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

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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Philstar.com

US senators introduce bill to restrict defense exports to PH

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

US: No pressure on Philippines to push back against China

by PATRICIA LOURDES

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (left) and Ben Cardin (right) introduced a bill on Thursday, May 4 that calls for withholding certain defense exports to the Philippines.

MAY 1 2 - 1 8 , 2 0 1 7

VIRAY

WASHINGTON will not put pressure on the Philippines to try to push back against China in connection with the South China Sea dispute, the U.S. Department of State said.

Patrick Murphy, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific

Affairs, stressed that State Secretary Rex Tillerson wants cooperation and collaboration in addressing the North Korea and South China Sea issues.

President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to use the ruling of an international arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea in pressuring China.

In a telephonic press conference last week, Murphy said that the U.S. took

note of the arbitration ruling issued last year and consistently notes that it is a binding ruling between the Philippines and China.

“But there is a much bigger story here, and that is bringing about a solution to the disputes that applies to all of the claimants and then the rest of the international community that has the rights and the needs to access the South

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

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Religious conservatives “disappointed”

TO coincide with National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 4, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on “religious liberty” that would permit churches and other religious institutions to become more involved in the political process.

The executive order would allow clergy members and religious institutions to endorse political candidates from the get-go, a promise Trump made to his supporters during the presidential campaign.

Specifically, the executive order protects religious groups from a restriction imposed by the IRS that prohibits taxexempt organizations, like churches and other religious institutions, from political speech and involvement.

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PH military, police assure Palawan is safe

TWO U.S. senators filed a bill on Thursday, May 4 aimed at restricting the export of certain arms into the Philippines and reaffirming support for human rights policies, amid reports of the rising death toll associated with the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The Philippines Human Rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act of 2017 filed by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) calls for withholding the exportation of “certain defense articles” to the Philippine National Police (PNP), working with the Philippines to tackle the drug epidemic from a “public health approach,” and reporting on

Trump signs ‘religious liberties’ order allowing churches to become more politically involved

China Sea area,” Murphy told members of the press.

Murphy noted that the South China Sea dispute was one of the main issues discussed during the meeting between Tillerson and his Southeast Asian counterparts last week.

The U.S. official noted that Washington and the Association of Southeast

BALIKATAN 2017. Philippine army Pvt. Ronaldo Balidio (left) and Cpl. John Rey Cagas operate a compactor while building a new school classroom during Balikatan 2017 in Ormoc City. U.S. military engineers and Philippine service members worked together to build new classrooms at Don Carlos Elementary School in Ormoc City. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism and other combined military operations.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda

THE province of Palawan remains safe for both local and foreign nationals, the Armed forces of the Philippines ( AFP) assured the public amid a travel warning issued by the United States Embassy in Manila.

On Wednesday, May 10, the AFP’s Western Command (Wescom) said it is closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Coast Guard, and the local government to “ensure maximum security.”

“Western Command shares the same concern. That is why, even several months ago, even without reference to any travel advisory, Western Command has beefed up our security posture for tourists season,” Wescom said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, May 9, the U.S. Embassy warned its citizens of terror threats in Palawan.

“Terrorist groups may be planning to conduct kidnapping operations targeting foreign nationals in the areas of Palawan Province, Philippines, to include Puerto Princesa City, and the areas surrounding Puerto Princesa Subterranean

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Janet Lim-Napoles acquitted in illegal detention case, eyed as state witness

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

THE Philippine Court of Appeals this week acquitted alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles from her serious illegal detention case.

In a 35-page decision by its Twelfth Division, the CA reversed the earlier ruling of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) and said that prosecutors failed to prove that Napoles detained her cousin and pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy against

his will.

Earlier in 2014, Napoles was sentenced to reclusion perpetua—or an imprisonment term of 21 to 40 years—when the Makati Regional RTC found Napoles guilty of detaining Luy from December 2012 to March 2013.

The CA, however, ruled that Napoles’s guilt was not proven beyond “reasonable doubt.”

“We hold that the evidence against [Napoles] is not sufficient to establish her par- Janet Lim Napoles (center with shades on head) steps out of the Sandiganbayan building pn

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Wednesday, May 10.

Inquirer.net photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab

Duterte appoints Cayetano, Año as heads of DFA, DILG ‘Excited’ Pacquiao starts training for Horn fight De Venecia also named special envoy for intercultural dialogue

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano and Armed Forces (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año are joining Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet as the new heads of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) respectively.

Duterte revealed the appointments of his new Cabinet officials in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport be- Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, incoming

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Foreign Affairs Secretary

Jose de Venecia Jr., special envoy for interculturual dialogue

by AJPRESS A THRILLED Manny Pacquiao formally started his training on Monday, May 8, in preparation for his upcoming match against Australian Jeff Horn.

The Filipino boxing champion is set to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title against Horn on July 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

“I am excited to go back to the gym after about a six-month’s lay off. I really miss training at the gym with the members of Team Pacquiao and fans around,” Pac-

quiao told PhilBoxing.com. legislative duties since his unanPacquiao, who is also a mem- imous win against Jessie Vargas ber of the Philippine Senate, has last November 5. apparently been busy with his u PAGE A4

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MAY 12-18, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

US: No pressure on Philippines...

PAGE A1 t Asian Nations (ASEAN) share common objectives in wanting the air and maritime transit through the South China Sea to be free and open in accordance with international law.

“He gave his counterparts and Southeast Asia assurances that they could count on the US to assert our rights for the benefit of unimpeded commerce and trade and regional and global security and peace. In accordance with international law, we will assert those rights,” Murphy said.

Tillerson also assured his ASEAN counterparts that the US strongly encourages all relevant

Patrick Murphy, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

parties to stop any activities associated with militarizing, constructing or reclaiming land in the disputed areas.

“He thought that it would be beneficial for all if such activities of militarization, construction, and reclamation would stop. Let’s ensure that the environment is conducive for good talks to find a solution,” Murphy said.

Murphy further noted that the US is not a claimant in the South China Sea but an interested party seeking to enjoy unimpeded travel and transit for purposes of navigation, overflight and commerce.

Washington believes that the South China Sea dispute could be resolved through dialogue, according to Murphy.

“Dialogue is important as long as it is inclusive and adheres to the principles of a rules-based order,” the deputy assistant secretary said.

Murphy reiterated that Washington does not want to put pressure due to a common understanding of the need for navigation, overflight and for commerce.

Janet Lim-Napoles acquitted...

PAGE A1 t ticipation or culpability in the alleged criminal conspiracy. The prosecution has not discharged its burden of proof in establishing the commission of the crime charged and in identifying [Napoles] as the malefactor responsible for it,” the decision, dated May 5, 2017, read.

While the CA’s ruling indicates that Napoles should now “be immediately released from detention, unless she is confined for any lawful case,” the businesswoman remains detained for separate plunder charges against her.

Following her acquittal, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II revealed that Napoles is now being considered as a state witness in the planned reinvestigation of the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) anomaly.

Legal experts, however, doubt Napoles’s qualifications as state witness since she was in fact accused of being the mastermind of the anomalous distribution of the PDAF, also referred to as pork barrel, from 2004 to 2010.

Napoles’s camp expressed confidence that she would also be dismissed from the plunder and graft cases filed against her before the Sandiganbayan.

“I’m very happy that finally, the truth has triumphed. We knew then that there was no truth to (Luy’s) claim of illegal detention,” Stephen David, her lawyer, told Inquirer.

Highlighting her need of protection, he said they would also seek the house arrest of Napoles “if she would be made state witness.”

In a statement, Malacañang said that the government did not interfere with the cases involving Napoles and dismissed claims that President Rodrigo Duterte made a deal with her.

“Government is clear that there is no policy shift on how we deal with Napoles. Neither there is an agreement forged between the Duterte administration and Napoles,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Abella maintained that Duterte respects the independence of the court and “has vowed not to interfere with the decisions of the judi-

“It’s a complicated issue, and I think ASEAN is itself a very good example of that. There are claimants, there are non-claimants…

The good news is that ASEAN has demonstrated unity on this issue in the past and ASEAN leaders themselves have referred to the Sunnylands Principles which deal with things like militarization, and reclamation, and construction,” Murphy said.

As an interested party, the US encouraged China and the ASEAN to conduct a dialogue that would result in a binding agreement that would apply to all countries.

During the conclusion of the 30th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila a few weeks ago, Duterte said that the 10-member regional BOMB SCARE. Members of the Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Manila Police District inspect a package abandoned at Quezon bloc will push through with the Bridge on Sunday. The area was near the site of an explosion on Saturday that killed two persons and injured six others. enactment of a code of conduct ManilaTimes.net photo by Rusell Palma. on the South China Sea within the first half of the year.

The ASEAN, under Philippine chairmanship this year, did not mention any single reference of PAGE A1 t the arbitral ruling issued by a Unit- River National Park,” the travel ed Nations-backed tribunal in its warning read. final statement. n It also advised U.S. citizens to carefully consider this information as they make their travel plans, ciary or legislature.”

Malacañang also guaranteed urging them to avoid large crowds that Napoles’s acquittal from the and to always remain vigilant.

The embassy then reminded serious illegal detention case does not affect the plunder cases U.S. citizens of the recent Worldwide Caution, dated March 6, lodged against her.

“The Court of Appeals acquit- that warned about an “ongoing ting Ms. Janet Napoles involves threat of terrorist actions and her illegal detention case. It has violence against U.S. citizens and no direct impact on her pork-bar- interests abroad, including the Philippines.” rel cases,” Abella said.

Both Canada and the United Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin remarked the bar of jus- Kingdom released a similar notice, citing information from the U.S. tice has “gone to the dogs.”

Canada warned that “boaters in “The standard of justice under the Duterte administration has waters around Mindanao and in gone to the dogs,” he said. “We the Sulu Sea, as well as visitors to The US and the British embassies in Manila warned Americans against traveling to Palawan, are witnessing how big-time plun- southern Palawan Island, southern including Puerto Princesa and the areas surrounding Puerto Princesa Subterranean River derers are being acquitted by the Negros Island or Siquijor Island, National Park, following information it received that terrorist organizations were planning to Philstar.com file photo may also face an elevated threat target tourists there. courts.”

“Likewise, maximum deployFor its part, the PNP said it will Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate of kidnapping.”

The U.K. also advised its citizens enforce stricter security measures ment of personnel in all tourist desalso expressed “grave dismal” over the CA’s decision, saying, to “carefully consider travel plans, while verifying information on pos- tinations, points of convergence and vital establishments is being “we must be very wary of this and exercise heightened vigilance sible terror attacks in Palawan.

“We are making sure of police observed to thwart any possible development because as things in these areas.”

While the AFP said it “under- presence in the concerned area. enemy attack and other nefarious stand now, many of those who have been charged [with] plun- stands the concern and responsi- Now, with additional informa- activities by any criminal group,” dering the people’s coffers are bility of the U.S. government on tion, once verified, we will make the PRO added.

Nonetheless, the PNP encourtheir citizens’ welfare,” it assured the necessary announcement getting off the hook.”

“Dapat na magbantay at sabay- that the military is “always a step and necessary security mea- aged the public to “enjoy the sures if and when these are summer,” citing its ongoing public an ng protesta ng taong bayan further on security.”

“We remain on heightened validated,” PNP spokesperson safety campaign for the summer ang mga pangyayaring ito (We should keep watch and meet with alert, but assures the public that Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos told season “Oplan Ligtas SumVac (summer vacation).” people’s protest this latest devel- Palawan, being one of the most reporters.

At the same time, the Mimaropa The PRO also claimed that the beautiful places in the world, is opment),” he added. n safe for both local and foreign regional police office said it “even Mimaropa region is “generally nationals, residing in and/or visit- more stepped up on their security peaceful and both local and foreign ing the province, including Puerto measures” upon the issuance of tourists are safe to visit its beautiful the travel warning. tourist destinations.”

Princesa,” Wescom added.

PH military, police assure Palawan...

Duterte appoints Cayetano...

PAGE A1 t fore his departure to Cambodia.

His announcement came a day after the one-year appointment ban on losing candidates in the May 2016 elections expired.

“Dito sa (Here at) DFA, I remember I signed an appointment just before I left my room, I saw the name of Senator Cayetano.

Itong hapon lang na ito (Just this afternoon),” Duterte said on Wednesday, May 10.

Cayetano is replacing Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, who was assigned as the Acting Foreign Secretary after the Commission on Appointments (CA) rejected the ad interim appointment of Perfecto Yasay Jr. over citizenship issues.

Cayetano, who was also Duterte’s defeated vice-presidential running mate, has often been seen joining the president in his foreign travels.

Earlier this week, he co-led the Philippine delegation in defending the government’s drug war and human rights record before the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Duterte also revealed the appointment of Año, ending speculations that former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would be the next interior secretary.

Summoning the AFP chief, Duterte told the press: “You are now the facing the next DILG Secretary.”

Año, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1983, will retire from the military service this October.

In picking Año as the new interior secretary, Duterte said he needed “somebody who knows the police by the fingertips of his hand.”

Undersecretary Catalino Cuy currently serves as the acting DILG chief after Duterte sacked former Secretary Ismael Sueno over corruption allegations.

Earlier on Tuesday, May 9, Malacañang announced the appointment of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia as the DFA’s special envoy for intercultural dialogue.

“As Special Envoy, his duties

are basically to advise the government regarding inter-cultural dialogue issues and to make recommendations to the govt on how to advance PH interests as regards this issue,” DFA spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar told reporters.

According to Bolivar, de Venecia’s new post is part of recognizing “his active role in promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue for many years.”

De Venecia previously served as the speaker of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2008.

Malacañang also announced the appointment of celebrity blogger Mocha Uson, who is notably a staunch supporter of Duterte, as the assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

On the other hand, former AFP chief of staff Roy Cimatu will replace Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez as Environment and Natural Resources secretary.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr, meanwhile, is named as the central bank’s next chief.

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Clock is ticking on GOP bill: 5 ways health care tug-of-war may play out

by Julie

RovneR Kaiser Health News

The house may pass its bill to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act. But Republicans’ pathway to fulfilling their seven-year effort to undo the federal health law is getting narrower by the day.

“As of now, they still don’t have the votes,” said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) as he was leaving a meeting of GOP members Tuesday. King has been a target for those pushing both for and against the bill.

The latest snag is over whether people with preexisting health conditions should have guaranteed access to affordable coverage, as the ACA mandates. An amendment that would let states waive some of those requirements has garnered the votes of reluctant conservatives but left more moderate Republicans concerned.

By Wednesday, however, the combination of pressure from house leaders and President Donald Trump himself seemed to be turning at least some votes. Following a White house meeting, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), a former chairman of the house committee that handles most health issues, said he would vote for the bill if it added an additional $8 billion to help those with health problems pay for coverage. That same promised amendment also changed the vote of Trump supporter Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), who said earlier in the week he planned to vote against the measure. house leaders stressed that they are still working to muster a majority to pass the bill, which was originally scheduled for a full floor vote in March. here are some possible ways the effort could play out.

