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Aquino: No one is indispensable in government

by AureA CAliCA And Aimee ShAw Philstar.com

mANILA — Less than a week before filipinos elect a new chief executive, President Aquino reminded people that nobody is indispensable in government. “sometimes there are still those who tell me, ‘you should have sought reelection.’ I said, ‘that’s not in the Constitu-

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tion.’ ‘You should have extended even just for three years.’ I said: ‘that seems difficult,’” Aquino said in a meeting with local leaders and residents in tuguegarao City on monday, may 2.

“Isn’t it that no matter how great (an official is), that will not be good for us?

What’s happening in the country is important. Let’s continue it. Whoever is sitting here,” the President added, referring to his administration’s “straight path” policy and democratic processes.

children were also in different positions.

Binay’s only son and namesake was a dismissed makati City mayor, his daughter Nancy is senator and his daughter Abigail is the representative of makati City.

Abigail is seeking to replace Binay Jr. while her husband is gunning for her position in Congress. the Vice President also served as

Without naming names, Aquino cited the case of the late strongman ferdinand marcos, who had two terms and extended his stint in malacañang for 13 years by declaring martial law, staying in power for a total of 21 years.

Aquino reminded people that during martial law, marcos confined the powers of the state to himself. the President also took a swipe at opposition presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose three

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President Benigno Aquino III

I’m not giving up, says Poe

USA

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

US extradites Fil-Am suspect in Olongapo murder

by JefferSon

AntipordA ManilaTimes.net

the primary suspect of the heinous murder of 23-year-old Karie Ces “Aika” mojica in olongapo City, Zambales in July last year was extradited by the Us back to the Philippines on sunday, may 1. filipino-American Jonathan Dewayne Viane, 29, was turned over by agents of the federal Bureau of Investigation (fBI) after getting arrested in Iowa september 3 of last year. Viane arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 4 am sunday morning.

Viane allegedly murdered mojica, a store supervisor and his wife’s best friend last July 25. the murder went viral on social media after mojica’s body was found burned, strangled and shot before being disposed in a dike in san felipe, Zambales. reports say that mojica had a conversation with Viane the night before her murder. she was convincing him to allow his wife to bring their 4-year-old son back to the Us.

ALL READY. Members of the Philippine Air Force arrive at the Manila Police District headquarters along United Nations Avenue last Monday, May 2 ahead of their deployment for the May 9 polls. A total of 18,000 police and military personnel will be deployed in 729 polling centers in Metro Manila to ensure peaceful and orderly elections on May 9.

by JoCelyn

by lAwrenCe

AgCAoili Philstar.com

r. uy

Inquirer.net

sAN frANCIsCo — the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco would like to inform all filipino voters of the following: On Return to Sender mail the ballot packets of some voters have been returned to the Consulate General due to incomplete addresses or change of address. the list of returned ballots has been posted on the Consulate’s website www.philippinessanfrancisco.org. the list is constantly being updated.

Given the proximity of the end of the voting period on may 9, 2:00 a.m. (local time), voters are advised to immediately contact the Consulate General to either have their ballots mailed to their new addresses or personally pick up the said ballots from the Consulate General’s special Ballot reception and Custody Group (sBrCG) at the Voting Center, 2f Philippine Center Building, 447 sutter street,

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Roxas, Binay ink Wong completes turnover of TRUTH covenant stolen Bangladesh bank money

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Return to Sender mails and immediate return of ballots

LUCeNA City, Quezon — senator Grace Poe’s determination to win the presidential race remains strong despite the huge lead of Davao City mayor rodrigo Duterte in a recent pre-election survey.

“Hindi ako sumusuko sa gitna ng lahat ng mga pagsubok, at higit sa lahat, hindi ko kinakalimutan bakit ako tumatakbo. Kailangan natin ng makataong pagbabago [I’m not giving up amid the challenges but most of all I will not forget the reason why I am running. We need a civilized change],” Poe said. she reiterated that she respects the surveys because it gives her the energy and resolve to work harder and match the machinery of her rivals.

What is important, the senator said, is that she is running her campaign without defaming or discrediting the other presidential aspirants.

“I have never been involved in black propaganda against my opponents and just focused my energy in reaching out to the people,” she added.

Poe, however, said surveys do not necessarily re-

ADmINIstrAtIoN standard-bearer mar roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay on monday, may 2, signed a “covenant for truth” manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal tagle and his diocese put together for candidates in the may 9 elections.

“It is not enough to seek blessing without responsibility,” tagle said in his homily during the mass to mark the signing of the trUth (truthful, respon-

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BREATHING SPACE. Presidential candidates Mar Roxas (left) and Jejomar Binay are seats apart at Manila Cathedral during Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday, May 2. Roxas came with wife Korina and Binay, with daughter Senator Nancy.

Inquirer.net photo by Nino Jesus Orbeta

mANILA — Casino junket operator Kim Wong has completed the turnover to the Anti-money Laundering Council for safekeeping an amount believed to be part of the $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh central bank.

Lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima, one of the legal counsels of Wong, delivered another P250 million to the Bangko sentral ng Kristoffer James Purisima, one of the lawyers of casino junket operator Kim Wong, delivers Pilipinas (BsP) complex in ma- another P250 million, believed to be part of the $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh central bank, to the AMLC at the BSP complex in Manila on Wednesday, May 4. nila last Wednesday, may 4. the money was placed in nine large plastic bags comprised of P230 million in P1,000 bills and P20 million in P500 bills.

In all, Wong has turned over to the AmLC P488.28 million and $4.63 million that casino junket agent Gao shuhua had abandoned in eastern hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd. and midas Casino.

Wong’s lawyers turned over $4.63 million last April 1 and another P38.28 million last April 4

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Palace mourns passing of ex-Foreign Secretary Siazon

Philippine ambassador to Japan (1993-1995 and 2001-2010),” presidential spokesperson edwin mALACAÑANG is mourning Lacierda said in a statement on the death of former foreign Af- Wednesday, may 4. fairs secretary Domingo siazon. “respected by his colleagues “We pause in tribute to Domin- in the foreign service, his peers go siazon, former secretary of abroad, and by presidents and foreign affairs (1995-2001) and u PAGE A3

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MAY 6-12, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Aquino: No one is indispensable in…

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mayor of Makati City for a long time and was replaced only by his wife when his third consecutive term ended. His son then took over when he became old enough to replace his parents as mayor.

In jest, the President said if Binay and his family stay in office for 21 years each just like Marcos, that would be 84 years of a single family leading the country.

Aquino noted that it would be painful for the people to commit a mistake because what had been achieved under a democracy might be reversed.

“They might take us to turn, left, right. The worst: bring us back to the past, U-turn. We don’t want a left turn… a right turn, most especially we don’t want a U-turn. Is that right?” he said.

The President called on the people to think and choose carefully because nobody would want to end up regretting the outcome of the elections.

“Why the need to weep by making a mistake? Molding the future is in our hands. My vote is only one… the majority decides for everyone. We must keep on multiplying until the last day of the campaign. Let us not stop,” Aquino said, referring to the supporters of the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid led by presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II and his runningmate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

“If we do that, the next generation will look at us with a smile.

They will tell us: thank you,” Aquino said.

In 2010, Aquino said his political opponents vowed to derail his victory by all means, but the people’s will prevailed despite the “anybody but me” mantra against him.

The President was in Cagayan to inaugurate the Pamplona Bridge and campaign for administration candidates.

Aquino highlighted the positive results of good governance or the straight path. He said over

the past six years, the national government allocated P17.04 billion for infrastructure projects throughout Cagayan province, a steep gain in comparison to the P3.79 billion between 2005 to 2010.

The P639.8-million Pamplona Bridge has been under construction since February 2013 and replaced the 50-year-old highway bridge connecting Cagayan Valley to the Ilocos region and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The new 489.9-linear meter bridge is expected to provide better transport facility between regions.

Aquino said he would not relax as election day nears and that he was happy to read about Filipinos becoming hopeful about the country compared to their past apathy. He had been saying that indifference, instead of just anger, was a result of hopelessness.

More than programs and projects, Aquino reiterated the Filipi-

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GOING HOME. Workers unbolt the San Pedro bell from its base outside the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel in West Point, New York.

A grand festival is being prepared in Bauang, La Union for the return of the San Pedro bell that used to ring out from the belfry of the 166-year-old St. Peter and Paul Church here until it was shipped to the United States as a war souvenir of the Filipino-American Inquirer.net photo by Jon Melegrito War in 1901.

Roxas, Binay ink TRUTH… PAGE A1 t

sible, Upright, Transparent and Honest) covenant for the upcoming elections initiated by the Archdiocese of Manila, through its radio network Radio Veritas.

Tagle reminded candidates vying for various government posts that public trust was a blessing that came with serious responsibilities and obligations.

He said that while elected officials of the land had the freedom to act and think, they had the duty to listen to the people.

Radio Veritas invited all the candidates for national elective positions for the signing of the covenant, but only Roxas and Binay showed up among the five

presidential candidates.

Sen. Grace Poe said scheduling problems prevented her from attending the event. She said she had requested a meeting with the organizers so she could sign the covenant.

“From the very beginning, I’m for unity, I’m for peace, especially when it comes to our elections, it has to be peaceful,” she said.

Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo could not attend the event but she sent a representative, her niece Dr. Gaile Robredo-Vitas.

Senatorial bets Fifteen senatorial candidates from various political parties were also in attendance, includ-

ing Martin Romualdez.

“I praise their (Catholic Church) compassion for the Filipinos and I believe that the Comelec will not compromise the future of this country by ensuring just, honest, clean, and peaceful elections,” Romualdez said.

He said that voters themselves should remain vigilant and support the Commission on Elections in its efforts to prevent cheating.

In his sermon, Tagle said the candidates had the obligation to make it clear to themselves what human dignity and human rights meant to them and what they thought the common good

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

From the Front Page

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2016

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US extradites Fil-Am suspect in Olongapo…

PAGE A1 t

Viane fled outside the country after the crime while the second suspect, Niño Dela Cruz, also a Fil-Am, was arrested by the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force in Tondo, Manila, last August 12.

Aika’s father Josar Mojica was in deep sorrow because of his daughter’s murder. Viane’s return in the country gave hope to

the Mojica family that the case would push ahead.

“It’s a good development that he has been brought here but his face is a painful reminder of my daughter’s death,” Josar Mojica said.

Aika Mojica’s murder was linked to the custody battle between Viane and his estranged wife back in the United States.

Viane left the US and took their

I’m not giving up, says…

PAGE A1 t

flect results of elections.

She cited the 2004 balloting wherein exit polls conducted on the day of the elections showed EXTENDED. The Supreme Court (SC) extended up to June 20, 2016 its order stopping the Sandiganbayan from proceeding with the that her father, Fernando Poe Jr., plunder trial of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the alleged misuse of P366-million in funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from 2008 to 2010. In a resolution released Wednesday, May lost in the National Capital Re4, the high court granted the request for extension filed by Arroyo’s counsel.

Inquirer.net file photo gion (NCR or Metro Manila) but after the votes were counted, it turned out that he won by a huge margin against his opponent, Wong said he borrowed P200 mained intact and that his pa- then-President Gloria MacapaPAGE A1 t gal-Arroyo. to AMLC executive director Julia million from Solaire Resort and trons have remained loyal.

In the 2010 national elections, Casino, while the rest was borHe vowed to concentrate on Bacay-Abad. the senator noted that thenrowed from “well-meaning” growing his business despite the Bangladesh Ambassador John friends. slew of cases that the AMLC had Makati City (Metro Manila) MayGomes witnessed the turnover. or Jejomar Binay was 10 points “It was not easy to come up filed against him.

Through his lawyers, Wong Wong also vowed to clear his behind then-Sen. Manuel Roxas turned over another P200 million with this amount,” he said in Filiname and that he was unaware to the AMLC last April 18 and pino.

“Many friends helped me raise of the source of the money since the remaining P250 million yesterday. The entire P450 million the money. They saw that I have junket operators like him do not represents a debt paid by Gao to been pinned down so they vol- ask players about the origin of unteered. The first P200 million their funds.

Wong.

San Francisco, CA 94108.

AMLC has started the ball rollLast April 5, Wong commit- that was returned came from SoOther contact details : ted to return the entire amount, laire. It was used to pay my debt, ing for the return of the money Email : vote@philippinessanto the Bangladesh central bank francisco.porg which he said was money sto- which they loaned me again.”

Wong said he is returning the after it filed a petition for civil forlen from the Bangladesh central Phone : (415) 433-6666 ext. “dirty funds” because his con- feiture case before the regional 888 bank. trial court in the National Capital He asked the Senate Blue Rib- science is clear.

Fax : (415) 421-2641 “I would like to show that my Region. bon committee for 15 to 30 days On accomplishment and imconscience is clear,” he said in AMLC has filed criminal mediate return of ballots to raise the money. u PAGE A4 “May 5 is the last day of the 30 Filipino. “I have one word and I Voters who have received their days that I had requested from know how to keep my promise.”

Doing business has been difthe Senate Blue Ribbon committee to return the P450 million,” ficult since most of his personal he said in a statement in Filipi- and corporate accounts have been frozen by the Court of Apno.

“So now one day before the peals, he added.

Wong said his reputation as deadline, I am returning the a casino junket operator has reshortage of P250 million.”

Wong completes turnover of stolen…

son to the Philippines which led to Mojica intervening in the issue.

Viane is temporarily detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office, as of this writing, while Dela Cruz has already been charged before the Zambales RTC Branch 71, and is now locked up at the Zambales Provincial Jail. (Ian Jamotillo / AJPress)

2nd in the vice presidential survey several days before the polls but, in the end, Roxas was defeated by Binay.

“This only shows that we can’t say who will win until the day of the elections,” Poe said.

The senator admitted that she has been receiving information about the efforts of one of her opponents to manipulate the surveys to condition the minds of voters and make it appear that he has a big chance of winning.

She said the candidate even commissioned a survey showing that he is leading. n Senator Grace Poe

Return to Sender mails and immediate…

Aquino: No one is indispensable…

PAGE A2 t

nos’ change in attitude would be his biggest legacy.

In his speech in Cagayan, Aquino said he himself would only retire peacefully once he is sure that the country is in good hands.

Asked about his message to the people after meeting with Manalo in Quezon City on Monday morning, Aquino said “for us, you saw the proof, the socalled straight path, it is up to you if you are going to continue this and fortify it further.”

“So in the end, we always say, the people are our bosses, we will wait for the judgment of the nation, what our bosses want,” he added.

