection for people,” said Jay Ziegler, Director of Policy and External Affairs at The Nature Conservancy. “In its work around the Bay, The Nature Conservancy has partnered with

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PH banking industry in good shape

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine banking sector is in good shape as reflected by latest asset quality indicators, the Department of Finance, said.

“The banking system is growing faster than the economy, exceeding the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5 percent,” the department said in its latest Economic Bulletin.

Citing preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the department said the banking system’s total assets were continuing an upward growth trend, rising by 8.21 percent to P12.085 trillion as of end-2015.

Deposits rose by 8.29 percent to P9.231 trillion while year-end net interest income hit P351.84 billion, growing by 9.46 percent from the previous year.

“The increase in deposits, total assets, and interest income, reflect that the country’s banking sector is in good shape,” the Finance department said.

Nonperforming loans (NPL), meanwhile, slightly increased by 1.46 percent to P136 billion, while total loans rose by 11.96 percent to P6.529 trillion.

Still, gross NPL ratio improved to 2.15 percent from 2.40 in 2014.

“The NPL is accompanied by a decrease in the gross NPL ratio which signifies precaution-

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The NVC is not your ‘attorney’, for free legal advice

PG&E joins Bay Area environmental leaders, contributes $250,000 to support Yes On Measure AA for a Clean and Healthy Bay SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — As part of its commitment to public safety and serving the community, PG&E Corporation today made a $250,000 shareholderfunded commitment to the People for a Clean and Healthy Bay Coalition. With this contribution, PG&E joins a growing list of local leaders—including the Bay Area Council, Save the Bay, The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, San Mateo County Economic Development Association, The Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy and Audubon California—in support of environmental restoration, pollution reduction and critical flood protection around the San Francisco Bay. “Absolutely nothing is more important to us than keeping the public safe. Joining efforts like this will protect our communities and enable PG&E to continue to provide the reliable service our customers count on to power their lives,” said PG&E Corporation Chairman and CEO Tony Earley. “We are a company with a strong and enduring commitment to the environment and combating climate change. It’s rooted in a commitment to our customers and to doing our work in a way that protects the vital species and habitats that call our service area home and that’s why we’re pleased to be joining this important effort.”

If approved by voters in June, “Yes on Measure AA for a Clean and Healthy Bay” would raise $500 million over 20 years to fund critical conservation and flood protection projects, including the restoration of 15,000 acres of wetlands and creation of 25 miles of new Bay trails. CoChaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein, the campaign has received endorsement from local elected officials, and business, environ-

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL •MARCH 4-10, 2016

CREWMAN WENT HOME TO MANILA ON PROVISIONAL WAIVER AND CAME BACK TO THE US WITH A GREEN CARD — ON A SPECIAL ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel obtained a Provisional Waiver for Jerome, a crewman who jumped ship. Jerome had filed for Adjustment of Status on his own, but it was denied, because he was not eligible. Gurfinkel got an approved Provisional Waiver of the 3\10 year bar, and Jerome returned to the Philippines for visa processing at the US Embassy in Manila.

His wife and children wondered and prayed if Jerome could make it back to the US. Every crewman and their US spouse should watch the outcome of this Provisional Waiver case on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, March 6 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC.

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS MARCH 4-6

GK USA National Summit 2016 There is no better time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) to present the Philippines as the new land of opportunity, with a steadily rising economy--the fastest growing in the world next to China, according to Bloomberg--and alleviating poverty. GK continues to evolve as a movement, starting with philanthropy expanding to sustainability, and creating hybrid, innovative systems to end poverty. The Summit will provide an opportunity for Filipinos, GK volunteers, partners, and millennials to reconnect with their homeland, contribute to their country and social entrepreneurship, and help to build bridges for a thriving nation. Asian Americans will have a taste of the emerging market of world-class, affordable Philippine-made products, such as Bayani Brew, First Harvest Peanut Spreads, Human Nature beauty products, and Theo Philo chocolates. Support GK’s humanitarian efforts to provide home and livelihood to the poorest of the poor, and learn about GK, GK USA, and GK Enchanted Farm programs. The Summit will take place from March 4-6, 2016, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). To register, please visit gk-usa.org.

MARCH 5

“An Enchanted Evening” Dinner-Dance for Gawad Kalinga As part of the GK USA National Summit, you are cordially invited to a dinner-dance, themed “An Enchanged Evening,” to benefit programs of Gawad Kalinga and GK Enchanted Farm. The Dance will take place on Saturday, March 5, 7:00pm, at the Radisson Midtown at USC, Los Angeles (3540 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90007). The cost is $100, with formal attire. The all-night program will include dinner, induction of the GK-USA Board of Directors, remarks from the Chairman of the Board, and all-night dancing. For more details on sponsorship packages for Gawad Kalinga builders and feeding programs, as well as GKEF programs and scholarships, please visit gk-usa.org. For tickets, please visit gk-usa.org/dinnerdance.

MARCH 6

Love to Nippon 2016 “Love to Nippon 2016” is the fifth-anniversary memorial event and community-wide tribute to those lost and the survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The free event will support the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the devastated regions, and helps prepare and train Southern Californians for future natural disasters through sharing information and education, and designating “3.11” (March 11th) as the official statewide natural disaster preparedness training day. The formal program includes peaceful interfaith prayers, incense-burning, musical tributes, panel discussions, and outdoor information booths hosted by the American Red Cross, Home Depot, LA County Fire Dept., US Coast Guard, and affected prefectures of Japan. Love to Nippon 2016 takes place on Sunday, March 6, from 1 pm – 5:30 pm at LAPD Headquarters, Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium (100 West First Street, Los Angeles, California 90012). The event is free. To register (limited auditorium seating available), please visit www.lovetonippon.com. For more information, please call 310.484.1800 / lovetonippon2016@gmail.com.

Sacramento Showing of San Pedro Calungsod Movie, ‘Batang Martir’ What: A one-time showing of a previous Metro Manila Film Fest movie on the life and message of the 2nd Filipino saint, Pedro Calungsod. This showing is a fundraiser by Pacific Rim Heritage Foundation, to benefit the Filipino Community Cultural Center building fund.

Only 300 tickets are available.

When: Sunday, March 6 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm Where: Century Laguna 16 (Big Horn Blvd.), Elk Grove, CA 95758 Contacts: Josie Patria, (916) 392-6252; Lilia Rivera (916) 524-8008; Manny Buenaventura (916) 505-8555

MARCH 12

Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. Grand Marshals Gala The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) will launch the commemoration of the 118th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on Saturday, March 12 with the Grand Marshals Gala at the Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, New York 11102). The gala will take place from 7:00pm until 12:30am, honoring Dr. Leonidas “Ned” Pulido and wife Carmencita “Menchie” Pulido, who were chosen as the Grand Marshals of the 2016 Philippine Independence Day Parade in June. Gala tickets are $100 per person, with formal or Filipinana attire. Please contact the Chairwomen of the Grand Marshals Selection and Gala Committee, Ollie David (732-499-7995) and Helen LaBarbera (516-581-8830), ir OUDCU President Dr. Prospero Lim (347-248-5106) for gala invitations and more information. Interested parties may also call any of the Committee Co-chairs: Drs. Emilio and Fely Quines (347-254-2945), Drs. Rod and Elma Castillo (201-869-4044), Dr. Ely Parico (908-265-1293), Dulce Barangan (516-343-8592), Lauren Martinez (347-284-9886), Thelma Cabralda (631-331-5891), Zita Lapena (917-454-9344), Nida Cortez (646-649-5531), or Angie Molina (917-478-6754) or any of the PIDCI Board of Directors.

