San Francisco Edition -- March 18 - 24, 2016

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Volume 15 - No. 12 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Program allows int’l STEM grads to stay longer in US INterNAtIoNAL students who earn their degrees in highly-sought stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields may be able to extend their stay in the United states longer. the revamped stem optional Practical training program, or stem oPt for short, adds an additional seven months to the previous length of stay required, while offering some safeguards to address labor concerns voiced by hundreds of American workers and stem students, reported the Us News & World report.

According to Us Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe) records, there are approximately 70,000 students currently in oPt--of those, about 23,000 are studying in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields. some of these students were selected as skilled foreign workers eligible to apply for an h-1B, starting in october 2008, as part of the old program. others can choose to continue their education, while some will depart

MA R C H 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 6

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

Ombudsman Morales on alleged UNA threat: ‘I am not scared’

by Nestor

Corrales Inquirer.net

“I Am not scared,” said ombudsman Conchita Carpio-morales after she claimed that the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay has threatened to run after her if he wins the presidency in the upcoming elections in may. speaking to reporters on Wednesday, march 15, morales said she had received a threat from the camp of Binay which was “personally conveyed by a valued ally of the vice president.”

“I received threats. the threat was Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

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Inquirer.net photo by Tarra Quismundo

Binay camp denies threat on Ombudsman by reiNa

toleNtiNo ManilaTimes.net

VICe President Jejomar Binay’s camp denied threatening ombudsman Conchita Carpio-morales that he would run after her if he got elected as President.

According to morales, a government official told her of the alleged threat which, she said, was conveyed to the latter by an ally of Binay.

“We categorically deny that,” tobias tiangco, president of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), told The Manila Times when asked for comment. “Binay will not do that and will not allow his name to be used to threaten anyone.

Binay will be too busy helping the poor to even think of this.” the camp of Binay, who is UNA’s standard bearer in the may elections, wants morales to reveal the identity of the person who allegedly threatened her.

“We request the ombudsman to name the person who threatened her,” tiangco said, “so that we can legally deal with this person.” n

Super Tuesday Part 3: Trump and Clinton Filipinos in US laud the dominate primary night u PAGE A3

late Sen. Jovito Salonga

by allysoN

esCobar

AJPress

sAN frANCIsCo — Us-based filipinos extolled the late senate President Jovito salonga, who passed away at 95 on march 10 as a towering fighter for democracy, in the Philippines and while he was in exile in the United states.

Lupita AquinoKashiwahara, sister of salonga’s Sen. Jovito Salong contemporary senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., fondly recalled that Ninoy called salonga “Prof,” a sign of respect and admiration for the latter’s intellect and role as one of Ninoy’s lead lawyers during his “kangaroo trial” before a military tribunal during martial Law. “I remember Jovy (salonga) as one of the

oN tuesday night, march 15, five more states held key presidential primary contests — ohio, florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and missouri — where two party candidates emerged as front-runners of the race. hillary Clinton swept all five contests in florida, Illinois, North Carolina, missouri, and ohio, racking up more delegates to solidify her lead for the Democratic nomination. the victories bolster Clinton’s claim that she is her party’s only candidate who can win diverse states that will be pivotal in the November general election, CNN reported, even despite her surprise loss in michigan last week.

“We are moving closer to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November,” Clinton told supporters during a victory speech in West Palm Beach, florida, where her biggest win (214 delegates, 64 percent of the vote) took place.

Clinton added that by the end of the night, she would have two million more votes than her opponent, Bernie sanders, and hold a lead of more than 300 delegates.

“We are going to stand up for American workers and make sure no one takes advantage of us — not China, not Wall street, not overpaid corporate execu-

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$81 MILLION CASE. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. President and CEO Lorenzo Tan (left) attended a Senate hearing on Tuesday, March 15, about the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bank of Bangladesh. He denied involvement and invoked bank secrecy laws. At right, Maia Santos-Deguito, RCBC branch manager, takes her oath before the hearing, during which she kept mum, invoking her right against self-incrimination.

Philstar.com photo by Geremy Pintolo

Al Gore to Pinoys: Use ‘SC decision on Poe case elevated foundlings as super class of citizens’ ‘people power’ to address climate change by tetCh

torres-tupas Inquirer.net

by alexis

romero

Philstar.com

mANILA — former United states (Us) vice president and environment activist Al Gore on Wednesday, march 15, urged filipinos to use “people power” to convince leaders to act on climate change and to counter the influence of industries opposed to the phasing out of coal.

Gore said groups advocating climate action should organize themselves and use technology like the social media to spread their message and express their concerns.

“People in social media can serve as counter balance (to the

coal lobbyists),” Gore said during the Climate reality Leadership Corps training in Pasay.

“I believe it’s (social media) a revolutionary that can dramatically increase people power,” he added.

Coal-fired power plants emit carbon, which has been linked to rising global temperatures, climate change, rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions. environment activists claim that climate change poses the greatest threat to the global economy and endangers the lives of people living in disaster-prone areas like the Philippines. there have been calls to phase

some lawyers are still lamenting the supreme Court’s decision declaring senator Grace Poe qualified to run for president. the high court, voting 9-6. reversed the decision of the Com-

mission on elections (Comelec) to cancel her certificate of candidacy (CoC).

In its ruling, the high court, through Associate Justice Jose Perez, said Poe is presumed to be a natural-born filipino based on circumstances such as physi-

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MARCH 18-24, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From the Front Page

Ombudsman Morales on alleged UNA… PAGE A1 t

passed through a high official from a close and valued ally-politician of the vice president,” Morales said.

“They said they are going to run after me if the vice president wins as president. Go ahead, I welcome that,” she added.

Morales said the threat was coursed through a government official whom she refused to identify.

“The threat was personally conveyed by a valued ally of the vice president. It was given to a government official, all right, verbal. It came to me. It was received by me that this particular official

told they will run after me. If he wins,” she said.

Despite the threats she has been receiving, Morales said she would continue to do what is right.

“They are scaring me. I’m not scared. I’m not deterred from doing my work,” she said, referring to the damage suit filed by Binay against her.

The vice president’s camp has said that Morales was part of the demolition team, which aims to derail Binay’s presidential bid.

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges against the vice president’s son, dismissed Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin

“Junjun” Binay, over the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Parking Building II. The Ombudsman has also recommended charges against the vice president after his term ends in June since Binay is immune from any suit.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) President Toby Tiangco has earlier accused the Ombudsman of hiring a public relations consultant to leak to the media the Commission on Audit (COA) special audit report that found anomalies in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II. “That’s not true,” Morales said. n

Al Gore to Pinoys: Use ‘people power’…

PAGE A1 t

out coal and to promote the use of the environment-friendly renewable energy but these are being opposed by industries and skeptics who are not convinced that climate change was caused by human activities.

Gore stressed that people who care about the environment should go beyond posting online comments.

“Meet with other human beings. Meet them in the eye,” the former US vice president said.

“This system can be made to work if and only if the people in this room decide to make a difference, find ways to connect with one another and use the fabled strength in number,” he added.

Gore also encouraged participants of the training to arm themselves with knowledge about the climate.

“Someone who has political should be in the streets knocking on doors, organizing others to create a powerful political counterweight,” he said.

Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo School of Government and a member of the Philippine delegation to the Parks climate talks, agreed that the climate issue is something that should be brought to the streets.

“We cannot underestimate the power of the coal lobby but getting a lot of people to advocate this in the national and local level will make a difference that this change will happen,” La Viña said.

“It’s not a fight that can be won in the inner circles or inner rooms

From US Vice President Al Gore stressed that people who care about the environment should go beyond posting online comments.

Philstar file photo

of Malacanang or Congress. It has to be won in the streets. It has to be won in the plant sites and spill over to Congress, the executive branch and even to the judiciary,” he added.

La Viña said the building of new coal-fired plants is a roadblock to efforts to address clmatye change.

“We have lots of coal-fired plants already being built. Except some communities fighting that, there’s not much we can do,” La Viña said.

“The first thing the Philippines should do is put a cap on coal,” he added.

La Viña noted that the Philippines has committed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 in the climate action plan it submitted to the United Nations.

“We do say that on the area of energy we are failing and we will not be complying if we do business as usual,” the educator said.

“We have no space to make mistakes for ecosystems forests, marine coastal fisheries…We have to preserve and conserve them. Even if we do everything in energy, if we lose our forests and misuse our land, we will not meet the 70 percent (reduction goal),” he added.

Climate Change Commission Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman said the government is revisiting its climate action plan or the socalled intended nationally determined contribution to meet its targets.

“Right now, the national agencies concerned are developing their respective national roadmaps and examine existing policies to be able to really deliver the targets they set per sector and deliver the aggregate (carbon emission) reduction of 70 percent by 2030,” de Guzman said.

Last December, world leaders who attended the Paris climate talks reached a landmark deal that aims to hold global warming “well below” two degrees Celsius. They also agreed to pursue measures that would limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Critics of the Paris agreement, however, claimed that the deal was too vague on important issues like climate finance for vulnerable countries. n

FEMALE POWER. Women rappel from a helicopter during a training held by the Philippine Coast Guard’s Special Operation Group in Manila.

Manilatimes.net photo by Russel Palma

‘SC decision on Poe case elevated…

PAGE A1 t

cal appearance as well as statistical probability.

The high court agreed with the Office of the Solicitor General’s assertion that Poe is probably naturalborn based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that more than 99 percent of babies born in the 1960s and 1970s, both in Iloilo and the entire Philippines, were natural-born.

The high court also said Poe is probably natural-born because she was found at a Catholic church in Iloilo and possesses “typical Filipino features such as height, flat nasal bridge, straight black hair, almond shaped eyes, and an oval face.”

But litigation lawyer Raymond Fortun, in his Facebook post Wednesday, March 15, said the decision seemed to have elevated foundlings as “super class of citizens.”

“One of the cornerstone principles of our country’s Rules of Evidence is ‘he who alleges has the burden of proving it’,” Fortun said in his post.

“Did we just throw this out the window? Did we just create a super class of citizens composed of foundlings, who are not subject to basic rules on Evidence? Just asking,” he added.

Meanwhile, UP Law Profes-

Sen. Grace Poe

sor and election lawyer Edgardo Carlo Vistan II said in relying on “good faith” in deciding the case of Poe will leave the real issues on eligibility hanging.

“By ‘good faith’ argument, I mean (it is) that view where it is said that Senator Poe may not have met the qualifications, but she believed in good faith that she is qualified. So, she committed no material misrepresentation and her Certificate of Candidacy should not be cancelled. If this is the approach that would be adopted, the question of Senator Poe’s eligibility may still be questioned later on,” Vistan said.

He said motions for reconsid-

eration are expected to be filed.

“The best scenario for all of us is that all motions for reconsideration be resolved before Election Day so that there will be no doubt about the presidential candidates the people can choose from,” Vistan added.

On the other hand, another San Beda College of Law Professor, Atty. Bruce Rivera, in his video message posted publicly in his Facebook that went viral, said he has nothing against Filipinos becoming naturalized citizens of other countries, but added: “Ang kailangan nating presidente ay hindi lang qualified sa kanyang gawa kundi qualified sa kanyang puso bilang Pilipino. (We need a president who is not only qualified in what she/he does, but who is also qualified in heart as a Filipino).”

In his video, Rivera said he teaches Persons and Natural Relations subject that touches on citizenship, Constitutional Law as well as Public International Law that all tackle citizenship, statelessness and dual allegiance.

“Pero to all of us lawyers, alam natin ang basic principles of citizenship,” he added in his video that has already been viewed almost 1.5 million times, shared on FB 27,000 times, and with 31,000 FB users reacting to it. n

Super Tuesday Part 3: Trump and Clinton…

PAGE A1 t

tives,” she said.

In exit polls conducted by NBC News, of those who voted across the five states in the Super Tuesday primaries, only about half of Democrat primary voters say they would be satisfied with the outcome if their favored candidate doesn’t end up the eventual nominee.

About half of Clinton supporters in those states say they would be satisfied if Sanders were the eventual party nominee.

Sanders would need to win about 72 percent of the remaining delegates in order to do so, according to CNN estimates, and time may be running out for him unless he can start racking up huge victory margins in coming state contests. However, most Democratic strategists expect Sanders to stay in the race for several months.

Clinton’s campaign strategy has been questioned recently, particularly with Sanders’ big win in Michigan, but gave the Vermont senator a tougher climb for the nomination after winning more of the Midwest. Clinton’s multiple victories on Tuesday foreshadowed a general election

battle with Republican front-runner, Donald Trump.

Trump prevailed in the biggest contest of the night, winning in Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois.

“This was an amazing evening,” he said from Palm Beach, Florida, where he gained 99 delegates — the top prize — and 46 percent of the state vote. “This is my second home, Florida. To win by that kind of number is incredible.”

The New York real estate billionaire has won in 18 states so far.

“We’re going to make our country rich again. We’re going to make our country great again, and we need the rich in order to make the great, I’m sorry to tell you,” he said.

Gov. John Kasich managed to best Trump in his home state of Ohio, ridding him of 66 crucial delegates.

“We are all very, very happy,” Kasich told CNN. Despite his win in only one state, it is unclear how he can overtake Trump, who is far ahead in the delegate race.

“I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” he told supporters in Cleveland. “I’m

getting ready to rent a covered wagon; we’re going to have a big sail and have the wind blow us to the Rocky Mountains and over the mountains to California.”

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also claimed “a good night” from a rally in Houston. He and Trump are locked in a tight battle for Missouri, where the Associated Press reported extremely tight ratings throughout the night. In the end, Cruz was second in the state, winning 40.7 percent of the vote (and zero delegates) to Trump’s 40.9 percent.

At the end of the night, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, having lost disastrously in his home state, dropped out, leaving three Republican candidates in the race.

“America is in the middle of a real political storm, a real tsunami and we should have seen this coming,” Rubio, who has been fighting bitterly with Trump, said in his final speech. “While we are on the right side, this year, we will not be on the winning side.”

Trump, however, was sweet in his last words to Rubio, congratulating the senator for “having run a tough campaign.”

“He is tough. He is smart and he has got a great future.” n

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

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-24, 2016

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March 18 marks important deadline for many Asian American and Pacific Islander voters

LOS ANGELES — On Friday, March 18, marks a potentially important deadline for many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters in California. At 35 percent statewide, AAPI voters have the largest number of unaffiliated voters, or voters who are not registered with a political party.

On June 7, California voters will participate in primary elections, helping select the Presidential nominee for each major political party. All registered voters who are not affiliated with a political party must take an extra step in order to vote for a presidential candidate in the CaliforADB TO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. A farmer looks at a drying lake caused by the continuos drought. The Asian Development Bank nia primary.

(ADB) announced on Wednesday, March 15, that it would double its annual climate financing to $6 billion by 2020 to support the Philippines’ In California, each political efforts to address the impact of climate change.

Philstar file photo party decides whether it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary. This year, the Democratic Party, American Indepenwith the country,” said 24-year- leges, and guards the country dent Party, and Libertarian Party PAGE A1 t old Shruthi Aramandla, a New against frauds who would simply the United States.

ICE and the United States York University graduate from enroll in a degree mill programs to gain the OPT STEM extension.

Citizenship and Immigration Ser- India working as an engineer.

The Washington Alliance of According to USCIS, the new vices (USCIS) officials have estimated that approximately 12,000 STEM program has four new, Technology Workers’ lawsuit brought to light exploitation conpeople will take advantage of the notable features: • Extended stay – The old OPT cerns with the program, regardnew STEM extension.

The new STEM OPT rules were program allowed STEM gradu- ing replacing American workers initially proposed in October 2015 ates to stay for up to two and a with cheaper foreign labor.