The President said changing the people’s attitude was really a big challenge for his administration and asked “everybody (to) look at the stories before we stepped into office.”

He noted stories about the number of Filipinos leaving the country would regularly come out in dailies.

“Now one of the dailies (yesterday), I really was very pleased to see people are looking for jobs here as opposed to preferring to look for work abroad, so there is a belief that there are jobs available, there are good jobs,” Aquino said, referring to a story in The Star on the job fairs on Labor Day. n

Palace mourns passing of…

PAGE A1 t

the public alike, he belonged to the second generation of career diplomats who served with professionalism and who rose according to merit,” he added.

Lacierda called Siazon, who served under former President Joseph Estrada’s Cabinet, “a cultured, urbane man.”

He said the secretary left behind a record of “distinguished service” to the country and that he had brought honor to the Philippine flag wherever he served.

“We extend deepest sympathies to his family at this time of profound loss,” Lacierda said.

Siazon’s son Dan posted on Facebook early Wednesday that his 77-year-old father had passed away. He said his father was a “statesman, career dip-

Domingo Siazon

lomat, but more importantly, a loving husband, father and grandfather.” n

Roxas, Binay ink TRUTH…

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entailed.

“If voters need to study [their candidates], candidates must also study… the needs of the people who trust them and this already transcends party politics in the interest of the common good,” he said.

“To all the candidates present here, being a candidate is in itself a blessing. But if the nation puts its trust on you and you get elected, you represent its dreams and the common good. You are blessed but you have a great responsibility,” he added.

‘Don’t waste vote’ In the same breath, Tagle also exhorted the Filipino people—rich or poor, literate or illiterate, esteemed or not—not to waste their right to vote and the opportunity to participate in forging the country’s destiny, which in other parts of the world remained a dream.

But he said “participatory voting” should also be exercised with “great responsibility” by also carefully scrutinizing the candidates. “Let go of selfishness and think about what is for the common good,” Tagle said.

It was in recognition of this freedom to participate that Catholic bishops do not impose voting for particular candidates, Tagle said.

“We don’t want to preach participation at the same time curtail

the people’s capacity to participate intellectually, rationally and with conscience,” he said.

But he underscored the importance of being well informed before participating in the collective effort of building a good future for the country.

“How can we participate if we don’t study or scrutinize? How can we participate if the values that should set our standard are unclear?” he asked.

Answerable to people After the elections next week, Filipinos should still continue to participate in the democratic process by making the elected officials answerable to the people, and should their response be found wanting, the people could make their voices be heard again by not voting for them in the next elections, he said.

“A democracy is a project of never-ending participation and in between elections, it takes the form of making our representatives answerable to the people,” Tagle said.

“Whether our choice won in the elections, our responsibility to participate does not end after we cast our ballots … participation in a democratic process is a daily event [so] make your voice heard and make our representatives accountable to the common good,” he added. (With a report from Gil C. Cabacungan)

ballots are reminded to mail back their accomplished ballots as soon as possible in order for USPS to be able to deliver them to the Consulate General on or before May 7 (Saturday) in time for the May 9 (Monday) 2am deadline for the receipt of ballots.

Please be informed that USPS does not deliver mails on Sundays. Voters who want to make

sure their ballots are received by the Consulate General before 2am of May 9, 2016 may wish to personally deliver their accomplished ballots at the Consulate’s Voting Center, which is open daily (including Saturdays and Sundays) from 9am to 6pm.

On Sunday, May 8, the Voting Center will be open from 9am to 2am of May 9. n

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Dateline USa

MAY 6-12, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

DC symposium reflects on PH growth and relations with the US WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the government, private sector, and the academe gathered at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) for a symposium entitled “Philippines 2016: Governance, Growth, Development and Security” on Thursday, April 28.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, in his keynote address, described

the Philippines’ path towards good governance, growth, and development as challenging, fulfilling, and dynamic, crediting the country’s economic transformation to the good governance program of the Aquino Administration and economic policies centered on inclusive growth.

Ambassador Cuisia also cited the deepening Philippines-US relations along the defense and security, people-to-people and

Grand Opening on JUNE 1

Drop-off Center Inside MANILA ORIENTAL MARKET

economic tracks as an avenue of continued cooperation for the next administration.

“The Philippines is committed to be a proactive, reliable and responsible ally of the US, but more importantly, a strong Philippines is critical to the stability of South East Asia, and I do look forward to the Philippines continuing along its current path,” he said.

During the first panel on governance, growth and development, Motoo Konishi, former World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, emphasized the importance of addressing corruption and improving governance, protecting the population from climate change and environmental disasters and having peace in eliminating extreme poverty.

“Fighting poverty and eliminating poverty means that you have to know each poor, who they are and where they live, and your investments need to be targeted to those people. Fast growth doesn’t eliminate poverty, you have to choose your policies carefully,” Konishi said.

The Aquino Administration has actively pursued these three objectives, according to Konishi.

“The Aquino Administration focused on pro-poor policies,” Konishi further added, stating that the Philippine experience will be a highlight of the World Bank’s flagship World Development Report this year.

Gloria Steele of USAID highlighted the accomplishments of the Aquino administration in competitiveness, transparency, corruption, infrastructure, education and health.

“The Filipino people are looking forward to more changes and to the continuation of reforms that the Aquino Administration started,” she said.

However, Steele added that more needs to be done by the next administration, such as improvements in airport infrastructure and quality energy regulations.

Matthew Bohn of the Millennium Challenge Corporation lauded the first compact with the Philippines, which supported poverty reduction, inclusive growth, and elimination of corruption, as being one of MCC’s best compacts. He also expressed confidence that despite the challenges ahead, the Philippines will be able to sustain its

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. delivers his welcome address at the symposium entitled “Philippines 2016: Governance, Growth, Development and Security,” held at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) last Thursday, April 28.

growth and development largely because of the ground work that the Aquino administration has set in place.

“The Aquino Administration has successfully put down deep and important roots for creating the conditions for (sustained) economic growth,” Bohn said.

The second panel discussion on security and peace focused mainly on internal and external security challenges.

Professor Zachary Abuza of the National War College described the modernization of the Philippine air force, military and marine forces, the deepening defense relations with the United States through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), and Balikatan exercises

as some of the major accomplishments of the Aquino Administration.

However, peace and security challenges remain in Mindanao, one of which is the coercive capacities of political dynasties and political families through the use of private armies.

“For any lasting peace to happen in Mindanao, you have to eliminate the private armies,” Professor Patricio Abinales of the University of Hawaii at Manoa said.

Professor Abinales also linked the private armies with the pervasive presence of the illicit sector, stating that the presence of illicit trade in Mindanao cannot be weakened without first eliminating the private armies.

“Unilateral naming doesn’t change the status of a territory, sea or land,” Professor Ruth Wedgwood of Johns Hopkins SAIS said, switching the discussion from internal to external security challenges.

Referring to the impending decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, Professor Wedgwood further stated that “China will be put in a very difficult position to defy it” considering the interest of ASEAN member countries in the case.

The last part of the symposium was a keynote address delivered

by Senator Richard Lugar, speaking on the hallmarks of the Aquino Administration and the strong ties between the Philippines and the United States. n

Wong completes turnover of stolen…

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charges for violation of the AntiMoney Laundering Act against Wong, Weikang Xu, Philrem, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Jupiter branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito, as well as Michael Francis Cruz, Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Alfred Santos Vergara and Enrico Teodoro Vasquez.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, AMLC and the Senate Blue Ribbon committee are conducting separate investigations after the money stolen from the Bangladesh central bank’s account at

the Federal Reserve Bank of New York entered the Philippines through fictitious bank accounts at RCBC. Ambassador Gomes sought yesterday the help of President Aquino in the recovery $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh central bank.

Speaking at a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan, Gomes said the administration must resolve the problem before Aquino’s term ends in June 2016.

“We don’t have too much money... this $81 million is a huge amount of money for a country

like Bangladesh,” he said.

“I’m quite confident that eventually this money will be returned to Bangladesh. I’m very optimistic that in one day or another this money will be returned,” he added. “I wish that within this administration by June it could be resolved. That is my view.”

Gomes is hoping that the casinos would return the money still in their possession.

“I have been told that they’ve already made a profit [from it], so they can easily return the money,” he said. (With Non Alquitran)

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NBI: Impossible for hackers to alter poll results 3 airport men charged over ‘tanim-bala’ by

nancy c. carvajal Inquirer.net

NEARLY impossible.

This was how the head of the National Bureau of Investigation cybercrime division replied to the question of whether or not it was possible for hackers to alter the results of the May 9 national elections.

“It’s really difficult and nearly impossible to influence the results of the elections through hacking,” NBI head agent Ronald Aguto told the Inquirer in an interview on Tuesday, May 3.

Several sectors have expressed concerns about the integrity of the election results after hackers successfully broke into the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) voters database. The hackers then uploaded at least 55 million voter’s personal details on the Internet.

Personal details such as voters’ full names, birth dates, ad-

dresses, registration details such as precinct numbers and voter identification numbers were made public on the net. Also, individual information such as height, weight and passport number, fingerprint and topography were also included.

Aguto’s team recently arrested three young men who reportedly confessed to hacking the Comelec data base, defacing the poll body’s website and uploading the voters data.

But the NBI cybercrime head backed the Comelec view that despite the data breach, the automated election system remains secure.

He said it would be “nearly impossible” to hack and tamper with the transmission of election results because of the speed of transmission and the fact that each voting machine had its own unique encrypted codes. There were also counter checking

mechanisms.

“Transmission through the precinct count optical scanner (PCOS) occurs in seconds, and the results are encrypted with the use of a virtual private network (VPN), which further protects sensitive data, he explained.

He said that assuming a sophisticated hacker could intercept the transmittal, he or she could only do this one at a time. With thousands of PCOS machines transmitting in seconds, “there’s no time to rig the results,” Aguto reasoned.

He added that the data would also be encrypted and it would again take time to decode the individual series of numbers and codes. Every machine would have a different encryption key.

“These are numbers that have specific meaning so it’s really nearly impossible to rig the election results through hacking,” Aguto further argued.

Comelec asked to probe Poe, Roxas for vote buying by rosette

adel

Philstar.com

MANILA—Senatorial candidate Greco Belgica on Tuesday, May 3 filed a petition before the Commission on Elections for an investigation into alleged vote buying by the Liberal Party led by its standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and by presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe. “Wherefore it is respectfully prayed to this Honorable Commission to create a body to conduct an investigation on the above-stated vote-buying scheme by the Liberal Party,” Belgica, a former Manila councilor, said in his petition.

Belgica said there are videos to prove his claims that the two presidential candidates tried to buy votes.

The senatorial aspirant also said he is filing the petition through his own initiative as a registered voter and a taxpayer of the Philippines saying “it is the right of every citizen, voting or not, to report incidents in violation of any laws particularly those pertaining to election laws.”

He asked the commission “to conduct a cautious investiga-

Senatorial candidate and former councilor Greco Belgica is asking the Commission on Elections to conduct a probe against the alleged vote buying of presidential candidates Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Grace Poe.

tion on an untoward vote-buying scheme spearheaded by the Liberal Party to assuage the votes in favor of their standard-bearer Mar Roxas.”

Belgica said the investigation may lead to the disqualification of Poe and Roxas.

“Ito ay para himukin ang imbestigasyon sa vote buying na nakita sa hinagawa sa kampo ni Secretary Roxas at Senator Grace Poe. Hopefully, imbestigahan ng Comelec for potential disqualifi-

cation,” Belgica told reporters.

Belgica, the lead petitioner at the Supreme Court against the pork barrel system and the Disbursement Acceleration Program, is a known supporter of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He is also the chairman of Reform Coalition Philippines, a political watchdog calling for the restoration of security features in vote counting machines to be used in the May 9 elections.

by Ghio

onG Philstar.com

MANILA—Two agents of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) and an airport wheelchair attendant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were charged by the Pasay City prosecutor’s office in connection with the alleged tanim-bala or bullet-planting scheme that recently victimized an elderly couple.

OTS agents Ferdinand Morales and Fatti Dame Go and attendant Niño Namba were charged for planting evidence under Article V, Section 38 of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Law, robbery with intimidation and unjust vexation.

Salvacion Cortabista,75, and husband Esteban,78, filed the complaints.

The couple claimed that they were victimized by the OTS personnel who found a live .38 caliber bullet in the hand carry bag of Salvacion at the departure area of the NAIA Terminal 1 on April 19. The couple denied owning the bullet.

The bullet was found in a pocket inside Salvacion’s brown handbag at the final X-ray counter of the departure area.

The couple was supposed to fly to Los Angeles to visit their daughter and for Salvacion’s medical checkup for arthritis.

In their joint sworn statement, the Cortabistas alleged that Morales, Go and Namba might have conspired to execute the alleged tanim-bala scheme.

They also stressed that Namba was the only one who got near their baggage.

The statement also said two personnel in uniform, later identified as Morales and Go, prevented them from undergoing final inspection of their baggage as something suspicious was found inside Salvacion’s handbag.

Morales later found the bullet, saying it was found in the handbag pocket during the final check.

He also said “mahina ang singkwenta mil (P50,000 is peanuts),” which the couple believed was an attempt at extortion.

The couple also said Morales was gesturing at Go and this was captured by a security camera,

Personnel from the Public Attorney’s Office accompany Salvacion Cortabista, 75, to a preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice on the charge of illegal possession of ammunition on Monday, May 2. Cortabista and her husband, Esteban, 78, were barred from leaving for Los Angeles on April 19 after a .38 caliber bullet was found in one of their handcarried bags at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. They denied owning the bullet and insisted that NAIA personnel planted it in their bag.

Philstar.com photo

according to the couple’s statement.

Salvacion also said in the statement she was treated as just another prisoner “without consideration for my old age and condition” when she underwent booking procedure by police.

The incident, the couple said, traumatized them and forced them to cancel their US trip.

The Public Attorney’s Office, counsel for the Cortabistas, included in an affidavit 46 resolutions recommending dismissal of previous tanim-bala cases due to lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, a Bureau of Immi-

gration officer at NAIA Terminal 1 praised the Office of the Ombudsman that found two former BI commissioners and another employee guilty of grave misconduct for the illegal suspension of a bureau officer.

The ombudsman’s order, signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Blesilda Ouano last Jan. 26, but released only last April 4, ordered the dismissal from the service with all the necessary penalties of former immigration commissioners Ricardo David Jr. and Siegfred Mison and BI head executive assistant Grace Lara.

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OpiniOn

Features

Public interest

THESE last few days leading up to May 9—the Philippine national elections—are critical. This moment is intense as aspiring leaders are rushing to mount campaigns that will boost in public support, which in turn, they hope will manifest in actual votes.