1. The House passes its bill soon.

Approval in the house would send the measure to the Senate, where the fight will be very different. Congress is using a special budget procedure that allows the bill to pass with 51 votes. There are only 52 Republicans in the Senate, so they can’t afford to lose more than two GOP votes, assuming every Democrat opposes the measure. In that case, Vice President Mike Pence would be needed to break a tie.

While this special procedure makes the bill easier for Republicans to pass, the Senate’s budget “reconciliation” process must follow a series of specific rulesthat exclude provisions that don’t directly affect the federal budget.

Various parts of the house bill, including a recent change to let states waive some cover-

age rules that has ignited concerns about preexisting conditions, have been mentioned as possible violations of those Senate rules and would have to be taken out in order to qualify for the protections of reconciliation.

The Senate may also amend the bill and the house would have to approve those changes, which could again break the delicate coalition of house GOP support.

2. The House walks away from the debate.

In theory, if the GOP votes necessary to pass the bill continue to be elusive, the house could just leave health care for another day — or another year.

That would be a huge setback for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to “repeal and replace” the health law, as well as for congressional Republicans, who have been promising to do the same since the bill became law in 2010.

But if the law truly implodes for 2018, meaning insurers drop out of so many areas that millions of people have no insurance options, it could trigger an entirely different health debate.

3. The House decides to switch gears to tax reform. health care is not the Republicans’ only high priority. So is an overhaul of the federal tax code.

But Republicans want to use the same budget reconciliation procedure to pass their tax plan. That’s a problem.

In order to make sweeping tax changes under expedited budget rules, the house and Senate would have to move on to a fiscal 2018 budget resolution, which would override the 2017 budget blueprint. But as soon as it does, the protections for the health bill would expire.

There is another option. each budget resolution can allow one spending bill and one tax bill to be protected by reconciliation rules. So Congress could simply start the process over in a 2018 budget resolution that would allow it to move on tax reform and changes to the health law simultaneously.

4. Congress tries to overhaul health law incrementally.

The house could abandon the budget process and simply pass bills without regard to whether they have an effect on the budget. The first step, though, would likely be for the house to repeal the ACA wholesale — giving Republicans political cover. Then they could take up smaller pieces of legislation, such as a bill that would allow health insurance to be purchased across

Trump signs ‘religious liberties’...

PAGE A1 t “Faith is deeply embedded into the history of our country, the spirit of our founding and the soul of our nation,” Trump said at the White house during National Day of Prayer event with religious leaders and White house staff. “We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced anymore. And we will never, ever stand for religious discrimination. Never, ever.”

Despite the president’s show of the bill, policy experts say that the order will have little to no noticeable effect on current policy.

“President Trump’s executive order did not ease the current restrictions on political activity by religious organizations,” said Lawrence Noble, general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center. “The executive order allows the IRS to restrict the activity it currently considers political, but prohibits the IRS from expanding the restrictions to cover activity not covered before the executive order.”

But the executive order disappointed many religious conservatives who, per an early draft of the order, expected the bill to allow employers to discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees on religious grounds.

The executive order makes no mention of any such provision, much to the dismay of conservative religious leaders, who believe the president has ignored the wishes of his most fervent supporters.

“In failing to deliver for people of faith, President Trump risks alienating the single constituency most responsible for his election,” Brian S. Brown, president of the antisame-sex marriage organization National Organization for Marriage, told the New York Times. “Quite strangely, he

is rewarding LGBT extremists who strongly opposed his election.”

American evangelical leader and president of the ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Russell Moore told CNN’s erin Burnett that the order is a start, but, hopefully, not the end to bringing more political freedom to religious institutions.

“The very fact that religious freedom is part of the conversation and religious freedom is being affirmed I think is a step in the right direction,” Moore said on Burnett’s show. “Now obviously if this is the end of the story, I’m really disappointed, but I think we ought to hold out the hope that this is just the beginning and that there are more steps to be made.” however, many religious groups did praise the president for the move.

“The open season on Christians and other people of faith is coming to a close in America and we look forward to assisting the Trump administration in fully restoring America’s First Freedom,” Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement.

The executive order also addresses religious objections noted in former President Barack Obama’s Affordable healthcare Act, which required employers to cover contraceptives in insurance packages.

In that provision, Trump instructs the Treasury and the labor and health and human services departments to “consider issuing amended regulations,” to which Secretary of human and health Services Tom Price said that the department will be “taking action in short order to follow the president’s instruction.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

state lines, a favorite idea of Trump’s. Those bills, however, would require 60 votes in the Senate, which seems unlikely given Democratic opposition.

If the GOP efforts to bring wholesale change to the ACA are exhausted, though, it may be possible for some moderate Republicans to craft legislation with Democrats to fix some of the issues that both parties see in the law.

5. The Senate gets rid of the legislative filibuster.

The Senate earlier this year abolished the need for 60 votes to fill a Supreme Court seat, which got Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, approved.

Trump has been calling for Republicans to also get rid of the filibuster for legislation. “either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

But the legislative filibuster is the last protection for a Senate minority party, and Republicans know they will someday be that minority again. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said repeatedly he has no intention of taking this step, telling reporters Tuesday it “would fundamentally change the way the Senate has worked for a very long time.” And even if he changed his mind, he might have trouble persuading some of his Republican colleagues to go along. n

FACE TO FACE. President Rodrigo Duterte talks to banana farmers from Tagum City at Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang in Manila. The President vowed to help them in their agrarian reform dispute with Lapanday Foods Corp.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan

US senators introduce bill...

PAGE A1 t

the sources of narcotics to the country.

The legislation comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spoke over the phone.

Trump — who is scheduled to visit the Philippines in November for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) summit — reportedly invited Duterte to the White house and reiterated the two countries’ decades-long alliance.

The call on Saturday, April 29 was the second time the two

heads of state communicated.

They previously spoke in December — following Trump’s win in the presidential election — wherein the American leader lauded Duterte’s handling of the drug problem as the “right way.”

Further details, including an exact date, about Duterte’s possible White house visit are yet to be announced. On Monday, May 1, he said he was unsure if he’d travel to the U.S. because he is too “tied up” with a busy schedule.

Since Duterte assumed the presidency last June, over 7,000 individuals have been killed both

by legitimate police operations and vigilantes in the crackdown on narcotics. These numbers, coupled with his brash statements, have drawn criticism from other nations and international human rights organizations. The administration, however, has continually argued that the killings were not state sanctioned.

Rubio, the chairman of the U.S. Senate’s foreign relations subcommittee on human rights and civilian security, said that the use of force was “not the right way to conduct an anti-drug campaign.” “…[O]ur legislation reflects our sincere desire to work with the Philippines to support hu-

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MAY 12-18, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

CA’s tourism industry sets records in 2016 TRAVELER spending in 2016 injected a record $126 billion into the Golden State’s economy, Visit California announced on Thursday, May 4 as the industry marked the first-ever California Tourism Month.

Tourism in California generated $10.3 billion in tax revenue and supported 1.1 million jobs last year, further solidifying tourism’s role as a key economic driver for the Golden State.

According to the annual economic impact report released by Visit California and Dean Runyan Associates, 2016 marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for the Golden State’s travel and tourism industry. California traveler spending grew 3.2 percent, out-indexing the nation by nearly a percentage point.

“This report shows that tourism is a powerhouse that generates community benefits and economic value for all Californians,” said Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta. “California Tourism Month provides an opportunity to celebrate tourism as an important pillar of our economy, and highlight an effective and dynamic industry that remains a vital asset in all regions of the state.”

The report — using data on the statewide and local economic impacts of tourism in California from

1992 to 2016 — shows that in the past 25 years, travelers in California have spent nearly $2.16 trillion, created more than 410,000 jobs, and generated more than $165.3 billion in local and state tax revenues.

Visit California is a statewide organization that works with local partners across the state to develop and implement innovative global marketing programs that instill a desire for travelers to experience the California dream. Successful global marketing campaigns reach targeted domestic and international visitors in 14 markets including China, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom.

These cutting-edge marketing efforts inspire travelers to visit California, where they stimulate California’s economy and sustain valuable jobs around the state.

The release of this report is part of California Travel and Tourism Month, which occurs every May following a resolution enacted by the California State Legislature last year.

Next week, California celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week when destinations in the Golden State will join communities across the nation to host events that communicate and celebrate the importance of sustaining the travel industry. n

Filipina murdered by angry in-law SAN FRANCISCO — A man found dead in an apparent suicide in Harrison, New York was responsible for the death of an elderly Filipina in Mahopac, according to police.

Perla Gatchalian, 75, was found by a neighbor in her Coventry Circle home on April 27 at 3:18 p.m. after the neighbor went to check on her. She died from an apparent gunshot wound.

The Carmel Police Department confirmed Wednesday, May 3, that 69-year-old Filippo Buffone, who killed himself Tuesday, murdered Gatchalian. Police believe Buffone was angry about a financial dispute.

He was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head in a car in a social club parking lot.

Buffone’s son is married to Gatchalian’s daughter. Gatchalian lived with her daughter’s family and looked after her

The 75-year-old grandmother Perla Gatchalian was shot to death in a murder suicide at her daughter’s family home in this town in upstate New York.

three grandchildren.

Buffone was identified as the prime suspect within 24 hours of Gatchalian’s death. Police

US senators introduce bill...

PAGE A3 t man rights, expose narcotics networks emanating from mainland China and other countries, and use a public health approach to responsibly counter the dangers that drugs pose to our societies,” he said in a statement.

The senators’ bill reiterates the U.S.’ commitment and support toward the Philippines, in partic-

recovered the suspected murder weapon off the Route 6 corridor in Yorktown on Tuesday. n

“Senator Rubio and I recognize the Philippines is one of America’s oldest friends and allies, and ular with defense, counterterror- that is why we are committed to ism, and maritime law enforce- the health and well-being of this ment. The transfer of defense relationship, and the fundamenarticles used for these purposes tal human rights of the Filipino will not be halted, however. people,” Cardin said.

It also authorizes $50 million Last fall, the State Department to the U.S. State Department and halted the sale of 26,000 firearms the U.S. Agency for International to the PNP after Cardin publicly Development (USAID) for public announced he would oppose the health and human rights pro- transaction. (Christina M. Oriel/ grams.

AJPress)

PERMANENT PANTAWID? Beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, some in superhero costumes, hold a rally outside the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in Quezon City to call on lawmakers to pass a bill that will make the program permanent.

They also called for rice subsidies and health benefits for poor families.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike De Juan

US, PH launch first Balikatan under Duterte admin THE Philippines and United States formally launched their 12day Balikatan war games on Monday, May 8.

In its opening ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim underscored Balikatan as an “important military exercise” that has become a “meaningful embodiment of strong partnership” between the two countries.

Balikatan, which literally means “shoulder to shoulder,” is considered the biggest military joint activity bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the U.S. “Balikatan is always a very important exercise. It is a very special and meaningful embodiment of our robust bilateral relationship and reflects not only our strong military partnership but also the deep friendship between our two peoples, mutually beneficial economic ties and very importantly our shared history and shared interest,” Kim said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who assumed office in June last year, previously threatened to scrap military games with the U.S. amid his administration’s pivot to China and Russia.

While Duterte has been persuaded to continue joint exercises, adjustments, however were made upon his orders.

This year’s Balikatan, the first bilateral exercise under the Duterte

U.S. Ambassador to PH Sung Kim

administration, involves only 2,600 American soldiers and 2,800 of their Filipino counterparts—which is less than half the total of 12,000 participants in 2015.

The two militaries will also focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and fighting terrorism instead of the usual boosting of maritime defense capabilities, particularly in South China.

Despite the scaled down Balikatan exercise, both its U.S. and Philippine directors expressed the mutual importance of the military exchange and are still expecting a “very productive” outcome this year.

“We’re looking forward to a very productive 33rd Balikatan Exercises and this year’s themes were discussed and will touch on the humanitarian and disaster relief and counterterrorism. And so we are looking forward to a great

couple of weeks,” Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, U.S. co-director for Balikatan.

Nicholson also remarked that working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is a privilege for U.S. troops.

“So whether it’s during other exercises, whether it’s Balikatan, whether it’s smaller individual efforts, when we get a chance to train with the AFP that’s great for us’” Nicholson said.

AFP chief General Eduardo Año also underscored the mutual benefits of the exercises, citing the two countries’ long history of cooperation.

“Our armed forces have continuously shared ordeals that have strengthened our bond. It is an avenue for us to enhance cooperation between our military forces and an opportunity to test and validate our forces’ inter-operability,” Año said.

While this year’s Balikatan just commenced, Lt. Gen. Oscar Lactao, Philippine co-director for the Balikatan, revealed that plans for next year’s drills are already being discussed.

“The planning exercise for Balikatan ’18 is already being discussed,” Lactao said, without further elaboration.

Lactao also expressed confidence that this year’s Balikatan would be “a very successful exercise.” (AJPress)

Kobe Paras commits to Cal State

by Leif

Sykioco Philstar.com

KOBE Paras will take his talent to the California State University, Northridge.

Paras on Tuesday, May 9 said he will transfer to the NCAA Division I team after playing for one season with Creighton University.

“I believe that Cal State Northridge is the best fit for me,” the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras said.

The 6-foot-6 Paras will serve a season of residency before being allowed to play for the Matadors for three years.

He also said he is excited to work under the ropes of former NBA player Reggie Theus, who is the head coach of the Matadors.

“He’s in the NBA for so long and he is such a phenomenal player and being able to learn to such an educated guy in the game of basketball is just going to help me,” Paras added.

He further hinted that playing time was one the reasons why

PAGE A1 t

Kobe Paras

he left the Bluejays. Paras saw limited action with Creighton and averaged only 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds.

Other schools that were

interested in singing Paras include Grand Canyon University, University of Hawaii, Fullerton and Santa Clara University. n

‘Excited’ Pacquiao starts training...

But even with almost six months of inactivity, his childhood friend and co-trainer Buboy Fernandez is confident that the boxer-senator will be in his best form during his July fight.

“He trains hard at the gym and keeps himself in good shape even when there’s no fight. So, we expect him to be in tip-top shape during the scheduled fight,” Fernandez said.

Pacquiao is training at Elorde Boxing Gym near the Mall of Asia commercial complex until May 31.

Fernandez and Nonoy Neri are overseeing the initial phase of

his training. Meanwhile, coach Freddie Roach is expected to arrive in the Philippines later this week.

By the end of the month, Pacquiao said he’ll start training at his own Wildcard Boxing Gym in General Santos City until the third week of June.

Despite being a heavy favorite, Pacquiao said that he’s not going to underestimate Horn.

Pacquiao’s nine-week training schedule against Horn is apparently his longest since his match against to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015, during which he trained for more than two months.