FACC-SLAA Induction Gala ary measures taken by banks to ensure good quality loans,” the Finance department noted.

The loan to deposit ratio hit 70.74 percent, a 2.31 percentage point rise from 2014 but lower than the peak 2012 level of 73.49 percent, it added.

“This reflects better utilization of funds and more economically viable activities while maintaining sufficient buffer,” the Finance department said.

Banks’ real and other properties acquired, meanwhile, totaled P103.9 billion, down an annual 6 percent.

The lenders’ return on assets was 1.17 percent while return on equity (ROE) was 9.48 percent last year, following a down-

ward trend.

The ROE net of GDP price deflator was 10.03 percent in 2015, higher than 9.58 percent in 2014, which the department said “implies stronger financial position despite lower lending spreads.”

In addition, it noted that the industry’s risk-based capital adequacy ratio for the past three years remained significantly greater than the 10 percent minimum imposed by the central bank on universal and commercial banks.

“The presence of adequate capital to cover for both credit and market risk will aid in withstanding volatilities caused by the financial market,” the Finance department said. n

The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce for South Bay Los Angeles Area (FACCSLAA) presents the annual fundraising gala and induction of its board members, to be held on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Gateway-Torrance (19800 S Vermont Ave. Torrance, CA 90502). Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera-Lim will be the inducting officer, with guest speakers Assemblymember Rob Bonta and former Assemblyman Warren Furutani. Attire for the dinner is Filipiniana/formal. The gala dinner is also a fundraiser for the FACC-SLAA Scholarship project of the chamber raising funds for deserving, eligible Filipino American students who are business (or related) majors in colleges and universities in the South Bay area. Four scholars who will each receive a $500 scholarship award. Fil-Am students applying for the scholarship should have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, low income/financial need, have no criminal record, must submit a one page essay on why the student is applying, and must be willing to volunteer or intern at FACC-SLAA for 80 hours.

The deadline to apply is on Feb 15 to apply. Interested students, please email facc.slaa@ gmail.com or fekoons@aol.com. Tickets for the FACC-SLAA Induction and Fundraising Gala are $60 each. Please email facc.slaa@gmail.com for more information, or contact President Cynthia Tan (310) 748-9688 or Fred Docdocil, VP Programs (310) 619-8101.

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

CJ

PeoPle & events

MARCH 4-10, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The Metamorphosis

ErniE D. DElfin (Part 1 of 2)

AS a senior citizen in America now, I find it very fascinating to study and compare the different generations and their collective impact in society, namely: the G.I. Generation (born 1901-1926) who are sometimes called the “savior of the world” that built a nation. Revered by millions, this group suffered greatly during the Great Depression and World Wars but they worked hard, prospered and lived happily.

They were considered energetic, humble, honest, excellent team players and community-minded citizens, as they are very patriotic Americans.

The next generation, called the Silents (born 1927-1945) was America’s “Last Innocent Generation.” This generation went through their formative years during an era of extreme conformity, but also during the postwar happy days, enjoying peace, jobs, television, cars, rock ‘n roll and Playboy Magazine! They were the drumbeats of the civil rights movement and the prefeminist movement. This generation was loyal to the corporation and many worked for just one employer until they retired or died! Many worked past normal retirement years and excelled in their professions but struggled as effective leaders in the late 1980 to late 2000s.

Then comes my own generation, called the Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), where thousands of us now are eligible for Medicare at 65 years old. This influx of seniors will have a significant impact on America’s

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

Different generations, Mayor Lee announces Vision Zero projects completed ahead of different strokes What is their best legacy to the next generation?

social security trust funds and Medicare reserves, especially considering that hundreds of thousands among us will live past the century mark due to advances in medicine and healthier lifestyles! Baby Boomers are career driven, assertive, demanding and fearless leaders. We are also considered as Golden Generation in the American workplace but are struggling with parenting and marriage issues. Our generation will be leading the nation into the 2030s as it started in the last decade or so. We’re also the generation that will never fully retire, and this will affect the nation’s workplace, marketplace and the culture of our communities.

After our Boomers generation comes our children’s generation, called the Gen X (born 1965 and 1981). A lot of these Gen X children experienced being latchkey kids — street smart but isolated and/or introverted. Often they were children of divorced couples, or were time-starved with dual-career parents. However, many of these children have become entrepreneurial, creative, independent and self-starters.

Making up for their parents’ lack of time growing up, they were eager to make marriage work, and “be there” for their own children.

Leading America in the 2030s and 2040s, they have great potential to be excellent leaders but still need effective training to become good “servants” or people leaders.”

After the Gen X comes the first wave of Millenials (born 19821996 and still coming!). It is too soon to predict the peculiar

or unique characteristic of this generation, as many of them have not finished college yet.

However, it appears that this first wave of the Millennials is a sharp departure from Gen X as they are more optimistic, idealistic, somewhat patriotic but over parented.

They are showing reverence for the wisdom of their elders but being suffocated with “extended adolescence” as they are delaying marriage and parenting. Unlike the older generations, many of them do not display loyalty to their employers and most of them will have multiple employers during their careers or employment, which will have direct significant impact on their families and their lifestyles of enjoying their lives to the hilt. Many of them do not really care for “home ownership” which was one of the hallmarks of older generations, as home ownership to them was a fulfillment of their “American dream.”

The Gen X and the Millennials are exhibiting minimalist behaviors meaning exerting the minimum efforts but expecting the maximum benefits. Compared the generations before them, many of them go to “easier” careers like humanities and less on math, engineering or business.

As a whole, these younger generations are less entrepreneurial and less adventurous. They seem contented playing and enjoying with their social tools of iPhones and Ipads that they cannot live without. (To be continued next week) ***

schedule with more on the way

City exceeds goal and completes 30 safety projects in 24 months; sets 2016 goal for additional 13 miles of treatments to make streets safer

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced the completion of 30 high-priority safety projects in support of Vision Zero, the City’s goal to eliminate all traffic deaths in San Francisco, six additional projects from initial goal.

“We are moving rapidly to meet our Vision Zero goals to make sure our streets are safe for everyone whether they are walking, biking, driving or taking transit,” said Mayor Lee. “We completed our high-priority Vision Zero projects with six additional projects ahead of schedule and we are committed to do even more. Next year we will make 13 more miles of our streets safer and better with increased enforcement and additional education to protect our residents and visitors.”

As part of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the SFMTA developed a list of 24 expedited Vision Zero projects in 2014 to improve safety on San Francisco’s streets. The agency had committed to implementing these 24 Vision Zero engineering projects in 24 months – by February 2016.

By November 2015, the SFMTA not only completed those 24 projects ahead of schedule, it committed to delivering six more by the original February 2016 deadline. The agency has now completed those 30 high-priority Vision Zero projects, along with more than 100 other projects that E-mail writer : ernie.delfin@gmail.com support the City’s goal of ending Visit: www.gkerc.org traffic deaths in a decade.