For Filipino voters, this moment is a chance for them to relish the power they have and take this exercise with tenacity and good cheer.

The Filipinos’ support is essential to any leader. They are after all, the ones who get someone into office, and whom leaders are representing. On the other hand, an elected leader plays a central role in every Filipino’s life. He or she shapes the system, make crucial decisions, and represent the hopes and interests of every Filipino.

On Monday, May 2, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle gathered candidates for national positions during a Mass at the Manila Cathedral where he also made them sign the covenant for Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent & Honest (TRUTH) elections.

In his homily, Tagle urged the political aspirants to evaluate what the real needs of the people are and to do everything in their powers to foster better and safer communities in the country.

“In being candidates, you need to know that it is a blessing that comes with a responsibility. If you win, it means you must represent the people’s dreams and common good,” Tagle said.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo on Tuesday, May 3, reminded Filipino vot-

ers to “not to be mesmerized” by promises of “change” by candidates seeking the country’s top post. He said that what the country needs is a “radical” and “profound” change in mind, behavior and values.

Quevedo urged voters to throw their support for the candidates who have an option for the poor and those with moral integrity or someone “that is not tainted by corruption, unexplained wealth, and properties, and enrichment in office.” He encouraged them to choose a leader who is competent to govern 100 million Filipinos and lead them to a better life.

Filipinos have signaled an inclination for a progressive, ideal government—a that system is committed to the common good, shared and personal responsibility, and one that finds opportunity for everyone.

Next week, we will see if election results will usher in a new presidency that would mark a significant change in the country’s political landscape.

Until then, may voters ruminate on who they think will be a good leader before casting their votes. May they choose an inspiring leader who will stand for the highest values and ideals of every Filipino—all 100 million of them. (AJPress)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

With Roxas and Robredo surging in polls, can Duterte’s lead be overtaken?

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte may have had the most challenging week of his campaign, just a week before the all-important presidential election in the Philippines, following allegations made

by VP candidate Sen. Antonio Trillanes.

Trillanes alleged that the Philippine presidential front-runner has multiple bank accounts with millions of pesos not declared in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

This allegation of corruption and many other attacks on Duterte’s character have been branded as black propaganda by the Duterte camp and his followers, alleging that his opponents are so desper-

THe last failure of the economic elite—and their surrogates in the media and civil society—was the one involving Mrs. Arroyo. They wanted her out of power right after the 2004 elections through means fair or foul, and preferably via the Nicaraguan version of crippling the capital with massive protest actions. There were constraints, though.

One was protest fatigue.

After eDSA Uno and eDSA Dos—and the short-lived eDSA Tres—the middle class and the urban poor were no longer predisposed to mass at eDSA and cripple the main transport route of the metropolis to topple down the Arroyo administration. The middle class just wanted to vent their ire in the 2010 elections and humiliate Mrs. Arroyo’s chosen through their votes. The urban poor had been calmed down by former First Quarter Storm activists then working in Mrs. Arroyo’s camp to rein in their anti-Arroyo angst.

With the middle class bone weary and tired of political protests and the anger of the urban poor reined in, the economic elite and their surrogates fought their war through the major media outlets they controlled and still control. The last few years of Mrs. Arroyo in power saw the explosion of corruption stories that was un-

Bongbong Marcos take over if he fails to resolve crimes in the first three months of his presidency.

Just this past week, something has been happening in the polls. From placing fourth below Duterte, Poe and Binay, we see the rise of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas in surveys, especially following the last debate hosted by ABS-CBN. In the Pulse Asia survey for the period April 26-29, Duterte may have stayed at top place at 33 percent, unchanged from the April 19-24 survey, but Roxas has climbed up to second place with 22 percent, a 2 percent rise from the previous poll.

The D’ Strafford Research and Strategies Poll for the period April 25-29 could be more problematic for Duterte. It showed Roxas on top with 27.8 percent, followed by Duterte with 25.4 percent.

If this trend continues, could Roxas pull an upset on May 9, and be elected president?

ABANGAN! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

The elite’s desperate push for the hopeless Mr. Roxas

Commentary

MaRlen V. Ronquillo

killed people and is ate to pull him down afwilling to kill more ter his dominance in the The Fil-Am to get things done recent polls all over the Perspective as his approach to country. governance; his cursBut as some say, all ing the popular Pope is fair game in politics, Francis; his blatant especially when a canunapologetic and didate has given his Gel SantoS-ReloS even bragging statedetractors ammunitions to fire back at him. Duterte has been ment that he is a womanizer; the allecriticized over many issues like his rape gations that he has ghost employees; statement wen he said he, the mayor, his reported statements that if elected, should have been the first one to rape the he will release former Pres. Gloria Arroyo; that he will allow deposed dictator murdered Australian.

Then there were more among many Ferdinand Marcos be buried in Libinothers: his own words admitting he has gan ng mga Bayani; and that he will let

paralleled in the country’s political and media history.

The Arroyo administration also saw to it that the other vital institutions of government, the Congress and the judiciary, stayed out of the fray and did not go along with the grand agenda of the elite. The leading lights of the legislative and the judiciary also shared the general view of the tired middle class—the 2010 elections, not the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo, was the preferred option on leadership change. Congress and the LGUs—and the military—were most opposed to the elite’s wish for an extra-constitutional option to oust Mrs. Arroyo.

The glory of Gloria Arroyo came to pass and in the 2010 elections, the elite’s anointed, Mr. Aquino, was unanimously elected president. The demonized image of Mrs. Arroyo was enough to sink her candidate, actually the most qualified candidate in that election cycle. Mr. Aquino, to show his fealty to the elite, truly fulfilled the economic elite’s grandest hope, an “all-business president” who measures his accomplishments on growth rates and credit upgrades, and how much wealth has been transferred to the already-awesome wealth of the economic elite.

Six years of unprecedented upward redistribution. Through six years, not a single one was a down year for the elite. Steve Forbes, the failed US presidential candidate whose family owns the magazine that measures the wealth of the global

elite, was so caught up with the elite’s gushing over Mr. Aquino that he wanted a clone of Mr. Aquino to be president of the US. In his country, bridging inequality is primordial in the political debates. Here, we are stuck up in the ‘80s mania for growth, balanced budgets and credit upgrades.

As if this Catholic country has never heard of a pope named Francis who has debunked trickle-down economics and the kind of reckless, unfettered capitalism bannered by Mr. Aquino.

In the current election cycle, the elite is in yet another state of despondency and frustration. The chosen one, Mr. Roxas, has been lagging in the polls and is now in third place – more than 10 percent behind the polling leader, Mr. Duterte.

After six years of cruel capitalism that tilted 100 percent into their direction, the elite can’t let go. The problem is they have a weak and near-to-hopeless candidate who has failed to catch up despite the sky-is-thelimit support extended to him by the influential institutions the elite controls or owns.

Mr. Roxas is supported by all sectors with a national megaphone, from Big Business to Big Media. The Aquino administration precisely crafted the BUB in the national budget to help Mr. Roxas’ candidacy and that is throwing money into the LGUs to get votes for Mr. Roxas. even the cash transfer program has been politicalized. (That sounds more correct than “politicized.”) In the

blighted rural areas, the Aquino government campaigns with the threat that the conditional cash transfer will be gone with Mr. Roxas defeat. Despite all these, he has been mocked by Mr. Duterte as a “ loser.”

After Big Media was done sliming Mr. Binay, the early leader in the presidential poll who has slid down to 4th place from his commanding lead, the new target is Digong Duterte.

Duterte is now facing questions about a banking history that

involved alleged more than P2 billion in recent transactions. It is now the big story, supplanting the Makati City tales of alleged big-time constructionrelated corruption.

It involves the same narrative, the leading presidential candidate enmeshed in a morass of corruption and unsuccessfully wiggling away from the charges. Only the name has changed. It is now Duterte instead of Binay. The current charge is “ bank accounts” the

one that successfully led to the ouster of erap in 2000.

As the Makati-centric stories on alleged corruption faded from the national discussion, it is Davao City and its arriviste mayor that are now hogging the headlines. The problem is the timeline. It is just a few days from May 9 and the hardcore devotion of many voters to the arriviste mayor is for real.

There is doubt that the elite can deliver a Hail Mary pass for Mr. Roxas. (ManilaTimes.net)

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

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Deguito denies money laundering raps

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA—Former Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch manager Maia SantosDeguito denied the money laundering charges filed against her in connection with the $80.9 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank and laundered to the country.

In a 15-page counter-affidavit, Deguito asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the complaint for violation of Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act filed against her by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) last March.

Deguito’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the complaint should be dismissed for lack of probable cause. She refused to grant journalists’ request for an interview.

In her affidavit, Dequito denied facilitating the laundering of the stolen money, insisting that it was former RCBC president Lorenzo Tan who ordered her to open the four fictitious accounts where the $80.1 million was deposited.

She said all transactions at her branch had the approval of Tan, and the bank officials are using her as a scapegoat to avoid criminal liability.

Topacio asked for another extension for the filing of their reply to the charges, citing the recent complaint filed by the AMLC against the executives of remittance firm Philrem Service, where part of the laundered money reportedly went.

The AMLC lawyers opposed the move, calling it a dilatory tactic.

Assistant state prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamarra denied

Topacio’s request, saying the respondent was given enough time when she was granted an extension during a hearing on April 12.

Topacio questioned the motive of the AMLC in rushing the preliminary investigation of the case at the DOJ. “We are puzzled why the money laundering council is rushing to end the hearing at the DOJ without first filing charges against the RCBC officials. When will they run after those who are really behind the laundering?” he said.

Meanwhile, the camp of casino junket operator Kim Wong did not file an answer to the charges, and instead appealed the decision of the prosecutor.

Casino operator Weikang Xu did not appear or send a representative.

Poe: Filipinos fed up with ‘straight path’ policy

by Maila

agEr Inquirer.net

CAVITE—Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe hit the administration anew on Tuesday, May 3 saying that people are already fed up and “disillusioned” with its “daang matuwid” (straight path) policy.

“Ang mga tao ay sawang-sawa na, ang mga tao ay disillusioned dahil palaging idinidiin ‘daang matuwid, daang matuwid’ samantalang nakikita naman natin ang serbisyo ay palpak sa maraming ahensya ng gobyerno. (The Filipino people are fed up, they are disillusioned with the “straight path” policy while we see that the services in many government agencies are inefficient),” Poe said in an interview after holding a motorcade in this vote-rich province for more than six hours.

“Matagal ko nang pinupuna rin ‘yan. Nakikita natin na hindi nagiging prayoridad ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya para sa ating mga kababayan, iniisip nila: ‘bakit niyo sinasabi na napakabuti ninyo kung kinakalimutan niyo naman kami? (I have been criticizing this. We can see that the necessities of our countrymen are not prioritized. That’s why, for our our countrymen, they think, “why are you claiming that you are great when you are neglecting us?)”

“Hindi ko naman sinasabing nakadirekta sa isang tao, kundi nakadirekta sa pamamalakad na parang, yun bang parang wala nang

Sen. Grace Poe

mabait kundi ‘yung iilan. (I am not referring directly to a single person but to the governance that it seems like there are only a few good people),” she said.

Poe made the remark when sought for comment on presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s reported statement that many people have embraced him because they hate the government’s purported inactions.

At a campaign rally in Nueva Ecija on Monday, May 2, the senator also warned voters against electing a government that will promote violence, saying the poor will suffer from it.

While she also dreams of quick solutions to long-time problems, Poe said she does not believe that

Inquirer.net photo

killing would bring the peace and order people want.

“Merong isa kasing kandidato na ang sinasabi tatapusin niya ng tatlo hanggang anim na buwan ang droga. Kahit naman ako, pangarap ko rin ‘yon. Walang masama doon kung talagang magagawa. Kaya lamang ito: Ang pamamaraan ay mali. (There is a candidate who says he would end illegal drugs in three to six months. I also have the same dream. There is nothing wrong with that if it could really be done. However, the way of doing that is wrong),” she said.

Poe was apparently referring to Duterte, who earlier promised to solve criminality in his first six months in office should he get elected President.

PAGE A8

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Jinggoy Estrada again seeks furlough

by Dona

Z. PaZZibugan Inquirer.net

SAYING he could not say no to his daughter, detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada appealed to the Sandiganbayan to allow him to attend his daughter’s final campaign rally and to cast his vote in San Juan City.

Estrada, who has been detained for nearly two years for his pork barrel scam plunder trial, requested a four-hour furlough on the evening of May 7 to attend the miting de advance of his daughter Janella Ejercito at the Pinaglabanan Shrine.

His daughter is running for vice mayor in San Juan City where he once served as mayor.

Estrada “hope(s) that the court and the prosecution will understand the need for a father to do all the pleas and court motions to

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada

be part of his daughter’s desire to be a public servant,” his lawyers said in a petition filed on Monday before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

Last week, he asked the court to allow him to cast his vote in his precinct at the Xavier School in

Inquirer.net photo

San Juan City on May 9 between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

His fellow detainee and co-accused, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has also petitioned the Sandiganbayan First Division to allow him to cast his vote in Bacoor, Cavite.

Slot reserved for Pacquiao in PH boxing team

by June

navarro Inquirer.net

THERE’S a spot reserved for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in the Philippine boxing team.

“It’s really up to him if he’s willing to join us,” boxing coach Boy Velasco said in Filipino during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at Shakey’s Malate.

The International Boxing Association (Aiba) has proposed allowing professional boxers in the Olympics, a move that the world governing body will Manny Pacquiao tackle and possibly ratify in a Inquirer.net photo by Rem Zamora

meeting next month.

The eight-time world champion has shown interest but the representative from Saranggani has been busy in his senatorial campaign lately.

“In my opinion, he doesn’t need it. To become an eighttime champion is an achievement far bigger than the Olympics,” said Velasco in the weekly forum backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Accel and San Miguel Corporation.

Just the same, the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) has reserved

ELECTION PREPARATION. Workers rush to package vote counting machines (VCMs) at the COMELEC warehouse in at Sta. Rosa, Laguna, where a transmission of mock elections results is also held duing the weekend in preparation for the May 9 elections.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

a slot for Pacquiao, who can compete in the 64kg division.

Once he bites the bait, Pacquiao will take over the spot of light welterweight Dennis Galvan.

Velasco, who coached his siblings Onyok and Roel to Olympic medal-winning performances, said Pacquiao would be forced to adjust to the amateur style of fighting which gives premium on points and speed.

“But of course, he’s Manny Pacquiao. His mere presence could intimidate his opponents,” said Velasco.