“Katunayan yan na (To be

Manny Pacquiao on Monday, May 8 began his preparations for his WBO welterweight championship defense against Jeff Horn on July 2.

Photos by Wendell Alinea

honest) I’m not taking this fight lightly as some sectors think I am,” Pacquiao said. “At hindi ko rin ina-underestimate and kalaban ko (And I am not underestimating my opponent).”

Pacquiao, 38, has a record of 59-6-2 win-loss-draw. He won his last match via unanimous decision and defended his WBO welterweight title against Jessie Vargas last year.

On the other hand, 29-yearold Horn has a record of 16-0-1 and 11 KOs. The Philippine Congress will start its month-long break on June 1 and will resume its session on July 2. n

By the end of the month, Pacquiao said he’ll start training at his own Wildcard Boxing Gym in General Santos City until the third week of June.

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House can’t tackle Duterte, Robredo, Morales impeach raps

by AJPress

IT will be hard for the House of Representatives to tackle three impeachment complaints before the end of the first regular session, according to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

In an interview on Tuesday, May 9, Alvarez was asked if the House could handle the already filed impeachment complaint against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and possibly two more raps against Vice President Leni Robredo and Ombudsman Conchita Morales-Carpio.

“Definitely not,” Alvarez admitted.

“Mahihirapan tayo kasi dapat nating alalahanin na end of the month e recess na yung Congress nun (It would be difficult for the House, noting it would go into recess by the end of the month),” the speaker said.

The Congress will end its first regular session on June 2, and will resume session for the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

“Ang balik natin Sona na. Tapos pagpasok ng Sona ay yung budget hearing naman. So yan ay tatakbo hanggang November siguro yan bago ma-approve yung budget, so wala na rin tayong…medyo kakapusin tayo sa

panahon (We would return just in time for Sona. After that, there would be budget hearings until November before the approval of the budget… So we would really run out of time),” Alvarez explained.

He maintained that the House will prioritize the already filed impeachment complaint against Duterte since complaints against Robredo has yet to be endorsed by any lawmaker.

Earlier in March, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte for the president’s alleged links to the so-called Davao Death Squad PAGE A7

PRECIOUS AND RARE. A visitor inspects one of the rare tomes on display at the University of Santo Tomas’ ‘Semper Lumina’ exhibit and launching at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong. Titled “Semper Lumina” (“Always the Light”), the event showcased vast treasures found at the UST Miguel de Benavides Library and the Archivo de Santo Tomas. It was a follow up to “Lumina Pandit” (“Spreading the Light”), an exhibit of UST’s rare books during its 400th anniversary in 2011.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Jamillah Sta. Rosa

Mocha named Palace assistant secretary

by Alexis

romero Philstar.com

Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto met with members of the Federation of Solo Parents headed by Carina Javier (2nd from right) in the Senate on Tuesday, May 9. The group met with Sotto to ask him to push for amendments to the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 (Republic Act 8972), which would provide additional benefits for solo parents in the country. There is a pending bill in Congress seeking to add more teeth to RA 8972, the law that makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against any solo-parent employees by increasing the penalties against employers found violating the rights of solo parents.

Senate photo by Joseph Vidal

Sotto woos solo parents after gaffe

by PAolo

romero Philstar.com

MANILA - From jokester to champion of single parent rights?

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III will champion the passage of long overdue amendments to a 16-year-old law for single parents to increase benefits for them and their children.

Sotto said there is an urgent need to update Republic Act 8972 of the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of

2000 to make it more responsive, especially since the cost of living has gone up.

The senator recently came under fire in social media after he made comments on Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo’s status as a single parent during her confirmation hearings at the Commission on Appointments.

Sotto apologized and said he might have been taken out of con-

text as some of his children were also single parents.

Leaders of the Federation of Solo Parents Luzvimin (FSPL) who visited Sotto in his office said the bashing was unproductive and called on all concerned to move on.

FSPL president Carina Javier said Sotto’s comments were a blessing in disguise as it helped draw public attention to the plight of solo parents.

MANILA - Former sexy dancer and pro-Duterte blogger Mocha Uson has been named assistant secretary of the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO), her appointment paper signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, May 10 showed.

The Palace also released to the media a list of more than 60 new appointees, including former five-term House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as special envoy for inter-cultural dialogue.

Foreign affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said de Venecia assumed as envoy last month and will handle the post until September.

Dante Ang, former publicist of ex-president Gloria MacapagalArroyo and chairman emeritus of The Manila Times, was also appointed special envoy for international public relations.

Also starting today, Malacañang can appoint those who lost in the May 9, 2016 election as the yearlong ban after the polls has lapsed.

The restriction is stated in Article 9 (b) Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides that “no candidate who has lost in any election shall,

The Palace also released to the media yesterday a list of more than 60 new appointees, including former five-term House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as special envoy for intercultural dialogue.

within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries.”

The same prohibition is contained in Section 94 (B) of Local Government Code but excludes those who were defeated in barangay elections.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said those who did not win in last year’s polls could land a position in the government starting today.

“The ban is now over...the rea-

son for having this ban is to prevent the candidates who lost or those who were rejected by the people to be able to work in government for one year. They have to take a break,” Macalintal said.

On Uson’s appointment, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea clarified that her position as a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) was deemed relinquished.

Uson, who earlier labeled members of the media as “presstitutes” because of their alPAGE A7

A

may 12-18, 2017 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL

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

OpiniOn

The PDAF queen is back

Features

AFTER managing to stay under the radar while being incarcerated for one of the biggest scandals in Philippine politics, pork barrel or Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is back under intense media scrutiny.

Napoles, who is currently detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2015, was recently acquitted by the Court of Appeals in the illegal detention case filed by whistleblower Benhur Luy. However, the PDAF queen will remain behind bars while still facing the string of non-bailable plunder and graft cases charged against her by the Sandiganbayan.

In its decision to reverse the 2015 ruling which sentenced Napoles to life imprisonment, the Court of Appeals’ 12 Division said that the evidence presented by the prosecutors were “grossly insufficient to sustain a conviction” and falls below the required proof of crime beyond reasonable doubt.

After her recent legal victory, Napoles is now being considered as a state witness in the government’s planned reinvestigation of the multibillionpeso controversy. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II revealed that his team is already planning to meet with Napoles to review the PDAF cases.

“She should have knowledge of everything because it all came from her. If what she would say will be coupled with documents, then there is no reason why she should not be credible,” Aguirre

explained.

If she becomes a state witness, Napoles is not only guaranteed government protection, she would also be free from all the charges that had been filed against her.

Malacañang assured that there has been no policy shift with regard to the PDAF scam and that Napoles will not be used to persecute the current administration’s opponents.

“The Duterte administration has never, will never and can never enter into sweetheart deals. It’s very strict on the observance of the rule of law and following constitutional due process,” presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo told reporters.

As one can recall, at the heat of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds in November 2013, Napoles had the perfect opportunity to implicate more personalities into the PDAF scam when the Senate threw her to the deep end, with hard-hitting questions to reveal the truth on her alleged collusion with lawmakers and other government officials to funnel huge sums from the PDAF. Instead of spilling the beans, Napoles stuck to her legal strategy by continuously invoking her right against self-incrimination and remaining tight-lipped throughout the grilling session.

Editorial

SOCIAL media have been abuzz over a tweet attributed to Dr. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was recently in Manila as a keynote speaker at a forum organized by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).

The controversial tweet reads: “@AgnesCallamard - Prof Carl Hart: No evidence Shabu leads to violence or brain damage. #Philippines drug policy forum” It should be clarified that the “Dr.” attached to Callamard’s name has nothing to do with being a medical specialist or psychiatrist. She has a PhD in Political Science, thus the “Dr.” appellation. Her official position in the UN is Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Wikipedia describes her as “an expert on a number of international and UN human rights initiatives.” No mention at all of

Now that she is given a second chance, will truth afford Napoles the constitutional protections she wants? Will she be a valuable asset in revealing more truth—and justice at the end of this pork barrel saga?

From here on out, the Philippine government and its members stand in a parlous position. Every riveting detail of the pork barrel saga will further bring consciousness to the nation that has been subjected to this hullabaloo. (AJPress)

The ‘war on drugs’: Saying too much is saying nothing

Street Talk GreG B. MacaBenta

ManilaTimes.net photo

any expertise on the effects of drugs like shabu on people.

Of course, Callamard didn’t claim that the tweeted opinion was hers, but if she has any understanding of the dynamics of communications, she should have known that quoting a third person’s opinion could be misunderstood as endorsing it. Not surprisingly, that led people to assume that the opinion was her own.

Callamard’s tweet on shabu reminds me of a screening in California of a movie that had Manny Pacquiao in the lead role. Having been invited to the event, I was asked what I thought of Pacquiao’s performance.

My response: “As an actor, Manny Pacquiao is an excellent boxer.” I was too polite to suggest that he should not quit his day job.

With due respect to Callamard, she should have limited her social media postings to the subject of ”extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions”—conceivably, her area of expertise.

In advertising, there is an axiom: Saying too much is saying

nothing.

By making that needless tweet, Callamard shifted the discussion to her debatable familiarity with the effects of shabu, and away from the very serious problem of extra-judicial killings.

I’m guessing that Philippine Ambassador to the UN, Teddy Boy Locsin, welcomed Callamard’s tweet, because it gave him respite from a defensive and indefensible position at the UN. He must have relished calling Callamard an “idiot” and, by extension, implying that she had been dispatched to the Philippines by fellow idiots in the UN. I have one more point to make, and this is on the opinion of Prof. Carl Hart that there is “no evidence shabu leads to violence or brain damage” and his findings that “85-90 per cent of people who used illegal drugs do not become addicted.”

Has Hart tried to play Russian Roulette? Cocking a six-shooter with only one bullet loaded means that the odds are fiveto-one that he will not blow his brains out. But will he take that chance?

At any rate, all of these innuendoes unnecessarily draw attention away from the real issue at hand. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

No amount of legalistic somersaults by the apologists of President Rodrigo Duterte and no amount of childish namecalling by his die-hard fans can justify the number of questionable killings perpetrated during Duterte’s first year in office.

Like Callamard, Duterte’s apologists have been saying too much and really saying nothing.

They have made a big thing of the “inconsistency” in the number of deaths reported, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000. And they have pointed to Singapore’s harsh anti-drug policy – death by hanging - to justify the killings.

Note, however, that there were only 259 drug-related executions in Singapore from 1991 to 2017 or a period of 26 years, according to statistics compiled

by Amnesty International.

Pray tell, is there any comparison with Duterte’s thousands in only one year?

Indeed, Singapore has been

unforgiving in its campaign against drugs, but in a March 2017 speech, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam asserted: “The death penalty is applied only and strictly in the context of an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. In fact, you could argue that a prerequisite is an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, resting on a strong and independent judiciary. There must be fair and transparent laws and due process… Capital punishment is carried out only after due judicial process and in accordance with the law.”

Even Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, known to also take a hardline against the drug menace, has expressed reservations about a “shoot on sight” policy: “If it was allowed by law then I would order the National Police and the BNN [National Narcotics Agency] chief to do so, but luckily it is not.”

Can Duterte and his Chief of Executioners, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa say as much? Have the police killed alleged drug users or pushers “in the context of an unwavering

commitment to the rule of law” as Singapore insists it does, and “only after due judicial process and in accordance with the law”?

Are people supposed to believe that everyone killed in the course of a drug raid “resisted arrest” and “tried to draw their guns” at the police?

Are people supposed to believe that this was what happened when Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and a cell companion, Raul Yap, were shot in cold blood inside their jail cell by elements of the PNP? Can Ambassador Teddy Boy Locsin and Duterte apologist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano attribute to “due process” the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside Camp Crame, near the office of De la Rosa, after a “tokhang” raid?

Is it humane for Duterte to dismiss the deaths of young children, in the course of drugrelated shootings, as “collateral damage” Are people supposed to believe that the PNP has absolutely nothing to do with the PAGE A7

CHR head Gascon now the biggest threat to human rights rule.

IRONIC as it may • Gascon and the seem, it is Jose “Chi- Commentary CHR he leads now to” Gascon, the Comhave therefore lost mission on Human their credibility as Rights chairman that human rights (HR) President Benigno champions, with their Aquino 3rd appointed accusations of HR vioin June 2015, who has lations received with emerged as the big- riGoBerto D. tiGlao such suspicion and gest stumbling block to the development of institutions and a cynicism, that little has been done to political culture that would defend hu- develop respect for human rights in the country, and to instill fear in those who man rights in this country.

I base this conclusion on the follow- would violate such rights. Because of his politicized stance, Gascon has been ing arguments: Gascon, the last straggler of the Yel- unable to get the cooperation from othlow Party still in government, has politi- er government agencies, to the detricized the issue of human rights in the ment of human rights in the country.

Every time I see a photo of Gascon, I Philippines, and has transformed it into a propaganda weapon against Presi- can see either former President Aquino dent Duterte. He is the very first CHR 3rd or Mar Roxas or Sen. Franklin Drilchairman since the agency’s establish- on at his back as ghosts whispering to ment in 1987 to do so, to have adopted him, how to hit the government.

Gascon is, as it were, the Liberal Paran openly belligerent stance against the ty’s remaining ranking cadre still enincumbent administration.

• As such, Gascon’s thrust and ac- sconced in a government agency with tivities since Duterte took power hasn’t a budget of P500 million yearly, and been to build up the institutions neces- which has been paying him P4 million sary to propagate a culture of respect annually. (His salary grade of 31 is just for human rights. It has been to paint two notches lower than the President’s this administration as a wanton violator 33.)

He was the executive director of the of human rights, mainly by convincing foreign bodies to believe so. His real Liberal Party’s think tank, the National agenda is to convince Filipinos to rise Institute for Policy Studies, the director up against Duterte and restore Yellow general of the Liberal Party from 2008

to 2011, and the political director of its 2010 electoral campaign. After that, he was at Aquino’s beck and call in the Office of the President at the same time that he was a board member of the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

As Yellow as can be In short, Gascon is as Yellow as can be, and the Yellow Cult’s big hope of killing Duterte with a thousand humanrights-violations cuts.

Not only has his party loyalty determined his stance and actions. Gascon has that kind of Manichaean and messianic world view so typical of activists who went against Marcos only when it was clear the dictatorship would be collapsing.

As Marcos was the Evil Lord he helped defeat, Duterte is now for Gascon the Dark King he will overthrow, as he practically stated in his oh-so melodramatic speech at the CHR’s recent anniversary: “We have entered a period of darkness, the sun is gone, night has fallen.

Although we are a tropical country, winter has come. It is in this period of darkness that we shall all be tested as we fight for human rights. “ This is a guy who must have watched too many Game of Thrones episodes, or think of himself as the Aragorn who would defeat the Dark Lord Saruman.

That line “night has fallen”, if you will

remember, was exactly the headline of Time magazine cover story that was one of the first hatchet jobs abasing Duterte.