“When we completed the 24 projects ahead of time, we added six more high-priority projects to reflect our agency’s sense of urgency and philosophy that traffic deaths are not acceptable,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin. “Getting to zero traffic deaths is achievable. We are moving in the right direction by continuing to build safer streets, increasing enforcement, expanding our education work HERCULES CYCLING CLUB. Want to get into cycling or looking to ride with a group? Established in August 2013, The Hercules Cycling Club was and advocating for supportive organized to promote the enjoyment of cycling in our local community. We are a collection of cyclists from different backgrounds and skill policy changes.” levels that organize fun group rides open to everyone, and support events and activities that encourage cycling. Membership is not limited Guided by San Francisco’s Vito Hercules City residents, we have members all over the Bay Area including San Francisco, Fremont in the south and Fairfield up north. sion Zero resolution, these projSafety comes first on our rides, and no one gets dropped nor left behind! For more information on the club and ride schedules, go to www. ects were selected because they herculescyclingclub.net or email herculescyclingclub@gmail.com.

were located on San Francisco’s High-Injury Network, where just 12 percent of San Francisco streets account for 70 percent of severe and fatal traffic injuries.

Furthermore, these projects were visible, demonstrated a range of safety treatments, and were thought to be feasible within 24 months.

“Walk SF commends the City on exceeding their goal,” said Nicole Ferrara, Executive Director of Walk San Francisco, which leads San Francisco’s Vision Zero Coalition. “We’ve seen a shift in the City’s ability to deliver projects quickly. Now we’re eager to see the bigger projects, like Better Market Street, Polk Street, and Masonic, which include more drastic improvements, take shape in 2016 to help move the needle on Vision Zero.”

The 30th high-priority Vision Zero engineering project completed brought bulbouts and better street lighting to the Persia Triangle in the Excelsior neighborhood, bound by Persia, Mission and Ocean streets. Bulbouts increase pedestrian safety by shortening crossing distances, making people walking more visible, and slowing turning vehicles. Better lighting also increases nighttime visibility of all road users.

A full list of the 30 Vision Zero projects completed can be found online at: sfmta.com/ 30VZprojectsin24months.

In addition to these newly engineered streets, the SFMTA is incorporating street safety into every project the agency works on, from transit improvements on the Mission corridor to creating a safety video which has been

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

viewed thousands of times by all city agency large vehicle drivers and large vehicle operators at various organizations such as AC Transit, Marin Airporter and Meals on Wheels.

By the end of 2016, the City will have improved hundreds of the highest need intersections with near-term safety measures like high-visibility crosswalks, traffic signal re-timing and red zones. The City will also start major construction efforts to make high-injury corridors like Masonic Avenue, 2nd Street and Polk Street safer.

In 2016, SFMTA will focus on reducing excessive speed citywide. Speed is the leading cause of traffic collisions in San Francisco and greatly reduces a person’s chance of surviving a collision. Someone hit by a car going 20 mph has a nine in 10 chance of surviving. Someone hit by a car going 40 mph only has a two in 10 chance of surviving.

In 2014, the City and County of San Francisco adopted Vision Zero as a policy, committing to build safer streets, educate the public on traffic safety, enforce traffic laws, and adopt policy changes that save lives. Engineering safer streets is one component of the city’s Two-Year Vision Zero Action Strategy, which outlines the projects and policy changes the City is pursuing in the next two years to increase traffic safety on San Francisco’s streets. The Action Strategy encompasses a range of solution to address street safety through engineering, education, enforcement, evaluation and policy.

For more information, go to: visionzerosf.org. n

FOSTER HOMECARE

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL •MARCH 4-10, 2016

CJ

Kearny Street Workshop’s NAFCON congratulates Leonardo DiCaprio ‘Celebrate Your Body’ on March 5 A body-positive fashion show & expo featuring designers and stylists of color FOR one night only, Kearny Street Workshop will transform the Oakland Asian Cultural Center into a dazzling runway showcasing designs and styles by local, fashion innovators of color. Hosted by writer/activist, Virgie Tovar (writer for Buzzfeed and founder of Lose Hate, Not Weight), Celebrate Your Body will feature a lineup of fierce models who represent the diversity and range of bodies mainstream fashion often ignores. With performances by drag troupe, The Rice Rockettes (America’s Got Talent), and emerging indie/folk trio, Los Sirenas, this promises to be a fashion experience unlike any other.

It will be one that will challenge the status quo of today’s fashion industry and prove that the celebration of all the bodies we arrive in (via age, size, color, gender, ability) are what’s truly timeless in fashion.

“Body positivity is about liberation from harmful values that undermine us as people of color,” said KSW Program Manager Jason Bayani. “This conversation is important and Kearny Street Workshop, an organization whose existence is owed to the civil rights era and our fight as Asian Americans to find value in our identity, created this program three years ago to celebrate the diversity of our bodies in the same ways we celebrate multiple forms of expression from clothing design to music to literature and beyond.”

The eight designers whose work will be featured at Celebrate Your Body range in aesthetic from the avant-garde to geek chic.

THÚY Custom Clothier specializes in personal styling and custom design for butch-identified, queer women, and the transgender community.

Kalakari, is a South Asian arts collective whose clothing line is influenced by their own personal intersection between Indian

Photo by Jonathan Fong

culture and hip-hop.

A Red Feather strives to bring geek fashion to plus-size nerds by incorporating cosplay and fashion together to create one fun fusion.

Fashion Penpals showcases and shares fashion for every size, shape, and income.

Consters Inc. intersects craft, community, and a warm street style into a wide range of handknitted accessories.

Nik Kacy specializes in men’s style shoes that are accessible to all genders.

Watasenia is a slow fashion brand aiming to make sustainable fashion more exciting, eccentric, and accessible.

Jojistarr aims to provide custom-tailored clothes to the people whom mainstream fashion forgets.

For several years now KSW has invited local designers and stylists to showcase their innovative looks on a unique runway that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and how good we can look in any body. In 2015, Project

Runway All Star Kini Zamora, showcased some of his latest designs at the event and KSW honored actress Lynn Chen for her work confronting body image in Asian American communities through her website, Thick Dumpling Skin. Every year this showcase continues to challenge the status quo and aims to further the conversation around how we value our identities and our bodies. This is a space where fashion refuses to conform and this year we’re asking the question, “How do you celebrate your body?” and we intend to explore the myriad of ways by which we do.

About Kearny Street Workshop Kearny Street Workshop’s mission is to present, produce, and promote art that empowers Asian Pacific American artists and communities. We envision a more just society that fully incorporates Asian Pacific American voices informed by our cultural values, historical roots, and contemporary issues. n

Call for nominations for AARP’s Asian…

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munity Facebook page.

“We encourage everyone to nominate the passionate and committed individuals in our community for their work helping older adults,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “This award is our way to say thank you to individuals who are making the lives of our older adults better.

This award is also an opportunity to inspire others to work for or to volunteer time assisting our elders.”

To submit a nomination, visit facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity to fill out the online form.

Eligible nominees include any employee or volunteer of a nonprofit organization that serves

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders age 50-plus. Nominees can be any age and ethnicity.

Finalists will be chosen from the submitted nominees and featured on a Facebook photo album for open voting. Users can “Like” the finalist to cast their vote during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Three heroes will be announced in June, and they and their organizations will each receive a cash prize of $1,000.

For more information about how AARP helps Asian American & Pacific Islander families get more out of life, visit aarp.org/ aapi, facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity and @AARPAAPI. About AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that

Family business in the…

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Rabbit (prosperity), the Dragon and Snake (victory luck), Horse (windfall), and Rooster (romance luck). (sorianoasia@gmail.com) *** Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author, Executive Director of Asean-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory and Program Director for Real Estate and the former Chair of the Marketing Cluster of the ATENEO Graduate School of Business. He is slated

to deliver a talk on Philippine Business and Franchising Opportunities. The first talk is in NY on Feb 1 at the Philippine Consulate and Boston on Feb 4 at the Harvard Campus and in LA. The talk is organized by the Philippine Consulate in New York, in coordination with the Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (bkpinc.org), the Harvard Philippine Forum, TFC with Asian Journal as media partner. For those interested to attend, pls email nzuelke@gmail.com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusines.com.

helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org. n

PG&E joins Bay Area environmental…

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public agencies, local activists, and land owners around the Bay to conserve ecological hotspots on the verge of development.