“It’s an ongoing assault on by the Department of Homeland half years for on-the-job trainWASHINGTON — On April 1, Security, after a federal judge va- ing. The new program extends American workers,” said John 2016, the US Citizenship and Imcated the previous rules that Au- the time to three years, enabling Miano, a lawyer for a technol- migration Services (USCIS) will gust. The judge’s action also left workers more meaningful time ogy workers’ union in Washing- begin accepting H-1B petitions an estimated 50,000 STEM work- to train in often highly technical ton State. “They are just trying subject to the fiscal year 2017 ers and their employers hanging, STEM jobs. It also provides extra to double down on what they’re cap. US businesses use the H-1B until the DHS drafted a replace- time for those in the process of doing before. ‘OK, you didn’t program to employ foreign worklike 29 months? We’ll make it 36 ers in occupations that require ment for the public student visa applying for study grants.

• Protections for American program, which essentially paves u PAGE A4 highly specialized knowledge in the way for hands-on job training and foreign workers alike – Unand experience after graduation. der the new regulations, employAccording to Numbers USA, ers must submit formal training the original STEM extension was and mentoring plans (in line with struck down “because DHS did US workers in similar employnot go through the public and ment positions) to the governcomment process when they ment for OPT STEM employees. issued the extension in 2008, Companies must also pay foreign which violates the Administrative workers the same wages American counterparts make. STEM Procedure Act (APA).”

District of Columbia District students must also not replace a Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle full-time, part-time, temporary or gave a six-month deadline for a permanent US worker.

• Greater visa opportunity – By replacement program to be developed, after a technology work- extending the OPT STEM proers’ labor union filed suit against gram to three years, the new program potentially provides particithe first STEM OPT program.

Huvelle’s ruling centered on pants a third opportunity to apply procedural issues discovered in for a more permanent H-1B work 2008 with the rule’s original im- visa. An estimated 250,000 people applied for this visa in the plementation.

DHS proposed the new rule on 2014 fiscal year with only about October 19, 2015, and received a third gaining approval.

• Quality education assurances over 50,000 public comments.

They had until February 12 to es- – The new program also offers tablish the rule under the correct some safeguards to assure foreign students study at legitimate APA procedures.

Beyond offering graduates schools. To work under the OPT more field experience, the ex- STEM program, students must tension serves to give immigrant meet requirements such as obstudents more time. “If my work taining their degrees from acvisa gets denied this year, I still credited American institutions. have two more opportunities to The rule protects students from apply, and I can keep working some disreputable for-profit col-

Program allows int’l STEM grads to stay…

have decided to allow such unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries. This is called crossover voting. Permanent vote-by-mail voters who want to crossover vote must have their request for a crossover ballot postmarked by this Friday, March 18. Other parties, such as the Republican Party, hold closed primaries and do not allow non-party members to crossover. To vote in a closed primary, voters must register with that party before the voter registration deadline of May 23, 2016.

Local election officials should have sent all unaffiliated voters information and a postcard to return in order to request the ballot. Voters who did not receive the information should contact their local election official. In Los Angeles, call 562-466-1323, and in Orange County, call 714567-7600.

Unaffiliated vote-by-mail voters who do nothing will still receive a “nonpartisan” ballot for the June election. That ballot will not have any presidential candidates listed. These voters may still crossover vote but must go to their poll site on June 7 and trade in their “nonpartisan” ballot for a Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian Party ballot. On June 7, only registered Republicans can vote on the Republican ballot.

In November, all registered voters have the opportunity to vote for the presidential candidate regardless of party affiliation. For more information on this issue, see the Orange County Registrar of Voters website at: http://www.ocvote.com/voting/ current-election-info/2016-presidential-primary-election-info/ no-party-preference-voters-frequently-asked-questions. n

USCIS will accept H-1B petitions for FY 2017 beginning April 1, 2016 Reminds petitioners to follow regulatory requirements

Filipinos in US laud the late…

PAGE A2 t

leaders of the opposition forces who fought against the tyranny of dictatorship, both in the Philippines and during his exile in the US He was a man of principle and vision, qualities that seem to be in short supply among those who are in the political arena. He will be missed,” shared Kashiwahara.

Philippine Consul-General in San Francisco Henry Bensurto Jr. believe the whole country was saddened by the passing of “a very good man who was a very integral part of contemporary history, a very valiant defender of democracy, an institution when it comes to human rights, and the struggle for freedom and dignity.”

“Having participated in those struggles for democratic rights, I am saddened to see a good man die,” Bensurto intimated. “His legacy includes all the things that he fought for, democracy, human rights, freedom, human dignity, these are values that we will continue to hold dear to our hearts and continue to fight for and ensure not to lose again.

This is something we will carry in the next decades or so and have to fight for and exert a lot of effort to preserve. The whole country and the next generations will forever be grateful to him and he has our love and admiration.”

Senator Heherson Alvarez, erstwhile secretary-general of the Movement for Free Philippines (MFP also led by Senator Raul Manglapus) and a founding chairman of Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM), recalled that Salonga was a guerilla fighter maltreated in prison during the Japanese occupation.

“We deeply mourn the loss of a fellow freedom fighter against a home grown oppressor,” Alvarez said in an email message. “The clarity of his democratic vision was the spine for his vigorous conscientious objection to martial rule, contrary to the current attempts of twisting history that the dark era of the Marcos conjugal dictatorship was the ‘golden age’ in our country.”

Alvarez recalled that under a restored democracy, Salonga vigorously asserted Philippine

sovereignty, helping terminate the US bases agreement.

“He impressed me as an intelligent man with high principles and integrity,” said attorney Ted Laguatan who worked closely with Salonga in uncovering “the billions (of dollars) stolen from the Filipino people by the Marcoses,” preparing the mechanism for the search “even before the dictator’s downfall. He devoted his entire life to public service and continued even after the serious injuries he suffered in the Plaza Miranda bombing. Truly an admirable man.”

Rodel Rodis, also an attorney and an Inquirer.net columnist said Salonga w was his inspiration in becoming a lawyer: “I knew he topped the bar in 1944 and that he went to Yale.”

“I met him personally in 1986 after he was appointed by President Cory Aquino as chair of the Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG) tasked with the recovery of the billions of dollars Marcos and his cronies stole from the PH government.

He came to San Francisco and I met him as a volunteer PCGG attorney,” Rodis said.

Rodis recalled that Salonga went to Pasadena and interviewed Marcos paramour Dovie Beams about what she knew of the Marcos wealth. Beams told them that she didn’t know that much because she barely got out of the country after Imelda tried to get her killed.

“I got to know him personally and I was impressed by the sharpness of his intellect and inspired by his passionate love of our country. He was a patriot of the first order,” Rodis said.

For her part, author, editor and journalist Gemma Nemenzo believes that if Senator Salonga was set as the standard by which Filipinos choose their leaders, no one in the current crop of politicians would pass.

“He was the last of the great statesmen, along with Senators Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tanada, Jose W. Diokno — people who made us proud at a time when being a legislator was considered a sacred trust, not a means to plunder or to abuse.” (Jun Nucum / Inquirer.net)

fields such as science, engineering and computer programming.

The congressionally mandated cap on H-1B visas for FY 2017 is 65,000. The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a US master’s degree or higher are exempt from the 65,000 cap.

USCIS expects to receive more

than 65,000 petitions during the first five business days of this year’s program. The agency will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H-1B cap has been met. If USCIS receives an excess of petitions during the first five

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Dateline USa

MARCH 18-24, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

CA legislature votes to raise legal smoking age from 18 to 21

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

THE California Senate on Thursday, March 10, approved a measure that raises the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.

Last week, the state Assembly voted in favor of the same bill, which was part of a six-bill package aimed at restricting access to tobacco.

If Gov. Jerry Brown signs off on the legislation, California would become the second state after Hawaii to raise the legal smoking age to 21. More than 100 cities across the United States, including Boston and New York, have already raised the age limit.

“We can prevent countless California youth from becoming addicted to this deadly drug, save billions of dollars in direct health care costs and, most importantly, save lives,” said Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), who authored the bill.

An exception remains for members of the military, who

can continue purchasing cigarettes at the age of 18.

Proponents of the bill argued that many smokers begin the habit before they turn 18, according to data from the US surgeon general. Setting the legal smoking age to 21 would make it more challenging for Those against the measure cited that Americans are allowed to make adult decisions, vote, sign legally binding contracts and join the military, among other things.

In response, Democrats revised the legislation for military members.

The bill received strong opposition from many Republicans, who say it infringes on individuals’ personal health decisions.

“I don’t smoke. I don’t encourage my children to,” said Assemblyman Donald Wagner (R-Irvine), KQED reported. “But they’re adults, and it’s our job to treat our citizens as adults, not to nanny them.”

The Los Angeles Times in an editorial also argues the bill

package “tramples” on smokers’ rights, saying there is no evidence that second-hand smoke from e-cigarettes is as harmful as that from regular cigarettes.

It further stated that the exemption for military men and women demonstrates a lack of integrity.

“What? The health of young Americans is a concern unless they are in the military service?” the editorial read.

Other measures in the package would expand smoking bans at more schools and allow counties to impose higher cigarette taxes on top of California’s 87-cent tax per pack. Smoke-free areas would also include small businesses, warehouses, workplace break rooms, bars, and hotel lobbies and meeting rooms.

Approval by the state legislature comes just a little more than a week after San Francisco officials voted to raise the smoking age to 21.

Should Brown sign the bill, the legislation would be implemented 90 days afterward. n

Mark Zuckerberg signs brief supporting Obama’s actions on immigration

by Agnes

ConstAnte AJPress

FACEBOOK CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more than 60 US companies filed a Supreme Court brief in support of President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

In the brief, employers say Obama’s executive orders would benefit the US economy.

“Instead of inviting the economic contributions of immigrants, our immigration enforcement policies have often inhibited the productivity of US companies and made it harder for them to compete in the global marketplace,” stated the brief, which was spearheaded by a pro-immigration reform advocacy group founded by Zuckerberg called fwd.us.

In November 2014, Obama signed actions that would expand deferred action for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States through a program called the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Permanent Lawful Residents (DAPA) and by expanding the existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Mark Zuckerberg

(DACA) program.

Shortly after the announcement, 26 states led by Texas filed a class action lawsuit against the actions, resulting in a temporary block of implementation of the programs.

The top court will hear oral arguments in the case on April 18 before deciding on the constitutionality of Obama’s executive orders.

Also argued in the brief is that the absence of deferred action can encourage companies to hire undocumented immigrants, as they can pay them below minimum wage.

“These practices drive down wages and create more danger-

ous working conditions for all U.S. Workers. They also expose law-abiding businesses to unfair competition,” it states.

Furthermore, the brief states that immigration enforcement policies have affected agriculture, dairy and food service industries, as employees in these areas are being deported.

The support from Zuckerberg and these companies comes in the same week that a coalition of more than 100 mayors across the country, including Los Angeles’ Eric Garcetti, filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to allow implementation of Obama’s immigration plans. n

You may qualify for a cash back tax credit!

Did you know there’s a new tax credit for California’s working families?

K-12 NOT SUSPENDED. In a full court session on Wednesday, March 15, the Supreme Court magistrates did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) for the implementation of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act and Department of Education (DepEd) Order 31, as sought by the petitioners. Order 31 or K to 12, is a program that seeks to add two more years to the country’s secondary education, which is set to be implemented this school year.

Philstar file photo

Fil-Am faces weapons charge JERSEY City police arrested a 59-year old Filipino man Tuesday, March 8 inside the Hudson Mall for carrying a handgun while dressed in police-style clothing.

He was identified as Julio Concepcion of Boyd Court and was initially charged with one count of possession of a handgun without first obtaining a permit to carry.

According to reports, he posted a $50,000 cash-or-bond bail, but an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear for his first hearing Wednesday morning, the Jersey Journal reported.

He was charged additionally on Wednesday evening with possession of an assault weapon and hollow point bullets and after failing to appear in court on the original charges, he was arrested at his home.

The judge ordered him held without bail.

It was learned that Concepcion worked for the Department of De-

fense from 1989 to 2003 but it is unclear as of press time what his role was in the department. He allegedly told police that he is a retired federal law enforcement officer providing an ID and complied with the officers who arrived on the scene after receiving a call from an off-duty officer who reported the suspicious condition.

Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said Concepcion, who was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, was found sitting at a table in front of the Popeye’s restaurant at approximately 11:30 a.m. He was wearing a full-duty police belt, with a .40 caliber gun and two magazines in the pouch.

After securing the weapon, officers asked Concepcion if he had any additional weapons, to which he said yes in the trunk. There, police recovered a .38 caliber fully-loaded gun and two bullet proof vests.

Several hours later during

the course of the investigation Concepcion was arrested while in custody at the West District, according to Morrill. During the course of the investigation, officers discovered Concepcion had been an employee of the Department of Defense from 1989 through 2003, however his role with the DOD is still under investigation.

Concepcion also told officers he had additional weapons in his home, and two additional firearms were recovered during a subsequent search.

Members of the city’s Filipino community expressed their reactions on social media, calling the arrest as “unfortunate”. A couple of residents said that they have always seen Mr. Concepcion either in the mall or along Westside Avenue wearing police-style clothing which they thought were his uniform as a policeman or military police. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

6 Asian Univ. of Calif. students nabbed in campus drug bust SAN FRANCISCO – Police in Santa Cruz, California arrested six members of a UC Santa Cruz fraternity and a sorority as a result of an international drug ring investigation.

Cecilia Le, Hoai Nguyen, Nathan Tieu, Cesar Casil, Benny Liu and Mariah Dremel, all 21, were nabbed on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance MDMA (Molly) for sale and allegedly running an Ecstasy ring.

According to a Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Mariah Daniel, top left, Benny Liu and Ceilia Le and, bottom, Haoi Nguyen, Nathan Tieu and Cesar Casil drugs like MDMA alter were arrested in connection with an alleged student-run drug ring at UC Santa Cruz. perception and awareness Photo by Santa Cruz Police and lower inhibitions ofshipments on March 4 from the three homes tentimes resulting in sexual exploitation.

Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and where searches also found some 5,000 tablets Department of Homeland Security uncovered of MDMA tablets.

Homeland Security agents on Friday intercepted several packages of MDMA from overseas addressed to students in three homes in Santa another large MDMA shipment sent to the same Cruz. The students were members of the Lamb- group, Santa Cruz police said.

Leaders of the Alpha Kappa Delta Phi Internada Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Alpha Kappa tional Sorority Inc. and Lambda Phi Epsilon are Delta Phi sorority.

Police seized more than $100,000 in MDMA cooperating with police. (Inquirer.net)

USCIS will accept H-1B petitions for…

PAGE A3 t

The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) puts money back in pockets of working families.

With the federal and CalEITC you could boost your tax return by hundreds – or even thousands of dollars.

To see if you qualify, visit CalEITC4Me.org

facebook.com/caleitc4me twitter.com/caleitc4me

business days, the agency will use a computer-generated lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to meet the cap. USCIS will reject all unselected petitions that are subject to the cap as well as any petitions received after the cap has closed.

Premium processing for capsubject petitions H-1B petitioners may still continue to request premium processing together with their H-1B petition. However, please note that USCIS has temporarily adjusted its current premium processing practice based on historic premium processing receipt levels and the possibility that the H-1B cap will be met in the first five business days of the filing season. In order to prioritize data entry for cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap-subject petitions requesting premium processing no later than May 16, 2016.