My sources have informed me it is Gascon himself who has been feeding the foreign and a section of the local press, mainly the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler (both of which have had puff pieces on him), with material they could use to portray government as waging a ruthless war against illegal drugs and grossly violating Filipinos’ human rights.

Gascon also teamed up with the Free Legal Aid Group (FLAG) lawyers to assist former Davao police officer Arturo Lascañas in his campaign to claim that Duterte himself participated in the Davao Death Squad. One can’t underestimate Gascon’s skill in conspiracies: He was the Liberal Party operator that plotted the breakaway from former President Gloria Arroyo of the traitorous Hyatt 10 which, if not for that President’s grit would have meant the collapse of her government.

Gascon and Callamard It was Gascon who invited UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard to give a speech at the CHR’s anniversary event. Callamard has been so obnoxiously critical of the country’s war against drugs there is a tsunami of outrage against her. It was even the CHR

that paid Callamard’s air fare and fivestar accommodation.

One demonstration of Gascon’s propaganda expertise was when his staff brought media to a cell in a precinct in Tondo which was blown up to be portrayed as “secret cells”. The connotation of course was that since the detainees were concealed, they would be executed soon. The “raid” was undertaken in the evening when it would be dark outside the window, which therefore made it appear closed, necessary for such a cell to be kept secret. Daytime photos of the cell though show a huge window with bars. And that operation was timed during the Asean Summit.

Such an issue of course wasn’t new, as the nation has been shocked in the past several months by photos of horrific overcrowding in jails not only in Manila but in Cebu City. But if Gascon was authentically concerned about this, he could have asked his staff to prepare a detailed study on how much there is of such overcrowding, and propose a plan to be submitted to Congress which can fund the building of more jails.

The task of creating institutions and a political culture that upholds the rights of each individual is a daunting and really tedious one, which took the West generations to achieve. Who wouldn’t want such respect for human rights?

PAGE 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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A

Lacson: Callamard violated protocol

by Jefferson

AntipordA ManilaTimes.net

BETWEEN the Philippine government and United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard, Sen. Panfilo Lacson over the weekend said he would choose to believe the government’s statement that the rapporteur skipped protocol during her visit to the country last week.

According to Lacson, Callamard should have gone through proper channels in connection with the visit.

Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, was invited to attend a two-day drug policy forum sponsored by the Commission on Human Rights and human rights group Free Legal Assistance Group at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City.

Malacañang said the Philippine government was not informed

about the visit but the UN rapporteur denied it, saying she had sent word about her participation in the forum.

“I would choose to believe the Philippine government instead of a person who just [drops by]the country to talk and come up with a conclusion [about alleged extrajudicial killings in the country]even in the absence of a formal investigation” Lacson said, referring to Callamard.

Callamard in her speech during the forum said the “war on drugs does not work” and could even create more problems like vigilante killings and others, but she did not directly refer to the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign.

Malacañang had sent an invitation to Callamard to investigate drug-related killings in the country, But she refused the invitation, citing conditions set by the Philippine government before allowing the probe.

Callamard, based on the conditions set by Malacañang, must agree to facing President Rodrigo Duterte in a public debate before the media, allowing the President to ask her questions and taking an oath.

The UN official said then that she remained hopeful that the Philippine government would lift the conditions, which, according to her, are against the code of conduct adopted by member states of the UN. But even before she could look into alleged human rights violations in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, she told Bloomberg TV Philippines last March, “As far as my mandate is concerned, my work on killings is concerned, the Philippines is standing out as one of the worst places outside an armed conflict situation because of the scale of the killings, but also because the human rights crisis is multifold.”

House can’t tackle Duterte...

PAGE A5 (DDS), the massive killings in his war against illegal drugs, and his alleged undeclared wealth worth nearly P2.2 million.

A supplementary complaint against the president was also filed for his alleged inaction over the territorial issues concerning Benham Rise and the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The group ‘Impeach Leni Movement,’ led by law professor Bruce Rivera, is eyeing an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying public trust when she sent a video message criticizing the Philippine government’s war on drugs before the United Nations.

Complaints against Morales, meanwhile, have yet to be submitted by their proponents, among which include the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The VACC accused Morales of being partial in investigating corruption cases against allies of the former President Benigno Aquino III. According to House Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas, the

May 9.

In a recent interview, Justice Committee Chair and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the impeachment case against the president will likely be dropped in just two hearings since it lacks widespread support, making the bid impossible to fly.

Despite the supposed low odds of success, Liberal party member and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman noted that the Committee on Justice “cannot outright dismiss or sustain a duly filed and referred impeachment complaint without conducting a hearing, as mandated by the Constitution.”

The hearing, he said, gives the complaint a chance “to be heard and present arguments and justiHouse Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez fications.”

“Ang nakarating sa amin is maHouse of Representatives is set to start its hearings on the two bilis raw ang proseso (We heard impeachment complaints filed that the process is fast), because against Duterte as early as Mon- there is the superiority of numbers. But we should not forget day next week.

The complaints against Duterte that the Constitution explicitly were officially referred to the provides that the Committee on House justice committee during Justice must conduct the hearthe plenary session on Tuesday, ing,” Lagman added.

RED CROSS GETS OWN SHIP. Sen. Richard Gordon (center), chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, talk to other Red Cross officials beside their new humanitarian vessel, called M/V PRC ‘Amazing Grace.’ The former US Navy vessel will be used for disaster response.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

The ‘war on drugs’...

PAGE A6 thousands of killings attributed to “vigilantes”?

Vice-President Leni Robredo has been accused of “shaming the Philippines” for her video message to the 60thannual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna in which she reported that “more than 7,000 people (had) been killed in summary executions.”

Robredo has been accused of “lying to the world.” But if she was lying about the killings, wouldn’t that make Duterte a liar too? After all, he is the one who has been bragging about filling Manila Bay with dead bodies in his war on drugs.

In a December report by AFP News Agency, Duterte was

CHR head Gascon now the biggest...

PAGE A6 But this cannot be done in the way Gascon assumes that Duterte has adopted a state policy of violating human rights, so that his response would be to discredit him so much he would be toppled, to be replaced by a lover of human rights, who of course would be a Liberal Party loyalist.

PAGE A5 group Mocha Girls and once ap- urged critics to just respond to Such a task requires painsleged bias against the President, peared in sexy movies and sex her views and not to dwell on taking work outside the glare of her past. (With reports from will handle social media, PCOO instructional videos. news media. Among these: workUson, whose real name is Sheila Crisostomo, Pia Leesecretary Martin Andanar said. ing with the police to undertake She used to head the all female Margaux Justiniano Uson, has Brago) continuous education on the

Mocha named Palace assistant...

quoted as follows: “In Davao I used to do it personally. I’d go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around (sic), and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also.

I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill.”

Did Robredo’s report to the UN shame the Philippines more than Duterte has done with his boasting about personally killing people and his assertion that “Hitler massacred three million Jews…Now, there are 3 million drug addicts. ... I’d be happy to slaughter them”?

As to the “shaming of the Philippines” ostensibly caused

by Robredo and by those who have brought the issue of extrajudicial killings to the attention

of the UN, it may serve a good purpose to recall the preface (English translation) of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere where he justified his frank exposure of the social cancer afflicting his beloved country: “Desiring thy welfare, which is our own, and seeking the best treatment, I will do with thee what the ancients did with their sick, exposing them on the steps of the temple so that everyone who came to invoke the Divinity might offer them a remedy.

“And to this end, I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations; I will raise a part of the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing to truth everything, even vanity itself, since, as thy son, I am conscious that I also suffer from thy defects and weaknesses.” (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

importance of human rights; the strengthening of the police internal affairs offices (or even the establishment of human rights desks, as in the case of their women’s desks); working with Congress so it could pass the laws necessary for human rights (or just allocate a bigger budget to build proper jails); and most importantly, the rigorous investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violations as a deterrent.

But that won’t seem to be glorious enough tasks for Gascon.

If he still has an ember of patriotism and has real concern for human rights, Gascon should resign as CHR head, before his term ends in 2022. I’m sure with his talent, he can recoup elsewhere the P4 million he is getting from the agency. If he decides to be kapit-tuko, to use that Filipino term, I hope the other four commissioners and even the CHR staff revolt against this Yellow straggler.

Duterte I’m sure can find many Filipinos with a real concern for human rights. (ManilaTimes.net)

A

may 12-18, 2017 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 12-18, 2017

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY ournal

Your Immigration Solution Devin M. Connolly PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been highly critical of the H1B program since taking office.

Despite these criticisms and vows the change the program though, there was no shortage of foreign-born college graduates with potential employers willing to submit petitions to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). These foreignborn college graduates are now experiencing another difficult part of the process – the waiting to see if their petition is selected in the H-1B lottery.

For the last several years the USCIS has conducted what is commonly referred to as the “H1B lottery.” This is necessary because there are far more applicants than there are available visa numbers. The USCIS is only permitted to grant 85,000 H-1B visas per year. A portion of those 85,000 visas, 20,000 to be exact, are reserved for people who have earned Master’s degrees from U.S. universities. That leaves a mere 65,000 for those with Bachelor’s degrees hoping to lawfully work in a specialty occupation.

While the number 65,000 may seem high, the demand has far exceeded the supply in recent years. The USCIS announced that they received approximately 199,000 H-1B petitions this year.

With that many petitions, there are sure to be a lot of disappointed people after the lottery results are announced.

What should a person do if their petition is not selected in the lottery? Do they have to return to their native country, even though many of them may consider the U.S. to be their home?

Do they have to abandon their dreams of lawfully working and living in the U.S., thereby potentially making them feel as if their education and/or work experience is somehow not valuable?

These concerns and feelings are valid. However, they must be set aside before too long so that a vi-

Options if you do not win the H-1B lottery

“

There are many potential ways of obtaining lawful status in the U.S., either permanently or temporarily. able solution can be found. It is necessary to find an alternative so that you can lawfully remain in the U.S. There are many potential ways of obtaining lawful status in the U.S., either permanently or temporarily. While permanent resident status is often preferred, it is important to remember that a temporary visa may still be valid for several years.

One possibility is an ‘L’ visa.

The ‘L’ visa is a temporary visa available to foreign-born citizens who have been working for a U.S. corporation’s parent or subsidiary company for at least one year out of the last three years.

It is available to employees working as an executive or manager, or to employees with specialized knowledge. This obviously requires experience within a certain company and a particular background, but if these things do exist, it is certainly possible to obtain a visa allowing a person to work in the U.S. for three years.

This permission to live and work in the U.S. may also be extended at the end of that three-year period.

There is also an ‘E’ visa. The ‘E’ visa is available to traders and investors who come to the U.S. pursuant to a treaty of commerce and navigation between the U.S. and a foreign country, including the Philippines. On a basic level, the applicant must carry on substantial trade between the U.S. and the foreign country, or direct the operations of a company in which they have invested a substantial amount of money.

In addition, do not overlook the possibility of an employer petitioning you for a green card.

The route to a green card through employment is a multi-step process and can take anywhere

”

from 6 months to many years to complete. The petitioner, who is the employer or prospective employer, files a labor certification request with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), conducts necessary recruitment for the position, files an “Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker” with the USCIS, and before you know it, you are eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Though this may sound simple and straight-forward, obtaining a green card through employment is one of the most complex areas of U.S. immigration law.

Many people are hesitant to seek permanent resident status through an employer because they believe it will take years.

And it might, depending on your country of birth, education, employment background, etc. However, it might also be faster than you would expect.

It is surely disappointing to not be selected in the H-1B lottery.

Yet, lawfully working and residing in the U.S. may still be possible. Consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to explore your options. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com.

Subic next international gateway – ICTSI

by Reicelene Joy ignacio ManilaTimes.net

SUBIC Bay Freeport can be a key international trading gateway of the Philippines, port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said in a statement, highlighting recent upgrades in equipment and performance at the terminal that keep it at par with the company’s operations in Manila.

“As a national port operator, ICTSI ensures that each Philippine marine terminal under its helm remains competitive. Subic, in particular, was developed not only for the industrial locators of the Freeport but for the local markets in Luzon north of Metro

Manila.” Roberto Locsin, Subic Bay International Terminal Corp.

(SBITC) President said in a statement on Monday, May 8.

ICTSI noted the two Panamax quay cranes at the New Container Terminal (NCT) in Subic recently handled close to 400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), with each crane averaging 40 and 33 moves per hour respectively.

The Subic port also recently launched Evergreen’s South Korea-Taiwan-Philippines route, facilitating regional trade among the three economies.

The weekly service plies the ports of Incheon and Kwang Yang, South Korea; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Batangas, Manila and Subic Bay, Philippines using

Effective governance, fiscal management vital to growing economy – UN

by Mayvelin

U. caRaballo ManilaTimes.net

EFFECTIVE governance and improved fiscal management are essential to sustain economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region, including the Philippines, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) said. *** “Effective fiscal management, backed by improved The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client governance, improve long-term economic prospects and relationship and are not a substitute for help address social and environmental concerns,” Dr. the personalized representation that is Shuvojit Banerjee, economic affairs officer at Unescap’s Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development essential to every case.

Division, said during a presentation of the flagship report (Advertising Supplement)

Evergreen’s Cape Faro and Cape Fulmar which are both 1,440TEU boxships.

“Metro Manila as a market will continue to grow but as the northern and central Luzon countryside develops driven by industrial centers like Subic, Clark, Bataan, and Tarlac also continuing to grow, the Subic Bay Freeport is that gateway ready to link its products to global markets.

We have the equipment and facilities,” Locsin said.

The concession for NCT 1 was awarded to ICTSI’s subsidiary Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation in 2007. In 2011, under the plan’s second phase, another ICTSI subsidiary, ICTSI Subic Inc., was awarded the concession to operate NCT 2. n

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Philippine institute for development Studies President Gilbert Llanto (right) reacts to the findings of Unescap annual flagship report “Economic and Social Survey of asia and the Pacific 2017,” held in Makati city on Monday, May 8. also in photo is Shuvojit banerjee (left), Economic affairs officer, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for development division of Unescap. Manilatimes.net photo by: Bob Dungo

CJ

MAY 12-18, 2017 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files atty. DenniS Chua, eSq. A STEP-PARENT may file an immigrant petition for a stepchild even without the stepparent having to legally adopt the stepchild. However, before a stepparent may be able to file an immigrant petition for a stepchild, the stepparent – stepchild relationship should have been created before a stepchild turns 18 years old. This means that the stepparent and the biological parent of the stepchild must get married before the child turns 18 years old.

If the petitioner can no longer file an immigrant petition for the stepchild because the child has turned 18 years old, the child can still be petitioned by the biological parent after she obtains his or her permanent residency status. The significance of having a U.S. citizen stepparent file for a stepchild is so that they could avoid the visa backlogs for visa petitions filed by legal permanent residents for their minor children (2d preference catego-

Community Journal

Petitioning children of your spouse from a previous marriage ry). But considering the current visa priority dates being processed under the 2d preference category, the stepchild may be able to immigrate sooner than later even if petitioned by a legal permanent resident biological parent.