Through these actions, today these lands and waters are part of the Bay Area’s renowned urban parklands.”

PG&E’s commitment to the environment, which includes providing its customers with some of the nation’s cleanest energy— with more than 55 percent coming from non-greenhouse gas emitting sources—has grown to include a focus on adapting to changing climate conditions, and ensuring its system is more resilient to extreme weather conditions. This ranges from modernizing infrastructure with new technologies to collaborating on emergency response plans and procedures to address near-term risks such as storms, heat waves and wildfires. PG&E also maintains a team of scientists who monitor sea level rise, temperature increases and other factors to assess the likelihood of potential impacts in the future.

The San Francisco Bay is chal-

lenged by trash, toxins and sealevel rise among other threats.

For the Bay to be healthy and sustainable, it ultimately needs 100,000 acres of wetlands to filter pollution from its waters and increase habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife that make up its rich and diverse ecosystem.

These wetlands will also allow for further expansion of public access to the shoreline, and protect lowlying communities and critical infrastructure from the increased risk of flooding due to extreme weather and rising seas brought about by climate change.

Each year, rising seas swamp more and more of the shoreline, leaving less wetlands to restore and making restoration of those that remain more expensive to complete. The recently completed Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Update, a report that represents the consensus of scientists who study the San Francisco Bay, concluded that only 20 to 30 years remain for restoration that had previously been planned to take place over a period of 50 years.

Right now, the Bay has only

44,000 acres of tidal wetlands, and while more than 30,000 shoreline acres have been preserved from development and are awaiting restoration, lack of funding has slowed progress.

Yes on Measure AA will generate sorely needed funding for the restoration of San Francisco Bay wetlands, benefiting the people, wildlife, and economy of Bay Area communities. This local funding will also help the region leverage the additional state and federal funding necessary to finish the job.

About Yes On Measure AA for a Clean and Healthy Bay People for a Clean and Healthy Bay is a coalition of business, labor, and environmental leaders working together to pass a $12 per year, 20-year parcel tax on the June 2016 ballot in all nine Bay Area counties. It would raise $500 million for Bay wetlands restoration and shoreline protection. We hope that you will attend to learn more about our campaign and how to get involved.

For more information, please visit http://peopleforacleanandhealthybay.org.

ONE of the most notable moments from the Oscars occurred when Leonardo DiCaprio, upon receiving his first ever Oscar award, closed his acceptance speech to shine light on the issue of climate change. DiCaprio affirmed to the millions watching throughout the world, “[Climate change] is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) congratulates Mr. DiCaprio, not only for winning best actor, but also for using his famed moment to encourage the world into action.

Over the last several years, the need to combat climate change has become very clear to the Filipino people. Warmer temperatures and rising sea levels associated with climate change have devastating effects to less developed countries such as the Philippines, which in the past years has been repeatedly rocked by more deadly and destructive typhoons, killing several hundred in 2009 (Typhoon Ketsana) to several thousand in 2013 (Typhoon Haiyan).

“NAFCON agrees with Mr. DiCaprio. We all have to take action to change the undeniable trend of worsening climate-related phenomena from super-typhoons in the Philippines to droughts in California,” says NAFCON Information Officer Jun Cruz.

“Sea levels this century are rising at its fastest rate in 2800 years because the modern world has become so dependent on fossil fuels and environmental destruction. We have to work together to find better alternatives that are healthier for our environment and our future. It is in the interest of not just Filipinos but the whole world to change things. It is just more pressing for countries like the Philippines because there are many communities including many indigenous peoples whose entire livelihood is already being taken away by worsening flooding, landslides, typhoons and other climate related catastrophes,” continues Cruz.

NAFCON also appreciates that Mr. DiCaprio emphasized that it is people in less developed nations, like the Philippines, who bare the bigger burden from climate change. In his speech DiCaprio continued, “We need to support

leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this.”

Currently, NAFCON is engaged in an effort to support indigenous communities in the Philippines who are struggling to combat the effects of big polluters and Climate Change. Sadly, Philippine President Aquino has long supported corporations that prioritize profits over people and the environment. NAFCON launched the Adopt a Community Program last year to help communities develop infrastructure and thrive in their education in the face of large scale environmental destruction.

Through our Adopt A Community Program, NAFCON not only works to build things such as water systems in partnership with indigenous communities but also campaigns for their defense against government and military harassment, detention, and displacement.

“Last November I met Lumad children, indigenous people from the southern part of the Philippines, as they camped out in the capital city of Manila to bring their demands to the Aquino government. I realized that the government’s loyalty for corpo-

rate destruction of the environment is reinforced by its active suppression of the indigenous people who are standing up for the survival of their families and their right to education. The Lumad children recounted how they have been forced to evacuate from their communities as the Philippine military burn down their schools, illegally arrest their community leaders, and use intimidation to dissuade any forms of resistance,” remarks NAFCON Alliance Secretary AV David.

NAFCON echoes this open letter to Mr. DiCaprio from one of our community partners in the Philippines that draws attention to human rights violations experienced by the indigenous people and their determination to protect the environment and their lives.

“If by chance, Mr. DiCaprio would be interested in visiting the Philippines to see firsthand the effects of climate change on indigenous communities there, NAFCON extends an open invitation to this year’s Oscar’s Best Actor as well as anyone who might wish to go on our annual educational and solidarity trips to the archipelago,” concludes David.

For more information on NAFCON and its Adopt A Community Program or our annual exposure trips please go to www.nafconusa.org or email info@nafconusa.org. n

CJ

MARCH 4-10, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, March 4, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 4, 2016

CAAMFest 2016 features Filipino-interest films and people

Festival runs from March 10-20 to expand its legacy of Asian and Asian American storytelling

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe /AJPress

TWO Filipino-interest films as well as two Fil-Am artists will take the stage in this year’s Center for Asian American Media Film Festival (CAAMFest), which will take place from March 10-20 here in the Bay Area. Formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), CAAMFest is an 11-day celebration of film, music, food and digital media from the world’s most innovative Asian and Asian American artists.

This year the Festival welcomes the biggest change since its rebrand with fresh scenery in the Mission district. Joining Castro Theatre, New People Cinema and New Parkway Theater (Oakland), CAAM adds the venerable 106-year-old Roxie Theater and the newly minted Alamo Drafthouse to its expansive slate of venues and neighborhoods.

“Cultural preservation and innovation are core to CAAM’s mission. With both the Roxie and Alamo, we continue to elevate and explore this intersection of old and new, ” says Stephen Gong, CAAM’s Executive Director. “We’re excited to expand to the culturally-rich Mission district and to continue our dynamic programs in film, music and food.”

Celebrating the courage of the Filipino people The islands of the Philippines are home to a group of proud, patriotic and strong people.

CAAMFest 2016 celebrates this courage by presenting four powerful films, including closing night film, “Right Footed” and the Spotlight feature on local treasure HP Mendoza.

Director Paul Soriano’s “Kid Kulafu” tells the story of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, chronicling his life before the championships and global success. Soriano captures Pacquiao’s

Jessica Cox, world’s only armless pilot, stands in the cockpit of an Erco Ercoupe airplane. Cox is the subject of the new documentary film ‘Right Footed.’