Filing petitions H-1B petitioners are reminded that when the temporary employment or training will be in different locations, the state where your company or organization’s primary office is located will determine where you should send your Form I-129 package, regardless of where in the United States the various worksites are located. Please ensure that when temporary employment or training will be in different locations, the address on page 1, part 1 of Form I-129 is for your organization’s primary office. Please note that when listing a “home office” as a work site location on Part 5, question 3, USCIS will consider this a separate and distinct work site location.

H-1B petitioners must follow all statutory and regulatory requirements as they prepare petitions in order to avoid delays in processing and possible requests for evidence. USCIS has developed detailed information, including an optional checklist,

Form M-735, Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings, on how to complete and submit an FY 2017 H-1B petition. The optional checklist for FY 2017 will be available within the next week.

Cases will be considered accepted on the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition with the appropriate fees.

For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit the H-1B FY 2017 Cap Season Web page or call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 or 800-767-1833 (TDD for the hearing impaired). We encourage H-1B applicants to subscribe to the H-1B Cap Season email updates located on the H-1B FY 2017 Cap Season Web page.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Facebook (/uscis), Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon. n

Program allows int’l STEM grads to stay…

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months’.”

A hearing on the issue is set for May in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Despite the challenge, according to US News & World Report, ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program will move forward with plans to provide informational sessions about the new program for employers, academic institutions and eligible students. ICE also plans to secure training programs and mandate employer oversight,

in order to prevent fraud.

“In our mind, it enhances training and puts safeguards in to make sure that if you are an employer that you are not unfairly disadvantaging US workers,” Rachel Canty, exchange visitor program deputy director, told the New York Times.

Heather Stewart, Counsel & Director of Immigration Policy for the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs, noted, “NAFSA is glad that DHS issued the ruling in this manner because

it gives DHS time to educate and train their people to implement it. We look forward to working with SEVP on implementation.”

“The labor market is tight,” said Michael DesRochers, president of Loring Consulting Engineers in New York. “We don’t look at it as the international students are taking away American opportunities. We feel we’re offering to all.”

The new OPT STEM extension will take effect on May 10. (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 18-24, 2016

Dateline PhiliPPines

Aquino: Foreign leaders respect PH’s good governance

by Delon

PoRcalla Philstar.com

MANiLA—it only took the administration of President Aquino for foreign leaders to respect the Philippines—which used to be the “Sick Man of Asia”—after the government laid out the principles of good governance, according to the interior secretary.

Speaking before governors during a meeting of the League of Provinces at the century Park Hotel in Manila, Aquino said he could relate to the anecdote shared by interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on how foreign leaders treated Filipinos shabbily.

“There was a time when state leaders would even treat us like we were beggars. Now they are asking me how i was able to spur our growth and economy,” he said.

“And i told them: good governance is good economics,” he added.

Sarmiento told the President the story of foreign immigration agents doubting the purpose of his travel.

Aquino said he experienced the same thing, and on the national level, unlike Sarmiento who was a former mayor in Samar province. “And i told Mel, we are in the same situation.”

Sarmiento cracked a joke that when he was still a local chief executive, he envied other local officials from other countries that every time they are invited to a conference abroad they easily pass

aDel

Binay: Allegations are not evidence

by Reina

TolenTino ManilaTimes.net

Pres. Benigno Aquino III

the immigration process.

His foreign counterparts had always been “welcomed,” but when his turn at the immigration desk came, the agent would always look at his passport, visa and match this with his face, repeat the process, then check the watch list.

Sarmiento also recalled the final common query: “What is the purpose of your visit?” to which he would reply, “i was invited to this conference.”

The immigration agent would then make a follow up: “Do you have proof?”

He would then be forced to go over his files and show the official invitation.

Sarmiento also vividly remembers how the 100 pieces of business cards he brought remained intact, as nobody would exchange

cards with him, probably out of fear he might solicit for fire trucks or ambulance. in the same meeting with the governors, Aquino reminded local executives that the government does not need to make promises since they have delivered much in terms of massive infrastructure projects across the country.

Aquino endorsed the candidacy of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas ii before the governors.

He asked the governors to help Roxas continue the daang matuwid policy of his administration.

Aquino said he endorsed Roxas and his runningmate camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo because he can personally guarantee that both will continue the reforms he initiated in government.

Arroyo granted birthday furlough

by RoseTTe

A

current Pampanga Rep. GloPhilstar.com ria Macapagal-Arroyo’s request MANiLA—The Supreme court to celebrate her 69th birthday on Tuesday, March 15 approved with her family.

Arroyo,whose birthday is on detained former president and April 5, asked the court for a furlough from April 3 to 5 so that she can celebrate her birthday at home, citing that spending her birthday with family and friends will do her good. The high tribunal granted her three-day furlough from 8 a.m. of April 4 to 5 p.m. of April 6.

“Petitioner Arroyo appeals anew to the humanity of the Honorable Supreme court and respectfully asks that she be granted a similar furlough for her birthday on April 5, 2016,” the petition read.

Former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

“it is the opinion of her doctors that her continued confinement is injurious to her health. A five-day furlough to celebrate her birthday and be with family and friends will do the former president some good,” it said.

Arroyo, currently on hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical center in Quezon city, was also granted a christmas and New Year furlough from Dec. 23 to 26, 2015 and from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2, 2016.

She is facing charges of plunder after being involved in the alleged misuse of P366 million worth of funds from state lottery firm Philippine charity Sweepstakes Office during her presidential term.

Vice President Jejomar Binay dismissed as mere allegations a supposed Anti-Money Laundering council (AMLc) report that he got billions from infrastructure projects in Makati city.

“This one’s for the books i tell you. For one year and a half we were investigated by the Senate, whose job is in aid of legislation,” he said during a sortie in La Union.

“Allegations are not evidence. corruption is a criminal liability.

The only time that you can be touted as corrupt is when you are convicted by the courts. it’s not when you are being accused,” Binay, the standard bearer of the United Nationalist Opposition (UNA), said.

UNA president Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said that the AMLc corrected twice its petition for asset protection filed in November last year before the Manila Regional Trial court and admitted that Binay has one bank account containing P1.7 million and not billions as it earlier claimed.

The agency also asked the court to drop Agrifortuna and Jc Binay Foundation from the petition.

Binay’s camp said this as an admission that there is no evidence to link these two entities to alleged illegal activities.

Vice President Jejomar Binay greets market goers in Ilocos Sur.

Tiangco blasted the AMLc for its inconsistencies and flip-flopping, which he said showcases clear abuse of authority. “in the petition it filed with the RTc, the AMLc alleged, under oath, that all accounts mentioned contain illegal funds belonging to the Vice President. However, just as the hearings of the case were about to begin—where the AMLc will be required to prove its allegations—it began asking the court to drop or exclude numerous accounts of several respondents. The AMLc claimed these accounts do not contain any funds that can be forfeited by the State,” he said.

“For more than six months, these accounts have been sub-

jected to a thorough examination by the AMLc. The account holders became objects of ridicule and character assassination. And now AMLc says they goofed? Ano, sorry na lang?” he added.

The UNA president also reiterated that Binay is ready to face all accusations in a court of law, but he would not let those resorting to criminal acts to malign him with impunity.

“This latest chapter in the well-funded and well-planned black propaganda plot against the Vice P That their determination to convict him through publicity came at a crucial period in the campaign is condemnable,” Tiangco added.

SC junks Janet Napoles, Gigi Reyes pleas to stop trial by eDu

Punay Philstar.com

MANiLA—The Supreme court (Sc) on Tuesday, March 15 junked the bid of accused pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles to stop her plunder trial before the Sandiganbayan. in full-court session, the justices of the high court unanimously voted to also dismiss a similar plea of lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Sen. Juan Ponce enrile who is also facing plunder trial in the anti-graft court.

Both Napoles and Reyes asked the Sc in their separate petitions in 2014 to nullify the resolutions of the Sandiganbayan and the Office of the Ombudsman approving

their indictment for plunder over the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

The Sc dismissed their petitions for lack of merit. “Accordingly, the assailed resolutions and orders of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan are hereby affirmed,” read the dispositive portion of the ruling read by Sc spokesman Theodore Te in a press conference. “in so acting, the court found that neither the ombudsman nor the Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause to charge petitioners and to order their arrest,” Te explained.

The ruling means the plunder trial of Napoles and Reyes should proceed.

Apart from the petitions of the two principal accused in the pork barrel plunder cases, the high tribunal also dismissed the petitions of Napoles’ children, Jo christine and James christopher, questioning the arrest warrants issued against them over the separate graft charges filed against them by the ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan.

The petitioners all claimed violation of their right to due process in questioning their indictment over the PDAF scam.

Napoles is currently serving jail time at the correctional institute for Women in Mandaluyong city after she was convicted by a Makati city court of serious illegal detention.

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march 18-24 2016 • NOrcaL aSIaN JOUrNaL

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OpiniOn

Features

Job hunting

THE world today is characterized by intense global competition and rapid technological change. According to a human capital theory, economic development is a function of the quality of a nation’s education system. In other words: the more and better educated the people, the better the chances of reaching economic development. The key to success is a well-educated, technically skilled workforce producing highvalue-added, knowledge-intensive goods and services.

It is graduation season in the Philippines and up to 700,000 graduates are expected to join the nation’s labor market of 41 million.

However, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) warned that these fresh graduates would have difficulty finding immediate employment due to the job-skills mismatch crisis in the country.

“Out of the 4,239,392 domestic and international job vacancies offered in 3,686 year-round job fairs activities held in 2014 and 2015 nationwide, only 391,088 were hired on the spot out of the 1,286,073 applicants,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said. He added that the job-skills mismatch crisis in the country has been going on -- and it continues to grow. Competition is escalating, so employers are putting additional qualifications in the job descriptions.

Tanjusay also said that heightened competitiveness in the job market -- with little or no adjustment on the part of the learning institutions -- makes job hunting in the country worse than ever.

According to the Department of Labor and

employment (DOLe), out of every 1,000 job applicants, only 10 would likely be hired. The majority of the aspirants will not be able to penetrate the labor market and many will eventfully become part of the unemployed.

Those who will fall through the cracks will seek better employment opportunities abroad. It is estimated that more that around 4,000 Filipinos leave the country to work abroad every day.

The country has been internationally recognized for its diverse and talented human resources. The skills of Filipino workers continue to impress foreign employers, making more countries favor the quality of Filipino service. It is awe-inspiring that Filipino workers are in demand and valued by other countries. However, it is also alarming that their own country cannot grant them the same opportunity.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFws) are glorified as modern heroes, but back home, the reasons why they left remain harsh realities.

Philstar.com photo with the impressive showing of the current economy, the protection and promotion of eco- given appropriate actions. The government must tunities that will entice OFws to come back or lonomic rights of all Filipino workers should be continue to generate decent employment oppor- cal employees to stay. (AJPress)

Editorial

Is Donald Trump fostering divisiveness and violence in his presidential campaign?

A week before Super Tuesday 3 -- when five states were slated to vote for the candidate whom they believe should be their party’s nominee for the next president of the United States -- Donald Trump has been criticized from the left, the right, and everyone else in between. The latest round of criticism comes after violent encounters had erupted during his campaign rallies between his supporters and those who are opposed to catapulting him to the highest post of the land. while candidates may not have direct control over how their supporters may act during campaign rallies, Trump’s detractors contend that the problem here was that it has been the billionaire reality show/real estate mogul’s rhetoric and attitude against those who oppose him. even worse, they argue, his toxic regard and public statements against undocumented immigrants, Hispanics, Muslims have gone overboard, and have planted seeds of hatred and divisiveness among his supporters.

His critics allege that Trump does not really

Commentary

FRanciSco S. tatad CARPIO’S revelation Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, there is no 9 – 6 majority vote in favor of declaring Mrs. Grace Poe Llamanzares a natural-born citizen, and qualified to run for President. This is what we learn from the dissenting opinion of Senior Associate Justice Carpio, who revealed the real vote of seven in favor, five against, and three without an opinion on the issue of citizenship. On the issue of residency, the vote was seven in favor, six against, and two without an opinion. It was only on the issue of grave abuse of discretion that nine voted against the Commission on elections because they did not believe that any material representations by Mrs. Llamanzares, which are false, were prompted by any “intention to deceive.”

Since the majority failed to rule on the two core issues of citizenship and residency, there is no legal basis for the ponencia written by Associate Justice Jose Perez to declare Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe Llamanzares “qualified to be a candidate for President in the National and Local elections of May 9, 2016.” By rejecting the citizenship and residency requirements of presidential candidates under the Constitution in order to allow a person of unknown biological parentage

promise to “Make America great again” if he becomes president, The Fil-Am as his popular slogan goes. what he is allegedly instilling Perspective in his avid fans is that “he will make America white again.”

The Daily News even wrote that “the 2016 Republican frontrunner’s decision to push Gel SantoS-ReloS divisive rhetoric and policy has opened the door for an array of white supremacy groups, that suddenly feel emboldened and legitimized by Trump’s hateful bombast, to rejoin the national conversation.”

Trump says he never condones violence, but his detractors say his hate speech and bold combative statements negate his statements, and do in fact, encourage violence among his supporters.

Some of Trump’s statements were quoted by Vox: [1 February 2016, Iowa] “If you see somebody

getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. Okay?

Just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees.

I promise.”

26 February 2016, Oklahoma] “In the good old days, they’d rip him out of that seat so fast. But today, everybody’s politically correct. Our country’s going to hell with being politically correct.”

[29 February 2016, Virginia] “Get him out of here please. Get him out. Get him out ... Are you from Mexico? Are you from Mexico? Huh? Are you from Mexico?”

[4 March 2016, Michigan] “Get out of here.

Get out. Out! ... This is amazing. So much fun.

I love it. I love it. we having a good time? USA, USA, USA! ... All right, get him out. Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it ... we had four guys, they jumped

on him, they were swinging and swinging. The next day, we got killed in the press — that we were too rough. Give me a break. You know?

Right? we don’t want to be too politically correct anymore. Right, folks?”

However, Trump’s supporters remain unfazed and continue to defend him by saying that that’s what they like about him: he is not a traditional politician. He is bold, unafraid and does not bother to be “politically correct,” and that he is the kind of leader that America “needs to get things done.”

As of press time, Super Tuesday 3 is underway. we will see if Trump wins in crucial races that could make him clinch the nomination of the Republican Party. ***

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

We were all duped: SC majority didn’t vote for Grace Poe

to run, and by declaring that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Mrs. Llamanzares and cancelled her Certificate of Candidacy, the erring Justices may have culpably violated the Constitution, betrayed public trust, and committed grave abuse of discretion themselves. we waited for five days to see the basis of the Court spokesman’s announcement last Tuesday that nine Justices had voted that Mrs. Llamanzares “could run,” despite the Comelec’s earlier en banc ruling disqualifying her as a candidate and canceling her COC, for making material representations, which are false, that she is a natural-born citizen and a resident of the country for 10 years and 11 months immediately preceding the election.

7, not 9, votes On Friday evening, when the texts of the Perez ponencia and the other Justices’ concurring and dissenting opinions finally became available online, Carpio’s dissent clarified the issues. There was no Supreme Court ruling on the core issues. The Court is made up of 15 members. Seven votes do not a majority make. But even if a majority vote were attained, if it trashed the Constitution, instead of upholding it, that majority could not possibly speak for the Court. Some Justices may want to rubbish the Constitution, but never the Court. This is what seems to be happening in the Llamanzares case.

Under the Constitution, no one may be elected President unless he is, among other things, a natu-

ral-born citizen and a resident of the country for at least 10 years immediately preceding the day of the election. And by naturalborn, the Constitution refers to one who is a citizen from birth, without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect his citizenship. This is what we, private petitioners before the Comelec (now turned respondents before the Supreme Court), the Comelec en banc, some Justices and so many legal and political writers have been patiently trying to point out.