If the biological parent is about to get married to the U.S. citizen petitioner and the biological parent has a child who is already over 18 years of age, it might be wise to consider postponing the marriage to give the child an opportunity to enter the United States faster.

Instead of marrying the biological parent, the U.S. citizen petitioner can just file a fiancé petition for the biological parent. Once the fiancé petition is approved, both the biological parent and child can be issued the corresponding K visas for them to enter the United States. Upon marriage of the U.S. citizen to the biological par-

ent, both parent and child can file their respective applications for adjustment of status to have their status changed from K to permanent resident status.

The decision whether to file a fiancé petition or an immigrant petition is crucial especially if the child is aging out or turning 21 years of age. The decision to just get married instead of filing a fiancé petition could mean a long wait of at least eight years before the child can be able to immigrate to the United States and join the biological parent. *** Atty. Dennis E. Chua is a partner in The Law Firm of Chua Tinsay and Vega (CTV), a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Manila. The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.

Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (415) 495-8088; (619) 955-6277; Dchua@ctvattys.com.

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

On how not to become a pack rat

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Why do we do it? Why do we encumber ourselves with possessions?. - Alice Thomas Ellis

Monette aDeva Maglaya ONE man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

Just for a little fun, go garage “sale-ing.” There aren’t as many in the summer season as there are in spring. Many old-timers have to deal with their stuff gathered over the years, a lot of which have long ago outlived their usefulness. For practical purposes, many just want to reclaim the spaces occupied by junk and clutter and re-use the space for some other purpose other than storage.

Some simply want to make a few extra bucks. If you have too much stuff and would like to simply reclaim your breathing space or to get rid of what has become dust catchers, you can have fun clearing out your stuff and convert them to cash by becoming the seller. The pace could be faster than selling your stuff on ebay.

Don’t just kibitz if you are a buyer. Enter the flow. Don’t forget to bring along a few kindred souls and some cash. A note of caution is in order. Garage “saleing” is one fun activity that can get out of hand if you let it. Particularly during tough times, a good number of people are becoming creative on how to stretch the dollar and are looking at garage sales, either to sell or to buy.

Particularly for newly arrived immigrants or newly married couples starting a new life who are wary of getting into a whopping financial burden by going into debt at the outset, going to garage sales particularly in affluent areas might be an option.

Cash remains king. With a little cash, you can go to garage sales, tag sales, estate sales, swap meets and thrift shops to find practically everything that you will need, and more besides, to set you up in your new place — practically for pennies on the dollar, at least during the beginning years, when you are conserving your resources to prep yourself for the big purchase decisions, e.g. like buying a car or a condo or house, when the time is right.You will be amazed at what you can find.

Newer communities with yuppies as residents will have newer, modern, mass-produced plastic or vinyl stuff, the kind that you get at Ikea while older communities will have items from the past, perhaps still in working condition but in outdated styles. Unless those wily antique collectors and estate handlers beat you to estate liquidations as they most often will, if you’re lucky, you might stumble upon treasures or heirloom pieces that you only get to see

on “Antiques Roadshow” ringing up unbelievable appraisals.

Be warned. Appraisals are just benchmarks of value given as expert opinions, from which buyer and seller can begin negotiation and arrive at a purchase price, which can be higher or lower than appraisal value, depending on the motivation and time frame of both buyer and seller and the perceived intrinsic value of the item being sold.

Simply because manufacturers are not making more of it, good handcrafted furniture pieces made from mahogany and other prized hardwood of over 100 years or porcelain ware, hold up their value comparatively well as sought-after prized antiques than disposable, readyto-assemble furniture made from particle board and melamine mass produced in China. Still, there’s no accounting for taste and individual preferences. The younger ones prefer the sheen and gloss of lacquer or the spanking new, modern furniture of plastic, steel or formica over the patina of old, seasoned wood.

Whatever your choice, dare to be different. Be creative. Immerse yourself in the books written about styles you would like to emulate. You can have your own style with very little money. Let

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Depression is great risk factor in suicide

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS DEPRESSION is a most significant risk factor in suicide. In today’s busy, impatient, materialistic, and fast-paced society, people are subjected to various stressors in life everyday. Encumbered by their personal circumstance, some are unable to adjust and cope, and develop depression. Suicide is a senseless option and a preventable alternative.

What is depression?

Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings, or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic speech or abnormally quiet.

What is the prevalence of depression?

In the United States, about 9 percent, or 28 million American adults “have feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and/or guilt that generate a diagnosis of depression,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three percent or 9.6 million of adults have major depression, a chronic and severe form of depression. In the Philippines, the rate is about 5.3

percent. Worldwide, the rate is between 2.6 percent to 29.5 percent, a pandemic, actually, according to an international study conducted by the World Health organization. In general, women are 70 percent more prone to develop depression, in part due to hormonal changes, especially during menstruation, after pregnancy, and menopause. In the past 50 years, the rate has catapulted from 3.33 percent to 7.06 percent, from 1991 to 2002. The rate for the various types of depression in the United States are: Postpartum – 10 to 15 percent; SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) – 4 to 6 percent; Bipolar – 2.6 percent; Dysthymia (minor depression that lasts 2 years or longer) – 1.5 percent; Psychotic depression (most severe form) – 5 percent.

Are there screening tests for depression?

Yes, there are. Mental health specialists can administer preliminary tests such as the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), or the HRS (Hamilton Rating Scale), which is composed of 20 questions to screen the patient. Today, computerized phone interviews are gaining effectivity as a screening tool. These tests are only a small part of the evaluation process, because the specialists have the symptoms of the patient and other criteria to aid them make the correct diagnosis.

Don’t we all get depressed sometimes?

To some degree, some situa-

tions in life trigger depression, and normal people develop a mild form of depression, which is transient, self-terminating, and not a disease. As long as the resultant symptoms are trivial and temporary, and do not debilitate the person, the condition is not clinical illness and does not need any medical treatment What foods relieve depression?

Foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid involve in serotonin production, provide relief to some people with depression. Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential in the production of tryptophan, can be found in dried peas, beans, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, and especially in oily fishes like salmon and mackerel. It is reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may actually reduce depression. PMS Escape, a high carbohydrate drink, was claimed to increase tryptophan level and would control the depression related to pre-menopausal syndrome has been found to have impurities by the FDA and subsequently withdrawn from the market. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B-12 have been reported to reduce pre-menstrual depression. Also, some studies showed that among depressed people who drink caffeinated beverages have a lower incidence of suicide, which seems to suggest that coffee or tea reduces depression.

How about exercises?

Business News

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Max’s eyes expansion to Europe pany may finally make its debut in Europe.

Philstar.com “We are in China, Singapore, Vietnam so that particular area MANILA, Philippines - Max’s has room for expansion…Europe Group Inc. (MGI) plans to con- is still under penetrated but the tinue strengthening its interna- clamour for Europe is there so tional presence and may even hopefully, we can get there pretmake its foray in Europe, its top ty soon,” Trota said.

Among the company’s brands official said.

MGI president and CEO Rob- include Max’s, Pancake House, ert Trota told reporters following Yellow Cab and Teriyaki Boy. Last year, the company reportthe company’s annual stockholders meeting recently that they ed a net income of P561.74 milremain on the lookout for oppor- lion, up 12 percent.

Trota said the growth from detunities overseas.

“There’s continued interest. livery has been growing double The international market alone digit and is likely to continue is making waves and gaining growing, possibly at 20 to 30 ground as we expand. Our repu- percent growth.

Sales rose 12 percent to P15.34 tation and promises have been delivered so that is why we are billion, bringing topline up 10 percent to P11.44 billion. getting inquiries,” Trota said.

Restaurant sales increased 10 At present, the company is already in the Middle East, North percent to P9.42 billion as the company opened 77 new stores.

America and Asia.

Sales from online and delivTrota said these areas have room for expansion and the com- ery came in 24 percent higher at

by IrIs

Gonzales

P1.08 billion while commissary sales stood relatively flat at P1.26 billion owing to closures of certain franchised outlets.

Of the 77 new stores that opened last year, 16 are located overseas. This brought the group’s total network count to 623 branches with 49 situated abroad.

The company is on track to increase its outlets to 1,000 outlets by 2020.

Offshore, MGI intends to put up over 140 stores in the coming years.

Last year, it was able to secure eight development agreements for at least 80 stores across various geographies. Among the notable markets penetrated for 2016 include China and Singapore.

MGI is pouring in P750 million to P800 million for capital expenditures this year, largely for the rollout of another 60 to 70 new stores for its core brands. n

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The June 2017 priority dates

Immigration Corner

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

FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.

If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

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

This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California

Visa Issuance Date

First Preference

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

Second Preference

(2A) Spouse and minor children (below April 8, 2016 21 years old) of green card holder

August 15, 2015

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

July 22, 2007

September 22, 2006

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

February 1, 1995

October 8, 1994

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

February 8, 1995

November 22, 1993

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

September 8, April 22, 2007 2006

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

July 1, 2014

May 1, 2013

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

July 1, 2014

May 1, 2013

and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the

outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

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

On how not to become a...

PAGE CJ2 t

your imagination and a little elbow grease help you create your own unique haven. The really creative ones do it on a shoestring budget and still have great fun along the way while earning themselves some bragging rights in creating treasures out of junk.

Also, you’re doing your environmental bit by recycling.

America is a consumer society and the amount of discarded things is simply staggering. Out with the old, in with the new. Every season brings new fashions and trends and since closet, basement and garage spaces are limited (most times, bursting at the seams) and public storage units cost money, there is an endless round of garage sales going on in America, more so these days when money is tight for many households.

You will find that a lot of items, specially for babies and younger children who outgrow their things pretty fast, look almost new and highly usable. Plates, silverware, kitchen items, small and big appliances, decor, furniture, framed art, clothes, videos, audio and video tapes and tools are the usual fare.

Many items are still new and in their original packaging. Sometimes, there are genuine antiques or priceless works of art hidden in dust and grime. That’s when you hit paydirt. But such instances are few and far-between, so keep yourself grounded. There is no sales tax. Check your local community newspapers or go online for these weekend events.

The early bird gets the early worm. The earlier you come during the day, the better the selection but the prices will be marked a tad higher unless the seller wants to seriously dispose of his merchandise fast and pack up early. The later in the day you come — from noon to early afternoon — the prices are cut drastically, practically at giveaway rates, but the selection is much less, with junk a-plenty.

Learn to negotiate. Read Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal.” In America, what you get

“

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 12-18, 2017

is not what you deserve. Very often, it is what you negotiate.

If you are uncomfortable with haggling and if you happen to be with someone who can dicker with the seller in a courteous, pleasant way, get him to do it for you. The key is to be respectful.

Never disparage what is being sold in the transparent attempt to get a lower price.

Many crafty buyers use this as a tactic and instead of getting a better price, all it does is irritate the seller. If you want a lower price on an item you like, ask politely, “Would you take less for this?” And then state the price you are willing to pay. Very often, the seller will counter with a lower price and then you can proceed from there with the price getting tossed back and forth until you agree on the final figure.

If you become obssessive-compulsive with even as trifling a thing as going to garage sales as a matter of habit, you can become a pack rat. Curb the human tendency to be obsessive.

With time and as you accumulate things, you will find yourself holding your own garage sales because you have encumbered yourself with too much stuff. Or you might find yourself renting storage spaces for stuff that won’t fit in your home. When this happens you’ve reached a dangerous tipping point. The time has come to trim your possessions down to size and take back some of that breathing space you used to have.

Better yet, when you buy one thing, discipline yourself to get rid of 2 items at the same time.

It is a feng shui principle to clear the pathways in your home. Avoid “plaque build-up” in the spaces of your home. Expedite the flow of “chi” or life force by becoming a minimalist. Toss things out.

Less is more. From a practical standpoint, you get back the breathing space you had when you first moved in to your empty abode. Having less stuff also means possibly having more in your piggy bank, that will allow you to have better, more meaningful, fulfilling life experiences at the right time.

The ironic thing a recovering pack rat discovers about himself is that as he travels down life’s highways and byways, it is so much more liberating and more fun to travel light, refusing to be bogged down by mere possessions. The bonus is that one gets to journey farther without stressing and straining while loading up instead on life’s precious experiences.

In our final journey, the only thing we might bring with us in that big blue yonder, if Alzheimer’s doesn’t wreck our brains first, are our MEMORIES. Stuff, after all, is just stuff.

”

The key is to be respectful.

Merchandise is sold on an “as is” basis and most of the time, is not returnable. Buyer, beware.

Inspect closely. There are more trustworthy sellers than there are hucksters. They will tell you if the item is working or if there is a crack or a flaw on it. If you are uneasy about not being able to return things, buy the item new in a department store which will usually take it back, if it is defective.

There are no guarantees when you buy stuff at garage sales. You decide on the spot and there is no turning back — most of the time.

If you want to hone and practice your decision-making, buying and negotiating skills as an immigrant, this is one inexpensive (translate that to cheap) way to go. It is also a lighthearted learning experience of what people value and discard on the material level and a personal and up close method of interacting with people of various cultures no book or classroom can teach you.

Above all, have fun garage “sale-ing”. The joy of discovering something that you need or want practically at a price of a song and a dance is part of the whole experience. But as in all things good and bad, do this with balance and moderation.

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

Depression is great risk...

PAGE CJ2 t Believe it or not, physical exercises may be as effective as psychotherapy in the management of mild to moderate depression.

Prolonged aerobic workouts lead to higher levels of serotonin, adrenalin, endorphins and dopamine in the brain (producing the popular term “runner’s high”).

Physical exercises, brisk walking, ballroom dancing, yoga, taebo, etc. lead to better emotional health. As an extra bonus from physical exercises, weight loss and improved muscle tone lead to the sense of well-being and higher self-esteem. Those individuals with strong spiritual faiths have a relatively lower predisposition to depression. These people might benefit from meditation, yoga, and other techniques for obtaining spiritual security, inner peace and happiness. Severe depression needs medical treatment.

Does depression play a role

in suicides?

Yes, very significantly. Depression is present in about 90 percent of the more than 40,000 suicides that take place in the United States annually, and for every two homicides, there are 3 suicides. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States overall and the second leading cause of death in the age group 10 to 34. According to CDC, 1.3 million adults attempted suicide in 2014. About 78 percent of them are men, more than 4 times the rate for women.

Depression lowers the mental threshold for self-destruction.

Do you have depression?