Photo by Amy Haskell for Nick Spark Productions LLC

HP Mendoza

battles with poverty, bullying and abandonment as he overcomes hurdles and finds his strength.

Locally in the Bay Area, Christopher CC Wong’s “Be About It” will be shown on Sunday, March 13 (Alamo) and Saturday, March 19 (New Parkway). The documentary follows reporter Alan Wang and the late Fil-Am athlete AJ Jabonero as they navigate living with hepatitis B. The disease looms both large and minute, captured in life-altering and day-today moments, and their paralleled narratives show the reach and cost of hepatitis B in the Asian American community.

‘Be About It’

CAAMFest 2016 celebrates the close of the festival with Right Footed, a compelling documentary about expert martial artist, disability rights activist and the world’s only armless airplane pilot, Fil-Am Jessica Cox, who was born without arms due to a rare birth defect. Overcoming the physical challenges, as well as the growing pains as a child, Jessica takes life into her own “feet” and tells the world, you don’t need arms to lift people up. Director Nick Spark explores Cox’s incredible journey as she overcomes adversity, finds romance and awakens hope in others around the world.

‘Kid Kulafu’ Director, writer, actor, On Thursday, March 17, producer, musician and CAAMMendoza will also kick off the Fest alum HP Mendoza is a local Asian Art Museum’s new series, treasure. Born and raised in San Takeover. He will host a oneFrancisco and currently living in night event and party at the the Mission District, Mendoza’s museum, mashing up his preocdiverse portfolio includes the “Fruit Fly” (SFIAAFF 2009) and “I cupations with musicals, horror films, 8-bit games and virtual Am Ghost” (SFIAAFF 2012), as reality. well as a highlight, “Colma: The Fil-Am actor Vincent RodriMusical,” which is celebrating its guez III from the hit series “Crazy 10-year anniversary.

Ex-Girlfriend” will also be part of To mark this milestone, CAAMFest will be reuniting many the panel discussion, Changing the Channel on Gender Roles. of the cast for an unforgettable, Joined by other actors and filmprofanity-laced sing-along at the makers, Rodriguez will discuss Alamo Drafthouse on March 13 the gradually changing landat 3pm.

scape for gender roles and what they hope the future holds. The discussion will also explore the bane of existence for many Asian American actors: typecasting.

Event will be held at the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts on March 13, 6:30pm.

Pricing for all regular screenings: General admission tickets - $14. Tickets for students, seniors (65+) and disabled adults - $13 (Limit 1 per program with ID only). Tickets for Center for Asian American Media members - $12 (Limit 2 per program per membership ID). Pricing ex-

cludes special events and galas.

Tickets go on sale to CAAM members only on Thursday, February 11, 2016 (online only) and open to the general public beginning Monday, February 15, 2016 (online only). Tickets can be purchased in-person at our CAAMFest box office at Alamo Drafthouse starting Thursday, March 3, 2016.

For more information about films, events and screening schedules, log on to www.caamedia.org. *Special thanks to Vince Johnson of Larsen Associates.

Oscar Night: Asian American onstage Pokwang nixes Kapamilya comedy queen title presence, reactions to racist joke by

Marinel r. cruz InquIrer

‘Inside Out’ Filipino director takes home prize By allyson

escoBar AJPress

AMID the glitz and glamor of the much-awaited Academy Awards, the 88th annual awards show was criticized after the show’s host, comedian Chris Rock, made race the butt of his jokes.

“I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” Rock said to an audience during his opening monologue. “Hey, if you want black nominees every year, you need to just have black categories.

That’s what you need. You need to have black categories.”

“Hollywood is sorority racist,” he continued.

Another tense moment occurred when Rock brought out three young Asian Americans for a joke that perpetuates racial stereotypes. “The results of tonight’s Academy Awards have been tabulated by the accounting firm of Pricewaterhouse Coopers. They sent us their most dedicated, accurate, and hard-working representatives,” Rock said, before three Asian American kids wearing professional attire came out onstage, named “Ming Zhu, Bao Ling, and David Moskowitz.”

“If anybody’s upset about that joke, just tweet about it on your phone, which was also made by these three kids,” Rock continued, as the audience laughed at the Asian kids-dressed as accountants/bankers--standing onstage.

The award joke upset many people and minority groups alike, many of whom took to social media to express their views.

“Seriously though, when is this going to change?!? Tired

Ronnie & Tess del Carmen at the 2016 Oscars both in Oliver Tolentino

of it being ‘cool’ and ‘ok’ to bash Asians [shaking my head] #Oscars,” tweeted basketball star Jeremy Lin. “Umm, no @chrisrock.

Using little Asian kids to joke about math stereotypes and child labor isn’t funny,” said Grace Hwang Lynch (@HapaMamaGrace).

“Did that appalling joke about Asian kids actually happen?” asked Justin Chang (@ JustinCChang).

Even politicians got involved. CA Rep. Judy Chu of District 27, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, released the statement: ““It is not right to protest the exclusion of one group by making jokes at the expense of another. I am so disappointed that the

Photo by Sthanlee B Mirador

Academy and ABC would rely on such offensive characterizations, especially given the controversy over the lack of diversity.”

“While much attention was paid to the way African Americans have been ignored

by Hollywood, true diversity must include other minorities as well. It is outrageous that the only role that Asian Americans had at last night’s Oscars was to appear as the butt of a joke. Young children stood up on stage as the audience was made to laugh at Asian and Jewish names,” Chu continued. “Reinforcing stereotypes of Asians as good at math or child laborers runs counter to multicultural understanding and inclusion. It’s time for HolContinued on Page SF3

COMEDIENNE Pokwang refuses to be called the reigning Kapamilya comedy queen, admitting that she still has a lot to learn as an actress.

“Accepting that title will put too much pressure on my shoulders. I’m just happy because I’m slowly able to achieve my life goals,” Pokwang said at a recent media gathering for her latest soap series, “We Will Survive.”

She further explained: “I still have a lot to improve on as an actress. That’s what I want to focus on right now.”

Pokwang, who has been in the business for 12 years now, said she had her share of problems that she thankfully was able “to survive.”

“The saddest was when our noontime show, ‘Wowowee,’ was replaced (in 2010),” she said. “I really loved that show. I enjoyed hosting so much.”

She continued: “I was able to survive it because I had the full trust of my network bosses. They took care of me by giving me worthwhile projects.”

Pokwang plays Wilma in “We

Will Survive.” She will work closely with another comedienne, Melai Cantiveros, who plays Maricel.

“I may be older than Melai and act like her big sister most of the time, but I also learn a lot from her—like how she handles her married life. She’s actually very mature,” Pokwang shared with the Inquirer. “Her life story is inspiring. I’ve been her supporter since she joined ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ and actually voted for her.”

Also part of the cast are

Pokwang: “Accepting that title will put too much pressure on my shoulders. I’m just happy because I’m slowly able to achieve my life goals.”

Regine Angeles and Bea Saw, who play Wilma and Maricel’s friends, Sheila and Ana Fe, respectively.

Business unit head Ginny Monteagudo-Ocampo said her team chose “We Will Survive” as the followup to their successful drama show, “Ningning,” because “the characters of Melai and Pokwang are unique and refreshing.”

Resilient survivors “Filipinos are very resilient.

We’re survivors, and we should be proud that we are,” she observed. “The show will highlight the Filipino people’s strength and ability to face problems not just as individuals, but as a nation.”