Sotto, Honasan take drug test REELECTIONIST Sen. Vicente Sotto III and vice presidential aspirant Gregorio Honasan have submitted themselves to a drug test in Cebu City and both were found negative for illegal substances.

In statement, Sotto said he chose to have the drug test taken in Cebu City since he is from the province.

His grandfather and namesake, Vicente Yap Sotto Sr., was a prominent Cebuano who, like him, was also a senator. Aside from being a legislator, the late Senator Sotto is also acknowledged as the “father of Cebuano literature.’’

Sotto and Honasan took the test during their visit to the regional police office of Region 7 in Cebu City. The drug test was administered by the chemists of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region VII.

The two senators were accompanied by actor Vic Sotto, the senator’s younger brother, and basketball star Mark Pingris. They were welcomed to the regional police headquarters by Chief Supt.

Sheldon Jacaban, deputy regional director for administration.

Aside from barnstorming in Cebu City, the two senators were also there for Vic’s birthday.

The two senators said they decided to undergo drug testing to show the electorate that they are drug free and hope that the other candidates in the May 9 election would follow their example.

A drug test used to be a requirement under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for all those seeking elective positions. However, it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. (Inquirer.net)

Criminal complaint filed vs Duterte supporters for harassing, bullying

by TeTch

Torres-TuPas Inquirer.net

A HUMAN rights advocate on Monday, May 2 filed a criminal complaint against supporters of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for harassing and bullying her online.

Renee Karunungan, a member of Dakila Philippine for Modern Heroism, filed a case for violation of the Revised Penal Code, Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Omnibus Election Code against up to 20 individuals.

Last March 22, Karunungan posted an anti-Duterte meme describing him as the “lazy choice” after the second presidential debate.

Her original post went viral, earning over 13,000 reactions and more than 4,000 shares, before it was taken down by Facebook over complaints from supporters of the presidential frontrunner.

“Obviously, the supporters were offended by it. A lot of them reported it and it was taken down.

I was also blocked by Facebook for four days,” Karunungan recalled.

After that, she said she received over 200 messages in her Facebook inbox, most of which contain threats.

She said the messages contains insults from “bobo ka,” “baboy ka,” “tanga,” to more serious ones such as actual threats of grave harm like “mamatay ka sana,” “ma-rape ka sana,” “ma-

massacre sana pamilya mo.”

She documented the threats by screen grabbing them and compiling them in an album.

“My rights offline are the same as my rights online. There is a difference between freedom of speech and speech that incites violence. It is time that people know the difference. We should not condone violence especially on the basis of political views. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and is a threat to our democracy and violates our basic rights,” Karunungan said.

“We need to start relearning civility in public discourse and respect for the opinion of others,” she added.

Her counsel, Atty. Jose Jesus Disini Jr., said the Facebook users who threatened Karunungan should be held criminally liable for their actions.

“Under the Revised Penal Code, it is considered grave threat when you threat somebody of physical harm. In this case, there’s threat of rape, threat of physical injury.

And because it’s done online, it’s also cybercrime under section 6 of the law,” he said.

Some of the Facebook users, Disini said have already been identified.

He said they sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify the other users who threatened Karunungan.

The complaints have been filed with the Comelec and the DOJ.

Filipinos fed up with ‘straight path’...

PAGE A7 The senator said it was not right to give any group blanket power to just kill or kidnap suspected criminals without going through due process. Under this culture of impunity, she said, the poor are in a disadvantaged position.

“Ang problema ang palaging napapagkamalan ay mahihirap. Pansinin ninyo, meron bang pinatay na mayaman doon sa lugar nila na nasuspetsahan ng droga, smuggling, o anupaman?

Kaya kahit gusto natin ng mabilis na solusyon, gagawin ko pa ring mabilis ang solusyon pero naaayon sa proseso. (The problem is the poor are always blamed. If you would notice, has there been a rich person killed in their place for suspected engagement in drugs, smuggling or similar activities? That’s why although we want quick solutions, I would make quick solutions according to due process),” she said.

If she wins in the May 9 elections, Poe said she would push for the creation of a drug court to try only drug-related cases. This, she said, will declog the country’s criminal courts, which are saddled with thousands of unresolved cases.

She said she would also strengthen the Public Attorney’s Office so that the poor can have access to free and competent legal

services.

“Bibigyan ko ang mga mahihirap ng magagaling na abogado.

Magtatalaga ako ng magaling na pulis sa bawat rehiyon. At ‘pag hindi bumaba ang datos ng krimen at droga, hindi ako maghihintay ng dalawang araw, ako mismo tatanggalin ko ‘yung provincial police para mapalitan ng gumagawa ng trabaho. (I will provide competent lawyers to the poor. I will assign efficient police to each region.

And if crime and drug rates don’t go down, I won’t wait for two days, I will fire the provincial police so he could be replaced immediately),” she said.

Poe said the appointment of local police chiefs must not be politicized to ensure that the Philippine National Police (PNP) force across the country will be impartial.

“Hindi pwedeng political ang appointment ng pulis. Kailangan ang pulis ay nagtatrabaho para sa inyo dahil naniniwala ako na ang tao ay hindi dapat matakot sa gobyerno. Ang gobyerno ang dapat matakot sa inyo ‘pag hindi namin ginagawa ang aming trabaho. (The appointment of police chiefs should not be politicized.

The police should be working for the people because I believe that the citizens should not be afraid of the government. The government should be afraid of the people if we don’t do our job),” she further said.

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A

A10 May 6-12, 2016 • NORCaL aSIaN JOURNaL

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2016

AngelA K. Ho And nAncy Miller

Journal O Visa: New guidance for individuals of Extraordinary Ability

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released long-awaited policy guidance for adjudicating O nonimmigrant petitions in cases where comparable evidence is introduced as an alternative standard. The government grants O-1A and O-1B visas to those individuals of objectively “extraordinary ability” in the fields of science, education, business, athletics or the arts. Ballet dancers and choreographers, Olympic champions, movie and TV production crew, pioneering researchers and professors, innovative artists and designers, fine dining chefs and Nobel Prize laureates are just a few examples of individuals who can be eligible for an O visa. For many, the challenge of a successful O petition is convincing the government that the body of achievement submitted rises to the level of “extraordinary ability” and relates to the requested period in the United States.

Normally, the beneficiary can demonstrate “extraordinary ability” by submitting evidence listed in the regulations—such as awards, publications, and other widely recognized distinctions—that prove that the individual is operating at the highest level in their field. In some cases, demonstrating extraordinary ability in particular fields does not neatly comport with the list of acceptable evidence. For those individuals, the “comparable evidence” provision exists as a catch-all umbrella for USCIS to accept equivalent forms of evidence not enumerated in the regulations. However, in order to even use this provision, petitioners have had to first establish that the majority of the listed criteria do not readily apply to the beneficiary’s occupation. Once that case is made, only then will USCIS consider the comparable evidence provided.

USCIS’ new guidance firmly does away with this numerically driven requirement. USCIS will now consider equivalent, compa-

rable evidence in support of the beneficiary’s claim of extraordinary ability instead of disregarding it if they believe other means listed in the regulations would suffice. By interpreting the regulations in a more open manner, the government acknowledges that extraordinary ability in an occupation can fit more than one conventional measure of achievement. Comparable evidence can now be considered on equal footing with the other listed evidence in the regulations rather than a last resort alternative after other avenues have been exhausted. By allowing comparable evidence to be more readily considered in adjudications, the government has expanded the scope of O visa eligibility to be more fair and inclusive. In this day and age, innovative or unconventional occupations that nonetheless entail extraordinary ability should be eligible for O visas and the government’s new guidance concurs with this new reality.

In the policy memo, USCIS lays out how officers should now adjudicate O visas when a beneficiary wishes to use comparable evidence. If a particular criterion in the regulations does not apply to the beneficiary’s occupation, the comparable evidence provision can then be used to provide additional relevant evidence even if other listed means are available. Before, USCIS officers would deny O visas on the grounds that the other listed evidentiary means were not exhausted. Now, the guidance states that summary denial should not result in those grounds.

Some guidelines apply for employing comparable evidence. First, the petitioner must explain why a particular evidentiary criterion is not easily applicable to the beneficiary’s occupation. Second, the petitioner must give an argument for why the submitted comparable evidence is equivalently significant.

Third, even with the revised accep-

Your Immigration Solution

tance of comparable evidence in O visa adjudications, petitioners must still take care to satisfy O eligibility requirements under the regulations. Additionally, the standard of review for establishing eligibility requirements of the O-1A and O-1B remains a preponderance of the evidence—the petitioner must show that what it claims is “more likely true” or “probably” true.

Nevertheless, this is undoubtedly good news for those individuals of extraordinary ability who may have less recognizable accolades of excellence. Although we will have now have new considerations on how to approach O-1A and O-1B petitions, USCIS’ guidance shows that the government is willing to take a less rigid position on these nonimmigrant visas. Overall, USCIS asserts that it will assess the petition on both the quality and quantity of evidence offered. Arbitrary dismissal of good, probative evidence, which aggrieved past O-1 hopefuls, should hopefully be an uncommon occurrence. A final version of the policy memorandum should be released by the end of this year.

Applications for a visa for one with extraordinary ability are best done by an attorney with extraordinary ability. For that reason, be sure that the lawyer you hire is one who is an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration firms in the United States with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Manila.

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

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

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CJ

Strong demand to drive GDP at fastest pace among Asean-5

Nations (Asean)-5.

The IMF said Philippine real GDP growth is likely to hit 6 perTHE Philippines is poised to cent this year and 6.2 percent in be the fastest growing economy 2017, higher than Indonesia’s in Southeast Asia this year and 4.9 and 5.3 percent; Malaysia’s the next, the International Mon- 4.4 and 4.8 percent; Thailand’s etary Fund (IMF) said in a new 3 percent and 3.2 percent; and Singapore 1.8 percent and 2.2 regional report.

In its “Regional Economic Out- percent, respectively.

Domestic demand look for Asia and the Pacific,” the “The modest uptick in growth multilateral institution forecasts higher 2016-2017 gross domes- is expected to be driven by the tic product (GDP) growth for the continued strength of domestic Philippines compared to the rest demand, which will more than of Association of Southeast Asian offset the drag from net exports.

by MayveLin

U. carabaLLo ManilaTimes.net

The latter will remain subdued, but spillovers from China are and will continue to be smaller [in the Philippines] than in other parts of the region,” it said.

The IMF added that domestic demand would benefit from higher public consumption and investment growth, but private demand was also expected to remain buoyant, helped by low unemployment, low oil prices, and higher workers’ remittances.

“Private investment growth is expected to remain robust owing

u PAGE CJ2

OFW families should invest more, says BSP

by Lawrence

agcaoiLi Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has stressed the need for the beneficiaries of cash remittances from overseas Filipinos to invest more, amid the increasing access to financial services of migrant workers and their families.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said investments by overseas Filipino households has only increased to 6.5 percent in the first quarter of the year from 2.3 percent in 2007, while savings surged to 43.4 percent from 7.2 BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said investments by overseas Filipino percent.

Results of the BSP’s Consumer Expectations households has only increased to 6.5 percent in the first quarter of the year from 2.3 percent in 2007, while savings surged to 43.4 percent from Survey showed the percentage of beneficiaries 7.2 percent.

Philstar.com file Photo

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MAY 6-12, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

The CTV Files Atty. Dennis ChuA, esq.

WHEN a legal permanent resident files for citizenship, one of the questions being asked of the applicant is whether the applicant has ever been convicted or charged with a crime. Depending on the nature of the crime committed, a criminal conviction may result in a permanent bar to an applicant for citizenship.

If an applicant has committed the crime of murder or an aggravated felony, the applicant will never be granted US citizenship.

An aggravated felony may include the following crimes: rape; sexual abuse of a minor; drug trafficking; firearm trafficking; child pornography; laundering of monetary instruments where the amount exceeds $10,000. Aside from having the citizenship application denied, the applicant will most likely be put in removal proceedings once the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finds out that the applicant has been convicted of one of these crimes.

There are some criminal con-

Community Journal

Crimes that may affect your citizenship application victions that may temporarily bar applicants from obtaining US citizenship. This means that if an applicant has been convicted of a crime, the applicant would have to wait for a certain period of time within which to apply for citizenship. In some cases, the applicant would have to wait for five years from the commission of the crime to apply for citizenship. Some of these crimes that will temporarily bar an applicant for citizenship are as follows: (1) participation in illegal vice activities such as prostitution; (2) conviction or admission of a crime involving moral turpitude; (3) spending 180 days or more in jail or prison for any crime; (4) conviction of two or more crimes, the combination of which the applicant got a total prison sentence of five years or more. These crimes would prevent an applicant from showing good moral character during the required period of time.

However, there are some crimes which would temporarily bar an applicant from obtaining US citizenship if the applicant is still undergoing probation. An example would be a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). An applicant

with a DUI conviction will have his or her application denied if the probation is still ongoing. The probation period for a DUI conviction is usually for three years. Applicants with DUI convictions may have the option of having their probation terminated earlier thus making them eligible to apply for citizenship.

If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, it is best that the applicant seek legal advice from an attorney to determine eligibility in filing for citizenship and more importantly the consequences of the criminal conviction on the applicant’s immigration status.

***

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

(Advertising Supplement)

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What you need to know

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA BECAUSE times have been so tough for an extended length of time, many are looking for ways to cope financially. Job growth in many US industries has ground to a halt. Yet in good and bad times, there are many offers of opportunities to make money in multilevel marketing and direct sales organizations that depend on a network of people (bodies) to push their products or services.

Properly and ethically done, multilevel marketing can work for some. One caveat: If you don’t like selling or dealing with people and all that it entails, you would do well to look elsewhere.

Here’s an article that may shed some light on this practice should you decide to go this route.

For some reason, multilevel marketing organizations find ethnic communities fertile ground for their recruitment campaigns. The promise of riches to the unsuspecting immigrant is a bait that works nearly all the time. Know that there are legitimate companies who operate this way and may be worth your while and a host of others on the pyramid scheme that operate bordering on the illegal and/or unethical.

Here is how it works. A company sells different products ranging from such mundane products as household cleaners; vanity products such as cosmetics or health and diet formulas as well as financial products such as travel, insurance or securities.

There are supposedly two ways to make money. You generate revenue as a direct retailer and salesperson of the product yourself buying products from the company and reselling them to your own customer base initially consisting of a circle of relatives and friends. As you run out of family and friends to sell to, you eventually expand to other prospects, including strangers by using cold calling and other prospecting techniques.