If you do, it is most prudent to seek medical help, not necessarily psychotherapy. The first thing to do it to consult your family physician, who can help guide you. With early proper medication and/or advice, depression in most cases can be managed

effectively and eliminated faster than one can imagine. Physicians today have invaluable tools in their armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Many individuals with depression, who have sought medical care, are so “cured” with simple oral medications that they look, behave, function and live as normally and happily as anybody else, lost in the sea of anonymity. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

PROVISIONAL WAIVER FOR CREWMEN DISPELS THE FEAR IN GOING BACK TO MANILA FOR VISA PROCESSING — ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF ‘CITIZEN PINOY.’ Cindy was a crewman who jumped ship and had been a TNT for more than 10 years. After seeing a “Citizen Pinoy” episode about another crewman who also jumped ship, Cindy and U.S. citizen husband, Tom decided to consult with leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel about her chances of legalizing.

Through Atty. Gurfinkel’s help, Cindy’s provisional was approved. She went back to the Philippines, was processed for her immigrant visa at the US Embassy in Manila, and returned to the US less than a month later as a legal permanent resident. Watch an encore episode on Provisional Waivers, which could benefit: (a) crewmen without 245(i): (b) those who entered the US without inspection(EWI) without 245(i); or (c) K-1 fiancees who did not marry their US petitioner, on “Citizen Pinoy” – this Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement)

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Thomasian Engineers Club to hold Gala Ball in Long Beach, CA The Thomasian Engineers Club (The University of Sto. Tomas College of Engineering Alumni Association) will hold its gala ball on Saturday, May 13 at the Long Beach Marriott.

The association is headed by President Elsa Camacho. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call Norma de los Reyes at (310) 508-1477. The Long Beach Marriott is located at 4700 Airport Plaza Dr., Long Beach, CA 90815.

13th Annual Archdiocesan Celebration of Santacruzan in Los Angeles The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles invites you to its 13th Annual Santacruzan on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). There will be a free retreat for key participants, presentation of “Sagalas” – young girls and women comprising the Court of Honor for the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Celebration, Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Flower Offering, and a Procession accompanied by a “Banda Musiko.” The theme of the celebration is “Mary, Full of Grace, Virgin of Mercy!”

The celebration is capped with a Dinner-Dance (with ticket purchase) at Casa Italiana, 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please contact: Florie Pimentel at (818) 641-8690 or fpimentel08@gmail.com; Eric Cordeta at (310) 930-5443 or epcordeta@juno.com.

Davao Association USA of Southern California’s inaugural ball in Long Beach, CA The Davao Association USA (DAUSA) of Southern California will hold its inaugural ball and induction of officers 2016-2018 on Saturday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel (4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815). All Dabawenyos and friends are invited to celebrate DAUSA’s 24th year anniversary as well and dinner dance with the Babes n Friends band. Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Cruz will induct the 12 officers and 15 board of directors of the association. For further information, please contact Jimmy (818) 667-7242 and Jane (323) 333-9048.

M AY 1 9

National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day Stakeholder Breakfast and Conference in Pasadena, CA National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day Stakeholder Breakfast and Conference, co-sponsored by Hep B Free-Los Angeles and Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County on Friday, May 19. It will be held at Huntington Hospital (100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105) from 9:30 a.m. to noon, featuring a hepatitis/liver expert panel and roundtable discussion groups. Continental breakfast will be available. Please RSVP by May 12 to Koy Parada at kparada@apu.edu or (818) 599-9132.

AMBOY presents ULAM dinner in LA AMBOY presents a special night on Friday, May 19 with a six course dinner presented

by Filipino chefs who will each make one course using their culinary technique and cultural background. Guests in attendance will also receive a VIP ticket to the preview of ULAM – a Filipino food documentary, showing at the Million Dollar Theatre on Saturday May 20th. It will be held at the second floor of Far East Plaza (727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is $75 per guest (includes a ticket to ULAM screening).

To book online, please visit www.universe.com/amboydinnernight or email eatatamboy@ gmail.com for any inquiries.

M AY 2 0

Carlos Bulosan book club in LA The Echo Park Branch Library* of the LA Public Library system will host the launching of the Carlos Bulosan Book Club (CBBC) organized by Friends of the Echo Park Library (friendsechopark.org) on Saturday, May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first book will be “America is in the Heart” by Carlos Bulosan. The moderators will be James Castillo, Dr. Enrique dela Cruz, Vicky Perez & Jaime Geaga. The CBBC’s mission is to provide a forum to explore and learn about the Filipino-American immigrant experience as reflected through Fil-Am literature. It will be held at the Echo Park Library Community Room (1410 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026). To RSVP or for more info, please contact James Castillo at (626) 241-7010 or admin@friendsechopark.org.

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Benham Rise eyed as food zone

by Louise

Maureen Philstar.com

siMeon

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) wants President Duterte to declare the 13-million hectare Benham Rise as a protected food supply zone to ensure the country’s marine food security.

“I will recommend to President Duterte that the Benham Rise should be declared as a Protected Food Supply Exclusive Zone,“ Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said following a three-day exploratory trip to the mineralrich area east of Luzon.

A group of scientists and government officials led by Piñol went to the territory last May 5 to 7 to check the area’s potential as a food source.

The DA will propose the construction of a facility in Benham Rise that will house a research center for marine scientists, a dock for the local fisherfolk, an ice-making plant to keep fish catch fresh, a station for the Coast Guard and a weather radar station.

“The facility will serve as a re-

by Ben

o. de Vera Inquirer.net

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN—The government will sell the casinos of state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) before yearend in line with moves for the state-run firm to stick to its regulatory mandate and let go of commercial functions, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.

Dominguez noted that Pagcorrun casinos could no longer compete with private-led casinos.

“If our casinos were to replace a glass that’s broken, I think it will take ages as compared to what Okada and Solaire can do.

It’s better [for the government] to move out of [casino operations],” Dominguez told reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank’s 50th annual meeting.

“And secondly, of course, it will remove the conflict of interest when you are the regulator as well,” Dominguez added.

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search base of Filipino scientists and aquamarine researchers and a monitoring station for illegal fishermen and poachers,” Piñol said.

Piñol led the distribution of 15 payaos or fish aggregating device (FAD), the initial batch from a total of 30 payaos which are designed to catch more fish.

“This is a pro-active action to discover how rich Benham Rise is as far as natural resources are concerned. More importantly, this is also to protect the area from overfishing and to give our fisherfolk priority access to Benham Rise’s marine resources and make them partners in ensuring the protection of Benham Rise,” Piñol said.

The DA chief is also urging the government to allocate more funds for the deployment of more payaos in the area to enhance the catch of local fishermen.

Piñol said fishermen in the area reported the continuing presence of Taiwanese long line fishing boats which sometimes chase the Filipino fishermen who get near the long lines deployed in the waters within Philippine

territory.

“There is a need for the government to intensify its monitoring of the entry of foreign vessels, especially poachers, in the area to protect Filipino fishermen,” he said.

The DA also plans to declare a closed fishing season in the area during spawning period to attain sustainability.

“The country will benefit more if it will protect and conserve the Philippine Benham Rise because while minerals and oil supply is finite, the capacity of the fish species in the area to multiply is limitless,” he said.

To address illegal fishing in the region, the DA will propose to the Department of Budget and Management the acquisition of helicopters and 20 unmanned drones to aid in patrolling the Philippine coastal areas.

“The Philippines is losing $30 billion yearly due to illegal fishing; that is why we are reinforcing our efforts against illegal fishing while exploring new fishing grounds for our people” Piñol said.

The undersea region east of

Luzon is located off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela and is duly recognized by the United Nations in 2012 as the newest Philippine territory under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Scientists and environmentalists declared the Benham Rise as a rich fishing ground which could sustain the country’s marine needs if properly protected and managed.

Benham Bank, the shallowest portion of the unexplored seamount, is one of the traditional fishing grounds of coastal dwellers on the northeastern coast of Luzon.

Scientists studied the underwater terrain of Benham Bank covering 12 research stations and discovered different soft and hard corals, fish, algae and sponges.

Based on oceanographic explorations, there are more than 50 species of fish and tiered plate corals in Benham Bank.

The area is part of the spawning grounds for the Pacific bluefin tuna which are known to swim to the US and Mexico, but come back to spawn in the western Pacific, including Benham Rise.

The Department of Agriculture wants President Rodrigo Duterte to declare the 13-million hectare Benham Rise as a protected food supply zone to ensure the country’s marine food security.

Namria Graphic/File

Government to sell PAGCOR casinos The finance chief said the casinos’ licenses as well as facilities would be bid out before the end of the year.

Feelers from firms Dominguez said the Privatization Council was studying how to price the casino assets.

So far, the government has yet to receive feelers from firms that may bid for Pagcor’s casinos, he said.

“Personally, I haven’t gotten [offers] because they haven’t set out the terms of the privatization.

You have to set out the terms, then people will come. Of course, we will make it attractive since we do want to raise the revenues from this and remove the conflict [on interest] that’s ongoing and existing,” Dominguez said.

Pagcor operates 46 casino properties nationwide and is required by law to give half of its annual gross earnings to the Bureau of the Treasury. These funds are used in community and social projects of the government.

Conflicts of interest

President Duterte had told Pagcor last year that it had to privatize its casinos to raise funds for state coffers. It followed concern from private casino operators who suggested that there might be possible conflicts of interest as Pagcor was both regulator and operator.

Pagcor is one of the biggest money-making companies owned by the government. In the first three months of this year, Pagcor recorded a 26.75-percent jump in year-on-year net income to P1.3 billion. It reported gross income from gaming operations of P14 billion compared with P11 billion in the same period in 2016.

Pagcor paid a total of P7.37 billion in gaming taxes and contributions to the government in the first quarter of 2017. Pagcor Chair Andrea Domingo attributed the increased profit to the effects of an improving market and newly implemented in-house efficiency measures.

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DOTr set to pursue Clark Airport development

by LoueLLa

DesiDerio Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to start the development of the Clark International Airport instead of pursuing the unsolicited proposals received from the private sector.

“We would rather start it,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters.

Tugade said the agency is also looking at the possibility of using the hybrid formula for the project.

Under the hybrid formula, the government would build the infrastructure and the operations and maintenance would later be bid out to the private sector.

Tugade said he would be talking to parties that have submitted proposals to develop the Clark International Airport to discuss the government’s plan.

The group of GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India and Megawide Construction Corp. submitted a P200 billion proposal to the government to develop the Clark In-

ternational Airport.

Under the P187-billion proposal of JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp., meanwhile, the consortium wants to develop the Clark International Airport over a period of 50 years to handle up to 36 million passengers per annum.

The government is promoting the Clark International Airport as an alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Amid congestion at NAIA, other parties have also submitted proposals to develop a new airport.

All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. has earlier announced a plan to build an international airport, seaport as well as mixed-use development on reclaimed land off the coast of Sangley Point in Cavite.

San Miguel Corp. has also proposed to build a new international airport for Metro Manila.

Asked about the two proposals for a new airport, Tugade said the priority of the government now is to develop Clark and renovate the NAIA.

Effective governance, fiscal management vital to growing...

PAGE CJ1 t “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2017” in Makati City on Monday, May 8.

Unescap highlighted the importance of effective governance and fiscal management, given the high demands on fiscal policy to address the diverse challenges to sustainable development.

The commission is forecasting Philippine growth at 6.9 percent this year, the same as last year’s.

The government target is for the gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent.

Economic expansion has been accompanied by rising income inequality with inadequate creation of decent jobs in the region, which trails the world in social protection coverage.

Unescap noted that developing economies like the Philippines also use twice as many resources per dollar of GDP as the rest of the world.

To address these challenges, Unescap calls for effective governance, in particular a proactive

fiscal policy through productive investments in infrastructure, social protection and resource efficiency.

“Given the increasing demands on fiscal policy, how governance reflects the mobilization and allocation of fiscal resources warrants greater attention,” Banerjee said.

Unescap recommends that structural reforms could complement fiscal policy and help increase potential output.

The report finds that when institutions are weak, inequalities tend to increase and the pace of poverty reduction declines. The quality of governance also affects environmental outcomes, as reflected in varying capacities to make and apply environmental rules and

safeguards, and initiate ecological innovation and technological transfer.

“Enhancing transparency and accountability in public fiscal

“

Gilbert Llanto said Unescap has pointed out the critical role of better governance and effective fiscal management in long-term growth.

now taking to sustain economic growth is through serious aspirational goals under the Filipino 2040 vision.

The vision details the aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and the country for the next 25 years. These were drawn from the main findings of 42 focus group discussions with various sectors, including marginalized groups, as well as a National Economic and Development Authority-commissioned nationwide survey that involved 10,000 respondents.

The results showed that Filipinos envision a Philippines where all citizens are free from hunger and poverty, have equal opportunities, and are enabled by a fair and just society that is governed with order and unity.

“Two critical policy initiatives

The vision details the aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and the country for the next 25 years.. administration is fundamental to improving the quality of governance and achieving better fiscal management,” Banerjee said.

Reacting to the findings of the report, Philippine Institute for Development Studies President

”

“This is a distinct contribution based on data and empirical evidence, and we thank Unescap for this,” he said during the same forum.

Llanto cited one of the steps that the Philippine government is

are the tax reform package and efforts toward more efficient public spending,” Llanto noted.

The House Committee on Ways and Means approved the substitute measure that will consolidate the Department of Finance-endorsed House Bill 4774, which contains the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

The Department of Budget and Management earlier said the government has streamlined the release of funds to line agencies, reformed the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Procurement Law for better efficiency and transparency, as well as leveraged technology for improved project monitoring and have mounted capacity-building efforts to professionalize the bureaucracy.

Llanto said more effective governance on easing regulatory burden on firms and industries, and better social protection coverage will yield tremendous social dividends for the Philippines.

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Friday, May 12, 2017

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 12, 2017

Single moms in their multi-tasking, complicated world:

ThE STruGGlES ANd JoyS oF doING IT AloNE

by Malou liwanag-Bledsoe/aJPress ONE of my very close friends is a single mother. After a failed marriage, she had an affair with a married man and unexpectedly got pregnant. I didn’t know about the affair — or her pregnancy, until I saw her seven months on the way, during a party.

She told me about what happened, how the father of her unborn child at that time didn’t want any kind of scandal, and how she felt alone. She had to give up her job to downplay rumors, and had to depend on help from her siblings. When she gave birth to her son, I saw how she struggled to raise him alone, with no support from the biological father. But I also saw how her strength grew, and how the love for her son made life have meaning. Today, her son is in college, doing well.

Being a parent is tough. Although I have no children, I have seen my parents, brothers and friends go through parenthood and all of its perils. Having both parents doesn’t make it easy, so just imagine how it would be for a single mother. There’s having to raise your kid (or kids) by yourself, trying to put food on the table (especially when there is no support from their father), helping with schoolwork, being there when your kids are sick, etc.

Then there’s the shame and judgment from other people.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re the best mother in the world, as some are quick to judge.

This Mother’s Day as we celebrate all our moms/inays/ nanays, we also put our focus on single mothers — whether it is their choice or not.