Admission against interest By her own admission, Mrs. Llamanzares was born a foundling of no known parentage, having been abandoned inside the parish church in Jaro, Iloilo, on Sept. 3, 1968. She was not born a citizen under the 1935 Constitution, which was in force at the time of her birth. From this Constitution, the jus sanguinis (right of blood) doctrine was written into the 1973 and 1987 Constitutions, so it is this, which until now governs Philippine citizenship.

Disreputable presumption The Perez ponencia adopted Solicitor General Florin Hilbay’s pronouncement during the Oral Arguments that all foundlings are natural-born citizens, not on the basis of what the Constitution or the law or jurisprudence says, but purely on the basis of what he says. All our Constitutions are silent on this, but according to Hilbay, foundlings are natural-born precisely because of this very silence. Rejecting the clear provisions of the Constitution, and insisting, instead, on

what is not written there, Hilbay said Mrs. Llamanzares is naturalborn because of a disputable presumption based on the statistical probability that her parents were or are Filipinos.

The ponencia adopted as its own HIlbay’s thesis that there exists a nearly 100 percent probability that Mrs. Llamanzares’s unknown parents were (are) Filipinos, and that, therefore, she is natural-born. The ponencia said, quoting the “Tribune” of Mrs. Llamanzares, from 1965 to 1975, the total number of foreigners born in the Philippines was 15,986, while the total number of Filipinos born was 10,558,278. The statistical possibility that any child born in the country in that decade is naturalborn was 99.83 percent. In 1960, there were 962,532 Filipinos and 4,734 foreigners in the province (of Iloilo?); 99.62 percent of the population were Filipinos.

In 1970, there were 1,162,669 Filipinos and 5,304 foreigners; 99.55 percent of the population were Filipinos.

From probability to certainty On the basis of this statistical analysis, one could theorize that Mrs. Llamanzares may have been born of Filipino parents.

But Hilbay and the ponente use the same premise to arrive at the certain conclusion that she was, in fact, born of Filipino parents and is, therefore, natural-born.

This is really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Among the presidential candidates, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte alone had the courage to say something about the vote of the

Justices. He said this was not what he learned in law school, but as a lawyer he would respect anything coming from the Court.

That is the standard lawyer’s remark: the Supreme Court is always right, even when it is wrong.

Not being a lawyer, I make a distinction between the Court and its erring Justices. I abide by what The Manila Times editorial said last Friday, that it is not the Supreme Court per se that is supreme, but rather the Constitution that is supreme to the Court and the Justices.

A trier of law The Supreme Court is a trier of law, not of probabilities; it is not even a trier of facts, even though the law always requires a fact rather than a mere probability.

The undisputed facts which the parties stipulated upon before the Comelec ruled in favor of the petitions by estrella elamparo, Antonio Contreras, Amado Valdez and Francisco Tatad, are simply not in her favor.

By going up to the Supreme Court on a petition for certiorari and asking the Court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), Mrs. Llamanzares was able to freeze the otherwise final and non-reviewable Comelec ruling.

She alleged grave abuse of discretion, but there was no attempt on her part to prove this during the Oral Arguments. It was only Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza who theorized during the Orals that the Comelec might have committed grave abuse of discretion when it failed to allow Mrs. Llamanzares to prove that

she was natural-born.

To which Commissioner Arthur Lim, speaking for the Comelec, was quick to respond that on the very first line of her first written official submission to the Comelec, Mrs. Llamanzares proclaimed that she was a foundling of no known parentage, making it unnecessary for the petitioners to prove anything anymore. where then did the Comelec commit grave abuse of discretion amounting to excess or lack of jurisdiction? By simply invoking the Constitution, the law and jurisprudence?

Nuisance candidates while this case was being heard by the Supreme Court en banc, the Comelec motu proprio disqualified about 130 “presidential candidates” and cancelled their COCs for being “nuisance candidates.” These candidates had all complied with the constitutional requirements: All were natural-born citizens, registered voters, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on election day, and residents of the country for at least ten years. The only things they did not have were political organisation and money to burn, which are not at all constitutional requirements.

But the Comelec was never faulted for “grave abuse of discretion” for declaring them “nuisance candidates” despite their having complied with all the constitutional requirements. And the Supreme Court was quick to affirm the Comelec decision against any such candidates in a one-paragraph minute resoluPAGE A7

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 18-24, 2016

A

Sotto remains top contender in Senate race

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

MANILA—Sen. Vicente Sotto III continued to be the top choice in the May 9 senatorial race based on the latest survey conducted by newspaper BusinessWorld and the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Sotto, of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, took the solo lead in the BW-SWS March 4-7 poll, garnering 53 percent (from 52 percent ).

He was followed by former senator Panfilo Lacson, an independent, with 46 percent from 49 percent and Senate President Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party (LP) with 44 percent from 40 percent.

Occupying fourth and fifth places were Sen. Ralph Recto (LP) with 43 percent from 46 percent and former senator and

Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto

food security presidential assistant Francis Pangilinan (LP) with 43 percent from 42 percent.

Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (independent) was in sixth spot with 41 percent from 38 percent, followed by world boxing icon Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (United Nationalist Al-

liance) with 38 percent from 35 percent and Sen. Sergio Osmeña III with 34 percent from 37 percent.

Tied for ninth and 10th places were Richard Gordon (independent) and former justice secretary Leila de Lima (LP) with 32 percent each. Gordon’s score went up by six points while De Lima’s rating improved by three points.

Vying for the last two slots were former Akbayan lawmaker Risa Hontiveros with 30 percent (from 27 percent); Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (LP) with 26 percent, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Joel Villanueva (LP) with 24 percent (from 22 percent) and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino (independent) with 23 percent (from 19 percent).

FINAL FAREWELL. Friends and colleagues fill the Senate hall to bid former Senate President Jovito Salonga farewell on Tuesday. Among those who paid their last respects were Senator Loren Legarda, former Senators Leticia Shahani, Rene Saguisag (in wheelchair), Heherson Alvarez, Ernesto Maceda, Joey Lina, Alfredo Lim and Teofisto Guingona.

Inquirer.net photos by Marianne Bermudez

Young, old, ailing senators recount memories of Jovy

by CHristine

o. AvendAño

Inquirer.net

SOME of them may be ailing and gray, but the colleagues of former Senate President Jovito Salonga had no trouble summoning memories about him during a necrological service held at the Senate Tuesday.

The Senate on Tuesday, March 15 paid tribute to Salonga who passed away on March 10 at the age of 95. The first chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government served as Senate President from 1987 to 1991.

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hopes still live and the dream shall never die. Uncle Jovy shall never die,” former Sen. Rene Saguisag declared in a quivering voice.

Saguisag, who was on a wheelchair, said it was Salonga who convinced him to get into politics despite his desire to remain a “common lawyer.”

They were together in the 8th Janet Lim-Napoles and Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes Congress which voted against the Investigation by the ombuds- a public bidding and without basis continued stay of US military basman showed P7,954,000 was in law or ordinance. es in the country on Sept.16, 1991, The ombudsman said the govchanneled by Nabcor to UPFI for Saguisag added. the implementation of livelihood ernment suffered undue injury Among Salonga’s colleagues when respondents conspired with training programs. who attended the necrologiGraft probers said Pancrudo di- one another and diverted the cal rites were former Senators rectly chose the non-government amount to fictitious or ghost projEdgardo Angara, Wigberto Taorganization without the benefit of ects. (With Michael Punongbayan) ñada, Leticia Shahani, Saturnina

SC junks Janet Napoles, Gigi Reyes...

PAGE A5 She was found guilty of illegally detaining PDAF scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. Reyes, on the other hand, is detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The Office of the Ombudsman, on the other hand, has filed graft charges against former Bukidnon representative Cadido Pancrudo Jr. before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Also indicted were former National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) president Alan Javellana, director for administrative and finance Rhodora Mendoza, accounting division officer-in-charge Maria Ninez Guañizo, paralegal Victor Roman Cacal and Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (UPFI) president Mark Espinosa.

The indictment stems from the unlawful disbursement of Pancrudo’s PDAF allocations amounting to P8.2 million in 2008.

PAGE A6

We were all duped...

tion. Is not the Court itself guilty of grave abuse of discretion in this instance?

Mrs. Llamanzares’ counsel had argued during the Orals that only the Presidential Electoral Tribunal after the election, and not the Comelec before the election, could pass upon the qualifications or disqualifications of presi-

dential candidates. If this was so, by what authority then does not the Comelec declare “nuisance candidates,” and the High Court confirm Comelec’s action in such cases?

Bastardizing the elections Carpio has expressed fear— and it is a fear we share—that the non-majority vote could “lead to absurd results and

make a mockery of the elections by allowing a presidential candidate with uncertain citizenship status to be potentially elected to the Office of the President, an office expressly reserved by the Constitution exclusively for natural-born Filipino citizens.”

Precisely because of this political vote, we now have a former American citizen, who is married to an American husband and is mother to several American chil-

dren, who may have been actually programmed to become the next President of the Philippines.

We are given to understand that the husband and children would renounce their American citizenship if ever she is elected President. What a way of showing the love for the country she wants to lead!

A president of unknown parentage?

If this is outrageous enough, even more outrageous is the fact

Rasul, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Teofisto Guingona Jr., Ernesto Maceda Jr., Jose Lina, Vic Ziga, Alfredo Lim and Heherson Alvarez.

Also present was Rodolfo Biazon, a former senator and now Muntinlupa representative.

Meaningful life Salonga lived a “meaningful and purposeful life” and was a “man of deep faith” who practiced law in the dark days of martial law, Tañada said, adding that Salonga was deposed as Senate President a few months after leading the historic vote against the US bases.

Although he lost the 1992 presidential race to Fidel Ramos, Salonga continued to serve as a “citizen of conscience” when he established groups such as Kilosbayan, Tañada said.

During his term, the Senate was “generally tranquil” like its leader, Angara recalled of Salonga.

He was an “inspirational and very humble leader” under whose leadership the health and education system in the country had been strengthened, Angara added.

Sen. Loren Legarda, who said she never got a chance to serve under Salonga’s leadership, recounted how she became close to him as a journalist and later, as a senator.

‘Country before self’ She consulted Salonga when the Senate tackled the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement. She subsequently voted against the treaty in the Senate. Legarda said, adding that Salonga should also be credited for her advocacy on the environment.

In his eulogy, Senate President Franklin Drilon summed up Salonga’s life by quoting a line from the movie on Gen. Antonio Luna.

The late official lived the words, “Bayan muna bago sarili (country before self),” he added.

“He set the standard for public service by leading a simple life marked by honor, humility and integrity,” the Senate President said of Salonga.

Drilon also credited Salonga for recruiting him to the Liberal Party, where he is now its vice chair.

Drilon led the senators in presenting to Salonga’s heirs Senate Resolution No. 118 “expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolence(s) of the Senate to a great statesman.”

Salonga’s son Esteban spoke on behalf of his siblings and their families and profusely thanked the Senate for honoring his father.

“Thank you for giving us an opportunity to hear wonderful stories (about) our father,” said the younger Salonga.

that should we ever be so accursed to have her as our president, Filipino children studying history or current events will know the name of their president, but will never be able to find on the internet or anywhere else any information about who her biological father and mother are. What other national indignity, degradation or humiliation do we need?

Only a majority of the Court can declare Mrs. Llamanzares “quali-

fied” to run for President. The vote of seven Justices on the two core issues does not meet this requirement. The Court needs to declare that the previous round of voting has failed, and must sit down all over again, deliberate anew, without the external pressure of partisan politics or money, and cast a vote that could save the Constitution, the Court, the next election, and the nation itself from insanity, treason and chaos. (ManilaTimes.net)

A

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

Your Immigration Solution Atty. RobeRt Reeves Devin M. Connolly AnD nAnCy e. MilleR COUNTLESS people want to live in the United States. It is, therefore, not surprising that people sometimes misrepresent facts in order to accomplish that goal. These lies are told for an obvious reason – telling the truth would not get them an immigration benefit. However, an immigration benefit obtained through a lie renders the alien removable.

If (or when) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discovers the truth, they will take steps to deport the person to his native country.

An immigrant in this situation may be eligible to apply for a waiver of their prior misrepresentation pursuant to Section 237(a)(1)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). And if the waiver is granted, and they are otherwise eligible, they will be able to apply for US citizenship.

A waiver under INA 237(a)(1)(H) “forgives” the fraud and allows the alien to keep the green card if they are the spouse, parent, or son or daughter of a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) and can meet the requirement of showing that the equities in their case outweigh the liabilities. This balance is called “favorable exercise of discretion.” The fraud or misrepresentation must be of a material fact that was made in connection with the attempt to obtain a visa or green card. The applicant must be “otherwise-admissible” to the US, but-for the material misrepresentation. This means that the immigrant will not be eligible for the waiver if they are inadmissible for reasons in addition to the fraud, such as criminal convictions. The waiver may be granted whether the misrepresentation was made at the US Consulate or a Citizenship & Immigration Service (CIS) Office.

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has said that a person

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-24, 2016

CJ

Journal From fraud to waiver to citizenship in 3 not-so-easy steps!

may be eligible for the waiver even if they got their green card through a sham marriage. A “sham marriage” is a marriage entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining a green card.

The qualifying relative, however, may not be the spouse from the sham marriage.

Many other circumstances exist for which this waiver may be appropriate. A common scenario involves a prospective immigrant who has been petitioned by an LPR parent who marries before the priority date becomes current.

That petition is denied or revoked as a matter of law immediately upon the marriage – whether CIS is told about the marriage or not.

Even if the parent is a USC, many years can be added to the waittime. The prospective immigrant wants their spouse and their green card so they lie at the time of the interview and say they are single. Clearly, the green card was obtained through fraud. A 237(a)(1)(H) waiver can cure the original fraud and allow the person to keep their green card – which be valid back from the date it was issued.

A less common scenario involves one whose Immigration Court case was administratively closed. When he becomes eligible to obtain a green card, he lies and claims he was never in Court. CIS has no authority to grant the green card but it does not know that. So the green card that the immigrant obtained through fraud is worthless and he needs the waiver.

When applying for the waiver an immigrant must demonstrate that they deserve a favorable exercise of discretion. The factors that an Immigration Judge may consider when making their decision include the immigrant’s family ties within the United States, the length of their residence in this country, whether the immigrant or any family

members would suffer hardship if the immigrant was forced to return to his or her native country, the immigrant’s employment history, the existence of any property or business ties, evidence of value or service to the community, as well other evidence of the immigrant’s good moral character. The Immigration Judge will balance these positive factors against any negative factors in an immigrant’s case. These negative factors may include the original fraud or misrepresentation, any criminal activity, or any other evidence of the immigrant’s lack of good moral character. In the end, the immigrant must demonstrate that the positive factors in their case outweigh the negative ones. A well-documented waiver application and persuasive testimony at the court hearing are essential to a successful outcome.

And, yes, I did just say court. A waiver under INA § 237(a)(1)(H) may only be applied for in Immigration Court. With so much riding on the end result, it is important to retain a knowledgeable immigration attorney who is experienced in these types of waivers. And what is the end result? After being granted the waiver, the immigrant can go on to successfully apply for US citizenship. That is a successful outcome. *** 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)

handed down from generation to generation, for fusion dishes that encapsulate the identity of MANILA — The Department of Filipinos,” DOT Undersecretary Tourism (DOT) is aiming to posi- Benito Bengzon said. tion the Philippines as a center of This is also in line with the food and gastronomy in Asia as second run of the Madrid Fusion it brings Flavors of the Philippine Manila slated from April 7 to 9 Festival 2016. that will bring together top-rated “It will take us to every cor- and acclaimed avant-garde chefs ner of the archipelago for gus- from across the globe. tatory discoveries, for treasures “Madrid Fusion Manila has

by Louise

Maureen Philstar.com

siMeon

placed the Philippines on the world gastronomical map. There is no better way to celebrate our common cultural history but through enjoying and appreciating good food,” Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade Jaime Garcia-Legaz said.