Note that the company will stress that the more lucrative way to make money is to recruit people as your downline into the company. You earn override commissions from the sales of

“The darkest hour of any man’s life is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it.”

— Horace Greeley

those you have recruited who in turn, can recruit others for their downline. On and on it goes with recruitment providing the lifeblood of the multilevel marketing organization that suffers eventually from the natural law of attrition as members often lose interest or bail out.

The one who recruited you, your upline, earns a commission off of you. The company’s structure resembles a pyramid of hundreds or thousands of other pyramids. This concept feeds on the dream of most immigrants that with a minimum of investment on their part and a consuming desire to succeed, the organization can help them become rich quickly.

Multilevel marketing companies spend tons of money to produce slick and smooth presentations replete with testimonials—very often emotional—of people within the organization claiming that being in the company, doing everything the company does, has done a tremendous difference in their lives with tremendous wealth and a quality of life beyond imagining.

The websites of successful multilevel marketing organizations gush in florid, emotional language claiming individual success. A few of these stories may be true; others however, may have been spun by spin doctors.

Recruits: BEWARE! Before you give up your regular job or sign up to do this on a part time basis, ask yourself this question: Do you like to sell?

This is a nonstop selling job and for you to realize your dreams of wealth, you have to sell prodigiously and tirelessly because no product, no matter how excellent and necessary, ever sells itself.

Do you believe in the product? Does it have value and merit and is it fairly priced? Is this something that is really up along your alley, something you can do for long periods of time and from which you can really make a good living and be happy with what you do? How reputable is the outfit? Are there

pending lawsuits and of what nature? Has it been around for a considerable length of time or is it a company that is merely riding high on current hype—here today and gone tomorrow? How many of your friends and relatives are already part of it and how are they faring with their sales efforts?

Here is a caveat for those embarking on a multilevel marketing career. To be good at selling something, you must believe in it with passion. And because you want to succeed so much, you then have a tendency to talk about nothing else but the product you are selling. If you are not careful, you will transform yourself to a boring, predictable person to your friends and relatives who will tend to scamper in all directions when they see you, thinking up all sorts of excuses to avoid being sold to. Keep your balance even as you try to succeed in a multilevel sales career.

An early warning flag that the organization may not be what it claims to be is if you are asked to pay an up-front fee just to get in on the ground floor—in exchange for a starter kit consisting of some brochures, a video and sample products. You might as well kiss that money goodbye. Organizations with good solid reputations in existence for some years with no major lawsuits might be your best bet.

Regard with deep suspicion any group that pushes recruitment with very little emphasis on the product or service it is selling. It could be an outright scam. On the other hand, if the product, just by word of mouth, gets great reviews from ordinary people who have nothing to gain by pushing it, it is likely that the company is a good one worth looking into if you are truly a salesperson at heart and you feel strongly that a sales career is where your talents lie. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Philippines is 3rd fastest growing auto market in Asean in Q1

by Richmond

S. meRcuRio

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines remained among the most profitable automotive markets in the region as it recorded the third fastest growth in motor vehicle sales among seven countries in Southeast Asia in the first quarter.

Data from the Asean Automotive Federation showed vehicle sales in the region from January to March fell 3.8 percent to 741,392 units from 770,566 units in the same period last year.

Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines were the only markets that saw an uptick in sales during the period.

Philippine vehicle sales accelerated 21.6 percent to 76,479 units in the first three months of the year from 62,882 units during the same period in 2015.

Singapore emerged as the region’s fastest-growing automotive market during the quarter with an 80.4 percent year-on-year sales growth followed by Vietnam with a 37.4 percent jump.

Meanwhile, vehicle sales in Brunei posted the largest yearon-year drop at 28.9 percent followed by Malaysia with a 22

percent decline.

Indonesia and Thailand – the two biggest automotive markets in the region – likewise saw automotive sales slipped 5.4 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

Volume-wise, the Philippines sold the fourth most number of motor vehicles in the region within the three-month period.

Indonesia sold 267,227 units while Thailand and Malaysia sold 181,560 units and 131,267 units, respectively.

Aside from the country’s booming vehicle sales, Philippine motor vehicle production has also been the rise, the Asean Automo-

tive Federation report showed.

A total 25,209 units were assembled in the country in the first quarter, 18.4 percent higher from 21,285 units produced in the same period last year.

Aside from the Philippines, only Vietnam recorded higher year-on-year production among the five Asean Automotive Federation members that have local assembly operations.

Philippine vehicle production, however, still has a lot of catching up to do to be at par with production in Thailand (506,874 units), Indonesia (285,093 units), and Malaysia (129,591 units). n

IMF: PH growth to lead Asean in…

PAGE CJ1 t

to improvements in public infrastructure and implementation of public-private partnership projects,” it said.

The IMF forecasts were lower than the government’s 6.8 percent to 7.8 percent target for 2016 as well as the 6.6 percent to 7.6 percent range set for 2017.

GDP growth eased to 5.8 percent last year from 6.1 percent in 2014 on the back of a slowdown in exports and other factors.

Asia growth engine Meanwhile, the IMF said growth in Asia and the Pacific is expected to remain strong at 5.3 percent this year and next, accounting for almost two-thirds of global growth.

Despite a slight moderation, it said Asia remains the engine of global growth.

While external demand remains sluggish, domestic demand continues to show resilience across most of the region, driven by low unemployment, growth in disposable income, lower commodities prices, and

macroeconomic stimulus, it added.

“Of course, Asia is impacted by the still weak global recovery, and by the ongoing and necessary rebalancing in China,” said Changyong Rhee, director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the IMF. “But domestic demand has remained remarkably resilient throughout most of the region, supported by rising real incomes, especially in commodity importers, and supportive macroeconomic policies in many countries,” he added.

Facing risks However, IMF stressed that the region faces a number of external challenges, including slow growth in advanced economies, a broad slowdown across emerging markets, weak global trade, persistently low commodity prices, and increasingly volatile global financial markets.

These risks compound domestic vulnerabilities, such as high debt incurred in recent years. In the short term, China’s transi-

tion to a new growth model will disrupt its regional partners, especially those heavily exposed to the region’s biggest economy.

Geopolitical tensions and domestic policy uncertainty add risks of potential trade disruptions or lower domestic demand, it also said.

Natural disasters, too, can reverse economic gains, particularly in lower-income countries and small states, including many Pacific islands. Small states also face the challenge of reduced financial services by global banks or “de-risking” which could hold back financial inclusion and growth.

The report also recognizes, however, that the outcome could turn out more positive than forecast.

Low commodity prices could be a bigger boost to the region’s economies than expected; and regional and multilateral trade agreements, such as the TransPacific Partnership, could benefit Asia-Pacific even before they are ratified, it said. n

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

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ MANY people were ordered removed/deported “in absentia” (in their absence) because they did not appear at their removal hearing. However, if they were not properly notified of the hearing date, there could be hope to have the case reopened and have the removal/deportation order canceled.

By law, an alien must provide the government with their current address and let the government know if they move or have a change of address. But, if the government then sends the hearing notice to an old or incorrect address, this could be a basis to have the case reopened. There was a recent court case, where an alien was picked up and provided the immigration officer with her current address. The immigration officer issued a Notice to Appear (NTA), listing her previous address, and then later sent a notice of the date and time of the hearing to that same old address.

Naturally, the alien failed to appear at the hearing, because she never received the notice. The court held that because the government sent the hearing notice to the old address after the alien had notified the government of her current address, it was improper to have her ordered re-

The Kite Runner Prof. enriQue M. SoriAno I HAD a wonderful time exchanging notes with the participants of my Family Business Talk last Friday, April 29, at the Holiday Inn in Makati. It was a sold out event with whole families coming in droves and occupying several tables armed with loads of questions related to governance.

To those who attended, many thanks! It is my sincere desire that the key learning highlighted in the talk can translate into actual application and pocket wins leading to harmony and growth in your respective family businesses.

Family feuds in the Philippines, and elsewhere in the world, have always been about money, lots of money. However, although estate fights are commonly perceived to be just about money, there is almost always more to a family war than just the money.

Many estate disputes are sewn by the seeds of jealousy, greed, thirst for control, bitterness, hatred, and hurt feelings resulting from real or perceived preferential treatment by a parent.

The infighting becomes more intense if the patriarch or matriarch had another family on the side or children from previous marital relationships. A significant number of inheritance disputes also involve testators and

Dr. Val’s Dental Views Dr. VAlerie

De leon

WHO doesn’t love a little sunshine? Not only does it feel fantastic, but it also has numerous health benefits. Sunshine improves our mood, our immune functions, and catalyzes vitamin D production in our bodies.

Vitamin D is important to our healthy smiles Vitamin D supports oral health in two ways: 1. It helps our bodies absorb and utilize calcium. One of vitamin D’s major functions is moderating other vitamins and minerals—including calcium. Calcium fortifies our teeth and supports jaw and bone strength. That’s why we fortify milk (a great source of calcium) with vitamin D. This is referenced in numerous

Community Journal

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Relief from removal/ deportation because notice sent to old address moved in absentia.

If you have been ordered removed, but did not receive proper notice, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your case and advise you on the best course of action. However, be aware of the following: • If you received a hearing notice sent to your current address, but were just too afraid to go to the hearing, this ruling would not necessarily apply to you, as it deals with situations where the person did not receive notice.

• The government would want written proof you notified them of your current or new address (i.e. certified letter, AR-11, etc.), versus your mere “verbal” testimony, such as “I made a phone call and told the person I moved.

But I did not get their name and there is nothing in writing to prove my story.” (However, in the above case, the alien verbally provided the immigration officer of her new address. But written proof is better and stronger).

• If you will seek to reopen your case, it would be a good idea that you already have a “form of relief” available to you, or an immediate way to get a green card, such as you may have married a US citizen, your U.S. born child is now over 21, etc. It may not do any good to have a case reopened if you do

not have a way to get a green card at that time. This is because the judge may reopen the case, due to your lack of notice, and just re – order you removed.

• It is also important to evaluate the reasons you were originally placed in removal/deportation, such as did you overstay, or did you commit a serious crime?

That is why it is best to first have an attorney evaluate your case, gather and package the appropriate proof and documentation, and represent you in court. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

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

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

Family feuds and shattered families beneficiaries who come from dysfunctional families, are mentally ill or addicted.

According to lawyer P. Mark Accettura, author of the book “Blood & Money: Why Families Fight Over Inheritance and What To Do About It,” the combatants can always trace their problems back several years, if not all the way back to childhood. It is clear that inheritance conflict doesn’t come out of nowhere; it is a continuation of long-term relationship problems that resurface upon the illness or death of a loved one.

And they aren’t just about money or greed; they are about more, much more. But what is it that so often drives people to wage war against their own flesh and blood over a loved one’s estate?

There are five basic reasons why families fight in matters of inheritance. Author Mark Accettura accurately points to the following: 1. First, humans are genetically predisposed to competition and conflict; 2. Our psychological sense of self is intertwined with the approval that an inheritance represents, especially when the decedent is a parent, 3. We are genetically hardwired to be on the lookout for exclusion, sometimes finding it when it doesn’t exist; 4. Families fight because the death of a loved one activates the death anxieties of those left be-

hind; and finally, 5. In some cases, one or more members of a family has a partial or full-blown personality disorder that causes them to distort and escalate natural family rivalries into personal and legal battles.

Accettura cites that these sources of family conflict are not mutually exclusive; in most cases, some combination of the five elements present themselves in a combustible cocktail of family rivalry and conflict. Case in point: The bitter family squabble over the estate left by Lawyer and businessman Potenciano “Nanoy” Ilusorio, which included shares in Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat) and the Baguio Country Club, valued at between one and two billion pesos at the time of his death in 2001.

Pitting one set of siblings against another, the Ilusorio family feud has dragged on for more than 15 years now, clogged the court system with more than 300 legal suits and counter-suits, and entertained the idly curious as it played out in the media over the years. To quote media covering the conflict: “It’s not the first ‘prominent/ wealthy family’ inheritance battle waged nor will it certainly be the last, but the on-going estate litigation of Potenciano ‘Nanoy’ Ilusorio’s heirs has emerged as

u PAGE CJ4

How a little sunshine helps our teeth studies that have shown greater cavity risk for people living in regions with little sunlight… Sometimes as much as double the risk.

2. It may help fight periodontal disease. Vitamin D also functions as an anti-inflammatory. Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults, and it’s a result of inflammation of the gums due to harmful bacteria.

Several studies have found that people who have high levels of vitamin D are less likely to experience bleeding gums and gum detachment.

It doesn’t take long to get the vitamin D your body needs from the sun. But for those times when you can’t get daily sunlight, you can also obtain vitamin D from these foods: • egg yolks or fatty fish • fortified milk, soy milk, or-

ange juice and cereals • vitamin D supplements Grab a little sunshine today!

Of course, we need to be careful about how much sun exposure we’re getting. You don’t need to sunbathe all day to get the vitamin D your body needs!

Take this blog post as an excuse to go outside today and drink up a few rays.

Thanks for being a part of our practice family. We appreciate you! *** If you have questions, pls call Dr. Valerie de Leon at (650) 697–9000 or visit our website at www.millbraesmiles.com.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

OFW families should invest more, says…

using remittances to invest only almost tripled over the nine-year period, while those using remittances to save booked a six-fold increase.

“The challenge and the opportunity is to encourage more investments by overseas Filipino households,” he said.

Tetangco said the survey showed that 97.3 percent of overseas Filipino households use remittances to purchase food and other household needs.

Cash remittances went up 4.6 percent to a record $25.8 billion last year, while personal remittances inched up 4.4 percent to $28.5 billion.

Remittances accounted for 9.8 percent of the country’s domestic output as measured by the gross

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2016

domestic product.

Personal and cash remittances have been a dependable source of strength for the Philippine economy, amounting to $228 billion between 2005 and 2015.

“The importance of remittances for enhancing the financial stability of overseas Filipinos and the economic growth of our country cannot be overemphasized,” Tetangco said.

The World Bank has ranked the Philippines as the third largest remittance-receiving country after India and China.

The BSP chief said banks and financial institutions should develop and promote products suited for the needs of overseas Filipinos.

“Financial education is essential for overseas Filipinos to realize the opportunities – as well

as possible pitfalls – in investments. Equally important, financial institutions should consider it their responsibility to inform overseas Filipinos of their rights and protection as financial consumers,” he added.

According to Tetangco, the BSP has put in place policies and programs to enable the development of a wide range of products that could cater to the needs of overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries through a nationwide Economic and Financial Learning Program.