Fritzie Marie Pascua umali, 40-something: “There might be struggles in raising your kids alone but you’re not alone and eventually as time pass by, you’d look back and say, ‘I did it alone.’”

Fritzie Marie Pascua Umali has been separated from her husband for 17 years. Although their two children — daughter Tritzie Samanta Marie (21) and son Marvin Nicklaus (20) — were still very young when they split, Umali shared that they knew the situation. “...They would ask questions on whether or not their father really loved them (or me), or if they would be living in a separate house and who visits who,” Umali shared and continued, “I explained to them that their father wanted to go back to their parents’ house in the other city but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love them anymore.”

An online English coach and freelance events organizer in Manila, Umali faced the task of raising her kids alone. For her, however, the greatest challenge

Fritzie Marie Pascua-Umali with her kids Tritzie Samantha Marie (left) and Marvin Nicklaus (right).

is that she has to be both parents — father and mother — at the same time. “I face this challenge, head on, and thinking that I would be able to do it even if I am alone.”

Another hurdle that she had to surpass was the misconception of people about single moms, and the mentality that the blame falls on them.

“Most people think that single parents, most especially mothers, were just tossed aside when the kids came,” she said.

“People would start to ask you ‘Why are you a single mom?,’ ‘Did you two do something accidentally and your partner regretted the consequences? (referring to the kids).’ ‘Is he not happy about this new life that’s why he left?’

The point is, for single parents, whether a mom or dad, the society’s weight is always on the women.”

Margaret Fuentes, 50+ going old: “We were built to be mothers, we even mother people who don’t need it or deserve it.”

Margaret Fuentes and her daughter, Angelique (Alex, who is now 27) moved to the United States almost 10 years ago not only had to face the challenges of being a new immigrant, but being a single mother as well.

“I had to face the challenges of studies and tuition (Alex came here just in time for college), and building a career from scratch,” she said. “Income was bleak and expenses were over the roof.”

According to Fuentes, her road to being a single mother is a complicated one. After migrating, she explained that Alex’s father became lonely and prompted him to fill his “void,” technically ending their relationship.

“His filling his ‘void’ resulted to a baby half-brother for Alex, whom she never met and only heard about, and a wife and four stepkids here in California.”

But in retrospect, she said, she actually considered herself a

Margaret Fuetes with daughter Alex

Dulce Aysip with son Timothy

Cherie Llorin with son Rockwell

single mom from the beginning, as she made all the decisions, even when she and Alex’s dad were still together. “It was just like raising two kids instead of one.”

She also shared that she was too busy surviving and keeping her sanity to worry about what other people thought about single moms.

“If I were on the outside looking in, I would say that others might say that it’s not plausible, but that is just their mindset.

“We were built to be mothers. We even mother people who don’t need it or deserve it.

Mothering comes naturally and there is no right and wrong, no manual but so many judges.

“It is not a contest to win, it is a life to live. Its main goal is to nurture to bring up your children the best way you could to give them the strength to push on with their own lives.

“It is a selfless act of giving life to another person and giving your life to that person without losing yourself and not expecting anything back.” dulce Aysip, 50ish: “Learn to sit back, relax and enjoy your time with your child or children.”

By choice — Dulce Aysip was sure about being a single mother even before she got pregnant with her son, Timothy, who is now 20.

“It was my choice, because I wanted to have a child to adore and share my overflowing and

unconditional love,” she said.

Not going into details, Aysip also shared that she already explained to her son everything he needed to know about his father, with no doubt or fear.

With her choice, came many challenges.

“Making fair decisions, learning to trust my child (now that he’s almost and adult) and for my child to trust me, try to be emotionally and physically stable, and be a mother that my child could depend on,” Aysip said. She also added that she spends 99 percent of her time with Timothy when she’s not working.

“The common misconception of people about single moms is that a child is meant to have a father no matter how hard a single mother plays both roles,” she said and then added, “Single moms should learn to sit back, relax and enjoy their child/children. Bring lots of love around your home for a peaceful ambiance.”

Cherie llorin, 43: “Happiness and love starts with me first before I can give that to my son.”

It was a mutual decision for Cherie Llorin, a footwear product developer, and her husband to separate two years ago. In fact, they have an amicable relationship and are partners in taking care for their son, Rockwell, who is now seven years old.

“My son was pretty young when we split (four years old). At that age, he didn’t know that it

was a major life-changing event that Daddy didn’t live with us anymore. I just calmly explained that we didn’t live together anymore and he was okay with it,” Llorin said. “He does understand that we were married at one time, but doesn’t really ask too much about it.”

The biggest challenge for her, however, is asking for help from others.

“When I am in ‘Mom Mode,’ I feel the tendency of needing to do everything. I don’t want to be a burden to others, so I try to be ‘Super Mom’ and do everything myself,” she explained and continued, “But there are days that I cannot do it all, and I’m starting to realize it. I am learning to ask family and friends for help, and actually accepting their help when they offer it to me.”

Llorin also shared that single moms can spend 99.9 percent of their time taking care of their child/children, plus deal with other things in their life such as work, bills, etc. Because of this, single mothers forget that they have needs and have to take care of themselves.

“I felt unhappy and didn’t realize the reasons why. Once I reintroduced things I was passionate about into my life (i.e. dance and yoga) I felt a renewed spirit inside me. Whatever time I could manage, I would fit them in. I felt like I was being a better mother because I was happy inside and my son could feel it,” Continued on Page SF3

features SF3

The A to Zia of parenting from Marian & Dingdong

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – May 12, 2017

On raising daughter Maria Letizia, Marian Rivera considers herself an overprotective mom while Dingdong Dantes believes his a strict dad.

by Ching

M. AlAno

Philstar.com

SHoWBiZ couple Marian (nee rivera) and Dingdong Dantes candidly confess at a media launch that they now face their most challenging role yet as this does not come with a script: being first-time parents to Baby Maria Letizia “Zia” who turned one last nov. 23.

Wearing a dainty powder blue dress adorned with flower patches similar to her daughter’s, Marian goes up the stage carrying the adorable Baby Zia who grabs the mic from her mom and greets everyone, “Hi!” of course, there’s Daddy Dingdong, who looks like he forgot to shave and comb his hair, following closely behind.

“Sobrang nag-aalala ako ’pag nilalagay ni Dingdong sa balikat

nya si Zia (I’m extremely worried when Dingdong puts Zia on his shoulders),” Marian tells the young mommies at this lunch affair to launch the Dantes family as the endorsers of Johnson’s #Dadventures. “But i know he’ll take care of Zia because he loves her so much.”

Herself an overprotective mom, Marian sends this message to all anxious moms, “Sa mga nanay na sobrang protective sa anak, puedengpuede na mag Dadventures (To all overprotective mommies, your child can now engage in Dadventures)!”

Marian discloses, “Sa totoo lang, mas strict ako kaysa kay Dingdong at hindi ako pumapayag sa rough play noon. (Truth is, I’m stricter than Dingdong as a parent and I did not allow rough

play before.)”

Marian is talking about Johnson’s new line of baby bath and baby lotion products, Milk+rice and Milk+ oats that harness the healing, balancing and calming powers of oats.

Johnson’s Milk + rice is fortified with 200-percent more skin vitamins while Johnson’s Milk + oats locks in moisture for up to 24 hours so skin feels strong and healthy after just one use.

Marian adds, “Medyo oa ang mga mommies (when it comes to protecting their toddlers). Kaba ng mga ina. Kailangan i-balance lahat.”

For his part, first-time dad Dingdong declares, “Fatherhood is incredible, it’s very challenging. it’s an ongoing process of learning the proper things to do.

Mahirap pero masarap!”

engages participants through writing from the body and voice and how our bodies intersect with geography - drawing from the senses and the poetics of objects as we explore as home, belonging, and origin. all workshops are $25 each and the entire series costs $60; partial and full scholarships are available. To register, visit www. tinyurl.com/silbihanww2017. on Friday, May 12, 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 13, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sammay will perform the next installment of “silbihan.” co-presented by Bindlestiff Studio, sponsored by asian Pacific islander cultural center as part of the 20th annual United States of asian america Festival: Threading resilience, the performance is a multimedia dance theatre piece that seeks to reflect on personal

Keyland Corporation president Jose “Lito” G. Montinola receives the “Best Affordable Residential Condominium Development for Metro Manila” for the Casa De Sequoia Residences in Las Pinas.

Keyland Corporation bags best Boutique Developer and Best Affordable Residential Condominium awards at Property GURU’s Philippine Property Awards 2017

MaKaTi city, Philippines – Keyland corporation bagged three prestigious awards at the May 4, 2017 Philippine Property awards held at the Fairmont Hotel – the Best Boutique Developer and the Best affordable residential condominium in Metro Manila awards and Highly commended Best BPo Development.

The Best Boutique Developer award is the highest award a “small” or a niche real estate developer could win in the 2017 Philippine Property awards. This experiences of first-generation means that Keyland corporaFilipina-american daughters and tion met all the standards and their migrant mothers from the requirements set by asia’s most womb to present day. prestigious real Estate awards “silbihan” investigates the organization, the Philippines (dis)connections between moth- Property awards, to qualify as ers and daughters of the diaspo- the best among the very best. ra through the lens of religion This is a remarkable feat to a versus spirituality – centered on the daughters’ discovery of the babaylan. This work was originally envisioned and cultivated through the Performing DiasFrom Page SF2 pora 2016 residency at counterPulse; original collaborators she said. “i feel more inspirinclude Baltazar Jonnel Dasalla, ing to him, because he sees me Del Medoff, Jack Beuttler, pursuing my passions and he in Joanna Ursal, Joshua icban, and turn wants to do those things. He Solitaire Miguel. Tickets are $15 has a positive outlook, where as Students/Seniors; $20 General before (when we were still living admission, $25 Support the art- with his dad), he seemed like he ist/at the Door, but no one will could not do anything. it is still be turned away for lack of funds a work in progress with him, but at the door. To purchase tickets, i see so many changes in him.

Continued on Page SF5 Happiness and love starts with

‘silbihan’: Healing daughters through the arts San FranciSco - Samantha “Sammay” Dizon brings her latest curation and creation - “silbihan” - to Bindlestiff Studio, the nation’s first and only theater dedicated to Filipinoamerican performing arts, all leading up to Mother’s Day. This week-long curation will kick off with a writing workshop series led by three respectively unique Pinay storytellers: Kat Evasco, Delina Patrice Brooks, and aimee Suzara. The workshops take place from Monday through Wednesday, May 8-10 from 7-9 p.m. and fuels writing as a tool for healing. Evasco’s workshop will focus on developing personal narratives centered on ancestry and ritual; Brooks’ workshop explores identity and asks us to unpack our multiplicity of identities as a source of power; and Suzara’s workshop

Montinola, President, Keyland Corporation receiving the “Best Boutique Developer Award” with two Keyland Corporation staffers

six-year-old (incorporated only in 2011) company that specializes in special “niche” markets in real estate in Metro Manila. its casa De Sequoia residential development in Las Pinas won the “Best affordable residential condominium Development in Metro Manila. This means that casa De Sequoia is the best “value for money” development in Metro Manila.

Keyland corporation’s sold out Southkey Hub commercial development at northgate cyber Zone in alabang, won a “Highly commendable” award among Business Process office (BPo) development category.

This is adjacent to the 17-storey Southkey Place residential condominium building that is now ahead of its construction

schedule.

The winners at this year’s Philippine Property awards will continue to compete at the Property Guru awards asian finals to be held in Singapore later this year.

We anticipate that Keyland corporation’s on-going developments, the 110 Benavidez luxury condominium at Legaspi Village Makati and its Southkey Place residential and investment condominium at northgate cyberzone in alabang are going to reap similar awards when they are completed in 2022 and 2019 respectively.

Keyland corporation set up its marketing office at 1799 old Bayshore Highway, Unit 136, Burlingame, california 94010 and may be reached at (650) 3939306.

Single moms in their multi-tasking... me first before i can give that to my son.”

Her advice to other single moms is to take their time. “You won’t have all the answers right away. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll figure it out one way or another. if you fail in your journey, acknowledge it and move on..”

Jona Jane Tajonera, 47: “You can’t argue with stupid.” according to Jona Jane

Tajonera, a businesswoman, one of the misconceptions of people about single moms is that they are “failures, losers, immoral” — or all. This, she said, is what makes her upset.

“Someone asked me if i go to communion when i go to church, so i said, ‘Yes!’ and this person said, ‘You’re not suppose to do that because you’re a single mom, you’re divorced, it’s a sin.’ i Continued on Page SF4

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SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 12, 2017

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar CoMedian and “eat!

Bulaga” co-host Vic “Bosing” Sotto shared some happy news to all his fans last Saturday, May 6. during the show, Vic announced that his wife, cohost Pauleen Luna, is pregnant.

Pauleen’s pregnancy was also a great birthday gift for Vic, who just turned 63 last april 28.

The comedian also joked, “Hindi po ako, ang aking asawa ang buntis,” while asking the audience to pray for the safe and successful pregnancy of his wife.

The couple was married last year, and this is Vic’s fifth child.

The comedian has two kids — danica (now married to basketball player Marc Pingris) and oyo (married to actress Kristine Hermosa) — with first wife dina Bonnevie. He also has a son with actress and host Coney Reyes (Vico, now a councilor) and former model angela Luz

(Paulina, who is a golfer).

Congratulations Vic and Pauleen! *** Last week, i wrote about the untimely passing of veteran actor Romeo Vasquez last Wednesday, May 3, after suffering a stroke in a hospital in Los angeles at the age of 78.

The news was confirmed by his granddaughter, alyanna and then by son-in-law albert Martinez (as told through inquirer).

Ricardo Sumilang in real life, he was known as the “Pretty Boy” of Philippine movies for his stunningly good looks.

He was married to his former screen partner amalia Fuentes in 1965 and had a daughter, Liezl Sumilang-Martinez (who passed away due to cancer in 2015).

Vasquez’s passing has been very painful for albert’s children, as their grandmother, amalia, suffered a stroke in

Handsome actor Gerald Anderson is the lead star of the newest afternoon teleserye, “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin,”opposite ex-girlfriend, actress Kim Chiu.

Vic Sotto confirms Pauleen Luna’s pregnancy

San Mateo community leader Nena Zarasola will celebrate her birthday on Thursday, May 25.

2015, only eight months after their mom’s death.

Vasquez was discovered by director armando Garces while playing basketball during the 1950s and brought him to Sampaguita Pictures. after doing several bit roles, he was introduced in “Miss Tilapia” (1956) starring Gloria Romero

Comedian and “Eat! Bulaga” co-host Vic Sotto recently announced that wife Pauleen Luna is pregnant.

Suresh Vasa, a retired Silicon Valley engineer and former vice president of Image Events Company, will celebrate his 75th birthday with a dinner and dance party organized by his wife, Rema, on Saturday, May 27 at the Plaza Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Burlingame.