In celebration of the World Food Month in April, DOT has lined up a month-long festival that would

u PAGE CJ2

PH in franchising ‘sweet spot’

by Kristyn

niKa M. ManilaTimes.net

Lazo

THE Philippines is currently in the “sweet spot of franchising” amid its economic boom and would-be franchisors should take advantage of this window of opportunity to start their own franchises, the chief executive of homegrown Filipino fast food chain Binalot said.

Rommel Juan, president and CEO of Binalot Fiesta Foods, said there are unique highlights in the Philippine economy that make it attractive to someone interested in franchising a business.

He noted that the country has a population of some 100 million, which is growing at a rate of 1.0 percent a year,

u PAGE CJ3

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MARCH 18-24, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files AurorA VegA-Buzon, esq.

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

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

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

Community Journal

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

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

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

CIS), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — who all exercise parole authority concurrently.

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

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

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA I CAME across an email message from a legitimate contact telling a sad story and asking for emergency money in a faroff land. I googled some phrases and sure enough, it was a scam.

Out it went with the spam trash.

My take on this: my contact’s email was breached and his contact list hacked. This is one of the reasons I am loath to forward emails sent by well-meaning friends, no matter how funny.

What is amazing is that people have been victimized by this scam all over the world when a few keystrokes would have verified it and a bit of common sense would have raised one’s suspicions.

There are rough estimates of $183 million per year on average that have been scammed from the unsuspecting on the internet.

The figure could be more since a big percentage of people will not admit to being conned.

The electronic age has brought us wonders and unbelievable convenience defying space/time constraints and accomplishing things we can only do in previous times if we were physically present in one place. With an internet connection, we can do great and wonderful things that were the stuff of science fiction not so long ago.

But there is a sinister side to the internet. And it gets darker as moral turpitude appears to be on the rise and our capacity to be shocked is diminished with every jaw-dropping crime. There was a time when crime was met with swift and appropriate punishment. For as long as the laws which were structured in the past cannot keep up with these phenomenon of cyber crimes, it is in our best interest to learn how to become savvy net users and defend ourselves from the onslaught that comes electronically.

The amount of available crud (translate that to disgusting things like porn, scams and gambling and some such variation of evil) on the net is staggering. In the book I wrote, there is a chapter dedicated on avoiding the pitfalls of scams and the schemes of con artists designed to separate you from your hard-earned money. This time, the level of sophistication is up several notches higher as unemployment and the current economic morass worldwide is driving people to desperation.

If we are internet users, we are all at risk, unless and until we take the necessary psychological precautions to deal with this and become relatively “scam proof.”

No one is sacrosanct. These scams are designed to prey upon

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

Tips on scam-proofing yourself “There is a sucker born every nanosecond.”

—A play on a quote mistakenly ascribed to circus impresario, P.T. Barnum

two basic weaknesses ingrained in our DNA wiring as humans: GREED and FEAR. Here’s one blanket caveat to keep us on our toes about how lottery scams and cons play out in cyberspace. REMEMBER — and I can’t emphasize this often enough, on this matter, and perhaps, other significant areas of life — IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. Okay, repeat that as your mantra.

The scams that feed on greed are so sophisticated that they can send a seemingly authentic check by mail from a real bank with so many zeroes on it. If you bite at the first overture, they then ask for a processing fee from you for you to get the rest of the winnings. This is called the Nigerian scam apparently because the first perpetrators allegedly were well educated but destitute Nigerians who found that their facility for the English language could be exploited to scam millions using the internet.

The scam has spread and morphed with mind-boggling variations but with only one nefarious purpose — to separate you from your money. No one race or culture has the monopoly on these. These can originate anywhere in the world. I have had mine come in purportedly from G8 as well as impoverished countries. If you have not consciously joined any lottery, why in heaven’s name would you think you have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning even one thin dime? Also, legitimate lotteries will NEVER, repeat NEVER, ask you for money in order for a winner to claim a prize.

Some scams feed on your fear.

One of the most deceptive things is to receive an email from your bank instructing you to click on a link and verify your information since someone supposedly is accessing your account and if you don’t verify your information, particularly your pin number or password, this can result in a temporary hold on your funds.

The modern term for this is “phishing” which refers to the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company. I received one of these phishing calls which had a legitimate ID on the caller ID asking us to call a number and even left a reference number claiming to check on some gas card purchases. I told her I need to verify if her call is legitimate. I detected a hint of dejection in her response.

Sure enough, a check on the phone number she left indicated it was a phishing call.

No legitimate financial entity will ask you for financial information online. Cut scammers off at the knees with the simple expediency of calling the fraud unit of your bank or credit card company yourself. Take the bull by the horns. Generate the call. Get the telephone number from your statement or your card and DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER that the caller or e-mailer provided you with. It’s a trap.

If it is an email, hit the spam button and empty the trash.

Don’t just delete it. Sure, they will morph into another form but be proactive and make it more difficult for them. These scams are like viruses or shape shifters and can mutate faster than the speed of light. PC users are more vulnerable to spammers/ scammers and pesky pop-ups than Mac users. But this too can change. C’est la vie.

Is there karmic justice? Because con artists rarely ever see the faces of their victims or know the full extent of the damage that they wreak on real people with real lives, these crimes seem impersonal in nature and rarely, if ever, do con artists get their comeuppance. Translate that to jail time or some form of punishment, like being exposed to an anthill, boiled in oil or tickled to oblivion… Just kidding of course… Con artists should be happy we no longer live in Medieval Times.

Often, these scammers are based overseas outside of any jurisdiction. The wheels of justice grind ponderously, exceedingly slow and you sometimes wonder if crime stoppers and society in general, would ever catch up with this distinct phenomenon of the interesting times we live in.

If you think only the “little people” are at risk, think again. Governments and institutions have become easy targets for sophisticated, often juvenile hackers. Cyber crime has reached daunting proportions and has reached the institutional level. Supposedly uber secure websites such as that of the CIA, NSA, FBI, Scotland Yard, the US Congress and mega-corporations like Sony, Nintendo, Citibank and a host of others have recently been either hacked or brought to a halt from the comforts of a teen-ager’s bedroom.

A few years ago, a 19 year old, baby-faced, reclusive boy from England named Ryan Cleary, is alleged to have been responsible for bringing down the websites of the CIA and Scotland Yard.

The teener stayed glued to his

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AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free tax assistance and preparation

To find a Tax-Aide location near you offering assistance in other languages, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW

WASHINGTON, DC – This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low- to moderate- income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 48th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. Taxpayers do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services and AARP membership is not required. Some locations offer assistance in additional languages, including Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese.

“Our bilingual volunteers generously give their time to help taxpayers who don’t speak English or speak English as a second language prepare their returns,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy.

“We need more bilingual volunteers so if you can help translate, please join our Tax-Aide volunteer team so that we can expand our services to Asian American & Pacific Islander communities.”

AARP Tax-Aide sites are open and ready to help people prepare their tax returns. Some sites offer assistance in additional languages, including Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, and more.

In 2015, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide’s 35,000 volunteers have provided 2.6 million people with free tax help. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure their knowledge of revisions to the U.S. tax code.

Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.3 billion in income tax refunds and more than $250 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs).

For more information on documents to bring to the tax site or to locate an AARP Foundation TaxAide site, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in con-

junction with the IRS. About AARP Foundation AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people and make resources go further.

AARP Foundation is a charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org. n

DOT eyes PH as food hub in…

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showcase the country’s gastronomic offerings, from culinary tours, food trucks, bar crawls, concerts, to agricultural fairs, weekend gourmet markets and bazaars.

Flavors of the Philippines will be held simultaneously in differ-

ent malls, restaurants and venues across the country starting March 31.

“This is the delightful run-up to the grand gastronomical event in Asia where everyone should make conscious effort to try different cuisines,” Bengzon said.

Organized by the DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board the highlights of this year’s Flavors of the Philippines include the Tapas Exhibition, Market Tours in Old Manila, the Soccsksargen Food and Fashion Event, and culinary heritage tours, among others. n

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ WHEN the US Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), their ruling enabled same-sex couples to marry and, for immigration purposes, to petition one another for green cards.

However, what happens if one partner is a US citizen, living in the US, and the partner is living in the Philippines? To file a spousal petition, the couple is supposed to get married, but same–sex marriages are not recognized in the Philippines. So, how does this couple get around that obstacle? The answer is a fiancé(e) (K–1) visa. The basic requirements for a K–1 visa are: • The petitioner (the person filing the petition) must be a US citizen. Fiancé visas are not available if the petitioner is a green card holder.

• The couple must have met each other, in person, within 2 years of filing the petition. Therefore, the American would need to take a trip to the Philippines to visit their partner, and make sure the trip is well documented, with entry stamps, pictures together,

Dr. Val’s Dental Views Dr. VAlerie

De leon

COULD the secret to perpetual youth be found in your smile (wink, wink)? Well, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration! But as you know, here at our practice, we obsess over our patients’ smiles. We know that a confident smile can be life changing. But what does your smile have to do with aging?

1. People who smile more are perceived as younger. Last year, in an American Psychological Association study, researchers showed thousands of photos of people wearing different expressions to test subjects, who were then asked to guess the ages of the people in the photos. The guesses on neutral expressions were quite accurate, but smiling faces were generally assumed to be years younger than their actual age.

2. Sharing your smile (and laugh) makes you feel younger

The Metamorphosis

ernie D. Delfin (Part 1 of 2)

“BE a gift to the world!”– Rotary International motto for 201516 “Building peaceful communities especially in conflict-torn regions has not always been easy, but it has left me convinced of one thing above all others: “Far better to sweat for peace than to bleed in war!” – GK founder, Tony Meloto It ‘s Lenten season once again and to the Christian world, especially for us Catholics, we are again reminded of the old traditions of the Church: doing corporal works of mercy as well as spiritual works of mercy. In addition to these, the healthy practice of fasting and abstinence (from meat), especially during this Jubilee year as promulgated by Pope Francis. For us practicing Catholics who go to church regularly, these Lenten weeks followed by Easter week are great reminders for us to meditate the

Community Journal

and most Filipinos are known to be enthusiasts for new or foreign brands, with evolving tastes and preferences that have become more cosmopolitan.

The younger population is also more proficient in the English language compared to other Southeast Asian countries, with about 65 percent in the working-age bracket which should be beneficial to any franchisor entering or challenging the local market.

This is because younger age groups tend to patronize and be more welcoming to new brands, which results in a “quick return of investments,” he said.

Juan said franchisors have more opportunities for growth if they expand beyond Metro Manila and get popular celebrity endorsers to market the business.

The Philippine market has several sub-groups, such as the groups of call center agents and overseas Filipino workers, whose demands are somewhat different from each other, and aspiring

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How to bring your same-sex partner from the Philippines etc.

• When the US citizen returns to the US, the K–1 petition is filed, hopefully approved, and the partner in the Philippines goes to the US Embassy for his or her K–1 visa interview.

• Once the K-1 visa is issued, the alien fiancé enters the US, and must marry the US citizen partner within 90 days of entry.

If the fiancé does not marry the American who filed the petition, the petitioned partner must return to the Philippines. The sponsored partner cannot obtain a green card or other visa status in the US in any other way except through the petitioning US citizen. (i.e., they cannot marry another American, be petitioned by an employer, change to student visa etc.)

• The couple would then file for adjustment of status and will eventually be scheduled for an interview. They will be questioned about the “bona fides” of their marriage, i.e. if it is for real or fixed. If the officer is satisfied it is a true love relationship, the green card will be issued.

While same-sex couples are now entitled to the same rights and benefits as opposite sex cou-

ples, they are also subject to the same requirements, obligations, and suspicions that opposite sex couples are subject to. The officer may question them extensively on whether this is a true “love” relationship, to discover or rule out any “marriage of convenience.” The same-sex marriage will be scrutinized especially if one of the partners was previously married to an opposite sex spouse and has children from that relationship, but is now in a same-sex relationship? Often, the couple may have kept their relationship “secret” from family and friends. Have they gathered and submitted the appropriate documentation and proof of their true love relationship? They may not have extensive joint documents or pictures together, and if the USCIS questions their friends or relatives, those friends or relatives may be totally unaware of the relationship. Or the interviewing officer may be deeply religious or conservative, and may not approve of same sex relationships, which could make for a difficult marital interview.

Although some same–sex couples, like many opposite sex couples, may think they can file and

BEAUTY QUEEN’S CASE DENIED BECAUSE OF FRAUD, ON A BRAND-NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Karen (center) married US citizen Paul (left) in 2007. It was a match made in heaven, until their beautiful life was put under extreme hardship when Karen’s adjustment of status was denied, after she was found guilty of immigration fraud. They submitted a fraud waiver, and even that was denied. The couple was devastated and all plans for their family and businesses were shattered. Everything seemed hopeless until leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) took over Karen’s case and fought to convince USCIS Karen never committed any fraud. Watch how the “Beauty Queen” and her family regained their charmed life and Karen’s name was cleared, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday, March 20 at 6:15pm (PST) on TFC

handle the case on their own, I would strongly suggest they seek the advice, assistance, and representation of 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 attorney-

Three reasons why your smile alendar of Events C across may be a fountain of youth — regardless of your age.

It’s really not about the number of miles on your smile. It’s about how comfortable you are sharing it.

3. Smiling may even help you live longer. Living longer — now there’s a serious smiling benefit.

Could this really be true? A 2010 Wayne State University study examined the relationship between smile intensity and longevity among 230 pro baseball players from a ’52 baseball registry. They found that players with big smiles lived an average of five years longer that those who didn’t (or barely) smiled. Even players with small smiles lived longer than those who didn’t smile.

Facial expression and smiles have long been shown to be a good indicator of people’s emotions—and those with positive emotions are even shown to have better interpersonal skills and more stable marriages. Smiling can have a great impact on your health—it can boost your immune

system and reduces stress.

So here are some tips for helping your smile keep you young: • Care for your teeth, relentlessly, by doing the basics—brushing, flossing, regular checkups, etc.

• Ask us any time you have questions about your oral health or improving your smile.

• Smile big, and smile often.

When you take good care of your teeth, chances are they’ll last a lifetime. And a great smile will make that lifetime longer, healthier, and happier.

We’re always available and always listening. You know how to contact us! *** If you have questions, pls call Dr. Valerie de Leon at (650) 697–9000 or visit our website at www.millbraesmiles.com.

She is with Millbrae Smile Center located at 15 El Camino Real, Millbrae 94030. She is a member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, ADA, CDA and SMCDS. Please call for a free consultation.

(Advertising Supplement)

GK-Rotary-LGU collaboration for the common good deeper meaning of our lives here on earth. For many of us who go on spiritual retreats, it is a perfect time to ponder the real purpose of our lives that we alone can answer in prayerful silence.

For me —who had three friends pass away the last 60 days—it is a sobering thought that one day, sooner or later (prayerfully, much later), it will be my time too. That reflection makes me energized to do as much as I can while all my faculties are intact, to leave a legacy to our world where my offsprings and their children will inherit.

With those pensive thoughts as backdrops, allow me to share what is so close to my heart doing my best to make it a reality, while I am alive and kicking. This is also to give meaning to my own life, with the fervent hope that I will leave this world a better place for our children and their children. As a FilipinoAmerican wearing different hats — like being a long time Rotarian leader, GK advocate and also an active church volunteer (serving in our Pastoral Council,

Eucharistic Minister as well as Social Justice and Prison minister) — I am pleased and proud to say that an ambitious and collaborative project has been started.