“We Will Survive” will replace the ABS-CBN drama, “Pasion de Amor,” today. Pokwang admitted to feeling apprehensive because, she said, her program has big shoes to fill.

“The show will offer something new—a different flavor to the usual fare. The gorgeous cast members of ‘Pasion de Amor’ showed their abs. Mayroon din kaming abs, nasa mukha nga lang.”

“We Will Survive,” directed

by Jeffrey Jeturian, also features Carlo Aquino, Jeric Raval, Alcris Galura, Maris Racal and Vangie Labalan.

Features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – March 4, 2016

Oscar Night: Asian American onstage...

Oscar winner wears piña

by Oliver Tolentino From Page SF2

lywood to see Asians as more than just punchlines.”

The historic lack of Asian and Asian American representation and recognition at the Oscars was also called out by viewers. According to The Economist and NBC News, Asians make up less than 5 percent of the “Hollywood breakdown” of actors, writers, and directors nominated for an award.

“How unnecessary to make fun of Asians on the Oscars, when Hollywood isn’t even evolved enough to give Asians Asian-specific roles yet,” tweeted Jen Chae (@fromheadtotoe).

Several familiar Asian Americans appeared onstage to present, including South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, Priyanka Chopra, and Dev Patel. Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an award for her short subject documentary, “A Girl in the River.”

Disney/Pixar’s ‘Inside Out,’ a colorful story about emotions and the wide complexities of the human brain, took home the prize for Best Animated Feature. It was the eighth Pixar film to win in the category, according to USA Today.

“Regardless of whether we get a gold man or not, we get to make stuff,” said the film’s director, Pete Docter. “This film was really born from watching our kids grow up, which is not easy. Anyone out there who is in junior high, high school, working it out, suffering, there are days you’re going to feel sad. You’re going to feel angry, you’re going to be scared.

That’s nothing you can choose, but you can make stuff.”

The movie’s co-director, Ronnie del Carmen (from Cavite City and alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas), is the first Filipino to codirect a film at Pixar, as well as the first Filipino to earn an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

Fil-Am Oscar winner Ronnie del Carmen, who co-directed and co-wrote “Inside Out,” wore a piña tuxedo by Hollywood Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 28. “Inside Out” won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. Co-director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera collected the award.

Del Carmen personally was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for the same film, along with four others. The script was based on a story del Carmen created with Docter.

Going into the awards night, “Inside Out” was favored to win best animated film, but it was a different story in the original screenplay category, as “Inside Out” was competing with “Straight Outta Compton,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Ex Machina,” and “Spotlight,” which won. While it’s often a cliché, it really was a win for del Carmen just to be nominated in this category with all of the live action films.

Del Carmen, who previously worked on “Up,” chose a “Ronnie should be up here, too,” said producer Jonas Rivera in the backstage press room at the Oscars. “Ronnie is an essential part of the movie.

He contributed so much to the emotion, the heart of the movie, and we are incredibly lucky to work with him.”

“I am so grateful to be a part of this movie, working with Pete Docter and being part of Pixar! This movie would not be made if our champion, John Lasseter, did not push for it and support it all the way,” Del Carmen told Inquirer. “As an immigrant from the Philippines, I kept my goals modest and stayed realistic. Because of where I come from, we worked so hard for so little back then.

midnight blue Oliver Tolentino piña tuxedo to wear to the awards. His wife, Tess del Carmen, also chose a Tolentino creation, opting for an emerald green lace mermaid gown.

Tolentino is known for promoting Philippine eco fabrics, especially in Hollywood.

Del Carmen is the first Oscar nominee to wear piña to the Academy Awards. Nominee Matthew Libatique wore an abaca tie with his Tolentino tuxedo in 2011 when he was nominated for cinematography for Black Swan. Celebrities to wear Oliver’s piña outfits in Hollywood have included Carrie Underwood, Emmy Rossum, Jessica Alba, Maria Menounos, Sophia Bush, Tara Lipinski, and Maggie Grace.

Tolentino’s creations are lucky for animated films (and for himself). At the 86th Academy Awards, the designer became the first Filipino in 53 years to dress an Oscar winner when Jennifer Lee won for Frozenwhile wearing his black gown. For more info: www.OliverTolentino. com.

So this means so much to our family for our story.”

At Sunday night’s show, Del Carmen and his wife Theresa wore Philippine-made creations

by Hollywood red carpet designer, Oliver Tolentino.

“This is for my parents who worked so hard to save us; my country where so many are like me wishing for what seems impossible,” he continued. “For my people in the Philippines, I can tell you—dreams keep you going. Awards or no awards, let this be a point of reference that anyone can dream the impossible. Do the work, be as good as you can be, fail and learn as you go and you’ll get to a grand place where you’ve become the dream.”

As thank you to guests, McDonald’s to offer some of its most iconic items on one value menu FOR the first time in the company’s history, McDonald’s USA is offering four of its most iconic menu items—the Big Mac made with 100 percent beef, a 10-piece order of crispy Chicken McNuggets made with white meat, its golden Filet-O-Fish and the seared on the grill Quarter Pounder with Cheese—on a national value menu.

Starting Feb. 29 nationwide, customers can mix and match any two of these McDonald’s classics for just $5 as part of a limited time offer.

“We wanted to thank our guests for providing their feedback as we continue to build a better McDonald’s,” said Chef Jessica Foust, McDonald’s director of culinary innovation.

“Offering All Day Breakfast, refreshing classics like the Egg McMuffin and furthering our sustainability efforts are all examples of us listening to our guests. As a thank you and as proof that we will continue to listen, we are making our most iconic menu items available for a limited time at never before seen value.”

While these classics have been discounted before as limited time offers, they have never been offered all together on one value menu. But these items are no strangers to making history: • They’ve stood the test of time with the youngest of the group, Chicken McNuggets, holding a spot on our national

menu for 33 years, while the veteran, Filet-O-Fish, boasts 51 years.

• The Big Mac and FiletO-Fish were all developed

by McDonald’s franchisees – Jim Delligatti and Lou Groen respectively.

• The Economist Magazine publishes the Big Mac Index to annually contrast the value of foreign currencies against the US dollar.

• All four menu items originated in the US but are now sold in many other countries— most notable is the Big Mac which today is sold in more than 100 countries.

And now, the Big Mac, 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish and Quarter Pounder With Cheese will add

another milestone to the history books by coming together for customers to mix and match and enjoy at a great price.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to approximately 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 US restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s US restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. *Advertising Supplement

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celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 4, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar GONE too soon—that is how many people in Philippine showbiz have described how they feel about the passing of box-office director Wenn Deramas last Monday, Feb. 29 due to cardiac arrest. He was only 49 years old.

Deramas’ friend, talent manager June Rufino, told ANC that the director was rushed Capitol Medical Center at 2am, after he learned that his own brother just passed away due to a heart attack.

Rufino also said that Deramas almost had a heart attack two years, and underwent angioplasty in 2015.

Deramas’ success in showbiz did not come easy. He was, in fact, a Hotel and Restaurant Management degree holder from the University of Santo Tomas. His closest involvement in acting was being a member of the Teatro Tomasino.

After graduating from college, Deramas worked as a waiter at the Aristocrat Restaurant. In 1990, he ventured into TV as a production assistant for the show “Tatak Pilipino,” while also being a writer for “Teysi ng Tahanan.” Later on he was promoted as executive producer of “Calvento Files.”