Veteran actor Romeo Vasquez passed away last Wednesday, May 3, at a hospital in Los Angeles. Photo shows Vasquez in one of his earlier films with former wife, Amalia Fuentes.

Eren Padilla will celebrate her birthday on Friday, May 19. She is a member of the Children’s Chorale at Saint Andrew’s Church in Daly City.

and Susan Roces. He was amalia Fuentes’ younger brother in the movie “Lydia” 1956) and afterwards starred in “Pretty Boy” (1957).

He remained active until the late 1990s, and then settled quietly in the U.S. again, our condolences to the family of Romeo Vasquez.

San Jose singer/songwriter and actor JD “JDC” Charisma will celebrate his 21st birthday on Friday, May 12.

Christopher and Sandy’s daughter snags title on second try Cheska Garcia-Kramer and the untold joy

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

MaRia angelica “Mariel” de Leon is definitely on her way to making a name outside her famous parents’ showbiz fame after winning the Binibining Pilipinasinternational last april 30.

The 23-year-old, 5’8” stunner is the daughter of veteran actors Christopher de Leon and Sandy andolong, and is a second-timer in the country’s premiere beauty contest.

Her beauty undeniable, she also held her own at the all-important question-and-answer portion when asked to name an activity perceived to be maleoriented, but which she can do just as well if not better than the opposite sex.

She replied, “i think i can box better than males,” adding, “i

of staying at home with your children

by Boy

aBunda Philstar.com

STay-at-home moms are becoming a rarity these days.

Rising inflation and more opportunities for women in education and at work have made this possible.

Still, others find joy in staying at home and watching over their children 24/7. one of them Mariel De Leon was joined by her proud family after being crowned Miss Philippines-International 2017. In is Cheska Garcia-Kramer. photo with Mariel are brother Gabriel, mother Sandy Andolong, father Christopher De Leon and sister Mica.

For one, Cheska’s With the Binibining Pilipibelieve i can do anything better husband, PBa player doug nas-international title came a than males because it isn’t about Kramer can provide for her and P500,000-contract from Binibgender at all. it’s about your their children, Kendra, Scarlett ining Pilipinas Charities, inc. abilities, your strengths, your and Gavin.

(BPCi), a P500,000 endorsement weaknesses and your confidence That’s why Cheska considers contract, and complete wardrobe herself lucky. “i thank the Lord within yourself. and with that, you can achieve anything.”

Continued on Page SF7 because i have the liberty to do that while other moms don’t,” she says.

Besides, Cheska enjoys the sight and sound of her children at home, in school, in the mall From Page SF3 — everywhere. “i know why God gives didn’t argue because in my mind, seasons to everything,” she i can’t argue with stupid,” she explains. “i have accepted those said. “Most men think that i carry seasons. When my kids are sick, huge baggage until they get to i sigh to myself and say, ‘i know, know me. Then either they think God why i need to be home.’” they hit a jackpot or they get She loves organizing the intimidated by my status.” home — whose asian contemFor Tajonera, it was a bitter porary look is a compromise journey to single motherhood. between hers and her husband’s divorced for 12 years now, her tastes. marriage crumbled when her of course, Cheska has ex-husband cheated on her. She helpers.

But she points out that was able to get full custody of her they’re there to help, period. two children — Joshua Bailey, 19 “They shouldn’t run your houseand Jason Bailey, 14 — but did hold.” allow their father to take them on Cheska knows every ingrediweekends. ent that gets into the food on “it turned out he was not Jona Jane Tajonera with her sons their dining table, because she even around during those times and doug spend time at the and the kids were left with their “Those two (love and time) business so i can have more time grocery’s healthy section to stepmother. So, they stopped with my kid and have a more flex- are the things money can’t buy, going there,” she explained. and they need it badly. i gave up choose each item they bring ible time. during the day i make home.

“Since they were still young a high-paying salary and started sure it’s all about my kids and Cheska reads every ingrediwhen we got divorced, they my own business because i want at night i worked late to catch ent listed at the back of the don’t have a good relationship to be there for my boys. it was up. it was hard but i was able to with their father and they don’t hard in the beginning, i struggled package to make sure her family manage it because i saw my kids eats healthy. Rice at home is ask or look for him even on and made almost nothing, but happier, and i am happier,” she Father’s day. “ with hard work, perseverance and black or brown. Meat is orshared. “now that they are both ganic. Snacks consist of organBecause she did get full faith, nothing is impossible. teenagers, they don’t demand ic camote or chocolates. Sea salt custody, it was a challenge to be “Lastly, for single mothers, much of my time anymore but we makes the food not only tastier both father and mother to her do not worry about what others still do activities together (i feel but healthier. kids. Balancing work while taking like i became their older sister).” will say because it is your life. “our household is 75 perher sons to their sports and extra your children’s happiness comes She also believes that cent organic,” reveals Cheska. curricular activities was tiring, first and then yours,” she said. although single motherhood is We have food we can’t let go so she decided to start her own “i wake up everyday and say, hard, nothing is more important business.

‘Today is another day to be awe- off. But more or less, we’re conthan giving her kids her love and scious of what we eat.” “i decided to start my own some.’” time.

Single moms in their multi-tasking...

Cheska Garcia-Kramer: Being a stay-at-home mom offers no disadvantages… your children are your biggest investment; you should be with them, because they’re only with you for such a short time.

Upon a nutritionist’s advice, the Kramers bought an ozonator, a device that rids food of preservatives and other harmful ingredients. a Himalayan salt lamp provides a natural source of fresh air.

But Cheska knows she should also feed her children’s soul the way she nourishes their growing bodies. So she reads them inspiring Bible stories every single night.

The stories of david and Goliath, Samson and delilah, Jonah and Jesus’ miracles fascinate the Kramer kids the most. “david and Goliath teaches them that strength is not based on how tall or how big you are,” smiles Cheska.

The Kramer children also know the Ten Commandments, and are gently reminded of them when they have lapses in behavior.

They also love to read.

Books are everywhere — in the master’s bedroom, the playroom and the children’s rooms, of course.

Cheska is proud to say Kendra is a bookworm. “in Pasig, there’s a big scholastic warehouse. every so often, the children go there and fill up a box with as many books as they want for P700. They try to outdo each other in filling up the box,” chuckles Cheska.

These are the simple joys she wouldn’t trade for all the money in the world.

“Being a stay-at-home mom offers no disadvantages,” she states.

Cheska believes “your children are your biggest investment; you should be with them, because they’re only with you for such a short time.”

Before you know it, they already have families of their own and have flown the coop.

So Cheska adjusts her home-based business to her children’s schedule. She sets meetings when they’re in school. Then she fetches them up there when she’s done with meetings.

“What’s nice about the age of social media is that there are so many things you can do, even if you’re a stay-at-home mom. everyone is more connected than ever,” Cheska says. all you need, she goes on, is an instagram account through which customers can send their orders. Then, voila! a mom can have the best of both worlds.

She can take care of her family and earn as well.

Cheska is proving that staying at home with the children brings untold joy which time can never bring back, and rewards the future generation will forever be grateful for.

features SF5 ‘Incarcerated 6x9’ onstage at Bindlestiff Studio, May 19-21 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 12, 2017

APICC & Kularts presents a new dance media inspired by the real incarceration stories of SF’s Fil-Ams

SAN FRANCISCO — An immersive 60-minute dancemedia performance, “Incarcerated 6x9,” is the latest work by Alleluia Panis. Performed by eight dancers to original music Photos by Robbie Sweeny by composer Rachel Lastimosa of the indie-soul, R&B duo Dirty Boots and filmmaker Wilfred Galila, it explores the hopes, delusions and the ultimate will to Shadows” & “Echo’s Reach”), survive in the loneliest, most bitAfrican American Shakespeare Company (“Cinderella”), Cherrie ter place on the planet. Inspired by the real-life incarceration acMoraga’s Cihuatl Productions counts of young Filipino-Ameri(“A New Fire”), Willows Thecans between 1966-2008, 6x9’s ater (“Hair, The Musical”) and Campo Santo (Superheroes and bold, physically and emotionally layered, work of creative nonBabylon is Burning). fiction located in the near future Website: http://www.deli2048, highlights the state of nadream.com humanity among Filipinos in the Facebook: https://www.

United States, 150 years after the facebook.com/delinapatrice U.S. annexation of the PhilipInstagram: @delinadream pines.

Aimee Suzara is a FilipinoTold through the lives of American poet, playwright, and three Filipino-Am inmates performer whose mission is to and their struggles to endure create poetic and theatrical the American judicial system: work about race, gender, and Ronoldo ‘Boying’ Batongbakal the body to provoke dialogue performed by hip-hop, folkand social change. Suzara has loric dancer Jonathan Mercado, graced stages nationally, from Ramon ‘Mon’ Dela Santo by Florida to Washington with martial artist, dancer, theater her dynamic spoken word. Her artist Gregory Manalo and Jesus debut poetry book, “Souvenir” ‘Hes’ Gatpala by Parangal Dance (WordTech Editions 2014), a Willa Award Finalist, was lauded as “a powerful meditation on history and the legacies of race, family and identity” (David From Page SF4 Mura), and her poems appear in numerous collections, including sponsorship from BPCI among Phat’itude and Kartika Review. other prizes.

Her performance work has De Leon also snagged special been supported by YBCAway awards, namely Miss Cream Silk Award, National Endowment for and Best in Long Gown. the Arts; selected for the One The mestiza beauty first tried Minute Play Festival, APAture, her luck in Binibining Pilipinas in and the Utah Arts Festival; and 2013, achieving a Top 15 finish staged at the Berkeley Reperunder the guidance of talent tory Theater, CounterPULSE, management agency Aces and and others. Luis J Rodriguez has Queens. In 2015, she signed said, “Aimee Suzara is a deep up with Viva Entertainment as a chronicler of our hopes, dreams, member of singing group, The pains, and future. We need Opera Belles. these poems more than ever.”

According to her biography Website: https://aimeesuon the pageant’s website, de zara.net/ Leon finished high school at Facebook: https://www.

Southville International School, facebook.com/Aimee-Suzaraand took up a culinary course in 146731845337825/ New Zealand where her eldest Twitter: @aimeesuzara brother lives.

‘silbihan’: Healing daughters through the...

From Page SF3 visit www.silbihan.bpt.me.

Sammay (Samantha Peñaflor Dizon) is a choreographer/producer and interdisciplinary performing artist of Kapampangan, Ilokano, and Bikol descent who envisions a future in which our indigenous traditions co-exist with(in) our urban landscapes.

She invokes performance ritual as a chosen intersection of space and time in which the body is activated as a vessel for intercession. Whether planned or spontaneous – imbued with media or immersed in nature – she believes this to be the most powerful medium for investigating lineage, intergenerational trauma, and intersectionality.

Founding Artistic Director of Urban x Indigenous, Sammay has been featured through Dance Mission Theater’s D.I.R.T. – Dance In Revolt(ing) Times Festival, Blessed Unrest: Arts and Social Justice Festival, Red Poppy Art House, and A/P/A Institute at NYU among others.

She recently returned from an inter-island tour through Hawai’i with intercultural contemporary artist collective, I Moving Lab, and a solo immersion tour through her ancestral land, the Philippines. Sammay is a threetime recipient of the “Presented

by APICC” Artist award, APAture 2016: Performing Arts – Featured Artist, and Performing Diaspora 2016 Artist-in-Residence at CounterPulse. She holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Sociology and minors in Dance & Performance Studies and Global Poverty & Practice from UC Berkeley. To follow her journey, visit www.sammaydizon.com.

Kat Evasco is writer, stand up comedian, and performance

artist living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. Evasco is best known for her touring autobiographical one-woman show, “Mommy Queerest,” co-written and directed by John Caldon. Evasco currently serves as the Chief Dream Director at The Future Project and as the Artistic Director of Guerrilla Rep. Evasco is a recipient of the Creative Capacity Fund Quick Grant, NextGen Art Professional Development Grant, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation Grant. She holds a BA in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University.

Website: http://katevascolive.com Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/evaskat Twitter: https://twitter.com/ katevasco Instagram & Snapchat: @ evaskat Delina Patrice Brooks is a multi-disciplinary artist, and Founder & Director of DelinaDream Productions. Brooks is a two-time Isadora Duncan “Izzie” Award nominee (“Beauty, The Beast: A Dance-Theater Production,” 2009 and “An Open Love Letter to Black Fathers,” 2016). She has been presented

by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Youth Speaks, The Black Choreographers Festival, La Pena Cultural Center, and the University of Wisconsin: Madison’s Filipino American Student Organization among others. She joined Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Living Word Project in 2004, during its inter/national touring choreopoem, “Scourge” and has since performed with Zap Mama, Nas & Damian Marley, ASE Dance Theatre Collective, City Circus (“And If We

Photo by Wilfred Galila

Company’s June Arellano.

Panis is no stranger to topics notoriously deemed socially taboo, this is her third full-length work under her American Stories Project, Panis’s vision of investigation and uncovering the ‘off-limits’ stories of Fil-Ams. “Ibig-Pulse of Desire” (2009) unpacks mental instability and incest while “She, Who Can See” (2015)is painful collision of shamanic inheritance and the modern world. Her third installment, “6x9,” emphasizes the impact of displacement, incarceration, and colonialism on Fil-Ams. It will be performed

live by eight Bay Area professional dancers, with an additional 8 performers on video, at Bindlestiff Studio’s intimate black box theater, transporting audience members to experience the sensation of a jail cell’s six by nine dimensions.

“Incarcerated 6x9” will be onstage on May 19-20, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and May 21, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street, San Francisco. Advanced tickets are $17, $20 at the door and $30 as a sponsor.

For more information log on to www.kularts.org.

Christopher and Sandy’s daughter...

Asked in previous interviews why she decided to join Binibining Pilipinas again after four years, she replied, “It was this just this year when I realized that I should try [it]again.

I was definitely inspired by Pia [Wurtzbach] and I felt something in my heart…like a spark that just went off.”

Meanwhile, in an interview with ABS-CBN, which carried the delayed telecast of the pageant, de Leon’s famous father admitted he prayed hard for her daughter to win Binibining Pilipinas-International.

Boyet, as he is fondly called in showbiz circles was quoted, “This is the most exciting time of my life. I am so proud of her. I’ve been dreaming of this. I’ve been

wanting something really, really good for Mariel.”

Meanwhile, her mom who was initially not very keen on the idea of de Leon joining the pageant again, joyfully exclaimed, “She’s a princess. She’s our princess. Now she’s a queen.

This is very special. This has been her dream. Second time na nga and finally, she won. She really prepared for this. Talagang determined,” she said.

Given her parents’ all-out support, the dutiful daughter took a moment during her victory to acknowledge them: “Thank you nanay, tatay for all the love and support that you’ve given me since birth. I love you so much and this one’s for you,” she said.

SF6

T he Asian Jo ur na l SF M A G A Z I NE - M a y 12, 2 0 1 7

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