Through the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, the BSP together with 12 other government agencies, would provide a financial system that is accessible and responsive in greater financial inclusion. n

FATHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE AFTER 40 YEARS OF LIFE-CHANGING CHOICES AND “MISFORTUNES” ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Decades ago, Tatay Rolando left his wife and daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the US. After getting his green card, he petitioned his family, except for Anna Lyn (center) who had turned 21, and was left behind. The years that followed became a series of rough twists and turns for Anna Lyn, including being caught attempting to enter the US on a fraudulent visa. After a fraud waiver prepared by another attorney was denied, leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) put together a convincing fraud waiver package that was quickly approved, paving the way for the much-awaited, happy reunion of this family on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – new time of 2:50pm (PST) and 5:50pm (EST) only this Sunday, May 8 – to give way to the Halalan 2016 coverage on TFC.

Fraudulent visa, fraud denial, broken marriage, and other misfortunes for this desperate daughter – on Citizen Pinoy ANNA LYN was left behind in the Philippines after her family migrated to the US. When she attempted to enter the US with a fraudulent passport and assumed name visa in 1995, she was caught at the airport, charged with fraud, and sent immediately back to the Philippines. A series of other misfortunes fell on Anna Lyn’s lap, including a marriage to a US citizen who abandoned her; denial of a fraud waiver, and

another relationship that did not work out.

The family heard of the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, but later engaged the services of another lawyer who was “cheaper”, but could not deliver results.

Anna Lyn’s parents finally decided that Atty. Gurfinkel could be their only hope.

And true enough, despite a previous denial of her fraud waiver, leading US immigration attorney

Calendar of Events across

Michael Gurfinkel put together a well-prepared fraud waiver package, which was quickly approved, paving the way for a tearful, but joyous reunion for the family.

A first Christmas together after 40 years for this family, on a brand-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY–new time of 2:50 pm (PST) and 5:50 pm (EST) only this Sunday, May 8 – to give way to the Halalan 2016 coverage on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST-EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS M AY 7

PUP/PCC to hold 1st Global Reunion Attention all graduates of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine College of Commerce: join us in our FIRST GLOBAL REUNION being organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association, USA Inc. scheduled on May 27-29, 2016 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the New Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. We promise a weekend of fun-filled activities, of friendship and camaraderie as we reminisce our best memories during our high school and college days. There will be lots of entertainment, singing and dancing and photo opportunities with your classmates and friends.

For more information, please contact any of the following: Loi Herrera at 562-5448210 or loiherrera@yahoo.com; Monette Santillan-Rivera at 818-970-8317 or Monette_santillan@yahoo.com; Rose Mejia at 323-997-3838 or Rosemariemejia@kw.com; Marissa Sugay-Palanca at 818-281-7460 or marispalanca@yahoo.com; Rose Maghari at 661-7948906 or rmaghari@gmail.com; Sally Mendoza at323-695-0235 or sally.mendoza616@ yahoo.com; Honeylette De Leon at 562-480-5743 or honey@worldclassfreight.com; Virginia Herbito at virginiaherbito@gmail.com; Connie Acosta at 323-854-5303 or connieacosta1@ att.net; Violeta D. Cristobal at 310-880-5808or vee@cristobalcpa.com; Jun Mapoy at 323627-5326 or jcmapoy@yahoo.com.

Disco Inferno Join the AM-FM Band for a night of dance classic hits from the ‘70s – disco, swing, boogie, cha cha, soul and disco funk! Be there for a night of great food, live dance music, a chance to party with LA’s beautiful people and network with the best! Tickets are $25 with dinner. The event will take place at 7pm at the Republiq Dance Studio at 3756 W Avenue 40, Suite E, Los Angeles, CA 90065. For tickets, call (818) 521-6009 or (323) 497-3492.

JUNE 4

Piyesta Pinoy Bolingbrook Please join us on Saturday, June 4 for the 3rd Philippine Fest Celebration (Piyesta Pinoy sa Bolingbrook) at the beautiful Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center (375 W. Briarcliff Rd. Bolingbrook, IL). This year’s event will include a variety of food vendors, business, merchandise, and non-profit organizations, as well as hours of dance, games, and musical entertainment, including special guest performances. The Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) is proud to promote and share our rich Filipino cultural heritage and traditions in America. Your participation and support are always valuable and critical to the survival of PACF and its programs. For more information, or to volunteer, perform, exhibit, or donate, please visit www.piyestapinoy.net, or email Piyestpinoy@gmail.com.

Missionary Society of St. Columban Dinner-Dance The Missionary Society of St. Columban will hold its annual dinner dance event on June 4th, 6pm, at the Friendship Auditorium (3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90941).

Organized by the Dancing for the World, an affiliate of the Columbans, will celebrate the “Year of Mercy” to echo and emphatically support the call of Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year.

This year is very important to be responsive to the call of the church and be faithful to the mission of God because God is by nature merciful. Thanks to the many dedicated missionaries, priests, sisters and lay missionaries who responded to the call of God and live among the poor to make a difference and allow God’s mercy to flow into the hearts of those they minister. For more information, please visit www.columban.org. The Dancing for the World event on June 4 is also an opportunity to meet supporters, donors and friends to thank them for their valuable contribution to the Columban mission. Event will include delicious food, ballroom dancing, and fabulous raffle prizes. (For this year, the first prize will be a cruise for two to Mexican Riviera. The second prize is a Flat screen TV. The third prize is a Tablet.) There are many amazing prizes available for all lucky winners. The dinner dance ticket is $40.Reserve your tickets now or before May 15. For information and tickets please contact Carmencita Enriquez (213) 880-5075 or Ariel Presbitero (323) 691-5262, or at: 2919 Moss Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Thank you in advance on behalf of the Missionary Society of St. Columban and the Dancing for the World committee members.

Please continue praying for all Columban Missionaries all over the world and the success of this event.

JUNE 11

7K Fun Run Life Steps Foundation presents its 1st Annual Social Dynamics 7K Fun Run to be held in San Francisco, A on June 11, 2016. The start line will be located between Lake Merced Blvd. and Sunset Blvd. Parking will be available. Registration fee is $40; there is an optional pledge of $10 per mile. The registration fee includes snacks, water, a medal and a fun run t-shirt. Proceeds from the fun run will benefit adults with development disabilities and behavioral challenges who require assistance and supervision. Interested participants may to sign up by visiting the website: www.LifeStepsFoundation.org. Donations and pledges are also accepted via their website. For more information, contact Stephen Victoriano at (650) 259-1808.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

CJ

Business news

MAY 6-12, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Traveling to Asia?

Fly China Airlines and enjoy a free half-day tour courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau The thought of flying halfway across the world for more 12 hours is sometimes too daunting for many people. Understandably, long haul flights do not hold any appeal even to the most seasoned travelers. Long haul flights are intimidating if you travel infrequently. The journey could be very exhausting. Not only does it wreak havoc to your body but affects your sleeping pattern as well.

And for us Asians who had made America our home, taking long haul flights had been the norm rather than the rule if we are to maintain our close relationship with our families and friends back home. When travelling halfway across the globe to see family and friends or attend some important business engagement, the last thing you want is to arrive at your destination dragging yourself due to exhaustion.

Surely there are ways to address this. Fortunately, airlines are constantly upgrading their services to address and meet the needs of their passengers – especially their loyal customers.

And the good news is that some flights are certainly better than others because some airlines have fine-tuned the long-haul experience to make it as comfortable and pleasant to the passengers as possible.

One such airline is China Airlines, which operates twice weekly flights between Los Angeles

and Taipei. The airline is one of a handful of carriers that are really reinventing their passenger experience from the ground up.

Among China Airlines’ many innovations is the Family Couch, which it launched in 2014. It is a cost-effective and new alternative to business class’ 180-degree flat bed seats. Available on all its B777 routes, China Airlines’ Family Couch is a row of three Economy Class seats that together adapt to create a flat flexible space to stretch out and relax in, giving the passenger the opportunity to enjoy a comfortable sleep inflight. The Family Couch is perfect for those travelling with small children because the seats are specially designed to convert into a sofa.

China Airlines, Taiwan’s largest airline, is reported to be the first airline other than Air New Zealand to install the Family Couch seats, which are not only revolutionary but also provide comfort and ease to those flying long haul. What could be more appealing than arriving at your destination well rested, refreshed and eager to plunge into the day’s activities?

China Airlines’ Premium Economy cabin also offers a pleasant comfortable flying experience.

China Airlines Premium Economy Cabin features wider seats perfectly suited for sitting in pairs, and a lot more passenger space that increases your per-

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is an impressive monument built in commemoration of the late President Chiang.

Photo courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau

sonal space from your neighbor.

Other features include enhanced dining options compared to economy, improved amenity kits, inflight entertainment is extensive with an excellent range of current blockbusters and classic films which can be viewed on individual 12.1” touchscreen monitor. Plus, there’s Wi-Fi onboard.

And if you are a transit or transfer passenger with 7- to 24-hour layovers before your next connecting flight, who have a valid visa, or from a country eligible for visa-exempt entry to Taiwan, you can avail of the Free Half-Day Tour offered by China Airlines in partnership with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

Passenger can choose from two tours that are available depending on your arrival in Taiwan: the morning tour or the afternoon tour. The morning tour will give you an opportunity to visit Taiwan’s Shou Sin Fang Creativity Wagashi and Cultural Center, a pastry factory in Taipei, which showcases Taiwan’s local cakes and pastries. Here visitors experience the production process, see artifacts displays, and experience other services,

Family feuds and shattered…

PAGE CJ3 t

one of the longest, nastiest, most public, no-holds-barred litigious family feuds in Philippine history or in the annals of jurisprudence.”

Far from easing tensions, the death last Feb. 17, 2016 of Potenciano’s widow, Erlinda “Nena” Kalaw-Ilusorio, in New York City, seems to have raised the simmering bad blood between the rival family factions back to boiling point.

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In a newspaper article that came out two months ago, the rival factions are now said to be fighting over the ashes of the dearly departed, a weird echo of the tug-of-war they played over the custody of their aged and non compos mentis father just before his death in 2001, and quite possibly, a prelude to renewed fighting on the legal front over her estate, on top of the pending tussle over other Ilusorio assets. (To be continued)

*** Prof. Soriano is an ASEAN Family Business Advisor, Book Author and Executive Director of ASEAN-based Consulting group, Wong + Bernstein Advisory. He is slated to deliver a series of talks in the US this May. Grab Prof Soriano’s book as he shares his insights and offer solutions to Family Businesses through his second book entitled “Ensuring The Family Business Legacy”. For those interested, please call Marianne at +639255224713 or email her at mrevilla@wongadvisory.com. Prof Soriano’s business articles can also be accessed at www.Faminbusiness.com.

Zushi Temple, one of the destinations featured in the free half-day Taipei tour, was built in honor of Song Dynasty loyalist Chen Chao-ying, a famous general who was deified as “Protector of the Country” for his achievements and valor.

A product presentation seminar jointly conducted by Taiwan Tourism Bureau and China Airlines features the Free Half-Day Taipei Tour. Filipinos traveling to the Philippines who are in transit or have a layover of at least 7 hours in Taipei can participate in the Free Half-Day Tour courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

Photo courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau

which provide them a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s culture and customs. From there, the tour takes the visitor to Sanxia, about 22 kilometers southwest of Taipei. It is a bustling town with narrow, winding streets and brick buildings, many of them over a century old. The main attraction here is the Zushi Temple, which was built in honor of Song Dynasty loyalist Chen Chao-ying, a famous general who was deified as “Protector of the Country” for his achievements and valor. The temple is known for its intricately carved stone and bronze columns and statues, and especially for its unique bird art. There are also carved stone lions, camphor

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woodcarvings, and exquisite bronze bas-reliefs.

The afternoon tour, meanwhile, features the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, an impressive monument built in commemoration of the late President Chiang.

The majestic hall towers over 25 hectares of landscaped gardens, pavilions and ponds. Here you will find the statue of the late president looking out over the city from the main building. Another highlight of the afternoon tour is a visit to Longshan Temple, located in Taipei’s Wanhua District. The temple was founded in 1738 and is dedicated to Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The temple houses hundreds

PSYCHIC

SERVICES

FOSTER HOMECARE

of statues of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian deities. Paintings of various creatures grace the temple walls, while stone statues of mystical creatures stand guard on the temple grounds.

Citizens from India, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia who have a valid visa or hold a permanent resident certificates from US, Canada, Japan, UK, Schengen countries, Australia or New Zealand are also eligible to avail and participate in the Free Half-Day Tour. Remember, however, that you must have a valid travel documents, such as your passport and a completed immigration disembarkation card.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau and China Airlines make it easy for passenger to participate in the Free Half-Day Tour. All you have to do is book a tour upon your arrival at the airport at the designated Tourist Service Center in the Arrival Lobby. One thing to keep in mind: passengers can join only one tour during each stopover. It is also worth nothing that the tour is offered on a first come, first serve basis, with each tour limited to 18 passengers. For group application of four passengers or less you may email your application to the airport at cks@tbroc.gov.tw within 10 to 5 working days prior to your departure date. However, for bigger group of five passengers or more, the application must be sent directly to Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s head office at tinghung@tbroc.gov.tw within one month or 14 days prior to departure date.

Filipino-Americans who plan on traveling to the Philippines for the coming Christmas season may want to consider taking advantage of the comfort offered

by China Airlines’ Family Couch seats or its Premium Economy Cabin. Promotions are ongoing right now, so you may want to contact your travel agents as soon as possible and avail of the free half-day tour in Taipei courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau during your layover before continuing on your onward journey to the Philippines. *** Manny V. Ilagan is a Tourism Specialist with over 23 years experience in the tourism and travel industry. He provides travel consultancy services to some of the biggest wholesalers and tour operators in the country as well as to some airline companies. He is the former Tourism Director-OIC of the Philippine Department of Tourism-Los Angeles, where he worked for over two decades. As a writer, he has written numerous articles about travel and tourism, which have been published in various Filipino-American newspapers in Los Angeles and San Diego.

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

PeoPle & events

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2016

CJ

San Mateo County Parks asking visitors about their park experience THE San Mateo County Parks Department wants to learn more about its visitors. To do so, the Department is launching a visitor study that will occur during the next six weeks. The surveys will take place in 20 parks spread throughout the County.

Park visitors can expect to see rangers and volunteers holding tablets or iPads and posing questions on a variety of topics, including the different activities visitors enjoy when in a park, how they get park information, and if they are satisfied with their park experience. On average the survey takes seven to eight minutes to complete.