He moved on to directing

TV and movie director Wenn Deramas passes away at 49

different soap operas like “Mula sa Puso” (both the original and remake), “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” (1999-2001), “Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan” (20012003) and “Bituin” (2002-2003).

Deramas also made box-office films including the “Ang Tanging Ina” series with comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas and several blockbuster movies of Vice Ganda.

Vice Ganda, who was the star of Deramas’ 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry and the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, “Beauty and the Bestie,” tweeted his grief about the director’s death.

“Isang napakalungkot na araw. Sagad hanggang buto ang lungkot. Paalam Direk Wenn. Mahal na mahal kita,” the comedian said on Twitter.

Other celebrities who have worked and have become friends with Deramas expressed their shock about his unexpected passing.

“It’s too soon Direk Wenn.

My condolences to your family,” tweeted actor John Arcilla.

“Direk Wenn Deramas rest in peace. God bless your soul.”

“My heart is totally broken as I found out that Direk Wenn

Box office director Wenn Deramas passed away last Monday, Feb. 29, due to cardiac arrest. The showbiz industry was stunned with his unexpected death, considering he was only 49 years old.

Deramas passed away when he was at the ER trying 2 revive his sister. M heartbroken,” Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano posted on her Twitter.

Singer Dingdong Avanzado twitted, “Really sad to hear the news. RIP Direk Wenn Deramas we will miss your brilliancy as an artist and as a dear friend.”

And although Deramas was with the Kapamilya network, that didn’t stop artists and talents from the other networks

Miguel Tanfelix, one of the Kapuso network’s youngest actor, is now the lead star of the daily teleserye, “Wish I May,” with onscreen partner Bianca Umali.

Shown in photo are (L-R) Jasmin Campbell, Patricia Maldonado, Christy Brosamie and Zoe Ann Pasena, candidates for the US Ilocanos National Association, Inc.’s Miss Beauty Queen for 2016. Board member Vic Barba is part of the organizing committee organizing this project. The candidates were presented last Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Grand Ballroom of the Grosvenor Hotel in Burlingame.

JD Charisma is shown with his friend, newly crowned Miss California Teen USA 2016 Athenna Crosby.

Actor/recording artist JD Charisma was a featured guest artist in the TV show Signature Silicon Valley (aired on CreaTV Comcast Channel 30 & 15). JD is shown in photo with TV host and producer, Ms. Janice Edwards.

to express their grief. Kapuso comedian Michael V. posted on his Twitter, “My condolences sa family ni Wenn Deramas.

Worked together sa ‘Ready Get Set, Go!’ & ‘Teysi Ng Tahanan.’

Will miss his infectious laugh.”

Among those very close to Deramas also expressed their grief through social media. Queen of All Media Kris Aquino, hailed the late director as a “true inspiration.”

“He made being a creative, ratings & box office genius in both television & film seem effortless & easy. Mapagmahal na ama, magaan at masayang katrabaho,” Aquino twitted.

The actress/TV host has worked with Deramas in “Sisterakas,” while her son, Bimby, was part of the film “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin” in 2014.

Actrss Claudine Barretto, who has worked with Deramas in “Mula sa Puso,” “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” and “Marina,” said that the director has been her “source of strength.”

On her Instagram post she wrote, “To my mentor my friend & in so many ways he has been

Susan Pacifico, a community and civic leader from San Jose, is leaving for the Philippines on Saturday, March 5, to fulfill her yearly commitment of helping poor families in her hometown in Baguio City by distributing food and other aid.

Handsome Kapamilya actor Enrique Gil will be in California with his loveteam Liza Soberano as part of their LizQuen 2016 Tour on Saturday, March 16 in Vacaville.

my strength. i woke up at 10am today & saw 28 messages asking me f i already know that Direk Wenn passed away. i dont know how to put in words the pain im feeling now. direk sobrang thank u sa lahat. mula sa aking puso, saan ka man, hanggang sa dulo ng walang hanggan wala kang kapalit. i luv u so so much!”

Lastly, the most pain in Deramas sudden passing was felt

by Delas Alas, whose friendship with the director was tested last December when they clashed when the comedienne’s film entry, “My Bebe Love” went head-to-head with “Beauty and the Bestie” for the top spot in terms of revenues in the 2015 MMFF. On her Instagram account, Delas Alas simply posted a photo saying “Rest in Peace” with the caption, “Mahal kita.”

Our condolences to Deramas’ family.

Aiza & Liza on ‘delayed honeymoon’ in Peru Lani, Martin admire Anne Curtis as a singer

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

A LITTLE more than a year after their ceremonial wedding in the Philippines (following their civil wedding in the US), Mr. and Mrs. Aiza Seguerra (nee Liza Diño) are enjoying their “delayed honeymoon” in Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru.

It’s the same place that sweethearts Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho visited a few years ago as part of their bucket list. Because of its

location, Machu Picchu is the perfect place for a honeymoon since, according to record, “it is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley” 80 kilometers northwest of Cuzco.

It is said that most archeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438-1472), often mistakenly referred to as the Lost City of the Incas.

This report came from Funfare’s New York-based “beauty expert” Felix Manuel who referred to Aiza in the pronoun “he” (which is how Aiza wants it) and the couple as ZaZa. “Before they flew to Peru,

Aiza did a concert in Florida, California and New York accompanied by Liza,” wrote Felix who met the couple at the Sheraton East La Guardia Hotel in Flushing, Queens, where the concert was held. “More than Aiza’s as usual great performance, it was her meet-andgreet with fellow same-sex couples that was most touching. The couples said that they were inspired by ZaZa to be proud of themselves. One couple said, ‘Seeing them profess their love really helped us a lot in coming out and be proud of our relationship that we had kept private for so many years.’

I took my hat off to ZaZa.”

by Joyce Jimenez Philstar.com

LANI Misalucha and Martin Nievera see Anne Curtis as a singer.

During the press conference for “I Love OPM,” Martin and Lani were asked what makes a singer. They both used Anne as an example for their answer.

“Ang parang sa akin kasi, it’s not necessarily talaga ‘yong gaano ka kahusay. Kasi ‘yong proseso bago mo marating ‘yong gano’n, e,” she said about Anne.

Lani said she admired how the Kapamilya actress “nag-effort po talaga siya, she worked so hard at talagang gusto niya talaga matutunan. Minsan ‘yong gano’n mas valuable sa akin, ‘yong lahat binigay mo na ef-

Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera admire Anne Curtis as a singer, especially her passion for music.

Philstar.com photo by Joyce Jimenez

fort, ‘yon ang mas matimbang para sa akin, e.”

As for Martin, he believes that “compared to other singers in our country, she has more passion, more honesty because she doesn’t claim to be Barbara

Streisand, Celine Dion or Lani Misalucha.”

“She’s one singer, I think, knows the truth of her talent as a singer, but she has more drive, more passionate,” he added.

Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo are ‘exclusively dating’

Mr. and Mrs. Aiza Seguerra (nee Liza Diño) must be feeling ‘high’ at the Inca site in Peru.

JENNYLYN Mercado admitted that she and Dennis Trillo are “exclusively dating.”

The actress admitted this in an interview with YES! Magazine, which will come out this March.

In the interview, parts of which were published in the showbiz news site Philippine Entertainment Portal, Jennlyn said chose to keep mum on the real

score between her and Dennis.

“Gusto na lang namin, tahimik na lang,” she said.

It can be remembered that Jennylyn and Dennis were in a relationship from 2010 to March 2011.

Rumors that they have reconciled spread last year, but the two maintained their silence regarding the issue.