This project involves building a Gawad Kalinga Village in the farming Barangay (village) Anis where I first saw the light of day in the newest town of Pangasinan, Laoac, has started.

As no individual can do it alone, I have to reach out to many people for their support to be able to complete this project. Like most projects, it started with just a lofty dream for the poor who also deserve to a better life. It was serendipity and providence, I believe, that caused this noble project to be born when God in His mysterious ways, made a few people of like minds meet, and started a chain reaction. We (in Rotary or Gawad Kalinga, church or religious people—like Sister Letty, a Dominican nun for over 30 years—working collaboratively with a local government unit) believe that by 2017 with His blessings, this challenging proj-

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PH in franchising ‘sweet…

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-24, 2016

franchisers “need a strategy to target these sub-groups.”

The Binalot chief cited a study

by Actrium Solutions which said that the global market value of franchising was estimated at $3.79 trillion in 2014, led by the US which cornered 63 percent of the market, with Asia getting only a 16 percent share.

Still citing the study, he said that the US and parts of Western Europe are nearly reaching domestic market saturation, giving way for growth in franchising in other markets such as the fastgrowing Asian countries.

With its 6 percent to 7 percent growth in the past five years, the Philippines has been hailed as one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Despite the potential, Juan said most Asian countries have just begun to embrace franchising in recent years.

According to the Actrium Solutions study, international franchisors are very much interested in entering the Asian market but they encounter some challenges

along the way, which include: “hard to find qualified franchisees” (74 percent); franchisee management (72 percent); license application procedure (54 percent); foreign exchange controls (46 percent); localization of brand and products (43 percent); and IP/patent registration and protection (43 percent).

With the onset of the Asean Economic Community, the trade of goods and services has become freer. Because of the economic integration, Juan said Binalot is planning to enter Asean countries with a strong Filipino presence aside from their current expansion efforts in the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Countries.

Binalot earlier bared its fiveyear plan to open 20 branches in the Middle East by 2021. This year, Binalot is set to open 10 outlets in the country. To date, Binalot has 34 outlets nationwide.

The homegrown fast food chain is known for its All Time PinoyVorite Meals wrapped in banana leaves. n

client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

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 M A R C H 1 8 -1 9

5th Statewide Disabilities Conference Agencies, service providers and caretakers, community organizations, consumers, jobseekers, families…please join us for the California Statewide Disabilities Conference from March 18-19, 2016 at The Westin Pasadena hotel (191 N. Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA).

Expert panels/sessions/topics to be discussed include special education for those with disabilities, autism, assistive technology, ACA/Health, civil rights, mental health, financial wellness, discrimination, employment benefits, college supportive services, transition to adulthood, and outreach to the diverse Asian American - Pacific Islander community. This event is sponsored by the Asian & Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC), giving a voice and face to Asians and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, and improving access to resources for API families. APIDC has hosted four major conferences in California.

The conference will also include social service agencies, and exhibitors/representatives such as educators, attorneys, and health care providers. Special gift giveaways and raffle prizes are available to all registered conference attendees. For registration and more information (including scholarships) about the conference, please contact Jamie Hwang at 714-4033188, APIDC@gmail.com, and visit www.apidisabilities.net.

MARCH 19

CSFLU 26th Anniversary The City of San Fernando La Union, headed by Vickie Balcita-Neri, will celebrate their 26th Anniversary on March 19, 2016 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Brea (900 E Birch St, Brea, CA 9282). Music will be provided by The Midnight Motion Band. For invitation and other questions, please call Vangie So at (626) 485-3110.

MARCH 20

2016 Piyesta Pinoy Chicago Sunday, March 20 from 11:45am to 4:00pm is the Philippine Celebration (Piyesta Pinoy sa Chicago), as part of the Neighborhoods of the World series at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens (Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL). Come travel to the Philippines without ever leaving your backyard! This cultural celebration is free and open to the public of all ages. Join us and enjoy an afternoon of lively folk music, special performances, traditional dance, cuisine, arts and crafts. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) and thevibrant Filipino community of Chicago is so proud to put on this event for the 5th year in a row, and Piyesta Pinoy is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our culture with our people.For more information, or to volunteer, perform, exhibit, or donate, please visitwww. piyestapinoy.net, or email Piyestpinoy@gmail.com.

APRIL 1

Eagle Rock High School Monthly Open House Tours laureate Open House Tours, from 8-10am during the spring semester on Friday, April 1. Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School serves students in grades 7-12, and was the first school in the LAUSD to be authorized to offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (grades 7-10) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (grades 11-12), a project-based program for concept and content-based learning to promote global mindedness and service to others. The IB Open House is open to all interested students, and will include an introductory presentation in the ERHS library, followed by campus tours, classroom visits, and a short question-and-answer period. To register for the Open Houses, please visit www.erhs.la, and click on the “IB Open House Registration” link. Please email Mylene Keipp mylene.keipp@lausd.net for more information. We look forward to your visit!

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

Humanitarian Parole for urgent…

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removal proceedings, regardless of whether the alien is within or outside of the US; 3. Aliens who will participate in events hosted by an international organization located within the US (e.g., UN, OAS); 4. Section 7 parole (50 USC 403[h]); and 5. Intelligence.

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

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

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

An initial grant of parole is

only for a set period of time that corresponds with the length of the emergency or humanitarian situation, but not to exceed one (1) year. However, an extension may be requested. Humanitarian Parole does not give a parolee any permanent immigration status and does not authorize a parolee to work in the United States. *** Atty. Aurora Vega-Buzon is a partner in Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation (CTV) - a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Philippines. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Call or e-mail CTV for an inperson or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 4958088; auvega@ctvattys.com (Advertising Supplement)

CJ

MARCH 18-24, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Business news

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

PAL targets 5-star status in 5 years by loUise

MaUreen Philstar.com

Cash still king for Filipino investors

by Mayvelin

U. Caraballo ManilaTimes.net

VOLATILITY in the financial markets has dampened the enthusiasm of Filipino investors, prompting more of them to rely on cash as their “best-of-theworst” investment strategy, a financial services firm said.

Manulife Philippines on Monday, March 14, cited results from its Manulife Investor Sentiment Index (MISI) survey, which found that Filipino investors are increasingly relying on cash as their investment choice in a volatile market.

The survey revealed a dramatic fall in positive sentiment toward all asset classes in the fourth quarter of 2015, due to concerns that market conditions are unlikely to improve.

Sentiment toward fixed income securities, equities and mutual funds in the fourth quarter of 2015 have all decreased since the second quarter, down to 60 from 81, 64 from 83, and 61 from 84, respectively.

“Cash, however, has been the least affected, with many investors changing their investment strategy to increase their cash holdings,” it said.

It said sentiment toward cash dropped less significantly, although it still fell more than 10 percentage points, to 76 from 88.

Manulife’s survey also revealed that this negative shift in sentiment can largely be attributed to concerns about market volatility and doubts that market conditions will improve.

“Fewer people expect market

conditions to improve, which may explain the fall in sentiment,” it said.

While investor sentiment toward cash did decline, the survey stressed that cash still ranks as the most preferred asset class, with Filipino investors increasing their cash holdings to 34 percent of their total assets from 23 percent in the last survey.

In addition, 40 percent of investors are looking to invest more in or start investing in cash in their local currency.

Lowered expectations As a result of this concern about market volatility, MISI showed that one fifth or 20 percent of investors expect a 5 percent or less return on their investment, up from only 8 percent of investors since the last survey.

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PH aims to become biggest IT-BPM market by riChMonD

s. MerCUrio

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines is confident of becoming the world’s biggest market for information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) on the back of continued government support and more quality talents in the local labor force.

“We are pretty much top two, top three in the IT-BPM servicing market in the world, hence why we have always been known as the destination of choice for IT-BPM services,” IT and Business Process Association Philip-

EMPLOYMENT

pines (IBPAP) chairman Danilo Sebastian Reyes told The Star in an interview.

With new government leaders coming in this year along with the increasing number of university-produced talents, Reyes said there is an opportunity for the Philippines to dethrone India as the IT-BPM servicing leader in the world.

“We can definitely maintain our position because of the continuing partnership between the industry which is represented

by IBPAP, the government, and the academe together with the roadmap we are implement-

ing and we will be developing.

So I think we should be able to sustain, if not improve our position,” Reyes said.

“We’ve got the momentum, we have the credibility in the global market and certainly we have the people to deliver quality service,” he added.

But to be the world’s top market, Reyes said the country needs to address the industry’s biggest challenge to date which is the quality volume of talents coming in to the industry.

“If we are able to marry what are the actual industry require-

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EMPLOYMENT

siMeon

MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) aims to transform into a five-star airline in five years following an aggressive route network expansion, fleet modernization and service innovation program.

“Getting the five-star is not easy but we think we can do that in five years. For us to be able to do that, we need to improve service, from passengers’ booking to getting their baggage after the flight. Our objective is to give passenger experience that will exceed their expectations,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

PAL is currently ranked a three-star airline by UK-based aviation consultancy Skytrax. It aims to be with the likes of Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Garuda Indonesia, among others, that are ranked five-star carriers.

Bautista is hopeful with the innovations PAL undertook last year, it will gain the four-star rank next year as Skytrax is set to conduct another audit.

He said securing the fivestar rating does not really need strategic investors from foreign equity partners but the four-star rating in 2017 would boost the carrier’s presence with other global players.

“The desire is there to have strategic partners although right

PAL is currently ranked a three-star airline by UK-based aviation consultancy Skytrax. It aims to be with the likes of Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Garuda Indonesia, among others, that are ranked five-star carriers.

Philstar.com file photo

now, we have not been very active in working on it. But if we get the four-star in 2017, we will be more attractive to foreign investors,” he added.

Although no specific amount has been allocated yet for the program towards the five-star rating, Bautista said PAL will primarily invest on in-flight technology and reconfiguration of its aircraft.

PAL has existing 15 Airbus A330s that have to be reconfigured to pass the rating, eight of which are 414 economy seats while the remaining seven has 368 seats.

“The plan is to reconfigure them to around 311 seats to make it more comfortable for passen-

gers and it would entail a huge amount of investment, more or less $10 million per plane to reconfigure,” Bautista said.

As for PAL’s route expansion, it is assessing four new destinations in Europe namely Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Rome. PAL only flies to one European destination, London.

Coinciding with its 75th anniversary, PAL launched its first Cebu-Los Angeles flight and will operate thrice weekly non-stop services. It will also launch Manila-Doha route on March 28 and Manila-Saipan on June 15.

Due to congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Bautista said PAL is also

nalize store network and improve overall profitability.

Restaurant sales increased by 6 percent to P8.6 billion, driven by additional company-owned and franchised outlets in 2015.

As a result, commissary sales rose by 2 percent to P1.3 billion while franchise income increased

by 37 percent to P497.5 million.

“The results validate a complete turnaround of our business.

From a transformative period in 2014, we have successfully transitioned to the growth phase. We are confident with our strategies to sustain this trajectory in the coming years,” said Trota. n

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Max’s back to profitability

by Doris

DUMlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

CASUAL dining chain operator Max’s Group Inc. (MGI) returned to profitability in 2015 after the house-cleaning and consolidation undertaken following its acquisition of Pancake House Inc. MGI chalked up a net income of P501.4 million in 2015, reversing the net loss of P66.2 million in the previous year, the company reported to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, March 15.

Excluding one-time gains and non-recurring charges, core net income stood at P555 million.

On a pro-forma basis, revenues grew by 6 percent to P10.4 billion deliberate closures to ratio-

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Community Journal

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

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 18-24, 2016

CJ

Free workshops in Solano County inform parents how to change and modify their child support amount SOLANO COUNTY – The Solano County Department of Child Support Services conducts workshops to help parents change and modify their child support amount.

The free workshops are held from 11am to 1pm at the Solano County Department of Child Services, 435 Executive Court North in Fairfield.

Review and Adjustment Has your situation changed and you need your child support changed too? Solano County Department of Child Support Services staff is here to help.

During this free workshop, knowledgeable staff

will discuss the process of modifying a court order for child support; including who can request one, how to request one, and if eligible, what to expect during the modification process. Assistance is also available with filling out the application.

The review and adjustment workshops are held every other month on the following Thursdays: Mar. 17, May 19, July 21, Sept. 15 and Nov. 17.

To sign up for the free workshops go to www. solanocounty.com/depts/dcss and click on the “Change My Child Support Amount” Quick Link or call (707) 784-3640. n

Daly City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

ARE you prepared for the next major earthquake? Do you live or work in Daly City or Brisbane?

Join CERT, Daly City’s Community Emergency Response Team!

The North County Fire Authority teaches CERT classes to prepare individuals on how to perform basic first-aid; light search and rescue; fire extinguisher training; how to build a disaster supply kit for your home, work and vehicle; and much more!

To be properly trained by the CERT program and to receive a certificate of completion, attendees must attend all 5 classes listed below: Saturday, April 2 - 9am to 2pm - Units 1-2 Location: Brisbane City Hall - Council Chambers, 50 Park Place Thursday, April 7 - 6pm to 8:30pm - Unit 8 Location: Doelger Senior Center, 101 Lake Merced Blvd. Room #1, Daly City

Saturday, April 9 - 9am to 2pm - Units 3,4 and 7 Location: Doelger Senior Center, 101 Lake Merced Blvd. Room #5, Daly City Saturday, April 16 - 9am to 2pm - Units 5 and 6 Location: Brisbane City Hall - Council Chambers, 50 Park Place Saturday, April 30 - 10am to 1pm - Unit 9

Location: Fire Station 94, 10 Wembley Dr., Daly City To attend, you must register at http://northcountyfire.org/ online-event-registration-form/ ?ee=30. No drop ins.

Cost: FREE. Open to all Daly City and Brisbane residents.

For more information, please contact Fire Inspector Clyde Preston 650-991-5741, cpreston@northcountyfire.org n

der to better understand investors’ needs and identify areas for increased financial literacy.

It is a half-yearly, proprietary survey measuring and tracking investors’ views on their attitudes toward key asset classes and issues related to personal financial planning.

The Index is calculated as a net score for each asset class.

The overall index is calculated as an average of the index figures of asset classes. A positive number means a positive sentiment, zero

means a neutral sentiment, and a negative number means negative sentiment.

The MISI is based on 500 online interviews in Metro Manila and Cebu, which were conducted from October 20 to November 11 of last year.

Respondents are middle class to affluent investors, aged 25 years and above who are the primary decision maker of financial matters in the household and currently have investment products. n

Cash still king for Filipino…

PAGE CJ4 t Meanwhile, only 12 percent expect a return of 10 percent to 15 percent on their investment, a sharp fall from 28 percent in the second quarter of 2015.

“This may explain why cash remains the most favored asset class, with investors seeking investments they perceive to be less risky,” the survey concluded.

Manulife’s MISI survey is designed to track investor attitudes toward financial planning, in or-

PH aims to become biggest IT-BPM market

PAGE CJ4 t

ments for employees and those that are being produced by the universities then the growth path of the industry will continue to be met simply because you have the right talent coming into the industry,” he said.

The IBPAP official said the service management program developed together with the Commission on Higher Education and state universities is expected to help in developing ready talents coming out of the university systems and become IT-BPO employees.

“If we are able to produce from the university system and increase

the yield from the 500,000 university graduates that we have a year, then that would fuel the growth of the industry,” Reyes said.

Aside from more quality talents, Reyes said IBPAP is also calling for continued government support by making sure the incentive programs to retain and attract the companies operating and interested to invest in the Philippines remain.