Participants who are willing to complete a follow-up questionnaire will be entered into a drawing for a $100 REI gift card or a San Mateo County Parks pass that allows free entrance into all San Mateo County Parks for one year. The random sampling approach of the survey means that not every person leaving the park will be surveyed yet the data will be accurate enough to be used for evaluations and recommendations.

This is the first time San Mateo County Parks has done a study this extensive. The initial phase of the project began in late 2015 with community focus groups held in four locations in the County.

Concord’s Music and Market, special events offer free family fun ON May 19, the much anticipated launch of this summer’s Thursday Night Music and Market series takes place in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord. The series continues through Sept. 15 with the Farmers’ Market in the plaza from 4 to 8pm and music on the Todos Santos stage from 6:30 to 8pm.

The 28th annual Music and Market Series is one of the longest running, most popular free civic concert series in the Bay Area.

The series is funded through donations collected from attendees during last year’s concert series and by local sponsors. The 2016 sponsor list is led by Concord Disposal, Pacific Service Credit Union, Tesoro, Dolan’s Lumber, Chevron, Ashby Lumber, Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market, Concord Police Association, Brenden Theatre and the tourism consortium Visit Concord with its “Diablo Valley, Defying Expectations, Concord California” campaign.

Music and Market highlights This year’s schedule offers an eclectic mix of music from a wide variety of genres, starting May 19 when Cajun Fiddle Master Tom Rigney & Flambeau authentically re-create the sounds and feel of a Louisiana Mardi Gras. Tom Rigney was recently featured in his own hour-long segment of the film series “Music Gone Public” that was broadcast on over 100 PBS stations nationwide.

The series closes on Sept. 15 with The Purple Ones in a farewell tribute to Prince. Three additional shows in the series commemorate the music of perFor more information on South facebook.com/SouthCityFarmer- formers who have passed on.

San Francisco Farmers’ Market sMarket/ or visit the South San The Jean Genies Tribute to David please visit the City’s Farmers’ Francisco City at http://www.ssf. Bowie takes the stage June 23, Hotel California’s ‘A Salute to the Market facebook at https://www. net/2117/Farmers-Market. n The Department is partnering with San Francisco State University’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism. Professor and Principal Investigator Nina Roberts, PhD, and Professor and Research Associate Patrick Tierney, lead a team of research associates and assistants working on the San Mateo County Parks project. The San Francisco State University team has conducted similar studies for Marin County Parks and other Bay Area park agencies.

Data collected from the focus groups and in-park surveys will provide insight into visitor motivation, satisfaction and future

park interests and visitor demands. The data will be instrumental in helping the Department update its strategic plan, especially in the areas of park programs, facilities and communications.

In addition, the Department looks forward to applying study recommendations and developing innovative ways to connect with the communities it serves and improve outdoor access. Results of the survey will be available in September.

For more information about San Mateo County Parks, go to www.smcoparks.org.

(Christa Bigue)

South San Francisco Farmers’ Market open May 7-Oct. 29 THE South San Francisco Farmers’ Market season is back and opens on Saturday, May 7 at Orange Memorial Park from 10am – 2pm, continuing every Saturday until October 29.

Enjoy the tastiest local fruits and vegetables with cooking demonstrations from Chef Mario. In addition, the South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department has planned a variety of FREE activities for all ages and interests in celebration of the annual Streets Alive! Parks Alive! event from 9am to 1pm.

Additional information on special events throughout the season will be available on the City of South San Francisco’s website and on the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association website.

We hope to see Saturday!

Eagles and Glen Frey’ is slated for July 14, and Foreverland honors the music of Michael Jackson on July 26.

Among first-timers to the series this year are The Bird Dogs on June 2, getting accolades for the twin Zmed brothers, whose familial voices invoke the exquisite vocals and repertoire of the Everly Brothers. Handsome, youthful, Americana rockers Kingsborough will appear on Thursday, June 30, with rich four-part harmonies, and genuinely appealing, energetic, original songs.

Soul, funk, and R&B fans will enjoy Project 4 on Thursday, August 18. Band leader Gerald Glasper will bring the house down dressed as James Brown and other funk superstars.

World and Latin music lovers should attend the David Correa Group on Thursday, June 16 for some great flamenco and Spanish guitar. The co-bill with Dakila and Da Island Way on Thursday, July 21 blends Polynesian dance with Latin Rock. Violin and harp virtuoso Carlos Reyes and the Electric Symphony return on Thursday, August 11.

Many of the concerts are broadcast live (as well as rebroadcast) on Concord Cable TV channel 28 (Comcast), 29 (Astound) and 99 (U-Verse).

Tuesday Night Blues series July’s Tuesday Blues series returns this year with four shows from 6:30 to 8pm from July 5 to July 26. In a nod to “Women in Blues”, this year’s series will open with Concord’s own Annie Sampson, and close with LA’s charismatic blues singer Shari Puorto. The July 5 opener will also include Cool Concord Cars

- a display of vintage autos that encircles the plaza. The Fargo Brothers perform July 12, with perennial favorite Willie G taking the stage July 19.

Todos Santos Plaza special events In addition to a year-round Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays from 10am to 2pm and the summer music series’, downtown Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza features a number of special events this summer.

Concord celebrates Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 7. The event includes the Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation’s Annual All Area Music Festival, featuring music students from Mt. Diablo elementary, middle and high schools. The musical performances will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. At 1 p.m., Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister will announce the winners of the Mother’s Day Essay Contest. The AAUW Art and Wine (and Beer) Walk is also in the plaza from 1 to 4pm.

The July 4th Independence Day celebration features a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m., the Concord Police Association Stars and Stripes run at 8am, and parade at 10am. Entertainment and fireworks presented by the Todos Santos Business Arts Foundation at Mt. Diablo High School starts at 4pm.

Free parking Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in two municipal garages and on the street. For a complete listing of musical guests and event information, visit www.concordfirst.org. n

CJ

MAY 6-12, 2016 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Friday, May 6, 2016

SF2

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 6, 2016

The firsT of everyThing: firsT-Time moThers share Their joys and challenges by

oF the joys and challenges women face in life, none is more extraordinary than having their first baby. From the moment they find out about the pregnancy to the day they give birth, women will experience many changes and learn new ways to take care of their life and their growing baby.

In this Mother’s Day special feature, we asked a first-time mothers about their experiences, emotions and how they deal with their life now with their first born.

“Holding her for the very first time was when I knew that life was going to be so much brighter and happier.”

- Aileen B. Castañeda, mother to Sophie Nicola Castañeda (born March 3, 2016) Aileen said she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions when the labor and delivery nurse informed her that she was going to be admitted.

“I was very happy that I would be meeting our baby girl soon. It was exciting since I was exactly 40 weeks into pregnancy—baby was very punctual because she decided to come out her exact due date,” she said then added, “I was also

Aileen Castañeda with baby Sophia Nicola

Malou liwanag-bledsoe/AJPress

very scared since being a first time Mom, everything was all new to me. I did not know what to expect and did not know how painful labor was going to be. I had my husband (ryan) with me the whole time and he was a very good coach throughout the process, so I knew everything was going to be okay.”

Apart from the usual paranoia new mothers have such as not producing enough breast milk and not knowing what the baby needs when it cries is the fear of failing to become the best mom to sophie.

“I wanted to be prepared— read books, went to birthing classes, stocked up her nursery so there would not be any surprises, I even downloaded some apps so I can be reminded when the next feeding will be and for how long!,” Aileen shared.

“But at the end of the day, it was what it was, just a preparation. I did not know what the future holds, I knew there would be challenges ahead but I have my husband, family and friends willing to support and do anything and everything. that support and assurance alone helped overcome any first time mother fears.”

she takes cue from her hardworking mother to become a better mom to sophie. With this, she only has one wish for her daughter. “there will come a time when she will face her own challenges in life. I wish she can embrace and be passionate of the good values my husband and I will instill in her. I hope that she will decide and choose her paths based on those values. “ “I was full of gratitude, and I said my prayer of thanks Marie Nitro-Puzon with baby Aldrei Mateusz to God, that after more than discouraging as I was producing five years of wishing and very little milk at first. I almost praying for a child we have thought of giving up, but I now received His blessing, as can’t. I just continued breastwe have now my child in my feeding and my milk supply arms.” increased.”

- Maria Lourdes Nitro-PuWith the difficulties in zon, mother to Aldrei Mateusz breastfeeding, being sleep dePuzon (born September 16, prived and tired; Marie always 2015) For Maria Lourdes or Marie reminds her of her mother’s advice.

Nitro-Puzon, nothing could re“[My] mom told me that ally have prepared her and her when you are tired, it’s ok to husband, Aldrin, to see their ask for help so that you can son come out of this world. rest. the couple had been through “My mom is a woman years of trying to have a child. of prayer. she tells me that “It was just overwhelming. despite those fatigued moIt was the most surreal experiments from diaper change and ence,” she shared. “[I} still long nursing sessions, I still and couldn’t believe that I was able to push that baby out of me. My should find time for prayer, seek help, ask for blessings and husband and I were tearful for a moment, then we posed for the to guide me through motherhood,” she said. “I am teaching picture to have our first family my son to pray and call on God photo and we were all smiles.” to bless him and the people As a nurse working at a around him. I want him to be government birthing facility in God-fearing, morally upright Makati City, Philippines, Marie and a responsible man.” does counseling about breast“Your child does not need feediing with mothers. Ironically, it was the same thing that the latest of most expensive toys/clothes to be happy and she faced during the first days healthy, they only need your after Aldrei was born. love and your attention.”

“I did not know that it was - Marge Maceda, mother going to be that painful until to Maktan Maceda (born I experienced it myself. I was March 2015) struggling during the first few When asked what they felt days, feeling pained and lacking sleep; as it was a round-the- when their child first came out, Marge Maceda said, “sobrang clock job,” she shared. “It was saya at takot, mga magulang na kami (overwhelming joy and fear, [because] we are now parents!”

Just like any other first-time mother, Marge shared that not getting enough sleep is one of the major challenges she faced especially during the first few days. still, this does not stop her from doing everything so that her son, Maktan, gets everything he needs to be healthy and happy.

Marge also looks to her own mother in raising Maktan. through her mother’s actions, she shared that materials things are secondary in making your children happy. What’s important is giving your love and attention to them.

“When she was in my tummy, I have been longing to hold, hug, smell, and kiss her.

She finally arrived. It was so surreal.”

- Nina Berroya-Carlos, mother to Andi Mireille Carlos (born March 7, 2016) overwhelmed with happiness, Nina Berroya-Carlos and husband Dino Carlos were finally holding their first-born, Andi.

And just like any other first-time mother, she went through the challenges, such as breastfeeding and balancing their time. “even I want to purely breastfeed Andi, I cannot [do it] since I do not have enough milk. I still try by diligently doing breast pump,” she shared.

Nina added they struggle at times trying to understand Andi’s needs and wants as a newborn. Also, getting ready is a balancing act.

“We need to allot more time in dressing up since we need to prepare [about] Andi too,” she said. still, she sees Andi as a blessing and only wants the best for her.

“I wish that she may continuously to grow healthy,” Nina

Infographic by AJPress. Sources: American Psychological Association, Pacific Post Partum Support Society, Journal of American Medical Association, National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation and Depression Facts

Mae Ermita-Manubay with baby Mason

The origins of Mother’s Day & how Filipinos celebrate

by Charisse Trinidad / AJPress Mother’s Day is observed in different forms throughout the world. the American existence of Mother’s Day was created by Anna reeves Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.s. holiday in 1914. While dates and celebrations may differ, Mother’s Day most often falls on the second sunday in May and traditionally involves presenting mothers with flowers, cards and other gifts.

Celebrations of mothers can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses rhea and Cybele. however, the most modern version of Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering sunday.” the roots of the modern Mother’s Day date back to the 19th century. Years before the Civil War (1861-1865), Ann reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. these clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In the Us and Philippines on the second sunday in May, Mother’s Day is a time when children and fathers both spend a day pampering and showering mothers with presents, as a sign of gratefulness for all that they have done for the family.

Mothers in the Philippines go by various titles: Ina, Nanay,

Mama, and Mommy, to name just a few. Mothers are recognized as the “ilaw ng tahanan,” which is translated to the “light of the home.” this Filipino expression serves to describe mothers as the light who brings warmth and comfort to her family by caring for them in the best way possible, sometimes even putting aside her own happiness and well-being just to do so. this material sacrifice is also highlighted in another popular Filipino saying: “Ang ina, isusubo na nga lang, ibibigay pa sa anak,” which means “even with the food all ready for her to consume, the Mother will always find the need to still give every last morsel to her children.” having a dedicated day to mothers is no surprise, especially in Filipino culture wherein motherhood is a revered role.

Filipinos tend to have tight-knit families, so it is common for Mother’s Day to also include grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and other women in the family who are also mothers.

Children often make cards or drawings for their mothers, with some even bringing breakfast to mom in bed. Fathers, on the other hand, generally give their wives a present they have been asking for, or a trip to the spa for a day of relaxation. Celebrations for this day usually consist of treating the moms to lunch at their favorite restaurant. the rest of the day is usually spent with the family in the malls or wherever the mothers want to go.

Nina Berroya-Carlos with baby Andi Mireille

Marge Maceda with baby Maktan

said and then added, “I also wish that she grows to be kind, smart, responsible, patient, obedient, diligent [and a] Godfearing woman.”

“I have always wanted to be a mom. So for me, it was a dream come true. I’ve always loved being around kids and taking care of them, but it’s true what they say that the feeling is different when you have your own child.”

- Mae Ermita-Manubay, mother of Mason Manubay (born November 10, 2015) As a person, Mae ermitaManubay likes to be organized and on time for everything. this is a must for her life, especially in her work as an assistant to the Deputy Consul General at the Philippine Consulate in New York. however after giving birth to her son, Mason, she realized that she has to let things go. “time is no longer my friend. I feel like it goes by so fast. In the beginning we (with husband, robby) found ourselves late for everything until I realized that I just have to give myself an extra hour (or two) to get everything ready before we’re out the door just to make it on time for an event,” she

Luchelle Del Rosario- Tartaglia with baby Luana

said. “I also had to accept that baby things will take over the house no matter how organized you try to be. sleep will be a thing of the past, but I’m thankful that I have a supportive husband who takes turns with me during night shifts. every minute counts! At the end of the day, no matter how sleep deprived, how unorganized you get, or how time will sometimes get the best of you, just seeing Mason smile and knowing that he’s happy is all worth it.”

Yes, Mae reaffirms that her perspective on life has changed, as everything now revolves around her family, especially Mason. she does acknowledge the same challenges first-time moms go through — the lack of sleep, getting ready, traveling with their son and planning for the future.