(Philstar.com)

Entertainment A happy wife is a happy life: Meet Lilian Masaya

By Monet

Lu

Happiness is the first thing you would think of once you meet her. aside from the obvious english translation of her last name (i kid you not, it is really her actual surname), you would definitely want to know her after you’ve tasted her bestselling rice cakes (kakainin) and “cebuchon” (cebu lechon or roasted pig). To quote a famous adage that “[we] are what [we] eat,” would suggest why Lilian’s food creations are as sweet as its maker. presenting the sequel to my previous column on La’s Filipino Food destination, is the story of the sweet and charming baker of Lilian’s Breads & sweets in northridge, California. Meet owner and baker, Lilian Gutierrez– Masaya.

A happy tummy means a happy hubby Lilian Masaya had one dream when she was young. Being the youngest among 8 siblings, Lilian watched her sisters grow up and have families of their own. she loved hearing people

complement her (older) sisters’ cooking and telling their husbands about it. it was then that she started wishing that she’d receive the same kind of praises when it’s her turn to become somebody’s wife. Beaming she says, “Pag ako nag-asawa ako, gusto ko ganun din. Sasabihin din ng mga kaibigan ng asawa ko na magaling din ako magluto.

Matutuwa siguro yung asawa ko.” (When i get married, i want the same thing; that friends of my husband’s will tell him i am a great cook. That would’ve make my future husband happy). it wasn’t unlikely for Lilian to have the same talent in cooking.

Her aunts and her mother are known for their culinary skills, especially in making rice cakes.

However, among the sisters, it was only Lilian who tried her hand at rice cakes – and it was a hit! soon, people complemented her baking skills. and as she had wished, it was her husband that received the commendation. Lilian’s dream of making her husband happy became the foundation of what is now, by far, the best Filipino bakery in

san Fernando Valley.

A bakery inside a car wash station When Lilian and her husband, Maxwell Masaya, decided to put up a bakery, it did not initially include a strategic—not to mention, unique—location such as the inside of a car wash station. a friend of mine raved about it when she and her husband had their car oil-changed (and washed), which led them to check out Lilian’s bakery. she said she now looks forward to having their car washed because that would mean she could eat at Lilian’s while waiting – not a bad reason, i thought. it might be the smell of coffee or the freshly baked chicken empanadas and pandesal that lure anyone into leaving their cars (in good hands, so far) to enter the hidden gem inside the car wash station. One small bite off their bibingkang kalamay will make you want to stay there the whole afternoon (yeah, even when your car’s all washed up and cleaned). “it’s like hitting two birds with one stone,” as one customer says. ‘Car wash duties and din-

Tom Rodriguez (center, as Scary Spice) leads the ‘Spice Girls reunion’

A lip-synching showdown begins

by Leah

C. SaLterio Philstar.com

CeLeBRiTies pitted against each other, although not literally, but in a TV contest, is always a run-down hit. no wonder, “Lip sync Battle philippines” (LsB), the latest musical reality competition that premiered on GMa network, has undoubtedly been a weekend, primetime winner even after only its pilot episode.

Hosted by Michael V, with iya Villania as Color Commentator, “Lip sync Battle philippines” pits two celebrities against each other in a lip synching showdown for two rounds, with the audience deciding on who will win at the end.

The show is a spin-off of a segment in “The Tonight show With Jimmy Fallon,” which was introduced by actor John Krasinski. John and his actress-wife, emily Blunt, were contemplating on what to do in the show for his guest appearance and the idea to lip-synch came about.

Jimmy Fallon apparently loved the concept so he made it a recurring segment in his show. Being consistently wellreceived, the segment eventually evolved into a full-length TV program developed by

Host Michael V channels Elsa in Frozen during the pilot episode

Iya Villania congratulates Dennis Trillo who earns the Lip Sync Battle Philippines belt after performing as Sia the primetime tele-series, My John and stephen Merchant.

it didn’t take long before the show, hosted by singer-rapper LL Cool J, became a “legitimate hit.” so far, a-list Hollywood celebrities who have graced the show included Tom Cruise, Channing Tatum, Justin Bieber, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, anne Hathaway and John Legend, among others.

Today, “Lip sync Battle” has paved the way for a number of international TV franchises—China, Chile, Canada. indonesia, United Kingdom, poland and, most recently, the philippines. in the pilot, Michael V gave a sampling of lip-synching by aping celebrities such as Taylor swift (shake it Off), idina Menzel (Let it Go) and Miley Cyrus (Wrecking Ball), complete with costumes. Yes, he donned elsa’s trademark, powder-blue gown in “Frozen.” His co-host, iya, did her share with a few rap numbers.

Michael V can brag that he and iya are the only hosts who have performed lip-synched numbers in the show. not even LL Cool J has done a lipsynch number in the original program in Hollywood.

“Kapal ng mukha at todo bigay ang kailangan dito,” Michael V seemingly warned the celebrity contestants. The winner at the end of the show gets the LsB championship belt.

The country’s hottest leading men, Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez, went head-on with the lip-synching battle in the pilot episode. popularly known as Tom-Den, they were best remembered in

“Husband’s Lover,” which also starred Carla abellana.

“Dito kami magkakasubukan,” teased Dennis before his number. “Dati acting, ngayon singing and performance.”

Dennis gamely rapped andrew e’s andrew Ford Medina, with Jennylyn making a surprise guest appearance.

Dennis was even heard shouting the lyrics of the rap song, proof that he really memorized his piece.

Tom displayed the rocker in him, as he performed Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad name and even stage dived towards the end of the number. in the second round, Tom donned a leopard print frock a la scary spice Mel B and sang Wanna Be, with Rafael Rosell, Dion ignacio, Billy James and JC Tiuseco as the other “spice Girls.”

“Kami lang ho ang spice Girls na may buhok sa kilikili,” Tom smilingly said after his number.

Dennis, meanwhile, performed Chandelier, a la australian singer sia, highlighted by literally hanging from a huge chandelier while singing.

That made Tom, as well as the entire audience, ecstatic. it was the first time for Dennis to display his terpsichorean talent, much to the delight of the adoring crowd. apparently, that gave Dennis the LsB championship belt at the end of the show.

Michael V assured participants they don’t have to have the best voice, what is important is that they’re “game” to perform.

ing pleasure!’

A labor of love if Lilian is the hand behind all those delicious treats, her husband is the brain and the “wind beneath her wings” – or hands.

Lilian and Maxwell got married in 1992. she had vowed to lovingly submit to her husband as the head of their family. On the other hand, her husband, who is more strong-willed and determined, promised to give her all that he could out of love for her – one of them is to put up a food business or a restaurant for her lovely wife. 19 years later and after a series of trial-and-error-recipes, their labor of love and commitment birthed Lilian’s Breads and sweets. and guess who pushed, urged and consistently supported the passion – even researching and going through all recipe notebooks, testing and modifying ingredients? it was Lilian’s husband. The menu that started with a tasty pandesal, was then followed by mouthwatering rice cakes. Later, they added roasted pork belly as part of their catering menu. since then, they have been

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The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 4, 2016

supplying rice cakes to a Filipino grocery, bakeries, as well as catering to parties and events.

A happy Life means a life that honors God Behind the thriving business of the Masaya’s, is a loving Christian home led by a super supportive husband and great father to their teenager son named, psalm. Throughout their journey, and in everything they put their heart into, it is their desire to always bring honor to God. The joy that is so evident (not only in their

last names) comes from serving God who has blessed them so abundantly. *** 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

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The Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - M a rc h 4, 2 0 1 6

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