He said the industry is confident in receiving the government’s backing regardless as to who wins in the upcoming elections.

“We don’t have concern per se because most of the candi-

dates are always supportive of the industry. We remain steadfast in terms of our request to any administration both from the executive and the legislative to support the industry whether through programs that will help supply talent to the industry or laws that will make us competitive through incentives, data privacy, and other laws that will be supportive and laws that will not prevent or restrict the growth of the industry,” Reyes said.

“Any changing environment from the government incentives standpoint will always have also an effect on investment appetite,” he added. n

GK-Rotary-LGU collaboration for the…

PAGE CJ3 t

ect will be completed. Thereafter, we dream that another town inside or outside Pangasinan will be also inspired to follow our example in building the next GK Namnama (Hope) Village # 3 and so on.

Let me briefly narrate the story: Due to common denominators, I was introduced to a fellow Fil-Am couple, Soledad and Pete Montilla (who were also from Pangasinan, GK advocates and Rotarians) by a common friend, Jose Maria Montelibano (a columnist for Inquirer.net / Philippine Daily Inquirer and also a GK advocate) a few years ago. From that cyberspace “meeting” we had countless of chats that led to supporting them in the completion of the GK Villasis Namnama (Hope) Village, which they founded. Their GK Village was completed last July 2015, and I was invited to witness the final

PAGE CJ2 t

turnover of several houses that we helped solicit funds in California. Inspired by that simple but beautiful village done with plenty of sweat, blood, tears and love, our own Mayor of Laoac, Boying Alarcio and his fellow town officials also dreamed to have the same in our hometown.

That sunny day in the Montillas’ GK Village in Villasis planted a dream in the hearts of my townmates from Laoac.

Serendipitously, in that same month, the ground breaking of the GK Laoac Namnama Village # 2 was witnessed by a couple hundred people, led by Mayor Boying, dozens of Rotarians and Congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco. That groundbreaking event generated several pledges from generous families to donate one house each! So this year, we hope to have about a dozen houses built, with our continuous fundraising (like a grand raffle

of a brand new house and lot in early December 2016) and aggressive solicitation of house donors. With God’s help and blessings, we hope and pray that this 30-house GK Village # 2 will be completed by the end of 2017!

Although the project was spearheaded by Rotarians, it will not be possible without the collaborative efforts of like-minded people from Gawad Kalinga supporters, church people, other NGOs, LGUs (town of Laoac) and town or provincial associations like the Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA. We believe that only through collaboration and the commitment to “Service Above Self “ and the common love to poor, that a big project like building a Gawad Kalinga village can be realized. ***

Email me at ernie.gkerc@gmail.com Websites: www.gkerc.com / www. rotary.org

Tips on scam-proofing…

computer holed up all day in his room filled with posters of scantily clad women.

The upside to be gleaned from such high-level security breaches is that this exposes the weaknesses of such websites. It also shows how vulnerable we all are.

The electronic security industry sees the potential of a business that can change the architecture of the internet by piping the flow of information.

For government operatives to use unsecured email to conduct top secret operations is like dangling fresh bait to a sea of sharks.

Clearly, these breaches, like Julian Assange’s wikileaks, are not for monetary gain but for the

notoriety and the bragging rights of being a once lowly unknown gnat bringing down behemoths.

The motive is deeply rooted in probably what Andy Warhol once said in 1968, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.”

But those big holes are for the big boys to plug. As for the ordinary cyber citizens, simply proceed with caution when online. In cyber matters, a healthy dose of cynicism and a smidgen of common sense work as well as an ounce of prevention.

Be on guard. Better yet, UNPLUG for long stretches from Facebook or any other social media or from following inane and insane celebrity tweets on Twitter and strive to live in the REAL

WORLD. Grill mouthwatering salmon steaks brushed with butter and sprinkled with lemon juice or create panini sandwiches on your grill pan. Dance like mad, with or without a partner in private or in a dance hall. Take time to sip your tea or tend to your garden in the spring. Laugh with the kids.

Log off for long stretches of time and create something that will make your heart glad. Get back and live in the real world rather than the virtual world. It is our way of affirming that indeed, life is for living. ***

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

SCPD warns residents of IRS Scams this tax season

THE Santa Clara Police Department warn residents of IRS scams this tax season.

Criminals pose as an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) representative and try and trick victims out of their money or personal information. Here are several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams: • Scammers make unsolicited calls. Thieves call taxpayers claiming to be IRS officials.

They demand that the victim pay a bogus tax bill. They con the victim into sending cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests through phone “robo-calls,” or via phishing email.

• Callers try to scare their victims. Many phone scams use threats to intimidate and bully a victim into paying. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victim if they don’t get the money.

• Scams use caller ID spoofing. Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The

callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim’s name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official.

• Cons try new tricks all the time. Some schemes provide an actual IRS address where they tell the victim to mail a receipt for the payment they make.

Others use emails that contain a fake IRS document with a phone number or an email address for a reply. These scams often use official IRS letterhead in emails or regular mail that they send to their victims. They try these ploys to make the ruse look official.

• Scams cost victims over $23 million. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or TIGTA, has received reports of about 736,000 scam contacts since October 2013. Nearly 4,550 victims have collectively paid over $23 million as a result of the scam.

The IRS will not: • Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call

you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

• Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.

• Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.

• Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do: • Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.

• Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-3664484.

• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC. gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

If you know you owe, or think you may owe tax call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you. n

PAGE CJ4 t

also adding six Airbus 350-900s, bringing its fleet to 75 aircraft.

“This will strengthen our longrange fleet. Once delivery begins in 2018, the aircraft can be deployed on our North American destinations. The acquisition will enable us to mount additional non-stop flights on our long-haul services,” Bautista said.

Moreover, PAL is looking at approximately 14 million passengers for 2016, up 17 percent

from the 12 million it flew last year, and load factor of 75 percent on the back of more aggressive marketing strategies.

PAL services 30 domestic and 43 international destinations with 75 aircraft in its fleet. As it continues its expansions, the airline targets to hire at least 300 cabin crew and 100 pilots for 2016 to add to its existing 5,500 employees. (With Rudy Santos)

PAL targets 5-star status in 5…

in the process of evaluating possible operations out of Clark.

“We are considering Clark as another hub for PAL. Our corporate planning department is working on it and as soon as studies are finalized and flights are scheduled, we will announce it,” he added.

Meanwhile, PAL is scheduled to take delivery of five A321s and two Boeing B777s this year. It is

CJ

MARCH 18-24, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, March 18, 2016

Photo by Marc & Phoebe Aviles of This Is It Photography

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 18, 2016

Happily ever after:

things to know before tying the knot

by AJPress

L

All photos by Marc & Phoebe Aviles of This Is It Photography

ove may be universal, but weddings are as diverse as each couple getting married. Like the intricate Mehendi ceremony in India where the bride’s feet and hands are decorated with elaborate patterns and the breaking of glass underfoot to end a Jewish wedding, Filipinos have their share of fascinating, if not eccentric, wedding customs. The Asian Journal briefs you on what to expect from a Filipino wedding and how amusingly more fun it can be.

KASALANG PINOY Marriage, according to Modern Oxford dictionary, is “a union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.” Intuitively, matrimony poses a rather subjective sense of the matter—often in strict or outlandish fash-

ion—but it generally induce a concordant purpose which is to formally marry two individuals. Regardless of the how it is done nor the words spoken, the underlying intention remains to be that of shared affection.

Much like love, marriage—or at least the ceremony

akin to it—in the Philippines goes back to pre-colonization years. Before the introduction of Christianity in the country, the people have been celebrating this union in a rich, cultural fête reflective of their local credence.

According to history, prior to the Spanish colonization

in the early 15th century, a wedding in the Philippines usually lasted for three days.

Both the bride and groom are brought to the babaylan’s (a tribal priest/priestess) home on the first day, during which the babaylan performs the first blessing: the couple’s hands are Continued on Page SF3

Wedding etiquette 101 ThE rules of planning a modern wedding are constantly changing. While it is up to the couple to set the tone – whether adhering to or breaking old-fashioned rules – here are a few tips to consider: • Don’t put gift registry information on the invitation – Tradition says that the practice of including gift registry information on the invitation is considered inappropriate and in poor taste. Instead, share the information on your wedding website or through word of mouth.

• Scrap the cash bar – Guests shouldn’t be obliged to shell out money during the wedding reception, Bridal Guide says. If offering more expensive alcohol options falls out of the budget, the couple can instead provide basic options like beer and wine.

• Take the time to greet each guest – Since friends and relatives have traveled and blocked off their day to celebrate the wedding, it’s imperative for the newlyweds to greet each guest individually.

• Send out handwritten thank you notes – Generally thank you notes should be sent out no longer than three months after the gift was received.

For guests, there are some rules to consider as well: • Don’t wear white – One of the long-standing wedding taboos has been that guests should not wear white or ivory. Though brides these days don’t always wear a traditional white dress, the rule that guests should not appear to wear something that would upstage or take attention away from the bride still stands. Guests, however, can wear an ensemble with some white in it, as long as it’s not all white.

• Bring a plus one only if indicated in invitation – If it doesn’t say “plus one” on your invitation that means you were invited alone. however, if the couple has allowed you to bring a guest, kindly include his/her name on the RSVP so they can include the name on the seating card. It’s also important to make sure that the plus one can come.

Generally a plus one means a date; though some wedding experts say you can ask if you can bring a close friend instead, if you feel comfortable having that conversation with the couple. (AJPress)

Picture Perfect: HoW to cHoose a Wedding PHotograPHer IT’S one of the most important days in your life and of course, it is a must to remember your wedding day through photos. The thing is, not every person is photogenic and most likely, she/he will be busy and nervous about other things. This is why having a good wedding photographer comes in as he or she will know your good angles to create the perfect memories.

Marc and Phoebe Aviles

of This Is It Photography have been in the photography business since 2007, and have received numerous awards in Engagement/Wedding categories notably the Accolade of Excellence for Commercial/Wedding/Portrait/Glamour in 2009 and 2010 from the Wedding Portrait & Photographers International (WPPI). (This Is It at 980 El Camino Real, Suite 380, Santa Clara, CA 95050 / (408) 888-2561 / www.

thisisitphotography.com.)

The husband and couple team shared some tips on how to choose the right photographer for your pre-nup/ engagement and wedding day: 1. Talk to your photographer candidate. Tell all your concerns, like what you’re looking for, and get answers.

2. Review the photographer’s works. You must like their style. If you are paying top dollar, don’t choose a photographer who doesn’t have any experience in weddings. Wedding photography is a different skill set than other photographies — it’s a mixture of (a) photojournalism where you have to be fast, quick, to capture the story of what’s happening, anticipating reactions, etc; (b) landscape photography to capture the bride and groom in a landscape scenery; (c) portrait photography to ensure you’re captured in your flattering features and body language or pose; and (d) product photography to capture macro shots of rings, wedding details like dresses,

shoes, veil, centerpieces etc.

3. Review the photographer’s contract and ensure all your requests and whatever you paid for are in the contract.

4. Work with someone you are comfortable with.

For pre-nuptial / engagement shoots: 1. Maximize your prenup day. Schedule your trial make-up on the same day, after your trial make-up you can go to engagement shoot 2. Come prepared. Make sure your hair and make-up are done, and you have clean nails and have shaved.

3. Prepare wardrobe and accessories. Do different looks or styles per location, and the B&G ‘s wardrobe must not be too clashing, but instead complement each other.

4. Personalize your prenup. Some examples include going to the place where you first met, or if both love sports, go to a track and field or baseball court.

5. Scout locations. Check out places where you like to do the shoot and discuss it

with your photographer.

6. Be open, comfortable and sweet. Enjoy the moment with your fiancé while being photographed. Your affections will show in the pictures.

7. Prepare wardrobe on how you want to be photographed. If you want something extravagant, style like you mean it. If you just want simple tees and jeans because that’s your personality, then it’s okay too. If you want to look good in pictures, make every effort to look good in your wardrobe.

On the day itself: 1. Do your homework.

Plan months or a year before your wedding, but on the day of, let go of control because you already did your homework and it’s now time to relax and enjoy your day.

DON’T stress out on any small or big details because your stress will show in your facial expression body language, and it will be captured

in the photos.

2. Enjoy your wedding day. Enjoy your bride/ groom, enjoy the company of your parents, siblings, families, and friends. A photojournalistic style of wedding photography will capture your candid and emotional moments. Feel your wedding day. It’s okay to cry and show your tears of happiness — that means you are human and enjoying important moments of your wedding, and those real moments make good pictures.

3. Give your photographer a copy of your timeline at least two weeks before Continued on Page SF5

Happily ever after...

From Page SF2 joined together over a container of bigas (uncooked rice). Marking the denouement is the act of blood compact—not for the squeamish—where the babaylan pricks both the couple’s chest to draw a small amount of blood that will be mixed with water.

The couple announces their love three times before drinking the water with their blood and eating the rice taken from the same container on which their hands were adjoined on the first day.

It was only in the 18th century when Filipinos, majority of them, started to embrace the Catholic faith and exercise most of the customary practices concordant of the norms and ideologies of the time. The common “white wedding” was the traditional praxis in the subject of matrimony where the bride would wear white and the rest of the entourage would dress up in a formal garb reflective of the couple’s preference or stature.

And although the conventional “white wedding,” popularized

by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg of Gotha on the 10th of February 1840, implies the use of a white wedding gown with European textile and a lace veil—in this case, Honiton lace—the Filipinos have adapted to this custom and made it uniquely their

own by using indigenous materials like piña (fiber produced from pineapple leaves) to make the veils, barong (groom’s clothing), etc., all equally representing their rich culture and skilled craftsmanship.

Despite foreign influences, weddings in the Philippines can be distinctly Pinoy; and no matter where in the world it is held, it’s not that difficult to tell because you will know you’re in a Filipino wedding when: There are more than ten people in your entourage especially when all these people are present: Principal Sponsors Commonly known as Ninongs or Ninangs, these people serve as witnesses to the marriage and act as symbols of wisdom and support for the bride and groom. These are often friends or relatives (aunts or uncles) whom the couple respect and admire. The principal sponsors are the official witnesses of the state whose signatures are necessary in the marriage contract part from those of the bride and groom’s.

Secondary Sponsors They play an important role in the wedding ceremony.

These people are often close friends or relatives of the bride and groom and function as the following: Coin Sponsors Originated in Spain and Rome, arras (Spanish term for earnest money) or arrhae, refer to the wedding coins

Illustrations by Kenno Samulde and Luigi Cruz

given by the coin sponsors to the bride and groom. Traditionally, these thirteen (13) coins symbolize prosperity and the groom’s ability to provide for his new family. Modern interpretation would express that while these represent the twelve (12) apostles and Christ, these coins are also signs of the couple’s commitment to mutually contribute to the relationship, their children, and the community.

Veil Sponsors Regarded as the “cloud” denoting the presence of the Lord over the matrimony, the veil represents purity and oneness. This sheer piece of fabric signifies the couple’s commitment to protect each other and the groom’s strength and responsibility to safeguard his soon-to-be wife. Veil sponsors are usually close friends of the bride and groom.

Chord Sponsors The yugal or chord draped over the shoulders of the couple getting married is usually made from silk but other wedding cords could also be a string of flowers, link of coins, or a chain designed to look like a double rosary. Customarily, the chord is looped to form a figure eight (8) to symbolize infinity and everlasting fidelity.

Candle Sponsors Although some couples choose to have their parents light the wedding candles, candle sponsors are usually the married friends of the bride and groom. This lighting of candles plays homage to the similar practice done in christening and as a way to signify the light of Christ and His presence and guidance to the couple’s married life together. The couple can decide, later on, if they will opt to have a unity candle which they will light using the two wedding candles to signify the joining of their families.