“Cutting down on expenses to prepare for the future is important. Budgeting has definitely changed in terms of buying more thing I need as oppose to more things I want,” she said.

Although no amount of preparation will be enough, Mae believes that some sort of plan will help new and future moms after their baby is born. “have a plan for childcare.

Be prepared! It can get expensive if you don’t have family to help,” she shared and added, “read/sing to your baby! it’s [a] great bonding time. record your milestones, take all the pictures you want.”

Lastly, she also would like to impress the importance of keeping a healthy marriage. “still go out and have a date with the hubby. You’ll feel guilty at first but it’s important to continue to nourish your relationship as a couple as well!”

“Honestly, I still can’t believe that I brought this human life out into the world. Yes, there are sleepless night and it get tough sometimes…but when I see her smile at me, it’s all worth it.”

- Luchelle del Rosario-Tartaglia, mother of Luana Tartaglia Motherhood has indeed changed Luchelle del rosariotartaglia, a risk Management director for a banking institution Continued on Page SF3

Comcast promotes diverse film and TV line-up in celebration of AsianPacific American Heritage Month CoNTENT Includes Movies from Center for Asian American Media, well Go USA Entertainment, Eros Now and TV Japan.

In recognition of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, Comcast will promote a collection of Asian-American content across Xfinity on Demand platforms, highlighted by a selection of new films from the Center for Asian American Media such as “Am I American,” “American Arab,” “off the Menu” and “Someone Else.” The collection will also feature Asian Action films from well Go USA Entertainment such as “IP Man 3” and “The Assassin.” “we are thrilled to bring this year’s remarkable stories that represent the diversity of voices of the Asian American community to our customers,” said Javier Garcia, SVP and GM of

By Monet

Lu

I wAS told on numerous occasions that everybody eventually turns into their parents when they grow old. I believe that now to be true as I see so much of my “Nanay” (as I fondly call her) in me – now more than ever. Things like her gestures, or when giving advice, I just can’t help but notice myself talking the way my mother would talk to me. I talk to my friends the way she would usually talk to me when I ask her for advice. All I can say is that my friends are just as lucky as I am that I learned so much from my dear mother.

This coming Mother’s month, I want to dedicate this piece to her. She tried her best to instill in me precious nuggets of wisdom (that I hope I’ve retained all these years). The woman I owe everything to; the most important woman in my life – My Nanay: Mrs. Catalina Francisco Lu. It has been years since my mother joined the Lord yet her memory stays forever. The pain of losing my mom still remains.

I guess the heartache will never be completely gone but I learned

Multicultural Services, Comcast Cable. “This curated collection of programming once again underscores our commitment of offer prime international programming to Xfinity on Demand viewers all year round.”

Additional programming that will be featured this month includes: • The new collection of on demand programming from TV Japan • Best of Interpretations from “Fast & Furious” director Justin Lin’s YoMYoMF • A collection of films from Eros now including “Singham Returns,” “Raanjhana,” and “Grand Masti” • Programming from Filipino on Demand, GMA Network, MyX Network and TV K-Pop Music Videos.

• A collection of free films

from HI-YAH! including “The Thieves,” “New world” and “A Simple Life.”

• A free month-long preview of GMA Pinoy TV including its latest program launches ‘“Yan Ang Morning,” “once Again,” “Magkaibang Mundo,” and “Juan Happy Love Story”—and its anticipated coverage of the upcoming Philippine presidential election.

Select programming will be featured on Xfinity’s Asian website (www.xfinity.com/asia) and all programming will be available under the “Multicultural” section on Xfinity on Demand, under Asian Heritage Month or Asian American Heritage Month. Most content will also be available on mobile devices via the Xfinity TV Go website and app.

Learn more at xfinity.com/ Asia. *Advertising Supplement

Words of wisdom from the most important woman in my life

Mrs. Catalina Francisco Lu

to accept the fact that she won’t be around anymore. And that I’ll always keep her memories with me. That way, she lives on in my heart and in my dreams.

My Nanay is your typical “charismatic and caring” mother.

But don’t let her composed demeanor fool you. She could be feisty and quite the disciplinarian if she wanted to. But no matter how she carried herself, she never failed to express her love and concern for her children.

“Eat your vegetables, they’re good for you.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

“Pray before you eat.”

“Don’t waste food, finish it all.

Think of the hungry children in the world.”

“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.”

“Call me when you get there so I’ll know you’re okay.”

These are my mother’s widely used reminders. I say them back to myself whenever I’m reminded of them and with gratitude in my heart, I tell myself how lucky I am to have a mother like my Nanay.

She was fond of reciting quotations when she can. of course at that time, I really didn’t fully understand what they meant.

She’d talk mostly about gratitude and work ethics. “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”

(He who doesn’t know how to look back from where he came from, will never reach his destiny), she would often say to me. I think it was her favorite. Most of the time she would talk more about “remaining humble and never forgetting the people who helped Continued on Page SF5

features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – May 6, 2016

“Happy Mother’s Day and Happy 70th Birthday to the greatest mom and lola we could ever ask for, Revelina Valmores!

Love” - John, Elina, Dio-Ann and Jasper.

“Happy Mother’s Day to Justina Salud Nitro! Thank you for guiding us in our lives and teaching us to be God-fearing citizens. We love you!”

From: Son Greg, daughter Marie Nitro-Puzon, son-in-law Aldrin Puzon and grandson Aldrei Puzon.

“Happy Mother’s Day to our beautiful mother and lola, Catherine de Guzman Liwanag! We love you and we always pray for your health.”

Love from daughters Jenny Liwanag and Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe, sons Joey Liwanag and Michael Liwanag, son-in-law Chris Bledsoe, daughter-in-law Lyn Vizcarra-Liwanag, grandchildren Austin, Angelo, Michelle, Ryoji and Jacob.

“Happy Mother’s Day to a very special mom and grandma, Victoria Antonio.

We love you!”

From the Antonio family.

“Happy Mother’s Day to Ivy Jocelle Antonio! You are the best wife and mother! We love you!”

From Anthony, Lia and Mia Antonio.

“Happy Mother’s Day to the best mother and grandmother, Ofelia Vera Cruz Castro. We love you!”

From Anthony, Ivy, Lia and Mia.

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 6, 2016

celebrity world

By Ferdie Villar

A LOT of people were caught off guard when the news about the breakup of Zsa Zsa Padilla with fiance, architect Conrad Onglao this week. The couple was visible and open about their love and relationship prior to their split, and they were in fact planning to get married in Florence, Italy at the end of the year.

It was the Divine Diva’s daughter, singer Karylle, who first confirmed the news last Tuesday, May 3.

“Siguro it’s very sad kasi she’s called off the engagement. She’s back home.

Siyempre ang hirap, di ko maimagine ang...yun na nga ‘di ba, kanina pinag-usapan natin bashers, so madaming sumasali sa kwento mo, ng buhay mo,” she said in an interview.

Not going into details, Karylle also requested the public

to give her mother privacy because of the situation.

“Maganda siya in a sense na lumalapit tayo sa mga tagahanga, pero may mga moments katulad nito na kailangan lang maging private.

Kung okay lang, I ask for your prayers and also for the time for her to be alone and private about it,” she added.

A day after the Karylle’s confirmation, Zsa Zsa finally broke her silence by issuing a short but meaningful statement through her handler.

She wrote: “We tried. It didn’t work out.”

Apart from her statement and Karylle’s confirmation about the breakup, the 51year-old singer did not give any other details. The only news that can be confirmed is that Zsa Zsa has moved out of Conrad’s house in San Lorenzo

Zsa Zsa Padilla breaks silence on breakup with Conrad Onglao

The Divine Diva Zsa Padilla confirmed that she and fiance, architect Conrad Onglao, have decided to go on their separate ways. The couple was together for almost two years.

St. Francis Pavilion-Generation Health Care Social Services Department threw a party for April birthday celebrants. Shown in photo are (L-R) Dinno Dimacali, Social Services Director Remy Bamba, Fil-Am Democratic Club of San Mateo County President Dorie Paniza, celebrant Katheryn Garcia, Thu Ly and Andy Rubio.

Singer and host Karylle was the first one to break the news that her mom, Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla has broken up with fiance Conrad Onglao. Karylle also asked the public to give her mother some privacy.

Village, Makati and returned to the home she shared with late partner, the KIng of Comedy, Dolphy. *** Megastar Sharon Cuneta can hardly contain her excitement when she revealed that she is the newest coach to join the “The Voice Kids’ Season 3.” She will be replacing Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo, who recently announced that

Megastar Sharon Cuneta is excited to be the new coach on the talent search, “The Voice Kids Season 3.”

She will be replacing Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo.

Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo has bowed out of being a coach on “The Voice Kids Season 3” so that she can concentrate on performing again.

San Jose fashionable lady Susan Pacifico is shown with her daughter, Christine, who was recently appointed as a Walgreens Cosmetic Makeup Artist Chairman for Northern California.

is leaving the talent search because she wants to focus on performing again.

“Sobrang excited ako. I will be part of ‘The Voice Kids’ with, of course, Bamboo and Lea Salonga,” the Megastar said in an interview.

Sharon also hinted that the reason why she hasn’t been active on her social media accounts is because she’s preparing for something big.

“To all my supporters and fans, my Sharonians whom I

Happy 60th birthday to Susan Lim, daughter-in-law of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. Shown in photo with the celebrant are son Brian, daughter Kathleen, and her grandchildren.

love very much, alam kong ang tagal kong nawala sa Facebook, ‘di ba? Sadya po ‘yon. I have been hibernating. I’ve been hiding because

I have been working on myself para i-surprise kayo. Hindi pa ako tapos but I have lost a lot of weight, preparing for something really big.”

Judy Ann Santos, ryan Agoncillo celebrate 7th year anniversary CeLeBrITy couple Judy Ann Santos and ryan Agoncillo renewed their vows seven years after their wedding.

The renewal of vows took place in a beach resort in Batangas province on April 30.

The couple’s three children—yohan, Lucho, and Luna— were present in the ceremony.

Some celebrity friends of the couple such as Agot Isidro, Iza Calzado and KC Concepcion also attended the event.

Fr. Tito Caluag led the ceremony.

Days before the ceremony, Judy Ann and ryan exchanged sweet messages to mark their anniversary.

In an Instagram post, Judy Ann reminisced how APO Hiking Society serenaded them during their wedding.

“Seven years ago when APO serenaded us. Seven years ago I was on cloud 9 dancing with my forever… This among others is my favorite part. Happy anniversary, my bubba!” she wrote as the caption,” she said.

On his part, ryan posted a photo of his wife and kids with the caption: “Happy Sevenersary!”

Here are some photos taken during the event taken by the guests and photographers Caliber King and Francis Perez.

(Inquirer.net)

The first of everything...

From Page SF2

in the east Coast. Her perspective in life was directed into wanting to do better for her daughter, Luana.

“Like I wanted to be healthier so I can live longer for her,” she shared. “I’m extra careful on my decisions in life whether it is driving above speed limit

or investing because I have her in mind and to consider. “ Like most mothers, she had difficulties in producing enough breast milk for her child. In fact, when the pediatrician said that Luana’s dehydrated, Luchelle cried non-stop for 1015 minutes.

Still, she saw this hurdle

as part of learning, along with other challenges. Luchelle shares this advice to fellow first-time mothers: “Patience.

There would be days na mahirap talaga (There would be days it would really be hard), but it would get better. And sleep whenever you get the chance!”

entertainment

SF5

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - May 6, 2016

James Reid assures Nadine Lustre: ‘She’s the one I love’

by Dolly

Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net

How many heartbeats away is love from friendship? Let James Reid and Nadine Lustre answer that in their movie, “This Time.”

Here’s my one-on-one with James: What made you decide that Nadine is “the one”?

I can’t pinpoint anything specific. She slowly grew on me from being good friends and “partners in crime.”

It’s everything about her—her attitude, her passion, her brains.

And we found out that we have a lot in common—same taste in music, video games, fashion and a lot more. She just felt so right.

How do you handle Nadine’s jealousy attack?

I reassure her that she’s the one I love, and that I would never want to hurt her. what has fame taught you?

TWhat’s your advice to guys who are not as gorgeous as you on how to woo girls?

Confidence is key. Be happy with yourself and others will be, too.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre

What’s the best part of being James Reid?

I have dreams—and I live them.

What’s the hardest part about being you?

Sacrifice—mainly time for my friends, my family and myself.

Marian Rivera: Motherhood becomes her

by Bot

Glorioso Philstar.com

wHeTHeR you are a showbiz watcher or not, you certainly know that Marian Rivera is now a mom to fivemonth-old daughter Maria Letizia, nicknamed Zia. But not everyone knows that since becoming a mom, her perspective in life has broadened.

The better half of Dingdong Dantes has learned to look at things in a more positive light.

“My point of view in life has widened,” said Marian on how motherhood has changed her.

Besides, Marian is focused on taking care of Zia who is a real bundle of joy. “She is bubbly. I’m still breastfeeding her.

Usually in the morning, I wait for her to wake up to breastfeed her and then after, she just plays in her crib; mabait s’yang bata kaya I thank God for blessing me with a beautiful family and a happy life. There is really no reason to complain.

In the morning, when I open my eyes, I see my handsome husband on my side and then on the other side is my beautiful daughter. So who am I to complain?”

Marian Rivera

Words of wisdom from...

From Page SF3

you along the way.” when I opened my very first salon, she was there to remind me that I should always thank those who made my dream possible, especially my sisters who paid for my tuition so I can study styling and design. She also challenged me to be more mindful and conscientious about work and money.

She would always tell me: “Para kang kalabasa, gapang ng gapang naiiwan naman ang bunga.” which meant that I often worked myself to the ground but I never saw the fruits of my labor.

Nanay’s constant prodding urged me to be more responsible in my fiscal affairs. Thanks to her, I’m still learning.

Looking back, I learned from her a basic truth about life: that

there are some lessons we won’t fully understand until we are ready to accept what it requires – so we can really do what truly matters.

Years after her death, Nanay still continue to teach me these lessons. I’m just glad that I am still here to pass them on to my nieces, nephews and grandchildren, or anyone who needs a motherly advice.

My mother is my hero. I believe she deserves a medal even if she never would have asked for one. I miss her more than words can ever express.

All of us were born because there was that one person who decided we deserve a chance to be in this world. They may be our biological moms or those who raised us as their own. Mother-

hood is a 24-7 duty with no days off or sick days. A thankless job that we sadly take for granted or often overlook. I hope that this Mother’s Day, we will take the time to honor and appreciate our mothers.

To the most important woman in my life, I love you always.

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