Matron of Honor (If married) | Maid of Honor | Bridesmaids The matron of honor or the maid of honor is expected to help the bride with the wedding preparations and is ideally expected to organize the bachelorette party. She could also serve as one of the witContinued on Page SF5

features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – March 18, 2016

Filipino clothing designer, Lou Razon launches ready-to-wear line, ‘Lou Lou Couture’

By Monet

Lu

FIFTEEN YEARS ago when she debuted her first fashion show at Reflections, I already saw the promising career that lies ahead of this amazing designer. From starting a couture shop and Barong Tagalog store to launching her own ready-towear line: those refining years have brought her this far. It is an honor to feature her in my column and talk about her new R-T-W (ready-to-wear) line.

I am delighted to present to you—one of my esteemed acquaintances and an inspiration to many—Ms. Lou Razon.

As I previously mentioned, I met Lou in 2000 when I featured her in my fashion-gala awards show, Reflections. She was featured 3 consecutive times since then. Without an ounce of contention, she did earn her right to be awarded such exposure because of her exquisite designs – and I am just as honored to showcase her talent through my shows.

Lou’s quite known for her Philippine-inspired creations that involve a mixture of embroidery, lace, silk organza and silk chiffon. Akin to her sophisticated personality is her style which picks on vibrant colors and jewel tones, as well as neutrals like black gray and beige. Most of her designs are crafted with delicate draping to add that majestic touch only Lou knows how.

Her patterns are all original and very unique in its own special way. As her website bio describes, “Every piece is treated like an obra.”

Born in Manila, Philippines, Lou moved to the US in 1990. To further her already-innate pas-

Brocade sheath with a distinct collar Model: Hannah Marte, Miss Philippines USA 2014 Photo by Louie Garci

Black French Lace dress overlay with stretched satin slip Model: Chrystelle Volckmann, Miss Philippines Photo by Gerry Edra USA 2015

sion for design, she mastered in Fashion Design at the Art Institute in Los Angeles and became the best designer graduate of the year. Prior to that, Lou studied Bachelor of Arts in Interior design in the Philippines, (she) has traveled to Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and London to gain more knowledge and study the different styles and approach in fashion designing. In 1997, she started doing couture design for clientzs who believe in custom crafted, made to measure, oneof-a-kind dresses. She started her couture business in 1997 focusing on bridal and evening wear.

Now based in Glendale, California, Lou’s elegant and unique clothing designs have reached a growing demand among women over the years. She was recognized as, “Newsmaker of the Year” by Dyaryo Pilipino, Most Promising Designer (awarded by then Consul General of the Philippines, Edwin Bael), and

has earned more awards for her talent given by SIPA Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, Virgo Awards and Celebrity Chronicle.

Lou was the very first Filipino designer that walked the red carpet at the Oscars, greeted with rave reviews in 2002, and heralded her arrival as a new and important Filipino designer.

After perfecting her skill in garment fit and construction, Lou decided to pursue her ultimate dream of designing her Ready-to-wear line. Thus, in 2015, ‘Lou Lou’ was created.

Lou Lou couture debut Debuting in 2016 for Fashion Week LA is Lou’s name brand called LouLou, a contemporary women’s fashion that is distinctive, feminine and innovative.

Her mission statement is to design clothing that shows versatility and femininity.

Lou Lou expresses classic femininity. Sshe gets her inspiration from the classic cuts of the Continued on Page SF5

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 18, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar THEY say only the good die young. So when news broke out on March 2002 that then young actor Rico Yan was dead, everybody thought it was a hoax. He just turned 27 years old that time and was at the peak of his career.

Born Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan on March 14, 1975; he was more than your average actor. He was also a model, host, spokesperson and en-

There is no stopping Pokwang’s popularity with the Filipino audience. The top comedienne is back in the Bay Area as part of the 2016 LizQuen Tour in Vacaville.

Remembering actor Rico Yan on his birthday

trepreneur—with a degree in Marketing Management from De La Salle University to boot.

He was the grandson of Amb. Manuel Yan, the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Ambassador to Thailand, Indonesia and United Kingdom. His clean, preppy, rich and boy-next-door persona was made him popular, and he made numerous films and TV shows with ABS-CBN/Star Cinema. Yan was also paired with actresses Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barretto (the latter became his girlfriend).

His biggest break in showbiz was when he became part of the youth-oriented TV series, “Gimik” in 1996. He later on had other highly rated shows such as “Mula sa Puso” (1997) and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” (1999).

Rico was on vacation when he was found dead by his friend, actor Dominic Ochoa in his hotel room in a Palawan resort on March 22, 2002. There Rico Yan was at the top of his career when he suddenly passed away on March 29, 2002 at the age of 27. were speculations that drugs were involved, but rumors were

The Calasiao Comprehensive National High School Class of 1966 celebrated their golden jubilee recently at Star Ocean Plaza Hotel. Shown in photo are (L-R) Board of Directors Nardo Velasco, Auditor Norma Soriano, PRO Gloria Junio, Vincent Junio, Treasurer Tita Velasco and President of Class ‘66 Engineer Pete de Guzman.

Claudine Barretto and Rico Yan was one of the hottest love teams back then, and were also involved romantically off screen. The late actor would have been 41 years old last Monday, March 14.

quickly dispelled by an official autopsy. The real cause of his death was cardiac arrest, due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis while Rico was asleep.

Last Monday, March 14,

Claudine Barretto is shown in photo with her son, Santino (with estranged husband Raymart Santiago), as she places a bouquet of flowers on tombstone of the late actor Rico Yan, whose birthday was last Monday, March 14. The actress was the late actor’s last love, before he suddenly died in 2002. (Photo from claubarretto Instagram post)

Abigail Larcy Perez will celebrate her 8th birthday with a children’s party hosted by her parents Anthony and Vangie Perez at Chuck E. Cheese Restaurant on Saturday, April 2 at 1pm.

Rizza M. Sendin, daughter of Roque and Elizabeth Sendin, was recently proclaimed and crowned as Miss Charity 2016 of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School in New York.

was supposed to be Rico’s 41st birthday and Claudine came to visit his gravesite at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque, together with her son (with actor Raymart San-

tiago), Santino.

In her Instagram post, the actress posted a photo of her laying flowers on Rico’s tombstone, and wrote: “Happy happy birthday RY.”

Marian Rivera’s Facebook page is 19th most liked public figure page worldwide ACTRESS Marian Rivera had another honor in her belt as social media analytics site Quintly said that her Facebook page placed 19th in the Top Public Figure Facebook Pages worldwide.

Rivera topped Khloe Kardashian (21st), the Dalai Lama (24th), Oprah Winfrey (27th), and Tom Cruise (30th), to clinch the spot.

She is the only Filipino actress in the top 20. Fellow Filipino actress Cristine Reyes, meanwhile, placed 36th.

Some celebrities and per-

Marian Rivera

sonalities who made it in the top 20 most liked public figure pages on Facebook with Rivera include Nicki Minaj, Kim Kardashian West, Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Gates and US First Lady Michelle Obama.

On Monday, Rivera posted a screenshot of the rankings from Quintly on her Instagram account. She thanked fans for making the said feat possible.

With more than 14 million likes, Rivera’s fan page is said to be the most liked local celebrity page in the Philippines. (Inquirer.net)

Pia Wurtzbach has no time for love, remains focused on duties as Miss Universe MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has categorically denied that she is currently dating someone.

Showing her Miss Universe sash during a Facebook Live session last Saturday, March 12, Wurtzbach said: “”No. There’s no specific someone in my life.

This is the specific someone.

This is the priority.”

With this statement, the 26year-old Filipina beauty queen has shut down rumors that she is dating the “Sexiest Doctor Alive” Dr. Mikhail Varshavski.

Varshavski and Wurtzbach first met in a small gathering in New York City last month. After their first meeting, photos and clips of the two together circulated online, prompting fans to speculate that they were dating.

The 26-year-old Varshavski has a million-strong following on Instagram as “Dr. Mike.” He graduated from the New York

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach with Dr. Mikhail Varshavski. Instagram/doctor.mike

Institute of Technology and he is engaged in charity work and health promotion.

It was People Magazine who tagged Varshavski as the “sexiest doctor alive.” (Inquirer.net)

entertainment

Side notes

Put a ring on it. Where?

Vena Amoris Latin for Vein of Love If you’re an Austen fan—or a reader of any English classic novels—you probably wear your engagement ring on the fourth finger of your left hand, or would prefer to wear it there if you’re not engaged...yet. Many have argued about its authenticity and scientific relevance, but it is believed that this Vena Amoris is the vein on the third finger of your left hand that runs directly to your heart.

Old wives’ tale—or is it?

Illustrations by Kenno Samulde

Sukob: Double weddings bring bad luck.

Final touches: The bride is not allowed to fit the final wedding dress before the wedding.

Sneak peak: The groom must never see the bride on her wedding gown before the wedding as this will bring bad luck.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 18, 2016

Owen Wilson played tennis, visited BGC, and left quietly

by Marge

C. enriquez Inquirer.net

IT’S NOT true, sources told Inquirer Lifestyle, that Hollywood actor Owen Wilson is dating Filipino businesswoman Wendy Puyat. The rumor circulated when Wilson was spotted arriving at Naia last weekend.

Inquirer Lifestyle found out that the Academy-nominated co-writer and star of “The Royal Tenenbaums” was actually flying to Hong Kong but took a side trip to the Philippines on the invitation of two Filipino businessmen whom he met through mutual friends.

It’s not true either that Wilson went to the casinos. What he did was spend time at the Manila Polo Club (MPC) and a few clubs in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

The same Inquirer sources said Wilson wasn’t expecting much but was pleasantly surprised at what Manila could offer. He enjoyed the facilities at MPC and played a mean game of tennis.

Wilson effortlessly bounced off the balls of his opponent, a former national player.

He also had a good time in Las Flores Restaurant, Revel, and Bank Bar in BGC. Although he didn’t eat anything in Las Flores, he was said to have been very impressed with its ambiance.

Although he fended off requests for photos with fans last

the date and ask your his/her opinion about it to ensure you have enough time for photos.

4. If you got a well-experienced photographer, then you are in good hands. You don’t have to worry about your angles and poses because a skillful photographer will bring out the best in you.

5. Prepare a list of group pictures beforehand and as-

Old custom suggests that giving arinola (chamberpot) as a wedding gift would bring good luck—both to the newlyweds and the giver. (Mary May Portez)

Happily ever after...

entertaining, way to offer monetary gifts to the newlyweds.

In the Philippines where creFrom Page SF3 girls carrying actual blooms was ativity often is at par with one’s individuality, monetary dances observed. These “flower girls” are reflective of a family’s statnesses of the ceremony. Often would carry baskets filled with ure. the sister of the bride or the herbs and fresh blossoms.

One (or more) of the relaclosest friend, she is the official Ring Bearer tives is part of the entertainattendant of the bride. Her role This little page boy has ment entails helping with other wedthe responsibility of carrying In a Filipino wedding, there’s ding-related tasks like bridal the wedding rings during the bound to be a talented relative. shower, coordinating with supceremony: a custom that is beA violinist, pianist, drummer, or pliers, deciding on invitations lieved to have originated from an angelic singer—heck, even and motifs, coordinating with the ancient Romans and Egypthe suppliers, and many other tians during a time when pillows a self-confessed artist—there’s always that prodigy in the family miscellaneous to-do’s. During and cushions were considered (both sides) and a wedding is the actual wedding ceremony, luxury. As a common practice the maid of honor acts as the of the affluent, the ring bearers the best stage to showcase such talent. bride’s right hand who will be would showcase these pillows Nothing goes to waste communicating with the wedcarrying wedding offerings like You may never admit it, but ding planners on behalf of the pieces of gold, silver, or jewelry. you did think of taking some of bride.

Coin Bearer those desserts to go. Filipinos Best Man | Groomsmen Usually a young boy are known to be resourceful He is the counterpart of presenting the wedding coins and—excuse the word—frugal. both matron of honor and the or arrhae to the groom. This They simply cannot fathom maid of honor. He could be the practice, which is believed throwing away good food and brother or the best friend of the to have been an influence of expensive flower displays. groom. The best man has the the Spaniards, symbolizes the There’s lechon vital responsibility of safeguard- groom’s pledge and commitHaving lechon on any ocing the wedding rings before ment to provide for his wife. casion is unmistakably Pinoy. A the ceremony. He can also act Bible Bearer Filipino wedding without lechon as legal witness to the marriage.

Could be a relative or a is not a celebration. Period.

Flower Girls friend of the bride and groom, No mater how distinct wedPerhaps one of the wedalthough modern day weddings dings are around the world they ding highlights, the flowers often have bible bearers as serve as paragon of love and girls are often relatives of the young boys not older than ten bride and groom that serve as years of age. The bible bearer’s hope. Questions of “will you “little assistants” of the bride. main responsibility is to present marry me” have been asked many times in different languagAccording to history, the referthe bible aloft while marching es by men (or women) of varying ence of “flower girls” dates with the entourage during the stature from all over the globe back to ancient Rome during ceremony. with an optimistic statistic that which marriages are celebrated The monetary dance beby a parade of offerings. The comes a showcase of aesthetic many have said YES. A downright gamble waging your ego, flower girls (young virgins) at and wealth that time would carry sheaves Observed in several parts of reputation, emotional investof wheat and herbs as a symbol the world particularly in Poland, ments, hopes, and entire being for an answer that determines for prosperity and fertility. DurUkraine, and Yugoslavia—to ing the Medieval Era, wheat name a few—is a distinct Span- your future. Because above all else, it remains to be the most was replaced with garlic to ward ish influence. Although the basic, if not consequential, love. off evil spirits. It was only in the actual practice may differ from early 18th century, Victorian country to culture, the monetary And we all deserve it. (Mary Era, when the concept of flower dance serves as a creative, if not May Portez)

Filipino clothing designer, Lou Razon...

From Page SF3 40s. Her designs exude elegance with simple, clean lines.

Use of fabrics like brocade, wool and lace is visible in her collection. She opts for vibrant colors in her 2016 line, royal blue and red stand are stand outs. Black and nude are incorporated in her collection.

Lou is also the woman be-

hind Miss Philippines USA as its Creative Director and Executive Producer. Known for its reputable standing, the pageant has been endowing Fil-Am women with grace, exemplary morale, and able to be an Ambassador of Goodwill. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his

With Llana Samson at the Manila Polo Club tennis court

Wearing his signature cap, T-shirt and city shorts, Owen Wilson obliges for a photo op with Oudine Santos.

Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12 he finally relented on Sunday, March 13—after visual artist and businesswoman Marivic Rufino bumped into him at MPC’s 51st Annual Horse Show and Equestrian Exhibit.

Wilson and two other Americans were standing near the MPC terrace entrance when Rufino asked him if she could take his photograph. Wilson said yes and even invited Rufino to join him in the photo op while his American companion clicked her smartphone.

After Rufino wished him well on his stay, Wilson thanked her; they shook hands and then he walked to the Cogon Village restaurant.

Wilson left quietly on Sunday evening.

Picture perfect...

From Page SF2

Believe it

SF5

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

sign somebody to call out the groups, so that you won’t have to call your people. Remember your photographer won’t know who your friends or relatives are, so they can’t chase anyone. Inform your friends and relatives that you want them to be in the formal group pictures so that they won’t be missed in the photos, and this will make most use of your schedule.

(Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe)

Artist Marivic Rufino with Wilson at the MPC horse show

Yet even if he and Puyat are not an item (she’s in Hong Kong), another rumor is that

he’s dating the daughter of one of his American companions at MPC.